Part of the new HEALTH BILL you might want to read....

ARE WE INSANE?
Page 25 of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE'S "BILL to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes." (the 'other purposes' made me nervous, does it you?) READ ON, my friends:

(2) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.—If the Secretary estimates for any fiscal year that the aggregate amounts available for payment of expenses of the high-risk pool will be less than the amount of the expenses, the Secretary shall make such adjustments as are necessary to eliminate such deficit, including reducing benefits, increasing premiums, or establishing waiting lists.

Pris's son found this little ditty in the latest House of Rep's bill...........how much MORE is in there we're not seeing?

Wait......INCREASING premiums? REDUCING BENEFITS? WAITING LISTS?.....at 'the secretary's' discretion? And how hard did the leftwingers insist that there will be no RATIONING? Um..............

thanks, Pris and Pris, Jr...............this is insane and WE HAVE TO FIGHT HARDER!

SEND THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS!!
Z

THANK YOU

I'm not quite ready to visit your blogs as I've always enjoyed doing; Thank you so much for supporting mine until I'm feeling up to that. I guess keeping close to 'home' here's what's feeling good for now. Blogging these last couple weeks has been such a diversion and catharsis for me.
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart..........thanks for your kindness, your loyalty, your patience.

Additionally, I just went to our internist who said "You were married almost twenty years? You know....I don't know how'll you take this, but I thought you two were still in the first years of a new marriage."

I took it very well. I wish the same for all of you, and so would Mr. Z

me

CIA: WHY have one?

The New York Times is alleging that Karzai's brother is on CIA payroll. Here's a clip from the article:
"The CIA's practices also suggest the United States is not doing everything in its power to stamp out the lucrative Afghan drug trade, a major source of revenue for the Taliban, the Times said."
REALLY? Is this information going out to the world good for America? Here's more: "In addition, some U.S. officials argue that the reliance on Ahmed Wali Karzai undermines the push to develop an effective central government that would eventually allow the United States to withdraw, the paper reported. "
Is this a joke? If there are problems some CIA insiders don't like, must they run to the NY Times for all the world to see? (the same NY Times which has bemoaned that "The world hates us" Do you blame them? NO OTHER country exposes its dirty laundry through the NY Times for all to see). Is this leftwinger "America can do no right and we have to bring her down and expose everything about her" kind of stuff, or what?
How does this help America? Wouldn't closed door hearings help if there's an inside problem? Just a thought. No..........let's tell the WHOLE WORLD WE ARE WRONG AGAIN, right?

RESPOND TO TOM..........with some excellent comments, particularly a great reminder from Free Thinker, and a link about surgeons you need to read

Tom at STAY A WHILE blog..HERE....answered a comment in my post below and I'm too tired and not quite 'with it' these days to answer completely....could you all take a stab? I know you're up to it: I'd said I was happy with our private insurance and he started with this response (I'm in BOLD):

It's a mistake to judge your good results with your insurance company as the usual result most people and doctors have with insurance companies. According to the current bill your plan will NOT change. You can keep what you have. (Z: this one, I know not to be true because how will my insurance agency stay open if gov't care is so cheap everyone leaves my company not realizing how minimized and bureaucratic their healthcare will be?)

"Do you want your doctor leaving the practice of medicine (as 45% of docs have threatened to do) because he has to check into Washington to see if that MRI is REALLY needed for you?"

Of course not! You are aware that doctors decisions are being dictated by health insurance companies according to what they will pay to cover. Doctors are sick of being told what they should prescribe to their patients by these insurance companies, and a majority (69%) of doctors want health care reform.

A government program is not useless because it has fraud and abuse. ALL government programs have fraud and abuse. Should we eliminate, or deny the Defense Department to Americans because the Defense Department has some of the biggest waste and abuse of any federal program?

"is it American to INSIST on people buying coverage of be punished?$$"

Is it? We already insist on car, property, liability insurance etc. and enforce punishments for not buying that coverage. That is to protect other people from possible harm, not yourself. If all have health insurance, that protects us from the cost of others negligent behavior. Seems that is a proven practice in our society.

Tort reform is great, we need it. But don't kid yourself, it is (according to the CBO) only 2% of the total expense of the medical insurance system. Tort reform will NOT solve the problem, but we should have it.

Competition brings costs down. A non-profit will bring competition.

I do not see strong enough competition within the private health insurance industry to keep costs down. In fact health care costs are sky rocketing far beyond any other industry, so much so, that it is in danger of becoming unaffordable to any one but the rich. That is not good, normal, free market capitalism at work.
If capitalism only serves a minority of its society, then it is a failure.

Yes, those hospitals are being closed down, because those people are not insured. So do we allow the hospitals to be closed, or do we figure out a way to insure that segment of society?

If we make a moral decision that no one will be turned away, then we must also make the moral and responsible decision to financially protect the medical (including hospitals) system by saying that all should be insured.

You didn't speak to the morality of this, which is what my comment was about.

You didn't speak to the costs being taken off the backs of our employers, which I said/think is most important for health care reform to do.

You didn't speak to the abuses health insurance companies are putting upon their PAYING customers, which has so many people seeking health care reform.

You didn't speak to the point that a majority of Americans believe, that people should have access to health care.

"(just) FIX THE PROBLEM"

What is your answer? Tort reform, what else? Your happy, fine, but 10's of millions are not.

In a Democracy, I have to live with much that I disagree with because the majority has decided otherwise.

I have no kids. Why should I pay school taxes?

If someone does not own a car, why should they pay taxes to build roads and bridges?

We do these things for the betterment of society as a whole.

It is selfish of me to not be responsible to the needs of my fellow citizens, just because I do not personally need those services. The taxes I pay, are not just to provide services to me, but to the whole country.

All Americans communally pay taxes for services needed for the whole society, whether they personally need them or not.

So...what do you guys say to TOM. He's a good guy and has good responses, but I think a lot of them will be well responded to by some of you......go at it!

z

Sunday Faith Blog

If you haven't yet read Mr Z's last blog post, please do.
z

Private Insurance was amazing...

During Mr. Z's last few months of an expensive and lengthy diagnosis period and, then, treatment, our private insurance (one of the Blue's) was AMAZING. Yes, we paid a pretty good premium every month, but we never had to worry about what would not be covered.
We were so grateful that no bureaucrats in Washington were involved, that our doctors were the best in the area and were part of our plan, and that the hospitals where tests were done were also part of our plan....two of the very best hospitals in Los Angeles.

Private insurance is the only way to go, folks; I just lived through it, BIG TIME. We experienced this at our most crucial time and the insurance company had their finest hour.

Let's cover those who aren't insured and tweak the rest to make it better, not undermine it and ruin it for all of us. We were so grateful for our coverage. Leave us alone...........don't ruin it for all of us. I know Mr. Z would want me to mention this. And, by the way, since when is it okay for an American president to harangue any company for making profits? Go ahead, Insurance Company....make a profit; just make sure you treat us as well as you did us when we needed you.

z

Mr. Z had AMYLOIDOSIS.....this is not to scare, just to educate

• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Shortness of breath
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Diarrhea
• Severe fatigue
• An enlarged tongue
• Feeling full after eating smaller amounts of food than usual
• Dizziness upon standing
• Swelling of the ankles or legs

Also, porphyria-like symptoms on his hands....THAT was his first symptom about 4 years ago, and it had gone away long before he was feeling full, dizziness upon standing (caused by low blood pressure typical in this disease), and had a slight shortness of breath. His cardiac involvement is what caused his sudden, early, and unexpected death..........
If this saves one life, Mr. Z would think it's worth my sharing this information.
If you haven't already, please read his LAST POST, I think you'll be blessed.....thanks so much.
God bless you all and keep you healthy and happy.
Z

photo by Mr Z

Mr. Z's most important blog post....he'd have wanted you to share it with friends, I hope you do xxx

photo by Mr Z

This piece was written by Mr. Z a few weeks before he so unexpectedly passed on to be with the Lord. He wanted me to share it with friends then and I think he’d have liked for me to share it with you today. We were going to post this before he died so unexpectedly; he prepared it more anonymously as if it were from a friend because we didn't want it known that he was ill quite yet, but now I can print it as he wrote it. I hope you'll all be blessed by it.

“Survival Guide......or The Worth of a Life”

There’s a Russian, one of the richest men in the world, who owns a yacht worth $850 million and the English soccer club FC Chelsea. I am sure he knows a lot of people in the ‘in crowd’, but I fear these people would drop him like a hot potato if he lost all his riches. I am saying this because at the end of the day he will face the Almighty with just a shirt on, like everybody else, but very likely with nothing else to speak of. Sadly, “empty” would probably characterize him correctly.

These thoughts came to my mind recently when I was thinking about my situation. I have a very grave illness and, when you are in a situation like this, you think about the meaning of life and whether it is really worth fighting for. I am well aware that there are people with more serious problems than the ones I am facing; as a matter of fact, we don’t have to look too far beyond our own circle of friends for that. But every situation is individually different and I can only speak for myself. I have invented a “Misery Factor“ with a scale of 1 to 10 to assess my situation, 10 being the worst. If I didn’t take chemotherapy, I am sure that, over the short or long term, it would approach a 10 permanently. With the therapy, it appears that the factor can be kept in check, and we will be able to see over time whether the corresponding blood values return to normal. I am optimistic. But I have to step back for a moment and explain what keeps me going.

The first factor is the doctors. After the first symptoms, it took quite a while to correctly diagnose this extremely rare disease. I was very touched by the concern and care these doctors showed in their almost zealous drive to find out what was wrong. I was also extremely impressed that these excellent doctors put their egos aside and consulted with other doctors when they felt like their amazing talents had hit a wall. This team of doctors ultimately got me to the one specialist in the LA area who deals with this illness – and he implemented immediately this chemotherapy with which he has had some good results in other patients. My point is: If they are personally that concerned about me and encourage this strenuous treatment, how can I not go for it?

But there is another, even more important reason. First of all, the care which I receive from my dear wife makes it possible for me to survive this ordeal at all. Not that I hadn’t expected that, but it has also brought us even closer together. In addition, I had never imagined such an outpouring of prayers and help keeping up my morale from my family and friends here, my family and friends overseas, and from many, many people whom I have never met or even heard of, through prayer chains, cards, emails and calls. This is unconditional love and concern and it comes in an avalanche which I would have never thought possible. It truly has caught me by surprise – but it shouldn’t have surprised me really, knowing the tightly knit family, the many old friends, and the religious roots of many of our (and mostly my wife’s) friends.

This clearly gives me the feeling that not only am I still needed and cared for on this earth, but that I will not stand with empty hands and only a shirt on when the time comes, facing the Almighty in whom my faith has solidified and who has always come through for me and my wife. This is a very comforting feeling and strongly confirms what is really important in life – it is certainly not the biggest yacht, or ownership of a soccer team; those things will mean nothing when any of us meets our Maker.

Hug your wife or husband, cherish them even on the days that's the last thing you feel like doing. Be optimistic, have faith, never complain, and remember that THINGS don't matter. For Mr. Z's sake.......

I hope this piece Mr Z wrote touches you as it has so many of our 'real life' friends. Thank you for your amazing supportive comments since his passing and, please, take a little time to read some of MR Z'S OPINIONS on my side bar from time to time, when you can.......I'd like his pieces to be remembered. Thanks, everybody. Z.

Mr. Z's funeral is Sunday, please pray for calm for me and that all goes well. xxx

I will be posting next week on what my Mr. Z died from and will be informing people of the early symptoms of his rare disease.....for his sake. I think he'd like it if he helped others discover this rotten disease early enough that they can live. Please come back some time next week. thanks. Z

And, PLEASE do not use my real name here on the blog; for some reason people I know off the blog are suddenly commenting and I can't have our real names here, sorry. I'll have to delete, though you're all so kind to comment.

z

Thank you, Defiant Infidel Blog!

Everyone...ignore the nice things DI and Miradena wrote about ME and focus on Mr. Z....and the video they made just for him! I am touched beyond words and so grateful. His children have just arrived and watched it with me and they can't believe their eyes.
Thank you, Defiant Infidel friends...............for want of better words than just 'thank you'.
What an HONOR to my husband.....
Please click here and enjoy the beauty.

And, a friend just sent me this and it's so beautiful I had to share it with you:

Perhaps they are not stars,

but openings in Heaven,

where the love of our lost ones pours through

and shines upon us to let us know they are happy

Thanks, Mary xxx

Thanks, everyone

It's been a difficult time, to say the least, these last few days... but I'm surrounded by family and friends and so many unexpected kindnesses. I can't even wrap my mind around how much I miss Mr Z and I don't think it's even hit me yet. I wish you could have known him.

I'll be publishing something he wrote very soon....you'll know him better then, I think.

Thank you for all you've written in the post below; I'll be keeping them...some of my non-blogging family have read your comments and have told me they're knocked out at the kind and sensitive, encouraging comments........I am, too, Z

Mr. Z has gone to the Lord

Please pray for me and our family and friends.
I hadn't told you yet that he'd been diagnosed with a very rare and very difficult disease; we didn't expect this quick an end.
I will write about him when I can.

God bless you all. Please pray for me....Z

UCLA....bedlam in the Chem Lab....did you hear?

Some crazy UCLA chemistry student attacked a female chemistry student in the lab....cutting her throat and killing her had instructors not rushed to hold pressure against her neck and saved her life that way. She's in the hospital expected to recover. THIS is why I blogged this story:

"The session was part of an organic chemistry class led by lecturer Alfred D. Bacher, who said Friday that the class can be demanding but doubted the stress was responsible for the attack."

Are we to the point that we think kids kill other kids because a class is tough? What would possess a lecturer to even consider that? He CUT HER THROAT.........

OBAMA wins THE NOBEL APPEASE...um...PEACE PRIZE

UPDATE: Looks like we're not alone, plenty are wondering WHY?
From AP: OSLO – President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation. The article goes on to say:

"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said."

Remember when Chicago lost its bid for the Olympics last week and the Leftwingers suggested it was Bush's fault? I thought that was just plain silly, because if it were Bush's fault, they'd have awarded Obama the Chicago Olympics to show the world OBAMA IS BETTER! GOOD that OBAMA'S IN CHARGE NOW, right? Like "WE'll show the world who's better."

Well, now it looks like it was probably the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE PEOPLE who used that criterion, not the IOC. After all, Bush only kept America safe for eight years.......but what kind of criterion would THAT be to the Nobel Prize committee, right?

Obama's in good company; Arafat and Jimmy Carter ("Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who won the peace prize himself in 2002, said Obama's win showed the hope he had inspired worldwide").are 'winners' of this prize, too. They're all big losers in my book.

Here's something from the new link I added above in my UPDATE: ...."Obama won? Really? Wow," said David Hassan, 43, of Pine Brook, New Jersey. "He deserves it I guess, he's the president. He's a smart guy and I guess he's into peace." Now you all can see what kind of thinker approves of Obama's selection, right? WOW! He's a SMART guy and INTO PEACE! WHY didn't WE see that? God help us all. :-)

geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeZ

Obama's MUSLIM ADVISOR.......wow

Dalia Mogahed is President Obama's "Adviser on Muslim Affairs" (what? Oh, I know...she must work alongside his Adviser to Christian Affairs or Jewish Affairs...oh, and that Buddist Affairs position he created, right? Oh, no.....just muslim, sorry, I forgot)....She was on British television this week ..... "During this week's broadcast, she described her White House role as "to convey... to the President and other public officials what it is Muslims want." WHAT THEY WANT?...HER words not anybody else's. Oh, except maybe that's how Obama portrayed her position? "Tell me what Muslims want" (What?)

HERE is the rest of the article from which I quoted above: "Miss Mogahed, who was born in Egypt and moved to America at the age of five, is the first veiled Muslim woman to serve in the White House." More from the article:

"The White House adviser made the remarks on a London-based TV discussion programme hosted by Ibtihal Bsis, a member of the extremist Hizb ut Tahrir party. ....The group believes in the non-violent destruction of Western democracy and the creation of an Islamic state under Sharia Law across the world.....Miss Mogahed appeared alongside Hizb ut Tahrir's national women's officer, Nazreen Nawaz."

What really bugs me is that I can't find the announcement of her position that was filled on a Friday afternoon (by the way, typical of this White House..that is when it's not leaking information on Saturday night, like Van Jones' resignation and other things). ....Because, her announcement picture WAS WITHOUT THE HEAD SCARF. Yes, believe me................interesting that she is a veiled woman but the picture they released did not include the veil.

typical White House...........At least they didn't give her a white coat.
(if anybody has that picture of her unveiled, in glasses, please let me know...thanks) z

Well, on the bright side, at least Obama's being informed about "WHAT MUSLIMS WANT". Isn't that a comfort to YOU? I'd love to tell him what Christians want, wouldn't you? What might you tell him, by the way?
geeeeeeeeeeeeeZ

Obama actually MISSED a PR moment...imagine?

Will Obama ever stop disappointing? Have you heard about this?:

THIS ARTICLE seems to display a kind of recklessness on the part of the Secretary of Education, yet another worrisome appointee, but Obama doesn't help...

Here's the crux of it, from the article:

"Since 2005, dozens of Chicago's public schools have been closed and thousands of students reassigned to campuses outside their neighborhoods — and often across gang lines — as part of Renaissance 2010. While the plan has resulted in replacing failing and low-enrollment schools with charter schools and smaller campuses, it has also led to a spike in violence that has increasingly turned deadly, many activists, parents and students say.

Before the 2006 school year, an average of 10-15 public school students were fatally shot each year. That soared to 24 deadly shootings in the 2006-07 school year, 23 deaths and 211 shootings in the 2007-08 school year and 34 deaths and 290 shootings last school year.....Few deaths have occurred on school grounds, but activists say it's no coincidence that violence spiked after the school closures."

Then there's this : "Chicago Mayor Richard Daley also said Wednesday that the high-profile involvement of President Barack Obama's administration isn't "show and tell" but a genuine commitment to address youth violence."

REALLY? If that is so, how COULD this president have missed addressing this horrible death? "Derrion Albert, an honor roll student at Christian Fenger Academy High School, was attacked when he got caught up in a mob of teens about six block from school on the city's South Side. Video shows him curled up on the sidewalk, as fellow teens kick him and hit him with splintered railroad ties. So far, four teens have been charged in his death."

What a moment Obama missed. These are kids who admire the first black American president, who were supposed to feel pride in themselves through him, who must have been over the moon when he was elected........wouldn't they have LISTENED if he'd said something about gang crime and how stupid black on black crime is and how we need to stop that, encourage good character? Instead, his Sec of Education digs his feet in and suggests "I don't care WHAT HAPPENED, we KNOW we're on the right track here and it's NUTS to suggest otherwise?" He can see the stats in the article and he can say that?
Is this White House EVER going to stop being tone deaf? Obama jumped right in for his friend, Professor Gates, why couldn't he have made this a TEACHING MOMENT!? WE NEED LEADERSHIP HERE, NOT JUST JESSE JACKSON GRABBING A PHOTO OP TO ATTEND THIS POOR KID'S FUNERAL! That's not leadership! WHERE is OBAMA on this, where is the man who can't wait to speak, have a beer, calm things down....be effective???

geeeeeeZ

They're children's wars, too...........

At least one little girl didn't want to let go of her Marine Daddy's hand as he was leaving again for Iraq. Such a sweet story, but you can read all of it HERE. What a picture.
There was another story yesterday on Yahoo Headlines on this, too.
It's an amazing time for these pieces to suddenly spring up, isn't it? Just when Americans are polling a tiny bit lower for the Afghanistan war? Just when Obama's 'furious' with McChrystal for giving honest input? Just when some in the country feel we must stay there, never turn tail again?

I often wonder how wives and children made it through WWI and WWII; no mail for months, no emails, no phone calls............just amazing courage I must admit I'm not sure I'd have had; Except that is the whole point, is it not? YOU DO WHAT YOU MUST DO TO PROTECT YOUR COUNTRY.............even these little children who may be learning "war is never the answer...I miss my Daddy too much"...or "My Daddy is a hero and I'm glad I did my part to support him."

What makes that difference?

z

Is it Poll Dancin' ......or is Obama really rising in popularity?

UPDATE: I've been watching some news and discussions very early this AM...4:00AM, to be precise: Morning Joe on MSNBC, IMUS (on FOX Business, 'way to GO, Imus and BERNARD!'), FOX, CNN....I'm wondering this: Re: Afghanistan and a decision on its 8th anniversary; WHAT SIGNAL DOES IT SEND ENEMIES WHEN OUR ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING WITH GENERALS, APPARENTLY RELEASING CONVERSATIONS, TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT OBAMA IS FURIOUS WITH McCHRYSTAL FOR GIVING AN OPINION, TALKING ABOUT WHO IT'S GOOD FOR IF WE STAY, IF WE GO, CAN WE AFFORD IT, ETC. There are enemies in this world and we're in complete disarray and SHOWING THEM. How's that read? and, through all of THAT.............(back to my original post subject)...

Obama's job performance number has gone up for the first time since the election. Read it about it HERE. People say it's because of how he's handling health care and the economy.

Most experts are saying the stimulus isn't working nearly as well as it should have. Joblessness is rising at an alarming and unexpected rate. Most people understand that there really isn't yet a health care bill to even discuss let alone vote on. Are Americans this blind? Is the media covering facts this effectively? I know many people who voted for Obama who are not at all happy with him today.

Who is polled? How's that work? Have you ever been polled? NOTHING IS GOING WELL, there have been no accomplishments, who's thinking otherwise? If the media mentioned VAN JONES, reminded people of Obama's ACORN ties, if the czar situation was better explained.......if, if, if. IF we had an honest media, how might the polls read? BIG IF

geeeeeZ

Barry believed Iran? How many times will he continue to do so?

Can Barry trust IRAN? Looks like.....not so much. From the linked article at the Rubin Report:

"Of course, the Iranian regime will never actually give up the enriched uranium it plans to use for making nuclear weapons. But now they have not only fooled the U.S. and European governments, Tehran openly says so!"

Barry Rubin makes a lot of sense; I recommend you click on the above link and see if you agree......you really can't do much other than agree, sadly. As Rubin says, "Iran, unlike the Obama Administration, cannot only walk and chew gum at the same time, it can chew up and spit out American policymakers as well."

That's comforting, isn't it? Also: "Meanwhile, the British government—unlike its U.S. counterpart—is complaining that by delaying international inspections for three weeks, Iran is giving itself plenty of time to hide all the evidence of nuclear weapons’ work at its newly revealed enrichment plant. Iran has also announced it is installing new, more effective centrifuges there." Comforting, too, to think that even Gordon Brown's government's steps ahead of ours, huh?
WHEN is the Obama administration going to WAKE UP? Before or AFTER ISRAEL? What do you think?

geeeeeeeeZ (thanks, Mustang...this needed to be seen)

Docs FOR the health care bill?

WHAT BILL ARE THEY FOR?

Does anybody, like OUR PRESIDENT who's supposedly so bright and so well spoken, want to take the time to TELL US what's finally in this bill? It's supposedly changed and morphs by the second, there IS a public option, there IS NO public option...which IS IT? We're arguing about WHAT?

And then Obama decides to talk in front of doctors , as if ALL doctors want his lousy plans, and even the White House admits..."As a visual plug for Obama's efforts, the White House arranged Monday for the president to have some 150 doctors representing all 50 states arrayed in the sun-splashed lawn area just outside the West Wing. To make sure no one watching at home or catching news footage later would miss the point, the physicians wore their white lab coats."

"When you cut through all the noise and all the distractions that are out there, I think what's most telling is that some of the people who are most supportive of reform are the very medical professionals who know the health care system best," said Obama, flanked by four doctors on stage for good measure..............

But, of course, there's this:

"But Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., an orthopedic surgeon for 25 years, said many doctors, nurses and patients strongly oppose Obama's proposals....They are greatly alarmed at proposed cuts in Medicare, which is the main source of health care for many people in Wyoming and elsewhere, Barrasso said in an interview Monday. He said doctors and hospitals also want provisions to protect them against "abusive lawsuits" by people claiming malpractice." The article goes on: "Obama broke no ground in his comments. He outlined the tenets of his health reform plan: expanded and affordable health coverage options for tens of millions of people, strengthened protections for those who already have insurance, and more time for health professionals to help patients with preventative and healing care."

REALLY? Any DETAILS GIVEN by this AMAZING COMMUNICATOR? NO.

Obama said the country has heard all sides of the debate over the last few months and the time to act is now. ACT AT WHAT? WHAT BILL? WHICH ONE? Can you post it for JUST 72 HOURS? Why did YOUR PEOPLE BLOCK THAT? WHY? And WHAT HAPPENED TO PELOSI'S PROMISE??

Also, Civil Rights organizations are launching a huge push for THE HEALTH CARE BILL. Do they know illegal immigrants MAY not be covered on it? DO THEY KNOW WHAT THE BILL ENTAILS AT ALL, or does it just sound good to the leftwingers who want anything that's free, anyway?

Obama finished his press conference with this: "I want to thank every single doctor who is here," Obama said. "And I especially want to thank you for agreeing to fan out across the country and make the case about why this reform effort is so desperately needed. You are the people who know this system best. You are the experts."

Oh, great..........just what America needs: COMMUNITY ORGANIZER DOCTORS...
geeez

Gay trees and California's FISH

I was just reading that people in Iowa are sick of the stink of gingko trees (who knew?) ....
HERE'S THE ARTICLE. Would I care about this at all, except for you in Iowa who've had to smell that rotten stench, if it didn't remind me of the California Central Valley problem?

Female trees are being cut down and replaced with male trees (WHERE ARE THE TREE HUGGERS? Where is the National Organization for WOMEN?) but the Democrats will not allow a 3" fish to risk extinction so they've turned off all the water to the Valley, causing 40,000 to lose their jobs and the consequential huge amount of foreclosures, lack of produce production for the country, etc etc?

The article suggests that, though it's the female tree which drops pods which stink so badly, MALE trees do that, too, but only 'one in a hundred'.........GAY TREES? Maybe THAT's why they're fighting so hard to keep them? Who cares about 40,000 people, whole industries, and the dying of the great Central Valley, right? Maybe if all the farmers were gay...........?
geeeez

wouldn't you feel a little like Fay Wray?

Get my point? And, would you go up there?

Sunday Faith Blog.....with a LITTLE politics included!

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:20

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

Seems to me that LIGHT is being shed and TRUTH is getting out in America. ACORN's scandal(s), Health care plans being revealed for what they really are, Gitmo not closing immediately, staying in Iraq and Afghanistan after all the anti-war campaigning, "stimulating" packages showing that lowering taxes would probably have been a better idea (where that's being proven to work even in traditionally high tax countries!)........... Keep the faith.

Shine your light today and every day. Have a great day! Mr and Mrs Z
z

Michelle Obama..."Me, I, MY, our..........."

From Michelle Obama's bid to the Olympics Committee:

"And I'm not asking just as the First Lady of the United States, who is eager to welcome the world to our shores. And not just as a Chicagoan, who is proud and excited to show the world what my city can do. Not just as a mother raising two beautiful young women to embrace athleticism and pursue their full potential.

I'm also asking as a daughter.

See, my dad would have been so proud to witness these Games in Chicago. And I know they would have meant something much more to him, too."

I don't know why, but this really bothers me. It just always seems to be about THEM, not AMERICA. And, really, I'm not just slammin' to slam........it's really just so odd, deeply different than what we've had in the past. Just wondered what you all thought.............

(and please read below...especially you MOMS!!)

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/president-obama-michelle_n_307637.html

Moms for America...and GUYS, something very special for you, too

HERE is what you GUYS will want to read..(the title is "Why I am no longer an African American" and it's amazing)....then leave the rest to the ladies; BUT, please encourage ladies in your life to get involved like the women below!

AS A MOM...A Sisterhood of Mommy Patriots is a blog aimed at moms all across America. Here are the 'network of principles' this blog is based upon:

The Nine Principles
1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

The Twelve Values
1-Honesty
2-Reverence
3-Hope
4-Thrift
5-Humility
6-Charity
7-Sincerity 8-Moderation
9-Hard Work
10-Courage
11-Personal Responsibility
12-Gratitude

HERE is MARY BAKER's BLOG...She was on Glenn Beck's show with the Mom from the blog above and another mom of TWELVE children. Mary's blog was introduced to me through Vegas Art Guy's blog because she published THIS ARTICLE that knocked his socks off and, then, mine! You really ought to treat yourself to reading it; it's entitled Why I am no longer an African American. I mentioned it above because I knew women AND men would want to read that. Amazing piece.
Please support these two women....join As a Mom; if you're a grandma, get your daughters to join! Read Mary's blog, she has some really wonderful blog pieces, very impressive.

Glenn Beck might not be YOUR cup of tea, but that man's done more to energize Conservative Americans of all colors and genders and ages than anybody since Ronald Reagan!

Strength through numbers, people! Join, talk to your neighbors, talk to other moms at your schools, get involved! We've got a country to save............and, if we don't start teaching our kids to love America again, it will be beyond saving.

z

RIO GOT THE OLYMPICS BID

May it be successful, safe and a blessing to Rio and the world. Even if most of us think the Olympics is as corrupt as Chicago.

CHICAGO LOST THE BID.....but at least McChrystal got an audience

UPDATE: OBAMA' S REACTION is disappointment
"In making his pitch, the president had said that a nation shaped by the people of the world "wants a chance to inspire it once more." Never before had a U.S. president made such an in-person appeal, and Obama's critics will doubtlessly see the vote as a sign of his political shortcomings."

WE can INSPIRE? I thought we were too busy apologizing?

Bybyeeeeeeeeee.....Yes, Chicago lost its bid. BUT......
In approximately 7o days, McChrystal got to speak with Obama a second time while Obama was in Denmark today. Keep it up, Conservatives; keep up the push for Obama to pay attention. It worked again:

Obama, McChrystal meet in Denmark

"President Obama met with Gen. Stanley McChrystal aboard Air Force One in Copenhagen Friday. The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan flew from London to Denmark and spoke with the president for about 25 minutes in the forward cabin.

"The president wanted to take the opportunity to get together with Gen. McChrystal," explained White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "The President realized that he would be close and thought it was a good opportunity to continue the conversation and discussion about Afghanistan and Pakistan that happened -- at least started in the middle of September in a meeting and continued in the Situation Room for three hours on Wednesday.............Gibbs said the possibility of meeting was first raised on Wednesday, when Obama phoned McChrystal prior to meeting with him and other advisers to discuss Afghanistan."

Z: With the Olympics loss, I'm sure a lot of Chicagoans are relieved this morning. And, I guess Obama could kind of deflect the fact that he lost the bid by finally meeting a second time with McChrystal in almost 3 months? I wonder who'll get dissed for having not caved to Obama's push for the Olympics? I'm just realizing something....I'm very happy that Obama lost something. That should feel better than it does, you know? Says a lot, I suppose. By the way.......will anybody who REALLY wanted this in Chicago$ make him pay for having failed? Interesting thought. geeeeeeeeeeeeeeZ

Michelle and Oprah's sacrificial trip to Copenhagen

"As much of a sacrifice as people say this is for me or Oprah or the president to come for these few days," the first lady told a crowd of people involved in the Chicago project, "so many of you in this room have been working for years to bring this bid home."

My buddy Ellen pointed out this 'sacrifice' remark from Michelle Obama to me and I'm wondering if you can help us out with what the heck she means? It's a sacrifice for her and Oprah and the president? "People have said this?" WHO? Read it HERE and help me out, okay?
And, BY THE WAY...."for the kids"? How's about FOR THE CHICAGOANS WHO SUPPORTED BARACK AND NOW WE'RE HELPING PAY THEM BACK!??

Or is this about "best defense is a good offense" (to keep it in sports language) because she had to be pretty sure eyebrows in America would go up that OPRAH and MICHELLE went along to Copenhagen to promote an Olympics that many Chicagoans don't want? "Ah, okay, Michelle, we get it. People have been working 'for years to bring this bid home' and you feel flying off with your hubby and girlfriend on Air Force One is a sacrifice, but you're willing to make it. Well I, for one, am very impressed!" (but, I'm thinking I'm about the ONLY ONE?) (and, not really..notsomuch) Oh, it's for 'the kids'....right. OH, maybe KIDS are why Barack's taking along Arne Duncan....Education Secretary...to get an Olympics bid, right? (WHAT?)

"Obama is also mobilizing his administration on behalf of Chicago's bid. Senior adviser Jarrett, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, will also be joining the president and first lady in Copenhagen. All are from Illinois." Well, THAT makes sense. (not)
UPDATE: News this morning:

Valerie Jarrett, one of three special advisors to the President, believes this campaign resembles Obama's history-making run to the White House. "It is similar to the Iowa caucuses," said 52-year-old Jarrett. "It's about meeting people one-on-one. The First Lady also has the opportunity to make a compelling case for Chicago.

"The President will endeavour to do the same thing when he arrives on Friday. We are not taking a single vote for granted. We will work for each vote until the very last moment and we are through the finish line."

That seems almost embarrassing, unseemly, in regard to the Olympics........are they ALWAYS in CAMPAIGN MORE?
geeeeZ