Serious Heathcare Reform - Industry pledges $2
trillion in cuts

Wow!  $2 trillion (that’s trillion with a T) in saving from the Health Care industry.  Now,[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.whereistheoutrage.net/wordpress/2009/05/11/serious-heathcare-reform-in
dustry-pledges-2-trillion-in-cuts/

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Serious Heathcare Reform - Industry Pledges $2
Trillion in Cuts

Wow! $2 trillion (that’s trillion with a “T”) in savings from the Health Care[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.whereistheoutrage.net/wordpress/2009/05/11/serious-heathcare-reform-in
dustry-pledges-2-trillion-in-cuts/

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Year of the Bible Something Funny Here

OK, so there’s this snarky piece on Kos telling us of 11 Republican Congressmen who have a bill going to ask President Obama to declare 2010 the Year of the Bible. Fun to read, but a little too much religion-bashing for me. Oh, please don’t get me wrong — I very much recognize that the Republicans have created a huge mess, that they are starting to get the word that a platform of “Just Say No” isn’t going to work, and the result is silly legislation they think will satisfy the base. Ergo H. Con. Res. 121: Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as “The National Year of the Bible.”

Now I find this legislation no more offensive than the silly bills designed to recognize the local Pork Queen. But I just ant to ask, if this is the “Year of the Bible,” that indicates to me that it’s a special year. What about other “Years of the Bible?” Well, according to the legislation, there’s been at least one before this:

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as ?The National Year of the Bible?.

Whereas the Bible has had a profound impact in shaping America into a great Nation;

Whereas deep religious beliefs stemming from the Old and New Testament of the Bible have inspired Americans from all walks of life, especially the early settlers, whose faith, spiritual courage, and moral strength enabled them to endure intense hardships in this new land;

Whereas many of our Presidents have recognized the importance of God and the Bible, including George Washington; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; John F. Kennedy; Ronald Reagan, who declared 1983 as ?The National Year of the Bible?; and especially Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th Birthday Celebration in 2009 highlighted freedom for the slaves;

Whereas shared Biblical beliefs unified the colonists and gave our early leaders the wisdom to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, both of which recognized the inherent worth, dignity, and inalienable rights of each individual, thus unifying a diverse people with the right to vote, and the freedoms of speech and vast religious freedoms, which inspired courageous men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the Civil Rights Movement;

Whereas the Bible has been the world?s best selling book since it was first published in English in 1526, and has influenced more people than any other book;

Whereas the Bible has been a cornerstone in the development of Western civilization, influencing the nations in the areas of history, law, politics, culture, music, literature, art, drama, and especially moral philosophy;

Whereas the Bible, used as a moral guide, has inspired compassion, love for our neighbor, and the preciousness of life and marriage, and has stimulated many benevolent, faith-based community initiatives and neighborhood partnerships that have healed and blessed our families, communities, and our entire Nation, especially in times of war, tragedy, and economic and social crisis;

Whereas the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have unified Americans, commemorated through shared celebrations such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; and

A couple quick thoughts. If Obama declares 2010 the “Year of the Bible,” does this supercede the Reagan “Year of the Bible” in 2010? Further, how can we have a “Year of the Bible” without Charlton Heston?

More seriously, are these Repubs serious about the legislation? I mean, is this actually written so as to get Obama to sign it and to appeal to African American voters? Maybe is the answer. Note that the legislation mentions Abraham Lincoln twice, the first time in relation to ending slavery. Martin Luther King, Jr. is also mentioned twice. The rhetroric of the appeal seems to be not necessarily aimed at the evangelical base of the GOP, but in vain at African Americans, at least a little. Of course African Americans will be joyful at the naming of 2010 as the “Year of the Bible.” This will certainly solve all problems of descrimination, and it will solve hate crimes as well, I’m sure.

Read The Full Article:
http://allspinzone.com/wp/2009/05/11/year-of-the-bible-something-funny-here/

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Bonus Scandal Hits AFP-Kansas' Director

When the story broke KS GOP leaders in the Kansas House giving massive bonuses- upwards of $20,000-[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://kansasjackass.blogspot.com/2009/05/bonus-scandal-hits-afp-kansas-director.
html

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Muse in the Morning

Muse in the MorningAn Opened Mind XXXIVArt LinkBreaking DreamsVendettaWhen did revengebecome part ofa liberal or progressiveagenda?How can we screamcall namesspead rumorsseek to crushour enemiesand remain trueto our moralconvictions?Is paybackall there[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Docudharma/~3/Y7seYMsn9i8/muse-in-the-morning

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Pundit ponders whether Rush will go ballistic
over Wanda Sykes

At the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, comedian Wanda Sykes took swipes at everyone, including Barack Obama. But, her best barbs were aimed at the titular head of the GOP, Rush Limbaugh. She took a swipe at Hannity, too. For those who didn't see it:

video details and more


When I posted the video on Saturday night, I wrote:

You know that both of these guys are going to be in a frenzy about this over the next couple days...the hard core right-wingers are very thin-skinned and have no sense of humor

Well, no less of an authority than Chris "The Fix" Cillizza, also a self-described Drudgeologist, wonders the same thing. First, Cillizza talked to some Republicans who, of course, didn't think it was funny at all. No one is ever allowed to make jokes at the expense of Rush.

Several Republicans the Fix spoke with, however, were far less sanguine about Sykes.

"Sykes was funny, toeing the line with her comedy the entire time until she brought up Rush," said Matt Mackowiak, a GOP consultant who attended the dinner. "It's one thing to say he is guilty of treason, another to say that he sounds like Osama Bin Laden, was the 20th hijacker on 9/11, and that you hope his kidneys fail. I thought it was over the line and marred her otherwise good performance."

Another GOP strategist who spoke only on the condition of anonymity said that Sykes's remarks about Limbaugh were "way beyond the pale" adding: "In essence she was saying, 'He's an anti-American terrorist and I hope he dies.' It's hard to see how that's in good fun."

Limbaugh himself did not return an email from the Fix seeking comment but it's hard to imagine that he won't address the issue in some way, shape or form on his radio show today. (Limbaugh may also want to take note of the fact that former vice president Dick Cheney said Sunday he'd rather have El Rushbo in the GOP than former Secretary of State Colin Powell. OUCH.)

Is this all much ado about nothing? Maybe. But, remember back to 2006 when Stephen Colbert used his speech at the Correspondents Dinner to deliver a smackdown of President George W. Bush and the press that covered him -- a moment cast by many liberals as an early clarion call for the sort of change Obama ran on and won with two years later.

Given that, there is clearly potential for Sykes' speech to echo well beyond the walls of the Washington Hilton. The question is whether anyone -- Limbaugh, GOP politicians etc -- will fan the flames over the next 24 to 48 hours. And, if so, does Sykes (or do any prominent Democrats) hit back?

Wanda should know we've got her back.

The traditional media types never got the Colbert thing. There is no equivalency here. Colbert mocked everyone sitting in that room.

Sykes was joking about a fellow entertainer, albeit one who runs the Republican party. But, watch to see if the inside-the-beltway pundits start saying Wanda was too tough on Rush. GOP leaders cower before Rush, but Wanda Sykes, a comedian, doesn't. And, many, many in the traditional media cower before Rush, too. Poor Rush. The butt of jokes. Because, you know, Rush is such a class act. He would never ever pick on or mock anyone -- especially anyone with debilitating disease:

video details and more

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Americablog/~3/Np3cxOx4hBY/pundit-ponders-whether-
rush-will-go.html

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Cheney's Media Torture

After eight years in the Bush bunker, the former Vice-President is out waterboarding voters with interviews to make them confess that electing Barack Obama was a plot to subvert national security.

Dick Cheney capped his first hundred days as a voluble has-been with a "Face the Nation" appearance yesterday to illustrate Murray Kempton's classic definition of politicians as generals who watch the battle from afar and come down afterward to shoot the wounded.

His main target was a real general, Colin Powell, whose injuries leading up to the Iraq war were inflicted by Cheney's own twisted Scooter Libby intelligence used in Powell's speech to persuade the UN that Saddam Hussein had WMDs.

Asked to choose between Powell and Rush Limbaugh to represent Republican principles, Cheney did not hesitate to side with The Mouth, saying "my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn?t know he was still a Republican."

More and more, Cheney is looking like one of those Japanese soldiers discovered in caves long after World War II ended to emerge blinking in the daylight, convinced that their emperor was still on the throne. The difference is that they slunk off in silence, too shamed to be giving interviews.



Read The Full Article:
http://ajliebling.blogspot.com/2009/05/cheneys-media-torture.html

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Ichiro Ozawa Hits The Trail

In the fine tradition of "I Know Nothing" or "I'm Not A Crook" Ichiro Ozawa has resigned as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan this following the arrest of his chief aid over charges of taking direct donations from Japanese corporations which violates campaign laws here.
Like the other leaders of Japans political parties he is unworthy of being more than a school crossing guard.  
Treating their constituents like children rather than the adults they are is it any wonder that those actively participating in electoral politics is declining at an alarming rate.  

So he resigns all for the "Good of the Party."

Japan's opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa
under fire over a political donations scandal, on Monday stepped down ahead of polls that conservative Prime Minister Taro Aso must call by September.
Ozawa -- head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) -- has been hit hard by the scandal, in which a top aide has been indicted for taking illegal donations from a construction company.
"To strengthen our party unity for a victory in the upcoming general elections and for a change of government, I have decided to sacrifice myself and resign as DPJ leader," said Ozawa.
Ozawa, a political veteran who stays on as a lawmaker, said the next election will be a great opportunity to end about half a century of nearly unbroken rule by Aso's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
"In order to achieve that goal, I believe the party must be united," he told a televised news conference. "We cannot win the next election if the party is divided. If the party is united, I firmly believe we can win."
He added: "In order to achieve the change of administration and to solidify the Democratic Party of Japan, I have made this decision."
Ozawa did not say who could succeed him at the helm of the party.

Read The Full Article:
http://http://ignoringasia.soapblox.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=41

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Always Back to Abortion

I'll do a more in-depth look at the last gasps of the 2009 Kansas Legislative session later today,[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://kansasjackass.blogspot.com/2009/05/always-back-to-abortion.html

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Warren County now wants stimulus money

In late April, Republican Representative Mike Turner planned to introduce legislation which would allow Ohio's Warren County to return rejected federal stimulus dollars to the U.S. Treasury in an effort to pay down the national debt.

At the time, Warren County Commissioner C. Michael Kilburn had this to say about the stimulus money:

I?ll let Warren County go broke before taking any of (President Barack) Obama?s filthy money.

The kindhearted Kilburn had more to say about those who require help:

Commissioner Kilburn said he is ?tired of worrying about people who don?t have.?

Turner's legislation may need to be placed on the backburner...Warren County wants the stimulus money now.

Despite saying it adamantly opposed receiving federal stimulus money, Warren County will accept funds to pay for a $2.9 million road resurfacing project.

Warren County Commission voted Thursday, May 7, to accept the funds that will allow almost 10 miles of county road to be repaired. The federal money will come from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, which is funded by stimulus dollars, according to Engineer Neil Tunison said

?Usually, these projects come out of the county bridge and road funds,? Tunison said. ?With the money saved there, we can focus on other projects around the county.?

This time, Kilburn skipped the meeting to vote on the project and instead criticized his fellow commissioners:

"I?m disappointed with the vote," Kilburn said. "Pat and Dave and Neil are doing what many good Republicans in Washington have done; they?ve lost their way and become big spenders."

Unlike Kilburn, I guess the other two commissioners aren't too terribly tired of "worrying about people who don?t have".

Read The Full Article:
http://www.themodernleft.com/2009/05/warren-county-now-wants-stimulus-money.html

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