Another Day Without Health Care Reform

Another day.

Another day without health care reform. Another day of ever higher costs for my friends and family.

A friend just got a notice that her health insurance rates are going up 9%. She doesn't know how she'll afford it. Her wages have been cut.

Still, the Republicans continue to mislead the public and block efforts to reform the system.

I find in hard to believe that each and every Republican agrees with the party line propaganda. But, like a good cult, the Republicans keep their members in line.

Even the former Maverick, John McCain, has been forced to tow the Republican party line.

During the Presidential campaign, Senator McCain corrected a supporter in a town hall meeting who claimed Barack Obama was an "Arab." More recently, he declined to disavow Sarah Palin's claim that the Health Care Reform bill included a provision for "Death Panels." (Note to Fox Newz - not to be confused with any real news organization - viewers, there's no such provision. There never was.)

It's a shame when a once honorable politician must ignore the truth in order to satisfy the most extreme members of his party.

Is it painful enough for you yet?

The stock market lost another boatload of money again today.

While it's not good to overreact to short term market changes, today's drop continues a negative trend. The wealthy are doing fine. But, average citizens are rightfully terrified as they watch their retirement dreams wither away.

Home prices continue to decline. Grocery costs continue to rise. The economy's in a mess. If you're still employed, you have to wonder if you will be at the end of the month.

Is it painful enough for you yet?

As the dreams of retirees and the middle class continue to shatter, the political attack ads keep spewing out their unique brand of sewage.

The Republicans, and their Big Business supporters, continue to run their smear ads against the Democrats. I guess they have to, as Republicans don't have a very positive record to advertise.

I wonder what it says about our country when John McCain, a once honorable war hero, stoops to trying to smear his rival, Barack Obama, by claiming that he's "a pal" of a 1960's anti-war protester who may have done some bad things back when Senator Obama was just four or five years old.

The partisan Republican crowds listening to the McCain-Palin stump speech smears seem to eat up the message. What does this say about them?

A case could be made for labeling John McCain, and other Republicans, as "domestic terrorists" due to their unwavering support of the failed policies of the Bush Administration. After all, the Republicans, and the greed of their Big Business supporters, have done more harm to this country than the terrorists did on 9-11. All the terrorists did was to bring down a couple of buildings. Republican policies appear to have caused trillions of dollars in long term damage to our country.

While it's easy to blame George W. Bush and his Administration, all Republicans deserve the blame. For far too long, the Republican Party has only represented Big Business and the wealthy. Sure, they've used the religious right to deliver the votes by exploiting hatred and divisive wedge issues. But, in the end, they've only really represented Big Business and the wealthy.

The middle class and the poor have lost ground while awaiting to see any benefit from Republican "trickle down economics."

It's time for the incompetence to end.

Republican Party candidates deserve to be defeated this November. We need politicians who will represent all citizens. We need politicians who will put "Country First," not just as a campaign slogan, but in reality.

Only then will we have a prayer of rebuilding the country.

Seven Hundred Billion Dollar Bailout

The "talking heads" on the Sunday talk shows indicate that the 700 Billion dollar bailout of Wall Street and big business is needed to avoid bigger problems later. (Actually, I believe the dollar figure is closer to one trillion dollars, if the money already spent is included. But, why argue over a few hundred billion dollars in an election year.)

Treasury Secretary, Henry M. Paulson, Jr., made the rounds of the talk shows to "sell" the notion that the massive bailout is necessary.

Given the penchant of the Bush Administration to lie to the American people, I'm not confident that we know the whole story. Mr. Paulson says that the additional 700 billion dollars will be used to buy impaired assets and we will get our money back when those assets are sold. These comforting words come from an administration which told us that Iraqi oil would pay for Bush's Three Trillion Dollar War.

I sure wish that there was an authoritative source of unbiased information to help guide us in deciding what's right.

One thing for sure. A select group of individuals got wealthy by selling loans to people who could not afford to repay them. Too many people bought this bad debt, some of whom were not aware that it was impaired. A number of CEOs were given big bonuses based on the returns "earned" on this bad debt.

The CEOs and executives will walk away from the mess with their large bonus payments. Some will also walk away with large severance payments. Some large firms will cease to exist. Many "innocent" employees will lose their jobs. And, a number of families will be forced out of homes that they couldn't afford in the first place.

As is typical in such situations, the average innocent citizen will be hurt the most.

Homeowners who have faithfully made their mortgage payments for years will suffer from a double hit - the declining value of their homes due to the number of foreclosed homes being offered at "bargain" prices, and the tax burden (whether direct, or through inflation, or both) caused by the one trillion dollar (so far) bailout.

For far too long the Republicans have indicated that free markets will solve all evils. The don't. They've also indicated that enriching the wealthy is good, as the money from the wealthy will trickle down to those of lesser means. While it may flood into political campaign coffers, it never quite makes it down to average citizens.

The wealthy can survive a downturn with a little pain ("My portfolio lost a billion dollars today. I'm so unhappy."). For those of lesser means - without a financial cushion - a downturn can quickly turn to disaster ("I'm 57 and was just laid off. I can't afford my mortgage payment. I can't afford tuition for my two kids in college. What will I do?").

We're long past the point where the Republican's failed social experiment needs to be ended.

The greedy cannot be trusted to regulate their businesses or their industries. Government must provide reasonable regulation to keep the actions of the greedy from crippling the dreams of all.

The tax breaks for the wealthy must be ended. The taxes they don't pay are a "hidden tax" on the remainder of the population.

Trickle Down Economics has failed. It's time for executive salaries to return from the stratosphere. America's workers deserve fair compensation.

And, yes, Senator McCain, starting a war then refusing to raise taxes to pay for it is unpatriotic. Future generations are being charged this stealth tax by your not paying for the war now.

It is time for a change. Vote accordingly.

Then, continue to demand change.

The Great White Hope

Courtesy of KSTP DTV-2, I was able to watch today's McCain-Palin rally at the Blaine airport live.

One overriding question remains. The McCain campaign is stressing "Country First." Just what - or who - does he think this country consists of? Rich white folks?

Other than the Secret Service Agents, just how many people of color were in attendance at today's rally? While a review of the tape would probably reveal more, I counted two (and one was placed strategically behind the candidates, so that she would always appear on camera).

Two - One. Two. Not exactly a representative demographic.

A few weeks ago, the ladies on The View were joking about the news media repeatedly interviewing the single black man or black woman they found at the Republican National Convention. The demographics of today's rally indicate little improvement has been made in selling the "Republican message" to anyone but rich white people.

On the issues, John McCain is almost sounding like a "liberal Democrat" these days. Today he's calling for more regulation of business. He even extolled the unthinkable for the Republican business lobby by suggesting that discredited executives "give back" their ill gotten gains.

No way do I believe that John McCain actually believes half the stuff he says while out on the stump. But which half does he believe? He seems to have put his campaign in the hands of the Karl Rove "win at all costs" crowd.

The wild Maverick has been broken. The "Straight Talk Express" has been silenced.

Whether John McCain becomes a good "trail horse" for the Republicans and their special interests remains to be seen. Right now, he seems to be the "good soldier" following orders from the commander managing his campaign.

What's the Deal with Cindy McCain?

A friend of mine recently asked: "What's the deal with Cindy McCain?" We'd both noticed that she always seems to be with John McCain while he's on the stump.

My friend asked if I thought Cindy McCain was so insecure that she had to accompany John McCain everywhere. After all, John had just selected a much younger - and most unqualified - woman to run with him. In the age of Viagra, there might be something stirring in his loins.

While that's possible, I'd come up with another explanation. The last time the Republicans ran an "experienced" (well, actually, old) guy for President, he had many problems and needed much handling. Among other things, his mind was going. His wife, Nancy, took to managing him closely. She even used a psychic to offer proper guidance to "Ronnie."

The official word was that the "old gipper" was very healthy. Those who looked more closely saw the truth.

Perhaps Cindy McCain is hovering about to keep John McCain focused, on message, and out of trouble. While his mind seems okay, how is anyone supposed to know for sure? I suppose that when he starts calling Cindy "Mommy" the truth will be out.

If John McCain is elected, one thing for sure is that the Republicans will attempt to "fix" Social Security the same way they did with their last old President. They'll prop up their really old President - no matter how diminished he might be - as a perfect example of how people can continue to work well into their seventies, eighties, and beyond. They'll declare the only way to fix Social Security is to raise the retirement age to 76 years old (or older).

But, maybe raising the retirement age to 76 won't be so bad. With the fine economic mess the Republicans have created, retirement is a shattered dream for most Americans anyway.

Besides, with the failed health care system the Republicans keep promoting, the average American doesn't have a prayer of living to be 76 years old.

Liar. Liar. Liar.

The latest John McCain ad includes the catchy phrase:

"They're Ready to Tax. They're Ready to Spend. But They're Not Ready to Lead."

The ad goes on to declare that Obama "and out of touch Congressional leaders plan to implement painful tax increases on working American families." It claims the Democrats will produce "years of deficits," and "no balanced budgets."

What a despicable bunch of Lies.

Unfortunately, they're just more Lies from a once honorable man formerly known for his "straight talk." Is there any Republican capable of speaking the truth these days?

What's happened to John McCain? His moral compass appears to have been lost. He knows, or should know, that the ads he's approving are filled with Lies. I think most of us are willing to accept a little "embellishment" during a political campaign. But, repeated lying is despicable.

Shame on you, John McCain. You may be a war hero, but your current conduct reveals some very serious character flaws.

FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan "consumer advocate" for voters, has examined Barack Obama's tax plan, and determined that it would produce a tax cut for over 81.3 percent of all households, and 95.5 percent of all households with children.

Not exactly the "painful tax increases on working American families" described in John McCain's commercial.

FactCheck.org has identified a "pattern of deceit" in John McCain's ads. Straight talkers would call it a pattern of Lying.

Republicans have repeatedly used scare tactics to get elected. George W. Bush lied to start a war. Apparently, John McCain believes in doing the same to get elected.

Mr. McCain, we expected better from you.

Back to Work

With the hurricane danger past, at least for now, the Republicans can get pack to work in St. Paul.

The convention leadership did a reasonably good job of subduing the celebrations in St. Paul, while people on the Gulf coast were being evacuated.

I wonder where the compassionate Republicans were the last time around - Katrina - when George W. Bush, and the Karl Rove wing of the party, were blaming the victims for Republican incompetence.

I'm glad to hear that damage on the Gulf coast was lighter than it was during Katrina. But, it would have been great political fun to watch the networks provide a split screen of the Republicans partying while New Orleans was being destroyed.

So, let's bring on the soaring rhetoric of John McClain. Then, let's politely ask the Republicans to get the hell out of town.

Contrasts

Last night we watched Barack Obama deliver his acceptance speech in front of 70,000+ in Denver. Today we were treated to John McCain announcing his VP choice in front of a much smaller, though quite spirited, crowd in Dayton.

Two things really stood out.

One, the Obama crowd appeared to be one of the most racially diverse crowds ever to attend a political event.

Two, the Republican crowd did not appear to have nearly as much diversity.

The Grand Old Party of rich white people continues to appeal to its base.

Conduct Unbecoming

Barack Obama is traveling overseas, visiting favorite Republican war zones before moving on to Europe, where he'll start rebuilding our reputation in the world.

After Republicans repeatedly suggested that trips overseas somehow translate to foreign policy experience, Obama has gone traveling for a week. After he returns, he should have about the same amount of foreign policy experience as John McCain, who spent years in a North Vietnam prison.

So much for foreign policy experience. And, so much for image making.

The Republicans have been more than a little jealous of all the press attention Senator Obama has been getting. Some have even suggested that they deserve "equal time," even though it was the Republicans who insisted that the old "equal time" rule be repealed years ago.

John McCain was all over the morning news shows this morning. Was he saying anything substantive? No. He was whining like a toddler (or at least like former Senator Phil Gramm): "I was right. I was right. Senator Obama was wrong. Senator Obama was wrong. The surge has worked. The surge has worked." Wherever he went, he seemed to repeat himself. I guess we can cross those items off the Talking Points list, he's covered them.

It was undignified and unbecoming.

Both men took strong stands on a specific issue - the troop surge. One could argue that the additional troops (which the incompetent Bush administration should have sent in from the beginning to maintain order) have helped to improve security in some areas of Iraq. But, based on a slight improvement, it's not fair to say that we're winning the war.

Besides, there's the matter of the increasing violence in Afghanistan.

A political cartoon this weekend depicted it best. It showed American troops withdrawing from Iraq into Afghanistan. Then, withdrawing from Afghanistan into Iraq. Then, the seemingly endless cycle would repeat itself.

Instead of pretending that foreign travel somehow grants foreign policy experience, I'd just as soon both men stay home and come up with solid, bipartisan plans to fix our ailing economy, and rebuild our once proud middle class.

That would be an image we could all respect.

McCain Campaign Stop

John McCain came to visit the state of Minnesota on Thursday, July 10. He spent about an hour at a meet and greet with the Republican telephone call center team, before retreating to his hotel to rest.

On Friday morning, he crossed the border into western Wisconsin to hold one of his town meetings - this one for women only - in Hudson. The attendees included, God bless them, some of the local crowned Princesses (without a parade in site). As is typical Republican fashion, it was an invitation only event.

Senator McCain did not look to be comfortable in front of the crowd. He looked old and tired. Could it be that the campaign has already aged him?

I like John McCain. I think I'd be honored to have him as a father, a grandfather, or a great grandfather. I can imagine sitting with him for hours, trading stories, talking politics, and perhaps gaining a new perspective on historical events.

While I have much respect for the man, and more than a few policy disagreements, I can't see him as President.

His time has passed.

He's too old.

Military Qualifications

I recently saw a reporter ask John McCain how his military experience qualified him to be Commander in Chief. He acted wounded, as if his patriotism had been challenged. He appeared to have a hard time answering the question.

To me, it seems like a valid question. Sure, we can honor John McCain's long service to his country. But, is his military experience relevant to his Presidential ambitions? Would it make him a strong Commander in Chief?

While it may give him a perspective on prisons and torture, I fail to see how getting shot down and spending years in captivity would make him a great Commander in Chief.

Besides, we lost the war in Vietnam.