R-ISLANDER

YAY!! WILLIE GEIST!!

It is very nice to hear that Willie Geist and his good wife are now the parents of a baby boy: George William...very good news...and we all wish them happiness...but unfortunately, and we totally understand, this means that Willie  is absent from Morning Joe, and boy is the program BORING without him...not even the great Mike Barnicle can carry those other two, Mika and Joe, alone...Enjoy the new son, Willie, BUT please, please, please hurry back...the show is nothing without you!!!

CONN. NEEDS CHRIS DODD!

The Meriden Record-Journal is reporting on a major change in the philosophy of Chris Dodd of CT. I can't believe that the people of CT would vote for anyone other than the progressive democrat, Chris Dodd.  As the Record-Journal is reporting, this is just ONE of my major reasons for continuing support for Dodd:

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, who has long favored civil unions over same-sex marriage, now supports equal rights for gay and lesbian couples.

The Connecticut Democrat views it as a willingness "to grow and change."  (Something we need in all federal and state legislators!)

"I was raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman," Dodd wrote in an opinion piece published Sunday in the Meriden Record-Journal. "And as many other Americans have realized as they've struggled to reconcile the principle of fairness with the lessons they learned early in life, that's not an easy thing to overcome."

"But the fact that I was raised a certain way just isn't a good enough reason to stand in the way of fairness anymore," Dodd wrote. "I believe that effective leaders must be able and willing to grow and change. ... I certainly have ... and so has the world. Thirty-five years ago, who could have imagined that we'd have an African-American President of the United States?"

DODD SMASHES GRAHAM ON HEALTHCARE

On the George Stephanopouls program this a.m. Senator Chris Dodd, the great supporter, with Ted Kennedy, of the public option for health care wiped the floor with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who like all republicans is supporting the corporations who have raised our health care costs over the last ten years or so by 86%!  Oh, yeah, trust the Republicans.  HAHAHA...All you need to know is that the best healthcare system now in existence is the GOVERNMENT RUN MEDICARE PROGRAM...and we want that PUBLIC OPTION for EVERYONE!!!  NOW!!!

AMERICANS WANT PUBLIC OPTION IN HEALTH CARE INSURANCE

All you need to know about the public option for health care and whether it is good for the people is that these three groups--long known to gouge the people for $$$---America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group, the American Medical Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are against it.  Why would anyone listen to them?  They have ALWAYS been for their own profits and those of corporate America and certainly NEVER for the people....we actually need single payer and if not at least the public option!  PUBLIC OPTION HEALTH CARE NOW!  don't put AN INSURANCE COMPANY BUREAUCRAT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR HEALTH CARE.  Their interest is not you but their own profits...they maximize profits by constantly turning people down for care....

CHRIS DODD: HOW GREAT IS HE?

Ted Kennedy has been sidelined by his own health problems for a time...he has tapped his good friend Chris Dodd to fight the good fight...the inclusion of a SINGLE PAYER-GOVERNMENT OPTION...in any legislation that is passed by the Congress.  I can't believe that the people of Connecticut would even consider not sending him back to the Senate.  So he made a couple of mistakes...on balance Connecticut couldn't have a better Senator than Chris Dodd...geez...just his seniority alone would make him THE ONLY CANDIDATE that can really deliver for Connecticut.  I hope CT sends him back and doesn't choose the political opportunists trying to derail another successful Dodd run for CT!

Rhode Island Asks: "Where is Rep. Donald Lally?"

Donald Lally, a south kingstown representative, under the thumb of Speaker William Murphy of the RI legislature is Chair of the Judiciary Committee.  Murphy has told Lally not to report the same sex marriage bill to the floor of the house.  Lally does Murphy's bidding and won't allow legislators to vote their conscience and send the bill to the floor of the House.  I think it is time for a change.  What good is it to have a Representative like Lally who only does what he is told by another representative rather than his constituents.  Who can we get to stand against Lally and actually get some independent representation in the House?  The time for Rhode Island to approve same sex marriage is NOW...every other New England state has bravely done so...time for people like LALLY, Murphy, Paiva Weed, etc. to either stand up for what is right...or to stand down....and if they won't, we'll help them at the next election.   best, m.

Willie Geist and Mike Barnicle

I watch the Morning Joe program each morning.  The actual stars of the program are Willie Geist and Mike Barnicle.  Willie took on the sports reporting again this a.m. and nothing could have been better.  Barnicle showed his strength in two segments.  One with Mika and Nora on Sarah Palin...Barnicle just blew those two away; now with Chuck, on the race in Va., again Barnicle steps in and actually give us some REAL analysis.  The GREAT Willie Geist and Mike Barnicle are unbeatable.  Why the hell doesn't MSNBC give them more air time?  Or God forbid, their own show...they are ratings gold....

We Want Single Payer Health Care NOT Bipartisanship

The moderates in the U.S. Senate are under pressure to wipe out the concept of a government single payer health care plan.  They are folding to the big bucks insurance companies and their price gouging ways.  It's time for the U.S. and these moderates to come to the understanding that MOST Americans want such a plan...and that they will face a wrathful public if they don't get it...at least an option to choose such a plan!  People should watch the Ed Schultz Show...he is the only media personality actually pushing and explaining with FACTS how single payer health insurance is what Americans want and need.  SINGLE PAYER NOW!

RI: What an Embarrassment...

How embarrassing is it for RI that CBN, the Christian Conservative Pat Robertson's network, chose RI for a story on same sex marriage because the leadership in the legislature and the Gov. are in agreement with CBN and the Christian Right Wing on same sex marriage.  They alone are preventing same sex marriage (supported by 60% of Rhode Islanders) from becoming the law of the state and are in clear line with Robertson's negative view of gay people.  How embarrassing is it for RI which is just now living up to its black mark as one of the centers of slavery in the U.S. to now find itself as the only state in New England responsible for blocking the progress of the civil rights cause of our age: same sex marriage and other gay civil rights?  History will not be kind to RI on this issue.

CQ RATES RI GOVERNOR'S RACE...CARCIERI FINALLY GONE!

CQ rates the RI Governor's Race as Tossup between the Democratic nominee and former Senator Lincoln Chafee who is running as an independent.  The only Republican, so far, to step forward is Rep. Joe Trillo...CQ gives him no chance whatsoever...gee, why?  Seems the very lackluster and failed Governorship of Don Carcieri has killed the chances of ANY republican winning in Rhode Island...let's hope for the sake of the state!

SAME SEX MARRIAGE OK WITH RI BY 60%

A recent poll by Brown University, published in the Providence Journal, shows that 60% of RIslanders are ok with same sex marriage.  The full text of the poll was also published by the Projo...

This begs the question, then, where the hell are our state and federal representatives on this issue?

Chair of the RI House William Murphy says "no;" Paiva Weed in the Senate says "no."  And our out of touch Governor, Carcieri, who is also against the will of the people on so many other issues, says "no."  When will they catch up on the issue of civil rights for all, including gay people?  WHEN?

And WHEN will the Bishop of Providence, Thomas Tobin, stop trying to force Catholic doctrine down the throat of RIslanders?  WHEN?  It is clear that by this poll that even many Catholics, such as this writer, are on the pro same sex marriage side....

CARCIERI FAILS US ON DRUGS

In a devastating report released by the feds, Rhode Island had the highest rate of people 12 and older who had used illegal drugs in the past month — 11.2 percent. North Dakota had the lowest rate, 5.7 percent. Vermont has the highest rate of marijuana usage; Utah the lowest.  wtf is the Carcieri administration doing for us anyway, except cutting everything that supports life for the working class?  The dear governor doesn't seem able to do anything right...

WTF BARACK? How About Some Support on Gay Rights

Not a peep out the White House yesterday on the California Supreme Court decision to let prop 8 stand.  It is bad enough that Obama has let down the gay community on so many promises, but not to even acknowledge the loss of marriage rights for gays in California, well there's something wrong in that position.

The New York Times in its editorial of today puts it best when it notes that as sad as this is for all involved, it is only a temporary setback to equality.  Schwartznegger on TV last night makes the same point.  The battle is over, and it was lost, but the war continues, and it is only a matter of time before same sex marriage is as normal as apple pie.

The New Supreme Ct. Nominee?

If you are looking for my choice for the Supremes, Mr. Obama, Pamela Karlan is my definite choice as the perfect faceoff to Scalia...but Kathleen Sullivan, also from Stanford would be a great choice, too. 

WILLIE GEIST AND SPORTS...best of cable tv!!

Our great man, Willie Geist, did his fill in for the usual sports commentator on Morning Joe today...he was absolutely perfect...a great combination of sports knowledge and humor.  I still don't understand why MSNBC doesn't let the Big Will do the sports segment everyday!  He and Barnicle are also great together...they make outstanding morning TV...together, they are probably the best cable TV has to offer...

Pres. Obama: Single-Payer Healthcare NOW!

The Obama administration in pushing for health care for all Americans MUST also give us all the opportunity to sign up for the Single Payer Option.

Single Payer Option in health care is where:

"All Americans would receive comprehensive medical benefits under single payer. Coverage would include all medically necessary services, including rehabilitative, long-term, and home care; mental health care, prescription drugs, and medical supplies; and preventive and public health measures. Care would be based on need, not on ability to pay."  If you really would like to know about the Single Payer Option that ALL Americans should have available to them you should visit the Physicians for a National Health Program's excellent site.

One article recently found on the site came from the journal Health Affairs' May 12, 2009 issue which pointed out that  "...Compared with the employer-coverage group, people in the Medicare group report fewer problems obtaining medical care, less financial hardship due to medical bills, and higher overall satisfaction with their coverage. Although access and bill payment problems increased across the board from 2001 to 2007, the gap between Medicare and private employer coverage widened." 

Interesting..Medicare enrollees get better coverage than those of us with employer health care benefits!  More>>>>>

Time for Single-Payer for all Americans, Mr. Obama!!

WHERE IS OBAMA ON GAY RIGHTS? The Dallas Principles

The glbt or gay political community is upset that President Obama has yet to move on their issues and if he wants their continued support, they want to see action:

"They believe the Obama White House and the Democratic-controlled Congress are not moving fast enough to address gay rights issues, such as setting a timetable to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and passing a federal hate crimes bill that covers sexual orientation and gender identity. After the outpouring of spontaneous grassroots support for same-sex marriage in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8 in California, "the timing is right," blogger and activist Lane Hudson said, "to push for full civil rights for LGBT people."  source:  Washington Post

A large group of activists met in Dallas and has put forward a list that is being called "The Dallas Principles."

OBAMA SLAPS DOWN CHENEY, FINALLY.

President Obama spoke on terrorism and Guantanamo today.  He made it clear that he will close Gitmo, and most importantly the United States will not engage in torture.  Cheney in his speech, as one commentator noted, treated the U.S. Constitution like Mi Lai:  "In order to save this document and our values, we had to destroy them..."  Of course Cheney is always correct...oh wait, he is always wrong...9/11 happened on Cheney's watch, there were no weapons of mass destruction, the Iraqis did not cheer us with open arms as we invaded their country, the war was not over in weeks as he claimed it would be, he let his assistant Scooter Libby take the fall for him, and his criminal activity goes on and on...and now he wants all those torture documents released...the documents he could have easily released when he was in power...now that he is not...NOW he wants transparency...ha ha ha...Obama is now in charge, he's cleaning up the Bush/Cheney mess that he was left, and he has stated again that the U.S. will close Gitmo and will not engage in torture.  And the 500 prisoners who were already released from Gitmo were released by THE CHENEY ADMINISTRATION...and now he wants to stand in the way of putting supposed terrorists in supermax prisons, from which there have been no escapes...Cheney is standing in the way of progress by peddling fear.  Bravo President Obama, you stood up to the fear monger Cheney and you won!  Obama finally slapped Cheney down!

WHEN WILL OBAMA STANDUP TO CHENEY?

President Obama, who these days is moving further and further to the right on war issues, should read this great column by Maureen Dowd. Cheney Grabs a Third Term - NYTimes.com

Source: www.nytimes.com

BRAVO NOTRE DAME! OBAMA WAS GREAT!

Clearly, President Obama is a sensitive, intelligent, and moral man.  He proved that again today at the graduation ceremonies at Notre Dame University in Indiana.  As proud as I was of President Obama, who despite his views that clash with those of the Catholic hierarchy on many issues, as a Catholic and a member of the majority of Catholics who also disagree with the hierarchy on many issues and yet voted overwhelmingly for Obama in the recent election, I was incredibly proud of the graduating class of Notre Dame 2009.  They gave the President a standing ovation and made it clear he was THEIR president and that they were proud of that fact!  There were a small number of protesters at the fringes of the Notre Dame graduation ceremonies, but as one priest said, who welcomed the President with the administration of Notre Dame who gave this great man an honorary doctorate, "Sometimes the least of us make the most noise....."  Well said and bravo!  As a Catholic, Notre Dame, its students and the great President Barack Obama have made me very proud this day...thank you to all....