October 16, 2009 04:00 AM
Mike's Blog Roundup
Talking Points Memo: New Ambassador Needed
First Draft: The last time you trusted a politician
Greg Palast: "Medical Loss Ratio" [MLR] is the fancy term used by health insurance companies for their slice, their take-out, their pound of flesh, their gross - very gross - profit.
The Plum Line: GOP Rep again accuses gay Obama advisor of covering up child abuse - even though his office was infromed the charge is false
Corrente: Leading Blue Dog suggests opening up Medicare for everyone
TheZoo: GOP blocks another attempt to extend unemployment benefits
Of course upon reading what "The Blue Dog" said, there's that ol' sticky word again...ELIGIBLE.
If the person is "eligible" to join one of the magic "Exchanges".
THEY ARE PREPARING A HEALTH CARE BILL THAT WILL BE DESPOTIC AND DISCRIMINATORY!!!
If this legislation gets signed into law there will be a backlash in this country against it sooooo huge that it will make Rahm Emanuel's head spin. He might even start stuttering or break out in hives.
Those "Don't Tread On Me" flags are sellin' like some fine hotcakes drippin' in warm maple syrup.
I'm still sticking with my mantra: Single Payer!! H.R. 676! Medicare for All!!
Keep it simple stupid...and FAIR and NON-DISCRIMINATORY!! and AFFORDABLE!
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
I'm with you there even tho it will never benefit me since I left the USofBLOODYISRAEL.
Israel's Ambassador should be expelled as a representative of a criminal state.
Soon the ICU will be hearing arguments against the Israeli government and military and deciding on who is a war criminal and who isn't, wonder what the US will say about this?
Will be the only three countries in the world to fight this.
And on another note, why is it that the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton are so quick to demand "sanctions" against Iran which is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty because we "think" they may be creating "a" nuclear weapon, when Israel is KNOWN to possess at least 200 nuclear weapons, refuses inspections!! and refuses to be a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty???
Could someone please riddle me this??
Thank you soooo much.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
.....................should be thrown out of the USofBLOODYISRAEL since they are ALWAYS meddling in domestic affairs, Jane Harmon comes to mind, LIEberman, too. USofBLOODYISRAEL pays for the universal healthcare of BLOODYISRAEL, but at home???? HELL NO!
Bye-bye Arctic ice cap - http://www.grist.org/article/2009-10-15-study...
Polar researchers predict that the Arctic ice cap will vanish completely in the summer months within 20-30 years, sounding the alarm just two months before the critical climate change summit in Copenhagen.
Profiles in Extinctionist/Denier/'skeptic' Stupidity: If it’s Not Evil, Fraser Institute should open its books - http://www.desmogblog.com/if-it%E2%80%99s-not...
This also tracks with a longer record of climate change contrarianism on the Institute’s behalf. It has frequently promoted speakers who deny or minimize the likely effects of climate change, and it sponsored a major attack on the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Although not forthcoming about the source of its funding, the Institute is also known to be a frequent recipient of grants from the fossil fuel industry. For instance, they have received $120,000 from oil giant ExxonMobil for work on climate change. The Fraser Institute has often called on government to increase openness and transparency – whether of Labour Relations Boards, Hospitals, or Schools - so such transparency should also be followed by the Fraser Institute.
“We’ve been following these guys for years”, said Kevin Grandia, managing editor of the climate change website DeSmogBlog.com. “Whenever someone says climate change is nothing to worry about, we ask three questions: 1) Are they a scientist?
2) If so, are they conducting and publishing research in the field (or have they ever)? 3) Are they receiving funding from the fossil fuel industry? In four years of research, we’ve hardly found anyone who can pass that test, and certainly no one who is associated with the Fraser Institute.”
The Fraser Institute and the producers of this film have shown in the past their willingness to produce a pro-industry message, trumped up as an independent analysis, Hoggan said. Reporters should be asking who is paying for the production and promotion of this film. We should have a right to know if fossil fuel companies are behind this ongoing campaign, this inflammatory attack on accepted science.
Hey, climate activists: quit being so damn polite! - http://www.grist.org/article/2009-10-14-the-a...
Where is the passion? Global climate disruption threatens life as we know it, but climate activists respond with tepid talk of parts per million and industrial "solutions." We need a passionate response to the climate crisis, argues Adam D. Sacks.
Sounds good to us! Leading Blue Dog suggests opening Medicare to uninsured - http://thehill.com/homenews/house/63281-leadi...
Tracking the Intelligence level of the 'modern day' con-servative: GOP Senator Called "Half-a-Sissy," "Wussypants," "Asshat" for Supporting Clean Energy Reform
- http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/gop-s...
He is a self-hater....but once again...the con-servatives show that science and reality are not even on their radar...waste of existence....
More Heat Than Light in Climate Change Denial - http://www.tonic.com/article/more-heat-than-l...
Extinctionists/Deniers/'skeptics' are all worthless....I only wish we could use their stupidity to power the world, energy crisis over....for millenia....
Attention Extinctionists/Deniers/'skeptics' & moron con-servatives STFU: Green Jobs: Now Better Paying than Non-Green Jobs
- http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/green...
LONG OVERDUE: EPA to Clamp Down on Water Polluters - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/epa-c...
It was a pretty ugly realization that some coal plants had over 30 violations of the Clean Water Act on their records--and had gone entirely unfined and unpunished. So this comes as good news; that the EPA is paying attention and reassessing its shortcomings.
Dumping of hazardous & deadly chemicals into water supplies of millions of people over the years...needs to catch up with them....and they need to pay through the nose...
Germany: Unveiling Our Energy Future Before Our Eyes And Putting the Power Back In Our Hands - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/germa...
We need to pass healthcare...because the other bill that will fix our economy is in waiting... This is a jobs bill...don't let any con-servative paper money loving moron tell you other wise...
This should surprise no one: The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released a copy of a long-suppressed report by officials in the George W. Bush administration concluding that, based on the science, the government should begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions because global warming posed serious risks to the country.
- http://theangryliberal.blogspot.com/2009/10/t...
You have to wonder how many other findings exist (not just about the environment) that the prior administration decided to suppress and that we'll eventually learn about during Obama's time in office. We really did have sort of a corporatist dictator for eight years.
So much time wasted by idiots that believe in fairytales & storytelling...but not reality & science backed up by empirical data which has been peer reviewed hundreds of times over... It truly is science vs stupidity...
Con-servative 'News' Network: CNN Admits That On-Air Commentator Has Ties To Insurance Industry, Promises Full Disclosure
- http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-m...
I find it absolutely hysterical that 'moderates' & 'centrists' still actually believe that CNN 'calls it down the middle'....obviously doing their homework isn't a priority... Reality has a liberal 'bias'....
The war on 'Happy Feet - still coked up' Beck - http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1009/T...
PEER: USDA AND EPA PUSHING COAL ASH FOR GROWING CROPS — Toxic Contamination Risks Spread through Soil and Fertilizer Applications - http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1266
According to EPA, agriculture annually uses more than 180,000 tons of coal ash and other coal combustion byproducts. There are no federal standards governing agricultural applications of coal ash. EPA has publicly vowed to promulgate hazardous waste rules by the end of 2009 for coal ash, one year after last December’s disastrous coal ash spills from Tennessee Valley Authority sludge ponds.
“The public does not want its food to come from ‘industrial material recycling’ any more than it wants coal-flavored cauliflower,” Ruch added. “This coal ash re-use campaign is really just a multi-billion dollar backdoor subsidy to the coal industry to relieve it of the true costs of handling its toxic wastes.”
So....if you're 'still' making fun of those who eat 'organic'...find a mirror...
Let’s be clear, Rush was rejected by his kind, a bunch of “rich white guys” - http://blog.windycitywatch.com/2009/10/lets-b...
Six Degrees Of Glenn "Happy Feet-University of I don't remember' Beck - http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=3138
Is Michelle Obama about to take on Big Food? - http://www.grist.org/article/is-michelle-obam...
With the White House organic garden in tow...
Pelosi makes case for government-run health option - http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/A...
Nancy we love you...you have more balls then Harry Reid has ever seen in his life....
Mystery of the Universe part 9....Why do self hating women vote Republican? Jon Stewart Takes On 30 Republicans Who Voted Against Franken Rape Amendment (VIDEO)
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/jon-...
3/4ths of the GOP....obviously have no respect for women whatsoever.... So Howard Dean is once again, proven 100% correct....
The 'Rupert' Murdoch Street Journal (formerly known as Wall Street Journal): Young Fan Asks Obama: ‘Why Does Everyone Hate You?’ - http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/10/15/youn...
Michele "Census worker's blood on my hands" Bachmann doll suffering from lagging sales. - http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/14/bachmann-...
The Connecticut-based toy company HeroBuilders has sold only 50 copies of the unlicensed action figure since its release on Sept. 25.
“I’ll tell you this, she’s no Sarah Palin,” said Emil Vicale, CEO of HeroBuilders. The sales of the high-priced Bachmann doll (retail price: $34.95) pale in comparison to the Palin action figure, which sold 10,000 units within 24 hours of its launch.
So by con-servatives 'standards'....doesn't that make them gay to 'play with dolls'??????
We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children - Native American proverb
If being cold means there's no such thing as global warming, does being full mean there's no such thing as world hunger?
You wonder why they they have health care on the news 24/7. They do not want you to see just what WalStreet is doing. This will never get on TV:http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/22855#comment
What do you mean, " We really did have sort of a corporatist dictator for eight years."
"Sort of"???
Oh! Which reminds me....
Torture still on-going.
Health care reform includes mandates, fines/penalties, possible prison for non-payment to the IRS of fines, is discriminatory
Wall Street still dealing in exotic instruments and dangerous derivatives
Climate Change Legislation on the "back burner"
More troops to Afghanistan. Higher troop levels now in Iraq and Afghanistan than when Bush was Prez.
Cheney/Bush running free and golfing (war criminals)
Congress ignoring their constituents calls for a "Medicare for All" health care reform
Congress bought and paid for by big corporate donors
Still no answers to hundreds of PERTINENT unanswered questions regarding the events on 9/11/01.
Anybody who'd like, go ahead and add to the list.
Just remember...."We need to look to the future and not to the past". -Barack Obama
Just asking RWH....what's good for the goose is good for the gander? Right?
"Change" we can believe in?
Oh, and here's this too:
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/20...
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
I'm not firmly 'entrenched' in Obama's corner....
I worked for his campaign here, he's from my hometown/place of birth...
But I've never, ever been under the impression/illusion that he is a progressive...
I'm a (and there many here that can back this up) progressive/liberal through and through to my core...
To answer your questions (and when did I put "We really did have sort of a corporatist dictator for eight years?????) if you can repost that I'll give you my cats....
Torture still on-going. I'm a proud member of the ACLU & Human Rights Watch...do I really have to explain any further????
Health care reform includes mandates, fines/penalties, possible prison for non-payment to the IRS of fines, is discriminatory When have I ever said other wise, I'm a democratic socialist along the lines of Bernie Sanders.....if it were up to me...we'd have universal coverage/medicare for all..... And in case you hadn't noticed...I've repeatedly slammed the Dems for blowing the frame on this...they should have started with single payer and held their ground....
Wall Street still dealing in exotic instruments and dangerous derivatives I've been talking about this since 2006....I'll be happy to repost this for you....
Climate Change Legislation on the "back burner" Seriously..you haven't been reading my posts.... There hasn't been a DAY since I started posting here back in 03 when I haven't posted a story about this....this is the cause of my life
More troops to Afghanistan. Higher troop levels now in Iraq and Afghanistan than when Bush was Prez. Did you miss my Vietghanistan post two days ago???? My father & grandfather are both wounded vets and lifelong dems...trust me....I have always maintained that this 'war on terror' is Cheney & Big Oil's geopolitical energy endgame...
Cheney/Bush running free and golfing (war criminals) Do you really have to point this out??? You really haven't read my posts...
Congress ignoring their constituents calls for a "Medicare for All" health care reform See above....
Congress bought and paid for by big corporate donars I've advocated for publicly financed elections since 2000 and instant run off voting shortly thereafter.... 2000 was my political reawakening...
Still no answers to hundreds of PERTINENT unanswered questions regarding the events on 9/11/01. I'm with you....the reason I don't post on this anymore is because Jon Amato & the board mods have ASKED US not to....and I'm abiding by their wishes.... Did you purchase Loose Change? 1 & 2?? I did...
So...are you suggesting I'm 'pimping' for Obama...have you read any of my other posts??? I call him out when he's wrong and praise him when he's right...like a true progressive, we continue to question everything, but realize we need to support him when he does something right and call him out when he's wrong...unlike con-servatives that always 'stand by their man'...
If we need to discuss this further...lets do it via e-mail....
We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children - Native American proverb
If being cold means there's no such thing as global warming, does being full mean there's no such thing as world hunger?
Here's where I picked up the "sort of" comment up above my post:
"This should surprise no one: The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released a copy of a long-suppressed report by officials in the George W. Bush administration concluding that, based on the science, the government should begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions because global warming posed serious risks to the country.
- http://theangryliberal.blogspot.com/2009/10/t...
You have to wonder how many other findings exist (not just about the environment) that the prior administration decided to suppress and that we'll eventually learn about during Obama's time in office. We really did have sort of a corporatist dictator for eight years."
I guess my point here was not to question your Progressive roots...they are obvious, and I get a lot from all your posts (when I can stay up late enough at night to read them...I'm in The Berkshires).
My point was that I don't see that much of a change from Bush to Obama vis-a-vis the list I posted.
I worked for Obama too. I have all the cell phone texts saved from a year ago to prove it (and VISA debits!)
I'm just not seeing change "I" can believe in.
And BTW, if I am right that you did write "sort of" a corporatist dictator, I'd really love to have all your cats, but I just had to euthanize my dog of 11 years 2 days ago and I'm about to go on a cross country trip back to L.A. with an African Grey parrot and my ONE cat I have left, Baby Daughter. So, keep the cats! Enjoy!
But let's do email! (I need your addy).
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
I tell you what this country is crap, all the rules and laws in place to protect corporations and not the people. Our policys are dictated by corporate profits.
I am still trying to get help with my back, seems it will take 6-10 years before I can get the surgery needed. This is from an accident at work, a profesional mechanic with full coverage health insurence. Denied help. Reminds me of the Kucinich video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DII7v8yeRjs
6 months for some cancers, oh how horrible. 6-10 years for back surgery with corporate health care, and a nazi government.
http://www.oip.com/
These people won't help me because I have a disability lawyer??
I asked the girl on the phone what country is this? She said United States of America, I told her it is not and thanks for nothing.
Should I go to India?
I am going to be put in jail so soon, whats going to happen to me if a 300lb guy jumps on me and twists me around? Will I be paralized because the disks in my back are gone? Will my spinal column snap easier?
As I recall from the beginning of "Sicko" a guy was talking about how his daughter? was being denied care, so he contacted Michael Moore and told the insurance company that and PRESTO!!!, the care was approved.
I don't know what the solution is to your problem, but as a nurse I know you need proper medical attention for your back now, not in 6-10 years.
Write your whole story and fax it to Rep. Anthony Weiner, Rep. Henry Waxman, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Alan Grayson, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Amy Goodman and Bill Moyers.
Your dilemma is a CLASSIC example of why we need Medicare for All.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
worth millions . .
.
I can just imagine the "copy cat" stunts now....just to cash in.
Capitalism at its finest.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
I'm kidding
about 5-6 yrs ago , had a guy who tied a 3-4 or there abouts weather ballons to a lounge chair , he shot up ( as i recall ) to around 15,000 ft . Airline and other pilots called into air traffic control reporting seeing this guy with a 6 pk and a rifle ( pellet gun ? ) after a couple of hours he shot 1 or 2 of the ballons to land .
every time you throw a little mud , you lose a little ground .
it's too easy...
http://rawstory.com/2009/10/fox-news-host-tri...
Great piece by Palast.
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