In 2008 Tom Periello (a Democrat) challenged Virgil Goode (a very conservative Republican who had a good record of responding to constituent requests), and Tom won in a state --Virginia -- that we could all agree has become purple, rather than red, as it has been in the past.  

Yes, Tom rode Obama's coat-tails, but it was more than that.  He organized and appeared at many many town hall meetings, and he demonstrated his receptiveness to ideas from all sides; he showed through his answers and his questions back to the audience, that he was working through a thoughtful way to vote.  One of the people we approached said she was a Republican, and ALWAYS votes, but she will vote for Tom Periello because of her respect for his family, and also because she is a teacher and recognizes that he is on the side of teachers.
Today my son and I went out and canvassed for Tom Periello.  I was nervous about doing it, and so was Patrick.  It was a good experience, and it was a great way for us to spend the morning together.  
The point of our message was this:  VOTE!  
For all of you who  think it is scary to do this, let me tell you it was great!  (Of course it helps that my football-coach son was at my side)  but after this experience, I'd be willing to go out again without him.
Do it!

From  ThinkProgress.org there is news that may give us all some hope:


Just when you thought the last nail had been driven in the public option coffin months ago, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the public option has once again returned to Congress. As Noam Levey reported last night, "[c]reating a major government health insurance program was roundly rejected last year, but 128 House Democrats are pushing to reconsider the idea, contending that it would hold down federal spending."  

Why is this a possibility?  Because it turns out it will reduce the deficit by $68 billion.It 

It is very unlikely that this bill, (HR 5808), sponsored by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and 128 cosigners will pass, considering the battle-fatigue  (ha! too funny!) of the current Congress.  However, this indicates to me that the concept of Universal Health Care will continue to be an issue.  Why?  Because if nothing else, it is actually cheaper than our current broken system; it will also work better than the last bill will.  

I am heartened by this, even though I am not naive enough to believe this will change anything in the short term.  If the previous Health Care Bill had simply died, I have no doubt that the conversation would have ended there for decades.

It Seems that Tim Geithner doesn't want Elizabeth Warren in the new position.

If we have a voice here at TPM, it is time to raise it now:

Warren has been an aggressive proponent for the bureau in public and behind the scenes, working regularly with President Barack Obama's top advisers and the Democratic leadership in Congress. Since 2008, she has overseen the Congressional Oversight Panel, a bailout watchdog created to keep tabs on how two administrations spent hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out Wall Street while struggling to keep distressed homeowners out of foreclosure and small businesses from collapsing.

This may be Geithner's problem with her, but that is just too bad:

Geithner's critics have enjoyed watching Warren question him during his four appearances before her panel. Her tough, probing questions on the Wall Street bailout and his role in it -- often delivered with a smile -- are featured on YouTube. One video is headlined "Elizabeth Warren Makes Timmy Geithner Squirm."

Ok, gang!  It is time to stand up for ourselves!  Elizabeth Warren is certainly the best possible person in this position, but she also has the trust of ordinary people who have heard her compassionately explain the mess that we are in.  
Start calling, emailing, faxing, and generally making a bunch of noise!  If we lose this battle, well...I just don't know.... 

Years ago I had a recurring dream.  I was in a house (in each dream it was a different house, but it was always my house; one that I was familiar with).  I would open a door, or go around a corner and suddenly I would be in a room I had never seen before.  The room was always beautiful, comfortable, and furnished in a way that made me want to sit down and rest or think, or just look at it.  When I would wake up from these dreams I always felt great; peaceful and relaxed.

I talked about these dreams with friends, and I also found a dream website that looked interesting.  A house in a dream generally is the self, and my new and wonderful room meant that I was anticipated a new and good phase in my life.   I wish I could say that there was an obvious moment that I recognized that dream come true, but looking back, I think it did happen, and getting the job I have now had a lot to do with it. 

Read more »

I have been struck by the multiple blogs and comments that give the President no credit at all for anything he has done, and disparage him relentlessly for all that he has not accomplished.  I have said repeatedly that I am also disappointed at the issues he has not weighed in on with the full force of his mandate (such as the Public Option on health care).
Whenever anyone who asks the simple question "Who could have done better?"  The response is either:  "George W Bush,"  "It's irrelevant," or "I wanted Kucinich."  
Who can disparage Kucinich (since he didn't win?)  After all, in the debates the only particular question he was asked was about UFO's.  Who can say whether he would have had to compromised?  Or who can say if he could have gotten one single thing passed?
Kucinich, in my opinion is an example of our best Democrats, but he simply could not have been elected.  

So this is a thought exercise: What would have, and how could have the most vocal progressive candidate for President accomplished at this point. 
AND HOW WOULD HE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IT considering the mess he would have inherited?

I do not like or appreciate being asked every time I make a comment if I want it posted on my Face-book page.  A little history:   After much aggravation, and a few major arguments and many insults; plus having to delete one account and start another I can tell you that for me, Face-book has to be ONLY a friendly way to share photos -- not to discuss politics.
I just have a simple request:  an "opt-out" function for Face-book posting of my posts.  Since this was not discussed here before it went into place, and particularly since Face-book is sharing all information it has, I think it should be an option for us.
Thoughts?

I guess the in-your-face absurdity of Blue/Cross Blue/Shield of California raising premiums by as much as 39% finally got a rise out of some of those who represent us in Congress!  There is a rising tide (see the front page) and also Huffington Post for a view into the resurgence of confidence in demanding a Public Option.

Let's let them know we support them!  I donated to Tom Periello (D - Representative from Virginia) and signed on as a citizen co-sponsor of his bill to take away the Anti-Trust exemption that insurance companies have that allows them to collude to fix prices and give individual people essentially no options for health care. 
 
I really think this is it!  We need to support those who are energized on our behalf, and we need to let Obama know that it is time to get tough, including passing this through reconciliation if that is the only way.

The time limit (of reconciliation bills) is irrelevant.  Just try taking away insurance from people who finally get health insurance, after 5 years and see who gets re-elected!  

My understanding is that the money that was loaned to the too big to fail banks, is being paid back to the US Treasury coffers.  The republicans are still complaining that the outgo of that money increased the deficit.

 

Some simple questions:

 

1.  Doesn't the money coming back in get subtracted from the deficit? 

 

2.   If so, why isn't anyone reminding them of that?

 

3. Why can't we just use the money coming back in for job creation and relief for the mortgage crisis?  After all, it wouldn't increase the deficit since it was money already subtracted, and is being repaid.

 

4.  Is this too simple, or am I missing something here?

How is it considered "looting" when people go into completely ruined buildings to retrieve water and other life-sustaining objects?  If you were in an airplane crash and survived and took food and water, blankets, and whatever else might help -- would it be called "looting?"  I don't think so.
This happened during Katrina as well.  People who felt abandoned broke into already broken stores to sustain themselves.  
I see this as salvaging what might help.  Words matter.  Comments?

Word is, the groundhog will come out of his hole early and see his face in the mirror;  and run back into his hole, indicating that nuclear war is imminent because of our President's acceptance of the Nobel Prize.  

And if THAT isn't enough -- Barack Obama is most likely going to leave Michelle and his daughters for Oprah Winfrey.  Joe Biden will probably tell his children they are no longer welcome in the Vice Presidential Mansion; he just doesn't love them any more.  Change we Can Believe In?  I am outraged!  Is this what we voted for?

Who would have wanted to inherit the shit-pile that Barack Obama got on January 20th?  I don't know, but he has obviously betrayed the trust of the entire GALAXY!  AND I AM PISSED BIG TIME!

Who will join me?  Please!  Tell me what a brilliant rant this is!  Tell me how great I am!  I am waiting!
Who will give me a gazillion recs like all the other blogs saying essentially the same thing?
Man up, TPM!
We are going to hell in a handbasket and it is all Obama's fault!  Grab a tea-bag and jump into the luke-warm water of self-satisfied purity!!!!  If you don't do this you are just another weenie.

DOWN WITH OBAMA!  UP WITH.......  Oh, could anyone help me here?  That is the one thing missing in all the recent toxic blogs.  I'm waiting.........

OK, as long as I have been here (which is at least 5 years, although I don't remember for sure) I don't know if this is the worst time or the best time to post a blog.  But I am posting one that is non-political, but at the same time, informative.
Who has seen a movie or DVD that disappeared and which should not have?  These are my first  nominations:
DANNY DECK CHAIR -- a wonderful story from Down Under
THE FALL -- the most beautifully visual movie I can remember
JAPANESE STORY -- another Aussie movie that haunts me still 2 years later
THE BIG NIGHT -- American, and so underrated.  
There are many others, but I am limiting myself to movies that went under the radar.  
Any other submissions?

Okay.  I have my own suggestion to end war (all war):
Who can argue with this?

When you see all the chickenhawks who promote war despite its costs in lives and money while they remain niggardly in their "care" for our very own citizens' health care; doesn't it make you wonder if we all couldn't just sit back and laugh at their absurdity?
It seems that we only need a little help from our friends.

I just got a bill today for labwork.
                 CBC:   $37Metabolic Panel:     46       Lipid Panel:     93                 TSH:     94                Total:  $270
ADJUSTMENTS:  ($234.41)  Meaning, the write-off that my insurance company has negotiated.
INSURANCE PAID:  ($28.48)  The amount (out of $270 that my insurance paid)
BALANCE Due:  $7.11 -- What I owe.
Why is the original fee so outrageously out of proportion to what they got paid, which is a grand total of $35.59?!  Do people without insurance pay the total?  Does anyone?  What is going on here?
In my job I personally run TSH's, and it costs ( just for supplies) around $10 to run.  That is before considering drawing he blood, and the human work involved, not including disposal of waste, etc.  
I am baffled by this.  Someone is paying the difference.  Who is it?

I don't know how long Andrew has been here, but I have always found him to be fair and a hard- worker on this site.  I haven't seen him around here for a while, but I hope that he realizes how much many of us appreciate his efforts here.
Good luck, Andrew,  and thanks for all the fish!

I just got an email from Tom Periello (D - VA), who BTW is not certain what he will back as far as legislation is concerned for Health Care Reform.  He is having a "rally" next Tuesday from 8 am to 9 am about health care reform.  I thought, okay, so who can go to that?  Not me, since I have to be at work at 8 am.  Will it be a bunch of Medicare recipients who have bitten the bullet of fear from the republicans, which is what I see on  most of the tv and internet coverage; people who are comfortable and worried that their coverage will be compromised based on the "Death Panel" rhetoric from the far-right.
I started thinking, "What can we do?"  A book-club member suggested printing out dollar-shaped  flyers, and passing them out whenever you pay for anything:  McDonald's, CVS, the bank, whatever:  Print out a little flyer that  says:  "I support Universal Health Care Reform!"
....and whatever you might want to add.  I think it is a great idea -- talk about grass-roots!  I started doing it yesterday, and got some conversations going.  For all of us who cannot go to rallies and stand up to be counted physically, why not pass out a message to all of those we deal with day to day? 
  The message continues that reform is losing steam.  Show that it isn't true!
Any other ideas?