(CNN) – Nearly a year after the presidential race came to an end, it's a subject Arizona Sen. John McCain still can't avoid: Sarah Palin.
Appearing on the Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Wednesday, the former presidential candidate was asked, as he has been several times before, whether he was shocked Palin chose to resign her post as governor of Alaska two months ago.
"Yeah I was because she didn't call me ahead of time," McCain said to laughter in the audience. "We all have families, we all have challenges, we all have issues in our lives. She did have huge legal debts because of these [ethics] charges."
Despite the at-times public bickering between aides to Palin and McCain since in the aftermath of the campaign's defeat, the Arizona senator insisted he still speaks with his former running mate "fairly often."
"We say hello. We ask about families. I wish her well," he said.
On the issue of health care, McCain indicated he may be willing to support President Obama's reform efforts, depending on what the president says in his joint address to Congress next week.
"I look forward to what he specific proposals are," said McCain. "I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
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Two losers. Next ....
And the next thing you know someone's representatives from Virginia, Eric Cantor, is also giving it serious thought. In a word, bull and you know the rest of the phrase! McCain must think we're stupid.
Thank you CNN for reminding me why I no longer like John McShame. He gave us the Wasilla Whacko.
Palin was McCain's biggest mistake.... he deserved to lose the election. Palin is a moron.
How is Palin still a headline?? Are the Libs and CNN still scared that she is a potential force to be reckoned with?? Enough of her. Lets move on to candidates that have real potential!!
What is there to be surprised about? She is a media-hungry, attention seeking, incompetent, seccessionist nut-job.
Right...and what they DON'T talk about is serious and complicated domestic and foreign policy issues. Shocker...
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
First sensible thing that's come out of his mouth since...well...maybe ever.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
No kidding, McLoser. Saying no to everything is not cooperation.
I do not believe any Republican that says he will support a Democratic president. He first needs to have permission from GOD Rush. I do not think such permission is coming soon.
What a crock of bull this man dishes out ...
What he SHOULD be doing is begging our forgiveness for dumping Palin on mainsteam America.
BTW, her *huge financial debt* is being paid for by her donors in the same manner the Clinton's had set up for their legal fees.
Don't let the truth get in your way there, McCain.
McCain talks out of both of his mouths.
The Democrats and Republicans have to start working together before they can work together more. It would be nice if Health Care Reform only included Health Care. Unfortunately, for a bipartisan approach, you first have to start with Campaign Finance Reform (this takes away the loyalty of the Democrats to the Lawyers, and the Loyalty of the Republicans to the Insurance companies), then after these loyalties are removed, you move to Tort Reform which limits the medical malpractice pay-outs/insurance rates, then Health Care Reform would be really easy. Figure the odds...
Repubs basically want to continue as is and let those without money or coverage to die off as they are a drain on social security, medicare, etc. --- Democrats want what works good enough for "all citizens" of most of the other industrialized countries; ie – Canada. It`s time for those who got wealthy after the tax reforms of the late administration to pay up.
McCain speaks about "working together." But it is the Republicans in Congress who don't want to act in a bipartisan manner. President Obama has offered many olive branches to the Repubs, but all they want to do is say no and obstruct. They WANT the President to fail (as Rush Limbaugh has already stated), and they want to protect the profits of the health insurance industry and big pharma.
If they are so interested in "working together" on health reform, why did they never make this part of their agenda when they were in power? The truth is, they DON'T want healthcare reform, and they don't want President Obama to succeed. Anyone who believes otherwise is either brainwashed, extremely gullible, or living in fantasy land.
Public Option or nothing, easy as that. Lets see if Obama has the guts to support it. Whats the use of a majority democrats when they are too scared to use it. Lets all go down with the sinking ship, years from now people will say this is where we took a stand and won.
Why are we still talking about Palin and why is she relevant. She is a hick from backwoods Alaska. My apologies to people from Alaska.
A Health Reform bill may not turn out perfect, just as mistakes were made with the stimulus plan, but as we go along, surely these mistakes can be rectified. What I want to see is for our representatives get their hearts and heads together and do the right thing for their constituents, especially those uninsured. The money saved by doing this will have a part in paying for it. That and preventing Medicare fraud. I want them to stop looking out for the interests of the already rich. What does anyone need with so much money and stuff? Ask Mr. McAfee (provider of security on your computer); he sold and gave away all his "stuff," and is happy to get out from under the pressure of keeping up with it.
With so much going on in the US presently, it is downright depressing. The fires in Calif., the awful story of 11 year old, Jaycee, the wars, joblessness, etc. Like Ann Murray's song...."I Sure Could Use a Little Good News Today."
After hearing the horror stories on health care, or should I say lack of health care, watching the insurance companies manipulate coverage for greed and power, the hospitals unlimited spending on expansion, etc and the drug companies being found guilty of fraud and misrepresenting the benefits of their very profitable drugs, how can anyone believe we do not need Health Care Reform??
We can no longer allow big business run and control our country and us. Look at all the diasters they have created.
It is time for us to take America back.
I find all the hoopla over a health care public option ridiculous. We already HAVE two public options. Why reinvent the wheel? Why not make health insurance, like car insurance, mandatory, and facilitate those 50 to 65 buying into Medicare on an income-based sliding scale, and those under 50 doing the same with Medicaid? Then just let competition in the marketplace determine which private insurers will flourish, and which will perish. We DO need laws against pre-existing clauses, and some sort of government oversight as the final arbitor when insurance companies deny life-saving modalities based only on bottom-line profits. EVERY solution will have flaws. Shouldn't we concentrate our efforts on fixing what's broken within systems where we can already easily identify and work on correcting those flaws instead of starting all over again?
Do the right thing John, support President Obama on his healthcare reform. It would be the right thing to do.
I saw Orrin Hatch's moving tribute to Ted Kennedy and was surprised how someone whose policies are so backward could actually be quite intelligent. I suggest to him and Senator McCain that for the sake of their legacies they positively contribute to passing a good health care bill with a public option. I ask these men: Ted Kennedy was lionized for his fight for the common man, how will you gentlemen be remembered? Who are you fighting for? So far it has been the insurance industry, but people can change.
Yes and Palin is not a person to work with anyone but what serves herself best.......I think McCain has just been polite about what he says about Palin, but I think he needs to be honest with American and tell us that he made the biggest mistake in his life when he put her on the ticket to run for VP...he knows it......so why does he continue to deny it.........
Good for John McCain. Aside from a couple of things, he has really handled his unsuccessful run for the presidency with class and dignity. Unlike like his former running mate.
Levi said in Vanity Fair that Palin blames John McCain for their defeat and that she really thought she was running for the presidency not merely the VP slot. Sounds like she had plans for your quick demise Sen. McCain.
So Mr. McCain who's fault is it that you are not working together more, the President has gone out of his way to accommodate the Repubs, which is something you cannot say about your last president, and then Repubs have smacked him in the face every chance they get, Mr. McCain the American people are not stupid, so please give up this nonsense about the President not working with you, the REPUBS will not let this President do anything good for the American people and you will stop it if you can, just because if he succeeds you REPUBS are done, finished, history, and you know it, so stop lying you and your group you should be ashamed of yourselves to have Americans deprived of health care just for personal gain.
McCain has always been a rarity in the Republican party; the man uses reason and rational thought to tackle issues as opposed to his party's platform. Unfortunately, he chose to take a more traditional recent conservative approach during the election campaign which, hurt his chances.
What both sides like about McCain, his war record not withsatanding, is he took an intelligent approach to most issues, regardless of what his party dictates.
Had McCain won the primary in 2000, aside of Bush's smear tactics, the last eight years might have ended differently. I doubt he would have ignored the "Bin Laden determined to strike" report and he was one of the first people to try and tackle the housing bubble that the Bush administration kept throwing gasoline on.
That's the problem, anytime the Republicans have someone of worth, they use their old tactics of flooding the airwaves with half-truths and, essentially, slanderous misinformation.
Excellent...we got our daily dose of cnn anti-Gov Palin article. Surely there must be other news out there? I know hows that national debt looking? What is the body count in Iraq and Afganistan today? We used to get hourly death updates. Silly me that was before Jan 20th.
Make no mistake, McCain will not support any sort of real health care reform that actually helps struggling Americans. All one has to do is look at his record.
I bet he would support Obama's plan. He is one of many in the Senate and Congress who's main objective is to bring down Obama. Who is he kidding. Any man who will stand by and let his running mate say the things that Palin said about Obama without correcting her or speaking out has no business in politics. He is out for himself and to bring down Obama's presidency. All of the republicans are out to do the same. WHY? Because this President is a man of color. Simple as that. By the way, I am a white woman, 65 years old and I support my President. A lot more of his supporters should stand up and be heard and not let these "nutcases" win.
McCain is surprised by anything he is old, selfish & out of touch.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
It is definitely my disappointment. I want a really good proposal and I think a bipartisan bill has a better chance of being good than a partisan bill. That being said, McCain and others need to distance themselves from the fear-mongering conservative pundits who seem to be synonymous with "republican". I can't hang this failure on Nancy Pelosi.
John McCain is totally irrelevant as far as which way the country is going. and why do we care what he thinks about Failin' Quitter Palin??
McCain will vote no. Does he think health care is a right or privalege?
We have John "America First" McCain and his infinite wisdom to thank for Sarah Palin. Just think – if it weren't for him, would any of us outside of Alaska ever hear her name? Oh John, you gone done us wrong.
But glad to know you chat with her often and ask after her family. We know you care. After all, how can any of us forget the image from the tarmac where you patted Levi on the shoulder – smiling – but we all wonder what you were saying. "Good job, son."
Ahhh. Karma.
McCain lost my respect when he chose her. Now we can't get her out of the news. I put full responsibility on him. Did he honestly think she would get Hillary's supporters? Sarah Palin couldn't be more different from Hillary. Hillary is bright, intelligent, has integrity – Sarah has none of those qualities.
I WAS SHOKED when she said she can’t remember what news magazine she read
CNN, you prove more and more why we need Palin and others like her.
She is just like us-common folk. That's what you can't get...... Cause you aren't.
I am sure she will amount to much more that you can imagine... and you will be left in the dust as a discredited news oganiization.
YOU'RE OLD NEWS.
PALIN PALIN PALIN PALIN PALIN PALIN PALIN
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
Palin will always have lots of lawyer bills, because she's too dense to follow the laws.
Yes McCain, Americans are disappointed the Republicans are obstructing at every opportunity – putting politics ahead (way ahead) of needed health care reform for the American people.
Sending out mobs to disrupt town hall meetings; lying about the implications of end-of-life medical care discussions between doctors and patients; scaring seniors about losing Medicare coverage - the Republican party has hit rock bottom.
How can anyone work with a bunch of right wing old white men....I think it is hilarious when McCain speaks about bipartism, he is a man OF NO just like the other republicans & why the media don't get it...it is beyond me....McCain is not like ME or any other every day normal person, he is out of touch & has several FACES depending on the situation......Any one who supports wacko Palin in anything she says or does has issues......
Passing the health care bill is dependent on the legal wording...it has to be written so the average Joe understands it to be truth and not hooky pooky legal jumble, then it has to be in consideration of the obstacles...take out, in clear wording, the funding for abortions by federal tax dollars and you'll have more in consensus....in clear wording define 'the personal decision' of end of life issues not the governement intrustion; clarify the cost objective , not guess it.
Sorry Obama spent your Healthcare money on pork and paybacks to the "green" lobby, the big union bosses and his pals at GE/MSNBC! The only affordable option is to regulate the current programs. Remove state restrictions that limit competition and let us all have our own private, portable policies that are not tied to our employers or the Government.
With the prez "quietly seeking support" for HIS health care reform I feel Sen. McCain should STICK to what "WE THE PEOPLE" want. Joining forces just to SHOW unity is not the AMERICAN WAY. We NEED SENATORS that will stand up for OUR (Voters) rights. Support what we elect you to do. DO NOT BE PART OF his FLOCK. We fought for NO TAXATION without representation – NOW FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS to have ONLY what we (the American Tax paying VOTERS ) want !
I always liked John McCain even if he was a republican until he chose Palin as a running mate. She was a pretty face but nothing else qualified her; it was a scary thought of her running the country if something befell the president. Her latest comments show what she does best-– open mouth, insert foot. She should seriously consider reading on the information before she comments on it.
As for McCain, he at least is trying to work with Obama for the health care. That is more than the GOP is willing to do. They had 8 years to reform health care and they couldn't do it.They are only worried about their party, not the people who put them in office. I'd love to be a part of a movement to do away with alot of the perks they get. So they did away with credit cards, they shouldn't have had in the first place.Wait for election time!!!
Americans don't want government healthcare. They don't want more socialiam.
Great. If McCain thinks 'we're not working together anymore', he has only to look at his own party to find the reason why.
Rove/Cheney ushered in the latest era of vicious partisan politics. Bush was a lazy, unwitting partner. They chased all the moderates out of the GOP, and it's now the party of religious zealots, hatemongers and xenophobes.
Fiscal responsibility? Bush presided over the most wasteful adminstration in history and now the GOP wants to scuttle healthcare reform completely though the economic need for it is so obvious.
Keeping government out of our lives? What about Terry Schiavo and Cheney's determination to spy on Americans?
I honestly don't know what the GOP even stands for anymore. Except trying to block progress at every turn and keep the Rove/Cheney spirit alive.
If the GOP wants bipartisanship, they need to take a few steps back toward the center. Right now, they're far too radical to be relevant.
I still believe that McCain’s real job was to make sure a Democrat would win. In choosing Sarah Palin, he thought he had sealed the deal. He still got more votes then he thought he would.
If you watch his election night speech, it is almost a feeling of relief for him that he lost.
Please, both of you, don’t run again!
Hard to 'work together' when the stated goal of Republicans is No Health Care, No Way, No How, No Obama. The enmity toward this new President is astounding, and the hatred of him by the far right can barely be described. When they "don't want to scare anyone" by calling him Hitler, calling his proposals Nazi like, telling seniors they will die, telling all of us we are being brainwashed, calling supporters all kinds of names, it is a wonder anyone takes them seriously at all.
And this is the same group who stood silently by when the previous administration DID erode our rights, get people killed, and spend our Treasury into the ground. Hard to fathom.
The only thing I will remember mccain by, besides his blanket opposition to anything President Obama does and being a bitter old man, is bringing the clueless pathological liar palin to the public and it is also something i will never forgive him for.
Senator McCain has done nothing to promote "working together". The amount of misinformation the GOP has put forth about health care reform is enormous as well as down right despicable. There are no "death panels", there is not going to be, and never was going to be, a government takeover of the healthcare system.
How anyone can make excuses about Palin quitting is beyond me. Yeah, we all have families, challenges and issues in our lives
– if Palin had quit to stay home to take care of her family (raise her special needs child, be around and provide guidance so another of her daughters doesn't get pregnant out of wedlock)
- if Palin were working on her hyper-inflated ego, narcissism, and habitual lying issues
Then maybe I'd cut her some slack.
Regarding her "huge legal debts" – she should have socked more of that housing allowance she collected while living in her own home.
It has NOT cost the "people of Alaska millions of dollars" dealing with the ethics violations – the folks dealing with it are already on staff and would have been paid regardless. There has been no extra money allocated.
Besides, if Palin had had an ethical governorship, there'd be nothing to investigate in the first place.
So, now the Republicans want to get serious after wasting the entire month of August acting like Buffoons and pandering to their crazy, gullible, intellectually-challenged constituents and perpetuating the lies and myths which distorted the actual facts. Never did they attempt to clarify or defend any absurd argument thrown at them opposing health care reform. They just kept stirring it up, Grassley, Demented and the rest of them. How cowardly. Now, they want to get serious, sure!
The title of this article on the CNN home page "McCain "surprised" by Palin move" is misleading since McCain's comment was not meant to be taken seriously.
Doesn't Senator McCain have better things to do than supporting Sarah Palin? The election is over. You have responsibility for the country, not for her.
Palin/Sanford in 2012!
Upon reflection, I wish McCain had won the last election. President Obama has been a disappointment.
Come on Johnny...tell us what you really think of that intellectual woman!
A few months away from Sarah Pailin and it sounds as if old man McCain is starting to regain some sense. He sounds coherent, and is starting to remind me of the McCain we used to respect. I tell you this woman is an albatross around ANYONE'S neck. Align yourself with her and you're bound to see your world unravel before your very eyes.
It appears refreshin' to know that McCain, the gentleman he is, can be fabulously facetious and maintain composure, despite his reverses. His personal ire notwithstanding, his public responses to many irksome issuse have been quite inspirartional, to say the least.
McCain is maybe a better man than most Repubs in Congress. At least he recognizes the need to do something about health care. It will be interesting to see how he rally acts under the pressures of the party of NO when his vote counts.
Who really cares about Palin? John McCain likely lost any chance of winning the presidency because of Palin. I doubt he was truthful about taliking to her "fairly often". She is increasingly bizarre.
That is one of the first things that I have heard Senator McCain say that ever made any sense and I applaud him for coming to the realization that yes, MANY Americans are disappointed that the Republicans are NOT working together with President Obama.
Way to go Senator McCain!!!!! Maybe you could be the first to turn a new leaf in Congress and actually began to look out for the people of this Country instead of the Republican Parties interests in themselves.
You've really got me inspired....please don't let me down now.
Old John still doesn't get it!! Stop selling us out!!!
McCain should direct is disappointment at the Republican party who has proven that its only goal in healthcare reform is defeating it. The Republicans have refused to negotiate in good faith and are simply working to keep the status quo, i.e. record profits for health insurance companies.
Willing to support the Presidents healthcare plan huh? Sounds like McCain is back to his Maverick self. Amazing how you get away from the evil GOP handlers and common sense returns.
It was not a surprise for me...... now that the whole country was observing her, it was the best for her to quit.........
by the way, if she can't run such a small state (in population/budget sense), how does she expect to run the whole country.........
and I am sure, had she been the POTUS now, she would have quit again, given the intense unpopularity Obama is facing.......
At least McCain isn't an arse like a lot of Republicans are these days. He's actually willing to work with the other side, something all politicians (including Democrats) need to do.
He still needs to apologize to the nation for picking Palin as his running mate. Does'nt he realize how close he brought the country to disaster?
On another note parts of Palin's speech at Hong Kong has just been leaked:
"...a great nation such as yours, living next door to a country that is a big communist bully...."
Lets all unite to make sure Palin wins 2012 primary. Still cant wait for Palin-BHO debate he he he nyuk nyuk
And his willingness to work across the aisle is why I considered voting for him - until he chose Palin as his running mate. I'll never know why a moderate, sensible man like Senator McCain could have chosen such an extremelly polarizing running mate.
worried about working together. where was this talk the last 6 out of the last 8 years? it was all my way or the highway b.s.. and now they want to work with the dreaded liberals, let's be serious.there is no way on earth they want to work with anyone on the other side of the aisle. this is a party of no, always has, always will!
It's hard to work together when the Democrats only put forth garbage bills.
Seriously, these proposed bills are so bad they can't even get Democrats to support them.
Instead of simple reform, like Tort reform or dropping restrictions on purchasing insurance across state lines, we get a public option for 1.7 trillion.
At least we got to see what happens when the Democrats are in charge. So far, so bad.
Palin – "Show me the money." As soon as she realized she could work fewer hours and make more money... goodbye public service. In the end, she fits into the republican party very well.
I love big insurance and trust them with my life, Government needs to be privatized out of existance .
Exactly.......republicans are good critics but NO PROPOSALS to fix the health care system and will be worse if you republicans do not cooperate. It is time to think for the americans not for their parties
He was surprised when she wasn't Tim Pawlenty, who he intended to pick as his running mate. Senile old fool has no business in politics any more.
The laws of unintended consequences have really plagued Senator McCain. His ‘Hail Mary’ pass in the Presidential election will now forever link him to Alaska’s former Governor as she builds her radical right support for a run in 2012. Furthermore, his embrace of these principles not only endanger his political future, but are leading the GOP to a marginalized regional party now run by Neoconservatives. This is ironic because Senator McCain was supposed to be the true “moderate” of the party and was deemed “Maverick”, but in the end the moderates are the ones being shown the door in this increasingly regressive GOP. He is a good man with good intentions, but the road to Hades is paved with those intentions.
"...Would support President Obama...and....thinks the people are disappointed that they are not working together more (DEMs and GOP...?)
That's the McCain I would have voted for !!!
Welcome back to the real world Senator !!
His last statement on working together is the best words I think I have ever heard come out of his mouth.
And we should be!
Jim McCain, shoots from the "hip" chosing Pallenas a running mate
a major mistake, could you see him as President? His judgement
and his temperment are not in control, he reacts and does not think
through his decesion, may work in sports but not as a world leader.
Why does Mccain think that Sarah the quitter should check in with him about her decision to quit as governor? These egomaniacs really think the world revolves around them. NEWS FLASH no one cares about McCain or Palin anymore other than themselves.
So McSame, how come you are not working with Obama on healthcare? How come you are on the fence with the rest of the rightwingnuts in the senate watching the whole thing crash and burn? Maybe your federally subsidized socialist-like healthcare should be taken away from all members of congress for a while and you can see how it is like, since you have had federal healthcare since birth.
Get over yourself – become actively bi-partisan. Be a leader. HA!!
Any health care plan that fails to include tort reform and/or fails to guarantee 100% my right to keep my present insurance down the road (and not force me in to a "Public Option") will be defeated. The present plans include neither of these. The president needs to LISTEN to the American people before he speaks.
This is the John McCain I know and love. Open-minded and unreactionary. Where was this John McCain during the election?
My opinion of John Mc Cain went down since he has associated himself with Sara Palin politically. I cannot understand that he wanted to have someone who is not qualified at the white house. His action during the election showed someone who choose to do whatever it took to win. The consequences could have been catastrophic, and I don't think he had a clue, even today! Mc Cain is not in touch with the reality of the everyday life of the Americans.
The love fest with Palin by CNN is past the point of ridiculous. I truly believe that the only reason they post these articles are for the extreme left who only know how spew hatred. It's sad and pathetic and causing irreversible damage to the Democrat party.
And "not working together more" of course, is Obama's fault.
I have to give John McCain much credit for sticking up for President Obama at a town hall meeting on health care recently. Despite the boos and cat calls by his own constituents, Senator MCain tried to calm a roudy crowd. Senator MCain said that he and the President have philosphical differences on health care but denouced the name calling and labeling used a few at the town hall meeting.
Although I have many differences with Senator McCain's politics, it is gratifying to see that he can still exhibit integrity and courage in defending the President when most other Republican politicans remain silent.
When will they ever learn. Is McCain going to pull a Grassley?
hopefully, Obama is finally listening to McCain–his own party has failed miserably with the American people and caring what they want. Too bad there were so many people voting on raw emotion. The left got their historical President but forgot to train him for the job. His vision of leadership appears to be dictatorship which is nor working with independent Americans.
Sen McCain, Sarah Palin IS YOUR LEGACY.
So sorry.
If McCain wants to work with Obama, he better hurry the guy has less than 3 1/2 years left before he's ousted from the White House.
One thing you can depend on from Old John is that if you don't like what he says, wait a few minutes and he'll say the opposite.
McCain needs to admit it that he choose the craziest person on earth to be his running mate. I actually feel sorry for McCain – SP needs to be in a straight jacket and put in the mental ward now not later.
John, what was it your aides told you about Sarah Palin? "High risk / high reward"? How's that decision working out for you?
Perhaps the smartest comment I have ever heard McCain speak. He hit it on the nail when he said "I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more." I say he is starting to come around and realizes how childish the right has been when it comes to health care. I hope he is not just saying what the crowd wants to hear and is sincere enough to listen to what President Obama has to say. I think it's about time we reform health care so we can afford to have stay at home moms, have a little extra to put away for our children's future. Health care reform won't solve everything but it will be one less thing bringing our economy down. HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!!!
Wasn't Obama to the be the great unifier. He has done anything yet but scare the elderly on heathcare and solidify the States as a debtor nation. I find it humorous all the outrage over Obama speaking at schools. I don't agree with Obama on much but he is the President. In case you don't know what all the histeria about him speaking at the schools is about- that is trust. People do not trust him – scary.
Who cares? Geezer lost. Dingbat quit.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
Wrong, we're disappointed that you 'try' to work with the other side no matter how moronic and un-american the idea is.
Look at the size and scope of the govt just a hundred years ago...look at it now. Re-read the constitution and tell me you don't see a problem.
Defence, commerce...money (gave that up to the privately owned fed).
Funny how Energy, Education, Health Care, Automobiles, Banking aren't there (nope, no czars either!). Which means, by default, that they belong to the states. End of story.
John, if Repubs and Dems aren't working together more, maybe you should tell your party's members to learn another word besides "NO" !!
Yes, John McCain is right about one point. We Americans certainly ARE DISAPPOINTED in our elected officials and their lack of ability to work together. They still act as if the Democrats and Republicans are its own football team and they constantly bickering/battling against each other. That's never gonna resolve issues!!! They need to WORK TOGETHER as a Team if anything is gonna happen and come to some common ground!
Let's see what McCain does. Talk is cheap; action speaks louder than words. I doubt he will break with the party of NO and support healthcare reform.
Just admit it McCain, you blew your choice for a running mate- Big time.
That is mainly because you are not the brightest star in the sky yourself.
John McCain: always the one who gets to the point and clears up the air.
Actually, CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THE HECK HE JUST SAID? As far as I can tell, he said nothing at all.
like a stone in the polls and Independents are dumping him in droves.....
It's all Sarah's show in 2012....can't wait.
I don't necessarily agree with John McCain, but he's a class act.
Now back to the wacko leftist hate mongers...
John McCain's credibility and that of the GOP is gone forever due to the Palin pick. What a joke.
It has been sad watrchng McCain be such a politician. I always thought he was better than that. Clearly he has no inteniton of supporting anything the President says unless it is "we will do whatever is best fo rteh republican party". Outside of that they have no intention of supporting anything and no concern for what is best for the country as all.
The problem is not what O'Bama will say but what will he do. The Administration can't be trusted due to inconsistencies of what was said before the Presidency and what and how they really believe now.
Very scary stuff...so bottomline, the vote will be casted with the belief the worse can happen so you can't say "I told you so".
I like McCain more today because he chose Palin to be his running mate. She sparked his campaign. He's a great man and we would all be better off if he was in the Oval Office today instead of Obama.
***On the issue of health care, McCain indicated he may be willing to support President Obama's reform efforts, depending on what the president says in his joint address to Congress next week.
"I look forward to what [t]he specific proposals are," said McCain. "I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."***
This is the only substance of this article; and a very important one at that. It's nice to see McCain seemingly focused on reaching an actual result rather than simply standing in the way.
Work together........ pelosi has directed that democrats not work with Republicans. If obama is not willing to give up government control of our health care no-one should be working with him including democrats unless they do not care about re-election.
I think John McCain is a decent person who will be willing to work for a satisfactory health care reform agreeable tor both sides of the aisle. It is now critical and long overdue for better health care for ALL Americans. Sometimes I forget that he is still a Republican, LOL.
I am optimistic that some members of the GOP in congress will turn off the NO button and do what they are paid to do.......i.e.,what is best for all Americans. To be against any and everything the current administration proposes simply because of party affiliation is borderline treason!!!!!!!!
I'd like to know when McCain is going to apologize for unleashing this hateful woman on us. I've never seen such hate in this country, and I lived through the civil rights era, and remember the assasinations of JFK, MLK, and RFK.
Honestly, do you all think we would be any better off with these two numbskulls as president and VP? Really? Obama was far and wide the better choice, even with his flaws.
Boy am I glad people got this one right. You may disagree with Obama on some things, but at least he has the compassion and will to get the tough things done. McCain would still be recovering from his campaign at this point and Sarah would be sitting around wating for him to kick the bucket so she can run things. I shudder at the thought...
Please be patient with Obama. No president in recent memory has had to deal with the kind of mess that was given to him. The last one being maybe FDR. Patience, people, patience...
Is McCain rebelling again?
I believe McCain still has the opportunity to reshape this country even though he is not president. If he can work closely with Obama on healthcare reform, this can be a win win situation for both Obama and McCain.
If McCain thought that the American people wanted to see the two parties work together more, why in hell didn't he say that two years ago or three years ago? Why does he see it now? What light went off? . Together means everyone , not one standing on the side lines just saying "No" to everything and then pointing a finger at the other party that seeking a way to say yes.....
Steve
Clifton, VA
McCain is a joke. There is nothing "maverick" about him. He supporting going to war on false presentences after Bush lied to America. He's a typical partisan obstructionist who will do anything to oppose Obama's proposals. McCain has nothing constructive to offer to the political discourse. He should start a talk show like his friends OReilly, Beck and Hannity.
My disappointment is that the Democrats fell asleep at the wheel while the Republicans hijacked reality regarding the need for true health reform. My disappointment is that more "leaders" didn't step forward and disclaim the misrepresentations of the bills under consideration.
During the election campaign, I didn't think much of John McCain and even less of Sarah Palin but on this story, John seems very resonable. It's just too bad that the majority from his party aren't even willing to listen to their elected President.
I'm a Canadian reading these stories and it saddens me to see that so many Republicans – especially that so called pastor – hate their President so much. It makes the US look very similar to Iraq but instead of religous groups fighting, it's political parties.
In my mind, anyone can disagree with President Obama, but to fight him on every attempt he makes to make the USA "better" just beause they don't like/hate him is very unpatriotic. I'm so surprised that those Republicans that critize things like the President addressing school children, going on vacation with his family, etc. don't seem to realize how pathetic they look to the rest of the world.
Perhaps since the pressure of the election is off his shoulders, he can go back to being fickle.
I don't understand this. McCain sounds reasonalble in these quotes. Isn't he still a Republican???
Oh yes, they're best buddies; a notoriously cranky old man with a short fuse and a ditz without an original thought and the attention span of a gnat.
John McCain should issue an apology to us for unleashing that mess on the American public!
I hope John McCain can be a real maverick and bring the insanity on the conservative side to a halt. Our economy can not afford to go without health care reform.
The simple fact that Palin didn't tell McCain she was quitting shows just how deep the rift between the two really is. McCain can put as much window dressing around the relationship as he wants but he and Palin are from two different worlds. They have nothing but ambition in common. At least McCain has been successful in his career (although he probably doesn't know how to do "fancy pageant walkin' ")
He has no intentions of supporting Obama on healthcare reform unless its the kind of bill that offers no reform at all. He has to fake the willingness of being bipartisan in front of 10 million people. It was all show.
John was wondering what you think of the baptist minister who is from your state who preached from his puplit that he prays that the president dies. Is this the kind of people are in your state. John all you and the repulicians have done is to go against every thing the president does. And your beloved Sarah is the one who got the whole nation in an uproar with her death panel remark. This is the kind of people you put out of president. And you could not even vote for the new judge. Do you realize how many hispanics you have in your state. Do you think they will vote for you when you run for senator?
President Obama has given every chance for the Republican's to work with him. Make no mistake about it. They have no intetion on working with him!
Palin is just a loser and John McCain blew away any and all chances of the presidency when he picked her and he won't forget.
Hey Senetor one way to ease that dissapointment Americans display is for YOU to start trying to work together. You are just another Republican politician who says NO to everything Obama suggests. Want to see the obstructionists? Look in the mirror.
As Obama's opponent in the recent election, McCain is uniquely qualified to reach across the aisle on this. If he does, he could probably bring a handful of moderate Republicans with him, which is all the Democrats need.
Most Republicans won't support any health care proposal, and they will be hopping mad at McCain if he works with Obama, but the right wing crazy fringe of the GOP hates McCain anyway, so what does he have to lose? This could be his lasting legislative legacy, and it could be McCain, instead of Teddy Kennedy or othe Democrats, who gets the final credit and/or blame for health care reform.
McCain chose Palin.
Obama chose Biden.
One has been proven a doofus..
Is McCain proud of his appointment of Sarah Palin as VP candidate? He seems to still maintain that she was the best qualified Republican for the VP slot. This shows McCain is going scenile like Senator Byrd.
Why not put something interesting up to comment on ... like the MoveOn.org guy who bit off a protester's finger in CA.
You can't make this stuff up...
As long as McCain, his Republican cohorts and their insurance company allies continue to be the party of "NO", I don'tt care if we work together or not. The Republicans fail to admit that we have Veterans Hospitals that are a national health insurance plan for injured and non-injured vets as well. If national health insurance is good enough for a veteran, it should be good enough for all of us. Either that or abolish the VA and pay for private insurers to cover our veterans.
Remember, many of the European nations and Canada pay less per person for healthcare, live longer and have a lower infant mortality rate.
Terrific words from J. McCain!! Hopefully he can support some sort of health care and possibly get some of his peers to work for the people.
Yeah, it's sure a disappointment they aren't working together more. Obama has already given the Republicans everything they want and the Republicans continue to spread outright lies about what is in the bill. So, if there is any disappointment it should be directed towards those lying politicians and their misinformed constituents. Compromise does not mean all for me and none for you.
mcnasty continues to lie, just like the quitter from Alaska. Maybe that is what brought them together in the first place among other family value and bible thumping things.
You think he really is happy with her. Look at the hug after his concession speech and even the picture with this article. Body language says more than words can ever express.
I hope the good people of Arizona don't vote him in again. He is a disgrace to anyone with dignity. Look what he left us with. This narcissistic dumbhead.
A pox on John McCain for inflicting this woman on us.
McCain should try getting his side of the aisle to participate in addressing America's issues instead of trying to block all efforts by President Obama in hopes of regaining control the government they so hate.
The "disappointment that we aren't working together more", must surely be with his side – the side that has decided to bring about the collapse of America. At every turn they have rejoined with the single word, NO! NO, to the American people getting out from under the health insurance scam. NO, to the American auto industry. NO, to the people on the bottom rung getting a few cents more an hour. Question is why is he publicly claiming disappointment? Has he decided that the type of politics he and his colleagues in crime have been pushing is a bridge too far? He doth speaketh with a forked tongue.
I like McCain. He's seems very honest and outright and that and the fact that he was a Republican at the wrong time were his demise.
However, i'm sure he totally regrets the train wreck that was Palin and I think he might actually do smething to help out with this health care whatever it is
"We say hello." So, McCain and Palin don't talk about issues. I can only imagine what their communication would have been like had they been voted into the White House.
I hope other senators follow McCain's lead and cooperate with the President to establish a health plan. We desperately need it.
John McCain might be the only Republican that gets it. Yes, the American people (beyond the 20% crazies) are just fed up that congress isn't doing their jobs and working to get something passed. The majority of republicans are focusing solely on people who talk about death squads for grandma and "keep your gov out of my medicare". Obviously these people are MISINFORMED and not the majority of Americans. They just happen to be the most vocal.
I agree with Senator McCain. The people are tired of posturing and positioning done by both the right and the left. Most people I talk to want the issue addressed but they want it addressed in a positive bipartisan fashion. What Obama should do is just scrap all that has been done so far and tell both parties to start over and do something that will solve the issues the American people are having with health care, not adopt an ideological position and then defend to the death. Both parties need to be tolerant of differing opinions and work together to do what is right for the American people, not for their dumb party politics.
Yeah, because if he said anything mean about her she'd go on a media blitz to try and shame him like a four-year-old who stole some candy.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
I don't often agree with McCain and think he would have been a disaster as a President, but he's right about this.
Unfortunately it's not clear whether or not he understands that the problem is coming from the Republican side, and that a lot of Americans understand that as well and for that reason are more and more willing to cut the Republicans out of the equation entirely.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
Yes, a huge disappointment to have GOP senators who say they are actively working in good faith on a bipartisan proposal then turn around and publicly shoot down any bipartisan proposal. I think you need to go speak to Sens. Grassley and Enzi about this, Mr. McCain.
I watched him on Conan and as always , John McCain does not ever commit to much info , he pretty well rides the fence , but until others in his party start doing the same , there will not be any meeting in the middle. The Dems seem to be able to do this better than the GOP.
But I hope he will now become the 'Ted Kennedy" of the senate and reach across the aisle to get more done .....We need more to be like that, and just not a thing of the past.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
Great point, Senator McCain. But please remember, in order to work together this requires BOTH sides to compromise. Unfortunately, I have seen little in that regard from the GOP in terms of the health care debate.
More about Palin here than Barack Obama. Like it or not she will probably be the next president. Thanks to the media for keeping her front and center. And I know much more about her family than I do about Obama's. Seems kinda weird.
McCain, what more do u need to hear or know before you can support reform? Here they are: millions of uninsured Americans, skyrocketing costs, high premium costs, dubious and greedy health insurance executives cashing in on the poor masses. I can go on and on. Something needs to be done. If u don't like what has been proposed so far, where's your proposal? Have you brought any ideas to the table?
I used to have respect for McCain until he sold out to the far right during the election. You could tell it made him really uncomfortable, too. The way he'd squirm and get that shifty look on his face. He could have been president if he had picked a better running mate. Have a nice day!
It must be very hard for John McCain to come to terms with one undeniable fact: everything he wanted to be remembered for doesn't matter any more.
Sarah Palin IS his legacy!
Remove the government option and co-op, include tort reform, allow for interstate health insurance competition. There's no tort reform in the bill since a significant portion of Obama's war chest was financed by trial lawyers, and actually allowing health insurance companies to compete will drive down premiums and probably lead to an end to the employment dependence on health insurance and reduce the need for a taxpayer-subsidized government option.
Well if Republicans leave the table, then the voters won't blame Democrats for passing reform without GOP support.
I'm glad to hear McCain sounding reasonable, Republicans have been talking out both sides of their mouths on this issue.
On one side they say we should lower costs, and on the other they are unwilling to make the hard choices necessary to do so.
McCain is class, Palin is just that, paling in the spotlight as the world learns the truth about her. The sad thing is the number of dumb and dumbers who continue to follow her drum beat.
Accolades to Tim, Memphis, TN for going beyond the regular "bash em' " rhetoric that most blogggers share with us. Wouldn't it be nice if all the blogs were constructive. Maybe some politicians might start reading these and actually pick up some good ideas to implement.
Wow, the Wasilla Wacko – I love that. I have yet to hear that one !
Big deal.
McCain would have lost the election by a closer margin if he didn't have Sara Palin as a running mate.The Republican party didn't show much sense in picking her for his running mate.I don't think that Mc Cain was too happy about her.
McCain is right that people are frustrated about no one in Washington working together, but the blame for that does not lie with our President, who has gone out of his way to work with Republicans in Congress. I get frustrated with some of our Democrats in Congress too, make no mistake, so I'm not saying they are blameless. However, the lack of bi-partisanship in WDC is not President Obama's fault.
PUBLIC OPTION! Why is everyone so afraid of it? We already have it – Medicare and Medicaid. We only need to make revisions to both. The insurance companies have done a number on the gullible American public.
The disappointment is... you chose a moron to be your running mate and you look like a moron by association. Sorry McCain... I really liked you until you chose her.
Yeah, John? then lead the way...lead by example.
I'm willing to "work together" to crush the Republican party once and for all. There's absolutely NO reason to to listen to the ONLY thing coming out of that foul nest of liars and crooks – "no".... ruthless pursuit and destruction is the only reasonable tactic left when dealing with Republicans.
McCain has never been more partisan than since he lost the presidency by record numbers. McCain will continue to give lip service to reaching across the aisle, but the only thing that coward will do is try to stop any chance at real reform.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
And this is only because you and your party, buddy boy, are refusing to work with the democrats and the president on health care. And, since hypocrisy is a leg in the republican platform, you will conveniently forget making this statement within 60 seconds of doing so, and go on to bashing "Obama-care"
Aim high, Johnny-cakes!
Well.......What we do know is, John McCain gave birth to Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber.....
We also know that both of these people think their important and refuse to go away...
What I want to know is, can John McCain be held accountable for the persistant social divesiveness that Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber bring to the American people.....?
Sarah Palin is the worst politician I have ever witnessed, she's extremely pathetic and laughable.......
CNN, Just what is your agenda? Where are the stories about the Democrats? Where's the story about Rangel and his taxes? About how the Dems in charge of Congressional committees refused to listen to President Bush about the mortgage difficulties TWO years ago?
All the Democrats and mainstream media can do is go after two people who no longer hold a public office or blame Republicans for 'holding up' a bill that they can't stop because the DEMS control both house of Congress. Pathetic.
Obama is a sinking ship, but hey, lets keep talking about how McCain and the GOP are evil and to blame for all of the administrations shortcomings, it might take some of the pressue off the President.
Dear Sen.McCain: Now you need to work on the other old guys in our party – we deserve to have decent health care like the HC you guys enjoy. I have been laid off for 8 months w/o HC insurance b/c we can't afford the "COBRA" option. Public Option will allow me to have afforded HC and I can see my private doctor now not next year or so.
In regards to the whacko beauty queen – BIG MISTAKE BUT I STILL SUPPORT YOU b/c I knew she wasn't your choice! I blame your team for that crazy choice.....
Guys, you are aware that tort reform has been tried in several states and has not led to cost reductions, aren't you? It's just a way to protect incompetent doctors and make more profit for malpractice insurance companies. Nice try, though. Have a nice day!
It is not just that he chose such an unqualified running mate. It is that he allowed her to go around the country and purposely stir up such hate. If reasonable people do not oppose it, it will grow. It is growing. He did a terrble disservice to this nation, one which we will pay dearly for, for a long time. I am 59 years old, and I do not remember this much hatred since the heydey of civil rights marches. Even Nam did not engender this kind og putrid hate. But Sarah Palin did. Thanks to John McCain's blind ambition and complete disregard for America's future. I hate him now.
This woman is like cryptonite, everyone she is associated with becomes weak, A few months after he stopped associating himself with Sarah, McCain has started to regain some semblance of the man we once listened to, and some admired.
John McCain really took a gamble with Sarah Palin in the hopes of garnishing the votes from the Right fringe of the GOP. It still seems incredible that he didn't realize they would have voted for him anyway.
There was no way that any of the Palin Lynch Mob would vote for a someone who wasn't a 'Real American'…or better put a Pure White Conservative Christian.
All Palin really succeeded in doing was show the rest of the world the true face of Conservatives in the United States....a pretty ugly hateful one, really.
Go sarah.............the party of the donkey hates you...that means you are doing things correctly....keep up the great work........
This woman is like cryptonite. Everyone that she comes in close contact with becomes weak and senseless. A few months away from her and McCain is starting to sound like the man we used to listen to, and some even admired.
"I think the disappointment a lot of Americans display is that we are not working together more."
Gee John, ya think? Not one member of the GOP has offered up anything but no, no, no, no. The thought of Americans realizing that Obama might have good ideas and gets things done scares the bajeezus out of the GOP because then they may be expected to work too.
Nah, don't bother, just keep getting that nice free healthcare that we buy for you, but don't worry about us. We don't need ya.
Gonna be fun watching John ride off into the retirement sunset next election.
Maybe McCain will have the good sense to propose legislation closing all public schools and universities. Those are just socialist handouts. People who send their kids to public schools are too lazy to get a real job so that they can afford private school. Education is not a right. You elitist obamabots show me where in the constitution it says anything about education. Have a nice day!
Blame it on Kennedy that we have Obama, not McCain, Palin, or Obama himself.
Although Mcain made a mistake of picking Palin as his running mate he is a gentleman!!!. The Alaskan so called conservative who could even control her house!. Talk about hypocrisy in the society, Palin is a total failure, she takes advantage of Trigs condition while ignoring the fact that, she is a horrible mother. Leadership starts from your own home and then you extend it to the larger society. With a teenage pregnant daughter Palin failed as a mother and a leader!!!
Tort reform will not bring down cost.......Even Joe Scarborough (hardly a liberal) on morning Joe, argued w/ RNC chairman M. Steele that that will not bring down cost......TORT reform will save about 350 million dollars per year it is a GOP talking point, and can wait to be amended to any reform legislation......congress is trying to save billions in the long run, w/ other reforms.
The world must wonder why we American are so stupid at times. First, we elected GB- twice! ....then we had someone like Sara Palin as a VP Nominee. Now, we are pushing away a goverment healthcare OPTION that would create the necessary competition to bring down skyrocketing healthcare costs. If I hear some idiot say the "OPTION" is being forced on them one more time, I'm going to puke. People watch Fox and Hannity then think it's their job to oppose Barak at all times, even if goes against their own good. I'm sure the insurance compaines will be happy when it fails. Don't complain in the future when it does.
What a buffoon! McCain is disapppointed that "we" aren't working together anymore? whose fault is that? Certainly not the President and the Democrats who have bent over backwards with bipartisanship. Could it be the Party of No who have very publicly vowed to destroy any refrom the President is trying to achieve?
John...John...John.... how do you continue to get re-elected? You should've known alllllllllllll about Sarah PAINlin when you did the outrageous task of selecting her for a running mate....Shame on You Johnny Mack,,,,,and to think you actually think we care what you have to say about the healthcare plans....you are fully protected and have all the right insurance and pay VERY little for it and some of it is FREE to you because you are a V of FW's...and were injured......
Just like all the repubs, they'll work with you only if they get their way. Mccain you have no choice in the matter. We the people are telling you to do it so do it or else your fired. Remember, you work for us. your not king or prince or dictator, although your party would like it that way. Obama laid out the general plan and the house and senate need to refine the many ideas that are the trouble spots. you need to get in there and help like you should have been all along.
Why try to work with a party bent on saying "no" to everything Obama proposes? After all, he did win by a landslide, unlike Bush. Obama has the capital and a mandate. It is just a matter of taking the initiative to execute.
Time for McCain to go,where all old dog's go back under the porch,where the sun will not fry their brains.
For those wondering why CNN keeps reporting on Sarah Palin, it's simple. She has become a celebrity. There are some people who genuinely like her, and there are others who just want to watch what she does, some because they despise her and some because they're simply curious to see what she does next.
And as for those who think liberals fear her, I don't think so. Although she is popular with a faction of the GOP, she would have a tough time getting the party nomination. And, even if she did, she is such a polarizing figure that she would have a very difficult time getting votes from beyond her base. She would have an extremely tough time in a general election, which actually makes her attractive to liberals, since she would be an easier candidate to defeat than someone who is more moderate. That's the crux of the GOP's problems. The party is moving steadily to the right, and as it does so, its candidates become less and less viable in general elections. For those Republicans seeking ideological purity, be careful what you wish for. You may get that purity within your party, but the end result could be that your party is so small and extreme that it won't be able to field any candidates who can win over enough voters to win a general election.
Grrr-awful-o: Sarah Palin will be our next President??? Your fantasy is
remarkable.
Of course McCain is surprised by Palin's move. He either never vetted her before his pick or he was using her as a foil. Either way he lost.
On the issue of health care , the GOP is not going to care what Obama says. They are the party of no bi-partisianship. Their form of bi-partisianship is: no ideas or plans, then weeks later their plan comes out (always the exact opposite of what has been proposed), then they vote a block (not representative of constituents) and then they vote however their PAC tells them to which is always no. Big money is the PAC of the GOP.
There is nothing here about McCain, Palin, healthcare or the GOP that is news.
John, you come across as being sincere and likeable, but you made a decision that had the potential of destroying this country (Palin) and you didn't do it because you were thinking about our wellbeing. Unfortunately, your legacy isn't going to be "war hero" or "statesman", sadly it's going to be Palin. Here's a crazy suggestion....why not bite the bullet and apologize to the American people for what everyone knows was an ill-advised choice? We respect those who can admit their mistakes. Good luck.
I cannot believe how you liberals are so obsessed with Sarah Palin. Every move she makes is analyzed and cavity searched. Why don't all you left wing radicals spend more time looking at your own administration than worrying incessantly about Sarah Palin. Get a life!
Republicans think Dems "hate" Palin. Well, I DON'T! I just think she is not very intelligent and it is obvious she is not up to the task of national political service.
A public option would undermine the entire health system! People say we have one and we do in medicare and medicaid and look where they are..BROKE!!! Some physicians and hospitals are having to refuse patients on them because they lose money. Reimbursement is pennies on the dollar with these programs and now the government wants to put everyone on them!?!?! This is insane! Everyone wants to live to be 100 but no one wants to take care of themselves to prevent complications then when there is a complication no one wants to take responsibility, and that includes financial responsibility, for that. Now I agree that medical cost has gotten out of control but it was the government involvement who caused the current state! Back when the new deal was initiated the government alloted rediculous amounts of finances towards healthcare and thus companies raised costs to use of that alloted money. Now Canada agrees that the public option doesn't work and the Canadian medical association has called for private options. What are we doing following a plan that doesn't, and has proven not to work!?!?
To set many of you straight, allowing the free-market to reign supreme in health care will result in a worse situation than we have now. There are few, if any, industries in which the free-market works flawlessly as it is described in economic text books. This is due to market failures which need PROPER (note the emphasis) government intervention. The health industry has more market failures THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY.
That being said, a public option in and of itself will not fix things. It can help along with tort reform, but more is needed. Payment and reimbursement systems must be changed. Incentives on all sides of the issue (provider, patient, insurer) all not aligned properly (due to the failures of the free-market). And as much as people don't want it, some level of restriction on care must be done at some point. Without worrying about costs and only worry about improved outcomes was a big contributor to how we got in this mess in the first place.
Ya makes sense to vote a radical muslim over a war hero. I think its all good though. We are all getting a good laugh watching obama try and run the country. The fastest drop in approval ratings for the first 8 months in 60 years. Former president Carter called Mr Obama. He wants his approval rating back.
Thank you Senator for that last line. Could you please talk to your party members? While the bickering continues, Amerians will be suffering.
Do I need to remind you that Great America has become a laughing stock before the world?
Who cares..............
I think most of us watched what the Party of NO said during August, and the deliberate lies that were spread or not squelched.
It's time to re-think who these folks are working for. Seems to me a lot of them prefer corporate profits over American quality of life.
Vote them out unless they vote for US.
Oh dear John - I'm surprised that your're surprised that your Sarah has again surprised you, since she seems to be chock full of surprises. So glad, too, you're spouting about cooperating with the President on health care as you meet in the back room with your cronies to decide how best to destroy the man, all the while with the little laugh - "heh, heh, heh" - and your eyes turning dark and squinty at the same time. Sorry, Bub - we've got your number and it ain't pretty and it ain't #1.
Whenever the name Palin comes up America reacts..you might call this Lady all kinds of names ...mean-ones. kind-ones.. Some might call Sarah Palin a moron she so wrongly was called out by the media
and the people without an opinion of their own..just repeat what they
hear......Well let us tell you Obama is disguised in fancy talk to cover-up his short comings....Is Obama smart...stay tuned...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont suppose that it ever occured to anyone that the reason Sarah left office is because she had the hell beat out of her by the media. As a woman, your first instinct is to protect those that you love. There is no political office in the land that is worth what everyone put this woman through.
Not only the media, but also some close to the family have since tried to get their 15 minutes – They need to get a life.
For Goodness sake, leave the woman and her family alone.
What other political candidate in the world has ever had their parentage of a child questioned? I mean really, be fair here.. Some of the crap that was put out about this woman was just hateful. Maybe she was just plain ol fed up.. and judging by some of the bigot and haters in here, I can see why she would feel that way. She has been crucified already, enough is enough, put this to bed.
Your right there is no bipartisanship. Pelosi is worse than Tom Delay and no one thought that was feasible. In the house 60% of the amendments that have been supplied have been by the GOP and its goes without says all have been squashed by Pelosi. Obama has done nothing other than make this country more divisive.
Considering how many uninsured, underinsured there are in Arizona, McCain better do something about a public option that includes affordable health care, PLUS he had better do something about UNfreezing our social security cost of living increases, especially since Medicare premiums will go up. After speaking with a lot of Scots on our trip to Scotland two weeks ago, many of them just can't understand why we don't have some form of national health care. National health care does not have to FREE, just affordable and reasonable with NO pre-existing conditions tacked on just like the Federal health care packages the Congress and other receive at 75% paid by TAXPAYERS anyway. The majority of the idiots in the Senate and House just don't get it, do they?
You people need to wake up. Sarah Palin has given a lot of time and service to our country. You bring her down for no reason because it "seems cool." Well, it's not. She is a long time server of our country and well as Senator McCain and I thank them and respect them. Just like I do Obama since he serves our nation as well.
Why would he be surprised by her decision? She has proven herself to be an idiot time and time again. I would only be "surprised" if she said or did something that made sense. McCain should feel nothing but shame for choosing Palin to run with him.
I think that Sarah Palin deserves our silence!
ok I guess that was long enough.
Wow, CNN. Not one but two articles with Palin in the headlines. Did she win an election somewhere that I missed, or is she still out of a job? Why do you do this to us?
Ethier it to hot or to cold for some people to think constructed. Health care for a wealthy country like ours is a right and not an option. We are in this together, businees and government for the general welfare of every citizen.
It amazes me how everyone states "The Republicans aren't working with President Obama", when the President hasn't done anything on Health Care Reform except give a few speeches. He is leaving the bill up to Congress, and really hasn't given them clear guidelines on what he wants. Bipartisan doesn't mean you listen to what the other side wants and then so it's my way or no way. The far left and the far right are really out of touch with Main Street Citizens, but it seems the far right is the only ones people are blaming.
W L Jones...you just described socialistic Russia, NOT America. The only right we have is to work hard and strive for the best. Nothing is ever free; it is alwaysat the cost of someone. And in the case of free healthcare it would be at years worth of time lost from family, children, spouses of physicians
May God have mercy on each one of us and on the socialized health care in this country !
The republican party has stated openly and without shame that they hope President Obama fails – yet they have the nerve to complain that the President won't work with them? The President has gone out of his way, to a fault imo, to try and work with republicans; the republicans are so full of hate and loathing for this President (I got to hear and see that hate at a town hall meeting the other night which was truly disgusting) that they will never work with him. They may offer to work with the President after they make sure he fails on health care.
What a hypocrite John McCain is!
Obama has bent over backwards reaching out to the repugnant Republicans and they have done nothing but twist the truth and out-and-out LIE to the American public about TARP, Healthcare, etc.
They incite mobs to derail healthcare and call it grass-roots uprising. Yet when a wheelchair bound woman went to a town hall meeting to state her case, that odious mob boo-ed her and tried to silence her. Others with heart-breaking stries of being denied healthcare, or of insurance companies rationing healthcare have been silenced by Republican senators.
These Republicans are neither patriotic, nor do they have any real family values. They are bent of protecting the ungodly CEP compensations that insurance industry executives receive on the backs of suffering Americans. God will judge them all for this. They are clearly godless, wolves in sheep's clothing.
If sarah palin is an idiot what does that make joe biden any takers on that question i didnt think so!!!!!!!
This is amazing. It light of all we know about MS. Palin. In light of the fact that we know she is not only backwards thinking, let alone. A liar. We going to entertain this Grumpy Old Man and this Nutty dame one more time. Wowser. And the President Name is. Support Health Care. From (Our) President.
At the risk of repeating myself...
WHY IS THIS WOMAN STILL NEWS?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Let's move on, CNN!
And the good people of Arizona look forward to having a new Senator, a Republican this time.
I think Senator McCain should retire ( it's time), we need to replace him with an individual who is in touch and can multitask – our government is so complex. God bless Senator McCain for all of his service to our country, but he needs to step aside. We need experienced, highly educated people like President Obama who are filled with energy and competency. The last month has truly shown the Republican party needs restructuring as the behavior of some of the Republican politicians is inmature, shameful and is not the kind of behavior that we should vote for or elect to represent our country.
Keep up the reporting on Palin – she is raking it in. She deserves the payday after having to deal with the wackjob liberals who are like insanely jealous spouses.
So, McCain still talks to Palin "Fairly often" but she did not tell him she was going to quit being governor of Alaska.
Everything she talks about is bad for the country and especially for the state of Alaska.
I kind of feel bad for McCain that she fooled him like she did.
Pretty much everything suprises John McCain; McCain's light bulb, which was always pretty dim, is dimming even more rapidly.
The fact that John McCain and Sarah Palin are worlds apart in terms of social pedigree and sophistication leads me to believe that they have little or nothing in common and would, from Mr. McCain's perspective, have no need to communicate with one another. His recent comments, in my opinion, are made for the sake of party appearance and more than likely have little basis in fact.
Why are we all kiding ourselfs, we have the votes, right? why all this bickering back and forth. as Obama says, We Won, you lost. Why are we changeing the subject to bipartisinship. This is stupid, you would think that the repubs have the 60 votes to block reform, WE have the votes, why all this blame blame game. Lets vote and get this over with, this is like a lawn-mower drag race. geesh............
With all that's going on in this country, CNN should be able to find something more important to write about other than Palin or McCain.
McCain is the best Republican for now. Let us get real; no one in Republican could have had a result close to what John had in general election. He is a respectable American and deserves respect for all his service for this nation. Yet again, he is willing to support the president on Health Care. Let us give him a chance; he will live up to his promise.
Isn't re-run season over yet?
I do hope the people of Arizona have the good sense to vote this twit out next time. He is a poor excuse for a senator.
Ignorant people can not leave Palin alone. This is just like a bunch of babbling baboons at a football game not even watching the game but arguing over who should be playing.
sarah for vice prez....what a laugh !
where do those republicans find these people.
bush, cheney, palin.
ha,ha,ha.
Sarah Palin has only one issue that is important to her – what is in it for her!
Who gives two hoots???????
I hope Senator McCain will support some of the health insurance reforms. They are critical to the future of the country.
I work full time, I am self employed, own a house, have saved for retirement, have savings, but I have a preexisiting condition and cannot obtain health insurance to protect these assets from financial ruin because of something God gave me. That is wrong.
If you oppose the Presidents plan fine, what do you support>
Perhaps the only way to reform is to have all employers stop providing health insurance to their employees and pay the employees more in wages, thus having the employees have to buy individual policies. When people found out the cost and many more could not get coverage because of preexisting conditions, the arrogant and selfish would change in 6 months.
If the McCain/Palin ticket had won the election this past November, it makes you wonder if Palin would have resigned the vice presidency because of her legal problems and so she could make more money.
Are her children in school or traveling around the country with her at the expense of SarahPAC? I guess the brood will be going with the Ding Dong to Hong Kong!!
Many of you do not believe in the free market, and feel that a European-like system will do us better. Have you researched the European model and do you understand the issues that go along with it? Note that our healthcare is NOT completely free market, if it were, it would probably be better. Case in point, health insurance providers are not allowed to compete across state lines, but if they were that would enable more competition. That is a restriction to the free market. I don't understand how a government(tax payer) funded public option would increase competition. Whenever an entity has a competitive advantage, which a public option would certainly have b/c it's subsidized, the industry moves towards monopoly – that is Econ 101.
Ah....the republican'ts are recycling McCan't.
The republican't are getting desparate. They tried to ruin our economy. Started an illegal war and were run by war criminals.
Stand up America and tell these guys to disappear.
republicans...no solutions, no suggestions.
the party of no...that's makes them a party of nobodies.
ha,ah,ha.
He is lying. He is facing a challenger in Arizona and will veer hard to the right to make sure he is the GOP candidate. Then, he will reference this double-talk to seem centrist in the general election.
Some commenters lament for Sarah's media attention. Palin loves media attention, otherwise she would not be spouting off on Facebook, etc. Palin was not treated unfairly. She proved herself a name-caller, promoter of less-than-credible distortions and, amazingly, dumped her elected position as governor of Alaska. She belongs with the tea-baggers who cry for no taxes yet expect unlimited government medicare benefits and expect the national debt to miraculously pay itself off.
It is totally amazing to me that some people think that Palin has done SO much to serve her country....she had a short stint as mayor of a VERY small town, and quit after serving only half her term as governor, most of which was spent running all over promoting herself, so where is the BIG commitment and LONG time in service to this country? Hardly a major accomplishment! Give me a break! This woman wants to be in the spot light so badly that she will do nearly anything to get there no matter who it hurts, her family included. Being that narcissistic has to be a sickness!
All aboard the wack job express...
Why would anyone be surprised by the activities of an idiot?
WOW- you must be really afraid of Sarah or you would not even bother to make a comment. You go Sarah – make lots of money – will drive the other side crazy!
Who cares what this geezer McCain thinks, he's nothing but a white racist noise machine who spreads fear and lies at every chance.
Remember the MLK holiday flap and "NO" vote on Sotomayor. Besides,
He's to old to think at a 21st century pace...
He's a rethuglican demagogue that puts party before country, and...
He's a health care reform obstructionist bought and paid for by big insurance.
It is sad to see the Republicans be the party of rush/hannity.
Surely the Republican party can come up with something better than Palin. After the disaster that the Democrats have been this year I would love to get somebody more conservative (preferably somebody in the middle ideologically). But I just can't get behind Palin.
A nice showing by McCain in this short article. I didn't support him for president and he definitely made a huge blunder for his party by bringing Palin to the national level, but here he seems to be moving forward in a constructive way; a good example for the rest of our politicians.
Just the idea that McCain thought to push this ignorant, silly women on the country in the guise of being VP material is so insulting I can't watch either of the two frauds for more than a few minutes. They discuse me
Let's see a democratic house, senate, and presidency, and they still cannot pass the their number one campaign pledge... Are we back in 92...
McCain and Palin are insignificant regarding any real issues this country faces
Being the brunt of, or practicing their boring one liners is about all their good for
They both are completely out of touch with America and it's intelligent people
Sweet! Even Senator McCain is distancing himself from her. That's pretty bad. On the other hand, my respect for McCain has grown.
I'm happy Sarah and Mccain didn't get elected that would've a disaster. we are heading in the right direction; thank God he Obama and Biden in position!!!
It's INSANE to believe that health care cost won't continue to spiral out of control without a public option! But for the repukes, it's never been about health care reform, this outcast group want to regain power, STOP OBAMA. The stakes have never been higher here. For the dems, FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. They will deliver health care reform with the public option. It's about the majority. It just takes 51 votes.
how is this still relevent?
I can easily see a Cantor/Palin ticket down the road. I mean we have dumb and dumber in office now it can't get any worse than this.
I still think that John McCain is a principled man, and has the interests of Americans at heart. One of the few in Washington, I think you could genuinely talk to, about issues, and someone who will not "talk down" to you.
McCain will never get over the loss and will never support Obama unless Obama lets him call the shots. GThis cou8ntry is getting pretty disgustin wuit people threatening to pull their kids out of school if Obama visits and waling around with assualt rifles and guns.. What a bunch of ignorant bullies and Palin fits right in there, Wow what a country...
John McCain indicates that Sarah Palin gave up her responsibility as Governor of Alaska so that she could spend more time with her family is as ridiculous as any of the claims the old goat made during the past election.
Sarah Palin gave up her responsibility because she is a greedy lazy non-responsible person, pure and simple.
Sarah Palin is a narcissist that think the galaxy revolves around her beaming phony smile.
I for one understand her to be just another republican in the "Greedy Old People's" party.
John McCain should retire and leave the running of the country to men and women that care about the American people.
Mcain and Palin hive no crediblity on health care. They are only reacting to democrat proposals. Had the dems not brought up the topic, Mcain and Palin woul dbe happy to discuss keeping us in Iraq at the cost of American lifes and treasure. As a proud member of the GOP, Mccain and Palin make me ill.
McCain was just trying to be nice. Good for him!
is mc.c going to repudiate and condem that evil pastor from PHOENIX, ARIZONA for his comments wishing President Obama would die???....but let us not forget who started the hatred towards our current President.....you know her........and there are those blogging here that feel the same way as the hag from alaska and the criminal pastor
Sarah Palin has effectively stopped the boondoggled government option from Facebook while Obama can't do anything town hall after town hall. Who is the more effective leader here? How did anyone think Obama was more qualified than any of the other candidates?
Now this is a picture of dumb and dumber....literally!
McCain still has NO ANSWERS of his own for healthcare reform. He just keeps in step with Ruch and Rove. McCain is still the proven idiot!
McCain is a wolf in sheeps clothing, ready to lead the little sheep to slaughter. And I might add, following with blinders well strapped on!
screw those losers. Pass the healthcare reform bil!. No one cares about two washed up wanna be mavericks as they call themselves. I call it like I see it. LOSERS!!!!
look at his expression and his hand below her waist....that's why he is so generous when talking about her.......TLC a la mark sanford
Working together? There is inherent in our political system an adversarial opportunity which continues to be demonstrated.
In a quiet moment, I'm sure John McCain has regretted, kicked himself and slapped himself senseless that he chose Palin for his running mate.....however, being a Republican and all, he'll never admit it.
Sarah Palin was McCain's biggest mistake...but beings he's a Republican, he'll NEVER admit to any mistakes.
I will try to be patient with the Republicans and take McCain at his word regarding health care.
Contrary to what many may think, not all liberals hate Former Governor Sarah Palin. I really like this woman. She is one of the bright spots in this bad economic down turn.
At a time when so many of us could be depressed, she has taken it upon herself to keep the entire free world laughing. This is no easy task for a person with limited abilities so people should give her a break. My mother always liked comics. She said it is so smart of them to be comics. She said if you are going to be and do stupid things, at least you should get paid for them and Sarah Palin is being paid. She even gave up her part time day job so she could be stupid full time and be paid for it so give her a break. I know I am. If you will just take a few moments and watch her on TV you will see that it is not an easy thing for her to do being Sarah Palin. Without a model to guide her (Tina Fay didn’t come along until 2008) through life it is no easy job so please people give this lady a break.
I would be surprised if Palin did something that I expected and I would be doubly surprised if she did something that made sense.
John, you would have made an great president in 2000. Didnt happen. Didnt happen again due to your poor choice of VP pick. Dont destroy your original legacy of maverick and war hero. Do the right thing and support our president on this. Only then you can avoid the Wasilla Wacho as being yolur legacy.
How can people on here blame the republicans for holding Obama back when the democrats are the majority? It makes no sense. Find another excuse.
so sarah takes her comedy show on the road more money than being govenor in a socialist state i guess her husband better keep his eye on his gold digger macian like usual sit on the fence to see which way the wind blows
McCain has NO intentions of looking at "specific proposals". If it's not written by Rush Limbaugh and Carl Rove, McCain won't even read it. He's a follower, not a leader!! Enough said.
Healthcare is a RIGHT and not a priviledge!! Pres. Obama should go for PUBLIC OPTION and if he serves only 4 years, so be it! And where were all those loonies on the trail now protesting against reform when BUSH/CHENEY were destroying our country? And no matter how the Obama administration attempts to improve things, it's never going to be good enough!!!
Why be surprised McMoney? She is out for herself and she knew she would NEVER be reelected in her home state. How would that look on her resume, if you will? She has stars in her eyes. She thinks she is the only person who is going to make America right, and I do mean right on that one!
If her home state loathes her, does she think she has more fans in the states? Her level of stupidity is endless.
I love that she is writing a book. Could you imagine being the proof writer on that book? All her english issues, and lack of brains must come flying out on EVERY page! Wink, wink.
Bye ya'll.
I'm sure it's pretty easy to say that you want to work together with President Obama on Health Care reform, but actions speak louder than words. So far, the only action coming from Republicans is saying "NO".
John and Cindy McCain have the best medical insurance money can buy. Why in the world would John be concerned about reform??
He's covered!
The real shame here is that McCain might actually support BHO's socialist healthcare takeover. He's an even bigger d-bag now.
McCain is no different than the majority of republicans, they would not support an Obama plan if it was free and everyone was covered, they would come out with some excuse that it would wrong for Americans if it did cost one person a nickel or the government.
We do not have a congress that will sit down and listen to each other for they want to introduce and pass "I GOTCHA" legislation so they may be able to win control of the congress and fill their pockets with cold hard cash from any source that will fill them.
John and Cindy McCain have the best health insurance money can buy. He's not losing any sleep for us poor slobs. Wake up America, we need reform NOW!
words, Mr. McCain, you can say nice things, try following up with a little action of working together more
you have been as divisive as the rest of the GOPers... show us some working together
McCain, still thinking he's royalty. Nitwit.
Today, in California a supporter of Obamacare bit the finger off a 65 year old man who opposed obamacare.
Since this shows how gruesome liberals get, CNN will conveniently skip this story so I'll write it for you.
Instead, CNN will tell you useless trivia about Palin's decision to fry chicken for dinner instead of fish. You know, the stuff CNN wants you to comment on...
McCain was shocked because he didn't do a poper job of vetting Palin. If he did he would have know that she quit everything she ever started...not to mention he would have realized that she is a nut case.
McCain should be more upset with the person or people that suggested he put Palin on the ticket in the first place. I think he could have won had he put Huckabee. Oh well, the past is the past. Politics. sheesh.
Palin supports scare me.
Heres why. YOU DON"T SEE WHAT A TRUE MORON SHE IS.
That means birds of a feather, flock together.
Don't you folks even LISTEN to her? If yes, then I wonder about how smart uuuzzz guys are too?
Of coarse you know this means war....
she paying the huge legal bills by spreading health lobbyist and insurance company lies. Check it out.
So why did you guys at CNN completely ignore the Pfizer lawsuit settlement? Biggest corporate fraud case for a heath care company in history, and not a word about it on CNN.com. What, are they sponsors of yours? There was a day when a reputable news organization would not think to filter the news like that. Shame on CNN.
I don't understand the people who say that President Obama has made our country more divisive.
The Republicans have done NOTHING but lie and incite hatred and are dangerously close to inciting violence at a national level. I fear our President's assassination because of the hate rhetoric by the right wingnuts. It's gotten ABSURD and DANGEROUS.
Each day I'm surprised by the ongoing absurd lies. Wake up America and realize the reasons behind all the lying and hate. The republicans cannot stand the thought of a smart, black President – it just brings out the worst in them and that is scary.
Who cares
As a republican in the midwest my heart was shattered this past election. With all the vetting going on why did the McCain people pick Sarah Palin ? Was it because she is experianced, no less then 3 yrs as a govenor. Was it because she is educated on world politics ? Please lets not go there again. I am tired of the " I can see Russia from my window". We what is it. It was becuase the McCain camp had alot of the same folks the Bush camp used and they blew it. They tried to slip past the american people a fresh new face. However this face had no clue how to run for a higher political office. I blame the McCain camp but then again I blame the GOP for fronting this person as a compentent canidate. We would have been better of if he had chosen Rommney or Pawlenty. This hope she doesn't think she is the choice in 2012 or 2016 our party is suffering and bleeding out as it is.
Geez, CNN whuddaya tryin' to do, feed the hungry hate-filled left-wing bloggers again?
Don't you know that blind alignment with the Republican party is truly the only sensible way of thinking? They do all your thinking for you. Reactionary positions based on hear-say and what would best qualifies as rumor are typically the fodder for talking points that lead to "tea bag express" groups of people, clearly ignorant also of history.
Just mention "East India Company" to them, blank stares through the red, white, and blue attire.
John McCain – I have lost all respect for you. I used to view you as the ideal choice and the voice of reason. Straight talk? You stopped that when you sold your soul in your last, desperate try for the Presidency.
Redeem yourself and stand up for America. Honor your "friend" Ted Kennedy and ideals he stood for and the sacrifice he made on behalf of "real America" – the poor, the needy and the downtrodden. Do it for equality and for what's right. Do it for your conscience.
Yes you can.