Aside from their arrogance and obstructionism, I think the thing I find most objectionable about Republicans is their ghastly sense of entitlement. They behave as though the rules just do not apply to them.
Take for example Virginia's Republican Governor, Bob McDonnell's, efforts on behalf of the Republican's in their response to President Obama's State of the Union Message to Congress last month. And let's go on record here in making what ought not be considered a fine point: SOTUS is an official process of state and mandated by the Constitution (Article II, Section 3). The Republican response is just that, a political party's reaction to official government business. Therefore, the first is part of governance and the second is purely political. Hold that thought, it is important.
In the highly vetted and theatrically staged audience for McDonnell's tepid effort was a military person in full uniform nodding and applauding...sometimes before and sometimes minutes after what should have been the applause line. Well staged it was, but not well directed. But put that aside.
The uniformed soldier was in obvious violation of Defense Department Directive 1344.10, which says that while a military person may participate as a "spectator" at political events, rallies and meetings they may not do so while in uniform!
McDonnell is a former light colonel in the army and the son of a military officer. He knows the rules. So too should have Army Staff Sergeant, Robert Tenpenny. If I know anything at all about staff sergeants it is that they "know the rules" and are as eager and quick as second lieutenants to enforce them--the more arcane the rule or regulation all the better. The fact that he served in Iraq with McDonnell's daughter, Jeanine, is laudable and deserves absolutely no scrutiny or adverse comment--he had a right to be there, and he had a right to be proud. BUT! He had no right to don his uniform in order to serve as a backdrop to what was a purely political speech.
Had he have been in mufti, nary a word of criticism would be warranted.
But we'll not hear from the American Legion or any veteran's organization about how utterly inappropriate and shameful was his exploitation. Nor will we hear a word from any Republican anywhere about parading the military for purely political purposes...believe me, we will not!
That is because the Republicans believe they are entitled to do as they damned well please and that the rules do not apply to them. Their ghastly level of arrogance is appalling!
Showing posts with label Political Commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political Commentary. Show all posts
18 February 2010
The Bird is a Word!
Since time immemorial fighters have asked each other, "What's the word?" Since Vietnam, the word is "Bird"!
Another generation! But, it is all the same!
Another generation! But, it is all the same!
15 December 2009
OMG The Right-Wing Nutters Said What?
Okay, folks....change of pace today. Let us have some fun with the lunatic fringe and earn ourselves a sticker. Take this simple multiple choice test on what the wing-nuts are saying and doing now. Click HERE.
And, that's not all. No--no Ginzu knives and there's nothing up my sleeve...but each participant earns a 10-cent donation from Credo to People For the American Way!
Let me know how you score in the comments section of this post--please-thank you!
And, that's not all. No--no Ginzu knives and there's nothing up my sleeve...but each participant earns a 10-cent donation from Credo to People For the American Way!
Let me know how you score in the comments section of this post--please-thank you!
12 September 2008
Palin - A Blond Joke in a Brunette Wig!
Last night, I was engaged in one of those message board (Forum) war of words with a guy from West (By God) Virginia who asserted that the ‘far left” was terrified of Palin.
Not the Democrats mind you. Not the liberals. Not the progressives either. Nor the mere left. No panic there, but the f-a-a-a-a-a-r left, now that's different, they're in a panic. Understand, this guy and I have peed all over each other’s tree stumps before, and I truly suspect he is the bastard child of John Birch and Phyllis Schlafly and reared to post-adolescent rage by David Duke.
Fear? No! Cautious optimism? Yes!
Actually, Obama has a firm hold on all the Kerry states, and really only needs to pick up three others. Again, even though McCain has a slight edge in the polls right now, his edge is not as high as Obama's was prior to the convention, and it will wane. It is as I've said all along, every bounce McCain gets is a catch up, but it just never sticks and holds him in front.
Palin on ABC, last night, repudiated the "Bush Doctrine" of preemptive war, and locked herself and McCain into that repudiation. As one correspondent wrote…
“The "Bush Doctrine" is the basis for our invasion of Iraq. It's kind of a big deal. Now, maybe a McCain-Palin administration would instead have the "McCain Doctrine", which would essentially be the Bush Doctrine but with even more aggressive rhetoric, or the "Palin Doctrine", which would be that... um... spreading democracy via offshore oil drilling is good, and stuff. Or something -- it's not clear. But this "justification for war" stuff is, you know, the sort of thing that's just a wee bit important for our purported future leaders to pay a little attention to…”
It'll get worse for her. And, here's a nasty little stat you can gnaw on, her unfavorables with moderates are higher than her favorables with conservatives. There is softness for the McCain ticket in those numbers. And bear in mind, most of this bounce is in the South. Surprised?
Her clueless, blasé, moose in the headlights, misunderstanding (Hah! Try no knowledge at all) of the "Bush Doctrine" really exposed her ditzy weakness—she is freaking clueless in the way stereotypical cartoon bimbos are clueless—she’s a blond joke in a brunette wig. I don't use the term nitwit loosely, and this woman is a nitwit!
Terrified? Of this? I hardly think so.
Not the Democrats mind you. Not the liberals. Not the progressives either. Nor the mere left. No panic there, but the f-a-a-a-a-a-r left, now that's different, they're in a panic. Understand, this guy and I have peed all over each other’s tree stumps before, and I truly suspect he is the bastard child of John Birch and Phyllis Schlafly and reared to post-adolescent rage by David Duke.
Fear? No! Cautious optimism? Yes!
Actually, Obama has a firm hold on all the Kerry states, and really only needs to pick up three others. Again, even though McCain has a slight edge in the polls right now, his edge is not as high as Obama's was prior to the convention, and it will wane. It is as I've said all along, every bounce McCain gets is a catch up, but it just never sticks and holds him in front.
Palin on ABC, last night, repudiated the "Bush Doctrine" of preemptive war, and locked herself and McCain into that repudiation. As one correspondent wrote…
“The "Bush Doctrine" is the basis for our invasion of Iraq. It's kind of a big deal. Now, maybe a McCain-Palin administration would instead have the "McCain Doctrine", which would essentially be the Bush Doctrine but with even more aggressive rhetoric, or the "Palin Doctrine", which would be that... um... spreading democracy via offshore oil drilling is good, and stuff. Or something -- it's not clear. But this "justification for war" stuff is, you know, the sort of thing that's just a wee bit important for our purported future leaders to pay a little attention to…”
It'll get worse for her. And, here's a nasty little stat you can gnaw on, her unfavorables with moderates are higher than her favorables with conservatives. There is softness for the McCain ticket in those numbers. And bear in mind, most of this bounce is in the South. Surprised?
Her clueless, blasé, moose in the headlights, misunderstanding (Hah! Try no knowledge at all) of the "Bush Doctrine" really exposed her ditzy weakness—she is freaking clueless in the way stereotypical cartoon bimbos are clueless—she’s a blond joke in a brunette wig. I don't use the term nitwit loosely, and this woman is a nitwit!
Terrified? Of this? I hardly think so.
11 September 2008
9/11 the next!
There’s enough maudlin, teary-eyed, chest-beating, posturing, hair-rending and teeth gnashing going on today over the events of September 11, 2001 without my adding to it. It was a horrible day which triggered devastatingly catastrophic changes in America from which we may never fully recover.
But, I’ve just got to tell you, I was not as surprised by it as some. McVeigh’s attack on sanity in Oklahoma City should have been sufficient for people to understand our vulnerability. News videos of IRA car bombs in London should have been sufficient for people to understand our vulnerability. Americans returning from tips abroad with tales of posters warning against unaccompanied packages in London subway stations should have been sufficient for people to understand our vulnerability.
Five days before the Iranian hostage crises I flew out of New York Kennedy on an El Al flight to Israel. I and the others were shepherded by Israeli officials to an isolated holding area at the airport and were questioned and scanned before being herded aboard a bus and driven far out on the fringe of the airport tarmac to board our plane. No jet way, no friendly flight attendants or nodding pilots greeted us as we boarded. Instead, unsmiling armed guards with Uzis oversaw our embarkation.
That was sufficient for me to understand our vulnerability.
So, of all the emotions coming from that day; and there are many; anger, fear, frustration, outrage, empathy and sympathy, pride at the courage of the police and fire, and ordinary people who stepped up, and a great sadness. But, I had no surprise or dismay. It had been coming. And it had been coming for a very long while. No. No one should have been surprised.
When you have a group of religious fanatics telling you that they wish you dead, you really ought to heed them—especially when they have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to fulfill their wishes throughout the world. When you have experts on global terrorism tell you over-and-over, year-in-and-year-out that those homicidal lunatics are looking for ways to bring it home to you, you really ought to heed them. And, when you see the rest of the world taking prudent precautions to alert and protect citizens and innocent people from these fanatics, well, you really, really ought to pay heed.
Now, I caution you not to be surprised when the next “hit” happens. It is only a matter of time, a matter of when and not of if. And, when it comes, once again it will be due to our ability to ignore the obvious and whistle our way through the graveyard. But, don’t take my word for it, go to the bi-partisan Partnership for A Secure America and see why they’ve given a grade of “C” to our government’s efforts since September 11, 2001 to protect us from Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons (WMD) in the hands of terrorists.
Now, a gentlemanly “C” might be sufficient to get you a credit for Western Civilization since 1920, but it hardly suffices for the government of a country already savaged and still targeted by religious psychopaths. We deserve better than this!
But, I’ve just got to tell you, I was not as surprised by it as some. McVeigh’s attack on sanity in Oklahoma City should have been sufficient for people to understand our vulnerability. News videos of IRA car bombs in London should have been sufficient for people to understand our vulnerability. Americans returning from tips abroad with tales of posters warning against unaccompanied packages in London subway stations should have been sufficient for people to understand our vulnerability.
Five days before the Iranian hostage crises I flew out of New York Kennedy on an El Al flight to Israel. I and the others were shepherded by Israeli officials to an isolated holding area at the airport and were questioned and scanned before being herded aboard a bus and driven far out on the fringe of the airport tarmac to board our plane. No jet way, no friendly flight attendants or nodding pilots greeted us as we boarded. Instead, unsmiling armed guards with Uzis oversaw our embarkation.
That was sufficient for me to understand our vulnerability.
So, of all the emotions coming from that day; and there are many; anger, fear, frustration, outrage, empathy and sympathy, pride at the courage of the police and fire, and ordinary people who stepped up, and a great sadness. But, I had no surprise or dismay. It had been coming. And it had been coming for a very long while. No. No one should have been surprised.
When you have a group of religious fanatics telling you that they wish you dead, you really ought to heed them—especially when they have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to fulfill their wishes throughout the world. When you have experts on global terrorism tell you over-and-over, year-in-and-year-out that those homicidal lunatics are looking for ways to bring it home to you, you really ought to heed them. And, when you see the rest of the world taking prudent precautions to alert and protect citizens and innocent people from these fanatics, well, you really, really ought to pay heed.
Now, I caution you not to be surprised when the next “hit” happens. It is only a matter of time, a matter of when and not of if. And, when it comes, once again it will be due to our ability to ignore the obvious and whistle our way through the graveyard. But, don’t take my word for it, go to the bi-partisan Partnership for A Secure America and see why they’ve given a grade of “C” to our government’s efforts since September 11, 2001 to protect us from Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons (WMD) in the hands of terrorists.
Now, a gentlemanly “C” might be sufficient to get you a credit for Western Civilization since 1920, but it hardly suffices for the government of a country already savaged and still targeted by religious psychopaths. We deserve better than this!
09 September 2008
The real reason Palin should not be elected!
By all rights I should be dead, and so should John McCain. Each of us has lived at least a decade longer than the actuarial tables projected for our sex, race, and years of birth as projected at our time of birth. He’s older than I, by some time, but those tables were there, for both of us. And both of us have lived fairly hard—his prison camp experience and bouts with cancer, and my multiple high-speed car crashes, motorcycle lay downs, bar fights, Marine Corps years, and just general ability and propensity to raise hell since I hit fourteen have taken a toll.
My point with all that is this: neither of us, McCain nor I, have any business investing in any long term projects requiring our continued presence and direct involvement. If we don’t die, at some point we’re going to have to take off our packs and blow a bit. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do think that healthy guys our ages (me more than him, since I'm younger) need to take on what we feel we can take on. But, by the same token, the reality is that our minds, and bodies, could go south on us a lot quicker than when we were fifty-something. And, again, neither of us are poster boys for good clean living. Oh yeah...the point! Right. In my case, life would go on, and with the exception of my absence, things would be as they were all along—not so with McCain, Palin would be handed the proverbial football.
That is the point, very specifically. Do we want Sarah Palin taking the 2:00 AM phone call with her hand on the switch? Not me. I really don't, and for good reason, which I'll come to shortly.
Please let’s just put aside the fact that she is a flippant, smartass, nitwit that reminds me of the lady who insists on checking my ID at the Quickee Mart (OK, I made that up). Really, she just reminds me of the lady that ran the school office in Junior High. Let’s put that aside—anyway, that woman got her payback when coach ran off with the librarian.
And let’s put aside the fact that she kited her expense reports. Hell, who hasn’t done that, at least to the extent of rounding up? Or maybe taken a pencil home, or some printing paper for a “work project”? And we can overlook her using the power of her office to sack some slob that wouldn’t get with the program in getting rid of her churlish brother-in-law. I mean after all, what good is power if you don’t flex out and use it from time-to-time?
And, really, we need to overlook her hard-shell, holy-roller approach to religion. Isn’t the ocean deep, and aren’t there many tributaries leading to it? If she thinks praying will “remove gayness”, that’s fine. It’s just stupidity on her part, and it’s not as though we never had stupidity in high office before. Some would tell you it is a prerequisite.
No, none of that, while sort of eye-raising, scares me about her having her hands on that proverbial football. What does give my heart a bit of a flutter, and causes my sphincter to tighten, are her utterances to the effect that the invasion and interminable occupation of Iraq is God’s work. And, even here, I’m putting aside the Christian view of what constitutes a “just war”. Again, ignorance accounts for her not knowing that. But, the notion, that any sane person would think that what has happened in Iraq is part of a “mission from God” really should be sufficient to give one considerable pause.
And, I'm not real confident we should put aside a consideration of how these words will affect our moderate Arab allies in the region who are already struggling to keep a lid on populations gathering in the streets shouting about our continued presence in the region.
Those issues can’t be put aside. That is a pretty significant signal that it just might not be the world’s best interest to hand-off the proverbial football to such a lunatic. And face it, that would be more likely to happen than not, if McCain were to be elected. I just don’t care to take the risk, the actuarial odds aren’t good on that one.
And having gotten this far, I'm really not expecting to cash in anytime soon. I just need to some time, in the next 5-years or so, to take off my pack, unsling my rifle and sit and blow a bit. So, I don't want some smartass, flippant, nitwit, expense-account abusing, power-mad idiot that reminds of my Junior High School office lady getting my butt blown up before that happens.
My point with all that is this: neither of us, McCain nor I, have any business investing in any long term projects requiring our continued presence and direct involvement. If we don’t die, at some point we’re going to have to take off our packs and blow a bit. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do think that healthy guys our ages (me more than him, since I'm younger) need to take on what we feel we can take on. But, by the same token, the reality is that our minds, and bodies, could go south on us a lot quicker than when we were fifty-something. And, again, neither of us are poster boys for good clean living. Oh yeah...the point! Right. In my case, life would go on, and with the exception of my absence, things would be as they were all along—not so with McCain, Palin would be handed the proverbial football.
That is the point, very specifically. Do we want Sarah Palin taking the 2:00 AM phone call with her hand on the switch? Not me. I really don't, and for good reason, which I'll come to shortly.
Please let’s just put aside the fact that she is a flippant, smartass, nitwit that reminds me of the lady who insists on checking my ID at the Quickee Mart (OK, I made that up). Really, she just reminds me of the lady that ran the school office in Junior High. Let’s put that aside—anyway, that woman got her payback when coach ran off with the librarian.
And let’s put aside the fact that she kited her expense reports. Hell, who hasn’t done that, at least to the extent of rounding up? Or maybe taken a pencil home, or some printing paper for a “work project”? And we can overlook her using the power of her office to sack some slob that wouldn’t get with the program in getting rid of her churlish brother-in-law. I mean after all, what good is power if you don’t flex out and use it from time-to-time?
And, really, we need to overlook her hard-shell, holy-roller approach to religion. Isn’t the ocean deep, and aren’t there many tributaries leading to it? If she thinks praying will “remove gayness”, that’s fine. It’s just stupidity on her part, and it’s not as though we never had stupidity in high office before. Some would tell you it is a prerequisite.
No, none of that, while sort of eye-raising, scares me about her having her hands on that proverbial football. What does give my heart a bit of a flutter, and causes my sphincter to tighten, are her utterances to the effect that the invasion and interminable occupation of Iraq is God’s work. And, even here, I’m putting aside the Christian view of what constitutes a “just war”. Again, ignorance accounts for her not knowing that. But, the notion, that any sane person would think that what has happened in Iraq is part of a “mission from God” really should be sufficient to give one considerable pause.
And, I'm not real confident we should put aside a consideration of how these words will affect our moderate Arab allies in the region who are already struggling to keep a lid on populations gathering in the streets shouting about our continued presence in the region.
Those issues can’t be put aside. That is a pretty significant signal that it just might not be the world’s best interest to hand-off the proverbial football to such a lunatic. And face it, that would be more likely to happen than not, if McCain were to be elected. I just don’t care to take the risk, the actuarial odds aren’t good on that one.
And having gotten this far, I'm really not expecting to cash in anytime soon. I just need to some time, in the next 5-years or so, to take off my pack, unsling my rifle and sit and blow a bit. So, I don't want some smartass, flippant, nitwit, expense-account abusing, power-mad idiot that reminds of my Junior High School office lady getting my butt blown up before that happens.
06 September 2008
The Experience Lie!
The big lie tactic worked well for Adolph Hitler and politicians have used variations of it since.
Here's how it working now, in the media and the internet. The right-wing repeats over and over that John McCain has experience, and Barack Obama doesn't, until it becomes a given. People accept it as truth without question.
Now, by extension, the right-wing noise-machine and its coven of screeching monkeys are also extolling the experience of Wasilla Alaska's most infamous holy-roller over that of Barack Obama. Oh really, now!
We can dispatch that rather quickly, and my caution to you is this. When you hear them cite Obama's lack of experience, be equipped to confront the lie with the facts--they just hate that!
Below, for easy printing and memorization or reprint in letters to the editor, a cheat sheet of chronology of Palin's and Obama's experience.
McCain? Hell that one is simple. His accomplishment is longevity, not achievement. Deadwood, so to speak.
In 1989 Obama was selected as an Editor of the Harvard Law Review based on his grades and a writing competition.
In 1990 Obama was elected President of the Law Review, editor-in-chief and supervising the law review's staff of 80 editors.
Obama graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991.
A summer Associate at the Chicago law firms of Sidley & Austin in 1989 and Hopkins & Sutter in 1990.
In 1991 was Awarded Fellowship at the University of Chicago Law School.
Published autobiography - Dreams from My Father in mid-1995.
From April to October 1992 Obama directed Illinois Project Vote, a voter registration drive with a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state.
Crain's Chicago Business names Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.
Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, as a Lecturer for four years (1992–1996), and as a Senior Lecturer for eight years (1996–2004).
In 1993 Obama joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development. An Associate for three years from 1993 to 1996, then Counsel from 1996 to 2004.
Obama was a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of Public Allies in 1992, non-profit organization dedicated to youth leadership development.
Obama served on the Board of Directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, a philanthropic organization devoted to poverty relief and the promotion of social mobility, founded in 1941 which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund Obama's DCP, from 1993–2002.
Obama served on the Board of Directors of The Joyce Foundation from 1994–2002, a charitable foundation based in Chicago with Assets of $986,172,775.00.
Obama served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge from 1995–2002, as founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1995–1999. A public-private partnership founded in 1995 with a focus to improve school performance.
Obama served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center.
Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996.
Obama reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, and again in 2002.
Unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000.
Obama announced his Campaign for the U.S. Senate in January 2003.
In January 2003, Obama became Chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.
In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history.
Obama was sworn in as US senator from Illinois on January 4, 2005.
Obama held Assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans' Affairs through December 2006.
In January 2007, Obama took additional Assignments with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Obama became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs.
2008 - Obama is currently the Junior United States Senator from Illinois.
SARAH PALIN
College #1 - Hawaii Pacific University a freshman during the fall of 1982.
College #2 - North Idaho College, a community college in Coeur d'Alene - A general studies major for two semesters, in spring 1983 and fall 1983.
College #3 - The University of Idaho from fall 1984 to spring 1985. ; majored in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast news.
In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla Pageant, then finished Second in the Miss Alaska pageant.
College #4 – Attended Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer, Alaska in fall 1985.
College #5 – University of Idaho; Spring 1986, Fall 1986 and Spring 1987.
In 1987 Sarah Graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism
In 1988, Sarah was a Sports Reporter for KTUU-TV in Anchorage, Alaska.
Palin served Two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council from 1992 to 1996.
Palin served Two terms as Mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002.
Unsuccessful campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska in 2002.
Palin Appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Chaired the Commission from 2003 to 2004.
November 2006, Palin was elected the Governor of Alaska.
04 September 2008
Osama Bin Laden - John McCain & Chicken Entrails
Reading the Chicken Entrails.
Obama has moved into a slight lead in Ohio.
Obama (D) 47 McCain (R) 45
Republicans went to Minnesota with high hopes of taking it into play. This is not a state that McCain wants to give up. Oooops!
Obama (D) 53 McCain (R) 41
And into the “Heartland”, Iowa
Obama (D) 55 McCain (R) 40
And, McCain still holds a 3-point lead in North Carolina, which keeps it in play. Obama holds a big lead in the first District of NM signaling that he will take that state.
Moving on. Remember the Taliban, those wonderful and wacky, funnily-dressed natives in Afghanistan, who provided aid, comfort, dancing girls, hookahs and cold drinks to Al Qaeda kingpin, Bin Laden, and his dour band of plotters prior to the September 11 attacks on America?
Sure, those guys. Yeah, yeah, I know, but Iraq, was really, really, really important for some reason, so we let them rebuild their power base, and replant their opium poppy fields to finance their nefarious rituals targeting just about everyone, including each other.
So we sort of let that pesky old cut-up Bin Laden off the hook, so to speak.
Well, John McCain has announced that he knows how to get Osama Bin Laden. “President Clinton had opportunities to get Osama bin Laden. President Bush had opportunities to get Osama bin Laden. I know how to do it and I'll do it," he told ABC's "World News" in an interview.
Great news there, John old chap. Since we’ve got good, solid, brave, young Americans dying over there, maybe you’d be generous enough to let the military in on it, so they could just go ahead and do it, and maybe help spare a few lives, or, heaven forefend, another attack here in the states. Do it now instead of posturing during a campaign—there’s no anchor on your butt holding you back!
What a load of cheap, self-serving BS.
We deserve better than this. I grant you we’ve been asleep at the wheel, and often vote for the wrong person, at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons, but despite that, we really do deserve better than this. Don’t we?
Obama has moved into a slight lead in Ohio.
Obama (D) 47 McCain (R) 45
Republicans went to Minnesota with high hopes of taking it into play. This is not a state that McCain wants to give up. Oooops!
Obama (D) 53 McCain (R) 41
And into the “Heartland”, Iowa
Obama (D) 55 McCain (R) 40
And, McCain still holds a 3-point lead in North Carolina, which keeps it in play. Obama holds a big lead in the first District of NM signaling that he will take that state.
Moving on. Remember the Taliban, those wonderful and wacky, funnily-dressed natives in Afghanistan, who provided aid, comfort, dancing girls, hookahs and cold drinks to Al Qaeda kingpin, Bin Laden, and his dour band of plotters prior to the September 11 attacks on America?
Sure, those guys. Yeah, yeah, I know, but Iraq, was really, really, really important for some reason, so we let them rebuild their power base, and replant their opium poppy fields to finance their nefarious rituals targeting just about everyone, including each other.
So we sort of let that pesky old cut-up Bin Laden off the hook, so to speak.
Well, John McCain has announced that he knows how to get Osama Bin Laden. “President Clinton had opportunities to get Osama bin Laden. President Bush had opportunities to get Osama bin Laden. I know how to do it and I'll do it," he told ABC's "World News" in an interview.
Great news there, John old chap. Since we’ve got good, solid, brave, young Americans dying over there, maybe you’d be generous enough to let the military in on it, so they could just go ahead and do it, and maybe help spare a few lives, or, heaven forefend, another attack here in the states. Do it now instead of posturing during a campaign—there’s no anchor on your butt holding you back!
What a load of cheap, self-serving BS.
We deserve better than this. I grant you we’ve been asleep at the wheel, and often vote for the wrong person, at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons, but despite that, we really do deserve better than this. Don’t we?
03 September 2008
Obama - McCain & Seniors!
The Alliance for Retired Americans filed this members report following the DNC, last Friday.
At a gathering that stressed unity, highly energized and impassioned delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver officially named Sen. Barack Obama their nominee for President of the United States. Ninety of the delegates in attendance were Alliance members.
In his acceptance speech, Sen. Obama slammed Sen. John McCain, saying his rival "doesn't get" the economic struggles and hardships faced by Americans. "How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?" Sen. Obama asked.
"Retirees are enormously pleased that Sen. Obama has chosen Sen.Joe Biden of Delaware as a running mate," added Alliance President George J. Kourpias. "Sen. Biden's lifetime 95% voting record on behalf of seniors is a wonderful complement to Sen.Obama's own 100% voting record." Mr. Kourpias addressed the Seniors Council at the convention on Wednesday, stressing the importance of retiree issues such as Social Security, Medicare, and prescription drugs during the election year.
"A retiree voting for John McCain is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders," Alliance Executive Vice President and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka told the meeting attendees. Also on Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi spoke at the Maryland delegation breakfast, advising delegates who hear of seniors who are undecided to tell them about Sen. McCain's voting record on Social Security and Medicare. While the delegates were meeting in Denver, Colorado Alliance leaders discussed their exciting plans to grow the Colorado Alliance at a Colorado Alliance Executive Board meeting with Mr. Kourpias and national Alliance Executive Director Edward F. Coyle.
And here is one of the ads that was awaiting McCain in Pennsylvania: Keep your mitts off my money!
You just do not want an angry senior on your case!
At a gathering that stressed unity, highly energized and impassioned delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver officially named Sen. Barack Obama their nominee for President of the United States. Ninety of the delegates in attendance were Alliance members.
In his acceptance speech, Sen. Obama slammed Sen. John McCain, saying his rival "doesn't get" the economic struggles and hardships faced by Americans. "How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?" Sen. Obama asked.
"Retirees are enormously pleased that Sen. Obama has chosen Sen.Joe Biden of Delaware as a running mate," added Alliance President George J. Kourpias. "Sen. Biden's lifetime 95% voting record on behalf of seniors is a wonderful complement to Sen.Obama's own 100% voting record." Mr. Kourpias addressed the Seniors Council at the convention on Wednesday, stressing the importance of retiree issues such as Social Security, Medicare, and prescription drugs during the election year.
"A retiree voting for John McCain is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders," Alliance Executive Vice President and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka told the meeting attendees. Also on Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi spoke at the Maryland delegation breakfast, advising delegates who hear of seniors who are undecided to tell them about Sen. McCain's voting record on Social Security and Medicare. While the delegates were meeting in Denver, Colorado Alliance leaders discussed their exciting plans to grow the Colorado Alliance at a Colorado Alliance Executive Board meeting with Mr. Kourpias and national Alliance Executive Director Edward F. Coyle.
And here is one of the ads that was awaiting McCain in Pennsylvania: Keep your mitts off my money!
You just do not want an angry senior on your case!
02 September 2008
Sarah Palin: Unfit mother and an unmitigated jerk!
OK, I’m going to clear something away right up front. I’m fixing to jump on Sarah Palin with both boots on. If you can’t handle that, don’t read this. OK?
First, let’s get the teenage pregnancy thing out of the way. There are few families in America that can’t lay claim to a bit of dysfunction from time-to-time. That’s not the problem. Ill-prepared, in-love, teenaged girls without the knowledge of and/or access to contraception is a cliché. In the best of families, etc, and, none of us have any right at all to second guess such a situation as to what was said, or not said to this kid. It happens, regardless! So, before anyone gets on their self-righteous, high-horse about that issue, just standby a minute will you?
But, there is a problem. It is cynical, disingenuous, and hypocritical for the McCain/Palin team to take the position that somehow or another, this is not an issue for discussion. Here’s why.
McCain and this child-having-a-child’s mother knew from the outset that the girl was pregnant. They knew that a 17-year old sporting a “baby-bump” would draw attention, but they went ahead and put the child out on the national platform with her family as part of a pretty picture of the “perfect” conservative Christian family. They had to know that this 17-year-old girl’s privacy, and, most precious and intimate secrets, would be become the stuff of international news and gossip—and they went ahead, black-hearted hypocrites that they are, and exposed this child to this. What could the mother have been thinking? Well, I suspect we know the answer to that one, don't we.
I don’t know about you, but, I would not have done that to one of my children, for any office.
Sarah Palin is not naive, very stupid sure, but not naive. She knew to what she was exposing her daughter, and I think that is reprehensible and disgusting. The kid deserved a whole lot better.
But having done the unthinkable, Palin is now posturing as the perfect supportive mom, “We’ll see her through this”. Well no kidding mom, isn’t that what moms are supposed to do, stand by their kids in times of difficulty? No props there kiddo, you’re just doing your job. So shut up already. You’re not at all remarkable. You are a genius at picking low-hanging fruit and then claiming to be a great harvester.
I guess even that doesn’t disqualify Palin from consideration as vice-president. Being a lousy mom, phony, and an unmitigated idiot doesn’t rise to that level. We’ve had our fair share of phonies, lousy parents, and idiots in the office in the past, she would be no exception.
But, here’s a laundry list of reasons why she is not worthy of the position:
She announced to her Pentecostal congregation that “our leaders are doing God’s work” by invading and occupying Iraq...or as she says it, “Eye-Rack”. I’m certain our Muslim allies in the region would be enthralled with that worldview.
Turns out that "troopergate" isn't the first time she has fired subordinates for not following through on illegal orders. When she was mayor of the tiny hamlet of Wasilla, she fired the police chief and Library Director for not supporting her in the 1996 election, and nearly faced recall in 1997 over the scandal. A court later ruled that the firing of the police chief was legal, not because the reasons were ethical, but because in Alaska a mayor does not need a reason to fire a police chief.
She lied about rejecting funding for the "bridge to nowhere" during her introduction in Dayton, in fact she lobbied extensively in favor of it and was bitterly opposed to the ending of the project.
And although she describes her husband as a "commercial fisherman", his actual employment is as a supervisor for oil giant BP. Todd Palin took a leave from that job in 2007 while Gov. Palin was negotiating a gas pipeline project involving BP, but returned 7 months later. He did not take any leave while his wife was a member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
As first gentleman of Alaska Todd Palin often sits in on cabinet meetings involving the oil industry.Meanwhile the Palin administration is claiming executive privilege to prevent emails sent to Todd Palin from being released that are related to the Gas Pipeline project.And then there is yet another public employee who was fired without official reason, but who had gotten on the bad side of Todd Palin for dating the soon to be ex-wife of a buddy of the first gentleman.
Oh ... and she doesn't know much about history:
Question: Are you offended by the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.
Hint, that phrase wasn't added to the pledge until sometime in the mid to late fifties! And sine the "founders" didn't include the "pledge" in the constitution, I think it's clear they no desire for such!
Maybe she learned her history from "creation history" experts.
And then there’s the $27-million in federal “earmark” projects money she glommed on to for her 6,000 population Alaskan village while mayor. Some reformer, huh?
Every day two new Palin scandals surface. I don't think it is possible there was any real vetting process in the McCain VP selection. Or maybe, it’s as I said earlier, John Kerry helped out his old buddy McCain and did the vetting for him. rotflmao
First, let’s get the teenage pregnancy thing out of the way. There are few families in America that can’t lay claim to a bit of dysfunction from time-to-time. That’s not the problem. Ill-prepared, in-love, teenaged girls without the knowledge of and/or access to contraception is a cliché. In the best of families, etc, and, none of us have any right at all to second guess such a situation as to what was said, or not said to this kid. It happens, regardless! So, before anyone gets on their self-righteous, high-horse about that issue, just standby a minute will you?
But, there is a problem. It is cynical, disingenuous, and hypocritical for the McCain/Palin team to take the position that somehow or another, this is not an issue for discussion. Here’s why.
McCain and this child-having-a-child’s mother knew from the outset that the girl was pregnant. They knew that a 17-year old sporting a “baby-bump” would draw attention, but they went ahead and put the child out on the national platform with her family as part of a pretty picture of the “perfect” conservative Christian family. They had to know that this 17-year-old girl’s privacy, and, most precious and intimate secrets, would be become the stuff of international news and gossip—and they went ahead, black-hearted hypocrites that they are, and exposed this child to this. What could the mother have been thinking? Well, I suspect we know the answer to that one, don't we.
I don’t know about you, but, I would not have done that to one of my children, for any office.
Sarah Palin is not naive, very stupid sure, but not naive. She knew to what she was exposing her daughter, and I think that is reprehensible and disgusting. The kid deserved a whole lot better.
But having done the unthinkable, Palin is now posturing as the perfect supportive mom, “We’ll see her through this”. Well no kidding mom, isn’t that what moms are supposed to do, stand by their kids in times of difficulty? No props there kiddo, you’re just doing your job. So shut up already. You’re not at all remarkable. You are a genius at picking low-hanging fruit and then claiming to be a great harvester.
I guess even that doesn’t disqualify Palin from consideration as vice-president. Being a lousy mom, phony, and an unmitigated idiot doesn’t rise to that level. We’ve had our fair share of phonies, lousy parents, and idiots in the office in the past, she would be no exception.
But, here’s a laundry list of reasons why she is not worthy of the position:
She announced to her Pentecostal congregation that “our leaders are doing God’s work” by invading and occupying Iraq...or as she says it, “Eye-Rack”. I’m certain our Muslim allies in the region would be enthralled with that worldview.
Turns out that "troopergate" isn't the first time she has fired subordinates for not following through on illegal orders. When she was mayor of the tiny hamlet of Wasilla, she fired the police chief and Library Director for not supporting her in the 1996 election, and nearly faced recall in 1997 over the scandal. A court later ruled that the firing of the police chief was legal, not because the reasons were ethical, but because in Alaska a mayor does not need a reason to fire a police chief.
She lied about rejecting funding for the "bridge to nowhere" during her introduction in Dayton, in fact she lobbied extensively in favor of it and was bitterly opposed to the ending of the project.
And although she describes her husband as a "commercial fisherman", his actual employment is as a supervisor for oil giant BP. Todd Palin took a leave from that job in 2007 while Gov. Palin was negotiating a gas pipeline project involving BP, but returned 7 months later. He did not take any leave while his wife was a member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
As first gentleman of Alaska Todd Palin often sits in on cabinet meetings involving the oil industry.Meanwhile the Palin administration is claiming executive privilege to prevent emails sent to Todd Palin from being released that are related to the Gas Pipeline project.And then there is yet another public employee who was fired without official reason, but who had gotten on the bad side of Todd Palin for dating the soon to be ex-wife of a buddy of the first gentleman.
Oh ... and she doesn't know much about history:
Question: Are you offended by the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.
Hint, that phrase wasn't added to the pledge until sometime in the mid to late fifties! And sine the "founders" didn't include the "pledge" in the constitution, I think it's clear they no desire for such!
Maybe she learned her history from "creation history" experts.
And then there’s the $27-million in federal “earmark” projects money she glommed on to for her 6,000 population Alaskan village while mayor. Some reformer, huh?
Every day two new Palin scandals surface. I don't think it is possible there was any real vetting process in the McCain VP selection. Or maybe, it’s as I said earlier, John Kerry helped out his old buddy McCain and did the vetting for him. rotflmao
01 September 2008
Labor Day - Bad news for Labor!
This Labor Day does not commemorate gains or, for that matter, good news for those of us who labor. Over the last year, unemployment and those discouraged from seeking work, or those in jobs carrying the label of underemployed, has increased by 25%, according to a new study by the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations
Workers are in worse shape than they have been for years. The creator of the report, Professor Douglas Kruse, a labor economist, says the sharp decline in Americans able to find full-time jobs along with growing consumer debt and health care costs are cause for tremendous concern.
The report projects that more than 10% of Americans are out of work, underemployed (flipping burgers or greeting at Wally-World), or despairing of being able to find any work at all. Couple this with another wire report, this weekend news cycle, projecting a 10% increase in health care costs next year and one sees that Professor Kruse’s concern is well placed.
The report also lists some other dismal findings:
- 530,000 were subject to mass layoffs last year, reflecting a growth of nearly 5%
- The median average weekly earnings for American workers has not grown in real terms over the last eight years.
- The federal minimum wage, at $6.55, is worth 40-cents less per hour, in inflation-adjusted dollars than it was a decade ago.
- Only 25% of the workforce has access to employer-assisted wellness and child-care programs.
- Nearly 4% of the workforce working part-time do so only because there are no full-time jobs to be found.
In 1893, more than a century ago, Samuel Gompers, replied this way when asked, “What does labor want?”
“We want more school houses and less jails: more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more constant work and less crime; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful and childhood more happy and bright”
Now, 115-years later, we still yearn for the same things. But, despite our yearnings for justice, fair wages, transparent elections, and freedom from want, disease, poverty and crime we find ourselves in engaged daily struggles to survive the effects of rapacious oil companies, greedy HMOs and giant insurance companies, declining real-wages, unemployment, unsafe food-stuffs, deadly toys and pet foods, foreclosures, inflation, loss of basic personal freedom and privacy, and we weep as the lives of some of our very best men and women are taken away from us in the occupation of Iraq.
We’ve watched as our politicized public schools deteriorate into police-patrolled, drug and violence infested microcosms of our neighborhoods, and as the international corporations wage war on unions, safety regulations and worker’s rights. We’ve watched for thirty years as the Republican neo-conservative policy makers and neo-liberal economists have attempted to deconstruct the New Deal and take down the safety nets protecting from poverty the poorest and most vulnerable among us; the elderly, the poor, the disabled, the blind, the widows, and the orphans.
Now, we are bearing witness to the effects of the cabal of reactionary right-wing politicians, whacked-out religious fundamentalists masquerading as Christians, and opportunistic mendicants, sociopaths, and white-collar felons attempt to destroy what little is left of the America we respect and love after having stolen two national elections. Their efforts are not pro-American. They are not patriotic. They are anti-American and unpatriotic. They are degenerate and obscenely criminal.
Those things which Gompers cited are not extraordinary. They are not unobtainable. They are not pie-in-the-sky. They are not Utopian dreaming. They are the essential human rights and basic aspirations of all persons. Those who would deny them to us are the enemy. They are the descendants of the industrialists, the scabs, and the gun-thugs of Gompers' time. As much as time goes by and brings about change, some things change not at all.
We must do as was done then, Educate, Organize and Mobilize in order to fight for, and achieve, and hold on to, those basic human rights which Samuel Gompers so eloquently iterated over 100-years ago.
I leave you with this thought: We all warm our hands at fires which were built by those who came before us, and we all drank from wells that were dug by others. We all, each of us, you and I, have a moral obligation to keep those fires burning brightly and those wells flowing!
29 August 2008
Palin? This can't be for real!
This just can’t be happening. Not really. It has to be one of those weird dream deals where you wake up in the morning and wish you’d written it down while you were dreaming. Except there’s no notebook on the nightstand, and you didn’t really dream it, you just dreamed that you dreamed it. You know. It happens to all of us at least once, and it’s ten times worse than Deja Vu.
You know what I mean. It’s like one of those dreams you have if you eat about ten strawberry blintzes and wash them down with Southern Comfort. Not a nightmare, but not making one damned bit of sense either.
Yep, you guessed it. Sarah Palin, McCain’s choice for the “one-heartbeat-away” from the leadership of the free world position. Sara Palin, you’ve heard of her, right? Right? Aw, c’mon, you have heard of her, haven’t you?
No? Here’s why. She’s a towering monument to mediocrity and nothingness.
She’s a former beauty queen and mayor of 5400 total population, Dogsquat, Alaska, and now Governor of Alaska, total population 670,000. Listen here, folks. There are twenty cities, including Charlotte, even when the cars ain’t racing each other, in this nation of ours with more population than the entire state of Alaska.
But, to be fair, she has a claim to fame, other than once having been Miss Congeniality. She ran against other Republicans on ethics issues. Talk about picking low hanging fruit. Republicans, ethics, Alaska, Ted Stevens, Bridge to Nowhere: No-brainer there. Oh yeah. She did once sell an airplane on eBay. Big whoop.
You just have to ask yourself, what in the name of living hell are they thinking. Like this gal will appeal to disillusioned Clinton voters. Oh sure she will. They will really go for her anti-abortion, anti-equal rights, anti-equal pay stances and rhetoric. Those are just the things that bind together those disgruntled Hillary supporters.
But, let’s take ourselves back to this ethics thing. It seems that Madam Governor has her own problems brewing. She helped her sister out during a very messy divorce and custody war by asking the state commissioner of public safety to fire her sister’s state trooper ex-husband. He refused, so she fired him! It was so ugly, that the Republican legislature has retained an independent legal expert to investigate an “abuse of power” in the case.
Pinch me, now damn it. I gotta be dreaming. And, it can’t be what I ate, you can’t find a decent blintz in Texas—jalapeño poppers yeah, but no blintzes. And, I lay off the liquor a good twenty-five years ago.
Is this the best they can come up with to burnish McCain’s conservative credentials? I guess it is. It seems representative of their characteristics. But, tell me, what are they thinking? No wait, I don’t want to know that, but, do this, try to imagine what the Vice Presidential debates are going to be like: Biden, “I have more than thirty years of foreign policy and domestic experience. Palin, “Well before we ran him out of the family, I, and my brother-in-law, once shooed a Polar Bear out of Skagway.”
Sweet dreams.
You know what I mean. It’s like one of those dreams you have if you eat about ten strawberry blintzes and wash them down with Southern Comfort. Not a nightmare, but not making one damned bit of sense either.
Yep, you guessed it. Sarah Palin, McCain’s choice for the “one-heartbeat-away” from the leadership of the free world position. Sara Palin, you’ve heard of her, right? Right? Aw, c’mon, you have heard of her, haven’t you?
No? Here’s why. She’s a towering monument to mediocrity and nothingness.
She’s a former beauty queen and mayor of 5400 total population, Dogsquat, Alaska, and now Governor of Alaska, total population 670,000. Listen here, folks. There are twenty cities, including Charlotte, even when the cars ain’t racing each other, in this nation of ours with more population than the entire state of Alaska.
But, to be fair, she has a claim to fame, other than once having been Miss Congeniality. She ran against other Republicans on ethics issues. Talk about picking low hanging fruit. Republicans, ethics, Alaska, Ted Stevens, Bridge to Nowhere: No-brainer there. Oh yeah. She did once sell an airplane on eBay. Big whoop.
You just have to ask yourself, what in the name of living hell are they thinking. Like this gal will appeal to disillusioned Clinton voters. Oh sure she will. They will really go for her anti-abortion, anti-equal rights, anti-equal pay stances and rhetoric. Those are just the things that bind together those disgruntled Hillary supporters.
But, let’s take ourselves back to this ethics thing. It seems that Madam Governor has her own problems brewing. She helped her sister out during a very messy divorce and custody war by asking the state commissioner of public safety to fire her sister’s state trooper ex-husband. He refused, so she fired him! It was so ugly, that the Republican legislature has retained an independent legal expert to investigate an “abuse of power” in the case.
Pinch me, now damn it. I gotta be dreaming. And, it can’t be what I ate, you can’t find a decent blintz in Texas—jalapeño poppers yeah, but no blintzes. And, I lay off the liquor a good twenty-five years ago.
Is this the best they can come up with to burnish McCain’s conservative credentials? I guess it is. It seems representative of their characteristics. But, tell me, what are they thinking? No wait, I don’t want to know that, but, do this, try to imagine what the Vice Presidential debates are going to be like: Biden, “I have more than thirty years of foreign policy and domestic experience. Palin, “Well before we ran him out of the family, I, and my brother-in-law, once shooed a Polar Bear out of Skagway.”
Sweet dreams.
28 August 2008
Hillary's Beau Geste!
Sometimes in this media driven age of ours, where every pilot is a "television event", we get caught up in moments where we sense something “bigger than life” has happened, and we engage in some form of hyperbole to describe something as being bigger than it really was. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is normal. We all want to be a part of something larger than ourselves, something that makes us unique and takes us beyond the routine of daily existence.
For weeks the online forums and right–wing screech-monkeys of TV and Radio talk-shows have had slobber drooling down their chins as they gleefully postulated how Hillary and Bill would yank the rug out from under Obama. How Hillary would send subtle signals to the faithful that they should wait until 2012, and that Bill would deliver some sort of "by-the-numbers" tepid speech and then leave the hall.
Right! What I saw, was several honest-to-goodness, bigger-than-life, defining moments of history. The moment that Hillary called for nomination by acclamation, I knew I was witnessing a moment for posterity. There are words for that moment. French words, actually, which really do not translate into English with the full import of their meaning: “Beau Geste, a "beautiful gesture". But, oh so much more, it was a gesture of courage, of hope, of spirit, and of transcendent political beauty, unity and loyalty for the future good of all. A Beau Geste.
And Bill’s speech. Dang, the boy’s a hound, but probably the best president in my lifetime. The man has an unmatched ability to make you feel that he is with you and on your side.
And, here’re two of the best lines from the convention, so far. Both are unparalleled zingers!
Remember Ann Richards when she accused Daddy Bush of being born on third base and believing he’d hit a triple? Well, Ohio Governor, Ted Strickland gave us the corollary to the joke. He said, "When Bill Clinton left office leaving 22-million new jobs and a budget surplus, Dubya came into office on third base, and immediately stole second! And John McCain cheered him every step of the way."
And Speaking of McCain, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, said that, "The nation can’t meet its energy needs merely by drilling for oil even if we drilled in every one of McCain’s Backyards."
Yep, thems my kind of folks, each and every one of them.
For weeks the online forums and right–wing screech-monkeys of TV and Radio talk-shows have had slobber drooling down their chins as they gleefully postulated how Hillary and Bill would yank the rug out from under Obama. How Hillary would send subtle signals to the faithful that they should wait until 2012, and that Bill would deliver some sort of "by-the-numbers" tepid speech and then leave the hall.
Right! What I saw, was several honest-to-goodness, bigger-than-life, defining moments of history. The moment that Hillary called for nomination by acclamation, I knew I was witnessing a moment for posterity. There are words for that moment. French words, actually, which really do not translate into English with the full import of their meaning: “Beau Geste, a "beautiful gesture". But, oh so much more, it was a gesture of courage, of hope, of spirit, and of transcendent political beauty, unity and loyalty for the future good of all. A Beau Geste.
And Bill’s speech. Dang, the boy’s a hound, but probably the best president in my lifetime. The man has an unmatched ability to make you feel that he is with you and on your side.
And, here’re two of the best lines from the convention, so far. Both are unparalleled zingers!
Remember Ann Richards when she accused Daddy Bush of being born on third base and believing he’d hit a triple? Well, Ohio Governor, Ted Strickland gave us the corollary to the joke. He said, "When Bill Clinton left office leaving 22-million new jobs and a budget surplus, Dubya came into office on third base, and immediately stole second! And John McCain cheered him every step of the way."
And Speaking of McCain, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, said that, "The nation can’t meet its energy needs merely by drilling for oil even if we drilled in every one of McCain’s Backyards."
Yep, thems my kind of folks, each and every one of them.
27 August 2008
20 August 2008
Broken Health Care - Noriega Offers Fix!
OK, I'm violating one of my cardinal rules about posting something published elsewhere. But, since it was sent to me by the Noriega campaign, and because I think it should be read by as many people as possible, I'm doing it. So, report me to the administrator of this blog--right!
Rick Noriega: How to repair broken health care system
12:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Rick Noriega, a Democrat who has represented his Houston district in the Texas House since 1999, is running for the U.S. Senate. He may be contacted through info@ricknoriega.com.
Many issues deserve the attention of our elected officials, but few directly affect the lives of Texans like health care. We must all unite around the goal of accessible, affordable health care for every Texas family. Families in this state are facing a health care crisis because Washington isn't looking out for them. Sen. John Cornyn recently said he thinks Texas is a national model for an effective health care system. However, our state has the nation's highest rate of individuals without health insurance. We can and must do better.
My health plan will protect Texas children, lower costs to employers and individuals, and reform the inefficient, failing status quo.
In Texas, over 20 percent of children are not covered by health insurance. But while Texas has the highest number of uninsured children in the country, Mr. Cornyn voted six times against expanding health insurance coverage for Texas kids.
My health care plan reflects my long-time advocacy of expanding coverage to children. As a state representative, I helped increase coverage to more than 500,000 children, sponsored legislation that eliminated bureaucratic 90-day waiting lists, and led efforts to allow families to deduct child care costs while the state determined their eligibility status.
Our current approach is unacceptable – every child should be able to go to the doctor whenever needed. That's why my plan calls for an expansion of the children's health insurance program to provide coverage for all Texas children. My plan also will improve health security and options for all Texans. According to analysis of census data by Families USA, 45 percent of state residents are uninsured for at least part of the year.
That's why I've proposed creating an "insurance connector" to link Texans with insurance plans that are suitable for their needs. The federal government would negotiate with private insurers to provide options for all Americans. Texans who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, but still can't afford health insurance, would receive a discount based on a sliding income scale. This innovation will use the strengths of the competitive marketplace to cut costs and improve access.
My proposal also focuses on affordability. We cannot continue to allow health insurance companies to inflate premiums and reap unprecedented profits. Between 2000 and 2006, family health premiums increased by nearly 80 percent. I will push for wider adoption of electronic medical records to cut down on inefficiency and an increased emphasis on preventive health efforts. My plan also helps small businesses deal with the costs of health care, through targeted tax credits to incentivize coverage.
Finally, we need to build transparency and accountability into our currently broken and needlessly complex system by giving Texans more information about physician ratings and how their premiums and health benefit expenses are calculated.
My opponent thinks tort reform is the answer to our health care woes. Indeed, his campaign specifically claimed that Proposition 12 has succeeded in providing health care services in under-served areas and improving access in others. But that claim simply isn't supported by the facts. Doctors moving to Texas because of lower insurance rates have overwhelmingly chosen urban areas, not rural or under-served areas, a fact that undermines one of the strongest arguments for Proposition 12 – expansion of access. According to Texas Watch, under-served areas remain under-served.
Texans deserve a health care system that works for them – not for Big Insurance and the Washington lobbyists. Texans deserve real health care security for their families, lowered costs for employers, and more transparency and accountability than our current system provides.
Rick Noriega, a Democrat who has represented his Houston district in the Texas House since 1999, is running for the U.S. Senate. He may be contacted through; info@ricknoriega.com
Rick Noriega: How to repair broken health care system
12:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Rick Noriega, a Democrat who has represented his Houston district in the Texas House since 1999, is running for the U.S. Senate. He may be contacted through info@ricknoriega.com.
Many issues deserve the attention of our elected officials, but few directly affect the lives of Texans like health care. We must all unite around the goal of accessible, affordable health care for every Texas family. Families in this state are facing a health care crisis because Washington isn't looking out for them. Sen. John Cornyn recently said he thinks Texas is a national model for an effective health care system. However, our state has the nation's highest rate of individuals without health insurance. We can and must do better.
My health plan will protect Texas children, lower costs to employers and individuals, and reform the inefficient, failing status quo.
In Texas, over 20 percent of children are not covered by health insurance. But while Texas has the highest number of uninsured children in the country, Mr. Cornyn voted six times against expanding health insurance coverage for Texas kids.
My health care plan reflects my long-time advocacy of expanding coverage to children. As a state representative, I helped increase coverage to more than 500,000 children, sponsored legislation that eliminated bureaucratic 90-day waiting lists, and led efforts to allow families to deduct child care costs while the state determined their eligibility status.
Our current approach is unacceptable – every child should be able to go to the doctor whenever needed. That's why my plan calls for an expansion of the children's health insurance program to provide coverage for all Texas children. My plan also will improve health security and options for all Texans. According to analysis of census data by Families USA, 45 percent of state residents are uninsured for at least part of the year.
That's why I've proposed creating an "insurance connector" to link Texans with insurance plans that are suitable for their needs. The federal government would negotiate with private insurers to provide options for all Americans. Texans who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, but still can't afford health insurance, would receive a discount based on a sliding income scale. This innovation will use the strengths of the competitive marketplace to cut costs and improve access.
My proposal also focuses on affordability. We cannot continue to allow health insurance companies to inflate premiums and reap unprecedented profits. Between 2000 and 2006, family health premiums increased by nearly 80 percent. I will push for wider adoption of electronic medical records to cut down on inefficiency and an increased emphasis on preventive health efforts. My plan also helps small businesses deal with the costs of health care, through targeted tax credits to incentivize coverage.
Finally, we need to build transparency and accountability into our currently broken and needlessly complex system by giving Texans more information about physician ratings and how their premiums and health benefit expenses are calculated.
My opponent thinks tort reform is the answer to our health care woes. Indeed, his campaign specifically claimed that Proposition 12 has succeeded in providing health care services in under-served areas and improving access in others. But that claim simply isn't supported by the facts. Doctors moving to Texas because of lower insurance rates have overwhelmingly chosen urban areas, not rural or under-served areas, a fact that undermines one of the strongest arguments for Proposition 12 – expansion of access. According to Texas Watch, under-served areas remain under-served.
Texans deserve a health care system that works for them – not for Big Insurance and the Washington lobbyists. Texans deserve real health care security for their families, lowered costs for employers, and more transparency and accountability than our current system provides.
Rick Noriega, a Democrat who has represented his Houston district in the Texas House since 1999, is running for the U.S. Senate. He may be contacted through; info@ricknoriega.com
15 August 2008
HIDE YOUR VALUABLES - Rove is coming!
OMIG! Quick! Gather up the silverware and great-grandma’s gold jewelry, your wedding bands, and anything else you treasure and get them buried out behind the barn. Hide your daughters and wife in the basement, board up the windows, and if you have a half-way decent bass boat you might want to think about putting it in storage. And, I’d for sure, put any decent dog that you care about into boarding for a while.
And “git ‘er done” before Monday
How come?
Well, here’s how come. Unindicted felon, notorious scofflaw, subpoena evading, serial self-abuser, and Bush lickspittle, Karl Rove, is heading to Texas to try to con some money out of folks to assist the campaign of the dry-drunk sociopath’s prime Senatorial enabler, John "Crony" Cornyn.
You know Cornyn, the one who has voted wrong on every single measure coming up in the U.S. Senate which affected seniors and working families. That John Cornyn. The one who voted against the recent Medicare bill until the Texas Medical Association and outraged seniors dope-slapped him into reality, and a later affirmative vote. One wonders, which scared him the most, the lost endorsement of one of the State’s most important lobbies or the sight of angry little old dames in tennis shoes heading his way. Hell, the big money boys over at the doctor lobby? You just take them up to the Petroleum Club and ply them with some Wild Turkey and pro-football cheerleaders, and you’re good to go. But, you just do not want a whole lot of angry seniors on your case.
According to Rick Noriega’s Communication Director, Martine Apodaca, this is an indicator that Crony Cornyn's campaign is getting worried, when they go to the extraordinary measure of calling in the very unpopular Bush’s top political hit man for help.
Of course Bush and Rove have big reasons to help out their crony, Cornyn. The Noriega campaign quotes the Texas Observer in citing:
Crony Cornyn voted with Bush 96% of the time during his first four years in the Senate, and 90% thereafter.
Crony Cornyn backed Bush on every vote relating to the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Crony Cornyn used his seat on the Senate Armed Forces Committee to attempt to block and investigation into the torture and abuses at Abu Ghraib.
Crony Cornyn was one of only nine senators, all Republicans, who stood with Bush, and voted against John McCain’s amendment to ban cruel and inhumane treatment of terrorism suspects.
The issue is clear. Crony Cornyn has supported and enabled our dry-drunk, sociopathic president more than any other person. And now, on the run from subpoenas, hit man Rove is coming to a fundraiser in El Paso on Monday.
Norriega is calling on supporters to send Rove a message before he sneaks into town. He asking you to click on this link to send a donation, before Rove gets here.
http://www.ricknoriega.com/karlroveiscoming
14 August 2008
Happy Birthday Social Security!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOCIAL SECURITY
President Franklin Roosevelt signed your birth certificate 73 years ago.
Thank you
- For providing lifelong protection for retirees, the disabled, surviving spouses, and orphans.
- You offer peace of mind to both retirees and today's workers in a rapidly changing world.
- You've stayed inflation proof and are the sole income of 22% of all seniors.
- Without you, 40% of seniors would fall below the poverty line.
- Just as in the past, Social Security will require some bipartisan fixes in the coming years; however, there is no rush, and privatization is not the answer.
Why don't you do the same, they'll appreciate it! Tell 'em the Alliance sent you.
12 August 2008
"What Did I Do Wrong?", 99-Years Old & Evicted!
Yesterday during the course of my evening drive home from work, I heard the story on NPR of a frail, (80-pound), and terribly confused and devastated 99-year old who is being evicted from her assisted living home of the past 10-years.
How could this be? You ask.
Here’s how.
After a lifetime of doing things the right way and saving $350,000, Cordelia Robertson, at age 89 entered into an assisted living facility near Seattle, Washington operated by Assisted Living Concepts. Her son says the company promised him that if her money ran out (the industry phrase is “spend out”), she could use Medicaid.
The company does not dispute that this was their policy at the time, but now says the policy has been changed. Last May, the month that Cordelia turned 99, and after her life savings were depleted, Assisted Living Concepts sued her to get her to leave. Cordelia is not alone.
Assisted living offers a comfortable alternative to nursing homes with private apartments and a staff providing cooking and cleaning for older people who are able to maintain that level of self-sufficiency. They need assistance, but not constant attendance. The industry is booming, but, it is also purging resident’s who deplete their savings and move into Medicaid. Even after a "front-end" agreement to accept Medicaid once the resident's savings and ability to pay the full rate is gone.
Assisted Living Concepts operates assisted care facilities in 20 states, including Texas, with about 1800 current Medicaid residents. According to company CEO, Laurie Belo, the company filed for bankruptcy twice in the 1990s. Belo told interviewers from ElderLawAnswers that the company is moving toward serving only private-pay residents in order to avoid future bankruptcy.
The fact emerges, however, that even with Medicaid recipients in its facilities, Assisted Living Concepts earned 24% more in the fourth quarter of 2007 than for the same period in 2006. The Assisted Living Concepts purge of elderly Medicaid recipients was begun in April 2007.
No one suggests that such facilities operate as charities, but it is obvious that they can operate at a respectable profit margin while maintaining a certain percentage of Medicaid residents. In fact, when applying for its license to operate in New Jersey, according to the NPR story, Assisted Livings Concepts promised to provide for up to 30 percent of its residents in that state being on Medicaid.
It did not meet that commitment and state agencies are investigating.
One would have to read a lot of Dickens in order to find as loathesome a villain. Indeed, I doubt that one could. It is a ghastly cynical business to deplete a person’s life savings, and then disrupt their few remaining days by evicting them from the home they’ve known for ten years; leaving them frightened and confused, and begging of their families for an explanation of, “what did I do wrong?”.
Obviously, the wrongness does not lie with Cordelia and other elderly men and women who are being thrown out of their assisted living apartments. The wrongness lies with an industry which reneges on its promises and put profits before honesty and humanity. And, ultimately, the wrongness lies with public policies and governmental agencies which fail to provide realistic standards and oversight to regulate and rein in this growing industry.
I find it just another indicator of how poorly prepared we are for the full social and economic impact of the “baby boom bubble”.
How could this be? You ask.
Here’s how.
After a lifetime of doing things the right way and saving $350,000, Cordelia Robertson, at age 89 entered into an assisted living facility near Seattle, Washington operated by Assisted Living Concepts. Her son says the company promised him that if her money ran out (the industry phrase is “spend out”), she could use Medicaid.
The company does not dispute that this was their policy at the time, but now says the policy has been changed. Last May, the month that Cordelia turned 99, and after her life savings were depleted, Assisted Living Concepts sued her to get her to leave. Cordelia is not alone.
Assisted living offers a comfortable alternative to nursing homes with private apartments and a staff providing cooking and cleaning for older people who are able to maintain that level of self-sufficiency. They need assistance, but not constant attendance. The industry is booming, but, it is also purging resident’s who deplete their savings and move into Medicaid. Even after a "front-end" agreement to accept Medicaid once the resident's savings and ability to pay the full rate is gone.
Assisted Living Concepts operates assisted care facilities in 20 states, including Texas, with about 1800 current Medicaid residents. According to company CEO, Laurie Belo, the company filed for bankruptcy twice in the 1990s. Belo told interviewers from ElderLawAnswers that the company is moving toward serving only private-pay residents in order to avoid future bankruptcy.
The fact emerges, however, that even with Medicaid recipients in its facilities, Assisted Living Concepts earned 24% more in the fourth quarter of 2007 than for the same period in 2006. The Assisted Living Concepts purge of elderly Medicaid recipients was begun in April 2007.
No one suggests that such facilities operate as charities, but it is obvious that they can operate at a respectable profit margin while maintaining a certain percentage of Medicaid residents. In fact, when applying for its license to operate in New Jersey, according to the NPR story, Assisted Livings Concepts promised to provide for up to 30 percent of its residents in that state being on Medicaid.
It did not meet that commitment and state agencies are investigating.
One would have to read a lot of Dickens in order to find as loathesome a villain. Indeed, I doubt that one could. It is a ghastly cynical business to deplete a person’s life savings, and then disrupt their few remaining days by evicting them from the home they’ve known for ten years; leaving them frightened and confused, and begging of their families for an explanation of, “what did I do wrong?”.
Obviously, the wrongness does not lie with Cordelia and other elderly men and women who are being thrown out of their assisted living apartments. The wrongness lies with an industry which reneges on its promises and put profits before honesty and humanity. And, ultimately, the wrongness lies with public policies and governmental agencies which fail to provide realistic standards and oversight to regulate and rein in this growing industry.
I find it just another indicator of how poorly prepared we are for the full social and economic impact of the “baby boom bubble”.
11 August 2008
The 2008 Democratic Platform & Seniors
There are some planks in the 2008 Democratic National Platform, that should be of extreme interest to seniors and boomers. Most we've discussed here: Social Security,Medicare,Long-term care, and safe, secure and dignified retirements and old age.
Let’s jump first to page 45.
“We will protect and strengthen Medicare by cutting costs, protecting seniors from fraud, and fixing Medicare’s prescription drug program. We’ll repeal the prohibition on negotiating prescription drug prices, ban drug companies from paying generic producers to refrain from entering drug markets and eliminate drug company interference with genetic competition—and dedicate all of the savings from those measures towards closing the donut hole. (What’s the donut hole, ask any senior with Medicare D, they’ll be delighted to raise your awareness) We will end special preferences for insurance companies and private plans like Medicare Advantage to force them to compete on a level playing field.”
"We will take steps to ensure that our seniors have meaningful long-term care options that are consistent with their individual needs, including the option of home care. We believe that we must give caregivers a fair wage and train more nurses and health care workers so as to improve the availability and quality of long-term care. We must reform the financing of long-term care to ease the burden on seniors and their families. We will safeguard social security, we will develop new retirement plans and pension protections that will give Americans a secure, portable way to pay for retirement. We will ensure a safe and dignified retirement.”
Now, I will grant you, it is a bit vague and a bit boiler plate. But, it does stand out from the usual Republican platform issues of flag-burning, the sanctity of insurance and big-oil companies, and the anathema of gay-marriage.
On page 8, you will find a heartening message that begins with, “We will make it a priority to secure for hardworking families the part of the American Dream that includes a secure and healthy retirement.” And it continues to offer to provide portable workplace pensions which can’t be dumped by bottom fixated CEOS intent on assuring their own bonuses.
It also promises to reform bankruptcy laws so that worker’s pensions are a “priority for funding” and so that, “workers are not left with IOUs after years of service.” Perhaps we can call that the Enron clause!
One controversial plank in the platform calls for the elimination of “all income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 per year. Lower and middle income seniors already have to worry about high health care and energy costs; they should not have to worry about tax burdens as well.” It will be interesting to see how that plays out.
You can view and/or download the entire platform document here:
The Draft 2008 Democratic National Platform
Remember, the devil is in the details and the candidate is free to offer his own plan. What seniors should make from this is that they have an opportunity to read the platform and decide what they would like to see come about and get busy letting their representatives know that they are informed, and savvy, and will only vote for those who represent their best interests.
Let’s jump first to page 45.
“We will protect and strengthen Medicare by cutting costs, protecting seniors from fraud, and fixing Medicare’s prescription drug program. We’ll repeal the prohibition on negotiating prescription drug prices, ban drug companies from paying generic producers to refrain from entering drug markets and eliminate drug company interference with genetic competition—and dedicate all of the savings from those measures towards closing the donut hole. (What’s the donut hole, ask any senior with Medicare D, they’ll be delighted to raise your awareness) We will end special preferences for insurance companies and private plans like Medicare Advantage to force them to compete on a level playing field.”
"We will take steps to ensure that our seniors have meaningful long-term care options that are consistent with their individual needs, including the option of home care. We believe that we must give caregivers a fair wage and train more nurses and health care workers so as to improve the availability and quality of long-term care. We must reform the financing of long-term care to ease the burden on seniors and their families. We will safeguard social security, we will develop new retirement plans and pension protections that will give Americans a secure, portable way to pay for retirement. We will ensure a safe and dignified retirement.”
Now, I will grant you, it is a bit vague and a bit boiler plate. But, it does stand out from the usual Republican platform issues of flag-burning, the sanctity of insurance and big-oil companies, and the anathema of gay-marriage.
On page 8, you will find a heartening message that begins with, “We will make it a priority to secure for hardworking families the part of the American Dream that includes a secure and healthy retirement.” And it continues to offer to provide portable workplace pensions which can’t be dumped by bottom fixated CEOS intent on assuring their own bonuses.
It also promises to reform bankruptcy laws so that worker’s pensions are a “priority for funding” and so that, “workers are not left with IOUs after years of service.” Perhaps we can call that the Enron clause!
One controversial plank in the platform calls for the elimination of “all income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 per year. Lower and middle income seniors already have to worry about high health care and energy costs; they should not have to worry about tax burdens as well.” It will be interesting to see how that plays out.
You can view and/or download the entire platform document here:
The Draft 2008 Democratic National Platform
Remember, the devil is in the details and the candidate is free to offer his own plan. What seniors should make from this is that they have an opportunity to read the platform and decide what they would like to see come about and get busy letting their representatives know that they are informed, and savvy, and will only vote for those who represent their best interests.
08 August 2008
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