Today marks the passing of a legend in American politics. Theodore M. Kennedy, known to everyone as Teddy, was the last surviving member of the Kennedy brothers. Many people have said many wonderful things about the Senator today and we must remember what he gave to this country that he loved so much.
Teddy was an unashamed liberal and instrumental in so many changes in this country that I dare not think about what life would have been like without him. The “liberal lion of the Senate” pushed through many hard fought Senate battles to bring justice and fairness to every American. Kennedy has been instrumental in pushing for health care reform for over 40 years. When asked as of late why he was pushing so hard for health care reform, President Obama answered “I promised Teddy.” The current health care reform is something that he did not live to see come to fruition, but we must do everything in our power to make it happen. He believed that every citizen had a right to health care and has moved our country in that direction as much as possible over his years in the Senate.
During his career, Kennedy pushed for women’s rights, gay rights, and helped to push through Title IX. He championed funding for AIDS research and truly believed that no one was undeserving of equal treatment and protection under the law. He sponsored the Civil Rights Act and The Voting Rights Act. He was instrumental in passing the COBRA act, which allowed health care coverage to move with an individual after changing a job. He pushed through the Mental Health Parity Act, which forces insurance companies to pay for mental health treatment. Kennedy also pushed through the State Children’s Health Insurance program, which used tobacco taxes to fund health care for American children. Teddy also was staunchly opposed to the Iraq War Resolution of 2002.
Teddy Kennedy has given so much to the American public over the years that we cannot express our gratitude to the lion. He will be dearly missed. We must carry on his mission so that when he looks down on us from the heavens, we can see that oh so familiar smile that so many will miss so much.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Poll Results Confirm Polarization of Parties "Facts"
In a recent poll conducted by Research 2000, the differences between what liberals believe and what conservatives do became very clear. When asked if death panels were included in the new health care reform, 57% of self-identified conservatives said yes or not sure, while only 12% of self-identified liberals answered in kind. This means that over half of self-identified conservatives polled believed something as fact that is not.
Where does this come from? When asked where they got their news, 59% of self-identified conservatives answered FOXNews, while only 23% answered with CNN and 8% with MSNBC. Could this have something to do with where they are getting their incorrect data? Let's look at the subsequent questions.
Pollsters also asked respondents if they thought that four common myths were true. Here are the answers. Does the bill provide health care coverage for illegal aliens? 72% of FOX viewers said yes, while 41% of CNN and MSNBC viewers said yes. When asked if they though health care reform was a "government takeover", 79% of FOX viewers said yes, while only 39% of CNN and MSNBC viewers agreed. When asked if they thought that the bill would pay for abortions, 69% of FOX viewers said yes, while only 40% of CNN and MSNBC viewers agreed. When asked if the bill would stop or limit care for the elderly, 75% of FOX viewers agreed and only 30% of CNN and MSNBC viewers did.
We are trying to have a debate on health care between two groups of people that have two different sets of facts. The problem is that while the conservatives do have a different set of facts, they are not facts. They are incorrect misconceptions that they have picked up from sound bites on media outlets. It is one thing to have differing opinions, but you cannot have differing facts.
We have facts and the conservatives have thoughts and ideas that are not true. How do you have a constructive discussion when one party is using facts and the other is arguing with feelings?
The answer is simple. You don't. They don't want a debate, so why are we still trying?
Where does this come from? When asked where they got their news, 59% of self-identified conservatives answered FOXNews, while only 23% answered with CNN and 8% with MSNBC. Could this have something to do with where they are getting their incorrect data? Let's look at the subsequent questions.
Pollsters also asked respondents if they thought that four common myths were true. Here are the answers. Does the bill provide health care coverage for illegal aliens? 72% of FOX viewers said yes, while 41% of CNN and MSNBC viewers said yes. When asked if they though health care reform was a "government takeover", 79% of FOX viewers said yes, while only 39% of CNN and MSNBC viewers agreed. When asked if they thought that the bill would pay for abortions, 69% of FOX viewers said yes, while only 40% of CNN and MSNBC viewers agreed. When asked if the bill would stop or limit care for the elderly, 75% of FOX viewers agreed and only 30% of CNN and MSNBC viewers did.
We are trying to have a debate on health care between two groups of people that have two different sets of facts. The problem is that while the conservatives do have a different set of facts, they are not facts. They are incorrect misconceptions that they have picked up from sound bites on media outlets. It is one thing to have differing opinions, but you cannot have differing facts.
We have facts and the conservatives have thoughts and ideas that are not true. How do you have a constructive discussion when one party is using facts and the other is arguing with feelings?
The answer is simple. You don't. They don't want a debate, so why are we still trying?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Question of the Day!
I know this will be controversial but I'm curious...
When does the protection of the President and people attending town halls supersede the right for a person to carry a gun to an event?
Discuss...
When does the protection of the President and people attending town halls supersede the right for a person to carry a gun to an event?
Discuss...
Finally!
Progressives are finally stepping up and making our voices heard. As of this week, over 65 house members have made it know to President Obama and Speaker Pelosi that they will not, under any circumstances, vote for a health care reform bill that does not include a public option! Also, the AFL-CIO has also said that they will not support any representative that does not vote for a public option in any upcoming election.
Perhaps now the democrats will do what they have needed to all along and push health care reform through. When I say health care reform, I mean real actual health care reform and not a watered down version that might appease the GOP. At this point, republicans are the person that says OK to Chinese food for dinner but refuses to order anything off the menu. They say they want health care reform but they say no to single payer, no to public option, and no to co-ops. What is left to say yes to?
If the GOP is not going to play any form of ball, why are we continuing to cater to them? Democrats have the presidency, a 70 seat majority in the house and a filibuster proof 60 seat majority in the senate. The people elected the democratic party with a very resounding yes! It is time for them to step up and reform health care. Perhaps this is the fire that they needed to get it done.
Perhaps now the democrats will do what they have needed to all along and push health care reform through. When I say health care reform, I mean real actual health care reform and not a watered down version that might appease the GOP. At this point, republicans are the person that says OK to Chinese food for dinner but refuses to order anything off the menu. They say they want health care reform but they say no to single payer, no to public option, and no to co-ops. What is left to say yes to?
If the GOP is not going to play any form of ball, why are we continuing to cater to them? Democrats have the presidency, a 70 seat majority in the house and a filibuster proof 60 seat majority in the senate. The people elected the democratic party with a very resounding yes! It is time for them to step up and reform health care. Perhaps this is the fire that they needed to get it done.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Iraq's Latest Problem
This is a story that has been seriously under reported in the media. Gay men across Iraq are being rounded up, tortured, and killed by the country's militias, including the Mahdi Army, and the government is doing nothing about it. A report produced by Human Rights Watch was released last week and details some of the atrocities that are happening. The report includes some testimony from survivors of the violence as well as some startling statistics.
The main offenders seem to be Shia militia, some with alleged links to al Qaeda, seem to be conducting a type of cleansing to rid areas of the gay population. The men who are being targeted include openly gay males, but also men who dress with a more feminine flair or who wear their hair longer. Some targets have been found to be heterosexuals that were rumored to be bisexual as well.
Here is some testimony that appears in the report:
Haytham -
A car pulled us over. About six men carrying weapons stepped out and asked for our IDs. They were dressed in black, which is usually the sign of the Mahdi Army. I demanded, “Who are you to ask for our cards?” So they opened the door and pulled us out, humiliating us, calling us “puppies,” saying, “We see you in pervert places all the time.” I tried to argue we were just friends, tried to convince them there was nothing between us. Then they pulled out a list and they started asking us about these names. Most were women’s names, the nicknames of gay men. They weren’t names that either of us knew. At that point, a U.S. [Army] patrol car came by. The men hissed at us: “Your turn is coming next.” They threw us against a wall, jumped in the car, and drove off.
Bilal -
He was very public, everybody knew he was gay. His family said his killers made a CD of how he was killed—they filmed it. They slaughtered him; they cut his throat. His family did not want to talk about it. And now they are killing people right and left in Shaab and al-Thawra. We heard 11 men were burned alive in al-Thawra. Everyone is talking about the numbers of people killed. And they just keep rising.
It is easy for the militias to score points in this region for targeting a group that is already outcast. Like most cultures in the region, men pride themselves on their manliness. This makes the antithesis of the idea an easy target. There have been a few American GLBT activists that have stepped forward to say that Americans need to stand up and support these men, but this has been kept rather quiet in the media this far. Part of the problem is that the militias see the homosexuality as result of increased western influence.
This story needs to garner more media coverage and the world community needs to stand up and speak out against these hate crimes.
The main offenders seem to be Shia militia, some with alleged links to al Qaeda, seem to be conducting a type of cleansing to rid areas of the gay population. The men who are being targeted include openly gay males, but also men who dress with a more feminine flair or who wear their hair longer. Some targets have been found to be heterosexuals that were rumored to be bisexual as well.
Here is some testimony that appears in the report:
Haytham -
A car pulled us over. About six men carrying weapons stepped out and asked for our IDs. They were dressed in black, which is usually the sign of the Mahdi Army. I demanded, “Who are you to ask for our cards?” So they opened the door and pulled us out, humiliating us, calling us “puppies,” saying, “We see you in pervert places all the time.” I tried to argue we were just friends, tried to convince them there was nothing between us. Then they pulled out a list and they started asking us about these names. Most were women’s names, the nicknames of gay men. They weren’t names that either of us knew. At that point, a U.S. [Army] patrol car came by. The men hissed at us: “Your turn is coming next.” They threw us against a wall, jumped in the car, and drove off.
Bilal -
He was very public, everybody knew he was gay. His family said his killers made a CD of how he was killed—they filmed it. They slaughtered him; they cut his throat. His family did not want to talk about it. And now they are killing people right and left in Shaab and al-Thawra. We heard 11 men were burned alive in al-Thawra. Everyone is talking about the numbers of people killed. And they just keep rising.
It is easy for the militias to score points in this region for targeting a group that is already outcast. Like most cultures in the region, men pride themselves on their manliness. This makes the antithesis of the idea an easy target. There have been a few American GLBT activists that have stepped forward to say that Americans need to stand up and support these men, but this has been kept rather quiet in the media this far. Part of the problem is that the militias see the homosexuality as result of increased western influence.
This story needs to garner more media coverage and the world community needs to stand up and speak out against these hate crimes.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Another Policy We Should Be Repealing...
The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was implemented in 1996 under President Clinton as a step forward in gay rights. It revamped military law from its previous version, which stated that no homosexuals were legally allowed to serve in the military. DADT prohibits anyone who "demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because "it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." The act prohibits people from disclosing their sexuality while in the military, but does not make it illegal for them to serve.
This was seen as a compromise with the conservative right at the time to take steps forward in legitimizing the gay community and ensure fair and equal rights. Sadly, this effort has become stagnate under the previous Bush administration. While campaigning, Obama stated that he had every intention of repealing DADT. This has yet to happen.
At this point, over 12,500 men and women that have voluntarily joined the armed forces to fight for and defend their country have been discharged when they were found out to be homosexual or bisexual. These men and women who courageously decided that they had a civic duty to serve in the armed forces have been told that they are not needed or wanted because of their sexual orientation. We are fighting two wars at the moment are currently lacking the man power to effectively defend our country, but this is what people focus on?
This issue was recently brought to light again when LT. Dan Choi appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC to discuss the issue and openly stated that he was a gay man serving in the US Army. Lt. Choi is a West Point Graduate, Iraq war veteran and his specialty is Arabic linguistics. The three words "I am gay" changed his life drastically. One month after he returned home from the taping of the show, he was informed that the Army had started discharge proceedings to remove him from the military. Lt. Choi is one of only eight graduates in his class that has a specialty in Arabic languages, making him invaluable in the field.
When asked why he outed himself, Choi replied that at West Point he learned that he should "choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong." Lt. Choi served for a decade under policy that forced him to lie about himself and his relationships. He decided that this was the time to speak out.
This is deeply concerning for so many reasons. First, we advertise ourselves as a place where everyone is treated equally and that is clearly not the case. We do have citizens in this country that are denied equal access under the law and that is reprehensible. Second, we are in the middle of two armed conflicts and the military is more concerned about Lt. Choi's sexual orientation than his ability to contribute and lead in the field? That is misplaced energy to say the least. Third, the American public would rally around Lt. Choi if he was being discriminated against because he is of Asian descent, but since this is a sexuality issue, people are not being as vocal.
I would like to call on everyone reading this to stand up and speak out on this issue. More than 100 retired general and admirals have already called for the repeal of this legislation. They have said countless times that the military code is unnecessary and should be changed. We need to tell President Obama to repeal this legislation now. Obama has said previously that he wants Congress to repeal DADT. If we wait for that, with the on-going debate on health care, we are going to lose countless more valuable men and women on the front lines and in support positions. The President has the right to repeal this policy with an executive order and should do so immediately. We need to stop this unfair treatment now.
Let's help the gay rights movement take a step forward. Call your congressman and write the White House, or sign the petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/279228291) to show support for the repeal of DADT.
This was seen as a compromise with the conservative right at the time to take steps forward in legitimizing the gay community and ensure fair and equal rights. Sadly, this effort has become stagnate under the previous Bush administration. While campaigning, Obama stated that he had every intention of repealing DADT. This has yet to happen.
At this point, over 12,500 men and women that have voluntarily joined the armed forces to fight for and defend their country have been discharged when they were found out to be homosexual or bisexual. These men and women who courageously decided that they had a civic duty to serve in the armed forces have been told that they are not needed or wanted because of their sexual orientation. We are fighting two wars at the moment are currently lacking the man power to effectively defend our country, but this is what people focus on?
This issue was recently brought to light again when LT. Dan Choi appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC to discuss the issue and openly stated that he was a gay man serving in the US Army. Lt. Choi is a West Point Graduate, Iraq war veteran and his specialty is Arabic linguistics. The three words "I am gay" changed his life drastically. One month after he returned home from the taping of the show, he was informed that the Army had started discharge proceedings to remove him from the military. Lt. Choi is one of only eight graduates in his class that has a specialty in Arabic languages, making him invaluable in the field.
When asked why he outed himself, Choi replied that at West Point he learned that he should "choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong." Lt. Choi served for a decade under policy that forced him to lie about himself and his relationships. He decided that this was the time to speak out.
This is deeply concerning for so many reasons. First, we advertise ourselves as a place where everyone is treated equally and that is clearly not the case. We do have citizens in this country that are denied equal access under the law and that is reprehensible. Second, we are in the middle of two armed conflicts and the military is more concerned about Lt. Choi's sexual orientation than his ability to contribute and lead in the field? That is misplaced energy to say the least. Third, the American public would rally around Lt. Choi if he was being discriminated against because he is of Asian descent, but since this is a sexuality issue, people are not being as vocal.
I would like to call on everyone reading this to stand up and speak out on this issue. More than 100 retired general and admirals have already called for the repeal of this legislation. They have said countless times that the military code is unnecessary and should be changed. We need to tell President Obama to repeal this legislation now. Obama has said previously that he wants Congress to repeal DADT. If we wait for that, with the on-going debate on health care, we are going to lose countless more valuable men and women on the front lines and in support positions. The President has the right to repeal this policy with an executive order and should do so immediately. We need to stop this unfair treatment now.
Let's help the gay rights movement take a step forward. Call your congressman and write the White House, or sign the petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/279228291) to show support for the repeal of DADT.
One Liner Of The Day!
OK - so OLOTD is a confusing acronym, but here it goes!
Bill Maher on Real Time 8/14/09
"Why is Sarah Palin afraid of death panels? I mean, after all she killed the McCain campaign."
LOL I love it!
Add your great political one liners (OK jokes of any length are acceptable) or send me a tweet @theliberalist !
Bill Maher on Real Time 8/14/09
"Why is Sarah Palin afraid of death panels? I mean, after all she killed the McCain campaign."
LOL I love it!
Add your great political one liners (OK jokes of any length are acceptable) or send me a tweet @theliberalist !
Fear Mongering at It's Best...
Here is an ad that is running currently against health care reform and that touts the evils of socialized medicine.
This spot is paid for by Americans for Prosperity, which, as I noted in an earlier post, "are committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates". Their President is Tim Phillips. He is a professional political strategist. One of their Directors is is James C. Miller, a former Budget Director under President Reagan. This ad is currently running in 11 states and Washington DC and has a production budget of $1.8 million dollars. I could think of such more productive uses for that kind of money... but I digress.
After doing some research, we have discovered that the woman in this ad had a benign brain cyst, not a cancerous tumor. Other medical professionals have concurred that this form of lesion is not life threatening and do not require immediate treatment.
This just goes to show that you can bend the truth into whatever scary shape you want to if you try hard enough.
This spot is paid for by Americans for Prosperity, which, as I noted in an earlier post, "are committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates". Their President is Tim Phillips. He is a professional political strategist. One of their Directors is is James C. Miller, a former Budget Director under President Reagan. This ad is currently running in 11 states and Washington DC and has a production budget of $1.8 million dollars. I could think of such more productive uses for that kind of money... but I digress.
After doing some research, we have discovered that the woman in this ad had a benign brain cyst, not a cancerous tumor. Other medical professionals have concurred that this form of lesion is not life threatening and do not require immediate treatment.
This just goes to show that you can bend the truth into whatever scary shape you want to if you try hard enough.
Rachel Maddow's First Appearance on Meet the Press
Rachel, host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, was on this morning with host David Gregory, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Ret. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), and Ret. Sen. Dick Armey (R-TX). She came prepared with lots of notes most of them about Dick Armey. Check out this video of Rachel taking him to the cleaners over his Chairmanship at FreedomWorks and his idea that Medicare is tyranny.
Definition Day!
Here at TLC, we like to make sure you know what's going on, so we're starting Definition Day! Here are some definitions for commonly used terms in the current health care debate.
Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
Communism - a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
Nazism - The ideology and practice of the Nazis, especially the policy of racist nationalism, national expansion, and state control of the economy.//-->
Marxism - the system of economic and political thought developed by Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, esp. the doctrine that the state throughout history has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main agency of historical change, and that the capitalist system, containing from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society.
Nihilism - the principles of a Russian revolutionary group, active in the latter half of the 19th century, holding that existing social and political institutions must be destroyed in order to clear the way for a new state of society and employing extreme measures, including terrorism and assassination.
Fascism - a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
Perhaps now we can have a discussion without throwing terms around incorrectly.
Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
Communism - a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
Nazism - The ideology and practice of the Nazis, especially the policy of racist nationalism, national expansion, and state control of the economy.//-->
Marxism - the system of economic and political thought developed by Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, esp. the doctrine that the state throughout history has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main agency of historical change, and that the capitalist system, containing from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society.
Nihilism - the principles of a Russian revolutionary group, active in the latter half of the 19th century, holding that existing social and political institutions must be destroyed in order to clear the way for a new state of society and employing extreme measures, including terrorism and assassination.
Fascism - a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
Perhaps now we can have a discussion without throwing terms around incorrectly.
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