Comments on: Ron Paul: Doctor Faux

By: Norm Nelson

Norm Nelson — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:09:47 +0000

If our election system requires you ignore your principles when you vote (game the system) then there is something wrong with the system. We need a system where a vote for one candidate cannot be construed as a vote for a differnt one.

I would agree a vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Hillary if Ron Paul were a 3rd party candidate. However if Dr. Paul becomes the Republican candidate the spoiler effect goes away.

One fix for this systemic problem is Instant Runoff Voting. We spend all of this money running these grand polls and we never find out who your 2nd or third choices are. This is throwing away a lot of data and sometimes results in a minority winner.

By: Catron

Catron — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:51:55 +0000

In the mean time, I’m voting for Ron Paul.

Just remember, when Hillary becomes President, that you contributed to her victory.

By: Conrad

Conrad — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:45:41 +0000

As they say, the perfect is the enemy of the good.

The “perfect” candidate would never support an earmark, would never change his mind, and would agree with you on every single position. Unfortunately, that “perfect” candidate would never get elected, let along get re-elected 9 times.

I don’t mean to use the “I need to do this to stay in office so I can ‘do the right thing’” self-rationalization logic that almost every elected official uses to justify just about any nasty thing that they do, but if you can find a more honest and less hypocritical representative who favors limited, constitutional government and a restoration of the rights that we’ve had eroded over the years, please let me know and I’ll gladly vote for him. In the mean time, I’m voting for Ron Paul.

By: Charles Fowler

Charles Fowler — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:18:03 +0000

Catron it must get hot sitting in the hip pocket of corporate medicine all day long.

Paul’s earmarks and subsequent vote against spending bills are not hypocritical in the least. They are in fact quite rational and appropriate.

See, I can post a conclusion with no basis too! The difference between you and I is that I’m right and I’m not bought and paid for by a special interest.

By: Catron

Catron — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:50:56 +0000

Nate, the point is that he has made so much noise about out-of-control government spending. It’s not unlike a President who promises the “most ethical administration in history” while presiding over an unprecedented wave of executive corruption. Ring a bell?

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:34:29 +0000

You can’t name a single candidate who is responsible for less pork than Paul — at least no one who held power of the purse.

If this is the best you’ve got, you’ve got nothing.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:11:04 +0000

He puts in the earmarks like a good congressman and then votes down the bill.

By: Catron

Catron — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:48:15 +0000

This is negotiation of prices between the govt and drug providers.

CMS won’t “negotiate” with the drug companies any more than it “negotiates” with hospitals. It will simply set a price and exclude from the program any company that refuses to sell at that price.

By: Catron

Catron — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:24:51 +0000

The second thing about forcing ERs to take care of non-emergency patients I just don’t see.

He voted to remove a provision that would have allowed hospitals to refer non-emergent Medicaid patients to their primary care physicians. The ER is where this situation arises.

Here’s the story: a Medicaid patient appears in the ER with a runny nose. He has no emergency and no money for his co-pay. Dr. Paul’s vote makes illegal for the ER doctor to say “go to your regular doctor for this problem.”

By: pbm

pbm — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:09:46 +0000

The second thing about forcing ERs to take care of non-emergency patients I just don’t see. Here’s the quote:
“Vote to pass a resolution, agreeing to S. AMDT. 2691 that removes the following provisions from S 1932:
Allows hospitals to refuse treatment to Medicaid patients when they are unable to pay their co-pay if the hospital deems the situation to be a non-emergency
Excludes payment to grandparents for foster care.”
It says “hospitals”, not emergency rooms.