Saturday, September 19, 2009

CNN and Fox News going at each other.... (Video)

If you have not seen this, Rick Sanchez slamming Fox for slamming, well the rest of the media....



Now, CNN has an ad up going after Fox News....



Ah, let the games begin.....

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Talk about low down, John Edwards

I guess that Edwards is about to announce that he is Rielle Hunter's baby daddy. Big Whoop, we already knew this when the affair story started flourishing about. But this from the NY Times is just straight up wrong.

The notion that Mr. Edwards is the father has been reinforced by the account of Andrew Young, once a close aide to Mr. Edwards, who had signed an affidavit asserting that he was the father of Ms. Hunter’s child.

Mr. Young, who has since renounced that statement, has told publishers in a book proposal that Mr. Edwards knew all along that he was the child’s father. He said Mr. Edwards pleaded with him to accept responsibility falsely, saying that would reduce the story to one of a political aide’s infidelity.

In the proposal, which The New York Times examined, Mr. Young asserts that he assisted the affair by setting up private meetings between Mr. Edwards and Ms. Hunter. He wrote that Mr. Edwards once calmed an anxious Ms. Hunter by promising her that after his wife died, he would marry her in a rooftop ceremony in New York with an appearance by the Dave Matthews Band.

Is that low down or what? Again, glad the Democrats dodged this bullet.

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Oh, WOW, Joe "You LIE" Wilson is choked with tears (Video)

Again, I am waiting to see those quarterly reports, especially since he is stating he raise up to 2M since he called President Obama a liar.



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In case you missed it: Rachel Maddow nails South Carolina's hypocrisy (Video)

Her findings? At the tail end of all of these quality-of-life measures are various Southern states. And the worst among them? Mississippi and South Carolina! And hey, speaking of South Carolina, isn't that where some of America's Next Top Health Care Reform Obstructionists come from? Why, yes! That's where you will encounter Jim "Waterloo" DeMint and Joe "Will Forte Correctly Captured You As A Cringing Milquetoast, Didn't He?" Wilson in their natural habitats.



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President Obama's Weekly Address, September 19, 2009 (Video and Transcript)

With the next G20 Summit approaching in Pittsburgh, the President goes over the progress in stemming a global economic crisis. He discusses the impact of the Recovery Act, and pledges that “lobbyists for big Wall Street banks” will not prevent real reform for the future, including a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. September 19, 2009. YouTube



Transcript

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Friday, September 18, 2009

Michelle Obama jumps into the health care game (Video)

With everything that is going on, women's health issues are critical in the health care debate. Women do have more issues than men, primarily because we GIVE BIRTH, to start. The recent revelations that many health care insurance companies are stating that C-Sections are a "pre-existing condition" should have every woman in this country livid. I always felt that Michelle Obama should have been talking directly to women and families long time ago, but I am glad to see her jump in the game, now.

Health care reform "is very much a women's issue," a part of the feminist movement, First Lady Michelle Obama told a group of women's rights activists today.

"If we want to achieve true equality for women ... then we have to reform the system," she said.

Women, she said, pay more for insurance while earning less and are more likely to work part-time or for small companies that don't offer health insurance. On top of that, she said, eight in 10 women are responsible for the health care of their children and their spouses, and sometimes their aging parents.

"Women play a unique and increasingly significant role in our families. We know the pain, because we are usually the ones dealing with it," Obama said. She spoke of when her daughter Sasha had meningitis -- "We were terrified" -- and how her father had multiple sclerosis.

"What would we have done, as a family ... if my father hadn't had insurance?" she said.


PART ONE


PART TWO

Transcript

Source

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This is what I don't like about the Obama White House and Big PhRma

Candidate Barack Obama campaigned on the big drug giveaways of the Bush Administration with Medicare D, but now the Obama White House has done the same thing that the Bush Administration did; negotiate away the option of purchasing cheaper drugs outside of the United States.

I don't know if any one out there has relatives, friends that can not afford prescription drugs, but I do.

This is one reason why many are skeptical of what this White House will do, because they were not forthcoming in this BigPhrma deal, remember they said it was not true, only to have to fess up that the sweetheart deal was made in the heat of the night. Not much for transperency, here. Since Senator Max Baucus' bill is now out in the open, in the bill is just about VERBATIM, the deal that he and the White House made with Big PhRma.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America senior vice president Ken Johnson said that the outline "is simply not accurate." White House spokesman Reid Cherlin concurred: "This memo isn't accurate and does not reflect the agreement with the drug companies."

But now that the bill is out, let's fact check those denials.

The memo also listed four things the committee and the White House agreed to keep out of the bill.

1) Drug makers wanted Baucus and the White House to block Democratic efforts to allow cheaper drugs to be shipped in from Canada. There's nothing in the finance bill that allows that. Check.

2) Some Democrats wanted PhRMA to give the federal government rebates for what it considered past excess charges; the memo says the White House agreed to oppose those rebates, and the bill doesn't include any. Check.

3) As agreed, the bill does not overturn a GOP law -- pushed originally by chief pharmaceutical lobbyist Billy Tauzin, when he was in Congress -- that bans the government from negotiating for cheaper prescription drug prices. Check.

4) Democrats wanted to shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Part D, a move PhRMA opposed because it would reduce reimbursement rates. The administration agreed not to include that provision, according to the memo, and it's not in the Baucus bill. Check.

Performing any kind of reform must include the pharmecutical industry. This industry, like the health care industry, has been gouging Americans for years. Candidate Obama campaigned for the very abuse of this industry, including calling out the Medicare D bill by the Bush Administration that forces no negotiating for cheaper drugs prices outside of the United States.

In the end, we will get a bill, but what kind of bill? If it is a sham bill, a bill the White House will settle for and call it reform, they are in for a rude awakening. This tactic would have worked in the 1990s during the Clinton fight, but not today. There is too much information at a stroke of a key, to dispute a sham bill. Also, the notion of settling for anything, may not work either. Remember, Barack Obama and the Democrats were put in office for CHANGE, if they don't bring major change to this health care bill, loss of support will be imminent.

Source

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Dylan Ratigan nails Republican strategist for NO IDEAS for America (Video)

Brad Blakeman said, "...wait for the election..."

Again, we can argue about the Democrats until the sun comes home, the Republican Party has been destructive and have brought absolutely nothing to the table. Until they have solid ideas, the campaign of personal destruction just may not work in 2010.



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The Heat is on: Tell Blanche Lincoln and Mike Ross to Act Like Democrats (Video)

These Blue Dogs who have had a cushy job in congress acting Republican-Lite, their time is coming up. Target Arkansas. Politicians, Blanche Lincoln and Mike Ross will not vote for a public option, though their state is up to 80% for it. Whose payroll are these two listening to? You got it, insurance lobbyists.



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C-Sections now are pre-existing conditions

These insurance companies are about NOTHING. But the public is to believe they will do the right thing for the customer? Obama White House and Congress take notice. How many women do you know who had to have a C-Section? And now insurance companies are stating that if you had one child, having another child is by choice, and then they throw the ready made rescission at you by denying your claim and throwing you out of your insurance plan!!

Every woman in this country should be OUTRAGED.

n fact, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 14 states have a requirement for such coverage, and the number of plans without maternity coverage continues to rise dramatically. Why? Anthem Blue Cross — which has been actively fighting health care reform — considers pregnancy optional and therefore not necessary to insure:

“The point of insurance is to insure against catastrophic care costs. That’s what you’re trying to aggregate and pool for such things as heart attacks and cancer,” said an Anthem Blue Cross spokesman. “Having a child is a matter of choice. Dealing with an adult onset illness, such as diabetes, heart disease breast or prostate cancer, is not a matter of choice.”

If you are not mad at this, you should be. Child birth is natural, some women have problems, but to punish a woman who had a C-Section prior and may again is downright wrong.

This is what the American Public has had to deal with over the years with these low down insurance companies. Again, these teabaggers, racists, whatever you call them are taking up for THIS?? The status quo??? Does the right wing of the Republican Party, who harbors "LIFE”, condone this very behavior of insurance companies towards women? And you are standing with the insurance companies on this?

Republicans, y'all need to get your priorities straight. Democrats in D.C., get a clue and spine and do the right thing.

Clarence Page

Source

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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Medal of Honor for Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti presented by President Obama (Video)

President Obama presents Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti with the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. Washington D.C., September 17, 2009.



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These insurance companies are some low down mother phuckers.

This is what happened in California 2009 with denied claims, so far:

* PacifiCare -- 39.6 percent

* Cigna -- 32.7 percent

* HealthNet -- 30 percent

* Kaiser Permanente -- 28.3 percent

* Blue Cross -- 27.9 percent

* Aetna -- 6.4 percent


This is the real death panels, insurance companies. *Note: these are claim denials with PacifiCare at 40%, that is almost 50% in denials. That should worry MANY.

This is why a solid, robust government driven public option must be in the final passage of ANY HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL.

I don't know if this has been diaried, I have not looked, but we can not read it enough.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered an insurance company to pay $10 million for wrongly revoking the insurance policy of a 17-year-old college student after he tested positive for HIV. The court called the 2002 decision by the insurance company "reprehensible."

That appears to be the most an insurance company has ever been ordered to pay in a case involving the practice known as rescission, in which insurance companies retroactively cancel coverage for policyholders based on alleged misstatements - sometimes right after diagnoses of life-threatening diseases.

The ruling emerges from a conservative Southern state with one of the most pro-business climates in the country. And it comes as progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill are pressing for health care reforms, such as a public insurance option, that reflect wariness about the private insurance industry's motives.

These insurance companies don't give a DAMN, repeat DAMN, about you, yours, mines and ours. That is just a fact. And this ruling comes from one of the most conservative states in the union, South Carolina. Now if this state can grapple with the real deal of these low down insurance companies, why the HELL CAN'T CONGRESS.

I find it incomprehensible that some mother phuckin' bean counter whose SOLE PURPOSE OF EXISTENCE is to rescission our asses to NO COVERAGE. For THIS, these bean counters get bonuses and huge ones.
During the case, evidence emerged that Health Net had paid bonuses to employees to reward them based on the number of policyholders they had rescinded. The judge who awarded Bates the $9 million said in his decision: "It's difficult to imagine a policy more reprehensible than tying bonuses to encourage the rescission of health insurance that keeps the public well and alive.

Well, there you have it.

What else needs to be said.

A young man found out he was HIV positive by giving blood, but this low down insurance company, Fortis, scourged his application, everything attached to this man's policy, found NOTHING and went on and sent him to rescission land, a.k.a, you got bounced from your insurance coverage, anyway.

I don't know how insurance companies and those complicit in congress can sleep at night. People are out here DYING, that could have been SAVED because the insurance comapanies have FAILED on every level in dealing with the American Public's health.

And we expect the insurance companies going forward to do the right thing?

WE NEED A PUBLIC OPTION, period. And yes, I don't care if these damn private companies go bankrupt!!! So damn be it.

Source

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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Senator Chuck Grassley blames OBAMA for non bipartianship in regards to health care reform

Can we gag?

Chuck Grassley, the Senator of Iowa who repeated the LIES of "death panels will kill Grandma", now is quitting and won't vote for any health care legislation.

Big Whoop.

Everyone but the White House knew what was going on for the longest. Thankfully, the White House has taken its head out of the clouds and are now looking at this realistically.

Grassley was a fraud on every level. He is a prime example of what will continue to happen in Washington, D.C., as long as Barack Obama is Commander in Chief. Any bipartianship going forward is a fantasy and I really hope the White House realizes that.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said he "resents" some of the things the administration and President Obama said and did during the August recess. In particular, Grassley took umbrage with President Obama attaching him to the death panel controversy. He said it was something he “took very personally.”

"And [I] kind of resent, that when I've been very candid with the President of the United States face to face... I leveled with him, I leveled with him," Grassley said of his conversations with President Obama. "And then we're accused by [David] Axelrod of making political things and maybe not being serious in our negotiations."

Yes, he leveled with the President by stabbing him repeatedly in the back. Going forward, forget Grassley for anything; he can not be trusted, period. Actions speak louder than words. Always have, always will.

Source

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President Obama dumps Missile Defense Shield (Video)


MSNBC Video

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The Obamas at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 32nd Annual Awards Gala (Pictures and Video)


US President Barack Obama (L) and First Lady Michelle Obama (R) wave as they arrive at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 32nd Annual Awards Gala in Washington, DC, September 16, 2009.








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Yeah, this is one cool Obama picture



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In case you missed it: President Obama speaks to GM assembly workers in Ohio (Video)

The President speaks to GM Assembly Plant Employees in Lordstown, Ohio, cheering signs of renewal in their community and pledging to keep fighting for them. September 15, 2009.


Vimeo Video

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No one likes the Baucus Insurance Welfare Bill

It is welfare for the insurance companies, who are currently pushing the Baucus plan. For them, no public option (no competition), mandates (Americans MUST purchase insurance, just like car insurance), the middle class will get hit HARD with the premiums. Now, if you are an executive for any health care insurance company, how would you feel about this? Over the moon with glee.

On the surface, it appears that no one is happy with Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) -- and that may be the best news President Obama has had in months.

Within minutes of the release of the Senate Finance Committee chairman's long-awaited health-care reform bill Wednesday, the attacks started flying. Liberal Democrats and allies, particularly labor unions, fumed. Republicans, after being courted for months, denounced the work as pure partisanship.

Baucus actually had a presser and guess who showed up from his Senate Finance Committee? NO ONE. And that bipartisanship courtship, a big ol' bust.

Is this good for the Obama White House? Yes, since they have seen the revelation that the Republicans are not voting on squat and that Baucus is a compromised politician who did not write this bill, but had his good old buddies from the insurance lobby to do so.
Howard Dean, former Democratic National Committee chairman, minced no words about Sen. Max Baucus's healthcare proposal, unveiled to the public this morning. "The Baucus bill is the worst piece of healthcare legislation I've seen in 30 years," Dean said last night at a healthcare town hall and book signing in Washington. "In fact, it's a $60 billion giveaway to the health insurance industry every year," he said. "It was written by healthcare lobbyists, so that's not a surprise. It's an outrage."

Senator Max Baucus is not a Democrat, but a Blue Dog corporatist. Health care reform or insurance reform will be the 21st Century biggest change legislation since the 1960s.

Seems to me, that many politicians that go to Washington, D.C., go there for very little change or increments and that is supposed to be ok. Unless you are wealthy, don't have to worry about health insurance, why should you care? Why should politicians care about their voters who have no insurance? They have the best that any money can buy and they know it.

It is time for many Americans to look these politicians over and say ENOUGH. Just enough of THEM. We have people dying that could be saved because some bean counter from an insurance company, who gets bonuses for denying claims, says so, overriding what an insurer's doctor's prognosis and diagnosis states. Every single American should be outraged.

And if you think that you are OK, even if you are not wealthy, think again, most Americans are NOT OKAY. Many are one job from NO HEALTH INSURANCE. That is only not fair but straight up wrong.

Lastly, all these teabaggers or whatever, mostly older Americans covered under the bosom of MEDICARE and at these protest rallies, what if the shoe was on the other foot? What about your kids or your grandkids? Health care in this country is not a privilege it is a DAMN RIGHT. And the Max Baucus' need to be defeated and removed from office, ASAP.

These type of politicians are the obstructionists, not the visionaries that is needed in this country to move forward. Blue Dogs, you are on notice.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

President Obama pushing Chicago, IL to hold 2016 Olympics (Video)

President Obama and The First Lady host Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the South Lawn of the White House. September, 16 2009. Michelle Obama will represent the United States bid in Copenhagen, October, 2009.



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President Obama's actual voice and VIDEO, calling Kanye West a "jackass" (Audio)

Yes, Kanye was a jackass. As we see, NO ONE IN THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY is coming forward to defend West's actions.

WORD.



VIDEO



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FLOTUS, Michelle Obama will be at opening of a new DC Farmers Market

Yes, FLOTUS on that eating correct tip, and we ALL SHOULD BE...

First Lady Michelle Obama will be on hand Thursday for the opening of a new farmers market a few blocks from the White House.The market in the 800 block of Vermont won a permit with an assist from the White House. Sam Kass, assistant White House chef and food initiative coordinator, spoke in favor of the market during a community meeting a few weeks ago.

Kass, who was the Obama's chef in Chicago, was instrumental in creating Mrs. Obama's White House garden. He's a fan of farmers markets; I ran into him one Saturday a few months ago checking out the produce at an open air market on U Street near 14th.

Besides Mrs. Obama, other speakers at the FRESHFARM martket will be Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

From the White House: "This market will provide fresh fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats, cheeses, and fresh baked breads to the people in the neighborhood, including many federal employees from the White House, Veterans Affairs, GSA, the Export-Import Bank and the Treasury Department. As an employer, the White House is eager to encourage farmers' markets and other efforts to help achieve a healthier workforce since, as many private companies have demonstrated, making employee wellness a priority can save health care costs down the road and make for a stronger workplace."

Source

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Michael Steele, Please Kiss My @$$

For real.

Everyone is up in arms over what former President Jimmy Carter said, or in faux rage because most people I have spoken with said, "It is true", anyway I am not in a rage. No one can consciously sit by night after night and watch many racist WHITE AMERICANS, yes, I typed it, continue on the path of President Obama is the Joker, Hitler, Stalin, a maxist, a communist, a socialist, and then go over board and caricature our president to a monkey. Then to continue to use the health care platform to vent their racist rants. Please, that shit is RACIST and folks that see this on the regular, it is a damn turn off, whether you voted for Obama or not.

So, now enters the RNC Chairman, Michael Steele. Michael, bro, token bro, please don't get out of pocket and say that President Obama should repudiate something that former President Jimmy Carter said. Obama did not say it, nor did his White House. Don't play the straw man card here, bro, you are not good at it. We KNOW what you are about and it definitely does not say much about your character, but if you don't like what Carter said, call him up and tell HIM SO.

“Characterizing Americans’ disapproval of President Obama’s policies as being based on race is an outrage and a troubling sign about the lengths Democrats will go to disparage all who disagree with them. Playing the race card shows that Democrats are willing to deal from the bottom of the deck. Our political system has no place for this type of rhetoric.

“As the leader of the Democratic Party President Obama should flatly reject efforts by those in his Party…to inject race into our civil discourse in ways that divide, not unite, Americans.”

Michael Steele is a fucking joke. Where were you when your boy, Glenn Beck called President Obama a "racist"? Where were you? Did you ask Beck to apologize? Did you do anything? No, you did not. Now you want the President of the United States to repudiate something that someone else said? Please, take this bullshit somewhere ELSE. You did not say anything, knowing that you would be CHECKED by your boys at the RNC. Steele, you are the worst of the worst, a weak ass brother, period.

And of course, the lazy assed media, when they don't want to do real work, keeps faux controversies GOING. Folks, nothing new here.

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The Michael Jordan Hall of Fame Speech (Video)

Yes, it was something else. The man is still a piece of work.



View on youtube

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Michael Eric Dyson straightens out the morning joe team on RACE (Video)

Again, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski need to have Barack Obama make a statement or answer to President Jimmy Carter's statements on race? How stupid is this? And again, race is a problem here and morning joke show is behind the eight ball here. Again, TOTALLY CLUELESS. And Joe Scarborough stop making EXCUSES for your GOP friends? Give this one to Michael Eric Dyson.



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President Obama's speech at AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh, PA, September 15, 2009 (Video)



Transcript

youtube

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Former President Jimmy Carter calls out the "racism" towards President Barack Obama (Video)

Again, Jimmy Carter don't hold back.



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Wendell Potter: Baucus Plan An "Absolute Gift" To Health Insurance Industry (VIDEO)

This is from Cigna Insurance Whistle Blower, Wendell Potter:



Transcript

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Obama on the rise

In poll numbers and the GOP declining in the gutter.

I am still shocked about the Joe Wilson diatribe during the President's speech to the Joint Sessions of Congress. The utter disrespect just may have backfired here for the Republicans. The whole Republican game plan is no to everything and just ignore and disrespect the Commander in Chief. Sorry, but some of this is race related, this country have not come THAT FAR in that regard, yet. But, whether you agree with President Obama or not, no one expected to here the President of the United States being called a liar in the House Chamber. That was something most Americans thought was uncalled for.

A Bloomberg News poll gives Obama a job-approval rating of 56 percent and 61 percent say they feel favorably about him. Still, respondents are divided over the president’s handling of health care and the economy, while giving him a negative grade on the growth of the budget deficit.

“Americans are despairing of the federal deficit in the wake of several huge government spending programs,” says J. Ann Selzer, the president of Selzer & Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based firm that conducted the poll. “Health care is one more big- ticket item and taxpayers appear to believe at some point they, or their children, will hold the bag.”

Republicans aren’t benefiting from the negative sentiment toward the economic policies, the poll shows. The survey finds that by about a 2-to-1 margin, Americans say Obama is doing a better job on the economy than his predecessor, George W. Bush.

Again, if the Republicans think they will ride the tide because of backlash sentiment, maybe, and I state this as a weak maybe. The only way Democrats and Independents stay home or demoralized by Democratic leadership is if the health care initiative bombs. There have been some firecrackers throughout the summer, but this is the one piece of legislation that Obama must pass through. And once the passage? It's been one for the leaderless Republican Party.

Bloomberg

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WANT A LAUGH? Jon Stewart and The Daily Show is back (Video)

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Apothecary Now
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorHealthcare Protests


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Joe Wilson Censured.

As he should be.

The man had a chance to APOLOGIZE, but refused. You can say whatever you want, but if the color of the skin was "white" do you think we would even be talking about this? NO, because Wilson would never have called him a liar. Again, keep raising money for Rob Miller. The only point that Wilson will understand is being defeated at the polls in 2010.

RESOLUTION

Raising a question of the privileges of the House.

Whereas on September 9, 2009, during the joint session of Congress convened pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 179, the President of the United States, speaking at the invitation of the House and Senate, had his re-
marks interrupted by the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson; and
Whereas the conduct of the Representative from South Carolina was a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives disapproves of the behavior of the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson, during the joint session of Congress held on September 9, 2009.

[snip]

For the record, 240-179, with 5 voting present and 10 not voting.

Twelve Dems voting no, 5 present. Seven Republicans voting yea.

Congress Matters

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House Leadership to vote on sanctions against Congressman Wilson

Getting him out of OFFICE is the best way, continue to give to Rob Miller.

House Democratic leaders will move ahead with a "resolution of disapproval" against Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) on Tuesday afternoon, following through on their threat to sanction the conservative lawmaker for heckling President Obama during his speech to Congress last week.

Democratic leaders will formally introduce the resolution Tuesday afternoon, according to House insiders, and the vast majority of Democrats - as well as some Republicans - are expected to vote for it.

No decision had been made at press time as to which Democrat would be offering the resolution.

A number of Democrats, led by Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.) and other black lawmakers, were outraged when Wilson yelled out “You lie!” during Obama’s address, and they have pressed Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other top Democrats to sanction Wilson.

Pelosi initially downplayed the Wilson episode as a distraction from thelarger issue of health care reform, but she has come around now to the position held by Clyburn and the other Democrats – if Wilson didn’t apologize on his own, on the House floor, then Democrats must take action. read more here....

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President Obama's speech on Wall Street, i.e., "You ain't getting anymore bailout money" (Video and Transcript)

The President speaks in New York City on the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. He looks back at how we came back from the brink of depression, and looks forward at how we prevent irresponsible actions by financial institutions from ever endangering our economy again. September 14, 2009. Transcript and youtube



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President Obama is now an "Indonesian Muslim Turned Welfare Thug" (Video)

Just Wow. From Anderson Cooper. And when is the Obama White House going to get enough of this? Just when? If POTUS can call Kanye West a jackass, please these words are warranted for idiots like this.



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Monday, September 14, 2009

President Obama calls Kanye West a "jackass"

And I concur.

Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a "jackass" for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT'S presidential.



Now that is change I can believe in, POTUS. Kanye West was wrong on all ways pointing Sunday from his outburst at the VMAs.
But Terry Moran apparently wasn't supposed to report that the president had called the recording artist a "jackass," and so he untwittered it and ABC released a statement noting that it was in an off-the-record portion of a CNBC interview.

Source

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The UNITED FOR HATE rally against President Obama, from Keith Olbermann on Countdown (Video)

50-70K gathered in Washington, D.C. for hatred, pure hatred. This is the Republican Party, a party that needs MINORITY VOTERS to make a return. Well, they won't get any new members with this rhetoric. And they walked all over Senator Ted Kennedy. These people and this party is atrocious. A battle for the heart and soul of America? Says who? The South? Please. Cross section of America, "white, whiter and whitest." And listening to the likes of the idiot of all television, Glenn Beck? Too much.



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New Poll on the "LIE" outburst, not in favor of the Republicans

And why would it be? OK?

All the information on Congressman Joe Wilson is here. And donations to his Democratic opponent, Rob Miller, is here. Keep the money coming, Miller has raised over 1.5M since Wednesday. He will need every penny to win in SC-02.

Now onto the poll.

The poll finds that 32% said that Obama lied while he was speaking to Congress, compared to 60% who don't think so. In addition, only 15% say that it was appropriate behavior for Wilson to shout out that Obama was lying, compared to 85% who say it was inappropriate.

If Republicans think this type of behavior is ok, think again, the American Public does not. And when was the last time GWB was called Hitler, Stalin, a Maxist, a Communist? Only from the racists in America.

Source

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The Racists were out this weekend against President Obama

Yes, truly pathetic.....



Didn't get enough of this? More, here.

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In case you missed it: President Obama's Weekly Address, September 12, 2009 (Video/Transcript)

Losing Insurance Can Happen to Anybody



Transcript

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A view from a hospital room. A true story.

Some have known that I had to have abdominal surgery and I did. It was successful. My mother felt I should have stayed in the hospital longer, but overall, I felt good and was glad to get home.

Once home, I had instructions that I followed, somewhat. I am not going to lie; I was not a good patient. I was on my feet longer than I should have been, I denied help, thought I could just jump back into the "game" again, I was wrong.

By Wednesday night, I was not feeling good. By Thursday my incision was reddened and I was in pain, by Thursday night I was back in a hospital bed with a morphine IV pump.

What happened was spotty, but when I awakened I saw a very, I mean, very anxious and nervous Mr. icebergslim with my mother. I was in and out of anesthesia, again, and did not get everything but something about internal bleeding and had to reopen the incision.

During that time, my husband and mother did go home, but I awakened on and off through the night. I had my handy, dandy morphine pump so any tinge of pain I was on it. Around 3 AM-ish, another patient came into my room. I remember it was her because she was talking about being in pain. I then went back to sleep.

I awakened around 6:30 AM the next day. My mother unpacked my stuff and put my cell phone close to my bed, it rang. It was my brother, the nurse in St. Paul, Minneapolis, calling to check on me. The first thing he said was, "I knew that phone would be close." The next thing he did was lecture me on the succulent, easy, downfall of getting sucked into narcotics, i.e., morphine. He told me if I the pain was not that bad, to cut it loose as soon as possible. He was telling me this, as I was pumping another jolt into my veins, but it did make sense to me. Before noon, I made the decision to cut my new BFF loose and go it alone, with less stronger narcotics for pain. I thought it would be tough, but in essence, it was quite easy. I was ready to move on and I could not do so with my new BFF hanging on my vein.

After this eye opening call, my new roommate awakened. In hospital rooms, unless you are the King or Queen of England, a private room is no such thing. Well, unless you are filthy rich and who around here can afford over 5K a day for a single room? Anyway, the only thing that separates you from your room mate is the curtain. It seemed that every hour, that I was awake, my roommate needed a shot for pain. She also complained about not eating since 9 AM the previous day that she was bought into the Emergency Room, now it is almost 10 AM. I was listening to what was going on, I shouldn't have, but I could not help it. Finally, a general surgeon came up and consulted her. He told her that she had a cyst in her ovary, that it was possibly, partially ripped. He said she was going home and that he was giving her 2 months pain medication, Narco, for the pain. She was then asking if that was wise, giving her medication (narcotics) for the pain and not fixing the problem. The surgeon flimflammed through the answer and was about to leave, then I stated, "Why is she not seeing an OB-GYN specialist/surgeon? Isn't that the next step?" Oh boy, the look in his eyes when he turned around to look at me, I WILL NEVER FORGET. He turned back to her and stated he will recommend one.

People this is what happens when you don't have insurance. While I have outstanding insurance, had all the nurses flaunting over me for any little thing, this young woman could not even get a MEAL, sherbet, ice cream even after this doctor left. I ended up ordering from room service, yes that is what this hospital called it, so this young woman could eat. I finally, asked her if she had health insurance, she said no, that she was on public aid. My first inclination was well, what is the beef? They are going to get paid and why are they treating her like this? Well, another story.

Public aid is not the choice for many doctors in getting paid, or private hospitals for that matter. Also, the law now is that when you come into the emergency room, it is standard procedure to be evaluated and observed for 12 hours before you are given a bed, i.e., what I had. Much of this is due to many coming into the emergency room for basic stuff that a regular doctor visit can curtail and using resources at this level. So, hospitals make you wait, especially on public aid and no insurance.

I had a frank talk with my roommate. I asked her did she feel that she was being treated differently because she was on Public Aid. She stated, "My mother just asked me this same question on the phone. And yes, I do." I then gave her my physician's name and contact information and told her that I would speak to him today when he comes to see me. My roommate was very appreciative and was getting dressed. She was in that bed not even 12 hours when she was booted out.

I spoke with my physician that same day. And he rose to the occasion, as I thought he would, took her name and contact information and said that he will take care of it.

I phoned my roommate, she left me her phone number, when I got home and settled. She was very appreciative and said that she would call him on Monday.

I told my mother and husband what had happened. My mother said, "Good job." My husband, another matter. Full disclosure, my husband works in the hospital business, his attitude was not harsh but cautious. He was the one who told me that hospitals are in the business to fill beds, like hotels. He asked me, "Have you seen any empty beds while doing your mandatory walk?" I told him, yes. He said, "Well, those beds are for paying patients, ones that happen to walk through the emergency room with an insurance card. Public aid patients are treated like non-insurance patients because it takes forever to get any reimbursement from them. Many are told to go to the county clinics and hospitals. Many private hospitals don't want to be bothered. That is probably why she was treated the way she was. Is it right? No, but that is how it is." He then told me to look out of my window. Out of my window was some building being built. He told me see those buildings, it is the new thing for hospitals called Bed Towers. He explained that these towers are being built and added to many hospitals all over the country. These are private rooms for those patients who can afford it or whose insurance will pay for it.

Private Bed Towers? Are you kidding me? With so many people who will crave just for a cot to be treated on and these hospitals are building towers for the rich? I mean, it is for the rich? Right? Because, I am not paying over 5K a night while knocked out most of the time on medication for the luxury of stating I was in a bed tower. That just does not make sense to me. And with the state of the economy, many without insurance, many underinsured, and many trying to hold on just the thought of expensive towers for the rich being constructed made my stomach hurt even moreso.

This health care battle is fucked up on all levels. Yes, contact congress, President Obama, etc., but decisions like made on a daily basis effects us, we, the people, all of us.

Unless you are super rich with no worries, it is easy to be one job away from NO HEALTH INSURANCE. That is a bitch to worry about on its own merits. And no individual should have to carry that burden.

Lastly, it is a damn shame that we, yes WE the PEOPLE, allowed the health care industry which was NON-PROFIT to go for PROFIT. Once that happened, all semblance of humanity was stripped away and the power of reporting to board members about stock profits emerged.

I don't know if we can go back to the country of compassion, once money passes hands it is hard to refute, we see this everyday in congress. But every single one of us should TRY.

This story is just one of millions, but it could easily happen to YOU.

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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President Barack Obama talks health care reform on 60 Minutes, September 13, 2009 (Video)




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In case you missed it: President Obama's Town Hall Meeting in Minneapolis, MN on health care reform (Video and Transcript)

The President takes his case for reform from the heart of Washington out on the road to Minneapolis, MN, where an enthusiastic crowd shows a snapshot of the hunger all over the country. September 12, 2009. Transcript youtube



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Forget the Republicans of Maine, "No Public Option"

Again, why is this a surprise? After the stimulus bill, did anyone expect any Republican help? This is about the Democrats, and I hope they got the message by now.

Key senators said Sunday the "public option" favored by House Democrats for healthcare is all but dead, but a pivotal Republican said it's not dead enough.

President Barack Obama "should take it off the table," said Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) on CBS's "Face the Nation." "It would give real momentum to building consensus."

Build consensus? What have the Republicans done to build consensus? Absoulutely, NOTHING. But it is ok, for Democrats to continue to cave? Please. We have had enough of that. And this from Susan Collins of Maine.



And Snowe said she could support a so-called "trigger" that would enact the government-run plan to compete with private insurers if the private insurance market fails to become more competitive.

"It is a possibility for bridging the gap at some point in the process," Snowe said.

Snowe's comments and the remarks of other officials Sunday left unclear the direction that the Senate healthcare debate is headed, but put the Senate on a collision course with House Democrats and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Snowe is a crucial vote, but the Senate bill she supports includes "cooperatives," not triggers. Other Republicans show little support for the trigger concept. Other Democrats, such as Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), flatly oppose the public option. And Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said there's no way it can pass the Senate.

"It's not gonna pass ... the only thing that has the prospect of passing is in the Senate," Conrad (D-N.D.) told "Fox News Sunday."



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