Smoke in your face

Democratic Super Majority

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Ron Paul Interview

I forget what this is about, but since its Jon Stewart, it must be of critical importance

2009-09-30T03:50:00.000-07:00

Where the Riled Things Are

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Ron Paul Interview

Lets put some perspective on ACORN

2009-09-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Friday's Rachel Maddow show, and I am soooo glad she is covering this ACORN thing and will continue to do so over the coming days.

Here a summery of what was discussed and said. Her guest on this segment was Jeremy Scahill, correspondent for "The Nation" and author of the book "Blackwater, the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army"

Firstly, going after or singling out one individual organization is against Article one of the constitution. Its called the "Bill of attainder" and just means that you can´t target one individual or one specific group.

So, the DEFUND ACORN ACT, the Republicans and some Democrats staunchly support, has a bill of attainder problem. You can't pass legislation that targets one individual or one specific group. The congressional research service has looked into this DEFUND ACORN ACT, and well, they found probable cause that it does. So, it looks like, this act, which the jokers at Fox News just love screaming about to their sheep herd, is unconstitutional.

Basically, it means, if the Republicans want to use this Defund Acorn Act as their platform in the run up to the 2010 elections, they have to go after everyone. If they want to cut off funding for any organization who has ever violated government regulations or filed fraudulent paperwork with any government agency, that can´t only be enforced against Acorn.

Lets put some perspective on all of this.

What does ACORN actually do:
(there is an excellent op ed by Harold Meyerson, of the Washington Post, shedding more light on this community organization):

- ACORN is the nation's largest community organizing group

- working to raise the minimum wage

- working to limit the interest and fees that banks charge homeowners

- working to expand the electorate (they registered 1.4 million voters for the 2007-2008 electorate campaign)

ACORN has received $53 million over the past 15 years government funding. In comparison, Halliburton gets $53 million every single day for the war in Iraq.

Now, lets take a look at the other 600 War corporations on the government payroll.

Fraud: Blackwater (they defrauded the government to the tune of 55 Million dollars under one contract and they have several contracts with the government)
Murder: 5 Blackwater contractors have been charged with murder of US troops.
electrocuting 17 US troops: KBR

running a prostitution ring out of Bosnia: Din Corp. They were never defunded - in fact they received a new contract from the US Air force to the tune of $200 million (on top of the$ 915 million contract they already have)

It gets better:

KBR: has just been awarded a new contract despite the deaths of US soldiers in Iraq (and an ongoing investigation)

All the above continue to receive "spectacularly lucrative contracts".

All of the above are not at all worried about being cut off from government funding

Its all political, its not about upholding the law.

To reiterate, Acorn registered 1.4 million people to vote, has 400,000 workers across the US. They work with and for the poor and working class. They have no lobbying power in the form of massive campaign contributing powers.

ACORN has continuously been charged with bogus allegations of voter fraud. All of them unsubstantiated.

What is an actual election scandal? 25 - 40 cents of every dollar spent on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (thats 2.5 billion per week) go directly to these defense contractor corporations. And they in turn contribute campaign dollars to the Republicans and the Democrats. They in turn continue to fund their operations.

You want to hold individuals accountable for heinous crimes? Look no further than Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld and the crimes against humanity that have been committed in the form of do-it-yourself-change-the-law-to-make-torture-legal memos. Or Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater and crusader against Muslims.

Members of these corporations are responsible for murder, child prostitution and gross misconduct.

The crimes of ACORN pale in comparison. The workers that fell for the right wing conservative sting - the pimp and prostitute thing - have been dismissed for their misconduct. I say thats enough punishment. Besides, as long as the war corporations continue to go un-confronted - this ACORN attack is a farce and ridiculous.

Going after ACORN is like a bully kicking a puppy and make a big detour around the growling doberman pincher with the blood still dripping from his chops.

Its cowardly and despicable.

49 seconds if you need a laugh right now.

2009-09-25T04:06:00.000-07:00

Intro - Jon Pronounces Blagojevich

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Send me everything you can find about Glenn Beck

Healthcare Protests

Join Us in the Fight to protect the Interests of those poor poor Health Insurance CEO's....

2009-09-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

Will Ferrell in a PSA on why CEO's of health insurance companies need their own mini zoo. And private jets. And five houses. And a salary and bonuses to protect all these simple necessities of life.

The secret plan that made Joe Wilson famous

2009-09-24T03:33:00.000-07:00

1984

2009-09-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

I am finally reading this book. And its going to be scary. Because what George Orwell wrote back in the mid 20th century, is already true. Its come true. Will let you know how I fare. Wiser, but more despondent? I hope not. I don´t want this to be the dance on the volcano.

Robert Reich explains why we need a public option

2009-09-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Robert Reich explains why we need a public option (kind of a public option explanation for dummies)

Its short. Watch it. And listen. So Two out of your five senses are required. Not too much to ask I hope.

Its in your best interest.

Best Three Superheros of the Week

2009-09-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Peter Venkman: Let's show this prehistoric bitch* how we do things downtown... THROW IT!

* Joe Wilson

Obama's speech to school kids. And everyone else too.

2009-09-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

has everyone gone insane?

2009-09-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Actually, I think its unfair toward elephants to be compared to our right wing nutbags. And how is it, that its being hailed as a "controversial" speech? On news channels around the world? huh? Honestly, what is this world coming to.

This cartoon courtesy of Slate.com

Keith Olbermann's call to reason. Get any dirt you can on Beck. There should be a pretty huge pile of dung.

2009-09-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

Keith Olbermann is calling upon us all to speak softly and carry a big popsicle. In other words, read the above article or blog or whatever you want to call it and find anything you can on Glenn Beck. This guy needs to be exposed for the lying fool of an idiot he is.

I am with you KO. All the way. (don´t you just love things like this? Rally for right ie as in WHAT is right as opposed to what is so wrong, it defies morals, decency and reason. )

This is what Robert Reich thinks Obama should say at his address on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

2009-09-06T02:23:00.000-07:00

I read this on Robert Reich's blog and am re-posting what Mr. Reich wrote. Mr. Reich was the 22nd Secretary of Labor and is currently professor at University of California at Berkeley. He is also author of the book "Supercapitalism" which I am definitely going to buy.

1. I will not stand for a bill that leaves millions of Americans without health care. It's vitally important to cover all Americans, not only for their and their childrens' sakes and not only because it's a moral imperitive, but because doing so will be good for all of us. One out of three Americans will experience job loss and potential loss of health insurance for themselves and their families at some point. One out of four of us who have health insurance is underinsured --unable to afford the preventive care we and our kids need on an ongoing basis. And those of us who don't get preventive care can get walloped with diabetes, heart disease, and other major illnesses that wipe us out financially, or force us into emergency rooms that all of us end up paying for.

2. The only way to cover all Americans without causing deficits to rise is to require that the wealthiest Americans pay a bit extra. The wealthy can afford to make sure all Americans are healthy. The top 1 percent of earners now take home 23 percent of total national income, the highest percentage since 1928. Their tax burden is not excessive. Even as income and wealth have become more concentrated than at any time in the past 80 years, those at the top are now taxed at lower rates than rich Americans have been taxed since before the start of World War II. Indeed, many managers of hedge funds, private-equity partners, and investment bankers -- including those who have been bailed out by taxpayers over the last year -- are paying 15 percent of their income in taxes because their earnings are, absurdly, treated as capital gains. We should eliminate this loophole as well, and use it to guarantee the health of all.

3. Finally, I want a true public insurance option -- not a "cooperative," and not something that's triggered if certain goals aren't met. A public option is critical for lowering health-care costs. Today, private insurers don't face enough competition to guarantee low prices and high service. In 36 states, three or fewer insurers account for 65 percent of the insurance market. A public insurance option would also have the scale and authority needed to negotiate low drug prices and low prices from medical providers. Commercial insurers now pay about 30 higher rates to providers than the government pays through Medicare, because Medicare has the scale to get those lower rates. A nationwide public option could get similar savings. And those savings would mean lower premiums, deductibles and co-payments for Americans who can barely afford health insurance right now.

We'll see.

Why is it so complicated?

2009-09-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

Why is American Health care so complicated? Its like, you need to be a astro physicist to even figure it out.

Now, maybe I am not the best person to explain it. In fact, I am not even going to attempt it. My mission these past weeks, since the exponential rise in screetching against any type of reform from the "Just say no to anything the Obama proposes" crowd, has been to truly understand the system. I know its completely fucked up. In fact, its archaic.

America is really weird. I say this in the kindest way - sort of. I mean, I am American. But I have lived a lot outside of the US. My personal encounters with health care have been through companies based in Europe, for the most part. And when I was working in the States, I wasn´t covered. Luckily, I never had to go to the doctors.

In Europe, it just seems a bit simpler somehow. You get a job, you are insured. No matter where you work. Part-time. Full-time. You get a card - like a chip card - with all your medical history immediately accessible for any doctor you care to visit. You take that with you to the doctors. Thats it. You don´t pay anything. And when you get a prescription, you pay a minimal fee - depending on your insurance coverage. Around $5 per prescription. And you don´t have to fill out endless forms about any pre-conditions and tosh like that.

In Holland, for example, there were certain stipulations, like you had to go to a GP in the district you lived. Dentists you could chose whomever. The company I worked for was American, and we had pretty decent coverage. I paid about 200 $ a month - taken out of my wages automatically. For dental care, I had to pay up front and was reimbursed for just about everything. Dental hygiene, fillings (the best on offer), teeth whitening......everything. It was awesome. In Germany, it was a similar system. Here in Austria, its a single payer system ie pretty much like the NHS.

You can go to any doctor you choose, you can go to any hospital you want, you don´t pay for anything upfront. And if you want extra special care, then yes, you can pay an additional fee on a pay-as-you go basis, to see doctors quicker or avoid longer waits. In general, I have to say, the waiting time is bearable.

No system is perfect. But the US health care system is just broken. Its like no system. I cannot believe a country that invents ipods and iphones and MacbookPros and the best junk food ever cannot come up with a system that works and is understandable for all. More importantly, available for all.

Don't take my word for it: keep informing yourself. Frontline from PBS does a pretty good job, although it does take them hours. But worth it. Sick Around America.

so, what else is new?

2009-09-03T13:39:00.001-07:00

well, all is well on the whacko front. Foaming at the mouth, steam coming out of their ears, heads spinning - the constant racist brigade has struck again. Actually, they insult anyone's intelligence if they claim anything besides outright coneheadness.

Jason Linkins views here.

Dick, you offend the hell out of me

2009-08-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

The marble bust is cracking. And the truth will come out. Course, not, if you watch Cluster Fox anti-news, which would make it lies that get a 24 hour voice. I am beginning to think Rupert Murdoch made the ultimate deal with the devil. And Cheney was along as his sidekick. No joke.

Partisan torture probe?? Partisan? If only. IF only. Mr. President, please be partisan.

the bottomless pit of idiocracy

2009-08-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

"Huckabee: Kennedy Would Have Been Urged To Die Earlier Under ObamaCare"

Huckabee himself says "it defies all logic".

Dude, you took the words right outta my mouth.

An open letter to President Obama from Anne Lamott

2009-08-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

An open letter I stumbled upon, published in the Los Angeles Times today.

"I am afraid there has been a misunderstanding since that election in 2008, during which 66,882,230 Americans cast their votes for you. Perhaps one of your trusted advisors has given you bum information. Maybe they told you that we voted for you -- walked, marched, prayed, fund-raised and knocked on doors for you -- because we hoped you would try to reunite the country. Of the total votes cast that long-ago November day, I'm guessing that about 1,575 people wanted you to try to reconcile the toxic bipartisanship that culminated in those Sarah Palin rallies.

The other 66,880,655 of us wanted universal healthcare.

You inherited a country that was in the most desperate shape since the Civil War, or the Depression, and we voted for you to heal the catastrophic wounds Bush inflicted on our country and our world. You said that you were up to that challenge.

We did not vote for you to see if you could get Chuck Grassley or Michael Enzi to date you. The spectacle of you wooing them fills us with horror and even disgust. We recoil as from hot flame at each mention of your new friends. Believe me, I know exactly how painful this can be, how reminiscent of 7th-grade yearning to be popular, because I went through it myself this summer. I did not lower my bar quite as low as you have, but I was sitting on the couch one afternoon, thinking that this adorable guy and I were totally on the same sheet of music -- he had given me absolutely every indication that we were -- and were moving into the kissing stage. Out of nowhere, I thought to ask him if he liked me in the same way I liked him.

He said, in so many words, no.

And Mr. President, that is what the Republicans are saying to you: They are just not that into you, sir.

This may have thrown you for such a loop that you have forgotten why you were elected -- which was to lead your people back to the promises of our founding parents. Many of us no longer recognized our country after eight years of Bush and Cheney, and you gave us your word that you would help restore the great headway we had made on matters of race, equality and plain old social justice.

People, get ready, you said; there's a train a 'coming. And we did get ready. We hit the streets. We roared, whispered, cried, whooped and went door to door, convinced that even if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had not specifically dreamed of you, his dream of justice and equality and pride might come into being through your vision, your greatness, through the hope that your words gave us, through the change you promised.

He dreamed of a leader like you. Just like you. And something in the deepest part of this country's soul heard.

After eight years of Bush, and then the Palin nomination, we were battered and anguished and punch-drunk. But in rallying behind you, we came back to life.

We did not know exactly how you would proceed to restore our beloved Constitution. It seemed beyond redemption, like my kitchen floor did briefly last week after my dog, Bodhi, accidentally ate 24 corn bread muffins. You said you would push back your sleeves and begin, that it would take all of us working harder than we ever had before, but that you would lead. While acknowledging the financial and moral devastation of the last eight years, you said you would start by giving your people healthcare. You would do battle with the conservatives and insurance companies. You said in your beautiful way many times that this was the overarching moral and spiritual issue of our times, and we understood this to mean that you took this to be your Selma, your Little Rock.

I hate to sound like a betrayed 7-year-old, but you said. And we believed you. Now you seem to have abandoned the dream. That is why moderates and liberals and progressives like myself all seem a little tense this summer. It is time to call your spirit back. We will be here to help when you get back from vacation. We want to help you get over the disappointment of Mr. Grassley's cold shoulder, of Mr. Enzi blowing you off, even that nice Olympia Snowe standing you up. We can and will take to the streets again, march and hold peaceful rallies, go door to door, donate to any causes that will help get out the truth of what a public option would mean. But we need you to shake off the dust of the journey and remember the promises of Dr. King, and we need you to lead us toward what is no longer so distant a shore.

Do it for Teddy Kennedy, boss. Do it for the other Kennedys too, for Dr. King, for Big Mama, for the poorest kids you met on the trail, the kids who go to emergency rooms for their healthcare, do it for their mothers and for Michelle. Just do it.

Trusting you, Mr. Obama

Anne Lamott "

Its time to grab the bull by the horns.......in honor of Ted Kennedy

2009-08-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

Will the untimely death of Senator Edward Kennedy maybe possibly bring the democrats to their senses?

It bloody well better.

Pass a bill, pass a bill with a strong public option - grab your balls and do it. Talking to you Grassley you lying sack of.....you know what. And Baucus. You lamer than lame corrupt wanna-be Tony Soprano.

Otherwise, wrath of God time. And Senator Kennedy is up there now. And he will throw bolts of lightening up your asses. Yeah, you too, Sen. McCain.

Bob Cesca explains it in a bit more detail why this will happen if we don´t do whats right. Well, actually, the Gang of Six have to get it right. Reminds me of the Gang of Four back in Mao's time. Any connection? Probably not, the gang of four were a helluva a lot smarter.

On a more somber note (yes, I can be somber, especially since I just saw this on the history channel)

Martin Luther King Jr was shot April 4th, 1968

Robert Kennedy was shot two months later, June 6th, 1968.

Edward Kennedy died today.

They all fought for what's right. Haven´t we learned anything over the past forty years? The right thing now is every persons right in one of the richest nations in the world to affordable health care. Insuring cars is mandatory. Do we value our cars more?

NPR Fresh Air - yes, its about health care. TR Ried gives his views.

2009-08-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

An interview worth listening to. Yes, its about the all-encompassing topic of health care currently running amuck, drowning out all the other news that goes on regardless if we manage to get our shit together on this or not.

In my opinion, we need to get our shit together and pass a health care reform bill that has the public option. And lots of other stuff as well. Its the moral obligation of every government, to insure its citizens have access to decent affordable health care (I sound like a commercial, don´t I?) But its true.

Think about it: if, as some seem to think, like John Mackey, CEO from Whole Foods (please boycott Whole Foods) that its not everyone´s right to health care, only those who have the good luck to be able to afford it, then we are all screwed. You know why? Because a country cannot function, if a high percentage of the population is either sick, or too poor to afford to go the the doctors, or too ignorant to know to know what preventive measures to take to not actually get sick. No people to work, no products, no income, no spending, no people paying taxes, no nothing. So, anyone who tells you its not the government's responsibility, is full of shit.

This is not about government take-over, as some would have you believe. No, its about having health. And care. So that you are capable of making informed decisions.

TR Ried, an American journalist and author who has lived in various countries in the world, explains how other countries do it. France, Great Britain, Germany, Japan. In quite simple understandable terms.

And as Mr. Ried succinctly puts it - socialism (which is the new loaded word - you know - during the cold war, it was communism, now, in the dissolving brain era, its "socialism") is not a four letter word. Actually, Mr. Ried didn´t say it exactly like that. But I am.

Listen to his interview. Its great. Insightful. And puts things into perspective. We really need health care reform. We can do it.

T.R. Reid: Looking Overseas For 'Healing Of America'

a wtf moment

2009-08-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

why are people allowed to carry assault weapons to rallies? Now, if that isn´t a wtf moment, then I don´t know what is. And this was a rally where the President of the United States was visiting. How many presidents were assassinated in the US? Four sitting presidents. How many attempts? thirteen. Any other countries come close? no.

at a Bush rally, back in 2004, Independence Day, a couple by the name of Jeffrey and Nicole Rank, appeared at said rally wearing home-made anti-Bush t-shirts. No weapons. Just words. They refused to take the t-shirts off. They were arrested. Now, I can understand why words made Bush break out in a cold sweat, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

How does this match up? What does this say about our society? I say its absolute bullshit - this right to bear arms. To do what? Blow your neighbor to kingdom come? To shoot a 7 year-old tricker treater you mistake for a burglar?

I can see when it made sense when you were living out in the middle of no where, like 100 years ago, no law enforcement within a days ride or something. But now? We don´t need guns. Thats why we have the police. Normal people (ok, make that crazy people) do not need guns. Nor should they have guns. This so-called "right" is completely outdated, and just idiotic. We don´t need guns. If someone burglarizes your house, hit him over the head with a baseball bat. Or a frying pan. Why would you need a rifle? A gun? An automatic weapon? Why would you bring a weapon with you to a rally unless you thought you might want to use it? What for? To shoot someone who disagrees with you? For example, the President? This is like having a camp fire near a fuse.

Seriously. I cannot believe we call ourselves a civilized society. Look at the statistics: no where else is the private use of firearms allowed. And nowhere else is the rate of shootings and death because of legal firearms as high as in the US. Because complete WHACKOS are legally allowed to buy them. I can even see the point of maybe possible having a small hand weapon. But OPENLY carrying an automatic rifle to a rally in the vicinity of the President is just insane. As the language gets rougher, so will the actions.

Man, all this is just asking for a disaster to happen.

Screen shots courtesy of the Daily Show, 18th August 2009

Its been said that too much history makes some people's heads explode....

2009-08-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Barney Frank, you are my hero.

And a remark to the woman with the Obama is Hitler placard: you are a moron. Hitler was a non-smoker and promoted aggressive anti-smoking campaigns throughout Germany. Obama smokes.

nuff said.

Time to throw the "guide to good manners" manual into the trash.

2009-08-18T08:03:00.001-07:00

Ok. I was going to rant and rave - but a somewhat heartening headline I just caught in the NY Times made me change my mind:

Democrats seem set to go it alone on a Health Bill

(and because I actually do read the articles.......well, most of them) here's what it goes on to say:

"Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks."

Um, they only just noticed now? After weeks of, shall we say, intense opposition, the democrats always kept their decorum. Always polite and willing to try the bipartisan schtick. Meanwhile, the Republicans were laughing their asses off, clearly not intending, for even a second, to endorse anything.

Therefore, I say, enough of if-you-practice-good-manners-people-will-be-nice-to-you-and-listen. Because they aren´t listening. Nor are they nice. Oh, and in case you hadn't noticed - in the headline - "the minority's cooperation"........that must mean....oops.......you guys have the majority.

Me? I say its time for the gloves to come off. Its time to place the punch where it counts against these greedy, lying, conniving, self-righteous, hypocritical, racist bastards. And I am not talking about the poor schmucks who fall for these glcshrb forces (personally, either they are from another planet or I am, because honestly, there aren´t even words in any language to describe these cretins. )

Take, for example, the lovely words "ludicrous" or "outrageous". Do these terms do justice to the concocted piece of bull Palin put out there? "Death Panel"? And all those other absurdities, infused into the herd via Fox drip, Limbaugh drip, the so-far-right-wing-they-must-have-fallen-off-some-cliff-and-broken-their-brains conservative drips? "Birthers" ? "Deathers" ? "Tea baggers"? (very unfortunate choice there, which proves my point - they speak dingbatwhat?blish)

Next, the "flaters" will rise from the swamp of insanity, stating with a smug certainty, the world is really flat, and Obama is only propagating roundness because his name starts with an "O".

So - yeah - a loud firm YES WE WILL to the glcshrbs (pronouced: glish-herbs), who don´t know the meaning of the word "reason". Otherwise, this country is going to end up in the dumpster.

(ok, I did rant......just a bit). Please enjoy your daily dish of Jon Stewart, who, I am certain, would agree with me. Possibly. Maybe.

Heal or No Heal - Medicine Brawl

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Spinal Tap Performance

Rahm Emanuel gets up at 5AM. To go swimming.

2009-08-17T03:34:00.000-07:00

Skimming through some of the papers late last night, I started reading an article on Rahm Emanuel. Quite a fascinating figure and since he uses swear words a lot, I feel a bond.

Besides an interesting read, it was this paragraph which stuck with me, in particular:

"Mr. Emanuel, 49, starts his day shortly after 5 a.m., when he swims at the Y.M.C.A. and then hits the House gymnasium to pick up intelligence from colleagues from his days in Congress. At 7:30 a.m., he gathers top White House officials in his office and meets the full senior staff in the Roosevelt Room at 8:15 a.m. He then sees the president alone in the Oval Office for 10 minutes, a private session repeated at the end of each day."

Holy insert expletive here ! 5AM? To go swimming? And then to the gym?

Right, note to myself: must try harder.

Moving on: So Rahm Emanuel, as we all know, is the White House Chief of Staff. And of course, I looked up what a chief of staff actually does. I mean, its kind of self-explanatory but still vague enough to warrant a more detailed job description:

"The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President, often dubbed “The Second-Most Powerful Man in Washington”.

The duties of the White House Chief of Staff vary greatly from one administration to another. However, he is responsible for overseeing the actions of the White House staff, managing the President’s schedule, and deciding who is allowed to meet with the President. "

So, this chief of staff is "more chief than staff" and "as the principal author of Mr. Obama’s do-everything-at-once strategy", seems to be involved in pretty much everything that goes on. Like EVERYTHING. Which leads me to a second article, which, in a nutshell, discusses Mr. Emanuel's role in the Middle East Peace process and how Israel views America in general.

The Israelis see Emanuel as their champion in this administration. Certainly due to his roots. Yet he has been increasingly subjected to criticism from not only the Far Right political wing in Israel, but also from the liberals. Why? Because, apparently, he is demanding more concessions from the Israelis than from the Arabs. I guess the Israelis figure this guy is jewish, he has to be with us. I have to commend Mr. Emanuel for doing whats right and not what the Israelis think he should do. And him being jewish actually gives him more freedom to do so. Otherwise, he would be called an anti-semite (which, in fact, some hardliners are doing)

Now, this whole Middle East thing is, as we know, a scalding hot topic. Me, personally, feel the Palestinians deserve their own state. And there will never be peace unless this happens. In my humble opinion.

We shall see.

Ok - thats why he gets up at 5AM. Sigh of relief. Means I can relax a bit and won´t start getting up until 5.30AM, seeing as I don´t have to save the world.

The man in action reviewing the first 100 days with Katie Couric (it is only me, but she felt a bit out of her league......kinda like Little Red Riding Hood confronting the big bad-charming-only-when-absolutely-required wolf)

calm voices when talking about "This is about America’s future"

2009-08-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Obama wrote an Op-Ed for the New York Times today. A carefully worded pragmatic piece in his own singular form of passion. My ears are buzzing, and my brain nigh on meltdown with all the elephant-size have-you-completely-lost-your-marbles-type soundbites being megaphoned out by the paid cronies of pharma and insurance brain snatchers people, funneled through to the restless herd, ready to stampede. Its such a -sigh - relief to read comments to President Obama's op-ed that chime with calm, quiet reason. Intelligence. Hope. Hope that this is really going to be reform. As opposed to refill thrice-used-grinds type coffee. May look like coffee, possibly have a slight smell of coffee, but as soon as you implement it ie drink it, its just hot water. You can´t please all of the people all of the time. Not possible.

So lets go with a bill that sincerely reflects "yes we can" ie a public option.

I like my coffee strong.

Here a selection of some of the strong thinkers. There were over 1200 comments made:

"You promised us that there would be universal coverage. The only way that is possible is to have, at minimum, an affordable widespread public option in competition with private insurers. Do not let Baucus and the others cave on this important component of reform.

During the entire campaign you were able to go before the American people and state your case. And you won!

Please, Mr. President, we're counting on you to go out there again and make sure that the voice of reason is heard over all the shouting down of good sense and the very basic facts.

America is hurting, and we need you to take the lead to make real change. FDR did it. Lydon Johnson did it. We're counting on you. "

"Thank you, Mr. President. We, the quiet majority, stand behind you as you take on these megalithic insurance companies -- please don't forget that basic truth over the next few weeks or months in the bubble of Washington DC. Also, please don't allow Senator Baucus to skewer the public option -- it's an essential part of the legislation."

"........The reasons that the health care bill, with the public option, may be defeated are not related to anything that is actually in the bill. those reasons are the unscrupulous, deplorable, immoral greed of the health care industry; the greed and moronic ideology of the members of Congress that take Big Health's money; and the unbelievable ignorance and malleability of an American public that could not reason its way out of a paper bag, let alone make careful decisions about a complicated issue. Re the latter, our educational system is at fault; and not only do other nations have better health care than we do, but those nations also have a more intelligent, educated populace. We will pay for our deficiencies in a 21st Century world."

"As a US citizen, a medical doctor currently living in Germany, a country where health care is universally available for its residents at affordable rates, I might have some perspectives on this debate you haven't yet run across.

What I find most astounding about our US health care system is not only how many people don’t have coverage (some 46 million, and going up). But rather, how fragile and precarious health care coverage is for so many people who think they are well insured.

How does our US health care system compare? Let's go through some important points in the universal health care system in Germany, which I'm very familiar with:

Here in Germany you are mandated to have standard comprehensive health insurance:
your employer pays half the monthly family premium, you pay the other half,
•you don't get rejected because of any previous condition,
•you don't pay more or less working for a large or small business,
•you don’t pay more or less if you are male or female, black or white, German or foreign born, gay or straight,
•the rates don't go up if someone in the small (or large) business gets sick,
•health insurance is not a consideration when changing jobs or careers because you take the policy with you,
•you don’t lose your policy if you get sick, if you become unemployed, or even if your employer goes out of business,
•you won’t be billed for “out of network” services in hospitals or elsewhere - these services are part of your coverage, no matter which hospital or team of doctors treats you,
•you don’t have annual, lifetime, disease-related, or disease-recurrence caps,
•you won’t be billed at 20%, 30% or more for expensive medications (“price-tiered” pharmaceuticals), because there is no "tiering", legally approved pharmaceuticals are fully covered when you need them, even if they're very expensive,
•nor will you ever go bankrupt due to unpaid and unaffordable medical bills piling up, - that simply doesn't happen – you enjoy completely comprehensive coverage.
•Also, forget expensive copays ($40/year max. for doctor visits @$10 per quarter, a few dollars per prescription, a minimal meals expense during a hospital stay.
•Forget too the denials, the constant slog of endless 0800 calls (yours and your doctor’s) to your insurance company for requests for coverage or adjustments, wasting huge amounts of people's time, energy, and productive capacity every business day - this doesn't happen in Germany, because this is a comprehensive coverage system (which is an important reason why it's so efficient).

I might add that Germany is a democratic country with a freely elected government; its residents are free people – this is not "Russia". In fact, this is the country with long stretches of Autobahn without speed limits, right? (Here, it’s your responsibility to drive safely, and most do.) People here freely change jobs, careers, and locations without any regard for health insurance, and they are free of the fear of going bankrupt or losing their homes or life’s savings if they were to get seriously ill, because their comprehensive insurance protects them from that!

Germany and its residents are not going broke paying for this, either. On the contrary, this fair, efficiently run health care system costs roughly a third less per person that the US system - that's right, about 1/3 less per capita – despite (or because?) everyone being on board and receiving comprehensive health care.

That figure doesn’t come from rationing, long waits to see a doctor, or long waiting lists to get an operation, either - that doesn’t happen here. What that figure does reflect, however, is just how much waste, duplication, and gouging of consumers must be taking place in the US health care system every day.

My point in describing the German health care system is not to encourage you all to move to Germany, but to prove to you, that for one-third less money than you currently already spend, you should be getting comprehensive, universal health care, like every resident of Germany does (yes, including all immigrants!). But you're not.

May I humbly suggest: advocate, and work with your friends and neighbors for health care reform now, absolutely including a strong public plan, which is the lynchpin for any meaningful reform.

Don't let the lobbyists, their surrogates on TV, or their gun-toting mobs and pre-organized advocates at town hall meetings, scare you, confuse you, or drown out your voices yet again.

It is time to face up to this national challenge as adults, and finally join the peoples of the 17 (seventeen!) other advanced democracies (not "Russia", but, yes indeed, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia, Japan, S. Korea and even Taiwan!) around the world, who already enjoy the benefits of universal, comprehensive, and affordable health care.

We absolutely can grab this bull by the horns, and get this job done this year!!!"

Back to school soon........

2009-08-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

Science is always making wonderful improvement on things......I wonder when it will start taking effect. I assume they are working on a vaccine that stops the obliteration of the common sense gene.......no?

In other words, we´ve got way more to worry about than Swine flu. Its more like the invasion of the brain snatchers. They may be in the minority, but they sure as hell are making a lot of noise.

I have a whacky suggestion to make: how about we educate to prevent a lot of the health care problems we face? You know, like, eating less? Reading more? Watching less garbage TV? Or, at the very least, removing all the batteries from the remote controls. I know, totally revolutionary ideas.

Don´t thank me.

this cartoon - courtesy of Steve Benson - and seen on Slate.

Using stupid people to scare other stupid people

2009-08-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

"The hole they stitched up in Glenn Beck´s ass hasn´t healed enough for him to stop talking out of it"

Glenn Beck is the classic fat kid who was bullied during recess. And now he is on the permanent revenge tour. Did he ever see "Woodcock"?

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Glenn Beck's Operation

Spinal Tap Performance

See, I told you to have a live feed to Jon Stewart

2009-08-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ok - the week's crazy in 6 min 35 seconds:

- we got armed civilians at the Presidential Town Hall on offer
- we got "Obama winks"
- hey, even kids were allowed to ask questions (what is this country coming to??)
- our most gifted orator kinda talks himself into a corner
- Fox news will only cut live to meeting if there is yelling
- and all the people who lost their shit at their town halls got to show their mugs on Fox news as experts on health care
- and yes, the world is flat 'cause some of the fringe is seriously going full speed toward the edge. And wants to take down the rest of us with them.

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c