From NBC's Mark Murray
First Read has confirmed a report by the Hartford Courant that Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D), who is up for re-election next year, has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer.

So sorry to here this...my prayers are with him and his family.

Thoughts are with the senator.

I wish Senator Dodd a full recovery...But honestly this is a face-saving opportunity to gracefully bow-out and be congratulated for his long career. The Dems need to insert a stronger candidate.

The "C" word is not as frightening as it used to be, but it still is frightening.

Sorry to hear this . . . I'll be praying for you and your family Senator Dodd.

Have a speedy recovery Senator Dodd....

I wonder what the Repukes will make negatively of this.  ......Guess Dodd has that great Government/Socialist controlled medical coverage that will kick in...sounds about right, since all of them have the Cadillac plans!  Don't answer the door Senator, since they will be coming for you (according to the Repukes)!  

Byrd is the one who should have been counseled about that "Living Will"--- Hell, he probably already has one, as do all people with connected brain cells..It's called "getting your affairs in order"!

Pass HCR NOW!

I wouldn't even wish this on a rethugliklan. Thank God it was caught early enough and the Senator will be fine. I know he is not very popular at the moment but I will continue to pray for his full recovery.

YEAH

Obamacare will cure him for sure!

Best wishes and prayers to Sen. Dodd and his family.

http://jawillie.blog.com

Too bad about Sen. Dodd
He is a good man
Best of luck, Chris !!


Alan, NJ: '...It is another government program that is not sustainable because it does not address the issue of rising costs...'

Alan, that's EXACTLY why Obama proposed a Public Option
Federal health programs have 4% overhead (?)
Health insurance companies have a 31% overhead/admin costs

If the Government Public Option competes with the private companies, it'll drive down costs by creating efficiencies

YES !
Government Helath care is MORE EFFICIENT than private industries

PS my percantages are approximate & open to correction



Sammy Same, CA: '...BUSH OBAMA  Same Same...'

Sammy, Obama is the guy that DOSEN'T TORTURE PRISONERS
He's also the guy who OPPOSED the Iraq War

See if you can tell the difference now

Another Liberl Stalwart !!
Henry Waxman of California !!

Keep the ball rolling, Henry !!

From Washington monthly:

'...HENRY WAXMAN MAKES ANOTHER DEAL, KEEPS THE BALL ROLLING.... A couple of months ago, the Washington Monthly ran a cover story on House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman that highlighted, among other things, the fact that the California Democrat knows "not only how to make a deal, but how to make the right one."

It's a skill that's been put to the test this week, and Waxman seem to have come through quite nicely.

As of yesterday, the committee chairman was struggling to get a health care reform bill out of his committee and onto the House floor. He had a deal with Blue Dogs that angered the left, and if Waxman pulled back to satisfy liberals' concerns, he'd lose the conservatives. After more discussions this morning, another compromise is reportedly in place.

Liberals and a small core of conservative Democrats set aside long-standing ideological differences early Friday to cut a deal that should allow the House Energy and Commerce Committee to approve a sweeping health care bill, breaking a two-week deadlock that threatened President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

Blue Dog Democrats on the committee, who are the linchpin in the House health care debate, agreed to allow their liberal colleagues to cut billions from existing government-funded health care programs in order to restore some $50 billion to $65 billion in subsidies set aside in the bill to help middle-income families purchase coverage. [...]

Moderates and liberals on the committee will offer a package during committee consideration that will make changes the Blue Dogs secured in a deal with Waxman earlier this week. The amendment also includes a liberal priority: reducing premiums many uninsured people will be required to pay for health coverage. The change would lower the premium from 12 percent of a household's total annual income to 11 percent.

This middle-of-the-road approach should give both sides the cover they need to approve the overarching legislation.



This is not to say there will be smooth sailing in the House going forward. The Energy and Commerce bill will have to be reconciled with the similar bills passed by the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee. Waxman has, for now, satisfied the concerns of progressive Dems and conservatives Dems on his panel, but the larger caucus still has members, both left and right, who need to be convinced.

That said, Waxman will host a vote in about two hours, and at that point, a health care reform bill will be headed to the House floor for the first time ever...'

I hope that the Senator will be OK.  If you pay attention to the health news, many cases of prostate cancer do not require any surgery at all, since it is slow growing and it is assumed that you will die of something else before the prostate cancer will kill you.  
I wonder if that could be used in an ad to try to kill healthcare reform??  "Government run health care will try to prevent senator from receiving cancer treatment since he is deemed too old (over 40).  So lets not reform health care"

.... And so do thousands of other people.
Ist stage should not be a problem ... second stage either.

Get his treatmont and then back to work.

This is how the Right debates issues
Lynch 'em !!

'...the lynching-in-effigy of Maryland Rep. Kratovil at a conservative anti-health care protest...'

Were the Tea Baggers or Birthers or Militia men or Anti-Abortionists or Klansmen or Republican activists ???
(it's hard to tell the difference)


From Firedoglake:

'...DCCC Condemns Kratovil Effigy Lynching – Will AFP?

By: Jason Rosenbaum Wednesday July 29, 2009 2:50 pm


Reps. Kratovil & Van Hollen Chris Van Hollen, chair of the DCCC, released a statement condemning the lynching-in-effigy of Maryland Rep. Kratovil at a conservative anti-health care protest: This shocking and despicable act of hate has no place in any debate and Republicans must condemn it. While there should be a robust exchange of ideas about the best way to reform our broken health insurance system, violent expressions are beyond the boundaries of a respectful and civilized debate...'

Godspeed Senator Dodd

Ted's head is rotting while Dodd's tail is rotting...could it be that Eastern liberals are simply rotten?  Heads or tails with them, you lose. We could be compassionate and offer Dud Dodd the public option wherein he could wait 5 years to be seen by a plumber with a rusted roto-rooter.  

Given it is early, I hope that it is cured quickly.  I wonder how much that will slow down his re-election campaign...  Will he lose his trademark solid white hair?

I wish him well and keep in mind the great benefits for care that you have, while most Americas dont and would be subject to the prospect of facing a shorter life....I wonder if the really care about the small american while they live and prosper off the taxpayer...anyhow good luck and your in good hands with the man above

From another post...
Additionally,  McCain was born in PANAMA. Obama has MORE of a right to be POTUS then McCAin did.  
The ONLY reason McCain was *considered* to be *qualified* for POTUS is because when the question about his *citizenship* came up,  It was the DEMOCRATS who stood up and quashed the accusation by claiming since he was born ON a MILITARY base -- it was considered US SOIL !  
BUT he was STILL born IN ANOTHER COUNTRY-- *ON* FOREIGN SOIL!
---------------------------
Hey Obama Supporter in CT,

Let an ignorant East Texan (screw you Ed, SATX is one of the most segregated places I know - my in-laws live there; I spend a lot of time there) give you an education.

Please read this site (http://travel.state.gov/law/info/info_609.html), specifically this line ... "Birth Abroad to Two U.S. Citizen Parents in Wedlock: A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under section 301(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). One of the parents MUST have resided in the U.S. prior to the child's birth. No specific period of time for such prior residence is required."  

I'm not giving saying the birthers have a leg to stand on, but in a hypothetical situation and it was true, McCain would still be considered to be a US Citizen (two naturalized US Citizens as parents) and Obama wouldn't.

I wish Senator Dodd a full recovery...But honestly this is a face-saving opportunity to gracefully bow-out and be congratulated for his long career. The Dems need to insert a stronger candidate.
Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, July 31, 2009 12:41 PM)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Exactly Ron!  I've been saying he needs to go for a while now!  Enough with the career politicians! New faces & ideas would be refreshing for a change!

I do however wish him well & a full speedy recovery!

Nash:

That’s why I insist on putting documentation out here as much as possible. I do commend First Read for speaking out against the Glenn Beck latest round of garbage.

On the other hand I have noticed how the Professor Gates incident was played up to the max. I even noticed that Sgt. Crowley's remarks following the informal cocktail invitation at the white house was set up as a press conference.

When Professor Gates emerged from the meeting...he didn't get the press coverage that Sgt. Crowley got. I am so grateful that both men handled the situation in a classy manner. What's really classy about the professor...he's not suing the Cambridge Police Department for false arrest. Now that's classy.

It would be nice to see some REAL love for a change...wouldn't it? Shout out to Rachel Maddow for continuing to keep it real! Shout out to the ED Show! Countdown! And Hardball! Morning Joe...take a hike, you keep letting that corpse, and Pat Buchanan represents your moral base.

Have a great weekend Nash.

Alan, that's EXACTLY why Obama proposed a Public Option
Federal health programs have 4% overhead (?)
Health insurance companies have a 31% overhead/admin costs

Yes I've seen those figures but do you honestly believe them?  How are capital expenditures accounted for in the government figures.  Do you honestly think that the government maintains cost-centers that allocate maintenance costs across departments?  Somehow I suspect that it is not an apples for apples comparison.

to Nash
No I don't think it sick people who are at fault I think the the problem is pay for service.

This is from the NYT as a long term goal.  It is the the best solution I have seen so far.

The “root of the problem,” to use his language, lies in the way doctors are organized and the way they practice and are paid. Doctors are, and should be, the most important factor in determining how clinical resources are used in the diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury. Neither insurers nor government administrators can make the medical care decisions in a given case. Only doctors and their patients can do that.

The solution to our problem is to cap total national expenditures through an earmarked, graduated health care tax, provide universal coverage on a prepaid basis and encourage physicians to practice in private, not-for-profit multispecialty groups, where they would work for salaries rather than fee-for-service.

It's a good thing we don't have ObamaCare.

The first two stages of prostate cancer are fairly easy to cure. Of course, with Obie Care you'd be waiting and we'll see you in heaven or hell, depending on which way you voted on abortion.

Get Well Soon Chris Dodd!  Keep those repugnant ones honest on finances.

I hope that the Senator will be OK.  If you pay attention to the health news, many cases of prostate cancer do not require any surgery at all, since it is slow growing and it is assumed that you will die of something else before the prostate cancer will kill you.  
I wonder if that could be used in an ad to try to kill healthcare reform??  "Government run health care will try to prevent senator from receiving cancer treatment since he is deemed too old (over 40).  So lets not reform health care"
kathy, WI (Sent Friday, July 31, 2009 12:53 PM)

Every man over the age of 40 should have yearly blood work (PSA) as part of their annual check-up.  It's a very high percentage of men that will end up with prostate cancer.  They say if a man lives long enough he will get it...however, once it is determined that there is cancer, it will be graded on a Gleason scale as to how widespread it is and how aggressive it is.  There are new methods including robotic surgery for removing the prostate which are so much better than some of the old methods and do not leave as much damage.  Once removed, you go back for continuous PSA check-ups to see if your numbers remain good or if something has been  missed.  My husband had this surgery a few years ago.  And no matter how good treatment is or can be, cancer is a mind-numbing, terrible thing.  It not only is there, but it certainly plays with your mind.  That being said, I hope that Senator Dodd's is taken care of and that he is looking forward to a long and productive future.

This also is a teachable moment, for there are many who do not have the screenings done yearly, who will die from this disease, which mainly spreads to the bone if not caught in time.  He is lucky to have caught it in time, lucky to have insurance, and lucky
to be able to get the good care and follow-up that everyone deserves.

My prayers are with you and with all who suffer from this horrible disease with so many faces.

>>>YEAH

Obamacare will cure him for sure!
MSierra, SF (Sent Friday, July 31, 2009 12:44 PM)

==========
That didn't take long, and an imposter to boot.

It'd be like a day without coffee with some folks.

http://jawillie.blog.com

Whether you like him or not, Sen. Dodd and his family deserve our thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery.

Good luck Senator Dodd, I wish you a speedy recovery.
I know that you've come under some criticism of late but for the most part, you (as did your father, in spite of some late career controversy) have served this country admirably. I hope that Connecticut is wise enough to return you to the Senate in 2010.

To Anita:
Thanks for all the DOCUMENTED info you share here . . . I hope you have a great weekend as well!

To Alan:

Thanks for the info about the NYT article, I think that in terms of cost control, it is the best thing I have heard so far!

Now if we could just figure out a way to get our  politicians to listen to US instead of their well connected financial backers.

I know that the health care reform plans that are being considered are FAR from perfect, but the system we have now is bankrupting and killing millions of people a year - we HAVE to do better.

You and I both know that much of the opposition is based on PROFIT instead of what is best for our country.

That must end, and there is no better time than the present.

>>>Please read this site (http://travel.state.gov/law/info/info_609.html), specifically this line ... "Birth Abroad to Two U.S. Citizen Parents in Wedlock: A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under section 301(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). One of the parents MUST have resided in the U.S. prior to the child's birth. No specific period of time for such prior residence is required."  

I'm not giving saying the birthers have a leg to stand on, but in a hypothetical situation and it was true, McCain would still be considered to be a US Citizen (two naturalized US Citizens as parents) and Obama wouldn't.
Scott D, Lufkin TX (Sent Friday, July 31, 2009 1:05 PM)
==========
Maybe you should try posting ALL of the facts rather than cherry-picking to fit your conclusions...

This is from the http://www.uscitizenship.info FAQ page.

<<<Generally, people are born U.S. citizens if they are born in the United States or if they are born to U.S. citizens:

(1) By being born in the United States
If you were born in the United States (including, in most cases, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), you are an American citizen at birth (unless you were born to a foreign diplomat). Your birth certificate is proof of your citizenship.

(2) Through birth abroad to TWO United States citizens
In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true:

- Both your parents were U.S. citizens when you were born; and

- At least one of your parents lived in the United States at some point in their life.

(3) Through birth abroad to ONE United States citizen
In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true:

- One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;

- Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before you were born; and

- At least 2 of these 5 years in the United States were after your citizen parent's 14th birthday.>>>

Bottom line here is only ONE parent needs to be a naturalized citizen (which Obama's mother was) to be a considered a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE WAS PHYSICALLY BORN.

I've come to believe that the seventh circle of HELL would be to have to constantly explain this to the "Birthers" here (and the just plain haters).  Maybe that's the "punishment" that awaits us "Godless Liberals" in the afterlife.

http://jawillie.blog.com

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