Truthiness

After the very welcome break in the hot weather last evening, I figured that I’d start getting back into my regular workout routine today. As the morning wore on, I came to the realization that I was going to take one more day off to recuperate from several days of brutal weather and I decided to have a lazy Sunday. Ken got several things down out in the yard, and I got a couple of things done inside, but it was mostly just being slugs and watching “The Walking Dead” marathon on AMC. It was a zombie day in every sense of the word!

I was thinking a few substantive thoughts today, though, based on a couple of Bookface posts. Conservatives are still going apeshit over the Affordable Care Act being upheld by the Supreme Court, and especially that Chief Justice Roberts was the swing vote. A friend posted a link to a site that had people talking about secession. Abraham Lincoln is rolling over in his grave.

The hysteria is just out of control. Get a grip, people. There are no Death Panels™, this is not a government takeover of healthcare, and this is not the biggest tax increase in the history of the world. The right wing propaganda machine is in full gear, and I’m sick unto death of the lies.

I am no expert on the Affordable Care Act, but I’ve done enough homework to speak intelligently on it, and I am going to do my best to counter these ridiculous claims about how the ACA means the end of the world as we know it, orgies in the streets, and cats and dogs living together. Admittedly, the Obama administration has done an abysmal job on getting the message out about what is and is not in the ACA. I found something the other day that I have saved for use in future fistfights arguments discussions about the ACA. A Reddit author posted it, and I found it reposted on a website I like, Political Irony. You can read what is and is not in the Affordable Care Act, and I urge you to take a look at it. Please take the time to really learn about it, rather than listening to the lies being perpetrated by the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity.

One thing I object the most strongly to is the notion that “Oh, now we’re ALL gonna be paying for those people who are too cheap to get their own healthcare, like those fifth generation welfare queens, and if you want healthcare, get a JOB already and blah di fucking blah.” Beyond the whole concept of people being “too cheap” to get their own healthcare, the horrible “welfare queen” phrase that was promoted by Reagan, and our health insurance being tied to jobs, there is something fundamentally wrong (oh hell, I sound like Newt!) with this attitude. Because here is a newsflash: we are ALL paying already for people who don’t have health insurance. Every time an uninsured person goes to ER because they are in crisis (from what is often a manageable condition), we pay in increased hospital costs and in increased insurance costs. Every time someone declares bankruptcy due to medical bills, we all pay. I would much rather we pay for everyone to receive preventive care and live a higher quality life than continue to allow people to live in misery and die from something that could have been prevented or caught earlier.

This is something so simple to me that I can’t understand anyone who thinks that people should be left to die or go bankrupt because of medical bills.

Well, cut off my legs....

...and call me Shorty!

I’ll be damned if the Supreme Court didn’t uphold the Affordable Care Act, and I’ll be double damned if the swing vote wasn’t Chief Justice John em-effin’ Roberts! BOO-yah!

I was over at Shane’s to house-sit while the window installation continued (Isaiah was the installer...super nice guy, we had a nice chat, and he does great work, too!), and turned on CNN right after Shane left for work. They were reporting that the individual mandate had been struck down. This turned out to be a “Dewey defeats Truman” moment, and ClusterFox shared in the ignominy, because mere seconds later, they reported that the mandate was upheld, as was the entire act. It appears that the confusion came about because Chief Justice Roberts wrote that although the mandate couldn’t be upheld under the commerce clause, on the following page, he wrote that it could be upheld as a tax. BOOM! Done! The whole thing stands!

I can’t begin to tell you how elated I felt about this decision. Facebook just exploded, with my fellow liberals as ecstatic as I was! What an incredible validation of the ACA and of the time and political capital President Obama spent on it. The ACA isn’t perfect, by any means, but more of it will be put into implementation, and we can work on improving it. I love the provision that pushes us towards quality-outcome payments rather than fee-for-service payments. This is the sort of change we MUST make in our healthcare system. It’s easy to forget that this affects real people; one thing I always kept in my mind when I was working in the lab was that behind every accession number and medical records number was a person. A parent, a spouse, a child, a sibling, someone who was dear to someone. I feel the same way about this. There are real people who will now get the care they need, and yes...the care they have a RIGHT to.

To have this upheld—especially with Bush-appointee John Roberts being the swing vote—is, to quote Vice-president Biden, a “big fucking deal.” I’m a happy girl!

After being glued to the TV for a couple of hours, I headed outside for some Happy Fun Pool Time™, and I don’t think Shane and Matt’s pool has ever felt so good! We hit 100° here, and the humidity made it feel like 107°. It was brutally hot, and I made sure that Isaiah knew he could come in the house whenever he wanted for water, and Shane texted me to tell him that he should feel free to hop in the pool, too! He didn’t take us up on that offer, though. I didn’t just hop in a “time or three” as I posted yesterday. I was in there at least half a dozen times! Hop in, get wet, hop out, air-dry off. Repeat as necessary. I stuck around until Matt got home, we chatted for a bit, then I bid him and Isaiah farewell.

It was a good day, all the way around.

Stay cool, everyone!

A big decision

I was happy to hear a good report for my Mom today, when we went to see the orthopedic doctor about her knee. I was NOT happy that she had to wait an hour before she even got into an exam room, but as my niece Heather reminded me, there could have been ortho emergencies, they often overbook, and so on, so forth, and such as. I know that’s probably true, but I still don’t like seeing my Mom wait that long. She was fine, but you know...it was my Mom. Anyway, all was well. She just got a super nasty bruise on her knee, no permanent damage was done, and it’s just a matter of letting it heal. Good news!

Speaking of health care, it looks like the big decision on the Affordable Care Act will be issued from the Supreme Court tomorrow morning. As you probably recall, I was watching this very closely leading up to the vote, and in the past few days, I’ve been reading plenty of opinions on what the Court will do. The general consensus seems to be that the individual mandate will be struck down, although there have been some dissenting opinions. A few are starting to say that the Court will let it stand, if only to preserve their credibility as being above the political fray. Obviously, I want it to be upheld, and obviously, Scalia, Alito, and Thomas will go with the conservative view. The two unknowns are Kennedy, and surprisingly, Roberts. Some feel that both might side with the more liberal justices and uphold the law as constitutional.

So much speculation, but very little real information. Despite all the pieces written about this in the past few weeks, and in the months leading up to the decision, it’s still a crapshoot. I can’t even go out on a limb and make a prediction, because I have no idea what they’ll do. I’ll just wait until tomorrow morning and find out with everyone else.

Tomorrow I’ll be hanging out at Hanover Valley, as Shane and Matt get new windows installed on the house. Of all days to be asked to do this...they couldn’t have picked a better one! It’s supposed to be close to 100° tomorrow, so it will feel great to sit out by the pool and read, and take a dip or three. I’ll take my computer, my phone, and my Kindle, so I won’t lack for stimuli. I’m looking forward to some Happy Fun Pool Time™ this summer, and it starts tomorrow! It will be even better when I get to hang out with everyone, but tomorrow, I’ll just have to amuse myself. I think I can manage that!

A healthy outlook

You all know me well enough by now to know that even while I've been trying to cope with feelings of loss and sorrow, I've still been paying attention to the news. I can't help it...it's just my nature. (Thanks, Dad! Mom, too--she's a lot more interested than she used to be, and she pays attention to what is going on.)

I missed some when everything was so hectic, but I've been watching closely lately. I watched as the vote passed the Senate and cheered when it did; I watched as a jubilant President used 22 pens to sign the bill into law. I was grinning right along with him. I've gotten into debates online with some local folks, including one guy who seemed to really dislike me. He called me an "old school hippie," and when I flashed him a virtual peace sign, he flipped me a virtual bird. Where's the love, man? He said that I seemed to think I was a great writer; I said I'd made no such claims, and what I wrote there is just the way I write; he said that I had insulted others on the forum and that he would make sure to speak up in any further threads that I "corrupted," although I had insulted no one, and I fail to see how voicing my opinion is in any way corrupting the thread. I could only conclude that when it came right down to it, he just didn't like me because I was an uppity woman who dared to voice an opinion that was different from his. When he tried to browbeat me into accepting his opinion, I stood my own and would have none of it, and he didn't like that, either. How many times do I have to say it? Don't fuck with me. Seriously.

Anyway, what I saw there was someone who, when they didn't get their way initially, resorted to bullying and name-calling. Oh, did I forget to mention that he said that I had my head up my ass? Yes, that too. I think my experience on a local thread was a microcosm of what we're seeing on a national level. When certain types don't get their way, they resort to hurling insults and epithets, and as we've recently seen, they aren't averse to launching a loogey now and then. There is a word for such behavior: childish. I guess when you can't get your way in an argument by using your own reasoning, you have to go to your fallback position of acting like a brat throwing a tantrum. It's amusing to watch, but it really is rather unseemly and doesn't further your argument at all.

I've also enjoyed some much more satisfactory discussions with Cousin Curt--at least we can argue our points without resorting to such tactics. That's what happens when you've got a couple of intelligent people who understand that true and productive debate is based upon facts and reasonable hypotheses, not simple gainsaying (think Monty Python's Argument Clinic) or petty insults. In these discussions with Curt, I returned to my underlying theme about health care, which is that I feel that it is our moral obligation as a country to provide for all of our citizens.

I realized that as long as we have that dichotomy in our country, there will be no resolution and no real agreement between those who supported insurance reform and those who opposed it. For the opposition, it will always be about cost/timing/entitlement, and in the case of the crazy opposition, it will always be about socialism/death panels/handouts. For supporters, it will continue to be about compassion/logic/cost savings.

Isn’t that a great picture of Secretary Clinton giving President Obama a hug after the bill passed? It must have been so gratifying for her to see it passed after she tried to get it done twenty years ago.

A common argument is that everyone can get health care here, they just have to go to the emergency room. I'm going to say it flat out, right now: that is a retarded argument, and stop using it. Just stop it. ER costs are outrageous, and when you've got people going to the ER for non-emergency situations like sore throats and minor infections, or for complications from treatable conditions that they aren't seeing a doctor for regularly, it drives the cost up for everyone. Everyone. See what I'm saying? It causes insurance to be higher for all of us when people are relying on emergency rooms for general health care. If I hear anyone use that argument again, I'm going to issue a well-deserved smackdown, and it won't be pretty, because I'm getting sick of hearing that ridiculous argument. Fair warning.

It all comes down to that moral obligation, at least for me. For those who would deny coverage to all, I wonder how you would feel if you had loved ones with a serious condition who couldn't get coverage. I wonder if you would help them with their medical bills? How would you feel if you lost your job and your health care coverage, and then found out that one of your kids had leukemia? It happens to people all the time, and I suppose it's easy to sit back and say "We can't do this...it's too expensive" when it's someone else's loved one. Maybe if it were yours, you might feel differently. For all those Republican legislators who opposed, to a person, the bill, but maintain that they care about everyone, they really do...my question is if you cared about us all so damn much, why the fuck didn't YOU do anything when you had the majority? You cared but just didn't care quite enough, I guess. Maybe you need to shut up and stop being sore losers, quit talking about repeal, and for crissake, stop talking about Armageddon. Seriously.

A difference in philosophy

Before I get to that, I should warn you that after my little rant yesterday, my stalker has been busy checking the profiles of some of those who commented. Yes, she's that obsessed. I don't think she'll bother you, but I did want to give you a heads-up in case she were to leave comments on your blogs or try to contact you. If that happens, I apologize sincerely for putting you into her sights. Please forgive me.

It was rather a lively morning on Facebook, where I managed to piss someone off with a comment concerning Palin having five kids...something about throwing a hot dog down a hallway...but the specifics don't matter. Suddenly I was insulting women who have had kids, and it was suggested that maybe we should all just make fun of weak male politicians by calling them pussies. I said yeah, I do that already (and it's not reserved just for politicians), and if someone is being a jerk, I sometimes call them a dick. I think I've got the full spectrum of genitalia covered. Criminy...it's an old joke, one that's been around for years. I know I have a perverse and warped sense of humor, but as I was writing to a friend last night, laughter can do a lot to make things better. It may not change the world, but it certainly makes things much easier to deal with, and allows us to forge ahead.

Then, on the same guy's thread (Chuck E. Jesus, which is as brilliant a name as I've heard), I got into a health care discussion. Chuck E. and I are of like minds when it comes to many topics, and so is his wife, Bride of Chucky. The three of us sort of dogpiled the other guy...he kept throwing the same GOP talking points at us (odd, since it turned out he is a libertarian), and we kept knocking them down. It was the usual...start with a clean slate, start over, fresh sheet of paper, let's talk about this...blahbitty blah blah blah.

As the President pointed out the other day, we have talked about this for a fucking year. (Well, the F-bomb is mine, not his.) We've been talking about it for decades, actually. I'm to the point where I don't want to hear the lame excuses. Today I wrote to my Congressman and my Democratic Senator (the Republican is a lost cause), and I hope you'll consider writing to yours, no matter which side you are on. The bottom line is are we going to begin to take care of all of our citizens, or are we going to continue to let them die because they can't afford health care? That's really what it comes down to, you know. I suppose it would be easy to sit back and say, "Hey, I've got my health care insurance. That's all that matters to me." Well, it's not all that matters to me, not by a long shot. It matters to me that people are hurting, that people are going broke, that people are dying, all because they can't afford health insurance. It matters to me that people aren't getting preventive care. Diabetics losing toes or limbs because they can't get regular checkups or afford their testing supplies; people unable to get approval for surgeries that would ease their chronic pain; people not getting treatment for tuberculosis and infecting countless others who come into contact with them; people ignoring symptoms and not going to the doctor until they can't stand it anymore and go in only to find out that they've got terminal cancer, one that would have been treatable if it had been caught a year ago.

Think I'm exaggerating? I'm not. This is going on every fucking day, right here in our country. If you can sit back and be complacent about it, and say, "Oh, let's talk about this some more. We haven't talked about it enough," then I seriously wonder about you, and I say, "Shame on you." And shame on our country for not doing what every other industrialized nation did years ago. It's time to stop the arguments and get it through our collective thick skulls that we cannot continue to allow people to suffer and die because we want to talk about it some more. The time for talking is done. The time for action is now.

Let's get this done.

Whelmed

Maybe not overwhelmed, but definitely whelmed.

I've noticed that I'm not the only one whose blogging has decreased. I was shocked to see that it's been a week since I wrote--I was pretty prolific for a while there! There are multiple reasons, including a general malaise that has been with me all winter, as well as a preoccupation with Facebook friends and what is being discussed there. There is a pleasant little group of us that share political and religious articles and opinions, and sometimes just fun things. I think that's another reason I haven't been writing much lately; sometimes I just need a break from the serious stuff, and I'm not one to write here often about my latest trip to Wal-Mart (unless it's to write about something weird/funny/annoying that happened). Most entries lately end up being serious and lengthy (sometimes seriously lengthy), and I spend two or three hours putting them all together. So yes, I'm whelmed.

I'm not stopping--you can't get rid of me that easily--but I'm not going to feel guilty about not writing daily or even every other day. It will happen when it happens.

I did spend several hours on Thursday watching the health care summit. I was doing other things, too, but I did have it on all day and it was pretty clear right off the bat that nothing was going to come of it, other than a clear indicator of just how deep the partisan divide is. A never-the-twain-shall-meet sort of divide. The GOP immediately called for the complete scrapping of the current bill and to start over. The Democrats said no, there are good things in there that we both agree on, and starting over will delay this even more. You can guess which side I came down on. Anytime someone issues an ultimatum, you know there are power issues there. I've always found the attitude of "Do this or we won't cooperate" to be bullying tactics.

An even bigger difference, to me, was the deep and abiding difference in philosophies. The GOP seems to believe that it's okay for tens of millions of Americans to be uninsured. The Democrats believe it is a moral obligation to care for all of our citizens, or to at least make a concerted and serious start on getting there. Again, no surprise how I feel about it. I've written about this numerous times. To me, it's not just a matter of making sure that everyone has access to affordable health care; it's a way to bring about lower costs for everyone and to break the stranglehold the insurance companies have on our entire country. Someone brought up one of the standard GOP arguments, that everyone does have access to care in our emergency rooms. It can't be any simpler: such visits drive our costs through the roof, and it's something that is passed along to each and every one of us. I would be happy to pay a little more to ensure that people get preventive health care so that they don't have to make visits to the emergency room.

Someone else brought up the recent news item that one of Canada's provincial premiers came to the States to get a heart procedure. I'm not sure of the entire circumstances of why he came here for the procedure, but Obama's response was the same as mine was when I heard it. Sure, it's great that someone can afford to go to another country for a procedure he needs, if that's what he desires, but a Canadian premier is far from an average-income American worker. People like that don't have the money to get procedures here. That's the whole fucking point! There are some people that save up to travel to Mexico or India to get procedures that they can't afford to get in their own country. We do have great health care here...but what good does it do people if they can't afford it, or lose their home in order to get a life-saving procedure?

I still say we need to look to the north and model our system after Canada's, but I'm afraid that will never happen. The insurance companies are too firmly entrenched as the arbiters of who gets care and who doesn't (talk about coming between you and your doctor!), not to mention firmly entrenched in the deep pockets of some lawmakers. The GOP doesn't seem overly concerned about trying to get more people insured; their plan would add an additional, whopping three million to the ranks of insured. I guess the other 27 million can go fuck themselves, eh? Oh, it's okay...they should be fine. As long as they don't get sick.

I find it all very disheartening and very frustrating.

So there's the serious stuff for today. In the not-so-serious arena, I've been enjoying the Olympics immensely, and speaking of Canada, I'm really looking forward to Sunday's gold medal game in hockey between the US and Canada! It's going to be so exciting, and just between you and me and everyone who read it on Facebook, I'm kind of cheering for Canada. Hockey is their game, man, and it's their Olympics...how awesome would it be for them to win the gold? I wasn't upset when New Orleans beat my Colts in the Super Bowl because I knew how much it meant to NOLA; I have the same feeling about this hockey game. It would be a wonderful ending for the host country, the cherry on top of the whipped cream for them. Or maybe the maple leaf on top. :) I've really been enjoying the hockey games, and I never thought I would get into the game that much. It's a lot of fun!

There was controversy on Friday when the Canadian women's hockey team won the gold, then after the medal ceremony, were photographed on the ice smoking cigars and drinking Molson and champagne. Haha! I have no problem with that, and thought "more power to you!" To me, it's a non-issue. You see all kinds of celebrations after big wins in baseball, football, whatever, with champagne spraying everywhere. Women do it and it's tacky or undignified? Really? Winning a gold medal is a big deal (especially if you're Canadian and win it in hockey), and I say have a ball and celebrate your victory. If you want to do it with beer, champagne, and cigars, I dig where you're coming from.

Speaking of beer, champagne, and cigars (or at least the first one), it's a Rock Band party at my sister's tonight. I'll have my game on, as well as my Cowbell Hero T-shirt. Should be a good time, and if necessary, I've got Bloody Mary fixins for tomorrow. ;)

Out of the Horse Latitudes…

...and into the Doldrums.

Don't you hate those days when you just feel blah? I'm having one. I don't feel ill or anything, just sort of floating along through life. It wasn't a bad day at all, and I got some things done, did a little laundry (washed my new T-shirt…it is the awesomesauce!), got caught up on correspondence...I wasn't bored.

But I missed seeing my Colts this weekend. What am I going to do when the season and the playoffs are over? I go through this every year. I'm really hoping that they make it to the Super Bowl, because if they're out early, I'm going to be really bummed. I wish they could play all year, although I suspect they might take a dim view of such a schedule. They probably need all of the off-season to recuperate. "Hey guys, Beth wants us to play all year! What do you say?" I'm guessing the answer would be no.

I also crapped out on doing the rest of my wrapping. I just need to get it done, because it's hanging over my head like some sick holiday version of Damocles' sword, all tarted up with red and green baubles and glitter...glitter that gets stuck to your skin and you don't realize it until you look in the mirror and see a piece stuck to the end of your nose and wonder why the fuck no one told you about it, because it had to be reflecting the light enough so that it looked like you had some sort of radioactive zit.

I was also frustrated by Rock Band yet again. I even practiced the guitar solo in a slower mode, and still couldn't make it all the way through. One way or another, "Green Grass and High Tides," you're goin' down. I'm going to make you my bitch. I will conquer you, and when I do, I'm going to kick you when you're down; when you're crying, I'm going to get all up in your face and taunt, "Cry, just CRY!" I'm going to dance on your grave, and then I'm going to stand arms akimbo over it and laugh triumphantly as I imagine your rotting corpse beneath my feet.

You will pay, "Green Grass and High Tides." You will pay dearly.

Gee, I guess I'm in a bit of a mood, aren't I?

Never fear. I am able to put things in perspective and realize that compared to the problems that people have all over the world, I am a very fortunate person. When I think about all the pain and misery experienced by millions, I understand that my problems and frustrations don't amount to a hill of beans. Of course, when I think about all the pain and misery going on in the world, it makes me all the more frustrated at seeing the political idiocy going on here and elsewhere. The hatred, the lack of compassion, the inequality, the fear, the hunger, the death and disease. Putting people last because you're worried about whether or not you're going to get reelected, pandering to the people you think will most help you in your climb, or who will provide the biggest bankroll.

I've grown so disillusioned, especially with this health care debate. Something that should have been a common goal for everyone because we care about human beings became a political hockey puck, and the brutal checking got ugly. For millions of Americans, this is not a game; I am appalled that it ended up as politics as usual. Religion ended up as part of the debate, with some people actually praying that this would be defeated, and yeah, I'm talking to you, Bachmann, you sick bitch. Praying for millions to continue to not receive the health care they need? Praying for people to die because they can't afford treatment? Praying for people to live in agony because their insurance doesn't cover the prescription drugs that give them relief? Praying for people to lose their homes because their heart attack and rehabilitation left them with thousands in medical bills?

That is fucked. And yeah, I'm pissed. I'm pissed that one of the most prosperous nations on earth is apparently so goddamn cheap that we're willing to let people die just so that we can hang on to a little more of our filthy lucre. I'm pissed that we're stuck in two wars, one completely unjustified, because our previous administration was hell-bent on some kind of holy war. In this time of celebration, love, and compassion, I'm pissed that we, as a nation, just don't seem to care about what happens to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. I believe this bill will pass, but it is a weak sister compared to what could have been. So if I don't seem to be properly in the Christmas spirit, I do have a reason behind my scrooge-itude.

I guess the good news is that I'm not totally in the doldrums. I've still got some fiyah in me.

Santa Turkey, put some giblets under my tree

Well, I'm making progress on the cleaning, but have more to do. Nothing major (although I'm not a huge fan of vacuuming) and I look forward to getting it out of the way so I don't have to worry about it anymore!

I've been seeing Christmas crap in stores for a couple of weeks now. I'm tired of it already. Why must it start this early? Of course, I don't really get into Christmas like a lot of people do...a couple of weeks of it and I'm good. And you probably don't want to talk to me on a day that I'm wrapping presents. That ranks right up there with vacuuming for me, and I've learned that beer and Brian Setzer helps. But then that helps most things. Ha!

Not that Brian is dropping by Nutwood to hang out with me while I wrap Christmas presents, although that would be way cool. I just like putting his Christmas CDs on while I wrap.

So what does everyone have planned for Thanksgiving? We'll be going to my sister Diana's house. My niece Jen is in town, visiting from San Diego, and I'm looking forward to seeing her! Yay Jen! The plan is for dinner around 1 pm (my assignment is deviled eggs, 'cause I'm a li'l devil), followed by some Rock Band. Yes, my sister also loves the game, although her thing is Beatles Rock Band. My other sister, Sue, tells me that the plan is to get my parents to sing "Ring of Fire." I have to wonder if they haven't been paying attention for all these years...have they heard our Dad sing?! I'm guessing that Mom might be game, but I'm thinking that Dad will emphatically decline.

Heck, I'll sing it. I've got a low voice, and I love that song. "The taste of love is sweet...when hearts like ours meet." That's good stuff, right there. Too bad the Wall of Voodoo version isn't on Rock Band!

Speaking of Rock Band, it was a tense situation at Nutwood tonight when I tried to play a little right before I started dinner...and Wii was dead.

I tried all the connections, tried a different outlet, tried turning things off and on...no luck. Noooooo! Wii compressions, STAT! Clear!

Finally, I thought about what was different, because it had been working fine. (I didn't troubleshoot lab instruments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for nothing...all that prepared me for this day.) Yesterday, I hooked up a USB hub so that all the instruments could stay hooked up. I detached that, and voilà, Wiizee was back up and running! Stoopid hub. Anyone who uses Wii Rock Band, how do you hook up the mic, two guitars, and drums at the same time, without a hub? Or did I just get a bad hub? Any ideas or recommendations?

Oh, and thanks to my Canadian friends for weighing in on my topic yesterday. I keep hearing the teabaggers talk about how bad things are in Canada, but in talking with people who actually live there, I get the impression that these tales of Canadian health care horrors are merely manufactured by those here whose best interests are served by no reform whatsoever. That's sure not what I'm hearing from my friends. (And you're forgiven for Celine Dion. You can thank Michael Bolton for that. Quid pro quo, Clarice.)

The Empath

When I was reading the Sunday paper (a little late in the day, but I did read it...okay, I skimmed it), it really bothered me to read this letter to the editor:

My neighbors' health care is not my responsibility. Engel [a local doctor] can be generous with his money if he will; he shouldn't project his morality upon me.

While I appreciated the author's correct use of the possessive apostrophe, I was appalled at the sentiment expressed.

I was pleased to see the vote in the Senate this weekend, in which it was agreed that the health care bill would move forward for debate. I was honestly perplexed by all the "nay" votes from Republicans. This wasn't a vote to pass the bill; this was a vote to debate it on the Senate floor. I think that's very indicative of the mindset of the GOP right now: don't discuss, don't propose solutions, simply pull a Nancy Reagan and "just say no." (And we all know how well that worked.) I've come to believe that rather than striving for true reform and working on making things better for all American citizens, the GOP simply wants President Obama and our country to fail. That's...that's really kind of warped, don't you think?

To top off my puzzlement at the "nay" votes, reading this letter to the editor appalled and disgusted me. It made me quite sad, too.

There is a practical aspect to it, as pointed out by my friend Tim on Facebook: it is a matter of public health. It is part of the greater good to ensure that everyone receives proper health care. If your neighbor gets sick, you might get it, too. If your child's classmate has parents that don't believe in vaccination, or simply can't afford to get proper care for their kid, your child is at risk of exposure. If there are millions of people who do not get preventive care or cannot pay for a doctor's visit to check out that pesky abdominal pain or to figure out why they have blurred vision or to have the doctor listen to that lingering cough...we all end up paying more for the care needed when the problem has gone beyond the easily treatable.

But even more importantly to me is something that made me think of an episode from the third season of "Star Trek," "The Empath." In this episode, Kirk, Spock, and Bones encounter a lovely young mute woman, Gem. Gem is a rarity, a true empath; when others are in pain or hurt, she can touch them, take their wounds into herself, and clear them. This takes its toll upon her, causing her great pain, but she cannot stop being what she is. (Sort of like John Coffey in The Green Mile, now that I think about it.) As the story unfolds, we realize that this is an experiment conducted by aliens to see if Gem is willing to harm herself in order to help others. They plan on taking care of her, and will treat her well, but Gem proves herself by being willing to almost die in order to save Bones.

Granted, most of us would draw the line at dying to save a stranger, depending on the situation. Notable exceptions would be soldiers serving their country, or the Secret Service agents who will die to protect their charges. I think most of us would die to protect our loved ones. But we're not talking about giving up our lives here. We're simply talking about finding a way to help our fellow citizens; to help them be healthy and not die miserably because they don't have insurance. Help them not lose their home because they receive a diagnosis of cancer; help them live as pain-free as possible if they have a chronic illness. We are talking about having empathy and compassion for our fellow human beings.

I am dismayed by the lack of compassion for others that I am seeing in this debate. I'm getting an attitude of "Hey, I've got my health insurance--fuck you." What has happened to people that they feel nothing for others? Do they really not care if some kid dies of an easily treatable infection because his parents can't take him to the doctor? Do they really not care if a little girl goes deaf because she wasn't treated for meningitis in a timely manner? Do they not care if their elderly neighbor has to choose between a decent meal and their blood pressure meds? Do they not care if their parents have to make that choice?

I have said this before, and I have not changed my feelings on it: I believe health care reform is not merely a financial necessity for our country. It is a moral obligation. We must not forget our humanity and our compassion for others.

We must remember the concept of empathy.

Got Balls?

This guy does. Meet Anh "Joseph" Cao, the Lone Republican (hi-yo, Silver!) to vote for the health care bill that just passed in the House.

I was happy to become a fan on his Facebook page and leave him a supportive comment, thanking him for his vote. Of course, others in his own party are telling him to get out, go join the Democrats, calling him un-American, blah di blah blah. Again...that is some brilliant strategizin' right there. Drive someone out of the party because they have the courage to stand up for what they believe in, and work with others to actually get something done in this country, something that has been way too fucking long in coming. Just like the New York congressional race in which far right conservatives forced a moderate Republican out, resulting in a Democrat winning the seat. Somehow they don't seem to be grasping the extremely simple concept here that the majority in this country do want health care reform, and they do not agree with the narrow, restrictive, moralistic lines that are being drawn in the sand. Are we back to the culture wars? After all these years? Really, teabaggers? Really?

So why did Louisiana Congressman Cao vote the way he did?

I read the versions of the House [health reform] bill. I listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding – if they are able to obtain health care at all. Louisianans needs real options for primary care, for mental health care, and for expanded health care for seniors and children . . . I have always said that I would put aside partisan wrangling to do the business of the people. My vote tonight was based on my priority of doing what is best for my constituents.

I give you a standing O for that, Congressman, and I applaud you for listening to your constituents. I am reminded of the meeting I attended with my Congressman, Joe Donnelly. A woman in the audience was hectoring him, trying to get a commitment from him that he would not vote for any bill that included federal funding for abortions. Donnelly is Catholic, consistently pro-life, and I believe all of his votes have gone that way. I don't agree with him on that, but overall, I think he's a great guy who really cares and really listens to his constituents. The woman wouldn't shut up about it, and he finally said, "Ma'am, I'm not here to satisfy you, I'm here to do what is best for the United States of America."

I loved Donnelly for having the courage to say that, and I'm impressed that Congressman Cao also stood up for his principles to cast a vote that moves us closer to ensuring that all of our citizens are able to afford care. This bill is not perfect, and there is still work to be done. Although it is watered down, and it's got that Stupak Amendment in there, my personal opinion is that we need to do what we need to do to get this thing passed. Now is the time, and I for one am fed up with the automatic gainsaying of the GOP, immediately dismissing something that I totally believe is the morally right thing to do. The bill they introduced was ludicrous, although if there is some tort reform in there, I would be okay with that...although it really does nothing to insure more or bring down costs. Just ask Texas.

Oh, and while I was getting all indignant about this, really ramping up the Beth-O-Meter, the phone rang. The woman identified herself as from the Indiana Republican Party. My response? "Oh really?! That's interesting, because we do not support you any longer! Please take us off your list. Thank you!" This has to be at least the third time that I've said to quit calling us, and someone is on the verge of getting an ass-chewing. I don't want to be like that, because I've made phone calls for Organizing For America and I know that it would make me feel bad if someone went off on me. But I am just so frustrated with what I'm hearing and seeing from the GOP that I think I might not be very...empathetic if they keep calling.

Like The Hulk said, "You wouldn't like me when I get angry."

Why yes, I AM ready to rock

Before I get to the fun stuff, a little bit about health care reform.

All right, I heard those groans. I won't keep you past the bell, I promise, but I think this is something worth noting. This is from an article on Politics Daily, and it concerns the report released by the health insurance industry (a report paid for by a health insurance trade group) stating that a health care reform bill would raise the costs of everyone's premiums.

After the health insurance industry released a report Monday attacking Democrats' plans for health reform, it appears that the insurance lobby and the White House have abandoned all hope of working together on the issue, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. The White House had spent months courting the industry for input on reform, but the report and the ensuing battle of rhetoric suggests that insurers have become the administration's chief enemy in the health care battle.

The health insurance lobby was a key player in defeating reform 15 years ago under President Clinton. Obama had hoped to avoid a similar showdown by inviting various industry groups -- hospitals, drug makers and insurers -- to participate in the negotiations. But after the critical report funded by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) hit Washington earlier this week, the gloves came off.

"The insurance industry has decided to lead the charge against health reform, and everyone recognizes their motives: profits," White House deputy communications director Dan Pfeiffer said. "We are going to make sure they can't sink this effort at the last minute."

Insurers, meanwhile, responded with one of the oldest tactics in the book: spreading concern among senior citizens that they will lose their current benefits. AHIP launched a multi-state ad campaign warning seniors that Democratic legislation would take away benefits they receive from private Medicare accounts.

It seems abundantly clear to me that health insurance companies are opposing this so vehemently for one reason and one reason only: it will cut into their obscene profits.

I'm not talking about hospitals or doctors or people who actually deliver the health care. This is about insurance companies who dictate whether you will or will not get treatment, and tell you whether they will or will not pay for it. For anyone who thinks that the insurance companies are motivated by concern for patients and helping them get the care they need, I have to wonder (as Mark said in a comment), "Are you HIGH?" If you are unable to get beyond the mistaken belief that this is going to lead to "socialized medicine," if you are incapable of feeling compassion for others who might not be in as good a position as you when it comes to being able to afford health care, if you can turn a blind eye to your fellow citizens who are suffering and yes, dying because they cannot get insurance because of a pre-existing condition, if you are so rock stupid that you can't comprehend that there may come a day when you won't be able to afford insurance or you get deathly ill and max out your coverage or you have to declare bankruptcy because you can't pay your medical bills...even if you are unable to grasp any of these simple concepts, perhaps you can understand cold, hard cash. That is exactly what the insurance companies are concerned about: getting yours and keeping theirs. Let their opposition to a health care reform bill be a clue to you. They don't want this because it will cut into their profits, and they obtain those profits from you. Don't let them keep doing this to the American people.

[stepping down one level on my soapbox]

Rinnnggggg! See? I timed that perfectly.

Now for the fun stuff! When I went out to get the mail today, there was a huge box sitting on the steps. The new Rock Band's here! The new Rock Band's here! A little while later (while I was putting everything together, in fact), the UPS guy came by with the mike stand. So the instruments are all set up and ready to go, now we're just waiting for the Wii itself, the other software, and the other guitar. I swear, we must have an Amazon distribution center around here, because when did I order this stuff? Monday evening? That was fast.

Yes, that is a curio cabinet full of penguins. Why do you ask?

I talked to Ken's Mom today, and Ken had mentioned to her that maybe we'll have his stepbrother and his wife over when they're here for Thanksgiving, and play some Rock Band. Ken's Mom said, "Heck with that—I might want to play, too!" Now that would be a sight to see!

One thing I've heard about this is that it's brought some classic rock to a whole new group of kids who have never heard a lot of it before. Hard to argue with that. I'd like to know where the Kinks are, though! I'm sure there are all kinds of licensing agreements that have to be dealt with, so not every band or song I love is going to be included. On the next edition, I want to see "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?" Make it happen!

Oh, and thanks Lisa, for telling me how much you love it. Hearing that a fellow rock chick has so much fun with it tells me that I'll enjoy it, too. I can't say I'll get into "Talk Dirty To Me" as much as you did, but I'm definitely looking forward to getting into some Blondie and Devo. Haha! Hey, I feel an uncontrollable urge for a little Devo right now. (And yes, this song is on the game. Yay!)

Revisiting an Infection Connection

It seems timely to mention an old entry about Influenza. In that entry from almost a year ago, I wrote mainly about the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, but Influenza is a growing concern at the moment. The CDC reports that 37 states have widespread flu activity; data show that we are not into seasonal flu yet, and that these are swine flu (H1N1) cases.

The first wave of H1N1 was relatively mild, but we're already seeing it get nastier on this go-round. Sadly, an 11-year-old girl died in our city last week of this strain of influenza. Some schools in our area are showing a 20% absentee rate. I don't see any reason to panic, but continue to be careful. You've all heard the precautions (And we should all be practicing them! My personal favorite is the Dracula Sneeze.), and there is plenty of information about symptoms, vaccinations, and generally all things flu at a great website called Flu.gov. I'll get my flu shot through Ken's workplace this year, although I have to admit I'm getting a little antsy about not having gotten it yet. There will be plenty available eventually, but initial demand was incredibly high. When the H1N1 shot becomes widely available, I will get that one, too. Now that I'm not working at the lab, I'm not in a high risk category anymore, so others should get it before me. I could probably stretch it since I have the beginnings of emphysema, but plenty are at higher risk than I am, so I'll wait my turn.

I don't see this becoming as lethal as the 1918 outbreak, because our preparedness is much higher than it was then. But that's the thing about viruses, and what I wrote about in my entry from a year ago...they can change so profoundly that they can take everyone by surprise. Stay cautious, and keep washing those hands! And if you were smart enough to buy stock in any company that makes hand sanitizer, you're probably feeling quite smug and pleased with yourself right about now, aren't you, Mr. and Ms. Smartypants?

~~~~~

Speaking of health, the Senate Committee Finance bill was voted on today, and passed 14-9, with Olympia Snowe of Maine being the lone Republican to vote for it. Hail, Olympia! (Joe Lieberman continues to show that he's not exactly sure what he thinks about things, or who he wants to be when he grows up, and voted no.) There is still plenty of work to be done, and I still want to see that public option as part of the mix, but I am encouraged. I'm also reading that there is a certain "air of inevitability" in Washington right now concerning this, with many feeling that there will be something passed this year. I feel it, too.

Oh, and did you hear about that Colorado baby who was initially denied coverage because he was over the top of the weight chart? In other words, they told his parents that he was "too fat." The father was pretty funny, saying something like hey, he's a baby...it's not like we can put him on the Atkins diet or on a treadmill. The insurance company quickly moved to rectify the situation, and the kid can get insurance now.

And people have the gall to talk about rationing under a health care reform bill, or a government bureaucrat coming between a doctor and their patient? Crackuh, please. Just what in the holy hell do you think insurance companies have been doing all these years? What a stupid argument.

~~~~~

I don't like to write much about this gasbag, because I think it's a waste of space, but I found Rush Limbaugh's word association exercise in an interview broadcast on "The Today Show" an interesting one.

President Obama: "Disaster"
Michelle Obama: "Garden. Plants a garden out there."
Former President Jimmy Carter: "An utter disgrace and embarrassment."
Sarah Palin: "Misunderstood and underestimated."
Former President Bush: "Most decent, down-to-earth real man you'd ever hope to meet."
Glenn Beck: "Look what I have spawned. Glenn Beck to me is 'Right on, Daddy-O.' "
Hillary Clinton: "Nurse Ratchet."

I think a good psychologist (maybe I need to enlist my pal Dr. Will) would be able to read much into his responses. One of the most telling is his response to Michelle...the woman is a lawyer, a Princeton graduate, and all he can say is that she planted a garden? Could he be any more condescending and dismissive of such a strong woman? Hmm...Oedipal complex? Then there's Beck: "Look what I have spawned." Delusions of godhood and grandeur. Sarah Palin is “misunderstood and underestimated?” Well, that's just stupid, and quite possibly indicative of full-blown psychosis, but apparently he prefers empty-headed fluff who will see him as a conduit to a position of power and look up to him as some sort of father figure. The exact opposite of a strong, intelligent woman like Michelle Obama, or Hillary Clinton, which brings us to what is probably his most offensive remark here, comparing Secretary of State Clinton to Nurse Ratchet. The guy obviously has issues.

This kind of makes me feel good, though, because based on his opinion of the women mentioned in this, I'm reasonably certain that he would seriously dislike me. I'm cool with that.

~~~~~

To cleanse my palate after writing about that bloated bag o' foul wind, I'll mention Rahm Emanuel. I don't know all the details, but it seems that GQ magazine has picked him at the top of their list of influential people. I'm not sure if there is more to it (perhaps a sartorial element), but Rahm is #1! And still a hottie. We really aren't hearing much about Rahm these days, but I'm betting that he's working hard behind the scenes, kicking ass and taking names, not later, but right then so he knows that people know they're on his List. Keep being the Enforcer, Rahm, and do some of that on health care reform, how about it?

I’d like to phone a friend, Regis

Today it was time for something completely different, and I toddled on down to the DNC local Headquarters downtown to do phone bank duty! It was all hustle and bustle, with dozens of people talking at once, phones ringing, people running in constantly with updates....

Well, not exactly. It was very quiet, and I sat at an oval table by myself with a list of names and numbers and a cell phone. There were other people there making phone calls, but one was back in an office, and one was at a desk several feet away. In two hours, I made my way through dozens of names, but at this time of day, many weren't home. These were all numbers of supporters and sometimes volunteers in the past, so I wasn't debating with anyone. It was mainly a way for Organizing for America to get people to contact their members of Congress to urge them to support health care reform legislation, and to get more volunteers. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and most had already contacted their legislators; a few even committed to coming down to do phone calls! (My Mom used to work on a switchboard like the one in the picture, by the way!)

One phone call was exhausting, lasting a good 15 minutes. A woman who was the caregiver to her mother had questions, some of which I could answer, some of which I couldn't. She was almost a nonstop talker, so I mostly said, "Mm-hm. That's right." The most heartbreaking call--one that brought tears to my eyes--was my next-to-last call, which would make it...anyone? Bueller? My penultimate call. That's right, class! Good job! Anyhoo, this guy was all for health care reform. He is the caregiver to his wife, who has Alzheimer's. He said about the only place he's been able to get help was through Hospice (a wonderful organization). He went to one place that told him he'd have to pay for a month upfront, $6500. He said, "We don't have that kind of money!"

It's people like that man and his wife, or like my in-laws who had to declare bankruptcy several years ago due to medical bills, that have made me want to get more involved. You know what else finally did it? I was sitting here last week reading about these protesters that carry signs like "It's MY money, not yours" or "Obama lied, Grandma died," and people like Palin and Bachmann with their lies about non-existent death panels, and I was writing an entry about some of this stuff. OFA called and asked if I could work the phones, and I think I was to the point where I'd just had it, so I said, "Yes. I would love to do that."

I suppose that the message here is that for all those who think that their voices are being heard as they march (all 70,000 of them, not 1.5 million as Glenn Beck reported--oh, and he wasn't even there) on Washington, or those that think that carrying an assault rifle to a town hall meeting somehow makes them more of an American than me, or for anyone who thinks it's funny to carry a sign that says "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy," understand this: your voice is being heard. It's being heard by people like me who believe in affordable health care for all, and who find your lack of compassion appalling and frankly, un-American. Yeah, I said it. It's being heard by those of us who find your scare tactics ridiculous, and by those of us who can't abide the lies you're spreading about this plan. We're hearing you loud and clear, believe me. And those of us who feel differently also have voices.

On a related note, Sherry wrote that she'd be interested to know my thoughts on President Carter's interview with NBC, in which he said that he believes that much of the animosity, from some factions, towards President Obama is because of racism. I'm glad he said it, and I believe he's right.

Let me start off by saying that I do not believe, in any way, shape, or form, that everyone who opposes President Obama's plans does so because of racially-motivated reasons. I have several family members who do not care for him and did not vote for him, and I know without a doubt that they feel that way because of political leanings, not because of race. I know that the statement "Anyone who doesn't like Obama is a racist!" is not true, and it is hyperbole that has no place in civil discussion. If someone makes that statement to me, I will tell them that I believe that it is false.

However, I also feel, like President Carter, that some of the more vociferous and vitriolic anti-Obama sentiment is coming from those who do hate him because of his skin color. South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst at the President's speech to a joint session the other night would not have taken place if it had been a white man standing up there. I firmly believe that. Wilson is a member of the Sons of the Confederacy and was one of only seven members of the South Carolina Senate who voted to continue to fly the Confederate flag over the state house in 2000. I don't believe his disrespect to the President would have happened if he didn't have racially-motivated feelings.

It can be hard to pin this down; most people don't speak right up and say, yeah, I hate the guy because he's black. (Although I'll never forget hearing a guy from Kentucky say on CNN during the election that the best advice he can give Obama was to "Quit bein' so black." Lovely.) Sometimes it's just a feeling, a general impression. Indiana has more than our fair share of racists (just one is one too many, in my opinion), and I've heard it all my life, so I know when I'm getting racist vibes from someone. It's usually sort of conspiratorial, like "Look at that black girl with that baby. I wonder how many more she has at home?" Right. White girls don't get knocked up, do they, Br--nahhh, I won't go there. Other times it can be blatant, like "Stay away from those street monkeys." It's ugly and hateful, and it's still here, in my state and in much of our country.

So when I see people carrying signs that show Obama as an African witch doctor, or when I still--still --hear people wanting to see his birth certificate, I get the definite vibe that it's racially-motivated. I heard a good example last night. Say that Obama was a white guy, with a father who came from Ireland. O'Bama, if you will. Do you really think people would be foaming at the mouth to see his birth certificate and producing bogus birth certificates from County Cork? You know they wouldn't. These are deep-seated feelings coming from certain people who just can't accept the fact that a black man is the President of the United States. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Get over it.

I'm glad that President Carter spoke up about this. He grew up in the South, and I believe he is well-qualified to offer his opinion on this. If it were someone from New Hampshire, for example, people would be saying that he's just some liberal East coast elitist. (Whatever that is.) With him speaking out, I hope others will have the courage to stand up and say, "This is wrong. We’re better than this." Nothing will be solved overnight, but it has to begin with a discussion, and I applaud the former President for bringing it out into the open.

Let me reiterate. I do not believe that every person who opposes Obama is a racist. But without a doubt, there are many who are, and anyone who flatly denies that is naive and disingenuous.

Two little words

So did everyone play like a good citizen and a Do-Bee last night and watch the President's health care address? I thought it was fantastic, but of course, I'm biased. I wasn't the person he was trying to reach, anyway. He was trying to get the moderate Democrats firmly on board, and the moderate Republicans (is that an oxymoron?) leaning towards his side. From everything I've read, there were mixed reactions in both of those camps. Some thought that it was a game-changer...others weren't so sure.

What puzzles me is how they're going to reconcile those who are majorly hung up on the public option. Republicans are saying they won't vote for the bill if it includes a public option; some Democrats are saying they won't vote for it if it doesn't include a public option. Sounds like a stand-off to me, but I'm sure a lot of it is posturing. I remain confident that some sort of compromise will be reached, and we'll see a health care reform bill passed, maybe before the end of the year. I'm not sure what the final bill will look like, but I think this is going to get done.

Today Sarah Palin was all boohoo and junk because the President called out those people who spread lies (not mentioning her by name, of course), saying that it would be "laughable if it weren't so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple." She wrote something on her Facebook page like "So much for civility." Yeah. The same woman who accused him of "pallin' around with terrorists" and stood there grinning while her supporters shouted out "Kill him!" is lecturing him on civility. Blah di blah blah, Palin. The woman grows tiresome.

Speaking of lying, the big story is obviously Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who, when the President said that this bill does not and will not pay for health insurance for illegal immigrants, shouted out, "You lie!" The look on Speaker Pelosi's face was priceless. He was immediately and roundly condemned for it, from both sides of the aisle, and issued a quick apology. Apparently, the rules of conduct issued by the Republicans specifically say that although disagreement is part of the process, it is unacceptable to call any President something like a 'hypocrite' or a 'liar.' We'll see if he's formally censured for it. I believe he should be, and have signed a petition. (For the record, I would be as equally appalled if it had been done to a Republican President. Like him or not, I believe it's a matter of respect for the office.) He apologized for his behavior, but he didn't apologize for being wrong. There is absolutely nothing in any of the bills' iterations that provide health insurance for illegal aliens. If you're going to call the President a liar, I would think that at least you'd want to have your facts straight. What a maroon!

I also have to wonder about his self-control issues. He said in his apology that he let his "emotions get the best of" him. Well, you need to work on that, dude. It's one thing for rednecks all over the country to put up idiotic, juvenile photos and videos mocking the President; you have to love a country where you're free to be as ignorant and as childish as you want to be. But for a member of Congress to show such disrespect is way out of line, and if you continue to act out, Congressman, you've got a problem you need to work on. Perhaps therapy can help.

Here's what really cracked me up about it, though. Right after the speech, he tried to speak to the President directly. Instead, he got this guy.

That's right, he talked to my pal Rahm. Oh, what I wouldn't give to know how that conversation went! I'm surprised Wilson didn't just burst into flames.

Well, he kind of did burst into flames with his spontaneous, Tourette-like outburst...at least politically. No, he's not going to be impeached or anything, and he shouldn't be. However, he's got an election coming up in 2010, and his challenger is Democrat Rob Miller, who was narrowly defeated by Wilson in the last election. Miller is a retired Marine and an Iraq war veteran. Oh, and because of Wilson's outburst last night, Miller's campaign has received over $200,000 in contributions already.

And who says politics isn't fun?!

In honor of the occasion, I made a LOLdemz. The picture was taken as Wilson shouted at the President.

(This is in reference to the first Austin Powers movie, in which Dr. Evil wants "sharks with freakin' laser beams attached to their foreheads!" Instead, he has to settle for ill-tempered sea bass.)

Come to find out, my friend Milwaukee Dan #2 also made a LOLObama right around the same time!

Whew, I've been laughing about this all day. Hard to believe that two, tiny little words can generate such good times!

Hodgepodge Lodge

I really like the word "hodgepodge," and that's what today's entry will be.

Even if you totally disagreed with his politics, I hope everyone today is joining me in sending Senator Ted Kennedy's family our condolences. I grew to respect the man for his convictions and for his many years of service to this country. It makes me very sad that he won't be around to see a health care reform bill, no matter what form it eventually takes, passed. I haven't had the news on at all today because I know it's a lot of sadness about the Senator's death.

~~~~~

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle "Politics is Hard!" Bachmann recently appeared on a radio show, and asked listeners to "pray, fast, believe, trust the Lord, but also act." She went on to praise Sarah Palin for talking about (nonexistent) death panels, saying "These are true!" She stated "We all need to consider that in God's timing that he may have allowed us, as members of Congress, to be in the position that we're in just for this specific issue right now." So now God has endorsed her position in Congress, eh? Michelle? That voice you're hearing in your head isn't God. It's your own delusions of grandeur, your belief that you have been sanctified by God, and it's whatever little lunatic is living in your head that causes you to say such nonsensical things. You might want to try to ignore it before it tells you do something really weird. Like read a book or something.

~~~~~

Hey, did you hear about the town hall meeting in Virginia with Congressman Jim Moran and Howard Dean? Yeah, a circus broke out! Someone yelled "God save America!" Then someone yelled back "Shut up!" Then another one yelled "God save the Constitution!" and someone responded with "Shut up, you pig!"

A 17-year-old girl in attendance said that it was "better than Springer." After the meeting she and her friends said that they felt discouraged by the lack of tolerance and talk of death panels from people at the meeting who were older than them. The 17-year-old said, "I thought our generation was supposed to be the stupid one."

You know what? I think I've changed my mind on all this stuff. No, not health care reform, but the behavior of some of these people at the town hall meetings, and the loony yammering of people like Bachmann, Palin, et al. I think they should go for it. Really let loose and shout all they want, continue to spout off about things that they've heard from their favorite Faux News talking head, keep repeating all the talking points from whatever disembodied voice wafts its way over the airwaves. Keep going, folks! Keep yelling about how you want government out of your lives. It's getting downright entertaining, and it illustrates perfectly your mentality. The shriller your cries, the loonier you look, and for those of us who do want to see reform happen and are interested in being a part of the process by engaging in actual discussions and attempts to learn more about it, it's becoming increasingly easy to be dismissive of you.

Oh, I'll admit...it's kind of embarrassing to see you act that way and know that people around the world are seeing this and thinking that we all are like that. But I think the voice of reason will eventually prevail, and then you can go back to whatever you normally do when you're not red-faced with rage, with veins popping out on your forehead, talking about how Obama's gonna kill your granny and then he's gonna take away your guns. Or maybe he's gonna kill your granny...with your own gun! *gasp* (That's a nice twist...feel free to use that one.)

So keep it up, folks! Just make sure that no one gets hurt in the process, okay?

~~~~~

I picked up my next book club book at the library yesterday, and about had a thrombo. A Bend in the River clocked in at about 280 pages...Angle of Repose is a cool 569. ACK! It's tiny print, too. This one might need a renewal. It does look very interesting, and I like the scholarly tone of the book and of the narrator.

The truth about my son is that despite his good nature, his intelligence, his extensive education, and his bulldozer energy, he is as blunt as a kick in the shins. He is peremptory even with a doorbell button. His thumb never inquires whether one is within, and then waits to see. It pushes, and ten seconds later pushes again, and one second after that goes down on the button and stays there. That's the way he summoned me this noon.

Isn't that great? Don't you immediately have a grasp of the character of the narrator's son? A good guy, a smart guy, but terribly impatient. I really think I'll like this one, but it will be a matter of getting through it. (She wrote, as she continued to write a blog entry, rather than reading.) I think only one other person in the book club has read it (Better crack the whip, Jillian! Haha!), and that was one of the people from out-of-state who joined our online forum. We've exchanged a couple of emails about it already, so it will be interesting to get her thoughts as I plow through it.

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I love Kohl's. I got a pair of red Keds yesterday that normally cost $45...for $9! How could I pass those up? I couldn't. I didn't have a red pair, either. The angels wanna wear my red shoes. A Silver Squirrel award to anyone who gets that reference!

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Lunch with my mother-in-law tomorrow! We're going to try a place I haven't tried before, La Esperanza. She loves Mexican food, but her husband doesn't, so I figured she'd like that. She's taking me out, so says it was my choice, but I wanted to pick a place that she would enjoy, too. I'm sure we'll have plenty to "dish" about. She cracks me up...you think I tell it like it is...?!

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I got an invitation today from my excellent brother-in-law, Tom, to go to a Cubs game in a couple of weeks with him and my sisters. My God, man, do you realize what you are doing?! Tom did his time as a Marine in Vietnam, so I suppose he's equipped to spend the day with the three of us. Wish him luck. He's a brave man. Of course, you have to be, to be a Cubs fan. Haha!