The Daily Cruise

The Newtering of Traditional Family Values

2012-01-22T19:57:00.005-05:00

65% of voters who participated in the South Carolina Primary yesterday were identified as Evangelical Christians, social conservatives who comprise a significant slice of the Republican Party. For these voters, marriage, including what kind, and family takes precedence over all other issues and many of these voters will persistently vote against their own economic interests to support a candidate who espouses those values. With Newt Gingrich's victory yesterday, it's now crystal clear the candidate need not adhere to those values, just repeat them in an endless loop while lobbing bombs at anyone who has the duty and temerity to question the hypocrisy of his words and deeds.

A person close to me was diagnosed with Leukemia more than a decade ago. She learned during an initial hospitalization, that her husband was carrying on an affair, while she was trying to cope with the scariest news of her life. The marriage ended shortly after, and I instantly cut this man, who I had known for years, out of my life, and never spoke to him again. Every marriage has its problems and, sometimes, divorce is the only viable option, but you don't leave a spouse alone in a hospital, contemplating a cancer diagnosis, to cavort with someone else. It's sick, it's inhuman and Newt Gingrich has done this, not once, but twice, with 2 different wives.

Newt Gingrich's life stands in direct opposition to the values, not just of social conservatives, but most Americans. He managed the Impeachment proceedings of a President who lied about an adulterous relationship, as he was carrying on his own and railing about the President's depraved morality. He shut down the Government, admitting later, in part, because of a personal snub, throwing Washington into chaos. 84 ethics violations were charged against Newt Gingrich, as Speaker of the House, marking the first, and only time, in the history of the United States a House Speaker was reprimanded and, later fined, for ethics violations. His own party was so disgusted with unethical, tyrannical behavior THEY forced him out as Speaker.

In the years since he left Congress in shame, he setup shop in Washington and became a creature of beltway cronyism, claiming to be a Historian, or analytical advice provider when he was lobbying for special interests, particularly Freddie MAC and the health insurance industry. Gingrich has a record going back years supporting an Individual Mandate, yet lies and denies what still appears on his Health Care Initiatives web site, supporting that mandate. Gingrich has made millions saying one thing while lobbying for the only interest which ever mattered....himself!

If Newt Gingrich were a Democrat, the Republican Party would have sentenced him to Life at Rikers Island. But Newt is a smug, bomb-throwing thug who takes glee in inflicting pain, be it women, the children he left behind, the Congress he shamed and the current President he wishes, not to bloody, but to knock out!

Social conservatives are intent on joining in an unholy alliance with the Devil, because this election has nothing to do with family values and everything to do with winning with a candidate who has spent a lifetime mocking them and everything they profess to believe!

America can never be defined by Newtered values. We are so much better than this and our humanity, decency, ethics and integrity must prevail!

Santorum Runs for President as Daughter Battles Terminal Disorder

2012-01-04T14:49:00.013-05:00

Now that former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum virtually tied Mitt Romney in the GOP Iowa Caucus, hard questions which were never asked of Santorum as a cellar dweller in the GOP Presidential Polls until 2 weeks ago, are about to come flying and here's mine. As a father of a young child with a terminal disorder, why is Rick Santorum, a long time champion of strong families, putting his ambition ahead of his daughter, Isabella (Bella) Santorum and what is the impact of that ambition on a wife, also caring for 6 other children, who appears to be assuming all responsibility for Bella's constant care, as Rick campaigns daily to attain the highest office?

Rick Santorum's youngest daughter "Bella," has a genetic disorder called Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome. 90% of children with this disorder die within a year. Bella is 3 1/2 and is considered an outlier, representing 1% of children who have defied death this long. A miracle, to be sure, and my heart and prayers go out to the Santorum family. There is no cure or effective treatment, Bella's time here is limited and medical episodes are ongoing. In a Washington Post article in November (link at bottom), the Santorums had 2 such situations with Bella, when Rick "moved" the family to Iowa for 3 weeks during the summer to campaign and he told the Post about the tough decision he had to make on whether to go out and campaign or stay in the hotel and care for his daughter. More disturbing, during the Las Vegas GOP debate in October, Santorum referenced flying a red eye home afterwards as his daughter had undergone a "procedure." The procedure was an operation and it's unfathomable to me that a father would not be there for his little daughter, particularly in light of her fragility, let alone to comfort and support his wife.

No one has been a bigger defender or proponent of "Traditional Family Values" than Rick Santorum, and no one has made more public speeches or introduced more legislation to dictate those values to the American people, who often hold other views. He and wife Karen have brought 8 children into this world. They lost one within 2 hours of birth and will lose another far earlier than is right, fair or understandable. Until then, they've been blessed with Bella, who needs constant care, will have continual setbacks and worse, and my family values dictate Rick Santorum should be focused not on an unfilled desire for an elected office he will not attain but on Bella, his wife and the rest of their children.

Why isn't he?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/gop-hopeful-rick-santorum-campaigns-with-a-seriously-ill-daughter-at-home/2011/11/28/gIQAMWdHAO_story.html

And the Iowa Caucus Winner is?

2011-12-30T09:47:00.003-05:00

If it's January in Iowa, temperatures should be in the teens and worse, but next Tuesday should be almost balmy with temperatures pushing 40 degrees. Not expecting a record breaking turnout, but it should be a very good showing by Hawkeye standards, which reduces the chances of a marginal candidate with many young supporters pulling an upset.

Of the various GOP candidates who have polled Nationally above 3% throughout this contest, only 1 has never surged or tanked. He's the same candidate who can't break through 30% support, but hasn't fallen below 20% either. He lacks rhythm and has no pizzazz, but he's consistent, and that's all it's going to take for Mitt Romney to win the Iowa Caucus.

In at second is the fringe candidate who is in the midst of a surge and will never completely deflate because of a diehard base of supporters. Ron Paul has the right combination of boots on the ground and ad placements to score a close second to Romney. After this result, Paul will be under relentless attack but more on that when we get to New Hampshire.

In third place, it will be Rick Santorum, who's literally been on an upward trajectory for only a week, but it doesn't matter with the boom/bust mentality of GOP Primary voters. The Social Conservatives are still desperately searching for an alternative to Romney and will raise up anyone they believe is one of them, until they realize the person is unelectable, whereby said candidate is left to fall away. For next Tuesday, Santorum will be saved.

Republicans found a tax cut they hate!

2011-12-20T22:01:00.002-05:00

House Republicans killed the 2 month payroll tax cut extension passed by the Senate just days ago, and bolted Washington, leaving in their midst 160,000,000 WORKING Americans who face an average tax hike of $1000.00 for 2012, not to mention 1.5 Million Americans who will lose long term unemployment benefits on January 1, without this extension.

Why did House Republicans do it? Because they are outraged that almost half the country doesn't pay Federal *Income* Taxes. Why? Because their wages are so low, that combined with earned income tax credits and standard deductions, they are too poor to pay the income tax. And Republicans have done a damn fine job convincing their supporters that these Americans are scofflaws, slackers and worse, while refusing to acknowledge they are paying every other tax in existence. Since none of the other taxes are progressive, as a percentage of income, their bite effects the poor most.

A year after President Obama came into office he proposed, and Congress passed, a modest reduction in the PAYROLL tax, which EVERY worker pays, on their first dollar of earnings. As a percentage of income, who are the biggest beneficiaries of the payroll tax reduction? The working poor. Every employee pays the same 6.2% rate and the tax is capped at just over $100,000/year. A low wage employee who makes $20k/year pays the payroll tax on the entire $20K, whereas the high wage employee, who makes $500K, pays the tax only on the first $106K of earnings.

Without divine intervention, the former payroll tax rate will go back into effect on New Year's Day. To someone making $500K, a thousand dollars is negligible. All bills will be paid, contributions will continue to savings and investments and discretionary spending won't change but, for at least 80,000,000 Americans, that $1000.00 tax increase will mean varying degrees of pain in this still fragile economy, effecting product demand and businesses far and wide.

While House Republicans consider the Bush tax cuts, which overwhelming benefit the wealthiest Americans, sacred, pledging to retain them until death and into the afterlife, there's no such affinity for a tax cut they deem 160,000,000 working Americans don't deserve. They hate it, don't give a damn about the average worker and left town to prove it. There's an election next November. You've got your chance to do something about it. Vote them out, because that's what THEY'VE EARNED!

The Trashing of the Republican Primary

2011-11-19T20:51:00.002-05:00

We are about 6 weeks away from the Iowa Caucus, the kickoff to the 2012 Presidential race, and I keep coming back to the same question...What the hell has happened to the Grand Ole Party? Lincoln and Roosevelt can be seen shaking their storied heads from Mt. Rushmore. Eisenhower and Reagan are furiously tossing and turning in their graves. Americans, regardless of affiliation, are watching this freak show unfold in horror, wondering when it will end, and if a legitimate candidate, worthy of our highest office, will emerge from this trash heap.

Of the contenders who are registering at all in the Polls, and who have appeared in debates, there is but one who is worthy of consideration. His name is Jon Huntsman and it's my sincere hope that somehow, some way, the former Governor of Utah and Ambassador to China catches fire, because all the rest are sheer embarrassments and worse.

The choices range from Rick Santorum, pining to turn this country into the United Theocracy of America, to Michele Bachmann, a habitual liar, to Ron Paul, an almost octogenarian who would dismantle every Federal agency and program, to Rick Perry, who defines stupidity, to Herman Cain, who is using the campaign trail to book speaking engagements and sell books, to Newt Gingrich, the smug, thrice married, ethically challenged, former Speaker of the House, to Mitt Romney, a man who has no truths, principles or core beliefs.

A dumpster is no place to look for American Exceptionalism. Republicans, the hour is urgent! Clean this mess up!

Table Talk

2011-10-11T20:08:00.004-04:00

Tonight's GOP Presidential debate had a different flavor, with Charlie Rose and the WAPost's Karen Tumulty, at a Table, questioning the seated candidates, making for a less formal, more relaxed debate. And some interesting leftovers...

Michele Bachmann is sure to make headlines again, for yet another outrageous claim, that President Obama told her Medicare is going to "collapse" into Obamacare. Ms. Bachmann better have something to back up this lunacy, otherwise it's the end of her campaign. Herman Cain is claiming a well known economist is an adviser for his 9/9/9 plan, yet no one knows who this person, Rich Lowery, is except that he may be a Wealth Fund Manager. Newt Gingrich is advocating for Fed Chief Ben Bernacke, former Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank to be arrested for the Housing collapse. Not one candidate placed any blame at all on Banks.

Cain insists every independent analysis of his 9/9/9 plan is wrong. Prove that you're right, because you can't! Just telling us it's wrong doesn't make it so. And NO W2 worker pays 15.3% payroll tax, but half that amount with the employer picking up the other half, so Cain's claim that W2 workers would save 6% on their taxes, by paying a National Sales Tax on everything rather than the payroll tax is completely false. The 1.5% "savings" would instantly be negated by a 9% federal income tax with no standard deductions, no Earned Income Tax Credit and no Child Care credit, as well as a brand new 9% tax on food and drugs which no one pays now, The working poor would be clobbered. Speaking of 9/9/9, invert those numbers and we're left with 6/6/6....the devil in those numbers. ;-)

In attacking Romney's plan to lower Capital Gains taxes to 0% on people who make less than $200K, Gingrich admitted that people who make under $200K generally don't have Capital Gains, making Romney's plan pointless and more of the status quo...keep feeding the rich! Romney then went on to claim Obamacare effects everyone who is already insured. More lies! Like Romneycare, it addresses those who are uninsured now, so stop lying and running from your own truth!

Bachmann claimed she spent her "whole life" in the private sector. When? Before she was born again? Tax attorney for the IRS, a State Senator and now a 3 term Congresswoman is Bachmann's resume, wholly dependent on State and Federal Government.

Herman Cain thinks Alan Greenspan is an example of the kind of Federal Reserve Chairman he would install. I'm trying to think of a better reason not to support Cain than this one because Greenspan was part and parcel of the financial meltdown with his failed policies at the Federal Reserve.

Here is a much more important reason to reject Herman Cain. To date, not one Moderator has asked the question that needs to be asked. Cain is a Stage 4 Colon/ Liver cancer survivor. This awful diagnosis and his treatment occurred in 2006. He claims he's cancer free when the reality is no one with Stage 4 metastasis is. He's in remission and he's now 5 years out, which is a miracle and rare.

While there are no guarantees in life, it's all but certain a Cain Presidency would be fraught with health issues at bare minimum. More probably far worse, and it's a disservice to the American people that this issue is basically being swept under the rug or, as was the case tonight, under a table.

Orlando Unhinged

2011-09-22T21:05:00.004-04:00

Lose the EPA, close the Department of Education, wall off America, distortions, distractions and not one meaningful followup from the Fox News Moderators to non-answers, inaccurate statements, flat out falsehoods and endless ambiguities.

No debate occurred tonight in the Magic City, and we learned nothing from the GOP Presidential candidates that we didn't already know. Pure pep rally with red, white and blue pom poms and not one concrete plan to create jobs. Wax poetic about Ronald Reagan and call it a night.

And slam that door shut!

Tampa Tea!

2011-09-12T20:09:00.004-04:00

So much steam from the teapot tonight, the brew evaporated into thin air! There were some really great questions in tonight's debate, and shame on Wolf Blitzer for not nailing these candidates after their non-responses, regurgitated talking points and complete evasiveness on every issue.

To a candidate, they are all advocating for Americans under a certain age (55) to opt out of both Medicare and Social Security, and you wonder why Seniors are concerned. If these plans were put in place, all the money dries up NOW to pay CURRENT beneficiaries. That's the way both programs work. Today's workers pay into both programs to fund current retirees. If we book, Seniors are sunk!

Mitt Romney wants to bring our income tax down to zero! Will Mitt be taking no salary because without any revenue collection, we can't pay him, or the VP, or a staff. WTH, just shut down the White House!

Jon Huntsman accused Rick Perry of treason because Perry said it's not possible to fence off the border. Huntsman's normally the reasonable one, yet he's accusing Perry of the same thing Perry accused Fed Chair Ben Bernacke of, yet Huntsman immediately denounced Perry as irresponsible when he leveled the loaded words!

Michele Bachmann is now only a Mother of 3? What happened to the other 2 kids, plus the 23 Fosters, most of whom she had for just a few weeks? Bachmann incessantly touted personal responsibility and private enterprise yet she and her family are almost 100% reliant on the Federal Government for their income, via salaries, faux subsidies for their unlicensed clinic and farm subsidies in another state.

Ron Paul wants to opt out of everything and, better yet, the world. He even advocates for 25 year olds opting opt of health insurance. And what happens to the uninsured 25 year old when he has a catastrophic accident and is left in a Coma? In Paul's world, Churches will magically come in, wave a wand and save this patient. Or, he'll be left to die. Full implementation of "on your own" society which, for millions, and make no mistake, will mean death.

Rick Perry's response to "executive by fiat," a Governor's order for young girls to be vaccinated for HPV, gave other contenders endless ammunition to slam him every which way and loose. Yes, there was an opt out for parents, but as Santorum pointed out, it should have been an opt in, and never should have become law without going through the legislative process.

A whole lot of the 1 million jobs created in Perry's Texas are government jobs. Very inconvenient fact for Mr. Perry and all the other GOP contenders who are hellbent on shrinking the Federal Government to varying degrees of crippled, life support assisted and non-existent. Depending on the contender, we'd be looking at additional job losses of between 3-5 Million. Where are the private sector replacements? Perry can't add either, and his D in Economics looks to have been well earned, by claiming the Federal stimulus created 0 jobs. CBO says the stimulus created/saved between 1.4 and 3.3 Million jobs. Back to school, Rick.

No real solutions offered but plenty of steam and hot air. Florida's already got plenty of both. We needed something to drink and these contenders left us gasping!

Romney vs. Perry in Simi Valley

2011-09-07T19:43:00.004-04:00

Round 1 of the GOP Presidential debate goes to the Mittens. Tonight, voters got their first look at Texas Governor Rick Perry, who came out like quick draw, doubling down on Social Security as a Ponzi scheme. It seems a stretch to believe elderly members of the Tea Party, who are reliant on this "scheme," would give their support to a candidate who would clearly end Social Security, let alone the larger appalled electorate. Of all the problems we face as a country, Social Security is probably the easiest to fix, but Perry's prescriptions for this and all which ails us is cut, defund and let the carcasses fall where they may. And how does Perry square not believing in evolution, climate change or intro to science, to believing "just enough" in medical science to mandate, by fiat, a vaccine for 12 year old girls? Pharmaceuticals lining his coffers.

Romney stood up for Social Security. He stood up for climate change too, which is also real to Jon Huntsman, but a government generated fantasy to the rest of the pack. He told a whopper of a lie in comparing his job creation record in Massachusetts to Obama's but was otherwise fairly cool, calm, collected and generally made sense, even if I didn't agree with the cures. Huntsman had a good 30 minutes by my estimation but the audience seemed unmoved. This is a man who would make a formidable general election candidate IF he could only get through the GOP Primary. After tonight, I'm convinced he can't and that's too bad for all of us.

Barring an entrance into this race by a true game changer, not a reality star who pines for Putin from afar, it's game on, Romney vs Perry for the spoils and we all better hope Mittens prevails. I harken back to another Governor of Texas, who fared pretty well by the State, actually achieving some bipartisanship in those years, before he swaggered into Washington and destroyed the economy. His name is George W. Bush. Rick Perry is no George W. Bush. He's exponentially worse.

Battle of the Crazies, Part 3

2011-08-11T20:57:00.005-04:00

There were no winners in tonight's GOP Presidential debate. The losers are much easier to identify...the American people! We are being denied all manner of reason and, frankly, sanity in the debate underway among the GOP Presidential candidates.

My America does not round up Doctors and charge them with a crime for performing a LEGAL procedure, yet Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachmann would do just that!

My America does not systematically reverse every regulation achieved over the last 20 years to protect consumers. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul advocate precisely that.

My America demands honest accountability for a politician's record in office. Tim Pawlenty's recollection is spray tainted and Romney's is pure fantasy.

My America respects all faiths. Herman Cain is so profoundly ignorant of any but his own, I fear for free expression under the First Amendment.

My America is acutely aware of the economic challenges we face. We have an unsustainable debt, entitlement programs to reform, not enough jobs, corporations sitting on mountains of cash, and a fortunate few reaping enormous benefit from a tax code that's left the backbone of America in ruins.

All 8 candidates were asked tonight, if given a 10 to 1 ratio of spending reductions and revenue raisers to begin addressing these challenges, is this something you could support? The sound of silence was deafening, as NOT ONE would!

Until the Grand Ole Party is willing, or even able, to field a Candidate who can acknowledge anything beyond tax cuts, spending cuts and destruction of programs and services supported by the masses, I can only conclude the party is sold on carnival barkers who appeal to equally deluded gawkers.

My America is not a Circus!

The Big Squeeze

2011-07-31T22:42:00.005-04:00

It went down to the wire but after months of negotiations, hangups, walkouts and assorted brinkmanship, a deal has finally been struck to raise America's debt ceiling, thereby averting a catastrophic default on our debt. For those accustomed to All-You-Can-Eat spreads for one low price, and payable with future inches to the waistline, you may want to tighten the belt now and rethink your destination.

The Debt Deal is a big win for deficit hawks. $2.8 Trillion in spending cuts, phased in over 10 years, beginning in 2013. $1 Trillion in cuts agreed to now and another $1.8 Trillion to be determined by a "Super Congress," a committee of 12 lawmakers equally represented by both parties, by Thanksgiving. If this Committee does not come to terms by the day we carve our Turkeys, automatic, across the board spending cuts will be triggered, effecting military and domestic spending evenly, sparing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid but NOT Medicare providers. Seniors better hope an agreement is reached. Without any entitlement reform in this Bill, including a much needed Medicare "fee for outcome" reform, lower provider reimbursement will result in providers dumping Medicare beneficiaries.

The Deal is a very disappointing for anyone interested in Reforms or closing Corporate loopholes. There are none! It's heartbreaking for everyone who fervently believes that very wealthy individuals, who have profited immensely from the Bush tax cuts, should be part of any debt solution. They aren't and neither are big Corporations, receiving tax subsidies, which 80% of the Country opposes!

For President Obama, it's a mixed bag. The urgent matter of the United States meeting its debt obligations of the past is resolved, and won't have to be revisited until after 2012, the same time the cuts begin. He can run for re-election without this monkey on his back, incurring none of the negative blow-back from the effects of spending cuts which haven't yet materialized.

On the flip side, Obama got none of the revenue raisers or entitlement reforms he and his supporters desperately wanted. If he's re-elected, those revenue raisers could come in spades on New Year's Day, 2013, by allowing the Bush Tax Cuts to expire on New Year's Eve 2012, a move that would go much further in reducing the Deficit than the cuts included in the Debt Ceiling bill. If he's defeated by any of the prospective opponents, he will have a squandered the opportunity to deal with the biggest driver of our debt over the last decade.

The markets should react well to the deal in the short term. We've averted a crisis and don't have to return to the squabbling in 3, 6 or 9 months. Unfortunately, we also don't have entitlement reforms or a Jobs bill. The economy will continue to twist and turn without both. Unemployment is now a deficit driver as the Government tallies fewer receipts for the many services it provides. It's also causing more job losses as demand for products and services in the private sector contracts.

Will this belt tightening alone choke off Economic growth? I believe it will and hoping beyond hope I'm wrong.

The Bush Tax Cuts, GOP Intransigence and Obama's Ace in the Hole

2011-07-24T20:03:00.004-04:00

The biggest driver of our debt and deficit spending over the last decade was the ill-conceived tax cuts of the George W. Bush administration. They were touted as an answer for job creation after a fairly mild recession brought on by a High Tech bubble burst, yet Bush left office, after 2 terms, with the worst job creation figures on record.

To add insult to economic injury, the largesse of these tax cuts, went predominately to "job creators," the new moniker the GOP invented yesterday to confuse just who the true recipients of these tax cuts were....the rich! The "job creators" set about shipping millions of jobs overseas and banking the profits. No one noticed because of the fantastical housing bubble, where either home prices would rise forever (not), or financial institutions would be on the hook for countless toxic loans of their own creation, which many of them were even betting against, to essentially insure a financial meltdown in 2008.

Which brings us to today, with the largest debt and deficit on record because of ongoing attempts to clean up this mess, yet the Bush tax cuts live on, underlining the greatest wealth disparity since the days of Robber Barons. They continue only because of insistence, by the Republican Party, yet this same party refuses to raise our debt ceiling, to cover the costs already incurred, let alone the future costs of the cuts they demanded. The Bush tax cuts are set to expire the end of next year. If they are left to expire, as David Leonhardt pointed out in an April article in the New York Times, we could solve about 75% of the deficit problem over the next 5 years.

And herein lies President Obama's ace in the hole in negotiations with the GOP over raising the debt ceiling, as they continue to refuse revenue raisers. He can sign off on much of their proposed debt reduction and get the debt ceiling raised, preventing a default, which will stabilize financial markets in the near term. There is no GOP jobs bill and there won't be with such an agreement because the financial means won't be there to implement one. They ran on Jobs but will only be able to show losses because they insisted on maintaining tax cuts and subsidies to people and companies who aren't creating them, or sending them somewhere else.

Barack Obama will run, in part, on that feckless record and he'll win. And when he does, kiss the Bush tax cuts goodbye!

Michele Bachmann....Flake or Fluke?

2011-06-26T16:34:00.004-04:00

As Congresswoman Michele Bachmann heads to Waterloo, Iowa, to kick off her campaign to become the 2012 GOP Presidential nominee, her interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace this morning set the stage for what Bachmann will be up against with serious journalists who'll be covering Madame Tea Party's campaign.

Bachmann, now a third term Congresswoman from Minnesota, has a long history of playing fast and loose with facts, often getting them wrong, or just making them up to rile her angry base. From falsely claiming John Quincy Adams "would not rest until slavery was extinguished in the country," to wanting to hear from General David Petraeus on how to proceed in Libya, when Petraeus is not even in the chain of command on Libya, to a speech she gave to voters in New Hampshire, claiming the "Shot heard round the world" happened in the Live Free or Die State and not Massachusetts, their liberal neighbor, straight through to this morning, on Face the Nation, when she told Host Bob Schieffer President Barack Obama released "all the oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve," (30 Million barrels of the 730 Million barrel reserve was released), it's difficult to take Bachmann seriously when so much of what comes out of her mouth can be instantly discredited.

Though not addressing a specific instance of a Bachmann assertion gone wrong, Chris Wallace just flat out asked Bachmann on Fox News Sunday, "Are you a flake?" Bachmann seemed to take offense to the question and replied, "I think that would be insulting to say something like that because I'm a serious person." She then went on to tout her personal resume and seemed to get those basics about herself right. It's just the facts she uses to refute or discredit others where she consistently earns failing grades.

Michele Bachmann is no flake! She's attractive, well-spoken, with boundless energy and a spine of, in her words, "Titanium." Bachmann may not be an intellectual, but she is indisputably an ideologue who is happy to use fiction and falsehoods to make erroneous charges to further an extreme far right agenda, which is out of step with all but a very limited base of Tea sippers. As both a State Senator and Congresswoman, she hasn't passed any meaningful legislation, preferring to be cast as a lightening rod on cultural issues. In the comings months, her "shock" standing (virtual tie with Mitt Romney) in the first Des Moines Register poll of GOP Presidential candidates, will be exposed as nothing more than a summertime fluke!

NH/CNN GOP Presidential Debate Review

2011-06-13T20:26:00.004-04:00

7 GOP Presidential candidates came out swinging at President Obama tonight, under the backdrop of John King's latest Magic Board, complete with Videos and Tweets. The players, in front of exceedingly friendly, entirely white, audiences at St Anselms College and online, turned right, right and further right with each round of interrogation.

Unforced errors included Romney wanting to turn Afghan operations over to the Taliban, Pawlenty turning to Romney and blaming the term he coined yesterday "Obamneycare," and directed at Romney, on Obama today, Dr. Paul advocating withdrawal from the world, to huddle in our personal backyards, while shutting the hospital door to an injured illegal child, Bachmann referring to Military Brass as "Commanders in Chief," and flip flopping in 60 seconds on supporting States' rights to set their own laws on Gay Marriage, while backing a Constitutional Amendment banning them, effectively invalidating those which exist, Gingrich's plan to bring back McCarthyism and loyalty tests, and Cain's desire to discriminate against all Muslim Americans.

Winners tonight were Mitt Romney, by virtue of being the front runner on home turf and incurring no jabs from opponents, and Michele Bachmann for being highly disciplined and on message.

As the first Debate, with all major players in attendance who have declared candidacy, it was an introduction to who they are, so will skip substance until these candidates are really grilled, which they weren't tonight.

Stewart's Mea Culpa and Pitch to a Friend!

2011-06-08T08:20:00.009-04:00

Anyone who anxiously awaited what Jon Stewart would do with the Weiner story Monday night, came away severely disappointed. Crotch shots, texts, sexts, tweets, googles ... all of it right there for the Daily Show to pull out the stops, yet Jon threw up a chest shot, mumbled a few words and, faster than a New York minute, moved on.

I had visions of a grill, complete with Ball Park, Hebrew National, Nathans and Oscar Meyer Varieties, Virtual babes offering bun assortments and condiments, and Congressman Weiner wolfing down Oscar to shrieks of fawning and "Everyone loves Anthony."

To atone, Stewart, a longtime friend of Congressman Anthony Weiner, mockingly took shots at himself last night, in ever increasing proof, then "maimed" himself and finally stepped down, so John Oliver could do what Stewart couldn't, but the Daily Show audience demanded...rip Weiner!

Congressman Weiner, if you needed any confirmation on who your friends are, look no further than Stewart. He's got your back and sound advice. Take it!

At Florida State, have a Koch with a Smile

2011-05-10T19:27:00.003-04:00

Or a smirk, or perhaps an evil grin! That's the message from the Economics Department at one of the great Florida Public Universities, after David Rasmussen, Libertarian Dean of FSU's Department of Social Sciences, made a pact with the Devil and accepted a $1.5 Million gift from Tea Party financier Charles Koch in exchange for the Koch Foundation picking and choosing 2 like minded Professors and dictating curriculum and mandatory reading. Students will be gifted copies of Atlas Shrugged for their dutiful compliance and indoctrination.

Florida State is a Nationally Ranked, PUBLIC University!!!! It's funded, in part, by Federal and State dollars, though the latter has been cut to the bone because of a GOP State Legislature determined to do their level best to defund everything labeled Public, necessitating FSU and all other Public Universities in the State to increase Tuition and seek new sources of funding.

This fine university has been the recipient of many financial gifts over the years but NONE came with strings attached to teach and mold economic ideology, and for a measly $1.5 Million! This is craven, influence peddling at its worst and should not be tolerated by the University, Alumni or Students.

There is only one appropriate action for this storied University. Give the money back to Koch! And do it with a flashmob and a smile and watch the donations pour in!

Raising Cain???

2011-05-05T22:47:00.004-04:00

What was noteworthy in an otherwise uninspired first GOP Presidential Debate tonight was Frank Luntz's off the charts conservative focus group's reaction to candidate Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather Pizza (whatever that is). Cain was a businessman, now lobbyist for the Restaurant industry, who has never held any public office or won an election.

Only 1 person in the focus group of 29 came in supporting Mr. Cain. After the debate, about 1/2 the group raised their hands in support! Frank Luntz was almost dumbfounded, telling Sean Hannity that in over 30 of these focus groups he's done for Fox, he's never seen an outcome like this.

How long this group of voters raises Herman Cain up to the rafters is anyone's guess. For the rest of us, a few very important facts about Herman Cain, should he gain any traction after this debate. Cain's position on a woman's right to choose is as extreme as it gets. He opposes the legality of abortion even in cases of rape and incest. Cain was also deeply involved in the defeat of the Clinton Health Care plan back in the 90s, so his opposition to Health Care Reform is years in the making and deep-seated in opposition.

Most importantly, Herman Cain was diagnosed in 2006 with STAGE IV Colon AND Liver cancer. After rounds of Chemotherapy, he claims to be cancer free and, perhaps, he's one of the very few who is 5 years out. For the office of United States President, would you take the chance with your vote?

Candidates Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Gary Johnson all played to expected form. Tim Pawlenty seemed to be the most reasonable but did nothing in this debate to excite or inspire, appearing as a cookie cutter politician with the practiced greeting, grins and one too many arm gestures.

Overall, a disappointing first debate. Tough questions were not asked and, ironically, the only whiff of charisma came from Herman Cain, a black man. Tonight, a group of South Carolinians raised him up. Is their love fleeting or will he gain traction?

Say Hello to GOP Death Panels!

2011-04-15T20:12:00.011-04:00

Gotta hand it to the Grand Ole Party which, 2 years ago, embarked on perhaps the most dastardly distortion of facts ever witnessed during the Health Care Reform debate. They painted themselves as saviors of a wildly popular government program they've despised since its inception, and convinced enough voters they would be subject to bureaucrats on matters of life and death, to regain control of the House of Representatives.

Back in the cockpit, what do they do? 235 GOP members voted today to destroy the program they pledged to save. If the budget they voted on were to become law, beginning in 2022, Senior Citizens would no longer enroll in Medicare. They would be given a Voucher to purchase private insurance. And good luck with that!

There are presently 53 million uninsured persons under the age of 65 in the country now. Ask any one of them, all younger and most, far healthier than Seniors, why they are uninsured and you'll get the same answer....the cost is unaffordable.

Medicare came to be because health care was unaffordable for most retired individuals. After working for a lifetime, providing health care with cost controls was something a good and decent nation would provide. Medicare is popular precisely because it gives older Americans peace of mind when they need it most.

Medicare has also translated into advanced life expectancy which, in no small measure, has driven up costs. So longevity, coupled with medical advancements, more and better drug therapies and millions of retiring baby boomers are all factors contributing to the current funding crisis. No one disputes reform is essential but it's also entirely doable without dismantling this all important lifenet.

Without going into specifics, all of the following should be a part of reform: Immediately swap fee for service to fee for outcomes, evidenced based treatment, coordinated care, non-payment for duplicitous care, re-importation of drugs, higher co-pays for branded drugs, non-approval for procedures/treatments which do not extend life, or don't do so beyond a period of weeks or a few months, automatic opt out for those with $10 Million in net worth or greater and raise the age qualification to 67 with early buy in at 65 for an additional monthly fee.

Make no mistake, insurance companies are in business for one reason: TO MAKE MONEY! Coverage for seniors without government backing would decimate their bottom lines and the only way to recoup the staggering losses would be to spread the costs to the entire population. If you think health insurance is unaffordable now, toss in 40 million Senior citizens and we'll all be walking around with signed death warrants, courtesy of this GOP budget bill.

Medicare is a terrific program, so let's get started with real and responsible reform and a quick death to this shrill, irresponsible bill.

To Choose or Not to Choose...it's a Woman's Right!

2011-02-19T22:41:00.004-05:00

It's a hypocritical paradox. The Republican Party's most zealot conservatives drone on about freedom, liberty and individual rights but these constitutional guarantees only apply as they see fit, to fiscal issues and the right to bear arms.

On the matter of women, the majority population in this country, these zealots harken back to biblical times or, worse, the stone age, ignoring every advancement women have fought and died for; the right to vote, equal pay for equal work, protections from workplace harassment, the right to say no and the RIGHT TO CHOOSE to become a Mother.

This right to choose has been settled law for 38 years!! And this right is more necessary today than ever when these same zealots are attempting to dismantle every safety net which exists for a woman and child to thrive, or even exist, if their financial circumstances are not ideal.

By defunding Planned Parenthood, women who need affordable birth control and counseling, so there won't be an unplanned pregnancy, won't get it. And if they do get pregnant, there won't be an affordable place to go to make a choice they have the LEGAL RIGHT to make!

And what are these zealots proposing to assist women who become pregnant but have little or no means or ability to raise a child? Drastic cuts to Medicaid, WIC, Head Start, Section 8 Housing, Legal Services, etc. Full implementation of the OWNership society, where desperate women will be on their own, with no support system in place for them or the children.

Planned Parenthood has provided vital information and innumerable services to millions of women. By defunding it, women who need it most will lose access to all of this. We can't let that happen! The choice is OURS!

Retreat + Reload = Tragedy

2011-01-08T18:34:00.003-05:00

During the heated 2010 campaign cycle, there were efforts made by a few in the Media, as well as certain politicians, to tamp down rhetoric which was borderline incendiary. A tempest was brewing, and being nourished by people whose words matter, and had the capacity to bring out the worst in deranged individuals.

And so it goes as we learn in horror, that a Congresswoman was shot at a public event today, and a Federal Judge, previously targeted, was killed, along with 5 other casualties and 11 injured victims in Tuscon, Arizona. The 22 year old shooter, in custody, reads Mein Kampf and babbles incoherently about Gold, creating a new currency and terrorism.

If we're smart, we are not going to allow another pot to boil over resulting in more senseless deaths and destruction. It's time to take the "targets" off Politicians, regardless of their ideology and end the "aim and shoot" and similar mantra, which is taken to extremes by disturbed persons bent on wreaking havoc.

Having a microphone and a following require responsibility. People listen and the wrong words have the capacity to incite tragic acts.

My 2010 Election Picks

2010-10-27T12:48:00.006-04:00

Off year elections historically translate into losses, sometimes substantial, for the political party in power, and 2010 will be no exception. Other than my own Congressional seat, and a handful of others in Florida, I don't follow 435 individual House races, only the trends, which have been strongly in the Republicans' favor all year. Countrywide, I'm projecting Republicans to regain control of the House of Representatives, picking up anywhere between 45-50 seats.

The only Governor's race I've followed is Florida's, a critically important one because it's an open Governorship and Florida's next Governor will play a large roll in redistricting for the addition of two new Congressional seats via the 2010 Census. When the polls close on Tuesday, Democrat Alex Sink will have won over Republican Rick Scott's $150M personal campaign expenditure, to become the first female Governor of the Sunshine State.

And now to the US Senate. With the exception of Florida, my picks will only involve states which are within some margin of error. Even though the majority of Florida voters on Tuesday will cast votes for a candidate other than Republican Marco Rubio, he will be the next Florida US Senator. What's distressing about this outcome is it didn't have to happen and I will put the blame squarely where it belongs: On candidate Kendrick Meek.

At least 1/2 a dozen polls taken before Kendrick Meek declared his candidacy showed he could not win a statewide election for the US Senate. Governor Charlie Crist rightfully declared an Independent candidacy after essentially being pushed out of the Republican Party, and every poll taken since has shown Crist drawing sufficient numbers of Republicans, Democrats and Independents to beat Rubio *IF* Kendrick Meek dropped out. Though we now know President Bill Clinton tried to negotiate an exit with Meek, probably with some encouragement from the Obama administration, Meek would not step aside and his decision will result in a huge lost opportunity for Democrats, as Crist would have caucused with them had he won this election.

And another momentary diversion to the Senate race in Wisconsin, where Republican Ron Johnson will oust longtime Democratic Senator Russ Feingold. I haven't followed this one much because Feingold's been too far down in the count for too long. I will only comment that the US Senate is losing one of its smartest, decent and most principled members and it's a really shame! Feingold will be sorely missed on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

My picks for the Senate Horse races:

- California Democrat Barbara Boxer retains her seat over Carly Fiorina

- Colorado Democrat Michael Bennett eekes out a win over Ken Buck

- Nevada Republican Sharron Angle (lord help us) does the same over Harry Reid

- Washington Democrat Patty Murray retains her seat over Dino Rossi

- Illinois Democrat Alexi Giannolias squeaks by Mark Kirk

- West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin defeats John Raese

- Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey defeats Joe Sestak.

My final projection for the US Senate is a Republican pickup of 6 Seats in the states of Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The Democrats will maintain control of the Senate with 51 Democrats, 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats, and 47 Republicans.

Oh What a Night!

2010-10-24T01:40:00.001-04:00

Ended up transporting the uncooked Zucchini/Carrot fritters to a Barbecue, where I whipped them up, complete with family and lots of laughs and support for my Phillies, who went down tonight.

Out of earshot, it was clear to me from the beginining of the post season that two teams had the fire in their bellies this year and neither hailed from my hometown. And so it goes and we'll save the criticisms and would ofs, could ofs should ofs for another day.

Thanks to my team for the many great memories this year, for providing the opportunity to witness history through Roy Halladay, and for the joy and pride you've instilled in the hearts of Phillies fans around the world. It's been a great ride and, though tonight is tough, we'll be right behind you Opening Day next year because that's what Phillies fans do. We love you, we'll rag on you but we always believe!

Who are you? We'll never know!

2010-10-12T11:05:00.004-04:00

Up until the 2010 election cycle, serious candidates running for the US Senate took questions from local and National reporters and participated in debates with their opponents. The only unknowns on the table were how many and when. With the rise of the Tea Party, the conventional has been tossed out the window and we're heading toward an Election Day, where upstart candidates have refused to debate at all, or answer questions from journalists, and voters are being asked to rely almost entirely on self-promoting or special interest ads to make an informed choice. That's simply not possible without some form of vetting by the 4th Estate.

The latest Tea Party candidate to shun reporters is Alaska's Joe Miller. Unlike many Tea Party candidates, Mr. Miller is intellectual, a graduate of West Point and Yale Law, and possesses laudable communicative skills, to the point that he has convinced donors and substantial numbers of Alaskan voters that he's a true believer, living by those lofty Libertarian principles of Individual Rights, Small Government and Free and unfettered Enterprise.

Joe Miller's reality isn't even close to the principles on which he's campaigning. He promises to end "the welfare state" and opposes all such government programs, yet he took federal farm subsidies for land he owned in Kansas (no farm) when he didn't even live there! Miller and his wife accepted "low income" hunting and fishing licenses when they moved to Alaska. Mrs. Miller collected unemployment benefits, a program Miller wants to abolish. The coup de grace however, is Miller's opposition to Health Care Reform and his plans to go to Washington and repeal it. This coming from a man with *8* children, who were enrolled in, and recipients of, Alaska's MEDICAID program.

The Miller's reliance on Federal programs not spelled out in the Constitution far exceed the average, middle class American family, and are rather suspect for a Yale Law Grad and a School Teacher. As a voter and taxpayer, I'd like to know why the Miller family required this level of federal assistance and Miller's own, fierce opposition to such assistance for others demands that he respond to these inquiries.

Today, Joe Miller announced he has "drawn a line in the sand," and will not take Reporters' questions about his background and personal life. His decision certainly makes sense for Joe Miller. If he answers these questions, he'll be exposed as a yet another in a long line of small government espousing hypocrites.

Voters have the right to know who candidates are, not what ads paint a candidate to be. Whether it's Joe Miller, or other candidates, thumbing their noses at the press and declining debates, unless voters demand such accountability, you can't discern fact from fiction or principle from demogoguery. In short, you'll never know!

The Travesty of Mediocracy

2010-09-13T10:56:00.008-04:00

Christine O'Donnell's shocking GOP primary win over Mike Castle for the US Senate in Delaware takes me back to 2001, when President George W. Bush addressed the graduating class at his alma mater, Yale, and half-jokingly advised the best and brightest collegians that they, too, could be average students, like he was during his tenure, and aspire to the Presidency of the United States. Hearing the replay, we all knew this to be total bunk as it never would have happened had he not had the Bush pedigree and legacy.

In the years since, an uncomfortably large percentage of voters has apparently heeded Bush's call for mediocracy and no longer has a concern, expectation or desire for their leaders to be anything beyond a guy who's fun to hang with at a bar or an amicable cashier in an express check out aisle.

Move over Sarah Palin, as expectations have just sunk to a low I never envisioned. Christine O'Donnell is nothing short of an embarrassment to the State of Delaware and it's mind-boggling and offensive that anyone would have cast a vote for her. She's living off campaign contributions, is in violation of the home expense deduction permissible under IRS tax code for the self-employed, has thumbed her nose for years at student loan debt which is not dismissible, even under a bankruptcy filing, has various IRS liens filed against her, and we're only scratching the surface. Her self-righteous, purity, celibacy, abstinence crusades are better suited to a Convent and have no place in an election, let alone government policy or Senate business.

No matter where you live in this country, Christine O'Donnell's win should serve as a wake up call that you can't sit this one out. We need qualified, competent, intelligent people in Washington to work with each other, and through big issues, not quitters and ideologues whose words are far removed from the reality in their own lives and are clearly unqualified to govern. To settle for the latter is a travesty to our founders, their wisdom and grand vision for America.

Government No More

2010-09-03T20:08:00.008-04:00

Throughout the 2010 Election season, much ado has been made of the founding fathers, free market principles, individual liberties and eliminating most forms of taxation including the dreaded death and capital gains taxes, which seriously impact an infinitesimal percentage of Americans. What is really being advocated by the most extreme insurgents gunning for Washington is a shutdown and dismantlement of the Federal Government.

No one questions that we are in tough times and it's absolutely essential that we change the current course, however, the remedies being put forth by candidates who are literally interpreting a document which predates most of our country's history, growth, diversity, industrialization and globalization, would go a long way in reversing hard fought gains, services, protections and programs effecting all of us.

At least 1/2 a dozen serious candidates for the US Senate propose eliminating Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Unemployment Insurance, the Departments of Education, Environmental Protection, Interior, Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Health. Think long and hard about these programs and agencies and what America would be like without them and the rivers of blood pouring into our streets if they ceased to exist.

Big problems require big solutions. We are never going to get there with dishonest brokers who are grounded in a time which has passed us and no longer applies. If you believe that Congress is largely dysfunctional, and strong arguments can be made that it is, it seems prudent to support candidates who have a record of achievement via disparate interests.

Extremes on either side of the spectrum do not serve in the public interest but in their own, and are incapable of compromise, an absolute necessity to solving the country's most pressing concerns. Most citizens want a government that works, not one which ceases to operate or provide what generations fought for, voted for and expect. It's something to remember this November.

Behind the Canvas of Work of Art

2010-08-03T11:06:00.007-04:00

It was little more than a year ago when Jaclyn decided to take a chance, and her portfolio, to the NYC audition for Bravo's newest reality show, "Work of Art, the Next Great Artist". We discussed the pros and cons at considerable length but, ultimately, her decision made sense for the very best of reasons: She's an amazing artist and this was a unique opportunity to gain exposure for her work.

Out of over 2000 people who turned out in 4 major cities to audition, Jaclyn was one of 14 selected to compete in Work of Art. Though ecstatic to hear the news, I wasn't all that surprised. She's been a competitor her whole life and when she really wants to accomplish something, she does what it takes to make it happen.

One of the more difficult challenges for our immediate family going forward was to not discuss the show with anyone for what seemed like an eternity. I'm not very good at keeping things to myself so, to a very few trusted people in my life, my unending love and gratitude for your encouragement and support. And to our larger extended families and many friends, your support of Jaclyn on the show has meant so much to her and to us and we are humbled and grateful.

Work of Art filmed for roughly 5 weeks in the latter part of 2009. During that time I had virtually no contact with my daughter, which was a first and truly agonizing. Her phone was confiscated as soon as she went to The Beaver House (the artists' home away from home), resulting in just 2 brief, monitored calls from another device and, of course, no skype,texts or email. It felt like pregnancy all over again, and I found myself periodically bursting into tears, because I couldn't communicate with my daughter.

After taping completed, Jaclyn returned to her life and Studio, the show went through rounds of production and editing and Work of Art finally premiered in June of this year. Several weeks before the show aired, the commercials got underway and I'll always remember the very first one....at 2am! I was asleep, with the TV on, as usual, and I heard her voice! Imagine that! The next morning, I told Hector, who had not woken up, that I heard Jaclyn on TV at 2am. We both smiled. The excitement built from there as we continued to see and hear her daily on Bravo in promos for the show.

Watching your child on TV is an incredibly surreal experience and we road emotional roller coasters of joy, sorrow, happiness, angst, irritation, annoyance, jubilation, expectation, relief and exhaustion. No matter what unfinished tasks I had or how tired I was, I tuned in and then re-watched specific parts of the show for insight and clarity. Often, I shook my head in disbelief at the challenges assigned and how little time the artists were given to complete them. Impossible tasks and yet a few were rather extraordinary, including several of Jaclyn's creations. And tonight, on Week 9, our personal ride ended, as Jaclyn would not go on to the final episode. Yet another piece of information I've known forever, but prior knowledge made it no easier to watch.

Over the past few months, much has been written about Jaclyn, a lot very positive and some, not so much, with the latter uniformly coming from individuals who don't know her and never will, but who have based opinions on a manufactured show persona far removed from reality.

The comments which disturbed me the most questioned her intellectual capacity. As a child whose academic abilities were apparent early on, and who earned so much recognition through a lifetime of scholastic achievement, she has grappled with this forever, while using her intellect and analytical skills in very positive ways to advance her artistic ideas.

One of my favorite self-portraits of Jaclyn, and one of her earlier works, was as a little girl, on her knees, praying. What I loved most about the painting was the endless, almost white light, harkening the heavens. I knew there was a plan for this girl, to be a great artist, and with her faith, dedication and commitment, that's exactly who and what she is today.

In Work of Art Episode 1, Sarah Jessica Parker, one of the producers of the show, advised the contestants to "Be brave, be competitive, be yourself". Jaclyn, you were so brave, and gave this your all, and never stopped being true to yourself or your work.

You're amazing, we love you and mission accomplished on a job well done!

It's lights out, Arlen

2010-05-13T21:08:00.002-04:00

A year ago, when polls in Pennsylvania were showing Republican Pat Toomey substantially ahead of Arlen Spector in a Primary Matchup, Arlen jumped the GOP ship and became what he was when he first entered public life...a Democrat. It was a crass, politically calculated move of survival, which will end Tuesday, when Joe Sestak wins the PA Democratic nomination for US Senate.

Every poll out of PA in the last week shows Joe Sestak surging against Spector. More importantly, Sestak is now tied with Toomey in the November matchup, where Spector still trails. As Sestak becomes more well known in the "T" and Western PA, voters will at least consider supporting him, where no such consideration would be afforded Spector, who is widely disliked west of Allentown.

Voters are mad and exacting their fury, particularly on politicians they view as putting their own survival first. No one epitomizes the me first survivalist more than Arlen Spector. Over 3 decades, he's had some great moments, coupled with equally disappointing. Regardless, the Senate chapter comes to an end Tuesday.

We Never Knew Ye, did we John?

2010-04-20T20:51:00.002-04:00

You'd think after all his years in political office, thousands of appearances on TV, his books and 2 Presidential runs, the American people would have a pretty good handle on Senator John McCain and what he stands for.

Of late, it's become painfully obvious we don't know a thing about John McCain. Everything we thought we knew, he's refuting and I don't know whether to chalk it up to crass political desperation, Senior moments or flat out Dementia.

Be it his choice of the Hockey Mom as a VP running mate, back down on campaign finance reform, 180 on climate change and 360 on immigration reform, McCain is barely recognizable from just 2 years ago, but his latest terse comments on FL Governor Charlie Crist's cratering primary run for an open Senate seat goes beyond anything I ever thought I'd hear from a man who claims loyalty to his friends.

Without Governor Crist, John McCain NEVER would have won the Republican Presidential Primary. Without that Florida win, McCain would NOT have been the 2008 Republican Presidential nominee. There is simply no understating the importance of that win and for John McCain, to say today, he will support the REPUBLICAN nominee, thereby throwing Crist under the bus if Crist opts to run as an Independent, shows McCain is loyal to no one, and will say and do anything to keep his Senate seat.

And this is precisely the reason why John McCain should be defeated. We already have too many mean-spirited, crass politicians. McCain floated above the fray and was given a pass for years because everyone thought they knew him. In fact, we didn't know him at all.

I fought the DMV...and I won!

2010-04-12T15:12:00.003-04:00

Approximately 6 weeks before my husband's birthday, he received a notice from the FL Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that it was time to renew his Driver's license. Because the photo on the current license is 17 years old, his existing license was not renewable online. Fair enough!

I proceeded to setup an appointment, online, at the local office, and carefully reviewed the documentation now required to proceed with a renewal:

Birth certificate X
Social Security Card X
2 utility bills in your name X

With the copy of the appointment and all required documents in tow, off we went to the local DMV office. We were told the birth certificate was not acceptable because it didn't have a raised seal. Huh? The birth certificate my husband has had since childhood, which was sufficient for College and Marriage, was no longer good enough?

We were informed that we would need to request (pay for) a "certified" copy of his birth certificate and he could not renew his license that day. I informed the Supervisor I would NOT purchase something he already has, and if she made us leave the office, I would make however many calls it took to get him back there to renew the license with his existing birth certificate.

What happened to my husband is discriminatory. Probably millions of US born citizens in this country over the age of 40 do not have birth certificates with raised seals. But a foreign born citizen or legal resident, with a valid passport, would have been able to renew a Driver's license, no questions asked. Something is very wrong with this picture.

Moreover, the FL DMV is, perhaps unwittingly, participating in a process of extortion and collusion. US Citizens are being REQUIRED to PURCHASE *another* document, just to renew a valid Driver's license and, those who must do this, will go to but one place, Vital Chek, because their rate ($23.30) is far less costly than anywhere else, a windfall for one company where no reasonable competition exists.

I put in a call to Senator Bill Nelson's office. Faxed his office a note of what transpired that morning and they forwarded my note and complaint to DMV in Tallahassee.

A few days later, a DMV employee in Miami called and reiterated what the woman at the local office told us. I suggested she escalate my complaint because I refused
to purchase something I deemed was unnecessary.

A few days later, I was contacted by the DIRECTOR of the FL DMV in Tallahasse. He asked me to bring my husband's documents back to the local office, where the supervisor who sent us home the week before, would scan and fax to him. The Director would then call the NYC Dept of Health, on behalf of my husband, verify his identity and, if all checked out, call me back with instructions for my husband to return to the local DMV office for his license renewal.

Got the call 3 days later to return to the local office and, with no additional monetary outlay, and still standing on principle, my husband got his new Driver's license.

He will also have his new "certified" copy of his birth certifcate any day now. I ordered it the same day his new driver's license was issued...but not ONE MOMENT BEFORE it was firmly tucked in his wallet! We mutually agreed, for the future, it was probably a good idea to have it.

Sometimes it's necessary to stand on principle because, if you don't, you stand for nothing. No US born citizen should have to go through what we did, and I share our story so others can proceed accordingly. A Florida Driver's license used to cost $24.00. They doubled the cost in the last year to $58.00. If your legitimate, but old school, birth certificate doesn't measure up, you will be required to shell out another $23.30, or over $81.00, if you don't appeal.

Stand up and fight back!

This Mother's Dream for her Daughters

2010-03-19T13:41:00.021-04:00

It was a late Saturday night in the Spring of 1993. We had recently moved to Florida, and were in between health insurance plans. My 8 year old daughter, who had a history of ear infections, succumbed to another. There were no private doctors' offices or neighborhood clinics open, and her pain was excruciating, so off we went to the Hospital.

After sitting for hours in the ER through the middle of the night, the sobbing little girl in my arms was finally seen by a Doctor for exactly 1 minute, given 1 liquid dosage of Amoxicillan and I was handed a script for a 10 day supply, which I filled at a pharmacy for about $10.00. For this "care," I was billed over $500.00, all of which I was responsible for out of pocket.

The enormity of the bill was shocking, considering the last time we had gone to the ER for an injury, we had a $25.00 copay for charges I never reviewed because "we had insurance". Now having to confront an actual bill, my jaw dropped at a $50.00 charge for a tablespoon of Amoxicillan. That was only the beginning of the insanity.

Something was very wrong. After reviewing the stratospheric charges, including a blood test that didn't happen, I called the hospital and told them I'd go to 60 Minutes with my story if adjustments were not immediately made to the bill. 24 hours later, they bought my silence for $125.00. For every one of me, there are 99 others who have cringed and said nothing, paid predatory bills, or have had their credit destroyed because they couldn't afford health care costs.

In the 17 years since, it's been one nightmare after another with various insurance companies through which we've had coverage, at astronomical rates of 50-100 times that of large employer group rates, because of self-employment and having to obtain insurance on the open market. We've been gouged, humiliated, diluted, denied and preyed upon and NO hard working American should have to go through these indignities and injustices to have access to reasonable and affordable health care.

As I waged one battle after another, it became apparent how impossibly broken the insurance system is for people like us. And if things were so awful now, what kind of nightmares would my girls face in the years to come? I could no longer ignore the problems, so I got educated and have been advocating for reform ever since, doing whatever I could do to push the issue with my elected representatives.

My daughters are incredibly bright, talented and creative young women. They will move you to tears with a painting or a song. They've excelled at everything, asked for nothing and have worked tirelessly for their many accomplishments, yet they are now striking out on their own, with the uncertainty of available, affordable health care looming over their decisions.

As their biggest advocate, I made the decision to use the power I have, written words, to make a difference for them. Be it letters to Editors, Congressmen, Senators, Presidential candidates, communications with health care experts, blogging, forum discussions, I kept at it for years, hoping and praying we'd finally get a President and Congress who would stand up for people like us and make it so that we can go to bed at night not worrying about health insurance and the exploding costs, recisions, denials and exclusions.

It is each generation's responsibility to make the world better for the next. I could think of no other issue which would positively impact more Americans than affordable, accessible health care. With the historic passage of this landmark legislation, the dreams of my daughters, and all other children, who have the ability, wish to take risks and pursue the unconventional, are now possible.

Beck's Massa Disasta

2010-03-09T20:11:00.002-05:00

What was billed as "Must See" TV by the Beckster himself turned into a disaster of epic proportions, sure to test the loyalties of even the most fervent Glenn Beck fanatics.

Former Democratic Congressman Eric Massa "forced himself" out of Congress this week, after reports that he was being investigated by the House Ethics committee for harrassing at least 1 male staffer. Massa has admitted to inappropriate talk, and even groping, but now claims, after booting himself in the ass, he was targeted by Rahm Emmanuel and others in the Administration because of his NO vote on Health Care reform.

This outrageous and ridiculous claim by Massa was instantly debunked across the spectrum, but immediately picked up and stoked by Mssrs Limbaugh and Beck, chomping at the bit, as they began sowing seeds of Democratic coverup and corruption. Glenn, not able to contain his distorted glee, contacted Rep. Massa and invited him on the Glenn Beck show today, provided Massa would "break news," by naming names, events, that would bolster Beck's psychotic rantings about Obama and the administration.

The hour long disaster of an exchange between Beck and Massa was undoubtedly the worst interview ever conducted on television. Massa's "rope a dope" lunacy and shenanigans left Beck's undies tightly bunched and he couldn't maneuver his way out, finally admitting to his audience, "I've wasted your time".

Of course, Beck regularly wastes his viewers' time, but there was no getting around what went down today. Mesopotamia!

Stupid is as Stupak Does

2010-03-04T19:03:00.002-05:00

Congressman Bart Stupak insists he supports health care reform and cares deeply about the almost 50 million people in this country who are uninsured yet, for months, he's been on a one MAN mission to derail something that Democrats have been working toward for 1/2 a century, all because the already passed Senate health reform bill, which the House now must pass, before moving to a reconciliation process, contains the Hyde provisions, which prohibit federal funding for abortions, but not his "Stupak" amendment, which ups the ante.

The Stupak amendment is unnecessary, goes beyond the Hyde restrictions which Congress has supported for years, and is just plain stupid in the larger context of ensuring the uninsured have access to basic medical care. I haven't heard one uninsured person ask the federal government to pay for an abortion and the current Senate bill doesn't allow that. What we have heard for years is more millions of people denied access to a Doctor when they get sick, denied treatment because they don't have insurance, and left to die as a result.

It's time for Mr. Stupak to focus on those who are alive and breathing today and need access to health care. His constituents sent him to Washington to be a part of this solution, not abort it over sheer stupidity.

Death Watch Over

2010-02-27T18:32:00.002-05:00

Since an 8.8 Earthquake hit parts of Chili early this morning, the cable channels have been on an incessant death watch all day long, scrambling to collect stories and pictures of death and destruction. When that only partially panned out, they moved their cameras and bloggers to the Hawaiian island chain, preparing for more death and disaster from an expected Tsunami with big waves.

When that petered out, they resorted to collecting individual accounts which amounted to a whole lot of people bitching about losing access to the Internet and their Facebook accounts.

Another wasted day on Cable News. Damn!

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

2010-02-25T20:51:00.003-05:00

As presided over by President Obama today, the Health Care Summit was instructive political theater, complete with several memorable quotes but, make no mistake, the lines are starkly drawn and the gauntlet was thrown. The Congress is headed toward reconciliation to pass comprehensive health reform.

To Senator McCain, "we are done campaigning and the election is over" and, as you reminded the Democrats for 6 years while they were in the minority, "elections have consequences". Millions of voters across the country voted for President Obama, not you, and a Democratic Congress, not your ineffective cohorts, to reform the health care system. It's time to get it done!

This President and Democratic leaders have worked with, and listened to Republicans all through this process. No less than 140 Republican amendments have been adopted into the current Senate legislation.

President Obama made crystal clear today that we are not starting over. He gave Republicans every opportunity to explain how their plan, which would extend insurance to a mere 3 million people, would accomplish the goal of insuring all Americans. No response.

Obama reminded Republicans their number one issue in this debate, tort reform, would save a whopping 0.5% of annual health care dollars spent, as reported out by the CBO and every other reputable source. Where's the savings to extend coverage? No response.

What to do about those with pre-existing conditions who can't get coverage now and/or are priced out? No response.

What happens when we allow everyone to buy insurance across state lines and all the major insurers park their headquarters in Alabama, whose minimum standards of coverage are a pittance compared to New York and California? No response.

Republicans have no answers and never will because they believe that market forces, left to their own devices, will fix this debilitating fiasco.

A very ingenious man once said "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result" is insanity. Einstein was right then and it surely applies now. For 50 years, Democrats have been trying to extend affordable health insurance to all Americans. For those same 50 years, Republicans have fought tooth and nail to block it. The end result is 50 million people today have no insurance, which translates into 1/4 of all Americans under the age of 65. 44000 people are dying every year because they don't have access to health care. If we don't change this picture, and fast, 1/2 of all Americans under the age of 65 will have no coverage within the next 5 years, and the economic consequences will make our current recession look like a budget blip.

As Senator Dick Durbin so bluntly posited today to Republicans at the Summit, "If you think this is a socialist plot to take over America, why don't you drop out of your government care?" Rest assured, not one of them will. They have a great deal and they know it, yet refuse to extend it to those who pay for it...taxpayers!

The gauntlet has been thrown. Now get the job done!

Mr. Ed Singalong...A Quote is a Quote, a Note, a Note

2010-02-06T21:47:00.004-05:00

And no one can recite more quotes, or notes
So let's give it up for the quoter of notes,
her name is Sarah Palin!

Fiscal Hawks Say No to Budget Cuts...Except Their Own!

2010-02-03T14:30:00.004-05:00

You know who they are...almost daily, they barge their way in front of any microphone or reporter to sound off about the budget deficit and demand budgetary restraint. What they really mean is cut programs in the other 49 states because the ax is prohibited in the states they represent.

If you follow the bluster, you know their names; Cornyn, Enzi, Barrasso, Bond, Demint and the seat warming Senator from Florida, George Lemieux. This crew tends to be the most outspoken, though we can also add from the other side, Ms. Louisiana Purchase, Mary Landrieu and Claire McCaskill.

The particular cuts, proposed by the Obama Administration, are all being decried by these advocates of fiscal restraint as wrongheaded and ruinous to their States. Some crack reporter ought to ask these posers, "where do we begin if your state is exempt"?

From this perch, every program in every state which receives federal dollars is on the table. If any Senator fervently believes a given program is off limits, the Senator needs to come up with something else, in his/her state, that can be cut back or eliminated.

In lieu of that, spare us the Hawk posturing. The chickens have come home to roost
and you're not exempt.

Corporation to run for Senate

2010-01-29T19:37:00.004-05:00

Run that by you again? If you thought it was stressful enough choosing between the lesser of two, four or even a dozen evils in an election, plans are coming together now for a corporation to run for the Senate in 2010, in a state to be determined. Even better, candidate Corporation's election campaign will be funded by a host of foreign nationals, who could care less about said State, or the interests of the citizens therein.

Senator Corporation, The United States Supreme Court's gift to our people, courtesy of Citizen's United.

Swalllow Hard and Pass the Senate Health Reform Bill NOW!

2010-01-17T22:02:00.003-05:00

Up until two weeks ago, no one outside of Massachusetts was following the US Senate race to replace the late Senator Edward Kennedy because it was a given the Democratic candidate would win. What a difference 14 days make when resting on one's laurels and conventional wisdom. On the eve of this election, the Democrats are about to lose their 60 vote majority in the Senate, which they require to pass Health Care reform.

It's simply inconceivable that the Senate seat occupied for 47 years by the man who fought his entire life to provide health insurance coverage to all could be claimed by a man who vows to be the singular vote to continue denying coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans.

We won't know the outcome of the Massachusetts election for another 48 hours, but we also can't wait to find out. President Obama and Democratic congressional leaders must move NOW to ensure reform is not derailed. The Republicans will howl to the moon, but they've done far worse by using budget reconciliation twice during the Bush years to get two of three Bush tax cuts passed, exploding the Federal Budget deficit in the process.

Both the House of Representatives and the US Senate have already passed Health Reform
bills. There is much in common but some big differences between the two. At present, that doesn't matter. What does is the Senate passed their version with no votes to spare and the House can afford to upset a few members by moving right now to pass the Senate bill.

All "Cadillac" plans will need to be thrown under the bus. The current compromise between the 2 bills, on which no vote has been cast, would exempt unions for several years. This is a carve out which should not have happened if we're serious about sufficiently bending the curve to lower insurance costs overall and get the uninsured covered.

To the Democrats in the US House, you tried, you accomplished much, but you can't always get what you want. You came this far, and failure is not an option. Over the next 48 hours, swallow hard and get what is possible!!! Pass Senate Health reform!

Poor Choice of Words Was Accurate

2010-01-10T18:06:00.003-05:00

Over the last 24 hours, various leaders in the Republican Party including RNC Chair Michael Steele, Senator John Cornyn, Liz Cheney and a host of others called for Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the US Senate, to step down over private remarks he made 2 years ago which have found their way into a new book, Game Change, which hits stores tomorrow.

In assessing Barack Obama's viability as a Presidential candidate, Reid cited the inescapable fact that the candidate was a “light-skinned” African American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” Has anyone disputed this fact? No, because it's true.

What the Republicans are howling about is the use of the word Negro, and had a Republican used this word, the Media, Al Sharpton and others would have jumped all over it. Maybe, or maybe not, and Reid's word choice was stunningly poor, but to compare Reid's comments to those of former Senator Trent Lott's, who waxed poetic about having supported then Segregationist Strom Thurmond, when he ran for President, and how things would have been so much better over all these years if Thurmond had won, is disingenuous and reveals the current Republican outrage over Reid as nothing more than political posturing.

Senator Reid, who remained publicly neutral through the Democratic Presidential primary, has been a strong supporter of Barack Obama and remains so today. Probably to his own detriment at the polls in November, he has guided and fought for all of the Obama administration's initiatives on the Senate floor over the last year and not one Democrat has come forward to suggest that Reid harbors any insensitivity, let alone prejudice, toward any culture or ethnicity. For 5 years, the man has run an internship program with historically black Howard University.

As President Obama noted after accepting Reid's immediate apology for ill-advised words, he knows what's in Reid's heart and it's not animosity toward African Americans or any other minority group. Contrast with former Senator Lott, who initially refused to apologize. Not one black serving in the Bush administration (Condi Rice, Colin Powell, Rod Paige) came forward to support Lott because his remarks were indefensible in support of a man who wanted African Americans to remain separate and unequal. Over time, Senator Thurmond came around, while Lott pined away for the good ole days, and how all of these problems could have been avoided had Thurmond, the segregationist, become President.

Harry Reid's comments were made in the context of supporting Barack Obama. Lott's comments were made in support of a candidate, who at the time, was a segregationist.

Is it not true, even in 2010, that a light skinned African American, who sounds like a white person, has advantages among their brethren? Anyone who answers no is lying to you and themselves.

Reid acknowledged it, inartfully, in his assessment. President Obama's acceptance of Reid's apology should be sufficient.

60 Vote Senate Majority Was Already Imperiled

2010-01-05T22:18:00.003-05:00

As Senator Bryron Dorgan's surprise retirement announcement today sent shockwaves through the political landscape, Politico runs with a piece tonight, cautioning that this development somehow imperils the Democrats' ability to hold on to a filibuster proof 60 seat majority in the Senate. Makes for pulse-racing copy but Harris, Allen, Martin, et al, know better. Dorgan's announcement changes nothing...the Democrats will not maintain 60 Senate seats next year. They know it today, they've known it all along, and that's why the fierce urgency of now has been applied to health care reform.

History provides the essential guide. First and foremost, the party in power always loses seats in midterm elections. Moreover, the last two election cycles saw more Republicans defending Senate seats than Democrats. There are now more Democratic seats to defend in 2010 than there are Republican. It's simple math and the numbers don't lie, no matter delusional hopes otherwise.

What's so difficult about Dorgan's retirement is that the Democrats stand no chance of maintaining this seat. The North Dakota Governor, who is the longest serving Governor in the country, now jumps in and, with his rock star status, it's not even worth the time, let alone money, for the Democrats to bother fielding a candidate. Game, set, match...this seat is outta here!

Prior to today, the two most probable Republican Senate seat pickups were in Colorado and Illinois and President Obama is the reason why at least 1 of these seats, and probably both, will flip to Republicans next year. In Colorado, Obama tapped former Senator Ken Salazar, widely popular and effective, for Secretary of the Interior. Michael Bennett was appointed to this seat, with little name recognition and limited experience. In Illinois, Obama became President, opening up his Senate seat for appointment. Former Governor Rod Blagojevich, wanted a big and illegal payoff, didn't get it, and stiffed the Democrats with current Senator Roland Burris, who had no chance of winning statewide office, setting up an open Senate seat, where the Republicans have a moderate, stronger and more experienced candidate in former Representative Mark Kirk.

Those extreme hurdles aside, there are any number of other seats where the Democrats are vulnerable, starting with Majority Leader Harry Reid's seat in Nevada, followed by Chris Dodd in CT, an open seat in Delaware (again Obama's doing, by choosing former Senator Joe Biden as VP ;) and Blanche Lincoln in ARK. To be sure, the Democrats do have opportunities to flip some current Republican seats. Politico lists 5, though only 3 appear to be reasonable.

Highly adverse to making predictions a year prior to an election, the certainty of the Colorado and/or Illinois seats, alone, flipping is so overwhelming, Senator Dorgan's impromptu announcement changes nothing which is not already preordained. The 60 seat Democratic majority ends next January.

Is Rush FOS? You decide!

2010-01-01T20:32:00.003-05:00

Apropos that what may develop into the first big news controversy of 2010 involves none other than Rush Limbaugh, and the press conference he held this afternoon, just 48 hours after being rushed to a Honolulu hospital for chest pains.

Though El Rushbo claims doctors have no idea what caused his chest pains, he's already been released from the hospital and lavished praise on the doctors and hospital which provided him a level of care he deemed "the best that the world has to offer”. Continuing his jabs at proponents of health care reform, Rush boldly pronounced, "I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine, just dandy."

Even if the cause boiled down to indigestion or anxiety, it's a stretch to believe Doctors don't know what caused his chest pains. More probably, the truth lies closer to reports of Limbaugh's own words to paramedics who answered his 911 call. that he was on prescription meds for back pain, which he flatly denied today.

Certainly, abuse of prescription meds can cause chest pains but, admitting as such would require El Rusbo to own up, a second time, to a years long drug addiction.

For now, he won't. His denial knows no bounds, except for that brief moment, when confronted with his own mortality. Truth always prevails.

Hit After Hit....The Year That Was!

2009-12-29T21:28:00.009-05:00

Midway through 2009, my dear cousin remarked that this year was reminiscent of Motown days of yore. "Andi, she said, the hits just keep coming". We sighed, then laughed, and commiserated on how painfully true it all was. 2009 was frought with non-stop challenges.

My father, the first in our family to get on board with Barack Obama, lived just long enough to see the first African-American inaugurated as President of the United States. Barely 24 hours later, Dad was gone. Looking back, I can see it's taken me most of this year to come to terms with the loss. Not a day goes by that I don't think about Dad, though I'm certain his enduring will and spirit helped me push through this year's many obtstacles.

For those who weren't personally effected by the ravages of our economic downturn, I can't imagine you didn't know someone who was, be it unemployment, loss of business, downsizing, underwater mortgage, dismal 401K, escalating insurance premiums or cancellation...the hits pounded away at breakneck speed.

For late baby boomers, pieces of our consciousness began slipping away too. Michael Jackson was ours...he was one of us, yet in 2009, he was history. MJ's death was quickly followed by the loss of Farrah Fawcett and Patrick Swayze, both icons to my generation. At precisely the moment the health reform debate got underway, the Senator who had made reform the cause of his life for decades left us too. I have no recollection of the US Senate without Ted Kennedy and still expect to hear that thundering voice when I flip on C-Span 2. The silence is deafening and the loss is irreplaceable.

Motown? The hits stop here!

On the brink of a New Year, my resolution is to move on, and do 2010 a whole lot better than the year I'm leaving behind. For the many challenges, I cherish the kodak moments, and I'm so very fortunate to have an awesome family and friends, a husband who loves and inspires me and 2 daughters who never cease to amaze us both.

Happy New Year to all and may the coming year bring you peace, health, happiness and a symphony of love!

Flying the Unfriendly Skies

2009-12-28T21:13:00.002-05:00

Just days away from closing out a downer of a decade and an even worse year, we are again reminded that 9/11 lives on in the hearts and minds of those who wish to harm America and her citizens.

What we know for sure is whatever precautions we take to screen for potential terrorists, they will figure out new ways to exploit holes in the process.

What's particularly disturbing with the latest, unsuccessful attempt to blow up a plane descending into Detroit is the perpetrator's father had reported his concerns to two embassies, including ours, yet this operator was not put on our no-fly list. Additionally, and this is just common sense, but who the heck flies, literally, around the globe, with just a small carry-on bag and no checked luggage? It's just not plausible to fly thousands of miles with no change of clothes and scant personal belongings. Forget the screening devices which didn't detect his incendiary device. Sans luggage should have set off the alarms!

Instead, almost 300 people lucked out when the would be terrorist attempted to set off a defective device and was subdued by a passenger. We are thankful tragedy was averted and pray that will always be the case. Our communications systems must improve and stay one step ahead of the bad guys. Plain common sense should have flagged a passenger flying across 3 Continents with nary more than the clothes on his back.

Dysfunctional Obstructionism

2009-12-21T20:53:00.004-05:00

In the 1960s, extended debate/filibusters affected just 8% of major legislation, rising to 27% in the 1980s. Since Democrats took control of Congress in 2006, obstructionism of major legislation by the minority party has soared to 70% and Republicans have filibustered 100 times in 2009, smashing their own previous record of 70 odd filibusters just a year ago.

Naturally, this obstructionism plays perfectly into the Republican mantra of a "do-nothing" Congress. After all, how can the majority party get legislation passed when they are forced on almost every vote to beat back Republican delay tactics, arcane rules and repeated cloture motions?

Lest the Republicans forget, and as Senator John McCain reminded the Democrats repeatedly through the George W. Bush years, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!

I Don't Want Health Care

2009-12-17T22:31:00.004-05:00

The latest Republican obstruction effort is a gnarly plan to filibuster the Defense spending bill, funding the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which they all claim to support, in order to derail a cloture vote on Health Care reform.

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), who was just seen hours ago, in solemn prayer, mesmerized by the "end of ourselves" prophecy of Michelle Bachmann at the anti-health reform prayer-cast, was quoted as saying "I don't want health care," as his reason for supporting a filibuster of the Defense bill.

In light of this astonishing confession, the Congressional Budget Office is terminating Senator Brownback's government bought and paid for health plan.

John McCain reincarnated as Health Care Expert

2009-12-08T11:55:00.003-05:00

In the 23 years that John McCain has served in the United States Senate, he has never been a member of the two committees which are tasked with Health Care reform and financing, yet as the latest reform debate got underway in the Senate last week, McCain has been in charge of an inordinate amount of floor time on the Republican side, trying to beat back all Democratic reform efforts.

Lucky for Senator McCain that he's old, retired military and a current US Senator who will never have to worry about coverage for Melanoma if his returns for a 5th time, let alone all the other ailments he's suffered with and been treated for over his life because, under our existing health care system, John McCain is completely uninsurable in the individual market.

Unfortunately for the Republicans, they've given their opposition lead to a man who yearns for little more than a C-Span camera and regular headlines. Neither will compensate for McCain's lack of knowledge or desire to reform a seriously flawed health care delivery system.

There was a time when John McCain was roundly admired and respected, mainly for his service to our country but, to a lesser degree, for his straight-talk. Mr. Straight Shooter departed and gave way to a host of other characters premised on flawed efforts to resuscitate what never was or no longer is.

It's time for McCain to pass a mantle he doesn't understand and didn't earn and move on.

Doctor Drought is coming with or without Reform

2009-12-06T18:40:00.004-05:00

I came across an article in Forbes from Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine and medical director of Doctor Radio at NYU Langone Medical Center, who also happens to be a Fox News medical contributor, essentially arguing that a Doctor Drought is the reason why health reform shouldn't happen. I'll post the link to his article at the end of mine, but his is perhaps the most baseless piece I've seen yet in opposition to health reform legislation working its way through Congress.

Segal's argument essentially comes down to a growing shortage of family practioners/internists, his reasons why the shortages exist, and that millions of "new" people having access to health care will further strain the system to the point where Nurse Practioners will all but take over Primary Care.

I'll let Dr. Segal in on a little secret....this is going to happen with or without reform and it has nothing to do with the uninsured, who wrongly end up seeing specialists in Emergency Rooms all over the country because they didn't have access to anyone who delivers primary care, be it a Doctor, Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practioner.

We have a Primary Care Doctor shortage for several reasons: Medical school is too damn expensive, there aren't enough residency slots and too many med students are looking to get rich in practice, so they head straight into specialities. Doctors like Segal, who supposedly care about this picture, have the means to change it. Instead of lobbying Congress night and day with hundreds of millions of dollars to retain a deficient, imploding status quo, use your finanical resources and thousands of Professorships in our Teaching Schools to award more scholarships/grants for Primary care only and open up more of those residencies.

And please stop whining about Nurse Practioners. Most office visits are routine and can be easily handled by a Nurse Practioner. The field is exploding and we need more of them. I should think Dr. Segal would rather spend his time on patients coming in for something other than a shot, ear infection, flu or stomach virus.

If the lowly 50 million Americans without insurance had access to even a Nurse Practioner, we could greatly reduce a whole host of other conditions, illnesses and diseases requiring ER services or Hospital stays, with a simple vaccine or antibiotic at the onset.

Dr. Segal can choose to dig in, lament and wallow in self-pity or be a part of a solution that ensures every American will have basic health care. It won't be perfect. Change never is, but to do nothing, at this moment, is an injustice against the oath Doctors have sworn to uphold.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/04/doctors-medical-health-reform-senate-opinions-
contributors-marc-siegel.html

YES WE KANDAHAR?

2009-12-01T22:05:00.002-05:00

Been there, done that, another speech...Obama says we have no interest in fighting an endless war in Afghanistan. Already underway, and poorly, for 8 years, we're now told we are investing another 18 months and 30,000 more troops.

I pray our President is right. I fear he is not.

Maybe the land of Poppy will go up in smoke and save us the trouble.

Hope? Oh yes I can!
.

Fuggedabout President Huckabee

2009-11-30T21:15:00.003-05:00

What a difference a few days make! Late last week, former Governor, now Fox News Talk Show Host, Mike Huckabee, packed up a few copies of his new best selling book, "A Simple Christmas," set out to towns in "Real America," which haven't yet been blessed by another former Governor and wannabe talk show host, Sarah Palin, all the while, reveling in, and dismissing, questions about his interest in another Presidential run in 2012.

Roll the tape to Sunday morning, where a man with a lengthy criminal history in his former state of Arkansas, and current state of Washington, ambushed 4 Police Officers, executing them in cold blood, before fleeing, and he's still on the loose.

The assailant, Maurice Clemmons, was serving a 108 year sentence on 5 felony convictions in Arkansas, when then Governor Huckabee, citing his age (18) at the time the first felony was committed, used his authority as Governor to commute Clemmons' sentence, against strenuous objections from prosecutors and victims.

This is the second hard core, deranged criminal whose sentence was commuted by Huckabee, to go on and wreak even more havoc on innocent victims. The first was Wayne Dumond, a convicted rapist, who was released, in part, at the urging of a Christian Broadcaster, and then went on to rape and murder another woman.

After the Dumond recidivism, Huckabee incurred considerable wrath for the commutation but managed to move beyond what was clearly a poor decision. He won't be as fortunate with the Clemmons ambush, as the right-wing blogosphere is up in arms, and rightfully so, over Huckabee's judgement, which appears to be clouded by his instinct as an ordained Minister to grant mercy and forgive.

The other Man from Hope should stick with book writing, ministering and convincing Roger Ailes to renew his late night contract with Fox. The Hortonization of Mike Huckabee has only just begun.

Making News All the Way to the Bank

2009-11-28T22:29:00.003-05:00

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Until the 1990s, we had pretty clear lines defining News and Entertainment, but our rapidly advancing technology has changed all of that, and so blurred these lines as to be nearly indistinguishable.

We can blame the technology, a simultaneously blessing and curse, or we can point fingers at 24/7 cable news for running with non-stop coverage formerly suitable only to tabloid rags and early evening entertainment broadcasts but the responsibility is with each and every one of us to expect more, demand better and insist that newsmakers are not simply publicity seekers willing to go to any length, including criminal acts, to cash in on the exposure a 24/7 news cycle provides.

We can shut down this ill-got road to riches. The question is will we?

"99 and 44/100% Pure

2009-11-24T22:54:00.002-05:00

As the GOP embarks on their new 2010 election strategy, designed to weed out all but the most devout candidates, I couldn't help but return to days long ago and an Ivory soap commercial that professed purity.

Being a child who didn't quite understand what 99 and 44/100% pure meant, I pestered my parents about why we used Dial soap and not Ivory. They explained that while Ivory was, indeed, very pure, it only came in one color, it was rougher on the skin and didn't smell as deodorant fresh as our Dial. Being the inquisitive kid I was, I wanted to test for myself. Mom obliged and brought home a bar of Ivory and, golly gee, was she ever right. The soap was chalky white, caustic to the skin and bland to the senses. My parents sure knew what they were talking about and I went right back to my Dial soap, which I still use today.

There is a reason why Dial became the #1 selling soap in America and Ivory, which is still available, though barely, holds a paltry 1% market share today. The mindset behind the "99 and 44/100% pure" campaign, developed in the 1880s, still remains with Ivory, while Dial innovated its product and produced an array of colors, ingredients, textures, and even softer varieties, while maintaining its core strengths which wear well, cleanses, and leaves you feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Before the GOP "votes" on a Purity Resolution next year, they'd be well advised to confer with the makers of Ivory about the land of oblivion.

Beck Hijacks a Piece of Florida

2009-11-20T18:44:00.005-05:00

Teabaggers and conspiracists unite as Glenn Beck makes his whirlwind book signing tour this weekend through Ft. Lauderdale, Jupiter, Ft. Myers, Tampa, Orlando, Melbourne, finally touching down in that bastion of conservative thought otherwise known as the Villages.

Located an hour north of Orlando, in the middle of nowhere in Central Florida, the Villages boasts 60,000 Seniors, all of whom receive some form of government run health care, though they are adamantly opposed to expansion of government programs to anyone who dwells outside their zip code.

Beck will be "Arguing With Idiots," as the title of his tomb suggests, and stirring them into a patriotic frenzy as he unveils "The Plan," his prescription for all which ails "those who love this country".

Beck will then collapse in a sea of tears, residents will pledge allegiance to "The Plan" and off the true believers will go to the purist neverland of yore.

Palin Redux

2009-11-16T20:53:00.002-05:00

There is but one reason that Sarah Palin's 15 minutes of fame reset every time she resurfaces and it has nothing to do with experience, world view, knowledge, policy positions, or oratory skills, all of which are severely lacking.

Sarah Palin is one hot mama! She's got it! Women want it, men crave it and she's flaunting it all the way to the bank.

So congrats, Sarah, on the fame and fortune you have worked your whole life to achieve. Who needs the White House when Rock Stars get those coveted nightly
encores?

Your family is a Mess

2009-11-09T20:50:00.003-05:00

Little more than a year ago, Americans met Sarah Palin and her family, in all their blazing glory, onstage, at the Republican National Convention. Other than Lipstick on a Pig, I don't remember much of what Palin said that night but I sure remember what I saw...

A months old special needs baby who shouldn't have been in a place with thousands of people making a lot of noise late into the night, and a 17 year old, very pregnant daughter, holding little Trig, flanked by an uncomfortable looking baby daddy who was informed days earlier he had just become a fiance.

Levi Johnson was used to portray a family visual which didn't exist, and was quickly cast aside after McCain/Palin went down in flames on election night. Not willing to return to obscurity, Johnson has pursued Media attention with a vengeance and will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Playgirl, baring all.

He's also used the Media to spill about his ongoing war with the Palin family and their refusal to allow him visitation with his son. Things have gotten so bad, the WAPost's Reliable Source is reporting that Johnson is suing for joint custody of his child with Bristol Palin.

If Sarah Palin gave a wit about her daughter and grandson, she would have been there for these very young parents and encouraged amicable relations. Whether she likes it or not, Levi will forever be Tripp's father and a caring Mom would have found a way to prevent the soured relationship from turning into a sordid soap opera on our nightly news.

All the fame and money in the world won't tidy this mess. A Mom who makes a good faith effort to sit these kids down and provide guidance might. Sarah, you still have the chance to do the right thing....put your family first!

The Killing Fields

2009-11-05T14:22:00.006-05:00

Kudos to effervescent Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), for establishing November 5, 2009 as "Kill the Bill" day in Washington. With her lead clarion call, Republicans have again bused in thousands of red faced, angry, older white voters, adamantly opposed to abortion, to hoot and holler on the steps of the Capitol. What bill do these protesters want to crucify? Why, of course, Democratic Health Care Reform, which just received endorsements today from both the AARP and, shockingly, the American Medical Association, and is expected to go to the House floor for a vote this weekend. No matter, it's another urgent GOP call to arms and the faithful are happy to oblige in full regalia.

Live blogging the festivities, a few NY Times reporters fanned the crowds, to discuss protesters' concerns. Most responses were nearly identical, verbatim blusterings from recycled Fox News broadcasts, but a few new gems have surfaced.

A good ole boy from Texas thinks after almost a year of non-stop negotiations, "they should just start all over again and see what we need to do to get the 12-14 million people insurance". Hmmmm...counting illegals there are probably that many people, just in the Alamo, who don't have health insurance. Guess Mr. Longhorn doesn't travel much either by foot or brain.

Next up is a woman from Ohio who tells the Times she fears government in health care saying, "we support our country and we're patriots and I don't want my health care to change". We then learn Mrs. "Chillihoot" is a recipient of the mother of all government run programs, Medicare. Like most in the crowd, she could not articulate the main problems in the health care system or how they should be solved. Unarmed with facts or a loaded weapon, reporters stood down and watched the smoke blow from her ears.

On a Buckeye slow roll, reporters found another protester whose wife had received a heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic a year ago. After a $4000 annual family deductible, Mr. Quickdraw says the rest of the tab was picked up 100% by insurance, but this angry man, who works in health care finance, had no idea how much the procedure was, nor did he have any ideas on how to control costs. He just knows "he doesn't want to change a thing". I wouldn't want to see that 3/4 of a million dollar bill either, just for the heart transplant, not to mention the $25K in drugs his wife will be on, annually, for the rest of her life, and that's barring any followups, tests, complications, procedures or other medical events. Let's hope this guy's employer didn't get wind of this sharp shooter's comments and he doesn't lose the job he knows nothing about, or bankrupt his employer's self-insurance, otherwise something beyond bills may become target practice for his six gauges of separation.

Michelle Bachmann and her like-minded Republicans have deftly attached words of demise to any and all Obama and/or democratic initiatives this year to scare the bejesus out of ill-informed voters. Be it the soon to expire Estate Tax, which they tortured into odes of Death, or the Death Panels and Plug Pulling fireworks which lit up the summer skies, or today's Bill Killing demolition derby, these Pro-Lifers are in a perpetual state of mortal attack, with the American people the unwitting casualties.

The unspeakable happened at Fort Hood today, as a Psychiatrist, who was set to deploy to Iraq, unloaded massive gunfire, killing 12 and injuring 31 at the base. Those injured will at least be cared for under VA Health benefits and every American hopes and prays for their full recoveries. The same cannot be said of the 44 thousand citizens who will die this year because they don't have health insurance. Some people in Washington are trying desperately to change this picture. For the rest of you, put down the guns and promote that which you speak....LIFE!

Extreme Caution

2009-11-04T08:37:00.002-05:00

Election night in odd number, off years, is pretty boring stuff. For starters, turnout is always way down and, particularly, in a year after the most exciting Presidential election any of us has ever witnessed.

I didn't mail in our absentee ballots for local council seats until 24 hours before Tuesday, something I normally do at least a week in advance, because of lack of motivation. Turnout here was a whopping 14%, consequently, only the most reliable voters cast ballots, and the teeny tiny percentage of us who did, ousted our first female Mayor by a double digit margin. YEAH!!!

On to bigger races, the GOP, as expected, won the open Governor's race in Virginia and rested control of the Governorship in New Jersey from a weak, incumbent Democrat. What do these results portend Nationally? Not a whole hell of a lot. For 36 years running, Virginians again chose to elect a Governor from the opposite party of the President of the United States. Nothing's changed. McDonnell, a conservative, led this race from the getgo, moderated some positions, and kept Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck out of the state.

John Corzine was in deep trouble long before the 2008 Presidential election. I've polled several counties in the Garden State over the last year and Corzine was simply an ineffective candidate and communicator and disliked by the wider electorate. Chris Christie, the victor, should take little solace in a close win. New Jersey voters don't like him either and he won mainly because they disliked Corzine more, and didn't want to expend a vote on a more likeable independent candidate who had no legitimate shot at election.

The only surprise last night was that a Democrat, Bill Owens won the NY-23 Congressional seat, the first time this has happened in 100 years. This race should have been an easy win for the Republican candidate, who was pushed to withdraw from the race days before the vote, because extreme factions of the Republican base put up a 3rd, Conservative, candidate who was too far to the right of even this ruby red district.

A note of caution to tea baggers, birthers and other SoCon fringe types of the Republican party, who are now headed to my state of Florida to do to Charlie Crist what they did to Dede Scozzafava in NY-23. Think long and hard before you nominate an extreme candidate with no experience or political cred outside of the insular Florida State House, who no longer serves in elected office, to represent your party in Florida's US Senate election in 2010. If Crist is the nominee, this Senate seat is a republican hold. If you serve up Marco Rubio, all bets are off.

Do Not Abort Reform

2009-11-02T22:27:00.002-05:00

Very few health insurance policies have ever provided coverage for abortion, except in cases of medical emergency, and medicaid does not cover the procedure for current recipients, as the majority of citizens oppose government funding.

With a sizable majority in the US House ready to pass comprehensive health care reform, more liberal members of the Democratic caucus must not be so emboldened as to insist on an abortion provision for either new exchanges, or a public option, regardless of the specificity of wording that no public dollars would be used for the procedure.

We must pick and choose our battles. This one is not winnable and completely unnecessary in the large context of providing accessible, affordable health care to millions who don't have it now. Let this go and move on!

Eating their Own

2009-11-01T13:25:00.003-05:00

As pundits continue to talk up opportunities for Republicans to gain seats in Congress in 2010, the Republican party is under seige from within, and the party's continued purge of traditional Republican candidates will guarantee, the once Grand Ole Party, minority status for years to come.

Devoid of Party leaders, radio/talk show buffoons and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, whose Facebook diatribes are followed by desperate politicos, are now, incredibly, calling the shots and making pariahs of candidates who don't adhere to social conservative orthodoxy. The latest casuality in NY-23 wasn't forced to suspend her campaign because she supported Obama's economic stimulus package. That was merely an aside for her dual sins of supporting a woman's right to choose and same sex marriage, positions which are supported by the majority of New York state residents, even if the hamlet of district 23 sways more conservative.

The victor in this spoils, Doug Hoffman, doesn't live in NY-23 and seems to possess little knowledge of the issues facing the district. No matter, as long as he tows the biblical line, he's a better choice than someone with real experience who knows how to get things done. Conservatives will likely win this race on Tuesday, but to what end? Hoffman will be marginalized in the Congress, becoming the newest member of the shrinking Study Committee, and on the fringes in a state that demands moderation.

And a Hoffman victory will ensure that republican moderates elsewhere either won't run for election in a party which now loathes them, or switch to the ever expanding tent of the Democratic party, where its leaders recognize that a candidate they run in New York won't play in Kentucky, accept the reality on the ground, and support both candidates because principles, not faux morality, present opportunities for consensus building and governance.

Welcome to Republican cannibalism.

Eject Lieberman!

2009-10-27T20:27:00.002-04:00

When is the Democratic caucus going to give Joe Lieberman his walking papers? That they didn't kick him out of their Senate caucus after he campaigned tirelessly for John McCain, slamming the Democratic ticket for months, was beyond comprehension.

Today, Lieberman determines he'll be a one man wrecking crew for any form of public health care option the Democrats bring to the Senate floor, by threatening a filibuster. Ever look at how many insurers are based in his home state of Connecticut? Lieberman's position has nothing to do with principles and everything to do with who greases his campaign wheels.

Lieberman opts in and opts out with no impunity. Eject him now!

As The Beck Convulses

2009-10-23T14:47:00.004-04:00

In the mood for erratic entertainment while dining yesterday, we powered up Fox's latest entry into the world of comedy, the Glen Beck show, and we're ecstatic.

While engrossed in one of Beck's self-cleansing rants about the Obama administration, what we thought was erroneous background noise turned out to be Beck's secret phone ringing persistently. As the anticipation heightened, Beck answered the phone, and proceeded to taunt, tease and excite his audience of billions about some super secret and seemingly dastardly inside information he had just gleaned from a perfectly positioned source.

Intentionally leaving us to hang through a round of very important commercials, purchased by the 5 advertisers who have not yet pulled their offerings from Beck's program, the giddy one returned and dropped three critically urgent clues ... "Anita Dunn" "husband" and "White House job".

The next sequence of events was just so damn funny, I found myself helplessly rolling all over the floor, teaming with excitement. These clues were just what we needed to follow along for the next month with the latest Obama administration conspiracy perpetrated by Beck.

What's it all about? It appears that current White House Counsel Greg Craig is on his way out by year's end, and will probably be replaced by Bob Baurer, Obama's personal lawyer, as well as DNC lawyer, and the husband of none other than Anita Dunn, WH Communications Director, who will also be exiting before the year's out.

Ask 1000 people on the street who George W. Bush's White House Counsel was and you'd get 999 blank stares. For the 1 correct response received, it's because Bush nominated her to the US Supreme Court. Leaving out the gory details of the ensuing bloodbath over the nomination, Miers was forced to withdraw her name from consideration.

Like Bauer, Miers was Dubya's personal lawyer. And like Bauer assisting the DNC, Miers provided counsel to the Republican Party Gubernatorial campaign in Texas. I suspect this is the typical resume of those who seek this position.

I don't remember Beck commenting at all when Ms. Miers was selected as Counsel. He also remained silent about Miers' involvement on torture and the political firing of US Attorneys, but he didn't have a comedy show back then.

Now he does, and Beck's pulling out all the stops including conspiratorial manic episodes, all in good fun. For one who doesn't suffer fools easily, he sure had me going there.

Philly Cheesesteak vs New York Pizza? We love 'em both

2009-10-22T15:45:00.010-04:00

The last, and only, time the Philadelphia Phillies squared off against the storied New York Yankees in the World Series was 59 years ago. My husband and I were not yet figaments of the imagination, as our respective entrances into the world would come 8 and 9 years later.

A Philly girl, born and raised, I spent much of my childhood rooting for a baseball team that perennially came up short, but like all good fans of the Philadelphia Phillies, I never stopped believing that one day, my team would prevail, and win baseball's biggest prize...a World Series Championship, a feat which had alluded them since they entered the National League in 1883.

While I dreamed on, a young boy about my age, who hailed from the Bronx, was fully engaged in his hometown team, the New York Yankees. Living but a stone's throw away from Yankee stadium, the attraction was obvious. The Yankees had won 18 World Series Championships before his time and he saw them win four more growing up. Be it Opening Day, Bat Day, Ball Day or T-shirt day, this diehard fan, and his cousins, were at Yankee Stadium, cheering on baseball's greats.

As fate would have it, at the age of 18, this Yankee fan found himself in college in the City of Brotherly Love ... my hometown, and home to the hardscrabble Phillies. More ironic still, the year the Phillies FINALLY won their very first World Series Championship, 1980, the two of us had met and were dating.

In the almost 30 years since, we've been joined together in our love for each other and our respective teams. My Phils have been back to the World Series 3 times, winning their second championship a year ago. Hubby's Yanks have returned to the October classic 6 times, logging four more championships.

All along the way, we cheered on each other's teams, reveling in victory, agonizing in defeat, just as we have in every aspect of our lives together. And for the first time in our history, the teams we love will square off against each other this year in the World Series.

We'll both be watching intently and I expect it will be an intense showdown. Being the great fans we are, we'll cheer and groan, yell and scream, agree with calls and second guess others.

What we won't do is question our loyalties to each other or our preferences. Like my cheesesteak wit wiz and his pepperoni pizza, the Phils and Yanks represent who we are, what we share, and it's all good!

.

Pop Goes the Balloon!

2009-10-16T23:24:00.004-04:00

Late Thursday afternoon, like millions of people everywhere, I was riveted by news coverage of a helium balloon aimlessly floating in the Colorado sky, allegedly containing a lone 6 year old child. Rescue teams were sent into the air and combed the ground of two counties, in efforts to rescue the little boy, who was reported missing by his family. A sibling told investigators his brother was in the balloon.

Two days later, I'm still in awe of my husband's immediate summation of events when I told him what was going on. He was certain this event was a hoax and the family would appear on Larry King's show that night. As a mother, the idea that a family would use a child in such a purely devious way was beyond my comprehension.

Welcome to 21st century family dysfunction! Turns out the boy was hiding in the family's attic, fearful of his father's retaliation for being disobedient prior to the balloon taking flight.

But it gets worse. What do the parents do after their 6 year old was located safe and sound? Immediately appear with CNN's Blitzer and King the same night, and show up on all the morning news programs, where the 6 year old proceeds to vomit on air, not once but twice, during interviews. This isn't normal behavior of parents who were fearing, just hours earlier, for their son's life. How do the parents explain the 6 year old saying in one interview, "we did this for a show"? 6 year olds don't make this stuff up.

This family has been on reality TV in the past. The father has been pitching his family for a reality show since. They chase storms and put it all to film. It's pretty obvious they are fame and attention seekers, but of the worst kind, when they use their own children to perpetrate an apparent hoax on law enforcement, the media and everyone who watched a very frightening spectacle unfold.

The funny looking balloon that drifted above now lays deflated. Law enforcement will be questioning the family again today and childrens' services has been called into the case.

Theirs is a story full of holes which cannot be ignored or artificially inflated.

No Second Senior Bailout

2009-10-14T17:21:00.002-04:00

Shortly after President Barack Obama was inaugurated, the Democrats passed an economic stimulus package which included a "one time" $250 payment for "struggling seniors and the disabled," which was distributed Spring 2009.

For decades, Seniors have received yearly cost of living (COLA) increases to their Social Security payments which are tied to inflation. Because of our horrid economy,
there is no inflation this year, hence, Seniors will not receive a COLA for 2010 and they may not get one in 2011 either.

President Obama has proposed yet another $250.00 "economic stimulus" for Seniors, Veterans and the Disabled. The official press release sites "those hit hardest" and that these folks still haven't recovered their investment losses or the decline in value of their homes.

Excuse me, but neither has anyone else, regardless of age. Ever take a gander at the Forbes 400 richest Americans? A whole lot of them are Seniors. Why are we considering bailouts to Warren Buffett, the Walmart clan, Sheldon Adelson, Norman Braman ... must we go on?

Last time I looked, all retirees have a guaranteed monthly income on top of any investments and property. That's alot more than 10% of the working age population today, recorded as having no job at all, and the likely reality that the figure is upwards of 16% of adults age 18-62. And this doesn't begin to address the millions of employed everywhere who received no wage increase this year, took pay cuts, or accepted lower paying and part time jobs.

ENOUGH already!!!! Create jobs and get people back to work. The economy will then improve and Seniors, as well as everyone else, will get their COLAs. In the meantime, make do, like the rest of us!

If you think Health Care's Not Rationed Now, Think Again!

2009-10-11T20:12:00.002-04:00

It's time for a reality check, regardless of political persuasion. Unless you are fabulously wealthy, and have the means to pay out of pocket for any and all the health care you desire, access to health care is already being rationed and has been for years.

For starters, we make insurance affordable to some, but not others. Today, the others (the uninsured), who are generally small business owners, their workers, sole proprietors and low wages workers, number almost 50 million. This figure exceeds the number of Seniors on Medicare. Obviously, the uninsured have the most rationed care and can only access what they can pay for out of pocket, relying on a safety net of public hospitals for emergency care only, where such care cannot be denied, though the costs are astronomical, and would often be unnecessary if affordable insurance existed in the private market. It doesn't!

If you're covered by a private insurer, your access is limited to what's allowable under the insurer's terms, subject to participating hospitals, doctors, copays, deductibles and maximum lifetime allowances. Exclusions exists everywhere in fine print and denial of care for pre-existing conditions is occuring at a rapidly accelerating rate.

If you're covered by the government (Medicare/Medicaid/Tricare), just about all the aforementioned limits apply excepting lifetime maximum allowances and denial of care for pre-existing conditions.

So let's cut the denial and admit we have rationed health care now. Once we do that, we can go about fixing the inequities of access, which is a moral imperative and necessary as one part of cost containment.

Get Rid of Rangel

2009-10-08T20:00:00.002-04:00

A House Ethics committee announced today they are expanding their investigation into House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel's personal finances.

Why are taxpayers going to be on the financial hook to escalate an investigation into one of the most compromised members of Congress? Charlie Rangel has been using his seniority and seat on Ways and Means to game the system for so long, it's despicable.

It's also time for Pelosi to put and end to the wrangling and strip Charlie of his Chairmanship. NOW!

Lay Off Letterman

2009-10-06T21:11:00.003-04:00

Comedian David Letterman, as we learned last week, was the victim of a crime. A CBS producer tried to blackmail Letterman to the tune of $2 million, to keep his mouth shut about Letterman's dalliances with women who have worked for The Late Show. The Producer in question has money woes including steep child support payments and seemingly determined that Dave was a good extortion target.

Today, the Producer's attorney alerts the Press that he'll be pursuing charges of sexual harrassment against Letterman. Praytell, but what would this have to do with defense of his client? A third party cannot bring sexual harrassment charges. No women have ever come forward alleging they were harrassed. This is beyond screwy.

David Letterman is NOT an employee of the CBS network. He is employed by his own company, World Wide Pants, so any workplace rules which would apply to CBS employees don't apply to Dave. That's the reality.

Letterman's personal conduct and sexual escapades are his business, not ours. He never presented himself as a moral crusader. Though he's been with his, now, wife for many years, they didn't marry until 6 months ago. For all we know, they could well have had an arrangement concerning fidelity or lack thereof. I don't know, I don't care and I'm sure not about to judge.

Neither should anyone else. We can hate Dave's transgressions, love and laugh with him anyway, and not lose sight of the very creepy crime perpetrated against him.

Is this Guy For Real?

2009-10-01T20:10:00.003-04:00

The faux tan obviously isn't, but Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner said today, "I’m still trying to find the first American to talk to who is in favor of the public option". He might start by contacting the parents of an uninsured 22 year old constituent in his district, who died a week ago, after waiting too long to seek out medical care for the Swine Flu, because she was concerned about the cost to see a Doctor, without insurance. With over 1.4 million uninsured Ohioans today, a quick stroll down any street in the Buckeye state should turn up at least 1 person who supports a public health insurance option.

Boehner further posits that a health insurance overhaul which would include a public option "is about as unpopular as a garlic milkshake".

Are garlic milkshakes the beverage de jour in the Congressional Dining room these days, as it would go a long way in explaining why Boehner and so many Republican members of the caucus stink!

Apologize for the Truth? Hell No!

2009-09-30T12:12:00.002-04:00

Last night, Freshman Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL), took to the House Floor and suggested the Republican Health Care plan amounts to little more than "don't get sick" -- and if you do, "die quickly." Republicans are now demanding that Grayson apologize for ... telling the truth!

Let's look at the GOP's current batting average on health reform. They've put forth no reform proposals in either the Senate or the House for an impressive ZERO mark! And it's not just a big fat ZERO this year, but ALL YEARS they controlled Congress or held the Presidency and didn't even TRY to change this horrendous picture. For the 50 million people in this country with no health insurance now, the Republicans' "do nothing" approach to health reform amounts to "you might as well die and, yes, we really don't give a damn about you".

Stew on that truth!

Going Rogue with Palin

2009-09-28T21:13:00.002-04:00

Just 4 months after stepping down, midstream, as Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin will grace the world with a literary tomb. Be still my heart, and my head.

A gift for Tina Fey which keeps on giving? You betcha!

A Fireable Offense

2009-09-24T20:08:00.002-04:00

The Pennsylvania State Human Relations Commission's investigation into alleged discrimation at the Valley Swim Club this summer uncovered some very disturbing information. Two teachers who are members of the Valley Swim Club, and also teach at the same school where the children from the Creative Steps Day Camp attend classes, are at the center of controversy.

At least one of the teachers has taught several of the students, yet wondered aloud why there were "black children" at "her" Swim Club. So distraught over the sight of children she sees and teaches daily during the school year, she announced to another club member she was scared of what they might do to "her child," and she'd be afraid if her child was in the bathroom with these kids. Said teacher went on to tell many more members in a chain of emails obtained by the Commission that one of the students was a thief, who stole a teacher's cellphone, yet there is no evidence the child committed this act, nor was he accused of such and no disciplinary action was taken against him. Incredibly, another teacher repeated this allegation to other members.

As a Private swim club, Valley has the right to allow or prohibit anyone from joining their club, regardless of how disturbing the reasons may be. The Philadelphia Public Schools, however, cannot look the other way or reassign teachers who harbor prejudice against minority children and treat them like second class citizens away from school.

As a white parent, I'd never allow my children to step foot in either of these teachers' classrooms, so I can only imagine the horror and indignity felt by the black and hispanic parents whose children were taught by people who have judged them as less than equal.

These teachers are a disgrace to the profession and should be removed from the school system.

Finally Facing Your Waterloo

2009-09-23T21:57:00.006-04:00

Now that Republicans have declared themselves the consumate defenders of Medicare, a Great Society program they adamantly opposed almost 50 years ago, it's time for Democrats to call their bluff!

With inflation being in the negative this year, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says there will be no Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2010 and, probably, 2011, after 30 years of annual increases. Seems reasonable that Seniors make due with their existing payments, given national unemployment is rapidly approaching 10%, tens of millions of our employed citizens are severely underemployed, and most of the rest of the employed have incurred pay cuts or no pay increase.

Without the COLA, some Seniors who subscribe to Medicare Part D (prescription drug benefit) will see a slightly smaller Social Security check come January because the cost of most Part D plans are, again, expected to rise.

Separate from Health Care Reform, Democrats should opt, tomorrow, to put to an up or down vote, a small COLA adjustment for Social Security recipients, with no spending offset, so the tab will be tacked on to our already exploding budget deficit. With Senator Byrd hospitalized and former Senator Kennedy's seat not yet filled, the Dems are short two votes to stop an assured Republican filibuster that will defeat the measure.

Irate Seniors from Alabama to Alaska and everywhere in between will see the Republicans' feigned support for them, and Medicare, for exactly what it is ... indebtedness to the insurance companies which receive millions in federal subsidies to provide Medicare Advantage programs for substantial profit to CEOs and shareholders, who in turn, fund the GOP coffers.

Senator Jim DeMint wants Waterloo? Time to break him!

The Numbers Don't Lie!

2009-09-19T20:50:00.003-04:00

Health insurance coverage for the average family in 2009 runs $13375.00 a year. This is a 138% increase over a decade ago. The typical family insured by an employer pays roughly 27% of that amount in premiums or roughly $300/month. Co-pays, deductibles and out of pocket costs are above and beyond that monthly tab. So are your lost wages which are going to foot your employer's 73% contribution.

Following this trajectory, if we don't pass health insurance reform, we can expect the tab to insure a family in 2019, just 10 years from now, to rise to $30083.00! Crunching this astronomical amount, figure your premium contribution alone will rise to $675/month. Of course, this would also assume that your employer, whether private or public sector, would/could foot a bill well over $20000/month.

The reality is no private employer will be able to afford these staggering costs and will simply drop coverage. As for the Public Sector, the costs would bankrupt every town, city and state in the nation. For some, they already are.

Wake up America!

Defeat Mad Max's Bill

2009-09-16T22:15:00.004-04:00

You've got to be kidding me! After wasting precious months negotiating with 3 Republican Senators hailing from states with infintesmal, unrepresentative populations, 2 of whom had absolutely no interest in reforming anything, Democratic Senator Max Baucus unveiled his idea of healthcare reform which none of the 3 aforementioned Republicans support anyway. Woohoo!

The devil is in the details, and there are many, but suffice it to say, Baucus's bill is a massive giveway to insurance companies, does nothing to stop the exploding costs of healthcare and levies a tax of up to 13% on families earning up to $66K/year, a completely unaffordable burden and THE REASON why these families, who are not covered by employer paid plans, don't have coverage now. THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT!!!!

The solution is easy Democrats! Dump Mad Max's bill, kick the Republicans to the curb, put forth a Public Plan with Senator Ron Wyden's Healthy American's Act and push this thing through Congress. Demint wants Waterloo? Give him an encore of the Civil War!

The "illegal" boogeyman

2009-09-14T22:11:00.008-04:00

No matter the National Debate, illegal immigrants are now regularly affixed as the reason de resistance by those lacking cogent arguments to buttress an opposition case. If we are truly serious about reigning in health care costs, Hospital ERs can no longer be the first resort for routine medical care, regardless of citizenship.

Our government is already heavily subsidizing health care for illegals by mandating that hospitals provide emergency care, regardless of citizenship. Illegals flood our ERs because they won't be turned away, regardless of costs, which are 10 to 20 times higher than clinics and private physicians, with worse outcomes.

By allowing illegals to buy into a basic health care plan, with or without government subsidy, we will drastically reduce the subsidies we now pay to Public Hospitals
around the country, many of which are teetering on the brink of insolvency.

There is no disagreement across the board on the dire need to contain and reduce health care costs. With 10-20 million illegals in this country, it makes no financial sense to leave them out of the equation, let alone use them to derail comprehensive health care reform.

No Joe Wilson, You Lie!

2009-09-10T20:55:00.002-04:00

There is never any excuse for "spontaneous" diarrhea of the mouth, but when an elected US Representative has the gall to blurt during a Presidential address to a joint session of Congress that "YOU LIE", we have sunk to new lows of disrespect for the President of the United States and the American people.

Kudos to Senator John McCain for immediately lambasting such an outburst and to Senator Arlen Specter who quickly called for Censure.

Representative Joe Wilson is an embarrassment to his district, a disgrace to the state of South Carolina and unfit to represent anyone.

Encouraging Words from our Parent in Chief

2009-09-08T12:54:00.003-04:00

What say all the Doomsayers who kept their kids home from school or out of the classroom today when President Obama spoke to the Nation's school children and stressed the importance of staying in school, working hard and taking responsibility for their education?

It's not easy to look in the mirror and see a fool, but this is a teachable moment for the ill-informed and gullible among us. You owe it to your kids to know the facts before opening your mouth and inserting an oversized foot.

Why there must be a Public Option

2009-09-03T20:00:00.002-04:00

For the same reason Affirmative Action was instituted decades ago. If left to their own devices, employers then, and insurers today, will consistently do the wrong thing. Health care reform with no public option means for profit insurers will gain 50 million new customers, while reforming nothing and costs will further explode, bankrupting the entire delivery system.

Just a few years ago, before Medicare Part D for prescription drugs became available, even generic drugs were fairly costly. That was much of the impetus for introducing a prescription benefit for seniors, by far, the largest consumers of prescription drugs. Because of Part D, Walmart, then Target, then CVS and Walgreens began offering generic drugs for $4.00 a script. Even supermarkets like Publix, with full service pharmacies, jumped into the fray, offering 2 week supplies of the top 7 antibiotics for FREE. It was brilliant marketing! Who's going to walk into a supermarket for a free script and not pick up a few groceries on the way out?

Today, many of the major brand name drug manufacturers now offer a wide array of programs for some of their most costly drugs. None of this competition would have occurred had the govenment not provided a drug benefit for seniors. Young and old can now take advantage of the lower prices.

A public health insurance option will force private insurers to compete for the 50 million Americans who are now uninsured. If they don't lower their rates across the board immediately, the currently uninsured will flock to the Public plan, where they won't be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition or lose coverage because they change jobs or become unemployed.

Those with insurance now will see rate reductions and will no longer have to fear losing coverage due to unemployment. No one will ever again have to remain in a job they hate because of the insane costs to self-insure (if you can even get coverage). Aspiring entrepreneurs will be able to pursue the dream of starting a business rather than working for someone else simply to have health insurance.

Simply put, the Public Option provides choice! Choices we don't have now and choices we will never have if we do the same thing we've been doing for decades with increasingly dismal, discriminatory, predatory results.

The Dream Must Become Reality

2009-08-26T16:01:00.004-04:00

With the passing of Ted Kennedy, we have lost the most accomplished Senator in the history of the US Senate, whose name is connected with every major piece of legislation over the last 45 years having to do with civil rights, human rights, workers rights, rights for the disabled and all aspects of health care legislation including the family and medical leave act and SCHIP.

In Kennedy, there was no greater advocate for women, children, persons of color, the disabled, the poor and the mentally ill. Still outstanding, however, is the "Cause of my life," the issue Kennedy championed for decades. Universal Health Care for all Americans.

To honor his life's work, Congress must pass Health Insurance Reform this year!

Tightening a belt? How about Choking them off!

2009-08-23T12:39:00.003-04:00

No longer anticipating any positive news in Sunday's Miami Herald, we learn today that Mr. Strong Mayor, Carlos Alvarez, after publicly proclaiming dire economic straits in Miami-Dade County, skirted all Sunshine laws and, behind his own closed doors, awarded his closest, inept, do nothing aides 10-15% pay increases, backdated 6 months, which ironically concided with the demise of Lehman Brothers, ground zero of the country's current economic meltdown.

Alvarez did this after his overworked and beyond stressed County rank and file workers were notified of 5% pay cuts on top of other benefit reductions. To add insult to injury, these workers were told to be grateful they still had jobs.

Citizens of this county who either didn't vote, when the Strong Mayor initiative was on the ballot, or voted in support of creating this mayoral monster, have no one to blame but themselves for what's going on.

That county aides here are earning two and three times as much as aides to the White House, should rankle sensibilities enough to get the strong mayor initiative back on the ballot and overturned.

Starve this beast!

Grumpy Odd Men

2009-08-14T22:13:00.003-04:00

What could be more exciting than Senators Arlen Spector and Chuck Grassley in a Tweet pissing match about Sarah Palin's Wet Fantasy of government "Death Panels"?

Irascible Arlen got it slighty wrong, but mostly right, that Err Grassley was intimating Death Panels, while on the stump, positing that health care reform Democrats support might lead to "Pulling the Plug on Grandma". This didn't stop Grassley from tweeting that Spector put words in his mouth, to which Spector huffed, Grassley puffed and so it went between the two old codgers.

Tweet delete!

Legions of Stupidity

2009-08-11T22:30:00.002-04:00

Yet another fun filled day of Town Halls across the country, with mostly elderly and all white, red faced hecklers screaming and disrupting "name your congressperson" in vehement opposition to any and all health care reform.

At least half of these imbeciles are "government" Medicare/SSI recipients, demanding that the same government stay out of their health care, yet simultaneously accusing said government of subversive tactics to inihilate them.

As the Scarecrow exasperatedly utters, "if I only had a brain".

Death Mongering

2009-08-09T19:52:00.005-04:00

In their persistent efforts to kill any and all insurance reform, rightwing whackos "drudged" up a 1 year old story, which appeared in USAToday, about a woman with terminal cancer, who was denied by the Oregon State Plan, a $4000/month drug because studies have found the drug to be only marginally successful, it doesn't meet the 5%, 5 year rule, and the survival rate among patients who took the drug was a whole TWO MONTHS! longer than those who were given a placebo.

Reread the above and do tell how either a private insurer or a government run plan could justify the $24K cost for POSSIBLY extending the life of a terminal patient by TWO MONTHS! They simply can't, which is why most private insurers would deny payment for the drug, and why both Medicare and Medicaid are nearing bankruptcy, and need to be overhauled. We're only hearing about this loud and clear now because it was a "state" plan (oooh, government) which denied payment, and not a private insurer, which would have done the same thing.

What the Oregon State Plan did offer the woman was pallative care, which is precisely what should be given after many thousands were already spent for rounds of chemo and radiation several years ago, which bought this woman a few years in remission. Once the cancer returned, and it was determined more of the same would not work, turning to a ridiculously expensive, marginal drug which has not demonstratably extended any life, is a categorical waste of money for a woman already confined to a bed with no hope of recovery or remission.

It is not God's plan that we live forever. If not for a myriad of man-made drugs, millions of our citizens who are alive today wouldn't be with us. That we have them is a wonderful thing. But we also have tens of thousands of people dying in this country every single year for no good reason, for ailments that are easily treatable, where life expectancy is years and decades, because they don't have insurance of any kind and lack access to health care.

You tell me which is the greater crime?

La Diva Loca

2009-08-08T22:32:00.002-04:00

In her first public comments since abdicating the Alaska Governorship, midterm, Sarah Palin rambled incoherently about the elderly and children born with Down's Syndrome doomed to a bureaucratic "Death Panel" with Health Reform the President supports.

Surely, Palin is a genetic anomoly. No human being could have intentionally been created this mentally deficient.

Cold Cash for Your Freezer

2009-08-06T21:46:00.002-04:00

A few states, including New Jersey, are now dipping into unavailable funds, to award $30.00 cash rebates to residents who turn in an old fridge or freezer for an energy efficient model.

If this were the local, privately run electric company giving you the rebate, as some do, with the purchase of new air conditioning units, I could support this rebate, however, such a program is hardly a stimulus, and won't entice anyone to shell out $500-$1000 for a $30.00 unfunded government gift. The takers will amount to consumers who were already planning to purchase a new model and don't need the thirty bucks.

If we're serious about energy efficiency, create a public/private stimulus partnership. Owners of models 15 years or older obviously can't afford to buy new, so let them trade in their clunker for a new, no frills model (about $500) for $125.00 and a signed agreement with their electric company to forego, for 3 years, the estimated $125/year cost savings of an energy efficient model, which the electric company will pay directly to the manufacturer. Free clunker removal will be provided by the state, via individual counties.

The customer realizes no savings for 3 years, but only needs to come up with $125.00 to get a brand new and needed appliance, while actively contributing to a greener society.

Adjusting for scale, we can apply the same type of stimulus for all other major appliances, ie., ovens, dishwashers, washers/dryers and water heaters. Say goodbye to countless inefficient models, jump start appliance manufacturers and home improvement retailers, ease our energy consumption and clean up the environment in one fell swoop.

A targeted stimulus where each player contributes and the entire country cashes in!

Stick a Wedge in It!

2009-08-05T21:38:00.002-04:00

With no ideas and no plan, the rightwing nutjobs cry abortion for the umpteenth time and toss in dead Grannies to divide and conquer the masses.

Translation: Democrats will pay for health insurance reform by mandated slaughter of the unborn and elderly genocide.

Another chapter in their septic tank of lies. May your waste runneth over.

Mission Accomplished

2009-08-04T21:01:00.002-04:00

6 years after W declared a still unachieved victory in the wrong place, our Big Dog, Bill Clinton, globe trots to North Korea and artfully secures the pardon and release of two American journalists who've been held captive since March, facing 12 years in prison.

A victory is achieved!

The Pill Nation

2009-08-03T21:25:00.006-04:00

Here's yet another depressing statistic as a result of the for-profit health insurance industry which generally refuses to cover mental illness ... use of anti-depressants has doubled over the last 10 years from 13 million to 27 million people. At the current pace, those using anti-depressants will soon rival the number of alcohol dependent americans.

Combined with persons using other prescribed, mind-altering drugs, as well as the unlawful variety, upwards of 1/3 of our population of over 300 million is chemically dependent, with little or no opportunity for counseling, psychotherapy, detox or rehabilitation, because insurers deny, deny, deny.

With denial of this magnitude, enter The Pill Nation!

Enact Insurance Reform and End the Bailouts

2009-08-02T13:34:00.009-04:00

With half the States already extending unemployment benefits up to 79 weeks (1 1/2 years), the Obama Administration, as well as members of both political parties, seem to be in agreement on adding yet another 13 week extension for some 1.5 million people who will run out of benefits by the end of this year, according to a private research firm, whose findings appear in today's New York Times.

The continuous concern for such a tiny percentage of the population is rather amazing and shortsighted in light of the utter lack of concern for over 50 million working Americans who have no health insurance now. The irony here is that most of the 1.5 million who are about to lose their already extended unemployment benefits, lost their jobs because of the exhorbitant cost of health insurance.

Fix that and the jobs will come!

Organic Ripoff

2009-08-01T18:55:00.002-04:00

Never having bought into the Organic hype which swept store shelves some years ago, the UK Times Online reports this week that exhaustive studies show Organic food is no more nutritious than the inorganic variety.

Though organics may look spiffier and generally come in fancier packaging, the health benefits appear to be non-existent. At two to four times the price, it's difficult for the average consumer to justify the cost.

Will the findings seriously impact the organic market's bottom line? Probably not, as devotees tend to be young and/or upscale consumers who generally fall for environmentally friendly hype at inflated costs.

As for our First Lady, whose newly planted Organic Garden has been overrun with icky goo as a result of inground sewer sludge, the local Safeway sounds like a reasonable alternative.

Hey, Where's My Handout?

2009-07-30T19:00:00.003-04:00

By 0600 tomorrow, I plan to submit paperwork to Congressman Pete Sessions (R-IL) to build a dirigible, complete with twirly base, at the entrance of the Homestead/Motocross Speedway. Cost proposal is $1.2M and I'll work my butt off to have this useless inflatable completed in time for the 2009 NASCAR finale in November, which I'll be observing from the comfort of my enclosed Patio.

I have no experience in blimp building but neither did the Illinois company Session's bestowed a $1.2M earmark to last year, before railing on the House floor, seemingly moments ago, about wasteful earmarks, and blaming those glutonous Democrats for licking the Treasury cupboard dry.

I am, however, a CCR Government Contractor, unlike the aforementioned, so I'm confident Congressman "talks out of both sides of his mouth" will find a way to award me a coveted earmark.

In return for this economic stimulus, Pete Session's name will be spray painted on the Blimp for the Sunday NASCAR finale, and it will take flight, midscreen, on your 50 inch appliance for the final 12 laps. Top 5 Pole positions will then charge the field and destroy it!

Congressional Republicans lose Government Health Insurance

2009-07-29T12:51:00.004-04:00

And so it goes after their latest diversionary tactics were exposed at a faux Health Insurance Reform Town Hall meeting in Waterloo, Iowa today.

After more than a dozen planted, illiterate Birthers twisted and shouted about Barack Obama's legitimacy as President because he was born in Hawaii rather than the contiguous 48, a brave 12 year old stood up and politely asked these mentally challenged dimwits if Republican leaders had put forth a Plan, or even a Post-It, to reform health care, reign in the costs or make availability accessible to those who have inadequate or no coverage now.

After an hour of deafening silence, and with millions of I-Report cameras rolling, Congressional Republicans got down on all fours, and confessed to Pastor Rick and Pope Benedict that they have no plan, nor an interest, in reforming industries which bought and paid for their Seats in the Capitol.

With this hardly amazing admission blogged, blabbed and tweeted to every corner of the world in less than 10 seconds, President Obama immediately signed an Executive Order, stripping all Congressional Republicans of their government bought and paid for health insurance.

While most caucus members fired off curt, mid-term resignation letters to the Media hordes and flew home, Senator Jim DeMint was forced to surrender at Waterloo and return, on foot, to Greenville, SC.

Graham flies solo in vote for Sotomayor

2009-07-28T12:28:00.004-04:00

If there were any question about the Party of No's interests in bi-partisanship, look no further than the Sotomayor vote out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.

Only Senator Lindsay Graham seems to recognize that a vote for the first Hispanic justice to the Supreme Court, and a female to boot, would go a long way to assure Hispanics that Republicans were interested in repairing the damage they've done with the largest minority group.

Today's vote is a clear indicator Republicans learned nothing from the 2008 election and have resigned themselves to minority party status.

C'est la vie!

The Viral Valley

2009-07-10T22:18:00.009-04:00

As a young girl, there were few places I would have preferred to call home than Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. Nestled against the farthest reaches of Northeast Philadelphia, my home, this hamlet of roughly 12,000, in Lower Moreland Township, is picturesque with rolling hills, winding roads, lush landscapes, sprawling homes, excellent public schools and very comfortable incomes.

We lived so close to Huntingdon Valley, it only entailed a short walk across the county line to get there, and I crossed over early and often. Be it Friday night block parties, sorority pledging, Lorimer Park, excellent Deli's, the Bowling Alley, or a favorite Disco, which served as a second home on Thursday nights, I spent considerable time in Huntingdon Valley and, 25 years later, still remember it with mostly fond memories.

When the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia first reported on the Valley Swim Club incident earlier this week, I tagged along, as I knew the story would go viral in a matter of milliseconds. Though I've never been to this particular swim club, I have been to many of the swim and country clubs in the general vicinity, and I'm not at all surprised at what occurred at Valley. And the truth is, since I left the city, virtually nothing has changed at these clubs. In a very perverse way, I'm almost glad that what I've known forever about the suburban hamlets bordering Philadelphia has finally come to light. It's a discussion we didn't dare have yet one which is long overdue.

So much of what is being posted on the Net by people claiming this couldn't have happened in "Philly" is ill-informed. After all, Philadelphia is a majority african american city today. But Huntingdon Valley is not Philly. It's a very affluent place that many white Philadelphians fled to because of the darkening "complexion" of the City of Brotherly Love. To be fair, there was also a desire and the means for these former city dwellers to reside in larger homes with even bigger lots. Another reason often cited to move out yonder was city taxes, but what residents of these well-heeled suburban enclaves pay in property taxes dwarfs the city tax liability, not to mention the hefty gasoline tab for commuting an hour or more, each way, to work in Center City.

Huntingdon Valley's demographics are 97% white. Any diversity the Valley Swim Club claims among its members is either token Asian or Eastern Indian professionals. Why Russians were mentioned by the club President to falsely demonstrate a diverse membership is beyond me, because last I looked, they, like all other Eastern Europeans, are Caucasian. It must be the pesky accents of newer arrivals. Jews were mentioned too! Why? Huntingdon Valley would be a shell of itself without them. The business my favorite Deli racks up on Shivah platters alone is mind boggling. Great stuff too and I'm already craving the Lox and Smoked Salmon just thinking about it.

For all the aforementioned positives about Huntingdon Valley, it's not what I think of today as the real world. Other than religious beliefs, there is a remarkable sameness among every family and that's precisely how they want it. They may speak of diversity and tell their children all the right things about those who are different, but there is little or no association with people who are not exactly like themselves, be it by race or socioeconomics.

These are people who gave Barack Obama the majority of their votes but have no black or hispanic friends, would never venture to at least half of Philadelphia, and don't expect to see people from those city neighborhoods showing up on their leafy turf. It's not overt racism, but simmering under the surface, and it came to a head when 65 children of color suddenly appeared at one of their pools.

Most public swimming pools in Philadelphia are closed this year because of budget cuts due to the economic crisis gripping Pennsylvania and the nation. Parents of the children attending the Frankford Day Camp paid the $35.00 fee to Valley Swim Club so their children could swim 1 hour a week, and enjoy an integral part of the summer camp experience. Valley was obviously looking to boost their numbers otherwise they would not have a website advertising memberships, where you could sign up and pay, online, for several plans. Funds totaling almost $2000 were exchanged and all seemed fine and dandy until the childen of color showed up to use what they paid for.

The people of Huntingdon Valley and all similar white "bubble" communities dotting the urban landscapes up and down the coasts need to move beyond lip service about diversity and open their hearts and minds with meaningful actions and real relationships, not wall themselves off and pretend another world doesn't exist, or worse, utter insensitive remarks, instruct their children to exit a pool, then close it down because of the embarrassment they caused themselves, not to mention innocent children, who just wanted to enjoy an activity that's taken for granted by their own kids.

More than a year ago, as a candidate for President, Barack Obama gave a speech on race in Philadelphia. Perhaps the reason why he chose my hometown is being revealed to us now. As far we've come, there's work to be done.

Dead but never gone

2009-06-25T21:39:00.005-04:00

Having been born just weeks after Michael Jackson, I'm finding it almost impossible to remember a time when this amazingly gifted singer, songwriter, performer and icon didn't have a place in my consciousness. No matter where I was at any stage of my life ... child, teenager, adult, wife, Mother ... Michael Jackson, as he sung in one of his most beautiful songs, was always there.

And, shockingly, today Michael departed to another place, but he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of music and humanity for generations to come.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson will live on forever.

RIP

Republicans Gone Wild

2009-06-24T14:51:00.004-04:00

Oh where, oh where did South Carolina's Governor go? After disappearing for a week, with his staff running interference about some impromptu hiking trip, alone, through Appalachia over Father's Day, Governor Mark Sanford held a new conference today and confessed to his wife, four kids and the good people of his state that he's been carrying on an affair with an Argentinian woman. Wonder if he'll fast track her for legalized status in the US after staunchly opposing the US Immigration Reform our previous President tried, in vain, to pass.

Barely a week ago, we learned the Republican Senator from Nevada, John Ensign, an exemplary member of Promise Keepers, had also carried on with another woman a year ago, and confessed now, not because of a marital fidelity pledge to which Promise Keepers subscribe, but because his former mistress's spouse went to FOX News to tell how Ensign has destroyed his family.

Seems like a great video line for Joe Francis, who's run the gamut of spring break college co-eds.

They had it all, and Now ... Nothing!!

2009-05-05T21:57:00.004-04:00

With excerpts of Elizabeth Edward's new book, Resiliance, trickling out, it appears we will now bear witness to a wife's public emasculation of her cheating husband. After the sorry saga of the Edwards' duplicitous deception left our consciousness, here comes the sequel with more lurid details about two people who are shells of their former selves and a relationship that makes a mockery of marriage.

The loss of their beloved son Wade notwithstanding, John and Elizabeth Edwards had it all and, by their own selfish choices, ripped it to shreds. They were complicit in their efforts to deceive a nation and, though I pray for Elizabeth's health, I can't forgive her for asking voters to believe in a man who continues, to this day, to lie to her and all of us.

Why'd He Do It?

2009-04-28T12:55:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'll admit to some serious self-congratulating today upon learning that Arlen Specter, the longtime Republican Senator from Pennsylvania was switching parties, which will finally provide Democrats in the Senate with their filibuster proof 60 vote majority to pass legislation and render Republicans on the Hill truly useless. After all, my last blog post on March 25th outlined precisely why I believed Specter would switch. To save himself!

But why did Arlen Specter make the move now? Three words ... HEALTH CARE REFORM!
Perhaps the current Swine Flu outbreak was the impetus. Specter has been a huge advocate for the Centers of Disease Control and the NIH, and generally votes in support of anything expanding health care access and affordability. In that regard, he almost stands alone in the Republican Party of today.

In the current budget, which the House just approved, the Democrats insured they would have wiggle room to prevent a Republican filibuster by leaving the option open for a procedural maneuver known as budget reconciliation if the Republicans again choose to thwart a major health care initiative such as universal coverage, which has the support of the vast majority of Americans.

Unfortunately, there are some weak kneed "moderate" Democrats in "red" states who've been warning that if the Senate Democratic leadership resorts to a budget reconciliation maneuver because they come up short of the required 60 votes to cut off debate and move to a vote, they'll be less inclined to support the legislation.

With Specter's vote and the inevitable seating of Al Franken in Minnesota, the discussion is almost mute. The Democrats won't need a single republican vote to pass health care reform!

Hallelujah! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

And to Senator Specter ... this may end up being your greatest legacy to date!

Specter Will Jump Republican Ship to Save Himself

2009-03-25T14:51:00.007-04:00

A new Quinnipiac Poll out today has Club for Growth President Pat Toomey leading Arlen Specter in a Pennsylvania Republican Primary match-up by 14 points with a ridiculous 28% of Republican primary voters undecided. I say ridiculous because everyone in the state, party notwithstanding, knows Arlen Specter and, honestly, knows right now whether they will support him in a primary vote or not, regardless of what these voters are telling pollsters.

What these early numbers tell us is Arlen Specter is in a heap of trouble with Pennsylvania's Republican voters, who never much liked him from the get-go, and he'll lose a 1 on 1 primary battle with Toomey. An even more right-wing nutcase, Peg Lusik, is also planning to jump into this primary on the Republican ticket which would be Specter's only shot at pulling out a primary victory, with Lusik and Toomey splitting the "Alabama" votes between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Such a scenario is hardly guaranteed and Specter could go down regardless because of his overall weak support among the Republicans left in the Keystone state.

Personally, I'd rather see Arlen Specter retire. If he runs as a Republican, he will lose the primary and the Democrats will claim this Senate seat in 2010. Politically, he could do now, a year in advance, what he should have done 8 years ago and bolt the Republican party, caucus with the Democrats, and sail to reelection in 2010.

If Arlen Specter flips now, the Democrats will FINALLY have their filibuster proof 60 votes in the Senate, once Al Franken is seated from Minnesota, which would guarantee massive support for his reelection from National Democrats. Further, the AFL-CIO has already told Specter, a longtime ally, that they will back him 100% if he switches parties. I suspect Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy may even allow Specter to co-chair this all important committee, an historic event by any measure.

Specter's choice is clear ... sink with the Republicans or swim with the Democrats. My money says he'll grab the life preserver.

Wanna lose business? Outsource Sales

2009-03-16T17:03:00.004-04:00

Since the start of the new millenium, US companies have accelerated the pace by which they've outsourced customer support, tech help and AP departments, to the exasperation of nearly everyone here who has dealt with these remote and virtual call centers. Adding insult to injury, the latest corporate brainstorm appears to be offshore sales solicitations. I won't name the companies but I've received several such calls this new year, and all with the same result. I'm not buying and I'm not even listening!

With the economy reeling, I can appreciate just about anything a company deems necessary to remain viable and profitable but sales in such a competitive environment requires experienced, competent sales persons who possess requisite communications skills. Cold calling for new business requires at least a rudimentary background about a company, its products and the market sector. To my amazement, I'm now fielding sales calls from novices in foreign call centers, using substandard VOIP communications, for products or services which don't apply, make no sense, are of no added value and won't increase sales or productivity. Above all else, these "sales persons" are incapable of putting together a coherent sentence.

If I can't understand you, why would I give you my business? And if a company thinks so little of my business potential, that it would hand off the possibility of gaining my business to someone who knows nothing about it, doesn't ask the right questions, and can't give understandable answers, isn't the company wasting its time and money?

Certainly, the answer is yes, which is why only a few seconds are needed to promptly hang up on these callers and the companies who outsourced their most important asset.

Obama Lifts Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban

2009-03-09T14:14:00.002-04:00

Arguably, what Barack Obama did today, in reversing George W. Bush's previously severe restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, may ultimately be one of the most significant chapters in this President's legacy.

Be it Parkinsons, Diabetes, MS, Spinal Cord Injury, Alzheimers ... federal researchers will now have the necessary means to push forward in developing cures for millions of afflicted, here, and around the world.

The promise is tremendous. The results could be mind-boggling.

And science lives again!