The Conscience Clause, Death Panels, and Health Care Reform

The idea of legalizing a medical conscience for Health Care providers originated with the debate around abortion.  The idea was simple enough: If a physician was morally opposed to abortion, he should be allowed to follow his conscious.  Fair enough.  But the conscience clause evolved under the Bush Administration, growing nasty tentacles of religious dogma. […]

“…Anger Can Blind Human Vision…” – Malcolm X

The Elijah Muhammad’s of 21st Century America are found in the right wing radio personalities and in the fringe of the Republican Party. People like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter, and the entire FOX media system. These are people who use distortion of reality to ferment, distill, and bottle the anger of misguided masses. They sell their potions of angry snake oil from the backs of their wagons every day. They have but one target – any form of civil progress as debated and negotiated by our representative Government.

Marketing War to Children

At a Fourth of July carnival last weekend, I was pushing our double stroller and sweating to the tinny sound of bad music while my children begged their grandparents for tickets to ride the Ferris Wheel. I was looking around and considering the impact that these events have on my children, since I remember being naively fond of them when I was young. It was almost as though things came into focus all of a sudden when I realized that about half of the games and vendors and rides had guns.

Michael Jackson, Legendary Hero or Villian

Michael Jackson is dead at age 50.  Already the hype has taken over the airways.  Even in death Jackson continues to shock the sensibilities of the entire populace, fans and foes.  Farrah Faucett died today at age 62 – no offense intended but Farrah has been bumped off the news cycle.  Michael Jackson was as […]

Tobacco Legislation – Save Our Children

President Obama signed legislation today placing tobacco under the authority of the Food and Drug Administration.  Well, finally!.  Nicotine is a drug; a very powerful drug.  Nicotine should be regulated, as much as heroine or cocaine or methamphetimines. Actually, regulation is not the correct word, or correct response to nicotine.  Nicotine has an addiction rate […]

Obama Apologies – Appropriate? Or Not?

Does President Obama apologize unnecessarily for America?   President Obama faces the world with legitimate humility, humbled by the embarrassment of the past administration.  President Obama is working hard to remove the plank from our own eye before trying to remove the splinter from adversaries.   We live in a harsh and brutal world, a world of […]

Of Fear, Faith, and Foreign Affairs

Fear and faith do not live in the same home.  The word ‘faith’ conjures images of peace of mind, hope for the future, for the fellowship of man.  Faith speaks to the lion lying with the lamb – and the lamb can sleep with both eyes closed.  Fear exists in a troubled mind, a troubled […]

Christian Sponsored Terrorism

The Associated Press has composed a list of recent abortion-related violence.  As an aside, we find their headline rather ironic – because it suggests the violence is a result of abortion.  But more important than the headline are the facts of fundamentalist Christian violence (we prefer to call this behavior Christian Terrorism). We have written […]

Cheney Is Afraid Of The Rule Of Law

Dick Cheney is speaking this morning, again.  But this time he is not being interviewed – he is giving a prepared speech.  His words are designed to discredit the President of the United States – something he abhorred when his President was in office.  Cheney continues to manipulate information to suit his needs – we […]

The Radical Right’s One Per Cent Solution

We have recently done a series of posts, with progressive concern, about the danger posed to this country by the Extreme Radical Right Wing.   What is the Radical Right Wing?  If we are to believe the media ratings companies like Nielsen – and we look at the ratings for Rush Limbaugh and Shawn Hannity – […]

Boy “Scouts Train to Fight Terrorists…”

The New York Times has a stunning article in their May 13 edition on the Explorer Boy Scout Program.  The Explorer Program has twelve specific areas of training – training youth for future careers.  Who can argue with that?  The Times is reporting on a new Explorer Program to train youth to fight terrorism and […]

Swine Flu, Pandemics, and Paid Sick Leave

Fast forward to the swine flu – and other possible contageous diseases that might one day strike at the heart of America. The Center for Disease Control is advising people to stay home from work if they are sick. But the financial burden of a sick day has been transferred to the employee – taking a sick leave in today’s work world means loss of potential income – or more accurately – a loss of future income.

The Conservative Manifesto For American Bloodshed

The deceptive elements of evil are alive and well within the right wing conservative movement. These people worship at the alter of false Reaganism. They quote Reagan as an opponent of government, when the obvious fact is that Ronald Reagan was the head of the government. The right wing of the early 21st Century distorts the words of President Reagan to serve their own evil purpose. Ronald Reagan NEVER advocated an armed revolution against the United States of America.

Radical Fanatics Are A Threat To America’s Safety

There is not a nickel’s worth of difference between the Left Wing Radicals of the 1960’s and contemporary Right Wing Radical fanatics. Both groups talk of revolution. Both groups oppose the government of The United States of America. Both groups have representatives who intentionally terrorize America. Both groups are responsible for the fear and hate and divisiveness that grips our country in troubled times.

The Two-Edged Sword of Justice

President Obama demonstrates his wisdom. He is reluctant to pursue charges against Bush administration officials for possible war crimes conducted during their ‘war on terror.’ Justice is a funny thing – and the Constitutional Lawyer in Barack Obama speaks to him of justice – but his maturity speaks to him of the bitterness of vengeance.

Feral Children – Raised by Republicans

New opportunities for scientific research into nature and nurture continue to present themselves. At issue today, after thirty years of degenerate evolution of the Republican Party, is the social and intellectual skills of feral children raised by Republicans.

There are common traits now understood by anthropologists. The commonality originates in a nurturing environment of isolation, confinement, and strict conformity toharsh rule.

Warning to Readers – this post shifts from humor to very serious and graphic depictions of human behavior.

Indicting George Bush for War Crimes

This writer is convinced that our former President, George W. Bush, committed war crimes. Specifically, the President authorized torture by water boarding and other means of interrogation – in violation of the Geneva Convention. Our country is a country of law. Situational justifying the breaking of law is a common defense in the lower courts. It does not work there – and it should not work for the President. But our life is more complicated in 2009.

The Phenomenon of Modern Guns

My age is classified in the category of Senior. Does that by itself suggest anything about my understanding of modern guns? No, it does not. Just checking for any preconceived bias. By chance I have owned guns in one form or another for about 35 years. In 1976 I shot Marksman on a police combat course with a four inch stainless steel Ruger Security Six 357 Magnum. That was a mouthful, but it points out that modern guns are very different than the arms defined in the 2nd Amendment. And that was 35 years ago. Modern guns of the 21st Century are just plain scary.

Does Our Economic Attitude Matter? A Hole in the Bucket.

Well, they (whoever they is) measure consumer confidence. What do you suppose that is about? Consumer confidence is a measurement of the confidence people have about their ability to sustain their life style – in a manner of speaking. The consequence of positive attitude is that people will spend their money because they have confidence that more is coming. Negative consumer confidence implies that people will not spend their money. Attitude does matter. Gratitude rhymes with attitude for a reason.

Michelle Obama, The New Princess Di

President Obama and the First Lady, Michelle Obama, have taken the stage in Europe.  While the G-20 Summit frames the visit by the American President, Michelle Obama has become an iconic presence.  Like Princess Diana of Great Britain, Mrs. Obama is known for her compassion, style, charisma – and her high  profile marriage. The public […]

Obama’s War – Afghanistan

At what point does President Obama assume responsibility for a war?  Is accepting responsibility for the war the same thing as owning the war?  When does any President ‘own’ a war?  This is a curious talking point for the 24/7 news media.  Historically, we generally do not tag our Presidents as owners of wars that […]

If You Like The Pentagon, You Will Really Love National Health Care

The congressional hearings on the economy are dominating the national media. One of the Republican members just made a cute comment. He said, “If you like the way the federal government you will really love national health care.” Cute and clever commentary makes for poor decision making. Clever is very different than being smart. We wonder if the congressman would make the same analogy with our military?

Bonuses for Republican Big Bosses

AIG – yesterday’s poster child for successful business – today’s poster child for greed, corruption, and righteous indignation. The AIG big whigs are getting big bonuses, paid for by you and me, taxpayers. So here is the question – how do you think these folks voted last November? Did they vote for Mr. Deregulation John McCain, or the upstart Barrack Obama? Are they Republicans or Democrats?

Bernie Madoff, Adequate Sorrow, Adequate Punishment

Madoff had his day in court.  He will have more.  Madoff plead guilty to eleven felony counts of fraud – of stealing from trusting customers.  But Madoff did not just steal the jewelery like a common burglar, he took the whole house, the car, the children’s teddy bear, and the family retirement account.  In his […]

Calling Rush Limbaugh, Debate Michael Moore

Rush Limbaugh, the fat mouth piece of the Republican Party has challenged President Obama to a debate. Of course, Limbaugh knows this is a safe challenge – because it will never happen. Rush is like that – safe. Limbaugh has captured and audience of angry malcontents, people who are looking for some one to blame for their miserable lives. Limbuagh feeds their anger, thus keeping them in the fenced yard. If Limbaugh wants to really debate someone, why not challenge Michael Moore.