I would like to thank the guests that showed up at our humble home last night, bringing gifts, food, plum wine and plum grappa...YUM! Stephanie Shellabarger, Lois and Steve Webster, Nicola Yarbrough, Joan Rosati , Daniel Herman who rushed home from work and my son Sean O'Brien who even managed to do his homework. We had a blast and the speech was amazing. Put it simply...I love my president and everything he is willing and does stand for. Namely we the people. On facebook, Traci Kelly of Equal Time Radio posted a Link about Rep Joe Wilson who heckled President Obama:
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/09/10/obama-speech-disrupter-a-health-industry-darling/
Were we all not shocked by that? President Obama is always such a cool cucumber that is it very surprising when people are rude and even obnoxious about him. It is such a strange thing. My husband who is very quiet and humble himself said about Wilson "how do we fire that guy?" we need to get him out. At the time it felt like what he was doing was not only rude but illegal...
We sat through many speech of President Bush and he was not heckled. Democrats I believe as a rule are more polite.
The link that Traci submitted on Facebook points out that Rep Joe Wilson was paid thousands and thousands of dollars by the insurance industry as well as others. It is simply sickening. We see him as a "purchased" disrupter. Bought and paid for by the industries and not the people he is elected to help and protect. It makes us sick, except we cannot get sick because we cannot afford our health insurance premiums as a small contractor, self-employed.
Go Barack!
We know some progressives are upset because we will not have single payor option and immediately...but we recognize we want evolution and not revolution and President Obama is making headway, especially we hope into the hearts of middle America who have been the victims of fear mongering by people like Representative Joe Wilson.
Keeping Americans well and healthy should be considered a patriotic duty. A healthy and well America is a strong America. Please spread the word about Joe Wilson.
This past weekend my son went to the Washington State Fantasy Renaissance Faire and had a great time playing a game called "boffering." Boffering is essentially a renaissance fantasy game where people make or buy foam covered weapons and engage in battle and it is great fun. Due to the fact our family at this time does not have health insurance we have to be conscious of getting hurt or ill so we always caution him to be careful. We do have some savings for medical bills but it is not nearly enough. Later in the week he was invited to a local boffering group at Lake Wapato Park in Tacoma. We met some great kids and adults, all polite and all interested in renaissance history and weapons.
As a parent I like boffering because it is a computer game come to life but the kids and adults get alot of exercise. At this game we met a couple of young men that helped my son play and even game him the foam weapons to use. Later as dusk fell we offered them a ride home as they invited my son to come to a practice later in the week so he could improve his skills. One of the young men was walking to the Econo-Lodge on South Tacoma Way. His dad was laid off from his job, and his mom who has lupus has breast cancer. Due to the fact she had lupus and was laid off from her job earlier in the year she could not get health insurance for a pre-existing condition. Her boss, she says cried when she laid her off. Due to the recession she was laid off as the newest employee but hopes to be hired back when one of the older employees retires.
She is receiving treatment for breast cancer and paying out of pocket. The minimal care they received last year cost the family $58 thousand dollars, they had a rambler in a nice neighborhood. Her husband who is a concrete contractor until fairly recently could make about $4000.00 a week during the busy season.
Due to the economic recession and layoffs they could not pay for the medical treatment and keep their home, so they lost their home. They then were living in a 5th wheel on a friend's property but were kicked out when the City of Tacoma said this was a code violation. They have lived on the street at times, bouncing between friends but do not have family to help them. Currently they live in a motel and today dad went to a job for $40.00 for the whole day. Their son who was so helpful to my son was laid off from his job so they are living on his unemployment and basically waiting for a contract with Bruce Titus to start so they can get back into an apartment. They have lost everything and daily life is very hard.
This young man's mom can only work for a few hours at a time because she is so ill. Had they had health insurance they would have had enough savings to pay the mortgage and keep a roof over their heads. They have contacted every social service agency locally for help but the words are the same...we have waiting list...we cannot help you. This young man's mom does not want to be on the drugs provided by DSHS doctors, Oxycotin and other morphine drugs that make it more difficult for her to function so she pays $45.00 to see a doctor up near Seattle who treats her with less invasive drugs. Sometimes she is in terrible pain but does not want to take narcotics and get addicted as she is a person who does not even drink alcohol.
Many days there is no food in the house and they have to take a bus to a food bank. The young man is still kind and upbeat and praying his mother will get well and his dad will get back to work. Every working American who does not have health insurance could be in the same boat, and even those Americans who do have health insurance. We are all one illness away from bankruptcy and ruin and living in a motel not knowing what the next day would bring. We know as a family if we get sick we will have to get well or basically kill ourselves in order to leave something for the care of our son. As we seek additional employment there are no positions available where health care is available. We are in favor of a single payor system and this is one of the main reasons we support President Obama.
This is a true story and I spoke and met the woman and her family today. They are hardworking Americans who have lost everything due to medical bills and no ability to get health insurance.
To, President- Barack Obama Sir & Vice Prasident - Joe Biden Sir White House 101 Washington DC
**************************************************************************************Congratulations - Grate Festivel Shri Krishna Janmasthami ***** God Bliss You******************************************************************************************
Dear Madam, Hearty congratulations from Sumant Prasad and his family. Vice President & President honeble & your family are give grate festivel Shri Krishna Janmasthami of congratulations. Today grate festivel Shri Krishna Janmasthami in India. I hope me future in life to successfully with I pray to god for your success in upcoming future. Thanks & Regarding
SUMANT PRASADSociological Uttar Pradesh, INDIAID: sumantmeera@yahoo.co.in
When I read the latest revelation, and we will hear more and more as the days go by,
I ask myself what kind of people these must be.
Taking a great nation such as this to a long ride, making us look like fools.
Are we going to allow them to get away with this ?
Finally President Obama, we ASK you to take action against these perpetrators of crima against humanity in no uncertain terms.
READ: WE NEED JUSTICE, WE CRY FOR JUSTICE in the name of those who were maltreated, raped, tortured, killed, and sodomized by animals who call themselves humans.
MORE here - at last the truth will come out.
We have never had a better chance to impact this critical issue. Our reps are willing to use "budget reconciliation" to overcome filibuster threats and pass health care reform (since private insurers are still at the table), but on climate change and cap-and-trade, the resistance is absolute, from Democratic reps from mining, coal, oil, gas states, not just from Republicans.
Since our representatives are more indebted to their oil, gas, mining and coal lobbyists than to our environment or our President, it's the EPA to the rescue! There will be a 60-day comment period so please write, right now, and get everyone you can to attend 2 public hearings in May, in
Support w/your comments to:
GHG-Endangerment-Docket@epa.gov
Subject: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0171
Do it please, now! Background at: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html
Post this on Facebook, all your networks, Digg to push story to front page:
http://digg.com/world_news/U_S_says_greenhouse_emissions_endanger_human_health
Send this alert to all your friends, especially in the vicinity of VA and WA!
For all we know he is the 'Doom of the street'. meaning Wall Street.
Henry Paulson our doomsday.
As we all know Henry Paulson was C.E.O. of Goldman Sachs, the jewish Financial Conglomerate that also needed a bailout.
Henry Paulson was top remunerations recipient for years. He was making Bucks, hundreds of Millions, even when others faltered, and had their properties confiscated.
Nothing was revealed when Paulson left his Mega paying job to join the Fed. Imagine his OWN bailout money, at a time when it was known to him - as a financial wizard - that the economy was in the Abyss.
Hundred Million, or not much less would have been his own little package, apart from hundreds of Millions cashed in whilst raiding the poor.
How impertinent is it to assume that Paulson will be the 'savior' of Wall Street.
For jewish Entrepreneurs he might be the only light in a tidal wave that has engulfed their industry,
a new form of 'INQUISITION', refering to the Spanish uprising in the 15 th century.
What similarities does the inquisition bear with the present economic situation?
People might only start to guess now. If the truth will ever be fully revealed, but one thing is certain, the culprits are the same as in the 15 th century.
We hope people will become more and more aware what actually went on behind the scenes, and brought down the greatest Nation, and all other Nations.
Read the story : Newsweek
Trust in Paulson ???? To be ripped off and off again - NEVER
Read more : Henry Paulson and his ideas to defraud America
America and all the major economies have been plundered. This much one now should understand.
Major Banks around the world have all been robbed of Billions of Dollars; we should not underestimate the widespread frauds that have been committed in the Bush era .
Then the question remains : Where has all this money gone to ?
For: Trillions do not simply vanish.
Money ALWAYS changes ownership. It does never evaporate.
So who are some folks protecting ?
It is as simple as the ABC :
What is on the left side on the Balance sheet, must show up on the right side, somehow.
And this is what World authorities must investigate. Where these huge sums have gone to.
Globalization serves as a wonderful tool to shift Trillions around the globe, in disguise of
new investments.
This article was culled from the L.A. Times, and this will be the neck breaking attempt for the F.B.I. to find more culprits (as it has already been started elsewhere).
Quote from L.A.Times :
"From the Los Angeles Times: 7:50 PM PST,February 11, 2009 FBI expects number of major financial bailout fraud cases to rise Investigations will focus on big-name companies and the cases are likely to be similar in scope and complexity to that of failed energy giant Enron, Deputy Director John Pistole tells a Senate panel. By Josh Meyer Reporting from Washington — Despite an expected wave of fraud in the trillion-dollar bailout that aims to stop the ongoing financial meltdown, federal law enforcement officials told Congress on Wednesday that they have nowhere near the level of resources to combat it. Top FBI and Justice Department officials said they believed mortgage fraud and other types of corporate criminal behavior has contributed to the economic tailspin. And they said they already have more than 2,300 open investigations into suspected illegal financial activity -- including 38 probes specifically linked to the crisis. " .....
read on : FBI investigating
TOP SPOTS TRAVEL GROUP FACEBOOK
We care for America and Americans; THis is why we chose Barack Obama as President
Wipe out Corporate Fraud, White Collar Crime;
Seems we are getting some more insight into the whole mess.
IN FACT recipients of Bonuses have left with the Millions in their pockets, called 'retainer Bonuses'.
Quote: "If they were not given bonuses, they would presumably leave and sign on with rivals of AIG, where they could use their knowledge of AIG and work against its interests, and those of the taxpayers who now own 80% of the company. (In fact, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo found that some people who got the bonuses have already left AIG.)".....
I wonder what else will be uncovered, those who cashed in leaving the sinking vessel fast.
Read : AIG BONUS MESS
What s next ? Will see....
HEINZ TRAVEL SPOTS GROUP
This is the first time I've checked back in a while (since Election night!). I am happy to see folks are still active here on the blogs. I look forward to participating more here as well as reading what others have to say, and we sure have plenty to "talk" about!! Warm regards, TGirl71
As I read today about how bold and complicated his budget proposals are, it struck me how little information we have heard from the media on the choice of the new Drug Czar and the "drug war" under Obama in general. While the President has made it clear that he does not favor legalizing drugs, it has remained a very low priority issue. My guess is that the last thing he wants is to be ridiculed ealry on (which is the conservative right-wing tactic regarding any pot discussion) for bringing this logical policy change into play while there are so many serious issues involved, the economy, health care, education, the wars etc...Like a Texas Hold-em poker player with two aces he is waiting for the other players to bet and raise the "pot" and pull him into the 'war on drugs' debate, but when it is time to lay the cards out, it will be obvious to all that the drug war has to go, for the sake of the budget and the economy. His advisors will point out what Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman and conservative icon Willliam F. Buckley said - The war on drugs cannot be won and it is hugely damaging to our ECONOMY as well as to the safety and security of the citicizens of our country and other nations! Obama is a brilliant tactician/politician as well as a great communicator, because frankly, I thought he would stop the war in Iraq first, and then stop the drug war, but it looks to me like he will take on the easiest "dumb war" we are in first.
From the time of the Big Bang Freedom is the natural state of things and Freedom can only be restrained by man's greedy desires and his artificial outside intervention. While man's collective efforts to restrain individuals from hurting other individuals or groups is a hallmark of our collective soul and civilization, that is not restraint of Freedom, it is restraint of evil. Restraint of the Freedom of an individual who is not harming others to pursue life, libery and happiness is wasted energy because the impulse and instinct for Freedom will always eventually outlast any efforts at artificial restraint. The human spirit's constant movement towards freedom and away from tyranical government will continue, as will our efforts to restrain evil. The devil is in the details of what is evil and what is just inconvenient for some.
The alcohol companies may need a bailout if pot is legalized. It is a lot cheaper to throw some seeds in the ground and watch the "weed" grow than to pay huge companies for your recreational high.
Cable news and right wing blogs are swarming with the revisionist history on the New Deal. Arm yourself against lies, spin and propaganda by reading info from a number of sources.
Here down a article about this topic. [Media Matters is a progressive media watchdog and fact checking organization which has received accolades from numerous sources (except the right wing media which often gets debunked by Media Matters).]
The link to digg it and for article: Conservatives Cherry-Pick 1930s Unemployment Figures
Summary: Columnists Mona Charen and George Will continued a trend among conservative media of responding to comparisons between the current economic situation and that of the 1930s and between Barack Obama and FDR by attacking the New Deal. In separate columns, both Charen and Will cherry-picked unemployment figures to assert that the New Deal did not reduce unemployment. But historians and progressive economists have noted that unemployment fell every year of the New Deal except during the 1937-38 recession; further, Nobel-laureate Paul Krugman has said it was a reversal of New Deal policies, not a continuance of them, that contributed to rising unemployment in 1937 and 1938.
Yes we can! Best wishes, Steffen
http://changeforbetterworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-way-to-say-goodbye-to-neocons-bush.html
Formal Petition to Attorney General-Designate Eric Holder to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute any and all government officials who have participated in War Crimes.
Fix the Economy, Now!
Layoffs, home foreclosures, stagnating wages, benefit cuts, bankruptcies, vanishing retirement security and more. We are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Jobs with Justice and other groups have been mobilizing to demand strong, immediate action to create jobs and restructure our economy to work for everyone, not only the people at the top.
President Obama and Congressional leaders are developing a recovery and reinvestment plan that addresses immediate economic needs, creates jobs and invests in the infrastructure America needs for recovery. It will also invest in America's families and America's workforce by ensuring that states can fund the services they depend on, including health care, public safety and education.
Tell Congress to pass the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Send a message here and CALL using this special toll-free number: 866-544-7573.
This plan will not fix all our problems and is not the end of the campaign, but it is an essential immediate step that will create jobs and invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, schools and health care.
While some progressive economists believe this plan will not be big enough or bold enough to stem the crisis, conservatives in Congress are trying to block the plan, apparently copying the Herbert Hoover strategy of responding to crisis by doing less, rather than more. Some Republicans have argued for more CEO tax breaks, rather than funding for unemployment insurance or food programs for hungry children.
Don't let them block the first step towards recovery. Don't let Congress sit idly by while millions more Americans lose their jobs and homes.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will do just that. Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's Economy.com and former adviser to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, concluded that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will add 4 million jobs in the United States by the end of 2010 and that "only concerted, comprehensive and consistent government action will instill the confidence necessary to restore financial stability and restart economic growth."
Send a message here and CALL using this special toll-free number: 866-544-7573.
Below is the sample letter:
Subject: Pass the Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
Layoffs, home foreclosures, stagnating wages, benefit cuts, bankruptcies, a collapsing retirement security and more. This economic crisis requires bold, immediate action that addresses immediate needs, creates jobs and rebuilds the infrastructure of our workforce and country.I urge you to support the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as a first essential step towards making our economy work for everyone.
Sincerely,Crystal Ainardi
Instructions:Click here to take action on this issue or choose the "Reply to Sender" option on your email program.
Tell-A-Friend:Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-Friend!
You can Digg it: My_way to say GOODBYE to neocons, Bush and Cheney!
A picture from me to say goodbye from most bad president of US and all neocons.We can only hope many people will long enough remember. Bush had a lot bad gifts for the change! Let's take care the poor and normal people will not have to pay now too much after the rich made profit in good time!And what's with impeachment now?! What's with hidden knowledge of Sept. 11 2001?[ Maybe an explanation of picture: it's made like an "egg laying wool milk sow" a metaphorical-idiomatic term in Germany]
Yeah, and here you can see something new about neocons were bringing to us - for me to say: don't forgive Bush and neocons and there is still a lot to work of. We will and can do this too - Yes we can!I got now message too like "If anybody can clean up the mess bush left, it's President Obama." - Yes and Obama likes people helping still to do the work - help him! We were a big and strong movement and so people got knowledge back how strong people can be together! Whistleblower: Bush's NSA spied on EVERYONE (already 4255 Diggs) The NSA had access to ALL YOUR COMMUNICATIONS, regardless of who you were or whether or not you were communicating internationally.
After a frustrating few days using the Citizen's Briefing Book on change.gov - only to have them pull the plug - I've taken the initiative to launch an open-source, citizen-driven project to create its replacement: The People's Agenda ( http://www.99americans.org/ )
This is an invitation to any or all of you to come there and help me with this effort.
This was the best way I could think of to spend the last few working hours of this national day of service.
OBAMA PROVES WHITES NOT AS PREJUDICED AS WE THOUGHT !
By Greg Jones (originally written/released March 24, 2008)
" There's no way America would vote for a black president !.....America's not ready for a black president." That has historically been the sentiment and attitude shared by the majority of blacks in America due in part to the fact that we have always been under the assumption that most whites are so prejudiced that a black president in America would just never happen. But one of the most incredible things that has arisen through Barack Obamas campaign has been the vision of mass numbers of white people at each of the Obama rallys showing great love and support for this credible, intelligent, gifted, strong leader....who happens to also be black. It has been incredibly eye-opening and uplifting, and it, for the first time, shows us blacks that we have actually been wrong in our assumption that most whites are prejudiced toward us. Guess what ? Although you do have the exceptions to the rule, the fact is....most whites ARE NOT racist toward blacks. This is a very important revelation. VERY !!!
We, as blacks have held on to our injured history, which we rightfully feel was caused by whites, to such a degree that we have never had the opportunity to see or learn that the prejudiced attitudes of whites does not exist today like it had in the past. We just didn't know. We knew that a lot of whites like black music. We knew that millions of white women love Oprah, but we thought that was just a 'woman thing'. But in all honesty, we had no idea, until now, that white people of all ages....even older ones...could be as supportive of a black candidate as they have shown in great mass. We, as blacks have been wrong !
And now, to my black brothers and sisters....It's time for us to acknowledge this extremely important revelation...In other words....all whites are not prejudiced !!! In fact, MOST whites aren't ! I know, it's hard to believe because of our lifetime of thinking differently....but these are the facts. Just look in the eyes of the whites at Obama's rallys. You see a true warmth, compassion and true support for this man....who is black. What this means is that most whites have risen above the racism of old. Now, it is time for us, as blacks, to rise up as well. Of course, we as blacks will have the specific cases of injustice and prejudice as displayed through examples like Jena 6, Genarlow Wilson, Katrina and the like....and specific cases like those should be dealt with accordingly. In regards to economic, educational and criminal injustices and institutional racism....we still have a long way to go. But we must not continue to allow certain negative occurances to misdirect our minds toward thinking that these negative examples speak for the entire white race. The majority of whites of today are actually on our side !
Obama's campaign has already won by proving that whites and blacks can not only get along....but can work TOGETHER....toward a better tomorrow...for us all. And guess what my black family....America IS ready !!! (originally written March 24, 2008) Greg Jones National Director Blacks4Barack.org
Blacks4Barack@yahoo.com
Update: YES WE DID ! p.s. Special Thanks to the great folks of IOWA !
I have so little to say this week of the inauguration, this week that I have been waiting a lifetime for, this week that my deceased father will miss out on seeing, this week that friends and family throughout the world have been working towards, praying for, waiting for, afraid to voice fears that it might never come.
But, I have nothing to say. I mean I do. It's in my head. It's in my heart. But, I can't stop smiling. I can't stop feeling joy in my heart for what will happen on Tuesday.
And it's so hard to talk when your heart is stuffed with joy and your mouth is in a perpetual smile.
