A friend/family member wants your opinon....

He/She has $100.00 to donate to either:

a.) a candidate's campaign for political office or
b.) the political party he/she supports or
c.) to the local foodbank or
d.) OR purchase a warm coat and mittens for a needy child. 

What would be your advice and why? (And yes, these are your only options!)

The place that was the TPM Cafe site
Where we could meet both day and night

A place for all to gather
Before it was so full of spam ads and noxious blather

We came together to laugh and vent
A haven for us all to connect

Politics, personal musings and even music was here
Always, we all knew a friend was near

But now it seems the Cafe's proprietors no longer care
If we converge here or elsewhere

When it was but a small, unknown cafe
They wanted us to stay

Now it appears we no longer matter
Where shall we go now to chatter?

Oh Josh, will you miss us when we are gone?
Or will you just be glad when this site is done?

It won't matter whether we go left or right
But doubt we will go quietly into the night!

   This is intended as an interesting and provocative query that hopefully
 will provide the premise for a positive, productive and civil discussion.

 Deny medical resources to the millions of us who suffer and die
 needlessly.

 Send our men and women to be killed and maimed but will not
 respect the truth and value of their lives.

 Validate the acts of torture by negating our laws and the victims while protecting those  who criminally sanctioned and executed the orders.

*****************

I cannot compose a different message
With words not already written

I cannot embark upon the same, old rutted road
Shod in the same shoes, but now with holes in my soul

I cannot share with you the path
Of a journey you've never traveled

I cannot reach out and draw you closer
Because you only cower and scurry into the darkness

I cannot hear any words of compassion and understanding
Amidst the lies of your deafening rhetoric

But, IF I were to beseech you one more time, I would ask....

When you say your prayers .....

Do you acknowledge that in this moment it is you who has the power
to heal the sick, stop the pain and right the wrongs?

When you turn away, is it because.....

You and yours do not suffer from untended wounds, needs unfulfilled
and rights denied?

 
Yet, I really have no need to ask,as I already know....
Because of you and yours
Too many more lives will be, as too many have already been
Shattered into jagged fragments, never again able to form a whole

Not only our bodies....
But also our nation will continue to suffer
As you deny the balm of healing
To sustain your own being

But if you were to ask me
I cannot lie......

So with voice sure and strong
Without hesitation or equivocation

I would tell you that my greatest fear
Is not terrorists from afar

It is the chaos and destruction
Wrought by You and Yours

********************

We cannot succumb to their hate, but instead must continue our surrender to the love for our country as we continue the ongoing battle to secure equality and fairness for all who share our homeland and beyond.

 Pass a Positive Healthcare Public Option

 Stop Don't Ask Don't Tell

 Demand Truth and Consequences for those who enacted Torture!

Together we can and we will!

  Make this not about the romance of a lifetime nor the one who, sadly, you were never able to well, you know.......

   I'm talkin' politics. (We'll clean up the waxy buildup from candles and old flames long since extinquished along with the crushed roses and residual romantic regrets later.)

   With all our angst over and under the happenings of the big election this past year, the fearful demise of the economy and now the perilous plight of our long awaited and sorely needed healthcare reform...

   Well, it got me wonderin' about the rocky path too oft traveled by so many.  Come to think of it, there are similarities much like grieving a lover lost and passions unfulfilled. 

   Consider the...

   Unanswered communiques, anxious moments waiting for the phone to ring that never does and the quickening of your pulse as you gaze upon the objective of your attention.  Of course, instead of unrequited love/lust for a comely lady or gent, these are the calls and messages sent to politicos and others about the legislation and candidates you supported emotionally and tirelessly.

   Our tears and wails for the candidates who were runner-ups instead of victors and for the laws/bills never enacted are also of unrequited fervor and the perceived loss of what might have been.
 
   Anyway, to the point of this post...

   Have you worked vigorously for legislation not realized? Or a candidate who lost the election?  (Local, state or national.)

   If so, what do you believe would be different today if the legislation was enacted?  Or if your candidate had won?

   And how did this endeavor impact your life?  lessons learned? Discouraging or encouraging?  In retrospect, was it a positive or negative experience?

   I believe in the value of experience. I hope you will share yours and maybe, just maybe, it will help all here who care so passionately about our homeland and constitution to achieve a better future for us and ours.

   C'mon, I've got a boxful of tissues, sublime chocolates and a bit of the grape to get us thru the saga.  We're listening, so please tell us your story - 'Cuz we haven't lost that lovin' feelin' for our sense of each other or our country's field of dreams rife with red, white and blue blooms.
 

   (Whenever or Wherever I hear our National Anthem - it still makes me tingle. Sigh.)
  

Make the following changes in our government processes.

  Immediately, if not sooner!

(No particular order, just some of today's base abbreviated list.)

1.)    Stop all healthcare insurance benefits for House and Senate until they
        pass positive public healthcare reform legislation.

2.)    Mandate term limits of 16 years for Supreme Court (every two years - one
        leaves  and new one is seated) and 12 years for every member of Congress.

3.)    Cease 'Don't ask Don't Tell' policy in Military.

4.)    Issue federal law affirming the rights of ALL couples (without regard
       of gender) to obtain a marriage license.

5.)    Amend the IRS code to be more equitable and 'user friendly'.

6.)    Improve regulatory mandates of audit requirements (only general
        review of  financial records now required) for government entities
        (municipalities,  counties, cities, etc.).  Mandate full audits to
        ensure auditing for fraud and other malfeasance of public funds.

7.)    Enact legislation for annual reviews on quality of military medical
        facilities and assistance programs for military families.
        Include Military family members on board of oversight to ensure better
        resources for support of military personnel returning from combat zones.

8.)    Establish (greatly) reduced postal rates for packages sent to our
        military personnel overseas.

9.)    Create Truth Commission on Torture with power to subpoena and depose
        under oath, with first report due in six months and all findings
        in 12 months. (Adequate budget with, of course, oversight of same.
        Members should be non-political such as academia, law enforcement,
        retired military/medicalpersonnel, etc.  All findings made public
        within sixty days of issue of all submmitted reports.)

10.)   Deliver tax credit to those who donate (no compensation) 40 hours
        annually to authorized public service entities (i.e. Shelters,
        Food Banks, Habitat for Humanity - too many to list.  This would
        serve as incentive for new public service program.)

       This is a start (have many more).  But, go ahead - add on and/or pile on. 
       

It's so interesting to me how so many are so quick to make non-fact based
declarations based only on assumptions on the Gates issue.

None of us were there. None of us KNOW the words, nuances and/or actions of
any of the principals. All we can do is assume and choose to use our
assumptions as a springboard to blame and/or support one over the other.

When choosing to do this - we are making unfounded preconceived judgments
based not on this specific issue but on our own perceptions and
opinions, not on reality founded in factual knowledge.  Thus are the seeds of
irrational prejudices sown!

Dare I ask, no matter which assumption we make in this case, isn't it just
another form of airing our own biases?   Giving credence to media hype?

What if the policeman had been black and Gates white? Would that change
your perception/assumption? What if.........ah, too many to list.

Is it possible Gates, due to his past experiences, projected malice where
in this instance there was none?  Is it possible that both were right? And
wrong? 

We'll never really know - we can only assume! Make irrational rationales!

In my opinion, none of us have any valid right to make any judgments in
this matter, because we do not have factual knowledge of all that transpired.
We do not know the individuals nor their motivations.  

And perhaps most important, it only serves to support the negative
agendas of those who strive to destruct, not construct!

Now, that said, can we please use our time and energy in working towards healthcare reform and other positive issues that we can   utilize facts to promote and make informed decisions about? 

(Partially posted in comment form on other posts.)

Charles Gibson of ABC, in televised appearances this week, acknowledged that
media (no, I will not use the term News) coverage is oft decided by what the
public wants to review.  To ascertain this 'fact', he states the media references
the Google search engine.  Thus, the topics with the top google searches are
addressed by the media programs who dare to have the term 'News' in their titles. 

He advises it's a combo dish offering of what the public wants and what the
public needs (as decided by the media demagogues).  But hey, they have twice
yearly specials on current topics such as Iraq and other timely issues!

There is so much wrong with this approach that it would take me hours of rants
and a fistful of a combo of drugs, chased by multiple slugs of booze, to
enable me to address all that's sick and wrong with the majority of our
media 'News' and their coverage of healthcare reform mandates.

And then we have the 'set-up' (gotcha factor) of the media.  Much like the,
'when did you quit beating your spouse' bit.  Everything from, 'How
irresponsible do you think the President was in the manner he addressed
the Gates issue?' to the inane 'What kind of message do you think it
delivers to African American women when the recently appointed
Surgeon General is overweight?'. These were actual headers from national
media programs.

Ah, but I digress......so,

I'll tell you what I'm gonna start googling and researching (Please, join me!)...

How much ad revenue is acquired annually by the media outlets from
drug companies,  healthcare insurance entities and others who rely
on their ill-gotten (pun intended) profits to prosper?  (Interesting
that PBS has published this info repeatedly!)

And is this revenue the basis for how each and every 'News' outlet
'covers' our current healthcare reform processes? Why aren't the applicable
contributions for all the public office holders who are rallying against
a vitally needed public healthcare (reform) program reported loudly and often?

 
Why aren't they being confronted by the ol' microphone in the face with these facts?

Lest we forget, 99% of those who 'decide' what is and isn't to be published
via both print and televised media have above average incomes with health
insurance benefits most of us cannot obtain. Of course, they share this
common self interests with these politicians and are aware they all sup
from the same trough. 

Please, let's join together and start researching factual data on the financial
rewards being delivered to both public office holders and the media outlets by
those who have the most to gain by ensuring healthcare reform is minimal and
without a much needed viable public option.

We can rant and rave - but I believe it would serve all better if we utilized
our time time and energy to 'Follow the Money'and who is deriving the
benefits from opposing and/or negating  public option healthcare .

Exposing all who benefit from these ill gotten gains may help cure what ails us.

And please, publish your findings here and wherever you can.

I subscribe to FindLaw e-mail notifications for Supreme Court Cases and this is link for this case: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=08-6.

I am hoping that someone out there (attorney perhaps) has some pertinent facts to post as to this ruling.   Right now I am so busy, I am meeting myself coming and going - so don't have time to do research. I did skim the findings and found much of the legal rationale to be, at the very least, the polar opposite of the foundation of the (as I understand it) intent of our public justice system. 

However, I hope that all are as appalled and disgusted with this ruling, as well as 'frightened' by the precedent.  This is about much more than this individual case and/or person.

Appreciate any insight and/or thoughts on this issue.

     And now here we are together, twixt Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, seemingly there is no more appropriate time to celebrate our celebrated rights and rites of Freedom of Speech (of which we are renowned).  Let's enjoy our own personal slices of Americana and converse about topics oft as forbidden as some believe the apple was - Politics, Religion and Personal Finances!  The recipes I guarantee to be tasty, but the flavor of the discourse is up those who choose to contribute. 

     We all are to be able to hold own stances privately and publicly without fear.  (For this discussion I choose to ignore those who embrace bigotry or other acts born of hate and personal agendas under the guise of their specific 'religious' doctrine.)

     It's the essence of Americana that we show respect without words or actions that denigrate or disparage another's faith and/or belief.  This is the rationale for our celebrations and acknowledgements of our ability to choose.  However, just as it is (ahem) sacrilegious to tout one pie recipe as the 'best' and/or 'only' good one, it is the antithesis of Americana if we are unable to enjoy our choice without being belittled or attacked. 

    That said, just as a recipe for pie should never be confused with a cake mix, religious dogma should never be part of our government's legislative or policy creed.  This not only is akin to blasphemy of the declaration of our democratic rights, it is divisive and only delivers a bitter aftertaste.  Equality of rights for all, regardless of religion, ethnicity and/or sex (whether gender or persuasion) is dependent upon non-conditional and unrestrained application. 

    We are all lawfully entitled to value our own beliefs and need to do so without 'spitting' on another's selection (or their pie)..    (The best apple pie is one using a blend of different varieties and oft co-mingled with diverse ingredients to create an appealing delight that produces a better, tastier and inviting pie).

*********************************
APPLE AMERICANA

    4-5 apples (mix tart with sweet or not, your choice!)  peeled, cored and sliced for pie
    1 Tb. Lemon juice
    2 Tb. Granulated sugar (or Splenda)
    1 Tb. All-purpose flour
    1 Tsp. Ground cinnamon
    16 Oz. Oatmeal Raison Cookie Dough (homemade or pre- made refrigerated roll)

     Preheat oven - 325 degrees and 8" baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking product.  Combine all ingredients but cookie dough, pour into pan.  Crumble dough over top and bake 40-45 minutes until apple tender and dough a bit crisp.  (Terrific warm or cold served over or 'with' rich vanilla ice cream.)

*************************************

   But, if our choices were limited to merely apple pies, this would not depict true Americana!  Much like, well, if we only had older white men on the Supreme Court.  Oh sure, while some would debate that a singular black man provides diversity, others would argue it's still all apples, only harvested from different orchards!  (Sigh.)  And while we do have one white woman at the table, many of us equate this as a lack of essential ingredients to make the best pie of choice. 

   Not enough spices in the pantry will only yield a repetitive menu with predictable and tasteless dishes.  All white sugar and no brown will constrain, not truly enrich or deliver, our just desserts.  As a pinch and a dash do not equate a full measure of flavor, neither does only a modicum of societal and political diversity. And yet, too many still believe that plain apple pie is the best and only choice for them and for us.  (Put your wooden spoons down, violence will ne'er produce a sweet treat to be savored.)

   Perhaps those who suffer from the lack of a truly proper palate have never tasted something as sweetly satisfying as:

**************************************

RED, WHITE AND BLUE AMERICAN PIE

   1 Pre-made shortbread pie crust (usually with pre-made graham cracker crusts in store)
   1 Large package white chocolate pudding mix
   1 Large container fresh, whole strawberries
   1 Small container fresh blueberries
  
   Make pudding as directed.
   With spoon or knife, spread thin (think of mayo on sandwich) layer on crust bottom
   Rinse and remove stem from strawberries, then cut into halves.  (Keep four (4) whole berries on side for now.) 
   Combine halves with ½ cup of blueberries.
   Spread berries on top of thin pudding layer in crust.
   Top with rest of pudding, garnish with whole strawberries and eight blueberries.

   Chill for one hour.

  (Start to finish - less than twenty minutes prep!)

*****************************

   And while most of us can still enjoy the occasional sweet treat, without fear of dire health or economic distress, too many cannot.  We have and will continue to expound on healthcare and our country's current financial crisis, but we also need to ingest a bit of our own slice of reality pie.  Yeah, we're serving a portion of personal responsibility with our treats today.  It may be a bit tough to swallow and the seasoning not to your liking, but it's essential to temper all the sugary morsels with a bit of this humble pie.  C'mon take a bite and chew slowly....

   Many of our healthcare and economic tribulations were caused by such as (oh yeah!) indulging in too much pie.   Millions of us need to acknowledge that...........

    We wanted pie, so we bought pie.  We couldn't afford it, so we charged it. 

    We wanted pie, so we ate pie.  We would worry about sugar and calories and fat later.  We kept eating pie and now we are overweight and have (at the least) high blood sugar with other ailments caused from too much pie.

    We wanted pie, all the pie, so we didn't worry about those who couldn't get pie. 

    We wanted pie, so we didn't look too closely at the bakery where it was made.  We ignored the filth and the rats scurrying around the place - that wasn't our concern because the pie was really good.  And then we got really sick.

     And the list goes on............

    I have considered that perhaps being polite Americans, we didn't speak out because we were too busy chewing all that pie and well, we all know talking with your mouth full is impolite and inconvenient.  However, (gulp) the truth is that most could find the time and energy to eat pie, but not to delve too deeply into the facts such as how the pie was being made or what the ingredients were and where they came from, et al.  Especially as long as it didn't seem to negatively impact us personally.  (And then we found out it wasn't really apples in all that pie but imitations or at best really rotten apples.  But it sure tasted good while it lasted!  Until the acidic reflux reaction started the belching and cramping of all our systems.)

   So now we have more than a little heartburn and indigestion.  But don't blame it on the pie.  Perhaps instead we should slap the hand that reached out not to object, but only to grab the pie; and with the other hand slap the mouth that was used not to protest or yell warnings, but to only savor the pie.  (Figurative slap, no actual physical pain to be meted as it may hamper our ability to enjoy our treats!)

   And now it's your turn to contribute to the conversation and recipes.

**************************************

Until then, the ultimate American Pizza Pie (heh heh)........

Chocolate Lover's Pizza

2 ½ Cups graham cracker crumbs
2/3 cup Melted butter (not margarine - only butter)
½ Cup granulated sugar (or Splenda)
19 oz. (give or take oz.) of real chocolate such as Dove candies or other
½ Cup chopped pecans or walnuts
¼ Cup coarsely grated white chocolate

Combine crumbs, butter and sugar - Grease pizza pan with (more) butter.  Press crumb mixture on pan and bake at 375 approx 8 minutes (until lightly browned).

Top with dark (or milk) chocolate, bake for 2-3 minutes until chocolate softened.

Spread choc evenly over 'pizza crust', sprinkle with nuts then grated white chocolate.

Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes, chill approx 90 minutes or more until set.

Use pizza cutter and cut into slices.  Serve.
        
***********************************
                  Warning:  One small piece of the pie usually is never enough for most.     

    (That scamp dd confessed he had already advised TheraP., the lady he holds in the highest of esteem, that he was sure I would succumb to his plea.   His next post may be entitled, 'Let Them Eat Cake'.)

   Before entering into the foray to defend or condemn any of the principals, I've attempted to research (including reading many posts here) and review sources relative to the many facets of this issue.

    As I toiled, touchstones my Mother espoused came to mind....

    'Let your conscience be your guide.'

    'Two wrongs don't make a right.'

    'There's always someone worse off than you.  Remember the man who wept because he had no shoes until he saw the man with no feet.'

    'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

    'Be mindful, the Truth of your actions leads to the Consequences of your actions.'

    I don't like movies with violence.  I don't believe in corporal punishment for children nor condone threats of same.  I don't like professional fights, wrestling or 'sporting' events where the goal is to physically harm your opponent.  When there was a mouse in the house, I purchased the contraptions that only capture, but not harm and released the critter outside.

   In TheraP's post on this site, entitled Conspiracy to Sanction Torture, May 9th, she states, 'I cannot condone torture under any circumstances.  No matter what scenario you try to give me.' 

      That got my attention; perhaps because of my own timely musings about motherhood. Because ...............

   As a Mother, I understand and have experienced the immediate primal reaction of wanting to harm any person who hurt my child(ren).  I discovered years ago, much to my surprise, I was capable of and even supported the infliction of physical and/or psychological pain upon anyone who was responsible or enabled the abuse of my own.  I have no doubt that in the moment, if the only way I could save my child or spare him/her harm, was to inflict pain upon the person(s) responsible, I wouldn't hesitate to 'torture'.  The same, I believe, would be true if it was anyone I loved.

   BUT, (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT!).....

   WHAT IF I WASN'T 100% POSITIVE, but surmised, that someone was responsible or at all culpable in harming my child - past, present or future...... 

  WOULD I TORTURE?

  WHAT IF it wasn't my loved one, but you or yours?

  Would I still engage in and support 'torture'?  Would you?

  The reality is that it's just so damn easy to make decisions and issue judgments in the abstract!  There's a reason why potential jury members are asked if they are related to or know the victim and/or defendant.

  I also considered...

  WHAT IF an accomplice of someone like Timothy McVeigh (OKC bomber) was apprehended hours prior to the same type of horrific act and after all else failed, the only chance to obtain needed information was to 'torture', would I endorse the physical and emotional abuse to acquire the facts needed to stop it?  What would the family members of McVeigh's victims sanction if given the option?

  WHAT IF, only hours before boarding those planes on 9/11, a pair of the terrorists boarding one flight were captured and we knew there were others, but not the flights or when? There wasn't time to shut down all airports, cancel flights.....would the families of the victims support' 'whatever means necessary' to stop the carnage and destruction that ensued? 

  Would I?

  Would you?

   These are just a few of the questions I've asked myself.  Hypothetical?  Perhaps. However, I believe all are relative to the topic and needed in my quest to consider as many aspects of the issue as possible.

   These and other like contemplations have delivered me to this stance on these issues:

   Full Disclosure:  I am a registered Independent who has never supported the Iraq war or voted for either Bush. I believe that Cheney, Rove and cohorts are, at the least, narcissists (if not raging sociopaths).

   It is also noted the architects of the torture of prisoners declared the torture was authorized because they were trying to protect our country and populace from future harm.  (That's their story and they're sticking to it!)

   And I've established the fact that I am capable of resorting to 'torture' to protect my own and most likely you and yours when confronted with abuse up close and personal.

In the abstract:

   I do not condone the torture of prisoners of war. It's unlawful and inhumane. 

   I do not believe that it is the right of anyone to demand that others either torture or be tortured. 

Without qualifiers:

   Violence begets violence. 

   However, you harm my child and I will not rest until you suffer and reap the consequences of your actions.  I will break down any door or hurdle any obstacle that attempts to stall or prevent me in achieving this goal.

   I believe that President Obama should mandate a commission to seek the truth and ultimately deliver consequences (entity needs to be without politicians, military personnel or anyone professionally or politically overtly vested either professionally or financially in the process and outcome).

This is the glaring fact we must acknowledge and declare:

Torture: n. Mental anguish.  Something causing sever pain.  The inflection of severe pain on a person as a means of punishment and/or coercion.

         v. To twist or turn abnormally and distort.

Ironically - The definition of torture is applicable to war too......

Thus, we commit the ultimate torturous act when we engage in the acts of war and set in motion mandates that our loved ones will engage in actions that will absolutely harm, if not kill, them and others.  (Yet, those who have the power to enact the command seldom place themselves or their loved ones on the battlefield. We don't demand, much less expect it......Why is that?)

************************************

 Mom - I thank you and love you for raising me in a home where bigotry was not tolerated nor given credence; to be generous in spirit as well as deed; to consider the effects of my actions on others; to wish nothing for myself I wouldn't give willingly to and for others and so many other 'touchstones' that you gave to me both in word and deed.  And for always knowing that no matter what, you were always my safe haven.  I miss you.

And to my children.....

    'Let your conscience be your guide.'

    'Two wrongs don't make a right.'

    'There's always someone worse off than you.  Remember the man who wept because he had no shoes until he saw the man with no feet.'

    'Do unto others as you would have them to unto you.'

    'Be mindful, the Truth of your actions leads to the Consequences of your actions.'

Happy Mother's Day and Peace to all!

               JUST FOR A DAY

Seeking the sun behind the clouds is a worthy endeavor

to achieve, just for the day, a shimmer of light - a sense of warmth

Is this not the best adventure?

If we discard the worst and strive for the best

not just for us, but others too

For just a day, is this not the most glorious quest?

If we strive only to reject

those and that which are not of our choice or ideal

How, just for a day, will our goals ever be met?

To, just for the day, not to scorn or malign

or ignore, discard or condemn

But instead bestow regard for both yours and mine

This is not a hopeless wish or silly aim

but one that we can both enjoy

If only, just for a day, our wish is the same

And when the day passes

the choice will be ours to continue this quest,

Or opt to be asses!