brvty

Freedom died today.

2010-03-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON – A beaming President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a historic $938 billion health care overhaul that guarantees coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans and will touch nearly every citizen's life, presiding over the biggest shift in U.S. domestic policy since the 1960s

- AP

“Freedom dies a little bit today.” - Rep. Masha Blackburn (R-TN)

Anyhow, kind of exciting. Universal coverage is going to be a fact of life in the US within the decade.

"Over your dead body!"

Proclaims Republican AGs!

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorneys general from 13 states sued the federal government Tuesday, claiming the landmark health care overhaul is unconstitutional just seven minutes after President Barack Obama signed it into law.

...

"The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage," the lawsuit says.

- AP

Maybe we should write a law then that the government is supposed to protect its people? Not to mention the broader interests of protecting the economy.

At first I noticed VA wasn't listed as a party to the lawsuit, but not one to disappoint..

Some states are considering separate lawsuits — Virginia filed its own Tuesday — and still others may join the multistate suit.

Famous last words

2009-05-20T17:38:00.000-07:00

Actually, best ever?

Kleine Opfer müssen gebracht werden!

-Otto Lilienthal

2009-04-08T23:15:00.001-07:00

Armed revolution

2009-04-06T14:33:00.001-07:00

This is what armed revolution looks like. Make sure you know who you are up against.

Why did this happen?

David Waldman at DailyKos has more,

Reporter: Did he ever say anything to you? Like, ever indicate any signs that made you concerned, or made you...

Friend: He just basically told me he didn’t like the Zionist control over our government, he didn’t like that there was about to be military policing, he didn’t believe in the fact that there was about to be a gun ban. He didn’t like anything that was going on in the political forefront, and he was basically very politically active, and he didn’t agree with what was going on right now in the United States of America. But what made him snap, I have no clue.

But what kind of headlines do we get?

Urinating dog triggered argument resulting in 3 officers' deaths

See also, Chuck Norris and Glenn Beck calling for armed revolution in, We Surround Them

See also, Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN) calling for her constituents "in Minnesota [to be] armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us, having a revolution every now and then is a good thing."

Probably the creepiest thing..

2009-04-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

I have seen on the Internets.

Welcome to my madness.

ASIMO LIVES!

2009-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

LONDON (Reuters) – Watch out scientists -- you may be replaced by a robot.

It Begins!

Two teams of researchers said on Thursday they had created machines that could reason, formulate theories and discover scientific knowledge on their own, marking a major advance in the field of artificial intelligence.

Link

Let the Eagle Soar

2009-03-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

Finally,

Some good fucking news

Obama by 8

2008-11-02T22:22:00.000-08:00

that's my call. 53 to 45.

Obama and Experience

2008-09-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

For all this talk of experience, what does it really mean?

We have had great presidents with very different backgrounds: some with very little political experience like Lincoln, some with little or no war experience like FDR, Wilson or Jefferson and others who's careers were founded on military service such as Washington or Eisenhower.

While it's clear that there is no one right path to the presidency, a few traits do stand out.

To be a great president, you must be exceptional, in mind and work ethic. And while it is possible to be a great president born into privilege, great presidents, almost all, overcame great adversity in their lives.

What of Obama? Does he have what it takes to be a great President?

Early Life and Education:

Graduate of Columbia University, Political Science major, concentration in international relations, 1983.
Worked as a community organizer and civil rights attorney from 1985-1997.
Law degree from Harvard in 1991 , magna cum laude.
Was selected as an editor of the Harvard Law Review in his first year, elected as the president his second.
Taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992-2004.
Obama has admitted to experimenting with drugs while in high school, including alcohol, marijuana and cocaine.
After the age of two, he only saw his father once.

Political Experience

Elected to Illinois Senate in 1996. Served until 2004.
Unsuccessful bid for House of Representatives in 2000.
Elected to the United States Senate in 2004 with over 70% of the vote, (3,597,456 total votes).
Elected as Democratic candidate for President of the United States with over 18,000,000 primary votes.

Legislative Highlights

The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act
The Lugar-Obama Cooperative Threat Reduction
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006
Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act
The Obama-McCain Climate Change Reduction Bill

My take?

Obama is qualified. Lately, Military Service has been bandied about like the ultimate presidential experience, but our country did just fine under FDR and Bill Clinton.

Obama is an exceptionally hard worker, incredibly intelligent and dedicated to upholding the principles of the United States Constitution. He overcame adversity, being mixed race and the son of a poor, single mom, and has demonstrated experience in dedication to helping others and solving problems for communities.

It may be easy to write off these examples, but have you tried to get into Harvard Law lately? They aren't taking just anyone. And working as a community organizer is no joke either. It is long hours and low pay.

Obama is a man of high integrity. He is willing to admit his mistakes. He is a true family man and a great example of what a husband/dad should be. Not bad for a politician.

All said, history has proven that great presidents come with a variety of life experience. While they have different backgrounds, they do share common traits such as intelligence, eloquence, strong work ethic and the ability to take on challenges and overcome adversity.

(thanks to droogie6655321 and Eman for their research)

Peggy Hill for President!

2008-08-29T11:22:00.001-07:00

Move over Joe Biden, There is a new VP Pick in town!

Sarah Palin is here to rock your world, America!

(and maybe even serve brownies!)

Just who is Sarah Palin?

As John McCain mentioned in his introduction speech (see it here at MSNBC),

She is a member of the PTA, former Mayor of Wasilla City (pop: 6,500), local TV sports reporter and a runner up for Miss Alaska!

I'd say more about her, but she spent her whole speech gushing about her husband and five kids.

In seriousness, her year and a half spent as governor of one of the least populous states will surely prepare her to deal with the intricate and complex issues of geopolitical unrest, the collapsing American economy, nuclear proliferation, energy and environmental crises and also give her the experience necessary to lead our nation as Commander in Chief in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

Is it irresponsible pandering to place someone so inexperienced, at a time of such serious crisis, (potentially) one heart-beat away from the most demanding and complex job on the planet in a transparent and insulting attempt to grab disaffected women voters?

Could we have asked for anything more, on this, the day of John McCain's birth?

People, it is officially a party up in here.

So Happy Birthday John McCain, 72 years young with the judgment of someone much, much older.

I'm John McCain, and I approve this Vagina.

(h/t to Erin for the line)

VeepStakes: No Go To Clark?

2008-08-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Wes Clark Jr. made a post to a Daily Kos diary covering the recent HuffPo frenzy regarding Denver Convention to Clark (Sr.) : "Your services not needed." (HuffPo Story)

From Wes Clark Jr. :

He wasn't invited to speak at the convention.

...

It's not a fake out or some secret plan, he isn't going to be VP or probably anything else in an Obama administration, assuming he's elected.

Disappointing.

He continued,

I know some you think you can change this by launching VP diaries a couple times a day in hopes that Obama will be swayed by the "netroots." Dude, when has that ever worked with this campaign?

And that's the cold reality. Obama has not once, not ever been swayed by the netroots.

Read the full comment here.

Deployed Military support Obama by 6:1 ratio

2008-08-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

You know the saying, "Put your money where your mouth is"?

Our troops put their lives on the line when they sign up to serve our country and now they are voting with their wallets in favor of Obama.

A new report shows that by an overwhelming ratio of 6:1, troops serving overseas support Barack Obama for President.

From the Navy Times:

Military personnel are contributing more to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois than to his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, according to a nonpartisan group tracking donations to candidates.

...

Looking just at contributions from service members with overseas addresses, McCain trails far behind Obama and Paul.

Obama got $60,642 in contributions from 134 military personnel, an average of $453 a person. Paul got $45,512 from 99 military personnel, an average of $460 a person, while McCain received $10,665 from 26 people, an average of $410 a person.

Our soldiers overseas trust Barack Obama as a Patriot and also as a Leader.

And I trust the troops who think that Obama is both Proud to be an American and will Make America Proud with his support for our armed forces.