Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Great Divide: Republicans vs. Democrats,

I have been silent for awhile. Still searching for that great job. Still sick of partisan politics and those who put their own interests above the interests of the citizens of the US. sorry to see Project Runway end and Top Chef soon to end. No distractions from the reality of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Finishing the reduced COBRA payments; thanks President Obama for 9 months of affordable health care coverage.

Yesterday, the Senate voted on moving the Senate's version of the Health Care reform act to discussion and hopefully, a final vote. While its not perfect, it does contain a public option, albeit with an opt out. Who in their right minds would opt out of providing affordable health care to every human being in the U.S.? But then, who in their right minds would vote no to bring this health reform to the front of Congress for discussion and compromise and vote? Guess who? EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED NO.

I can't say what I think of them here but think of an anatomical part you sit upon and that comes fairly close. I pray that all these self serving, money grubbing, PAC influenced senators get voted out in their next terms. They will do anything and everything to opose the President; even if its in the best interests of the citizens of the US. A conspiracy of sorts? Hello? Of course it is.

Almost all countries have some form of health care coverage. Not the US and our health care ranks very low in the world. A world leader? I think not. I was amused by a post by a woman opposed to health care reform who touted that we don't need this because her hospital never refuses treatment to anyone who comes in. HAHA! Clueless. Does she understand that the hospital loses a fortune on this care? does she not understand that ALL of us already pay for this in taxes. And doe she not understand that these people wait till they are really sick because they can't go to doctors to prevent illness? No she obviously is drinking the same KoolAid those republican senators are (I am not capitalizing those words on purpose).

Do you know the Congress has health care coverage you and I would die for (pun intended) and we pay for it. I wish I could introduce a bill into the senate that strips health care coverage from the "benefits" of those people.

Here is the full list of who voted: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00353

Though I could say more, sometimes less is better. Let's get those naysayers out of Congress! Whew, feel much better now. More to come...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Happy Birthday Sesame Street

My daughter was a fan of Sesame Street and now her daughter is a fan; my son loved Cookie Monster; my grandaughter loves Elmo. I took her and my other grandaughter to see Elmo in person. I thought I was at a rock concert with 2-5 year olds doing the screaming.

So the question around the web is which character are you?

Some days I am Oscar the grouch like when the Senate is stalling on the passage of the health care reform bill and the public option without triggers. These people have the best health insurance possible. We pay for it. Don't we deserve to have some of that coverage for ourselves and our children? I am also Oscar when the House passed HCR with a public option (thank you) but sold out women to the conservative right in prohibiting the public option from covering abortions. Uh, excuse me but when was Roe vs Wade overturned? and when does one group over-ride the freedom for all?

Somedays I am a cross between Snuffleupagus (however you spell it), Elmo, with a touch of Ernie. Then there are somedays I'm Bert. Ah if life could only be so simple.

So which character are you?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

House Vote Aye on Health Care Reform with Public option

Yeah its passed the house. Well done. Want to know who voted yes and no? Here is the link:http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml

Look it over carefully. Your calls and emails helped. There were 2 from my home state of MD who voted no. One is listed as Independent and that is how he ran but we all know he is a Republican.

Sad that only one Republican voted for the bill. Partisanship over constituent wishes. Enough said.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Don't Make More of it, than it is: what's "it"

Ah, much ado about nothing or something, depending on your perspective. Example: the Yankees won the World Series, congrats but most of the news on the Internet is about the recent 2 state governor's loss to Republicans and the so-called impact on Obama and pending legislation. BS! Local politics is local not national yet the media seem constantly to be searching for garbage to promote...negativism, who needs this? not me.

When Hillary Clinton was running against Barack Obama for President during primaries and Md Governor O'Malley endorsed her, that was the kiss of death for her in MD. Marylanders are not enthralled with Governor O'Malley, and I believe if the former Republican Governor, Bob Ehrlich were to run against O'Malley today, Ehrlich would win. Does his mean we don't endorse health care reform? No, in fact MD Is ahead of the game with low cost and free health care in state and certain counties. Does this mean, people in MD hate Obama? Not. Yet on most of TV Talk and media outlets the pontification of the impact of 2 Republicans taking over formerly Democratic Governorships is the talk. And it occurred on the anniversary of Obama's election. Spare me. Local is local. Period end.

Obama took over with a lot of issues. He started working before he became President. Is it perfect? No. Do I think he is doing a good job? Yes. Look at him. He is grayer and skinnier than before. He has a lot on his plate. Do I wish he would be more emphatic in his pushing on health care reform and public option? you bet. But given what predeeded him, I think Obama is doing very well. The media picks on everything. And the ponitificating is getting so intense that I only watch the Today Show and no news on TV. I get the news from the Internet and read several different articles to try and get one non-biased, factual story.

Thank goodness for reality shows that are non taxing, non ponticating, non life/death (though I cannot figure out why Top Chef had the reunion show in the middle of their hotly contested series). The good news is Project Runway is on tonight. Life is good.

But I can't close without my asking you to call your congress representative to make your voice heard on health care refom and your senators. Tell them you want this vote before the end of this year. Senator Reid now says vote won't occur before 2010. Not acceptable...45000 more people will die from no health insurance...a fact. And our Congress seems to always make more of something; make things more complicated than they have to be....when Medicare came into being, it took only 10 months not 3 years as Congress is proposing for health care reform. Can you live with this? I cannot. So here is the number once again to call either the House or Senate: 202 225-3121

Health care is a freedom and liberty. We don't have to make it complicated. If every other country can provide BETTER health care to all their citizens at no or low cost, certainly we, the USA can do it.  But then, that might just leave some politicians not getting millions of dollars to decide on how to vote. BS. Just do it.