Don't fall into the WEDGE trap with Speaker Boner.

I am sure Rove is gloating over the wedge issue regarding the Catholic Church OVER-REACHING. I simply can't stand by and watch this anymore.


...The decision, (click title to entry - thank you) with the main opinion written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., was clearly one of the most important church-state rulings that the Court had issued since its 1990 ruling, in a case involving a Native American church ritual of smoking peyote.  In that case, the Court allowed the government to apply “neutral and general” laws to some religious practices, but the Chief Justice on Wednesday said that did not control the new ruling — in the case of Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (docket 10-553)....


The Catholic Church is playing politics again. It is just that simple. They may have unwittingly backed into it because of Murdoch's megalomania media empire Wall Street Journal's interpretation of the Hosanna-Tabor decision, but the Vatican has lawyers. So, I don't think the Catholic Church is that innocent. They are applying the recent decision by the Supreme Court as if every employee of their institutions are MINISTERS. They aren't and they are attempting to apply more pressure to the USA to come under their dominion so they can continue to extend their power over the entire of the USA faithful. I am sure it is inspired by god.


...Scarcely two weeks ago, (click here) in its Hosanna-Tabor decision upholding the right of churches to make ministerial hiring decisions, the Supreme Court unanimously and enthusiastically reaffirmed these longstanding and foundational principals of religious freedom.  The court made clear they they include the right of the religious institutions to control their internal affairs....

Archbishop Dolan is correct in that the decision gave the Catholic Church dominion over their teachers when those teachers are 'speaking the word.' However, that does not give Catholic Church INSTITUTIONS power over their employees when they are not 'speaking the word.' 


The teacher that sued the Catholic Church was out on medical leave for a substantial amount of time, when she returned she had to requalify by exposing reasons why she should be allowed to continue to teach. She refused and stood on her employee record. She was excused from her future employee so she sued. 


When she was employed by the Catholic Church she was a layman teacher. She did teach a faith based class which was 6% of her teaching responsibilities. That was her downfall. I can't imagine throwing a qualified teacher returning to her classes after a medical leave out because of a six percent teaching load, but, that is what occurred.

Ms. Perich spent most of her time teaching nonreligious subjects (click here) with about a sixth of her time on religion classes, so the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concluded that she was not a ministerial worker and that she could sue. In overturning that decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the question could not be “resolved by a stopwatch” and that Ms. Perich’s limited teaching about religion helped qualify her as a minister.

The court’s conception of the ministerial role is more encompassing than it has been defined by state and federal appellate courts. Its sweeping deference to churches does not serve them or society wisely.

The Ministerial Exception is what this is about. The Catholic Church is overreaching and they do this. They like creating wedge issues to give them more power over people. And the GOP simply plays to it for political gains.  It is like Bradley throwing a Hail Mary at the end of the Superbowl.  If you catch it you win the game. The GOP catches the 'political implications and simply runs with it.


Introduction:  Supreme Court Case on Ministerial Exception to EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW. (click here)


Discimination laws are important and I am sure the Catholic Church is comforted by the decision of the Supreme Court, however, that decision does not have implications to all their employees.  I find it hard to believe the maintenance crew in any of their hospitals is ministering to others. Those employees have a right to health care coverage as their own religious preferences deem appropriate.


Republicans love these issues as it serves as a complete distraction to their incompetency.  They pander to social issues that serve as wedge issues because they can be elected without being competent.  The 2010 elections proved that.  


Women are soft targets and somehow having babies is suppose to enslave them forever.  It isn't enough to love children they give birth to, they have to have a lot of children and give their lives up to their uterus as well as any hope for having their children receive substantial education.  The Catholic Church needs to address the impoverished status of the majority of their global populous and then demand women voluntarily be chattel to unreasonable church leadership.


It is understandable why the GOP distains education. Waste of money, especially for the distaff side of the family.  Completely.

Open memo to General Dempsey.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Doug Wilson (click title to entry - thank you)


Dear General Dempsey,


Assistant Secretary Wilson did a wonderful job when appearing on "The Rachel Maddow Show" of addressing the DOD's reason to postpone the parade for Iraq War Veterans now that the war is over.


It hasn't changed my mind.


Assistant Secretary Wilson did his level best with magnificent reasons for the postponement.  He deserves his position and his retirement.


I find the decision by the DOD oppressive of the wishes of many American people that want to celebrate with parades the return of the soldiers now that the mission is over.


The Canyon of Heroes seemed so appropriate.  


The Iraq soldiers now in rotation to Afghanistan will have completed yet another mission to the pride of their country and we will celebrate them when they return, too.


I guess I just have an attitude. It happens. I guess I don't take orders well. We won't see eye to eye on much, sir.
  
I just see it coming.


Best regards,
Elisa Barrett

With very little time to continue the Payroll Tax Cut Debate, Speaker Boner opts for 'political hot spot' with the Catholic Church.

The House can't get serious work done. They simply can't get it done. The House rather a deadlock and attention to bring the President to supervise.  And then demean his efforts to assist. 


There is no hope for the current House.  So, if the Payroll Tax Credit won't get them the attention and 'wedge' they are looking for, the GOP is going to waste valuable time on politics and not the country.

...Congress (click here) has until Feb.29 to agree to extend the payroll tax cut, or the tax will rise 2 percentage points to the original rate of 6.2 percent. The president signed a two-month extension of the tax cut in December, as part of a deal that also extended unemployment insurance and avoided a reduction in Medicare fees for doctors.

Republicans are split on whether to extend the tax cut, although the party's congressional leaders say a deal will be reached....

There is actually far less time for the House to pass the extension.  The legislative days left in February is something like 6 days? 

What do the complaints of the Catholic Church have to do with the Payroll Tax Cut?

The House absolutely hates President Obama and his administration.  They just do.

GOP vows to reverse Obama birth control policy (click title to entry - thank you)

WASHINGTON—Republicans vowed Wednesday to reverse President Barack Obama's new policy on birth control, lambasting the requirement that religious schools and hospitals provide employees with free contraceptives as an "unambiguous attack on religious freedom in our country."

The White House pushed back in the face of a political firestorm, arguing that Obama was sensitive to the objections and looking for a way to allay the concerns. Democratic women lawmakers put up a united front in defending the administration.

"Women's health care should not depend on who the boss is," said Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky....


The GOP sees more importance in attempting a political wedge issue with Hispanics rather than solving the nation's problems.  


Oh, wait.  I forgot.  The Middle Class's economic strife is irrelevant to the GOP.  The only purpose the Middle Class has for the GOP is how best to manipulate any election's outcome.  


The GOP does not care about women's health and this is another example of it.  They do not believe in religious freedom and this is another example.  


FAITH is a SOFT TARGET and the political opportunity for the GOP is too great to pass up.  This isn't about faith.  It is about politics.


I understand the objections of the Vatican.  I understand it all too well.  If for one minute anyone believes this isn't about trying to effect American political outcomes, think again.  The Obama Administration has ended discrimination against Gays in the military.  Oh, the verbiage of the Catholic Church isn't political, but, the pressure is there, isn't it?


The Church is objecting to having to carry health insurance for women allowing birth control in its INSTITUTIONS.  The Church by its insistence of control over a populous that works within its institutions doesn't believe in conscience or the ability of women to discern their own adherence to morality.  Patriarchy.  The Catholic Church is patriarchal and according to their stance, women just don't know their place.


The Catholic Church in its 'stance' on the fact employees are not allowed to have contraception in their health insurance policies are calling women chattel.  

Karl Lagerfeld states the reason to vote for President Obama is Michelle.

Karl Lagerfeld Thinks Michelle Obama's Face is Magical (click title to entry - thank you)


February 7th, 2012 
By Brande Victorian
You never know what’s going to come out of fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld’s mouth, just like you never know what’s going to be said about the First Lady, but for once this situation is a win-win.

Turns out Karl is a huge fan of Michelle Obama, and he told the Metro World News in Paris so today, as he gave his thoughts on the hottest news stories. Here’s what he said:

“Yes he does [deserve to be re-elected], especially because of Mrs. Obama. I’m a big fan of Mrs. Obama – and her face, I think, is magical. He would not be there without her. Mrs. Obama is not a fashion statement, but she has other things to do. My favorite thing about Mrs Obama was when she was asked if her skirt was not too tight and she answered “Why you don’t like my big black a**?”* I want [Barack] Obama to win because there is nothing better anyway, and especially because of her.

I never voted in my life. I will never vote. I know too much about politics from what’s going on backstage. To vote you have to believe all that garbage that they promise you, and they can’t keep those promises. If someone gave me an Obama pin, I would just put it on.”

The Drought is extending past February, even with floods.

 I am quite sure the profound loss of quality of life in Texas, including cattle sales, crop losses, exploding sidewalks and slow moving trains over softened and potentially dangerous rails has given any moral person pause to realize the danger fossil fuels have placed on all of us.  The drought continues to expand throughout the country and Spring is coming.

A submerged Chevy Tahoe (click title to entry - thank you) sits submerged in high water in 
Dallas on Jan. 25, 2012. A woman was safely rescued from the vehicle.

Rick Santorum- Victory Speech - Conservatism is Alive and Well

Rick Santorum Faith Family & Freedom

We are back to "Go Die."


Why?


Because it was the Republicans that stated the private sector would overcome all the necessary demands.  That isn't what happened.


This is what happened with a President that knew what the problem was and did what he could through an Executive Order.  The obstructive Senate and dysfunctional House never got their emphasis on the problem so much as the politics to end Obama Executive Orders.


The actions of Republicans exactly like Mr. Santorum and Mr. Santorum himself caused expensive refashioned patented pharmaceuticals to exist while abandoning the drugs that worked and went to generic status.


This is what Big Pharma gets you, a child begging for medications that are affordable to his young peers.


By Lara Salahi
October 31, 2011


While many advocates say President Obama's executive order (click here) to reduce a dire shortage of life-saving hospital medications is an essential step, others say the order is not enough to stop price gouging by some pharmaceutical companies.


Essential cancer drugs have arguably taken the hardest hit. Hospitals have reported the worst shortage in nearly a decade of chemotherapy agents like doxorubicin. Drugs for heart patients, some antibiotics, and intravenous drugs have also been hard for hospitals to find.


The new order instructs the Food and Drug Administration to broaden reporting of potential drug shortages, expedite regulatory reviews that can help prevent shortages, and examine whether potential shortages have led to price gouging. The drug shortage has compromised or delayed care for some patients and may have led to otherwise preventable deaths....


The Federal Government has to regulate the health care industry.  We have seen this crisis and the fact health insurance companies abandoned by their members at the time of their greatest need.  This while Wall Street has been seeing record profits.  


When the private industry is left to 'remedy' and 'mediate' the needs of the American people THEY FAIL.  President Obama is the most important President in the modern era to return empowering the electorate and not Wall Street to decide how they are best cared for.


Cancer patients and other consumers may find scarce prescription drugs more available under a plan unveiled Monday. (click title to entry - thank you)


President Obama signed an executive order instructing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take actions to help reduce prescription-drug shortages.


There have been more than 200 prescription-drug shortages reported so far this year, the FDA says. The most common shortages have involved cancer drugs, anesthetics used for patients undergoing surgery, as well as drugs for emergency medicine and electrolytes needed for patients on IV feeding.


MORE: Drug shortages set to reach record levels


"We have also seen shortages of injectable drugs used for blood pressure and shortages involving Adderall extended-release capsules used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said.


Doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and patients are struggling with the problem that has caused them to delay treatment, postpone surgery or make do with costlier and less-effective substitutes. Fifteen deaths have been blamed on shortages....

"Good-Bye" Get on your broom and ride! Where will she turn up next?

By Washington Post Staff

Tuesday, February 7, 7:40 PM

● January 2011 - After an unsuccessful run (click title to entry - thank you) for Georgia governor, Karen Handel joins the Susan G. Komen Foundation as a consultant. She was then hired as a senior vice president for public policy. During the Georgia primary, Handel’s platform included advocating for Planned Parenthood’s defunding.

● Spring 2011 - The Komen board forms a three-member subcommittee to look into Planned Parenthood funding. Komen staff also begin meeting on the issue. Both the staff review and board subcommittee conclude that funding for Planned Parenthood should continue....

With the Queen of Swing for the Anti-Abortionists gone, Komen may have solved their CREDIBILITY problem.  Planned Parenthood needs to move toward autonomy.  The Women's Care Movement has made a mistake in believing we didn't need more than one camp in conquering breast cancer.  It is still surreal to find there is an agenda put ahead of care and decency.  Buoy.  Some really do believe they are god.

I am getting a clear picture General Dempsey and I won't see much the same way.

General Dempsey is wrong.  Flat out wrong. It is unfortunate Mayor Bloomberg believes he has to follow orders.


The Iraq War is over.  The MISSION is complete.  


It is wrong to ask wonderful soldiers that stood up for their country and completed their mission to 'stand down' for a welcome home with a parade.


This generation of soldiers have sustained absolutely cruel war conditions.  They have sustained it, returned to fight with artificial limbs after losing their own.  


They have suffered in ways no other soldier in any generation has suffered.  They need to come home in a real way that says thank you and by the way if there is anything you need simply ask.  They need to be home, loved, engaged in life and enjoying a life they fought to have.  They have won the right to be proud and home.  They have won the right to live a life they fought for.  We, as the recipients of their gift are grateful and we have a right to thank them.


The mission is complete and the parades should be conducted with vigor so they can feel it!


...Bloomberg (click title to entry - thank you) said he had discussed it with military brass, including General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, and Army Secretary McHugh and Army Chief of Staff General Odierno made it clear - we talked about it - they do not think a parade is appropriate now,” Bloomberg said on WOR radio’s John Gambling show.

“They think a parade would be premature while we still have so many troops in harm’s way around the world.”

The revelation disappointed Staten Island Councilmen James Oddo and Vincent Ignizio, who were calling for a ticker tape parade down Manhattan’s “Canyon of Heroes” for Operation Iraqi Freedom vets....

It is about Civil Rights. Equality.

In this Aug. 12, 2010 file photo, Billy Bradford of Castro Valley, Calif., waves a pair of flags outside City Hall while same-sex couple line up to see if they can be married in San Francisco, Thursday, August 12, 2010.

(AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) 

Seems very straight forward to me.  The idea there can be separate classes of people, some deserving freedom and some not is straight up bigotry.  That is not allowed by the USA Constitution in a variety of venues.  Judges practicing different rights for different classes of people have to be questioned to their constitutional knowledge and ADHERENCE!

...A three-judge panel (click title to entry - thank you) of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that a lower court judge correctly interpreted the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedents when he declared in 2010 that Proposition 8 was a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians.

The court said gay marriages cannot resume in the state until the deadline passes for Proposition 8 sponsors to appeal to a larger panel of the 9th Circuit. If such an appeal is filed, gay marriages will remain on hold until it's resolved.

Lawyers for Proposition 8 sponsors have repeatedly said they would consider appealing to a larger panel of the court and then the U.S. Supreme Court if they did not receive a favorable ruling from the 9th Circuit.

"Although the Constitution permits communities to enact most laws they believe to be desirable, it requires that there be at least a legitimate reason for the passage of a law that treats different classes of people differently. There was no such reason that Proposition 8 could have been enacted," the ruling states....

The State Health Insurance Exchanges will help with difficult employers.

FEB 07, 2012  (CLICK HERE)

Vermont may for the short term allow small businesses to offer low-premium, "bronze" insurance plans. In other news, a N.J. legislative committee approved a bill to establish a state health insurance exchange, and a California plan to move 875,000 children to Medicaid raises concerns....


The objection of the Catholic Church is wrong.  Women are good decision makers and their religious hierarchy simply doesn't understand.  The Catholic Church also has a strong history of impoverishing their members.  The USA is not the only country the Catholic Church conducts its faith.  There are many countries where religious pressure results in altered lifestyles and poor quality of life.  The Catholic Church implodes its own tithers with unrealistic family size that also prevent mothers from employment to promote their families' well being and improvement.  


The Catholic Church in the USA has a right to their faith and their faithful, but, they are not allowed to pressure women of other faiths to practice differently.  There is quality of life and religious freedom at stake.  Once the State Exchanges are established, employers have the option to give employees monies instead of insurance so they seek health insurance that covers their needs.  


Critiquing the churches values and standards is not the answer, but, offering and legislating options everyone can live with is.  The decision by Health and Human Services is correct, there is no other option for women seeking birth control currently, but, the future will have options to enhance choices in health care.  Let's hope that is the case.


The States are finding many interesting options and even Vermont recently stated if large employers can provide a comprehensive health plan at reasonable cost to their employees they are welcome to do so.  


Emergency contraception is important to women and it should always be available, especially in hospitals where rape and incest victims find care and evidence collection.

...One of the models (click title to entry - thank you) under consideration for testing in the accountable care project is a payment incentive or gainsharing. For example, if federally qualified health centers, which participate in Medicaid and deliver primary care, meet a certain savings target, they can potentially keep some of the amount over the target that was realized in savings.

Those conversations have a lot of promise for Colorado and other states. “It moves us away from a state budget environment where we’re seeing Medicaid being potentially pitted against education or other budgetary needs,” Arenales said.

Super Pacs is not where it's at, but, I would donate after I support the candidate fund FIRST!

We have to be able to compete against the Plutocrats!  These mountains are not unusual to the people of the USA, we can make it happen if we focus on the horizon and not the ideology.


I plan to give to the campaigns I am supporting and then will give to the super PAC after I've received the maximum I can provide to the candidates.  


Americans have to put the well being of their families first.  The circumstances the Middle Class face cannot be ignored, nor can they ignore the importance of HEALTHY candidate giving.  Family first, politics second.  Priorities matter and winning in November has never been more important but not at the cost of homes and health.


..."With so much at stake, (click title to entry - thank you) we can't allow for two sets of rules in this election whereby the Republican nominee is the beneficiary of unlimited spending and Democrats unilaterally disarm," Messina said. "Therefore, the campaign has decided to do what we can, consistent with the law, to support Priorities USA in its effort to counter the weight of the GOP super PACs."...

Where did a political candidate get the money for a Superbowl ad?

This is from the Christian Science Monitor .  I don't think I have to say anymore, except, where the heck did the money come from for such a mindless ad?

He raised that kind of money in a STATE campaign?  Primary no less?  Something is not right here.


The unions need to speak to this. There are shadows of hatred that should not be pinned on them.  I sincerely believe the unions have a place in this.  Perhaps an Asian-American Auto Worker standing with his union leader could talk to the insensitivity and remind the USA how far we have come.  I'd feel better if the unions spoke out.  It doesn't have to be political so much as peacemaking.  Mentioning the controversial ad will end the hideous nature of it and remind everyone of how an affiliation with a union can end the hate.

...Michigan (click title to entry - thank you) has seen its share of Asia bashing, especially in the 1980s, when images of sledgehammers smashing imported cars were common. Chinese-American Vincent Chin died after being beaten to death in 1982 by two unemployed autoworkers angry about competition from Japan.

Republican Senate hopeful Pete Hoekstra began taking heat after his ad targeting Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow ran statewide Sunday before the Super Bowl football championship....

If China continues to breath fire globally, what will happen to Putin's Sochi 2014?

Winning the right (click here) to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games was so important to Russia, and to Vladimir Putin personally, that the Russian president himself led the country's final, formal presentation before the International Olympic Committee in Guatemala City on July 4. Rare for him, he even made his address in English, with finishing remarks in French.

That involvement clearly paid off, as the Black Sea resort of Sochi beat out Pyeongchang, South Korea, in a second round of secret balloting after Salzburg, Austria was eliminated in the first....

This is the Sochi Polar Bear.  It is cute.  I like it already.

Sochi 2014 launch VolunTour campaign in volunteer recruitment drive  (click here)

The launch of the project comes a day before the process to recruit 25,000 volunteers from across Russia for Sochi 2014 gets underway, when candidates can register on the website.

The campaign is being carried out online using banners, viral projects and other promotional tools such as social networking.

Outdoor advertising is also being used in 14 regions across Russia as Sochi 2014 looks to bring young people with a proactive attitude to volunteer in the black sea resort during the Games.

The advertising campaign will also inform the public of the work volunteers do through humour, as well as looking to involve other regions in Russia so that the whole of the country feels a part of Sochi 2014....


Russia needs to line up Sochi advertisers, if it hasn't already.  The global community came together for the Chinese Olympics, it would be disappointing if China didn't join all of us again in a spirit of peace.


Russian official: Sochi projects delayed (click title to entry - thank you)
Updated: January 15, 2012, 5:40 PM ET

INNSBRUCK, Austria -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak acknowledged Sunday that more than 70 construction projects for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games are behind schedule but denied the Olympics would be affected.

Kozak said during a visit to the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck that the venues in question are almost ready and that only formalities were causing the delays.

"They are not major delays," he said through a translator. "All in all, there are 400 venues that have to be constructed and 70 of them isn't such a huge delay. Basically, all these venues are built. The delays are related to some paperwork.

"In the end, I think we'll finish everything in time. Speaking about the infrastructure, we don't have any concern whatsoever. My main concern is the success of our Russian sportsmen. It's going to be a huge regret if our own sportsmen don't perform to their best."

The International Olympic Committee warned Russian officials two years ago that construction delays could threaten their ambitious plans for the 2014 Games, which included building all new facilities.

However, IOC's coordination commission for Sochi has since said the construction of venues had been proceeding at an impressive pace....

I don't think Iran is serious. If China is marketing ICBMs they are attempting to escalate rather than stabilize.

Israel Air Force aircraft (click title to entry - thank you) have been spotted in recent days at a Saudi Arabian military base unloading military equipment in the city of Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, according to a report from Iranian news agency FARS.

The base will reportedly be used as a forward operating base by the Israelis as part of an offensive on an Islamic country... 

These are Israeli Jets parked in Saudi Arabia.  The picture is form 2010.  Saudi Arabia has actively purchased military hardware from the USA.  I doubt seriously Saudi Arabia wants Iran to have nuclear capacity of ICBMs.  I could be wrong, but, I don't think so.  Iran has to know there are many neighbors not happy with them and it isn't just Israel.

China's needs to be checking their list of gifts to Iran twice before they actually dispatch hardware that will begin a war of no return.  Seriously.

This is a bipartisan ad. "Both teams are in the locker room." Maybe it is actually a non-partisan ad.

Clint Eastwood was in a movie named after a Ford, "Gran Torino." I am sure Chyrsler was delighted to have Award Winning Actor, Director, Producer, Composer and Politician, Clint Eastwood for their ad. They also have a fold out today in USA Today. They are waging a commercial campaign to bond with the people of the USA. Is that so bad?

So, the New York Giants get a ticker tape parade by the returned Iraq Vets that made this possible don't.

I am surprised at the inconsistent priorities of the mayor.  Odd.


Don't get me wrong, my mother nearly fainted yesterday when they took the trophy.  She was expecting the Pats to connect for a victory at the end.  But, my mother also prays the rosary everyday for the troops and the President and our nation.  


In between (click title to entry - thank you) all the commercials and snacking there was a pretty good football game last night, and when the final whistle was blown it was the New York Giants on top. They’re the Super Bowl champs—for the second time in four years—and now New York is ready to welcome their team home for a little bit of a party and parade. Mayor Bloomberg is putting the final touches on this and that, but we do know that the celebration is taking place on Tuesday....

"Morning Papers" - It's Origin

The Rooster
"Okeydoke"

Good Night, Moon

February 5, 2012


Waxing Gibbous


96.3 % lit


1.6 days until Full Moon