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Comments Posted By choicelady

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The Right Wing’s Psychotic Version of God

I think religion probably has little to do with this. It was NOT the case with Laughner though that has been soft pedaled save from folks I know who checked him out but never got the info into the mainstream. The Norwegian (I’ve fogotten his name) who massacred so many people last year was indeed a Dominionist, but the faux Christians got that shut up. This guy seems so completely out of sync with everything we know as “warning bells” – yes, he was a loner, but unlike most who snap, he was NOT a failure, was not bullied so far as anyone can tell, and apparently was not lovelorn. Whatever was in his head, it is not at all obvious what his motivation was.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 7:48 pm

I noticed last night on either MSNBC or CNN that Santorum’s former communications director had a fascinating style – when asked about reasonable policies on guns and ammo, she never once answered the question she’d been asked. She just prattled on about what SHE wanted to discuss, and kept that thread no matter what the host said.

I think that is “staying on message” to a fare thee well. It is the death of discourse, but she certainly got her points across – she never once was sidetracked. So her ‘freight train’ mentality was fully in evidence. It’s quite a trick. Too bad it means there is not and never will be any way to have a real discussion about, well, anything.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 7:44 pm

Oh – that’d last about two minutes. Just long enough for Gohmert to flap his lips when at a loss for words, shout “commie” at Moyers, and stalk out.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 7:39 pm

bito – seriously, it means he has a gun and intends to use it. I’m not making that up.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 6:28 pm

Louie and his ilk forget that the reason the Constitution specifies that government will neither make nor unduly support any one religion is that Louie’s forebears, early Roger Williams Baptists, were prohibited from supporting their own views. Later, they were “tolerated” but still had to pay money to the government of the town to support the Congregational Church. Right before the revolution got going in earnest, King George decided to send all the colonies Anglican ministers to set up shop and mandate what you could believe and where you could worship. Not a move designed to let Louie’s rather convoluted version of Roger Williams’ “divine light” flourish.

See, Louie – this was all for you. Much as I loathe what y’all have turned your religion into, I’m happy my forebears – Congregational Imperialists – were not permitted to crush your forebears. I think American Exceptionalism is all about the right to be just as stupid and blind about anything you believe as you absolutely want to be. Maybe it was a mistake to give sanctuary to idiocy, but wow – if you can’t be free to worship outer space mechanical monsters, then this isn’t America! If you want to believe the highest good is being yanked out of your body and wrenched up to heaven, then – god bless ya, Louie -you go right on ahead and believe that.

But don’t you EVER tell me I have to believe that absurd rot as well.

Because that’s the other side of American Exceptionalism, Louie. You have no more authority over my faith than I do over yours. So STFU, Louie. Nobody is taking anything from you. Just be damned sure you don’t try to take it from us.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 6:13 pm

Christians are not persecuted in America. Dominionists are limited in how much they can persecute the rest of us, so, of course, they see that as persecution. It’s like the criminal who is stopped from committing crimes – and says his rights are violated. Uh huh.

Louie – if God is more magnificent and amazing than anything we can imagine, why do you set him up as a figure who more or less resembles the drunk with a gun living next door in the nearby trailer? If God is all powerful, all knowing, all present, and all wonderful, why does He need YOU to shoot off your mouth?

Louie, Louie, Louie – no one is stopping God. No one is stopping YOU. You are not a victim. Grow up.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 6:04 pm

It would depend entirely on whether he was Presbyterian USA (the thoughtful, progressive church for the most part) or Evangelical Presbyterian that is a slavering opponent of anything remotely modern.

Interestingly BOTH churches tend toward the very conservative in San Diego and other parts of CA. I have long, ugly stories about the denomination’s corrupt behavior on GLBT issues here in Sacramento, but I also know that it’s a fight, and a few months ago, the Right lost, big time, when the national denomination moved to ordain open LGBT ministers, the very first of whom was my former boss.

But if this kid was involved with the Evangelical or uber right Presbyterians, it may have had an impact on him. Or this entire issue may be utterly irrelevant. We need to see.

» Posted By choicelady On July 21, 2012 @ 5:57 pm

When Will The Poor Get Their Chance?

Thomas Franks, in his insightful book, “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” notes that up until now, the Dems, or any other party, have been not a great deal better for the poor than the GOP. While that is clearly changing under this administration, the people who’ve been screwed over by liberals as well as conservatives now don’t trust that ‘Black socialist’ in the White House either.

I have sat through many a meeting of progressives who snort, “I don’t care about white males” thereby tossing the Mitt CEOs into the same pot with laid off steel workers. Demanding that poor Black families “use their fireplaces” to heat their homes as an ecological good puts white environmentalists sooooo out of touch with people raised in the projects that there are almost no words for the disconnect. “We’re gonna overthrow capitalism” declare those who have nothing with which to replace the low=wage jobs except the rant against any kind of employment at all.

So those who have been dissed, tossed away, ignored, sneered at can indeed vote against their “best interests” because in fact it’s not clear even now who holds their “best interest” at heart. Since 1968 we have not had any party that clearly cares about working people, the abject poor, or anyone other than Wall Street. Why the hell should anyone trust any party now?

» Posted By choicelady On July 16, 2012 @ 8:57 am

Happy Independence Day – 2012!

Wrong Peeps. Urban slang, Peeps. Marshmallow chickens? Not so much.

» Posted By choicelady On July 5, 2012 @ 8:04 am

…and THAT got him on the Black List for a time.

The Right hates democracy. Never can figure out how they say the Pledge – “liberty and justice for all” – when they detest that very principle.

Oh, well. They’re still Americans so I guess they can think what they please. They just can’t DO what they please as a result of what they think if said actions do harm, violate the Constitution, and erode other people’s rights.

Independence Day is about liberation NOT just from England but from tyranny of thought, word, and deed.

» Posted By choicelady On July 4, 2012 @ 9:19 pm

AdLib – Lovely post. However, in the interests of historical accuracy, I must assert that it was originally debated that we would be called Ye Olde Cool Dude Nation.

Fidelity to fact is the essence of intellect.

Otherwise, excellent way to celebrate the day!

» Posted By choicelady On July 4, 2012 @ 9:15 pm

Why Romney and the GOP Can’t Repeal “Obamacare”

But their operating profit USED to be 25-30%. They are deeply worried the demands on service will cut that profit even more. Already some insurance companies are OUT of the health care coverage business. They don’t like this at all. They are supporting Romney to get back their right to cut, reject, dismiss, and oust anyone who actually NEEDS insurance.

» Posted By choicelady On July 1, 2012 @ 8:27 am

Heard this morning that Obama leads in Ohio by 8 points or more (depending on the poll) over Mitt but that NO poll has him trailing Mitt.

More like 6 points in PA, but still ahead. No poll has Obama trailing Romney there either.

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 12:09 pm

Nirek – if you go back to the “late unpleasantness”, ask the same question of why landless or at least slaveless white Southerners supported the war of the Planter Class.

They were fearful of slave rebellions. They were hardscrabble, fundamentalist folks who thought that God would seek vengeance against them for slavery via slave uprisings. (Personally it would have made me an abolitionist if I thought God was gonna smack me down for that, but…) Only way to stop that? Repress slaves MORE. That always works well.

They have carried this superstitious view of religion, race, and politics into the 21st century. I think there is no way to overstate the role of fundamentalism. I have my grandfather’s Bible from Missouri, published in 1901, that affirms the right to enslave Black people because, in the footnotes, it says Black people gave aid and comfort to Noah’s son Ham who was a sinner.(Precisely HOW he sinned is quite vague but probably has something to do with his having sex with his father. Sigh.) That’s it. You offer refuge to a stranger, you’re doomed for all eternity. Kinda takes the sparkle off “Southern hospitality.”

This pervasive sense of doom, of victimization by anyone not of their ilk, of judgement by God, is of such long standing and is so deeply embedded in Southern mindsets, I’m not sure it will ever go away.

What continues to be mystifying is that poor whites who are utterly screwed by rich whites continue to accept this caste system because it supports and reinforces their only “superiority”: being white, conservative Christians and therefore better than Black people, liberals, and Yankees who are not “real” Christians in the Southern mind.

By myths we live and die. Someday they may shake off the pretenses holding them together. Today is not that day.

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 12:06 pm

For me, the bottom line is this:

First Day in Office – Willard signs some Executive Order abolishing ACA on his first day in office.

Second Day in Office – Senate moves to impeach Willard for his first day in office.

» Posted By choicelady On June 29, 2012 @ 3:53 pm

Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

Dear Sue – you are so kind! I’m really glad if it helps! I like being here for the NON wonky political and music and humor stuff everyone has to offer. Breath of fresh air! But if I’ve waded through TWO versions of Arnold’s despicable plan and read the synopses of the MA plan to compare it to, then read all of the ACA bill – SOMEONE should benefit from it, right? I have all that stuff stuck in my head. I wake up at 2:00am thinking about it all. It’s a relief to be able to use it to “clean up” on the issues everyone cares about. You do ME the service of letting me vent it and then not dreaming about it!

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 4:49 pm

Oh my – you ARE brave. I’ve not tackled that yet. I have the PDF – cannot bear to start! Soldier on, brave friend. Soldier on!

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 4:45 pm

That’s even better than than the spoof of Obama kicking the door after announcing getting bin Laden! VERY funny! Someday I wish he was free enough to DO something like that – he SO deserves a happy dance!

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 1:15 pm

Darlin- not an old fart. Hayes probably read what you said and then plagarized by not giving you “mouthnote” credit. Always KNEW you were smarter than Chris!

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 1:12 pm

Oh I am ROTFL!!!

I just got info from a Tweet partner about the state of Romneycare in MA. Commonwealth Connections originally subsidized you with a meager $235 (cost of monthly premium for healthy 35-year-old) but YOU paid the rest depending on age, sex, geography. It also imposed a $5K per person per year deductible with almost NOTHING immune from using that payout. If you got sick, it was ANOTHER $10K out of pocket.

Well the schedule of free, preventive services and costs is now TOTALLY different, totally consistent with ACA provisions!!

The poor folks in Commonwealth Connections will also be able to reduce premiums when the subsidized payments kick in in 2014 with advanceable tax credits finally putting NO one out of pocket. And older people will NOT pay 500% more than the young with only that lousy $235 subsidy.

So Obamacare has massively IMPROVED and TRUMPED Romneycare, hands down, no contest!

I realize that only policy wonks such as I really want to wade through all this, and I realize there’s not a very accessible sound bite here – but it’s absolutely true, and it just MADE MY DAY!!!

» Posted By choicelady On June 30, 2012 @ 1:11 pm

bito – healthcare.gov is also an excellent place to start finding affordable insurance for those with pre-existing conditions. The dark blue tab, upper left, starts a VERY simple process to getting that coverage. Whether or not your state has a pre-existing condition plan, the federal one is cheaper and easy to access – even if you live in Jim DeMint’s state.

» Posted By choicelady On June 29, 2012 @ 8:06 am

It’s the states keeping state control that will have the best advantage on single payer. The feds cannot do it piecemeal but CAN, as PBO is doing for Vermont, let the state have that as their state option.

Problem with federal issues is that unless MAYBE you did it as a “demonstration project”, the feds are kind of all or nothing. Think of the uproar though if the feds, even with state affirmation, eliminated insurance companies willy nilly!!! Even I think that would be wrong, and I like single payer! So DeMint’s opt out is not a route in for federally-directed single payer.

At this point it appears three states will have single payer soon – Hawaii (had it for years), Vermont, and Montana. Then – who knows? Heard Minnesota is interested, too. All but Hawaii are bordering Canada, so single payer is much more familiar in those states.

CA? No idea. The nurses union is still pushing it, and I imagine the state strategy group is as well, but nothing has been done yet – still – on creating a confirmable, persuadable economic analysis that would show single payer to be more fiscally responsible than ACA. That is the essential ingredient needed for CA to move forward. We shall see if the advocates step up to the plate.

» Posted By choicelady On June 29, 2012 @ 8:04 am

Those working in NON-profits also can get a 25% tax credit for covering at least 50% of health costs for those making under $50K. You have to file a 990 (IRS forms for non-profits – a nuisance but not impossible to do) and claim the return from PAYROLL taxes paid using a 990T. It’s a pain to do, but it’s one-quarter of your health care – three months every year – that you don’t have to pay out of pocket. Not bad!

» Posted By choicelady On June 29, 2012 @ 6:00 am

States don’t have to set up exchanges, so they aren’t breaking the law. That is an option premitted in ACA.

But where they don’t, people benefit. In CA the state high risk pre-existing condition program is hugely unaffordable – areound $1000 per month with high deductibles. The federal High Risk Pool is about $400 per month (in San Francisco the highest cost area in CA) with low deductibles. In other parts of CA it is much less expensive for the premium. It also has no caps, all the free preventive programs, and no lifetime limit that the state has.

I ran the figures for someone in a Southern state without an exchange, and they can get coverage for about $238 per month via the feds. Cannot match that in the private sector IF you can get insurance at all. No telling what the state pre-existing program cost would be since they don’t have one.

So DeMint is actually giving people a benefit and is too stupid to know it! Duh.

Anyone needing info for yourself or others, go to http://www.healthcare.gov and, using the dark blue tab at the top left, start the very simple process of filling out what you need in the state where you live. It will direct you to help – REAL help, Jim DeMint notwithstanding.

» Posted By choicelady On June 29, 2012 @ 5:54 am

What we now have is socialism. Get sick or injured, get the care we require hospitals and doctors to provide you, then walk away and stiff the rest of us with your bills. THAT is socializing health care costs.

Duh.

» Posted By choicelady On June 28, 2012 @ 8:20 pm

I’ve been telling them that for YEARS. Maybe now they’ll listen?

» Posted By choicelady On June 28, 2012 @ 4:53 pm

Oh fer crying out loud. They guy in gray is Rob Schenck an anti-abortion Dominionist zealot with his HQ right behind the SCOTUS building. He’s crazy as a bedbug. Can’t tell who the balding guy is. But they’re ALL nuts. And incredibly given to street theater over, well, any damn thing.

» Posted By choicelady On June 28, 2012 @ 4:52 pm

Is this REALLY from Biden? Oh I hope so – what a funny, wonderful thing!

» Posted By choicelady On June 28, 2012 @ 4:49 pm

KT – yes, Rmoney said he’d move to strike it down his first day in office.

HOW he’d do that is unclear since it was created by Congress, and any act he made against it would be unConstitutional.

But yeah – he said it. We could have placed bets, but no one here would have bet AGAINST his saying it.

» Posted By choicelady On June 28, 2012 @ 4:46 pm

And how are YOU, Kalima? We do miss you and hope you’re OK. Thank you for dropping in to talk about this. It’s lovely to see you!

» Posted By choicelady On June 28, 2012 @ 4:43 pm