In Europe it is Armistice Day while in the USA it is Veteran's Day

President Obama stated he won't accept a military plan for Aghanistan without knowing when there will be a changing of the guard and the Afghan troops will take control of their country.

Michael Moore has reported there were over 2000 Veterans that died last year due to lack of health insurance.

State bill would increase support for veterans (click here)

By Kendall Hatch
GateHouse News Service
Posted Nov 11, 2009 @ 11:12 AM

..."This is a significant step toward thanking our veterans," said state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, who said the bill was passed yesterday in House and the Senate and should be passed on to Gov. Deval Patrick today.
"It's been said that the strength of our future military depends on the support of current and former soldiers," she said. "It's important to honor those in the military and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."...

Military and Gold Star Familes do not want further deployments to Afghanistan.

And yesterday at Fort Hood...

...Yesterday, during President Obama's visit to Ft. Hood troops, IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against War) chapter president and active duty soldier, Mike Kern, attempted to hand the President a letter regarding the dire need of mental health services for troops. Member so the Secret Service took the letter from Mike, and he is not sure whether President Obama ever got to read his message....

The VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against War) had to events today:

When: November 11, 2009 from 7:00-8:00 PM
Where: 200 E. Wells St - City Hall Rotunda
What: Veterans Day Celebration in Milwaukee
Details: The traditional spirit of Veterans Day will be revived in Milwaukee by three veterans groups. Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Vietnam Veterans Against the War will bring back the historic focus on peace, which began with Armistice Day celebrations following World War 1.
Everyone interested in supporting veterans and peace is invited to attend.
Sponsored by VVAW, IVAW, VFP

Veterans Day: Chicago, Illinois
When: November 11, 2009 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Where: 35 E. WabashVeterans Memorial, Wacker Dr. and Wabash
What: The Chicago chapters of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) and Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will conduct a Vets Day ceremony.
Details: Honor our fallen, support vets, rally to stop more deaths.
Sponsored by: VVAW & IVAW

And they have an upcoming Christmas Event:

Chicago Homeless Vet Standdown: Chicago, Illinois
When: December 3 - 4, 2009
Where: General Jones Armory5200 S. Cottage Grove Drive
What: Standdown for Homeless Vets
Details: VVAW, IVAW and VFP members and families are encouraged to come and work together in the Kitchen. Work will start at 08:00 on the 3rd. Volunteers should show up at 07:00 on the 4th. There is parking. I don't know about what food will be served, yet. I'm assuming that it will be catered. On the 3rd, we will probably be spending a lot of time cleaning up the dining area. On the 4th, we will be serving or assisting people in the chow line with their duffel. Afterwords, we clean up, of course
Sponsored by VVAW, VA, VietNow, VFW, etc.
Contact Bill Branson auspex4@gmail.com for more info.

Their voices are as respected as any others among us on a day when reflection of Veterans and their service include all those that served.

Ida's signature 'question mark' shape. For a diminished storm on landfall USA, it packed a punch.

Update - Flooding possible from Ida’s remnants (click here)
Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 5:47 p.m.
Southeastern North Carolina is enduring a soggy close to the 2009 hurricane season as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida moved in then largely stalled over the area.
The lack of movement of the storm system prompted the National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon to issue a flood watch, which means there’s the potential for flooding conditions, for all of Southeastern North Carolina starting early this morning and continuing through Thursday.
The watch is due to the prolonged nature of the rain event, which is expected to continue soaking the region into Friday....


November 10, 2009
Pensacola Beach Pier
Ida's winds were strong and the waves reached the top of the pier. Ida self generated water vapor in mist from the sea, which helped fuel its velocity. Warm water.

"Ida's" Rains & Winds Are Moving Slowly Over Georgia (click title to entry - thank you)
By Rickey Bevington & Edgar Treiguts
Updated: 3 hours ago
ATLANTA — "Ida" is no longer a hurricane, but the weather system could pour up to eight inches of rain in parts of Georgia Tuesday and Wednesday....


November 10, 2009
Pensacola Beach Pier, Florida (On the Panhandle)


Close up of Ida'a Eye


From NASA
Tropical Storm Ida (click here)
Posted November 11, 2009

Live Service regarding the Fallen at Fort Hood by The Boston Globe. Click here. Thank you.

Live video of the Fort Hood memorial service
Video coverage of the memorial service for the 13 victims of the shooting at Fort Hill Army Base in Killeen, Texas. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the ceremony.

Deployment is part of service. The survivors to these soldiers should not be denied benefits because their lives ended on our and their home land. Training missions are no different either. The survivors of all these losses should receive support through compensation by the USA military. Their lives were just as valuable as any soldier already in Iraq or Afghanistan. It was not a combat death, but, their lives were ended in a capacity that would have placed them in combat. Compensation is a small price to pay for the loyalty of these wonderful Americans. It will not replace those lost to their families and friends, but, it will help to return function to the lives of those left behind.

Food Relief needed in El Salvador accoring to "The Miami Herald." (click this title - thank you)

There is a lot of devastation in El Salvador due to the heavy rains from Ida. People have been displaced and any farming in the region has been destroyed by mud slides and ground saturation. The people in these regions will need long term help, at least until next successful growing season.

UN: 10,000 Salvadoran flood victims need food (click title to entry - thank you)

Posted on Tuesday, 11.10.09

By MARCOS ALEMAN
Associated Press Writer
VERAPAZ, El Salvador -- At least 10,000 Salvadorans are in urgent need of food aid after devastating floods and mudslides that damaged crops, destroyed homes and killed 130 people, the U.N. World Food Program said Tuesday.
Days of heavy rains sent torrents of mud and boulders tumbling on mountainside towns across the Central American country over the weekend. Rescue workers used heavy machinery and shovels to dig through the rubble Tuesday, while survivors helped with any equipment they could get their hands on.
The WFP is helping feed 500 people in shelters in San Vicente, one of the worst-hit provinces, the U.N. agency said in a statement. But it said thousands more would need help in the coming days....

The Washington Post has NOTHING that is alarming about Hasan. I could have put together the same presentation. There is nothing there.

"Fruit of the Loom." The question is who is fruitier Hasan or The Washington Post?

It is a presentation by a man attempting to have a major policy change to indulge his own desire. I could have gone on Google or Yahoo and put together the exact same presentation. There is absolutely nothing NEW OR ALARMING about any of it.

The Washington Post should stop throwing good money after bad to inspire fear mongering. I mean sincerely.

The USA military knows what it is doing. This is all Right Wing populous propaganda.

Where is the al Qaeda connection?

Where is the big plot? Where are the conspirators? The more this unfolds the sillier and sillier it gets.

There is none.

That is what is dangerous about Lone Wolves and all the inspiration they get from propaganda like this. They feel important enough to act when in fact they are so screwed up a jar opener can't get them straigtened out and productive within their own lives and value systems.

The so called warning reported in The Washington Post is inflammatory and "W"rong.

US Army attack 'not terror plot' (click here)
Page last updated at 03:44 GMT, Tuesday, 10 November 2009
The FBI says that a US Army major suspected of killing 13 people was not part of a "broader terrorist plot".
Maj Nidal Hasan was noticed by the FBI in December as part of an unrelated inquiry by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, but did not raise concerns.
Investigators said his communications with another person were in line with his job as an army psychiatrist.
Maj Hasan remains in hospital but has regained consciousness after being shot by police during the attack last week....

My very first impression regarding Nidal Hasan was that he was a CO (Conscientious Objector). It was before anyone else even 'went there.' The article in the Washington Post takes the 'entire' circumstance reported out of context to raise irrational fears among the public.


Maj. Nidal M. Hasan gave a presentation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007.

"...(Muslim American Soldiers are) conflicted about fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, both Muslim countries, according to a copy of the presentation obtained by The Washington Post.
"It's getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims," he said in the presentation.
"It was really strange," said one staff member who attended the presentation and requested anonymity because of the investigation of Hasan. "The senior doctors looked really upset" at the end. These medical presentations occurred each Wednesday afternoon, and other students had lectured on new medications and treatment of specific mental illnesses...."

Nidal Hasan made an inappropriate presentation to his superiors and it was probably why he was under supervision and review. In order for any of his reportings to be 'accurate' about Muslim American Soldiers, it would have to have been researched and published in a report to the USA military of which they would have acted on it.

If Nidal Hasan's superiors were surprised by his presentation it was because they were never appraised of the context. To say they were upset would have been an understatement. They would have to require proof of his reporting in order to go forward with any reason to act on such a report. The USA military, be it mental health staff members or otherwise would not think twice to give their superiors information regarding the integrity of the ranks of the USA military. This entire 'mess' the media has itself in now is simply hideous and prompted by a Senator without a clue.

It is my estimation the presentation by Nidal Hasan was more of a projection of his own fears and reservations in hopes he would prompt his superiors to ever consider sending him into a war zone while maintaining his living and lifestyle as an officer in the Army. The lecture is narcisstic and self directed and was intended to effect his own outcome.

To say Nidal Hasan was conflicted is an understatement, he was more than conflicted he was down right scared to death.

"...Hasan spent six years at Walter Reed as an intern, resident and fellow beginning in 2003. He had been transferred to Fort Hood as a practicing psychiatrist in July and was set to leave soon for Afghanistan. According to a relative, he had asked not to be deployed. It is not known whether he ever sought conscientious-objector status...."

The report before his superiors was not about the ranks of the USA military it was about his own wishes to be removed with a CO status as ordered by some General somewhere of which he would not have to sacrifice any benefits due to actions by his superiors and could go to private practice in the community. He should have never had a gun in his hand and the reason he did and never declared CO status is because he felt trapped in 'the role' he assumed during his educaiton and residency and the promise of a lucrative future.

Give me a break. I guess all the people that ever attended this Mosque and buried a mother is as guilty as the September 11th hijackers.

I don't think so.

It is all sensationalism and nothing more.

Alleged gunman tied to mosque of 9/11 hijackers (click here)
7:56PM Tuesday November 10, 2009
WASHINGTON - The family of the alleged Fort Hood military base shooter held his mother's funeral at the same mosque that two September 11 hijackers attended in 2001, at a time when a radical imam preached there. Whether the Fort Hood suspect associated with the hijackers is something the Federal…

It is all about POLITICS ! You mean Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins didn't KNOW about this startling report and potential? Are they actually doing their job? The Commission sounds more like CYA to me. Sure we don't need a Commission to study the Commission?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2009
Contact: Sara Lonardo
Committee to Examine Circumstances Surrounding Ft. Hood Attack (click here)
Continuation of Investigation into Terrorism on U.S. Soil
WASHINGTON—Senate Homeland Security Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., formally announced on Monday that their Committee will be conducting an investigation into last week's murders at Ft. Hood, beginning with a public hearing next week. The Senators released the following statements today on their inquiry and intention to hold hearings on the attack:...

150 missing in El Salvador while Palm Lake braces for flooding in the USA.

November 10, 2009
01:30:15z
UNISYS Infrared GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)


Homes are flooded along Costa del Sol beach in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador Photo: AP (click here)

Frantic search for survivors begins after El Salvador floods (click title to entry, thank you)
130 dead and 7,000 living in shelters as storm heads towards US coast
By David Usborne
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
...Some 124 people are now confirmed dead, with another 60 missing in the disaster, which struck most severely about 30 miles from the capital of San Salvador. Soldiers and emergency workers swarmed the town of Verapaz yesterday, searching for survivors in areas that were buried by the onslaught of mud and boulders from the slopes of the nearby Chichontepec volcano.
President Mauricio Funes called the storm a "tragedy" that had caused "incalculable" damage. "The images that we have seen today are of a devastated country," President Funes said in a televised address. He declared a state of emergency. Seven thousand people are living in shelters as a result of the disaster....

Slidell officials focus on Palm Lake subdivision and south Slidell as Ida nears (click here)

By Kia Hall Hayes, The Times-Picayune
November 09, 2009, 10:29AM
With extra city personnel and police on hand, Slidell officials have an eye on the Palm Lake subdivision and other low lying areas as Tropical Storm Ida approaches the Gulf Coast.

Officials said tides in Slidell are expected to be 2 1/2 to three feet above normal, which is predicted to cause localized flooding in low-lying areas. High tide will occur around 11 p.m., with wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph. A total of three to five inches of rain is expected.
Mayor Ben Morris said a sandbag station will be set up at Lee Street and Pontchartrain Drive and others will be open if necessary.
All water at pumping stations has been pumped down, and all pumping stations are working except for one of three pumps at the Old Barn in Slidell. Parts are being shipped in this morning and all three pumps are expected to be online today.
Extra police units will be on patrol at the Palm Lake subdivision and throughout south Slidell, Morris said.

FORUMS
Since the Katrina disaster, NOLA's neighborhood forums have been crucial in reuniting families and neighbors, and providing vital communications.

Oh, this is going to be at least as good as "Curveball."

Oops, did he start a war? In case anyone needs to 'bone up' on Pre-war Iraqi intelligence, Curveball according to Salon:

The man who sold the war (click here)
"Curveball" author Bob Drogin talks about the Iraqi defector responsible for much of the CIA's bogus prewar intelligence about Iraqi WMD.
By Alex Koppelman
For some, it can be tempting to lay the blame for the Iraq war at the feet of a small, disingenuous neoconservative cabal. In reality, the debacle was a collective effort, involving legions of people, some dishonest, others well-intentioned. But there is one man, still obscure, whose claim to being the prime mover in the selling of the war is at least as strong as that of any Beltway hawk, and whose agenda was wholly personal, not political.
In his new book, "Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Con Man Who Caused a War," Los Angeles Times reporter Bob Drogin gives the most comprehensive account to date of the man who was the source of much of the faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction that was used to justify the U.S. invasion. Drogin explains how "Curveball," a still-anonymous Iraqi who defected to Germany in 1999, came to be a principal source for American intelligence, even though the CIA didn't even know who he really was until after the war had begun....

There is nothing like placing honest, good Muslim American soldiers in harms way. Our military relies on interpreters when in combat and otherwise, I would think the people in power, such as Senator Joe Lieberman, would give the Pentagon all the room it needed to run any and all investigations BEFORE compromising the security of our nation. Oh, I forgot, they are Neocons.


Joe Vengeance
Joe Lieberman says he left the Democratic Party and is stumping for John McCain out of principle. Really? (click here, just for amusement)
By Michael Idov
Published Aug 24, 2008
...He’s come here to stump for John McCain, whose presidential endeavor the self-described independent Democrat improbably—make that unbelievably—endorsed last December....

This article about Lieberman and McCann appeared in "The New Yorker." You'll remember that magazine, its cover featured the President and First Lady as Islamic Terrorists. Need I say anything else?

The propaganda in the media right now is all about a supposed connection between the murderer of those at Fort Hood to al Qaeda. It is inflammatory, leaked and from an unverifible source.

I DON'T THINK SO !!!!

Steeeeeriiiikee One !

To realize when a media report about such information is 'real' I would expect the words to be, "The Pentagon is reporting today, a verified source has report that...."

...NOT...

...in an exclusive understanding from the cousin of an uncle of the mother of a second cousin of a friend of the...

Hello?

U.S. had Islamist intelligence on Fort Hood shooter (click here)
Mon Nov 9, 2009 7:22pm EST
...The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said intelligence agencies intercepted electronic communications between the suspect, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, and anti-American Islamists starting last year and reported the contacts to federal authorities, including the FBI.
The sources did not identify who Hasan contacted but described them as Islamists associated with and sympathetic toward al Qaeda....

Oh, yeah, I'm buyin' this one. The trial will be interesting. I SINCERELY doubt the military JAG corp would do ANYTHING to compromise the trial of a known murderer. Is everyone convinced yet?

Retired Colonel to Defend Accused Fort Hood Shooter (click here)
Accused Shooter Nidal Hasan Awake and Talking to Hospital Staff
By ELISA ROUPENIANBELTON, Texas, Nov. 9, 2009
John P. Galligan told ABC News today that he has been retained by the family of Major Nidal Malik Hasan and has traveled from his office in Belton, Texas, to San Antonio where Hasan is being treated at the Brooke Army Medical Center.
Galligan said he was aware that Hasan, who was shot several times, was conscious and talking with hospital staff. He said he intends to make sure that Hasan's rights are protected, and to that end has asked federal authorities to stay away from his client. He declined to discuss his client's motives or what his line of defense would be....

...about the much maligned Green Economy. (click title for link to video. thank you.)

With anniversay of The Fall of the Berlin Wall, is Medvedev seeking to create a new Russian Image?

Under the new document, the Russian president can decide to deploy armed forces abroad subject to approval by the upper house. (click here)



Russia to use military force abroad only as last resort - Medvedev (click title to entry - thank you)
15:34
05/11/2009
..."Such decisions will be made only when absolutely necessary," Medvedev said at a meeting with members of the upper house of Russia's parliament.
"Our citizens must be protected in any part of the world, and they must feel protected by the state."
He stressed that such decisions "must be set in law."
The house will review on Friday amendments to a law on defense which expands the use of the Russian Armed Forces abroad in certain situations.
Medvedev submitted the amendments to parliament in August, just after the first anniversary of Russia's five-day war with Georgia. The lower house of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, passed the bill on October 23.
The amendments stipulate that Russian troops can be used abroad to repel an attack on Russian troops deployed outside the country, repel or prevent an armed attack on another state asking Russia for military assistance, defend Russian nationals abroad from an armed attack, fight sea piracy and ensure the safety of commercial shipping.
Russia's current 2006 legislation only allows the president to send troops to fight terrorism on foreign soil. Experts have said the law lacks clearly defined terms of "wartime" and a "combat situation," which complicates the deployment of troops outside the country....

Senator Hagan's Office is well informed and very helpful.

Senator Hagan states the Senate is combining both the Harkin Bill and Baucus Bill as their final Senate Bill. She also favors passage and the Public Option. I am more than proud to call her my Senator.

Combat the Fear Factor. There is no reason for anyone in this country that is not in the top one percent of income earners to worry about the Health Care Reform Bill. It will bring better health care to all, hence a healthier nation.

Do you realize there are dearly less than 20% of adults eligible for service in the military that are actually healthy enough to achieve participation? It is a matter of National Security at this point that our health care delivery system is the best in the world and available to everyone.

Once settled on that reality, reflect on the fact childhood obesity is rampant in the next generation. For all those that fear placing Health Care Reform on the national stage will cause their children tax burdens for time unending, imagine if the country they live in is undefendable because of the poor physical condition of the people they are. It isn't acceptable that a human being suffer ill health when there is reasonable steps to improve their quality of life and ability to be employed.

FIRST THOUGHTS: SENATE GETS THE BATON (click title to entry - thank you)
...*** Drawing more battle lines: Indeed, this "thank you" list is a good place to start our 2010 focus to see how the Obama agenda is playing -- not in the 39 districts of the Democrats who voted no. A First Read analysis of the Saturday’s vote finds that about 60 of the Democrats who voted for health care are either in vulnerable or potentially vulnerable districts, including 18 who represent districts that went for McCain. Another 10 are in districts where Obama got less than 55%; six are from districts where Obama got more than 55%, but the member got less than 55%; 14 are in districts which Obama won by less than 55%, but they won by more than 55%; and at least another 12 are in districts where both they and Obama got more than 55%, but either have been competitive in the past or could be competitive. We'll release the full list later today....

There are warnings from the media. Kindly take heed, there were tornadoes in the southeast at the end of October. This is serious business, okay?

Oct. 30, 2009
Tornadoes Sweep Through La., Ark. (click title to entry - thank you)
One Man Killed as Violent Storms Damage Homes, Down Trees and Power Lines; Steeple Blown Off Church Crushes Car, Driver Saved

...Authorities said an unnamed 20-year-old driver died when his car hit a tree felled by the storms near Shreveport.

Another man was luckier, when the steeple of the First United Methodist Church in Shreveport was blown off the building, landing on his car as he was stopped at a red light.

The 57-year-old driver, Michael Williams, was seriously injured but alive in the crushed car.

CBS Affiliate KSLA correspondent Ben Wolf reports firefighters worked feverishly to save Williams.

Eyewitness John Beauregard told Wolf the falling steeple "sounded like a loud explosion." He said some onlookers were praying when they realized there was someone in a car trapped underneath....

With the aid of the winds of the upper troposphere, Ida made a quick trip across the Gulf of Mexico.

November 8, 2009
Ida
It appears there was an issue regarding transportation and commerce that entered the picture.


November 8, 2009
Ida
Being in the river would not have been my first choice to try to get to the other side. Even being on the river or very near the river with eroding 'structures' would not have been my first choice. Nope. Not me.

November 8, 2009
Ida


Ida


November 9, 2009
00:30:16z
UNISYS Enhanced Infrared GOES East Satellite

What a difference 12 hours makes.


November 9, 2009
12:30:13z
UNISYS Enhanced Infrared GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)

Boater's rescue in Gulf brings weather warning (click title to entry - thank you)
TBO.com
Published: November 8, 2009
Updated: 11/08/2009 06:20 pm
CLEARWATER - Hurricane Ida is shaking up the conditions for boaters in the Gulf of Mexico and the Coast Guard is urging the public to monitor the weather before setting out on the water.
A Hudson man and his dog were rescued by helicopter about 12:50 p.m. from his 43-foot fishing boat today as seas reached 7 to 10 feet about 50 miles west of Clearwater in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gregory Lansier, 46, contacted the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg at 9:19 a.m. to report he was unable to return to port due to the weather, when winds reached 35 knots.
A small-craft advisory is expected to remain in effect for much of West Central Florida throughout the week.
Boaters are urged to use caution and monitor forecasts closely. The Coast Guard reminds residents that the adverse effects generated by a depression, storm, or hurricane can cover an area hundreds of miles wide.

While in the Northeast USA...it was something a little more than a snow storm.

Tornado Hits Oregon Coast as Wild Conditions Continue (click here)

Published 11/08/09

Oregon Coast) – The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed Saturday that what Lincoln City witnesses saw destroy property on Friday night was indeed a tornado. Ininitially, the NWS was not willing to classify this as a tornado when reports first came in, no matter how many witnesses talked about seeing a tornado.
About 20 to 30 homes were damaged in the Roads End neighborhood of Lincoln City, along with a few cars, as a water spout quickly developed just offshore and then came onto land, creating havoc.
All this happened as major windstorms, massive waves and even lightning hit various parts of the Oregon coast, starting Wednesday and continuing through Saturday....

My hat is off to you, Mr. Moore. Quite amazing it should come from a 'kid' from Flint. Only in America, Michael. Only in America.

Michael Moore is the most morally centered man I have ever witnessed. And he does it so well.

...You can't expect things to change overnight (click here) and there's not time in nine months to fix catastrophes left by the Bush administration. But I don't believe in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus and he might not be able to fix the problems left by Bush and Cheney....



"Bowling for Columbine" is a brilliant film. It contextualized the dynamics of violence in the USA and subliminal legitimacy the American society gives killing.

But.

"Fahrenheit 911" showed it 'in practice,' Michael. It is one thing to realize a society has been so violent its youth finds rewards in it. It is quite a different thing to see it in action.


November 8th, 2009 5:06 PM
The films that defined the noughties
(In case one does not recognize the jargon, 'noughties' is a 'nickname' if you will for the years 2000 through 2009.)
This decade has given rise to a fragmented, pick’n’mix cinematic culture - but what are the top 100 movie masterpieces of the last ten years?
By David Gritten, Tim Robey and Sukhdev Sandhu / Telegraph
Michael Moore, 2004: (click title to entry - thank you)
It may not have been the best film of the decade. It may not have been the best film Moore has made (that honour still belongs to 1989’s Roger and Me). Nevertheless, it’s hard to overstate the importance of this film, a modestly funded political documentary that was shunned by its Disney backers but went on to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes, coin more than $220 million around the world, and boost the emergence of politically liberal, agenda-driven multiplex fare such as Supersize Me and An Inconvenient Truth.
A speculation: might the accessible and populist fashion in which it marshalled its denunciation of George Bush’s 2000 “electoral theft”, to say nothing of the scorn it poured on American neo-conservative support for the “War on Terror”, have helped create or at least re-identify a large chunk of the non-traditional constituencies who were later tapped successfully by the Obama campaign team?
Criticism that Moore played fast and loose with his facts misses the point. He’s an old-fashioned circus barker. He trades in passion not science. But these days, when Tony Blair gets dubbed a “war criminal” and when the US economy is still ailing after the trillions squandered in the Middle East, the questions he asks look like patriotism rather than treachery.

I am going to call DC tomorrow to find out if there is a final Senate bill.

My guess is that it will be a consolidation of the two bills. With that in mind and realizing the Harkin Bill is remarkably similar to the House Bill, then the logical thing is to read the Baucus bill, especially since it is an amendment to SSI. I think that is the best approach.

Will someone please lock up Joe Lieberman, I think he is a terrorist.

The USA is engaged in two wars in two Islamic countries and this is the kind of insensitivity Lieberman practices. He is killing soldiers and putting them in great danger by making such idiotic statements.

FOX News is placing our soldiers, their mission and our allies in greater danger by allowing such propaganda and permitting such statements of hatred.

Lieberman has NO source, no intelligence to back up his point of view, it is inflammatory rhetoric that is to 'play' to his constituency. He and FOX News are compromising our military, hence, compromising our national security.

Army chief fears backlash for Muslim U.S. soldiers (click here)
Sun Nov 8, 2009 11:30am EST
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army's top general expressed concern on Sunday that last week's mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, blamed on a Muslim Army officer, could fuel a backlash in the military against Muslim troops.
General George Casey, U.S. Army chief of staff, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about whether religious beliefs motivated the accused gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim born in the United States of immigrant parents.
"I'm concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers. And I've asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that," Casey told CNN's "State of the Union."
There are about 3,000 Muslims on active duty military service or in the National Guard or reserve forces, Casey said. They remain a small minority within the U.S. military....



There is NO WAY the tragedy at Fort Hood was a terrorist attack. Joe Lieberman needs to stop being stupid.

The man 'went postal' Joe, just that simple. Unfortunately when a soldier 'goes postal' the tragedy is that much greater. And you would have to know the statement was made on FOX News. Where else would he have that kind of permission to be inflammatory and insulting to the USA military.

If the military knew there was a plot against the government from within its ranks it would have acted on it.

The official position of the USA military is that this was an isolated incident. And they are correct.

There is nothing to state it was anything else but, the killer never had contact with any terrorist group anywhere and Lieberman is an idiot. He is inflaming hatred of Muslim Troops and that is bigotry.

Knock it off, Joe! Close down FOX News, will ya? They are endangering the well being of our troops by such outrageous accusations and they are endangering our sovereignty by threatening our troops. They don't belong on the air.

..Sen. Joe Lieberman called the Fort Hood (click title to entry - thank you) massacre an act of "Islamist extremism" - even as top Army brass warned Sunday against guessing at a motive, fearing backlash against Muslim soldiers.
"There are very, very strong warning signs here that Dr. Hasan had become an Islamist extremist and, therefore, that this was a terrorist act," Lieberman (I-Conn) told Fox News on Sunday....

There are two bills, one sponsored by Tom Harkin and one by Max Baucus

Health care reform (SEE: Popular Documents category for House Manager's Amendment and other health care reform documents) (click title to entry)

The Harkin Bill (click here)
S.1679
Title: An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce.
OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED: An original bill to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce.
Text: It is not the same as the short version or the House Bill. It is published here by sections. (click here) Six titles including definitions. It is a huge bill.


The Harkin Bill looks, to me, to be a better bill. It looks from the summary as if it strongly resembles the House Bill.

The Baucus Bill (click here)
S.1796
Title: An original bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
SUMMARY AS OF: 10/19/2009--Introduced.
America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Health Insurance Coverage) to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable and essential health benefits coverage.
Text: This doesn't have titles.(click here) Each section is labeled a 'Parts' because they are amending the SSI Act.

It looks like the short version was abandoned. I guess the Senate is going to consolidate the two no different than the House consolidated three. I hate to guess.

Later.

The Senate Health Care Bill - The Short Version

To make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce
costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and
strengthen the health care workforce.

First Page States:
To make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans,reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhancedisease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
5 ‘‘Affordable Health Choices Act’’.
6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of7 this Act is as follows:

Not much to say about that, title and introduction of the table of contents. The next five pages up to the top of Page 7 is the Table of Contents and I am not going to review that.

The Senate decided to mostly avoid creating a new bill and decided to amend the Public Health Services Act. I guess. I have referred to the Public Services Health Act before. It was in the House Bill, but, the entire House Bill was not an amendment to it. Let's see where this goes. It seems a little whimpy to me.

Page 7, lines 8 through 15:
SEC. 101. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
Part A of title XXVII of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.) is amended—
(1) by striking the part heading and inserting the following:
‘‘PART A—INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MARKET REFORMS’’;

Page 7, lines 19 through 23 and Page 8, lines 1 and 2:
‘‘SEC. 2705. PROHIBITION OF PREEXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSIONS OR OTHER DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HEALTH STATUS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to such plan or coverage.’’; and

I need to simply reveiw the long version. The short version ALREADY lacks 'legal stature' and maybe it was changed in the second version of the bill.

Example. Above is a statement. The statement doesn't give definitions and I paged through fifty pages of the bill and there are no definitions that I have noted. What does that mean? Well. What is a Pre-Existing Condition and when does the law apply? The bill, in this form, is empty. It requires definitions, otherwise, it will end up in court and most people won't have the monies to seek legal advise everytime they go to the physican. It turns over the legislation to the health care industry to define all its provisions on its own terms. The House Bill is a superior bill and it should take precedent over the Senate Bill.

I'll find the longer version. Maybe there is actually something worthwhile in it.

Abortion Rights, Contraception and Success. It is unrealistic for any society to allow religious dogma to dominate the success of its women.

The political PREFERENCE of the Religious Right is stifling the success of our young women. It is a fact and it is going to stop !

If a woman is trapped in pregnancy after pregnancy it is ABUSE.

If a woman is required to give birth at an early age due to oppression of opportunity to receive an abortion and/or birth control it is ABUSE.

When women can't afford birth control or don't have opportunity to receive it from any dispensery in a safe and reliable manner it is ABUSE.



A Dropout Crisis for Girls (click title to entry - thank you)
Every year, an estimated one in four girls drops out of high school — and the rates are even worse for girls of color.
Female dropouts face particularly steep economic consequences. As compared to their male peers, female dropouts have higher rates of unemployment, earn significantly lower wages, and are more likely to need to rely on public support programs to provide for their families.

- Last year, 50% of all women earned less than $20,507. (click here)

- Women are 1 and a half times more likely to be poor than men.

- 1 in 4 girls drops out of school each year.

- Even with Social Security, 1 of every 5 elderly women living alone is poor.

- Girls comprise only 15 percent of traditionally male career and technical
education classes, which lead to high-wage, high-skill jobs.

The cost of Climate Change and the Republican exploitation of construction to buoy an economy.

There are TWO issues at work here and they are the FAULT of Republican economy and exploitation of the American Dream.

Climate Change has brought increased 'natural tragedy' to the American landscape, but, it alone is not responsible for the increased in NATIONAL FLOOD PLAIN AREAS.

The increase in 'flood plains' in the USA is due to OVER USE of land for construction. Under Bush/Cheney and the exploitive Republican majorities there were huge expenditures for housing and commercial development. Literally across the USA land was destroyed from its 'natural' state and modified whichever way necessary to allow for construction. It is how the Republicans for eight long fiscally exploitive years claimed they produced an economy. It is also why so many construction workers have faced unemployment and retraining into new careers.

When natural areas that are well forested and absorb water are sacrificed for construction, replaced with roads and concrete there is only ONE thing to expect and that is flooding and plenty of it.

Conservationists see it all the time and it is almost a joke and a matter of time. Contractors bank roll land with the permission of city planners and local politicians and alter the natural state of the land. They sell their construction for housing or commercial development and call it an economy. The towns are then left with the clean up when the first major storm rolls through and the houses are under water.

It is a joke because the homeowners will receive FEMA money and rebuild, but, then when the second major storm rolls through and their rebuilt home is sitting on a flood plain, they no longer receive FEMA money and they eventually abandon the property, leave it for tax collectors, declare bankruptcy and Conservations get it back again for reclamation.

Now, insurance companies are having a good 'ole time collecting high rates from clients because people actually believe they can tolerate a cycle of flood and joy. Well, good luck, you don't get my sympathy. You can thank the 'TARP' banks for your misery. Somewhere in the contractors proceedings to build there exploitive construction project is a document is adverse to even starting the building project and if there isn't it is because land use ordinances don't require it or require it in a way that matters. Time for people to do their homework and demand better govement or pay through the nose the rest of your life.



New Bedford planner David Kennedy walked atop the New Bedford-Fairhaven hurricane barrier yesterday. (Jonathan Wiggs/ Globe Staff)

Waves of concern (click title to entry - thank you)
Property owners face steep insurance rate hikes, as new federal maps shift flood zone boundaries
Thousands of Massachusetts property owners are discovering their homes and businesses are in newly designated federal flood zones, forcing them to buy additional insurance coverage that can easily exceed $2,000 annually.
The changes are the result of a Federal Emergency Management Agency project to remap flood zones, county by county nationwide. The agency plans to finish most of its Massachusetts maps by next summer, and local governments are in the process of notifying residents and business owners about the new zoning. At the same time, lenders are telling affected borrowers they must increase their insurance coverage....