I am trying to imagine how a Republican gets ready to make a pronouncement “That the Health Care Reform bill simply is more big government spending”. We have all heard each of them - with a straight face - make that statement. Is it drugs? Do they take a few hits before going out in public? Does Tom Delay still run things from Texas - with a gun to their heads? OR Is it just plain old-fashioned stupidity? Has to be one or a combination thereof.
Ah.................Mr and Mrs and Ms Republican - YOU are the big spenders in Washington. The proof is there. Have you already forgotten 2000 - 2006? Well, have you? No, No, GOP that old dog simply is sound asleep and will definitely NOT hunt.
Update New York. the right, financed by Fox and hyped by Fox. The 23ed Congressional District of NY. The tea baggers were out in force. Sean Hannity flat-out said Hoffman’s victory was signed, sealed, and delivered. Palin, Beck, and the Drugster were there. They all prepared for the big takeover by the wing-nuts. WELL dumb-butts - it did not happen did it? The Democrat candidate won !!!!!!!!!!!! Shall I repeat that Sean?
So, tea party goers. put away the tea and return to the hard stuff. You have fooled absolutely no one. Oh yes, the 20% hate everything, including Black folks, will continue to make noise. Let them. Meanwhile Obama and company will continue to blaze past them - leaving dirt in their mouths. But they have tea to wash it down. :)
The GOP: Opposed Social Security - but do you hear any of them in either chamber calling for elimination? Opposed the integration of schools in 1954. Opposed Medicare - but again all they need to is refuse payment. ????????????? I’m not hearing anything. Oh yes, let us not forget they opposed the right for women to vote. They even opposed putting round tires on cars - thought square tires were the way to go.
The GOP: Motto: “WE ARE 100% OPPOSED TO IT”. IT? Doesn’t matter, it’s an automatic response.
By the way righties - how is your new Bible coming? The one which removes all references to things you disagree with. The addition of whole new passages. The inspired word of God? or the uninspired word of kooks. It is to go on sale in January. For those who think this a joke - it is not. A group of right-wing preachers are actually planning it. The faithful await the New Word.
The GOP: Sad NOT FOR US - but a sad lot of 18th Century non-thinkers.
Robert Boseley
PS - Why is everyone so silent these days. Is there no way to get folks to engage?
There was a time so-called “conservatives” just caused me to shake my head in disbelief. There were also times I got a bit angry. Now my only emotion is amusement. I say only emotion - but that is not completely true. The amusement is too often followed by disbelief and anger.
I have more about conservatives, but I must digress. The media. They have gone far beyond reason. They, particularly the cable talkers, perhaps passed that line long ago - but making today’s races in New Jersey and Virginia a referendum on Barack Obama is “making news in a bottle”. It also is a slap across the faces of the residents of those states - indicating they have no idea that they are voting for governors. Listen up media. They are voting for governors. They are voting for governors. This election is no more about Obama than it is about how I should treat my prostate cancer. Poor media. They are still trying to rebound from the great balloon chase. Not one “thinking” human believed that piece of foil with a small amount of helium could carry even a 50 pound child. When caught - the media called for the scalp of the father. And mother. Take the kids and place them in a wonderful foster home. NUTS. I actually think America needs more families who don’t stick their heads in the sand and try to “look like every other person”. Yes they may have cost the stupid sheriff’s department a dime or two - but it was they who were hooked by the bait. What the media needs is another “beautiful” white woman - preferably pregnant - to disappear. (Note I did not say GO MISSING).
Oh well - back to the conservatives. According to the institution mentioned in the last paragraph - conservatives woke up last Thursday morning and concluded the government is “too large”. Now understand, a great amount of that “getting bigger” was accomplished under a conservative administration. Hello???
Too large. At what point does a government become “TOO” large? Is there an unpublished formula? When George Washington presided over the government - I presume the government was small. However, “large” is a relative term. As the population increased, and more states were added, I am fairly certain the government would become larger. It would have more members of Congress. It would need more money. As time marched on - the government - grew. Son of a *****, I would never have guessed. BUT we crossed over to too large last Thursday. Fact: According to a Gallop poll - virtually no-one knows what conservatism actually is. Today’s conservatives fall into a group who “just say no”. No health care reform. No, to whatever policy Obama is for. No to equal rights and protections - AS STATED IN THE CONSTITUTION! NO - the climate is not warming; and we don’t need all those Polar Bears. The water flowing from the great ice-fields is not really water. Conservatives believe granny Sarah Palin should lead the free world. I can see Russia from my house. Where do you believe Putin goes when he REARS HIS HEAD? Why he comes to Alaska of course. And I am still looking for a way for a human to REAR one’s head. What does that mean?
Rest will Bill Buckley.
Amused in Florida.
Months ago I commented: OFA needs to start sending the message that what was started with Barack Obama's election must be continued - his election was not a silver bullet where with one perfect shot he would fix politics. EVERY election is important and has consequences.
I also commented that I was very upset with the new tactic by those who want to discourage Barack Obama's supporters e.g. supporting the fringe and tea-partyers with lies and exageration to activate their base to come out for the midterm elections. The prediction is for this midterm to be like other midterms e.g. only the disgruntled participate.
I hear people are getting discouraged because nine months have passed and President Obama has not brought the change he promised. Remember he said: change is about us not him. Look at how he has been treated by members of both his party and the opposition. Lobbying money is stronger than anything we have except our numbers. We can't help him if we do not vote to support him every chance we get. This is how we create change! Without us he has little power to accomplish anything on his own. In Congress both members of our party and the other party must know we support him and will turn out for him when asked.
Now I sit at home waiting for tomorrow night when I expect to hear how President Obama's election was a fluck because the change he brings is not the change WE wanted and this is why his support is falling. Tomorrow's win by Republican's mascarading as Conservatives will embolden them to work even harder against him and any change he may attempt.
I also hate being misused by the Democratic Party! We are bombarded with emails for support and solicitation constantly. We should be treated as an asset that can be exhausted and used when we are really needed which is exactly the same concept we are trying to communicate about our troops and war.
Its too late to ask you to go vote with me tomorrow but I ask you to not let another election go by without going to the polls.
Thank you.
Anyone, and I doubt there is, who has actually read any of my near three hundred posts, knows that I get confused easily. I could recite a long list of things which have confused me over the years. I could, but I am confused as to what the items were.
I awoke this morning wondering why conservatives don’t much like Polar Bears. That confuses me. I happen to love all animals - and I particularly fancy the big white bears. I have yet to have an up close and personal relationship with one, but there is hope. Now, as to being confused, why is being a bear offensive to the political right? The average Polar bear did not ask to be a bear. They could as easily have come back as a Fox News anchor. (Yes I definitely believe in reincarnation). But thankfully they are large, beautiful bears who harm no one. Unlike a Fox News anchor. All most Polar bears desire is a large chunk of ice upon which to call home. The problem is, the Earth is getting warmer. We and the bears know this, because those formerly large pieces of ice are now tiny. Large became small due to melting. Melting occurs when the temperature warms. How much more straight forward do wing-nuts need?
Sean Hannity insists that we will soon be in another ice-age. Sean studied religion not science - and there are a few thousand Polar bears who may not be able to wait. Sean does not like bears, Polar or otherwise, and has no love for any creature with more than two legs. (Thank you Lord for not letting me go down that path and letting me get back to the point).
The point was, and is, what does global warming have to do with politics? Why do liberals believe the Earth is warming and conservatives believe it is getting colder? To this I suggest going to Seattle - get on one of those cruise boats and go north. The captain will deliver you to a spot where you can see ice melting. The clue is that streams of water can be seen flowing FROM atop the ice. Seasonal? True that the stream may turn to a drip at certain period, but the stream will return. There is by far less ice now than a few years back. Melting. Conservatives note the word. Melting. While on the boat, if lucky, you might see a Polar bear clinging to a hunk of ice smaller than the bear.
I used the Polar bear as an example. Seems sufficiently simple that even the folks who prance about calling themselves “conservative” might understand. Rush went on one of those boats. They had to limit the number of passengers to compensate for the Limbaugh blubber. I digress again. Rush saw the water flow and pontificated. He believes Al Gore was up on that ice with a hair dryer. “NO, no way is that ice melting on its own” proclaimed the drugster. Rush. The expert. Rush - the people of Cape Girardeau, Missouri remember Rush. Someone wanted to rename the Cape high school as Limbaugh High, There was a town-meeting. They did not rename the school.
Rush now wants to plant himself in St. Louis. For those not familiar with that part of our country - Cape G is about 50 miles south of STL. He wants to go home.
Now we all know why I get confused. I can’t stay on topic. Polar bear = Rush? No way. Those bears know where they are wanted. I am going to stop. Here.
Hold the trolly. I need an answer to a serious question. “EVEN if one finds his or her self not subscribing to the “water freezes at 32 degrees F” fact - how can limiting the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere be good? Why not do the good thing - then in the unlikely event there is another ice-age; no harm no foul. Doing good is good in itself.
rboseley@tampabay.rr.com
The health “insurance” companies are showing their true colors. They now threaten all of us - that they will raise our premiums substantially - if they don’t get their way 100% on any health care reform. We all know these companies are not going to give up any profits. They have thrown the ball back into our court, and all of us must again play it.
As I a writing this, United HC has refused to cover a newborn because the infant weights a little too much. Please if you have not done so, go to
http:www.sickforprofit.com
You will see first hand how the companies routinely refuse to assist in saving lives.
There are thousands of examples amid millions of cases where YOUR insurance company has just said no. They need no reason. Just say no.
Now the trade association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, has taken up the cause to maintain the 5 million average annual salaries + bonuses for the CEOs.
I urge all of you to send email to ahip@ahip.org. Let them know we are on to their killing game. And folks - that is exactly the game they are playing. Every dime paid out is a dime less profit.
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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rush Limbaugh: “I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE TALIBAN” In other words - Rush is delighted that his side killed our son or daughter. Imus said something far more innocent and was fired. Will Rush be fired? Lord NO. In fact the right will rally around him. ME to Rush: I have a son in the Army. He is targeted to go to Afghanistan. Should he be harmed in any way - I will personally come to where you are. You can guess what for.
How long are you and I going to put up with declarations from radio spokespersons for the right going to tolerate Rush and Glen? How long?
The right has really proven - were there ever a doubt - just how unthinking they are. Criticize the President for winning the Nobel prize???? He had nothing at all to do with the process. Yet according to the wing-nuts - President Obama should be impeached for winning. There is dumb and dumber - and now dumbest. I thank my God daily that I was not made a right winger. One positive thing, aside from the actual winning of the prize, is that it makes the point forever solid: “The right-wing nuts are right-wing nuts.”
Congratulations Mr. President!
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.
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
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.
Liberal's can use this myth-information (part 2; 08/13/09)
Although I respect what President Obama is doing by being so professional and walking his talk as he calls to our better nature; I think that liberals could start health care myths and rumours of their own. One very easy annoucement is that Republicans intend to cut the social programs of social security and medicare to reduce the deficit. They will be keeping tax cuts and enacting a new capital gains tax cut. They will be eliminating these programs to pay for the tax cuts.
Truth: Medicare is Not Safe Even With No Action (part 1; 08/09/09)
Many of those who are so vocal at town halls appear to be in the social security age group. They don't want their medicare "touched" by government. They don't want the program that works for them changed. The truth is that there is no "status quo" in the future for social security or medicare. Combine the numbers of those who will be eligible for social security with the ever increasing costs of health care and the truth about the government deficit becomes clear that it will increase one way of the other: health care reform with an increase now or do nothing with an impact later. I can hear the demonstrations of the future talking about how providing health care for my mother is putting a debt on the heads of my children. This is the message that is not being addressed.
Town Mauls (part 2)
I realized that the 47% against health care reform contains the 45.7% that did not vote for President Obama in 2008. They do not want the change that the majority (54.3%) voted for. They were against the stimulus and are now yelling for "less government invovement" in healthcare. They believe the economy can only be fixed through "tax policy" and are also firm believers in the doom that comes from a large government deficit. They are the other side and will be out demonstrating on anything the President does that they consider as "change". We do need to listen to them but we can't let them prevent us from taking action.
I think that we should give them the opportunity to ask questions but we can't let them prevent us providing information. Perhaps we should actively call them on their shut down actions e.g. let them speak: challenge their incorrect information and ask them what they are proposing as an alternative. When they can't offer counter proposals ask them why they think nothing is the better option?
Shock and Awe Town Halls: base activation for 2010 (part 1)
I am very upset with this new tactic by those who want to discourage Barack Obama's supporter. I hear that elected republicans are supporting this action because it will activate their base to come out for the midterm elections. The prediction is for this midterm to be like other midterms e.g. only the disgruntled participate. OFA needs to start sending the message that what was started with Barack Obama's election must be continued - his election was not a silver bullet to fix politics. Every election is important and has consequences. Lets start by looking at incumbants who are most vested in the status quo.
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.
Believe it or not, the reality of the situation in Cambridge is not race-based. It is about a personal sense of being disrespect and the response to them. This is the teachable moment. Race obscures the reality of the dynamics of the situation that happens in the US every day e.g. forced acceptance of authoritarian demands made by some individuals in public safety. Hypervigilance is defined as abnormally increased arousal, responsiveness to stimuli, and scanning of the environment for threats. Too many public safety employees come into situations primed to respond and reacting to individual responses in a negative way.
Perhaps the training we should be giving our public safety officials is sensitivity to and management of their own physiological state while being in the midst of an emotionally charged situation.
Why is government so inefficient? Because the “other side” (determined by the party in office) refuses to allow any division/department/program to be funded in order to operate adequately. The President asks for so much money to fund a program. The House and Senate each write a bill with their own pet projects in it. Then they reconcile the bills to get one that both can sign. During this process dollars are changed, removed, and added, yet the almighty anxiety of the “deficit” gets dusted off and trotted out. There was a time when business was better than government but that was years ago. That was before the decade of self-interest dawned on the US.
Now health care providers and insurers look more and more like the government e.g. pushed to do more with less. Add to that the fact that those at the top of government want to live the life of luxury like corporate leaders. They too who want more and more. Government employees used to get better benefits than the private because they earned less. Today our government leaders want more pay and the best benefits. Does it really matter who takes our money and gives us little value in return? I hate paying for either corporate executives or elected officials to live a life I won’t ever see. I prefer to give my money to the government to share among more like me than to businesses whose primary mission is greed and whose power is our purse.
Until we change ourselves those we elect to government we will not change anything because those at the top like it this way! We must stop accepting unchallenged incumbants and poor business practices.
Look at this example of government waste (I'm using very rough estimates but as my mother said: take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves): Take Mike Pence who stated on C-span that the cost of his health insurance benefit is over $1,000 a month. The cost of a family health plan at my company is $800.00. Take the $200 difference times the 534 in congress (434 representatives and 100 senators) times 12 months. This is a measly $1,281,600 per year that my taxes are paying for individuals to have better benefits than me. Why not review the costs of health care benefits imbedded in our government and make them more like those of the common citizen?
Harry and Louise in 2009: Where is the picture of the crowded exam room with Maud lying on the bed, the doctor sitting beside the bed on a stool, and Harold standing off to the side looking concerned. On one side is Harold’s employer, his arms are around Harold’s shoulders. Standing next to the employer’s is his health insurance agent. The agent’s arm is around the employer’s shoulders. The agent is speaking to Harold. “Do you really want the government in here with us?”
I listened today to House Representatives give one-minute speeches. They all slipped the line “Where are the jobs” into their presentations. It was so obvious that this was a party strategy and subject of a talking points memo. Given the number of speeches decrying the stimulus plan, raising concerns about looming deficits, and taxing small businesses all as destroyers of jobs, I found myself wondering.
There had to be at least 25 speakers. If each speaker went out and helped even a small number of people create jobs for others then think of the ripple effect. It is not acceptable to allow any group to sit on the sidelines and cheer for defeat! They must be questioned about what they are each doing personally to create jobs through their elected positions. Yes, this is like the argument about “Republicans just saying no” but the creation of jobs is so important that no one can be excused from taking any action they could to create jobs. They can't get off the hook just by voting no and then hand wringing and naysaying. They have a fairly powerful job in their own right and how are they using it? How many jobs has Rep. Boehner personally saved/created in his district verses how many have been saved/created via the stimulus plan? It is up to everyone to get the citizens of our nation back to work not just the democrats in an elected federal position. It is also up to executives of global companies started here not just small businesses. No one should get a pass to sit on the side.
A Bush Administration investigation by a special prosecutor could drown out the republican opposition's drum beat about the negative potential of a looming deficit. People have been so exposed to republican negativity that they have become nervous about looking forward. Unfortunately it is also being echoed by Congressional Democrats. The message "Yes we can!" has been changed to "Yes, we can - but - can we really afford it?" We learned from the last administration that you could run large deficits but we did not learn how to run large deficits with a conscience e.g. an opposition party droning on about the negative potentials of those deficits.
If we are against starting a "tit-for-tat" process going forward by investigating a prior administration for "crimes", then forget it until we change the dynamics of party politics. If we are against the distraction component then get over it because we are losing to the distraction of "fear of the future". As the pressure we felt from our "fear of now" during December and January has been converted into a "fear of the future" over the last few months we may need a distraction to get us through now without fearing tomorrow and ceasing to act for change.
Now the chant is "Oh My God, beware of the Deficit"! Don't stop lobbying, get it out in the open by taxing it and using it for the benefit of all and not the select few. Tax corporate expenses that become mony spent to gain special access and consideration by Congress. Corporations despite the rights they have been given are not people. The expenses are not reasonable and necessary costs of doing business. Put a registration fee on lobbying firms and lobbyists based on their revenues and income. Tax gifts, donations, and contributions made to members of Congress by lobbyists. Define the term lobbyist so as to include any bundler of campain contributions who seek preferance through the act of bundling.
Lobbyists are "spending" 1.5 million on health care to get their Health Care "wants" to Congress. Access to money gives them an unfair advantage over me - my "voice" is too small to be heard. In return for cutting me out of the government law creation process at least reduce the debt I have to cover.
