White House appears ready to drop 'public option'

"WASHINGTON – Bowing to Republican pressure and an uneasy public, President Barack Obama's administration signaled Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system." - PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer

Yep, I knew it would never fly. Too much big money tied up in insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, medical schools, and physicians. Combine that with the old truism that if you tell a big enough lie enough times people will believe it. And all this goes to show you that the most ridiculous lie that you can make up that puts the biggest fear in people will be swallowed by those WANTING to swallow it.

We are one of the most advanced countries in the world, and we don't give one rat's ass about the health of our citizens. Preventative care is out of the question for people like me. I am not rich, I am self employed, I am not on social security, and I am not on any kind of welfare. I have to wait until I am hospitalized to get treatment. By then it is usually too late for serious conditions. THEN the insurance companies nit pick every expense and end up disallowing a lot of it.

Yes, do you REALLY want to know about "Death Panels"? It is called America's insurance companies, and backed and supported by ignorant and lying politicians such as fly by night, get out of my face, isn't your fifteen minutes up Palin. Now THAT is a real live "Death Panel", and it is already determining our fate.

The AFA & more of their cuckoo fear tactics

Here is yet another ridiculous claim the American Family Association is making:

"Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) has placed a hold on the nomination of legal scholar Cass Sunstein to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Budget and Management. Cornyn is worried that the Harvard professor may push an aggressive animal-rights agenda in the White House. Sunstein has argued in favor of outlawing sport hunting and meat-eating, and written that animals should be allowed to file lawsuits 'with human beings as their representatives.' "

(For the entire article go to: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=614400)

ha ha ha ha ha ha

OK, granted, I don't eat meat and I am opposed to hunting, but does this absurd American Family Association actually think ANYONE will swallow their fear tactics about how the country is in danger of having "eating meat" outlawed? GEEEEEZ

More proof of this association's cuckoo brainwashing tactics.

Can someone please tell them to shut up, hang it up, and go get a life somewhere that they cannot be seen.

PETER LABARBERA, DIANE FEINSTEIN, & THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION THAT FAVORS LESBIAN IN U.S. ILLEGALLY

Peter LaBarbera is the president of “Americans for Truth about Homosexuality.”  Well, he IS an American, and I suppose there are some misinformed or arrogant citizens who he taps into in order to further his repressive and hateful agenda, but the “Truth” part in the name of his organization, group, gang, whatever they are, is a henoius misnomer. 

LaBarbera, and the author of the POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT article “Emergency legislation favors lesbian in U.S. illegally”, Chad Groening, are now using the word “ILLEGAL” as a fear tactic, and the word “FAVORS” as  a trigger word (favoritism), in an attempt to gain support for their war on sinful lesbians.  

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=511628

For the life of me I don’t see how loving someone is sinful, yet dedicating your life to spreading lies, ridiculing your brothers and sisters, and working to deny your brothers and sisters the same rights to the same life you have been lucky enough to enjoy, is God’s work.

La Barbera is not happy with California Senator Dianne Feinstein, and what he calls “ . . . an egregious example of special rights for homosexuals."

Well, Mr. La Barbera, if you and your anti-American, anti-human rights, campaign cohorts would move on into the 21st century by admitting that not only has it been proven the world isn’t flat, but science is a reality, you would see the REAL America is ready to put her laws where her mouth is.  When this occurs, which is over 200 years late, there won’t be any need for “ . . . special rights for homosexuals."  Everyone will have the same rights.  

There are countries in the wold where women don’t have the same rights as men.  The religion that RULES these countries dictates these laws.  As a matter of fact anyone who doesn’t follow that religion also doesn’t have the same rights.  Is this the type of country in which we want to live?  One religious belief dictates the laws?  Dictates how everyone must live?  

What if it turned out that one religious belief dictating how you must live WASN’T YOUR religious belief?

Fanatics and those supporters of fanaticism, have no place in free societies . . . no matter what God you attempt to hid behind. 

American Family Association (AFA)

The American Family Association is anything but American or family friendly.

The AFA is on a campaign, that is getting close to, if not actually an all out war on what they call the “Homosexual Agenda”.  

http://www.afa.net/homosexual_agenda/principles.asp

Denying fellow citizens the same rights they have by promoting misinformation, is hateful and dangerous.  Keeping our country from progressing is anything but "American".  It also tears families apart, so how is that "family"?

They use "American" and "Family" to promote THEIR archaic and blind agenda by feeding the public false information.

They have, under the constitution, the right to spread whatever lies they want, but the public should be aware that this is NOT an organization that upholds what this country stands for, and what our soldiers are fighting for every day.  What my father fought for. 

Is America ending up like the farm in the book, "Animal Farm"? :   The animals took over from the human so the animals would not be ruled by the humans.  The animals wrote on the barn "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL".  As time went on, the pigs began to take over.  Then one day on the barn were the words:  "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS." 

(The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. . . .   "A proclamation by the pigs who control the government in the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell. The sentence is a comment on the hypocrisy of governments that proclaim the absolute equality of their citizens but give power and privileges to a small elite.")

"They came after the Jews and I wasn't a Jew, so I did not object.

"Then they came after the Catholics, and I was not Catholic so I did not object.

"Then they came after the Trade Unionists.  I was not a Trade Unionist so I did not object.

"Then they came after me, and there was no one left to object."

Well, non-American, non-family Association, I object.

In the Spirit of Easter, Be Humane and Honor Creation

(From the HSUS http://www.hsus.org/religion/news/in_the_spirit_of_the_easter.html)

In anticipation of Easter Sunday, The Humane Society of the United States has tips to help make your celebration as humane as it is joyful.

Love Bunnies? Make Yours Chocolate

Did you know that animal shelters take in a large number of relinquished pet bunnies and rabbits during the weeks and months following the Easter holiday? This adds an additional burden on shelters who are already overwhelmed with so many homeless animals in need of good homes.

Resist an impulsive purchase of a rabbit as an Easter gift. People who do not do their research on pet rabbits learn quickly that there is more to caring for the animals than cuddling. Rabbits are the third most relinquished species at animal shelters across the United States. The Columbus House Rabbit Society (http://www.columbusrabbit.org) launched the “Make Mine Chocolate” campaign to raise awareness about this issue. If you and your family have been seriously considering adopting a pet rabbit into the family, read more from The HSUS Animal Sheltering Magazine (http://www.animalsheltering.org) about caring for rabbits.

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)

The rabbit I have now was one of these bunnies. Discarded, thrown on the streets of Chicago, when he was no longer wanted. When I found him he was skinny and matted with dirt. Domesticated rabbits cannot live on their own outside.

A Good Day

Betty White (Golden Girls fame) was in town today for a fund-raising brunch for a new broadcast museum here in Chicago. I have been trying to get tickets, but they were sold out. I had even offered to volunteer working at the event.

I decided to just go down to the hotel and see if I could get in . . . somehow. Didn't know if I could snatch an extra ticket or would have to sneak in, but I had to try.

Someone who works at this new broadcast museum overheard me talking while I was at the bar next to the entrance to the Empire room. He came over and asked why I wanted to see Betty, and I went on and on. He said he worked for the museum and had an extra seat at his table, so if I bought some raffle tickets he would let me sit at his table!

My reply was: "How many do you want me to buy?!"

And guess what . . I won one of the raffles too!   ha ha ha

She is sooooo sweet and just as quick and funny, (kind of a wicked sense of humor), as she is on talk shows.

I told her that I use to go down to my grandmothers and watch Password. One of my first memories of her (Betty White) is my grandmother saying to me: "That Betty White is the prettiest woman."

I was wearing a pin on my jacket that belonged to my grandmother so I showed it to her and told her it had belonged to my grandmother, so my grandmother was there in in spirit. Betty put her hand on the pin and caressed it and said something like, "Oh I know she is." (I was so in awe that I don't remember her exact words.)

I told her how much I appreciate her, and she said told me how appreciative she is!

What a lovely wonderful woman. I was right to do my best to meet her. Her kind and positive attitude filled the entire room and all those who were there. I knew she was special.

I am very happy today.


- Oh, she is going to be on Jay Leno this Tuesday doing one of those throwing something at her to see if she flinches. She is so funny. She will also be on "My Name is Earl" this Thursday. -

. . . . And if you want some good laughs, here are a couple of skits from her recent visit to The Craig Ferguson Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9bfpu9jWVY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRsqe_NSBoI&feature=related

87 years old and hasn't slowed down a bit. A true inspiration.

Jumping Off In The Deep End

I was suppose to go to a movie night tonight, but having just eaten, I have become sleepy. So here I sit, with my cat, Dax, on my lap, about to put down an entry that will surely be anything but agreeable.

Someone e-mailed me last night and asked if I was a Christian. No, this was not one of those attempts to convert me to finding Jesus. She was just curious because of our conversations. It was a fair question. You see, she and I had been roommates at All Saints' Episcopal School (about a million years ago). . . . All Saints' Episcopal School was an all girls high school in Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.A.

She noted that I seemed to lean more toward Judaism with my beliefs. This left her a little confused because I am an ordained minister.

I thought it apropos to post the follow reply to her question:


No, I am not a Christian. I DO have respect for all faiths and beliefs as long as they don't insist they are the only path and or they condone bigotry, prejudice which leads to hate. I follow the concept that "We Are One".

What did Jesus mean when he said he was the son of God? Did he really say he was closer to God than the rest of his people? As so many other things he tried to teach, he was unfortunately misunderstood. He was attempting to explain that everyone was the son/daughter of God; that everyone was equal and that we are one.

Personally I cannot be a part of any belief that denies scientific evidence that contradicts their Bible/Torah/Qu'ran.

I know a lot about Judaism because I was converting for my ex. Not that I was going to change what I truly know in my heart, but I was willing to be "called" anything that would have made her happy. She wanted me to go to synagogue on Saturdays with her. If this made her happy, it made me happy. She had a real problem with having to be strict kosher and following everything her father had told her she had to do and be. She also had a real fear of her father not accepting her being with a woman (he is Orthodox), and especially if she was with a non-Jew. . . . Yep, there is that bigotry and denying scientific evidence thing!

There are many things about Judaism that I prefer over Christianity. It is basic. Also, you will not find Judaism converting the world. But have to tell you, having been with one for seven years, it is true (she admitted it to me) that they DO believe they are the chosen people. She admitted to me that she was raised to believe she was "special", and she actually, truly, believes that she is a little "better" than non Jews.

Be that as it may, I don't hold that against them (just her). They are a live and let live group that are into promoting a better world. . . . well all except her . . . but I will leave that to another time . . . .

(And besides, Jewish women are hot!!! Intelligent and hot. What a combination!)

Sigh . . . .

Anyway . . .

I am a naturalist. I celebrate the earth, seasons, sun, moon, nature, universe, and give offerings to a few African gods. I believe in the power of prayer, not to an all knowing god, but as a strength that we all have in us to be able to effect our environment. I have personally witnessed the power of healing. (The cat is sitting in my lap right now.)

Here is my website that pretty much tells where I am coming from: http://www.congregationmoab.yolasite.com/

Here in the U.S.A. an ordained minister can have any kind of church they wish and follow any belief they wish. "Spiritual Humanism" is a rapidly growing (so called) church. The Church of Spiritual Humanism: "A religion based on the ability of human beings to solve the problems of society using logic and science."

A theory I lean to is that humans are not indigenous to this planet. . . . . (We are the only species that is not in balance with nature.) “When the beasts have exhausted the land, they move on to another . . . if there is another.”

So whose image were we made in?

Why are there no more angel sightings? No more chariots in the sky?

Who really told those stories that were passed down generation after generation and then eventually put down in writing?

If you were going to attempt to teach a group who does not have the capacity of understanding scientific basics, let alone have the ability to grasp concepts that they have no relation to, how would you go about it? . . . . The same way a parent teaches a child. You teach them with stories, with rules, and with "I'm bigger than you, this is my house, I said so, and you follow what I say or else."

You attempt to give them the basics because you know that someday you will no longer be there for them.

There comes a time that children should no longer need to believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

60 year refusal to recognize Israel

Yes, it all boils down to this. Bottom line is the 60 year refusal to recognize Israel. If this had been done back in '48 none of this would be happening now. There is NO agreement that Hamas, or their predecessors, (Arafat included, walking out on peace talks and escalating terrorist attacks) will accept, other than Israel either be destroyed or becomes part of the Arab nation.

All the death during these years, including the recent FACT that Hamas used their citizens as human shields in order to facilitate sympathy by making Israel appear to be inhuman monsters, is the fascist anti-Semitic Palestinian regime's attempt at "wagging the dog".

The following is the latest proof of this. Of course this FACT will be distorted quickly and the usual rhetoric will be heard from the fascist left who camouflages itself as "liberals" in order to provide misinformation along with the "new history" of the middle east.

Hamas rejects Clinton's call to recognize Israel:

Hamas rejected a call by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Islamic group to recognize the state of Israel, and said her request was unacceptable to the Palestinians, Army Radio reported on Saturday afternoon.

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan reportedly said that the group will not recognize Israel nor comply with the conditions set by the Quartet.

On Friday, Clinton was quoted as saying that the Egyptian-brokered efforts to bring about reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah will only work if the group recognizes Israel.

AFP cited a Voice of America radio report which quoted Clinton as saying "I believe that it's important, if there is some reconciliation and a move toward a unified authority, that it's very clear that Hamas knows the conditions that have been set forth by the quartet, by the Arab summit."

Egypt urges Palestinian reconciliation. Representatives of both Hamas and Fatah attended reconciliation talks in Cairo on Wednesday and Thursday. Previous reconciliation talks fell apart in November 2008 when Hamas pulled out at the last minute after a dispute with Fatah over releasing Hamas prisoners.

"They must renounce violence, recognize Israel, and abide by previous commitments, she said of Hamas, "otherwise, I don't think it will result in the kind of positive step forward either for the Palestinian people or as a vehicle for a reinvigorated effort to obtain peace that leads to a Palestinian state."

Clinton is set to arrive in the Middle East on Monday, where she will attend a summit in Egypt on reconstructing Gaza after Operation Cast Lead against Hamas terrorists. She will then visit Jerusalem on her first official visit in her new position.

Regarding US contribution to Palestinians in the Strip, the secretary of state was quoted as saying, "I will be announcing a commitment to a significant aid package, but it will only be spent if we determine that our goals can be furthered rather than undermined or subverted."

Still condemning Israel!!!!!!!????????

The world is still condemning Israel for their attack on Hamas. 

Where were all these nations, and all you people, during the past years when Hamas was continually firing rockets into Israel? Did any of these critics condemn Hamas, for not only the rockets, but the constant terrorist attacks that has Israel and her citizens living in a constant “high alert” state?  Why hasn't anyone stepped forward to condemn or stop this anti-Semitic hatred and murder? 

We only got a tiny amount of that kind of fear/life on 911. Americans are too complacent and spoiled to understand what it is like living under the circumstances of a neighbor hell bent on destroying you and your family.

If someone kept hitting you over and over and you kept telling them to stop or you were going to retaliate, but they never stopped, who is to blame when you finally get enough and pull out your baseball bat to get them to stop.

HAMAS HAS REPEATED FOR 60 YEARS THEY WOULD NEVER EVER EXCEPT ISRAEL. They TEACH their children HATE for the Jews and pay families to have their children attached bombs to themselves to kill Israeli citizens. The Palestinian government and Hamas play a great PR game with their underdog whining. Unfortunately the poor people of Palestine are the ones who are paying the price for this strategy..

The Jewish people will never again play the underdog and never again trust that “good” will win out. Guess what. I don’t blame them.

Knowing people who have lived there, are living there, and those who have relatives there; Israel DOES want peace. Israel has the power to wipe out any nation over their if they so chose. They don’t. They have now shown their power and they have shown their willingness NOT to use that power IF, that is IF, their neighbors will simply accept them.

What nation on earth would live with terrorist murders and constant bombings?

Woman gives birth to octuplets

She is mentally ill and needs a great deal of therapy to deal with her need to "mother", not more and more children in an attempt to fulfill her dysfunctional desires.. The doctor should have his license suspended and she needs to have her tubes tied.

Now, THAT is my take on this disturbingly heinous situation. I am sickened at all the POSITIVE attention she is getting. She should be chastised by everyone.

Historic inaugural slap in the face to LGBT community

Historic inaugural slap in the face to LGBT community


Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009, 6:42 PM


HBO Excluded Gay Bishop Gene Robinson's prayer from Inauguration concert broadcast.

They also failed to announce or caption post that the Washington Gay Men's Chorus was performing with Josh Groban!

Let's speak out, complain, and
demand that the networks exclude Rick Warren's Prayer on Tuesday!

The Obama Administration, GLAAD and the media outlets must also be informed of our outrage over this serious and blatant censorship.

Complain to HBO here:
http://www.hbo. com/apps/ submitinfo/ contactus/ submit.do

And tell the Obama inaugural that Rick Warren must also be ignored and silenced.
www.change.gov

As we are now about to inaugurate the nation's first African American president, this episode reminds of an old post on one a powerful advert from Faith in America about religion-based bigotry.

The full text of Robinson's prayer, from the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, is below the fold:
A Prayer for the Nation and Our Next President, Barack Obama
By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire
Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009

Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God's blessing upon our nation and our next president.

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will...

Bless us with tears - for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger - at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort - at the easy, simplistic "answers" we've preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience - and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be "fixed" anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility - open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance - replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity - remembering that every religion's God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln's reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy's ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King's dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters' childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we're asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand - that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
AMEN.

Regardless of whether religion is part of your life, the messages in this prayer surely deserved to be heard.

More: http://scienceblogs .com/terrasig/ 2009/01/historic _inaugural_ slap_in_the. php

Israel's Retaliation

The world is condemning Israel for their attack on Hamas and "demanding" an immediate withdrawal. Where were all these nations during the past years when Hamas was continually firing rockets into Israel? Did any one of them "demand" Hamas to stop the rockets? If someone kept hitting you over and over and you kept telling them to stop or you were going to retaliate, but they never stopped, who is to blame when you finally get enough and pull out your baseball bat to get them to stop. Hamas has said for 60 years they would never ever except Israel. They send children into Israel with bombs attached to them to kill Israeli citizens. Why haven't these nations stepped forward to stop this anti-Semitic hatred and murder?