Government shutdown . . . SMH

This was apparently an email that was sent out recently. Someone posted it on Facebook. Take a look.

From: Barack Obama

Subject: This has gone too far

Friends --

This has gone too far.

House Republicans are threatening to shut down the government -- and potentially default on our bills for the first time in history -- because they want to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.

Well let me state this as clearly as I can: I won’t let the Republicans prevent 30 million people from getting health insurance, and I won’t let them inflict economic pain on millions more just so they can make an ideological point.

But I need you standing with me. That’s why I’m asking you to step up before this fundraising deadline and help me defend everything we’ve fought for together:

Click here to give $3 or more today and your donation will be triple-matched.

House Republicans are promising to roll back all the hard-earned economic progress we’ve made.

I need you to show them that you won’t stand for it.

http://dccc.org/Do-Your-Part

Thanks,

Barack Obama

It truly baffles me how people can make (minimum $172,000 a year - for Obama its $400,000 a yr just from his job as President, although he is reportedly making in the million range) will ask hard working Americans to donate money so they can do their job. Don't they make enough to spend on themselves to "do their job". And really, we don't elect them to be intractable with each other, we elect them to go and represent us to work with those that millions of others elect to work with each other and so on. Dividing us on this point or that point is counter to their job description. If we went to work and were intractable with our co-workers and asked our bosses to give us even more money so we can be this way, plus we get our bosses to argue with each other, how long would we keep OUR jobs? yes, the President is right. This has gone too far.

And the link attached with the FACEBOOK posting took you to the website, "Democrats for 2014".

Here is what it asked for on this website.

"Support President Obama's Agenda

Will you chip in right now to help us fight back against Republican attacks and support President Obama's agenda?

The average gift today is $23.12

Your Contribution to DCCC

$25

$100

$250

$1,000

$ (fill in the blank here with what you are willing to sacrifice so they can stay in office)

(Disclaimer Note – that last part not in Italics I threw in.)

Then it has the gall to ask how many contributions you want to make. Its like you're renting or leasing a car. Instead, its renting or leasing a political party, a political candidate or a political ideology.

"Make this contribution...

Once

Each month for the next months"

Don't get me wrong. The other side has done this for just as long and is just as bad.

But don't blame them. We did this. We made them this way. We allowed this type of person to hijack OUR government. A government that is supposed to be of, by and for the people. But our collective apathy has led them to think they can do whatever they want, pull whatever wool over our eyes they feel like and trample whatever facet of our country's history that doesn't fit with their personal agenda, or the agenda of those manipulating them.

We have allowed them, through a lack of our own understanding of how this country was formed, through our caring about ourselves and each other.

Let me step back just for a moment to head off some of the objections to my last statement that will most assuredly be forthcoming.

The cries will ring out “If you cared, you wouldn't object to Obamacare, unemployment extensions, (fill int he blank for entitlement programs of your choice here).”

To the contrary, I care more than you do. I say that because you want to hand out and hand out and hand out – simply because it makes you feel good. I want to help up, empower and shuttle people on their way because it is good for them, for me and for America to have useful, contributing members of society rather than useless, unmotivated leeches draining from the rest of us. I want REAL healthcare reform that will address the REAL problems our country faces, not just a smattering of nice pieces here and there bundled in with all the stinking parts. I want doctors to treat patients for reasonable fees so they can provide for their family. I want enough insurance companies providing insurance to fill EVERYONE'S needs no matter what they do or where they live. I want an end to irresponsible and frivolous people who think they will get rich off of a lawsuit (one of the top three ways Americans think they will get rich) and who think they are ENTITLED to something without having to work for it.

I want jobs for people - in THIS country. I want companies to act responsibly, pay their employees and offer them reasonable benefits. I want unions to revert back to their original function of making sure workers are not taken advantage of, rather than the current situation where THEY take advantage of the workers, destroy the companies and cater to politicians all in the name of solidifying a power base of their own.

I want kids to get an education. And I want them to be able to further their education after high school IF THEY WANT without having to contract their first born child to indentured servitude. I want industry leaders to realize an educated workforce is better for them and their bottom line of profit so they combine forces to help fund education in this country.

But I also want other things. And this is where both the bleeding heart, liberal idiots and the right wing extremists and I part ways.

But lest you think that the rhetoric being bandied about is a concern about government shutdowns – the very plea the President and others are blitzing out there on the airwaves, beltways and cyberwaves. It isn't. Because it (looming shutdowns) happens all the time.

Like in 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/22/us-usa-congress-shutdown-idUSBRE88L03720120922

And in 2011. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0409/Government-shutdown-2011-avoided-with-11th-hour-budget-deal

In 2010 . . . http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/10/another-government-shutdown, 2009 . . . http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2009/Sep/25/house_passes_bill_to_prevent_government_shutdown.html . . .

In fact, threats of government shutdowns happen ALL THE TIME throughout our history. And there have been 17 times it actually happened. (http://uspolitics.about.com/od/thefederalbudget/a/Government-Shutdowns-In-The-Past.htm)

Before the 70's, arguments and late passing budgets happened all the time, and most people didn't care because it didn't affect them. But President Carter's Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, passed a legal opinion saying that government workers could not report to work until Congress passed a budget. Thus leading to the modern phenomena of shutdown threats and all the political posturing associated with them.

Which is what they are, posturing. They are political maneuvering for one side or the other to get what they want.

All to dupe the stupid voter into feeling relieved when a shutdown is either averted or finally ended. Politicians count on your gullibility, naivete, ignorance and apathy to use these shutdowns to score political points.

For which I say “Shame on you, Washington! Shame on you, Mr. President! Shame on you Senate and House leaders! And shame on you America for constantly voting in these frauds, these charlatans, these dissension-makers, these greedy, power hungry jerks year after year after year after year.

So who is to blame? Civiletti? Carter? Obama? Congress?

Not really. We let them think they could do what they want. We fall under their “spell” and become outraged by what they TELL US to be outraged about.

Therefore, its our own fault.

Personally, I'd say let it shutdown. Then maybe people will realize we need to vote them ALL out of office and become more educated with the people we elect to serve us. Maybe we'd be more in tune with WHY we are SUPPOSED to be sending these “representatives of the people” to Washington for in the first place.

I'd say that, but I'd know it would never happen. Americans are too lazy. Americans could care less about each other except where it makes themselves feel good, or gain something from it. Americans deserve what they get. And God help us all because we have to live with the stupidity and general haplessness of the American majority.

But you know what, you can agree with me or disagree with me and that is your free choice. In fact, I want you to check things out for yourself before believing anything I or ANYONE else tells you so you can be truly informed about what is really going on in this country. So its no skin off my nose if you agree or not, because this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Some much needed changes

A very smart group of people were discussing writing, from a professional perspective. I found myself lucky enough to have been nearby to listen in. (Thanks, Angela.) They had some very practical and real world ideas on bringing in clients to their freelance work, what the best way to do some promoting of your work to garner more clients and ways to present yourself in a professional manner.

I found these insights very helpful and took the advice of a very smart man. (Thanks, Vincent.)

So, as you may have noticed, I have made some much needed changes to the site. I hope you like. Let me know.

As for making much needed changes, I suggest that the voting public also needs to make some changes.

With the advent of more corporate money flowing into political campaigns, a one sided media (that may be coming around because us alternate media types are making them look pretty foolish), and a campaign season that is determined to be sleazier, hazier and even more of a popularity contest than ever before.

Stop listening to the commercials.

Stop listening to the rhetoric from the media and from the candidates themselves.

Stop listening to all the radio, television and internet talking heads. (Yea, that means me, too. Even though I won't stop talking.)

And when I say "stop listening," I don't mean stop taking in the information they put out. I mean "STOP LISTENING" and taking it all to heart as gospel. I mean STOP LETTING THEM DO YOUR THINKING FOR YOU!

There is this incredible gray matter stuffed into your skulls between your ears that has all sorts of uses. And one such use is for logical thinking. It has amazing capacity for sniffing out the BS and sifting through the information to get at the facts.

There are so many unbiased places you can find out about the people who want to represent us. Find out what they believe in by finding out what they have done. If it is an elected official, check out his / her votes. Check out the bills they have personally sponsored as opposed to ones they jump on board with after the bill is written. (Some of these just may be repaying favors.) Check out the speeches they make in public, in office and during interviews.

If they have not held office, scrutinize where they come from and what they have done in their lives. If they espouse giving to the poor and homeless and the uneducated, see what they have done in their own loves to this end. have they donated to charities (money or time)? If they have a business, how well was it run? Did the employees like working for them? Have they had any SEC or ethics violations against them?

The American voter needs to know what they believe in as well, and how committed they are to those beliefs. If a the public doesn't know what they believe in with a passion unmatched, then how can they judge the people they elect on their beliefs?

We've got 18 months before the next general election. Between now and then there will be a lot of rhetoric flying around out there. It is about time we cut through all the crap and get to the heart of the truth. It is about time we have leaders who are more interested in leading then filling their own pockets or expanding their own influence. We need leaders who are willing to lead through the hard times and the good, and not just interested in exploiting a "good crisis" to further their own agenda. It is time we stand up and let Washington know that we are tired of the in-fighting, the ideologue mentality and the "we're better than you" mentality. We are tired of back and forth bickering when we need a fix to our problems in the PRESNT not in the FUTURE. Because without leadership and solutions now, we will have no future.

As always, agree or disagree with me, it makes no matter. So long as I make you stop listening and start thinking for yourself, I have done my job. But hey, this is just me, Thinking out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

9/11 Responder Bill Needs to be passed!

Robert Gibbs, his usual stuttering self, failed to give any answers to Jake Tapper from ABC News concerning the White House's position, or lack thereof, on the 9/11 responders bill, known as the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act. "Well, look, we -- look, I think the -- if I'm not mistaken -- is this for a vote today or a previous vote?" Gibbs asked flustered when Tapper asked him about the White House position. Then when asked why the White House has not come out about this necessary legislation for the heroes who gave their all in the response to the nation's worst tragedy, Gibbs stutters again. "I think -- let me check it out. I mean, I think we've set up a statement of support, a prior administration position, and we are supportive of the legislation."

It has not. A check on the White House's past statements reveals none was made about this bill.
Later Tapper asks again. "Well, until this morning, I hadn't been asked. But I will -- let me check and see. Let me go back and look through the call list and see if he has."

The legislation passed in the House but was held up in the Senate. It puts aside $7.4 billion for those who responded to the tragedy in New York City when terrorists crashed two planes into both Twin Towers. These men and women rushed in when everyone else ran away. And they stayed for months, digging through the rubble, trying to give peace to the families and friends of those lost that day. Since then, many have gotten sick from the toxins they worked tirelessly all that time. Many have died. Including James Zadroga, a NY City police officer, who died of respiratory disease. A disease he acquired during the rescue and recovery operations following the 9/11 attack. A non-smoker, with no history of asthma or any other respiratory disease, he spent over 450 hours in the operation, volunteering his time to search for survivors and remains. He died January 5, 2006.

The Senate felt it necessary to hold up this bill until the tax cut bill and unemployment legislation was completed.

Not only has the White House not commented or pushed this legislation like they have the tax cuts, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and the Omnibus spending bill. Senators from both sides have used it as a political football. The Democrats call the GOP horrible names for holding up this legislation. The GOP has blamed the lack of passage on the Democrats for not being reasonable on other bills.

So who HAS done anything about this legislation? Has FoxNews dedicated outrage at not passing this important and life preserving legislation for American heroes? Has ABC (who asked Gibbs today about), NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC or any other major media outlet taken this cause up? Any celebrities choking up before the cameras about this travesty? Maybe started a telethon to help, like they did for farmers and AIDS and the world's poor?

Nope. None of them. Even Tapper didn't make any waves until one person spoke up.

Jon Stewart. That's right. A comedic pundit on Comedy Central took this up last night. He brought on representatives from the New York City Fire Department, Police Department, DOT and the Tradesmen union. All suffering from illnesses that will eventually kill them. Too many funerals have been held due to the political shenanigans inside the Beltway.

It is high time that these men and women, whose patriotism and selflessness epitomizes what it means to be American, are taken care of. Every American, who considers himself or herself a patriot, should take up this cause and demand that all else be dropped and this bill be passed. It is the very ideal of the founders to aid those among us in most need; the elderly, the young and the infirmed. It is a conservative ideal, it is an American ideal, it is one of the basic principles of not only the patriotic kind but for all those who proclaim their religious affiliations.

Call your representatives in Washington. Call your Senator. Email the White House. Demand this be addressed, and addressed it now!

You can agree or disagree, but this is bigger than all of us. This is not about what is doing what is conservative or liberal or centrist. This is about what is right, what is correct, what is American. I hope I have gotten you all to think. I hope I have gotten you all to think about these men and women who came to New York from all over the country, think about them as if they were you mothers or fathers or sisters or brothers or grandparents. They helped and need help. They have given their lives to a public service that makes a mockery of any politician who claims they serve the public. They sacrifice. And they deserve our compassion. Our thanks.

But hey, this is just me Thinking Out Loud, right? No, it should be what you all think about until it gets resolved.

Have a great day. And thank a police officer, a fire fighter, a paramedic . . . anyone else who is out there when you need them most.

Finally, truth in advertising

Harry Reid (D-NV) is finally telling the truth. At least as he sees it. Maybe more Democrats should speak up, as Harry did recently in Sparks, NV, and tell the people exactly why they should be re-elected / elected to office. Then the American public will have the stark reality that is today's Washington political machine thrust into the light of day.

Speaking before his constituency, Reid told people that he felt it was his "constitutional duty" to spend, spend, spend. He said that the money flowing to the state was due to his "powerful position" in the Senate. In other words, he is too big to fail.

This is so pervasive as an attitude of those in power, all the way up to the President, who believes that he just didn't "explain things" properly to the American people. They all think we are stupid and just don't understand all the "good" they are doing for us. It is something that many Americans are finally coming to realize.

And now Reid has actually come out and told people that he should be re-elected because he is responsible for bringing all the bailout money and earmarks into the state, that he is too big to fail and that Nevada (and America) need him to keeping spending lots of money, put us deeper and deeper into debt and expand government. He took his jab at his opponent with the "constitutionally duty" comment, since Angle believes we should reduce the size of the Federal government and only let them have the powers enumerated by the Constitution.

Reid shows his ignorance of both the Constitution and the American people.

On the other hand, Sharon Angle, who is climbing rapidly in the polls against Reid, has many fiscally conservative ideas for government. Ideas that are in keeping with an American public who find themselves having to tighten their collective belts and wallets during theseharsh economic times. She actually makes sense.

It is high time for politicians like Reid, who think they have a "constitutional duty" to be compelte jackasses and irresponsible with the power we gave them in the first place, to find their way in the world without the public dole. It is time for Reid, and all like him, to find new jobs.

Maybe if they are among the unemployed, they might think twice about what they have been trying to do to this country.

But then again, not only do his kind never learn, they will just tap into their own bank accounts from all the graft (oops, donations) they have accrued over the years.

Agree with me that Nevada needs Sharon Angle and America needs to dump "Prince" Harry Reid (and all the politicians in Washington who have lost touch with this country and ideas it was built upon). Or you can disagree and beleive that we just have to have government holding our hands, telling us what doctors to see and when to pee. Either way, it makes no difference to me. If I got you to just think for yourselves, then I have done my job. But hey, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Who loves ya, Baby?!

It sure as hell is not our elected officials. The Democrats, in a move that is sure to send the message to Americans that they are not loved, or cared about, or even listened to, have 20 bills that will see attempts for passage in a six week period between November and December. The Lame Duck session of Congress believes the Republicans will take a number of seats back in both the house and Senate. Therefore, they are pushing for passage of as many bills as possible.

This is some of the most distrespectful actions from a Congress who has shown nothing but contempt for the American public ever since Obama was elected President. In mad grabs for powwer, both Pelosi and Reid have ignored the calls from the American people to stop their exploding growth and bulging defecit. All falling on deaf ears of a power mad group who felt they had some 40 years of being ignored to make up for.

Some have called for Reid and (especially) Pelosi to be called up on abuse of power charges, something we will never see. But this latest effort by these misguided individuals is best described as dastardly.

Reid will push his Defense Appropriations bill (with the gay ban, abortion issues and immigrant DREAM Act intact). Pelosi wants to take up her child nutrition bill. Many of these causes by Democrats may sound wonderful and might be do-able in good economic times, are absurdly bloated in these hard fiscal times. Most don't have any way of paying for them and will increase the Federal deficet immensely.

Whether its Rep. George Miller's (D-CA)Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization or Sen. Jeff Bingamon's (D-NM) renewable electricity standard, the fact that the outgoing power hogs are pushing for these peices of legislation before losing their majority tells me that they have soemthing to hide in them.

These people should truly be ashamed of their actions, both before now and their intent after the Nov. 2nd elections. But something tells me they will not be. After all, these are the very same people who voted on legislation they had not read, nor cared when things were revealed after the fact.

Washington DC has become a cesspoll. Both Republicans and Democrats are all to blame. The few voices of reason (DeMint, Bachman, and a few others) are drowned out by the smarmy sound of heavy-handed, back door slipping, weaselly, underhanded, special interest glamming politicians of this debased seat of power.

We must skim the grease from our nation's capital and allow the clean waters to once more shine in the light of day. Maybe with such a boisterous clamour from the citizens of this country, the President and those left standing will realize that the "change you can believe in" is the change Americans want not the change they had planned. A clean sweep and true transparency is the only thing the people will stand for.

Reid pushes social agenda disguised as Defense Bill

The Defense Bill that failed Cloture vote today is just another attempt by Reid and the Democrats to not only push social agendas but to curry favor with Hispanic and illegal immigrants in his bid for re-election.

Not only is there a number of ill-concieved wasteful spending measures in the bill itslef, three social agenda provisions / amendments are also included. And reid wanted to limit both debate and Republican amendments to the bill. This is not only shameful on the part of the Senate majority Leader, it is close to criminal. It is a misuse of office. Reid and the Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for using a military spending bill for their personal benefits.

On the issue of the "don't ask, don't tell" repel language in the bill, I personally have no opinion. While I was in the navy, the world was a different place as far as gays in the military were concerned. Hell, women were just being assigned non-combat duties on Navy vessels at the time. And that was controversial enough. The idea of serving next to and depending on a gay man in the Navy was scary. Today, our young men and women in the military are more accepting of this lifestyle and as long as they are not susceptible to blackmail by terrorists, I hold no concerns.

But on the issue of the language regarding abortions at military facilites, I hold a person distaste for what would essentially turn our military bases into abortion clinics. This may seem a harsh condemnation of this but to me a life is precious and should be protected from the moent of conception. Allowing for women to have abortions funded by the people and performed by dedicated men and women who are normally in the business of saving precious lives, this is an aberration. They would be "ordered" to perform these abortions. And this is unconscionable. For this reason alone it should not be part of any bill on defense spending and should be taken up separately.

The last part of the social agenda of the Democrats and Reid is the inclusion of their DREAM ACT, which is an fancy way of giving a green light to illegal immigration and has no business being tacked onto a Defense Spending bill. This issue is both a hotly contested one in the America today and should not be treated lightly or as a way for Reid to cull the favor of ANY potential voter.

Immigration is a separate issue with many facets to it. It deserves debate by serious people looking for real solutions, not as some political trickery. Reid (and Pelosi on the House side of the bill) are both charlatans masquerading as leaders. They have no business being in charge of such important legislation. By denying debate and attempting to shove yet another social agenda bill in the gusie of real legislation, Reid has shown himself a smarmy politician only concerned with keeping his cushy job in DC.

I am proud of our Republican leaders and the 2 Democrats who stepped up in the Senate to say NO to this travesty. With unemployment so high, I think it would be a refreshing change to fire people like Pelosi and Reid come this November and give the job to people who are serious about the business of America. And fixing the real problems we have.

Now, as always, you can agree with my view of thsi disgustingly political bill or you can disagree with my assessment that Reid and company do a great diservice to this country with their abominable actions on this vote. It really amkes no difference to me. Just so long as I get you top think for yourself and not listen to all the namby pamby left wing media who are just cowering to the White House for some sound bite time. But hey, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.