Republican Talking Point: All Americans Have Health Care. (Rant ON)

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Tuesday July 21, 2009 · 11:52 AM PDT

2009/07/21 · 11:52

What follows is a rant. If you don't like rants, you shouldn't read it. If you don't like strong language, you shouldn't read it. In the event that you read it anyway, I apologize in advance for calling Mitch McConnell a $*!&%@, if that tea doesn't sit well in your cup.

Righteous indignation. The feeling you have when you are being done an injustice. Anger and dissapointment. The feelings you have when a system you trusted let you down, again and again and again. Fury. Open-mouthed, clenched-fisted, choirs of angels singing "O Fortuna"-ed fury. That's what happens when the majority leader of the Republican party goes on Meet the Press and states that uninsured Americans "don't go without healthcare", and in his next breath, implies that they get it for free. This is not the first time I have heard this talking point, but it had damn well better be the last.

sophically

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Tuesday July 07, 2009 · 9:39 PM PDT

2009/07/07 · 21:39

My own adventures in lack-of-insurance have been and are too complicated and frankly, painful, for me to discuss in a linear fashion. But something...well, somethings...happened today, that I thought I'd share. In the spirit of sharingness.

My mother also does not have insurance. She's not yet 50, pretty healthy (high blood pressure and cholesterol, recovered alcoholic with the attendent mental health issues), and so, as long as she doesn't get acutely ill, and she can afford to pay the doctors who prescribe her medication, and her sciatica doesn't cause intolerable pain...it's not too bad. She works for a small business in Raleigh (irony: she used to sell health insurance, and even then, she was uninsured. That's a whole 'nother story.)

This morning, her left ankle was swollen. This has happened a handful of times previous, and the swelling was worse than it had been before.

sophically

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Saturday June 27, 2009 · 7:20 PM PDT

2009/06/27 · 19:20

Since Micheal Jackson's unexpected death this past Wednesday, a veritable plethora of diaries have been written on the subject. Debate has turned around this issue: how do we reconcile the life of a purported artistic genius with the multiple allegations of child molestation leveled against him, and what is the appropriate tone to strike on the occasion of his passing?

My personal opinion is that all human beings are owed a measure of respect, and that we ought not dictate how others should grieve. At the same time, I can appreciate the visceral reactions of both his fans, who have been personally affected by his work, and his detractors, many of whom have been personally affected by abuse. But I do not wish to resurrect this debate.

Rather, I want to correct what I perceive as an misstep in the process of dealing with the issue of child abuse. I have been struck by the power and depth of moral outrage and condemnation against one, dead individual. I want to try to redirect those feelings toward positive action.

sophically

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Tuesday June 23, 2009 · 2:29 PM PDT

2009/06/23 · 14:29

First off, I am deeply indebted to the incredibly hardworking diarists nyceye and slinkerwink, who have been keeping health care action diaries in the rec list. Thanks so much, and thank you to everyone else who has been diary-ing, calling, writing and talking about this most crucial issue. I have been quietly brainstorming on how I can contribute to the discussion (beyond sharing my personal tale of woe), and I think I've finally got an idea.

We must demand that our representatives take responsibility for their financial stake in the health care reform effort.

Poll

14 votes Show Results

How are you going to help keep the pursuit of profit by our publically elected leaders from interfering with the pursuit of health care for all?

14 votes Vote Now!

How are you going to help keep the pursuit of profit by our publically elected leaders from interfering with the pursuit of health care for all?

I'm going to ask my Representative/Senator(s) to divest

3 votes

I'm going to ask my Representative/Senator(s) to divest after I find out how much money s/he has invested in the health insurance industry

5 votes

I'm going to call Kay Hagan until she gives us a straight answer

2 votes

I'm going to write a letter to the editor and expose my Representative/Senator(s)

0 votes

I'm going to eat the pie of non-corruption.

4 votes

An Open Letter to Sen. Kit Bond / Post-Paradigmatic Politics

sophically

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Friday January 23, 2009 · 8:49 AM PST

2009/01/23 · 08:49

I have heard a great deal of...incredibly silly argument surrounding the prospect of moving Gitmo detainees into detention facilities in the US. I was particularly taken aback by the appearance of Sen. Bond on "Hardball" yesterday.

He said a lot of things that bear refutation, but he led of with this little gem (and notice the self-satisfied smirk when he completes the statement): "People in Missouri and Kansas believe Gitmo is just fine. Folks in San Francisco want it closed--I suggest you put [the detainees] in Alcatraz."

I wrote to his Senate Office, but being from North Carolina, I doubt they care.

sophically

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Tuesday February 12, 2008 · 9:04 AM PST

2008/02/12 · 09:04

Remember, like, a thousand news cycles ago, when New Hampshire was the great Clinton firewall against which the other candidates would be ground to a fine powder and imbibed in the cocktail of inevitability?

Remember how that turned out?

Some news from waaaay back in December:
If Clinton loses Iowa, her 'Plan B'
Clinton readies New Hampshire 'firewall' to slow Obama post-Iowa

Annnd the finals:
Stunner in N.H.: Clinton defeats Obama
Clinton fights back to take New Hampshire

Etc.

Poll

127 votes Show Results

Where is the Clinton firewall?

127 votes Vote Now!

Where is the Clinton firewall?

February 19: Wisconsin

6 votes

March 4: Texas and Ohio

52 votes

April 22: Pennsylvania

10 votes

Somewhere else

7 votes

A pile of bricks scattered from Maine to Washington

44 votes

There never was a firewall; your analysis blows.

5 votes

There's a firewall but I just wanted to say, your analysis blows regardless.

3 votes

"Support the Nominee or Get the Hell Out": Reaction from an Independent Progressive

sophically

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Tuesday January 22, 2008 · 10:47 PM PST

2008/01/22 · 22:47

I came across this sentiment in another diary: "If you don't support our party's nominee, then get the hell out!" What follows is my reaction.

I recently joined the Democratic party. It was a tough decision; I have an allergy to party-politics. I have never been and will never be an uninvestigative straight-ticket voter. I have respect for Republicans like Arlen Specter, Richard Luger, Chuck Hagel, Walter Jones, and even "thousand years in Iraq" John McCain, to name a few. I don't agree with all of their positions. But I respect them. And if the choice comes to a Democrat I don't respect and don't trust, and a Republican I do trust and do respect, I will consider voting for the Republican, or abstaining.

RSS

Republican Talking Point: All Americans Have Health Care. (Rant ON)

Just Another Health Care Story (with a moderately happy ending)

It's Not About Michael Jackson: On the Silent Pandemic of Child Abuse

Tell Congress to Divest Health Insurance Interests

An Open Letter to Sen. Kit Bond / Post-Paradigmatic Politics

The Ever-Receding Clinton Firewall: Gaming the Narrative

"Support the Nominee or Get the Hell Out": Reaction from an Independent Progressive