I'm so not surprised. Sad. Not surprised.
The Democrats found themselves in once in a lifetime situation this year - President, majority in the Senate, majority in the House. The GOP are in disarray. OMG! They could really get to work cleaning up the unholy mess that is our country and then actually do something that would improve the lives of tens of millions of their fellow citizens, even saving tens of thousands each and every year.
What do they do instead?
Implode. Again.
The quibbling, quivering, clueless as to how to act when they can actually act behaviors appeared almost immediately after they took office. it didn't even have to wait until year two. These fine folks can't seem to find a spine and walk upright with it.
They're giving it all away as fast as the lobbyists can voice demands. They're caving in on any and every demand from the banks and big business that will strip the rights and pick the meager pockets of average citizens with amazing alacrity. They money they're getting paid now and will get after leaving office will apparently help them sleep at night. Individuals are using this rare opportunity to puff themselves up and play king or queen because they think its fun. Screw their constituents. Screw the country.
Wow.
Mirriam-Webster is going to have to include little hand drawn pictures of the Democratic Party ass along side definitions of inept, selfish, clueless, incompetent, useless, oh, you get it. I mean the ass of the ass, not the front end.
And then we have a president who seems to be taking a hands off approach to the point that risks all. I know there's a lot to do, but give us a sign that you're in charge when it comes to us and our futures. Please! Help! We're out here and we're dying. Literally.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A Fine Christian Nation
I’ve been watching a bit of the healthcare reform debate and have been struck by something that is mind bogglingly contradictory.
It appears to me that those is Congress, Senate and House, that call themselves good, upstanding and moral Christians are the very people shouting down healthcare reform with the loudest voices. They cry “government death squads”, “big brother will take over”, “early death to the elderly” and many other such things, each new slogan and rant more virulent and wild than the last. These are people that preach Christian values and Christian morals.
Odd.
Does a Christian stand idly by and watch their child sicken or die for lack of antibiotics?
Does a Christian stand idly by and watch their mother die of cancer because she can’t get chemotherapy?
Does a Christian stand idly by and watch their brother die of injuries because he can’t afford to go to the emergency room?
Apparently in this country, the United States of America, that’s precisely what a Christian does. The new definition of Christian is that one has no obligation to child, to mother, to father, to brother, to sister, to cousin.
The Christian sees the injured man on the side of the rode and passes by.
This is a fine Christian nation.
One can easily tell another way. Just look at the fine Christians in Congress and in pulpits that are actively supporting a new bill that will make being gay punishable by death. It’s okay that this bill is in another nation. That’s the right way to do it. Export the hate and fear, then import it as an established way to practice their Christianity.
Such a fine Christian thing from such a fine Christian nation.
Jesus would be proud.
It appears to me that those is Congress, Senate and House, that call themselves good, upstanding and moral Christians are the very people shouting down healthcare reform with the loudest voices. They cry “government death squads”, “big brother will take over”, “early death to the elderly” and many other such things, each new slogan and rant more virulent and wild than the last. These are people that preach Christian values and Christian morals.
Odd.
Does a Christian stand idly by and watch their child sicken or die for lack of antibiotics?
Does a Christian stand idly by and watch their mother die of cancer because she can’t get chemotherapy?
Does a Christian stand idly by and watch their brother die of injuries because he can’t afford to go to the emergency room?
Apparently in this country, the United States of America, that’s precisely what a Christian does. The new definition of Christian is that one has no obligation to child, to mother, to father, to brother, to sister, to cousin.
The Christian sees the injured man on the side of the rode and passes by.
This is a fine Christian nation.
One can easily tell another way. Just look at the fine Christians in Congress and in pulpits that are actively supporting a new bill that will make being gay punishable by death. It’s okay that this bill is in another nation. That’s the right way to do it. Export the hate and fear, then import it as an established way to practice their Christianity.
Such a fine Christian thing from such a fine Christian nation.
Jesus would be proud.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Just How Many Dead Bodies are Enough?
I want to know if the Republicans, Conservadems and their good buddy Liebermann are getting paid money to block healthcare reform. And, if they are getting paid, just how much?
It has to be a lot of money to be happy (for the Republicans it's a matter of positively relish) to let tens of thousands of Americans die every year from lack of healthcare. It has to be a lot to be happy to let tens of millions to go through life without healthcare insurance coverage and basic access to healthcare year after year. It has to be a whole lot.
We know with certainty that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies can afford the money. We can see the large number of ads on TV that run in commercial break and commercial break. We can see the lobbyists that daily whine and wheedle in the halls of the U.S. Congress and capital buildings in states across the country. We’ve seen how they pay so called non-profits to bus “protesters” in from who knows where to badger and threaten anyone that wants reform.
It has to be a whole lot of money. Either that or so many of our elected officials are flat out mean-spirited. They don’t care that children, American children, are dying daily. They don’t care that families are going bankrupt, losing everything, in order to pay for the doctors and hospitals and medicines needed to save themselves or their children.
Or, their just thick as two bricks.
I kind of think I would go for the money as the likely reason, but the other two a probably part of it.
It has to be a lot of money to be happy (for the Republicans it's a matter of positively relish) to let tens of thousands of Americans die every year from lack of healthcare. It has to be a lot to be happy to let tens of millions to go through life without healthcare insurance coverage and basic access to healthcare year after year. It has to be a whole lot.
We know with certainty that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies can afford the money. We can see the large number of ads on TV that run in commercial break and commercial break. We can see the lobbyists that daily whine and wheedle in the halls of the U.S. Congress and capital buildings in states across the country. We’ve seen how they pay so called non-profits to bus “protesters” in from who knows where to badger and threaten anyone that wants reform.
It has to be a whole lot of money. Either that or so many of our elected officials are flat out mean-spirited. They don’t care that children, American children, are dying daily. They don’t care that families are going bankrupt, losing everything, in order to pay for the doctors and hospitals and medicines needed to save themselves or their children.
Or, their just thick as two bricks.
I kind of think I would go for the money as the likely reason, but the other two a probably part of it.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Healthcare and the Land of Fear
Healthcare Insurance Reform, still waiting for it
I’ve been watching the whole circus that is our style of government in the hopes that more than the handful of courageous Senators and Representatives would stand up for the millions of people without healthcare insurance. I’m talking about the Democrats here. The Republicans lost their binky last year and have been throwing a big hissy fit ever since.
I’ve been hoping that there would be a collective enlightenment and they would see the illness and misery. I’ve been hoping they would put aside their own petty agendas and do the right thing by the masses.
Yeah, right. I know. I like to daydream and imagine the impossible.
Instead of taking pity on the tens of thousands that will die this year, there are certain of our elected officials that would rather puff up their own value, hold those tens of thousands, and the millions not able to afford healthcare, hostage. It doesn’t seem to matter that people are getting sicker, going bankrupt, even dying, while they wait for healthcare insurance reform. It’s more important for the politicians to get their way than help their fellow citizens.
I just hope they one day fully understand and FEEL what they have done. To me, it is stepping past the line of negligent homicide, if not premeditated murder. They know full well what they are doing, but they blithely go about the business of abusing their power.
Home of the Craven Cowards, Land of the Faint of Heart
It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the Party of No (Republican), are quaking in their boots at the thought of trying accused terrorists in New York? It’s fine to send our courageous young men and women to war in a far away, hostile country to fight. That’s fine. Talk big and brave and shout their own patriotism to every news camera in sight, but bring less than a handful of men under heavy guard to the U.S. and they wet their pants in fear.
The Republicans seem to be fearful about everything these days.
They’re scared of standing up to big business that is bleeding the country dry. Oh, wait, that’s were so much of their money comes from so they don’t dare touch it. If that pipeline closed up, they’d have to do fundraising with the constituents. That would mean having to prove they’re actually doing something to help those constituents. Eek!
They’re frightened of gays having the right to marriage. Me thinks they doth protest too much. I get the impression some of the homophobes may be actually be homo! Otherwise it must be that they’re filled with so much self doubt and loathing that they just hate everyone that doesn’t fit into their own narrow profile.
Just as an aside, the Bible was written by humans, people, men in particular, most often long after the events they were writing about were gone. The texts have been revised to fit the whim of whoever was in power. Just go count the versions on the shelf now? I bet I could find 100 different version without breaking a sweat. Which one is correct? Prove it!
Now, the members of the GOP (Grand Old Party just doesn’t seem to fit these days, does it?) are too frightened to bring three men to trial here in this country. Why? What do they fear? Is it that these men are accused of terrorism? Is it that the trial will reveal in stark detail the torture committed by this country? Or is it that the Republicans have fear-mongered so consistently and so loudly for so long that they’ve become infected themselves?
I’ve been watching the whole circus that is our style of government in the hopes that more than the handful of courageous Senators and Representatives would stand up for the millions of people without healthcare insurance. I’m talking about the Democrats here. The Republicans lost their binky last year and have been throwing a big hissy fit ever since.
I’ve been hoping that there would be a collective enlightenment and they would see the illness and misery. I’ve been hoping they would put aside their own petty agendas and do the right thing by the masses.
Yeah, right. I know. I like to daydream and imagine the impossible.
Instead of taking pity on the tens of thousands that will die this year, there are certain of our elected officials that would rather puff up their own value, hold those tens of thousands, and the millions not able to afford healthcare, hostage. It doesn’t seem to matter that people are getting sicker, going bankrupt, even dying, while they wait for healthcare insurance reform. It’s more important for the politicians to get their way than help their fellow citizens.
I just hope they one day fully understand and FEEL what they have done. To me, it is stepping past the line of negligent homicide, if not premeditated murder. They know full well what they are doing, but they blithely go about the business of abusing their power.
Home of the Craven Cowards, Land of the Faint of Heart
It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the Party of No (Republican), are quaking in their boots at the thought of trying accused terrorists in New York? It’s fine to send our courageous young men and women to war in a far away, hostile country to fight. That’s fine. Talk big and brave and shout their own patriotism to every news camera in sight, but bring less than a handful of men under heavy guard to the U.S. and they wet their pants in fear.
The Republicans seem to be fearful about everything these days.
They’re scared of standing up to big business that is bleeding the country dry. Oh, wait, that’s were so much of their money comes from so they don’t dare touch it. If that pipeline closed up, they’d have to do fundraising with the constituents. That would mean having to prove they’re actually doing something to help those constituents. Eek!
They’re frightened of gays having the right to marriage. Me thinks they doth protest too much. I get the impression some of the homophobes may be actually be homo! Otherwise it must be that they’re filled with so much self doubt and loathing that they just hate everyone that doesn’t fit into their own narrow profile.
Just as an aside, the Bible was written by humans, people, men in particular, most often long after the events they were writing about were gone. The texts have been revised to fit the whim of whoever was in power. Just go count the versions on the shelf now? I bet I could find 100 different version without breaking a sweat. Which one is correct? Prove it!
Now, the members of the GOP (Grand Old Party just doesn’t seem to fit these days, does it?) are too frightened to bring three men to trial here in this country. Why? What do they fear? Is it that these men are accused of terrorism? Is it that the trial will reveal in stark detail the torture committed by this country? Or is it that the Republicans have fear-mongered so consistently and so loudly for so long that they’ve become infected themselves?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
You Can Die so I Can Have a Mercedes
I’ve been watching the health care insurance reform circus going on in this country. I call it a circus because there just isn’t another word to describe it. And, the ringmaster is pretty much absent.
Why are we willing to spend millions to rescue a single American held hostage by pirates on the high seas, but we aren’t willing to save so many Americans here at home? Why aren’t we willing to try to make this work?
I wonder what these good senators and representatives are really thinking as they stand up and declare that they just can’t support a public option (a strong one) or reform at all. Is the money from the insurance companies so important? Is the job so important?
Is it more important than:
- the millions that do not have insurance?
- families that can’t afford a $50 antibiotic for a sick child until they are so ill that the only recourse for them is to go to an emergency room and spend thousands?
- a woman with breast cancer that is told her policy has been cancelled because she had allergies as a child or, heaven forbid, an abusive spouse broke her arm?
- A family forced into bankruptcy because the insurance decides treatment that has been accepted as standard for years is determined by their insurance company to be experimental?
- a small business owner has to discontinue health coverage for their employees because the cost of premiums over the last few years has quadrupled and eaten all profits?
- people are dying by the tens of thousands every year in this country because they just can’t afford or even get coverage?
Is any of that acceptable?
Is it acceptable to give the insurance companies and their shareholders more and more and more of this country’s wealth every year while telling millions we can’t afford for them to see a doctor? Isn’t it more cost effective to treat when it will cost only $100 instead of waiting until it will cost $3,000?
Is it acceptable that an American child, or any child, should be told that they need to die so that someone can have a Mercedes or a fat bonus? Apparently in this America, it is.
And now for something completely different…
There is an ad, actually two, about the proposed tax on juice drinks and soft drinks. This very severe looking woman is complaining about this tax on juice drinks (not juices) and soft drinks (you know, Pepsi, Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc.). She says that families are already having difficulties in the current economy, so the government shouldn’t be adding more taxes on such things.
Now, I might be wrong, but if people are having difficulties in this economy, why the hell is anyone buying any kind of drinks that are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, various artificial flavorings, colorings and preservatives? Give your family something real, like water, real juice or milk? What are they thinking other than hoping to make their families obese and/or diabetic?
Don’t they realize that they won’t be able to afford healthcare soon? It could quite possibly be that the consumption of juice drinks and sodas will be one of the new pre-existing conditions that will be used to deny healthcare coverage in the next couple of years. The questionnaire will include detailed questions about what you eat and drink and feed your kids. The big health insurance companies will file the information away and use it to deny coverage once you present with high blood sugar levels or your fat kids tip the scales at the 115 percentile.
Oops, too bad you didn’t want a public option. Too bad you shouted down health care reform. So sad.
Why are we willing to spend millions to rescue a single American held hostage by pirates on the high seas, but we aren’t willing to save so many Americans here at home? Why aren’t we willing to try to make this work?
I wonder what these good senators and representatives are really thinking as they stand up and declare that they just can’t support a public option (a strong one) or reform at all. Is the money from the insurance companies so important? Is the job so important?
Is it more important than:
- the millions that do not have insurance?
- families that can’t afford a $50 antibiotic for a sick child until they are so ill that the only recourse for them is to go to an emergency room and spend thousands?
- a woman with breast cancer that is told her policy has been cancelled because she had allergies as a child or, heaven forbid, an abusive spouse broke her arm?
- A family forced into bankruptcy because the insurance decides treatment that has been accepted as standard for years is determined by their insurance company to be experimental?
- a small business owner has to discontinue health coverage for their employees because the cost of premiums over the last few years has quadrupled and eaten all profits?
- people are dying by the tens of thousands every year in this country because they just can’t afford or even get coverage?
Is any of that acceptable?
Is it acceptable to give the insurance companies and their shareholders more and more and more of this country’s wealth every year while telling millions we can’t afford for them to see a doctor? Isn’t it more cost effective to treat when it will cost only $100 instead of waiting until it will cost $3,000?
Is it acceptable that an American child, or any child, should be told that they need to die so that someone can have a Mercedes or a fat bonus? Apparently in this America, it is.
And now for something completely different…
There is an ad, actually two, about the proposed tax on juice drinks and soft drinks. This very severe looking woman is complaining about this tax on juice drinks (not juices) and soft drinks (you know, Pepsi, Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc.). She says that families are already having difficulties in the current economy, so the government shouldn’t be adding more taxes on such things.
Now, I might be wrong, but if people are having difficulties in this economy, why the hell is anyone buying any kind of drinks that are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, various artificial flavorings, colorings and preservatives? Give your family something real, like water, real juice or milk? What are they thinking other than hoping to make their families obese and/or diabetic?
Don’t they realize that they won’t be able to afford healthcare soon? It could quite possibly be that the consumption of juice drinks and sodas will be one of the new pre-existing conditions that will be used to deny healthcare coverage in the next couple of years. The questionnaire will include detailed questions about what you eat and drink and feed your kids. The big health insurance companies will file the information away and use it to deny coverage once you present with high blood sugar levels or your fat kids tip the scales at the 115 percentile.
Oops, too bad you didn’t want a public option. Too bad you shouted down health care reform. So sad.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Failure
Gotta love it. The Bush Administration had eight long years to totally trash this country, and the dismantling of regulations for the finance industries. But, it seems the Obama Administraion is a failure because it couldn't clean it all up and make everything wonderful again in nine months.
Small analogy. How long does it take to stop a mile long, fully loaded freight train going fifty miles an hour? Not fifty feet, I can gaurantee you. More like fifteen hundred. And, it's very, very tricky if you're going down hill.
Well, folks, we've been riding a fully loaded mile long freight train, going fifty miles an hour on a downhill slope. It takes a bit longer than nine months to stop this train. We can only back it up once it's stopped. We have to be patient. I know that's hard, even crushing for many. I'm frightened of losing my job every single day. But, unless we do it right, we're in even more danger of getting completely out of control and losing it all.
Why are so many so willing to listen to and believe the people screaming failure at the top of their voices and lie about what is really needed to be done? Why are so many people so willing to believe the people who got us into this mess to begin with?
Obama said in the beginning that this was going to take time - years - it was going to be painful - very. We nodded and said, "we know." How soon we forget. How impatient we are. it's like this country has turned into a mob of two year olds, all wanting everything right now.
There were no maps or instructions for how to get out of this easily and quickly. We have to be Americans, we have to remember we are the "Can Do" nation. Have we lost that ability? Have we lost that determination? Have we lost that courage? I hope not.
Small analogy. How long does it take to stop a mile long, fully loaded freight train going fifty miles an hour? Not fifty feet, I can gaurantee you. More like fifteen hundred. And, it's very, very tricky if you're going down hill.
Well, folks, we've been riding a fully loaded mile long freight train, going fifty miles an hour on a downhill slope. It takes a bit longer than nine months to stop this train. We can only back it up once it's stopped. We have to be patient. I know that's hard, even crushing for many. I'm frightened of losing my job every single day. But, unless we do it right, we're in even more danger of getting completely out of control and losing it all.
Why are so many so willing to listen to and believe the people screaming failure at the top of their voices and lie about what is really needed to be done? Why are so many people so willing to believe the people who got us into this mess to begin with?
Obama said in the beginning that this was going to take time - years - it was going to be painful - very. We nodded and said, "we know." How soon we forget. How impatient we are. it's like this country has turned into a mob of two year olds, all wanting everything right now.
There were no maps or instructions for how to get out of this easily and quickly. We have to be Americans, we have to remember we are the "Can Do" nation. Have we lost that ability? Have we lost that determination? Have we lost that courage? I hope not.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
We're dying out here, or don't you give a rat's ass?
I've been avoiding coming in here the last couple of weeks. It's for a good reason. I want to try to avoid swearing, even on my blog. I can swear like a sailor and it isn't for public consumption.
Anyway, I will try to refrain from the profanity. WTF is going on with the Democrats? Have they been beaten so often that they're like a dog that cowers in the corner even when the hand of a new, kind, gentle owner reaches out to feed or pet them? Have they decided that they want to share in the riches that can be had if they bend to the wishes of big business? Have they lost any shred of self respect? Have they just stopped caring about the people of this country? WHAT? Somebody, please tell me?
Folks, we're being sold into slavery. The financial industry got their bailout and are already back to bad business with nary a new regulation in site. Billions upon billions of more dollars are disappearing into deep, dark pockets and will never be seen again.
The big polluters are pouring so much money into lobbying, and the deep, dark pockets of their lackeys in Congress that it's unlikely any meaningful changes will be made. Hell, why pay now for something you can put off onto your children and grandchildren? Who cares if they won't be able to breath and that there won't be enough water to grow sufficient food for the still exploding population? As long as they can live like kings now, they're not going to worry about the next generation. They can buy clean water and fly to the little corners of the Earth that still have breathable air. They think. I wonder how much big bubbles and air scrubbers cost? And, a lot of those nice tropical paradises will be underwater. Literally.
The healthcare insurance companies have so many politicians in their pockets that even more of our wages will be sent their way. They've ordered the supersize abacuses to tally up the profits. But wait! With 47,000 plus people dying every year because of lack of health insurance, there are fewer people to provide profits. But wait! There is talk of a mandate that will mean everyone, except the slice of the population that are too poor to buy even food, will be forced to get insurance or face a big fine. And, the premiums are going to be huge. I wonder how much of that will be profits for the insurance companies? What public option? The public have the option of paying premiums or fines. Makes money for the insurance companies either way. That's healthcare reform!
The biggest corporations are gobbling up small companies and each other. Soon there will be little to no competiton, which means they can charge what they want. On top of that, the competiton sometimes agree to inflate prices in order to make even more profit.
We will be a country of the super rich and the poor. In between will be a small layer of the merely rich, trying like crazy to not be like the middle class that is no more. The rest of us will be working six and a half days a week, living in rentals and eating McDonalds morning, noon and night.
Until the Democrats stop being cowards and do what they were elected to do, I fear for our future. The one bright light is Representative Alan Grayson, a freshman in the House, who stood up and sais enough is enough! Out of the mouths of babes.
Anyway, I will try to refrain from the profanity. WTF is going on with the Democrats? Have they been beaten so often that they're like a dog that cowers in the corner even when the hand of a new, kind, gentle owner reaches out to feed or pet them? Have they decided that they want to share in the riches that can be had if they bend to the wishes of big business? Have they lost any shred of self respect? Have they just stopped caring about the people of this country? WHAT? Somebody, please tell me?
Folks, we're being sold into slavery. The financial industry got their bailout and are already back to bad business with nary a new regulation in site. Billions upon billions of more dollars are disappearing into deep, dark pockets and will never be seen again.
The big polluters are pouring so much money into lobbying, and the deep, dark pockets of their lackeys in Congress that it's unlikely any meaningful changes will be made. Hell, why pay now for something you can put off onto your children and grandchildren? Who cares if they won't be able to breath and that there won't be enough water to grow sufficient food for the still exploding population? As long as they can live like kings now, they're not going to worry about the next generation. They can buy clean water and fly to the little corners of the Earth that still have breathable air. They think. I wonder how much big bubbles and air scrubbers cost? And, a lot of those nice tropical paradises will be underwater. Literally.
The healthcare insurance companies have so many politicians in their pockets that even more of our wages will be sent their way. They've ordered the supersize abacuses to tally up the profits. But wait! With 47,000 plus people dying every year because of lack of health insurance, there are fewer people to provide profits. But wait! There is talk of a mandate that will mean everyone, except the slice of the population that are too poor to buy even food, will be forced to get insurance or face a big fine. And, the premiums are going to be huge. I wonder how much of that will be profits for the insurance companies? What public option? The public have the option of paying premiums or fines. Makes money for the insurance companies either way. That's healthcare reform!
The biggest corporations are gobbling up small companies and each other. Soon there will be little to no competiton, which means they can charge what they want. On top of that, the competiton sometimes agree to inflate prices in order to make even more profit.
We will be a country of the super rich and the poor. In between will be a small layer of the merely rich, trying like crazy to not be like the middle class that is no more. The rest of us will be working six and a half days a week, living in rentals and eating McDonalds morning, noon and night.
Until the Democrats stop being cowards and do what they were elected to do, I fear for our future. The one bright light is Representative Alan Grayson, a freshman in the House, who stood up and sais enough is enough! Out of the mouths of babes.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Birthers
Considering the escalating rhetoric, vicious and something that will incite deadly violence, I should comment on the insanity that seems to be gripping a portion of our society. I just hope that portion is very, very small. If not, this will become massively ugly. I cannot understand the people that should know better who seem to be actively pursuing this violence.
Anyway, to the "birthers". I wonder if the teabag toting folk who either believe President Obama was not born in Hawaii or that Hawaii was or is not a state in the union realize that their elected officials in Congress are really letting them down. Has anyone been asking their brethren in Washington if legislation has been introduce to remove Obama from office?
I mean, if Obama isn't legally eligible to serve at President, why haven't the Senators or Representatives tried to actually remove him or have him arrested or something? Why are they not shouting from the roof tops that there is a faker, a usurper, a charlatan in the White House? Why are they silent? If they really, truly believe that Obama isn't really, truly President, why are they not DOING SOMETHING??? Did I miss it in the news?
If they aren't doing anything to correct this mistake, you all should be asking your elected representatives in Congress WHY THE HELL NOT??? Get out there, demand they do something. You elected them, you pay their salaries, you pay for their premium healthcare, you pay for their travel. They work for you. Demand it. Then you'll know what they really believe.
Anyway, to the "birthers". I wonder if the teabag toting folk who either believe President Obama was not born in Hawaii or that Hawaii was or is not a state in the union realize that their elected officials in Congress are really letting them down. Has anyone been asking their brethren in Washington if legislation has been introduce to remove Obama from office?
I mean, if Obama isn't legally eligible to serve at President, why haven't the Senators or Representatives tried to actually remove him or have him arrested or something? Why are they not shouting from the roof tops that there is a faker, a usurper, a charlatan in the White House? Why are they silent? If they really, truly believe that Obama isn't really, truly President, why are they not DOING SOMETHING??? Did I miss it in the news?
If they aren't doing anything to correct this mistake, you all should be asking your elected representatives in Congress WHY THE HELL NOT??? Get out there, demand they do something. You elected them, you pay their salaries, you pay for their premium healthcare, you pay for their travel. They work for you. Demand it. Then you'll know what they really believe.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Democrats and the Great Hunt for a Spine
Due to being out of town and no TV to watch the Presidnet's address to Congress on Wednesday, I haven't watched the address. I will hunt it down and watch it this weekend.
However, the main point of this, as you may have guessed from the subject line, is the Democrats search for a spine. Cave, cower, cringe in fear and general lack of intestinal fortitude is still the main trait exhibited by the left side of the center line. Centrists, moderates and progressives alike, they have no idea what to do with a little power.
Case in point, Rep. Joe Wilson shouts "You lie" in the middle of the President's address and guess what. He insults the office of the President as well as the President himself, and he's rewarded with a change in the health care insurance reform legislation that seems to demand that any health care provider may need to demand proof of eligibility for coverage before actually caring for the patient.
Does that mean natual born citizens as well as immigrants that have been naturalized as well as those just carrying green cards? What about students here on legal student visas? Or, children that were born in this country of illegal immigrants. Aren't the children citizens? They were born here, right? Do they need to have a passport or other kind of proof on them if they fall ill or break and arm? Should we all be carrying our passports with us at all times? What if one is unconscious? What if there was a car crash? Do the paramedics need to search for your wallet or handbag before they transport you to the hospital for live saving CPR?
Sorry, I digress. It seems that every time the Republicans demand a change, or even a resignation, the Democrats jump.
Is it out of fear? If so, get over it! Is it in hopes that giving a spoiled brat what it asks for will make it shut up and play nice? Get over it. They won't. They'll just keep demanding more and holding the country to ransom without ever intending to even come to the party.
What happens to doctors that treat first and ask questions later? Do they get hauled of to jail? Are they forced into bankruptcy because they cannot get reimbursed? Are they fined as well?
God help us. We have crazies on the right and snivelling whimps on the left.
Stop waiting for something that will never happen. There is more than politics involved here. There is deep, unmovable hatred that cannot be changed or even softened.
For all our collective sakes, before we descend into a nation of the ultra-rich and ultra-poor with no-one in between, DO WHAT'S RIGHT! DO YOUR JOB!
However, the main point of this, as you may have guessed from the subject line, is the Democrats search for a spine. Cave, cower, cringe in fear and general lack of intestinal fortitude is still the main trait exhibited by the left side of the center line. Centrists, moderates and progressives alike, they have no idea what to do with a little power.
Case in point, Rep. Joe Wilson shouts "You lie" in the middle of the President's address and guess what. He insults the office of the President as well as the President himself, and he's rewarded with a change in the health care insurance reform legislation that seems to demand that any health care provider may need to demand proof of eligibility for coverage before actually caring for the patient.
Does that mean natual born citizens as well as immigrants that have been naturalized as well as those just carrying green cards? What about students here on legal student visas? Or, children that were born in this country of illegal immigrants. Aren't the children citizens? They were born here, right? Do they need to have a passport or other kind of proof on them if they fall ill or break and arm? Should we all be carrying our passports with us at all times? What if one is unconscious? What if there was a car crash? Do the paramedics need to search for your wallet or handbag before they transport you to the hospital for live saving CPR?
Sorry, I digress. It seems that every time the Republicans demand a change, or even a resignation, the Democrats jump.
Is it out of fear? If so, get over it! Is it in hopes that giving a spoiled brat what it asks for will make it shut up and play nice? Get over it. They won't. They'll just keep demanding more and holding the country to ransom without ever intending to even come to the party.
What happens to doctors that treat first and ask questions later? Do they get hauled of to jail? Are they forced into bankruptcy because they cannot get reimbursed? Are they fined as well?
God help us. We have crazies on the right and snivelling whimps on the left.
Stop waiting for something that will never happen. There is more than politics involved here. There is deep, unmovable hatred that cannot be changed or even softened.
For all our collective sakes, before we descend into a nation of the ultra-rich and ultra-poor with no-one in between, DO WHAT'S RIGHT! DO YOUR JOB!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Let's Play Scare the Old Folk! Or, healthcare insurance reform in our times.
I am not at all surprised that people are willing to scare the old and infirm amongst us in order to gain, or keep, power and money. Isn't is sad to say that? Shouldn't I be surprised? Shouldn't I be shocked? Yes. This should be something so abnormal, so rare, that it would blindside me. It doesn't. Not in the slightest.
What have we come to that people in power and have enough money to be wealthy beyond what most Americans could even dream to make in a lifetime, deem it necessary to instill a deep, nightmarish fear into the citizens that are amongst our most vulnerable and frail? What are we as a nation, that so many think it's their right, that it is even fun?
To tell people the reform that would actually make their lives easier, give them better access to care, and not mean certain bankruptcy, that the government wants to take awwy healthcare or even kill them is obscene. To make up horror stories and fabricate wild scenarios about what reform would do is unconscionable.
Too many of our country's elderly are already living in poverty or very close to it. They survive on social security and maybe, if lucky, a retirement benefit after a lifetime's hard work. Increases are minimal while costs of living soar. They get healthcare now through Medicare, which doesn't pay everything. So, when the cost of going to the doctor or buying prescriptions, goes up, they have to find that money from somewhere in a budget that grows much slower than the cost of living.
I'm not even talking about the undereducated, the working poor and the younger disabled. Then there are the self employed or small business owners.
To use the subject of healthcare as weapon is so low, so cowardly, and quite possibly murderous.
The people behind it seem to fall into five categories -
1 Those that want power. These are mostly the politicians and their puppetmasters.
2 Those that want money. These are the insurance moguls and the politicians in their pockets.
3 Those that just want to make trouble. There are always people who will join a fight and hope for blood. They don't care who gets hurt or even what the fight is about. They just want to destroy something. It makes them feel powerful in the very small sense of bullying.
4 Those that hate. Let's face it. We have a black president. This nation is still full of racism. Some of the hate is fueled by fear of change, fear of moving forward, fear of having to admit to lifetimes of being wrong about those that are different.
5 Those that fit two or more of the definitions above.
These groups of people are involved in our lives in one way or another. It's just in this instance, in this "debate" they are targeting a defenseless population. And, they don't care what damage they do as long as they get what they want. They don't care that these elderly could be their own mothers or fathers or grandparents. They just don't care.
The lust for power, the greed and the hate are so strong, any compassion and sense of what is good and right disappears. It no longer exists. How can it? Those feelings are mirrors that show the soul.
I am deeply, deeply saddened, but I'm not surprised.
What have we come to that people in power and have enough money to be wealthy beyond what most Americans could even dream to make in a lifetime, deem it necessary to instill a deep, nightmarish fear into the citizens that are amongst our most vulnerable and frail? What are we as a nation, that so many think it's their right, that it is even fun?
To tell people the reform that would actually make their lives easier, give them better access to care, and not mean certain bankruptcy, that the government wants to take awwy healthcare or even kill them is obscene. To make up horror stories and fabricate wild scenarios about what reform would do is unconscionable.
Too many of our country's elderly are already living in poverty or very close to it. They survive on social security and maybe, if lucky, a retirement benefit after a lifetime's hard work. Increases are minimal while costs of living soar. They get healthcare now through Medicare, which doesn't pay everything. So, when the cost of going to the doctor or buying prescriptions, goes up, they have to find that money from somewhere in a budget that grows much slower than the cost of living.
I'm not even talking about the undereducated, the working poor and the younger disabled. Then there are the self employed or small business owners.
To use the subject of healthcare as weapon is so low, so cowardly, and quite possibly murderous.
The people behind it seem to fall into five categories -
1 Those that want power. These are mostly the politicians and their puppetmasters.
2 Those that want money. These are the insurance moguls and the politicians in their pockets.
3 Those that just want to make trouble. There are always people who will join a fight and hope for blood. They don't care who gets hurt or even what the fight is about. They just want to destroy something. It makes them feel powerful in the very small sense of bullying.
4 Those that hate. Let's face it. We have a black president. This nation is still full of racism. Some of the hate is fueled by fear of change, fear of moving forward, fear of having to admit to lifetimes of being wrong about those that are different.
5 Those that fit two or more of the definitions above.
These groups of people are involved in our lives in one way or another. It's just in this instance, in this "debate" they are targeting a defenseless population. And, they don't care what damage they do as long as they get what they want. They don't care that these elderly could be their own mothers or fathers or grandparents. They just don't care.
The lust for power, the greed and the hate are so strong, any compassion and sense of what is good and right disappears. It no longer exists. How can it? Those feelings are mirrors that show the soul.
I am deeply, deeply saddened, but I'm not surprised.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Health Care Insurance Reform? NEVER! they cry
The hamsters are in their wheels, running as fast as they can. Fast enough to make smoke. Lots of it. Enough to cloud the issue and divert attention. People are beginning to look for a fire that really isn’t there, at least not the fire the hamsters want to lead us to believe is there.
Okay, that’s a little far-fetched for a metaphor, but I think the imagery is good.
The Republicans are churning out so many stories and flat out lies about the Obama administration’s health care insurance reform proposals that many people are beginning to think there is something to at least some of it.
A big one is that the reforms will cost too much money. Excuse me? What are we paying now? What is that coming out of our paychecks every week? How much has yours gone up over the last ten years? How much will it be next year?
I know my premium, for the same plan, is tripling. The deductible is increasing by half, as well. I don’t know about the rest of the out of pocket costs of the plan yet, but I dread seeing it. The company I work for is trying hard to keep the costs down for the employees, but the increase in costs for them is a huge burden, too. It’s worse every year.
In the middle are the providers, doctors, clinics, hospitals. They are constantly negotiating with insurance companies for the amount they actually will get paid for services. If you can understand the incomprehensible “Explanation of Benefit” you get form the insurance company, you’ll see your doctor gets precious little out of the deal. From that, they have to pay office staff, rent, ongoing education, association fees, buy equipment and materials, and get liability insurance. The expenses don’t leave much for their own pockets. It isn’t a wonder so few doctors are going into general practice and more are not dealing with insurance companies at all. They can’t afford it.
A couple of years ago, I seriously considered starting my own business. I have something I’d love to do and has a decent possibility of being profitable, except for one big thing. I cannot afford to buy my own health coverage. It would eat up probably 70% to 80% of my income. Going into debt just to have health insurance is not something I’m willing to do right now.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be able to get my own coverage. I tried once, years ago, when I was between jobs. Three companies turned me down flat. I think they were laughing, too. Anyone else have that experience?
I work with people that have to work in order to have health care insurance. They worked hard for many, many years and wanted to retire early. They haven’t wanted to go out too early, 60 or 62, to travel or enjoy the grandkids for a while. Nope. Sorry. Too young for Medicare and buying their own insurance wasn’t possible. A little arthritis goes a long way to getting you denied coverage. The premiums have gone up so much in recent years that they had to stay or return to work.
I know small business owners that can’t afford coverage for themselves or their employees. They live on the brink year after year. Some have had to close up shop and find a job with insurance.
We’ve all heard these kinds of stories or know someone who has experienced them, even ourselves.
The thing is, the problem will NOT go away if we try to ignore it if we go with the status quo. It’s only going to get worse. I should think it will be an exponential thing. We will all be working for the insurance companies.
Remember that old song “Sixteen Tons”? If not, it goes, “Sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.” It’s a song about coal miners, working for the mine, living in mine owned shacks and buying groceries and goods at mine owned stores. Just a hair above slavery. That will be us in the foreseeable future. If not us, then our children. Nice legacy to leave them. Glad I don’t have kids.
Now there are claims that the reform will lead to the elderly could be forced to die early, or commit suicide. Oh, pul-eeze! If you believe that, you really need to change the channel occasionally. This is 2009 and there are more than four channels on that TV.
Please don’t try to tell me that the insurance companies are our friends. Profits are huge despite the fact that they spend a very large amount of money on self promotion and politicians. Oh, you think those GOPers and Blue Dog Democrats crying that we shouldn’t rush reform or even have any reform at all don’t have a lot of insurance company money in their coffers? Like I said before, change the channel occasionally.
Some are saying we have to slow down. SLOW DOWN?!! People have been studying it, talking about it, planning it, making proposals, debating about and slowing down since Truman! That’s World War II, folks. If we don’t have health care insurance reform soon, only the rich will have coverage. There rest of us will just have to remember the days when we might have changed the status quo and weep.
Okay, that’s a little far-fetched for a metaphor, but I think the imagery is good.
The Republicans are churning out so many stories and flat out lies about the Obama administration’s health care insurance reform proposals that many people are beginning to think there is something to at least some of it.
A big one is that the reforms will cost too much money. Excuse me? What are we paying now? What is that coming out of our paychecks every week? How much has yours gone up over the last ten years? How much will it be next year?
I know my premium, for the same plan, is tripling. The deductible is increasing by half, as well. I don’t know about the rest of the out of pocket costs of the plan yet, but I dread seeing it. The company I work for is trying hard to keep the costs down for the employees, but the increase in costs for them is a huge burden, too. It’s worse every year.
In the middle are the providers, doctors, clinics, hospitals. They are constantly negotiating with insurance companies for the amount they actually will get paid for services. If you can understand the incomprehensible “Explanation of Benefit” you get form the insurance company, you’ll see your doctor gets precious little out of the deal. From that, they have to pay office staff, rent, ongoing education, association fees, buy equipment and materials, and get liability insurance. The expenses don’t leave much for their own pockets. It isn’t a wonder so few doctors are going into general practice and more are not dealing with insurance companies at all. They can’t afford it.
A couple of years ago, I seriously considered starting my own business. I have something I’d love to do and has a decent possibility of being profitable, except for one big thing. I cannot afford to buy my own health coverage. It would eat up probably 70% to 80% of my income. Going into debt just to have health insurance is not something I’m willing to do right now.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be able to get my own coverage. I tried once, years ago, when I was between jobs. Three companies turned me down flat. I think they were laughing, too. Anyone else have that experience?
I work with people that have to work in order to have health care insurance. They worked hard for many, many years and wanted to retire early. They haven’t wanted to go out too early, 60 or 62, to travel or enjoy the grandkids for a while. Nope. Sorry. Too young for Medicare and buying their own insurance wasn’t possible. A little arthritis goes a long way to getting you denied coverage. The premiums have gone up so much in recent years that they had to stay or return to work.
I know small business owners that can’t afford coverage for themselves or their employees. They live on the brink year after year. Some have had to close up shop and find a job with insurance.
We’ve all heard these kinds of stories or know someone who has experienced them, even ourselves.
The thing is, the problem will NOT go away if we try to ignore it if we go with the status quo. It’s only going to get worse. I should think it will be an exponential thing. We will all be working for the insurance companies.
Remember that old song “Sixteen Tons”? If not, it goes, “Sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.” It’s a song about coal miners, working for the mine, living in mine owned shacks and buying groceries and goods at mine owned stores. Just a hair above slavery. That will be us in the foreseeable future. If not us, then our children. Nice legacy to leave them. Glad I don’t have kids.
Now there are claims that the reform will lead to the elderly could be forced to die early, or commit suicide. Oh, pul-eeze! If you believe that, you really need to change the channel occasionally. This is 2009 and there are more than four channels on that TV.
Please don’t try to tell me that the insurance companies are our friends. Profits are huge despite the fact that they spend a very large amount of money on self promotion and politicians. Oh, you think those GOPers and Blue Dog Democrats crying that we shouldn’t rush reform or even have any reform at all don’t have a lot of insurance company money in their coffers? Like I said before, change the channel occasionally.
Some are saying we have to slow down. SLOW DOWN?!! People have been studying it, talking about it, planning it, making proposals, debating about and slowing down since Truman! That’s World War II, folks. If we don’t have health care insurance reform soon, only the rich will have coverage. There rest of us will just have to remember the days when we might have changed the status quo and weep.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thoughts of Cronkite
I grew up watching Walter Cronkite on the news. He was trusted in our house like he was in millions of others. His sad passing highlights the long ago passing of responsible and unbiased broadcast news, as well as print news.
It prompted me this evening to put my DVD of "good night and good luck" into the machine and watch it. Anyone who has not seen this film, should, and soon. It starts with the first few lines of his speech at the RTNDA Convention in 1958. The speech can be found here - http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/commentary/hiddenagenda/murrow.html
The movie itself is relevant to politics and so called journalism today. Murrow, Friendly and their team took on McCarthy, the Air Force and, by extension, the U.S. Government. They stood up for a principle when it would had been much easier to go with the flow, look away and ignore what was happening. They risked their livelihoods and futures.
From what I remember and what his contemporaries and those who came after say, Walter Cronkite reported with an even hand and with great integrity.
Was this the passing of an age? I regret that I believe so. One only need look at the stories that are reported first and the biggest headlines these days. Michael Jackson's death pushed the turmoil in Iran completely off the front page. The plight of his children are the headlines over health care in this country. A sensational celebrity antic is more important than American service men and women in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Headline grabber at all costs, Sarah Palin, decides to quit part way through her term takes more, much more, time and space than ANYTHING else.
Yes, yellow journalism has always existed. The very sad thing is that yellow journalism is the mainstream now, and can be found in the one time standard bearers of print and broadcast news. And, one doesn't need to look inside or at minute 23. It is front page and story number one. Even sadder is that the populace in general seem to love it, even prefer it. What hope have we?
It prompted me this evening to put my DVD of "good night and good luck" into the machine and watch it. Anyone who has not seen this film, should, and soon. It starts with the first few lines of his speech at the RTNDA Convention in 1958. The speech can be found here - http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/commentary/hiddenagenda/murrow.html
The movie itself is relevant to politics and so called journalism today. Murrow, Friendly and their team took on McCarthy, the Air Force and, by extension, the U.S. Government. They stood up for a principle when it would had been much easier to go with the flow, look away and ignore what was happening. They risked their livelihoods and futures.
From what I remember and what his contemporaries and those who came after say, Walter Cronkite reported with an even hand and with great integrity.
Was this the passing of an age? I regret that I believe so. One only need look at the stories that are reported first and the biggest headlines these days. Michael Jackson's death pushed the turmoil in Iran completely off the front page. The plight of his children are the headlines over health care in this country. A sensational celebrity antic is more important than American service men and women in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Headline grabber at all costs, Sarah Palin, decides to quit part way through her term takes more, much more, time and space than ANYTHING else.
Yes, yellow journalism has always existed. The very sad thing is that yellow journalism is the mainstream now, and can be found in the one time standard bearers of print and broadcast news. And, one doesn't need to look inside or at minute 23. It is front page and story number one. Even sadder is that the populace in general seem to love it, even prefer it. What hope have we?
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Attention Span of a Nation
Apparently it's about 15 minutes. Just two weeks ago, we were enthralled with the attempts of the people of Iran to hold a democratic election and then demand that the votes be counted with honesty and the true results to stand. We cheered the protesters in their brave efforts and willingness to put themselves in harms way for their country.
Last week, thousands of U.S. Marines went on the offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan. We waited in hope that no more of our young servicemen would be lost.
Farrah Fawcett, after a courageous battle with cancer passed away. The so-called journalists that grace our televisions nightly, and daily, on 20-20, Dateline, the Today Show, and all the others, clamoured to put out their video obituaries and interview the family, friends, doctors, maids, and anyone who claimed to have an association with Ms. Fawcett for their respective shows. All so tastefully done. NOT!
But before that day was out, Michael Jackson died. Suddenly, we forgot the Iranian protesters and the election. We forgot the U.S. Marines putting their lives on the line half a world away. We forgot the economy and the misery of hundreds of thousands more people losing their jobs.
Hours and hours and hours and hours of coverage. One news organization after another reporting "sources" saying Jackson was dead. Truth be told, it looked to me that TMZ broke the news, but all the other services were just reporting off that. And, we all know, if one says "sources', even if if it is only ABC, CBS, NBC, AP, and all the others are just quoting each other, it's being truthful. Why bother confirming if you can get away with pointing the finger at someone else's bad reporting?
After that, it went downhill, and fast. It actually hit bottom in the first hour. I won't go into details. If you didn't see it, you're lucky. I have ended up putting in DVDs to avoid the all channel, all day, all night coverage. I can watch the same clips, same interviews, same simpering sycophants only once before I feel nauseous. No rumor has been too salacious. No talking head too over-exposed or insincere. No hanger-on, or hanger-on wanna-be, too low or improbable to put on camera. Just add the disclaimers "sources say" or "unconfirmed" and we're good to go.
The feeding frenzy was, and still is, utterly base and nauseating. Cover it, yes. Michael Jackson was a truly amazing man. He was talented and influenced more than one generation. He will be missed and should be mourned. What is going on, however, is making a mockery of his sad passing. It is not mourning. It is not paying respect to a giant of the music industry. It is gross in the extreme. It is digging through trash and fighting over what is in the bottom of the can.
It is sad for our nation.
BTW, Sarah Palin resigned because she was pissed at being out of the spotlight. Hey, now she's there again. She's used up her 15 minutes way too may times. I hope this is the last.
Last week, thousands of U.S. Marines went on the offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan. We waited in hope that no more of our young servicemen would be lost.
Farrah Fawcett, after a courageous battle with cancer passed away. The so-called journalists that grace our televisions nightly, and daily, on 20-20, Dateline, the Today Show, and all the others, clamoured to put out their video obituaries and interview the family, friends, doctors, maids, and anyone who claimed to have an association with Ms. Fawcett for their respective shows. All so tastefully done. NOT!
But before that day was out, Michael Jackson died. Suddenly, we forgot the Iranian protesters and the election. We forgot the U.S. Marines putting their lives on the line half a world away. We forgot the economy and the misery of hundreds of thousands more people losing their jobs.
Hours and hours and hours and hours of coverage. One news organization after another reporting "sources" saying Jackson was dead. Truth be told, it looked to me that TMZ broke the news, but all the other services were just reporting off that. And, we all know, if one says "sources', even if if it is only ABC, CBS, NBC, AP, and all the others are just quoting each other, it's being truthful. Why bother confirming if you can get away with pointing the finger at someone else's bad reporting?
After that, it went downhill, and fast. It actually hit bottom in the first hour. I won't go into details. If you didn't see it, you're lucky. I have ended up putting in DVDs to avoid the all channel, all day, all night coverage. I can watch the same clips, same interviews, same simpering sycophants only once before I feel nauseous. No rumor has been too salacious. No talking head too over-exposed or insincere. No hanger-on, or hanger-on wanna-be, too low or improbable to put on camera. Just add the disclaimers "sources say" or "unconfirmed" and we're good to go.
The feeding frenzy was, and still is, utterly base and nauseating. Cover it, yes. Michael Jackson was a truly amazing man. He was talented and influenced more than one generation. He will be missed and should be mourned. What is going on, however, is making a mockery of his sad passing. It is not mourning. It is not paying respect to a giant of the music industry. It is gross in the extreme. It is digging through trash and fighting over what is in the bottom of the can.
It is sad for our nation.
BTW, Sarah Palin resigned because she was pissed at being out of the spotlight. Hey, now she's there again. She's used up her 15 minutes way too may times. I hope this is the last.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Don't Ask, Don't Tell & Marriage
Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenback was just on Rachel Maddow's show. He, and Lt. Dan Choi, are two powerful examples (amongst many others) of the kind of men and women this country needs in its military. The idea that anyone even close to the caliber of these men is dismissed as not good enough or too great a risk just because they are gay is ludicrous at best.
Equality is equality. Not equality but separate. Just plain equality. Equality in service and equality in marriage.
I just hope President Obama is being crazy like a fox. If he pushes dumping DADT or DOMA, what would the reaction be? One can imagine wailing and gnashing of teeth. But if he does as he has been, keeping a "let's put this on a slightly lower heat" kind of attitude, what happens? One can see the latter happening now. People are coming from both sides of the aisle, even in the military, saying that gay men and women are valuable, do not disrupt their units, serve with distinction and should be allowed to remain in the military and be honest about who they are.
There is also more open discussion of gay marriage. The courageous states that have passed legislation allowing gay marriage are finding that the sky is still there, God hasn't struck them with lightning and the children aren't suddenly turning gay en masse. People in general are seeing that it's not going to destroy traditional marriage after all.
Is the President waiting for the public to have a change in mindset before wading in? Does he want it to be the public's idea before he gives it a gentle nudge in the right (or liberal) direction? Is he a fox on pacifist clothing? I hope so.
Equality is equality. Not equality but separate. Just plain equality. Equality in service and equality in marriage.
I just hope President Obama is being crazy like a fox. If he pushes dumping DADT or DOMA, what would the reaction be? One can imagine wailing and gnashing of teeth. But if he does as he has been, keeping a "let's put this on a slightly lower heat" kind of attitude, what happens? One can see the latter happening now. People are coming from both sides of the aisle, even in the military, saying that gay men and women are valuable, do not disrupt their units, serve with distinction and should be allowed to remain in the military and be honest about who they are.
There is also more open discussion of gay marriage. The courageous states that have passed legislation allowing gay marriage are finding that the sky is still there, God hasn't struck them with lightning and the children aren't suddenly turning gay en masse. People in general are seeing that it's not going to destroy traditional marriage after all.
Is the President waiting for the public to have a change in mindset before wading in? Does he want it to be the public's idea before he gives it a gentle nudge in the right (or liberal) direction? Is he a fox on pacifist clothing? I hope so.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
It's all about us and our opposition to Obama!
The current strategy of the GOP seems to be to oppose anything and everything President Obama is trying to do. Block as much as possible, moan that they are being left out, score as many political points as they can. That's what it's all about. Doesn't matter what. Doesn't matter who else is involved, whether their own country or another. It's bad enough to pull the antics they do here, against Americans.
Republicans seem to be blind so thoroughly by their hatred that they are willing to destroy the movement developing in Iran so that they can accuse Obama of not doing enough to condemn the massively flawed election. The Republicans want to rattle the sabres so loudly they might easily cause a backlash against the Iranian opposition that would result in the movement being put down in a violent and lethal manner. Our brave lawmakers only want to be seen to be "standing up" for the cause. They want to stick out their chests and thump away wildly, proclaiming their support of a people yearning for freedom and democracy.
It doesn't matter, though, if the opposition movement ultimately fails. It doesn't matter that the posturing and bellowing actually pushes the Supreme Leader in Iran to declare Ahmadinejad the winner because of the interference of the Americans.
Actually, the Republicans would probably be wildly happy if the opposition movement fails. They could then blame President Obama for not speaking out more strongly and rattling the ol' sabre as well.
Good way to score points.
Republicans seem to be blind so thoroughly by their hatred that they are willing to destroy the movement developing in Iran so that they can accuse Obama of not doing enough to condemn the massively flawed election. The Republicans want to rattle the sabres so loudly they might easily cause a backlash against the Iranian opposition that would result in the movement being put down in a violent and lethal manner. Our brave lawmakers only want to be seen to be "standing up" for the cause. They want to stick out their chests and thump away wildly, proclaiming their support of a people yearning for freedom and democracy.
It doesn't matter, though, if the opposition movement ultimately fails. It doesn't matter that the posturing and bellowing actually pushes the Supreme Leader in Iran to declare Ahmadinejad the winner because of the interference of the Americans.
Actually, the Republicans would probably be wildly happy if the opposition movement fails. They could then blame President Obama for not speaking out more strongly and rattling the ol' sabre as well.
Good way to score points.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Terror on our Streets!
A quick thought...
Why am I even slightly surprised when the American voting public falls hook, line and sinker for the fear peddling the GOP and right wingnuts churn out on any and every topic they can.
The very recent poll that showed the American public do not want the remaining prisoners in Guantanamo transfered to US prisons is a case in point. People seem to have gobbled up the claims that the prisoners would be released on our streets and threatened the general populace. The doors are going to be opened up and these guys will be allowed to walk right out onto our streets. Right.
Why is it that so many people are so willing to immediatley believe the proven liar? Why is it that common sense goes out the door so easily? Why is it that America, once home of the brave, has become the home of the quivering, quaking, shaking faint of heart?
How did that happen?
Why am I even slightly surprised when the American voting public falls hook, line and sinker for the fear peddling the GOP and right wingnuts churn out on any and every topic they can.
The very recent poll that showed the American public do not want the remaining prisoners in Guantanamo transfered to US prisons is a case in point. People seem to have gobbled up the claims that the prisoners would be released on our streets and threatened the general populace. The doors are going to be opened up and these guys will be allowed to walk right out onto our streets. Right.
Why is it that so many people are so willing to immediatley believe the proven liar? Why is it that common sense goes out the door so easily? Why is it that America, once home of the brave, has become the home of the quivering, quaking, shaking faint of heart?
How did that happen?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Prop 8
Sad news today. Even though the courts hands were probably tied (I am not a lawyer), it is deeply distressing the hate mongers have won out again. Gays aren't good enough for the same right to marry as straight people. They must be satisfied.
Why is it that people so fear and mistrust those that do not conform to their view of the "norm"?
These so-called Christians that have such a burning desire to preach hate and fear. I do not begin to understand it. They put all their faith into a Bible that was written by men long after Christ died. It has been rewritten and re-interpreted so many times over so many generations, how can it truly reflect his words?
The one thing that shines through is the message of love and acceptance and caring. There is no message of hate and exclusion and fear. For hundreds of years, any non-white people were treated as less as not worthy of equal status in our society. Heck, there were even white people treated as badly, but we were finally learning to move past that attitude. How have we come to saying it again? How have we come to hating so deeply again?
I don't think that is what Jesus intended. At least, I hope not.
Why is it that people so fear and mistrust those that do not conform to their view of the "norm"?
These so-called Christians that have such a burning desire to preach hate and fear. I do not begin to understand it. They put all their faith into a Bible that was written by men long after Christ died. It has been rewritten and re-interpreted so many times over so many generations, how can it truly reflect his words?
The one thing that shines through is the message of love and acceptance and caring. There is no message of hate and exclusion and fear. For hundreds of years, any non-white people were treated as less as not worthy of equal status in our society. Heck, there were even white people treated as badly, but we were finally learning to move past that attitude. How have we come to saying it again? How have we come to hating so deeply again?
I don't think that is what Jesus intended. At least, I hope not.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Fear in Our Times
In his speech a few nights ago, President Obama said “Our government made decisions based on fear rather than foresight”. I think he was being diplomatic. I believe the Bush Administration made decisions based on fear and with the intention to incite fear. The more fearful we were the better. They ladled it on, thick and rich with everything they could think if to make us think that the terrorist were just down the block, ready to kill us all in our sleep.
The Bush Administration used they very tactics we decry as evil in the pursuit of their agenda. They wanted a war that wasn’t necessary, so they did everything possible to change the facts to fit. The Iraqis were surprised that anyone thought they had a connection to Al Qaeda, just torture people until one of them says there was a connection just so that the torture will stop.
They wanted to shift the blame for being asleep at the wheel when the World Trade Center attack happened, so they screamed at every opportunity that it was Clinton’s fault. It doesn’t matter that he left office nine months prior to the attack and his intelligence folk warned there was something in the offing.
Now Dick Cheney is making the rounds, telling anyone with a microphone that torture made us safe. Even though the overwhelming evidence is that any useful information was obtain from “prisoners” was obtained before the torture started, and that torture usually produces more false information that truth, and it was very useful in recruiting for the terrorists, and made it exponentially more dangerous for any captured American service men and women, Mr. Cheney is adamant that is kept us safe.
The GOP is following hot on his heels. They are using every trick in the book to spread the fear again. According to them, Obama wants to release all the people being held at Quantanamo onto the streets of the United States. From there, they will invade our neighborhoods and kill us in our sleep.
The media outlets, newspapers and broadcast are, of course, breathless in their need to propagate these insane accusations as fact and reality. They seem to be falling over each other in the haste to have Cheney and the GOPers on their shows and in their columns. I know the need to sell papers and commercial time is a high priority, but at the cost of our country? The term media whore can be applied to more and more of our supposedly noble journalists these days.
What really gets is the number of allegedly educated and sober Democratic politicians that are falling for it. Apparently their spines did disappear years ago and will never be found again.
We have gone from being a nation that can hold its collective head high and look danger in the eye to a nation of cowering, gibbering idiots. We have not recovered from the days of reds under the beds, we have just replaced them with terrorists. We are now using and condoning torture and the worst of tactics that we abhor in our enemies.
How can we, as a nation, as the United States of America, say to future generations that we stood up and met the challenges of our time? If we succumb to the fear, if we do not meet the fight head on, if we do not keep that moral high ground, we will not be worthy of being called Americans. We have become the very things we once stood against.
The Bush Administration used they very tactics we decry as evil in the pursuit of their agenda. They wanted a war that wasn’t necessary, so they did everything possible to change the facts to fit. The Iraqis were surprised that anyone thought they had a connection to Al Qaeda, just torture people until one of them says there was a connection just so that the torture will stop.
They wanted to shift the blame for being asleep at the wheel when the World Trade Center attack happened, so they screamed at every opportunity that it was Clinton’s fault. It doesn’t matter that he left office nine months prior to the attack and his intelligence folk warned there was something in the offing.
Now Dick Cheney is making the rounds, telling anyone with a microphone that torture made us safe. Even though the overwhelming evidence is that any useful information was obtain from “prisoners” was obtained before the torture started, and that torture usually produces more false information that truth, and it was very useful in recruiting for the terrorists, and made it exponentially more dangerous for any captured American service men and women, Mr. Cheney is adamant that is kept us safe.
The GOP is following hot on his heels. They are using every trick in the book to spread the fear again. According to them, Obama wants to release all the people being held at Quantanamo onto the streets of the United States. From there, they will invade our neighborhoods and kill us in our sleep.
The media outlets, newspapers and broadcast are, of course, breathless in their need to propagate these insane accusations as fact and reality. They seem to be falling over each other in the haste to have Cheney and the GOPers on their shows and in their columns. I know the need to sell papers and commercial time is a high priority, but at the cost of our country? The term media whore can be applied to more and more of our supposedly noble journalists these days.
What really gets is the number of allegedly educated and sober Democratic politicians that are falling for it. Apparently their spines did disappear years ago and will never be found again.
We have gone from being a nation that can hold its collective head high and look danger in the eye to a nation of cowering, gibbering idiots. We have not recovered from the days of reds under the beds, we have just replaced them with terrorists. We are now using and condoning torture and the worst of tactics that we abhor in our enemies.
How can we, as a nation, as the United States of America, say to future generations that we stood up and met the challenges of our time? If we succumb to the fear, if we do not meet the fight head on, if we do not keep that moral high ground, we will not be worthy of being called Americans. We have become the very things we once stood against.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Spooks in the Room
So, the GOP are holding the CIA up as the sayers of absolute truth and moral superiority? The CIA are supposed to be the guys that sneak about spying, upsetting dictators, bugging rooms, and doing all kinds of underhanded things that aren't discussed in polite society.
Besides, such support is despite former Senator Graham's note-taking of all things minutia and large indicating the CIA's briefing reports were wrong 3 out of 4 times and Director Panetta's own seeming inability to state unequivocally the reports were absolutely correct. (What a rock and a hard place that man lives between.)
The CIA are supposed to be the guys that do the dirty work for us, no matter what it is or why. Their's is but to do or die, right? They're supposed to be the spooks in the room. If that's their job, but they can't even get accurate briefing notes together, I have a hard time trusting anything they say.
Another thought...unless those briefing summaries (SUMMARIES, remember) are date and time stamped by some sort of nuclear, unalterable clock, who's to say they weren't written last week? Just saying.
Besides, such support is despite former Senator Graham's note-taking of all things minutia and large indicating the CIA's briefing reports were wrong 3 out of 4 times and Director Panetta's own seeming inability to state unequivocally the reports were absolutely correct. (What a rock and a hard place that man lives between.)
The CIA are supposed to be the guys that do the dirty work for us, no matter what it is or why. Their's is but to do or die, right? They're supposed to be the spooks in the room. If that's their job, but they can't even get accurate briefing notes together, I have a hard time trusting anything they say.
Another thought...unless those briefing summaries (SUMMARIES, remember) are date and time stamped by some sort of nuclear, unalterable clock, who's to say they weren't written last week? Just saying.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Former VP that Won't Fade Away
Anyone want to know why Cheney won't go away? I think there are a few reasons.
1. He needs to justify his existence.
2. He needs to justify his all comsuming passion to torture, even though there might not be any evidence the people he wants to torture have done anything worhty of arrest. (I'd hate to think what he does when he sits alone in the dark and watches the DVDs of the torture. *shudder*)
3. He wants to be able to blame the Obama administration if there are ever any future attacks by terrorists on U.S. soil. This will probably include if the terrorists are some of Cheney's most ardent followers that have been incited by his claims. It also doesn't matter that the actions he devised and approved of were and are the greatest possible recruiting tools given to terrorists.
4. He can't stand the notion that he's now being publicly held up to account for his actions.
5. He is paranoid to the point of insanity.
6. He's just pissed that he couldn't rule for ever.
1. He needs to justify his existence.
2. He needs to justify his all comsuming passion to torture, even though there might not be any evidence the people he wants to torture have done anything worhty of arrest. (I'd hate to think what he does when he sits alone in the dark and watches the DVDs of the torture. *shudder*)
3. He wants to be able to blame the Obama administration if there are ever any future attacks by terrorists on U.S. soil. This will probably include if the terrorists are some of Cheney's most ardent followers that have been incited by his claims. It also doesn't matter that the actions he devised and approved of were and are the greatest possible recruiting tools given to terrorists.
4. He can't stand the notion that he's now being publicly held up to account for his actions.
5. He is paranoid to the point of insanity.
6. He's just pissed that he couldn't rule for ever.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Retribution?
Webster's defines retribution as recompense, reward, or the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment, esp. in the hereafter. The Compact Oxford Dictionary says it is punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.
I'm all for retribution for the dictator wannabes in the Bush administration who thought it was their God given right to take the United States down the road of torturing people. Now I am not naive enough to think it has never happened before. There will always be sadists in our midst who will do this kind of thing. However, to make it "legal", to make it "policy", to make it "common" for America is beyond all comprehension of a sane and moral society.
My little quibble here is the use of the term retribution. While the definitions are appropriate, the word has taken on connotations for vengeance, sometimes at the price of reason. Why not say justice? When a person is charged with assault or theft or even murder, we call it justice to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. Why is it not justice in this case. These people broke not only U.S. law, but international law. They broke agreements made between many countries decades ago. Why is it not justice to hold them accountable?
I'm all for retribution for the dictator wannabes in the Bush administration who thought it was their God given right to take the United States down the road of torturing people. Now I am not naive enough to think it has never happened before. There will always be sadists in our midst who will do this kind of thing. However, to make it "legal", to make it "policy", to make it "common" for America is beyond all comprehension of a sane and moral society.
My little quibble here is the use of the term retribution. While the definitions are appropriate, the word has taken on connotations for vengeance, sometimes at the price of reason. Why not say justice? When a person is charged with assault or theft or even murder, we call it justice to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. Why is it not justice in this case. These people broke not only U.S. law, but international law. They broke agreements made between many countries decades ago. Why is it not justice to hold them accountable?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Prosecuting Torture, or Not
The President announced today that he has no interest in prosecuting the people who tortured on behalf of this country, or words to that effect. I can't go back and get the exact quote. I am too horrified that President Obama can consider this line of action, or inaction.
We have the smoking gun. We have the memos. We have statements from members of the Bush administration going up to the highest levels that brag about the torture. We have the notes! For God's sake, six times a day for a month? Two times a day for a month? In even the most basic of criminal code, if you hit someone once it is called assault. Just once, that's all it takes.
What the hell does it take? Even if the men that actually perpetrated these horrors don't get investigated and brought up on charges, the men that allowed it, ordered it must be held accountable. What kind of warped, sadistic men would do these things in the name of this country, would consider it okay? Allowing them to get away with it would tell future administrations that torture is a naughty no-no, but we shouldn't do it again!
God help us if we don't.
We have the smoking gun. We have the memos. We have statements from members of the Bush administration going up to the highest levels that brag about the torture. We have the notes! For God's sake, six times a day for a month? Two times a day for a month? In even the most basic of criminal code, if you hit someone once it is called assault. Just once, that's all it takes.
What the hell does it take? Even if the men that actually perpetrated these horrors don't get investigated and brought up on charges, the men that allowed it, ordered it must be held accountable. What kind of warped, sadistic men would do these things in the name of this country, would consider it okay? Allowing them to get away with it would tell future administrations that torture is a naughty no-no, but we shouldn't do it again!
God help us if we don't.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Everyone's Suddenly Decided to Go Green
Almost every day now, one news cast or another is running a "green" story. Species are dying out, forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, fish populations are crashing, the glaciers and polar ice caps are melting faster than we thought just last year, are just a few of the now timely topics.
We still have naysayers twisting bits and pieces of legitimate studies and reports to suit their needs, often to the point of outright lying. I'd like to know what purpose is served by that kind of thinking, but really don't want to go into it now.
My current question is about the sudden interest in being green. I want to know where the hell these reporters, anchors, commentators, editorialists, show runners and powers that be were when all of this could have made a difference? I hope that somewhere, sometime, they wake up in the middle of the night and know, with soul chilling certainty, that their inaction and disinterest has contributed to the dying planet they are leaving the children of this world, including their own.
We still have naysayers twisting bits and pieces of legitimate studies and reports to suit their needs, often to the point of outright lying. I'd like to know what purpose is served by that kind of thinking, but really don't want to go into it now.
My current question is about the sudden interest in being green. I want to know where the hell these reporters, anchors, commentators, editorialists, show runners and powers that be were when all of this could have made a difference? I hope that somewhere, sometime, they wake up in the middle of the night and know, with soul chilling certainty, that their inaction and disinterest has contributed to the dying planet they are leaving the children of this world, including their own.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Teabagging, Tempests and Taxes
Well, the teabaggers were out in varying sizes (or lack thereof) of force today, protesting everything from taxes to the president. I wonder just how many of them understand the conotations of being a "teabagger". As some of my friends woud say, *snerk*. They can't claim to have used th term first, but they will certainly be remembered for using it at all!
(Oh, go Google it! There are some rather graphic vids that leave no room for confusion.)
I wonder, though, why they are screaming about the taxes part. For a very large chunk of the American taxpaying public, Federal taxes went down on April 1. Were all those ordinary looking people I saw in the news reports not amongst my income group of under $75k per year? Are they pissed because they are just over that mark and aren't getting the reduction? Maybe that's it.
I also wonder where they were when the previous administration was running up the deficit, pouring money down the drain, often to good old boy buddies and their corporations. No-bid contracts from a president who believed that taking care of those BFFs with deep taxpayer pockets was the right thing to do must have made them think it was Christmas every day.
Where were the teabaggers then?
I could go on about the boatload of lies used to get this country into a war that wasn't necessary, taking our eyes off the real ball just next door. Now, how many years, how many hundreds of billions of dollars, how many lives of American service men and women have been wasted?
Where have the teabaggers been?
I could also talk about the off shore tax shelters used by big corporations in order to avoid paying hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes in the U.S. I could talk about the criminal lack of keeping the American infrastructure in good working order. (Yes, roads, bridges, schools, power generation.) There are so many things and so little time.
Hellooooo, teabaggers? Any of you there?
Now, the teabaggers are swallowing the hook, line and sinker dangled by Fox Noise, corporate lobbiests, and headline seeking talk show hosts in their "grassroots" campaign. I wonder if these people realize that they are the ones on the ground and the organizers are teabagging them?
Probably not.
(Oh, go Google it! There are some rather graphic vids that leave no room for confusion.)
I wonder, though, why they are screaming about the taxes part. For a very large chunk of the American taxpaying public, Federal taxes went down on April 1. Were all those ordinary looking people I saw in the news reports not amongst my income group of under $75k per year? Are they pissed because they are just over that mark and aren't getting the reduction? Maybe that's it.
I also wonder where they were when the previous administration was running up the deficit, pouring money down the drain, often to good old boy buddies and their corporations. No-bid contracts from a president who believed that taking care of those BFFs with deep taxpayer pockets was the right thing to do must have made them think it was Christmas every day.
Where were the teabaggers then?
I could go on about the boatload of lies used to get this country into a war that wasn't necessary, taking our eyes off the real ball just next door. Now, how many years, how many hundreds of billions of dollars, how many lives of American service men and women have been wasted?
Where have the teabaggers been?
I could also talk about the off shore tax shelters used by big corporations in order to avoid paying hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes in the U.S. I could talk about the criminal lack of keeping the American infrastructure in good working order. (Yes, roads, bridges, schools, power generation.) There are so many things and so little time.
Hellooooo, teabaggers? Any of you there?
Now, the teabaggers are swallowing the hook, line and sinker dangled by Fox Noise, corporate lobbiests, and headline seeking talk show hosts in their "grassroots" campaign. I wonder if these people realize that they are the ones on the ground and the organizers are teabagging them?
Probably not.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Press Conference March 24, 2009
I watched President Obama’s press conference earlier then a couple of the MSNBC talk/commentary shows. Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow started off a little slow in forming opinions that they could discuss. Not surprising since they were having to do it pretty much on the fly.
By the third show, Chris Matthews, it was easy to see the experts and commentators were already gathering steam. The opinions and spins and criticisms and naysaying was picking up speed. It’s almost like watching a swarm, a warm of whatever comes to your mind, just swirling from place to place. The swarm can’t decide which way to go or where to settle. It just moves in a blind panic, each member trying to get to something first and shout the loudest, vying for its opinion to be heard and believed.
The last few weeks have been headlines of panic, wailing, gnashing of teeth, outrage, woe-is-me, finger-pointing, more panic and anger. It’s like watching bad TV.
The current administration has been in office all of two months. Why do so many people seem to think that everything should be resolved and peachy-keen after just a few short weeks, especially following eight years of the most reckless, self-serving, xenophobic rich white guys that were only thinking of their own agenda. The country, and by extension the planet, didn’t matter.
Since the election, President Obama has been very honest about the very real fact that the mess is going to take years to clean up. It is going to take hard work and patience from everyone. People are screaming that the government has to stop spending, that we cannot go further into debt. Sorry, but even I can see it is the only way out. If people aren’t spending, nothing moves. Ask any business owner, small or large. We all understand that when no-one is buying, businesses close, people lose jobs. It becomes a tighter and tighter spiral. If the government stops spending, we will sink.
I have a small analogy. It isn’t a very good one, but it is simple and may work. Say you are a homeowner. You have a hole in your roof and the spring rain is coming. Do you go ahead and put the repairs on your credit card or do you let the rain come in and ruin ceiling, walls, floors, and mold to grow? The latter is going to double, triple or quadruple the costs. What do you decide?
Does the wailing and gnashing of teeth really accomplish anything? Does the nit-picking? Do the tantrums? No? I didn’t think so.
By the third show, Chris Matthews, it was easy to see the experts and commentators were already gathering steam. The opinions and spins and criticisms and naysaying was picking up speed. It’s almost like watching a swarm, a warm of whatever comes to your mind, just swirling from place to place. The swarm can’t decide which way to go or where to settle. It just moves in a blind panic, each member trying to get to something first and shout the loudest, vying for its opinion to be heard and believed.
The last few weeks have been headlines of panic, wailing, gnashing of teeth, outrage, woe-is-me, finger-pointing, more panic and anger. It’s like watching bad TV.
The current administration has been in office all of two months. Why do so many people seem to think that everything should be resolved and peachy-keen after just a few short weeks, especially following eight years of the most reckless, self-serving, xenophobic rich white guys that were only thinking of their own agenda. The country, and by extension the planet, didn’t matter.
Since the election, President Obama has been very honest about the very real fact that the mess is going to take years to clean up. It is going to take hard work and patience from everyone. People are screaming that the government has to stop spending, that we cannot go further into debt. Sorry, but even I can see it is the only way out. If people aren’t spending, nothing moves. Ask any business owner, small or large. We all understand that when no-one is buying, businesses close, people lose jobs. It becomes a tighter and tighter spiral. If the government stops spending, we will sink.
I have a small analogy. It isn’t a very good one, but it is simple and may work. Say you are a homeowner. You have a hole in your roof and the spring rain is coming. Do you go ahead and put the repairs on your credit card or do you let the rain come in and ruin ceiling, walls, floors, and mold to grow? The latter is going to double, triple or quadruple the costs. What do you decide?
Does the wailing and gnashing of teeth really accomplish anything? Does the nit-picking? Do the tantrums? No? I didn’t think so.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Want
I keep hearing the most amazing, and not in a good way, thing. Barack Obama has been President for 37 days, right? Close enough. The largest spending package in the history of the country was passed, many of W's truly vile and cynical measures have been overturned, the process of closing Gitmo is underway, the most massive budget ever has been produced (including all the spending hidden in the past by BushCo) has been presented to the world, plans to bring as many troups home as possible are on the table, and everyone still wants more. people want the absolute final plans, the final decisions, the money in hand, problems solved and neatly filed away right now.
The last president had 8 years to screw us all over. That cannot be undone in 365 days, much less 37. I know many, if not most, of you have money to make and advertising to sell and bosses to please and ratings to worry about. But, seriously folks, take a breath and give the man and his team at least a few more days before moaning and groaning that it hasn't all been done. A few more weeks would actually be nicer.
The last president had 8 years to screw us all over. That cannot be undone in 365 days, much less 37. I know many, if not most, of you have money to make and advertising to sell and bosses to please and ratings to worry about. But, seriously folks, take a breath and give the man and his team at least a few more days before moaning and groaning that it hasn't all been done. A few more weeks would actually be nicer.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
President's Address to Congress
President Obama's address to congress was, well, amazing. It's amazing what can be said by someone who knows how to speak in complete sentences. It was amazing to listen to someone who actually talks to EVERYONE around him, Democrats, Republicans, the person on the street. It was amazing to listen to someone with ideas and vision and a genuine concern for the people of this country and the world. (Get over it, we are part of this world and have to consider our neighbors on the small planet!) It was amazing to listen to someone who has a plan!
OMG! I just had a real fangirly moment!
Then, the Republican rebuttal. I hate to say this, but the word "cringeworthy" is the kindest word I can come up with. Governor Jindal was spouting the same lies (He brought up the mythical high speed train from LA to Vegas. Good grief, when are they going to stop flogging that dead horse?) He chanted "we can do anything" in a tone that reminded me of the kind of used car salesman you should run from. As Sentor Boxer just said, it really did sound like Jindal's speech was written earlier today. My impression is that is was written yesterday, over coffee, and they pulled all the talking points from McCain's stump speeches from last year's campaign. Is that plagerism?
OMG! I just had a real fangirly moment!
Then, the Republican rebuttal. I hate to say this, but the word "cringeworthy" is the kindest word I can come up with. Governor Jindal was spouting the same lies (He brought up the mythical high speed train from LA to Vegas. Good grief, when are they going to stop flogging that dead horse?) He chanted "we can do anything" in a tone that reminded me of the kind of used car salesman you should run from. As Sentor Boxer just said, it really did sound like Jindal's speech was written earlier today. My impression is that is was written yesterday, over coffee, and they pulled all the talking points from McCain's stump speeches from last year's campaign. Is that plagerism?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Watched some of Hardball tonight. I am a little concerned. How can anyone say President Obama is indecisive this early in the game. The man has been in office how may days? 30? He's gotten a humongous stimulus package through congress and signed. He's still getting his team together. He's battling a GOP that is ready, willing and happy to sink the country and the world rather than play nicely. He has to deal with two wars, daily news of further economic bad news, the nightmare that is Gitmo, and countless other things.
Now Chris Matthews is asking his guests to confirm his own impression that the President is indecisive about what to do about the housing meltdown. We gave BushCo eight years to grow the many and diverse crises we are experiencing today. Can we not give President Obama a little more than 30 days to make the decisions needed to begin the repairs and recovery?
Now Chris Matthews is asking his guests to confirm his own impression that the President is indecisive about what to do about the housing meltdown. We gave BushCo eight years to grow the many and diverse crises we are experiencing today. Can we not give President Obama a little more than 30 days to make the decisions needed to begin the repairs and recovery?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
McCain, the GOP and the Church
It appears the election was just too much for Senator McCain. His tactic of lying to score points must have done something to his brain. He ust doesn't seem to be able to stop lying. To say the President is not trying to have a dialogue with Republicans is a strange thing to say. For crying out loud, President Obama seems to be spending MORE time talking to Republicans than he is to Democrats. Does McCain and the rest of the GOP want him to just take whatever they want and demand the Democrats vote for it? Aren't the policies of tax cuts for the rich and nothing for the poor, the middle class or the country's infrastructure the very things that got us into the mess we are struggling with now?
More tax cuts, and nothing else? I need a job. Having a tax cut without a job means squat!
I can't wait to see if, with the stimulus bill passed, the GOP try to work as hard as possible to make it work or try to sink it, either actively or by inaction. This will prove their level of commitment to our country even more than their opposition to those parts of the bill that would directly help communities create and keep jobs. Are they serious about being patriotic Americans or would they rather see the country fall than be proved wrong? One doesn't have to be carrying a bomb or a gun to be a terrorist bent on the destruction of the United States of America.
On a different note, I see the Catholic Church is still covering up for and supporting priests that do decidedly non-Christian things. Pedophiles and bishops that deny the Holocost. What else is hiding under their cassocks?
More tax cuts, and nothing else? I need a job. Having a tax cut without a job means squat!
I can't wait to see if, with the stimulus bill passed, the GOP try to work as hard as possible to make it work or try to sink it, either actively or by inaction. This will prove their level of commitment to our country even more than their opposition to those parts of the bill that would directly help communities create and keep jobs. Are they serious about being patriotic Americans or would they rather see the country fall than be proved wrong? One doesn't have to be carrying a bomb or a gun to be a terrorist bent on the destruction of the United States of America.
On a different note, I see the Catholic Church is still covering up for and supporting priests that do decidedly non-Christian things. Pedophiles and bishops that deny the Holocost. What else is hiding under their cassocks?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
McCain and Osama
Didn't John McCain try to win the election by stating on many occasions he knew how to capture bin Laden and would as soon as he entered office? Did he decide that because he lost the election he doesn't have to cough up the grand plan? Or, was it all a lie?
I think, like so many other patriotic Republics putting the country first, he decided to take his marbles and pout in the corner. Rather let the country and the world burn than do the right thing. Why am I so not surprised?
I think, like so many other patriotic Republics putting the country first, he decided to take his marbles and pout in the corner. Rather let the country and the world burn than do the right thing. Why am I so not surprised?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Post Election Stupidity
The new President is in the White House a week, well less than a week. I’ve been reading the blogs and the newspapers. I’ve been watching the news and political commentary shows. There was no honeymoon. Already the Republicans are complaining about everything in sight. “We’ve been shut out! They want to spend too much! We need more tax cuts, but don’t cut taxes for the poor coz they won’t be paying any taxes at all! It won’t work because we don’t want it to!”
I want to know what the hell they think less spending and more tax cuts (for the rich, presumably) are going to do. Haven’t they given their rich, greedy friends enough tax cuts? Haven’t they spent enough in Iraq to float ten countries out of the current quagmire? Are they so pissed at losing their seat at the big kids’ table that they’re willing to sink the country and the entire planet just to get even?
Apparently so.
One more question. No two.
First, if a person has lost their job, earning no money, how does a tax cut help them?
Second, when are the Democrats going to grow a backbone? The Republicans have come out of the box willing to piss on the world because they insist on having a hissy fit. They want all the toys and are will to hold everyone hostage to get them. The Democrats need to trample their sorry asses into the ground and leave them behind. They need to save this country, and by extension, the world. We can’t wait. We’re on life support and the electricity is going to be turned off very soon.
I want to know what the hell they think less spending and more tax cuts (for the rich, presumably) are going to do. Haven’t they given their rich, greedy friends enough tax cuts? Haven’t they spent enough in Iraq to float ten countries out of the current quagmire? Are they so pissed at losing their seat at the big kids’ table that they’re willing to sink the country and the entire planet just to get even?
Apparently so.
One more question. No two.
First, if a person has lost their job, earning no money, how does a tax cut help them?
Second, when are the Democrats going to grow a backbone? The Republicans have come out of the box willing to piss on the world because they insist on having a hissy fit. They want all the toys and are will to hold everyone hostage to get them. The Democrats need to trample their sorry asses into the ground and leave them behind. They need to save this country, and by extension, the world. We can’t wait. We’re on life support and the electricity is going to be turned off very soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)