Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Gays Need To Consider Realties Of Governing A Nation That's Deeply Divided

I want what I want when I want it... modern politics.

The gay centric blogosphere is in a tizzy over statements attributed to a White House source calling them members of a loosely defined “Internet left fringe”. The statements were apparently made in the context of a White House that believes that 90% of Democrats support the President in his attempts to deal with major changes on healthcare reform, the financial meltdown, the economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thus with all that's on the President’s plate at this moment his administration apparently does not want to risk its limited supply of political capital on fights to also immediately take on anti-gay laws like DADT and DOMA.

I agree with the White House on this.

There seems to be a I want what I want when I want it attitude with the gay blogosphere that denies the real realities of governing this country at this time in our history. This is not to belittle the righteous of the gay communities cause or their valid concerns, but simply put, this President is under siege to reform many things that impact the majority of people rather than one loud and powerful and increasingly impatient interest group. It is commendable that the gay blogosphere and community has keep the Presidents feet to the fire, but it is counterproductive to attack the President as a fraud in a rather knee jerk fashion just because he has not made popular gay concerns the number one priority of his Presidency.

The other reality is that although public opinion on gay issues has improved favorably in the direction of gays, there still remains widespread ignorance in the nation and with the Republicans that could most certainly become a large distraction towards the ultimate success of other issues like healthcare reform, the economy and war and peace. In this atmosphere and in the world of politics the old axiom still exists in that one should know when to pick one’s battles.

I have little doubt that issues like DOMA and DADT and other gay concerns will in the end be dealt with under this President. It is a question of when, not if that happens. After only 10 months in office the President should be given credit for the things he has done already and not immediately condemned for some of the things that he has not done but, will most certainly get done if given time.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Rio Has Olympics And Government Run Healthcare

Barack Obama shouldn’t be blamed for not being able to bring the 2016 Olympic games to Chicago. I think that the blame, if there is blame to be considered, should be shared by most of us as a nation.

Yes, it’s probably true that the vote for Rio was a forgone conclusion based on the fact that the Olympic games have never been held on the South American continent and that Madrid had the head of the Olympic Committee, a Spaniard, supporting that city which pulled votes away from Chicago in the all important first round of voting.

But, what I believe the vote today really shows is more empirical evidence that this country has lost it audacity. It’s ability to pull off greatness and it’s ability to manifest our dreams. It’s officially become a trend.

Reports indicate that European delegates heavily influence the Olympic Committee. It doesn’t take a wizard to realize that at this particular time in history the United States is not held in the same regard as it once was in the eyes of the Europeans or the rest of the world, in spite of the election of Barack Obama. After eight or more years of Republican cowboy foreign policy blunders under George W Bush and others before him it’s no wonder they’d be more inclined to support other than an American city for the games.

Need I remind you that for the last eight years Bush more of less thumbed his nose at the Europeans and started a war in Iraq that many Europeans saw as evidence of government sanctioned criminal behavior, that as of yet has gone unpunished. That alone would turn the entire world against you so I won’t mention the complete collapse of the economy system or the American responsibility for wide spread torture as reasons why the rest of the world would be somewhat skeptical about what America stands for as a country at this particular moment. No one likes a bully or a know it all so why reward one with an Olympic games.

America has been given a timeout by the Olympic committee.

America has lots of explaining to do. Granted we have a great communicator in the new President who means well, but when the rest of the world looks at the facts they still see the moronic conservative political party and movement in this country that is still powerful enough to obstruct progress on just about every issue that faces us. Even stopping progress on the no-brainer like providing health care coverage for your citizens as part of a overall social safety net. Or a nation that could literally blow up the world by bumbling itself into electing a neo conservative leader who’s policy would be based more on crackpot religious dogma then reason or fact. They see a violent country happy to allow guns everywhere even if it makes no sense.

We are a country with a failing educational system, and a country that predominates in an every man or woman for himself philosophy of life devoid of empathy, which often leaves the weak to fiend for themselves, in spite of all our Judeo-Christian or other organized religious proselytizing. The problem actually spans both major political parties.

The Democratic Party version is acted out in the form of an ineffective, corrupt and badly compromised entity expected to manifest change, but that is unable to do so even though they control most of the power.

This vision of America certainly must trouble the citizens of other nations as much as it troubles many progressive Americans. We have lost our way. It’s not just the cowboy Republicanism and crazy talk but a sense that America’s time maybe passing. We are a country involved in two wars and a country that not too long ago came dangerously close to total financial collapse. On a personal level most members of the middle class find themselves heavily leverage financially and emotionally. We have become a nation that is often ruled by fear rather then hope on both a political and personal level.

The answer seems to be no we can’t, rather then the stereotypical American idea of a people willing to take bold risks that eventually would return a large return. We are forgetting how to dream or make the dream a reality. We are not open-minded about new ideas or cultures. We have become more protectionist and xenophobic towards the world as a whole. We seem to have spiraled into our own selfishness.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Alan Grayson For Majority Leader

What a pleasant thought. A majority leader in the House of Representatives who's knows how to fight with bare-knuckles. This is something the Republicans understand and have used effectively for years.

Everyone is flipping out over Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida and his floor speech about the Republican health care plan. To summurize: "Don't get sick" and if you do "die quickly". Most of the backlash, of course, is of the fake outrage kind which the right has down pat. But, sad to say, some members of Democratic party are acting squeamish about the tough talk too.

Get a fucking life Reid and Pelosi! Grayson is exactly what the Democrats need. Someone with guts and conviction who can articulate his point clearly and identify the Republican "lie factory" for what it is, pure corporate loving bullshit. Like so many Americans, I've had enough of the mamby-pamby mealy-mouthed BS coming from the Democratic leaders. We sent you to Congress to do a job.

I say lead or get out of the way.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Republican Heathcare Plan Finally Revealed

Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida did some research and discovered what the Republican Party's real plan is for health care reform. This is the type of tactic that Republicans have been using effectively to kill reform. Representative Grayson should be congratulated for turning the tables with this somewhat hilarious yet poignant presentation.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

5 Democrats Sellout On First Vote On Public Option Before Senate Finance Committee

Here are the Democratic sellout artists. The vote on the first amendment for a public option failed 15 to 8.

Baucus (MT)
Nelson (FL)
Lincoln (AR)
Carper (DE)
Conrad (ND)

Update: Senator Nelson of Florida and Carper of Deleware voted for the second version of the public option called the "level playing field option". It also failed by a vote of 13 to 10. Senator Cantwell of WA voted for both amendments for a public option.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Progressive Ad Takes On Max Baucus

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has a new ad that attacks Montana Senator Baucus healthcare reform sandbagging and his ties to the insurance industry. Call Senator Baucus's office and tell them you want the Senator to support the public option and stop sandbagging the Senate Finance Committee's healthcare bill.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Final Push This Weekend For Public Option Now Before Senate Finance Committee

Daily Kos has an excellent assessment of the life or death of the public option being considered by the the members of the Senate Finance Committee. A vote on the amendment that would include a public option in the committee's bill is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday. The Daily Kos post gives a rundown on the key pro and con Senators and who's votes will be needed for the public option to survive. Also provided are links to email or to call key blue dog Democrats who have been against or noncommittal on the public option. The final battle for the public option is more likely to occur in the Senate when a bill reaches the floor then in the house.

In recent days polls have been indicating that most Americans support the idea of a public option, even in the districts of many of the Blue Dogs who are not now supporting it. So the next three days are critical. NOW IS THE TIME TO EMAIL AND CALL THESE SENATORS.

If an amendment is approved by the Senate Finance Committee it would mean that all the health reform bills being considered by the Congress, both House and Senate, would include a form of a public option. Making the likelihood of it being part of any final health reform bill excellent.

Friday, September 25, 2009

How Will I-1033 Affect Washington's Economy?

Ask people in Colorado where a similar law had to be eventually repealed.



via" NO on I-1033

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Number Of Americans Who Believe In Higher Power But Have No Religious Affiliation Grows

It's not surprising to me that surveys show that the number of Americans who believe in a higher power but are rejecting organized religions has grown. I personally am amongst that group. I've had it with organized religion long ago. I don't think I need to go into a litany of reasons. All I would offer is look around and you'll find that most of the conflict in the world in this day and age is rooted in fanatic or near fanatic organized religious dogma. I'm not just referring to Muslim extremists in some far away cave, but also to the American Christian Right, who also reject reason and fact, and helped indirectly to promote war in places like Iraq.

Hopefully I'm not throwing the baby out with the bath water. I also would add a caveat to the observation in that many organized religions provide hope and help to many who are in need. Both in a spiritual and corporal way. But quite often in my opinion organized religions involve themselves in areas of life in which they have no business, i.e. politics. They are so involved in converting people to their dogmatic causes and congregations that they fall into the thinking and trickery of thinking that their truth should be sold as the one and only truth or the only path to salvation.

The belief in Deism , which this new spiritual thinking is associated with is not new, but the interesting aspect is that it was thought to have been something that had enjoyed its peak in popularity long ago. In fact it was popular belief system with Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers of this county. Apparently this new group of people, known as "nones", is growing. It's currently estimated to represent about 15% of the US population. If true it represents a group that is larger then most of the major denominations of the well known American organized religions.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Majority of Americans Support Public Option And The Myth Of Need For 60 Votes In Senate

Democracy for America's and Governor Howard Dean provide several surveys that show Americans support the public option. They also explain that 60 votes may not be necessary to pass reform. How does your Representatives and Senators stand on the pubic option? Click here to find out.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

FOX News Turns Jim McDermott Into Republican

Fox News turns ultra liberal Congressman Jim McDermott (WA-7) into Republican when they think it will serve their purpose of misrepresenting who gets credit for unemployment insurance extension bill now being considered by congress.


via: crooks and liars

Monday, September 21, 2009

"You can't complain about healthcare reform if you're not willing to reform your own health"

Bill Maher can be rather snobby, rude and condescending sometimes, but more often then not he hits the nail right on the head with his non PC reflections on the issues. Maher is a master of saying things that need to be said in a rather uninhibited strait forward matter of fact way.

His new rule on healthcare reform "You can't complain about healthcare reform if you're not willing to reform your own health", is one of those times he points out the elephant in the room that none of our political leaders seems to be talking about when it comes to American health issues and healthcare reform. I think I hear more about this from talking heads on the right then on the left. Except maybe the ditto heads use it for an excuse for not reforming healthcare more then as what it really should be, a value added aspect of overall reform of the healthcare system and our eating habits.

Whether it's all the fat teabaggers mostly from down south who have the highest rates of obesity going because of overly fat diets and eating habits, smoking or the general lack of exercise in America generally, we are not a very healthy country period. I recently started smoking again even though I knew full well that not smoking is the number one way to prevent a number of major causes for eventual death. So forgive me for the pot calling the kettle black here. But, of course, I'm about to quit.

I work as a volunteer at the VA and one of the things you notice if you pay attention is the VA is very concerned about obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, and diet. As one of the major health delivery systems in the country they realize by encouraging patients to live a healthier lifestyle they also keep the enormous cost of any eventual treatment down. Which makes them one of the most efficient delivery systems in the country.

Maher criticizes Obama for picking a "fat" surgeon general. Or for not getting out front on issues like taxing soft drinks. It would make sense to me if you tax booze and cigarettes then you should tax the shit out of all the other things that lead to obesity and health problems. Maybe the money raised could help pay the way for healthcare reform. Seems logical. But have you seen the laughable ads already being broadcast and paid for by the soda pop industry? How about getting rid of corn syrup for starters? Here's a transcript:

"Now, President Obama has identified most of the problems with the healthcare system, but there's one tiny issue he refuses to tackle. And that's our actual health. And since Americans can only be prodded into doing something with money, we need to tax crappy foods that make us sick -- like we do with cigarettes, and like we do with alcohol. And alcohol actually serves a useful function in society, in that it enables unattractive people to get laid, which is certainly more than I can say for Skittles.

Now, I'm not saying we tax all soda, but certainly any single serving of soda larger than a baby. If you don't know whether you burp it or it burps you, that's too big.

We need to make taking care of ourselves an issue of patriotism. And if you are someone who condemned Bush for not asking Americans to sacrifice for the war on terror, sorry, but the same must be said for Obama and healthcare.

The president has already made it clear, there'll be no "sin tax" on food on his watch. And at a time when it's important to set new standards for personal responsibility, he appointed a surgeon general who is fat". I'm sorry real fat. Certainly too heavy to be a surgeon general. You know, it's a role model thing. It would be like appointing a Secretary of the Treasury who didn't pay his taxes. Oh, he did? He did. My bad.

And get this: our new surgeon general, Regina Benjamin, had previously been a nutritional advisor to Burger King. Which sells something called an "Angry Whopper Triple" that has 1,300 calories and 91 grams of fat. The only advice a health expert should give Burger King is to stop selling food.

The nutritional adviser job was described as, get this, "promoting balanced diets and active lifestyle choices." And who better to do that than the folks who hand you meat and corn syrup through a car window?

You know, when you have a surgeon general who comes from Burger King, it's a message to lobbyists. And that message is: "Have it your way."

Friday, September 18, 2009

Evangelical Sub Culture And Racism Drive Wacko Right-Wing Protest?



I like Frank Schaeffer especially because he is highly disliked by right-wing nut-balls and teabaggers. Their hatred stems from his continuing exposure of what maybe really underlying the nut-job arguments and what is driving the increase in dingbatism within the Republican Party.

So the protesters really aren't interested in protesting an alleged bad policy. Their anger and philosophy is based in evangelical Christian end times, crank religious dogma, anti secular, pro life extremist movement beliefs mixed with lots of old school institutionalized racism. More often than not this philosophy rejects fact, science and reason and even, I would argue, the teachings of Jesus himself.

The Party Of No's Favorite Movie Trailer

Don't act, think, of do anything every. Because!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Mary Travers Remembered

The stunningly beautiful Mary Travers of sixties folk revival hit group Peter Paul & Mary died Wednesday. The acoustic nature, harmonies and music may seem a bit corny to the uneducated but this group had a wide influence on the folk music renaissance and the success of contemporaries like Bob Dylan and many others. The idealism of the music and it's themes of social justice were at the heart of the coming social revolution.

5th CD Republican Kathy McMorris Promotes New Wingnut Claim "Disabled Kids Death Panels"

I grew up in Washington and it embarrasses me every time I think that no nothing a-holes like Cathy McMorris-Rogers and Doc Hastings are actually representing this state in Congress. My kids call me from back East and complain because they thought Washington was a blue state.

McMorris-Rogers jumps on Republican health reform bullshit spreader with this wack job like doozy. "Republicans warn of rationing for disabled children". Here's a taste.....
"McMorris-Rodgers could not point to any specific language in the legislation currently before Congress that would deny health care to disabled children, but she said she and the families were worried that a government-run health insurance plan would give power to a government bureaucrat who would be able to decide whether or not "certain procedures or certain devices" would be covered for individuals. The independent fact-checker PolitiFact wrote last month that there "is no panel in any version of the health care bills in Congress that judges a person's 'level of productivity in society' to determine whether they are 'worthy' of health care."
Rachel Maddow had a segment about this story on her show on MSNBC tonight where McMorris is making an ass out of herself while standing on the steps of the nation's capitol doing a her version of a Michele Bachmann imitation attempting to spread this lie. Fact: Government run SCHIP and Medicaid programs provide health coverage for all children now. So I guess McMorris is against that since some bureaucrat is getting between the kids coverage and their doctor's right to send them before these new socialistic nazi kids death panels.

We Should Shapoopi The Health Care Debate Narrative

I think that Vern Fonk should be hired to do the ads for health care reform. The nearly always hilarious Fonk ads may appeal to the simple minded on the right by keeping it funny and yes, simple. Just close your eyes and imagine what Fonk could come up with to sell the public option or employer mandate.

My Letter To Senator Max Baucas

Dear Senator,

When your old and gray and no longer a Senator, I hope, and your sitting on your porch enjoying the sunset I hope this thought comes to you.

By your complete capitulation to the corporate powers in the health insurance industry you will literally be responsible for the deaths of many ordinary folks long before their time. Furthermore you will have literally taken bread out of the mouths of the children of working people all over this country. In addition, your actions will have helped destroy the trust that Americans should have in the process and justice of government.

Your a gutless tool of corporate America. All their money and favors are not going to change that, because you have decided that your ego and apparently your lust for power, money and your beloved Senate seat are more important to you than the general welfare of this nation or it's people. Your a disgusting phony who I will work to defeat in any election where your name is on the ballot even if I have to drive 1000 miles to do it.

In the end you will have to live with this personal failure on your conscience knowing that you have sold out the vary people who put you in power in the first place, including the weak, the powerless, and those without a voice who long for someone who will bring justice to them. As the President said, this is a moral issue, not some backroom corporate sham or deal like you apparently have made it.

After all these months of fighting for health reform, and after all your stalling only to benefit the powerful, you have deliver a bill that will actually do nothing to protect working people or make the insurance industry honest. In fact it will make them even more powerful and greedy. There's a Woody Guthrie song where the lyric goes. “some people rob your with a gun some people rob you with their pen”. You, of course are in the category of hold-up men who are doing the latter.

It's funny how these right wing and corporate types are always yelling for competition except when they are the ones who are expected to compete. Your bill does nothing really to control the cost of health insurance and its burden on American families. Instead it will make your allies in the insurance industry, who have apparently bought and sold you, even more embolden to rob, and yes, kill people. Don't try to put lipstick on this pig either, because you will fool no one really except the ignorant.

But you know what going on Max don’t you? Maybe not...

I will be sure to tell my children that if your bill or anything similar to it passes as health insurance reform that the blame for the sham and complete sellout should be directed at Montana Senator Max Baucus. Furthermore, I hope your branded with a reputation for failure and selling out working people for the rest of your life. If you came to my home I’d throw you out into the street with the rest of the rife-raft and con-men. You’ve disgrace your state, a state I’ll have you know where my grandmother was born and once had a history of caring about protecting the welfare of working class people. How times have changed.

In the final analysis it's not about you or your power or Montana or even your Senate seat after all Senator. It's about having the courage and backbone to do what's right when the political going gets tough. People like you are seldom remembered in history because really you stand for nothing except your own self-aggrandizement.

So thanks for nothing! Hope the millions in corporate contributions make you happy.

Daniel O'Brien
Vashon, WA

p.s. I urge you to also contact Senator Baucas by clicking here.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New Website: Bombard Baucus!

A simple way to access information for contacting health care reform obstructing Blue Dog Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee including Fax Max Baucus, Ben Nelson, and Ken Conrad.  Call their office today and tell them to stop blocking health reform and the public option. Tell you friends.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Robert Reich's Straight Forward Short Video Explaining The Public Option

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich's gives us a concise video where he explains the public option and a need for your involvement in the fight for reform NOW.  That would be right NOW.