BILLIONAIRES FOR WEALTHCARE

By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2009 (Spring Valley) – A rowdy crowd of approximately 1,500 turned out to cheer on and heckle Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) during a town hall meeting in Spring Valley Saturday afternoon. Protests from conservative “teabaggers” and signs with racist overtones were countered by a newly-formed group calling itself “Billionaires for Wealthcare.” (photo).

Dressed in formal attire, members pulled up in a limousine to greet other protesters, thanking them for “standing with billionaires” to oppose real healthcare reform. The group later posted a YouTube video )http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdwoman50/sets/72157622055052765/show/) and forwarded an e-mail that read "Townhall crashed by wealthy Hollywood elite," creating an online sensation.


Inspired by the website www.billionairesforwealthcare.com , Barbara Cummings of Spring Valley was among those to don black attire and pearls for the occasion “because sometimes street theater can have an impact where just yelling at one another accomplishes nothing,” Cummings said...Continued







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Scary Times

These are very scary times. Times when we all need to find some common ground. Times when we need to look to each other for solutions. Yet...even in the very places that coming together should happen we are being factionalized and driven into a morass of violence and hate. Check it out...

Simplicity Anyone???

When Are White People Going To Get Over It?

After all of the racist and histrionic offal that has been offered up in the comment section of this blog and elsewhere across the internet, I think Andrew Manis' question is not only pertinent, but deserves serious consideration.

Andrew M. Manis is Associate Professor of History at Macon State College in Georgia and a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His book, A Fire You Can’t Put Out: The Civil Rights Life of Birmingham’s Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, won several prizes including the 2000 Lillian Smith Book Award. His most recent book is Macon Black and White: An Unutterable Separation in the American Century, for which he won the 2005 Georgia Author of the Year Award for history. He currently serves on the steering committee of Macon’s Center for Racial Understanding.

TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE

For much of the last 40 years, ever since America “fixed” its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, “When are African Americans finally going to get over it? Now I want to ask “When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?

Recent reports that “Election Spurs ‘Hundreds’ of Race Threats, Crimes” should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in “Bombingham,” Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than “talk the talk.” Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.

We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps. But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.

But elect a liberal who happens to be black and we’re back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we’ve proven what conservatives are always saying—that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that schoolchildren from Maine to California are talking about wanting to “assassinate Obama.”

Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, “How long?” How long before we white people realize we can’t make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can—once and for all—get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites? How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?

I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do? How long before we start “living out the true meaning” of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that “red and yellow, black and white” all are precious in God’s sight?

Until this past November 4, I didn’t believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don’t believe I’ll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here’s my three-point plan during the Obama administration: First, every day that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built I’m going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from harm. Second, I’m going to report to the FBI anyone I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama. Third, I’m going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can sing of our damnable color prejudice, “We HAVE overcome.”

Andrew Manis

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ALSO - TUNE IN TO NEWSGUY TONIGHT AT 8:OO AND HEAR FLOYD'S TAKE ON HAL TURNER - HERE

Secret Agent Man...

Two quotes come to mind after reading the stories that emerged today about Hal Turner, the nefarious right-wing, racist shock-jock currently being held on federal charges of threat and intimidation.

After being charged in Connecticut with inciting people to take up arms against two legislators and a state ethics official, his attorney claimed that Turner was exercising his First Amendment rights. A couple of weeks later Turner was arrested and detained in a federal detention center in Chicago. This time for threatening the lives of three federal judges.

In a surprise courtroom maneuver, Turner and his attorney told the judge that Hal should not have been arrested because he had been working as a federal informant with the FBI and DOJ, to which the judge sarcastically replied, "...so you're telling me he is a model citizen."

Well, model citizen, or not, the judge gave Turner 10 days to produce his "handlers." That never happened. Yesterday Hal's defense attorney, Michael Orozco, appeared before the Conneticut court where he now claims that his client was "trained" by the FBI to be an "agent provocateur." According to the Hartford Courant...

"Mr. Turner was trained by the FBI," Orozco said. "He was told where the line was — what he could say." Turner, of New Jersey, worked as an "agent provocateur" for the FBI from roughly 2002 to 2007, Orozco said.

"His job was basically to publish information which would cause other parties to act in a manner that would cause their arrest," Orozco said. On several occasions, Turner passed on to the FBI information about threats from readers.

As William Shakespeare said so aptly, "All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players." The drama that has surrounded this case would create a great ABC mini-series. The only thing in question is how many segments and will there be a surprise ending?

Actually, I'm starting to believe that Michael Orozco is now being "trained" by Hal Turner - all of this is a page right off of Turner's blog. First we're told that this upstanding citizen saved the life of President Obama and thwarted the sale of military weapons helping to keep us all safe. Next we'll be expected to believe that upon Hal's orders his mythical army of skinheads interecepted and destroyed a ton of biological weapons off the coast of Bermuda headed for the U.S. Or maybe they have been deployed to assist Sarah Palin when Putin does his fly-by over Alaska.

Now, it's not that I believe that federal law-enforcement is above using others as Turner is claiming. But if Hal has been trained by them in such a manner, they really never got to the part about house-breaking him. He might have flown under the radar of the truly gullible and the really desperate - but there were several who just recognized him for precisely what he was.

Did the feds really train Turner - I don't know. What I do know is that monitoring, by the federal government, of groups or individuals because of their beliefs or ideas is nothing new. We have but to look back to the 70's at the COINTELPRO scandal to understand that this is the standard of operations. However, "monitoring" conjures up a lot of negatives. Watching and even infiltrating is common among law-enforcement agencies. Provoking people into violent action is something else altogether.

If there is a modicum of truth in what Hal's attorney is asserting...if, in fact, Hal Turner (or anyone else for that matter) was being used for the purpose of inciting others to commit violence - that is immoral and highly unethical and should be illegal.

As I look back over the years in which I warned that I believed Hal to be more valuable on the outside rather than behind bars, I am struck by many incidents - but two, in particular, really stand out...incidents that should have raised a red flag for any of his followers.

1) The whole affair surrounding the murders of Judge Joan Lefkow's mother and father. Hal was quick to take credit and immediately published the personal information of other judges he believed to be worthy of attention. Although there was a media frenzy around the killings and several white supremacists associated with Matt Hale were rounded up and questioned - Hal Turner wasn't touched.

2) A couple of years ago when anti-immigration rallies were being held all across the country, Hal Turner posted and broadcasted how and where explosive devices could be placed in a public park where a pro-immigration rally was to be held. He wasn't touched.

Disparaged by many of those he claimed to represent, Hal Turner continued to issue threats and suggest violence against many entities, always unscathed. He awaits trial in Chicago and charges in Conneticut, apparently out of favor with those who he now claims were responsible for his actions. Will he be rescued? Was he valuable enough to be saved. I doubt it.

Hal claims to have been on the payroll between 2003 and 2007. But, you see, he didn't stop. He continued to operate just as he always had even though he was no longer part of the team. He overestimated his importance - and he lost. It would also seem that he has convinced Orozco that he was a lot more valuable than is true. Turner remains hopeful - because, as he said he "...really isn't cut out for this." But as Henry Ellis once said, "The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum."

Throughout life, we all play the roles we invent for ourselves. We create our own persona and we strive everyday to get it right. Some get so caught up in the drama that the fantasy becomes our reality - and it bites.

HE BLINKED - BUT HE DAMNED SURE BETTA NOT CHOKE

President Obama has not walked softly but he has been carrying a pretty big stick. Exuding a fierce determination publicly, he has pushed the idea of health-care reform into the forefront of American society with a vengence - and then he blinked. In the face of public unrest and a misinformation campaign run by right-wing fanatics with an axe to grind, the stalwart and passionate leader might have lost some of his lustre when his resolve cracked.

With the House and the Senate sharply divided over a public option for health-care, Obama has waffled and his spokespeople are scrambling to do damage control - but many of us aren't buying it. Without a public option there is no reform. Period. End of story. The wingnuts win - and Americans lose.

President Obama was elected because he promised change - and God knows we need just that. The Health-Care Reform Bill, in its current form is a far cry from perfect. It certainly needs work. However, scrapping the public option should not even be an option and apparently isn't to the House of Representatives - good for them.

Waffling on the public option is only part of the problem, however. The larger problem lies within the fact that Obama, by virtue of his position and, sad to say his race, lives under a microscope with a very high-powered lens. Folks around the world have hung their hopes on the President and others would like nothing more than to see him fail. There's a lot at stake here - and he betta not choke now.

THAT IS SOOOO...RACIST

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Are We There Yet? - Almost, Honey

I’m not about to mince words here or even try to play down the seriousness of what is happening in America at this point in time. As we, as a nation, try to heal from eight years of the most inept and bogus leadership ever to be chronicled in American history we find that the division in this country is ever-increasing. Disgruntled right-wing zealots are having none of the change that was promised to us. From behind their bully-pulpits, from their Congressional offices, from their radio microphones and television studios the ultra-right wing has raised its ugly head with a vengence. This vengence has generated much ire and downright ‘pissedoffedness’ from those of us seeking truth, integrity, and change.

While much has been written over the last few weeks about the disruptions and distortions engaged in by the radical right from the “birthers” and health-care reform opponents, for much of America the alarm bells haven’t really sounded yet – but they better. They better ring out and it had better happen soon.

Sara Robinson of Campaign For America’s Future has written a series of articles that really demand to be read by anyone who is concerned about what is happening in this country…here’s an excerpt from the first article:

All through the Bush years, progressive right-wing watchers refused to call it “fascism” because, though we kept looking, we never saw clear signs of a deliberate, committed institutional partnership forming between America’s conservative elites and its emerging homegrown brownshirt horde. We caught tantalizing signs of brief flirtations — passing political alliances, money passing hands, far-right moonbat talking points flying out of the mouths of “mainstream” conservative leaders. But it was all circumstantial, and fairly transitory. The two sides kept a discreet distance from each other, at least in public. What went on behind closed doors, we could only guess. They certainly didn’t act like a married couple.Now, the guessing game is over. We know beyond doubt that the Teabag movement was created out of whole cloth by astroturf groups like Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks and Tim Phillips’ Americans for Prosperity, with massive media help from FOX News. We see the Birther fracas — the kind of urban myth-making that should have never made it out of the pages of the National Enquirer — being openly ratified by Congressional Republicans. We’ve seen Armey’s own professionally-produced field manual that carefully instructs conservative goon squads in the fine art of disrupting the democratic governing process — and the film of public officials being terrorized and threatened to the point where some of them required armed escorts to leave the building. We’ve seen Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner applauding and promoting a video of the disruptions and looking forward to “a long, hot August for Democrats in Congress.”

This is the sign we were waiting for — the one that tells us that yes, kids: we are there now. America’s conservative elites have openly thrown in with the country’s legions of discontented far right thugs. They have explicitly deputized them and empowered them to act as their enforcement arm on America’s streets, sanctioning the physical harassment and intimidation of workers, liberals, and public officials who won’t do their political or economic bidding.

This is the catalyzing moment at which honest-to-Hitler fascism begins. It’s also our very last chance to stop it.

The articles can be found here…
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009083205/fascist-america-are-we-there-yet

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009083311/fascist-america-ii-last-turnoff


Read the articles – and take a stand.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK...

John R. Bihrer on Eunice Kennedy Shriver...

..."The triumph of inclusion: that is the woman's greatest legacy -- one she would insist be shared with her eldest sister.

So the idea that mentally challenged children would be murdered by the American government is not only ludicrous, it is a disgusting insult to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. And yet Sarah Palin repeated that vile lie for a third time today, the day Eunice was laid to rest.

Palin's own child's life has so much more potential for no other reason than that he was born ninety years after Rosemary, who had a sister and family that cared so much. That Palin would show so much disrespect to this lovely woman by lying about the legislation her brother Ted has fought so hard for... it is beneath contempt."

Chris Kelly on Health Care & Sarah Palin...

Are we really stripping counseling from health care because of what doctors might say? (We all know, given the chance, a doctor will always talk you into suicide. That's where the money is.) Why not forbid doctors from talking to patients at all, just to be safe? Call it the Palin-Grassley Freedom from Information Act.

Of course that's not what we're really talking about. We know that end-of-life counseling doesn't mean euthanizing the gullible. (Soylent Green is Palins! Soylent Green is Palins!) Getting this bill rewritten -- or getting it killed altogether -- is about something more primal than that.

It's about how good it feels to bully someone.

(That's what the town hall protests are about to. What could be more a more basic human pleasure than to scream at someone until they give you what you want?)

(And what's the most satisfying thing to demand? Silence.)

Bill Maher on President Obama's playing golf...

...Time magazine is reporting that since he became president, Barack Obama has taken up golf with a passion, playing almost every weekend for the past few months -- and I feel betrayed. He campaigned as a basketball player. It said to us, "I'm urban and athletic and hip and a team player." Golf says, "I like Lipitor and white collar crime." And it's not just golf -- he's been purposefully eating a lot of hamburgers in public lately, to prove he loves meat. And he said that, unlike before he became president, he prays all the time now and that his Faith and Neighbor Initiatives Director sends him scripture on his Blackberry to start every day. Jesus, is there something about that house that turns people into assholes?

I kid the Commander in Chief, he's very far from an asshole, he's a cool dude, and I want to keep him that way! I don't want a regular guy running the country. We tried that for eight years and New Orleans still smells like mildew. Obama was different. He wasn't Joe Six-Pack. He had a six-pack. And when he gave a speech it didn't make English teachers cry. He wasn't some regular schmuck who spent five hours a weekend on the golf course. Why? Because he actually likes his family!

...What they do,[President & Mrs. Obama] Americans want to do, because they're stars, and we're star-fuckers! And, like I said last week, we're not very bright, so we need direction -- if Obama grabbed Biden for lunch next week and ordered a veggie burger -- yes, Sean Hannity will call him a mincing fairy, like he did when Obama used mustard instead of ketchup -- like I ever knew one was more manly than the other. Stop caring what Sean Hannity and Sarah Palin will say about you. Be who you really are - a basketball playing, Jay-Z listening, city-dwelling hipster. The only sand trap I want to see you get out of is Afghanistan. And next time you have to get two guys over for a beer, smoke a little weed.

Floyd To the Right of Me...

Somedays I just find myself walking around and shaking my head. Today I'm scratching my head as well. Last night's Lunatic Fringe show was, to say the least, that I won't soon forget.

Now, Floyd Cochran and I have worked together for a number of years in various capacities and we don't always agree. Yet, we share a mutual respect for each other and for our individual opinions. Our relationship is a good example of how people can come together for a common cause and work together toward a common goal while vehemently disagreeing in other areas. If you haven't listened to this show - you will hear some of that disagreement. You will also hear Floyd's right-wing side. (sigh)

Floyd to the right of me...Nikki to the left...here we are, stuck in the middle with no one but YOU!

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All They Need Is A Spark...

This is not all that surprising given the current climate in this country. However, it should be a wake-up call. We, as a nation, are just a stones throw away from some of the greatest civil unrest ever witnessed by many Americans. All it will take is a spark and this country will explode - I really do believe that. There is a good article here with links and videos:

TO THE ARTICLE

The Health Care Reform Issue

It seems that the entire country is at odds with each other these days. The election of the first African-American president was a joyous occasion for millions and a signal of apopcalyptic doom for others. The fact that he is a democrat didn't help either.

While the birthers have been having a hemorrhage trying to prove that President Obama isn't an American citizen and that his election must be declared null-and-void, they have also been pushing their Barackophobia in another direction looking for more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.

The issues surrounding the current health care reform bill have given rise to some very radical claims and controversies and some very passionate protests, to put it mildly.

Recently, a reader of this blog posted what he believes to be is a line item "breakdown" of HR 3200 which is currently at the root of the problem. Now, there are few of us would disagree that our health care system is broken and that something must be done to fix this train wreck. And...few would argue the fact that when looking toward such a massive undertaiking, it can become very confusing and that often much is lost in translation. What we don't need is a whole lot of misinformation, a host of scare-tactics and a bevy of bullies - and it seems that is just what we have.

I caution you that this so-called "breakdown" originated with the Liberty Counsel - a far-right group of zealots closely affiliated with Jerry Falwell and vehemently opposed to President Obama. I issue this caution because the 1000+ page bill is cumbersome at best and filled with what I believe to be nebulous language and open to interpretation. That, in and of itself, is frightening. However, even more frightening to me is that the far-right has chosen to interpret the document as something evil and is attempting to fraudulently confound the public for the satisfaction of their own agenda.

I am publishing this line-by-line analysis from the right in several parts for the purpose of discussion and to help shed some light on some of the major concerns. For all who wish to comment here, please stay on topic and remain civil. This is an important issue and one that needs close and serious attention. Parenthetical remarks have been added by the original poster:

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Government will audit the books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC Bill - YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC Bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get

Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice!

Pg 50 Section 152 in HC Bill - HC will be provided to ALL non-U.S. citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58 HC Bill – Government will have real-time access to individual’s finances and a National ID Health Care Card will be issued!

Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Government will have direct access to your banks accounts for electronic funds transfer.

(NOTE- This really does mean they can take your money at any time. Who will have this authority?—a government bureaucrat.)

Pg 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions and community organizations (ACORN).

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Government is creating a Health Care Exchange to bring private health care plans under government control.

Pg 84 Sec 203 HC Bill - Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private health care plans in the Exchange

Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The government will ration your health care!

Pg 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Government mandates linguistic appropriate services.

Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The government will use groups i.e., ACORN & AmeriCorps to sign up individuals for government Health Care Plan

Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Ben Levels 4 Plans. #AARP members - Your health care WILL be rationed!

Pg 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individual will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

Pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue the government on price fixing. No “judicial review” against government monopoly.

Pg 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The government will tell YOU what you can make.

Pg 145 Line 15-17 An employer MUST auto enroll employees into public opt plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for health care for part-time employees AND their families.

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll 400k and above who does not prov. pub opt. pays 8% tax on all payroll

Pg 150 Lines 9-13 Businesses with payroll between 251k and 400k who do not provide public opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll

Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable health care according to government will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay).

Pg 195 Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans' financial and personal records.

Pg 203 Line 14-15 HC - “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it says that.

Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.

Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, it does not matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same.

Pg 253 Line 10-18 Government sets value of doctors' time, prof judg, etc. Literally value of humans.

Pg 265 Sec 1131Government mandates and controls productivity for private health care industries.

Pg 268 Sec 1141 Federal Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.

Pg 272 SEC. 1145. Treatment of certain cancer hospitals – Cancer patients - welcome to rationing!

(Note: Much cancer treatment will not work unless implemented early, but the waiting time just to see a specialist will likely be months when this plan is implemented. As you can see in this bill, the option of the health care bureaucrat is to deny treatment to those they deem not likely to be helped by it.)

Page 280 Sec 1151 The government will penalize hospitals for what government deems preventable re-admissions. (Incentives for hospital to not treat and release.)

Pg 298 Lines 9-11 Doctors that treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission-Government will penalize you.

Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Government tells Doctors what/how much they can own.

Pg 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Government is mandating hospitals cannot expand.

pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception, BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!!

Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Government mandates establishment of outcome based measures. Health Care the way they want. Rationing.

Pg 341 Lines 3-9 Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans (Part B), HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Government plan.

Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Government will RESTRICT enrollment of special needs people!

Pg 379 Sec 1191 Government creates more bureaucracy – Tele-health Advisory Committee. Health care by phone/Internet?

PGs 701-704 Sec 1619 If your part of health care plan isn’t in Government Health Care Exchange but you qualify for Federal aid, no payment.

PG 705-709 SEC. 1128 If Secretary gets complaints (ACORN) on health care provider or supplier, government can do background check.

PG 711 Lines 8-14 The Secretary has broad powers to deny health care providers/ suppliers admittance into Health Care Exchange. Your doctor could be thrown out of business.

Pg 719-720 Sec 1637 ANY Doctor who orders durable medical equipment or home medical services MUST be enrolled in Medicare.

PG 722 Sec 1639 Government MANDATES doctors must have face-to-face with patient to certify patient for Home Health Services.

PG 724 23-25 PG 725 1-5 The same government certifications will apply to Medicaid and CHIP (your kids).

PG 724 Lines 16-22 Government reserves right to apply face-to-face certification for patient to ANY other health care service.

Pg 735 lines 16-25 For law enforcement, proposes the Secretary-HHS will give Attorney General access to ALL data.

PG 740-757 Government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured (That's your tax dollars people).

Pg 757-762 Federal Government will shift burden of payments to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) to States. (Taxes)

Pg 763 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin.

Pg 765 Sec 1711 Government will require Preventative Services including vaccines. (Choice?)

Pg 768 Sec 1713 Government – Nurse Home Visitation Services (Hello union paybacks).

Pg 769 11-14 Nurse Home Visit Services include economic self-sufficiency, employ adv, school-readiness.

Pg 769 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - “increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Government ABORTIONS anyone?

Pg 770 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Abortion and State Sovereign.

(NOTE-Can you believe that in America you will be told how many children you can have, and when? Does this mean we can expect the government to impose mandatory abortions? How else can this be interpreted?)
Pg 789-797 Government will set, mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs brought to market. Bye innovation.

Pgs 797-800 SEC. 1744 PAYMENTS for graduate medical education. The government will now control doctors’ educations.

PG 801 Sec 1751 The government will decide which health care conditions will be paid. Say RATION!

Pg 810 SEC. 1759. Billing Agents, clearinghouses, etc. req. to register. Government takes over private payment system.

Pg 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal financial information.

Pg 824-829 SEC. 1802. Government sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. Another tax black hole.

PG 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self-insured to pay for Trust Fund!

PG 835 11-13 fees imposed by government for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes.

Pg 838-840 Government will design and implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids and families expecting kids.

PG 844-845 This Home Visitation Program includes government coming into your house and telling you how to parent!!!

(NOTE-If you think this sounds like “Big Brother” actually coming into our homes, we really need to think about what comes after Big Brother. )

Pg 859 Government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes that’s billion.

Pg 865 The government will MANDATE the establishment of a National Health Service Corps.

PG 865 to 876 The NHS Corps is a program where doctors perform mandatory health care for two years for part loan repayment.

PG 876-892 The government takes over the education of our medical students and doctors.

PG 898 The government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps to ensure supply of public health prof.

PG 898 The Public Health Workforce Corps shall consist of civilian employees of the U.S. as Secretary deems.

PG 898 The Public Health Workforce Corps shall consist of officers of Regular and Reserve Corps of Service.

PG 900 The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians.

PG 901 The Public Health Workforce Corps WILL include commissioned Regular and Reserve Officers. HC Draft?

PG 910 The government will develop, build, and run Public Health Training Centers.

PG 913-914 Government starts a health care affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.

PG 915 SEC. 2251. Government MANDDATES Cultural and linguistic competency training for health care professionals.

Pg 932 The Government will establish Preventative and Wellness Trust fund- initial cost of $30,800,000,000 billion.

PG 935 21-22 Government will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control YOU!!

PG 936 Government will develop “Healthy People and National Public Health Performance Standards” Tell me what to eat?

(NOTE-This is no joke—the government will be able to actually mandate what you can eat or not eat. This could be helpful for some, but do we want the government doing it?)

PG 942 Lines 22-25 More government? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Svc, Minority Health, Women’s Health

PG 950- 980 BIG GOVERNMENT core pub health infrastructure including workforce capacity, lab systems, health info sys, etc.

PG 993 Government will establish school based health clinics. Your kids won’t have a chance or choice.

PG 994 School Based Health Clinic will be integrated into the school environment. Say government brainwash!

PG 1001 The government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?

NUFF SAID...

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HOW ABOUT YA QUIT MAKIN THINGS UP

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

STILL NO CIGAR FOR HAL...

TO ORIGINAL SOURCE

August 10, 2009


BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter
A lightning-rod Internet blogger and radio host out of New Jersey was a paid FBI informant, once turned over a silencer to the feds and even passed on information about a threat against President Obama.

But none of that is enough to get him out of jail now, a federal judge ruled this afternoon.

U.S. District Judge Martin Ashman said Hal Turner — accused of threatening to assault and murder three federal judges — is still a danger to the community.

Ashman said the fact that Turner from his New Jersey prison cell managed to record and post on the Internet a telephone conversation that included the names of his arresting FBI agents “tells me something about the disposition of Mr. Turner.” Ashman denied Turner’s request to have FBI agents testify at his bond hearing.

Ashman’s ruling comes despite today’s revelation that the FBI paid Turner “tens of thousands of dollars” to work as an informant from 2002 to 2005. Last year, Turner told a U.S. marshal of a threat by someone to lob mortars into Grant Park during Obama’s election celebration.

Turner, 47, of North Bergen, N.J., is accused of attempting to instigate violence against three 7th Circuit judges after they authored an anti-gun rights ruling earlier this summer.

He posted a headline saying, “These judges deserve to be killed,” followed the next day by, “Judges official public work addresses and a map of the area are below. Their home addresses and maps will follow soon. Behold these devils.”

Turner posted the judges’ names, photographs, phone numbers, office address and room numbers, according to charges.

Calls for increased security and strengthened laws protecting jurists ramped up in 2005, after a disgruntled litigant broke into the North Side home of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow and murdered her husband and mother.

One of his lawyers, Michael Orozco, said Turner was nothing more than a “shock jock,” whose on-air rhetoric was out of line with the man who went home to his wife and family at day’s end.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hogan called Turner’s role as an informant a “sideshow,” to the question of bond, saying Turner simply passed along tips and rumors to the FBI.

In one email sent July 26, 2007, Turner tells an FBI agent of his intent to turn over a silencer kit for a .22-caliber weapon.

“Just the other day we were laughing about how HQ thinks I’m satan incarnate,” Turner writes in the e-mail. “How the heck am I going to fulfill their fears if I go turning stuff like this in the way a law-abiding citizen does?”

(Empahsis added)

Blackwater Founder Implicated In Murder

Jeremy Scahill is one gutsy and tenacious repoter. Several years ago I wrote an article about Blackwater's founder, Eric Prince, and his many connections to the far right-wing Christian extremists. Their role in Iraq, and their connections to the White House have long been a major concern for me - looks like I was right. Please give this article the respect that it deserves...

TO THE NATION ARTICLE & LINKS

Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder
By Jeremy Scahill

August 4, 2009


A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."


Jeremy Scahill: Despite the State Department's announcement canceling Blackwater's contracts in Iraq, the Obama administration will pay the company more than $174 million for security services in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Blackwater or Murder, Inc.?
Blackwater

Countdown : Between the illegal weapons, explosive ammunition and the possibility that Blackwater operatives killed civilians as practice, the picture of the military contractor gets darker by the day.
Will Blackwater Founder Face Charges?
Blackwater

GRIT TV : Erik Prince has been implicated in murder, viewed himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims from the globe and his company smuggled weapons into Iraq.

US Still Paying Blackwater Millions
Blackwater

Jeremy Scahill: Despite the State Department's announcement canceling Blackwater's contracts in Iraq, the Obama administration will pay the company more than $174 million for security services in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Jeremy Scahill: Sworn statements filed in Federal Court allege that Blackwater founder Erik Prince launched a "crusade" to eliminate Muslims and Islam.
White House is Whistling Past Afghan Graveyard
Russell Feingold

Jeremy Scahill: In an exclusive interview with The Nation, Sen. Russ Feingold defends his lone vote to oppose the latest amendment to the Defense Authorization bill.

In their testimony, both men also allege that Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq. One of the men alleges that Prince turned a profit by transporting "illegal" or "unlawful" weapons into the country on Prince's private planes. They also charge that Prince and other Blackwater executives destroyed incriminating videos, emails and other documents and have intentionally deceived the US State Department and other federal agencies. The identities of the two individuals were sealed out of concerns for their safety.

These allegations, and a series of other charges, are contained in sworn affidavits, given under penalty of perjury, filed late at night on August 3 in the Eastern District of Virginia as part of a seventy-page motion by lawyers for Iraqi civilians suing Blackwater for alleged war crimes and other misconduct. Susan Burke, a private attorney working in conjunction with the Center for Constitutional Rights, is suing Blackwater in five separate civil cases filed in the Washington, DC, area. They were recently consolidated before Judge T.S. Ellis III of the Eastern District of Virginia for pretrial motions. Burke filed the August 3 motion in response to Blackwater's motion to dismiss the case. Blackwater asserts that Prince and the company are innocent of any wrongdoing and that they were professionally performing their duties on behalf of their employer, the US State Department.

The former employee, identified in the court documents as "John Doe #2," is a former member of Blackwater's management team, according to a source close to the case. Doe #2 alleges in a sworn declaration that, based on information provided to him by former colleagues, "it appears that Mr. Prince and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information, to the federal authorities about the ongoing criminal conduct." John Doe #2 says he worked at Blackwater for four years; his identity is concealed in the sworn declaration because he "fear[s] violence against me in retaliation for submitting this Declaration." He also alleges, "On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince's employ, Mr. Prince's management has personally threatened me with death and violence."

In a separate sworn statement, the former US marine who worked for Blackwater in Iraq alleges that he has "learned from my Blackwater colleagues and former colleagues that one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information about Erik Prince and Blackwater have been killed in suspicious circumstances." Identified as "John Doe #1," he says he "joined Blackwater and deployed to Iraq to guard State Department and other American government personnel." It is not clear if Doe #1 is still working with the company as he states he is "scheduled to deploy in the immediate future to Iraq." Like Doe #2, he states that he fears "violence" against him for "submitting this Declaration." No further details on the alleged murder(s) are provided.

"Mr. Prince feared, and continues to fear, that the federal authorities will detect and prosecute his various criminal deeds," states Doe #2. "On more than one occasion, Mr. Prince and his top managers gave orders to destroy emails and other documents. Many incriminating videotapes, documents and emails have been shredded and destroyed."

The Nation cannot independently verify the identities of the two individuals, their roles at Blackwater or what motivated them to provide sworn testimony in these civil cases. Both individuals state that they have previously cooperated with federal prosecutors conducting a criminal inquiry into Blackwater.

"It's a pending investigation, so we cannot comment on any matters in front of a Grand Jury or if a Grand Jury even exists on these matters," John Roth, the spokesperson for the US Attorney's office in the District of Columbia, told The Nation. "It would be a crime if we did that." Asked specifically about whether there is a criminal investigation into Prince regarding the murder allegations and other charges, Roth said: "We would not be able to comment on what we are or are not doing in regards to any possible investigation involving an uncharged individual."

The Nation repeatedly attempted to contact spokespeople for Prince or his companies at numerous email addresses and telephone numbers. When a company representative was reached by phone and asked to comment, she said, "Unfortunately no one can help you in that area." The representative then said that she would pass along The Nation's request. As this article goes to press, no company representative has responded further to The Nation.

Doe #2 states in the declaration that he has also provided the information contained in his statement "in grand jury proceedings convened by the United States Department of Justice." Federal prosecutors convened a grand jury in the aftermath of the September 16, 2007, Nisour Square shootings in Baghdad, which left seventeen Iraqis dead. Five Blackwater employees are awaiting trial on several manslaughter charges and a sixth, Jeremy Ridgeway, has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempting to commit manslaughter and is cooperating with prosecutors. It is not clear whether Doe #2 testified in front of the Nisour Square grand jury or in front of a separate grand jury.

The two declarations are each five pages long and contain a series of devastating allegations concerning Erik Prince and his network of companies, which now operate under the banner of Xe Services LLC. Among those leveled by Doe #2 is that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe":


To that end, Mr. Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.


Mr. Prince operated his companies in a manner that encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life. For example, Mr. Prince's executives would openly speak about going over to Iraq to "lay Hajiis out on cardboard." Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game. Mr. Prince's employees openly and consistently used racist and derogatory terms for Iraqis and other Arabs, such as "ragheads" or "hajiis."

Among the additional allegations made by Doe #1 is that "Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq." He states that he personally witnessed weapons being "pulled out" from dog food bags. Doe #2 alleges that "Prince and his employees arranged for the weapons to be polywrapped and smuggled into Iraq on Mr. Prince's private planes, which operated under the name Presidential Airlines," adding that Prince "generated substantial revenues from participating in the illegal arms trade."

Doe #2 states: "Using his various companies, [Prince] procured and distributed various weapons, including unlawful weapons such as sawed off semi-automatic machine guns with silencers, through unlawful channels of distribution." Blackwater "was not abiding by the terms of the contract with the State Department and was deceiving the State Department," according to Doe #1.

This is not the first time an allegation has surfaced that Blackwater used dog food bags to smuggle weapons into Iraq. ABC News's Brian Ross reported in November 2008 that a "federal grand jury in North Carolina is investigating allegations the controversial private security firm Blackwater illegally shipped assault weapons and silencers to Iraq, hidden in large sacks of dog food." Another former Blackwater employee has also confirmed this information to The Nation.

Both individuals allege that Prince and Blackwater deployed individuals to Iraq who, in the words of Doe #1, "were not properly vetted and cleared by the State Department." Doe #2 adds that "Prince ignored the advice and pleas from certain employees, who sought to stop the unnecessary killing of innocent Iraqis." Doe #2 further states that some Blackwater officials overseas refused to deploy "unfit men" and sent them back to the US. Among the reasons cited by Doe #2 were "the men making statements about wanting to deploy to Iraq to 'kill ragheads' or achieve 'kills' or 'body counts,'" as well as "excessive drinking" and "steroid use." However, when the men returned to the US, according to Doe #2, "Prince and his executives would send them back to be deployed in Iraq with an express instruction to the concerned employees located overseas that they needed to 'stop costing the company money.'"

Doe #2 also says Prince "repeatedly ignored the assessments done by mental health professionals, and instead terminated those mental health professionals who were not willing to endorse deployments of unfit men." He says Prince and then-company president Gary Jackson "hid from Department of State the fact that they were deploying men to Iraq over the objections of mental health professionals and security professionals in the field," saying they "knew the men being deployed were not suitable candidates for carrying lethal weaponry, but did not care because deployments meant more money."

Doe #1 states that "Blackwater knew that certain of its personnel intentionally used excessive and unjustified deadly force, and in some instances used unauthorized weapons, to kill or seriously injure innocent Iraqi civilians." He concludes, "Blackwater did nothing to stop this misconduct." Doe #1 states that he "personally observed multiple incidents of Blackwater personnel intentionally using unnecessary, excessive and unjustified deadly force." He then cites several specific examples of Blackwater personnel firing at civilians, killing or "seriously" wounding them, and then failing to report the incidents to the State Department.

Doe #1 also alleges that "all of these incidents of excessive force were initially videotaped and voice recorded," but that "Immediately after the day concluded, we would watch the video in a session called a 'hot wash.' Immediately after the hotwashing, the video was erased to prevent anyone other than Blackwater personnel seeing what had actually occurred." Blackwater, he says, "did not provide the video to the State Department."

Doe #2 expands on the issue of unconventional weapons, alleging Prince "made available to his employees in Iraq various weapons not authorized by the United States contracting authorities, such as hand grenades and hand grenade launchers. Mr. Prince's employees repeatedly used this illegal weaponry in Iraq, unnecessarily killing scores of innocent Iraqis." Specifically, he alleges that Prince "obtained illegal ammunition from an American company called LeMas. This company sold ammunition designed to explode after penetrating within the human body. Mr. Prince's employees repeatedly used this illegal ammunition in Iraq to inflict maximum damage on Iraqis."

Blackwater has gone through an intricate rebranding process in the twelve years it has been in business, changing its name and logo several times. Prince also has created more than a dozen affiliate companies, some of which are registered offshore and whose operations are shrouded in secrecy. According to Doe #2, "Prince created and operated this web of companies in order to obscure wrongdoing, fraud and other crimes."

"For example, Mr. Prince transferred funds from one company (Blackwater) to another (Greystone) whenever necessary to avoid detection of his money laundering and tax evasion schemes." He added: "Mr. Prince contributed his personal wealth to fund the operations of the Prince companies whenever he deemed such funding necessary. Likewise, Mr. Prince took funds out of the Prince companies and placed the funds in his personal accounts at will."

Briefed on the substance of these allegations by The Nation, Congressman Dennis Kucinich replied, "If these allegations are true, Blackwater has been a criminal enterprise defrauding taxpayers and murdering innocent civilians." Kucinich is on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and has been investigating Prince and Blackwater since 2004.

"Blackwater is a law unto itself, both internationally and domestically. The question is why they operated with impunity. In addition to Blackwater, we should be questioning their patrons in the previous administration who funded and employed this organization. Blackwater wouldn't exist without federal patronage; these allegations should be thoroughly investigated," Kucinich said.

A hearing before Judge Ellis in the civil cases against Blackwater is scheduled for August 7.

About Jeremy Scahill
Jeremy Scahill, a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute, is the author of the bestselling Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, published by Nation Books. He is an award-winning investigative journalist and correspondent for the national radio and TV program Democracy Now!. more...

THE ELECTION BROKE THEIR BRAINS

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

BAD FOR GOP = GOOD FOR FOX

The fledgling GOP seems to be coming completely fragmented. What lies ahead is anyone's guess - but whether or not the Republicans can ever again regain power is looking more and more unlikely. Yet, there are those who benefit greatly from this great divide and FOX News is certainly capitalizing. This analysis appears on Gawker.com.

FULL REPORT HERE

Fox News posted an astonishing 50% jump in profit last quarter amid a disastrous advertising recession, and it's basically the only thing making money in Rupert Murdoch's empire. Why? Because the GOP has cratered.

Fox News' viewership is up 45% over the last year, and it's easy to see why: The ascendancy of a charismatic black Democrat has driven frightened, paranoid, enraged, nativist zealots into the ideological embrace of an outlet that habitually reconfirms everything they already believe. Watching Glenn Beck's spell-binding sermons on Barack Obama's racism is comforting to people who believe that their way of life—namely, one in which fatherly white Christians protect us from danger both internal and external—is under attack. So they do it more frequently. Tuning into Hannity et.al. becomes a life-affirming political act.

But while cable news is niche, politics is mass. The chart above shows GOP party approval in as reported by New York Times/CBS in national polls going back to 2006 and Fox News' total primetime audience, in millions, over the same time period. Fox News can and does thrive with a primetime audience of 2.5 million, many of which are the aforementioned zealots. The Republican Party needs more than that to function electorally. And the aforementioned angry zealotry that's in vogue on Fox News is distasteful to the independent voters that the GOP needs to court.

Unfortunately for Republicans and fortunately for Roger Ailes, a feedback loop has been created: As disaffected conservatives turn increasingly to Fox News, Fox News caters its programming to keep them coming back, turning, for instance, the Tea Parties into a daylong televised festival of rage. But given Fox's well-earned brand identification with the Republican Party, and vice versa, that programming serves to promote a view of Republicans as angry white people who hate Puerto Rican judges. Which turns off independent voters, which further isolates the diehard rejectionist wing of the party, which increases the importance of Fox News in their lives as a reassuring voice telling them to be strong in the face of the barbarian hordes—or, as Glenn Beck puts it, "We surround them."

The more viewers Fox attracts, the more voters the GOP repels. And the more voters the GOP repels, the more viewers Fox attracts. The most important part of the dynamic is that Fox News has no interest in doing anything other than attracting viewers. It will continue to ride this wave of anger and resentment irrespective of what impact it has on the Republican Party until it stops making them money. And yes, Barack Obama's popularity is dropping, and the bloom is beginning to come off the rose. But the GOP hasn't seen a concomitant rise in popularity: Just yesterday it hit the lowest approval rating it has seen in a quarter century, according to the New York Times.

Poison Gas & Sealed Doors?

TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE

FBI joins investigation into Tucson hate crime

Tucson, AZ - The FBI is now leading the investigation of a Tucson hate crime. The home of two Jewish people on the northwest side was the target of vandals who placed a chemical device, a firebomb, tagged walls, and even left behind small dead animals, says the Pima County Sheriff's department.

It happened at the Casas Del Oro community off Magee Road near Shannon Road. The homeowners called 911 just before 5:00 Sunday morning when they couldn't get out of their home. Deputies say it was surrounded by dangerous material, which brought out the bomb squad, a fire hazmat team and even the FBI's weapons of mass destruction response team.

"Apparently somebody was trying to do some damage to these people," said Bob Bishop, who lives in the gated community.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department says foam had been sprayed on both the garage and front door, sealing them shut. The bomb squad also found a type of firebomb device in front of the home and a chemical dispersal device behind the home. Plus, several small dead animals on the doorstep and tagging on the walls. A neighbor tells us it was profanity written in Spanish.

"That in connection with some of the other things they found all are pointing to maybe a hate crime," said Deputy Dawn Barkman with PCSD.

But it affected the whole neighborhood when a cloud of gas formed over the area. Some neighbors were evacuated, others told to keep their windows and doors closed. Deputies say the chemical was chlorine mixed with an unknown substance.

"We've asked residents in this area to stay indoors, refrain from outdoor activities," Barkman said.

"This is obviously a targeted deal. This is not something that just happened," Bishop said.

James Redzinak delivers papers in the community everyday, early in the morning. He says he didn't see anything and can't see why anyone would target the area.

"Especially in a gated community, it makes me wonder if we're really safe anywhere," Redzinak said.

That's why he'll keep an extra eye on the neighborhood in the days to come.

"It just kind of makes me sick to think that somebody would target anybody based on race or anything else," said Redzinak.

We still don't know anything about the suspects or a motive. Detectives are still deep in the investigation. We do know that the gas cloud put five residents in the hospital, but we're told they're expected to be OK.

The FBI is now the lead agency in this crime.

According to Marana Police the couple was vandalized back in November when they were living in Dove Mountain, but the police were never able to prove it was a hate crime.

The victims have returned to their home and are now trying to clean up the mess left behind.

McCain's Bimbo No Lady...

Is that the size of Sarah's brain she is describing?

The first time that I ever saw Sarah Palin was when John McCain announced her as his running mate. The first thing I said about her was that she was an "airheaded Bimbo." You see, I have known quite a few in my lifetime and can usually spot 'em a mile away.

Now, when it came to light that she had been able to hide her pregnancy while governing the state of Alaska and everyone started wondering if the baby was really hers or her daughter's, I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. When it came to light that her teen-aged daughter was pregnant while Mama espoused family values from the dais, I didn't jump on that bandwagon. Teenagers make mistakes - even those who come from solid families.

Ethics violations, forked-tongue speech, and insipid stupidity were sure to do the Bimbo in. I was right. The Alaskan blogosphere helped a lot, as well and the McCain/Palin ticket went down in proverbial flames. But, there were still those die-hards who just can't see the forrest for the trees. You know the ones...they can be pulled through a bramble bush backwards, rolled in the muck of a pig-sty, kicked by a mule and still refuse to say they are having a bad day. Holding on to that cockeyed dream of a Palin presidency, these poor, misled, sycophants kept their eyes and their hopes on 2012.

Palin tried hard to portray herself as a Christian woman of high morals and character who would fight for families and their values. As an almost strident pro-lifer, Sarah endeared herself to the ultra-right wing. As a former beauty queen, she endeared herself to the conservative, testosterone driven male. As a politician, she was less adept.

Alaska, often referred to by Palin as the "Real America," became the focus of attention once again over the July Fourth weekend when the Mavericky Palin announced her resignation saying that she didn't want to be a "lame-duck," giving rise to gales of media laughter as it was once again obvious that Palin's ignorance was showing.

Speculation of why such a resignation had taken place went all over the map. Then she was hit with another accusation of ethics violations and many innuendoes. However, the handwriting was on the wall when she gave her resignation speech and ditched her husband immediately afterward - just not everyone saw it.

On Saturday, the Alaskan blog, The Immoral Minority reported that a trusted source had offered information that Sarah Palin and her husband Todd were splitting the sheets. Supposedly, in a fit of rage, Sarah had thrown her wedding ring into a lake earlier and the two might be seeking a divorce.

Next, it would seem that this hockey-mom, flag-waving bimbo hasn't exactly been the paragon of virtue and upholder of family values that she hood-winked her unsuspecting and desperate following into believing. It would appear that Todd Palin couldn't rein in the maverick either based on a report in the National Enquirer.

Now...Sarah just wasn't any too happy with the blogger over at The Immoral Minority and when Sarah isn't happy she calls Thomas Van Flein - that's her lawyer, with whom she is well acquainted. Tommy loves to threaten bloggers and has now done so at least four times in the last few weeks.

Van Flein sent out an email letter to Gryphon - the blog owner - threatening to serve him with legal papers in the kindergarten class where he works. How's that for class? But then, I guess you have to consider who he is representing.

I can't wait until the next installment on McCain's Bimbo - she sure ain't no lady. Told ya so.

Hal Still In The News

Jersey Journal File Photo

Hate blogger Harold "Hal'' Turner of North Bergen is planning to plead innocent next week when he goes before a Connecticut judge on charges he threatened state lawmakers, his lawyer said.


Turner is also facing unrelated federal charges accusing him of threatening to kill three Chicago-based federal judges.

He's due back in in Hartford Superior Court on Tuesday.

Turner was charged after urging his blog readers to "take up arms" against state Sen. Andrew McDonald and Rep. Michael Lawlor.

Turner was angry over legislation that would have given lay members of Roman Catholic churches more control over their parishes' finances. The bill was withdrawn in March.

There is a chance the hearing could be postponed. Turner is currently in jail without bond in Illinois, where he is accused of threatening to kill three federal judges.

I think the chances of a postponement are pretty darned good given his current situation. Something tells me that Hartford might have to wait a little while.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 30, 2009

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Orozco, Attorney at law
973-735-2683
ARREST OF RADIO HOST HAL TURNER
Chicago, IL –

On June 2, 2009, Hal Turner, sitting in his home in New Jersey, opined on his web site that the recent opinion of three judges in the Seventh Circuit was unconstitutional. That opinion was legally protected free speech pursuant to numerous rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Three weeks later, the FBI executed a search warrant on his home in North Bergen. Nothing illegal was found, yet Mr. Turner was arrested and charged with violating a federal statute which makes it a crime to threaten to assault or injury a judge in retaliation of the performance of their official duties. Mr. Turner never, under any circumstances, meant this communication to be seen as a true threat to these judges.

Since his incarceration Mr. Turner has been subjected to de-humanizing conditions at jail. This is not justice; this is the persecution and mistreatment of Mr. Turner through administrative means. He has been denied medical treatment; he has been denied access to a means to contact his family for weeks, as well as his attorneys; he has been declared a high level threat despite the fact that he has never committed an act of violence, and; had caps on his teeth removed as he was told they could be used as a weapon. Currently Mr. Turner’s blood pressure has reached an alarming number, yet he has received no medical attention. The pleas from his family to the jail have gone unanswered.

At the July 28th, 2009 bond hearing, Magistrate Judge Ashman gave Mr. Turner’s attorneys more time to produce evidence of his prior acts while working as an FBI informant and immediately after which resulted in numerous lives being saved and sophisticated military hardware from being placed into the black market.

First, Hal Turner did more than "opine" that the Judge's rulings were unconstitutional. He said that they should be killed and provided a map to their offices. Whether or not this is protected by the First Amendment is the issue. But, for an attorney to issue such a erroneous and misleading statement flies in the face of all of those following the case. Tell the damned truth and let's go from there.

Secondly - Hal Turner has access to a physician and is not being denied medical attention when necessary. The guards and employees there are, for the most part, highly professional and the last thing that they want is someone dying on their watch.

Yes...his phone calls are being curtailed - largely because of the stunt that he pulled earlier with putting out a recorded message; also because he is considered a high level threat which places him under special administrative measures. Hal cries a lot these days. He is prone to hysteria. That alone will cause his blood-pressure to increase.

Now that it has become public that he worked with the feds - does he or his wife want him sent into the general population? Perhaps they believe he would be better off "socializing?"

Still A Danger...

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/213830


Federal judge denies bond for neo-Nazi White
A judge called William A. White, who awaits trial in Roanoke, "a danger to the community."
By Laurence Hammack and Tim Taliaferro
The Roanoke Times


CHICAGO -- One week after he was cleared of using the Internet to encourage violence, a neo-Nazi leader from Roanoke, Va., learned Friday he must remain in jail while facing additional charges.

A federal judge denied bond for William A. White, saying he would pose a threat to the public if released.

The bond hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago marked the latest effort by White to obtain pretrial release in what has become his free-speech battle with the federal government.

"Five judges have found him dangerous to the community while charges were pending," Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow said in denying bond. "This court believes those decisions were well-reasoned and thorough.

"The court believes he is still a danger to the community."

Denlow based his ruling, in part, on a post White made to his Web site in which he described waking up every morning with the urge to "kill, kill, kill."

White will remain in custody while awaiting transfer to Roanoke, where he faces additional charges of making threats by telephone and e-mail and through his now-defunct Web site, overthrow.com.

The 32-year-old white supremacist had been charged in Chicago with posting the name, address and telephone number of the foreman of the jury that convicted a fellow neo-Nazi. Prosecutors had argued that White hoped one of his followers might harm the man.

But a judge ruled that his actions were protected by the First Amendment.

In the Roanoke case, prosecutors say White picked people to threaten from across the country: a bank employee in Kansas City, Mo.; a human rights lawyer in Canada; a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist in Maryland; a university administrator in Delaware; a small-town mayor in New Jersey; and a group of apartment complex tenants in Virginia Beach.

Most of the comments stemmed from White's anger over racial issues, such as a column by Leonard Pitts about black-on-white crime.

White also is facing a lawsuit filed by the apartment complex tenants, whom he contacted after learning they had filed a housing discrimination case against their landlord.

In angry letters displaying a swastika logo, White called the tenants "whiny Section 8 n------" and wrote that the white community's "patience with you and the government that coddles you runs thin."

A Sept. 2 trial date has been scheduled in the civil case. But White's attorney has requested the trial be postponed until the remaining criminal charges are resolved.

At Friday's bond hearing, an attorney from the Justice Department's civil rights division read from White's online writings. In one post, White wrote that he had developed "a very intricate plot for the murder of about a score of Roanoke city's Negro nuisances and their annoying counterparts at The Roanoke Times."

Such writings "are the window into Mr. White's mind," Paige Fitzgerald said in asking that he remain locked up.

White, clad in an orange jail jumpsuit, reclined far back in his chair and occasionally shook his head while Fitzgerald read his posts aloud. His lawyers have called his online rants nothing more than political hyperbole that fall within his free-speech rights.

"I think it's disturbing," defense attorney Nishay Sanan said after the hearing. Sanan pointed out that the charge dismissed in Chicago is similar to the ones White faces in Roanoke.

"You got to really question when a guy sits for nine months for things that are not even criminal charges, and he's facing similar charges in another jurisdiction, that he still has to sit in jail," Sanan said.

laurence.hammack @roanoke.com 981-3239