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Monthly Archives: July 2009
Out-of-town Protesters Boo President Obama in Bristol
This photo shows the protesters and the “bus they rode in on,” waiting for President Obama to arrive in Bristol. The local people present included many Obama supporters, and a group of local volunteers assisted with the event.
The bus people’s signs reflect pretty much the whole range of right-wingnut issues — abortion, liberal media, socialism, cap and trade and other green initiatives, and generally anything that FOX has told them to hate. One had a “Vote for Sarah Palin” sign, which I don’t understand at all since Palen is currently doing the opposite of running for anything except a $$$ book contract where votes don’t count. Another protester hurrying up the hill with the group after the motorcade had passed ran in front of us and then stopped a moment to apologize very politely. His sign said “The liberal media hates conservatives. The same back at you, Baby.”
Rain fell frequently throughout the day, and the bus people took credit for the weather at one point. They had a very loud PA system, and about half an hour before the motorcade arrived their master of ceremonies started his spiel by saying that God was with them because just as he picked up the microphone to speak the sun broke through the clouds. After a few minutes the rain was back, so perhaps God is at best ambivalent about their effort. As I read the New Testament, it appears to me that God would be pushing single-payer universal coverage — not exactly a requirement to purchase anything, but a system where what you need is available on a whosoever will basis.
Posted in Uncategorized
Not forgetting about health care here!
I can’t believe the Democrats opposing the public option. Mark Warner is my senator, and I am very disappointed by his responses to this issue. He is concerned about keeping our health care superior by making sure there is competition — from where I am standing, it is not superior, and the competition between health care insurance companies is not for excellence but for money.
In the U.S. we have superior roads, and our roads are paid for by state and federal governments. We have great national parks and public recreation areas. Here in Southwest Virginia one large group of people used the public roads to get to a public park to have a tea party to protest public health insurance. Go figure.
I believe that the Democratic senators who are opposing health care aren’t reading our messages any more, but possibly they still have someone counting them, so I will continue to send them my thoughts and wishes!
Posted in Uncategorized
Not getting out of the way, either
Sarah Palin has refused to lead Alaska, and she clearly doesn’t follow anything except her rush to nomination in 2012.
She has a right to both of these decisions, but she shouldn’t have been on Twitter about 6 hours ago complaining that the stimulus she blocked isn’t working. Here is her message from Twitter (using 2 Tweets):
AKGovSarahPalin More talk of #2 “Stimulus” Pkg? Please no- for so many reasons- incl the 1st one hasn’t done what’s promised, & debt forced on AKn kids is [begin second Tweet] selfish & immoral bc it robs their future opportunities!”If there is trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace ” Thomas Paine about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry
On May 21, Sarah Palin slashed $80 million from Alaska state budgets, at the same time refusing $28.6 million in federal clean energy work stimulus money, claiming it would impose state-wide building codes. She did this by veto, without consulting with her own senate finance committee:
From NewsMiner.com, By Rena Delbridge, Friday, May 22, 2009
He [Sen. Joe Paskvan, D-Fairbanks] said the funds clearly do not require a state-wide building code as Palin originally protested.
?Rather, it requires efforts to implement energy standards that can be accomplished on a local basis,? he said.
Rep. Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, said he can?t figure Palin?s rationale for turning down the energy money.
?I remain dumbstruck,? he said. ?When I look at how hard we all worked to get the $7 million to $9 million in the budget for in-state gas studies that would directly benefit Fairbanks, and then to turn away twice that much?
?I don?t know how to respond. It must be nice to live in the Mat-Su Valley where you have the lowest natural gas prices in the United States. The rest of Alaska is struggling, and now they can?t access that $28 million.?
He suggested Palin?s veto could be for ?bragging rights? as she appears more frequently on the national political stage.
Sarah Palin accepted 2% of the offered stimulus money for other activities, but refused 98%, including the large clean energy work package:
Legislators were caught by surprise that Palin acted on the bills, since they hadn?t received prior notice about her veto plans. In the past, governors have notified at least Finance Committee co-chairmen as a matter of courtesy.
Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, is co-chairman the House Finance Committee. He said yesterday he?d had no contact with the governor?s office on budget matters since the legislative session ended in April. He said protocol would have meant working more closely together.
I am getting my rule book and adding another level to the making things work adage, “Lead, follow, get out of the way, or shut up about things not working.”
Posted in Politics
Life in the Third Layer 