Many people want to go to heaven but many people don't want to put forth the effort to practice the physical responsibilities that will get us here and I'll be the first to say that "the right activities" take commitment, persistence and practice. And this is taking into consideration that you believe that heaven does exist! I find that fighting for Democratic principals isn't any more simple.
Obama has a lot of responsibility since he came into office. Freedom doesn't come free, people who are going to Afghanistan is requiring us to share sacrifices to help them get to their victorious goals.
I am not a hawk, quite the contrary, however we need to get our butts out of Afghanistan and Iraq remembering that we owe the people in these countries those promises we made . . . getting out and leaving the people whole isn't an easy task but requires sustainability.
Tea Party members are projecting all that they can to be a force of negative force towards Obama. They are against any progress coming from him. The Republicans are looking for the unpopular war to continue, they are energized by the unemployment numbers falling, they aren't supporting the healthcare insurance reform because their politicial leaders are receiving huge contributions and donations when they run for office. This doesn't excuse those Democrats to too are fighting the insurance options and watering down the initial national healthcare bill. Whistleblower Wendell Potter, the former CIGNA marketing executive has said, "if there isn't a public option included in the insurance reform, then tha insurance companies have won" the healthcare battle. Many of us heard this and we believe since Potter wrote many of the policies that the insurance companies practice, that he should know truth from fiction.
Just another obstacle that OFA will have to overcome! It is profoundly amazing how so many people sat eight years watching our country go into absolute free fall and said nothing. And now that we finally have an opportunity to apply wisdom, commitment and arriving at the truth, the masses want to trash President Obama and those still seeking change. We have always understood that change is gradual, requires time and persistence through: Voter registration, phone calling, writing letters to our politicians, letters to the editor, petition signing, community education, video presentations, resolutions, rallies, subject events, voting smart and continual strategic action... May God provide Obama the guidance and wisdom to continue making decisions that lead to international alliances and to win the battle in Afghanistan and Iraq. OFA understands that there is no substitute to "victory". . . Obama has a strong hand to play and we hope he can find the money, resources and sustainability to pull our nation through . . .
Happy Thanksgiving . . . Peace out, Minerva and Todd Hoover, Santa Clarita Valley
It may be considered a Bible war going on in the internet but ladies and gentlemen when someone markets teddy bears, t-shirts, with Psalms 109:8 on it in reference to President Barack Obama, it is time to turn up the serious valve and ask is this an American Jihad and where are the religious leaders when you need them to stand up and exhibit contentiousness against such a decree!
And what is the CIA, FBI and Secret Service doing about any of this?
Last night we were happy to attend a lively celebratory gathering of a few local Castaic residents and their children, who were pleased that the election process was over.
No one ever said phone banking, literature dropping, knocking on doors, sign posting, writing letters to the editor, and attending house parties; community forums; teacher meetings; and eating on the run aren't exhausting. But when you have a candidate you believe in and they hugely win, you begin to see the overall wealth in "participating in the process". . . You have in affect, effected the "change that you believe in". Sound familiar?
Just the day before rising at 4:30PM Tuesday, November 3rd for poll working at 6PM to 9PM seemed to be a calling of the truly willing. The sound of shower water awoke me and slowing I shuffled for my bath robe.
A lady arrived at 7pm the first to cast her votes for the local Castaic School Board and local Newhall Water Board candidates. She was overly cheerful. Don't you love morning people! Overall 3% of the total electorate went out to vote in LA County. Makes you think about CNN news portraying poor nations clamouring and excited to be able to go the polls, standing in line through rain, snow, sleet at daybreak heavily clothed and expelling warmth to frosty air, to have the advantage of selecting their leaders. it is important to them. We are either spoiled, reckless, or presumptious that someone will speak to our concerns when we don't go vote.
Why didn't people realize their local elections are where their true political power begins. Last I heard, we still have the ability to take two hours off of our jobs to go vote, it is a federal mandate.
Have people forgotten that little American caveat.
But in spite of these concerns we wish to say:
CONGRATULATIONS TO ATTORNEY SUSAN CHRISTOPHER, the original OBAMA GIRL for our region
and
LAURA PEARSON, AND VICTOR TORRES, whom we met for the first time!
So we soldier on for the next election, the next campaign and the next nail biting returns . . . being proactive in the change that we believe in . . . Peace out, Minerva & Todd Hoover,
Scientists have discovered how to “read” minds by scanning brain activity and reproducing images of what people are seeing — or even remembering.
Researchers have been able to convert into crude video footage the brain activity stimulated by what a person is watching or recalling.
The breakthrough raises the prospect of significant benefits, such as allowing people who are unable to move or speak to communicate via visualisation of their thoughts; recording people’s dreams; or allowing police to identify criminals by recalling the memories of a witness.
However, it could also herald a new Big Brother era, similar to that envisaged in the Hollywood film Minority Report, in which an individual’s private thoughts can be readily accessed by the authorities.
Jack Gallant and Shinji Nishimoto, two neurologists from the University of California, Berkeley, last year managed to correlate activity in the brain’s visual cortex with static images seen by the person. Last week they went one step further by revealing that it is possible to “decode” signals generated in the brain by moving scenes.
In an experiment which has yet to be peer reviewed, Gallant and Nishimoto, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, scanned the brains of two patients as they watched videos.
A computer programme was used to search for links between the configuration of shapes, colours and movements in the videos, and patterns of activity in the patients’ visual cortex.
It was later fed more than 200 days’ worth of YouTube internet clips and asked to predict which areas of the brain the clips would stimulate if people were watching them.
Finally, the software was used to monitor the two patients’ brains as they watched a new film and to reproduce what they were seeing based on their neural activity alone.
Remarkably, the computer programme was able to display continuous footage of the films they were watching — albeit with blurred images.
In one scene which featured the actor Steve Martin wearing a white shirt, the software recreated his rough shape and white torso but missed other details, such as his facial features.
Another scene, showing a plane flying towards the camera against a city skyline, was less successfully reproduced. The computer recreated the image of the skyline but omitted the plane altogether.
“Some scenes decode better than others,” said Gallant. “We can decode talking heads really well. But a camera panning quickly across a scene confuses the algorithm.
“You can use a device like this to do some pretty cool things. At the moment when you see something and want to describe it to someone you have to use words or draw it and it doesn’t work very well.
“You could use this technology to transmit the image to someone. It might be useful for artists or to allow you to recover an eyewitness’s memory of a crime.”
Such technology may not be confined to the here and now. Scientists at University College London have conducted separate tests that detect, with an accuracy of about 50%, memories recalled by patients.
The discoveries come amid a flurry of developments in the field of brain science. Researchers have also used scanning technology to measure academic ability, detect early signs of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative conditions, and even predict the decision a person is about to make before they are conscious of making it.
Such developments may have controversial ramifications. In Britain, fMRI scanning technology has been sold to multinational companies, such as Unilever and McDonald’s, enabling them to see how we subconsciously react to brands.
In America, security agencies are researching the use of brain scanners for interrogating prisoners, and Lockheed Martin, the US defence contractor, is reported to have studied the possibility of scanning brains at a distance.
This would allow an individual’s thoughts and anxieties to be examined without their knowledge in sensitive locations such as airports.
Russell Foster, a neuroscientist at Oxford University, said rapid advances in the field were throwing up ethical dilemmas.
“It’s absolutely critical for scientists to inform the public about what we are doing so they can engage in the debate about how this knowledge should be used,” he said.
“It’s the age-old problem: knowledge is power and it can be used for both good and evil.”
More information about mind reading, go to:
http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/information-about-mind-reading
From: http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/global-protest-on-dec-10-human
Dear all,Global protest on Dec 10 (Human Rights Day) (some locations are possible on 12 Dec, Saturday) are under discussion.Please share your opinions by adding a comment.If you want to be an organizer of your local protest location, (Please apply protest permition from local authorities), please just comment to this post.If you want to see contacts and press release of "global protest on 14 Oct", Please go to: http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/list-of-protest-locations-andReports of Global protest on 14 Oct:http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/19-oct-2009-mailteamPhotos of previous protests: http://peacepink.ning.com/photo/albums/rally-or-demonstrationPress Release in 10 languages:http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/24-apr-2009-media-releases-inList of protest locations:Worldwide protest location: China(No street protest. Only Internet emails and websites promotion)Contact Person: SoleilmavisEmail: soleilmavis@yahoo.comWebsite: http://peacepink.ning.comOnline petition:Congress Alert: http://www.congress.org/soapbox/alert/14382691http://www.change.org/actions/view/ban_mind_controldirected_energy_...http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76416668535Press release in many languageshttp://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/24-apr-2009-media-releases-inUSAWorldwide Protest Location: Washington D.C.in front of the White HouseDate: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: Marc BurnellEmail: burnellmarc@yahoo.com (burnellmarc(a)yahoo.com)Tel: 202 528 2752Worldwide Protest Location: San Francisco, Californiathe Chronicle building , and city hallDate: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: Christine HarrisEmail: christinelynnharris@yahoo.com, christinelynnharris@hotmail.com, cococobella@yahoo.com(christinelynnharris(a)yahoo.com, christinelynnharris(a)hotmail.com, cococobella(a)yahoo.com)Tel: 415-235-6466 cGroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Targeted_Individuals/Worldwide Protest Location: Los Angeles, CaliforniaDate: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: KeithEmail: mgb.young@sbcglobal.net (mgb.young(a)sbcglobal.net)Contact Person: Wanda DEmail: lloydjameson@yahoo.com, wanda@lentroneletric.comlloydjameson(a)yahoo.com, wanda(a)lentroneletric.comWorldwide Protest Location: Philladelphia ReportDate: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: T. JosephineEmail: xposperps@yahoo.com (xposperps(a)yahoo.com)WEB: http://www.geocities.com/xposperps/http://emftorturechamber.blogspot.com/,Worldwide Protest Location: Houston Texas150 campbell, pasaden texas, 77502Date: 12 Dec 2009Contact Person: Ron PriceEmail: ibenscamed2@yahoo.com (ibenscamed2(a)yahoo.com)Tel: 713-473-0233 832-289-6378Worldwide Protest Location: Cincinnati, Ohio USAmeeting onlyLocation: Main Library, 800 Vine StreetTime: 10:30 amContact: Derrick Robinson - derrickrobinson@yahoo.comTel: 513-344-4113CanadaWorldwide Protest Location: Nanaimo BC Canada.city of BC (British Columbia).Date: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person:Debbie Newhook at: dbnewhook@yahoo.ca (dbnewhook(a)yahoo.ca)Stop Organized Stalking, NanaimoWebsite: http://osnanaimo.org http://www.iaacea.org/Worldwide Protest Location: Toronto, ON Canada.In front of the Legislative BuildingDate: 10 Dec 2009Contact person: Galina KurdinaEmail: helenkurdin@yahoo.ca (helenkurdin(a)yahoo.ca)EuropeWorldwide Protest Location: United KingdomTrafalgar Square, or in front of No.10 Downing Street, LondonDate: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: Winston SmithEmail: winston_smith_will_win@yahoo.co.uk (winston_smith_will_win(a)yahoo.co.uk)Paolo Fiori Email: paolo_bf@hotmail.com (paolo_bf(a)hotmail.com)Worldwide Protest Location: Poland(Probably no street protest. Only Internet emails. Maybe also websites promotion)Date: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: Andre LandbergEmail: andrelandberg@wp.pl (andrelandberg(a)wp.pl)Worldwide Protest Location: GERMANY(Probably no street protest. Only Internet emails. Maybe also websites promotion)Date: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: Swetlana SchuninsEmail: s-schunin@t-online.de (s-schunin(a)t-online.de)Association Against the Abuse of Psychophysical Weaponshttp://www.psychophysischer-terror.de.tl/http://www.volkstribune.de.tl/Worldwide Protest Location: INDIA(No street protest. Only Internet emails)Date: 10 Dec 2009Contact: Vijay KarthicEmail: vijayk_dsp@yahoo.com (vijayk_dsp(a)yahoo.com)Group: http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianTIs/
Journalist Jeff Greenfield responded to the ongoing battle from the media this week, when reporting, that the FOX NEW’S DEPARTMENT is being accused of being the research and communication’s arm of the Republican Party. He also says that “. . . Fox’s bottom-line has increased 13% since Obama came into office. So perhaps they are crying all the way to the bank”.
Obama accuses Fox News as appearing “to be more like a talk show format and not a news format”.
There is no question that the Rupert Murdoch owned conglomeration’s opinions predominately favor the far Right Republican agenda. So when the White House decides not to give more fuel to Fox’s perceived negativity and refuses to be on their programs, is this an exercise of free speech? On the other hand, is it an exercise in futility? The points of views coming from the White House will be interpreted as the voice of the Obama Administration no matter what the administration representative says when they appear on FOX. Being fair however, MSNBC has been called the most left in their presentation of Obama’s opinions. So to whom do we listen for the “true news story”? Nevertheless, who would that be?
Where do we find a news source that is truly balanced? Personally, I find I have to listen to them all and weigh what seems “logical”, but I was taught in journalism school and at the LA TIMES that politics are highly hinged in “manipulating emotions and the illusion”.
*Come join our JOINT BIPARTISAN SESSION
Please note the correct date for the William S. Hart School Board Forum is Wednesday, October 28, 2009. The Democratic Club of Santa Clarita Valley and the Democratic Alliance for Action and residents of the 37th and 38th Assembly District in the Santa Clarita Valley area will be hosting a joint candidate forum for the Hart School Board Race. We will be meeting at Vincenzo’s Pizza at 24504 ½ Lyons Avenue in Newhall on Lyons Avenue, please arrive early to socialize. Each candidate will be given an opportunity to talk about their campaign and priorities for the Hart School Board.
As of press time: Bob Jensen, Joe Messina, Suzan Solomon, and Linda Valdes confirmed that they will be present.
More importantly, you will have the opportunity to ask some of those burning questions, so you can decide who you want to “vote smart” for on Tuesday, November 3rd Election! We hope to see you there. For questions leave message at (661) 295-9318 or write: minwilli@gmail.com. All Polls open at 7AM and close at 8PM. Absentee ballots can be dropped off at the polls. You can bring your children with you when you vote. Question on where your polling site is call 800-481-8683 or visit: http://www.lavote.net
President Obama asked us to turn the page. He asked us to believe in the change that we deserved. I can’t believe that all this GOTV, letter writing, phone banking, poll tending, volunteering, home parties, restaurant presentations, cheerleading for a year and a ½ to get him in the winner’s circle is causing a rise in my cynical interpretation. We understand that Obama has to be a worldwide respected, flexible American representation. We understand he wants to include all of America. We know deep reform in healthcare is necessary and a given. More than 75% of Americans want healthcare reform that includes the public option, universal healthcare, and single payer, whatever you want to call it. President Obama experienced the downside through his own mother’s dying. He had to know that there would be an all and out war with dysfunctional profit making, no holds bar, hundreds of billions healthcare making system. He knew the ravages in the financial system. In addition, yes, we see those fear mongering, hating, imposing gun packing/toting self-centered paid obstructionists at town hall meetings. So where is the line in the sand? We voted for “real change” not propping the industry, which disrespect our right to human healthcare. Take off the gloves, Fight Obama, Fight! Remember you are head of the United States military. CIA, FBI and Secret Service know the drills! Don’t lose your eye on the healthcare prize. Yes, we can!
Barack Obama won by more than 7.5 million votes over the Republicans . . . How then can he be so wry in stating what he wants this healthcare reform bill? Obama won more votes than any other candidate. He even won Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Virgina, and handsomely, California (except Orange County).
Those of us who field the calls, go out to the malls, set up workshops, pass the word, produce pass outs, e-blast, twitter, and Facebook are interested in knowing why there is so little information regarding the strategy behind Obama’s statement that the “public option is just a sliver of the proposed objectives and may not be in the final bill”?
Obama-ites and individuals in need of healthcare who believe in the change necessary to stop the medical bankruptcies, to provide efficient, effective and standardized health delivery are supporting healthcare reform. Many understand the need for preventive care, which is to lower the costs of pharmaceuticals, doctors, hospital healthcare, which is strangling our weary seniors, and HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and cardiac treatment. I believe we all know someone with a nagging irreversible illnesses requiring medicinal cocktails, patches, pills, shots, and tonics to make it through the day.
With the recent morphing of the Obama Plan, “NO OPTION”, many are raising their eyebrows regarding the “non information” getting to the front lines and this can be quite wearying when you are taking the “shots, the hits, the late night calls, and the hissing” from those who believe you are on some “blind ambition” that Obama can deliver.
So what is all of this hesitation, maneuvering and double speak that we are hearing? Are the Democrats just downright gutless wonders on an issue that affects us all? Bush is not around to kick this time. The media won’t allow us to be oblivious to the disruptive, gun toting and gun strapped, reddened, head-vein popping, bulging eyed, yelling “patriots” at town hall meetings. We understand that change is abominable to some and frightening to most when the government steps in. We know how groups take advantage of the “gaping loopholes” and “financial windfalls” due to poor planning and pencil pushing administrators who can’t think their way out of wet paper bags. Nevertheless, Obama et. al. says they have “studied the plan, they know what they need to shore up the gaps before execution.”
Won’t we, in the meantime, demand that our legislature stop taking money from the corporate entities that stand to lose when healthcare is spread throughout the United States? While legislators fully enjoy superior taxpayer-supported healthcare, paid in full, every year, on time, without denial for prior medical conditions, can’t we be vigilant and exclaim to our elected leadership that they represent us and our families’ future? What is wrong with us that a subject we all require to live each day becomes something not worth fighting for? Is it really something in the water? Will someone explain this to me?
CONTACT: progressivedemocratslosangeles@gmail.com: Attention Linda Sutton
Thursday August 6, 2009
After a grueling three weeks of questioning, it is confirmed today that the 111th Justice of the distinguished Supreme Court of the United States of America, nominated by Barack Obama (the 44th President of the United States and the 1st African American) is Sonia Sotomayor.
Sotomayor is the first Hispanic, the third woman, and the youngest member at 55 years of age . . .
The count was 68-31 with most Republicans voting no!
This is indeed the change we can believe in!
Congratulations Lady!
May our hispanic brothers and sisters remember this when they go to the polls. Yes, after she served our country, with seventeen years on the bench, Sessions and his ilk of conservative right-wing friends in the Republican Party, didn’t believe she was “good enough”.
Nine Republicans and two Independents considered her a moderate and cast their votes for her. She will replace retiring Justice David Souter, a liberal named by former President George H. W. Bush. Sotomayor is not expected to alter the court’s ideological split.
May our sista’s and brotha’s in the Hispanic political family remember . . . always . . . Cesar Chavez must be smiling down at us.
Best wishes to her and her family members . . .
Minerva Leah Williams & Todd L. Hoover, Santa Clarita Valley, 37th Assembly District Representatives, Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s Central Committee
I believe we need to know this facts when we are debating the healthcare reform issue.
The legislative recess is occuring and with that the BIG BOYS will be shooting out more advertising, lies, and misleading facts because the facts will be sandwiched between the untruths to confuse the average consumer who is probably not eating and sleeping these issues. The intend is simple to cause enough chaos to make the "average nonpolitico" scratch their heads and not get into the healthcare discussions. Hopefully we will all be able to stand up to this opposition. Here is some ammunition . . .
THE SECURITY YOU GET from health insurance reform:
Here are a few words from Linda Douglass:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/
Here are some of the facts:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/
The question of whether Obama was legitimately born in the United States continues to stir considerable controversy. Reservist Major Stefan Cook of the US Army refused to deploy to Afghanistan, questioning Obama’s authority as commander-in-chief. Cook told the Army he needed proof that Obama was actually born in the US. Without such proof he believed he should not be compelled to follow the President’s orders to deploy to Afghanistan. To further exacerbate this, the Army subsequently rescinded his orders, leading many to hold this as further proof that Obama just may not be a US born citizen and should therefore be removed from office.
Why the army didn’t pursue further action against Cook and simply revoke his deployment does raise serious questions. This is certainly not in line with the Army’s normal procedure for those who refuse to follow orders. Consider the case of Lt. Erin Watada. Watada refused to deploy to Iraq on the ground that to do so would constitute a war crime, namely that of waging a war of aggression. The Army certainly did prosecute him. Although one of the charges got hung up on a technicality, there are still other significant charges pending against Watada, which will most likely have serious consequences.
It is undisputed that Iraq never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. It is also undisputed that President Bush never secured the constitutionally required congressional declaration of war against Iraq. It would be difficult to find a better example of an illegal and unconstitutional war, which is precisely why Watada refused to obey orders to participate in it.
My father was in the service and always gave me the impression that the United States Military rarely backs off of an insubordinate soldier without providing an explanation. I would think that they would want to make an example out Cook. Did releasing Cook open the door for every soldier, sailor, and airman to get a free "get out of war" pass?
In the Cook case why didn't the Army pursue further action? Where did the order come from to revoke his orders? Under what conditions were these orders revoked? Why was there no explanation? Will the Army ever provide answers to these questions, or at least an explanation as to why his case is closed? Respectfully yours, Minerva L. Williams, Castaic, CA.
It may appear to be a cliffhanger for Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court, but the word from the Washington Post Tuesday is, that with the assistance of Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, the one lone Republican and the twelve Democrats of the Senate Judicial Committee finally confirmed Sonya Sotomayor for the Supreme Court! That means six Republicans said no. Graham says that he feels good about Sotomayor. Speaking on judges, he said that “sometimes they have left our ideals down”. And they have often seen the larger picture through the Constitution, when many of us weren’t able to move away from our beliefs. He said the questioning of Sessions, although he was entitled to his inquiries, will tend to run individuals away, who would be good judges.
He said that his colleagues of the Senate Judicial Committee “have a chance to respond” and “being a judge is different”, “the law should be a quiet and unpopular place” because something more than 50+1 is going on. He referred to Sotomayor as “competent, not just qualified”, “left of center” “of good character” and pointed out that her 12-year record doesn’t show activism. The other story is that the speeches and advocacy needed to be put into context of what she was talking about, did bug the hell out of him, but she embraces her ability to speak on an opinion even though it may not be the position that he would take. “We are 200 years old as a nation and the fact that she is the first Hispanic woman to be chosen is very important”, “she meets the qualifications test”. If she can inspire other Latina women to seek law as a profession then America would be moving forward and a better nation for having done so.
Depending on whom you read, there is rumor that if Republicans block her nomination, they will have hell to pay in their Hispanic districts. Mind you these guys still have to go home and run for their positions. Others say that they are staying true to their base (conservatives) by looking at Sotomayor through moderate glasses. So hopefully the rest of the voting will be a formality at best for the rest of the Senate. The Supreme Court convenes in September so Judge Sista Girl, and I do mean this affectionately, can take her place, as one of newest human rights liberals, on the nine member high bench. I can see Judge Roberts, and crew reaching for the Maalox.
Sotomayor is only 55-years-old, appears to be in great health, has spunk and many years left to live (looking at the perseverance and sacrifice of her mom). We can only hope Sotomayor will continue reviewing cases and passing down her judgments as she has done for the past 17 years as a federal judge. Sotomayor will be replacing Judge Suter who was appointed by Bush
The conservative base of the Republican Party is disagreeing with Graham. They believe she is disguising her views and guarding her personal views. Now if you were in the running for a judgeship and there stood a chance that your personal views may direct your judgment, would you send off firecrackers and a strobe light to forewarn this squeamish bunch? After all of these caustic statements, is that all they have come up with?
I don’t think so. . . .There is still rumor though that there will be a last minute shockwave of revelation, but many pundits believe this is the usual Republican drama being played out, to keep us watching the CSPAN proceedings. And you can bet there are a few of us making time to watch the saga unfold.
She may not ideologically change the balance of the court, however, I’m sure she can write some hellfire responses. She is the third woman and the first Latina to be a member of the all boys club. Wow! Obama, will everything you touch create continual drama? Well, at least, they are paying close attention. Viva La Raza Sotomayor! Viva! Viva!
REFERENCES:
Picture from: http://www.voanews.com
http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10812499
Long before Obama ever decided to run for office there was a little incident call the Watergate Scandal. In this incident, we learn how badly "the big boys" play inorder to sabotage one another's campaign and to see information when they are looking for dirt. To go out and hear this from one of the "insiders" is a rare treat. Listening to what this guy has to say, should open your eyes, head and mouth at the level "some people will stoop to" to keep many of us in the dark, mislead, and confused about our government.
So if you have some time on your hand check it out, this will equip you in understanding why HOPE requires ACTION. And why Obama can't do it alone!~ Peace Out, Minerva
Palm Springs, CA- Polimedia Publishing will reissue John Dean's definitive insider account of the Watergate scandal, Blind Ambition: The End of the Story, on July 21st, 2009. Dean appends his original bestseller, out of print for two decades, with a powerful new Afterword, providing new revelations and details that answer the most persistent questions lingering since the original investigation. Readers will be astonished with the brutal honesty of Dean's disclosures, which finally close the case on Watergate. He explains with insightful clarity why (and how) a bungled, conspicuously amateurish burglary at the Democratic National Committee unraveled a presidency, forcing Richard Nixon from office. Dean provides definitive answers to outstanding historical questions, and alerts us to the growing efforts by Nixon revisionists to reinvent this tragic chapter of American history by rewriting it.
I have been communicating with a Doctor in Oregon who happens to be a member of the Physicians National Health Project. This national group of doctors and other medical professionals who strongly believe in the Single Payer program and have been pounding the sidewalks with unique and humorous protests rallies (to get the media attention) is a little bit different than your usual protesters.
The fact that doctors are taking the time to demonstrate is a new group that you don't think about when you call a rally. The presumption always was that they were too busy, the wouldn't "lower themselves" to public outcries and they made so money what did they have to protest about anyway. Well apparently, when it comes to healthcare, doctors are finding they are being hit with high insurance premiums, overhead running their offices, paper work which is staggering, protecting themselves from patients looking for a "deep pocket" and an excuse to sue (not that some doctors don't need a slap upside the head sometime for neglect) but are also having to juggle family life, mental days off, patient care (24 hours) and paying for school loans (like the rest of us). When you combine this with the overall economy having hit financial nest eggs, pensions, and retirement funds it isn't a wonder more people aren't in the street screaming. Meantime, we are all sitting and waiting to hear about the banks that were rescued with Obama's bailout, who other than Bank of America, you don't even see advertisements about "come on in" we got our act together now, "we are willing to share the wealth", being that you (the American taxpayer) saved our bacon! But you don't see this. So here is what my buddy Paul sent me on behalf of the Physicians in Oregon who do believe that Healthcare Reform really needs to be taken more seriously than the media would care to tell us. And I'd suggest writing him, he has an inexpensive video that would make you go "hugh, they are doing what?" . . . when you hear more about the history of healthcare in America and where all the thorny discussions are, that they didn't teach you in Social Studies (if you are over 45) or Health Science if you are under 40. Enjoy . . . and give me your opinion . . .
Mad As Hell Doctors
Who are we? We are members of Oregon PNHP who believe our health care system and political process are deeply flawed. They are both mostly about money and are not yielding results that are most beneficial to our communities. We expect those who agree with us to help us bring this message to those who haven’t yet figured this out. Doing so will require serious, national media attention.
· The Health Care Industry, through our corrupt political process, continues to manipulate our legislators to create public policy that values profits over public good. That’s what we are mad about!
· Unless we find immediate savings in our chaotic health care system (that is built around insurance companies and employers) and, then, focus on controlling costs, we will never be able to accomplish the moral imperative of true Universal Access without driving our government to insolvency.
· Accomplishing this will require a single risk pool, publicly financed, and administered by an independent, transparent, publicly accountable agency that is responsible for asking and answering the following question. How do “we” get the most health and the least suffering for the precious, limited resources, that we spend on health care?
Why a road trip? Getting the attention of those who aren’t already part of the choir requires that tap into their default “channels” of entertainment/information. By creating media events in communities across the country, we will infiltrate those “channels” long enough to deliver our very cogent message, believably delivered by articulate, sincere doctors who are committed to telling the truth.
What is our vision? We will tap into the growing anger that our legislators in Washington are being manipulated by campaign contributors. We will become the rallying cry for individuals and countless local/national groups who are fed up with status quo and “false-reform”. By virtue of our numbers and the inherent truth of our message, those same legislators will be given the courage to give us real reform that results in a sustainable Health Care System with real Universal Access.
What is the plan? Over the next few weeks, with our help, communities on our itinerary will prepare for and publicize our arrival. We will leave the Willamette Valley on September 8 in a painted motor home that will draw attention to us during meetings and rallies at which we will present our case. Documenting our progress with video uploads and daily conversations with National media, they will become increasingly interested in following us as we draw progressively larger crowds. When we penetrate The Beltway in the end of September, a caravan of cars will follow us to a public rally in which we will demand health care reform consistent with our message, stated above.
How will we accomplish this? We are currently involved in Stage One, in which we put up a substantial amount of our own money to hire Gary Jelinek (Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 Campaign Organizer) and Adam Klugman (a creative media consultant) to:
Stage Two is the trip. Successful fund raising is crucial to keeping Adam and Gary involved in the project, renting and “wrapping” a motor home, and traveling with a videographer who will document our progress, record peoples’ stories, and feed video clips to both the internet and national media on a daily basis. Subsequently, a video that captures the spirit of the trip will be produced.
Consistent with our vision, “we” will grow to include you and those organizations with whom our message resonates. Tax deductible contributions can be made through our website: www.MadAsHellDoctors.com.
Questions? Gary Jelinek at jelinekdoctors@gmail.com or Paul Hochfeld at phochfeld@msn.com
I would strongly encourage Buck McKeon and the Republican strategy groups to stop the misleading of citizens so that they can learn what is unmistakably affecting their lives the most, healthcare. The scare, blame and fear tactics used by the prior administrations need to stop also. I have the copy of the Frank Luntz memorandum and it is apparent everyone is reading the script.
Healthcare reform is on the table right now and every effort should be made to represent the citizens of the 25th Congressional District in attaining affordable, efficient, and full coverage health insurance.
According to the Washington Post, "GOP Focuses Effort To Kill Health Bills," (July 21, 2009) nearly 2500 Americans are filing for bankruptcy because of the high costs of medical care, of which 75% had what they believed was adequate coverage. According to the American Progress Action Fund "Health Care in Crisis: 14,000 Losing Coverage Each Day," (February 19, 2009), losing your job affects the loss of daily healthcare insurance and the numbers are climbing fast. Multiply the number of other family members affected and the numbers are staggering.
You would think our legislators would care. The rate at which healthcare costs are increasing is outpacing the rate at which the average Americans’ salary increases. Instead of the various debates occurring, I’m sure Santa Claritians would like to see the Republicans and the Blue and Yellow-dog Democrats find the compassion, guts and action to meet Americans’ need for healthcare.
Representative McKeon, Can we depend on you for this response? You have the luxury of taxpayer paid healthcare. Is it asking too much to share that benefit with the rest of us? The more of us there are alive and healthy, the more of us can vote. I just thought I’d ask . . .
Minerva L. Williams, Castaic California
If one doesn't learn anything while working with various opinionated groups, you have to maintain balance and decorum.We hope to neutralize the playing field by inviting doctors who are specialists in the various levels of Healthcare, healthcare delivery and presenting the materials.
I can only hope that the workshop scheduled for tomorrow where people of serious opposing views and as one person told me "doesn't mind elbowing" the other person, becomes a full fledge mind openers for individuals who don't understand what is at state for our future healthcare bill. We will provide five minutes of discussion for each speaker.
Don Schroeder will provide information regarding the progress of the California State Single Payer's Universal Healthcare Bill inwhich they have already named the state plan "CaliforniaOneCare".
A little birdie told me that Actress and funny lady Lily Tomlin is on board and is taping a couple commercials.
Mark Leno, author or SB 810 (previously Sheila Kuehl's) was unavailable, but his office manager recommended Schroeder highly.
Attendees as asked to ask as many questions as there is time for.Got to run . . . my phone is ringing . . .
