I understand that you "feel" that way, but you are wrong about whether someone truly loves the other. My dad is in love with my mom, and there's no denying that by anyone, including my mother. "Once a cheater always a cheater". That's just a very narrow minded way of thinking. Sorry, but it is. We're all human, and we make mistakes. I guess some of us can think more freely than that.

Rick-that is wonderful that your mom and dad are still together and I congratulate them for staying together after 39 years. However, I am going to have to disagree with you. I believe with all of my heart that if you are in love with someone that you can't even possibly begin to think of anyone else beyond a friendship level. If you can then you just simply "loved " them and it didn't go any further than that and it wasn't true love. Being "in love" and "loving" is two completely different things. If my husband cheated on me I would probably be able to forgive overtime but would never forget. Me forgiving him would not bring us back together though. To me it is unacceptable. A lot of people forgive and take their significant other back but not me. Once a cheater always a cheater.

Now Rick, one of the reasons I truly enjoy debating you is because you're a formidable opponent is quite intelligent but your naiveté regarding the status of our nations stability is worrisome. It sounds to me like you must be reciting Obamas speech attempting to gather support for the Health Care bill that they just forced down our throats.

First thing, billions owed would be wonderful, glorious days.

Foreign countries own 3.6 Trillion dollars of our debt. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt ) This doesn’t include unfunded liabilities.
Compared to Bush’s average of 5.9% increased debt/gdp for each term Obama is estimated to be increasing the debt/gdp to 31.6% in just his first term. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms )

In 2008 we paid nearly a half of a trillion dollars to the interest on our national debt alone. It has since dropped by about a 100 billion since then due to the artificially low interest rates and the artificial stimulus put in place by the massive spending. ( http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/US_Debt.htm )This isn’t play money.

If Moody’s does decide to lower our credit rating it would be catastrophic for our nation. It would be the equivelant of an adjustable rate mortgage moving from a fixed rate to an adjustable high interest rate and when you owe over 13 trillion dollars (currently) and will owe 22.5 Trillion by Obamas own estimates by 2019( http://www.investorsinsight.com/blogs/forecasts_trends/archive/2009/06/16/obama-on-course-to-double-national-debt.aspx ).

In ten years Obama plans on doubling what took previous administrations 200+ years.

These are legitimate reasons to be concerned and very legitimate reasons to get this ignoramus out of the white house. Bush was bad; Obama is Satan when it comes to spending. How anyone can be as optimistic as you is very troubling. It is very sad that you are so certain that you will be casting a vote for his reelection.

I realize Moodys is an American company and would be very pressed to lower our credit rating but if they did it would be the end of the US as we know it.

In regards to Social Security Rick: Payouts will exceed revenue THIS YEAR! How are you so arrogantly confident about the condition of our nation? ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/business/economy/25social.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
)

Sorry cutie, but I have to disagree. I've seen first hand what can happen when a spouse cheats on another, but if you TRULY love someone, then you learn to forgive. You may never forget, but when you really love someone, you love them despite their shortcomings. Despite their flaws. True love should be able to withstand any thing, and yes, that includes infidelity. My stepfather cheated on my mother when they were younger. I would have sworn that they never would have worked things out. Most of us believe that a relationship cannot survive something like this, but my mom and dad are living proof that you can. When you wake up and they are the first thing to cross your mind, or the last thing you think of before you go to bed, then you don't simply love that person. You are IN love with them. Kids sometimes play a significant role in how a relationship ends or survives, but I can honestly tell you that my parents stayed together for many reasons. The most important reason being that they could not see themselves with anyone else but each other. November 19th of this year my mom and dad will celebrate their 39th anniversary! They are still VERY much in love, and I hope one day I find someone who really loves me enough to look beyond my flaws and imperfections to see someone they absolutely cannot live without.

No one in their right mind could say this about ANY group of politicians, regardless of what side of the aisle they may stand. So this little exercise is nothing more than a conundrum that can never really be stated by any citizen. And are you really taking the stance that because of the length of this bill that you don't trust it? That is just unbelievable Kaz. Are you serious? Tell me something. Did you know that the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act passed just in the last ten years was just 68 words shy of the length of the current Health Care Reform Legislation? Does that mean we should have been just as untrustworthy of its contents? Because both sides of the aisles seemed to have no problem with it. Neither did Lamar Alexander, who voted FOR it. The length of a bill is not a determination of its success or failure. Only time and implementation will show the true colors of any law. I don't believe every politician has my best interests at heart, but I believe President Obama is doing what he believes will help this nation. Whether you like it or not. I suggest you vote against him again in 2012 or 2016, but I believe you know who I'll be voting for. :-P

All right. I've had just enough of this apocalyptic, the world is gonna end attitude from every person who doesn't agree with Obama. Yes, we're in debt. Yes, we've got a long way to go, but NO... ...N-O are the chances of losing the benefits from collecting Social Security in your lifetime or mine. It's not just ridiculous any more mama kaz, it actually begins to border on hysteria. Or as my granny always said "That's just crazy talk!" We've owed BILLIONS of dollars to other nations including China, and NOT one of them have ever called upon us to pay any time soon. Not to mention the fact that that kind of thing would harm relations between our two countries, and they KNOW it!! I'm afraid that you can quit yelling "The Sky is Falling!", because it's quite clearly still there, and ALWAYS will be. You may not like what Obama says or does for that matter, but it does not mean that capitalism is dead, nuclear winter will ensue, or that the four horsemen are on their way. The United States has survived through 2 world wars, 1 depression, several recessions, and many Presidents whom frankly were not very well liked, but that goes to prove one thing. America is much bigger than the sum of its parts. It is a collection of people, ideals, and beliefs that cannot and will not die.

I am so in love with my husband but if he cheated on me there would not be a chance for explanation. I would be gone or he would be gone before you could even say the word. Although I love him and want him in my life I am an independent women and could do very well on my own. If you "Love" and I mean the true meaning of Love someone you could not cheat on them. If you could then you never loved them in the first place. A marriage couldn't withstand cheating. Even if you tried to work things out there would always be that distrust and thought in the back of your mind.

I know this one all to well,and that's all I'm gonna say

Uuhhh, what check? So far all we do is pay in. We're not counting on getting social security because it will be bankrupt by then. I could be on medical disability but we chose to just lower our standard of living and survive on one income. That means no fancy vacations, very few trips to the movie theater, rarely eating out and generally doing without but we'd rather do that than be dependent on the govt. We have both worked since our teens and paid in a lot to social security so it bothers us to think we'll probably never see any of that money again. We don't mind helping the elderly and those who are truly in need but are sick and tired of being forced to extend a free ride to so many who just make it a way of life. People don't appreciate what they don't work for. That includes education, medical, and every day living. We have so many parasites out there that the life is being sucked out of this country. I'm also becoming concerned that if China calls in our debt, they may own much of our country pretty soon, including my property! Our government is not listening to the majority on the health care issue or anything else for that matter and they will pay the price in 2010 and 2012. I can't wait! I just hope we can get enough uncorrupted Independents to run so we can start a new way of life in this country. As my granny always said, "you want to eat you got to work my dear." We need to beg the evil rich corporations to come back and bring their jobs in exchange for lower taxes. Repeal the health care bill and stop pushing more programs we don't have the money for. We can bring them back to the table after we get our finances in order which will never happen until we stop spending.

We have to do everything we can to stop this bill before it's too late. The MAJORITY of Americans do not want this bill and spoke loud and clear. I called the White House to voice my concerns and a person answered the phone. I told them (respectfully and politely) what was on my mind. She seemed like she wasn't even listening so I asked her to repeat it back to me and she was completely unable to do that. How could she pass on my concerns to the President when she had no idea what I said? I emailed instead. When I called my local government officials all but one of them responded. (I still haven't heard from Bell.) Two of them called me at home to discuss my opinions and concerns. Guess who I will be voting for and who I won't. The number of people working and paying taxes has always been much higher than the number of those taking. That is changing dramatically and will be our downfall.

When our leader tells you that you can keep your own doctor and insurance he is lying to you and I will tell you why. The real reason that insurance companies charge so much is to cover the cost of all the government dependent citizens. Medicare and all the other govt insured patients are covered under the reimbursement rate that is set by the govt. When I stopped working in 2003 my bosses were making about 7 dollars for seeing a medi cal patient and 42 dollars for an appendectomy. They can't run a medical practice on those rates so they pass the cost on to the insurance companies. The insurance companies are a for profit business so they pass it on to us. If you want to be mad at somebody for the mess our health care system has become, blame all the people using the system as a way of life instead of as it was intended, temporary. Forcing insurance companies to cover pre existing will be the final nail in the coffin. I am a person with pre existing conditions and had to work for months with an IV bag hanging over my desk because that was the only way I could be covered. I of all people understand how expensive pre existing conditions are and I also understand that it will take the insurance industry down. That was their plan all along. Obama said he wants a single payer system and that is what they are going to do. Believe me when I tell you that doctors will quit and insurance companies will collapse. If you need any medical care you better go out and get it now. Once we have a single payer system you will wait months for an appointment with a doctor and even longer to get the tests they need to diagnose your problem. By the time they start treatment it will be too late. If you want to live in denial that's your right. I will fight this thing to the bitter end because I don't want my grandchildren to ask me why I did nothing as a small group of leaders dismantled our country. I am keeping a journal which I plan to pass down to them because I fear that this great country is going to be unrecognizable and I want to record what really happened and that I did what I could to stop it.

It took the very end Mr. Kaz before most die-hard Republicans finally gave up on Bush Jr., and I in turn will do the same. I'm just not ready to give up on my boy yet. I know you don't believe in him, but I do. I expect good things from him and I won't be happy until I see them.