A Victory for America

Last night a momentous and historic health insurance reform bill finally passed. This occurred in a time where corporations and special interests make it almost impossible for the people to be heard, when the Supreme Court has basically turned over our Government to the Corporations this is an amazing feat.

When a political party and fake grass roots organisations funded by these corporate interests do anything to defeat the will of the people, through lies, distortions, millions of dollars in add campaigns and even Congressman telling bold faced lies on the floor of the House of Representatives all for political motives, for this bill to pass helping the American People is surprising.

This event proved that elections do matter. That when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in a landslide that the people were heard. It proves that leadership, and courage can indeed get the job done.

Of course this bill does not fix all the problems in Health Care but it is a major step. It gets 35 million people out of our pockets who now go to emergency rooms for care on our dime. It keeps us from being denied insurance or have our insurance cancelled because we get sick. It keeps our existing system in place for doctors and insurance plans that we like. For Americans on employer provided insurance it keeps the rates from exploding more and more, for those that make less then $85K on individually purchased insurance plans it lowers rates. It closes the donut hole for seniors on Medicare. It gives subsidies to help lower income buy insurance. It cuts no medicare benefits. And perhaps most importantly, unlike Republican bills in the past it is paid for, in fact over 20 years it lowers the deficit.

The lies and distortions will continue, but in a few months when Americans look back on this day, they will realise all the horror stories told by the right, were indeed lies. America and our Health Care will be on the road to great improvements for us, the Citizens of the United States that remains the greatest country on earth.

Thank you President Obama, thank you Democrats, thank you all that voted for them. No thanks to Zack Space who voted No.

The Wisdom of Obama

After seeing the irresponsible comments made by the GOP Senators and Congressmen regarding Iran, I thank God for the Wisdom of our President. He used restraint and wisdom in his statements about the situation in Iran to avoid giving the "Supreme Leader" any credibility when blaming the United States for the unrest.

The President and in fact even the resolutions passed by the Congress and the Senate state support for the demonstrators rights, free elections and the abhorrence of violence. Yet wisely he did not take sides in the election dispute itself or appear in any way trying to manipulate the situation.

The GOP on the other hand rather then using wisdom in their statements that have as their motive to make things better for the world, for prospects of peace, and for the prospects of change in Iran, they instead want to use George Bush cowboy terms and puff out their chests and saber rattle. This approach would do great harm to the resistance movement in Iran and thus strengthening the existing government, stoke anti American sentiments and make the middle east and the world even less safe.

It is quite clear that the GOP leaders are interested in one thing, criticizing Obama. To that end they put safety, peace and even their country's interests last.

Yesterday we saw supporters of the government in Iran shouting as usual, "Death to America". Today we see people in the streets now shouting "Death to Khamenei." That would not have happened if the anti-American fears of the Iranian people had been stoked by chest pounding by our President.

House Democrats take action without Republicans

Despite talk about bi partisan ship by republicans. Despite President Obama reaching out to them, listening to them, and then changing the bill, the house Republicans showed the are more concerned about politics then the countries well being and voted no en mass against the Stimulus Package.

Guess what, it passed anyway.

House Republicans have just made themselves irrelevant. Good luck getting anything you want from the President or the Democratic Leadership in Congress the next two years.

You had a chance, you blew it.

The Democrats once again truly put country first, Republicans as usual put failed political games first.

Message to Capital Hill Republicans

YOU LOST!!!

Americans have had enough of your partisan games. Americans have had enough of your promising voodoo economics of save the rich, to hell with everyone else. Americans have had enough of the economic disaster your policies have created. Americans have had enough of taking away all regulation so that a few can make fortunes with fake wealth on the back of most of us. Americans have had enough of thousands of jobs being lost everyday while you spew your partisan crap slowing down action on the economy.

We have had enough of you.

This stimulus package will pass with our without you. The Democrats are in charge now so the economy will recover our way, without you.

Your false claims, policies and promises have been exposed and will continue to be.

Bipartisanship does not mean the winners have to continue the path and the policies set by losers. Bipartisanship means all will come to reasonable compromise which clearly you have shown no intention of doing.

Yes you lost this election by following the path you are now. Keep it up and soon will be even less of you to spew your nonsense on capital hill.

Vote yes, or vote no, one shows you do want results one shows you have no desire to get reelected.

RepubOILcans show their true motives.

It is quite clear that "drill here, drill now" is just another mean nothing slogan the RepubOILcans want to use to try to fool Americans. As we speak the Democrats in Congress are proposing a compromise measure to be able to actually accomplish something. But as usual the RepubOILcans in Congress oppose it.

This bill takes off the federal moratorium on drilling more the 50 miles off shore and leaves drilling up to the states. This would open a significant number of areas to new drilling leases to the oil companies.

So why would the RepubOILcans oppose this?

1. The bill ends tax breaks for the Oil Companies that are making record profits on the back of American consumers.

2. The bill requires additional usage of renewable sources of energy by the electric companies.

3. The moratorium expires on September 30th anyway, so the Bush administration can pad his buddies in the oil industry's balance sheets by approving unlimited drilling leases.

4. The RepubOILcans don't actually want any actual solutions to the energy crises they instead want to block any progress so they can try to blame the other side in the upcoming elections.


Republicans true motives are simple, more profits for their big oil donors and have a simple minded slogan to use in the next election. This is how they have operated for decades. This time its destroying our economy, hitting our wallets every day, and risking our national security.

Enough is Enough.

We need solutions not slogans.

RepubOILcan desperate

After spending the last several weeks blocking or delaying every single attempt made by the Democrats in Congress to pass real solutions on energy, the RepubOILcans and McCain are showing their desperation by pulling silly stunts to try to distract Americans from the failed policies that lead our country into this economic crisis.

Knowing a blood bath is approaching in the upcoming elections where even Big oils money won't save their seats, the RepubOILcans latest stunt is to demand Congress come back into session right as the conventions approach. This is laughable since Democrats in congress put a number of bills up for consideration and the RepubOILcans filibustered and delayed and stalled on every single bill.

Real solutions on rampant speculation, forcing Big Oil to actually produce oil on the 68,000,000 acres they now are able to use, assistance for low income homeowners were all stalled or blocked because they didnt include provisions that would allow Big Oil to pad their balance sheets even further by adding more leases to drill that they would likely not use.

Voters must be made aware that the reason nothing was accomplished this summer was that the RepubOILcans and their Big Oil backers prevented it. Why? So they could pull these stunts and hope the American people are not paying attention.

We have had 8 years of Big oil being in control of government and Congress. We have had 8 years of rising gas prices, a declining economy and record profits of Big Oil.
Americans know it is the RepubOILcans that have created this situation, and thus will throw the bums out to increase the Democratic Majority so real solutions can be implemented.

8 years divided by 2 oil men = $4 gas

This was the chart shown on the Senate floor this afternoon by Senator Barbara Boxer. While George W. Bush and the Repuboilcans repeat the mantra "drill drill drill" the Democrats in Congress are proposing real solutions to the oil prices that are bringing this nation to its knees.

McCain proposes fake solutions along with George W that will do one thing increase the assets of the oil companies. It will not have any effect on the amount of domestic oil on the market or the cost of gas at the pump. The fact is the Oil Companies have leases on 68 million acres of oil reserve they can drill now but choose not to. Instead they wish to hold on to these assets and add to them to line their pockets.

Barbara Boxer detailed a number of solutions that can and must be done to actually solve the problem. First "Use it or lose it" If the Oil companies that currently hold the leases to the 68 million acres that can be drilled now choose not to, then they shall lose the leases on that land and it will be given to companies that will drill.

Another point Boxer made was that the oil that is drilled domestically should remain in this country not sold overseas for higher profits as is the case now with much of the oil obtained in Alaska.

She also discussed higher CAFE standards which by bringing them up to 40 mpg which hybrid cars can exceed now, would by itself eliminante the demand for all foriegn oil in this country.

Finally to regulate the oil speculators that are a major cause of the current oil prices that are creating a false value for a barrel of oil that is making the oil men like Bush and Cheney richer and 90% of Americans poorer.

Repubiolcans like to accuse Democrats of wanting to "transfer wealth." The fact is the energy policies of Bush, Cheney, McCain and the repuboilcans are causing the biggest transfer of wealth in human history, from our pockets to theirs, the CEO's of the oil companies and the Oil Sheiks abroad.

It is time for America to wake up, and say no to 4 soon 5 dollar per gallon gas. To say no to wars fought over oil, to say no to record profits for the oil companies and to say NO to false policies like "drill drill drill." Instead we must support the Democrats in the Congress who are looking for real solutions for all Americans not just the oil men.

The Republicans make me laugh

Today I received an item in the mail from the National Republican Congressional Committee, addressed to me by name with the salutation: “Dear Republican Friend.” Umm apparently their awesome data base has some flaws.

Enclosed with this letter was something entitled “Ohio 7th Congressional District Survey.” It urges that I should be certain to “answer each question carefully and honestly.” (You'll realize why this is funny after you read the survey.) Ok so I read on. The following questions are the actual questions on the survey. The answers of course are my own.

1. Do you feel voters in the Ohio’s 7th District support making all of the Bush tax cuts permanent? “ Tax cut, what tax cut I didn’t get a tax cut.

2. Do you support the House Democrats “slow-bleed” strategy to “choke-off” funding for our troops in Iraq? leading to their withdrawal and perception of American defeat? Hmm no I’m for stopping the bleeding totally and ending an illegal criminal war. Interesting strategy though, regardless of the fact that democrats haven’t proposed it. Besides how can we be defeated. Bush said “Mission Accomplished” years ago, we already won.

3. Should Republicans continue fighting for full implementation of a ballistic missile defense system? Sure lets start the arms race all over again so we not only have terrorists to worry about but all the industrialized nations in the world who no longer trust us because of Bush's lies.

4. Do voters in Ohio’s 7th District agree with the Nancy Pelosi Democrat Majority’s decision to impose massive tax hikes on the American People? Wow, holy crap are there two Nancy Pelosi’s? I’m not sure what the “Democrat Majority” means but the Nancy Pelosi of the Democratic Party that is in the Majority, has never proposed any such thing.

5. Do you think that the House Republicans should continue to push for pro-growth policies that create jobs and oppose tax increases that would add a burden to working families and set back our economy? Oh they are doing such a bang up job helping the economy; sure I always wanted to see a depression to find out if the stories my Grandfather told are true.

6. Do you support Congressional Republicans’ efforts to decrease domestic government spending in order to reduce the national debt? Oh speaking of things in which they have done a GREAT job. Sure I always wanted to be able to be owned by China.

7. Do you support the Democrats efforts to give federal government bureaucrats complete control of your health care costs and choices? No I prefer the health insurance and pharmaceutical companies bleed me dry. They must think Ralph Nader is going to be President since he is the only one proposing single payer health care.

8. Should Republicans’ in Congress make expansion of Veteran’s benefits a priority? Well is about time they do, considering how “patriotic” they all are. But they better hurry cause the Democrats in Congress are way ahead of them on this one. It's understandable though, they got a head start while the Republicans were making sure their flag pins were straight and getting those yellow ribbons placed properly on their cars.

9. Do you support maintaining anti-terrorism laws that give law enforcement and intelligence agencies the far-reaching powers to track, detain and prosecute terrorists and their accomplices? Does this mean we are going to stop shredding the constitution and using fear as a political tool and actually go after Bin Laden and the terrorists?

10. Should Republicans in the House of Representatives make securing our nation’s borders and enforcing our nation’s immigration laws including combating the hiring of illegal workers and ending the catch and release policy a top priority? Top priority, umm no ending the war, stopping poverty, people losing their homes, health care all come way higher. Wait? I have to take my shoes off at the airport and Homeland security lets anyone cross the borders? Catch and release, hmmm how much are all the prisons going to cost to put all these immigrants in or do you just mean the immigrants of color. Are republicans trying to sell Lou Dobbs’ books too?

11. Do you think House Republicans should continue fighting for comprehensive education reform to ensure every child in America receives a first rate education? Ohhh wow, you mean the Republicans are going to push for actually educating our kids instead of teaching them how to pass a test?

12. Do you agree that winning back a Republican majority in the House of Representatives is essential to stopping the Nancy Pelosi Democrats from raising our taxes, destroying our economy and endangering our homeland? Heavens yes because a Democratic Majority might actually result in returning to a fiscally responsible government, restoring the damage to our economy, to make our country safer and restore our respect in the world.

13. Will you support our Party’s campaign to defeat the Pelosi Democrats and elect a Republican House Majority in 2008 by joining the NRCC with a generous financial contribution today? The computer says, "NAWWW"

Oh they follow up with a request that even if I can’t donate now could I send $11 to help pay for this survey. Let me see you send me totally false laughable propaganda and want me to pay for it? I'll ponder this for a moment.....ok done. Not a chance.

If there weren’t people who actually fall for this crap I’d laugh harder then I did.

Time to send at least $11 to Sharen Neuhardt’s campaign.

Are your phones being tapped?

Bush again this morning pushed for the House of Representatives to pass his unconstitutional FISA bill. He wants us to believe that the terrorists are going to get us because they have to get warrants to wire tap Americans as the Supreme court has upheld many times.

In addition he wants to prevent citizens the due process of law to be able to file law suits should they be a victim of unreasonable invasions of their privacy. Giving the telecom companies more rights than any other citizen or corporation has.

He has used fear mongering to pass this bill along with his cronies that run the television ads. The fact is they can within the law that still exists, the one that is actually constitutional, they can wire tap suspected terrorists they just have to obtain a warrant after the fact within a reasonable amount of time.

There is only one reason they don’t want a court to review their wiretapping. It has nothing to do with speed, or with protecting the country. It is to spy on anyone they choose.

If you believe this being some wacko conspiracy theory think again. According to the ACLU there are currently 900,000 people on the terrorist watch list. It is expected to be a million by July. I got to tell you if there are a million terrorists that need to be watched, the game is over folks. People on this watch list include men named Robert Johnson, 20 of which have been detained at the airport every time they attempt to fly. Evo Morales the President of Bolivia, Senator Ted Kennedy, Congressmen John Lewis of Georgia are other notable names that have been on this watch list.

For once the Democrats have been showing some backbone to fight Bush’s shredding of the Constitution. Call, write or email your Congressmen to support them in this effort.

Source: http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/watchlistcounter.html