This man can only be described as a malicious criminal. "But officer, I may have sold crack cocaine; but no one made the addicts buy it."

With a record like his, this putz needs these massive doses of denial and rationalization to sleep at night.

Spot on. Do it already; let all those elected reps with pre-existing conditions go out into the real world where they can try to purchase private plans, and wonder if they'll be covered when they need it most. Republicans had Congressional control for over a decade, and failed to even offer us a workable plan of their own. How conveniently they seem to forget that the things they hate the most: social security, medicare, and health care, would not be such a mess if they had had the cajones to deal with them incrementally during their time in power. I have been disappointed with the Dems recently for a lack of spine, but I will never again vote for a Republican.

Sadly,the best editorial I have read in years. Bravo. During the heady days before we entered Iraq, I was alone in my circle of family and acquaintances in opposing what seemed to be the worst public policy decision in American history. Years later, instead of learning from our hubris, it seems to have hardened our collective reserve, and become more resolute and strident in our insistence that our goals and our actions are pure and above reproach. Most current policy decisions are based on personal greed, jingoism, a cable TV form of Roman public circus, and a perpetual election cycle, where incumbents place polls above all else. In the end, we are getting what we deserve from a government responding to our collective greed and prideful ignorance.

About time someone recognized that death is part of life. Bravo!

Our entire society is oblivious to that reality, brainwashed by investment company ads showing a heaven-like retirement with limitless funds. Then we expect modern medicine to keep us going indefinitely, regardless of cost to our heirs.

My adult children have been counseled by me, in no uncertain terms, that I am never to be turned into a house plant, sustained by machines and drugs at mind boggling expense. I hope they are there to support me when the time comes, and that we can seek appropriate palliative care, should that be needed. But beyond that, when it's time go, I'll just move over and let the next guy have my seat -- for a while.

End of life options must include a rational acceptance of this universal fact. That won't happen until we jettison the denial that promotes the myth of life eternal in the USA.

Problem with all this second guessing and posturing is that all the blowhards were not there. That includes Mr. Obama and Mr. Lyons.

My guess is that both sides acted less responsibly than they should. Ultimately, these confrontations are avoidable. I cannot possibly understand or fully appreciate either individual's position or predispositions, based on experience, but suspect that both were expecting the worst from the other, and slapped leather too soon.

I suggest they both be given a timeout and be told to go to bed without TV tonight.

Looks like the "center-right" comment hit many of us the same way. I am a hard working, financially conservative individual who is blessed with a loving wife of 40 years and a close, extended family. I am aghast at any suggestion that those values and relationships are solely attributable to the "right."

That strike to a raw nerve aside, the remainder of the article can only be described as traditional dissembling by an admitted wing nut, unable to provide a simple answer to a straight question.

Maybe the best obit GC will receive. Thanks.