Thursday, October 29, 2009
The invisible mob
It looks like teabaggers tried to organize a flash mob to protest Speaker Pelosi's health care bill announcement. And it appears that as many as 10 million thousand people showed up.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Climate change is real
Republicans, for years, fought the whole climate change argument. Instead of being open minded and asking for further evidence, they simply became stubborn and "denialists." Now, just like in so many other issues, they are coming face to face with their own stubbornness:
"Eleven academies in industrialized countries say that climate change is real; humans have caused most of the recent warming," admitted Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "If fire chiefs of the same reputation told me my house was about to burn down, I'd buy some fire insurance."
An oil-state senator, David Vitter (R-La), said that he, too, wants to "get us beyond high-carbon fuels" and "focus on conservation, nuclear, natural gas and new technologies like electric cars." And an industrial-state senator, George Voinovich (R-Ohio), acknowledged that climate change "is a serious and complex issue that deserves our full attention."
What is it about the DNA of Republicans that propels them to always, always, pick the wrong side of any issue?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Not dead yet, just barely alive
So many on the lefty blogs are poking fun at all the pundits who declared that the public option was dead. Those comments are premature. True, the public option is not dead, but: 1) it's not law yet and still faces stiff tests to be, and 2) the public option in the Senate bill is far from ideal.
I'm still just cautiously optimistic that the bill that becomes law will have a public option; but I'm also convinced it'll be a compromised version that will come far too short of stated goals.
I'm still just cautiously optimistic that the bill that becomes law will have a public option; but I'm also convinced it'll be a compromised version that will come far too short of stated goals.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Who cares!?
Dick Cheney is doing what Republicans say shouldn't be done: criticizing the commander-in-chief during war. Now, I personally don't have a problem with criticism of the big guy, except in this case, the source is simply laughable. Joe Biden has the right response to Mr. Cheney's comments: Who cares!?
As Joe Klein of Time magazine sees it:
As Joe Klein of Time magazine sees it:
The national security policy pursued during George W. Bush's first term--when Cheney was, arguably, President for Foreign Policy--was the worst, most embarrassing, most counter-productive, in American history.The rest of the article is worth reading. It goes into more detail about Cheney's failures and why Obama's strategy is worthy of our patience.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Worried about the progress of Health Care Reform?
Well, given what's at stake, can't say that I blame you, but there is no need to panic. For months President Obama has been very clear about his strategy, which is quite simple: get the House and the Senate to pass something in their respective bodies. The bills don't have to be perfect. 80% of what he wants is enough. The serious work of getting what he wants will happen during the conference to combine both bills. That's when we'll see serious movement and more action from the White House.
So calm down and wait till those 2 bodies pass something, anything.
Here are more details about Obama's health care reform strategy, using his own words from 3 months ago.
So calm down and wait till those 2 bodies pass something, anything.
Here are more details about Obama's health care reform strategy, using his own words from 3 months ago.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Al Franken: not just a pretty face
This is what I expected from All Franken when I so strongly supported him for the US Senate:
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Back in the USSA
I have been away for 4 months living in the socialist hell that is Portugal. I experienced their national health care system first hand and lived to tell about it (plus I brought home a six month supply of medicine for the price of one month's co-pay with my insurance plan in the USA, which is $20).
Based on the accounts of some friends and family members, I expected to be taken away to a concentration camp upon my arrival. That did not happen. I thought rich Cubans would have ran away from the country already to get away from Fidel Obama's oncoming communism, but that hasn't happened yet. And, at least to my naked, uneducated eye, I see no signs of an impending holocaust by the armies of that fascist Adolf Obama.
Which only leads me to one conclusion: Barack Hussein Obama is a slacker!
It is, however, good to be back in the United Socialist States of America, if no other reason than the New York style pizza.
Based on the accounts of some friends and family members, I expected to be taken away to a concentration camp upon my arrival. That did not happen. I thought rich Cubans would have ran away from the country already to get away from Fidel Obama's oncoming communism, but that hasn't happened yet. And, at least to my naked, uneducated eye, I see no signs of an impending holocaust by the armies of that fascist Adolf Obama.
Which only leads me to one conclusion: Barack Hussein Obama is a slacker!
It is, however, good to be back in the United Socialist States of America, if no other reason than the New York style pizza.
Liz Cheney is a Cheney
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
They're just getting louder and dumber
A while back I read about a study on obesity that claimed that although the average weight of Americans has been going up, the number of overweight people is not, it's just that fat people are getting fatter.
I don't know if that study actually has ever been taking seriously, but I was thinking about it and it applies to right wingers: I don't think there is an increase in the number of right wingers; I just think they are getting louder and dumber.
I don't know if that study actually has ever been taking seriously, but I was thinking about it and it applies to right wingers: I don't think there is an increase in the number of right wingers; I just think they are getting louder and dumber.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Blowing Snowe
Forget Obama and his phony Nobel -- we have a new monster to hate today: Olympia Snowe stated that she will vote YES to get the Baucus health care reform bill out of committee (UPDATE: In fact, she did). Oh my...
As a right winger posted a few minutes after: "She's a bitch with a capital "C."" It's gonna get really nasty for her.
As a right winger posted a few minutes after: "She's a bitch with a capital "C."" It's gonna get really nasty for her.
Monday, October 12, 2009
By their own definition
The right wing has labeled Obama as weak, a men who will not attack Iran, will abandon Iraq, turn his back on Afghanistan, not stand by Israel, not confront South Korea, etc, etc... Shouldn't they, by their own definition of the man, not be surprised that he won the peace prize?
It's not like they have had high regard for the prize anyway. When Jimmy Carter and AL Gore won before, the right went ape shit about it. (Funny, how the pattern of Democrats winning drives them crazy).
Instead outraged, shouldn't the right have simply said: it figures?
It's not like they have had high regard for the prize anyway. When Jimmy Carter and AL Gore won before, the right went ape shit about it. (Funny, how the pattern of Democrats winning drives them crazy).
Instead outraged, shouldn't the right have simply said: it figures?
Counting pennies
When about 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks, Republicans didn't sit around counting pennies to make sure that we could pay for the mission to attack Afghanistan.
Why is it that when over 44,000 people die each and every year because they have no health insurance coverage, we are paralyzed by the need to count pennies?
Why is it that when over 44,000 people die each and every year because they have no health insurance coverage, we are paralyzed by the need to count pennies?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
There is peace and there is peace
Some of us see peace as a state we achieve by diplomatically resolving conflicts with our enemies in order to avoid war. But some people see peace as a state you achieve after you bomb your enemy to smithereens, destroy their infrastructure, kill as many of them as possible, inflict your will on them, and then stand with your foot over their collective fractured skulls and say: "now we can have peace."
Same word, two concepts.
And that is, in part, why some people think it’s cool that Obama won a peace prize while others think it’s a joke.
Same word, two concepts.
And that is, in part, why some people think it’s cool that Obama won a peace prize while others think it’s a joke.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Clash of contrasts
What happens when one creep (Bill O'Reilly) meets a smart man (Richard Dawkins)? Oh well... a totally lopsided confrontation occurs, of course:
"I believe in creative design, I believe in evolution, but I think it was overseen by a higher power," O'Reilly said at the opening, noting that scientists "still haven't figured out how it all began."
"It's a most of extraordinary piece of warped logic to say because science can't answer a particular question you're going throw in your lot with Jesus," Dawkins responded.
Why Obama won the Nobel Peace prize
By any reasonable measure
Friday, October 09, 2009
Why Obama deserves the Nobel Peace prize
Isn't it rich that the people who support the Afghanistan war, the Iraq war, the war on Terror, declaring war on Iran... think that all of sudden they are experts on peace? In reality, they see president Barack Hussein Obama as the biggest obstacle to escalating or starting wars they favor, and consequently, on that point alone, who else is more deserving of the Nobel Peace prize than the American president? No one!
World Wide Conspiracy Against Right Wingers
There's gotta be a world wide conspiracy against American right wingers. Examples of such conspiracy:
Obama wins the Nobel Peace prize when he did nothing -- I repeat, NOTHING -- to deserve it.
The world loves us now more than anybody else, and all because of president Obama.
Obama wins the Nobel Peace prize when he did nothing -- I repeat, NOTHING -- to deserve it.
The world loves us now more than anybody else, and all because of president Obama.
And the Chicago Olympic bid, in which president Obama participated, was rejected. (How is that a good example of a conspiracy, you ask? Simple: it was all done to make right wingers look unAmerican, stupid, and downright petty) -- Mission Accomplished!Step aside, Germany and France. There’s a new brand leader among world powers. Who? The good old US of A – according to new poll – thanks to the global popularity of President Barack Obama.
The Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index (NBI) survey on which countries are most admired and appreciated around the world has been conducted annually since 2005. This year the US topped the list for the first time, climbing six spots.
Can we give this guy a Nobel prize of some sort?
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Naked United
Conservative bible
Maybe this really is an Onion piece, but according to this article, it's for real. A group of conservatives is trying to come up with translations for the bible to make it more conservative.
Well, I suppose the next version of a film about Jesus will be cool when, after Judas points at Jesus (the kiss will be gone, I'm guessing), and Jesus pulls out his Uzi and kills a dozen Romans (Democrats?) before they taser him.
Well, I suppose the next version of a film about Jesus will be cool when, after Judas points at Jesus (the kiss will be gone, I'm guessing), and Jesus pulls out his Uzi and kills a dozen Romans (Democrats?) before they taser him.
Opting out
OK, I need this idea to sink in longer, and I need to read more opinions, but as of right now I love the idea of letting individual states to opt out of a public option. In fact, I love it so much that I would prefer this idea over a full blown out national public option. Why? Because it still gets us going on the government run plan, which I like, and it really could be the biggest wedge issue going forward that might, just might, put real pressure on the Republican party in the south. All we need is to start showing some success stories in the states with the public option.
But I'll keep an open mind about this.
But I'll keep an open mind about this.
Windmill boy
Amazing story of African kid who made a windmill to generate electricity by looking at pictures he saw in a book from the library. Good to know someone went to the library for something other than the sexy librarian. :-p
His story here.
He was on the Daily Show too.
His story here.
He was on the Daily Show too.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
I, too...
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
37
Oh noes!!!
More scientific evidence that the Shroud of Turin is nothing but a fake:
An Italian scientist has reproduced the Shroud of Turin, a feat that he says proves definitively that the linen some Christians revere as Jesus Christ's burial cloth is a mediaeval fake... Luigi Garlaschelli, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Pavia, reproduced the full-sized shroud using materials and techniques that were available in the middle ages
Monday, October 05, 2009
Can we fight more than one war?
President Obama seems to think so. War One? Health Care reform. War Two? Climate change. Obama just opened that door:
The federal government will require each agency to measure its greenhouse gas emissions for the first time and set targets to reduce them by 2020, under an executive order signed by President Obama Monday.This is going to get even wackier than the health care debate.
Good move by some American companies
Action speaks louder than words, and some companies are doing the right thing by quitting the US Chamber of Commerce, a notorious climate change denier. Apple was the latest:
Apple joins Pacific Gas & Energy, Public Service Company of New Mexico, and Exelon in an ever-growing list of companies who are leaving the Chamber over its ideological opposition to any serious action over climate change.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
The day after
Good morning, all. Let's take a quick check...
Is Barack Hussein Obama still black and still the president of the United States of America? Check.
Is Chicago still one of the great cities in America, and indeed, the world? Check.
Are right wingers still rooting for America to fail so that the first black president does not succeed? Check.
OK. All is back to normal.
Now, on to health care insurance reform and a sensible energy bill...
Is Barack Hussein Obama still black and still the president of the United States of America? Check.
Is Chicago still one of the great cities in America, and indeed, the world? Check.
Are right wingers still rooting for America to fail so that the first black president does not succeed? Check.
OK. All is back to normal.
Now, on to health care insurance reform and a sensible energy bill...
Friday, October 02, 2009
Hello, Republicans
Yes, it's true. Chicago lost its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. And it's true, president Obama was involved in the presentation. And I know you're gloating that a major American city didn't win because he was involved.
But here's something else that is also very true: come tomorrow morning, Barack Hussein Obama, a black man, and the president who will force health care reform down your throats, will still be the president and the commander-in-chief of the United States of America (a republic that includes the city of Chicago).
Sleep on that!
But here's something else that is also very true: come tomorrow morning, Barack Hussein Obama, a black man, and the president who will force health care reform down your throats, will still be the president and the commander-in-chief of the United States of America (a republic that includes the city of Chicago).
Sleep on that!
Will she...
Ardi: 4.4 Million-Year-Old Baby Mama
I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion in the years ahead about the meaning of Ardi, and whether the missing link has been found, but one thing is for certain: this is yet another step back for the defenders of fairy tale stories and creationism.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
I disagree with Alan Grayson
Grayson's lightening fast jump to the top of the news cycle:
In any case, I disagree with Mr. Grayson; the word "quickly" should not have been used, as it implies some sort of empathy, and that's a real cruel thing to say in Republican world. "Get insurance or die" would have been more appropriate.
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) took to the House floor last night to give his take on the Republican health care plan: Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.Well, the uproar has been enormous. But I don't think it's so bad. After all, it's not like he accused Republicans of setting up death panels to kill grandmas.
In any case, I disagree with Mr. Grayson; the word "quickly" should not have been used, as it implies some sort of empathy, and that's a real cruel thing to say in Republican world. "Get insurance or die" would have been more appropriate.
