Baucus still leads in moneys from insurers and more, a must read

If you do nothing else today, you must read Time Goes By today: http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/10/the-nonpublic-option.html to see the list of Senators taking money from pharma and insurance lobbyists. These are the same people who we elect to protect us. Hahahahaha.

If you do not read this blog today, at least go here to find out who in Congress is getting moneys from the insurers and pharma to control what kind of health insurance you and I get. Make note of those names. We can control this by not voting them in again if we do not get health insurance for all that is affordable. My own state of Maryland: Senator Mikulski accepted over $90,000 from healthcare and pharmaceutical product industry...not huge but why even bother? Senator Cardin accepted over $300,000 from health professionals, no insurers/pharma companies listed.

Stall tactics that is what Congress is best at. Only Senator Reid is free from receiving moneys. In my book, he has been elevated to Sainthood. And he is listening to the public option. I found out from Ronni's blog listed above that President Obama took out the possibility of a public option coming under Medicare. So I ask President Obama why? Was is too simple to use an infrastructure that is already in place to provide health coverage? Medicare is not perfect but it works. And if we took the age factor out, it would work better. It seems so logical to spread risk in health insurance over 100 million people, rather then put 40 million in a separate pool. The risk factor would decrease; costs would decrease. And it's already in place. It could actually work. What a concept! Making something work simply, easily and at less cost. Who knew? Certainly not our Congress.  And sadly, not even President Obama. And that saddens me even more.

If you do not make your voice known, you will have no say in the health care destiny of you or members of your family. If you do not make your voice known to Congress to tell them how you feel about their taking money from industries who control the US health care system, then we all reap the consequences. I am not willing to sit back and do nothing. I hope you feel the same.

So here is the link to find out the phone/email of your Rep and Senators in Congress and even the President. The rest is up to you.

more to come..............

The Days of Awe, Reflections of a Mad Woman...I think

What are the days of awe? well, for some people, that may mean something else. For me, being Jewish, it means a period of introspection, reflection, forgiveness and much, much more.

In the Jewish faith, there are 40 Days of Awe that culminate in the most holy of our holidays, the last 10 Days of Awe, Rosh Hashonah (the Jewish New Year) up to and including Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement where Jews fast, and usually spend time in synagogue, praying for forgiveness for sins, bad deeds, remembering those who died, and reflecting on their lives and how they will live a better life going forward. It is written that between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, G-d keeps "books" on everyone and by the end of Yom Kippur, HE decides what one's fate will be for the next year. That is why you hear people say to one another..."may you be inscribed in the Book of Life".

Why do I not write out the name of G-d? I was always told that the name of G-d is not to be spoken or written. That is true in the writings of the Torah (book of prayers). In English, their is no real translation for this other then the word G-d. Some Jews say in English, you can write out HIS name. Frankly, I am sticking with the old way since I take no chances, especially at this time of year!

I am not an overly religious Jew though I love and respect my religion and the culture: strong family ties and relationships, charity, forgiveness. In my own way, I observe my Judiasm. It probably does not coincide with what the Man Above had in mind, but it serves me and my immediate family.

That said, I always become more emotional and reflective at this time. And now, that is even more so. I am very blessed. G-d has been good to me and my family. I truly believe HE is watching over us.

I am a passionate person. When I believe in something, I fight for it. I have also been told I am funny, not funny enough to perform comedy but enough to provide myself and my family and friends with comic relief when needed. I am also very sarcastic but if you have been reading this blog, you must have gotten that by now.

So I have taken a little break from the realities of life : no health care reform stuff as Repubs and Dems are duking it out with over 600 ammendments, stall tactics, etc.

Glen Beck and Rush Limbo (intended) are in their own world primed with instigation, hate mongering and more (IMHO). Sick of them.

Still looking for job....along with millions of others but am hanging in there.

Having fun with my grandkids and that is a good thing.

Am thrilled to have distractions like Project Runway (please bring back Michael Kors and Nina Garcia), Top Chef, Biggest Loser, Ellen, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and more.

I have become intolerant of right wing-nuts who promote hatred and lies.

But I am not worrying about the future. Though I will pray on Monday for forgiveness, and for my family, I have become more of a fatalist: what will be, will be. I have lived a good life so far. G-d has been good to me. I believe that what will be is HIS will. I trust in HIM.

I am very fortunate to have wonderful grandkids. 2 of the 6 whom are pictured here. The ever drooling Lexi at 5 months, and the spectacular Chloe whom I spent 2 hours with at grandparents day at her pre-school where she exhibits her "tude" . Could life be any better?

So, Happy New Year...May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life.

More to come............

Taking a break from hate mongers: conserv right wing-nuts and fox news(Lies)

Is there anyone else out there who sees that the Repbs, conservatives, bimbo limbaugh, fox news are having a field day organizing lies and media coverage not to be believed. In my lifetime, I can't believe at this stage of our country, we promote hatred and lies and make a President wanting to encourage school kids to stay in school be on the verge of a criminal act. Bush spoke to kids in school: where were this idiots then?

These are the people, in my opinion, who fought against civil rights, and who are really exceptional at taking people's fears and appealing to them. What's worse? The media coverage of this crap.  Here is an example of distortion :http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/09/01/kevin-mccullough-obama-implode/; beyond the article are the comments from people who obviously never went to school.

Am retreating to relishing Project Runway, Top Chef, and more. Where are the sane people? No complaints on how these hate mongers are trying to take over our country? that is the part that saddens me most. The voice of reason is no where to be found.

Obama inherited this mess. He is doing his best to clean it up. We should all be praying he succeeds because we will succeed if he does.

Whatever, no one listens but if YOUR job was taken, if YOUR health care was denied, if your child wanted to hear a president speak and was denied it, what would you do?

Health Care: Speak Out. Now is the hour

My friend, Ronni Bennett of TimeGoesBy.net, has been doing a great job blogging on health care reform and the importance of the public option plan.  President Obama is speaking to Congress on September 9th. Have you spoken to the President lately: go to http://www.healthreform.gov/ and make your voice heard.

Lots of lies out there. Ronni talks of a site to help you sort fact from fiction. I am putting information here:

http://www.ncpssm.org/truth_squad/

It's the Truth Squad. Please check it out. Please contact your Congressional Representative. Karl Rowe is now speaking out on health reform: is this the man YOU want deciding what health care coverage you or your family has? Not me!

Hate Mongers attempt to follow me on Twitter

I have made it no secret I am for a public option and support President Obama's health care reform plan. I have blogged on it and used my Twitter (Twitter/nkbe) account to continuously promote this action, joining many others in this cause. I don't know why I am still amazed at the agression of the minority who espouse lies and fear mongering to get Obama's plan defeated; but I am still amazed. I almost wish those of us for the bill had more gumption and less apathy in this matter.

If you watched Senator Kennedy's memorial and burial service, you would have heard Republicans speeches on what they admired most about this Senator: His ability to reach across the isle and get things done. Yet less than 24 hours after Kennedy's burial, the Republican Congress was out in full force espousing lies about the health reform bill. They need to be removed from Congress because all they care about is their own personal gain (in my opinion). They seem to want to do and say anything to have the President fail. If the President fails, we all fail. President Obama inherited this mess. It will take more than 6 months to fix the crap President Bush got us into not to mention the greed of Wall Street and banks.

Where are you people? Do you not have a voice? You better speak now because we are in danger of losing help we desperately need for our citzenry. I contact Maryland Congress people yesterday to tell them to make health reform happen, particularly the public option. As I said in a previous blog: managed care insurers want their say; want to make millions and billions of dollars at our health needs. We need an option!

Today, the Christian Coalition wanted to follow me on Twitter. Their goal: defeat health care reform and more. Can they not read? do they not see I am for it or are they trying to defeat my voice? I blocked them but I fear their efforts will attempt to defeat my voice.

Now is the time: here is the link to all of Congressional emails: http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html

What are you waiting for? 57% of those polled want the entire Congress replaced. I want most of them replaced. We can make a difference here. Make your voice heard. do it NOW.

A little more on healthcare reform; Baucus plus

I read September issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. They have a great section on health care reform. A little bit of Trivia:Max Baucus (a so called right wing Democrat) who chairs the Senate Finance committee and is trying to stop the public option of healthcare reform, took almost $3 million from health insurers over the past year...and he knows health care? HAHAHAHA; he is owned by managed care companies.

Here is an emial I got from an organization trying to get health reform passed, the way it needs to be passed. I am including it to show that if we all work together, we can overcome the lobbyists and in fact we are lobbyists!

It's all because of you and the work we've done together.It started with 400,000 thousand signatures of Americans drawing a line in the sand, demanding that the inclusion of a public option in healthcare reform is non-negotiable. Then over 10,000 people delivered these petition signatures to every single member of Congress, sometimes to multiple offices. Governor Howard Dean capped it off with a public delivery event in Washington D.C. that drew over 10,000 supporters.Congress got the message. At least 64 House Democrats have pledged to vote against any bill without a public option. We need to thank our House Healthcare Heroes. Tell them to stand strong against pressure from insurance industry lobbyists.

ADD YOUR NAME NOW AND THANK OUR HOUSE HEALTHCARE HEROESWe're winning today because you've been driving the debate and delivering results.For the last two months, DFA members teamed up with OpenLeft-com and Healthcare for America Now to get every Senator on the record in support. The campaign is working. We are only four Senators away from the 50 we'll need to guarantee passage. We've been raising money all week to put extra staff and resources on the ground starting September 1st in as many as 10 states to pressure the remaining Senators. We will not stop until we win.DFA members also teamed up with FireDogLake-com to mobilize House Democrats. We made calls together.

We went to Town Halls and spoke up. And we offered House Democrats the chance of increased exposure if they shot a video to drive their position home. At least 64 House Democrats have stood up publicly, taken our challenge, and several of them backed it up with a video. Thanks to your work and these 64 Democrats, a Healthcare bill without a public option is D.O.A. in the House.Together with leaders like Jane Hamsher at FireDogLake and Chris Bowers at OpenLeft, we're delivering the results to get the job done. Let's make sure our House Healthcare Heroes know we have their back as long as they stand strong against insurance industry pressure.

THANK THE HEALTHCARE HEROES AND DEMAND THEY STAND STRONGWe're not holding anything back.We're continuing to pressure Roadblock Democrats like Senators Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu and Max Baucus with hard-hitting ads and personal healthcare stories of real Americans calling for change. And, with our friends at the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, we're preparing to amp the pressure up for Republican Senators in Iowa and Maine just in time to send them back to Washington with a clear message to not block reform.More than 1,000 DFA members have offered to become a spokesperson in rapid-response ad campaigns pressuring their member of Congress. We're ready to hit back against any Republican or Democrat - in any state - at any time if they plan to stand against the choice of a public health insurance option.

We're organizing everywhere to make sure we pass reform with a real public option. And just as it is important for us to be able to fight back against our opponents, it's important for us to be able to thank our heroes.ADD YOUR NAME NOWWe're winning, but we can't sit back and hope it happens. We need to make it happen.Thank you for everything you do to make sure we win.-ArshadArshad Hasan, Executive Director Democracy for AmericaP.S. On Tuesday, Governor Dean challenged DFA members to fund a campaign to put organizers on the ground in states where we still have Roadblock Senators. We've almost hit our goal. After you add your name, please contribute. We can be on the ground in as many as 10 states if we have the funds by Monday.

Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.

Paid for by Democracy for America, http://democracyforamerica.com/ and not authorized by any candidate. Contributions to Democracy for America are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Big Night on TV tonight: Big Day Tomorrow for Healthcare reform

Tonight is a night for relaxing and enjoying shows. Relaxing and getting away from the right wing lies on healthcare reform is just what I need. Top Chef Masters ends...(will miss it) but Top Chef begins!. And tomorrow night is Project Runway. HURRAY! And it's a double dose. First show is bringing back favorite designers who did not win to give them a second chance. 2nd show is the start of the new season....another Hurray!

Tomorrow, many bloggers, me included will post blogs on health care reform: what's real and what's not. The movement was started by Ronni Bennett of Time Goes By. Here is the link to that post:http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/08/elders-for-health-care-reform.html

Health care is personal. Almost 50 million Americans have no health insurance or are under insured. In this economy, anyone is at risk to be without health coverage. You included. Ask yourself what would you do? How would you care for a child? spouse? yourself?

Some people are saying this is healthcare rationing. Not true. Some people say it is a way to kill off seniors: not true or I would not be endorsing it nor would AARP. Some people say AARP is losing members because of their endorsement of health reform: NOT TRUE. The reform is not causing the problem; the conservative right wing Republicans who will do or say anything to assure this does not pass are the reason for the controversy. Make no mistake about it: health is a liberty....a freedom, the freedom to live YOUR best life and be able to pay for preventive, and interventive, medical care is every human being's right. Man, woman, child, old and young.

It is also a CIVIL RIGHT. I got an email from Dr. Howard Dean. Here is part of that email: The campaign for the choice of a public health insurance option will be over only if we quit or we've won. That decision is ours to make. Not the media's decision - Not the insurance industry's decision - It's our decision. We have the power and we're going to win.Make no mistake, victory won't happen overnight. Just like President Obama's campaign for President, this campaign is a long haul. Congress returns in September for the final stretch to pass reform by the end of the year. "

I urge you to get involved. Learn the facts not from the media, but from legitimate sources which I will post tomorrow. I will also post how to contact your congressional leaders, the White House and more. More to come...