Electronic Writer

The President has launched a campaign to get all of the first-time voters from the last election to come back to the polls for the 2010 Congressional Election.  But, you can hear it for yourself . . . .

Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R) has made some absurd claims during her recent bid for Nevada Senate.  Her most famous is:

Let’s change the system and talk about what the possibilities are. I’m telling you that this works. You know, before we all started having health care, in the olden days, our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor. They would say I’ll paint your house,” she said. “[That’s] what people would do to get health care with their doctors. Doctors are very sympathetic people.   [Source: Talking Points Memo]

A surprise externality of this lovely talking point has been the meme that Susan Lowden is suggesting that we trade chickens for heath care services–you know, because Insurance Companies and Doctors are so generous with their services.  To help understand the gravity of Lowden’s concept, someone has created the Lowden Plan Chicken Counter–to help us get a general sense of how many chickens we would need for certain procedures.  Of course, if you can find a doctor who will accept chickens in exchange for medical procedures . . . we would love to know.  In the meantime . . . you should check it out.

The Lowden Plan Chicken Counter

Try it yourself:  LowdenPlan.com

These are some superb opening remarks. Finally, someone not pulling any punches–and, someone with some experience who is not pulling any punches.

I hope the trial is fair and a representative case of the American legal system . . . and, that those responsible are brought to justice. As I have said before, the homeless people, those who have lost their jobs and/or businesses, those who have lost their retirements are not just numbers. They are suffering people . . . and, it was no accident.

Today marks a special moment for the GOP “Party of No.” It objected to 97 Presidential nominees in a single day. The idiocy of the Republican Party (as well as the shamelessness) has no ends . . . .

Thanks for the video from the Huffington Post

Cheers to bi-partisan solutions . . . .

Remeber when Orly Taitz was the legal counsel representing the Reservist, Stefan Cook, who challenged his deployment orders . . . because he hadn’t seen President Obama’s birth certificate?  Well, we appear to have a copycat offender.  The difference is that this one is a little higher up (and, so far, Orly Taitz is no where to be seen).

According to MSNBCs first read,

From NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski and Mark Murray
U.S. military officials tell NBC News that the U.S. Army will court martial a lieutenant colonel who refuses to deploy to Afghanistan because he considers orders from President Obama to be “illegal.”

A little more digging, and it turns out that Army doctor Lt. Col. Terry Lakin has got a lot of street cred, or at least, he did.  Now, I don’t go around hanging out on right wing blogs, but some of the stuff of the stuff they listed you can’t fake (and no, Fox News, that is NOT a challenge).  Chief of Care and Flight Surgeon for centers and Staff Generals . . . .

But, he is getting court-martialed now.

What’s my take on this?  One of the comments at the Family Security Matters (ugh, I have a hard time typing that) website said it best:

I believe they call that insubordination. It’s my hope that he is relieved of duty, stripped of his rank and benefits and tossed in prison where he belongs for withholding treatment to wounded soldiers in a time of war.  I would have more respect for him if he had moral objections to the wars, but no, he wants to play the right-wing reindeer games instead.  I’m a veteran too, and when I was in, if you disobeyed a lawful order, you faced legal repercussions.

America is watching and noticing the breathtaking hypocrisy of the right wing elements in this country.There is nothing “patriotic” about the hatred and vitriol spewed on an almost nonstop basis by these type of people.

Face facts, you have a black President.

PS. Wanna see our President’s birth certificate?

Last week, Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R) from Kentucky attended a private meeting with Hedge Fund Managers and Wall Street elites in New York along with Senator John Cornyn (R) from Texas, according to Think Progress.  As soon as he stepped out of the meeting (figuratively), he returned to Washington and became a staunch critic of the Financial Reform Bill–which is largely designed to return regulatory control and other preventative measures to Wall Street.

Of course, Mitch McConnell takes massive amounts of money from Wall Street–more than any other sector.

So, today, the media raised a few questions for the old dog . . . about his loyalties–suggesting that it appears as if he were protecting the interests of Wall Street.  He defers the question by telling us how the Community Banks in Kentucky want it repealed–but, I am a bit skeptical.

No one saw him meeting with the Community Banks of Kentucky . . . .

when making fun of Sarah Palin . . . .

This graphic describes the unemployment in the nation since June of 2007 to the present . . . and, it is alarming to say the least. Watch the color of unemployment rates spread and spread and spread–in the worst kind of infection of a producing and healthy nation.

But, please remember that these are not statistics. These are not unemployment rates. These are out of work people–who have families, who are hungry, and who are running out of money.

Unemployment has to be the NUMBER ONE priority right now. Healthcare reform was a perfect place to start, and we are working on the economy–but, this has to be first.

If you can get us back to work, you’ll have your consumers again, and we will need more consumer goods and new homes to be built, and the government will get our tax dollars once more . . . and we can end this recession.

Democrat Legislators: Get us back to work . . . .

The Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas made the news recently with their protest of their shameless display of hate at the funeral of a recent serviceman, then winning the legal battle with the father, and forcing him to pay for their legal fees. In fact, everything about them is somewhat sickening–right down to their website address (god hates fags dot com).

By far, the worst thing about them is their shameless exploitation of the children of the parents of their church. An 8 year old child, marching with a sign and filled with hatred has had their childhood stolen from them . . . regardless of the strength of the convictions of their parents.

But, this is not a tale of woe and sadness. This is a tale of victory.

When the Westboro Baptist Church showed up with their signs and their children to West Virginia to tell the families of the miners who died that their loved ones had died because the country is too tolerant of gays, and that there are too many Catholics in West Virginia and that God hates them . . . they were met with a bit of a surprise.  (I SWEAR, I am not making this up . . . .)

The roughly 10 people filed out of a mini-van only to be met with a force of 500 West Virginians who were there to counter-protest the Westboro Baptist Church and their message of hatred with . . . love, compassion and peace.

But, don’t take my word for it . . . watch the video and see for yourself.

The protest schedule for the Westboro Baptist Church [ed. of hatred] is on their website.  If you believe that peace, tolerance and love are more powerful than hatred, there may be an opportunity for you to test your hypothesis.  The people of Iowa did it . . . and had similar results to the good people of West Virginia.

Dear Mr. Boehner,

You may be in a position of power, but you do not speak for the majority of Americans.

Our Democracy was founded upon the principle of equality for all, and in November of 2008, when the entire country cast their votes of equal weight, the majority spoke.  We said we want change.

We did not choose the campaign who told us to be afraid and that only they could keep us safe.  Instead, we chose a promise of change and hope.  And, our leader, President Barack Obama, told us “Yes, We Can.”

It was a message unlike any I can remember.  Yes, We Can is not about a political party, or about a leader, or about morality–it is about us.  It is a message that summons us to greater things.  It expects us to fulfill our duties to this country, and challenges us when our service is needed.  And, it implies that our nation will not work without us.

We chanted Yes, We Can leading up to election day – it was our rally cry – and, we yelled it at the top of our lungs in exuberance after the votes were counted.  After eight long years of being silent and afraid, it was nice to hear our voice again.

From the moment our movement began, you started speaking louder–telling us to be silent.  Telling us that we should be afraid.  You have continued to raise your voice in your quest to silence ours.  Now, you shout openly.

But, simply repeating the same message does not make it true.  Regardless of your power, truth lies beyond your reach.  No matter how loudly you shout, you cannot change it.  And, the truth is that we, the majority of Americans, have spoken.  We want change.

It is time to stop shouting.  It is time to stop sowing fear.  It is time to end your obstructionism–and, join us.

Yes, We Can.

Roll up your sleeves, and get back to work representing your constituents.

Yes, We Can.

Even while we were shouting in exuberance, there was room for you and your values in our America.

Yes, We Can.

One more voice in a country founded upon dissonance and debate tempered with humility and acceptance.

Yes, We Can.

Join us, Mr. Boehner–you know the next line . . . .

Hear the Song . . . How it was Written