Monday, November 30, 2009

I Blew in Your Ear

Gonna follow me anywhere?

Anybody knows to what that refers... the origins thereof... not sure what you'll win. Anyyyy wayyyy

If you happened to be listening to the NorMan GoldMan radio show tonight, you may have heard me. Twas I who addressed the issue of Mike Huckabee's role/responsibility in the aftermath of the executions of four Lakewood, WA Police officers.

If Huckabee is any kind of a man at all, he will admit he fucked up. He will admit that if it was Maurice Clemmons who shot the officers, had he not been granted a commutation and then released from prison, these officers will still be alive. He will not say he's sorry; he will ask forgiveness. And there is a difference; a HUGE difference.

He may have had what he thought were good reasons at the time; I can accept that. He could not know the future; I realize that. Never the less, HE freed the man. HE made this possible.

Any weasling, any waffling, any attempts to deflect or duck responsibility, and Huckabee will take a place at Dubya's right hand as a target of my contempt and derision. not a place of honor to say the least.

Get Ready to Bend and Spread

Here comes the "Bi-Partisan Jobs Summit. No matter what ever else gets recommended, it's a given more tax cuts will be part of it all.

Cuzz we know how they make the economy grow.

Same ol' shit in a shiny new bucket.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Dear Senator Sanders,

Senator Sanders,

I just finished taking your survey, and I have some issues. I know that just like multiple choice tests, multiple choice surveys are difficult to construct: the answers provided often do not adequately apply to or express the respondents' situations.

I have had good health insurance for the past 12 years. The price has kept going up, but I have had no issues with its coverage. I understand it will be classified as a "Cadillac Plan," which is a GROSS mischaracterization. It is neither luxurious nor extravagant. I still pay copays; many things are covered at percentages; it includes lifetime caps, but has to now -- we just changed from Washington Employers Trust, to Cigna -- covered pre-existing conditions. I pay $60.28, twice a month which is %20 of the cost, and that includes dental and vision as well as medical, for a total cost of $7234.80/year, FOR MYSELF.

Now under the Baucus Caucus / Gang of Six proposal, my employer would be FINED, because he treats me too well. He gives me crappier coverage, he no longer pays the FINE. Further, the "funding" to provide for whatever public option there might be goes away, which is a recipe for disaster, which as anyone knows is exactly what the Reaganite Republicans want: Government HAS to be a problem; it CANNOT be a solution. You already know that.

I WANT reform, but not THIS reform. In theory, my coverage will remain relatively unaffected, but if my boss gets selfish or offended or simply cannot afford the imposed FINES, my coverage will get worse. It's like passing a highway bill that assures every city will have a bridge that will fall down.

In theory, I agree with a public option, and the idea that "if you like what you have, you can keep it," but what's not being said is that if you don't like what you have -- can we say Walmart? -- you are F*cked.

In theory, I approve of the expansion of Medicaid, but since that is a mandate to states, who are going broke, I disapprove.

Now I TOTALLY disapprove of the "Opt-out" provisions which put unfortunate people at the mercy of morons like Rick Perry and Mark Sanford and the Democratic candidate who lost in VA while promising he would opt out. I TOTALLY disapprove of allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines. True, this would initially lower costs, while the big boys slash prices to squeeze out little guys, but in the end it will create companies that are too big to fail. Just like banking deregulation. I TOTALLY disapprove of Republican ideas of tort reform, since they take away our right to a day in court in many cases merely to force insurers to do what we pay them to do.

I WANT reform, but not THIS reform. I agree with you and Thom Hartmann and Dennis Kucinich and Jim McDermott and others (who I wish would form a third party that actually represents People not corporations): Single payer/Medicare Part E.

Sincerely,
Chris Harmatta

Monday, November 16, 2009

Much Ado about Something

I attended the Town Hall meeting with Ed Schultz last night. Packed house. Great time. The show ended JUST as I made it up to the microphone. Bummer of bummers for me. Relief for the radio/TeeVee audience who might have been subjected to my issue/question. Oh well. Got to meet Norman Goldman and talked with him about it.

Watch the Ed Show on MSNBC and you might see me waiting in line. You'll recognize me by my signature t-shirt.

Much Ado About Nothing

So Obama bows as he greets the Japanese emperor, and we now have "Bow-gate." If you pay any attention to the morons who surround Chris Wallace on Sundays: Dick Cheney never bowed... Sarah Palin would not bow...

That's simply because the one is rude, crude, uncouth and self-important, and the second adds stupid to that personal resume.

Obama was being polite. Look it up. I think it's still listed in dictionaries. I don't think Dubya completely killed the concept. Try as he did.

There's no "there" there. Here. Wherever.