Recent comments

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Well- okay- here is Barack's new video to fire us up Ahhhhh!!!!!! http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/reportback

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Per Thom's latest news re Sybell Edmunds and 28% Republicans believing The President is not an American...... See ya later everyone, I am off to Canada NOW!

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    All members of congress are owned by corporations. There are no exceptions, not one. They cry in public for the middle clas and the working poor, when in fact, they are in most cases the upper class. I consider any one single individual making over $100,000.00 fairly well off unless maybe you want to live in NY city down town. Have a lovely day all, and remember our political leaders first and formost want to be re-elected. There will be no real health reform in my life time or yours unless you're real young.

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Loretta,

    Oops! s.b.

    Thanks so much for the link! (I missed Krugman's column --- 'haven't read the papers today.)

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Loretta,

    Thanks so much for the link. (I missed Krugman's column --- 'haven'like reading the papers today.)

    B Roll,

    Thanks for your puns yesterday.

    Though this isn't a pun, I think it's good:

    "Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."

    John Lennon

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    So...Palin impaled the Republican party. :)

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    lol ha 'Palinize' Cash for Clunkers reminds me of impaling a vampire. :)

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    THX Loretta for that Krugman link-

    here are two more I picked up from the live blog green960.com

    If only we had what they have
    http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/870943.html

    Joe Flowers video http://www.imaginewhatif.com/2009/07/weve-got-to-do-something.html#more

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Quark, Thanks so much for the to do list today:-)

    Here's a terrific column by Paul Krugman on the fact that the reason that insurance works at all today is precisely because of government intervention, medicare and medicaid that often covers the sickest and most needy populations. It's a wonderful, to the point, concise argument we can easily share.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/opinion/31krugman.html

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    If the statistic DRichards quotes that 40% of taxes go to paying interest on the dept. Additionally If the statistic that I heard on Tom's show the other day that 58% every dollar paid in taxes goes to the Military Industrial Complex. That leaves 2% for everything else. Imagine what we could do to make America a great place to live if we had just a portion of that other 98% to work with.

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Hi Bernie, I wonder where all the money from Iraqi oil is going. I' m sure it's all accounted for.

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    I would like to throw out something for discussion; Are taxes really necessary?

    If the government can run trillions in the red, then why tax at all, other than a means of control? Prior to the creation of the Federal Reserve, the government printed it's own money, and thus paid no interest. I have read that 40% of the taxes collected go to the Federal reserve as interest payments. Are taxes really a form of transference of wealth?

    If the Federal Reserve was done away with, and the government once again printed it's own money, would the population need to be taxed?

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Thom,

    Listening to your "civil" discussions with so-called conservatives has made me wonder why I can't approach similar people the same way. I think I have too much anger at injustices (much of it due to my abuse as a child, my later rape as a young woman --- part of "me" died that day --- and other life "challenges.")

    After 911, when Republicans refused to pass a bill supporting the hiring of more airport security people because they might become union members (the horror!), I had a complete emotional meltdown.

    I ended up in the mental health ward of a local hospital. There, I had a "clarifying" experience. A pschologist asked me, " When was the last time you felt so angry and distraught ?"

    Without even thinking, words just tumbled out, "when I was growing up. My parents were supposed to PROTECT me. Instead, I was physically and mentally abused and afraid all the time."

    Somehow, my mind made this connection between an authoritarian Republican government and authoritarian Republican parents, both of whom SHOULD be there to look out for my interests but were, instead, abusive to me.

    I was put on a powerful anitdepressant which I've taken for the last 7 years. Now I am taking myself off it slowly. Instead of relying on that chemical "lobotomy" (which I really needed) to dull the pain, I am going to work through the steps in your book Walking Your Blues Away.

    I have thought through all this while listening to you and exchanging ideas with others on your blog.

    Maybe, at the end of this, I will be able to talk with conservatives as well as you...

    Bless you, Teacher.

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    My morning message to MY Congress Critters (Rep & both Senators):

    The 'concessions' of the corporatist DEMs will increase the cost of healthcare and limit effectiveness of addressing our nation's needs. In short, exactly the opposite of what America needs.

    While we really should be in focusing our efforts into a single-payer program like H.R. 676, at the least Americans MUST have a strong and true PUBLIC Option. Join in the effort to strip the corporatist Democrats' ill-conceived proposals from the bill.

    The Health Insurance Industry is driving our citizens into bankruptcy and do not require additional hand-outs, like decreased competition and guaranteed profit protection for any period of time.

    Healthcare is a natural monopoly and necessary to the physical protection of our nation and the health of our economy. While a single-payer system would best address our needs, a strong and true PUBLIC Option is required for any reform to happen.

    Respectfully,
    Richard L. Adlof

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    PART 2

    Be concise and practice in advance so you can speak quickly (or leave a voicemail) because they are getting swamped. Report the results of your calls here:
    http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-committee-whip

    Public Option Only (or Won’t Say)
    Rick Boucher VA09 202-225-3861
    Bruce Braley IA01 202-225-2911
    G.K. Butterfield NC01 202-225-3101
    Lois Capps CA23 202-225-3601
    Kathy Castor FL11 202-225-3376
    John Dingell MI15 202-225-4071
    Charles Gonzalez TX20 202-225-3236
    Jay Inslee WA01 202-225-6311 @RepInsleeNews
    Doris Matsui CA05 202-225-7163
    Jerry McNerney CA11 202-225-1947
    John Sarbanes MD03 202-225-4016
    Bart Stupak MI01 202-225-4735
    Betty Sutton OH13 202-225-3401
    Henry Waxman (Chair) CA30 202-225-3976
    If you have more time, these 14 Democrats support a “public option” at best. But that “public option” (a new government program to compete with private insurance) was disastrously weakened this week by the BlueDogs. They banned the use of Medicare pricing to reduce costs and thereby expand availability. Try to persuade these 14 to vote for single-payer instead of a worthless BlueDog “public option.”

    Don’t let anyone tell you single-payer can’t pass: the Kucinich Amendment for a single-payer “state option” passed by a shocking 25-19 bi-partisan majority in the House Education and Labor Committee on July 17. The Weiner Amendment will pass on Friday if enough Democrats vote for it!

    A victory on the Weiner Amendment would make a huge difference. Please call as soon as you get this - night or day.

    Thanks for all you do!

    Bob Fertik

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    From email I just received from Democrats.com:

    PART 1

    One week ago, we eagerly anticipated a crucial vote on single-payer Medicare for All ( H.R.676 ) in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). But then seven BlueDogs waged a highly-publicized war against a “robust public option” and the vote was delayed for a full week.

    We just learned the vote will be tomorrow ( Friday ). Based on all of your calls, we have nine single-payer Democrats: Tammy Baldwin, Michael Doyle, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Gene Green, Edward Markey, Janice Schakowsky, Anthony Weiner, and Peter Welch.

    Lean Yes
    Diana DeGette CO01 202-225-4431
    Jane Harman CA36 202-225-8220
    Christopher Murphy CT05 202-225-4476
    Frank Pallone NJ06 202-225-4671 @FrankPallone
    Bobby Rush IL01 202-225-4372
    Five more Democrats are leaning single-payer but still uncommitted. Please call each one and give them one crucial reason to support single-payer from our petition:
    http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-petition?cid=ZGVtczE1NTU3MmRlbXM=
    (Be sure to sign our petition and forward it if you haven’t already.)

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    From email I just received from Democrats.com:

    One week ago, we eagerly anticipated a crucial vote on single-payer Medicare for All ( H.R.676 ) in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). But then seven BlueDogs waged a highly-publicized war against a "robust public option" and the vote was delayed for a full week.

    We just learned the vote will be tomorrow ( Friday ). Based on all of your calls, we have nine single-payer Democrats: Tammy Baldwin, Michael Doyle, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Gene Green, Edward Markey, Janice Schakowsky, Anthony Weiner, and Peter Welch.

    Lean Yes
    Diana DeGette CO01 202-225-4431
    Jane Harman CA36 202-225-8220
    Christopher Murphy CT05 202-225-4476
    Frank Pallone NJ06 202-225-4671 @FrankPallone
    Bobby Rush IL01 202-225-4372
    Five more Democrats are leaning single-payer but still uncommitted. Please call each one and give them one crucial reason to support single-payer from our petition:
    http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-petition?cid=ZGVtczE1NTU3MmRlbXM=
    (Be sure to sign our petition and forward it if you haven't already.)

    Be concise and practice in advance so you can speak quickly (or leave a voicemail) because they are getting swamped. Report the results of your calls here:
    http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-committee-whip

    Public Option Only (or Won't Say)
    Rick Boucher VA09 202-225-3861
    Bruce Braley IA01 202-225-2911
    G.K. Butterfield NC01 202-225-3101
    Lois Capps CA23 202-225-3601
    Kathy Castor FL11 202-225-3376
    John Dingell MI15 202-225-4071
    Charles Gonzalez TX20 202-225-3236
    Jay Inslee WA01 202-225-6311 @RepInsleeNews
    Doris Matsui CA05 202-225-7163
    Jerry McNerney CA11 202-225-1947
    John Sarbanes MD03 202-225-4016
    Bart Stupak MI01 202-225-4735
    Betty Sutton OH13 202-225-3401
    Henry Waxman (Chair) CA30 202-225-3976
    If you have more time, these 14 Democrats support a "public option" at best. But that "public option" (a new government program to compete with private insurance) was disastrously weakened this week by the BlueDogs. They banned the use of Medicare pricing to reduce costs and thereby expand availability. Try to persuade these 14 to vote for single-payer instead of a worthless BlueDog "public option."

    Don't let anyone tell you single-payer can't pass: the Kucinich Amendment for a single-payer "state option" passed by a shocking 25-19 bi-partisan majority in the House Education and Labor Committee on July 17. The Weiner Amendment will pass on Friday if enough Democrats vote for it!

    A victory on the Weiner Amendment would make a huge difference. Please call as soon as you get this - night or day.

    Thanks for all you do!

    Bob Fertik

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Want to check the safety of bridges near you? Try this:

    www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21840922

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, during which 13 people died and 145 were injured.

    My husband uses that bridge every day.

    The bridge tragedy, to me, is just one more reminder of corporate neglect of our country and its people.

    http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=minneapolis+bridge+collapse&um=1...

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Contact info. for Rep. Anthony Weiner (see my last post):

    Email: http://weiner.house.gov/email_anthony.aspx

    Phone: 202.225.6616

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    A couple of encouraging signs on healthcare reform over the last 24 hours:

    1) Last night, Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) forced congress (particulary Republican and Blue Dog congressmen) to go on record to say whether they support Medicare and gov't.-funded military healthcare.

    Today, Congressman Weiner will present a single-payer bill!:

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908#32229379

    On last night's "Countdown", Newsweek reporter Howard Fineman predicted a health insurance bill will be passed using reconciliation so that only 51 votes will be needed.

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    http://www.truthdig.com/podcast/audio/20090730_thom_hartmann_on_threshold/
    The Truthdig panel talks to radio host and author Thom Hartmann about his new book, “Threshold,” the need for serious financial regulation and his trip to Darfur.

    The Crisis of Western Culture. You had better get on The Daily Show to plug your book!!! Seriously, the American People need to hear you explain this and if they can have John Bolton on, they can certainly have you. Unfortunately, you're going to have to be more concise for the sake of time on TV. Good luck boiling down a complicated issue to a 5 minute conversation. I'd love to hear you discuss this with John Stewart!! Thanks Thom!

  • Friday - July 31 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    It seems that the woman responsible for the episode between the professor and the cop is pining for her own fifteen minutes of fame. After the release of the 9-1-1 tape in which she in fact did not refer to the alleged “burglars” as black, she used this as “evidence” to disprove the heartless attacks on her racially pure soul—which, frankly, I was unaware of until she mentioned them. She also whined for a seat at the get-together between the president, the professor and the cop, because she was just as much a “victim” of circumstances as they were.

    I think we have heard more than we need to from her, except one or two other things. For instance, if she was a neighbor of Gates, why did she not recognize him? Was he just another scary black guy who look all the same to her? Surely she did know that a black man lived there, and that perhaps she had seen other blacks come on go. Did she not notice that the house had not been occupied for a spell, and the black man carrying the two suitcases was the very man she had seen going into the house regularly? Or was she completely unmindful of this unwanted neighbor, other than the fact he was black, and all black people were suspect to her?

    I guess what I’m getting at is this: It is getting more difficult to ferret-out real racism because “plausible deniability” has been used as an instrument of denial. Actions that may be construed as racially-motivated can be denied merely because race-code words were not employed. People may have an instinctually negative reaction to a minority, yet never consciously formulate that reaction into words, or consciously avoid the words to escape censor, or they simply explain away their negativity by repeating commonly held stereotypes. In this way they can claim that they are not “racists.” This woman didn’t need to say that she saw two black men; it was enough for her to have seen two black men--or so she claims.

  • Thursday - July 30th 2009   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Loretta Long,

    If you have the time and aren't afraid of becoming depressed, I'd suggest you read the article by Kip Sullivan that I linked to above. It's posted on the website of Physicians for a National Health Program that Thom had mentioned earlier.

    You have to take into account that this organization and the author are advocates for a single-payer system and this might bias their views, but the article gives a pretty dismal view of the outlook for the public option and suggests that public option and single-payer supports join forces and work for single-payer.

    The article is around 9 pages (over 4,000 words) and probably won't cheer you up. Corporate America plays hardball.

  • About - Threshold: The Crisis of Western Culture   14 years 34 weeks ago

    Depending On Experience

    I was just thinking about this Thom Hartmann article I recently received in email and I thought about asking Thom Hartmann "What do you think about people getting paid depending on experience?"

    People who have done it before will probably be able to do it again, if they have never done it before they will have a harder time. So if you're trying to hire someone who is going to help your company, you will probably gravitate toward a candidate who has worked in a similar capacity under circumstances similar to those found at your company.

    So if a want-ad read "you will be paid depending on experience" that is fine, Thom Hartmann would probably agree.

    So if you look at the most recent ad Thom sent out you will see that Thom Hartmann doesn't think there are very many people competing for those high paying CEO jobs because there aren't very many people who are complete sociopaths.

    I would add to that argument, the reason why there aren't very many candidates for high paying CEO jobs is because of the Reagan Policies against the middle class that killed small business development, and therefore no one can start a business and get the experience that they need.

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