UNT students petition for a speaker other than Texas Gov. Abbott

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Wow.

Just so we are clear, if you are disabled and rich, you can no longer be viewed as disabled.

And if he was working for the insurance company, I assume he was doing his job. Do you hold Racehorse Hanes responsible for the murder of Cullen Davis's wife, also?

You do realize that Abbott wasn't among the judges that made the decision, correct? Where is your angst for them? Oh wait, you don't care about them because they aren't governor.

You shoud be celebrating that a disabled person was able to recover and lead a very normal and productive life.

Instead you, someone that isn't disabled, has decided that Greg Abbott should not be considered an inspirational role model for the disabled solely on your insane liberal belief system.

Please refer to the definition of Bigot.

Edited April 8, 2015 by UNT90

SilverEagle · April 8, 2015

Wow.
Just so we are clear, if you are disabled and rich, you can no longer be viewed as disabled.
And if he was working for the insurance company, I assume he was doing his job. Do you hold Racehorse Hanes responsible for the murder of Cullen Davis's wife, also?
You do realize that Abbott wasn't among the judges that made the decision, correct? Where is your angst for them? Oh wait, you don't care about them because they aren't governor.
You shoud be celebrating that a disabled person was able to recover and lead a very normal and productive life.
Instead you, someone that isn't disabled, has decided that Greg Abbott should not be considered disabled solely on your insane liberal belief system.
Please refer to the definition of Bigot.

Blah Blah Blah, doesn't begin to cover it.

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Blah Blah Blah, doesn't begin to cover it.

No, please, let's explore this.

Who should black people have as roles models?

Are they only allowed to idolize Reverend Al because he falls in line with your belief system?

Do you consider Ben Carson an Uncle Tom? Which would be weird, being you are white and all. Is it ok for black people to see him as a role model?

I'm sure the black people on here are waiting in your approval.

Hypocrisy of the highest order.

Quoner · April 8, 2015

This message board isn't about football. It's the real life story of a few men constantly coming to terms with their place in a changing world loudly and repeatedly - often while driving. We're all very lucky to be able to watch (mostly because we don't have a choice.)

UNTLifer · April 8, 2015

90, first question. Why are you bringing his disability in to this conversation? I don't think his goal is to speak on behalf of people with disabilities.

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

90, first question. Why are you bringing his disability in to this conversation? I don't think his goal is to speak on behalf of people with disabilities.

Why are people bringing his views on gay marriage and other political issues in to this conversation? I don't think his goal is to speak on anything involving gays.

I think the fact that being disabled and living with it EVERY DAY, having it unexpectedly thrust into his life, and what it took to overcome would be a very natural path for this speech.

You don't?

Censored by Laurie · April 8, 2015

This message board isn't about football. It's the real life story of a few men constantly coming to terms with their place in a changing world loudly and repeatedly - often while driving. We're all very lucky to be able to watch (mostly because we don't have a choice.)

so "upside-down America" is really just UNT90 having flipped his car posting while driving?

THOR · April 8, 2015

i don't follow politics, don't care for politics, can't stand politicians...but this conversation ya'll are having is enjoyable!

Coffee and TV · April 8, 2015

There's a reason republicans are called conservatives. I'm not protesting at anything, ever. I'm not going to ever sign a petition, ever. I'm not going to be publicly obnoxious. I am going to listen to what any one has to say and take a step back and observe. Then, make my opinion based off of my own thoughts, not someone else's. I am going to vote every local election and national election and hope that my elected official makes the best possible decisions for the sum and not the parts. Loud mouths are the libs and that is fine because more times than not the loudest are usually the most uninformed.

Yeah it wasn't the Tea Party that was screaming and yelling at their Congressmen before they even knew what the Affordable Care Act consisted of...

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Yeah it wasn't the Tea Party that was screaming and yelling at their Congressmen before they even knew what the Affordable Care Act consisted of...

In a proper political forum.

Not on a college campus and certainly not with the expressed intentions of disrupting a commencement speech by said politician... That's what the far left does.

Edited April 8, 2015 by UNT90

NTXCoog · April 8, 2015

Yeah, after his accident he suited the homeowner and the tree service company, and was awarded a 10Million settlement. After that he championed tort reform in Texas that put a cap on awards at 750,000. He's a great "well-I-got-mine-now-good-luck-to-the-rest-of-you" role model.

Present the full facts. There is NOT a cap of $750k on awards. There is a cap of $750k on PUNITIVE DAMAGES. Actual damages can still be awarded in full regardless the amount.

Per this article (http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-18/no-32/greg-abbott-as-plaintiff/):

"The settlement wasn't filed in public records at the court and Abbott wouldn't reveal the details. Lawyers familiar with the case recalled it was a "structured annuity" meant to pay installments over several years. It did not include punitive damages, but probably did include non-economic damages—some compensation just for going through a terrible accident, the rehab that followed and the lifelong confinement to a wheelchair. Another attorney said Abbott and Riddle didn't "abuse the system" to try to get a bigger settlement, but they also didn't leave anything out." (emphasis mine)

Since no punitive damages were awarded, there is a VERY good chance that he would have still received $10 million under the current laws. Under the old rules he could have sued for much more than he received due to unlimited punitive damages allowed at the time.

Edited April 8, 2015 by NTXCoog

UNT90 · April 8, 2015

Also would like to see a list of his charitable giving. I would bet it is substantial.

Silver assumes he just put that money in the bank. And that would absolutely be his right. What if he gave substantial amounts to organizations that assisted the disabled?

But Silver can't consider that because he is so locked in to political hatred that he is willing to say the sitting governor of this state isn't worthy of being an inspiration to the disabled. Really?

It is a symptom of the intolerant left. The only opinion allowed is their opinion. Any other must be shouted down through petitions, boycotts, lawsuits, and demonstrations, even violent demonstrations, if necessary.

It's Marxism at its finest.

Edited April 8, 2015 by UNT90

NTXCoog · April 8, 2015

I don't know about charitable giving, but there is also a possibility of continuing medical expenses that come out of the ongoing settlement payments. Paying for wheelchairs, physical therapy, ongoing complications due to the injury, building modifications for access issues, and other ongoing nursing/medical expenses are part of what the payments are meant for.

The settlement payments also include lost economic opportunities. Luckily it looks like Abbot hasn't let his disability stop him with that regard, but you can't determine that when a settlement is made. Some people lose little in economic opportunities after this type of incident. Others suffer worse than settlement payments compensate for. But they don't go back and readjust settlements based on outcomes.

UNTexas · April 8, 2015

Yeah it wasn't the Tea Party that was screaming and yelling at their Congressmen before they even knew what the Affordable Care Act consisted of...

Well, the Democrats were busy passing it without reading it. So, I'd hope someone complained.

"You have to pass it before you read it." -Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House referring to the Affordable Care Act

Sorry dude.

Coffee and TV · April 9, 2015

Well, the Democrats were busy passing it without reading it. So, I'd hope someone complained.
"You have to pass it before you read it." -Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House referring to the Affordable Care Act
Sorry dude.

That's a quote that conservatives like to throw around, but it's simply not at all what she said.

KRAM1 · April 9, 2015

Also would like to see a list of his charitable giving. I would bet it is substantial.
Silver assumes he just put that money in the bank. And that would absolutely be his right. What if he gave substantial amounts to organizations that assisted the disabled?
But Silver can't consider that because he is so locked in to political hatred that he is willing to say the sitting governor of this state isn't worthy of being an inspiration to the disabled. Really?
It is a symptom of the intolerant left. The only opinion allowed is their opinion. Any other must be shouted down through petitions, boycotts, lawsuits, and demonstrations, even violent demonstrations, if necessary.
It's Marxism at its finest.

Pretty much your stand on RV, isn't it? Pot meet kettle.

UNT90 · April 9, 2015

Pretty much your stand on RV, isn't it? Pot meet kettle.

My stance on RV has to do with lack of results and lies to the fan base.

Bit it was a great analogy, in a convoluted, non-sensical type of way.

Edited April 9, 2015 by UNT90

GreenMachine · April 10, 2015

That's a quote that conservatives like to throw around, but it's simply not at all what she said.

Actually she was on live TV and said you have to pass it to know whats in it. Edited April 10, 2015 by GreenMachine

Coffee and TV · April 10, 2015

Actually she was on live TV and said you have to pass it to know whats in it.

Which is not what you quoted...

What she said was this “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.”

In the context she meant that there was too much noise and hot air surrounding the ACA before it could even get through the committees to the floor for voting. Which is pretty much true for most bills. Until all the amendments are hashed out, debated is closed, and the votes actually come in, the final version of the bill isn't always known to the public. Conservatives like to repeat the talking point like you did that Democrats didn't bother reading or knowing what was in it before they voted for it, which is silly. Congress and their staff wrote the bill, Congress heard debate on the bill, and Congress did a lot to edit the final bill.

That statement still rings true today. When you poll citizens and ask them how they feel about Obamacare, they don't like it. When you ask them how they feel about laws that were actually in the bill, a pretty clear majority tends to like it. There's even a pretty wide spread between asking people if they like Obamacare versus asking if they like it by it's actual name: The Affordable Care Act.

Here's the full quote:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that people won’t appreciate how great the Democrat’s health plan is until after it passes.

“You’ve heard about the controversies, the process about the bill…but I don’t know if you’ve heard that it is legislation for the future – not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America,” she told the National Association of Counties annual legislative conference, which has drawn about 2,000 local officials to Washington. “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it – away from the fog of the controversy.”

During a 20-minute speech, she touted benefits she thinks will be tangible to the audience’s employers. She said there’s support for public health infrastructure and investments in community health centers that will reduce uncompensated care that hospitals now need to deliver.

“You know as well as anyone that our current system is unsustainable,” said Pelosi (D-Calif.). “The final health care legislation, which will soon be passed by the Congress, will deliver successful reforms at the local level.”

Edited April 10, 2015 by Coffee and TV

GreenMachine · April 10, 2015

Which is not what you quoted...

What she said was this we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.

In the context she meant that there was too much noise and hot air surrounding the ACA before it could even get through the committees to the floor for voting. Which is pretty much true for most bills. Until all the amendments are hashed out, debated is closed, and the votes actually come in, the final version of the bill isn't always known to the public. Conservatives like to repeat the talking point like you did that Democrats didn't bother reading or knowing what was in it before they voted for it, which is silly. Congress and their staff wrote the bill, Congress heard debate on the bill, and Congress did a lot to edit the final bill.

That statement still rings true today. When you poll citizens and ask them how they feel about Obamacare, they don't like it. When you ask them how they feel about laws that were actually in the bill, a pretty clear majority tends to like it. There's even a pretty wide spread between asking people if they like Obamacare versus asking if they like it by it's actual name: The Affordable Care Act.

Here's the full quote:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that people wont appreciate how great the Democrats health plan is until after it passes.
Youve heard about the controversies, the process about the billbut I dont know if youve heard that it is legislation for the future not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America, she told the National Association of Counties annual legislative conference, which has drawn about 2,000 local officials to Washington. But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it away from the fog of the controversy.
During a 20-minute speech, she touted benefits she thinks will be tangible to the audiences employers. She said theres support for public health infrastructure and investments in community health centers that will reduce uncompensated care that hospitals now need to deliver.
You know as well as anyone that our current system is unsustainable, said Pelosi (D-Calif.). The final health care legislation, which will soon be passed by the Congress, will deliver successful reforms at the local level.

So she did say it, correct?

UNT90 · April 10, 2015

Not one congressman wrote one word that was in the bill and I highly doubt one congressman read a page of the bill before voting on it, one way or another.

I'm sure that tasked several members of their inflated staff to write it and read the final product.

Nice to know our healthcare policies were written by 28 year olds, eh?

Edited April 10, 2015 by UNT90

FirefightnRick · April 10, 2015

Not one congressman wrote one word that was in the bill and I highly doubt one congressman read a page of the bill before voting on it, one way or another.
I'm sure that tasked several members of their inflated staff to write it and read the final product.
Nice to know our healthcare policies were written by 28 year olds, eh?

"Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage"

.

http://youtu.be/Q0-BNE7Q3wM

Rick

Edited April 10, 2015 by FirefightnRick

UNT90 · April 10, 2015

"Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage"
.
http://youtu.be/Q0-BNE7Q3wM
Rick

Pretty amazing what he says. Rarely do you find a liberal talking honestly about liberal legislation. The fact that he says lying was acceptable because of the cause is liberalism to the nth degree:

The truth doesn't matter and should be avoided if it interferes with the agenda.