maallen

Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 6:36 p.m.

@bedrog....Are we talking about the same George Soros that said "The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States?" Are we talking about the same George Soros who made his fortune off hedge funds and currency speculation. The very thing that President Obama bashed when the economy tanked? Are we talking about the same George Soros who is known as "the man who broke the Bank of England. He broke it on the backs of hard working British citizens who immediately saw their homes severely devalued and their life savings cut drastically...almost overnight?" That was in 1992. Are we talking about the same George Soros who in 1997 almost destroyed the economies of Thialand an Malaysia? In Greece, the Greek National Pride reports "Soro's role is to tighten the ideological stranglehold of globalization and the New World Order while promoting his own financial gain. He is without conscience, a capitalist who functions with absolute amorality." Is that the same guy we are talking about? The same guy who France convicted him of a felony for inside trading? The same guy who his own native country fined Soros for over 2 million dollars for "illegal market manipulation?" The same guy who told The Australian that the world financial crisis was "stimulating" and "in a way, the culmination of my life's work?" That guy? The guy who is heavily invested in Brazilian oil Petrobras whom President Obama promised Brazil 10 billion dollars of our tax dollars in order to help Brazil expand their offshore oil fields? Are we talking about the same altruistic George Soros? Is that the guy we are talking about? The same guy who whose hedge fund is registered OUTSIDE of the Unite States and is located in Netherlands Antilles. Good thing Rob Steele has more common sense and is looking out for Michigan!

maallen

Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 5:43 p.m.

@speechless....Wow, where do I even begin with what you wrote? Saying "Medicare is broken, high levels of fraud, claim denial and decreasing provider base" does not qualify as slander. Definition of slander is "A false and malicious statement or report about someone." So can you please tell me who he slandered? The Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees have stated that Medicare will run out of money in 19 years. And that is after good ol' Obamacare was passed. So what do you think will happen to keep medicare solvent? Obama already cut payments on claims for medicare patients. So, we could cut more benefits to medicare or raise taxes. Hmmmm....great choices, eh? Did you know that under Obamacare in 2010 Medicare has cut payment for services by up to 40%? Gee, wonder what the doctors are going to start doing? Drop medicare patients because they can no longer afford to see them. Great system we are putting in place. Sounds to me Rob Steele is correct. Something needs to be done because the current system is not working and is broke. "Thus, he opposes even Obama's milquetoast health care reform..." Definition of milquetoast: "a very timid, unassertive, spineless person." Are you saying Obama is timid and spineless? "Rob Steele profits handsomely from the health care system..." Can you provide something to prove this? How do you know he profits handsomely? And what exactly is your definition of handsomely? According to the government, the average debt a doctor has after graduating is $155,000 in 2008, which is a 53% increase from 1998. And then add in the cost for medical malpractice insurance which can range between $50,000 to $100,000 per year. Maybe the government should offer free education! Since Rob Steele works for a living in the health industry and practices it day in day out, I think he knows more about the health insurance problem than Dingell does. What do you expect from Dingell who excluded his own private health insurance from any of the laws that he wrote up. Dingell is so good at telling us what to do and how to do it, but exempts himself from the very law he passes!

robyn

Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.

Soros is altruistic? Apparently you have not done as much research on him as you have on the Kochs'... By comparison - the Koch guys are minor league players. Soros is all about his own power - there is absolutely nothing selfless or altruistic about that.

Speechless

Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 1:04 p.m.

Quoting from Rob Steele's campaign web site: "Medicare is already broken, with high levels of fraud, claim denial, and decreasing provider base." That statement qualifies as slander, since Medicare overall is a federal program that most seniors are quite appreciative to have, particularly the very many trying to get by on limited, fixed incomes. The alternative to Medicare is a huge wave of personal bankruptcies and homelessness among our senior citizens. It's lovely for Mr. Steele to push in that direction. Steele's site also states, "The taxpayers cannot afford another massive, inefficient, government-run program." Thus, he opposes even Obama's milquetoast health care reform, which falls far short of what the U.S. needs. Lastly, with a straight face Rob Steele seriously suggests that Health Savings Accounts represent a meaningful strategy to deal with the out-of-control, runaway costs throughout our private, for-profit health care system. That's akin to a German politicians of the early 1920s recommending bigger savings accounts as a practical response to rampant hyper-inflation. Rob Steele profits handsomely from the health care system as it currently exists, and he shows only limited concern for tens of millions of Americans who have no financial means to pay for care in that increasingly overpriced game. Through his do-little stance on health care, he works to protect his cash flow while leaving legions of un- and under-uninsured to their fate.

bedrog

Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.

robyn.. i believe i covered your questions about the differences between the likes of the kochs ( self interested, out for personal profit, damn the environment, cynically playing to the lumpen cranks ala the jane mayer /frank rich exposes multiply cited by me and others above) vs. soros ( a tad more altruistic) in my previous post. thanks....

robyn

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 10:03 p.m.

@ bedrog (or whatever your name is): Which Tea Party do they support? Do you have any idea how many Tea Party groups are in this country? How many are in this state alone? Are you talking about some national Tea Party group? The vast majority of Tea Party, Liberty and Patriot groups (sorry if I left any out) are small independent groups that - while sharing the same "Tea Party" moniker - are not a part of any larger group. What I find so incredible is that some people will make statements about something they do not really know about and make blanket assumptions that are totally incorrect. And then continue to insist that they know more than the people who are actually involved in a group... If you are so worried about some rich guy funding political groups - take a look at George Soros - the man funds groups like moveon.org, Center for American Progress, Democracy Alliance - all groups supporting and pushing progressive political and social policy. He spent over $23 Million just trying to defeat Bush... So even if someone is funding A Tea Party Group - how is that REEEALLY any different than Soros funding political groups with an opposing agenda?

maallen

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 3:38 p.m.

@speechless Where are you getting your information from about "he opposes even the mildest health care reform to aid the tens of millions of uninsured, and wants to hand over our Social Security money to Wall Street"? Where did Steele say he "opposes even the mildest health care reform?" Instead of spouting off, it would be helpful if it was backed up with some facts. Again, attack the tea party when you can't debate the issue. Wow, it's breaking news that someone is partially funding the tea party movement! Who funds Dingell? Special interest groups.

Speechless

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 2:48 p.m.

An NY Times op-ed column by Frank Rich on the billionaire fat cats who underwrite national tea party activities: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html That doesn't include all the hours of unofficial sponsorship by Faux News. As Rich writes, "The [billionaire] Koch brothers must be laughing all the way to the bank knowing that working Americans are aiding and abetting their selfish interests." Later, in discussing the tea party counterpart of the 1930s, he states, "Roosevelts triumphant 1936 re-election campaign pummeled the Liberty League as a Republican ally eager to 'squeeze the worker dry in his old age and cast him like an orange rind into the refuse pail.'" Rob Steele chooses to traffic in this milieu. In so doing, he opposes even the mildest health care reform to aid the tens of millions of uninsured, and wants to hand over our Social Security money to Wall Street. While Dingell has been a willing agent of the auto magnates more often than necessary, at least he's not at all a champion of power and greed in the medical industry.

maallen

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.

Ah yes, perfect or perfection isn't attainable so let's not even strive for it. Let's just pass a flawed bill so that we can find out how flawed it really is. Very nice logic indeed! Since we really don't have anything to base arguments on lets just bash those that are involved with the tea party as those who can't think for themselves. We have seen what Dingell says/does and some can't discuss it. bedrog just chooses to ignore it and harp on the tea party movement.

bedrog

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.

to maalen, scylding and other asstd apologists for 'tearepubs', re funding of political parties... don't you think there's a teeny weenie difference between those who shell out for what they ( rightly or wrongly) define as the larger public good (e.g. soros and other 'liberal' pac'ers...if i may use such a scary and abusive word...to tearepubs at least ) vs. those like the kochs/becks who want to reshape government for their own private greed/egos? and who seem to have conned alot of you into thinking you're thinking for yourselves...which is completely belied by your rote phrases and scripted 'talking point's", from obama's alleged religion to beck's latest whopper about holding an original george washington document as god spoke to him. re dingell and other 'establishment' pols vs foam- at- mouth insurgents ( whether nationally or here in a2) :better wise old dogs than rabid pups, a point the latest mayoral primary election also reinforced.. wise pups are fine too ( like obama), but there don't seem to be many out there among the tearepubs. and to maalens last question about 'why pass somethin that's not perfect"?... ever hear the phrase "the unobtainable perfect is often the enemy of the good (and attainable)"? well you have now ( since i forget how the original went, but it wasnt as clear as mine in any case).

maallen

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 12:47 p.m.

Also have to add this, did anyone see or read the Health Summit? Again, Dingell says "What we're going to do is not perfect." Then why pass it? Why not fix it first? And oh, how can we forget this during the Health Summit "I would say that I've seen some of my friends who I knew before they were virgins (ph). They were -- they were pushing, for example, use of the-- of the -- of the extraordinary budgetary mechanism. And I -- as to get -- get this decided by 51 votes." When they were trying to figure out ways to get the health care passed. Ummm, "...I've seen some of my friends who I knew before they were virgins." Before they were virgins? Excuse me? First is the before they were virgins, but what does being a virgin or not a virgin have to do with the health care debate. And some say his mind is intact. Just like when he said "being a woman will no longer be a pre existing condition."

maallen

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 12:16 p.m.

News Alert: The tea party is partially funded by someone! Yikes! What is this world coming to? Heaven forbid! Soooo, if Dingell was truly for his constituents, then why does he accept money from the special interest groups? If Dingell was truly for his constituents, then how do you explain that he contiously introduced a bill for Universal health care since 1957? Was his constituents wanting that back then? No. Instead of listening to his constituents, Dingell keeps pushing for his socialistic idealogies that he exempts himself from. Think about what Dingell has said about the health care bill on WJR after it was passed. You know, the one that he helped write: "There are mistakes here as there are with all legislation." Ummm, excuse me? There aer mistakes? Then why didn't we fix those mistakes before rushing to pass it? Oh yeah, I forgot "We need to pass the bill in order to know what's in it." It's time to retire Dingell.

bedrog

Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 6:55 a.m.

scyld...read the mayer article...and add beowulf to the list of oldsters who were effective for decades.. oh wait...you already know that, right?.

Scylding

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 6:59 p.m.

@Bedrog: The tea-party isn't a "party." It's largely unfunded and is decentralized. The people going to events pay their own way, are very informed, and are reserving their votes for real conservatives, not for Murkowski-like RINO's or anyone else they are being told to vote for. Tell me all of that is true about your vote-buying Acorn operatives (now operating under different names) and bussed-in protesters funded by the likes of Soros. Your hypocrisy is mind-numbing.

sbbuilder

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 6:35 p.m.

Washington Dems have seen fit to diminish Mr Dingells influence in DC. What does that say about their confidence in him? There is a lot of mud slinging, name calling, hyperbole, ranting, chest pounding, in your face, spit in your eye, jive talkin, useless back and forth bantering going on here. Me? I can't wait until Nov. to see who is gonna get an old fashioned butt whup. 'Nuff said.

bedrog

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.

scylding...irony-challenged are we? yes, i know all about the bios of the gentlemen i mentioned and my original comment was simply a tongue -in -cheek one questioning the previous commenters claim about advanced age being an automatic liability to effective decision making ( and noone can deny the guys i cited were effective in the rough and tumble context of their times). More to the real issue is my previous-to-this comment on the egregious plutocrats ( the koch brothers, described in jane mayers "new yorker ' article) who are funding the tea-partyers and the (again) ironic -to- laughable fact that many of the 'rugged individualists' in that movement are fundamentally being 'had' as unpaid flacks for the koch brothers greed... ( to say nothing of glenn beck/sara palin's megalomanias, which give rameses', augustus' and mithradates' some real competition, although without the cool costumes and nifty architecture!).

maallen

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.

Yes, Rob Steele is one of us. Not a Washington insider. At least Rob Steele still believes in Michigan, unlike Dingell. Let's see what else Dingell has said: "American families know what it means to live within a budget only spending what you can afford and saving where you can this is a common-sense approach to making ends meet to which our government must return. Democrats understand that the federal budget deficit, born of reckless spending..." Wow, he says this and then votes to keep spending money! Now our children and our children's children will have to pick up the tab!

Scylding

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 1:59 p.m.

@Bedrog (I realize that I am responding to a rather stale comment of Bedrogs, but I just couldnt resist.) I'm quite sure I will vote for the good doctor, your glorious comment regarding old world dictators notwithstanding. Only someone who has little or no understanding of the deep antipathy that many people in this nation still harbor toward despots and dictators, a dislike rooted deep in the our history thanks to the likes of Washington, Jefferson, and Adamsyou know, guys like that, would cite dictators like Mithridates Eupator (you spelled it Eupater), Caesar Augustus, and Ramses II as some sort of bizarre rationale for keeping John Dingell in office. This country is a republic. Its people have always had a suspicious attitude toward those who love to hold political power for a long time, and rightly so. The problem with people who hold power for decades is that, like dictators, they accumulate too much power. I do grant that dictators have much more, as their's is largely unchecked or total power, but you were the one who drew the parallel, not me. Thought you might like to know a few facts about these dictators who you seem to think argue for a continued Dingelldom. Among other deeds, Mithridates imprisoned his mother and brother to life-long incarceration and married his sister. For his part, Augustus, as a triumvir in the days before his emperorship (his name was Octavian, then), took part in the infamous proscriptions, in which hundreds or Roman senators and equites were dispossessed of their property and butchered; he also presided over the demise of the Roman Republic, and was declared a god after his death. He only ruled for 41 years, not over 55 as you claim. Thats right, Dingell has been in Washington longer than Caesar Augustus presided over Rome and the pax Romana. Ramses II, like Augustus, was also declared a god by his people, but this happened during his reign. Besides presiding over a slave state of staggering proportions, he had a penchant for blowing massive public funds on unprecedented monuments to his own bloated sense of glory. So which side of the argument did your comment really end up supporting, eh?

robyn

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.

@ maallen: That's one of the reasons I would vote for Steele - he is still 'one of us' and will speak and represent as 'one of us'. It's very apparent that politicans that have been in office for any extended period of time become more interested in how that office benefits them rather than how they can bebefit their constituents by holding that office. Look at how the health care bill was handled - 'we have to pass it so you know what's in it' or to find out how 'good it is'. That's just irresponsible and not at all in the best interest of those you represent. They no longer hold the standards WE hold for ourselves personally or individually. I would NEVER sign a contract without reading or understanding it. But they do this. We have politicians that attack banks - those evil entities... But do a bit of research and you see that those very same politicians have received campaign money from those very same evil entities. They attack insurance companies - but then you do a bit of research and you find out they're in bed with them! It's all a show - I am ready to bring in new people who are NOT so entwined in the system that they have become an advocate for their only constituent - themselves.

maallen

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.

@Tom Breaking news! A candidate that has never held a political office admits that he has never held a political office! Who would have thought? What is this world coming to? lol Way back in the day, like 55 long years ago Dingell didn't have any experience too. What is your point?

peg dash fab

Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 7:34 a.m.

I want to see "Dr." Rob Steele's medical school diploma and his birth certificate, for that matter. What is he hiding????????????????

Tom Leroux

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 11:17 p.m.

I think the You Tube video of Mr. Rob Steele on the Hannity show clearly outlines the fact that this candidate however impressive his medical carreer/business in ANn Arbor might be, he has no political experience. He makes no bones about it. Look at the video draw your conclusions and lets talk.

Tom Leroux

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 11:15 p.m.

I think the You Tube video of Mr. Rob Steele on the Hannity show clearly outlines the fact that this candidate however impressive his medical carreer/business in Ann Arbor might be, he has no political experience. He makes no bones about it. Look at the video draw your conclusions and lets talk.

Tom Leroux

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 11:13 p.m.

I think the video of Mr. Rob Steele on the Hannity show clearly outlines the fact that this candidate however impressive his medical carreer/business in ANn Arbor might be, he has no political experience. He makes no bones about it. Look at the video draw your conclusions and lets talk.

Tom Leroux

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 11:08 p.m.

Please see the link below and look up Dr. Rob Steele's appearance on the Hannity show on you tube. That says it all. The title says please vote for me I am inexperienced.! http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/9/2/898370/-Dingell-foe:-Vote-for-me,-Im-totally-inexperienced.

maallen

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 4:20 p.m.

Wow, Dingell is actually worried! In a letter he sent out requesting money states: "This year I need your maximum financial contribution to my campaign." "I ask that you come to one or more with the most generous contribution you can make. Frankly, I need your maximum contribution."

robyn

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 4:03 p.m.

HHmmmm.... Looks like a groups of UAW workers just pledged their support for Steele. Union workers - tired of the Democrat agenda are now backing Steele. And to the people who keep yelping about the Tea Party being backed by whomever.... Do you even know who the Tea Party is? Do you know how many TP, Patriot, Liberty, Independence Groups there are? If someone is backing "A" Tea Party group - it isn't having any effect on the rest of them - which are self supporting and local - AND not funded by any other Tea Party. Really... Seriously... There isn't any plot or any conspiracy - it's just a bunch of people who are sick of the government and it's self-serving attitude...

maallen

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 3:29 p.m.

@speechless--- Where are you getting your information from..."vast majority," "deliberately underfunding," etc? You obviously have not read what is happening over in the two countries. If you don't have the money to pay for something, is it really deliberately underfunding? You can only tax the people so much. I will give you that "Dingell is very far ahead of Rob Steele on the issue of health care" because Dingell doesn't have to participate in what Dingell has passed for the rest of us. He and his cronies have opted not to participate in the laws that have been passed. That is why we need someone who has worked in the private sector and has to live by what is passed. If you are going to pass a law then you must be willing to live by it. But alas, Dingell doesn't have to live by the laws he passes because he has never worked in the private sector and has opted out of living by the health care law he passed. How very noble of him.

Huron74

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 3:23 p.m.

Much sound & fury signifying nothing. Dingell will be re-elected by a comfortable margin. And all the mudslinging going here amounts to nothing. If elections really changed anything they wouldn't have them.

Speechless

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.

The vast majority of people living in Canada or the UK would be positively frightened by the prospect of trading their current health care system for the cruel nonsense that passes for a medical system here in the U.S. To the extent that their own government-managed systems have issues, it often has to do with their own conservative politicians deliberately underfunding the process and creating inefficiencies that encourage the better-off to pay out-of-pocket for private services. Again, despite the various ways that John Dingell has disappointed some of us in the past, he is very far ahead of Rob Steele on the issue of health care.

maallen

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 11:13 a.m.

Hey David, Can I send you mine and my children's share of the bill for the bailouts? It cost us more than the Irag war.

maallen

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.

Ah, knew it was just a matter of time that someone would bring up how Britian's and Canada's healthcare system is sooooo great. First off, Britian rations their healthcare. They have a government run bureaucracy that takes a look at the type and expense of surgery you are going to have, how the surgery will improve the quality of your life, and your life expectancy. If some government employee deems the surgery to be worthwhile, then you get to have it. But if they deem that it won't improve your quality of life based on your life expectancy then you don't get to have it. Hmmmm....yeah, the government has control. Apparently some of you have missed the New York Times article July 24, 2010 (Europe edition). Britian is making enormous cuts in the public sector, which includes the healthcare. They are planning on decentralizing health care. They are putting the power back into the hands of the patients and the doctors instead of the government. "Currently, how and where patients are treated, and by whom, is largely determined by decisions made by 150 entities known as primary care trusts all of which would be abolished under the plan, with some of those choices going to patients. It would also abolish many current government-set targets, like limits on how long patients have to wait for treatment." Wow what a concept! For those of you who like to read, I would suggest "Delay, Denial and Dilution: The Impact of NHS Rationing on Heart Disease and Cancer." This is about England's health care written by David G. Green. I even provided a link to make it easier: http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/rationreport.pdf And don't even get me started on Canada's health care. My relatives had to come here just to get a cat scan done because there was a 1 year wait. When you are experiencing excruciating pain and the doctor says there is something definitely wrong and we have to run more tests, you don't have a year to wait. Also, when you have a sister in law who is pregnant and has to deliver the baby 3 hours from where she lives because the three hospitals within a 30 minute or less drive from where she lives doesn't have the proper equipment to handle it, you know something is wrong. If Canada's health care system is soooo wonderful, then why is it the government is allowing private practices to exist? Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec are combining public and private care to help reduce wait times and control public spending. On June 9, 2005 Canada's Supreme Court made this ruling: "The Courts majority found that waiting lists for health care services have resulted in deaths, have increased the length of time that patients have to be in pain and have impaired patients ability to enjoy any real quality of life. Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General), No. 29272, Sup. Ct. of Canada 130 C.R.R. (2d)99; 2005 C.R.R. LEXIS 76. The court voted to invalidate the prohibition on private insurance. In February of 2006 Quebec announced it would improve access within the public system for cardiology, radiation oncology, hip and knee replacements, and cataract surgery within 6 months after being diagnosed. And if they can't be performed at a government facility within 6 months, Quebec will pay for the surgery at a private institution within Canada or outside of canada. Ah, some great system they have there.

bedrog

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 10:35 a.m.

for the " anti-socialist', anti- big anything,anti- obama, anti- dingell-lings posting here: check out an article by jane mayer in the next- to - latest NEW YORKER entitled 'covert operations"... It turns out your beloved tea party is financed mostly by a pair of bothers...the kochs..whose assorted holdings in lumber, commodities,oil etc make them the 3rd richest men in the u.s., and who want the dismantling of any and all regulations/ bureaucracies ( esp the EPA) that interfere with their making their next gazillion bucks. once you've read this article ( in an admittedly 'mainstream medium' that does however have actual 'standards'...unlike the fringeoid blogisphere) then, with a straight face, carry on with your 'brainwashed by liberal koolaid' nonsense...and also consider whether or not the kochs are paying you directly or you're just unpaid dupes.

robyn

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.

@ David: The way to prevent 'business' from taking your money is simply NOT to spend your money purchacing their products and making sure the government doesn't continue to give them your tax money. Sorry but Dingell and the senators like him keep doing that. Where do you think all that money goes? I would think that the lesser of two evils is the one that has no record of spending our money at a rate of $50,000,000 per year on top of the money that is spent on the bills that this 'extra' money is added to. That averages to about a half a BILLION dollars over the past 10 years just to his friends! As for looking at who is going to do a better job getting Michigan back on it's feet - take a look at Minnesota. They have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and things are actually improving in that state. Pawlenty refuses to accept federal stimulus money - sort of like an addict going to rehab to get off of a drug that only does harm. The economy is NOT going to get better until the government stops spending money and demanding more so that they can continue spending. If your wife/husband was over-drafting your checking account every month - would you just get another job so they could spend more or would you put your foot down and say "No More!"

David Briegel

Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 6:46 a.m.

Saw him on Hannity (tough to watch). He does a great job with the Republican talking points as one might expect of a bright Dr. Now, please tell me specifically what he will do different to inspire my vote? Robyn, can I send you my share of the bill for the American Empire and the Perpetual War Profiteers.

Speechless

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 10:05 p.m.

"... Dingell has been pushing his socialistic universal healthcare agenda. Every year since 1957 he has submitted legislation on it...." Rob Steele will get 'rightfully' smothered in the November vote. Not even close. In fact, given the composition of the district, John Dingell should go out of his way to inform voters of Steele's appearance on Sean Hannity's show, to give them a sense of the Angry People who support his opponent. I'm no big fan of Dingell, as his overall record is too conservative — too cozy with auto companies and too many roadblocks, so to speak, thrown in the way of any environmental legislation that would require the former Big Three to do something worthwhile, especially for air quality. It's been postulated that this is primarily what cost him some loss in power, rather than age. On the other hand, one of the best things Dingell has done over the years is promote universal health care, a practice in use around the rest of the developed world in one form or another. Someday, after having tried everything else and failed, the U.S. will finally concede to this more civilized approach and adopt it at last. At present, we are as backward on health care as South Africa once was on race. Dingell's support for universal health care helped pave the way for Medicare and Medicaid, which are partial steps in the right direction. Expanding the Medicare plan to cover all ages would put us much closer to universal care. If I find any fault with him on this issue, it's that he hasn't yet been successful enough.

robyn

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.

How does this make you feel? In 2009 Dingell added appropriations/pork/special interest money to 34 bills which cost the American taxpayers $45,720,786. So far for 2010 he's already met last years number of appropriations/pork/special interest money which has added $29,016,000. to the American tax burden. I can continue - but he's always been pretty consistent about spending money - our money. The only up side is that he's not as bad as Levin... You might want to consider this too - the man has NEVER held a job that was not somehow connected to the government. He was a Senate page. He was in the military for two years. He went law school in 1952 then worked as a research assistant to U.S. Circuit Court judge Theodore Levin - a Congressional employee and assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County until 1955. He won a special election in 1955 to finish his father's term when he died. He's been reelected since 1956... A guy who not even raised or educated in Michigan. Oh and his biggest campaign contributors are the Big Three... That GM bailout? Well no wonder HE supported it - the man has in excess of $1 Million in stock options with GM - his wife was a lobbyist for GM. As of June 2007, she was a senior executive at General Motors and vice chair of the General Motors Foundation - one of those people who benefits for huge bonus'... It's time to cut the losses and put people who are truly representitive of us in office. I've met Rob Steele and he's a very intelligent, humorous and down to earth guy. He is genuinely looking at what he can do to improve our lives and the future of our state... Kind of like Dingell look at how he can improve HIS life and the state of business for his 'friends'. Dingell is out of touch with the reality that we live each day, Steele actually lives in the same reality that we do. But those of you who want to continue voting for him - go ahead... But please make some sort of arrangement with him - that when he wants to 'fund' one of his special projects he sends the bill to all of you supporters and stops hitting up the rest of us with his outrageous bills.

JSA

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 11:18 a.m.

It is time for Mr. Dingell to go. He has put the interests of his party ahead of the interest of his constituents far too many times. He is supposed to represent our needs and concerns and he has not done so for many years.

maallen

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 10:55 a.m.

Definition of pre-existing condition: An injury or illness (sickness)or any complications there from which is present or manifest itself, or for which medical care, treatment, advice or consultation was rendered to a Covered Person with the 12 months period prior to the Effective Date of Coverage. Show me one carrier that lists being a woman is a pre-existing condition? If Dingell is sooooo against the big bad health insurance carriers then why does he continually seek out their support for money? Dingell is in office to promote his socialistic ideas and not the ideas of whom he serves. If he served us then how do you explain his introduction of legislation every year since 1957 for universal health care? Was that his idea or was that his constituents wanting the government to provide health insurance?

InsideTheHall

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 10:45 a.m.

Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman "retired" John Dingell when they stripped him of his committee chairmanship. That rendered him impotent in delivering for the 15th CD and Michigan as a whole. I'm Sorry John....it is time to move aside. Steele is a breath of fresh air with his common sense approach. My favorite Steelely: The government wants people to smoke less so they tax ciagrettes, when they want them to drink less they tax alcohol, when they want them to use less carbon they tax energy. You think they could figure out that if you increase the tax on work you get less work! The kind of common sense not seen since Harry Truman.

katie

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 10:03 a.m.

I am astonished that someone can take the statement that "Being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition" and warp it to make it sound like it's sexist. A "pre-existing condition" mean that you will be discriminated against by the insurance companies, and that has certainly happened for women. Dingell was making a statement that "women will no longer be discriminated against." Dingell is against the insurance companies discrimination of women. Being 84 years old and having lots of experience is a good thing. All of my 84 year old relatives were wise and with a lot to offer. Age has nothing to do with it. Now, if someone in high office has Alsheimer's, that's a medical condition that will affect their ability to run, like a former president I can think of. Regan's party still ran him for a second term knowing that he had a serious medical condition that impaired his abilitly to govern. Age is not an issue, unless it's on the plus side. Illness may be an issue. The two are not the same. There's no evidence that Dingell is impaired. I've talked to him at the Farmer's Market and he seemed quite agile of mind when I spoke to him about the issues. I'll vote for him again.

maallen

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.

"Um, YOU MISSED the point entirely: That health insurance charges women up to 300% more for premiums simply because of gender: REGARDLESS of it you want to have kids (which 50% of women DON'T want to have). So I'd say he's 100% in SUPPORT OF WOMEN, and also is pro-choice and believes women can take care of themselves without the The State/GOP poking their noses into their private business" Absolutely false. The health insurance industry does not charge 300% or more REGARDLESS if they want children or not. On an individual basis maternity coverage CAN be carved out. On a group level it can't be carved because it is MANDATED by law. So, once again, we have the government intruding into people's lives. You fail to recognize that these politicians create the mess then they try to make new laws to correct the mess only to create more of a mess. Where are you getting the statistic that 50% of women don't want kids? Just curious.

Veracity

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.

Voters should look at what each candidate has done in the past as the best indicator of what each one will do in the future. Here is what I have gleaned so far from Internet Searches about each candidate and the issues; ISSUE: JOBS Representative Dingell Recent Accomplishments: In this regard, Representative Dingell supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which has saved or created 109,000 jobs in Michigan. Federal stimulus money has helped Ventower Industries created up to 176 new full-time jobs making windmill turbines. Other companies hiring because of federal stimulus money include Sunrise Windows, a GM battery company and also the A123 battery company. Dr. Rob Steele:?? I need help here. I could find no evidence of Dr. Rob Steele increasing jobs in Michigan. Dr. Steele does not even mention "jobs" on his "issues" web-page: http://www.robsteeleforcongress.com/issues Creating 300 jobs in his private practice group is not like creating jobs for the rest of Michigan. And even with his cardiology clinic, Dr. Steele likely uses a financial manager to deal with staffing and other money matters. Cardiology is a growth industry due to aging Americans so any growth in Dr. Steele's practice is to be expected and not surprising. Do not believe that Dr. Steele can use his practice experience to accomplish anything positive for Michigan in the House of Representatives.

A2K

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.

"And really, why do women want to vote for him when he says things like this on WJR: "Being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition." You gotta be kidding me, right? Being a woman is a pre-existing condition. I am surprised he didn't say being a human is a pre-existing condition." Um, YOU MISSED the point entirely: That health insurance charges women up to 300% more for premiums simply because of gender: REGARDLESS of it you want to have kids (which 50% of women DON'T want to have). So I'd say he's 100% in SUPPORT OF WOMEN, and also is pro-choice and believes women can take care of themselves without the The State/GOP poking their noses into their private business.

maallen

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 8:27 a.m.

What is a cardiologist? Are DOCTORS who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart, arteries, and veins of the body.

schlomo

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.

There once was a time when doctors were as revered as god...no more. A doctor is no more qualified to represent a constituent than I am, even with a Phd in politics. He hired 300 employees...WOW that will turn this state around.

maallen

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.

I am so tired of hearing the lies that Mr. Dingell is for the people of Michigan and how he puts his constituents first. How does one explain this: Since 1957 Dingell has been pushing his socialistic universal healthcare agenda. Every year since 1957 he has submitted legislation on it. Hmmmm....he's for his constituents? They were wanting this back in 1957 and every year since? And really, why do women want to vote for him when he says things like this on WJR: "Being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition." You gotta be kidding me, right? Being a woman is a pre-existing condition. I am surprised he didn't say being a human is a pre-existing condition. And then he says this about Michigan: "Well, Michigan people will tell you there is not enough being done and, quite honestly, it is pretty hard to see how anything could be done to cure the problems we have in Michigan." This is the guy that represents us? This is the guy that says "he is America's watchdog?" I don't need a "America's watchdog. I want someone who will represent Michigan and look out for Michigan. It is sad that Dingell can't "see how anything could be done to cure the problems we have in Michigan." Well, why don't we start curing the problem by voting Dingell out! This is the guy we want to re-elect? I think not. He is so far out of touch with the rest of us here in Michigan. He doesn't know what it's like to have a job here in Michigan. All he can do is pass legislation telling others on how to do their job. Is that what we want? Think about it, how can he be for the people when he hasn't held a private sector job in his whole life? He doesn't have a clue what we ordinary citizens go through because he has never been through it. Yet, he passes all these laws that we have to abide by and he doesn't. Yeah, he's not for us. He is one of those socialist elitist.

RememberNov

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 7:44 a.m.

Wake Up People! Dingell raked in $118,500 from Big Pharma and the Insurance Industry last year. Dingell raked in $134,000 from Doctor/Nurse/Pharmacist specialist groups. That's just this year! I shudder to calculate the past 55 years! These groups have a lot of money to squeeze out of you now that insurance is mandated and has to cover everything under the sun. If you think Dingell's not in the tank with them...you're as deluded as he wants you to be. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_10+H6MI16034

Shirley

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 11:46 p.m.

Thank you, Answerman. You have it right. Some of the posters here are obviously fearful of the Ruler of the Roost losing his position. Mr. Dingell has stated that his lovely "Debbie" should replace him should he not be able to serve. We,the constituents of the 15th, feel a new face with new ideas should serve as our Congress person, not someone with his same hunger for power. There is a fear factor in the Dingell camp - his age is not the problem; its the fact he has not brought home the bacon for a lot of years now. Look at the area he serves, closed factories, closed businesses, almost entire strip malls for lease or sale, jobless rate 14%, or more, foreclosed homes in the hundreds, probably thousands if anyone could get a grip on the numbers, churches having to beg for donations to their food banks. Where does Michigan stand in the amount of money returned to it by the federal government? Not last, but getting there. Granted, Dingell isn't the only one to blame, but his priorities do not appear to be serving his constituents; they appear to be gaining power and the ego trip of having helped "craft" the health care bill his daddy so wanted. Too bad he wasn't spending his time looking to bring jobs to Michigan. The operative word is JOBS and more JOBS. Dr. Steele, who has helped build a business with 300+ employees, knows how to work on our behalf to bring about jobs and prosperity to our District and Michigan. The only thing Congressman Dingell has done is bring back some of the taxpayers' money to his district, but in recent years, not much of that.

Jay Allen

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 11:44 p.m.

trublu76: I have spoken to DOCTOR Steele and that is "underwhelming"? LOL!!! Run a google search for pete's sake. It comes up THIRD in a google search. Do some research. I have met with AA.Com face to face. I was told the guidelines to adhere to. Disagree, state why (factual) and move on. It is YOU, read again, YOU that keeps dragging this into oblivion. Remember, it was you that said you "state facts" then played the lack of information card when you were hung. Talking out of both sides of your mouth leads to where you are now. No Facts and Exposed.

Jay Allen

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 11:39 p.m.

@david briegel: "1. So Jay, why didn't you tell us what you asked him and what he answered? 2. And why he'll make a great rep? 3. Please enlighten us mere mortals. 4. It will be easy to thrash us!" Please read what I have written. I am 100% not going to sidestep an issue nor will I force something down your throat as you all wish to do to others. 1. 3 x 45 - 1 hour conversations and you want me to type it up right here in an AA.Com thread? That within itself is very funny. Also, perhaps what is important to ME means less than zero to you. So I can/could cover HOURS of ground and NEVER get to what is important to you. You cannot disagree there. I will say that Dr. Steele NEVER sidestepped a question and NEVER said a negative word about dingell. He was respectful and ONLY talked on "how" he could "help". I would suggest that because you ARE an educated person, that YOU make contact with him and have questions and coffee. That way, once YOU ARE EDUCATED, then you are able to make up your mind for yourself. 2. In a nutshell and I will go out on a limb here, Rob does have many of the same personal interests as me. Cars and Music. Thus from a personal stand point we communicate easily. This does not mean we agree on politics and the hows and whys. But the way he did not run from the questions and systematically stated the how he would/will do it, impressed me very much. I like to read the person as they speak. You know, look in their eyes, see how they squirm when answering a question, etc. He was calm and confident. 3. Now I state what you guys are doing by slamming a person with no facts and you come back with this. All I said was have facts, have some education and THEN comment. Don't come in with guns-a-blazin', no facts, spewing rubbish and just think it is going to fly. BTW, this passive approach you have now taken is yet another on-line tactic looking for support. You now want people to trash me for exposing you and you are looking for sympathy. david, anyone who even half reads your post should know that you do not need sympathy and hence, posting: "Please enlighten us mere mortals." makes you look even worse. 4. Yes. Absolutely I can. But why have an e-debate only to have it taken down because we would be doing something wrong, against AA.Com policy? Instead, I am within the guidelines of AA.Com of agreeing/disagreeing and stating why. Then giving FACTS to support what I say. I have no clue as to people feel the need to come into a forum like a few of you did with NO FACTS only assumptions and trash a person. Why? Because he sits on the other side of the aisle as you? Know what, I sit mostly on thew right YES. But I do see a TON of good points from the left too. I educate myself and make a decision based on facts. Not just because they are on the right or left. Stereotyping and blanket statements leads to worthless, mindless, posts. Good Night.

Jay Allen

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 11:16 p.m.

@Tru2Blu76: "I point out the facts" Sir/Ma'am, I disagree. Reading what you wrote and I quote: "don't go after me over a LACK of information." So don't go after you for the lack of information when you just said that you point out the facts? OK, I am thoroughly confused. Which is it? How is it possible that you point out facts when now you say there is a lack of information? You cannot state the facts when you wish to trash a person and then when you are caught with mindless rhetoric have no facts and hide behind the "lack of information" card. Typical. You want it BOTH ways!!! And you want readers to believe you? Too funny. You have done no research as you do not know anything about DOCTOR Steele. You are not educated on the issue at hand. You have said nothing and you cannot say anything that is not conjecture and opinion.

David Briegel

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 10:59 p.m.

So Jay, why didn't you tell us what you asked him and what he answered? And why he'll make a great rep? Please enlighten us mere mortals. It will be easy to thrash us!

josber

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.

Honestly trueblue, if you are a practicing cardiologist, you are in fact an MD. He is a Dr. Whether people want to vote for him, that's up to the individual. Dingell is 84, but had a strong constituency for many decades.

Concerned Citizen

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 6:38 p.m.

Dingle is a strong foundation of the "us vs. them" mentality that way to many career politicians (Republicans and Democrats) have in government today. I saw him speak recently and it was way to much Republican bashing for my tastes. Lets vote for representatives who are willing to work to get things done instead of pointing fingers across the table at why they are not.

bedrog

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.

@ jondhall...re you're "loving change" reference, it sure seems like alot of republicans/ libertarians are aching to go back to a mythical past that actually didnt have running water or telephones ( or social security or medicare or environmental safeguards etc etc etc) either... If dingell can get re-elected ( and i have substantive questions about him too, although i have even more of someone who'd let the likes of hannity shill for him), much power to him...

David Briegel

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.

The last time I looked John Dingell was not CEO of one the big three who got paid 40 Million to bankrupt the company. If only your heroes understood fiduciary responsibility. The greedy so and so's who raped the auto industry and kept what profits there were to themselves. Always taking the short term fix profits to the club!! And you are still waiting for the trickle down! Neither Mao nor Stalin were elected!! Hitler was by the good God fearing citizens of Germany!

Cash

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 4:31 p.m.

Faux News would say and do anything. Maybe they will show a fake rally in Detroit or something....with 100000000 demonstrators against Dingell. What a joke. Rob Steele...don't quit your day job.

Mikey2u

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.

Dingell is a good man and I'll vote for him. I've never heard of Sean Hannity though.

xmo

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.

I am glad that Steele will be on Hannity so plenty of people can see him. I like bedrog comments, he chose kings and /or dictators who served a long time. Chairman Mao and J. Stalin were effective long term rulers also!

Ken

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 3:26 p.m.

Sweet, Dingell has no clue how to fix the problems in Michigan after 55 years!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-vR2AUNiAo&feature=player_embedded Sounds like a keeper to me. He is also 84 years old -- even if you are a liberal democrat, MI is competing for dollars with other states, is this really the best person to act on our behalf to compete for those resources any more??

Top Cat

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 3:02 p.m.

Dingell alleged role has been that of representing our domestic auto industry in Congress. Looking around SE Michigan and seeing the wreckage of this industry and all the "working people" hurt by losing their jobs, I would say Dingell has been a total failure.

David Briegel

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.

We have term limits, they are called elections! Do you think the Dr will talk about a woman's right to choose? Or the idiocy of Sarah Palin? Or the Saudi who owns 7% of FAUX News? Or the Community Center being mis-characterized as a Mosque? Or the stirred hatred for Muslims? Or the lies about our President? Or the 13 trillion in debt during the 20 years of Ronnie Reagan and the Bushies? Nope. Me neither. I'll vote for Dingell! Again!!

jondhall

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.

@ bedrog We now have phones and running water. The Flintstones are no longer on tv, time change,we all love change!

Ignatz

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.

Term limits are for anti-democracy wimps.

bedrog

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:05 p.m.

@ jondhall... ramses II, mithradates eupater and caesar augustus all served more than 55 yrs, and were pretty effective rulers for their time, so hardly a 'crime in itself', although hard questions can and should fairly be asked of any elective official.

jondhall

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 1:51 p.m.

55 Years, That is a crime within itself. What has Dingell done? He has made himself a career politician! Time for a "change ", imagine that. Term limits are the answe! No more Dingells. Enough is enough