Tag Archives: Politics

My Hope for Expanding Healthcare Coverage

I am very passionate about expanding access to healthcare and finding ways to make the US health system both more affordable and easier to navigate. I don’t have any illusions about how monumental such an undertaking will be but I also don’t believe that this is a challenge too great for the United States – even in light of the current economic malaise. As a matter of fact, I believe that the downturn in the economy which is certain to increase the numbers of uninsured and further strain the employer-based health system could be the impetus needed to start reforms.

I am heartened by the fact that Massachusetts’ universal healthcare system (while not without faults and problems) is considered a success by virtually everyone and is now being used as a model for several health reform plans in Washington, D.C. Today, The Boston Globe published an interesting story entitled “Mass Health Plan Has National Appeal” that explains how our state has taken a leadership role in addressing expanding coverage. At work, I recently was part of a national conversation that addressed the current ills associated with the U.S. Health system and the need for reform.
Changes will come slowly in the form of an expansion of SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Plan) which is all but certain to be signed into law this spring. This is an important first step in expanding coverage and placing emphasis on prevention and wellness, but so much more needs to happen and I am excited by what the incoming administration might do. I think most people would agree that the current administration’s decision to do nothing for the past eight years has not resulted in any market self-corrections. More people have lost their health coverage (uninsured numbers are now estimated to be an astonishing 47 million people); for those lucky enough to have coverage they are finding themselves paying more out-of-pocket each year; and businesses are straining to keep up with increases to their health plans which have typically been 3-4 times greater than inflation for more than a decade.

Ann Coulter meets karma

The NY Post is reporting that Ann Coulter´s mouth has been wired shut. I find that ironic to the point of hilarity. Ms Coulter has finally done to herself what nobody in the media has ever been able to do – shut her up. I would love someone to walk up to Hannibal lector (my temporary pet name for Ann Coulter) and ask her if she believes in karma.

One more Bush rant…

If I’m to believe most polls, a significant majority of the US is pleased that in January there will be a new President sworn into office. However, that knowledge is bittersweet considering how late people were to realize the complete incompetence of the current administration. (Perhaps I should not have read my recent 401k statement before creating this entry!) Reading about the severity of our economic problems in the paper and listening to the bleak news that President-elect Obama will face in 2009 really ticks me off.

Earlier this past summer President Bush was quoted when he thought he was off camera attributing the economic ‘slow-down’ as a “Wall Street Hangover“. The press made much ado about it for about 2-minutes but when the bottom dropped out from the economy about 10-weeks later and the full impact of the “hangover” were being felt nobody bothered to go back and really question why his administration was content to do nothing. All the reporting seems to be about how the sky is falling and every crazy idea needs to be approved by Congress ASAP.

I can not seem to temper my frustration with either the Bush administration or the American public which validated his Presidency by re-electing him 2004; frankly I’m seething. Bush’s cabinet of quacks (I include VP Cheney among them ), his inane economic policies which revolved around irresponsible spending and cutting any kind of government regulation (poisoned pet food, tainted children’s toys from China to name a few examples – I won’t even bother to address the banking deregulation which seems too obvious a target) and nepotism at the highest levels of the administration (which at its worst gave us incompetent men like Alberto Gonzalez) have all contributed to our current financial mess and it sets my blood boiling.

Recording my frustrations in this blog will not change our current situation, will not lessen the hurt this downturn in the economy will have on millions of Americans but it is cathartic so thank you for humoring me.

An open letter to red states

Here is a humorous open letter to red states that is circulating the internet…

Dear Red States:

If you manage to steal this election too we’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware, that includes CA, HA, OR, WA, MN, WI, MI, IL and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly:

You get TX , OK and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss.

We get 85% of America ‘s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get AL.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share (finally).

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families and you get a bunch of single moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we’re going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they’re apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don’t care if you don’t show pictures of their children’s caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq,but we’re not willing to spend our resources in Bush’s Quagmire.

With the Blue States, we will have firm control of 80% of the country’s fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95% of America’s quality wines, 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and UGA.

Additionally, 44% of those in the Red states believe that evolution is only a theory, 53% believe that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

Peace out,
Blue States


Props to the website PunditKitchen.com where this picture was posted.

Yes we can – I hope

I remember when the Republican Revolution led by Newt Gingrich (R) overtook the House of Representatives in 1994 ending the Democrats 40 year majority in the lower house. That night the Republicans picked up more than 50 seats in the House and nearly 10 seats in the Senate. As a Democrat (and a liberal one at that) the night was quite depressing.

Fast forward 14 years to present day and the discontent that was so clearly levelled against the Democrats in 1994 seems to be this time aimed at Republicans. Most Americans blame the economic problems we face, the quagmire that is referred to as the ‘war in Iraq’ and the diminishing prestige of the United States in the world squarely on the shoulders of President Bush and the Republicans who controlled both houses of Congress for nearly 8 years.

The wave of frustration is sure to provide the Democrats with some remarkable wins on November 4th. The real question remains how much of that frustration will turn into voting out Republican incumbants? Names like Sununu, Dole and Coleman all seem vulnerable and states like NC, FL and GA all have competitive races that might result in Republican incumbents losing what even two months ago were presumed to be ‘safe’ seats. Check out the RealClearPolitics Election ’08 to track the latest Congressional, Governor and Presidential polls.

The potential for a landslide in Presidential, Congressional and Gubenatorial races next week is a mixed blessing. Democrats will inherit a huge budget deficit, bailout promises that must be followed, a country poorer and more disenfranchised as well as a world that is openly hostile to the U.S. due to our ‘cowboy’ foreign policy that showed disdain for diplomacy and tainted our reputation by endorsing the use of torture.

The challenges for the next U.S. President are certain to be many and so it is with baited breath that I wait for Sen. Obama to win what seems to be a potential for a landslide victory – debunking my predictions that he would only win by 2-3% back in August when I wrote Ms. Piggy for President. Without a friendly Congress ready and willing to work with a President Obama I don’t think the country would have a chance to get through this difficult time.

Get out the vote

CNNBC Video – Obama Loses by 1 Vote
If you would like to customize a video to send to your friends you can follow the link and send this humorous clip.

http://s3.moveon.org/swf/embed.swf

8 Years later

This pretty much sums it up.
To quote President Clinton, “It’s the economy stupid.”

Clinton / Palin

http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/48cd3b64ddb82bd0/48cd0cf97d529c95/be940ef3

I love Tina Fey and Amy Poelher and they were spot on in their respective characters to introduce SNL this past Saturday night. I’m sorry I missed the show if it was half as funny as these two were to open the show.

Same Attacks 4 Years Later

Smearing a candidate’s reputation is not done just by the Republican party, but to quote a song from Carly Simon, nobody does it better. The question of the day is, will the public go for it again? I think not.

What a third term would look like:

Why I am a Democrat

One of the many reasons I am a proud Democrat is because the party has no problem with the fact that I am a gay man. After spending 25+ years of my life either clueless, confused or conflicted, I have no patience and no time for a party that is outwardly hostile to me because of my sexual attraction to men. At this year’s DNC in Denver Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Hillary Clinton, President Clinton, and Sen. Barrack Obama welcomed and acknowledged the GLBT community in their prime time speeches. I would welcome some parity from the other side and would be thrilled to see the GLBT movement recognized rather than reviled at the RNC in Minneapolis, but I know better.

Until the day comes when the Republican Party can look at me as someone who is not mentally ill; not a person who has chosen a life of perversion; and not a threat to their marriages and family values – I will be a Democrat with a capital “D”. No apologies; no exceptions. I recognize that many people who I love and respect come to different conclusions, and I respect them for their personal choices. However, it is one thing to watch a political party use a group of people to divide and perpetuate feelings of hate or fear and it is quite another to be that demographic.

I have no space left in my heart and can not intellectually justify a vote for a candidate representing a party that has no room for me in “their” America. After reading through the current Republican platform “Protecting American Values” all I can think is that while Americans have a two-party system, because I’m a gay man and not ashamed – I only have one.

Ms. Piggy for President


Back in the spring after Romney bowed out and McCain’s nomination was a forgone conclusion. The Democratic primary turned especially nasty. At that point a friend mentioned that the internal bickering would doom whoever became the Democratic nominee. Certainly this sentiment was a mantra for the press as well.

Fast forward to late August, when after weeks of negative campaign advertisements were played, polls now show McCain in some places leading Obama. I have waited for this particular moment to reiterate what I said to my friend back in the chilly spring. I wholeheartedly believe that no matter who the Democrats nominate for this election cycle – provided the candidate makes no major gaffes and can present themselves admirably on television – the election will be won by the Democratic candidate.

The failed policies of the Bush administration and lack of leadership in Congress under the Republican Party have resulted in a terrible situation for the Republicans this election cycle. I truly believe that if the Democrats were to nominate Ms. Piggy, she would beat John McCain in the general election. That is not to infer that I believe the election will be a run-away like the press seem to indicate it should be. After two terms of office with President Bush the country remains as divided as ever (so much for him being a ‘uniter and not a divider’). As a result, I think Obama will win by 2-3 percentage points at the most.

Unlike many, I don’t really care about the polls right now. I attribute McCain’s rise in the polls to two things – first, Republicans are reacting to their distaste for Obama and solidifying support among the party’s base; second, McCain’s negative advertisements have gone largely unanswered. The majority of people who will head to the polls in November are not nearly as political as those who are watching CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, etc on a daily basis… and they will not start paying attention to either candidate until September and the debates begin in earnest. At that point, the airwaves will be dominated by commercials and media outlets will obsess over debate performances.

With regards to how the media will be leveraged, it is anyone’s guess who will be ‘swiftboated’ first. There is an equal chance for either candidate’s campaign to be hijacked, and I won’t bother to speculate on something I can not predict.

As to the candidates’ ability to speak to the media and perform at debates, I feel very confident in Obama’s abilities. McCain (despite his recent comments to the contrary) loves the press. However, Obama’s charismatic presence is on par with Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton and I think McCain is going to appear cantankerous and old by comparison.

Moreover, the tough debates from the Democratic primary have prepared Obama well, where as McCain never scored points in the Republican debates. His success was determined more by the failure of his rivals than anything he did or the way he conducted himself on television.

Lastly, on issue after issue, John McCain will have a tough time talking to the true independent who is honestly ambivalant or undecided. This is not to say that John McCain has some policy points that are valid and will appeal to many independents, but I honestly believe John McCain is too closely associated with George Bush – and those comparisons will only become more intense in the fall if the Obama campaign has anything to say about it.

What is patriotism

Each election cycle I watch candidates (generally but not exclusively from the Right) call into question the patriotism of their opposition. Bush’s attacks on John Kerry serve as a prime example. Kerry (like him or hate him) enlisted and served with honor in Vietnam. However, in the 2004 general election Kerry’s service in Vietnam was portrayed as calculating; not patriotic. By contrast, President Bush’s service in the TX Air National Guard was characterized as patriotic. Strange? It was to me. However, what was even more strange was the general public’s acceptance.

There is a pervasive belief that if you are liberal you are less patriotic. Even if I was the best writer in the world I know that I could not convince people differently so I don’t bother. However, I am impressed that Barack Obama has challenged this assumption in a speech he gave today to veterans by calling into question why John McCain would assume someone like Barrack Obama would not be as patriotic as anyone else.

Attached is an excerpt of his speech which I read on Politico.com today.

“But one of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can’t disagree without challenging each other’s character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America’s national interest. Now, it’s time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.

Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country. I love America, so do you, and so does John McCain. When I look out at this audience, I see people of different political views. You are Democrats and Republicans and Independents. But you all served together, and fought together, and bled together under the same proud flag. You did not serve a Red America or a Blue America — you served the United States of America.

So let’s have a serious debate, and let’s debate our disagreements on the merits of policy — not personal attacks. And no matter how heated it gets or what kind of campaign he chooses to run, I will honor Senator McCain’s service, just like I honor the service of every veteran in this room, and every American who has worn the uniform of the United States.”

If Wall Street is suffering a hangover, why am I the one with the headache?

President Bush is taking a lot of heat for blaming the current housing crisis and the subsequent economic downturn (a.k.a. – recession) on Wall Street. Specifically, he said that Wall Street ‘got drunk’ and was now suffering a ‘hangover’.

People are angry that he blamed Wall Street for the current economic crisis, but I think there is a ring of truth to his assessment. The part of his statement that frustrates me is, first – is he only able to recognize this binge in hindsight? and second – where was the government?

Bush made it clear that he abhorred government regulation and spent the past 8 years looking the other way while big business was told they could do whatever they wanted so why is he so surprised by this binge drinking? If Wall Street got drunk, there is no doubt in my mind that George Bush and the Republican led Congress were tending bar. Apparently there is no more open bar and people like you and me have been stiffed with the tab.