The Legacy.

It has been a thoughtful two days since we learned of the passing of Teddy Kennedy. He was an imperfect man, no doubt, but we are all imperfect men and women. Much as been said about him, much of it loving and respectful, some of it brash and evil and even hate-filled. His colleagues such as Vice President Biden in tearful remembrance. His political enemies singing songs about him in remembrance of a consummate legislator and his ideals, who served close to five decades in the Senate. Some of those we will fine returning to business as usual, attacking his ideals and his values and his caring for "least among us" in favor of business as usual in America shortly after he is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery next to his brothers. I have been thinking about what to say and what to write about him and suddenly I realized that his eulogy has already been written. It was written on November 19, 1863 by none other than President Lincoln who speaking at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery said in the last of sentence of that address:
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

In Memoriam Edward Moore Kennedy.

Tonight Ted Kennedy passed from our scene. How great a loss that is for us and for the world. He was a great legislator and a good human being. We are richer for his time among us and poorer now that he is gone. It is a shame he didn't live to see universal health care in the only western democracy that doesn't have such a thing. A fitting memorial for the Lion of the Senate would be to enact Universal Health Care in his name. Requiescat in pacem, Teddy.

No Public Option, No Real Healthcare Reform.

After thinking about this whole issue of healthcare reform, I am of the opinion that there can be no meaningful healthcare reform without a viable public option. The reason for this is very simple: without a public option there is no way to keep the health insurance industry honest. None at all!

GOP Red Herring Sale---More Fear & Terrorism

Our "friends" at the Republican National Committee have a released a document called the Seniors Bill of Rights. This document attempts to secure a political victory for themselves and their patrons by scaring the feathers off of our Senior Citizens. You can read those items on that site and come to a single conclusion. The only people talking about any of those evil things enumerated as evils to be protected against are the GOP and their Patrons, the for profit health insurance industry. They through ridiculous red herrings (that no one else has imagined, much less offered up as policy) and promise to defend against those fake stories and worries. Terrorism is defined as the use of fear to achieve political ends. These non-existent worries are offered up the GOP. They scare seniors witless and then they promise to defend against them by the keeping the status quo in place. The GOP is totally without any conscience and has no shame whatsoever. The RNC should be sent off to Guantanamo Bay to keep our seniors safe. The RNC is definitely a terrorist group.

Let Us Be Crystal Clear.

The current bogey-man debate over Health Care is more like a food fight than anything else. First of all let's be sure we are talking about the same thing. This debate is not about health care. Potentially we have the finest health care available anywhere at any cost. The debate is much more about how it is rationed, if you will. The current distribution system is a bottom line distribution system. It is set up based upon the insane belief that someone or something should be making a profit Those who are opposed to changes in the distribution and current system of rationing of this fundamental right are not led by stuffy Dickensian GOPers, although those fellow have signed on in that battle. People like Smiling Chuck Grassley are modern-day Hessians. They are hired guns, if you will. Smiling Chuck has taken in 2.5 million dollars from the health care and pharmaceutical industry during the last 5 years.The Blue Dogs of the Democratic Party are in the forefront of opposition too. This Battle for America is esentially being waged, directed and, more importantly, funded by those who have the most to lose by making any meaningful changes in this system of rationing. There is a precept of politics coined in the last 30 years that says it all and is just as relevant and foundational as when it was first uttered: follow the money! The health insurance industry funds 15% of the Gross Domestic Product of the the U.S. and they make a hefty profit out of it. Some $14, 000,000,000 at last count. The American People are a cash cow for the industry. What's wrong with this picture? Let me tell you what's wrong with this picture. Adequate health care is a fundamental human right. It is not something that should be designed to make money, obscene amounts of money, for the gate-keepers and the collectors of ration stamps. Simple morality demands a change in this system. It demands a change whereby delivery of health care is maximized and the evil of profit-taking is minimized. That is the main reason why a so-called public option must be included in changes in the health care delivery system. It is absolutely essential that we keep health insurers honest. Nothing short of a public option will do this.

You Got to Love Barney Frank!

Barney had this marvelous exchange with some nutcase in one of his town hall meetings in his Congressional District. It is one of those things I wish I had said. Watch it here. It's about time someone talked back to one of those nutcases on the Right. Give 'em hell, Barney!

In Memoriam Robert Novak

He is no great loss to the world. If ever there was a man who was a total waste of air, water and food, it was the late Mr. Novak. In his passing we have probably eliminated the possibility of any indictment of Darth Cheney.