Because I just can't help myself

You know if there's a hotbutton issue in blogland, I keep my mouth shut. If there's a hotbutton issue affecting our country? I just can't help myself.

Yes, I'm going there. Health Care Reform. I'm sorry people. Obama campaigned on it. We elected him in a landslide on it. He made no secret about his intentions. And now, all of a sudden, everyone acts so freakin' surprised that he wants to enact universal health care coverage? Which simply means that every single freakin' American would have the benefit of health care insurance.

Instead of opposing political parties and insurance lobbies gathering their cronies to create havoc and sound bites, I'd personally love to hear what this plan entails. That way I could make an intelligent and informed decision as to my opinion. I know that in the last 2 years, our deductible has tripled, both individual and family. I know that we're fortunate to still have insurance. But I also know that it's the main sticking point every year in the union negotiations between the teacher's union and the school district. I'm interested. Unfortunately, every evening, I'm forced to endure watching the bad news, and seeing, once again, how Americans can make themselves look like asses in front of the rest of the world.

For all those people who are so concerned that universal health care coverage will mean rationing of health care, and insurance company big-wigs deciding who will live and who will die, and not being able to pick your doctor, and granny not being allowed to get her medicine or not getting her surgery, or dad getting kicked out of the hospital before he's well... I have news for you. We already have that health care system. It's called the HMO.

Would all the people who are raising a riot on the news every night deny HMO coverage to all the people in our country who currently have nothing? Just perhaps, we could shut our mouths and open our ears and listen for a change. Listen to the proposals and use our brains and then decide for ourselves. Clinton was unable to do it. Bush had no interest in it. I'd really like to see Obama make some real progress. I don't believe that moving toward a government run health care system is necessarily bad. Most other countries in the world manage it. I don't necesarily believe that it will bring the level of care in our country down, or that all the amazing research that goes on here will suddenly stop, or that all our innovative physicians will suddenly disappear.

I'd like to believe that as Americans, we can do something better. Smarter. But people, we have to shut up and listen first. Having the right to our own free speech does not deprive our neighbors of their right to free speech. Sometimes I think that the Bill of Rights should have included the Right to Listen. Lord knows we'd get a whole lot more accomplished. Including a Health Care bill.

You go, girl!!!

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) proposed a bill on Friday on the Senate floor to limit the salaries of any company that receives TARP funds to no greater than $400,000 - the same salary as the President of the US, after it came out that the companies that received TARP funds so far paid out $18 billion (including bonuses) to their executives last year. This limitation would stand until the company paid back all the money received from the US taxpayers in bailout money.

You go, girl!!!

Yes, We Can!

Today, I am filled with hope. And I am scared. And I am proud. I never truly thought that I would see in my lifetime the election of a black president. And in an hour and a half, Barack Obama will be the President of the United States.

I am filled with hope for the future. He is not the decider. He is not the divider. He is the uniter. He has the audacity to hope that together this country, this world can work together to fix our problems.

I am filled with joy that my children witness this event early in their lives, and it gives them the realization that, truly, anything is possible - they can be anything they want to be, if they set their minds to it, and work hard enough. I don't think they truly grasp the history they are witnessing. I thought about keeping them home from school today and watching the day's events with them, but I didn't think they would appreciate the enormity of the day.

I am scared. Scared that the immediate gratification society we live in will not grant an Obama administration the time necessary to work through these huge issues facing our country and our world. We didn't get into this situation overnight, and it won't be fixed overnight. But I'm terrified that our country will lose faith if the changes aren't immediate. Because they won't be.

But today, mostly I'm filled with awe. And excitement. I had the audacity to hope. I will be watching the inauguration on TVs provided by my company. They feel it's important. I hope that every four years, this country is filled with the same hope and joy that I feel in the air today. Yes, we can. If we only have the audacity to hope. To dream. To believe. To work. Damn hard.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT ELECT - WOOT!

I voted for him. He's inspiring and he's going to bring change to America, and to the world--the right kind of change, the kind of change we need. I look forward to seeing what he can do.

His speech as found on CNN (you can watch the speech as well if you click on this link):

Obama:

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.

Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.

Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.

And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.

To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.


This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Stop the Hate! Discrimination and the upcoming election

I was really hoping not to do another political post before the election, but something has been bothering me so much over the past few weeks that I feel compelled to spit it out.

This is likely the most hotly contested presidential election in American history. I think we can all agree on that, even if we Americans can't agree on anything else. But there are other issues that are being decided in this election, and one of the most highly debated and divisive issues comes out of my home state of California - Proposition 8. This is the proposition that seeks to eliminate the ruling of the California Supreme Court last May, that ruled that it is illegal to discriminate against any couple seeking to be married based upon their sex. You know... (whispers)... gay marriage.

I must warn you that I don't intend to offend anyone here who has a strong belief in Christianity. Indeed, I believe that the proponents of this proposition are behaving in the most un-Christianlike manner I could imagine. So I mean no offense to anyone, and I don't approach this as a Jew, a democrat, or any other type of person, except one who would hope for equal rights for all. One who, while I don't remember it personally, remembers learning about the difficulties faced by women when they tried to get the right to vote, and by blacks when they tried to get the right to vote, or by both in even attempting to get the right to own land, for crap's sake. And although I said I don't approach this issue as a Jew (and I don't), I know what it is like to be the object of someone's hate, simply because of who you are. Usually, this occurs out of ignorance. Usually it can be brushed off. Occasionally, I feel the urge to speak out, to educate, or simply to rant and rave at the offenders out of sheer frustration, anger, or plain old hurt.

I've often said that I live in the bible belt of Southern California, and never has it been more evident than during this election season. I've never felt more like a fish out of water. You can't stop at a red light without being swarmed by people on all 4 corners holding Yes on Prop 8 signs and yelling at me in order to sway my vote. The signs are on almost every lawn in my neighborhood and in every neighborhood in my city. I feel overrun with all the yellow (the signs are all yellow).

More and more, the ads are on the radio every minute or two, seeking to convince me that my children will be taught in school that marriages are all about a daddy and a daddy - indeed, that the schools will be compelled to teach this. Books about the King & the King will be mandatory reading. Commercials showing little girls about 6 years old coming home asking mommy about this are shown on TV, saying they learned it in school. Excuse me... my kids aren't taught about marriage in any form in school now - what makes me think that all of a sudden they will be taught about gay marriage? And so what if they are? Maybe if we taught about homosexuality in school from a young age, there wouldn't be such homophobia and stigma in the world. Much in the same way we teach about racism, and how all races are equal, perhaps we should be teaching that all people are equal, regardless of their genetic makeup. I don't know, just a thought.

The proponents of this proposition are so mired in their religious self-righteousness all in the name of Jesus, that they forget that the issue is strictly about discrimination. We don't discriminate. Let me rephrase that. We don't legislate discrimination any longer.

People walk around with their WWJD paraphernalia all over my town, and frankly, here's my thought on that. Mary Carves the Chicken, Bob's band, has a song on their first CD called Death of a Gay Waiter that has a verse in it that is fitting and proper, in my opinion. It goes like this:
"Hey You, You wanna be a hero
Love your fellow human beings
You - who call yourselves Christians
Sitting in your judgement seats
Remember - Jesus never bashed a homo
Jesus never hurt nobody
Jesus never put nobody down."

That's what Jesus would do. Bob saw a sign in town today that said "WWJD? He'd Vote NO on Prop 8!" I urge you to visit No on Prop 8 to find out more. And as I said, no offense meant, except to those who mean to offend.




Like it? Get it!

OK, I just have to... sorry...

Yeah, I escaped out of politics for a while, but she just doesn't make it easy, does she?

You would think after her debacle of an answer in the VP debate, that someone would have clued Sarah Palin in on what the VP's job is. (Someone other than Dick Cheney, that is). Almost as good as her answer, is the commentary here...



Somebody PLEASE give this woman a copy of Article 2 of the Constitution!! Or at least send her back to 12th grade Government. Maybe her daughter can tutor her on it. Oh wait. Is her daughter finishing high school? Or getting married? (excuse the low blow... it seemed appropriate)

Sticks and stones...

If this isn't the classic example of someone who can dish it out but can't take it, I don't know what is...

Have you registered to vote yet? Do it!

Now for the opinionated portion of my program... unapologetically offered (politically speaking, since I can apologize if the language or her use of race/religion offends anyone. That is obviously not its intent). This one is a bit over the top, but she gets her point across. Sarah Silverman is crude, rude, unrefined, and socially unacceptable. Admitted. But who didn't laugh their ass off last year with the videos she and Jimmy Kimmel did about f#@!ing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck? Those were hilarious. This one has a great point. And as a Jew, I adored it, personally... Hopefully, it's not one you have to be Jewish to "get"...

And won't we all be relieved when we can go back to talking about romance novels?

Sarah Silverman & The Great Schlep

The Veeps, and more on Sarah

Did you see the VP debate last night? My take on it is this:

I wasn't ever interested in voting for Joe Biden in the primaries. My guy was Edwards all the way – in 2004 and in 08. But as the VP nominee, I’m happy with him. He has the foreign policy experience that Obama lacks. Yes, he's been around forever in Washington, but frankly, who hasn't? Palin? Yeah, but... Well, simply put, she scares the living daylights out of me. Karen S has had a couple of interesting discussions on this.

Last night... well, what struck me was that although Palin didn't make any horrific blunders ala her Katie Couric interview, she did not answer a single question that was asked of her. Not one. In fact, she went out of her way to say that she wasn’t going to answer the question that the moderator or Biden or even the media might like her to answer, and then proceeded to discuss one of the three talking points that she obviously felt she knew well: energy, Iraq, and McCain as a maverick. I became sick and tired of hearing those 3 talking points and wanted to hear her answer a question that was actually asked of her.

I was equally struck that Biden answered every single question with a direct, specific answer before he moved on to tie each of his responses to either his position, Obama's position, or McCain’s ‘failed’ position. Would that both presidential candidates would have done the same in their debate last week, or could do the same next week. Perhaps they should look at Biden's approval numbers after last night, and have a lessons learned meeting. Biden also stuck it to Palin when she obviously thought she had the market cornered on knowing what people talk about ‘around the kitchen table’. His eloquent and heartfelt explanation of being a single parent after his wife and child were killed and his other two children critically injured was very touching, and got his point across. In fact, several times, he got his point across that Palin had no idea what she was talking about without ever actually calling her on it. I wonder it the majority of Americans picked up on that.

And Palin’s folksy ‘don’t ya know’ talk began to really get on my nerves after a while. Please. You cannot tell me that this is not an affect for the American audience to make her ‘one of the girls’. If I heard the word ‘ya’ instead of ‘you’ one more time I thought I was going to scream. And I had almost resigned myself to the fact that whomever our next president was, their entire ticket would know how to pronounce NUCLEAR. Unfortunately, I was mistaken. Of the 4 candidates, only Palin seems to fall into the Bush stupidity column of ‘NUCULAR’. Sorry, but if your finger is on the button, don'tcha think ya should know how to spell it?

And excuse me, but damned if she doesn't want to be another Dick Cheney. If you are going to be the Veep, you need to learn Article 1 of the Constitution. The founding fathers weren’t ‘flexible’ in the powers they gave the VP over the senate. Try again, Palin. I was thrilled to see Biden stick it to her again, although I would have actually liked to see him tell her directly that she was incorrect. The VP is a member of the executive branch, not the legislative branch. No matter how much you wish it were otherwise. That is 12th grade government, dearie. Learn your constitution. And if you can't, or don't want to, then at least learn the issues for Pete's sake, and answer a question. Wanna get back to me on that one, Sarah? Golly gee willickers. Say it ain't so, Sarah.

So, did you watch? What did you think?

McCain strikes back.... it just got VERY interesting

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for a republican VP... it just got very interesting, no?

Should she call him Daddy? Oh, and how long till they make her get a new hairdo?

Democratic Convention, Day 2

As I said, I'm a politics ho. When my guy bowed out... (John Edwards who I supported totally politically and still would in a run for the white house - do NOT get me started, and see my note below on Day 1 on separating the personal from the professional... but puleeze! The guy's wife had just been diagnosed with freakin' breast cancer... ok, nuff said)... Anywho, after Edwards dropped out, I studied the field to see with whom my beliefs most closely aligned. I chose Hillary Clinton. I never just go with my gut. I'm a very learned and studious voter. It was a hard fought battle, and when she dropped out, I was disappointed, but I could see the writing on the wall.

So I watched her speech tonight with great interest, knowing that there are those delegates committed to her that would rather vote for McCain than Obama. One has even done a commercial for him. Interesting, given that if you are a delegate to the democratic convention, one would assume your allegiance is to the democratic party by default, but I digress....

Clinton was articulate, fiery, eloquent. She had the audience in the palm of her hand. It was her job to unite the democratic party. The jury is still out. I find it so interesting that in a year when we saw our first true possible major party nominees as a woman or a black man, the democrats can't seem to unite behind either one of them, yet each of their defenders are so devoted, loyal, zealous even. Hmmm..... Oh, and as Nikki said, she looked fabulous! And interesting that Chelsea joined her up on stage afterward, but not Bill. A deal between the two that he won't steal her thunder, perhaps? Too cynical of me?

Next up tomorrow - Bill Clinton, who to this day has refused to come out and actually endorse Obama for president. I always had the feeling that he deliberately undermined and sabotaged Hillary's campaign though. He is too much of a master campaigner to not know he was sending her campign into the crapper with some of his comments on the campaign trail. So to then refuse to endorse Obama... as I said - side deal with Hillary, perhaps? LOL!!! Still too cynical?

Let's just say I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve.

Democratic Convention, Day 1

Anyone else interested? Watching? I'm a politics ho, I admit it.

Who couldn't have been moved watching the tribute to Ted Kennedy? And then seeing him come out and give his speech? It really reminded me that in today's world, politicians like Ted Kennedy would never have made it past their first scandal. Chappaquiddick, anyone? He never would have been re-elected after that in today's world. And think of all the good things he has done for our country since then that might never have been passed in Congress. Wow. It really does bring to mind the question of character, and separating the personal life of a person from their professional life. Interesting, no? (Bill Clinton, anyone?) Makes one wonder. Anyway, I was really happy to see him looking as well as he did.

And I thought Michelle Obama's speech was fabulous. I was thrilled by it. I loved afterwards when Keith Olbermann asked one of his female commentators to explain why some of the women were crying. The old "we're just dudes... can you explain this phenomenon to us?" Bob and I were laughing our butts off. It's so Keith Olbermann. We loved him when he was just the local sports guy in LA.

Anyway... any of you watching? Thoughts?

Good Stuff Folks...

Okay, I don't watch the news because I hate what's happening out there and the economy scares me. BUT, every single week I watch Real Time With Bill Maher and every week he never fails to entertain me. The best is at the end of the show when he goes through his New Rules. This week was particularly entertaining and just made me grin and laugh because I share his philosophy. If you think the world is fucked up, the race for the presidency is overly dramatic, and that our current president is a dumbass, then watch and be entertained. :-)

Your Signature Can Make A Difference

I received an email from my sister today that I thought was probably a chain email, but it wasn't. I read the email then followed the link and I am heartbroken. I understand that the insurance companies have a lot of expenses, but one more day in the hospital isn't going to drive them under. And don't we pay insanely high premiums for when we do get sick?

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's what my sister sent me:

From a nurse:

I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies . So there I sat with my patient giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they muttered.

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterward. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

Mastectomy Bill in Congress

It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important .. please take the time and do it really quick!

Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.

If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the Web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and
family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS.

So, I followed the link, I signed the petition, and I hope you all will do the same. Let's stop the insanity before it gets any worse. We've gone from throwing women out of the hospital within 24 hours of childbirth to now wanting to do mastectomies as outpatient surgery? What the hell is wrong with this country?

Take the time to make a difference, less than a minute, and sign your name.

Caution... huge rant ahead

Bush strikes again.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070703/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial

WASHINGTON - President Bush spared former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak investigation Monday, delivering a political thunderbolt in the highly charged criminal case. Bush said the sentence was just too harsh. (too harsh my ass).

Bush's move came just five hours after a federal appeals panel ruled that Libby could not delay his prison term. That meant Libby was likely to have to report soon, and it put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.

"I respect the jury's verdict," Bush said in a statement (bullshit). "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison." Read the rest here.

Just because Plame was fortunate enough that she wasn't so compromised to be killed, doesn't mean that this wasn't a serious enough crime to be punishable with a prison sentence. And you can bet your ass that if it was a democrat that was at fault their ass would be in jail right now, amongst a battlecry from the republicans.

And they tried to impeach/convict Clinton for getting a freaking blowjob, for crap's sake! Jesus H. Christ.

The US Constitution, Article II, Section 4 states: The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. If Bush and Cheney aren't guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors, I don't know who is.

Let's weigh it...
Blowjob... illegal wiretapping, violation of the Geneva convention and torturing prisoners...
Blowjob... illegal wiretapping, violation of the Geneva convention and torturing prisoners...
Blowjob... illegal wiretapping, violation of the Geneva convention and torturing prisoners...

Oh, I forgot, we couldn't possibly impeach Cheney because he isn't part of the executive branch. Or part of the legislative branch. He's a branch all on his own. When asked for information that all members of Congress must provide, he claims he's part of the executive branch. When requested to give information that needs to be provided by members of the executive branch, he claims he's in the legislative branch. After all, he get to break ties in the senate. Whoopty doo. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/26/politics/main2981956.shtml

I love Keith Olbermann.



I could rant some more, but I would never ever shut up about this.

OMG- Too Funny- Chris Rock

Now, I'm not sure how I feel about the majority of the commentary in this video, but his last few lines I agree with 100 FREAKING percent!

I So Agree...

Anybody else feel that democracy is being taken away as President Bush makes the decision in spite of the fact that congress, senate, and the majority of the US population feels he's making a horrible decision by keeping this war going and sending in 20,000 more troops? Watch below...




I agree with Rosie when she says that someone should call for the president's impeachment to set the record straight with the rest of the world and the history books- letting them know that we do not support this war and would like to pull the troops out of the Iraq before more lives are lost fighting a war that is, quite frankly, none of our fucking business.

I support the troops 100% because they are over there doing their sworn duty. What I do not support is President Bush's pressing forward rather than pulling back. It's a waste of money and a waste of lives. Hasn't this country suffered enough because President Bush can't admit he was wrong? Being president, there is no room for arrogance. He needs to get over himself and do what is right.

And with the results I found here:

Matthew Borghese - All Headline News Staff Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The American people continue to hold their Commander in Chief in low regard, after a new poll shows only 32 percent of those surveyed find President George Bush is doing a good job in the Oval Office; 67 percent said the President is doing only fair, or poor.

A new survey conducted by Harris Interactive also finds Americans dislike the majority of the President's team, including Vice President Dick Cheney, who is viewed negatively by a record 67 percent of respondents.

As for other senior leaders in the White House, 52 percent of Americans have a negative view of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and 48 percent feel the same way about Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Democrats aren't immune to the ill will either, as the poll finds the majority of Americans have a negative opinion of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 45 percent to 38. Although, Democrats in Congress fair slightly better than their Republican counterparts. A full 69 percent of Americans have a negative view of Republican lawmakers, while 52 percent of Americans feel the same about the other side of the aisle.

That just about says it all, doesn't it?
Rant over.

Ignorant and Abnormal... That's Me

And I'm damn proud of it. Why you might ask? Well, there was a big commotion over racism by Monica Jackson and a few others over AA authors and the fact that they're segregated into their own section and I have to tell you, I had no clue. Seriously. My Waldenbooks (city population 51,000) doesn't have an AA romance section... all romances are in the romance section. I went to the Borders and Barnes and Noble in two larger cities (population 200,000 and 500,000) close to where I live and there is no separate section there either. Hence, my ignorance to this fact.

Also, on the subject of my being abnormal, I guess I have to be because I deviate from the norm. Again, why? Because up until two or so years ago I had no clue that Brenda Jackson (an auto-buy author for me) was an AA author. Seriously. And it leaves me wondering just how many of my auto-buy authors are also AA authors... but you know what? I could give a rat's ass what color she is. She writes fabulous stories and I enjoy reading them. For me, it's that cut and dried.

Though I am now a bit less ignorant, I'll continue to go around abnormal and be proud of it because I'd rather be different than walking around with a big chip in my shoulder pointing fingers. It's just not worth it.

Racism In Publishing, How Does It Affect You

Racism In Publishing, How Does It Affect You?

Are you an African American author who’s been published for at least one year? If so Karen Scott wants to hear from you.

She’s conducting a survey based on the racism within the publishing industry, and whether or not it’s as prevalent as some believe. She’s looking for black or African American authors who have been published for at least one year.


She would like to know about your specific experiences within the industry thus far. She wants to know how AA authors feel about the current shelving policies, and niche marketing. She wants to know who you feel is to blame for the problems that you face. She also wants your suggestions on how things can be improved upon.


In all, there are twenty questions in the survey, and all that she asks is that people be as honest as possible. Confidentiality is assured if requested, but for the findings to yield more weight, she would request that she be granted permission to directly quote from the answers given by the authors.


She’s hoping to poll at least 100 AA authors, in an effort to ensure that a fair representation is achieved.


If enough authors agree to participate, (and depending on the findings) the results may well be sent to representatives within media and press. No promises that Oprah will hear about it, but all efforts will be made to get the message out.


If there are AA authors out there interested in participating in this poll, please e-mail Karen at hairylemony @ gmail. com (without the spaces) with the subject header ‘Please send me the survey'.


The deadline for the survey to be completed and returned to Karen is March 1st 2007

Farewell to a President

We lost another of our dignified leaders late last night. President Gerald Ford passed away at 93. He brought the country back together at a time when we so desperately needed it. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ford family.

I'm suddenly aware that the only living former presidents now are Carter, Clinton, and Bush the 1st. And Jimmy Carter, although very healthy and hale, is not getting any younger. Once he is gone, we will truly have lost all the real statesmen - the men who appeared to be in it for the good of our country, not for themselves (I'm still on the fence about Bush the 1st; although I didn't like his politics, I think he is a gentleman, at least).

The first president's death that I truly remember was Truman. I remember an announcement being made over the loudspeaker at school. It was such a huge deal. We all knew who Truman was. They don't make announcements at the schools these days when former presidents die. Most children today don't know the names of former presidents, aside from Washington and Lincoln. What a shame. We will discuss President Ford at the dinner table tonight. My children deserve to know about him. And he deserves to be remembered by new and future generations as somebody other than a Chevy Chase caricature.

Farewell, Mr. President. May you rest in peace.