The insanely obscene dramas that some women create around their weddings, these disgusting parades of narcissistic overindulgence, strike me as being the worst way to begin a marriage - though an excellent view into what kind of miserable life probably lies ahead.

I worked recently for several years at a multinational copy shop and I got so good at spotting the brides, groom usually in tow, as they came through the door, that I knew when it was time to take a bathroom break. Most of them were simply appalling, demanding, relentless, shrewish, neurotic horrors. They all came with their own "special" papers, everything from cloth to lumber, half of which would not go through the machines. Of course we were labeled failures for not having the right machines: feet were stomped, hair pulled; you could hear the whining next door. The poor grooms usually stood there like mannequins, blank looks on their faces, not daring to interrupt the usual tirades about how we had better not mess up, because they didn't want that directed at them later. I always wanted to take the hapless, clueless grooms aside and advise them, "You know, it's not too late, you can still call this whole thing off."

As I recall, there were two brides I would have married myself, and I'm gay. They were simply wonderful, calm, intelligent, friendly, understanding about what choices we had to offer and what our limitation were. They worked with us so that we could get them very elegant, inexpensive sets of wedding announcements, and they were happy. I also recall that a groom came in, alone, to order the announcements/invites and he was 10 times worse than any bride could ever hope to be. I finally told him to leave the store. And no he wasn't gay. He was inflicting himself on a woman.

...being European...I know what a public healthcare is and I have known it since I was a child. And it is far better that these pathetic system you have in USA and I had to suffer when I lived there.

Can I come live with you? Honestly, I want out.

OK, I've read the letters, I feel better now. Maybe I'm overreacting like Schaller, maybe. I'll stay for a while longer to see what kind of bill we end up with. I've been working hard to push for the Public Option, writing Congress, signing lists, making phone calls to Reps and Senators, calling, writing, asking, threatening to withhold my votes if we don't get a pubic option, sending email to Baucus threatening to move to Montana to unseat him, telling my Rep, Blue Dog Jim Cooper of TN, that I'm staying in state to unseat his ass if we don't get a public option, threatening to hold my breath til my face turns blue if we don't get a public option, shit like that. Making plans to be in D.C. on the 13th of September. Is everyone doing that here?

But, imnobody, my question remains, just in case, "Can I come live with you"?

What's with the swearing?

Oh fuck, you again!

This is a 13-figure corporate expansion plan with no controls on cost.

This is one of my main concerns. If Congress mandates that everyone buy health insurance, without a Public Option, what mechanism is there for keeping costs under control when taxpayers are being tapped to subsidize those who can't afford the premiums? How does this not end up being the biggest, fattest welfare check to the CEOs and shareholders of giant private corporations in the history of the human race?

Nobody is dying in the gutters of untreated diabetes or liver cancer.

I don't believe this. They are.

Dems would do the same thing if situations were reversed.

Joe, name me at least two pieces of Bush era legislation in which Democrats overpowered the majority with the kinds of threats, lies, demogaugery, media manipulations, chamber incivilities and parliamentary maneuverings that the Republicans are masters of? What major pieces of Bush/Republican legislation did the Democrats go all out to defeat? The Democrats gave Bush everything he asked for.

I can't name two pieces of legislation because W never tried anything so ambitious as this.

Jeeez Joe, I thought you'd at least get the Republicans grab at Social Security! That's why I made it a little harder for you and asked for TWO pieces of legislation that the Democrats actively and successfully opposed. I rest my case and your earlier comment that the Democrats did or would do the same thing has been exposed for nothing more than the blathering, ranting, partisan Faux News propaganda that it is. The rest of your stuff is just the same kind of lying, ignorant bullshit we heard for eight years under that dry drunk frat boy moron and his Darth Vader Shadow that you apparently think walked on water. What a mess you and the rest of them have made.

And the fact that the Dems gave W what he wanted shows that they agreed with him or he out-maneuverd them because they were stupid.

So now you're agreeing with me then. It shows that the Democrats are political cowards (and I vote for the bastards!) in addition to being just as morally blank and corrupt as the Republicans. I am completely nonpartisan in this.