Disqus - Latest Comments for Diane_dp

Re: Google Pixel 3 / Pixel 3 XL case & screen protector reviews: Because breaking an $800+ phone would really suck

Diane P — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 13:18:35 -0000

The Pixel 3XL has Gorilla Glass. Does it need a screen protector?

Re: Federal employees get perks taxpayers can only dream of

Diane P — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:19:40 -0000

Which of my questions did you respond to? Because nonsense doesn't move the conversation along.

Re: Federal employees get perks taxpayers can only dream of

Diane P — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:15:23 -0000

I'm not arguing that. I'm replying to the article, which doesn't explain how the private sector is supposed to absorb the very real pain the shutdown has on them. How many people in the private sector may lose their jobs--or are losing money right now--because of the ripple effect the shutdown is having on their employment?

The author thinks the federal government doesn't need these people. How is the private sector going to absorb another 800,000 employees?

Re: Federal employees get perks taxpayers can only dream of

Diane P — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:10:44 -0000

Nice bait-and-switch: Members of Congress do get excellent benefits--very few federal employees are members of Congress. Members of Congress are getting paid, so they aren't part of the conversation. And federal employees are taxpayers.

Unless they're in the service or the Peace Corps, I can't object to any rank-and-file employee thinking that just having a job is more important than serving the greater good, although I'd love to see the survey she pulled those numbers from.

A large portion of federal employees are veterans--not necessarily retirees with a smaller-than-average pension, but someone who served their country in a uniform. I'm not saying they are more important than non-veterans--and my military-retiree husband agrees with me--but think of the ripple effect just around a military base (I'm using that example because I'm familiar with it.)

Consider a federal employees who is a military spouse w/kids. Daycare centers can't afford to wait for the shutdown to be over to collect their fees--they have employees who still need a paycheck. Restaurants, barbers, hair salons ... all those places have lost customers and the workers have lost tips, lowering their paychecks.

My family is lucky; the military contractor my husband works for is paid by the Department of Defense, whose budget is fully funded. We earn a higher income than the majority of federal employees, but still not enough to go without a month's pay (my husband is paid once a month). The Coast Guard has it worst; at least other service members are getting paid.

As a matter of curiosity, where does Kristin Tate think the 800,000 people not being paid should be working?

Re: Damaged Ports and Airfields Limiting Puerto Rico Aid Effort: Dunford | Military.com

Diane P — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 15:13:21 -0000

"They have the power...".

You do realize they *don't* have the power to become a state or a sovereign country, right? The United States owns them--they were "given" to us in 1898, signed over in the treaty the ended the Spanish-American War.
Puerto Ricans are American citizens who don't have the right to vote for their President/Vice President. They have a representative in Congress--who also can't vote.
There are more than 10,000 Puerto Ricans serving on active duty. Show some respect.

Re: Jason Kessler Holds Press Conference in Front of Charlottesville - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

Diane P — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:35:44 -0000

Unfortunately, I can make an intellectually honest case. President Obama's divisive act was simple: He was black. His campaign brought some racism out into the public eye. His election was a racist's worst fear and racism's biggest rallying call. His inauguration brought the proudest white supremacists into the light--not kicking and screaming, but giving interviews and gathering numbers.

Based on studies of people whose beliefs and/or behaviors are socially unacceptable, the majority of racists are in the closet, maybe even in denial. When they find a cause with plausible deniability (All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, etc), they come out. They're "not racist," they just think black people should be quiet and work out any perceived inequalities "within the system." Drawing attention to racism makes gaining equality less likely--if there was racism, which there isn't, and did they mention their black friend?

Trump's rhetoric and election made them certain they finally had a path to success and public acceptance. The moment he was inaugurated, Trump gave the unspoken (and therefore completely deniable) executive order that racism, sexism, and bigotry in general, are now the right and responsibility of all Americans willing to fight for them.

That's my intellectual argument. President Obama was a black man. That Obama is a good man means nothing. That Trump is a narcissist with no morals means nothing. They see only black and white. Literally.

Re: Clinton holds huge ground game advantage over Team Trump

Diane P — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:31:55 -0000

Wow. Medicate much?

I'm curious how many Trump supporters volunteer to work on his campaign. Can you give me the ratio of Trump-ettes to Trump workers? (A Trump-ette makes a loud noise. A Trump worker is too busy to make up conspiracy theories.)

Re: Clinton holds huge ground game advantage over Team Trump

Diane P — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:25:21 -0000

"Contract out"? Have you ever *been* in a Clinton campaign office?

I didn't think so.

Re: Clinton holds huge ground game advantage over Team Trump

Diane P — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:24:19 -0000

Did anyone else notice the photos indicate exactly the opposite of the words? Clinton has a huge advantage in the number of people on the ground; Trump has a skeleton crew. Yet the pictures show the backs of two people looking at at computers in one of Clinton's San Francisco offices and a frontal shot of five people who appear to be working diligently at a Trump office in [somewhere].
If a picture is worth a thousand words, these turn the article into a farce. As someone who spends over thirty (unpaid) hours a week in one of the smaller Clinton campaign offices, I can say with confidence that we have what the headline says: a huge advantage on the ground.

Note to anyone who wants to cry "exploitation!": I applied for a fellowship in hope of being required to work at least fifteen hours a week without a paycheck or any form of reimbursement. I love what I do and I'm glad to be in a position to do it. I'm not supporting the lesser of two evils; I'm supporting the most qualified candidate ever to run for the position of President of the United States.

Re: Is Access Hollywood’s ‘Trump Tape’ Proof NBC Committed a Crime Against Trump?

Diane P — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:31:04 -0000

He was wearing the microphone. On the lapel of his suit. Most "hot mic" recordings come from people who don't realize the microphone they're wearing is live.

Re: New NBC/WSJ Poll Finds Hillary Clinton Beating Donald Trump By Double Digits

Diane P — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:50:28 -0000

"New NBC/WSJ Poll Finds Hillary Clinton Beating Donald Trump By Double Digits"

Yes, you need a variety of polls to get a clear picture of where the race is at this point. This article is clearly citing two weeks of one company's poll results.

I'm not going to tear you to pieces (although I strongly support Hillary Clinton), but I'd like to gently remind you that the idea of dishonest answers and inaccurate models resulted in a lot of shocked conservatives in 2012. Being at 49 or above isn't a requisite for winning an election.

Re: Megyn Kelly Asks Why NY Attourney General "Couldn't Have Waited" To Investigate Trump Foundation

Diane P — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 13:26:37 -0000

But Trump chose (well, Someone chose) Pence as his running mate. In other words, Trump (or Someone) is fine with making the country a theocracy. If we assume that Trump knows the meaning of the word (I assume Someone does), that means he's campaigning hard to turn the United States into a theocracy.

Okay, I'm operating the assumption that Trump can think that far ahead. But I'm absolutely certain Someone can at least win a game of checkers.

I'd like to know who Someone is.

Re: NBC faces criticism for Clinton cough story

Diane P — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:37:32 -0000

Chronic coughing = "very ill".
Really? Could you post some proof of that claim? Not fiction, fact.

Re: The Best Way To Answer A Phone - GoodTemps Staffing

Diane P — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 14:14:18 -0000

Could you reformat this post? The HTML is distracting. Thanks!

Re: PHOTOS: Dramatic Rescues Underway As Louisiana Floodwaters Reach 'Historic' Levels

Diane P — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 17:30:53 -0000

I can't imagine being trapped underwater in ... mud. I know it's water, but it's completely opaque. How terrifying.

Re: Trump Daughter-In-Law Forgets Quote While Trying To Insult Hillary Clinton

Diane P — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 22:47:28 -0000

If you choose to pay for prescriptions, there are flat rates.
Generic formulary: $10
Brand name formulary: $24
(Non-formulary are $49, unless you establish a medical necessity.)
__
I didn't say anything about TRICARE for Life co-pays.
__
TRICARE Prime Remote. http://www.tricare.mil/Plan...

It's free.
You can also apply for a waiver in order to keep using the regular Prime option.
__
*The ACA specifically exempts TRICARE from any changes. (Which deflates your argument if you're willing to accept that simple fact.)
*The insurance plan information I posted came from the TRICARE website.
*TRICARE is a federal program, why would anyone check state insurance boards?
*The mail order prescription program is free. I know this because I use it. Needing to sign up for it doesn't make it not free.
__
You said that Obamacare ended your coverage then increased your premiums by 1400%. I'll be kind and call it a myth. What year did your Prime coverage end?

As for: "there is no more supplemental co insurance you must buy a separate policy to make up the difference for you and your wife's 20% which you must buy a stand alone policy if you think this information is false I suggest you call the state's Insurance Board for yourself and ask."

Supplemental co-insurance _is_ a standalone policy. Prime isn't a co-insurance or a supplement.

Re: Trump Daughter-In-Law Forgets Quote While Trying To Insult Hillary Clinton

Diane P — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 20:55:39 -0000

Still calling you a liar on your healthcare lie. And now you're compounding the issue.

Would you like to google a fact and share the link?

Re: Trump Daughter-In-Law Forgets Quote While Trying To Insult Hillary Clinton

Diane P — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 20:53:56 -0000

I always wonder about that "unemployed" thing. I don't work. (I used to add "outside the home" but my kids are adults, so I just don't work.)

Evidently I'm a homemaker when a Republican is in office, unemployed when a Democrat takes over. I guess I should be pretty upset, huh?

Re: Trump Daughter-In-Law Forgets Quote While Trying To Insult Hillary Clinton

Diane P — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 20:49:08 -0000

Phil Gray: You are lying.

Retired military members and their families are covered by TRICARE.
TRICARE has three basic options (fifteen specific plans). Here are the basic options:

1) TRICARE Standard/Extra
2) TRICARE Prime

Standard/Extra coverage is automatic. It's the basic healthcare plan you and your family have (i.e., your "free medical"). Retired families have a $300 deductible and a $3,000 catastrophic cap (the most you will pay during a year). You pay 15 or 20% for in-network visits, 20 or 25% for out-of-network providers. You can see a military physician for no cost.
Prime coverage costs $46 per month for a family. Your primary doctor is on-base (no charge). You pay a $12 copay to any doctor/medical service you are referred to, 20% to out-of-network/non-referral doctors. You have the same catastrophic cap ($3,000).
With both plans, visits at military facilities are free. You can fill prescriptions for free on base or pay $7 or $12 at network providers. Express Scripts provides mail-order prescriptions, up to three months at a time, for free. TRICARE has maximum allowable rates. If a physician normally charges $250 but TRICARE allows $57, you'll pay 20% of $57, not 20% of $250.

Any provider who takes Medicare must take TRICARE.

3) TRICARE for Life
This applies to you once you hit federal retirement age. It was established in 2001. Obama did not become a United States Senator until 2002.
At age 65 you qualify for Medicare by the federal government. Ditto for your wife. You need to buy Medicare Part B coverage as a supplement. The cost of Part B is based on your income. (My mother-in-law was just transferred to Medicare and she pays $125/month for the Part B coverage.)
Then you "enroll" in TRICARE for Life and you're done. (Your wife doesn't need to change her program until she is 65.)

My husband retired six years ago. His father retired twenty years ago. My father retired forty-four years ago.

Sell it somewhere else. Obamacare has absolutely nothing to do with your military retirement healthcare plan. If you spent at least twenty years on active duty, you're smart enough to know it.

Re: <i>Suicide Squad</i> Is the Worst of the Worst

Diane P — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:44:46 -0000

You're right. My mistake.

Re: <i>Suicide Squad</i> Is the Worst of the Worst

Diane P — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:44:05 -0000

Lime Green: You're right, I'm wrong. Sorry about that.

Re: Sanders buys nearly $600K summer home

Diane P — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 22:09:21 -0000

I wonder if he'll retire soon. (No scorn or sarcasm, just a thought.)

Re: Sanders buys nearly $600K summer home

Diane P — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 22:07:05 -0000

I thought it was John McCain who didn't know how many properties he owned?

Re: Dani Mathers: Woman Posts Naked Photo in Response to Playboy Model's Snapchat : People.com

Diane P — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 19:56:42 -0000

I don't know if you meant what immediately went through my mind, but I'm laughing like crazy on this side of the keyboard.

Re: FACT CHECK: Donald Trump Unveils His Economic Plan In Major Detroit Speech

Diane P — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:39:56 -0000

Trump recently had someone kicked out of a rally because they dared to ask him to release the tax returns. (Don't remember if it was a man or a woman, and I'm really too tired to look it up. Sorry about that.)