Thursday, August 06, 2009
Health Care Reform - Why We Need It NOW!
If you ever wanted a good reason for health care reform, read this story and when the tears have cleared up, write your do-nothing Congressman and tell them to get this done. Health care reform with a public option is the only version that will really bring reform!
64 Years After The Bomb
64 years ago the United States became the only nation in the world to use nuclear weapons in a war. That afternoon, the Japanese city of Hiroshima turned into a firestorm and 140,000 people were killed or died soon after from radiation poisoning.
Arguments continue as to the ethics and justification for unleashing the nuclear weapons on the world. Was there no other option? Was Japan ready to seek a peace deal anyway? The historical record is muddied by the political agendas of the players at the time. Now we can only look back and hope that it will never happen again.
The mayor of Hiroshima today called for abolishing nuclear weapons entirely. As the only country to have ever been attacked by these weapons Japan is in a unique position to make this plea. My hope is that the world will listen.
Arguments continue as to the ethics and justification for unleashing the nuclear weapons on the world. Was there no other option? Was Japan ready to seek a peace deal anyway? The historical record is muddied by the political agendas of the players at the time. Now we can only look back and hope that it will never happen again.
The mayor of Hiroshima today called for abolishing nuclear weapons entirely. As the only country to have ever been attacked by these weapons Japan is in a unique position to make this plea. My hope is that the world will listen.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Police Gone Wild! More Taser Madness.
Police just love their Tasers! "When it doubt, Taser them," seems to be the new rule for law enforcement.
The latest insane use of non-lethal force comes from Manassas, Virginia. A family ws celebrating the baptism of their grandchild in the privacy of their own backyard. Police arrived after a noise complaint was issued and demanded to see the grandfathers ID. Police say he refused and they Tasered him three times, once while he was on the ground.
Next, the out of control police Tasered a pregnant mother of the grandsons.
Oh, did I mention that the family was Hispanic? Funny you don't see this happen at a white garden party?
The latest insane use of non-lethal force comes from Manassas, Virginia. A family ws celebrating the baptism of their grandchild in the privacy of their own backyard. Police arrived after a noise complaint was issued and demanded to see the grandfathers ID. Police say he refused and they Tasered him three times, once while he was on the ground.
Next, the out of control police Tasered a pregnant mother of the grandsons.
Oh, did I mention that the family was Hispanic? Funny you don't see this happen at a white garden party?
Right Wing Protesters Turn Violent
Seems the GOP has taken a page right out of the fascist playbook. Now the alleged grass-roots protesters at town hall meetings are resorting to violence.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the president of the freshman Democratic class states, “at least one freshman Democrat” has already been “physically assaulted at a local event” by right-wing activists.
He is quoted on Think Progress:
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the president of the freshman Democratic class states, “at least one freshman Democrat” has already been “physically assaulted at a local event” by right-wing activists.
He is quoted on Think Progress:
“When you look at the fervor of some of these people who are all being whipped up by the right-wing talking heads on Fox, to me, you’re crossing a line,’ Connolly said. ‘They’re inciting people to riot with just total distortions of facts. They think we’re going to euthanize Grandma and the government is going to take over.”
Birther Movement? How About Racist Movement?
It seems appropriate to talk about birth certificates just a day after our President's birthday. More to the point I want to talk about this ridiculous "birther" movement.
First the whole "birther" thing is no movement. It's a manufactured controversy that has been latched onto by desperate Republicans who have run out of ideas to gain support. Like the allegedly "grass-roots" Tea Bag crap this one is spurred by the media and fuels by the Internet.
Birth records for the president are not in question by anyone with any common sense, instead it is a lunatic fringe that is being goaded into action by talk radio hosts and conspiracy theorists. There are even fake documents allegedly from Kenya being circulated that do not hold up to scrutiny, but for the birthers that is not a problem.
In reality the whole birth certificate thing is about race, not country of origin. The birthers are incensed that we have a president who is of mixed race. They are incensed that the majority of the country has put racial hatred and prejudice behind us. They are angry that they no longer control things in this country. They are like petulant kids who don't get their way after being spoiled most of their lives.
Now this small number of spoiled white kids are being used by the GOP to create a fake grass roots movement. They are acting without reason or intellect and seizing on only the bits and pieces of information that can somehow support their silly premise. Somehow in the "birther world" the newspapers in Hawaii had a premonition that a newborn would someday become president, so they printed fake birth announcements 48 years ago. They ignore the birth certificate produced by authorities in Hawaii and widely circulated in the media.
Mostly, they ignore, or suppress the fact that their real outrage is over race, plain and simple. If Obama was white, there would be no birther movement. John McCain was born in Panama. Other than a few news stories, did a McCain Birther Movement spring up? Nope.
Let's call this what it is, a racist movement veiled in a conspiracy theory.
First the whole "birther" thing is no movement. It's a manufactured controversy that has been latched onto by desperate Republicans who have run out of ideas to gain support. Like the allegedly "grass-roots" Tea Bag crap this one is spurred by the media and fuels by the Internet.
Birth records for the president are not in question by anyone with any common sense, instead it is a lunatic fringe that is being goaded into action by talk radio hosts and conspiracy theorists. There are even fake documents allegedly from Kenya being circulated that do not hold up to scrutiny, but for the birthers that is not a problem.
In reality the whole birth certificate thing is about race, not country of origin. The birthers are incensed that we have a president who is of mixed race. They are incensed that the majority of the country has put racial hatred and prejudice behind us. They are angry that they no longer control things in this country. They are like petulant kids who don't get their way after being spoiled most of their lives.
Now this small number of spoiled white kids are being used by the GOP to create a fake grass roots movement. They are acting without reason or intellect and seizing on only the bits and pieces of information that can somehow support their silly premise. Somehow in the "birther world" the newspapers in Hawaii had a premonition that a newborn would someday become president, so they printed fake birth announcements 48 years ago. They ignore the birth certificate produced by authorities in Hawaii and widely circulated in the media.
Mostly, they ignore, or suppress the fact that their real outrage is over race, plain and simple. If Obama was white, there would be no birther movement. John McCain was born in Panama. Other than a few news stories, did a McCain Birther Movement spring up? Nope.
Let's call this what it is, a racist movement veiled in a conspiracy theory.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
Turkish Building Demolition Gone Wrong!
They build them to last in Turkey! I have never seen a building do this when being demolished.
Sarah Palin's Other Shoe
We have all been waiting for the other shoe to drop and now it has become apparent that it just might have. The shoe? Rumors are flying that Sarah and Todd might be getting a divorce.
The story sounds like an episode of Desperate Housewives mixed with a health dose of trailer trash drama, but if the numerous sources are to be believed it just might be true. Palin was icy cold toward Todd at the "resignation picnic" and her wedding ring was noticeably absent.
Stories surfaced about Todd pulling a gun on Levi prior to the campaign and now that Levi is no longer engaged, his tell-all book should be interesting.
Meanwhile, Palin has supposedly purchased land in Montana. Might be a nice getaway for a newly divorced ex-governor?
So much innuendo and so little from Palin herself. She has been uncharacteristically quiet in the recent days. Of course it could all just be rumor...or not! (Cue dramatic music.)
The story sounds like an episode of Desperate Housewives mixed with a health dose of trailer trash drama, but if the numerous sources are to be believed it just might be true. Palin was icy cold toward Todd at the "resignation picnic" and her wedding ring was noticeably absent.
Stories surfaced about Todd pulling a gun on Levi prior to the campaign and now that Levi is no longer engaged, his tell-all book should be interesting.
Meanwhile, Palin has supposedly purchased land in Montana. Might be a nice getaway for a newly divorced ex-governor?
So much innuendo and so little from Palin herself. She has been uncharacteristically quiet in the recent days. Of course it could all just be rumor...or not! (Cue dramatic music.)
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