Open Thread – Welcome Home!
Hey y’all, Snoskred here.
I am reliably informed by the mod team that our favourite Alaskan Ladies arrive home soon – in fact they may already be there. If you would like to welcome them home, the mods have a thread on the forums especially! Click here to visit the thread.
Speaking of travelling, at the Mudstock in Pittsburgh many mudpuppies were given their very own Brian! Over at I Heart The Mudflats, we are following the adventures of Brian as he has been travelling. We would love to see the pictures from those who recently received a new Brian. You can submit them via this page.
Above you can see Brian checking out one of the beaches in Jervis Bay, Australia.
Thank you Snoskred! And…Welcome home dear lovely ladies (o:
OH MY sorry sweet Brian – you too!
Snoskred:
Thank you for you contributions to Mudflats. Thanks for holding down the fort.
Thank you Snoskred!!! AND VERY MUCH THANK YOU AKM and SHANNYN! In the old days there were postcards sent by the world travelers of our families. Having your live posts kept us in touch, in tune and in synch. Thank you and welcome home. I’m quite sure your familiar pillows will feel more comforting and comfortable than they have for a very long time.
Sweet Dreams !
Good to see the Alaskans return to the north country – and also to see Brian in the surf!
I submitted a Brian-in-the-desert photo and a Brian-supporting-President-Obama-in-Phoenix photo (plus one of Gramiam and me) to “Your View” a couple of days ago and got email confirmation – but I can’t find them there now. Any clues?
Up in the chat tree fort. 8PM EST. Not sure how long we’ll be there but, c’mon by
Welcome home, lovely, travelling, REAL Alaskan women!
And, Brian looks like he’s having fun!
It is up to us to continue to push if we want to get Health Care Reform with a Strong Public Option passed – we need to keep up the pressure on these officials that we elected…you know, the ones who are supposed to represent US?
Our taxes pay a majority of the cost of healthcare for our Congress people.
While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.
Sign this petition to have paid health care removed from our representatives in Congress until such time as they reform health care – to include a strong public option – for ‘we the people’ who they are supposed to represent. Then spread the word to anyone and everyone you know!
http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
Welcome home, ladies!!
Welcome home AKM, and to you too Shannyn. You two must be exhausted. Hope you have the energy to post.
Missed you gals
Gee, Brian is kinda like Santa Clause and all his clones. Can be everywhere at once. The miracle of Brian. Spreading Mudlove where ever his travels take him.
Welcome back you all.Sounds like the trip went great. Can hardly wait for the stories to began.
Thank Snorks. Beautiful picture. hope Brian has on sunscreen. Love all of the tiny footprints in the sand.
Welcome home ladies! You have represented us mudpups and all of Alaska well. Take some well-deserved time to rest and bask in the glow of a successful adventure!
Welcome home. Missed you, but glad you had a great time.
Brian looks right at home in the Australian surf…what an adaptable moose, he is. Hail to the world travelling moose.
Welcome back to the two traveling bloggers. Assume you had a wonderful time and learned a lot, met a lot of fellow bloggers, and got lots of new ideas. Oh, yes. (I will figure out the forum eventually).
Does anyone know is Shannyn is on live tonight?
Wow, if she is, she’s likely to be exhausted!
Welcome home ladies! I’m sure you had a mind-boggling time. Can’t wait to read what is to come! Thanks for all the info you sent our way while you were gone. It was great and I’m sure we have more to look forward to.
No time for the forum right now. I’m off to the Seahawk/Bronco game shortly. I’m very conflicted as I’m a die hard Bronco fan having come from Denver, but love my new hometown Seahawks. Lol! I guess whoever wins I’ll be ok with it.
Again…Glad you are back!
Welcome back ladies.
I didn’t read anything about the meetup in Pittsburg with the mudpuppies. I’ll assume a fine time was had by all?
I’ve got my Brian sitting with me next to my computer. I’ll have to take him around for a little site seeing later.
@ 20 mlaiuppa Says
A few people posted with pictures at the forum. They all had a fantastic time it sounds like!
Pittsburgh August 2009 AKM Mudstock Planning (Pittsburgh Mudstock III)
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,7283.180.html
Steve Heimel said that Shannyn and AKM left Houston at midday Alaska time. Kelly is guesting on Shannyn’s show. He’s so cool.
AKM, sleep well. Because when you wake up you’re find a whole bunch of new Mudpersons in your universe. A whole bunch!
Hellooo AKM ^ Shannyn..Glad you are safely home , waiting for all the pics and stories about your trip…Brian must be exhausted…Would love to hear his stories to!!!
)
I love the picture. Now I feel badly. I just obtained my Brian from AKM last Sunday at Pittsburgh Mudstock after I returned from a trip to Israel. If only Brian had been with me, I could have gotten pictures of him floating in the Dead Sea, standing reflectively at the Wailing Wall and fraternizing with Bedouin camels. I bet frisky Brian would have really really liked camels
Wonderful tribute to Segundo Strongheart and an update from Ann.
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/ann-strongheart-update-since-segundos-passing/#comment-3614
Sweet dreams ladies
Hey eyes wide open, my daughter just did that trip to Israel. She returned to the States on on the 29th of July. Were you in her group?
Welcome home AKM & Shannyn.
WOW! You truly picked great timing for this trip, especially by heading out of town before Hurricane Bill comes barreling down early tomorrow morning. Maybe he wouldn’t hit the spots you visited, but who knows what he could do with the winds & air travel? You got to see Bill Clinton, don’t need a meetup with Hurricane Bill as well!
Although, wouldn’t THAT have been quite a picture?
Brian Meets Hurricane Bill
What’s that, Sarah and Meg will soon be home? (He said sarcastically). Where were they?
Hello, everyone. Just checking in from Beantown.
Brian, alone on the beach?
welcome home akm and shannyn.
oh, great picture, Snoskred. Thank you for all your time and diligence. Thank you, you precious person.
Yes, thank YOU Snoskred! You’ve done a fantastic job while AKM is gone. Sometimes it must feel like ‘herding cats’.
Welcome home both of you !
Hope it was an absolutely wonderful trip with lots of interesting people and fantastic sights to view.
Glad to have you back
And big thanks to Snoskred for babysitting us all.
Ditto – thanks Snos – well, for being Snoskred, what more can we say?
Looks like Brian is enjoying a stroll on one of Australia’s fine beaches! I am always in awe of Snoskred’s genius and expertise on the Mudflats. Thank you so much for all you do for us!!
Anyone else having trouble getting onto Shannyn or Celtic Diva’s sites?
I’ve been trying since about 7 PM, and no luck.
Welcome back to Alaska, our wise wonderful women – Shannyn & AKM.
Miss Demeanor, I am having no luck getting to any of the WordPress sites I normally visit – perhaps they are down. I note many of the individual icons for the posters here are currently not showing up, either – very odd.
Hope AKK and Shannyn, fared better than Meteor Blades did.
Just read his post, Passage From Pittsburgh.
Kos has it up now, its a good read.
It made me laugh,behind my hand that is .
Typo AKM sorry
I just read on facebook AKM is back.
Welcome back, award winning AK bloggers!
East Coasters, hope the hurricane doesn’t inflict damage, hits cool water and peters out.
Just got home from the game. Woo Hoo and Boo Hoo! Seattle beat the Broncos. Lol! Spouse wore his outdated bright orange #7 Elway jersey and I wore a Seahawk sweatshirt. I cheered at every play, no matter who was gaining. Spouse smiled and shook his head…thinks I’m crazy. I told him I wanted them both to win. Guess that is the Libra in me. I want all of us to be winners and that is probably why I’m not a very good sports fan and why I am probably rooting for health care reform. Everyone wins in my book.
Here is a good read on the Uninsured in the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/opinion/23sun1.html
@ 41 moseyon Says: at 9:43 PM
Hope AKM and Shannyn, fared better than Meteor Blades did.
—-
OMG, now THAT was a hair raising story! Here’s the link for anybody that wants to read, those poor people:
“Passage from Pittsburgh. Heckuva Job, United”
by Meteor Blades
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/23/771113/-Passage-from-Pittsburgh.-Heckuva-Job,-United
Welcome home AKM and Shannon, good to have you back home safe.
I also had trouble getting on some sites earlier too, but don’t know for sure what the problem was. Everything seems to be fine now.
There is a rumor that Brian will be taking some acting classes in the next few weeks here in central PA. Good chance he could snag a part in “The Wiz” as the Tinman or maybe Totto ?
1. Everyone read the link at Kath’s post #46.
2. Everyone know that I have only a 3 hour layover in PHL before heading to Greece.
3. Everyone pray incessantly that something similar doesn’t happen to me!
I leave in just 9 days on USAIR. I don’t want no “bulging tires”. I don’t want no “unflyable crew”. I don’t want no stinkin’ Hyatt voucher.
I want to make my connection in PHL and get to Greece. That’s it. Nothing fancy. Just to make my connection.
Certainly a God of any faith can make that happen! Please put the word out to your respective “Higher Powers”.
I don’t care WHAT happens with the return flight. I’ll be happy to make concessions for outrageous delays or delayed luggage on the return for smooth sailing on the outbound. Please mention that while praying.
Thank you. And Brian, who is joining me, thanks you also too there.
Also: Very nice item from Ann at link 26 above. My heart just aches for her!
Welcome Home AKM & Shannyn! Can’t wait to see all the pics and hear the stories!!!
1. Everyone read the link at Kath’s post #46.
2. Everyone know that I have only a 3 hour layover in PHL before heading to Greece.
3. Everyone pray incessantly that something similar doesn’t happen to me!
I leave in just 9 days on USAIR. I don’t want no “bulging tires”. I don’t want no “unflyable crew”. I don’t want no stinkin’ Hyatt voucher.
I want to make my connection in PHL and get to Greece. That’s it. Nothing fancy. Just to make my connection.
Certainly a God of any faith can make that happen! Please put the word out to your respective “Higher Powers”.
I don’t care WHAT happens with the return flight. I’ll be happy to make concessions for outrageous delays or delayed luggage on the return for smooth sailing on the outbound. Please mention that while praying.
Thank you. And Brian, who is joining me, thanks you also too there.
Also: Very nice item from Ann at link 26 above. My heart just aches for her!
Welcome Home AKM & Shannyn! Can’t wait to see all the pics and hear the stories!!!
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
In light of the fresh new Globe Magazine, Palin “Nervous Hospital” rumors, I thought you might enjoy this parody:
SARAH P.’s NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
(sung to the Rolling Stones song “19th Nervous Breakdown”)
She’s the type of person
Behind the curtain shouting out her prayers
Center of a crowd, talking much too loud
Quashing rumors of affairs
Well, it seems to me that she is mean and suffers too few tears
But now her pride has seemed to die
Her eyes are edged with tears
She better stop
Look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Hair that’s out of style
Has been for awhile
You know her beehive’s way too tight
Brains that are hard boiled and her voice annoys
Things just don’t seem alright
Her husband who has not a clue
Took her to see some old quacks
And her children still shying away from media attacks
She better stop
Look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
First Dude’s to blame, Palin’s just insane
Well she’s just so blue and can’t find work
The whole world knows that she is a jerk, oh please
Sarah failed at school
She was such a fool
She always fell behind
And after that she became a hack
But those words are too kind
She lost her grip
And fell so hard she finally lost her mind
After awhile she realized she needed hospital time
She better stop
Look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Oh, who’s to blame, Sarah P.’s insane
Well she’s just so blue and can’t find work
The whole world knows that she is a jerk, oh please
And she has a child
That is pretty wild
And she was never brought up right
Led a life of joy with a thousand boys
When she was out at night
Her mother who just had no clue
Did not teach poor Bristol facts
And her father’s nil parenting skills were certainly too lax
She better stop
Look around
Here it comes
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Here comes Sarah P.’s nervous breakdown
Welcome Home you two ♥
I guess Sarah is at it again:
“The latest conservative obsession – dutifully spread via Sarah Palin’s Facebook page – is marked by the same alarmism and factual inaccuracy as the hysteria over “death panels.”
According to this tale, America’s veterans are being steered into ending their lives via a “death book” distributed by the government.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/22/how-conservatives-got-the_n_266275.html
Mother Who Thinks, why don’t you attach the photos to an e-mail and send them to me and I’ll get them to justafarmer on the blog, a Healthy look at Health Care. We can also send the Brian pictures to I Heart Mudflats again with some guidance. What do you think?
Also, I got this from Blog for Arizona just now. Great and simple explanation of how it all works. Blog for Arizona is out of Tucson, btw.
Oops! here is the link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/electoral-math/3831797463/sizes/o/
woo hoo Brian is in my neck of the woods. I must keep an eye out for him.
Ahhhh . . . . just look at that beautiful white sand. Brian must be confusing it for snow!
#45 Seattlefan:
I, too, mystify ‘real’ football fans by cheering every play, regardless of which team performs it. My two reasons:
1. A good play is a good play, the athlete deserves recognition for it.
2. Cheering just feels so darn good; this way I get to do it twice as much, ergo double my pleasure, double the fun for me!
Brian’s travels remind me of Flat Stanley. Did any of you ever have to do a “Flat Stanley” with your kid – or for someone else’s kid? As a teacher, it was lots of fun to see what our kids got Stanley involved in, and as an Aunt, it was loads of fun to take my nephew’s Flat Stanley around the peninsula here. NObody turned me down. Stanley got his picture taken with the rockets at NASA, with Senators and Congressmen, on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (a bridge to Somewhere!) At the foundry with one of our world famous sculptors, David Turner, out on a deep sea fishing boat, and so many other places. I think it would be fun to take Brian – or his cousin, for those of us who do not have access to the same Brian as every one else, and set a deadline for all Brianesque pictures to be posted, and see where he goes and who he visits!
(The only Brian I have is a small stuffed Brian from the days when we used the Iditarod as a reading tool and gave awards from the Idita-read project.)
Welcome home AKM and Shannyn, glad you had a good time. Jealous of you meeting the fabulous Rachel Maddow.
Frank Rich places the blame for the start of all the nastiness exactly where it belongs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/opinion/23rich.html?_r=1
I have been writing about the simmering undertone of violence in our politics since October, when Sarah Palin, the vice-presidential candidate of a major political party, said nothing to condemn Obama haters shrieking “Treason!,” “Terrorist!” and “Off with his head!” at her rallies. As vacation beckons, I’d like to drop the subject, but the atmosphere keeps getting darker
Athens, Greece, where Brian and I are going in just 9 days is ON FIRE. Literally. I mentioned it in chat last night, but now even HUFFPO has it on the front page.
Are you guys saying prayers as asked in my post 49? Could you please add the safe and quick cessation of this fire????
If you don’t pray, please keep good thoughts for the residents of Athens that they control this fire that’s been raging a couple of days now and that damage and injury is minimal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/23/thousands-evacuated-as-fi_n_266370.html
Welcome home AKM & Shannyn. And thanks you for keeping things going Snoskred. Your the best. And to nswfm CA. Hurricane Bill is hitting Halifax as we speak. Right now its a Tropical Storm. Lots and lots of rain, and some high winds. Nothing major yet but its still very early. Bill is just getting here. This will be going on all day since its a massive storm.Will try and keep you posted but we may lose power.
john (canadian mudpuppy)
i have nightmares of hurricanes in halifax.
we were on an october cruise one year, coming down from quebec and out to sea when we were hit by a hurricane. we limped into halifax and then the damn capitan took us back out. horrors.
samper
i’ve been watching those fires in athens, too.
we’re headed for there in october.
Yes, I’ve been thinking about Samper’s trip to Greece. The fires in Athens remind me of what Santa Barbara county has just been through, LA and Ventura Counties go through ever year and other areas like Monterey through San Diego have gone through, too. Keeping my fingers crossed for Greece.
Please stay safe in the upper East Coast. I remember when Hurricane Floyd hit the NYC area. A lot of areas in NJ were under water. The people trying to leave Manhattan on the trains was a giant mess, etc. I waited it out at work and then walked home, so I missed the nightmare. I think I saw one other person as I walked up Park Ave…
I hope your return trip went well.
Thanks for the link UK Lady. Yes, it is all very disturbing & I’m wondering where it’s going. Irrational hatred & violence. I live in Northern Calif. supposedly a blue area, but I started posting comments on stories in the local newspaper & you wouldn’t believe the posts. These people are violent & irrational & Obama is to blame for anything & everything. I expected this sort of backlash in the south, but not here.
Snoskred – Did Brian get to see the whales? I read your comment way back when but never seem to have enough time to respond to so many people here (o:
Lee323 – thanks for pointing out the update from dear Ann Strongheart.
Lynnrockets @31 – Your Sarah and Meg comment was too funny Hahahaha!
Prayers out across the globe, always XXXXOOOO
Brian, the Moose Ambasador sans portfolio.
What a guy!
52 twain12 Says:
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 AM
I guess Sarah is at it again:
“The latest conservative obsession – dutifully spread via Sarah Palin’s Facebook page – is marked by the same alarmism and factual inaccuracy as the hysteria over “death panels.”
According to this tale, America’s veterans are being steered into ending their lives via a “death book” distributed by the government.”
Just as well, I figure, every one of these total comic book horrors they push, especially thruogh their parrot bains the more of the “Normal” Americans will get sick of it and start ignoring and even belittling them.
Remember how people began to react to so many, convienently timed, Orange and Red alerts? They became a pollitical joke.
UK Lady @ 58
Thanks for the link. Sen Coburn is an a**. He is also a member of C-Street. He used to just annoy the he** out of me but he is now a really alarming person. After his comment “I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life.”
it seems that he has gotten even more disturbing.
I often wonder just how much influence and power he gets from his C-Street affiliations.
He is a perfect tool to use here in Oklahoma. It’s kind of scary to watch these politicians change over the years. We need term limits.
I’m sure its been mentioned many times already by deepest sympathy to Ann and her family and community.
Welcome home AKM and Shannyn!! I hope you have enjoyed your trip and are well rested and happy to be home!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32526568/ns/politics-washington_post
This is an article about how we are coming from behind on the health care debate and how Organizing for America is trying to correct the misinformation out there. Please go to Barack Obama dot com to get involved! We need to help our president get this done.
What about the rumor that Sarah had a nervous breakdown and that’s why no one has seen her???
Mac @ 71~
I wholeheartedly agree….as defeat at this juncture might render a very slippery slope.
Let’s get busy, for the President cannot do it alone…
Yes WE can!
P.S.>>>>Welcome home dear ladies… and I trust that there was much joy in the journey.
Welcome home y’all…….
I could care less about Sarah’s breakdown, I’m still making my wishes known about my heathcare treatment choices on the forms that I received from the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.
How very convenient for $arah, the white beaded vest was only a loan, and if anyone would like to buy a nice bridge, please PM me
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/alaska_ear/story/908122.html
East Coast Pups & Families: Batten down as directed locally! Don’t think you are immune or can “ride it out”. We don’t want to see another Katrina situation. Do as you are TOLD!
Many prayers for a speedy and ineffective passing of Bill.
Just went to Sam’s Club for Kitty Food. Car wouldn’t start to come home. It’s in their parking lot and I had to take a cab home. I’m SOOOOO mad! BF will rescue me/it tomorrow (he’s 100 miles away), but that was just more out of the Ouzo Fund (and more to come with whatever repair is necessary).
Car Trouble, Hurricanes, Fires, Ann’s Tragedy… God is quite the comedian these days, isn’t he?
As for SP… who cares about her breakdown? She HAS health insurance!!! I’m sure it includes psychiatric, also too.
Yeah… someone LOANED her a handmade beaded vest! For WHAT?!
went back through the archives and found the story of “Brian” =)
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/
samper, there was no real hurricane activity here. A bit of steady, warm rain, a brief downpour, now it is sunny and breezy again.
Hope that John in Halifax can soon report the same.
I think we can officially say, the Republican Party is NUTS and totally Closed minded. It is disgusting. Right now it’s a party that deserves scorn. GAH
I mean good grief, is their strategy an attempt to confuse to public? by taking turns saying “death panels” are in the bill, then take turns admitting it’s not? if they think this is brilliant, lol, they are SO off the deep end. Seriously, this is getting so ridiculous it’s hard to believe. And if health care wasn’t such a serious issue, this could be funny. Somebody please put together and video of all the idiotic statements coming out of the Repub leaders mouths and get it viral. They deserve no respect and deserve no power in their leadership positions. Like I said, they are wasting good time, money and lives are more important than their crappy spew.
sorry for the rant, I do believe I have lost all patience with the party. They simply want to stand in the way of change, any change that this administration and the majority of the United States citizen are trying to bring about, that is their grand plan. I am sick and tired of it. How utterly idiotic and selfish. They lack intelligence and are acting like neanderthals in the year 2009. Get them out of the way of change, we won!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/23/grassley-reverses-course_n_266432.html
“Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) acknowledged on Sunday that the claims he made two weeks ago — that Democratic health care legislation would allow the government to “pull the plug on grandma” — did not reflect the language of the bills.
In an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” the Iowa Republican admitted that the current legislation being considered by Congress didn’t include the infamous death panel provision that would allow the government to determine who should live or die.”
Welcome back AKM and Shannyn!
Say No: I’m with you, sister! It’s gotten to absolutely ludicrous proportions JUST so they can STOP any advancement for this country. I don’t understand it, myself, except that they don’t want ANY credit for ANY thing that is GOOD to go to the Dems. Is the status quo so phenomenally excellent that a little change is going to ruin the country? I don’t think so!
PC: That is certainly good news! I’m worried about John, though. Seems it might be a bit worse where he is.
{ I watched ” This Week with George S. }
I sure hope ” Mag the Mick ” was able to get her Open Letter to McCain into the AZ papers. Send the letter to George S. from ” This Week with George S. ” as well.
George was interviewing him out in AZ at the Grand Canyon on his show today.
The subject of Healthcare reform came up. He asked McSame about His former VP’s comments about ‘ death panels ‘.
He actually asked 3 TIMES for him to denounce her claims… and George said VERY forcefully that the bill did not say that and it was not in there. He even changed the questions wording to make it easier to denounce the claim. John would not say it. He tap danced around with words even more than Grassley did last week on this subject. He in so many words was agreeing with $arah.
I hope that Mag the Mick can get that letter printed and hope she would give everyone permission to post it in other places as well.
John has got to go in this next election.
George also brought up John’s record and statement after he lost the election of wanting to work with the President in a bi-partisan fashion for change.
George pointed out that in his whole career that since the election John has voted against the President in a partisan fashion on issues to a larger degree than he ever has in his whole life. He even pointed out the Sotomayor and Sibelius nominations which John voted against.
Again John just poo pooed this away. John has a problem with the truth and Facts these days.
this is what Scarah or ‘whoever’ is basing her latest facebook claim on…….like I said, the Republicans are wasting our time, throwing out firecrackers to distract and damage the debate. It’s time to tell them to shut up and sit down.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/22/how-conservatives-got-the_n_266275.html
How Conservatives Got The Facts Wrong On Their Latest Obsession: The “Death Book” For Veterans
“The VA’s policy is in accordance with the 1990 Patient Self Determination Act, which requires all institutions receiving Medicare funds to provide information to patients regarding end of life, living will and other advance directives. During the Bush administration, the VA changed its regulation to extend the act to cover all VA facilities.
In 2007, after Towey complained that the so-called “death book,” “Your Life, Your Choices – Planning for Future Medical Decisions,” was biased against the right-to-life viewpoint, the VA convened an outside panel of experts to assess and update the booklet.
In his op-ed, Towey stated that this panel did not include any representatives of faith groups or disability rights advocates. In fact, according to the VA, the panel included a priest, a rabbi, a renowned disability rights advocate, and the president of the organization that produces “Five Wishes,” the alternative advance care planning document that Towey is promoting and selling.
The panel supported the use of the “Your Life, Your Choices” booklet but included some suggestions for revising its content. The plans to update and release the booklet were developed under the Bush administration and it is due for release in 2010.”
This woman was the originator of the death panel scare. She is a complete joke. Jon Stewart a comedian made her look like a idiot. When will all of these dupes be stopped?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/21/betsy-mccaugheys-ideas-ca_n_264970.html
Samper~
You were more-than-likely stating that “God is quite the comedian…” in jest, as it relates to all the “issues of life & death” as of late…. but please allow me to submit the God is full of grace and yes, merciful….and for those of us who BELIEVE….it is because of God that we are not consumed by the cares of the day.
Have a restful Sunday everyone ~ for ahead, there is much work that awaits us.
Don’t fret samper, it is only a category 1 and Haligonians are used to much scarier than that. There are a few trees down, and some dumb boat owners may not have taken precautions to protect their $ sinkholes, but all will be cleared up by Tuesday, if not sooner.
Honesty @83, I missed George today, thanks for the recap. Something just hit me about McCain’s reaction. Before, he seemed to want to distance himself more, with funny comments instead of outright denouncing her. Now, it is like he reluctantly defends her. The Rush Effect? (slap, slap, slap,..)
Get behind the Dems that are holding the line, thank them and tell them you agree.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/healthcare/la-me-healthcare-waters23-2009aug23,0,445904.story
“U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) said she would refuse to vote for a healthcare reform package that did not include a provision for creating a government-run medical insurance plan that would compete with private insurers — a statement that drew loud cheers Saturday at a town hall meeting at Los Angeles Southwest College.”
“Not only are we going to do everything we can to organize and put pressure on the senators — some of whom are Neanderthals — we’re going to say to the president, ‘We want you to use every weapon in your basket in order to get those senators to do what they should be doing,’ ” Waters said.”
Samper ,My husband is a auto mechanic by profession I would loan him out to you if only you were close to where we live. I sure hope it’s not to expensive to fix.
To all Mudpuppies:
My family and I made the mistake of staying in our home when Hurricane Katrina hit. We live sixty miles inland so we thought we would siimply have to wait out rain and maybe a spin off tornado or two.
We moved to the bottom floor of our house to wait it out. I hope I never have to experience anything like that again. Our lake water was white-capping, our chimney blew off, water was driven through our french doors and flooded the living room, ruining the hardwoods and destroying some expensive rugs. We lost part of our roof, my son’s basketball stand and hoop (heavy metal) was blown across the yard. Our cars were damaged. We were some of the lucky ones. It took weeks for electricity in our town to be repaired and functioning, telephone service took months. No electricity in the South (no air conditioning) during August and September is unbearable.
My Dad lived across the street from the ocean in Biloxi Mississippi. I was able to get him out two days before Katrina hit. He lost everything except what we could fit into two suitcases.
Please always take precautions and take warnings seriously. Don’t get complacent. Pay attention during Hurricane season and make sure you have a “just in case plan”. Make sure you have important documents (and copies), extra medications, insurance documents, and some cash ready to go. Best wishes to all for a safe seeason.
Cynamen: Yes, it was in jest. I think He knows this, also too.
When it seems like a lot to absorb for the mortal, God and I do friendly battle of wit. Not to worry. I love him just as always! 
I just think he’s putting a lot on our plates right now.
I said this to Ann and I’ll say it again. He NEVER gives us more than we can handle. Ever. And, we all know that my stupid car problems PALE in comparison to Ann, Athens OR the Hurricane. Still, I worry about them ALL. Oh… I’m a tad concerned about my trip to Greece, as well, but again, it PALES. I just get a little anxious when there is a lot going on. The GOP isn’t helping matters.
PC: Dad had a 30′ sailboat for several years… we NEVER worried about the boat unless there were people on it. That’s why God made insurance. That said, we weren’t careless, either. If strong weather was coming, we’d make sure it was extra secure and extra padded against the dock. If the folks on the East Coast aren’t smart enough to protect their money pits (with DAYS of warning), then too bad.
As long as peeps and the necessaries (homes, water, electric) are all in order, it’s all good. Nothing a few chainsaws and some elbow grease can’t manager, per you!
I’m hoping John will check in before I finish today’s chores with vacuuming. Will check back once that is done.
New Netroots thread!
samper********when you and the mascot named brian take greece, all the fires will be out. the sun will shine and the people will be happy to see you. don’t worry. everything will be fine. just in case, pack one of those inflatable mattresses or the mummy bag being sold on the left side of this blog.50% off too. also.
Updated Update: My Son in Law was admitted to the hospital from the emergency room and had his fifth brain surgery. I don’t know how my daughter does it. He was home and scheduled for a rehab appointment this coming Wednesday. Friday night, my daughter says, he went from completely coherent to telling her that she was doing things to hurt him and make him worse and seeing things in the room that weren’t there. She coaxed him into a taxi to go to the hospital but only because she promised him that he could talk to the police man at the emergency room. The staff whisked him through processing, did a catscan and immediately into surgery. Found two blood clots, on on each frontal lobe. They didn’t watch him and he doesn’t feel safe. Wouldn’t let my daughter stay with him. Would let her give him the meds he is supposed to have at a specific time because that ‘isn’t how we do things on this ward.’ It is the weekend so she can’t get anyone to enforce on her behalf. Good thing she’s a mouthy broad, mother grizzly all rolled into one. “You may not have an investment in him, but I do and he isn’t just another bed. I’ll raise hell if I have to in order to make sure he gets what he needs.” She’s strong, but just the edge of tears as she talked to me. He is adamant that no one outside of the very immediate family know he is in the hospital. His brother is staying at the house and “helping” her but he is epileptic and not taking his meds and is averaging one seizure a day. My son in law is still delusional and my daughter is afraid that he will hurt her and feels guilty for her feelings. Could you all send a second helping of light, love, good thoughts, prayers etc. according to your practice. We know it works. I worry about my daughter and I can’t ‘fix’ it.
For those who don’t know, my son in law had a traumatic brain injury in late June.
Sorry for the length, but I had to share.
redwoodmuse
should read “wouldn’t let her give him meds”
About the beaded vest Her Heinous “returned” as a “loan”……
The unvoiced part of this story, I believe, is that this vest was painstakingly made by an Alaska Native and is probably beautifully embellished with floral and animal/totemic beaded pieces that took hours and hours of time to make and that are prized cultural objects with spiritual meaning. Those seed beads – and there are thousands and thousands of them – go on TWO AT A TIME.
Vests are made with intention and purpose and convey identity and belonging. They are so important that they are used at memorials of Natives, lovingly “seated” at the front of the potlatch to represent the spirit of the one who has passed on. It is a great honor to receive a beaded vest. They are NOT clothing or fashion or gifts. They have great significance in Native culture, particularly for the Athabascan, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people.
I’ve loved, lived with, and learned from Alaskan Native people for the past 30 years. My children are Tlingit. Once I earned the “right” to do so, I’ve made a few vests. Whoever the maker, each one is a treasure to the person entrusted with it. The expectation is that the person will have it for a lifetime and use it for ceremonial occasions, and then pass it on to a family member who also has the right to wear those symbols of tribe and clan and heritage and place.
Through the years, I’ve seen a few politicians honored by the presentation of a beaded vest. Though it is far from the same thing as having a vest made for you by your loving family, it is indeed a great honor.
While most beaded vests are made and exchanged without money being exchanged, the value of such a piece of art and culture is in the thousands of dollars. It takes a winter of work to create such an article of beauty.
I have NEVER heard of such a vest being “loaned” to an elected official, and then “returned.” Were such a thing to occur, it would be a gross misunderstanding of the intent and the significance of the presentation of the vest, and a selfish, disrespectful act towards the person who made the vest, who presented it, and the tribe or clan it came from.
Oh, Sarah.
So sorry to hear this redwoodmuse, just when things were starting to look up. Thinking of you and your family.
Samper (and anyone else flying, cruising or dealing with an upset stomach) –
Here’s some advice for you…
I thought I remembered that you will be doing a cruise as part of your trip (the Santorini visit, I assume). Sometimes, parts of the Mediterranean can be a little bumpy. Having done lots of cruises and bumpy airplane rides, there are three things I can recommend for keeping your tummy in tip-top shape.
If you’re planning to use any OTC motion sickness meds, I’ve found that Bonine works really well and doesn’t make me feel groggy like some of the others. I would also HIGHLY recommend bringing a box of Anna’s Ginger Thins. They’re made in Canada, very thin and crispy and wonderful for settling stomachs. Regular ginger snaps are also okay but Anna’s seem to work the best for me. They’re in a small brown box, usually in the imported cookie section of the grocery store. They’ve worked for me AND for several skeptical traveling companions over the years!
Many years ago, I took an August cruise from NY to Bermuda which rode the tail end of a hurricane all the way. Crew members were in the infirmary with broken arms and legs from being thrown around the ship. I was soooo sick that TWO shots from the ship’s doctor did nothing to ease my misery. Our cabin steward took pity on me and told me a wonderful trick that I’ve used many times since then and shared with grateful friends. Take an apple, cut it in half and use a spoon to scrape the flesh and eat it, a tiny bit at a time. There’s something in the scraping that releases enzymes that help settle your stomach. After all the heavy meds I was taking, that was the only thing that actually made me feel better.
Cruise ships are certainly much more stable than years ago, but it’s always better to be prepared and not need it than the reverse! Hopefully you’ll have smooth sailing and flying all the way!
(((redwoodmuse)))
Mother who thinks
thank you for that information. We all know that sarah palin has no class and would not understand the honor of receiving such a vest like this .
SouthernMiss
My DD and I recently went to Biloxi to pick upher boys fromn their summer vacation at their Dads,its about halfway from his place in Florida to us here in Shreveport,La.
It was a sobering trip,to see the destruction still so very eveident,with still damaged homes,homes with tarps covering roof damage that they have been unable to repair,abandoned lots near the gulf where once beutiful homes stood,now foundations,debris,weeds,and the occasional inground swimming pool still stood.
It was also heartwarming to see the local people going on with life,farm markets,flea markets,garage sales,etc.Wonderful,friendly people.It reminded me of oldtime southern Nj when I was growing up,fishing,crabbing,sun and sand. We spent a wonderful dat with the kids at Ship Island,swimming with fish around us in the shallow,clear waters on the Gulf side of the island.Perfect,if only I had remembered to keep reapplying sunscreen after the umpteen trips in the water with the kids.I blistered my back and paid for the ommission,but I would go back again tomorrow.
Welcome Home! Did you join the Steelers T shirt crowd?
I am going to just cut and paste the whole post from the Huffpo story about McCain this morning. Paragraph 6 in this link is the one they referred to in the post. It was from May 2008. More background for you AZ Voters out there to use as a way to defeat McCain.
————————————————-
( It was posted by… ObamacratInCA )
John McCain has been using government-run healthcare nearly his entire life but when Elizabeth Edwards mentioned that fact during the campaign, he called it a “cheap shot.”:
“When George Stephanopoulos confronted him with an argument made by Elizabeth Edwards — that McCain had benefited from government health insurance nearly his whole life, and perhaps the rest of the public deserves something just as good — McCain pulled out his trump card. “It’s a cheap shot, but I did have a period of time where I didn’t have very good healthcare, I had it from another government,” he said.”
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_pow_dodge
So if you do the courtesy of acquainting John McCain with the facts about his healthcare, he will shame you with the fact that he was a POW.
That tells you everything you need to know about the character of he man who is trying to stop healthcare reform now.
Redwoodmuse, we are all sending good vibes****
Redwoodmuse@96, so very sorry to hear about your son in law’s further troubles. Your daughter sounds like a good person to have watching out for you. No doubt she got her strength at least in part from you.
Let’s once again say prayers and send good wishes out for a happy outcome.
Mother who Thinks@98 , Those beaded vests seem far too special to be bandied about like soiled goods. Palin really knows how to throw people under that bus. Waiting patiently for Karma here.
Man! You vacuum a small house and come back to THIS!
Mother Who Thinks: Thank you for the valuable information on the true meaning of gifts to SP. I am just sickened that someone would put that much care, effort, heritage and meaning into something just to have SP return it with a “thanks but no thanks, cuz I’m not interested in paying taxes on it.” She is less than slime you find on the bottom of a rock in a damp area.
Redwoodmuse: You should be proud beyond belief that you have raised such as strong and sensible daughter! My heart just breaks for what this young woman is going through, as well as your inability to “fix” it. We’ve all been there… wanting to make it all “better” for loved ones suffering when we obviously can do nothing but support them emotionally. Your daughter is certainly exceptional, no small kudos to those that raised her. Many prayers are sent your family’s way. (I thought he was getting better and looking at pricey rehab rather than more surgery???)
Leenie: You remember correctly, but it’s just a four hour ferry ride (not a cruise) to Santorini. I’m not too worried about motion sickness, as I’m a water baby, a sailor, a frequent flyer, frequent cruiser, etc. I’ve heard that the better (stronger concentration of) ginger you can get, the better it will work. The apple thing is pretty interesting, also too, and I will recommend it to others. Much better ideas than drugs that just make you want to sleep for a week.
Bubbles: Always our bright light in the storm! Thanks for holding such positive energy for the trip. The real fear? Athens will have so much more fire (no rain in the forecast for the next 8 days… 88 degree averages), it won’t be controlled for my arrival. I can always (expensively) reschedule, but I’ll wait to see that all are safe, important things (2500 year old churches are in danger!) saved and clean up is not horrific in scope before jumping into that mode.
Obviously, my vacation isn’t the issue – the safety of the residents and history is – but if USAIR flies, it would cost a ton to re-schedule the flight alone. The hotels, if not burned out and still operating, will charge penalties this close in. I think even 100% since I’m not 21 days out.
Whatever… cash comes and goes. Vacations aren’t ALWAYS perfect. There are more important things and since I’ve waited 30 years for this dream of a lifetime, Athens will be hard pressed to keep me away for long.
I am one selfish beotch, you guys. My stupid vacation is weighing on my mind. It should be a non-thought when so many IMPORTANT things are happening.
I hate myself when I get like this.
And McCain? Let’s all just take a moment and thank God that he is NOT our President. I’m grateful to his (OK, I’ll say it…LAME) service to our country (a GOOD pilot doesn’t get shot down and a GOOD soldier would TAKE an offered release in order to assist in the release of others rather than just say “No thanks, I’ll stay unless you let us ALL go home”). I’m sorry for his injuries and discomfort. But it’s been a zillion years now. I’m TIRED of hearing about the whole POW thing. Yes, it was awful, but how long can you milk it?
Sorry…. another day of high emotion for all who suffer and a frustration of inability to “fix” a damn thing. Even my own freakin’ car! BTW: Thanks, C.Rock… I wish your husband was nearby, also too!
(((Redwoodmuse))). Thoughts and prayers going your way.
Mother who thinks. Thank you for the explanation about the beaded vests.
AKM’s “Nazi” post is now at HuffPo:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/nazis_b_266507.html
redwoodmuse i am very sorry for the setback in your son in laws health. i know you are very worried. i am sending you love, courage and prayers for the well being of your children. it would be a good idea to show brother in law the door.
Redwoodmuse : I’ll send you as much good juju as I can muster, as well as a little extra sauce to your daughter. I’m working overtime on my own family, too, in the “fix-it” department, but there is only so much one can do. We are all in this together.
(((Redwoodmuse))). Prayers for you and those you love.
Hi All. Got our power back. Seems about 14000 lost power throughout N.S. Bill wasn’t that bad, thank God. Lots of rain and no real damage. He got knocked out in the first round by cooler waters off our coast. By and by, Bluenosers faired pretty well. Thanks to all you MudPups who were concerned. Thats why I love the Mudflats. We’re all a big happy family.
Another take on the hate speech and everyones responsibility to stand up against it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/opinion/23rich.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
Excellent opinion piece by Frank Rich
The Guns of August
By FRANK RICH
Published: August 22, 2009
#110 Just a Farmer….(hey wait a minute.. farmers are the backbone of this country)
Woo hoo glad to see AKM’s Nazi post on Huffington!!
Possum. Yes. I’m a member of the Highlander (TV series) forum and one of our members had a daughter who did a Flat Stanley project. Only they made themselves flat. She asked us her help her daughter with her project. “Flat Amy” arrived in an envelope. I took her to school and posed her in my class reading a book, took pictures of her in the library choosing a book with the librarian, being counseled by the counselor and standing with the VP in front of the office. Then I took her to the Zoo and Sea World. Printed all of the pictures and a letter and mailed Flat Amy home. I wasn’t the only Highlander to give Flat Amy a tour of their local tourest attractions. Her assignment was a big hit.
redwoodmuse, A prayer for comfort and healing has been sent from me and I will add you and your family to my nightly prayers.
Just an update about trying to get my “Letter To MCain” in greater circulation. I sent edited versions of both (there’s a 200-word limit for letters to the editor) to the Tucson Daily Star (a fairly liberal rag in Arizona’s biggest blue oasis) and to the very conservative Arizona Republic in Phoenix. The letters editor at the AZ Rep. wrote back right away that they were “considering” my letter. No word from the Star. I also sent a copy to a man named Rodney Glassman, a very liberal, hard-working member of the Tucson City Council, who is contemplating a run against McCain next year. He is currently in “basic training” with the Air Force JAG program in Texas. He gave me several good suggestions, including that I send a copy to my US RepresentativeGabrielle Giffords (D) who does a lot of work with military and veteran’s affairs, asking that she join the dialogue. So I did. That’s it – because this all happened over the weekend, maybe I’ll hear more once the work week starts up. Whatever the outcome, I have realized I still have a voice and can use it. It put me in mind of when I stood in a protest group in Anchorage years ago, outside the venue where John Ashcroft was speaking. My sign read “I have the right NOT to remain silent!” That’s a right that more of us thoughtful, restrained, lefties shouuld exercise!
@Mag the Mick
Great letter you wrote – hope it gets wide circulation.
John: So glad to hear you are well and there is minimal damage. I’ve been worried for all on the coast.
As BF says: I’m not happy unless I have something to worry about.
I’m thinking about Katrina… it wasn’t the actual hurricane that caused the trouble… it was the failing levees. Didn’t Bush receive memos from the Army Corps of Engineers indicating that they wouldn’t hold WELL before Katrina hit? Wasn’t he WARNED that they desperately needed attention? Like a year or more in advance?
Maybe I’m crazy, but seems I saw that somewhere.
I can’t load the story about Jon Stewart interviewing Betsey the Idiot on HuffPo. Anyone else having similar trouble?
I saw it when it aired, but the interview was cut short due to time and folks were invited to see the whole thing on Comedy Central. Seems the same thing happened with Cramer (another idiot) when Jon confronted him on the financial situation. There was just too much to debate in the 10 minutes available, so they kept going, but put it on CC.com instead on air.
Guess I’ll catch the rest of her avoidance tactics there. As I recall from the airing, Jon would say things like “Read that passage for us now.” and she would say “It’s on page 425! It SAYS… blah blah blah…” But she wasn’t READING it. She was voicing her own “interpretation” (term used loosely) of the citation.
She was very deliberate in avoiding direct answers or direct quotes from the bill.
#119 Mag the Mick, good luck getting your letter out there. McCain needs to be brought to task on many fronts. Guess rushbo got to him about simple sarah’s death panel gibberish, he minces around & won’t say it’s false, wrong & stupid to say such a thing. Now the spin is the VA death books. Will this crap never end? On another note, I read Kathleen Parker’s “If you need Hitler, you’ve lost the argument” in my daily conservative rag today. Not near as moving as AKMs but nonetheless a fairly good read.
samper
samper
hey what’s going on…my computer has run amok. samper…no need for alarm, I was just trying to say, my cut & paste skills are not all that great & if you go to hufff you’ll find the article & trust me it is worth the read.
Well… there is complete Idiot who posted to AKM’s story that has made it to the Huffpo.( jhamm1 at the 4: 34 mark.) My response was not posted yet… mods.
He sounded like a Limbaugh Fan and reads way too much about Nazi History… or at least his ‘ interpretation ‘ of it. Truly a ‘ sick ‘ individual who would try to rewrite history as he sees it. I’m sure he takes his ‘ signs ‘ to these Town Halls.
saw that, honesty, and your response is there now.
Talk about revisionist history! And that person couldn’t manage to state an opinion without name-calling, insults and cuss words.
Mag the Mick – Bravo!
Samper – Gryphen on Immoral Minority, link on right of page, had the full video of Jon Stewart with that fool Betsey McWhatsit, scroll down a bit and you will find it. He wiped the floor with the insurance company shilling nut. She lost one of her jobs the next day. Karma.
@redwoodmuse: Sorry to hear about the setback. About the “we don’t do it that way” thing: the vast majority of nurses are thoroughly dedicated to patient care, but they sometimes make incorrect decisions, because they are not M.D.’s and they do have to have routine procedures. I discovered this back when my wife was in and out of the hospital with pulmonary hypertension.
Even on a weekend, your SIL’s doc, or his/her cover doc, should be available by phone or pager. It’s not something to abuse, but if your daughter is certain that something is being mishandled, she should be able to call a physician. I remember vividly a couple of emergency doctor visits (one at 3AM) that resulted in, shall we say, an intense briefing of the ward staff. If she doesn’t have one, your daughter needs to get an emergency number to call.
Best wishes and hopes for a further-relapse-free recovery.
I saw the whole Betsy thing on cc.com. UGH! Some village is missing Idiot #1! She’s speaking jibberish whilst trying to flatter Jon. It’s sickening.
But worse, is what comes out of her mouth. OOOOOH! She has a PhD in “Constitutional History”. Ummmm… that really doesn’t qualify her to appropriately read and interpret legislation proposed in 2009.
For every word that tumbled out of her vapid mouth, I hoped Jon had a fact, figure or at the very least COMMON SENSE AND LOGIC to refute it. He did a good job, but not as well as with Cramer, for whom he had actual clips to refute Cramer’s statements.
Geeze… if I wasn’t so pickled, I’d be raging. Oh, wait… I AM raging!
Anyone in chat? I think I’ll go over and take a look see…
Thanks UK Lady
Loved it when he ripped page 364 out of her notebook. We need more of what Jon Stewart did to Betsey.
@samper: Sadly, the political failures regarding the levees in New Orleans go back way before Bush. There have been decades worth of analyses that clearly stated that a direct hit from a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane would cause levee failure and/or overtopping. But it never happened, see, so everybody just kept whistling in the dark.
There is actually a big problem with making the Big Easy secure from a repeat, which is that it would cost an enormous amount of money. The technology exists — a significant chunk of Holland wouldn’t exist, otherwise — but it is extremely expensive. The Dutch implement the technology because it adds several percent to their total land area (a significant matter in a small country with 40M citizens), and also because without it, about half the country would flood every so often.
The cost-benefit analysis is less obvious in the case of N.O. Basically, the benefit side comes down to: “Is it a national priority to have a full-sized city located right there?
Anyhow, the shame of the Bush Administration is not that they didn’t fix the levees, but that they so miserably botched the emergency response and the recovery effort, when they knew ahead of time that there would be levee failure.
Redwood muse, unfortunately, brain injury will have setbacks, but it’s good that your daughter is there to advocate for him. What happened with getting back on the co insurance?
Samper, whilst?
Phoebe @ 131
It is a sorry state of affairs when comedians do the work of journalists and vice versa.
redwoodmuse i’m sending good thoughts your way
UKLady
Yes it is & extremely worrisome. Well, if Stewart & Colbert can …why not the almighty media?
While the failure of the levees to hold is what caused the damage to New Orleans, it was the actual Hurricane Katrina that flattened so many coastal towns and cities in parts of Louisianna and Mississippi. Some were almost completely destroyed. I took my Dad back to Biloxi a couple weeks after the hurricane. There were many, many places we could not go and it was difficult trying to get back to his residence to see if anything was salvagable. Some blocks were gone, just slabs of foundation left. Soldiers and National Guard were out directing people and passing out food and water. All of the beautiful old homes across highway 90 were either severely damaged or gone. Everything across from highway 90 was that way. We saw a large fishing boat up in some trees, a car standing up straight on it’s front end, and people living in tents. The devestation was sobering. My Dad is a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran and a very stoic man. It was one of the few times in my life I have ever seen him cry.
Honesty in Gov at #105
When Senator John McCain uses that comment about how he didn’t have health care from the u.s for a few years, I want to ask him what that has to do with the price of tea in China! Of all people, he should have empathy for people without health care or without good health care exactly because of what he experienced.
It reminds me of the time, during the campaign, when he was on Leno and he brought up not having a table and chairs for a few years (there had been a comment made about people sitting around their tables discussing issues).
What was it Biden said about Guiliani? His sentences are noun, verb, and 911. Well McCain’s are noun, verb, and POW.
mommom at #103
I’m glad you had a chance to go to the coast and enjoy your time with your family. There are still so many beautiful things there. I still find it shocking to see the blue tarps and the devestation that is still there this long after Hurricane Katrina.
I wish you’d had the chance to eat at Chappy’s and tour the Beauvier Home. There is a rebuilding effort ongoing to restore the home.
Redwoodmuse
I’m sorry to hear about your son-in-law’s situation. Prayers go out to him, your daughter, and the rest of your family. Also prayers for the medical team, asking God to grant them wisdom and compassion.
Way back on post # 84 of this thread I did sort of a small recap early this morning of John Mccain who was interviewed on ” This Week with George S.”
George tried his best to convince John there was no ‘death panels ‘ and asked him 3 times to denounce this ‘ point of fiction ‘… OK… it is a Lie ( semantics )
John stuck to His guns and would none of it. ( John saw it as semantics though )
The Daily Dish saw it also and decided to chime in as well in this post.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/08/john-mccain-on-death-panels.html#more
redwoodmuse – I’ve sent (and will continue to send) prayers and good vibes to your son-in-law & daughter, all involved in his care and to you. Thank you for reaching out.
redwoodmuse -
Prayers and hugs to you and your family.
I was just browsing some of the Nat’l blogs to see what stories popped up over the weekend. saw this little post on Media Matters. As of now there are 33 advertisers that have pulled ads from Glenn Beck . W o W.. last time I knew it was about 20. The story also reminds people that the New Beck will be back Monday.
If Glenn is back on the set Monday… they better make sure his Kleenex box is close by.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/200908230015
@138 Southern Miss: I entered active duty in the AF in 1969 at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, one day after Hurricane Camille came ashore (actually, I was supposed to report on the exact day of landfall, but I stopped in Jackson). A long stretch of Highway 90 was just gone — chunks of asphalt. Many of the houses fronting the highway were reduced to foundations. Reportedly, the storm surge was 20 to 30 feet. Two decent sized freighters (300-400 feet) were deposited about a quarter of a mile inland. I don’t know how long it took to get rid of them; they were still there when I left for AK a year later.
Big hurricanes make a big mess, for sure.
@146 Strangelet
Thank goodness you weren’t at Keesler yet when Camille hit. How long did it take before you could even get through and report for duty post Camille? That was THE one we always measured every hurricame against until Katrina. I had heard the freighter story but didn’t realize there had been two of them.
Keesler took quite a bit of damage with Katrina. It took a while but they replaced their damaged commissary with a much nicer and bigger one post Katrina.
#146 Strangelet
Oops. Just reread your post and realized you reported one day after Camille. Missed that the first go round.
Glad you didn’t drive down to Acadia to watch waves from Thunderhole TPC. 20+ people were swept from the viewing platform there; most got back onto land but nearly all of them were injured (many broken bones from being swept in to the rocks). One viewer – a 7-y.o. girl was not so lucky. Although rescued by the US Coast Guard, she didn’t make it. Her dad and a 12-y.o. friend remain in the hospital.
@ honesty in gov #142
Thanks for the excellent recap and Sullivan’s link on McCain’s slimy obfuscation on “death panels.”
Palin’s lies always have a way of bringing out the worst in people. She did it in Alaska….. and now she’s trying to spread her poisonous miasma nationally.
I want to thank Snoskred also for keeping us in line while AKM was on her trip.Sampler LOL It wasn’t funny I would have been ranting but will pray that you make all your connections going over and no “bulging tires”. no “unflyable crew” and no Hyatt voucher at least not on your trip going over.
Nancy thanks for the health care link about the health care congress gets that we all pay for but it seems some in congress think the rest of us don’t deserve,I was glad to see that when I signed it told me I had already signed on..I have signed so many with this health insurance reform that I can’t remember what I have and have not signed so it is good to have that there so no one can say someone is cheating.
Possum Yes my grandson snet flat Stanley to his other grandmother and i believe I read where President Obama before he became president was sent Flat Stanley by a young child and he was one of the few peoplein politics that took Stanley with him .and returning Stanllye with the letter telling of his travels. I remember reading that during the campaign
redwoodmuse hugs,light and prayers go out for your daughter and her family.
I read a lot on McCain during the campaign and there are a lot of vets that call him out for being less then he claims,,They say he told the enemy the flight areas where our planes would be flying thereby putting our men at risk.Some wonder why he won’t let the Vietnamese government release his records and think the worst because of that.At any rate yes we need term limits but like the last time it came up it will not pass because everyone wants to stay where they are and claim that they know what they are doing and someone knew would take too long to get up to speed,but some of these guys like McCain and some dems have been in their 40 or more years..I think also that rush got to McCain and I also think he is trying to get back at President Obama anyway he can because he lost and it was to Obama.I think McCain thought the fix was in and as the night wore on he realized it wasn’t and I think Palin has the same attitude.She is not looking out for the American people .No Way No How.
What bothered me was that there was a LOT of chatter about how McCain being a POW (or in the service at least) QUALIFIED him to be President. It was all about how he “knows” how to run the military (WAR WAR WAR) and that Obama couldn’t possibly run a military, having not served.
It’s a ridiculous notion. There is SOOOOOOOOO much more to being president than running the military! Not to mention top-notch advisors to help with that.
McCain would have been a complete failure with the economy, wall street, diplomatic relations, etc. Even today, he can’t find a “diplomatic” way to say his pick of SP was a colossal mistake.
In such an incredibly irresponsible move with dragging SP into this, he will NEVER be deemed fit to run this country. Military service or not.
He should get out of the Senate, also too. He’s not fit to look after the interests of his own state, let alone the country. Choosing SP is full evidence of that.
BTW: We have term limits in that we vote and can fire them when they seek re-election. Trouble is, many vote the incumbent just because of name recognition, which is a sad statement on the quality of our voters.
Another thought to just throw out there: Wonder how many of the birthers, health care opponents, etc. even bothered to vote? Sure, they have loud, annoying voices now, but did they VOTE? I bet most would SAY yes, but I also bet many would be lying.
Didn’t vote? Then you have no right to complain. Sit down and shut up.