2020 Candidate Speculation

[dc2london]

January is such fun bc our deductible resets Dec 1 so I get slammed with bills where literally nothing is covered by my insurance. Just got a $400 bill for spending 5 minutes with a PA and S2 getting a breathing treatment.

$400.

[blurnette989]

Jan 3, 2020 13:40:41 GMT -6 dc2london said:

January is such fun bc our deductible resets Dec 1 so I get slammed with bills where literally nothing is covered by my insurance. Just got a $400 bill for spending 5 minutes with a PA and S2 getting a breathing treatment.

$400.

I remember when my law practice was acquired and the acquisition officially closed 3 weeks before my due date. So of course had already hit my first deductible, but of course, my new employer had different insurance and I got to spend a whole nother deductible before any of the birth was covered.

I hate when he concept of deductibles.

[dc2london]

Jan 3, 2020 13:49:37 GMT -6 blurnette989 said:

Jan 3, 2020 13:40:41 GMT -6 dc2london said:

January is such fun bc our deductible resets Dec 1 so I get slammed with bills where literally nothing is covered by my insurance. Just got a $400 bill for spending 5 minutes with a PA and S2 getting a breathing treatment.

$400.

I remember when my law practice was acquired and the acquisition officially closed 3 weeks before my due date. So of course had already hit my first deductible, but of course, my new employer had different insurance and I got to spend a whole nother deductible before any of the birth was covered.

I hate when he concept of deductibles.

oof. what a nightmare. 

[roloma]

Oh, that sucks so hard dc2london. It is just absolutely outrageous and infuriating. I'm sorry.

[dc2london]

Jan 3, 2020 14:21:01 GMT -6 roloma said:

Oh, that sucks so hard dc2london . It is just absolutely outrageous and infuriating. I'm sorry.

Thank you. I also got notice that my rheumatologist (whom I really like and trust) will no longer be in network starting 31 Jan, and I am seriously considering just ending treatment for my RA and dealing with it through Advil and Aleve. The Methotrexate doesn't work that well anyway and biologics are WAY too expensive. 

America!

[jkjacq]

dc2london. That all sucks. I’m sorry

I hated methotrexate so I deal with Advil. I don’t recommend it though and my jra is fairly mild most times, it gets worse as I get older.

[Minerva]

Jan 3, 2020 13:49:37 GMT -6 blurnette989 said:

Jan 3, 2020 13:40:41 GMT -6 dc2london said:

January is such fun bc our deductible resets Dec 1 so I get slammed with bills where literally nothing is covered by my insurance. Just got a $400 bill for spending 5 minutes with a PA and S2 getting a breathing treatment.

$400.

I remember when my law practice was acquired and the acquisition officially closed 3 weeks before my due date. So of course had already hit my first deductible, but of course, my new employer had different insurance and I got to spend a whole nother deductible before any of the birth was covered.

I hate when he concept of deductibles.

Something similar happened with my first pregnancy. I was in grad school and on a student insurance plan that went by semester. My pregnancy covered three fucking semesters, so I ended up paying 3 $1000 deductibles.

[byjove]

dc2london , have any diet modifications helped or have you experimented with that? Maybe that plus OTC meds would make it manageable? I have PA and have done AIP for a while (not so bad once I got the hang of it). The complication for me is that a lot of the generally known anti-inflammatory spices (cinnamon, tumeric and also mustard/curry) are actually inflammatory for me and I have to work harder to avoid.

Not that to take away from the ludicrousness of health care in our country.

[Minerva]

Jan 3, 2020 14:26:26 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Jan 3, 2020 14:21:01 GMT -6 roloma said:

Oh, that sucks so hard dc2london . It is just absolutely outrageous and infuriating. I'm sorry.

Thank you. I also got notice that my rheumatologist (whom I really like and trust) will no longer be in network starting 31 Jan, and I am seriously considering just ending treatment for my RA and dealing with it through Advil and Aleve. The Methotrexate doesn't work that well anyway and biologics are WAY too expensive. 

America!

Oh man. That really sucks. I’m sorry you are dealing with it.

[dc2london]

Jan 3, 2020 14:35:22 GMT -6 jkjacq said:

dc2london . That all sucks. I’m sorry

I hated methotrexate so I deal with Advil. I don’t recommend it though and my jra is fairly mild most times, it gets worse as I get older.

it gives me a nasty, itchy rash but I've been putting up with it until I saw what Congress was going to do about Rx drug costs. Ugh. 

[dc2london]

Jan 3, 2020 14:40:51 GMT -6 byjove said:

dc2london , have any diet modifications helped or have you experimented with that? Maybe that plus OTC meds would make it manageable? I have PA and have done AIP for a while (not so bad once I got the hang of it). The complication for me is that a lot of the generally known anti-inflammatory spices (cinnamon, tumeric and also mustard/curry) are actually inflammatory for me and I have to work harder to avoid.

Not that to take away from the ludicrousness of health care in our country.

I did AIP for a lot of the summer bc H was also on an elimination diet so it was easier to just go with it. I would say it helped but I was still struggling. 

[byjove]

Jan 3, 2020 14:46:40 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Jan 3, 2020 14:40:51 GMT -6 byjove said:

dc2london , have any diet modifications helped or have you experimented with that? Maybe that plus OTC meds would make it manageable? I have PA and have done AIP for a while (not so bad once I got the hang of it). The complication for me is that a lot of the generally known anti-inflammatory spices (cinnamon, tumeric and also mustard/curry) are actually inflammatory for me and I have to work harder to avoid.

Not that to take away from the ludicrousness of health care in our country.

I did AIP for a lot of the summer bc H was also on an elimination diet so it was easier to just go with it. I would say it helped but I was still struggling. 

Bummer, and I did not realize! We were AIP'ing at the same time.

[punker1212]

Here’s a question: with most polls showing Biden and Sanders in the lead, who would y’all cast a vote for, between the two? And why?

[jaygee]

Jan 3, 2020 17:19:26 GMT -6 punker1212 said:

Here’s a question: with most polls showing Biden and Sanders in the lead, who would y’all cast a vote for, between the two? And why?

Biden.

Petty answer: because he’s a democrat

Real answer: he has more support with voters of color, thus a better shot of winning the whole thing. Bernie’s stance on gun control is a no-go for me (not aggressive enough). I think Bernie’s plans are not feasible in most cases. In other cases I don’t think they address the root causes - like free college for everyone is fine but let’s work on the racial stratification in primary education that limits potentials of people of color.

I find him to be a liar like our current POTUS (of course he’s not as bad and his motives are better but he’s still a liar). I think Biden is problematic but not nearly as Bernie and I just trust his judgement more. I also think the T machine has loads of dirt on Bernie that we don’t know yet and we know what Biden’s dirt is thanks to the whistleblower. It’s bad but not deal breaker and not unknown. There could be more but I’d take my chances that the Bernie dirt is worse.

[jkjacq]

Jan 3, 2020 17:19:26 GMT -6 punker1212 said:

Here’s a question: with most polls showing Biden and Sanders in the lead, who would y’all cast a vote for, between the two? And why?

I don’t wanna.

Probably Biden. Only because of the been there (as in closer to the oval) factor. I think they’re both hugely problematic

Bernie can be charming but I can’t get past he’s typically the one trying to take credit for others work. I don’t see this as much in joe.

[dc2london]

I would vote for Biden, between Biden and Bernie. While I really hate the Crime Bill vote, Bernie's repeated opposition to the Brady Bill is not something I will easily forgive. Biden has better support among voters of color, and I don't just mean that as a strategy to win--if voters of color say Biden will protect their rights, I believe them. OTOH, strategically, I think Biden stands a better chance of garnering votes from Never Trump Conservative voters and new Independents. I wish some of Bidens plans were more aspirational, especially bc of what the DC sausage making process will do to them, but Bernie hasn't demonstrated, IMO, that he can build coalitions to pass any of his Big Ideas.

[cnf]

Jan 3, 2020 13:40:41 GMT -6 dc2london said:

January is such fun bc our deductible resets Dec 1 so I get slammed with bills where literally nothing is covered by my insurance. Just got a $400 bill for spending 5 minutes with a PA and S2 getting a breathing treatment.

$400.

We have a nebulizer and a ton of the medicine that goes with it. I don't even remember what it's called because we've literally used it once since DD2 had RSV two years ago. Albuterol I think? I'd happily send it all to you to save you $400. Our pediatrician just straight up gave it all to us and we don't use it.

[dc2london]

Jan 3, 2020 18:26:14 GMT -6 cnf said:

Jan 3, 2020 13:40:41 GMT -6 dc2london said:

January is such fun bc our deductible resets Dec 1 so I get slammed with bills where literally nothing is covered by my insurance. Just got a $400 bill for spending 5 minutes with a PA and S2 getting a breathing treatment.

$400.

We have a nebulizer and a ton of the medicine that goes with it. I don't even remember what it's called because we've literally used it once since DD2 had RSV two years ago. Albuterol I think? I'd happily send it all to you to save you $400. Our pediatrician just straight up gave it all to us and we don't use it.

oh that's so kind, thank you. We have a neb and a ton of albuterol. The reason a treatment was administered in office was bc my SpO2 was like 92% in office and they were deciding whether I needed to go to the ER. So they did the breathing treatment then tested my SpO2 again (thankfully it improved so I was able to go home with another Rx)

[cnf]

Jan 3, 2020 18:28:29 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Jan 3, 2020 18:26:14 GMT -6 cnf said:

We have a nebulizer and a ton of the medicine that goes with it. I don't even remember what it's called because we've literally used it once since DD2 had RSV two years ago. Albuterol I think? I'd happily send it all to you to save you $400. Our pediatrician just straight up gave it all to us and we don't use it.

oh that's so kind, thank you. We have a neb and a ton of albuterol. The reason a treatment was administered in office was bc my SpO2 was like 92% in office and they were deciding whether I needed to go to the ER. So they did the breathing treatment then tested my SpO2 again (thankfully it improved so I was able to go home with another Rx)

Oh I misread that and assumed it was one of your kiddos, not you! I'm sorry on all accounts.

Healthcare in this country is a damn joke.

[dc2london]

Jan 3, 2020 18:31:03 GMT -6 cnf said:

Jan 3, 2020 18:28:29 GMT -6 dc2london said:

oh that's so kind, thank you. We have a neb and a ton of albuterol. The reason a treatment was administered in office was bc my SpO2 was like 92% in office and they were deciding whether I needed to go to the ER. So they did the breathing treatment then tested my SpO2 again (thankfully it improved so I was able to go home with another Rx)

Oh I misread that and assumed it was one of your kiddos, not you! I'm sorry on all accounts.

Healthcare in this country is a damn joke.

no you read it right, S2 and I both had breathing treatments in the office in the same 24 hours bc we both had the same symptoms. I originally posted about S2's Tx, but both bills will probably be the same

[sctiger]

I think that we need to take into consideration Biden's support among black voters. That is huge. I don't think Bernie would make a good president because he's not really a Democrat and doesn't have the relationships with other Democrats to form a functional, cohesive administration. Plus other issues that we've talked about here.

Although Biden isn't my first choice, I think that he would do a good job in making steps to having a functional government again. I think he would choose a woman and/or POC as a VP and he would have a diverse cabinet. I'd love if he'd pick a great VP who would be basically groomed to take over because I don't know if Biden could serve two terms.

I think Biden will win SC. I plan to vote for Warren because I love her and think she has great ideas and would be a fantastic president but I will happily vote for Biden if he's the nominee. I think people see him as a safe choice and I do get that.

[bunnyfungo]

Everyone has said all the things I would say. I would vote for Biden over Bernie a million times over.

[pearbear]

I would 100% vote for Biden over Bernie. TBH I would have a very very hard time voting for Bernie at all. I don’t trust him and I think he’s the democratic socialist version of Trump. I know that sounds harsh, but I think there is merit to the political horseshoe theory and a lot of Bernie’s actions, and actions of his base, are similar but on the other extreme of the political spectrum. Plus, he’s only a “democrat” when it’s convenient for him and that irritates me.

Aside from that, I’m sort of an outlier on this board in that I’m very much a moderate dem. I don’t like many of Bernie’s policies.

As an aside, I forgot to add in my post the other day that the other candidate sign I’ve seen here in Ohio is for Bernie. This old white dude hangs out on freeway overpass (walking bridge) with his homemade “Feel the Bern” sheet hung up on it several days a week and I have to see it on my drive home from work. I admire his passion, I guess, but can’t help rolling my eyes every time.

[greykitty]

I'll give Sanders' followers credit for their staunchness.

But, I also would have real issues voting for him. I also agree that the Democratic party has its own mirror image version of the GOP Tea Party and I hope the party isn't destroyed by it.

[Minerva]

Jan 3, 2020 20:22:10 GMT -6 sctiger said:

I think that we need to take into consideration Biden's support among black voters. That is huge. I don't think Bernie would make a good president because he's not really a Democrat and doesn't have the relationships with other Democrats to form a functional, cohesive administration. Plus other issues that we've talked about here.

Although Biden isn't my first choice, I think that he would do a good job in making steps to having a functional government again. I think he would choose a woman and/or POC as a VP and he would have a diverse cabinet. I'd love if he'd pick a great VP who would be basically groomed to take over because I don't know if Biden could serve two terms.

I think Biden will win SC. I plan to vote for Warren because I love her and think she has great ideas and would be a fantastic president but I will happily vote for Biden if he's the nominee. I think people see him as a safe choice and I do get that.

Biden for all of the reasons you list here. I respect that he has put in a lot of time over the years to build real relationships with black voters in southern states. And he’s done the same with other groups of voters across America as well. Progressive plans are good, but those long-standing relationships matter to me in a way that’s hard to characterize.

Warren is my preference in the top 4 because I love her plans and I see her doing the same relationship building among different demographics across America, but tbh, she’s several decades behind Joe in doing it and isn’t going to be able to build the same strong, diverse coalition.

[jaygee]

Whoopsie.

[cakewench]

Castro has endorsed Warren:

[summerbabe]

Jan 6, 2020 8:17:37 GMT -6 cakewench said:

Castro has endorsed Warren:

 I would love to see him as her running mate.

[roloma]

I was running here as fast I could to talk about Castro endorsing Warren. That is a ticket I could get behind SO hard! I mentioned it after the Iowa Steak Fry when she was posting pictures of them and referring to him as "my friend." I know some people don't love Liz for a variety of reasons but I do like her and have supported her, I just always had a question on where she would take her ticket. If it went this way I would fight tooth and nail to have them be the nominees, for sure.

[ladybrienne]

Jan 6, 2020 10:05:47 GMT -6 roloma said:

I was running here as fast I could to talk about Castro endorsing Warren. That is a ticket I could get behind SO hard! I mentioned it after the Iowa Steak Fry when she was posting pictures of them and referring to him as "my friend." I know some people don't love Liz for a variety of reasons but I do like her and have supported her, I just always had a question on where she would take her ticket. If it went this way I would fight tooth and nail to have them be the nominees, for sure.

I think they would make a good team. 

I just....man I love him. We need his voice. Desperately.