Indefensible.

The line-item veto is an unconscionable expansion of executive power, which I don't think we really need right now.
I didn't say it. The Rehnquist Court did.

 

For Jr and any of the Canadians out there, is your health care system really as bad as some people say it is? Do you really have to wait a ridiculously long time to get certain procedures done?

 

Um...what? I responded. He hasn't come back with anything, and you go back to the John D. Villarreal schtick. Oh, and FACTS? Like Headbutt points out, Mcbamr pulled 80K out of nowhere. You guys are ridiculous.

 

Our health system has its problems but to say it's "bad" is entirely incorrect. Whatever faults it has it's better than the alternative.

Most of the problems--at least in Ontario--can be traced back to our former idiot Premier Mike Harris from the mid 90's, a small town Ontarian who decided that since he had a majority government, he could put the boots to Toronto--to the glee of some of the residents of Appalachia Ontario.

The system is recovering but the dumbass effectively gutted the hospitals, thew nurses under the bus and forced the city to pick up the shortfall--an impossiblity.

And of course the Feds weren't any fucking help.

 

We certainly agree here.

 

You're likely right about that, FB, I sure wouldn't want Dubya further empowered in any way.

But what can be done about the practice of congressman slipping in ridiculous bring-the-money-home spending provisions in bills in exchange for their vote? There's no doubt that's the source of ENORMOUS corruption fouling our system now and for quite many years. It forces us either to accept corrupt provisions or reject worthwhile and necessary legislation because of a few objectionable details. The line item veto at least allows the good to be taken without the bad, but I can also see how it could be grossly misused. What is the answer?

 

Hmm, o_t looks ahead to the possibility of President Hillary.

 

I don't give a milisecond of my day worrying about someone unelectable on a national scale winning the presidency. And I wouldn't want the line-item veto for a Republican, either. However, I'm sure your feelings will probably change if a Dem wins in 2008.

 

Not at all.
BILL Clinton wanted it when he campaigned in 1992 -- because he had it as governor of Arkansas -- and it was part of the reason why I voted for Paul Simon.

 

You keep telling yourself that. In fact, you probably spend 1/2 an hour every day in the mirror saying that over and over again.

 

This isn't really about this bill, but just a personal experience with our health care system.
About a decade ago, every once in a while, I'd get a call for my mom or dad from a doctor's office. The person call, a receptionist or an office manager, I think, had the tone of voice that made it sound like the call was extremely urgent, as if they needed to tell one of my parents they had some incurable disease that would kill them in a matter of months and that my mom or dad must call them back ASAP.
After my mom or dad called them back, I asked them what was wrong, if they were OK. They told me the call was about a billing problem and some sort of mix-up with insurance.
That made me mad.
Now I know doctors, like everyone else, have bills to pay, mortgages, families to feed, kids to put through school, etc., but they're doctors. If the issue of payment was of equal or greater importance to them than the medical conditions they were treating, maybe they should have become bankers.

 

No money for children's health care?
Luckily the fucking Death Dtar we're building in Baghdad is worth it.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/20277.html
Maybe not...