One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08!

Mr. Dean,

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:11:22 EST

If the CURRENT state of the Health Reform Bill ONLY benefits health insurers, why are the health insurance industry and the Republican Senatorial insurance industry ‘band wagon’ blocking it?

What Are HC Polls REALLY Telling Us?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:56:38 EST

News headlines are swarming with poll results on the public’s “dwindling” support for Health Care Reform, but what are the poll results really telling us? Is the public’s support for Health Care Reform dwindling because the public believes we DON’T NEED Reform within our present health care system, or is the public’s support dwindling because the Reform debate looks like it’s heading towards more of the same thanks to Lieberman, Republican “Break Obama” Lawmakers, Forums, Tea Parties, Conservatives, and the health insurance industry? Is the public’s dissatisfaction with the President’s “handling” of health care reform dwindling because he didn’t follow the Bush/Cheney/ Republican dominated Congress play book by designing his own Reform legislation and ramming it down the throats of Lawmakers whether they agreed or not, or is it dwindling because he kept his Campaign promise of “CONSENSUS BUILDING” which has proven to be a gigantic fly in the ointment thanks to Lieberman, Republican “Break Obama” Lawmakers, Conservatives, Forums, Tea Parties and the health insurance industry? When you break it down into nuts and bolts, what are HC polls REALLY telling us?

Who Cares?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:41:11 EST

Who cares if Republican Senators and Lieberman won’t support the public option? You could give them everything they want in a Health Reform bill and they still wouldn’t vote for “quality, affordable health care for all” UNLESS their vote was accompanied by a hefty campaign contribution from the health insurance industry. Republican Lawmakers didn’t care about bi-partisanship when they were in DEFICIT SPENDING power for the previous eight years and they sure don’t care about bi-partisanship now. All they want to do is take the money and run. When Republican Senatorial candidates and Lieberman are flaunting their fancy ads, posters, flyers, rallies and disingenuous, hypocritical rhetoric in 2010, remember that their campaign monies came from the “PEOPLE’S” UNINSURED blood, sweat and tears and vote them ALL out!

Spread the word!

Say It Isn’t So, Joe!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:45:12 EST

Independent Connecticut Senator JOE LIEBERMAN is, publicly, threatening to go full throttle GOP on Health Care Reform and his self-serving stubbornness can kill all hopes of a bill. The “MAJORITY” cannot let this happen.

CONTACT JOE LIEBERMAN and keep the pressure on “Blue Dog” Democrats, BEN NELSON (Nebraska), MARY LANDRIEU (Louisana), and BLANCHE LINCOLN (Arkansas) EVERY DAY at 1-866-783-2462, www.senate.gov/general/contactinformation/senators cfm.cfm and/or www.congress.org .

Spread the word!

866 Did the Trick!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:36:48 EST

Thanks to the SILENT MAJORITY’S December 8, 2009 (866)783-2462 calls to Senators, the public option is STILL ON THE TABLE! It’s been a long and difficult road to travel, but because of YOU, the public option remains alive DESPITE Forums, Tea Parties, self-serving Republican, Independent and Blue Dog Democrat Senators, health insurance industry lobbyists and their millions, Palin, Rush, Beck and the rest.

Remember, nothing of worth comes easy. So, continue to call (866)783-2462 and continue to flood Senate mailboxes with e-mails and letters EVERY DAY until quality, affordable health care reform becomes law at… www.senate.gov/general/contactinformation/senators cfm.cfm and www.congress.org

SHOW THEM THAT DESPITE THE ODDS, THE “MAJORITY” IS UNDEFEATABLE!

Spread the word!

Global warming

Walt — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:45:18 EST

Global warming is fact, not fiction. We can disagree about the causes: natural, man-made or a combination, but we cannot argue about its existence. Here in the West, we are concerned about oceans rising and severe weather, but in the Orient, their concerns are more grave. The glaciers of the Himalayas are melting. If you doubt that, ask anyone who lives in that neighborhood. The glaciers of the Himalayas are the source of the major rivers of Asia. They supply drinking water and water for food crops to India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam and several smaller countries in that area. About half the people of the world depend on that water for survival. We can expect major flooding downstream on those rivers initially. Then as the glaciers continue to melt and the flooding subsides, severe drought will follow. Famine will ensue. War and pestilence usually accompany severe famine. It is up to us to try to prevent this from happening.

S.O.S. - Call 866-783-2462!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:56:52 EST

TODAY - DECEMBER 8th - IS A CRITICAL “PUBLIC OPTION” VOTE DAY IN THE SENATE.

CALL 866-783-2462. GIVE THE NAME OF YOUR SENATOR AND LEAVE THIS MESSAGE: “KEEP THE PUBLIC OPTION”.

Spread the word!

All I Want for Christmas is…

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:37:53 EST

the passage of UNIVERSAL Health Care Reform!

Republican Senators, wavering Blue Dog Democrat Senators and their health insurance industry campaign contributors have NOT slowed down their fight to kill the public option. Health insurance industry interests are spending nearly $5 million per week to defeat health care reform with a focus on killing the public option. SELF-SERVING Republican and Blue Dog Democrat Senators are determined to protect health insurance industry interests with ABSOLUTELY NO consideration for the 70% of Americans who support the CHOICE of a public option while, EVERY DAY, 2,547 Americans go bankrupt because they can’t afford to pay medical bills. The Silent Majority CANNOT AFFORD to lose the fight. If the concept of GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED health insurance “options” is good enough for the Senators, it’s good enough for the TAXPAYERS who pay for it!

CONTINUE to flood ALL Senate telephone lines and mailboxes with calls, e-mails and letters EVERY DAY until a COMPLETED Universal Health Care Reform package becomes law at…

www.senate.gov/general/contactinformation/senators cfm.cfm

www.congress.org

Spread the word!

OFA ===> "The best jobs report we’ve seen since 2007"

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:06:55 EST

"The best jobs report we’ve seen since 2007" By Christopher Hass - Dec 4th, 2009 at 4:00 pm EST Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content

The Labor Department released its monthly employment survey today, and though the U.S. lost 11,000 jobs in November, that number was nearly 115,000 fewer than was forecast. The overall unemployment rate decreased, and the report found that nearly 160,000 fewer jobs had been lost over the last two months than had been previously thought. The New York Times called this "the strongest employment report since the recession began nearly two years ago."

Speaking at an event in Allentown, Pennsylvania today, President Obama explained:

This is good news, just in time for the season of hope. But I want to keep this in perspective. We still have a long way to go. I still consider one job lost one job too many. And as I said yesterday at a jobs conference in Washington, good trends don't pay the rent. We need to grow jobs and get America back to work as quickly as we can.
The journey from here will not be without setbacks or struggle. There will be more bumps in the road. But the direction is clear. When you think about how this year began, today’s report is a welcome sign that there are better days ahead.

Dither, Hither and Crash!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:07:52 EST

Considering Republican Lawmakers’ “DITTHERING” over quality, affordable health care for all, their focus on the Social Secretary’s not attending the White House crashers’ hearing is another one of their CIRCUS side shows. First of all, Republican Lawmakers’, continuous, “break the President” shenanigans make it, virtually, impossible to believe that they, TRULY, care about anything associated with the White House “crashers” outside of further inflating their OVER INFLATED egos. Secondly, if Republican Lawmakers placed the same concentrated efforts on working WITH the President to fix the economical mess they created over the previous eight years by deregulating the banks and Wall Street, outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries, the Iraq Invasion, and billions to Halliburtin, they would realize that flitting from hither to yon to exacerbate issues outside of their immediate jurisdiction, results in nothing but the blowing off of hot air.

Republican Lawmakers need to STOP "crashing" the President's "HOPE" FOR AMERICA agenda, and START focusing on legislating universal health care reform; regulating the banks and Wall Street; getting outsourced jobs back on American soil; pushing for a meaty stimulus package (unlike the first, Republican-driven, “If I don’t get my way, I’ll vote no”, watered-down package), and stop whining for a never ending US “occupation” of Afghanistan.

Republican Lawmakers may revel in being ‘Obama Party Crashers’, but TRUE ‘party crashers’ don’t dither from hither to yon to be seen at the ball!

Rethink reform

Walt — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:28:40 EST

There is a disgusting full page ad on page 17A of today's USA Today. It shows the bare bottom of a male patient in a hospital gown. It is a view I sometimes see at work but we are trained to preserve a patient's modesty by securing the ties of the gown. Small print at the bottom of the ad says ,"paid for by the Employment Policies Institute." I went to their web site and to the Rethink Reform site at www.rethinkreform.com. There is no information there about where they are getting their money. That information would be very helpful and I think that it should be required in all advocacy ads in the future. I will make that a priority in the future. We don't need a list of all donors, but we do need to know where the big donations are coming from.

Response to President Obama's speech at West Point

Appolo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:36:08 EST

First i want to thank you Mr President for this very powerfull speech.I can say from the bottom of my heart WELL DONE SIR.To me you touched all the neccesary points.This speech was very powerful comming from a chief of staff and also what i appreciated the most, was the emotional appeal to the World to stop this Violence together and come to PEACE with each other.Mr President,World Peace cannot be achieved by war,but by compasion,understanding and wisdom.keep up the good work.Mr President, the people of America and the World, have to open their hearts,minds,eyes and ears, to start understanding that "Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by Love"Heart of a Buddha.Mr President, as a strong believer in the notion of Democracy, Peace and Love for all nations,i greately appreciate the time, energy, compasion, and wisdom you put in taking these not so easy decisions.For a man of your position, intellect, and wisdom Mr President,it's up to the people of the World to get the message and get themselves together to face this new millineum which without Peace and understanding will be a very difficult one to live.Mr President, this is not your fight, but it's under your watch now.So lets' streghten our forces together and finish this War Succesfully for the good of our children and grand children.

GOD BLESS YOU, GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS THE WORLD.Amen

Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:20:19 EST

When Right Wing politicians, “rogues”, FOXY and other television/radio talk show hosts and guests profess their political, historical and factual ignorance blaming President Obama for our country’s current debt, deficit and indebtedness to China, INTELLIGENT listeners have got to ask the question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

When President Bush and his Republican-dominated Congressional BIG SPENDERS came into office, they were left with a HEFTY budget surplus in the trillions from the Clinton Administration, and what did they do? They took that surplus and drove us into a near depression in eight years by…

Deregulating the banks and Wall Street

Outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries

Big time tax breaks for the wealthy

Reckless borrowing from China

The Iraq Invasion

Billions to Halliburtin

Prescription Drug legislation in the billions with NO budgeted funding

Now that they no longer hold the purse strings, Republican Congressional BIG SPENDERS and their ‘roguey’, FOXY and other Right Wing radio/television puppets have SUDDENLY become fiscally sane and blame all the woes THEY CREATED on President Obama.!

Why can't the naysayers face the truth and work WITH the President to clean up the mess instead of pecking and wallowing in the chicken coop?

Spread the word!

Why is the Republican Party AFRAID of a Health Care Debate?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:44:20 EST

The Republican Party is AFRAID of taking Health Care Reform through the debate process. They have taken their racist, hate-filled, bully pulpit, polarizing, “Tea Party” scare tactics to the Internet against moderate Democrat Senators who voted to move the Health Care issue to the debate process.

Is the Republican Party afraid because they have NO VALID arguments to fight quality, affordable health care for ALL Americans” on the Senate floor? Is the Republican Party afraid because they have NO LIE PROOF arguments to fight quality, affordable health care for ALL Americans on the Senate floor? Is the Republican Party afraid because they have no NON-CHICKEN LITTLE “SKY IS FALLING” arguments to fight quality, affordable health care for ALL Americans on the Senate floor? Is the Republican Party afraid because they have no GREED FREE health insurance contributions in the millions arguments to fight quality, affordable health care for ALL Americans on the Senate floor? Or is it the case that the Republican Party JUST DOESN’T CARE about quality, affordable health care rights for ALL Americans?

The SILENT MAJORITY must fight back. Show your INTERNET SUPPORT’ for moderate Democrat Senators who had the GUTS to care!

Spread the word!

One Small Step For the “Majority”, One Giant Leap for Health Care Reform!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:55:19 EST

Members of the SILENT MAJORITY, we did it again! We’re one step closer to COMPREHENSIVE Health Care Reform!!! We got the Health Care Reform Bill out of the “House’ and tonight, 60 COURAGEOUS Democrat votes advanced the Bill to the “floor” for debate. We showed the Republican Blockade that health insurance contributions may ‘buy’ your vote, but it “can’t buy you love”! Let’s celebrate by contacting the 60 Senate Democrats with a ‘vote’ of “Thanks!” at: www.senate.gov/general/contact information/senators cfm.cfm and/or www.congress.org. Pass the word!

The SILENT MAJORITY Wins or Loses Tomorrow!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:03:10 EST

Health Care Reform comes up for a CRITICAL VOTE in the Senate on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21st. If it doesn’t pass, Health Care Reform is DEAD! Republican Senators have VOWED to kill the Bill. (They have sold us out for health insurance contributions in the millions!!!) IT”S NOW OR NEVER FOR THE SILENT MAJORITY! We stopped Republican Senators from blocking the vote all together. We must defeat them again on Saturday. Call and email ALL Senators (especially “Blue Dog” Democrats and Independents) TONIGHT and ALL DAY Saturday until the Bill has passed at: www.senate.gov/general/contact information/senators cfm.cfm and/or www.congress.org

Tell them to vote “YEA” and pass the word.

It's Us Against the 'Benjamins'!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:19:03 EST

The SILENT MAJORITY must not be blind-sided by Republican, ‘Blue Dog’ Democrat and the Independent Senators’ hype about abortion and the public option when it comes to their pledge to STOP Health Care Reform. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ‘BENJAMINS’!

Senate Anti-Reform representatives will receive OVER A MILLION DOLLARS in contributions from the health insurance industry. (House Anti-Reform representatives received OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS in contributions from the health insurance industry - 15% more than Pro-Health Care Reform House representatives.) Go to The Center for Responsive Politics at www.opensecrets.org/ to find out more.

The SILENT MAJORITY must let Republican, ‘Blue Dog’ Democrat and the Independent Senators know how we feel about their placing a BOUNTY on our health care rights.

You know the drill.

Expose Republican, “Blue Dog” Democrat and the Independent Senators’ health insurance industry contributions BY AMOUNT AND BY NAME on ALL Internet venues, in local newspaper letters to the editor and on CONSERVATIVE and MAINSTREAM radio and television talk shows.
Flood Senate mailboxes with e-mails and letters expressing your disgust with their putting a BOUNTY on our health care rights.
REPEAT Steps 1 and 2 EVERY day until the US Senate acts on AND passes a Health Care Reform Bill BEFORE 2010.
Contact Senators at…

www.senate.gov/general/contact information/senators cfm.cfm

www.congress.org

Hooray!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:49:45 EST

The House Health Care Reform Bill has passed. The SILENT MAJORITY’S “public option” train has left the station.

Next stop – the US SENATE at...

www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm www.congress.org

Republican Senatorial ‘conductors’ have pledged to DELAY our ‘arrival’ at the Universal Health Care Reform station.

Get on board. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, BUT don’t let them stop us from getting to our “public option” destination BEFORE 2010!

I Declare! We're Almost There!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:37:00 EST

Members of the SILENT MAJORITY, we’re almost there! Write and call “Blue Dog” Democrats and ALL Congressional House representatives ALL DAY AND NIGHT. The public option is up for a vote in the House. Go to…www.house.gov/writer and/or www.congress.org

Yesterday the House Minority Leader quoted words from the Declaration of Independence as words from the “Constitution” at an Anti- Health Care Reform rally. Today Republican “Break Obama” Lawmakers are conducting a media blitz declaring that they WILL NOT vote for the Health Care Reform Bill and equating the public option with a loss of freedom. Since they don’t know the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, it’s not surprising that they don’t know the definition of “Option” which is associated with having a choice. "Freedom" of choice is what the "public OPTION" is all about! Functional illiteracy is no excuse for throwing the wishes of 62% of Americans under the bus.

You Snooze, You Lose!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:22:15 EST

62% of Americans WANT THE PUBLIC OPTION. Don’t let the public option suffer the same fate as Virginia and New Jersey. New York and California election results proved that you can lose the battle, but not the war! The SILENT MAJORITY must act now, or suffer the consequences later!

1. Expose and challenge “BLUE DOG” DEMOCRAT Congressional Representatives who do not support the public option on ALL Internet venues, in local newspaper letters to the editor and on CONSERVATIVE and MAINSTREAM radio and television talk shows.

2. WRITE to ALL Congressional Representatives! Flood their Congressional mailboxes with letters and e mails detailing your health care woes, your family’s health care woes, and your friend’s health care woes. Send them the DOLLAR FIGURES of your health care physician and hospital balances. WRITING is proven to be the most effective way to make your point when it comes to influencing Congressional representatives. Contact Congressional representatives at…

www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm www.house.gov/writer www.congress.org

If we blow this one, we can’t blame Obama, we can only blame ourselves!

Only the Super-Rich

Walt — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:30:49 EDT

Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! by Ralph Nader, 733 pages is a fast reading fable about what is wrong in the US and how with leadership and donations from billionaires we can right the wrongs. Nader gives names to the good guys and slightly disguised names to the bad guys. I found the inside details on the working of Wal-Mart and Congress the most interesting parts of the book. Whether you like Ralph Nader or not, he has done a lot of good for the country. In this book, he reveals knowledge that he has accumulated over a lifetime fighting for the average citizen.

Some critics of Barack want the US to be the tough kid on the block in defense matters. This is Nader's response: "Asserting moral courage is being tough. Waging peace is tough. Standing up to arrogant power is being tough. And until we have the deeply just society our people deserve, doing the right thing even it costs us in the short run is being tough."

Nader also relates Lincoln's style on campaigning before there was mass media in 1840. Lincoln advocated dividing the voters into three categories: those who are with you from the get-go, those who are susceptible to persuasion, and those who are against you from the get-go. Then he guided his followers through the step-by-step process-- or more accurately the doorstep-by-doorstep process--of meeting with every voter except the opposition hardliners. Worked for Lincoln. Let's give it a go in 2010.

He also quoted Judge Learned Hand, "If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: Thou shall not ration justice." Nader contends..." that it is democracy, justice, and the rule of law that make capitalism produce a better material life for more people, not capitalism in itself.'

I am giving my copy of this book to my son. I have purchased two additional copies of the book which I will send free of charge to the first two people who respond to this message. I wish that I could give away more than two copies. Please send an email to me at walthe@aol.com and put "Nader book" in the subject line. I will send a book to each of the first two responders.

With A Cheesy Apology To Old St. Nick...

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:06:18 EDT

Twas the night before November 3rd and all through the states
The pundits were debating the ELECTION fates
In places like New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Nevada
The SILENT MAJORITY arose with a clatter
They threw the “Break Obama” curse out the door
And remembered the ‘dissing’ of Chief Justice Sotomayor
They were unhappy with the blocking of health care for all
The hate, the posters, “You lie!” and more
They were tired of REPUBLICANS with “just say no”
And felt that anti-bi partisanship had to go
They wanted “for the people” representatives to elect
And decided, “I’ll cast my vote” – What the heck!
Fed up with the Limbaughs, “Tea”, FOXes and such
They SILENTLY shouted “Enough is enough!”
Members of the “MAJORITY” spread the word
Make it happen on NOVEMBER 3rd!

Are You Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:07:27 EDT

Go to… www.honkandwaveforhealthcarereform.com AND www.michaelmoore.com

It Takes Two to Tango!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:07:14 EDT

Any campaign promises made by President Obama that he could fulfill with a stroke of a pen were met within weeks of his coming into office. (How quickly we forget!)

Any campaign promises REQUIRING legislation from Congress has been an uphill battle courtesy of the “Break Obama” Blockade.

Ever since he got into office, it has been, blatantly, clear that that anything the President is for, the Republican Blockade is against. As long as the Blockade knows that they can count on Tea Partying Birthers, Right Wing media outlets and pundits, health insurance and NRA lobbyists, Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, and Palin to further their cause, they will continue to FORSAKE A COUNTRY for the selfish purpose of forsaking a President.

If you want “Campaign Promises” kept, block the Blockade - vote on NOVEMBER 3, 2009 and again in 2010!

(Also, join www.honkand waveforhealthcarereform.com to strengthen the point!)

The “Silent Majority” Has Spoken!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:40:37 EDT

Good for you SILENT MAJORITY, ALL Democrat Senate Finance Committee members, and Senate Republican Snowe. We did it! We finally got the BEGINNINGS of Health Care Reform out of the Senate Finance Committee.

Our work has just begun. We cannot rest until COMPREHENSIVE Health Care Reform is signed into law...

We must continue to honkandwaveforhealthcarereform.com.

We must continue to “lobby the lobbyists” to fight for our health care rights.

We must continue to push “Break Obama” Lawmakers towards “quality, affordable health care for all”.

Here are the Republican Senate Finance Committee members who DID NOT vote Health Care Reform out of the Senate Finance Committee:

Orrin Hatch (Republican-Utah)

Charles Grassley (Republican – Iowa)

John Ensign (Republican-Nevada)

John Kyl (Republican-Arizona)

Jim Bunnings (Republican- Kentucky)

Mike Crapo (Republican Indiana)

Pat Roberts (Republican-Kansas)

Mike Enzi (Republican – Wyoming)

John Cornyn (Republican-Texas)

Here are Congressional toll free numbers to let them know how you feel:

1-800-828-0498
1-877-264-4226
1-877-210-5351

Healthcare Reform Reality Check

Jason Harter; Stop Hate — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:55:00 EDT

By two authors, called collectively JJ Kennedy

Please check out our sites: groups.myspace.com/stophatej, jj.kennedy@live.com, and more to come with our main website, myspace, facebook, twitter, and youtube. Expect seriousness, commedy, and satire all rolled into one massive networked political site.

Join our effort and become a member and contribute within our network, send us an email.

Healthcare Reform Reality Check

Some people say that a public option is not the way to go because it will cost too much, its a ranting lie that will kill grandma, it is too socialist; the opposition to the public option needs a reality check.

1. One of the arguments against President Obama's plan is that it is simply too expensive and will drain our economy increasing the already massive deficit left behind by the Bush administration. Reality check? The health care reform plan will not add anything to the deficit, and in fact it is paid for upfront. Fiscal responsibility is written all over this reform, addressing the realistic need for money and still providing effective health care. The first step is to start off fixing what is broken within the system. Namely, returning to realistic health care costs, which have risen four times faster than inflation based on a big business principle of maximizing profit rather than health. President Obama's plan focuses on quality care rather than quantity, a system where successful treatment of patients is more important than wasteful big medical business fraud.
The plan will implement various delivery system reforms, making the medical system both more affordable and effective. Most importantly, the plan will bring about more effective preventative care which will reduce over-all long-term medical expenses; preventing illness before they happen and masively reducing the excessive future medical bills.

2. Clearly republicans are not in sync with the people. Some believe in the lies and propaganda from FOX NEWS and other right-wing whackjobs. This junk from the 'Death Panals' or 'Deathers', or that it will fund euthanasia and abortion, or the absurd notions that this plan will 'kill grandma' are the most ridiculous mythical arguments geared to convince the nearsighted right-wing zombies. Once again, right wing deception emerges. Why do people so easily fall for this junk? Can't people see how foolish and absurd these pack of lies are.

3. Is this socialism? Yes and no. It is socialistic in the nature that giving equal education to our children is socialism. It is socialistic in the manner which social security and care for the disabled is socialism. It is socialism as in creating an American nation with opportunity for the American dream. At the same time, it is not a complete socialistic system. It is socialsitic tools used properly within an over-all capitalistic framework. Not all forms of socialism are negative, and in fact many forms create positive results as any disabled person, senior citizen on social security, or a person who is a product of the an education system would necessarily attest to. It is creating opportunity and creating human dignity.

A civilization is measured by its characteristics, ethics, and culture. A mark of our civilization is how we as a society treat the least amongst us. The love we show within our treatment to our elderly, disabled, innocent children, and medically ill is a reflection of the value we place within human dignity.

"It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will lower the cost of health care for our families, our businesses, and our government."
– President Barack Obama

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die"
Ted Kennedy

For more details, see http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/plan/

It's Time to Lobby the Lobbyists!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:01:21 EDT

The health insurance industry is shelling out millions to spin data, support “Tea Party” demonstrations, and influence Congressional representatives to fight against Health Care Reform. So, in addition to joining www.honkandwaveforhealthcarereform.com, the SILENT MAJORITY must, also, “lobby the lobbyists”!

Search the web for “Health Lobbyists Directories” – there are plenty. Call, e-mail, write to, tweet, facebook, my space, digg, you tube health insurance lobbyists with a simple message:

“Lobby health care for me!”

Avon Township (Grayslake area) Democrats

MarcFeld — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:21:43 EDT

Hello everyone,

I would like to invite you to attend the Avon Township Democrats Open Meeting on October 17, 2009 at 10am at the Round Lake Beach Village Hall. Candidates, public officials, and other progressives will be meeting to discuss what issues are being considered at the county, state, and/or federal level as well as what SHOULD Be worked on.

We are a grass-roots, progressive organization that is small but growing and committed to giving back to our community. We meet monthly at the Round Lake Beach Village Hall and are ALWAYS looking for new members.

For more information, please contact me:

Marc Feldstein - Avon Township Democrats Chair Marc.Feldstein@tds.net

Honk, Wave, Campaign and VOTE!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:42:36 EDT

In addition to joining www.honkandwaveforhealthcarereform.com, don’t forget to campaign, register and vote in your state’s NOVEMBER 3, 2009 special election cycle and in preparation for the 2010 Midterm elections.

Go to…

www.elections[type in your state].gov

WHY?

To elect “for the people” government representatives rather than those who represent…

the “people’s business” taking a 'back door' to the “breaking” of a President; health insurance lobbyists’ interests above “quality, affordable health care for all”; “ugly American”izing the President’s Nobel Peace Prize; the block vote against Chief Justice Sotomayor; making a mockery of bipartisanship; Limbaugh; “Tea Parties”; legislation for NRA lobbyists’ interests for guns in National Parks, on trains and in bars; hate, discord and death threats; openly celebrating America’s loss of Olympics 2012; Health Care Forum outbursts; lies; “I want my country back” birthers; prostitute and pimp ‘tricks’ against Katrina, home foreclose, predatory lender, public school relief and voter registration services for the economically disadvantaged; Beck; racist posters and labels; misinformation; Palin; hypocrisy; “bully pulpits”; Hannity; “You lie!”

The Rich Are NOT Smarter or Harder Working

Henry M — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:09:25 EDT

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
- Dorothy Parker

“Honk and Wave for Health Care Reform” - Be a Part of It!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:48:56 EDT

Go to

www.honkandwaveforheallthcarereform.com

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Senate Finance Committee Members Who Voted AGAINST the Public Option

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:08:39 EDT

Orrin Hatch (Republican-Utah)

Charles Grassley (Republican – Iowa)

Olympia Snowe (Republican – Maine)

John Ensign (Republican-Nevada)

John Kyl (Republican-Arizona)

Jim Bunnings (Republican- Kentucky)

Mike Crapo (Republican Indiana)

Pat Roberts (Republican-Kansas)

Mike Enzi (Republican – Wyoming)

John Cornyn (Republican-Texas)

Max Baucaus (Democrat-Montana)

Kent Conrad (Democrat – North Dakota)

Blanche Lincoln (Democrat – Arkansas)

Thomas Carper (Democrat – Delaware)

Bill Nelson (Democrat- Florida)

Here are toll free numbers to Congress:

1-800-828-0498
1-877-264-4226
1-877-210-5351

AMERICA 10 MONTHS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA

Appolo — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:37:28 EDT

First i want to thank President OBAMA for an outstanding job for the last 10 months in office and when you read this Mr President,i want you to know that all my thoughts and prayers are with you.God Bless you and your family,and God Bless America.

Mr President,these thoughts i am about to outline are both to you and to the American people for as a keen observer of all the ongoing events,i think a good percentage of Americans are either lost in translation,or they are just stupid and stuborn.Mr President i want you to know that you are doing a phenomenal job for some of us who got a brillant mind like you and are great free thinkers.To those of you who don't understand,i am going to help you Mr President,to break it down for them so they can let you go further with your agenda,and achieve these brillant visions that we have for America.

To all readers of my thoughts from the Balcony,you should know by now that RESISTANCE WITHOUT A PURPOSE TO ME IS CONSIDERED FOOLISH AND STUPID.Why?

What is your problem with a PUBLIC OPTION in the Healthcare reform plan?

What is your problem with President OBAMA'S Birth certificate?

What is you problem with LIFE?

Are you DELIBERATELY stopping the President elect from doing his job?

Now let me break it down for those of you who got all these so called issues with President OBAMA.You guys are just IGNORANT,and have idle minds which is the devil's workshop.You don't think,You don't VISUALIZE,and You REFUSE to learn.My fellow WORLD CITIZENS,this is a RECEIPY FOR DISASTER.When i see and read the way some of you critisize him,deform his character and image with no better proposals in return,i feel like we are driving ourselves pretty close to what we call ARMAGEGON TODAY.People let me remind you this:

"Ignorance leads to ego,ego to selfishness,selfishness to resentment,resentment to anger,anger to hatred,hatred to annihilation."Heart of a Buddha.

But this fellow concerned citizens is not going to happen because of ignorance,because we have a President in the person of BARACK OBAMA,who has a perfect VISION for this country and the world as a whole.You have a President with the brightess mind ever,You have a good man who is sacrificing alot for his people,You have a Presidentwho is willing to give you everything you want and as he promissed during his campaign,He is willing to work for America and the World to get better,SO CAN YOU PLEASE UNDERSTAND HIM ,AND GIVE HIMA CHANCE TO WORK FOR YOU THE PEOPLE.Open your eyes,ears,hearts so your minds can be free and you would understand him better.

"Hear what is said,retain what is important,speak what is worthy.Attach to nothing."Heart of a Budda.

President OBAMA came to power at a very crucial point and time in world history.He inherited not only a very HUGE DEFICIT,but also a POWERFUL ECONOMIC RECESSION,TWO UN-NECESSARY WARS,and as if it's not enough,CRITICISM from a group of people with unthinkable not to say stupid and crazy reasoning faculties.

"Peace is not the absence of WAR,it is a VIRTUE,a STATE OF MIND,a DISPOSITION FOR LOVE,HONESTY and TRUSTWORTHINESS."Heart of a Buddha.

President OBAMA is here to let his people free.When i say his people,i know very well what i mean.All around the World,peopl are looking up to him for a better situation for everybody i.e Parents,children, and even future generatiopns to come.But the amazing thing is that all Resistance against him is comming from the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,which is considered the greatest Power and Democracy in the WORLD.Now i have another question which is WHAT DOES THAT POTRAY ABOUT AMERICA?Peolpe again let me remind you of this:

"In our interactions with others,gentleness,kindness,respect are the source of harmony."Heart of a Buddha

"I THANK GOD HE IS A GOOD MAN,AND HE IS HERE DURING THESE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES TO SET US FREE."

President OBAMA is not a politician for some of you who don't know.First of all he is a parent,then he is a man on the rise with an outstanding vision for AMERICA and the WORLD.He is a free thinker with a brillant mind,he dares to do what most of our leaders before him could not do,he is a GOOD TEACHER if you let him into you hearts,he is a good family man and to add it all up A MAN OF GOD.With his great commonsense,vision and wisdom, he understands the FUNDAMENTAL BASICS OF LIFE.Give him his chance to work and stop what i call "BLIND RESISTANCE"because it's not going to take us anywhere.

WE THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS,GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT FOUNDERS AND ORGANIZERS around the WORLD, are going to continue to give you Mr President,all the support that you need because we understand what time it is.This is a very crucial and important moment in WORLD HISTORY.

Politics is the oldest game in the book,so politicians should stop putting their interests before those of the peolple who pay their salary and put them into office because we the concerned citizens already know the games they are playing.These "POLITICIANS"are mad,angry at President OBAMA because HE DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY THESE GAMES WITH THEM.Another food for thought for you America:IF WE SPEND 1 YEAR ON HEALTHCARE REFORM,HOW LONG SHALL WE SPEND ON OTHER PRESSING ISSUES?Ther is still a lot of work to do for the BENEFIT OF ALL MANKIND,so politicians stop "PLAYING THIS OLD GAME"because we the people are sick and tired of it.IT'S TIME TO FACE REALITY.

"As human beings we chase after fleeting pleasures like a child licking honey off a sharp knife or a person carrying a torch against the wind."Heart of a Buddha

PRESIDENT OBAMA,CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK.WE WILL KEEP PRAYING FOR YOU'WE WILL KEEP SUPPORTING YOU,WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.TOGETHER WE STAND,TOGETHER WE WE SHALL WIN,TOGETHER WE SHALL PREVAIL,FOR THE RULE OF LAW WHICH IS ALSO THE "LAW OF NATURE IS ON OUR SIDE."

"Natural laws are impartial.Only those who are virtuos are in harmony with nature."Heart of a Buddha.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS THE WORLD

S.O.S.

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:31:38 EDT

The Senate is holding fast AGAINST THE PUBLIC OPTION. There’s a pretty good chance that they will succeed!

The Silent Majority CANNOT afford to remain silent any longer!

Let your voice be heard or suffer the consequences!

CAMPAIGN for the Public Option!

Don’t let the “Tea Partiers” have the LAST WORD!

Setting the Record Straight on “Bully Pulpits”

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:28:40 EDT

REPUBLICAN Lawmakers, RIGHT WING radio/television talk show hosts, and pundits are pandering ANOTHER SCRIPTED LABEL for the President saying that he is using the “BULLY PULPIT” to fight for YOUR health care rights. They ought to know something about “bully pulpits” because THEY PERFECTED IT!

Radio and television talk show hosts ranting, raving and promoting lies, hate and discord IS A BULLY PULPIT!
Flaunting hate and racism under the guise of “TEA PARTY” posters, guns and rifles IS A BULLY PULPIT!
Shouting down elected officials at Health Care Forums IS A BULLY PULPIT!
CHRISTIAN ministers preaching death to a President FROM THE PULPIT IS A BULLY PULPIT!
Misrepresenting “prostitutes and pimps” to topple a community based organization that rescued thousands of Katrina victims, saved thousands from home foreclosures and predatory lenders, and rescued thousands of public schools IS A BULLY PULPIT!
Shouting "You Lie!" during a President's Congressional Address IS A BULLY PULPIT!

SO, BEFORE YOU START MISREPRESENTING MY PRESIDENT’S FIGHT FOR “QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL” AS A “BULLY PULPIT”, TAKE YOUR BULLIES AND YOUR PULPITS AND PREACH TO YOUR OWN CHOIR BECAUSE RATIONALE AMERICANS CAN REASON FOR THEMSELVES AND WE KNOW THOSE WHO ARE THE REAL BULLIES!

Help Wanted!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:21:20 EDT

JOB OPPORTUNITY:

“BLUE DOG” Democrats are having an IDENTIY CRISIS!
They think that they are REPUBLICANS!
They sided with REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS on carrying guns in National Parks, on trains, and in bars!
They are siding with REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS on WATERING DOWN YOUR health care rights towards MORE OF THE SAME!

JOB DESCRIPTION:

ADOPT a “BLUE DOG” DEMOCRAT.
TRAIN the ‘BLUE DOG” to fight for YOUR health care rights.
If training fails, LET THE “BLUE DOG” KNOW that you will REPLACE him with a “PURE BREED” Democrat in 2010!

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

MUST be a member of the “SILENT MAJORITY”!

SALARY:

“Quality, affordable health care FOR ALL”. (Personal health care-related bankruptcies NOT included)

WORK BEGINS IMMEDIATELY!

(This is NOT a joke!)

If Conservative interests groups....

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:49:06 EDT

can only come up with the misrepresentation of "PROSTITUTES AND PIMPS" to topple an EFFECTIVE community-based organization of thousands based on the alledged behavior of four, what does that tell you about THEIR moral values. This community-based organization saved thousands of Katrina victims; rescued thousands from home foreclosures and predatory lenders, and rescued thousands of public schools. Why aren't we hearing about THAT in media coverage of ACORN?

When the U.S. Senate…

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:13:05 EDT

can pass legistation to carry guns in National Parks, on trains, and in bars, but CANNOT come up with HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION, who do our Senate representatives work for, the NRA or the AMERICAN PEOPLE?

It WILL Pass!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:41:17 EDT

Republican Lawmakers are no longer ‘sugar coating” their DETERMINATION to NOT PASS Health Care Reform legislation. Whenever they are asked about the passage of Health Care Reform on the airways, their UNIFIED RESPONSE is, “IT WON’T PASS”.

COUNTER their claim with three words: “It WILL Pass”

BUT FIRST, YOU MUST TELL Democrat and Independent Lawmakers that you ARE NOT satisfied with the “status quo”; you SUPPORT their efforts to legislate Health Care Reform, and their VOTE for Health Care Reform legislation will influence YOUR SUPPORT for their reelection in 2010. (Let’s face it. That’s what many ‘on the fence’ and “Blue Dog” Democrat Lawmakers are worried about, and YOU CAN’T BLAME THEM when Conservative “squeaky wheels” are making the loudest noise. We must let Democrat Lawmakers KNOW that WE “have their backs” AND MEAN IT like WE did in 2008!)

RALLY FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM LIKE YOU RALLIED FOR “YES WE CAN”!

Remember how good that made you feel?

10 Ways We ALL Can Participate in a HEALTHY Health Care Reform Debate

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:26:13 EDT

PROTEST is great. GROTESQUE is not. Here are 10 ways We ALL can participate in a HEALTHY Health Care Reform Debate.

1. TELL THE SPONSORS of radio and television talk shows that PROMOTE hatred and death, that you are ASHAMED that they would ALLOW THEIR PRODUCT to be associated with that type of subject matter.

2. If you are a member of a CHRISTIAN congregation, and your minister starts preaching hate and death threats, STAND up and say “ENOUGH”.

3. If you are at a Tea Party rally and the ORGANIZERS of that rally start handing out mass produced posters with wording related to hate or death, tear up the poster and throw it away.

4. If you are a member of the NRA, let your PROTEST LEADERS know that displaying guns and rifles are fine at a NRA convention, but have no place at a CIVIL demonstration where the lives of innocent people are at stake.

5. If you are a radio talk show host, protest, but TELL THE TRUTH WITHOUT HATE OR RACIST LABELS.

6. If you are a Republican Lawmaker, Party leader or pundit, don’t SILENTLY OR VERBALLY CONDONE behavior that you KNOW IN YOUR HEART IS NOT SYMBOLIC of the tenants of your Party.

7. If you are a Right Wing blogger, blog the FACTS about your disagreement, not the FAIRY TALES.

8. THINK about the MESSAGE you are giving to our CHILDREN BEFORE you act.

9. If you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent Party member who wants to elevate protest to the level in which our Founding Fathers intended in the Constitution, DEMAND IT.

10. “Take back your country”, DON’T LET LIES, HATRED AND DEATH THREATS DEFINE ITS “PROTEST” DESTINY.

My Ear Infection KNOWS NO RACE...

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:08:26 EDT

Cancer is a disease that KNOWS NO RACE. A broken leg is an injury that KNOWS NO RACE. Glaucoma is an eye disease that KNOWS NO RACE. A toothache is a pain that KNOWS NO RACE? So why has RACE jumped to the forefront of the Health Care Reform debate?

BECAUSE THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT WING FRINGE ELEMENT PUT IT OUT THERE. If you recall, the linkage of race and Health Care Reform DID NOT BECOME AN ISSUE UNTIL THE AUGUST RECESS. So, why are Republican Lawmakers/Party Leaders and Right Wing radio and television talk show hosts and pundits minimizing, defending, and acting like THEY’RE the victims of an ugly situation that THEIR FRINGE ELEMENT STARTED?

Labels like “Nazi” and “socialist” are not the issue. Plenty of political figures have been faced with those types of labels when the opposition disagrees with their policies. The RACISM AND LIFE-THREATENING FACTORS ARISE when a Christian Minister calls for the “death” of President FROM THE PULPIT, when a radio talk show host blogs that the President an “Indonesian thug”, when a mass produced Tea Party poster states that the President “should be buried with the Senator”, when for the first time in history a Congressman disrespects the OFFICE of the Presidency by shouting out “You lie” during a Congressional address, when mass produced Tea Party posters portray the President as an African witch doctor, when Health Care Forum outbursts link “taking back my country” with falsehoods regarding the President’s place of birth, when a Health Care Forum poster states “Death to the President, Michele, and his two stupid kids”, when Health Care Forum participants appear with openly displayed guns and rifles.

DOWNPLAYING REALITY won’t make it go away, fans the flames and is GROSSLY irresponsible. If you want to stop being called a “racist”, TELL THE LEADERS OF YOUR FRINGE ELEMENT, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” because…

QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR AN EAR INFECTION, CANCER, GLAUCOMA, A BROKEN LEG, OR A TOOTHACHE KNOWS NO RACE!

The HIDDEN AGENDA Behind the ACORN Outcry

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:51:47 EDT

(The opinions expressed in this message are NOT about race. They are about PARTY SURVIVAL.)

If you look back in time, you will note that attacks against ACORN ARE ALWAYS initiated by CONSERVATIVE interest groups. You will, also, note that Conservative-led ACORN attacks ALWAYS take place BEFORE A CRITICAL national election cycle whether it be presidential or congressional. WHY IS THAT?

This is not a message to CONDONE any ALLEDGED inappropriate behavior by any ACORN representative IF it is proven to be true, but, in the interest of due process, it is important to look at the OVERALL WORTH of that organization. Besides, contributing towards thousands of homes for Katrina victims, saving thousands of Americans from home foreclosures and predatory lenders, and coming to the rescue of thousands of public schools, ACORN has been extremely effective IN REGISTERING ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED VOTERS.

REPUBLICANS ARE MASTERS AT MOBILIZING THEIR BASE. However, they know that they CANNOT count on minority votes in the 2010 Midterm Elections PARTICULARLY AFTER THEY ‘DISSED’ CHIEF JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR AND THE PRESIDENT. Their best bet towards solving that problem is to DECREASE voter registrations by BLOCKING ACORN’s ability to register minority-based, economically disadvantaged voters.

IT’S NOT ABOUT RACE, IT’S ABOUT SURVIVAL, BUT IF THEY SUCCEED, IT WILL BE A SAD COMMENTARY TOWARDS THE LONG AND, SOMETIMES, BLOODY STRUGGLE MEMBERS OF EVERY RACE, COLOR AND CREED ENDURED TO PROTECT ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO VOTE!

The FINAL PROOF That Republicans DON’T Want Health Care Reform.

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:08:53 EDT

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus has unveiled a health care plan. EVERY COUNTER PROPOSAL REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ASKED FOR IS IN THAT PLAN: no public option, non-profit health cooperatives, mandatory health care coverage, malpractice mandates, pre-existing condition mandates, a ban on illegal immigrants' ability to purchase insurance plans.

NOT ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER ISSUED A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN. This is a SLAP TO THE ‘FACE’ OF BIPARTISANSHIP. Democratic Lawmakers have COMPROMISED to accommodate ALL of the Republican Lawmakers' DEMANDS, and the REPUBLICANS HAVE TOLD THEM TO TAKE A HIKE!

This is the FINAL PROOF that the REPUBLICAN “BREAK OBAMA’ BLOCKADE HAS NO INTENTIONS OF PASSING HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION.

THE DEMOCRATS MUST GO IT ALONE!

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT – MOBILIZE AND DEMAND IT!

The HIDDEN MESSAGE Behind “Obama Care”

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:34:54 EDT

Health Care Reform is NOT ONLY about President Obama. It’s about “quality, affordable health care for ALL”. President John F. Kennedy fought for it. President Lyndon B. Johnson fought for it. President Bill Clinton fought for it. Senator Ted Kennedy fought for it.

So why has “quality, affordable health care for all” SUDDENLY been SOLELY ASSOCIATED with President Obama?

The term “Obama Care” was INITIALLY put out there by CONSERVATIVE radio and television media outlets. Then the MAINSTREAM media took the bait. Individuals who are “Anti-Obama” will get riled up about ANYTHING associated with HIS name.

THAT’S THE PLAN - DEFEAT HEALTH CARE REFORM AND MOBILIZE THE CONSERVATIVE BASE for 2010!

WE NEED TO:

a. "Call them out: whenever any of us uncovers one of their "take back our country" strategies, and

b Start MOBILIZING our "Yes We Can" 2010 Campaign from TODAY!

I Wasn't "Polled", But...

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:29:07 EDT

I applaud Democratic Lawmakers’ stand to rebuke Mr. Wilson for behaving badly during the President’s Health Care Reform Address. When you disrespect the OFFICE of the Presidency in the HALLOWED Halls of Congress, you need to get a dose of YOUR OWN MEDICINE.

Because They Can….

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:24:23 EDT

BEFORE the August Recess I wrote a number of blogs warning about the LIES, DECEIT, DECEPTION AND FEAR TACTICS Republican Lawmakers and THEIR EXTREMIST SPOKESPERSONS would use to fight quality, affordable health care for all and I was right.

I warned that “HLB [Hannites, Limbaughs, and Becks] & Company and their birther zombies would pull out all their dirty tricks [lies, drama, misleading information, ‘isms’ and ‘ists’] to scare you, Democrat ‘on the fence’ Lawmakers and Republican centrists Lawmakers during the Break” and they did and STILL ARE. I warned that they would “manipulate liberal and centrist media to ramp up their sky is falling mind games” and they did and STILL ARE. I warned that they could care less about bipartisanship unless they “got their way”, and they are well on their way.

The one thing I failed to state in my warnings (because it was UNTHINKABLE at the time) was the depths they would go to DEFAME THE RESULTS OF A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND THE OFFICE of the Presidency, but THEY DID.

Why have Republican Lawmakers and THEIR EXTREMISTS SPOKESPERSONS been able to get away with it? BECAUSE THEY CAN.

PROVE ME WRONG!

Where Are the Voices of the Uninsured in the Health Care Debate?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:56:30 EDT

Instead of being bombarded by media coverage of Conservative versus Liberal politicians, pundits, and Russia-viewing ‘twits’ debating the pros and cons of Health Care Reform, WHY AREN’T WE SEEING AND HEARING THE VOICES OF THE UNINSURED IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBATE?

Instead of being bombarded by media coverage of REPRESENTATIVES from ‘KKK WIHOUT A HOOD’ promoting a bad taste for the beverage of “Tea”, WHY AREN’T WE SEEING AND HEARING THE VOICES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF HEALTH CARE-RELATED BANKRUPTSY ON MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBATE?

HEALTH CARE MEDIA COVERAGE SHOULD BE, TOTALLY, TRANSPARENT. COVERAGE OF THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING THE PAINFUL SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS OF THE DEBATE, MAY NOT UP THE RATINGS, BUT IT WILL, CERTAINLY, BRING THE MATTER HOME!

If you agree, let the media hear YOUR VOICE!

OFA ===> Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery Address to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:30:18 EDT

The President's Remarks to a Joint Session of Congress: "Stability and security for all Americans"

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery

Address to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Washington, DC
Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We were losing an average of 700,000 jobs per month. Credit was frozen. And our financial system was on the verge of collapse.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods. A full and vibrant recovery is many months away. And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes. That is our ultimate goal. But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

I want to thank the members of this body for your efforts and your support in these last several months, and especially those who have taken the difficult votes that have put us on a path to recovery. I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation.

But we did not come here just to clean up crises. We came to build a future. So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future – and that is the issue of health care.

I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last. It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform. And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way. A bill for comprehensive health reform was first introduced by John Dingell Sr. in 1943. Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point. Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Some can’t get insurance on the job. Others are self-employed, and can’t afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.   Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people. There are now more than thirty million American citizens who cannot get coverage. In just a two year period, one in every three Americans goes without health care coverage at some point. And every day, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage. In other words, it can happen to anyone.

But the problem that plagues the health care system is not just a problem of the uninsured. Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today.   More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you’ll lose your health insurance too. More and more Americans pay their premiums, only to discover that their insurance company has dropped their coverage when they get sick, or won’t pay the full cost of care. It happens every day.

One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn’t reported gallstones that he didn’t even know about. They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it. Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne. By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer more than doubled in size. That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America.

Then there’s the problem of rising costs. We spend one-and-a-half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we aren’t any healthier for it. This is one of the reasons that insurance premiums have gone up three times faster than wages. It’s why so many employers – especially small businesses – are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance, or are dropping their coverage entirely. It’s why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally – like our automakers – are at a huge disadvantage. And it’s why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else’s emergency room and charitable care.

Finally, our health care system is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers. When health care costs grow at the rate they have, it puts greater pressure on programs like Medicare and Medicaid. If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined. Put simply, our health care problem is our deficit problem. Nothing else even comes close.

These are the facts. Nobody disputes them. We know we must reform this system. The question is how.

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada’s, where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everyone. On the right, there are those who argue that we should end the employer-based system and leave individuals to buy health insurance on their own.

I have to say that there are arguments to be made for both approaches. But either one would represent a radical shift that would disrupt the health care most people currently have. Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn’t, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch. And that is precisely what those of you in Congress have tried to do over the past several months.

During that time, we have seen Washington at its best and its worst.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform. Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week. That has never happened before. Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors’ groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past. And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

But what we have also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government. Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics. Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise. Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge. And out of this blizzard of charges and counter-charges, confusion has reigned.

Well the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care.

The plan I’m announcing tonight would meet three basic goals:

It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government. It’s a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge – not just government and insurance companies, but employers and individuals. And it’s a plan that incorporates ideas from Senators and Congressmen; from Democrats and Republicans – and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election.

Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan:

First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have. Let me repeat this: nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have.

What this plan will do is to make the insurance you have work better for you. Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime. We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick. And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there’s no reason we shouldn’t be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse. That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives.

That’s what Americans who have health insurance can expect from this plan – more security and stability.

Now, if you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans who don’t currently have health insurance, the second part of this plan will finally offer you quality, affordable choices. If you lose your job or change your job, you will be able to get coverage. If you strike out on your own and start a small business, you will be able to get coverage. We will do this by creating a new insurance exchange – a marketplace where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for health insurance at competitive prices. Insurance companies will have an incentive to participate in this exchange because it lets them compete for millions of new customers. As one big group, these customers will have greater leverage to bargain with the insurance companies for better prices and quality coverage. This is how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance. It’s how everyone in this Congress gets affordable insurance. And it’s time to give every American the same opportunity that we’ve given ourselves.

For those individuals and small businesses who still cannot afford the lower-priced insurance available in the exchange, we will provide tax credits, the size of which will be based on your need. And all insurance companies that want access to this new marketplace will have to abide by the consumer protections I already mentioned. This exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right. In the meantime, for those Americans who can’t get insurance today because they have pre-existing medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill. This was a good idea when Senator John McCain proposed it in the campaign, it’s a good idea now, and we should embrace it.

Now, even if we provide these affordable options, there may be those – particularly the young and healthy – who still want to take the risk and go without coverage. There may still be companies that refuse to do right by their workers. The problem is, such irresponsible behavior costs all the rest of us money. If there are affordable options and people still don’t sign up for health insurance, it means we pay for those people’s expensive emergency room visits. If some businesses don’t provide workers health care, it forces the rest of us to pick up the tab when their workers get sick, and gives those businesses an unfair advantage over their competitors. And unless everybody does their part, many of the insurance reforms we seek – especially requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions – just can’t be achieved.

That’s why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance – just as most states require you to carry auto insurance. Likewise, businesses will be required to either offer their workers health care, or chip in to help cover the cost of their workers. There will be a hardship waiver for those individuals who still cannot afford coverage, and 95% of all small businesses, because of their size and narrow profit margin, would be exempt from these requirements. But we cannot have large businesses and individuals who can afford coverage game the system by avoiding responsibility to themselves or their employees. Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part.

While there remain some significant details to be ironed out, I believe a broad consensus exists for the aspects of the plan I just outlined: consumer protections for those with insurance, an exchange that allows individuals and small businesses to purchase affordable coverage, and a requirement that people who can afford insurance get insurance.

And I have no doubt that these reforms would greatly benefit Americans from all walks of life, as well as the economy as a whole. Still, given all the misinformation that’s been spread over the past few months, I realize that many Americans have grown nervous about reform. So tonight I’d like to address some of the key controversies that are still out there.

Some of people’s concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda is to kill reform at any cost. The best example is the claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens. Such a charge would be laughable if it weren’t so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple.

There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false – the reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally. And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

My health care proposal has also been attacked by some who oppose reform as a “government takeover” of the entire health care system. As proof, critics point to a provision in our plan that allows the uninsured and small businesses to choose a publicly-sponsored insurance option, administered by the government just like Medicaid or Medicare.

So let me set the record straight. My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition. Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75% of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies. In Alabama, almost 90% is controlled by just one company. Without competition, the price of insurance goes up and the quality goes down. And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

Insurance executives don’t do this because they are bad people. They do it because it’s profitable. As one former insurance executive testified before Congress, insurance companies are not only encouraged to find reasons to drop the seriously ill; they are rewarded for it. All of this is in service of meeting what this former executive called “Wall Street’s relentless profit expectations.”

Now, I have no interest in putting insurance companies out of business. They provide a legitimate service, and employ a lot of our friends and neighbors. I just want to hold them accountable. The insurance reforms that I’ve already mentioned would do just that. But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear – it would only be an option for those who don’t have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.

Despite all this, the insurance companies and their allies don’t like this idea. They argue that these private companies can’t fairly compete with the government. And they’d be right if taxpayers were subsidizing this public insurance option. But they won’t be. I have insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects. But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers. It would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without in any way inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities.

It’s worth noting that a strong majority of Americans still favor a public insurance option of the sort I’ve proposed tonight. But its impact shouldn’t be exaggerated – by the left, the right, or the media. It is only one part of my plan, and should not be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles. To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a means to that end – and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.

For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring. But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can’t find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice. And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need.

Finally, let me discuss an issue that is a great concern to me, to members of this chamber, and to the public – and that is how we pay for this plan.

Here’s what you need to know. First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits – either now or in the future. Period. And to prove that I’m serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don’t materialize. Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy. I will not make that same mistake with health care.

Second, we’ve estimated that most of this plan can be paid for by finding savings within the existing health care system – a system that is currently full of waste and abuse. Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care doesn’t make us healthier. That’s not my judgment – it’s the judgment of medical professionals across this country. And this is also true when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid.

In fact, I want to speak directly to America’s seniors for a moment, because Medicare is another issue that’s been subjected to demagoguery and distortion during the course of this debate.

More than four decades ago, this nation stood up for the principle that after a lifetime of hard work, our seniors should not be left to struggle with a pile of medical bills in their later years. That is how Medicare was born. And it remains a sacred trust that must be passed down from one generation to the next. That is why not a dollar of the Medicare trust fund will be used to pay for this plan.

The only thing this plan would eliminate is the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud, as well as unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies – subsidies that do everything to pad their profits and nothing to improve your care. And we will also create an independent commission of doctors and medical experts charged with identifying more waste in the years ahead.

These steps will ensure that you – America’s seniors – get the benefits you’ve been promised. They will ensure that Medicare is there for future generations. And we can use some of the savings to fill the gap in coverage that forces too many seniors to pay thousands of dollars a year out of their own pocket for prescription drugs. That’s what this plan will do for you. So don’t pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut – especially since some of the same folks who are spreading these tall tales have fought against Medicare in the past, and just this year supported a budget that would have essentially turned Medicare into a privatized voucher program. That will never happen on my watch. I will protect Medicare.

Now, because Medicare is such a big part of the health care system, making the program more efficient can help usher in changes in the way we deliver health care that can reduce costs for everybody. We have long known that some places, like the Intermountain Healthcare in Utah or the Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania, offer high-quality care at costs below average. The commission can help encourage the adoption of these common-sense best practices by doctors and medical professionals throughout the system – everything from reducing hospital infection rates to encouraging better coordination between teams of doctors.

Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan. Much of the rest would be paid for with revenues from the very same drug and insurance companies that stand to benefit from tens of millions of new customers. This reform will charge insurance companies a fee for their most expensive policies, which will encourage them to provide greater value for the money – an idea which has the support of Democratic and Republican experts. And according to these same experts, this modest change could help hold down the cost of health care for all of us in the long-run.

Finally, many in this chamber – particularly on the Republican side of the aisle – have long insisted that reforming our medical malpractice laws can help bring down the cost of health care. I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I have talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs. So I am proposing that we move forward on a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine. I know that the Bush Administration considered authorizing demonstration projects in individual states to test these issues. It’s a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.

Add it all up, and the plan I’m proposing will cost around $900 billion over ten years – less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans that Congress passed at the beginning of the previous administration. Most of these costs will be paid for with money already being spent – but spent badly – in the existing health care system. The plan will not add to our deficit. The middle-class will realize greater security, not higher taxes. And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of one percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.

This is the plan I’m proposing. It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans. And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.

But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it. I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now.

Everyone in this room knows what will happen if we do nothing. Our deficit will grow. More families will go bankrupt. More businesses will close. More Americans will lose their coverage when they are sick and need it most. And more will die as a result. We know these things to be true.

That is why we cannot fail. Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

I received one of those letters a few days ago. It was from our beloved friend and colleague, Ted Kennedy. He had written it back in May, shortly after he was told that his illness was terminal. He asked that it be delivered upon his death.

In it, he spoke about what a happy time his last months were, thanks to the love and support of family and friends, his wife, Vicki, and his children, who are here tonight . And he expressed confidence that this would be the year that health care reform – “that great unfinished business of our society,” he called it – would finally pass. He repeated the truth that health care is decisive for our future prosperity, but he also reminded me that “it concerns more than material things.” “What we face,” he wrote, “is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.”

I’ve thought about that phrase quite a bit in recent days – the character of our country. One of the unique and wonderful things about America has always been our self-reliance, our rugged individualism, our fierce defense of freedom and our healthy skepticism of government. And figuring out the appropriate size and role of government has always been a source of rigorous and sometimes angry debate.

For some of Ted Kennedy’s critics, his brand of liberalism represented an affront to American liberty. In their mind, his passion for universal health care was nothing more than a passion for big government.

But those of us who knew Teddy and worked with him here – people of both parties – know that what drove him was something more. His friend, Orrin Hatch, knows that. They worked together to provide children with health insurance. His friend John McCain knows that. They worked together on a Patient’s Bill of Rights. His friend Chuck Grassley knows that. They worked together to provide health care to children with disabilities.

On issues like these, Ted Kennedy’s passion was born not of some rigid ideology, but of his own experience. It was the experience of having two children stricken with cancer. He never forgot the sheer terror and helplessness that any parent feels when a child is badly sick; and he was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance; what it would be like to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging parent – there is something that could make you better, but I just can’t afford it.

That large-heartedness – that concern and regard for the plight of others – is not a partisan feeling. It is not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character. Our ability to stand in other people’s shoes. A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand. A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.

This has always been the history of our progress. In 1933, when over half of our seniors could not support themselves and millions had seen their savings wiped away, there were those who argued that Social Security would lead to socialism. But the men and women of Congress stood fast, and we are all the better for it. In 1965, when some argued that Medicare represented a government takeover of health care, members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, did not back down. They joined together so that all of us could enter our golden years with some basic peace of mind.

You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem. They understood that there are instances when the gains in security from government action are not worth the added constraints on our freedom. But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, and the vulnerable can be exploited. And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity passes for wisdom, and we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter – that at that point we don’t merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves.

What was true then remains true today. I understand how difficult this health care debate has been. I know that many in this country are deeply skeptical that government is looking out for them. I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road – to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term.

But that’s not what the moment calls for. That’s not what we came here to do. We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. I still believe we can act even when it’s hard. I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress. I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history’s test.

Because that is who we are. That is our calling. That is our character. Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Let THEM Hear You ROAR!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:15:35 EDT

President Obama’s Health Care Reform Address to Congress HIT THE SPOT! HE clarified HIS Health Care Reform “Plan”, and HE “called them out” on THEIR Health Care Reform lies. HE gave credit AND pledged support for Health Care proposals that THEY put forth, and HE let THEM know, under no uncertain terms, that HE would no longer tolerate THEIR BLATANT abuse of the Office of the Presidency.

One of THEM, DISRESPECTFULLY, shouted out “You lie!”, and a few times, THEY ALL openly scoffed, BUT…

THEY and OTHERS like THEM didn’t elect HIM to the Presidency.

YOU did!

HE did HIS job to fight for YOUR health care rights.

Now it’s time for YOU to do yours.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

Let THEM hear you ROAR!

Comp WHAT Mise?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:29:48 EDT

Now that Republican Lawmakers are gloating over THEIR EXTREMIST SPOKESPERSON heyday during the August Recess, they are flooding the airways with how much they are willing to COMPNOMISE on Health Care Reform IF Democrats include provisions such as tort reform.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I haven’t heard ONE Republican Lawmaker state what HE OR SHE would GIVE UP in return!!!

It seems like the REPUBLICAN DEFINITION of “compromise” IS FULL OF NO AND EMPTY OF PRO!

Now is the Time for All Good People to Do the Right Thing and Come to the Aid of the President

Henry M — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:32:18 EDT

Open letter to President Barack Obama: I live near Washington, DC. I understand politics, and I know that the president doesn't legislate, but Mr. President, I believe that you can lead the country from the bully pulpit, and in Congress and it's back rooms, and get them to do the right thing. I just got a new job with benefits that include health insurance, but I haven't had health insurance for years. I can't look my uninsured friends in the eye and tell them to get their own; they can't without a public option. They need your help, and even many of the people against you (and against change in general) need a public option for their health, security, and peace of mind. I know you'll do the right thing.Thank you, Mr. President. Henry MusikarSr. IT Consultanthttp://astore.amazon.com/tdcoccamsaxe-20/

Right Wingers are “WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION”!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:30:59 EDT

The MEAN-SPIRITED, POLARIZING RIGHT WING-ORCHESTRATED strategey to BRING DOWN DEMOCRACY AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES with THEIR “WEAPONS” of Anti-Health Care Reform and Anti-Presidential Address to young Americans is RACIST!

“REAL” AMERICANS WHO MOBILIZED TO ELECT OBAMA MUST MOBILIZE TO PREVENT RIGHT WING RACISTS FROM USING ‘WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION” TO DESTROY A DEMOCRACY THAT DID NOT GO THEIR RACIST WAY!

IF YOU CARE ABOUT “REAL” DEMOCRATIC VALUES, START PROTECTING THEM NOW!

Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head in Arlington

Henry M — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:20:34 EDT

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Back to School Event

Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009

The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today. I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning. Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year. Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn. I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox. I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve. But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide. Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future. You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy. We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country. Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in. So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse. But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right. But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying. Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future. That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America. Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall. And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same. That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it. I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things. But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying. No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals. And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best. It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country? Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

Whew!

Henry M — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:49:40 EDT

Everyone needs to take a break from time to time. My daughter's wedding was Saturday.

I need a break. :-)

Henry M

That’s STUPID!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:03:03 EDT

EDUCATIONALLY-DEPRIVED educational system representatives and Right Wing Anti-Obama spokespersons who object to and who are politicizing the President’s upcoming message to students ARE STUPID! What do they think the President is going to say to young people – drop out of school, do drugs, don’t study?

It’s just ANOTHER STUPID RIGHT WING-ORCHESTRATED distraction to take SMART AMERICANS’ eyes off the President’s upcoming Health Care Reform address.

THEY WANT SMART, YOUNG AMERICANS TO LIVE THEIR LIVES IN THE DARK AGES JUST LIKE THEM. NOW THAT’S STUPID!

Does the Republican Blockade WANT the Democrats to “Go It Alone”?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:00:37 EDT

“BREAK OBAMA” Republican Lawmakers’ DELIBERATE ATTEMPT to BLOCK Health Care Reform, AND EVERY OTHER LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL, the President has put forth, may, backfire and PUSH the President and Democratic Lawmakers to, JUSTIFIABLY, “GO IT ALONE”.

1. They presented 183 Health Care Reform AMENDMENTS AND REFUSED TO VOTE ON ANY of the Amendments THEY put forth.
2. They PUBLICLY stated that they WILL NOT VOTE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM EVEN IF they “AGREE” with the FINAL legislation.
3. They SILENTLY and PUBLICLY CONDONED the antagonistic, sub human, DEATH THREAT, effigy burning, gun toting Health Care Forum behavior of THEIR EXTREMISTS SPOKESPERSONS.
4. They maintained a ‘MY WAY OR TAKE THE HIGHWAY’ stance regarding the “Public Option”.
5. While others played the “NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T” GAME claiming support of the public option one day and non-support of the public option the next.
6. They SNUBBED THEIR NOSES at President Obama’s STEADFAST ATTEMPTS to involve them in BI PARTISAN OWNERSHIP of Health Care Reform. The President could have followed the BUSH/CHENY REPUBLICAN DOMINATED CONGRESSIONAL HANDBOOK by writing HIS OWN Health Care Reform Legislation and pushing it through WITHOUT THE OPPOSITION’S input OR debate.
7. They WATERED DOWN the STIMULUS PACKAGE to slow down its pace with ABSOLUTELY NO REGARD for the effect it would have on the economic stability of the people THEY WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.
8. They BLOCK VOTED AGAINST Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, the MOST QUALIFIED candidate in the history of the Supreme Court.
9. They BLOCK VOTED AGAINST the President’s budget.
10. They made a MOCKERY of Bi Partisanship,
11. They made a MOCKERY of conducting the “People’s Business” , AND
12. They made a MOCKERY of the Legislative Branch of Government!

DOES THE REPUBLICAN BLOCKADE WANT THE DEMOCRATS TO “GO IT ALONE”? YOU BE THE JUDGE IN 2010!

THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS: Putting What Will Be Missed and Admired into Practice!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:21:04 EDT

Senator McCain and other Republican Lawmakers have been flooding the airways with statements about what they will miss and what they admired about Senator Ted Kennedy. If THEY PRACTICED what they admired about Senator Kennedy, the REPUBLICAN “BREAK OBAMA” BLOCKADE would be laid to rest, and the “PEOPLE’S BUSINESS” would, finally, NOT be missed!

The most notable qualities that Senator McCain and other Republican Lawmakers stated they will miss and admired about Senator Ted Kennedy were that he “cared about the little man”, “reached across the aisle”, “was a master of compromise”, and “was a man of his word”.

The ONE THING Senator McCain and other Republican Lawmakers, CONVENIENTLY, failed to mention is SENATOR TED KENNEDY’S ADMIRATION FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA - THE KEY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO PUT WHAT THEY WILL MISS AND ADMIRED INTO PRACTICE!

President Obama is fighting for the “LITTLE MAN” in his push for Senator Kennedy’s principles of quality and affordable health care for all. He “REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE” with a bi partisan approach towards Health Care Reform legislation. He “COMPROMISED” with the Republican Blockade in the development of a bi-partisan Stimulus Package. He is a “MAN OF HIS WORD” by attempting to fulfill so many Campaign Promises in such a short space of time.

IF PRESIDENT OBAMA CAN PUT WHAT WILL BE MISSED AND ADMIRED ABOUT SENATOR TED KENNEDY INTO PRACTICE, WHY CAN’T THEY?

Operation marathon for single payer healthcare reform`

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:23:56 EDT

Operation swamp the streets to defend your healthcare.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

Calling on All who voted for the Obama agenda in November to match a mile a day to hand over the torch of the United State to the next persons or groups from where you are, going until we reach whashington in a human chain, to carry the torch of humanity. We are the most prosperous nation in the world, yet there is no recourse for anyone who happen to be in a bind temporarily or not, when they get sick in our nation.

We are a God fearing nation, we profess to be a christian nation, yet the answer to a crying woman who is losing her husband to cancer for lack of insurance from the republicans was " because you are here talking to me, I would be magnanimous enough to make sure you are taken care of, but anyone else can't have the same chance."

He refused to answer her pleas for a universal single payer healthcare, yet he said "he the government" would make sure her husband receives treatment that insurance companies have rationed or denied him.

What our republican speaker was saying was that, he would used his "good office" to extend government money to take care of her husband, but if she got sick herself, then too bad she would have to call him again if he is still in office.

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

He went on to say that the job of helping people belongs to the church which all depend on the taxes we pay, to the government or to the church (donations). In effect, he is putting your life in the hands of those who can only extend their services (arbitrarily)to their frock or friends.

Many people sitting in that audience may have had cases that are worse than that of the weeping lady. Yet if they didn't have the luck to have the microphone, they were not heard, and would not be helped as the lady was promised.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

Operation marathon for single payer healthcare reform`

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:21:40 EDT

Operation swamp the streets to defend your healthcare.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

How can you tell if someone really reads the news?

Henry M — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:53:25 EDT

How can you tell if someone really reads the news? Well, they support a public health care option.

How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin. [without ever reading Marx or Lenn, hm]
- Ronald Reagan

Henry M

Throwing Out Granny with the Bathwater

Henry M — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:59:23 EDT

Thanks to Palin and her minions, millions of grannies will die in pain. They're throwing out granny's Medicare reimbursement for talking with a doctor about how they want to die in order to keep the people that they think are "bathwater" from being able to get insurance from the government.

What do you call people like that? Children may be reading this, so keep it clean, please.

Henry M

The SLY MISREPRESENTATION of Principles and Plans!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:45:46 EDT

Webster defines a PRINCIPLE as a “basic or essential, quality or element determining the nature of a behavior.” Webster defines a PLAN as a “detailed scheme, program or method worked out BEFOREHAND for the accomplishment of an objective “.

So, why are media talk show hosts, pundits, ‘Obama Breaking’ Republican Lawmakers and Right Wing Extremists continuously MISREPRESENTING President Obama’s Health Care Reform PRINCIPLES with a Health Care Reform PLAN?

President Obama sought BI PARTISAN OWNERSHIP of a Health Care Reform PLAN from the beginning of the great Health Care Reform Debate. THE PRESIDENT NEVER PRESENTED HIS HEALTH CARE REFORM PRINCIPLES AS A HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN. If he did, the SAME media talk show hosts, pundits, ‘Break Obama Republican Lawmakers, and Right Wing Extremists would be ACCUSING THE PRESIDENT of devising a Health Care Reform PLAN “BEFORE” and/or WITHOUT seeking BI PARTISAN input from Congress!

THE PRESIDENT SET FORTH KEY PRINCIPLES HE WANTED TO SEE IN A BI PARTISAN HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN. Anyone WHO WANTS TO BE INFORMED about those “PRINCIPLES” can go to www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care and/or www.whitehouse.gov/.../Letter-from-President-Obama-to-Chairman-Edward-M-Kennedy-and-Max-Baucus/ While you’re at the above sites, you will, also, notice that the “PUBLIC OPTION” principle is just a “SLIVER” of the President’s TOTAL Health Care Reform Principles Package!

IF YOU DEPEND ON SLY MEDIA TALK SHOW HOSTS, PUNDITS, ‘BREAK OBAMA’ REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED, YOU’LL REMAIN IN THE DARK. RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT YOU TO BE!

Give Them What They Ask For…

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:06:19 EDT

Right Wing ANTI PUBLIC OPTION EXTREMISTS like to chant the mantra “KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY LIFE.” I think they should get what they ask for. Transport them to THEIR VERY OWN deserted island and “keep Government out of [their] lives.

They will have NO Government-subsidized roadway systems, NO Government-subsidized pipelines for running water or sewage disposal, NO Government-subsidized garbage collection services, NO Government-subsidized housing services, NO Government-subsidized school systems, NO Government-subsidized fire services, NO Government-subsidized law enforcement services, NO Government-subsidized environmental protection services, NO Government-subsidized parks and recreational services, NO Government-subsidized disaster services, and, BY THE WAY, NO Government-subsidized Medicare benefits, No Government-subsidized FREE health care clinics, and NO Government-subsidized Social Security benefits as well.

THEY’LL be scrambling to create THEIR OWN “Government-subsidized” SURVIVAL System, and WE’LL be getting a, well deserved, vacation from their GETTING ON OUR LAST NERVE!

Public Option Opposition: I Hope They're Happy

Henry M — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:57:43 EDT

Looks like they're gonna have to end up taking the public option out of healthcare reform. Nice work by those who opposed it! Unless they're extremely rich, people one or two degrees of separation from them will suffer, as they have for years, but in greater numbers in this economy, and grannies will die without panels. "An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it." - Jef Mallett

Reading Should Be Fundamental

Henry M — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:03:10 EDT

Those concerned about H.R.3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, particularly anyone who doesn't trust our elected officials, e.g. the President of the United States of America, to do the right thing for the country, should... actually read it before they shout anyone down about it.

Don't ya think?

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf

Read it and pass it around!

Henry M

Educate Yourself on Health Care Reform Chain Email!

Jacob G — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:56:55 EDT

Hello,I want to start a chain email for TRUTH!This is a comprehensive email of links that if you take the time to explore, you will end up fully educated on what Health Insurance Reform is. Developing your own opinion, and figuring out "truths," is the American way! Do those whom have sacrificed their lives for you freedom the minimal favor of discovering what the current reform will mean to you, not listening to self-serving industries and self-serving politicians that are not looking out for what is best for you, rather putting forward efforts to further line their pockets with your excessive payments, or neutralize the president.Link #1 is the actual legislation HR 3200. When people state that the details aren't available, you can point to this openly public document, available for you to read from the comfort of your PC, that it's simply not true. Please take the time and try to review it and know it:http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdfLink #2 is the White House's "reality," or "fact check," website. Here the administration has outlined what is being said, and what is reality:http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/?e=10&ref=textLink #3 the final link, is a CBS Sunday Morning News segment that aired this morning, outlining what is truly in the reform bill HR 3200.http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5245212n&tag=related;photovideoNow, the White House is talking about dropping the public option from this legislative battle as early as Monday. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES DICTATE COSTS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AT THEIR WILL!!!!!!!!! We must show up to the town halls, we must be vocal, WE MUST demand that this legislation actually trim costs, and without a viable public health insurance co-op, there is NO legislation that can stand in the way of the current insurance system. BE LOUD!!!! BE PROUD!!! IT APPEARS THAT ONLY WITH VOLUMN WILL THIS ARGUMENT BE WON!Pick up your pen, pickett sign, bumper stickers, keyboard and join me in battle!!!!Please forward this message to anyone you can!

Is Bi Partisanship the BEST Path to Health Care Reform?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:44:35 EDT

NO!

Here are the reasons why…

1. The President OPENED HIS ARMS to the Bi Partisan way of doing things and WHAT DID IT GET HIM in return? DEATH THREATS to himself, his family and Democratic Lawmakers, LIES, SCARE TACTICS, SUB-HUMAN/ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND “DUMBED DOWN” REBPUBLICAN ANTI-PROPOSALS!

2. BI-PARTISANSHIP, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS THE CORRECT WAY TO GO. However, if REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS are UNWILLING to resolve the nation’s health care crisis IN A BI-PARTISAN MANNER, the President and DEMOCRATIC Lawmakers MUST TAKE A UNIFIED STAND AND STICK TO IT!

3. The IMPACT of the STIMULUS PACKAGE was SLOWED DOWN BY President’s Obama’s attempt to appease Republican Lawmakers in a Bi Partisan manner. Republican Lawmakers MADE IT THERE BUSINESS to WATER DOWN the Stimulus Package and THAT slowed its pace.

4. PRO OPTION SUPPORTERS, THE PRESIDENT AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS CANNOT LET HEALTH CARE REFORM GO DOWN THE SAME PATH!

5. The “WHY NOW?” argument makes ABSOLUTLY NO SENSE. Health Care Reform has been PASSED AROUND the Legislative bargaining table FOR YEARS AND YEARS. MEANWHILE health care COSTS have SYKROCKETED; the PRIVATELY insured are SUDDENLY finding themselves UNINSURED, and the UNITED STATES RANKS 37 IN HEALTH CARE AMONG EVERY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATION IN THE WORLD!

6. THE PRESIDENT AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS MUST TAKE A UNIFIED STAND AND STICK TO IT WITH OR WITHOUT THE REPUBLICAN BLOCKADE!

Why Do REPUBLICAN-Led Campaigns ALWAYS Bring Out the WORST in Human Nature?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:18:44 EDT

1. If you attend a Health Care Reform forum to get answers, can you get those answers by DROWNING out the response?

2. If you want to SEE AND HEAR a proponent of an ideology you don’t believe, does TREATENING THEIR LIVES FOR APPEARING achieve that result?

3. If you disagree with someone, will PHYSICAL ASSAULTS bring them around to your way of thinking?

4. If your method of protest is CIVIL, are defaced placards of the President, Swastika graffiti on Democratic Lawmakers’ Headquarter signs, “Death to Obama, Michele, and his two stupid kids” posters, and burning Democratic Lawmaker effigies the BEST YOU CAN OFFER in regards to civility?

5. If “freedom of speech” is your motive, does DENYING ANOTHER’S “freedom of speech” make it right?

Why the Lies Against Reform?

Henry M — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:28:23 EDT

If there is any truth to be told against healthcare reform, then why are crazy lies, e.g. death squads and committees, the only things we hear against it?

There are no lobbyists pushing reform; there's no money in it. On the other hand....

Henry M

God Almighty... Dollar

Henry M — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:20:51 EDT

What would Jesus do about health care? - MSN Video

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=6c20b196-4293-4f54-a7d1-5895212157fbMsnbc’s Ed Schultz talks with Bishop Harry Jackson and Rev. Derrick Harkins about how Christian leaders are viewing the debate about health care and a public option.

Henry M

Human life

Walt — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:05:27 EDT

The media gives us bread, circuses and celebrity shenanigans as a daily diet. It is time to demand that they use some of that time and space for more important matters, such as human life here in the US. We can devote time to saving human life outside the US once we get our own house in order.

All media should present daily a small black-bordered box listing the causes of death and the cumulative totals for each cause from January 1 to date comparing this year with the preceding year. For causes of death, let me suggest the following: motor vehicles, cancer, stroke, abortion, guns, and war. If we quantify deaths and present the data to the voters, I think that we finally will get some much needed action to reduce those totals.

Hawking Healthcare

Henry M — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:11:49 EDT

If someone tells you that they got their "facts" from "reputable" source, you should still check them, particularly if you want to refute them:

Stephen Hawking receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

But:

In an editorial on July 31, Investor's Business Daily warned of end-of-life counseling in health care reform by saying people like Stephen Hawking "wouldn't have a chance" in the such a system.
"People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."
In fact, Professor Hawking lives in England, where he has been treated by their National Health Service. And by his own account, it saved his life. "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS," he told The Guardian. "I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived."
The Hawking reference in the IBD editorial has since been removed, with this correction added: "This version corrects the original editorial which implied that physicist Stephen Hawking, a professor at the University of Cambridge, did not live in the UK."
They don't acknowledge that the NHS has kept Hawking alive there.

Henry M

Why are Republicans SUDDENLY CONCERNED About Health Care Costs?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:23:15 EDT

The 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, Modernization Act was passed by the REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED CONGRESS IN 2003.

THE COSTS: 500 BILLIION PLUS and rising

THE FUNDING: -0-

WHERE WAS REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE COST CONSCIOUSNESS IN 2003? I GUESS THEY WERE TOO BUSY DEREGULATING AND LEGISLATING MORE DEFICITS TO NOTICE!

Got the Job

Henry M — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:33:32 EDT

I interviewed for the job last Friday. I start on Monday. I get benefits, including health insurance. I haven't had health insurance in years. Just because I'll have it doesn't mean that I'll stop fighting for universal coverage via a public option. I promise that I will never be someone who smugly sits back and says "I've got mine. Go get yours."

Henry M

Living in the USA

Henry M — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:05:23 EDT

From a practical viewpoint, the Dems are doing things in a way that will, or should I say "may very well," have an actual positive effect on healthcare in the USA. Can the purists on the left say as much?

The USA is hardly ready for single-payer or socialized health care. Hell, there's a lot of squawking about even having a public option. Add ILLEGAL immigrants to the debate, and it goes down in flames. The Republicans would love that and they would laugh at how, even with the most left-leaning POTUS (perhaps after Roosevelt) we've ever had, the left still manages to stay disorganized and shoot itself in the head.

I want change, and I want some change now. Insisting on an immediate complete overhaul of the government and society is just as much "pie in the sky" as the bosses, the corporations, and the right-wing feed the masses.

"Here and now, boys! Here and now!"Henry M

Defend your country and democracy

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:31:33 EDT

Hi viewers of AM and hosts:

I have never heard anything as stupid or ignorant as the "stay at home republican mom" altered on CNN. she said and I quote" The government has never run anything efficiently". The same dumb statement repeated over an over by the zombies on the republican side:
1-America is the greated country in the world, and the government has "run" it into becoming the best in the world.
2-America has the best military in the world. And the Government as made it what it is. The privatization by bush brought us , abugraib, and all other scandals and mismanagement by private contractors.
3-Most insurances are subsidized through legislation that allows them to tax you the premiums you pay every months.
4-All legislation that allow private business to operate in peace and healthy competition is managed by Government.
5-Keeping peace, making roads, and other infrastructures are government programs that run well: we have the best infrastructures in the world, thanks to our government planners.
5-Embassies and foreign services that pave the way to private business in foreign land, protect our interests all over the world, negotiate our participation in the world are all government run.

I was shocked to see CNN give voice to a woman who was merely voicing her own and republicans ignorance or duplicity on the air.

All those who voted for Obama's agenda rather than his good looks, get out there and defend your votes. 53% voted for now Prez. Obama after comparing his program to all the republicans' and democrats'. After two years of campagning, we finaly settled to chose among democrats Obama, Edward, and Clinton essentially. Then we selected Obama's agenda to present to Americans. The choice was between the republican agenda of More of the Same, presented by Mcain, and the democrats agenda of Reform (Heathcare and other reforms) presented by Obama.
We made that choice in nov. 2008. Those who are out there trying to undo the votes casted in nov. are plotting a coup in the open. They are the same who failled to convince us to vote for Mcain and his status quo agenda. We voted for a particular reform, that lead and presented by Obama. We should stop these people before they change our democratic process as we know it. Are we going to become the next congo or suddan? Because if elections can't settle our affairs, it simply means that the street has taken over.

Why are we still debating whether to reform or not to reform healthcare? I thought that was settled in the Nov. 2008 elections when we carefully selected the right causes, programs and agenda from more than 8 candidates in 2 years! Among the Democrats, we selected Candidate Obama's agenda to , among other things, reform health care. Then compared it to Mcain's and the majority of Americans (53%) voted for Democrats and specifically Obama's Healthcare. The president, democrats and all those who voted for this reform, or simply those who want democracy to survive, should be out there reminding everyone that the election was over in Nov. 2008. What is going on out in these townhall is a hitjack of our democratic process, a "coup" where by Republicans want to overthrow a duely elected agenda with a president, the decision Americans took to reform Healthcare in Nov. 2008, through Obama' agenda. Don't temper with our Votes!!!!!!!! We don't want a watered down version either. I know that the republicans are hoping at least, to water down the bill on healthcare reform by their protest and intimidations so much so that no one would be happy with it, and the majority being unhappy, would never vote again for Obama, or the democrats, because he hasn't, they couldn't delivered for those who voted for him (them), in a doomed effort to satisfy those who didn't want him (them) in office in the first place: The republicans.

WhiteHouse.gov Reality Check on Health Insurance Reform

Henry M — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:31:15 EDT

Please send this to everyone you know and ask them to do the same. Get the word out!

Get the Facts about the stability and security you get from health insurance reform
Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it
Kavita Patel, who works with Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett and who worked for years before as a physician, debunks the myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
The "euthanasia" distortion on help for families
Melody Barnes, the President's Director of the Domestic Policy Council, debunks the malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors.
Vets' health care is safe and sound
Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, explains that nothing in health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget greatly expands coverage for veterans who have been denied access in the past.
Reform will benefit small business - not burden it
Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

Henry M

Clearing the “Public Option” MISINFORMATION Trail!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:41:14 EDT

REPUBLICAN Lawmakers, and PRIVATE HEALTH CARE LOBBYISTS who are THREATENING non-support of Health Care Reform legislation based, SOLELY, on the “Public Option” provision need to CLARIFY their position. DOES THEIR OPPOSITION mean that they are, ALSO, AGAINST MEDICARE, VETERANS and CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE [all of which are based on the “PUBLIC OPTION” principle]?

The REALITIES are that American taxpayers, ALREADY, pay a HIDDEN TAX for the UNINSURED. There are NO PRESENT DAY “OPTIONS” for PRIVATELY INSURED taxpayers whose health care coverage is DELAYED or DENIED, and the HIDDEN BENEFICIARIES of PRESENT DAY, SKYROCKETING private health care costs ARE PRIVATE INSURERS AND THEIR LAWYERS!

Anti “Public Option” Lawmakers need to PUT FORTH “OPTIONS” TO ”REFORM” these CRITICAL health care issues. Simply stating that THEY will NOT SUPPORT Health Care Reform legislation if the “Public Option” provision is included is a COP OUT!

THE TERM “OPTION” IS DEFINED BY CHOICE. CHOICE LEADS TO COMPETITION. COMPETITION DRIVES DOWN COSTS. IT’S NOT “SOCIALISM”. IT’S NOT “EUTHANASIA”. IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. IT’S WHAT LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT…CHOICE!

A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform

Henry M — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:16:16 EDT

Many people don't know any more about the healthcare reform than what they've been told by one or two pundits. Here's an article from the New York Times that you can give to people to help them get a more balanced view of the issues.

A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform
By ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: August 9, 2009
WASHINGTON — With the debate over the future of health care now shifted from Capitol Hill to town halls, supporters and critics of the Democrats’ legislative proposals are polishing their sound bites and sharpening their attack lines.
Increasingly, the battle looks like a presidential contest, with expensive advertising campaigns and Internet-driven efforts to mobilize local support. It can be difficult to sort fact from fiction, as angry protesters denounce the legislation at raucous public forums.
President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress have made the health care overhaul their top priority, putting their political futures on the line. Democrats had hoped to spend the month whipping up support for the legislation, but instead find themselves on the defensive, responding to what Mr. Obama describes as “outlandish rumors” spread by critics.
Many Republicans view fighting the president as a smart political strategy, turning a potentially wonkish debate over Medicare reimbursement rates and subsidies for the uninsured into an ideological battle over the government’s role in health care.
Each side hopes to win ground by boiling down one of the most complex policy discussions in history into digestible nuggets. For beachside viewers who might be more interested in iced-tea service than fee-for-service, here is a guide to the main fight points.
KEEP IT OR LOSE IT?
Mr. Obama has said repeatedly, as he told the American Medical Association in June: “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what."
These assurances reflect an aspiration, but may not be literally true or enforceable.
The legislation does not require insurers or employers to continue offering the health benefits they now provide. The House bill sets detailed standards for “acceptable health care coverage,” which would define “essential benefits” and permissible co-payments. Employers that already offer insurance would have five years to bring their plans into compliance with the new federal standards.
The Senate health committee bill goes somewhat further by offering an “option to retain current insurance coverage.
”The legislation could have significant implications for individuals who have bought coverage on their own. Their policies might be exempted from the new standards, but the coverage might not be viable for long because insurers could not add benefits or enroll additional people in noncompliant policies. Dallas L. Salisbury, president of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a private nonpartisan group, said: “The president and Democrats in Congress are saying what they would like. Their promises may not be literally true because your health plan may change, and your doctor may no longer accept your insurance.”
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE Or Uniquely American?
Republicans harshly criticize Democratic proposals to create a government-run insurance plan, or public option, to compete with private insurers. Republicans say the public plan would drive insurers out of business and lead to “socialized medicine” or a government takeover of health care. Democrats say they want a “uniquely American” system with public and private elements. For now, the Republican criticism seems overblown. Major versions of the legislation all rely heavily on a continuation of private health plans, offered by employers and by insurance companies, subject to sweeping new federal regulations. Whether a public plan would crowd out private insurers depends on details yet to be decided, including its premiums and its payment rates for health care providers.
The public plan is not even a certainty. To win bipartisan support for the overhaul, some Democrats have proposed private nonprofit health care cooperatives, instead of a public plan, to compete with private insurers. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, under the House bill, the number of people with employer-sponsored insurance would climb to 162 million in 2016, which is 3 million more than expected under current law. Further, it said, enrollment in the proposed public plan might total 11 million, far lower than estimates cited by Republicans. An additional 10 million people, most of them now uninsured, would enroll in Medicaid, the budget office said.
At any rate, the federal government already holds sway over the health care system through Medicare, Medicaid and various insurance programs for children, veterans, military personnel and other federal employees. The federal government will account for 35 percent of the expected $2.5 trillion in health spending this year, and that does not include subsidies built into the tax code.
BLAMING INSURERS Or Ensuring Blame?
Democrats have unleashed a blistering attack on private health insurers as they try to convince the vast majority of Americans who already have coverage that the current system is tilted in favor of corporate profits, not patients, and that insurers are a main obstacle to passing legislation.
Insurers say they support some of the most important Democratic proposals, including a ban on denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on pre-existing medical conditions.The insurance industry does oppose a government-run insurance plan and could eventually mobilize against the overhaul. But insurers appear to be less of an obstacle than public apprehension over such sweeping change and skittishness among lawmakers, including centrist Democrats from Republican-leaning districts.Most Americans do not know the full cost of their employer-sponsored insurance. And it is easier for Democrats to paint insurers as greedy than to explain the complex math that shows current health care spending is unsustainable.
DEFICIT-NEUTRAL Or Budget-Buster?
Mr. Obama has avoided dictating specific provisions of health care legislation. But he has insisted that the bill not add to the federal debt, leading Democrats to say that the overhaul will be “deficit neutral,” with the roughly $1 trillion, 10-year cost to be offset by reduced spending or new taxes. The Congressional Budget Office has yet to issue cost estimates for the latest versions of the bill approved by three House committees. But it has warned that the legislation “would probably generate substantial increases in federal budget deficits” beyond 2019, in part because health costs are rising faster than the rate of inflation and proposed new taxes would not keep up. Republicans use those warnings to cast doubt on the claim by Mr. Obama that the legislation will “bend the cost curve” by slowing the growth of health spending in the long term. Democrats say the overhaul will lead to savings that cannot be calculated under budgeting rules.
At this point, it is difficult to know who is right. Over the next 10 years, the budget office said, the House bill would “result in a net increase in the federal budget deficit of $239 billion,” partly because of an increase in Medicare spending to avert sharp cuts in payments to doctors scheduled to occur under existing law. House Democrats say the higher doctor payments should not count in the cost because they fix a problem that predates the Obama administration and Democratic control of Congress.
EUTHANASIA And Abortion
Conservative critics say the legislation could limit end-of-life care and even encourage euthanasia. Moreover, some assert, it would require people to draw up plans saying how they want to die.These concerns appear to be unfounded. AARP, the lobby for older Americans, says, “The rumors out there are flat-out lies.” The House bill would provide Medicare coverage for optional consultations with doctors who advise patients on life-sustaining treatment and “end-of-life services,” including hospice care. The legislation instructs Medicare officials to propose ways to measure the quality of end-of-life care. Doctors would have financial incentives to report data on such care to the government.
On abortion, the situation is more complex. Opponents of abortion, like the National Right to Life Committee, say the legislation would use tax dollars to subsidize insurance that could cover abortion.Under a bill approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, health plans, including the new government insurance plan, could choose to cover abortion. But they generally could not use federal money to pay for the procedure and instead would have to use money from the premiums paid by beneficiaries.
Douglas D. Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said, “Under either the Senate bill or the House bill, the federal government would run a huge system of subsidizing elective abortion.
”Representative Diana DeGette, Democrat of Colorado, said the bill would keep current restrictions on the use of federal money for abortion, but “would not expand the prohibitions, as many Republicans want to do.”
CUTTING MEDICAREOr Preserving It?
To help finance coverage for the uninsured, Congress would squeeze huge savings out of Medicare, the program for older Americans and the disabled. These savings would pay nearly 40 percent of the bills’ cost.
The legislation would trim Medicare payments for most services, as an incentive for hospitals and other health care providers to become more efficient. The providers make a plausible case that the cutbacks could inadvertently reduce beneficiaries’ access to some types of care.
The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Democrats would make “massive cuts to Medicare to pay for more government-run health care.” Mr. Obama told AARP last month, “Nobody is talking about reducing Medicare benefits.” All the savings, he said, would come from measures to “eliminate waste and inefficiency in Medicare.” As an example, he cited duplicative tests ordered by different doctors for the same patient. But some proposals could affect beneficiaries. The major bills in Congress would cut more than $150 billion over 10 years from federal payments to private health plans that care for more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Henry M

Capture the Flag: An Open Letter to the Right and the Left

Henry M — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:02:21 EDT

Politicians, pundits, and the public liken America’s continuous two party political competition to assorted sports, but board games are a better analogue of our current system of political warfare.

Put aside baseball, which with its constant pausing and pitting of each singular batter against a team in field, is as much an unusual, one-off game as it is a sport. Our other national sports are all concerned with one team driving deep into the other’s territory and scoring a goal. While players are carefully positioned all over the field for this purpose, there is no value placed on capturing, or even controlling, the center. The summer camp game of “capture the flag” involves capturing the other team’s flag from within the other team’s territory (not from some neutral, protected location in the center), and then returning with it to your own side.

Business and politics have been likened to war for decades now, but they have also been believed to be comparable to the sports above, perhaps owing more to their actual violence than to tactics and strategy. Study chess and checkers for success in the real world. Like many other games, they are concerned with survival. They are territorial by nature, and so eschew the bipolar nature of sports for capturing and protecting as much territory as is reasonable while diminishing the opponent and protecting one’s own king(s).

In the 2008 elections, the Democrats learned the value on including the middle. Like the centrist news outlets, the Democrats were vilified by both the right and the left, but they became a party appreciated by voters who didn’t want the country to experiment with extremity, and those voters, along with a slightly left-of-center “base” returned them to the White House and a bicameral majority that they have not enjoyed for many years.

PETA, Ralph Nader, American Anarchists, and Libertarian Socialist (yes, right-wingers, Obama isn’t all that far to the left: there are Anarchists and Libertarian Socialists, even in America) have all understood the need to capture the excluded middle, but their extreme agendas make that impossible. The Democrats woke up a few years ago, ran the numbers, and learned to control the center, diminishing their detractors on both the right and the far-left while moving the flag closer to the center, which is its rightful place in a democracy. The United States is ill served when either one of its two political parties drives its marginalized base further towards its own goal, i.e. the goal that it is defending. The Republicans would do well to put away sports and learn to play a little chess and checkers.

Quiet Change: Holding the Middle

Henry M — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:21:51 EDT

Obama must be doing something right to be criticized by the left and by the right while, in the mean time, slowly turning around the huge oil-tanker of the USA/World's economy. We know the right thinks he's doing too much. The left isn't any kinder:

Clinton: US Supported Iran Protesters ‘Behind the Scenes’ -- News from Antiwar.comSource: news.antiwar.comIn an interview today on CNN’s GPS with Fareed Zakaria, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that while the US didn’t want to come out too publicly in favor of the protesters in the wake ...

I hope that people can appreciate that the current administration is doing more good than was ever done by previous ones. It's quieter, but it appears to be more effective. Any problem with that, or would it be better if they wore their hearts on their sleeves?

Iran is a sovereign nation. Coming out "too publicly" concerning their internal ... Read Morepolitics would be just the kind of intervention that the left has always criticized, except when it suits them to criticize the center for "not doing more."

If the left is so impatient with the current administration that they weaken it, they will empower Palin and her puppet-masters, in which case we may very well see a change that they won't like in 2012.

Right to Healthcare

Henry M — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:39:12 EDT

Why is the right-wing supporting the insurance companies? Big business wants a public option as much as the people who lost jobs during the Bush administration. And it's not even "single payer... it's just an option. (The) Right is supposed to be about the right to choose what you want, but you can't if you have no choice!

The little guy in the rental unit is being fooled by the right, which is looking like it's been bought by the insurance companies. He's gonna get sick and cost everyone a lot of money when he goes to the ER. And if the right doesn't help the left a little, anyone may become him.

Republican Lawmakers Who Defend EXTREMIST BEHAVIOR Have Got to Go in 2010…

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:46:57 EDT

Death threats, racial epithets, physical assaults, placards DEFACING the President’s likeness, and EFFIGIES of Democratic Lawmakers are NOT a simple exercise of “freedom of speech”.

REPUBLICAN Lawmakers who are now on a media blitz JUSTIFYING the CIVIL RIGHTS ATTACK DOG/MCCAIN/PALIN 2008 CAMPAIGN RALLY behavior of THEIR EXTREMISTS SPOKESPERSONS as a simple matter of “freedom of speech” have GOT TO GO in 2010!

THEY HAVE DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND CLEARLY STATING THAT THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS AND VALUES OF ALL OF AMERICA, JUST THE SOUTHERN EXTREMISTS FRINGE. WE NEED TO ELECT CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES WHO REPRESENT US ALL. THAT'S THEIR JOB!

Are They Nuts?

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:30:34 EDT

Right Wing Extremists have DISRUPTED DEMOCRATIC Lawmaker Health Care Reform Town Hall Meetings with SCRIPTED boos, jeers, and shouting matches. They have THREATENED the lives of DEMOCRATIC Lawmakers holding Town Hall Meetings. They have, actually, HUNG DEMOCRATIC Lawmakers in effigy outside of Town Hall Meetings. They are waving DEFAMED PHOTOS OF THE PRESIDENT, and OBAMA-ASSOCIATED SWASTIKA PLACARDS at Town Hall Meetings. ARE THEY NUTS?

SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO SAY OR DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE MADNESS! The REPUBLICAN PARTY condones their behavior by SILENT SANCTION. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS condone their behavior by SILENT SANCTION. The CONSERVATIVE MEDIA condone their behavior by SILENT SANCTION. The CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS RIGHT condones their behavior by SILENT SANCTION. Well, I’M NOT GOING to condone their behavior by SILENT SANCTION and here are the reasons why. EXTREME RIGHT WINGERS ARE DEMONSTRATING TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR because…

1. They DON’T want the American Public to hear THE TRUTH about Health Care Reform

2. They are IRRATIONAL BEINGS who receive great joy from SCARE TACTICS and SUBHUMAN behavior.

3. They are WILLING PAWNS of Right Wing RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS.

4. They are POLARIZING PEONS who love DISCORD and DISRESPECT.

5. They are CLOSET RACISTS who CAN’T STAND to see an “EVERYMAN” in the Presidency.

ANY RIGHT WING EXTREMIST WHO DISRUPTS A PUBLIC MEETING; THREATENS THE SAFETY OF RATIONAL MEETING ATTENDEES, OR THREATENS THE LIVES OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS OUGHT TO BE THROWN IN JAIL!

Here’s How You Can Join the PRO-Health Care Reform Grassroots Movement

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:45:18 EDT

Grassroots Pro-Health Care Reform Movement organizers and participants are GREAT! They are managing to state a clear message WITHOUT stooping down to the jeering, booing, shouting SCRIPTED ANTICS of RIGHT WING, ‘BREAK OBAMA’, NO Health Care Reform EXTREMISTS.

If you are not, already, part of a Pro Health Care Reform Grassroots Movement, here are a few websites to HELP YOU GET STARTED: The Health Care Push: Grassroots Gear Up for Recess politics.theatlantic.com/…/the_health_care_push_grassroots_gear_up_for_recess.php HCAN Prepares Pro-Health Care Reform Activists for Responding To…www.Tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/.../the _health_care_push_grassroot_gear_up_for_recess.php 10 Ways to Take Part in Health Care Reform www.takepart.com Campaign for Liberty www.campaignforliberty.com/ PSN Leaders in D.C. Highlight State Voices on Health Care Reform www.progressivestates.org/node/23224 How Labor Grassroots Activist Say They Will Help Save Health Care Reform www.inthesetimes.com

If you want to CHECK UP on what your CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES are doing OR are NOT doing to MOVE FORWARD towards quality, affordable Health Care Reform, log on to… www.govtrack.us/congress/record

Follow the Money

Henry M — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:35:46 EDT

It's pretty easy to understand what some companies, and the politicians that are in their pay, get out of health insurance business as usual.

The country as a united people, and the people as many individuals stand to benefit from the public option that is being opposed by the insurance companies and their dupes.
What are the selfish reasons ascribed to Obama for pushing reform?

Present Our Lawmakers with the “No Option” Health Care Option!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:57:33 EDT

During the CONGRESSIONAL AUGUST RECESS, make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that YOU WILL NOT BE VOTING ‘Break Obama’ REPUBLICAN Lawmakers AND ‘On the Fence” DEMOCRATIC Lawmakers BACK INTO OFFICE if they don’t STOP their NON-PRODUCTIVE bickering, talk show clown DODGING, private health care insurer PANDERING, ‘sitting on the fence’ HEALTH CARE REFORM CIRCUS SIDESHOW!

WE accomplished the NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE by electing Obama into the Presidency. If we UNITE and put our minds to it, WE have the power to elect SERIOUS BI-PARTISAN LAWMAKERS who will help the President get THE PEOPLE’S WORK done!

Making a CIRCUS ACT out of OUR health care future is NOT an Option…LET’S OWN IT!

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Henry M — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:34:13 EDT

One good thing that "birthers" have inadvertently done is to make everyone aware of President Barack Obama's birthday. This year, Thomas Pynchon (my favorite author) has a new, more popularly styled book out today.

It is a bittersweet day for me, however, as it was also my father, Sam Musikar's birthday. He was a New York artist who loved jazz, and he would have loved to see the President who beat the Republican stranglehold on Washington, the arts, and the world, celebrate his birthday on the same day as he.

Henry M

Ex CIGNA Excutive On a Truth Mission

Maiysha Emmani Myshere — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:57:11 EDT

If you haven't seen this or are not aware, please watch/read this piece. I've found it very helpful in pulling people over to our side.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07312009/profile.html

To all of you who are standing up with us. I salute you and honor you. Let's not get discouraged, the right wing insurance and drug companies are throwing everything at us but the kitchen sink. They are not going to give up without a fight and they are betting that there are many who will just turn and run.

We will not go quitely into the night!!

Birthers

Henry M — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:28:38 EDT

Henry M

Don’t Let HLB & Company DECIDE Your Health Care Reform Destiny in August!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:59:55 EDT

HLB [Hannities, Limbaughs, Becks] & Company [their “BIRTHER” zombies, health insurer LOBBYISTS, and “Break Obama” Congressional PUPPETS] SUCCEEDED in DELAYING your chances for quality, affordable Health Care Reform!

DO NOT let HLB & Company WIPE OUT your chances for quality, affordable Health Care Reform during the CONGRESSIONAL AUGUST RECESS!

You can BE CERTAIN that HLB & Company will pull out all their DIRTY TRICKS [lies, drama, misleading information, ‘isms’ and ‘ists’] to SCARE YOU, Democratic ‘ON THE FENCE’ Lawmakers and Republican CENTRISTS Lawmakers during the Break. They will MANIPULATE THE LIBERAL AND CENTRIST MEDIA and ramp up their “Sky is Falling” MIND GAMES to accomplish their dirty work!

The MONTH OF AUGUST will be YOUR LAST CHANCE to TAKE BACK control of your health care destiny through written and viral INTERNET communication systems, CALLS and LETTERS to your Congressional representatives and Pro Health Care Reform TELEVISED RALLIES IN YOUR STATE.

If YOU DON’T TAKE ACTION, HLB & COMPANY WILL DO IT FOR YOU!

Health Insurance Reform Under Attack

EsquireUK — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:01:42 EDT

Don’t Let President Obama’s ”Approval Rating” Poll Results Fool Ya!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:03:59 EDT

What do you think about the LATEST MEDIA CHATTER regarding President Obama’s SO CALLED “declining” approval ratings? Well, Don’t BE DISCOURAGED. Here’s why…

1. Poll results CAN BE EASILY SWAYED by two KEY factors: WHO is polled AND the way in which the poll question is WORDED.

2. I HAVEN’T BEEN POLLED and NOBODY I KNOW has been polled. Have YOU been polled?

CONDUCT YOUR OWN VERSION OF THE “PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL” POLLING GAME. TWITTER, FACEBOOK, YOU TUBE, BLOG, EMAIL OR JUST ASK TEN PEOPLE, “HAVE YOU BEEN POLLED REGARDING PRESIDENT OBAMA’S APPROVAL RATING?”

I GUARANTEE YOU THAT 99.99999% OF THE RESPONSES WILL BE “NO”!

The Conservative Congressional “TERMINATOR” Effect

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:52:21 EDT

Didn’t you find it WEIRD that IN THE MIDST of trying to find solutions to our nation’s health care woes, CONSERVATIVE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND THEIR NRA LOBBYIST PALS were WASTING TAXPAYERS’ valuable time and resources trying to push through legislation to allow the TRANSPORT OF GUNS ACROSS STATE LINES!!! To make matters weirder, when they lost the battle, the NRA leadership [in true “TERMINATOR” mode] vowed “WE’LL BE BACK”! What’s up with that, another sequel?

CONSERVATIVE LAMAKERS who give GUNS precedence OVER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE need to be VOTED OUT OF OFFICE so they can retire, relocate to Alaska, and SHOOT MOOSE out of helicopters!

The Great Republican Congressional BI-PARTISAN SCAM!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:28:36 EDT

Conservative Congressional representatives have been crying the “BI-PARTISAN” BLUES ever since President Obama was elected into office. It’s NOT a coincidence that their “BI-PARTISAN” BLUES happen to be TYPICALLY HYPOCRITICAL, DISENGENUOUS, and INFANTILE. Here’s why…

1. When Republicans DOMINATED the Congressional landscape for the past 8 years, THE TERM ‘BI-PARTISAN’ WASN’T EVEN IN THEIR VOCABULARY! They shoved WAR-MONGERING, DEFICIT SPENDING, DEREGULATING, CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT JUDGE PASSING actions down the throats of their Democratic colleagues with NO REGRETS, NO APOLOGIES, and NOT A SHRED OF BI-PARTISAN CONSIDERATIONS!

2. EVERY Republican representative VOTED AGAINST Sotomayor except for Senator Graham. Sotomayor is the MOST QUALIFIED Supreme Court Justice nominee IN THE HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT! What possible reason(s) could the REPUBLICAN BI-PARTISAN BLUEZERS have for not wanting to vote her out of committee? Was it racism? Was it sexism? Was it ethnic intolerance? Was it ANOTHER “Break Obama” move? Whatever their reason, it sure WASN’T BI-PARTISAN in nature!

3. If “BREAKING THE PRESIDENT” over Health Care Reform is a “BI-PARTISAN” notion, Republican Congressional “BI-PARTISAN” BLUEZERS need to take a speed course on ‘GET A GRIP’!

4. Today’s Republican BI-PARTISAN BLUEZERS are, CLEARLY, intent on carrying out a TYPICALLY REPUBLICAN ANTI-BI-PARTISAN TRADITION which includes ANTI-“FOR THE PEOPLE” fights AGAINST “FOR THE PEOPLE” legislation like MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, VOTING RIGHTS and now, HEALTH CARE REFORM!

IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY TIME REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES CARE ABOUT BI-PARTISANSHIP IS WHEN THEIR NOT IN CHARGE, OR WHEN THEY CAN’T HAVE THEIR WAY! WHAT A SCAM!

Reforming the Republicans

Walt — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:35:08 EDT

It is past time to start reforming the Republican party. Probably won't start to happen until the Republicans lose both the 2010 and 2012 elections. The country needs two parties that behave in a mature fashion, putting the country ahead of party. Now we are burdened with a Republican party that is not confident enough in itself to accept Barack's good ideas for the good of country. Now they oppose everything in hopes of a political win. Let's invite the dissenters, the nattering nabobs of negativity in Spiro Agnew's words, to leave the Republican party so that it can once again function in a mature fashion for the good of country. They owe us an effective opposition so that thinking voters have a choice.

Did you TAKE ACTION for Health Care Reform Today? CONGRESS Needs Your Help…

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:37:14 EDT

Health Care Reform is the RESPONSIBILITY OF CONGRESS as well as the President. WE KNOW where the President stands, BUT CONGRESS NEEDS OUR HELP! Comprehensive Health Care Reform Movements have been tried OVER AND OVER AND OVER as far back as PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON’S push for “Great Society” programs and beyond! THE TIME IS NOW AND WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

1. Call, write, e mail your Congressional representative. Tell them about your health care concerns, trials, tribulations, AND suggestions for Health Care Reform cost-saving measures.

2. CALL FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS featuring the health care testimonies of the privately insured, AND the non-insured.

3. Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, MySpace, e mail, blog your health care principals and experiences to friends, family, and the like. Ask them to join you in the CALL FOR URGENCY regarding Health Care Reform.

4. Organize and participate in PEACEFUL HEALTH CARE REFORM RALLIES.

5. Call-in and/or e mail your Pro Health Care Reform sentiments to CONSERVATIVE and LIBERAL radio/TV talk shows.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO TAKE THESE PROACTIVE MEASURES FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW? Here are a few reminders…

1. Current health care costs totaling an estimated $2.6 TRILLION dollars

2. Americans spend more on health care EVERY YEAR than they do on educating children, building roads and putting food on the table!

3. Forty-five million Americans have NO health insurance!

4. Uninsured health care is covered by a HIDDEN TAX on ALL TAXPAYERS!

5. Nearly 266,000 companies DROPPED their employees’ health care coverage from 200-2005 and the numbers are rising!

6. 60% of personal bankruptcies ARE DUE to health care costs!

7. The privately insured are PAYING MORE and GETTING less. SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT by watching the “Sicko” documentary by Michael Moore!

8. YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Pro-Health Care Reform Americans, UNITE AND CAMPAIGN!

Spin Detective (St. Thomas, VI) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:31:08 EDT

Congressional “BREAK OBAMA” Republicans are ACTING LIKE Health Care Reform is the President’s problem, not theirs AND not ours! SINCE THEY HAVEN’T COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION, they may be SOMEWHAT correct! Nevertheless, WE need to let them know that Health Care Reform is as much THEIR RESPONSIBILITY as it is the President’s.

Pro-health care Americans must UNITE AND CAMPAIGN to PROTECT their health care reform principals. “BREAK OBAMA” CONSERVATIVE congressional representatives, interest groups, lobbyists, pundits and talk show “sky is falling” naysayers ARE DOING IT and SO SHOULD WE!

“BREAK OBAMA” CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, WHO OFFER NO SOLUTIONS AND DISSAPPOINT US ON HEALTH CARE REFORM, SHOULD BE REMINDED OF OUR DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE BALLOT BOX!

Contact your CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND UNTIL Health Care Reform becomes YOUR reality!

CAMPAIGN FOR PRO-HEALTH CARE REFORM AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT BECAUSE… IT DOES!

Economics 101

Walt — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:34:00 EDT

As people's incomes increase, they typically buy more goods except for those items that they buy less of, called inferior goods, One example cited in economics texts is the potato. As incomes increase, people usually eat fewer potatoes. As their incomes decrease, they eat more potatoes. Cheap and filling.

During the past 30 years, the average American has seen his/her income stagnate which I believe is the reason for the rapid growth of chain stores offering the retail equivalent of potatoes. Cheap goods that offer the illusion of keeping up with the Joneses. If incomes were increasing, big box stores would not be attracting so many customers.

OFA ==> An Update - and a Big New Goal

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:46:44 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint tried to rally our opposition by declaring that stopping reform would "break" President Obama. Instead, hundreds of thousands of you rushed forward to stand up for enacting health insurance reform this year.

Then last night, the President delivered a powerful prime-time address about why further delay is simply not an option, and even more support came pouring in. (Watch the highlights here).

Now, we're on the brink of a major milestone in building this campaign: One million Americans publicly declaring their support for the President's three core principles for health insurance reform this year.

Our goal is to reach the one million mark before Congress casts the first crucial votes as early as next week. This is just a first step of many we'll take together. But it will send a clear message that the American people will not stand for playing partisan politics with our lives and livelihoods -- and that we won't settle for anything less than the real health insurance reform America so desperately needs this year.

Add your name to stand up for the President's three principles for real health insurance reform in 2009.

Adding your name right now will have real impact. Not only will you help us hit this key milestone, but we'll run the signatures we collect in local and national newspaper ads and present them in powerful displays at high-profile local events across the country in the crucial days and weeks to come.

We're so close to a million because volunteers all over the country are reaching out online, door-to-door, on the phone and at public events in their community. And every time a new supporter stands up with the President, they in turn reach out to others and the movement grows.

Less than three months ago, OFA launched our campaign for health insurance reform. In that short time, hundreds of thousands of Americans have joined in by:

sharing a personal health care story
calling their representatives
going door-to-door talking with their neighbors
calling neighbors in all 50 states
publishing letters to the editor in local newspapers
donating
hosting or attending a local event, and much more.

For Republican leaders and special interests, the health insurance debate may be a political game. But for millions of American businesses and families, the cost of inaction is economic ruin and deteriorating care for the ones we love. Out-of-control health care costs are breaking the budgets of families, businesses and government -- and every day that Congress refuses to act, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage entirely.

We're working so hard in every part of this country because we understand -- this is no game. Add your name to help us reach one million public supporters this week, and join in this effort to reform health insurance in 2009.

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America