Tea for You

Yesterday, President Obama signed into law what most think will be a good first step toward overhauling the largest and most expensive institution in our nation; health care. What seems to most (and when I say most, I'm saying it because health care reform was a major platform upon which Obama got elected by the majority of Americans) to be a positive step toward taking care of our own, has been under harsh scrutiny and has endured a lot of false propaganda by it's opponents.

I would say that the vast majority of those that support health care reform would freely admit that this is not a perfect first step, but it is the best step that could be taken right now. Do we need tort reform? Absolutely. Should we look at starting to cover only evidence-based procedures? Maybe. Should we take the hardest look at the devastatingly huge amount of money that we spend on end-of-life care by coming to terms with our fear of the idea of losing a loved one? Probably. But, all of those things will take a long time, overcoming social mores and the pressure that family members feel to make a 'good' decision, or to prolong the inevitable. I'm proud of this first step, and I look forward to the progress that can be made from it.

Click here to see a very abbreviated list of some of the benefits we can expect to see from the health-care bill. I like that it cites its sources for each reason...although number 7 is not cited, so I'm inclined to believe it's a looser number.

I thought this video was interesting, keeping in mind that it was obviously edited; but since it was edited to my own political slant I, of course, like it. Even though it will take a good chunk of an afternoon, I've decided that I will sit and read the whole bill so that I do understand...I would hate to feel as unprepared to defend my position as these folks obviously were if put on the spot.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I hope that if you didn't get to see the speech, you'll take the time to watch it; either here, on youTube, or the multitude of other places it's bound to wind up. The only thing I cut out was the applause at the beginning.

In an age when information is at our fingertips, it's always a little alarming to see how many people choose to comment on, and get riled up about, something that they've not yet seen or heard from the horse's mouth so to speak. As a student of history I remember my lessons well; I value primary sources as the go-to, then I move on to secondary sources to get perspective (i.e. the political pundits and newcasters, bloggers like myself and the guys you blab with at the coffee shop who saw it for themselves).

An informed public is what, as J reminded me, makes a democracy successful. Arm yourselves with knowledge and then, if you still feel the same way you did, argue to your heart's delight.

In Memorium

Today we were at Stop-n-Shop picking up a few things for dinner and our produce for the week and, upon exiting, I saw an elderly VFW member handing out the paper poppies I remember getting in grade school when our neighbor (and VFW member) Jim Kauffman used to visit our classroom prior to Memorial Day weekend.

This man saw me with my two boys in the cart, heading back to the car and asked if they'd gotten their flower yet. I politely declined for Charlie, as he'd just choke on it, but said that H would love one. I slipped my donation into the plastic canister and H palmed his flower as the man explained that they were made by wounded soldiers at the VA Hospitals. Almost as an afterthought, he said "Our country doesn't ever really learn from our past. These little boys you've got here...someday they'll grow up..." he didn't have to finish the sentence.

I thanked him for the flower and for his service to our country and headed out into the sticky New England heat. While the comment made a bit of a lump in the pit of my stomach, the flower and what it symbolizes were a great opportunity for me to give a basic explanation of Memorial Day to H, and to remember for myself that it's not just bar-b-ques and beaches.

I hope you'll take the time to thank someone in the Armed Forces, no matter your politics, as you enjoy the extra day of R and R the weekend.

In Flander's Field

by Col. John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago,

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved and now we lie,

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you, from failing hands, we throw,

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us, who die,

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,

In Flanders Fields.

From the Peanut Gallery...

Even the little ones know how great this country can be with the right leadership. I broke the news to H first thing this morning. (We need to work on the pronunciation, but...)

Rock the Vote

Or at least give it a guilty little nudge...



You can create this guilt-fest for your friends at CNNBC Video (by moveon.org)

Got Democracy?

I've received the email about the documentary Iron Jawed Angels a couple of times, and was glad to be reminded of the struggle that many women endured in order for us to have the right to vote today. In this country we talk a lot about, and treasure the fact, that we have 'certain inalienable rights'. We also talk a lot about what we're entitled to.

In exchange for those entitlements, we have certain responsibilities in doing our part to maintain a democracy. You'll have your chance to fulfill that responsibility in just one week. Make it a priority to get to that voting booth or mail in your ballot.

I saw an awesome bumper sticker the other day that said "Vote or Shut the F*&% Up!" It's only too true. Even if your candidate didn't win, you still have the right to complain about the outcome if you voted, otherwise you may as well be complaining about yourself because you are a part of the problem.

A Work In Progress

As I was looking at a plethora of MSNBC's articles about the polls and last night's debate, I came across a couple that were particularly interesting. Steve Tuttle's It's Just a Flesh Wound examined what may be behind the thinking of the 10% of Americans who report they are currently satisfied with the direction of the country.

Regarding the current economic crisis, he states "Maybe the people who are satisfied just can't admit to what's happening. Seriously, who could have predicted that giving out loans like Halloween candy to people with mini-salaries to buy mini-mansions—who then used their home equity to buy gas-guzzling Hummers—would ever backfire?"

The fact-checking article on MSNBC examined McCain's plan to alleviate the mortgage crisis:

"McCAIN: "Now, we have allocated $750 billion. Let's take 300 of that billion and go in and buy those home loan mortgages and negotiate with those people in their homes, 11 million homes or more, so that they can afford to pay the mortgage, stay in their home."

THE FACTS: Ordering the government to buy up bad mortgages to cut homeowners' monthly payments might sound good, but experts are skeptical. They say the plan McCain is promoting is unlikely to solve the housing crisis that's pushing the economy toward recession. One big problem: The vast majority of the toxic home loans that are clogging financial markets and freezing up credit have been repackaged into complex investments that the government would be hard-pressed to unravel and buy. And the government could end up paying far more than they would ever be worth. That could primarily help banks and lenders with taxpayer money.

— The Associated Press "

When J and I were getting ready to make the trek east, we wanted to buy a home, so began the application process for a loan. The amount for which we were pre-approved was much higher than the amount for which we knew we could comfortable make the monthly payments, so we didn't even look at that end of the spectrum of houses. Alas, we didn't find a house in our 'range' so are living in apartment-land, but we're okay with that if it means that we'll have a house to live in through the duration of our stay here.

I was also looking at the fact check from last night's debate, as I was so annoyed when I finished watching it that I immediately called my parents to ensure that my dear old dad wasn't losing his mind and supporting McCain...I was assured that he is not. I wonder how many messages from new clients old Joe the Plumber has this morning?

I am constantly reminded that our lives, like this country, are a work in progress. Much like a crazy quilt, or something knit from stash yarns, you have to constantly re-examine the materials that you have on-hand. How will the fibers work together? Do you need to increase the tension to make it all stronger or loosen up a little to have the desired effect? Do you need to invest in some new yarn to make it all work? The last material you used will help dictate the next.

In the end, after all your hard work and consideration, it would be really sad to end up with the ugly sweater that nobody wants to wear.

My Name Is...(not) Slim Shady

I was reading That Girl today, or should I say Timber Challenger, and decided to try my own name on the Hockey-mom express.

Sally HP, "if you were born to Sarah Palin, your name would be: Shank Piston Palin. Who knows, Shank Piston Palin you just might be president one day!" Even better, J would be Loin Falcon.

Give it a whirl here!

Aunt Flow Has Come To Town

Double click on the flow chart so that it's big enough to read...

I think that the most disturbing part of the past month is that I get sick to my stomach every time she starts to talk because I can just feel that she is utterly unprepared to answer the majority of questions that are asked of her. I couldn't identify it until I realized that I had the same feeling you get when going for a job interview that you're not sure you'll get or when you walk in the room to take a final and realized you studied (aka crammed) the wrong material.

In reading my sister's post today, it clicked. That's exactly it! It is such a slimy move by the McCain camp, and if you say it wasn't intentional, then he has the most unobservant advisers known to man.

Yet, the reality that she could be #2 on the short list of people to lead our nation is utterly terrifying. While the SNL skits are hilarious, it's sad that there is really not that much that the writers have had to do in order to make us titter at the ridiculous statements made by the faux Palin. My friend Tyson has been known to say on several occasions while dying of laughter "It's funny because it's true." Well this, my friend, is not so funny.

Morning Sickness

Last night, as I was watching the debates, I realized just how upsetting it would be to wake up in November to find that McCain/Palin would be leading our nation for the next four years. I swear, if she brought a question that she didn't want to answer back to energy or the "Great State of Alaska" one more time, I was going to put a pillow over my face and scream.

I understand that by completely ignoring questions that she didn't know the answer to she was technically being a good debater, but what does that say about how she will be as a Vice President? I don't feel at all confident that she would be capable of holding herself accountable. All the 'darn it alls' and shout outs to the "Joe Six-Packs" of the world do not make up for the fact that she did not answer the majority of the questions to which I would have liked to hear her answer.

One of my personal pet peeves is when someone is not able to answer the "what is your weakness question." You do not respond to 'what is your Achilles' Heel?' with a strength.

I secretly loved that she continually referred to General McClellan (a civil war general) when she meant General McKiernan. Then she tried to contradict Biden by saying "Well, first, McClellan did not say definitively the surge principles would not work in Afghanistan. Certainly, accounting for different conditions in that different country and conditions are certainly different. We have NATO allies helping us for one, and even the geographic differences are huge but the counterinsurgency principles could work in Afghanistan. McClellan didn't say anything opposite of that. The counterinsurgency strategy going into Afghanistan, clearing, holding, rebuilding, the civil society and the infrastructure can work in Afghanistan."

Huh, we'll here's McKiernan's quote from The Washington Post as found on factcheck.org:
"The word I don't use for Afghanistan is 'surge,' " McKiernan stressed, saying that what is required is a "sustained commitment" to a counterinsurgency effort that could last many years and would ultimately require a political, not military, solution."

Maybe she shouldn't be so smug in her challenge to people that they could try to 'stump the candidate' because it looks like they already have. If you haven't seen at least part of the Katie Couric interview with Governor Palin, check it out on YouTube as there are several clips. It's really interesting to see what happens when you take away the comfort of a script.

And now, a word from Matt Damon:





Matty, you can rest assured because I'm talkin' about it!

Yay for Tina Fey!