The American Spectator

Stewart Kiff| 7.21.09 @ 10:01PM

I am a Canadian and while I disagree with Senator Segal on a number of issues, he is respected and well liked and known among the conservatives here in Canada.

I think your ad hominum attacks about his weight and his appearance lessen both you and the Spectator. Why are you diminishing your otherwise solid review of his views with these cheap attacks?

You should apologize and stick to debating people about their ideas, not their looks.

Old Texican| 7.21.09 @ 10:24PM

Stewart
...Just shut the hell up! Your ideas are stupid!

See...the difference is...you are a subject...we are free men. We get to bitch and bellyache all we want.
OUR government has momentarily forgotten that they are our hired help.

Believe me they will be made to remember!

KevlarKevin| 7.21.09 @ 10:55PM

It's ad hominem, moron. Fatty-fatty-two-by-four- couldn't-get-through-the- Senate-door should learn to put down the doughnut every once in a while, eh.

KevlarKevin| 7.21.09 @ 11:00PM

Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also, it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.
--Saul Alinsky

Richard Baker| 7.22.09 @ 12:38AM

KevlarKevin:
Funny stuff. Enjoy your slant on this issue. Alinsky the Alinskyites or as was said in an earlier era, "Hoist on their own petard".

KevlarKevin| 7.22.09 @ 12:47AM

Thanks, Richard.

"Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this..."
--Saul Alinsky

Emmett Shane| 7.22.09 @ 1:12AM

I'm a Canadian who admits Canadian medicare has some problems that need fixing.
But this load of sophomoric crap doesn't endear me to American conservatives. I know 14-year-olds who express themselves in a more mature manner than this. If this is the level of discourse U.S. conservatives insist on, then give me U.S. liberals any day.
And take it from a Canadian, the Fraser Institute is about as unbiased, serious and responsible in its data collection and interpretation as Rush Limbaugh. No thinking person in this country takes it seriously.

Emmett Shane| 7.22.09 @ 1:38AM

Oh, and one more thing. I've just read the Mayo Clinic's own account of this case which you cite prominently in this scurrilous piece of agitprop to buttress your argument. Perhaps you should read it, too. I find it very interesting that at no point does it say Ms. Holmes would have died without surgery to remove what was basically a BENIGN cyst. If that had been the case, as she claims, don't you think the Mayo Clinic would have seen fit to mention it? As for the surgeon's claim that she would have gone permanently blind without immediate surgery, that is his opinion. Another specialist might have seen the case differently. Anyone reading this should also bear in mind that what the Mayo Clinic is actually engaging in here is ADVERTISING. That's understandable, given that the operation in question cost the patient $100,000. Clearly, the Mayo Clinic is campaigning against "Obamacare" because it has a lucrative business to protect.

Patriot| 7.22.09 @ 2:18AM

Hey, Emmett--make sure you don't fall and hit your head while skiing next year.

Keep your inferior health care, we don't want it, Liberal moron.

Oh, and one more thing: We Conservatives don't give a crap what you think of us. Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.

deluxe| 7.22.09 @ 7:36AM

CNN очень непопулярно, да и терпит большие убытки

Deborah D| 7.22.09 @ 8:16AM

"Clearly, the Mayo Clinic is campaigning against "Obamacare" because it has a lucrative business to protect. "

You act like that's a bad thing. Americans are (or at least used to be) for creating lucrative businesses. Businesses actually create things...governments do not. Businesses actually make money so they can hire people. Governments steal money from "lucrative businesses" so they can create huge bureaucracies in order to control free men and women.

God bless the Mayo Clinic -- still not a dirty word to south of Canada.

Phil Wetherington| 7.22.09 @ 8:49AM

Canada, Leading the world in being just north of the United States!

Canada, It's not even a real country anyway!

Deborah D| 7.22.09 @ 9:02AM

"And take it from a Canadian, the Fraser Institute is about as unbiased, serious and responsible in its data collection and interpretation as Rush Limbaugh."

Just a little rebuttal. I know nothing about your Fraser Institute, but if you're as adept at describing it as you are at describing Rush Limbaugh, then I'd have to seriously doubt that your opinion is fact.

Rush Limbaugh is all about data collection and truth. His crime? He uses leftists' own words and the results of their insanity against them. So, of course, they must attack him relentlessly and lie and misconstrue his words purposely. (The Alinsky way, as only leftists can do). He's an American hero who loves his country, believes in the founding Fathers, knows his country's history, and is willing to hold fire to the feet of those who would tear this country down. We are blessed to have him.

Aaron| 7.22.09 @ 9:46AM

Ha ha...

Mathew, you've made it all so clear now...

David Frum = Red Tory

Tim| 7.22.09 @ 10:14AM

Seniors, thanks to social security, have been a solid and important bloc of votes for Democrats all over the country. What nobody seems to be reporting is that seniors are suspicious that grand-nephew Obama will pull their drugs, surgeries and doctor visits.

Patriot| 7.22.09 @ 1:17PM

Old people better wise up quick--Obummer and his heartless minions have put them on the death watch list--right behind unborn babies.

Matthew Vadum| 7.22.09 @ 1:32PM

Emmett Shane, so I gather you would have been comfortable with letting Shona Holmes go blind as a result of the Rathke's cleft cyst growing in her brain?

Spin this.

Emmett Shane| 7.23.09 @ 2:07AM

Mr. Vadum.
OK, so either you DID actually read the Mayo Clinic's account but conveniently chose not to mention that her claim that she would have died was a bunch of crap, OR you didn't even bother to read it at all until I pointed it out. Which is it?
Believe me, Matt(can I call you Matt?), no-one's more ecstatic than I am that Ms. Holmes is free of her - ahem - tumour. But have you also read accounts of Rathke's cleft cyst being amenable to non-surgical treatment with steroids, which would have shrunk the cyst and cured Ms. Holmes' TEMPORARY blindness without risky and EXPENSIVE surgery - an alternative which Ms. Holmes has admitted was mentioned to her? Probably. You're a smart guy, right? But of course, it would have been inconvenient to mention that fact, as well.
As for you, Patriot, your comments are even more moronic and puerile than Matt's, and illustrate my point perfectly about the lowbrow level of discourse you and your fellow conservatives are stooping to. I'd suggest it's just another example of Darwinian theory at work, but you probably don't believe in all that evolution and science crap - just a socialist plot, right, along with climate change and all that bullshit about the earth being spherical instead of flat.
Mr. Wetherington, you may think Canada isn't a real country, but it consistently outperforms the United States in a wide range of health indices, including infant mortality and life expectancy. And it does it while spending significantly less as a percentage of its GDP annually on healthcare. In fact, every other developed country in the world has universal health-care, spends less per capita on it than the US does, and performs much better than the US does in the afore-mentioned indices.
Those are facts, Phil, that underscore your country's urgent need to reform its healthcare system. But I guess, like Patriot and Mr. Vadum, you're not interested in facts. No, you'd rather win arguments by hurling insults at me and my country.
Deborah, I suppose you think it's a GOOD THING that the profit motive drives U.S. healthcare to such an extent that thousands of Americans are forced into bankruptcy every year by catastrophic illness, either because their health insurance doesn't cover their condition or they can't afford health insurance at all.
I don't begrudge the Mayo Clinic its right to make a profit. It's a justifiably world-renowned institution. But don't you think that the profit motive at least partially drives a clinic's decision to operate when there are often less expensive non-surgical alternatives? And believe me, all those possibly unnecessary and expensive tests and procedures end up costing YOU, Deborah, in rising insurance premiums. I sincerely hope you don't pay a fortune in premiums only to find out one day that the Mayo Clinic won't treat what's ailing you because your insurance policy won't cover it.
Oh, and by the way, Deborah. Rush Limbaugh may be many things. He may even be every bit the American hero you say he is. But an impartial collector of data and truth he is not, and neither is the Fraser Institute.
Finally, a few words on something you neo-conservatives always profess to care about - international competitiveness. Far from hurting American business, publicly-run health insurance would ENHANCE U.S. industrial competitiveness, by relieving your corporations of the burden of funding employee health insurance plans. That burden is partly what killed GM and Chrysler and is driving hundreds of thousands of US jobs to lower-cost jurisdictions. And that's why much of the American corporate sector actually SUPPORTS Obama's effort to reform healthcare. They support it because public health insurance would actually give U.S. business a COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE in the global marketplace, and create AMERICAN jobs.
Oh, sorry, there I go again with all those pesky little things called facts. I keep forgetting that's not at all what you guys are interested in.
If you've got any more insults for me, then - in the words of George W. Bush - "bring 'em on."

Regards,

Emmett

Belle| 7.23.09 @ 12:20PM

As a conservative, I apologize for all the immature blather being spewed by folk on this blog. They are the reason the Republican Party is heading for the toilet. No one wants to be embarassed by admitting association with them.
I'm not in favor of health care reform. But then again, I don't want to announce out loud that I vote Republican. Someone might think I'm related to these morons or approve of anything that comes out of Limbaugh's face.

Violette| 7.23.09 @ 12:36PM

Belle, as a 'conservative' please elucidate us on the methods of proper discourse on blog sites such as this. Help us see the error of our ways.

We are awaiting your wise counsel, lying moronic troll.

Patriot| 7.23.09 @ 12:45PM

Hurl your silly insults, Emmett the Canuck; but the fact is we will defeat crappy socialized health care like the garbage system you fools are stuck with. Butt out--our affairs are none of your business.

I don't want to wait months for tests and treatments for diseases such as cancer, I don't want to have to deal with faceless, heartless bureaucratic drones who don't give a damn if I live or die.

You have no choice, we still do: It's too late for you socialists. Now please leave, you're boring us with your dishonest drivel.

Belle| 7.23.09 @ 12:49PM

Violette, you don't need elucidation. You need manners. Perhaps you should take a page out of the Republican handbooks written by men and women of class - Bush Snr., David Frum, Mary Matalin, John McCain, Colin Powell. Condie Rice - you know, people who fought for their cause and their party without stooping to the aforementioned blather.

Violette| 7.23.09 @ 3:07PM

Belle, pray tell the proper etiquette that should be shown to lying trolls such as yourself. Lying is your way of fighting for your cause? Nice immorality on your part, doofas.

It's not very 'mannerly' to lie and pretend you are something you are not--I think you need to learn the 10 Commandments. 'Course, you are probably an atheist so goodness doesn't apply to you.

Liberal Liar, liar--pants on fire.

Belle| 7.23.09 @ 4:39PM

Your command of the English language is astounding! Not an atheist - Episcopal. 4 sons. Married 22 years. Worked for McCain's campaign (although Palin was a bit of an embarassment). And unfortunately, the far right wing of Republicanism is about to bury the party because the combined IQ has trouble hitting 3 digits. And the assertion that there are only 2 options - "my way" or "wrong" is hardly what America is all about. It's hard to be taken seriously when one is so angry, bitter and critical all the time.

Violette| 7.23.09 @ 4:51PM

Belle, 40% of Americans consider themselves Conservatives--that leaves little old minority RINO YOU out in the cold. We ran your RINO puke McCain in 2008 and you see the disaster that resulted: Thanks for that.

We don't need more angry, bitter losers like you. Join the democrats, it's where you belong. Buzz off, bozo.

Missy| 7.23.09 @ 4:52PM

Episcopal--Atheist; what's the difference?

Belle| 7.23.09 @ 5:14PM

40% consider themselves conservative and that leaves ME in the minority? Your math skills are excellent as well. For someone who claims to be christian, your choice of words would make God blush. And it seems you're the angry, bitter one. I just think that in a democracy, debate is good. And in a democracy, those with the most votes win. McCain was a good man who would have made a great president - mostly because his was a platform of inclusion. You see Vi, 60% of Americans by your calculation are something other than conservative. And they won! And they will keep on winning just as long as the neocons keep spewing hate and intolerance. And you're right. I shall now buzz off because trying to have a conversation or a healthy debate with people who are so obviously narrow minded is a useless exercise. But remember - according to sociologists, in 2 generations the most spoken language in this country will be Spanish. It might be a good thing to open your eyes and heart just a little.

Violet| 7.23.09 @ 8:00PM

Belle, you started the insults--that makes you the angry, bitter one. Trouble with logic, huh?

Typical liberal: You can dish it out but you can't take it. Too bad.

Yeah, Bend over Belle; 40% conservative, 20% republican, 20% liberal and 20% moderate. Can you handle the math? You squishy RINOs lose every time because you don't stand for anything--you just attack those who do.

Go away; we're tired of know nothing, do nothing RINO losers like you. Come back when you have a clue because you don't have one now, wiener.

Smitty| 7.23.09 @ 8:02PM

Good riddance to BO Belle the heartless lying troll. The stench is slowly leaving.

Troll Fighter| 7.23.09 @ 8:11PM

Belle, the real haters are you liberals who are responsible for the killing of 50 million babies for convenience.

If you want healthy debate try to avoid insulting people from the start, bimbo.

Let's talk 'heartless' here. Let's see how YOU do on Judgment Day, Belle. God have mercy on your intolerant, smug little soul--if you have one.

Emmett Shane| 7.24.09 @ 1:25AM

Ah yes.
Another mature riposte from my friend Patriot. As usual, the facts just bounce harmlessly off you, don't they?
Sorry, but I'm not going to go away. You Americans make a practice of sticking your noses into other countries' affairs all the time. Well, I'm giving you a taste of your own medicine, so grow some stones and take it like a man. (Besides, I'm having far too much fun baiting you to leave now.)
Patriot, if you had cancer in Canada, you would be seen, diagnosed, and operated on promptly, and unlike in the U.S., you wouldn't have to worry about whether your insurance plan would pay for it. And contrary to what Shona Holmes is saying, we DO have the choice of seeing other doctors if we want to.
Also, the truth is we have much less costly bureaucracy in our healthcare system than you do. Your bureaucrats mostly work in the private insurance companies, devoting most of their time to figuring out how NOT to underwrite patient care. At least our government bureaucrats are hard at work trying to cut wait times, and get patients seen. Your private-sector bureaucrats are doing the exact opposite. They're job is to enrich the insurance companies at your expense.
And by the way, Shona Holmes didn't have cancer. She had a non-life-threatening benign cyst that was impinging on her vision.. Her case is certainly regrettable in many ways, but hardly typical of Canadian medicine.
Patriot, if you don't want Canadian health-care, that's fine with me. As I said, just about every other developed western democracy has a universal healthcare system and there's any number of models you can choose from. The French, the British, the Swedes and the Australians all have terrific systems. Put aside your ideology, study them, look at their outcomes, and then decide what you want. That would be a helluva a lot more productive and useful than spewing anti-Canadian hate speech at me.
I have two final questions for you, Patriot. Do you REALLY think the U.S. healthcare system doesn't need substantial reform? And is it morally acceptable to you that millions of working Americans either don't have adequate healthcare coverage, or have no access at all?
You conservatives hurl insults and scaremonger, but you never have the balls to come out and tell the American people what YOUR prescription for healthcare is. Why don't you neocon Republicans just have the courage to admit that you don't give a fuck about anyone but yourselves and your rich benefactors ? I'd love to see how many votes that attitude will win you in the 2010 mid-terms.

Regards,
Emmett

Patriot| 7.24.09 @ 2:02AM

Ha ha ha! We've been barraged with cancer horror stories from Canada, moron. Many of your fellow Canucks would have died waiting months and months for tests and diagnoses.

Their lives were saved because they had the U.S. to run to--just like your country who always mooches national security defense from us.

Go away, liar; I tire of you. We're gonna beat your crappy socialized medicine programs here. Good luck with your inferior medical care: Don't fall and hit your head while skiing this winter like poor (dead) Natasha Richardson.

Patriot| 7.24.09 @ 2:05AM

We're gonna kick liberal a$$ in 2010--just watch, loser. You dumb-asses just don't know how to govern. You're too weak.

Emmett Shane| 7.25.09 @ 3:53PM

Patriot ... for every horror story you can dredge up about Canadian healthcare wait times, I can come up with 200 atrocity stories about Americans who were either refused care because they couldnt afford it, or were bankrupted by a catastrophic illness.
But there is one thing you and I finally agree on: yes, the Republican Party could make gains in 2010, if Obama doesnt figure out how to make use of his Congressional majority, get his so-called blue-dog Democrats under control, and stop pandering to neocon lunatics like you in the name of bipartisanship.
It would be a catastrophe for your country, but yes, it could happen.

Patriot| 7.26.09 @ 10:17PM

I'm not a neocon, stupid, you don't even know me or what I believe. What an ignorant ass you are.

Marxists like you are a disaster for our country, that's why we're going to blow the likes of you losers out in 2010. Stay in your Marxist hell-hole, we have no use for lying morons like you.

Occam's Razor| 7.31.09 @ 8:46PM

Dear Emmett:

"that's one specialist's opinion"---the Mayo Clinic is the Number 1 ranked Neurosurgical hospital in the US, and has been so for 17 years. I'm an MD, and hve had a relative treated there. It's superb. There's NOTHING in Canada to match it.

Incidentally, when there is an infectious outbreak in Canada, who do you hosers turn to to deal with it? The CDC. Canadians are parasites.

Emmett Shane| 8.1.09 @ 11:47PM

"I'm not a neocon, stupid, you don't even know me or what I believe. What an ignorant ass you are."
Oh sorry Patriot for calling you a "neocon lunatic. " That was really out of line. But it's telling that while denying you're a neocon you don't deny that you're a lunatic! I guess you're just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill lunatic, not a neocon one. I apologize for insulting you.
As for you Occam's Razor, Canada has its own centre for disease control in Winnipeg which shares information both ways with the Centers For Disease Control in Atlanta. So do disease control centres in countries around the world. How in the world does that make us parasites?
And I'm very happy your relative was treated at the Mayo Clinic successfuly. At no time did I question the excellence of the Mayo Clinic or of American medicine in general. I simply mentioned that its neuro-surgeon's opinion was one among many opinions. And because the U.S. health care system is set up on a fee-for-service basis, clinics like it are encouraged to perform more and more expensive procedures when they MAY not be necessary, forcing insurance companies to RATION healthcare by DENYING ACCESS. And as for Canada having NOTHING to match it, I suppose you've never heard of the Montreal Neurological Institute which is world-renowned in its field, as well. It has pioneered many of the medical and surgical procedures used on patients in the United States and across the planet.
There, see? I was very tempted to stoop to your level and throw an epithet at you, but I didn't. I just countered your bilious attack on my country with some facts. It's actually not so hard to debate issues like mature adults. Try it sometime.
In fact, I'd be very interested to know what you as an MD think ought to be done to reform US healthcare and make sure all Americans have access to it. Do you really think the status quo is acceptable?

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Paulie| 8.19.09 @ 10:59PM

Patriot| 7.23.09 @ 12:45PM said,"Hurl your silly insults, Emmett the Canuck; but the fact is we will defeat crappy socialized health care like the garbage system you fools are stuck with. Butt out--our affairs are none of your business. "

YOU butt out. Holmes had a benign cyst, the mayo clinic PDF touted here has the mice scattering as they do not say her life was EVER in danger, as it wasn't! They MAY have, but deny it now.

Holmes refused healthcare in Canada and made that choice, she had many options and refused to take action. Instead the preferred to pursue the American style Healthcare by remortgaging her house to pay the 97K and now is asking for recompense for something that would have and should have been done here.

You guys can all continue to pay out of pocket, even though you all pay more then we do already for healthcare per capita, with 45 million still without any insurance. We don't care! But to have any hypochondriac who wished to seek care in the US be compensed for it is not going to happen.

So socialist are we? Then you must pay for police and other emergency services out of pocket in the states? ahahah!

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