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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Road Walker who wrote (502429)	8/7/2009 11:49:01 AM
From: longnshort	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1575612

I like it when Krugman asked how many Canadians were in the room, then he ask them if they hated their health care, they all raised their hands.

To: Road Walker who wrote (502429)	8/7/2009 12:12:26 PM
From: longnshort	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1575612

Protesters in Ybor City drown out health care summit on Obama's proposal By Adam Smith, Times Political Editor Friday, August 7, 2009 tampabay.com TAMPA — Bitter divisions over reforming America's health care system exploded Thursday night in Tampa amid cat calls, jeering and shoving at a town hall meeting. "Tyranny! Tyranny! Tyranny!" dozens of people shouted as U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, struggled to talk about health insurance reforms under consideration in Washington, D.C. "There is more consensus than there is disagreement when you get right down to it,'' Castor offered, immediately drowned out by groans and boos. She pressed on, mostly unheard among screams from the audience estimated by Tampa police to be about 1,500. "Tell the truth! Tell the truth!" "Read the bill!" "Forty-million illegals! Forty million illegals!" The spectacle at the Children's Board in Ybor City sounded more like a wrestling cage match than a panel discussion on national policy, and it was just the latest example of a health care meeting disrupted by livid protesters. Similar scenes are likely to be repeated across the country as lawmakers head to their home districts for the summer recess. Thursday's forum/near riot was sponsored by state Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, and the Service Employees International Union, who apparently had hoped to hold something of a pep rally for President Barack Obama's health care reform proposal. Instead, hundreds of vocal critics turned out, many of them saying they had been spurred on through the Tampa 912 activist group promoted by conservative radio and television personality Glenn Beck. Others had received e-mails from the Hillsborough Republican Party that urged people to speak out against the plan and offered talking points. An overflow crowd of critics was left waiting outside the building — and in some cases pounding on the meeting room doors — while health care reform activists complained that Democrats and union members were guided into the room for prime seats. Tampa police officers maintained control the entire night. "They can't even run a meeting, and they want to run health care?'' scoffed Kevin Grant, a Tampa printing business owner, standing near someone wielding a "Shame on you America. You sold your soul to the Devil" sign. The nationally televised images of protesters lashing out at politicians sympathetic to Obama's health care proposal certainly drive home the health care plans' keen opposition. Some Democrats, though, argue that engaged, disruptive protesters only serve to depict the GOP as unwilling to work on solutions. "These groups are not concerned about Americans' access to quality heath care, but are extreme ideologues, only interested in 'breaking' the president and thwarting the change Americans voted for last November," said state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman. Polls show mounting public concern about the nation's debt and deficit, and a CNN poll released this week found 50 percent of those surveyed support the president's plan and 45 percent oppose. Castor said a strong debate is healthy but suggested that many of the protesters who have shown up at town hall meetings in recent weeks would have staunchly opposed the creation of Medicare and Social Security a few decades ago. "The insurance industry and … Republican activists are manufacturing a lot of these phony protests,'' said Castor, who has been closely involved in the health care debate and said she won't support any bill lacking a government-run insurance option. She left before the forum ended, which drew more boos. State Rep. Reed said she encouraged Castor to leave because nobody could hear her anyway. Protesters said there was nothing phony about their strong showing, just a bubbling of grass roots anger. "It's the backlash to the arrogance of our government that you're seeing here,'' said Brad Grabill of Temple Terrace.

To: Road Walker who wrote (502429)	8/7/2009 12:33:41 PM
From: bentway	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1575612

Florida's Sen. Mel Martinez to step down BY LESLEY CLARK lclark@miamiherald.com miamiherald.com AND MARC CAPUTO TALLAHASSEE -- Sen. Mel Martinez told friends and supporters Friday in an e-mail that he'll step down from the Senate as soon as a replacement is appointed to fill out his term. ``My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country and at this stage in my life, and after nearly twelve years of public service in Florida and Washington, it's time I return to Florida and my family,'' said Martinez, who had already ruled out a run for re-election in 2010. In an extraordinary turn of events, Gov. Charlie Crist, the leading Republican to replace Martinez in the U.S. Senate, will have the power to appoint someone to fill the remainder of Martinez's term. Crist has denied that he'd appoint himself. He's expected to make an announcement on a fill-in before the end of the August recess when the Senate returns to Washington. Some names already surfacing: former Sen. Connie Mack, former Gov. Bob Martinez and former Secretary of State Jim Smith. Some speculate that Crist might step down as governor, thereby elevating Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who could then appoint Crist to the Senate. Crist will hold an already scheduled press conference at 2:30 p.m. Martinez will be available for a 3 p.m. press conference. Martinez had repeatedly dismissed suggestions that he'd exit early as rumors. When asked about it July 28, Crist downplayed it. ``Anything's possible. I don't think that's something [Martinez] really is considering,'' said Crist, a friend and early supporter of Martinez. Crist also dismissed questions about Mack and Smith as potential place holders for the Senate seat he is seeking.. ``Those are both great Floridians, there's no doubt about that,'' Crist said. ``But that might be putting the cart before the horse at this time.'' When asked at the time why he was so certain that Martinez would stay in office, Crist said, ``I just have a sense that he will. I could be wrong. But time will tell.'' Martinez won office in 2004, swept in on the coattails of President George W. Bush's reelection and a bare-knuckle campaign style that framed Republican rival Bill McCollum as a ``darling of the radical homosexual lobby( !!END TAG!! !!END TAG!! ) and Democrat Betty Castor as soft on terrorism. His tenure in office was marked by several mishaps: On the floor of the Senate he passed along a memo suggesting the political benefits of the plight of Terri Schiavo, a comatose woman who died after a legal and political battle in Tallahassee and Washington. Martinez was also fined $99,000 for campaign-finance law violations, was head of the national Republican Party when it lost its footing and became the face of President Bush's failed immigration reform plan. Democrats may use Martinez's early exit to suggest tension between Hispanics and the GOP. The first Cuban-American senator, Martinez was among only nine Republican senators to vote Thursday for Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's choice for Supreme Court Justice. Martinez championed immigration reform and his appointment as chair of the Republican National Committee drew protests from GOP'ers who opposed his stance on immigration. He left that post after a short stint. © 2009 Miami Herald Media Company.

To: Road Walker who wrote (502429)	8/7/2009 12:41:12 PM
From: Brumar89	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1575612

The voice of experience.

To: Road Walker who wrote (502429)	8/7/2009 1:07:21 PM
From: Brumar89	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1575612

It was probably Obama saying old folks would be better off "taking the pain pill" and dying than having wasteful surgeries that inspired the old folks. Gee, that ought to get the old folks stirred up. Hey, if we just stopped all surgeries on old people they wouldn't be able to come out to townhalls and embarrass their masters.