Ironically Kennedy was left out of conference and the negotiations for PlanD Medicare RX program when Tom Delay, Billy Tauzin and a group of republicans pushed for three additional votes after midnight to give us the horrendous Medicare Plan D which  for $75.00 per month premium, gives us nothing.  Anyone taking a moderate amount of meds falls into Doughnut Hole after spending $2700 and cannot be reimbursed again despite continued premium payments until they reach $6100. By that time it’s next year.  Considering that many of the meds I take are generic, and many not even covered by Medicare PlanDRX, I pay for literally nothing.

Kennedy was not allowed to participate in this bait and switch  Medicare Plan. Wholesale bulk prices with Pharma co’s would have made this meaningful, but even Obama seems to have caved and understand he’s made a deal with Big Pharma that they pay 80 billion into this plan over ten years. What will this mean? That we will have higher premiums and when in the Doughnut Hole, we will be reimbursed for 50% of what we spend.

Senator Tauzin wound up in  a cushy multi million job for big phARMA where he still is being paid to obstruct any effort for real drug reform and true affordability to those that need it most.

Without a public option there will be no reform, and Obama appears to have caved. The Emmanuels seem to be running this and it has become an unclear and muddled message.  Obama hasn’t provided details because he hopes for compromise? With who?  The republicans are waiting for "their big white hope" and will block any real reform that can be attributed to the democrats.

Republicans are as obstructionist as possible and have formed a bloc against this administration. There are virtually no votes whatever the bill shapes up as that will have their support. Republicans are paid by Insurance and Drug monopolies and their election funds depend on their support..

And er, the Committee of 6 that are thrashing this in the senate with Max Baucus leading the charge of 3 Blue Dogs and 3 republicans are from  sparsely populated states that represent about 1 % of our population.  This is a joke and we have seen no leadership from the White House on this sellout.

The only thing ironic is your denial about the foul practices engaged in by the HMO’s and drug companies. Their profits have increased 400% while citizens are bankrupted by their illness and drug/treatments requirements.  Your worry and concern for the insurance and drug giants can only be measured by  your obvious tone deafness and blindness.

United Healthcare has made billions at the expense of their insured. Drug prices are obscene, as is Medicare RX Plan D with its doughnut hole where by Sept. I will continue paying premiums to AARP and will get no coverage for the rest of the year. Unless of course, in the three subsequent months I become so unexpectedly ill that I can spend around $5000 to become elligible for RX claim coverage. But guess what? Even were that to happen, it’s er….December and a new year…er… starts January 1st when my premiums start all over again. 

So really Medicare RX Plan D is a hype and a gift to the Insurance & Drug Co’s.  But have hope  Liz, as I am sure republicans will figure out a way to obstruct anything positive in the way of reform as they act as   a subsidiary of the Insurance and Drug lobby and are paid handsomely to deny reform of any real sort. 

I had a double mastectomy in 2005 and decided not to have reconstuctive surgery.     As I learned about the proceedure and it’s problems as well as it’s aftermath, I did’t even entertain this as an option.  My surgeon, internist, and oncologist all felt it was a very wise  decision.  After hearing the war stories and seeing the results both physical and psychological in a breast recovery group, I was even more convinced that this is a risky, painful, and costly proceedure was a no no.        But i also realize that many women want to be perceived as "normal" &/or attractive.     I knew what was involved and opted…"No."  But especially for younger women this is something they do for obvious reasons, and of course this is a highly personal decision.

As a result of lymph gland removal I suffer from lymphedema. This painful and dangerous condition must be addressed with massage and lymph drainage to reduce lymph fluid from blocking the lymph system, our gateway to our immune system.  I wear a compression arm sleeve, and have 2 sessions a week with my specialist PT.

If I had permitted reconstruction of implanted material over my mastectomies, my lymphedema therapy would not have been possible and  with other problems resulting from this additional surgery, I would currently be in a very negative position. Again, this is all personal as negative feelings about our bodies are foisted upon us by our culture,and what we expect of ourselves is often distorted towards appearance issues that cannot by themselves make us happy,

Camper,

You may be a camper, but you’re not Grande.

Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe they knew and maybe they didn’t. I personally feel it’s far too risky for anyone  to get close to these and any other borders.  But they did ,and they’re out -thanks to a team of people including Pres Clinton who conducted himself brilliantly.   I don’t think the tax dollars involved here get even close to the money spent by the GOP on perks, fighting against the Healthcare program,  and payoffs received from  insurance and drug companies. They hardly represent their constituents who support them with donations and votes.

So you’re worried about rescuing two american gals and what it costs?   Er…my oh my.

Beth,

Your sanctimonius post is loaded with Gore Angry Syndrome laced with considerable ignorance of the issues.  N. Korea specifically wanted Clinton who had respect as a Pres. with gravitas and a good notion of what diplomacy was all about. Your snide remarks about Al Gore have nothing to do with this problem.  Whoever they worked for, and aware of tresspassimg or not, they are American Citizens imprisoned for a slight, and facing 12 years of hard labor.

This rescue could not have happened without both the State Dept and Obama administration working the back, and dealing with what it would take. And that meant acceeding to send Pres. Clinton who had been to N.Korea many times and knows the diplomatic and political terrain.

Your rude and irrelevant comments about Al Gore’s parents could only come from a troll or someone with a pointed head, and capitalizing H for holier than Though [for thou],  speaks to your ignorance and misinformation as well as your lousy spelling.

The ladies are free thanks to Obama, our State Dept., and the skill and charisma of President Clinton.

I love discounts. Have no shame about senior stuff. Been a member of AARP for over 20 years.

As to how do I feel?  I am what I am. Reality bites. But my curiosity never fails to reassure me.

As we all know [except you] is that money does not equate with taste, style, looks, or talent. 

These are innate.   Money cannot give anyone these qualities.

Correction.  Bobby Short was gay. Gloria and Bobby were good friends. Perhaps you are confusing Short with famed African American photographer Gordon Parks who were involved romantically for many years.  Short was never shoved under the rug. He was a classy, private guy, and close friend of GV, but he was totally gay.  Where you get your disinformation from would be interesting. I knew Short for over 40 years.

One of the great loves of Gloria’s life was Gordon Parks, the great photographer. Short was just a friend, [known to be gay], and Gordon was african american, but Gloria knew him forever.

Her bio can be googled. Had 4 sons, and one died.  Hers has been a unique and dramatic life lived with a lot of guts.

This is a medical issue and should be covered by insurance.

There shouln’t be any question that a woman’s health is the issue here, not someone else’s moral judgements.

Whitney Huston sold herself to the Devil.   Drugs.  Big time cocaine and other abuses, and dirtbag hubby was a user,hustler, and supplier. She was dragged down io the depths.  Their reality show was an embarrassment of vulgarity and decadence, and Whitney was swacked out of her mind. And broke.

 If her voice hasn’t been too wrecked by abuse, I wish her well.  It takes a lot of effort and support to come back from the hell she was in.   If it’s another pity party, it won’t play, but I wish this once talented woman well.