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lotsajizz Rocks Off Regular Offline Rocks Off Rules You Bastards Posts: 1,818 Rhode Island Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6725 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:12pm As always, I'll be up front here---I despise religion and think it should be taxed to death---ALL of them....
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Brainbell Jangler

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6726 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:17pm

THE TOWN HALL MOB

by Paul Krugman (Nobel Laureate in Economics)

There's a famous Norman Rockwell painting titled "Freedom of Speech," depicting an idealized American town meeting. The painting, part of a series illustrating F.D.R.'s "Four Freedoms," shows an ordinary citizen expressing an unpopular opinion. His neighbors obviously don't like what he's saying, but they're letting him speak his mind.

That's a far cry from what has been happening at recent town meetings, where angry protestors--some of them, with no apparent sense of irony, shouting "This is America!"--have been drowning out, and in some cases threatening, members of Congress trying to talk about health reform.

Some commentators have tried to play down the mob aspect of these scenes, likening the campaign against health reform to the campaign against Social Security privatization back in 2005. But there's no comparison. I've gone through many news reports from 2005, and while anti-privatization activists were sometimes raucous and rude, I can't find any examples of congressmen shouted down, congressmen hanged in effigy, congressmen surrounded and followed by taunting crowds.

And I can't find any counterpart to the death threats at least one congressman has received.

So this is something new and ugly. What's behind it?

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, has compared the scenes at health care town halls to the "Brooks Brothers riot" in 2000--the demonstration that disrupted the vote count in Miami and arguably helped George W. Bush to the White House. Portrayed at the time as local protestors, many of the rioters were actually G.O.P. staffers flown in from Washington.

But Mr. Gibbs is probably only half right. Yes, well-heeled interest groups are helping to organize the town hall mobs. Key organizers include two Astroturf (fake grass-roots) organizations: FreedomWorks, run by the former House majority leader Dick Armey, and a new organization called Conservatives for Patients' Rights.

The latter group, by the way, is run by Rick Scott, the former head of Columbia/HCA, a for-profit hospital chain. Mr. Scott was forced out of that job amid a fraud investigation; the company eventually pleaded guilty to charges of overbilling state and federal health plans, paying $1.7 billion--yes, that's "billion"--in fines. You can't make this stuff up.

But while the organizers are as crass as they come, I haven't seen any evidence that the people disrupting those town halls are Florida-style rent-a-mobs. For the most part, the protestors appear to be genuinely angry. The question is, what are they angry about?

There was a telling incident at a town hall held by Representative Gene Green, D-Tex. An activist turned to his fellow attendees and asked if they "opposed any form of socialized or government-run health care." Nearly all did. Then Representative Green asked how many of those present were on Medicare. Almost half raised their hands.

Now, people who don't know that Medicare is a government program probably aren't reacting to what President Obama is actually proposing. They may believe some of the disinformation opponents of health care reform are spreading, like the claim that the Obama plan will lead to euthanasia for the elderly. (That particular claim is coming straight from House Republican leaders.) But they're probably reacting less to what Mr. Obama is doing, or even to what they've heard about what he's doing, than to who he is.

That is, the driving force behind the town hall mobs is probably the same cultural and racial anxiety that's behind the "birther" movement, which denies Mr. Obama's citizenship. Senator Dick Durbin has suggested that the birthers and the health care protestors are one and the same; we don't know how many of the protestors are birthers, but it wouldn't be surprising if it's a substantial fraction.

And cynical political operators are exploiting that anxiety to further the economic interests of their backers.

Does this sound familiar? It should: it's a strategy that has played a central role in American politics ever since Richard Nixon realized that he could advance Republican fortunes by appealing to the racial fears of working-class whites.

Many people hoped that last year's election would mark the end of the "angry white voter" era in America. Indeed, voters who can be swayed by appeals to cultural and racial fear are a declining share of the electorate.

But right now Mr. Obama's backers seem to lack all conviction, perhaps because the prosaic reality of his administration isn't living up to their dreams of transformation. Meanwhile, the angry right is filled with a passionate intensity.

And if Mr. Obama can't recapture some of the passion of 2008, can't inspire his supporters to stand up and be heard, health care reform may well fail.

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Pdog Rocks Off Regular Offline Posts: 6,130 aTx Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6727 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:21pm lotsajizz wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:12pm: As always, I'll be up front here---I despise religion and think it should be taxed to death---ALL of them.... would it be safe to say, you don't want to talk about jesus, you just want to see his face.
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fuman

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6728 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:27pm

nankerphelge wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 4:09pm:

"I had a good response line, but decided to let it go."

The rectum of anyone making $250,000 or more?

The rectum of the middle class?

Like Chris Mathew's breath?

C'mon fuman, let's hear it!

Yeah, along those lines but directed at the original poster.

Yours are pretty good too . . .

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fuman

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6729 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:39pm

Brainbell Jangler wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:17pm:

THE TOWN HALL MOB

by Paul Krugman (Nobel Laureate in Economics)

There's a famous Norman Rockwell painting titled "Freedom of Speech," depicting an idealized American town meeting. The painting, part of a series illustrating F.D.R.'s "Four Freedoms," shows an ordinary citizen expressing an unpopular opinion. His neighbors obviously don't like what he's saying, but they're letting him speak his mind.

That's a far cry from what has been happening at recent town meetings, where angry protestors--some of them, with no apparent sense of irony, shouting "This is America!"--have been drowning out, and in some cases threatening, members of Congress trying to talk about health reform.

Some commentators have tried to play down the mob aspect of these scenes, likening the campaign against health reform to the campaign against Social Security privatization back in 2005. But there's no comparison. I've gone through many news reports from 2005, and while anti-privatization activists were sometimes raucous and rude, I can't find any examples of congressmen shouted down, congressmen hanged in effigy, congressmen surrounded and followed by taunting crowds.

And I can't find any counterpart to the death threats at least one congressman has received.

So this is something new and ugly. What's behind it?

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, has compared the scenes at health care town halls to the "Brooks Brothers riot" in 2000--the demonstration that disrupted the vote count in Miami and arguably helped George W. Bush to the White House. Portrayed at the time as local protestors, many of the rioters were actually G.O.P. staffers flown in from Washington.

But Mr. Gibbs is probably only half right. Yes, well-heeled interest groups are helping to organize the town hall mobs. Key organizers include two Astroturf (fake grass-roots) organizations: FreedomWorks, run by the former House majority leader Dick Armey, and a new organization called Conservatives for Patients' Rights.

The latter group, by the way, is run by Rick Scott, the former head of Columbia/HCA, a for-profit hospital chain. Mr. Scott was forced out of that job amid a fraud investigation; the company eventually pleaded guilty to charges of overbilling state and federal health plans, paying $1.7 billion--yes, that's "billion"--in fines. You can't make this stuff up.

But while the organizers are as crass as they come, I haven't seen any evidence that the people disrupting those town halls are Florida-style rent-a-mobs. For the most part, the protestors appear to be genuinely angry. The question is, what are they angry about?

There was a telling incident at a town hall held by Representative Gene Green, D-Tex. An activist turned to his fellow attendees and asked if they "opposed any form of socialized or government-run health care." Nearly all did. Then Representative Green asked how many of those present were on Medicare. Almost half raised their hands.

Now, people who don't know that Medicare is a government program probably aren't reacting to what President Obama is actually proposing. They may believe some of the disinformation opponents of health care reform are spreading, like the claim that the Obama plan will lead to euthanasia for the elderly. (That particular claim is coming straight from House Republican leaders.) But they're probably reacting less to what Mr. Obama is doing, or even to what they've heard about what he's doing, than to who he is.

That is, the driving force behind the town hall mobs is probably the same cultural and racial anxiety that's behind the "birther" movement, which denies Mr. Obama's citizenship. Senator Dick Durbin has suggested that the birthers and the health care protestors are one and the same; we don't know how many of the protestors are birthers, but it wouldn't be surprising if it's a substantial fraction.

And cynical political operators are exploiting that anxiety to further the economic interests of their backers.

Does this sound familiar? It should: it's a strategy that has played a central role in American politics ever since Richard Nixon realized that he could advance Republican fortunes by appealing to the racial fears of working-class whites.

Many people hoped that last year's election would mark the end of the "angry white voter" era in America. Indeed, voters who can be swayed by appeals to cultural and racial fear are a declining share of the electorate.

But right now Mr. Obama's backers seem to lack all conviction, perhaps because the prosaic reality of his administration isn't living up to their dreams of transformation. Meanwhile, the angry right is filled with a passionate intensity.

And if Mr. Obama can't recapture some of the passion of 2008, can't inspire his supporters to stand up and be heard, health care reform may well fail.

Great post Brainbell. Interesting.

Wasn't there some new portion of Nixon tape recently aired, where Nixon's aide (Haldeman?) was telling Nixon of Henry J. Kaiser's new plan for a Health Maintenance Organization. That this new HMO could reap the benefit of annual dues, yet deny expensive medical procedures when financially advantageous? Maybe 3 or 4 months ago . . .

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Pdog

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6730 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:40pm

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:39pm:

Brainbell Jangler wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:17pm:

THE TOWN HALL MOB

by Paul Krugman (Nobel Laureate in Economics)

There's a famous Norman Rockwell painting titled "Freedom of Speech," depicting an idealized American town meeting. The painting, part of a series illustrating F.D.R.'s "Four Freedoms," shows an ordinary citizen expressing an unpopular opinion. His neighbors obviously don't like what he's saying, but they're letting him speak his mind.

That's a far cry from what has been happening at recent town meetings, where angry protestors--some of them, with no apparent sense of irony, shouting "This is America!"--have been drowning out, and in some cases threatening, members of Congress trying to talk about health reform.

Some commentators have tried to play down the mob aspect of these scenes, likening the campaign against health reform to the campaign against Social Security privatization back in 2005. But there's no comparison. I've gone through many news reports from 2005, and while anti-privatization activists were sometimes raucous and rude, I can't find any examples of congressmen shouted down, congressmen hanged in effigy, congressmen surrounded and followed by taunting crowds.

And I can't find any counterpart to the death threats at least one congressman has received.

So this is something new and ugly. What's behind it?

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, has compared the scenes at health care town halls to the "Brooks Brothers riot" in 2000--the demonstration that disrupted the vote count in Miami and arguably helped George W. Bush to the White House. Portrayed at the time as local protestors, many of the rioters were actually G.O.P. staffers flown in from Washington.

But Mr. Gibbs is probably only half right. Yes, well-heeled interest groups are helping to organize the town hall mobs. Key organizers include two Astroturf (fake grass-roots) organizations: FreedomWorks, run by the former House majority leader Dick Armey, and a new organization called Conservatives for Patients' Rights.

The latter group, by the way, is run by Rick Scott, the former head of Columbia/HCA, a for-profit hospital chain. Mr. Scott was forced out of that job amid a fraud investigation; the company eventually pleaded guilty to charges of overbilling state and federal health plans, paying $1.7 billion--yes, that's "billion"--in fines. You can't make this stuff up.

But while the organizers are as crass as they come, I haven't seen any evidence that the people disrupting those town halls are Florida-style rent-a-mobs. For the most part, the protestors appear to be genuinely angry. The question is, what are they angry about?

There was a telling incident at a town hall held by Representative Gene Green, D-Tex. An activist turned to his fellow attendees and asked if they "opposed any form of socialized or government-run health care." Nearly all did. Then Representative Green asked how many of those present were on Medicare. Almost half raised their hands.

Now, people who don't know that Medicare is a government program probably aren't reacting to what President Obama is actually proposing. They may believe some of the disinformation opponents of health care reform are spreading, like the claim that the Obama plan will lead to euthanasia for the elderly. (That particular claim is coming straight from House Republican leaders.) But they're probably reacting less to what Mr. Obama is doing, or even to what they've heard about what he's doing, than to who he is.

That is, the driving force behind the town hall mobs is probably the same cultural and racial anxiety that's behind the "birther" movement, which denies Mr. Obama's citizenship. Senator Dick Durbin has suggested that the birthers and the health care protestors are one and the same; we don't know how many of the protestors are birthers, but it wouldn't be surprising if it's a substantial fraction.

And cynical political operators are exploiting that anxiety to further the economic interests of their backers.

Does this sound familiar? It should: it's a strategy that has played a central role in American politics ever since Richard Nixon realized that he could advance Republican fortunes by appealing to the racial fears of working-class whites.

Many people hoped that last year's election would mark the end of the "angry white voter" era in America. Indeed, voters who can be swayed by appeals to cultural and racial fear are a declining share of the electorate.

But right now Mr. Obama's backers seem to lack all conviction, perhaps because the prosaic reality of his administration isn't living up to their dreams of transformation. Meanwhile, the angry right is filled with a passionate intensity.

And if Mr. Obama can't recapture some of the passion of 2008, can't inspire his supporters to stand up and be heard, health care reform may well fail.

Great post Brainbell. Interesting.

Wasn't there some new portion of Nixon tape recently aired, where Nixon's aide (Haldeman?) was telling Nixon of Henry J. Kaiser's new plan for a Health Maintenance Organization. That this new HMO could reap the benefit of annual dues, yet deny expensive medical procedures when financially advantageous? Maybe 3 or 4 months ago . . .

I've heard that tape.

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fuman

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6731 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:49pm

"All tolerance ends at my door, just ask peddlers and mormons!!!"

I actually talk to the Mormon folks that come around. We have a huge temple near my home.
They are very nice and extremely polite, so I discuss their point of view (and mine) with them.

It is always very civil. Occasionally we talk for upwards of an hour, if I'm not busy.

They're pretty unpopular in this part of the state these days, with their active opposition of gay rights.

My family thinks I'm nuts for giving them the time.

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lotsajizz Rocks Off Regular Offline Rocks Off Rules You Bastards Posts: 1,818 Rhode Island Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6732 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 5:54pm yes pdog...i jus' wanna see his face....
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Pdog

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6733 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:12pm

Austin, TX... Oak Hill Gazette, as local a newspaper as you can get for me... FYI, I live in a very conservative area. Most my neighbors are Republicans.

Local protest gains national notoriety

Editor's note: This event became national news. A Gazette reporter was there to witness an unruly hollering mob of people disrupt the meeting and personally insult Congressman Doggett. Conservative cable news and talk radio stations around the country hailed the event as a spontaneous outbreak of opposition to proposed healthcare reform. But it was later discovered that the Travis County Republican Party Chair had led an organizing effort to disrupt the event, and national news services reported that a group called FreedomWorks Foundation had distributed talking points guiding organized disruptions of similar events in other parts of the country. The group is led by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, a Texan from Flower Mound.

OAK HILL - Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D–TX) has held routine "Neighborhood Office Hours" over the past 15 years – but he said Saturday's office hours were a far cry from last year's casual meet and greet held at the same location.

Held at the Brodie and Slaughter Lane Randall's, Doggett's event was cut short because of the increasingly boisterous crowd that ultimately chased the congressman down the parking lot and mobbed his assistant's pick-up car. As Doggett drove away nearly 35 minutes before the event was slated to end, the crowd cheered and burst into applause.

"It was different from anything I've had in 15 years of doing these," Doggett said. "I don't think that enough people in South Austin or any other part of the county understand how fanatic some of these people are." Doggett represents District 25, which includes most of Southwest Austin.

And by "different" he probably meant the crowd's chants of "just say no," or a poster which literally demonized him by adding devil horns to his photo. Or another poster that featured a marble tombstone with Doggett's name on it.

Doggett attributed this anomaly to Libertarian and Republican party efforts, which he said pulled people in to attend his office hours to create the appearance that Southwest Austin didn't support healthcare reform. About half of the screaming people weren't even from the area, he said, and some hailed from as far away as Williamson County and even Hallettsville.

"They didn't exactly come to have an honest dialogue," Doggett said. "They came basically to demonize instead of to discuss. And so that's unfortunate but, you know, it's their right to protest."

Before Saturday's event, Travis County Republican Party Chair Rosemary Edwards called for organized opposition to Doggett's event from what she later called her "Warriors for Liberty." Her blog, tcrp-redrose.blogspot.com, contains a post from Friday encouraging readers and "all Patriot friends to SHOW UP, STAND UP and SPEAK UP!" and to "BE LOUD!"

She continued: "Make your signs so that they are easily read from afar and USE YOUR CREATIVITY! Come have FUN with us expressing our Constitutionally protected right of public expression of our views." Edwards could not be reached for comment.

The official Twitter account for the Republican Party of Texas, @RepPartyofTexas, has denied any involvement in organizing the protest.

"Rep. Doggett says we organized his Austin greeting," they tweeted. "We didn't. If he can't get this right, why should we trust him with our health care?" The statement did not mention the organizing efforts of the party's county chair.

The Travis County Libertarian Party also disputed their involvement in a press release and called for a public apology from Doggett "for his outrageous remark."

"The TCLP had nothing to do with this event," TCLP Chair Rock Howard said. "Our organization did not encourage our members to attend the event, much less to silence others. To the best of my knowledge, our state and national parties were not involved either." But blogs connected to the Libertarian Party and Congressman Ron Paul did call for an organized protest before the event took place.

William Edwards, a self-identified Republican protester at Saturday's office hours, said this was his first ever demonstration. Edwards said he chose to come mainly because it was close to his house. He has health insurance through his job and he's "happy with that."

He added: "I don't want anybody to change it. It's a very good system. And they talk about the poor people not having insurance – that's baloney." Over the din of the crowd's cries, he went on to tell about an unemployed friend of his in San Antonio who went years without healthcare. Edwards contends his friend's hospital had some of the newest equipment available. He didn't explain how his friend was able to afford access to the hospital's services.

"So don't give me this stuff about poor people not having insurance; that's another lie [the Democrats] like to tell so they can get in power," he added. "I'm a personal witness to that."

Congressman Doggett stressed that opponents of healthcare reform are also the opponents of Social Security and Medicare, which he said have worked "very successfully."

He added: "Near the beginning of the session…because they were holding up all these Tenth Amendment signs, I was saying, ‘Well, if that's your attitude about health care, then I suppose you don't really support Social Security and Medicare,'" Doggett said. "And they said, ‘Yes, we don't. We don't think they're good.'"

At which point, Doggett said, it becomes more than just a healthcare issue.

"I just think this fanatical insistence on repealing Social Security and Medicare is not just about halting the healthcare bill that's up there, but it's about rolling back about 75 years of progress."

The congressman said he changed his usual office hours format in response to the crowd because "there was so much noise, we weren't getting anywhere." He tried to move near the entrance of Randall's to speak with someone when the crowd - "or mob as you might call it" - followed him, blocked the store entrance and chanted "just say no" at the top of their lungs.

"It was apparent that I could not conduct the normal office hours, so I walked out to the parking lot to depart and some of the same crowd decided to try to block my departure," Doggett said. It took many attempts and meetings in his staff assistant Leann's black Honda before the congressman could actually leave in the getaway car.

"You know, I had a woman there saying, ‘If she touches me with that car, it'll be aggravated assault,'" Doggett said. "It was that sort of silliness."

Some of that mob went on to follow Doggett to Bastrop, where he had two other scheduled appearances Saturday. He said those people tried to interrupt his first meeting that was unrelated to healthcare. And at Doggett's second meeting, Bastrop Police had to escort a couple of people out "because they just insisted on yelling and disrupting that meeting."

Doggett said he doesn't anticipate rescheduling Saturday's office hours. He did say, however, that he would explore other ways to reach out to people.

"I really want to know what folks in the Oak Hill area are thinking about this," Doggett said. "I know they've received a lot of misinformation through some of these cable TV and hate radio shows."

Saturday's ordeal may go down as somewhat unsuccessful in Doggett's book, but he said the experience was a learning opportunity.

"It's unsuccessful not so much for me but for people who had a concern, an issue they wanted to raise with me and were denied that opportunity," he said. "I suppose from my standpoint, it was a very constructive session in that there are some people who are so convinced, so ideologically convinced, that they will stop at almost nothing to try to prevent it."

As a result, the congressman said he's more committed than ever to win the approval of a bill that offers more individual choices to access healthcare.

"Much of what this bill is about is not just about folks who don't have insurance, but folks who do and find that it covers less and costs more every year," Doggett said. "I know there are a lot of folks out there…that maybe work for a small business that can't provide coverage, or work for a large business that does and want to go start their own business, or want to switch to a different, more meaningful job - and they can't do it because they're afraid they'll get caught up, say, in pre-existing conditions. They won't have any insurance. And that's what we're trying to do something about."

The bill Doggett helped write, HR-3200, is not about a government takeover, he said. He intends to focus more on the insurance corporations.

"It's trying to prevent the takeover that has occurred from giant insurance companies; to ensure more competition among them and to give individuals who don't have health insurance a way to get it – and for all people to have more choice in insurance companies," he said. "So the insurance giants have good reason to oppose this bill because they're gonna have to change their way of doing business."

Doggett said the Medicare-type component of the bill will be used by about four percent of the under-65 population, and that 96 percent will use a more accessible private health insurance.

"But there's not a small business or an uninsured individual - or really an insured individual - in the Oak Hill area who will not gain from this bill." - Oak Hill Gazette

Reader Opinions
George B.
AUG 06 • I am more concerned about these protesters who become violent and agitated over "the stupid" things. These are the same types who were unconditionally for Sarah Palin as VP candidate.

I am a lifelong Republican. I like Congressman Doggett and agree with him 90% of the time re: his actions and decisions.

I don't like the health care plan as is. But I don't like these protesters even more.

These people still protest the absurd, like whether Obama is a legal U.S. citizen. Get over it! He is!!!

If Obama were not, wouldn't the GOP confront that issue publicly? They voted on it and ALL of the GOP lawmakers voted that Obama is indeed a U.S. citizen based on his birth certificate and other information.

These protested are just idiots who highlight the "Dumbing-Down of America" that author Peter Stern and several others have written about.
Gracie
AUG 05 • Let's see. First they told us that if we only knew what that proposed health bill said, we'd all be against it. Then they come to places like Austin where our elected representative tries to discuss this proposed bill, and they refuse to let anyone hear about the bill. Hmm.
Lloyd Doggett is an intelligent, honest, wonderful representative. Never in Austin would he be greeted by this rudeness and such meanness. This was the work of organized people who do not want others to hear something they don't like.
Where's the freedom these people claim to support? Why can't people discuss with their elected reps proposed bills?
What are they so afraid of?
Mary
AUG 05 • My parents were lifelong conservative Republicans, and they would have been appalled at the behavior of the Republicans at the Doggett event. They could not have fathomed such a thing. My good West Texas mother would have summed it up - "They have no class."
Kathleen
AUG 05 • I want to thank Rep. Doggett for standing firm and vowing to redouble his efforts to bring our country the health care reform we so desperately need. I was at the event on Saturday and can only describe the behavior of the protesters as crazed. Clearly none of them had any idea what is actually in the proposals being considered in Washington. I know the Republicans organized the protest, but I can't imagine what kind of psychosis accounts for people agreeing to so graphically demonstrate their own ignorance and mental instability.
Bill Patton
AUG 05 • Your healthcare decisions already ARE being made by government bureaucrats, have been for years – Medicare and Veteran's Administration healthcare. By all accounts they are doing a much better job of it than the insurance company bureaucrats I deal with who charge me for covering something, then come back and tell me they'll only cover a certain percentage of the cost! Please Mr. President, give me freedom from the tyranny of gouging, rip-off insurance companies!
Scott W.
AUG 05 • We The People don't want our healthcare decisions made by beaurocrats in Washington, regardless who is running the government. It's not about Right vs. Left, it's about tyranny vs. freedom. WE CHOOSE FREEDOM! We will not be ignored any longer!
DJ Melton
AUG 05 • It sounds as though the protestors weren't there to facilitate a conversation and to get their points across. Rather, they were there to prevent civilized discourse. Bullies typically do want to drown out other people's voices. This would have been abuse if it were one person trying to prevent someone from speaking to others or from moving freely, and it's even more abusive when it's an ugly mob performing those actions. The organizers of this protest should be thoroughly ashamed of the results of their actions. Their actions are more consistent with fascism than with democracy.
Brad
AUG 05 • Great coverage as opposed to the Statesman. I was there and you nailed it!
Zachary Thacks
AUG 04 • Doggett digs Kool-aid
Norman
AUG 04 • 1. We really miss the Dick/Bush years when the world loved the US because of its intelligent leaders/policies: we had Tom Delay as an honost legislative leader, A. Gonzales was an honest public defendant, god and terror were national policies, there were dictators like Syrian Assad and liberators like Musharaf; we had to go up and down with red/orange alerts, Brownie was doing a good job, the GOP was pro-environment, promoted profits through hard work rather than monopoly of power, we had wars of freedom in Iraq and wanted to invade others, attention was paid to 70% of the voters and the intelligent people (not the mentally ill) were on talk shows, and hard working banks were paid nearly one trillion $ to stimulate the economy through bonuses to the CEOs and god knows what other goodies...
2. Now Dems. want bail outs for the common folks through creating jobs by innovative energy mechanisms, improving the economy and environment via cash for clunkers, mortgage subsidies to those who were given honost morgtage terms, improve the US image around the world through rational, logical policies, and have people on the spotlight who can talk coherent sentences. What a shame that they even want health care for those who are squeezed from all sides and have to make choices between food or utilities/rent.
GOP! Be an adult. Shut up until next election. If Dems. screw up, they will be dust like you! You can not fool all the people all the time!

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fuman Ex Member Rocks Off Rules You Bastards Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6734 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:14pm Palin: Obama's "Death Panel" Could Kill My Down Syndrome Baby http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/palin-obamas-death-panel-could-kill-m... This woman thinks she can be a leader? She is f-ing nuts !! This Harper Lee dog whistle scheme will not work out well.
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Riffhard

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6735 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:51pm

You know things are desperate when Krugman is trying to claim racism. That article is crap. Pure crap in fact. Do liberals always have to resort to the race card when things don't go their way? I guess Krugman's crap article confirms that notion. Notice how Krugman dismissively refers to these everyday Americans as a "mob". This is the talking point of the week right out of Obama's own playbook. Gotta marginalize the opponents after all. I have witnessed with my own eyes people that were fully supportive of Obama in November turn on him big time now. They have turned on him because they can see clearly, for the first time, that the only color that counts with Obama is red. The man is a hard left socialist/Marxist. I know it, and so does Krugman. If all of the sudden this is about race, then perhaps Krugman can explain why Barry's poll numbers on policy decisions are tanking? People have spoken out on this government run nationalized health care plan, and they in overwhelming numbers hate it! It must be rather inconvenient that the poll numbers are reflecting exactly what we are seeing in town meeting after town hall meeting. Krugman seems frustrated. So too do are big government elitist liberals who are starting to see the mask slip from the face of their anointed illustrious leader. Some of these libs don't like the face of the true Obama, and they are starting to pull back. It took them long enough, but hey, at least now they are starting to get it.

Riffy

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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&"When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson&&&&"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." — Thomas Jefferson&&&&&&&&We're not old men.We don't bother about petty morals--Keef&&&&Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth. &&-- George Burns&&&&&&I ain't no leftist!-Bob Dylan&&&&"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6736 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:52pm

Quote:

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

She sould really consider quitting her job as being a mother!

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Pdog Rocks Off Regular Offline Posts: 6,130 aTx Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6737 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:58pm http://www.oakhillgazette.com/ Didn't provide the link to the right wing liberal news article!!! These guys are so left wing, we should report them as Fishy!!!
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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6738 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:40pm

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:52pm:

Quote:

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

She sould really consider quitting her job as being a mother!

She is going on record that she believes doctor's would follow Obama's orders and put people to death?
He's doing this to weed out the weak?

Isn't it the Dems that want to provide free stuff for the laziest in our society?

Isn't it the Repubs that believe in the "I got mine, you get yours" mentality?
(nobody here believes that, I'm sure)

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« Last Edit: Aug 8^th, 2009 at 7:55am by fuman »

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6739 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:41pm

I talked to a work mate's wife today about the whole health care debate. I figured that I would get her perspective because she is from England and has lived in the US for about ten years now. What she told me came as no surprise at all. She hates the UK plan. Hates it with a white hot passion in fact. You should know that Vicky is also a true blue liberal in every sense of the word, but that didn't keep her from railing against what Obama, and the Dems are trying to ram down the throats of an unwilling citizenry. Vicky is from Jersey, and island of the cost of mainland England. Coincidentally she now lives here in New Jersey. Well Vicky has been trying to talk her elderly parents into moving to the States specifically because of the piss poor NICE programs in England.

The horror stories she regaled me with were stunning. Like the time she had to go to clinic for a checkup with her mother concerning her mother's heart condition. She had to make the appointment months in advance. She told me that patients are treated like cattle in many of these state run clinics. They waited for hopurs to see a doctor, and left with no real comfort or advice. Just another date to set yet another appointment. The stories sounded like something straight out of the third world by the USA's standards. I was shocked, but not overly surprised. Anyone with any sense of history knows that when the government takes over an industry that industry declines pretty quickly. Vicky said, and I quote, "If the people of this country are dumb enough to allow this program to take over they will live to regret until literally their dying days!"

Now you can believe Vicky, or not. I could care less, and you can believe my story here or not. It does not matter to me. It's all true, but I could care less if you believed it. However, I think you'd be hard pressed not believe this story from the UK's Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5955840/Patients-forced-to-live-in-...

The UK is less than a quarter the size of the USA and they are pouring so much money into NICE that tax rates are astronomical in the UK, and some people are gullible enough to want this same kind of boondoggle here is the States. You're kidding right? Most states within the USA are already pouring a full 20% of their tax revenues into various Medicare and Medicaid programs, and now we are going to increase the size of government paid health insurance by well over twenty fold?!?! Does that sound financially feasible to you? Where the hell is this money going to come from?

I'll tell where it will come from. Look into your kid's eyes and apologize now, because we have fucked that child's future if this horseshit bill passes. We have screwed generations of future Americans who look to us to preserve the country that we inherited.

Riffy

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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&"When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson&&&&"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." — Thomas Jefferson&&&&&&&&We're not old men.We don't bother about petty morals--Keef&&&&Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth. &&-- George Burns&&&&&&I ain't no leftist!-Bob Dylan&&&&"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce

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Pdog Rocks Off Regular Offline Posts: 6,130 aTx Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6740 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:50pm http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?ref=search you'll love this Riffy... they delete any negative comments... You can have your freedom of speech and I have my freedom to listen... Beware the fishy!!!
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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6741 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:53pm

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:40pm:

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:52pm:

Quote:

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

She sould really consider quitting her job as being a mother!

She is going on record that she believes doctor's would follow Obama's orders and put people to death?
He's doing this to weed out the weak?

Isn't it the Dems that want to provide free stuff for the laziest in our society?

Isn't it the Repubs that believe in the "I got mine, you get your" mentality?
(nobody here believes that, I'm sure)

Your thickness knows no bounds does it?

You are aware of the fact that conservatives typically donate to charity on an average of two and half times what liberals give! You know that right?!?!

Do I need to provide the evidence or are you bright enough to google it for yourself!

Get off the goddamned liberal talking points son! Do a little research on your own!

It was your own great leader that just lowered tax exemptions for charitable giving!!! What the hell kind of effect to you think that is going to have on giving?! Why the hell would Barry make it harder for charity organizations to get the help they need?!?! Because Barry wants the government to be everyone's daddy you ignorant dolt!

"I got my mine, you get yours" my ass! More like I got mine, and got yours too from Obama!

Riffy

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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&"When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson&&&&"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." — Thomas Jefferson&&&&&&&&We're not old men.We don't bother about petty morals--Keef&&&&Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth. &&-- George Burns&&&&&&I ain't no leftist!-Bob Dylan&&&&"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6742 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:01pm

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:59pm:

The term is "I couldn't care less".

Has JC taught you anything?

Way to address those facts funman! You haven't let me down yet!

Here, just for you-->

Riffy

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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&"When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson&&&&"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." — Thomas Jefferson&&&&&&&&We're not old men.We don't bother about petty morals--Keef&&&&Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth. &&-- George Burns&&&&&&I ain't no leftist!-Bob Dylan&&&&"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6743 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:03pm

Riffhard wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:53pm:

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:40pm:

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:52pm:

Quote:

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

She sould really consider quitting her job as being a mother!

She is going on record that she believes doctor's would follow Obama's orders and put people to death?
He's doing this to weed out the weak?

Isn't it the Dems that want to provide free stuff for the laziest in our society?

Isn't it the Repubs that believe in the "I got mine, you get your" mentality?
(nobody here believes that, I'm sure)

Your thickness knows no bounds does it?

You are aware of the fact that conservatives typically donate to charity on an average of two and half times what liberals give! You know that right?!?!

Do I need to provide the evidence or are you bright enough to google it for yourself!

Get off the goddamned liberal talking points son! Do a little research on your own!

It was your own great leader that just lowered tax exemptions for charitable giving!!! What the hell kind of effect to you think that is going to have on giving?! Why the hell would Barry make it harder for charity organizations to get the help they need?!?! Because Barry wants the government to be everyone's daddy you ignorant dolt!

"I got my mine, you get yours" my ass! More like I got mine, and got yours too from Obama!

Riffy

how about donating just b/c it is the right thing to do, if you need to blow your horn about it, you're doing it for the right reasons... Do you have IRS tax records proving this statemnt... I want the links please... proof please... I want to personally thank people for their tax deductions!!! Did you know that I donted money and didn't write it off, I'm a idiot and a moron!!!
What charieites too, I'm sure you have all that info too?

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« Last Edit: Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:05pm by Pdog »

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6744 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:09pm

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:03pm:

Riffhard wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:53pm:

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:40pm:

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:52pm:

Quote:

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

She sould really consider quitting her job as being a mother!

She is going on record that she believes doctor's would follow Obama's orders and put people to death?
He's doing this to weed out the weak?

Isn't it the Dems that want to provide free stuff for the laziest in our society?

Isn't it the Repubs that believe in the "I got mine, you get your" mentality?
(nobody here believes that, I'm sure)

Your thickness knows no bounds does it?

You are aware of the fact that conservatives typically donate to charity on an average of two and half times what liberals give! You know that right?!?!

Do I need to provide the evidence or are you bright enough to google it for yourself!

Get off the goddamned liberal talking points son! Do a little research on your own!

It was your own great leader that just lowered tax exemptions for charitable giving!!! What the hell kind of effect to you think that is going to have on giving?! Why the hell would Barry make it harder for charity organizations to get the help they need?!?! Because Barry wants the government to be everyone's daddy you ignorant dolt!

"I got my mine, you get yours" my ass! More like I got mine, and got yours too from Obama!

Riffy

how about donating just b/c it is the right thing to do, if you need to blow your horn about it, you're doing it for the right reasons... Do you have IRS tax records proving this statemnt... I want the links please... proof please... I want to personally thank people for their tax deductions!!! Did you know that I donted money and didn't write it off, I'm a idiot and a moron!!!

I agree with you Pdog. People who can donate should donate. That's not my point. My point was pretty obvious. Funman once again lets loose with this idiotic canard that Republicans/Conservatives have an "I got mine, you get yours" attitude. Well the FACTS prove him wrong. You can joke about tax deductions all you want, but many charities rely on tax deductible charity just to survive. Unfortunately for them Obama has decided that helping charities out is not worth the tax breaks involved. So what happens? Less charitable contributions. Ain't Barry great?!

Just the facts my man.

Riffy

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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&"When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson&&&&"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." — Thomas Jefferson&&&&&&&&We're not old men.We don't bother about petty morals--Keef&&&&Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth. &&-- George Burns&&&&&&I ain't no leftist!-Bob Dylan&&&&"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce

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fuman Ex Member Rocks Off Rules You Bastards Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6745 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:11pm I do the same Pdog. Never have taken a write off for donations. Money worship isn't my strong suit . . .
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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6746 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:23pm

Riffhard wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:09pm:

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:03pm:

Riffhard wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:53pm:

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 7:40pm:

Pdog wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 6:52pm:

Quote:

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

She sould really consider quitting her job as being a mother!

She is going on record that she believes doctor's would follow Obama's orders and put people to death?
He's doing this to weed out the weak?

Isn't it the Dems that want to provide free stuff for the laziest in our society?

Isn't it the Repubs that believe in the "I got mine, you get your" mentality?
(nobody here believes that, I'm sure)

Your thickness knows no bounds does it?

You are aware of the fact that conservatives typically donate to charity on an average of two and half times what liberals give! You know that right?!?!

Do I need to provide the evidence or are you bright enough to google it for yourself!

Get off the goddamned liberal talking points son! Do a little research on your own!

It was your own great leader that just lowered tax exemptions for charitable giving!!! What the hell kind of effect to you think that is going to have on giving?! Why the hell would Barry make it harder for charity organizations to get the help they need?!?! Because Barry wants the government to be everyone's daddy you ignorant dolt!

"I got my mine, you get yours" my ass! More like I got mine, and got yours too from Obama!

Riffy

how about donating just b/c it is the right thing to do, if you need to blow your horn about it, you're doing it for the right reasons... Do you have IRS tax records proving this statemnt... I want the links please... proof please... I want to personally thank people for their tax deductions!!! Did you know that I donted money and didn't write it off, I'm a idiot and a moron!!!

I agree with you Pdog. People who can donate should donate. That's not my point. My point was pretty obvious. Funman once again lets loose with this idiotic canard that Republicans/Conservatives have an "I got mine, you get yours" attitude. Well the FACTS prove him wrong. You can joke about tax deductions all you want, but many charities rely on tax deductible charity just to survive. Unfortunately for them Obama has decided that helping charities out is not worth the tax breaks involved. So what happens? Less charitable contributions. Ain't Barry great?!

Just the facts my man.

Riffy

I can write off the few bucks I put in the basket at an AA meeting. I got to a few a week and put in a buck or two every meeting... It's a tax deductible write off... It's a bit fuzzy what people can and can't write off... Alot of folks can donate to things that aren't charities and are not for profits or churches ect... doesn't mean the money goes to a charity. AA isn't a charity, the money pays for rent and coffee... that's just a few examples. I do agree, most people I know who lean left, do not seem to give back in financial terms, most I know go into social work or as you said, amy do nothing... Alot of conservatives I know, have huge hearts... niether is mutually exclusive... to a certain extent, what you're saying, i agree, too many dems are do as i say, not as i do... that is not the norm. that's like saying all republicans cheat on their wives, which recently has seemed thew norm... I've always said, the best thing a person can do, is donate time and close to home. I'll toot my own horn, If I see trash I pick it up... I've tried profiling, but the only way to do it is through bumper stickers (sorry) and I found Dems and Republicans equally drive like assholes, using cell phones, no turn signals ect... Speaking of bumper stickers... I saw one yesterday on a car, with an Obama 08 sticker, and it read " my boss is a jewish governor"... wtf? does that mean... I assume this was a spin on the jesus thing, but it didn't make sense... jokes and sarcasm shouldn't be this confusing... do you know?

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6747 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:28pm

fuman wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:11pm:

I do the same Pdog. Never have taken a write off for donations.

Money worship isn't my strong suit . . .

I didn't used too, but we do now. We are gaining on the $250k mark... if I want to be rich, I better act rich. In two weeks Texas has a tex free weekend... Now think about it, how many poor folks will save money, and how much money can people really save who have money? If I had 50k to spend... fuck, I'd save 8% w/o paying state sales tax... we're talking thousands in savings... Anyway... Texans hate paying taxes... I hate paying anyone for work I can do myself... Texas is DIY, and DIY is punk as fuck!!!

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Re: Obama elected President
Reply #6748 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:39pm

Anyone ever read Palin's farewell speech. I think this will go down in history as a great one... Up there with other great quiiters like Fleabit... This is one for the archives for sure... Reading it is better than watching it, the words really jump out.
This is taken directly from Palin's Facebook.

Blabber t' yer mates
Day o' the Moon, Jul-aye! 27, 2009 roundabouts 6:16 in the mornin'
It is my honor to speak to all Alaskans – our Alaskan family – this final time as your governor, and it is always great to be in Fairbanks!

These rugged and hearty folk – some of the most patriotic people you’ll ever meet – live here. If there is one thing you are known for it your steadfast support for our military community up here. Thank you for that and a thank you to the U.S. military for protecting the greatest nation on earth. Together we stand!

Getting here can be described as the best road trip in America! Soaring through nature’s finest show you will see Denali – the Great One – soaring under the midnight sun. Alaska has so many extremes. In the wintertime the frozen road competes with the view of the ice-fogged frigid beauty. The cold, though, doesn’t it split the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs? And in the summertime – when temperatures are 150 degrees hotter than they were just a few months ago and than they will be just a few months from now – you will see the fireweed along the frost heaves. Merciless rivers rush and carve and remind us that Mother Nature wins. The big, wild and good life teeming along that road leads north to the future. That is what we see here. What we, and the rest of America, see in the Last Frontier is hope, opportunity and country pride, and it is our men and women in uniform that secure it.

We face challenging times with some hell-bent on tearing down our nation by perpetuating pessimism and apologizing for America. They suggest that our best days were yesterdays. But how can this pessimism exist? Proof of our greatness and pride is all around us today. We produce proud and great volunteers who sacrifice everything for their country. This week alone, at the chapel at Fort Rich, I heard the last roll call and the sounding of Taps for three very brave, very young Alaskan soldiers who gave their all for all of us.

Together we stand with gratitude for the troops who protect all our cherished freedoms. This includes our First Amendment guaranteed freedom of speech – which, par for the course – I shall exercise. First, with some “straight talk,” I will address some, just some, in the media because another right that is protected is the freedom of the press. You have such important jobs reporting facts and informing the electorate and exerting power to influence. You represent what could and should be a respected and honest profession that could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy. Democracy depends on you. That is why our troops are willing to die for you. So, how about in honor of the American soldier you quit making things up. And don’t underestimate the wisdom of the American people.

And, another thing, media: Our new governor has a very nice family, so leave his kids alone!

As we swear in Sean Parnell, no one will be happier than I to witness, by God’s grace Alaskans with strength of character advancing our beloved state. Sean is that. Craig Campbell has that.

I remember that December day when we took the oath to uphold our state constitution. And it was written right here in Fairbanks by very wise pioneers. We shared the same vision for government that they ground into that document. At the time, the founders wrote:

“All political power is inherent in the people. All government originates with the people. It is founded upon their will only, and it is instituted for the good of the people as a whole.”

Their remarkably succinct words guided us in all of our efforts in serving you and putting you first. We have done our best to fulfill promises that I made on Alaska Day 2005 when I first asked for the honor of serving you.

Remember then, our state so desired and so deserved ethics reform. We promised it, and now it is the law. Ironically, it needs additional reform to stop blatant abuse from partisan operatives. And I hope lawmakers will continue that reform.

We promised you that you would finally see a fair return on your Alaskan-owned natural resources. So, we built a new oil and gas appraisal system – an equitable formula to usher in a new era of competition, transparency, and protection for Alaskans and the producers. ACES incentivizes new exploration, and it is the exploration that is our future. It opens up oil basins and ensures that the people will never be taken advantage of again.

Do not forget, Alaskans, that you are the resource owners, per our constitution. And that’s why, for instance, last year when the price of oil soared, our state coffers swelled, but you were smacked with high energy prices, so we sent you an energy rebate because it is your money, and I have always believed that you know how to spend it better than government can spend it for you.

I promised that we would protect the environment while safely and ethically developing resources. And we did. We created the petroleum oversight office and a sub-cabinet to study climate conditions.

I promised that we would govern with fiscal restraint so as not to immorally burden future generations. And we did. We slowed the rate of government growth. I vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars of excess, and with lawmakers we saved billions for the future.

I promised that we would lead a charge to forward fund education and hold schools accountable, while improving opportunities for special needs students and elevating vo-tech training. And we did. We also paid down pension related debt.

I promised that we would manage our fish and wildlife for abundance and defend the constitution in doing so. And we have. However, outside political interests just don’t seem to get it. Alaskans need to stick together on this with new leadership. Encourage the new leadership. Stiffen your spine to do what is right for Alaska when the pressure mounts because you will see anti-hunting, anti-Second Amendment “circuses” from Hollywood. And here is how they will do it: tiny, delicate and talented celebrity starlets will use Alaska as a fund raising tool for their anti-Second Amendment causes. Stand strong and remind them that patriots will protect our individual guaranteed right to bear arms. And by the way, in Alaska, we eat, therefore, we hunt.

I promised that we would seek energy solutions. And we have – with an energy plan calling for 50% of our electricity generated by renewable resources and by insisting that those who hold the leases to develop our conventional resources do so on Alaska’s terms. And now, finally, after decades of inaction and just talk, we are drilling for oil and gas at Pt. Thomson.

I also promised that we would get a natural gas pipeline underway. And we did. Since I was a little kid growing up here, we would talk about, hope for, and dream of commercializing our clean, abundant, and much needed natural gas. Our Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) was the game changer. This is, of course, thanks to our outstanding gasline team and the state legislature, who adopted this law by a 58-1 margin. They knew – they know – that AGIA is the vehicle to drive this monumental energy project and to bring everyone to the table. This bipartisan victory came from Alaskans working together with free market, private sector principles. And now we are on the road to the largest private energy infrastructure project in history. It is for Alaska’s future. It is for America’s energy independence. And it will make us a more peaceful, prosperous and secure nation.

What I promised, we accomplished. “We” meaning state staff and conscientious Alaskans outside of the bureaucracy, such as: Tom Van Flein, Meg Stapleton, Kristan Cole, and many volunteers who stepped up to the challenge as good Alaskans. Nothing could have succeeded without my “right hand man” Kris Perry. She is the sharpest, boldest and hardest-working partner, and much success is due to Kris.

To Alaska, there is much good in store further down the road, but to reach it we must value and live the optimistic and pioneering spirit that made this state proud and free!

We can resist enslavement to big central government that crushes hope and opportunity. We must be wary of government largesse. It doesn’t come free and often accepting it takes away everything that is free. Melting into Washington’s powerful and caretaking arms will only lead to suck away the incentive to work hard and chart our own course. This will only contribute to an unstable economy and dizzying national debt, and it will make us less free.

I resisted the stimulus package, and we championed earmark reform, by slashing earmark requests by 85%, in order to break the cycle of dependency on a stifling and unsustainable federal agenda. Other states should follow this example for their, and America's, stability.

We don’t have to feel that we must beg an allowance from Washington – except to beg the allowance to be self-determined.

See, in order to be self-sufficient Alaska must be allowed to develop, to drill and build and climb to fulfill our statehood’s promise! At statehood we knew that we were responsible for ourselves, our families and our future, and 50 years later we can not start believing that government is the answer. It can’t make you happy or healthy or wealthy or wise. What can? It is the wisdom of the people and our families and our small businesses and industrious individuals. And it is God’s grace helping those who help themselves. And then this allows that very generous voluntary hand up that we are known to enthusiastically provide those who need it.

Do you remember that years ago we sported the old bumper sticker that read, “Alaska: We Don’t Give a Darn How They Do It Outside.” I remember that. It was because we would be different, and we would roll up our sleeves and diligently sow and reap. We can still do this. We can carve wealth out of the wilderness and make our living on the water – with strong hands and innovative minds, now with smarter technology. It is what our First People and our parents did, and it worked because they worked!

We must be prudent and persistent and press for the people’s right to responsibly develop God-given resources for the maximum benefit of the people.

We have come so far in just 50 years. We are no longer a frontier outpost on the periphery of the world’s greatest nation. Now, as a contributor and a securer of America, we can attain our destiny in the promise of our motto: North to the Future!

The pressing issue of our time is energy independence, because there is an inherent link between energy and security, and energy and prosperity. Alaska will lead with energy. We will prove that you can be both pro-development and pro-environment. After all, no one loves their land, clean air, water and wildlife more than an Alaskan! We will protect it!

Americans must look north to the future. For security, for energy independence, for our strategic position on the globe – Alaska is the gatekeeper of the continent.

We are here today at a “changing of the guard.” Now, knowing how much I love this state – some still choose not to hear why I made the decision to chart a new course to advance the state. It should be obvious. It is because I love Alaska this much that I feel it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical “politics-as-usual” lame duck session in one’s last year in office. How does that benefit you? With this decision I will be able to fight even harder for you – for what is right and for the truth. And I have never felt that you need a title to do that. So, as we all move forward together, let us vow to keep championing Alaska and to advocate for responsible development and smaller government and freedom.

When I took the oath to serve you, I promised to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interests of this great state – like that grizzly guards her cubs, as a mother naturally guards her own. I will keep that vow wherever the road may lead.

Todd and I, Track, Bristol, Tripp, Willow, Piper and Trig – we will forever be grateful for the honor of a lifetime to have served you. Our whole big, diverse, full and fun family thanks you!

I am very blessed to have had their support all along, and for Todd’s support.

I am thankful too that I have been blessed to have been raised in this Last Frontier. Thank you for our home, Mom and Dad.

In Alaska it is not an easy living, but it is a good living. It is impossible to lose your way here because wherever the road may lead us, we have that steadying Great North Star to guide us home. So let us all enjoy the ride!

God bless you and God bless Alaska!

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Pdog Rocks Off Regular Offline Posts: 6,130 aTx Gender:	Re: Obama elected President Reply #6749 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 8:57pm dyk? unemployemnt went up 1% since Obama took office and 3% the last year of Bush?
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Poll
Question: What item is most likely found in the top drawer of Riffy's dresser?
naked pictures of Reagan 5 (20.0%) Barry O voodoo doll 3 (12.0%) Hoffa's body 2 (8.0%) DVDs of "saved by the bell", season 3 1 (4.0%) JC's boss's phone number 2 (8.0%) bucket of chicken 5 (20.0%) three sticks of "secret" deoderant, labels facing out 3 (12.0%) "Eagles Greatest Hits" CD 4 (16.0%) Total votes: 25 « Last Modified by: Starbuck on: Mar 3^rd, 2010 at 5:01pm »