With all of the debate over Obama’s plan to socialize our health care industry, why haven’t the Blue –Dog Democrats or Republicans placed Tort Reform on the negotiating table? After all, the greatest contributor to health care inflation is the doctors increased cost of medical malpractice insurance.

The answer is quite simple, TRIAL LAWYERS. Trial lawyers contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in support of politicians. While republicans receive a portion of those contributions, over 70% of all donations go to democrats. That is why Bush’s 2000 campaign promise of reigning in health care costs via Tort Reform as he did in Texas fell on deaf ears in Washington. Trial lawyers make a fortune in junk-science and frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits and contribute millions to politicians to keep the cash flowing in. 

With judicial activism what it is, insurance companies prefer to settle the frivolous and felonious lawsuits to save money, making it easier for lawyers to sue knowing they don’t have to prove their case, and the insurance companies losses have to be passed onto the health care providers in the form of increased insurance premiums. The end result is the higher cost of health care for everyone. If you’re of the 90% of the US population who has health care insurance, you and / or your employer is paying higher premiums on insurance for the rising cost of settling these lawsuits.

Throw in 12 to 20 million illegal’s getting free health care in emergency rooms because federal laws forbid hospitals from notifying the INS, you’re paying for that as well.

Every 15 minutes we are inundated with commercials on our television and radio from trial lawyers seeking people willing to sue everyone for everything and we wonder why the cost of insurance and health care is rising four times the rate of inflation.

God forbid Obama’s health care “reform” passes. Every working-class person will be paying HUGE. For those few who initially keep their current health insurance, you’ll be paying twice, both your premiums and your increased taxes you’ll be required to pay anyway. For those who seek insurance because you don’t currently have it or you change jobs, you’ll have no choice; you’ll be forced into the government option according to page 16 of the legislation or you’ll be fined by the government for failure to comply. The government WILL eventually be the sole provider of health care, and you’ll be paying your politicians for your “benefits”. 

The trial lawyers will still be there, but instead of suing individual health care providers and insurance companies, they’ll be suing the taxpayers and the government will make it happen to keep the cash flowing into their campaign coffers. DON’T DOUBT ME, you know I’m right. The only solutions are to cleanse the government of corrupt politicians and REAL TORT REFORM.

Barack Obama has made his decision and will likely disclose his VP pick Friday morning. Before that happens, I just had to post my predictions for the next 6 days.

First of all, Obama will never choose Sen. Joseph Biden for VP. Biden is being pushed as the most likely choice by the mainstream media because of his foreign policy experience and years on the Armed Services Committee, experience Obama seriously lacks as a future commander-in-chief. The media’s efforts however is a rouge to give the illusion that all is forgiven and the party is united. Remember, it was Biden who said in January 2007, “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, I mean, that’s a storybook, man.” This comment outraged people like Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, who had previously run for president and by retrospect were not as articulate, bright, clean, and nice looking in Biden's eyes. Biden's comments in concert with the LA Times opinion piece by David Ehrenstein, Obama the 'Magic Negro', propagated by Rush Limbaugh’s airing of the parody song Barack the Magic Negro, caused a rift between the democrat party elite and black Americans.

Secondly, Obama’s arrogance will not allow him to pick a VP who will overshadow his presidency, so you can forget about Hillary, Dodd, Bayh, or any other seasoned congressman. It will not be Gov. Tom Kaine of Virginia either, today’s appearance was a media teaser. He will pick someone who will deliver votes, and since democrats have already taken control of the governor’s mansion and beat Sen. George “macaca” Allen, Virginia is probably well in the “blue”. Therefore I predict he will pick Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Richardson will deliver a “red” state in 2004 and bridge the gap between Hispanics who may not be willing to support a black candidate and those who will. With our current energy crisis, people will be easily duped into believing Richardson’s experience as Secretary of Energy during the (Bill) Clinton administration will be an asset (never mind the fact his policies help to create the current crisis), along with his administrative experience as governor.

It is my belief, however, the Clinton’s will render Obama and his running mate irrelevant. Obama, for all of the fan-fare, is not very bright. In the spirit of party unity, he has given Hillary everything she wants, he committed to paying off her campaign debts, Hillary’s name is being placed in nomination, and she and Bill will given primetime speeches 2 of 4 nights (at least). With Obama’s declining poll numbers and McCain‘s recent success in upstaging this senator with no real credentials, I believe the Clinton's have successfully set the stage and are preparing for a hostile takeover of Democrat National Convention.

It will be fun to see how this plays out.

The Republican Party used to stand for small government, lower taxes, strong national defense, freedom, liberty, and personal responsibility, but that was years ago. Ronald Reagan was the last president to espouse these views, and the 1994 class of republicans who took control of the House of Representatives led by Newt Gingrich were the last conservatives to lead on these principles.

It was in the 2006 state primary that republicans took a beating due to what conservatives viewed as an illegal pay increase for lawmakers. Voters saw little difference between incumbent republicans and tax and spend democrats they once opposed. One would think PA republicans would have learned their lesson.

I have just learned from an AP story printed in the Pittsburg Tribune-Review that Cumberland County GOP leader Victor Stabile has filed a lawsuit to have the Libertarian candidate Bob Barr removed from this years election ballots. Victor Stabile has pledged support to the presumptive republican nominee John McCain and is apparently willing to do anything it takes to prevent a true conservative from being on Pennsylvania’s ballots.

Back in February, months before the Libertarian Party had a nominee, libertarian Rochelle Etzel of Clarion County was temporarily placed on the petitions (not required from republicans nor democrats to be placed on the ballot). According to the AP story, Barr had Rochelle Etzel’s name replaced with his last week, well within the required time frame. While Mr. Stabile acknowledges Barr has the right to make the change under PA election law, his action somehow “crosses the line”.

Mr. Stabile, how does this “cross the line”, other than Barr possibly taking votes from your preferred candidate? I realize John McCain only believes in freedom and liberty for those who enter our country illegally, but you on behalf of all republicans in the PAGOP are going to decide that conservatives like me cannot vote for my preferred candidate, Bob Barr? Who do you think you are to take away my freedom and liberty to vote for my candidate who you acknowledge was placed on the ballot legally.

I’ve been a republican my entire life, I first voted 26 years ago when I was 19 years old. Only once have I voted for a candidate that was not a republican, if memory serves it was Edward “Ned” Regan, comptroller for NYS about 20 years ago, I felt he was the better candidate so I voted for him. The time has come for a change, I will no longer support the party I grew up with.

While I realize the republican party was never the conservative party, for 40 years conservatives found a home in the republican party, having conservative positions included in the party platform. That is changing before our eyes as McCain considers a pro-abortion running mate for his VP. Now we have state republicans trying to circumvent election law in an effort to get a liberal republican elected by eliminating a conservative opponent.

As a result, I implore all conservatives to reject republicans and support a 3^rd party candidate, my preference is Bob Barr, you can visit his site at http://www.bobbarr2008.com. If you prefer, the constitution party candidate is Chuck Baldwin. Republicans expect our vote, but disregard our principles. The time for choosing the lesser of 2 evils has ended, neither democrats nor republicans are worthy of our vote!

While I’m working, I travel between locations in western New York. When I can, I listen to conservative talk radio between locations, Glenn Beck from 9 to noon, Rush Limbaugh noon to 3pm, Sean Hannity 3pm to 6pm, and Mark Levin 6pm until I get home.

These talk show hosts have two things in common, they’re self-described conservatives, and they all seem to support John McCain for President.

Rush Limbaugh yesterday was lamenting McCain’s decision he would consider a pro-abortion VP. Why should Rush be surprised McCain would side with the left on a life issue, he often turns his back on conservatives in favor of liberals, so why do many conservatives support him?

While McCain has otherwise opposed taxpayer financed abortion rights, he said in 1999 that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. He now claims he will nominate constitutionalist Supreme Court Justices like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts, but they have both stated Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Why should we believe McCain today?

Sean Hanitty often defends McCain’s flip-flops. In defense of McCain he will say (paraphrased) “I believe John McCain will nominate constructionist judges as he said he would”, and we’re supposed to believe that? McCain has a long history of ignoring and disappointing conservatives, and we’re supposed to believe McCain is now being truthful and not just pandering for political expediency?

I fail to understand why these pundits seemingly support McCain now, they certainly didn’t in the primary process. Now that he has secured the nomination, McCain is suddenly an acceptable candidate? Why? What has changed?

Anyone who has visited my site realizes I support Bob Barr for president, he is a true conservative who believes in small and limited government, freedom and liberty, and personal responsibility. He is also a third-party candidate. Talk show hosts do not believe in the viability of electing a 3^rd party candidate, so they disregard former Congressman Bob Barr. I wish to remind them, Abraham Lincoln was a little known 3^rd party candidate who became our 16^th President of the United States. If you are truly conservatives as you say, you should support Bob Barr for president, or are you more concerned about offending moderates who listen to your programs and support McCain. Walk the Line.