Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: Alighieri who wrote (538160)	12/22/2009 12:37:38 PM
From: Tenchusatsu	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 1575981

Al, those arguing for universal health care are based on the morals of helping your fellow citizen. Those arguing against universal health care are based on the question of who pays and how well services are administered. I personally think universal health care is inevitable, which is why I'd rather argue for doing it the right way. How much should it cost to cover the 30-40 million Americans who don't have health insurance? Probably a lot less than $100 billion per year, which is what the current health care bill will cost (and won't even cover all of them). Tenchusatsu

To: Alighieri who wrote (538160)	12/23/2009 12:52:09 PM
From: tejek	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1575981

Too funny....... A NOT-SO-WARM WELCOME.... Rep. Parker Griffith (Ala.) probably thought his plan would go smoothly. A conservative lawmaker from a conservative district, Griffith no doubt figured his professional future would be far more secure if he betrayed the party that helped him get elected, and became a Republican -- the GOP would be thrilled with the pick-up, and the far-right voters back home would applaud the change. As became quickly apparent yesterday, the plan was flawed. A prominent right-wing blogger, even before Griffith officially announced his decision, told his readers, "We can pick this guy off and get a real Republican in that seat." The right wing Club for Growth issued a statement expressing a similar sentiment. In Alabama, Griffith was facing a variety of far-right challengers, all of whom seem undeterred by the former Democrat's change of heart. Dave Weigel had a great report on this, highlighting the near-unanimous hostility the new Republican lawmaker is still facing from right-wing contingents in his district. "This is an act of desperation to maintain power," said [Les Phillip -- a Tea Party activist who'd been waging a Republican campaign for Griffith's seat since August]. "It's exactly what people in this district are sick of. When someone lied before, and now says he's telling the truth, well, was he lying then, or is he lying now?" [...] "We've known for a long time that Parker Griffith's principles are either for sale to the highest bidder or can change depending on how the poll results are looking," said a spokesman for Mo Brooks, a county commissioner who'd gotten some early support from the NRCC, in an interview with Politico. "He seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth." The harsh reactions of Brooks and Phillip were in line with the reactions of activists in Alabama's fifth congressional district. "He's an S.O.B.," said Dale Jackson, a conservative radio host who's posted a banner reading "Parker Griffith Cannot Be Trusted" on his Website. "He's a liar. Michael Steele should be ashamed of himself. The NRCC should be ashamed of itself for not coming out and immediately repudiating this guy. He was unacceptable a year ago and he's acceptable now? A year ago, they were saying this guy was a murderer." And that's really just scratching the surface. A variety of prominent Alabama Teabaggers and assorted right-wing leaders all said they don't really trust Griffith, question his integrity, and planned to back others in the GOP primary. In D.C., Republican officials were delighted by the party switch, but in a noticeable omission, the National Republican Congressional Committee did not throw its official support to the now-incumbent lawmaker from Alabama -- a detail Griffith probably should have worked out before making the switch official. Welcome to Republican politics, Parker Griffith. It will be all that you bargained for, and more.