Now is the time for YOU to SPEAK OUT!

If you're interested in this party, in becoming a part of a true grass roots movement that isn't funded by secret, behind-the-scenes wealthy men with agendas that benefit no one but themselves and their friends, then please follow this blog and comment to this post. We only have until September to register if we're going to be a player in the 2012 elections!

Please read all the previous posts to help in understanding where this party is coming from and, below, a few example issues and where we stand on them.

Thank you!

Issues

1. Education:
I find the best way to tell America how the SOP feels about Education is to use Aaron Sorkin's words, as spoken by Sam Seaborn in an episode of the West Wing (don't laugh *g*):

"Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything. We don't need little changes, we need gigantic, monumental changes. Schools should be palaces. The competition for the best teachers should be fierce. They should be making six-figure salaries. Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge to its citizens, just like national defense...."

To further quote Sam: "That's my position. I just haven't figured out how to do it yet."

Figuring out how to do it would be part of our Party plan while also ensuring that Education is NEVER a disposable budget item nor will we support any plan to privatize Education (see #2 below).

2. The Role of Government In Our Lives:
The job of the Federal Government is to uphold the Constitution and protect those items/programs; those inalienable rights that are absolutely necessary to the People and thus should never be done for profit. Here are just three of those items to serve as examples:

Education (naturally, people should always have the right to attend private schools, but if we truly give the education of our children our full attention, the need for private schools would, for the most part, evaporate)
Healthcare (including Medicare, Social Security Disability, Social Security and Medicaid, etc.)
Defense

3. Homosexuality:
The SOP sees no difference between gays or straights and therefore would work hard to ensure that gays are afforded ALL the same rights and benefits of 'straights', including the right to marry.

4. Family Values:
The SOP recognizes that the definition of 'family' as a fluid thing, thus we can not - will not - permit 'family' to be pigeon-holed into a cookie cutter "one man, one woman" formula. The SOP will never support any legislation that attempts to define "a family" in such a limiting manner, let alone create laws around such a definition. By the same token, SOP understands that the family, however it may be represented, is the cornerstone for our future. SOP would support legislation that helps keep families together and aids in providing for them during trying times (disaster relief, extension of unemployment benefits during hard economic times, etc) - and no, this promise does NOT exclude single Americans, who, according to our definition, constitute a 'family' as well.

5. Gun Control:
The SOP will support (and write) legislation that creates a more responsible method of purchasing firearms. We believe in the 'right to bear arms' but also understand that our Founding Fathers could never have imagined a world where those arms would be automatic to the degree that one lone gunman could fire off a multitude of bullets in seconds - or literally spray bullets into an innocent group of people. They probably would have found no reason to own a semi-automatic unless in the military or law enforcement and would have been appalled at the easy manner in which assault weapons can be purchased and altered to be even more powerful.

The SOP supports changing the 'gun show' laws which, currently, allow the purchase of any weapon without a background check or even adequate ID. The rules for purchasing a weapon at a gun show should be the same as at a shop that sells guns.

We have the right to protect ourselves, of that, there is no doubt. But at some point, the SOP has to say STOP THE MADNESS.

6. Abortion:
Simply put, the SOP supports the right of women to choose. That said, we do have concerns regarding late term abortions unless the life of the woman is in danger. To be honest, this is an area of deep concern for many reasons, thus the SOP does not take it lightly. Even as we understand the complexity of this issue, we must, at this time, state that we will never support any legislation that prohibits doctors from performing abortions or women from having them. We will strongly support heavier penalties for those who would threaten, harass, stalk, or harm in any way, medical personnel or employees of clinics that perform abortions, or the women who use the clinics. We will also attempt to overturn current laws that refuse Federal funds to hospitals/clinics that perform abortions.
NOTE: The SOP uses the Mayo Clinic's article on the stages of pregnancy.

7. Campaign Reform:
One of the primary goals of the SOP will be to enact radical Campaign Reforms. We believe that money should NOT be the primary factor nor an issue in deciding who is elected. Therefore we will be supporting some rather radical changes. For instance, we do not believe corporations should have been granted 'person' status for the purpose of campaign contributions and will work to repeal that law.

8. Health Care Reform:
The SOP feels that the US is far behind other countries in providing the one thing every American should have access to: OUTSTANDING medical care no matter their economic status and whether it be pre-natal or in our senior years. Today, we're at the mercy of Health Care Providers and the Pharmaceutical companies whose only goal is profit.

Medicine is NOT a business, should not BE a business, because when the dollar enters the equation, the best interests of the patient exit.

MEDICARE MEDICARE MEDICARE

That's the issue proving to be a major stumbling block for Republicans. But the Democrats aren't doing so well with it either because so far, they don't have a clear message. Scratch that - they don't have a UNIFIED message yet.

Half the Democrats in Congress (and any running for office - can we say NY26?) are saying: 

"We will NOT touch Medicare - it's SAFE and this is NON-NEGOTIABLE."

The other half have another piece of the Medicare puzzle, namely reforming the system in order to do away with insurance fraud and abuse. BUT - they've been unable to adequately express the fact that:

A) they have no intention of doing away with Medicare, while-

B) recognizing the need to "clean it up" and end the waste and fraud. 

They're afraid to use the word, "Change" in the same sentence as Medicare; afraid it will scare us as much as Ryan's 'voucher' program (which is, to put it bluntly, a privatized and, thus, a "for profit" system).  What they need to do is dump the word "Change" and replace it with the more positive and unimpeachable word: "Improve".

In other words: "DON'T TOUCH MY MEDICARE BUT FEEL FREE TO IMPROVE IT!"

So, Democrats and President Obama, listen up. As a Medicare recipient, I actually know how to do the above. No, really, I do. *g*

First of all, for the next year and a half, ALL Democrats MUST be united in saying over and over again that they will NOT touch Medicare as WE KNOW IT, that they will not put Medicare on the table for negotiation with the Republicans ever. That must be their primary message. Medicare for today and tomorrow will remain SAFE.  

But - at the same time - they must find a way to easily explain the intention to IMPROVE Medicare; to improve the care seniors receive by ensuring that insurance companies don't continue to cheat the government. 

That's their problem.

One of the biggest fraud issues is with the health care providers. When you go on Medicare, you can go to any doctor you choose (for now, we'll leave Medicare Advantage out of the equation although the system outlined below applies to MA as well) so most seniors spend a great deal of time trying to choose the right provider - the one that will have the lowest costs (as in co-payments, etc.).

NOTE: When I say "Health Care Providers", I mean providers like Kaiser, Cigna, Aetna, Monarch, Blue Shield, Health Net, Well Care, etc.

As it can work now, when you visit your doctor, what he does, what he orders, what actually ends up happening, isn't necessarily what the doctor reports to your health care provider and definitely not always what the provider reports to Medicare for reimbursement. Your doctor may do nothing but take your blood pressure, but the provider may send in a bill for a test you never received. This is a big chunk of what is costing our government so much money within the Medicare system. There are other abuses as well, obviously, but that's the largest. It's also the easiest to fix.

So, to President Obama and Congress, well, listen up. *G*

Right now, I receive a quarterly statement that shows the prescriptions I 'purchased' in the previous three months. It reports what I paid (if anything) and what portion my provider paid. I check it religiously to ensure it's correct and then I file it. This same 'statement' process could be expanded to include the actual care I received. A process used by Medicare, the physician and the provider - in order to establish an easy 'check and balance' system.

It should work something like this: When you visit your physician, at the conclusion, you would receive a 'receipt' (generated via codes) that shows what was ordered, what was done, etc. If your doctor took blood, then your 'receipt' would show how many tests were ordered and which ones. Then your doctor would naturally send the same info to your provider (they already do this, of course and the provider sends their report to Medicare for reimbursement). But this is where we'd add the now missing - but vital - step: Whether monthly or quarterly, Medicare would send each member a statement showing what was reported by the health provider regarding your care; a report that you would compare with your 'receipts' to ensure everything was reported correctly and thus paid/reimbursed properly.

Can you see how this could and would help stop the fraud and abuse?

"Wait, this statement says I had an MRI in May - I haven't had an MRI in over five years!"

"Hey, this statement says that four different tests were run on the vial of blood taken last month, but my doctor was checking my TSH levels as it says right here on my receipt!"
"Cool, it matches perfectly!"
If you find a problem, the Medicare website would have a section for reporting the discrepancy (or for those without computers, a phone number), and Medicare would then take over by dealing directly with either (or both) the doctor/provider to correct the report and, if necessary, ensure the provider refunds the Medicare bank. *g*

With a system like that in place, one that would be both easy and cost effective. I know this because I instituted a similar process in my business of contracting to transport school children. I had to report things like miles driven and students transported to my customers; the school districts. And, btw, for the same reason: so the districts could receive their government transportation funds. Without such a system, which was completely automated, it would have been very easy for:

1. my drivers to cheat me in order to pad their time and increase their pay
2. for me to 'enhance' mileage and pupil count in order to increase my receivables from each customer
3. and for the district to 'enhance' their numbers in order to receive a larger chunk of Federal Transportation money and ensure their yearly transportation budget either stayed the same or was increased
   

A system as I outlined would probably save - billions? *nods* And that alone would ensure that Medicare would be able to continue long into the future of our children, their children and their children's children. Besides, we, the patients, should be in charge of our care anyway, right? We should know what's happening, what the doctor/s is/are doing, ask questions, and keep records of what's been done to - and for - us as well as our out-of-pocket expenses.

No Resolution for the House of Representatives!

Yep, you read that correctly. House leadership refused to pass a resolution honoring the Navy SEALS who led the raid on bin Laden even though the Senate managed time to do so.


So let's do it for them. We know why they won't, we know it's political, so here's our chance to make it right.

How?

Simple: This is a call-out to all those who live in the Washington D.C. area - or nearby - asking that you use our modern technology (twitter, facebook, etc) to plan a gathering within the next 2 weeks in The House of Representatives while they're in session. Let one citizen stand and read OUR resolution.

SAMPLE RESOLUTION 

(modeled after the Senate's, who offered a resolution and, btw, the resolution came from ONE Democrat and ONE Republican!): 

CITIZENS RESOLUTION

1
By Allison French, (insert names of those who make significant changes to the below)
WHEREAS, this group of citizens joins with people across Washington State, the nation, and the world
in experiencing a sense of relief that the United States conducted a successful operation on May 1,
2011, that located, and ended the life of, Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, a terrorist
organization responsible for the mass murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children
in the United States and many other areas of the world, including Madrid, Afghanistan, Bali, the
USS Cole, U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and other locations; and
WHEREAS, Bin Laden had declared war on America and was the mastermind behind the
tragic September 11, 2001, attacks on America that killed thousands of our fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, In response, the United States and our allies responded by targeting members of
al-Qaeda, including their leader bin Laden, through significantly upgraded and coordinated
intelligence systems heeding recommendations of the 9-11 Commission; and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama, Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, oversaw a
complex, highly sophisticated process to locate bin Laden, and made the crucial decision to send
in an elite, courageous, and heroic team of Navy Seals to put an end to his terrorism; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of the United States take pride in the work of the dedicated military
men and women who have been in the forefront of the war
on terrorism, who protect our country, and who were critical to the success of this mission, including
those affiliated with the Washington National Guard and Washington's military bases, including
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Naval Station Everett, Naval Station Kitsap, Naval Station Bangor,
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and Fairchild Air Force Base; and
WHEREAS, The people of Washington State take similar pride in the valuable work of the
men and women in the Madigan Army Medical Center, the Yakima Firing Center, the Thirteenth
Coast Guard District, the Marines' 4th Landing Support Battalion (4th LSB), the Air National
Guard, the Army National Guard, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center at Keyport, the Washington
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility; and
WHEREAS, In conducting this operation, and in the extensive, lengthy preparations leading
to it, our military forces and intelligence agencies have been a shining example of the discipline,
focus, and sacrifice it takes to achieve major success;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That We, these Citizens of the United States, in place of the House of Representatives, which refused such a resolution, honors the
strong, thoughtful leadership of President Barack Obama, the coordinated, precision leadership of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Security Council; the tireless, dedicated work of our
counter-terrorism professionals; the clear demonstration of leadership, ability, and unstinting
bravery of our military forces and intelligence agencies; and the extraordinary skills, courage, and
precision teamwork of the highest order of the elite Navy Seals who personally carried out this
most complex and dangerous mission; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That We, these Citizens express their deep appreciation to the
dedicated families of these patriotic men and women, who often lose their loved ones in patriotic
service to their country; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be immediately read into the record by Speaker of the House John Boehner and then sent to the
the Secretary of the Senate; to President Barack Obama; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates;
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Admiral Michael Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; I
Corps Commander Lieutenant General Curtis M. Scaparrotti; Navy Region Northwest Commander
Rear Admiral Douglass T. Biesel; Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and First Gentleman Mike
Gregoire; Washington National Guard Adjutant General Timothy J. Lowenberg; and Washington
Department of Veterans Affairs Director John E. Lee

Thank You

Get this idea on Twitter, ReTweeted, hashtagged, on Facebook, journals and blogs. Use everything you have to get the word out. 

Let's take on The US House of Representatives NOW!

I'm ashamed of my country

It's as simple as that. Today, for the first time in American history, a President of the United States had to take time (it will turn out to be wasted) away from all the horrific issues we face to 'show' his birth certificate - yet again. Yes, AGAIN. He dealt with the issue in 2008, 2009, 2010 and now, on live television, in 2011.

Earlier this evening, I cried as I listened to Goldie Taylor tell us why this 'birther' issue is so vile (which makes Trump even more vile) and you can read her words here by scrolling  past Mr. Trump to her words. I suspect they may make you cry as well for her message is clear - and horrifying.

I must also clear something up. I'm not a Republican basher. I love my Democrat, Libertarian,  Republican, hell, even my shipper friends *g*, but I have no respect for Republican politicians and therein lie (or is it lay? *g*) the difference.

Our two main parties have a long history of give and take, but beginning in 2007, the Republican party has been hijacked by a few wealthy men/corporations and, when you hijack a party, that means you've bought the politicians. Even the best Republican politician is currently stuck between the rock (the money that bought his or her seat) and a hard place (his or her constituents). If they speak up, if they dare go against the current policies and goals of the party (meaning the money), they know they'll lose their seat.  To give you an example of how they're being run by money, at how utterly ridiculous our Republican politicians are, look at the response from the Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus today, following the President's conference on his birth certificate:

“The president ought to spend his time getting serious about repairing our economy,” Priebus said. “Unfortunately, his campaign politics and talk about birth certificates is distracting him from our number one priority — our economy.”
His talk about birth certificates???? HIS? President Obama has ignored this issue while trying to get his job done - and why? Because of the complete pettiness (and the dark horror behind its real meaning) of the issue as brought to the forefront by Trump. Obama understood it's been nothing but a huge publicity stunt and one that is so shameful that we've nothing to compare it to in our past. But it's come to a head and Obama had no choice so, today, he put it to rest:

And what did Trump do? He took the credit - and discussed his show - and his possible presidency.

Gee, what a FUCKING surprise.

I'm ashamed we've even given Trump any coverage, that the news has given him the power to bring this issue to such a frenzy (over 50 news segments since Trump started - most on FoxNews).

We truly are "Ugly Americans". And as for NBC Entertainment - they may be worse than Trump. They *know* if Celebrity Apprentice will return next year with Trump, but are they releasing the info to their own news division? 

NO. Why? 

RATINGS

Will today's events change anything? No. Money still rules, even for a so-called reality show. And money rules our politicians. But we can do something - we can stop listening to the lies. We can accept the fact that the rich have much to lose and even more to gain if they control our government.

How? Here's just a few examples:

1. The end of government interference in plants that spew dangerous chemicals into our air and water
2. The end of government interference in how states run their schools, thus the education of our young (did you know that in many states right NOW, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer are banned from the schools and libraries?)
3. The end of government interference in how to build or structure a building for the disabled. No more space wasted on larger restrooms, ramps, special parking, and the hiring of the disabled
4. The end of government interference in who is hired (meaning women and minorities step back to the 1950's and beyond)
5. ALL medical care would go into the hands of private companies with no government breathing down their back to ensure fair, equal and stellar care
6. Complete control of cities (and thus districts) which gives complete control of voting blocks - thus the end of the Democratic party, to name just one
7. PROFITS PROFITS PROFITS
8. RELIGION RELIGION RELIGION (and only ONE)

BTW: Perhaps you missed the recent addendum that was recently added to the bill that would finally grant the First Responders the medical care they so desperately need. It says that before they can receive their money, it must be proven that they're NOT terrorists.

Yep. NOT terrorists. Don't believe me? Watch this - and btw, watch the whole thing for more on how the Republicans are 'helping out'.

Do We Understand Who We Voted Into Congress?

No.


The House lost the vote on the Patriotic Act - their own act. Not only that, but a freshman House Rep (R) stated in interviews that he didn't even know they were going to vote - and yet - he voted yes. He didn't even know what he was voting ON, let alone voting at all, but still...he voted yes. 

The amazing thing about our new House of Representatives? The fact that former Chairman of the RNC, Michael Steele, is coming out from under and starting to look damn good. Go figure. He's actually becoming the 'go to' guy for left wing pundits!!! And based on a recent appearance on the Daily Show, he's damn funny too.

Never has the phrase, "Politics makes strange bedfellows" seemed more appropriate than now.

Day After the SOTU Thoughts

Remember the line in Independence Day when Margaret Colin's character is reading to the President in one of the first scenes? She's reading aloud a negative review of President Whitmore's own SOTU Address that says something like, "...addressing Congress, Whitmore seems less like the President and more like the orphan child Oliver asking, 'please sir, I'd like some more.'"

After watching and re-watching on various channels, I have to say honestly, that's exactly how I felt about how our President sounded. The word that immediately came to mind was: "Appeasement", which infuriates me. I suspect his final speech may have been changed when it was noted that Paul Ryan would be the Republican delivering the Rebuttal. Why should that affect the speech? Because Ryan is the House Budget Committee Chairman and the Republicans just passed a rules resolution giving him unilateral authority over spending! Naturally he's going to say - hello - NO to every piece of legislation from Obama that requires spending. BTW: to my knowledge (and according to everyone on the news, including the Republicans) giving ONE person full discretion over spending has never been done before. Hence, to me, our President sounded more like a man ready to beg for crumbs than a man ready to do battle to save Social Security, Medicare, our environment and even Health Care Reform. It was the speech of a man willing to compromise, in part to appease Ryan and, naturally, to ensure a 2nd term.

And I just don't get it - any of it.

I also don't get (well, I do, but no one believes the truth) the sudden desire by the Republican Party to do away with SS and Medicare and why the Democrats aren't using that to ensure victory in 2012 as opposed to begging compromising up the kazoo. And remember, the Republicans aren't talking about just fixing the problems within both programs, no, they want to dismantle them completely (vouchers for medicare, my foot!) But no one seems to get that either or that, for GOD'S SAKE, the only thing keeping 40% of those over 65 (and/or disabled) from complete and abject poverty is SS!

I'd actually love to know how many Americans actually believe those 40% deserve to be poor because they're over 65 (and/or disabled) and obviously failed to properly prepare for the future. Does most of America feel that way? And if not, why aren't we yelling from the rooftops, demonstrating in front of Congress every day of the week? Why aren't we writing, calling and emailing? And if we do believe it's their fault - why do we believe it? After all, how many Americans saw their entire pension plan disappear in the last few years as corporations cheated and stole their retirement money? How many Americans saw their entire future monies disappear when Wall Street panicked and crashed? Why can't Americans understand this type of thing is exactly WHY President Roosevelt signed the OASDI (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance or RSDI as it was also called, for 'Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance') into law back in '35 as part of the New Deal?

He saw what happened in '29, knew that it wasn't laziness that put so many good people out into the streets and he knew - KNEW - it could and would happen again and, more importantly, understood, within his frame of reference at the time, that it could happen to anyone. He understood that disasters, illnesses, and shoddy business practices (not to mention illegal) could and would destroy private pension plans. So tell me, how is it he could foresee these future disasters and mandate a safety net, but today's America can't or won't?

How is it he understood that ONE horrific illness, even when an individual was covered by insurance, could still wipe out a family's entire life-savings, but  the Americans of today can't, even though it's happening every day? Or that as a result of losing everything, seniors would be left without medical coverage due to their age? That insurance companies have no heart for anything but a healthy bottom line?

I realize SS and Medicare aren't perfect, but they're also two of the most misunderstood 'laws' we have, laws that have changed so many times, with each party and their agendas mandating the changes, that it's head-spinning. Fortunately, most of the changes were for the good (after all, when first signed into law, it was for MEN only - white men - which is why I used the phrase 'frame of reference' earlier for Roosevelt). I also have to say admit that I don't understand how, if it's still a 'pay as you go' plan and employees are still paying into it, that by 2017, payroll tax revenue will no longer be able to sustain it. Why is that??? Would it last longer if unemployment weren't so high? And if so, significantly higher? Doubtful. So why? What's changing internally?

I also wonder why the numerous disasters we've experienced in just the last 10 years aren't being mentioned by ANYONE as a major contributor to the financial trouble we're in (and I include 911 in that list), all of which are still affecting this nation in more ways than most Americans bother to find out about. Katrina, just on the surface, cost $110 billion in damages (btw: Republicans love to state how fraudulent cases cost us a big chunk of that, but in point of fact, fraud resulted in a little over $1 billion. Guess that means the bulk still rests on Katrina, the bitch! *snigger*), and 400,000 jobs were lost - many of which never reappeared. The BP oil leak, just in clean-up costs alone, are estimated at $760 million, but the damage to the coast? The lost jobs? The long term monetary/economic/ecological effect? 

I dare you to find any kind of real effort to give honest estimations - the truth would damage too many high powered folks, but we all have to know in our hearts that the effects now - and in the future - will be horrendous, long-reaching and, if BP doesn't eventually declare bankruptcy, leave us to take on the bulk of the burden.

I also wonder when there's a major fire or flood and hundreds of homes and acres of land are lost, what Americans think happens afterward? What do they think the costs are, insurance wise, medically, and so forth? Do we think once the 'fire' is out, all is well? That the costs of putting out those fires or cleaning up after the floods isn't in the millions and sometimes billions? Who do Americans think are paying for the Fire Departments and the costs accrued? And where does America think the money will come from to PAY those bills? Payroll, equipment, and health issues that go beyond insurance? And how much are we responsible for the current state of affairs, financially speaking? Like how we use those little plastic things in our wallets and the loans we think we can handle, but hey, who could know Joe would get cancer and our insurance wouldn't cover the treatment he needed so we had to...or Harriet didn't get the promotion we planned on...or college tuition was higher than anticipated... or...yeah, you get the idea. And does America really believe that ONE man, in less than 2 years, could get us where we are now? Do we not remember WHY he had to bail out Wall Street and that the problem didn't occur overnight? Does everyone really think that on December 31, 2008, all was well, but by the end of January, 2009, we were headed straight for Hell?

Okay, it's "In conclusion" time, because by now, anyone reading is beyond bored *g* so I'll end with Appeasement as my final word on the SOTU and for we, the American people, I think I'll say we're half-way between total apathy and complete hatred fueled by fear, neither of which will get the job done. :( 

Politics and The Art of

Blackmail Compromise in action!

So the rich get their tax cuts extended, but is that all there is to the story? Not likely. No, I suspect a lot of backroom hardball is behind Obama's allowing the tax cut extensions even though he was heartily against them.

Here's how I see it:

Through the art of blackmail bargaining, the Republicans got:

1. The money for themselves (after all, they're part of the 'rich' that benefited), their friends and their rich contributors thanks to the tax cut extension
2. And the murder of the Dream Act killed

Both of the above were their two biggies (God forbid the richest should lose more of their riches - OR - that any illegal immigrants should be allowed relief in the form of citizenship) and all they had to do - was what they'd planned to do all along:

1. Vote to extend Unemployment benefits
2. Vote to repeal DADT

Am I happy?

Not so much. I'm no longer a Democrat (remember, I'm now a member of the new Common Sense Party (or CSP) and as such, I supported:

1. The end to the tax cut for the richest (which, with its extension, will now add $700 billion to the Nation's debt)
2. The much needed extension of unemployment benefits (which is NOT an entitlement, nor something given to lazy people who don't want to work, but rather something desperately needed due to our tanked economy and an unemployment rate that's now 9.6 compared to 4.9 of just a year ago)
3. The Dream Act, which was an excellent stepping stone to real Immigration reform, not to mention demonstrating the fact that America has a heart (in case you're not sure, the Dream Act provided legal residency to young people who came to the United States illegally before age 16 but have since graduated from high school, completed two years of college - or military service - and had no criminal record) and its death kills any chance for real Immigration Reform for Obama - including reforms that would have made even Republicans happy.
4. Yep, strong supporter of repealing DADT as previous posts have shown.

IMHO, none of the above are brain-stretchers. None of them should have been points of contention but rather obvious answers to real problems. And you know what's even worse? The fact that I suspect Obama also gave up the 911 First Responders bill in order to get 2 out 4 of the above, which means in reality, by succumbing to blackmail bargaining, he lost three key items in order to gain two. That's beginners politics as opposed to the strong, experienced politics we need. But America could have had all four of the above plus the First Responders Bill (check out the Daily Show (video 1) to find out more about the bill, including video 2) thanks to a little something called 'budget reconciliation' - a tool that's been used very effectively in the past to by-pass the filibuster when cloture was impossible due to not having the necessary 60 votes (as happened with the addition of Republican Scott Brown to the Senate).

PS: If you're angry about the death of the First Responders Bill, you can help by being part of the largest 'retweet' in the nation. Go here and retweet the 14th tweet down, which reads: "make this the biggest national retweet ever! Demand the James Zadroga 9/11 Health Bill be passed before 12/31/10! NO MORE FILIBUSTERS!"

Today, everyone is talking about - and cheering - the repeal of DADT - and yet, the First Responders to 911 are dying and we're doing nothing about it but giving them the flim-flam. Vets (especially Desert Storm vets) have already been through this; the whole ignoring the cancers and other ailments that were a direct result of being exposed to toxins during Desert Storm and, yet, not a peep from anyone but Jon Stewart about the death of this critically needed bill.


YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT - you can retweet it, then start calling, emailing and writing your Congressperson - and get your friends to do the same. NOW.