GOP backs away from end-of-life counseling

Until last week, Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson was among the most enthusiastic backers of end-of-life counseling in government health care programs like Medicare.

[Lance Winslow]

The GOP needs end of life counseling.

[Responsibility]

Lance Winslow wrote:

The GOP needs end of life counseling.

Isn't it too late!!?

[Jdubb]

Who would have imagined something as simple as a provision in a bill that states “end of life “ counseling would be covered by your insurance has come to this. The inmates are truly running the asylum in the Republican Party.

[Seeking truth]

The ironic part is that all my most religious friends and relatives talk about their wishes and beliefs in LIVING WILLS. The fright-wing conservatives are killing their own party with their transparent scare tactics, lies, and hypocrisy. Here's my take. It used to be scary to see Republicans stall and stonewall, but now I see it as an advantage because the longer they stall on issues, the more time there is for people to learn the TRUTH and turn against them and their lying asses.

[rein it in]

Lance Winslow wrote:

The GOP needs end of life counseling.

In 2012 will be the end of Obama.

Both parties were wrong to include this. It's age discrimination.

We all get old. Start early. Upon the age of 18, all people must be mandated to determine their mode of death and sign off on it.

[Seeking truth]

Seeking truth wrote:

The ironic part is that all my most religious friends and relatives talk about their wishes and beliefs in LIVING WILLS. The fright-wing conservatives are killing their own party with their transparent scare tactics, lies, and hypocrisy. Here's my take. It used to be scary to see Republicans stall and stonewall, but now I see it as an advantage because the longer they stall on issues, the more time there is for people to learn the TRUTH and turn against them and their lying asses.

Here's the irony. The more the lobbyists stall, more time they have to fleece us. BCBS of Michigan is raising rates for individuals and groups 22%!!!!!

On the other hand, they are using their profits to lobby against reform!!!!

How can the CEO's make such high salaries and how can the corporations spend $1.4 million per day on lobbyists, then claim that they need to raise rates by 22%??? BCBS wanted a 56% increase, but regulators denied it!!!

America is for sale to the highest bidders and the consumers/taxpayers are paying for our own demise. Rate increases should be banned by regulators, as long as the companies have billions to spend on lobbying.

[No One Important]

Actually, it was the DEMOCRATS who were insisting on it in the bill.

In the house, also.

The senate is STRIPPING it from their bill. They see the writing on the wall.

NEVER underestimate a politician's will to survive another election.

Obama is out there defending it tooth and nail. But like an article pointed out, "it is uncomfortably close to the goal of 'bending the cost curve' to be ignored."

Why are the democrats defending it tooth and nail if it is so "harmless."???

Unless it has a BIGGER implication than they want you to believe.

Look, the democrats burned up their good will jamming through garbage they didn't even read.

Bogus stimulus bills, budget bills, cap n trade, the auto bailouts, the bank bailouts.. the natino just doesn't trust Obama and the democrats anymore.

Claire McCaskill asked her town hall people "Do you trust me?" They yelled NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Her response? "Well, I just don't know what to say."

What an idiot. How about "I got your message. I will vote against this legislation, and work to come up with a better plan. We'll go back to the drawing board."

Instead, she's dumbfounded. Duh?

The senate is ALSO going to pull apart the stupid cap n trade.

They see the writing on the wall.

The democrats are riding their liberal idiocy down the drain, and these guys want to survive the next election.

Some of them won't. And they already know it unless they turn this around.

They've enraged the nation.

Obama and the democrats are "planning" on the west in 2010, the problem is, the rest of the nation is crumbling behind them, and they cant' do anything about it.

Even a democrat pollster says "it has all the markings of 1994 again."

Obama SUPPORTERS think it wouldn't be bad for the republicans to take over because Democrat Presidents do BETTER with republicans in control because the REPUBLICANS hold the line on the democrat stupidity in a CENTER RIGHT nation, while the democrat president gets to take the CREDIT.

The republicans would govern from the center right, while Obama becomes a figure head and takes credit and gets re elected.

How many democrats are willing to fall on their swords for Obama?

My guess, not too many.

But that's what is going to happen unless the democrats completely turn the ship around.

Which means, telling Pelosi to shove it...and I don't see that happeneing either.

So they're on a ship, being driven by idiot Pelosi and Obama, that's on fire, and they can't do anything about it except try to grab life vests and survive the sinking in 2010.

Providing the life rafts don't have holes in them.

[mixed]

What the right wing seems to ignore is that Pope John Paul II, chose to die by leaving his hospital room and going back to his personal room to die, he refused care.

[Seeking truth]

No One Important wrote:

Actually, it was the DEMOCRATS who were insisting on it in the bill.
In the house, also.
The senate is STRIPPING it from their bill. They see the writing on the wall.
NEVER underestimate a politician's will to survive another election.
Obama is out there defending it tooth and nail. But like an article pointed out, "it is uncomfortably close to the goal of 'bending the cost curve' to be ignored."
Why are the democrats defending it tooth and nail if it is so "harmless."???
Unless it has a BIGGER implication than they want you to believe.
Look, the democrats burned up their good will jamming through garbage they didn't even read.
Bogus stimulus bills, budget bills, cap n trade, the auto bailouts, the bank bailouts.. the natino just doesn't trust Obama and the democrats anymore.
Claire McCaskill asked her town hall people "Do you trust me?" They yelled NOOOOOOOOOOO!
Her response? "Well, I just don't know what to say."
What an idiot. How about "I got your message. I will vote against this legislation, and work to come up with a better plan. We'll go back to the drawing board."
Instead, she's dumbfounded. Duh?
The senate is ALSO going to pull apart the stupid cap n trade.
They see the writing on the wall.
The democrats are riding their liberal idiocy down the drain, and these guys want to survive the next election.
Some of them won't. And they already know it unless they turn this around.
They've enraged the nation.
Obama and the democrats are "planning" on the west in 2010, the problem is, the rest of the nation is crumbling behind them, and they cant' do anything about it.
Even a democrat pollster says "it has all the markings of 1994 again."
Obama SUPPORTERS think it wouldn't be bad for the republicans to take over because Democrat Presidents do BETTER with republicans in control because the REPUBLICANS hold the line on the democrat stupidity in a CENTER RIGHT nation, while the democrat president gets to take the CREDIT.
The republicans would govern from the center right, while Obama becomes a figure head and takes credit and gets re elected.
How many democrats are willing to fall on their swords for Obama?
My guess, not too many.
But that's what is going to happen unless the democrats completely turn the ship around.
Which means, telling Pelosi to shove it...and I don't see that happeneing either.
So they're on a ship, being driven by idiot Pelosi and Obama, that's on fire, and they can't do anything about it except try to grab life vests and survive the sinking in 2010.
Providing the life rafts don't have holes in them.

Since when do we encourage mob rule? I thought we had a representative democracy. The elections are over. The elected need to make laws. This is government, not trash tv.

[No Child Left]

This bill is smoke and mirrors for still more government intrusion into our lives. I personally do not want some political hack counseling me about anything. I refer to the old Irish song, "I'll eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm dry, and if it don't kill me, I'll live 'til I die."

I do not wish to be part of a group, movement, alliance or organization. I have an atavistic mistrust of all forms of government, and in particular, any bought and paid for politician who is going to do something for me. I believe in less government, fewer bureaucracies and leadership that knows enough to mind its own business. Politicians need to reread the Constitution as written, and learn to stop pushing the envelope to make it say what they want it to say.

Democrats and Republicans have both failed us. We need a "no confidence" vote as they have in England and press the restart button. There should be a recall vote on every miserable pocket stuffed criminal in Washington.

[BHOSux]

Lance Winslow wrote:

The GOP needs end of life counseling.

Where's the liberal love, Lance? You libs always post how hateful the right is. You, and your buddie Responsibility, just proved it's the left that is full of hate, violence and anger. The leftwing psychotic episodes are escalating. It's you reaction to losing your control over the country. I find it amusing.

[Common Sense Isnt]

The problem with the End of Life counseling was the way it was explained by the democrats. When republicans began emphasizing the aspect of pushing death over treatment, the democrats didn't dispute it and instead tried to soften the message. They should have dismissed that part entirely (even though we all know that is what it will come down to) and stressed the actual preparation counseling, like living wills and durable powers of attorney. These are documents that should be taken care of far in advance, but most people don't bother with it until it's too late.

These counseling sessions are voluntary, and all the bill would do is make Medicare pay for it. Republicans simply outmaneuvered the democrats on this and put the focus on the part no one wants to talk about, making the decision to prolong life regardless of the expense or duration.

[Done That]

Seeking truth wrote:

The ironic part is that all my most religious friends and relatives talk about their wishes and beliefs in LIVING WILLS. The fright-wing conservatives are killing their own party with their transparent scare tactics, lies, and hypocrisy. Here's my take. It used to be scary to see Republicans stall and stonewall, but now I see it as an advantage because the longer they stall on issues, the more time there is for people to learn the TRUTH and turn against them and their lying asses.

Living wills are great but having a mandatory review every 5 years and paying your doctor to do it is wrong. Sarah Palin says Death panel and 5 days later they pull the provision. She is a great influence on conservatives and she did it from My Space:) That is why the left ridicule her. They fear her and they should:)

[The laughing liberal]

Lance Winslow wrote:

The GOP needs end of life counseling.

GEE, weren't YOU one of the Many LIARS claiming there were NO DEATH PANELS?

Now the change of tune because repubs back off? What a POS! What a LIAR!

[Done That]

mixed wrote:

What the right wing seems to ignore is that Pope John Paul II, chose to die by leaving his hospital room and going back to his personal room to die, he refused care.

And it was his choice to refuse care. 500 billions is being taken from medicare this will ration health care for the elderly. Some doctors don't take medicare patients because it pays about 80 cents on the dollar. If they pay even less fewer doctors will use medicare. We have a higher survival rate for cancer than socialized systems. England won't pay more than $25,000 to extend your life 1 year

[Done That]

Seeking truth wrote:

<quoted text>
Since when do we encourage mob rule? I thought we had a representative democracy. The elections are over. The elected need to make laws. This is government, not trash tv.

The elected want to be re-elected and they won't be if they pass this Socialized medicine bill.

[Done That]

Common Sense Isnt wrote:

The problem with the End of Life counseling was the way it was explained by the democrats. When republicans began emphasizing the aspect of pushing death over treatment, the democrats didn't dispute it and instead tried to soften the message. They should have dismissed that part entirely (even though we all know that is what it will come down to) and stressed the actual preparation counseling, like living wills and durable powers of attorney. These are documents that should be taken care of far in advance, but most people don't bother with it until it's too late.
These counseling sessions are voluntary, and all the bill would do is make Medicare pay for it. Republicans simply outmaneuvered the democrats on this and put the focus on the part no one wants to talk about, making the decision to prolong life regardless of the expense or duration.

That is what it boils down to. The government will decide if you are worth treatment. Would Kennedy at 77 with brain cancer be given treatment under Socialized medicine? Maybe Kennedy should have his mandatory living will chat with the government:)

[Done That]

The laughing liberal wrote:

<quoted text>
GEE, weren't YOU one of the Many LIARS claiming there were NO DEATH PANELS?
Now the change of tune because repubs back off? What a POS! What a LIAR!

If you don't expect much from liberals you are seldom disappointed. As they bus in union thugs and ACORN and have job offers on Craigs list they claim the grass roots is manufactured. Just vote for the bill and look for another job in 2010:)

[JMKC]

FALSE NEWS!
The End-of-Life "counseling" provision aka "Death Panel" was removed from ONE of the THREE versions of Obozo's healthcare bill!

Obama himself stated that you might be "better off" to just take the pain pill rather than to have an all important surgery. His idea of cost efficiency in his Socialist healthcare bill.

You can't remove something that Obama says "doesn't exist" from the healthcare bill.
If it was so "innocent", WHY was it removed???
GET A CLUE!

Texas Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee STAGES a FAKE DOCTOR at her healthcare town hall, who turns out to be an OBAMA TEXAS DELEGATE from his Presidential campaign!

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

OBAMA/THE JOKER and his cronies will stop at NOTHING to get you to encourage your representatives and Senators to pass his Socialist agenda!

[Mac-7]

JMKC wrote:

FALSE NEWS!
The End-of-Life "counseling" provision aka "Death Panel" was removed from ONE of the THREE versions of Obozo's healthcare bill!
Obama himself stated that you might be "better off" to just take the pain pill rather than to have an all important surgery. His idea of cost efficiency in his Socialist healthcare bill.
You can't remove something that Obama says "doesn't exist" from the healthcare bill.
If it was so "innocent", WHY was it removed???
GET A CLUE!
Texas Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee STAGES a FAKE DOCTOR at her healthcare town hall, who turns out to be an OBAMA TEXAS DELEGATE from his Presidential campaign!
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
OBAMA/THE JOKER and his cronies will stop at NOTHING to get you to encourage your representatives and Senators to pass his Socialist agenda!

Obama has very stupidly let the healthcare debate get away from the Democrats.

In the future not many people are going to believe the lie that he is the smartest person in the room.

That lib myth.