Written by Michael Chase on 28 October 2010
It seemed a no-brainer that Congress would substantially re-regulate the insurance and investment banking marketplace, but Congressional Republicans had vowed to block all legislative initiatives pushed by the President, and they held firm. Financial reform, like every other piece of legislation in the last two years, had to clear the unprecedented legislative hurdle of finding 60 senators to approve cloture. Just like health care reform, cap and trade, and the stimulus, financial reform would not be allowed to come to an up or down, democratic vote. The most amazing legislative accomplishment of the last two years, built on the backs of working voters assaulted by Wall Street, was the Republicans' success at turning the United States into [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by Michael Chase on 27 October 2010
Leading into next weak, the message that fence-sitters need to understand is that real progress was made by the passage of Affordable Care Act. Children with preexisting conditions can purchase insurance, adults will have the privilege beginning next year. Rescission has been banned, so insurers must now honor their plans unless fraud can be proved. The steady increase in the amount of premiums held back as profits, instead of being paid as benefits, has been halted. These benefits must be drilled into the minds of those who plan to vote, and those who don't see the point of voting. Even leaving health care aside, the student loan reform that was included in the final passage has pumped billions out of private banks and into pockets of [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by Michael Chase on 26 October 2010
Turnout, turnout, turnout. Every vote in every district will count. It is important to remind ourselves of this, because thousands of conservative blogs are being posted with the same general message. Turnout, turnout, turnout. Every friend, neighbor, or coworker that you convinced to vote in 2008 needs to be challenged this week. Turnout, turnout, turnout. It has been an ugly two years filled with occasional success bad bracketed by bitter failure. The last question remaining for the most prolonged, painful, embarrassing, and expensive midterm cycle in American history is a simple one. Will Liberals come out to vote? Will Liberals come to their senses? [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by Tracy Riva on 16 October 2010
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it's a disease people need to be aware of. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native women, resulting in 40,820 deaths in 2006, the last year for which the CDC has statistics. In that same year there were 191,410 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed. [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by Tracy Riva on 15 October 2010
From Frozenness to Freedom: A Healing Journey is brief, but powerful. The images, both in pictures and words are evocative of deep transformation from pain and darkness to light and healing. As a reader your reaction will be to immediately relate her pain and suffering to your own. If you have been through abuse, neglect, pain, or disease her writing will touch wellsprings hidden deep within. There may be pain, but there will also be healing – deep and true. [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by Michael Chase on 12 October 2010
Republicans haven't satisfied themselves with just turning back progressive legislation, they have redoubled their attacks on the working class. This year, teachers, state troopers, firefighters, police officers, and every single other state or municipal worker represented by a union and making a decent wage have come under attack. In 1984, Ronald Reagan and the Republicans showed that they had the resolve to weather the storm of the '82 midterms, and proceeded to destroy the once central position of manufacturing in our nation. Under their leadership, shipbuilding, steel-making, and most of the appliance industry left the United States. What will Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House John Boehner, and committee chairs like [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by B.T. Balls on 10 October 2010
The slacker provides a list of personal assets to the banker: a Burning Man T-Shirt, a broken Playstation 2, and a worn-out bong. When pressed for how he plans to make his mortgage payments, the slacker mutters something about needing his own space and getting his old part-time job back at the local Jiffy Lube. After slacker boy requests cash out at settlement, our astute banker friend chuckles and prepares to let the young man down gently. However, as soon as the word “No” forms on the banker’s lips he receives an urgent call from Nancy Pelosi... [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by Tracy Riva on 02 October 2010
"Missing.
The word was heavy. It opened between them like a chasm created by the breaking of earth in the aftermath of magic. Kaylin did not look at Severn, but she was aware that he was watching her. Not staring, not exactly, but aware of her reaction. She schooled her expression - a phrase she hated - with care, entirely for his benefit.
"You haven't reported her as missing." Not a question.
"No," Ybelline said, and she almost shuddered. Did, although it was subtle, a ripple that passed through her and left her changed.
"You don't believe she just wandered out of the quarter on her own." Flat words.
"No," Ybelline replied. [Read the rest of this article...]
Written by B.T. Balls on 02 October 2010
Not one of these jokers has ever met a payroll, measured return on investment, or outsourced operations to a third world hellhole to juice quarterly earnings. Now that this crowd has had their turn at playing house, we need an uncompromising new leader from the business community to take back our country - a CEO with the guts to step up to the plate, get our house in order, and cut spending to the bone! [Read the rest of this article...]
