ThinkFast: March 2, 2007
ThinkFast: March 2, 2007
“The share of female politicians around the world reached a record of high of almost 17 percent in 2006 — up nearly 6 percentage points during the past decade.”
“Nearly 90 percent of Army National Guard units in the United States are rated “not ready” – largely as a result of shortfalls in billions of dollars’ worth of equipment — jeopardizing their capability to respond to crises at home and abroad,” according to a congressional commission’s preliminary report.
56 percent: Number of Americans who believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for all. Eighty-four percent said they support expanding the Childrens’ Health Insurance Program to cover all uninsured children, even though President Bush has proposed cutting funding for the program.
Sources confirmed to McClatchy Newspapers that Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) “pressured the U.S. attorney in their state to speed up indictments in a federal corruption investigation that involved at least one former Democratic state senator.” The intervention came in mid-October, “when Wilson was in a competitive re-election campaign that she won by 875 votes out of nearly 211,000 cast.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) yesterday said he likely would support legislation by Sen. James Webb (D-VA) “barring a U.S. attack on Iran unless Congress explicitly gave President George W. Bush the green light to do so.”
Yesterday in a vote of 241-185, the House passed the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to organize and establishing stronger penalties for employers who intimidate workers. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) will reintroduce an identical bill in the Senate soon.
“The danger posed by war to all of humanity and to our planet is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday warned in his first address on the issue.
Opium production in Afghanistan “hit record output” last year, rising 25 percent.
Jurors in the Scooter Libby trial “expect to deliberate into next week. They asked U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton for a dictionary and more office supplies and asked to leave early today for the weekend. Walton denied the request for the dictionary but told jurors they could take off at 2 p.m.”
And finally: www.HornballCouncilmembers.com. “A Town Council candidate admitted Wednesday that he owned an Internet pornography site but said it has no bearing on whether he should be elected March 13. ‘It’s registered to me, and I developed the page. … [But] this is a personal issue involving consenting adults. This campaign should be about issues.”
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Opium production in Afghanistan “hit record output†last year, rising 25 percent.
Right on schedule, all according to plan.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:07 amNow that ancestors of Barack Obama (on his mother’s side) have been found to have owned slaves in the past, will the right wingnuts see the irony in their attacks.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 amBlackwater — Bush’s Republican Guard
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:14 amWelcome back TP!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:14 am“The danger posed by war to all of humanity and to our planet is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming,†U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday warned in his first address on the issue.
And who’s the number one exporter of both?
I’m so proud to be an American…
</snark>
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:21 amIn other words, the hundreds of billions of dollars we borrowed to fund Bush’s War wasn’t enough. We’re going to have to borrow and spend hundreds of billions more even after Bush is gone, just to replace what he has destroyed in his quest for world domination.
Bush has emboldened the enemy. The Iraqi resistance knows we’re now down to sending in raw recruits with insufficient equipment and training. They know now that they are blowing up stuff that isn’t getting replaced. They know they are winning. The rest of the world knows it, too.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:30 amThe new labor legislation sounds amazing, a great sign of progress towards the right to organize. Big companies like McDonald’s and Walmart have been able to get away with quietly firing workers who attempt to form unions, and it’s unacceptable. They bully and intimidate workers who want basic benefits like living wages, pensions, and healthcare. In the book Fast Food Nation, the author describes McD’s unfair labor practices: a McD’s in Canada was its only restaurant to sign union cards and begin the process, but McD’s closed that restaurant and opened a new one not too far away in the same city, and refused to rehire the employees who signed cards. And in Barbara Erheinrich (spelling)’s book Nickel and Dimed describes her job at a Minneapolis Walmart. She tried to start talking to employees about starting one, and why they hadn’t started one yet, and the employees told her to never bring it up again, or else they’d be fired if management found out about it. During orientation, the author’s bosses pushed extreme right-wing propaganda and misinformation about unions and the ability to form unions. It was absolutely sickening to read both books about labor practices.
Let’s all hope that this legislation is passed, and that Bush doesn’t veto it. It’s time for the government to stand behind worker’s rights.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:32 amRe: 56% , healthcare for all
This should never have happened in the United States. We’re becoming a third world nation before our very eyes.WaPo: (h/t Pach)
Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache Sunday.
A routine, $80 tooth extraction might have saved him.
If his mother had been insured.
If his family had not lost its Medicaid.
If Medicaid dentists weren’t so hard to find.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:38 amhttp://www.crooksandliars.com/index.php?rand={20070302063740}&paged=2
#5, TMM, do you have data to back up that we’re the number one exporter? And is the ‘export of global warming’ based on number of people, or GDP?
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:46 amOne story that didn’t seem to make the cut… but don’t worry, he bought security credits.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:48 amImagine if Bill Clinton was found to be funding the terrorists who, we are told, were responsible for knocking down the World Trade Centers and killing 3000 Americans? Can you possibly imagine the reaction, and justifiably so, from the corporate media. It would be 24/7 coverage with breaking news breaking into the breaking news. They’d be running pieces calling for his immediate impeachment and possibly stoning to death, and justifiably so.
The newspapers would have 5 inch headline stories calling Clinton the worst president and person in the history of the country, and justifiably so. There’d be entire pull-out sections in the newspaper and every column inch would contain explosive adjectives describing Clinton as despicable and villianous.
Every radio station in the country would interrupt programming and go CNN live. Maybe even the FM music stations.
Schools would be instructed to hold special classes so teachers would have time to hold discussions with students to talk about this very very dark day in history.
And all of it would be justified.
Amazingly, this did happen this week, but the President was George W. Bush, not Bill Clinton.
Sy Hersh provided a bombshell story, an 11 on a scale of 10.
In case you missed it…that Bush is “pumping money, a great deal of money, without congressional authority, without any congressional oversight” into “three Sunni jihadist groups… connected to al Qaeda,”
And the media is silent. Dead silent. Bought off, paid for, scared, corrupt media, SILENT MEDIA.
So terribly frighteningly eerily sad for you, me our country and our world.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 amNow that ancestors of Barack Obama (on his mother’s side) have been found to have owned slaves in the past, will the right wingnuts see the irony in their attacks.
Comment by Marie
You’re kidding right?
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 amSources confirmed to McClatchy Newspapers that Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) “pressured the U.S. attorney in their state to speed up indictments in a federal corruption investigation that involved at least one former Democratic state senator.â€
Ahem…trolls? Anyone willing to try their hand at spinning this one in favor of the Republican’ts? Let’s make it challenging, though. You can’t start off with “Yeah, well what about Clinton…”
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 am#2 Marie
Now that ancestors of Barack Obama (on his mother’s side) have been found to have owned slaves in the past, will the right wingnuts see the irony in their attacks.
Right wingnuts don’t do irony. That part of their brain never developed. Neither did the one that uses deductive logic.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:56 amchimpeach @ 13 I’ll try:
Well that florida council candidate runs a porn site. That’s like the same thing isn’t it?
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:58 amRight wingnuts don’t do irony. That part of their brain never developed. Neither did the one that uses deductive logic.
Comment by chimpeach — March 2, 2007 @ 9:56 am
They do practice a peculiar form of inductive reasoning, however. A typical example goes like this: “Iran is dangerous and must be attacked because Bush says Iran is dangerous and must be attacked.” Just ask Dale.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:17 am#15 klyde
Well that florida council candidate runs a porn site. That’s like the same thing isn’t it?
Damn! You got me there. I suppose running a porn website is at least as bad as interfering with a federal corruption investigation in order to hurt a political opponent running for election. I hear that council candidate was a serial jaywalker, too.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:18 amSeymour Hersh is a dying breed of investigative journalism. When he posts a new article, he makes the rounds on 24/7 news programs, and then it all seems to fade, lost in a file somewhere.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:20 amThe msm should have jumped all over this, made headlines daily, and explained what was happening to the dumbed down public who are still “Lost” in “American Idol.”
As usual, though, they are absent, preferring to focus on Spears, Smith and the latest local human tragedy.
#16, I think it’s sweet that your first thought was of me. Thanks VerbalKint! :-)
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 am#2, I just want to know if Obama’s going to be paying reparations to himself.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:26 am“The share of female politicians around the world reached a record of high of almost 17 percent in 2006 — up nearly 6 percentage points during the past decade.â€
Yay, girls! Keep it up!
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:50 am“Nearly 90 percent of Army National Guard units in the United States are rated “not ready†– largely as a result of shortfalls in billions of dollars’ worth of equipment — jeopardizing their capability to respond to crises at home and abroad,†according to a congressional commission’s preliminary report.
I hope we don’t have any huge local disasters where the National Guard would normally be helping. Like Katrina, or the flooding disaster we had several years ago. It may not work out so well.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:52 amSo the National Guard needs new equipment to be ready. Where is congress on this? This should priority #1 as we are at war and may need to call them up for war with Iran. Why is congress not doing its job and providing the funding our military men and women need?
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:53 amSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) yesterday said he likely would support legislation by Sen. James Webb (D-VA) “barring a U.S. attack on Iran unless Congress explicitly gave President George W. Bush the green light to do so.â€
Harry, I think you’re a good man, but you come off as wishy-washy. I hope you would be against Congress giving Chimpy any such green light.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:55 amJurors in the Scooter Libby trial “expect to deliberate into next week. They asked U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton for a dictionary and more office supplies and asked to leave early today for the weekend. Walton denied the request for the dictionary but told jurors they could take off at 2 p.m.â€
I have a bad feeling about the request for the dictionary. We have have a hung jury.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:57 am#24 Congress wouldn’t say that we should never attack Iran. What happens if Iran keeps enriching Uranium? If they do, congress has no choice but to ask the President to attack Iran. I hope that doesn’t happen, but currently it looks like the Dems will be asking Bush to attack Iran sooner then later sadly.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:58 amWhy is congress not doing its job and providing the funding our military men and women need?
Comment by Roger_Roger
Are you f*cking blaming this on the 110th Congress, Dung_Dung?
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:58 amBeware The Ides Of March
by Jay Randal
Four years ago in March the Bush Regime invaded and occupied Iraq using concocted lies to justify the attack and the Congress was bamboozled to authorize funding.
A new war is brewing against Iran, with Bush Regime concocting lies again, so the corporate press is helping them again and using scurrilous propaganda again too.
If the DC Congressional membership goes along with this premeditated attack on Iran, then they can’t even remotely claim ignorance and would be accomplices.
War on Iran would be the greatest disaster to befoul the United States in its history, and could ignite global WWIII, so dire attack on Iran must be prevented now.
The American public will NOT tolerate another war to benefit Israel, NOR another misadventure for Oil Cartel to make more profits, so war must be stopped.
Ides of March calamity is looming upon our America and the breeze of revolution rustles behind the scenes.
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
PS: Contact Reps and Senators to demand they stop Iran attack now!
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:02 am56 percent: Number of Americans who believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for all. Eighty-four percent said they support expanding the Childrens’ Health Insurance Program to cover all uninsured children
I wonder what the poll results would be if the question were phrased as “Do you believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for all if it meant $800 per month higher taxes for you?”
And on global warming, unless the US starts replacing coal power plants with nuclear plants, there’s nothing to talk about. No reason to even bring it up. Just wasting time. Right now, the US is planning on hundreds of more coal power plants. Hello, more CO2!
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 amI hope that doesn’t happen, but currently it looks like the Dems will be asking Bush to attack Iran sooner then later sadly.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Liar. You have said right on this blog that you hope we attack Iran, so don’t lie about it. Get the troops home from Iraq, so they can be rested up for the attack on Iran. You’ve got a frickin’ hard-on for it, so don’t deny it.
The Dems will NEVER ask that sorry sack of sh*t to attack Iran.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 am@9 $800 more? HAHA, try around $6,000 extra per household per year more. I still don’t understand how congress even thinks that is possible. Do they honestly plan to ask every family in America for $6k? Do they think us average Americans can afford that?
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:07 amRoger_roger,
Hey F*ckhead – We have no credible intelligence that Iran is enriching Uranium. Bush himself said that we had faulty intelligence in Iraq, and now that we have had faulty intelligence on North Korea FOR FIVE YEARS. We should believe them about Iran? Also, EVERY govorner in America (including Jeb Bush) complained more than a year ago that the National Guard was under-equippped. The republicans have done so much for so many years to try to destroy our country it is going to take a long time to repair the damage. Republicans hate our country and want to sell it to the communists. Murtha has tried to introduce legislation that would REQUIRE our troops to be properly equipped before being sent out, but all of the republicans are against this because they hate our troops.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:09 am#30 I hope we don’t have to honestly. I just realize that the chances are very good that we will have to attack. If they don’t stop enriching Uranium we don’t have an option. Of course the Dems realize this too. The only hope is that the terrorist leaders of Iran will come to their senses soon and stop the enrichment process. At least we can then sit down with them and have discussions.
Currently, they continue to enrich which means we have no option but to attack.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:10 am#30, uh Zooey, don’t be TOO sure of that. Here’s a YouTube video (CSPAN) of Sen Levin talking tough about possibly going after Syria *and* Iran.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:10 amBack in Zooey, but only briefly….
Huge Blessings to R.R. folk’s, he realy need’s them…His med’s that king george sent him are contaminated and not working because the food and drug zahr that king george put in charge use to be an inspector for military urinal sanitaton….Time to flush poor R.R.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:12 am#32 We certainly know they are enriching Uranium. Where have you been the last year? The UN has verified they are enriching Uranium and Iran themselves has said as much.
I agree that our troops need more equipment and it is congress’ job to vote on and approve the funds. Lets pray they do there job quickly and get this money to our troops ASAP.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:12 am“I think we should take action… against Syria and Iran” I don’t have the *exact* quote, but this is what Sen. Levin says in the video.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:12 am#34… stupid me… HERE’s the YouTube video :-)
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:13 amDung_Dung & Dale,
It will not happen.
Dung_Dung, the time for talking is now, not when they promise to stop enriching the uranium. NOW. You’re still a liar.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:14 am#21, Zooey, while the increased female rep is a good thing, I wonder why TP didn’t post this.
It’s an article in WaPo about Sen. Barama and Sen. Clinton traveling to Selma… seems to me it’d be of MUCH more interest to this site.
(and no sarcasm here)
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:15 amHey Roger_Dung_4_Brains,
Iran has a legal right to enrich uranium. Get over it.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:17 am#32 We certainly know they are enriching Uranium. Where have you been the last year? The UN has verified they are enriching Uranium and Iran themselves has said as much.
Nobody has had any credible intelligence that it is for weapons. Even the MOST pessimistic say that Iran is at least five years away from an actual nuclear weapon. In the meantime, Israel has loads of nuclear weaponry, and refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. As to where I have been for the past year – Utah, thank God – the year before that I was in Iraq.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 am#39, Zooey, never say never. While indications show that the Iranian people want peace, the gov’t of Iran isn’t as peaceful in their rhetoric. From the whole issue of uranium, to any possible support of Iraqi terrorists, to the whole Holocaust denier issue, Ahmadinejad is not exactly making peaceful overtures.
Oh, and in case anybody didn’t notice, I put possible in italics for a reason… I’m not up to arguing whether the support is real or not. (too d*mn much work to do :-)
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:22 am#41 We in America value protecting ourselves and our allies. Iran’s terrorist leaders have said on many occasions they wish to do us and our allies harm. With that said, we find it unacceptable for Iran to produce enriched uranium. The UN has voted on and passed a bill saying Iran is not allowed to enrich Uranium.
So the world including the USA has said Iran cannot produce Uranium. If they don’t stop, they are breaking global law. They do not have the right since the UN said so. If they don’t stop, we have no choice but to attack unless our leaders don’t care abou the safetly of Americans and our allies. The President and Congress first job is the safety of America and it’s Allies. Iran producing nuclear material is a direct threat to us and or allies. Congress has no choice but to demand we at least attack all the nuclear facilities to safegaurd America.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:24 am#42 Using simple Logic tells us they are working towards a nuclear bomb. Any country living on an ocean of Oil doesn’t need nuclear energy. Furthermore, it doesn’t matter. The UN has voted that Iran cannot enrich Uranium for any purpose. They are breaking UN law and if they don’t stop we don’t have an option other then to attack and bomb all nuclear facilities and anything supporting enrichment activities. This is all mandated by the UN.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:25 amGreat post ’s Jay, Zooey and other’s..Don’t let the black hearted little troll’s distract ya…..Thay can’t help it, they get paid to follow in lock step for pimp in charge bush..Distraction and lies is all their daily note’s allow them to post…Just flush and pass over the post’s… Hug a loved one today or a tree… Do something for our country and Peace..Blessings all and huge blessings to the tiny trolls, they need them…
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:27 am#45 Do you know where I could get paid to post? That would be sweet. Who do I get in contact with? You think Clinton would pay me?
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:32 am#43 – Dale
Yes, I will say NEVER.
The American PEOPLE and the Iranian PEOPLE need to join together in mass protests in the streets of both countries, and stop our respective GOVERNMENTS.
Ahmadinejad has about as much power as our Secretary of the Interior, so he’s just a loud-mouthed front man. I’ll concentrate on our own madman.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:32 amThey are breaking UN law and if they don’t stop we don’t have an option other then to attack and bomb all nuclear facilities and anything supporting enrichment activities. This is all mandated by the UN.
Comment by Roger_Roger — March 2, 2007 @ 11:25 am
Israel is in violation of more than 65 UN reslutions. When do we start the bombing? Israel has nuclear weapons, has traded them with the communists in China, and refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. When do we attack? Pakistan also has nuclear weapons. Why aren’t you pushing to attack them?
In reference to an attack on Iran, I believe General Omar Bradley said it best, “Wrong time, wrong enemy, wrong war”
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:35 amRoger_Roger, you should’ve gotten your monthly RNC stipend by now. If you’re not getting paid extra to post, check the box that says “post distraction and lies to follow in lock step for pimp in charge bush”
It’s right next to the box that says “Yes, I’d like my money to be forcibly taken from the oppressed minorities”.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 am#47 We have told Iran what it will take for us to not attack and come talk with them. It is ismple honestly. They simply follow the UN order to stop enrichment. The world has already told Iran that it is illegal for Iran to enrich uranium. The USA is simply asking Iran to stop breaking the law.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:38 amIf 90% of the National Guard is not ready, what are we going to do when the next hurricane or natural disaster hits? I suppose Bush will blame it on the states.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:38 am#49 You got it all wrong. I don’t want money taken from minorities. Hell, I don’t want money taken from anyone. I am against the massive amounts of taxes currently demanded of us. Which repug wants to tax minorities and give it to me anyways? Repugs, if anything, are the party against all forms of tax or at least they should be.
Honestly, if we are being taxed anymore then what is needed for the military and other protection services, we are being taxed to much.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:41 amHonestly, if we are being taxed anymore then what is needed for the military and other protection services, we are being taxed to much.
Comment by Roger_Roger
I got mine so f*ck you, right Dung_Dung?
Dung_Dung is a piss-soaked troll. Go change your pants.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:46 amUsing simple Logic tells us they are working towards a nuclear bomb. Any country living on an ocean of Oil doesn’t need nuclear energy.
Comment by Roger_Roger — March 2, 2007 @ 11:25 am
And I’ve told you several times now that your “simple logic” is pure, unadulterated rubbish.
Several countries in the Americas that are oil exporters also have nuclear reactors to produce energy because -simple logic here, a) not using oil to generate electricity means more oil for export and b) they understand oil is a finite resource they cannot depend to generate power forever.
Again, if you are going to base your rationale to attack Iran on this piece of garbage you call “logic”, you have a few other countries to worry about first.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:49 am[...] we don’t have an option other then to attack and bomb all nuclear facilities and anything supporting enrichment activities. This is all mandated by the UN.
Comment by Roger_Roger — March 2, 2007 @ 11:25 am
The bombing of “all nuclear facilities” in Iran has not been mandated by the UN. They have adopted a resolution that demands Iran stop enriching uranium.
Where do you get your information?
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:52 amRoger_Rhetoric sez:
Hey, stupid:
I explained all this to you quite clearly back in this thread. Don’t make me go over it again.
Kthx.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:56 amhttp://www.vcnv.org/ project/ the-occupation-project
The Occupation Project
THE OCCUPATION PROJECT is a new effort initiated by UFPJ member organization Voices for Creative Nonviolence. The plan is to unfold a campaign of sustained nonviolent civil disobedience aimed at ending the U.S. war in and occupation of Iraq. The campaign begins with occupations at the offices of Representatives and Senators who refuse to pledge to vote against additional war funding.
Several UFPJ member groups, including CodePink, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, After Downing Street, and a host of local groups from North Carolina to Alaska are all involved in this effort. United for Peace and Justice, as a national coalition, has also endorsed The Occupation Project.
Your group can find out more about this initiative, including how you can get involved, by visiting their website. Or you can contact the organizers via phone at 773-878-3815 or via email, occupationproject at vcnv.org
—————————————————————–
And if you haven’t already:
Click here and sign Peace Action’s “No War with Iran!†petition today!
http://www.peace-action.org/Iranpetition.html
This petition to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice rejects any U.S. military action against Iran and demands direct negotiations. Copies will go to Chairs of the Senate
——————————————————————–
http://www.vcnv.org/ project/ the-occupation-project
The Occupation Project
THE OCCUPATION PROJECT is a new effort initiated by UFPJ member organization Voices for Creative Nonviolence. The plan is to unfold a campaign of sustained nonviolent civil disobedience aimed at ending the U.S. war in and occupation of Iraq. The campaign begins with occupations at the offices of Representatives and Senators who refuse to pledge to vote against additional war funding.
Several UFPJ member groups, including CodePink, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, After Downing Street, and a host of local groups from North Carolina to Alaska are all involved in this effort. United for Peace and Justice, as a national coalition, has also endorsed The Occupation Project.
Your group can find out more about this initiative, including how you can get involved, by visiting their website. Or you can contact the organizers via phone at 773-878-3815 or via email, occupationproject at vcnv.org
—————————————————————–
And if you haven’t already:
Click here and sign Peace Action’s “No War with Iran!†petition today!
http://www.peace-action.org/Iranpetition.html
This petition to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice rejects any U.S. military action against Iran and demands direct negotiations. Copies will go to Chairs of the Senate
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:03 pm#56 You didn’t explain anything. You tried to spew the lie that Iran was running out of Oil. Honestly, not even your closest friend would believe that. The country is still exporting Oil for Christ’s sake!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:10 pmhey larry, can we have link or something? Thanks!
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 pmhttp://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3456
————————————————————–
War Resisters — Support the Troops Who Refuse to Fight
The Army has re-filed charges against Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq, following mistrial. Find out the latest developments in his case and how you can help.
It takes courage to say that you will not fight — especially if you are a soldier. As more members of the U.S. military step forward for peace, the peace movement must step forward to support them.
Large numbers are now refusing to serve: The Department of Defense estimates that there are about 8,000 AWOL service members. The GI Rights Hotline http://www.girights.objector.org/
(800-394-9544) is currently receiving about 3,000 calls a month.
Most importantly, a growing number of soldiers are speaking out, against the illegality and immorality of the Iraq war and the orders they are being told to carry out. These brave men and women are risking jail time and their futures to stand up against the war. Click here http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3456 to find out how you can support them.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:14 pm—————————————————————–
Muckdog: “I wonder what the poll results would be if the question were phrased as “Do you believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for all if it meant $800 per month higher taxes for you?â€
I assume you have some data to back up this outrageous claim, smart guy. Cutting the insurance industry out of the picture immediately eliminates about $80 billion in healthcare costs. The average tax increase for complete single-payer coverage has been estimated to be less than $100. And, can you even imagine the shot in the arm to the economy when millions of middle-class families immediately have 4 or 5 hundred dollars a month more spending money. Can you imagine how our automobile industry could rebound if they didn’t have to add $1400 per vehicle to the price because of the cost of health insurance? You guys are amazing. The only industries which have any possible negative impact from this are pharmaceutical and insurance. Pharma will still make profits, as they do throughout the rest of the world where they have universal healthcare, and insurance still has cars, fire, home, life, etc. etc. to bleed money from the American public.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 pmRoger_Rhetoric sez:
Really? I said that? Perhaps you’d be so good as to provide a quote. I’ll wait…
<time passes>
OK, now that you’re back, having found that I said NOTHING OF THE SORT, perhaps we can dispense with the straw men and move on, hmmm?
What I did say was that you have no idea what the difference is between fuel-grade and weapons-grade uranium. I invited you to prove me wrong, which you rather embarrassingly failed to do.
Perhaps you know the answer now, though? Care to share?
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 pm#29 I wonder what the poll results would be if the question were phrased as “Do you believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for all if it meant $800 per month higher taxes for you?â€
#31 $800 more? HAHA, try around $6,000 extra per household per year more.
Why are we spending over $1,000 more per capita per year for healthcare than any other country? While you’re making up bullshit dollar amounts to try to scare people away from universal healthcare, the growth rate in healthcare costs in the U.S. is skyrocketing. If you’re going to ignore the problem, you shouldn’t comment on it, especially if you’re just going to make things up.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:27 pmIt was the original Ayatollah Khomenie who, back in the early 80’s pushed for more nuclear power. It was his opinion that oil was too precious to burn. Analysts now estimate that the oil fields in Iran will be depleted in less than 20 years. So, it’s not so outrageous that the Iranians would want to build a nuclear power grid. Roger, those are the facts. Now you can ignore them and continue with your “simple logic.”
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:29 pmAnd why the f*ck wouldn’t the Honorable Sen Reid not support a bill to force the chymps hand on Iran?
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:39 pm56 percent: Number of Americans who believe the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for all. Eighty-four percent said they support expanding the Childrens’ Health Insurance Program to cover all uninsured children, even though President Bush has proposed cutting funding for the program.
ITS LIKE THIS HEALTH CARE – IS THE FIRST MONEY SPENT FROM TAXES THAT YOU PAY TO LOOK AFTER YOU , IF YOUR GOVERNMENT CANNOT LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH THEN YOUR GOVERNMENT ARE USING YOU AS PAWNS FOR TAX
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:00 pm#52, uh, it was sarcasm.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:04 pm#62 TripMasterMonkey,
I followed your helpful link to that prior thread. I read the arguments. I got the following:
1)It was “PeterW” who pointed out that Iran’s oil production was dropping. He also pointed out that oil does not run electric power plants (implying that even an oil-producing nation might need other sources of energy).
2)Iran’s current uranium enrichment activities are just starting to produce fuel-grade uranium in industrially significant quantities, which they are allowed to do under the NPT.
3)Gregor Samsa pointed to “Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina” as oil-producing nations that have nuclear energy programs.
4) In 1975, as secretary of state, Kissinger signed and circulated National Security Decision Memorandum 292, titled “US-Iran Nuclear Cooperation,†which laid out the administration’s negotiating strategy for the sale of nuclear energy equipment projected to bring US corporations more than $6 billion in revenue. At the time, Iran was pumping as much as 6 million barrels of oil a day, compared with an average of about 4 million barrels daily today.
The shah, who referred to oil as “noble fuel,†said it was too valuable to waste on daily energy needs. The Ford strategy paper said the “introduction of nuclear power will both provide for the growing needs of Iran’s economy and free remaining oil reserves for export or conversion to petrochemicals.†– VVGFU
I now conclude that R_R is a warmongering troll of no greater interest than Patrick1, and may be placed on the IGNORE list.
I wonder if people in other countries look at Americans like R_R and say “See how they trump up any pretext for war? Who is safe from these thugs?”
BTW Rog, I hate America. I am currently cooperating with various terrorist factions to blow up our nation, city by city, instead of doing my civic duty to protest my goverment’s actions through grassroots campaigning and influencing my elected representatives. Because I hate America, ya see.
Thanks again for the link, TMM.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:20 pm#61: Cutting the insurance industry out of the picture immediately eliminates about $80 billion in healthcare costs. The average tax increase for complete single-payer coverage has been estimated to be less than $100. And, can you even imagine the shot in the arm to the economy when millions of middle-class families immediately have 4 or 5 hundred dollars a month more spending money.
Obviously, you’re not familiary with economics. Think “supply and demand.”
How many people today do not have insurance? Now multiply that by the national average of 8 doctor visits per year. Also multiply by the number of prescriptions and hospital stays.
First of all, what this means is that when YOU call to make an appointment, it could take 6 months to get in. This currently happens in countries with socialized medicine, and the US would probably be worse.
Next, all those folks have to have somebody chip in to pay their health premiums. Again, that’d be YOU because the costs would be passed along.
Roger estimated $500 per month additional for YOU who currently pay health premiums. I think he’s optimistic. I’d estimate around $800 per month. After all, with all the new patients we’d need new facilities, equipment, doctors, nurses, emergency vehicles, etc. Drug companies would have to ramp up their production of prescription meds to meet the new demand. Etc.
Cost increases would be exponential.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:59 pmOur current health care system leaves room for improvement. It is not as good as it could be. It is the best in the world. I’ve never heard a story of a Rochester, MN resident traveling to India or Canada, or even the United Kingdom for treatment, yet their citizens come to the U.S. for healthcare everyday. Dr. Kevin Fleming of the Mayo Clinic did an analysis of the Canadian health care plan and found that on average there is a 17 week wait for referrals to specialists, nearly 60 percent of the diagnostic equipment, i.e. C.A.T. Scans, MRI equipment, etc. is outdated and many of the high tech diagnostic equipment taken for granted in U.S. hospitals is not even available. He also found cases of 18-month waits for bypass surgery.
There are 300 million people living in the U.S. Of those 300 million, approximately 250 million to 260 million are covered by an insurance plan. Spliting the difference, figure 255 million people are covered. That leaves about 45 million people without insurance. Of this 45 million, the government estimates that almost 15 million qualify for some type of insurance program, but choose not to take part. That now leaves us with about 30 million people in the U.S. who want insurance, but do not have it. Translate that into percentages and you have a system that has a 90 percent “success” rate and a 10 percent “failure” rate. Let’s figure all the numbers are off slightly and say that we have only an 85 percent coverage rate. Pretty good IMO. It’s still a problem, but is it a problem worth scrapping our entire health care system for?
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:09 pmMuckdog, Medicare has an overhead of 3%. This is a single-payer health plan. The insurance-based system has an overhead of 15 to 30% for a variety of reasons. So, I’m not sure why you believe that “cost increases would be exponential.” And, as you accuse me of being ignorant of economics, you seem to have forgotten that when you spread risk as widely as possible, you decrease cost to the individual. We are the only industrial nation in the world which does not treat healthcare as a right. I don’t think tax increase would be even close to what you’re trying to argue. I think the tax increase for the average american would be a lot less than what they now pay for health insurance. And, the other advantages to our economy would far outweigh the tax bite. Every industry except health insurance and pharmeceutical would benefit. It would be a boon to small businesses everywhere. It would stimulate our economy. Now, if you work for the pharma or health insurance industry, I can see you might have a personal stake in this. As Sinclair Lewis said, “it’s hard to get a man to agree with something if his paycheck depends on disagreeing.”
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:27 pmWouldn’t it be better to use any massive new tax to fight Global warming instead of a new Health plan. There are roughyl 300 million people in the USA. Of those 300 million, approximately 250 million to 260 million are covered by an insurance plan. Let’s split the difference and figure 255 million people are covered. That leaves about 45 million people without insurance. Of this 45 million, the government estimates that almost 15 million qualify for some type of insurance program, but choose not to take part. That now leaves us with about 30 million people in the U.S. who want insurance, but do not have it. Translate that into percentages and you are looking at a system that has around a 90 percent “success” rate and a 10 percent “failure” rate. Heck, let’s figure all the numbers are off slightly and say that we have only an 85 percent coverage rate.
I would say we are currently do fine health care wise but we certainly could do way more with Global warming. Besides, Global warming is the world’s #1 problem. Health care in America is already better then any other in the World.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:27 pmI wish we had a 85% success rate in education. For some reason 85% success equals failure on the left when it comes to health Care. Please explain why and please explain how scraping the entire system and replacing it with government controled healthcare would somehow create a success rate better then 85%. Government controlled education certainly doesn’t produce success anywhere near 85%.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 pmRoger: “Health care in America is already better then any other in the World.”
Not according to the World Health Organization. And, polls consistently show that citizens in other industrialized societies would never trade their healthcare systems for ours.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:42 pmA single-payer health plan provides for the maximum amount of choice for citizens. Not like the current system.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:44 pmHow many people today do not have insurance? Now multiply that by the national average of 8 doctor visits per year. Also multiply by the number of prescriptions and hospital stays.
[snip]
Cost increases would be exponential.
Comment by muckdog
Er, if cost increases would, as you suggest, be a simple product of one or more variables with one more constants, those cost increases would be linear.
Perhaps “you’re not familiary with” mathematics?
;-)
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:45 pmedit: “one OR more constants”, even.
Oops.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:46 pm#72
The problem I see is that we currently have an 85% success rate in Healthcare. Can you prove to me that scraping the whole system and having government run healthcare make for a success rate of more the 85% and at a cheaper rate?
Government run education doesn’t come close to an 85% success rate. Government run Vet Healthcare is obviously a mess. So every other government program doesn’t approach the success of our current health care system. How would this new program be any different?
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:08 pmGovernment run education doesn’t come close to an 85% success rate. Government run Vet Healthcare is obviously a mess. So every other government program doesn’t approach the success of our current health care system. How would this new program be any different?
Make that republican run Vet healthcare; as they have been in control of the system for over a decade, any current flaws can correctly be laid at their feet.
All this crowing about an 85% success rate. One of the reasons to reach for universal care is because of the diseases which breed in the other 15%. Leaving them to fend for themselves breeds more disease, which endangers us all.
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:32 pmAnd before Exley pops up, pointing out that Clinton also was in control of the vet’s system, I would point out that republicans in congress have been in control of Congress’ spending priorities, and they haven’t said a thing about it, regardless of who was president. If they thought it was a problem, they would have done something to force the issue.
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:38 pm#77 Oh I agree that the 15% failure rate of our current healthcare system is a problem. I just don’t see government run health care doing any better then 85% success rate. Hell, I don’t see government run healthcare coming even close to an 85% success rate. They have never approached that type of success with any other government programs, how would they pull it off with this one?
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:55 pmWe better watch out when menopause time rolls around and those leaders have their fingers on the nuke buttons!!!!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:43 pmNot ready thanks to CHIMPya and Bushland Uber Allies, that is!!!!!
Who was this poll taken by? repugnant-repub rightwingnut cranks?Only the first figure I find fault with–it should be 96% NOT 56%!!!!!
Domenici and Wilson–TWO MORE FOR THE JUNK HEAP!!!!!
Reid and Webb, STAND YER GROUND AND STARE CHIMPya DOWN!!!!!
SOLIDARITY AGAINST WORKER INTIMIDATION! BREAK THE BACK OF EMPLOYER THREATS!!!!!
War, Climate Crisis, Global Warming–CHIMPya and Co. ARE TO BLAME FOR ALL OF THESE CALAMITIES!!!! SO GO AHEAD AND PUNISH THEM, ALREADY!!!!!
The Poppy IS NOT ONLY a flower–BUT A GOOD Rush Limburger ALLY!!!!!
Walton told the jurors to LOOK THAT UP IN THEIR Funk & Wagnalls(tm)!
Was the candidate a repugnant-repub rightwingnut crank? I sincerely HOPE so,so he can LOSE!!!!!
#77 Oh I agree that the 15% failure rate of our current healthcare system is a problem. I just don’t see government run health care doing any better then 85% success rate. Hell, I don’t see government run healthcare coming even close to an 85% success rate. They have never approached that type of success with any other government programs, how would they pull it off with this one? Comment by Roger_Roger — March 2, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
You’re a st*pid old c*nt. Every major western government has better healthcare at cheaper prices. The US is at the bottom of the barrel for 95% of americans – you st*pid old c*nt!
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:08 pmThe USA is simply asking Iran to stop breaking the law.
Comment by Roger_Roger
mmm…breaking the law…what easy words those have become.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:45 pmOf the 85% quoted by RR, about 31% are over 65 and under Medicare and thus insured. In addition the actual number is 84.1% since 15.9% lack medical coverage (In 2005). By back of the envelope calculations, that means that about a quarter of the population under 65 is not covered by any plan. If we subtract those under Medicaid – which BushCo is trying to eliminate, the numbers would soar.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:51 pmBare this in mind. Currently, we pay roughly $100 billion for uninsured Americans so every American gets covered. The 2007 Dem controlled congress will spend more then $100 billion on pork earmarks. Why not keep the current system and simple get your leaders to stop with the pork earmarks and simply slide that money over to the uninsured. If they simply did that, each and every American would be covered, we wouldn’t be raising 1 single tax, nor creating a new government beuracracy. Seems like the best plan.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:48 pmBare this in mind. Currently, we pay roughly $100 billion for uninsured Americans so every American gets covered. The 2007 Dem controlled congress will spend more then $100 billion on pork earmarks. Why not keep the current system and simple get your leaders to stop with the pork earmarks and simply slide that money over to the uninsured. If they simply did that, each and every American would be covered, we wouldn’t be raising 1 single tax, nor creating a new government beuracracy. Seems like the best plan. Comment by Roger_Roger — March 2, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Every american isn’t covered you st*pid c*nt. WTF, are you really completely r*tarded you old c*nt?
March 3rd, 2007 at 1:44 am#88,
Again, reread by post carefully son. I said that the UNINSURED get roughly $100 billion so they get care in hospitals. That happens today, right now. What I am suggesting is that the Dem controlled congress stop with the pork earmarks and just assign $100 billion they would have wasted in pork anyways to the uninsured. This garuntees them care, doesn’t raise a single tax, and doesn’t create a new government beuracracy. I don’t understand why that is a problem for you, kid.
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