"Morning Papers" - Its Origins

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

I found the accessibility to the actual House Bill rather easy. (click here for link)

Right there on the "Committee for Education and Labor" website is full access to not only the House bill, but, all the standard questions regarding the bill. The link to the bill is entitled, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act." Not hard to find. I think it is called transparency.

As expected with any 'document' that is legal and binding, this one starts with an enormous effort to 'define' terms. The reason that occurs is to be 'clear' to the understanding of the law and who it impacts. It is responsible legislation and it is done quite well. I am not saying it makes it easy to read, I am simply saying it is a comprehensive legal format that anyone reading such documents recognizes. There are no attempts to confusion the issue or provide a barrier to understanding, these early words in the bill are standard and necessary.

The numbers in the left hand column of any page are there for only one purpose and that is to reference a written phrase or paragraph. There is no other reason for those numbers. It is correct and concise use of 'space' on a page quite frankly. Literally, a legislator can speak to a particular subject within the legislation by stating, "Page 14, lines 14 through 24." Easy. That by the way is the citation for the statement that begins this historic document as noted below.

Right off the top, the legislation states clearly the purpose of this lengthy document. It sets 'the tone' of the legislation. I preceive it as a benevolent tone.

TITLE I—PROTECTIONS AND STANDARDS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS

Subtitle A—General Standards

SEC. 101. REQUIREMENTS REFORMING HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE.

(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to establish standards to ensure that new health insurance coverage and employment-based health plans that are offered meet standards guaranteeing access to affordable coverage, essential benefits, and other consumer protections.

Establishing standards is what government does.

Some of the most historically significant legislative acts in the USA were regarding health, a long time ago. The first legislative venture to protecting American's health began with The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955. It later was modified and tightened up over the decades to The Clean Air Act. Some of the legislation regarding this act took us to the place we find ourselves today regarding dangerous carbon dioxide levels. The Clean Air Act Amendments provided for protections from acid rain, tropospheric ozone depletion, prohibited high levels on ground ozone and even entertained the idea of emissions trading.

So, when an American stops to think about health care and setting standards it can be realized we have been at this a long, long time and it has been successful. American legislators know their business and pass very effective legislation on behalf of the people of this country.

There are going to be some changes to the way Health Insurance Companies will be writing their policies to whomever their members are. It is provided for under the "American's Affordable Health Care Choice Act." Such changes has several sound reasons. The "American's Affordable Health Choices Act" (let's just call it AAHCA) demands that affordable health care for all is not simply 'coverage' but 'qualifies' as health care at all. I think the bill says it better than I. Page 15, Lines 1 through 6.

(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS.—On or after the first day of Y1, a health benefits plan shall not be a qualified health benefits plan under this division unless the plan meets the applicable requirements of the following subtitles for the type of plan and plan year involved:...

Those six lines on Page 15 tell me I can't be conned into believing I am paying for health coverage only to find out later, when I need it, that the policy has a huge gap from what I expected.

Those six lines will provide for 'qualifications' to call a health insurance policy to be what it is.

That 's never been done before.

Nowhere in any legislation in the history of the USA has a legislative body set pen to paper to DEFINE what QUALIFIES as health insurance. Do you know how valuable that is? Six lines when voted into law in the United States of America will demand EVERY health insurance carrier to qualify as to what they actually claim they are. That is priceless, to us, to our children. We cannot be conned by a company that will take money right up to the point where you need coverage, but, 'Ooops, it doesn't cover that.'

Think about it. There is NOTHING in any legislation in this country that protects citizens from exploitation right to the point where denial of coverage sends a subscriber to the grave. Nothing on the books that will protect anyone in this country. Six lines on Page 15 of the AAHCA will set the demands for identifying a health insurance company according to qualifications by their government. Invaluable and that is just the beginning of this document.

To just contrast as to 'what goes on' now? The health care insurance people now have a 'contract' with its members. It falls under contract law. Consumer protection agencies can act to protect citizens when insurance companies aren't living up to the letter of the 'contract' but any state or federal agency or court cannot provide coverage or demand it regardless of circumstances if it is not written in the contract.

The AAHCA ends all that and provides means for health insurance companies to 'qualify' as such and then provides standards for 'quality, affordable health care.' It is a necessary bill. Vital actually.

Page 19, beginning with line 15 the bill states clearly the 'guarantees' Americans can expect from their health insurance companies. It guarantees people with pre-existing conditions can obtain affordable health insurance, it guarantees people will keep the health insurance of choice through renewal processes. Those pre-exisiting conditions also include mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation.

The bill also protects health insurance companies stating they can reject claims that are fraudulent. This is not completely a one-sided, consumer takes all bill. AAHCA protects health insurance companies as well, recognizing fraud can occur within the health care industry and where it occurs it won't be tolerated.

Within AAHCA there is recognition of the need for studies that provide profiles of consumers. The bill looks to find where services are used, where they are needed and how that impacts cost. In other words the bill provides for continuous quality improvement. I am sure everyone that works in this world understands that concept. Well, the bill doesn't drop the ball at the fifty yard line for a lucky punt in hopes that its length will cover all necessary topics, it remains a 'living' document to follow Americans in their needs and access. It seeks improvement and doesn't leave it to chance. The bill actively wants to be a partner to any health insurance company to assist in containing costs while supplying coverage.

Page 26, lines 16 through 20. An American will receive appropriate and necessary care.

(c) NO RESTRICTIONS ON COVERAGE UNRELATED TO CLINICAL APPROPRIATENESS.—A qualified health benefits plan may not impose any restriction (other than cost sharing)unrelated to clinical appropriateness on the coverage of the health care items and services.

This removes the health care insurer from making decisions best left to a doctor and patient. The health care insurers cannot state what is appropriate or inappropriate when a physician/surgeon is treating a patient. The health insurers can seek cost sharing initiatives to bring down cost, but, not to the point where it is detrimental to the patient's outcome as perscribed by a physician.

Page 26, line 21 begins to describe "ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE" which has to include hospitalization, physicians, medications and basically everything an average American would expect to find in a health care policy.

Page 28, line 22 begins to discuss 'cost sharing' in regard to what the limits are for any health insurance company and any 'insured entity' be it an individual, family, parent and child, partner, etc. The Cost Sharing isn't as generous as one might expect. There is to be absolutely no cost for preventive items and services. That is significant, because, it is the entry point where costs are reduced and quality of care is improved. By supplying a cost free service to all Americans at this basic level it opens the door to improving our health care system at every turn. It is vital and necessary.

Page 29, lines 9 through 16 definitively gives everyone a reason to maintain their health with wellness check ups. Page 29, lines 9 through 16 also sets a limit on the cost anyone is expected to pay on an annual basis for their 'interventional medicine' (my words, not theirs). It ain't cheap, but, it is affordable if people are prepared for the worst.

(B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.—The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Such levels shall be increased (rounded to the nearest $100) for each subsequent year by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (United States city average) applicable to such year.

It is the kind of thing that one needs a savings account for and NOT necessarily a health care savings account UNLESS one knows there are certain procedures expected in any given year. It is a prudent measure to contain costs to the government and provides for an incentive to save monies with anticipation of perhaps needing them someday. No one will lose their homes over an illness either.

I have to say, I approve of these parameters. It prevents abuse of our health care system while containing the cost to any individual. If a family were 'in need' I can easily see myself running a community benefit to help those that cannot afford the $10,000. It is a reasonable amount. It is not open ended. And here again, it is not mandatory depending on the health insurance company one subscribes to. It is just that it cannot go any higher on any given year.

Page 30, line 11 is the beginning of discussing "The Health Benefits Advisory Committee." It is chaired by The Surgeon General. Thinking back, I wouldn't mind someone like C. Everett Koop setting standards and expectations of our health care system.

It is NOT a 'Death Panel.' As a matter of fact...well, I want to review the words first. These are the words from Page 30, lines 11 through 21:

(b) DUTIES.—
(1) RECOMMENDATIONS ON BENEFIT STANDARDS.—The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall recommend to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) benefit standards (as defined in paragraph (4)), and periodic updates to such standards. In developing such recommendations, the Committee shall take into account innovation in health care and consider how such standards could reduce health disparities.

In reading these words, it is my opinion the Health Benefits Advisory Committee will go to every means possible to prolong life. Let me explain.

The new President has made his mark in many areas of health care already, besides this bill. He has opened up the field of 'investigational' areas of medicine. He has authorized the investigation of genetic medicine to stop diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimers. Etc. Etc. Etc.

How many times in my lifetime have I heard a patient say, "I can't get that procedure because my health insurance won't cover it." Lots. Americans have died when a procedure such as a bone marrow transplant would have saved them.

It is my opinion The Health Benefits Advisory Board will 'require' certain investigational procedures and medications to be covered by any health insurance provider. In other words, when a child with leukemia can be saved by the transplant of bone marrow there won't be the ability of a health insurance company to say 'no' to proven treatments or those treatments currently engaged in places such as The Cleveland Clinic under the auspices of the CDC.

I don't believe we need to be afraid of The Health Benefits Advisory Board. It will be a benevolent addition to our health care system and will reassure nervous insurace providers that indeed the procedure or medication has been reviewed by the CDC and is proven to have a benefit. It is the extent of the benefit of the medication or procedure that is in question and is why more use of investigational medicine is better than less.

It isn't the kind of thing where people will be required to be guinea pigs either.

In the world as it exists today for Americans that are faced with desperate health outcomes, the 'option' of trying an investigational medication or procedure already approved by the CDC is a matter of consent. It is like going into surgery. The consumer has to be made aware of any and all side effects or dangers linked to the investigational procedure. It is frequently the frustration of physicians or surgeons to be limited in their scope of possibilities in providing care to patients. It is my firm opinion, The Health Benefits Advisory Board will enhance the quality of care in the USA. I like it.

I am going to end here for today. I might simply take Sunday off. I wish you all well and keep your chin up. I trust President Obama. Sincerely. He's a good man, Charlie Brown.

Until later...

Tourism Good - House arrest Not Good

Of course, this is just another bizarre twist to the life saga of Aung San Suu Kyi. It was something like three days before she was supposed to be released from her first house arrest, an American swam into her compound and she gave him refuge. In doing so it compromised her detainee status and she was tried for assisting the American. As a result she cannot take place in the upcoming elections and will be under house arrest for another 18 months. One can only wonder what will derail her next attempt at freedom?

At any rate, it brings to mind a recent film festival I attended. I wanted to review the films, but, with so much turmoil over issues originating in DC, how can one simply look the other way? I attended a film called "Burma VJ." It was a look at the inside of the struggle of the Burmese people. The film was made covertly by people they call journalists with small video devices. These digital images are then submitted to a somewhat central processing person and assembled to tell a story. I will review this film and its dire consecquences along with the many, many others I was priviledged to view sometime in the next week.

Link to film (click here)

I don't mean to diminish the importance of the debate (then again maybe I do) regarding national health reform, but, 'for real' already. Americans have so much and to squabble over much needed reform seems a bit trivial to me. It's like ???? What's so hard to get your mind around? The USA health care delivery lacks access and equity. What is the big deal already?

Let's get it done.

I think when Americans show their 'idiot' side as they are with the issues 'created' that are obvious lies and defamation the people in countries like Burma lose that glimmer of hope for their own causes. Their need for recognition are far from trivial and health care insurance reform is so obvious how are they supposed to think about their circumstances and the potential for hope? It's all a little silly to me. Corrupt politics is shameful and no one can call it anything else in either country.


Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi outside the Burmese embassy in Manila: she is said to believe that visitors might help draw attention to oppression Photo: AFP/GETTY

...When last quoted on the subject, in a BBC interview in 2002, she said: "We have not yet come to the point where we encourage people to come to Burma as tourists." She has since been silent on the issue.
The news of her change of stance has been welcomed by the travel trade but left campaigners against the military regime unmoved....

I know this is going to sound ludicrous, but, it could be worse.

The long and short of most Arab nations is the 'rights of women' are always on the chopping block. In Saudi Arabia, women driving is a hot topic and in Afghanistan allowing a woman to withhold herself from her husband is now part of the electorate venue. The entire 'status of women' in countries outside First World countries falls into doubt and disapproval by those women that enjoy freedom and autonomy, even within a marriage.

During the days of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan knew its first Bank for Women. Only women could belong to the bank. They could invest, make loans, etc. That was a big deal and a lot of men hated her for it. So while this 'sort' of law seems a bit outrageous it is not nearly as bad as it could be.

I can also imagine Afghan women forming 'women's shelters' where they receive all the sustanence they need while seeking divorce and/or counceling with their spouse. Allowing the law is a method of idenfying the dysfunction and it is a start, not an end to a woman's rights campaign.

Afghanistan (click title to entry - thank you) has quietly passed a law permitting Shia men to deny their wives food and sustenance if they refuse to obey their husbands' sexual demands, despite international outrage over an earlier version of the legislation which President Hamid Karzai had promised to review....

...In early April, Barack Obama and Gordon Brown joined an international chorus of condemnation when the Guardian revealed that the earlier version of the law legalised rape within marriage, according to the UN....

...Brad Adams, the organisation's Asia director, said: "The rights of Afghan women are being ripped up by powerful men who are using women as pawns in manoeuvres to gain power.
"These kinds of barbaric laws were supposed to have been relegated to the past with the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, yet Karzai has revived them and given them his official stamp of approval."
The latest opinion poll by US democracy group the International Republican Institute showed that although Karzai was up 13 points to 44% since the last survey in May, his closest rival, Abdullah Abdullah, had soared from 7% to 26%....

"Stupid is as stupid does." I am waiting for some remorseful greeting by those so outraged, but, it doesn't seem to be forthcoming.

The entire idea that lies and defamation can actually exist in American discourse regarding health care is completely astounding to me. Perhaps I don't recall the debate of 1994 very well. It is hard for me to believe a health insurance plan that is paid for is causing Americans to leave their senses and join the ranks of 'the angry.' It's quite a show.

I also resent the statements that 'It is the "W"rong time for this bill." Or. "It is because of the economy." Those are both hideous statements. The bill is necessary and is needed now. The idea that a health insurance reform bill that takes care of its own costs will be reflected in a poor economic outcome is ridiculous. This bill will create more jobs while paying for itself. The entire oppostion to this bill is mute, they need to apologize to a nation waiting for relief from a broken health care system.

...Rather, it has a far more mainstream provenance, openly emanating months ago from many of the same pundits and conservative media outlets that were central in defeating President Bill Clinton’s health care proposals 16 years ago, including the editorial board of The Washington Times, the American Spectator magazine and Betsy McCaughey, whose 1994 health care critique made her a star of the conservative movement (and ultimately, New York’s lieutenant governor)....

I heard Ms. McCaughey speak last week. I was NOT impressed. She takes words out of context, changes their meaning and sells it as a government that is going to harm its people. I find her a mild distraction, but, I guess to people unable to discern their own minds and are willing to be lied to and allow slander of their President for the sake of bloodsport, then maybe she is somebody. But, she is NOT all that learned about what the true context of the bill is. Not at all. I just might review the whole mess right here.

To be more specific, she was stating that people were not going to be able to keep their current health care. What "I believe" is happening within the bill is to help 'standardize' what is considered a deductible, what is considered 'rejectionable' and what any health insurance company can do or not do to 'trim their costs.' Due to that reality there is going to be some change in any health insurance company.

The majors (click here) will have to come in line with what is 'defined' as acceptable health care. Those definitions are required in any bill and especially in a health care bill and it is those definitions that will help standardize not only 'the language' of health care, but, the way it is viewed from a legal stand point as well. In other words, 'basic wellness' will be defined for every member of the American family, from birth to death. That does not exist now.

So, when a 65 year old woman walks into a physicians office there will be a list of 'standards' that have to be met to standardize that woman's care. In doing so, there is automatically a 'wellness model' invoked which will no doubt include a mammogram screening, etc. If the woman is diabetic then there will be a 'diabetic model' to add to that. If she has other (dare I use the word) co-morbidities and there will be 'models of care' for those issues, too.

So, Ms. McCaughey is right, but, also very, very wrong and she is deliberately (that word was deliberately) adding to the apprehension of the electorate to 'stir the pot' as she did before. And she is getting plenty money for what she does.

But, to clarify. She is right in that no health care insurance will be exactly the same as they are today, they will be better. The care within the health insurance reform bill standardizes the care Americans get and there is a very good reason for that. The more 'routine' care is administered the more of a knowledge base is developed about the populous of the USA. There won't be any more guess work at the CDC, but, more than that; the care Americans will get will not allow (do I dare use this word) 'deviants' to be tolerated as they go undetected.

We all know that early detection and a health lifestyle adds years, if not decades, to an American's life. Why risk that happening no matter whom walks into a physicians office? Wife's won't have to nag their husbands to get their 'annuals' done anymore, routine tests will be recommended and followed up by MDs and nurses.

Today, there is little advocacy for wellness 'routines' in an American's life. The 'recommendations' are to taken seriously when an MD states, it is time for a mammogram. Those issues will be encouraged to the point of enforceable with phone calls when they go neglected. Why? Because as Americans we sincerely care about each other. Because early detection and treatment for disease has not only the best outcomes, but, the cost is far less.

So, in the long run, when Americans are exposed to good quality preventative insurance facilitated care accompanied by a good quality of life, including a healthy food supply, there is every reason to believe the 'impact' on our health care dollar will be less and less.

The point President Obama makes is that if neglected yet again this time, the quality of American's lives will suffer as health care becomes too expensive and more and more fall outside the 'ability' to pay for health care. More people will be sicker and more will die.

So, while some people such as Ms. McCaughey can 'buffalo' the American people with estranging statements about changes to their policies, she is "W"rong in general. She is exampling her understanding according to Merriam-Webster and NOT the context in which the words were written. Shame on her.

2,400 acres burned in Santa Cruz Mountains fire

August 13, 2009
1630z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES West Satellite (click for 12 hour loop here)

No relief in sight.


That is as of today (click here).

A wildfire that began Wednesday evening, Aug. 13, 2009 in the Santa Cruz Mountains quickly burned 1,000 acres and was threatening 250 structures. (Shmuel Thaler/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is in Abkhazia. Russia is not about to allow Georgia to disturb these people.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Abkhazia on Wednesday for a one-day working visit, confirming Moscow's pledges of financial aid to the former Georgian republic.

Georgia Blast Kills 2 During Putin Visit (click here)
By VOA News 13 August 2009
Russian news reports say two people were killed and several others wounded in a bomb blast in Abkhazia during Wednesday's visit by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.Mr. Putin's one-day trip to the Georgian breakaway territory was the first by a top Russian official since Moscow last year recognized Abkhazia's independence after the five-day Russian-Georgian war. The reports quote authorities as saying the blast in the resort town of Gagra killed a 52-year-old woman and wounded four others. A second victim died later in a hospital.Authorities say no one was hurt in the second blast, which occurred in the Abkhaz capital, Sukhumi, shortly after Mr. Putin departed the city and returned to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Medvedev Says Georgian Army Buildup Causes ‘Concern’ (Update1) (click here)
By Torrey Clark, Helena Bedwell and Denis Maternovsky
Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Georgia’s actions, including a troop buildup on the borders of two separatist Georgian regions, are cause for “serious concern” a year after a war between the two countries.
“Georgia’s actions continue to cause serious concern, from the unceasing threats to restore its ‘territorial integrity’ by force and daily warlike rhetoric to its concentration of armed forces on the borders with South Ossetia and Abkhazia and serious provocations in border areas,” Medvedev said in a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Excerpts from the letter were posted today on the Kremlin Web site....

Russia to increase border troops deployed in Abkhazia, South Ossetia (click here)
www.chinaview.cn

2009-08-05 22:52:02

MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Russia plans to increase the number of troops it has deployed in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from around 1,800 to 3,000 by the end of the year, a deputy foreign minister said Wednesday.
"Presently, there are some 1,000 Russian military personnel in Abkhazia and up to 800 in South Ossetia," Grigory Karasin said, quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency.
He said that by the end of the year there will be 1,500 troops in each region.
Karasin also said Russia has verified reports that say Ukraine was involved in arm shipments to Georgia prior to the brief war between Georgia and Russia last summer.
"We do hope that Ukraine, as a state near to us, will stop playing these dangerous games, creating problems in current relations, already problematical," he said....

Shutdown FOX - their coverage is toxic to the best outcome for Americans.

Kindly thank all the companies that upheld the integrity of our President. I thank them. It is nice to have companies sensitive to issues without asking. Nice.


SCJohnson (click here)

Progressive Insurance (click here)


Proctor & Gamble (click here)


Lexis Nexis (click here)


Geico (click here)

Fox News' "Glenn Beck" loses advertisers (click title to entry - thank you)
Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:00pm EDT
By Kenneth Hein
NEW YORK (Nielsen Business Media) - Some of the nation's biggest advertisers are distancing themselves from Fox News host Glenn Beck after he called President Obama a racist during a July 28 broadcast.
Geico has pulled its ads from Fox News Channel's "The Glenn Beck Program." Lawyers.com, which is owned by LexisNexis, also has vowed not to advertise during the program, according to Color of Change, an African-American online political organization that has been urging advertisers to stop supporting the show.
Additionally, Procter & Gamble, Progressive Insurance and SC Johnson all said their ad placements during the broadcast were made in error and that they would correct the mistake.
The controversy stems from Beck's comment that President Obama is a "racist" with "a deep-seated hatred for white people."
Geico spent more than a half-billion dollars on ads last year, according to the Nielsen Co. It spent more than a quarter-billion dollars in the first half of 2009....

Whichever way the wind blows, Grassley. He is incompetent.

Chuck Grassley has exhibited over and over again, he has no conscience when making statements of what he believes is good policy. He is a political animal and nothing else. He doesn't care about Americans, he wants to win elections.

Ritual suicide would be too easy for them (click here)
Interestingly, Grassley is up for re-election next year. He voted for the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program), which allocated some money to AIG. Something tells me he won’t be re-elected. If he is, the voters of Iowa should get set to genuflect and work long days in the rice paddy fields for the great lord and his vassals of swift judgment.
Here’s what I think. I believe in public service. Intense public service. If AIG executives refuse to give back the money, whether it be in the form of taxation or a simple handover to taxpayers, AIG executives give up their freedom and begin to work very hard doing the jobs that nobody else wants to do. Put your back into it, Edward Liddy. Or your spleen.
You’ll live in a boarded up storefront off the same food children in destitute Third World countries eat. If we deem it necessary, we’ll tap into your organs as a power source. Keep pedaling that bike, Mr. AIG; power for a taxpayer’s foreclosed home depends upon it. You will be allowed to live.

Grassley Repeats ‘Death Panels’ (click here)
The Iowa Independent’s Jason Hancock was trailing Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) as the senator made appearances across the state to talk about health care. Hancock reported yesterday afternoon that, at a rally in Winterset, Iowa, Grassley — the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which is currently negotiating a much-anticipated health care bill — promoted the myth that proposed health care reforms would create government “death panels” that would decide whether the old and infirm would live or die.

When the going gets tough, the President gets support.

..."A new coalition on Thursday (click title to entry - thank you) is launching $12 million in television ads to support President Barack Obama’s health-reform plan, in the opening wave of a planned tens of millions of dollars this fall.
"The new group, funded largely by the pharmaceutical industry, is called Americans for Stable Quality Care. It includes some odd bedfellows: the American Medical Association (click here), FamiliesUSA (click here - Number of Americans that have lost health care insurance since January 1, 2008 - 3,722,053), the Federation of American Hospitals (click here for the view point of investor owned hospital community),PhRMA (click here - medications are only 10% of every health care dollar) and SEIU (click here - stop the violence at American Town Hall Health Care Meetings), the service employees’ union…



"The debut ad is meant to shore up support among the conservative House Blue Dog Democrats, and to target swing senators. So it’s airing in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Virginia. The first buy is expected to run for two weeks, with a weekly spend of around $3 million....

The sun and moon are in alignment. That is not far from the truth.

August 12, 2009
1516gmt
The Atlantic Ocean Satellite

There are two tropical waves currently 'off Africa' that could result in some kind of tropical storm. But here again, unless these storms track directly across the planet and stay within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, they won't amount to high vorticity hurricanes. As soon as they swing north across Earth, the tropospheric water vapor isn't available to sustain them, yet alone sustain a Cat 4 or 5 storm.

August 12, 2009
1430z
UNISYS water vapor GOES East Satellite (click title to entry for 12 hour loop - thank you)

There is a tropical wave coming from Africa. This is the time of year for the strongest activity. Hurricane Andrew was spawned off the coast of Africa on August 14, 1992, Hugo began its treck across the Atlantic on September 9, 1989, Hurricane Floyd fromed out of Africa on September 7, 1999 and Hurricane Katrina was spawned over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005. Katrina was to be one of three deadly stroms that season.

The reason there 'can be' hurricanes and strong ones this time of year is the position of the 'direct' rays from the sun. "Sol" has its direct rays aimed directly at the Intertropical Convergence Zone. When sunlight that strong is added to reflection off the surface of Earth and drizzled with water vapor it is perfect conditions for Atlantic season hurricanes.

The Universe is getting on just fine without the attention of the USA headlines. The Miss Universe universe that is.

August 11, 2009
Ingibjorg Egilsdottir, Miss Iceland. (click here)



Contestants from 84 countries compete for the title of Miss Universe 2009 in Nassau, Bahamas.
Miss France Chloe Mortaud dances during the national costume event in Nassau. (click title to entry for more photos from AP).

That is not vandalism, that is a death threat. This isn't settling down, now is it? This worries me.

Sign outside the office of Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., is shown Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 in Smyrna, Ga.

According to what I understand Representative David Scott held a town hall meeting with a predetermined agenda. He convened the meeting to listen to residents within his district regarding a road that was proposed that would ultimately dismantle their homes and businesses.

During the course of the meeting a physician came to speak to him about health care. Having knowledge of the loud and disruptive incidents across the country, Rep. Scott cut the physician short in his address of health care to state the meeting was deliberately set up to hear from people regarding the egregious road construction.

What has occurred since is more of the same anger that has been leveled at elected House and Senate members. In the case of Rep. Scott, he has already set up a meeting for this weekend regarding health insurance reform and has asked the physician involved to a beer.

I think that is all fine and good, but, the desecration to the office sign of Rep. Scott is a different issue, I don't see it at vandalism. To say that a Swastika is vandalism is like saying graffiti is only art. That is a poor assessment of the danger within that symbol.

The Swastika is a the symbol for White Supremists. They embrace it as a symbol of power and White Supremists kill. It is my opinion that they have disabled a conversation between the people and their government by using this sensitive issue as a platform.

Don't tell me that White Supremists and the KKK aren't alive and well, because they are. I am sincerely concerned for Representative Scott and what could be a death threat. I am so concerned I'll go to say his offices need to be moved into a secure building whereby visitors to his office need to walk through metal detectors to gain entrance to his office. And, NO, I don't believe that is an over reaction.

I'll go as so far as to say, this is not just a simple citizen uprising against a topic they don't understand or honestly oppose, but, I believe the topic of National Health Insurance Reform has been hijacked by extremists groups as a method of achieving their purpose. I make this statement in reference to the Homeland Security Warning earlier issued that has been very correct in predicting the behaviors of White Supremists such as the killer at the Holocaust Museum.

Witnessed yesterday on the route President Obama took to his Town Hall Meeting was an armed individual displaying his weapon. That is legal in New Hampshire, but, it is too close for comfort when the President is in town for discussions regarding a sensitive topic. That is brash behavior. That unnecessary behavior is a show of force. It was a call for others to openly arm themselves as well.

I have heard people freely state on Talk Radio that they hope this descent will erupt into a full blown revolution. These folks want the violence.

I believe Rep. Scott is a wonderful elected official and takes his commitment to the people of his district seriously while being very sensitive to ethnic cultures that could be changed with so called advancements such as roads. I am concerned for him. I believe he is in danger. I strongly discourage any further town hall meetings by anyone without proper security at the entrance to any room. Even then the numbers of angry people pose their own potential for danger.

In a town hall meeting by Senator McCaskill, I witnessed a complete break down in the confidence of government. Practically everyone in the hall stated they did not trust her regardless of her honest and forthright answers. It was a dangerous circumstance that she handled exceptionally well.

People don't want to hear the truth and what is best for the country. I have said this before. They won't hear you. Senator Spector ran into the same phenomena at his town hall. People came prepared with elaborate statements of authority and wished him ill will on judgement day. His answers were also honest and forthright, but, they were not the answers those folks wanted to hear. They wanted to hear, what they wanted to hear and nothing was going to change that, not even the truth.

I believe the circumstances are unfortunate as they exist between constituencies and their elected representatives. Not all those elected suddenly changed overnight into monsters with two heads and six eyes. The undermining of authority of the USA government is of 'the same tone' and comes from nearly the same voice.

I believe continuing the conversation is important if the truth is to be heard at all, however, there is an undertone of murder and death including the symbols such as the Swastika from hate groups such as the White Supremists and the KKK that cannot be ignored.

Congratulations, Hillary. On an International Stage those were very powerful words for women all over the world. Thank you.

The journalist asking the question is a man. A little sexist I would say. This was no mistake. He disregarded any expertise Secretary Clinton had on the issue and wanted to know what her husband thought. He tried to water down his sexist question of our Secretary of State by asking another woman to respond to the same question. He spoke down to Hillary. Didn't think twice about it.

Translating Hillary Clinton's Outburst in Africa (click title to entry - thank you)
What gave you people the idea that diplomacy is best conducted by Stepford wives or saints? The very same people--women--who whine about gender disparity are among the first and most vocal to question the propriety of this woman's choice to put an insult back in its place, and in no uncertain terms....

Surprise, surprise, surprise. Karl was a bad boy ! Nice work House Judiciary.

"...The 6,000-plus pages of documents, which include transcripts from interviews with Rove and former White House counsel Harriet Miers, make it clear that Rove and other White House aides were much more involved in the U.S. attorney firings than previously reported.
“After all the delay and despite all the obfuscation, lies and spin, this basic truth can no longer be denied: Karl Rove and his cohorts at the Bush White House were the driving force behind several of these firings, which were done for improper reasons,” Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) said in a statement....

We have a brillant man as our President. He answered the tough questions.

I had no idea, the $500 billion coming from Medicare was for subsidies. That is outrageous. There are private companies that provide the same exact coverage as Medicare and we subside that? I don't think so.

That is big time money coming out of the private sector. NOW, I think everyone can understand why the 'fuss' over this National Health Insurance Reform. Right? I can do without fraud in my government.

While President Obama is too polite to say it, where a private entity simply parrallels what the government already does for simply pulling federal dollars into their pockets, that is fraud. I guarantee you, anyone participating in Medicare Advantage has no idea they are receiving the same exact care as provide by their own government. More then likely they think they are getting something special. Medicare Advantage is nothing more than one stop shopping for all the Medicares and their supplements. It is a convenience and an attempt at privatizing Medicare. ONLY, it cannot stand on its own. It requires government subsidies to survive. It is a luxury. There is no reason why anyone eligible for Medicare cannot do the same thing everyone else is doing and purchase their products from a pool of options. There is no need for subsidizing something that we can already do ourselves.

From what I am hearing in regard to many of the initiatives this administration engages, they are systematically seeking wasteful spending that currently exists.

In the case of health care, we all know paying for name brand medications when generics are just as good is waste. You can't put it any other way. There are definately people unable to take generics and they should receive name brand medications, because they cannot tolerate the 10% - 20% difference in generics, but, that is a small percentage. The current Medicare Prescription Plan can be trimmed down in cost enormously if there was the option to use generics. I admire what is going on in the White House. The Obama Administration is cutting out the 'pork' before they make cuts in government infrastructure. When have we had a President that did that last? When? I don't remember when?

Time to stop this mess and close the donut hole, too.

I like what he said and I like the way he said it.

Very quite Atlantic Hurricane season so far.

The Eastern Pacific is about as active as the Western Pacific, EXCEPT, the origins of these storms are all from near shore tropical areas where water vapor can be sourced. It is HOWEVER a very odd year. The Typhoons themselves have not that high a vorticity. The highest was a Cat 1 Typhoon. The first of the season that saw winds of 115 mph. After that the storms lost their vorticity, BUT, the damage to land and people is remarkable. More so than I would expect. These other storms are still pushing huge amounts of water ashore, similar to the Katrina phenomena. There was also a significant earthquake near shore Japan at the very same time. There is something odd about the damage and water movement.


August 10, 2009
0430 UTC
Water Vapor Satellite of Eastern Pacific


The Wastern Pacific is seeming more activity than the Atantic. But, the same is true when it comes to water vapor. As soon as these storms start to move north along the face of Earth and away from the Intertropical Equatorial Convergence Zone where they derive their source of water vapor they weaken dramatically.


One hurricane this season in the Atlantic, at sea, only achieved a Tropical Depression Status with lowest central pressures of 1006. The years since 2005 are primarily anemic to say the least. There hasn't been a repeat of that year which was a record breaker. It was orginally thought that might occur in a warming climate change planet. That isn't the case. As the surface of Earth heats, the 'water vapor' moves vertically, not horizontally. The water vapor is far above the origins of hurricanes and they cannnot be sustained.


August 10, 2009
1430 z
UNISYS satellite of North And West Hemisphere GOES East Satelitte.

I'm finished with the subject. As far as I am concerned the majority Democrats have to realize their importance to securing the nation's health.

The House Democrats need to pass their bill as soon as they return and send it to the Senate and then onto the White House. THE DEBATE over Health Care Reform was cast in November 2008 and all this 'circus' is simply 'courtesy' of a civilized nation. It would be a good idea if there was a viable debate to have, but, these are lies and slanders. There is no substance to the oppostion.


Mike's website today has noted there are leadership groups taking charge of their districts and re-releasing "SiCKO" to be viewed by the public. I think that is very, very smart and shows remarkable leadership.

The facts are clear. We need health care reform and we aren't going to get it with Republicans. The Democrats were elected to protect the nation and they need to do so. Let's get this done. That is why the lies and strong arm tactics. They don't have control. They are attempting to leverage control, but, the fact of the matter is the Democrats are the only people that have the power, and plenty of it, to bring health care reform to this nation. The Republican Circus does not have to effect the outcome at all.


I heard Ronald Regan, Jr. debate this morning. That is a spokesman that cannot be ignored. He knows the issue, is passionate about it and when he makes a statement there is no overcoming the truth and clarity of his argument. It was so nice to hear from him.

The Republicans have no credible leadership either. They simply 'Don't get it and don't want to get it.'

The Leader of the Senate Republicans, Mitch McConnell this weekend stated, "...demonizing citizens who are energetic about this strikes me as demonstrating a kind of weakness in your position...." He manipulated the events and attempted to legitimasize the lies. Whom is demonizing whom here? Who is calling President Obama a Nazi? Whom is bringing Nazi flags to Speaker Pelosi's meetings and rallies? Enough already.

Besides that, when Senator McConnell makes his case, there is no case. It is remarkable the amount of words that man says without stating anything significant. He stated everyone in the country should have the same tax deduction as any corporation does.

HE DOES NOT GET IT.

It isn't a matter of passing on the cost of health insurance. It is dealing with poor quality insurance companies that exploit their members, it is about containing costs, as well it is about providing insurance for the uninsured. The subject is huge and doesn't boil down to a simple tax write off.

He also stated we need to employ a 'model' for health care that rewarded people whom have lost weight, exercise and are fit. He stated it actually 'bends the cost curve' of companies that employ that model with their employees.

I see.

That is not new.

President Obama already stated that is part of the National Health Care Reform Bill.

So where has Senator McConnell been?

The point is that people are either grossly under-educated to the content of the bills in the House that have to be consolidated and voted on or they simply don't care. Senator McConnell sincerely sounds as if he hasn't even thought about the issue, EXCEPT, he is going to vote NO.

He does not care. He wants this subject to 'go away' with a bill that allows for a tax write off and a 'project model' for health care. That's leadership? No. That says, "Go away you bother me."

That is what that says to me.

The bottom line is the demonstrators are fearful, they have been lied to and have no clue. The Republicans simply don't care. They will vote No. That's all. It will give them points at home so, why not? They don't care.

There is also the issue linked to this subject in regard to Torte Reform. I think that is important. I think Torte Reform should occur. It does not have to be linked to this bill, but, studied and appropriately legislated and I doubt the Repulicans will care about that either or approve of the results of Democrats regarding Torte Reform.

I am finished with this mess. The vote for Health Care Reform took place in November 2008.

Just write the bill.

"Morning Papers" It's Orgins

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

It has been a week. We saw the true face of the RNC for the first time in the history of the USA. They lie a lot and they hide a lot, so when they feel they are 'over the edge' they become themselves in a very ugly way. Their protests aren't really allowed, now are they, but they are being tolerated. If it were Anti-War Activists Dressed in Pink or Cindy Sheehan being herself there are arrests made.

Were there arrests made this week of people that were not demonstrators, but, disruptors?

Were there?

Hello?

Did Republicans strut their 'pride' in apology of the rudest aspects of their constituency?

Hm? Must represent a majority of the base.

The Republicans don't have dignity, they are cowards that defend lies and propagate hatred!

The Savage Nation is now accusing President Obama of having a 'conspiracy' to add hormones to our water to control the birth rate and therefore control health costs.

These guys are nuts.

If they want to know what high estrol levels in water look like they can go to the heavily polluted Great Lakes are realize what a poor condition the hateries are in because most of the fish are female gendered due to the estrol pollution there.

Do you know the amount of estrols in water it would take for humans to change birth rates, the side effects of birth defeats and cancer alone from such a thing would bankrupt the nation in no time. I mean to tell you this is stupid and comply one sided.

Here is the true face of Republican Leadership. Fear Mongering, Hate Imaging. What does that remind me of ??????


Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper (click here)
Palin Paints Picture of 'Obama Death Panel' Giving Thumbs Down to Trig
August 07, 2009 9:30 PM

That is the best and most popular female Republican Leadership out there? She's a roll model alright. I just don't know what kind. She wouldn't know the truth, decency or dignity if it were a nasty ankle biter. This isn't politics, this is slander.

I was looking for a Limbaugh film loop to compare protestors to their god but, greed dictates they not be made available. If one has ever listened to Limbaugh. Who do the protestors sound EXACTLY like?

Limbaugh compares Obama's new healthcare logo to Nazi swastika (click here)

What a party. Great Americans? Where? Not with leadership that is as poorly behaved as their constituents. I don't think so. Nuke 'em. Right? Nuke 'em. Small nukes. I got it. Selective neutron bombs. Can we do that? Huh? Not in research yet? Not even an earmark? What a shame.

I mean for real here. They don't expect to be taken seriously. Buy the next book. "How the DNC changed the genetic material of the American youth in 2006 and 2008 to vote their way."

Bye. Have a better day.

He's dead. There are reports of a large funeral I am not hearing many complaints otherwise. They aren't going to say he is.

We finally have a President in Pakistan and a President in the Oval Office that sincerely care about the defeat of the terrorist networks that are harbored in this secluded part of the world.

Yes.

Afghanistan and Pakistan seem like a forever 'no-go' region.

Yes.

The casualities of both military and civlians are escalating. But, what the Pakistani people have done is incredible. They have placed their futures in the hands of people they elected to clear their land of vicious killers and global terrorists.

Do we say the going is getting to rough and leave or do we find ways to make peace, including the ever escalating tensions between Russia and Georgia, with countries where trouble brews and persist.

Can anyone state Sri Lanka is worse for their own war? It still needs vigilance. There were very tight elections recently. It was difficult for candidates to get clearence to campaign in some areas of Sri Lanka. I don't blame them for that. Their people died in the war to clean up the country and unit it, not to start all over again. That won't stop for at least a generation or two. (click here)



LONDON: Reporting without any ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ the as -yet -unconfirmed news of Baitullah Mehsud’s death in a drone attack, the mainstream media in Britian credited the ‘success’ to close coordination between Washington and Islamabad in the battle against militants in Pakistan’s tribal area.

There is always a question as to what one calls peace. Does it mean that a particular government holds power by consent and demand of the populous and governs with strength and compassion as is expected in the USA? Or is peace a matter of oppression and managing the populous to the government's favor? Or? Is peace an initiative? Where by we understand each other, respect each other and work to live on the same planet together while improving the quality of lives of all the people alive in our time?

Certainly, the Pakistani people did not have peace within their country nor did they own their own lives. The Taliban are brutal men. Don't ask me what it took to 'survive the day' as a woman among them. I don't believe The Western Woman can begin to understand the oppression, the fear and the pain it took day to day to survive in a society like that. They behead women for flirting. Dear God, what kind of mind is that? I don't know. I don't want to know.

The laws within these militarized societies are brutal, cruel, primitive, arcane, any word that can describe uncivlized and heineous and it is that!

He's dead. They'll never admit he's dead. The evidence points to it.

It is a relief for Pakistanis to realize the advances Pakistan has made in such a remarkably short period of time with the best leadership within that society. Finally. I wish Benazir Bhutto could see her Pakistan today. Struggling for freedom and winning. We cannot turn our backs on that. Not with the world's worst killer there.

Maybe the task seemed to daughting for Rumsfeld and Bush. Maybe Iraq was a good side show for everyone because they were confident if the USA did not exit quickly we might have a real war on our hands.

Is Afghanistan our 21st Century Vietnam? I can't answer that. There is decades of time that has gone by with advances in technology. We are seeing some success with it? The people that can answer that question, should.

Honestly.

It seems we have an honest and sincere Pakistan government trying to achieve a goal nearly impossible to achieve in the days of Vietnam. Is it different today? I think it is to some extent. I think they have it right in Pakistan. Where the country's military has control with support from allies there is good results.

Even Bush had to face that when he allowed the alliances of Sunni Sheiks into the fold.

Where the people defend their own countries there is respect and success. If that could be achieved in Afghanistan then we have a winning plan.

But.

It also means that Russia has to come to our alliance and control their side of the problem as well. There needs to be some concessions on Georgia. What the Georgian President did was wrong. No one can deny that. He is attempting an arms build up that will begin confrontation all over again. It seems brutally unwise.