Sunday, November 8, 2009

Health Care Reform Passes---women still lose

A Democrat, no less, decided to add very restrictive language into the bill to control any federal money used for abortions. I wonder if there are any restrictions on the feds paying for Viagra? Yeah, didn't think so.........

On the up side, there is now going to be available to people making less than $16,245 for an individual and $33,075 for a family of four access to medicaid. Which is something decent. I was expecting the cap to be much, much lower.

Paulie the Parrot Ryan just lost his doughnut hole, another big plus for seniors.

Small businesses win big with $25 billion in tax subsidies in help to offset the cost of offering their employees health benefits. So, all you small business yahoos can please shut the hell up now. Or thank the democrats.

Republicans are still out there telling seniors they're going to loss benefits from Medicare. These morons need to start using olive oil on their faces instead of make-up so all the egg won't stick.

Most remarkable to me is that the tea baggers must be very confused people since it was the republicans who fought hard against giving states the right to institute single payer plans themselves. How do you reconcile saying you hate the feds are sticking their noses into state's business and then go support the exact thing? Cognitive dissonance must be in pandemic proportions in the righties minds. Oh, never mind, nothing new there, I guess.

I'm trying to stay positive. But, it's hard to do when you lose a hardy public option because of the party of gNOp is peeing their pants and having hissy fits at the idea of our country making any progress while a democrat is president....

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Insurance Industry Idiots

I know this is long, but try to read to the end for the full picture.

My mother passed away in June of 2008. I informed the government ( they did not request a death certificate and actually were the ones who told me not to worry about sending them anything), General Motors (also did not request any documentation), the utilities (said I could fax them), phone company (said I could fax them), Time Warner (who said they would only accept a certified death certificate presented by me in person at one of their offices--I told them to accept the one I just faxed or none at all) and the insurance company. She had no life insurance and the only insurance outside of health care (GM and SS) was with American fucktardsFamily Insurance on her house and car. I sent them a certified copy of her death certificate along with a letter explaining the ownership of the property (property transfer occurred several years prior to her death).

At that time, around the end of July, they said the home owners policy wasn't due until November and that the car insurance wasn't due until later. In October of 2008 I sent them a check for the full amount of the one year premium of the home owners policy my mother had taken out. I figured it was all about the same in terms of cost of replacement, etc etc. Didn't feel like shopping around. Was still pretty depressed and all that.

This September I received a letter from American fucktardsFamily Insurance addressed to my mother. They were canceling her home owners policy. Let me tell you what was in the letter, my comments are in red per usual and emphasis is mine:

As do all insurance companies, we have standards *oh, they have standards alright--insurance fricken standards are all over the news all the time* which help us determine whether we can provide insurance in individual cases. To our regret, we have concluded that we must ask you to secure insurance coverage from another source. Coverage will continue until 12:01 a.m., standard time, at the address shown in the policy on 11/15/2009 at which time the date all coverage shall cease.

We feel you are entitled to know the reason for our decision to terminate this insurance. *Really? How nice of them. I'm sure my mother is so pleased that they are willing to tell her why they have decided to drop her after only 16 months after her death. A mere 15 months after they got her death certificate!*

We are unable to continue coverage under this policy as the credit information we received indicates the named insured is deceased. *Credit information? Are they serious? A death certificate and a check from me and the informational letter weren't....what? read? acceptable? believable? But, they'll take it from the credit bureaus word?* We offer our condolences to your family. *Sensitive, eh? Because they didn't at the time I had all the exchanges with them via phone and snail mail once say they were sorry for our loss.* This does represent a substantial change in the risk, as the insured dwelling is no longer owner occupied. If this information is not accurate, please contact your agent to update your information. *Well, it is owner occupied, as it has always been owner occupied from the time it was purchased. As I explained to them over a year ago. With documentation!*

This action does not imply that you are uninsurable, nor does it prevent you from obtaining other insurance.*Huh? She may still be insurable? For what? A death insurance policy in case she comes back from the grave?* You may be eligible for coverage through American Family Brokerage, Inc. blah blah blah...........on and on. *So, I guess they have some lesser insurance lacky type companies they turn you over to, for a commission no doubt, for cases just like this one?*

But, oh, yes, there's a big but in this yet. But, I got the renewal reminder for her car insurance last month after I got the above letter. I tore it up. I have no idea how the car was insured or in who's name for the last year. And, at this point I don't even care. I didn't need it so I just don't care.

But, again...........there's more. Yes, it couldn't just end with us going to State Farm and getting different insurance last month. (I have to say I found it touching that the State Farm agent tried really hard to keep a straight face as we were showing him all this. Personally, I would have lost it and laughed out loud.) Nope, it didn't end there with American fucktards Family. Late last week I got yet more stuff addressed to mom. This time it was a customer service satisfaction survey from JD Power and Associates on behalf of American fucktards Family Insurance. They even specified that she needed to use her PIN. Only, she didn't have one. I would know since I took care of all her business the last couple of years..........yee gods, any question of why insurance companies are fucked up should be answered now.

I'm actually thinking about filling it out as if I were her responding from beyond the grave. Mom would love if I did that. Really, she would. Maybe I will. Maybe I'll add some cigarette ashes and say they're in lieu of a signature since she was cremated. Think that would get the point across for once and for all?

Conservatives emboldened by moves in New York election?

This article http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gop-battles3-2009nov03,0,4452064.story was posted on the Burlington Area Progressives www.burlingtonareaprogressives.com discussion group yesterday, with amazing analysis by GOPoperatives (especially in the hindsight light of today).

Well the self-marginalized wing(nuts) of the LimboPalinBeckster GOP got spanked yesterday in a district that hasn't gone dem for generations. That's what happens when you're the extreme fringe fraction of the 20% of the electorate that will even admit to being Republican.

Emboldened? Perhaps. Successful with the general (non-teabaggin) population? Nope!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Names of the Dead Website

Congressman Alan Grayson, who gained in notoriety for succinctly summarizing the GOPish plan for healthcare "don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly," has created a website http://www.namesofthedead.com/ to honor the 44,000 Americans who die every year, because they don't have health coverage according to a Harvard University study and of course to shame those who would stand in the way of preventing the equivalent of twelve 9/11s a year, every year, year after year.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Wisconsin Supreme Court Officially Corrupt

I just vomited a little in my throat when I read this:

A deeply divided state Supreme Court adopted a rule Wednesday that says endorsements, campaign contributions and independently run ads in themselves are not enough to force a judge off of a case.

That means two things. The outcome of cases are now strictly for sale to the highest bidder and tomorrow a whole lot of members of the infamous WMC are going to have hangovers from drinking too much red koolaide laden champagne.

Obviously, ethically challenged right wing whore Annette Ziegler, and Tommy Thompson lap dog David Prosser--or is that posser, and the other right wing rich bitch (she spent $303,000 of her own money on her own race--which shows if you have the price you can afford it) Patience Roggensack---a stalwart opponent of Justice showing mercy in any case, all voted for that change that basically allows racist prick Gableman on board the judicial train to hell now. And, hellbound it is, for now there is not merely a majority of conservatives, it's a majority of conservatives that have to pay back the WMC among other unsavory, shady operators.

Honestly, what is up with this recusel thing anyway? When I'm faced with a situation that may imply I am not fully disclosing everything pertinent I run like the wind.......well, okay, I can't actually run like the wind. But I waddle my ass away as fast as my short, stocky legs will move me. Why risk so much value of your character for the pit bull tactic of hanging onto a case in the face of such obvious questions of ethics?

Here's a new joke I just made up: How do you find a right wing Supreme Court Justice in Madison? Follow the money trail leaving any shady operator's vault.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Here We Go Again......



Now some big D democrats are kicking Florida Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson's ass around because he called a woman a K-Street whore and they say that's sexist. Well, pardon me, but I think that since we (meaning the majority of the public) have been using the phrase "Political Whore" to describe almost all men who's main ambition is to gain money and influence through shady tactics it's hardly time to identify the word whore with women in politics.
As a matter of fact I take a lot of umbrage with that accusation. You know whore is slang for prostitute and anyone of either gender can prostitute. Writers can prostitute their skills as far as the actual definition goes. Which, btw, is:
person who sells own abilities, talent, or name for inferior purpose

So, when did it become a *woman thing* again? Most of the whores I've known in my life have been men. Both in business and sex. But, now because it's convenient to once again pull the old tempest in a teapot distraction from real business let's all pull out the "gentleman card" or the "protect the ladies card". Really, protecting ladies is so much what DC is all about, eh?

Meanwhile, this Grayson guy has my full support for saying what the rest of the country is saying. And, you know you all are talking about political whores everyday if you're bothering reading this blog.

The most outrageous bit in this side show is that the bitch...yes, I called her a bitch...was that she was the chief lobbyist for Enron. And, if that ain't whoring, I don't know wtf is.

Christmas List Started


Now, I know I should be shopping this for my son for X-mas.......but, man I could have a blast with this at boring meetings!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Deep Trivia

Did you know..........

That the judge, Judge Joel Tyler, who ruled in NY that Deep Throat was nothing more than porn had to have a witness explain to him what "missionary position" was. So glad they had expert witnesses considering this guy's less than extensive knowledge about sex. His poor wife............she must have been deeply embarrassed in her social circle.

This was said back during the trial: "It's a floodgate of filth that's engulfed the minds and hearts and souls of America like nothing else ever has". By conservative Charles Keating---yes, that Keating. The one who didn't seem to have any moral compass when embezzling from everyone he could.

Roy Cohn, a registered democrat who supported almost all republicans (we really need to do something about letting just anyone in) and a well known conservative lawyer also crusaded against Deep Throat. He also crusaded against anyone on McCarthy's black list since he was Sen. McCarthy's lead council in the infamous hearings aimed at exposing and rooting out communists and homosexuals. Ah, yes, let us not forget that as much as they attacked anyone they could for political beliefs they also went after sexual orientation. Odd, since Cohn died of AIDS after a life time of homosexual relationships. He was also a John Bircher.......maybe he thought Birch was the polite way of saying wood?

Nixon also pressed hard for the movie to be prosecuted. It premiered 3 days before the Watergate break-in. Do I sense the old "keep your eyes on this hand while the other hand is doing something bad"? Why, yes I do.

A 71 year old semi-retired psychologist, Max Levin, argued that part of the reason the film should be banned was that it distorted the fact that "the true nature of female sexuality," because "vaginal orgasm is superior to the clitoral."

This last quote, for me, is one of the most telling quotes of that time, 1972. That was the year I turned 18, found out that women didn't get equal pay for equal work and Nixon was not going to let the ERA pass. Nixon felt that equal pay for equal work would hurt the traditional family because then women would have the means to leave husbands more easily. See, if you treat women equal to men they just might start acting like men......in his brain.

I also read the conflicting statements made by various feminists of the time regarding the movie (which, to this day, I have not seen). On one hand you have the valid argument that women are being dehumanized in porn. Porn was shown in some theaters for a male only demographic and more so in the form of stag films for bachelor parties (great way to start off married life--thinking that your bride wants all the lights on and is satisfied the moment you are. No wonder they are so many stories about brides locking themselves in the bathroom during their honeymoons back then).
However, Deep Throat crossed a great barrier when it portrayed women as being able to be completely satisfied with a clitoral orgasm. That was a topic of many a feminist discussion believe it or not. Somehow before 1972 many, many men didn't believe in clitoral orgasms. And, people wondered why women burned bras? They're lucky they didn't burn a few men.

I'm not sure why I found this history so interesting besides it happening in a major wakening year for me. Maybe because somewhere in this convoluted story of how one film caused so much brouhaha it tells us that conservatives have been and are overly concerned with womens' sexuality. Just like the Taliban, just like the current crop of neo-cons, just like the most backwards countries in the world it still goes on.

Monday, October 26, 2009

GOPocrits

The list of 55 GOPocrits who oppose the Public Option for others, but are on Medicare themselves http://weiner.house.gov/news_display.aspx?id=1364 is as follows:

Rep. Ralph M. Hall; Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett; Rep. Sam Johnson; Rep. C.W. Bill Young; Rep. Howard Coble; Sen. Jim Bunning; Sen. Richard G. Lugar; Rep. Don Young; Sen. Charles E. Grassley; Sen. Robert F. Bennett; Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers; Sen. Orrin G. Hatch; Sen. Richard C. Shelby; Rep. Jerry Lewis; Sen. James M. Inhofe; Rep. Ron Paul; Rep. Henry E. Brown; Sen. Pat Roberts; Sen. George V. Voinovich; Sen. John McCain; Rep. Judy Biggert; Sen. Thad Cochran; Rep. Harold Rogers; Rep. Dan Burton; Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon; Rep. Frank R. Wolf; Sen. Christopher S. Bond; Rep. Michael N. Castle; Rep. Joe Pitts; Rep. Tom Petri; Sen. Lamar Alexander; Rep. Doc Hastings; Rep. Cliff Stearns; Rep. Sue Myrick; Rep. John Carter; Sen. Mitch McConnell; Sen. Jon Kyl; Rep. Phil Gingrey; Rep. Nathan Deal; Rep. John Linder; Rep. Kay Granger; Rep. John L. Mica; Rep. Walter B. Jones; Sen. Jim Risch; Rep. Ed Whitfield; Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner; Rep. Virginia Foxx; Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison; Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite; Sen. Saxby Chambliss; Sen. Michael B. Enzi; Rep. Elton Gallegly; Rep. Donald Manzullo; Rep. Peter T. King; Rep. Ander Crenshaw

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Encouraging people through fun? why not!



Just more of that scary liberal stuff -- they're out to ruin the world I tell ya!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Three minute history of Afghanistan.

How tall is 4 stories tall?

My son and I argued about the size of the trees in the front yard. I say they are 4 stories tall based on how tall our 1 story house is. He says they're not that tall. Obviously, he's wrong and I'm right!
This is what the yard looks like exactly one day after we raked up all the leaves, which amounted to about the same volume. We have to do leaf clearing about 6 times each autumn. bah to dead leaves!
This is the side of the yard with no maples. I think I'm getting the idea why people aren't planting that many trees anymore.
Leaves in gutters......we do this about 6 or 7 times every autumn. And, the same in spring for the helicopter seeds. Now, if we could only find a way to market leaves and seeds we would be rich!
My friendly squirrels live way up in one of the back trees. They find it amusing to run around the yard and bury Black Walnuts from the adjacent yard's tree. A tree I can foresee being cut down in the dead of night by local hooligans

Free Palin Book.......


I guess her new book is such a big hit you can get it free if you subscribe to the Town Hall magazine for a year. hee hee

BTW, when publishers and organization make huge bulk purchases like this of books it artificially bumps the book up on the best sellers lists. They call it good business. We call it manipulating the public. Otherwise known as lying.....

Thursday, October 22, 2009

cartoonist Mike Konopacki's political work

cartoonist Mike Konopacki's political work is being featured on WisOpinion. It's pretty cool.

 
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