Friday, May 06, 2005
Rueben Rajala's Recommended Reading
Don't Get Frist and Justice Sunday by Jennifer Coulter Stapleton
Forest roadless rule reversed By Steve Lipsher
Dobson focuses prayer on judicial flap By Anne C. Mulkern
Right risks a backlash from fears of theocracy By Dick Polman
In Kansas, A Sharp Debate on Evolution By Peter Slevin
Carter Tried To Stop Bush's Energy Disasters - 28 Years Ago by Thom Hartmann
A Serious Drug Problem By Paul Krugman
Forest roadless rule reversed By Steve Lipsher
Dobson focuses prayer on judicial flap By Anne C. Mulkern
Right risks a backlash from fears of theocracy By Dick Polman
In Kansas, A Sharp Debate on Evolution By Peter Slevin
Carter Tried To Stop Bush's Energy Disasters - 28 Years Ago by Thom Hartmann
A Serious Drug Problem By Paul Krugman
A picture is worth a 1000 words.....
A graph showing correlation between Bush's approval rating and his 60 day Social Security "town hall" tour. Stay the course. you idiot!
Check out the numbers on this bamboozlepalooza tour here.
from think progress blog
A Culture of Life? Foster Children used as Guinea Pigs
NIH Turns Foster Children Into Guinea Pigs
In a story that is disturbingly reminiscent of the Environmental Protection Agency’s CHEERS program, the Associated Press reports that for the past two decades researchers from the National Institutes of Health “tested AIDS drugs on hundreds of foster children … often without providing them a basic protection afforded in federal law and required by some states.” The already vulnerable population of mostly poor or minority foster children was “exposed … to the risks of medical research and drugs that were known to have serious side effects in adults and for which the safety for children was unknown.”
The studies are known to have spanned the country and the practice has been confirmed “in at least seven states - Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Colorado, and Texas - and involved more than four dozen different studies.” A number of the studies resulted in the children “[suffering] side effects such as rashes, vomiting and sharp drops in infection-fighting blood cells.” In a particular study, “researchers reported a ‘disturbing’ higher death rate among children who took higher doses of a drug. That study was unable to determine a safe and effective dosage.”
from Think Progress Blog
In a story that is disturbingly reminiscent of the Environmental Protection Agency’s CHEERS program, the Associated Press reports that for the past two decades researchers from the National Institutes of Health “tested AIDS drugs on hundreds of foster children … often without providing them a basic protection afforded in federal law and required by some states.” The already vulnerable population of mostly poor or minority foster children was “exposed … to the risks of medical research and drugs that were known to have serious side effects in adults and for which the safety for children was unknown.”
The studies are known to have spanned the country and the practice has been confirmed “in at least seven states - Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Colorado, and Texas - and involved more than four dozen different studies.” A number of the studies resulted in the children “[suffering] side effects such as rashes, vomiting and sharp drops in infection-fighting blood cells.” In a particular study, “researchers reported a ‘disturbing’ higher death rate among children who took higher doses of a drug. That study was unable to determine a safe and effective dosage.”
from Think Progress Blog
DAILY OUTRAGE
The U.S. government has opened a criminal inquiry into suspected embezzlement by officials who failed to account for almost $100 million they disbursed for Iraqi reconstruction projects. In one case an official fired for mishandling funds was reportedly allowed to continue disbursing money nearly a month after his termination.
from C4AP
from C4AP
Quote of the Day
"The only way we can serve well is to serve humbly, as servants both to God and our nation." – Tom DeLay, 5/6/05
VERSUS
"I am the federal government." – Tom DeLay, 6/13/03
from C4AP
VERSUS
"I am the federal government." – Tom DeLay, 6/13/03
from C4AP
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Rueben Rajala's Recommended Reading
On the Brink of 'Theocracy' by Reverend Carlton W. Veazey
Focus stirs up both right, left By Eric Gorski
The Bush Social Security fix is in by E.J. Dionne Jr.
Bush Ally in House Alters Social Security Debate Strategy By Jonathan Weisman and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Rising call: Cut US oil imports Security hawks, environmentalists forge a rare consensus on energy. By Mark Clayton
Focus stirs up both right, left By Eric Gorski
The Bush Social Security fix is in by E.J. Dionne Jr.
Bush Ally in House Alters Social Security Debate Strategy By Jonathan Weisman and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Rising call: Cut US oil imports Security hawks, environmentalists forge a rare consensus on energy. By Mark Clayton
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
DAILY OUTRAGE
A new report by the General Accounting Office reveals the Bush administration has obligated just 2 percent of congressionally approved funds for the Millennium Challenge Account, the initiative to reduce poverty in the developing world. Congress has obligated $2.5 billion through two years, but just $55 million has been spent.
from C4AP
Can anyone say "compassionate conservative".
from C4AP
Can anyone say "compassionate conservative".
let the experts decide... not the illiterate cowboy
I do not believe … the government should impose on power plants mandatory emissions reductions for carbon dioxide.… This is especially true given the incomplete state of scientific knowledge of the causes of, and solutions to, global climate change." – President George Bush
VERSUS
"There is a better scientific consensus on this than on any other issue I know – except maybe Newton's second law of dynamics." – Scientist D. James Baker, former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
from the Center for American Progress
VERSUS
"There is a better scientific consensus on this than on any other issue I know – except maybe Newton's second law of dynamics." – Scientist D. James Baker, former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
from the Center for American Progress
The Bankruptcy Bill, Part 2
very busy.... here is something for your brain to chew on in the meantime....
After the passage of the credit card industry-written bankruptcy bill last month, you probably thought Congress was through screwing average Americans, at least for a little while. You were wrong. Now, we have the "Responsible Lending Act" from Ohio Rep. Bob Ney (R). Though Ney is from the state with the highest foreclosure rate in the country, he's working to make sure banks can continue ripping off unsuspecting consumers.
The bill essentially cements into law the rights of predatory lenders who seize on financially vulnerable Americans that have less-than-perfect credit records. This is a $9-billion-a-year industry – but apparently, these sharks want to cheat hard-working people out of even more of their home equity. And the supposedly "up-from-your-bootstraps" Republicans are helping create a system that actually kicks people in the face as they are earnestly trying to climb the ladder. Here are some of the worst features of Ney's bill:
RAISES FEES: The bill allows lenders to tack on another 2 percent in fees on subprime loans offered to people with less-than-perfect credit.
PENALIZES PEOPLE FOR SUCCEEDING: The bill allows lenders charge exorbitant penalties for paying off a high-interest loan early, essentially locking buyers into high-interest loans even if they have the money to pay it off. Additionally, as the Center for Responsible Lending notes, it actually lets banks "pay bonuses to brokers for steering buyers into expensive loans."
HIDES EXORBITANT FEES/SURCHARGES: The bill allows a lender to roll predatory lenders' exorbitant fees into the someone's loan. Sounds good, right? Not really: as the nonpartisan Center for Responsible Lending notes, "in many high-cost loans, borrowers never realize the significance of the exorbitant hidden fees on the loan because they don't pay for them in cash, but instead finance the points into the loan." In other words, not regulating this gives predatory lenders a devious way hide their high fees, but still make you pay them.
LIMITS CONSUMER RIGHTS: The bill actually limits borrowers legal rights in seeking recourse when predatory lenders screw them over. Disgusting "tort reform" efforts never cease to rear their ugly head in any of these bills.
PRE-EMPTS STATE LAWS THAT PROTECT CONSUMERS: Perhaps worst of all, the bill essentially pre-empts state laws that regulate predatory lending. We've seen this happen before from the House Financial Services Committee (which, with the exception of a few members, should officially be declared a subsidiary of Corporate America). In 2003, Congress passed legislation to pre-empt state laws protecting consumer privacy ("states rights" apparently only applies when it means persecuting minorities - it doesn't apply when it would mean protecting consumers).
There's an alternative to this bill being pushed by some Democrats that is far better (see a side-by-side comparison of the two bills). It is based, in part, on North Carolina's tough state law which studies prove reduced predatory lending but preserved consumer choice (North Carolina's law will be pre-empted if Ney's bill passes).
The problem is, just as we saw a faction of Democrats screw the middle class and support the bankruptcy bill, there is a faction of Democrats supporting Ney's bill. The question really is simple: how come there are still some Democrats who don't understand that the reason the party is in the minority is because on core economic issues, these weak-kneed factions make the party appear so willing to abandon America's middle-class?
After the passage of the credit card industry-written bankruptcy bill last month, you probably thought Congress was through screwing average Americans, at least for a little while. You were wrong. Now, we have the "Responsible Lending Act" from Ohio Rep. Bob Ney (R). Though Ney is from the state with the highest foreclosure rate in the country, he's working to make sure banks can continue ripping off unsuspecting consumers.
The bill essentially cements into law the rights of predatory lenders who seize on financially vulnerable Americans that have less-than-perfect credit records. This is a $9-billion-a-year industry – but apparently, these sharks want to cheat hard-working people out of even more of their home equity. And the supposedly "up-from-your-bootstraps" Republicans are helping create a system that actually kicks people in the face as they are earnestly trying to climb the ladder. Here are some of the worst features of Ney's bill:
RAISES FEES: The bill allows lenders to tack on another 2 percent in fees on subprime loans offered to people with less-than-perfect credit.
PENALIZES PEOPLE FOR SUCCEEDING: The bill allows lenders charge exorbitant penalties for paying off a high-interest loan early, essentially locking buyers into high-interest loans even if they have the money to pay it off. Additionally, as the Center for Responsible Lending notes, it actually lets banks "pay bonuses to brokers for steering buyers into expensive loans."
HIDES EXORBITANT FEES/SURCHARGES: The bill allows a lender to roll predatory lenders' exorbitant fees into the someone's loan. Sounds good, right? Not really: as the nonpartisan Center for Responsible Lending notes, "in many high-cost loans, borrowers never realize the significance of the exorbitant hidden fees on the loan because they don't pay for them in cash, but instead finance the points into the loan." In other words, not regulating this gives predatory lenders a devious way hide their high fees, but still make you pay them.
LIMITS CONSUMER RIGHTS: The bill actually limits borrowers legal rights in seeking recourse when predatory lenders screw them over. Disgusting "tort reform" efforts never cease to rear their ugly head in any of these bills.
PRE-EMPTS STATE LAWS THAT PROTECT CONSUMERS: Perhaps worst of all, the bill essentially pre-empts state laws that regulate predatory lending. We've seen this happen before from the House Financial Services Committee (which, with the exception of a few members, should officially be declared a subsidiary of Corporate America). In 2003, Congress passed legislation to pre-empt state laws protecting consumer privacy ("states rights" apparently only applies when it means persecuting minorities - it doesn't apply when it would mean protecting consumers).
There's an alternative to this bill being pushed by some Democrats that is far better (see a side-by-side comparison of the two bills). It is based, in part, on North Carolina's tough state law which studies prove reduced predatory lending but preserved consumer choice (North Carolina's law will be pre-empted if Ney's bill passes).
The problem is, just as we saw a faction of Democrats screw the middle class and support the bankruptcy bill, there is a faction of Democrats supporting Ney's bill. The question really is simple: how come there are still some Democrats who don't understand that the reason the party is in the minority is because on core economic issues, these weak-kneed factions make the party appear so willing to abandon America's middle-class?
from sirota blog
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
OUTRAGE OF THE DAY
Last year, ABC refused to air a commercial by the progressive United Church of Christ promoting its inclusive policy towards gays and racial minorities. Yet the same network chose to air an advertisement last night by James Dobson's Focus on the Family. Apparently tolerance is "too controversial" for ABC, but Dobson – who recently compared Supreme Court justices to KKK members – is a-okay.
from the C4AP Progress Report
from the C4AP Progress Report
Star from movie "Fight Club" fights for a Renewable Energy!
The world has known Edward Norton as a neo-Nazi skinhead, a lusty priest, a warbling romantic, Larry Flynt's attorney, and Nelson Rockefeller. There is also a far less publicized role that Norton plays every day: a dyed-in-the-wool eco-devotee on the front lines of the renewable-energy movement.
In 2003, Norton teamed up with oil giant and leading solar-panel producer BP to develop the Solar Neighbors Program, which aims to get photovoltaic (PV) panels onto low-income homes in Los Angeles. Norton has brought star power to the cause with support from show-biz buddies including Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, and Danny DeVito, and within the first year of the program succeeded in getting resources for dozens of solar installations for inner-city families.
full story on the weekly grist
In 2003, Norton teamed up with oil giant and leading solar-panel producer BP to develop the Solar Neighbors Program, which aims to get photovoltaic (PV) panels onto low-income homes in Los Angeles. Norton has brought star power to the cause with support from show-biz buddies including Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, and Danny DeVito, and within the first year of the program succeeded in getting resources for dozens of solar installations for inner-city families.
full story on the weekly grist
Rev. Pat Robertson says compared to liberal judges Islamic terrorists are no big deal!!!
On Sunday, Rev. Pat Robertson said that the threat from liberal judges is more serious than Islamist terrorism.
A few days after the attacks of 9/11, Robertson had Rev. Jerry Falwell on his "700 Club" show. Falwell said the terrorist attacks on the U.S. were "probably what we deserve."
What? No outrage?
from CBS NEWS
A few days after the attacks of 9/11, Robertson had Rev. Jerry Falwell on his "700 Club" show. Falwell said the terrorist attacks on the U.S. were "probably what we deserve."
What? No outrage?
from CBS NEWS
Jeb Bushs Forces 13 year to have a baby
Jeb Bush's anti-abortion crusade reached a new low in the last few days when the Florida Department of Children and Families stepped in to try to prevent a thirteen year old girl in state custody from getting an abortion.
The agency made the argument that the girl was too young and immature to decide whether or not to have the baby. But did anyone consider the possibility that maybe she was too young and immature to have the baby and to raise it?
Don't worry about that the state of florida will take the baby way from the girl as soon as she gives birth.
from progressive magazine
The agency made the argument that the girl was too young and immature to decide whether or not to have the baby. But did anyone consider the possibility that maybe she was too young and immature to have the baby and to raise it?
Don't worry about that the state of florida will take the baby way from the girl as soon as she gives birth.
from progressive magazine
Monday, May 02, 2005
ACTION ALERT! - SB110 Cost of getting sick in the North Country Goes UP!
SB110 allows small business health insurance providers to discriminate against North Country citizens!
When they set your premium SB110 allow these insurance companies to look at:
The North Country has a less healthy population then the rest of the state.
The North Country has a proportionately older population than the rest of the state.
The North Country tends to have more dangerous professions such as logging.
YOU WILL GET TO PAY FOR THIS, just because of where you live!
Thanks to SB110 people in the North Country are now paying 12 times more than the lowest premium rates in the State. North Country Businesses saw a 35% increase in premium rates compared to the 12% industry norm. With many seeing a 60% percent increase!!! Some very small businesses were quoted rates of $2,200/month for a family health plan.
What are we going to do about it? Well Martha McLeod and other courageous Democrats are leading the charge in the House and Senate!
The House Commerce Committee was successful in passing HB611 along to the Senate. HB611 removes health status and geographic region as ratings factors and introduces a reinsurance pool to reduce rate increases for small businesses and working families. But HB611, while a huge step forward, does not go far enough in lowering rates and actually allows insurance companies to charge based on gender!
The Senate did an even better job by passing SB125 over to the House. If you missed my earlier post, SB 125 also repeals health status and geographic location as rating factors for small group health insurance, but goes further as it also clarifies overall premium rate variability (3.5 to 1 ratio and 20% cap) and premium rates for small employer groups with similar case characteristics. Click here to see a comparison of SB125 and HB611 bills.
SB125 is now in the House Commerce Committee and is coming up for a hearing on this Thursday, May 5. Rep. Martha McLeod tells us that she feels pretty confident that it will pass to the full House. Just in case click here to send a message to your Representatives and let them know you support SB125.
If you can make it to Concord on Thursday to show your support in person, email ben@nhforhealthcare.com and we will get you the details.
When they set your premium SB110 allow these insurance companies to look at:
1] where you liveNo big deal? But check this:
2] your current health status
3] your age
4] your
type of work
The North Country has a less healthy population then the rest of the state.
The North Country has a proportionately older population than the rest of the state.
The North Country tends to have more dangerous professions such as logging.
YOU WILL GET TO PAY FOR THIS, just because of where you live!
Thanks to SB110 people in the North Country are now paying 12 times more than the lowest premium rates in the State. North Country Businesses saw a 35% increase in premium rates compared to the 12% industry norm. With many seeing a 60% percent increase!!! Some very small businesses were quoted rates of $2,200/month for a family health plan.
What are we going to do about it? Well Martha McLeod and other courageous Democrats are leading the charge in the House and Senate!
The House Commerce Committee was successful in passing HB611 along to the Senate. HB611 removes health status and geographic region as ratings factors and introduces a reinsurance pool to reduce rate increases for small businesses and working families. But HB611, while a huge step forward, does not go far enough in lowering rates and actually allows insurance companies to charge based on gender!
The Senate did an even better job by passing SB125 over to the House. If you missed my earlier post, SB 125 also repeals health status and geographic location as rating factors for small group health insurance, but goes further as it also clarifies overall premium rate variability (3.5 to 1 ratio and 20% cap) and premium rates for small employer groups with similar case characteristics. Click here to see a comparison of SB125 and HB611 bills.
SB125 is now in the House Commerce Committee and is coming up for a hearing on this Thursday, May 5. Rep. Martha McLeod tells us that she feels pretty confident that it will pass to the full House. Just in case click here to send a message to your Representatives and let them know you support SB125.
If you can make it to Concord on Thursday to show your support in person, email ben@nhforhealthcare.com and we will get you the details.
Votes!!!
Recent Senate Votes
Budget Resolution, FY2006 - Vote Agreed to (52-47, 1 Not Voting)The Senate gave final approval to this $2.6 trillion budget resolution conference report outlining spending priorities for the upcoming 2006 fiscal year.
Sen. Judd Gregg voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. John Sununu voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Recent House Votes
Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act - Vote Passed (270-157, 7 Not Voting)The House approved this bill that would prohibit adults from transporting a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without notifying the minor's parents.
Rep. Charles Bass voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Rep. Jed Bradley voted YES
Amending the Rules of the House - Vote Passed (406-20, 1 Present, 7 Not Voting)The House voted to revert to the rules governing ethics investigations that were in place at the end of the last congress.
Rep. Charles Bass voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Rep. Jed Bradley voted YES
Budget Resolution, FY2006 - Vote Passed (214-211, 10 Not Voting)The House passed a $2.6 trillion budget resolution conference report outlining spending priorities for the upcoming 2006 fiscal year.
Rep. Charles Bass voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Rep. Jed Bradley voted YES
Budget Resolution, FY2006 - Vote Agreed to (52-47, 1 Not Voting)The Senate gave final approval to this $2.6 trillion budget resolution conference report outlining spending priorities for the upcoming 2006 fiscal year.
Sen. Judd Gregg voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. John Sununu voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Recent House Votes
Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act - Vote Passed (270-157, 7 Not Voting)The House approved this bill that would prohibit adults from transporting a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without notifying the minor's parents.
Rep. Charles Bass voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Rep. Jed Bradley voted YES
Amending the Rules of the House - Vote Passed (406-20, 1 Present, 7 Not Voting)The House voted to revert to the rules governing ethics investigations that were in place at the end of the last congress.
Rep. Charles Bass voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Rep. Jed Bradley voted YES
Budget Resolution, FY2006 - Vote Passed (214-211, 10 Not Voting)The House passed a $2.6 trillion budget resolution conference report outlining spending priorities for the upcoming 2006 fiscal year.
Rep. Charles Bass voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Rep. Jed Bradley voted YES
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Servicing the president
What do these people all have in common?
What do these people have in common?
Bill Frist, James Dobson, Albert Desalvo, Jerry Dahmer, Herny Lee Lucas, David Berkowitz
I mean besides being compassionate conservatives... well let me give you a clue...
Bill Frist disclosed that he went to animal shelters and pretended to adopt the cats, telling shelter personnel he intended to keep them as pets. Instead he used them to sharpen his surgical skills, killing them in the process.
James Dobson: When I returned I held up the belt and again told my angry dog to get into his bed. He stood his ground, so I gave him a firm swat across the rear end and he tried to bite the belt. The tiny dog and I had the most vicious fight ever staged between man and beast... I eventually got him to bed, but only because I outwieighed him 200 to 12.
Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler) In his youth he trapped dogs and cats in orange crates and shot arrows through the boxes.
Jeffrey Dahmer staked cats to trees and decapitated dogs.
Henry Lee Lucas As a child, he killed every cat on his parent's farm.
David Berkowitz killed his neighbour's Labrador retriever
If you said they are all possible GOP presidential Candidates give yourself half credit.
from Crooks and Liars Blog
Bill Frist, James Dobson, Albert Desalvo, Jerry Dahmer, Herny Lee Lucas, David Berkowitz
I mean besides being compassionate conservatives... well let me give you a clue...
Bill Frist disclosed that he went to animal shelters and pretended to adopt the cats, telling shelter personnel he intended to keep them as pets. Instead he used them to sharpen his surgical skills, killing them in the process.
James Dobson: When I returned I held up the belt and again told my angry dog to get into his bed. He stood his ground, so I gave him a firm swat across the rear end and he tried to bite the belt. The tiny dog and I had the most vicious fight ever staged between man and beast... I eventually got him to bed, but only because I outwieighed him 200 to 12.
Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler) In his youth he trapped dogs and cats in orange crates and shot arrows through the boxes.
Jeffrey Dahmer staked cats to trees and decapitated dogs.
Henry Lee Lucas As a child, he killed every cat on his parent's farm.
David Berkowitz killed his neighbour's Labrador retriever
If you said they are all possible GOP presidential Candidates give yourself half credit.
from Crooks and Liars Blog
