This is a website that I have been following for a while and today was very impressed by the illustration of this very talented individual who continues, day in and day out to express his views in a very interesting and amusing at times way. If you have not seen his web site, you must. Go into the link below and see the illustration. I copied and pasted the text below. All women should see this! Thank you Mario Piperni!
http://twurl.nl/2pqhnp
A new low for the party of shame.
It turns out that in eight states, plus the District of Columbia, getting beaten up by your spouse is a pre-existing condition.Under the cold logic of the insurance industry, it makes perfect sense: If you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you’re more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure.In human terms, it’s a second punishment for a victim of domestic violence.
It turns out that in eight states, plus the District of Columbia, getting beaten up by your spouse is a pre-existing condition.
Under the cold logic of the insurance industry, it makes perfect sense: If you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you’re more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure.
In human terms, it’s a second punishment for a victim of domestic violence.
Ugly enough…but it gets worse.
In 2006, Democrats tried to end the practice. An amendment introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), now a member of leadership, split the Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee 10-10. The tie meant that the measure failed.All ten no votes were Republicans
In 2006, Democrats tried to end the practice. An amendment introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), now a member of leadership, split the Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee 10-10. The tie meant that the measure failed.
There’s been plenty of opportunities to feel disgust for republicans but today they take me to a new place. Their actions are inexcusable and is another vivid reminder of who they are and what they represent. For all their talk of patriotism and love of country, they once again reveal themselves to be the ugliest part of America. Their callous and cold view of their fellow citizens, devoid of compassion, appears to have no bounds. For Republicans, taking care of the insurance industry takes precedence over the needs of battered women.
If it gets more disgusting than that, I don’t know how.
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South Beach Watch Party at Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant
(Presidential Health Care Address Watch Party)
Big speech: Obama wants control of health debate
Join us at Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant for great food and drink while we watch this historic address from the joint session of Congress.
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Wednesday, September 9th
Location: Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant, 819 5th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Directions: Take I-395 EAST toward Miami Beach from I-95/SR-836. MacArthur Causeway becomes 5th Street in Miami Beach. Make a U-TURN at Meridian Avenue. On your RIGHT will be Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant, 819 5th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 672-2898 Park on Meridian or Jefferson Avenues or 4th or 6th Streets.
RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpkjff
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE US CONGRESS
Heed this or enjoy your last term in US Congress
We, the people, DEMAND that a strong condition-free PUBLIC OPTION be included in whatever Health Care Reform legislation you enact. We will be watching your actions closely, so, keep the following in mind before casting your vote. Make it count for all Americans :-
Health Care Reform is MEANINGLESS if:
1. There is no Public Option ( with clear path to SINGLE PAYER, No Co-ops, No Triggers ).2. Everybody is not covered. (Without Exception)3. Coverage can be denied based on “Pre-existing” conditions.4. It does not contain Patients’ Rights.5. Strict Regulations are not imposed on insurance plans.6. Affordability and costs to consumers, as well as providers, are not addressed.7. Accessibility, delivery and quality are not maintained and/or improved.8. There’s NO oversight from medical, financial and national security perspectives.9. Profit motive is NOT REMOVED.10. Innovation, Research guidelines and funding are not addressed.
Health Care For Patients, NOT For Profit because Health Care For Profit is Health Care DENIED.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should an insurance middleman come between a patient and his/her doctor - especially, if the insurance middleman stands to gain from it.
Insurance and Employers have no business being in Health Care. They contribute nothing towards it
Our August 13th event was in the Miami Herald and on WPLG10-TV:
Healthcare reform opponents, advocates rally across street
by Toluse Olorunnipa, Miami Herald, Thu, Aug. 13, 2009 at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1184099.html?storylink=pd
A rally called to support a public healthcare option outside Sen. Bill Nelson's Coral Gables office quickly turned into a cross-street chanting and shouting match Thursday afternoon between about 250 backers and opponents…
Health Care Debate Breaks Out
Protesters, Supporters Gather At Senator's Office
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009
On WPLG 10: http://www.justnews.com/news/20389991/detail.html
Find our future events at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_simple?source=sidenav
Our Stand with the President on Health Care event at Senator Nelson's Coral Gables Office, 2925 Salzedo Street, 4pm, Thursday, July 23rd was a great success with over 75 in attendance and no Tea Party counter-protesters.
We were on CBS4 video:
Deconstructing Obama's Healthcare Reform Proposal by Michael Williams
http://cbs4.com/video/?id=80160@wfor.dayport.com
And in the Miami Herald:
Florida crowds want Sen. Bill Nelson's healthcare stance
People gathered outside Sen. Bill Nelson's offices in Coral Gables and Davie and urged him to take a stand on the proposed healthcare overhaul.
BY BETH REINHARD Fri Jul 24, 2009
The Democratic party sought Thursday to make the political debate over healthcare personal, inviting the sick and uninsured to share their struggles at rallies...
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1155162.html
Join us for our next Stand with the President on Health Care event at Senator Nelson's Coral Gables Office, 2925 Salzedo Street, 4pm, Thursday, August 13th:
Please join OFA Thursday July 23 as our volunteers across the state of Florida join together to Stand with the President on Health Care Reform. We will be gathering outside of Senator Bill Nelson's office to raise awareness about the need for all members of congress to work together with the President to bring about Health Care Reform by the end of 2009. We'll be hearing from members of the community who have been personally affected by health care and learning about President Obama's three core principles for reform: reducing costs, allowing patients choice, ensuring that quality and affordable health insurance is available to all Americans. This gathering is part of a larger campaign by OFA to mobilize support around the need for health care reform in communities across the country by taking the discussion out of Washington DC and onto front porches and kitchen tables. We are at a critical time as Congress approaches its August recess, and OFA is ramping up our activity for a National Health Care Reform Week of Action. President Obama would like both the House and Senate to pass legislation before they leave for August recess. We can't afford to punt this, the time for reform is now. Come out and show your support for Health Care Reform!
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Thursday, July 23 Senator Nelson's Coral Gables Office, 2925 Salzedo Street, Coral Gables, FL 33134
RSVP at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/manage/gpcr8t
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Take Dolphin Expressway/SR-836 toward the Airport. Exit SOUTH on 42nd Ave./Le Jeune Road. Go 3 miles. Turn LEFT at Palermo Ave. Turn RIGHT at Salzedo. Meter park at Sen. Nelson’s office at 2925 Salzedo.
GREEN TRANSIT DIRECTIONS: Take Metrorail to Douglas Road Station. Take #42 Bus toward Golden Glades via 42 Ave. Exit at Catalonia Ave. Go NORTH to Palermo Ave. Turn RIGHT & walk EAST 1 block to Salzedo. Turn LEFT & walk NORTH ½ block to 2925 Salzedo.
We've petitioned. We've called. We've faxed. We've dropped off fliers. Now, the health care fight is really heating up in the Senate, and some Democrats are trying to bargain away the heart of President Obama's health care plan—a strong public health insurance option. We need to escalate our campaign for real health care reform. On Thursday, July 9th, MoveOn is organizing nationwide "Public Option Now!" Health Care Rallies to send a strong message to every senator: Health care reform must include a strong public health insurance option. RSVP:http://pol.moveon.org/event/healthcareaction/94169 or
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcjr9
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Take Dolphin Expressway/SR-836 toward the Airport.
Exit SOUTH on 42nd Ave./Le Jeune Road. Go 3 miles.
Turn LEFT at Palermo Ave. Turn RIGHT at Salzedo.
Meter park at Sen. Nelson’s office at 2925 Salzedo.
GREEN TRANSIT DIRECTIONS:
Take Metrorail to Douglas Road Station.
Take #42 Bus toward Golden Glades via 42 Ave.
Exit at Catalonia Ave. Go NORTH to Palermo Ave.
Turn RIGHT & walk EAST 1 block to Salzedo.
Turn LEFT & walk NORTH ½ block to 2925 Salzedo.
On November 28, 1897, Spain granted autonomy to Puerto Rico after the Independence Party’s coup of September 23, 1868, El Grito de Lares. General elections were held in March/July of 1898 and Puerto Rico's autonomous government began to function, but not for long.
BUCHANAN: “… We liberated Puerto Rico. We offered Puerto Rico the freedom to go independent, to go commonwealth, to go statehood.”
The Spanish American War broke out and on July 25, 1898 when Puerto Rico was invaded by the U.S. The Spanish forces retreated and on October 18, 1898 Puerto Rico's autonomous government was officially changed to an American military government. The Treaty of Paris was signed and it stated that Spain was to cede Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines to the U.S. Under this treaty Cuba would become a protectorate of the U.S. The Foraker Act of 1900, changed Puerto Rico’s military government to a civil government.
The President of the U.S. appointed the governor, cabinet and delegates. Puerto Ricans were distressed after having been granted autonomy by Spain, it had now taken a step back to colonialism. On March 2, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones Law. Granting Puerto Ricans American citizenship.
***
Hardball, April 20, 2009 (guests Pat Buchanan and Lawrence O’Donnell)http://bit.ly/SyCk6
MATTHEWS: OK, let me ask you about—let‘s get to the facts here before we move on, a little history here. We have two veterans here of history…. What is the legitimate complaint by Latin America against the United States, Lawrence, because Pat says you‘ve got one. What is it? In terms of Latin America, where have we been bad? Where have we been bad. Let‘s hear the worst….
The double standards of the United States politics is what bothers and enfuriates Latin Americans as well as the rest of the world. The U.S. wants to have policies for their own protection and will not grant the same courtesy to other countries. Nuclear weapons, torture, invasion of other countries… etc.
The great historian, Pat Buchanan, was totally misinformed as to what he called the “liberation” of Puerto Rico from the Spanish, when the Spain had already given them the autonomy!
BUCHANAN: Sergeant Batista came to power, I believe, in 1932 under— ‘34, under the Good Neighbor” policy of FDR. He was in power to 1959. Is that our fault, or is it Cuba‘s fault that they can‘t get rid of dictators? Good heavens, there‘s been dictators all over that place. Juan Peron—that‘s all our fault? Blame America first because we did it all!
You indicate that Obama should not be fraternizing with dictators as Chavez but let me help you Pat with a bit of the history this since you seem to be a bit cloudy in this matter. The U.S. was fraternizing with dictators when they gave the green light and back-up to Battista to do as he pleased.
On April of 1933 U.S. Ambassador Benjamin Sumner Welles was sent to Cuba to mediate differences between the government and opposing political groups and he said to Battista, "I will lay down no specific terms; the matter of your government is a Cuban matter and it is for you to decide what you will do about it." To Batista, this was an invitation to rule. So on September 4, 1933 an uprising known as the "Revolt of the Sergeants," Batista took over the Cuban government and he emerged as self-appointed chief of the armed forces and a favored U.S. strong man.
From 34 to 40 Batista ran the country with puppet presidents and was a friend of the U.S. and the mafia until 1940 when defeated Grau San Martín in the first presidential election under a new Cuban constitution and U.S. trade relations increased. But in 1944 Grau San Martin was elected president Batista was forced to relinquish control.
On March 10 1952, 23 months before the upcoming elections (because he was sure to lose) Batista took over the government against elected Cuban president Carlos Prío Socorras. FYI: Also running in that election (for a different office) was a young, energetic lawyer named Fidel Castro. On March 27 Batista's government was formally recognized by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Note Pat Buchanan: Batista was acting as a dictator at this point because he did not get elected with total and full support from the U.S.
Batista opened the way for large-scale gambling in Havana, and he reorganized the Cuban state so that he and his political appointees could harvest the nation's riches. He announced that his government would match, dollar for dollar, any hotel investment over $1 million, which would include a casino license, and Lansky became the center of the entire Cuban gambling operation. Under Batista, Cuba became profitable for American business and organized crime making Havana the "Latin Las Vegas," a playground of choice for wealthy gamblers, and very little was said about democracy, or the rights of the average Cuban.
Every time we torture someone we open the door for someone to torture our kids. It is the universal law of karma. Besides this holistic interpretation of same, you can also say, "what you put out you will get back multipled (good or bad)!"
We cannot lose ourselves as citizens of USA and this world attempting to equate our actions with the people we named as "terrorists!"
We need to learn from them, we need to familiarize ourselves with their beliefs, as we would do with any child in our home that was experiencing difficulties relating to the rest of the family... with careful attention and an open mind. Tit for tat is not going to cut it... not at this moment in history. Our president is not perfect but he is attempting to rise above policies which come from a fear based center.
Never, never, never, never, let them see you sweat! Fear based attacks on people we do not understand, is just that, attacks without fundamental basic respect, seeking our commonalities rather than our differences, just as we do with our inner circle of friends and others around us.
Well, well, well, here is our brilliant president taking the floor guiding this country through the perils of our economy.
How unbelievably clear and precise is this president? How can someone who is out of work and sitting at home not feel the urge to get up and change his/her course, his direction, lift his/her spirits to find solutions in a battered economy and improve their personal circumstances after listening to our President? How proud I am of this man! His calm, precise, determination to make things happen, his thorough and complete understanding of how we got into this mess and how we are going to slowly creep out.
He clarifies complaints by many that the money is not trickling down to the common folks. He said that $1 of bank capital can be $10 of loans to family and businesses which would enable a “faster pace of economic growth.”
He explained why AIG had to be rescued and that we had to “provide support for AIG because the entire system as fragile as it is” would go down if AIG would go bankrupt. He said that we are starting to see some move in the right direction… small businesses jump in loan activity... encouraging but hard times are not over. 2009 will be difficult for the economy... they will be more foreclosures and loss of jobs and credit will not be flowing, and market will fluctuate. “You can continue to expect unrelenting effort from administration to fight on all fronts.” He continued to say that he is of the “firm believe that the next task beginning now is to make sure such a crisis never happens again.” The state of affairs of this country tis of thee has been carefully clarified. The solutions to the current conditions enumerated and explained and why this administration is taking such actions to effect change. “After we get the credit flowing, we cannot go back to a bubble and bust economy” that led us to this point with all the rules and regulations out the window. Having this said, our President and his administration propose the following set of NEW RULES:
1. NEW RULES FOR WALL STREET;2. NEW INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION MAKE WORK FORCE MORE SKILLED AND COMPETITIVE;3. NEW INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND NEW JOBS AND NEW INDUSTRY;4. NEW HEALTH CARE; and5. NEW SAVING IN FEDERAL BUDGET THAT WILL BRING DOWN DEBT.YEAH! You go Barack! Your steadfast determination is admirable.
I was so proud of him. I watched and heard him at the office via NBC6. It was really nice to hear the military band play for about half an hour prior to Barack coming out. I was happy for him and for our nation… that he is getting around and getting this country running! Love him and believe in him!
Wondering how life will guide my steps in the future… just a passing thought … one of many… a moment of feeling love for life for no particular reason passed through me as I walked into my kitchen… maybe because I can honker down because all the errands, food, potting soil, gas, bank, physical therapy have been accomplished. Yeah!
Went to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival yesterday and it was packed with people. It looked like a rock concert. We had 2 kids, 3 women and 2 men in our group. We spread out a sheet next to El Presidente beer tarp, just in case those ugly crowds that were approaching reached us. We managed to get 2 chairs and our group grew to about 20. We were right about the rain… only problem it fell at 6 and the event closed and they threw us out of the tent under the rain. Needless to say I am having a very, very bad hair day… the two little girls were precious… one had a pink summer dress and yes, you know it… pink Converse high top sneakers! I wanted those sneakers myself …they are so marvelously cute. But not only did she not want to trade shoes with me but she did not want me to ride with her and her sister in her “red covered Radio Flyer!” By the end of the evening she was my friend because I had chewing gum. The other one was too active to care about anyone except her ball.
We walked to and from the Grove. Going the sun was shining and the temperature was around 75 degrees with a nice ocean breeze. Coming back was drizzling all the way. Thank God for my cap I did not get wet.
It is nice to write again. Had not written anything since November 12 after the election and sharing about “my life being in a moment of change as America.” Thank you to all that respond and comment on my blogs. It is good to know you read them and can relate to some of what I experience.
Please share one thing that you have changed in your life that has made it more complete and rewarding.
The military is now investigating its own senior officers, who are suspected of trading contracts for huge bribes. The New York Times reports an investigation is focused on two officers in Iraq who held top positions in distributing reconstruction funds shortly after the invasion—Lt. Col. Ronald W. Hirtle of the Air Force and retired Col. Anthony B. Bell of the Army.
YEAH THAT IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!
Just wanted to share with your all my experiences of this day and last evening. I am, of course, having my Alto Grande nice warm coffee which numbs my lips when I drink out of my favorite French Market Coffee Chicory mug from New Orleans. Love big sturdy mugs that fit into my hand as a soup bowl. Idiosyncrasies that I have picked up along the way and have stuck with me.
My apartment looks like a Capitol Hill Office during a congressional session… papers all over the place… in their relative piles… showing some order in my temporary madness to complete my taxes expeditiously… and in a quasi-panic mode. I filed it electronically but since my old computer did not work and I did not print out my last year’s returns they rejected it because I did not have my “AIG” or “adjusted gross income” from 2007. Well, can’t they just ask another question? Don’t they want to return my money to me? Should it be so difficult? Why did they burst my bubble? Well at least I relaxed financially for a few hours…
I took my “I am going to get a tax return YEAH disposition and temporary bliss” to CocoWalk last night to say goodbye to Lili, who is going to Argentina to take care of her mother for 6 months and will be returning back to Miami in September. Lili and I worked together for a while and enjoyed it. We are both free spirited and pretty much say what is on our minds when it slightly enters the cerebral cortex… causing some problems with those who are exposed to our brilliance (which is what I decide to call it)… you can define it as you wish but we always end up being the life of the party regardless of behind the scene “these ladies are something else” remarks.
Today I have to devote my day to exercising my arm and shoulder and organizing the combat zone which I solely and exclusively created. It is actually quite interesting that I can have 2 rooms full of paper from 2008. I also have 2 drawers full of my mami’s documents and files that I have created to keep it all under control. Or so illusion of such… Still wheeling and dealing with documents and tasks to finalize this aspect of her life with “dignity and honor” as a very dear friend of mine says is what at the end matters. My mother was simple and in her own way she was very special and giving… Feisty, energetic, opinionated, in “15 minutes its not fast enough” attitude, but out of her way to feed you with your favorite dish -- all you had to do was ask. I miss her and will share that when it happens. Going through papers, copies of pictures and dealing with her life and end of same brought her to the surface yesterday and it was nice but a bit sad but happy that she was my mother and that she was special… that is something I fought with all my life, how not to be like my mother, but I looked exactly like her and I had her ADD, not her ADHD, but definitely the ADD part. I have to follow myself because I have string consciousness. Have to write notes and that is why I am so visual, it brings me to focus when I read something. While I am given instructions in the office I write them down because they do not register as they are being told to me except when I write and see them. My brain will change the instructions if I do not write them down. Funny how that works, but I have learned to live and be successful with it… actually by instinct… in school I used to write and take notes very fast. I would read the material and I would have the best grades.
Today will go to the Art Festival in Coconut Grove... will walk with my neighbors since it is so packed with cars. We are about 8 blocks from there. It is a nice walk. Maybe I will take my camera and take some pictures and share with you all.
Will stop boring you… have a wonderful DAY AFTER LOVE/FRIENDSHIP day and do something loving for you and for someone else -- and I am definitely open and receptive to being that someone else... HA!
Now that I have taken you with me to my coffee experience, know that if you receive a can of this coffee you are amongst my favorite few. But if you have not received a can that you should order it and try it. This is one of the things I love the most in my current life… my puertorican coffee. So on this day of love and friendship I wanted to share this with all of you.
Another thing that I love and if you have received some you are also amongst the limited loved ones… my homemade pesto … I just harvested and made pesto with my friends from PR that were visiting me last week and it was the best pesto I have made to date. Don’t know if it was the company or what. They could not believe that it would take so long to make 5 cups of Pesto. We ate 3 in one night… with pasta and sun dried tomatoes and just with crackers. I grow my basil in my porch in my Miami apartment. My plants are limited because I just experienced some life changing experiences and my plants were in the backburner… but they are there hanging in there with me. I have to start new plants with seeds so I can harvest a lot for the next holiday season. It takes about 3 months for them to grow : “el manjar de los dioses” or “delicacy of the gods” is what my friends and I called it. Find something you can grow and harvest when the spring comes. Oregano survives the winter and comes back. Basil will not survive but you can start in the spring and harvest up to the fall. Basil is a good for the source of vitamin K and a very good source of iron, calcium and vitamin A. I think it is the perfect herb. I am thinking about writing a small pesto cookbook and sell it with basil leaves. What do you think?
Now that I have shared a few of my favorite and loved things in life must also say that I love Michelle Obama. What a woman! Not afraid to be who she is and she is definitely not like the rest of the first ladies. She has been my sister since the beginning. And we are somewhat connected by my best friend’s family. You go Michelle, love your Vogue cover! And that picture in the inside with the black dress! Girl, no wonder Barack loves you.! You look real good and forget what the media says. You should hang that picture in the black dress in your White House bedroom. For real! You go and do your thing… I will follow you…
I am learning to live without my mother and without my son at home but it is something I have to get used to… same as we have to do with the new president who is bringing change to America. Change is not easily accepted and it takes work and determination to make peace with it.
I miss this website and do not know what if anything they will be doing with it. Maybe we will get an email that this is not longer it. Maybe we can run the White House with Barack. Well we actually will be doing that because the man listens.
Just wanted to say it has been a pleasure to be on this website and I have been away and not writing and I have missed doing so. To all of you may you have a great holiday season. I will continue to write as long as they will have us.
#1 Anyone see the Investors Business daily this morning. There is a supposedly independent article on the front cover about the mortgage crisis. I got excited to read it and see what the history of the crisis was all about. After reading the first few paragraphs, it was clear this article was nothing more then a way to blame Obama and Democrats for the mortgage crisis. I know that IBD supports the Republicans. You can tell by the number of anti Obama articles in it every day. But thought this was going to be an objective analysis of the mortgage crisis. Boy was I wrong. I wrote to them my displeasure of the article.
#2 Joe the plumber, Samuel the contractor, Joe the recording artist, Samuel the Congressman is really getting on my nerves. He is way past his 15 minutes of fame. He talks about running for Congress. He is in talks with becoming a country music singer. He wants to write a book. He even has a publicist now. Give me a break Joe. Get lost! You are a crazy right winger who doesn't know what he is talking about. Some told him Obama hated Israel and he just agreed because he felt like it. He knows nothing. He is a liar. How about instead of talking all this garbage, someone makes him pay his taxes. I hope when Obama gives everyone a tax break, he writes a special exclusion for Joe the con-artist. Please Joe take your imaginary $250,000, buy a real plumbing business, and go away.
Based on independent research, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html and others, it looks as if, under Obama's tax plan, if you make between $251,000 and $603,000 that your taxes will not go up. The won't go down, but they won't go up - which is really, really important.
If this is true, then why isn't he highlighting it? Why does he say in EVERY debate that taxes won't be increased if you make under 250,000...why doesn't he say under 603,000...a number I have NEVER heard him use.
At the moment, the perception is that if you make over $250k that you will be taxed and it is scaring off undecided and independe voters. It is also making voters question the fairness of his tax plan. I think this would be far more effective in relieving the fears of the upper middle class if he used the $603k figure rather than the $250k benchmark.
Any insight on this strategy or is the data wrong?
