Last week In Belgrade, Montana, people attended a town meeting prepared to actually listen to President Obama talk about health care reform in America.
Many watched and wondered to see if the debate on health care would turn into a circus sideshow like so many town meetings before. Over a 1,000 participants attended the town meeting wondering if it would happen again in Montana. Well, there were a few protesters but the citizens of Montana who were excited to hear what the President had to say far outnumbered the fringe groups.
On this occasion people with legitimate concerns and legitimate points to make were not overwhelmed by the wing nuts and screamers who take their marching orders from blowhard radio, right wing television, and the fringe Internet.
These idiots have attended town hall meetings more to be seen than heard, and think by creating chaos makes them great Americans. They have been convinced by others that we are dying to hear from them and the louder the better. People who think that if they get filmed making an ass of themselves on the local news, they have become stars of their own reality TV series.
The only true reality is the violent opposition isn't really about health care reform; it is about their opposition to President Obama in general. They can’t establish enough of an argument to beat the Harvard-educated President in an open debate from the White House, so they attack him on an issue where they see him as being vulnerable.
Now we have Sarah Palin getting involved as uninformed as ever making statements about so-called "death panels." With her involvement in the discussion, the debate has just become exponentially dumber. They disrupt what others came to educate themselves by screaming how they don’t want government health care programs as if the already established Medicare isn't one itself. These wild eyed, insane asylum red faced escapees, screaming about how Obama wants to kill Grandma. With the help of Sarah Palin comments, he has now become Jack Kevorkian. Someone who demonstrated on the national stage her lack of knowledge of anything of substance, is going to comment on something as complex as health care?!?!
The opposition could not win the fight in November when Obama and the Democratic Party totally dominated John McCain, Sarah Palin, and the whole Republican Party’s defeat with this one election, so they try to tear the President down on health care reform with lies and distortions. The Republican message now is, “He's a Socialist selling socialized medicine and he wants to kill Grandma.” This is their best argument? How sad.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tea Baggers versus Men of Honor
As I was in Baltimore today I noted streets that were named in honor of two great men who had contributed and made a large difference to our society. One was Thurgood Marshall; the other was Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland on July 2, 1908, and was the grandson of a slave. His father, William Marshall, instilled in him from youth an appreciation for the United States Constitution and the rule of law. As the years went on, Thurgood Marshall won 14 of the 19 cases he argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of the government. To stress this point, Thurgood Marshall represented and won more cases before the United States Supreme Court than anyone before him.
He was appointed to the Supreme Court and until his retirement, Justice Marshall established a record for supporting the voiceless in American. Thurgood Marshall left a legacy that expanded that early sensitivity to include all of America's voiceless. Justice Marshall died on January 24, 1993.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, George on January 15, 1929. In 1954, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. King was always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race. King was a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. His insistence on non-violent protest to make Americans aware of racial inequality put himself in constant personal danger with those in power. His constant vigilance to make what was wrong and unjust to those whose civil rights, guaranteed in the Constitution, were being violated and the path to make things right, always made him an object of hatred by those who disagreed with what he was trying to achieve.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
As many know, on the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated by one of those who disagreed with his views.
So in conclusion to this piece, I then thought of our current events of the fanatical right wing “Tea Baggers” conduct at the town meetings where public discussion should be taking place to discuss a very pertinent and serious topic that is affecting us all. Their ignorantly brash behavior that is only designed to disrupt the logical debating process is a sad statement to their base values to the American political process.
So the final epiphany of comparing what these two good men did to correct what they saw what was wrong with American society in their time; to the outlandish blowhard’s ignorant tactics being employed today. I think that I can say with the utmost confidence that not one of these “Tea Baggers” will ever be honored in the way that Thurgood Marshall or Martin Luther King have been.
Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland on July 2, 1908, and was the grandson of a slave. His father, William Marshall, instilled in him from youth an appreciation for the United States Constitution and the rule of law. As the years went on, Thurgood Marshall won 14 of the 19 cases he argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of the government. To stress this point, Thurgood Marshall represented and won more cases before the United States Supreme Court than anyone before him.
He was appointed to the Supreme Court and until his retirement, Justice Marshall established a record for supporting the voiceless in American. Thurgood Marshall left a legacy that expanded that early sensitivity to include all of America's voiceless. Justice Marshall died on January 24, 1993.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, George on January 15, 1929. In 1954, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. King was always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race. King was a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. His insistence on non-violent protest to make Americans aware of racial inequality put himself in constant personal danger with those in power. His constant vigilance to make what was wrong and unjust to those whose civil rights, guaranteed in the Constitution, were being violated and the path to make things right, always made him an object of hatred by those who disagreed with what he was trying to achieve.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
As many know, on the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated by one of those who disagreed with his views.
So in conclusion to this piece, I then thought of our current events of the fanatical right wing “Tea Baggers” conduct at the town meetings where public discussion should be taking place to discuss a very pertinent and serious topic that is affecting us all. Their ignorantly brash behavior that is only designed to disrupt the logical debating process is a sad statement to their base values to the American political process.
So the final epiphany of comparing what these two good men did to correct what they saw what was wrong with American society in their time; to the outlandish blowhard’s ignorant tactics being employed today. I think that I can say with the utmost confidence that not one of these “Tea Baggers” will ever be honored in the way that Thurgood Marshall or Martin Luther King have been.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Happy Woodstock 40th Anniversary
I want to start off with the best wishes to everyone who are a part of the Woodstock Era Nation. I know I don’t have to tell everyone the history of Woodstock as I know all can savor their own memories. This posting is to send the blessing of Peace, Love For One Another, and listen to the best Rock & Roll Music that was produce in that era.
So to hell with the Conservative Talk Blowhards who would try to Divide, Find Blame, and just plain try to Destroy The Harmony Of This Diversity Nation.
Take a moment and see how what could have been a bad situation, turned out as a culture icon moment because those at Woodstock chose to accept, worked together, and let diversity be their banner.
So to hell with the Conservative Talk Blowhards who would try to Divide, Find Blame, and just plain try to Destroy The Harmony Of This Diversity Nation.
Take a moment and see how what could have been a bad situation, turned out as a culture icon moment because those at Woodstock chose to accept, worked together, and let diversity be their banner.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Nature will be dazzling the sky this week.
This week is the best viewing for meteor showers.
First I need to apologize as I have been very occupied with a local political issue. To remind everyone we use to have a very good Moderate Republican Congressman by the name of Wayne Gilchrest. He was defeated in the primary by a Right Wing Nut Job. The good news is that the Moderate Democratic primary winner beat out the Republican Fanatic in the general election.
The ex-office manager who ran the moderate Republican Congressman’s local office in Salisbury, MD, has given me a call and asked me to help on a local issue so I have been very busy with this of late. That being said, I want to pass on asking everyone to take some time tonight and enjoy nature at its best.
If you can stay up late or get up early, tonight or tomorrow morning you will be provided with some great viewing. The annual Perseid meteor shower is gearing up now, and NASA is predicting that it may be better than usual this year.
The Earth crosses a strand of old dust that was released in the year 1610 from Comet Swift-Tuttle. The meteor rate could reach 200 per hour.
If you're not up at that hour, try taking a look anytime after dark tonight. If it's not cloudy, you should see some meteors. In fact, you can start looking any night this week. Meteors can usually be seen several days before and after their peek period.
The Perseid shower has always been very faithful, producing one meteor per minute or better.
Meteors can appear in any part of the sky, and some fireballs are possible. Their tails will all point back toward the constellation Perseus, from which the shower gets its name.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Introduction to “Rowdy” Randy Billy Bob Fokkertard
Howdy You All! My name is Randy Billy Bob Fokkertard but everyone rounds here just calls me “Rowdy” for short. I just met this here Engineer of Knowledge and he was telling me about hows he useta live in Charleston, South Carolina when he was in the Navy and stuff and I live here too in South Caroline most of the time when I’m not hauling hogs cross the country. Wes got talkin and jawin about our Governor from these here parts.
Well I was tellin Engineer of Knowledge hows we here in South Carolina understand how he gots all mixed up bout bein married and stuff. First off if yous just look at our license plates on our cars.
You see that little crescent moon and palm tree…he just thought he was in one of those Arab countries where they can have more than one wife…And with his wife bein all religious and stuff….. Well you knows he wasent getting any from her…not without her praying to Jesus and stuff first...Hee Hee. He probably wasin getting it maybe more than four times a year….You know what I mean? Hee Hee. Besides...you ever take a good look at her....Wolf Wolf...Hee Hee...Know what I mean?
Now let me tell among you all how that Arab President we all got is just ruin this country. I was back home attending my local John Birch Society meetin and wes decided to attend all the local Town Meetins that these Liberal Democratic Congressmen gonna be talkin at. Well when they start with that liberal Mamby Pamby Commie stuff…Well I’ll tell you right now…Were gonna give those boys a “What For” right outa the shoot. Hee Hee, they won’t even knows whats gonna hit-em.
Now I’m tellin you right here and now…Among you all should join them Tea Bag people even though thems are probably Yankees and stuff but I’m pretty sure they all are good Christian folks. Hows bout now among you all listen to what I'm tellin you all cause I knows all about this kind of stuff to keep our country safe from those Arab terrorist tryin to destroy our God Given Freedoms.
I’ll be gettin up and down with you all real soon but until then you all take care and God Bless. Praise Jesus.
The Fanatical Right Wing Nut Jobs, “Tea Baggers,” Next Desperate Move
The Fanatical Right Wing of the Republican Party is now ratcheting up the paranoid, hateful and just plain “Fact Challenged” rhetoric. The latest for the Tea Bagging organizers is promoting and providing detailed directions on how to disrupt Town Hall meetings that will be held by Democratic Congressmen this August.
Lobbyist run groups like, “Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works,” which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform.
A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the Freedom Works website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating Town Halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress.
Their suggested instructions are:
1. Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: “Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Congressman on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Congressman should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”
2. Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Congressman's presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Congressman's statements early.”
3. Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: “The goal is to rattle the Congressman speaking and get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before they even take questions.”
These right wing nut jobs want to ensure their democratic rights by disrupting the democratic debate process…isn’t this rich?!?
Joe McCarthy would have been delighted to see his own tactics refined so well. Don’t even pretend anymore to anything resembling an intelligent debate or basic respect. Just get out to these Town Halls, be really disruptive, get as much media attention as possible and hope that the bullying actually intimidates both Congressman and the people attending. And all of this from the Party of Victimization, who apparently aren’t so victimized that they don’t mind bullying other people. Change the conversation to your own personal bad behavior so that those interested in talking with their Congressperson never get a real chance to do so.
Lee Atwater before he repented would have been really proud of this also.
Lee Atwater on his last days, called those who he lied and spread damaging rumors about. He needed to clean his soul and clear his conscience before he died. One of the people he made sure he called and apologized to was Willie Horton, of the Dukakis Presidential Campaign.
When Lee appeared on Frontline as his means to apologize to the nation through the mass media he is quoted as saying, “I was wrong to follow the meanness of Conservatism. I should have been trying to help people instead of taking advantage of them. I don’t hate anyone anymore. For the first time in my life I don’t hate somebody. I have nothing but good feelings toward people."
Maybe those of the fanatic right wing should take note and emulate the lessons that Lee Atwater finally learned in the end.
Much like the Mid-1700’s ship captain, John Newton, who wrote the religious hymn, “Amazing Grace,” composed between 1760 and 1770. After spending most of his adult life shipping African people to the New World to become slaves, it was in his later years that he was so driven by regret and self loathing that it was hard for him to even live with himself on a daily basis.
One only has to look at who the fanatical right wing of the Republican Party and what they are promoting as their means to their ends to see how sick and demented their minds really are.
Lobbyist run groups like, “Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works,” which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform.
A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the Freedom Works website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating Town Halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress.
Their suggested instructions are:
1. Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: “Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Congressman on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Congressman should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”
2. Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Congressman's presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Congressman's statements early.”
3. Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: “The goal is to rattle the Congressman speaking and get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before they even take questions.”
These right wing nut jobs want to ensure their democratic rights by disrupting the democratic debate process…isn’t this rich?!?
Joe McCarthy would have been delighted to see his own tactics refined so well. Don’t even pretend anymore to anything resembling an intelligent debate or basic respect. Just get out to these Town Halls, be really disruptive, get as much media attention as possible and hope that the bullying actually intimidates both Congressman and the people attending. And all of this from the Party of Victimization, who apparently aren’t so victimized that they don’t mind bullying other people. Change the conversation to your own personal bad behavior so that those interested in talking with their Congressperson never get a real chance to do so.
Lee Atwater before he repented would have been really proud of this also.
Lee Atwater on his last days, called those who he lied and spread damaging rumors about. He needed to clean his soul and clear his conscience before he died. One of the people he made sure he called and apologized to was Willie Horton, of the Dukakis Presidential Campaign.
When Lee appeared on Frontline as his means to apologize to the nation through the mass media he is quoted as saying, “I was wrong to follow the meanness of Conservatism. I should have been trying to help people instead of taking advantage of them. I don’t hate anyone anymore. For the first time in my life I don’t hate somebody. I have nothing but good feelings toward people."
Maybe those of the fanatic right wing should take note and emulate the lessons that Lee Atwater finally learned in the end.
Much like the Mid-1700’s ship captain, John Newton, who wrote the religious hymn, “Amazing Grace,” composed between 1760 and 1770. After spending most of his adult life shipping African people to the New World to become slaves, it was in his later years that he was so driven by regret and self loathing that it was hard for him to even live with himself on a daily basis.
One only has to look at who the fanatical right wing of the Republican Party and what they are promoting as their means to their ends to see how sick and demented their minds really are.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Government Health Care
A Guest posting by Reality Wizard
In the 1940's Blue Cross was a Non Profit corporation that was Government regulated. During World War II, those who were not in one of the services, were working in the defense factories or supporting industries; and the vast majority of those Americans were covered by Blue Cross.
Those who were not covered by reason of age or other preventive factors had the availability of government funded clinics. The clinics provided the necessary care at hospitals and neighbor hood locations. Depending on your illness you went or were sent to the proper location.
At that time there was public transportation available. In fact there were not many cars. After WWII as the vets came home the GI Bill allowed them to get into training programs, Go to School, open a business, buy a house etc. Public housing and health clinics really made a difference and our economy boomed. Homes, cars, furnishings etc. were in great demand. The men worked and the wives stayed home and raised the children.
By the 1950's automobiles started coming in from Japan. For the manufacturers they were less expensive to build they had no unions, health care, no taxes, etc to pay for or manage.
The rest is history we lost our manufacturing base while our insurance and service cost escalated out of control. Insurance companies invested money in all areas with complete immunity to loss. If a stock dropped they just raised our insurance rates to cover it.
Greed soon got involved and it escalated out of control. Corporate bonuses, jets, foreign trips, gifts to politicians, donations to PAC’s and PRESTO we lost our economy, our government and our national dignity.
Now we have an opportunity to get back honest regulations in all the above factors. Not only health care but all insurances, manufacturing, transportation, investments, banking etc.
So in conclusion, "Common Sense" laws are NOT Socialism. They are regulations that provide for the public good. While providing for domestic tranquility and assuring the public welfare, as defined by law rather than a handout to lazy citizens.
In the 1940's Blue Cross was a Non Profit corporation that was Government regulated. During World War II, those who were not in one of the services, were working in the defense factories or supporting industries; and the vast majority of those Americans were covered by Blue Cross.
Those who were not covered by reason of age or other preventive factors had the availability of government funded clinics. The clinics provided the necessary care at hospitals and neighbor hood locations. Depending on your illness you went or were sent to the proper location.
At that time there was public transportation available. In fact there were not many cars. After WWII as the vets came home the GI Bill allowed them to get into training programs, Go to School, open a business, buy a house etc. Public housing and health clinics really made a difference and our economy boomed. Homes, cars, furnishings etc. were in great demand. The men worked and the wives stayed home and raised the children.
By the 1950's automobiles started coming in from Japan. For the manufacturers they were less expensive to build they had no unions, health care, no taxes, etc to pay for or manage.
The rest is history we lost our manufacturing base while our insurance and service cost escalated out of control. Insurance companies invested money in all areas with complete immunity to loss. If a stock dropped they just raised our insurance rates to cover it.
Greed soon got involved and it escalated out of control. Corporate bonuses, jets, foreign trips, gifts to politicians, donations to PAC’s and PRESTO we lost our economy, our government and our national dignity.
Now we have an opportunity to get back honest regulations in all the above factors. Not only health care but all insurances, manufacturing, transportation, investments, banking etc.
So in conclusion, "Common Sense" laws are NOT Socialism. They are regulations that provide for the public good. While providing for domestic tranquility and assuring the public welfare, as defined by law rather than a handout to lazy citizens.
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