Two Problems

Count me in as one who hates Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. I hate people that are screwing up this great nation of ours by invoking their will and socializing every aspect of it. I hate people who lie day after day about what is in a bill that available for anyone to read. I'm saddened that I feel this way, I'm saddened that this country will have to endure maybe another 3.5 years of this crap, and I'm saddened that there are people out who are sick enough to claim that I hate him because he is black (those are the real sicko's!). Speaking of hate, just watch MSNBC for an hour or two when Bush was president... talk about hate! Liberals have no moral high ground to stand on. The only ray of hope I'm seeing is real Americans seeing through this crap and exercising their free speak. Thank God for that. I pray that Obama can effectively turned into a lame duck for the rest of his term.

Oh, one more thing... The other ray of hope I see is by the reaction I see in friends that thought Obama was going to be "ok" and even like him. Not every one, but about 1/2 can't stand him. When I see that happening, the rest of America is waking up from the ah and wonder and starting to pay attention.

Susan, Can you not admit that Obama and Pelosi (Reid seems more and more out of touch with events of the day) totally bungled the whole healthcare reform rollout? When Obama ceded the national wallet to Pelosi in the "stimulus" and thus paid billions to thank democrat allies with only token monies outlayed next year to stimulate the economy and produce jobs, Americans became wary of both Obama's "hopey-changey" message and previous declared platform of bipartisanship. Then came cap and trade, where even liberal economists acknowledged that it would cost $3k per year per family, over 2 million jobs and not reduce carbon emissions. Huh? Okay, so then he let's the Hill pad up a takeover of another 1/6 of the economy (after he took over automotive and banking), pretends to not even know what's in the bill and then has his spokeswoman tell us not be believe our lying eyes and ears that Obama doesn't want the whole thing socialized to single payer if it takes 10, 15 or 20 years? Normal people, who sometimes rail at their tv, now want someone to hear them. And they're called un-American?

Further, democrat congresspeople came home to August recess signalling that they needed to ENDURE hearing from their constituents, not listen to their comments, questions and fears. Pelosi publicized the talking points my representative, Susan Davis, was to use to put off any dissenters. It was not to be anything but a slam dunk for what the House bill already contained. Susan Davis wouldn't announce any public events except the one town hall she had that was organized by Obama's new arm of the DNC. Isn't it reasonable to ask why capping monstrous jury awards with enormous payouts to lawyers, causing malpractice insurance premiums about $100k per year per physician, are not included in omnibus reform of the healthcare system? Isn't it reasonable to suggest that we provide health insurance options to the 17 million legal Americans who are not covered but make less than $50k per year rather than change everything, with only 3 week's discussion? If people say they hate Obama and Pelosi, it is because they feel hated, ignored, maligned and marginalized by their own elected leaders.

I can not help feel that you speak for Hillary Clinton who has been disabled by this administration to the point that she does not matter. I am sure she is mad and the type of person she is she will get even. Pelosi and Obama are responsible for the hate. They started it when George Bush was president and now it is on them. For the first time in my life (I am 54) people are standing up for what they believe in and yes it it intense and should be. This administration is trying to take over our rights. From the moment I heard that Bill Ayers, Beverly Dohrn and Rev.Wright were a part of Obama's life I realized socialism would be his agenda. He preached during the election that the change he was calling for was socialism and duh a lot of people did not listen. When Bill Maher called the American public stupid I said the word should have been ignorant and now we have to fight our own government along with the taliban.

Wow, Susan almost writes an intelligent article, however, this article is simply more crap from a hypocritical liberal. The problem is that no one, not even Susan, was worried about all the “hate” when Bush was president. Indeed, when Bush was president violent descent was not only acceptable, it was a fundamental American right. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liberals are such losers in life and the really funny part of Liberals is that they apparently believe their own lies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obama's health care will pass. All this worrying by the Democrats is simply a ploy to make stupid Americans believe those in power really considered and examined the issues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All this health care issue has demonstrated to those who pay attention is DEMOCRACY SUCKS. The weakness of a democracy has been exposed by the Obama administration, an immoral transient majority. But that is all it takes for a “democracy” (we are suppose to be a constitutional republic) to fail, one immoral transient majority as we have now. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The U.S. Constitution is supposed to protect the minority from an immoral majority but the Constitution is failing to protect us today from the immoral Obama Administration and Democrat controlled congress. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ First, Obama just put a known racist on the US Supreme Court. Such a despicable event speaks for itself. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second, Obama and the Democrat congress are running huge deficits that kids not born today will be force to work like slaves to pay back. The standard of living Americans have enjoyed in the past must decline in the future to payoff such debt. Enslaving people yet to be born by borrowing in their name should be illegal and it is surely immoral. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Third, Obamacare will surely pass and, while the immoral Obama administration is only transitory, Obamacare will be almost impossible to reverse. Thus, entire generations of kids not yet born will be slaves to such a system that is sure to be a socialist's dream; devoid of heart, inspiration to create, hope, and the spirit that has made America, America. (all because our Constitution was not strong enough to protect us from a transient immoral majority). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All that said, I suspect/hope the American people will compensate for the evil done by the Obama Administration. Such will have to be a fundamental shift of some type but it will have to happen or we are doomed. Luckily, we have Europe to watch as they come out of their ignorant Liberal socialistic system. Indeed, Europe is finally seeing the evils of socialism and taking corrective action (as long as the EU does not screw things up). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------You go Europe, show us the way out of socialism into which we Americans are plunging.

For over forty years I have watched leftists shout down speakers and generally make it impossible for some individuals to exercise their rights to free speech. Almost always, those who have been shouted down were conservatives or republicans. This continues to this day, especially in those cesspools of leftist thought, our college and university campuses. Often faculty and administrators are among those preventing speakers from being heard while campus police stand by with their hands over their eyes.

I generally do not see any attempts on the left to ask their own kind to avail speakers with opposing points of view their constitutional rights to free speech. I think it is sad that this country of ours is being taken over by mobs and recognize that this process has been going on for over forty years. It is even sadder that close associates of the President have taken to cheering on those who would brutalize current protesters through such publicized statements as 'punch back twice as hard.' That statement is a signal to union goons to physically strike at those with whom they disagree.

Perhaps you, as a college professor and public commentator could take on the task of informing and writing about and exposing all those at college and university functions at which speakers are shouted down, physically assaulted and therwise prevented from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights. You have made a start with essay, so I know you are aware of the problem and realize its long range implications, so just do it nd I will be with you all the way.

How many liberals hated Bush and Cheney.

Well Susan, we went through many years of liberals attacking anyone and everyone who did not toe their line. Now it is being fed back to them by the masses of Independent, Republican and Democrat voters who want a more central government for the people and not just the liberal agenda.

The community organizer would have us believe that everyone in America is soon going to lose their health insurance and the only way forward is to have the Single Payer Status of U.S. Government. He stated this in public in 2003 as per the video produced and shown on the internet. Now we have all the union bosses telling their member to get out and get in the faces of the people protesting against this system proposed by a bill that is not even complete that he wanted passed before it was read - ie. Stimulius Bill, Cap & Trade. No discussions in the Congress or Senate, no debates as to the effects on the public. In other words the same old Chicago policy of ram it down their throats as we know best.

Now the Democrats in the blue states are not even holding townhall meetings because they have seen that the people are fed up with the hope and change of forcing something down ones throat without a discussion, debate or plain old listening to what the people have to say.

We currently have 85% of the public happy with their health coverage and the numbers of 11 million illegals, 20 million who can afford but chose not to purchase insurance at their risk, and about 5 million who have the pre-exisiting conditions. So who is right and who is wrong. It would be much cheaper for the nation as a whole for several things to happen.

1. Tort reform limiting the amount a doctor or hospital could be sued for with bad doctors getting their license pulled.
2. Open competition allowing all insurance companies to operate in every state across the country instead of the current restrictions.
3. Establishing a pool of insurers who will provide coverage for people with pre-existing conditions with taxpayer help to help these people in a time of need.
4. Since America is the leading country for establishing new medicines the pharamacy companies should not be allowed to sell these medicines to other countries below what they sale for in America. Some of these medicines cost upward of $50,000 per year and yet are used in other countries for a fraction of the cost we pay. Why?

However stated, the liberals think that they have all the answers and refuse to listen or even talk on the subject which makes one wonder about their true objectives.

The reason why these town hall meetings turn into shouting matches is because so much legislation has passed unread and undebated. Screaming was the only way to get these jackels to start paying attention to what they are voting on.

As far as hate speech on our President. Well you know darn well that this has been going on since Nov. 2000. How many movies about George W. Bush were made, in fact one had him assasinated. Even as recently as last week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reinstated the belief that George Bush was election of illegitmate. See her remarks made in Zaire.

Dear Susan:
In typical evolution I passed through my 20s thinking I knew everything, I passed though my 30s and 40s slowly reversing that opinion 180 degrees. Now I'm in my 60s and I feel the rotation contiuing back to my original opinion. Except, this time I get to claim experience in addition to my education as justification. My current opinion is that the American left has finally sufficiently irritated enough people to move them to public action.
I think you are correct that there is a problem with the lack of civility in public discourse. The behavior of the left and in particular the behavior of the liberal media has for decades been the denigration of anyone who disagreed with them as being Fascists, Racists or Neanderthals. When the credentials of their targets prove impeccable character assasinations follow with the last resort being 'they are either intellectually dishonest or misinformed' tag. When the left loses an election it's because the election was "stolen'. It's not because the liberal platform didn't get enough votes. Frankly, the left today reminds me strongly of the left of the World War I era, ready to seize power by any and all means.
Finally, an observation about the left. When asked by my friends why the left supports some of the things that it does despite the fact that they are obviously bad public policy and possibly dangerous to the Republic, I've decided that as simply as I can put it:
The positions of the left are (generally) the logical conclusions of things it believes about the world which simply aren't true. It is out of touch with the people and for that matter the 21st Century. In many respects the left behaves like religious fundamentalists who, although unable to support their positions with empirical science - and frequently elections, nevertheless continue to believe and insist that the rest of us live according to their version of scripture. Amusingly and much like a mental illness, the Left has delusions of enemies and delusions about those delusions. The Left still has 19th Century Class Enemies and Vast Right Wing conspiracies.
... Joe

While I wholeheartedly agree that the idea of hating someone because they politically differ is really a waste of emotion and time I have to say that I think now is the perfect time for yelling. Calmly discussing issues has not taken us anywhere lately. Yelling is the escalation when simply speaking reason no longer works and it is a warning sign that says "violence is possible" if the yelling is ignored. In this instance yelling brought attention to the voices of many who were being ignored. Once they were being paid attention to the yelling ended and discussion has resumed. Both political parties have been ignoring the people, ignoring the Constitution and ignoring their sworn duties for a long time. If it took a yell to remind them of who is supposed to hold the power in the United States then I'm all for yelling.
Let me make it clear that in no way am I saying there should be violence. I am saying the spirit of resistance to expanding governmental power at the expense of Liberty is good.

Re: SusansMirror
"Almost writes an intelligent article." ???? Look pal, I may disagree with Susan on many, many things but don't try to pretend she is not intelligent or is somehow hypocritical. She does not waver in her beliefs and as for intelligence, I would not want to take her on in a debate, in a campaign or in a courtroom.
Disagree with her at will (I do) but don't come onto her opinion piece and disrespect her.

Dan

One place to start in trying to establish civility is the New York Times. Paul Krugman recently called those who voted against the global warming legislation in Congress traitors (and he meant it). Everyday he is spewing invective about anyone opposed to the liberal agenda. Today he stated "all that stands in the way of universal health care in America are the greed of the medical-industrial complex, the lies of the right-wing propaganda machine, and the gullibility of voters who believe those lies" Maureen Dowd has written absolutely vicious columns about Sarah Palin, and Bob Herbert and Frank Rich (who were so looney that I completely stopped reading them) are of the same ilk. If what was once considered an institution of reasoned thought stoops so low, what can we expect from average citizens?
People of influence, such as Ms. Estrich, (who I respect for not always towing the Democratic line) should be focusing on institutions with mass distribution first and then get to the average citizen.

When people see there choices taken away , they see freedom curtailed. That is a feeling of being put in chains!There is going to be alot of protesting and yelling!
Reform within the free market- sure, but a public plan ? NO! We have MC, MD and SS and they are not fairing so well. Private insurances can't compete with a public plan, specially if after 5 years no one can change their plan and insurance companies can't obtain new policy holders. Ins.premiums will go up, and quite a lot of people will have to drop off to the public plan. That's just one problem.
This is basically a difference in how many of us look at Life. That's why this country is now divided. We have people like me that want as little government intervention as possible and are willling to take personal responsibility for any outcome in our lives. While others want Government to make everything better, and that includes regulating equal outcome of life for all, with personal responsibility in name only.
I'm a believer in these people's philosphy of life. Milton Freidman, Thomas Sowell, Ayn Rand and Ronald Reagan.

This article is almost too much to swallow or even to try to take seriously after some of the tripe that Ms Estrich spewed on President Bush. Can't say that I've ever met this lady face to face but I doubt that she is capable of mentioning President Bush or say the word republican without gagging and throwing up her last meal. No doubt she and other liberals are completely at loss why those middle of the roaders who voted for Obama are now realizing that his message, "Hope For Change", was just that, a jingle with no substance. The problem with this healthcare plan, Ms. Estrich, is that the politicians who wrote this plan did so in pieces and then cludged it all together without looking at the overall effect it would have on the healthcare industry and most importantly, how expensive it is going to be. Add that to the debt started by the democratic congress elected into office in 2006----and we now have a ruined economy that is going to last for at least the next twenty years. You think the people at the townhall meeting are angry, you havn't heard from the rest of the country yet. Civility got thrown out by the liberals and by liberal journalist such as yourself who openly showed your hatred for anything but your point of view.

Re: Dan Re: SusansMirror "Almost writes an intelligent article." ???? Look pal, I may disagree with Susan on many, many things but don't try to pretend she is not intelligent or is somehow hypocritical. She does not waver in her beliefs and as for intelligence, I would not want to take her on in a debate, in a campaign or in a courtroom. Disagree with her at will (I do) but don't come onto her opinion piece and disrespect her. Dan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You have contorl issues, Dan. If you need someone to control go push your dog around or something as you do not control me. I write what I want, if you don't like it don't read it.