Even though the pristine waters off the Gulf Coast are becoming black sludge, John is fighting for offshore drilling off our coastline.
Oil is thicker than water, but Blood is thicker than both.
His brother is an oil lobbyist.
His overly-influential daughter represents the Consumers Alliance for Affordable Natural Gas and the Citizens Alliance for Energy Security in support of increased access to offshore oil & natural gas.
His son works for a questionable trade association that lobbies energy regulatory issues.
But what’s thicker than Blood? Money.
John Mica has accepted over $60,000.00 in Oil Money
Not that they needed to pay soo much. Mica in 2005: "I voted to drill in the Everglades in the 1970s…and I'd do it again."
Heather Beaven is up against Mica. She has a formidable battle because of gerrymandering (something else we can fix this upcoming election), but she can win with you help.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
GOP Allows Terrorists to Buy Explosives and AK-47s
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his police commissioner went to Washington personally to plead for a bill that keeps people on the FBI terrorist watch list from buying guns and explosives. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, said that goes “too far”. Republican Senator Susan Collins also disagreed with the bill.
If there are people on the watch list in error, there is an appeal process. No law-abiding citizen would be denied their right to bear arms. But a future terror attack may be prevented.
In the meantime 1,119 on the watch list have purchased weapons, and one of them bought 50 pounds of military grade explosives. I only hope that guy doesn’t have a grudge against Orlando.
If there are people on the watch list in error, there is an appeal process. No law-abiding citizen would be denied their right to bear arms. But a future terror attack may be prevented.
In the meantime 1,119 on the watch list have purchased weapons, and one of them bought 50 pounds of military grade explosives. I only hope that guy doesn’t have a grudge against Orlando.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Arizona Anti-Mexican Law Written By White Supremacist!
The person who sponsored the law, Republican Russell Pierce, is a white supremacist—he sent out an email to his supporters attacking equality in races, and denying the holocaust and degrading Mexican - Americans.
He is also a supporter of neo-nazis!
The person who wrote the law is Kris Kobach, part of a white supremacist group known as FAIR.
Article 8 in the Anti-Mexican law is a statement that courts will grant FAIR a cut of the money won in cases for this new law.
Don't tell me this isn't about race...and don't try to bring this crap to Florida!
He is also a supporter of neo-nazis!
The person who wrote the law is Kris Kobach, part of a white supremacist group known as FAIR.
Article 8 in the Anti-Mexican law is a statement that courts will grant FAIR a cut of the money won in cases for this new law.
Don't tell me this isn't about race...and don't try to bring this crap to Florida!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Excellent Question! Where ARE the teabagger protests for Wall Street Reform?
Excellent Question that was asked today.
Soo where are the signs of GOP leader Mitch McConnell with a Hitler mustache trying to thwart an END to taxpayer bailouts??
Where are the signs demanding the GOP fights to end the OUTRAGEOUS multi-million dollar bonuses to incompetent and corrupt executives using TAXPAYER monies???
Nowhere. Because the teabaggers are nothing but usable shills who have no corporate backing, and no free bus rides to help fight save the profits of a big industry. They will fall by the wayside and sit on their hands while BIG GOVERNMENT continues to give taxpayer subsidies to these failures. If there is any example of socialism in this country, it's Wall Street!
If they succeed, they keep their monies. If they fail, WE bail them out snd subsidize their lifestyle that they have grown acccustomed to. That, my friends, is the worst kind of socialism. (Whereas if we fail, it's capitalism so don't ask for a handout buddy!!)
Where are all you costumed freaks with your misspelled agitated signs??
thought so...
Soo where are the signs of GOP leader Mitch McConnell with a Hitler mustache trying to thwart an END to taxpayer bailouts??
Where are the signs demanding the GOP fights to end the OUTRAGEOUS multi-million dollar bonuses to incompetent and corrupt executives using TAXPAYER monies???
Nowhere. Because the teabaggers are nothing but usable shills who have no corporate backing, and no free bus rides to help fight save the profits of a big industry. They will fall by the wayside and sit on their hands while BIG GOVERNMENT continues to give taxpayer subsidies to these failures. If there is any example of socialism in this country, it's Wall Street!
If they succeed, they keep their monies. If they fail, WE bail them out snd subsidize their lifestyle that they have grown acccustomed to. That, my friends, is the worst kind of socialism. (Whereas if we fail, it's capitalism so don't ask for a handout buddy!!)
Where are all you costumed freaks with your misspelled agitated signs??
thought so...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
GREAT NEWS for Crist, Meek! Cheney Endorsed Rubio!
According to CNN, Cheney has endorsed Marco Rubio over Charlie Crist:
Why is this great news?
Because Cheney is a loser: so far his choices have failed miserably.
Cheney endorsed Kay Baily Hutchinson against Rick Perry last November. FAIL. (Perry beat her by 21 points).
Cheney came out strongly for McCain and stumped for him the November before. EPIC FAIL.
Cheney endorsed blocking the healthcare reform bill. YET ANOTHER FAIL.
Cheney endorsed Secretary of State Trey Grayson over eye surgeon Rand Paul for the upcoming Kentucky Senate primary. Paul is currently CRUSHING him 42-27 percent! UPCOMING EPIC FAIL!
"Washington is broken and Congress is already overflowing with politicians who need pollsters to tell them what to think," Cheney said of Crist. "It certainly doesn't need another one. Now more than ever America needs leaders with the strength of conviction."
Why is this great news?
Because Cheney is a loser: so far his choices have failed miserably.
Cheney endorsed Kay Baily Hutchinson against Rick Perry last November. FAIL. (Perry beat her by 21 points).
Cheney came out strongly for McCain and stumped for him the November before. EPIC FAIL.
Cheney endorsed blocking the healthcare reform bill. YET ANOTHER FAIL.
Cheney endorsed Secretary of State Trey Grayson over eye surgeon Rand Paul for the upcoming Kentucky Senate primary. Paul is currently CRUSHING him 42-27 percent! UPCOMING EPIC FAIL!
Now the Undislosed Location, Fear-mongering, Waterboarder in Chief has endorsed wingnut idiot Marco Rubio (who by the way, is under IRS and FBI investigation for criminal wrong doing) for Florida Senate!
FINALLY, some good news for Crist and better news for liberal candidate Meek!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sink Gaining On McCollum
McCollum's lawsuit to stop healthcare in Florida has not worked out so well.
Alex Sink is essentially tied with him, despite her god-awful, unfocused and meek campaign. McCollum hit dozens of press conferences after healthcare reform passed proudly saying he would sue to stop it. Interesting thing...he never spent one second addressing exactly what HE would do to help the 4 million uninsured in Florida if he should be successful.
He made some ignorant comment about how he would "like" to help them, and then moved on.
Alex should be smacking him around like a ragdoll and remind him of being the perpetual loser he is....but I guess she is counting on him acting like a Democrat: take a sure thing and implode.
Alex Sink is essentially tied with him, despite her god-awful, unfocused and meek campaign. McCollum hit dozens of press conferences after healthcare reform passed proudly saying he would sue to stop it. Interesting thing...he never spent one second addressing exactly what HE would do to help the 4 million uninsured in Florida if he should be successful.
He made some ignorant comment about how he would "like" to help them, and then moved on.
Alex should be smacking him around like a ragdoll and remind him of being the perpetual loser he is....but I guess she is counting on him acting like a Democrat: take a sure thing and implode.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Fill out your Census Forms..No You Won't Be in Concentration Camps
Four years ago, the GOP was screaming that the government SHOULD be able to look into your medical records AND listen to your phonecalls. Local moron Bud Hedinger got into a shouting match with a caller on his show asking what he was so upset about. So what if they listened? He argued that because the caller wanted a private conversation with his "Aunt Tilly", he was putting us all at risk for terrorism.
That's right. If you disagreed with the trampling of Constitutional Rights, you were a terrorist-loving America hater.
Fast forward today.
NOW, a legitimate census form that is MANDATED by the Constitution has the fringe is screaming could lead to concentration camps (Yes, Teabag Congresswoman Bachman did make that claim), deportation, even gay marriage somehow.
MAN. What a difference a few years and a new president makes.
That's right. If you disagreed with the trampling of Constitutional Rights, you were a terrorist-loving America hater.
Fast forward today.
NOW, a legitimate census form that is MANDATED by the Constitution has the fringe is screaming could lead to concentration camps (Yes, Teabag Congresswoman Bachman did make that claim), deportation, even gay marriage somehow.
MAN. What a difference a few years and a new president makes.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
No Blacks! No Jews! No Homos! No Dems!
NO BLACKS!
Grayson nailed it. Dr. Jack Caswell couldn't legally put up a sign that said "NO BLACKS", so he did the next best thing...put up a sign that says NO OBAMA VOTERS, knowing that 98% of blacks voted for Obama.
It was a way of discriminating by race WO saying it.
Now every black patient has to be wondering if they got the best care or if their complications were as a result of being "punished" by this quack.
NO JEWS!
The argument that it is okay because he would treat them anyway or doesn't quiz them is ridiculous. You could put up a sign that says NO JEWS and promise the same thing, but the intimidation factor is there. And placed there by THE DOCTOR, no less. It is discriminating against patients based on beliefs---and no different morally than discriminating against those who hold different religious beliefs or different political beliefs.
NO HOMOS!
Finally, the argument that it isn't illegal. Well, it is not illegal to discriminate against homosexuals in Florida either. Sexual orientation is not protected. However, that doesn't mean a medical doctor who supposedly took the Hypocratic Oath should turn away a homosexual who needs care. Yet I promise you that if he did, the right-wing would defend him just as much as they are defending him now.
Bottom line: A doctor is supposed to have the highest ethical standards. Caswell is neither ethical nor professional...anyone who would bring political ideology into his or her medical office, where people are vulnerable patients, is wrong. Discriminating and intimidating people who disagree with your nutty ideology, however, is downright EVIL. It would be just as evil as if a Dem doctor refused Cheney supporters---but you never heard of that happening.
That is because this new breed of GOPers holds nothing sacred.
Breaking hundreds of years of decorum and heckling the president openly in Congress is acceptable.
Encouraging violence, even threatening Representative's lives because of how they voted, is acceptable.
Threatening Census Worker's lives is acceptable.
Attacking public defenders who are assigned to defend terror suspects is acceptable.
Discriminating against Democrats in medical offices is acceptable.
Because OBAMA is in office, and rules of civilization can be put by the wayside because this black guy has the gall to be our president...and is actually getting things done even though the GOP has devoted the past year to ensuring NOTHING gets done.
That's why they are crazy, and the worst is yet to come...
Grayson nailed it. Dr. Jack Caswell couldn't legally put up a sign that said "NO BLACKS", so he did the next best thing...put up a sign that says NO OBAMA VOTERS, knowing that 98% of blacks voted for Obama.
It was a way of discriminating by race WO saying it.
Now every black patient has to be wondering if they got the best care or if their complications were as a result of being "punished" by this quack.
NO JEWS!
The argument that it is okay because he would treat them anyway or doesn't quiz them is ridiculous. You could put up a sign that says NO JEWS and promise the same thing, but the intimidation factor is there. And placed there by THE DOCTOR, no less. It is discriminating against patients based on beliefs---and no different morally than discriminating against those who hold different religious beliefs or different political beliefs.
NO HOMOS!
Finally, the argument that it isn't illegal. Well, it is not illegal to discriminate against homosexuals in Florida either. Sexual orientation is not protected. However, that doesn't mean a medical doctor who supposedly took the Hypocratic Oath should turn away a homosexual who needs care. Yet I promise you that if he did, the right-wing would defend him just as much as they are defending him now.
Bottom line: A doctor is supposed to have the highest ethical standards. Caswell is neither ethical nor professional...anyone who would bring political ideology into his or her medical office, where people are vulnerable patients, is wrong. Discriminating and intimidating people who disagree with your nutty ideology, however, is downright EVIL. It would be just as evil as if a Dem doctor refused Cheney supporters---but you never heard of that happening.
That is because this new breed of GOPers holds nothing sacred.
Breaking hundreds of years of decorum and heckling the president openly in Congress is acceptable.
Encouraging violence, even threatening Representative's lives because of how they voted, is acceptable.
Threatening Census Worker's lives is acceptable.
Attacking public defenders who are assigned to defend terror suspects is acceptable.
Discriminating against Democrats in medical offices is acceptable.
Because OBAMA is in office, and rules of civilization can be put by the wayside because this black guy has the gall to be our president...and is actually getting things done even though the GOP has devoted the past year to ensuring NOTHING gets done.
That's why they are crazy, and the worst is yet to come...
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Message to Tea Baggers
You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.
You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate
energy policy.
You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.
You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.
You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.
You didn't get mad when we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.
You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.
You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.
You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.
You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.
You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.
You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.
You didn't get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.
You didn't get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark.
You finally got mad when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans...oh hell no.
You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate
energy policy.
You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.
You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.
You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.
You didn't get mad when we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.
You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.
You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.
You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.
You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.
You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.
You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.
You didn't get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.
You didn't get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark.
You finally got mad when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans...oh hell no.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Dear President Obama
Dear President Obama,
Well done.
Sincerely Yours,
Theodore Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard M. Nixon
James E. Carter
William J. Clinton
-
cc: William H. Taft
Warren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Herbert C. Hoover
Gerald R. Ford
Ronald W. Reagan
George H.W. Bush
George W. Bush
...and Bill from Portland, Maine
Well done.
Sincerely Yours,
Theodore Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard M. Nixon
James E. Carter
William J. Clinton
-
cc: William H. Taft
Warren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Herbert C. Hoover
Gerald R. Ford
Ronald W. Reagan
George H.W. Bush
George W. Bush
...and Bill from Portland, Maine
Monday, March 22, 2010
New Bumper Stickers Now That Health Care Reform Has Passed!
Death Panels Rule!!
Now Our Plan for Socialism is Almost Complete, Comrades!!
Let's Pull the Plug on Your Grandma!!
Ok Ok, Let's Start over....NOT!!!
Now Our Plan for Socialism is Almost Complete, Comrades!!
Let's Pull the Plug on Your Grandma!!
Ok Ok, Let's Start over....NOT!!!
My Comment on Redstate and Other Conservative Blogs
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA BWWWAHHH HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Next Battle for Health Care...Supreme Court
If you are like me, you LOVE the fact that the GOP fear and smear machine that has done so much damage to Democratic initiatives in the past has FINALLY met its match in Obama. He will go right to the den of the Beast, whether it be FAUXNEWS or the GOP Retreat in Baltimore, and call them out in front of everyone.
The GOP, who put all of their cards on breaking Obama at all cost, are about to be served a heaping helping of Shutty Pie. After Reconciliation in the Senate, this Health Care Reform bill will FINALLY become law.
And it will be overturned by the Supreme Court.
Just imagine that. After saying corporations can spend whatever they want in elections, the activist right-wing bloc is going to say health care reform is unconstitutional.
BUT WAIT! You say..
Except they don't. The conservative block on the SCOTUS gets what it wants and then tries to justify it in legalease. This same block (with the switching of Renquist and Conner for the worse Alito and Roberts) ruled in Bush v. Gore such a God-awful, terrible decision that went against precedent that they added it ONLY applied to this particular ruling.
Unfortunately, they overturned 100 YEARS of precedent for the sole purpose of helping GOP candidates by allowing unlimited funding by Big Oil, Wall Street banks, the health insurance companies and any other multi-billion corporation.
But what is REALLY disturbing is how they did it. The case this was based on was a simple question of whether a right-wing group could run advertisements for an anti-Hillary documentary.
Justice Roberts decided to have an ultra-rare re-arguement and ordered lawyers from both sides to expand their scope to address not just the corporate electioneering issue at play in Citizens United but the constitutionality of all limits to corporate political speech. Clearly, he had an agenda and abused his power to get it.
Not to mention, the conservative bloc has a particular hatred of Obama that intensified after the SOU speech. Alito refused to meet with him, Roberts whined about him, and Thomas's wife has devoted herself to defeating him (with a heaping helping of corporate money for her new group thanks to hubby). These guys WOULD LOVE any excuse to "break" him.
The bottom line is that they have shown they have little regard for both precedent and their institution. If the only thing we have to count on is their honor to do the right thing... then millions of Americans are screwed.
I predict that the SCOTUS will attempt to overturn the entire bill or at least part of the bill...and progressives need to prepare for the next battle.
The GOP, who put all of their cards on breaking Obama at all cost, are about to be served a heaping helping of Shutty Pie. After Reconciliation in the Senate, this Health Care Reform bill will FINALLY become law.
And it will be overturned by the Supreme Court.
Just imagine that. After saying corporations can spend whatever they want in elections, the activist right-wing bloc is going to say health care reform is unconstitutional.
BUT WAIT! You say..
THEY CAN'T! Because if they overturn the individual mandate THEN they would have to overturn mandatory government collection for Social Security and Medicaid, and perhaps no longer allow mandatory auto insurance.
Except they don't. The conservative block on the SCOTUS gets what it wants and then tries to justify it in legalease. This same block (with the switching of Renquist and Conner for the worse Alito and Roberts) ruled in Bush v. Gore such a God-awful, terrible decision that went against precedent that they added it ONLY applied to this particular ruling.
BUT that would destroy the credibility of the institution they hold so dear! And Roberts and Alito decried judicial activism!
Unfortunately, they overturned 100 YEARS of precedent for the sole purpose of helping GOP candidates by allowing unlimited funding by Big Oil, Wall Street banks, the health insurance companies and any other multi-billion corporation.
But what is REALLY disturbing is how they did it. The case this was based on was a simple question of whether a right-wing group could run advertisements for an anti-Hillary documentary.
Justice Roberts decided to have an ultra-rare re-arguement and ordered lawyers from both sides to expand their scope to address not just the corporate electioneering issue at play in Citizens United but the constitutionality of all limits to corporate political speech. Clearly, he had an agenda and abused his power to get it.
Not to mention, the conservative bloc has a particular hatred of Obama that intensified after the SOU speech. Alito refused to meet with him, Roberts whined about him, and Thomas's wife has devoted herself to defeating him (with a heaping helping of corporate money for her new group thanks to hubby). These guys WOULD LOVE any excuse to "break" him.
The bottom line is that they have shown they have little regard for both precedent and their institution. If the only thing we have to count on is their honor to do the right thing... then millions of Americans are screwed.
I predict that the SCOTUS will attempt to overturn the entire bill or at least part of the bill...and progressives need to prepare for the next battle.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Seminole County Deserves a Better Sheriff
If you want protection from a stalker, there is little the sheriff will do for you.
Tiffany Barwick wanted sheriff's deputies to protect her from her estranged boyfriend. They told her they needed to see the guy make a threat to her in order to arrest him. That night, Tiffany Barwick was shot dead.
If Tiffany wanted attention, she should have married the sheriff.
Elise Ensingler doesn't want her ex-husband, Mark Todd, to see their children. After one call to the Sheriff's Office Nov. 19 of last year, patrols were sent through her neighborhood 10 times.
As recently as last January, Mark Todd was turned away by Deputy Dwayne Mussard for "tresspassing" in a gated community. Never mind the fact that Todd has a judge's valid court order to pick up his son and daughter for the weekend, as was explictly agreed upon by both parties after the divorce.
Elise doesn't want him seeing their children. And since she is married to the Don Ensingler, you can bet that is exactly what is going to happen.
Too bad Tiffany Barwick wasn't being stalked by an ex-husband of Elise...I have no doubt that she would be alive today.
Elise Ensingler claims that she has her husband's deputies stop Todd from seeing the children because she is trying to "protect" the children from Todd. Interesting. The Winter Park dentist has no record of violent behavior, neither Elise nor her lawyer could give any specifics, and the judge has never been petitioned for a domestic-violence injunction.
Sheriff Don Esingler says he isn't involved. So if that is truly the case, WHAT is the valid reason why a law enforcement officer would violate a court order to prevent Mark Todd from seeing his children?
No one has asked that question.
The sheriff's office is arguing that this case isn't being treated any differently than any other case. Also interesting, since Elise called the deputies DIRECTLY on their cell phones instead of using the 911 system (where calls are required to be recorded).
As a Seminole resident, I must have missed the list of deputy's cell phone numbers that were sent out.
We deserve a sheriff that will protect all citizens, not just those who agree to marry him.
Tiffany Barwick wanted sheriff's deputies to protect her from her estranged boyfriend. They told her they needed to see the guy make a threat to her in order to arrest him. That night, Tiffany Barwick was shot dead.
If Tiffany wanted attention, she should have married the sheriff.
Elise Ensingler doesn't want her ex-husband, Mark Todd, to see their children. After one call to the Sheriff's Office Nov. 19 of last year, patrols were sent through her neighborhood 10 times.
As recently as last January, Mark Todd was turned away by Deputy Dwayne Mussard for "tresspassing" in a gated community. Never mind the fact that Todd has a judge's valid court order to pick up his son and daughter for the weekend, as was explictly agreed upon by both parties after the divorce.
Elise doesn't want him seeing their children. And since she is married to the Don Ensingler, you can bet that is exactly what is going to happen.
Too bad Tiffany Barwick wasn't being stalked by an ex-husband of Elise...I have no doubt that she would be alive today.
Elise Ensingler claims that she has her husband's deputies stop Todd from seeing the children because she is trying to "protect" the children from Todd. Interesting. The Winter Park dentist has no record of violent behavior, neither Elise nor her lawyer could give any specifics, and the judge has never been petitioned for a domestic-violence injunction.
Sheriff Don Esingler says he isn't involved. So if that is truly the case, WHAT is the valid reason why a law enforcement officer would violate a court order to prevent Mark Todd from seeing his children?
No one has asked that question.
The sheriff's office is arguing that this case isn't being treated any differently than any other case. Also interesting, since Elise called the deputies DIRECTLY on their cell phones instead of using the 911 system (where calls are required to be recorded).
As a Seminole resident, I must have missed the list of deputy's cell phone numbers that were sent out.
We deserve a sheriff that will protect all citizens, not just those who agree to marry him.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Orlando Sentinel: 1 Year Fight Over Health Care is "Fast-Tracking"??
My hometown paper has taken to the GOP talking points with an editorial ironically titled "Don't pull a fast one with health reform. It is calling Reconciliation a "a fast-track process" as well as an "historic error for Democrats to resort to" in order to "muscle through" health care reform. Dudes...we've been debating health care for OVER A YEAR now! What hasn't been said already?
Funny, I don't recall them complaining about Reconciliation with the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, or any of the other dozens of times it has been used by the GOP. But now that the Dems are finally considering what they should have done last year in order save our health care system from impending disaster, this year-long process is now being treated as a fast-tracked scam.
Even though the GOP used it to make the rich even richer, it would be wrong, goes their argument, to use reconciliation now because:
Reality check: Reconciliation is in the Constitution. Fillibusters requiring a super-majority IS NOT. Even if you agree with the principle of a fillibuster, no reasonable person can argue that the GOP is using it responsibly. They have fillibustered EVERY SINGLE BILL in the Senate!! Even bills that get over 80 votes in the end, even bills that fund our troops, even a bill to pay unemployment benefits!
The article even acknowledges the Dem plan is good and mocks the GOP plan as meager. They even admitted that the GOP has offered "little beyond obstruction." But in the very next sentence, the editorial board confusingly states this:
Riiiiiiiight!! Let's load up the bill with MORE ineffective GOP ideas and THEN they will play nicely!!
The GOP is opposed to covering everyone. Period. They said so. They are on the record against subsidies and against the public option. Passing a bill that says we promise we'll work harder on fraud and the ever present "tort reform" is a joke that WILL NOT stop the out of control price gouging and won't cover one extra person.
The GOP will also not repeal this. Once in effect, people will have health care coverage and will see that the sky didn't fall. Could you imagine the GOP trying to take away Medicare?? No, in fact, after years of arguing to gut Medicare they have the audacity to pretend to be its guardians--ironically while all the while opposing "government-run" healthcare!
That is why the GOP is fighting SO HARD, along with the insurance industry, to stop this bill! They know it will work and once its in effect, it will be too late. However, if they defeat the bill, all the false, negative things they said will become true and they will run campaign after campaign saying how they saved us from disaster with the added bonus of saying (rightfully so) that the Democrats can't govern.
Don't LET THESE LIES go answered! Take a few seconds and VOTE NO:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edpoll-saturday,0,2955208.poll
While you are at it, respond to this poll to. It asks if Dems should move forward on HCR without GOP support. Obviously, vote YES!:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-poll-health-care-reform-030510,0,1120017.poll
They print the results of the polls the following day. Since tomorrow is Sunday, when most people get the paper,...let's send them a strong message!
Funny, I don't recall them complaining about Reconciliation with the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, or any of the other dozens of times it has been used by the GOP. But now that the Dems are finally considering what they should have done last year in order save our health care system from impending disaster, this year-long process is now being treated as a fast-tracked scam.
Even though the GOP used it to make the rich even richer, it would be wrong, goes their argument, to use reconciliation now because:
...an abuse of the process in the past is a poor argument for doing so now.
Reality check: Reconciliation is in the Constitution. Fillibusters requiring a super-majority IS NOT. Even if you agree with the principle of a fillibuster, no reasonable person can argue that the GOP is using it responsibly. They have fillibustered EVERY SINGLE BILL in the Senate!! Even bills that get over 80 votes in the end, even bills that fund our troops, even a bill to pay unemployment benefits!
The article even acknowledges the Dem plan is good and mocks the GOP plan as meager. They even admitted that the GOP has offered "little beyond obstruction." But in the very next sentence, the editorial board confusingly states this:
But if the Democrats' plan so sharply divides Congress that it can't become law unless rules are bent, it will be a weak plan. Already unpopular with the public, it'll be vulnerable to repeal when the partisan balance in Washington, D.C. shifts.
Democrats also will further poison the atmosphere in Congress if they pull a power play through reconciliation. Good luck getting anything else done — even on urgent matters such as the economy.
There's a better way forward. Senate and House leaders should hash out their differences in open meetings. They should strip the payoffs from the bill. They should make more room for good ideas from Republicans — Mr. Obama already has suggested four.
Riiiiiiiight!! Let's load up the bill with MORE ineffective GOP ideas and THEN they will play nicely!!
The GOP is opposed to covering everyone. Period. They said so. They are on the record against subsidies and against the public option. Passing a bill that says we promise we'll work harder on fraud and the ever present "tort reform" is a joke that WILL NOT stop the out of control price gouging and won't cover one extra person.
The GOP will also not repeal this. Once in effect, people will have health care coverage and will see that the sky didn't fall. Could you imagine the GOP trying to take away Medicare?? No, in fact, after years of arguing to gut Medicare they have the audacity to pretend to be its guardians--ironically while all the while opposing "government-run" healthcare!
That is why the GOP is fighting SO HARD, along with the insurance industry, to stop this bill! They know it will work and once its in effect, it will be too late. However, if they defeat the bill, all the false, negative things they said will become true and they will run campaign after campaign saying how they saved us from disaster with the added bonus of saying (rightfully so) that the Democrats can't govern.
Don't LET THESE LIES go answered! Take a few seconds and VOTE NO:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edpoll-saturday,0,2955208.poll
While you are at it, respond to this poll to. It asks if Dems should move forward on HCR without GOP support. Obviously, vote YES!:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-poll-health-care-reform-030510,0,1120017.poll
They print the results of the polls the following day. Since tomorrow is Sunday, when most people get the paper,...let's send them a strong message!
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
UCF Pro-Life Group Used College Funds to Show Aborted Fetus on Trucks
An allocation of $1,000 from the [UCF]Student Government Association helped to bring the controversial Genocide Awareness Project to campus last week.
The SGA implies they were tricked. IF that is the case, they should never give one red cent to these attention whores.
I was reading the Students for Life supporters attempt to justify the "Genocide Awareness Project" display of an aborted fetus (along with, of course, a caricature of Obama).
Let me attempt to explain to these idiots why this is will not work...in terms they can understand.
You guys are already anti-abortion, but you did not succeed in changing any minds. For example, I can safely assume that many of you ironically support capital punishment. Would any of you respond positively to a large graphic display of a fried inmate after a session in the electric chair?
For that matter, what about a display of what happens to a woman after a back alley abortion?
Or would you be rightfully appalled at such a graphic display for everyone, including children, without a dialogue of the underlying concerns?
For example, how exactly would making abortion illegal stop abortion? Wouldn’t the rich go elsewhere and the poor do something horribly drastic? (Hey, I've got an idea! Let's put THAT on a truck!)
And how do you propose to punish a woman in such a desperate situation if you make it illegal?
Finally, I cannot help but wonder if that $6500 you spent, including the $1000 you took from UCF students, wouldn’t have been better spent offering help to a woman in an abusive relationship or in such abject poverty that she feels she has no other option but abortion.
But I suppose a gory display and a political attack was more satisfying to you than the Christian option that would have actually made a difference.
The SGA implies they were tricked. IF that is the case, they should never give one red cent to these attention whores.
I was reading the Students for Life supporters attempt to justify the "Genocide Awareness Project" display of an aborted fetus (along with, of course, a caricature of Obama).
Let me attempt to explain to these idiots why this is will not work...in terms they can understand.
You guys are already anti-abortion, but you did not succeed in changing any minds. For example, I can safely assume that many of you ironically support capital punishment. Would any of you respond positively to a large graphic display of a fried inmate after a session in the electric chair?
For that matter, what about a display of what happens to a woman after a back alley abortion?
Or would you be rightfully appalled at such a graphic display for everyone, including children, without a dialogue of the underlying concerns?
For example, how exactly would making abortion illegal stop abortion? Wouldn’t the rich go elsewhere and the poor do something horribly drastic? (Hey, I've got an idea! Let's put THAT on a truck!)
And how do you propose to punish a woman in such a desperate situation if you make it illegal?
Finally, I cannot help but wonder if that $6500 you spent, including the $1000 you took from UCF students, wouldn’t have been better spent offering help to a woman in an abusive relationship or in such abject poverty that she feels she has no other option but abortion.
But I suppose a gory display and a political attack was more satisfying to you than the Christian option that would have actually made a difference.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Witty Responses to the Bush Billboard MISS ME YET?
How many of you have seen this?
The massive corruption, lying, criminal behavior and incompetence that led to the mess we are in. And the wingnuts expect US to be nostalgic for him?
Here are some witty responses, compliments of my fellow kossacks at DKos...
No, but the next hurricane will make me nostalgic.
No, but I do miss our budget surplus.
Bin Laden: YES, this new guy Barack actually wants to catch me
Clearly this guy does:
Every time so far…
Like a bad rash
Me, No. But someone from your village called…
No, but Al Qaeda sure does…
No, but I do sure miss the Word Trade Center…
Yes, but only because Cheney is no longer at an undisclosed location
Yes, but I'm reloading. (the billboard of course)
Hell No
I miss my job.
Yes...said the Oil Companies.
Only at the Hague
Missing Unaccomplished
Like a pretzel
Ask your Guard unit
Of course! Times were good under him ~~Al Qaeda recruiter
No, but I'm suddenly reminded to clean the litter box
Throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering?-TR
And you are?
No, we have Sarah Palin to make fun of now
Not really, you are always on the cover of Mad magazine
Ask the soldier that took your place, coward
Didn’t finish reading My Pet Goat?
YES, let me get my other shoe.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Why Bunning Matters...
Jim Bunning (R-KY) is FREAKING rich. He is a multi-millionaire. He made millions in baseball, as a shady politician, and through a corrupt “Charity” he runs where he is the biggest recipient of the funds it receives. And he takes care of his multi-millionaire buddies. He never met a tax cut for the superwealthy, big oil, and big polluters that he didn’t like. Reecently, the SOB voted NO on restoring the pre-2001 tax rate for people earning over $1 million a year, adding hundreds of billions to our stretched deficit... helping those who need it the least.
Funny. No crowing about how we should be paying for that...
But 1.1 million people aren’t rich. So he literally said the words, “Tough shit”, right on the House floor when it was brought to his attention that his lone obstruction will cause those people to lose their unemployment benefits. Not to mention the health insurance COBRA, highway funding, medicare doctor paments, and flood insurance that are a part of the bill. (Side note, Department of Transportation will have to basically shut down and its employees furloughed).
So here's the deal. A family of four may get 227 bucks a week to survive. Real necessities...like food, rent, and medicine. Jim says tough.
Reid even promised Bunning he'd bring up his amendment for a vote. Not good enough. Bunning said he “knew it would not get the amount of votes necessary to pay for it.”
But that wasn’t the worst of it. The fact that people will soon quite literally be thrown out on the streets, or not be able to pay for groceries, or not get the measly crumbs enough to get by just to survive for another week....this was all met with the Bunning whining.
He actually had the gall to complain about missing the “Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9, and it was the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina this year."
Un. FUCKING..believable.
If there ever was a "Come to Jesus" moment for America on what the GOP thinks about regular Americans, this is it. They are fighting tooth and nail AGAINST millions of Americans from getting health care, have fought tooth and nail FOR deficit sucking tax giveaways to the richest of the rich, and now are sitting by the sidelines or even tacitly encouraging this.
The tea partiers and conservatives regard Bunning as a hero.
Redstate is angry that more Senators aren’t joining Bunning.
Conservative talk radio is hailing him a hero. And the right-wing blogs give the standard fare:
These are the thoughts of those who support the GOP agenda, and the thoughts of those conservatives in Congress right now..who can’t just come out and say it. But that is why they are silent about this. They agree with Bunning, they just don’t want to come out and say it. But actions speak louder than words. Bottom line: the deficit only matters when it concerns helping regular Americans. Not their wealthy brethren.
Democrats in Washington. I implore you...START SCREAMING ABOUT THIS! Fan out to the talk shows you love to visit and demand answers from the GOP. Invite Bunning and that idiot Bob Corker why they think the suffering are just a bunch of lazy bums. EVERY single time they pretend to speak for Americans and say they don’t want health care... remind them that according to them they didn’t want unemployment help either. MAKE them stand up for this!
This is true conservatism on display. It’s out there for every single American to see in all of it’s aristocratic ugliness. And if the Democrats can’t or won’t even make an issue out of this...if they are unable and unwilling to stop allowing the GOP to claim they are the party speaking for “ordinary” Americans AFTER THIS...then what hope do we have to claim the high ground on ANY issue facing us today? How do we expect to win elections in 2010?
Furthermore, IF we can’t use this to argue that the GOP is hell-bent on obstruction, that the government is broken and we need to break this ridiculous cycle to move our agenda forward, then we never will.
That is why Bunning matters.
Funny. No crowing about how we should be paying for that...
But 1.1 million people aren’t rich. So he literally said the words, “Tough shit”, right on the House floor when it was brought to his attention that his lone obstruction will cause those people to lose their unemployment benefits. Not to mention the health insurance COBRA, highway funding, medicare doctor paments, and flood insurance that are a part of the bill. (Side note, Department of Transportation will have to basically shut down and its employees furloughed).
So here's the deal. A family of four may get 227 bucks a week to survive. Real necessities...like food, rent, and medicine. Jim says tough.
Reid even promised Bunning he'd bring up his amendment for a vote. Not good enough. Bunning said he “knew it would not get the amount of votes necessary to pay for it.”
But that wasn’t the worst of it. The fact that people will soon quite literally be thrown out on the streets, or not be able to pay for groceries, or not get the measly crumbs enough to get by just to survive for another week....this was all met with the Bunning whining.
He actually had the gall to complain about missing the “Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9, and it was the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina this year."
Un. FUCKING..believable.
If there ever was a "Come to Jesus" moment for America on what the GOP thinks about regular Americans, this is it. They are fighting tooth and nail AGAINST millions of Americans from getting health care, have fought tooth and nail FOR deficit sucking tax giveaways to the richest of the rich, and now are sitting by the sidelines or even tacitly encouraging this.
The tea partiers and conservatives regard Bunning as a hero.
Redstate is angry that more Senators aren’t joining Bunning.
Conservative talk radio is hailing him a hero. And the right-wing blogs give the standard fare:
its about time someone stood up to these reckless fools, i barley make enough to pay my bills but i still choose to work instead. Mr. Bunning thank you, your a good man.
Get off your ASS and find a Job!! There are Jobs out there, so find one...I tried of paying for these dead beats! The economy is no where near as bad as the media makes it out to be. I own my own IT consulting business and I'm so busy I had to hire 6 new people!!
Good job!!!! Get back to work. Pay for your own health insurance. Quite crying you leeches.
make all the illegals who have took all the jobs pay taxes and raise taxes on all imports, problem solved
These are the thoughts of those who support the GOP agenda, and the thoughts of those conservatives in Congress right now..who can’t just come out and say it. But that is why they are silent about this. They agree with Bunning, they just don’t want to come out and say it. But actions speak louder than words. Bottom line: the deficit only matters when it concerns helping regular Americans. Not their wealthy brethren.
Democrats in Washington. I implore you...START SCREAMING ABOUT THIS! Fan out to the talk shows you love to visit and demand answers from the GOP. Invite Bunning and that idiot Bob Corker why they think the suffering are just a bunch of lazy bums. EVERY single time they pretend to speak for Americans and say they don’t want health care... remind them that according to them they didn’t want unemployment help either. MAKE them stand up for this!
This is true conservatism on display. It’s out there for every single American to see in all of it’s aristocratic ugliness. And if the Democrats can’t or won’t even make an issue out of this...if they are unable and unwilling to stop allowing the GOP to claim they are the party speaking for “ordinary” Americans AFTER THIS...then what hope do we have to claim the high ground on ANY issue facing us today? How do we expect to win elections in 2010?
Furthermore, IF we can’t use this to argue that the GOP is hell-bent on obstruction, that the government is broken and we need to break this ridiculous cycle to move our agenda forward, then we never will.
That is why Bunning matters.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
No Health Care Reform? Blame Malia and her dumb flute!
Of all the reasons HCR failed, I found this one from the New York Times to be the dumbest...
WHO is outraged by this? The so-called right-wing Family Values crowd:
ARE YOU F&^*ING KIDDING ME!?!?
Yeah! That's why we don't have Health Care Reform! F&^%ing Flute Recitals!!
It had NOTHING to do with every single Republican obstructing reform! Or initiating a fillibuster on EVERY SINGLE PIECE of legislation for the first time in history for the sole reason of grinding this country to a halt because they want Obama to fail!
Newflash, FEEhery...Family Values means more than just hating gay people.
It means, God-forbid, spending time with your family. There is no reason the most powerful person in the world can't take an hour to see his daughter's flute recital...if you were really that damn concerned, you would tell you GOP brethren to negotiate in good faith and MAYBE we would have solutions to these massive REPUBLICAN-caused problems!!
I've heard all kinds of stupid from the GOP, but blaming their obstruction and their problems on Malia takes stupid to a whole new level.
IT is no secret that President Obama desperately wants Congress to pass legislation to overhaul health care. But last month, when Mr. Obama convened Congressional Democratic leaders at the White House for a marathon negotiating session, another priority intervened.
His 11-year-old daughter, Malia, had a band recital.
Thus did the president of the United States ditch his own health care talks — temporarily, at least — to slip off to Sidwell Friends School for a few hours to listen to Malia play the flute.
WHO is outraged by this? The so-called right-wing Family Values crowd:
“People elect you not to be a good family man, they elect you to fix their problems, and that’s the cold-hearted reality of it,” said John Feehery, a Republican political strategist. “And all those folks on the Hill, they’ve left all their families at home; they don’t have the luxury of skipping back home in the middle of the meeting to catch their daughter’s recital"
ARE YOU F&^*ING KIDDING ME!?!?
Yeah! That's why we don't have Health Care Reform! F&^%ing Flute Recitals!!
It had NOTHING to do with every single Republican obstructing reform! Or initiating a fillibuster on EVERY SINGLE PIECE of legislation for the first time in history for the sole reason of grinding this country to a halt because they want Obama to fail!
Newflash, FEEhery...Family Values means more than just hating gay people.
It means, God-forbid, spending time with your family. There is no reason the most powerful person in the world can't take an hour to see his daughter's flute recital...if you were really that damn concerned, you would tell you GOP brethren to negotiate in good faith and MAYBE we would have solutions to these massive REPUBLICAN-caused problems!!
I've heard all kinds of stupid from the GOP, but blaming their obstruction and their problems on Malia takes stupid to a whole new level.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Spare Me The Lecture on YOUR Deficit
Quote of the week goes to Senator Sanders (I-VT):
Well Said!!
"Let me begin by saying something to my friend Senator Gregg, through the chairman, through the chairman. I really don't like being lectured on deficits when you (Sen. Gregg) and many members of your party (Republicans) helped cause the situation we are in right now. "
"People voted, Senator Gregg, I believe you are one of them, for a war in Iraq, which some people will think will cost two or three trillion dollars, but you forgot to pay for that war. You and other people voted for tax breaks for the wealthiest 1%, costs $600 billion dollars, forgot to pay for that. You voted for a prescription drug medicare bill which will cost $400 billion dollars but doesn't negotiate prices with the pharmaceutical industry, forgot to ask how that was going to be paid for, you voted for the bailout and I believe you want to repeal the inheritance tax, which will cost a trillion dollars over a ten year period, benefiting the top 3/10this of 1%. I voted against all of those things, so please, please, spare the lectures on deficit reduction."
Well Said!!
Monday, February 01, 2010
Crist Is Going To Pull a Joe Lieberman
Fresh from Rasmussen:
OUCH!
My liberal friends outside the state are telling me that Crist may want to consider running as a Democrat. I can tell you that he would not be accepted as a Democrat by Florida voters and would lose the Dem primary as well.
Here's what I do know...Charlie's whole purpose in life is to run for higher office. It's all he knows and all he does. (It certainly isn't governing or doing the job he currently holds). So Charlie is going to do exactly what Joe Lieberman did back in 2006.
He is going to try to make a go of it in his party primary.
He is going to lose.
He is going to declare that his fate will not be determined by a few party zealots and run as an independent.
Between Rubio and Meek, he may pull it off. He would be the Republican Joe Lieberman.
He has been God-awful in every post he's had, but in the Senate, where you don't actually have to govern or manage anything...just vote on bills, he might be tolerable as an independent. It would be interesting to see him for once in his life NOT pandering to whatever party is ahead in the polls.
Charlie Crist (R) 37 (43)
Marco Rubio (R) 49 (43)
OUCH!
My liberal friends outside the state are telling me that Crist may want to consider running as a Democrat. I can tell you that he would not be accepted as a Democrat by Florida voters and would lose the Dem primary as well.
Here's what I do know...Charlie's whole purpose in life is to run for higher office. It's all he knows and all he does. (It certainly isn't governing or doing the job he currently holds). So Charlie is going to do exactly what Joe Lieberman did back in 2006.
He is going to try to make a go of it in his party primary.
He is going to lose.
He is going to declare that his fate will not be determined by a few party zealots and run as an independent.
Between Rubio and Meek, he may pull it off. He would be the Republican Joe Lieberman.
He has been God-awful in every post he's had, but in the Senate, where you don't actually have to govern or manage anything...just vote on bills, he might be tolerable as an independent. It would be interesting to see him for once in his life NOT pandering to whatever party is ahead in the polls.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Best Statement on What Dems Need To Do NOW About Healthcare
From my favorite national blog, election projection website electoral-vote.com:
The Democrats are clearly in for bad news in November unless something changes and speeches aren't going to be enough. In particular, if after spending a year trying to get a health-insurance reform bill through Congress, the whole project dies now because the Democrats have only 59 seats in the Senate--a luxury the Republicans haven't had since 1923--many voters will conclude that the Democrats spend all their time bickering with each other and are incapable of governing. Everyone in Washington knows very well what the Democrats have to do, namely, get the House and Senate to stop squabbling with each other over abortion and the Medicaid limit and come to a compromise bill that 50 Democratic senators and 218 Democratic representatives support. Then the House has to pass the Senate bill intact followed by both chambers passing the compromise bill polishing the rough edges, in the Senate via reconciliation, even if that means firing the Senate parliamentarian, Alan Frumin, and replacing him with a Democrat. Some Democrats believe they will be better off in November with no bill than with this bill, but if that were true, minority leader Mitch McConnell would long ago have given Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) permission to vote for cloture in order to pass the bill and thus saddle the Democrats with an awful bill they would have to defend in the midterms. But McConnell knows that some aspects of the bill (like forcing insurance companies to accept uninsured sick children) will kick in the day the bill is signed and are wildly popular, thus giving the Democrats something to campaign on.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
59-41 means mandate for GOP?
Remember 2000? With the slimmest majority and contested election, the GOP rammed through legislation using budget reconciliation. Tax cuts were given to the superwealthy while the Democrats stood feckless. The GOP wasn't punished in 2004, in fact, they gained seats.
Then when they wanted to ram through extremist, unqualified, right-wing psycho judges in 2005, they smacked down the Democrats who tried to pull the fillibuster by threatening to go "nuclear". They said they would rewrite the rules to allow 51.
Son of a bitch if the press didn't swallow thier storyline that they just wanted an "up or down" vote and Dems were being "obstructionist". Why couldn't we get it through our thick heads that elections have consequences?!
As always, we capitulated on the worst judges if they promised to play nice.
Well, here we are in 2010. Even with losing MA, we still have the LARGEST MAJORITY any party has enjoyed since 1923!!
And we are the ones who are capitulating!!
I had to listen to Barack Obama give a speech not to long ago, and say off the cuff that "as you know, it takes 60 votes in the Senate to get anything passed".
WTF?!? Why the hell aren't we screaming about straight "up or down" votes?! Unlike in 2005, when we only fillibustered extreme judges, the GOP is fillibustering EVERYTHING!! Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, and David "Diaper Boy" Vitter fillibuster EVERY SINGLE BILL, even ones that pass 90-10.
Why isn't our spineless leadership raising cane about this??! Why can't we go "nuclear"? What are they gonna do that they haven't done already?
Why don't we use reconciliation to get things through?!? WHY are still playing nice?
We tried bi-partisanship. Baucus wasted months desperately trying to get ONE GOPer to support our obviously broken health-care system. We capitulated on every major point in the Senate Bill thanks to spineless Reid. And what did we get? NOT one GOPer voted for the Senate Bill. One GOPer voted for the House Bill.
So Gibbs is saying we need more bi-partisanship?? WTF??
Pelosi is saying she doesn't have the votes so she isn't going to try to pass the Senate Bill and use reconciliation to fix it...so she's okay with starting over?? WTF??
Obama is STILL refusing to get involved in "the legislative process"?? Says he'll just pass a few token items after ALL OF THIS MESS we went through last year?? WTF??
WTF??
WTF??
WTF??
The largest majority in nearly a century and we are helpless.
THAT is why we lost..and why we will keep losing. Because the base, me, is wondering what the hell is the point to all of this. AFter busting tail in 2008, we can't get one piece of signature legislation because of ONE reasoon...POOR LEADER SHIP!!
I give up. I am no longer a Democrat...
Don't call me until you get your act together.
Then when they wanted to ram through extremist, unqualified, right-wing psycho judges in 2005, they smacked down the Democrats who tried to pull the fillibuster by threatening to go "nuclear". They said they would rewrite the rules to allow 51.
Son of a bitch if the press didn't swallow thier storyline that they just wanted an "up or down" vote and Dems were being "obstructionist". Why couldn't we get it through our thick heads that elections have consequences?!
As always, we capitulated on the worst judges if they promised to play nice.
Well, here we are in 2010. Even with losing MA, we still have the LARGEST MAJORITY any party has enjoyed since 1923!!
And we are the ones who are capitulating!!
I had to listen to Barack Obama give a speech not to long ago, and say off the cuff that "as you know, it takes 60 votes in the Senate to get anything passed".
WTF?!? Why the hell aren't we screaming about straight "up or down" votes?! Unlike in 2005, when we only fillibustered extreme judges, the GOP is fillibustering EVERYTHING!! Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, and David "Diaper Boy" Vitter fillibuster EVERY SINGLE BILL, even ones that pass 90-10.
Why isn't our spineless leadership raising cane about this??! Why can't we go "nuclear"? What are they gonna do that they haven't done already?
Why don't we use reconciliation to get things through?!? WHY are still playing nice?
We tried bi-partisanship. Baucus wasted months desperately trying to get ONE GOPer to support our obviously broken health-care system. We capitulated on every major point in the Senate Bill thanks to spineless Reid. And what did we get? NOT one GOPer voted for the Senate Bill. One GOPer voted for the House Bill.
So Gibbs is saying we need more bi-partisanship?? WTF??
Pelosi is saying she doesn't have the votes so she isn't going to try to pass the Senate Bill and use reconciliation to fix it...so she's okay with starting over?? WTF??
Obama is STILL refusing to get involved in "the legislative process"?? Says he'll just pass a few token items after ALL OF THIS MESS we went through last year?? WTF??
WTF??
WTF??
WTF??
The largest majority in nearly a century and we are helpless.
THAT is why we lost..and why we will keep losing. Because the base, me, is wondering what the hell is the point to all of this. AFter busting tail in 2008, we can't get one piece of signature legislation because of ONE reasoon...POOR LEADER SHIP!!
I give up. I am no longer a Democrat...
Don't call me until you get your act together.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hillarious! Conan O'Brian's $1.5 MILLION dollar comedy sketch
NBC is regretting their contractual obligation to foot the bill for Conan's comedy segments. Now that Conan is feeling "vindictive", he just introduced a new "character" to the show (with appropriate theme music):
Hillarious!
Hillarious!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Now I Can Say It: I Am Glad Coakley Lost
I almost wrote this earlier today, but I decided I just couldn't attack a Democrat in a crucial election, not with everyone here trying so hard.
But it's over, so I can say it. I'm glad it happened.
I am not a bad Democrat. Far from it.
But this had to happen. Not just because Scott Brown campaigned his ass off while Coakley just assumed it was enough to be Democrat and coast, it had to happen because NOW finally, maybe, we can stop playing the "WE NEED 60 TO GET ANYTHING DONE".
Guess what, we no longer have that excuse.
I remember arguing with people on this very site that we had to capitulate and capitulate and capitulate because we needed 60 votes--otherwise we would get nothing.
I had to suffer and watch everything we worked so hard for last November, including our signature legislation, get held hostage AND REWRITTEN by the likes of Lieberman and Nelson.
I had to watch that coward REID say that he wouldn't do anything without 60 votes, and take Reconciliation off the table.
He wouldn't even THREATEN to alter the ridiculous fillibuster to 55 votes, which would have at least turned the tables a bit during the debate.
Now we have Coburn, DeMint, and the Diaper-Boy Vitter fillibustering EVERYTHING in the Senate, even votes that get 95-5 in the end.
And we Dems see our spineless leadership taking it again and again.
This is not just a wake-up call, this is slamming the alarm clock against the wall.
Here's an idea Rahm and Reid...go give the people what they want and foget the minority! Remember the public option, that had overwhelming support? Maybe throwing it overboard wasn't such a good idea...nor is forcing people to buy insurance and NOT allowing competition!
And you wonder why we lost?
Democrats did NOT just bust their ass and spend their precious time and money November 08 so we could capitulate to the minority party on everything. It was embarrassing. And if Coakley had won, we would have gotten the same treatment on everything: financial reform, climate change, gay civil rights, etc.
We have NO reason to capitulate anymore.
We have NO reason to suck up to Lieberman.
It's Reconciliation or change the rules. Or nothing gets done.
The Dem leadership is going to have to finally learn how to get tough and lead...There is simply NO other alternative.
But it's over, so I can say it. I'm glad it happened.
I am not a bad Democrat. Far from it.
But this had to happen. Not just because Scott Brown campaigned his ass off while Coakley just assumed it was enough to be Democrat and coast, it had to happen because NOW finally, maybe, we can stop playing the "WE NEED 60 TO GET ANYTHING DONE".
Guess what, we no longer have that excuse.
I remember arguing with people on this very site that we had to capitulate and capitulate and capitulate because we needed 60 votes--otherwise we would get nothing.
I had to suffer and watch everything we worked so hard for last November, including our signature legislation, get held hostage AND REWRITTEN by the likes of Lieberman and Nelson.
I had to watch that coward REID say that he wouldn't do anything without 60 votes, and take Reconciliation off the table.
He wouldn't even THREATEN to alter the ridiculous fillibuster to 55 votes, which would have at least turned the tables a bit during the debate.
Now we have Coburn, DeMint, and the Diaper-Boy Vitter fillibustering EVERYTHING in the Senate, even votes that get 95-5 in the end.
And we Dems see our spineless leadership taking it again and again.
This is not just a wake-up call, this is slamming the alarm clock against the wall.
Here's an idea Rahm and Reid...go give the people what they want and foget the minority! Remember the public option, that had overwhelming support? Maybe throwing it overboard wasn't such a good idea...nor is forcing people to buy insurance and NOT allowing competition!
And you wonder why we lost?
Democrats did NOT just bust their ass and spend their precious time and money November 08 so we could capitulate to the minority party on everything. It was embarrassing. And if Coakley had won, we would have gotten the same treatment on everything: financial reform, climate change, gay civil rights, etc.
We have NO reason to capitulate anymore.
We have NO reason to suck up to Lieberman.
It's Reconciliation or change the rules. Or nothing gets done.
The Dem leadership is going to have to finally learn how to get tough and lead...There is simply NO other alternative.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Tim Tebow, Jim Dobson Can GO F*** Themselves
Really Tebow?
An anti-abortion rights diatribe for a right-wing hate group on Superbowl Sunday? It kills me that the ones who preach the loudest about this issue are the ones who never consider adopting or even contributing to help the thousands of orphans in this state.
Adopt, offer to help, or shut the f*#* up!
Stick to football, dumbass.
PS: CBS should be sued. The Boston Globe cited a letter from CBS to the UCC:
Soooo, abortion isn't a controversial issue? A Church that doesn't turn people away is?
Once again, f*^*cked up.
An anti-abortion rights diatribe for a right-wing hate group on Superbowl Sunday? It kills me that the ones who preach the loudest about this issue are the ones who never consider adopting or even contributing to help the thousands of orphans in this state.
Adopt, offer to help, or shut the f*#* up!
Stick to football, dumbass.
PS: CBS should be sued. The Boston Globe cited a letter from CBS to the UCC:
In the letter from the CBS official to the United Church of Christ, the network said it refuses advertising that "touches on and/or takes a position on one side of a current controversial issue of public importance."
Soooo, abortion isn't a controversial issue? A Church that doesn't turn people away is?
Once again, f*^*cked up.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Reid Should Step Down
He frankly should have stepped down a long time ago. He is a weak, pathetic leader. I have said repeatedly that I would prefer to have a 55 or 57 Dem Senate with a strong leader like Schumer or Feingold than a 60 majority with a weakling like Reid at the helm. The health care bill will be better than nothing, (which is all the GOP has to offer), but we gave up way more than we should have. It is inexusable to drop the public option AND keep the anti-trust exemption that allows competition (that was kept for Ben Nelson of Nebraska).
PS--That idiot GOPer Snowe could have stepped up, gotten the goodies for Maine that went to Nebraska, AND succeeded in killing the anti-trust exemption--but got nothing instead.
But by Reid stating up front that he would not even consider Reconciliation (requiring a simple majority) or changing the fillibuster rules, he allowed ALL 60 members of the caucus to be extortionists since they knew he needed EVERY SINGLE one.
He could have also made it clear that any Dem that fillibusters with the GOP would lose their chairmanship, their offices, and other perks. But that was never threatened either.
Essentially, his whole strategy was to be nice and beg every member--ask for anything and he would cave with no penalty. OF COURSE Lieberman was going to shred this--why wouldn't he? And the reform bill became a band-aid. Yes, there is some good things, like no pre-existing condition denial and help for millions who have no insurance: but real reform it is not. The insurance companies still have monopolies--and until that changes, don't call it reform.
Nancy corralled her people and got the majority needed-Reid surrendered before the battle, and the teeth of this legislation has been pulled.
I blame Reid. I knew he was weak when that idiot supported a GOP amendment attacking MoveOn.org three years ago to appease them (why?). Even though Rush Limbaugh attacked our soldiers as "phony" soon afterwards-no amendment there.
He is weak, weak, weak. He should have stepped down years ago for the good of the party. So why the hell would I defend him now when he makes a RACIST comment?
Of course he should leave. Of course it's hypocritical for him to stay on after both Democrats and republicans demanded Trentt Lott to step down for praising segregationist Strom Thurmond.
PS--I don't give a damn if Obama and Jesse forgave him--who the hell appointed them spokespeople for an entire race? I get sick to my stomach when I hear that Reid called "black leaders" to ask forgiveness. Could you imagine if someone claimed to call "white leaders" to represent me? "Well, Ethan Hawke said it was okay...so we're good."
Now Democrats could make a bold statement and show real leadership if they removed him from his post. Hell, he's going to lose anyway. Reid trails ALL of his GOP opponents, and that was before this latest fiasco.
But Reid is not going too step down. We will have to wait until he loses the upcoming election for us to get the Senate leader we deserve.
PS--That idiot GOPer Snowe could have stepped up, gotten the goodies for Maine that went to Nebraska, AND succeeded in killing the anti-trust exemption--but got nothing instead.
But by Reid stating up front that he would not even consider Reconciliation (requiring a simple majority) or changing the fillibuster rules, he allowed ALL 60 members of the caucus to be extortionists since they knew he needed EVERY SINGLE one.
He could have also made it clear that any Dem that fillibusters with the GOP would lose their chairmanship, their offices, and other perks. But that was never threatened either.
Essentially, his whole strategy was to be nice and beg every member--ask for anything and he would cave with no penalty. OF COURSE Lieberman was going to shred this--why wouldn't he? And the reform bill became a band-aid. Yes, there is some good things, like no pre-existing condition denial and help for millions who have no insurance: but real reform it is not. The insurance companies still have monopolies--and until that changes, don't call it reform.
Nancy corralled her people and got the majority needed-Reid surrendered before the battle, and the teeth of this legislation has been pulled.
I blame Reid. I knew he was weak when that idiot supported a GOP amendment attacking MoveOn.org three years ago to appease them (why?). Even though Rush Limbaugh attacked our soldiers as "phony" soon afterwards-no amendment there.
He is weak, weak, weak. He should have stepped down years ago for the good of the party. So why the hell would I defend him now when he makes a RACIST comment?
Of course he should leave. Of course it's hypocritical for him to stay on after both Democrats and republicans demanded Trentt Lott to step down for praising segregationist Strom Thurmond.
PS--I don't give a damn if Obama and Jesse forgave him--who the hell appointed them spokespeople for an entire race? I get sick to my stomach when I hear that Reid called "black leaders" to ask forgiveness. Could you imagine if someone claimed to call "white leaders" to represent me? "Well, Ethan Hawke said it was okay...so we're good."
Now Democrats could make a bold statement and show real leadership if they removed him from his post. Hell, he's going to lose anyway. Reid trails ALL of his GOP opponents, and that was before this latest fiasco.
But Reid is not going too step down. We will have to wait until he loses the upcoming election for us to get the Senate leader we deserve.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Crist Admits Senate Campaign Distracts Him
File this under Obvious:
Crist is MIA on every major to minor issue facing this state, because his current position like all of his others are seen only as stepping stones to higher office and nothing more. For most of last year and this year, we will be treated to campaign Charlie as he desperately tries to ward off Marc Rubio instead of making the tough choices he was elected to make.
So more “tax cuts for corporations” and other conservative bullet points while our State sinks deeper into the abyss. (Note to Charlie—our corporate taxes are already among the lowest in the nation. That’s not the problem…but you know that right?) Unfortunately, we will have to wait until November before we have a leader for Florida. I hope its Sink but frankly anybody, including a trained monkey, would be more focused on the state of our State than Charlie is.
Crist acknowledged "it's certainly possible" that his intense focus on raising millions of dollars as a Senate candidate diverted attention from his duties as chief executive of the nation's fourth-most populous state.
Crist is MIA on every major to minor issue facing this state, because his current position like all of his others are seen only as stepping stones to higher office and nothing more. For most of last year and this year, we will be treated to campaign Charlie as he desperately tries to ward off Marc Rubio instead of making the tough choices he was elected to make.
So more “tax cuts for corporations” and other conservative bullet points while our State sinks deeper into the abyss. (Note to Charlie—our corporate taxes are already among the lowest in the nation. That’s not the problem…but you know that right?) Unfortunately, we will have to wait until November before we have a leader for Florida. I hope its Sink but frankly anybody, including a trained monkey, would be more focused on the state of our State than Charlie is.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Counter on Facebook: Americans Against Teabags
I can't stand the hypocricy.
Where were the Tea Party Conservatives when george W. completely erased the budget surplus he inherited from Bill Clinton?
He first went on a drunken spending spree in healthcare (Medicare Part D), which was funded ENTIRELY by deficit spending and cost over a trillion dollars. Of course, the new healthcare working its way through is deficit neutral, AND costs less.
Then there is the giant welfare state W. had in Iraq. We left money in giant pallets that disappeared. We spent hundreds of billions building roads, bridges, schools, etc. But now that Obama wants to spend a fraction of that amount to build our OWN crumbling infrastructure, the teabags are screaming socialism. Nice.
The tax giveaways to Big Oil, Bill Polluters, and the super wealthy? All fine and dandy in GOP land. Helping people save thier jobs, homes, and retirement? That calls for massive protests in DC baby. (And the Metro better be up and running for that protest--not that we support public transportation).
PS--the bailouts you teabaggers hate? Started by W. And he demanded NO transparency as to what was to be done with the money. Thankfully, by then even the cowards in Congress had enough rolling over and put in a very little oversight--(sadly, that was as much standing up as we saw during the dark years).
I invite you to join the group. I think it's good to let people know there is an opposition to something that is really so stupid and silly.
Americans Against Teabags
Where were the Tea Party Conservatives when george W. completely erased the budget surplus he inherited from Bill Clinton?
He first went on a drunken spending spree in healthcare (Medicare Part D), which was funded ENTIRELY by deficit spending and cost over a trillion dollars. Of course, the new healthcare working its way through is deficit neutral, AND costs less.
Then there is the giant welfare state W. had in Iraq. We left money in giant pallets that disappeared. We spent hundreds of billions building roads, bridges, schools, etc. But now that Obama wants to spend a fraction of that amount to build our OWN crumbling infrastructure, the teabags are screaming socialism. Nice.
The tax giveaways to Big Oil, Bill Polluters, and the super wealthy? All fine and dandy in GOP land. Helping people save thier jobs, homes, and retirement? That calls for massive protests in DC baby. (And the Metro better be up and running for that protest--not that we support public transportation).
PS--the bailouts you teabaggers hate? Started by W. And he demanded NO transparency as to what was to be done with the money. Thankfully, by then even the cowards in Congress had enough rolling over and put in a very little oversight--(sadly, that was as much standing up as we saw during the dark years).
I invite you to join the group. I think it's good to let people know there is an opposition to something that is really so stupid and silly.
Americans Against Teabags
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Conservatives!! Stop the Lies & Hypocrisy on Health Care Reform!
This started as a comment to a GOPer but I decided to make it a post. First off, STOP LYING!
YOU WILL NOT GO TO JAIL if you don't have health insurance!
My God, how desperate are you?
There will be no death panels, no pulling the plug on grandma, and rest assured that there is nothing in this bill that will destroy the all powerful insurance companies--trust me, you conservatives have ensured that their interests are well protected.
And to the GOPers who say that they don't believe in government interference or higher deficit spending...let me school you.
The Medicare Part D Plan, which gave subsidies to drug companies for seniors, (but won't allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors--genius), is the largest government interference in decades...orchestrated entirely by REPUBLICANS!!
It cost $1.2 TRILLION, not the $848 billion cost of the Senate bill.. and unlike the Senate bill working it's way through, the Medicare Part D Bush bill was funded ENTIRELY THROUGH DEFICIT SPENDING!!
The House and Senate HCR bill are both deficit-neutral--a requirement from Obama. The nonpartisan CBO actually says they both SAVE money. Unlike the Bush bill, where not only was it thrown onto the deficit... Bush officials threatened to fire Medicare's chief actuary if he shared honest cost estimates with Congress!
The hypocrisy is sickening. They don't give a damn about government interference or deficit spending. They also didn't give a damn about seniors...they did this to get their votes. But the GOP doesn't care if there is a health care crisis. The uninsured probably won't vote GOP...so screw them!
The GOP does not want a bill that will save lives because they don't want anything perceived as a Democratic victory. They will stop at nothing, even delaying funding for our troops, in order to kill this because their own sad politics are more important to them than their constituents.
Ask them, what is their answer to health care insurance premiums RISING 10% every single year? Answer: Screw 'em...as long as we can say we screwed Obama.
Your GOP at work.
YOU WILL NOT GO TO JAIL if you don't have health insurance!
My God, how desperate are you?
There will be no death panels, no pulling the plug on grandma, and rest assured that there is nothing in this bill that will destroy the all powerful insurance companies--trust me, you conservatives have ensured that their interests are well protected.
And to the GOPers who say that they don't believe in government interference or higher deficit spending...let me school you.
The Medicare Part D Plan, which gave subsidies to drug companies for seniors, (but won't allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors--genius), is the largest government interference in decades...orchestrated entirely by REPUBLICANS!!
It cost $1.2 TRILLION, not the $848 billion cost of the Senate bill.. and unlike the Senate bill working it's way through, the Medicare Part D Bush bill was funded ENTIRELY THROUGH DEFICIT SPENDING!!
The House and Senate HCR bill are both deficit-neutral--a requirement from Obama. The nonpartisan CBO actually says they both SAVE money. Unlike the Bush bill, where not only was it thrown onto the deficit... Bush officials threatened to fire Medicare's chief actuary if he shared honest cost estimates with Congress!
The hypocrisy is sickening. They don't give a damn about government interference or deficit spending. They also didn't give a damn about seniors...they did this to get their votes. But the GOP doesn't care if there is a health care crisis. The uninsured probably won't vote GOP...so screw them!
The GOP does not want a bill that will save lives because they don't want anything perceived as a Democratic victory. They will stop at nothing, even delaying funding for our troops, in order to kill this because their own sad politics are more important to them than their constituents.
Ask them, what is their answer to health care insurance premiums RISING 10% every single year? Answer: Screw 'em...as long as we can say we screwed Obama.
Your GOP at work.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
How to Negotiate Like a Democrat
When someone like Harry Reid is a major Dem "leader", you know we are in trouble:
I remember being told in 2004 by Senate Dems that they were utterly helpless to stop the GOP jugernaut of 55 Senators when they steamrolled us with god-awful legislation, like the bankruptcy bill written by the credit-card companies.
Dems kept offering amendments to that bill:
--give soldiers a break from bankruptcy serving overseas. DENIED.
--give people a break who are bankrupt because they had no medical insurance and had high hospital bills. DENIED!
The bill passed just the way Bush and the GOP wanted it. They negotiated--by saying my way or the highway. And as expected, our guys caved.
GET US IN OFFICE! The Dems cried. Things would be different!
So we did. We put into office a Dem prez, a supermajority in the House, and a "fillibuster-proof" Senate. NEVER will we have this majority again--but it apparently isn't enough to get any of our signature legislation passed.
It didn't have to be this way...
Reid could have broken the healthcare reform bill in two.
Reid could have at least threatened Reconciliation.
Reid could have at least threatened nuking the fillibuster to 55 votes. (67 to amend rules, but 51 to start fresh).
What did we have to fear? Retaliation? Really? Would the mean GOP "slow down" the Senate? What would that look like? Put the jobs creation bill up...let them try to stop it...just what the F*&K are you so damn afraid of?
Give 'em Hell Harry, my ass!
I remember being told in 2004 by Senate Dems that they were utterly helpless to stop the GOP jugernaut of 55 Senators when they steamrolled us with god-awful legislation, like the bankruptcy bill written by the credit-card companies.
Dems kept offering amendments to that bill:
--give soldiers a break from bankruptcy serving overseas. DENIED.
--give people a break who are bankrupt because they had no medical insurance and had high hospital bills. DENIED!
The bill passed just the way Bush and the GOP wanted it. They negotiated--by saying my way or the highway. And as expected, our guys caved.
GET US IN OFFICE! The Dems cried. Things would be different!
So we did. We put into office a Dem prez, a supermajority in the House, and a "fillibuster-proof" Senate. NEVER will we have this majority again--but it apparently isn't enough to get any of our signature legislation passed.
It didn't have to be this way...
Reid could have broken the healthcare reform bill in two.
Reid could have at least threatened Reconciliation.
Reid could have at least threatened nuking the fillibuster to 55 votes. (67 to amend rules, but 51 to start fresh).
What did we have to fear? Retaliation? Really? Would the mean GOP "slow down" the Senate? What would that look like? Put the jobs creation bill up...let them try to stop it...just what the F*&K are you so damn afraid of?
Give 'em Hell Harry, my ass!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Paula Dockery Is Our Joke
I watched her speech announcing her campaign. It's pretty tough to mount a campaign when the only thing you are known for is being hell-ben on killing a popular project like SunRail. But you know her campaign is in trouble when she spent her whole speech railing against unethical political practices--only to thank our local corrupt gadfly Doug Guetzloe for getting her into the race.
Thankfully, SunRail passed. Her opposition to SunRail, this time, was that it didn't go where people wanted, like "DisneyWord" or the "airport". Yeah. Because THAT is where Central Floridians want to go. Let's face facts: she attacks SunRail because Jeb Bush overturned the amendment that approved the high-speed rail project and instead supported SunRail, and that cost her husband millions.
Not much of a campaign slogan, but what else has the Florida GOP got going on these days.
Thankfully, SunRail passed. Her opposition to SunRail, this time, was that it didn't go where people wanted, like "DisneyWord" or the "airport". Yeah. Because THAT is where Central Floridians want to go. Let's face facts: she attacks SunRail because Jeb Bush overturned the amendment that approved the high-speed rail project and instead supported SunRail, and that cost her husband millions.
Not much of a campaign slogan, but what else has the Florida GOP got going on these days.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Seminole Democrat Endorses Paul Partyka Over Suzanne Kosmas FL-24
If Paul Partyka was in Congress instead of Suzanne Kosmas, we would have had one more critical vote for health care reform.
The bill that passed the House was not perfect...nor could it be. There are things that I hated about it, such as the Stupak amendment. However, as a Democrat, I never would have allowed opponents to kill the bill and defeat not only our best, but our only chance at reform. If that had happened, healthcare reform would have died. Again. And this time, it would have been permanent. With a Democratic supermajority in the House and Senate, and a Democratic president in the White House, if we couldn't get reform passed now...we never would have.
But had Suzanne Kosmas gotten her way, the very same person who rode into office on the coattails of Barack Obama campaigning on healthcare reform, the bill would have been defeated.
That means millions more would be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Millions more would be without any type of health insurance for their families because of job loss or rescission. And millions more would die.
I asked Paul Partyka what he would have done. He told me that he believes in Heathcare Reform and would have voted to move the bill to the Senate "to continue the process and not slow it down". On the other hand, the Democrats that worked hard to elect Kosmas watched in amazement at her betrayal of our signature issue by joining Republicans in voting to defeat reform.
I wrote to Kosmas and she emailed me back to tell me the bill doesn't do "enough" to rein in costs (so...best to do nothing??) and that her decision was based on conscience. Absolute Malarkey.
According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this is what the bill would do for Florida 24 residents:
• Improve employer-based coverage for 463,000 residents.
• Provide credits to help pay for coverage for up to 176,000 households.
• Improve Medicare for 122,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 11,700 seniors.
• Allow 21,000 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 19,800 small businesses.
• Provide coverage for 92,000 uninsured residents.
• Protect up to 1,400 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $12 million.
What does she present to say it costs too much? NOTHING. However, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the Democratic bill with a strong public option SAVES tons of money.
Again, we need a better Democrat. Not a Creigh Deeds Democrat.
We need Paul Partyka.
It isn't just that he is a real Democrat that will fight for healthcare reform. He has an amazing American success story involving a tough immigrant upbringing with a displaced family to achieving the American Dream through hard work and education. I knew Paul Partyka as mayor when I lived in Winter Springs. Winter Springs is a very conservative city in the most conservative county in Florida, yet Partyka served two terms here as mayor, and then served as an official with the Seminole Democrats. He is currently the president of the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is also currently a managing partner at a commericial real estate firm.
More importantly, he is a Democrat with true Democratic principles. Most importantly, he is a Democrat who can win.
Suzanne Kosmas cannot. The Obama Democrats who worked tirelessly to put her in office will not be there for her in 2010. The independents will not vote for someone who doesn't stand for something. And the GOP she tried to appease with her vote? They will go for the real conservative in the race, thank you very much.
This is what primaries are for. I handily endorse Paul P. Partyka for Congressional District 24, and urge my fellow Democrats to do the same.
The bill that passed the House was not perfect...nor could it be. There are things that I hated about it, such as the Stupak amendment. However, as a Democrat, I never would have allowed opponents to kill the bill and defeat not only our best, but our only chance at reform. If that had happened, healthcare reform would have died. Again. And this time, it would have been permanent. With a Democratic supermajority in the House and Senate, and a Democratic president in the White House, if we couldn't get reform passed now...we never would have.
But had Suzanne Kosmas gotten her way, the very same person who rode into office on the coattails of Barack Obama campaigning on healthcare reform, the bill would have been defeated.
That means millions more would be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Millions more would be without any type of health insurance for their families because of job loss or rescission. And millions more would die.
I asked Paul Partyka what he would have done. He told me that he believes in Heathcare Reform and would have voted to move the bill to the Senate "to continue the process and not slow it down". On the other hand, the Democrats that worked hard to elect Kosmas watched in amazement at her betrayal of our signature issue by joining Republicans in voting to defeat reform.
I wrote to Kosmas and she emailed me back to tell me the bill doesn't do "enough" to rein in costs (so...best to do nothing??) and that her decision was based on conscience. Absolute Malarkey.
According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this is what the bill would do for Florida 24 residents:
• Improve employer-based coverage for 463,000 residents.
• Provide credits to help pay for coverage for up to 176,000 households.
• Improve Medicare for 122,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 11,700 seniors.
• Allow 21,000 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 19,800 small businesses.
• Provide coverage for 92,000 uninsured residents.
• Protect up to 1,400 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $12 million.
What does she present to say it costs too much? NOTHING. However, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the Democratic bill with a strong public option SAVES tons of money.
Again, we need a better Democrat. Not a Creigh Deeds Democrat.
We need Paul Partyka.
It isn't just that he is a real Democrat that will fight for healthcare reform. He has an amazing American success story involving a tough immigrant upbringing with a displaced family to achieving the American Dream through hard work and education. I knew Paul Partyka as mayor when I lived in Winter Springs. Winter Springs is a very conservative city in the most conservative county in Florida, yet Partyka served two terms here as mayor, and then served as an official with the Seminole Democrats. He is currently the president of the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is also currently a managing partner at a commericial real estate firm.
More importantly, he is a Democrat with true Democratic principles. Most importantly, he is a Democrat who can win.
Suzanne Kosmas cannot. The Obama Democrats who worked tirelessly to put her in office will not be there for her in 2010. The independents will not vote for someone who doesn't stand for something. And the GOP she tried to appease with her vote? They will go for the real conservative in the race, thank you very much.
This is what primaries are for. I handily endorse Paul P. Partyka for Congressional District 24, and urge my fellow Democrats to do the same.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Crist and Sen. LeMieux Go After Corruption..Don't Need to Look Far..
Corruption is synonymous with Miami, yet finally Crist has called for a statewide grand jury to examine political corruption. Senator and Seat Warmer George Lemieux has chimed in and decried the "culture of corruption" in South Florida.
Maybe they should clean their own house first.
Miami Herald:
Scott Rothstein seemed to have an endless supply of money, and no one bothered to ask how he got it...including the new champions of anti-corruption.
The article explains that Scott Rothstein is more than a fundraiser, he is a close friend of both Crist and LeMieux. Rothstein attended LeMieux's swearing-in ceremony in September. He attended Crist's wedding reception--and Crist attended his. Ironically, Crist appointed Rothstein to a judicial nominating panel in Broward. (He was removed this week.)
But all is good when the corruption is benefiting you, I suppose:
Maybe they should clean their own house first.
Miami Herald:
In the past decade, Rothstein -- a Broward lawyer who allegedly bilked investors over bogus legal settlements -- helped steer about $2 million in campaign contributions to political causes, committees and candidates, including Gov. Charlie Crist.
Scott Rothstein seemed to have an endless supply of money, and no one bothered to ask how he got it...including the new champions of anti-corruption.
LeMieux acknowledged he ``didn't understand how he [Rothstein] made all his money.''
The article explains that Scott Rothstein is more than a fundraiser, he is a close friend of both Crist and LeMieux. Rothstein attended LeMieux's swearing-in ceremony in September. He attended Crist's wedding reception--and Crist attended his. Ironically, Crist appointed Rothstein to a judicial nominating panel in Broward. (He was removed this week.)
But all is good when the corruption is benefiting you, I suppose:
``You don't look at someone who's generous and just criticize,'' said LeMieux, who also ran Crist's governor's campaign before taking the job with Crist.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Crist Rejects $444 million In Unemployment Help--Raises Taxes On Small Business
Thanks Charlie! Governor flip-flop, who is desperately trying to show conservatives he is one of them, joined with the Republican legislature and rejected $444 million from the stimulus for unemployment help. All because Charlie appeared with Obama and was given such a hard time about it by his right-wing buddies.
Oh, it gets better.
Because he and the GOP legislature rejected that needed money, the state announced that unemployment taxes on small businesses across the state are going up as much as 983%. You read that right...983%. That is how much small businesses are forced to pay since that idiot and his friends didn't take $444 million in stimulus dollars offered.
That is the largest tax increase in our State's history--coming from a "staunchly conservative" Legislature and State Executive, and at the worst possible time. High unemployment taxes on small business are the last thing our state needs when we are trying to encourage them to create jobs. What conservative principle is this again?
Oh, it gets better.
Because he and the GOP legislature rejected that needed money, the state announced that unemployment taxes on small businesses across the state are going up as much as 983%. You read that right...983%. That is how much small businesses are forced to pay since that idiot and his friends didn't take $444 million in stimulus dollars offered.
That is the largest tax increase in our State's history--coming from a "staunchly conservative" Legislature and State Executive, and at the worst possible time. High unemployment taxes on small business are the last thing our state needs when we are trying to encourage them to create jobs. What conservative principle is this again?
Friday, November 20, 2009
8 Million Children Have NO Health Care Insurance...
So what are the opponents of Health Care Reform offering to solve this crisis?
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sorry, Obama Was Wrong to Bow. So Was Reagan.
As an Obama fan, I can say that he did "royally" screw up. American citizens should never bow to royalty. We are always expected to bend over backwards to not offend other cultures, WHICH I DON'T MIND! After all, we are American. It is who we are. It is one reason the world looks up to us.
We don't have many of our own customs...we are still a young country and very heterogeneous. But one of our very few customs stems from our founding belief that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
We never bow, we never courtsey.
We don't dip Old Glory either in ceremonies, but you get the drift.
It is entirely respectful for a subject of a monarch to bow, even if the monarch is a figurehead. A British national courtsies to her Queen or a Japaneese citizen bows to his emperor. But Americans do not have, nor recognize, monarchs. That is why it is appropriate to shake hands and smile, but never bow. Other countries should realize that as Americans, we don't believe in monarchs.
Yes, Obama was wrong. But all of these conservatives yelling foul are the same idiots who dismissed Ronald Reagan NOT ONLY BOWING but also BEING KNIGHTED BY THE QUEEN. This is not only wrong, but illegal.
Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution says: "No title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
Be consistent, hypocrites.
We don't have many of our own customs...we are still a young country and very heterogeneous. But one of our very few customs stems from our founding belief that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
We never bow, we never courtsey.
We don't dip Old Glory either in ceremonies, but you get the drift.
It is entirely respectful for a subject of a monarch to bow, even if the monarch is a figurehead. A British national courtsies to her Queen or a Japaneese citizen bows to his emperor. But Americans do not have, nor recognize, monarchs. That is why it is appropriate to shake hands and smile, but never bow. Other countries should realize that as Americans, we don't believe in monarchs.
Yes, Obama was wrong. But all of these conservatives yelling foul are the same idiots who dismissed Ronald Reagan NOT ONLY BOWING but also BEING KNIGHTED BY THE QUEEN. This is not only wrong, but illegal.
Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution says: "No title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
Be consistent, hypocrites.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009
Suzanne Kosmas-D, FL-24, Just Lost Her Seat
Suzanne replaced Tom Feeney, the most corrupt, GOP Abramoff scandal-ridden politician in the House: and we were all so excited.
But yesterday, Suzanne said this was a "conscience" decision and that she voted NO because it wouldn't help rein in the costs of helath care. Yes, Suzanne, doing nothing and allowing insurance companies to have free reign is much better.
What irritates me the most is that this woman campaigned on health care reform. I guess she just wanted to ride the Obama's coattails.
Screw you.
The GOP is very happy about this...of course, Suzanne, they aren't going to vote for you. They will have their OWN conservative to run, thank you very much.
Independents overwhelmingly favor this bill with the public option...not sure why they would go for you next year either.
So that leaves the Democrats. YOUR BASE. The people who would actually campaign, donate money, work the phones, and VOTE. And you just pissed them off.
Here was my message to her:
Subject: Your disappointing vote on healthcare reform
Message Text: Mz. Kosmas, Why in God's name are you supporting the GOP effort to block desperately needed Healthcare Reform? We will never have this large a Dem majority and will never again get this chance. Let me be clear...if Democrats fail to deliver on reform that was promised, WE WILL STAY HOME next election. Appealing to conservatives is foolish..they will NOT vote for you! Independents want the public option, and won't reward you for doing nothing. THAT leaves your base. People like me who work for the Seminole Democrats, knock on doors, raise money, and work tirelessly to elect solid Democrats. What is the point if you are going to align with the GOP to shoot down signature legislation?!? If this bill comes back after conference, please rethink your decision, or you will have many loyal Dems like me rethinking ours.
Contact Kosmas with your own message: https://forms.house.gov/kosmas/webforms/contact.html
But yesterday, Suzanne said this was a "conscience" decision and that she voted NO because it wouldn't help rein in the costs of helath care. Yes, Suzanne, doing nothing and allowing insurance companies to have free reign is much better.
What irritates me the most is that this woman campaigned on health care reform. I guess she just wanted to ride the Obama's coattails.
Screw you.
The GOP is very happy about this...of course, Suzanne, they aren't going to vote for you. They will have their OWN conservative to run, thank you very much.
Independents overwhelmingly favor this bill with the public option...not sure why they would go for you next year either.
So that leaves the Democrats. YOUR BASE. The people who would actually campaign, donate money, work the phones, and VOTE. And you just pissed them off.
Here was my message to her:
Subject: Your disappointing vote on healthcare reform
Message Text: Mz. Kosmas, Why in God's name are you supporting the GOP effort to block desperately needed Healthcare Reform? We will never have this large a Dem majority and will never again get this chance. Let me be clear...if Democrats fail to deliver on reform that was promised, WE WILL STAY HOME next election. Appealing to conservatives is foolish..they will NOT vote for you! Independents want the public option, and won't reward you for doing nothing. THAT leaves your base. People like me who work for the Seminole Democrats, knock on doors, raise money, and work tirelessly to elect solid Democrats. What is the point if you are going to align with the GOP to shoot down signature legislation?!? If this bill comes back after conference, please rethink your decision, or you will have many loyal Dems like me rethinking ours.
Contact Kosmas with your own message: https://forms.house.gov/kosmas/webforms/contact.html
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Local Business Attacks Health Care Reform
The veternarian clinic on Broadway in Oviedo has a sign up that says "Vote NO on Healthcare".
Brilliant. A Tea Party Veternarian. And apparently one stupid enough to think the best way to get his message to a representative is to advertise on a run-down sign in front of a dive.
To be perfectly clear, THOUSANDS of people here in Central Florida don't have insurance. They either don't have jobs, have crappy jobs that don't cover their expenses (although I know that can't be you, Mr. Tea Party Vet.), or have a pre-existing condition.
That means that their condition goes untreated until it gets so bad that they have to go to the emergency room and pray to get seen within 10 hours (which will afford them some time to figure out how to pay the inevitable bill).
That is, until you turn the magic age of 65. (DKos member Hunter put it best... 63 or 64? Socialism. 65? Oh, that's fine then.)
Someone who is this dispassionate about people should probably not be operating on your animal.
Brilliant. A Tea Party Veternarian. And apparently one stupid enough to think the best way to get his message to a representative is to advertise on a run-down sign in front of a dive.
To be perfectly clear, THOUSANDS of people here in Central Florida don't have insurance. They either don't have jobs, have crappy jobs that don't cover their expenses (although I know that can't be you, Mr. Tea Party Vet.), or have a pre-existing condition.
That means that their condition goes untreated until it gets so bad that they have to go to the emergency room and pray to get seen within 10 hours (which will afford them some time to figure out how to pay the inevitable bill).
That is, until you turn the magic age of 65. (DKos member Hunter put it best... 63 or 64? Socialism. 65? Oh, that's fine then.)
Someone who is this dispassionate about people should probably not be operating on your animal.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Seminole Democrat's Election Endorsements 2009
Longwood Commissioner District 1: Bob Cortez. He's the challenger, and Holt hasn't done much.
Longwood Commissioner District 5: No endorsement.
Oviedo Mayor: Mary Lou Andrews. Darryl Lopez is a right-wing libertarian. We need less of those in Central Florida.
Oviedo Councilman Group 1: Judith Smith. She is the only African-American in any of the races this year. We need more of those in Central Florida--especially Oviedo.
Not to mention, if elected, she would be the first African-American to be elected in Oviedo's 84 year history.
Remember to vote tomorrow...Nov. 3rd.
Longwood Commissioner District 5: No endorsement.
Oviedo Mayor: Mary Lou Andrews. Darryl Lopez is a right-wing libertarian. We need less of those in Central Florida.
Oviedo Councilman Group 1: Judith Smith. She is the only African-American in any of the races this year. We need more of those in Central Florida--especially Oviedo.
Not to mention, if elected, she would be the first African-American to be elected in Oviedo's 84 year history.
Remember to vote tomorrow...Nov. 3rd.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Ask One Question of a Fox News Supporter
From zenbassoon:
I've been having some discussions on FB about Fox News and the WH calling them out for what they are. They're all in a high dudgeon about the matter. I've been trying to get them to shut up about it, and I've found a strategy that, while not quite shutting them up, gets them to do some actual research.
My first approach is to tell them to put their money where their mouth is. I tell them I will give them a dollar--up to a set amount--for each POSITIVE story about President Obama they can find on Fox. And I mean positive about him PERSONALLY, such as "Obama has done this good thing" or "Obama has a success with that thing" and so on. That usually gets crickets for quite a while. I did have one friend gamely try it, but he only found stories about mainly the House or Democratic policies that were neutral at best. Not one mentioned Obama. He also asked me to find negative stories about Obama on the so-called "liberal media" I had 6 from CNN in the span of about 2 minutes.
My second approach is when they start spouting off about "taking away our freedoms", or the "socialist marxist agenda". I calmly ask them for specific freedoms that have been taken away, of talked about being taken away by Obama. Crickets. I also ask them for specifics about this "agenda". The only thing I've heard? Tha Anita Dunn joke. That's it. When they bring up the banks, or GM, I say specific socialist language and plan, please. Crickets. When they bring up health care, I bring up the VA. Well-but-yeah-our soldiers-freedom-but-no-does not compute-
But what really chafes their willies is when they start spouting the "important stories of the day covered by Fox and not covered by anyone else" bit. I calmly say that those stories are not newsworthy. I've had heads explode from that one. Although I had one just the other day who was moaning about how no one covered the 9/12 teabag fest and I gave them Rick Sanchez. THAT shut him up about that.
So in the end, my friends, although I do have a tendency to have my Lib-dar up at times and fume in righteous indignation, by calmly asking for the specifics of their attacks, by asking for the evidence, you may turn some of your wingnut friends into something less wingnutty, a wingnut with a grain of salt...
My next task? Some of these wingnut FB friends have started with anti-Muslim, "They're all Jihadists out to kill everybody" talk. THAT I'll need help with.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Empty Chair Charlie Takes Off 2 1/2 Months Annually
Charlie Crist ran hard against the Democratic candidate for Florida governor, Jim Davis, just three years ago. He kept running stupid ads showing an empty chair, because Jim Davis missed some votes the year he was out campaigning. It was disingenuous, because Jim's record was stellar until that year---it's hard to campaign as a member of the state legislature and make every vote.
Given Charlie's schedule today, one wonders why he ran so hard for a job he clearly doesn't want:
We have an unprecedented economic crisis, foreclosure crisis, and insurance crisis for which we need leadership and a governor who isn't afraid of hard work. What we have is a clearly disinterested opportunist who is desperate to leave before his term ends so nothing will hurt his pursuit for higher office.
Hopfully, we'll do better next time.
Given Charlie's schedule today, one wonders why he ran so hard for a job he clearly doesn't want:
Since campaigning three years ago on a promise to work hard for Floridians, Gov. Charlie Crist has scheduled the equivalent of almost 10 weeks off annually.
A Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times review of Crist's official daily schedule is a telling indication of how he mixes governing, campaigning for U.S. Senate and taking enough personal time to, in his own words, "recharge."
On 81 regular work days, Crist had no events scheduled or took off personal time. On 129 other occasions, the schedule shows Crist worked half days - just a brief phone call sometimes - equal to at least 64.5 more days off, the Herald/Times found.
The most notable change in his schedule lately: Crist is phoning it in more often in meetings with staff. He also is spending more time away from the Capitol, holding news conferences in South Florida, Tampa Bay and Central Florida - big television markets where he has "after-hours'' fundraisers.
We have an unprecedented economic crisis, foreclosure crisis, and insurance crisis for which we need leadership and a governor who isn't afraid of hard work. What we have is a clearly disinterested opportunist who is desperate to leave before his term ends so nothing will hurt his pursuit for higher office.
Hopfully, we'll do better next time.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Bigot refused to marry interracial couple: My phone call to him
This has got to stop:
Wow, he lets black people use his bathroom...
This justice of the peace refused to marry a couple, one of several he has refused because they were mixed races. Never mind that the Supreme Court struck this practice down back in the 60s with Loving v. Virginia.
Of course, the MSM is not picking this story up either. As a happily married man with a gorgeous black wife, I tend to take this personally.
Several blogs posted where he could be reached, (including a reader here), so I decided to call. Now, I don't believe in calling someone to harrass, calling late, or anything like that. I just felt that someone should educate the poor man and let him know that the amount of pigmentation in the skin is not a good predictor of marriage. It's ridiculous at this day and age people still believe this...but it's disturbing it's from a Justice of the Peace. (Even if it's Louisiana).
His wife answered and I asked to speak to Keith. I could tell that she thought I was someone who knew him and tried to get him but he was unavailable. She asked if she could take a message. I told her to please let her husband know that I have been married to a beautiful black woman for almost two decades and have several well-adjusted, great children. She didn't quite know what to say, her tone changed a bit, and she said allright. I thanked her and hung up.
We were both polite, and she seemed like a nice lady. But her husband is a bigot.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long....
A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long...
"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."
Wow, he lets black people use his bathroom...
This justice of the peace refused to marry a couple, one of several he has refused because they were mixed races. Never mind that the Supreme Court struck this practice down back in the 60s with Loving v. Virginia.
Of course, the MSM is not picking this story up either. As a happily married man with a gorgeous black wife, I tend to take this personally.
Several blogs posted where he could be reached, (including a reader here), so I decided to call. Now, I don't believe in calling someone to harrass, calling late, or anything like that. I just felt that someone should educate the poor man and let him know that the amount of pigmentation in the skin is not a good predictor of marriage. It's ridiculous at this day and age people still believe this...but it's disturbing it's from a Justice of the Peace. (Even if it's Louisiana).
His wife answered and I asked to speak to Keith. I could tell that she thought I was someone who knew him and tried to get him but he was unavailable. She asked if she could take a message. I told her to please let her husband know that I have been married to a beautiful black woman for almost two decades and have several well-adjusted, great children. She didn't quite know what to say, her tone changed a bit, and she said allright. I thanked her and hung up.
We were both polite, and she seemed like a nice lady. But her husband is a bigot.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
30 GOP Senators Think Rape is Okay
Not an exaggeration...Al Franken introduced a bill to ensure this never happens again. 30 Republicans voted against it. There is no reason, no excuse.
Why does no one know about this? Why aren't the Democrats running ads? Why do we have to rely on motivated progressives?
Why is the GOP still considered a legitimate party?
Why does no one know about this? Why aren't the Democrats running ads? Why do we have to rely on motivated progressives?
Why is the GOP still considered a legitimate party?
In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was an employee for a private contractor in Iraq. She was drugged and brutally raped by her co-workers.
When she reported the crime to her employer, she was imprisoned in a shipping container. Given no food, water, or medical treatment. 24 hours later, US Embassy agents rescued her.
Her employer destroyed evidence so that she could not file criminal charges. They claimed that the contract she signed with them meant that she couldn't even take them to civil court.
In 2009, the Senate voted to not fund companies which force their employees to forfeit their rights to sue for sexual assault or harassment.
Thirty Senators voted against this amendment. All of them republican.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
List of Reasons Why Obama Deserves Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Committee: "For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman"
Of course conservatives don't think he deserves the Nobel, they can't even bring themselves to admit that he's a citizen. They cheer when our nation loses an international event if it means that Obama might look good. Obama Derangement Syndrome causes fits of rage and lapse of reason.
Yes, there are plenty of things that Obama has left to do...but in 9 short months he has single-handedly repaired our reputation in the world, completely overhauled our disasterous unilateral foreign policy, has refocused our commitment to diplomacy which has started to pay off, was the first president to reach out to the Muslim world on their territory, and tackled race relations in this nation to name just a few...
A fellow blogger made a list in just 45 minutes. This list is far from complete, but gives more than enough reasons for why President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize:
3/18/8 – Obama caught world-wide attention for his moving speech on race relations
7/24/8 - Obama lays the foundation for a new era of international relations and began inspiring renewed hope in American leadership during his campaign speech in Berlin
11/6/8 – Obama’s victory was hailed as a promise of hope for the world.
12/1/8 – Obama began plans to restore U.N. ambassador to cabinet rank.
1/22/9 - Appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East peace
1/22/9 – Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay
1/22/9 – Ordered comprehensive review of detention policies
1/22/9 – Prohibited use of torture
1/22/9 - Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons
1/23/9 – Lifted “Global Gag Rule” on international health groups
1/26/9 – Began to address climate change by increasing fuel standards for automobiles
1/26/9 – Appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change
1/27/9 - Signs Lily Ledbetter “Fair Pay” Act
2/1/9 – Expanded healthcare for children by signing SCHIP
2/5/9 - Again addressed energy conservation by increasing standards for appliances.
2/24/9 – Directed almost $1 billion for prevention and wellness to improve America’s health
2/25/9 - Initiated international efforts to reduce mercury emissions worldwide
2/27/9 – Committed to responsibly ending the war in Iraq
4/1/9 – Agreed to negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.
4/1/9 – Enhanced U.S. – China relations
4/2/9 - Led global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable economies
4/4/9 - Renewed dialog with NATO and other key allies
4/5/9 – Announced new strategy to responsible address international nuclear proliferation
4/13/9 – Began easing tension with Cuba through new policy stance
4/17/9 - Secured $5 billion in aid commitments "to bolster [Pakistan's] economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism"
4/22/9 - Developed the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.
5/8/9 – Proposed International Affairs budget that included funds to create a civilian response corps -- teams of civilian experts in rule of law, policing, transitional governance, economics, engineering, and other areas critical to helping rebuild war-torn societies; Provide $40 million for a "stabilization bridge fund," which would provide rapid response funds for the State Department to help with an international crisis situation.
6/4/9 - Gave historic address to the Muslim World in Cairo - "American is not at war with Islam" Foreign affairs experts insist that Obama's engagement with the Muslim world has been remarkable. "He has been able to dramatically change America's image in that region"
8/4/9 - Used DIPLOMACY to free 2 American journalists from a North Korea prison
9/18/9 - De-escalation of nuclear tension through repurposing of missile defense prompting Russia to withdraw its missile plan.
And from Racheal Maddow:
Her brilliant video points out not just conservative hypocrisy, but the list of past winners who fight for change who everyone thought deserved to win....even if they haven't always been successful in their pursuits.
Obama, so far, has been. It took Bush 8 years to destroy our economy, kill thoousands of our men and women and commit death and destruction based on lies, shred our constitution, alienate the majority of our own citizens by ignoring our most fundamental values, and make our nation a pariah in the world.
It has only taken Obama 9 months to reverse this. He didn't ask for or seek this award, but he deserves it.
Of course conservatives don't think he deserves the Nobel, they can't even bring themselves to admit that he's a citizen. They cheer when our nation loses an international event if it means that Obama might look good. Obama Derangement Syndrome causes fits of rage and lapse of reason.
Yes, there are plenty of things that Obama has left to do...but in 9 short months he has single-handedly repaired our reputation in the world, completely overhauled our disasterous unilateral foreign policy, has refocused our commitment to diplomacy which has started to pay off, was the first president to reach out to the Muslim world on their territory, and tackled race relations in this nation to name just a few...
A fellow blogger made a list in just 45 minutes. This list is far from complete, but gives more than enough reasons for why President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize:
3/18/8 – Obama caught world-wide attention for his moving speech on race relations
7/24/8 - Obama lays the foundation for a new era of international relations and began inspiring renewed hope in American leadership during his campaign speech in Berlin
11/6/8 – Obama’s victory was hailed as a promise of hope for the world.
12/1/8 – Obama began plans to restore U.N. ambassador to cabinet rank.
1/22/9 - Appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East peace
1/22/9 – Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay
1/22/9 – Ordered comprehensive review of detention policies
1/22/9 – Prohibited use of torture
1/22/9 - Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons
1/23/9 – Lifted “Global Gag Rule” on international health groups
1/26/9 – Began to address climate change by increasing fuel standards for automobiles
1/26/9 – Appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change
1/27/9 - Signs Lily Ledbetter “Fair Pay” Act
2/1/9 – Expanded healthcare for children by signing SCHIP
2/5/9 - Again addressed energy conservation by increasing standards for appliances.
2/24/9 – Directed almost $1 billion for prevention and wellness to improve America’s health
2/25/9 - Initiated international efforts to reduce mercury emissions worldwide
2/27/9 – Committed to responsibly ending the war in Iraq
4/1/9 – Agreed to negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.
4/1/9 – Enhanced U.S. – China relations
4/2/9 - Led global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable economies
4/4/9 - Renewed dialog with NATO and other key allies
4/5/9 – Announced new strategy to responsible address international nuclear proliferation
4/13/9 – Began easing tension with Cuba through new policy stance
4/17/9 - Secured $5 billion in aid commitments "to bolster [Pakistan's] economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism"
4/22/9 - Developed the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.
5/8/9 – Proposed International Affairs budget that included funds to create a civilian response corps -- teams of civilian experts in rule of law, policing, transitional governance, economics, engineering, and other areas critical to helping rebuild war-torn societies; Provide $40 million for a "stabilization bridge fund," which would provide rapid response funds for the State Department to help with an international crisis situation.
6/4/9 - Gave historic address to the Muslim World in Cairo - "American is not at war with Islam" Foreign affairs experts insist that Obama's engagement with the Muslim world has been remarkable. "He has been able to dramatically change America's image in that region"
8/4/9 - Used DIPLOMACY to free 2 American journalists from a North Korea prison
9/18/9 - De-escalation of nuclear tension through repurposing of missile defense prompting Russia to withdraw its missile plan.
And from Racheal Maddow:
Mr. Obama has bolstered this country’s global standing by renouncing torture, this time with credibility; by pledging to close the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; by rejoining the effort to combat climate change and to rid the world of nuclear weapons; by recommitting himself to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and by offering to engage Iran while also insisting that it abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Her brilliant video points out not just conservative hypocrisy, but the list of past winners who fight for change who everyone thought deserved to win....even if they haven't always been successful in their pursuits.
Obama, so far, has been. It took Bush 8 years to destroy our economy, kill thoousands of our men and women and commit death and destruction based on lies, shred our constitution, alienate the majority of our own citizens by ignoring our most fundamental values, and make our nation a pariah in the world.
It has only taken Obama 9 months to reverse this. He didn't ask for or seek this award, but he deserves it.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Saturday, October 03, 2009
The real story of yesterday's defeat...
When Bush was fucking up our country for 8 years,
when he was shredding the Constitution with illegal MASSIVE wiretaps on ordinary Americans,
when he was breaking every treaty we had with every country,
when he turned his back on our forefathers and condoned, even promoted, torture,
when he spent nearly a trillion dollars in a made-up war with Iraq, the bulk of which went to corrupt cronies or was just lost,
when he turned our glorious nation into a pariah state,
we were told by the GOP wingnuts that any dissent at all amounted to treason...
we were told we must want the terrorists to win...
we were told that we hated America.
Fast forward to yesterday, October 2, 2009. The media is trying its best to spin the story that Rio's win is Obama's embarrassment. Some, like FAUX News, are even trying to spin this as Obama's fault...even though a hundred speeches to Copenhagen wouldn't have changed the result.
The pundits are saying we should want to try to put this day behind us.
I say just the opposite.
We should use this day to beat their smug heads in. Because that is the day that the rethugs showed their true colors.
It is the first day they OPENLY cheered for America's defeat.
I have read blog posts on experiences that were similar to mine--people at a McDonald's I was at (which plays FAUXNEWS) cheered and high-fived when the announcement came that we lost. The contrast between them and the Americans in Chicago weeping on screen was priceless...I wish I had brought a camera.
America lost. Not Obama. Not Chicago. That was OUR loss. Chicago was just the city selected by the USOC. It represented us. Just as Rio's loss would have been Brazil's. It was OUR loss.
Roland Martin said it best:
Here's the real deal. Any success President Obama has will showcase how miserably Bush and the republicans goverened while they were in power for the past several years.
Screw if it hurts the country. Screw if it kills people.
If our job outlook doesn't improve--that's fantastic!
If Rush's "phony soldiers" are killed in Afghanistan...even better! It's Obama's war now!
If Americans by the millions continue to lose their health insurance and are forced to watch their loved ones die while KNOWING there are procedures out there...screw em!
A terrorist attack validating Cheney...that would be the BESTEST EVER!
America fails...HaHaHaHa (Actual quote from Erik E. from Redstate).
America failing isn't just the hope of these bastards, THEY ARE COUNTING ON IT for their survival and their return to power. Because they know if, God forbid, the Democrats actually find the spine to carry out their solutions to the past 8 years of GOP problems that are currently drowning this nation...then they will never get to return to power again.
Given the choice between America's future and their survival, they have chosen survival... at any cost.
If we had a 24-hour network like the GOP does, this would be the story--not how Chicago's loss is somehow a referendum on Obama.
But unlike the storyline we are being fed from the mainstream media, this should not bee seen as an "embarrassment" that we want to shy away from. It is a validation of who these bastards really are and what their agenda really is.
Let's make sure October 2, 2009 is a day that we won't let them forget...
when he was shredding the Constitution with illegal MASSIVE wiretaps on ordinary Americans,
when he was breaking every treaty we had with every country,
when he turned his back on our forefathers and condoned, even promoted, torture,
when he spent nearly a trillion dollars in a made-up war with Iraq, the bulk of which went to corrupt cronies or was just lost,
when he turned our glorious nation into a pariah state,
we were told by the GOP wingnuts that any dissent at all amounted to treason...
we were told we must want the terrorists to win...
we were told that we hated America.
Fast forward to yesterday, October 2, 2009. The media is trying its best to spin the story that Rio's win is Obama's embarrassment. Some, like FAUX News, are even trying to spin this as Obama's fault...even though a hundred speeches to Copenhagen wouldn't have changed the result.
The pundits are saying we should want to try to put this day behind us.
I say just the opposite.
We should use this day to beat their smug heads in. Because that is the day that the rethugs showed their true colors.
It is the first day they OPENLY cheered for America's defeat.
I have read blog posts on experiences that were similar to mine--people at a McDonald's I was at (which plays FAUXNEWS) cheered and high-fived when the announcement came that we lost. The contrast between them and the Americans in Chicago weeping on screen was priceless...I wish I had brought a camera.
America lost. Not Obama. Not Chicago. That was OUR loss. Chicago was just the city selected by the USOC. It represented us. Just as Rio's loss would have been Brazil's. It was OUR loss.
Roland Martin said it best:
So, to all the critics happy about us losing the 2016 games, turn in your flag lapel pins and stop boasting of being so patriotic. When an American city loses, like New York did in the the last go-round, we all lose. And all you critics are on the same level as the America haters all across the world.
Here's the real deal. Any success President Obama has will showcase how miserably Bush and the republicans goverened while they were in power for the past several years.
Screw if it hurts the country. Screw if it kills people.
If our job outlook doesn't improve--that's fantastic!
If Rush's "phony soldiers" are killed in Afghanistan...even better! It's Obama's war now!
If Americans by the millions continue to lose their health insurance and are forced to watch their loved ones die while KNOWING there are procedures out there...screw em!
A terrorist attack validating Cheney...that would be the BESTEST EVER!
America fails...HaHaHaHa (Actual quote from Erik E. from Redstate).
America failing isn't just the hope of these bastards, THEY ARE COUNTING ON IT for their survival and their return to power. Because they know if, God forbid, the Democrats actually find the spine to carry out their solutions to the past 8 years of GOP problems that are currently drowning this nation...then they will never get to return to power again.
Given the choice between America's future and their survival, they have chosen survival... at any cost.
If we had a 24-hour network like the GOP does, this would be the story--not how Chicago's loss is somehow a referendum on Obama.
But unlike the storyline we are being fed from the mainstream media, this should not bee seen as an "embarrassment" that we want to shy away from. It is a validation of who these bastards really are and what their agenda really is.
Let's make sure October 2, 2009 is a day that we won't let them forget...
Finally, Support for the GOP Health Care "Plan"
This says it all:
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) - Congressional Republicans received key backing today for their health care plan, picking up support from the National Association of Undertakers.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Democrats Deserve To Lose
I remember those dark years of 2002-2006. The GOP got everything they wanted, and the Democrats were helpless to stop them. Giant tax cuts for the wealthy and Big Oil, revision of our bankruptcy laws WRITTEN BY THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES that prevented you from declaring bankruptcy even if it was due to OBSCENE medical bills or costs incurred from serving your country overseas, giant spending bills that only helped crony corporations screwing us in Iraq, and so on and so forth.
The Democrats could do nothing. They whined and cried that the GOP had such a huge majority in the House and 55 seats in the Senate. The GOP perfected their 50+1. We couldn't stop them. IF ONLY we had a slight majority.
Americans were fed up. In 2006, the Democrats retook the House. Mild reforms were passed, like the minimum wage, but the country was thrilled that we weren't being completely screwed by the GOP anymore. And America was patient with the Democrats because the Democrats whined...if only we were a little bigger, and if ONLY we didn't have BUSH in the White House to veto everything. THEN things could get done.
IF ONLY...
Americans were so fed up, that in 2008 we got everything we could want. A DEMOCRATIC president. A SUPERMAJORITY! FILLIBUSTER-PROOF 60! UNSTOPPABLE, we were told. NOW we could really get things to change...
Except, no.
No government negotiated drug prices, no timeline for Iraq, no environmental reform, no energy bill.
No public option. (Maybe in reconciliation, but I won't hold my breath).
Democrats, what the fuck.
What the hell is the point? What was that giant mandate for? WHY are you so spineless and stupid?
YOU WILL NEVER IN OUR LIFETIME HAVE THIS MANY DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS!
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN!
Start acting like a majority and pass the damn reforms you were put in office to do!
America elected you so you could put DEMOCRATIC solutions to these REPUBLICAN screw-ups! Not allow Republicans, who just want to get back in power, to stop all reforms and all bills. They haven't conceded anything, yet you have conceded everything in a futile effort to be "bi-partisan". That only works if the other side is interested in working with YOU! They are not! They are not interested in fixing any of their mess! They just want YOU to lose!!
Now I hear some Senators saying they won't vote for anything unless the GOP is on board. Well, f me.... Now we are told that we can't do anything with a supermajority and control of both the executive and legislative.
Folks, we could have 99 Senate seats and all the House seats, and we still wouldn't pass anything...because they would cower in fear of the lone GOP Senator.
Don't expect us to bust our tails or give our hard earned dollars to help next cycle. You will lose seats, but not because of GOP ideas or GOP resurgence, it will be because Democrats and Independents have just given up on you.
Take it away, Stewart....
The Democrats could do nothing. They whined and cried that the GOP had such a huge majority in the House and 55 seats in the Senate. The GOP perfected their 50+1. We couldn't stop them. IF ONLY we had a slight majority.
Americans were fed up. In 2006, the Democrats retook the House. Mild reforms were passed, like the minimum wage, but the country was thrilled that we weren't being completely screwed by the GOP anymore. And America was patient with the Democrats because the Democrats whined...if only we were a little bigger, and if ONLY we didn't have BUSH in the White House to veto everything. THEN things could get done.
IF ONLY...
Americans were so fed up, that in 2008 we got everything we could want. A DEMOCRATIC president. A SUPERMAJORITY! FILLIBUSTER-PROOF 60! UNSTOPPABLE, we were told. NOW we could really get things to change...
Except, no.
No government negotiated drug prices, no timeline for Iraq, no environmental reform, no energy bill.
No public option. (Maybe in reconciliation, but I won't hold my breath).
Democrats, what the fuck.
What the hell is the point? What was that giant mandate for? WHY are you so spineless and stupid?
YOU WILL NEVER IN OUR LIFETIME HAVE THIS MANY DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS!
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN!
Start acting like a majority and pass the damn reforms you were put in office to do!
America elected you so you could put DEMOCRATIC solutions to these REPUBLICAN screw-ups! Not allow Republicans, who just want to get back in power, to stop all reforms and all bills. They haven't conceded anything, yet you have conceded everything in a futile effort to be "bi-partisan". That only works if the other side is interested in working with YOU! They are not! They are not interested in fixing any of their mess! They just want YOU to lose!!
Now I hear some Senators saying they won't vote for anything unless the GOP is on board. Well, f me.... Now we are told that we can't do anything with a supermajority and control of both the executive and legislative.
Folks, we could have 99 Senate seats and all the House seats, and we still wouldn't pass anything...because they would cower in fear of the lone GOP Senator.
Don't expect us to bust our tails or give our hard earned dollars to help next cycle. You will lose seats, but not because of GOP ideas or GOP resurgence, it will be because Democrats and Independents have just given up on you.
Take it away, Stewart....
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