I would like to thank the guests that showed up at our humble home last night, bringing gifts, food, plum wine and plum grappa...YUM! Stephanie Shellabarger, Lois and Steve Webster, Nicola Yarbrough, Joan Rosati , Daniel Herman who rushed home from work and my son Sean O'Brien who even managed to do his homework. We had a blast and the speech was amazing. Put it simply...I love my president and everything he is willing and does stand for. Namely we the people. On facebook, Traci Kelly of Equal Time Radio posted a Link about Rep Joe Wilson who heckled President Obama:
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/09/10/obama-speech-disrupter-a-health-industry-darling/
Were we all not shocked by that? President Obama is always such a cool cucumber that is it very surprising when people are rude and even obnoxious about him. It is such a strange thing. My husband who is very quiet and humble himself said about Wilson "how do we fire that guy?" we need to get him out. At the time it felt like what he was doing was not only rude but illegal...
We sat through many speech of President Bush and he was not heckled. Democrats I believe as a rule are more polite.
The link that Traci submitted on Facebook points out that Rep Joe Wilson was paid thousands and thousands of dollars by the insurance industry as well as others. It is simply sickening. We see him as a "purchased" disrupter. Bought and paid for by the industries and not the people he is elected to help and protect. It makes us sick, except we cannot get sick because we cannot afford our health insurance premiums as a small contractor, self-employed.
Go Barack!
We know some progressives are upset because we will not have single payor option and immediately...but we recognize we want evolution and not revolution and President Obama is making headway, especially we hope into the hearts of middle America who have been the victims of fear mongering by people like Representative Joe Wilson.
Keeping Americans well and healthy should be considered a patriotic duty. A healthy and well America is a strong America. Please spread the word about Joe Wilson.
This past weekend my son went to the Washington State Fantasy Renaissance Faire and had a great time playing a game called "boffering." Boffering is essentially a renaissance fantasy game where people make or buy foam covered weapons and engage in battle and it is great fun. Due to the fact our family at this time does not have health insurance we have to be conscious of getting hurt or ill so we always caution him to be careful. We do have some savings for medical bills but it is not nearly enough. Later in the week he was invited to a local boffering group at Lake Wapato Park in Tacoma. We met some great kids and adults, all polite and all interested in renaissance history and weapons.
As a parent I like boffering because it is a computer game come to life but the kids and adults get alot of exercise. At this game we met a couple of young men that helped my son play and even game him the foam weapons to use. Later as dusk fell we offered them a ride home as they invited my son to come to a practice later in the week so he could improve his skills. One of the young men was walking to the Econo-Lodge on South Tacoma Way. His dad was laid off from his job, and his mom who has lupus has breast cancer. Due to the fact she had lupus and was laid off from her job earlier in the year she could not get health insurance for a pre-existing condition. Her boss, she says cried when she laid her off. Due to the recession she was laid off as the newest employee but hopes to be hired back when one of the older employees retires.
She is receiving treatment for breast cancer and paying out of pocket. The minimal care they received last year cost the family $58 thousand dollars, they had a rambler in a nice neighborhood. Her husband who is a concrete contractor until fairly recently could make about $4000.00 a week during the busy season.
Due to the economic recession and layoffs they could not pay for the medical treatment and keep their home, so they lost their home. They then were living in a 5th wheel on a friend's property but were kicked out when the City of Tacoma said this was a code violation. They have lived on the street at times, bouncing between friends but do not have family to help them. Currently they live in a motel and today dad went to a job for $40.00 for the whole day. Their son who was so helpful to my son was laid off from his job so they are living on his unemployment and basically waiting for a contract with Bruce Titus to start so they can get back into an apartment. They have lost everything and daily life is very hard.
This young man's mom can only work for a few hours at a time because she is so ill. Had they had health insurance they would have had enough savings to pay the mortgage and keep a roof over their heads. They have contacted every social service agency locally for help but the words are the same...we have waiting list...we cannot help you. This young man's mom does not want to be on the drugs provided by DSHS doctors, Oxycotin and other morphine drugs that make it more difficult for her to function so she pays $45.00 to see a doctor up near Seattle who treats her with less invasive drugs. Sometimes she is in terrible pain but does not want to take narcotics and get addicted as she is a person who does not even drink alcohol.
Many days there is no food in the house and they have to take a bus to a food bank. The young man is still kind and upbeat and praying his mother will get well and his dad will get back to work. Every working American who does not have health insurance could be in the same boat, and even those Americans who do have health insurance. We are all one illness away from bankruptcy and ruin and living in a motel not knowing what the next day would bring. We know as a family if we get sick we will have to get well or basically kill ourselves in order to leave something for the care of our son. As we seek additional employment there are no positions available where health care is available. We are in favor of a single payor system and this is one of the main reasons we support President Obama.
This is a true story and I spoke and met the woman and her family today. They are hardworking Americans who have lost everything due to medical bills and no ability to get health insurance.
Notes taken by: lori dye e-mail: lori@pairadyes.com
David Loud - Community Liaison for Healthcare, Office of 7th District Rep Jim McDermott
John Burbank - Executive Director, Economic Opportunity Institute
Lynne Nguyen - Community Organizer, The Washington Community Action Network
David McLanahan - Physicians for a National Health Program
Bev Spears Facilitating - Legislative Director, Washington Community Action Network
David Loud:
• HR2 is a real down payment on our effort towards universal access for all americans
• Now hearings are underway with key interest groups - for example the House Ways and Means Committee - J.McDermott’s Committee
• Groups coalescing outside of Washington - HC for America Now and the Leadership Conference for American Healthcare
• HR676 - medicare for all, J. Conyers, Physicians for National Health & Labor. J.McDermott co-sponsor
• HR1200 - american health security act, J. McDermott. Drives decision making on how each state will deliver the benefit
• B.Sanders will introduce the 1st ever single-payer bill to the Senate
• Opponents maintain that a public option will result in a single-payer system
• It appears the most intense fight over healthcare this year will be over whether there will be a public option at all.
• A public option could move us in the direction of a universal solution in stages
• Advises that single-payer advocates should 1) keep pushing the merits of this approach, 2) shed light on the benefits of this solution, 3) need to achieve unity with public option to pursue common ground.
"Healthcare reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year." - President Obama speaking to the congress, Feb. 24, 2009.
Curious about the different Healthcare options being discussed today?
Wondering what President Obama’s healthcare plan entails?
Interested in supporting legislation to move America toward health care for all?
The following presenters will discuss the different healthcare policy options and answer questions from the audience.
David Loud, Rep. Jim McDermott's Community Liaison for Health Care
John Burbank, Executive Director, Economic Opportunity Institute
Lynne Nguyen, Community Organizer, The WA Community Action Network
David McLanahan, M.D., Physicians for a National Health Program
Facilitator: Bev Spears, Legislative Director, WA CAN
An open mic time will be available for statements and questions from the audience.
A Caesar Salad and Dinner Roll will be provided.
Greenwood Senior Center 7pm 525 N 85th
This meeting is sponsored by the 65th Street Change Gang - A Neighborhood Manifestation of Hope and Change. For more information please contact Richard Hodgin 206-729-8901.
This is the first time I've checked back in a while (since Election night!). I am happy to see folks are still active here on the blogs. I look forward to participating more here as well as reading what others have to say, and we sure have plenty to "talk" about!! Warm regards, TGirl71
Register at Find Event
We are in the midst of setting up County.CAN groups under Washington.CAN and want to make sure everyone on MyBO takes a moment and registers. We will be sending out a post as soon as we are completed so that you can begin planning in your county and set up similar meetings on February 7th. If you are in or around King County please consider attending this meeting:
Event Name: CAN Group Organizing Meeting
Fix the Economy, Now!
Layoffs, home foreclosures, stagnating wages, benefit cuts, bankruptcies, vanishing retirement security and more. We are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Jobs with Justice and other groups have been mobilizing to demand strong, immediate action to create jobs and restructure our economy to work for everyone, not only the people at the top.
President Obama and Congressional leaders are developing a recovery and reinvestment plan that addresses immediate economic needs, creates jobs and invests in the infrastructure America needs for recovery. It will also invest in America's families and America's workforce by ensuring that states can fund the services they depend on, including health care, public safety and education.
Tell Congress to pass the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Send a message here and CALL using this special toll-free number: 866-544-7573.
This plan will not fix all our problems and is not the end of the campaign, but it is an essential immediate step that will create jobs and invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, schools and health care.
While some progressive economists believe this plan will not be big enough or bold enough to stem the crisis, conservatives in Congress are trying to block the plan, apparently copying the Herbert Hoover strategy of responding to crisis by doing less, rather than more. Some Republicans have argued for more CEO tax breaks, rather than funding for unemployment insurance or food programs for hungry children.
Don't let them block the first step towards recovery. Don't let Congress sit idly by while millions more Americans lose their jobs and homes.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will do just that. Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's Economy.com and former adviser to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, concluded that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will add 4 million jobs in the United States by the end of 2010 and that "only concerted, comprehensive and consistent government action will instill the confidence necessary to restore financial stability and restart economic growth."
Send a message here and CALL using this special toll-free number: 866-544-7573.
Below is the sample letter:
Subject: Pass the Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
Layoffs, home foreclosures, stagnating wages, benefit cuts, bankruptcies, a collapsing retirement security and more. This economic crisis requires bold, immediate action that addresses immediate needs, creates jobs and rebuilds the infrastructure of our workforce and country.I urge you to support the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as a first essential step towards making our economy work for everyone.
Sincerely,Crystal Ainardi
Instructions:Click here to take action on this issue or choose the "Reply to Sender" option on your email program.
Tell-A-Friend:Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-Friend!
The full Democratic Caucus is set to vote on Joe Lieberman's Chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee next week. Write to your Senators, or call them, today!
Here's what I sent to WA Senators Murray and Cantwell today:
Dear Senator Murray: First, thank you for visiting our Canvassing Kickoff with Howard Dean and Governor Gregoire on the Saturday before the Election!
I am writing, as a constituent from West Seattle, to beg you on bended knee to vote to remove Senator Joe Lieberman (Joe Lieberman for Joe Lieberman party, CT) from his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee when the Democratic Caucus convenes next week to vote on this issue. While I'm sure you're receiving plenty of emails, letters, and phone calls from constituents urging Sen. Lieberman's ouster from his committee Chair assignment for more partisan reasons (and his broken promise that he would support Senator McCain's candidacy, but refrain from attacking Senator Obama, is certainly a breach of faith with the Party, the Caucus, and his own word), there's something just as important to consider, if not more so:
Joe Lieberman has been incredibly ineffectual in his role as chair of the Homeland Security committee - particularly when it comes to the role he, and the committee, were supposed to play in standing up to the shameful actions of the Bush White House during these past years. Unlike its much more effective and active counterpart in the House, the Committee, under Joe Lieberman, failed to challenge the Bush Administration on its failures and offenses on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the "war on terror", torture, Hurricane Katrina, and a host of other issues the Committee was charged to oversee and investigate. It could be argued that Joe Lieberman's inaction as head of the Committee enabled and shielded a whole laundry list of failures of the Bush Administration, resulting in countless wasted tax dollars - and lives.
But there's ample reason to be suspicious, given his past behavior patterns, that an embarrassed, embittered Joe Lieberman may abuse his Chairmanship to "go after" the Obama Administration in a way he abjectly failed to do under the Bush Administration.
While Joe Lieberman's personal and political conduct during the Presidential election of 2008 (and his campaigning in support of other Republican candidates to the House and Senate in the recent past) are shameful enough, it's his dereliction of duty, lack of leadership, and failure to fulfill his role as chair of his Committee that should be the primary rationale for stripping him of his Committee assignment.
Let Joe Lieberman continue to caucus with the Democrats if he so chooses. Offer him Chairmanship of a different Committee - something that Mr. "Agreed with us on everything but the War" can be trusted with. But he's been an embarrassingly ineffective Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, and has failed at his duties in that role.
It's time to give someone else a chance to do a better job. If I dared to exhibit such lackluster performance and failure at my job, I would have been fired a long time ago.
Please vote to strip Joe Lieberman of his Committee Chair assignment.
Chris Roy
Precinct SEA 34-1545 / 34th District Democrats
---- 15th Avenue Southwest
Seattle WA 98136
206-_-__ nullemail@nullemail.com
I am happy to say goodbye to the administration and politics of the last eight years. I hope to remember this election for my life, for I did what I could to talk to all my neighbors, friends, and community about my support for Sen. Obama. I am glad that you all also feel that he is the right person at this time to lead our country into renewable energy, close the war in Iraq, finish the war in Afghanistan, redo the 2000 congress’s failure of legislating Wall Street, and most importantly, end the fear mongering tactics and divisive politics of the last eight years.
“Yes We Can” means that we all must work toward achieving these efforts. In my 37th year of life, I now have fully awoken and feel a responsibility to community and country. For all that our history has done to bring us today, I refuse to let it go to religious idealism over science and facts, corporate over public interest, and carbon emissions over renewable energy.
Join with me in making sure change happens.
Sincerely,
Gary
Last night was beyond historic and amazing. Tears of joy streamed down the faces of all the people that I love and those that I do not yet know at the election party I attended last night. That evening was the greatest election I have ever witnessed and oen of the best nights of my life. Thank you to everyone who worked towards this. I am going to plan on going to the inauguration in January. Anyone else going?
Yes we did!
I just heard the news that Senator Obama's grandmother has passed away... All of our best thoughts and good wishes go out to the Obama Family. With just hours to go before Election Day, this is particularly hard for a man that has lost all of the people that have raised him.
The sacrafice that Senator Obama has made for all of us is beyond comprehension... Thank you for everything and we all will make you proud tomorrow.
There are still LARGE numbers of people who have not yet turned in their vote by mail ballots. It's not too late to benefit from this.
Watch the video that shows how to vote by mail. http://wa-democrats.org/vote
or for the same video on vimeo:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/voting/absentee/howtoabsentee.aspx
Chinese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF1M2Mn75nE&fmt=18
Hearing impaired: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JnFoeZgwOA
