Gubmint with the two headed and faced BlancheBenzilla monster IS icky. That’s why we gotta kick ‘em out of DeeCee.

Gubmint with a bunch of true bi-partisans like Alan Grayson, now that’s what the Founding Fathers and Mothers clearly wanted. Blue America, baby!

It’s all just grandstanding
No Senator wants to go down in history as the Senator who killed health reform

Corporate media is saying Obama’s about to announce his decision on increasing troop levels in Afghanistan.

His decision. Who is ultimately responsible for war? We are.

Big government is indeed icky. Hold strong, Senators Nelson, Lincoln and Landrieu.

“she also could not support “a government-run, government-funded’’ public plan.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t that mean using TAXPAYER money to pay for TAXPAYER health care?

Why do they always make it sound like we aren’t the ones paying for EVERYTHING even things we don’t approve of, like 2 wars?

Mornin’, BT, pups

I’m gonna be 66 Sunday and I have to wonder just what the fuck have I really accomplished in all that time? Outside of my little microcosm of the universe have I managed to make the world a better place?

Just reflecting.

grayson is another rich politician coming from obscurity. Let’s not be to quick to jump on his bandwagon until we see his true colors. (obama)

Blanche and Ben think big gubmint is icky.

You know, that’s the *exact* same talking point spouted by Cornyn, over and over again. Blanche and Ben need to find another goddamned party.

I’ll bet you’ve accomplished more than you know, SD…hope it’s a groovy one!

I do so love to see Ms Jane’s little Mona Lisa smile right before she takes down someone like Lincoln (or whomever is the sacrificial R put up against her some days)

Yeah, we already have one party that trashes government.

Don’t need another.

Hitting the Big Five O myself in a couple of weeks. At least I made a couple of kittehs very happy this morning when they got fed about 30 minutes earlier than usual (couldn’t sleep).

It’s all coming from the insurance predators, of course. One big party for them, and I mean par-tay.

Not to worry. You have accomplished a lot even in far flung places. By being and expressing yourself you have helped me understand a lot of things about the past and the present and how multifaceted and wonderful people are. Thanks for doing it and have a wonderful birthday!

Life is about helping others and in turn you help yourself.We are here to help each other not to help ourselves.This country is in this condition because the politicians we elect forget that very fact and become self-serving once they enter the halls of congress.

I’d not like to be the focus of that smile. It seems to precede a million ton shit hammer event.

Not even a question….Happy B’day….Angela and I are always happy to hear from you and are happy you are our friend.

Whoa, *blush* thanks.

while we’ve never met personally, I can say without hesitation that you make *this* place a little brighter every day….

small government is just a euphemism for cuts in services

Hey, I was hoping to see you here this morning. Ran across a really cool article at CNN yesterday.

Not often one sees mention of the Buddhist “Five Remembrances” chant in the media.

Agree with your first statement. The jury is still out on the second.

Did I misread your comment? Or was it intended as snark?

What a great system when a handfull of small, backward and often corrupt states can hold back the rest of the country from moving forward. The Senate has outlived it’s usefullness. They figured that out in GB a long time ago. The U.S. Senate needs to become like the House Of Lords.

Great…thank you. I’ll check. Angela is chanting quite loudly right on my lap.

How will you celebrate your day?

Amen!

Happy pre-birthday, Dragon……..and many, many more.

Its okay to have those reflections at 66 I have them at 47.Alot of us ask the profound question of why does man exist?Why are so few wealthy and so many poor,hungry,homeless,and penniless?We have to think that there is some kind of great equalizer in the world and it works on its own timeframe.Justice is coming but not as fast as we all would like.

Seconded!

[And not everyone can herd cats as effectively as SD!]

Thanks for the clip BT! Good Morning to you and all!

Jane, if you are reading, do the CBO scores include the savings on health care costs to corporations and small businesses and then project the effect on the GNP and jobs creation? Does not all of this positive growth increase the amount of taxes being paid as well and create an offset of the program cost through an increase in a stronger economy?

Looking at what my husband’s company pays, what we pay, what the projections are in the future without health care competition, workers are going to be emotionally drained from the stress of health care on their personal budgets, companies will be looking at less profit to reinvest to grow their companies as well as to grow jobs for the economy. The spiral effect of rising health care will create an economic vortex.

I bet if CDS’s were part of a regulation and restructure of the banking/investment industry legislation package, health care legislation passage would not have required this much effort. The banks and the health insurance industry want to create that economic spiral. They are betting on future financial failures like gambling addicts.

Congress is failing to remember not only have many lost jobs, many have taken pay cuts and have not seen COL pay increases in two years.

I still do not understand where US corps are on all of this? Why they are not stepping up with one voice and parting ways with the US Chamber? US corporations have nothing to lose by standing together and everything to gain with controlled health care costs.

SD,

Whether you know it or not, you are encouraging and insightful. I am confident you have changed one life for the better. And if we all managed to change one life for the better, then we live a blessed life. (An early Happy Birthday to you.)

Met Huston Smith very briefly when I was working for the philosophy department at UT and he gave a talk. Glad he’s still with us. I remember riding my bike to all the different religious organizations around campus, including a mosque, to put up posters.

heh I’ll have to think up a special edition of Caturday. *g*

Speaking of reflecting, here is the “Five Remembrances” chant:

“I will lose my youth, my health, my loved ones, everything I hold dear and, finally, life itself by the very nature of being human.”

Oh, cool. I’ll bet he’s an interesting man to talk to. I’ve travelled that path but nowhere near the extent he has.

I am too young 49 to remember much about Vietnam . I do remember the protests and a general lack of trust in our government and those who are in positions of authority. That era probably did more to shape my outlook on life than I realize. Guys like you holding signs and protesting that war ,became my heroes.
I learned never to accept things that I feel are wrong,and to question authority when authority is in the wrong

watching jane grow with each appearance is a special pleasure of mine, she’s confident, informed and most of all, prepared, she’s at the ready even when quesion’s posed undepected

she’s brilliant

Intensely serene man…and made it look so damned easy. ;) But of course it’s the hardest thing in the world.

a mixed message?

GOP Congress, Conserva Dems & Lieberman, Sen. from Aetna, have indeed become the best Congress money can buy!

It is well known in scientific circles that there is technology already out here that is being held up by the Powers that Be so they can continue to reap profits from the older, dirtier technologies like oil, coal, etc.

Bob Herbert has hope (though):

You want new industry in the United States, with astonishing technological advances, new mass production techniques and jobs, jobs, jobs? Try energy. [...]

The point is that these (and many more) brilliant, innovative technologies are here. They are real, tangible. They exist. What’s needed now is the will to develop policies that will vastly expand these advances and radically reduce their costs. The United States should be leading the world in the creation of whole new energy technologies and industries, instead of allowing the forces of the old carbon-based industries — coal, oil, gasoline-powered vehicles — to stand obstinately in the way of real progress.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/opinion/24herbert.html?_r=1

Schahill (sp?) was supposed to be on Democracy Now this morning……did anyone happen to see it yet?

happy birthday Southern D, and some celebratory daimoku :) .. i’m ten years behind you next week, too often i frankly wouldn’t mind trading places with my dying mother down the street .. ah life

fantastic Democracy N .. jeremy was extensive .. lots of other good stuff too

just for starters you’be been instrumental in the development and popularity of this site, and you KNOW this site as accomplished wonders

for quite some time your posts have been among those that keep me addicted to the fire by the lake

a bottle of the finest for bday, what would it be?

Happy birthday, SD. You’re about 8 months behind me. In drawing, one method of composition involves drawing the negative space around objects, rather than trying to draw the outline of the objects. It tends to result in more accurate proportions and relationships between subjects. It’s also a good way to start the calculations you mentioned. For example, you have not accomplished what George Bush, Dick Cheney, Glenn Beck, and a thousand other villains and morons have. Then, you can go on and start filling-in the positive details.:)

Some good news on this front.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/68523-solar-tax-credits-eyed-amid-obamas-green-jobs-push

Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.

Since we’re almost at the end of Native American Heritage Month thought a little Native American flute would be in order.

Thanks for all the really kind comments. We’re all a work in progress.

US KIA Irak:, 4,365

US KIA Afghanistan: 927

US MBS 2009: 40,548

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.

Namaste

Like Raven, Norske and others here I had to wait until I got back before I could do that. The downside is we’re still having to do it, 40+ years later. And struggle with the PTB to do so.

Namaste

Scarecrow is upstairs…

Happy B-Day, SD. You’ve accomplished plenty, so don’t be a-doin’ that to yourself…

Have a great day SD!
DFH’s rule !

Alittle contribution…when I was writing a eulogy for friend who gave me the cat: I noted Angela’s crooked, amazing smile + her gift for friendship…so that dear soul is always with me now…talk about bonding…

Tell me about it.

I was a lowly staffer for Dave Obey [D-WI] when we were fighting these same battles re Vietnam [1969-72].

At least then we were coming off a President {LBJ] who, although he was catastrophically wrong on the war, did a bunch of good stuff domestically. He really knew how to twist arms.

But again, Civilian Chickshit Syndrome — too much listening to the generals and the Rahm-equivalents ["smartest guys in the room", like McNamara].

[I just recalled that the phrase "the smartest guys in the room" was developed in the context of Enron, but there's not much difference, is there?]

seriously, you don’t believe. having the insurance lobby withhold their love and affection is what the senators find icky.

truly…no not often…where?