PETA always tries to stir up controversy to get attention. Their goals are legitimate, even though their methods are sometimes in poor taste (no pun intended)

Health Care Reform Funding

The only way to get the cost savings needed to fund an expanded and upgraded health care system is to take advantage of the approximately fifty percent of cost reduction that goes with a government single payer plan. The HMOs have proven that if they stay in operation the costs of health care cannot be reduced to a sustainable level.

Rick -

I'm all for healthcare reform, but believe it needs to go further than just insurance and quality healthcare for everyone. I'm disabled and receive $450 per month SSI and receive Medicaid, which I'm very grateful for. But here's my dilemna: I know of a gentleman, who "supposedly" is disabled due to a heart defect and receives SSI benefits every month. However, this gentleman also works as a concrete laborer earning nearly $1,000 per week, is a two time DUI offender, and is also listed on the Sexual Offenders' Registry. Where's the fairness and justification in this? If we're going to reform healthcare, we need to make sure that the entire system is reformed in order to prevent situations such as this from occurring and being the day-to-day way we do business.

Rick:

It seem that the private health insurance companies do not want a public health care option because it would cut into their profits. They will no longer be able to take our money and limit the coverage received. If we do nothing, we may as well take the "hitler" mustach symbol that someone painted on Obama's face and put it on all of the private insurance companies. This is not the America I know. Dictatorship in any form by any party is non-American.

Hey Rick
Just curious to know if you watch the Luis Tiant special shown recently. I did, and I have to admit I didn't know anything about him until I followed his journey back to the homeland. I was taken back emotionally. For Cubans who have left and not gone back we took that journey with him. He said that after going back he was whole again, gosh..... I believe that stands true for all of us.

Hi Rick, I'm a big fan of your segment
That being said, I wish you would raise these two questions related to the health care debate:
1-if the public option is so bad, why don't folks who opose it take their kids out of public schools? After all public schools have been arround and there is no one calling them "socialist"
2-Make the public option a qualifying procces: if your income is under a specific limit you can get public option health care. Otherwise you have to choose from private sector.
I think both are valid and interesting points and I would like it very much if you would put them out there for everyone.
Regards
Frank K

As a "big" girl I find this very offensive. They could have just as easily put a skinny women on there.

I just have to get my two cents worth in on this terrorist – it's ridiculous that they are having compassion on him – he had none. He was sentenced to the rest of his life in prison to pay for it and to fulfill that sentence he would stay there till THE END of his life which means he would be DEAD! PHOOEY ON COMPASSION!

Rick:

Save the whales, eh! Everything and everyone God created was for a purpose. God created the fishes of the sea for our consumption. Do you think that God created them to (only) be admired and for them to multiply and fill the sea? Tell PETA to save the babies, American future citizens, who will be aborted this day and in the future.
This is what the late US Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said: "Some things I cannot understand as much as I try. One is why environmentalists who are loudest in pleading for the life of twigs and buds, are also the most vociferous for the cutting off of young life in the womb."
This also goes for "the whales."

Rick–You're right about that Lockerbie bomber. But of all people, have YOU forgot about Cubana Flight #455, the worst single act of air terrorism up until 9/11? It was not a military aircraft, and it was filled with young athletes. Before you get too outraged about Lockerbie, how about some perspective?

Rick don't they have medical care for prisoners in Scotland?
the compassionate judge should be questioned...
feeling sorry for a terrorist?

Rick;
How can those people shake hands with that murderer? Where is the justice for those victims; this man should die in prison paying for his crime.

Ronda/ Iowa

What's wrong with the world. That terrorist has the right to go home and blow himself up along with God knows how many more innocent people.

The guy who brought the gun or anyone who brings a gun to where the president is should be arrested. Free speech, ya right the president has the power of our military. That guy should be used as a example and any who attemps to deface our president should be black listed. Our president will hopefully use his real power to put these types of people that try to disrespect him in quantanomo prison.

Stop this lady. Ms Cohen. We understand her pain.Time to move on. Enough anger.

Libia is celebrating the return of their beloved son Al-Megrahi.....it is splashed all over the place. Where have we lost our common sense to let a man like that return to his country a hero

The Lockerbie bomber. I believe that he was released because it would be costly for further medical care and when he dies. So he was released "for compassionate reasons". He was not compassionate towards his 194 victims who died in such a horrible and demeaning manner. I do believe that he was responsible for their deaths. He and his affiliates pre-meditated their murders. It may not be long when he will have an appointment with his Maker, God, and will be accountable to Him for those people's deaths. Our God who knows, sees and hears all things and sadly saw and noted what they did and the grief which they caused the family of their victims who will continue to grieve for their relatives until they die will not say to him, "Well done my good and faithful servant..." This man, his soul, will hear the words, "Depart from Me you cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
I will never be able to comprehend why some people harbor such hatred for others and cannot live in peace and harmony with them. Their hearts are cold and hard. They use the western countries, going out of their way to perform their evil works. His inevitable day is coming. It has already come for some of them, those wicked ones, who are departed and he will join them in Satan's cauldron of everlasting fire.
They asked for mercy but did not obtain it. So will it be with this man.

The guy with the gun is simply making use of his constitutional rights.
But then what if the gun would have gone off "accidently" and shot someone would that be considered a by product of that right? No way weapons need to be in a case and under lock!!! by law.

P.S. Love the show but the tie has to go.

Thanks,

Steve R.

I seldom agree with PETA's methods, but I like this campaign. There's an epedimic of obesity in this country, and from personal experience I can tell you that when my girlfriend went vegetarian (which, as Sam Jackson said in Pulp Fiction, pretty much makes me a vegetarian) I dropped 50lbs. without any effort at all.

My sympathy to the real victims mother. We should all be outraged. Two things 1) best reason for capital punishment. 2) best reason for clean energy/ climate change legislation.

Rick,about those people carrying guns,and what happens to our country,we are becoming as those countries we critizise so much,corrupted politician and system,now carrying arms aroun the Prsident and the streets,prety soon we'll start covering our faces and brandig rocket launchers and hidding in caves,enough is enough.
Carlos Rovescala .....Ambler.

Rick...It's a good thing that Charles Manson isn't in the Scottish Prison System! Lew, San Diego

Hey Rick,

Stabler fades back goes to his left..he is tripped but throws the ball.. it caught by Clarence Davis.. touchdown.. Raiders win.. they come back and beat the Dolphins.. great win in '74

Hey Rick,
WHat do you think of the woman who wants her sentence carried out in public? In case you're wondering...this woman, who was visiting Malaysia from Singapore is being caned for drinking beer in public...
-Lavanya

My daughter became a vegetarian and gained the fifty pounds the other guy lost. All those carbs!!! It's hard work being a vegetarian but it would definitely help the planet. By the way, who eats whales???? We need to stop wearing perfume - that's the way to go to save the whales.

The Lockerbie bomber, who are the people that ok'd his release has anyone tried to talk to them, ask them why!! if he was dying why not worry about it and let him die in Scotland where the other people died. I want to know the names of the people that released him!

Rick,

Comments regarding man in video , from Cuba, asking for food, was not the least bit funny. He will pay the price for his comments, and probably his family too! Very sad! I recently saw the 2007 video of Luis Tiant's trip to Cuba to visit relatives. Excellent story coverage but again, Castro and Communism is all about controlling people and eliminating all opportunities to improve their life, right down to amount, selection and quality of food they get to eat.

I think I'll make a BLT for my lunch.

Lee

Rick ,

This is a personal comment and I hope it's not considered inappropriate are offensive to anyone. But, you are "CUTE" as a button with the most sexiest smile!!!!

Coincidentally, my wife and I were planning a trip to Scotland. The only way we can suppport the victims of the Lockerbie tragedy is to cancel or refuse to travel to Scotland. My wife and I have abandoned our plans. A crime can be so outrageious that one can lose sympathy or compassion for an individual. Sometimes it's too late to say "I'm sorry". In those instances, "Sorrys are cheap". But for those who choose to have compassion–fine. Have compassion but leave him in prison because THAT is the compassionate thing to do for the victims.

This is in reply to the Aug 20 hatchet job on Ernest Hancock...

You are wrong about Ernest Hancock.

Guilt by association - Ruby Ridge/Waco:

The truth about what happened at Ruby Ridge and Waco may be unpopular, but it is the thruth. This is the unpopular truth about Waco, David Koresh jogged to McDonalds twice a week and was easy to acost if federal authorities ever wanted to have an honest conversation with him. A no-knock DEA warrant was executed in a bizarre and dangerous fashion. Sounds of animals being slaughtered and rock music were blasted into the Davidian church building at night, FBI agents mooned the trapped Davidians, David asked for the Texas Rangers to take over jurisdiction of the conflict. 93 or so innocent family members died. The testimony of the ATF agent who pretended to be a Davidian was weird unless you believe in magic powers. Ernie belives that the federal government made a mistake at Ruby Ridge and Waco. But don't take his word for it.

I challange you to interview the foreman of the jury of the surviving Branch Davidians.

I challange you to interview the foreman of the jury of Randy Weaver.

Ernie is right.

Guilt by association - The Viper Militia:

What actually happened...

Undercover ATF agent pretending to be Viper militia member: Hey, what if we do something big like blow up a federal building.

Viper militial leader: Blow up a building? That is the last thing we would ever want to do.

Evidence presented to the jury...

Testimony of undercover ATF agent: During a Viper Militia meeting I attended on the 14th, I learned that the leadership of the Viper Miltia discussed and prioritized blowing up a federal building.

Ernie is right.

Guilt by association - the slogan "Taxation is Theft"

If an activity is good and right, it is possible to persuade free people to agree. If an activity is unfair or unjust, it is less likely to persuade free people to agree. Government... invading Iraq, funding pig smell studies, enacting gold-plated lawmaker pensions, etc, always uses mandatory taxation by threat of violence (If you refuse to pay income tax, you will be invited to go to prison. If you physically resist going to prison, the government will either violently kill you dead or physically hurt you and lock you away).

So, what if we try to replace violent mandatory taxation with user fees, and make government so small and limited to the Constitution that its activity is neutral, just and inexpensive?

Please ask Ernest Hancock about this topic rather than to define him by a 50 year old anarchist slogan. He will probably tell you that the goal is smaller more modest government. Smaller government is the right direction, but I bet he will not promise no government.

The blunt honesty wing of the LP lost in the 1990's, and the slick dishonest book hucksters won. However, Ernest Hancock bravely remained true to what was right. Very few, if any, Libertarians can hold a candle to Ernest Hancock.

Blunt honesty means telling the truth no matter how unpopular. For example, there is no grant of authority in the US Constitution to allow the federal government to enact Social Security or many other giant federal programs.

In the founding era the word commerce meant trade activities and not "all possible human interaction".

The Necessary and Proper Clause adds nothing to federal authority. It merely clarifies that the legal 'doctrine of incidental powers' applies to the Constitution. No power is “incidental” when its scope is larger than the principal power. In other words, the US Constitution prevents the federal government from taking over a big field like media or manufacturing on the pretense of regulating commerce.

The Republican and Democrat federal judges and lawmakers have been inventing federal laws and regulations popular with their financial supporters, but not laws that are honestly Constitutional.

These PETA hypocrites.

They will throw blood on little old ladies and their fur coats but don't have the guts to throw paint on leather clad bikers coming out of a biker bar.

Now they pick on heavy people by calling them names and implying that vegitarians are all thin, which is a lie.

What about human beings who are also designated as animals?

You guys are all bullies and cowards

I have lost all respect for Peta.

Hi Rick, Tom Ridge's comments are not News, but confirmation.
Thanks Mr. Ridge, for closing the barn door after the horse got out!

I think the point was missed on this interview. Wether it was staged or not is besides the point. Its the fact that we as free people have the right to bear arms even in a public setting.

Sadly enough PETA of all people bringing light to a very serious problem in this country. All the elites and ones making the laws have been blaming smoking when in fact obesity is this countries number one problem! Too many health related problems to even list, and its becoming if not already the biggest burden to our health system! We have to lean up and make insurance premiums reflect your health based on what you can control.

I just saw the woman address tort reform not being in the health care bill. She was pretty clueless. No one is saying that patients should not be allowed to sue an doctor if the doctor is negligent. The kind of tort reform people are looking for is the kind that prevents lawyer shakedowns (which is probably what most of the lawsuits are). If a doctor amputates the wrong foot, then that is a no brainer.

But when people sue just as a get rich quick scheme, that has to stop. Their needs to be rules like "loser pays" so bogus lawsuits never see a jury. Other suggestions like that.

Check out Common Cause. That organization has a good idea to have a special medical lawsuit court.

Theres got to be several offenses a piece for everyone in the Bush administration to have all of them serving jail time, its time to hold all government officials accountable for their actions!

I listened to your statement today – August 21st – that Canadians come to the U.S. for cancer treatment. Perhaps some do. But the majority are treated in Canada, by very qualified Doctors.

If the U.S. adopted our type of health-care, it would reign in billions of $$ in over-spending.

Yes we have problems with our system. They are caused mostly by people over-using and abusing the system, tying up Doctors.

It is true in Canada that 5 out of 6 patients who visit their Doctor are suffering from a psycho-somatic illness. I don't mean to say that they do not deserve treatment. Their symptoms are very 'real' for them.
But we ought to treat them somehow away from the hospital settings they often end up in.

Our Top Doctors are just as well trained as their counterparts in the U.S. Our Doctors earn way less money. But our Doctor's acknowledge that the tuitions they pay don't come close to covering the true costs of their education. Your Doctors on the other side are way over paid.

Our system of health-care is described as being "FREE". Not at all. It is paid for through our tax dollars. We get really good health services for far less per patient than in the U.S.

Best,

Peter Ramsay

I am an animal lover, but I DO NOT approve of PETAs actions. This isn't the first time they have disgraced the animal rights movement. Extremists on either side make it hard for the rest of us to affect real change.

Planned Confusion About Health Care Reform

The attempt to obtain health care reform is failing miserably and appears to be doomed because even some of the Democrats are against it. What's behind all of this is that big business, and especially HMOs, don't want it and will use the power of their contributions to members of Congress to defeat any bill. No big change to benefit the working class on any issue is possible without first initiating taxpayer funded campaign financing reform.

Rick, I've heard most arguments rush &shawn etc.have made & none hold water. Don't we ALL pay so kids go to govt. run don't public school ? Don't we all pay for the military and they protect everyone?It's not 1776,there is modern medicine that saves lives. Aren't We are all americans ? enough of this "I got premium money you don't? well screw you. I'll bet if a world war started we'd stick together on healthcare,so why not now ?

rick, why not ammend medicare to let people under 65 sign on strictly voluntarily ?The program is already there [no 1000pages to write & debate] It's already working. We could pay on a cost added basis. Sadly the right will never go for anything as is proven by their record on social security, G.I.bill, minimum wage, whatever. We MUST act now.

Peta:it's all about the propaganda-and as with most Liberal causes,since they can't back their cause with truth,science,fact,or logic...Just call your opponent names,make fun of their views,and scream and throw a tantrum for the cameras....

When are you going to do a story on the republican disciples of grover norquist in AZ? He does not live in this state but AZ legislators have given a pledge to him instead of the citizens of AZ who elected these idiots.

Some people say, "terrorists treat us terribly, why shouldn't we torture them and treat them terribly?" My answer: "Because we as Americans are supposed to be better than that. By stooping to their level we BECOME terrorists."

Hey rick THAT psa is good if you watch the will smith movie 7 pounds that to me was the moral of the story don't text and drive check it out

I think PETA has a lot of nerve picking on group of people in society, how dare they!! PETA needs to figure out another ad campaign for their cause instead of trashing overweight people. I will never have sympathy for their cause ever again because of this.

Not sure you know this but besides Florida there are 49 other states?

None of whom care about ""south Florida" let alone Fidal.

How about becoming what you once said 'a conversation with America?

Jackson doctor should Know better than to give a Patinet that many Drugs at one time

Hi Rick,

I just saw your comments about the Pastor (almost?) threatening our President's life? I guarantee this guy is a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Did he make the same comments about President Clinton? Does he make the same comments about other pro-choice politicians? I doubt it. What he doesn't like, or as he says "hates" about our President is his color! His statements about President Obama's view of abortions are not only incorrect, but they are just an excuse to incite violence. This Pastor is NOT a man of God. When you have him on your show, PLEASE expose him for what he is, a RACIST – nothing more, nothing less.

St

rick, on friday you reported about a pastor wanting president obama to die, are you going to say more on that. obama's former pastor was all over the news for what he said about america in all he was wrong

I can't believe the balls on this bozo mayor from murdertown! His illegal criminal mexican citizens that we don't want here at all and we deport back to their homeland, are now somehow our fault and problem!!?? If he doesn't like it than keep your ignorant criminals out of our country in the first place! Plus, put them in jail when you get them back from us. What a guy he came to the US on his own dime to blame us for giving mexico back their own citizens.

That's the problem with mexico the leadership is to stupid and corrupt to take care of the problems and expect US to do it for them and then they blame US for everything. This is one f****** retarded continent we live on!

I recently heard you comented on the state of you Health care sagah in your country. You bosted about other people coming to your toget top quality treatment namely cancer care, while you might be partly right,you may want to look at the stats on where your country rank
with the rest of the world on health care. Do understand, you may have a quick approch to diagnose but fall way short on treatment. And while you and others like you such as; congress,government personel,and rich foke will be able to get good health care 30 million American's are not so fortunate. Do your self and the rest of your country a faviour, look to other countries that provide top qality universal health care and point it out on your program so that the those American's who rely on Tv media for their source of information
will be able to make informed decision on which way to go.

How come you never mention Sen. Reid's (D Nev) his way out of line and attitude wishing the most important News Paper in Nevada by saying "I hope they close for good"? You who are so smart and intelligent that shouldn't ignore the fact that Reid & Pelosi are the bad seed withing the Democratic Party. Those two are givin the voters the reason to be disappointed and risk loosing next elections?

Rick:

Referring to what this so-called pastor as I term him stated against President Obama, the thought of a statement came to my mind one which I read a few years ago among other statements which I have not forgotten:
"Words are like atom bombs. Be careful how you use them."
This is for this so-called pastor.

I like the ad. Catchy and sends the message home. America is becoming a Obese country!

Concerning the PETA ad good for them someone needs to bring awareness to the obesity problem in our country. I'm not saying its a bad thing to be overweight but its not healthy. I'm around people all day who are overweight and they complain and cry about but I don't see them doing anything to change it. You can't sit and eat twinkies all day and expect to be a size 2!!!

To Jean: "God created fish for our consumption."
God created us with the ability for compassion. Even IF God created something for our consumption, don't you think God would rather we make more compassionate decisions? Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
God created us with the ability to have children, does that mean we should have 16?
Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
What about domesticated animals? What did God create those for? By your standards, we should eat our dogs and cats....I mean, after all, God created them for our consumption.
Just because we can, doesn't mean God wants us to.

Rick remember when George Bush was reading to school children when he was told about the planes hitting the tower building's??& he was a head of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND?? So Obama is so good & honest ,the REP. are jealous of him ,I love him. So do my friends .
Eva

my God i can believe the audasity of satin working through that socalled pastor/man of God he is a false prophet and his flok is in grave danger for the Bible says that as followers of Christ we are to lift our leaders up in prayer and to teach love how dare this bafoon claim leadership in the body of Christ and lead a whole chuch blindly to hell and hatred he is a disgrace tp the word and the name of God,death to his false ministy and i will pray for him and his congragation that they will come to know the true word pf God.

I have been a loyal viewer of cnn since mr turner founded the station but i must admit that enduring lou dobbs has brought me to the brink of doing what i did to fox news which is take it off channels received on all my tv's. the final straw was rick sanchez admitting he voted for bush. he no longer has credibility in my opinion,since he and all others who enabled bush to almost destroy our country chose bush over highly qualified gore in 2000 or equally qualified even heroic serviceman in nam kerry. says a lot about his judgement, i regret i cannot trust him anymore.i have no use for people who empower incompetant politicians!

Please go further when you talk about Acorn. The Obama White House wants to use them to do the next census! This is truly a political power grab using incredibly shady characters!

How about the advice he must have been giving them when he did their legal work!

I watched the "training" exercise this morning by the Pentagon and once again it shows how bad our government actually operates AND Obama wants to propose a government run healthcare program?? Yeah, that will work.

Peta is an Extremist group!!!
Will never support or give money to extremist|

This is for Rick Sanchez.

The race card is just a divertsion, distraction from the real issue. The Insurance companies have their cronies stirring up the conservatives to make it look like a race issue. If Colin Powell was the elected President and went along with the Republican mandates you would only hear what a great African American he is. The real issue is with the Insurance companies, they do not want any competition. They want to continue ripping off the American public and continue with thier absurd profits.
Ok Rick! Lets see if you can put these thoughts out there and risk losing your job.

Rick – This is the second time K. West has interrupted an acceptance speech. (Remember Gretchen Wilson?) Frankly, I am surprised that he has such a bias against country music. After all, he acts like he was raised in a barn.

When he has teenagers (who drive the video market) he will realize that parents tend to block channels with blatant sexual content. Also, Swift writes her own songs which makes it easy for young people to associate with the 19 year old Swift.

If you think back this is a very common tact the extreme right takes when they are not in power. They are load, they yell, and they worry about the facts a bit less than they probably should. It happened during the Clinton admin and its happening again. I hope we remember that this rhetoric lead to the right wing militias and Tim McVeigh!

Serena should not have cussed at the Line judge but this is NOT her history, nor her character. We need to accept her apology and let it go! I'm not surprised at anything Kanye West does anymore. He's such a disappointment. Instead of practicing his craft, he needs to take time to work on his character.

Hey T.J. i'm not saying what Kanye did was right but think about it, how many more people know who Taylor Swift is now than knew who she was before the MTV awards, I know of at least one more...... maybe she oughta thank Kanye?..... hmmmm

rick i know you are a very busy person and my point in this letter is hopefuly will help other older forgotten veterans in there fight with va claims and my personel experience with a large and powerful organization d-a-v i would like to send a copy of a letter i sent on 9/9/09 to mr. arthur h. wilson national adujant of d-a-v in washinton dc i can send it by fax only please as you can see iam not a computer person thanks for your honest /srt. foward reporting unlike m s n trash roberto sanchez corona ca. 909- 923- 4214

Wow, a whole lot of people having a whole lot of trouble staying on topic here. PETA ad, people.
While I don't like to see people slammed for being something they can't help, maybe we SHOULD be less accepting and accommodating of people who CHOOSE to be grossly over-weight. Society as a whole ends up paying for these indulgences. Have we become so 'politically correct' that we can't say out loud that it's a bad thing if people choose to cause themselves to be unhealthy? Or should we smile understandingly while they bog down the health care system and demand special priviledges, such as an extra (FREE!) seat on airliners??? It's not a 'handicap', it's a choice.
Accountability, where did it go???

Peter Ramsay: 5 out of 6 patients have psychosomatic symptoms??? Where on earth do you get that crap?