Saturday, January 30, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
Twelve Steps to Temperance for Journalists and Reporters
ROTW Contributor: Angela Durden
1. I admit I am powerless over ego-propping print
bylines and television facetime. I know that my reporting angles are
unnaturally influenced by my arrogant, self-righteous do-gooderism towards
those I have judged to be helpless, stupid, ignorant, and who don’t agree with
me.
2. I have come to believe that not all situations are as cut and
dried as I once believed, and
that Accuracy and Truth has power greater to repair than does my narrow view.
If I stop reporting with pre-conceived biased judgment and only do my job – that is, simply telling what happened – this could restore readership to the
paper and draw more viewers to the screen.
3. I have made a decision to turn
my opinion and my arrogance over to the care of Accuracy and Truth whether or not my editor or producer
agrees with it.
4. I have made a searching and
fearless moral inventory of the reasons I hold so dearly to Political Correctness at
the sacrifice of Accuracy and Truth, and found that I am
actually quite prejudiced, racist, narrow-minded, and don’t wish for equality
for all.
5. I have admitted to my readers and/or viewers, and
to myself, and to the subjects of my stories, the exact nature of my wrongly
held attitudes and beliefs.
6. I am entirely ready to have
the viewers and/or readers help me remove all these defects of my character by reading their letters of discontent and paying heed to their
honest feedback about
my delivery of the news.
7. I have humbly asked my viewers
and/or readers to help me remove my shortcomings.
8. I have made a list of all
persons and subject matter I have harmed, and am now willing to make redo the
story and accurately tell the truth about what happened – and in that telling there shall be no slant to prop up my ego or
narrowly held beliefs.
9. I have made direct amends to such subjects and news stories
wherever possible.
10. I have continued to take
personal inventory and, when I am wrong, promptly correct it on the spot without making excuses and without evading my moral responsibility
to Accuracy and Truth.
11. Through pleas and deep reflection I have sought to improve my conscious
contact with my readers and viewers, even if they are in fly-over country,
asking only that they know I am now accurately delivering the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth of the story, challenging “spin” from
interview subjects, while leaving the reader or viewer to
come to their own conclusions about the rightness or wrongness of the story, and that they give me the power to
carry that out.
12. Having had a moral awakening, I will carry this
message to other journalists and reporters to practice these principles at all
times in all our stories, knowing all the while I may be maligned and
criticized for leading the charge for Accuracy and Truth.
Is the Jeb! Campaign Toast?
Unless
the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire are wrong to a staggering degree, Jeb
Bush’s candidacy is toast. That means his donors are out well over $100
million.
People
on the ground could have told these people that Americans aren’t fond of royal
families. (Hope that applies to Hillary, too.) From Politico:
Of course
not. People like Karl Rove still think they can derail Donald Trump and Ted
Cruz and somehow persuade a brokered convention to pick El Jeb. More from
Politico:
And
finally this:
Translation: Hey, there’s a graveyard. Now listen to me whistle.
Al Jazeera bites the dust
It
would be remiss of me not to mention the pending demise of the cable news
network Al Jazerra America, which is shutting down April 30. Boo-hoo, cried
NOBODY anywhere.
The
network’s CEO, Al Anstey, announced that the “decision
by Al Jazeera America’s board is driven by the fact that our business model is
simply not sustainable in light of economic challenges in the U.S. media
marketplace.”
From
The New York Times:
It’s
hardly surprising that America didn’t cotton to a cable news channel owned by
Mideast interests that didn’t mind sprinkling in anti-Semitism. The question is
why these suckers paid such a high price to get into your living room.
Mr.
Gore and his partners launched Current TV in 2005 and toyed with formats before
settling on liberal drivel. Keith Olbermann worked there a few minutes, it has
been rumored. Cenk (rhymes with stink) Yugur hosted a program called “The Young
Turks.” Jennifer Granholm, once the governor of Michigan, bored people nightly.
Every
twist and turn of programming was accompanied by lavish praise from The Times,
dozens of stories. But the ratings never grew from what could be accounted for
by pets like me accidentally stepping on remotes.
When
oil money came calling, Mr. Gore was all ears. Smart people never buy anything
he is selling.
Jeb Bush: Delusional or on a political suicide mission?
By Rob Janicki
What exactly is Jeb Bush trying to accomplish? The message is as clear as mud to me. If Jeb believes that somehow he can salvage a losing campaign to ultimately win the GOP nomination, he may be more than merely delusional. He may be severely schizophrenic or worse yet, he may be engaged in some form of suicidal roulette with Donald Trump.
It's been said that Jeb is attacking Cruz and Rubio big time to eliminate them through internecine fighting, all in order to line himself up against a final Armageddon of sorts with Donald Trump. If this is true, Jeb seriously needs professional mental health counseling. It's just plain crazy.
If Jeb does not understand reality, then let me point it out to him. The Bush brand name is worn out. Two and out is enough of the Bush brand name for most Americans to deal with in a generation. Voters are running away from political dynasties, witness the falling numbers of Hillary Clinton. Combine that with Jeb's lack of visual charisma and you have a losing candidate with no chance of winning the GOP presidential nomination.
It should have been a clue for Jeb to observe that he has squandered more campaign money than any other Republican candidate or combination of Republican candidates. Combine the failure of results in the spending of campaign funds and the continuing low polling numbers racked up by Jeb and a rational person would be compelled to acknowledge that Jeb is flogging a dead horse. Wishing for a result contrary to the facts on the ground is, at the least, delusional. Destroying other GOP candidates in the process of satisfying one's political ego is unconscionable, yet Jeb is doing exactly what he accuses Donald Trump of doing.
Jeb's plan can only result in a high probability of a Trump victory as the GOP presidential nominee. In no way can it result in a Jeb victory. It's time for Jeb to stand down and return to Wall Street as a political consultant for the hedge fund mangers and brokerage firms looking to maintain their influence with the DC insiders.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
#FeelTheBern Thoughts: Avocados and Healthcare
by Kim D.
I still come back to the fact that we have a friend who lives in Denmark and contracts with oil and gas companies in environmental cleanup/protection. When he needed to have LASIK surgery, he scheduled in advance and came to Houston to have the procedure done. Why when he had universal healthcare in his own country? When he tore a ligament in his leg while on assignment in Kazahstan, why did he opt to wear a boot for several months until he could come to the US to have surgery?
Of course I asked him why and he shook his head and said, "No, you don't want to have surgery done in Denmark. If you have a cold, sure but major surgery, no. The waiting list would be too long and the medical specialists can't hold a candle to what you have here in the States."
***For more wacky and often hilarious Bernie thoughts from the mind of Spencer Madsen - click here and follow!***
WE AS AMERICANS HAVE A RIGHT TO AFFORDABLE AVOCADOS AND GUAC SHOULD NEVER BE EXTRA
— Bernie Thoughts (@berniethoughts) December 18, 2015
Bernie is pounding away on the campaign trail and advocating for a single-payer health care system. He calls it Medicare for all and claims that access to health care is a universal right. On Monday night's Democrat town hall, he tackled questions on his health care proposals and taxes. In defense of his plan to significantly raise taxes to pay for his proposed social programs, Sanders said:"If you are paying, now, $10,000 a year to a private health insurance company, and I say to you, hypothetically, ‘You’re going to pay $5,000 more in taxes — or actually less than that — but you’re not going to pay any more private health insurance,’” Sanders said. “Are you going to be complaining about the fact that I’ve saved you $5,000 in your total bills? So, it’s demagogic to say, ‘Oh, you’re paying more in taxes.’ Let’s all talk about — we are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums and payments not only for individuals, but for businesses.”So, basically, if Americans pay a little more in taxes, they can have more affordable healthcare. Not better healthcare. As a declared Democratic Socialist, Bernie wants his version of a single-payer system to look like this:
For anyone who thinks this is a viable idea, put on your deep thinking cap and consider this:In this system, every American would be automatically enrolled into Medicare. This is commonly referred to as “Medicare for All.” Like the systems in many other industrialized countries, private practitioners could still provide care, but everyone would be covered by a national health care plan. This allows for private delivery and public financing to insure guaranteed health care for all and effective cost control. This is how Medicare is delivered today for all Americans over age 65.
The problem is that Medicare already faces $43 trillion in unfunded liabilities and denies healthcare claims at a higher rate than any private insurer. "Medicare for all" would drive the country into bankruptcy.Sanders touts other countries as examples of where using a single-payer system to address healthcare needs has been successful, like Denmark, Sweden and Norway. But don't expect him to ever include Venezuela in that list. In 1999, Venezuela amended its constitution to declare healthcare as a right and issued in its version of Medicare for all called Barrio Adentro. Here's a little more history:
Beginning in June 2003 through a trade pact with Cuba, Venezuela began to bring Cuban doctors, medical technology, and medications into rural and urban communities free of charge in exchange for low-cost oil. The 1.5 million dollar per year program expanded to provide a broad network of small neighborhood clinics, larger regional clinics, and hospitals which aim to serve the entire Venezuelan population. (1) Chavez has referred to this new health care system as the "democratization of health care" stating that "health care has become a fundamental social right and the state will assume the principal role in the construction of a participatory system for national public health." (2) In Venezuela, not only is health care a right; it is recognized as essential for true participatory democracy.Sounds legit but let's take a look at the present-day healthcare of Venezuela:
Around 70 percent of medicines in Venezuela, including ibuprofen, treatments for hypertension and birth control, are now in short supply, according to the Venezuelan Pharmaceutical Federation, a trade association of pharmaceutical workers. Codevida presented an assessment of the situation in March to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, the regional human rights body, with a lengthy list of additional staggering figures: Around 15,000 people with kidney diseases who need dialysis don’t receive minimum standards of care for their conditions; more than 45,000 people with HIV face shortages of antiretroviral drugs; and nearly 60 percent of pregnant women in the country receive no prenatal care, even while teenage pregnancy rates soar due in part to scarcity of condoms and birth control.For those who claim that Venezuela is not the same as Denmark, perhaps, it's not. For instance, the Denmark system is dealing with 5 million citizens while Venezuela is trying to service 30 million. Imagine government control of healthcare in order to service over 300 million Americans (legal and illegal).
I still come back to the fact that we have a friend who lives in Denmark and contracts with oil and gas companies in environmental cleanup/protection. When he needed to have LASIK surgery, he scheduled in advance and came to Houston to have the procedure done. Why when he had universal healthcare in his own country? When he tore a ligament in his leg while on assignment in Kazahstan, why did he opt to wear a boot for several months until he could come to the US to have surgery?
Of course I asked him why and he shook his head and said, "No, you don't want to have surgery done in Denmark. If you have a cold, sure but major surgery, no. The waiting list would be too long and the medical specialists can't hold a candle to what you have here in the States."
***For more wacky and often hilarious Bernie thoughts from the mind of Spencer Madsen - click here and follow!***
Hillary Clinton: ‘Anybody Who Knows Me Knows You Can't Buy Me’
I didn't think Hillary could be bought.
She looks more like a rental.
She looks more like a rental.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Moore Likens Flint Crisis to Ethnic Cleansing
by J.R. Holmsted
Michael Moore sure is making the rounds on the networks promoting his new documentary, "Where to Invade Next." In fact, many conservatives were outraged at Megyn Kelly (again) for his appearance on the The Kelly File last night. Inevitably, he has dropped a few controversial statements along the way. His interview with Jake Tapper on CNN was no exception.
"These people are poor, they didn't vote for us, they don't have any political power..."
Totally reasonable to jump to the conclusion that this was a form of ethnic cleansing through neglect and inaction. TOTALLY.
Michael Moore sure is making the rounds on the networks promoting his new documentary, "Where to Invade Next." In fact, many conservatives were outraged at Megyn Kelly (again) for his appearance on the The Kelly File last night. Inevitably, he has dropped a few controversial statements along the way. His interview with Jake Tapper on CNN was no exception.
"These people are poor, they didn't vote for us, they don't have any political power..."
Totally reasonable to jump to the conclusion that this was a form of ethnic cleansing through neglect and inaction. TOTALLY.
Megyn Kelly Speaks Out
"Donald Trump is a showman. He is very good at generating interest."
Good or bad, ain't that the truth?!
Have We Fallen for the Media and Clinton Game? #Trump2016 #Cruz2016
by Kim D.
We have become so divided and the media loves it. The ratings have never been better. However, you know who loves it more - Hillary and Bill Clinton. The Republican primary has been the overwhelming shiny object to detract attention for Hillary's scandals. Have we fallen for the game?
"Trump did a thing, now it's all we'll talk about" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You have agency and free will, news folk.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) January 27, 2016
In spirit last night, I was just as obnoxious as those outwardly bashing Trump and calling him a coward for his decision to skip this week's Fox Republican primary debate. I'll admit, after weeks of seeing the relentless and, at times, baseless attacks on Ted Cruz, it felt good to strike back. If you look at my Twitter timeline, it is tweet after tweet hammering the guy who the polls say is the front runner. It wasn't until this morning that it dawned on me how hard I and many others have fallen for the game that is being played reality-show like with twists and turns that are driving people literally nuts.
Should I do the #GOPdebate? https://t.co/cjTywwIl85
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
OPINION: Hey @realDonaldTrump, you bring the guts, we'll bring the questions | via @toddstarnes @fxnopinion | https://t.co/CFSWFgQHjK
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 27, 2016
Everything Donald Trump has done in this campaign has made major headlines. Every news outlet features the front runner or a major story about him each day. Anyone who follows me knows I am a Ted Cruz supporter (check the bio). However, I have said that Trump is wicked smart and has played the media to his advantage. In his world bad publicity is actually good; it has kept his name at the forefront of people's minds. Love him or hate him - the media has made him relevant and the poll numbers show it.
"@realDonaldTrump hits new heights in national poll at 41%" pic.twitter.com/1Tzszrkh4j
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
"Donald Trump retains national lead in new ABC News/WaPo poll with 37%: https://t.co/xPjA3TBbTa" pic.twitter.com/6Uaecpwqwm
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
No matter what Donald Trump does or says, his supporters will love it, and many are cheering on his decision to skip Thursday night's debate. Their prediction is that ratings will suck which means Trump wins yet again. Both Fox News and Donald Trump are guilty of the created drama; however do Trump supporters really love the policies he has presented or is the fervor to support his candidacy more about revenge? Of course, the same could be asked of any Cruz supporter. For instance, why am I cheering for Cruz striking back over weeks of being pummeled as a nasty Canadian?
It's time for Ted Cruz to either settle his problem with the FACT that he was born in Canada and was a citizen of Canada, or get out of race
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2016
I challenged @realDonaldTrump to a one-on-one debate. Tell him to accept: https://t.co/wUZHtRpaj4 #DuckingDonald pic.twitter.com/xjCvjS7yyx
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 27, 2016
So many of us are sick of the establishment writing the rules to benefit them and the elite 1%. We are tired of business as usual and want to shake Washington to its core until all the rotten apples fall to the ground and rot away into oblivion. I understand that passion and believe that Cruz and Trump supporters share this common denominator. However, both candidates cannot win, and much like the nastiness that developed between Clinton and Obama in the race for 2008, there will be too many bruises for the guy in second place to get in line and support the one who wins the right to be called the Republican nominee.We have become so divided and the media loves it. The ratings have never been better. However, you know who loves it more - Hillary and Bill Clinton. The Republican primary has been the overwhelming shiny object to detract attention for Hillary's scandals. Have we fallen for the game?
"The other side is not talking issues—they're talking insults." —Hillary #DemTownHall
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 26, 2016
Hidden Cam: Common Core Insider Reveals Info About LA Bid Rigging Scandal
The official who has been fired sent a cease and desist. Naturally we're going to release another video tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/8Mgq4sv7vd
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 27, 2016
Have an Olde Frothingslosh
The
unbelievable stat for today comes from The Brewers Association, which
represents the beer industry (as opposed to a bad baseball team). At last
official count, there were 4,144 breweries in the U.S., breaking the record set
in 1873. Craft brewing has become a phenomenon, accounting for more than 11% of
sales.
Fortune
magazine examined the landscape: “The popularity of
the craft beer movement has led to some recent consolidation, as MillerCoors,
Heineken, and other big brewers scoop up smaller competitors to chase growth.
Roughly a third of self-proclaimed ‘craft drinkers’ say they ‘always or often’
seek to buy a beer they haven’t heard of before.”
Two
generations ago, America was down to fewer than 100 breweries as the treasured
regional brands that ruled the 1950s were consolidated. Some brands
disappeared, like Old Georgetown, Richbrau (Richmond) and Regent (Norfolk).
Others survived, like the watery Lone Star, “the national beer of Texas,” now
owned by Pabst.
(BTW,
the craft revolution has not been kind to the Pabst flagship brand, Blue
Ribbon. It was once the official brew of hipsters, who ignored the fact it’s
got a bite that will take out the back of your throat.)
Now
consider the plight of bartenders, who have always had to listen to asshats
discussing wine vintages or insisting that their scotch be old enough to vote.
Now they must deal with millennials asking if they carry Olde Frothingslosh
Stale Pale Ale – spiced for the season, of course.
I
didn’t make that one up. It’s been a running joke in Pittsburgh since Rege
Cordic ruled the morning airwaves on KDKA in the 1950s and did hilarious fake
commercials. Years later, Pittsburgh Brewing relabeled some Iron City cans as
Olde Frothingslosh; they were a hit.
#RIP Abe Vigoda
It has
now been confirmed. We think. Veteran character actor Abe Vigoda, the man who
gained little fame until it looked like he had one foot in the grave, has
finally passed away at the age of 94. There
is little to new say in the latest and final obituary, because reports of his
demise have been floating around 30 years or so, well before Web browsers were
invented.
From
The Associated Press:
Again, from The AP:
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
RadioActivity: Damon Runyon Theatre - "Romance in the Roaring Forties"
Original Air Date: Oct 17, 1948
Attention liberals: Chick-fil-A!
It’s
micro-aggression day, so let’s roll out the topic … Chick-fil-A. Enjoy the
sound of liberals’ heads exploding.
This
chain of restaurants will forever be enshrined in controversy because in 2012
company executive Dan Cathy (son of the founder) made public statements
opposing gay marriage. Noses were out of joint; the PC police called for
boycotts and predicted disaster.
The
marketplace responded by making Chick-fil-A #1 in the most important
quickservice metric, sales per store. According to QSR magazine, it booked $5.8
billion in 2014, $700 million more than the previous year. It is bigger than
any pizza chain.
Mr. Cathy
quickly said he’d leave the gay marriage issue to the courts and politicians
and go back to selling chicken. That chicken is delicious. The service is fast
and friendly. But stories about this chain’s success are hard to find, lest
those writing them be thrown out of the Media Liberals Club.
Business
Insider’s Hayley Peterson highlighted some interesting facts, including the
disclosure that owning a franchise is within the grasp of motivated people. You
must be a millionaire to open a McDonald’s. The out-of-pocket cost to open a
Chick-fil-A is $10,000. Ms. Peterson reports that the company “pays
for all startup costs – including real estate, restaurant construction, and
equipment.”
Of
course, there is a catch. The ongoing franchise fee is 15%, plus half of pretax
profit remaining. Those granted franchises often are limited to a single unit,
which they are expected to tend to like a mom-and-pop operation.
Chick-fil-A’s
Amanda Hannah: “We
seek to find the very best business partners who find great joy in making other
people’s days. They do so with a combination of great business acumen, an
entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for serving others.”
We Lost Our Health Care Plan Just Like #TedCruz
by Kim D.
The latest scandal attributed to Ted Cruz, in another weak attempt to derail his candidacy for president, is that he lied when he said his family had lost their health care plan due to Obamacare. Well, like the Cruz family, many of us lost the health care plans we had. Oh, we were offered the option to purchase a new one, but the reality is the plan we had, along with the doctors we have come to depend upon, was canceled.
In Texas, if you are self-employed, you independently purchase a health care plan to meet the needs of your family. Last year my husband and I were floored that our premium was increasing by $500 per month until our daughter turned 26 at which time the monthly hit job would be reduced. We have BCBSTX which offers the largest network of doctors. We also elect to have a health savings account attached to the plan which limits our choices, as only a less than an handful of plans are available with an HSA option.
We paid the premium last year to the tune of $1,350 per month until May when our daughter turned 26 and could no longer stay on our policy. At that point, the premium was reduced to $1,128 per month. This fall we were sent a letter indicating that our plan would be cancelled and that a similar plan would be selected for us. This sounds exactly like what happened to the Cruz family:
You see, for many years, at the end of summer, we would receive a letter from BCBSTX stating our plan would be canceled and that we would have an opportunity to select a new one in November. This year I was actually pleased that we would be given a comparable plan and would not have to go through the plan selection process yet again. So, we really didn't get too worked up about this latest cancellation and change. until our new policy cards arrived in the mail along with an assigned doctor.
We now had an HMO plan and were each being assigned a primary physician. When I called to discuss options with an insurance rep, I discovered that this plan was the best BCBSTX could offer us. However there was some good news; the rep said our policy would be decreasing by $2 per month.
So now, we cannot have the insurance plan we want nor keep our doctors and the only benefit is that we pay two dollars less each month. To add insult to injury, our network is very limited. No doctor we have a relationship with, medically speaking, will be approved under this new plan. We are very lucky in that we have had good health but are now faced with a difficult decision - do we keep paying $1,125 per month for no benefit? Or, do we let the plan go, pay the penalty, and keep our fingers crossed that those candidates who want to continue with Obamacare (Hillary) or want a single-payer system (Bernie) are defeated? We had five days to make that critical decision.
Some may read this and think, why is she complaining , , , at least her family has health care. So what if she has to see different doctors. Let me explain the problem. My son has seen the same pediatrician since birth and this doctor has 4 1/2 stars as rated on Health Grades. If we retain the HMO plan we have been forced into, my son loses access to this doctor and has been assigned to a new one which we will have to travel to another town to see. Add to that, I looked up the new doctor's score on Health Grades which is disappointing 2 1/2 stars.
So essentially we pay the same and get less benefit. For a middle-class family, that is not fair. We are not wealthy millionaires who can afford to buy whatever insurance policy we want and pay extra for any doctor we want to see. In 2013, our premiums were $700 per month. In 2014, they were $850. In 2015, $1,128 (actually more like $1,240 because for the first five months we paid a lot more). We were held ransom to increasing prices because we wanted access to the doctors we trust. Now we are told pay up and, by the way, you see the doctor we tell you to see - one that is not as good as the one you had. Thanks Obamacare.
The latest scandal attributed to Ted Cruz, in another weak attempt to derail his candidacy for president, is that he lied when he said his family had lost their health care plan due to Obamacare. Well, like the Cruz family, many of us lost the health care plans we had. Oh, we were offered the option to purchase a new one, but the reality is the plan we had, along with the doctors we have come to depend upon, was canceled.
In Texas, if you are self-employed, you independently purchase a health care plan to meet the needs of your family. Last year my husband and I were floored that our premium was increasing by $500 per month until our daughter turned 26 at which time the monthly hit job would be reduced. We have BCBSTX which offers the largest network of doctors. We also elect to have a health savings account attached to the plan which limits our choices, as only a less than an handful of plans are available with an HSA option.
We paid the premium last year to the tune of $1,350 per month until May when our daughter turned 26 and could no longer stay on our policy. At that point, the premium was reduced to $1,128 per month. This fall we were sent a letter indicating that our plan would be cancelled and that a similar plan would be selected for us. This sounds exactly like what happened to the Cruz family:
Unlike Ted and Heidi Cruz, my family is not working day and night to capture the support needed to win a Republican primary race. We do not use a broker. So we were aware that a change was coming but unaware of how horrible it would be.
You see, for many years, at the end of summer, we would receive a letter from BCBSTX stating our plan would be canceled and that we would have an opportunity to select a new one in November. This year I was actually pleased that we would be given a comparable plan and would not have to go through the plan selection process yet again. So, we really didn't get too worked up about this latest cancellation and change. until our new policy cards arrived in the mail along with an assigned doctor.
We now had an HMO plan and were each being assigned a primary physician. When I called to discuss options with an insurance rep, I discovered that this plan was the best BCBSTX could offer us. However there was some good news; the rep said our policy would be decreasing by $2 per month.
So now, we cannot have the insurance plan we want nor keep our doctors and the only benefit is that we pay two dollars less each month. To add insult to injury, our network is very limited. No doctor we have a relationship with, medically speaking, will be approved under this new plan. We are very lucky in that we have had good health but are now faced with a difficult decision - do we keep paying $1,125 per month for no benefit? Or, do we let the plan go, pay the penalty, and keep our fingers crossed that those candidates who want to continue with Obamacare (Hillary) or want a single-payer system (Bernie) are defeated? We had five days to make that critical decision.
Some may read this and think, why is she complaining , , , at least her family has health care. So what if she has to see different doctors. Let me explain the problem. My son has seen the same pediatrician since birth and this doctor has 4 1/2 stars as rated on Health Grades. If we retain the HMO plan we have been forced into, my son loses access to this doctor and has been assigned to a new one which we will have to travel to another town to see. Add to that, I looked up the new doctor's score on Health Grades which is disappointing 2 1/2 stars.
So essentially we pay the same and get less benefit. For a middle-class family, that is not fair. We are not wealthy millionaires who can afford to buy whatever insurance policy we want and pay extra for any doctor we want to see. In 2013, our premiums were $700 per month. In 2014, they were $850. In 2015, $1,128 (actually more like $1,240 because for the first five months we paid a lot more). We were held ransom to increasing prices because we wanted access to the doctors we trust. Now we are told pay up and, by the way, you see the doctor we tell you to see - one that is not as good as the one you had. Thanks Obamacare.
#FeelTheBern Thoughts: Calories and Ice Cream
by Kim D.
The founder of Ben & Jerry's, Ben Cohen, announced that the new flavor creation will be called "Bernie's Yearning" and described it as "plain mint ice cream beneath a solid layer of chocolate on top."
***For more wacky and often hilarious Bernie thoughts from the mind of Spencer Madsen - click here and follow!***
IF YOU EAT WHILE ANGRY THE CALORIES DON'T COUNT
— Bernie Thoughts (@berniethoughts) January 5, 2016
Well that's good news because Americans are becoming more angered with the political process and the game politicians play with each day that passes. And for those that love Ben & Jerry's ice cream more good news . . . they can down a gallon of the newest creation, "Bernie's Yearning," without gaining a pound.For those skeptical about the "not gaining a pound" thing, it works much like Bernie's economic plans. Think of it as free calories.
***For more wacky and often hilarious Bernie thoughts from the mind of Spencer Madsen - click here and follow!***
Clinton again denies misconduct with private email: 'Nothing that I did was wrong'
Her shtick is as tired as her sagging jowls.
O'Malley: Climate change biggest issue for young voters
Martin O'Malley and his campaign team have put together one helluva fantastic circular firing squad type of campaign.
You may fire when you are ready, Gridley...
You may fire when you are ready, Gridley...
Monday, January 25, 2016
RadioActivity: Phil Harris / Alice Faye Show - "Phil the Movie Star"
Original Air Date: April 24, 1949
Boeing’s long goodbye
You
probably didn’t notice that a major U.S. manufacturing company, Boeing, gave
away the store the other day. After a century or so of producing planes in
America, the company has agreed to build its first offshore facility in China,
which figures to be a huge market for planes in decades to come.
The
Boeing news is linked to uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Export-Import Bank, a
favorite target of congressional conservatives trying to prove they are tough
on corporate welfare. (Prediction: All the talk will be forgotten after the
2016 campaign season and the Ex-Im Bank will be revived, rested and ready to
go.)
From
Forbes:
(In
fairness, the writer, Loren Thompson, does disclose in the article that Boeing
contributes to his think tank.)
China
is juiced about this deal, in which a state-controlled company will install
interiors and paint exteriors of single-aisle planes assembled at the main Boeing
facility in Renton, Washington. A win-win, right? Not in the long run. This is
where the giving away the store comes in.
The
Chinese don’t invent much, but their hobby is keeping up on the latest
technology in every field. Boeing makes the most advanced and expensive planes
in the world and has agreed to send its intellectual property to a foreign
power for studying and reverse engineering. Eventually, China will manufacture
that same technology and peddle it to the world at a lower price.
Buyer Beware #MakeAmericaAwesome
by Kim D.
In case anyone was wondering, the National Review is not alone in its call to dump Trump as the Republican nominee. The superPAC Make America Awesome is dedicated to the mission of defeating Trump as well. Libertarian and online communications strategist Liz Mair explains the superPACS latest ad - "Buyer Beware":
In case anyone was wondering, the National Review is not alone in its call to dump Trump as the Republican nominee. The superPAC Make America Awesome is dedicated to the mission of defeating Trump as well. Libertarian and online communications strategist Liz Mair explains the superPACS latest ad - "Buyer Beware":
“As voters finish their ‘shopping’ for a candidate, we’re highlighting that if you ‘buy’ Trump, you’ll get a lot of crap you never wanted. Four bankruptcies, a record setting number; even more huge, new, crippling debt, as a result of his spending plans; big government, since Trump’s policy agenda is almost identical to your average liberal Democrat’s; single-payer health care, which Trump advocates while praising Canada’s health care system; and things like government watchlists, to boot. The ad deliberately avoids the glitz and slick editing that many political ads utilize, to emphasize the stark message: Buyer beware; the Trump ‘package’ contains a lot of stuff you didn’t bank on, and you really don’t want.” — Liz Mair, Strategist, Make America Awesome
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Got the #Blizzard2016 Blues? #Snowmaggedon2016
by Kim D.
In Texas it's a little cold this morning. Presently where I am it is 37 degrees and the sun is shining. By noon we will be hitting the mid 60's and loving the day. All bragging aside, I do feel the pain for those suffering from this massive snow storm on the east coast and to prove it I found some tweets that will bring humorous warmth to a brutally cold situation. Enjoy!
In Texas it's a little cold this morning. Presently where I am it is 37 degrees and the sun is shining. By noon we will be hitting the mid 60's and loving the day. All bragging aside, I do feel the pain for those suffering from this massive snow storm on the east coast and to prove it I found some tweets that will bring humorous warmth to a brutally cold situation. Enjoy!
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 24, 2016
Well that sucks. #snowmaggedon2016 pic.twitter.com/RjPxGE5jhX— You Had One Job (@_youhadonejob1) January 24, 2016
I think @algore wants a #SnowJob š #snowmaggedon2016 #Snowzilla any volunteers?š¤ pic.twitter.com/wPWJ8VQtyR— Cristina Laila (@cristinalaila1) January 24, 2016
Probably not the best place to stand during a snowstorm. #snowmaggedon2016 pic.twitter.com/oAwKipZh3S— Car Crash TV (@Crashingtv) January 24, 2016
good morning❄️☃❄️ #snowmaggedon2016 pic.twitter.com/EQjA10n5sl— Y A H E L (@YahelNYC) January 23, 2016
Making the best of a bad situation. pic.twitter.com/AXBOtYLQkQ— You Had One Job (@_youhadonejob1) January 24, 2016
Don't forget if you are going running in the snow tonight. #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/Ytdj5Ga5TS— The Darwin Awards (@AwardsDarwin) January 23, 2016
Two feet of snow in New York. #snowmaggedon2016 pic.twitter.com/eXzniwDvvT— You Had One Job (@_youhadonejob1) January 23, 2016
This guys going to be there a while. pic.twitter.com/Lft2G1HP4j— You Had One Job (@_youhadonejob1) January 22, 2016
Seems the word search compiler at the local paper isn't a fan of winter. pic.twitter.com/oJf85rF7WI— You Had One Job (@_youhadonejob1) January 16, 2016
@_youhadonejob1 there's also HOLY SHIT if you read upwards from the H in WHIP IT GOOD.— Kartik Raj (@Kartik__Raj) January 16, 2016
This just in... White House has issued a statement that #blizzard2016 is George W Bush's fault pic.twitter.com/2wr7wN4pkr— Room 101 (@suscitate) January 23, 2016
Tina Fey as Sarah Palin is here for you, America
Holy shit they have become one https://t.co/cGQ8vSiAZr— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 24, 2016
#FeelTheBern Songs: A Bernie Sanders Punk Song
For better or worse, there are at least 81 songs about Bernie Sanders.
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