xiggi

I do not want to sound too sarcastic or too cynical, but needing a bill with thousands of pages for a "modest, incremental reform" won't do much to inspire much trust in our Congress. I shudder at the thought at would be needed if our current Congress had to deal with something that is neither modest nor incremental.

I also have to wonder why a party that dominates our Congress has such a problem of passing a legislation that offers only a "modest, incremental reform."

In a few days, someone might start calling this is a Modest Proposal requiring a swift conclusion.

Pizzagirl

Yeah, you should, just in case you were thinking about calling Laura Bush by the name Lady Bush as opposed to her proper titles, which would be Mrs. Bush or former First Lady Laura Bush. You're welcome!

Av8r

Just don't really get it. Why don't they start with fixing the really obvious and easy things like cracking down on all the Medicare fraud? Like tort reform to stop all the supposed unneccessary medical tests doctors are ordering (I know docs who pay up to 200K liability insurance-that surely raises the costs). The insurance companies already agreed to stop kicking people off their policies when they get sick, the drug companies agreed to billions of dollars worth of cost savings.

Why do we need a massive bill loaded with goodies for every conservative Democrat and liberal Republican to buy off their votes? Almost 2,000 pages? Why can't they just start taking care of the obvious and easy things, instead of turning this into a grossly expensive, invasive goody loaded bill? That is what they would do if the true intention was only to fix the problem.

So when I ask my super liberal family and friends these questions, they start changing the topic, become personal and start going on about how the Republicans are all just so selfish and just don't care about people. I'm guessing it's because they don't have a thought out, logical argument. For example, the last post making a big issue about calling Hillary Clinton, Lady Clinton. I'd imagine that was to add the distinction that they were not referring to the former president. When you don't have an argument, just attack, and change the subject!

catahoula

Obamacare's all things to all people, isn't it? Both those who claim it's an overhaul because incremental reform would just delay things (funny how most of the overhaul doesn't kick in till 2013 and after) and those who see only a public option added, which has seemed to be on the menu based on the day of the week and the phase of the moon.

Let's see, though... you're complaining about the proper form of address for HRC, while flogging Republicans and Christians?.. I really can't tell... as not giving a crap about anybody but themselves and their littermates.

xiggi

Pizzagirl, you're being silly. Where does that fixation about the exact titles of our First Ladies come from?

By the way, can I use the title Lady for the former Claudia Alta Taylor? Oops, I am also known to have messed up with the former Miss Robinson, or whatever I did with Michele Obama that aggravated the purists. I really need to check online sources before typing in this august forum.

Presidents are so much easier to deal with! From Tricky Dick to Dubya via Slick Willie. Now, calling a person Lady, that is really, really demeaning.

Av8r

That's hilarious, Xiggi! Reminds me of how angry Barbara Boxer got when that Brigadier General dared to call her Ma'am instead of Senator. Oh, the insult!

DocT

"Just don't really get it. Why don't they start with fixing the really obvious and easy things like cracking down on all the Medicare fraud?"

You know the old saying: "never let a crisis go to waste!" except for the millions of people out of work - so lets focus on healthcare!

Av8r

Yep, you're probably right. The economy is going down the tubes, so "Healthcare, Education, and Energy policy". As if the magic three goals had anything whatsoever to do with causing the downturn in the economy.

vicariousparent

I could write a two-page bill that would be a far more radical change. So could you.

xiggi

Perhaps ... but Reid and Pelosi can't.