Bush Finds Party Faithful In an Ugly Mood

WSJ ^ | 2/12/04 | JACKIE CALMES

[TomServo]

WASHINGTON -- For all the attention paid to partisanship in this town, the more interesting -- and consequential -- fights here in this election year will pit Republicans against Republicans.

A new level of tension is emerging between President Bush and the congressional Republicans he expects to deliver his election-year agenda. Among the sore points, Mr. Bush's initiative to give legal status to immigrant workers who are here illegally, a bid to attract Latino voters, instead has roiled the party's conservative faithful. Republicans have been put on the defensive over the President's policies on Iraq. And record deficits and spending suddenly have Republicans questioning his fiscal stewardship.

[Stu Cohen]

Why does canada get the drugs so cheaply?

Because they refuse to pay what we pay. And, of course, if the drug companies only get a 1000% markup in Canada instead of the 5000% markup they get here ... it's still a darn good profit margin and they'd be nuts not to take it.

Canada refulates it's drug prices. After the American taxpayer has been forced to help fund the R&D of those drugs. But our drug prices aren't regulated.

Pretty sweet deal for Canada if you ask me.

[EternalVigilance]

Are you advocating that we should 'refulate' our drug prices?

The probable outcome of doing that is incomprehensible!

[Stu Cohen]

And of course, there is the old arguement about Canada's socialist medical system. Even though ours is socialist to a certain extent too.

Yes, Canada has long waiting lists before people can see a doctor, yet their life expectancy is still greater than that in the U.S.

Makes you wonder if it might be the doctors making people sick. The longer it takes to see one, the healthier the population is.

That's a head scratcher.

[Walkin Man]

I could go on for hours about what more we will lose if the Democrats take this country over again, (and they will if you have your way) but the damage will be beyond your worst nightmare.

What about the damage to our economy from unrestricted outsourcing and "free trade' agreements with communist dictatorships that the Bush administration gleefully tells out of work Americans is good for them?

How about the massive blow to jobs and wages that the Bush amnesty plan would do when all new American jobs overnight become minimum wage, no benefits, no future, "jobs that no American wants" dead end jobs?

All I know is if the Rat party held the White House and proposed the Bush administrations radical American job killing amnesty plan the repub's would fight it tooth and nail. But because the leader of their own party proposes it they all roll over and play demoRat without a thought of the damage they are doing to the country!

I am just one lost Independent vote for GW in the fall but their are lots more like me out there, count on it!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Bush Finds Party Faithful In an Ugly Mood

No, IMHO most of the party faithful could care less. It's those that think independently, that refuse to put party before country, that are pissed off.

[monkeywrench]

Thanks for the answer. Seems the drug companies should tell them to do without, then, or develop their own alternatives. I'm so tired of the world on the back of American taxpayers.

[Stu Cohen]

Are you advocating that we should 'refulate' our drug prices?

Actually it was a typo. I think we should "regulate" all drug prices which are funded in whole in or part by taxpayer money. After all, you already paid for 'em.

We tend to regulate Monopolies in this country. The gas company, the phone company, the electric company ... if only one company has a product that is deemed necessary, it is typically regulated (drugs excepted).

Either regulate the drugs, or make 3 or 4 companies pony up their share of the R&D costs, and then make them compete with each other.

The probable outcome of doing that is incomprehensible!

Yeah, they're dropping like flies in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, etc, etc. I think they live about 7 years longer on average than we do, all with socialized medicine to one extent or another.

I can comprehend that. Not sure why you can't.

[Stu Cohen]

Thanks for the answer. Seems the drug companies should tell them to do without, then, or develop their own alternatives. I'm so tired of the world on the back of American taxpayers.

Actually, they wouldn't want to cut Canada off. 1000% is still a darn good profit. Not what they get here, but still pretty good.

If you had a product that you could sell for a 50x markup in one part of the world, i'm sure you'd still be willing to sell it to anyone who would but it for a 10x markup in another part.

1000% is still better than the profit margin on most other products on the market. (Heck, automobiles have only a 5-10% markup). Drugs are among the most profitable commodities on the face of the planet.

[Two-Bits]

Been There - Done That. I remember being fed up with George Bush Senior. The only way I thought to teach the Republican Party a lesson was to vote third party. I did for Perot. What could it hurt? Maybe the Republican Party Hacks would get a hint. So what happens, we end up with eight years of a communist traitor, no morales, no ethics, self centered egotist for President. In eight years, we had Twin Towers bombed, Oklahoma City bombed, two embassies bombed, TWA 800 shot down, Waco massacres, higher taxes, USS Cole bombed and numerous other gut retching episodes. We now have an enemy that wants us destroyed. They have no problem with killing innocent men, women and children. The only way to stop this enemy is thru deadly force. I can not stand by and allow another innocent human sacrifice to these murderous heathens. We are at war right now and I would prefer to have President Bush at the helm than any other. We saw what "grab your ankles" politians can do us. My grandchildren and children deserve better. I may not be happy with some of the things that President Bush is backing but my family is safer because of him. So in short, it doesn't taken a rocket scientist to figure it out. I will vote for Bush and I pray that those who are hesitating, to take a step back and rethink what is truly important to you and your love ones.
I for one am not ready to turn over my grandchildren's, children and my freedom to the United Nations or any terrorist groups.

[zoyd]

Yeah, they're dropping like flies in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, etc, etc. I think they live about 7 years longer on average than we do, all with socialized medicine to one extent or another.

Whoa. You make some pretty big claims there, without any facts.

The US life expectancy is 77.1 years. Sweden - 79.6, Finland - 77.4, Switzerland - 79.6.

You forget to factor in variables such as the fact that the US has to deal with millions of immigrants who suffered from poor medical care in their native lands, shortening their lifespans here in the US. Finland has a VERY stable population - the US does not.

And I don't recall government-sponsored health care listed in the Constitution - I may have to go back and re-read it.

[sauropod]

Toodles.

I'm proud of being a "paleo-con."

[antidisestablishment]

The libs hate GW almost as much as we hated X42. They will be out in force.

Howerver, voting AGAINST the Dems is not enough to bring the base out. Bush has got to give his base fresh reason to vote FOR him! Conservatives (and even moderates) vote for those who show conviction. Purpose drives voters. Leaders inspire people.

Anyone who thinks the base is not pissed or at least apathetic is ignorant. Rove is the Pied Piper leading the vote away. Now is the time to consolidate the base, not try to spread the tent.

[EternalVigilance]

That was a joke.

[EternalVigilance]

You need to get a clue.

Posting crap like that is inflammatory.

Flames right now do nothing but serve those who want to burn down all of our houses, politically speaking.

You're better than this.

[Stu Cohen]

That was a joke.

I know, so was my reply. Hence the smiley.

[EternalVigilance]

There was no smiley.

[NYCVirago]

So, the only real reason i'm supposed to go out, spend 30 minutes looking for parking, and pull the lever for George W. Bush again is because Saddam Hussein is out of power.

It seems you're more concerned about finding a place to park than electing a president. Did you ever hear of absentee voting?

[NYCVirago]

Been There - Done That. I remember being fed up with George Bush Senior. The only way I thought to teach the Republican Party a lesson was to vote third party. I did for Perot. What could it hurt? Maybe the Republican Party Hacks would get a hint. So what happens, we end up with eight years of a communist traitor, no morales, no ethics, self centered egotist for President. In eight years, we had Twin Towers bombed, Oklahoma City bombed, two embassies bombed, TWA 800 shot down, Waco massacres, higher taxes, USS Cole bombed and numerous other gut retching episodes. We now have an enemy that wants us destroyed. They have no problem with killing innocent men, women and children. The only way to stop this enemy is thru deadly force. I can not stand by and allow another innocent human sacrifice to these murderous heathens. We are at war right now and I would prefer to have President Bush at the helm than any other. We saw what "grab your ankles" politians can do us. My grandchildren and children deserve better. I may not be happy with some of the things that President Bush is backing but my family is safer because of him. So in short, it doesn't taken a rocket scientist to figure it out. I will vote for Bush and I pray that those who are hesitating, to take a step back and rethink what is truly important to you and your love ones. I for one am not ready to turn over my grandchildren's, children and my freedom to the United Nations or any terrorist groups.

This entire post is excellent. I wish the I'm-taking-my-ball-and-going-home crowd would realize what's at stake here.

[Two-Bits]

It is so true. Everything is so different since 9/11.
People must wake up and realise what is at stake now.
The truth is the Democratic Party will only get us killed.
President Bush is an answer to Prayer. I hate to think where we would be now if Gore was President. I want my Granchildren to have a future and I just don't see it in the Democrat Crystal Ball.