Beyond Rock Stars, Race, Gender and Hockey Moms

Let's start with McCain/Feingold.

Woo-hoo! I'm first!! Do I get a cookie?

The first version of the McCain–Feingold Act was introduced in 1995 (S. 1219 introduced September 7, 1995). Over the next several Congresses various versions of the bill made it to the Senate floor, but were filibustered. Efforts to close debate were unsuccessful on several occasions (1996, 1998, 1999), even though the companion "Shays–Meehan" bill passed the House of Representatives several times (the last time by means of a discharge petition to bring the bill to the floor without the cooperation of the leadership, and on previous occasions by the threat of a discharge petition). In the spring of 2001 the full Senate finally approved the bill. The House then approved the companion Shays-Meehan bill, 240-189,[1] on 14 February 2002, a day after the White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer had indicated the President would sign (i.e. not veto) a bill "that improves the current situation". The Senate voted for the House's version of the bill by 60-40, on 20 March 2002, avoiding the need for a conference committee that might block key provisions of the bill. A filibuster was previously ended by cloture 68-32.

Campaign finance reform was a significant issue in the 2000 Presidential campaign, and Republican candidate George W. Bush said that he would support the bill if it were amended to regulate traditionally pro-Democratic sources (labor and government unions) as well as traditionally pro-Republican sources (businesses). The 2000 election campaign had seen an unprecedented growth in soft money, with the combined total for Democrats and Republicans rising from $519 million in 1996 to $629 million in 2000. The scandal enveloping Enron, a company which had been a major soft money donor, also helped build support for the bill.[citation needed] Bush signed the bill on 27 March. In an official statement, he said "I believe that this legislation, although far from perfect, will improve the current financing system for Federal campaigns".

George Bush liked this.

And yes you can have a cookie.

Ok lets try something more current and not base it on his past performance but what he intends to do...not what he is done.

I'm just marking my place to come back and read the comments.

Chandra did you also like the Family Medical Leave Act that Clinton passed?

OK Sue.

The FMLA is really not a great piece of legislation, as it just says you can request leave, and if it's granted, you can take off - with no pay - and the employer is supposed to hold a position for you.

Pretty flimsy, I think.

I want a chocolate chip cookie.

Chocolate chip it is.

How about Clintons welfare reform with caps?

And this isnt about Clinton but McCain.

One policy is all I ask for.

All I am asking for is one thing that set J. Sidney McCain apart from George Bush.

Something that shows he is a reformer and a Maverick.

Something that I can look at and say..Yep thats it he isnt bush.

All I am asking for is one thing that set J. Sidney McCain apart from George Bush.

Something that shows he is a reformer and a Maverick.

Something that I can look at and say..Yep thats it he isnt bush.

Lori F., Sep 8, 2008, 2:06pm EDT

Well, it's not policy but McCain was shot down over 'Nam and was a POW while George was in the Champagne Unit of the TANG, doing blow and driving drunk all over Texas. Neither one of them has championed vet benefits...oh wait, that makes them the same. Sorry.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), most Federal employees are entitled to a total of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the following purposes:

the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and the care of such son or daughter;
the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care;
the care of spouse, son, daughter, or parent of the employee who has a serious health condition; or
a serious health condition of the employee that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her positions.
Under certain conditions, an employee may use the 12 weeks of FMLA leave intermittently. An employee may elect to substitute annual leave and/or sick leave, consistent with current laws and OPM's regulations for using annual and sick leave, for any unpaid leave under the FMLA. (The amount of sick leave that may be used to care for a family member is limited. See "Sick Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition") FMLA leave is in addition to other paid time off available to an employee.

Job Benefits and Protection
Upon return from FMLA leave, an employee must be returned to the same position or to an "equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, status, and other terms and conditions of employment."
An employee who takes FMLA leave is entitled to maintain health benefits coverage. An employee on unpaid FMLA leave may pay the employee share of the premiums on a current basis or pay upon return to work.
Advance Notice and Medical Certification
An employee must provide notice of his or her intent to take family and medical leave not less than 30 days before leave is to begin or, in emergencies, as soon as is practicable.
An agency may request medical certification for FMLA leave taken to care for an employee's spouse, son, daughter, or parent who has a serious health condition or for the serious health condition of the employee.


Since it protects your job while you are on leave Chandra I dont know how flimsy it is.

The old way you take your time and the chance you will get fired and still dont get paid.

Sorry lets try harder.

BTW, "McCain-Feingold" opened up even more loopholes for "soft money" and allowed the creation of 527 groups. Anyone notice how well the law worked? That's because it didn't. Arguably it made things worse.

Both parties contributed to creating a swiss cheese law that they could take credit for without actually doing anything substantive.

Nick I do love you:)

David I know why do you think Bush liked it and practically dropped his pen in his excitement over signing it.

He is the polar opposite of myself on nearly every issue I hold dear. Do I have to play or can I go home now?

Check the Republican platform just approved at their convention. It's like night and day between what the platform says are the party's priorities and what the speeches suggested. They are playing both sides against the middle and lying all the way through.

I don't need a cookie (or any of the rest of the food I seem to insist on eating).

By picking Palin as his running mate he truly lost his Maverick persona.

Hey Stephanie.

David I saw that to.

Hey Juan.

he supports a temporary worker program for illegal immigrants, which earned him death threats.

Josephy...I got a death threat once or thought I did turns out it was just a wrong number.

I thought I got a death threat once. It came from a dyslexic. She said she wanted to kill me. It turns out she just said "lick" backwards...

Josephy teehee.

Wow I seem to not be generating any real responses on this..wonder why that is?

Jim yep that about covers it.

my response was a real one...he's got some respectable ideas on immigration reform. He used to have good ideas on campaign finance reform until he needed to finance his presidential campaign....

Joseph I think Bush HAD some respectable ideas on immigration...never happened.

I wasnt putting down your answer at all.

Immigration is one of the issues that I have problems with Obama on.

Lori, you are not naive. Tell me that if you are gone, on FMLA time, for long enough your employer won't find some reason to discharge you.

Tell me you are savvy enough to understand that.

That's why I think these types of legislation are built on flimsy foundations.

I don't care if he is different from Bush, I am not going to vote for the party of James Dobson, Pat Robertson, and Dobson in a skirt Sarah Palin.

Do you really think McCain and Bush are alike Check out how different they are here.

And for a bonus, I leave you with this fun record.


2007 In 2007 Americans for Tax Reform gave Senator McCain a grade of 70.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 100 percent in 2007.
2007 In 2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator McCain a grade of 50.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 15 percent in 2007.
2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now 13 percent in 2006.
2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 7 percent in 2005-2006.
2000 Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 0 p1999 Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 0 percent in 1999.
2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants 29 percent in 2005-2006.
2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors 0 percent in 2005-2006.
2007 In 2007 American Association of University Women gave Senator McCain a grade of 0.
2007 In 2007 National Education Association gave Senator McCain a grade of F.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 0 percent in 2007.
2006 Senator McCain supported the interest of the National Association for College Admission Counseling 0 percent in 2006.
2005-2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Education Association 0 percent in 2005-2006.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Employment Lawyers Association 0 percent in 2007.
2008 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Environment America 0 percent in 2008.
2008 In 2008 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Senator McCain a grade of F.
2007 In 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Senator McCain a rating of F-.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Alliance For Headache Disorders Advocacy 0 percent in 2007.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Academy of Family Physicians 0 percent in 2007.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Association of University Centers on Disabilites 0 percent in 2007.
2007 In 2007 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance gave Senator McCain a rating of 100.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 0 percent in 2007.
2007 In 2007 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers gave Senator McCain a grade of 0.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 8 percent in 2007.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 0 percent in 2007.
2007 In 2007 Utility Workers Union of America gave Senator McCain a grade of 50.
2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 7 percent in 2006.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 0 percent in 2007.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 0 percent in 2007.
2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby's position, Senator McCain received a rating of 37.
2007 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Association of Social Workers 0 percent in 2007.

Chandra I have known many people who have used the FMLA with much success.

Thanks Sandy.

'Bush's policies don't work. Now show me how McCain is different."

McCain is more likely to expire before two terms of office. That's a fact. That's different. :P

So have I, Lori, but that's not the point. The point is that with or without FMLA an employer can find other reasons to let you go if your absenteeism is excessive. Proving that the employer violated FMLA is difficult, at best.

OK Chandra but like everything else it will work for some and not others.

Now what about McCain?

McCain looks more like a crippled Lizard than Bush. That's another factual difference.

McCain looks more like a crippled Lizard than Bush. That's another factual difference.

I was thinking more along the lines of a crippled hippo.

It aint looking too good for J. Sidney McCain.

J. Sidney was at the bottom of his class because he was a total screw up and he is proud of that, still today.

Never mind. That isn't different. Sorry.

I have one!

J. Sidney prefers women.

. Sidney prefers women.
Sandy Knauer, Sep 8, 2008, 5:10pm EDT

I assume you have some proof on that Sandy

Actually, I don't, Lori. But I've never heard Sidney deny that he prefers men. Hmmm.. come to think of it, WHY hasn't he denied that he prefers men?

Nobody EVER mentions that he doesn't prefer men! Oh man . . .

True, Doyle. I've never heard one of his supporters say that he doesn't prefer men. There has to be a reason they are keeping this secret.

I was able to use FMLA without any problems.

I guess one difference for ME is that I had respect for McCain once upon a time. I NEVER had it for Bush.

McCain=Bush=McBush
There isn't a difference

I haven't heard Mccain say anything he'd do that benefits me, or mine, what-so-ever, should it be implimented.

I wasn't for Bush, but anything he said that might have come even close to maybe being of some minor benfit to me or mine, NEVER CAME CLOSE TO HAPPENING, and this was during the 6 years tht he had a Republicn dominate house to bck him up.

So, I guess another of the things that are the same concerning Bush vs. McCain, is there is no difference.

McCain is much too volatile to be a contender in the precarious world situations in which we find ourselves now. I just don't know how much he'd think things through before doing something that would be less than prudent.

Although their politics are similar, the two, as people, are worlds apart. I don't trust McCain because he LIKES war. I don't think he sees it as a last effort, but more as a primary solution. That frightens me. I'm just as frightened by your candidate though for different reasons that you've probably already noted.

Did you see Obama's new statement that he's going to be changing his stand on some issues that will not be pleasing to the Democrats, including expanding the military?

Oh, sorry, we're supposed to leave him out of this thread. Just make believe I didn't write that.

Sue OK I will mentally block the Obama part.

I think you are right about McCain liking war. I think Bush and McCain were cut out of the same cookie cutter though.

The reason I think McCain claims to not like Bush is because Bush pretty much spanked him in the 2000 race.

I don't believe that there are many who are enamoured with, or would approve of the way he would run this Country...a majority merely intend to avert total disaster.

A difference? He'll wield a mighty Veto pen...and both "parties" will despise him for THAT...

****McCain looks more like a crippled Lizard than Bush. That's another factual difference.

I was thinking more along the lines of a crippled hippo.
Robiyah G , Sep 8, 2008, 3:56pm EDT *****

Nice to know there are some out there tolerant of us Vets with physical disabilities. Geez...

Sorry to take this off topic, but I have to point out the dishonesty in this statement:

Oh, sorry, we're supposed to leave him out of this thread. Just make believe I didn't write that.
Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz, Sep 9, 2008, 1:38am EDT

You aren't sorry, and it was not an accident. If you were honest, you would remove that comment.

1. You claim McCain uses earmarks... go ahead, name a few.

2. You claim he agrees with Bush's "failed policies"... which ones? Let's talk about a couple of specific issues... pick your top issue.

...and actually, a lot of people, about half apparently, would approve of the way he would run the country.

I am 100% for McCain. I want someone that understands what the bad things are out there while we live in this somewhat sheltered plastic society. Someone that has been deprived of freedom and treasures it. I believe that less government is ideal to grow the economy. Government is not supposed to be a source of jobs, or a drain on the checkbook. I believe that a captialistic society works. It's not about the rich getting richer, it is about people working hard and being rewarded for that hard work. That if a business wants to be the best, they will think outside the box - they will pay for the best employees, provide incentives and treat them as the best to reduce turnover. Then the employee will have a vested interest in the success of the business and everyone wins. I think if Obama is President, that the incentives for business as well as employees will go by the wayside. Why should a business excel, if it will be penalized. If you are going to be taxed more for your investments, then why invest. And if you don't invest, who does that hurt???? Let's see if the Obama supporters can figure this one out... Sorry but McCain is my ticket.

Amen, Jennifer! Are the rest of you so spoiled and lazy that you'd rather the government take care of you because it's too difficult to make sensible decisions on your own? I'm no great fan of John McCain. I think he's too much of a moderate to tow the conservative line, which is the only reasonable plan we have for the future of America. I'm not saying it's perfect; I'm not that naive. But if we prefer living life according to Demoncratic liberal policies that can dictate what kind of energy I can consume and how much, what kind of vehicle I can drive, how much of my hard-earned money I can keep and how much has to go to pork barrel spending and other ludicrous boondoggles, and that can sit on its collective passive asses while terrorists seek to take down another building or two while we whine and wring our hands, then don't vote for McCain. The Democrats are denouncing the Republicans for the lack of good work coming out of Congress in the past couple of years. Well, wake up, everyone! Who's been running Congress since the 2006 election? If they're unhappy with the policies coming off the drawing board, they have only themselves to thank!!!

P.S. I'm not afraid of war, although I am saddened by the loss of lives we have had to endure in our fight for freedom; I'm afraid we won't stand up for our country until it's too late. Cowboy up, everyone! It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better if you guys have anything to say about it

No, of course, I wasn't sorry, but I am sorry to see that some people can't differentiate sarcasm from untruth.

Thank God for a few voices of reason: Jennifer, Angela and Janet... bravo! Interestingly, all are women and all have the good sense to see beyond the Obama fanaticism and idealism that will lead us down a worse path than the one we're currently on. And a big THANK YOU to Janet for reminding all the high-and-mighty, self-proclaimed intellectuals that Democrats have been in control of congress! (Interesting how that's left out of 99% of what I read on the Internet.) As of July 2008, the percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. Just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. So much for the Democrats being the saviors of the USA. I'm not big on McCain either, but he's definitely the best choice we have.

Jennifer, Angela, Janet, and Lucy...
Just for the record, I am relatively sure that most of the people speaking in this rrom do not need the assistance we seek for others, others who may not have the opportunity and shear luck that many of us have had. Greed is not a factor for me. If I make more than I need, I don't mind sharing to help others. I don't mind having my fellow Americans benefit if they are in need. I don't mind helping children from low-income families have a "Head Start" on school, like their wealthier counterparts, I don't mind! I know that it needs to be, because regardless of your words, inequity is EVERYWHERE! I have gotten a job over a more qualified black person. I see the difference in the education my wealthy neices receive, compared to my less fortunate family members. I don't mind! PEople always want to say that YOU need the government to take care of you and provide things you can get for yourself...WAKE UP! Not everyone has the opportunity or even knows it is ok to dream of such things.
Healthcare should truly be something we all have, nothing that we have to pay $500 a month for, or lose our homes and lives because we were under insured. My friend currently has insurance that she pays $300 a month for from her employer. She learned at the time she was hospitalized that her copayment is $2,500. This is with insurance, and a one night stay, not to mention follow up treatment and medication copays. WE NEED HELP! Not more of the same.
Also ladies, just for the record, do you find it offensive that McCain thought by appointing a woman, just any woman as his Vp that he would secure your vote?

Lucy ...."the good sense to see beyond the Obama fanaticism and idealism that will lead us down a worse path than the one we're currently on. "
Is it possible to have a worse path than that which we currently travel? WOW...., talk about Kool Aid drinkers!
Follow the path of least resistance and see BUSH Vol. III NO THANKS!

Bottom line, Barack is not qualified to be President.

McCain has less brain cells now than Ronnie Ray-Gun had at his autopsy.

Jennifer R: I meant to say most of you. Also, why do so many of you expect the governemen to do for you what you can do for your self?

What do you mean, like education? Water Purification? Defending the Border? Or making a case to invade foreign countries? Hmmm?

John S McCain is different from George W Bush in that he once thought one way, now thinks another. George W Bush always thought the same way.

This Comment Paid for By the Commitee to FREE JOHN MCCAIN

I was born and raised in Denmark and lived there half my life. I'm not sure where many Americans are getting the idea that people in Denmark (and most of the other socialized” countries in Europe), have no choices, freedom OR are miserable?? Do you know how often workers go on strike and get what is needed because THE PEOPLE usually unite AGAINST the government and get what they need? Do you know that even though you pay high taxes (and it is not much higher than some of the single young people with no deductions earning a decent salary here pay in the US), all people have 6 weeks paid vacation every year, all medical is free all higher education is free, and most people can actually afford to live a very comfortable life with the “so-called high taxes”. There are great benefits for families, like long maternity leaves so parents can actually spend TIME with their kids when they are newborn. There are no homeless people there and people have plenty of freedom to do ANYTHING they want. They can even go to Cuba if they feel like it. The thing that is missing in Denmark is the American Dream (or the American Greed) and people are mostly comfortable without having the biggest TV, the biggest car (they also have GREAT public transportation). They also don’t consume as much food as people do here – and that is not so bad. Bigger and more is not necessarily better.

My biggest problem with McCain is that he, his VP and his followers want the US to be ruled mainly by religion - just like the Middle East......simply a different religion. They use religion and guns to govern just the way many Republicans would like the US to be ruled.

That scares me, because that is when all common sense goes out the window. It is God’s will when something bad happens…… sometimes, but not other times ….only when it works for whatever fits into my plan…right? and then sometimes Satan makes people do evil stuff, but since we are all sinners it is OK sometimes, but not the other times. It is pretty confusing, especially if you don’t believe in the same religion.

What I find fascinating is that the "defenders" of McCain can't list where his policies are different that gwb's all they can muster is more attacks on the opposition. A microcosm of the national debate, attacks, attacks, victim card, sarcasm, attack; never listing the policy differences with the administration they want us to believe that they are singularly capable of changing. Specifically what are you gong to change after having control o f congress for 12 of the last 14 years and the Whitehouse for the last 8.

I'm a simple man. Tell me in simple terms exactly what he will do that's different than the current administration in:
Foreign Policy
Education
Health Care
Job Creation
I really want to know. I bet you can't come up with anything better than some version o f"He's not a Democrat/Liberal, etc" . So far ya'll are "All hat no cattle".

The government has never dictated to me what doctor I may go to-The Insurance industry does that.I discovered that I could buy one medication I needed directly from CVS cheaper than the Insurance provider was charging me as a deductible.My boss,running a medium size (100 workers) keeps paying higher premiums(as do we) for less benefits and higher deductibles.There was an insurance agent trying to sell a "low rate" policy to young families with a $1000 a family member deductible on the premise that nothing will go wrong and why should they pay for the oldtimers!
How does the uncontrolled cost of the insurance industry help small and medium size businesses ,let alone the citizen who chooses not to run a business.There may be too many regulations on the small business owner but there seems to be no regulation on the large megacorporations Who is in charge?of the insurance industry, the oil industry,the mortgage lenders?Why would anyone have more faith in corporate executives than government executives?Many business are poorly managed and squander money and many government agencies run smoothly.They are both run by human beings who have to be watched and rewardes or not according to their abilities. At least the government is subject to electorial scrutiny (even if elections are weakened by soft money)
What private citizen has had a chance to discuss ( let alone any effect on) excessive corporate salaries when corporations kick families out of work?(dont answer the shareholders-they just send in proxies for the election of the officers, and most citizens effected by the price of gas don't have stock).Ive heard every year, for years, that Canada's or England"s heath care is "bankrupt"-whatever that means- but it has never stopped providing medical care since the 1950's Many people in this country do not lead a "plastic sheltered life" and dont get any health care at all.They cant be part of the pampered "investor class' because they cant pay for the basic necessities of life.Their needs are much more urgent then the rants of wealthy people who desire for another tax break.You cant pull yourself up by your bootstraps ,if you've never had boots.Bring back the progressive income tax and research the European and Canadian systems -If their taxes (on par with ours) can afford health care,why cant the USA??

Let's finally be honest with one another, okay? I'm not sure that liberals and conservatives can really agree on anything except that we fundamentally disagree. We speak two very different languages, and like the debate over abortion or homosexuality, we are never going to come to much common ground. The issues are too emotion packed, and our minds are pretty much made up before we even come to the debate.

With that being said, I'd like to address one or two comments I've read in the strand. First of all, I will stand behind George W. Bush all day long and twice on Sunday before I will endorse or excuse one moment of Bill Clinton's administration. He was impeached, for goodness' sake, and with good reason. He equivocated, manipulated, and lied his way into the presidency, and then he allowed Monica into the oval office to do with him as she would while he ran our country so efficiently that Al Quada was waging war against us and he didn't even bother to notice! "It all depends on what 'is' is." ???? Come on. Let's use those brains with which we've all been blessed to wake up and smell the coffee. Bush, and, I would like to add, Ronald Reagan, put country before their own personal agendas, and we are better off as a nation for the work they've done. No one truly believes that the founding fathers invisioned the invasive government with which we're currently burdened, do they? Our tax burdens are outrageous, and welfare and appropriations spending are out of control. John McCain may not limit government interference and intervention to the extent I would like, but I've got no chance with Obama in office. He believes he knows what's best for America, and I've no patience with his particular brand of arrogant ignorance. He needs to grow up before he'll even be a competent senator, and Commander in Chief? I'm not willing to risk my life and the lives of my family on his assurances.

And to specifically address Lisa, I have no problem with helping those less fortunate than I am. My family sponosrs several very worthwhile charities that make sure the donated funds get to those in need and not to administrative costs. But the critical point to this is that making those contributions is my choice, not something I do because the government tells me that I have to. I, too, see the need for better education available to all. After having spent 20 years in the public education system, I can assure you that very few young people are receiving a quality education from any public school in this country today. If you want to make education better, then vote for someone who advocates vouchers. Without competition, one of the fundamental concepts upon which our free market system is based, public schools have no incentive to change anything they're doing to improve anyone's chance at a better education. We began the very subtle crossover in public education from teaching our children to indoctrinating them about 30 years ago, so is it any wonder that we are graduating functional illiterates at a staggering rate? We've told them that going to school is their right, and now they expect everything to be handed to them! Someday I'm going to write a book about the hundreds of experiences I've had with arrogant young people who think they know more than the adults in their lives and thei parents who allow them to behave with impunity and then blame public education when their kids can't cut it in college or the workplace. And, by the way, anyone who cannot afford medical care can walk into any county emergency room in this country and be treated with good medical care. Ben Taub Hospital in Houston, one of the best trauma centers in the country, provides free health care to anyone who walks through the door. Is the system perfect? Of course not. No system is perfect; we live in a flawed world. But I believe with all my heart and 40 years of expeience to back me up that a great deal of the flaws have come to us as a result of government intervention. Too many Democrats in this country have decided that the perfect is the enemy of the good, and we as a nation struggle with burdens we were never meant to bear because too many politicians believe they know what to do to 'fix' us. God forbid!

Linda Walters.....research on control of the House and Senate.

Democrats controlled the House from 1954 to the mid-term election of 1994 when the Republicans took control, keeping control of the House until the mid-term elections of 2006 when the Democrats took control again. The House has been under Republican control 12 out of the last 14 years.

In 1980, the Democrats lost control of the Senate and it went Republican, with Democrats retaking control in 1986. Republicans retook control in 1995, with Democrats regaining it June 6, 2001. Republicans took control again on Jan. 7, 2003, and Republicans were in control thereafter until the mid-term elections of 2006. Republicans controlled the senate for the majority of the last 28 years and 11 out of the last 14 years.

Google was a big help and you're right, its easily researched, you should try it.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/10/evolving_democracy.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Revolution

FYI: The Republicans still have control of the Senate by a margin of 1 or 2 (if you count good ole Joey L.)

C.A. FMLA is better than what we had before which was nothing: G-daughter had a job, has sickle cell in the hospital 3 or 4 times a year. The employer reduced her hours to 1 hr per week, cited her illness as the reason for her getting so little work time. Did not offer her FMLA. I found out after she quit. She's 18. Employers are required by law to make it known to their employees but they don't . Could it be better of course it can. But again, it's better than nothing at all.

Angela S - McCain and keep me safe, apple pie stuff. Why would they attack us when we're imploding. The Republican position of unfettered capitalisim is scarry. We need balance. Businesses thrive when there is balance. They soar high then crash and burn when there is no balance like now. The Republican platform will not bring balance to the economy - it goes against your basic philosophy, you know, the one that says the market will and can manage itself better than the government. Which is fine as long as they stop asking for our money when they screw up! And don't poison us in the process.

The Republican Party has spent the last 40 yrs or so, telling us how incompetent and too big our government is, and how unnecessary. So, I ask every Republican reading this, picture America without a functioning government. Tell me what you see? The Republicans have had absolute control of all branches of government for the last 6 yrs. They have decimated our regulatory agencies, destroyed our credibility around the world and is currently giving what's left of the money they haven't already stolen away. We are missing $40 Billion Dollars! No one seems to know what happend to it. It went to Irag, but the Pentagon and the other outsourcing companies say they don't have it and don't know where it went. The Iragi's say they don't have it and it wasn't spent in Irag. We have deregulation now look around and I ask you to look not just at your self, but at the Country. I ask you is the Country better off? Do you think that it's a just matter of competence? It's not you know. Competence yes. But the basic platform is terrible flawed. It's designed to spit in your face and tell you it's raining. These people, who are currently in office are not incompetent, they are highly competent, but it looks like that because they are lying and stealing. But, you keep believing what the Republicans are saying and do not look at what they are doing. I guess it's better to believe a lie han make a real change. Fear is a funny thing, it paralizes, it makes you believe just about anything so that you don't have really see how much you've been had. Anytime you have absolutely no qualms about betraying an American operative or dropping all regulation so that anything goes and saying to the American public anything that they want to hear just to get elected, then once elected - putting your own people in place who are not loyal to the country but to the individual. Example: Attorneys being hired for their loyalty to Bush and the Republican Party. That's says that Party and Person trumps country. But wear flag pens and wrap yourself in the flag and tells American all of the stuff they want to hear anything to get re-elected. You're not a patriot you're a crook. What is really scarry is when they have co-opted the electorial process to a point were it really won't matter who we vote for the person they want will be elected. We really have to get our heads out of the sand and pay attention. I you guys chanting drill baby drill and I am absolutely amazed - Republicans had control of the Congress, Senate, Presidency and the majority in the Supreme Court for 6 yrs - could have past legislation to drill in the gulf, in Anwar, any where in the Country. Our President made a speech stating "we are addicted to oil" but he didn't do anything, the Republicans didn't put forth any legislation or bills to drill - it would have passed like everything else he wanted without change and immediately. So the question to all of you die-hard Republicans - why didn't he? If he had started 6 yrs ago, we'd either have oil or we'd be very close to it. What about the energy policy - just discovered we needed one. Could have passed any type of policy he wanted - didn't, why? Knew we were addicted to oil, didn't see the need? How's that? Didn't realize that wall street was playing a shell game either. Why would the Republican government know this who was there to tell them? We don't have any regulation - so know reports to the government. So, how is this our problem now? We are currently spending a trillion dollars saving wall street, but everyone is screaming about a possible trillion to fix health care, education, social security and our infrastructure. Raising our taxes, you don't think this bail out of wall street is going to raise our taxes. If it doesn't - then that means there will be know funding of health care reform, education, social security - oh, they'll be reform - just know money to do it a lot of lip service - just like now. So, I say to all of those die-hard Republicans if you think our country is ok - put the Republicans back in the White House. But my advise to those die-hard Republicans - before you put anyone else from your party in charge you need to clean house. They are lying to you and the American People - they are saying one thing and planning something entirely different. They put crooks in charge of our country and you want to give them another chance...a chance to do what exactly?

David K - I agree. It's all smoke-n-mirrors and has been that way for some time. They have been co-opted and these people do not have the country's best interest at heart.

McCain KNOWS he can't win so he's watching Obama and then copies everything. Obama is about Hope and Change... so McCain says we're for change too.

Obama didn't pick Clinton, so McCain picked a woman hoping to get the women to come to his side... well just because I have ovaries, doesn't mean I would pick Palin for anything!!!

If Obama says something, McCain mimics it and "Me too, me too!!!"

I wouldn't really use the word Maverick, I'd say he's a HUGE RISK taker and who needs more of that? We need solid leadership, someone who listens to the pulse of the country and takes action to help it.

McCain crashed several military planes in his "fly boy" days when he disregarded orders from the Navy and only because his daddy was an admiral he wasn't court marshalled for it. The he got himself shot down over Viet Nam... probably showing off again... he suffered the consequences that time, and then he came home a hero.....

Then he dumped his wife because she wasn't a trophy anymore and found himself a rich young heiress. And he calls Obama the elitist?!!!!!

He picks the pretty perky woman he met once (Palin) to spruce up his saggy old campaign and now he's playing copy cat....trying to say he's more Obama than Bush...give me a break!

He's a rich man who's out for himself. The typical Republican. He's not about change, he's not for "the country", he's about McCain and his rich cronies and special interests.