I know the light at the end of the tunnel is visible in terms of health care reform.  But, we still have to prepare ourselves that it won't pass.  In that case, here are some Conservative-based options for dealing with a country that is still Universal Health Care-less.

1.  Start where all Conservatives start - The Founding Fathers.  What was good enough for them is most definitely good enough for us.  And yes, I'm talking about leeching.  George and the boys didn't have an HMO plan.  Nope, they used home-grown leeches to cure their ills!  If we were smart, we'd do the same!

2.  As my dad would say - "Get a job!".  In this case, it's more along the lines of get a job with health benefits!  Now I know that this won't solve the problem in the long run because in 5-15 years, many companies will cease offering coverage because of the rates they have to pay.  But hey, solving a problem in the short term is just as good as permanently solving the problem to us Conservatives!

3.  Move to Costa Rica, or some other country that offers UHC.  Afterall, you are free to move to whatever country you wish.  Just as you are free to give tax money to Gov'ts who will use it for whatever reason.  Just hope that the US doesn't overthrow the Gov't anytime soon!

4.  Don't get sick.  There are numerous means of staying healthy believe it or not.  A $20 flu vaccination is proven to keep you healthy throughout the span of flu season [well  depends on which poll you are viewing].  Most grocery stores are open very late, so go when there is a minimum of other people shopping so as to expose yourself to as few germs as humanly possible.  Only drink water from reliable sources.  Wash your hands at least 66 times a day.  Hey, even use that Airborne crap, even though it's been proven to not work.  Those liberal studies are probably wrong!!  This is just common-sense stuff that will keep your immune system boosted and yourself healthy.  And when you have those two things, there is no need for that health care insurance stuff!

5.  Just die quickly.  There is one truth that no one can deny - you do NOT need health care or health insurance If You Are Dead!  So before you burden your beloved family with a mound of medical bills too deep for them to ever pay off, just do the honorable thing and die.  Plus, you'll help the economy by allowing someone who is unemployed to take your job.  Perhaps that person will be healthier than you were, which means fewer sick days and more productivity!  Rah rah!  Go Team!

6.  Pray.  Pray often.  Pray a lot.  Pray everywhere.  God has been known to heal those who favor Him above all else [well, then there was Job...but that's a different story].  Simply flood God with prayers and, eventually, He won't be able to ignore your calls.  But don't be all whiny about it.  There is nothing God hates more than a whiny follower.  Be direct and to the point - the way God likes it.

To make it an even half-dozen, here's #7 - be innovative and start your own health insurance company.  Afterall, if you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em!  Plus, your health care coverage would be FREE!!  Now that's using your noggin!

Link Me!

I wrote this piece a few weeks ago, but couldn't get it posted because of the turmoil in my personal life.  Now that I have time on my hands because of my recent wisdom teeth removal, I figured I'd revisit this topic.

Welcome to Bizarro world.  Things are strange here.

So here I am reading the Opinion section of the paper, just like I do every day during lunch and I stumble across the article I link to above.

"Starve the beast".  Ok...

If you said "this sounds like a Reagan gimmick", give yourself a Gold Star!

Let's get directly to the premise - conservatives absolutely hate a big Gov't.  Beyond that, they do not loathe, rather they abhor social programs such as welfare and social security.

So if they get into power and drop taxes, it will starve the Gov't [read: The Beast] of money.  With the lower revenue will come deficits.  And those deficits will have to be combated with either higher taxes, or cuts in social programs.

Now we all know a conservative would rather slit their own throat than raise taxes [I hear Bush 1 jokes in the back of my mind...but shall ignore them to try and stay on topic].  So that leaves...yup...trimming or outright axing social programs.

For those of you who caught the "lower taxes yields lower revenue" statement and became confused, give yourself another Gold Star.  Afterall, that is contrary to what they've been telling us for 3 decades at this point.  We've been intentionally lied to so that they could pass this diabolical agenda.  And yes, this is diabolical!  These programs Help Americans!!  It is downright sadistic to get rid of them simply because you disagree with them.  If they didn't work, or caused more problems than they solved, then sure...I'm with ya.  They need to go.  But, for the most part, they work as intended and people are the better for them.

Unless you feel that poor kids should go without health care.  Or that grandma should just tough it out.  But hey, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

The reason Starve The Beast failed is because the Gov't found ways to continue spending even with less revenue.  Deficits became a joke - something for future generations to deal with.

And the best part about it is that the people who were for this policy [read: Bush 2 and his cronies] KNEW It Wasn't Working!  But continued it anyway.

I believe that fits the definition of "insanity".

But I digress.  Perhaps these people are right - perhaps these entitlement programs are a cancer and need to be removed from our society.  But, if that's truly the case, one would think there are better ways of achieving this.  Instead we have budgets blown up on all levels of Gov't and no one with the guts to solve the problem.  I find it amazing that these people enacted these policies, but didn't have the gumption to follow through on them.  Afterall, when the deficits started to raise their ugly head, that was when the social programs were supposed to be axed.  Instead, they found themselves too far down the rabbit hole to know which way was up anymore.

Link Me!

It appears that "Under God" is perfectly allowable in the Pledge of Allegiance, as is "In God We Trust" appearing on US currency.

At least according to a San Fran Court of Appeals.

"The Pledge is constitutional," Judge Carlos Bea wrote for the majority in the 2-1 ruling. "The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded."

Unfortunately, that little blurb above doesn't say much in terms of WHY it's constitutional.  All I can figure is that it has to be because no specific religion or God is used.  Otherwise, it's anyone's guess why this court ruled in this manner.  We'll see what happens when/if this ever goes to the Supreme Court.

So one day a few weeks ago my TV no longer shows the color red.  Seriously.  All reds now appear as purple.  And you know how us evil, racist, heathen, godless, socialist, communist pinko radicals LOVE the color red!

So I call my dad, who spent most of the 70's installing TV antennas (I'd explain what a TV antenna is, but it would be a waste of time for you kids), to ask what in the world is wrong.

You see, I can build a computer from the ground up.  But I'm no good with cars or TVs.  Good thing dad is.  So he says "your red gun died". Granted, I had no idea what that meant.  But I'm smart enough to realize that whatever displays red as red on the TV has malfunctioned.

Then dad said something interesting - "you'll have to go and buy one of those flat screen pieces of shit because they don't make tube sets anymore."

And then it hit me...my god!  I haven't seen a tube TV sold in stores for YEARS!  I am so far behind technology that it's almost pathetic.

The good thing about the flat screen TVs is that they are light [20-30 lbs usually].  So moving them is a breeze.

The bad thing is that for a shitty one, you're paying $400!

I found myself in Target saying "I just want to buy a decent $300 TV!!"  Anyone remember when $300 got you a good TV??  Hell, anyone remember when you could buy an American-made TV?!

Anyway, if my teeth are feeling better tomorrow, we'll go TV shopping.  Boy how I love dropping serious coin for something that I could have bought 2 of in years past!

This needs to be said, so I figured I might as well be the one to throw it out there.

I read a lot of articles online [usually during my lunch hour at work].  But I don't just stop at the end of the article.  I continue to read through the comments users leave.  I find myself in dire need of seeking out what the other side has to say and the "Comments" section of an article is a great thermometer for how people feel.  This is why I go to places like RedState.com and read the Opinions section every day.  I want to hear both sides.

And I am finding that the right is in a complete frenzy to paint Obama as a radical, a socialist, and a dictator.  Heck, every now and then I still come across people who claim he isn't from this country!

Considering the almost complete white-wash coming from the right, it makes me think about what might happen in 3 years.  So just play along with me, if you will.

In 3 years, let's assume that a Republican is elected President, Republicans take back the House, but Dems are left with a slight majority in the Senate.

In such a scenario, what would happen if the left made a concerted effort to paint the newly elected President as a fascist who wants to control what religion you are, as well as control everything you do with your body and inside your home?

Going further, what if we also said that he is anti-middle class and desired the old and poor to just hurry up and die?

What if the Senate Democrats used every trick in the book to delay, stall, and kill Republican backed bills?

What if we just made up shit and pushed it as hard as we could?  E.g., what if we said that the new President was going to get rid of all entitlement programs and threw our collective weight behind the lie?

Would the Reps see it as payback and "fair is fair"?

OR

Would they paint the left as unpatriotic separatists who want to destroy this country?

I guess what I'm trying to get at is this - how would the left be perceived if they used the same tactics as the right?

I got some bad news today.  It wasn't completely unexpected.  But the confirmation of the situation was...difficult.

I have a bunch of diaries in the pipeline that will just sit there until I figure things out.  If you don't use the "draft" feature, you really should.  If you don't know how, just ask me and I'll explain it.

Anyway, I'll be around.  But probably won't participate as much or as vocally.  Don't worry, I'm not gonna die.  lol  Afterall, doc says no one ever died of this.  But I definitely need to figure out from this point on what is what and what I want to do.

Peace.
- Matt

An ex - the gift the keeps on giving.

I want my country back.  Now before you stupid luberals start peppering me with questions about "what the country looks like", I'll cut you off at the pass and tell you!

The country that I so fondly miss doesn't have a liberally biased media of newspapers, tv, and radio.

In my country, the popular tv show was "My 3 Sons", not "My 3 Dads".  We don't take off great programming like "Matlock" and replace it "Will and Grace".

Movie stars in my country died of real diseases like emphysema, not AIDS because they liked butt-sex with young kids.

Women wore dresses. All day.  Every day.  Not t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers.

Men didn't have ear-rings and they gave women they liked ankle bracelets, not herpes.

Married couples slept in separate beds, just as the Good Book demands!

Newspapers weren't bought and paid for by lefties.  Nope, they shot as straight as the crow flies!

Radio was full of good ol' country music, not guys wearing lipstick or humping amplifiers.

In my beloved country, there isn't forced indoctrination.  Yup, I'm implying that in this pathetic luberal excuse of a country, everyone is being indoctrinated into accepting immoral behavior and unhealthy life-styles.

We had real baseball players like Mantle, DiMaggio, Whitey Ford.  Stan who?  Stan the lazy guy on welfare?  Oh no.  Stan The Man Musial!  These were real Americans who you wanted to be like when you grew up!  Not A-Rod or Bonds or Sosa, all of who never saw a needle they didn't like.

Yup, the heroes in my country where wholesome and pure.  They were people to be admired.  You could watch tv and be entertained by Sheriff Matt Dillon [aka James Arness who played "The Thing"] on Gunsmoke!  You could watch Captain Kangaroo without him trying to turn you into a homosexual pinko.  There was Johnny Carson, pure as the driven snow, on at night.  Not to mention Mr. Wizard teaching true science.  Or Howdy Doody for some real entertainment for the kids [and, yes, the guy who played Clarabell the Clown was Captain Kangaroo!]

In my country, we had Tom and Jerry...not Ni Hao [turn my kids into little commies] Kai Lan.  We had Bugs Bunny, not Go Diego Go [back to Mexico].  We had Hanna Barbera cartoons, not Dora the [wetback] Explorer.

That's my country you butt-loving fags - a country of wholesome learning and American ideals; not homos doing homo things and trying to get others to be homos too.

We didn't need to indoctrinate our kids, unlike you pinko losers.  Afterall, we believed in America and the American Way!  Just like Super Man!

Now why don't you communists go and delete my diary like you know you always do.

Well I finally figured out how to use the "draft" option for creating diaries.  So I have 2 in the pipeline that I hope to finish up in the next few days.

But until then, is everyone ready for the Big Game tomorrow?!  Will Dodd finally tire of McConnell's bs-ing, grab him by the neck until his larynx is crushed, toss him aside, look at the camera and say "Mitch needs some health care.  I hope he, unlike you, has a good plan."

Will Joe Biden turn into Joe "The Angriest Man in the Room" Biden (which is what Hannity calls him), pick up Eric Cantor, put him in a Lex Lugor "torture rack" until Cantor starts crying like a baby, then end it with an Undertaker "choke slam".  As Eric is writhing in pain on the floor from some real wrestling, Joe will turn to the camera and say "I hope Eric can get health care across state lines, because he needs some."

Will Obama take out a dry-erase chalk board and detail how much Glenn Beck makes in a year, how much he's worth, the type of health insurance he and his family has, and then turn to the camera and ask "Does this sound like you?"

Oh I wish I could stay home, make some pop corn, drink some iced tea and watch this extravaganza.  But...alas...I have to do that work thing.

Sigh.

(Your huble editor is not taking a stand on this, but...this is certainly worth promoting for the conversation it's generating. So go ahead, speak your piece... - promoted by leftake)

I know this is political suicide, but I've always been one who tries to see things from all perspectives.  Now I realize that the Middle East has been a hot bed of unrest and utter chaos for longer than most modern-day nations have been in existence.  I also know that Iran, itself, has undergone sweeping changes [mostly for the worse] starting decades ago.  So it's not as if "Iran - the bad guy" only started recently.  But I do think we need to see this from a different angle.

Please notice Iran.  To the West, there is Iraq.  Who controls Iraq?  The United States.

Please notice Iran.  To the East, there is Afghanistan.  Who controls Afghanistan?  The United States.

Please notice Iran.  To the East, there is also Pakistan.  Who controls Pakistan?  Well...the Pakistan Gov't, who is working with, yup you guessed it, the United States.

The only countries that boarder Iran that are not either in US hands, or in cahoots with the US, are to the northwest and northeast.

Now put the US in that position.  Imagine if the Soviet Union was in control of Canada to the North of us, and Mexico to the South of us.  How would that make us feel?  Would we feel safe and at ease?  Or would we be worried that at any moment forces from either side would sweep in and try to crush us?  In worrying about such a thing happening, what would we do?  The obvious answer is - we would arm the living fuck out of ourselves.

Hmm...from that perspective...does it make a bit more sense that Iran is trying to get nukes?

They've already seen us attack their neighbor [Iraq] twice in less than a quarter of a century.  We control or influence all countries on their east and west borders.  They are probably scared shitless that they are our next target...especially considering who our President was the past 8 years.

So, truly, I know Iran isn't a friendly country.  I don't plan on spending my next vacation there.  But you need to take a look at the bigger picture before passing judgement.

My best advice would be to get Iraq and Afghanistan on their feet ASAP and get the hell out of Dodge.  This would show Iran that we aren't a threat to them and their sovereignty.  Perhaps then they would stop acting like a country in need of defending itself...and more like...well...the ultra intra-oppressive country that they are.

Then again, it is pretty hard to put that genie back in the bottle......

I want to thank Rhea for being my muse on this one.

Spiral's post about the "non-liberals" who visit our site was very near and dear to my heart because I was thinking along the same lines recently.  Why do people even bother to come here and stir up crap?  It must be that they enjoy knocking down the bee's nest just to see the buggers go all ape-shit.

But it begs of a larger problem - the left and right of this country are absolutely, positively fractured.  We are living in an age when there is literally a Conservative States of American and a Liberal States of America.  The United States of America doesn't exist anymore.  In THAT country, there was always disagreement...but compromise to see our way through the differences.

So I'm going to solve this problem.  But I can only solve it for half of the population - the men.  Women are going to have to figure this one out on their own.  I'm sorry, but the female of the species is way too complicated for me to bring into this issue. (no offense, please)

How do we solve the problem of a fractured nation?  Easy - you need people to change their perspective.  Meaning, get people to look at life a different way, from a new angle, with a new pair of eyes because of experience.  Key word:  experience.  You see, I can sit here and talk about my life until my fingers fall off, and very little of it will sink in with the opposition (yes, I'm using that word..as I said, we are fractured...the right and left are truly Enemies right now).  However, if you get that person to feel or live through an event, it carries more weight and gets them to open their eyes.  All of a sudden, it's not hollow words from some fucking socialist.  Rather, it's an awakening through the senses.

So how will I do this?

At the age of 30, all men must have a prostrate exam.

I don't know about you, but having some guy's thick finger up my ass gave me new perspective.  All of a sudden, thoughts such as "why is this horrible thing happening to me?" starting going through my head.  "Why is this guy doing this to me?  Why can't this just be a different way?!"

You see, after having a finger up your ass, you realize that, perhaps, when you are a complete jerk to someone else, it is sort of like having your finger up THEIR ass.  Seeing that you didn't enjoy it very much, it might make you realize that they aren't enjoying what you are doing either.

Change of perspective.  Ding.  You might realize that it's ok for someone to be different...there are other ways and means to come to a mutual conclusion.  Working together.  Ding.  Compromise.  Ding.

Now, I realize that some guys are just set in their ways.  This is why I'm trying to get guys when they are young.  But, still.  You'll get someone who will just not change his ways of thinking.  Period.  End of story.

Well, not really.  For these special cases amongst us, at the age of 35 you get "swabbed".

Now there is nothing that will change your life outlook faster than having a large q-tip shoved down your pee hole by some grumpy guy who obviously didn't want to come to work that day.

At least the ass is used to expanding.

I can't say the same about the other one.

You will see guys falling all over themselves in an attempt to work together.  Doing bad things to each other?  Oh fuck that!  I've had a q-tip down my wee wee...there's got to be a better way!  Communicate.  Dialogue.  Debate.  Compromise.  Whatever it takes...the entire "my way or no way" all of a sudden comes clearly into focus.  It's not a good thing.

Perspective can't be taught...it must be learned via experience.

And once the men of this country realize true perspective, I can almost guarantee that they will come together.

Afterall, there is a sort of kinship amongst those of us who have gone through these...procedures.  You don't look at each other and see differences anymore.  You see someone who suffered just as you did...and damnit, you don't want to suffer or cause suffering anymore.

Man hug indeed!

Link Me!

The highlight of the piece:

"The projected government debt is staggering. The federal budget deficit is expected to reach $1.56 trillion this fiscal year and $1.27 trillion next year.

The national debt - accumulated deficits is expected to hit $9.3 trillion this year, or 63.6 percent of the gross domestic product, the measure of all the nation's goods and services produced annually. By 2015, the debt will total almost $14 trillion and equal 72.9 percent of the GDP, the highest level since 1950, when World War II debt was still being repaid."

Wait.

Wait a minute.

I'm confused.

In 1950, debt equally almost 3/4 of GDP.

So, obviously, the country crashed in a horrific shit storm and we all died after Russia invaded and took over the remnants of our once great country.

Right?

Wait.

Let me go look out the window.

Nope.

No statues to Lenon or Stalin out there.

Oh, I'm sorry.  China obviously took us over!  Ni hao!

Please wait while I look out the window again.

Shit.

No statue of Mao either!!

What the fuck is going on here?!

So let me get this straight.  Our country has been in this situation before.  Actually, it's been through worse.  And we...survived?  Well I'm here to type this in english in Missouri, USA.  So I have to assume we survived.

If the country got through that situation, why can't we get through this one?

( - promoted by leftake)

Link Me!

Now this was an interesting article I found on the Huffington Post site.

It compares how bad unemployment and approval ratings for Ronald Reagan got after being elected the first time, and then compares them to Obama.

After reading the article, I can honestly say that a major revision of history has occurred for Ronnie.

My favorite part is right here...

And, lest Republicans whine that Reagan had a Democratic Congress, remind them that Reagan himself never even submitted a balanced budget!

So much for being the fiscal conservative giant that Hannity et. al. make him out to be.

Anyway, go through the article.  It's an interesting read.

In summary - if Reagan were given as little time as Obama to turn the economy around, he would never have been re-elected!

I posted this as a comment to "someone's" diary.  But seeing that he/she/it enjoys deleting and re-posting their diary to get rid of unwanted comments, I didn't want to lose it.

I also figured it would make a good stand-alone diary because it does answer the question "How exactly is Glenn Beck a hypocrite?"  Well, take a few minutes and read through the list and you tell me.

So which Glenn Beck are we talking about?

(added a few more added to the beginning on 2/15/10)

---

The Glenn Beck who considers himself to be a true lover of America (a land that has been a melting pot for generations)?

OR

The Glenn Beck who wants to divide the country in half between conservatives and liberals (actually, Glenn said "just give us Texas, it's all we need")?

---

The Glenn Beck who will stop his radio show and talk about snow in Texas as proof global warming doesn't exist?

OR

The Glenn Beck who will ignore when it is 70 degrees in January in places like St. Louis because it is proof global warming is occurring?

---

The Glenn Beck that was in favor of TARP and actually thought it needed to be bigger than $700 billion?

OR

The Glenn Beck that rails against Gov't spending under the veil of being a Liberterian?

---

The Glenn Beck that pleaded live on the radio for Sarah Palin to not let "them" (meaning, the media) destroy her?

OR

The Glenn Beck that has used his status in the modern day media to try and destroy Obama?

---

The Glenn Beck who dislikes "the clowns on both sides of the aisle"?

OR

The Glenn Beck who will vote for any Republican candidate?  (he voted for McCain aka "Democrat-lite" in the last election)

---

The Glenn Beck who believes that Global Warming is a global-wide hoax and conspiracy?

OR

The Glenn Beck who will question your mental facilities for thinking 9-11 was a Gov't-sponsored hoax and conspiracy?

---

The Glenn Beck who bitched and moaned, but never did anything, when a white President spent this country in the ground?

OR

The Glenn Beck who organized a march on Washington when a black President spent this country into the ground?

---

The Glenn Beck who is "only asking questions"?

OR

The Glenn Beck who answers questions by screaming "GET OFF MY PHONE YOU PIN HEAD AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

---

The Glenn Beck who cares so much for this country that he cries on camera?

OR

The Glenn Beck who needs vapor rub under his eyes to help him cry?

---

The Glenn Beck who is a common man and only cares about spreading the message?

OR

The Glenn Beck who is a millionaire and wants you to spend $25-30 a pop to read that message?

---

The Glenn Beck who is a source for real news?

OR

The Glenn Beck who is merely a commentator?

---

So which Glenn Beck are we talking about here?  The centrist-CNN Beck or the fully right-wing-FOX Beck?

First of all, here is a good article on what might happen if no health care reform gets passed.

The best part of the article is right here...

For economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a top adviser to 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain, "no one has the luxury of saying we're not going to worry about this." While he's no fan of the Democrats' approach, he said Republicans "are going to have to deliver something at some point. The question is whether they do it with this president leading or wait for a Republican president."

If you truly believe Reps are going to lead the call for health care reform if they get the presidency back...you are one humongous fool.

Anyway, to go on a different track - I have a great idea on what to do if health care reform fails.

Send your medical bills straight to your Republican representative.

Flood their office with your medical bills.

Tell them that since they are interested in fixing the system their way and only their way, to also take care of your medical bill while they are at it.

This is an interesting one.  I'm sorry for how long you'll have to listen to Glenn Beck.  But it shows how far from reality he is...and how much he makes up his own reality.

Here is a candidate for the GOP candidacy who wants to eliminate certain taxes (going with a sales tax instead...wow, that sounds familiar for some reason), wants a small, limited Gov't.  You know...all those things that are straight up a Liberterian's alley.

At one point, Glenn asks her if she's a 9/11 Truther.  She answers the question honestly - there are questions that have been raised that are still unanswered.  But she's not going to sway one way or another because all of the evidence hasn't been brought to light.  That's pretty logical to me.  Afterall, make the decision AFTER you have all of the facts.

Glenn throws her under the bus for that.

Now let's do one of Glenn's favorite things right now - let's ask a question.

Glenn and other neo-cons are supporting the Tea Party effort.  Why?  Well obviously it's because they can take advantage of the opportunity.  However, THEY will claim it's because they don't trust the gov't.

So you don't trust the Gov't to the point that you want to get "all those clowns" out of power because they don't have the people's best interest in mind anymore right?

Um...a Gov't that doesn't have the people's best interest in mind anymore wouldn't hesitate to kill a few thousand citizens to progress their agenda.

Hello?!

The best part is the very end where Stu (I think) says "I don't want to hear from you if you're a 9/11 Truther and are on her side.  Save your emails."

Nice.  That's the Bill O'Reilly way of doing things - don't even listen to the counter argument; afterall, nothing will change your views.  Absolutely nothing.

Anyway, I just love how instead of getting into a dialog with Medina about this subject, he rushes her off the phone and proceeds to rip her from a safe distance.

In summary...

Coward perhaps?

This is almost as funny as the NRA memberships I receive in the mail.

It now appears that The Heritage Foundation wants me to join.  How lucky can a leftist get?!  Of course...this is after I make a tax-deductible membership contribution.

The choices for this contribution:

$25, $50, $100, $250, Other $.

I wonder if I cut a check for exactly $1.00, would they let me in?  That does fall into the category of "Other $" afterall!  And it's more than nothing!!

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not reading the instructions (damn, I'm such a guy sometimes).  I'm supposed to answer a bunch of questions, THEN send in my "generous contribution".  Ok, this should be interesting...

TAXES

1.  Do you believe our current tax code needs to be completely overhauled?

Yes  **check**
No
Undecided

(big time baby!  I know it's difficult to live on $5 million a year, with the Gov't taking the other $5 million you make, but I'm sure you'd figure out a way to do it.)

2.  Do you favor a fair, single-rate tax, such as a national sales tax or flat income tax?

Yes  **check**
No
Undecided

(hmm...they favor a single-rate tax, but are completely opposed to a single-payer insurance system...how quaint.)

3.  Are you concerned the issues of strengthening our national security and fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are low priorities for the liberal majority in Congress and the Obama Administration?

Yes
No  **check**
Undecided

(Hmm...they won't like that answer...I mean the guy DID continue funding these wars and DID increase troop counts in Afghanistan...I don't exactly see that as being a "low priority" to him...ya know?)

4.  Do you believe the Obama Administration is committed to securing our ports and borders?

Yes  **check**
No
Undecided

(again...I'm gonna assume that isn't want they want to hear from me.)

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

5.  Despite promises to rein in out-of-control government spending, are you concerned that pork-barrel spending will continue to get worse under the current leadership in Washington?

Yes  **check**
No
Undecided

(They are complaining about $20 billion in pork barrel projects?  Where the fuck were they when Bush wanted to NOT fund Medicare Part D?!  Anyway, yes it will get worse.  So lets say pork barrel spending rises to...say...$30 billion.  Oh no!  Game over man, game over!!  Sheesh, they act like that's a lot of money to the gov't.)

6.  Who do you blame for over-spending?

Administration
Congress
Both  **check**

(where's my gold star?)

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

7.  With liberals in power in Washington, are you concerned that bureaucrats will be able to decide what kind of car you drive, how much you should pay for your house, and what medical procedures you can and cannot have?

Yes
No  **check**
Undecided

(wow talking about a loaded question!  yeah, I'm pretty sure my $1 isn't going to get me into the club after this question)

8.  Are you concerned the liberal leadership in Washington will move forward plans to resurrect the so-called "Fairness Doctrine", which would effectively censor the voice of conservatives on America's airwaves?

Yes
No  **check**
Undecided

(first of all, what's with all of this "liberal" crap?  Not all democrats are liberals!  Secondly, the last time I noticed, only the right is talking about the Fairness Doctrine!  Lastly, the only reason the right is worried about the FD is because it would make them immediately accountable for what they say!  Oh shit Batman, not that!)

THE MEDIA

9.  Do you believe the media has a decidedly liberal bias?

Yes
No  **check**
Undecided

(yeah the media is decidedly left, just as Fox News is decidedly right.  But that's ok, of course.)

10.  Please check the five issues of most importance to you:

The Economy  **check**
Cutting Taxes
Tax Reform
Education  **check**
Reducing Size of Government
Health Care  **check**
Energy  **check**
Government Spending
Homeland Security
Immigration
War on Terrorism
Liberal Bias in the Media
Moral Decline in America
Iran's Nuclear Ambition
Other: My Cholesterol **check**

(damn, I couldn't even find 5 things to check!  I hope they accept my response under Other as the 5th.  Though, that could fall under Health Care.  Anyway, I am definitely not getting into the club!  They better refund my $1 in full!)

Being a problem solver in this society, most times I am ignored.  It's a wonderful feeling.  Anyway, I'm going to solve this country's problems.  One by one.

First off is CONgress.  We can solve this problem.

The Senate - 100 seats, 2 from each state.

Instead of Republicans and Democrats running against each other for those 2 seats, each party gets one.  Period.  End of story.  If we are going to be a 2-party nation, and only a 2-party nation, then might as well give each side an equal share.  The primary then becomes the actual election.

In the end, you have the Senate comprised of 50 reps and 50 dems.  No more Super Majority bullshit.  The "party of no" antics no longer work.  One way or another, someone will have to give in and vote with the other side.  Compromise - what a fucking concept.

Plus, this makes a shit load of sense.  Just because California is one of the most liberal states in the union, that doesn't mean that everyone in Cali is a liberal.  So having both a left and right-leaning Senator would yield a situation where everyone in the state would be represented.

Of course, you could still have independents run for office.  But seriously, they are usually left- or right-leaning.  So, in that light, there really are no independents in CONgress.

By the way, the Vice President would have to lose his tie-breaking vote in order for this to work.  Seeing that we are re-writing the rules, I don't see that being too difficult to wipe away.

So what does this give us?  This gives us a situation where neither party has more power than the other.  Yes, you'll still have ultra conservatives like Bachmann.  But then again, you'll still have ultra liberals like Pat Leahy.  Overall, it will balance out.  And it is this balance that will make the Senate run smoother.

Throw on top of this an idea that, believe it or not, Joe Lieberman had in the mid-90's about breaking filibusters.  Currently, as we all know, 60 votes are needed to end a filibuster.  Joe wanted to change that rule so that only initially 60 votes are needed.  After a week, 57 are needed.  Another week later, 54 are needed.  After a month, only 51 votes are needed to end a filibuster.  This gives up to a month to have discussions on an issue, and still would require a convert from the other side to make it work.

Again, it's the Senate working across party lines to get something done.  As soon as that happens, I honestly feel that the rank and file will start to fall out of line with how the core party leaders want them to behave.

Now I know that we might end up with a situation where the dem and rep who are elected from each state end up being way far from the center.  However, I believe this will only occur for a short time because the American people will see how futile it is to send an ultra leftie into the Senate when they won't work with anyone.  I believe, over time, the Senators who are elected will become more moderate and central.  The public will want the candidate who will work with the other side, as opposed to a 'party of no' senator.  It will only take a few times of seeing the Senate bogged down with 50-to-50 votes and nothing getting passed before more moderate candidates start being elected.

Again, one side can't blame the other in such a situation.  Well, they could try, but without a super majority, or even a simple majority, it's a damn tough item to sell.

The house would have to be reshaped in a similar fashion.  This wouldn't be easy without expanding the number of people elected to it.  Districts might have to be redrawn...and that's never a pretty process.  But if the goal is equality, this might be possible.

We would still need term limits.  But I see that as more of an "elected official time limit" than anything imposed on one house or the other.  Pretty much, an elected official can be in office for 24 years and those years can be divied up between the Senate and House in any manner they want.  So you can spend some terms in the House, a few in the Senate, then go back to the House, etc.  But once you reach 24 years, ding, you're done.  Next!

After this, we need age limits for our elected officials.  If you are over 70, I'm sorry, but we need leaders who can change with the times.  And John McCain still can't use a freaking computer.  I would be willing to listen to ideas about "yearly competency tests" after the age of 70.  But those would have to be strict tests done by an independent organization with the authority to remove an official if need be.

So that cleans up CONgress.  Well, as much as it can be.  We have term limits, age limits, equal power and the need for compromise to pass any bill.  I know this leaves open campaign finance reform.  But we really need to see how the supreme court ruling pans out before tackling that.

Seeing that physics prevents you from being both members of LMFAO -"the grammy-nominated electro-hop group from Los Angeles", I have to know:  which one are you?  I'm gonna take a guess and say....hmm...you have to be the one on the right in the funkadelic purple pants (the pink glasses through the belt loop is a classy addition to the look).  Only a true neo-con could pull that off!

Then again, that would be my right.  So perhaps you are the one on the left (your right).  Afterall, neo-cons never shy away from blatant self-promotion.

Either way, which ever one you happen to be, I gotta say that You Make That Outfit Work Buddy!!!

Link Me!

"Republicans opposed establishing the panel because it might recommend tax increases to close the deficit."

I'm isolating that one sentence because it really is the heart of the piece, even though it comes at the very end.

Yes, Obama is proposing a $3.8 t..t...trillion dollar budget.  Even as a geologist who is used to large numbers and equally large time spans, that is a lot of money [to say the least].

Anyway, my point in this diary is this - how in the world do Republicans expect the Gov't to financially function without taxes?  I know...I know..."taxes are a means of the Gov't stealing from the people".  Well, just remember this one little tiny fact - ya gotta pay for the army that protects us somehow.  How is it not "stealing from the people" when it involves keeping up the military/defense of this country, but it's stealing any other time?  Double standard perhaps?

Anyway, getting back to the point - not taxing combined with more entitlement programs has been a complete bust, as proven by the last 8 years.

So we can get rid of the entitlement programs...just as soon as we wrench them from the cold, dead fingers of everyone who is at or above the retirement age.

Or...perhaps...just perhaps...we can increase revenue via taxation to pay for these programs.

Or hey, we can kill all of the elderly, poor, and disabled in this country.  Without them, we can end social security, medicare, and medicaid in one fell swoop.  I'd say we'd be able to balance the budget before the next presidential election!  Just not sure what to do with the bodies...hmm....

Ok...back to being seriously... if you're gonna bitch about deficits and entitlement programs [that you helped pass ::ahem::], but you won't allow taxes to be raised to pay for said items, then there's really not many good choices left.

In summary - whatever universe these conservatives/republicans live in, it sure as hell sounds nice there.

Let's start with the Republican Response first.

If you listened closely, you got the same talking points Reps have been using since the summer when it comes to health care reform - selling insurance across state lines and tort reform.  It's the only thing they have!  I understand running with an idea because it's a good one [which tort reform is].  But when there is never an expansion ON those ideas or an expansion TO those ideas, you really have to start to wonder how deep these people can think.

I will say that it was nice to hear a Republican agreeing with some things Obama wants to do.  Now let's see some action in terms of bipartisanship.

Also, if you were listening to the response, he talked about a "top down" limiting of Gov't.  If I'm reading between the lines correctly, this sounds like removing or decreasing safety net programs.  I can't say for sure that this is what he meant.  But it sure as hell sounded like it.  So what would he get rid of?  Social security?  Medicare?  Unemployment?

I don't know about you, but I don't have as much faith as conservatives seem to have that the private sector is going to take care of me well enough so that I won't need these programs.  Let me see a living wage first and the we can start talking about cuts in safety net programs.  Oh, yeah that's right, they wouldn't allow a legislating of wages.  You'd just have to assume your company will do what's best for you.  Good luck with that.

Anyway, otherwise the response was pretty much what you'd expect - Big Gov't!!  Gov't destroying the Best Health Care System In The World!!  Talking point crap like that.  It was rather predictable...and stuff we've heard ad nauseum at this point.

As for the speech, the last 15 mins left me breathless.  I'm sorry to pull a "Chris Matthews" here.  But it was a seriously striking portion of the speech.  I was welling up with emotions.  Obama was speaking the truth at EVERYONE.  It was nice to finally see a President take his punches for what he did wrong and acknowledge his failures.  

But, damn, it was disturbing that Reps seemed glued to their seats.  Even when he was talking about all of the tax cuts he has implemented, there was absolutely nothing coming from the right (which he deftly turned into a joke).

I will credit him with directly taking on his opponents.  He's not wilting under the pressure.  He's trying to rise up, while trying to get others to rise to the occasion as well.  I have to say that when he called out the right for voting as a collective to block or delay everything, that was masterful.  They ARE part of the process and it was nice to hear Obama remind them of that.

Anyway, we'll see if anything changes at this point.  I think it was a great speech for how complex of a time we live in.  Again, we'll now have to see if anything is backed up with action.