McCain's Health Care Plan

(Amanda) Here is Obama's Plan for health care: Click Here

I for one have been asking GOP'ers to articulate McCain's plan to fix the pressing health care issue, my most important issue.

As your are aware, we had a little baby girl three weeks ago. We have been insuring the kids through a state program called Healthy Families, which provides low cost premiums ($13 a month for both Lucia and Marco). We had assumed that Nikki's insurance (through my work) would cover Sylvie for at least 30 days, as previous insurance we had. But Kaiser informed us that they only cover 30 days in the month of birth! That is if a child is born on the 1st, she is covered for 30 days, but if she is born on the last day of the month, that child gets only 1 day of coverage. Since Sylvia was born the 29th, she only had 3 days of coverage. Sylvia's return to the hospital on the 1st was not covered at all. That is so unfair. Consequently I had to sign Sylvie up through work, which will cost almost $200 a month!

Here, the NY Times reports on McCain's health care initiative:

OK, a correspondent directs me to John McCain’s article, Better Health Care at Lower Cost for Every American, in the Sept./Oct. issue of Contingencies, the magazine of the American Academy of Actuaries. You might want to be seated before reading this.
Here’s what McCain has to say about the wonders of market-based health reform:
Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.
So McCain, who now poses as the scourge of Wall Street, was praising financial deregulation like 10 seconds ago — and promising that if we marketize health care, it will perform as well as the financial industry!

Pink Floyd Keyboardist Dies - Richard Wright

"The Great Gig in the Sky" - Pink Floyd, written by Richard Wright

Pink Floyd is my favorite band of all time. On Monday, Richard Wright, instrumental to the Pink Floyd "sound" past away from cancer at the age of 65. This is very sad news. His music, and that of Pink Floyd, has been a constant companion since my early-teens (only about 5 years ago!). He will be sorely missed.

Specific Plans from the Candidates

Now that the conventions are over, CNN has a rundown of the specific (and not so specific) proposals by both of the candidates, Obama and McCain. (click on the name to see)

What I found interesting is that McCain only mentioned Bush once, and did not mention Cheney at all, nor did he talk about my most important issue: Health Care. I asked a staunch conservative what exactly is the GOP's plan to fix the health care mess, and they were not able to tell me. I still don't know after listening to the GOP convention. Does anybody know? I hope people can see through this Palin hoopla and ask the serious policy questions, such as Health Care. Come to think of it, Palin's speech said absolutely nothing about policy (save for Drill Baby Drill).

Are Americans that in love with personalities that they do not bother to look at the issues? Are we?

The GOP makes great comedy!!!!!

Community Organizers are bad?!!???

Why did the GOP go after Community Organizers last night? I makes no sense to attack grass-roots efforts at improving the lives of members of the community, then say the government is not the solution. If government is not the solution, and grass-roots efforts are worth deriding, what does the GOP intend to say?

Here is a post I found about GOP convention last night:

"Why would that kind of work be ridiculous?" Obama said. "Who are they fighting for? What are they advocating for? They think that the lives of those folks who are struggling each and every day, that working with them to try to improve their lives is somehow not relevant to the presidency? I think maybe that's the problem -- that's part of why they're out of touch and they don't get it 'cause they haven't spent much time working on behalf of those folks."

My Husband and I have been Registered Republicans for 45 years and fully planned on supporting the ticket this year as well.

My son has been a Community Organizer in Boston for the past 5 years and done tremendous and important work helping the less fortunate. My Husband and I are very proud of him and until last night were proud Republicans as well- but we've NEVER been so insulted in all our lives. Imagine if one of your children's chosen career was fed through the meat grinder the way ours was!!!!!

We were sitting there and the entire convention felt like it was mocking us, our wonderful son and the choices he's made in his life - to try and give back and make a difference. I'm embarrassed to say this morning the whole thing had me in tears.

This concept may be laughable to most in the GOP but it's not to us and we support him 100% and we could never support a Party that so willingly mocks members children.

Furthermore, I found the tone of the whole thing to be rather Sophomoric and had virtually NO substance at all - especially Rudy G and Palin.

We wanted to know more about Sarah Palin and instead got negativity and condescending attacks from WHO exactly? Who are you- we still don't know except that you can insult others- many of them!

This whole thing came off as preachy, very divisive and just plain nasty.

Must admit that I feel terrible and ashamed that I would support a ticket and a Party that so freely tossed people like my son under the bus for Political gain?

Or is that just the way the GOP feels about Citizens that aren't up to their high standards of making a living? Who really are the elitist here????

Either way- the attack on Community Organizers may have initiated it and although if I relied on the speeches we still have NO Idea where Palin stands on the issues but- do know that she can recite snarky remarks that were obviously provided for her.

What are her plans ideas hopes- who knows?

Certainly the very limited info that has been provided on her positions is quite enough for us - this woman is WAY too far Right, even for us lifetime Republicans. This is the direction the GOP wants as a symbol of the future? This is the direction you want to take the Party? Creationism in School, Iraq is a 'task from God', Abstanance, No incest or rape options, Ignore creationism, greenhouse effect is a myth and on and on.

Our youngest son (a Dentist- is that better?)- is a ardent Obama supporter and has been Campaigning here in Richmond Virginia for him for months. Today we are going to join him, not just because our son and thousands of others that work in the Social services, was ridiculed but because in our hearts we've known for a while that THIS time- It's the right thing to do! We will work with the same conviction we did for IKE way back when to get a ticket elected that we feel is representative for ALL (or the vast majority of) the people. We will try and convince close friends relatives and people at our Catholic Church to do the same!

I would have never in my wildest dreams thought this would have happened - that my own Party would make me feel so badly, completely ostracized and like the butt of a cruel and unnecessary joke. In the bigger picture, however- It has become abundantly clear to us and surely to some other Moderate Republicans and Independents-, that the Pat Buchanan and Rovarian Wing has won out!!!! These weren't the values and principals of the Party I supported, not even close. Last night my husband said to me- "President Reagan would be ashamed" and you know what- I bet he's right!

We are done buying into the GOP hate and scare machine and urge any open minded and realistic Republicans to do the same.

Thank you for allowing my thoughts to be heard.

God Bless

NancyClarkRichmondVirginia

Black Man Spotted at the GOP Convention

As I watched the GOP Convention today I was struck of how monochrome the audience was. The GOP will shrink as my kids grow up, as more like them are born, as the minority becomes the majority. As California goes, so goes the country.

Palin, McCain and Pregant Teen

I'm with Obama on this, Palin's family should be off-limits. However, it has been reported that McCain knew of Palin's daughter's pregnancy. That means, that McCain knew that Bristol was pregnant when he picked her mother for Veep, and knew that Bristol would be scrutinized by the ever-relentless media. My question is why would McCain do this to a 17-year old that is pregnant, and probably scared out of her wits already, now she has the spotlight of the media and has been made an issue in this campaign. Did anybody ask Bristol her opinion?
Did McCain even weigh Bristol's feeling on this matter. Poor girl. How could McCain do this? Judgment, judgment.