Hi Rick
i always watch cnn .Just now you were talking to one of Rep Senator He said we have best health care system here
and he also said some people who earn 75,000 didn't apply for healthcare insurance.but we ( me,My Husband and my 3 yrs old daughter) have insurance and paying $730.00 per month to insurance
and our deductible is 400 per person and on top of that whenever we go to see Doctor or hospital visit we have to pay 20% out of pocket.So we just scared to go see doctor because we cannot afford 20%.
So can you please ask him Is this the system which he said " is the best health system here"
Thanks

Rick, consider the source. He was on FOX News. 'Nuff said.

RE: Obama birth certificate. Pres. Obama can show a birth certificate all he wants, but the true believers out there will still call it a forgery. He cannot win no matter what he does.

From what I've read, there are conflicting stories as to what happened. I am Active Duty and just got back from a deployment to
Afghanistan a couple of months ago, myself. If you want my own personal opinion, if like he said he was captured while lagging behind on patrol, in the performance of his duties, then I say let's do what we can to get him back. But to be quite honest with you, if he just walked off his post with "three Afghans" as other accounts say, I have no sympathy for him. I hope for the best for him, but if there's a
chance of recovering him, there should be a full investigation into the
circumstances regarding his capture. If he was captured in the
performance of his duties, he, in my book deserves a hero's welcome. But if it turns out that he did in fact desert his post, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No determination
should be made either way until all the facts are in.

Hi Rick,
Just heard your piece on Healthcare in Canada versus Healthcare or Non Healthcare in The U.S. Your conclusion was that there are some things that we up here need from your system and there appears to be some things you need from ours. No Rick, there is nothing we need from your system. What your system has is that wealthier people can access non threatening care easier – even our wealthy ungrateful people. What our system has is that everyone can access healthcare all the time except maybe there is a wait for non-threatening illnessess.
Cassandra

There is a popular T-shirt among nurses which reads: Do you want to talk to the doctor or do you want to talk to the nurse who really knows what’s going on?

Why not interview nurses about health care? We are where the rubber hits the road.

Enjoy your program.

Dr. Bon Bon RN (a doctor-nurse)

I would tweet but haven't figured it out yet. Too olde, I guess, Rick.

I would like to comment on health care, if I may. Why does everyone compare Canadian plan to American care? Why are we not comparing Medicare to current American system? And, regardless, can't we do better than Canada? Why must any plan here be exactly like theirs? I am self-employed and was priced out of the health insurance market over 3 years ago. I, and many Americans, are now no better off than illegal immigrants. We may have a great healthc are system, but to many, it is like having a Ferrari in the garage and no money for gas. Luv the show....You are Mr. No Spin.

I know what is to be in Combat. As a Leader you have to support your troops not matter what. In addition I want to ask,If it is true he left his post, How a soldier can leave the post without being question when we have guards on the site? Where was the soldier squad leader, Plattoon Leader, First Sergeant, or his inmediate commander?
I just can not believe this situation. If one of our soldier can get out of a US military compound, that means that the enemy may come in to visit at anytime.
1SG US ARMY Retired

The Canadian health care system has good points and bad points but at least they have a system! We don't , so poor people have to do what they can to receive care. The senate does need more time to properly evaluate the costs. History tells us the rich have always lived off the backs of the poor. Nothing new there. Close the tax loopholes and off-shore profits first.

Hey Rick,
I just want to say that what the conservatives are saying about the 50% of people who are qualified for aid are not signing up, the fact is that we are applying, but because of the conservative regulations on who can get accepted, are being denied. I can speak from personal experience. I have a debilitating back and neck injury that i got in a car accident April of 2008. My doctors say that with the pain I'm in and limited abilities I have, that I can't work, and the AID ADMINISTRATION are still denying my claim.

I'm aghast at the comments of the retired officer who, in effect, just threw this young soldier to the wolves of Afghanistan!

I'm praying that this brave young man, age 23, will be rescued asap, and brought home to his family and town. It sickens me to see another US soldier teetering on death's doorstep at the hands of barbarians. To then hear a fellow serviceman publically blast him at this desperate time is beyond the pale.

Oh, God, please bring Bowe home!

Thank you, Rick, for your excellent commentary.

Reguardless of how this solider was captured. My heart goes out to him and his family. This retired officer Peters, as a human being should be ashamed of his remarks. I have been blessed that he was never my commanding officers while I was in service. He would have made an excellet officer in the SS.

Health Care – US versus Canada

I believe I am in a good position to comment on health care – north and south of the border. I am a US citizen and have been living in Canada for the last 12 years. When I was younger I recall vividly how my parents, both civil lawyers, would berate the medical profession and insurance companies in regards to patient care – but the at least there was care and is today.
In Canada, the medical system has little or no cost for most services – but as a resident you certainly pay for it in many ways that would be inconcievable to US citizens. Weeks or months of waiting for tests and/or proceedures that would happen within a few days in the US. Plus the quality of care is considerably less than what I have experienced in the US except for critical or trauma situations. The running joke here is – if you are critical or have been seriously injured the emergency departments will jump through hoops to save a life – but if you are just sick then get in line. Even some surveys here by some groups say 40 to 50,000 Canadians die every year due to, in part, to slow tests, surgeries, and/or follow up exams in a reasonable time frame.
So coming from both medical worlds north and south of the border how do I see it overall. A comprehensive US medical system will never work unless you can lock up the medical, legal, and insurance heads in one room and come to a decisive answer as far as liability and/or litigation factors. You can't sue the government (easily) and until we address that issue the lobbying from those groups will never get Washington DC to agree on a system that truly works. Take some of Canada's system and marry it with the quality of the US medical system and then you will have a chance – but in a litigous society as the US is versus Canada it will never make it to the waiting room unless the AMA, ABA, and insurance companies can agree. Bottom line, it is not politics that is impeding a centralized system – it is money and who is going to make it.

Oboma needs to keep ignoring those miserable people, they are just looking for company.
If the president's bath certificate was acceptable by the higher officials, these people are not worth it.
If he had not lost his mother to cancer this questions could have been best answered by her. and he has all the right to morn his mom when he please. It need not be agitated by some old crow.
They are just not worth it, my President has better things to do, like Health Care, etc.

Ralph Peters is wrong for what he said. Even if the missing soldier did desert the war and other soldiers, that comment was totally uncalled for. Shame on Mr. Peters for his callous comments!

He was and is still good enough to serve, no one can tell me that he is not worth saving.
He is still American and always will be. I cant buy any story until he is home safe. HE IS SOMEBODY'S SON

If I had the perks and salary that these people voteing on this health package have I'd probably try to vote it down to.

In the 90's, Mr. Peters was one of several "analysts" assigned to account for missing servicemen from the Korean and Cold Wars, particularly in regard to knowledge the former Soviet Union might have of their circumstances. I wonder if his recent comments are also a reflection of his attitude toward the Korean/Cold War missing whose cases he worked on?

We put too much value on the lives of Americans. We think we are worth more than other people. We get upset about this one individual; but do not even bother to keep a body count on the people we kill for oil.

I do not have much sympathy for our servicemen. Most of them are Bible-thumping tards, who still think Saddam had something to do with 9/11. At this point in time, most have volunteered to go to Iraq and Afghanistan. So they no longer have my sympathy as being forced to engage in an unjust war built on lies.

Rick, don't you find it interesting that people are outraged by Peters'
insensitive, ill-timed, unfeeling indifference, to the plight of this
captured soldier, but aren't the least bit bothered by the incessant
Republicans hurt rather-than-help, criticize rather-than- care attitude
that made Peters comfortable in making the statement in the first place? This counrty needs a CARE package delivered to it before it's
too late. Bush didn't care, because he didn't have the sense to know how to care.

Hey Rick
I think this is something important to you and the American people. Could you do a follow up on a CBS news story that should be a biases on how we quantify the “Best Health Care in the World” comments conservatives would like us to believe. Please look for everyday people who live with the French, Canadian, Italian, Japanese, British and other centralized health care systems. Also talk with the doctors who work in the system. It is one thing to base policy on FACTS, it is totally different animal to base policy on BELIEF as the conservatives do. This is an issue I’m sure the viewers will watch the program with total attention.

Rick, Ralph Peters appears to be in the army what is called a RIMF. rear echelon mother ....
His comments were dispicable and he is a disgrace to the army and this country. He has judged, condemned, and executed this young soldier all in one fell swoop on one of the sleaziest news networks om tv. Ralp Peters should be held accountable for those remarks for the sheer fact that it appears to incite summary excutions of service members by a hostile force.

Rick:

I think it is a good thing that LTC Peters is a retired, ex-soldier. He IS NOT a leader that the U.S. needs in the field leading our troops.

"Retired" U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters?

Taking into account what he said, the above should read
"Retarded U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters".

Rick – Re Birther segment today – You got the story wrong on how Obama's birth announcement ended up in the Hawaii newspaper, it was not put in the paper by his parents.

In 1961 when Obama was born, each hospital had to put a listing of all live births at their hospital in the paper each Friday of the births from the previous week. It was some law related to the census. This was all explained by the hospital registrar whom some news organization found (and covered) about a year ago – google is your friend. This factoid makes the birthers story even more ludicrous.

Rick!! Faithful watcher...saw your show today, not cool dude! I am a Canadian but have lived in the U.S. back a few years...there is nothing "good" about the U.S. health care system...There is a big difference between a Canadian system that it always getting updated with new Doctors and adjustments on waiting room wait times, etc...but the U.S. does not need updates, it needs a COMPLETE OVERHAUL!!! I applaud U.S. patriotism...I admire it actually and did while living there..Tulsa that was...BUT..."OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD"??????? What the H$%$ is that....and what world are you talking about...3rd world...and exagerated wait times in Canada??? WOW...My Doc ordered me a Catscan, 2 days later I recieved a phone call to book as early as 2 weeks...yeah...not sure where the HUGE WAIT is there...I have had a few surgeries myself and never went bankrupt because of them...I'm not sure if you even check your comments on your blog, as I am sure this will never get on the air, maybe a bit to close to the actual truth for Americans to hear...but lets atleast get real...sure some people have a few months to wait for a non life threatning surgery because their knee is giving them a bit of pain etc...but that is a non crucial surgery, people like that keep working, keep living and take the odd advil / IB profin, big deal, better that seeing your savings you have beensaving for a new house or car be drained because your hurt your knee playing a sport, or tri;pping over a chair, man...the whole developed world and most of the U.S. brass if truthful will admit this has been coming along time, too bad it took a real guy like Obama to bring it!!!
Stll love the U.S. and appreciate the Patriotism of so many Americans...but HEALTH Care...get real people, this is one where you take your hat off and say do you know what...our system does stink maybe we should take advice from CANADA....Love ya all!!

Rick- was watching your discussion and guests today comparing Canadian Health Care to US..
As a 47 yr old Canadian living in Canada who has owned a US company in Houston Texas since 1989 I can perhaps offer a couple of insights and facts neither the former Canadian minister nor your US guest who’s name escapes me seemed unable to answer out of ignorance or simply ducked.
Currently I am on a wait list for an ‘urgent’ MRI here in Alberta. The test requisition was issued by my GP so it will not receive the priority one from an oncologist or any life threatening issue would which automatically takes priority here. I can expect, with the 'urgent' remark to wait at least a month, possibly six weeks to get it done. Normal wait times here in Alberta are between 8-12 weeks for MRI’s. About the same nationwide.
However you can elect to pay for the MRI, yes pay for it here in ‘Socialist Canada’ and get in much quicker-within days. The cost is 400.00 CAD per section. As I have the means and am having two sections done my cost will be $800.00 CAD. Neither of your guests seemed aware of that-I would ask the former Canadian minister why he did not mention that or the fact that many provinces have private clinics that do offer up ‘pay for’ elective surgeries and tests. It is a complex sensitive political issue in Canada, a lot of crying about a ‘two-tier’ medical system however it is happening because we are in serious trouble with our system as well. While our system is good, it’s under serious pressure and your comment about a middle ground was a good one.
This either or thing that your US guest seemed intent to harp upon is pointless and counter-intuitive. Of course Canadians with money who want the nothing cyst on their big toe removed can fly down to the US and have it done. You can get anything done in the US if you have the money. The point is, most people don’t have the money nor can they afford the Solid Gold Health Insurance I'm certain your US guest has. On the US side, the insurance costs to me for my few employees in Houston are insane and it isn’t getting cheaper. We may have to drop it.
Keep up the good work and hammering at it, it’s a serious complicated problem and needs serious debate-not base political garbage.
Richard

Love your show. Watching health care debate with interest. I'm Canadian - live in Ottawa, the nation's capital. Here's my health care experience:
Was diagnosed last fall with suspected endometrial cancer. Had several tests and 2 biopsies. Then a laparoscopic hysterectomy, followed by 3 sessions of high-dose radiation. All this was done in a timely fashion. I was 71 at the time. What did I pay for all this ? Nothing, nada, zip. Did not have to dip into my investment portfolio, re-mortgage my house or take a bank loan. The tab was picked up by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Everyone residing in Ontario is covered by this plan and it is portable from province to province and even pays for health care in foreign countries should one require it as I did a few years back while travelling in the southwest USA. Picked up a bug somewhere along the way which turned into a raging sinus infection and bronchitis and eventually I had to seek medical treatment in an Albuquerque hospital. Before I was even triaged, I was asked for my credit card. Then I had a 4-hour wait to see a doc. On my return to Ottawa I submitted the hospital's account to OHIP and got my refund. Yes, we have waiting lists in Canada And you wait when you go to the ER - if your condition isn't life-trheatening. You use the same triage system in U-S hospitals . I don't think our waiting lists any worse than those in the USA - which impact the uninsured. Minister Dosanjh is correct when he says that in Canada, if your situation is extremely painful or life-threatening you go to the front of the line. I have never heard of anyone being denied health care in Canada on the basis of their age. Further, when you turn 65, you are covered by your respective province's drug benefit. For me it means I get the prescription drugs I require, no charge apart from the pharmacist's dispensing fee. We pay for all this through our income tax - collected by the federal government and redistributed to the provinces in the form of transfer payments. Pharmaceutical companies are heavily regulated in Canada and drugs are subsidized. Again, we pay for this through our income tax. That is why prescription drugs are cheaper in Canada - every U-S citizen who comes here to get their prescriptions filled is being subsidized by the Canadian taxpayer. Yes - there are abuses in the Canadian system. Because people think health care is "free", they don't realize there are costs attached every time they cancel a scheduled medical appointment, lab test, diagnostic proceedure etc. and frequently these cancellations are for reasons of no merit. I personally know a woman who cancelled her hip replacement surgery just as she was being placed on the operating table. Here was an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist, complete operating room staff - imagine the cost of this cancellation. Then, a couple of months later, when she decided she wanted the surgery after all, she was shocked and dismayed to find that her requisition had gone to the bottom of the pile. Some wasteful Canadians might learn a lesson by having to pay something towards their health care - just to disabuse them from the idea that it is "free". They don't see the costs when health care is funded through income tax. Many Canadians also carry supplemental health insurance - through an employer's group plan or priavately - and they pay premiums for this. I have supplemental insurance. This coverage will pay for ambulance, physiotherapy, eyeglasses, dental care, orthotics, special braces, wheelchair etc. There's a lot of bullshit/outright lies about health care in Canada on U-S TV right now - particularly ad campaigns opposing your government's reform plans. Keep seeking out the truth.
Eleanor Dunn
7 The Mews Lane
Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1M 2G3
613-749-4510

PFC Bowe Bergdahl's capture hit to close to home. My 2 boys, are almost 19 and the other 24, and do not serve in the armed forces. My heart broke, and it breaks for this young man and his family. I've been praying for him ever since we found out about his capture.

Peters is nothing new. We have been dealing with all kinds of trash talk lately. We should be numb to it, but we're not.

Please EVERYONE pray for this boy. Did u not hear the tears he was trying to hold back and how hungry he looked when he was eating??? That was real. I can't watch that clip anymore.It's too heartbreaking. Don't judge him. FIND HIM.

Is a certification of live birth (what Pres. Obama has revealed and Chris Matthews/MSNBC showed on camera today) the same thing as a birth certificate in Hawaii?

Answer: They are two different documents.

A "Certification of Live Birth" is a short form birth certificate. The information included in the document may differ from state to state. A "Certification of Live Birth" from Hawaii will include the name and sex of the person, date of birth, hour of birth, island of birth, county of birth, mother's maiden name, mother's race, father's name, father's race, date accepted by registrar, a certificate number and seal. The seal may be different depending on the year it was printed.

– Easily produced on _any_ modern laser printer.

A Birth Certificate, or "Certificate of Live Birth," is the long form birth certificate and contains more detailed information, including signatures of doctor(s), witnesses, vital statistics (length and weight), etc.

– THIS is the document folks are looking for… WHERE is it? DOES it exist? IS the original lost? WHAT’S the doctor’s name that delivered Pres. Obama? WHAT hospital?
I can go to my safe and get mine in two minutes… I’ve had to produce mine several times during my lifetime, wouldn’t private-citizen Barak Obama had to do the same?

According to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands:

"In order to process your application (to verify that you are a genuine native Hawaiian), DHHL utilizes information that is found only on the original _Certificate of Live Birth_, which is either black or green. This is a more complete record of your birth than the Certification of Live Birth (a computer-generated printout). Submitting the original Certificate of Live Birth will save you time and money since the computer-generated Certification requires additional verification by DHHL."

Per Hawaiian law, Statue 338.13, any certified copies of the original document can serve the same purpose as the original document.

"(b) Copies of the contents of any certificate on file in the department, certified by the department shall be considered for all purposes the same as the original, subject to the requirements of sections 338-16, 338-17, and 338-18."

Usually the certification is stamped and signed on the lower reverse side of the document and says "I certify this is a true copy or abstract of the record on file in the Hawaii State Department of Health."

– WHERE is the certification stamp _and_ signature on the document Chris Matthew’s/MSNBC showed the camera today?
((edited))

The whole story about how this kid got captured is a bit klugie...and if he truly is a deserter...then the Taliban can keep him. If he was indeed captured while on post, then this is another example of the "horrors of war"...

Dear Rick

I am writing this as I hope this gets it the right hands and know you are the man to do it.

I just voted twice on CNN poll ,,,,, as to wether I have Health care or not. With all the money being spent by the Health Care industry trying to stop health care reform for Americans. Do you think they have people sitting in front of this voting as many times as they wish to sway the percentage. The program allows one person the vote as much as they wish if you leave the page and come back. Leave the page come back and vote again. What a joke. Also it would be nice to see some of the storys during the day LIKE YOURS on the possitive side of why we need Goverment healthcare reform in the prime time evening shows when 75% of Americans can view them. A special in place of Nancy Grace Reruns would be a nice though, or in place on Lou Dobbs when they require a fill in in their absents. Also haven't any one thought of once people are Gov.taxed higher for Gov. healthcare they would not have 30.00 to 70.00 removed from their pay from their employer also the employer would not have to pay the match to the insurance company. That would offset taxes. Anyone that pays their own healthcare files that on their incometax at the end of the year and gets a tax break for supplying their own insured health care Proof would be required with tax return. HELP RICK Thank you Paul Smith

We, as a people, should be ashamed of Peters and those like him. It seems as though a camera magically appears every time someone has something truly outragious to say or do.

It really doesn't matter, how he got captured. The real issue is that when they start torturing him , we don't have a leg to stand on, as we tortured their citizens. Oh, Cheney, look what you have brought to our doorstep. We have lost the right to complain about the treatment given to any of our soliders. How sad, how truly sad.

The birth issue: I am so disgusted with the Republicans behavior over the past 6 months and this one tops it all! Obama has worked TIRELESSLY on a multitude of serious American issues and held his head up all the way - He is more American than 95% of the Republicans in Congress and this matter is a more than shameful!!

HI Rick ,
I ama veteran of 20 years with 4 tours in Viet Nam. Thereis a thing called the "soldiers Creed" that states "..... if I am captured I will make no statements detrimental to my country.....". This soldier has broken that creed and if he is returned to the USA he should be prosecuted for treason and desertion.

This guy didnt follow the rules of of staying with other personel and went off with none military people and now he's paying the price for not following orders.

Rick,

I just watch the conference with those two Republicans, why would I believe anything they say, these guys were always the one who oppose health care reform. They are on board now because the country by 72% of the country want it.

I would take my chance with Obama, atleast he is trying, and it seems will get something pass.
Thanks
Veronica
Ga

Comeon, the largest cost in health care today is Medicare abuse. Any baby boomer with parents alive today knows this. Why doesn't the gov't?

A few comments:
1. Is Congress and other government workers exempt from the health care bill proposed. If so, why?
2. Is the proposed health care bill for Americans only? If not, why?
3. One of Pres Obama's campaign promises was to provide everyone the same health care he had as a senator, and at a lower cost. Now the talk is about it being "deficit neutral." I cannot accept this, as I have absolutely no confidence that Congress can perform at a break even (or better) level. They have had many years of proving that they cannot live within "our" means. It's way past time that we voters let them get away with short term fixes at great future costs!

Dear Mr. Rick Sanchez,
I am making this comment so you can help your Colleague Lou Dobbs about the Citizenship of the Pres. Obama. Several Cases had been filed in state courts and Federal Courts Berg Vs. Obama–, Martin Vs. Lingle ,Wrotsnovski Vs. Bysiewicz , Keyes Vs. Bowen. Most of these cases went to the Supreme Court of some States, Hawaii, and Connecticut then Appealed to the Court of Appeals-then to the U.S. Supreme Court.. Justice Anthony Kennedy dismissed these cases without argument another Case was refiled with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia , also dismissed one case without arguments.
The ultimate arbiter of citizenship status is not CNN it is the Judiciary.

Health care for a country isn't rocket science. If the politicians can't figure this out ask the countries who make it work.

I don't care what some self-styled expert says. That boy is scared. As a mother, I would personally strangle anyone who suggested my son was a deserter and the Taliban could save us time and money.

If he did in fact leave his buddies, the Army will take care of it. But until then anyone with a heart should keep their opinions to themselves and say a prayer that this young man comes home safely.

How would this guy feel if it were his son? What is wrong with some people? They have no empathy.

He has "...an entire town praying to God for his safety and release from the enemy." That's going to do a lot of good. I would have thought god might have had that dumb ass walk in a different direction in the first place.

Remember the tactics the enemy used in Vietnam. They may show decietful pictures and even force him to admit something not true under a threat of death..as Vietnam did. It's our duty to retreive our own and investigate the truth when he's back..Don't forget torture tactics I'm sure they are not giving him warm backrubs!

@Eleanor Dunn

Thank you Eleanor. I for one appreciate your input to the American people. I am also saddened by our governments play on your Country in order to gain points with us, but I truely believe it is going to come back and hit them in the face. If more people like you would speak out, instead of those we find on the commercials to create fear in people, there then would be no hope for those that tell those lies. The truth always wins in the end.

.

Health Care Reform

The HMO's have doubled the cost of health care in the United States and have practiced abusive procedures that have denied treatment to many citizens. Any health care reform must get the HMO's completely out of the picture to satisfy the needs of middle class citizens for a universal affordable health care system.

Re: Canadian Health Care. I traveled Canada for a good long time. At one point in my travels I needed medical attention in Canada and recieved it at no cost.. I realize the Canadians pay more in taxes than we do but what is more important money or thealth care for your family? The Obama health care debunker's (Republicans who seem to suffer from chronic menopause) just like saying no...that's their style. They enjoy taking all of the glory like for the good job they did during the previous administration the after affects of which remind me of 1929 for some reason or another. The concieved high cost for President Obama's health care plan is no greater than the high cost of anything we are faced with not the least of which is supporting warfare all over the place.

If we want to restore the working class economy to prosperity we must take back all of the jobs that have been given to foreign workers through outsourcing, global trading, visa programs and illegal immigration. These good-paying permanent manufacturing and administrative jobs are essential to our economic recovery. This give-away situation generated by big business has never been encountered before in our history and will only get worse.

In order to make major changes to our government and bring back prosperity to the middle class we must first stop big business investors from giving contributions and other favors to our office holders. We need to install a taxpayer funded campaign finance system to break the current corporate control of our government representatives.

Why doesn’t anyone care about me???? I mean my skin shade is not right but I need help. What’s the deal? Do I need to get a real good TAN in order to get into the CLUB? Something doesn’t sound right. Do you know what I mean? After listening and watching very closely the message just is really very not right. Why is that? Are we COLORED BLIND or WHAT?
The Don
Of the OC

Re. Ralph Peters...Thank God he's retired.

The President public comments on Dr. Gates event sets a very bad precedent. The President should have known better as a constitution scholar you just simply cannot rule from the bench interjecting personal emotion – Poor judgement he got caught

intelligence officers in the Armed Forces follow orders just like enlisted men. Therefore, there is the possibility that by saying that the soldier may be a deserter will increase his chances of survival. The enemy would be more willing to kill loyal soldiers and free deserters just like North Korean did during the Korean War. E. Reyes

Hi rick,
If a cop shows up at my property treating me like a thief because I am black I will be arrogant with him, because dealing with it in the street is enough, I also will not accept it in my own home where I consider to be a safe place.

Rick, For some reason you think that this couldn't happen to you, just because you work for Cnn people don't care about your brown skin, NOT...Rick dont forget about minorities just because you have a very good job. Rick this could have been your dad...

Rick, open your heart to the truth, this cop was out of line, I just hate we have to make it a racial issue as well!

Ref the comment President Obama made regarding the incident with Dr. Gates and the police officer by stating the police officer acted stupidly was inappropriate for a sitting President. He was not speaking as a private citizen, but from his position as the President of the United States. When he speaks, he always speaks as the President for all people. He should not have weighed in and made it a racial issue, particularly when he preference his statement that he did not know all the facts.

Hi rick,
Remember the president is a black man who must have been treated the same way, he must be speaking from experience.
I live in Mass for 16 years, and learn to fight every ticket the police gave me, because they act as if they own every black person insted of protect them.
I have a husband that was almost arrested the very day we were to get married, because he was seen taking the stereo for our home to be used in the reception hall, if his best man did not show up he was already cuffed.
police in that area do act STUPIDLY RACIST.

Hi Rick,
As a black woman I learn that the only thing that makes the white man respect you is to be HIGHLY EDUCATED, when even that fails, what do you do?
when you have worked hard to make your home a safe place, and you are being treated as a thief, because some police believe all black men are, What would you do?
When you pay your taxes so that the police would protect you, but they are constantly trying to take advantage of you, where do you Go?
When after a long days work you finally made it home, to find that you have misplaced your keys, and you do what you can to make it inn, who are you willing to deal with.

Once you personally experience being confronted by a cop that is only in law enforcement to be able to act however they want you never forget it. In the 1980s, in an effort to confront the wave of coke smuggling in the Gulf area, cop shops everywhere started wholesale recruiting of about anyone without a criminal record. The old saying "it's easier to break the law if you ARE the law" was like a mantra to thugs everywhere. Become a cop, rob and kill drug dealers at will. Create an aura where GOOD cops are suspect and considered "snitches" if they root out rotten cops. Just the statementr, "I'll never apologize" tells me all I'll ever need to know about this "thug with a badge".
Now, more than ever, it is important to remind people: When a cop steps outside of his legal authority while performing a duty, he is NO LONGER IMMUNE FROM LAWSUITS AND YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO TREAT HIM AS YOU WOULD ANYONE ELSE ATTEMPTING TO HURT OR ABUSE YOU!

Taliban video!!
Looks better than all those Guantanamo and US run prisons in Iraq!
Good PR
They are learning faster than thought!!

It continues to amaze me how people, who know nothing, can make judgements on anything. This young soldier is a prisioner, held by our enemy. Priority 1 is in getting him back! After that then a decision can be made about his actions, made by people who have the facts!

What is worse than being a blatant bigot, is being one under your breath. The thousand little cuts hurts the social fabric far more than the problems that are out in the open.
Your President gave an opinion, but I guess after the previous eight years the American people are not used to it.
Having known many cops, they, and I am not saying this particular officer, have a mindset of 'look sincere and deny everything.'

Dear Rick Sanchez,
This guy Lt. Col Peters fills comfortable saying those nasty things about a 20 year old private in the the hands of the enemy. I believe. Col Peters owes the parents and relatives of this soldier an apology.

Regarding the arrest of Harvard Professor: As an Obama supporter, I am sorry Obama stepped into this one.
Obama should say he should have withheld judgment, and we should all move on.

Jim Carlisle

PS...Although I am on twitter, I can't reach you through twitter

My fiance is currently deployed in Iraq. Talking with him via skype earlier today, he informed me that news in Iraq is saying that PFC Bergdahl had an assault charge against him. Coincidentally, he court date for the assault was a day after he supposedly was kidnapped. He is now charged with both assault and AWOL. I have not been able to find news on this at all. Have you heard anything about this?

Rick,

I agree that Lt. Col Peters shouldn't be making any public statements about the disposition of this soldier until he knows the facts. I served in Iraq and my son is in Afghanistan. If this was being said about my son, I would probably want to have a face to face with the Lt. Col. I hope desertion is not the case in this situation. That being said, the penalty for desertion used to be death by firing squad. I'm not sure what it is in today's kinder Gentler Army. Taken in a different context, I can sort of understand what the Lt. Colonel is saying, but he really should just keep his mouth shut unitl he knows the whole story.

Rick, I agree with the Presidents statement about the arrest. Yes, the cop acted stupidly. As soon as he was shown proof that the Prof lived there, he should have asked the Prof if he was alright and then left the premises. The cop was just harassing a black man. A Davis
P.S. I'm a white lady.

Helo Rick.. Im,,goin try to explain this in Inglish.. I was a victim of Police brutality.. I was a taxi driver and I was try to do a favor to this White women that was from California..Well i going to make this history short,,They the Police stop my, beat me up, kick me in the floor went They handcoff me,beat me up, they send me to yail and sent me to Hospital Emergency because in the Pricent they beat up again, I still have sicological problem and fisical problem because of that beaten and humilliation in from of many people, and They acuse me of desordely conduct and many other things, But a Judge dimiss the case because They make false repond and give a summot to the passanger because she said She going to testified in my fevor.

This Private should have been pre screened as a weak personalty would would not be able to withstand capture.

He is a desgrace to the Army when you compare him to those who have been captured in the past.

He comes across as a deserter and a coward.

He may be trying to save his neck, yet he has voilated Army protocal.

WHY DID PROF. GATES NEIGHBOR NOT KNOW IT WAS HE WHO WAS TRYING TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO HIS OWN HOUSE???? I CERTAINLY WOULD KNOW IF MY NEIGHBOR WAS TRYING TO GET INTO HIS HOUSE.

Race is always an issue in this country and it will always be an issue.I would like to know why his neighbor called the police in the first place, did they not recognize him?, what a shame. But, the police do this type of thing on a routine basis and unfortunately it will always happen. This country does not seem to be able to get over race.

Rick;
As someone who served my country during the Cold War, I would make one comment about this private. When I was training, we were always told that, if you were captured, play along with your captors; tell them whatever they wanted to hear if it meant you would survive another day. If John McCain, another POW, was forced to say stuff that he didn't mean in order to survive long enough to get rescued by his government, then why is this guy any less valuable? Because he's not an officer's son? There were dozens of people who did just as this private's doing when in 'Nam; it's easy to stand for something when you're not under that kind of duress to begin with.

Yo Rico,

Get off the Latino soap box dude. You are whiter than I am. Who is kidding who? Your Hispanic culture suddenly became so important once you realized that you could market it for a spot on CNN.

Rick, I would like you to bring this business about Banks helping with Mortgages, the Government has bail the Banks and we the people we wii be payng for it, the Banks are reporting great gains...with the bailout money that they received, betting in Wall Street the number one thief, and I have been asking for help from Washington Mutual to reduce my payments, since October 30th 2008, I just got a phone call from them.......they will help me by raising my payment from $1000 to $1700 dollars, I think the Government can do better, THIS IS THE HELP EVERYBODY IS GETTING while the NEWS talks about what the president said or did not said about the professor from Cambridge, get real once and for all, and stand by the people.

I have much respect from you, this is not the Bush administration, were the media was afraid to talk, let the World know what is going on, the help is only for the BIG BOYS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, so if you can spend hours talking about a professor who probably ,makes quite a lot of money, and have a good health INSURANCE, why can you talk about our problems.

By the way, the only way we are going to see the INSURANCE BILL PASS, is by removing the INSURANCE HEALTH from all members of Congress, and Government employees see if that HURTS.

With all my respect

Martha Forero

Has it occurred to anyone here that the story or narrative about desertion is simply a story put out there – real or not – to "devalue" the prisoner for the enemy? This soldier is clearly, a "pawn" more than a prisoner of war for the enemy. Such a story "out there" would enhance the chances for his survival and possible release.

Well, Rick, I have to say that young man is in deep trouble, and the man commenting that he was a possible deserter is way off base.

By the way, they say it's dangerous over there in the Sandbox, nearly as dangerous as standing on a sidewalk in front of a drunken reporter and getting run over or something. How do you get hair and skin off the grill of a new car?

I have seen and heard several comments about the Sgt,. Crowley/Prof. Gates incident. I have heard each of the principal's version of what transpired. I have to admit that I am confused as to what to believe. What , as a retired 30 year police captain, I would like to hear or see is the report filed by the other officer who was there. He was quoted as saying "I support Sgt. Crowley 100%". What does his report of the incident say? I know that whenever any of my officers were involved in any possible emotional incident I would require them to file reports so as to get more than version of the incident. If the other officer did not file a report then he should file one now.

Read these statements. WHY can’t this RACIST issue be done???? It often looks like many persons have a whole life living just for this. That means if they didn’t keep it alive they would have nothing to LIVE FOR. What a drag many perceive that this whole RACIST thing is pushed along so persons in the BLACK community will have something to live for. Really that is how it is seen. Most of us are too “KICK BACK” and don’t care. We love and care for BLACK brothers and sisters. There is nothing in the way. But the FLAME is kept alive so they will have something to live for or perhaps this has become a way of life. It is time to let it die and we will all enjoy this wonderful nation and move forward. The FREE RIDE is over and the CAUSE is done.
Sorry kids that is the way it is. Truly really is! You can’t handle the TRUTH. But it is time.
The Don

Rick, I am glad for you to have a vacation. I am sure you and your family need to have one. However, I am in mourning until you return!!!
I hate to sound selfish, but my day is blah without you. I loved your show the other night. I hope you can do more night shows also. I look forward to your afternoon show each day. Have a nice trip.Hurry back!!!!

question-I think I had h1n1this summer–can I catch it again, like later in the fall?

It seems that the Lt. Col. was simply asserting that anyone crazy enough to leave their post in hostile territory deserves what they got. Not to be crude, but he is correct. If you leave a military base, unarmed, and without your patrol or any support, what exactly do you expect to happen in hostile enemy territory? For any rational person, such an action would be unacceptable precisely because of the risk of capture, or death.

Our armed forces are essentially disproportionately comprised of our economi under-class and consequently many Americans are unconcerned whatever happens to them. Having served myself I long ago discovered few jobs are held in the contempt and disdain as are the enlisted members of our forces. Steve, World War 2.

Rick – this "officer" Peters is a disgrace and should be relieved of his duty immediately. He is truly anti-American.

Based on your last interview, it looks as if, along with "tort reform" the GOP is attempting to tie their anti-choice agenda to stopping health care reform for all Americans. When will people see that they have an agenda they push at all costs and it has nothing at all to do with helping Americans.

Americans reportedly arrested in Iran for illegally crossing border...

Alright, it's tragic that we can not roam the globe to explore to our hearts content, but there is an abundance of unrest in the Middle East, what were they thinking? I wish for a safe and speedy return of these three Darwin award candidates.

Cheers

Hello Rick If this soldier walked away from his post, he is on his own;
by the same token, how about the two women that strayed across
N. Korea lines? also the three 'tourists' that strayed across into
Iran? In all, the two incidents smell of 'CIA' involement to me.
When are we going to learn to keep our noses out of other peoples
business?

HE'S A PFC.... WHERE THE HELL WAS HIS NCO AND OIC?

Hi Rick,
How is Bowe doing, have you heard anything about him.