The United States health care industry is a hog trough, and the U.S. government has allowed it to become so. Common people can no longer afford basic health care unless they have insurance and that insurance is priced beyond those without employer or government assistance.
The greed of health care providers and insurers is every bit as destructive as that of oil companies, Wall Street operators, banks, and monopolistic concerns of all stripes. These horrific giants operate destructively with their own rules by permission of Washington DC. They can do so because they have bribed the US Congress. It’s that simple.
The major flaw with Obama’s “reform” is not that Americans don’t want it, necessarily, but that it is so complicated that few if any commoners understand it or ever understood it, making it vulnerable to the disinformation that was/is heaped upon it. Who knows if we want it if we don’t know what it is?
I’m pretty sure that President Obama’s “health care reform” is dead in the water. Even before Thursday’s televised forum to discuss the issues, you can tell neither Republicans nor Democrats intend to use it for less than their personal grandstand. The New York Times’ preview for the event is at this link.
People such as Ohio’s very own House Minority Leader John Boehner have already announced that the purpose of this meeting is not to look for compromise, but attention. “We shouldn't let the White House have a six-hour taxpayer-funded infomercial on ObamaCare,” Boehner said, meaning this is one more place, one more event, where Mr. Boehner will try to get his hat in the ring for the Presidency. At least some of us back in Ohio know what a waste he is.
Meanwhile, the Democrat Party machine is intent on scoring points - not for Americans, but for Democrats. Watch the chief Democrat clowns at work on the nation’s health care crisis: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be out front, elbowing for the spotlight.
The solution to health care reform is for the federal government get out of it, except to restore competition. I think the President could use the executive branch to end the AMA’s monopoly profits, lift the protections allowing the drug industry to rape at will, and bust up the cartels selling health insurance.
That would be the foundation for genuine health care reform. What we’re going to get is cheap, annoying, self-defeating theatrics.
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Go to the Obama wellhead
When I wrote “Shall we call it quits, America?” a comment by “nooman” asked: “I’m curious Bruce, what is is specifically that you think we should be standing behind this President on?”
Let’s look first at what’s happening with this Presidency.
1) Mr. Obama was elected, in part, because the middle class felt betrayed by unfair influences on federal government’s activities. That means the way lobbyists for special interests buy votes and thus steal our tax money and freedoms. Mr. Obama went to Washington partly on promises to change that and thus improve the lot of the middle class.
2) The President has launched a fight on our behalf with these special interests, largely multinational corporations which, in effect, nullify the wishes and needs of individual citizens by attempting to insulate incumbents from defeat at the polls. That’s what the President has gone to war against and he needs to mobilize and inspire the middle class to back him.
3) To do that requires facing off with the world’s best spin doctors, the people who have mastered media control and disinformation (meaning to deliberately mislead with partial or slanted or false information). I believe these special interests/multinationals control the nation’s mass media from the top, so the insertion of disinformation has a clear and easy path.
So back to “nooman’s” question: First way to stand behind the President is to find out what he is trying to accomplish by learning exactly what he’s saying. That’s the most important way we can support him: just listen to him without the disinformation filters.
Maybe it’s common knowledge by now that anything you get from mass media is filtered by definition (they have to filter it in order to present it). But what isn’t common knowledge is who is filtering and why. To find out, follow the money. See who owns mass media in this country. Look at their corporate interests. See if they have financial reasons to doctor the “news” in a way that favors multi-national corporations and other organizations with some bucks to be made from Washington.
Since you can’t be certain what the President is saying via mass media, then you have to go to the wellhead. The White House provides a thorough and user-friendly web site where you can read transcripts of every Presidential speech and reports on all Presidential activities. That’s where you can get your no-spin facts.
Go to The Briefing Room http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room for current Presidential announcements and statements of policy. For instance, today (2/4/10) there are five articles from yesterday’s White House news (Press Secretary briefing; meeting with governors on energy; steps to boost biofuels; memorandum on strategy on carbon capture and storage; and remarks by the President to Senate Democrats). On that same index page are links to eight categories of information covering Presidential policies, actions and legislation.
You can search the entire site by key word. From that, you can use one of several filters to arrive at the articles closest to your interests. If you want a no-spin report on what the President said and how he said it, type in any subject and get it straight.
Until you’re willing to do that much for own education, don’t even think you have a clue about what the President says, thinks, or does. So that’s the single best way to stand behind the President: Get your facts straight.
Let’s look first at what’s happening with this Presidency.
1) Mr. Obama was elected, in part, because the middle class felt betrayed by unfair influences on federal government’s activities. That means the way lobbyists for special interests buy votes and thus steal our tax money and freedoms. Mr. Obama went to Washington partly on promises to change that and thus improve the lot of the middle class.
2) The President has launched a fight on our behalf with these special interests, largely multinational corporations which, in effect, nullify the wishes and needs of individual citizens by attempting to insulate incumbents from defeat at the polls. That’s what the President has gone to war against and he needs to mobilize and inspire the middle class to back him.
3) To do that requires facing off with the world’s best spin doctors, the people who have mastered media control and disinformation (meaning to deliberately mislead with partial or slanted or false information). I believe these special interests/multinationals control the nation’s mass media from the top, so the insertion of disinformation has a clear and easy path.
So back to “nooman’s” question: First way to stand behind the President is to find out what he is trying to accomplish by learning exactly what he’s saying. That’s the most important way we can support him: just listen to him without the disinformation filters.
Maybe it’s common knowledge by now that anything you get from mass media is filtered by definition (they have to filter it in order to present it). But what isn’t common knowledge is who is filtering and why. To find out, follow the money. See who owns mass media in this country. Look at their corporate interests. See if they have financial reasons to doctor the “news” in a way that favors multi-national corporations and other organizations with some bucks to be made from Washington.
Since you can’t be certain what the President is saying via mass media, then you have to go to the wellhead. The White House provides a thorough and user-friendly web site where you can read transcripts of every Presidential speech and reports on all Presidential activities. That’s where you can get your no-spin facts.
Go to The Briefing Room http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room for current Presidential announcements and statements of policy. For instance, today (2/4/10) there are five articles from yesterday’s White House news (Press Secretary briefing; meeting with governors on energy; steps to boost biofuels; memorandum on strategy on carbon capture and storage; and remarks by the President to Senate Democrats). On that same index page are links to eight categories of information covering Presidential policies, actions and legislation.
You can search the entire site by key word. From that, you can use one of several filters to arrive at the articles closest to your interests. If you want a no-spin report on what the President said and how he said it, type in any subject and get it straight.
Until you’re willing to do that much for own education, don’t even think you have a clue about what the President says, thinks, or does. So that’s the single best way to stand behind the President: Get your facts straight.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Shall we call it quits, America?
Count me among the people who have caused this nation to flounder. I voted to have it happen by my silence; and what about you?
I have failed to speak out about the lies and the half-truths of political partisans, zealots left and right, and mass media; and what about you?
I have failed to defend and encourage those critics, commentators, and government employees who are advocates of truth and justice; and what about you?
Here is a nation that elected Barack Obama to the Presidency because he told us he would help correct the fallout from misdeeds of past presidents. But this same nation, at last blessed with a statesman as chief, has set him adrift among partisan enemies. Where is the support we owe him? I have been stingy with it; and what about you?
Why aren’t you and I sending clear and defiant messages to Washington’s special-interest wolf packs? Why aren’t we demanding that critics stop these inane attacks on our President out of fear of Democrats or fear of dark skin or fear of losing ill-begotten profits? Why aren’t we insisting that citizens regain control of government while we have someone to lead us in that endeavor?
We have the chance to rise behind Mr. Obama, to become justifiably proud of ourselves again. But we cannot because “the way we do business” in Washington immobilizes, overwhelms, and stupifies little people out here across America.
Or does it? What about you?
I have failed to speak out about the lies and the half-truths of political partisans, zealots left and right, and mass media; and what about you?
I have failed to defend and encourage those critics, commentators, and government employees who are advocates of truth and justice; and what about you?
Here is a nation that elected Barack Obama to the Presidency because he told us he would help correct the fallout from misdeeds of past presidents. But this same nation, at last blessed with a statesman as chief, has set him adrift among partisan enemies. Where is the support we owe him? I have been stingy with it; and what about you?
Why aren’t you and I sending clear and defiant messages to Washington’s special-interest wolf packs? Why aren’t we demanding that critics stop these inane attacks on our President out of fear of Democrats or fear of dark skin or fear of losing ill-begotten profits? Why aren’t we insisting that citizens regain control of government while we have someone to lead us in that endeavor?
We have the chance to rise behind Mr. Obama, to become justifiably proud of ourselves again. But we cannot because “the way we do business” in Washington immobilizes, overwhelms, and stupifies little people out here across America.
Or does it? What about you?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Alerts: Obama, Council rules, Mr. Kidd, Channel 19
Don’t ever believe President Obama isn’t giving the Newark Tea Party a serious read. Two days ago I wrote about Newark’s lack of jobs Newark Remains Unstimulated
Today’s Washington Post headline: “Obama to focus on job growth in Ohio.” Ta Da!
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Rules are for suckers - Right, City Council?
Ohio law requires three readings of proposed legislation, Newark by virtue of its “home rule” Charter requires but two. Many ordinances, however, are passed on the first reading because they are claimed to be “emergencies” though exactly what the “emergency” is normally remains murky at best. Never mind the Charter requires Council to “clearly specify the necessity of the emergency.”
Also, Council again played fast and loose with the public money entrusted to it when it awarded without competitive bidding a contract to Claggett & Sons to work on the company’s own property.
Competitive bidding for projects of $25,000 or more is required by the Charter, but this routinely is defined as unnecessary by the votes of six Council members. The Claggett project is estimated at $35,000-$50,000.
Claggett is a good landscaping contractor who has performed perfectly on a couple small jobs for me, and would be my choice for the next one. Likely the city won’t go wrong by awarding this job to Claggett. But we’ll never know because the rules don’t apply here.
This points to the need for tighter rules to ensure that expediency and convenience stop being overriding objectives of Council members and the Council president. Those tighter rules could be a project of a Charter Review if Council would provide for it.
Meantime, if any citizen should feel Council is abusing bidding requirements a complaint should be filed with Mary Taylor, Auditor of State.
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Keep your eye on Mr. Kidd
Ronnie Kidd, the Heath resident who led the charge against Reflex traffic cameras, hasn’t retired. For one thing, he was a key player in Mansfield’s decision to ignore Redflex’s pitch to install cameras in that city. Here’s how he described some of it in a note to me 1/20/10:
“Last night I drove to Mansfield for its Safety Committee meeting, Caucus and Council meeting. The 3rd reading of its camera ordinance was planned. Only one Mansfield resident was there to protest the cameras. The same Redflex rep that did the Zanesville presentation was there to give a slick and gruesome presentation. Including once when a Council member called me to the podium to ask me some questions, I managed to address the Council 4 times. Vote: 8-0 unanimous against the cameras.”
His group of citizens who helped with the traffic camera exile is still meeting. They hope to help citizens of Baytown TX and Arnold MO battle red light cameras. Also, they are expecting to influence decisions by local officials on the county dog pound, the Davis-Shai House and the Rt. 79 median in Heath.
I think this group isn’t far from announcing some sort of formal organization and picking up speed as a very influential force which politicians will rapidly come to respect.
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Webcasts & Channel 19
I was confused by the Advocate report on Council’s discussion of a camera for webcasting meetings on the city’s website. It was my sloppy reading, not the reporter’s fault. Maybe there were others too who didn’t get the difference between webcasting (something new being considered) and cablecasting (what’s already being done on Channel 19). The discussion involved, in part, the cost of a camera for webcasts. City officials were told the cost would be $2,800, but a resident brought an inexpensive digital video camera to demonstrate its adequacy and simplicity. Now let’s see if anyone listens to him.
Speaking of cablecasts on Channel 19, it seems to me that they are more professionally produced now than they have been for many years. Also, that Newark Schools’ Channel 19 has a lot more and a lot better programming in quality and subject matter.
Thing is, if you don’t know when Council meetings are to be shown, and if you don’t know when the other stuff is on, what good is it? Seems to me that the Advocate could easily list Channel 19 programming, if only on its web site.
Today’s Washington Post headline: “Obama to focus on job growth in Ohio.” Ta Da!
Rules are for suckers - Right, City Council?
Ohio law requires three readings of proposed legislation, Newark by virtue of its “home rule” Charter requires but two. Many ordinances, however, are passed on the first reading because they are claimed to be “emergencies” though exactly what the “emergency” is normally remains murky at best. Never mind the Charter requires Council to “clearly specify the necessity of the emergency.”
Also, Council again played fast and loose with the public money entrusted to it when it awarded without competitive bidding a contract to Claggett & Sons to work on the company’s own property.
Competitive bidding for projects of $25,000 or more is required by the Charter, but this routinely is defined as unnecessary by the votes of six Council members. The Claggett project is estimated at $35,000-$50,000.
Claggett is a good landscaping contractor who has performed perfectly on a couple small jobs for me, and would be my choice for the next one. Likely the city won’t go wrong by awarding this job to Claggett. But we’ll never know because the rules don’t apply here.
This points to the need for tighter rules to ensure that expediency and convenience stop being overriding objectives of Council members and the Council president. Those tighter rules could be a project of a Charter Review if Council would provide for it.
Meantime, if any citizen should feel Council is abusing bidding requirements a complaint should be filed with Mary Taylor, Auditor of State.
Keep your eye on Mr. Kidd
Ronnie Kidd, the Heath resident who led the charge against Reflex traffic cameras, hasn’t retired. For one thing, he was a key player in Mansfield’s decision to ignore Redflex’s pitch to install cameras in that city. Here’s how he described some of it in a note to me 1/20/10:
“Last night I drove to Mansfield for its Safety Committee meeting, Caucus and Council meeting. The 3rd reading of its camera ordinance was planned. Only one Mansfield resident was there to protest the cameras. The same Redflex rep that did the Zanesville presentation was there to give a slick and gruesome presentation. Including once when a Council member called me to the podium to ask me some questions, I managed to address the Council 4 times. Vote: 8-0 unanimous against the cameras.”
His group of citizens who helped with the traffic camera exile is still meeting. They hope to help citizens of Baytown TX and Arnold MO battle red light cameras. Also, they are expecting to influence decisions by local officials on the county dog pound, the Davis-Shai House and the Rt. 79 median in Heath.
I think this group isn’t far from announcing some sort of formal organization and picking up speed as a very influential force which politicians will rapidly come to respect.
Webcasts & Channel 19
I was confused by the Advocate report on Council’s discussion of a camera for webcasting meetings on the city’s website. It was my sloppy reading, not the reporter’s fault. Maybe there were others too who didn’t get the difference between webcasting (something new being considered) and cablecasting (what’s already being done on Channel 19). The discussion involved, in part, the cost of a camera for webcasts. City officials were told the cost would be $2,800, but a resident brought an inexpensive digital video camera to demonstrate its adequacy and simplicity. Now let’s see if anyone listens to him.
Speaking of cablecasts on Channel 19, it seems to me that they are more professionally produced now than they have been for many years. Also, that Newark Schools’ Channel 19 has a lot more and a lot better programming in quality and subject matter.
Thing is, if you don’t know when Council meetings are to be shown, and if you don’t know when the other stuff is on, what good is it? Seems to me that the Advocate could easily list Channel 19 programming, if only on its web site.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Newark remains unstimulated
Federal “stimulus” dollars were supposed to create jobs as a means of undoing the damage to our economy by Wall Street sharpies, bankers, unregulated monopoly businesses of all stripes, and by government. But in Newark we are far from stimulated. In fact, as one commentator said, the people of Newark are selling hamburgers to each other for survival.
A tedious and uncertain trip through the federal stimulus brag sheet on the web reveals that two jobs have been created for the private sector locally. The rest of the $27,494,419 total in grants for zip code 43055 has created 26.58 additional jobs (on paper), all of them apparently are government jobs if indeed any were created.
A lot of that money went to schools and a lot to construction projects - projects the government would have to take care of anyway. So government feeds itself more of our tax dollars - as usual - as a way to stimulate our economy.
The two local jobs created (on paper at least) from a $171,787 grant went to Newark Townehomes, 11 Daugherty Circle in Newark. This is a HUD property I was told, and I think it’s owned by a corporation in Columbus, but I couldn’t substantiate that because whoever answered the phone wasn’t too talkative.
So there you have two jobs in the private sector for Newark out of all the billions nationally for bankers, stock brokers, auto manufacturers, auto dealerships and governments.
If you did not receive one of the two jobs and were are not already working for government or a school your financial outlook is probably like mine: It hasn’t been this bad for decades. Meanwhile, the greed of companies like Time-Warner Cable, property tax collectors, oil companies and other monopolies, seems boundless.
Before his election, Obama & Company were on Ohio like flies on manure. Now he keeps in contact, with me at least, by sending incessant e-mails asking for donations for this Democrat project or that. There’s a red button to use for donating.
I’d really like to donate Mr. Obama and the Democrats a hamburger as a symbol of the two new jobs we’ve received in Newark.
Unfortunately, there’s no red button for hamburgers - and I couldn’t afford it anyway.
A tedious and uncertain trip through the federal stimulus brag sheet on the web reveals that two jobs have been created for the private sector locally. The rest of the $27,494,419 total in grants for zip code 43055 has created 26.58 additional jobs (on paper), all of them apparently are government jobs if indeed any were created.
A lot of that money went to schools and a lot to construction projects - projects the government would have to take care of anyway. So government feeds itself more of our tax dollars - as usual - as a way to stimulate our economy.
The two local jobs created (on paper at least) from a $171,787 grant went to Newark Townehomes, 11 Daugherty Circle in Newark. This is a HUD property I was told, and I think it’s owned by a corporation in Columbus, but I couldn’t substantiate that because whoever answered the phone wasn’t too talkative.
So there you have two jobs in the private sector for Newark out of all the billions nationally for bankers, stock brokers, auto manufacturers, auto dealerships and governments.
If you did not receive one of the two jobs and were are not already working for government or a school your financial outlook is probably like mine: It hasn’t been this bad for decades. Meanwhile, the greed of companies like Time-Warner Cable, property tax collectors, oil companies and other monopolies, seems boundless.
Before his election, Obama & Company were on Ohio like flies on manure. Now he keeps in contact, with me at least, by sending incessant e-mails asking for donations for this Democrat project or that. There’s a red button to use for donating.
I’d really like to donate Mr. Obama and the Democrats a hamburger as a symbol of the two new jobs we’ve received in Newark.
Unfortunately, there’s no red button for hamburgers - and I couldn’t afford it anyway.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Mr. President, I am proud of you
Today the Advocate published in its print edition yet another Obama put-down regarding his Nobel Peace Prize.
The editor who decided to display it on Page One apparently had not read yesterday’s Advocate editorial denouncing “vapid partisan claptrap.”
Also yesterday the New York Times published an editorial describing President Obama’s many challenges for world peace (challenges he inherited from former presidents and Congress, by the way).
That editorial summarized the significance of the Nobel honor like this: “Americans elected Mr. Obama because they wanted him to restore American values and leadership — and because they believed he could. The Nobel Prize, and the broad endorsement that followed, shows how many people around the world want the same thing.”
But President Obama said it best in an e-mail to his supporters: “... Throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
“That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
“This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.”
Congratulations, Mr. President. I am proud of you.
The editor who decided to display it on Page One apparently had not read yesterday’s Advocate editorial denouncing “vapid partisan claptrap.”
Also yesterday the New York Times published an editorial describing President Obama’s many challenges for world peace (challenges he inherited from former presidents and Congress, by the way).
That editorial summarized the significance of the Nobel honor like this: “Americans elected Mr. Obama because they wanted him to restore American values and leadership — and because they believed he could. The Nobel Prize, and the broad endorsement that followed, shows how many people around the world want the same thing.”
But President Obama said it best in an e-mail to his supporters: “... Throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
“That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
“This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.”
Congratulations, Mr. President. I am proud of you.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Questions on gasoline prices for Obama
What determines the price of gasoline is a question that for years I've been asking media representatives, public agencies, and government officials, including the Bush administration. I have yet to receive an answer or a show of interest.
I hope President Obama's policies of government transparency don't stop where the interests of energy profits begin.
If they don't, I will receive answers to the questions I asked of him today:
What and who determines oil prices?
How does lack of anti-trust-law enforcement affect those prices?
Who is in charge of setting prices at the pump?
What influences traders in the futures markets and who is guarding against price manipulation at that level?
I hope President Obama's policies of government transparency don't stop where the interests of energy profits begin.
If they don't, I will receive answers to the questions I asked of him today:
What and who determines oil prices?
How does lack of anti-trust-law enforcement affect those prices?
Who is in charge of setting prices at the pump?
What influences traders in the futures markets and who is guarding against price manipulation at that level?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Obama - World statesman
President Obama mesmerized me with his speech this morning in Cairo. His brilliant eloquence was matched only by his depth, decency, fairness and honesty. He wasn’t throwing punches or politically charged air balls. I am proud of him and for the fact that he demonstrated that - for the first time in decades - America has picked a man worthy of world leadership.
No sooner did he finish and the first news reports hit the Internet than the crazies began hitting on him, twisting his words and belittling the level of statesmanship exhibited this morning - world statesmanship that no other U.S. President in my adult lifetime has ever aspired to.
Likely, Christian zealots will also take aim at the man who would dare to recognize the rights and validity of other religions.
I agree with the person (Roger-356271) who commented on the MSNBC report:
“Just as our own (citizens) will now distort what was said, other Countries will experience the same ... (but) we do not have to look at other Countries to find ignorance. Both those that are paid to distort, and whose job depends on division, will find a fault in wording or party politics ...”
Those who agree with our President should take a moment to let him know. Write to him at this link.
No sooner did he finish and the first news reports hit the Internet than the crazies began hitting on him, twisting his words and belittling the level of statesmanship exhibited this morning - world statesmanship that no other U.S. President in my adult lifetime has ever aspired to.
Likely, Christian zealots will also take aim at the man who would dare to recognize the rights and validity of other religions.
I agree with the person (Roger-356271) who commented on the MSNBC report:
“Just as our own (citizens) will now distort what was said, other Countries will experience the same ... (but) we do not have to look at other Countries to find ignorance. Both those that are paid to distort, and whose job depends on division, will find a fault in wording or party politics ...”
Those who agree with our President should take a moment to let him know. Write to him at this link.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Obama on-line
Among the new stuff our President has brought to the White House is a daily and informative blog, which I monitor here.
It also shows photos of White House meetings and social events, along with a few candid photos of the President. It mentioned that the White House is presenting a photographic record at Flickr web site where photos like these have been published. Lots of good images, though none in high resolution. Click here.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
President Obama’s army marches on
President Obama has so far exceeded my highest expectations and he’s still on the up-tick. This is partly because of his army of campaigners. They are still active and Obama continues to nourish them.
Because he has multitudes of common people on the march, he can expect a much more cooperative congress. As Greg Schultz, Ohio state Director for Organizing for America, put it: “We can't stop growing our movement now. We've never had a better opportunity to shape our future -- and just like during the election, we'll do it from the bottom up.”
Greg is currently conducting throughout this state a series of “Listening Tour meetings,” during which organizers discuss lessons learned during the general campaign and hear citizens’ ideas for improvement.
Currently none of these meetings is scheduled for Newark, but there is one in Zanesville on May 19. Sign-up and info sheet is at this link. The contact is Michell Domke, 614 221 6563.
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I check the White House blog almost daily. From it I get the unfiltered (by media reporters and gatekeepers), precise, and well-written facts about what Mr. Obama is doing and why. I highly recommend it to anyone who cares about this country and how it’s being run.
It was at this site on April 15, 2009, that the President and the Vice President published their tax returns. Here’s the link to that blog.
Today’s blog entry explains the President’s rationale for ending torture by the CIA. Yesterday, there was a report about his first cabinet meeting and how the he is waving money on behalf of taxpayers. Here’s the White House fact sheet on that.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Here comes Obama on criminal aliens
Today President Obama began testing the waters on his plan to legalize the criminal aliens who’ve overrun the United States. Will you buy it, citizen? And if so, what kind of soft-shoe dance by Washington will it require?
For me, he can test us and finagle his voter base and define these people as victims all he chooses. They are criminals because they are in this country illegally. They should be sent back home.
Anything else, and the Presidential honeymoon is over.
Further, as I wrote 7/5/07, Criminal aliens: The losers are Mexico and Mexicans the losers will continue to be Mexico and Mexicans. For other essays and links, go to the box above and search “aliens.”
For me, he can test us and finagle his voter base and define these people as victims all he chooses. They are criminals because they are in this country illegally. They should be sent back home.
Anything else, and the Presidential honeymoon is over.
Further, as I wrote 7/5/07, Criminal aliens: The losers are Mexico and Mexicans the losers will continue to be Mexico and Mexicans. For other essays and links, go to the box above and search “aliens.”
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
If you’re middle class...
or just a middle-class wannabe, you can ask your question of the President, or tell him what’s bothering you and how he can help by making contact through the Middle class task force at this link.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Green jobs are coming - whatever they may be
“Green” is to be adored these days, so it’s little wonder that “green jobs” are to be revered and they are coming at us.
If you’re a working stiff, you should want one; if you’re a government grunt or an entrepreneur you should want to provide them. It’s the thing to do because, for one thing, it appears the force of Obama will be behind you.
There’s something new called “The Middle Class Task Force” and that’s a catchy name. “Middle class,” is almost as good as “green,” now that the Republicans have been sidelined.
So when it came up this morning on the White House Blog I followed the link from there to the page about it’s meeting 2/27/09 in Philadelphia because it said, these folks were trying to “figure out how to make sure that our recovery from the current economic crisis benefits the middle class.”
The links on that page will provide an interesting read to anyone who wants to look into the future and learn about the forces beginning to take hold.
You can read the Task Force's first full report. If you do, you may be struck, as was I, with the realization that nobody knows what a green job is. In fact, the report itself says “There is no official or even widely-accepted definition of what constitutes a green job. This is not necessarily a disadvantage, as we seek to provide a broad, ‘lay-of-the-land’ survey in this report. However, to have a coherent discussion about green jobs, we need to define some characteristics that broadly define them.”
No matter what they turn out to be, we’re going to have them - because, by golly, America is now green and middle-class.
If you’re a working stiff, you should want one; if you’re a government grunt or an entrepreneur you should want to provide them. It’s the thing to do because, for one thing, it appears the force of Obama will be behind you.
There’s something new called “The Middle Class Task Force” and that’s a catchy name. “Middle class,” is almost as good as “green,” now that the Republicans have been sidelined.
So when it came up this morning on the White House Blog I followed the link from there to the page about it’s meeting 2/27/09 in Philadelphia because it said, these folks were trying to “figure out how to make sure that our recovery from the current economic crisis benefits the middle class.”
The links on that page will provide an interesting read to anyone who wants to look into the future and learn about the forces beginning to take hold.
You can read the Task Force's first full report. If you do, you may be struck, as was I, with the realization that nobody knows what a green job is. In fact, the report itself says “There is no official or even widely-accepted definition of what constitutes a green job. This is not necessarily a disadvantage, as we seek to provide a broad, ‘lay-of-the-land’ survey in this report. However, to have a coherent discussion about green jobs, we need to define some characteristics that broadly define them.”
No matter what they turn out to be, we’re going to have them - because, by golly, America is now green and middle-class.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Obama is indeed a President of the people
I've waited my entire adult life to hear a U.S. President say these words and mean it:
"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this:
"So am I."
Read the entire speech here.
"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this:
"So am I."
Read the entire speech here.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Obama's presidency is a breath of fresh air
The longer the presidency of Mr. Obama, the more I am convinced that he will be the one to bring to that office accountability and transparency, as he promised to do - the antithesis of Bush and the others before him.
Today he brought on-line a web site called recovery.gov and here you can learn where the "stimulus" money is going. This is the way Mr. Obama introduced it:
"Recovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going. There are going to be a few different ways to search for information. The money is being distributed by Federal agencies, and soon you'll be able to see where it's going -- to which states, to which congressional districts, even to which Federal contractors. As soon as we are able to, we'll display that information visually in maps, charts, and graphics."
Also, there's a feedback link where folks can share how the Recovery Act affects them.
What a wonderful, amazing breath of fresh air.
Today he brought on-line a web site called recovery.gov and here you can learn where the "stimulus" money is going. This is the way Mr. Obama introduced it:
"Recovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going. There are going to be a few different ways to search for information. The money is being distributed by Federal agencies, and soon you'll be able to see where it's going -- to which states, to which congressional districts, even to which Federal contractors. As soon as we are able to, we'll display that information visually in maps, charts, and graphics."
Also, there's a feedback link where folks can share how the Recovery Act affects them.
What a wonderful, amazing breath of fresh air.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Media racists can't ignore the color of skin
Today's achievement by Barack Obama is lessened considerably by racist overtones painted upon it by the media herd that refuses to let go of the fact that our President's skin is not white.
Consider the lead on this morning's AP inaugural wrap-up: "Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasps the reins of power as America's first black president..."
But at the mention of Bush, five paragraphs later, failed to identify him as white, though he's about as white (on the outside) as anyone can get.
Anyway, Mr. Obama is not "black" and only half "African American." If AP really cares what Mr. Obama is, it would take a few seconds to find, as I did, exactly what he is at Wikipedia where AP might be surprised to learn that of his parents, Mr. Obama said: "my father ... was black as pitch, my mother white as milk."
Kind of disappointing, huh, racist media?
I wrote 8/30/08 about the inequitable treatment between skin colors of blackness and whiteness as the racist media reported on the affairs of Obama and McCain. Here's a little part of that essay (The whiteness of McCain eludes media):
"Will the Advocate have a story on the whiteness of McCain? How proud whites are that he's a candidate? Nobody is whiter than McCain. Do you think you're doing blacks a favor by keeping the race issue up front? Will there ever be a time when media will let America forget the various colors of skin, none of which, by the way, are black or white?"
That America is as race conscious as ever is not the fault of you or me, not the fault of the NAACP nor any number of idiot white supremacists. It is the fault of that ignorant herd of racists in the media that simply cannot get past the color of skin.
Consider the lead on this morning's AP inaugural wrap-up: "Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasps the reins of power as America's first black president..."
But at the mention of Bush, five paragraphs later, failed to identify him as white, though he's about as white (on the outside) as anyone can get.
Anyway, Mr. Obama is not "black" and only half "African American." If AP really cares what Mr. Obama is, it would take a few seconds to find, as I did, exactly what he is at Wikipedia where AP might be surprised to learn that of his parents, Mr. Obama said: "my father ... was black as pitch, my mother white as milk."
Kind of disappointing, huh, racist media?
I wrote 8/30/08 about the inequitable treatment between skin colors of blackness and whiteness as the racist media reported on the affairs of Obama and McCain. Here's a little part of that essay (The whiteness of McCain eludes media):
"Will the Advocate have a story on the whiteness of McCain? How proud whites are that he's a candidate? Nobody is whiter than McCain. Do you think you're doing blacks a favor by keeping the race issue up front? Will there ever be a time when media will let America forget the various colors of skin, none of which, by the way, are black or white?"
That America is as race conscious as ever is not the fault of you or me, not the fault of the NAACP nor any number of idiot white supremacists. It is the fault of that ignorant herd of racists in the media that simply cannot get past the color of skin.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Here we go with gun control again
I voted for Obama, though with many reservations - among which is his history of voting for gun control. So here it is, more than two months before his inauguration and the opening volleys have been launched.
Obama's web site on 11/7/08 announced a plan to hit the Second Amendment with four whacks and the NRA, which had warned for many months that Obama was an enemy to gun owners, is going ballistic.
I read somewhere the day after the election that the Democratic Party Agenda could proceed. Not the American agenda, not the needs of the people who voted for this man, but the Democratic Party Agenda. Likely this gun threat came from party flacks, because it wasn't Obama being quoted.
So this thing which appeared on Obama's web site that flipped out NRA may also have been the Party's idea and the reason I think that is because this page had been pulled from the site this morning when I tried to access it. That may be reversed by the time you read this.
Before its disappearance the NRA captured it in pdf format and you can read it here.
If Obama proceeds against gun owners - as NRA members believe he will - there will be a mighty rift - an even mightier rift - among Americans as the new President comes out of the gate.
Obama's web site on 11/7/08 announced a plan to hit the Second Amendment with four whacks and the NRA, which had warned for many months that Obama was an enemy to gun owners, is going ballistic.
I read somewhere the day after the election that the Democratic Party Agenda could proceed. Not the American agenda, not the needs of the people who voted for this man, but the Democratic Party Agenda. Likely this gun threat came from party flacks, because it wasn't Obama being quoted.
So this thing which appeared on Obama's web site that flipped out NRA may also have been the Party's idea and the reason I think that is because this page had been pulled from the site this morning when I tried to access it. That may be reversed by the time you read this.
Before its disappearance the NRA captured it in pdf format and you can read it here.
If Obama proceeds against gun owners - as NRA members believe he will - there will be a mighty rift - an even mightier rift - among Americans as the new President comes out of the gate.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Obama victory is now certain
On December 14, 2007 I announced that Obama would win (You read it here first: Obama will win).
I based that prediction on the fact that Oprah had anointed him with her endorsement.
Today I can confirm that I was right because today I am joined by the kids who vote in the Weekly Reader poll.
They gave Obama 54.7 percent of the vote, McCain 42.9 percent and others 2.5 percent. Obama won 420 electoral college votes from 33 states, including Ohio and McCain's home state of Arizona, and McCain got 118 electoral votes from 17 states.
Weekly Reader kids have accurately predicted winners in 12 of the past 13 presidential elections.
I based that prediction on the fact that Oprah had anointed him with her endorsement.
Today I can confirm that I was right because today I am joined by the kids who vote in the Weekly Reader poll.
They gave Obama 54.7 percent of the vote, McCain 42.9 percent and others 2.5 percent. Obama won 420 electoral college votes from 33 states, including Ohio and McCain's home state of Arizona, and McCain got 118 electoral votes from 17 states.
Weekly Reader kids have accurately predicted winners in 12 of the past 13 presidential elections.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
I'm voting against urinary incontinence and vaginal discharge
Against the better judgement of the NRA and a bunch of other conservative groups I believe in, I'm voting for Obama. I think I made that decision long before I knew who Democrats would put up against the Bushies. I think I made that decision just after President Bush was re-elected and began revealing his true nature.
I don't care who it is, I would vote for McCain's opponent because after you cut through the bull, there's just another George Bush with God knows what real agenda, smiling and making empty promises.
What a laugh, this guy. He spent the past two decades contributing as a Senator to the screwing of Americans by Washington. Now he's running on a platform of "change."
I wish Obama came from a different milieu than from Chicago's Democrat-party machine. The damage his liberal ideals could bring to the country really bothers me.
But I am willing to risk that against the chance that he will bring relief to a nation oppressed by Washington's special-interest groups, the ones who have bought our Congress and our Presidency including, in my opinion, John McCain.
I think Obama has the courage and the will to bring back America's middle class and make us feel good about ourselves again. That, alone, is worth the risk on the other issues. And if he doesn't, well, it's still likely to be much better than anymore raping of America by Bush/McCain.
To emphasize how different he wants us to believe his administration would be, McCain imports a moose-hunting, sex pot, soccer mom from Alaska with heavy ties to the oil industry who would receive on-the-job training as a potential President - the one who might assume the world's most difficult and critical responsibilities, complete with the power, for God's sake, to send our children to another war based on a personal whim and ambition, as did Bush.
That's most scary of all. Sarah Palin is 44 and menopause could begin at any time. Any man who's ever been subjected to a woman in menopause ought to be shuddering at the thought of the U.S. President with hot flashes, nausea, headaches, insomnia, urinary incontinence, vaginal discharge, breast changes, thinning of the skin, bone loss, and weight gain, all of which are listed as menopausal symptoms at eMedicineHealth.
If nothing else might have swung me to Obama, that in itself would do the trick.
I don't care who it is, I would vote for McCain's opponent because after you cut through the bull, there's just another George Bush with God knows what real agenda, smiling and making empty promises.
What a laugh, this guy. He spent the past two decades contributing as a Senator to the screwing of Americans by Washington. Now he's running on a platform of "change."
I wish Obama came from a different milieu than from Chicago's Democrat-party machine. The damage his liberal ideals could bring to the country really bothers me.
But I am willing to risk that against the chance that he will bring relief to a nation oppressed by Washington's special-interest groups, the ones who have bought our Congress and our Presidency including, in my opinion, John McCain.
I think Obama has the courage and the will to bring back America's middle class and make us feel good about ourselves again. That, alone, is worth the risk on the other issues. And if he doesn't, well, it's still likely to be much better than anymore raping of America by Bush/McCain.
To emphasize how different he wants us to believe his administration would be, McCain imports a moose-hunting, sex pot, soccer mom from Alaska with heavy ties to the oil industry who would receive on-the-job training as a potential President - the one who might assume the world's most difficult and critical responsibilities, complete with the power, for God's sake, to send our children to another war based on a personal whim and ambition, as did Bush.
That's most scary of all. Sarah Palin is 44 and menopause could begin at any time. Any man who's ever been subjected to a woman in menopause ought to be shuddering at the thought of the U.S. President with hot flashes, nausea, headaches, insomnia, urinary incontinence, vaginal discharge, breast changes, thinning of the skin, bone loss, and weight gain, all of which are listed as menopausal symptoms at eMedicineHealth.
If nothing else might have swung me to Obama, that in itself would do the trick.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
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