Obama doesn't want the American people to have time to really look into the heath care bill or the cap and trade bill because they just might see how terrible these two bill are for America. Every time he pushes to get something passed, it is found out, often too late, just how bad the bill is and how much he had to lie to get it passed. Bills as big as these need time to work out. But, Obama prefers for his blind supporters to vote now and read later. The Audicity of Arrogance is his to own.

Republicans had 8 glorious years to walk in lock step and do all the damage they could to our country and the world. Voters rejected republican misguided attempts to destroy our economy and standing in the world. They and their bad ideas lost. Grown ups are now in control and they are attempting to right all the wrongs that have been done by lying, stealing, greed and war mongering. The self proclaimed " party of responsibility," refuses to take credit for what they have accomplished through their unashamed hypocracy. Talk about audacity!

mereside: Good post. Yes, but they will never admit the damage done and how long it will take to undo much of it. Yes, Audacity indeed!!

As a family, we know our budget; as a business, we know our bottom line. Nothing is decided until we know the facts. The arrogance of our government passing laws that they haven't read. Is that the way you run your house?? Who is in charge?

Olympia and Susan need more times to shake down both sides for 'campaign contributions' (euphemism for bribes).

Get ready for more rain!!! This time it will be another watered down version of health care...just like in the 90's. The health insurance co. are enjoying a monopoly of health insurance and mail order drugs....why would they want to see their business ruined? They have everyone right where they want them..Watch, here we go again....Collins and Snowe have been preaching one thing and now, they will do what the party wants them to do....in this case stall...it will be interesting how they vote..again, during their campaigns, it was what the Maine people needs...now it will be what the Republicans want..Stay tuned for more of the Stomach Turns...

Uh, oh, they're working with Barack Hussein again....we're in trouble.

mereside...one problem with your "Republicans had 8 glorious years" statement, the Democrats took control of Congress during the midterm election in 2006. The Legislative Branch creates laws, not the Executive Branch.

Since there are so many unanswered questions about ObamaCare, we deserve more time to get some answers. There is no reason to rush it through.

Ejparsons, you hit the nail on the head. Shove everything down our throats before anyone can see what is in these bills. The people voting on these bills don't even know what's in them. That is sad and scary. The party in charge don't even read what they are voting on. Nancy says jump...Harry says jump..they say how high? Many voted for Obama but many didn't vote for him to force us to become a socialist nation. The days of pork and earmarks are gone...that was what was promised....yeah..right!

To those who want to blame the repubs for the "past 8 yrs", maybe you should put the blame where it really belongs. I blame the dems for not having the guts to stand up and filibuster and prevent what you people claim was done solely by republicans. The dems were gutless and now they say they are doing what America wants....they keep going this way, they won't have full control for very long. The scary thing is, in the short time they shove all this down our throats, the damage will be done and hard to undo. Those of you who don't pay a dime in taxes to begin with, I can see why you like all this, you won't be paying for it and haven't paid right along anyway.

In light of the information we've heard so far, ObamaCare is a bad idea that will surely result in higher taxes and no solution for the real problem - the out-of-control costs for healthcare. As taxpaying Americans, we deserve to know all of the facts before ObamaCare gets forced down our throats. Don’t forget, We The People do have a say in how in how our USA should be run. It’s time to voice your concern.

However, in case you haven't heard, the liberals and their special interest groups are planning a rally in Portland for this Saturday (July 18th, from 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM in Monument Square). In fact, you’ve probably seen some of these liberal groups at other pro-tax events as well - MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 (state workers and more), SEIU Change that Works, Health Care for America Now, Maine People's Alliance, the League of Young Voters, and AFSCME (www.mseaseiu.org/Story48.html & http://action.seiu.org/page/s/healthandjustice).

Since it appears that some of these pro-tax groups are even using our taxpayer dollars to organize this and other similar events (e.g., SEIU and MSEA-SEIU 1989), it’s time for these inappropriate actions to be challenged. This is nothing but another political stunt at the taxpayers’ expense. If passed, the so-called “free” healthcare will be anything but free for most American taxpayers.

If you’re sick and tired of the negative direction we’re headed in, please join the peaceful Counter Rally at 1:00 PM in Monument Square. FMI, please call 207-321-2550.

See you at the rally!

Hey, you with brain cancer, get back in line!....We are so sorry, your age is beyond our parameters for that procedure,please go home and die quietly....

Remember, once we get it, like every govt. program, we won't be able to get rid of it. From what I am reading about this health care proposal, it's going to tax us into oblivion, and be more expensive. Obumma says he is going to tax the wealthy, there are only so many wealthy you can tax, and what happens to our economy when the govt is taking all the people's money? Who is going to be able to start a business? Who is going to buy all those lluxury items, such as yachts that employ the little folks? Why don't we have tort reform, Dr's can pay $200,000 for malpractice insurance, and have a catastrophic health care coverage run by the govt. Wouldn't that lower our insurance costs and keep families from financial ruin when a health emergency arises? Senator Snowe and Collins, the health care proposal you are working on now will be a disaster for our country. We can't have som much of the people's money going to govt. Does everyone know that in this bill you will be required to buy insurance or pay a yearly penalty? Got some extra bucks laying around to cover the bill? What responsibility do the poor have in this. Where will their incentive be to got to work and pay their way? None? Who in their right mind will become a dr? We border Canada, talk to some former Canadian Dr's who now practice medicine in Maine. i have, andwhat you have North of the border is not what we want in the USA. What Snowe is working on now is worse than the Canadian system. It's, of course, laden with layers of beuracracy.

JD2008, now why'd you go and burst mereside bubble....damn, and he(she) was having such delusions of adequacy....

The US of A should stay out of all of the other countries affairs and attend to our own. I keep telling everyone what we need is a 3rd party,

the Republican could not do anything and now the Dem's can not either, with this jerk that we have in the White House nothing is going to change

We have one more leader to the High Court she is so Liberal that is going to have a great effect on this country. This Nation is slowly going and it is going to take more than any Judge to fix it, and no Black president to fix the medicare and lots of other things. Its not like when Regan was president the only president that did know what he was doing, not like the one we have in there now. All of the joker on this site think they know what and how to fix this country are liberal and way off base jerks

These teo senators are lightweights, most of the people in Maine want quality healthcare, which means when we go to the doctors we wxpect that that helathcare will be there. In much of maine it is not there. If you don;t live in Portland, Bangor, or lewiston there is no vilable healthcare.

Sesan and Olympia need to visit some where where healtcare in non existant in Maine.

Olympia is a Republican and she is so liberal,,,,, so so Liberal she is a Jerk also

Three cheers for Olympia Snowe! Public option yes, but only if the precious health insurance companies are protected. Let them keep ripping us off, getting between us and good health care, and keeping the cost up. Who could ask for anything more?

Oh yes...I almost forgot...who is she representing anyway? Maybe she'll be come know as Sen. Snowe (R-INS).

Comments at 6:12 AM &9:48 AM......so intelligent.....not. But it's good to get a rise, isn't it!!

mrwaldo: Guess it is where you are sitting.....some see delusions and burying one's head in the sand from some of the comments of your political persuasion .

LilMikey: Does not seem you have the ability to know who pays taxes on here. I imagine, as a taxpayer myself, that it is most everyone that does. So, know of what you speak.

"Let Freedom Ring" is encouraging all representatives in Congress to sign a pledge

that they will read bills BEFORE voting on them.

Seems pretty simplistic, doesn't it ?

Hold your Senators and Members of Congress accountable for READING ANY healthcare reform legislation up for vote by having them sign this pledge :

http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/pledge-to-read

Politico reports: "With staff, lobbyists and think tanks providing their own analysis of bills, members of Congress can go without reading the text. But Let Freedom Ring, a group that promotes constitutional government and traditional values, has launched a campaign to get all 535 lawmakers in the House and Senate to pledge to not vote on the health care bill (likely to top 1,000 pages) until they have personally read it and the bill has been posted on the Internet for 72 hours."

Politico reports: "President Barack Obama promised during the campaign to post a bill online for five days before signing it into law. But he hasn't followed through on the pledge as president, almost never waiting the full period.

Hold your Senators and Members of Congress accountable for READING ANY healthcare reform legislation up for vote by having them sign this pledge :

http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/pledge-to-read

commonsense- you are SPOT ON with your assessment!!! For example, Joe Blow goes to the local ER complaining of a bellyache. The ER doc knows the flu is going around and, from the information Joe gives him, knows that another family member had the flu last week. However, because he knows he could be sued if he discharges Joe, who later might be found to have appendicitis, he orders a CT Scan, an Ultrasound, and a lengthy list of lab tests. The insurance company gets billed $1000 when a $2 bottle of Pepto Bismol would have taken care of the problem. It's all well and good to blame the hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies for skyrocketing costs but so long as the lawyers can file ridiculous, frivilous lawsuits on behalf of patients with no common sense (No pun intended), costs will continue to cripple the system. Ask a general practitioner how much his/her malpractice insurance has risen over the last decade- the answer would probably scare you. As for Collins and Snowe, it defies belief that they would support a plan which will KILL small business in the state. I know how their misguided minds operate. They figure that since the legislation is going to pass anyway they will play "let's make a deal" to get as much for the state of Maine as possible. This thinking, repeated in the mind of other Republican members of Congress, is what has driven the obscene budet deficit. I wish, just ONCE, they would stand up and do the right thing. Mike Michaud is just as guilty- he opposed the stimulus bill until he procured funding for the biomass boiler at the Millinocket mill. I am so tired of the games and the wilingness of our elected officials to sell their souls to the devil just to get their fair share of the hell that is going to rain down upon our heads when this economy collapses. It's not Democrats and Republicans, mereside. They're ALL crooks. Furthermore, you people can no longer blame all of this on George W. Bush! He never got on the spending wagon until he got pushed into signing off on Medicare D by the Democratic Congress. Barak Obama has spent more in 6 months than George W. Bush spent in those "glorious 8 years"!!! The real hypocrisy lies with the alleged "adult" currently in the oval office. He promised transparency in his administration but continues to operate under the cover of darkness, signing off on the stimulus bill the American people DID NOT WANT without allowing us the time to read it, thus breaking a campaign promise to allow us to do so. Pelosi and Reid are in "lock step", adding hundreds of pages to legislation at 3 a.m. and refusing to allow Republicans to participate in meetings, despite Pelosi's promise of a "new era of bipartisan cooperatiion" when she ascended to the Speaker's chair. Quite frankly, I am fed up with BOTH parties!!! I think both Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins need to stop insulting our intelligence and switch to the Democratic party. I don't know about you, but I am tired of the games.

Chersully..maybe it is YOU who should READ before you comment. I said THIS..Those of you who don't pay a dime in taxes to begin with, I can see why you like all this, you won't be paying for it and haven't paid right along anyway.

If you are on the receiving end of a marginal or no income sort of program..like welfare Chersully, then you are one I am talking about. Know what I mean now? It's those who pay little or nothing in taxes who want to be given everything by those who do. If the shoe fits Chersully...you get the picture.

During the Reagan years, we went into deficit because both parties got everything they wanted. This was repeated under Bush II, unfortunately - look at the pork barrel crap that was passed year after year - Now, we have 1 party in control - and we will all sit back and look at the size of the mess - and we will finally be able to place the balme where it properly rests. I hope no republican is elected for the next 3 years - then, we can get to work fixing the problems and put the dems out of business forever.

"If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on Paul's support."

Unfortnately, a lot of Pauls commenting here. They just stick their hand out for government assistant. Think the government is best. Ignore the facts.

91% survival rate for prostate cancer in US vs. 73% in Britain and 51% in France (with their universal systems). The same people demanding government insurance will be the same ones back here a year into it demanding better results. It's the common sense folks who can look at the entire situation and see the problem.

We don't have the money for this system. Obama is lying to you (like he did on the stimulus - remember his promise of unemployment not reaching 8%???). The CBO just came out and said we can't afford it. The money isn't there, folks. If you cared anything about your children and grandchildren, you'd see that and realize that Obama is doing to them. We need to clean house in DC (both parties) and get the country back on track.

Promises, Promises... and LOADS of 'transparency'...........

Transcript: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Holds Weekly News Conference

QUESTION: Minority Leader Boehner has taken -- Minority Leader Boehner has taken a pledge that he will not vote for health care bills that he hasn’t read -- that he hasn’t had a chance to read in its entirety or until it’s available to the public online for 72 hours.

Will you take that pledge -- a similar pledge and encourage other members to take...

PELOSI: Is this a pledge -- is this a pledge that is in keeping with his having read all of the bills that he’s ever voted for? (in essence, avoiding the question)

(LAUGHTER)

I don’t know what his pledge is. But we pledge to have a full process, with ample time for legislation to be well-known to the public. Every person in America is an expert on his or her health care. And they are all very curious about what will be there.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003161938

Let's see no one read the Stimulus Bill, Cap and Trade, and now Health Care reform. If this Health Care plan is so great then why does it not apply to either house of Congress. A real good idea is to have all of Maine legislators for the State of Maine should sign a pledge to take the so-called Public Option. Let's not be fooled that the government can't run anything have you ever heard of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid just to name a couple of the government recent failures, Obama is an empty suite and he wants to jam things down our throats before his popularity takes a major nose dive.

changeneeded and don't forget we're 34th in the world in infant mortality.... Paints a slightly different picture doesn't it? In fact, infant mortality rates are the "stat" number that is quickly used to judge a country's overall health status. You picked a couple of specific issues instead of looking at the big picture. A couple of numbers may make for one good post but it won't hold up against the reality of a situation.

I am so angry. I got a plone call from State of Maine wanting me to open an account for a kid who just got out of jail a while back. Seems his worthless lifestyle has earned him a chance at a free education, including free gas and spending money. I told her I had a kid who is starting college in the fall, graduated valedictorian and you know what my kid earned? My kid earned the right to pay for their entire college education, go into debt, work part time, whatever my kid has to do to pay for it. But no free ride, that is reserved for screw ups who would rather steal than work, who have no ambition. But why would they need it when they are so lavishly rewarded for bad behavior? This state is absolutely a welfare state. Reward bad behavior, ignore good behavior. On our tax dollars. I know another person who was given this opportunity after giving birth to multiple illegitmate children. Went to school, managed to get a degree in child developement, then promptly went back on welfare when her new job proved to be "too much like work". She was never required to pay back the State for her education, and is no better off today. Freebees create dependency. Dependency creats idiots....perhaps that's what the government wants. Idiots don't fight back.

For all you Obama supporters, he just finished a speech on health care and, as usual, he wasn't "grown up" enough to take any questions. What a man.

Loreeross - 3:49 PM - The majority of hard working people know exactly what you're talking about. Far too many social losers getting freebies they don't deserve, and we're paying the tab. Of course, they're going to vote for the ones that keep their freebies coming, that is if they can get off their lazy butts and make it to the polls on election day. Oh, I forgot that they will be provided with free rides on election day by one of O's community organizers. Personally, I'm for a ten question test on current events and the nominees to see if a person has the intelligence to vote or if they're just there for the freebies. I actually like what Neal Boortz promotes, that no one on welfare should be allowed to vote because of conflict of interest.

If the voters were required to understand who and what they're voting for, things would change drastically in America.

LilMikey: Got it wrong again....boy you always do. Sorry, I pay taxes little mikey. You know me not....and I am so glad I do not know you. And btw.....cut out the "personal" comments.....trying to figure out another's personal life. The BDN is strongly advising against that....and altho' we slip up sometimes (and sure I do too), we are attempting to be bigger people about those things on this site. Get it, LilMikey?

Cher, I think a great deal of people on here really need to start educating themselves on the issues. They need to turn-off Fox news and learn something. It would probably surprise them to discover that the Blue states have typically been supporting the red states for a very long time. See it's the educated "libtards" that have the best jobs, earn the most money and pay the most taxes. Cher, should we try and explain it to them?

Yes, Mr Parsons. He is quite a man to some of us. Yes, we can form opinions about him more than we can folks on this site. Many of us admire the man he is with his family. (yes, George Bush too, I would agree.) Many men out there could take a lesson from both of those Presidents as regards being a good husband and father. It is evident in the expressions and thoughts of the Obama girls and Michelle, as it is with Laura, Jenna and Barbara Bush. Unmistakable and a wonderful example Very nice to see.

I am not on welfare, Mr Parsons (and you probably would not think I was),and of course it would be no one's business on this site anyway, either way.... but sir.....that is pretty harsh. No one on welfare should be allowed to vote? Wow....okay. You have a right to your opinion, of course! But when I hear one of your fellow right wingers above , at 11:30 AM, sir, I am not very impressed at all. I just have to read comments like that, and well......no words, Mr Parsons. We are not meant to judge someone's personal circumstances (jobs,etc.) on this online site. It is not intended for that purpose,as you well know. (and I know you are above that sort of thing and am not accusing you of anything, sir.)

Thanks for your respect.

Good day.

Oh....online typing at 11:00 AM....must be on welfare!

Thanks for this article, BDN , anyway......and it seems that Olympia Snowe has made her determination on this. Susan Collins has not, as of yet.

MaineExpatriat: Guess you saw the comment at 11:00 AM Maybe I should lock my doors....ha ha......to get that "personal" on here?!!....thinking they know a person's personal business! Downright creepy!

Hope you are having a good day. Humid, but some sun (!!) in Maine today!

MaineExpatriat: 11:30 AM rather.

Senator Martinez of Fla also voted for confirmation....but we know what some will say about that!!!

MaineEx - Just a tidbit of info for you: of the top 10 programs on cable news networks, FOX has all ten. I guess that means there are a lot of uneducated people watching Fox. Or, maybe the educated people know where to get their news.

Cher - You got to admit that a lot of people go to the polls that don't know a bit about the person or persons they are voting for. And Neal Boortz makes the comment about welfare recipients not voting. I just happen to agree that it is a conflict of interest because they're voting for the person or persons that will be handing them their checks. That's wrong. As for a person's circumstances, most people are in the situations they are in because of either good or bad decisions they make for themselves. We should not be expected to bail out those that make bad decisions directly or through taxes. Our entitlement mentality has to end before we bankrupt this country. But, you forgot to address my comment about why Obama ducks questions. What's he got to hide?

I like Fox news..... Yes they are slightly to the right.

CNN is totally to the left...

I would say Fox is closer to the center than CNN or MSNBC that's for sure.

Don't like it don't watch it.

I work on a Millitary base and we watch FOX.

Telefunkinu47: I agree with you . There is an on/off button on TV's last time I looked. A person can just shut the channel off they are watching, if they do not like it. Many choices.....one does not have to be stuck with just one. There is also radio,etc etc.

Mr Parsons: Not ducking anything. But when one has such a visceral dislike for someone as you obviously do for our President, there is little to add. I leave you to your opinions, reactions, thoughts. I see the world differently than you do...and I am sure, see people differently than you do. I , however, respect your right to your opinions.

Once again...to all......we are not supposed to speculate about another poster's personal situation (job, family,etc.) on the BDN comment site. This is not a difficult concept to grasp.

Good evening.

I'm floored and will cherish this moment all weekend.

Thank you.

EJ: You said, "MaineEx - Just a tidbit of info for you: of the top 10 programs on cable news networks, FOX has all ten. I guess that means there are a lot of uneducated people watching Fox. Or, maybe the educated people know where to get their news. "

Wrong Again. FOX (aka Fake News) is the only extreme right wing spin network out there. It attracts ALLLLLL of them but that's all it attracts. If you look at the statistical breakdown on Fox's viewers it's NOT (LMAO) by any stretch of the imagination the educated crowd, so you were CORRECT on that one (first time for everything). The other networks attract the other 70 to 75% of the American public. BTW... you should look at Fox's number of actual viewers. It's not a big number. There are too many cable news networks out there, so unless you're focused on just one audience (like Fox and the right wing neo-con audience) you're just going to get a small piece of the pie. Most news networks don't mind, though, because they'd rather have respectablity amongst the other 3/4 of the country and the world.

But thanks for playing.

Tele.. if you think CNN Is to the left and Fox is slightly right... Wow! dude you drink way too much.

MSNBC and Fox are two peas in a pod just on opposite spectrums on nutballery.

cher - 5:33 PM - I've stated it before, but I'll state it again, I do not dislike the President. And I would take a bullet for him if the need arose. Please, everyone, get that point straight. I don't like any of his policies because they run counter to what this country stands for. America was not built on entitlements, but it will die because of them, and every one of his policies grow or create entitlements. His policies are bad for America. Granted, there are problems, but throwing money at them, taking them over, or taxiing the rich to the point where they move out is not the way to solve anything.

MaineEx - My stats are correct. They come out weekly, and last week was the first time Fox News Channel held all top ten positions for cable news shows. I know that hurts your feelings, but it's true. Honestly, there is no more balanced network out there to get fair news, and the number of viewers they have proves it. By the way, they are far from extreme right wing overall. They have one far right winger in Hannity, but even he brings on people from both sides. You never see that on Olbermann, Ed, or Maddow. And as for your stats, all the other cable news networks combined don't beat the top 3 programs on Fox. So, your 70 to 75% number is quite inflated. And you're welcome for playing.

Well, I like Charlie Gibson and the commentary of George Stephanaoupolis(spelling?) on ABC.....but I do not stick to just one station. I vary it. But no, I do not get all my news on Fox....I will leave it to others. Just not my cup of tea. I have watched news on NBC, CBS and ABC for years and years....it is what I like. And I do not get cable anyway, so that is part of the answer right there. I am quite satisfied with what I do have, plus there is the radio, internet,etc. And even without cable , I got the All Star baseball game the other night on Fox, so I am all set!! I also am open-minded many times, and really like listening to George Will (very conservative) on ABC and his commentary. I appreciate his intelligence and manner even if I do not agree with some of his views. He has class, though, I will say!

EJ... Dude, I've already addressed this, it's the only right wing neo-con gang in town so it garners all of the 25% (of that group) that actually own TV's. You said nothing new in this post, why repeat it? I'm sorry but the fact is Republicans only make up 30-35% of the public right now and even less of them are extreme right. So my numbers were pretty spot on. Furthermore, as I stated, find the statistical breakdown on education etc. (hehe) as far as your "educated" comment goes. Please don't type out the same post again, it's boring having to read and then type out the same thing over and over. Furthermore that ending response to thanks for playing doesn't make any sense but I think it's great that you're trying.