i think the president is trying to play politic in favour of republican candidates for president who have no plan for global medical coverage.

Too little, too late! Classic showboating.

OBSERVE THE PICTURE… WHAT A PAIR OF JOKE, HAH.
WHEN ARE THEY LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE ?
THAT WILL BE THE GREATEST DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.

We need a change!

I think the First Couple actually look warm and fuzzy in the photo. Nice pic.

Anyway, I still remember the first time Bush vetoed the $35 million expansion. Jon Stewart's Daily Show discussed it, and he joked around saying "and the Republicans couldn't possibly have a logical and cogent reason for rejecting the expansion, right?" only to soon play a clip from Sen. Trent Lott with a fairly reasonable response. The senator said something like this:

"The Democrats plan to fund the $35 million expansion by raising cigarette taxes. They even argue that higher taxes might convince some smokers to quit. And that's all fine and good. But if smokers quit, then we lose their tax dollars and we're left with an S-CHIP that's unfunded."

Jon Stewart feigned surprise at how a Republican could be logical. Then he joked that perhaps we should hook children on cigarettes, cuz then they'd be paying for their own healthcare.

Gotta love all these responses that contain fluff and yet manage to get posted.

To Amy,
If the founding fathers intended there to be global medical coverage at the cost to the rich they would have created it. However shock of all shocks Social Security, Medicare, and other government programs weren't created until advocates of big government and the idea that somehow the rich should pay the bill for the poor. Of course none of the brilliant people who seem to think that healthcare is a right ever take the time to read the writings of our founders but rant and rave and claim it is somehow guaranteed by the Constitution along with government financed abortions.

Of course how many of those who can't supposedly afford healthcare have cable TV among other luxury items. There is also nothing stopping many people from getting a second job. This country was founded on the principle of hardwork. Not whining and complaining about not getting everything you want and expecting someone else to pick up the check.

"no plan for global medical coverage"

You have to be kidding, global coverage?

one of the greatest presidents this country has ever had.

you and the liberal media have fought this presidency since day one.

Finally a president than stands up for something

George Bush is the worst president ever. Why do we pay taxes?? The Americain public is not being represented! No taxation without representation! We are planning the party for his last criminal days

Given what he's done to middle-class America, he obviously used the wrong finger in that picture!

hey they all are the same republican have nothing for America they just take away from the poor middle class the children give to there self the rich BILLIONAIRS. the brightest day when g.w.bush move away clinton 08 or EDWARDS

Dear Mr, Bush,

I have to say from the bottom of my heart a big "thank you" for the love you have for this nation, many may say your wrong, but I say " It you Mr, Bush who has defined history." A single man who we looked too, as a nation to feel safe, Yes, you did it! I am extremely grateful. How others seem to forget, I do not. See , I live very close to flight 93. May you also remember , you gave the soul back to our nation.

If only the general populace was as ignorant and stupid as some of those making favorable comments regarding George Bush, the Republican party might have a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected next year. Johnson and Nixon would have to be classified as heroes in comparison with Bush and his disregard for the wants and wishes of most Americans. He has single handally killed the GOP for years to come!

Astonishing that the Cheney/Bush regime feel comfortable with massive corporate welfare programs, tax cuts for the mega-wealthy, yet find it somehow un-American that at least SOME of the money hijacked from the ever shrinking middle class be used to help the children of families who can't afford the health insurance needed. Why do Halliburton and Blackwater qualify for billions of taxpayer dollars, but not the taxpayers themselves?

it will be a happy day when he qualifies for currency

by the way…ken…you and the cubs can have eachother–what a loser! Bush a hero? Only to his wife's aching back

To Dave:

Each and every year, more and more Americans are making the conscious decision to forgo healthcare coverage. Recently a report was issued (cannot remember by whom) that stated lack of healthcare is not solely problematic with the poorer classes of society. Where is the value in maintaining health insurance anymore when you pay roughly $250 (employer subsidised) a paycheck for family coverage, turn around and have to cover $2500 in deductibles per person on a family plan per year, and then let your insurance company decide for the doctors if a procedure is necessary. Myself, I work between 65-80 hours a week with a descent salary (by most standards) but really cannot afford insurance as it is becomming more costly with lesser value. I believe you are on the right track with your arguement, but you missed the mark a little bit. BTW, I do not have cable or sat TV, I use that money to pay for gas to get to work.

He will finish as a great President.

He is the President America neede at the time.

The federal government is not responsible for providing medical care or medical insurance to any citizen.

To hell with him. Only one more year, and thank God, this clown'll gone for good.

Chris S, if you're working 65-80 hours a week and "really can't afford" health insurance? I only work 40 hours a week and can pay for mine just fine. Did you not pay attention in school or something?

If the government starts raising our taxes (yet again) to pay for health insurance how much disposal income are you going to be left with? A lot less!

Doh… I should have paid better attention to proof reading in school. I meant to say "you're working 65-80 hours a week and "really can't afford" health insurance?"

My bad.

My goodness!! the depth of illogical thought and parroting of the hate jocks on this blog is amazing. You people praise Bush for vetoing a bill that raises the costs for childrens health care by 35 billion but not a thought to the half a trillion dollars poured into the rathole of Iraq?By the way, ALL the children of Iraq have GOVERNMENT run healthcare at US taxpayer expense. You are lost in the fog of insurance and pharmecuetical propoganda. Move towards the light.

To those so eager to watch the Bush Family leave the White House I know that the Military Honor Guard will be Saluting while follwoing with their eyes as they have every President leaving except one, the Clintons. They know how looked down upon they were, especially by Hillary and Al Gore, while BIll was in office. As far as this bill is concerned it should have been vetoed the first time with 30% of the recipients being 19 to 25 years old. If the 19 to 25 year olds need taxpayer medical and are not disabled, then Uncle Sam will give them the Clinton HMO Program when they enlist. This is a program for poor children, not for parents that want to not have private insurance for thier kids so they can take multiple vacations a year.

To Max, Wesley, Diane, and Ken: From a conservative, Christian Republican with advanced degree in Economics! Can't believe there is one person who has anything good to say about Bush. Do you realize Bush will eventually end up in the Hague like Milosovich, and eventually it will be proven that he attacked his own country. to create the terrorist threat and justify his actions all along, as it was his first agenda from day 1 in 2000. Ever read the book called 'The Price of Loyalty' by Paul O'Niel former Secretary of the Treasury? You guys fell into the pit he dug for Americans.

Hey George, it is not the health care plan moving in the wrong direction, it is you moving in the wrong direction.

Bush wouldn't know what was good for the nation if it bite him in the butt. Classic showboating, he has done nothing for the nation but impede progress.

This was by far a more responsible act than signing the bill that would have increased the cost by $35 billion over five years; we cannot afford to be spending that kind of money, especially at a time when we're wasting away our treasury in Iraq. I would just like to see an American government that places the needs of Americans first.

Everyone is so afraid of National Health Care and the associated taxes to pay for it. Who do you think pays for the corrupt system we have now? The "national health bill" will be paid; whether with taxes or by the high premiums, charges, and fees the current system depends on. For you "free-market" patriotic folks out there: what other business has such a disconnect between the provider and payer? Does anyone EVER ask "how much will this cost?" - nope. We just line up like lemmings and jump off the cliff of ever higher premiums, poorer service, more limited service options, more denied claims and ever higher deductables.

Only the insurance and drug companies, hospital corporations, trial lawyers, HMO's and the American Medical Association seem to benefit from the current system. It can't get much worse to let the government have a crack at it!

Count me in for National Health Care!

Brian

Dan (Columbia, MD) - Please quantify your question to me:

"Chris S, if you're working 65-80 hours a week and "really can't afford" health insurance? I only work 40 hours a week and can pay for mine just fine. Did you not pay attention in school or something?"

Yes I did pay attention in school, yet do not understand where your first question is.

Dan, the point I was intending to drive home is, at our current rate we will all soon be paying COBRA rates for coverage as the insurance companies in question are trying to cut their losses due to the ever increasing costs of healthcare. It is not a matter of not being "able to afford" insurance, but not seeing the value in paying co-payments and deductibles with an "up-to" cost. If you are not a sickly person, there is no real value in maintaining the exorbitant costs - hence value.

Oh and Dan, you stated, "I only work 40 hours a week and can pay for mine just fine." I am glad you are still able to maintain coverage for yourself (your operative word being "mine") but, try covering a family with individual deductibles of $2500, and then 40% of cost above that. A tragic accident or illness can now more quickly bankrupt the average family, unless of course they work where you do.

Thank you Brian Nordin for quantifying my position. There has to be a better way than the way it is now. With more and more people, from all social walks, jumping ship from carrying private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are quickly becomming our "National Healthcare Coverage" as it is. At what point will they crumble? We need to start capping procedure costs and hospital costs and get insurance companies out of the decision making process when it comes to individual medical necessity. If properly budgeted and costs capped, the cost would not be that much of a burden to maintain.

Recently my employer instructed us to hire only part-time help in our stores in an effort to cut costs of the employer shared expense of providing health insurance to employees. What does that say when employers no longer want to carry this so called benefit?

I find some of these posts to be utterly ridiculous. ie: "If the founding fathers intended there to be global medical coverage at the cost to the rich they would have created it." I guess if America was still in the dark ages and the population was still as small as it was then, American's would still have Doctors making house calls by horse and buggy for free, thus wouldn't need Big Insurance Corporations! What a shame America had to grow by leaps and bounds!

I dont' get all the anxiety over Government Sponsored Health Care? Our Canadian Medicare Program has been providing Canadians with Health Care for decades and ensures that every citizen is entitled to Medical Care when they need it regardless of their bank account or class. It may not be the top echelon of Health Care but when a Canadian needs a Doctor, treatment, or hospitalization they don't have to take out a loan to pay for it. or do without care because they don't have the finances to pay for it. And we still have the option of buying into Corporate Health Care Plans for extra coverage if a family or individual feels they need it.

I doubt any Canadian could afford to pay the Costs of American Health Care.