What does it take to buy 3 Senators, apparently 6 million dollars

As expected Senators Kent Conrad, Max Baucus and Blanche Lincoln betrayed their party, betrayed the voters, and betrayed the citizens in this country that are losing health care insurance, going bankrupt and some dying every day. These 3 soon to be former Senators voted against real health care reform in the Senate Finance Committee today. Instead they are leaving a bill that is a 60 billion give away to simply increase the profits of the Insurance Industry.

Why would these so called Democrats do such a thing? Well a quick look on opensecrets.org has the clear answer. 6 million dollars. That is the amount it took the Health, Pharmaceutical and Insurance Industry to buy these 3 Senators.

I previously reported that Kent Conrad was the million dollar man. Million Dollar Man

Then later on this blog I detailed how Max Baucus was even worse with campaign donations over 3 million dollars. Baucus pays off Big insurance

And today joining that duo in paying back their benefactors is Blanche Lincoln who has received a whopping 2 million from Insurance, Hospitals, pharmaceuticals and other health care providers.

It looks like the billions of profits and the high executive salaries of Big Insurance are now safe with a relatively minor investment paying off these 3 Senators 6 million dollars. That's quite a return on investment indeed.

Lincoln is up for removal in 2010.
Baucus and Conrad will have a progressive funded primary challenger in 2012.
As soon as I know who all three's primary challengers are I will announce who and where to donate to their campaigns.

Yes on Issue 3

For years now the states around Ohio have been sucking up the casino related tourism dollars from Ohio. A recent study by the University of Cincinnati shows a benefit of 34,000 jobs these 4 casinos would bring to Ohio. Unlike past Casino proposals this benefits most areas of the state and 4 cities in particular rather then one developer or one City.

In recent days Progress Ohio and other blogs have been reporting a study that claims that Casinos would actually cost jobs in the communities where they go as they would suck up all the entertainment dollar from other hospitality businesses.

I have seen with my own eyes how ridiculous a theory that is. I have seen towns like Laughlin Nevada thrive in the middle of a desert with dozens of hotels, restaurants and development explode because of the Casino's. Closer to home I have seen the positive effect on Richmond Indiana which has spilled over into the Cincinnati suburbs in Northern Kentucky. Adding tourist dollars to restaurants, night clubs and hotels. I have seen the former steel industry ravaged town of Bethlehem, PA roar to life with the building of a casino, with new hotels, retail stores and restaurants appearing over night.

This isn't theory or conjecture it is reality, it is what has happened. It can happen in Ohio, or we can keep sending all these jobs and tax revenues to our neighboring states.

For those who's opposition to Casino's is Vice related, open your eyes. This state has thousands of gambling institutions in every town. Race Tracks, Bingo Halls, 50/50 drawings, scratch off cards, and Texas Holdem tournaments. The introduction of casinos are not going to create problem gamblers, they do and will always exist. It will however create a pleasant fun entertainment alternative to the vast majority of us who have no such addiction.

For all these reasons and more, I am one progressive urging you to vote yes in Issue 3 in Ohio.

New Study Details the Truth about the McCarthy style attack on ACORN.

A study by the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute of Occidental College lays out the complete manipulation of the main stream media, the McCain campaign, and Congress by right wing zealots with an agenda against ACORN. This independent study which received no outside funding found how inaccurate agenda pushing conservatives managed to promote false and misleading stories and how the main stream media failed miserably in its journalistic duty.

The study states: "Journalism is essentially a discipline of verification, and verification is what separates it from propaganda, as Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach note in The Elements of Journalism.In the case of ACORN, the story continued—and still continues—to serve as misinformation because it has largely been reported without transparency and accuracy."

Who is behind these attacks? The Study found that in its 30 years of organizing, that ACORN had made enemies of Republicans who did not appreciate the voting empowerment of low income citizens who tended to vote democratic. The Banking Industry was frustrated with ACORN which fought credit card abuses and predatory lending. The Tobacco, Restaurant, hotel and Alcohol industries opposed ACORNS work on "living wages." One of the genesis of the ACORN attack was from a group called the Employment Policies Institute, who is an astroturf group that is a front for Berman and Co. who represented corporate clients in the restaurant and bar industry who were opposed to minimum wage increases. This group began its attacks on several front web sites, hiding the actual identity of who was behind them. Soon the Conservative agenda pushing media, like the National Review, and Rush Limbaugh picked up the false attacks on ACORN.

During the Election campaign a great deal of coverage began on more main stream news outlets about possible "voter fraud" basically echoing the right wing attacks by propaganda outlets like, Fox News Channel and Rush Limbaugh. This study found that the main stream media failed in their journalistic responsibility by failing to report the following facts in most cases:
"• that ACORN was reporting registration irregularities to authorities, as required to do by law;
• that ACORN was acting to stop incidents of registration problems by its (mostly
temporary) employees when it became aware of these problems;
• that actual voter fraud is very rare;
• that Republicans were trying to discredit Obama with an ACORN “scandal”;
• and that allegations of “voter fraud” in 2007 and 2008 related to the earlier case
of the firing of U.S. Attorneys who refused to cooperate with Republican efforts to
politicize voter fraud accusations – firings that ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales."

It is no surprise that Fox News was the worst in failing to point out the above facts in 79% of its stories, CNN was right behind with failure to do so in 64%. The Best not surprisingly were NPR which stated the above facts in 50% of its stories and MSNBC in 64% of its stories.

In October 2008 there was a attempt though less successful then the false voter fraud allegations, to blame ACORN for the mortgage crises. When in reality as early as 1999 it was ACORN that sounded the alarm on discriminatory and predatory lending practices.

The other ongoing false narrative is that there are significant ties between President Obama and ACORN. In 2007 and 2008 almost 1/3 of all stories about ACORN mentioned a tie between Obama and ACORN, and 11.3% of these stories actually reported that Obama worked for ACORN which was completely false. John McCain even attempted to use this tie between Obama and ACORN during his campaign and in a debate, Obama responded clearly that it was not true. All actual investigations into this by media outlets and others have verified Obama's contention.

The study concludes: "This study of ACORN reveals the agenda‐setting effect of the news (the news tells us what to think about), and news framing (the news tells us how to think about it). These two phenomena vaulted poorly‐verified stories into the news agenda, and created narratives of a national voter fraud scandal and conspiracy from what were essentially localized problems of workers registering voters and of ACORN flagging examples ofquestionable applications to the appropriate officials, as required by law. Of course,those kinds of stories and narrative framing didn’t make it into the news media all by themselves. Conservative opinion entrepreneurs, along with the Republican Party, maintained a steady barrage of words and images to get their anti‐ACORN ideas into the media and influence the agenda‐setting and news‐framing activities of the media."

This study is a sad commentary on the state of the media. It proves that a right wing radical agenda can be implemented through the use of their own media tools like Fox News and Limbaugh, and then by repeating the attacks regardless of factual basis can push them not only into the mainstream media, but have them echoed by candidates for President and now resulting in legislation from Congress.

Have we forgotten the horrors of the McCarthy era so quickly? How long will we let Rush Limbaugh and the Rupert Murdoch media empire hijack the media, and now Congress with distortions and outright lies.

source: http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/acornstudy/

More Fox News/Limbaugh inspired violence?

On September 12th in Clay County Kentucky a 51 year old man suffering from non hotchkins lymphoma was found hanged from a tree in the Daniel Boone National Forest. What has this to do with Faux News and Limbaugh? This man was a part time Census worker, a Federal employee doing federal business. In addition reports from the Associated Press state that the word "FED" was scrawled on his chest.

The investigation is in its early stages, but it is hard not to see the tie between the hate and anti government rhetoric from Faux News and Rush Limbaugh and violence such as this. They claim they are "Americans" yet they inspire hate, violence and incidents such as this.

It is already well known that these irresponsible media types have inspired the deaths of a doctor, the attack on the Holocaust Museum, which resulted in the death of a security guard, and the shooting of 3 police officers in Pittsburgh. How much violence will this country suffer from the hate spilled on the airways by these traitors?

OH 07: Steve Austria taking his marching orders from party boss Glenn Beck

Not a big surprise but despite thousands losing insurance every day, thousands going bankrupt due to medical expenses, almost 9000 losing their lives due to lack of insurance Austria's non issue of the month is Czars.

Despite the fact that "Czar" is a media made up title of Administration Staff that is simply a short cut for their long actual titles. Despite the fact that there have been "czars" for decades. Despite the fact George W. Bush appointed more such employees then President Obama. Steve Austria has decided that is the most important issue of the month on his newsletter.

Apparently when Glenn Beck makes up a fake issue that takes precedence over war, poverty, unemployment and health care. Steve Austria rather then speaking on these important issues he writes about and cosponsors legislation about "Czars"

Steve Austria once again has proven he is simply a right wing puppet of whoever is pulling the strings. Sometimes John Boehner who has often been seen speaking in the foreground and Austria stands behind him nodding his head up and down like a bobbled head doll or more recently his lock step actions based on made up stories by Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

Some congressional districts have congressmen that represent their interests, unfortunately we in the 7th District have no such representative.

The Whig party was once a powerful political force, in this nation, they became irrelevent and replaced, what will replace the Republican party? - Fundamental Truths

RepubLIEcans stall as Americans Die

#hc09 This morning the RepubLIEcans on the Senate Finance Committee like Chuck Grassley spent little time offering actual solutions to health care issues but instead trying to stall the legislation from moving forward.

Apparently 40 years trying to get health care reform is not long enough for them, perhaps being the last industrialized country in the world to provide health care for all its citizens isn't enough.

The original House Bill on health care reform was introduced July 16th. Since then, 994,000 Americans have lost their insurance. 141,858 have gone bankrupt due to medical expenses and worst of all 8743 have died due to lack of insurance. Twice the number of soldiers lost in Iraq and almost 3 times the number killed on 9/11. So RepubLIEcans how long must Americans wait while you obstruct and stall Health Care Reform, How many must die before the needs of Americans take precedence over political games and insurance company profits.

How hopeless is the Federal Deficit?

The projected deficit for this year is 1.85 trillion dollars. No doubt a staggering amount and if you listen to the right its an Obama created disaster that there is no hope of getting out of. But is it?

First of all lets look at the 8 years of the Bush Administration. When Bush came into office the federal budget had a surplus of 236 Billion dollars. 8 years later a deficit of 700 billion dollars, a net loss of 936.2 Billion dollars. The net loss so far in the Obama Administration is about 97% not the 300 and 400% numbers people on the right keep claiming.

Yet this is a huge number. Is there any hope of getting out of it? History clearly shows us the answer is yes. The current years deficit is 12.93% of the nations GDP, sounds high. Yet in 1943 it was 28.05% of GDP, in 1944 it was 22.35% and 1945, 24.06%. Think about almost 1/4 of our nations economy was federal debt.

So how long did it take to get out of that? Amazingly not long. Only 2 years later in 1947 there was a surplus. In fact in the 11 years from 1947-1957 we had a surplus 7 out of 11 years.

Oh and for the record it was a Democrat, Harry S. Truman that took our country from the largest deficit as a percentage of GDP to a surplus. And the last surplus was once again under the leadership of a Democrat Bill Clinton.

Lets look at Congress, during the 8 years of the Truman Presidency and the taking of our federal budget from massive deficits to a surplus, 6 of those 8 years it was a Democratic Controlled Congress. The 8 years of Clinton's 6 of the 8 were Republicans. So in short Congress is 50/50 historically.

The point is when Republicans try to label the Democrats as the tax and spend party, and they the fiscally conservative party, history doesn't back them up. Barack Obama has pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. Though it sounds impossible, it has been done before and yes by a Democrat.

source: Deficit as a % of GDP

Value Voters? Racism is now a value?

I'm not sure what values they are talking about. The Bible I read is for helping the poor, feeding the hungry and healing the sick. Yet this group proceeds to preach against our country doing all of the above.

One thing that I am quite sure is not a christian value is racism and hate. This group is clearly not reading the same bible I am.

Here is a United States Congressman Roy Blunt telling racist monkey jokes at the "Values Summit"

Next McCarthyism Victim Hits Back

For weeks now it has been evident that SEIU is the next target of the smears, lies and disinformation machine of the McCarthy right wing conspiracy of the Rupert Murdoch empire, Rush Limbaugh and Clear Channel Radio. Since this is the triad that runs the RepubLIEcan party, it is of no doubt soon RepubLIEcans in the House and Senate will soon be echoing their false charges. Will this lead to Democrats being complicit in this conspiracy as they were with ACORN? We shall see. But SEIU is not taking this lying down and they are striking back.

Working Women and Men Will Not Be Silenced by Right Wing Attack Dogs; We Will Win the Change America Needs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Published September 18, 2009 1:33 PM
Michelle Ringuette: (202) 341-7057

Statement of Andy Stern, President of SEIU

WASHINGTON DC--Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union, issued the following statement today regarding recent attempts of right wing extremists to silence working families by attacking progressive individuals and community organizations:

"This is a moment of profound change for this country--from kitchen tables to town halls to the floor of the Senate, this nation is engaged in a vigorous and heated debate about how we rebuild our economy, solve our national healthcare crisis and restore the American Dream.

"As has always happened when progressive change is in the air, the backlash gets fierce, ugly and anti-American. This time is no different. Right now, there is an insidious and coordinated effort on the part of the extreme right to target individuals and grassroots community groups as a way to silence the voices of women and men who have suffered the most under 8 years of right wing policies.

"These extremists will attempt to shut down and shout down anyone with a different point of view.

"Let's be clear who we are talking about--call them attack dogs, call them Teabaggers, call them Glenn Beck--these are the same folks who cheered the policies that crashed our economy. Who make up lies about death panels to try to kill healthcare reform. Who scream about democracy while denying workers a voice on the job. Who target anyone who poses a threat to a status quo that for too long has rewarded greedy CEOs while leaving people who work out in the cold.

"This is not the America we believe in.

"Their lies, their stunts and their smears will not silence us. Glenn Beck, FOX News and their pals have demonstrated that they don't care about what janitors, security officers, nurses, teachers, and other hardworking Americans go through each day trying to give their kids a better future. But make no mistake--these hardworking women and men will not be the next casualty of the cruel and cheap attempts of a loud and venomous minority to silence people who want to restore the American Dream.

"We are going to make sure healthcare is affordable and accessible for every man, woman and child in this country. We are going to demand transparency and accountability in the financial industry. We are going to create a fair and just path to citizenship. We are going to make sure workers get a voice on the job. And we will protect our democracy by calling out those extremists who would silence the voices of women and men who work each day."

The Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide. SEIU is dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society.

Calling out a Traitor

Treason: –noun
1. the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign.
2. a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state.
3. the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.

Fact: President Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in a landslide.

Fact: In a vast majority of Congressional Districts and a Majority of States, the voters removed Republicans from office and replaced with Democrats.

Fact: A vast majority of Americans want Health Care Reform

Fact: A majority of Americans want a public option.

With all these facts some leaders in our nation are moving forward based on what the majority of voters in the United States clearly want.

So what can those in the minority in public opinion do? In a peaceful democracy, they continue to express their opinions, write their representatives and demonstrate peaceably if they choose.

What is not legal in this country is to threaten violence, overthrow of the Government for which Americans have fought and died for 2 centuries.

It is not legal to incite people to violence. Or to advocate rebellion against our government. It is in fact the very definition of Un-American, it is treason.

Treason as evidenced by this quote:

"We are in the middle of a modern-day political rebellion in America."

Was this a quote from Benedict Arnold, a Confederate sympathiser before the civil war, or Lee Harvey Oswald? No this was a quote from the current Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, John Boehner.

Boehner a man who took the following oath of office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God. "

By encouraging rebellion against the Government of the United States, John Boehner has violated his oath of office and has committed treason. He should resign or be removed from office immediately.

Clear Racisim

There is no denying the evidence in this clip.



source: mediamatters.org, msnbc

Demand Investigations of Fed Funds going to Right Wing Advocacy Groups

Since the Congress had decided to cut off funds based on a Faux News witch hunt to one organization it is time to clear the table and look into all advocacy groups that have received federal funds in the last 8 years.

They should be investigated to determine if improper political favors or religious uses of these government funds occurred.

The following groups should be looked into by the Attorney General:

The Compassion Capital Fund
The Institute for Youth Development
Esperanza USA
Pentecostal Bishop Sedgwick Daniels's Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God
GEO Foundation
Black Alliance for Educational Options.

All received millions in federal funds and all have suspicious right wing ties.

Contact your Congressman or Senators office to demand investigations.

Who Leads the RepubLIEcan party

#czars
At the beginning of the year it was noted somewhat tongue in cheek that Rush Limbaugh was the actual leader of the RepubLIEcan party. As time has gone on it has become more and more clear that is actually true. Perhaps its not Rush alone but more a conspiracy of hate mongers including Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, etc.

Just look at the last month. When the hate gang talks "death panels," within days you hear it from Sarah Palin and various RepubLIEcan Congressman and Senators in town halls. When they lie about coverage of illegal immigrants not only do Congressmen and Senators repeat the lie one has the audacity to yell the lie at the President of the United States.

Yesterday President Jimmy Carter pointed out a serious and clear hint of racism that is very evident in some of the speech and signs on right wing radio, television and rallies. Immediately the hate conspiracy attacks Carter claiming he was saying all opposition to health care was racist and in lock step Michael Steele Chief of the RepubLIEcans echos their disinformation.

They have been attacking ACORN on a witch hunt that is right out of the McCarthy era. And days later the Senate votes to cut off funding. What is most concerning about this is that they convinced Democrats like Sherrod Brown to go along on this racist action.

Now for weeks the conspiracy of hate has been planting this convoluted bizarre crap about Czars. It's the stupidest attack as of yet. Regardless of the fact the term "czar" is an informal media term defining some executive branch appointees, that has been around for decades and in fact, Bush appointed 47 such employees 10 more then Barack Obama. However sure enough today on the Senate Floor RepubLIEcans are speaking the words of Beck and Limbaugh as ordered claiming some fake conspiracy instead of doing actual work on behalf of the American People.

So I'm going to revise my often used quote that I end many posts with just for this day.

"Why does the right always lie? Because Rush and Faux News tells them to."

Sen Baucus Pays off Big Insurance

#hc09
Senator Max Baucus yesterday did more to attempt to scuttle health care reform then any Republican has done so far and he is supposedly a Democrat. After stalling and delaying in the name of bi-partisanship he announced Max's Health Care Reform Bill yesterday. It was rather surprising at first that the he alone appeared at the press conference. Then as you read the bill as put on his web site it is referred to in many places as Max's bill. Now one may think of this as self promoting behavior, but after actually reading the proposal its clear that no other Senator would have anything to do with such legislation.

Not only does it have very little insurance reform in it at all. It provides for now public option or controlling of costs. The major positive is that it actually cuts the deficit. But how? It does so with Max's Tax that basically attempts to bankrupt the middle class with penalties directly from our paychecks and hands it over to the insurance industry.

Using the formulas in the actual proposed bill, I calculate that my personal health care costs would double under this plan.

Why would a Democratic Senator propose such a bill? There are many theories not the least of which is that there is some relation to his actions and the 3 million in campaign donations he has received from health insurance corporations.

Is not a surprise that the stock of most of the major insurance companies went up yesterday after the announcement of Max's Tax Bill. It seems they got what they paid for.

This bill needs to be given the attention it deserves in the nearest incinerator. Hopefully Senators like Jay Rockefeller and Sherrod Brown will fight to give Americans real health reform that helps middle class taxpayers instead of bloating the insurance companies profits even more.

Faux News BURNED in smear attempt

Faux News in its ongoing racist attack on ACORN was burned in another attempted sting of an ACORN employee. She recognized the fools with the hidden camera and decided to mess with them. They bought it hook, line and sinker.

By the way her ex husbands are very much alive and well.



Top 5 biggest Faux News Lies of the week.

5 Acorn emplyoyee Murdered Husband
4 2 million at DC protest, was actully 70,000.
3 Health Care Reform covers illegal immigrants
2 They are Fair and Balanced
1 They are a News channel

source: mediamatters.org

Is it about race?

To try to lump the motives of those behind the poisonous political climate into one package would be wrong and simplistic. It would be as incorrect as the right is when claiming the teabaggers represent a majority of Americans views. From my own experiences working and living in Central and Southeastern Ohio, and my experiences from the actual campaign, I have seen a number of themes behind opposition to President Obama.

Like in the Clinton years, there is this talk radio led trashing of anyone that is a successful democrat that happens regardless of the race of the office holder. Have we forgotten the accusations of the Clinton's being behind everything from fraudulent real estate deals to even accusations of murder? I can remember hearing Rush Limbaugh calling the First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton at the time all kinds of things including a bitch on the public airways. This kind of total lack of respect and irresponsible rude behavior continues with the Obama Presidency.

There are those that actually do have real political disagreements with policies. Concerns about taxes, spending, wars and so on. In no way is having a disagreement or criticizing policies race related.

Then there are the others where race is a factor. The night Barack Obama was elected there was such a groundswell of pride and good feeling among many Americans including myself. There were tears of joy, and pure happiness. But among others there was another reaction. Fear. There were those that deep down actually believe either a Black man is not capable of running the country, or that he will lead to some sort of discrimination against whites, or as one person said to me, "here comes all the give aways to blacks now."

The scary part of this is many of these racists don't even know they are. There have been dozens of times that I have had conversations with people about Obama's policies that on the details of the policy they were in agreement, but often the conversation would end with, "But there is something about him I don't trust."

There are many out there that nothing he could do, nothing he could say would they listen to. These are the ones that fall prey to the ridiculous rumors of his birth certificate, his religion and so on. We laugh at times thinking how can they be so stupid. Yet the concerning thing is, they believe these lies because they need to find a reason for their dislike of him other then admitting racism. So they will bite on anything.

There are of course the overt racists at work as well. They see a change they do not like. They know they are losing the hearts and minds of the majority of the American People. But those in control do not give it up easily. So thus the violent words, the hate talk and so on that is so evident on our televisions every night. This explains the growth of hate groups throughout the country, people arming themselves against government headed by a black President, and most concerning it explains the incredible number of death threats against our President. The talk of secession is absolutely racist, when was that last time that was threatened? Over slavery.

What angers me the most is those that are using this racism to promote their own agendas. Limbaugh, Glenn Beck say and do things overtly racist. Beck's attacks on Acorn are blatantly racist. Lou Dobbs using the fear of "illegal Immigrants" to push his books and ratings. Last night he showed a white kid getting beat up on a school bus by a couple black kids on his news show. How many fights are there in schools and school buses every single day in this country? What was his purpose in showing that one, last night. it was for no other purpose other then to stoke racial fear.

Is the climate out there right now all about racism? No, but to deny that it has nothing to do with racism is clearly wrong and dangerous to ignore.

73% of Physicians support Public Option

#hc09-Though the American Medical Association has long been on board supporting Health Care Reform, RepubLIEcans like John Boehner have questioned how many doctors this organization actually represents. He in fact stated that he has not yet met a doctor for health care reform. Apparently Boehner hasn't talked to many doctors.

It is true the the AMA only represents only about 30% of doctors these days, however a new survey by the non partisan and very influential New England Journal of Medicine shows that 73% of doctors favor a public option, In fact 10% favor a complete government takeover of health insurance.

Quite clearly those that deal with the issue every day doctors, know the severe problems with our current system. They are also quite familiar with government run health care through their current experiences with Medicare and Medicaid. To Doctors the only thing worse then dealing with Government on insurance issues is dealing with the Insurance Companies.

source: New England Journal Medicine Survey

The Demonization of ACORN

In a country where corporate interests spend millions to buy our government to protect their profits and influence, one organization has been very successful to represent and assist those of little influence, low income African American and Latino Voters. That organization is ACORN.

These corporate interests including News Corp has spent a unbelievable amount of resources and time attacking this organization which is simply a group of Community Service Organizations.

What is this groups sin to these people? They help minorities. They do so in many ways, helping them get jobs, find housing, prevent foreclosures, provide free tax assistance, and register them to vote.

The racist undertow in these attacks is quite obvious, these people simply do not want minorities to vote or to have any power. They remain angry that an African American was elected President.

So they continue to set up sting after sting until they can find one out of the thousands of ACORN volunteers or employees making a mistake. They edit and distort the video to make the mistake much worse then it is. For example Faux News and Terrorist agitator Glenn Beck have used such a video to convert a tax question about prostitution into implications of a sex slavery ring.

There has not been such racist demonization of minority activists since the death of Martin Luther King Jr. It is a shame that there are still those people and organizations like Faux News that wish to eliminate decades of improvements in race relations in our nation.

The Bush Economic Disaster One Year Later

Perhaps it is a little unfair to George W. Bush to name it that, perhaps a more accurate term would be the Reagan/Bush Economic Disaster. Though the damage all came to a head this day one year ago, it was set in place by the bill of goods sold to the American People by smooth talking right wing pitch man Ronald Reagan in 1980. Reaganomics once refereed to as "voodoo economics" by George H. W. Bush was put in place that eventually lead to the disaster of last year.

The Republicans sold the American people on a concept that if you take away all regulations, all responsibility and all oversight, the market will protect us naturally. That if you make the rich wealthier, the benefits will trickle down to the rest of the nation. What happened instead is the rich did indeed get richer. Meanwhile the numbers of the poor increased, and the middle class shrunk. For the first time in our nations history average incomes went down yet the wealth of he nation was concentrated in fewer and fewer people's pockets. To further complete the redistribution of wealth, those who's greed and irresponsible behavior got rich, also were given tax breaks. The burden increased again on the poor and middle class.

Then came George W. Bush. Not only did he continue the Reaganomics policies but added to them. He passed laws to protect credit card companies from its own customers allowing them unfettered control over interest rates, fees and collections. The Bush Administration then took away the teeth of the bankruptcy protection laws making it harder for the middle class who came upon hard times to recover. Then the death blow, George W Bush and a Republican Congress for 6 out of his 8 years in office took our budget from a surplus to a 17 trillion deficit. Throwing away money on a war of choice, and more tax cuts for the wealthy again leaving 95% of Americans behind.

Jobs left, opportunity left, false wealth exploded, risk exploded, oversight and regulation was non existent. And as always happens sooner or later when irresponsible behavior rules it came time to pay the piper. So one year ago that was clearly evident to all with the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

So what has happened in the year since. Well good news and bad news. George W. Bush is out of office and our new President Barack Obama, took quick and decisive action to stop the bleeding. Many banks were saved, The stock market had recovered 50% of its losses since last September. The amount of job loss has been reduced. An auto industry who's collapse would have cost millions more jobs was averted. Home sales are up, home values are up. Cash for Clunkers gave a huge shot in the arm to the auto industry. Finally the middle class got a tax cut.

But now the bad news. The lack of rules and oversight left over from the Reagan/Bush economic voodoo has not been corrected. Though we put some oil in the car to prevent the blowing of the engine at the last minute, we continue to drive and treat the engine the same way which will lead to another disaster sooner or later. No new regulations have been implemented, no major change in oversight, and the wealth is even more consolidated then before. In fact 3 of every $10 invested in banks or securities in this nation are held in one of 4 very large, very risky institutions.

President Obama has worked miracles to stop the bleeding, his successes have saved our nation's and the world's economy for now. But for long term growth and security we must fix the damage done by Reaganomics. With new laws, new restrictions, new limits and new oversight to once again force responsible behavior to protect our nation from unfettered greed.

Dear God what does this mean? #Sept 11

We watched in confusion at the screen as smoke and flames poured out of one of the mighty structures. Wondering what, where, who and why this had just happened. Then We felt the collective gasp of the world as another plane struck.

Dear God what does this mean?

We forgot about everything our days were to be. We fixed our eyes on the images as they rushed into our living rooms slower only to the thoughts racing through our minds We stood there frozen in place, physically and mentally. How could this happen? Who would do this? Why?

Dear God what does this mean?

As we began to breath and try to pull ourselves together, moving toward the door to get to our lives, the horror of realizing it was not over, as the most powerful fortress ever conceived by man was ruptured with force and flame.

Dear God what does this mean?

Now it was fear that gripped us. How many? Where? Are we in danger? Where is my family? Where are my friends? We got on the phones or tried. We took inventory of our loved ones; we listened or watched every piece of news when we could where we could. Was this real, or something far away? I looked up to a sound to see two fighter jets fly over my city. My eyes met with the man’s eyes next to me who had also seen the jets. We said nothing with our lips but our eyes said the same thing.

Dear God what does this mean?

We became aware of the words to the loved ones of those on the plane still in the air. They expressed their love, their fear and their bravery. The words “Lets roll” as they gave their lives to save others. The sadness at the knowledge their lives ended in the field in Pennsylvania.

Dear God what does this mean?

As we watched in shock and horror as the towers fell. The fear in the eyes peering from the ash covered faces. Our own fear turned to desire to help, to pray, to find something anything we could do to help those people and their families.

Dear God what does this mean?

We felt the anger as it was clear who was responsible. This far away Man in this far away place expressing his hate for us. We don’t know him, he doesn’t know us. We as a nation were one; the vast majority of the world was one. There was resolve. There was determination. There would be justice; no one does this to us, to anyone. He will pay. They will pay.

Dear God what does this mean?

Our military with speed and power moved in response, our enemies and their supporters died were captured or fled. In such a far away place, in a far away culture our soldiers moved to seek justice. To right the wrong, to prevent it again, to ease our anger, to ease our fear. But is that possible?

Dear God what does this mean?

Eight years have now passed. We watch the families grieve for the ones they lost. We hear the bell toll the times of each act of tragedy. We think of how we thought the world would change, but did it? We have heard the numbers 9-11 used for many things on almost every day since. For reasons that make sense and many that do not. The unity of the country and the world is no longer evident. Fingers point as to who is at fault and who isn’t. We see the far away men from that far away place and now some not so far away tell us of their hate and how we should fear.

Dear God what does this mean?

Today we pray for those that were lost, for their families and their friends. We pray for the children whose memory of their parent is based more on a photograph then recollection. We pray for the city that still hurts in many ways. We pray for the soldiers that still fight for us and for them.

Dear God is this what it means?

Our prayers must continue for the nations with power and wealth that they use it for right. For those in the world that feel oppressed that they may feel enabled. For the poor that they might find comfort. For the hungry that they may find nourishment. For those that hate, that they may find love. For those that believe lies that they find the truth. For those that are ignorant that they find wisdom. For those that truly seek to serve their God that they understand truly his will. And most of all for Peace for us, for the Middle East, for this entire world.

Dear God please let this be what it means.

Joe Wilson Continues to Lie

Loudmouth Classless Congressman Joe Wilson continues to propagate lies about health care reform. In a video where he is now seeking donations claiming he is somehow a victim for being a rude buffoon in the Congressional Chambers the other night, he says he will not be silenced. Apparently he plans to continue to propagate his lie that illegals will be covered by Health Care Reform.

"On these issues, I will not be muzzled. I will speak up, and speak loudly, against this risky plan," Wilson proclaims. "The supporters of the government takeover of health care, and the liberals who want to give health care to illegals, are using my opposition as an excuse to distract from the critical questions being raised about this poorly-conceived plan. they want to silence anyone who speaks out against it. They made it clear they want to defeat me, and pass the plan."

He goes on to threaten that Health Care Reform will kill people.

"Health care is a matter of life and death for so many," he later adds. "I choose life, with health-insurance reform."

Oh and by the way Joe Wilson is also a hypocrite as well since he voted to spend federal money to cover health costs for illegal aliens in 2003. He voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act. This legislation had a section 1011 which authorized $250,000 annually between 2003 and 2008 for government reimbursements to hospitals who provide treatment for uninsured illegal immigrants. (source: opencongress.org)

So why does he lie so passionatly about health care reform? Well a quick glance at his list of campaign donors from Hospitals, Health Care and Insurance Companies may have something to do with it.

Our country has had many great leaders over its 200 plus years, the batch of RepubLIEcans now in congress is an embarrassment to the legacy of their party and our nation. As long as people like Joe Wilson are the face and voice of the Republican Party, The majority of Americans will continue to reject them.

Why does the right always resort to lies? Because when they debate based on facts, they lose. - Fundamental Truths

Today's Biggest Terrorist Threat

There is a man that like Osama Bin Laden routinely issues both video and audio statement's that attack the government of the United States with lies and distortions. These statements rarely based in fact serve one purpose to fire up the radicals that listen.

This same man promotes and attends gatherings of such radicals that are sponsored by groups that advocate the arming of its members to prepare for an overthrow of the Government of the United States of America.

This man and others in his networks have already inspired attacks against the United States that have resulted in the murder of one doctor, the shooting of 3 police officers in Pittsburgh and an attack and murder at the Holocaust Museum.

Their followers have been seen brandishing weapons at town halls and events where our elected leaders are present.

The Networks he uses do not go by some Arabic name but in fact very English sounding names. Those being Fox News Channel and Clear Channel Radio.

His name is also not Arabic in fact he isn't a Muslim at all.

The biggest terrorist leader threatening our country this very moment is:

Glenn Beck

They can't stop lieing

All day while defending the classless buffoon Joe Wilson of South Carolina for insulting his nation and their elected President by shouting out "You Lie" the repubLIEcans continued to claim the President did lie. Which is a LIE!!

The words the President said were that this bill will not cover illegal immigrants. Today John Boehner among others stated that it would.

Here is the actual text from House Bill 3200.

H.R. 3200: Sec 246 — NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS

Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

Look it up Congressmen it is there in black and white. The thing is you know damn well it is. But you continue to lie.

First it was killing old people, then killing babies, now its helping brown people, what is next perhaps it will enable gay sex?

Why does the right always lie, because when they debate based on the facts, they lose.-Fundamental Truths

GOP preys on Seniors

The party of lies and the party of fear has now chosen to prey on Senior Citizens. They have put out a "Seniors Bill of Rights" in op eds and television commercials by disgraced GOP chairman Micheal Steele that is nothing more then false implications and fear mongering aimed at Senior Citizens.

It states they are against certain things that implies that the President's Health Care reform proposals are for. This is an out right lie.

Here are some of the statements in the "Seniors Bill of Rights"

Protect Medicare not cut it. Let me get this straight, the party that voted against medicare that complains about costs and the deficient is opposed to cutting waste and fraud in the program? No one is proposing cutting benefits to Medicare. They are for cutting costs, and give aways to insurance companies that do nothing for Seniors. In fact under Obama's plan benefits will increase. Namely narrowing the donut hole that costs seniors thousands of dollars in the existing plan on prescriptions.

Prohibit Government from getting between Seniors and their doctors. Who is proposing in any bill anywhere anything else? This is a complete scare tactic that has no basis in any truth whatsoever.


Prohibiting efforts to ration health care based on age. Efforts by who? NO ONE IS PROPOSING THIS!!! Total Fear mongering.

Preventing government from interfering in end of life discussions. Unbelievably this is the Death Panel lie again. The ONLY mention of end of life discussions is it would allow any public plan to pay for the counseling if a patient chooses. There is NO government interfering in such discussion.

Insure Seniors can keep their current coverage. Are they deaf? EVERYONE can keep their current coverage under EVERY plan currently proposed.

You know when you hear about fraud going on in your town its upsetting but when those that commit such crimes prey on Senior citizens it is particularly disgusting. It is clear such fraud directed at Seniors is what the GOP is now resorting to.

Do NOT forget the AARP is working for health care reform. For goodness sakes would they support reforms that hurt seniors?

It is time to protect our Senior Citizens from being scared by Republican Lies. Call them out on it each and every time.

Why does the right always resort to lies? Because when they debate based on facts, they always lose. = Fundamental Truths

GOP Health Care Lie: British don't like their health care

This is a lie that is repeated over and over again by the GOP now for months if not years. I heard Senator Kay Bailey-Hutchison repeat it today on MSNBC. The fact is its not true. In almost every national opinion poll in the 50 years of the British National Health Service it gets between and 80-90% approval from the British Citizens.

Like all big programs clearly it is not perfect but they want to improve what they have not scrap it. In fact a recent poll showed that 88% of English were strongly opposed to an American style Health System. Why would they? Their health system is ranked 18th in the world by the World Health Organization, the United States 37th. Then they try to scare you with stories of people dying from being denied Government Health care in Britain. Oh really? The Life expectancy in the United Kingdom is 25th in the world, the United States? 35th.

This is a lie the repubLIEcans have repeated often and frankly have annoyed the citizens of Britain and Canada. Yet no one is calling them out on it. Till now.

"Why does the right always lie, because when they debate based on facts, they lose." Fundamental Truths

Why They Freaked over the School Speech

The President of the United States yesterday gave a speech to the school children of American that had a message that very few could disagree with. Yet before it many on the right made absolute fools of themselves freaking out over the prospect. Now that the speech has been given many wonder why such a reaction.

Back in 1980 I was a student at Ohio State, I recall a college professor who was a child of the 60's express shock, dismay and frustration that the youth were rallying around Ronald Reagan. The hearts and minds of the youth had changed from their parents. It was unsettling to him and others of his generation.

Fast forward to 2008. While working on the campaign, I was contacting people who had signed up to volunteer and on more then one occasion attempted to reach a college age student who was at that time living at their parents home. When I told them why I was calling for their child, they were angered, not only at my call but at their child. This parent a child of the "me" generation inspired by Reagan was shocked, dismayed and frustrated that their offspring could possibly think differently then they.

On election night I got a call from my 22 year old daughter, who had shown as much interest in politics as I do in basket weaving. She said to me, this is "our" President dad, my generations, we wanted him, we got him.

The youth of today do not think like their parents. They cheered at speeches about doing community service. They got motivated on this last election, and something that rarely happens, they voted. They do not have the same beliefs of the "me" generation, and most of all they do not have the same beliefs about race we do.

The reason they freaked over the speech yesterday is the youth of America are inspired by Barack Obama. It scares the parents to death.

Wake up Congress 77% want Public Option

Despite the media coverage that has focused on the loudest if not the smartest town hall participants, once again a poll has found that a significant majority of Americans want a public option in health care reform.

The Survey USA polls shows 58% of American voters find the public option extremely important and another 19% find it quite important. that is 77% an overwhelming majority of voters who recognize a national need for a real public option in health care reform.

The United States is a representative republic we elect our Congressmen and Senators to vote in the best interest of its citizens. We elect them to get the facts and understand the background on every vote they make. What has been screamed at them at town halls is not fact, it is either misunderstandings or outright planned lies set out by those who will do anything to prevent Obama from succeeding despite what is best for the nation.

There were similar voices against civil rights reform, social security, and medicare. Yet those that voted for those things are heroes in American History. This is the chance for those in the Congress and Senate to once again be heroes.

The message we need to send to Zack Space, Steve Austria, Sherrod Brown and George Voinivich is: Doing nothing never goes down in history, achieving results does.

source: Survey USA poll

OH 07: Austria Lies and Belittles at Town Hall

Steve Austria finally held a town hall yesterday in Washington Courthouse on Health Care reform. As we are getting used to with him he couldn't managed to avoid lies. He said "very, very concerned about a complete government take over of our health care system." No one is proposing a government takeover of the health care system yet he and the RepLIEcans can't help themselves in repeating that mantra.

He then went on to belittle the 40 Million Americans who don't have health care insurance: " If you look at who the uninsured are right now, there's a portion that are, quite frankly, illegal immigrants. Another portion is employees of employers who decided not to take it. Then there are those who are uninsured, who through no fault of their own, are not insured. We ought to be focused on helping these individuals." So if their employer offers a bad health care plan they can't afford, its their fault for not signing up for it Austria?

Austria also said his office was flooded with calls and e-mails from Ohioans opposed to government run health care. Of course they are because those for Health Care Reform know your a lost cause of a republican partisan tool and not worth the call.

Perhaps we should change that. We won't get his vote but we sure can light up his phone lines. Call his Springfield Office at 937-325-9188 or e-mail him at austria.house.gov. Let him know we want, no we need Health Care Reform not partisan lies.

OH 18: GOP Candidates Appear at Extremist Rally

3 candidates for Congress in the 18th district yesterday appeared at a rally organized by Dave Daubenmire the Extremist who I reported yesterday is calling for the Violent Overthrow of the United States Government.

Fred Dailey of Mount Vernon, Jeanette Moll of Zanesville and Beau Bromberg of Newark all spoke at a Zanesville Rally at 6 pm. The very same day the organizer Daubenmire called for the violent overthrow of the government in his blog.

In a piece on his Salt of Life Ministries Blog on www.newswithviews.com Daubenmire said: "When the black-robed Taliban ruled that the government had the right to seize private property we should have stormed the Supreme Court and cleaned off the bench. It was our duty.

Every time it was discovered that one of our elected officials lied to the people they should have been tarred, feathered, and hung in the public square. It was our duty."

He goes on to say: "Sounds radical, eh? Well how about what these boys said. “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

The right liked to try to attempt to tie Barack Obama through very loose acquaintances with terrorists. Yet here at an actual rally organized by an extremist calling for violence against our government these Republican Candidates not only were there but were featured speakers.

"Christian" Daubenmire Calls for Violence

Dave Daubenmire the self promoting wack job grandstanding with his vigil in front of Zack Space's Office in Zanesville, is clearly getting frustrated that his moment of fame is waning.

First he has decided to call his own "town hall" to grandstand and get more media attention from those that have gotten bored with him and giving him no coverage for days. But today in the name of "Christian Values" he has posted on his web site a call to violence against the Supreme Court and Elected Officials in a piece entitled "It is our Duty"

"When the black-robed Taliban ruled that the government had the right to seize private property we should have stormed the Supreme Court and cleaned off the bench. It was our duty.

Every time it was discovered that one of our elected officials lied to the people they should have been tarred, feathered, and hung in the public square. It was our duty."

He goes on to say: "Sounds radical, eh? Well how about what these boys said. “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

This man is an insult to all Christians. He in fact is also not an American. He is advocating violence and an uprising against the Government of the United States. He should be arrested and removed from the public streets of Zanesville as a threat to public safety and an enemy of the country some of us love. People actually let this man coach their kids, that is just sick.

Source: His Call to Violence

OH 18: Jeanette Moll shows Troops Are not Important to her

In a press release yesterday candidate for the 18th Congressional District in Ohio, Jeanette Moll made it clear that concern about our troops and the real serious issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan are not important. In fact she claims Zack Space should instead listen to wacko Tea Party screamers like she has been listening to rather then checking on our troops in harms way.

She said this about Space's Trip to Afghanistan: "While other members of congress held town halls, Zack Space got as far away from you as he could get."

Thank goodness we have leaders in Congress that are dealing with real issues and showing concern about our troops over playing political games like Moll clearly does.

Jeanette spend all your time hanging out with nut job Coach Dave like you did yesterday or at another "tea Party" protest in Zoar this weekend who I still can't figure out why they are protesting the fact that 95% of Americans taxes were lowered this year? Meanwhile our Congressman will be working on real issues and supporting our troops.

OH 18: Who Moll Follows

Does who someone follows on twitter say much about them? In my opinion sometimes yes sometimes no. But if there is a clear pattern I think it can give you an insight on who someone gets their ideas and beliefs from.

Here are some of the people Candidate for the Ohio 18th Congressional District, Jeanette Moll follows:

The Tea Party Leaders- yes socialists are taking over!!

GlennBeckClips- The original Obama is a racist dude.

The Drudge Report - Well of course what self respecting RepubOILcan doesn't follow him.

Ann Coulter - who's one and only post to twitter was "Just signed up for twitter. Looks like a good place where I can bash Edwards and the fags without being caught. "

Ken Blackwell - Disgraced Republican Gubernatorial Candidate who's election fixing antics were legendary

Karl Rove - Blackwell's mentor in election stealing

Steve Austria - GOP puppet that speaks talking points on command. Oh wait, I follow him too but I'm guessing for way different reasons.

Fox News and Fox News Politics - We distort, you get lies.

That along with Michael Steele and Boehner and Kasich to get her talking points from.

Anyone see a pattern here? What does this say about Jeanette Moll? You Decide.

The Real Differences On Health Care

If you take a step back out of the weeds of misinformation and partisan bickering the difference between the Democrats and Republicans on Health Care Reform is clear. Lets look at some of the issues.

The Republicans talk about things like tort reform, which protects the income of the medical providers. The reality is tort reform has been done in states like Minnesota and it had no effect on health care costs to the consumer. The Congressional Budget office estimates that tort reform could save perhaps 1%. So in short tort reform doesn't save consumers money, it only saves profits for providers.

They talk about government "takeover" which by the way no one is proposing, yet there is a public option being proposed. First off a public option is just that, an option. There are many examples of public vs private interests competing in our country. Fed EX, UPS vs the United States Postal Service, and a great example made by Senator Chuck Schumer yesterday, Public Universities vs Private Institutions. Both thrive in our nation, it increases choice, it provides lower cost options, yet no private institutions are threatened by State Universities. So why are Republicans against this, because it would have the effect of hurting the massive profits of the big insurance companies. They would have to compete, they would have to offer better and cheaper coverage.

The cost is another issue the Republicans like to scream about. Yet most Americans would not see one dime of a tax increase to pay for health care. Who would get a tax increase? The wealthy. Again Democrats on the side of middle class, Republicans protecting corporations and wealth.

Another talking point of the right is Government being between you and your Doctor. Again a false point, there are no death panels proposed, there is a long good track record of Medicare, and the VA to prove otherwise. So who are the Republicans protecting? Once again the people that are between you and your doctor now. The insurance companies. The problem is they are making decisions based on their profits, not the good of the patient. Between Government and Corporations, who is more likely to look out for the welfare of its citizens?

It is quite clear as you look at talking point by talking point, the Republicans seek to protect the wealthy and corporations and the Democrats are trying to save Americans from the crippling effects of debt and skyrocketing health care costs. In the last 10 years insurance costs have doubled. They are expected to double again in the next 7 years. Can you afford that, can medicare afford that? 1 out of every 3 bankruptcies in this country are related to health care bills. Are you next? Yet currently one out of every $700 spent on health care in this nation pays for the salary of one man, the CEO of United Health Group.

The Democrats Health Care Reform is to help you, The Republicans fight is to protect the wealth of the insurance companies. That is the clear difference. Everything else is just window dressing.