Personal – Page 615 – Politics Plus

Open Thread–6/24/2012

Posted by TomCat at 11:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 242012

Yesterday I must have been even more tired than I thought, because, after getting the blog up and eating, I slept from 3 PM until 5 AM, with just a few short breaks. As a result, I’m somewhat groggy, but that’s OK. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:11 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: If Your House Is On Fire, Which Of These Guys Is More Likely To Send In The Trucks?

But Rmoney would be happy to support your homeowners insurance company, if they tried to get out of paying you for the damage.

From NY Times: No American is dedicating as much of his money to defeat President Obama as Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who also happens to have made more money in the last three years than any other American. He is the perfect illustration of the squalid state of political money, spending sums greater than any political donation in history to advance his personal, ideological and financial agenda, which is wildly at odds with the nation’s needs.

Adelson’s twin goals are a one state outcome for Israel and to make trickle down gush up faster.

From 89WLS: A newly sworn-in congressman who was injured in a mass shooting last year along with then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords held his first "Congress on Your Corner" event with southern Arizona constituents on Saturday.

Giffords conducted 21 of the informal meet-and-greet events during her more than four years in office, including one on the day of the shooting – Jan. 8, 2011.

What a fitting tribute. I wonder is Sarah Palin will put a bullseye on him too.

Cartoon:

24Cartoon

Oregon a Laboratory for Obamacare

Posted by TomCat at 11:51 am Personal, Politics

Jun 232012

Although it is soon to change, if the ACA survives, Oregon, one of the first states to provide health insurance to poor adults, can extend their unusual health care plan to all. Now, there are insufficient resources to cover everyone. After determining the resources available, Oregon calculates how many people they can cover under the Oregon Health Plan. Then they hold a lottery among all who qualify.

When Wendy Parris shattered her ankle, the emergency room put it in an air cast and sent her on her way. Because she had no insurance, doctors did not operate to fix it. A mother of six, Ms. Parris hobbled around for four years, pained by the foot, becoming less mobile and gaining weight.

But in 2008, Oregon opened its Medicaid rolls to some working-age adults living in poverty, like Ms. Parris. Lacking the money to cover everyone, the state established a lottery, and Ms. Parris was one of the 89,824 residents who entered in the hope of winning insurance.

With that lottery, Oregon became a laboratory for studying the effects of extending health insurance to people who previously did not have it. Health economists say the state has become the single best place to study a question at the center of debate in Washington as the Supreme Court prepares to rule, likely next week, on the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law: What are the costs and benefits of coverage?

In a continuing study, an all-star group of researchers following Ms. Parris and tens of thousands of other Oregonians has found that gaining insurance makes people feel healthier, happier and more financially stable. The insured also spend more on health care, dashing some hopes of preventive-medicine advocates who have argued that coverage can save money — by keeping people out of emergency rooms, for instance. In Oregon, the newly insured spent an average of $778 a year, or 25 percent, more on health care than those who did not win insurance… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Unfortunately for me, I lost in the 2008 lottery and did not win my SSDI appeal until late 2009. For me, I found that spending more on health care after gaining insurance is temporary, brought on by going without health care after loosing mine in 2006 when my job was GW Bushwhacked. But as I catch up, my care is shifting to preventive and maintenance care.

Few things are more frustrating than needing medical care and being unable to get it. I have been there and know what it is to decide between medicine and food.

For most uninsured Americans, Obamacare will provide the same security that Medicare provides me. Republicans want to take this away to provide more welfare for the rich.

Open Thread–6/23/2012

Posted by TomCat at 11:51 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 232012

It’s a lazy Saturday. Rmoney is too busy grubbing $millions and making corrupt deals to provide us with Willardisms. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:00 (average 4:50). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: This Is The Effect Obama REALLY Had On The Private Sector

23PrivateSector

Just before the effect Obama had, you can see the effect Bush had and Rmoney would have, since their policies are so similar.

From NY Times: The Supreme Court’s ruling this week in Knox v. Service Employees International Union is one of the most brazen of the Roberts court. It shows how defiantly the five justices act in advancing the aggressive conservatism of their majority on the court.

The court’s moderate liberals were rightly dismayed by the majority’s willingness to breach court rules in pursuit of its agenda. In this labor union case, there is no getting around that the legal approach is indistinguishable from politics. The court’s five conservatives ruled that in 2005, Local 1000 of the Service Employees International Union should have sent a notice to all nonmembers it represented when it imposed a temporary 25 percent increase in union dues for public-sector employees in California to fight two anti-union ballot measures.

As long as Republicans are able to appoint Injustices like the fascist five, SCOTUS will be a place, where the Constitution takes a back seat to plutocratic dogma.

From USA Today: If there was any doubt that Mitt Romney’s business record would be an election issue, President Obama’s team is erasing it this weekend.

Rmoney certainly is an outsourcing pioneer!

Cartoon:

23Cartoon

If you see any Republicans, let them know it’s over. They won the war, but lately, they have switched to the loosing side.

Open Thread–6/22/2012

Posted by TomCat at 11:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 222012

My apartment reached 104° yesterday, but it wasn’t so bad, because it was one day only. When the heat wave lasts longer, it’s far worse, because the building never cools between days. Today I need to chase down the pain meds I was supposed to get early this week. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:09 (average 5:52). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: You’d Be Really Surprised To See How Medicare Measures Up To HMOs

22Medicare

Republicans’ purpose in privatizing Medicare is converting benefits to overhead and profit. Benefits do nothing to help the 1%.

From Think Progress: Conservative donors are in for a big weekend: “Both Mitt Romney and billionaire industrialist brothers David and Charles Koch are holding hush-hush events with wealthy donors designed to keep the dollars coming in.”

This is where Rmoney’s Etch-a-Sketch is programmed. I wonder if Scalia and Thomas are attending the Koch fundraiser AGAIN.

From MSNBC: A Payoff from Obamacare

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Progressives should take note of the extent to which Alan Grayson supports Obamacare, despite his desire for a single payer system.

Cartoon:

22Cartoon

A Republican Holiday

Open Thread–6/21/2012

Posted by TomCat at 11:38 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 212012

Yesterday I caught up distribution of links. I’m hurrying because today will be a scorcher, but it should only last for one day. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:25 (average 4:20). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: The Truth About How Hard Your Kids’ Teachers ACTUALLY Work

21teachers

How is it that Rmoney and the Republican Party say there are to many of these?

From Common Dreams: Alberta’s second oil spill in two weeks casts further doubts on the safety of tar sands

On Monday 230,000 liters of tar sands crude spilled at a pumping station near Elk Point, Alberta along Enbridge’s Athabasca pipeline, causing the pipeline to shut down temporarily.

Nature clothed Alberta in such magnificence, that I hate to see it fouled by Harper and his harlots.

From MSNBC: Romney Swings and Misses

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rmoney ducks those questions for an obvious reason. Answering them truthfully would guarantee an Obama win.

Cartoon: Rmoney talking about Obama

21Cartoon

Open Thread–6/20/2012

Posted by TomCat at 11:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 202012

Yesterday I got the blog up, before I left for physical therapy. I have exercises to do, but they they are causing me more shoulder pain. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:12 (average 5:08). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Abraham Lincoln’s Most Shocking Prediction Is Something You’ll Never Guess

20Abe

If he knows that the party he founded has become the instrument of his prediction, he is crying.

From NY Times: After their two-day meeting ended on Tuesday, leaders of the Group of 20 top economies managed to say some of the right things. Focusing on the euro-zone debt crisis — clearly, the largest threat to the global economy — they pledged to do more to spur growth, ensure financial stability and support a stronger European fiscal union.

The question now is whether these words will ever translate into effective action. If the past two years of the euro crisis is any guide, the likely answer is no. As recession and banking crises have enveloped Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy, the crisis response, led by Germany, has been dominated by a relentless insistence on self-defeating austerity and piecemeal rescue plans.

The result has been deeper recession, social unrest and political upheaval in Europe’s weaker economies and increasing mistrust between the strong and weak nations of Europe.

I hope Germany has the wisdom to dump Merkel and the right wing.

From USAToday: Obama ads slam Romney on taxes, outsourcing jobs

Excellent and accurate.

Cartoon:

20Cartoon

Open Thread–6/19/2012

Posted by TomCat at 9:49 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 192012

I’m rushing to get as much done as I can before I have to leave for my physical therapy appointment. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:16 (average 4:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Tick Tock: Robert Reich Schools Us On Taxes In 3 Minutes Or Less

Republicans bleed the needy for the greedy!

From Houston Chronicle: President Barack Obama is winning the opening round in the battle over immigration, according to a Bloomberg poll released today, putting Republicans on the defensive with his decision to end the deportations of some illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children,

Sixty-four percent of likely voters surveyed after Obama’s June 15 announcement said they agreed with the policy, while 30 percent said they disagreed. Independents backed the decision by better than a two-to-one margin.

No surprise here. The move was as practical as it was politically brilliant.

From TPM: Angus King, the independent former governor who is running for Maine’s open Senate seat, won’t say which party he will caucus with until after he’s elected in November, reports USA Today. In an interview, King said, “I don’t answer that question because I don’t know.”

Interesting. I know little about him, except that he supports Obama.

Cartoon:

19Cartoon

Open Thread–6/18/2012

Posted by TomCat at 11:48 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 182012

Yesterday was supposed to be cooler, but about an hour before my month’s groceries arrived, the sun hit the breezeway outside my windows. Even though the high outside was 70°, the temperature in the breezeway jumped to 108°, and inside, to 96°. That made unpacking and putting away all those groceries a miserable task. So I’m, pretty wrung out today. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow I have to go to physical therapy on my shoulder, so my articles may be few and late.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:28 (average 5:18). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Why Rachel Maddow Thinks ‘Small Government’ Makes A Great Bumper Sticker

18rachelmaddow

"Too Informed to Vote Republican" says it all!

From YouTube: 2012: Who Should You Vote For?

Few people on the left are more critical of Barack Obama than Cenk Uygur. Nevertheless, even he knows that as attractive as Rocky Anderson is, a vote for him is an investment in Willard Romney.

From New Your Magazine: Neil Munro, the Daily Caller reporter who interrupted Obama’s DREAM Act Lite speech yesterday by yelling, "Why do you favor foreigners over American workers?" is himself a so-called foreigner working a job, here in America. This isn’t breaking news: He identifies as Irish-born on his Twitter bio, and he is currently living in D.C. on a green card. It is, however, somewhat notable and ironic when you consider the agenda behind what he maintains was "a conventional, obvious question."

I guess that the Republican Party doesn’t consider Munro a foreigner, because he has the right skin color.

Cartoon:

18Cartoon

Older Entries Newer Entries