Think Progress

ThinkFast: July 6, 2009

By Think Progress on Jul 6th, 2009 at 9:00 am

ThinkFast: July 6, 2009


Billy Tauzin

As part of a “record-breaking influence campaign,” the nation’s “largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress” to lobby Capitol Hill “in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues” on health care legislation. The industry is “spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight.”

The Senate may not be able to realize its “hopes of approving health care reform before adjourning for the August recess,” making it unlikely that it can meet Obama’s request to have a “bill on his desk by Oct. 15.” Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) said his goal is “to complete the tricky merger of the HELP and Finance Committee bills, with the floor fracas over a final bill put off until after Labor Day.”

Senate Finance Committee member Charles Schumer (D-NY) said that there will absolutely be a public option in Congress’ health care legislation. “Make no mistake about it, the president is for this strongly,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation yesterday. “There will be a public option in the final bill.”

Yesterday on Fox, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) claimed the Recovery Act has not produced a single contract in Ohio. Media Matters debunks the claim, noting the Ohio Department of Transportation has “awarded more than $83.9 million in contracts for work on 52 projects.”

In a sharp contrast from Vice President Joe Biden’s comments yesterday that the U.S. will not stand in the way of a possible Israeli strike on Iran, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral Mike Mullen also said yesterday that he has “for some time been concerned about any strike on Iran.” “I worry that it would be very destabilizing not just in and of itself, but the unintended consequences of a strike like that,” he said. 

Though conservatives like to complain about President Obama’s relationship with the news media, Politico reports that “there’s an equal and opposite reaction going on in the world of conservative media.” Frustration with Obama “is fueling listener intensity and book-buying binges at the same time it gives a boost to the careers of conservative figures” like Mark Levin and Glenn Beck.

President Obama arrived in Moscow today for “a summit with Russian leaders aimed at reaching an agreement to cut stockpiles of nuclear warheads.” When Obama met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in London in April, the two “agreed to start negotiations for a new treaty to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.”

Lt. Gov Sean Parnell (R-AK) said yesterday that “Gov. Sarah Palin’s decision to resign was largely prompted by the personal legal costs of the ethics investigations against her.” “[W]hat I heard from the governor really had to do with…the concern she had for the cost of all the ethics investigations…with respect to her inability to just move forward Alaska’s agenda,” Parnell said.

Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will commence hearings to discuss the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. Backers of Sotomayor have been “organizing local rallies and other events” to tout her credentials. Republicans have been “focusing their attacks on her work” with a Puerto Rican civil rights organization in the 1980s.

And finally: America wasn’t the only one marking a birthday on July 4; Malia Obama was also spending the day celebrating. In a video message, President Obama told the crowd gathered on the National Mall that Malia was “just thrilled that you are all here. When she was young, I used to say that all these fireworks were for her. I’m not sure she buys that [now].” The Obamas reportedly celebrated Malia’s 11th birthday at Camp David, “prior to the official day.”

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68 Responses to “ThinkFast: July 6, 2009”

  1. RantingTommy says:

    Poor little Wasilly Hillbilly. She couldn’t take it, but she sure could dish it out.

    Typical right wing holy roller.


  2. EnnuiDivine says:

    With regards to healthcare…better they do it RIGHT than try to rush it to meet an arbitrary deadline.

    Dodd is finally proving himself useful. It’s always impressive to see how the fear of losing an election can inspire men to greatness.


  3. Mugsy says:

    Another observation…

    On “Fox news Sunday”, Boehner said President Obama’s healthcare reforms would “deprive people of their freedom”.

    This, from the Party that gave us The Patriot Act, “free speech zones”, illegal wiretaps and suspension of Habeas Corpus.

    But give every American an additional health insurance option and suddenly you’re “depriving people of their freedom”.


  4. Another Joe says:

    More repug double-speak

    CHOICES TAKE AWAY FREEDOM

    QUITTING IS SERVING

    WINNERS QUIT

    LOSERS FULFILL RESPONSIBILITIES

    WAR IS PEACE

    SERVING TROOPS TOILET WATER SUPPORTS THEM

    Could go on and on…


  5. The Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity says:

    Yesterday on Fox, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) claimed the Recovery Act has not produced a single contract in Ohio.
    ____________

    Another day… another John bOOOOOOOOOner lie…

    Yawn… so,,, what else is new? Did he cry when he told it?


  6. cosanostradamus says:

    .
    The Health Nazi: No single payer for you!

    But today, there’s funny, scary, weird news.
    .


  7. Another Joe says:

    The big whorehouse on the Potomac
    By Paul Craig Roberts

    As Americans celebrated July 4th, they may have contemplated that the union of “free and independent states,” like the former British colonial power, has evolved into its final manifestation — a complete whorehouse.

    While Members of Parliament in London charge their expense accounts with every personal expenditure, including the rental of adult xxx-rated films, an American newspaper put the reporting of public policy out to bids until Politico.com blew the whistle.

    In Washington, everything is for sale, including journalistic integrity. The Washington Post, which abandoned investigative reporting eons ago, decided to boost its sagging revenues by spreading her legs. The Post’s business division put out a flyer offering lobbyists access at the Post’s CEO’s gracious home to “those powerful few” in the Obama administration, Congress, and among the Post’s editors and reporters who decide the nation’s policies, such as health care.

    1.4 million a day buys a lot of whores. This is why we need to PUSH BACK!


  8. Dawn1954 says:

    Many people suffer without healthcare. Many people have to go to the ER to get treatments, but they have no primary Doctor to continue the treatments.
    Healthcare was in the toilet for a very long time. I had to at one time pay out of pocket for healthcare, BC/BS, and in the 70’s it was very expensive, unlike today. We are the richest nation in the world with the lousiest Healthcare system.

    Ranting Tommy says about Sarah Palin,the Wasilly hillbilly, you are absolutelly correct about her, she blamed the media she blamed Obama, for her failing in the GOP’s eyes. She is nothing more than a spoiled brat… Remember what Teddy Rosevelt had said, “If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen, well I belive it was him….


  9. angels81 says:

    What the hell was Biden thinking of yesterday? Did he just give the green light to Israel to bomb Iran? I hope like hell he just misspoke again, and they will back track today. If not, this is not a good sign at all.


  10. Another Joe says:

    angles – gotta get the shah’s family back in charge somehow. The manufactured hoopla over the last election didn’t succeed.


  11. Another Joe says:

    “If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen, well I belive it was him….

    Republican corollary: But be sure to do some lootin’ and thievin’ before you go and make sure you get AT LEAST a half-million-dollar house gratis out if it.


  12. Another Joe says:

    …maybe a little booty on the ol’ Appalacian trail too.


  13. stateofthedivision says:

    President Obama is in Russia trying to open that country up to American branded multinational corporations. The Obama team continues sucking up to the big money boys:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=arwh6qOnUAhM


  14. katy says:

    The industry is “spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight.”

    good gawd…
    that would buy a LOT of healthcare……..


  15. Another Joe says:

    They can pay for that 1.4 million a day by DENYING CLAIMS and not providing coverages that folks were told they would get if they bought the policy.

    Hey, didn’t ya read the fine print? Besides, our temporary-workers out of the India phone center don’t agree with your Doctor’s treatment plans.


  16. stateofthedivision says:

    The U.S. has many tools to influence an Israeli attack on Iran. Vice President Joe Biden and Admiral Mike Mullen’s comments sound Bushist. Here are a few levers:

    1. Threaten to withhold $2.77 billion in military aid.
    2. Tell Israel in our twice a year joint military planning (likely the subject of an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities)
    3. Pull back the U.S. assets in the international armada in the Persian Gulf (ships ready to contain any Iranian blowback)
    4. Turn off the U.S. supplied & manned missile defense radar in Israel

    Obama/Emanuael/Axelrod will do none of the above.


  17. stateofthedivision says:

    The U.S. has many tools to influence an Israeli attack on Iran. Vice President Joe Biden and Admiral Mike Mullen’s comments sound Bushist. Here are a few levers:

    1. Threaten to withhold $2.77 billion in military aid.
    2. Tell Israel in our twice a year joint military planning (likely the subject of an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities)
    3. Pull back the U.S. assets in the international armada in the Persian Gulf (ships ready to contain any Iranian blowback)
    4. Turn off the U.S. supplied & manned missile defense radar in Israel

    Obama/Emanuel/Axelrod will do none of the above.


  18. Bobwurst says:

    “[W]hat I heard from the governor really had to do with…the concern she had for the cost of all the ethics investigations…with respect to her inability to just move forward Alaska’s agenda,” Parnell said.

    Kind of like what republicans did to President Clinton, except that President Clinton, and his staff cared enough about the country to fight through all the frivolous investigations. Not that the palin investigations are frivolous, mind you, time will tell on that.

    And we can expect a round of retaliatory investigations on Democratic Govs by republican state senates…


  19. stateofthedivision says:

    My apologies on the double post. Computer glitch!


  20. Marie says:

    From my email box:

    In all fairness to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford…

    “I’m getting some Argentinean tail” does sound a lot like
    “I’m hiking the Appalachian trail”.


  21. Evil Spaniard says:

    As part of a “record-breaking influence campaign,” the nation’s “largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress” to lobby Capitol Hill “in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues” on health care legislation. The industry is “spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight.”

    Rome’s Capitol wasn’t so efficient receiving bribes… Nero would have been so proud…


  22. Bobwurst says:

    hey jeff, how about a poll on whether you’re an annoying ass or an informative poster? You would get a lot of participation here…


  23. Marie says:

    What the lobbyists ar spending is unconsionable — better to spend the money toward a health care system for Americans, rather than feathering their own nests — vulchers determined to keep their personal fortunes while preying upon the sick and the poor, the unemployed and the old, and they have no pangs of consicence doing so.


  24. Bobwurst says:

    Marie, you’re right, and that means they must be worried that the gravy train might be derailed. Keep up the pressure on your representatives folks!


  25. CageyCretin says:

    Really… if the insurance lobby can afford 1.4 million per day (so… anyone have the total spent on lobbying against healthcare reform TO DATE?), what could all of that lobby money done to reduce rates and costs for those who they currently insure? How far would that money have gone for them to give coverage for their denied claims? How many other people could they have covered at little or no cost for that money?

    How can these companies justify the money they are spending on lobbying while increasing their rates and reducing their coverage yet again this year? (My provider just raised their rates 8%, but have reduced what they will cover)

    Give us the same insurance that we give to our politicians. Single payer now!


  26. stateofthedivision says:

    350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress” to lobby Capitol Hill

    Health care deform is coming. Dirty Max will deliver for his corporate sponsors. The list of insiders/players is disturbing.

    http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-profit-health-care-reform-club.html


  27. CageyCretin says:

    stateofthedivision Says:

    The list of insiders/players is disturbing.

    The list isn’t disturbing…. the fact that there are “350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress” to lobby Capitol Hill” is disturbing (plus all the OTHER professional lobbyests they have already hired).

    The amount of money that the industry HAS AVAILABLE to throw at this lobby is highly disturbing… never mind the list of who these people are….


  28. kenkohl says:

    $1.4MM / day! I see our insurance premiums are hard at work. WTF, no wonder they want status quo.


  29. AllYouNeedIs says:

    I wish my insurance company would stop spending money on lobbyists and start spending it on something useful. Like, you know, my claims.


  30. stateofthedivision says:

    TP used to care about Frances Townsend and General Peter Pace. For updates on their careers:

    Frances Townsend Lands Intelligence Association Board Chair

    http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/06/frances-townsend-lands-intelligence.html

    General Peter Pace Lands Another Board Slot with Defense CyberSecurity Firm

    http://peureport.blogspot.com/2009/06/general-peter-pace-lands-another-board.html

    Both stand ready to make big money off intelligence contracting and cybersecurity. Government continues contracting out function after function to the private sector.


  31. Bobwurst says:

    Robert Macnamara is dead.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/us/07mcnamara.html?_r=1&hp

    I’ll leave the commentary to those who served in that mess. Any thoughts Uncle Ho,other Vietnam War Vets?


  32. stateofthedivision says:

    Cagey Cretin, reform is as reform does. Its designers are critical.

    The list shows the foxes are in health care chicken house. Nancy-Ann DeParle is the Chief Fox. TruthOut & MSNBC finally picked up on it.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31566399/ns/health-health_care


  33. Levi the Dungbeetle says:

    Yesterday on Fox, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) claimed the Recovery Act has not produced a single contract in Ohio. Media Matters debunks the claim, noting the Ohio Department of Transportation has “awarded more than $83.9 million in contracts for work on 52 projects.”

    John Boehner, the leader of the minority party, either lied or spoke out of ignorance.

    If Boehner spoke out of ignorance, he needs to resign because he is to ignorant to do his job. If he lied, for any reason, he needs to resign because lying is wrong.

    Clinton lied about getting a blowjob and the wingnuts thought he needed to resign. If lying is bad for Clinton, it must be just as bad for Boehner.

    I wonder if the trolls will agree that lying is bad and that liars do not belong in positions of authority, or does that kind of morality only apply to Democrats?


  34. stateofthedivision says:

    Chris Dodd will have a delicate task come September. The HELP Bill will have a few public selling points. The Senate Finance Committee version will be a corporate profit boosting dream.

    The Senate needs an inattentive public to pull the wool over our eyes. NFL football, MLB playoffs, kids going back to school, maybe another financial meltdown, anything to divert the public from the conference bill.

    I recommend everyone read the bill that comes out of conference. It will be important for the public to find out they’re being conned.

    The race to the lowest global common denominator on worker pay/benefits and taxes continues. Executive pay goes in the opposite direction.


  35. Marie says:

    I’ve had several calls from Dem organizations asking for donations. I have carefully explained why I won’t give to the party until they get the rogue democrats in line and give the people what they want instead of worrying about their personal campaign donors.
    Yesterday I rec’d another call from the DNC — he acknowledged that my comments were passed along the line, and he filled out another comment card in my name, for what that’s worth (if anything).
    Our voices must be heard and money talks. Maybe the withholding of it whispers a little.


  36. freeman says:

    The news from Iran gets worse by the day ,. Joe “I am a zionist” Biden seems to have given the green light to Israel for an airstrike on her regional enemy .With the statements made from the revolutionary guard we may yet get to see what civils troubles look like without the equivalent of a posse commitatus law in place to keep the military out of civil affairs .
    I hope Obama’s involvement in this is limited to his amazing Nowruz greeting to the Iranian people which left me in tears .


  37. christopher wiwi says:

    “Yesterday on Fox, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) claimed the Recovery Act has not produced a single contract in Ohio. Media Matters debunks the claim, noting the Ohio Department of Transportation has “awarded more than $83.9 million in contracts for work on 52 projects”.
    ————————————————————-
    The Boner just reeks of lies,and hypocrisy,did anyone on FOX question his lies?No!The Republiscum Channel is a HOOT, who needs reality TV when we have Reich wing reality and its blatant lies.People of Ohio please keep stop this man before he hurts you folks even more.


  38. Levi the Dungbeetle says:

    America wasn’t the only one marking a birthday on July 4; Malia Obama was also spending the day celebrating. In a video message, President Obama told the crowd gathered on the National Mall that Malia was “just thrilled that you are all here. When she was young, I used to say that all these fireworks were for her. I’m not sure she buys that [now].” The Obamas reportedly celebrated Malia’s 11th birthday at Camp David, “prior to the official day.”

    When I read this, I was struck by a similarity between Malia Obama and the American people.

    Barak told Malia that all the fireworks were for her on the fourth of July, and when Malia was younger she believed it. Now Malia is a bit more mature and probably realizes what is really going on.

    The mainstream media has been telling us a lot of things, and when we were younger we believed them. Now we are a little more mature, and we realize we are being lied to, so we turned to the internet for our information.

    Eventually Barak will stop telling Malia that the fireworks on the fourth are for her, because she won’t be a little girl forever.

    Newpapers are already going broke because the America people are growing up, and the lies aren’t funny anymore.


  39. freeman says:

    That is I meant to say posse comitatus .


  40. freeman says:

    I would like to offer this because it seems to capture the spirit of the TP commenter admirably !


  41. Briseadh na Firefly says:

    The Senate may not be able to realize its “hopes of approving health care reform before adjourning for the August recess,” making it unlikely that it can meet Obama’s request to have a “bill on his desk by Oct. 15.” Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) said his goal is “to complete the tricky merger of the HELP and Finance Committee bills, with the floor fracas over a final bill put off until after Labor Day.”

    But both the Senate and the House could get a bill through in just hours, when it meant political posturing over brain-dead Terri Shiavo’s body.

    Work on the Health Care bill is drug out for one reason: to destroy it.

    Well, maybe two reasons (or should I say 1.4 million reasons per day).


  42. Levi the Dungbeetle says:

    freeman said,

    Joe “I am a zionist” Biden seems to have given the green light to Israel for an airstrike on her regional enemy .

    Biden said,

    “We cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do when they make a determination, if they make a determination, that they’re existentially threatened”

    Every nation has the right to defend itself, and if a sovereign nation determines an airstrike on a neighbor will protect it from nuclear attack, who are we to intervene?

    We may or may not side with the aggressor after the fact, but it is not up to us to intervene. We are not the world’s police force.


  43. Briseadh na Firefly says:

    The health care lie: we have to charge such high rates so we can have the money to do medical research and improve health care for the future.

    The reality: we use those profits to lobby congress to protect the status quo. It’s not really about providing health care, its about making as much money as possible from people who have but two choices: pay us or die.


  44. freeman says:

    Levi we have been using Israel as a proxy in the ME for decades and they recieve more US aid than all other countries combined . We have seen fit to shield them from world condemnation and UN sanctions through our veto on the UN security council how many times ?
    They will be using US weapons and planes which we GAVE them as they did in Gaza . Here’s a few facts .


  45. snappy12 says:

    ok, I said it once–worth saying again!!!
    Remember what I am now saying—-There will be a big change—No more republicans–The new parties will be The Progressive Party and the Democratic Party! MARK MY WORDS. You heard it from me,here first.

    Peace and Love,
    David


  46. freeman says:

    But goliath will be angry david .


  47. ralph the wonder locust says:

    Well said, Levi. Thanks for the post at #46.


  48. freeman says:

    Here’s one jewish man who has heard the real message in his religion .


  49. freeman says:

    All one Gods people !


  50. freeman says:

    I support the state of Israel , but racism is racism whoever practices it !
    Blessed are the peacemakers !


  51. fletc3her says:

    I think this latest possible justification for why Sarah Palin resigned is among the worst for her future career. The idea that she would simply pack up her bags because critics have filed ethics complaints shows a weakness of character that is stunning in somebody who has secured such a high office.


  52. Levi the Dungbeetle says:

    48 freeman said,

    Levi we have been using Israel as a proxy in the ME for decades and they recieve more US aid than all other countries combined . We have seen fit to shield them from world condemnation and UN sanctions through our veto on the UN security council how many times ?
    They will be using US weapons and planes which we GAVE them as they did in Gaza.

    I will make no effort to dispute any of your claims, in fact, I agree with everything you posted. Unfortunately, you are trying to change the subject.

    While you might not like the relationship between the US and Israel, it does not change the reality that Israel is a sovereign nation, and they have the right to use their military to defend themselves.

    Let’s propose that in the future, China develops a weapon that makes all other weapons virtually obsolete, and China provides that weapon to the United States because of our close trade ties. Let’s further propose that Canada is threatening to “wipe the USA off the face of the map” out using nuclear weapons.

    Now, if the US had intelligence that Canada was about to launch a nuclear strike, should the US sit back and wait for it, or would we do something to prevent it?


  53. dbadass says:

    if the US had intelligence that Canada was about to launch a nuclear strike,
    —-
    Isn’t that the key bit of this scenario? Where is the intelligence that Iran is going to launch a nuclear strike on Israel? Considering they have no such weapon, I think this scenario falls a little apart…


  54. delafield says:

    Levi the Dungbeetle says, “Every nation has the right to defend itself, and if a sovereign nation determines an airstrike on a neighbor will protect it from nuclear attack, who are we to intervene?”

    In my opinion, Israel is the greatest threat to America’s security. Jews steal land from Palestinians and then throw the Palestinian refugees into concentration camps controlled by the Israeli Army. Israelis have become 21st century Nazis.


  55. chiroptera toasterhead says:

    Levi the Dungbeetle Says:

    While you might not like the relationship between the US and Israel, it does not change the reality that Israel is a sovereign nation, and they have the right to use their military to defend themselves.

    July 6th, 2009 at 11:12 am
    _______________

    There is a big difference between using your military to defend yourself, and using your military to launch an unprovoked and unneccessary attack on another sovereign nation. Iran poses no threat to Israel. Iran has been armed by Israel. And Iran needs Israel. Any threats Iran makes against Israel are just saber-rattling for the benefit of an underemployed internal audience, not genuine threats.


  56. Levi the Dungbeetle says:

    Dbadass, if Israel has intelligence of an impending nuclear attack, and if the USA in my hypothetical future history has equivalent intelligence. Perhaps that clarification helped.

    Toasterhead, sometimes nations, like the USA, use their “military to launch unprovoked and unnecessary attack(s) on other sovereign nation(s)” that “pose no threat” to them. The USA did it to Iraq. The question is, if there were a superpower behind the US, would the US still have had the right to invade Iraq?

    Progressives already know the Iraq war was wrong. If Israel does attack Iran, it would also be wrong, but just because it is wrong does not mean Israel doesn’t have the right to be wrong.

    Every nation has the right to do something stupid, We just got out of eight years of something stupid, who are we to talk?


  57. barfly says:

    Senate Finance Committee member Charles Schumer (D-NY) said that there will absolutely be a public option in Congress’ health care legislation. “Make no mistake about it, the president is for this strongly,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation yesterday. There will be a public option in the final bill.”

    Now, the posters who called me naive and an asshat for pointing out the lie they were trying to spread about the public option being taken off the legislative table, can suck on it.

    You know who you are.


  58. Alejandro says:

    This might have been posted in the other thread, but here is the transcript to Sarah Palin’s resignation speech.

    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/exec-column.php

    It’s totally bizarre. You can tell that she wrote it herself and didn’t have any help.

    This thing would fail freshman comp for sure.

    If I have learned one thing: life is about choices!

    Except when you are not married or pregnant.

    *((Gotta put First Things First))*

    Yup, that’s in the speech, exactly that way.

    Life is too short to compromise time and resources… it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: “Sit down and shut up”, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”.

    Nah, only dead fish “go with the flow”.

    Ha ha. The quitter’s way out is to quit.

    But at least she’s down with the ACES program!

    And ACES – another bipartisan effort – is working as intended and industry is publicly acknowledging its success. Our new oil and gas “clear and equitable formula” is so Alaskans will no longer be taken advantage of. ACES incentivizes new exploration and development and jobs that were previously not going to happen with a monopolized North Slope oil basin.


  59. Witch1 says:

    So, from many posts I guess the posters think it is alright for Israels government to bomb the shit out of Lebanon and Gaza, killing innocent men women and children so they can have all the bounty’s of war.Same senario as bull shit bush’s regime, bomb the shit out of Iraq kiling millions of men women and children and let the guilty go free for the crime’s…Hundreds or millions, any one approving of this madness is just as guilty…Now Obama has baught it…Not in my name…

    Biden is another terrible dissapointment, as are most of the political, war monging hack’s..Mckenna is still detained along with many others and no public out cry against Israel..Jeebos…I sure don’t see any good change….The people of the earth are being killed and left and right fight over trivial bull shit like pitiful palin and what she’s doing.

    I will not vote for or back any more of these monsters….Our country and the souls of all people are being spoiled as long as we allow this to go on with out even a wimper….Sad times for an old Peace activest who helped stop the Nam genocide….Guess it truly is time to drop out of part of the human race..The Bear and I will join the Peace makers…..Question is, where the hell are they all now.? Oh yah~ they are locked up in an Israel jail……P. B. & J


  60. stateofthedivision says:

    From Bloomberg:

    Iowa has the second-lowest rate of uninsured in the U.S., said Ann Selzer, president of Selzer and Co., a Des Moines- based public opinion research company. “The crisis in Iowa is more about what’s happening with costs being shifted from employers to employees,” she said. “That’s the middle-class starting to feel this pinch and there are far more of them.”

    Pay attention to reform details.


  61. katy says:

    snappy12 Says:
    [...] There will be a big change—No more republicans–The new parties will be The Progressive Party and the Democratic Party! MARK MY WORDS. You heard it from me,here first.

    well, there WILL be “republicans” because they are so stupid and stubborn…

    and, unless there is ANOTHER major right wing party, those republicans, headed by their queen, Caribou Barbie, will appreciate the split in the left…

    i wish it weren’t so…


  62. katy says:

    the sarah bots are calling ed’s show – norman goldman filling in today…

    after one woman gave her excuses, norm told her it was interesting that she thinks sarah quit because of the negative press and to work on her ‘12 run – if she can’t handle it NOW, how could she handle it on a national presidential level…

    so so stoopid.


  63. snappy12 says:

    katy,
    Yes, there will be a repulican party, however it will be made up of the present or former R party and the so called moderate democrats.




  64. stateofthedivision says:

    Reuters reported:

    In addition to Boeing, John Deere, and PepsiCo, executives from U.S. oil majors ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and aluminum major Alcoa are traveling with Obama.

    James Baker, Henry Kissinger, William Perry, George Schultz and Sam Nunn visited Moscow in March seeking to open business “opportunity.”

    http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/03/us-corporacrats-visit-russia.html


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  66. stateofthedivision says:

    Since pay for performance will solve the ills of health care:

    Report Faults Performance Bonuses for Contractors

    Federal agencies have awarded billions in bonuses to contractors regardless of whether the work was deemed satisfactory

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/05/AR2009070502520.html



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