The evils of the majority...

Mark Fiore can make you think and laugh...

Focusing on white voters...

Two articles today specifically reference the white race when it comes to health insurance and the Democratic Party. I'm not sure I agree with the findings of the one article that White men shun Democrats is happening by the millions as the opinion writer suggests, I think it's more likely those who did not support Obama or the health care reform feel more strongly now than before. I've not heard one white male that I know that supported Obama say he's now going to become a Republican.

When you take this next article from National Journal into consideration, Dems Caught In Populist Crossfire, it points out that most white americans don't think they will benefit from the health care reform bill.

That is one area the Democratic Party did really fail in, communicating what the bill was about. People are not sure as to what it means for them. One part of the article:

In the Kaiser poll, even fewer noncollege than college-educated whites said that the plan would benefit the country. In one sense, that's ironic: Census figures show that noncollege whites are more than twice as likely to lack health insurance as whites with a degree. But these working-class whites have grown more skeptical than better-educated whites that government cares about their needs. And the searing recession has only hardened those doubts. In a recent memo, Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg warned that these anxious and alienated voters are approaching a "tipping point" that would send them hurtling toward Republicans in November. House Democrats seem aware of that risk: Of the 34 Democrats who opposed the final health care bill, 28 represent districts with an above-average share of whites without college educations.

This basically means the real problem is a lack of information and faith. It's impossible for many (including myself) to have faith in the government or either political party. Which means the task is to provide as much information as possible. As the second article points out, keeping children on insurance until age 26 will benefit middle class families, and with the job market being a problem in some areas, the pre-existing condition clause is a huge problem for many who struggle to pay COBRA and then when that runs out? Had few options.

Today appears to be the day on healthcare

CSPAN begins their coverage on their web site at noon. Earlier today, NWO Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur announced she was voting yes, she was previously undecided. Congressman Zack Space, announced yesterday he was voting no. Some believe the Democrats have the votes, some believe they do not.

We'll find out today...

My favorite face product...

While there are many who debate the best skin care products and there a variety of products that may be the best treatment for acne for you, I have been using witch hazel since I was a pre-teen. My grandmother was the one who actually told me about the astringent aspect of witch hazel when I was complaining that the products on the market back then, dried out my skin. It's easy to find in most grocery stores or pharmacies and it's very inexpensive, under $2.00 for a large bottle. All else that is required is cotton balls or tissues, you simply wash your face, then apply the witch hazel. It also works to shrink and contract blood vessels back to normal size and can be used for hemorrhoids, as well as insect bites.

I actually had a witch hazel tree in my yard at one time, but I was never able to successfully make my own witch hazel potions.

:-)

There's nothing better than a dead liberal?

The video is almost a year old, but the sentiment expressed by the woman in the video is one that unfortunately I've seen increasingly over the past two years. While I have non-liberal friends who are capable of civil and reasonable discourse, people like the woman on this video with their extremist views are what gives the Tea Party movement a bad name.



Combine that with what took place today in Washington D.C. as reported by Huffington Post:

Preceding the president's speech to a gathering of House Democrats, thousands of protesters descended around the Capitol to protest the passage of health care reform. The gathering quickly turned into abusive heckling, as members of Congress passing through Longworth House office building were subjected to epithets and even mild physical abuse.

A staffer for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told reporters that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) had been spat on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a 'ni--er.' And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a "faggot," as protesters shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. Frank, approached in the halls after the president's speech, shrugged off the incident.

But Clyburn was downright incredulous, saying he had not witnessed such treatment since he was leading civil rights protests in South Carolina in the 1960s.

Jon Stewart in Glenn Beck form...

Highly recommended except for those who are fans of Glenn Beck, some of you may not appreciate it as much...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Conservative Libertarian
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

As campaigns turn to the internet...

Something I'd be interested in finding statistics on is with the studies being done showing that less people are reading print media and more are turning to the internet, is are political campaigns turning more and more to the internet than to direct mail marketing? I'm noticing a trend with the last presidential election that I still received mailing pieces through the US postal delivery system but far fewer than the previous presidential election cycle. Emails however, increased dramatically with not just emails purported to be from the candidate, but their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, spouses, even dogs in some cases. All appearing to be chatty little missives designed to not look like what they really are. "SEND ME MONEY"

Democracy for America says there are 51 Senate votes for public option

That's the ad they are running and want to continue to run. Here's the e-mail I received earlier today:

Lisa Renee -
Don't let them kill the public option by mistake. Contribute Now

After Senator Durbin announced that Senate Leadership would get the votes needed to pass any reconciliation bill sent to the Senate from the House -- even if it included a public option -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats spent all weekend still claiming that the Senate doesn't have the votes.

The Senate has 51 votes for a public option and we can prove it.

Today, we're releasing this new ad pressuring Speaker Pelosi and others in Congress to put a public option in the new House bill. They need to see this ad right away so they don't kill the public option by mistake.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE $20 RIGHT NOW TO KEEP THIS AD ON THE AIR

The House may vote this week on health care -- so we need to act fast.

If Speaker Pelosi puts a public option in the bill, the over two million members of Democracy for America, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and CREDO Action will help lock down the 216 votes needed to pass healthcare reform in the House.

That's why we're running this ad at least 100 times in D.C. before Wednesday. The more we raise to air it, the more members of Congress will see it on MSNBC and CNN before it's too late.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AD

This is the end game. We can win this if Democrats in Washington have the will to lead.

Working together, we're helping deliver the votes they need to pass real reform. Thank you for everything you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America

All in a day in my life...

I often lament that I did not get as much done as I thought I was going to get done during the course of a day. Yet today I realized part of the reason is the extra tasks that end up coming my way during the course of a day. Take today as an example...

Two friends of one of my daughter's came over to see about picking up the car that they needed to store here. I needed to stop what I was doing and find the key.

Another daughter needed help with getting her birth certificate, finding out how to get her passport since she's planning a trip to Mexico.

One of the daughters needed help with auto insurance quotes since she's replacing a car.

I had to stop tickling matches several times when I was trying to work between one daughter and her boyfriend.

Ten phone calls from a variety of people needing information...

145 e-mails, half of which required an answer at that moment...

Two cat fights, a visit from UPS, several barking dog episodes and? Two calls from my husband to see how my day was going.

:-)