Why the people voted for you....

Dear Mr. President and all the other Democrats who were swept into office since 2006; remember why the people voted for you and got you the majority you needed? We all wanted change... Change from what was going on under Republican rule. Change from not being heard and dealt lip service from those who could care less. If the Democrats are so concerned with what the Republicans are saying , then why did we vote them (Democrats) into office. We could have at least been abused by people who we know really don't care about us. Now we have to figure if the people we voted in are just the same.

Could it be - just maybe - possibly - that there really isn't that much difference between the two parties after all. Could it be that the one thing that they are both concerned about before the people is money. Money from the almighty health care system they are trying to fight. Money from the true "Death Panels"; the insurance company executives; the men and women who really decide who will die due to rejection of a claim. Why oh why do our politicians think they have to be beholding to these bloodsuckers? It was proven with the last election that the people have the power and even, believe it or not the money to get someone elected. I hope Mr. Obama never forgets the grassroots that put him over the top and got him into the White House.

It is time for both Democrats and Republicans to look in the mirror and realize who they are truly beholden to. Get some integrity and guts and do what is right. Realize that you will only hold that office for a temporary basis and when the time comes for you to leave - leave holding your head up high. Is getting blood money so that you can run for reelection so important that you forgotten what you were put there for. Stop being corrupted by the power of money; and instead be inspired by going down as a Congress who really served the people. Maybe it is time to get a copy of "Profiles in Courage" and read about those who really stuck their necks out. Also remember what Judas did after he got his gold pieces?

Learn from the Master

Can't emphasis enough... Please President Obama, study and learn from LBJ... It will work.... Just try it...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-22/how-lyndon-would-have-passed-health-care-reform/?cid=hp:beastoriginalsL2

How about NO Health Care?

It seems like some people are getting so riled up over giving every American affordable health care. Who are these people? Do they have such great coverage that they feel they are giving up something special? Do they have a job which makes the layoff-proof or fire-proof? Are they all multi-millionaires who can afford any doctor or medical care out there? Do they have elderly parents or grandparents who are on that awful socialist system called Medicare?

People have to wake up and stop showing their ignorance and have a civil dialogue about this very important issue. The best thing to do when making a decision like this is to put yourself in the worst possible situation. Those lucky to have medical care at the moment, envision yourself without it. Your have been fired or laid off; your company is going bankrupt; your in and industry that is downsizing or coming to an end. Now what do you do? Your child has the flu; you have high blood pressure or diabetes. What do you do? Your elderly parent needs expensive heart medicine. What do you do? Well I guess if you listen to the people who happen to have insurance (that is until their time may be up); be tough and suffer a little.

Apparently some feel that government - even at the local level - doesn't need to take care of it's people. That the unfortunates want to be that way by choice. That the sick and dying want to live that way - a way without hope of getting better. The simple thing to do is to ask themselves the question(s), is that what they would want for them and their family members? Some even feel that the government will take all the old people and kill them; maybe they saw the move "Solent Green" too many times.

Are these people even asking who is disseminating this information? How about big health insurance companies; pharmaceutical companies; politicians who get big money from both; and multi-millionaire commentators who could really care less about you. There is more of us normal everyday folks then there is them, but these small but rich groups are the ones dictating for all. Filling people's head with their keep on getting richer propaganda.

Maybe we have been approaching this the wrong way. Instead of trying to give all Americans affordable health care, let's take health care away totally. That's right eliminate all health insurance for a month; week; heck for just one day; and then let people feel the crunch. This was a country founded on unity - United we stand and divided we fall. Well if we divide some will fall thru the cracks - 45 to 50 million perhaps - but the rich will still get richer and the poor or even the middle class will just get sicker.

LBJ knew the way......

So much news and hub-bub in the last week that what seems to have been already forgotten is the Democrats have 60. Yes, Senator Al Franken has finally be legitimatized. Now that the Dems have what they have waiting so long for, all I keep hearing is that don't think it will so easy getting all 60 to agree to pass certain things. Certain things like health care. What??? I always thought the reason that the Dems wanted 60 was to get some legislation past for the good of the people who elected them. If they are still uncertain about what can be done - then the people have to be uncertain with who then elected. Now that the power has shifted will the Democrat controlled Congress be the congress of NO ALSO? I hope not.

Maybe President Obama should take a few pages or the whole book from LBJ. Why? Cause before he was consumed and done in by the Vietnam War, LBJ passed more legislation for the Great Society than any president before or after him. He knew how to pass laws; maybe because before president he was "Master of the Senate" (another good book President Obama) and knew what it took to convince senators to pass laws. He took that knowledge to the White House and parlayed into good for the people. He cajoled, intimidated, twisted the proverbial arm to get things done; but things got done. If he had the 60 that Pres. Obama has now - who knows what would get passed; but I am sure the first item would be health care. Don't squander this opportunity Pres. Obama.

Also - maybe instead of Press Secretary Gibbs arguing with Helen Thomas he should read her column more often and forward it to you Mr. President. Helen has been around longer then both of you and believe it or not ..... She gets it.... Read and learn

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/helenthomas/19790472/detail.html

Read a newspaper - save good reporters.....

If we keep losing newspapers at this fast paced rate, will we ever have a reporter of this caliber again... From Socialized medicine to war in Vietnam to the Palestine/Israeli conflict; seems like all the news of the past is in some way still the news of today.

If you have the time - enjoy the video....

From Democracy Now.... June 18, 2009
Twenty years ago today, I.F. Stone died at the age of eighty-one. He was the premier investigative reporter of the twentieth century, a self-described radical journalist. I.F. Stone’s legacy of work spanned the New Deal, World War II, McCarthyism, the Cold War, Israel/Palestine, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and beyond. He scooped reporters right and left. As the FBI tracked him, he tracked down the story. He is best remembered for his self-published I.F. Stone’s Weekly. At its peak in the 1960s, the one-man publication had a circulation of about 70,000. We speak to his biographer, D.D. Guttenplan, and air historic recordings of I.F. Stone at the 1965 Vietnam teach-in in Berkeley, CA, and on The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. [includes rush transcript]

To read, listen to, or watch the whole story:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/18/american_radical_the_life_and_times

Judges.... Is there a perfect way???

The hot topic in recent days has been that of judges. Not only because of the newly hope to be appointed after much scrutiny, Sonia Sotamayor, but because in many states it is Primary election time and time to elect judges. One of the amazing things is that most people don't even know there are judge race much less even know who there are. I am amazed that such an important position are taken for granted by the voters; well I guess for granted that is unless you are unlucky enough to go before one. Then if that were to happen could you have the judge excuse themself because you may have voted for him. Or better yet maybe your attorney donated to that particular judges campaign. Yes they claim they are supposed to be nonpartisan positions and they get to cross file on both the Dem and Rep sides of the ballot but we who pay attention always know what party they really belong to. They claim not to be politicians but they are always showing up to every political function there is so that they can schmooze with the committeepeople and powers to be to get elected. Now if that isn't a politician then what is. And talk about a lawyer frenzy - wow they all come out .... And we don't even know if they are half way good lawyers but they want now to be a judge. So if they are a crappy lawyer and happen to be popular among their peers, they can just get a promotion because of their meritocracy, to a judgeship. What better ally to have if you are a litigating lawyer then an incompetent judge that you may have helped get elected. And who is it that supports the judges the most and gives them great ratings when they are still attorneys...... You got it..... Fellow attorneys.....Never know when it may be your turn.

Now I am not saying that appointed judges are any better. They really have to kiss butt to get appointed. They have to be real party members to get appointed by the power to be. At least elected judges are beholding for a small fraction to the people.... Appointed judges only have one person voting for their approval... the appointor. So these lawyers keep in touch with party powers and get their name out there because schmoozing is really important.

And why lawyers? Are they the only ones who can make a good judgment? Albeit that they may know case law - judgment is usually based on a variety of conditions and most judges mix the law, life and circumstances to come up with their decision. An intelligent person can and will learn the law and/or have clerks who can look up certain case laws for them to interrupt. That person could be - an English professor, a social worker, an accountant or maybe a housewife. I would agree that they would have to have some qualifications but just solely going to law school should not be the only requirement.
If we are to be tried by our peers - what about the judge?

Finally it is the salaries. I saw that locally here in Pa. that the judges average a salary of anywhere from 75K for a district judge to 180K to superior court judge. Why should being a judge also become a way for some to get rich - fat - and lazy. For that much money and of course benefits they should have to be evaluated every year - and by a civilian board - to determine if they should keep their jobs.

Now although it may seem like an imperfect system - and it is - we can only hope that the cream rises to the top and maybe that crappy lawyer makes a great judge. But until we find that perfect system and appoint or elect Solomon like judges - please let's research who is running and pay more attention to who we blindly elect.

The best have been stealing presidential elections - The GOP

I am amazed of what cry babies the conservative right are. All they want to talk about stealing elections - well guess they have limited memory or maybe it's is that they have acquired some dementia - what about the 2000 & 2004 elections. Stolen by a master thief, with some family help.

Maybe the people had just gotten tired of being abused. Stop squawking and adjust to what the people want and need. The majority of the citizens of USA are not millionaire businessmen but hard worker individuals who want government to represent them. Cry yourself a river or wake up to reality and stop blaming others. The conservatives built a huge glass house and now they want to throw stones....