Please be there (4.00 / 2)

Parker needs to see that his constituents are not all rich wingnuts.

It wouldn't hurt if he noticed that people who worked to get him elected were paying attention, either.

And, oh, by the way -  if anyone starts bleating about "socialism" at the Space and Rocket Center - just have them look around at all the socialist, government-run moon rockets on display at the museum.  The ones that beat the Soviet Socialists to the moon.  Seems like our socialism worked better than thiers.

And if they get bored with that, there is the socialist, government-run, supersonic reconnaissance plane in front of the old museum - that's right, the SR-71/A12 Blackbird was produced by a company that accepted a full government bailout back in the seventies.

And when they leave, they'll be driving out on the Socialist Interstate Highway System, started by the well-known Socialist President Dwight Eisenhower.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 22:33:56 PM CDT

Positive development on health care (4.00 / 1)

New Dem health plan has public option, lower cost

Senators Kennedy and Dodd have outlined a new health care plan.  The pricetag for this one is $600 billion, as opposed to $1 trillion for an earlier concept and this one would provide coverage for 97% of Americans.

The letter indicated the cost and coverage improvements resulted from two changes. The first calls for a government-run health insurance option to compete with private coverage plans, an option that has drawn intense opposition from Republicans.

"We must not settle for legislation that merely gestures at reform," the two Democrats wrote. "We must deliver on the promise of true change."

Additionally, the revised proposal calls for a $750 annual fee on employers for each full-time worker not offered coverage through their job. The fee would be set at $375 for part-time workers. Companies with fewer than 25 employees would be exempt. The fee was forecast to generate $52 billion over 10 years, money the government would use to help provide subsidies to those who cannot afford insurance.

A public option will reduce costs.  Period. 

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 09:33:04 AM CDT

Please, y'all , go to the meeting and apply the pressure. (4.00 / 2)

He needs to know we care. If Jo Bonner has a meeting, I guess I will go, but there is no way he will even consider supporting change.

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 14:26:31 PM CDT

Eyewitness Report (4.00 / 3)

The Town Hall was full of right wing nuts who applauded everytime Griffith said he didn't agree with Obama and who don't want "government run" healthcare.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.~Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D. MA)

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by: Redeye @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 19:43:48 PM CDT

Half right (4.00 / 2)

There were nuts from both sides present.  If one must choose between pro single payer/anti single payer then I would guess the room was 60-40 against.

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by: Brian @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 20:57:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was afraid (4.00 / 1)

That once Radiation Man got the microphone he would never give it up.

He's certainly consistent - I've seen him at Democratic events for years and it's always the same fixed idea about radiological standards with him.

One of our hardy perennials, he is.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 23:10:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

He's "one of yours?" (4.00 / 1)

I had him pegged as a lefty at first - railing against the lack of financial oversight - but when he basically accused Griffith of killing people (and cited the website of a certain local conservative talk show host) I figured he might be one of the crazy righties.  Either way, maybe he's been radiated one too many times.

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by: Brian @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 06:12:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think he's a movement of one (0.00 / 0)

that meets regularly on a non-orthognal plane...

"Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress but they regard the things government does for others as socialism."     ~Earl Warren

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by: countrycat @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 15:54:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was fairly impressed with Griffith (4.00 / 3)

And I did not expect to be.  He is very well informed (ought to be since he's a retired physician) and not opposed to single payer, although he said repeatedly the single payer bill before Congress now is not a good bill and not something the American people would like.   I'll be posting some video of the meeting -- either tomorrow or late Sunday.  One of the right wingers there was radiation man, the guy who was pushing the malpractice rumors against Griffith last year.  I can see why Wayne Parker never trotted him out for the media during the campaign.  Even the wingers were telling him to sit down.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 22:05:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm looking forward to the video. (4.00 / 1)

I had other things to do but I am interested in how this event went.

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by: mwoodj @ Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 22:20:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]