Okay, I was just having a great conversation with Ramona and Scotty in the chat room.  And they went POOF! 

No goodbyes.  No faretheewells.  Just POOF!

And what I've been trying to reiterate to folks about the mibbit chatroom is this:  You should create an account there. 

Go to www.mibbit.com and create your account with your TPM username and a password.  And then whenever you log in, you're recognized as being a regular account user.  Because otherwise, mibbit treats you like an anonymous user and it kicks you out at whim after about an hour.

Also, with an account, you can set a lot of personal preferences, like sound alerts, colors, and you can set it up so that you can automatically see the IP address of a new chatter when they walk into the room.

Until Josh decides to set up his own chat room, Mibbit is it.  So, get with it and mibbit.

 

Okay, so I've been glued to my monitor for the past two hours and 45 minutes, watching a bunch of folks in NYC talk passionately about their health care concerns and the need to storm Washington DC.

The live blogging at HealthcareNOW! was informative, and they provided a lot of links.  Such as this one and this one. 

The meeting was so large it spilled into the hallways, and the livestream got clogged.  However, they have archived the whole meeting so you can see it here whenever you want to.

Currently, everyone there has broken into groups of about nine people and they are all discussing next moves.  They intend to get back into the room and back online in about 35 minutes, and I'll update my post after that point.

Two things I'd like to add:  The people here make up every walk of life and it's been great watching them all agreeing so passionately on the Single Payer issue.  Second, I brought up TPM and the rally in my online posts to other viewers and shared Clearthinker's excellent Faxing post with them.  They were all grateful.

I urge you all to check out the links and the webcast (if it works) and to inform everyone you know about HR676.  It might not be too late to get Single Payer back on the table. 

The HealthcareNOW live meeting is going live shortly....

For now, all I see is butts, LOL.

There's a live blog going on at the same time, and you can also download free materials here.

Here. 

And bring beer.

I love you.

You know who you are.

You're the one who gave to a friend.  You're the one who gave advice.  You're the one who gave a smile.  The one who helped a stranger.  The one who helped get us where we're going.

You're the one I want to give a hug to.  You're the one I want to befriend.  You're the one I want to listen to.  You're the one I want to comprehend. 

You're the one I adore.  You're the one I'm thankful for.

In case I haven't said it lately, you're my friend and I'm glad you're here.

In case I haven't said it lately, you're the one I adore.

Thank you, TPM. 

As most of you know by now, there's gonna be a multi-organizational rally in Washington, DC, July 30th to express the voice of the people who demand a single-payer healthcare system.  Please let everyone know about this rally!

Here's the link to an organization, Healthcare NOW!, dedicated to single-payer healthcare.  They are working hard to coordinate with all organizations supportive of Single Payer Healthcare.

Healthcare NOW is also offering a teach-in  on July 25 to teach people about single payer vs the 'public option'. You can participate live/online here.  

If you would like to go to the Rally and have the means to do so, by all means, PLEASE GO!!!!!  Healthcare Now will give you information on the rally, hotels/places to stay, and help you find a bus from states close by that will take you, and others like you, to this historical event.  Be the difference! 

If you can't attend the Rally personally but would like to contribute and send a fellow TPM person to represent you,  we are coordinating collecting funds to cover expenses for Gumbun and Ripper McCord.  They will bring your voice by proxy to this important gathering/demonstration.
 
So far we have committed to raising funds for Gumbun/Kristy Ray and Ripper McCord.  Both have compelling stories and passion for representing us at the rally.  They've both jumped in and become very active in having a big impact on this rally and it's attendance.

Gumbun, also known as Kristy Ray, has created a video and web page to help get out the word and raise funds for people and help other people get to the rally as well. This video was a very emotional endeavor for her.  Please give her your feedback.  Here's her web link .  Ripper wrote an excellent blog post this week that explains why this Rally is so important to him too.
 
Please help us send them to DC to represent us!

DONATE using this PayPal Link

Our  Goal:  $1200

Funds Donated So Far: $875      Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!  

Be sure to contact synchronicity@yeswecan.com if you have any trouble using the link.  (Synchronicity will provide an accounting of all that we accomplish)

We have purchased Gumbun's ticket roundtrip from CA to DC for $500.  Last night we were able to buy Ripper's ticket too.  But we will also need to get lodging etc. for both.

**With every donation you can receive a copy of our beloved Dickday's new ebook 'Arthur of the Roundish Table' (a value I estimate at $39.95) FREE**

If you are a person who really WANTS to be at that rally but would need financial assistance to do so and you would like to represent others here at TPM, please tell us WHY in a comment below AND contact synchronicity@yeswecan.com.  {Note:  If we send you, we will want a full report about your experience to share here at the TPM Cafe.}
 
Buy a ticket! Send a proxy!  Let your voice be heard in Washington, DC!  It's time to get this done! 

Updates

* Jason Everett Miller lives in the area, will be attending the rally and has offered to host a meetup for TPM folk attending.  Miguelito2o is going and can give a ride from Southern PA.  Donal has business in DC that morning and can attend the rally in the afternoon.  Kfreed is paying their own way from CO and has already actively jumped in to participate in and sponsor the event and has volunteered to take photos etc in chronicling the event for us.  With your help we were able to get tickets for Gumbun and Ripper McCord.  Thank you all so much!  
That makes 5 TPM representatives so far...but donations are definitely still needed and appreciated to cover Gumbun & Ripper's costs.

* July 30 FAXapalooza -- Clearthinker reminded us of the power of FAXING.  Whether you are at the Rally or not PLEASE FAX your Reps and you can review this blog about Faxing effectively.  Also, please see his comment below about who to contact.  Thanks!!
 


(This blog is the idea of and co-sponsored by several bloggers here at TPM )

Blood, body parts and tools all over the floor of his basement.  Saws and cleavers and tongs.  He did not really recall even having tongs. 

The ghost of his beloved faded as she pled to receive an honorable funeral and burial.
 
This is the end
Murdering friend
This is the end
My intrepid friend, the end

Of our gold wedding bands, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No more ole ball and chain, the end
I'll never look at you again...again

Can you picture what will be
So marriage-less and free
Desperately in need...of some...hussy's hand
In a...desperate land

Lost in a romance...wilderness of pain
And all the women are insane
All the women are insane
Waiting for that ball and chain, yeah

There's danger in a stranger's bed
Ride the king's highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the strip bars
Ride the highway west, baby

Bury me, bury me
In the ground, the moldy ground, baby
The hole is deep, seven feet
bury me...I'm old, and my skin is cold

The ground is the best
The ground is the best
Bury me, and we'll do the rest

The coffin is callin us
The coffin is callin us
Driver, where you taken us

The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on
He took an ax from the basement tool shed
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his wife lived, and...then he
Paid a visit to the bar, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door...and he looked inside
Hilde, yes dear, I want to kill you
Hilde...I want to...KILL you

C'mon baby, take a chance with me
C'mon baby, take a chance with me
C'mon baby, take a chance with me
And meet me at the back with the coffin
Doin' a funeral
In a coffin
Doin a funeral
C'mon, yeah

Kill, Bill, kill, Bill, kill, Bill

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My intrepid friend, the end

It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of sorrow and loud cries
The end of nights you tried to lie

This is the end
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHFK1yKfiGo
 
Bill passed out and came to in his bed. Suddenly he awoke to see his Hilde, his wife, in bed with him. The sun's rays shining into his bedroom.
 
Hilde all of a sudden sat up.

Oh my God!!!   Bill was in awe.
 
He jumped out of bed and for the first time in his entire life he got down on his knees at his bed side and began praying.
 
Lord, lord, thank you lord. Thank you for this day. This hour.  Bill prayed fervently, feverishly.
 
What are you doing? Hilde inquired.
 
Bill looked up at his unbeloved.  He had never quite seen this 220 pound bundle of joy in this light before.
 
I am reborn Hilde. Things are gonna change. Jesus has saved me. Jesus has saved us. Praise the Lord, praise Jesus.
 
Hilde looked at Bill long and hard.
 
BUT WE ARE JEWISH.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Olivia had left for her first meeting Saturday morning with the local RNC.
 
She was to pocket a neat $300 a week working with the Republicans for a Cleaner Life.  She had first joined the RCL at Oral Roberts. Ironically, it was what she had accomplished orally at the RCL that got her kicked out of the University but which had, even more ironically, gotten her the job in the Room and the extra cash with the Repubs.
 
Strange how things 'come together' so to speak.
 
On her way to the meeting she recalled those nights in the trailer with Tory. The broken door hanging next to the bathroom. The pizza boxes strewn all over the floor of the abyss that she had found herself in.  Three kids under six running around yelling that they were hungry.  Those days were gone of course.  The locals had thought she had died in the fire. Omaha and Imaho. A regular chant she would voice each and every day.
 
Tory actually split the insurance funds with her, promising never to contact her again.
 
It took some ingenuity to fill out those community college application papers. Although it was easy to find a certified birth certificate and a new Social Security number. And with that she could get a new DL in her new state of residence.
 
She entered the old nunnery that had become the main office for the RNC with a smile on her face and a skip in her step.
 
Is Mr. Frank here? Olivia addressed a volunteer.
 
A volunteer, she sneered. In her head anyway. I AINT NEVER VOLUNTEERING FOR ANYTHING EVER AGAIN, Olivia thought.
 
He'th over dare, Veronica slurred.  Oh great, this ought to be good, thought our heroine.
 
A fat and balding man with an unkempt look about him turned and saw the vision of his life.
I hope the rumors about this one are true, he thought.
 
Olivia reached out her hand to Mr. Frank and smiled in her inimitable fashion.
 
Our prayer meeting begins right over there, pointing to the only room with sunlight in the entire rat infested building.
 
She entered the room with the riff raff present and duly introduced herself.
 
I am Olivia, I am an American and I am a Republican who loves Jesus.
 
Praise the lord!!!  These undeserving sang at once.
 
Everyone woke up to a new day, a new dawn.
 
THERE IS HOPE ON THE HORIZON.
 
The prayer meeting lasted 30 full minutes and everyone moved to the conference table.
Olivia brought out her papers. Boy it's nice to have all the copy machines necessary to reproduce this drivel. And I get to charge the Repubs a cool dollar a page.  COPY COSTS ALONE WILL MAKE THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THE CAR, she thought and smiled to herself.
 
The Republican Party only appears dead. It is the democrat party that is dying. With the Lord on our side we shall win the day, began Mr. Frank.
 
Amen, the undeserving sang at once.
 
Why, just look at how the Lord has saved that sorry Sanford 's ass.  Them silly libruls all crying for his resignation, but God is by his side and will let him keep his job as Gov'nor.  Because Sanford is part of The Family, and The Family is a part of Jesus.  Can I get an amen?
 
Amen, the undeserving sang at once.
 
Jesus our Savior will NOT let us down.  He will lift the Republican Party to the highest of heights...the loftiest of, er, lofts...the greatest of, um, greatness...to the very tippy top of the tallest, uh, HIGHEST GREAT LOFTY MOUNTAIN! 
 
Mr. Frank looked around the table expectantly. 
 
Amen, the undeserving sang belatedly.
 
Excuse me, but didn't we already have the prayer?  Olivia asked.  Are we not now in the meeting portion? 
 
Why of course we are, we're sitting at the damn conference table, aren't we?
 
Well then I suggest we have an actual discussion and draw up plans and pore over details.  WITHOUT an amen every two minutes.  Olivia then went on with her plans, passing out copies to each person at the table, basically going over Mr. Frank's head and taking over the meeting, but with such a sense of purpose and with such stunning aplomb and attention to detail that no one seemed to mind.  Can I get an amen, indeed, she thought to herself when the meeting concluded.
 
Ms. Peony, you've outdone yourself in your research and planning.  I am very, VERY impressed, Mr. Frank fawned over her as he escorted her to the door. 
 
Olivia was suitably modest and humble in her response, all the while wishing the man would take his stubby, sweaty fingers off her arm.  The things I must do to get ahead, she thought to herself.  Oh well.  It's worth it.
 
She stopped at her favorite stores on the way home and splurged on a bottle of champagne to go with her escargot.  When she got home, she opened the champagne and poured herself a glass of the expensive bubbly, then kicked off her shoes and sat in her easy chair with her feet on the ottoman
. 
Olivia looked around her comfortable apartment and thought to herself, Ah, this is good.

And then the phone rang...

(To be continued)