OT: Why do GOP rank and file support massive product liability reform?

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:02:07 -0400, "William H. Shuey" wrote: Why do people believe Democrats Because of Republicans

Reply to
dajwal
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but my gut

Spoken like a true democrat. NEVER let the facts prevent you from following the party line. AND never ever respond to the tuth when you might be able to direct attention elsewhere.

Reply to
ARMDCAV

You cannot take the blame for anything ever if you have never done anything wrong. Maybe Bush is running for the wrong office. Maybe he should be pope.

Mark Schynert

Reply to
Mark Schynert

I suggest that we all petition this Republican congress and Republican president to repeal Social Security outright and refund all the money so collected from our various and sundry incomes. I'll promise Vess will hold his breath until it happens if all of you make the same promise. Me, I'm gonna continue to breathe.

Mark Schynert

Reply to
Mark Schynert

you know guys, i've gotten so fed up with both parties that i have faith in neither. the only colors are green, there is no real choice and we take it in the shorts no matter what. we have the "freedom" of choice to pick between to sets of clowns that don't make a real world bit of diffwerence.

Reply to
someone

Actually I'm surprised you all accepted Shuey's posting about the Democrats and Social Security as though it were all true. Really, it's mostly a bunch of lies, and a half-truth. What was that about "never let the facts prevent you from following the party line? " I know it's a lot of reading, but please check out the following from Snopes.com:

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*************************************************Q: Which party took Social Security from an independent fund and put it in the general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate.

FALSE

These articles should help to clear up the misconceptions.

From the Cato Institute

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SSP Report No. 24 p. 6

"All of those proposals reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the trust fund. Social Security payroll taxes are currently bringing in more revenue than the program pays out in benefits, a surplus that is projected to continue until approximately 2016. Thereafter, the situation will reverse, with Social Security paying out more in benefits than it brings in through taxes. The surplus is used to purchase special issue Treasury bonds. The Social Security surplus used to purchase the bonds becomes general revenue and is spent on the government^Òs annual general operating expenses. What remains behind in the trust fund is the bonds, plus an interest payment attributed to the bonds (also paid in bonds, rather than cash). Government bonds are, in essence, a form of IOU. They are a promise against future tax revenue. When the bonds become due, the government will have to repay them out of general revenue."

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"The Social Security Trust Fund is an accounting fiction.

The Social Security tax has been raising more money than is needed to pay for current benefits, in order to build up a surplus to help finance the retirement of the Baby Boom generation. All of this surplus is lent to the U.S. Treasury when the Social Security Trust Fund buys bonds from it. The money is then used to finance the federal deficit, just like any other money the government borrows. The bonds held by the fund pay the same interest as bonds held by the public. These bonds are every bit as real (or as much of a fiction) as the bonds held by banks, corporations, and individuals. Throughout U.S. history the federal government has always paid its debts. As a result, government bonds enjoy the highest credit ratings and are considered one of the safest assets in the world. Thus the fund has very real and secure assets."

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"Trust Funds: A Healthy Picture

Although "trust fund" is the term generally used, there are actually four trust funds - two for Social Security and two for Medicare. At the last accounting, they held assets totaling almost $1.3 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office projects they will grow by $2.5 trillion over the next decade. Their holdings consist of U.S. securities currently earning 6.9 percent."

These are the 4 Funds: It is in Public Law No: 104-121.

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Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

SEC. 107. PROTECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TRUST FUNDS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`PROTECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TRUST FUNDS

`SEC. 1145. (a) IN GENERAL- No officer or employee of the United States shall--

`(1) delay the deposit of any amount into (or delay the credit of any amount to) any Federal fund or otherwise vary from the normal terms, procedures, or timing for making such deposits or credits,

`(2) refrain from the investment in public debt obligations of amounts in any Federal fund, or

`(3) redeem prior to maturity amounts in any Federal fund which are invested in public debt obligations for any purpose other than the payment of benefits or administrative expenses from such Federal fund.

`(b) PUBLIC DEBT OBLIGATION- For purposes of this section, the term `public debt obligation' means any obligation subject to the public debt limit established under section 3101 of title 31, United States Code.

`(c) FEDERAL FUND- For purposes of this section, the term `Federal fund' means--

`(1) the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund;

`(2) the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund;

`(3) the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund; and

`(4) the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Lyndon Johnson had a profound affect on the benefits received. He pushed and signed the legislation for Medicare benefits. He went to Independence Missouri, Harry Truman's home town, to sign it. LBJ signed Harry's card as the first recipient. These are some of his words:

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Remarks With President Truman at the Signing in Independence of the Medicare Bill--July 30, 1965

"PRESIDENT TRUMAN. Thank you very much. I am glad you like the President. I like him too. He is one of the finest men I ever ran across.

Mr. President, Mrs. Johnson, distinguished guests:

You have done me a great honor in coming here today, and you have made me a very, very happy man.

This is an important hour for the Nation, for those of our citizens who have completed their tour of duty and have moved to the sidelines. These are the days that we are trying to celebrate for them. These people are our prideful responsibility and they are entitled, among other benefits, to the best medical protection available.

Not one of these, our citizens, should ever be abandoned to the indignity of charity. Charity is indignity when you have to have it. But we don't want these people to have anything to do with charity and we don't want them to have any idea of hopeless despair.

Mr. President, I am glad to have lived this long and to witness today the signing of the Medicare bill which puts this Nation right where it needs to be, to be right. Your inspired leadership and a responsive forward-looking Congress have made it historically possible for this day to come about.

Thank all of you most highly for coming here. It is an honor I haven't had for, well, quite awhile, I'll say that to you, but here it is:"

THE PRESIDENT. "The people of the United States love and voted for Harry Truman, not because he gave them hell--but because he gave them hope.

I believe today that all America shares my joy that he is present now when the hope that he offered becomes a reality for millions of our fellow citizens.

I am so proud that this has come to pass in the Johnson Administration. But it was really Harry Truman of Missouri who planted the seeds of compassion and duty which have today flowered into care for the sick, and serenity for the fearful.

Many men can make many proposals. Many men can draft many laws. But few have the piercing and humane eye which can see beyond the words to the people that they touch. Few can see past the speeches and the political battles to the doctor over there that is tending the infirm, and to the hospital that is receiving those in anguish, or feel in their heart painful wrath it the injustice which denies the miracle of healing to the old and to the poor. And fewer still have the courage to stake reputation, and position, and the effort of a lifetime upon such a cause when there are so few that share it.

But it is just such men who illuminate the life and the history of a nation. And so, President Harry Truman, it is in tribute not to you, but to the America that you represent, that we have come here to pay our love and our respects to you today. For a country can be known by the quality of the men it honors. By praising you, and by carrying forward your dreams, we really reaffirm the greatness of America.

It was a generation ago that Harry Truman said, and I quote him: "Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and to help them get that protection."

Well, today, Mr. President, and my fellow Americans, we are taking such action--20 years later. And we are doing that under the great leadership of men like John McCormack, our Speaker; Carl Albert, our majority leader; our very able and beloved majority leader of the Senate, Mike Mansfield; and distinguished Members of the Ways and Means and Finance Committees of the House and Senate--of both parties, Democratic and Republican.

Because the need for this action is plain; and it is so clear indeed that we marvel not simply at the passage of this bill, but what we marvel at is that it took so many years to pass it. And I am so glad that Aime Forand is here to see it finally passed and signed--one of the first authors.

There are more than 18 million Americans over the age of 65. Most of them have low incomes. Most of them are threatened by illness and medical expenses that they cannot afford.

And through this new law, Mr. President, every citizen will be able, in his productive years when he is earning, to insure himself against the ravages of illness in his old age.

This insurance will help pay for care in hospitals, in skilled nursing homes, or in the home. And under a separate plan it will help meet the fees of the doctors."

***************************************************************** Q: Which party put a tax on Social Security? A: The Democratic party. FALSE

Actually, it was Ronald Reagan, a Republican, who signed a bill taxing Social Security benefits.

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"The 1983 Amendments

In the early 1980s the Social Security program faced a serious short-term financing crisis. President Reagan appointed a blue-ribbon panel, known as the Greenspan Commission, to study the financing issues and make recommendations for legislative changes. The final bill, signed into law in 1983, made numerous changes in the Social Security and Medicare programs, including the taxation of Social Security benefits, the first coverage of Federal employees under Social Security and an increase in the retirement age in the next century."

***************************************** Q: Which party increased the tax on Social Security? A: The Democratic Party with Al Gore casting the deciding vote.

TRUE

Since the statement does not mention any specific bill that Al Gore cast the deciding vote, it led to an exhaustive search. As a Vice President, he could have exercised his constitutional powers to break a tie vote in the Senate.

I did find as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, the VP did cast a vote in the Senate to break a tie. This Act was a huge bill that covered everything from agricultural commodities, licensing of radio spectrum, luxury automobile taxes, fuels, banking, medicare, etc., etc. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 218-216 and in the Senate by

51-50.

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|TOM:/bss/d103query.html| H.R. 2264 Latest Major Action: 8/10/1993 Became Public Law No: 103-66. This is section 13215:

SEC. 13215. SOCIAL SECURITY AND TIER 1 RAILROAD RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

(a) ADDITIONAL INCLUSION FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) of section 86 (relating to social security and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(2) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT- In the case of a taxpayer with respect to whom the amount determined under subsection (b)(1)(A) exceeds the adjusted base amount, the amount included in gross income under this section shall be equal to the lesser of--

`(A) the sum of--

`(i) 85 percent of such excess, plus

`(ii) the lesser of the amount determined under paragraph (1) or an amount equal to one-half of the difference between the adjusted base amount and the base amount of the taxpayer, or

`(B) 85 percent of the social security benefits received during the taxable year.'

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- Subsection (a) of section 86 is amended--

(A) by striking `Gross' and inserting:

`(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), gross', and

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.

(b) ADJUSTED BASE AMOUNT- Section 86(c) (defining base amount) is amended to read as follows:

`(c) BASE AMOUNT AND ADJUSTED BASE AMOUNT- For purposes of this section--

`(1) BASE AMOUNT- The term `base amount' means `(A) except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, $25,000,

`(B) $32,000 in the case of a joint return, and

`(C) zero in the case of a taxpayer who--

`(i) is married as of the close of the taxable year (within the meaning of section 7703) but does not file a joint return for such year, and

`(ii) does not live apart from his spouse at all times during the taxable year.

`(2) ADJUSTED BASE AMOUNT- The term `adjusted base amount' means--

`(A) except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, $34,000,

`(B) $44,000 in the case of a joint return, and

`(C) zero in the case of a taxpayer described in paragraph (1)(C).'

(c) TRANSFERS TO THE HOSPITAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND-

(1) IN GENERAL- Paragraph (1) of section 121(e) of the Social Security Amendments of 1983 (Public Law 92-21) is amended by--

(A) striking `There' and inserting:

`(A) There';

(B) inserting `(i)' immediately following `amounts equivalent to'; and

(C) striking the period and inserting the following: `, less (ii) the amounts equivalent to the aggregate increase in tax liabilities under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which is attributable to the amendments to section 86 of such Code made by section 13215 of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of

1993.

`(B) There are hereby appropriated to the hospital insurance trust fund amounts equal to the increase in tax liabilities described in subparagraph (A)(ii). Such appropriated amounts shall be transferred from the general fund of the Treasury on the basis of estimates of such tax liabilities made by the Secretary of the Treasury. Transfers shall be made pursuant to a schedule made by the Secretary of the Treasury that takes into account estimated timing of collection of such liabilities.'

(2) DEFINITION- Paragraph (3) of section 121(e) of such Act is amended by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C), and by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:

`(B) HOSPITAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND- The term `hospital insurance trust fund' means the fund established pursuant to section 1817 of the Social Security Act.'.

(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Paragraph (2) of section 121(e) of such Act is amended in the first sentence by striking `paragraph (1)' and inserting `paragraph (1)(A)'.

(4) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS- Paragraph (1)(A) of section 121(e) of such Act, as redesignated and amended by paragraph (1), is amended by striking `1954' and inserting `1986'.

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1993.

**************************************************** Q. Which party decided to give money to immigrants? A: That's right, immigrants moved into this country at 65 and got SSI Social Security. The Democratic Party gave that to them although they never paid a dime into it.

FALSE

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Public Law 92-603, enacted October 30

"Other Eligibility Provisions Citizenship and Residence

The individual must reside within one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and be a citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence or permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Persons living outside the United States for an entire calendar month lose their eligibility for such a month." The SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and the automatic annual COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) based on the Consumer Price Index were pushed, signed, and implemented during the Nixon administration. So immigrants first received SSI under the Republican administration of President Richard M. Nixon.

It was actually Bill Clinton that signed legislation barring immigrants from receiving SSI as part of The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This changed the following year with the signing of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

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"SSI

In the 1970s, SSA became responsible for a new program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In the original 1935 Social Security Act, programs were introduced for needy aged and blind individuals and, in 1950, needy disabled individuals were added. These three programs were known as the "adult categories" and were administered by State and local governments with partial Federal funding. Over the years, the State programs became more complex and inconsistent, with as many as 1,350 administrative agencies involved and payments varying more than 300% from State to State.

In 1969, President Nixon identified a need to reform these and related welfare programs to "bring reason, order, and purpose into a tangle of overlapping programs." In 1971, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Elliot Richardson, proposed that SSA assume responsibility for the "adult categories." In the Social Security Amendments of 1972, Congress federalized the "adult categories" by creating the SSI program and assigned responsibility for it to SSA.

SSA was chosen to administer the new program because of its reputation for successful administration of the existing social insurance programs. SSA's nationwide network of field offices and large-scale data processing and record-keeping operations also made it the logical choice to perform the major task of converting over 3 million people from State welfare programs to SSI."

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"The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of

1996.

This "welfare reform" legislation, signed by the President on 8/22/96, ended the categorical entitlement to AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) that was part of the original 1935 Social Security Act by implementing time-limited benefits along with a work requirement. The law also terminated SSI eligibility for most non-citizens. Previously, lawfully admitted aliens could receive SSI if they met the other factors of entitlement. As of the date of enactment, no new non-citizens could be added to the benefit rolls and all existing non-citizen beneficiaries would eventually be removed from the rolls (unless they met one of the exceptions in the law.) Also effective upon enactment were provisions eliminating the "comparable severity standard" and reference to "maladaptive behavior" in the determination of disability for children to receive SSI. Also, children currently receiving benefits under the old standards were to be reviewed and removed from the rolls if they could not qualify under the new standards.

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997

This bill passed the House on 7/30/97 by a vote of 346 to 85, and passed the Senate the next day on a vote of 85 to 15. This law restored SSI eligibility to certain cohorts of non- citizens whose eligibility otherwise would be terminated under the "welfare reform" of 1996. It also extended for up to one year the period for redetermining the eligibility of certain aliens who may ultimately not be eligible for continued benefits."

These are the present requirements for SSI eligibility:

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"96.006 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: The eligibility of an individual who has attained age 65 or who is blind or disabled is determined on the basis of an assessment of the individual's monthly income and resources, citizenship or alien status, U.S. residency, and certain other eligibility requirements. In determining a month's income, the first $20 of Social Security or other unearned income is not counted. An additional $65 of earned income ($85 if the person had no unearned income) received in a month plus one-half of the remainder above $65 (or $85) also is not counted. If, after these (and other) exclusions, an individual's countable income, effective January 2002, is less than $545 per month ($817 for a couple, both of whom are aged, blind or disabled) and countable resources are less than $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple), the individual may be eligible for payments. The values of household goods, personal effects, an automobile, life insurance, and property needed for self support are, if within limits set out in regulations, excluded in determining value of resources. Burial spaces for an individual and immediate family and burial funds, up to $1,500 each for an individual and spouse, are excluded from resources. The value of a home which serves as the principal place of residence is also excluded in resource valuation.

Beneficiary Eligibility: Individuals who have attained age 65 or are blind or disabled, who continue to meet the income and resources tests, citizenship/qualified alien status, U.S. residence, and certain other requirements. Eligibility may continue for beneficiaries who engage in substantial gainful activity despite disabling physical or mental impairments.

Credentials/Documentation: Proof of age, marital status, income and resources, establishment of blindness or disability, proof of residence in the U.S. and citizenship, or alien status is required."

The implication is that if one did not pay much into the system, they should not be entitled to receive benefits beyond their contribution. Certainly, many of the retirees over the past couple of decades have received much more than they ever put in. A case in point is the first recipient of a monthly check.

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"Ida May Fuller worked for three years under the Social Security program. The accumulated taxes on her salary during those three years was a total of $24.75. Her initial monthly check was $22.54. During her lifetime she collected a total of $22,888.92 in Social Security benefits."

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Reply to
Scott R. Wilson

You don't know about his record?? And you're voting for him???

Reply to
Al Superczynski

Whether or not Edwards' case were meritorious is a matter of opinion.

Not me. I'd prefer lawyers that didn't help drive up the costs of both malpractice premiums and health care, or contribute to physicians leaving their practices thus leaving prospective patients with fewer alternatives.

You're inferring entirely too much from my opposition to Edwards.

Reply to
Al Superczynski

Kinda' makes one wonder if ol' Vessticles even has two brain cells to bang together, doesn't it?

-- -- " In walks the village idiot and his face is all aglow; he's been up all night listening to Mohammad's radio" W. Zevon

My home page:

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Reply to
Bill Woodier

Here are the questions/answers as posted by Bill Shuey and as investigated by Snopes, abridged for those who wouldn't want to wade through the full article.

Q: Which party took Social Security from an independent fund and put it in the general fund so that Congress could spend it? A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate. FALSE Go to

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further detail.

Q: Which party put a tax on Social Security? A: The Democratic party. FALSE Actually, it was Ronald Reagan, a Republican, who signed a bill taxing Social Security benefits.

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Q: Which party increased the tax on Social Security? A: The Democratic Party with Al Gore casting the deciding vote. TRUE But it was as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, the VP did cast a vote in the Senate to break a tie. This Act was a huge bill that covered everything from agricultural commodities, licensing of radio spectrum, luxury automobile taxes, fuels, banking, medicare, etc., etc

Q. Which party decided to give money to immigrants? A: That's right, immigrants moved into this country at 65 and got SSI Social Security. The Democratic Party gave that to them although they never paid a dime into it. FALSE

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Reply to
Scott R. Wilson

Al:

Remember the great lesson taught by Bill Clinton. Character no longer counts, only agenda!

Bill Shuey

Reply to
William H. Shuey

Much smoke snipped!

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Excellent example. She paid in $24.75 and got back 925 times as much. Where did the other 924 times $24.75 come from. Out of the taxpayers pocket. As the population ages and lives longer, multiply this by millions and you can see why the system is in trouble. Dumping the trust fund into the general fund to fund a Congressional spending spree is coming home to roost, big time. Thanks Mr. Politician!

Bill Shuey

Reply to
William H. Shuey

This actually ticks me off. I still feel that character does matter. And, I am disappointed in what I see of that in the Bush admin. I supported Bush against Gore and am still sure it was the right call.

However, the Bush admin. is not leading the way I want (ironically, I want more of the very things most of critics condemn him for, like more dead terrorists, fewer dead US troops in Iraq by providing more dead terrorists, stronger homeland borders, etc.).

I am summarizing a great deal here, but I don't find Bush doing the things I feel we need. I can't say I'm terribly hopeful for Kerry (especailly when I see the caliber of his support in the form of people like Vess), but at least he has a chance to surprise me. And, whatever his many other failings, he at least served in the field, I am hopeful that gives him at least some more awareness of the need for dead terrorists.

Reply to
SamVanga

I keep waiting for Kerry offer me paint sealant, undercoating and an extended warranty....at least all he's showing me sincerity-wise is what he thinks is just enough to get me to buy the car.

Reply to
Ron

I cannot make heads or tails out of this comment.. I think humor is being attempted.

Mark, I suggest you avoid an audition for the cast of Saturday Night Live. Your talent lies elsewhere. ..../V

Reply to
Vess Irvine

Hey Rick:

Nope. Not going to blather this time. Toooooo bad, sorry to disappoint you.

Actually, "blather" is an interesting word. Anyone know it's origin? Is it slang? Is it Old English?

...../V

Reply to
Vess Irvine

You forgot the floor mats and free oil changes for 36 months. Would you really buy a car from this guy?

Rick

Reply to
OXMORON1

Vess asked:

Damn good, non political question! Not modeling related but maybe we can figure out a way to tie it in :-)

Rick

Reply to
OXMORON1

Nope, but then I don't deal with car salesmen since my cousin is comptroller at a local dealer.

Reply to
Ron

I think we have.MMM lemon!

Reply to
Eyeball2002308

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