What a difference between these two women.

I heard Michelle Obama speak last Friday about what she sees as problems in the healthcare system. Now, remember that she worked as a hospital administrator for quite some time but she didn't mention that. Instead she talked about how not having reform impacts families and women. Insurance companies often charge more for women because they have more needs, esp in the realm of childbearing. This should really cause more outrage. We complain about the amount of terminated pregnancies, yet women do not get the resources that they need. C-sections are actually considered by some to be preexisting conditions, and sometimes a mere pregnancy can be considered that as well. As I listened to Mrs. Obama speak, I realized that we need more strong women out there fighting specifically for us. This is the type of thing that has been lost in the world of death panels and rationing.

Then there's good ole Sarah Palin. She was speaking to business people in Hong Kong, and it has been reported that she was trashing President Obama. I remember years ago when the Dixie Chicks dared express their opinions of President Bush and they faced a backlash that devastated them. I'm not sure what even makes her an expert on the American economy to be talking to these folks anyway.

It is interesting how the two parties have their goto people representing different ethic, gender, etc groups and the ones that fall into that role.

Since when is promoting staying in school considered Socialism?

Okay... we've officially hit a point where the GOP is "off their rocker".

President Obama plans to give a little pep-talk to school kids next week as they return to school.
His plan is to talk about staying in school, working hard, and achieving educational goals.

Sounds good right? I would like my kids to hear that positive message.

Nope,

Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer issued a press release Tuesday slamming the plan, saying he is "absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology."

Seriously? I don't even know what to say here.

If President Bush had been thoughtful enough to do this, I'd have been thrilled. I'll even give him the benefit of the doubt that he had talked about the importance of exercise to children, if I remember correctly... I don't think that's an indoctrination to the conservative agenda.

The fact is that no matter what this president does, the GOP will be against it. President Obama has a long standing record of fighting for Education. Let's see the GOP try and step up and do something to help kids graduate besides taking away sex education.

More thoughts...healthcare and Ted Kennedy

Gosh, this summer has been so busy. I've had so much to say, but not a lot of time to write it.
I'm saddened by the passing of Ted Kennedy. I was actually shocked when I woke up last Wednesday and saw that he had died. I know the tumor was malignant and by all accounts he wasn't doing well the past couple of months, but for some reason I just thought he would conquer it, like he had done with so many things in the past. It takes a special man to have been born wealthy, yet champion time and again for the poor and underprivileged. To fight for civil rights and to hold his family together after so much tragedy.

I would hope this would put the fire under the Democratic Senators asses about how important healthcare was to him. The Republicans are trying to spin it into a case where he would have compromised with them... but I don't see it that way. He would have fought until the end to get a bill with some meaning. I woke up this morning and saw that Pres Obama is finally gonna come out and talk about what he sees the healthcare reform needing. That has been sorely lacking, leadership from the White House. With so-called bipartisan talks going on, and then the Republican Senators being sleazy behind closed doors about how they are trying to kill it? The writing should be on the wall for Pres Obama. I'm not saying the Dems are off the hook here. They need stop wimping out on things.

The fact remains that the Republicans are probably gonna think they won either way. If they defeat the Public Option part of reform, they will think they have dealt a big blow to the president and that they can stand against him on everything (well, they've already done that to a degree)... they will have gotten what they want, AND then they can BLAME it on the Dems by saying... "You had the House, the Senate and the White House... you could have gotten it done." If the Dems get the Public Option, they can cry and whine about the lack of bipartisanship and ... let's face it... It would take awhile to get it going, so they could say that it wasn't working.. blahblah like they are with the Stimulus package (which, is actually working.)

If we're (the dems) going to get blamed for anything, everything anyway... shouldn't we get what we want, and what's best for the people? No one would dare touch Medicare now, and that had to be jammed through with only Democratic support.

What this is really about to the Republicans, is that if Obama achieves anything worthwhile, esp the elephant in the room (healthcare), then voters may likely keep Dems in office. Isn't that sad, that this is what our country has come to?

I'm no fan of President Bush... however, if he had done anything that would have benefitted the country and risk keeping him in office, I'd have been okay with that.

If the President lets this get away from him... as much as I admire him and love his policies/ideas, I would definitely have to think about voting green party in 2012. He needs to keep his word. His whole campaign, he talked about the public option.. and many people voted because they liked his ideas. He needs to stand by them and deliver.

What you can do to throw your hat into the ring.

Here is a funny article about ways to be involved should you want. Got a good laugh.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-wyskida/five-things-you-can-do-ab_b_262534.html

So thankful... for govt programs...

I just wanted to share a little bit about my experience with government programs. I worked as a dietitian for the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) for quite some time. This program provides food to Pregnant/Breastfeeding women, Infants, Children who meet the criteria. Have to have a financial and nutrition need. I saw the affect this program had on women who were truly grateful for it. Sure, there were some people who didn't really appreciate it, and it's not perfect. Not too many program that are not-for-profit are. We were frequently short staffed and people had to wait.

My son is getting speech therapy, and occupational therapy. He was born 1 month premature and has a small problem with muscle development that is causing him trouble to speak. He's been at it for 6 weeks now and it has worked wonders! I can actually have a conversation with him. If it weren't for the Early Intervention program in NYS, I don't know what would have happened. I surely can't afford it on my own.

And while, I am benefitting from all of your precious tax dollars... I never begrudged anyone that did before I used them. I was so thankful that women had access to WIC. That there is Medicaid, Food Stamps, Social Security.

I think we need to remember that nobody is perfect and everyone will need help some time in their life... and that is what being a country is all about isn't it. Isn't that more patriotic than flying a stupid flag outside your home? Picking up the weakest to become the strongest.

Listen up Democrats!

I want to give you some words of warning. You are about to blow a chance that people are literally dying for. They voted you into office to get us some affordable health care. Most of you are worried about the political outcomes of voting for a public plan. Well, I think you should be more worried about the political outcomes of not voting for a public plan. Because if legislation comes out that Congress without a public plan, you can guarantee that your asses are going to be out a job in 2010. How about you all show some balls and get this thing done for the people!

Apology Resolutions.

I just read that the GOP is introducing a resolution to "make" Obama apologize to the Cambridge Police.

Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous? We don't handle things like adults anymore? We write resolutions to "make" someone apologize? I mean, President Obama is handling this whole situation very much like you would hope for an adult to do. He has invited them both to talk it over at the White House/Martha's Vineyard.

And we don't have enough to do in the legislature? The GOP has whined and cried about not having enough time to properly research Sonya Sotomayor, or to hash out healthcare before the August break, yet they can propose this stupid resolution?

I've seen all kinds of resolutions, and quite frankly, I think they're all silly, no matter what side of the political fence you sit on. Let's focus on the things that really matter!