It seems to me that in the Senate, which used to be a bastion of integrity, the word has lost out to the personal benefits gained for each individual politician. At some time in their life, it will come to their attention that what they are doing is not in the best interest of the country. Then they will have to live with themselves.
>> Edward Mazer Sunday, December 20, 2009 8:42 PM

Mr. Mazer, You are correct. Not only will they have to live with themselves, but they will one day be face-to-face with the God to Whom they swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of our nation, which is the very document giving them authority to serve in office in the first place. We the People shall have a responsibility as citizens to find them derelict in their duties, and remove them to the ranks of the unemployed.
>> Hobie Sunday, December 20, 2009 11:39 PM

Where were you idiots when the Bushies were on their spending spree? I do not recall hearing a sound from that spider hole that you crawled out of..................
>> Mark Tuesday, December 22, 2009 4:57 AM

I wish all of the typical liberals who make comments about "Bushies" would kindly remember that at the height of the spending, the Congress was Democrat controlled and "they wrote" the legislation and also approved the spending for the war. Please get your fact pins in order before putting a bowling ball in your mouth. The President cannot veto if the majority rules.
>> Marie Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:59 AM

Mark please allow me also to make a small point as well. When President Bush left office our debt was approximately 480 billion that is with a B your president has improved that greatly using I believe a T for trillon in deficit something like 1.2 trillon as reported and golly gee he and the demorcatic congress did all that in just a single year. Mark please understand my anger I have 6 grand children and I believe they have every right to inherit the same country the same liberties and life style that I have lived and frankly that simply will not be possible as things are going now. This change is not what is in the best interest of the American people or our children and noone has argued that fact sir!
>> Judy Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:32 AM

Of course, I cant't speak for the rest of us idiots, Mark, but in my case, I guess I just assumed that although I realized there was some degree of corruption in our government, I was naive enough to think it wasn't to the degree which would result in the potentially irreparable damage we have been witnessing in the last several months. The result is that more and more of us idiots are becoming less and less "useful" as we educate ourselves about what is necessary to restore the Republic to its founding principles, and begin to seek out and support candidates for public office who will commit to serving on the basis of Principle rather than Politics. You are invited to join us and view our "Reagan List" at: www.AIPNews.com
>> Hobie Tuesday, December 22, 2009 3:00 PM

Really? Ben Nelson got almost the entire farm for Nebraska, and the bill won't even get a final vote until Friday morning. Then, he'll get a second chance to spit in yer eyes. Now, can you tell me where in the bill (If you can even find it. I can't.) it will raise your income taxes? Is it hidden in there with the "Death Panel" language? Or maybe the part that shuffles billions to Big Insurance and Big Pharma. I think it's hidden there. Honestly, if it's loyalty you want, buy a dog. Tune in to Rachel Maddow, your view of reality could improve.
>> Obot DaveM Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:10 PM

To E. Mazer: The Senate used to be a bastion of integrity? Of what period in American history are you alluding to sir? If indeed the Senate has ever been a bastion of anything, it would be of the self-interests of the upper class and big business! Do you truly believe that every single Republican senator that has voted against the Health Care Bill is doing so because of principle and integrity? Or could it be that these senators are receiving contributions from Private interests in the Health Insurance industry? Let’s think about that for a moment, shall we?
>> Carlos Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:10 AM

To Marie: Before telling others to get their facts in order, you should do so yourself. The President of the United States DOES have the power to veto any legislation that comes to him after being approved by both chambers of Congress. That is what is known as “Separation of Powers and, Checks and Balances.” This concept, originally conceived by the French philosophe (not philosopher) Montesquieu, was intended as a way of dividing the power of government into three equally balanced branches that could oversee the actions of the others in a way that would prevent any single one from becoming too powerful. Alas, no system is perfect, as we witnessed during the eight years of Executive abuse in the Bush/Cheney administration!
>> Carlos Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:18 AM

To Judy (1): Madam, the first problem I have with what you wrote is that you are throwing numbers around without any sort of evidence or research to back up your numbers. This offends me as a political scientist and as an economist! With a little research you can find the following information: "On the day President Bush took office, the national debt stood at $5.727 trillion. The latest number from the Treasury Department shows the national debt now stands at more than $9.849 trillion. That’s a 71.9 percent increase on Mr. Bush’s watch." (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/29/couricandco/entry4486228.shtml)
>> Carlos Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:24 AM

To Judy (2): What you are referring to is the 2008 budget deficit, which was indeed $455 billion with a B. That was the deficit of ONE year. The national debt of that same year increased by One Trillion dollars….that’s trillion with a B. Here is some info on that: during 2008 the budget deficit was $455 billion but the national debt increased by $1 trillion, the first time it has done so in a single year. The total debt has increased over $500 billion each year since FY 2003, considering both budgeted and non-budgeted spending. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._national_debt)
>> Carlos Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:28 AM

To Judy (3): Secondly, I have a problem with your response to Mark in which you refer to President Obama as “HIS” president! Are you not American? You do understand that President Obama is President of the United States right? That means he is the president of all Americans, not only of those that voted for him! Believe me, I wish each one of us could decide if we wanted an elected official to represent us or not, so I could say that President George W. Bush was “your” president and not "mine", because that man was an embarassment, a buffoon and a donkey’s ass. Nonetheless, he was my president for 8 years, just like President Obama is currently YOUR president!
>> Carlos Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:35 AM

Finally, to Hobie: If you want to accuse any administration of corruption, start with the Bush administration, ok? Why don’t you look up HALLIBURTON, and that company’s connection to Lord Cheney and the Bush Administration, as well as with the Iraq War. Perhaps if you leave your bias aside, you may learn something about the wickedness of true corruption…the one that puts profit margins before the lives of our soldiers and of the thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens that have died to make these scumbags billions of dollars!!!!
>> Carlos Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:39 AM

I think if you'll carefully reread my comments, Carlos, you'll notice I refrained from referencing any particular administration or political party.
>> Hobie Wednesday, December 23, 2009 9:06 AM

Carlos, You are wrong about the veto power of the president. If Congress decides to get two-thirds majority they can override the veto. Throwing around the idea that your political scientist and economic background gives you the right to detail us to death shows how ignorant you are with your fulsome facts. And the word trillion begins with a T not a B as you so commented to Judy. If you are sourcing information from Wikipedia, I would use discretion. The accuracy is considerably suspect. Their Moderators consistently delete items that they do no like because I have seen it done. It cannot be changed if they lock that subject. If President Obama would ACT like he is president of all Americans, we would feel that he is "ours"
>> mk212 Wednesday, December 23, 2009 9:27 AM

Please tell me how President Obama should act if he wants to be seen as a "real" President.
>> Mark Wednesday, December 23, 2009 1:13 PM

Show his real birth certificate? :-) Sarcasm intended.
>> mk212 Wednesday, December 23, 2009 5:39 PM

oh, you are a birther. Do you also howl at the full moon?
>> Mark Wednesday, December 23, 2009 6:37 PM

Did you read the post? Do you know the meaning of sarcasm? Your humor is lacking.
>> mk212 Wednesday, December 23, 2009 7:29 PM

I was as serious as a heart attack!
>> Mark Wednesday, December 23, 2009 7:45 PM

My Cardiologist will see you know. Better get it done now before government health care takes effect in 2013.
>> mk212 Wednesday, December 23, 2009 10:18 PM

Sheesh, can't even spell before suggesting an appointment with my cardiologist "now". Exhaustion takes its toll after a long day at the grind. Sorry for the levity.
>> mk212 Wednesday, December 23, 2009 10:25 PM

Liberals protest against war, conservatives protest against health care. What a world we live in...
>> Mark Thursday, December 24, 2009 12:19 AM