WARNING: This video is like those you watched in Driver's Ed. In other words, if you don't like the sight of blood, move on.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Bob Bennett: Club For Growth Grossly Misleads Americans
From a Bob Bennett for Senate press release (emphasis mine):
To see a point-by point rebuttal to the ad, read the press release here.
Watch the ad here:
Salt Lake City – Senator Bob Bennett’s campaign today responded to the inaccurate campaign ad released by Club for Growth regarding Bennett’s bipartisan and revenue-neutral health care reform plan.
“It looks like the negative campaign season has started early with this grossly inaccurate Club for Growth ad on Bennett’s bipartisan, self-financing Healthy Americans Act (HAA) to reform our broken health care system,” said Jim Bennett, spokesman for the campaign. “Senator Bennett is absolutely opposed to a government run health care system and saying otherwise is 100 percent false. Bennett’s bill is the only health care plan that would put Americans in charge of their own health care dollars, create competition in the private markets, and drive down the escalating costs of care that Americans can no longer afford.”
“Liberal groups are strongly opposed to Bennett’s plan because it doesn’t include a government-run option, so the Club for Growth must be reading a different bill,” Jim Bennett said. “It is unfortunate that the Club for Growth does not appear to embrace the principles of the Bennett bill such as choice, portability, tax reform, incentives for healthy behavior and would throw money on a campaign ad that hinders solving the health care crisis with a free market, patient-driven plan.”
“This attack is consistent with the inaccuracies about Senator Bennett’s plan that have been perpetuated by his political opponents,” jim Bennett added. “Coinciding with the Club for Growth’s politically-motivated attack, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has decided to run a negative campaign that deliberately misrepresents the Senator’s position. And while Shurtleff offers no solutions, other than a suggestion that health care reform can be accomplished through $49 grocery store clinics, Senator Bennett is on the front lines proposing real reform consistent with conservative principles.”
To see a point-by point rebuttal to the ad, read the press release here.
Watch the ad here:
RIP Ted Kennedy
The Democratic National Convention paid tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy on June 25, 2008.
Exactly one year later, Senator Kennedy died of brain cancer.
here is that tribute:
Exactly one year later, Senator Kennedy died of brain cancer.
here is that tribute:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Glenn Beck's lack of sincerity
Tribune Television Critic Vince Horiuchi:
Perhaps Beck's biggest fault is his lack of sincerity. He cries not for the future of America, as he so dramatically does on camera. He weeps for ratings (which, after this controversy, reached a personal high of 2.4 million viewers daily).
How does he care about the victims of the 9/11 attacks when he also criticizes many of the victims' families because "they're always complaining" -- yet shamelessly uses the 9/11 tragedy to push his "9-12 Project," a movement to bring together like-minded people based on his nine principles and 12 moral values? (One of his 9-12 principles is "I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday." He's obviously not trying hard enough.)
I support Beck's right to be a completely selfish, egomaniacal TV and radio personality who uses scare tactics on an unsuspecting nation for higher ratings. Fox can keep him on the air for as long as it wants to.
But everyone else has the right to stop him through any legal means possible.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Buttars blows $1,468.80 to Remind Us The Death Panels Haven't Come For Him Yet
Turns out Senator Chris Buttars is still alive. After he got silenced for teaching Utah's Children about gay people and their pig sex,I kinda forgot he existed.
But, he couldn't just forward a bunch of lies about ObamaCare to his friends. Nor could he email a PDF of the bill to people he wanted to read it (but would probably wouldn't).
No, he had to do the fiscally conservative thing and print out 18 copies of the bill at taxpayer expense.
Which Glen Warchol estimates cost us $1,468.80.
And, what happened to those copies?
Most of the recipients left them behind.
Perfect.
-Bob
But, he couldn't just forward a bunch of lies about ObamaCare to his friends. Nor could he email a PDF of the bill to people he wanted to read it (but would probably wouldn't).
No, he had to do the fiscally conservative thing and print out 18 copies of the bill at taxpayer expense.
Which Glen Warchol estimates cost us $1,468.80.
And, what happened to those copies?
Most of the recipients left them behind.
Perfect.
-Bob
Dear Michael Moore:Don't Eff This One Up
I am not a fan of Michael Moore. Let me rephrase that: I'm not a fan of Michael Moore movies. I didn't get Bowling for Columbine (are guns good or bad? He gave more arguments for the former rather than the latter, yet the conclusion was the latter, I think). I could have made a better 9/11 movie than him, if I had the sameresources. (I watched it several times just to make sure I didn't miss something....) I haven't wanted to waste my time on Sicko, because I know I probably wouldn't like it, either.
That being said, I hope he actually pulls this one off:
That being said, I hope he actually pulls this one off:
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Getting Informed, Sharing the Wealth About SLC Council District 3
Since they tell the story better than I could, I'll let Ramblings of a Corny Person do the talking:
Way to go! To read the email and the 3 responses, click here.
-Bob
So my city district, District 3, is having a big race for the City Council seat. Since there will be no encumbent and parties are not involved, seven men and women are in the race, requiring a primary. I plan on voting (so I can complain when the government doesn't do the "right" thing). The interesting thing is, I found hardly any information about the candidates (I had no idea there were seven until I started hunting for platform websites.) so I decided to email all seven candidates
Way to go! To read the email and the 3 responses, click here.
-Bob
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Gary Herbert makes me not hate him so much
When politicians do a good thing, we need to show them some praise.
Tribune:
Tribune:
Gov. Gary Herbert is poised to sign a conservation easement that will protect 252 acres -- the site of an ancient Indian village -- from development of a train station and commercial project along the Jordan River in Draper, his spokeswoman confirmed Monday night.
The easement would take away one of four alternatives for a future Utah Transit Authority train station, one that UTA at one point considered its top choice.
Representatives of Utah's Indian tribes and Utah Open Lands praised the long-awaited easement, which they said will preserve a significant natural and cultural resource.
LIVEBLOG: The Legislature is talkin about ethics
I'm at the State Capitol this morning attending a hearing about ethics reform. Congressman Bishop is going to be joining us. I'm going to be updating this as we go, so be prepared for spelling and punctuation errors as we go.
9:04 glad to see these things run even less on time in the summer than they do during the session.
9:10 finally starting. skippping minutes and moving on to Rep Bishop.
9:11 RBishop: I think it's funny that you're looking to Wasington for how to do ethics.
Bishop is part of the pool of legislators that could be drawn to sit on investigative subcommittee.
This type of thing needs to be done with compassion and free of political games.
All complaints from members of congress must have personal knowledge, no innuendo. Can't be within 60 days of election.
This is not a new issue. We were studying this since I was speaker.
lobbyists can't take a representative to a baseball game unless he also gets a campaign donation too.
sen jenkins: is dislosure enough?
rep bishop: I'm not sure. It has some merit.
sen mccoy: why should a lobbyist be paying for your lunch?
rep bishop: when i became a lobbyist, didn't pay for meals because i realized many legislators don't have time for meals.
rep king: should discloure come from the legisaltor or the lobbyist?
rep bishop: I have opinion either way.
sen killpack: when legislators do the process, they are accountable to the voters. when an independent comission is appointed, they are beholden to those who elected them.
rep bishop: congress has a habit of "we want a solution, but we don't want to deal with it." so they appoint an unelected comission. do you devolve your athority onto some other group, or do you take it upon yourself?
rep dougall: please tlk more about travel rules.
rep bishop: all travel must be approved, whether it's funded by government or outside entity. More and more people are using the ethics panel to get advice.
rep cosgrove: asking about campaign donation caps. does it put a halt on free speech?
rb: if you move into regulating donations, don't move into saying that some money is good and some is bad. our system in washington is a great incumbent protection system. (i'll have to pull the audio to get full comment).
9:40 moving on to other business.
Utah State Bar Ethics Commission Process
Art Berger, Former Chair, Utah Supreme Court Ethics and Discipline Committee
AB: 34 people on office of professional conduct (ethics committee), 8 are non-lawyers. Complaints that come in and are reviewed before procecuted, and there is an appeals process if denied. Committee has diversity of location, type of lawyer/law firm. both parties can be represented if they desire. rules of evidence do not apply like in a court hearing. office of prof conduct also works to educte lawyers on ethics, including running a hotline and continuing education. all lawyers are required to take ethics class each year.
rep dougall: it's a private process, correct?
ab: it is, until it is clear that disciplinary process.
rep dougall: is it appropriate for attorneys to sit on the panel?
ab: usually, people who come before panel think attorneys will protect their own. Attorneys who come before the panel feel that the panel is out to get them. the members of the public that are there help bring some independance to the committee.
rep dougall: how is opening on the panel filled
ab: publicity to get applications, then ut supreme court gets involved. all members are volunteer. 3 year terms, no more than two consecutive terms. they can serve again after break of one year.
rep cosgrove: open vs closed.
ab: being an attorney isn't a public ffice. being in the legislature is. having an open process can help protect against inapproriate charges against legislators, people people will see what's actually going on in the hearing.
next agenda item:
Constitutionality of Independent Ethics Commissions - Recent Nevada Supreme Court Decision -- John L. Fellows, General Counsel
nevada supreme court held that legislature can't appoint an independent ethics comission over legislators. utah constitution has similar restrictions that nevada used. nevada was executive branch comission, a legislative branch comission could be ok.
next item:
Discussion of Utah Legislative Ethics Committee Membership, Jurisdiction, and Powers
-- John L. Fellows
sen mccoy: every citizen is required to obey every law, including those they don't know about. shouldn't the same apply to a member of the legislator.
sen killpack: we have seen the problems that come from the citizen initiative process. we need to act in a proper manner so that others won't.
adjurn.
9:04 glad to see these things run even less on time in the summer than they do during the session.
9:10 finally starting. skippping minutes and moving on to Rep Bishop.
9:11 RBishop: I think it's funny that you're looking to Wasington for how to do ethics.
Bishop is part of the pool of legislators that could be drawn to sit on investigative subcommittee.
This type of thing needs to be done with compassion and free of political games.
All complaints from members of congress must have personal knowledge, no innuendo. Can't be within 60 days of election.
This is not a new issue. We were studying this since I was speaker.
lobbyists can't take a representative to a baseball game unless he also gets a campaign donation too.
sen jenkins: is dislosure enough?
rep bishop: I'm not sure. It has some merit.
sen mccoy: why should a lobbyist be paying for your lunch?
rep bishop: when i became a lobbyist, didn't pay for meals because i realized many legislators don't have time for meals.
rep king: should discloure come from the legisaltor or the lobbyist?
rep bishop: I have opinion either way.
sen killpack: when legislators do the process, they are accountable to the voters. when an independent comission is appointed, they are beholden to those who elected them.
rep bishop: congress has a habit of "we want a solution, but we don't want to deal with it." so they appoint an unelected comission. do you devolve your athority onto some other group, or do you take it upon yourself?
rep dougall: please tlk more about travel rules.
rep bishop: all travel must be approved, whether it's funded by government or outside entity. More and more people are using the ethics panel to get advice.
rep cosgrove: asking about campaign donation caps. does it put a halt on free speech?
rb: if you move into regulating donations, don't move into saying that some money is good and some is bad. our system in washington is a great incumbent protection system. (i'll have to pull the audio to get full comment).
9:40 moving on to other business.
Utah State Bar Ethics Commission Process
Art Berger, Former Chair, Utah Supreme Court Ethics and Discipline Committee
AB: 34 people on office of professional conduct (ethics committee), 8 are non-lawyers. Complaints that come in and are reviewed before procecuted, and there is an appeals process if denied. Committee has diversity of location, type of lawyer/law firm. both parties can be represented if they desire. rules of evidence do not apply like in a court hearing. office of prof conduct also works to educte lawyers on ethics, including running a hotline and continuing education. all lawyers are required to take ethics class each year.
rep dougall: it's a private process, correct?
ab: it is, until it is clear that disciplinary process.
rep dougall: is it appropriate for attorneys to sit on the panel?
ab: usually, people who come before panel think attorneys will protect their own. Attorneys who come before the panel feel that the panel is out to get them. the members of the public that are there help bring some independance to the committee.
rep dougall: how is opening on the panel filled
ab: publicity to get applications, then ut supreme court gets involved. all members are volunteer. 3 year terms, no more than two consecutive terms. they can serve again after break of one year.
rep cosgrove: open vs closed.
ab: being an attorney isn't a public ffice. being in the legislature is. having an open process can help protect against inapproriate charges against legislators, people people will see what's actually going on in the hearing.
next agenda item:
Constitutionality of Independent Ethics Commissions - Recent Nevada Supreme Court Decision -- John L. Fellows, General Counsel
nevada supreme court held that legislature can't appoint an independent ethics comission over legislators. utah constitution has similar restrictions that nevada used. nevada was executive branch comission, a legislative branch comission could be ok.
next item:
Discussion of Utah Legislative Ethics Committee Membership, Jurisdiction, and Powers
-- John L. Fellows
sen mccoy: every citizen is required to obey every law, including those they don't know about. shouldn't the same apply to a member of the legislator.
sen killpack: we have seen the problems that come from the citizen initiative process. we need to act in a proper manner so that others won't.
adjurn.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Stupid, Moronic Liberal Socialist Government!
I bet they won't be able to keep their grubby hands off my medicare!
Doug Wright is a Moron
So, KSL's Doug WWright has been teasing that he will have a major announcement regarding the 2010 Governor's race this morning.
By the time he got to the announcement, he stated that every major, well-known name that has been on the rumored list of people possibly running had declared their intention except for one.
That one would be Kirk Jowers.
Apparently, Mayor Peter Corroon doesn't count in Dougville.
Anyway, Kirk Jowers is not running for Governor. Which I could have told you. It was a name thrown against a wall that didn't say no right away.
-Bob
By the time he got to the announcement, he stated that every major, well-known name that has been on the rumored list of people possibly running had declared their intention except for one.
That one would be Kirk Jowers.
Apparently, Mayor Peter Corroon doesn't count in Dougville.
Anyway, Kirk Jowers is not running for Governor. Which I could have told you. It was a name thrown against a wall that didn't say no right away.
-Bob
How to Count LDS Missionaries in the 2010 Census
I read that, once again (it seems like I've read this two or three times) the US Census Bureau has told Utah's elected leaders it won't count missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
However, there is a solution to this conundrum. I'm an expert on the situation.
You see, I was an LDS missionary during the 2000 Census, and I got counted. Twice. And neither time in the state I was in on April 1, 2000.
When I received the forms in the mail, I filled them out and mailed them back in, counting me as one of the 4335 residents of Viroqua, Wisconsin. Shortly after I stuck the forms in the mail, my Mission President informed us that we were not to fill out the forms, but our parents were supposed to fill them out for us back home.
My parents, back here in Utah, were told by their Bishop to fill the Census forms out as if I was still here.
So, all it will take to count the LDS missionaries is to make it Church Policy that Census forms get filled out by the parents as if the missionary were living at home.
After all, that is where they maintain residency.
-Bob
However, there is a solution to this conundrum. I'm an expert on the situation.
You see, I was an LDS missionary during the 2000 Census, and I got counted. Twice. And neither time in the state I was in on April 1, 2000.
When I received the forms in the mail, I filled them out and mailed them back in, counting me as one of the 4335 residents of Viroqua, Wisconsin. Shortly after I stuck the forms in the mail, my Mission President informed us that we were not to fill out the forms, but our parents were supposed to fill them out for us back home.
My parents, back here in Utah, were told by their Bishop to fill the Census forms out as if I was still here.
So, all it will take to count the LDS missionaries is to make it Church Policy that Census forms get filled out by the parents as if the missionary were living at home.
After all, that is where they maintain residency.
-Bob
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
RepINO Matheson's town halls to zero town halls this month
How do you prove that you really care about the people you are supposed to represent?
Well, randomly calling them on the phone and inviting them to a "telephone town hall" which has already started is a great way to do it.
not.
But instead of hosting town hall meetings about, well, anything, RepINO Matheson is choosing to invite people to listen to a conference call.
And if you aren't home or don't take calls from unidentified phone numbers, well, sucks for you.
Even Jason Chaffetz and Rob Bishop have plans for town halls.
I guess Jim's has a lot of "first day of school" activities to attend this year.
Oh, and $250/person "celebrations."
-Bob
Well, randomly calling them on the phone and inviting them to a "telephone town hall" which has already started is a great way to do it.
not.
But instead of hosting town hall meetings about, well, anything, RepINO Matheson is choosing to invite people to listen to a conference call.
And if you aren't home or don't take calls from unidentified phone numbers, well, sucks for you.
Even Jason Chaffetz and Rob Bishop have plans for town halls.
I guess Jim's has a lot of "first day of school" activities to attend this year.
Oh, and $250/person "celebrations."
-Bob
Don't Text and Drive
One of my biggest pet peeves is people who think their phone is the most important thing they have. Whether in line at the bank or grocery store or driving, they are on it, ignoring what they should be paying attention to.
And texting while driving is just plain insane.
(h/t Cache Valley Daily)
And texting while driving is just plain insane.
(h/t Cache Valley Daily)
UtDems: Celebrate Utah's "Blue Dog" Me: Hell, no!
I got invited by the Utah Democratic Party to come celebrate Utah's Blue Dog Democrat, "Representative" Jim Matheson on August 31 in Millcreek Canyon.
My initial reaction is "Hell, no."
You see, I used to support Jim Matheson. I understand the need to run a more conservative Democrat in Utah so you can win.
However, when you get a 29-point victory, it's time to spend a little of that political capital.
However, when you cater to your campaign contributors and not your constituents, you no longer are a Representative. You have become Rob Bishop.
Sure, you talk a good game on Health Care reform. You say you support it.
Except your actions reflect the opposite.
You have become Orrin Hatch.
And the bad part about this is, given the campaign that the GOP has run against RepINO (Representative In Name Only) Matheson the last three election cycles, he's still going to be painted with Health Care Reform (like it's a bad thing). So, since it's a no-loss situation, Jim Matheson needs to stand with those you voted for him, not those who bought his vote.
-Bob
My initial reaction is "Hell, no."
You see, I used to support Jim Matheson. I understand the need to run a more conservative Democrat in Utah so you can win.
However, when you get a 29-point victory, it's time to spend a little of that political capital.
However, when you cater to your campaign contributors and not your constituents, you no longer are a Representative. You have become Rob Bishop.
Sure, you talk a good game on Health Care reform. You say you support it.
Except your actions reflect the opposite.
You have become Orrin Hatch.
And the bad part about this is, given the campaign that the GOP has run against RepINO (Representative In Name Only) Matheson the last three election cycles, he's still going to be painted with Health Care Reform (like it's a bad thing). So, since it's a no-loss situation, Jim Matheson needs to stand with those you voted for him, not those who bought his vote.
-Bob
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Oh, I want to go! I want to go!
NCM Fathom, Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies present The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event featuring the first ever High Definition presentation in movie theatres nationwide of The Wizard of Oz. This One Night Event will take place in over 440 movie theatres nationwide on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. (local time). In addition to the feature presentation of The Wizard of Oz, this exclusive event will include a special introduction by Robert Osborne, a classic film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, followed by “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” a look into how L. Frank Baum’s classic novel was transformed into one of the most beloved films of all time including archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and rare musical outtakes. Also featured will be an exclusive clip of the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger, dancing in High-definition for the very first time.
Several Utah Theaters are involved. Click here for details.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Gary Herbert's "success" as Lt Governor
City Weekly:
His primary accomplishment as Lt. Gov. was bringing the state's elections office into the digital world, a job he only semi-accomplished because the website is essentially an electronic version of a physical government office. It's complicated, seldom works right, fails at inopportune moments (say, election night), and is completely impractical for the common citizen with limited time and patience to use.
Hatch: Tea Baggers not Nutcakes
Rolly:
Us and them» Remember when Sen. Orrin Hatch called those attending a protest rally against the war in Iraq "nut cakes" during then-President George Bush's visit to Salt Lake City?
I asked Hatch's office if he then thought the screaming mobs that have been disrupting congressional town hall meetings by shouting down everyone who tried to talk, including the congressmen and congresswomen conducting the meetings, were nut cakes.
He doesn't.
"The people I called 'nut cakes' were using vulgarities and crude gestures, even flipping the bird and spitting, to the president of the United States ... ," Hatch said. "The demonstrators participating in rallies recently against the federal government, deficit spending, increasing taxes, socialism and a government takeover of health care, have been aggressive and outspoken, but not vulgar and crude."
He must not have seen the same mob demonstrations at the town hall meetings that I've seen.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Horrible Birther Poll Reporting by KSL/DesNews
The Results:
So, 9% of those polled don't think Obama's a citizen. So, how do you spin the poll?
DesNews: 1/3 of Utahns question Obama birthplace
KSL: One-third of Utahns unsure if Pres. Obama is American
-Bob
Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and, therefore, is a U.S. citizen?
Definitely a U.S. citizen: 48%
Probably a U.S. citizen: 19%
Probably Not a U.S. citizen: 4%
Definitely not a U.S. citizen: 5%
Don't Know: 23%
(n=402, Conducted Aug 3-5, MoE =/- 5%)
So, 9% of those polled don't think Obama's a citizen. So, how do you spin the poll?
DesNews: 1/3 of Utahns question Obama birthplace
KSL: One-third of Utahns unsure if Pres. Obama is American
-Bob
Glenn Beck Doesn't Let Facts Get In His Way
Brother Glenn H Beck (The H stands for Hatemonger) of the First Quorum of the Chaffetzing is at it again:
Holy Limbaugh, Batman! You mean that if I log into the Cash for Clunkers web site, the government takes control of my computer?
Well, not really. The privacy statement was only when you were in the Dealer transaction page (which means not you and me).
Besides, if the government was going to tap into your computers, do you really think they'd be nice enough to tell you first?
Yeah, didn't think so.
-Bob
Holy Limbaugh, Batman! You mean that if I log into the Cash for Clunkers web site, the government takes control of my computer?
Well, not really. The privacy statement was only when you were in the Dealer transaction page (which means not you and me).
Besides, if the government was going to tap into your computers, do you really think they'd be nice enough to tell you first?
Yeah, didn't think so.
-Bob
Saturday, August 08, 2009
YOU Have The Power To Change Zion
Jesse Fruhwirth over at the City Weekly writes about an epiphany he had at last week's Twilight Concert Series show. It should be required reading:
Remember, only 52% of eligible Utahns turned out to vote last year. You want change, fight for it!
-Bob
As the crowd "Hey-hoed" their way into a frenzy--hands in the air because they just don't care--I thought about the energy that an artist seeks and thrives upon. This was a loving, engagable and participatory crowd that was hanging on every word Q-tip dribbled. That helps us attract new acts, in a way; while the organizers deserve mad props, we all get to take credit for being a huge, amazing throng that appreciates great music, no matter the genre. To see many of the same faces bouncing to hip-hop this week that slammed to Sonic Youth last week is truly cool.
But let's use that power not just in the cultural sphere, but the political one as well. Set aside that tired old bitterness about living in Zion: it's our time now. Let's take some ownership. We do that with politics.
[...]
I want to see our cultural energy translate into politics. Register to vote. Call your city council person and express your opinions about the future of the city. Call your representative and your state senator and tell them about your vision for the future of Utah. Take that energy from Twilight and translate it into social change.
[...]
I'm tired folks, and not of the seeming conservative hegemony. Mostly I'm tired by other folks' defeated attitude toward that hegemony, which isn't even real. If we all "get up, stand up," the hegemony falls to its knees. Many Mormons are even seeing the light and questioning the hegemony as well. Invite them in. Our unifying quality is challenging traditional authority in this state. If the power of Twlight can be harnassed by politicians, we will make true change. The next time someone asks you to do something unsexy like register to vote, imagine yourself at the amazingly sexy Q-tip show; emobody that energy created by a powerful crowd of kindred spirits. You have to do the boring things. Please do them.
This is our town now and our state also. Believe it.
Remember, only 52% of eligible Utahns turned out to vote last year. You want change, fight for it!
-Bob
Herbert/Bell: Nobody Hates Them. Nobody Knows Them Either.....
Check ou this KSL story about Lt-Gov Designate Greg Bell and Soon-to-be Gov Gary Herbert:
Some highlights:
And the money quote:
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
Some highlights:
An overnight Dan Jones poll for KSL-TV and the Deseret News shows of 214 Utahns, 36 percent approve of Bell as the next lieutenant governor, 6 percent disapprove, and 58 percent don't know
Fifty percent of Utahns polled approve of Herbert's job as lieutenant governor, 9 percent disapprove, and a fairly large percentage--41 percent--say they don't know.
And the money quote:
"I think it bodes fairly well for us. Greg Bell isn't one of the A-listers. He's a descent guy who is affable, but he's part of the Republican mess that's up there," said Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
RIP John Hughes: "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. "
Even though I was in high school in the mid-90's, when John Hughes was on the down slope of his career, John Hughes defined my high school days.
Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...
...and an athlete...
...and a basket case...
...a princess...
...and a criminal...
Does that answer your question?... Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.
Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...
...and an athlete...
...and a basket case...
...a princess...
...and a criminal...
Does that answer your question?... Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.
Health Care Reform: The Truth About A CanadaCare Scare Tatic, and apersonal story on the subject
Ottawa Citizen:
So, she had a benign growth, that her health care (the government system) would threat, if she was willing to wait a few months.
Sounds like a story of someone I know, who had a vastly different outcome.
That person is me.
In early 2004, I wnet to the doctor. The main reason I went was for a regular checkup (the last one I've had, BTW). I also had some things I needed to discuss with my doctor.
One of those things was some raised moles on my head. He referred me to a dermatologist who ran some tests. Turns out they were benign, but a benign raised mole is a ticking time bomb. So, he wanted to remove them.
However, doctors don't make those type of decisions in America. He had to ask the insurance company, who told him no. Twice. Not a "we'll get that taken care of in a few months, maybe as long as 18."
A "We won't cover it because it's cosmetic. Sure, we'll cover it and the extra expenses associated with it when it becomes cancerous (which almost every medical expert says it will), but we're willing to take that risk. If you ever want it taken care of before you have cancer, pay for it yourself! (to the tune of several thousand dollars which I didn't/don't have)"
So, nothing was done, I was told to keep an eye on them, and they wished me well.
And then my life situation changed and I joined the ranks of the uninsured.
Which means that if/when I ever have insurance again, they won't pay for it either. Even if it's cancer, because it's a pre-existing condition.
Meanwhile, I have to hope and pray that every headache is just a headache, maybe a migraine or caffeine withdrawals, and not the big C.
If I lived in canada, the problem would have been fixed. In 2008 at the latest.
-Bob
Both CNN and McConnell made a big deal out of Shona Holmes, an Ontario woman who claims she was forced by Ontario's health system to go to the United States for life-saving surgery for a brain tumour. She claims that in 2005 delays in access to treatment at home made it necessary to go to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and pay $97,000 for her care.
In 2007, Holmes was part of a court case brought by the Canadian Constitution Foundation against the government of Ontario. The case challenges Ontario's "government-run monopolistic" health system that prohibits the sale of private health care and private health insurance for essential health services. It is still before the courts.
Holmes has become the darling of conservatives and the stop-public-health-care movement in the United States. She's testified before Congress, been on Fox TV as well as CNN, and her story is retold on hundreds of right wing blogs. She's now doing a nasty TV ad for Patients United Now, a Republican-led group opposed to Obama's reforms. You can see the ad at www.patientsunitednow.com. The group is spending almost $2 million on it to target politicians in Washington.
For a person living with cancer, the idea that someone's care could be unreasonably delayed is truly scary. It also doesn't reflect the experience I've had or the experiences that have been shared with me by so many other patients. Even CNN interviewed Doug Wright, a more typical patient in Toronto who is receiving very speedy treatment for his cancer.
Still, I found Holmes tale both compelling and troubling. So I decided to check a little further. On the Mayo Clinic's website, Shona Holmes is a success story. But it's somewhat different story than all the headlines might have implied. Holmes' "brain tumour" was actually a Rathke's Cleft Cyst on her pituitary gland. To quote an American source, the John Wayne Cancer Center, "Rathke's Cleft Cysts are not true tumors or neoplasms; instead they are benign cysts."
There's no doubt Holmes had a problem that needed treatment, and she was given appointments with the appropriate specialists in Ontario. She chose not to wait the few months to see them. But it's a far cry from the life-or-death picture portrayed by Holmes on the TV ads or by McConnell in his attacks.
So, she had a benign growth, that her health care (the government system) would threat, if she was willing to wait a few months.
Sounds like a story of someone I know, who had a vastly different outcome.
That person is me.
In early 2004, I wnet to the doctor. The main reason I went was for a regular checkup (the last one I've had, BTW). I also had some things I needed to discuss with my doctor.
One of those things was some raised moles on my head. He referred me to a dermatologist who ran some tests. Turns out they were benign, but a benign raised mole is a ticking time bomb. So, he wanted to remove them.
However, doctors don't make those type of decisions in America. He had to ask the insurance company, who told him no. Twice. Not a "we'll get that taken care of in a few months, maybe as long as 18."
A "We won't cover it because it's cosmetic. Sure, we'll cover it and the extra expenses associated with it when it becomes cancerous (which almost every medical expert says it will), but we're willing to take that risk. If you ever want it taken care of before you have cancer, pay for it yourself! (to the tune of several thousand dollars which I didn't/don't have)"
So, nothing was done, I was told to keep an eye on them, and they wished me well.
And then my life situation changed and I joined the ranks of the uninsured.
Which means that if/when I ever have insurance again, they won't pay for it either. Even if it's cancer, because it's a pre-existing condition.
Meanwhile, I have to hope and pray that every headache is just a headache, maybe a migraine or caffeine withdrawals, and not the big C.
If I lived in canada, the problem would have been fixed. In 2008 at the latest.
-Bob
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Utah Republicans are to blame for your property tax increase
Remember those Utah RepublICAN billboards last year?
Especially the one that said "I Can pay fewer taxes?"
Yeah, about that:
Darn that liberal (Church-owned) media!
-Bob
Especially the one that said "I Can pay fewer taxes?"
Yeah, about that:
Taxes will be the topic Tuesday night at a "truth in taxation" hearing in Riverton. Many are expected to voice concerns about a new law requiring taxpayers throughout Salt Lake County to pay $10 million for the split of the Jordan School District.
Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled Utah Legislature first passed the law allowing the split, then passed the law that puts the cost of the split on the shoulders of taxpayers all over the county. In Salt Lake City, for instance, that hike will cost $57 for every $100,000 in home value.
Many taxpayers who don't live in the Jordan District are expressing surprise this week as they're opening up their tax notices and find their school taxes are up.
"We're the ones who stood up on the Senate floor, who stood up on the House floor, and said, 'This will raise your taxes,'" said Senate Minority Leader Pat Jones.
KSL 5 News looked at the vote on the school funding equalization bill in 2008 and found a nearly party-line divide: 68 Republican lawmakers, all but a few, voted 'yes;' nearly all Democrats voted 'no.'
Darn that liberal (Church-owned) media!
-Bob
Monday, August 03, 2009
Carl Wimmer is a moron
This shouldn't surprise me. After all, he is the same person who went off on zoos being socialist.
Tribune:
Let ne get this straight:
"Even if the feds come out with a wonderful plan that is market driven, if it's a federal mandate, [you're] opposed[?]"
And, opting out doesn't mean that Utahn's won;t be paying for this program anyway. So we'll be paying for programs and receive no benefit.
That makes a hell of a lot of sense.
Carl Wimmer: The Vice-idiot of Utah.
-Bob
Tribune:
A conservative legislator wants to give Utah a way to avoid swallowing any federal medicine for health-care reform.
"Even if the feds come out with a wonderful plan that is market driven, if it's a federal mandate, I'm opposed," Rep. Carl Wimmer said Monday. "Basically they should keep their hands off -- it's not within their purview."
So the Herriman Republican plans to introduce a bill in the 2010 Legislature that would pave the way to amend the Utah Constitution and allow the state to opt out of federal health-care reform.
Wimmer's goal is lofty -- to amend the Utah Constitution would require two-thirds approval in the state House and Senate and a majority vote of the people.
Let ne get this straight:
"Even if the feds come out with a wonderful plan that is market driven, if it's a federal mandate, [you're] opposed[?]"
And, opting out doesn't mean that Utahn's won;t be paying for this program anyway. So we'll be paying for programs and receive no benefit.
That makes a hell of a lot of sense.
Carl Wimmer: The Vice-idiot of Utah.
-Bob
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