Firstly, all of you who truly believe that "The American People" have ever had representatives in the Federal Government are naive beyond belief. The politician is a power-grabbing, me-me-me person who doesn’t give a crap about anything but keeping whatever power they’ve already collected, and adding to it at every opportunity.

Secondly, the main problem with the visible output of Democrats is that they cannot combine concern for social/human needs/rights with fiscal responsibility. Their power comes from pandering to those U.S. Citizens that wear rose-colored blinders.

Thirdly, the main problem with the visible output of Republicans is that they cannot combine fiscal responsibility with any concern for social/human needs/rights. Their power comes from pandering to those U.S. Citizens that do not have any concept of the human condition.

and D, vote for whom you want, the incumbent will still win >90% of the time. Sure, a president may fall in one term, but the string-pullers are always there…

Great story, insights into a fabulous life. I’d give my left one to own a gaff-rigged 3-masted schooner (I’m not into those big motorized Monte Carlo-looking things) and would most likely spend so little time on land I’d forget how to walk… There was a 60 Minutes story (maybe Leslie did it) about some rich guy who owns the world’s best sailing vessel - I want that one!

Like this:  http://www.anchoryachts.com/preview.php?ID=3 

Now for my opinion: this adder was put on to scuttle the bill. There was no way for the Republicans and Right-to-Life Demos to stop the bill with votes, so they put on something that they knew most would not vote against for fear of losing their popular (!) support. Fear of the religious right is rampant, and fear of even moderate religious folks is even more pervasive, and it should be for a politician. The religious folks are willing to get up off their asses and actually put their vote & money where their mouths (if not necessarily their brains) are, unlike us moderate, non-religious, antichrists who spend voting day in the pool and never give a dime towards buying off a politician.

Shame really, but I sure hope that bill dies in the Senate… unless someone there has the balls to make abortion completely supported by government funds.