Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo! Hoo!

Craig....
I agree completely with your column..... but then, many of us here have been saying for quite some time that Obama should forget about healthcare reform being bi-partisan.

I listened to Lynn Sweeney this morning on NPR talk about moderates vs conservatives in the GOP. She stated that the conservatives were trying to drum out any and all moderates and that apparently they didn't mind having a party that represented only 30% of the electorate for perpetuity.

Last call for book plates -- Helen and I are going to sit down very soon and sign paste-in pages for Trail Mixers who bought our book. If you haven't already done so, send your snail mail address and any names or message you want to cqtrailmix@verizon.net

"Listen Up" is available on Amazon at http://bit.ly/Fsl4b

(Posting your customer reviews on that page would be most welcome.)

Our upcoming book signing events are at http://craigcrawford.com/events.html

Helen Thomas on presidents and the power of the press.. http://bit.ly/uxJ5W

Eric Cantor and Patrick McHenry -- the sleaziest

Craig...

My book came yesterday in the mail.

Have a great day.

Purges among the reds.

They should have reminded us to set our clocks back a thousand years.

On Tuesday, the Cultural Revolution Wing of the republican party successfully defended God in a scorched earth campaign that saved NY's 23d CD from the heretics. Now that there is red blood in the water, no seat held by members of the Hetty Green wing of the party will be safe. Expect the purges to sweep across the nation as Political Correctness Activists continue to 'disappear' the hated Mammonist Counter Revolutionaries.

Next week:
Are Moscow (Idaho) Show Trials in the offing ?

Two excellent Slate articles. One is as cranky as it gets in here at times and the other is really snarky about Lieberman & his supposedly charitable wife Haddasah

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/11/05/lamott_on_health_care/index.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269714

You have to wonder how some of these people live with themselves. I can understand a genuine conservative who just sincerely feels that there is a better way to do something. But someone who would sell their souls for the sake of greed and power milking the delusional for all they are worth is just nauseating. They better hope there isn't an afterlife or there will be some definite "splainin' to do.

"In order to Save the District, we had to destroy the District."
- Lynn Piao, Chair, Paylun for Dick Tater Comidy

"If this continues, we could lose trillions in Oil and Gas Futures alone !"
- T. Bagshott, Spokesperson, Faceless Bankers Assoc.

Here's two links on military harassment of those of different faiths than Christianity.

The first link is about a Jewish soldier who was beaten.

http://pubrecord.org/religion/834/jewish-leader-says-victim-of-anti-semitic-attack-playing-jew-card/

The next link is about an Atheist and discrimination against him and other Atheist's.

http://pubrecord.org/religion/817/lawsuit-filed-against-defense-secretary-over-fundamentalist-christianity-in-military/

So to say a Muslim soldier should not fear being shot by his own countries soldiers is not BS.

There are many being taken into the military now to make quotas that should not be allowed in to start with. We are training White Supremacist, gang members and many unsavory types who will use what they learn against American Citizens if given the chance.

It looks like today's military has become the Army of God and you better be a Christian or you will not be able to trust the soldier who is covering your back.

And because of this and the pushing of Christianity in Iraq and Afghanistan is another reason we should get the Hell out and bring our troops home now.

Or will we only bring them home when the deaths surpass those in Vietnam?

Shouldn't the Republicans in congress learn the proper way to say the Pledge of Allegiance or the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution?

How can they make such public gaffes on the same day and maintain a sliver of credibility?

Anon -- when you aren't finding one conspiracy, you're drumming up another. You won't be happy until the wholedamn country is in flames. I sometimes wonder about your mental health.

The fact that the soldier who caused Pvt Handman's life-threatening injuries will not be charged with a crime is a crime in itself. When did aggravated assault become a civil matter ?

Divalaska Demands: No cell phones, no press, no cameras

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/06/palin-to-keep-low-profile-on-wisconsin-trip/

What Renee said.! about this thread....He should have done it right off the bat, (single payer) we would not be having this talk now.

From last thread....seems that I have been snipe hunting evreday this week...donn't mind..will just bring them forward....but how does one know when the new thread is coming?

Karzai, our puppet, just lines his pockets with our $. Not one dime to run his country in the way that he should be doing.!!

'Most of them were corrupt and stoned on opium'

A senior serving soldier reveals how the Afghan policemen in Helmand are often a danger to the British forces they work with

We went out to Helmand to mentor the Afghan National Police without understanding the level they were at. We thought we would be arresting people, helping them to police efficiently. Instead we were literally training them how to point a gun on the ranges, and telling them why you should not stop cars and demand "taxes".

Most of them were corrupt and took drugs, particularly opium. The lads would go into police stations at night and they would be stoned; sometimes they would fire indiscriminately at nothing.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/

Wow ! Former Alaskan is coming to a state near me.

cbob, thanks for today's horsey.
is the guy at the bottom right the ghost of nixon past?
rash is the one in the hood, couldn't be a better statement on what he's up to.
http://www.seattlepi.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?ID=2011

Good reasons for term limits..and for campaign finance reform:

Report: 237 millionaires in Congress
Back to top

Great example of what Bi-partisanship can accomplish.!!

Darrell Issa speaks to audience.
CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million.
Talk about bad timing.

As Washington reels from the news of 10.2 percent unemployment, the Center for Responsive Politics is out with a new report describing the wealth of members of Congress.

Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall.

CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. Next in line: Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), worth about $244.7 million; Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), worth about $214.5 million; Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), worth about $209.7 million; and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), worth about $208.8 million.

All told, at least seven lawmakers have net worths greater than $100 million, according to the Center’s 2008 figures.

“Many Americans probably have a sense that members of Congress aren’t hurting, even if their government salary alone is in the six figures, much more than most Americans make,” said CRP spokesman Dave Levinthal. “What we see through these figures is that many of them have riches well beyond that salary, supplemented with securities, stock holdings, property and other investments.”

The CRP numbers are somewhat rough estimates – lawmakers are required to report their financial information in broad ranges of figures, so it’s impossible to pin down their dollars with precision. The CRP uses the mid-point in the ranges to build its estimates.

Senators’ estimated median reportable worth sunk to about $1.79 million from $2.27 million in 2007. The House’s median income was significantly lower and also sank, bottoming out at $622,254 from $724,258 in 2007.

http://www.politico.com/politico:%20report:%20237%20millionaires%20in%20congress

But CRP’s analysis suggests that some lawmakers did well for themselves between 2007 and 2008, even as many Americans lost jobs and saw their savings and their home values plummet.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gained about $9.2 million. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) gained about $3 million, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) had an estimated $2.6 million gain, and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) gained about $2.8 million.

Some lawmakers have profited from investments in companies that have received federal bailouts; dozens of lawmakers are invested in Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America.

Among executive branch officials, CRP says the richest is Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary L. Schapiro, with a net worth estimated at $26 million.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is next, worth an estimated $21 million. President Barack Obama is the sixth-wealthiest, worth about an estimated $4 million. Vice President Joe Biden has often tagged himself as an original blue collar man. The CRP backs him up, putting his net worth at just $27,000.

He’s hardly the worst off.

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), freshman Rep. Harry Teague (D-N.M.), Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo.) and Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) each a net worth of less than zero, CRP says.

One caveat on those numbers: Federal financial disclosure laws don’t require members to list the value of their personal residences. That information could alter the net worth picture for many lawmakers.

Even so, Levinthal said, “It is clear that some members are struggling financially.

“Over a calendar year, one’s wealth can change drastically. Many peoples’ investments took a nose dive over night in the last year,” he said.

A number of lawmakers are estimated to have suffered double-digit percentage lossed in their net worth from 2007 to 2008. The biggest losers include Kerry, who lost a whopping $127.4 million; Warner lost about $28.1 million; Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) lost about $11.8 million; and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) lost about $10.1 million

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/256/story/78478.html

"Duke's vice president for public affairs, said that all kinds of research are important on university campuses and that the sex toy party project went through a peer review process before any students were sought"

lol

Jack

Whether Republicans support the Bill or not, any sweeping Bill involving 16% of our economy and affecting just about everyone MUST take into account the conservatives who outnumber the more Liberal who are shaping the Bill behind closed doors. It really is that simple. Obama has repeatedly stated that universal coverage and lowering costs without lowering quality or responsiveness are his highest goals. I am not sure what "not reaching for bipartisan compromise" means. The House vote has just been put off because some Liberals don't want strong barriers against illegals applying for coverage or expanding the public option into Medicare for all.

http://slatest.slate.com/id/2234825/entry/10/

Will history show that the IAEA and the US knew far more about Iranian programs than they told Americans who still favor preventing Iran from getting the bomb? How many other secret facilities have this administration not told us about? If it turns out that Obama comes up with nothing and the efforts of NK, Syria and Iran produce not only a bomb, but a delivery system in shocking quick time, Democrats will suffer the wrath of the people. I didn't like the Bush withholding or distorting the facts any more than Obama. Wasn't there going to be change?

I did suggest NK tests were designed to leap frog to small warheads. I guess Obama doesn't think the American public should be told the truth. Obviously, he thinks this information may bring more questions about his tactics and even his description of reality.

Fancy that......

The effort should not be in achieving compromise, but in reaching a consensus that a Single-Payer system, patterned on Medicare, will best achieve our national aspirations of adequate and responsive healthcare as an American birthright.

Solar, if you're typing all those comments word-for-word I'll read them. Otherwise, why not just link us to the item?

"As far as healthcare, I have little sympathy. The strategy of the GOP was clear from the start. Obama walked right into the trap with his dumb approach. I posted at length about that yesterday. I see more of an effort to negotiate with the Taliban and Palestinians than the GOP."

Hi Max,
While I agree with you Obama's approach is dumb(not coming out for single payer from the start).I simply don't agree that Obama and the Dems have not tried to get support from Republicans..Republican's will not vote for anything regarding healthcare..Look at what Boner put forward as their healthcare plan,BS.Boner was asked today if their so-called healthcare plan would be put on line for 72 hours to read and he bumbled around,NO..Max,your very smart,come on, you know those damn Republican's will not support Obama on anything.Obama's war funding bill got what 4 Republican votes...There's much to criticize the President about, but IMO not seeking bi-partisanship is not one of them...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269737

Flatus, my good man, I like the way you think!!

if there are more Conservatives than Liberal in Congress how come the Liberals control the House the Senate and the White House. You are projecting again Max.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/feel-the-power.html#comment-269704

Hi Patsi,
I have been enjoying Taylor Marsh since she moved to Washington..Taylor has written many fine blogs of late and she seems very knowledgeable on foreign policy issues as well...

Palin is signing books about 35 minutes from me on Nov. 18th, Xrep. I offered to pick up books for people here, but I didn't have any takers.

Maxtrue,
You're illogically mixing apples and rutabagas again.

1. Americans don't make legislation on the basis of what % like tv vs what % like football. Almost everyone who likes football likes tv.

A similar situation obtains with the Health Care Insurance Reform issue : 70 % of Americans, including AT LEAST 40% of the people who ID themselves as 'conservative' want Single Payor. If you take the trouble to do the math, you will see that the 40% figure is unassailable.

2. We don't elect Congress by 'conservative' v 'Liberal'. We elect by Democrat and republican.

3. 70% of Americans want Single Payor, so your monolithic 26 - 31% who call themselves republicans don't count for much. In fact, they're too feeble to propose a Bill in Congress.

So, yes it is really simple. But, you still got it wrong.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269741

Hi Dooty,
I don't believe there are more Conservatives than Liberals.I can't remember where Max says he gets that from?If its some poll ,I think its all in how the question is asked..Of course, I'm thinking in terms of Social Conservatives, meet very few of those thankfully...

Bear,

republicans don't have to know anything about the Constitution or law. Doing zero takes no special knowledge. Any ignorant fraud can do zero.

So, they think the matte makeup was part of the Mayflower Compact, and there is a Constitutional right to cheeseburgers with provolone, so what else is new ? Most of their followers don't know any better, either, so when you crack wise about about boehner having an IQ lower than whale poop, they don't think Whale Poop must be some reeeeaaaallly smart guy.

Does anybody here remember, "The Word shall set you free" ?

The t - huggers say money will set you free. Apparently, these Mammonists have no faith in the Word.

Well, they wouldn't, would they ? While most Americans believe the Good Book, t - huggers follow the Check Book. When Solar gripes about the 'Almighty Dollar', the t - huggers build an altar to it.
Right now, they hope to sacrifice another generation on that altar.

President Obama needs to wake up, clear his head, and face the reality he denied in the primaries..Republicans are not interested in healthcare reform.

The President has gone far beyond what any reasonable person would do to accomodate these people.

Tell the Republicans to get out of the way, call the weak Democrats into your office and channel Lyndon B. Johnson.

Mr. 39,

In a recent poll, half of Americans self-IDed as 'conservative'. maxtrue claims the word is relevant to political issues, although there is no consistent application for the word in politics. He uses this term more than 'republican' and 'Democratic', although the latter have actual meanings and represent actual political organizations.

Tony..I don't take much stock in Conservative/Liberal Polls. Most Democrats have shown weakness by running from the Liberal label to the nauseating Progressive one.

Also , Liberals are the conservatives on issues such as protection of civil liberties, preservation of the climate, etc..

The labels don't mean too much..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269745

Tony,

yep, I think it was a poll and the listings were Conservative and Most Liberal. Max likes to mix stuff like that to try and make is case stronger. He thinks we can't read or remember.

Flatus,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269738

That was an e-mail with no link..but will try to do as you suggest. When I feel that the information is important for me not to link...then Im going to have to try to edit is as much as possible, if it won't change the intent.

XR, congrats, on your retirement. Forgot to tell you. Oh you didn't take that job that Max offered you did ya?

who posted the link here about the teabag protest and one of their followers had a heart attack while there. It was a great post about how the Govt health care workers jumped in and saved his life. Oh, the irony.

I live in a world of nouns, maxtrue lives in a world of adjectives.

I tout Democrats; he touts conservatives.
I eat hamburgers; he eats fresh.
I read books, he reads interesting.
I wear neck ties; he wears stylish.

Americans prefer fresh to hamburgers 2 - 1, therefore mcdonald's going down the tubes. It's the same sort of illogic.

X,OD,Dooty,

Very good points! The labels are BS..Ha,look at me,I consider myself Conservative as far as how i conduct my finances..OD.I'm a Liberal and so very proud of it..I told Grace today(my Republican business partner)that your tea party friends are screaming about a big Obama government takeover of Healthcare and I'm wishing everyday that were true...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269753

Dooty,I think it was Jamie...

Thanks Solar,

For the kind of money he pays, I can afford to stay in bed.

Tony..l'm also proud to be a liberal.

Tony,

How you doing? Looks like we are starting to get a little cold weather already..how is it by you now?

I'm proud to be a fiscal moderate (but not slavishly so) and a leveler - I can't stand Big Business or Big Britches. I oppose porn (I favor human over property rights, as did Lincoln), stripping, prostitution, pimping, johning, other forms of slaving, and support tonyb39 and EuroTom's desire to love and be loved their way. I support women's rights, equal pay, and equal opportunity. I'm a moderate (I want bin ladin to surrender, but as long as he is committed to resisting arrest and committing murder, I can go along with well-armed police action) dove. I am strongly pro-green. I keep and bear arms, but am not a fanatic about it. I don't use cologne, chardonnay, or quiche. I eat beef (rare) drink dry red wine, use unscented soap and deodorant, ans fish with live bait. I no longer smoke, and propose a bounty on tobacco executives. This makes me a Democrat.

Good for you OD -- you know, the demonization of terms has long been a right wing tactic...."feminist," "liberal," "environmentalist." They sneer every time they say the words.

"I see more of an effort to negotiate with the Taliban and Palestinians than the GOP."

I'm with you here, max. Castlereagh's rule was side with the creeps who can hurt you the most. But these murderers are all alike. I see no reason to negotiate with any of them.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269743

Corey.......i'd ask you to get me one but i know it will be in the Goodwill store by january for fifty cents so i guess i'll just wait......

Tom Tancredo got called out for dodging the draft during Vietnam and he was so pissed he stormed off the Ed Show. SWEET JEEZUS it was fabulous!

Hey kids, here's a nice little article about the Tuesday elections and what they mean (or don't mean), written by a friend of mine. It's short, and she's a good writer, so go read it!

http://www.mediaite.com/columnists/be-progressive-b-e-progressive/

Oh, and I think when the Vietnam draft dodge was mentioned they reminded Tancredo that his reason for getting off the draft list was that he claimed "depression."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269759

Hey Solar,
I spoke to my niece Ashley yesterday in Flint,she told me its been a little cold..Its typical here for Nov..Today it was a sunny 84,now 76..I love it because finally i can open the windows,it was back in April since they've been open..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269764

Oh Patsi,
I'm lovin it! I bet Tancredo was bitching the President is taking too long on sending more troops to Afghanistan..I would like to know where all these piss heads were when Bush was keeping Rummy on and putting off the surge???

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269760

X,
Your Fab,wish there was more like ya!

Tony -- Tancredo was screaming about "government" health care and used the VA as an example of bad care. Only problem, the guy he was debating (Markos Moulitsas) was a vereran who reminded him that he (Tancredo) had dodged Vietnam because he was too "depressed." OH. MY. GOD. It was pants-peeing funny to see Tancredo storm off the set!!!! You'd have been rolling on the floor, Tony! Tancredo is SUCH a Cheeto dick!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269764

Patsi --

That happened? Wow, I flipped off the channel too fast! Tancredo was turning my stomach, so I had to run off to the little room.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269770

Patsi,
Ha,Cheeto dick,lov it!! I'm going to set the DVR now so i can watch it on repeat..OMG,good for Markos for reminding all of us...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269771

Actually, I lied, I was wasn't retching. I had to run outside to rescue my cat. She was treed by another cat that was trespassing. She's safe inside now, but shook up. Missed the TV drama, but had my hands full with my own. lol

"Tony! Tancredo is SUCH a Cheeto dick!

Patsi..... ROTFLMAO!!!

Ivy..... glad your cat is safe.... I miss all the tv drama now.... I rarely watch cable news any longer....

some semi-funny pitchers:

http://colfaxchick.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269773

I was back from the backyard adventure in time to catch Lizz Winstead's wisecrack about the "Pied Viper!" I think she was referring to Michelle Bachmann. lol

"Fala Day" at FDR's Little White House in Warm Springs, GA. Tomorrow...All Scottie dogs welcome on a six-foot leash.

http://gastateparks.org/net/go/parks.aspx?locationid=49&s=0.0.1.5

Everybody that thinks that the following sounds reasonable give me a shout out.
The rest of you can just start chucking spears & harpoons.

Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

Question is: do you get free health care while you are in prison?

Bowmanc

I don't get your point
And what do you propose that is better or are you just passing along Republican bitching points.

Because madated means mandated, we all know the definition. and just like if you don't pay your taxes.........

Jack

Governments have always had the right to do rude things to you, It is part of that civilization bargain your ancestors signed on to so they could get the benefits of plumbing.
There is always the alternative, where you hide in your hobbesian cave and some crude smelly stranger tracks you down and does rude things to you.

Jack

Civilization can be a pain in the ass but it does allow you to have concepts like freedom.
Even if it isn't wholly free.

Jack

Suppose a Christian Scientist said that participation in the plan was against their religion? Do we toss them in jail?

'freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269778

Bowmanc --

Generally, inmates' health care is not unlimited or free. They pay at least a nominal sum for medical treatment. This according to our poster, Carol (ct), who runs an inmate clinic. She would weigh-in on this herself, I'm sure, but she is out on the town tonight celebrating her birthday.

LOL
If they don't pay?
sure.
This has been settled a long time ago Bowmanc with education.
Just because you don't send your child to public school doesn't mean you don't owe.
I've known a couple CS and when it gets down to the time, their faith broke and they went to the emergency room.

Jack

BTW
If you streatch it out as far as your republican talking point does they can also throw ones sorry but in jail for no car insurance.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269782

Didn't the GOAT do time for refusing military induction?

Scratch one chicken shit chicken hawk...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/tom-tancredo-walks-off-ms_n_349150.html

. . .because of religious beliefs. :-)

The funny thing is that this bill coming out of the house is an appeasement to the conservative mind set .

A real liberal bill would have passed single payer with everybody being taxed to pay for it.

economically, single payor/tax financed, is a far sounder alternative than keeping in place the current employer based system with mandates.
So Bowmanc. Blame the conservatives for throwing such a hissy fit that they have poisoned the single payer well. Mandating sending your money to the nearest insurance company was the conservatives idea.
Jack

The sad state of liberalism is they are going around and begging votes for a conservative bill.

Jack

Could have fooled me, I thought all the liberals became progressives, what ever the hell that is.

Me, well I just take my orders from Bush , Cheney & Haliburton, makes life easier that way.....

Jack, what I absolutely don't understand is the Chamber's position in favor of commercial insurance where their members are at such a tremendous cost disadvantage as compared to large corporations.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269778

Bowmanc
I posted this earlier:I told Grace today(my Republican business partner)that your tea party friends are screaming about a big Obama government takeover of Healthcare and I'm wishing everyday that were true.

This BS bill that's coming out of Congress is just what conservative Republican's have been wanting ; A big Private Insurance bonanza!!! What happens if you don't fulfill your stint with the US Military????Mandates are a part of all are daily lives,nothing new...

Flatus, I know what you mean.
I suspect that the majority of members in the chamber have little to no say about the Chambers policies on the national level. There is also the problem of most people not fully understanding the issues. The local small business man knows his business but with insurance he just writes the check and hopes it doesn't go up.

There is also the fact that a lot of small business men belong to the chamber for the networking.

Kinda like Farm Bureau runs around speaking for farmers , when in reality they get members for the insurance they offer and their marketing services.
Not because themembers aprove of their political lobbying.

Jack

tonyb39,
You are all over the place with your comment, but I don't think that this bill is a conservative Republican's dream come true, I would like to know what evidence you have for that supposition.

About the US military obligations, well since there is no draft, and it is a volunteer organization, I think that there may be some difference between that and mandatory insurance coverage. Hell, even with the income tax there are alternatives; don't work or work under the table. The latter may get you in trouble but the former can get you all sorts of freebees.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29210.html

"Five things learned from Hillary Clinton's trip"

"Laura Rozen accompanied Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on an eventful eight-day trip to Pakistan, the Mideast and North Africa. Here are five things she learned from the trip:

1. Running for president was good training to be secretary of state.

Yes, Hillary Clinton has a large cabin in the front of her plane — with a bed in which she could sleep on the long flight from Shannon, Ireland, to Islamabad — and a staff of many to prep, brief, tend to and coif her. But the sheer pace of high-impact public events and behind-closed-door meetings was remarkable, not least for a woman who just turned 62. The totals: eight days, five countries and more than 50 events, meetings, town halls and news conferences.

“Nobody ever gets used to this kind of schedule,” veteran diplomat Aaron David Miller said in an e-mail, “but when you work on issues you care about and there really are things at stake, you’re running on empty to be sure but with great energy and power.”

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1934843,00.html

"The State of Hillary: A Mixed Record on the Job"

"Ironically, the rise of Sunni extremist groups like al-Qaeda has brought Clinton's interests — microfinance, education and health care — to the center of national-security policy for the first time. The impetus came not from the State Department but from the military, where counterinsurgency doctrine demanded that social services in war zones — schools, justice, economic development — reinforce the military's efforts to secure the population. As a result, there was immediate chemistry between Clinton and General David Petraeus, author of the Army's counterinsurgency manual, who became one of her prime military mentors when she served on the Senate Armed Services Committee. At one point, well before Obama made his presidential intentions known, I asked Petraeus if there was any potential Democratic candidate who understood how his mind worked, and he said, "You mean, aside from Hillary?"

my outlook folder emptied itself for some reason i do not understand. anyone with books who want signed paste-in notes with signatures by me an helent thomas, please resend your snail address, and any names, message you want included to cqtrailmix@verizon.net

I just watched to Tom Tancredo melt-down on you tube..Such a fun way to end the evening..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269793

Flatus,

The majority of the Chamber funding comes from huge corporations. The Small business unit is pretty much a scam to bring in funds while doing as little as possible on the national level. The Chamber doesn't lobby for anything to actually benefit small business except on the most local of levels.

"Finally, Gen. Casimir Pulaski became an American citizen on Friday, 230 years after the Polish nobleman died fighting for the as yet-unborn United States."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091107/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_citizen_pulaski

Who doesn't appreciate the good old Pulaski Highway?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_40_in_Maryland

The fabulous James Wolcott, on Tancredo:

Markos Makes the Going Great

Armed with nothing more than a bug-spray can of unscented TRUTH and a deceptive joviality, the cunning mastermind behind Daily Kos leaves an empty chair where Tom Tancredo was sitting, until he fled like a ferret in the night.

Governments have always had the right to do rude things to you, It is part of that civilization bargain your ancestors signed on to so they could get the benefits of plumbing.
There is always the alternative, where you hide in your hobbesian cave and some crude smelly stranger tracks you down and does rude things to you.

Jack

I HATE that guy.............

First winter crabfest tonight.........all the boats were bopping on the ebbing tide.......like floating ghost towns........

The Democrats look at throwing Choice under the bus.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/11/democrats_to_resolve_abortion.html?hpid=topnews

by Thomas Hood

No sun--no moon!
No morn--no noon!
No dawn--no dusk--no proper time of day--
No sky--no earthly view--
No distance looking blue--

No road--no street--
No "t'other side the way"--
No end to any Row--
No indications where the Crescents go--

No top to any steeple--
No recognitions of familiar people--
No courtesies for showing 'em--
No knowing 'em!

No mail--no post--
No news from any foreign coast--
No park--no ring--no afternoon gentility--
No company--no nobility--

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member--
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November!

GRATIANA DANCING

by: Richard Lovelace (1618-1658)

HE beat the happy pavèment--
By such a star made firmament,
Which now no more the roof envìes!
But swells up high, with Atlas even,
Bearing the brighter nobler heaven,
And, in her, all the deities.

Each step trod out a Lover's thought,
And the ambitious hopes he brought
Chain'd to her brave feet with such arts,
Such sweet command and gentle awe,
As, when she ceased, we sighing saw
The floor lay paved with broken hearts.

great big typo corrected:

GRATIANA DANCING

by: Richard Lovelace (1618-1658)

SHE beat the happy pavèment--
By such a star made firmament,
Which now no more the roof envìes!
But swells up high, with Atlas even,
Bearing the brighter nobler heaven,
And, in her, all the deities.

Each step trod out a Lover's thought,
And the ambitious hopes he brought
Chain'd to her brave feet with such arts,
Such sweet command and gentle awe,
As, when she ceased, we sighing saw
The floor lay paved with broken hearts.

Are you drunk again, sturge? :)

nope......making a hamburgler.......

and Freedom Fries.........

that was really sweet watching Tancredo hit the road......that was worth the price of admission......

Corey,

If she had any free samplaes, I'd take them. I don't have a wood stove or outhouse, but I could put the pages under the bird.

A belated Happy Birthday.

took a double take when i saw a banner ad on the guardian for the new book "going rouge sarah palin an american nightmare" and it looks just like her book. bet the lawsuits are flooding in.
here's a video blurb on it

http://orbooks.com/

here's the guardian to get the impact of the banner ad

corey, get a copy of the knockoff and see if she'll sign it.

Teabaggers oppose HCR because it is not "bipartisan". It is not bipartisan because Republicans refuse to participate. Orwellian.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html#comment-269796

Bowmanc
Oops,missed your comment last night and your probably not around?I've just been paying attention,that's all..All I ever hear from Republicans is PRIVATE when it comes to healthcare!! Scare everyone with BIG GOVERNMENT takeover of healthcare!! From what I read and hear this bill coming out of the Congress is a big boon for private Insurance,so IMO Conservative Republican's should love it!!But in reality they don't because they don't want Obama or the Dem's to succeed at anything other than fighting all the wars they have started...All over the place, i was simply giving an example that we live under many mandates in this country,think about it...