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
Snakes are generally misunderstood. Humans are not on the food chain of even the most poisonous ones. But they slink about on the ground, so some folks fear them.
I come here today to tell you of a new snake in our great union. Introduced here by third-world operatives. Funny thing about this snake - he walks upright. I kid you not. Has legs. No guts - but legs.
His name is JOE LIEBERMAN. He sound be considered armed and dangerous. He is a traitor. Lives in Connecticut and lives on piles of money left in his trash can by insurance executives. Well I presume they use runners. Joe the snake craws out just before dawn and gets the stash.
Snakes, even the Eastern Diamond Back which we have here in Florida, will not strike a human unless threatened. As I understand it, the rich cats at the insurance giants called Joe back to Connecticut and told him in certain terms - do nothing to make us less rich. If you do, you won’t get yours.
So Joe goes on TV and tells the wonderful worms (related) at Fox that HE will prevent a vote on health care unless HE (and Fox, and the insurance boys) like the bill. Trust me they won’t.
Joe - get set to take a seat “around the corner” at all future committee meetings - because you are about to be striped of all Democrat credentials.
Joe, you stink. Literally. You are less than a man. Well - we already have established you are a snake. Doing it for the good folks? HA My new crusade will be to reveal the amount of money you take from insurance companies. Below the table also. There are ways Joey. We call them snitches. They are getting in line. Better though that you be eaten by a larger snake. There to be digested in the tummy.
That would be all except for a story which just hit my Blackberry. Old man Murdoch of News Corp - Fox News - says he wants to be paid by Google for any story brought up about his children on any Google search. Google of course is not going to give him a cent. The reporter (bless him) asked the big M why he didn’t just remove Fox from Google - which he can do tomorrow. M turned ashen, coughed, and said maybe he will. That’s the boy. I would love to Google without Fox items. Actually few make it now - but why have any?
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.
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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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
For all those many months - talking, calling, walking, and writing on behalf of Barack Obama - I refused to let my mind drift to a horrible place - called by a horrible voice. I did not want to go to that place. Had I not been there many times? Were not the sins of my nation - those sins - a thing of the past? Yes. Yes they are I told myself. America is ready to once again teach the world that we are as good as those words written in our Constitution. Election night, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - I wept along with tens of thousands as President Elect Barack Obama walked to that microphone on a beautiful Chicago night. Yes, America was back.
The joy of the previous evening gave way to sleep. It was not the peaceful sleep I expected. There was that voice again. Deep. Far away. Real.
The newly elected Barack Obama made preparations for a new administration. The thousands of us who visited the Obama web site several times daily began to pursue other activities. Few, if any, of us would be moving to Washington.
During those days between election and January 20, 2009 I made a trip. Not by car, or plane, or train. Not even by walking. No - this was a trip of the mind. I yielded to my weakness. I answered the voice. I visited my and my country’s past. Things were not going the way I anticipated on that recent November night. I expected folks like the Rush Limbaugh’s and the Sean Hannity’s of the world to spew their normal hate. And so they did. There was more. Much more.
The twenty-first century. September 2009. A white congressman comes to his feet to call the American President a liar. In a formal joint session of congress. A white “pastor” openly hopes that Barack Obama get brain cancer and die just like Senator Kennedy. Deathers. Is it even a word? Fed by persons of means and voice - the very same elements of society who were in Selma - and a hundred other places - “way back” in the 1960’s - were going to go back. Back to the place the voice had called me to. But their’s would be a physical trip. Town-hall meetings I believe they are calling their chosen venues.
Tea Parties. Led by Dick Armey - thousands gather to shout in protest at every single action taken and word spoken my the president. The former economic hero of the GOP suddenly believes the government spends too much. If I may inquire Mr. Armey - where were you and your tea parties during the Bush years? Pardon me for answering for you. You were silent. You were nowhere. The president was white. A “good old boy from Texas”.
Isn’t the press wonderful? Don’t they do a marvelous job asking the hard questions? While you are laughing - here is an example. When one of the tea drinkers rants incoherently about the government taking over everything - why would a real journalist not ask the speaker for a few examples. Which government service would he or she cut tomorrow? Know this. It would not be any service which in any way benefited the party goer. Want to give up your Social Security check? How about that new bridge being built which will reduce your drive-time in half to see the grandkids? Medicare? Surely you can do without that! Lord knows you can do without that new school - so your kids can vacate the rat infested one. We know the drill. Cut anything that comes nowhere near me or mine.
And now for the main act. A vast majority of these Deathers, Birthers, and Tea Party goers are not going places or speaking out because they suddenly realized the government is large. What they do realize is the large government is now being led by a Black man - and what a golden opportunity to revisit the 60’s - under cover.
God. I hear much about this entity. I have heard it since I was a month old. Ever wonder what God thinks of all of us? The good pastor who wishes a painful death upon a man because he is not white. Tell us God - is he one of your’s? All those who gather for tea in the name of big government protest. Are these your folks God? The South Carolina member of congress? The hate filled crew at Fox? I of course cannot judge. I will only say that if there is a God in Heaven - and in the unlikely event I should be invited - please tell me there will be no “preachers”. I could do without the Fox crew also. But who am I to make selections or suggestions? Let me answer. I am one American who thought we had crossed the racial divide. I am one American who weeps - that we have not.
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.
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.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of name-calling. Particularly when it comes to folks like Rush and his merry band of Deathers and Birthers. Now, wasn’t that easy!
One thing which always comes to the front in these domestic political battles is good old fashioned hypocrisy. “Health-care for all is not what our founders had in mind”. How many times have we heard that one. One rather intelligent young lady appeared at one of the town halls pointing this “fact” out to whomever it was. She was later interviewed by Larry O’Donnell on MSNBC. As I said she did not seem rabid, but was totally confused as to what she really thinks of a “socialized” America. Larry did an excellent job of questioning without badgering. One direct question drives it all home. “Then you would favor abandoning Social Security and Medicare - since the founders clearly had not thought that far ahead. Total frustration on the part of the young lady.
When those who want the system we have in place left untouched say so - they then have no answer at all for what we do with a failing Medicare - not to mention Social Security. Therein lies the biggest problem we have facing healthcare reform. A huge number of American’s love the system as is. They are working for a an employer who picks up most of the tab, they have or will have Medicare. They see the docs the wish to see. Now ask what about those not so lucky. Many times I get the feeling that some believe the uninsured are so by desire. We know that is not so.
Let me just tell you my own case. I was employed by the same employer for 30 years. I carried and excellent major medical plan into retirement - the picked up Medicare. My “network” of providers is huge - so no problem there. I pay 40% of the premiums on the policy - and each year the rate climbs at an unbelievable rate. There are more reasons that time to discuss them - but one of the major culprits are the uninsured. Don’t we all realize someone pays for them? Right. If we have insurance, our rates go up dramatically to cover those lost charges. And for many other reasons.
Hospital rates go up, for the same reason, but they also rise due to the competition among hospitals to be number one in an area. They spend money on new equipment as if they were buying aspirin. From their point of view - profit and not-for-profit - if they don’t have the latest update to the equipment; then they may lose a patient to one who does.
Testing. When you and I go into the doc to see why Part Z-j88 of our body is giving us trouble - we want tests. Lots of them. Test everything. Get to the truth. But the simple fact is, 50% of those tests are completely unnecessary. Fault? Primarily the patient’s, because if some unordered test later would prove to be the big one - the doc may as well sign-over all. Defense. Patient’s force their docs to play defense.
Another personal example. Sorry. My father is 96, living in an assisted living facility. Took him to the doc last week (who happens to be a cardiologist - I know not why he is acting as primary care). Within the hour we were there, my Dad was set up for three rather dramatic test over a 10 day period. All extremely expensive. I asked the doc point blank that if test A reveals condition Z - what next. “Are you considering putting this 96 year old on the table and doing open heart?” No, of course not. Then what is your plan if condition Z is encountered? Thee was no plan. Long story short, I declined on behalf of my father to do the tests - unless and until Plan B is presented.
ONLY truly open, non-yelling, dialog is going to even have a chance at getting to the health-care crisis. If only one group of the major players refuse to talk - then we are in for God know what. In the current situation the non-players are the insurance companies and............the patients.
I don’t have a solid answer. I do know that so long as talk-radio continues to be the focal point of the opposition - we simply will go no where. After all it was Rush among a few others - who outwardly wish for the failure of Obama/America.
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.
Hey Polk for Obama -
Anybody out there? Is anyone doing any work to support health care reform? I can't just sit here and let this garbage happen. Let me know if you are involved and maybe I can join you. If your not involved and want to do something, let's get together and get something rolling in Polk County!!! I can't find a darn thing.
If we don't stand up this thing might go down in flames - hijacked once again by corporate interests and the right. We learned last November about strength in numbers... We can't leave him hangin'people.
Peace,
Danette May danjam1@tampabay.rr.com
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.
It must be a very tough job running a twenty-four hour, seven days per week news channel. Actually we can remove “must be”. These folks prove it every single second they are on the air. And that would be always.
Never mind the seventh grade grammatical errors made by the “journalists”. Sorry seventh-graders; that was an unfair shot. Now - for all waiting to attack my grammar. I would only point out that I am no journalist. I am not paid the big bucks to write and speak. English. I also happen to like fragments. How about that sentence, or non-sentence in technical correctness, begun with “And?”
I digress. It is not grammar I wish to discuss. That would involve an entire blog unto itself. Drive slow.
No, the point of this rant will be the relentless search for topics. I like MSNBC – but have you noticed how they simply close for business at 11:00pm each Friday? (Just to be fair, they now are doing a little on Saturday mornings). For the most part however – there shall be no “news” on weekends. They dig through the barrels all week to find something – anything to babble about. I have this vision of someone walking into the room at 11:00. “OK, folks. That’s it for another week. We will be running Lockup and the Life and Times of Brooke Shields”. Seems they rerun those two in order to drive people mad. Over, and over and over. BUT!! 6:00am Monday – there is news again. Rejoice.
CNN and that other one don’t let weekends disrupt them. In the case of “that other one” – they exist in a constant state of disruption. F.. F….. Fo…..OH HELL – Fox.
Saturday morning. Ironically MSNBC is on. I did so much want to watch killers and rapists mingling around a prison yard. While fixing my egg, I heard the “anchor” say that President Obama “did not say the word terrorist once”. I burned the egg. I put my head on the counter. Did she just inform me of the “failure” of Barack Obama to use a specific word? She did. I was not particularly hungry.
I use this unfortunate person who was simply reading what was in front of her. Hardly her fault.
No, the fault in reality lies with all of us. Easy to put it on the backs of the news channels – but they after all sell what sells. However, I can’t let then off that easily. Were the news outlets to bring aboard people who actually take journalism seriously and let them do some real work outside the 22nd Century sets – perhaps we might get a little substance.
I have recalled before – the old days – when NBC did something they called “NBC White Paper”. Knowledgeable people, minus marvelous sets, told us the facts on various subjects. Taxation. The “conflict” in Korean. Now I say bring us the facts – fully realizing that facts are always subject to not being facts. But they tried. We listened.
Can you picture Contessa Brewer giving us an hour long dissertation on the operation of the world economy? I pick on Contessa – well – because she deserves it. But I can think of not one person at any of the networks who could – even if given months to prepare – do such a program. Forget the world economy – that is a stretch. Let’s just settle on Social Security.
The President did not say the word terrorist. Will that be the discussion of this lovely weekend when we have some 50 World Cup Qualifiers to enjoy? I’m going to Starbucks, since I missed breakfast. Instead of my usual Starbuck’s greeting – “Hey, did you hear the president did not say terrorist?” Yes I did. I’ll have a Soy Latte. Grande.
