Obama Biden - Thoughts?

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I will go out on a limb and say that I am not a huge Obama fan. However, I see the need to put a Democrat in the White House to hopefully get the Supreme Court balanced out a bit more over the next few years. I awoke this morning to find the news had finally been broken overnight when my Dogpile homepage loaded with the most recent searches being "Obama Text" and "Biden Biography".

I have to say that his choice of Joe Biden initially has made my thoughts of voting Democrat a bit more at ease. I have more research to do on Biden, but I was curious what the choice has done to your opinion on the matter.

I just found this link on his record on the issues....
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53279

 

[zulemara]

all I can say is Obama has been slipping in the polls and I find Biden to be the boost he needs on foreign policy. McCain immediately noted that Biden was so opposed to Obama and called him not ready to be president, but I think that's what's important. Opposites attract and Obama said he wants someone who is respectful, but isn't afraid to give him a countering opinion. We shall see...

 

[Chuck S]

I still think for those of us that supported Hillary in the primary, that selecting her as a VP candidate would have made 12 million democrats a lot more comfortable with having him as the presidential choice. I'll vote for him for the Supreme Court, but I know several former Hillary supporters that will NOT vote for him with Biden, even though I have repeatedly explained how important the SC will be during the next presidential term. I do hope Obama is able to do something about this expensive health care.

Of course, I'm still trying to figure out how McCain got to be the Republican nominee over Romney.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Just looked over his voting record, he works quite well for me!

I am not a one issue voter, but because this is the gay board, I did find a few things of interest....

I've been to Afghanistan, I've been to Iraq seven times, I've been in the Balkans, I've been in these foxholes with these kids, literally in bunkers with them. Let me tell you something, nobody asked anybody else whether they're gay in those foxholes. Our allies -- the British, the French, all our major allies -- gays openly serve. I don't know the last time an American soldier said to a backup from a Brit, "Hey, by the way, let me check. Are you gay? Are you straight?" This is ridiculous.

Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.

Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes.

Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation.

Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.

 

[mykidsintow]

I just think all of our options suck!

I definately think they need to monitor insurance companies. However, I don't believe that public healthcare is the way to go. I want to CHOOSE the Drs that I take my special needs child to, that all of us go to. I don't want to wait 8 months for cancer treatment and die while waiting if its ever needed. They use other countries with healthcare as examples and they don't look a bit at the *quality* of care. I don't want to be told I have to go to Dr X because of where I live. I think if it comes to anything remotely close to what some other countries have in place I may take my special needs kiddo and relocate across the big blue ocean.

I think Ron Paul had the right idea. Lets follow the constitution and stop letting government have so much freakin control over our lives. We are slowly but surely giving any "freedoms" we have away....

Why is it any of the goverments business if I choose to homeschool? If a gay couple chooses to get married. If I choose to take my kid to Utah or Texas to the *best* spine Dr in the US instead of going to the closest one. Its not their business, period.

The direction is all very sad to me....

 

[Chuck S]

I don't want to be told I have to go to Dr X because of where I live.

Unfortunately, many US Seniors are already in that situation. My cousin belongs to Secure Horizons, her doctor ordered a colonoscopy and gave her Sodium Phosphate, which shut down her kidneys (I don't think she is going to have any quality of life for however long she lives.) Her son wants to take her to Austin, so she is closer to him. There are no Secure Horizons facilities in Austin for dialysis, nor primary care physicians. So she is stuck in San Antonio with her sister as she needs dialysis 3x a week for now, all because her doctor ordered a colonoscopy 3 weeks ago.

 

[Tony-NJ]

Unfortunately, many US Seniors are already in that situation. My cousin belongs to Secure Horizons, her doctor ordered a colonoscopy and gave her Sodium Phosphate, which shut down her kidneys (I don't think she is going to have any quality of life for however long she lives.) Her son wants to take her to Austin, so she is closer to him. There are no Secure Horizons facilities in Austin for dialysis, nor primary care physicians. So she is stuck in San Antonio with her sister as she needs dialysis 3x a week for now, all because her doctor ordered a colonoscopy 3 weeks ago.

this drives me nuts! Yes something needs to be done about healthcare in this country. My company offers us the most hideous plan ever and I pay quite a bit for it. I'm so torn down the middle of right / left LOL. healthcare is a big issue for me. Get us safely out of iraq - and keep us safe and the economy. Those are my biggest issues - which beings me to oil. Yes we need to find other sources - BUT for fgoodness sakes - drill off our coat - it's there and it will create lots of jobs. Lets face it oil isn't going away in the near future. Lets find other ways of heating our homes / fueling our cars etc - but in the meantime - we have plenty of it here.

 

[PghLybrt]

I don't know how i feel yet aabout the ticket. (oddly my dad likes it and he is a huge republican.... )

I definately think they need to monitor insurance companies. However, I don't believe that public healthcare is the way to go. .

As for this, I don't think that will ever work. If companies get to deny even to carry you (which should be how business works) then healthcare in this country will never be fair.

Want to know how you can get the doctors and procedures you want? Pay out of pocket! That what my girlfriend and I did for over 10 years (including major surgery) because NO heath insurance company would even touch her!! How is that fair? Now we pay for her alone over 1600 a month, mine 82. Oh and hers is only major medical, I still pay for all the sniffles, monthly meds (which are over $600 a month).

Sorry it’s a tender subject.

 

[Saxton]

I believe something needs to be done to overhaul the healthcare industry but I haven't heard any plan that I think will work. My father is seriously ill and in last 10 months I've had to take him to the emergency room 3 times (well, I took him twice and an ambulance took him the other time!). Each time I saw people using the ER as their family doctor with illnesses such as sore throats, bronchitis and back aches. The closest hospital for us is Catholic and they will treat everyone regardless of whether they have insurance or the ability to pay. My insurance policy would not allow me to go to an ER for a minor illness and I think most policies are the same so that leads me to believe that most of those folks have no insurance. That common cold that would maybe cost a $5-20 copay at a local doctor's office suddenly becomes a major expense and the end result is that someone has to pay so costs are passed on to everyone else.


My parents' have good health insurance and usually their prescriptions are a $5.00 copay (which is nice since my father takes over 20 pills a day). One medication he had to take for a while was $50 for 30 pills – I can't imagine how much it would have been without insurance. He's anemic and has to get weekly injections to boost his blood – those cost $530 each. A couple months ago his doctor's office called and said that the insurance company wasn't going to pay for the shots any more. His doctor was angry and frustrated, she had some choice words about insurance companies. My one brother and I discussed it and decided we would pay for my father to continue to get the shots without my parents' knowledge (they would be upset if they knew we were paying). Fortunately, the office was so angry over the situation that the manager of the medical group got involved and she said she was going to try to “fudge” the payment, I guess it worked because they called me to pick up the money and he's still getting the shots. I understand the pharmaceutical companies need to make money but I wonder what it really costs them to produce that injection, I have a hunch they're making a healthy profit at $530/shot. I also know that insurance companies need to watch for unnecessary treatments but looking at his history it's obvious that he's in bad shape and needs all the help he can get. My parents worked hard and paid into insurance all their lives and they shouldn't have to worry now. I'm not hearing either candidate say anything about healthcare that sounds like it would work.

 

[Chuck S]

I believe something needs to be done to overhaul the healthcare industry but I haven't heard any plan that I think will work. My father is seriously ill and in last 10 months I've had to take him to the emergency room 3 times (well, I took him twice and an ambulance took him the other time!). Each time I saw people using the ER as their family doctor with illnesses such as sore throats, bronchitis and back aches. The closest hospital for us is Catholic and they will treat everyone regardless of whether they have insurance or the ability to pay. My insurance policy would not allow me to go to an ER for a minor illness and I think most policies are the same so that leads me to believe that most of those folks have no insurance. That common cold that would maybe cost a $5-20 copay at a local doctor's office suddenly becomes a major expense and the end result is that someone has to pay so costs are passed on to everyone else.


My parents' have good health insurance and usually their prescriptions are a $5.00 copay (which is nice since my father takes over 20 pills a day). One medication he had to take for a while was $50 for 30 pills – I can't imagine how much it would have been without insurance. He's anemic and has to get weekly injections to boost his blood – those cost $530 each. A couple months ago his doctor's office called and said that the insurance company wasn't going to pay for the shots any more. His doctor was angry and frustrated, she had some choice words about insurance companies. My one brother and I discussed it and decided we would pay for my father to continue to get the shots without my parents' knowledge (they would be upset if they knew we were paying). Fortunately, the office was so angry over the situation that the manager of the medical group got involved and she said she was going to try to “fudge” the payment, I guess it worked because they called me to pick up the money and he's still getting the shots. I understand the pharmaceutical companies need to make money but I wonder what it really costs them to produce that injection, I have a hunch they're making a healthy profit at $530/shot. I also know that insurance companies need to watch for unnecessary treatments but looking at his history it's obvious that he's in bad shape and needs all the help he can get. My parents worked hard and paid into insurance all their lives and they shouldn't have to worry now. I'm not hearing either candidate say anything about healthcare that sounds like it would work.

Try getting 28 vials of rattlesnake anti-venom at $3000 per vial! That's right, a week in the hospital, plus that anti-venom was $108,000 for me last year. Ridiculous.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Try getting 28 vials of rattlesnake anti-venom at $3000 per vial! That's right, a week in the hospital, plus that anti-venom was $108,000 for me last year. Ridiculous.

My Golly! A week in the hospital and 28 vials of anti-venin!!!! How bad were you envenomated?!?! I've never been bit but a friend was bitten pretty high up on his calf (Mohave rattler -- at that) and it was a trip to the ER & 12 hours later, he was out & telling the story at the local watering hole.

p.s. -- odd little piece of rattlesnake trivia... horses generally get bit on the nose while grazing. First thing the vet does is shove two pieces of garden hose up their nostrils so they don't swell shut and asphyxiate. Apparently, horses are too dumb to breathe through their mouths...

I think Biden will be an OK VP -- he DOES have loads of Foreign Affairs experience. I actually remember the kerfluffle back in 88 when he borrowed the speech almost word-for-word from the English politician. Didn't add a lot to his credibility at the time -- but hopefully, he's learned and grown since then...

 

[Chuck S]

That snake injected a LOT of venom. I was in ICU for 4 days. I was bitten on the foot, the snake was under our washing machine in our detached laundry room. 4 foot long, but the rattle had been broken, so no warning sound. I have some permanent nerve damage in my foot (I lose my balance sometimes) and some swelling and permanent discoloration but other than that, I was lucky I got to the ER within 15 minutes.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Good heavens. That sounds terrible.

 

[jrsmom]

Just passing by, the thread topic caught my eye on the main page. I think that Joe Biden is a great choice. I live in that great state of NH and have plenty of access to the candidates. I first met Biden four years ago at a dinner and was so impressed, since then we have been to several BBQ's and such and each time that I have met him I like him more. My 13 year old predicted over a week ago that it would be him. I think that he will be a great compliment to the ticket, his knowledge of foreign affairs is second to none. He is a geniune person.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"I definately think they need to monitor insurance companies. However, I don't believe that public healthcare is the way to go. I want to CHOOSE the Drs that I take my special needs child to, that all of us go to. I don't want to wait 8 months for cancer treatment and die while waiting if its ever needed. They use other countries with healthcare as examples and they don't look a bit at the *quality* of care. I don't want to be told I have to go to Dr X because of where I live. I think if it comes to anything remotely close to what some other countries have in place I may take my special needs kiddo and relocate across the big blue ocean."

This touches home for us.. DH is battling Cancer and on Medicare, I am waiting for just one time they refuse to treat him....and I will hire an attorney so fast and go public to speak out against big insurance companies or Medicare.. So far they have been fair, but every six months I am tortured by the company that pays his disability insurance.....every six months.. form after form to be filled out, but we do it as the alternative is that he not receive disability from the job he worked 36 years at.. And then there is what I get to pay for medical insurance.. yes a whopping $900 a month for just little ole me and they call all the time trying to educate me about reflux disease or this and that... I finally asked them not to call anymore, I know what triggers my reflux, and if they continued to call after I have asked them not to, I would consider it harrassment..

I have had enough...the candidate that wants to take on the healthcare industry and fix it will get my vote.. no matter what party he is with. So far, no one has wowed me with their plans... I may write in my husband's name for President come this November.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I don't even want to go into what happened to me over the past year, but let's just say that I cost about $100,000 too. Between a multi night hospital stay, multiple specialist visits, surgery, and high dollar meds, I have not been cheap to keep. I have gone into some pretty serious debt too, which has depleted our emergency fund and run up a bunch of credit card debt, like I have NEVER had before. It's going to take years to rebound from the lost wages, bills, and debt. That's part of the reason why we are not going to WDW in 2009. We hope to be able to go back in 2010, but even that is not for certain right now.

I do wish that our healthcare system was not as broken as it is. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Our politicians are so out of touch with our realities that there is no way that this is going to be fixed anytime soon either.

ETA: If it were not for the fact that multiple members of Corey's family have already invested in our vacation plans for December and the fact that Corey's mom's health is on a fairly steady decline, we would not be going in December, but the money is already set aside, so we are going to go.

 

[mykidsintow]

Sorry to get into the big healthcare debate. Its just really irks me overall.

I also think hospitals need to do something to monitor who is being seen in ERs. Unless someone has a reactive airway or something else compromising their immune system then there is NO WAY anyone should be seen in an ER for a cold and I don't care if its the only way they can get it free. They need a "pre screen" in my not-so-humble opinion. Teach people to stop going to the ER because their ear hurts... HELLO PEOPLE.... you WILL LIVE UNTIL MONDAY! Little Susie WILL make it, even with a cold. Insane....

Oh well its all a huge mess in my opinion. Where we currently are our insurance coverage is fine. My daughter can go to whoever I want her to go to.... because we pay extra for that type insurance. Thats our choice and we cut in other areas to do that. I don't want some new amazing overhaul to take that option from us.

I may vote for Mickey Mouse

 

[OrlandoMike]

Not sure if this has rolled out nation wide yet, but my Walmart has a clinic.

Let me start out by saying I am in no way a fan of Walmart.

BUT...

On three occasions I have had a small medical issue. I was literally in and out in less than 30 minutes with the prescription I needed for a very small co-pay.

Now sit down for the last part of this story....

On all three occasions, the docter called me the next day to see how I was doing!

I read somewhere that Walmart is rolling this out nation wide, something you may want to look into next time you have a non-emergency medical situation that needs attention.

 

[Chuck S]

I read somewhere that Walmart is rolling this out nation wide, something you may want to look into next time you have a non-emergency medical situation that needs attention.

Interesting, probably a handy service. I predict my local Wal-Mart won't get one, though. I just doesn't seem likely in this area, knowing the local politics/good ole boy climate. The McDs in Wal-Mart closed out, though. They are using that area for palleted sale merchadise.

 

[turkygurl]

CVS has these as well. They are called Minute Clinics and you can either use your insurance (and get a co-pay), or if you don't have insurance, the cost is generally $45, unless you have to get shots, which are priced separately. I've gone there before and have been in and out (with a prescription) in under 40 min. They open at 7am and close at 8pm, so you can go before or after work. It's affordable and convenient. I don't think public healthcare is the way to go either. If people would learn to let their kids HAVE a cold, stomach bug, etc., and not take them to the Dr. or emergency room with the least little thing. AND if we didn't let lawyers influence medical costs and care (which cause malpractice insurance to rise each year), things would be a lot better. You don't have to go to the extreme of public healthcare.