Is bad Healthcare reform dead? Does good health insurance reform have a chance now? Look for answers in healthcare stock prices.

With all that has happened this past week, I thought an update on the Healthcare stocks was in order. If you have been reading here for a while, I have said countless times, that if you wanted to know if the proposed Legislation by the Democrats was good for average Americans, just watch the price of the stocks of United Healthcare and Wellpoint.

As you can see from the chart above, back on Dec, 5th, the Democrats conceded that the Public Option appeared dead. On Monday, Dec. 7th both stocks started to rise and gained almost 30% at the peak of each chart. On Tuesday, in Massachusetts voted in a Republican Senator to fill former Ted Kennedy's seat, a significant upset which continues to reverberate throughout the Democratic Party and the News media, this weekend. Again, as you can see from the charts, this election of a Republican, which denies the Democrats of their super majority of 60 votes, also appears to deny the Health Insurance companies the benefits they were hoping to get with the proposed legislation. This is signified by the drop after the market close on Tuesday, Jan. 19th and the market close of Jan. 20th and had continued through the day yesterday.

If you assume for a minute that what is good for Health Insurance companies is bad for average Americans, then this move is good and hopefully will continue. The Healthcare legislation needs to be bipartisan.

My suggestions for this are as follows:
1. What is needed is simplicity, not a 2008 page Bill.
2. Insurance companies must not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions any longer.
3. People should be able to buy Insurance across State lines, as they can do for car insurance.
4. Tort reform is also important and should be included in any proposed legislation.
5. Everyone should be required from age 25 and over to purchase Health Insurance.

This would be a good start for bipartisanship and would still allow an unprecedented victory for the Obama Administration and the Democratic Party.

The market malaise will soon end

The market malaise is soon to end. Why you ask? Because we are still in the President Bush depression and have yet to feel great about the transition to President Obama's change we can believe in. As we have all seen by the Republicans in the Congress and the Senate, they don't get it yet and neither does Speaker Pelosi, but with the Republicans looking more like obstructionists, they will get that as a permanent label and lose the next election again with the American people. If they had been smart, they could have argued behind the scenes with President Obama about what the Democrats did and have the President fight with the Democrats. But they are more Ego driven than smart. So in this fight the Republicans really lose.

But in the end, it will be Obama struggling with the far left in the Democratic Party to curb their wanting it all now, instant gratification at the expense of their super majority win in the next election. They have played it as poorly as the Republicans did under the Senate leadership of Sen. Bill Frist. Remember him?

We have yet to see what President Obama can do. He has much to do and has taken on a fast start jumping into the foray with both feet. This economy will turn around eventually and maybe not as fast as we all would like, but it will turn around. You can help make it sooner rather than later by continuing as best as possible your normal life. Don't be afraid to spend some funds, as it does help keep jobs and more specifically your job, as we are all connected to each other. Yes, we are still in a Bush hangover and it has us down because it was eight long years, too long for most of us. Believe the phrase made so popular by our President, "Yes We Can!", and let's shake this hangover quickly!

Republicans criticize Obama's, yet to be announced, recovery plan

Has the politic changed in Washington with our new President Obama having taken office? Unfortunately, no, it hasn't. Critics are lining up and speaking of how spending is not the way out of this economic mess. Where were they the last 8 years. It seems to me they need some medicine to help them see the light. I know exactly what is a required in a medicine for this group of skeptics. You see what we have had with Obama has been "hope" and while there have been naysayers these past 2 years on his road to the White House, even within his own Democratic party, there is one cure to their skepticism. What is that medicine? FEAR!

It seems that the "hope" brought in by his election allowed the naysayers to gather strength and now seem to have their voices back. A good dose of fear is due again to get them back in line and to get back onboard to the change needed. When there was a run on the Banks, people were very scared. They hoped even the Bush Administration would do something to fix the problem, anything. Well Paulson and Bernake started to do what they could to stemming the panic. No one was telling them to stop. The naysayers wanted even more done without even thinking about any consequences. We now find ourselves a long way from that moment.

But we do need a dose of FEAR again because we have to marshall now a Nation to do the right thing and to once again "trust" our new leaders and ourselves that, "Yes We Can," do the right thing. I know it's a lot to ask of politicians this "trust" thing. It's a lot to ask of politicians to allow a different way of doing things gain their acceptance. I know it's a lot to ask of politicians to allow a contrary viewpoint by a new President to get their vote, but they must! Fear is our friend right now and is Obama's key ally in this process of change to move swiftly. He needs to allow for it to express itself and then to seize the moment.

Being a Class Act and doing the right thing for Hillary

Well we are in the final days before a historic election of epic proportion. We may see a reenergized youth the likes of which we haven't seen since JFK. In examining why Barack Obama has done so well, there are several important events that have shaped his ascendancy. The first was the writing of his book, The Audacity of Hope. My wife and I listened to his book on tape several years ago and I was impressed with several things. The first was how well he spoke with confidence, but in a quiet, peaceful tone. Secondly, I was surprised at his openness, vulnerability and the detailed revelations he decided to include in the book. I strongly recommend reading it if you haven't already. I was so impressed with him and what he said, it lasted me for months.

The other major event that shaped and honed his skill, as a new politician on the National scene, was his debates with Hillary Clinton. She helped him hone his message, handle difficult and skilled assaults, which would prepare him for his campaign against John McCain and the Bush Administration.

Hillary could have packed up and retreated in the past months as well as Bill Clinton, but they didn't. They have done all they could, especially Hillary, in helping bring supporters to Barack Obama. She has done everything asked and more. Now those here who have read my many posts know that I have never been a fan of Hillary Clinton. However, I feel much is due her and the best thing that Barack and the rest of us can do is to help her now and pay off her debt from the Primary. I am not sure how this can be done legally, but I am sure there are ways. One of Barack's first actions after the election should be to help her with her debt. It will pay off in the healing in the Democratic Party and show Hillary there Are rewards in life for doing the right thing. She did the right thing and that has caused me to reevaluate my view of her in a much more positive way. Thanks Hillary!

What will be the message contrast between the Republican and Democrats Convention?

The week of the Democratic Party Convention is coming to a close. What take aways did people get from the Convention and how will they differ from what comes out of the Republican Party Convention? Well I for one saw the Democratic party Convention focus is all about "people", specifically the Middle Class and their struggles during the past 8 years of the Bush Administration and their down right focus on the wealthy few, to receive the benefits from their policies.

What do I expect to hear from the Republicans next week? Honestly, I am not sure. But if they follow the previous Republican Party Convention goers and their TV audience, they will put the focus on Barack and attacking everything they can think of about him. They will talk about "money", because that is what is important to them; how much they have, how much they want, less government in our lives and to promote the security of our country from the "evil" ones, through the fears they will conjure up, stating that the Country will be at risk under a Barack Obama Presidency. They will use fear in every form and contrast that to the "hope" of the Obama message.

I might be wrong here but I don't think by much. It is obvious that the Democrats are for uniting people at this historic moment and anniversary of both Martin Luther King speech "I have a dream!" and the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the abysmal response of the Bush Administration in the aftermath even to this day.

Hillary, Hillary, where were you during the Primary!

What a speech last night at the Democratic Convention. I have never heard her speak like that and she moved the Convention Hall and the Party to Unity. For the first 5-10 minutes I wondered if it was going to be another speech about Hillary, but then as magical and as smooth as one could do she brought it seamlessly to total support for Barack Obama. It was as skillful as the master himself, her husband Bill. It will be remembered long from now at future Party gatherings. I would not want to be her husband tonight, as she is an impossible act to follow.

The party IS united now and can make the distinctions clear between the Bush/McCain plan for the future and the Democratic Party's with Barack Obama and Joe Biden's leadership. Now it's up to all of us to Vote in 2 months.

To Hillary Supporters still upset

I can truly empathize with your feelings. It is a real disappointment to get out and really support your candidate you hope would be the best presidential candidate for the Democratic Party and not to have that happen. I felt the same way supporting Joe Biden in the Primary and I was disappointed he didn't win the Primary. But you can still support Hillary by helping to pay off her debt. When Biden didn't win, I sent in donations for Biden to help him. It is not up to Barack Obama to pay off the Clinton's debt. I hope she does well tonight.

Will Americans take that next step- maturity?

We are about to be bombarded with news from the Democratic Party Convention this week and the following week by the Republican Party Convention. But will we mature and listen for ourselves what the messages are from these conventions, our Presidential Candidates and their VP choices, or will we just listen to the media synopsis and the sound bites televised to make up our minds about the issues and the proposed solutions? It is time, my fellow Americans, for us to do our own due diligence and hear for ourselves, firsthand, what the candidates are saying and draw our own conclusions. It is time to make the election of our President a priority in our lives and put other matters on the back burner.

If you want to stop complaining about our President, Vice President and their policies, it is time YOU and YOUR FAMILY took the matter of deciding who will best restore America's greatness and put our fiscal house back in order. I know it's easy to complain and to blame someone else for the state of this country, but now its future is in your hands. It's time to grow up, take responsibility for learning about the real issues our country faces, not the ones the media likes to hype (like whether John McCain knows how many houses he has or whether Barack really believes what Rev. Wright, his former pastor was preaching). It is time to demand more concreteness in defining the issues and what remedies each candidate proposes to solve them.

You must make the time to educate yourself. The reasoning that you're too busy is a lame excuse. Any President can make one decision that will dramatically affect your life and that of your family members in an instant. God only knows the one we have now has made decisions which have affected the entire world.

And finally, you must make sure you are registered to vote! All the time spent educating yourself about the issues is meaningless, unless you vote. So, as we approach these 2 full weeks of politics, pay attention, get the news direct for yourself by listening to as much as you can to the Conventions and especially the VP and Presidential Candidates speeches and come away ready to ask tough questions of each of them, in preparation of your vote in only a little more than 2 months from now.

Pennsylvania voters: You blew your chance to make history!

The Pennsylvania today is not the Pennsylvania of yesterday or of our forefathers. There was a battle between the politic of the recent past and a politic of our Founding Fathers. The old politic was brought to you by those who never vote their real interests but get caught up in the issues that keep them financially subservient to Corporations and that are similar of the politic of the Clinton's, and earlier Presidential hopefuls of both parties. The new politic was that of Barack Obama and closer to the politic of our Founding Fathers and the generation that built this country where the individual voted for what was best for the Country in the long run. That group of voters are made up today by the younger voters supporting Barack. They are a movement and no matter what happens in this election cycle, could prove the foundation of an ever growing chorus for changes in our political system. It could spawn a new political party or just change the Democratic Party by increasing numbers. But one thing is for sure, change is in the air and this flame will not be doused anytime soon.

One other thing I must say here, there is an element of bigotry going on in Pennsylvania as was true in New Hampshire as well. What support do I offer for this? Look at the pre election Polls. They showed Barack closing the gap to within 5 points. But when the process concluded there was a 10 point difference. People will say they will vote for a Black person, because it is the politically correct answer, but in the secrecy of the voting poll, they can vote their real feelings. I am surprised this has not been discussed by the media. But there were enough polls that had Barack very close in the final days. And how can people really be undecided when so much had gone on in the six weeks before the election. Those folks also just might not want to say why they are not voting for Barack.

Pennsylvania you had your chance and missed it when you had a chance to be in the history books again as you led this Country in our early years. Now those of you who voted for the politic of the past will have to relegate yourselves to obscurity. New voters of Pennsylvania, help lead your State and Country. Don't give up on the political process. Stay involved, as yours is a noble path.

Florida & Michigan solution for the DNC

Here's a simple decision to both save the money of another redo of those Primary elections for the Democratic Party. All they have to do is seat delegates of both States and apportion the delegates based upon the total delegate count each candidate has, after all the other States have voted. Seems simple but it doesn't seem like Hillary would go for it does it.