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
Thursday, December 31, 2009
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
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