It's Thursday, November 26th, 2009. It's Thanksgiving Day. I am once again am faced with the plethera of blessings in my life to be thankful for. I will be marrying a wonderful man, have an amazing family and extended group of friends and am gainfully employed.

However, this Thanksgiving is different. Very unique in fact because this year, our country has made me proud and has brought all of my dreams for this nation to fruition. My heart is bursting with reverence for this land that we hold so dear. I need to take a few moments to share with you, my dear readers, why it is that I am so appreciative today.

This past year, our government listened to our president and its people and passed a sweeping overhaul of the healthcare industry. We've broken the chains of the evil insurance conglomerates. We have shouted all the way to the steps of Congress that people's health should not be a profitable industry, and they listened. We made it be known that the quality of one's life is more important than the quantity of money it takes to support it. We've let it be known that among our inalienable truths, the right to quality and affordable healthcare should be one of them.

Our president decided to remove troops from Afghanistan. History had repeated itself, double-time. The mistake that our country made in entering conflict in Vietnam, and the mistake that Russia made in occupying Afghanistan must have been ripped out of our history books. Our desire for blood after September 11th allowed us to be blind to the fact that our actions were only inflicting more pain and suffering on a country that seemingly sees no end to that. We were so thirsty for vengeance that we didn't care about the who's, the why's or the outcome. We didn't consider that entering into an unresolvable battle state with Afghanis would only distract us while the Taliban moved into a now, unregulated PAkistan. And, who stopped to ponder the cost of this war? Who considered that this conflict may have been a contriubuting factor in our recent economic diress? Moreover, besides the financial cost, what about the human casulaties? Who stood up to fight for the lives of our men and women in the military as well as those of the innocent civilians in Afghanistan? It seems as if we as a nation have been under a cloud for so long when it comes to Afghanistan. However, that fog has been lifted. President Obama has announced that our troops are coming home. This news is bittersweet however, as Afghanistan is in no better condition on our exit as it was on our arrival.

Who could be more grateful today for the fact that any lobbyist that rallies around political maneuvers that will allow the corporations that the represent to either keep or increase their cash flow have been banned from all political correspondence? Instead, time that politicians spent with lobbyists have been restricted to sessions in which randomly selcted constituents are able to sit down with their elected representatives and express their interests, and believe me, they are truly special.

Although four centuries have past, are the hopes and dreams of both our forefathers and those of the indigenous peoples of our country that different? Did those men and women sit down for a meal only to be Thankful for surviving the first, and terrible winter? Or, did they match their gratitude with the visions of opportunity for them to create an ideal nation? Yes, their ideals differed, greatly, however how can we not look into the future without a certain air of hope and fear?

Obama represents my hope for our country. Sarah Palin, and any of her apsotles, are weapons of mass destruction, and therefore, one of my greatest fears.

This year, let's be thankful for, and support hope for our nation. Let's not let idiotic, former governors of Alaska cloud our optimisim with their vicious vitrolic.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Let's hope that next year, these fantasies worthy of gratitude will come true. And, that Sarah Palin was attacked and carried off by the very wolves that she supports shooting from planes along with the polar bears that she refuses to admit are endangered.

Make a little room on your plate for that food for thought.

Ironically, my own health/ health insurance issues have been keeping me from writing as of late.

However, hearing that the insurance companies came out with a " study" the day before the senate voted for the health care bill makes me furious. Do you know that in this study, the insurance companies threatened to raise our premiums if the health care bill went through? I do hope that you understand that the insurance companies just threatened the US Congress as well as you, the insurance holders.

Furthermore, Price Waterhouse Cooper, the agency that conducted the study, publicly came out, for their own reputation, to state that the insurance companies deliberately withheld the information in the study that pinpointed where the insurance companies would save money with the new health care bill.

Are we really going to take this? Really?

We're allowing greedy liars to be responsible for reasonable and quality healthcare.

Why do we continue to allow these insurance corporations to profit off of our bad health? Why should anyone's health be a profitable business? They make money off of keeping us sick.

That is just sick.

During President Obama's address to Congress regarding health care reform on Tuesday night, that horse's ass of a Republican representative from South Carolina took it upon his idiot self to yell out " You lie!" to the president when he explained that his health care reform bill will not provide health care to illegal aliens.

It seems as if Joe Wilson thought he was particpating in one of those ridiculous town hall meetings. You know, the ones where both the crazies and the right wing trouble makers converged to try and rant and scream over the logic behind a desperately needed overhaul of our current health care system.

Wilson is right. He's right if by " you" he means " I", or more specifically, " most members of the Republican party" lie.

During Bush's administration, when the GOP held a congressional majority, they not only lied but enabled and supported a president who lied to the entire country at the cost of thousands of American lives in the Iraq war.I'm surprised that the GOP got all of their corrupt and self-interest driven legislation passed then. I would imagine that the senate and house floors didn't have enough room to accomodate all of those growing noses.

And, Palin. Ugh! I personally had enough of her lies on the campaign trail, I can't stomach any more. There is no such thing as a " death panel". However, if there were to be a political death panel, I would implore them to shoot down her political career. Luckily, her stupid mouth has already been doing that for her.

For all of those politicians, special interest groups and everyday whack jobs who are doing their best to shoot down reform that will only benefit all Americans, I fear for you. Burns caused by flaming trousers may not be covered by your current HMO.

With the passing of one of the greatest proponents of health care reform, I can only hope that Ted Kennedy's dream of an America that provides quality health insurance to all doesn't die with him.

I'm still trying to get my head around why the term " public option" makes people lose their sh%t. It's as if a good part of the country has been hypnotized to immediately form into an angry, irrational mob as soon as they hear the term. The public option, is just that, an option. It serves as a means to introduce competition in the health care industry that will eventually result in more affordable health care for all individuals. The concept is not a public mandate.It never will be. This country is far too set in it's ways for universal health care to ever take hold.

If you're not losing your health care, then what are you fighting for? I'll tell you actually; you're fighting to keep the underinsured, sick and uninsured from getting the health care that they deserve. Health care reform is not socialism. In fact, if we're talking about controlled health insurance, what do you think the HMO's are doing? They're jacking up their prices, denying valuable claims, refusing to insure people with a pre-existing condition and regulating prescription drug prices.

That's controlled health care if you ask me.

I'm exhausted from the ignorance of so many Americans. I'm disgusted by the bullsh%t that the HMO's and their ( mainly Republican) cronies have forced down your throat.

For the love of God, I can only hope that you don't swallow it. Your HMO might not cover that.

You can chose to listen to all of the screaming rants and antics of both the " planted" citizens and the regular ole' crazies at your local town hall meeting to discuss national healthcare reform, or you can listen to the truth.

First off, healthcare is not a partisan issue. We all want it. As Americans, we all deserve it. Furthermore, we deserve quality, affordable healthcare. Presently, for those of us who are lucky enough to have insurance, we are by no means receiving quality and affordable healthcare. It seems as if our health is a privilege in this country, and not a right. That to me, doesn't seem right at all.

I'm not sure where all of this hoopla is coming from. A government run healthcare program will be OPTIONAL. You can chose to keep your own private insurance. The only thing that the government plan will do to your healthcare, is drive costs down on your premiums.

In a capitalist country, I am dumbfounded that people are fighting against a little competition in the insurance market. Massachusetts residents in particular, don't you remember how much our auto insurance premiums went down when the state allowed competition into that market? Our premiums plummeted!

The goal of a government run health insurance program is to offer the option of affordable health care through a government system. Once people start subscribing to the government plan, the current HMO's will have no choice but to provide similar coverage at a similar cost. Please understand, they can spare the money. HMO's and prescription drug companies have had us by the balls for far too long. As they deny our coverage and demand outrageous prices for prescription drugs, they are laughing all the way to the bank.

Furthermore, I'm really having a hard time understanding why people are so terrified of a government run health insurance plan. Isn't that what medicare and medicaid are? Hmm, last I checked the millions of Americans receiving government health benefits weren't complaining.

There are no " death panels". The government will not force you into receiving government health care. The only thing that scares me so much about government health care is that many Republican, and some Democratic, politicians who have their hands very deep in the HMO and prescription drug companies' pockets. And, they're not willing to take them out any time soon. In fact, they're all working together to terrorize you into cock-blocking this plan.

You may not want a government run health insurance plan. However,the thirty five plus million Americans deserve a chance to be healthy.

.. a little goes a long way.

Today, the two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who were imprisoned for 12 years of hard labor for committing " hostile acts" by crossing the China/North Korea border this past March, were freed after former president Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea. Clinton arrived unannounced to visit with Kim Jung Il for a private meeting to plead for the journalists' humanitarian release.

No one knows exactly how the conversation transpired, but within 24 hours, the women were granted a "special pardon". I don't know about you, but resolving a pertinent, international issue with an extremely hostile, and typically uncooperative, nation is pretty impressive.

Not as impressive as the " shock and awe" of US bombs raining on Baghdad six years ago. You know, the mission that was never accomplished? Or rather, a supposed uncooperative, hostile nation, with nonexistent weapons of mass destruction that we invaded six years ago? The same nation that we continue to occupy. The same nation where we have lost and continue to lose thousands of service men and women and innocent civilians?

I don't remember much diplomacy there.

Hmm...

Well, a little diplomacy goes a long way. However, more importantly, what a difference an administration makes.

Hallelujah!

Let's just hope that this is the beginning of the end of her political career.

Enjoy this beautiful summer Sunday. I know I will!

Yesterday, during a White House press conference, President Obama remarked that the Cambridge Police who were involved in the arrest of acclaimed Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates, " Acted stupidly". This comment has deeply offended both the Cambridge Police and millions of Americans, excluding this one of course.

This week's arrest of Gates is a stark reminder that this country has a LONG way to go in terms of fostering equal rights for people of color. Yes, a man of color is our president and yes, his election was an amazing milestone in the fight for equal treatment and representation for people of color in this country. However, it was just that, a step. We have at least a yellow brick road's worth of steps to go.

Loyal readers will know that I always demand consistent participation in our government. I continue to grow increasingly concerned that the very same country that worked their butts off getting Obama elected, are going about their business because they feel that they've accomplished their mission. Have we learned nothing from Bush? " Mission Accomplished" is a bunch of baloney. It was baloney in terms of the Iraq war and it's baloney to think that getting Obama elected was all we needed to do to attain the change that we all so desperately want ( and need). You owe it to Obama to support the president that you elected. You owe it to yourself to stand up and take part in your government because you have the luxury to.

You don't get rich sitting on your ass and your government won't hear or represent your voice when your mouth is shut. Change doesn't happen because we will it to. Change will only happen when we make it happen. And, we need it! We need it now as much as we did last November. Healthcare reform diplomacy, the economy and equal rights and justice are just the short list of government matters that requires our immediate attention and action.

So, we have a president that's no-nonsense enough to call a spade a spade. Or, in this case, a stupid cop, stupid. Americans have taken so much offense at the president's comment that they don't even stop to consider how enraged and offended Louis Gates was when a police officer entered his home, demanded identification and arrested him when he wouldn't take that situation lying down. In addition, those millions of Americans who cry " foul" at the president's remarks are yelling so loudly that they're not hearing the voices of the other millions of Americans who are tired of watching people of color fall victim to racial profiling and prejudice.

I still believe in Obama. He is intelligent, ambitious, caring and intolerant of ignorance. Yes, he called the Cambridge Police " stupid", however, I'd rather have Obama call a stupid person " stupid" than a stupid president say and do stupid things ( insert sigh of relief that Bush is no longer president here).

Have a great and stupid-free weekend!

( Alternative title to this post: " Beat It!" Senator Coleman!)

This past week, we've, sadly, had to say goodbye to some American icons; Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett and Micheal Jackson. One departure this week however has not saddened me at all. In fact, when I heard the news today, I looked for the nearest person to give a high-five to.Today, funny man, turned politician, Al Franken, took the 60th Democratic seat in Congress!

In traditional GOP fashion, Franken's Republican rival and moron , Coleman ( and by moron I mean loser, literally) demonstrated a very immature case of sour grapes by contesting the election results in a very dramatic, and over-drawn fashion. In case you're confused, this election was the same one in which we elected Barack Obama. Yes, you're math is correct, that was almost eight months ago!

To me, one of the poorest character traits one can have is that of being a sore loser. In addition, the ever-so-increasingly transparency of the GOP is really tiresome. Give it up already. You're a dying breed. I'm not even sure if they're behind any of the ideals that the party even stands for. Like Michael Jackson, the GOP is sorely misguided and on a long, and at times, bizarre road to ruin.I didn't want to see Michael pass so soon, however if the GOP disbanded I would throw a party in the street. Honestly, I think many members of the party would do the same. Enough is enough.

I was heartbroken to have heard the news of Michael Jackson. A brilliant talent and a legendary icon who entertained the world, met a sad end at what had become a sad , strange and reclusive life. However, my tears ceased today. Two of my loves, SNL and politics have now, by some miracle, or the Supreme Court, come together. The Gods, God or whomever or whatever oversees this crazy world, was certainly smiling on me today. In a lame attempt at a tribute to Michael Jackson, this news definitely " Rocks My World".

Having sat in a very rainy New England this past month, I'm hopeful that this little ray of figurative sunshine will go a long way.

Rest in peace Ed, Farrah and Michael. Senator Coleman, I heard there are great deals to Argentina, just ask your buddy Governor Sanford!

Ahh... I wish that I could say that hearing about ( yet another) Republican be proven to be a gigantic hypocrite pleased me. However, these days, they're popping up so frequently that I'   more »

This has been the mantra of the white, male members of the GOP lately. Wait, you didn't hear Pat Buchannan stating last week that white men are being discriminated against ? To think, the man is being stuck it to, HA!

Waaa waaa waaa, Obama actually wants to give a woman, and a woman of color a voice on the Supreme Court. Hmmm, last time I checked, white men have been running the shots since the inception of America. To be honest, even if Sotomayor is appointed to the Supreme Court, they will continue to for some time to come.

Therefore Repbus, relax. And, by relax, I mean quit spending every ounce of your energy on blocking Sotomayor's confirmation. Today, certain senators ( I'll let you guess on their party affiliation, gender and race) were crying " foul" over the fact that Sotomayor is a member of an exclusive, all female club, the Belizean Grove. Hmm.. last I checked it was the all-white, all WASP country clubs that were the clubs that discriminate against women, people of color, Jewish people and anyone who isn't, well... a WASP.

Good for anyone who wants to come together to celebrate acceptance, tolerance and each other. Sotomayor's not alone. Sotomayor's supporters pointed out that the court's only current female justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, belongs to the membership-only International Women's Forum. So did former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who defended her involvement in all-women groups during her Senate confirmation hearings.

Funny, certain cranky senators did the same thing to a white woman, a Jewish woman, and now, a Puerto Rican American woman. I wouldn't doubt that after trying to prevent any real change in this country, these guys head to their respective, exclusive clubs to play a round of golf and congratulate themselves about being the masters of the universe.

Some things never change.

We all know that the GOP HATES change, especially the ones with particularly greedy fingers in some particularly deep, corporate special interest's pockets. However, what has begun to scare them the most, is that change is happening. And, try as they might to stop it, it's coming, and hopefully will change the face of American politics as we know it.

It seems like the only minorities these days, are the members of the GOP.

Munch on that food for thought.

One makes me laugh, one makes me cry, scream, tear my hair out and indulge in nasty ( and, at times) violent fantasies involving a certain Alaskan snow queen riding a ski mobile off of the bridge to nowhere.

This week, during David Letterman's “Top Ten", he used Palin's recent visit to NYC as his guide. Seen as how I rarely laugh when it comes to anything about that woman, it was nice to be able to hear that someone was able to find humor in that repulsive excuse for a politician. Now, comments like “Bought lipstick at Bloomingdales to keep up my slutty flight attendant image" are definitely funny and the comment in question,” went to the Yankees game and my daughter got knocked up by Alex Rodriguez" is still funny, but I will admit, in very poor taste.

Unfortunately, Letterman aimed that remark at her 18 year old daughter Bristol. You know that one that had premarital sex and ended up an unwed, teenage mother even though her mother is a crazy, no-sex-ed-in-schools, evangelist? Now, what Dave failed to realize is that it was Palin's 14 year old daughter, Willow that accompanied her. What was a mistake in lapse in judgment on Dave's part became a moment of opportunity to make herself relevant for Palin.

Now, Palin is accusing Letterman of making perverse comments about statutory rape and does not want her daughter anywhere near him because he's a " perverted 62 year old man". Come on Sarah, nobody would blame you to stick up for your kids, or be highly offended for that matter, but stop making a mountain out of a molehill. You're just clutching to any hint of some time in the limelight.

I had the extreme misfortune of hearing that dreaded woman on the Today Show as I was getting ready. She had the nerve to try and defend all derogatory statements against women and cry “double standard".

WAAA WAAA WAAA Sarah.

Although I don't condone Letterman's remarks, his at least, were meant to get a laugh. Your comments on the other hand inspire hatred, prejudice, and rage. You are THE pot calling the kettle black here. You incited your audience with ludicrous accusations against our current president, calling him a “terrorist". You listened to your base scream murderous intentions and you did NOTHING. When asked about it, you insidiously defended your statements; in face you tried to reinforce them. At least Dave offered you and your family an apology.

In a day and age, when just in the last two weeks, people have died at the hands of those who act on comments like yours, you should think twice about what's coming out of your mouth. I know that I'm asking too much as I doubt that you have the ability to think at all, let alone twice.

You spent the better part of a year parading your family around. You led your lambs to the slaughter that is our media. I'm not defending out media either, but you, as well as the rest of America, know how brutal it can be. You made a choice to be in the limelight. Whatever happens after that is a direct result of YOUR choices. Just last week your daughter was on the cover of PEOPLE holding her child out of wedlock. I have a right mind to believe you were the one who orchestrated the article to begin with.

Sarah, you, like Gingrich, Cheney, Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Riley and Coulter are all hateful and irrelevant people. All I've heard from any of you is insidious, baseless, hateful and prejudiced remarks about anything and all to the far left of your extreme right. I hear criticisms but no solutions. Your agenda solely consists of scaring and angering your constituents into blindly following your ridiculous policies.

I don't know about you, but I can't wait until the “Top Ten Reasons Sarah Palin lost the nomination bid in 2012".

Now wouldn't that be nice? Have a great weekend!

And, yes, the GOP is the dead horse in question.

I have to say, day after day, or irrelevant speech after irrelevant speech given by former leaders turned burnt out boobs from the GOP, I continue to be amazed how they manage to sink the Repubs further and further into oblivion. At this point, my odds are on finding Hoffa's body and who actually killed JFK as well as discovering life in space is much more likely than the GOP saving themselves.

Please, you are making this way too easy for me! Give me a challenge! Make me do some clever research; force me to put an abstract spin on a viable and relevant leader. I’m not even asking for a relevant Republican political leader, I'm including thought leaders as well. I mean come on! That twit Romney and that idiot Palin are a joke. Those hateful fear mongers Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Riley and Coulter offer up a lot of negativity, hatred and criticism, yet are empty on any sort of solution. I should also add that having that devil Cheney and unremarkable Gingrich blowing smoke isn't helping them either.

When will they wake up and (finally) realize that they need new (intelligent) and (relevant) former leaders to work together on revamping the entire GOP.

Am I offering up too much sound advice to the dreaded other side? Maybe, but at this point, they need all of the help that they can get.

P.S. Certain Dems (specifically some in Mass.) are NOT making things look good for us either. Get a grip, and pronto!

Not likely.

I've had about enough of hearing how the GOP will ruthlessly and viciously make Sonia Sotomayor's nomination hearings as difficult as possible. I wish I could claim misogony or racism, however what it really comes down to is that dirty little " D" word; democrat.

Now, I would be a liar if I were to claim that democrats did not do their best to make republicans uncomfortable during any process that involved nominating a conservative. I am not pointing fingers at republicans alone for such immature, selfish and ridiculous behavior. However, regardless of your political persuasion, you should all desire an end to this nonsense, immediately.

I am so tired of sour grapes. When our country's economy is in the toilet, our service men and women are involved in two wars and multiple international conflicts and our citizens are desparate for some peace, and piece of mind, all the GOP can do is initiate conflict and try and prohibit any effective progress.

Last week, when the Credit Card Holder's Bill of Rights passed ( thank God!), were you aware that the republicans only allowed it to pass because it included an ammendment to allow automatic weapons in our national parks? Really? Millions of Americans are being ripped off by credit card companies. These companies tanked our economy, thus resulting in a stronger dependence on said credit cards. These companies have taken our tax dollars to pay for their bad mistakes only to slam us with uneccessary fees and charges. The entire nation should be outraged. However, the GOP didn't care too much but as long as ole' Johnny can bring his automatic weapon into his nearest national park, then I suppose it can pass.

In the aftermath of the Bush administration, you would think that the GOP would want to rebuild its image. You would think that they would want to chose leaders with integrity and intelligence. Instead, they chose a moose hunter and a foul-mouthed, drug- addicted talk show host. In addtion, Michael Steele may be a man of color, but he is no Obama. You would think that any opportunity to shed some positive light on the GOP would be jumped at. You would think that the GOP would scour their base to find an smart and likeable individual to represent the party on a national stage.

You would think.

Guess not.

Weathering the extreme cold and the overwhelming throngs of people in Washington D.C. on inauguration day this past January was a feat that I gladly undertook in order to take part in such a monumentous moment in history. I was there to both applaud Obama and to " Boo" Bush and his administration, literally. History smiled on our nation the day that Obama stepped in, and Bush and Cheney and the like, stepped out.

Many of my readers are aware of my deep contempt for the Bush administration. I often observe others blaming Bush, solely, for the horror that was his two terms in office. We all know that Georgey was too stupid to act alone. In fact, he was more of a puppet whose strings were skillfully and wickedly controlled by the ass- face himself, Dick Cheney.

I will not mince words; Cheney is a greedy, selfish, soul-less, pathetic excuse for a human and an American. I truly believe that he is the face of evil. I wasn't aware that I could harbor any more loathing for the man, but over the past few weeks, I have realized that I very much can, and do. In additon, I have found yet another justified title for him; coward.

Over the past few weeks, Cheney has been speaking out to Americans against Obama's national security measures. I find this somewhat amusing for two reasons:

1) He barely said a word while in office ( he preferred not to be seen or heard because that may have drawn attention to the fact that he was actually in charge)

and

2) Our government has recently been probing into the Bush administration for what will hopefully be, criminal charges against them for breaching our privacy and employing illegal torture and detainment practices on the inmates at Guantanamo.

Cheney is so terrified of what may, and should, become of him, that he has been making desparate attempts to boulster the GOP base into believing that our nation is under the threat of attack by terrorists and that Obama is doing nothing about it. Moreover, Cheney feels that Obama's plan to close ( Thank God!) Guantanamo will result in a terrorist backlash against our citizens.

Hasn't this all been said before? Aren't these the same tactics the Bush administration used to scare and intimidate us into looking the other way while they imposed on our civil rights and those of the detainees at Guantanamo ? Isn't this why we didn't mind our privacy being invaded by paranoid hooligans? Have we forgotten the most eggregious breach of our privacy under the Patriot Act? I only hope that Dick Cheney himself can listen in on my phonecalls. I have verbally kicked that man's ass from here to wherever his stupid hidden bunker is.

Don't fall for it again! Taking down Dick Cheney should not be a partisan endeavour! I think Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike should be outraged. I would like to know if Republicans think that having that sociopath represent their party would be a good move in the GOP's part? I don't say this to be glib, but come on! Cheney is not helping you! The GOP needs to get its act together. On that note, having your own congressman, Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) try to create legislature to legally name 2010 the " year of the bible" is not helping things much either.

I never thought that I would be urging Republicans to help their own party, but seen as how they're not helping themselves, I feel as if I don't have much of a choice. If they can't keep fighting the good fight, who can I pick on in my blogs?

I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but with Cheney, Broun and the possibility of Sarah Palin running for president in 2012, you guys are just asking for it. You may not have supported Cheney's ideas of interrogation techniques but you certainly seem to be tortuting yourselves by sitting back and watching the GOP implode.

Get a grip.

Recently, Bank of America informed millions of its credit card holders that it would be raising their interest to an ungodly amount. No, these are not people who are deemed as having " bad" credit. They are people, like me, who work hard to pay their bills on time, and over the minimum.

Last I checked, my taxes just skyrocketed due to bailouts of financial industries such as Bank of America.

Hmm.

So, I pay more in taxes, and now I have to shell out even more to them because I am being punished for being a good customer? How the hell is that fair? More importantly, what is the government going to do about it?

Congress is well aware of the problem and has, for some time now, been trying to pass a Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights. This would make interest hikes, like Bank of America's illegal. Furthermore, the increased interest would be lowered, and retroactive ( Yippee!).

Unfortunately, the bill , if passed, won't go into effect until 2010. In addition, greedy GOP's, with their greasy hands in big banker's pockets, are doing everything that they can to stop it! We can't count on Arlen Spector ( and hopefully Al Franken) to be the filibuster to pass this. Democrats are not devoid of corruption either. THEREFORE, you ( yes I mean you, literally) need to write your local representative and demand your rights as a credit card holder.

If you're too lazy to look up your local representatives info, let me know and I'll do it. Hey, I'll even write the damn letter, all you have to do is sign it!

Change doesn't happen just because we want it to. And, we won't have any change left in our pockets unless we do something about this!

A recent survey showed that more than 60% of the nation feel that Obama is taking this country in the right direction. Additionally, over 81% of Americans admit that they just " like" him.

The approval rating of our last president was abysmal. I don't even think that Republicans even " liked" him more than they tolerated him because he was the figurehead of the GOP.

Huh.

Well ladies and gentlemen, whether you think Obama is doing the right thing for our country, change HAS come to America.

The nation's media has ( thankfully) taken their unjustified heat off of Obama and geared it towards scaring the masses about this Swine flu " epidemic".

As I see things, the swine flu has been an epidemic exclusive to the GOP for as long as I can remember. Those ruthless, self-serving, soul-less, greedy pigs have infected our government for far too long. They spread germs that come in the form of hatred and arrogance. They quarantine themselves, and force their followers to do so as well, leaving our country deeply divided between what's right ( or left) and what ails us.

Apparently it's quite a resistant virus because although our country demanded a cure in November, they are clearly fighting logic and morality with every breath that they take. What's worse is that it appears to be mutating. We thought Bush was bad, but look at those who are infected now; Palin, Coulter, Limbaugh and Hannity. I think that this virus needs to be contained, and fast.

We can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. We can try and cure the GOP's swine flu with a little shot of the Obama administration, but unless the nation is on his side, the sickness remains untreated, leaving us susceptible to an outbreak at any moment.

The real swine flu will probably never affect you as you have to work with sick pigs or have been exposed to someone who has. The rate of deaths in Mexico is only on the high side because there is not enough sanitation or medical advancements there. As with any sickness, the elderly, young and those with weak immune systems will find it more difficult to resist the virus.

Therefore, don't worry about getting sick from a pig, focus your energies on getting those lousy, no-good porkers out of our government!

The romanticized image of pirates: eye patches, wooden legs, treasure-looting, walking the plank etc, seems to be dissolving in front of our eyes these days.

The nation seems to be in an uproar over the recent attack of Somali pirates on an American ship that resulted in Capt. Phillips being taken hostage on the Indian Ocean for nearly a week before Naval snipers took out his captors.

" How can this happen?", " What is Obama going to do to stop it?". Dear readers, I hate to scare you but Somali pirates have been a problem for quite some time now. If I'm figuring correctly, a decade at least. And, they are not alone. There are many instances of pirating in the South Pacific Ocean as well. In fact, last week's incident was the 66th since January. The only reason that we've never cared before, is because it wasn't happeing to ships with American crews. This of course is very stereotypical American, and is absolutely arrogant of us.

On top of being arrogant, it's ignorant. Are you aware that the nation is asking our president to handle a problem that stretches over a millions square miles of ocean within international waters that we have no jurisdiction in? If you have a problem with Obama's inability to handle this issue, I suggest that you come up with one yourself because as of now, there's not too much that our country can do.

Somali pirates, historically, have not sought to harm it's captors. Their country is in such shambles and the quality of their lives so poor that hijacking ships for ransom has become their only source of income. However, it is still criminal and dangerous and certainly, not justifiable.

What is very upsetting is that often, the very ships that they are hijacking are carrying supplies and aide to other African nations that desperately need it. Somali's need it as well, however they're not robbing these ships of supplies, they're taking them hostage to the tune of millions of dollars.

My suggestion? Cut off the aide to those other nations. Then, they'll have to deal with the problem. The last thing this country needs, is another war over, or on, the seas.

Think about it.

Mr. President, you've certainly been earning my tax dollars lately.

In a little over a week you've managed to fire the head of a nearly defunct, American auto industry, consult with world leaders on solving our global economic crisis, respond to a nuclear threat by a hostile nation and reinforce your campaign promise to withdraw from Iraq to the very men and women in service there.

Not only that, he managed to do so without a shoe getting launched at his head!

This verbose democraddict is at a loss for words and is instead, overcome with admiration and gratitude.

As the crocuses begin to bud, proving that once again, spring is here and winter is over, Obama, a budding president, is showing the American people that the season of hope and change is finally here and that the Bush administration is, at long last,over.

To quote a sign on the door of a residence in Capital Hill on inauguration day, " O, Happy Day!"

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Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geihtner told lawmakers today that he wants the government to start regulating the practices of non-bank, financial institutions. You know, the ones that made reckless and greedy decisions that led to millions losing everything and the economy tanking?

Yeah, those guys... or gals... or assholes... ( or any other synonyms for those greedy sons of bitches).

If those institutions, like AIG and Lehman Brothers failed at proving their un-regulated practices resulted in anything but debt, then their "free" time is over.

Many capatilists baulk at any government involvement in free market practices. Well folks, when the " free market" results in the American taxpayers holding a trillion dollar debt, then the days of them running free with other's money, is over.

Furthermore, if you feel that government regulation of financial institutions is a punishment, you're right. And guess what? The punishment fits the crime.

The fact that there are millions of Americans who lost everything due to the poor choices of a select few does not sit well with me . This same few who are currently receiving milllions of dollars in bonuses ( of our tax money) that they don't deserve, is nauseating. I'm a democrat, I'm a capatlist too. (Yes, they do exist!) However, current practices can no longer go unsupervised. The big wigs in these institutions have their hands so deep in their greedy pockets of self interest that they failed to recognize, or even care that ours are empty. Nor will they, if we don't do something about it.

Therefore, here's my message to AIG and the like: You are currently grounded. The government is going to be on your ass until you shape up. Timmy, knob-face, Geihtner is gonna be on you like lipstick on a pitbull until you get your acts together.

Dear readers, I leave you with the hope that after the appropriate government regulations of these industries, we can someday say that the best things in life, are no longer free. At least, in terms of the market economy anyway, because thanks to those jerks, I pretty much can't afford anything else!

Last week, during an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, President Obama made an off-handed joke about this bowling score being equivalent to those in the Special Olypmics.

As a special education teacher, and a former volunteer for the Special Olympics, I found the comment off-putting but lacking malice. It's not justifiable, but being human is.

What I do find outrageous however, is the fact that we had a president with special needs in office for eight years, and no one got in an uproar over that. Instead, they, increasingly day by day, direct their anger and hatred toward the Obama administration for the failed policies of the Bush administration.

When will America wake up and realize that we have only begun to see the devastation that the Bush administration has caused or nation. Isn't it so convenient that their shameless decisions are just beginning to unravel, now that they're gone.

They had their proverbial cake and now, they're definitely eating it too. Meanwhile, American taxpayes are eating more and more taxes due to bailouts and stimulus packages. Personally, I'm stuffed with all of this, yet I know that I don't have a choice but to make room for more.

It is imperative to understand that the job of both president Obama and his entire administration is an extremely daunting one. Executive and Legislative tasks are never " easy" but the present circumstances, which are direct result of the Bush adminstration, make them virtually impossible.

Give them a break, will ya?

Funny, the president with special needs is the one who ended up handicapping our entire nation!

Go figure.

Facing scrutiny over the AIG bonuses that have gone out to top executives, AIG's CEO told Congress that these bonuses were, " distasteful".

Distasteful huh? Distasteful is the understatement of this recession.

These bonuses are downright criminial. Furthermore, those who are receiving them should both return them to a conglomerate that is currently owned by the taxpayers and quit or be fired.

I am absolutely disgusted. Contracts or not, were the government to not bail them out this past fall, they would have never been able to pay out those bonuses to begin with. AIG was in such dire straits that it required billions of hard-earned tax payer's money, yet, it can afford to pay out bonuses that amount to over a hundred million dollars?

What about those poor Americans who lost their job due to companies, like AIG, who recklessly squandered innocent people's money, only to land us in a recession? I should also add that those who lost their job due to AIG, also worked for companies that did not have the government to bail them out.

We, as Americans, should be infuriated. Despite your party affiliation, something needs to be done.

What are we waiting for?

Today, it has been rumored that Obama my puruse an initiative to tax Americans on their healthcare benefits. This of course would be a move that he explicitly spoke out against during his campaign. Furthermore, this initiative, one that was championed by his former rival, John Mcain, was one the Obama criticized highly during his campaign.

I've lectured you about taxes before. Simply put, it sucks watching your hard-earned money go into the government's pocket with little of your say as to how it is spent. No matter which side of the party lines you may fall, everyone can collectively agree that they would like to see their taxes decrease.

Unfortunately, that's not going to happen anytime soon. You see, as frustrated as I am about my taxes increasing with every new stimulus bill and bailout plan, I'm even more frustrated by the ( Bush) administration that has put us in this position to begin with.

We are literally paying for the deregulation, greed and the self-interests of the both the former administration and the very people who today, are receiving million dollar bonuses.

We are rewarding bad behavior. Yet, what is the alternative? Without a stimulus or certain bailouts, we would be in a depression. However, I find it hard to believe that there could have been more rigid and explicit expectations for the banks and agencies who received bailout money.

If Jesus Christ himself were to be president right now, we'd have a hard time praising him as our current political and economic status is dire. Obama is not Jesus, nor is he divine. He's a human like the rest of us, he's not perfect, nor are all of his ideas. But god damnit, I can say that he's capable and does have the best interests of Americans at heart.

Be patient dear readers, it took eight years to get us into this slump, let's revive the hope that we had in electing Obama to the hope of his capability of getting us out of this mess.

Times are certainly tough. I may not have any money, but I'd stock up on a boatload of patience and hope over resentment and anger anyday.

You may not want to invest in the stock market, but investing in some positive thinking yields the highest dividends.

Always. Keep hope alive, afterall, it's free.

President Obama delivered a speech yesterday to the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that was soley based on education. The speech marks his first on education since becoming president.

Obama challenges teacher unions, demanding merit pay for excellent teachers and not making excuses for " bad" ones. Sounds reasonable and fair right? Eh, not so much. One thing that most Americans don't realize about public education is that these laws put 100% of the burden of increasing test scores, solely, on teachers. Students, who only spend 8% of their year in school. Yet, the 92% of other elements that affect or prohibit a student's progress in not taken into account. Furthermore, if students aren't performing, the teacher and the school gets blamed. What's worse is that it goes beyond blame, schools that have been tagged for not meeting their state expectations ( and I use that word loosely and it changes every minute) lose funding.

The system is punitive and not proactive. Schools that need the most funding, lose it because of certain elements that they can't control. I am specifically speaking to a student's home situation. I currently teach middle school students in a special education program specifically for students with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Besides my students, do you know how many students never do an ounce of homework, don't study for tests, are disengaged in the curriculum and whose parents are in no way involved in their education? Far too many.

I am aware that I cannot control those outside elements, and, in turn, work to the best of my ability to foster educational growth in all of my students no matter what their circumstances are. The problem is, no matter how hard I'm working to bring the best out in my students, their test score is the only measurement of my worth as a teacher.

And, speaking of tests, they're ridiculous. Obama praised my own state of Massachusetts for our high-performing science scores. Too bad he doesn't realize that school systems are spending most of their money, time and energy to teach the students to suceed on the test, and the test alone. In addition, special education students are forced to take their grade level tests even if their documents instructional level is years, and years under their current grade level. Is it surprising then that these students don't perform well? No, but we lose funding because of it anyway.

I think all politicians are lacking the insight that a fruitful education can be acquired in your public school but without the home life to support it, it will never grow and develop. No one wants to admit that one of our biggest problems in education is the lack proper modeling in the home. This is an issue across all socioeconmic classes as well. I continue to find it ironic that in an age were schools are being deprived of their funding because they did not meet the expectations that the state holds them accountable for, more and more parents are taking away any sense of accountability in their own children. Who's holding them accountable?

Now, I do believe that tax payers have the right to demand high quality teachers. I also agree that there needs to be a way to measure their effectiveness. Yet, the current measures aren't really working out too well. Also, teachers are required to continuously increase their professional development, on their own time and dime. What other industry requires that of its workers for the duration of their employment? If you want better teacher training, make it free, offered during school hours, and mandatory.

Obama, I had high hopes for your ideas about education. Too bad they're pretty much just more of the same.

Needless to say, I'm very disappointed.

During the Bush years, my fellow liberals often commented on how " the village lost its idiot" when he was elected to office. These days, I've come to the conclusion that the village didn't lose any idiot at all. This is because the village is chock full of idiots. One idiot's departure, it seems, makes room for ten more in their place.

This is why I've decided to dedicate, in my mind, a certain plot of land where all the idiots of the GOP can whine, complain, scheme and sulk together, so they're out of eyesight, and hopefully earshot of the non-idiots.

I'd like to call it, Idiot Village. Picture a gated community. You know, the kind where there's a literal gate, and a lock to keep the idiots away from the rest of society.

Let me be clear, not everyone in the GOP is an idiot. I'd be an idiot to say that. There are many members of the GOP that are intelligent. They don't like the idiots either. Yet, if the idiots get them attention, they'll tolerate them. And, by tolerate, I mean promote them shamelessly for their own self-interests. Why, there are GOP members that are so intelligent that they reach evil-mastermind status, ( Cheney anyone?).

Let's take a look at some of the residents of Idiot Village. I'll start with Bush; complete and total idiot. Also, selfish, weak and indiferrent. Bush also falls under the category of " puppet" but Puppet Village is a whole other subject all together.

Average American neighborhoods are dwindling due to the rapid succession of home foreclosures. " Bank owned" and " foreclosure" signs dots the formerly manicured lawns of both blue and white collar suburbia. Yet, although many are forced to leave their homes, it seems that the residents of Idiot Village are busting at the seams. In an attempt to boulster the economy,I would love for some of the idiots to buy more land to increase the size of Idiot Village so that they could build a home there. Yet, Idiot Village should be considered a place of quarantine and isolation, not an ideal community.

Another ( literally) huge idiot; Rush Limbaugh. He's such an idiot that he's actually allowing the Dems to herald him as the new face of the GOP because it both gets him ratings, and gives him ( false) hope. You're an idiot, and a fat idiot. You were also a drug addict, but Drug Addict Village is currently being occupied by the members of Celebrity Rehab.

Sarah Palin, idiot. One of the biggest idiots I've ever been aware of. If she and Bush were to mate and produce an offspring, I fear the world would never know such an uber idiot. The thought gives me shivers. She's such an idiot that she doesn't even realize that every time she opens her mouth, she reinforces the fact that she's an idiot.

Can there be any more idiots? Of course! I couldn't forget Ann Coulter. Apparently advanced degrees from esteemed universities don't grant you a free pass out of Idiot Village. She's a total idiot. A hateful one at that. As a matter of fact, Rush, Sarah and Ann are all extremely hateful idiots. They can knock themselves out with a idiot menage a trois. I don't think that Bush is a hateful idiot. He actually could have achieved loveable idiot status but then someone stupidly gave him authority. Whoever that was, was an idiot.

Now, please understand, the Dems are not devoid of idiots. Blagojevich... IDIOT! He can't live in Idiot Village but he should certainly think about residing in Bad Hair Bad Decisions Village.

So, dear readers, idiots are everywhere, they reside on both party lines. We can't escape them, but please, let's not elect them?

If you do, why don't you mapquest the directions to Idiot Village, maybe Rush will be able to " squeeze you in".

Did you catch Obama's speech to Congress last night? The enthusiasm was palpable. The sense of hope and eager anticipation that reverberated off of the walls of Congress was also at a high, in my living room.

Now, I can't tell you how Congressional addresses made by Bush were received. You see, whenever I saw that smarmy grin and heard his incoherent, arrogant babble, I would change the channel with the swiftness of a cheetah. I may be unathletic, and completely uncoordinated for that matter, yet if there were to be an Olympic event in channel changing, I would win top honors. Specifically, if the event was centered on changing the channel to avoid Bush's stupid face and verbal diarrhea.

I spent the majority of the Bush administration with my eyes closed and fingers in my ears. I would often try to take off to a “happy place" in my mind. Ironically, that happy place was typically one where we had a capable and effective leader.

Unfortunately, although we now have that leader, this nation is far from a happy place. We are in it ladies and gentleman. And, by in "it" I mean deep shit of course. Obama was right in saying that we've “inherited" the mess that the Bush administration got us in.

We have a long, long road ahead to recovery. There have been instances over the last few weeks where I have experienced some doubt and concern over how things could possibly get any better, anytime soon. However, although I've come to terms with the fact that it may just take us eight years to get us out of this mess, I have tremendous faith in Obama's abilities. Obama has been able to enable me to hold on to the smallest, yet growing sense of hope.

I can only wish that he has done the same for you.

As I stare at the beautiful painting that my boyfriend and I purchased on inauguration day in D.C., I cannot help but resent it. The painting is an Andy Warhol-like depiction of Obama. The memorable quote, " There are no red states or blue states, only the United States of America," is etched on it has, over the past few weeks, become a source of resentment. That quote, which inspired me last August, now leaves me with a feeling of dread.

We are a nation more divided than it was during the days of the Civil War. Red is the color of anger and fire. Isn't it a coincidence that the GOP is more angry and fired up than ever? Despite Obama's attempts at a bipartisan approach to solving our nation's problems, which by they way, are a direct result of the very partisan government of Bush's era, those stupid, stubborn, selfish asses are doing everything in their power to destroy any possibility of relief.

Please understand, all of this is extremely deliberate on the GOP's part. You see, if Obama's plans are marred and unsucessful, then they believe that they have a shot next term. They are scheming to bring down his policies by fighting the elements of his plans that will provide us all with the help that we really need.

DON'T FALL FOR IT!

Your voice in this government was not quieted on November 5th. You can make the decision to stand up to their vile attempts to keep our nation in the crapper. Call, write, email your local representatives. Tell them that this is not OK! If you can't manage to do that, then talk about it! Tell your friends and your families that you are frustrated and things need to change, now! We can no longer be passive. Our nation is at a critical juncture, we need to be a part of deciding the direction in which it will move forward.

I am honestly mystified and heartbroken over this. The GOP is trampling on our hopes and passion for change. It keeps me up at night.

I'm not a religious person, yet I do understand that there are some notions that have existed since any culture began. The theory of opposing forces in the universe is a valid one. Ying and Yang, sun and moon, good and evil.

Democrats and Republicans.

This has to stop.

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