February 2012
1 post
The politicization of breast cancer
Like many, I was disappointed in the Komen foundation’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood, which prompted me to defund Komen and divert my own meager future donations to Planned Parenthood.
However, what is even more disheartening than Komen’s politicization of breast cancer is their confused and nasty responses to public ire, accusing Planned Parenthood of using this issue to...
January 2012
8 posts
Thoughts and prayers for the Santorums
Despite political differences - which are just that: political, not personal - all day I’ve been thinking of the Santorum family as they go through one of the hardest ordeals in life, the serious illness of their little child.
Thoughts and prayers for the Santorum family.
Santorum's unvetted past hypocrisy flies beneath...
The smartest thing Rick Santorum is doing in the Republican clown reality show is flying beneath the radar screen. So far, he hasn’t been enough of a threat to be vetted completely - so he can get away with his own version of “pious baloney,” to quote King-of-Mean Newt Gingrich’s description of Mitt Romney’s own incredibly weird stuff.
As a few articles have started...
How long will it take Romney to earn YOUR salary?
Want a shock? It’s easy to calculate:
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2012/01/romney_income_calculator_how_much_does_mitt_make_how_long_would_it_take_him_to_earn_your_salary_.html
And, please, no digs about George Soros! I don’t have anything against rich people, per se - it’s rich selfish guys who care/know nothing about the ordinary folks who offend me - and...
The measure of a man's character: Santorum fails
I think most of us knew what Rick Santorum was really like before he put on the sugar-coating for the presidential race. He’s just as mean-spirited and hateful as Romney and Gingrich, if not more so. Here’s the proof, an episode yesterday in which he lets a woman call President Obama an “avowed Muslim,” then later says it’s not for him to “correct”...
The face of evil "Obamacare"
As Republicans work themselves into coniption fits over the evils of “Obamacare,” unfortunately, too many of them simply do not understand why we must have it. Here’s the face of the millions of people “Obamacare” will help:
“Healthcare bind for working class”
...
For Republican debate-watchers - definition of...
See: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/covert
“Covert” - Not openly practiced, avowed, engaged in, accumulated, or shown…as in “covert military operations”
Some of the many, many, many lies we hear repeatedly in these debates are, well, just about everything having to do with President Obama’s foreign policy. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard...
I'm b-a-a-a-a-a-a-c-k!
I haven’t blogged in a dog’s age for a whole host of reasons, one of which is to protect my blood pressure.
Now, my blood pressure is perfect - the kind the doc smiles about. But I can feel the pressure in my head increasing when I (1) watch the Republican clown show “debates,” (2) read about the Republican candidates’ neverending lies, and (3) generally...
This should be required reading for everyone,...
Andrew Sullivan says it all here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/15/andrew-sullivan-how-obama-s-long-game-will-outsmart-his-critics.html
As he concludes:
If I sound biased, that’s because I am. Biased toward the actual record, not the spin; biased toward a president who has conducted himself with grace and calm under incredible pressure, who has had to manage crises not seen...
November 2011
4 posts
So Rick Perry would destroy Congress and the...
…by making our representatives part-time employees and destroying the Constitution’s lifetime judicial appointment provision.
So what would be the result?
KING RICK, of course. After he would destroy the legislative and judicial branches of the government, the executive branch would be all that’s left. (Of course, I doubt seriously that Rick Perry understands checks and...
Justice denied: Our courts break down (but no new...
I kept wondering when our courts would be destroyed by nationwide funding cutbacks: (and the right’s idiotic “no-new-taxes” mantra). It’s here, and it’s now. It’s not just a matter of justice delayed, justice denied - it’s the destruction of one of the 3 essential legs of this country’s very being. This country is sliding more quickly than most of us...
Announcing: This fall's hit comedy series...
…the “Republican Debates.” We just didn’t expect this level of entertainment, did we? I expect them to win an Emmy for best comedy series!
I don’t often comment on the nuttiness of these debates because they are discussed to death everywhere else. But I do have one comment:
Do they have any idea what the word, “covert,” means? I mean, last night, they...
Keep those OCCUPY Philly donations coming every...
Be sure to bring OCCUPY Philly donations to peace vigils, every Sat, 11-noon, corner/High & Market, West Chester. Many Occupiers are HOMELESS VETS in need of warm clothing - gloves, caps, coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, blankets; and many have NO TENTS or sleeping bags. Additionally, if you COOK SOMETHING, bring it this Saturday, and I’ll run them into Philly. Area Buddhists are preparing...
October 2011
27 posts
Herman Cain: The personification of Republicanism...
Sometimes Republican presidential candidates reach levels of ignorance that are simply mind-numbing.
Take Herman Cain’s stance on abortion.
Life begins at conception - he assures us of that repeatedly and takes the Republican oath on this issue over and over again.
Yet he’s for a woman’s right to choose. He also has said this repeatedly. (At least he has an intuitive grasp of...
Watching Republican "debates" - a trip to...
I haven’t watched all these debates, usually not having the stomach for them, and waiting for the media’s endless post-mortems the next day. However, I did watch the one Tuesday night - I could not believe these people are running for President.
For President.
Of this country.
Of the U.S.
Of the most powerful country on earth.
You’ve gotta be kidding.
Just a few...
Let the OCCUPY music begin!
“Occupy the USA” - Emma’s Revolution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smne2HZEDm4
Lyrics:
Welcome to the US occupation To win the hearts and minds Defend all humankind Tell the banks and the corporations We’re here to occupy the USA The Congress and the hedge funds Stole our houses and our pensions Conspired to steal our healthcare At Conservative conventions We’re...
The thing speaks for itself...
Romney Beating Obama in a Fight for Wall St. Cash
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/romney-perry-and-cain-open-wide-financial-lead-over-field.html?_r=1&hp
OCCUPY arrests this weekend: 175 Chicago, 19...
…20 New York City, 50 Boston, 30 Des Moines…the list goes on and on.
0 Wall Street Criminals
Herman Cain: The Koch brothers'...
I have nothing good to say about that character. His entire candidacy is a cynical plot on the far right’s part.
See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/long-ties-to-koch-backed-americans-for-prosperity-are-foundation-of-cain-campaign/2011/10/16/gIQA6Qi9nL_story.html?hpid=z3
OCCUPY: I am not moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGRXCgMdz9A
How to fix Congress
Thanks to a reader for this:
I’m sure, as I have, you have wondered why Congress gets such amazing perks. Isn’t it time to bring Congress into line with the reality the rest of the country (the electorate they represent) faces?
Check this out. It’s a smart idea from a very smart man. DK Congressional Reform Act of 2011 Warren Buffett, in a recent interview, offered one of the...
Students & recent grads: Rally Monday for JOBS
Recent grad average debt: $34,430
Student debt total in U.S. = $1 trillion
1 in 3 youth (20-29) unemployed
30 million unemployed nationwide
National black teen unemployment 46.5%
Average jobless person looks for work 39.7 weeks, longest since 1948
19% of Philly children live in deep poverty ($11,175/year or less for family of 4)
1/3 Philly students do not graduate high school
Rent has...
Why is Pres. Obama sending troops to Africa? Read...
There’s a lot of buzz about this - as “one more war.” I’m not sure about that. We have been criticizing our government for years for only helping out countries where we have OIL interests. This very small deployment might have what many of us in the peace community have been crying out for all along - a strictly humanitarian effort. I might be wrong about that - but...
OCCUPY WEST CHESTER: Sunday, Oct. 30, Noon,...
See: http://www.meetup.com/occupytogether/West-Chester-PA/386602/
I just found it.
I can’t be there - BECAUSE I’LL ACTUALLY BE AT OCCUPY WALL STREET IN NYC THAT DAY! But spread the word: Make OCCUPY WEST CHESTER HAPPEN, FOLKS!!! And register at the meetup.com site! I can’t figure out who’s organizing - but it doesn’t matter. “Leaders” are irrelevant!...
Switcheroo Biden-Clinton - I've been saying this...
I have been suggesting this for months as THE way 2012 has to go - finally, it’s getting traction!
For full article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-14/hillary-clinton-over-joe-biden-in-2012-possible-jonathan-alter.html
Hillary Clinton Over Joe Biden in 2012? Possible: Jonathan Alter
By Jonathan Alter
Oct 13, 2011 8:00 PM ET
…
On Thursday, NBC News’s Savannah Guthrie...
Next time someone shoves a flag in your face,...
…think about this. They’ll never read it, but it can help you remember (from a friend):
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 9:37 PM Subject: Blood on the Tracks I’ve had an audiotape for a number of years of Brian Willson describing a particular experience he had while stationed in Vietnam during the war there. He just came out with an autobiography, ‘Blood on the Tracks:...
How to get donations to OCCUPY PHILLY - either...
1. You can e-mail me at ccpeacemovement@aol.com about dropping off items in West Chester OR
2. Simply drop them off at Saturday peace vigil between 11 and 12 t High & Market, West Cheter - where we’ll have a pickup truck that will take donations to town OR
3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DROPPING OFF AT CITY HALL:
…. dropping off donations and...
You can order pizzas for OCCUPY PHILLY protestors,...
Call:
Jake’s Pizza, 215-587-0447 - tell them to deliver to FOOD TENT, north side of City Hall.And tell them you’re from Chester County!!
And this young woman...PERFECT!
http://www.youtube.com/occupyphilly#p/a/u/2/HGj6KtKi6Y8
This young man says it all SO PERFECTLY!
He’s just great!!! http://www.youtube.com/occupyphilly#p/a/u/1/8UPSAJhMGJk
See OCCUPY PHILLY youtube channel!
This is GREAT: http://www.youtube.com/occupyphilly
ChesCo OCCUPY PHILLY Support Project: This is our...
ChesCo OCCUPY PHILLY Support Project - This is our time, folks - personal letter to YOU
This is our time, folks. This is our time to join the growing movement in this country to finally DO SOMETHING that works. This is the time we’ve all been waiting for, and some amazing young people who have taken over CHANGE in this country are leading us all - just as many of us did in years...
ChesCo OCCUPY PHILLY Support Project: The list...
LET’S CALL THIS OUR CHESCO OCCUPY PHILLY SUPPORT PROJECT!!! The list keeps growing, folks - bring items to our 11-12 Saturday Chester County Peace Movement peace vigil at High & Market, or e-mail ccpeacemovement@aol.com for another drop-off point - AND LET US KNOW YOUR IDEAS for more support:
Bottled water
Juices
Fresh fruit (the less ripe, the better, for shelf life)
Canned fruit
...
Call to ChesCo to support OCCUPY PHILLY today!...
On the OCCUPY PHILLY Facebook page, they remind us that rain will come this week. This got me thinking about what Chester County folks can do to support the cause. I have a car (not a truck) but can certainly run some items downtown from time to time - and you can all join the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OccupyPhiladelphia, and watch for their needs. IF YOU TAKE STUFF DOWNTOWN...
This should be a crime.
Jon Stewart tells us very clearly what Sarah Palin has been about all along (in addition to narcisissism) - make this viral. It should be a huge issue - and a crime:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/07/jon-stewart-sarah-palin-dishonorable-campaign-fundraising_n_999738.html?ncid=wsc-huffpost-cards-image
War is death. Nothing more, nothing less.
War is only about death. Death is war’s purpose and its end.
Yesterday, at The Chester County Peace Movement’s memorial peace vigil for the 10th anniversary of the Afghanistan War, death was the vigil’s theme; and the reality of that theme hit home.
At the vigil, as usual, the vigilers erected a faux coffin, gravestones, and a pair of empty combat boots by the coffin. We do...
To the left: Take off those bedroom slippers, and...
I’m sorry, but I put out an message earlier in the week proposing carpools to go to OCCUPY PHILAELPHIA, and no one (out of almost 1,000 on my list) has expressed any interest. An activist friend of mine told me the other day that many of his lefty friends keep criticizing the “occupiers” and their (they think) too-broad messages - “I think it’s a way for them...
1,000 plan OCCUPY PHILADELPHIA at meeting last...
Chester County - get ready to join! See http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/10/05/organizers-finalize-plans-for-occupy-philadelphia-protest/
OCCUPY PHILADELPHIA: Calling all Chester County...
Plans are in the works for “Occupy Philadelphia” protests, in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street Movement. I will let folks know when protests are going to happen - and we can arrange carpools. We should get many, many folks in from Chester County, folks!!!
I can drive in on most afternoons of the week, depending on other scheduled appointments.
Watch this blog for plans!...
Checking back in from Verizon hell....
I have been in what I can only call “Verizon hell” for the past couple of weeks - dealing with the most amazing screw-ups I’ve ever encountered with any company (and resulting in a final, desperate call to the Public Utilility Commission yesterday). To make a long, sordid, nerve-wracking story short, I had no internet connection for all this time (just rescued by another provider...
September 2011
18 posts
Read: "Tea party America"
Shortly after I finished my last post, one of you sent me this - which puts it all very well: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stoller/tea-party-america_b_962093.html
Read the entire article, but some good excerpts:
“In Tea Party America the rich are strong. They work hard, earn good salaries and live relatively healthy lives. In Tea Party America the poor are weak. They are lazy,...
More about the underlying racism of Republicans
An African-American said something to me the other day that I just can’t get out of my head: “Because Barack Obama was elected President - a black man - Republicans think that any idiot, like Perry or Palin or Bachmann, can be President. That’s how Republicans interpret President Obama’s election - as devaluing the presidency. What they’re saying to the world is that,...
Elmer Gantry - oops! Rick Perry - and Mitt Romney...
Both of them, particularly Gantry - oops! Perry - have, in my mind committed treason in the past couple of days. Perry in particular is a total idiot. Both of them have made stupid, ignorant statements about the Palestinian statehood proposal to the United Nations this week - slamming President Obama. This is an incendiary situation, and both of these nitwits are playing with fire, helping to make...
PS: About those hikers again
I just read, a few minutes after posting, that it’s the court in Iran that is the “snag” for release of the hikers. Evidently, a court there has said that their president has no right to authorize that release.
Sort of sounds like how it goes here, doesn’t it? No matter what our President tries to do, either the Supreme Court or Congress says he has no power.
What goes...
Hikers await release (again) in Iran
I woke to news that there’s been a snag in the release of the two hikers imprisoned in Iran. This situation is totally political. Iran is callously playing with these prisoners’ lives and their families’ fears to make money and to make international political points.
That’s horrible, and I truly feel for the prisoners and their families.
Yet, as I listened early this...
All I can say this morning...
…is that I’m so angry with Anthony Weiner this morning.
So angry.
Let 'em die! Kill! Kill! Kill! Republicans again...
They just can’t help it. They have no respect for anyone’s lives other than their own. Republicans are a party that glorifies other people’s death, whether it’s in war, in the execution chamber, the torture chamber…or now in our own homes.
After cheering the death penalty (for the innocent as well as the guilty) at the first presidential debate, last night they did...
What I woke up thinking about....
…is how absolutely strange it is that voters elect Republicans to run the government when they…hate government…are out to destroy government.
So how can they run the government when they hate it and want to destroy it?
And aren’t Republicans traitors? Leftists would be called “traitors” if we thought the same way.
And why on earth can’t the electorate...
Quote of the week: Rick Perry - "Andy Griffith on...
Thanks to Charles Blow for this nugget yesterday:
“Gov. Rick Perry, the newly minted Republican presidential front-runner, participated in his first presidential debate on Wednesday and did his best imitation of Andy Griffith on acid. He said that he believes Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, global warming is based on shaky science and hasn’t struggled at all with executing more inmates...
"Here’s why I find it impossible to be a...
I’m glad to see I’m among the many who found the Republican debate the other night horrifying when a sick, sociopathic crowd cheered Elmer Gantry - oops, I mean Rick Perry - for his sociopathic, twisted love for the death penalty. Here are some excerpts from Peter Catapano’s New York Times blog this morning (do read the entire blog):
...