House dem defects to republicans because of healthcare bill

[spidey07]

Are more to follow? Now for sure this is because he knows he can't win re-election as a democrat so maybe he'll get beat out in a primary.

That he's a doctor and is so against this bill should say a lot.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/22/rep-parker-griffith-switch-parties-republican/

"I have become increasingly concerned that the bills and policies pushed by the current Democratic leadership are not good for north Alabama or our nation," Griffith said during a press conference Tuesday.

"I am announcing today that I'm joining the Republican conference immediately," he said. "Our nation is at a crossroads and I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy, and drives us further and further into debt."

 

[Fern]

I don't think it changes much, if anything, with regards to this Congress. He voted against the stimulus, cap-n-trade and HC reform. He's a Blue Dog moving over to where he should be.

Fern

 

[Lemon law]

I gotta agree with Fern, the fella jumped parties, and now we can wait. Come 11/2010 he may win re election as a Republican, or he may lose to a real democrat.

Only time will tell, but in terms of a national trend, 404 link error not found.

And by this time next year, he may find himself back in private practice, and as a doctor he can like or lump health care reform.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Are more to follow? Now for sure this is because he knows he can't win re-election as a democrat so maybe he'll get beat out in a primary.

That he's a doctor and is so against this bill should say a lot.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/22/rep-parker-griffith-switch-parties-republican/

That he's a snake and is so against this bill should say a lot,too.

 

[JS80]

Some interesting comments on MichelleMalkin's post about this, that basically this guy is setting it up to prevent a real conservative from rising.

 

[ProfJohn]

The Democrats are in big trouble next year and this is just another sign of that trouble.

In addition to this there are a lot of Democrats who have decided to retire rather than run for re-election.

Republicans faced this same problem in 2006 and Democrats did in 1994 as well.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The Democrats are in big trouble next year and this is just another sign of that trouble.

In addition to this there are a lot of Democrats who have decided to retire rather than run for re-election.

Republicans faced this same problem in 2006 and Democrats did in 1994 as well.

I lot of it depends on how reality hits. Not surprisingly people drooled that premium plans would be taxed. No doubt it was viewed as an attempt to get at the wealthy. Considering that to those who have a great deal of money it's nothing then that's pointless. What it does do is force people who pay heavily relative to income for plans which won't put them in the poor house because of some nasty, expensive condition into financial disaster. There was an NPR piece on this a couple months back.

Then we have people who can't afford health insurance forced by law to buy it or suffer penalties they can't get out of. This will give everyone who can't afford insurance insurance they can't afford.

All this cake, and to eat it too.

 

[Modelworks]

How about we get rid of political parties entirely. Would save a lot of bickering over each party trying to say they are right. Just have elected officials who vote for what they believe. It isn't like the parties stand for anything , except whatever pays them off the most.

 

[theeedude]

Rather have a real Democrat run for a Democrat seat than this guy occupying it.

 

[piasabird]

I am all for getting rid of political parties. I dont see any good coming from a political party.

 

[Robor]

See ya DINO.

 

[Ausm]

We'll give you Lieberman back will that make you feel better?

 

[Jhhnn]

Amazing what people believe. Red state healthcare generally sucks, and they have the most to gain from greater redistribution of Blue state tax money. But they hate the idea, anyway, because they've fallen for conservative branding- hook, line, and sinker.

Follow the links here for an eye-opener-

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/red-states-opting-out-not-an-option

Griffith doesn't give a damn about his constituents, other than preying on their ignorance to get their votes.

 

[shadow9d9]

A hick democrat is not a democrat. The rest should leave. Then we'd hear less of the "supermajority" bs claim.

 

[Zebo]

Amazing what people believe. Red state healthcare generally sucks, and they have the most to gain from greater redistribution of Blue state tax money. But they hate the idea, anyway, because they've fallen for conservative branding- hook, line, and sinker.

Follow the links here for an eye-opener-

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/red-states-opting-out-not-an-option

Griffith doesn't give a damn about his constituents, other than preying on their ignorance to get their votes.

Maybe he just thinks it's a shitty bill that does nothing but line ins co pockets and is fascist at core like most do?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

A hick democrat is not a democrat. The rest should leave. Then we'd hear less of the "supermajority" bs claim.

Here you have it, folks -- from the party of "tolerance" and "diversity." Nice.

 

[dammitgibs]

WTF is a hick democrat?

 

[KK]

Here you have it, folks -- from the party of "tolerance" and "diversity." Nice.

Awesome isn't it. Bunch of lemings.

 

[nageov3t]

How about we get rid of political parties entirely. Would save a lot of bickering over each party trying to say they are right. Just have elected officials who vote for what they believe. It isn't like the parties stand for anything , except whatever pays them off the most.

51 people acting collectively can accomplish far more than 100 people all acting on their own.

of course, whether those accomplishments are a good thing or not is subject to interpretation... but political parties are a naturally forming facet of politics and there's nothing you can do about them short of voting for someone else.

 

[jhu]

How about we get rid of political parties entirely. Would save a lot of bickering over each party trying to say they are right. Just have elected officials who vote for what they believe. It isn't like the parties stand for anything , except whatever pays them off the most.

I say we go to a parliament-type government instead just for the hell of it.

 

[Descartes]

I couldn't care less about the democrat vs. republican part. It sounds like a bit of a ploy to me, but again... who cares.

I will say that what a retired oncologist thinks about healthcare reform means almost nothing. That's like asking a cab driver what he think of cap and trade (bad analogy, but it's all I've got right now). Most physicians, especially older retired physicians, know very little about how their practices are run and where the need for reform lies.

But I'm not getting into that again. What we need are less opinions from old, retired physicians and more from younger, inspired physicians that meet these challenges day in, day out and have fresh ideas.

 

[Zebo]

I couldn't care less about the democrat vs. republican part. It sounds like a bit of a ploy to me, but again... who cares.

I will say that what a retired oncologist thinks about healthcare reform means almost nothing. That's like asking a cab driver what he think of cap and trade (bad analogy, but it's all I've got right now). Most physicians, especially older retired physicians, know very little about how their practices are run and where the need for reform lies.

But I'm not getting into that again. What we need are less opinions from old, retired physicians and more from younger, inspired physicians that meet these challenges day in, day out and have fresh ideas.

I was thinking more like asking an investment banker what he thinks about Glass-Steagall but I get your point and don't agree. It's the new, not the old, specialists making 1 mil a year - they are protecting their turf - yes they need to be addressed too to have any real reform. Either open new medical schools, more slots, or import more - supply must increase lowering salaries. Don't like it be an investment banker.

This is a small problem though but one of them making HC outlandish realtive.

 

[Vic]

Why does anyone even bother to respond to posters like Spidey, who are too brainwashed by Fox News, Rush, Beck, et al to realize that the healthcare bill is just a red herring to distract them from all the real socialism going on? And which socialism they MUST support as evidenced by their passion against the healthcare bill but silence for everything else. I mean... seriously, healthcare = socialism, but nationalism of the banking industry = we voted for it. The disconnect is unreal.

 

[Vic]

Here you have it, folks -- from the party of "tolerance" and "diversity." Nice.

Why do you think your response here matters when your party is the one that is proud to be full of intolerance and bigotry?

Anyway, shadow is a dipshit. Lumping him in with all that is Democrat would be an exercise in intellectual dishonesty similar to lumping spidey in with all that is Republican. Ah... but then I would be overlooking your attempt at being an idiot partisan hack, wouldn't I?

You know what I love most about political discussions on the internet? That insults are okay as long that they're along partisan lines, but once you call both sides idiots, it's a personal attack. Sheep...

 

[Fox5]

A hick democrat is not a democrat. The rest should leave. Then we'd hear less of the "supermajority" bs claim.

I'd rather have diversity and compromise within a party, than be in lock-step and blind like the Republicans.
Of course, the Democrats are still blind, but at least they're not in lock-step.