They speak for themselves.
By Daniel Kurtzman, About.com Guide
1. "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil." —Sarah Palin, in a message posted on Facebook about Obama's health care reform plan, Aug. 7, 2009
2. "To our seniors, I have a message for you: you're going to die sooner." –Sen. Tom Coburn (R- Okla.), on what will happen if health care reform passes, Dec. 1, 2009
3. "If ObamaCare passes, that free insurance card that’s in people’s pockets is gonna be as worthless as a Confederate dollar after the war between the states — the Great War of Yankee Aggression." –Rep. Paul Broun (R- Ga.), March 18, 2010
4. "They intend to vote on the Sabbath, during Lent, to take away the liberty that we have right from God. This is an affront to God." –Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), interview with Glenn Beck, March 18, 2010
5. "Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly." Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), summing up the Republican health care plan
6. "Obama's got a health care logo that's right out of Adolf Hitler's playbook … Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, also ruled by dictate." —Rush Limbaugh, Aug. 6, 2009
7. "You have three people in the White House that are in love with eugenics or whatever it is you would call it today. … Please dear God, read history. Please dear God read the truth of what these people have said in their own words, and ask yourself this one question: Do you trust these people enough to give them control over who lives and who dies? Because that's what health care is when you have no other choice but to go to the state." —Glenn Beck, comparing health care reform to Nazi eugenics
8. "We should not have a government program that determines if you're going to pull the plug on grandma." —Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Aug. 12, 2009
9. "That's why people need to continue to go to the town halls, continue to melt the phone lines of their liberal members of Congress, and let them know, under no certain circumstances will I give the government control over my body and my health care decisions." —Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), a pro-lifer who completely missed the irony of using the same slogan as the pro-choice movement
10. "Exercise freaks ... are the ones putting stress on the health care system." —Rush Limbaugh, June 12, 2009
~Compiled by Daniel Kurtzman
Up to now, they've only been saying fairly stupid, outrageous and ignorant things like the above.
They're going batshit crazy now, since health care reform passed.
In Washington, Saturday, as you no doubt know, some of the "Tea Party" protesters starting yelling "nigger" at RepresentativeJohn Lewism ,spat on our own representative Emanuel Cleaver (he waived charges) and yelled "homo" at Rep. Barney Frank, all in their anger. (But no, no, they're not racist or homophobic, right?).
Now it's getting really ugly.
In fact, the ugliest, stupidest and worst of all, that I've seen, to date, is two Twitter posts that suggest assassinating the President.
Here's hoping sanity rules.
Original link here:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/healthcare/a/health-care-reform-quotes.htm
Monday, March 22, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Once again, we must rely on the "Fourth Estate"
I just saw a report that the Bloomberg news group won a court legal battle for us, the American people, against the government, this time against the government keeping secrets.
It seems they were able to successfully use the Freedom of Information Act:
"The Federal Reserve Board must disclose documents identifying financial firms that might have collapsed without the largest U.S. government bailout ever, a federal appeals court said."
More: "The U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the Fed must release records of the unprecedented $2 trillion U.S. loan program launched primarily after the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. The ruling upholds a decision of a lower-court judge, who in August ordered that the information be released."
I see local blogs online bemoan newspapers and always complaining about how they are the "dead tree media" and I find it tiresome. And ignorant.
Sure, kill the newspapers in that paper form but they need to exist, for sure. Without media--a good, strong, searching, investigating and persevering media to question our government and its institutions, bureaucrats and legislators, we are far weaker as citizens, taxpayers and voters.
We would be operating far more in the utter darkness without them.
Additionally, they can't be owned by other, big corporations that have so much to gain from having only their own viewpoint put out.
So score one for the media and the people.
We need lots more of this.
Link text
It seems they were able to successfully use the Freedom of Information Act:
"The Federal Reserve Board must disclose documents identifying financial firms that might have collapsed without the largest U.S. government bailout ever, a federal appeals court said."
More: "The U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the Fed must release records of the unprecedented $2 trillion U.S. loan program launched primarily after the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. The ruling upholds a decision of a lower-court judge, who in August ordered that the information be released."
I see local blogs online bemoan newspapers and always complaining about how they are the "dead tree media" and I find it tiresome. And ignorant.
Sure, kill the newspapers in that paper form but they need to exist, for sure. Without media--a good, strong, searching, investigating and persevering media to question our government and its institutions, bureaucrats and legislators, we are far weaker as citizens, taxpayers and voters.
We would be operating far more in the utter darkness without them.
Additionally, they can't be owned by other, big corporations that have so much to gain from having only their own viewpoint put out.
So score one for the media and the people.
We need lots more of this.
Link text
Weekend entertainment suggestion
I think I have a great weekend entertainment suggestion for you today.
A friend mentioned that he did it last night while we were at breakfast this morning.
If you either get tired of "March Madness" basketball or your team isn't on or you just want something to watch on TV with the thought of having a good laugh, turn on Fox "News" this weekend.
Oh, yeah.
They're going nuts right now, what with the President and the Democrats anchoring to get a health care reform fix right now.
They're flipping out.
They're coming unhinged.
Whether it's Hannity or Beck or O'Really or whomever, go over and give them a view.
It's a hoot.
They're just sure that this is the end of the world or the virtual end of the world or that by Sunday evening we'll all be living in a Socialist country or some such absurd, ludicrous, insane, and/or emotional nonsense and hyperbole.
You may thank us later.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
A friend mentioned that he did it last night while we were at breakfast this morning.
If you either get tired of "March Madness" basketball or your team isn't on or you just want something to watch on TV with the thought of having a good laugh, turn on Fox "News" this weekend.
Oh, yeah.
They're going nuts right now, what with the President and the Democrats anchoring to get a health care reform fix right now.
They're flipping out.
They're coming unhinged.
Whether it's Hannity or Beck or O'Really or whomever, go over and give them a view.
It's a hoot.
They're just sure that this is the end of the world or the virtual end of the world or that by Sunday evening we'll all be living in a Socialist country or some such absurd, ludicrous, insane, and/or emotional nonsense and hyperbole.
You may thank us later.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
Friday, March 19, 2010
To the Iraq warmongers
Let's see, that's now-former President, George W. Bush, now-former Vice President Dick ("the Dick") Cheney, now-former Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz etc., etc.
To all of you, listed above, the Republican Party, any and all Democrats who went along for this hair-brained scheme, the media who didn't ask questions and also let the American people down and anyone and everyone who was for attacking Iraq pre-emptively and without provocation:
It was wrong. It was stupid. It was against our own, internal, national laws and it was against International Law.
And now this:
"In a Thursday panel at Cato on conservatism and war, U.S. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and John Duncan (R-Tenn.) revealed that the vast majority of GOP members of Congress now think it was wrong for the U.S. to invade Iraq in 2003."
Well, thank you, gentlemen. Thank you for joining us. You're 7 long years, 4,282 American soldiers --men and women--and trillions of dollars too late.
To say that you screwed up is the grossest understatement I can imagine.
And I say this for a few reasons, none of which are to gloat.
First, we told you so.
There were thousands of us, nationwide, who were literally on the streets, protesting this war before it happened. We told you, warned you this was a mistake.
You didn't listen.
Second, the UN told you Saddam Hussein had no "weapons of mass destruction", that he was cooperating and that you could find no evidence of any such weapons.
You didn't listen.
Third, 13 intelligence agencies of our own government declared that Saddam Hussein was not a threat to the US. This was broadcast before the war began on National Public Radio, very calmly and cooly. I heard it myself.
You didn't listen.
Fourth, again, this pre-emptive attack was against our own, internal laws.
No one listened.
Fifth, pre-emptively and without provocation attacking another sovereign nation was then and is now, to this day, against International Law.
You didn't listen.
Finally, and I'll put this last note in one heading instead of two--both history and common sense said that attacking Iraq was a mistake, and a big one. I have frequently, since this war began in March of 2003, quoted Winston Churchill on war and going to war. It is as true today as it was these 7 years ago as when first stated, all those decades ago:
"Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."
But then no one ever accused George W. Bush of having a "world view" since he hadn't traveled outside the country before running for the Presidency, or of knowing history.
And he just wouldn't listen.
To all of you, listed above, the Republican Party, any and all Democrats who went along for this hair-brained scheme, the media who didn't ask questions and also let the American people down and anyone and everyone who was for attacking Iraq pre-emptively and without provocation:
It was wrong. It was stupid. It was against our own, internal, national laws and it was against International Law.
And now this:
"In a Thursday panel at Cato on conservatism and war, U.S. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and John Duncan (R-Tenn.) revealed that the vast majority of GOP members of Congress now think it was wrong for the U.S. to invade Iraq in 2003."
Well, thank you, gentlemen. Thank you for joining us. You're 7 long years, 4,282 American soldiers --men and women--and trillions of dollars too late.
To say that you screwed up is the grossest understatement I can imagine.
And I say this for a few reasons, none of which are to gloat.
First, we told you so.
There were thousands of us, nationwide, who were literally on the streets, protesting this war before it happened. We told you, warned you this was a mistake.
You didn't listen.
Second, the UN told you Saddam Hussein had no "weapons of mass destruction", that he was cooperating and that you could find no evidence of any such weapons.
You didn't listen.
Third, 13 intelligence agencies of our own government declared that Saddam Hussein was not a threat to the US. This was broadcast before the war began on National Public Radio, very calmly and cooly. I heard it myself.
You didn't listen.
Fourth, again, this pre-emptive attack was against our own, internal laws.
No one listened.
Fifth, pre-emptively and without provocation attacking another sovereign nation was then and is now, to this day, against International Law.
You didn't listen.
Finally, and I'll put this last note in one heading instead of two--both history and common sense said that attacking Iraq was a mistake, and a big one. I have frequently, since this war began in March of 2003, quoted Winston Churchill on war and going to war. It is as true today as it was these 7 years ago as when first stated, all those decades ago:
"Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."
But then no one ever accused George W. Bush of having a "world view" since he hadn't traveled outside the country before running for the Presidency, or of knowing history.
And he just wouldn't listen.
Sharp contrasts
Last evening on the Plaza was in sharp contrast to the night before, since the previous evening was all drinking and loud conversations.
As this shows, it was warm temperatures and wide open stores. It was really nice. While not yet completely, officially Spring, it surely felt like it.
And it's also in sharp contrast, apparently, to what it's going to be like on the Plaza this evening, when the rain comes in, and then this weekend, when the temperatures fall further and we get snow, if the forecast is correct.
But what the heck--last evening was terrific, Spring starts this weekend and next week has promises of temperatures in the 60's.
Somehow I think we'll make it.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Thoughts on a Friday morning
--it was sure great to see and be in the sun and have such warm temperatures yesterday;
--so what if it's going to cloud up and bring us rain and snow this weekend--a) Spring begins this weekend, too and b) by next week, we'll be back in the 60's;
--I like the way Google predicts my searches (just don't try finishing my sentences);
--If I didn't have to get to the office this morning, I surely could have taken what I think were some terrific photographs;
--Great news for the weekend as it looks as though we're going to get at least some health care reform relief this weekend. The Democrats finally decided to "play rough", thank goodness;
--I wish I had more times and reasons to say "acoutrement". I love the way it sounds. (heck, for that matter, I wish I could speak French).
Let's have a great weekend, y'all.
--so what if it's going to cloud up and bring us rain and snow this weekend--a) Spring begins this weekend, too and b) by next week, we'll be back in the 60's;
--I like the way Google predicts my searches (just don't try finishing my sentences);
--If I didn't have to get to the office this morning, I surely could have taken what I think were some terrific photographs;
--Great news for the weekend as it looks as though we're going to get at least some health care reform relief this weekend. The Democrats finally decided to "play rough", thank goodness;
--I wish I had more times and reasons to say "acoutrement". I love the way it sounds. (heck, for that matter, I wish I could speak French).
Let's have a great weekend, y'all.
We all need to know about this group and their work
I was just made aware of what is to me, a new organization and website that seems to do terrific work, showing what appears to be a direct and clear correlation between money elected officials receive and their voting records.
I know. Shocking, right?
But the fact is, they take raw, hard, reported data, put it in their computers and show direct paths from monetary contributions to our elected officials votes.
That's some great work.
Maybe, one day, with this kind of hard data, we can better get and keep control of our officials and government so the right and good things happen for the country, instead of just for corporations and the wealthy.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Molly Ivins would be pleased, rest her soul.
Anyway, the group is MAPLight and you can find them at MAPLight.org. (For what it's worth, I found it yesterday on The Huffington Post).
Knowledge being power, this is the kind of information we need so we can get back some power in this countr.
Following is from their site and tells of them and their work. Check it out.
Let's "follow the money", as the old saying goes, and hold and keep our representatives accountable to us.
Mission and Purpose
MAPLight.org, a groundbreaking public database, with offices located in Berkeley, California, illuminates the connection between campaign donations and legislative votes in unprecedented ways. Elected United States officials collect large sums of money to run their campaigns, and they often pay back campaign contributors with special access and favorable laws.
This common practice is contrary to the public interest, yet legal. MAPLight.org makes money/vote connections transparent, to help citizens hold their legislators accountable.
Nonprofit and Nonpartisan
MAPLight.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is nonpartisan. Contributions to MAPLight.org are tax-deductible as provided by law.
The Database
MAPLight.org combines three data sets:
•Bill texts and legislative voting records
•Supporting and opposing interests for each bill
•Campaign contribution data from the Center for Responsive Politics and the National
Institute on Money in State Politics
Combining this data makes visible key information that could never before be determined easily.
I know. Shocking, right?
But the fact is, they take raw, hard, reported data, put it in their computers and show direct paths from monetary contributions to our elected officials votes.
That's some great work.
Maybe, one day, with this kind of hard data, we can better get and keep control of our officials and government so the right and good things happen for the country, instead of just for corporations and the wealthy.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Molly Ivins would be pleased, rest her soul.
Anyway, the group is MAPLight and you can find them at MAPLight.org. (For what it's worth, I found it yesterday on The Huffington Post).
Knowledge being power, this is the kind of information we need so we can get back some power in this countr.
Following is from their site and tells of them and their work. Check it out.
Let's "follow the money", as the old saying goes, and hold and keep our representatives accountable to us.
Mission and Purpose
MAPLight.org, a groundbreaking public database, with offices located in Berkeley, California, illuminates the connection between campaign donations and legislative votes in unprecedented ways. Elected United States officials collect large sums of money to run their campaigns, and they often pay back campaign contributors with special access and favorable laws.
This common practice is contrary to the public interest, yet legal. MAPLight.org makes money/vote connections transparent, to help citizens hold their legislators accountable.
Nonprofit and Nonpartisan
MAPLight.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is nonpartisan. Contributions to MAPLight.org are tax-deductible as provided by law.
The Database
MAPLight.org combines three data sets:
•Bill texts and legislative voting records
•Supporting and opposing interests for each bill
•Campaign contribution data from the Center for Responsive Politics and the National
Institute on Money in State Politics
Combining this data makes visible key information that could never before be determined easily.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Fox News: White trash?
The question has to be asked.
The evidence:
They're reactionary.
They're virtually exclusively white.
They've proven themselves to be racist.
They're embarassingly emotional (e.g., Glenn Beck, at minimum).
They yell at their guests, if they don't agree with them (e.g., Bill O'Reilly).
They interrupt their guests after they ask them questions, up to and including the most powerful man in the world, the sitting President of the United States, showing few good manners and no respect for that same guest (e.g., Brett Baier interviewing President Obama, above).
I'm not saying it's so.
I'm just saying it seems like a good and fair question.
(Or is that a "fair and balanced" question?).
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Freeze earmarks? Hell, kill 'em
Yesterday, some Conservative Republicans put up a proposal to "temporarily ban senators from earmarking spending bills with back-home projects like roads, water projects and grants to local governments."
The Senate rejected it.
It seems they don't have the courage to take away this little privilege of theirs that they use to take more fiscal pork back home.
Sure, they call themselves "Conservatives" or "Blue Dog Democrats" but like a hog at a trough, they just can't come up with enough strength to walk away.
This was only going to be a temporary moratorium on these earmarks, too.
Talk about lack of conviction.
Here's a thought and suggestion I've put up here before for some enterprising representative in Washington:
Propose that earmarks be done away with.
Heck yes.
It's the only fiscally responsible thing to do.
We've been hearing for weeks, if not months, about the debt and deficit we have as a nation.
And these legislators will still spend far too much in government--who are they kidding?
"Defenders of earmarks say they represent but a small portion of the overall budget, are a legitimate way for lawmakers to exercise Congress' power of the purse, and that they know the needs of their states better than agency bureaucrats."
Horse-hockey.
Besides spending too much money--and coming out of "back rooms" to do it--it also raises questions of these same representatives doing illegal political favors for constituents and companies that get funds from earmarks. Getting rid of them would give the nation a huge double benefit, at minimum.
"Opponents say earmarks are often wasteful, invite corruption and are a way to win votes for big-spending legislation."
Much more true.
So, note to some political upstart Senator or Representative out there (Claire? Anyone?)--go against the Party line and make a serious proposal for a law making earmarks illegal.
You'll be on and in the news immediately (you glory hound).
I'm surprised someone hasn't done it already.
This is no way to run a government. Or country.
The Senate rejected it.
It seems they don't have the courage to take away this little privilege of theirs that they use to take more fiscal pork back home.
Sure, they call themselves "Conservatives" or "Blue Dog Democrats" but like a hog at a trough, they just can't come up with enough strength to walk away.
This was only going to be a temporary moratorium on these earmarks, too.
Talk about lack of conviction.
Here's a thought and suggestion I've put up here before for some enterprising representative in Washington:
Propose that earmarks be done away with.
Heck yes.
It's the only fiscally responsible thing to do.
We've been hearing for weeks, if not months, about the debt and deficit we have as a nation.
And these legislators will still spend far too much in government--who are they kidding?
"Defenders of earmarks say they represent but a small portion of the overall budget, are a legitimate way for lawmakers to exercise Congress' power of the purse, and that they know the needs of their states better than agency bureaucrats."
Horse-hockey.
Besides spending too much money--and coming out of "back rooms" to do it--it also raises questions of these same representatives doing illegal political favors for constituents and companies that get funds from earmarks. Getting rid of them would give the nation a huge double benefit, at minimum.
"Opponents say earmarks are often wasteful, invite corruption and are a way to win votes for big-spending legislation."
Much more true.
So, note to some political upstart Senator or Representative out there (Claire? Anyone?)--go against the Party line and make a serious proposal for a law making earmarks illegal.
You'll be on and in the news immediately (you glory hound).
I'm surprised someone hasn't done it already.
This is no way to run a government. Or country.
"Crunch time" on health care reform
We need this.
It's not arbitrary.
Our health care system is broken--and badly.
Millions, literally tens of millions of Americans don't have health care and more lose it, each day.
People die in America because they don't have and can't afford health care.
Further proof of our needs and the problems:
Patient's plea makes the best case for health care reform
Catholic nuns urge passage of Obama's health bill
It's the right thing to do.
We need it, as I said.
Now is the time.
Let's get this passed.
Please support health care reform.
It is patently not a "government takeover" of our health care system.
It's not arbitrary.
Our health care system is broken--and badly.
Millions, literally tens of millions of Americans don't have health care and more lose it, each day.
People die in America because they don't have and can't afford health care.
Further proof of our needs and the problems:
Patient's plea makes the best case for health care reform
Catholic nuns urge passage of Obama's health bill
It's the right thing to do.
We need it, as I said.
Now is the time.
Let's get this passed.
Please support health care reform.
It is patently not a "government takeover" of our health care system.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Michael Jackson: Good news, bad news
The good news?
Your music just made for the biggest music deal ever , worth a reported $250 million. That's one quarter of a billion dollars.
Congratulations.
The bad news?
You're dead.
Your music just made for the biggest music deal ever , worth a reported $250 million. That's one quarter of a billion dollars.
Congratulations.
The bad news?
You're dead.
Texas: Rewriting history
"History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon." --Napoleon Bonaparte
It couldn't be more true.
And it's being proven again, down in Texas right now, as I wrote earlier.
Here are just a few of the real beauties that the Texas State Board of Education has come up with to add to or change in their textbooks, and so, in textbooks that can end up all over the rest of America:
--A greater emphasis on “the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s. Who knows why, except they do downplay the liberal gains of the 60's, too. Maybe this is their way of "getting even." (pathetic, isn't it?);
--A reduced scope for Latino history and culture: A proposal to expand such material in recognition of Texas’ rapidly growing Hispanic population was defeated in last week’s meetings.
Never mind that more 36.5% of Texas' population is Hispanic or Latino as of the 2008 census .
Never mind that more minorities will be born this year, compared to Caucasians.
Forget about Texas' rich history of Hispanics in the state's creation and growth. Forget all that. The Board just marginalized them, big time: "Oh, you exist, but we just don't think you're that important."
And you know what else? They won't even recognize the inherent racism of this;
--Changes in specific terminology: This one really cracks me up. Check this out--"Terms that the board’s conservative majority felt were ideologically loaded are being retired. Hence, 'imperialism' as a characterization of America’s modern rise to world power is giving way to 'expansionism,' and 'capitalism' is being dropped in economic material, in favor of the more positive expression 'free market.' (The new recommendations stress the need for favorable depictions of America’s economic superiority across the board.)"
These are Conservatives, for pity's sake, and they're ashamed of the word "capitalism". God, I love that. I bet they don't get the irony or hypocrisy of it;
--A more positive portrayal of Cold War anticommunism: This is another beauty. They prop up Senator Joe McCarthy and his communist witch-hunt, wherein he ruined people's lives. Nearly unbelievable. These are some sad, tragic, misguided people on that Board;
--Thomas Jefferson no longer included among writers influencing the nation’s intellectual origins: Okay, here's where they start really making me angry. It's one thing if you glorify communist-baiter Joe McCarthy (hateful jerk though he was), but to eject Thomas Jefferson as an influential source for America? Holy cow. That's almost unthinkable. Jefferson is known, in the world out there that is educated and civilized, as a truly brilliant man, writer and thinker. Just not in Texas. Knocking him off this pedestal does a true and deep disservice to the students of Texas and any- and everywhere else these textbooks land. This is sacrilege;
--A recommendation to include country and western music among the nation’s important cultural movements: The popular black genre of hip-hop is being dropped from the same list.
This ruling on "country and western music" and dropping hip-hop is, to me, where they show their real stupidity, shallowness and racism, by my--and I'm thinking a lot of other people's--thinking. Country and western music? Really? And you care about this? This is the part that starts to get laughable (but still, continued pathetic).
Oh, and, once again, Texas State Board of Education--your racism is showing.
If this weren't so tragic and stupid, I'd be laughing.
Link to original post:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1253
It couldn't be more true.
And it's being proven again, down in Texas right now, as I wrote earlier.
Here are just a few of the real beauties that the Texas State Board of Education has come up with to add to or change in their textbooks, and so, in textbooks that can end up all over the rest of America:
--A greater emphasis on “the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s. Who knows why, except they do downplay the liberal gains of the 60's, too. Maybe this is their way of "getting even." (pathetic, isn't it?);
--A reduced scope for Latino history and culture: A proposal to expand such material in recognition of Texas’ rapidly growing Hispanic population was defeated in last week’s meetings.
Never mind that more 36.5% of Texas' population is Hispanic or Latino as of the 2008 census .
Never mind that more minorities will be born this year, compared to Caucasians.
Forget about Texas' rich history of Hispanics in the state's creation and growth. Forget all that. The Board just marginalized them, big time: "Oh, you exist, but we just don't think you're that important."
And you know what else? They won't even recognize the inherent racism of this;
--Changes in specific terminology: This one really cracks me up. Check this out--"Terms that the board’s conservative majority felt were ideologically loaded are being retired. Hence, 'imperialism' as a characterization of America’s modern rise to world power is giving way to 'expansionism,' and 'capitalism' is being dropped in economic material, in favor of the more positive expression 'free market.' (The new recommendations stress the need for favorable depictions of America’s economic superiority across the board.)"
These are Conservatives, for pity's sake, and they're ashamed of the word "capitalism". God, I love that. I bet they don't get the irony or hypocrisy of it;
--A more positive portrayal of Cold War anticommunism: This is another beauty. They prop up Senator Joe McCarthy and his communist witch-hunt, wherein he ruined people's lives. Nearly unbelievable. These are some sad, tragic, misguided people on that Board;
--Thomas Jefferson no longer included among writers influencing the nation’s intellectual origins: Okay, here's where they start really making me angry. It's one thing if you glorify communist-baiter Joe McCarthy (hateful jerk though he was), but to eject Thomas Jefferson as an influential source for America? Holy cow. That's almost unthinkable. Jefferson is known, in the world out there that is educated and civilized, as a truly brilliant man, writer and thinker. Just not in Texas. Knocking him off this pedestal does a true and deep disservice to the students of Texas and any- and everywhere else these textbooks land. This is sacrilege;
--A recommendation to include country and western music among the nation’s important cultural movements: The popular black genre of hip-hop is being dropped from the same list.
This ruling on "country and western music" and dropping hip-hop is, to me, where they show their real stupidity, shallowness and racism, by my--and I'm thinking a lot of other people's--thinking. Country and western music? Really? And you care about this? This is the part that starts to get laughable (but still, continued pathetic).
Oh, and, once again, Texas State Board of Education--your racism is showing.
If this weren't so tragic and stupid, I'd be laughing.
Link to original post:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1253
Monday, March 15, 2010
Important Senate election this Fall
When it comes time to vote for a Senator for Missouri this Fall, keep in mind that the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), voted Roy Blunt as one of the most unethical members of Congress.
Additionally, the website theMiddleClass.org gave our same Representative Roy Blunt failing grades--all F's --when ranking him for his work for us in Congress from 2003 through 2008. (They're still compiling data on all our representatives for 2009.)
It seems he supports corporations and "Big Business" just fine.
You and me out here in the working Middle Class, not so much.
At all.
The website Public Citizen (www.citizen.org) compiled "a disturbing dossier on Blunt, based on original research and a comprehensive compilation of news accounts of recent months. In the end, what emerges is a portrait of a legislative leader who not only has surrendered his office to the imperative of moneyed interests, but who has also done so with disturbing zeal and efficiency."
Public Citizen came to the conclusion that "Ties to special interests" leave him "unfit to lead."
I can go on about Roy Blunt and how he is and has been for (against?) Missourians but I'll only post this one more note--that is, how Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele himself came down on the issue of Roy Blunt:
"...conservative Springfield radio host Vincent David Jericho spoke with RNC Chairman Michael Steele. In their conversation, Jericho unleashed a litany of criticisms against Roy Blunt, Matt Blunt and other Washington Republicans."
"'Guys like Papa Blunt make us sick to our stomach. They aren’t conservatives, and they sure don’t reflect moral absolute the way that we expect the Republican Party to stand up,' Jericho said."
"Steele responded: 'I agree with you. And when stuff gets in the crapper, you gotta clean it out.'"
So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Even the present leader of the Republican Party spells out what kind of a guy Roy Blunt is and who should vote for him.
Sure, it's early in the Fall Senate election cycle but I want to make sure as many Missourians as possible know all they can about Roy (and Matt) Blunt and their allegiances and histories.
If you need more information, just Google "Roy Blunt". It will quickly and easily give you all you need to know about this man.
Additionally, the website theMiddleClass.org gave our same Representative Roy Blunt failing grades--all F's --when ranking him for his work for us in Congress from 2003 through 2008. (They're still compiling data on all our representatives for 2009.)
It seems he supports corporations and "Big Business" just fine.
You and me out here in the working Middle Class, not so much.
At all.
The website Public Citizen (www.citizen.org) compiled "a disturbing dossier on Blunt, based on original research and a comprehensive compilation of news accounts of recent months. In the end, what emerges is a portrait of a legislative leader who not only has surrendered his office to the imperative of moneyed interests, but who has also done so with disturbing zeal and efficiency."
Public Citizen came to the conclusion that "Ties to special interests" leave him "unfit to lead."
I can go on about Roy Blunt and how he is and has been for (against?) Missourians but I'll only post this one more note--that is, how Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele himself came down on the issue of Roy Blunt:
"...conservative Springfield radio host Vincent David Jericho spoke with RNC Chairman Michael Steele. In their conversation, Jericho unleashed a litany of criticisms against Roy Blunt, Matt Blunt and other Washington Republicans."
"'Guys like Papa Blunt make us sick to our stomach. They aren’t conservatives, and they sure don’t reflect moral absolute the way that we expect the Republican Party to stand up,' Jericho said."
"Steele responded: 'I agree with you. And when stuff gets in the crapper, you gotta clean it out.'"
So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Even the present leader of the Republican Party spells out what kind of a guy Roy Blunt is and who should vote for him.
Sure, it's early in the Fall Senate election cycle but I want to make sure as many Missourians as possible know all they can about Roy (and Matt) Blunt and their allegiances and histories.
If you need more information, just Google "Roy Blunt". It will quickly and easily give you all you need to know about this man.
A Missouri Travesty
Thanks to Representative Jason Kander for this video and to Tony at Tony's KC Blog (from whom I saw and appropriated it). This is too important not to put up.
It is stunning that these are the conditions for our state.
This all needs to change.
And as soon as possible.
It is stunning that these are the conditions for our state.
This all needs to change.
And as soon as possible.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI----guilty?
If you aren't following the big new sex scandal coming out of Germany and Rome--yes, right up to and including the Vatican--you should be.
It's getting very close to the Pope himself.
It seems his brother was in charge in Germany when they reportedly had some sexual and physical abuse, both, going on.
Worse, the Pope's "former archdiocese acknowledged it transferred a suspected pedophile priest while Benedict was in charge."
Ouch.
It gets worse, too:
"...concern is mounting over a 2001 Vatican directive the pope penned instructing bishops to keep abuse secret."
It's getting curiouser and curiouser.
It's the old problem, at a new place: What did the Pope know and when did he know it?
Dan Brown's book and movie, "Angels and Demons", might not have anything on this one.
Stay tuned.
Link to another, new story, too, on abuse reports now coming out of Switzerland:
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/13/1810039/swiss-media-60-people-report-abuses.html
It's getting very close to the Pope himself.
It seems his brother was in charge in Germany when they reportedly had some sexual and physical abuse, both, going on.
Worse, the Pope's "former archdiocese acknowledged it transferred a suspected pedophile priest while Benedict was in charge."
Ouch.
It gets worse, too:
"...concern is mounting over a 2001 Vatican directive the pope penned instructing bishops to keep abuse secret."
It's getting curiouser and curiouser.
It's the old problem, at a new place: What did the Pope know and when did he know it?
Dan Brown's book and movie, "Angels and Demons", might not have anything on this one.
Stay tuned.
Link to another, new story, too, on abuse reports now coming out of Switzerland:
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/13/1810039/swiss-media-60-people-report-abuses.html
No ethics in Kansas government?
You know you have problems as a state if you don't even have rules regarding conflicts of interest and ethics regarding your representatives.
Such is the case in Kansas right now.
According to KMBC: "House rules don't spell out what constitutes misconduct worthy of a reprimand, censure or expulsion."
And yet House Speaker Mike O'Neal is "representing businesses, trade groups and insurance funds in a lawsuit against the state."
Check that out--the House Speaker, whose job is to represent the State and the people in it, is also representing business groups AGAINST the State of Kansas, in a lawsuit.
And there's no rules against this seemingly crystal clear conflict of interest.
If you're a business that wants to file or has filed a lawsuit against your own state, can you imagine having any more preferred attorney representing you than the Speaker of the House of Representatives?
That is, if you can make that fly.
And/or there are no ethics rules against it in your state.
Notes to the citizens of Kansas:
1) You need conflict of interest rules for your legislators;
2) Your legislators should have written them a long time ago (again, quoting KMBC: "The House last appointed a committee to review a member's conduct in 1951.";
3) You need them quickly. Now would be a good time;
4) In words from the Broadway play "Avenue Q": "It sucks to be you".
Such is the case in Kansas right now.
According to KMBC: "House rules don't spell out what constitutes misconduct worthy of a reprimand, censure or expulsion."
And yet House Speaker Mike O'Neal is "representing businesses, trade groups and insurance funds in a lawsuit against the state."
Check that out--the House Speaker, whose job is to represent the State and the people in it, is also representing business groups AGAINST the State of Kansas, in a lawsuit.
And there's no rules against this seemingly crystal clear conflict of interest.
If you're a business that wants to file or has filed a lawsuit against your own state, can you imagine having any more preferred attorney representing you than the Speaker of the House of Representatives?
That is, if you can make that fly.
And/or there are no ethics rules against it in your state.
Notes to the citizens of Kansas:
1) You need conflict of interest rules for your legislators;
2) Your legislators should have written them a long time ago (again, quoting KMBC: "The House last appointed a committee to review a member's conduct in 1951.";
3) You need them quickly. Now would be a good time;
4) In words from the Broadway play "Avenue Q": "It sucks to be you".
Thoughts on a Sunday
--Apparently it was another "lily white" day of Sunday morning news programs.
After searching them all and seeing most, I don't think there was one "person of color" represented on any of the shows. No minority perspective other than the one minority of women.
Surely this will change soon.
Note to networks: there's a whole world of "minorities" in the US whose viewpoints aren't being given, when they're left off the programs.
--George Will is, of course, against the President's plan for health care reform and said as much, again, on ABC's "This Week" program.
ABC should have had the economist Paul Krugman on, if possible, to counter his viewpoints. They needed someone authoritative on to rebut what points he made.
--I hadn't read anywhere, to date, about three Republican representatives (Hennsarling, Pence and Campbell) proposing we cap the national debt at 20% of the GDP. This was news to me.
I'm sure it will get traction, too.
It would have anyway, but with the news out today that the Social Security Administration is starting to pay out more--much more--than it takes in this year, it's easy to see this will resonate with Americans a great deal.
Speaking of spending, did you know the US has 90 military facilities in Japan?
Anyone thought of cutting there?
And why are we still in Germany?
And Italy?
--Quotes from "Kansas City Week in Review" on KCPT this week, both regarding state cuts in spending, due to Missouri and Kansas budget deficits in the millions of dollars:
"Our expectation of government has to change." --Nick Haynes, moderator.
"The 'day of reckoning' really is here." --Dave Helling, KCTV 5 reporter
--The Kansas City, Missouri Chamber of Commerce moving to Union Station is a great idea and deal for the station, the Chamber and the city, overall, period.
Good on ya', Chamber---you did good.
--From a song on KCUR today:
"Every generation thinks its the last, it's the end of the world..."
Face it, folks, we're just not that significant.
(Not that you can't help your neighbor).
Let's all have a great week.
(Also, you might go to KC Photog Blog this Wednesday for one picture per hour of the Brookside St. Patrick's Day parade, starting fairly early in the day. I think they turned out pretty well and they're a lot of fun.)
After searching them all and seeing most, I don't think there was one "person of color" represented on any of the shows. No minority perspective other than the one minority of women.
Surely this will change soon.
Note to networks: there's a whole world of "minorities" in the US whose viewpoints aren't being given, when they're left off the programs.
--George Will is, of course, against the President's plan for health care reform and said as much, again, on ABC's "This Week" program.
ABC should have had the economist Paul Krugman on, if possible, to counter his viewpoints. They needed someone authoritative on to rebut what points he made.
--I hadn't read anywhere, to date, about three Republican representatives (Hennsarling, Pence and Campbell) proposing we cap the national debt at 20% of the GDP. This was news to me.
I'm sure it will get traction, too.
It would have anyway, but with the news out today that the Social Security Administration is starting to pay out more--much more--than it takes in this year, it's easy to see this will resonate with Americans a great deal.
Speaking of spending, did you know the US has 90 military facilities in Japan?
Anyone thought of cutting there?
And why are we still in Germany?
And Italy?
--Quotes from "Kansas City Week in Review" on KCPT this week, both regarding state cuts in spending, due to Missouri and Kansas budget deficits in the millions of dollars:
"Our expectation of government has to change." --Nick Haynes, moderator.
"The 'day of reckoning' really is here." --Dave Helling, KCTV 5 reporter
--The Kansas City, Missouri Chamber of Commerce moving to Union Station is a great idea and deal for the station, the Chamber and the city, overall, period.
Good on ya', Chamber---you did good.
--From a song on KCUR today:
"Every generation thinks its the last, it's the end of the world..."
Face it, folks, we're just not that significant.
(Not that you can't help your neighbor).
Let's all have a great week.
(Also, you might go to KC Photog Blog this Wednesday for one picture per hour of the Brookside St. Patrick's Day parade, starting fairly early in the day. I think they turned out pretty well and they're a lot of fun.)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Great quote today
As always, I was listening to KCUR 89.3 FM, the local NPR (National Public Radio) station and Bill Shapiro's show, "Cyprus Avenue" was on. It was his 2nd hour and it was a replay of one he did on Johnny Cash.
Anyway, Mr. Shapiro--because I don't know him--was speaking of the capitalization of country music which, he said, gave us the "putrid pablum of Taylor Swift."
I laughed out loud.
And I was in my car.
Have a great weekend, y'all. (I'll be writing tomorrow).
Anyway, Mr. Shapiro--because I don't know him--was speaking of the capitalization of country music which, he said, gave us the "putrid pablum of Taylor Swift."
I laughed out loud.
And I was in my car.
Have a great weekend, y'all. (I'll be writing tomorrow).
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Challenge/suggestion for the Star
Okay, so it's decided--we're going to close 1/2 of the schools in the KCMO School District.
Now we'll get to it.
But with all the knowledge of where we've been and what we've been doing, as a city, you know what would make some terrific further reading?
The Kansas City Star's reporters should go around, behind the scenes, and talk to current and past employees of this same school district and get stories on where the millions of dollars of money the district used to have, went.
I've heard some beauties.
It won't ever happen but again, it would make for some terrific reading.
And you know what else?
It might make for some terrific lessons we could all learn, as a city and as parts of this school district.
But look at me. Suggesting we learn any lessons from all this.
What a dope.
Link to story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_closing_schools
Now we'll get to it.
But with all the knowledge of where we've been and what we've been doing, as a city, you know what would make some terrific further reading?
The Kansas City Star's reporters should go around, behind the scenes, and talk to current and past employees of this same school district and get stories on where the millions of dollars of money the district used to have, went.
I've heard some beauties.
It won't ever happen but again, it would make for some terrific reading.
And you know what else?
It might make for some terrific lessons we could all learn, as a city and as parts of this school district.
But look at me. Suggesting we learn any lessons from all this.
What a dope.
Link to story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_closing_schools
NASCAR, anyone?
Lindsay Lohan?
Check.
Eric Massa?
Check.
Sex scandals?
Check.
Afghanistan and Iraq wars?
Fugghedaboudit.
Health Insurance Mandates?
Yeah, right.
How is that going to work?
If you've read anything at all here, you know I'm for health care reform---meaningful health care reform. Health care reform that is for the American people, not the corporations and insurance and pharmaceutical companies, etc.
Like the single-payer option we should have had since there are 1300 different insurance companies in the country, each with their own, different forms.
It's estimated that if the government mandated one form for all these companies, we could save, as a nation, $350 billion a year--enough to pay for health care reform.
But are we getting that?
Heck no.
According to Matt Taibbi of the Rolling Stone magazine, the President buckled on that item right up front, to the corporations.
But that's another story.
What I don't get is about mandating that Americans buy health insurance in order to make this whole health care reform happen.
Questions for the President:
1) How do you "mandate" that all Americans have health insurance? How does that work? How can anyone require that we have it?
If you can't afford health care insurance now, how can you afford it just because it's been required by the government? I don't see that happening.
2) How is this "mandate" enforced? Will there be "health insurance police"? If so, who is that? If not, how does this get enforced?
3) If the government would be requiring we all get and pay for health insurance, is that Constitutionally legal? It certainly goes against all the "freedom" Americans have always demanded and been accustomed to.
4) The insurance companies get their big "win" with all the new customers--why didn't we get the "single-payer option" we needed and that makes so much sense? Did you, in fact, buckle on this, Mr. President and give it away, in effect?
5) Why isn't it "in the can", too, that we'd be getting a "public option", so the insurance companies have competition--instead of the collusion between them all they now have--and we could get and keep insurance premiums down?
As two examples, it's well known we have the most expensive health care system in the world, yet we don't have the healthiest populace--by far--on the planet and two, the insurance companies keep raising their rates capriciously and at will. That one, last month, tried to raise rates 39%, for pity's sake, in the middle of this health care debate and reform.
Now that's chutzpah.
If they can do that now, during this debate, imagine what they can and will do--still without the "public option" and more, true competition--after all this goes away and dies down? It'll be "Katy bar the door" for them on rates, then, most likely.
For now, Mr. President, I'll leave you with those questions.
I just don't see how this is going to work, first, and second, I don't see how this is the huge help to the American people that it's supposed to be.
I hope it is a help and I hope I'm wrong but as the C3PO said in "Star Wars", I have a bad feeling about this...
How is that going to work?
If you've read anything at all here, you know I'm for health care reform---meaningful health care reform. Health care reform that is for the American people, not the corporations and insurance and pharmaceutical companies, etc.
Like the single-payer option we should have had since there are 1300 different insurance companies in the country, each with their own, different forms.
It's estimated that if the government mandated one form for all these companies, we could save, as a nation, $350 billion a year--enough to pay for health care reform.
But are we getting that?
Heck no.
According to Matt Taibbi of the Rolling Stone magazine, the President buckled on that item right up front, to the corporations.
But that's another story.
What I don't get is about mandating that Americans buy health insurance in order to make this whole health care reform happen.
Questions for the President:
1) How do you "mandate" that all Americans have health insurance? How does that work? How can anyone require that we have it?
If you can't afford health care insurance now, how can you afford it just because it's been required by the government? I don't see that happening.
2) How is this "mandate" enforced? Will there be "health insurance police"? If so, who is that? If not, how does this get enforced?
3) If the government would be requiring we all get and pay for health insurance, is that Constitutionally legal? It certainly goes against all the "freedom" Americans have always demanded and been accustomed to.
4) The insurance companies get their big "win" with all the new customers--why didn't we get the "single-payer option" we needed and that makes so much sense? Did you, in fact, buckle on this, Mr. President and give it away, in effect?
5) Why isn't it "in the can", too, that we'd be getting a "public option", so the insurance companies have competition--instead of the collusion between them all they now have--and we could get and keep insurance premiums down?
As two examples, it's well known we have the most expensive health care system in the world, yet we don't have the healthiest populace--by far--on the planet and two, the insurance companies keep raising their rates capriciously and at will. That one, last month, tried to raise rates 39%, for pity's sake, in the middle of this health care debate and reform.
Now that's chutzpah.
If they can do that now, during this debate, imagine what they can and will do--still without the "public option" and more, true competition--after all this goes away and dies down? It'll be "Katy bar the door" for them on rates, then, most likely.
For now, Mr. President, I'll leave you with those questions.
I just don't see how this is going to work, first, and second, I don't see how this is the huge help to the American people that it's supposed to be.
I hope it is a help and I hope I'm wrong but as the C3PO said in "Star Wars", I have a bad feeling about this...
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Congressional Filibuster Reform?
You know, we do need Congress to work, that's for sure.
It's getting to where we, as a country, can't any longer afford lawmaking logjams in the process.
It's ugly. It seems stupid and petty.
And we're all for having Congress in Washington go forward with progress and good, honest, intelligent legislation.
So when I read this that I just read "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pledges filibuster reform" , it gives me pause.
On the one hand, we do need to take our country forward.
But we need to do it as a group--as Americans, like it used to be. We can't have incessant infighting between Republicans vs. Democrats vs. Conservatives vs. Liberals vs. Independents vs. Libertarians vs. "Teabaggers", like we've been doing the last dozen or more years.
Yes, we need progress and yes, we need to do away with these, as I said earlier, logjams.
But do away with the possibility of the filibuster?
Be careful what you wish for, Senator Reid.
Be careful what you wish for, lest it's not an option for you and your Party, should you be out of power.
Let's have guts and show strength but let's do what's right and good for the country.
And be careful and wise about it.
It's getting to where we, as a country, can't any longer afford lawmaking logjams in the process.
It's ugly. It seems stupid and petty.
And we're all for having Congress in Washington go forward with progress and good, honest, intelligent legislation.
So when I read this that I just read "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pledges filibuster reform" , it gives me pause.
On the one hand, we do need to take our country forward.
But we need to do it as a group--as Americans, like it used to be. We can't have incessant infighting between Republicans vs. Democrats vs. Conservatives vs. Liberals vs. Independents vs. Libertarians vs. "Teabaggers", like we've been doing the last dozen or more years.
Yes, we need progress and yes, we need to do away with these, as I said earlier, logjams.
But do away with the possibility of the filibuster?
Be careful what you wish for, Senator Reid.
Be careful what you wish for, lest it's not an option for you and your Party, should you be out of power.
Let's have guts and show strength but let's do what's right and good for the country.
And be careful and wise about it.
Not change our health care system?
To anyone who says we "have the best health care system in the world" or that "we don't need to change our health care system" or that "the American people don't want our health care system changed", I can now give them, along with statistics and hard data showing ours as the most expensive health care system in the world, as well as other, failing mortality and disease rates, the following :
"A new Associated Press-GfK Poll finds a widespread hunger for improvements to the health care system, which suggests President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies have a political opening to push their plan. Half of all Americans say health care should be changed a lot or 'a great deal,' and only 4 percent say it shouldn't be changed at all."
Note to Congress: Give us our health care reform. Make it work.
"A new Associated Press-GfK Poll finds a widespread hunger for improvements to the health care system, which suggests President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies have a political opening to push their plan. Half of all Americans say health care should be changed a lot or 'a great deal,' and only 4 percent say it shouldn't be changed at all."
Note to Congress: Give us our health care reform. Make it work.
Note to the Missouri GOP
The US' health care system is broken.
It doesn't work.
It's not affordable.
It is the most expensive health care system on the planet.
We're ranked 37th--behind Rush Limbaugh's Costa Rica, for pity's sake--internationally, when considering mortality.
It needs fixing.
You've never tried to fix it and this President is trying to, just like Democrat Harry Truman, before him and too many Presidents since, including Bill Clinton.
Get over it.
The President is right on this one.
We need help and it will take help, structurally, from the government to do it.
No other country on the planet lets the markets decide who gets health care and how.
We're dying out here.
Literally.
For statistics on America's health care system, click here.
It doesn't work.
It's not affordable.
It is the most expensive health care system on the planet.
We're ranked 37th--behind Rush Limbaugh's Costa Rica, for pity's sake--internationally, when considering mortality.
It needs fixing.
You've never tried to fix it and this President is trying to, just like Democrat Harry Truman, before him and too many Presidents since, including Bill Clinton.
Get over it.
The President is right on this one.
We need help and it will take help, structurally, from the government to do it.
No other country on the planet lets the markets decide who gets health care and how.
We're dying out here.
Literally.
For statistics on America's health care system, click here.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Walt Bodine retiring, mostly--at 90
I just saw at Bottom Line Communications that KCUR announced Walt Bodine is retiring, as I said above, mostly, at 90 years of age.
Zounds.
I remember as a kid in the 60's, my Mom listened to Walt and won $64.00 listening to his show. She told of what his show meant for her at the time.
We're from St. Joe and she was raising the ten of us (seriously) so I think they gave it to her out of sympathy. She'd likely agree.
So, anyway, Walt and this city go back decades and he's done great work for us and we'll miss him but this has got to be good news for him, I'd think.
Five days a week at the station?
And I always love to hear the restaurant critics every other Friday when I can--I do have that pesky job, you know--and the movie reviewers.
So we all wish Walt well and thank goodness he's going to still be on once a week, for the Friday shows, thank goodness, but I have to put in a "plug" right now for what should happen for and to this time slot.
Here's hoping Steve Kraske takes it over.
The guy does great research and interviews and gets terrific guests.
It would clearly be the best thing KCUR could do for this city, radio, themselves and that time slot in replacing Walt.
KCUR? You listening?
Zounds.
I remember as a kid in the 60's, my Mom listened to Walt and won $64.00 listening to his show. She told of what his show meant for her at the time.
We're from St. Joe and she was raising the ten of us (seriously) so I think they gave it to her out of sympathy. She'd likely agree.
So, anyway, Walt and this city go back decades and he's done great work for us and we'll miss him but this has got to be good news for him, I'd think.
Five days a week at the station?
And I always love to hear the restaurant critics every other Friday when I can--I do have that pesky job, you know--and the movie reviewers.
So we all wish Walt well and thank goodness he's going to still be on once a week, for the Friday shows, thank goodness, but I have to put in a "plug" right now for what should happen for and to this time slot.
Here's hoping Steve Kraske takes it over.
The guy does great research and interviews and gets terrific guests.
It would clearly be the best thing KCUR could do for this city, radio, themselves and that time slot in replacing Walt.
KCUR? You listening?
Kansas City in the news
Our fair city came up in the news this afternoon, in a couple different ways.
In the first one I saw, it called us out for our school district shrinking. It had some big, tragic headline about how desperate we are--"Kansas City Schools Crisis" was the headline.
I beg to differ.
From the outside, maybe this looks and seems desperate and crazy but for those of us looking on, this shrinking of the KCMO School District is just the obvious thing we need to do right now. In a district that used to have 75,000 students, we now have about 16,000 so close schools we must.
Get over it.
Then, in the 2nd article about KCMO , it pointed out how we rank tenth, nationally, for not doing too badly in comparison to other cities regarding this worst recession in 80 years.
So good on us, eh?
Finally, not about Kansas City at all, there was an article about Detroit, Michigan and their problems.
Think we have it bad?
Think again.
The leaders of Detroit have proposed bulldozing up to one quarter of the city, in an effort to save it.
Detroit is collapsing from within. (Thanks, General Motors, for outsourcing all those jobs!).
We, by sharp contrast, while not exactly soaring, are nowhere close to that bad a shape.
I say again, too, that, come 2011, when the downtown Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opens, the nation will come calling on us and we'll look pretty good, by comparison to a lot of other places.
Cheer up.
It could be a lot worse, for sure.
In the first one I saw, it called us out for our school district shrinking. It had some big, tragic headline about how desperate we are--"Kansas City Schools Crisis" was the headline.
I beg to differ.
From the outside, maybe this looks and seems desperate and crazy but for those of us looking on, this shrinking of the KCMO School District is just the obvious thing we need to do right now. In a district that used to have 75,000 students, we now have about 16,000 so close schools we must.
Get over it.
Then, in the 2nd article about KCMO , it pointed out how we rank tenth, nationally, for not doing too badly in comparison to other cities regarding this worst recession in 80 years.
So good on us, eh?
Finally, not about Kansas City at all, there was an article about Detroit, Michigan and their problems.
Think we have it bad?
Think again.
The leaders of Detroit have proposed bulldozing up to one quarter of the city, in an effort to save it.
Detroit is collapsing from within. (Thanks, General Motors, for outsourcing all those jobs!).
We, by sharp contrast, while not exactly soaring, are nowhere close to that bad a shape.
I say again, too, that, come 2011, when the downtown Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opens, the nation will come calling on us and we'll look pretty good, by comparison to a lot of other places.
Cheer up.
It could be a lot worse, for sure.
Separation of Church and State
Remember that?
Remember how we used to stand for this principle?
No more.
Ever since that idiot 43rd President of ours ("W", to be clear) screwed up our country--and in so many ways--we've done away with this intelligent idea.
The whole term "Faith-based Inititatives" is enough to make me nearly scream.
Government doesn't belong in religion in any way, shape or form, period.
And religion, conversely, doesn't belong in government.
If you'd have been listening to our country for the last dozen or more years, you'd have thought some boneheaded Liberal came up with this idea, to get more money to the poor or something.
But no.
It was a Republican--a "Conservative" politician--that same George W. Bush.
It should never have been done.
And then, once created, once these same religions started both discriminating against people not of their same faith by not giving them jobs or whatever and, further, proselytizing people, with this same money or the promise of money or help, so that the person needing assistance was maybe talked into becoming part of that religious group, the money from "Uncle Sugar" should have been pulled.
Then, "Mr. Change", our new President (of whom, I have to say, I'm still a supporter), to add insult to this injury, promised to change this policy during the campaign but hasn't done anything near it yet:
"During a July 1, 2008, Zanesville, Ohio, speech, Obama promised to end Bush administration policies that permit publicly funded faith-based social service programs to proselytize and discriminate in hiring based on religion."
To date, no such thing. His council on this is studying reports, I see but that's it so far.
No, this "Faith-based" crap should never have been started.
And it should end now.
I want a bumper sticker: "Government out of religion. Religion out of government."
Let's get to it, Mr. President.
Link to related story:
http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/03/obama-inaction-on-faith-based.html
Remember how we used to stand for this principle?
No more.
Ever since that idiot 43rd President of ours ("W", to be clear) screwed up our country--and in so many ways--we've done away with this intelligent idea.
The whole term "Faith-based Inititatives" is enough to make me nearly scream.
Government doesn't belong in religion in any way, shape or form, period.
And religion, conversely, doesn't belong in government.
If you'd have been listening to our country for the last dozen or more years, you'd have thought some boneheaded Liberal came up with this idea, to get more money to the poor or something.
But no.
It was a Republican--a "Conservative" politician--that same George W. Bush.
It should never have been done.
And then, once created, once these same religions started both discriminating against people not of their same faith by not giving them jobs or whatever and, further, proselytizing people, with this same money or the promise of money or help, so that the person needing assistance was maybe talked into becoming part of that religious group, the money from "Uncle Sugar" should have been pulled.
Then, "Mr. Change", our new President (of whom, I have to say, I'm still a supporter), to add insult to this injury, promised to change this policy during the campaign but hasn't done anything near it yet:
"During a July 1, 2008, Zanesville, Ohio, speech, Obama promised to end Bush administration policies that permit publicly funded faith-based social service programs to proselytize and discriminate in hiring based on religion."
To date, no such thing. His council on this is studying reports, I see but that's it so far.
No, this "Faith-based" crap should never have been started.
And it should end now.
I want a bumper sticker: "Government out of religion. Religion out of government."
Let's get to it, Mr. President.
Link to related story:
http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/03/obama-inaction-on-faith-based.html
Good news/bad for KC area
The good news--a company is bringing 1200 new jobs to the Kansas City area.
Terrific.
We need 'em.
The bad?
The company, Regent Asset Management, out of Colorado "provides customized collection services for a variety of industries, is doing most of its business with banks and credit card companies."
So they're a debt-collection company and they're expanding because the economy has gone to heck, people have lost their jobs and can't pay their bills.
Oh, well.
At least they're here in the area and not somewhere else calling us all.
Terrific.
We need 'em.
The bad?
The company, Regent Asset Management, out of Colorado "provides customized collection services for a variety of industries, is doing most of its business with banks and credit card companies."
So they're a debt-collection company and they're expanding because the economy has gone to heck, people have lost their jobs and can't pay their bills.
Oh, well.
At least they're here in the area and not somewhere else calling us all.
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