Daily Topics - Wednesday - March 17th 2010
By Louise
Quote: "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." - John F. Kennedy
Our newest affiliate stations: Somerville Community Access TV in Somerville, MA; and a new radio station WYAP in Clay, W.VA
Hour One - Were we and the Bush Administration no different than the contestants turned torturers in the French tv experiment?
Hour Two - Dan Gainor www.businessandmedia.org Health Care Sequel...The Empire Strikes Back
Hour Three - When does assisted suicide cross the line and turn into murder? John West author of THE LAST GOODNIGHTS: Assisting My Parents with Their Suicides, a memoir of love, courage, and honor http://thelastgoodnights.net
Plus Dr. Arthur Caplan director of the Center for Bioethics www.springerpub.com When does assisted suicide cross the line and turn into murder?
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Comments
#2
@ZeroG -
You're welcome. :)
Shaddegg lies thru his teeth -
"And, unlike the Democrats plan, it will not force you to give up the health care coverage you currently have if you choose to keep it!"
How many times have we heard Obama say "If you like your current health plan, YOU KEEP IT!"?
"The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act dramatically expands the insurance pools Americans can select to join by allowing churches, alumni associations, trade associations and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer affordable health care packages to their members."
Like we can't do this already??!! I have personally been covered, in the past, by group health care plans implemented by the IEEE (an engineering trade association), and a Credit Union.
"PRE-EXISTING AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS COVERED AT AFFORDABLE RATES."
Likewise under the bill currently under consideration.
The 10 most frightening words in the English Language -
"I'm from the Republican Party, and I'm here to help".
#3
NY Times reports that:
Taliban Hit Back in Marja With a Campaign of Intimidation
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/world/asia/18afghan.html?pagewanted=1&hpw
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have begun waging a campaign of intimidation in Marja that some local Afghan leaders worry has jeopardized the success of an American-led offensive there meant as an early test of a revised military approach in Afghanistan.
The Taliban tactics have included at least one beheading in a broader effort to terrorize residents and undermine what military officials have said is the most important aim of the offensive: the attempt to establish a strong local government that can restore services. The offensive ousted the Taliban from control of their last population center in southern Helmand Province, but maintaining control over such territory has proved elusive in the past.
Though Marja has an occupation force numbering more than one coalition soldier or police officer for every eight residents, Taliban agitators have been able to wage an underground campaign of subversion, which residents say has intensified in the past two weeks.
“After dark the city is like the kingdom of the Taliban,” said a tribal elder living in Marja, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of the Taliban. “The government and international forces cannot defend anyone even one kilometer from their bases.”
*******************************
Then they repeat the canard that:
Mr. Zahir said the Taliban also regularly issued “night letters,” posted at mosques or on utility poles, warning against such collaboration, and often intimidated residents into providing them with shelter and food, even in densely populated neighborhoods of the city, which has a population of 80,000.
#4
@mstaggerlee, HFCS makes you fat and hungry? Well why wouldn't Big Food want to stop that immediately? Why on earth would Big Food possibly want fat hungry (increasingly diabetic) people? Heck, they may even start limiting hormones in animals because its possible that its causing hormonal problems in humans, and also stop giving anti-biotics to animals because that may be creating super strains of illnesses that may just come back and bite us in the butt. Really once someone points this out to them, there will really be no need for regulations, we can trust that they will produce a superior healthy product and not concern themselves about the bottom line.
Just ask any Republican, they'll back that sentiment up.
#5
Hmmm - looks like there are TWO blog pages running today ... some folks are posting on the WEEKLY blog page, here -
http://www.thomhartmann.com/2010/03/13/highlights-on-the-show-march-15-1...
#6
@Nels -
Yup - I believe you have encapsulated the issues quite nicely.
Now - Go forth, and try to explain those points to a Neocon. :(
#7
OK, hardheads...I will repost from the other blog.
#8
Michael Moore on the Current Health Ins. Legislation
Video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31510813/ns/msnbc_tv-the_dylan_ratigan_show#...
#9
Health “Insurance” vs. “Care” Reform
This morning, I heard Pres. Obama refer to this health reform legislation as “health INSURANCE reform.” This is what I have been calling it for some time now, but this is the first time I’ve heard Obama call it what it is (tho, of course, there is not ENOUGH reform.)
#10
Grayson’s 3 1/2-page “Medicare for All” Bill Gets Huge Support – Part 1
Rep. Alan Grayson has presented a short bill opening up Medicare to everyone. Video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31510813/ns/msnbc_tv-the_dylan_ratigan_show#...
#11
Grayson’s 3 1/2-page “Medicare for All” Bill Gets Huge Support – Part 2
Rep. Alan Grayson’s “Medicare for All” petition to sign:
#12
Kucinich and the Media
Dennis Kucinich | Media
by David Swanson | March 18, 2010 - 10:03am
When I worked for Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign in 2003, he routinely won the most applause at debates but was minimized or entirely left out of the next day's stories in the corporate media. This meant that peace, and fair trade, and single-payer healthcare were left out too. At one debate at the University of New Hampshire, Kucinich pushed back.
Ted Koppel of ABC opened the debate with questions about endorsements. The second round of questions was about standing in the polls. The third was about the campaigns' bank accounts. One had to wonder when, if ever, the debate would touch on, you know, what the candidates intended to do if elected. Kucinich cut Koppel off, saying:
"I want the American people to see where media takes politics in this country. We start talking about endorsements, now we're talking about polls and then talking about money. When you do that you don't have to talk about what's important to the American people."
More: http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/david_swanson/27424/kucinich_and_the_media
#13
@mstaggerlee, explaining the points to a neocon isn't the problem, its getting them to admit to it, (they already understand it, they just don't care) that's the problem.
#14
My main concern about the Health (rather its "insurance" or "care") reform bill, is after its voted on, will debate continue, or will it be considered done by the majority?
I fear that once its passed, it'll be years before a significant amount of congressmen will go near the issue again.
#15
No, Carl, I don't wonder at ALL if Dubya or Darth Cheney bothered read anything by Dar Jameil.
I wonder if Dubya or Darth Cheney bothered to read ANYTHING AT ALL!
#16
@Nels,
I echo that concern, also I reject the idea that if this fails the subject won't be touched for another 10-15 years, because the status quo just cannot stand.
#17
@Nels - The Neocon POLITICIANS understand it.
The Neocon man-on-the-street doesn't ... he only knows what FAUX news tells him. :(
#18
Hi friends,
I have been moving, and not able to post but the d-days are here for healthcare reform. Who do we write to over the next few days to be most effective? Does anyoe have a list compiled that we can share on facebook, with our email lists, on our blogs, etc. Where do we write to make our words count the most over the next few days?
Thank you,
Loretta
#19
@ZeroG - Never underestimate the cowardice of our elected representatives. If they see something as a 3rd rail, they won't come within half a mile of it.
#20
@mstaggerlee, true, but I'd say the man-man-on-the-street isn't a Neocon, he's just Neoconned. This blind followers are just that, blind, deaf, but not dumb (stupid, foolish though).
#21
@mstaggerlee, btw thanx for letting both the blogs people are commenting on today, know that the other bloggers are on one or the other. I considered blogging on the weekly blog, but I've already started my thread here.
#22
@mstaggerlee,
Never would I underestimate congressional cowardice, but it was easy to ignore the uninsured when they were just the poor who generally don't vote. Now we are seeing the formerly middle class who were used to being insured going without.
#23
How funny was it to listen to that FAUX news A-hole say "I don't want to interrupt you," while he was busy TALKING OVER the President of the United States?
#24
I think Obama went on Faux just so he could later point to why he doesn't do it anymore.
#25
Please, the last one out, please turn off the lights. Thank you.
#26
@Loretta -
Hope you're still here even if Thom's show is over. I'm listening to Randi Rhodes now, who says that only 11 more votes are needed for house passage. She'll be naming names - you might wanna listen.
If you can't get her show live where you are, try KTLK -
#27
I was listening today when the host mentioned that Rep. Steven King called into question the Senate voting for Health Reform this Sunday…King said…”is an affront to God…..” “They intend to vote on the Sabbath, during Lent, to take away the liberty that we have right from God.”
Not only are Republican’s hypocrites, they seem to have selective memory when ever it suits them…..do they think we forgot about the Palm Sunday Compromise… when the Republican controlled Senate held an unusual Sunday session at 9:02 pm to take a vote to allow a Federal court to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo.
#28
Chris Matthews Confronts Tim Phillips, Head of Americans for Prosperity
An interview that asks the questions Phillips and others should be asked more often (video):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/ns/msnbc_tv-hardball_with_chris_matt...
#29
So ... which blog page are we posting to today?
#30
... and if Thom is out, does Bernie get the day off, too?
#31
Hi mstaggerlee,
I didn't get to hear Randi's list. And the SEIU sent out an email saying there are 30 undecided representatives but they didn't list who either. Damn! In Oregon, our leaders are on board so we can use our phone calls elsewhere but I'm not sure who to call right now.
I don't want to call R's who are hopeless and will just depress the hell out of me. I want to call the undecided and promise bj's :-)
#32
sorry that'snot very funny considering where stuff like that has landed us.
#33
@Loretta - sorry for the delayed reply - been arguing with a troll over on the Wednesday blog page -
http://www.thomhartmann.com/2010/03/13/highlights-on-the-show-march-15-1...
Just wanted to say that your statement may not be funny, but it does seem to be the kind of incentive that their side just might be responsive to. :D
#34
Oops - I meant the WEEKLY blog page.
#35
Capitalism: A Love Story
Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" came out on DVD last week and I finally saw it. It was incredible! We (the U.S. citizenry that is NOT in the top 5% of incomes) are in even WORSE shape than I thought. It is not hyperbolic to say that it's WAY BEYOND time to act. Here are some suggestions for anyone interested:
#36
Re: French Torture Experiment
We people of this world never learn from the history of ourselves. In the heat of the moment, we tend to follow the crowd, as the ancient Romans did in the Coliseum when they showed a thumbs up or mostly a thumbs down, to order the killing of the defeated gladiator. Do we still have this thirst for blood centuries later? Have we evolved since then? I believe we still have in our human brains a button that once pressed we all turn into savages (for example, look at Michael Savage (he he)). However, after it's usually too late, we have the ability reflect upon what we did and stop ourselves. This creates a cycle. History repeats. We need to stop this. What we need in our society is some sort of check and balance system, or feedback system, which tightly regulates our innate need for blood.
#37
Adding a test comment here.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
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From Cracking the Code:
"Thom Hartmann ought to be bronzed. His new book sets off from the same high plane as the last and offers explicit tools and how-to advice that will allow you to see, hear, and feel propaganda when it's directed at you and use the same techniques to refute it. His book would make a deaf-mute a better communicator. I want him on my reading table every day, and if you try one of his books, so will you."
Simple question for John Shadegg:
Have you signed on to co-sponser HR 676 or are you just blowing smoke out of your a$$.