Tim Geithner said to leave your money in big banks......
Glad I joined the Credit Union....
h/t to Atrios
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Roe v Wade: 37 Years
In the early 70's and 80's, when I was coming of age, the resources to young women to have control of their reproductive health were more widely available than today. Public Health clinics were more numerous, non profit clinics for women were not haunted by anti choice groups outside their doors and a young woman could go to a private practice for services without fear that her parents be contacted thus violating her privacy. My experience in school was everyone was fully educated about how our bodies worked, we had discussions regarding our sexuality, contraception, disease and so on.
Slowly, but, surely through the years this has been eroded by decreased funding, outright bans (Hyde amendment) and lobbying from religous and anti choice groups.
It really pains me to know women that are not much younger than me not value themselves to believe that full access to reproductive health information and services is about freedom to make choices about her own health and life no matter what her religious views are. I find it hard that, feminist or not, some believe the state would be better at making choices for women than for themselves, putting themselves down as second class. I find it hard to believe that some feel that God justifies killing a physician practicing legal medicine.
Amanda says it well.
Slowly, but, surely through the years this has been eroded by decreased funding, outright bans (Hyde amendment) and lobbying from religous and anti choice groups.
It really pains me to know women that are not much younger than me not value themselves to believe that full access to reproductive health information and services is about freedom to make choices about her own health and life no matter what her religious views are. I find it hard that, feminist or not, some believe the state would be better at making choices for women than for themselves, putting themselves down as second class. I find it hard to believe that some feel that God justifies killing a physician practicing legal medicine.
Amanda says it well.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Coakley Defeat Referendum on Obama's "Bipartisanship"
So a virtual unknown right wing candidate beats out Martha Coakley in Massachusetts for Ted Kennedy's seat.
How could this happen? Who is to blame? Oh, my! What is the left going to do?
From Digby:
"The Democrats are all running around this morning looking panicked and freaked out which doesn't give anyone confidence. Everyone seems to forget that a year ago, Obama only had 58 votes in the Senate and everyone was in a state of near hysteria over his massive institutional power and soaring mandate. Now he has 59 and he's suddenly impotent. But this reaction was sadly predictable. And the message from the media and their centrist muses is also predictable --- move right immediately. SOS."
And Evan Bayh thinks that we should cater more to the centrists and the independents.
The problem has been that this overwhelming bipartisan need is stifling any real changes needed on Main Street. It is giving all the "changey - hopey" goodness to the Corporates Gods and leaving the rest of us behind.
Drew Weston knows this bipartisanship just ain't gonna cut it:
"The White House has squandered the greatest opportunity to change both the country and the political landscape since Ronald Reagan. It should have started with a non-watered-down stimulus package big enough to stop the bleeding in the job market -- and a smack-down of any Republican who dared to utter the word "deficit" after 8 years of reckless, unpaid Republican spending. It should have followed with stringent regulations on Wall Street and protection of homeowners and small businesses instead of with a jobs creation program inside the administration for failed bankers and failed regulators. A stimulus -- including a jobs program -- strong enough to prevent the hemorrhaging of 700,000 jobs a month and a muscular approach to the bad actors who had crashed the economy would have gotten the public firmly behind the President and the Democrats, demonstrating to the average voter that they have a choice between one party that's on their side and another that's not. Instead, the White House just blurred the lines between the parties so the average American couldn't tell the difference."
But, I wouldn't expect any push for progressive causes from our President because he isn't a progressive.
I hope this isn't breaking new for you.
How could this happen? Who is to blame? Oh, my! What is the left going to do?
From Digby:
"The Democrats are all running around this morning looking panicked and freaked out which doesn't give anyone confidence. Everyone seems to forget that a year ago, Obama only had 58 votes in the Senate and everyone was in a state of near hysteria over his massive institutional power and soaring mandate. Now he has 59 and he's suddenly impotent. But this reaction was sadly predictable. And the message from the media and their centrist muses is also predictable --- move right immediately. SOS."
And Evan Bayh thinks that we should cater more to the centrists and the independents.
The problem has been that this overwhelming bipartisan need is stifling any real changes needed on Main Street. It is giving all the "changey - hopey" goodness to the Corporates Gods and leaving the rest of us behind.
Drew Weston knows this bipartisanship just ain't gonna cut it:
"The White House has squandered the greatest opportunity to change both the country and the political landscape since Ronald Reagan. It should have started with a non-watered-down stimulus package big enough to stop the bleeding in the job market -- and a smack-down of any Republican who dared to utter the word "deficit" after 8 years of reckless, unpaid Republican spending. It should have followed with stringent regulations on Wall Street and protection of homeowners and small businesses instead of with a jobs creation program inside the administration for failed bankers and failed regulators. A stimulus -- including a jobs program -- strong enough to prevent the hemorrhaging of 700,000 jobs a month and a muscular approach to the bad actors who had crashed the economy would have gotten the public firmly behind the President and the Democrats, demonstrating to the average voter that they have a choice between one party that's on their side and another that's not. Instead, the White House just blurred the lines between the parties so the average American couldn't tell the difference."
But, I wouldn't expect any push for progressive causes from our President because he isn't a progressive.
I hope this isn't breaking new for you.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Calling Out Hate Talk Regarding the Disaster in Haiti
It amazed me during the Katrina disaster how the insensitivity and the lack of humanity just bubbled up from the hearts of some people.
"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them." Barbara Bush regarding Katrina refugees in Houston. I can feel the love......
"When these Katrina so-called refugees were scattered about the country, it was just a glorified episode of putting out the garbage." Neal Boortz on victims of Katrina. But, this asshat never claimed to be sensitive. He just wants to keep selling advertising.
A few folks have taken up the ball on insensitivity and bigotry in the wake of disaster in Haiti.
I could make a huge list of things written and said that is insensitive and just plain stupid, ignorant comments about the disaster in Haiti and its people.
Pat Robertson is there with a greatest hit. His "Deal with the Devil" comments takes this Talibangelical dipshit to new lows. Susie Madrak's post over at Crooks and Liars talks about Haiti's real deal with the devil in a historical context.
David Brook's drivel in the New York Times on January 14th is eloquently translated by Matt Taibbi at Truth/Slant.
And if you have Pat Buchanan scolding you for insensitive remarks about the disaster in Haiti, well then.......
"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them." Barbara Bush regarding Katrina refugees in Houston. I can feel the love......
"When these Katrina so-called refugees were scattered about the country, it was just a glorified episode of putting out the garbage." Neal Boortz on victims of Katrina. But, this asshat never claimed to be sensitive. He just wants to keep selling advertising.
A few folks have taken up the ball on insensitivity and bigotry in the wake of disaster in Haiti.
I could make a huge list of things written and said that is insensitive and just plain stupid, ignorant comments about the disaster in Haiti and its people.
Pat Robertson is there with a greatest hit. His "Deal with the Devil" comments takes this Talibangelical dipshit to new lows. Susie Madrak's post over at Crooks and Liars talks about Haiti's real deal with the devil in a historical context.
David Brook's drivel in the New York Times on January 14th is eloquently translated by Matt Taibbi at Truth/Slant.
And if you have Pat Buchanan scolding you for insensitive remarks about the disaster in Haiti, well then.......
Sunday, January 17, 2010
MLK Jr Day: Time to Give to the Community
Historically this is a day of service to the community.
The Great Recession and earthquake in Haiti has brought forward many opportunities to be of service to so many in need.
Give blood, clean your closet out and donate items, donate some time or money to anything you feel may contribute. The AJC has suggestion for us in the Atlanta area here.
Coakley - Brown Race Tight
The special election race between Republican State Senator Scott Brown and Attorney General Martha Coakley seems to be in a dead heat. President Obama traveled to Massachusetts this Sunday to get the out the Democrats out to vote.
"The president made a direct appeal to independents who are trending away from the Democrat and sought to court voters angry over Wall Street abuses. He assailed GOP candidate Scott Brown, who downplayed his party affiliation during the campaign, as just another typical Republican who sides with special interests" according the AP.
The media has predicted gloom and doom for Coakley. Some polls are showing a four point lead for Coakley, but, a heavy turnout would help.Organizing for America (OFA) has sent over 3500 volunteers and Dem volunteers are jamming the Coakley headquarters.
Quite frankly, the need to save the Senate seat is obvious. The need to save this Senate seat from the health carereform industry handout is not so important. Between how a Cadillac health plan is defined (vision, dental and yearly cost) and the mandates I have really lost all interest. Really the bill should be killed.
Oh, and BTW, Obama had no plans to go to Massachusetts until the shocking trends in the polls showed Brown gaining. Maybe he just wanted to make sure the corporate whore Senator is his type of corporate whore.
"The president made a direct appeal to independents who are trending away from the Democrat and sought to court voters angry over Wall Street abuses. He assailed GOP candidate Scott Brown, who downplayed his party affiliation during the campaign, as just another typical Republican who sides with special interests" according the AP.
The media has predicted gloom and doom for Coakley. Some polls are showing a four point lead for Coakley, but, a heavy turnout would help.Organizing for America (OFA) has sent over 3500 volunteers and Dem volunteers are jamming the Coakley headquarters.
Quite frankly, the need to save the Senate seat is obvious. The need to save this Senate seat from the health care
Oh, and BTW, Obama had no plans to go to Massachusetts until the shocking trends in the polls showed Brown gaining. Maybe he just wanted to make sure the corporate whore Senator is his type of corporate whore.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
