Why has emergency room care become so important to this discussion? It's there, it's inadequate, it's a stupid way to take care of people, and if you need something the emergency room can't give you, you're still screwed. Is there anything more that needs to be said? Are we talking about it just because BB wants so badly to prove that Greg is a liar? Earth to BB: Words are tricky, and people both can and can't get care in emergency rooms, depending on the care needed. Also, a lie requires intent. Can we move on now?

DougR and beardedbruce, this is a thread about people who have big microphones and who tell lies about the President and his policies. The problem is that so many people believe the lies that it impedes the process of discussing the issues on their merits. You are both apparently taking the other side -- or so I assume, since neither of you have really said anything substantive on the subject, other than DougR admitting that he believes 95% of what Rush Limbaugh says and thinks Obama ought to engage the birthers by producing a birth certificate. Would either of you be willing to explain some of these issues from the conservative side? On the surface, it appears that the birthers are trivializing any conversation, and marginalizing the conservative movement to the point where it has become an international laughing stock. Is there another way to look at this?

All of the Hitler references, the socialist references, the death squad lies, and the astroturf protests seem to many of us to be irresponsible and dangerous. News organizations are more interested in sales than in accuracy, and even some members of Congress are repeating the lies. Can one of you tell us why this is all going on, and why it's appropriate to behave in this manner? Someone who sounds like Rush Limbaugh would normally be considered a whacko fringe conspiracy theorist, but instead he seems to have the Republican party at his beck and call. Is there really no one over there on the right who values truth and honesty over liberal-bashing and winning?

If you think Limbaugh and gang are telling the truth, can you offer any evidence that supports what they say?