Showing posts with label Arianna Huffington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arianna Huffington. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Kansas and Missouri in 25 worst states for mental health
Yikes. This one hurt. There is a new report out from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA) that was linked from The Huffington Post. As the headline above says, our good old Kansas and Missouri didn't fare too well. Kansas is somewhat better, ranked at number 18 (worst) while Missouri is ranked at--ulp--14. Iowa? 40. Neighboring Nebraska? 21. The Dakotas? South at 46, North at 49 with Illinois in the middle of those two at 47th. From the article: "The report shows 20.9 percent of Missouri residents experienced some form of mental illness." At least we're not as bad off as Arkansas (at 10) or Oklahoma (7). The worst? Rhode Island, according to the report. That said, however, the gap between best and worst of all 51 areas is only 8%, from about 16% of each state's population to about 24%. Oh, well. Better luck next list, eh? Links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/mental-health-states-america_n_1007844.html#s404428&title=51_Maryland; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/mental-health-states-america_n_1007844.html#s404479&title=14_Missouri;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/mental-health-states-america_n_1007844.html#s404466&title=18_Kansas
Friday, February 18, 2011
Did you hear the one about the congressman?...
I'm sure you read or heard about the Congressman--one Christopher Lee (Repub., NY)--who sent the picture of himself shirtless to a woman on Craigslist, got caught and had to quit that same job?
Yeah. Great, wasn't it?
What a dolt.
Anyway, it's gotten better, since.
Check this out: It's out today that A) he was at an annual GOP retreat and---wait for it--B) he had just left a GOP conference on "Intelligent Use of Information Technology".
Man, you just can't write 'em any better than that.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/16/chris-lee-craigslist-photo-gop-retreat_n_823979.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/us/politics/10lee.html
Yeah. Great, wasn't it?
What a dolt.
Anyway, it's gotten better, since.
Check this out: It's out today that A) he was at an annual GOP retreat and---wait for it--B) he had just left a GOP conference on "Intelligent Use of Information Technology".
Man, you just can't write 'em any better than that.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/16/chris-lee-craigslist-photo-gop-retreat_n_823979.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/us/politics/10lee.html
Friday, August 20, 2010
Quote for the day--on creating jobs
From "Five Washington Excuses for Ignoring the Jobs Crisis"--my favorite, what I think is the most important one:
"We can't afford a job creation program -- it'll increase the deficit": It's certainly true that the deficit is growing rapidly as a result of the Wall Street crash and bailouts. But if we want the deficit to shrink, we'll have to put people back to work so that they start paying taxes again. We also need to place a significant windfall profits tax on the very financial elites who wrecked the economy. We wouldn't have a deficit problem if our politicians had the will to truly tax the super-rich -- those earning $3 million or more a year.
Link to original post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/les-leopold/five-washington-excuses-f_b_687381.html
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
8 Surprising facts about the shrinking Middle Class in the US
--Income Inquality Is Soaring: In 2005, the bottom 20 percent of household earners had an average income of $10,655 while households in the top 20 percent made nearly 160,000 – a disparity of 1,500 percent, the highest gap ever recorded, Arianna notes in Third World America;
--Cash-Strapped States Are Cutting Crucial Services: "According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, at least twenty-nine states have made cuts to public health programs, twenty-four states have cut programs for the elderly and disabled, twenty-nine states have cut aid to K–12 education, and thirty-nine states have cut assistance to public colleges and universities.
America’s states faced a cumulative budget gap of $166 billion for fiscal 2010. Total shortfalls through fiscal 2011 are estimated at $380 billion—and could be even higher depending on what happens to unemployment. These are massive numbers. But when you remember that we spent $182 billion to bail out AIG ($12.9 billion of which went straight to Goldman Sachs), you realize that this amount alone would be more than enough to close the 2010 budget gap in every state in the Union. Toss in the $45 billion we gave to now-making-a-profit Bank of America and the $45 billion we gave to now-making-a-profit Citigroup, and we would be well on the way to ensuring that no state’s vital services are cut through 2011."
--Corporations are skipping out on taxes: "According to the White House, in 2004, the last year data on this was compiled, U.S. multinational corporations paid roughly $16 billion in taxes on $700 billion in foreign active earnings— putting their tax rate at around 2.3 percent. Know many middle-class Americans getting off that easy at tax time?" - Arianna Huffington, Third World America;
--The Financial Services Sector Is Dominating Our Economy: "As MIT professor Simon Johnson recounted in the Atlantic, between 1973 and 1985, the financial industry’s share of domestic corporate profits topped out at 16 percent. In the 1990s, it spanned between 21 percent and 30 percent. Just before the financial crisis hit, it stood at 41 percent. The share of our economy devoted to making things of value is shrinking, while the share devoted to valuing made-up things (credit-swap derivatives, anyone?) is expanding. It’s the financialization of our economy."
--Health care costs are bankrupting Americans: "The vast majority of people who file for bankruptcy are middle-class folks who can’t pay their bills because they’ve lost their jobs or been hit with high medical bills. In fact, a 2009 study by researchers at Harvard and Ohio University showed that health-care problems were the root cause of 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies in America in 2007. When the same researchers did this study across five states in 2001, health-care problems caused only 50 percent of bankruptcy filings. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, America had 1.4 million personal bankruptcies in 2009, a 32 percent increase over the previous year. Put another way: Every thirty seconds, someone in this country files for bankruptcy in the wake of a serious illness.";
--The Foreclosure Crisis Is Not Abating: “Barry Bosworth and Rosanna Smart of the Brookings Institution found that the catastrophic collapse of the 2008 sub-prime mortgage market resulted in the disappearance of $13 trillion in American household wealth between mid-2007 and March 2009... on average, U.S. households lost one quarter of their wealth in that period," cites Huffington. She continues, “We are facing nothing less than a national emergency: 2.8 million homes faced foreclosure in 2009, and an estimated 3 million more are expected to be foreclosed on in 2010. If there was ever a middle-class Katrina, this is it."
--America's Education System Is In Crisis: America's educational system is failing: "Eight years ago, amid much fanfare, the D.C. establishment passed No Child Left Behind...but it turned out to be reform in name only," Arianna explains Third World America . "Despite a goal of 100 percent proficiency in reading and math, eight years later we are not even close. In Alabama, only 20 percent of eighth graders are proficient in math. In California, it’s just 23 percent. In New York, it’s 34 percent."
--America's Infrastructure Is Crumbling: "In studying car crashes across the country, the Transportation Construction coalition determined that badly maintained or managed roads are responsible for $217 billion in car crashes annually – far more than headline-grabbing alcohol-related accidents ($130 billion) and speed-related pile-ups ($97 billion)", Arianna writes in Third World America.
But Americans are paying an even higher price for our deteriorating roads. Of the 42,000 road fatalities each year, 53% are at least partially the result of poor road conditions. "We are currently spending $70 billion annually on improving our highways, but that’s nowhere near the $186 billion a year that is needed. It's a collision of need versus resources; for far too many of us, it can be fatal," she adds.
It is the point of Arianna Huffington's book, Third World America, that some of us, here in the US, are, in fact, members of the "Third World", that is, in poverty equal to undeveloped countries. Did you think we were better than that?
Link to original post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/09/8-surprising-facts-about_n_675545.html#s121657
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
2009 in quotes
January 29, 2009
"I did a lot of things that were mostly right.''
Rod Blagojevich's comments to the media, moments after the Illinois State Senate removed him from office on charges of abuse of power.
February 17, 2009
"I knew we weren't taking Tic Tacs.''
Alex Rodriguez during a press conference in Tampa, Fla., about his admission that he took performance-enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001 through 2003.
March 4, 2009
"If only I'd listened to CNBC, I'd have $1 million today -- provided I had started with $100 million."
-Jon Stewart scoffing at CNBC's financial analysts for offering such reckless investment advice and stock market predictions.
March, 14, 2009
"We cannot attract and retain the best and the brightest talent to lead and staff the A.I.G. businesses -- which are now being operated principally on behalf of American taxpayers -- if employees believe their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury.''
-Edward M. Liddy, chairman of the American International Group explaining why it plans to pay out $165 million in bonuses despite receiving more than $170 billion in taxpayer bailout money.
April 11, 2009
"I'm 47 years old...I'm trying to be a professional singer...but have never been given the chance before.''
Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who gained overnight fame singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables on "Britain's Got Talent',' a music reality show.
April 19, 2009
"I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."
Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, crowned Miss USA, (later dethroned) answer to a question about gay marriage; comments which touched off a stormy controversy, particularly among gay activists.
April 27, 2009
"First thing is, I'm annoyed -- furious is a better word -- that I wasn't told.''
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's response to not being informed by the White House that there would be a flyover by an Air Force One backup and two F-16 fighters through parts of New York and New Jersey.
May 9, 2009
"What's up with all these governors not wanting to take the [bailout] money? Who turns down money? Maybe you should give it to Oprah to give it away. Oprah would say, "OK, governors, look under your seats!"
Comedian Wanda Sykes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
June 12, 2009
"It is our duty to defend people's votes. There is no turning back."
Mir Hussein Moussavi, the chief rival to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims there was widespread voting fraud in the Iranian presidential election and was convinced he won by a large margin.
June, 25, 2009
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news'...I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
Music producer Quincy Jones reaction to the news of the death of pop icon Michael Jackson on June 25th.
June 26, 2009
"Those reported cases are really just the tip of the iceberg...We know we're not tracking every single one of them. ''
Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of respiratory diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing that the swine flu has infected more than a million Americans, with 3,000 hospitalized and another 127 having died from the novel influenza.
June 30, 2009
"This was a whole lot more than a simple affair. This was a love story.''
Mark Sanford, South Carolina governor, tells reporters about his extra-marital affair with an Argentine woman, a woman he considered his "soul mate.''
July 3, 2009
"I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional and it's not so comfortable."
Sarah Palin announcing she will step down as governor at the end of the month and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.
July 5, 2009
"We misread how bad the economy was''
-Vice President Joe Biden's reaction to news that unemployment had reached 9.5 percent despite a $787 billion infusion of stimulus money during an interview on ABC News.
July 14, 2009
"So I was trying to play on her words. My play was -- fell flat. It was bad because it left an impression that I believe that life experiences commanded a result in a case.''
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor tells members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that her "wise Latina judge'' statement was merely referring to Sandra Day O'Connor's maxim that a "wise old man and a wise old women will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases."
July 16, 2009
"Why? Because I'm a black man in America?'
Henry Louis Gates Jr. a Harvard University professor, tells Cambridge police after being arrested outside his home on suspicion of a break-in.
August 4, 2009
"Well, then they really didn't love me in the first place. Whatever.''
Brett Favre when asked by sports writer Peter King how he feels about fans who say they are sick of him and don't love him anymore.
August, 4, 2009
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon.'
Paula Abdul, via her Twitter page, writes about her decision to leave "American Idol'' after eight seasons.
August 10 2009
"My husband is not Secretary of State. I am.''
Hillary Clinton responding to a question from a Congolese university student during her tour of Africa. The student reportedly meant to ask what President Barack Obama thought about the Chinese loan, but mistakenly referred to former President Bill Clinton instead.
August 18, 2009
"Conservatives can have fun too.''
Tom Delay, former Republican House majority leader, on "Good Morning America'' about his plans to participate in the reality show "Dancing with the Stars.''
August 18, 2009
"Ma'am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining-room table. I have no interest in doing it.''
Democratic Congressman Barney Frank appearing at a town hall meeting on health care, responds to a Massachusetts woman who asked why the congressman supports what she considers a "Nazi policy."
August 29, 2009
"I will try to live up to the high standard that my father set for all of us when he said, 'the work goes on; the cause endures; the hope still lives; and the dream shall never die.'''
Ted Kennedy Jr. delivering the eulogy to his father, Senator Edward M. Kennedy who died of brain cancer on August 25, 2009 at age 77.
September, 2009
"When I talk to groups of journalists these days about the state of our business, I feel like a motivational speaker in a hospice.''
Bill Keller, Executive Editor of the New York Times (from Esquire magazine.)
September 9, 2009
"You lie! You lie!"
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), shouting at President Obama during his State of the Union address after the president informed the Joint Session of Congress that illegal immigrants would not be covered under his health care reform efforts.
September 15, 2009
'We're going to have no paper, no printing plants, no unions. It's going to be great.''
Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., tells audience members at a Goldman Sachs' annual media conference that devices like the Amazon Kindle will replace newspapers completely in about 20 years.
September 23, 2009
"The mayor of Newark, N.J., wants to set up a citywide program to improve residents' health ... The health-care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark.''
Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien poking fun at Newark's reputation for being a crime infested city.
October 4, 2009
"I got my work cut out for me.''
David Letterman after apologizing to his wife Regina for his admitted sexual dalliance with female staffers.
October 11, 2009
"We're going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent.''
Anita Dunn, the White House communications director, during a phone interview with the New York Times, speaking about the Fox News Channel's war against the Obama administration.
October 19, 2009
"You guys said we did this for the show.''
During a live broadcast on CNN with anchor Wolf Blitzer---Six year-old Falcon Heene, aka "Balloon Boy'' responds to his father's question why he didn't come out from hiding when they called his name.
October 30, 2009
"I wish they caught me six years ago, eight years ago.''
Bernie Madoff tells Security Exchange Commission inspector general, H. David Kotz during an interview that was made public on October 30, 2009. The disgraced financier was sentenced to 150 years in prison on June 29, 2009 for his ponzi scheme in one of the biggest financial frauds in American history.
November 5, 2009
"It's difficult enough when we lose these great Americans in battles overseas.....It's horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."
President Obama addresses the tragedy at Fort Hood Texas, when Army psychiatrist Mark Hassan opened fire, killing 12 people and wounding 31 others.
November 19, 2009
"Gender is between your ears, not between your legs.''
Chaz Bono talks about undergoing a sex change on Good Morning America.
November 19, 2009
"I certainly never could have imagined the yellow brick road of blessings that have led me to this moment."
Oprah Winfrey informs her studio audience that she will end her talk show in September, 2011 after 25 years on the air.
December 1, 2009
"Our lives have been destroyed, everything we've worked for...''
Michaele Salahi, appearing on the Today Show with her husband Tareq, responds to Matt Lauer's question about the sensational media coverage surrounding the couple slipping past security at a White House State Dinner without an invitation.
December 1, 2009
"I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.''
President Obama's speech at West Point announces the deployment of additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan, beginning in January, 2010.
December 11, 2009
"After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.''
Link to original post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-lucey/post_467_b_390556.html
"I did a lot of things that were mostly right.''
Rod Blagojevich's comments to the media, moments after the Illinois State Senate removed him from office on charges of abuse of power.
February 17, 2009
"I knew we weren't taking Tic Tacs.''
Alex Rodriguez during a press conference in Tampa, Fla., about his admission that he took performance-enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001 through 2003.
March 4, 2009
"If only I'd listened to CNBC, I'd have $1 million today -- provided I had started with $100 million."
-Jon Stewart scoffing at CNBC's financial analysts for offering such reckless investment advice and stock market predictions.
March, 14, 2009
"We cannot attract and retain the best and the brightest talent to lead and staff the A.I.G. businesses -- which are now being operated principally on behalf of American taxpayers -- if employees believe their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury.''
-Edward M. Liddy, chairman of the American International Group explaining why it plans to pay out $165 million in bonuses despite receiving more than $170 billion in taxpayer bailout money.
April 11, 2009
"I'm 47 years old...I'm trying to be a professional singer...but have never been given the chance before.''
Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who gained overnight fame singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables on "Britain's Got Talent',' a music reality show.
April 19, 2009
"I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."
Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, crowned Miss USA, (later dethroned) answer to a question about gay marriage; comments which touched off a stormy controversy, particularly among gay activists.
April 27, 2009
"First thing is, I'm annoyed -- furious is a better word -- that I wasn't told.''
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's response to not being informed by the White House that there would be a flyover by an Air Force One backup and two F-16 fighters through parts of New York and New Jersey.
May 9, 2009
"What's up with all these governors not wanting to take the [bailout] money? Who turns down money? Maybe you should give it to Oprah to give it away. Oprah would say, "OK, governors, look under your seats!"
Comedian Wanda Sykes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
June 12, 2009
"It is our duty to defend people's votes. There is no turning back."
Mir Hussein Moussavi, the chief rival to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims there was widespread voting fraud in the Iranian presidential election and was convinced he won by a large margin.
June, 25, 2009
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news'...I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
Music producer Quincy Jones reaction to the news of the death of pop icon Michael Jackson on June 25th.
June 26, 2009
"Those reported cases are really just the tip of the iceberg...We know we're not tracking every single one of them. ''
Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of respiratory diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing that the swine flu has infected more than a million Americans, with 3,000 hospitalized and another 127 having died from the novel influenza.
June 30, 2009
"This was a whole lot more than a simple affair. This was a love story.''
Mark Sanford, South Carolina governor, tells reporters about his extra-marital affair with an Argentine woman, a woman he considered his "soul mate.''
July 3, 2009
"I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional and it's not so comfortable."
Sarah Palin announcing she will step down as governor at the end of the month and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.
July 5, 2009
"We misread how bad the economy was''
-Vice President Joe Biden's reaction to news that unemployment had reached 9.5 percent despite a $787 billion infusion of stimulus money during an interview on ABC News.
July 14, 2009
"So I was trying to play on her words. My play was -- fell flat. It was bad because it left an impression that I believe that life experiences commanded a result in a case.''
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor tells members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that her "wise Latina judge'' statement was merely referring to Sandra Day O'Connor's maxim that a "wise old man and a wise old women will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases."
July 16, 2009
"Why? Because I'm a black man in America?'
Henry Louis Gates Jr. a Harvard University professor, tells Cambridge police after being arrested outside his home on suspicion of a break-in.
August 4, 2009
"Well, then they really didn't love me in the first place. Whatever.''
Brett Favre when asked by sports writer Peter King how he feels about fans who say they are sick of him and don't love him anymore.
August, 4, 2009
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon.'
Paula Abdul, via her Twitter page, writes about her decision to leave "American Idol'' after eight seasons.
August 10 2009
"My husband is not Secretary of State. I am.''
Hillary Clinton responding to a question from a Congolese university student during her tour of Africa. The student reportedly meant to ask what President Barack Obama thought about the Chinese loan, but mistakenly referred to former President Bill Clinton instead.
August 18, 2009
"Conservatives can have fun too.''
Tom Delay, former Republican House majority leader, on "Good Morning America'' about his plans to participate in the reality show "Dancing with the Stars.''
August 18, 2009
"Ma'am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining-room table. I have no interest in doing it.''
Democratic Congressman Barney Frank appearing at a town hall meeting on health care, responds to a Massachusetts woman who asked why the congressman supports what she considers a "Nazi policy."
August 29, 2009
"I will try to live up to the high standard that my father set for all of us when he said, 'the work goes on; the cause endures; the hope still lives; and the dream shall never die.'''
Ted Kennedy Jr. delivering the eulogy to his father, Senator Edward M. Kennedy who died of brain cancer on August 25, 2009 at age 77.
September, 2009
"When I talk to groups of journalists these days about the state of our business, I feel like a motivational speaker in a hospice.''
Bill Keller, Executive Editor of the New York Times (from Esquire magazine.)
September 9, 2009
"You lie! You lie!"
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), shouting at President Obama during his State of the Union address after the president informed the Joint Session of Congress that illegal immigrants would not be covered under his health care reform efforts.
September 15, 2009
'We're going to have no paper, no printing plants, no unions. It's going to be great.''
Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., tells audience members at a Goldman Sachs' annual media conference that devices like the Amazon Kindle will replace newspapers completely in about 20 years.
September 23, 2009
"The mayor of Newark, N.J., wants to set up a citywide program to improve residents' health ... The health-care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark.''
Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien poking fun at Newark's reputation for being a crime infested city.
October 4, 2009
"I got my work cut out for me.''
David Letterman after apologizing to his wife Regina for his admitted sexual dalliance with female staffers.
October 11, 2009
"We're going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent.''
Anita Dunn, the White House communications director, during a phone interview with the New York Times, speaking about the Fox News Channel's war against the Obama administration.
October 19, 2009
"You guys said we did this for the show.''
During a live broadcast on CNN with anchor Wolf Blitzer---Six year-old Falcon Heene, aka "Balloon Boy'' responds to his father's question why he didn't come out from hiding when they called his name.
October 30, 2009
"I wish they caught me six years ago, eight years ago.''
Bernie Madoff tells Security Exchange Commission inspector general, H. David Kotz during an interview that was made public on October 30, 2009. The disgraced financier was sentenced to 150 years in prison on June 29, 2009 for his ponzi scheme in one of the biggest financial frauds in American history.
November 5, 2009
"It's difficult enough when we lose these great Americans in battles overseas.....It's horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."
President Obama addresses the tragedy at Fort Hood Texas, when Army psychiatrist Mark Hassan opened fire, killing 12 people and wounding 31 others.
November 19, 2009
"Gender is between your ears, not between your legs.''
Chaz Bono talks about undergoing a sex change on Good Morning America.
November 19, 2009
"I certainly never could have imagined the yellow brick road of blessings that have led me to this moment."
Oprah Winfrey informs her studio audience that she will end her talk show in September, 2011 after 25 years on the air.
December 1, 2009
"Our lives have been destroyed, everything we've worked for...''
Michaele Salahi, appearing on the Today Show with her husband Tareq, responds to Matt Lauer's question about the sensational media coverage surrounding the couple slipping past security at a White House State Dinner without an invitation.
December 1, 2009
"I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.''
President Obama's speech at West Point announces the deployment of additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan, beginning in January, 2010.
December 11, 2009
"After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.''
Link to original post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-lucey/post_467_b_390556.html
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Two big compromises
It seems the 2 big compromises this week--that of the Copenhagen Summit on global warming (or climate change or pollution or whatever you want to call it) and health care reform, here in the US, have a great deal in common.
Both of them have people for them. Both have people against them. Both have people, somewhere in the middle who say this is the best we could get and that they are improvements and that we need to wrap our arms around them and move on.
God, I hope they're right.
On the Copenhagen summit on climate change, it seems we made progress, this time, as the US was for some good, solid action. This in stark contrast to the Kyoto Protocol that the George W. Bush administration kept us out of. At least we made that better transition. We're in on this one. We don't have to be embarassed this time and we've had input on this.
As to who knows what's in this thing right now, who can say? Frankly, following the mess this week that has been the negotiations on health care in the Senate has been demanding enough.
First, as I noted here, the White House threw out the single-payer option we needed so desperately.
Then, they threw away the "public option" so the insurance companies could stay happy and we wouldn't give them any real competition.
That stunk.
But the fact is, now people are coming out on all sides, some saying we should throw it away; others that we should keep it and that it does do some good.
It's disappointing and the Democrats caved but apparently, according to what the Congressional Budget Office says, it will help us, as a nation, to have smaller budget deficits.
I just wish it had done a lot more for the average Joe on the streets--the "you and me" of the world. I wish the Democrats had been more for us instead of for the insurance companies.
But so it goes.
Let's hope it's all progress.
In both cases, this is what compromise looks like.
We need more of that here in the States.
Links to related stories:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-pope/yes-it-is-the-end-of-the_b_397683.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/they-didnt-seal-the-deal_b_397765.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/cope-en-blame-em-today-fi_b_398006.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/health-bill-limits-aborti_b_398084.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-paul-g-kirk-jr/a-rebuttal-to-howard-dean_b_398218.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-lux/that-gollum-like-feeling_b_398034.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-on-ed-it-is-absur_b_393480.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/18/taibi-kuttner-debate-heal_n_397757.html
Both of them have people for them. Both have people against them. Both have people, somewhere in the middle who say this is the best we could get and that they are improvements and that we need to wrap our arms around them and move on.
God, I hope they're right.
On the Copenhagen summit on climate change, it seems we made progress, this time, as the US was for some good, solid action. This in stark contrast to the Kyoto Protocol that the George W. Bush administration kept us out of. At least we made that better transition. We're in on this one. We don't have to be embarassed this time and we've had input on this.
As to who knows what's in this thing right now, who can say? Frankly, following the mess this week that has been the negotiations on health care in the Senate has been demanding enough.
First, as I noted here, the White House threw out the single-payer option we needed so desperately.
Then, they threw away the "public option" so the insurance companies could stay happy and we wouldn't give them any real competition.
That stunk.
But the fact is, now people are coming out on all sides, some saying we should throw it away; others that we should keep it and that it does do some good.
It's disappointing and the Democrats caved but apparently, according to what the Congressional Budget Office says, it will help us, as a nation, to have smaller budget deficits.
I just wish it had done a lot more for the average Joe on the streets--the "you and me" of the world. I wish the Democrats had been more for us instead of for the insurance companies.
But so it goes.
Let's hope it's all progress.
In both cases, this is what compromise looks like.
We need more of that here in the States.
Links to related stories:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-pope/yes-it-is-the-end-of-the_b_397683.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/they-didnt-seal-the-deal_b_397765.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/cope-en-blame-em-today-fi_b_398006.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/health-bill-limits-aborti_b_398084.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-paul-g-kirk-jr/a-rebuttal-to-howard-dean_b_398218.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-lux/that-gollum-like-feeling_b_398034.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-on-ed-it-is-absur_b_393480.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/18/taibi-kuttner-debate-heal_n_397757.html
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What used to be an arbitrary entertainment has become a "must read"
Have you kept up with the evolution of "The Huffington Post" blog?
Holy cow.
It seems, overnight, they've somewhat remade themselves into this fast-evolving, constantly-reporting "must read" you need to keep up with issues and events.
Just now, I went to it for a fun little Bill Maher video clip and ended up seeing, what? 4 or 5 different important, well-written articles about what's going on in our country and government. A lot of it had to do with health care and what's going on in DC and corporate America.
It seems it used to be something that was some fun and occasionally really important to see.
Now, the Post is this vital, rapidly changing, digital "newspaper", online, you have to keep up with.
It's really cool.
It's the antithesis of the static, paper-laid, day-old newspaper of yesterday, sadly for the newspapers and newspaper people and business.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Holy cow.
It seems, overnight, they've somewhat remade themselves into this fast-evolving, constantly-reporting "must read" you need to keep up with issues and events.
Just now, I went to it for a fun little Bill Maher video clip and ended up seeing, what? 4 or 5 different important, well-written articles about what's going on in our country and government. A lot of it had to do with health care and what's going on in DC and corporate America.
It seems it used to be something that was some fun and occasionally really important to see.
Now, the Post is this vital, rapidly changing, digital "newspaper", online, you have to keep up with.
It's really cool.
It's the antithesis of the static, paper-laid, day-old newspaper of yesterday, sadly for the newspapers and newspaper people and business.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Friday, November 7, 2008
Hope
From Arianna Huffington:
"It's a theme Michelle Obama touched on many times on the campaign trail. 'Barack Obama will require that you work,' she said at a rally on the eve of Super Tuesday. 'He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism; that you put down your divisions; that you come out of your isolation; that you move out of your comfort zones; that you push yourself to be better; and that you engage.'"
"This call echoed something that historian and presidential biographer David McCullough had once said about JFK. 'The great thing about Kennedy,' he told me, 'is that he didn't say I'm going to make it easier for you. He said it's going to be harder. And he wasn't pandering to the less noble side of human nature. He was calling on us to give our best.'"
"And when Bobby Kennedy was agonizing over whether or not to run in 1968, he told one of his advisors: 'People are selfish. But they can also be compassionate and generous, and they care about the country. But not when they feel threatened. That's why this is such a crucial time. We can go in either direction. But if we don't make a choice soon, it will be too late to turn things around. I think people are willing to make the right choice. But they need leadership. They're hungry for leadership.' Forty years later, we are starving for it. Real leadership. Leadership geared to transforming the country."
_________________________________________________
That's what we voted for Tuesday.
Have a good weekend, y'all.
"It's a theme Michelle Obama touched on many times on the campaign trail. 'Barack Obama will require that you work,' she said at a rally on the eve of Super Tuesday. 'He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism; that you put down your divisions; that you come out of your isolation; that you move out of your comfort zones; that you push yourself to be better; and that you engage.'"
"This call echoed something that historian and presidential biographer David McCullough had once said about JFK. 'The great thing about Kennedy,' he told me, 'is that he didn't say I'm going to make it easier for you. He said it's going to be harder. And he wasn't pandering to the less noble side of human nature. He was calling on us to give our best.'"
"And when Bobby Kennedy was agonizing over whether or not to run in 1968, he told one of his advisors: 'People are selfish. But they can also be compassionate and generous, and they care about the country. But not when they feel threatened. That's why this is such a crucial time. We can go in either direction. But if we don't make a choice soon, it will be too late to turn things around. I think people are willing to make the right choice. But they need leadership. They're hungry for leadership.' Forty years later, we are starving for it. Real leadership. Leadership geared to transforming the country."
_________________________________________________
That's what we voted for Tuesday.
Have a good weekend, y'all.
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