The Rooster
"Okeydoke"
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Elin Woods should be pleased at her husband's defense of her dignity.
After years of 'being above any media fray,' the truth finally came to roost. I congratulate Elin for being a strong woman and not allowing the 'pressure of fame and wealth' to cloud her loyalty to her marriage.
She remained clear minded and upheld her own dignity when the scandal broke. She allowed her husband to find his way and then joined him to conquer the failures that marred his image. I am sure her heart was broken. But, I have nothing but admiration for her in being willing to work through this difficult to try to keep her family together. I am sure her children were in the forefront of any of her decisions. Regardless of how she would resolve the issues with Tiger, her children would still need a good and decent father. She did the right thing for them.
Many have a great deal of affection for Tiger Woods and it is my hope he can reach beyond this low point in his life to succeed in his marriage, as a father, return to the profession he loves and live a life with a marriage that can sustain.
I wish them both well.
The next few months will be trying in the public arena and Tiger was right to spend it with his family. It is obvious he values his wife and children above all else and as the media plays out their defamation game at one level or another, he is correct to be with Elin to see her through all the difficulty in returning to a happy marriage with this new start. I am sure she has wholeheartedly forgiven her husband. It is the intense focus that will have to abate somewhat. Newly healed wounds are sometimes delicate to such scrutiny.
He was right to surround himself with good friends. Difficult moments in life require the support of many caring people. I believe he did it well. I felt he was not only impressive as a husband, but, inspiring to his humility. If Elin can forgive him there is no reason why everyone else can't.
I wish him luck in his return to 'the greens.'
Are lawyers EVER held responsible for being SLICK?
...The internal report (click here) also faulted then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and then-Criminal Division chief Michael Chertoff for not scrutinizing the memos and recognizing their flaws, but the report did not cite them for misconduct....
This is horse hockey. Who is Holder trying to fool? This is nothing less than the GOOD 'OLE BOYS CLUB.
Ashcroft FORGOT to PROOF READ?
I don't think so.
THIS IS NONFEASANCE.
Prosecute it !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nonfeasance is the Republicans FAVORITE legal game. They use it all the time in political plays.
"Oops, I forgot."
"Gee, I didn't know."
The USA Justice Department doesn't recognize 'a strategy' to circumvent the law? Get over it !
Either Holder is going to stop the corrupt or he'll be viewed as part of it !
The longer the Health Care Insurance Reform remains unresolved the more potential cities will face insolvency.
The Republicans cannot continue to say NO. They are practicing politics with the operations of cities across the country. The mayors need relief from increasing health care costs to maintain operational budgets. If Republicans continue to be the Party of NO, there is no one that can say they aren't incompetent.
...Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was expected today to announce the elimination of several municipal departments to help the city cope with a growing budget deficit.
The move, which will be detailed at an afternoon news conference, comes on the heels of the City Council's call for the elimination of 4,000 positions to help cut into the city's shortfall.
The council voted Thursday to instruct "all departments and offices of the city, including elected offices, to expedite the elimination of 4,000 positions by any means necessary, including layoffs." The vote did not offer any exclusions for the police and fire departments, which Villaraigosa has opposed cutting.
The 4,000 positions must be identified within 45 days and scheduled for elimination as of July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
In a news conference following the vote, City Council President Eric Garcetti said, "These are tough choices, but we have to live within our means."
Councilwoman Jan Perry said "as devastating as the current situation is, the possibility of insolvency is worse."...
The longer the Republicans postpone health care insurance reform, the worse the circumstances of the economy becomes. More workers outside of the tax base increases the 'exponential' growth of failure.'
Ritter proposes new cuts in budget (click here)
2/19/2010
By Marianne GoodlandTHE COLORADO STATESMAN
Gov. Bill Ritter announced Thursday he will submit a new proposal to the Joint Budget Committee to rebalance the state’s 2010-11 budget.
The proposal cuts another $340 million in general funds from the 2010-11 budget Ritter submitted last November. The new cuts bring the total in general fund cuts for 2010-11 to $1.3 billion, on top of $2.2 billion in cuts to the 2009-10 budget. The re-balancing plan for 2010-11 is based on new revenue shortfall figures from the December 2009 Legislative Council revenue forecast.
The budget cuts include an $18 million reduction to the Department of Corrections, primarily based on reduced caseload, Ritter said. That reduction is due to success in recidivism programs, improved parole services and fewer cases coming in. Ritter, a former district attorney, said normally in recessions crime goes up as do prisoner populations. However, “this recession has defied the trend,” he said....
The reason the Great Recession has defied the trend normally seen in crime is because the unemployed has been well supported through efforts in unemployment. The Democratic Congress can take credit for protecting Americans from becoming desperate in desperate times. There is a lot more to governing than simply a budget.
...Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was expected today to announce the elimination of several municipal departments to help the city cope with a growing budget deficit.
The move, which will be detailed at an afternoon news conference, comes on the heels of the City Council's call for the elimination of 4,000 positions to help cut into the city's shortfall.
The council voted Thursday to instruct "all departments and offices of the city, including elected offices, to expedite the elimination of 4,000 positions by any means necessary, including layoffs." The vote did not offer any exclusions for the police and fire departments, which Villaraigosa has opposed cutting.
The 4,000 positions must be identified within 45 days and scheduled for elimination as of July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
In a news conference following the vote, City Council President Eric Garcetti said, "These are tough choices, but we have to live within our means."
Councilwoman Jan Perry said "as devastating as the current situation is, the possibility of insolvency is worse."...
The longer the Republicans postpone health care insurance reform, the worse the circumstances of the economy becomes. More workers outside of the tax base increases the 'exponential' growth of failure.'
Ritter proposes new cuts in budget (click here)
2/19/2010
By Marianne GoodlandTHE COLORADO STATESMAN
Gov. Bill Ritter announced Thursday he will submit a new proposal to the Joint Budget Committee to rebalance the state’s 2010-11 budget.
The proposal cuts another $340 million in general funds from the 2010-11 budget Ritter submitted last November. The new cuts bring the total in general fund cuts for 2010-11 to $1.3 billion, on top of $2.2 billion in cuts to the 2009-10 budget. The re-balancing plan for 2010-11 is based on new revenue shortfall figures from the December 2009 Legislative Council revenue forecast.
The budget cuts include an $18 million reduction to the Department of Corrections, primarily based on reduced caseload, Ritter said. That reduction is due to success in recidivism programs, improved parole services and fewer cases coming in. Ritter, a former district attorney, said normally in recessions crime goes up as do prisoner populations. However, “this recession has defied the trend,” he said....
The reason the Great Recession has defied the trend normally seen in crime is because the unemployed has been well supported through efforts in unemployment. The Democratic Congress can take credit for protecting Americans from becoming desperate in desperate times. There is a lot more to governing than simply a budget.
Professor Phil Jones successfully defends his data.
IT IS CALLED, 'Statistically Significant.' I don't expect the Religious Right or the USA Republicans to understand that.
Just as a side note. There are no planes or buildings in the Arctic to interfer with any data. Dah.
E - How confident are you that warming has taken place and that humans are mainly responsible? (click title to entry - thank you)
I'm 100% confident that the climate has warmed. As to the second question, I would go along with IPCC Chapter 9 - there's evidence that most of the warming since the 1950s is due to human activity.
I'm 100% confident that the climate has warmed. As to the second question, I would go along with IPCC Chapter 9 - there's evidence that most of the warming since the 1950s is due to human activity.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Is she not the sweetest Mom you have ever seen? Very brave as is her daughter.
I have to wonder if this would be occuring if she were First Lady. Some things happen for a reason.
Prop 8 is Dobson's 'Big Play.' It is politics. This legislative action has been defended by those affiliated with Focus on the Family. It is the act of a PAC. Dobson has no right to be treated a religious non-profit.
That is only to begin with. The article below is from a student paper. Students in a university education that are complaining about tuition hikes need to send a big Thank You Note to Wall Street. For all those business majors...think about it. I don't believe I have heard of any business majors demanding a bail out universities.
Proposition 8 Deserves Nothing But Opposition (click title to entry - thank you)
February 18, 2010
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed during the November 2008 California state elections. The measure added a new provision to the California Constitution which reads, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”...
This sorts of come back to what's his name???....Glen Beck.
He is 'pretending' there are spirits at work converting Republicans to Satan. He targeted Megan McCain as a person possessed. He is using conspiracy theories to motivate viewers. The guy is pathetic.Yesterday, he and his fellow henchman knew they were caught with the goods and downplayed the hate and anger. He was trying to obtain a 'centrist' appeal. He even invoked the names Olberman and Huffington in his pandering for forgiveness for being a complete jackass and putting innocent people in the line of fire of maniacs with guns.
The problem I have with Beck and those like him, is that the journalists from Rwanda are in prison AND alive. Pawns to violence get to live.
Not only that, but, these bozos aren't reliable. They will play 'duck and cover' until they are out of the spotlight and then they start the rant all over again.
If they were legitimate journalists they would be working some place other than Murdoch and Rush Radio. Tabloid, but, worse. This is hate with the power of mass media. I don't recall the KKK ever having this level of media power. Ever. Even with David Duke in the legislature there wasn't this kind of consistent 'messaging' of hate to the populous of people of the USA.
There is a real issue here. Dobson wants to over throw the rights of citizens of the USA by assaulting the Constitution and the The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. He wants to destroy the wall between church and state and he is throwing very big money at the possibility.
Media services like Murdoch's and Rush Limbaugh make incredible incomes by facilitating the hate. I'll give an example.
One of the Murdoch Talk Radio commentators, don't recall his name, was stating 'statistics' the other day.
He stated, "82% of the people of the USA believe in God."
My reaction is so what.
That wasn't his.
He went on to say,"70 percent of the people of the USA believe in JC (Jesus Christ).
My reaction was still so what.
That wasn't his.
The USA Constitution prides itself on being a 'government of the people' which honors majority rule in elections.
When a Murdock media expert starts quoting statistics like this it is to give impetus to 'the idea' of Christians dominating the government and legislating morality.
One of the tea baggers tried to down play the potential for violence to this movement by stating, "...you mean just because I like to fire a gun means I am not a good person..."
That isn't the issue. There are 'elements' within the Tea Bagger Movement that believe violent revolution is a possiblity if they can't acquire their goals otherwise. They are more than 'lone wolves' and they are given a platform of 'suggestion' by desperate men such as Beck.
The KKK are real. The Tea Baggers are real. They are starting their desperate walk for power. This mess has a lot of potential beyond simply winning an election here or there. It has the potential to change the 'content' of the benevolence of the laws of the USA. If they had their way they would justify hate of anyone outside the Dobson Morality by legislating morality that would call abortion murder and assign the death sentence. That would hold true, in time, for gays and we would see the return of sodomy laws. None of this is a joke or should be taken lightly.
In 2006 and 2008 power brokers for Wall Street lost very big in elections. They don't like it and are throwing very big money garnered from profits of companies that were saved by bailouts, etc. at the elective process of the USA.
The Republicans and Tea Baggers should be lining up behind President Obama in his naming of a bipartisan 'National Debt Task Force.' But. They aren't and they aren't because it isn't PROFITABLE for them to do so. The power brokers for the Republicans are in revolt and having a hissy fit. Everyone else in line with this mess is having a wonderful time lining their pockets along the way.
As Mrs. Cheney would say, "Paint your wagon."
The USA has issues. Very big issues. Very, very big issues.
It is a very old book. Lots and lots of versions. The USA allows all kinds of books here. The Bible has not 'exclusivity' on civil rights.
Ya know, Jesus Christ knew what he was doing. Given all the versions of the Bible that exists, there is no 'consistency' there to base a government. Seriously.
MAN, primarily, has his hands all over the text here.
Hello?
“Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” Matthew 22:21
BIBLICAL 'SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.'
I wonder why that is. Why is it that Jesus Christ saw the wisdom of separating the spiritual domaine from the governing domaine?
The better question is why doesn't James Dobson see that?
Or better yet. Why doesn't James Dobson ABIDE by it?
I wonder why that is. Why is it that Jesus Christ saw the wisdom of separating the spiritual domaine from the governing domaine?
The better question is why doesn't James Dobson see that?
Or better yet. Why doesn't James Dobson ABIDE by it?
A little bit of cherry picking maybe? Laced. With power brokering. That Mr. Dobson is NOT non-profit status. That, sir, is a PAC.
Commercial businesses, regardless of their non-profit status ARE NOT citizens. They are 'private' entities and nothing more.
Commerical venues are NOT exclusively run by citizens of the USA. There is no way an enterprise has the same rights as a citizen. Citizenship comes with a birth certificate or greencard of the processes that facilitate that movement to the status of citizen. Citizen's breath air and have human rights.
Flag Burning has been one of those 'emotional' issues by the Religious Right. Can't have it both ways.
I really think it is time to protect our national symbols from being defaced, including, the use of any commercial or PRIVATE use of their images.
No commercial venue should have any advantage over any other commercial venue by some kind of competition over whom is a greater patriot.
That means protecting symbolic ships, such as the USS Constitution. People using those symbols in protest should be prosecuted for civil disobedience with substantial penalities to prevent such incidents.
The 'idea' that the Religous Right and the Republican Party can 'cherry pick' issues of patriotism based on self-righteous values is an attack against our USA Constitution. They engage in commerical promotion of their religion based on patriot symbols.
That is the Kool Aid they drink.
Their Kool Aid is a mixture of religion and politics.
They make patriotism a religious event. They are wrong. They are misguided and it is deliberate. It's all about money, regardless, of their non-profit status. James Dobson is among those that would like to dismantle the USA Constitution to bring the country under his value system. He does it in the name of God. The best Dobson has is the Bible to help him bring his message to the people. I don't recall the USA being mentioned in the Bible as a place where God has domain. Religion, REGARDLESS, the country belongs in the four walls of a home, not under the capital dome. It is called PRIVACY and if the churches in the USA continue to insist on being a part of the government they should loss their 'status' of sanctuary.
I believe it is dangerous to allow the mixture of religious fervor and national symbols. That includes the American Bald Eagle. What occured between the years of 2000 and 2008 is a travesty of liberty and abuses the rights of every American. Those in power during years of absurd values can't handle their loss of power and want it returned to them again. They don't care about a loss, so much as they can get the power back. They'll do it all over again.
Political venues will have to obtain permission for the use of national symbols and then only when events deserving the flag or otherwise there to be displayed. Our national symbols should not be used as weapons against our Constitution, our national security or any human rights values.
I have spent the past 24 hours listening to USA Talk Radio. The USA has a profound problem. It's Constitution is at risk.
I have never meant anything more in my life. The Docments of our Government should not be allowed to be used for commercial purposes. That's to begin with. There is no reverence for our country or its documents. It is used for more than legal purposes, the government garners no income from the use of these documents and they are used against the People of the USA.
That is just a side note to the maligning and destructive character of the religious right. I am only warming up.
I am going to get a little bit of sleep and run a couple of errands then spend the better part of the early afternoon writing here. This isn't political. It is about power and money and the abuse of our laws and how 'the fashion' of that abuse of the years 2000 - 2008 has placed our rights and Constitution at a lot of risk.
Glenn Beck needs to apologize. Yesterday he pulled a lot of stuff to try to 'disarm' his image, but, he justs needs to apologize. I am dead serious. To the Progressive Democrats, Megan McCain and the Woman Candidate from Texas. He has maligned all of them and the candidate Debra Medina has every right to sue him for character assassination. She was misrepresented by Beck and his co-henchman after her interview on his program.
He asks the he most ridiculous questions. He did NOT ask her about what she plans as Governor of Texas or what the issues are of Texas. He asked her if she was a 911 Truther. He even had to clarify the question because she didn't know what he was talking about at first. That's alright because before I listened to him I never knew what a 911 truther was either. Nowhere on this blog will anyone find a reference to such nonsense until they get to the entries about Beck.
Ms. Medina answered the question with a reasonable amount of dignity and in the only way she could without telling Beck he was completely absurd. Then for his own amusement and that of his audience he calls her a liar. She wasn't. She didn't know what she was dealing with and gave a good answer.
Today, Dick Cheney hid behind the skirts of his daughter Elizabeth to malign the President of the USA. I'll have to find the tape somewhere to post it here. Basically he gave credit to his Republican PAC for the Tea Baggers. He stated it was, "...well done."
You know he and John McCain should be at the same podium with Cindy and Megan and President Obama to begin to rollback 'hate provisions' against gays.
But, not Dick Cheney. Oh, no. His politics are more important. No different than McCain. Why should they stand up for their daughters, after all the 'girls' will understand that money and power is thicker than blood.
Cheney is a coward. He should be congratulating President Obama for his "Don't Answer, Don't Tell" initiative with the military. What a lousy bastard Cheney is. McCain as well, too. They rather play politics with people's rights and lives than actually be the men they need to be. If they'll kick dirt in their daughter's faces what does anyone expect from them.
The real issue is the Religious Right and the money Dobson and his Focus on the Family has thrown to treat minority citizens in this country as if they were grossly insignificant. I'll get into it."We the People" doesn't discriminate. It is a very simple phrase that is inclusive NOT exclusive.
Later.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Glenn Beck's 'so called truths' are actually lies.
Long before Beck started his anti-progressive rant I had stated the reason the Stimulus was a bit lethargic was due to the FACT many state legislators were not in session when the monies were passed into legislation in Washington, DC.
Beck has recently stated, the DEMOCRATS are using the Stimulus Plan to buy votes and are channeling monies ONLY into sensitive areas of the USA that might not put Democrats into office in 2010.
North Carolina's legislature has only recently passed plans by Democratic Governor Bev Purdue to allocate the Stimulus funds into use in the state. This is happening across the country in many, many states. It is not channeling any monies to win vote in 2010, it is a matter of logistics and when the state legislators actually convene.
Beck's 'so called' insight is nothing but POLITICAL ENGINEERING. They are lies and nothing more.
North Carolina has Democratic and Republican legislators representing the state. It is expected, long before this legislation passed these bills, that the Republican Senator will be re-elected.
"The Beck Effect" is engineered and not anywhere close to 'the truth.' The Beck Effect is 'age old politics' that was discarded as corrupt a long time ago. Revitalizing corruption by The Tea Baggers isn't good for the country.
Governor Bev Purdue of North Carolina.
Friday, February 12, 2010
North Carolina gets $26.5M in stimulus funds for health-care IT (click title to entry - thank you)
North Carolina has received two federal recovery infusions, totaling $26.5 million, to help bring health care information online, Gov. Bev Perdue announced Friday.
The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund, or HWTF, which Perdue earlier designated as ther lead agency coordinating the state’s health IT recovery efforts, will receive $12.9 million to facilitate information-exchange efforts at the state level. Perdue has also created the North Carolina Health Information Technology Collaborative within HWTF to develop the state’s strategic plan.
The other $13.6 million in recovery money will go to the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program, or AHEC, based in Chapel Hill, to set up a regional extension center to provide training and technical support for primary care providers using electronic health records....
Beck has recently stated, the DEMOCRATS are using the Stimulus Plan to buy votes and are channeling monies ONLY into sensitive areas of the USA that might not put Democrats into office in 2010.
North Carolina's legislature has only recently passed plans by Democratic Governor Bev Purdue to allocate the Stimulus funds into use in the state. This is happening across the country in many, many states. It is not channeling any monies to win vote in 2010, it is a matter of logistics and when the state legislators actually convene.
Beck's 'so called' insight is nothing but POLITICAL ENGINEERING. They are lies and nothing more.
North Carolina has Democratic and Republican legislators representing the state. It is expected, long before this legislation passed these bills, that the Republican Senator will be re-elected.
"The Beck Effect" is engineered and not anywhere close to 'the truth.' The Beck Effect is 'age old politics' that was discarded as corrupt a long time ago. Revitalizing corruption by The Tea Baggers isn't good for the country.
Governor Bev Purdue of North Carolina.
Friday, February 12, 2010
North Carolina gets $26.5M in stimulus funds for health-care IT (click title to entry - thank you)
North Carolina has received two federal recovery infusions, totaling $26.5 million, to help bring health care information online, Gov. Bev Perdue announced Friday.
The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund, or HWTF, which Perdue earlier designated as ther lead agency coordinating the state’s health IT recovery efforts, will receive $12.9 million to facilitate information-exchange efforts at the state level. Perdue has also created the North Carolina Health Information Technology Collaborative within HWTF to develop the state’s strategic plan.
The other $13.6 million in recovery money will go to the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program, or AHEC, based in Chapel Hill, to set up a regional extension center to provide training and technical support for primary care providers using electronic health records....
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
When Glenn Beck warns the Tea Baggers about Progressives, these are the folks.
No guns. They believe in peace. They want health care and not warfare. They are real people that want Single Payer and all sorts of social programs. They are not wayward people on an evil mission to the USA Treasury. They are decent people that deserve protection from violence.
I've had enough of the 'hate' espoused by Murdoch and Limbaugh. From morning until night Rush Limbaugh talks about nothing else. He covers no news, when all the other news media was reporting Olympic news about cross country skiing, Rush Limbaugh was quoting Chris Christy because his speech today was nothing but hate of unions and right wing rhetoric.
There is nothing healthy about the Limbaugh and Murdoch media service and they need to be reined in.
The Progressive Party of the USA are nice people, they are non-violent and they are correct from their point of view. If the USA backed off any war it could easily affored health care for all. They have a right to want a world entrenched in peace and wellness. The Tea Baggers, Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch have no right to even approach a single word of hate that would overshadow their lives. Something needs to be done by the FCC and it needs to be done before all this mess gets out of hand.
The FCC needs to have the FBI do a study on "Hate in the USA."
Yesterday Senator Bayh said something that made me pause in wondering what this is all about, regardless of how I like or dislike his opinions. He appeared at a podium with his wife and children. How much of the 'hate' he understands does he carry as worry for his family or himself for that matter?
Beck is doing nothing, but, maligning the federal government and advocating violence. He stated the other day, "I saw a police officer standing on a corner the other day. He had a gun strapped to his belt and I wanted to ask him how he could handle the fact he had a gun and wasn't using it, because, if it were me I would be using it all the time."
There are a couple of things in that statement. It indicates those that are 'like' Glenn Beck are self-righteous and above the law. It also implants logistics to 'easily had' weapons that police carry on them. You know I never think about the weapons police carry. I mean never. I assume they are human beings and police officers first and expect them to defend and protect. I never see a police officer as a potential source for weapons.
Nor do I see a police officer as a threat. Beck saw the officer as a threat. A man or woman carry a weapon when he has none and he is trying to carry out a so called revolution against Progressives.
There is a limit to freedom of speech. Glenn Beck is way over that limit. I sincerely believe someone like Senator Bayh may be making adverse decisions in the best interest of the country because he is more a human being than someone like Beck ever could be.
In the article of this entry, the UK has noted an uptick in hate toward Muslims. The government is suppose to track these things and advice the Justice Department and leadership regarding issues that threaten innocent citizens. It is time the USA federal system do the job that needs to be done.
Glenn Beck on multiple occasions has advocated violence. He should not have access to the media and the FCC should begin prosecutions regarding the violence he advocates.
The United Nations prosecuted three journalists in regard to the Rwanda Genocide. Beck is not giving out locations of people to kill, YET. At least not that I know of. The guy is on a real power trip these days and the people in 'his movement' have substantially invested in its outcome.
There is something sincerely wrong when a well established and respected Senator doesn't seek re-election after he already researched and invested in his victory in 2010. I wish Senator Bayh well and hope he is successful.
Glenn Beck needs to be recognized for what he is and stop him from hiding behind the First Amendment of the USA Constitution. He is abusing the right to practice it. Fear accompanied by hatred is a real commodity and that is Beck's product. His only product.
Media and politicians 'fuel rise in hate crimes against Muslims' (click title to entry - thank you)
Report blames 'Islamophobic, negative and unwarranted portrayals of Muslim London' for increase in attacks in the capital...
Holy shit, it is working. Go get 'em. I knew the squeeze would do it. MARJA.
I am a happy and proud camper. Wow. Wow.
Marja was their base of operations. $200,000 US per day was paid in taxes by the opium traders. If President Obama didn't re-enter Afghanistan the Taliban and al Qaeda would have grown into a global power.
Thanks to the Pakistan President and the military. Shazam !
I guess there are tons of land mines, huh? That's alright, be careful, its all good. I am proud of our military. They are to be contended with.
Marja was their base of operations. $200,000 US per day was paid in taxes by the opium traders. If President Obama didn't re-enter Afghanistan the Taliban and al Qaeda would have grown into a global power.
Thanks to the Pakistan President and the military. Shazam !
I guess there are tons of land mines, huh? That's alright, be careful, its all good. I am proud of our military. They are to be contended with.
February 15, 2010
Top Taleban commander Mullah Baradar captured in Pakistan: report (click here)
A senior official tells ABC News that "several days" ago U.S. and Pakistani intelligence captured the Taliban's Number 2, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and he is providing intelligence.
"This operation was an enormous success," the official told ABC News. "It is a very big deal."
Baradar is second to only Mullah Mohammed Omar in the Afghan Taliban, and is the commander of the organization on a daily basis. The story of his capture was first reported by Mark Mazzetti and Dexter Filkins of the New York Times.
A U.S. counterterrorism official, while refusing to confirm the news of Baradar's capture, told ABC News that "if he were taken off the battlefield, it would deal a major setback to the Afghan Taliban and be a personal blow to Mullah Omar, who has relied heavily on him for years."...
Monday, February 15, 2010
The weather at Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Crystal Wind Chime) remains warmer than the lower 48.
A Farewell to Ice (click title to entry - thank you)
Sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean grew by an average of 13,000 square miles a day last month.
Great news, right? Well, not so much.
For one thing, it was January. Mid-winter. Sea ice cover is supposed to grow. For another, it ain't growing like it used to. In the 1980s, the average rate of ice growth was 35,000 square miles a day. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, average sea ice extent in the Arctic last month was 5.32 million square miles, which was 69,000 square miles above the record January low, set in 2006, but 417,000 square miles below the 1979-2000 average....
...This thinner ice, in other words, is prone to melt earlier, and when it does, the heat-reflecting light-colored sea ice is replaced by heat-absorbing dark-colored ocean water, which causes the melting to increase.......until recently, models predicted the Arctic would be sea ice-free in summer by the year 2100. Today, however, most researchers agree that, at present trends, a more likely date is 2030.
Climate change, said Barber, "is happening much faster than our most pessimistic models expected."
It is not really acceptable to 'speculate' on the outcomes of Human Induced Global Warming. Logic demands priority. I don't appreciate the politics in this article, but, I felt is was an important article to mention. The author of the article is passing on an opinion at the same time he is calling the alarm. That is not prudent and is very dangerous.
There is an overwhelming TRUTH to Human Induced Global Warming and that it is a UNIQUE event to Earth.
For the first time in four to five decades the USA has a President that believes overwhelmingly in 'the science' and 'the scientist.' President Obama bases many of decisions on FACT and not opinion. The scientists involved in 'measuring' the effect of Human Induced Global Warming DO NOT. I repeat, DO NOT have to have a political stand in order to be heard. As a matter of fact it would be extremely refreshing if every decision in the USA and in the area of Climate Change including the international venues were 'depoliticized.'
The Science and Scientists that have brought the warning of Human Induced Global Warming to the global landscape to facilitate governments to come to terms with its impending disasters and adverse outcomes have been abused by Wall Street for decades now.
Human Induced Global Warming is NOT a 'belief system.' It is NOT a religion. It is NOT subjective. It is an objective science and it needs to be treated in that way, given brevity and governments need to act up on its wisdom.
For anyone to take the reality of Human Induced Global Warming as nothing more than a nuisance and a political 'play' has not been 'in touch' with the reality of its devastation to date. Many people have died, crops were lost, land inundated with water, personal property laid to waste and species devastated or extinct.
A warming Arctic Ocean is not a 'simple' concept that can be measured exclusively by the fact 'Oops, the ice is gone.' But, more, "Dear God the ice is gone." The ice ocean has been the thermostat to the planet. The entire planet. With all the old ice gone and ONLY reoccurring winter ice apparent, there is much danger to be realized, not just to the biotic Arctic and Polar Bears, but, to the entire planet.
There is nothing to say that once the 'ice residuals' of Earth are gone, humans will be able to continue to live on it by some chance the winter ice of the Arctic Ocean is enough. It won't be. The land masses will become hostile to life and the global temperatures will continue to rise. For anyone to simply believe it is 'okay' for Earth to be without ice, is placing simplicity before reality.
"Earth has never had this many people or the impact of those engaged in modern day consumerism before." THAT cannot be ignored in understanding the brevity of what is occurring on Earth.
Local time :: 6:28 AM AKST (GMT -09)
Lat./Lon. 58.8° N 137.0° W
Elevation :: 33 ft.
Temperature :: 43 F
Conditions :: Overcast
Windchill :: 43 F
Humidity :: 70%
Dew Point :: 34 F
Wind :: Calm
Pressure :: 30.00 in (Rising)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles
UV :: 0 out of 16
Clouds :: Overcast 5500 feet
(Above the Ground Level)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Government has always been involved in health care, I doubt the summit at Blair House will acomplish much. Think local information meetings.
Hospital Care in the USA started widely across the country with the Hill-Burton Act of 1946 (click title to entry). It was matching funds to improve hospitals. It was started during the Great Depression.
THanks for clear discussion on health care (click here)
None of the provisions in HR 3400 are required. This is a tax credit for the cost of health insurance upto $4000 per month for taxpayer and spouse / $2000 per month for an individual. A tax credit means the country is paying for their health care. Health Care Insurance Companies are doing well so far. And there is a $500 per month allowance for each dependent. Now, I remind these are tax credits for low income. Right? If people are receiving at least $4500 per month income to pay for health insurance premiums is that LOW INCOME? Ahhhh....No. A couple with a child will have to pay for the insurance before they take the credit. Got that part? Don't forget that now.
This is where it really gets interesting.
‘(B) THRESHOLD AMOUNT- For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘threshold amount’ means, with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year, 200 percent of the Federal poverty guideline (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Service for the taxable year) applicable to the taxpayer.
This chart is the current chart used by Health and Human Services to determine poverty levels. (click here) Hang on this is going to be quite a ride. It will break the bank. I am confident of it.
So, the federal guidelines for a family of three states 200% of the poverty level is $36,000. Okay? Now, these folks are suppose to go out and purchase health insurance for themselves and their child for not more than $4500 per month, pay the insurance cost for an entire year along with deductibles and then ask for a refund for the cost of the insurance upto $4500 per month on their taxes.
None of it is mandatory. Does anyone actually believe a family with an income of $36,000 annually is going to go out and buy health insurance while the rest of their bills, including quite possibly housing, goes unpaid for at least the first year until their initial refund comes?
No. Those folks are not going to be able to afford health insurance and they won't being paying it. There are supports to the child in this family already in place in most States, but, I am confident with a federal bill those supports will be cut back if not eliminated. So, now we are going to have families without health care and we will be worse off than before.
BUT.
This is where it gets really interesting. Ready?
In the paragraph previous to the one above is this:
Work the math.
Example: If a couple with one child is making $37,000 annually, they can deduct 99% of up to $4500 per month for health insurance.
If a couple with one child is making $66,000 annually, they can deduct 70% of up to $4500 per month for health insurance.
If a couple with one child is making $96,000 annually, they can deduct 40% of $4500 per month for health insurance.
Now.
Whom is this bill written for? The couple making $36,000 annually or the couple making $96,000 annually?
Think about it. I'll be back in a few hours.
I just want to talk about the couple making $96,000 per year. I already the folks making $36,000 annually don't have a chance at having decent health care. But, it gets real interesting with the couple making $96,000 per year.
Let's just say, for the sake of simplicity that they pay taxes on the entire amount they make. They don't, but, for this I'll say they do.
The tax bracket they pay their taxes in requires a tax rate of 25%. That would be a tax bill of $24,000 annually as long as they filed jointly.
If they spent $4500 monthly on health insurance in a cadillac plan, they would have a deductible of $21,600.
$4,500 X 12 = $54,000
$54,000 X .40 (40% above federal poverty level) = $21,600.
That just about wipes out any tax liability and they would be living 'tax free.'
Now they pay a lot less than $24,000 annually because even if they only take the standard deductions their tax bill is far less than that. But, get this, where the tax bill exceeds their income tax they get a payment back. So, as long as they are allowed $21,600 and their tax bill is let's say, $19,600 they get a check from the government for $2000 in addition to the $19,600 they will get refunded. Not bad, huh?
Okay, so it can get better than that, too. Because if the couple making $96,000 annually has another child their health insurance 'bonus' goes up $500 to a total of $5000 monthly or $60,000 annually. But, it stops there. A couple with three or more children are flat out of luck.
This math goes on all the up to $135,000. When on makes that much money they are still allowed to take 1% of their health insurance cost off their taxes. When in the case of $60,000 would be $600.
In the year 2009 it was estimated the average family of four paid about $1000 per month for health insurance. That is an annual bill of $12,000.
How long do you think that bill will remain at $1000 per month after a bill like this is passed? THAT isn't pandering to Health Insurance Companies? That is not only pandering to Health Insurance Companies, that is a GOLD MINE.
I haven't gotten to the part in how this is paid for by the House Republicans. If it is paid for at all. Being this is simply an obstructionist bill I doubt there is any brevity to it and there may not be any provisions to pay for this. HOWEVER, how immoral is this bill considering somehow this has to be paid for? And whom exactly is going to pay for it? Why would we ask anyone to pay for a Gold Mine for health insurance companies?
THAT is immoral. There is no other word for it except corrupt and immoral. This is the bill House Representative John Bohner stated was the one that far exceeded anything the Democrats had in mind. He stood by this bill and so did the RNC. I didn't make this up.
This bill might redeem itself, but, I honestly doubt it.
Why are Americans trusting these people? We have a decent man in the White House, a good person as Speaker to the House and a Senior legislator as Senate Majority Leader.
What is everyone thinking?
I'll read more tomorrow. Let's hope it gets better from here.
- $4.6 billion total grants and $1.5 billion total loans between 1946 and 1997
- 6,800 health care facilities in more than 4,000 U.S. communities
published: Sunday, February 14, 2010
THanks for clear discussion on health care (click here)
I want to thank the League of Women Voters and the Temple Shalom in Oxford for recently hosting a great forum on health care insurance reform. The speakers, for the most part, focused on facts and not on political rhetoric.
Here are some of the facts presented at the forum. Fifty million Americans are uninsured, and another 10 to 15 million are under-insured. The citizens of Great Britain, Canada, France, and Germany spend much less on health care than Americans do, receive higher quality care, and generally like their health care systems.
The American citizens who are most satisfied with their health insurance are on publicly funded plans, through Medicare or the Veterans Administration. Under our current system, health care spending in the United States is expected to increase from 2.1 trillion in 2007 to $4.2 trillion in 2016. Right now, the average monthly premium for private insurance for a family of four is $1,000 per month. Fears of medical malpractice suits increase health care costs because doctors order unnecessary tests and must purchase expensive malpractice insurance. Nurses, on average, spend about half of their time doing paper work.
Both houses of Congress and both major political parties need to work together to create a system that provides affordable, quality health care to all Americans. It is the right thing to do.
Jane Hepting
Leesburg
This is the 'Table of Contents' to HR 3400:
TITLE I--TAX INCENTIVES FOR MAINTAINING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
Sec. 101. Refundable tax credit for health insurance costs of low-income individuals.
Sec. 102. Advance payment of credit as premium payment for qualified health insurance.
Sec. 103. Election of tax credit instead of alternative government or group plan benefits.
Sec. 104. Deduction for qualified health insurance costs of individuals.
Sec. 105. Limitation on abortion funding.
Sec. 106. Non-discrimination on abortion and respect for rights of conscience.
Sec. 107. Equal employer contribution rule to promote choice.
Sec. 108. Limitations on State restrictions on employer auto-enrollment.
Sec. 109. Credit for small employers adopting auto-enrollment and defined contribution options.
Sec. 110. Require employers to disclose amounts paid for employer-provided health plan coverage.
Sec. 111. HSA modifications and clarifications.None of the provisions in HR 3400 are required. This is a tax credit for the cost of health insurance upto $4000 per month for taxpayer and spouse / $2000 per month for an individual. A tax credit means the country is paying for their health care. Health Care Insurance Companies are doing well so far. And there is a $500 per month allowance for each dependent. Now, I remind these are tax credits for low income. Right? If people are receiving at least $4500 per month income to pay for health insurance premiums is that LOW INCOME? Ahhhh....No. A couple with a child will have to pay for the insurance before they take the credit. Got that part? Don't forget that now.
TITLE I--TAX INCENTIVES FOR MAINTAINING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE (click here)CommentsPermalink
SEC. 101. REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS OF LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
(a) In General- Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) is amended by inserting after section 36A the following new section:This is where it really gets interesting.
‘(B) THRESHOLD AMOUNT- For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘threshold amount’ means, with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year, 200 percent of the Federal poverty guideline (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Service for the taxable year) applicable to the taxpayer.
This chart is the current chart used by Health and Human Services to determine poverty levels. (click here) Hang on this is going to be quite a ride. It will break the bank. I am confident of it.
So, the federal guidelines for a family of three states 200% of the poverty level is $36,000. Okay? Now, these folks are suppose to go out and purchase health insurance for themselves and their child for not more than $4500 per month, pay the insurance cost for an entire year along with deductibles and then ask for a refund for the cost of the insurance upto $4500 per month on their taxes.
None of it is mandatory. Does anyone actually believe a family with an income of $36,000 annually is going to go out and buy health insurance while the rest of their bills, including quite possibly housing, goes unpaid for at least the first year until their initial refund comes?
No. Those folks are not going to be able to afford health insurance and they won't being paying it. There are supports to the child in this family already in place in most States, but, I am confident with a federal bill those supports will be cut back if not eliminated. So, now we are going to have families without health care and we will be worse off than before.
BUT.
This is where it gets really interesting. Ready?
In the paragraph previous to the one above is this:
‘(3) CREDIT PERCENTAGE-
‘(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, the term ‘credit percentage’ means 100 percent reduced by 1 percentage point for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the taxable year exceeds the threshold amount.Work the math.
Example: If a couple with one child is making $37,000 annually, they can deduct 99% of up to $4500 per month for health insurance.
If a couple with one child is making $66,000 annually, they can deduct 70% of up to $4500 per month for health insurance.
If a couple with one child is making $96,000 annually, they can deduct 40% of $4500 per month for health insurance.
Now.
Whom is this bill written for? The couple making $36,000 annually or the couple making $96,000 annually?
Think about it. I'll be back in a few hours.
I just want to talk about the couple making $96,000 per year. I already the folks making $36,000 annually don't have a chance at having decent health care. But, it gets real interesting with the couple making $96,000 per year.
Let's just say, for the sake of simplicity that they pay taxes on the entire amount they make. They don't, but, for this I'll say they do.
The tax bracket they pay their taxes in requires a tax rate of 25%. That would be a tax bill of $24,000 annually as long as they filed jointly.
If they spent $4500 monthly on health insurance in a cadillac plan, they would have a deductible of $21,600.
$4,500 X 12 = $54,000
$54,000 X .40 (40% above federal poverty level) = $21,600.
That just about wipes out any tax liability and they would be living 'tax free.'
Now they pay a lot less than $24,000 annually because even if they only take the standard deductions their tax bill is far less than that. But, get this, where the tax bill exceeds their income tax they get a payment back. So, as long as they are allowed $21,600 and their tax bill is let's say, $19,600 they get a check from the government for $2000 in addition to the $19,600 they will get refunded. Not bad, huh?
Okay, so it can get better than that, too. Because if the couple making $96,000 annually has another child their health insurance 'bonus' goes up $500 to a total of $5000 monthly or $60,000 annually. But, it stops there. A couple with three or more children are flat out of luck.
This math goes on all the up to $135,000. When on makes that much money they are still allowed to take 1% of their health insurance cost off their taxes. When in the case of $60,000 would be $600.
In the year 2009 it was estimated the average family of four paid about $1000 per month for health insurance. That is an annual bill of $12,000.
How long do you think that bill will remain at $1000 per month after a bill like this is passed? THAT isn't pandering to Health Insurance Companies? That is not only pandering to Health Insurance Companies, that is a GOLD MINE.
I haven't gotten to the part in how this is paid for by the House Republicans. If it is paid for at all. Being this is simply an obstructionist bill I doubt there is any brevity to it and there may not be any provisions to pay for this. HOWEVER, how immoral is this bill considering somehow this has to be paid for? And whom exactly is going to pay for it? Why would we ask anyone to pay for a Gold Mine for health insurance companies?
THAT is immoral. There is no other word for it except corrupt and immoral. This is the bill House Representative John Bohner stated was the one that far exceeded anything the Democrats had in mind. He stood by this bill and so did the RNC. I didn't make this up.
This bill might redeem itself, but, I honestly doubt it.
Why are Americans trusting these people? We have a decent man in the White House, a good person as Speaker to the House and a Senior legislator as Senate Majority Leader.
What is everyone thinking?
I'll read more tomorrow. Let's hope it gets better from here.
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