The President is still hours away from announcing the “long-awaited” decision on Afghanistan. Dick Cheney is up early already calling the policy weak. Thank God we have a president who actually things through a situation and asks questions. W and Dick simply reached to their hips for a six-shooter - thinking be damned.
Think about it. This is the Dick who led the premature pull-out from Afghanistan to go into Iraq where all those weapons of mass destruction were amassed. We know now that there were no weapons. Dick knew long before sending our sons and daughters into a totally unnecessary war there were no weapons. This is the Dick who was absolutely terrified of the possibility that HE would have to serve in Viet Nam. Using powers and funds unavailable to most of us - he obtained five deferments from military service. In his own words: “I have higher priorities”.
So here we are in 2009 dealing with the mess made by the Dick and his so-called boss.
The situation we now find ourselves in - is a direct result of the complete destruction of American foreign policy - and our military by the Dick. Yet he opens his day with a denouncement of President Obama. Weak. That word coming from the distorted mouth of the Dick would be quite funny, were it not so tragic.
The Obama administration was cast into an impossible situation. Put one hundred options on the table and any one chosen will be attacked. The left will be offended by a continuation and escalation of the war in Afghanistan. The right will be offended that at least 60,000 of OUR sons and daughters are not being sent tomorrow.
I still want to know why the Dick is being allowed to walk away from his war crimes. I want to know exactly what the Dick got out of this. He certainly didn’t offer up any family members to fight.
Here is what Dick can do to at least give some credibility to his horrible tenure as VP. Being an ex VP, he would have no problem embedding - perhaps as a journalist - with a front line unit in Afghanistan. Stay the course. Run into a field of fire to rescue a fallen soldier. Well, one thing is certain. The Dick won’t be going. Weak? Coward? Criminal?
Why does Dick open only one side of his mouth? (Now if he has a medical condition I apologize in advance for talking about it). But it’s true. He never looks anyone in the eye and always uses one side of his mouth to speak.
Finally - I want every adult in America to pay some sort of price for having American in any war. The percentage of folks in the military of the entire eligible population is too low to calculate. Most - certainly not all - of the remainder go about life as normal. The Dick is a billionaire. Much of that was ill-gotten gains from non-competitive construction bids in Iraq. Was that his reason for putting us in there? Those who never served in the military and are gung-ho to “go get em” - should have to do some public service or if they elected - pay a war tax. I think an extra 15% would be fair. Don’t cry WAR, WAR, then refuse to take part in any way.
Dick Cheney - I beg you to keep your mouth shut. You are a bonafide coward as proven when you could have served. You made a horrible (weak) mistake in pulling-out of Afghanistan. You lied to your fellow citizens. Your right to speak is revoked.
Accept the challenge Dick. Go to the war zone and serve for a few years. OK, OK - stop crying. We can’t make you go.
Robert Boseley
rboseley@tampabay.rr.com
rboseley1@me.com
http://www.robertboseley.com
I am trying to imagine how a Republican gets ready to make a pronouncement “That the Health Care Reform bill simply is more big government spending”. We have all heard each of them - with a straight face - make that statement. Is it drugs? Do they take a few hits before going out in public? Does Tom Delay still run things from Texas - with a gun to their heads? OR Is it just plain old-fashioned stupidity? Has to be one or a combination thereof.
Ah.................Mr and Mrs and Ms Republican - YOU are the big spenders in Washington. The proof is there. Have you already forgotten 2000 - 2006? Well, have you? No, No, GOP that old dog simply is sound asleep and will definitely NOT hunt.
Update New York. the right, financed by Fox and hyped by Fox. The 23ed Congressional District of NY. The tea baggers were out in force. Sean Hannity flat-out said Hoffman’s victory was signed, sealed, and delivered. Palin, Beck, and the Drugster were there. They all prepared for the big takeover by the wing-nuts. WELL dumb-butts - it did not happen did it? The Democrat candidate won !!!!!!!!!!!! Shall I repeat that Sean?
So, tea party goers. put away the tea and return to the hard stuff. You have fooled absolutely no one. Oh yes, the 20% hate everything, including Black folks, will continue to make noise. Let them. Meanwhile Obama and company will continue to blaze past them - leaving dirt in their mouths. But they have tea to wash it down. :)
The GOP: Opposed Social Security - but do you hear any of them in either chamber calling for elimination? Opposed the integration of schools in 1954. Opposed Medicare - but again all they need to is refuse payment. ????????????? I’m not hearing anything. Oh yes, let us not forget they opposed the right for women to vote. They even opposed putting round tires on cars - thought square tires were the way to go.
The GOP: Motto: “WE ARE 100% OPPOSED TO IT”. IT? Doesn’t matter, it’s an automatic response.
By the way righties - how is your new Bible coming? The one which removes all references to things you disagree with. The addition of whole new passages. The inspired word of God? or the uninspired word of kooks. It is to go on sale in January. For those who think this a joke - it is not. A group of right-wing preachers are actually planning it. The faithful await the New Word.
The GOP: Sad NOT FOR US - but a sad lot of 18th Century non-thinkers.
PS - Why is everyone so silent these days. Is there no way to get folks to engage?
There was a time so-called “conservatives” just caused me to shake my head in disbelief. There were also times I got a bit angry. Now my only emotion is amusement. I say only emotion - but that is not completely true. The amusement is too often followed by disbelief and anger.
I have more about conservatives, but I must digress. The media. They have gone far beyond reason. They, particularly the cable talkers, perhaps passed that line long ago - but making today’s races in New Jersey and Virginia a referendum on Barack Obama is “making news in a bottle”. It also is a slap across the faces of the residents of those states - indicating they have no idea that they are voting for governors. Listen up media. They are voting for governors. They are voting for governors. This election is no more about Obama than it is about how I should treat my prostate cancer. Poor media. They are still trying to rebound from the great balloon chase. Not one “thinking” human believed that piece of foil with a small amount of helium could carry even a 50 pound child. When caught - the media called for the scalp of the father. And mother. Take the kids and place them in a wonderful foster home. NUTS. I actually think America needs more families who don’t stick their heads in the sand and try to “look like every other person”. Yes they may have cost the stupid sheriff’s department a dime or two - but it was they who were hooked by the bait. What the media needs is another “beautiful” white woman - preferably pregnant - to disappear. (Note I did not say GO MISSING).
Oh well - back to the conservatives. According to the institution mentioned in the last paragraph - conservatives woke up last Thursday morning and concluded the government is “too large”. Now understand, a great amount of that “getting bigger” was accomplished under a conservative administration. Hello???
Too large. At what point does a government become “TOO” large? Is there an unpublished formula? When George Washington presided over the government - I presume the government was small. However, “large” is a relative term. As the population increased, and more states were added, I am fairly certain the government would become larger. It would have more members of Congress. It would need more money. As time marched on - the government - grew. Son of a *****, I would never have guessed. BUT we crossed over to too large last Thursday. Fact: According to a Gallop poll - virtually no-one knows what conservatism actually is. Today’s conservatives fall into a group who “just say no”. No health care reform. No, to whatever policy Obama is for. No to equal rights and protections - AS STATED IN THE CONSTITUTION! NO - the climate is not warming; and we don’t need all those Polar Bears. The water flowing from the great ice-fields is not really water. Conservatives believe granny Sarah Palin should lead the free world. I can see Russia from my house. Where do you believe Putin goes when he REARS HIS HEAD? Why he comes to Alaska of course. And I am still looking for a way for a human to REAR one’s head. What does that mean?
Rest will Bill Buckley.
Amused in Florida.
This has nothing to do with politics. Isn’t that refreshing? No, this is about the now famous “flight of the boy in the balloon”. Breaking News - that stuff cable news does thirty times daily. “We” now find it was a hoax? Or should I say the media found it to be a hoax. Those of us caught up in the affair on TV were pretty much convinced we were being had. So many obvious questions - but instead the brilliant minds running cable news outlets called on hot-air ballon experts. They called on body language experts. Pilots, ATC personnel, and phycologists.
Aside from the obvious questions not asked - a simple call to any physics teacher in any middle school would have indicated early on that the piece of aluminum foil - with a very small amount of helium - could not lift even a 50 lb. child.
The questions: Where was the “passenger” compartment? Did the on-air beauties think the kid was floating around in there? Both hold down ropes just happened to come loose simultaneously? What experiment? That helium will float a balloon?
Yes it was a hoax - on all those dumber that dirt producers and anchors on the 24/7 news channels. There must have been fifteen or so in the room where I was. Our only interest was in seeing how far the cable kids would go.
Breaking News....................There will be Breaking News in six minutes. Meanwhile let’s take a ten minute break. I can’t end without a shot at the Wolf. This nut first agrees to sit-in for Larry King then makes a complete fool of himself. Again. CNN - the home of Wolf and Larry. MSNBC with that incredible talent Contessa. Fox can actually be forgiven. We all know the entire staff is in therapy most of every day.
Time Out ! OK now try to pay attention.
Rush Limbaugh is bent completely out of shape :) because he claims he was once misquoted. Perhaps.
Rush, when you go on radio, which YOU insist on having on video each day, and openly make fun of those suffering from Parkinson’s - you gave up any right to complain about anything. So just waddle over to the mirror and you will see a poor excuse for a human.
My Aunt has had Parkinson’s for several years, and daily fights the battle. She, as did millions, saw and heard your rant about Parkinson's. You Rush, are responsible for sending her into a deep depression. AND neither you not any defender can deny what you said and how you threw your body around - imitating a Parkinson's patient.
Now someone claims you made a statement about slavery. You say you never said it. FINE Rush. I don’t need anything other than the Parkinson’s incident to dislike you on every level. I heard and saw it. This one you will never deny. You are a pathetic excuse for a human.
As for the St. Louis Rams - I could not care less. I lived in STL for 30 years. They deserve you.
Anyone, and I doubt there is, who has actually read any of my near three hundred posts, knows that I get confused easily. I could recite a long list of things which have confused me over the years. I could, but I am confused as to what the items were.
I awoke this morning wondering why conservatives don’t much like Polar Bears. That confuses me. I happen to love all animals - and I particularly fancy the big white bears. I have yet to have an up close and personal relationship with one, but there is hope. Now, as to being confused, why is being a bear offensive to the political right? The average Polar bear did not ask to be a bear. They could as easily have come back as a Fox News anchor. (Yes I definitely believe in reincarnation). But thankfully they are large, beautiful bears who harm no one. Unlike a Fox News anchor. All most Polar bears desire is a large chunk of ice upon which to call home. The problem is, the Earth is getting warmer. We and the bears know this, because those formerly large pieces of ice are now tiny. Large became small due to melting. Melting occurs when the temperature warms. How much more straight forward do wing-nuts need?
Sean Hannity insists that we will soon be in another ice-age. Sean studied religion not science - and there are a few thousand Polar bears who may not be able to wait. Sean does not like bears, Polar or otherwise, and has no love for any creature with more than two legs. (Thank you Lord for not letting me go down that path and letting me get back to the point).
The point was, and is, what does global warming have to do with politics? Why do liberals believe the Earth is warming and conservatives believe it is getting colder? To this I suggest going to Seattle - get on one of those cruise boats and go north. The captain will deliver you to a spot where you can see ice melting. The clue is that streams of water can be seen flowing FROM atop the ice. Seasonal? True that the stream may turn to a drip at certain period, but the stream will return. There is by far less ice now than a few years back. Melting. Conservatives note the word. Melting. While on the boat, if lucky, you might see a Polar bear clinging to a hunk of ice smaller than the bear.
I used the Polar bear as an example. Seems sufficiently simple that even the folks who prance about calling themselves “conservative” might understand. Rush went on one of those boats. They had to limit the number of passengers to compensate for the Limbaugh blubber. I digress again. Rush saw the water flow and pontificated. He believes Al Gore was up on that ice with a hair dryer. “NO, no way is that ice melting on its own” proclaimed the drugster. Rush. The expert. Rush - the people of Cape Girardeau, Missouri remember Rush. Someone wanted to rename the Cape high school as Limbaugh High, There was a town-meeting. They did not rename the school.
Rush now wants to plant himself in St. Louis. For those not familiar with that part of our country - Cape G is about 50 miles south of STL. He wants to go home.
Now we all know why I get confused. I can’t stay on topic. Polar bear = Rush? No way. Those bears know where they are wanted. I am going to stop. Here.
Hold the trolly. I need an answer to a serious question. “EVEN if one finds his or her self not subscribing to the “water freezes at 32 degrees F” fact - how can limiting the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere be good? Why not do the good thing - then in the unlikely event there is another ice-age; no harm no foul. Doing good is good in itself.
THIS IS MOTHER EARTH WITH A MESSAGE TO SOME FOLKS LIVING ON MY PLANET.
Hello? Anyone awake? Anyone putting their brains to work? Message:
Your President - Barack Obama DID NOT ASK FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE !!!!! HE DID NOT EVEN KNOW OF THE NOMINATION. WHY THEN, WOULD ANY OF YOU CRITICIZE HIM FOR RECEIVING IT???
As Master of my Planet, I have overlooked some of your recent behavior. If anyone is upset with the Nobel committee - then book a flight to Norway and speak to them. Otherwise close your pie holes.
The next thing you will criticize is the number of times per day your President moves his bowels.
Hush. Support your leader. Stop standing in the way of any progress on any front.
Mom
By the way - I AM GETTING WARMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The right has really proven - were there ever a doubt - just how unthinking they are. Criticize the President for winning the Nobel prize???? He had nothing at all to do with the process. Yet according to the wing-nuts - President Obama should be impeached for winning. There is dumb and dumber - and now dumbest. I thank my God daily that I was not made a right winger. One positive thing, aside from the actual winning of the prize, is that it makes the point forever solid: “The right-wing nuts are right-wing nuts.”
Congratulations Mr. President!
I am about to come to a conclusion that I simply do not understand anything about American culture. I was born here. So were my parents, and their parents. I point that out only to indicate I should understand. I don’t.
Am I correct - we moved into the 21st Century a few years back? I honestly believe we did, but all the evidence seems to say we did not. WE elected the first African-American to be our President. (English teachers will grind their teeth at that sentence). Eleven months after that - racism as practiced in times passed has not changed that much. There is still a core of perhaps 25% of Americans who hold fast to the notion that non-whites simply can not be allotted the same level of respect as the wonderful white man. A large majority of the 25% are non-voters. When they got their teeth in and had someone read to them - they realized a Black man was in charge. Add to this group the so-called Conservatives - and you get Tea Parties. You get folks who insist this...this.....a.....Black man WILL is NOT going to be THEIR leader. No way.
Tea Parties, Birthers, Deathers, and fake town-hall meetings are born. The run of the mill Republican politicians saw this and joined in. The official position of the right and the GOP as stated by several of their leaders:
We will oppose anything this man proposes. We will sit on our hands and be of no assistance on helping right the horrible health-care mess. We will feel quite free to disrespect the American President. Stand in join session and call him a liar. We will attack every move he makes. [These idiots spent two weeks harping because he was away from the WH overnight to help bring the Olympics to America.] Whatever decision the president makes in regard to Afghanistan - we will oppose it. Our motto for as long as a Black man is president will be “just say no”. WE after all are the masters.
I mentioned conservatives. I call them so-called simply because most have no clue as to the real and original meaning of conservatism. Has nation building been a long-time belief of conservatives? NO Was the wild spending of the Bush administration a long-held vision of conservatism? NO Actually, were anyone so inclined to research the subject - one would find today’s conservatism closer to liberal than to conservative.
I will not limit this to berating the GOP and conservatives. Harry Reid could not “lead” a tricycle parade. The Speaker is a lightening rod. She should realize this and, for the good of the House and the president’s agenda, step aside. Lack of leadership in both houses of congress is largely responsible for most of the criticism now being aimed at Barack Obama.
The media. These air-heads are so used to covering people who are basically brain-dead - they don’t know what to think or say about a person of high intellect. Make a decision today Mr. President. Why “think” about it. Pull the trigger. I no longer listen to the pundits. Morning Joe will spend every single moment analyzing Mr. Obama’s every move and statement. He smiles too much, one of the crew said. He walks too fast said another. I really believe we will see hidden cameras in the living quarters at some point. Fox is working on it. Join me in turning them off.
I began by saying I don’t understand anything about American culture. That is a fact. But it pales as to what I don’t understand about the religious right. Have you heard? They are going to publish their own Bible. The one they use now has some passages which displease them. (But they still proclaim the Bible to be inspired by the word of God). So, any line or verse or word which does not support their view of the world will be stricken from the new Bible. Then the pastor’s of the right will hold the Bible, wave it above their head and proclaim it “The Word of God”. This is so stupid, I thought it a joke when I first heard it. Unfortunately it is no joke. Look for the new and improved Bible at local bookshops in March 2010. Expect heavy discounts.
What a country !
rboseley@me.com
Folks can tell me that the flap over the President’s “s p e e c h’ to a bunch of elementary kids is not about race until their faces turn blue. OR some other color. A lady on my street was taken to some far off planet about ten years ago - spent a year up (or down) there. I may as well speak with her about this. The anti-president folks fall in the same hole. OH, but they won’t admit it - they are Christian folks. Christian folks believe in seeing good in people and assisting those who are in trouble. It goes like this - an actual “sermon” from the pulpit last Sunday : “I HOPE OBABMA GETS BRAIN CANCER AND DIES LIKE KENNEDY”. Isn’t it nice to know that the Christians are in such good hands? My pet snake is more of a Christian.
I know the people. I am thinking of one who represents all the others. She’s a fine Christian lady - never misses a service. She is a known Black hater going back to when I met her at age 24. We are both now 68. Vote? Far too much trouble to go down there and wait in line with “them”. So she is part of that 30% I predict sat out the election - hoping and indeed praying - that The Good Lord (did you know he’s white?? - would prevent a Black man from becoming president.
NO, she would wait until all the little things came along, then manage her 300 pounds down to the meeting to protest. “We can’t have this man coming into our schools and making socialists and God knows what else out of little children. He should stay home.: Unfortunately, she has about thirty grand-kids who you know have had this hate drilled into the since birth.
George Bush was “reading” to students at the moment if 9/11. I don’t recall the outrage. Yes, he was white wasn’t he. Reagan spoke to kids, as did Carter and Clinton.
This is about race. In fact - that 30% is using its surprising “power” (they elect members of our wonderful congress) to undermine this president. Not alone. There were those tens of thousands who hold the feeling a bit closer. But they will come out in groups. Safety in numbers - especially when old Gus has his loaded six-shooter at the ready. If Gus needs help - well their are the morons (by definition) standing around with automatics.
“Don’t you dare make us a socialist country”, they yell. Sit down folks. America IS a socialist nation. Medicare and Medicaid are socialist programs. Wake up before the coffee is cold.
I’ll bet the little green persons from “up there” are watching - on Fox. These numb butts would be the perfect people to “visit”. Little Green Folks - do us all a favor. Come get them and keep them. They can find something on your planet to protest. OH GEZZ, I forgot - they hat green people.
America. What the hell is America? What’t that? “A country on the North American continent”. Well that would be one America. I’m trying to figure which one I reside in. That must be the one - got Canada to the North and Mexico to the South. Russia up at the extreme North-West according to some air-head ex governor.
The America I find myself in contains a majority who don’t give a Tinker’s damn how many folks die from lack of ability to pay medical bills. 30% who hate everyone who is not exactly like them - one tooth and all. Got a Congress with a huge majority of members whose primary task is to dip into other’s pockets and pretend to work.
Today I found - I think they are part of the toothless 30% - who believe the President of the United States must not speak to second grade classes. Brainwashing don’t you know.
Yes, I think I have it figured out - I know where I “live”. Home of the free, land of the brave. Would that be the brave folks who strapped on guns to go to a town-hall meeting? Would that be the free folks who hassled the woman in a wheelchair? Yes - that’s the one.
90% of “My fellow citizens” who happen to have health care don’t care one bit what happens to those who don’t. Too stupid to understand they wind up paying for those who don’t. Yes, that’s us. High school graduates who know what forth graders in other countries know.
Toothless, goobers who put a spoon up their behinds, believing that’t the end one eats with. After all - they spew so much S**** from their mouths - food must go below!
But something is wrong with this picture. The goobers don’t have sufficient brain power to thing for themselves. No - the let Rush do their so-called thinking. Rush Limbaugh - too much of a littoral chicken to serve his country in the military. BUY very much in favor of sending your sons and daughters. They mean nothing to him. Rush is still so high on drugs he hardly knows what he says.”I hope that Black SOB gets killed in his first year”, says Rush.
I have done all I can do. I am ashamed of my country.NO, not my country - just those brain-dead country bumpkin goobers who seem to get their way.
I refuse any more talk. The people I have seen running around at meetings the last 2 months don’t deserve my efforts.
Baptist Minister: “I hope Obama gets brain cancer and dies like that SOB Kennedy”. AH but he is a Christian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The man actually believes that.
The GOP: No ideas. No suggestions. So they fan the flames of hate.
To the Governor of Texas - the yet outed Perry - take your GD state and all its dumb ass residents and GO. Become part of Old Mexico. You would all fit right in. Get those silk underwear off Rick.
Michele Bachman. Rush Limbaugh. Glen Beck. And many others. Leaders of the Republican party? I presume so - but there is another group they lead. I call them “The Haters”. Everyone of us knows that somewhere around 30% of the people in this country are quite simply mad as hell because we have a Black President and Black First Lady. Most of them are non-voters. Too much trouble. Much easier to run the mouth.
Virtually all the haters identify themselves as Christians. Perhaps they are. I am not permitted to judge. One minister said from the pulpit “ I hope Obama gets brain cancer and dies like Kennedy”. Yes I suppose that is the new face of Christians. Rush hopes Obama fails which means he hopes America fails. Beck is trying to convince the haters that Obama’s health plan calls for death boards.
Haters. Down in life. Not much to exist for. They blame everyone but themselves. Always hated Blacks and here is a golden opportunity to “get them”. Many tote guns around. The official position of the GOP is to destroy the president - at any cost. They have put it in those exact terms.
Not being a hater, I can not imagine what life is like for them. Get up in the morning - eat a pound of bacon - then begin ranting. Rush will be along at noon to help them along. They hate every single person on Earth who is not a clone of themselves. They hate Catholics and Jews, They hate blacks. They hate people who have a dime. I know them. I was born in a state where they are the majority. At 18, I was gone from that horrible place. But I remember the haters - Oh how I remember.
Where is the outrage? Everyday we here something more terrible than the day before. “I hope Obama gets brain cancer? We hear it. What else do we do? Sit back and watch and listen? What simply amazes me is that mainstream Republicans embrace the haters. Christians embrace them. Where is that “famous” Texas minister - the one who purchased a stadium. Why is he not on TV blasting the haters? Because he is one of them?
Does the Secret Service have a new policy with regard to Obama? Sure seems so. Even if it might be legal to run around playing cowboy - with a gun strapped to the hip - it has always been unacceptable for a gun to be within just yards of the president. The yell “GUN” was sounded and the potential assassin was removed. Haters in the Secret Service?
God grant us peace.
Perhaps you own a business. If not - imagine that you do. Do you, or would you, allow your employees to “work” like our Congress? Probably not. I did not just fall off the truck - so I can take unto account that members of congress do need to get back to their states or districts to “talk with constituents”. I also know that not all work is done on the floor of either chamber. However, I am convinced that members of congress, who are OUR employees - have no one to watch over them. For all I know, my member of congress may sleep until 10:00. Most sessions begin at 10:00 - but virtually no one is there at that time - and on many days at no time! Got a committee meeting. Need to study a piece of legislation. We cannot forget the “vacation” time. Can’t work fifty weeks. How about thirty? And the work-week will be from 10:00am on Tuesdays until noon Thursday. No, we would expect more of our employees - and we or a manager would be around to oversee things.
Let’s take this a step further. You and I own and operate a business which makes those famous widgets. We supply about one-hundred retailers. However, we don’t much care for being around the plant - so we just leave things to run itself. No manager, no one to be responsible - no time clocks. It would be a short time before our customers would be calling. Did not get my supply this week. It seems our employees are working only when they “feel” like it. You get the picture. Wouldn’t you love to know exactly what your senators and members of the house do each day? Is it possible they are sitting in their office - door closed - watching something on TV? Or they may be getting in another round of golf. Who really knows?
We are told our health care system is broken. I know it’s expensive - but it costs about $80 per hour to get our cars worked on. I am not shocked that it would cost more to have my body worked on. Too much? OK, let’s assume it is broken - and we have given the job to congress to repair. Don’t hold your breath. What our 535 employees are doing is behaving like a class of third graders. No one will agree with anyone on anything. The Republicans have taken the position that defeating the president is far more important. They have adopted the position that health care is just fine - so they say NO to everything.
I dream of having the galleries of both chambers filled with congressional supervisors. Make sure all members are present at least 90% of the time. Grade them on how much they contribute to debate. Stop the two hour lunch breaks. I in fact seriously think members should punch-in and out. A report put up on the net so we can all see if our employees are working. Give them deadlines. Have a bill on the president’s desk by close of business November 10th. Failure will result in a new election.
Think about it. Congress is the only group of employees who just simply have no one to report to. Oh yeah, elections. Why are incumbents reelected overwhelmingly? I believe one reason is we just have no idea what they do - so we may as well send them back. Congress - the only group of employees who can fail consistently and get by with it.
Until we assume our role as boss and crack the whip - congress will continue to do absolutely nothing. Why should they?
Good for Barney. Now it’s time (past) for the people who make up this network to go back to work. Let’s face it - many have dropped away.
Health Care in America. I have often said the world economy is too difficult for any human to understand. Right up there with it is health care. So many players - and each team likes to blame the other for the mess. I need to correct myself before going on. America has the best quality health care in the world - but only if one can afford it.
We have medical schools second to no other country. We have outstanding residency programs. Our medical centers are the envy of the world. SO it is not that we can’t offer quality. Our problem is the age-old problem which we see in every walk of life. When those with money need a medical procedure - they likely travel to where the “best” doctor in a particular field is. Most have to settle for Doc X - who may be quite good - but not the best. Need a specialist? Yellow pages?
Then there is the huge group who have no medical insurance or little of it. Hospital Z gives that patient the same attention as any other patient. Well that is a bit of an exaggeration, but everyone knows the score. Then each December I get a notice that my premiums will increase 10% for next year. That hospital must recover its costs or go out of business.
I do have serious questions about just how much a hospital needs to recover. Look at the retained earnings of most and you will find some mighty huge amounts. They say they must have the funds to replace equipment and add the latest. Hospitals compete just the same as auto dealers. A certain hospital in a large mid-west city recently completed a one billion dollar “reconstruction”. Their occupancy rate had fallen to 76% - yet they added 60 beds.
Thank God for the amazing work done by the researchers who work for the “drug companies”. But how many times do they need to recover research and development by selling pills at $50 each? They have the same argument as the hospitals - got to have big money for future research.
Insurance Companies. The enemy. Far too much profit and too much control over the fate of millions of policy holders. Little kid had a bad head injury. Needed an expensive, special made helmet to wear for a year or so. United Health said the helmet was not necessary and refused payment. Happens thousands of times a day. Every dime saved on paying claims = another dime for the mansion.
Yes I made it too simple - but like I said - I don’t think there are many who understand the complex system we have built.
Time to fix it.
Finally - let’s make no mistake here. At least 35% of the citizens of the U. S. hate having an African-American president. I’m not speaking of voters - although some may be. No these are the people like the one who “confronted” Barney Frank. They hide until an issue comes along like health care - then they craw from under the rocks.
Let’s get on the phone - and don’t forget your members of congress. Pump out emails. Talk until you can’t speak. The fate of Barack Obama lies in health care reform. I worked hard for two years helping elect President Obama. I’m not going to let a bunch of hate filled morons defeat me now.
rdbozz@att.blackberry.net
SMS 8633079244
Can private insurance companies complete on a level field with a government sponsored program? Now any question about it. Out there in the real world, not-for-profits compete against for-profits every day - very successfully.
I will go out on a limb here ( I used to work out on those very limbs for 30 years) and tell you that not-for-profit hospitals “make more money” than for-profits. The term “make more money is complex. I know personally of many NFP’s whose retained earnings make the FP across the street look like a piggy bank. 501(c)(3) hospitals are “required” to accept a % of CHARITY PATIENTS each year. What they do is simply write-off the uncollectible as charity. It is hardly charity when you have done everything legal and illegal to collect, but cannot.
In many parts of the country, the most popular watering holes are exempt clubs like Moose, VFW, KOC, and many country clubs. Yet the for profits seem to do their share.
Just a s point of clarification - not-for-profit has to do with motive - not what actually comes into the till.
BC/BS can compete very well against the government. Most companies now sell Medicare Advantage accounts - which actually replaces Medicare as primary. I listened to a rep from BC/BS sell my elderly Dad such a policy - and he could not give a single “advantage”. But he sold the policy - because my Dad is 96 and not fully aware.
SO, if some of you believe that competing against the government is unfair - a bit of homework is in order.
With the current coalition in place - it’s now or never for healthcare reform. And if it turns out Not - remember there will be no Medicare. Should make all those anti Socialist’s happy. (As they dig through garbage for a bite to eat).
THE SCENE:
A FORTH GRADE CLASS, IN ANYTOWN,USA.
Teacher: Now class, we have these five books, which all of you are eager to take home. It will take about 5 days for each of you to fully read and comprehend the very interesting information about Mars. The problem is we only have 14 days of school remaining - and there are 20 of you. Now I am going to step out of the classroom, and I am giving you one hour to come up with a solution to our problem. Remember, it must be a plan which makes all of you happy. See you in one hour.
Nine year olds not capable of making such a plan? Think again. This actually happened last school year in a suburb of Orlando. The kids came up with a remarkable “sharing” arrangement. By the time of the final bell on the final day - everyone of these kids got to spend “sufficient” time reading and looking at the amazing pictures in the book.
Think Washington. 535 elected (plus shadows) members of our ADULT congress - all the time and money they need - and they “the task is just way over their heads”. Can’t do it. The don’t act adult. The don’t act like forth graders. As a matter of fact - observe a loosely run 1st grade - and that will be a mirror of congress.
I don’t like what he said. That bill would cost me votes with my people. REALLY - it makes me want to get aboard the next flight to Washington - get in the gallery - and them these rotten, criminal, lazy bums a piece of my mind. Two things. Congress is on vacation. (number 5 of 10) - and I would just get a night in the D.C. jail.
Where are the VOICES of the left? Talk radio - which I literally run from - and the leftovers from the Atwater School of Dirty Tricks remain. The country is said to be split down the middle. The right has Rush, Sean, Glen, Adam, Laura, Ann and at least one local in every town and village. Spitting out hate 24/7. Now let’s think - who do we have? MSNBC has come somewhat to the rescue - but look for GE to put the claps on that operation sooner rather that later. NBC News is already feeling the extreme heat, So how does Fox continue? We already answered that. They feed off the huge base built for them by aforementioned. Everyone from the right eventually gets ditched. Bill Press can hold his own - but he is doing local radio in California We need voices. MoveOn does a solid job - but they are known only by us - and pounded well into the Earth each day by the wing-nuts.
Fixing healthcare in America is not optional. I heard one questioner ask “where in the Constitution does it say we must have full coverage?” It doesn’t. The founders knew those who followed would take care of problems as the arose. As an insured - I may not be if my rates continue to climb - to cover the cost of paying for those not covered. I would like to get Rush and his team to go to an inner-city ER and spend a few nights. I don’t think they have any idea what goes on. Actually - it does not need to be inner-city. The picture at a “nice” suburban ER will get the point across.
Finally, there is the admitted conflict for-profit insurance carriers have. I could not work in that situation. On the one hand, the owners want every dime of profit they can get. On the other - patients want and need care. Most are there through no fault of their own. Yes, some are. The number of persons over the age of 50 who have no medical insurance is nominal. Layoffs, being dropped because the carrier “felt like dropping them”, pre-conditions. There are the real reason these people use the ER.
Congress vs. forth graders. It really is that simple.
I forced myself to “sit” through Sen. Specter’s town-hall meeting. One thing was apparent. Some of the participants read two or three pages of the House bill, and asked questions pertaining to those pages out of context. Certainly there are provisions in the House bill which are going to need “washing” by the Senate. The bottom line from the town-hall: No one changed anyone’s mind about anything.
I implore President Obama to find a way to get sufficient TV time to do a sit down with his own advisors and representatives from the various groups protesting various provisions. I would also like to see folks like the CEO’s of some insurance companies, hospitals, the AMA present. How much good would come from it? Little. But at least the President will have stood his ground and faced the opposition.
The reason little would come from it, is that person’s positions on healthcare are carved in stone. The only people with any real interest are the uninsured - and far from all of them are concerned. I know a family - father 56, mother 55 - empty nest. They refuse to purchase health insurance (he is eligible under a county coop) because the have been using the ER for thirty years with no problem at all. Oh they get threats from time to time - but have avoided bankruptcy. They brag that “I” pay his bills. Indeed I do.
When viewing or listening one of these meetings one always wishes they were present to respond. When these folks bounce the term Medicare and Medicaid around - because they are Socialistic - I would simply invite them to pull out. Don’t want it - don’t take it. Yes you will continue to pay.
Once again, just a reminder from my previous blog - go to Brave New Films and watch the video on the United Health Care CEO. He says NO to a little child who needs a procedure - then adds another wing to his mansion.
We have just begun to fight this battle against those who want no change in American healthcare. PLEASE watch this video from Brave New Films:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/brave-new-films-fight-back-against-health
Then go to United’s site: http://www.uhc.com/
Make contact. Emails are made difficult for obvious reasons. Use the phone. Ask to speak to Stephen Hemsley. You won’t. Leave a message.
Next visit : http://sickforprofit.com/
Sign-up. Do what you can.
Are obscenely wealthy insurance companies the only blame for our healthcare mess? NO. It happens they hold first place. Next come hospitals - who believe they must have every piece of ultra expensive equipment. More beds - with a 65% utilization rate. Retained earnings which would be illegal in most businesses. Not for profits calling delinquent accounts charity. Hospital Administrators making medical decisions every day - based on the bottom line.
Plenty of blame, but the Hemsley’s are alpha. Let’s make them trail the pack.
Is it the world or just America? “IT” being the wave of idiocy we are witnessing. When the Nuts of the right lost the White House to Bill Clinton - they went completely off their nut. Remember the hate? Rush: “Chelsea is the ugliest kid in America”. The Clintons’ had committed many murders. On and on. Day after day. Hillary’s cow purchase. Whitewater. Led ironically by Rush, they spent eight years having nothing to do each day but get up and see how hight they could raise the blood pressure. One large, dumb group of looneys then. AND NOW? “They are backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk”
DEATHERS
BIRTHERS
Nothing else need be said about the truly mental defectives making up those two groups. I guarantee the average IQ to be in the moron class.
Then there is the “We will agree with nothing this President says, does,or proposes. Never”. Real fine example of the loyal opposition. Same deal. Right wing nuts just completely drive off the cliff when the lose. Must be inborn. Inbred.
I was born and raised, to 18, in a state which can claim a majority of its “folks” belong to the groups discussed. Due to having parents who saw the light early - I was able to get out. I have not been in the state for many years - but let me absolutely assure you of this: Ride up and down the highways and into the “living areas” of this state today - and you will find a huge majority who are Deathers and Birthers. Also that someone with a darker skin tone has no rights in America. Not even in 2009.
They are led - in the literal since - by Rush, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, etc. No newspapers. No internet. Just Rush. They know one thing - hate. HATE if a person is of color. HATE if a person is not So. Baptist. HATE if someone worked hard and made more that $50,000. HATE anyone different in any single way. At this hour they are being rounded up by the GOP groups who take them to various town-hall meetings to disrupt.
So here we are. No, even after the election I knew it was going to get extremely ugly. Been there - seen that. Now the groups who who would never have voted for Obama are answering the call of the so-called “regular Republicans” to preach and yell hate.
In the coming months and years, we who made this network into what it became are going to be called upon to put our positions into action. What do we do when we see some “person” being chased by TV crews tell us the government is out to kill us? Smile?
Takes more friends. I am ready to come back here full-time and go where necessary. I am prepared to shed blood should someone demand to extract it.
Let me hear from you.
Some things never change. Haven’t we all heard that all our lives? I sometimes wondered what the “some things” were. As time as passed, I now have at least a clue as to what most o f them are.
I don’t eat Big Mac’s anymore. Great sandwich – but some say not healthy. Is anything? But I did have one a few weeks ago – and by golly – it had not changed. Kids still love to jump water puddles. Dogs still rule humans.
I have reinforced what I already knew in the last three months: Folks, especially politicians never change. They hate to lose. They will do just about anything to get even.
Republicans. Lord I remember those long summer evening talks on the front porch (I had not input – I was just a fixture) of my parent’s Republicans friends saying exactly the same thing they are saying today. “Can’t trust those tax and spend Democrats”
Fast-forward forty years. Barack Obama is the newly elected Democrat. The GOP is beside itself with anger and frustration. They are a part which now points to people like Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Mitt Romney – and a cast of 10’s – as their leaders. If Sarah Palin is not the dumbest public official I have ever known of – well, disregard. She is the dumbest.
Now, the Republicans just cannot get on board with this very special President. Their decision? JUST SAY NO. No Barack don’t speak with the enemy. No Barack please just let the economy slide. No Barack don’t try to cover everyone with quality health-care. No Barack, don’t get a dog. NO, NO Barack. You might look good and WE can’t have that.
I do now honestly believe that members of congress, both houses, who identify as Republicans – have adopted Rush’s position: THEY HOPE AMERICA FAILS. It is pitiful to see John McCain toddle to a microphone to denounce the man who dared beat him.
Republicans do not disagree on principle. Hell, they have had no principle since ………………. I forget. Small government? Nope, we have the congress from 2000 to 2006 that defeats that silly slogan. Socialists? Let any Republican sponsor a bill to abolish Social Security. My TV is new – I would surly have heard it. Health care? Only if the drug companies are fully protected. Keep the government out of our lives? No, they want into the bedrooms.
So they chip away. Chip, as in chip. American’s want everything yesterday. W Bush took eight years of misgovernment and lies to dig his huge hole. Now we hear rumblings that the independents believe the Obama Administration should have every thing fixed.
Hey GOP: Don’t hate America. Don’t hope we fail. Join in. Help. It will feel odd at first, but you might come to like it.
