Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Jumping the shark.

Congrats, AP - youbedafirst.

How about that, I'm first.

Now I can go back to enjoying all my second place finishes.

Continuing our health plan discussion from previous thread (and thanks for the thread change head's up, Craig. Very thoughtful.):

Yeah, Big Pharma and Big Insurance are going to be as hard as Al Qaeda. Going to take a lot of political capital, but do not see how the next president -- if a Democrat, please God -- puts off tackling the subject.

Harry and Louise might not be as effective this time around, when you are in rental housing and your kid is still crying over leaving Fido at the humane society.

Or when you are stuck in a home you cannot sell, miles from your job which requires tanksful of $4/gallon gas for commute.

America is people, not profits.

pogo...

I was 62 last week so I guess I'm officially a dirty old man now.

Hello there AP. Good to see you.

The best has yet to come with this Obama "bittergate."

There is a video clip circulating from the SF fundraiser. It is on YouTube.

This clip shows Obama saying that white people are more resistant to his message because "he is a black man named Barack Obama."

Translation: white people do not like me because they are black.

This falls nicely into his statement that people are bitter and that they cling to antipathy toward people who are not like them among other reasons.

Ouch! So much for post-racial.

Correction

The best has yet to come with this Obama "bittergate."

There is a video clip circulating from the SF fundraiser. It is on YouTube.

This clip shows Obama saying that white people are more resistant to his message because "he is a black man named Barack Obama."

Translation: white people do not like me because I am black.

This falls nicely into his statement that people are bitter and that they cling to antipathy toward people who are not like them among other reasons.

Ouch! So much for post-racial.

Apparently "the truth" of Obama's statement is not perceived as true by over half the people he wants to vote for him. But he seems to have done a decent job of explaining it away. (See Craig's 2nd link, above). People are so stupid. :-)

well hell's bells, this is a good topic...

Polls are all over the place...

I would have liked a topic about the damn professional political consultants and handlers whom I think damage candidates, the real debate, and leave, regardless of winning or losing, with MILLIONS of dollars in their bank accounts.

Damn, AP, you're even older than I am (and I am decidedly a dirty old man). I would have never thunk it. Your posts have a certain youthiness to them.

Jan: I think there is some truth to having to get over he's a black man named Barack Obama. He is not a familiar presence or a known quantity to most people.

That sounds like a factual statement to me.

PS: you might check your translation: "white people do not like me because they are black." Uh huh.

Also, beware the Youtube clip without context. The full remarksl, or as much as was captured, is another story.

Hi dog...

I still try to read, but don't comment too much anymore. I really don't want to get into the middle of the current mess over who's the best nominee.

I just feel to old to argue about the dangers we are all facing and how its important that we should be talking about how we will rid ourselves of the new Nazi's that have taken over the Republican Party and Our Country instead of who's the best candidate to lead us.

I leave that to all of you here to do.

Got to run as its time to get ready to go home.

I will look for another link on the War Crimes issue and if I can find it I'll post it later tonight.

Take care and ...

God Bless.

"This clip shows Obama saying that white people are more resistant to his message because "he is a black man named Barack Obama."

Well duh! Look at many on this list Jan.

Me too ET, that's why I suggested a thread on Mark Penn.

Youthiness! I love that, pogo.

A repost with a little added...

pogo,

Yeah, the drug patent game has become too similar to Sonny Bono's Copyright 4 Evah laws, both his own and his memorialists.

How to fight this in a funny and direct way?

I've been looking to see who would be willing to draft and sponsor legislation banning ALL consumer prescription drug advertising in all media.

My thought (very peccable) is that this is where they throw their money to make their patents more valuable over more time.

Take away the advertising...

And the value of the patent ain't so great.

Which will reduce marketing costs. Which will reduce drug prices.

And which will lead to a more reasonable turnaround to generic drugmakers.

Plus, it may bring on a silver age of physicial drug samples and get more of The Most Indispensable People Ever -- Pharma Reps! -- hired.

Given the disasters in recent cholesterol drug marketing -- and the cringe factor in ED drug ads (whose pioneer was Bob "This check's gonna clear, right?" Dole)...

It might not be that hard to at least propose.

However, the lobbying comedy that followed could lead to the first Judd Apatow directed documentary --

And Judd Apatow's first (and only) Oscar.

dog, I liked the ring to it.

The facts are still the same. Obama thinks, whether rightly or not, that the people who do not vote for him are racists. This is an inflammatory statement.

Only liberal Dems would see this as truth telling and not recognize it for what it is: that Obama's words are a major turn off for the general electorate.

He is a flawed candidate. However, the most liberal part of the Dem. party has their heads stuck up their asses because he espouses their ideas.

Once again, the Dems will get stuck with a guy who will be painted as too far to the left on every issue.

For the general, that spells LOSER!

Jan sorry but I disagree. There was nothing inflammatory about his statement, at best as he says his words were clumsy, but hey if you want to see this is a big deal have it, no skin off my nose.

"Once again, the Dems will get stuck with a guy who will be painted as too far to the left on every issue."

Give me a break Jan. This would be the GOP's strategy is Check Hagel was the Dem. nominee.

It is all they got since the GOP and McCain are "out of touch" with most of America on almost every major issue - e.g., Iraq, the economy, healthcare, etc.

They are forced to rely on slogans and distractions. Well guess what - the Clinton campaign has been doing the same thing for months - and they are getting their butts kicked!!

Bring on McCain - who does not have the kinda of nation-wide loyal support group that Hillary Clinton has.

Damn - "if Chuck Hagel"

"Are Obama’s comments worth discussing? On the merits, we’d have to say they pretty much aren’t—like 90 percent of what gets discussed in our political discourse. But here comes a fact about electoral politics, a fact which often escapes liberal observers: Elections aren’t about what we at THE HOWLER may think. Elections are about the values, views, outlooks and reactions of 100 million-plus voters—people who may not see the world in the way we do.

What will voters think about this flap? We have no way of knowing. But it’s depressing to see how many liberals seem to have no earthly idea what issues may be at play in this matter. This cluelessness has badly harmed progressive interests since the late 1960s. It’s depressing to see how widespread it is around the liberal web."

http://dailyhowler.com/

Warren whenever I feel the need for a warm and fuzzy I close my eyes, lean back and picture the opening shots of first McSane/Obama debate.

I the Obama vs. McCain debates will do a lot to elevate the current conversation in Washington.

(and "conversation" is being kind)

EuroTom,

Just to split a hair or two on your post on President Clinton being the only re-elected Democrat since FDR, even though Harry Truman and LBJ only got elected to the Presidency one time, I'd consider them re-elected.

I'll confess I'm really defending HST here because he served almost the entire four years of FDR's last term, but I can't include him without also counting LBJ, who, faced re-election less than a year after President Kennedy's death.

I'll acknowledge that there's a contrary semantic argument, but I like my version better, especially where President Truman is involved.

My campaigning for Hillary has made something very clear to me.

Whether it is on the telephone or talking to people on the streets, their is a deep, deep resentment at what people see as unwarranted, vicious attacks on Senator Clinton and on the record of President Clinton.

We see this nonsense on this blog on a daily basis. I don't think the Obama campaign and SOME of its supporters get it.

McCain: More conservative than his image

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_the_conservative

McCain/Obama Debate?

Do you really think McCain would accept the Vice-Presidential nomination of the GOP?

you are right 9/11, it really is all in the advertising - and in the marketing to MDs. You want a good example - TYlenol. It's the #1 pain med used in hospitals, despite it being better than aspirin and ibuprofen in only one major respect - it is not as corrosive in the stomach from what I understand. Of course it is inferior as an antiinflammatory, most people I've ever talked to about the big three OTC painkillers get better results from ibuprofen and acetaminophen is widely available in generic equivalent form.

ED drugs - I have to admit that the ED commercials get a rise (sorry) out of me. I like the other "Bob" commercials - you know, the ones with the proud Bob and the happy Mrs. Bob.

OD:

This is happening on both sides of the fence. And calling this race unfair will get you nowhere.

The Dems need to realize their problem. They like their candidates TOO much. In other words, people personally identify with their candidate and they take all these attacks to heart - as if they themselves were being attacked.

The Democratics need to make sure that they are not so overcome with emotion that they lose site of the real prize - the White House.

It is always good to show a little passion when debating issues - but inevitably - you can have too much of a good thing...

Speaking of getting your guns.... ( I know it was the last post but I read it too late to post there) Yesterday I was out fishing with a friend on a river down here in southern Louisiana. A couple of guys rounded the bend in their bass boat and when they got into view and I heard one say " hey let me get my gun". I remembered I was wearing my pink Hillary ,Madame President , T-shirt that a friend brought me back when she recently visited WashingtonDC

I thought Oh shit, and told my friend they must have seen my T-shirt. Then I noticed that his friend had duck sounds as a ring tone on his cellphone that was ringing. Whew! You just can't be too careful these days.

Brian,

You always make me chuckle with how you repeat Obama's talking points.

Clumsy? Yeah right!

His statement does 2 things: it says, poor me (victim). These "typical white people" do not like me bacause of my race. Second, it shows a complete lack of accountabliity on his part to accept that he loses some primaries because he has not effectivly campaigned.

This "victim" mentality has also shown up on this board as an excuse for Obama. People who oppose him MUST be racists. People who are for him are open minded and progressive.

pogo,

THAT Bob is no hired actor -- he owns the company!

Tylenol is not only the least effective of all OTC anti-inflammatories (aspirin and NSAIDS are better) it creates serious liver damage.

I can't take anything except it because my platelets are down to 24K again (and those anti-inflammatories make my counts collapse)..

However --

The Tylenol supremacy has its roots in something else, I think.

It is the huge inertial wave which followed the Tylenol tampering poisoning back in 1982.

J & J banned capsules and created triple wrap packaging (which probably created more cases of arthritis than Tylenol would help) --

And people began going out of their way to use Tylenol as a show of good faith.

Jan:

What his statement does not do is change McCain's stance on the major issues.

So you still have a problem even though you may be feeling a bit giddy today.

(Also, Jan do you know how many people left the Republican party in PA to switch parties to vote for Obama - the number escapes me right now...)

Hi EdVB ,

I didn't post that originally... I can't remember who did... :)

9/11, pogo, anon...

I whole-heartedly agree that pharmaceutical ads should be banned...not simply to reduce costs, but to reduce the undue influence they have over people seeking medical care. Really, our doctors should be able to tell us what drugs we need. They don't need us coming in prompting them to offer drugs we've heard about on TV. Makes me crazier than I already was! Are you seriously trying to get someone to introduce legislation banning the ads, 9/11? And, if yes, how are you approaching this effort?

warren, gallup doesn't agree with your assessment of McCain being out of touch and Obama being in touch with the voters, at least assuming that voter perception of agreement with their issues translates into preference for a candidate. the Gallup daily tracker has McCain and Obama within its 2% margin of error, with 5% unsure.

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm

Looks like McCain is gonna have a tough time against whichever "elitist" he faces in November:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/3/25/15744/0765

Anyone who thinks Grandpa Munster can beat Obama is insane.

pogo:

My assessment is not based on polls. It is based on listening to the candidates themselves as well as talking to real live Americans.

Unelectable

"The message coming out of the Clinton campaign on Sunday is that Obama has rendered himself unelectable.

On Sunday, Obama said Hillary should be ashamed for bringing up Snob-gate.

Sen. Clinton does know better — she knows better than to condescend and talk down to voters like Senator Obama did. Senator Obama’s outburst won’t change the fact that he has embraced his characterization of the millions of Americans who live in small towns.

This is a powerful argument for three reasons. First, it reminds Democrats who are hungry for victory that Obama is not fully vetted. Second, it sends a message to the superdelegates that Obama is now fatally wounded against McCain in November. And third, it speaks most immediately to blue collar Democrats in Pennsylvania that Obama is the elites’ choice.

...the legendary expert on rural politics, Mudcat Saunders. He deserves to be listened to closely: “David Saunders, a Democratic strategist and rural advocate, advised John Edwards’s presidential campaign but is now neutral. He said he believed that Mr. Obama’s comments would offend rural voters…It could mean he’s rendered himself unelectable,” Mr. Saunders said. “This is a perfect example of why Democrats lose elections.”

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/14/unelectable/

http://www.bittervoters.org/

Once again, the Dems will get stuck with a guy who will be painted as too far to the left on every issue.

For the general, that spells LOSER!

Posted by: Jan

I agree but I still have hope BO will implode and this jejune novice might make it happen before he wraps up the nomination.

toast

harborwoman,

I started with a call to the Medicare expert on my local Congresswoman's staff.

His peers started looking into it.

Since then I've drafted a PR campaign. The staff -- particularly after the recent FDA disasters with cholesterol drugs (which will probably get reversed as the weather changes less fast than medical studies do) -- has started pitching it to the Congresswoman.

Yes -- the advertising is shameless, misleading and abusive and rarely helps anyone at all. (Same with the commercial websites.)

And Reagan's dismantling of the FDA is nothing compared to what this Bush has undone -- including letting the pharmaceutical company which developed any drug under clinical trial fund and even influence the trial.

Please note how few clinical trials which are NOT funded by Big Pharma actually get approved.

The Clintons have made that same argument every weekend.

And it is based on....the opinion of the Clinton campaign.

Thus, their argument rests on "facts" that have even less validity than polls conducted 6 months before the general election.

Another point re: today's prescription meds that many are unaware of is that the companies will take their major $ producers and, near the end of their patents, will tweak them just a bit in order to produce a new and more expensive prescription drug. The newer drugs are often less effective than what they've replaced. But...big pharma sends it's reps out in droves to bribe docs into prescribing the newer, patented, much more expensive drug.

"Nearly a quarter of voters say they have been turned off by Obama’s “excessive” advertising campaign which the Philadelphia Inquirer says today has broken records."

As i suspected...I think I brought this up last week...too much advertising could hurt. I think I said something like...just because you can outspend your opponent 4-1 in advertising doesn't mean you should. I think I got a smart remark back from an Obama supporter (I won't call you out Warren...oops sorry). Looks like I was right.

;-)

Warren,

I am not giddy. Actually, I feel screwed over because I am convinced Obama (assuming his is the nom)cannot win the general, which means that my family will have another 4 years of NO Health care insurance.

Its statements like the ones he gave that lead me to this conclusion along with the fact that he has no experience, Rezko will probably hurt him, and oh yes, in the general, the pastor issue will rear its ugly head again.

harborwoman,

Again, you have it.

That includes the lovely spin of "timed release" versions.

"I agree but I still have hope BO will implode and this jejune novice might make it happen before he wraps up the nomination."

What a depressing approach to politics.

Woohoo Wendy.

Feel free to put a gold star on your fridge.

(And I never disgreed with the point that over-adverstising could hurt Obama. Instead I pointed to something more important that underlies you statement. The fact that Obama is in a position to outspend his opponent 4-1 is a direct result from there being more enthusiasim for his campaign nationwide.)

Ouch...IN by 16% now...Clinton up by 3%...so the old theory of give Obama time he catches up doesn't seem to be holding true in IN...more like give Obama time and he falls behind

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=d8b46eaa-c463-408e-98d2-b830eb122d39

HRC: 55% (+3% since last poll)
BHO: 39% (-4% since last poll)
Undecided: 3%
Other: 3%

The most important factor to note is:

"In greater Indianapolis, Obama had led by 12, now trails by 1, a 13-point swing to Clinton."

I'll give him that he has 3 weeks to turn this one around...but it's not looking good in IN and things are trending in the wrong direction for ole Obomie.

I'm impressed, 9/11. A lot of us talk about what we'd like to see changed; you're taking action. Please keep me posted as you make progress.

I agree totally that the current administration has done enormous damage...to all government agencies, though, not just the health care related ones. Just look at who they've appointed to run these agencies. To a person, they're people who come from the very industries they're now assigned to provide oversight on (lousy sentence structure, I know!). FDA, CDC, IOM, FAA, Dept. of Justice...and on and on and on. They deregulate, then they put their shills in place and either politicize or destroy everything they touch.

Thanks, Warren I will

Did you see how badly Obomie is losing in IN now? I hope he's learned his lesson about over-saturating a market with advertising.

9/11...

It's interesting that we've come to so many of the same conclusions about the pharmaceutical industry and our government. At least medically, I think we are currently 'trapped' (not meant in any negative sense) on opposite sides of the treatment divide. I believe you are very involved in conventional, even experimental, treatments, whereas I have been operating primarily in the world of complementary medicine for the past 17 years. My son has autism, for which conventional medicine has virtually nothing to offer other than trying to drug him into submission, so I've sought alternative treatments and therapies that have him very functional today...not healed, which is what I truly want, but doing very well.

"Well duh! Look at many on this list Jan."

This is why they believe Obama...his supporters also think that anyone that won't vote for him or buy his crap is a bigot. This is why if the superDs don't have the sense to get off the Obama bandwagon and he does does get the nomination, he'll lose the election because his leftist radical supporters are actually so full of hate for the rest of the country they are out of touch. You guys might steal another primary but you'll lose the election...as usual.

Wendy:

You may want to hold off on the gold star until PA actually votes.

But to tell you the truth - I suspect Clinton will do just fine. They are masters at managing expectations. And I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a silent effort by the Clinton campaign to encourage some of her supporters to claim they are undecided in polls - so that it appears that she has won a huge percentage of late deciders.

Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney on Monday endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid.

In a statement, the 75-year-old Rooney said endorsing political candidates is not something he regularly does.

"As a grandfather and a citizen of this community, I think Barack Obama's thoughtful, strategic approach is important to America," Rooney said. "When I hear how excited young people seem to be when they talk about this man, I believe he will do what is best for them, which is to inspire them to be great Americans."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_el_pr/obama_rooney

Well warren, I actually do hope your sense of what is important to people is correct, and I do have a similar sense - to the extent that on the issues the dem candidates seem to get it and McNutjob doesn't. I'd like to see thatt reflected in polling so I don't worry so much about November - but unless I look at generic Dem/Rep polls, I don't see it. On the conceptual level Dems look really good, but put the names on the polls and they even up real quick. That makes me nervous. And Brian, gallup, who you shove in our faces on an almost daily basis, finds almost as many insane (by your definition) people as sane ones. So I ask you, should we believe the daily gallup polls or discount them? Or do you want it both ways?

btw, all, I saw something in USAToday at lunch that warmed my heart. The two loudest voices accusing Hillary of lying about Bosnia got their names in the paper - for being tax cheats. Dick "Fathead" Morris and Sinbad both were among those listed who owe the feds and their state governments millions of dollars. Links are sometimes soooo hard to follow, so here's th' beef on these two upstanding citizens.

"•Dick Morris —The former political adviser to Bill Clinton is a Fox News analyst. The IRS filed a $1.5 million tax lien against him in 2003. The state of Connecticut reports Morris owes $452,367 in back taxes and penalties.

Morris says he's reached an agreement with Connecticut and his name will be removed from the next delinquency list. He says he is committed to paying his taxes: "Following a difficult period in my life, I fell into arrears. But since then, I have paid almost $3 million in state and federal taxes."

•Sinbad —The comedian and actor — whose full name is Sinbad Adkins — owes $2.1 million to the state of California, according to the California Franchise Tax Board. The IRS filed a $416,870 tax lien against him in 2006. Other tax liens against him date to 1994, when he starred in The Sinbad Show on the Fox Network. "

And the link, for those who care.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-13-Taxcover_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

What a depressing approach to politics.
Posted by: Bitter Brian Hussein In NYC

If I'm wrong about BO I'd be PLEASED to learn that. but the "weakness" of BO is the issue. BO hasn't been tested or vetted. He may well be everything YOU believe but he has yet to prove your expectations valid.

toast

harborwoman,

You both love and honor your son. (Also yourself.)

I spent many years with a boy (now a teenager) who was autistic and borderline retarded. Things like Concerta did make a difference. But you're right -- they are not all that made the world a less frightening, more understandable place.

My goal was to help him find ways to process that weren't his mother or my own.

Many people became involved. And now as he lives he thrives.

I cannot begin to tell you the respect both you and he deserve.

I will a few things. I work with healers -- including another ex-girlfriend whose work with me led to only brief period in which I was abruptly cancer-free.

I also work with many different nutrients and, of course, meditation.

What's interesting is how it all came together over the past few months.

A couple I know -- divorced but still partners in their practice -- are among the pioneers in the LA autistic research and treatment community. (The woman is the one who did the melatonin level research.)

They came to NYC because their youngest had a brutal sarcoma.

So the young man and I spent many days together.

Yes, he had a lot of severe treatment. But that only worked when I convinced him to let his very brilliantly constructed persona get atomized.

In doing so.... he got out of his own way.

And with that a lot of remarkable creative energy was created and released and created again.

So, yes -- I do go for conventional treatment because this thing is a mess.

But I pursue other things... not necessarily in search of any fait accompli... but a balance here and there and (very occasionally) everywhere.

What matters here is everything you have given your son on so many currents of love (no matter how you may have hurt) --

And how much more of it he has grown to receive --

And give back to you and others.

I think I'll throw Barack and extra 25 bucks today.

Nothing inflamatory about saying people who have lost their faith in government have turned to guns and religion....duh and are doing it because they are bitter?

Sounds like the bitter dregs are all in Obama land...
sometimes when you run a marathon and aren't really ready, you hit the wall. Looks like that's what has happened to Obama. Gee and just last week Obama was allegedly within a point of Clinton in Pennsyvania
I guess The Casey constituency didn't like being patronized after all. The only bitter one in that group is Bob still trying to avenge his ridiculous father the first Zell Miller.

approach to politics.
Posted by: Bitter Brian Hussein In NYC

Brian my wife and I are involved in the arts and so unlike the art of politics of which I confess happily I know little. Taking that in context my views should neither cause you unbridled joy or apoplexy.

toast

Toast if Obama is such a light weight how come Hillary can't beat him?

"My assessment is not based on polls. It is based on listening to the candidates themselves as well as talking to real live Americans."

Yes Warren has been traveling all over the country talking to "real live Americans" in order to find out what they really think. Or is that just traveling around NYC talking to "real live New Yorkers". Talk about out of touch...

Why how come any time you questions or comment about the statements of Clintonista you're accused of being some how emotional unstable. This is a blog, not a cheer leading squad.

Posted by: Bitter Brian Hussein In NYC | April 14, 2008 4:08 PM

If Senator Clinton is so bad why can't Bitter Barry close the deal?

She is beating him in the polls in all the remaining primaries except NC where she is beginning to close the deal.

So now you don't like New Yorkers either Windy?

"I feel screwed over because I am convinced Obama (assuming his is the nom)cannot win the general, which means that my family will have another 4 years of NO Health care insurance."

Jan...even if Obama does win the nom and the election your family will still spend another 4 years with NO Health care.

There is supposed to be a good Frontline documentary on tomorrow comparing health care in various countries to the US. In the US, 700,000 people go bankrupt because of health related debt. In Japan, Germany, Great Britain and France, that number is 0. Good luck reducing that number with Obomie.

obama said he never met auchi........not according to testimony in the rezko trial

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/04/obama_bomb_dropped.html

Wendy! You don't think that the average New Yorker (assuming there is such a thing) is a good gauge of what the average American thinks is important? hah, hahah, hahaha, hahahahahahahahah. Oh god, sometimes I just kill myself.

you're accused of being some how emotional unstable

In you case your brhavior insists that people come to the conclusion that you are unstable

Once again you are projecting.

Ok Brian, send him everything...

9/11...

I'm so glad to hear that you're seeking balance in your treatments. In your place, I certainly wouldn't avoid conventional treatments, but I've come to believe that alternative/complementary therapies have a great deal to offer. They often take longer to work, or for us to be able to see the healthy changes they're bringing about, but they seem to me to be more about healing, where many conventional treatments - particularly drugs - seem to be more about masking symptoms.

One of the most effective things I've done with my son is to remove all wheat and dairy from his diet. What we're really removing are the proteins gluten and casein, which enter the bloodstream through a permeable gut, and act like opiates in his system. This diet has proved effective for approximately 80 - 85% of people on the autism spectrum who've tried it. It usually shows up as improvements in both cognitive and behavioral function. I didn't know to try it until my son was 16, but even then, the changes were dramatic. If you're still in contact with the mom of the boy you mentioned, you might suggest she try it. If she's curious, I'd be happy to tell her everything I know that might be of help. Beyond the diet I mentioned, there's a long list of treatments and therapies that are worth a try...other diets, supplementaion based on lab testing, auditory integrative therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, Applied Behavioral Analysis, etc. These are all promoted by a group of very progressive doctors who are involved in the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) movement.

Needless to say, this is one of my passions.

"You may want to hold off on the gold star until PA actually votes."

Oh Warren...how many days leading up to OH did you say the same kind of crap to me...we'll see after OH...after OH it'll be over and we'll all get together and hold hands and sing...I'm not going to talk to you until after OH when Obomie wins.

Well...it didn't happen and here we are...and we'll be here after PA doin' the same dance.

Checked those delegate counts lately? What an odd understanding of the word "winning" you people have.

If anyone you know needs Procrit or Neupogen injectibles and theco-pay per syringe has now gone up to hundreds of dollars...

See if your doctor's office will file the precription as MEDICAL rather than PHARMACEUTICAL.

It can work.

Wendy! If you persist in using Obomie, I suggest it's fair play for others to go with Hillwitch or Hillaryena or whatever they want. Which is rude and will further degrade the conversation. But sauce for the goose, no?

Otherwise, HRC, Hillary, Sen. or Mrs. Clinton would be fine. As would BO, BHO, Barack, Obama, or Sen. Obama.

Is Obomie a play on homie? Or what?

Harbor and 9/11: I think it's great how you educate us on topics that can make a real difference in others' lives. And you have no idea how far your ideas will travel or who lurks and can benefit.

No...other than one foul new yorker that posts on this blog and purposely misspells my name...I love New Yorkers but they are not representative of the entire US...if one looks at the entire US through the filter of New York...I consider them out of touch.

Now...if Warren did in fact go on a little bus tour around the US talking to average Americans to find out how they really feel about this election...I apologize for my remark.

The dance will eventually stop.

And remeber - PA is not about percentage points - it is about how many popular votes Clinton can get.

I don't care if a video comes out with Obama windsurfing with Farrakhan - HRC does not have a shot if she does not win the popular vote. Close won't cut it.

Btw, winning the popular vote only gives her a chance - and seals nothing for her. Since she will still need a super majority of the Super D's to ignore the fact that Obama won more states and more pledged delegates.

So - keep dancing...but make sure to maintain some contact with the concept of reality.

Hope others benefit, dog! Otherwise, please excuse our conversation in the midst of the political food fight....

Windy, urban or rural, people are sick of this war, and disgusted with politics as usual. You're losing for a reason, and it's not the press coverage and it's not because gender. People don't like her, you just refuse to get that. Stop trying to micro-target this election, it's not working! People are tired of the divide game.

Isn't Clinton an average New Yorker?

(oh, I forgot - she just plays one on TV...)

Dog...you can call Hillary whatever you'd like...that's up to you. I've seen her called worse than Hillwitch here...Bitch comes to mind - on several occasion. Do what you like. Have at it. I've spent this entire primary watching her called the most foul things imaginable...I think Obomie is mild compared to what Hillary has been called. So be my guest. Not to mention my own name being misspelled CONSTANTLY. Get over it and do what you'd like.

No it's not a play on homie.

It's a play on the fact that he's a big whiny baby coddled by the media. But I like your version too.

but what does that name mean? Obomie?

Move on Dog...you're barkin' up the wrong tree. If you don't get it...I'm not explaining it to you.

harborwoman,

Before my friend whose autistic son I mentioned was diagnosed herself with Celiac's Disease... she broke up with me in good part because I had kept suggesting to her to eliminate all gluten from her home.

I am continuously rotating my own foods, in or out of conventional treatment.

One of the things I have written of here many times is the Dendritic DNA viral cancer "vaccine" -- which is finally in a Stage I FDA clinical trial -- albeit for melanoma treatment only.

This is a masterpiece of biological treatment which retrains a body's immune system to distinguish between any auto-immune condition (AIDS, cancer, Crohn's -- it has worked with that -- lupus, sickle cell anemia and has had success in early work with autism).

The first widespread use of a biological treatment was with Rituxan which took decades to develop. But through the work of so many people (including one or two who get, um, criticized around here) it became one of the first AIDS related drugs to get an FDA fast track trial.

While it was developed to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, its uses have been pretty astonishing with very, very little collateral damage. (Well, except for the freaking use of prednisone which some -- not all -- doctors prescribe as pretreatment for it.)

Toast if Obama is such a light weight how come Hillary can't beat him?
Posted by: Bitter Brian Hussein In NYC

I didn't say he wasn't a formidable candidate in a "democratic primary", he is, but he is untested {poor dear] and in the GE MAX'S posts come into play.

To your delight I believe that Hillary's campaign is also responsible for the situation she finds herself in, as well as the MSM that has ill served them both.

toast

One thing that forces drug prices higher is the extended rights protection accorded to a new drug. Courtesy of friendly legislation it is much longer before a generic can come on the market. Also, the drug companies push on doctors to prescribe new drugs at significantly higher prices rather than older drugs that are just as effective or generics, both of which are cheaper.

This also happens to be dangerous since the newer drugs may be more powerful, but may have worse side effects on contraindications .

Congress has been in the pocket of big pharma and the insurance companies have been making out like bandits with the new drug coverage reimbursed by tax payers.

Oh, warren, so Hillary is who you talked to? Well, you found one of the few NYers who grew up in the Midwest and has lived a significant portion of her life in a rural southern state in addition to the nation's capital and New York. Probably has a better sense of the country's ideas about what's important than the average NYer.

Considering that the voters in this country rage in age from 18 to the oldest register voter (hopefully a living voter)let's say 99 years old - for sake of the blog - how can any one person be "in-touch" with all the groups? add in age , gender, race, religion,and wealth and education level and there shouldn't be any room for gross generalizations.

It is aways better, just to treat people with a mutual respect, no need to insult them, especially if you are trying to get their votes.

MSNBC is so blatant

"balanced" coverage of the "bitter" remarks: An Obama supporter and a Republican to comment on whether or not Sen. Clinton is going overboard.

BTW, I've decided Sen. and Mrs Obama aren't "elitists" (class over class). I think they are snobs (better and holier than thou), particularly when you consider the snarky remarks, put downs and the arugula and OJ comments.

toast give credit where credit is due, Bill Clinton has been an amazing asset to the Obama campaign.

Obama is going swing this "bitter" bullshit into a high energy populist play, it's going to be fun to watch.

well, elitists and snobs - I have a soccer practice to deliver the kid to. have a good evening.

Good information, 9/11. Thank you! I will admit that I'm somewhat (okay, a lot!) anti-vaccine based on much research, but if they've come up with one that may truly help with all you mention - including autism! - I'll certain work at being open to it. My first step, however, will be to try to ascertain what it's components are, as there are many dangerous ingredients included in virtually all vaccines...to name a few, thimerosal (mercury), aluminum, formaldehyde, and those don't even touch on the adjuvants used to get vaccine components to the desired sites in the body.

Did you realize that your former girlfriend had Celiac disease? It's pretty amazing that you knew to eliminate gluten. Did you know that because of your own illness? I assume she's now gluten-free. How about her son? If they're already gluten-free, going casein-free is a breeze by comparison!

Oh, I forgot to say bitter elitists and snobs.

Brian Hussein- You have been busy as a bee lately! I sense you feel it slipping away. Your comments are hysterical now, I used to read them, but now the volume is more than anyone, and the content is empty. Take a pill! PS Where are you KGC and GAKaren?

Brian,

You wrote to Wendy concerning HRC: "People don't like her, you just refuse to get that. "

So, the people in TX, Ohio, New Jersey, New Mexcico, CA, and so on did not like her?

Give me a break!

dog bitterly bids you adieu, pogo.

That's French for ciao. Adios.

"Probably has a better sense of the country's ideas about what's important than the average NYer."

Well the way her camapign has been run does not seem to support your statement pogo.

No one likes snobs, even snobs don't like snobs, but they only say rude things behind each others backs, or where they do not think anyone will hear them....sound familiar?

9/11...

Did you say earlier that you were interested in comparing the Edwards health care proposals to those of Obama and Clinton, or did I misinterpret that? On the off-chance that I remember correctly, here's a link to Edwards' proposals... http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/ I wish he were still in the race. Then I'd be as passionate as those on this list who are so excited about either Clinton or Obama.

Naptime. Will catch up with any responses later....

delete "only" typo

9/11 & HarborW....
thanks for the informative posts on big pharma..... it's much, much more entertaining than the political stuff, IMO....

Dex.... it should be a good series between the Indians and Red Sox.... I do feel badly for your and Corey's Tigers...... I don't get what's happened to them....
they look so good on paper...

Melanie...

I'm pretty sure kgc was here earlier today, and GAKaren usually posts in the evening hours, I think.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has something in common with former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. A large percentage of Pennsylvania voters dislike both of them.

In fact, greater percentages of voters here have consistently viewed Mrs. Clinton unfavorably than Mr. Santorum, according to a review of data from a respected statewide poll.

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19387230&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6

harborwoman,

They are both gluten and casein-free -- and he is on his way to a hotel management program after becoming increasingly (but not fully) mainstreamed in his high school years.

I put the vaccine in quote marks because that's no description for it.

It is injected. But its contents are developed exclusively from dendritic DNA and RNA samples taken from the patient. Since I became involved as a water bucket carrier for the project, I have seen different techniques developed around the world for accelerating the "vaccine" development.

One of the things that makes that possible is that this has always been an open source research project. Both the originating doctor and institution have chosen a very small patent fee for themselves.

It is completely a completely biological drug. In ten years of testing there have been no side effects and a tremendous range of success. There is no "permanent" cure -- but all when any condition relapses, all that is needed is a new injection of your personal DNA/RNA combo to "hit the on switch" for anyone's immune system to work again.

While it began with melanoma research (as that was a concern of its first donor), it switched quickly to pediatric AIDS.

toast give credit where credit is due, Bill Clinton has been an amazing asset to the Obama campaign.

Posted by: Bitter Brian Hussein In NY

Bill has been on balance a major asset and YES he has caused some grief , but it is our common savior's wife who will be used in the fall "FOR THE FIRST TIME BEING PROUD etc, that will be spliced to our good REV. WRIGHT. I hate being tiresome but MAX's Pandora's box will spring open with it's joyful effervescent nosegay in the GE. That sends the Matthews chill up my leg.

most cordially,

toast

"Well duh! Look at many on this list Jan. "

Who has said that, fool? Brian, you are such a liar.

Hey Patsi, how was your day? I was wondering where you been.

Posted by: Brian Hussein In NYC | April 14, 2008 2:45 PM

How would you know if anyone here is black, brown, red, yellow or white or some combination.
Are you a member of the psychic network?

Here's Washington Monthly with comments on the Tier 4 drug pricing 9/11 and Harbor were discussing earlier.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_04/013519.php

One semi-reassuring comment: economist Herbert Stein alledgedly said that when something can't go on, it won't.

Because sounds like our health insurance/access system is about to implode without major change.

And talk about idiocy if McCain ends up in the White House and an urgent opportunity for reform is lost.

Helpful suggestions:

1. Brian..perhaps you could do volunteer work or get a job. You have way too much time on your hands.

2. Warren..If you are serious that you think there may be a secret effort by the Clinton campaign to have supporters in Penn. say they are undecided..you need some type of medical assistance.

"Damn - "if Chuck Hagel""

ROFL, Warren -- when you called him Check Hagel I thought you were saying ole Chuck was on the take.....kind of like Dollar Bill Jefferson.

OD I have a job, and gee why are you always trying to silence the opposition. Don't you believe in the free exchange of ideas?

"I am not giddy. Actually, I feel screwed over because I am convinced Obama (assuming his is the nom)cannot win the general, which means that my family will have another 4 years of NO Health care insurance."

Precisely. He cannot win. And I'm already resigned to the fact that we are once again screwed. We'll have McCain until he resigns for health reasons then Romney or some other big business deregulator.

"Wendy! If you persist in using Obomie, I suggest it's fair play for others to go with Hillwitch or Hillaryena or whatever they want."

Your crowd already calls her a fu*king whore....why mess with what you got going?

NBC "First Read"

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/14/887544.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

shows a poster making the right wing rounds. I doubt it would stick with Dems in the general, but it might sway independents as an image.

Wow Patsi you really sound stressed out, I'm sorry you're not having a better day of it. My day was pretty good, worked on a clients web page, did some work remotely on their server too. Then I did two loads of wash and had a bowl.

Had lunch with an old friend and Obama supporter today...or should I say former Obama supporter..The straw that broke the camel's back for her were his sneering Annie Oakley comments.

I should refer my nice Obama friends to this site. I think the usual suspects would drive them away from Mr. O..

Hi Renee! Yes , the Tigers are off to a horrible start 2-10! But , I'm not "bitter" about it. They did look good on paper. But , as we all know , they don't play the games on paper. They play them on big diamonds on tv. LOL! I'm just focusing on the Red Wings in hockey and the Pistons and Lakers in basketball right now. Nice blog , Heather. Is Annie Oakley any relation to former NBA player Charles Oakley? Brian , did you have a bowl of cereal or ice cream when you had a bowl? What is Obama's position on mariajuana?

Renee! "How's your quit?" he said with his fingers crossed.

no, but I think I'm going to oder a pizza.

Berlusconi is back.

He's not in jail.

He's not starring on Celebrity Big Brother.

He's in charge of Italy again.

Yes, it's a parliamentary system there. And, yes, there are Constitutional restrictions on there being a third Presidential term.

But after 9/11 Guiliani sought to indefinitely postpone the NYC mayoral election.

And now Bloomberg insiders are talking, despite the New York City Charter, his serving a third term.

Who knows what could be pulled off here? Particularly between now and Election Day?

Now... many of the people here weren't back in the fall and early January.

Back then... everyone was pleased with all the Democratic candidates...

And stated it truthfully and often.

Brian was a passionate Edwards supporter.

Everyone had something insightful and respectful to say about everyone. (Even Senator Totally Fried Alaska.)

It is good to recall that.

One of my worst habits as a human is to reinforce something I am doing or saving... sometimes to an extreme.

All I am saying is this -- and it has been said before here in different words --

Words aren't blows. Until they get that way and start lacerating. And then the lacerations get infected.

I don't want a pastoral episode here at all. Ever.

But I'm voting for any Senator who isn't McCain. And to prep for that I am stopping whatever case of hiccups I have about either candidate.

Even if they are all the worst people ever, supported by the most delusional people ever, financed by the most corrupt people ever -- and that's not even talking about their spouses...

Obam / Marijuana

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/124727.html

Typical elitist , Brian! I have a pizza in the oven right now! LOL!

Earlier I was listening to Britt Hume. He said the MSM was finally going to start vetting Mr Obama. He characterized his religion remarks as an 'opiate of the masses' moment.

I feel no glee in watching a campaign go down in flames.

You make your own pizza Corey? I'm impressed, i rarely make my own pizza unless it's an appetizer pizza and I'm having people over for dinner.

"go down in flames" oh Flatus you crack me up, didn't you say the same thing when Craig trailmixed about Jane Fonda endorsing Obama?

*big roll of the eyes*

Thanks for the link , Jamie.

"My name is Chastity and I’m a 33-year-old African-American woman. I was deeply saddened and disturbed by your comments about Senator Clinton. A woman has a right to defend the 2nd amendment without condescending comparisons that represent your lack of knowledge in regards to the women’s suffrage plight.

“Who does she think she is? Annie Oakley?”

I want to answer that question. If you are asking if Senator Clinton is similar to Ms. Oakley in her amazing talent and timely rise to fame which propelled her to become the first American female superstar, then I agree with that depiction."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/14/dear-sen-obama-from-an-african-american-woman/

I might have. But, what I really remember about that is wondering why a candidate would accept the endorsement of someone who many believe committed treason while in North Vietnam.

Hey Flatus has Tony Snow returned to Faux? It would be a shame if the world was deprived of his keen political insights.

Oh I seem to recall you telling us how you considered Jane Fonda a traitor and such. Frankly I was a bit stumped as to what the point of the entire thread was about. Barack was what about 6 when Jane went to Hanoi.

Be darned if I know, Brian. I've only watched the past few afternoons to get away from Tweety. They had some pretty spirited discussions--better than anything I've seen on MSNBC in months.

Good to see Tweety leading with Hillary's slam against both Kerry and Gore.

That makes him the same age as my daughters. They both know all about her actions.

Wendy..I enjoyed your excellent 6:49 post.

Well I guess if I was interested in the news from the KKK point of view I'd tune into Faux, but for the life of me can't imagine watching them for any other reason. All I see coming from then is misogyny, homophobia, and race and religion baiting. But hey this America and even those people are entitled to a voice.

But I'm an New York Jew queer elitist, what do I know about the real America.

Hillary in no way slammed V.P. Gore or Senator Kerry.
Brian..did you finish high school?

Brian. Noted.

She certainly did OD, deny it till your eyes roll back in your head and spittle runs down your chin, doesn't change what she said, she blew it with that remark, everything else was down hill for her from that point last night, including her ever present crocodile tears. Slamming people at a "compassion forum" very classy, very classy indeed. But then again after a hard day of drinking boiler makers and killing the local fowl population you are likely to say anything.

Brian..You suffer from Obama Superiority Disease..It seems to be messing with your thinking skills. I think a couple of shots at the bar might do you some good.

You buying?

Not crocodile tears , but close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-36u4xUCF0