I don't like it but here is the idea.
Right now health care is a non taxed benefit. The idea is to make really overly generous benefit plans (i.e. Govt Union plans are an example of really really generous plans that are mostly a way of increasing pay without actually paying more) taxable while creating a tax deduction for people who buy their own health insurance. I would wait and see what actually comes out and where various groups like the Govt Employee Unions and AARP line up on it. My initial reaction is to hate anything that includes a tax increase but that just me.
9. Laverne #146 I didn't watch the first half of FNS today because I knew it was just going to be a Bush bash, and I'm simply over that. I did watch the panel. Kristol really took on Juan today, big time. Kristol even questioned weather the democrats really want us to win in Iraq; he is really questioning their judgement, and rightly so. This non-binding resolution is a tool to give aide and comfort to our enemy, and they know it, and they don't care. Juan brought up the 20 troops who were killed yesterday -- worst one-day loss in two years. Brit interrupts: Well Juan, just what are the democrats doing to stop that? Democrats are doing nothing to stop the death of our troops, indeed, they are doing everything they can to continue it. It is beyond disgraceful. And....Hagel [in Laverne's opinion not Brit's :-)} should be expelled from the republican caucus.
8.Samantha #747 hate to agree about Rush's behavior at times, but it is true. I have had to turn him off several times in the past year alone because of the Filthy and disgusting topics, Language and him keeping the cruddy story going. When I turn him off that is usually it for the day, I go on to other things and totally forget to turn the Radio back on. He is such a valuable asset, and great Person except in those times when he seems like a different person. I have discussed this with others, both Men and Women and we all do the same thing, we turn off the Radio, and cannot understand why he finds himself compelled to do this.
7. Morgan in Denver #398 I was concentrating on Newt's statement this morning that our bureaucracy is in a terrible state. This is not new and has been a complaint coming from the right for years now. We have complained and commented and yet rarely has anything been done about it. Powell failed to make any great changes in State, Rice is doing better at State now but perception is it has not changed enough. Rumsfeld did change the military quite a bit and we now have the best fighting force in our history even though some of the old guard generals cannot accept the change. Bolton at the UN was fantastic, but constantly under attack by Democrats that made it harder. The FBI and CIA are doing better but there are still too many leaks and people there who want us to lose so the left benefits. In the above, Newt is right on target as to what we believe is still wrong and what has to be done. But, I don't know if anyone can make the changes necessary in the near future. This has been problematic for decades and it may be unrealistic to think it will change quickly.
6. The Shrew #362 Wonder where this clinton/obama ticket leaves Bill Richardson...he announced yesterday, but seems to have been ignored by the media other than in NM...couldn't happen to a "nicer" guy. Bad as obama is, I think richardson is worse, he's a clinton tool. Where this leaves Bill Richardson is as the 2008 Vice-Presidential Candidate for the democrat party. Obama is SOL. In political spin tone, here's ten reasons: 1. Richardson is a member of the up and coming minority - Hispanics. 2. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 3. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 4. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 5. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 6. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 7. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 8. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 9. Richardson is a Clinton Insider. 10. Richardson is a Western Governor which will fit in perfectly with the dem strategy to remove the Independent Western US from the GOP side of the ledger. It's a potentially winning strategy. The Western US has all but been ignored by both parties since 1860. The dems know that they haven't played well in the south since peanut boy became president. They can't break the Evangelical Christian/Gun owning South. But, they can play well in the California dominated, sparsely populated, environmentally concerned, and increasingly secular humanist Western US. Regards, TS
5. Macia #481. eddy wants to use diplomatic means to deal with Iraq and to cover a withdrawal. And, my goodness, Massachusetts Fats thinks that the Bush administration has made things worse in Iran! %%%%%% This must be classic libspeak on websites and shows that we do not frequent. I heard a revealing discussion on a Jewish hour radio show this morning - several Jewish Democrats were debating a Jewish Republican. The Democrats blamed Republicans for making Israel a wedge issue within the Jewish community. As he was challenged on his statement that Jewish Democrats also support Israel, he noted that Iran became a problem after Bush invaded Iraq. It is my firm conviction that Democrats lie to themselves. They make up stuff, repeat it often and then believe it. The Republican ended with a clincher, (from my perspective) by saying which party is for a strong United States, and which party favors a strong United Nations.
4. Carolinamom #405 I like him too...and wish we could see and hear him more. I am so weary of all the "former" clinton administration's talkers....we had 8 years of hearing them and 6 years (and counting) of "former" preceding their names. FOURTEEN years of the same d*** faces and voices is TOO much. It IS 'time for a change'.