The Top 25 U.S. Insurance Stories of 2013

December 30, 2013

  • December 30, 2013 at 1:42 pm
    KY jw says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    It’s funny to read the comments on the old articles. Interesting how some talking points have changed. Others should now be saying, “I told you so!”

    • December 30, 2013 at 2:05 pm
      Agent says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      If the top insurance stories were based on number of comments received on IJ, they could list 25 different stories on Obamacare. Obvioulsy, that wasn’t the criteria they used to list these stories.

      • December 30, 2013 at 2:31 pm
        KY jw says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Definitely.

    • December 30, 2013 at 2:37 pm
      Agent says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      KYjw, I really don’t think the talking points have changed much since the leftists on the site are still sticking to their story and the comments from the right are still spot on about what a disaster this has been and is. I wonder what Libby & Celtica will say after 1-1 and what will hit the fan when we see the stories about the folks who thought they had coverage and don’t. I also want to know how many young people have signed up who they are counting on. They may have to move the goal posts again and move the age up to somewhere around 45 to get enough to count.

      • January 15, 2014 at 1:23 pm
        insurance is fun! says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Agent, what about me? I’m a libtard, too!

  • December 30, 2013 at 3:34 pm
    Gadfly says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    The rest of the industrialized world solved the health care problem, well, about 50-60 years ago. The USA thinks it has a better idea but it can’t be done this way which has been proven over and over again. In America you get to die of cancer and go broke all at the same time. How wonderful. Private for profit health care is a loser unless 40 million citizens can be kicked to the curb. Oh btw, the US is no longer an industrialized nation – we exported that to China and they finance our debt. When they finally stop buying our bonds the right wingnuts will want another war instead of paying for health care. The fools vote against themselves. Duh.

    • January 2, 2014 at 2:53 pm
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Is that why cancer deaths are equal in those countries that “solved” the problem 50-60 years ago, despite our obesity rates being triple theirs?

      Obesity causes 1/10 cases of cancer. We should have 10% more deaths there.

      Bad diet contributes to half of cancer rates. AKA no fruits and vegetables. We should have 60% more deaths.

      Our people here get treated and live. People there should be dying less if the healthcare is better, as their lifestyles are better.

      But they aren’t. Wonder why?

    • January 3, 2014 at 1:54 pm
      Captain Planet says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Gadfly,
      Pay no mind to the thumb downers out there. Usually, when that number gets high, it means you are on the right track. I hear you about going broke and dying at the same time. The number one cause of bankruptcy in this nation are healthcare bills. We need to remove the profit motive from healthcare and wheras the PPACA certainly doesn’t do that, I think it’s stepping us towards that result and in that case, I applaud it. Hopefully 2014 gets us closer to a single payer system. Cheers and Happy New Year to you!

    • January 3, 2014 at 3:40 pm
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2013/291546/

      Contrary to what Planet says, being “hip” or “against the norm” doesn’t make you on the right track.

      This is obesity alone, not poor diets, which we statistically have in addition to obesity(lack of fruit and vegetables).

      Consider that this is Italy, and they have a lower rate of obesity, but that cancer cases from obesity is still estimated to be 20% of all their cancers, and that women in post menopause that are obese make up 50% of all patients with cancer.

      There’s a clear link.

      And yet, obesity here is over 30%, we are the most obese nation in the world.

      Now on cancer survival rates:

      http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-027766.pdf

      Page 8: The United States wins over all. I define the best healthcare system by the one with the best survival rates.

      Note this same article actually goes over something interesting, by accident.

      The section where it states the actual occurrence rates, not survival rates, is substantially lower in developing countries over a developed one. Do you know why?

      It follows what I said: Nutrition, and Obesity. Their survival rates are terrible. But their occurrence rates are less. This is why you don’t want to look at a study that says the leading causes of death. It’s methodology.

      As a side comment to Ron:

      Stick that in your tail pipe and suck on it, bi!#%ch. I’m sick of a feeble minded fellow like you who doesn’t look things up saying I’m clueless.

      Moral of the story: Our overall survival rate for all cancers is 65.9, the highest of any developed nation.

      Our occurrence rate however, is terrible, among the worst in the world, far more than non developed countries.

      The result is: Overall, we have more people dying of cancer because we have more occurrence rates, but more people surviving cancer, due to our superior treatment.

      And Ron, read into my full statement here, and you’ll see that this is exactly your problem.

      Your comments while technically true, often don’t look at the full picture.

      Like for example: Deficits slowing after Obama. They had to. Put it in perspective: 2 years prior to Obama’s first deficit normal deficits were $250 billion per year. Obama is making about 5 times the norm, the norm. He isn’t spending well, by not increasing the amount even more than Bush’s (single) bad year. He’s certainly doing horribly by repeating it 4 times. Relevance, in methodology Ron.

  • December 30, 2013 at 4:01 pm
    UW says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Am surprised that the former head of CAOM (MI WC company) stealing millions from the company while he was president was not one of the top 10 stories.

    http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2013/06/06/294568.htm

    Can’t believe that this was even barely reported. Two guys stole $2.6mm and it’s just a blip? Shows how much we have become accustomed to theft, fraud and embezzlement, especially after the Dixon IL controller stole $53mm over 20+ years. That story never really made the news either.

  • December 30, 2013 at 4:48 pm
    Libby says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Posted July 18, 2013:

    “Agent – cuts can probably be made across the board. Some areas more and some less. And let me make myself clear on Obamacare. I support universal healthcare. I don’t necessarily think Obamacare is the best way to accomplish that, but right now it’s the only way we have. Congress should work together to improve it instead of fighting in absolutes over it.

    Jobs will be created when the people with the money start spending it. There is plenty of capital out there, but it is not being used to create jobs in the U.S. because there is no incentive to create jobs here. As long as plants are being built overseas and manned with non-Americans, we will not have a thriving economy in America. The owners of these businesses are making lots of money, but they are not spending it here. That’s due to corporate greed, plain and simple.”

    I don’t think my position has changed much at all.

    • December 31, 2013 at 8:28 am
      PM says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Libby, funny. I’ve read your posts all year. Your allegiance is not what it was in March. The reality is that you want what the Republicans in Congress want. An improvement to healthcare that is viable and works. Your dictator that you call president is the one that does not compromise. He speaks publically about the great negotiator he is and what he stands for. Then behind closed doors, he lies cheats and steals his way to obtain his true goal. Its not only the USA that are sick of his lies, but leaders of many allies around the world have now acknowledged that his actions do not follow his words.

      I don’t know you Libby, but let me give you some advise. Know what’s in the cool-aid before you drink it.

      • December 31, 2013 at 8:55 am
        Libby says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        PM – I don’t know what you mean by “Your allegiance is not what is was in March,” but if it means I have changed my position based on facts, then why would that be a bad thing? I’d like to think that, unlike many righties on this site, I am open to changing my opinion based on current events which change over time. That’s what’s called being open minded, or as you would understand, fair and balanced. The fact that you try to make that into a negative is telling beyond words.

        And a couple of housekeeping issues – it’s ADVICE and KOOL-AID.

        • January 2, 2014 at 7:29 am
          KY jw says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          I wanted to point out the spelling issues, but you beat me to it. ;)

      • December 31, 2013 at 9:56 am
        Ron says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        PM,

        If President Obama is a dictator then we would have single payer universaL health care, people making over $200k ($250k if maried) would be paying higher income taxes, many tax loopholes would be closed, the tax rate on carried interest would match regular income tax rates, there would be no need for increasing the debt ceiling, Guantanamo Bay would be closed, and he would have no need to lie.

        Please stop with the hyperbole unless you have facts to back it up.

        Unless you have renounced your United States citizenship and moved to another country he is your President too, like it or not.

        • January 2, 2014 at 2:36 pm
          bob says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Oh shut up Ron. He has barely garnered any bi partisan support.

          He has been forceful. You trying to down play it, without regard to facts is just evident of your phony, I’m against everyone, but I’ll defend Obama crap, as usual.

          And it’s easy to see through.

          • January 2, 2014 at 5:32 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob, Good for you for telling Ron to shut up. He is a through and through Progressive in Independent clothing. You are right, this law was totally partisan with not one Republican vote and has been thoroughly shoved down the American Peoples throat. Millions have lost coverage, the website is a joke and premiums are skyrocketing across the country. They claim they are for the Middle Class and then do this to destroy the Middle Class as we have known it. There is going to be a price to be paid politically for the Democratic Party in the Mid terms so no wonder Democraps are running away and hoping to hide from this disaster. Sorry, they will be held accountable by the voters.

          • January 2, 2014 at 5:40 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            True that. I’m just getting annoyed by him. When I’m not around he doesn’t have to dance nearly as hard, he just says idiotic, non-researched and ill-backed up commentary.

            He constantly is willing to say how all politicians are bad, but then when someone actually calls Obama bad, or dominating, he says the person is stupid.

            This by default is supporting the left, considering how much he mocks Boehner, as an example, for holding things hostage.

            He didn’t show contempt against Obama. In fact, he said how could Obama get it down, there are three chains of government. Then he back petaled and said he never said Obama isn’t a key part, but he isn’t THE key part.

            I’ve never seen him start by saying “TO HELL WITH OBAMA HE SHOULDN’T DO THAT!!”.

            It’s all a bunch of hokey pokey, hocus pocus, fluff.

          • January 15, 2014 at 6:06 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Yes Bob, when all this was heating up in 09, there was almost as much opposition from Democrats as the Republicans. Obama was spouting off that the Republicans were holding it all up and they couldn’t stop anything since the Dems had control of both houses. Democrats had to be bribed, cajoled, threatened to vote for this trash and many lost their seats in 2010. Now, after the disaster has unfolded, they are in dire straits for their seats. None want to be seen with Obama and are not seeking his help for re-election.

      • December 31, 2013 at 4:37 pm
        Celtica says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        PM: Don’t be daft. The Republicans do not want better health care. If they really wanted a viable form, they would have suggested it by now. The only objective they had was to kill Obamacare and make Obama a one term president. So — how did that work out for you?

        Other than that — Happy New Year!

        • January 2, 2014 at 2:43 pm
          bob says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Wrong. Here are several republican alternatives, and they were not bad. They have continually tried to pass options Republicans on healthcare:

          http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/08/28/seriously-the-republicans-have-no-health-plan/

          Republicans on retirement, new plans, Democrats on healthcare, GET THE RICH, MORE TAXES THAT’S THE ONLY WAY!! (no it’s not, the Bush W plan was the best way, and Paul Ryan’s):

          http://hr-system.com/Bush%20retirement%20plan%20proposals.htm

          Republicans are not against people. They realize that social security as an example, actually taxes 12.2% of a poor person’s income, and that investments are a better route. That’s why republicans made the tax credits for poor people who invest, not democrats. That’s why George W tried to not only make these tax credits, non taxable accounts, he tried to make the tax free at withdrawal. Even $3,500 a year turns into 1.6-2.0 million at retirement, which inflation adjusted is twice as much as they can expect to receive from social security, while it also opens up capital in those investments for loans and business that incur growth. Rather than spending government dollars when capital is scarce and raising taxes like Obama did.

          Natural organic growth, sustainable growth.

          You need to get educated on the issues.

        • January 2, 2014 at 6:03 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Bob, Ron always says things that start out agreeing and then the second half of his post is totally opposite. He likes to parse words, just like most Progressives do. It depends on what the definition of is is. Clinton apparently was a hero of his, you know the one who was disbarred and Impeached but not removed guy with the intern under the desk. He says that all politicians lie and all former President’s lie and they do to an extent, but you could lump all of the President’s in history together and all their lies added together might be as much as our current guy in just the past 3 years. Nixon got caught in one big lie and look what they did to him. I would argue that the numerous Obamacare lies are far worse since it impacts hundreds of millions Americans.

          • January 2, 2014 at 7:36 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            My dad and I joked about that just before he died.

            I said something like:

            “I did not have sexual relations with that woman. Of course that depends on your definition of “I” and “did””

            I was basically mocking that he should have taken the typical liberal response of temporary insanity, and “did” is subjective ;)

            With how much Ron twists it’s a phrase I think is perfect for him.

            On the lying front: I’m not sure if the amount of lying is equal to all presidents, but I do know the corruption level, and the success through the use of lying, has definitely been extremely in Obama’s favor. If it doesn’t stop, this country will begin to accept horrible status quos.

          • January 2, 2014 at 7:42 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent:

            As a side comment, this was literally one of our last conversations before he died.

            People like him die much younger than they should from taking on the stress of others in society.

            When I hear the B.S. about how liberals aren’t more likely to leech off of society, and we don’t have a problem with freeloaders I get ticked off.

            My father broke his back with 7 kids. 7. He put each through college. And he left about 1 million to us by being a savy investor. That money will be taxed at unfair rates. The retirement plans from Bush W and Romney would have had it taxed at 0%. Now it’s much more likely to be taxed between $150,000 to $250,000.

            He wasn’t a wealthy earner. He just invested well.

            People like Libby say we need the revenues.

            No. People need to get their damn hands out of the cookie jar, and work harder. They also need a social security investment program that doesn’t leave them with about half minimum wage at retirement, while burning through everyone else’s money.

            This can be done. Yes we can ;)

            Not “yes the government can”. Yes. We. Can.

          • January 2, 2014 at 7:47 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            Or for that matter, the inheritance tax.

            It counts assets. A firm with $10 million in assets would be taxed what, $3-$4 million?

            It harms the rich son of course. But the rich son doesn’t magically have money. With gifting taxes, etc, he can’t just inherit the firm tax free. And if he inherits a section of his fathers firm, he wouldn’t just magically have $3-$4 million cash laying around.

            What happens? He sells assets off. It destroys a business, capital is destroyed, and people lose jobs.

            But we just need to make a mandated capital crash each generation eh? All for a measly less than $100 billion of revenues. Likely less than $50. It’s more harm than good. Class war…Pish.

            My father died just after debating politics. He wasn’t ranting. He wasn’t raving. He was talking with a young man who is a friend of my youngest sibling. He fell down debating what he was passionate on.

            Horrible day. But that young man was trained in CPR, an atheist, who was there by chance. Kept my dad alive another 2 weeks to say goodbye to his family.

          • January 3, 2014 at 3:04 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob, I am sorry to hear about your Dad. I lost mine many years ago to complications from Diabetes and an embalism that went to his heart and killed him. My Dad never had two nickels to rub together and was a blue collar working man who managed to raise four kids and teach them the value of hard work and education. He was proud of me because I was the first in our family to get a college education and worked hard for it. I was lucky I had my Dad and you were lucky you had yours.

            I had to laugh at one of Ron’s posts several blogs back. He said his father in law called him a Progressive Socialist. I think his father in law had him pegged right, don’t you?

          • January 3, 2014 at 3:46 pm
            Ron says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            Your dad sounds a lot like mine and I was also the first in my family to earned a college degree even though I have 3 older brothers. I am proud to have learned the importance of hard work, loyalty, honesty and personal responsibility from him when he was alive.

            Maybe that is why I get so upset when you refer to me as a Progressive Socialist with absolutelty zero evidence. I have worked extemely hard with ZERO government assistance to elevate from lower to upper middle class.

          • January 6, 2014 at 3:58 am
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            If you’re proud, then you shouldn’t be calling out your dad for being on the system temporarily.

            You are disrespectful, dishonest, and you debate solely for your image points.

            You have constantly bashed republicans for insane issues.

            It’s their fault the PPACA was passed right? They were too passive?

            Why are the focusing on repealing the ACA and replacing it Ron? You said that was a fool’s politics game. Is it politics when the majority of people want it changed and it is bad as you yourself have admitted? The republicans are just as bad eh?

            You’re just a dishonest brat.

          • January 6, 2014 at 7:44 am
            Ron says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            For those who think they know me so well by my posts, but have very poor reading comprehension skills,

            My father-in-law is the hypocritical leech, not my Dad. He NEVER took government assistance and NEVER criticized nor judged those who did. He busted his ass to provide for my Mom, four brothers and me. For that and many other fine attributes, I am very proud of my Dad.

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:15 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Ron,

            In that case, you are disrespectful to your father in law.

            How often was he on the system?

            Also, it isn’t reading comprehension. It’s called pulling it out of memory problems. You want to quote any of my comments that are over a year old? Please do try with the amount of success I do you. You won’t be able to.

            And please, don’t play the “you don’t know me!” crap Ron.

            You’re such an immature guy.

      • January 2, 2014 at 4:22 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        So PM, Podesta alleged that Republicans were a cult like the Jim Jones church that committed mass suicide by drinking the poison Kool Aid. I am not sure how many of those people knew what they were drinking since they blindly followed their leader like lemmings. This is much like the low information voters who blindly follow Obama and believed all his serial lies about everything he says, including the multitude of Obamacare lies.

        • January 2, 2014 at 5:37 pm
          bob says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Agent,

          They always try to do that. Did you see in my link from Forbes what the democrats said?

          The republicans solution to healthcare is apparently don’t get sick, and if you do, die quickly.

          This with a Paul Ryan look alike wheeling a granny off a cliff. I mean for God’s sakes, Ron must be blind to think it’s equal.

          It’s not.

          • January 2, 2014 at 5:55 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob, the now infamous Allen Grayson of Florida proudly displayed a poster in the House back in the day on the Republican plan to just die. He was soundly defeated in the 2010 mid terms, then moved to a friendlier district due to re-districting and won so we have to put up with his mouth again. I think he may be the worst of the lot in the House and one of Podesta’s crowd where they compare Republicans to the Jim Jones cult.

    • January 6, 2014 at 9:51 am
      Agent says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Libby, jobs will be created when we rid ourselves of a government that is redistributing the wealth, ramming healthcare down our throat and creating the conditions for investment in jobs.

      • January 6, 2014 at 10:35 am
        Libby says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Just what post is this in response to, Agent?

  • January 3, 2014 at 8:18 am
    Ron says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    bob and Agent,

    You two are the most clueless, disrespecftful right-wing trolls I have ever come across. You use rheoric, taliking points, alternate methodolgy, and emotion to dispue my data, facts and results. Try presenting your own data and facts to dispute mine instead of going against the source. Do you even have any source for data to support your positions?

    As for President Obama, I do not blindly defend him. I only present facts when people make inaccurate statements like he is destroying the economy, has increased the size of government and government spending, he is redistributing wealth to the poor, or he is a dictator. You have no facts to back any of that up whereas I present specific examples of how those are not true.

    You should check out this website. It is not a government site, yet it does use governement data. It is really interesting when you sort by date back to 1981 and see the trends since President Reagan took office. Kinda eye opening, if you are open mided enough.

    http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/indicators

    I have crtiticized him for his mistakes; Benghazi, lack of transparency, lying about the effects of the PPACA, ineffectiveness working with Congress.

    Agent, I have respectfully asked you to not refer to me as anything other than an Independent. I have respectfully refrained from referring to you as a Republican, per your request. Why can you not extend me the same courtesy?

    Also, as I have said before, my Dad is and will always be my ONLY Hero. I have never, nor will ever, idolize ANY politician.

    bob,
    As I have posted to Agent multiple times, I am for the Republican solutions to health care. I am just upset that they never implemented them when they were in conrtrol from 2003 to 2007. I firmly believe it would have kept the PPACA from being passed, of which I am against. I want to see more action and less talk from the Republicans. Then I will start voting for them again.

    • January 3, 2014 at 12:33 pm
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      And as for clueless you piece of ,

      Did you know about the George W Bush retirement alternatives?
      Did you before my link, know the alternative health plans?

      Let me answer the first prior: No. You debated with me they didn’t have plans before.

      I’m clueless? You’re just a little child. See how I respond to someone being an asshat?

      What facts am I wrong about? I want them listed, child.

      Because vague bull crap insults don’t fly with me. Let’s debate any area of your choice.

      What I find hilarious, is you often are forced into saying the PPACA is bad, and then you simultaneously blame republicans for it.

      That is what I call dishonest debate. Heads you lose, tails you lose.

      Fight the PPACA, you’re bad. Have alternatives, you’re bad that the other guy didn’t let you pass them. Try to play politics to get them passed, you’re just as bad as democrats regarding politics. Try to do things directly, and you’re bad for not knowing how to play politics to pass plans.

      You have made each of these arguments with the PPACA.

      Insane bastard.

    • January 3, 2014 at 12:37 pm
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      In short:

      What should the republicans have done?

      You get pissed if they try to play politics to get the numbers to pass plans, regarding healthcare. While you don’t get pissed that Obama had campaign emails saying elderly would die, they should Paul Ryan pushing a granny off a cliff, they were clearly both “equal” in how they sold themselves right?

      Should they have been direct and called the cards?

      They did. Then you said they need to play politics better.

      You have made no win scenarios for republicans in your head. You are NOT an independent.

      Also:

      You once said that your father (or step can’t remember) was at a table complaining about leechers, and then came the zinger, that he himself had used the system!

      OOOOH!!!! Right? You’re so disrespectful of him and republicans (the bias) that you don’t realize none of us hate using the system. The point said at the table was moot! Why? We don’t like free loaders, people who ride it for life. When someone is on it temporarily, we are fine. It’s called a safety net, not a way of life. And THAT is republican. Not the “we don’t help people that’s bad” Crap you insinuated with that comment, when you thought your relative was a hypocrite and were a disrespectful whiny little brat about talking about him.

      • January 6, 2014 at 10:54 am
        KY jw says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        bob says: What should the republicans have done?

        I say: They should find and support candidates who can win over the left. Without that, the Republicans will continue to lose. For whatever reason (uninformed or just don’t care) the majority of the country is voting liberal. It just is the way it’s going right now. Perhaps in the future, this trend will move back to the right. I don’t know that for certain, but it is a possibility.

        For the conservatives to get anywhere right now, they will have to provide/accept a centrist/moderate candidate.

        • January 6, 2014 at 6:31 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          KYjw, I think Obama is doing an excellent job at destroying the Democratic Party just in time for the mid terms. Let the Senate change hands and the margin increase in the House and we can stymie this President for his remaining term and then put forth a candidate that will reverse this unfortunate chapter in the history of this country.

          • January 7, 2014 at 8:45 am
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            I think the House has done a pretty good job at styming the President so far. That kind of politics is not good for the country.

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:04 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby, if the House were in Democratic hands, we would already be looking like Greece, Spain, France and many others who have been doing Progressive Socialism.

            I saw something funny that even you may laugh at. It compared politicians to bananas. They come in green, turn yellow, then rotten. It about sums them up. The longer they are in there, the more rotten they become.

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:57 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            So does that mean you will vote all incumbents out of office at the next election? You have never committed to that.

          • January 7, 2014 at 4:34 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Voting out all incumbents is not a strategy for change, and is in fact, why the two parties always try to get their way.

            As a side comment: The PPACA was a middle ground, and it sucks. We don’t need things to pass because both parties agree. We need them to pass because they are good.

            You seem unwilling to accept that any republican plan is good, unless democrats sign off on it, while you don’t believe the same vice versa.

        • January 7, 2014 at 4:36 pm
          bob says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          KY:

          They have provided plenty. The media has to stop profiteering on republican hate before they win.

          It should get boring soon enough.

          During this last election I googled Obama’s 401k options. I found his ideals.

          I then googled Romney’s 401k options. I could find nothing. All the major news stations were more concerned with reporting on Romney’s extensive 401k. This is the problem.

          They refuse to report on anything but tar.

          • January 8, 2014 at 8:05 am
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            bob, isn’t the problem that most voters don’t research? Also, expecting the media to do anything different is a pipe dream.

            Republican candidates in 2012 had to be hard right to get through the primary. This was what the media reported, at least. Are you saying that perception isn’t correct?

          • January 8, 2014 at 4:49 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby, hard to get a word in edgewise with the posts in between. Would I vote out an incumbent? Absoluteley if he shows any penchant for Progressive thought and policy. If he is a true Conservative and has that track record, we need him in Congress. We do have a RINO Senator named John Cornyn that I think has been in there too long. I will vote for his much more Conservative opponent in the primaries. Other states can decide who they want in there. Voters need to be wary of any Democrat that supported Obamacare and or massive spending to solve problems. They “are” the problem, not the solution.

        • January 9, 2014 at 4:36 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          KYjw, you sound a lot like some of the so called political analysts on TV. Republicans put forth McCain & Romney as moderate/centrist candidates in the past two elections and what good did it do? Being moderate RINO’s is not the answer, going along with the Progressive mantra of big spending, big government is not the way to win over the people. The citizens are tired of this nonsense and all the problems and debt being accumulated. The way to win this is with true Conservative ideas on how to reduce the size of government, balance the budget, reduce taxes or do a Flat Tax and get rid of the imbecilic current tax code. Lastly, if Obamacare cannot be repealed, do some major surgery on it, get rid of the mandates, all the taxes built into it, do Tort Reform and that might be a start.

          • January 9, 2014 at 4:49 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent – you sound like alot of the so-called FoxNews analysts that just don’t get it. Romney WAS moderate until he ran for POTUS. Then he traded in all of his socially moderate views for the tea party line of bull. McCain had a great chance for winning but he f’d up big time with his choice of running mate.

            You are incorrect when you say liberals are for big spending and big government. We actually want smaller government and we want it out of our bedrooms, churches, and reproductive organs.

          • January 9, 2014 at 5:28 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby, if you think Romney or McCain were anything other than moderate RINO’s, you are further gone than I thought. McCain proudly proclaimed that Teddy Roosevelt, one of the first of the Progressives was his hero. Romney was Governor of Massachusetts so he didn’t get elected there by being Conservative. He was trying to say all the nice things and trying to appeal to Independents by being moderate. Had he came out swinging and been tough all the way through with Obama, he might have won. The liberal media just ate him up and tainted his campaign. Republicans need to change the process in how they pick their candidates. These guys were not the answer.

          • January 10, 2014 at 7:54 am
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent, the citizens must not be too tired of the Progressives if they elected Obama twice. As far as sounding like a tv analyst, well, I am an analyst, and since the liberals have been in charge for quite some time, that leads me to believe that is what the majority want. It’s not what I want, but I’m used to being in the minority.

            Oh, Romney wasn’t centrist in my opinion.

            (my state sent all electoral votes to the republican candidates in both elections…also I didn’t vote for Obama either time)

    • January 6, 2014 at 4:02 am
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Ron,

      Also to emphasize: The below comment, was insanely rude, untrue, condescending, and bull crap comment.

      I source quote all the time. I never debate against a source. I debate against a methodlogy. You are the troll. You just spewed out crap and I’m not allowed to respond to the crap below?

      You don’t find that insulting at all?

      I don’t go on rhetoric. I go on numbers. Debate ONE issue, ONE I have put up.

      I put up studies on this @%@%ing article. You haven’t. All you said was people that believe Obama is a dictator is insane, and people that believe he is bad on debt are wrong.

      I have already provided sources and methodology why you are wrong on the debt.

      Immature, whiny, brat.

      Get used to being called it when you debate dishonestly, little brat!

      “You two are the most clueless, disrespecftful right-wing trolls I have ever come across. You use rheoric, taliking points, alternate methodolgy, and emotion to dispue my data, facts and results. Try presenting your own data and facts to dispute mine instead of going against the source. Do you even have any source for data to support your positions?”

      • January 10, 2014 at 3:35 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Unfortunately KYjw, the voters were misled in both 08 & 12. With the cult media trumpeting Hope & Change in 08 and with McCain running against him and the people really hoping for the first Black President, that was apparently an easy selection. Even with all the disappointment of not knowing how to govern, massive debt being piled up, the unpopularity of Obamacare, he managed another win with the help of the in the tank media and their savage treatment of Romney who was and is an honorable man who was a bit too RINO to suit me, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would have been proactive in recovering the economy, getting Small Business going and steming the chronic unemployment. Do you realize that we have the lowest labor participation rate in the past 36 years? Only 75,000 jobs created in December and highest food stamp usage. Only 13 million added to that roll in the past 5 years.

        • January 10, 2014 at 7:51 pm
          KY jw says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          So, Agent, do you really think anything is going to change? The media are still liberal (for the most part), social issues are still on the front of people’s minds, and there don’t seem to be any conservative players making a name in this election cycle. If voters were mislead, it’s because they wanted to be. Why does anyone think that has changed?

          • January 13, 2014 at 5:39 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Actually KYjw, Social issues are not on the front of peoples minds. I forgot who said it, but it rings true. “It’s the economy stupid”. People are very worried about their jobs, the cost of living, an overbearing tax structure that is getting worse, an out of control administration that is getting more Orwellian by the day. Put the Social issues on the back burner. This is basic survival now.

          • January 15, 2014 at 7:46 am
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Well, Agent, I’ll believe it when I see it.

          • January 15, 2014 at 6:15 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            KYjw, Believe it when you see it? Open your eyes please. We see daily evidence of the destruction of our country and what needs to be done to right the ship. Are you still re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? Obama came out and said today, 1-15-14 that if Congress doesn’t do what he wants, he will just use his pen to do executive orders to implement his agenda. We don’t need an Emperor in this country. When are you, Libby & Ron going to wake up?

          • January 16, 2014 at 5:43 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            KY, keep your eye on Scott Walker, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz & Marco Rubio as Conservative players that will be coming to the front in the next election cycle. Lee from Utah is also a possibility. With the unpopularity of Obama growing, the people have just about had enough of an Imperial Presidency.

    • January 6, 2014 at 4:07 am
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      In this page alone:

      I showed survival rates among all cancers, I showed studies on obesity, etc.

      I have quoted 4 links. FOUR ron!! LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT!!! 4! YOU HAVE QUOTED NONE! And you insult me like a little child?

      http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2013/291546/

      http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-027766.pdf

      http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/08/28/seriously-the-republicans-have-no-health-plan/

      http://hr-system.com/Bush%20retirement%20plan%20proposals.htm

      And when I quote a study, I have the decency to go over the aspects of the study that cannot be incorrect, and the methodlogy, you always show a chart, and that’s the end of your study.

      You don’t extrapolate, you don’t interpret, etc.

      Another trait of strong people: When someone is wrong, they are wrong. You’re wrong. Admit it, move on, shut the hell up, stop blaming everything on republicans.

      I have a wife, and two kids. Ask her how much of an asshat I am compared to fake, whiny, boys like you.

      When someone is wrong I say it. When I’m wrong, I say it.

      When I catch you in hypocricy, you have not once admitted it.

      I’ve caught Libby in quoting the incorrect place where Osama Bin Laden was caught. With a source. Go figure!

  • January 3, 2014 at 12:27 pm
    bob says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    Ron,

    Really, I discredit the source? No. I don’t.

    I discredit methodology.

    As for facts about being a dictator: He has not passed one republican plan. Healthcare passed with extremely little support, public or republican.

    As for the debt: WRONG. And I have shown your METHODOLOGY on the debt is wrong with Obama, not the source. You tend to take a chart, a famous one showing the rate of increase of debt by president. What you fail to see, is that after an increase of debt, the debt should reduce. It shouldn’t continue at a lower rate.

    So for example: Bush W’s last year was $1 trillion. Other than that his average was much closer to $250 billion. Then Obama keeps debts at $1 trillion. Then you claim, that Obama didn’t increase the debt, with constant $1 trillion deficits, and in fact lowered it more than any other president. Again, I told you, that technically, he lowered mandatory spending, but his non mandatory spending (QE TWIST Stimulus etc) has kept $1 trillion dollar deficits. Bush W did not cause the current deficits, which are double what they should be. This last year was much more in line with a decent reduction. But when you made the argument that Obama was not bad on debt, you are wrong, and again, you call it an unmerited attack. It’s not. Keeping with a deficit that is 4 times higher than 2 years prior, IS NOT A DEFICIT REDUCTION. As 2 years prior to Obama’s Trillion dollar deficit, we had a $300 billion deficit. You can’t tell me he was lowering the deficit. Considering 3% annual inflation, he should have had $300 times 1.03. Obama has factually, maintained a deficit that is at least double what it should be.

    On to redistribution and the economy: Really? Auto bailouts. He claimed them in presidency saying they wouldn’t have passed with Romney, so don’t go giving me a George W card, you pompous ass. Also: Why is welfare and food stamps about double what they were before, if the recession is over? Either he’s doing redistribution at historic levels for food stamps and welfare, AKA wealth redistribution, or he’s handling the economy terribly. You can’t claim he passes on both with those parameters. Which is it Ron?

    Now on to the PPACA: You ALSO SAID THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE UP DESPITE HAVING PUBLIC OPINION ON PASSING IT YOU F2%@#%@ING HYPOCRITE INSANE SON OF A @%#@.

    Pardon the anger, but I will NOT be talked down to, while you contradict logic. 2003 – 2007 you did NOT know about these plans, and now you just say “oh why didn’t they pass them?” then you say “why are they refusing to let go passing a plan!?!?!?! It’s hurting the economy!”. See the hypocrisy? They didn’t have the numbers Ron. Democrats blocked the plans. Accept it. Move on.

    They are doing more action. And when they do, you blame them for the deficit committee failing. And then you get upset when they try to keep the sequester in affect. And then you get upset when they try to repeal the PPACA, which you just said again you don’t like the PPACA, blame them that it passed, blame them that they try to repeal it, blame them for being passive, blame them for being aggressive, what the hell Ron?

    Don’t passive aggressive me. I’ll openly aggressively respond. And do NOT ever say I question your sources and not your facts.

    I ALWAYS question your methodology. It’s a famous phrase of mine. Don’t you go labeling how I debate.

    • January 3, 2014 at 3:17 pm
      Agent says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Good Salvo Bob, I can see your blood pressure rising 20 points so please don’t stroke out on us. By the way, dealing with Ron is like talking to a brick wall. Nothing is absorbed as I have found out and he has no brain at all or common sense, preferring to use some bogus website to try to make a point for the liberal cause. He is not one of the millions of Independents who have changed their mind about Progressive Socialism embodied by the current President and his agenda. At least Libby admits to changing to the Democratic Party when she voted for Obama in 08 and 12.

      • January 3, 2014 at 3:29 pm
        Libby says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        I thought you were looking in a mirror when you said “is like talking to a brick wall. Nothing is absorbed as I have found out and he has no brain at all or common sense” until you got to the part about “preferring to use some bogus website to try to make a point” and I knew you couldn’t be talking about yourself. You never provide sources. LOL!

        • January 3, 2014 at 4:01 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          So Libby, you just now made it into the office through the snow drifts on the frozen tundra? By the way, I don’t need a website to pull up the kind of information Ron likes so well. I have Common Sense and have Conservative values. He says he agrees with many Republican ideas and then puts out articles from Paul Krugman, a noted Leftist who writes for the NYTimes. Big mistake. No wonder he doesn’t have any credibility on this blog. I don’t care much for two faced idiots like Ron. At least I know where you are coming from, hard nosed Progressivism to the max degree.

          • January 3, 2014 at 4:12 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Just when I thought we were going to have a moment and you call me a hard nosed Progressive to the max degree. It only shows to go you that you pay absolutely NO attention to what I say. And I’ve been here since 8:00 Agent.

          • January 3, 2014 at 4:15 pm
            Ron says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            All Independents are two-faced because we are not blind sheep and are open to change when presented with new information. It uis called being open-mided. You should try it some time.

            What does it say that the only article I cited from Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman was supported by the Libertarian Ludwig von Mises Institute that President Reagan was no hard-core Friedman follower and implemented some Keynesian principles when he was in office?

            You may be the only one with less credibility on this blog than me. Try supporting your positions with data, facts and a cited source.

          • January 6, 2014 at 4:14 am
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Ron,

            You contradict yourself because you’re unwilling to admit facts of life. You just honestly said independents are two faced because they are less indoctrinated.

            Then you tried to quote a study about Reagan putting in place Keynesian policies.

            Which did he pass?

            I’m going to have a ball with this one. While Obama doesn’t own his debt, I am sure your point on Keynesian economics will be the spending, ;) Hypocrite.

            Let’s see the studies.

            Back it up. And I don’t want to hear your whining of “you’re rude I won’t debate with you!” Coward.

      • January 3, 2014 at 3:36 pm
        Ron says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Agent,

        Of course you would like bob’s disrespectful, insulting, crass, and profanity-laced rant. That is all you and other REPUBLICANS understand.

        You have yet to list all of my Progressive Socialist views. Please do not forget lowering taxes, decreasing the size of the government, implementing Republican ideas for health care reform, my criticisms of President Obama, AND welfare reform.

        I absorb facts that are backed by data or an unbiased source. Neither of which you can provide.

        Since when are Fox, Forbes, Ludwig von Mises and GOP.gov bogus websites?

        • January 3, 2014 at 5:15 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Yes Ron, we know what a badge of honor winning the Nobel prize is. They gave it to Al Gore for his blatant lies about Global Warming and Obama for doing absolutely nothing to earn it. Krugman is no different. Where he went to school and where he works currently and his articles should give you pause, but you apparently agree with him so please spare us with your milktoast replies saying you agree with some Conservative opinions because we know you don’t. With every post, you dig yourself a deeper hole.

        • January 6, 2014 at 4:17 am
          bob says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Ah yes, more insults against republicans, I’ve never heard you say this about Libby, who clearly does the same, or democrats. You are not independent.

          I insult people who act like asshats, and are ill-researched spewing filth about republicans like you just did above. I’m glad I finally revealed you for what you are, you piece of crap! Piss you off a little, the chips fall down, and you show who you are.

          Also, if you support all those things, then you support the republican platform.

          Also, you just went after Agent’s source, something you said I do, which I don’t, hypocrite.

          Go after the methodology. Fox uses dramatically different methodology.

          • January 6, 2014 at 3:57 pm
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            bob says: “Fox uses dramatically different methodology.”

            That’s one way to put it. ;)

          • January 7, 2014 at 4:31 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            KY:

            You know what, since ya’all like to spew crap out about fox news,

            Give me a few articles that you believe are bull. Give me…5. Just 5. Shouldn’t be hard considering how much people say they are wrong eh?

            Then I’ll look them over, and see if they are actually wrong, or just have a different methodology than the liberal counter parts. Then I’ll tell you which is better.

            It is not ok to attack a source as much as you all do fox news.

          • January 8, 2014 at 8:12 am
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            bob, that would require more work than it is worth. I so seldom watch Fox that I doubt I could name one story they have reported in the past six months. I just remember (vaguely) that I watched one of their “news articles” and I found it difficult to believe. I also have had to correct misinformtion someone who got their info from FOX was trying to pass off as fact regarding military benefits.

        • January 6, 2014 at 6:16 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Hey Bob, You beat me to it with Ron admitting he was a two faced Independent. That is how he posts usually. He starts off with one line and then switches on the next sentence. The poor guy’s views are in total conflict and then he avoids debating you since you rip him a new one.

          • January 8, 2014 at 4:54 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Kyjw, exactly what are you watching if not Fox for your news? Can I take a guess? MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN? They are not into reporting news stories, only slanting them to the left and have been for years. Only Fox reports the real news on a consistent basis. They also give both sides a chance. They try to be fair and balanced, but sometimes give too much air time to the left. Of course if you are paying attention, those people come across like buffoons and you can see right through them.

          • January 9, 2014 at 3:00 pm
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Watching tv for news? No. I watch tv for entertainment only. If I want to know something, I’ll look it up online.

      • January 6, 2014 at 3:53 am
        bob says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Agent,

        I won’t and thanks.

        • January 9, 2014 at 11:08 am
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Bob, with your vast knowledge of issues and research capabilities, could you settle something for me in my continuing battle with Ron? On another blog, he is confused about the difference between Line Item Vetos and Executive Orders. You may remember that with every State of the Union speech given by Presidents, they always ask for the authority for line item vetos on spending legislation. They get applause, but I don’t know that anything has ever been done. I think a President either has to veto the entire bill or sign it into law. I don’t think they have the authority to strike out spending provisions on a bill if they don’t agree with it. Ron also thinks Executive Orders equate with Line Item Vetos. I maintain that Executive Orders go to Departments & Agencies to implement policy the President wants. Examples are orders to delay implementation of Obamacare or to grant waivers etc which is against the law, but have been done. What is your take on this?

        • January 9, 2014 at 3:48 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Actually KYjw, Fox can be entertaining as well. Catch Dennis Miller on O’Reilly sometime and he will entertain you. Where are you going online for news? If it is the same places Ron goes, you are in deep trouble. Since you don’t watch Fox, try their news site. It has numerous real informational stories about what is going on in the world unlike some you see on the left with their slant.

          • January 9, 2014 at 4:54 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Like Obama subsidized gas stations, Obama whispering he’d rather be playing golf at his inauguration, etc. You come up with all sorts of hogwash from FoxNews and we factcheck and disprove it every time. Not sure what that says about your intelligience if you’re still using them as a news source.

    • January 7, 2014 at 12:51 pm
      Agent says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Hey Bob, need a laugh of the day? Face the Nation on Sunday was humorous. Dave Gregory (NBC) was interviewing 2 doctors on Obamacare and they were expressing reservations about how all this would play out with Obamacare with their practices. At the end, Gregory made quite a Freudian slip. He said he looked forward to having them back on as Obamacare “unraveled” during the year. Quite a slip from a committed leftist broadcaster.

  • January 3, 2014 at 1:43 pm
    Ron says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    bob,

    Thank you for proving my point.

    I knew I should have not re-engaged with someone so disrespectful.

    Do not expect any more responses from me. I will not debate someone like you.

    GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • January 3, 2014 at 4:06 pm
      Captain Planet says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Ron,
      (Applause) I stopped even reading his comments many moons ago. Dude just tries to be a bully. I choose to ignore bullies, too.

      • January 3, 2014 at 5:18 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Planet from another Planet, you can’t debate Bob any more than Libby and Ron can. He hands you your head every time. You ignore him because you don’t have anything to offer except your Single Payer Healthcare that you love.

        • January 3, 2014 at 5:29 pm
          Captain Planet says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Agent, I will not let your perception of the truth define me or anyone else for that matter. Your predictions are wrong time and time again. It’s clear whomever you are listening to or watching are lying to you. I may be from another planet, but at least I’m not from another galaxy all together. Bob lost all of my respect and doesn’t deserve my time. He seems to be a typical blowhard, at least from my dealings with him. If I want to hear his talking points, I simply turn on the various shows I listen to throughout the day. I hope you had a nice New Year, agent. Here’s to 2014!

          • January 3, 2014 at 5:43 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Watch the news sometime Planet. Apparently Ron doesn’t. Obamacare is a huge disaster which is being played out as we speak. By the way, Independents like him and you apparently disagree with the majority of Independents that realize they made a mistake in 2012 when they pulled the lever for the serial liar in chief. How low in the approval rating does Obama have to be for you to wake up? Low 30’s, 20’s or are you the loyal lemming that will follow him over the cliff?

          • January 6, 2014 at 4:19 am
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            My points are not on TV Planet.

            Did you read my sources above regarding obesity rates, their affect on cancer, as well as our survival rates?

            I then broke out why we have more people dying of cancer: Occurrence rate.

            Show me the source that went over that, I just posted it in this article. Show me one person that went over it.

          • January 6, 2014 at 8:48 am
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob – did it ever occur to you that we have a higher occurrence rate for cancer because we have so many uninsured people? Early detection and treatment can PREVENT you from getting cancer, but people that have no insurance do not seek preventative care. If we have the best medical treatment in the world, we should have lower statistics than other countries – not higher.

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:22 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby,

            You are reaching for straws. Our occurrence rate is diet related.

            The only method of prevention for cancer in our health system is nutrition, and early catching of cancer. Catching cancer early does not remove it from the occurrence rate. It catches early.

            And if what you said was true: Why do non developed countries with NO PREVENTION CARE have lower occurrence rates by far? Each country with better diets has lower occurrence rates.

            We have HIGH survival rates. How would you explain that.

            You said higher statistics are better. I agree entirely. Higher survival rates are better.

            Get your head out of the democrats’s ideals on healthcare’s ass.

            Have you taken courses on nutrition and what causes cancer? Have you taken classes on prevention for it?

            Prevention is just about solely diet. I have friends in the nutritionist field, who have specifically done studies on how to help with cancer. There is no healthcare preventative care.

            Back on point: Our occurrence rate shows our diet problems, not our healthcare problems.

            Our survival rate shows our healthcare superiority, as we have the highest survival rates in the world.

            This is not debatable.

          • January 7, 2014 at 2:02 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob – you are incorrect when you say there are no preventative care options for cancer. Catching pre-cancerous cells with a routine pap smear or other screening can most certainly prevent them from developing into cancer. Having polyps or other masses/cysts removed before they develop into cancer can prevent you from getting cancer. All these things are done with pre-diagnosis screening AKA PREVENTATIVE CARE.

            So don’t try to lecture me on what is debateable and what isn’t.

          • January 7, 2014 at 4:22 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby:

            Learn to connect the dots. On one side you say our occurrence rates are higher due to not having preventative care. Did you note that in the studies I showed you LUNG cancer, was one of the top? So was breast cancer. You going to pap smear that one?

            Also: The pap smear you just mentioned is standard care. Most cancers do not have methods of preventative care. Slicing out skin as a side comment still does not stop the occurrence rate. Those occurrences, are still occurrences of cancer.

            And in those third world countries: THEY DO NOT HAVE THOSE SERVICES. Yet they have half the occurrence rates.

            Do learn to comprehend. The only possibility is that it is our diet that we have occurrence rates that are high, and our high survival rates are a good sign in our health care system.

            And learn not to debate just for the sake of being “right” or “edgy”. It’s extremely annoying.

            I constantly hear you saying “but but It could be this!!” I’m about averages. Not one liners thrown out like crazy. I quoted 4 studies, and multiple facets of those studies, proving Obesity leads to cancer, showing 3rd world countries with lower cancer occurrence rates, and you tell me that the only possibility is that those 3rd world countries have preventative care like pap smears?

            Are you out of your damn mind?

      • January 6, 2014 at 3:56 am
        bob says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Applause all you want.

        You’re also a whiny brat. I directed your comment above about healthcare, calmly.

        While your reply was a hipster, agressive, reply.

        I’m direct. Not a bully.

        • January 6, 2014 at 9:46 am
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Bob, it is plain that people like Ron, Libby & Planet do not like straight talk and they certainly don’t like you to hand their head to them on issues so they call you a bully and say they won’t debate you. One of their main problems are that they are on the wrong side.

          Are you ready for the next big subject to debate? The Administration is now taking up the issue of “income inequality”. This is another attempt to take from those that have and give to those who don’t have as much. The Republican stance is to give everyone the chance to improve their status/income and the Democrats version is to take from the rich and give to the poor. Making everyone equally poor does not improve the nation since the entrepreneurs will cease to exist and no jobs will be created. Capitalism is the greatest economic engine the world has ever seen, but they are determined to create a version of Socialism/Communism where the state is almighty and controls every aspect of citizens life.

          • January 6, 2014 at 10:33 am
            Ron says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            The ONLY reason I do not continue to debate bob is not because he “hands my head to me on issues”. He does not. It is his approach to debating. You cannot win because, if you disagree with him, he will discredit your methodology or the methodology of the source. And he complains that I do not debate fairly and honestly.

            Do you agree with his condescending, disrespectful, crass and profanity-laced responses. I am not speaking of content, only delivery. Those are the traits of a bully.

            You and I have disagreed on some issues, but we have kept it relatively respectful and I do not recall any profanity from either of us.

            The administration has been speaking about income inequality since the 2008 campaign. Since President Obama is a dictator, please list all of the policies he has put in place to achieve this goal and the result.

            If you would like an example showing that capitalism remains strong in this country and the gap between the wealthy and middle class/poor has become wider, look at the stock market. Yes, this will eventually benefit many in the middle class and very few of the poor who can contribute to a stock-based retirement plan but, it it not helping them now.

            Now your turn to provide an example to support your position.

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:24 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            They have been taking that up for some time.

            Obama said he would increase taxes for capital gains even if it didn’t bring in revenues in order to be “fair”.

            Basically, to lower the pay gap, without benefiting the poor, just as long as they get to throw rocks at the rich.

          • January 7, 2014 at 4:24 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            HAHAHAHAHAHA

            Right Ron!

            DEBATE ANY ISSUE, OR STATE WHERE I HAVE BEEN WRONG.

            THE ONLY REASON YOU DON’T DEBATE AGAINST ME IS YOU’RE A COWARD AND YOU CAN’T.

            So you rely on feeling better than me. Good job!

    • January 6, 2014 at 3:54 am
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Kid, go @%@ck yourself.

      You passively agressively say stuff and push me around and float your cock around this forum all the time.

      So rather than debate on morality points, GO AHEAD AND DEBATE ANY ISSUE I JUST POSTED.

      You have contradicted yourself, when convenient, to blame republicans for everything. Asshat.

      • January 6, 2014 at 6:25 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Ron, I think Bob gets frustrated that you don’t seem to learn over a period of time what the truth is. He has provided you with your precious metrics time after time and you are as you have admitted to being, a two faced Independent. I might add that you are a Progressive Independent who likes to flash government or leftist leaning websites to try to prove your points. There is nothing moderate where you are coming from. I will admit he uses some crude language that I don’t and I don’t approve of that, but I do agree with his research and yes he does hand you your head. Too bad you can’t learn and accept it. Were you like this in college or were you radicalized later in the game?

        • January 6, 2014 at 7:39 pm
          Ron says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Agent,

          Do I get any credit for getting some of my information from right leaning, neutral and libertarian websites? You seem to focus some much on the left side of my beliefs and ignore my right side beliefs (smaller government, less regulations, lower taxes, Republican health care solutions, disappointment in non-fiscally responsible Republicans [RINOs], etc.) How many Progressives believe in those things?

          How exactly has he handed me my head when he commonly misinterprets my posts and positions? All he does is say my methodology is incorrect. He, like you, have yet to provide data that disputes mine.

          • January 7, 2014 at 8:50 am
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob commonly misinterprets posts because he reads them through a filter and has a humongous chip on his shoulder. He comes out swinging at everything. I think he must be hell to work with and I sure wouldn’t want to be married to him. He needs some anger management classes and serious therapy.

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:26 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            I do not misinterpret posts.

            And discounting your methodology is how you debate. Grow up kid.

            There is such a thing as the wrong methodology. Like for example, what I just showed with weighing cancer deaths correctly.

            Survival rates, occurrence rates, and diet.

            You can’t handle it when your methodology is wrong.

            For example: With the debt for Obama.

            Also, I have never provided data? That’s a lie. And as a side comment, it’s why I’m swearing at you, you little condescending lying prick!

          • January 7, 2014 at 1:35 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby,

            Grow up. Contrary to your idiotic commentary, I’m the backbone of where I work. No fights. Ever.

            Anger issues? Wrong. I happen to rip people to shreds who have passive aggressive issues (you, Ron, Planet)

            If you met me, you’d realize I’m the best man you’d ever meet. I’m currently supporting my wife’s mother, my mother, and am building a house on my land for my wife’s mother.

            Contrary to your belief, I also never fight. Not in person anyway. When I’m attacked, I do immediately nip it off though online. Ron did that.

          • January 7, 2014 at 2:07 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            “You never fight?” Maybe that’s why you are so disagreeable on this blog. You’re taking your aggressions out on strangers because you can’t handle day-to-day conflict in a constructive manner. Every normal, and I stress normal, person fights and has conflict. It’s how you deal with the conflict that matters. You avoid it in real life and then attack perfect strangers on-line. Real healthy. And mature. I think you are the one that needs to grow up here.

          • January 7, 2014 at 4:26 pm
            bob says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby FUCK YOU.

            Don’t try to psychoanalyze me. What you just posted was extremely abusive dominating behavior.

            When Ron makes a post saying I’m clueless, a typical right wing rhetoric user, who never uses data and always discounts his sources rather than facts, while I post 4 links as data, and while he discounts agent’s sources, and then passively aggressively makes a morality argument against me throwing punches to force my reaction, THAT is worthy of a reaction of a fist in the fucking balls.

            Deal with life, you weak bitch.

          • January 9, 2014 at 2:09 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            I am handling life, Bob. It’s you that seems to have the problem with that as evidenced by your volatile, profanity-laced, aggressive responses.

            Using the f word doesn’t faze me. And I am anything but a weak bitch. But keep going. It only succeeds in making you look more psychotic and pathetic than you already are.

          • January 9, 2014 at 2:54 pm
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            bob, if you don’t want to be psycoanalyzed, you’ll have to find some other play pen. This one includes too many people who have to read others quickly to accomplish anything.

      • January 7, 2014 at 3:31 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        So Bob, the President would like the narrative to change and talk about anything but Obamacare. The new ploy is to go out on the road and talk about income inequality and immigration reform. Income Inequality is another way he is trying to take from those who have and give to those who don’t. He did say to Joe the Plumber that he wanted to level the playing field did he not? This is one of the prime tenants of Progressive Socialism which will end up making everyone equally poor. Where does he think the jobs will come from if entrepreneurs are brought down to the level of the workers? That last little tax increase didn’t go very far, did it? Making the minimum wage $15 per hour will kill jobs for many companies and restaurants in particular. Will you or anyone else pay $10 for a Big Mac or $25 for a large pizza? It is bad enough to force Obamacare on people, but raising the minimum wage to levels they want is another disaster in the wings.

    • January 6, 2014 at 3:54 am
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      The one who needs to grow up is you.

      You try to debate morality points, on issues.

      Issues are issues. And when you question my morality, I respond in force. Grow up kid.

  • January 6, 2014 at 9:41 am
    Libby says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    My goodness, Bob. You were on a rampage last night, weren’t you? Feel better now?

    • January 6, 2014 at 9:48 am
      Agent says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Bob will feel better when his Seattle Seahawks go to the Super Bowl and win it against either the Broncos or Patriots.

      • January 6, 2014 at 10:38 am
        Libby says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Bob is destined to feel bad, then. Poor Bob!

        • January 6, 2014 at 6:27 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Your Broncos will be lucky to get by either San Diego or the Patriots or Indianapolis for that matter.

          • January 7, 2014 at 8:50 am
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Another prediction by Carnac, I mean Agent. Time will tell, pal.

      • January 7, 2014 at 1:29 pm
        bob says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        I don’t follow or like sports.

        But in WA, we suffer from the typical liberal problem:

        No one here really likes to fight to win.

        Mariners, Huskies, Seahawks, they all suck.

        • January 7, 2014 at 3:35 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          I don’t know Bob. The Seahawks have the best record in pro football and have the home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Sounds to me like they are doing pretty good. I will agree with you on the Mariners since they have been finishing on the bottom of the heap for a while now.

          I also feel for you having the infamous Patty Murray as a Senator. She is one of the worst in that chamger outside of Harry Reid.

          • January 9, 2014 at 2:15 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Uh, excuse me. Broncos 13-3 Seahawks 9-7. Broncos clinched their division AND home field advantage. Seahawks got in on a wildcard. What stats are you reading, Agent?

          • January 9, 2014 at 2:47 pm
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby, when Agent says 9-7 is better than 13-3, it explains so much. ;)

          • January 9, 2014 at 4:00 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Hey Libby, you and KYjw should try following sports instead of mouthing off things you don’t know. Since Seattle is really 13-3 and not 9-7 and have the best record in the NFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, your assertion is totally as false as some of the other posts you make. Need some metrics? Go to http://www.seattleseahawks.com and review their record. Libby, you admitted you didn’t even watch a Bronco’s game until halftime and then watched in horror when Brady brought the Pats back, overcoming a 24-0 halftime deficit. What a fan you are.

          • January 10, 2014 at 8:04 am
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent, I follow sports. My favorite channels on tv are ESPN, NBCSports, beIN, and NHL Center Ice. I am actually more interested in sports than politics or current events.

          • January 10, 2014 at 8:09 am
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            I just peeked at ESPN, Denver and Seattle are BOTH 13-3. I did not fact check Libby, so that is on me. So, Seattle does have the best record, but so does Denver.

        • January 9, 2014 at 2:49 pm
          KY jw says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          bob says: I don’t follow or like sports.

          Oh. Well, then. How…….. telling.

          • January 10, 2014 at 10:15 am
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            So KYjw, it is not wise to follow Libby like a lemming into the abyss of stupidity like low information voters did with Obama. I am glad you at least admitted to checking the record. Libby won’t do that and has yet to comment on her mistake.

          • January 10, 2014 at 12:46 pm
            Libby says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Unlike you, Agent, I am posting the link to the site where I got that information:

            http://www.chargers.com/team/division-standings.html

            Considering it’s the chargers team site, I took the information at face value. Now, an apology please.

          • January 16, 2014 at 5:35 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            So KYjw, you claim your favorite channels are the sports channels and you follow sports. Apparently you weren’t paying much attention to them in the past month or so or you wouldn’t have jumped on the Libby bandwagon when she made her stupid post after pulling up the wrong site on the wrong team. Why didn’t you correct Libby like I do when she is wrong? I even posted the correct website to get the info on Seattle. Neither of you clicked on that.

    • January 6, 2014 at 11:01 am
      KY jw says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      :P

      • January 10, 2014 at 3:23 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Libby, and you are still stupid to think Seattle is the Chargers when you pulled your information. If I were talking about the San Diego Chargers, I would have given you their record and would not allege they had a great record. They were at best a wild card team, but they won their first playoff game so they are still alive. Seattle will not play their first playoff game until this weekend when they host New Orleans. Teams with the stirling records get a bye the first week. 13-3 tends to do that. Your Broncos also got a bye. Now they have to start playing again. By the way, I gave you the Seattle website to check on the records and it went right over your head. Please don’t pretend to be a fan and exhibit such a high and mighty attitude.

        • January 13, 2014 at 12:55 pm
          Libby says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          You are correct that I interchanged Chargers for Seahawks. My mistake. But I am not stupid. And I am a fan. You said Denver would be lucky to get past San Diego and I guess they were just lucky last night because they did.

          Now the nailbiter – New England…

          • January 13, 2014 at 1:04 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Libby, if the San Diego offensive coordinator had been smart, he would have come out firing instead of running 3 plays and out for 3 quarters. I think they passed for about 200 yards in the 4th quarter alone and made it a close game. I don’t think you can count on the Pats coach for doing that strategy. He will have Brady mixing it up and keeping the Broncos defense off balance. The first 3 quarters of this game was as boring as it gets. It wasn’t an important game, just lose and you go home.

      • January 14, 2014 at 5:39 pm
        Agent says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Libby, how about an apology to me for mixing up the Chargers with the Seahawks and spouting off about it. If you care to check my post again, it does have the Seahawks site listed as my metrics. That went right over your head as usual.

    • January 7, 2014 at 1:28 pm
      bob says:
      Like or Dislike:
      Thumb up 0
      Thumb down 0

      Not until I hand Ron his head.

      What he said was absolutely condescending, and I’m going to continue to show him he’s not allowed to do it.

      I’ll humiliate him on any study of his choice. I told him to put up one of my concepts for debate. He hasn’t taken it. Coward.

      Time for this boy to see how much of an idiot he is, and maybe he shouldn’t come in saying I have no data.

      • January 7, 2014 at 2:11 pm
        Libby says:
        Like or Dislike:
        Thumb up 0
        Thumb down 0

        Although he addressed his post to both you and Agent, I believe his comment about no data was directed solely to Agent. Agent continuously makes comments with no cited data or source.

        And I doubt you will have the opportunity to “hand Ron his head” as he is done debating with you. If you want to call it debating. I doubt you would have gone very far on any debate team by swearing at the opposition and calling them names. That’s not going to work here, either.

        • January 7, 2014 at 3:47 pm
          Agent says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          Libby, Ron was trying to show his “metrics” as proof on Carter and Reagan. I lived through both of those administrations and saw it first hand, so don’t give me nonsense about the accuracy of Ron’s “Metrics”. They don’t hold water with me or anyone else with half a brain. He has also provided liberal stories out the kazoo with such fine upstanding leftist economists like Paul Krugman. That was the death knell on Ron. He has also admitted to being two faced as an Independent. I will agree with that assertion.

          • January 8, 2014 at 2:37 pm
            KY jw says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            I thought Ron was referring to your opinion when he said “independents are two faced.”

          • January 10, 2014 at 4:18 pm
            Ron says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Agent,

            I cited one, as in singular, article written by Paul Krugman that was supported by the Libertarian Ludwig von Mises institute.

            Of course my mertis do not hold water with you, they are facts. When all you can provide as proof is your personal recallections without data, it does not hold water with me or anyone else with a full brain.

            You can have your half-brain evidence since that is all you appear to possess.

            When I was referring to being two-faced, it means I do not have loyalty to any one party. I will vote for wbom I believe to be the best candidate. Unforunately that may require a full brain to understand.

          • January 10, 2014 at 4:19 pm
            Ron says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Correction: “metrics” not “merits”

        • January 7, 2014 at 4:28 pm
          bob says:
          Like or Dislike:
          Thumb up 0
          Thumb down 0

          He has twice reiterated it, see above where he tells agent, what he thinks about me to do with the same issue.

          The little bastard needs to learn what not to say, you can’t pretend you shit flowers, and talk like that to me.

          Best way to learn is to come across the guy who will knock you on your ass.

          • January 8, 2014 at 12:33 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Bob, where I come from, if a guy admits to being two faced, he is held in the lowest regard and has absolutely no credibility. I am sure you have noticed that he and Libby have the fewest likes on this forum on any subject being debated or discussed. There is a good reason for that. Few people with brains and common sense who go onto these forums agree with leftist ideas. By the way, I saw on Foxnews site this morning that the poverty rate in this country is the highest in the past 50 years despite spending $20 Trillion to lift up the poor in this country since the days of LBJ and the War on Poverty. Could Progressive policy have something to do with that?

          • January 10, 2014 at 6:15 pm
            Agent says:
            Like or Dislike:
            Thumb up 0
            Thumb down 0

            Ron, Bob,Sargeant, FFA & I all know what you meant and where you are coming from. It is “two faced” all the way. All your posts have two sides and that makes you two faced. You agree with Conservative positions and then disagree and blame Republicans. You say you have criticized Obama then blame Republicans for not fixing something. Yes, we know where you are coming from and you don’t have an original idea without your Metrics to bolster your Progressive ideas.

  • January 14, 2014 at 11:39 am
    Agent says:
    Like or Dislike:
    Thumb up 0
    Thumb down 0

    So Bob, Did you see the report out on the enrollment of the Millenial crowd to date? I have seen the age range back before the rollout and it was consistently age 18-34. Because the numbers were so bleak, they expanded it to 18-38. Did you notice that change? A 38 year old usually has a wife and average of 2 kids by then. I wouldn’t put them in the category of Millenial, would you?



Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*