Barack or Hillary ?

[bridget]

First of all, thank you for your service both as a veteran and an advocate for veterans.

You are absolutely right, I do not fully understand the problem because I have not seen it / lived it / worked with it like you have. And it's really nice to get an honest assessment from someone in the trenches.

I came to my interest in politics almost exclusively from a healthcare perspective. The only reason I know anything (mere statistics) about homelessness is because so much of it stems from mental illness.

My father was diagnosed with a serious illness, and his sh*tty, criminally negligent insurer refuses to cover the prescribed treatment. My parents make too much to qualify for medicaid, but too little to pay for the treatment, so they got divorced, so that he could be declared indigent, and get treatment thru medicaid. A pragmatic solution that has absolutely broken their hearts.

I have an immediacy problem with political solutions. I want someone working on these massive problems yesterday. My naive zeal for that (impossible?) solution is no different than your zeal for a Third Party President. We are indeed, very much on the same side.

Thank you for the in-depth discussion. We'll see how this plays out...

[The DARK]

I just think this nation deserves more than 2 perspectives, a right or a left, a conservative or a liberal. They have boiled it down (quite brilliantly I might say) into a team sport.

The absolute #1 problem with politics these days (and always).

[crazylove]

Thanks to all for the thought provoking posts.  Unfortunately, for this election, we still have to choose between the lesser of 2 evils.  Still thinking this counrty is ready for
change, so I'm thinking it's going to be Barack. (At least he's been honest about "inhaling". :)

[mjkoehler]

If you live in these 2 areas, lucky!

http://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/34819

[tomEisenbraun]

My parents make too much to qualify for medicaid, but too little to pay for the treatment, so they got divorced, so that he could be declared indigent, and get treatment thru medicaid. A pragmatic solution that has absolutely broken their hearts.

That is bullshit beyond bullshit that they would have to go through that to get treatment. I can't get behind a system that works like that at all. I would've stayed out of this thread entirely, because I don't know enough about our system to argue anything. I know there's a lot of things wrong, but that it's widespread. I like Obama because of his confidence and his grassrootsiness. And if his healthcare allows your parents to get remarried, I like him for that, too.

I don't mean to pry at all, just wanting to understand it--they only got divorced legally so this could happen? Are they still able to live together, and still wearing rings, just not "legally" married? I understand that there are some legal implications there pertaining to wills and inheritance and whatnot, but if their everyday lives are not impacted any more than a legal document telling them "you're not married" then at least they are able to keep on living the way they used to.

But good Lord, that situation pisses me off. NOTHING like that should ever have the strength or implications to drive two people out of their marriage, even if only legally.  NOTHING.

[bridget]

My parents make too much to qualify for medicaid, but too little to pay for the treatment, so they got divorced, so that he could be declared indigent, and get treatment thru medicaid. A pragmatic solution that has absolutely broken their hearts.

That is bullshit beyond bullshit that they would have to go through that to get treatment. I can't get behind a system that works like that at all. I would've stayed out of this thread entirely, because I don't know enough about our system to argue anything. I know there's a lot of things wrong, but that it's widespread. I like Obama because of his confidence and his grassrootsiness. And if his healthcare allows your parents to get remarried, I like him for that, too.

I don't mean to pry at all, just wanting to understand it--they only got divorced legally so this could happen? Are they still able to live together, and still wearing rings, just not "legally" married? I understand that there are some legal implications there pertaining to wills and inheritance and whatnot, but if their everyday lives are not impacted any more than a legal document telling them "you're not married" then at least they are able to keep on living the way they used to.

But good Lord, that situation pisses me off. NOTHING like that should ever have the strength or implications to drive two people out of their marriage, even if only legally.  NOTHING.

Everything is exactly the same in their relationship. They wear rings, live at their same house - most of their friends and a handful of our relatives don't even know. No one has come to inspect for a faudulent divorce or anything like that. Although we've all thought about that scenario like a drug-bust or some sort of secret CIA sting operation, and I'm quite sure that would end with one of us setting ourselves on fire in the Whitehouse lawn or some other massive public protest.

A man and his wife at their support group did this when his pension got drastically cut a few years after he retired. That's where my parents got the idea from when they were looking at a gap without coverge while they sued his insurance company for care. All of the treatments available for his illness are "experimental" in one way or another. On medicaid, he can get in on NIH-sponsored drug trials, which he is, and that's a relief, though it hasn't done much.

Under Bush, the ability to declare personal bankruptcy has become near impossible. Back when you could declare bankruptcy, over half of all personal bankruptcies were due to medical debt. Even though it left your credit rating in the toilet, it was a way out from under the debt. Now you see people who start to question - is it selfish of me to want to continue treatment - odds as small as they are - if it's going to leave my family in financial ruin? Am I being selfish for wanting to try to live? Turns my stomach.

They are both college educated.  They got married when they were 19. I am their youngest - a big surprise when they were well into their 40s.

It's just life. Everyone has a thing. The NY Times says 47 people died in an Israeli air strike today. My parents have not been displaced from their home like 2 million Iraqis have been. They have food in their bellies, unlike untold millions in Darfur. Things are god-awful all over. And other things are still really beautiful - MMJ for example. But for this one problem of health care in this country, I hope the time has come where we can marshall our forces behind something other than a war. For once. I'd just like to see us try...

[ycartrob]

[thatswhatshesaid]

creepy! however accurate

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

i'll vote for obama only if he promises to dance 24/7 like he did on Ellen to Crazy In Love by Beyonce





I look forward to the White House dance parties

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

best website of 2k8 so far
http://hillaryismomjeans.com/

[thatswhatshesaid]

best website of 2k8 so far
http://hillaryismomjeans.com/

that there is some funny shit!  ;D ;D ;D

[ManNamedTruth]

best website of 2k8 so far
http://hillaryismomjeans.com/

that there is some funny shit!  ;D ;D ;D

thats some good shit. there's an Arrested Development reference "Hillary is a never nude"  :)

[ManNamedTruth]

best website of 2k8 so far
http://hillaryismomjeans.com/

that there is some funny shit!  ;D ;D ;D

thats some good shit. there's an Arrested Development reference "Hillary is a never nude"  :)

i submitted a few
"is a cat person"
"killed Laura Palmer"

[thatswhatshesaid]

best website of 2k8 so far
http://hillaryismomjeans.com/

that there is some funny shit!  ;D ;D ;D

thats some good shit. there's an Arrested Development reference "Hillary is a never nude"  :)

i submitted a few
"is a cat person"
"killed Laura Palmer"

i put "let her husband grope your mom."

[kyjed48]

best website of 2k8 so far
http://hillaryismomjeans.com/

that there is some funny shit!  ;D ;D ;D

thats some good shit. there's an Arrested Development reference "Hillary is a never nude"  :)

i submitted a few
"is a cat person"
"killed Laura Palmer"

i put "let her husband grope your mom."

That is some funny shit! :)

[crazylove]

Hey everyone, love all the posts, especially the "Momjeans"

So, what does everyone think about the Governor of New York being caught in the prostitute ring?  How will that reflect on the election?  Will it bode well for Barack and hinder Hillary since it's her"home"(which I thought was Arkansas, or was it Chicago, who know anymore?)state?

Can't wait to read your replies :exclamation

[Penny Lane]

Hey everyone, love all the posts, especially the "Momjeans"

So, what does everyone think about the Governor of New York being caught in the prostitute ring?  How will that reflect on the election?  Will it bode well for Barack and hinder Hillary since it's her"home"(which I thought was Arkansas, or was it Chicago, who know anymore?)state?

Can't wait to read your replies :exclamation

i think people are disgusted and just feel bad for his family. just proves my two theories---power corrupts and that men are pigs!! (kidding) but seriously, this guy WAS the law here. it's just so strange. i think he will announce his resignation today once they work out a deal w/all the criminal allegations. i guess it gives wall streeters and republicans something to be happy about !!

i don't think it will affect the election that much. i'm trying to think of the primaries that are left---PA? the southern states? you'd think it would have some negative impact on hillary-but i doubt it. i think her fate was sealed after wisconsin/MN.

the democrats are already at a disadvantage because of this primary race--this is really the last thing they needed but overall, not sure it will sway any voters. he was a controversial figure--i'm still curious as to what 4K will get you w/a prostitute!!

[aMD]

--i'm still curious as to what 4K will get you w/a prostitute!!

Probably the same ole same ole, if you're the governor and the prostitute looks like this:




That's actually her. From the smoking gun:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0312084kristen1.html

[Penny Lane]

i always thought he was kind of hot for an older guy--i think it's the ears;-)  

it's funny-- 'spitzer' is now a slang---'hey, that's such a spitzer' --i walked by the mailroom this morning and heard 'you pulled a spitzer?' poor guy-that's gonna be his legacy

[upstatestruggler]

[size=36]spitzer? I barely know her![/size]