Rick, is it true? I have heard thru reliable sources that what pushed Rep. Spector over the edge and into Democratic arms was the meeting he had yesterday afternoon with Rep. Michele Bachmann and Rush Limbaugh. It seems that they explained to Spector that the current administration through NASA Mars project had imported conservative Christian hating Martians to discredit them. Having heard about this plot, Mulder and Scully snuck aboard the jet that "buzzed" New York and took control before the Martians could parachute and take over the EIB building. I heard Spector ran out of the room during the meeting.

Nowhere are those comments more prevalent than here in Arizona. I think the uninformed are the ones I hear the most saying that Obama is going to take away guns, introduce socialism, etc. all seem false so far.

I cannot believe the republican hypocrisy. It was perfectly fine for them to have uncontrolled power during the first years of the Bush administration, but it is terribly dangerous for Democrats to have that same power. I say Obama should have that power to completely – and I mean completely – reject and abrogate the actions of Bush.

Rick, I believe I had swine flu approx. 6wks ago. I am 61years old. It was bad.

Love how you did not let Demint get away with that voters are turning to "freedom" crap. first sign of a desperate politician is to hide behind the flag.

Hey Rick, The GOP keeps harping on the word "Freedom" apparently, they mean the kind of "Freedom" they gave the folks in Katrina. "Freedom" from help, care and compassion. No Thanks.

The GOP seems to be losing its moderate supporters and becoming more and more of an extremist party dominated by some very hypocritical evangelical Christians. Until the GOP decides to quit with the 'do as I say, not as I do' argument against big government spending and rejects the ignorant, intolerant views of its evangelical base, I think this trend of losing moderate supporters will continue until the only red states left will be in the Bible belt. It is a sad day when the Republican party has been reduced to those who believe that Texas should secede from the Union because of the belief that Obama is going to take our assault rifles away.

President Obama, Democrats & Republicans…

As an example of bipartisanship — The American People will compromise too…
Combine Medicare and Medicade with Universal Healthcare.
Offer it to all Americans. They can choose any doctor they wish to.
Charge a standard copay upon visit and for also for Rx.
Do this at the state level using valid state issued identification (i.e. state id or drivers license but NOT with federal health cards). Allow the states to run these programs but utilize a standardized system.

KEEP YOUR TAX CREDITS AND GIVE US HEALTH CARE

Just how many people actually get to use these TAX CREDITS that file with a 1040EZ form? Not a whole lot. We dont want or need all of these tax credits.

When South Carolina Sen. Jim Demint (R) says his party sees a shift in people desiring less government and more "freedom," keep in mind that Republicans and Conservatives define freedom not the way you might think. To them, freedom means to lift all regulations on business and industry to enable them to maximize profits with little or no regard to the harm they do to anyone else. Demint even bashed the right to unionize in his banal comments, masking his intent with that old shibboleth, "the right to work." No wonder a major Republican figure has switched parties. The GOP is no longer representative of any majority. They're still divisive and prone to swift-boating anyone who disagrees with their narrow, antiquated philosophy.

When young voters work hard and obtain some wealth, and when they see government taking away a huge portion of it to give to others whom have not worked so hard, and see what the government has let them keep purchase far less due to inflation resulting form massive deficit spending and printing of bogus money, then and only then, they will wake up and change their voting habits.

When will the republican party acknowledge that, had it not been for the last 8 years we would not have to have the bail-outs? For many of us retirees who are now looking for jobs, it,s offensive to hear comments from republicans who are paid by the tax payers, complaint about big government. We need to be people who support our country and whatever it take to help families who are suffering. The reality is many people are hurting, many people are out of work.

I live in Mexico and the reality is 1,000 Mexicans have died of the Flu according to a Mex. Health Official who is a friend. The govt is hiding the truth.

And it's interesting that the GOP keeps harping on their view that the best way to get us out of this recession is by allowing the 'invisible hand' of the free market economy balance things out. Ironically, this unregulated invisible hand is what got us into the current economic mess in the first place, with unregulated greed and mismanagement in businesses leading to the collapse of the economy. Mismanagement, greed and outright stupidity among our business leaders will continue to lead us in a boom-and-bust economic cycle unless someone stops them. It's great that the Republicans are so idealistic about the economy, but they need to take a lesson in reality and see that their lassaiz faire-Reaganomics economic policy simply doesn't work.

Rick, When the Republicans say that they are against huge deficit spending, they should be reminded of their past performence. When Reagan took office,
the budet on 9/30/81 was aprox. 998 billion dollars.On 9/30 /09 the est. budget will be over 12 billion dollars. the three republican administrations were responsible for 7.5 billion dollars. 5.6 billion dollars ocurred during the last 8 years when all these republicans who are trying to convince us that they are so fiscal were in office

Do you blame Spector, would you want to be a part of the party of Rush?

pork is not eaten by many ethnic peoples because it is known as filth. the old books the Bible and arab books all know it is death. many many places throughout the books say no pork. how could the trade commissioner say it is not swine. we will never believe him again.....

I don't recall anyone Revieving President Rove/Cheney's first 100 days in office ? They would have been called unpatriotic and lost their jobs if anything negative was writen about the Bush puppet presidency. It would be Nice to see a comparison of all the last 6 presidents first 100 days in office. What they did or did not accomplish, And to be fair, include any Crisis they had to deal with. Iike inheriting a Bankrupt nation, left that way by the Rove / Cheney sell off of our once great Nation.

Just wanted to mention that with all of this attention to the 60-some individuals that have come down with the swine flu, why isn't everyone this upset about the epidemic of 1 in 150 of our children currently being affected with autism? 60ish individuals is not a pandemic! It is time for the CDC to pay attention to the current autism EPIDEMIC!!

I was hoping republicans would switch.. When is Scharzeneger going to switch?Specter is brave and honest..

Mexico should be held accountable for lying about the flu. They knew about it in Feb. They didn't want to scare the tourist away. Kids from many countrys went there.

I heard Arlen Specter on Howard Stern a week or so ago. I could not figure out how an intelligent, person with common sense could support the g OLD p. Today we received our answer. He could no longer support the Republicans since they have been hijacked by the Karl Rove's, Anne Coulters, and Rush Limba's of the world.

Rick! I am very angry. "WHY" didn't the media and the people scruitnize and make John W. Bush. Be straight forth about its spending. When tey took the 3billion surplus and squondored it all away. Why didn't the people and the news media call this president on the carpet for that spending. The United States ws in good standing. financially. WHY, WHY, WHY, didn't any one say anything when Bush was squondering all that money away. Why? didn't any one say anything when he declared that a "WAR" would boost the "ECONOMY" WHY" didn't any one say Mr. president you are wrong. and call him on the carpet. "WHY" is it when Bush said that the accountant had lost all this billion of money. Ifthey felt that it was the accountant falt. "WHY" did they keep this person on staff. They are saying that their accountant was incompanant. Tell me "WHY".

They should leave president OBOMA, alone he is right. NO other president has ever had the courage or the backbone to stand for the truth. and do what is right for the people. Other than President client.

Now! We have another President that has the backbone, and the courage to stand for the people and for what is right. His spending is notheing compared to what has been spent in the past. under Bushes watch.

I do not believe the american people are stupid. They know exactly who got this contary in this predicimate, and brought this country to this state. This president is working to get the American people and this country back on the right track. to get it back and beyound to an even better state. He know it is not goint to be easy because of the extent of the level that the economy has been allowed to get in. the Bush administration that not listen to the people and all the red flags that was their before them. that they choose to denie.

I believe that every one know tha it is going to take money to make money. it is going to take money, hard work of all american now, to help the UNITED states recover from this CRISES. This is effecting the whole world. and all inhabitances and all nations. I believe that the Lord wont us all to work to get this thrdr problum SOLVED. And ask for his assistance in our hour of NEED. In getting this Country back to its balance and beyound. and this time do not allow those who wish to tare it down or bring it down never allow them to do it again. Do not allow them to scare them to make decision they would not have made.

President OBOMA is going right he is on the right track. All have a part to do in helping get this economy and this united states back on track.
We can also, research past history to see how the country survived crises. How communities pulled together and helped one another. and no families were left out. or hungry. People and communities have to use their "SMARTS" to help one another. This country will survive, and over come.

Ya Sen. Specter!! There wont be many Republican moderates left. Maybe Sens. Collins and McCain will join the Dems too! They're not going to have too many other GOP moderates to talk to on Capital Hill The Republican Party is in trouble and reliance on Limbaugh and the ultra-conservative types isnt going to improve their fortunes.

And re: Pres Obama's first 100 days! I've been re-reading Al Gore's "Assault on Reason" recently and I'm ENTIRELY ABSOLUTELY happy that much of what Mr. Gore proposed there as a remedy to the US's very real political and social problems has been taken up by Pres. Obama and that much has been initiated already!

I can't stand the way the republicans are disrespecting Mr. Obama and the office of the Presidency. Why can't they be patient, kind, and understanding like we were with the previous administration.

Hey how do you like that Specter deal, huh? That's a big win for CNN and the rest of us Democrats. Hats off to you for your part in that Rick. Jack Cafferty also! A lot of the credit has to go to Larry King too. He has a steady stream of good progressive ideas on his show.

Rick, are you kidding me? Today, you asked a US senator – my US senator – "What the hell is that?" when referring to his comments. Are you serious? How unnecessary and unprofessional. My job isn't as important as yours; I just work at a small Southern textile plant. However, I do deal with people at all levels of our ladder almost everyday. Regardless of my relation to each, I treat them with respect and courtesy, and I never use profanity with them. If I heard O'reilly say it to Barney Franks, I'd contact him, too. It's a little thing, sir, but it speaks volumes and is completely out of place. I don't agree with you, but I do wish you every success personally. Regards.

Rick you were born in Cuba and you pretend to not know what Freedom means? You were talking to a Republican, a member of the party of Lincoln. The party is built on Freedom – Free people and Free markets. Show some respect for Mr DeMint. He's elected by his people, it's not ok to cuss him. Bottom scraping, not edgy. Very uncool.

I'm flabbergasted at the comments I've seen/heard here and elsewhere (NPR – Lisa Jackson) that ridicule the "free market". Are they kidding? If there is one self evident truth it's that free markets work. Yes, the (sort of)free market is responsible for where we are today. Thank goodness! We're the richest more prosperous country in the history of the world.

Rush Limbaugh is a phoney from way back from SE Missouri, The guy is a straight up pill junkie that got away with that one scott free and has been some how selling his Nazi proproganda bullcrap now for a better part of 20 years and still the greedy white bible thumping keep up with the Jones` wacko is buying into this puff of smoke up my pooper. I cant believe a classy chic like Daryn Kagan would actually lay in the same bed as this freak. Put it this way if you ever tune into one of his broadcasts and actually agree with what he says without puking than you deserve the pig!

One of the many problems with the Republicans is that they are idiots!
Right now the only thing they can agree on is to bash President Obama and everything associated with him. If they had any sense at all they should completely remove themselves from Limbaugh.

i think that all that is a load of b.s. all of them should just shut up and let the man do the job he was elected to do

President Obama kepts saying it is not me for these crisis he has taken on since being president, but what kind of crisis is he going to leave us with when he leaves office? And will the next President said that this is not his crisis of so much debt because of President Obama. So when will he take responsibility for these crisis, after he leave the office of the US President, thanks really would like a answer of what you think on this matter.

CNN reported earlier today that Susan Rice was the first afro american to be America's ambassador to the UN. Under Carter's administration, Andrew Young became the first. Susan Rice is the first African American woman. .

Rick, were you part of the Media that met w/ BO administration that were told to be positive w/ BOs 100 days accomplishment. I heard, no conservative media journalist were invited. WhY? Please look into to it and let your audience make a judgement on this report.

The Honeymoon is still ON !!

BO is so arrogant to make fun of us TEA PARTY supporters. We don't want GOVT bankrupting me, I don't want him to decide if I get Hospice care when I'm dying, or if I get a CT scan if it would help me get me a better prognosis. He is the most DANGEROUS president ever. To talk about TRANSFORMing AMERICA is dictator talk. LIstened to CHAVEZ lately?.....he sounds like him.

All over the country everyone has been asked to make concessions! I feel that all of the elected and appointed government officials both locally and nationally should be mandated to give up part of their salaries and perks i.e. medical co-pay should be increased, dental and optical, travel expenses dramatically decreased and eliminate drivers. This would save the tax payers millions. We should all be willing to make concessions!

I love our President. But I feel that it's a lot of people suffering like myself to the point that when relief do come, it will be too late. I've been unemployed since November. Beforehand, I began school in September 2008. I lost a job because the boss read on my application that I was in school, just like my President asked me to. This was the beginning of April when this happened. I'm in school for HVAC/R with a 3.8 GPA and perfect attendance. I received news on April 2nd that a student loan I had when I went to college in 1998 and consolidated in 2004 because I didn't have the money to start paying, went into default and my student aid would end April 26, 2009. Forcing me to stop my education, crushing my dreams and ambitions for the prosperity of my family for years to come. CNN I'm married with 2 young sons. The U.S Department of Education tells me there nothing I can do but drop-out for six months paying 75 dollars a month and in the end I still have to pay both loans why make me quit a 60 week course and I'm half way done and I'm guaranteed a job when I graduate. To me that was simply heartless and immoral considering we are in a recession. And secondly, that it is hard being Black in America. The hardest thing to accept is that the loans I received in 1998 I dropped out without withdrawing, I didn't receive an education then. Why stop me from my education which would me take me and my family out of poverty. In my life I never made over 11 dollars an hour, I made 10 dollars once for six months. That's why I decided to go to school. If by any chance this do get read please pass this message to right ears CNN all I need my default lifted I will be able to pay back my loans all I'm asking for is the opportunity to earn my degree.

Hey Rick, economy is no different, we bailed out companies like AIG and auto makers and yet they are threatening that they will file bankruptcy. They took all the money and a glass of CHAMPAIGN on top of it to celebrate. Yeah we shook a couple of hands here and there, I guess that would help our foreign policy and U.S image in the world... Other than that what happened to the CHANGE we were expecting???

Guns and our country is safer under Obama than Bush. This is easy to say but ni-one will listen to me. We keep hearing how the stimulus package is working and there have been more jobs created. Well, the jobs must be in the government because down where I and a lot of other working class americans are, none have materialised. Here we go again, just because our elected officials say it's so, doesn't make it true, Obama stated everything was going to be transparent, well now is the best time to prove it. I remember Obama bashiing republicans for the trickle down effect and he was going to have it trckle up from the working class. I'm working class like so many others and have not seen anything going in the direction of the working class.

My husband and I watch news on CNN all the time. What we've seen over the first 100 days is a pack of Republicans running around and acting first and second graders. Make a lot of noise,whine when they don't get their way, and just generally refuse to cooperate with the other people involved. The president has repeatedly reached out to them and all they do is bad mouth him and refuse to see beyond their own agenda.

BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS!!!
Obama and Clinton went to Mexico over the drug problem and blamed United States citizens for drug consumption but still yet they help Mexico. What about our own people that is addicted to drugs that are dying in jails and just plain out dying but I didn't see any help for these people?Congress gets arrested to help Darfur,but seems like we can't get them out of office to help these people suffering this disease called addiction.Then Obama talked to Cuba's leader,guess who gets blamed for what is happening over in Cuba,of course the American people.All of the American people wasn't in office which was suppose to take care of the problems with Cuba and was also suppose to shut down the border in Mexico.

I lost my job and where I live here in Pikeville,KY they keep wanting to lock people up and they keep raising taxes and I can't afford no more of this.I barely can put food on the table now days.I could understand that they want to lock up the major drug dealers but some of these small dealers and addicts just need help with their disease.So please try to help us out so I can have a little easier time putting food on my table.

rick i love your show you are big help on the air the problem we are having in nassau county is that the family court in west bury longisland are breaking the law and not been fair against black and lateno mens can u bought up this topic thank you

Is It possible the "NEW" Flu will merge with STAPH infection? There has been a local outbeak of STAPH in the last 4 weeks here in Saint George Utah. a girl at my work got it a few weeks ago after throat surgery. Guess what SHE"S back at work and infected. They recommed she be admitted. Another Friend got STAPH after foot surgery and was transfered to Las Vegas Hospital.

Republicans just have a very hard admitting that Obama is doing a great job!!

Rick love all at CNN but one thing have to say is how dare the reporter and Robert Gibbs for the way they treated our V.P I happen to feel the same way the V.P said I would tell MY family to stay off planes and confind places he did NOT say AMERICANS stay away from all other people

lay off joe biden he just stated the ovious

as an independent I would remind everyone that Specter was a Dem before he became a Rep. In other words he was before he wasn't. So who's moved the tent ???? Specter changed parties because he's afraid of being beat. He'll still lose. Hope the Dems enjoy his company.

Hey Rick, in reference to the Iverson comment. It's "Practice" not "Playoffs". Just helping out. Peace

Nobama IS a communist. He apparently hates America or he wouldnt be destroying us. I was a democrate but recently became a republican because of HIM! His bowing down to someone to destroying our generation .I bet there will be a lot more tea parties. Ill be among them.

Somebody should remind those Republican PARANOIDS that, the word "Socialism" is derived from the word "Social", which means "Gregarious", "Caring for one's Fellows"!
Tells you where THEY are at!
N.
Pasadena. CA.

There are plenty of our allies that implement Socialist policies and they're not only doing just fine, in some ways they rock a lot harder than the US.

The rich are the ones that will have to pay for a good chunk of Socialist reform in this country so they combat it by supporting the talking heads that try to make people scared of these policies by calling them by the boogy word "socialism". But in reality, both the poor and middle classes will be better off if we follow the lead of our allies and implement these policies. Don't be tricked by the fear mongering.

(I personally am a social liberal and pretty much conservative on the rest, especially fiscally, which pulls me in opposite directions when it comes to helping people vs. creating bigger government, but in the end I have to reject selfish behavior and say that we should help people out even though it costs us more).

Stephen
Virginia Beach

To Markus Blackwell

Man, I totally hear you. My sister got laid off and is at least getting unemployment. She just got accepted into architecture school today. There are two problems.

1) If she starts school they stop her unemployment (why would they do that?) and she'll need that to pay for day care and part of the monthly family expenses.

2) The federal government has fallen behind the tuition rates and won't give out loans that cover all of tuition (why would they do that?).

The only way she could get that education would be to get a part-time job with an employer that is understanding about the school time (who will do that in this economy?)

Stephen
Virginia Beach

I used to think that the GOP should change it's mascott from the elephant to a Hyaena with a parrot on it's back. Now, I'm leaning more towards Dino the dinosaur.

Rick Sanchez Why don't you tell the FDA to take drugs off the market instead of placing a black label on the box.- these can cause death One Big Pharma drug Abilify as advertised on TV states Abilify may cause death. Many Pharam drugs cause liver damage but stay on the market. Sure Hydrcut should be off the market . Lets be fair

It is out there the President’s is actively working to silence “Any Media Outlet “ that they don’t currently control and believe “Our Government knows better what we should know and thus want to control it … God help us if you stand by and let this happen. Who will stand up against the Globalist agenda if they can succeed and gaining control of the only media outlets, Talk Radio, The Internet, et cetera that they don’t ALEADY have complete control of ….Oh my this along with lies we are being told of them trying to control the Flu coming into the United States is just too much. What they say is going at boarder check points is NOT the Truth!!! What are the voices that will speak if you die of the flu along with millions of Americans? Who will you blame later if you yourself are still around. Do you have a vaccine if you keep quiet? God help us in America!

I don't hear how Palin and McCains degrading campaign destroyed the Republican party. I can't believe the e mails I get from Steele on behave of the Republicans. Shameful and the, 'Same Old Stuff'.
They use 'FEAR".

We need health care and call it any name you want but unemployed people do get sick and need dentist.

Socialism might pay for that $600 root canal.

It's about time Catholic celibacy is brought to light. The practice began in the Middle Ages to keep important church figures from willing their property too their heirs, rather than to the church.

Come into the modern age, and let priests marry

This administration says it is for educating the children. Explain to me then why teachers in Florida are being given the pink slip, schools closed and class sizes increased as Florida says it does not have money for the class size amendment that was voted in by the people. You cannot blame the teachers when they are being pushed to their limits. Saying education is number 1 but proving it is another and this administration like the past one seems to be all talk on this issue.

Hows the middle class doing? Where are this jobs. Did Mr. Obama really help the car industry? Does it pay to buy American or Canadian when GM is still attacking its workers,that made them #1. Did they forget about that?
After 30 years ,how would you feel if you found out they where going after your pension? I won't buy GM,this sickens me.
How does anyone feel after there lives are destroyed,like this.
It doesn't hurt the rich guys. Just the middle class and the poor. I thought Mr. Obama was for the working guy ,not the rich guys. I think I was wrong about him. Its just politics.

the sad part is. . . reporters are being dupped by these crooks in office. . . as long as the republicans and democrats crooks can keep americans bs'ed they will keep stealing. . . nothings changed in the history of politics in america. and nor will it

Obama, i think he's doing alright but as of taking the right of bare arms, jacking the price on ammo is wrong(maybe not in some states); but Here in rural Alaska Subsistence Gathering is a must and is the only lifestyle and survival of most Alaskan Natives. Jacking the prices of ammo would be wrong cause ammo out here in the villages are pricey enough and all things cost about double if not triple to things you would buy in the states.
People that try stop hunting here in Alaska is one thing i really don't like cause how would it feel if there was people that tried to stop fast food restaurants or places where you buy your food from; and yes i understand there are people that hunt for fun (sportsmen or what ever they call them). But for us when we want birds or meat we don't run to the store or to those restaurants plus store food you don't know who, what or where it's been or handled by. Store food has too many things in them that we aren't use to and don't even know what they are.

It seems that the focus is on the Stock Market and not on the real issue of the financial crisis. The real issue is unemployment. Just like in the 1929 Great Depression the Stock Market leveled off in a year or so. The depression went on because of unemployment. If you watch the TV news items on unemployment they talk about the new unemployment figures and how many are receiving benefits. Last month I lost my benefits along with 700,000 other citizens. If 700,000 lost benefits in April and I was one of the first to get on these benefits at the first of the crisis in 18 months we will have another 10,800,000 more people out of work and no benefits…

With all the cuts in employment, wages and work hours I have not seen one politician taking a cut in pay, stop taking political jaunts on the public’s money or taking non-paid work days. Is it only the public that is getting the shaft…?

Has Nothing Changed at Gitmo Under Obama?

Investigation by Best-Selling Author Jeremy Scahill Reveals Obama Continues Using Bush-era Goon Squad That Terrorizes Unarmed Prisoners at Guantanamo

As the Obama administration fights to prevent the release of some 2,000 photos reportedly depicting US abuse of prisoners, an investigative report by award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Jeremy Scahill has revealed that a notorious Bush-era Military Police unit at Guantanamo that systematically brutalized prisoners since the early days of the "war on terror" is still operating with impunity at the prison camp. Despite President Obama's pledge to close Guantanamo and guarantee "humane standards of confinement" in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, Scahill details how the US military continues to use a force at Guantanamo whose actions legal experts say violates both Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, as well as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which forbids the use of unnecessary force against prisoners. Scahill's investigation was published today by the online news magazine AlterNet. It paints a dark and horrifying portrait of an extrajudicial terror squad most Americans have never heard of and has not been subject to any substantive Congressional or legal investigation.

"Little Known Military Thug Squad Still Brutalizing Prisoners at Gitmo Under Obama," can be found at: http://www.alternet.org/story/140022/

As the mother of a teenager, I am already concerned about my child coming across shady characters who are willing to offer them drugs, needles, alcohol, a ride whatever. I tell my child to be careful, not to trust them, and if you have any problems to find a cop and if need be flag them down and tell them you in trouble. I'm not saying that I will not continue to say that, there are good and bad in people everywhere. But I hope and pray to God, she finds the good cop willing to help, and not the latter, a cop in a bad mood, out to hurt someone. By the way, I also hope to God Paul Mooney, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are on their way to Toledo.

When will the public learn that they MUST obey a police officer's commands? The teenager would not have been harmed had he simpl;y obeyed orders. Instead he performed for a camera that just
"happened" to be nearby photographing the scene. It looks like a
setup to me and a way to get money out of the city. Remember
Rodney King anyone Same scenario. This brat should be taught to
respect the police, not exploit them. We MUST support the police
not out -of-control teenagers on drugs.