Great Britain’s Health Care System

Dr. J. Walden Retan, President, Health Care for Everyone
6:30 pm Thursday, Sept. 11, Homewood Library, Room 116
Presentation on the health care system in Great Britain, its good points and deficiencies.  Questions and discussion to follow.
Americans need to prepare to make difficult decisions about the future of health care here. We can learn by observing success and failure in other nations. 

All In Good Fun…

“One of the big themes for convention speakers was that we need to elect a Republican that will go in and clean up the mess in Washington. I think that’s a great lesson for kids—always clean up your own mess.”—Jimmy Kimmel

“No, Senator McCain already showing tremendous faith in Palin as his vice presidential nominee. Like, did you notice after the speech last night, he came on stage, finally signed that do-not-resuscitate order.”—Jay Leno

“All the Republicans are heaping praise on Governor Palin. Fred Thompson said, as an actor, he could see them making a movie about Sarah Palin and her family. Didn’t they already make that movie? I think it was called ‘Knocked Up.’”—Jay Leno

“And they said that Governor Palin was coached by some of John McCain’s senior advisers. Senior advisers? The guy is 72. How old are these guys? … Are they left over from the Bull Moose Party?”—Jay Leno

“They say Palin’s speech was written by George Bush’s speechwriter, which was great for that guy because he finally got a chance to use some big words.” --Jay Leno

“And then after the Sarah Palin speech, John McCain comes on stage. Did you see that moment when John McCain comes on stage? And you thought, whoa, something dramatic will happen, and it turned out he was just looking for his glasses.”— David Letterman

There’s Something Really Rich…

...about a convention where delegates hold signs saying “Country First” while nominating a lady whose husband was a member of a fringe secessionist group. 

...about speakers who decry the elite before an audience that is the least diverse convention delegation in modern history. 

...about proposing to end partisan rancor and division, then handing the microphone to a succession of red-meat speakers.

...about the Republican nominee calling for change when his party has been calling the shots for the last eight years. 

...listening to Palin claim the mantle of reform when she herself is under investigation for misusing her office in a personal vendetta.

The Republican script for this election heretofore was “experience”.  There’s little wonder what their internal polling must’ve been telling them to toss that aside. 

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!

John McCain’s selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is going to get a LOT more interesting, and scrutiny, before this is over - count on it.  First…

There is an assertion that she was once a member of an organization advocating the secession of Alaska from the U.S.

There is the assertion that she advocates the teaching of creationism in the public school system.

There is also an assertion that she supports the criminalization of abortion in all cases except imminent danger to the life of the mother.  No exceptions for rape or incest.

There is an assertion that McCain’s campaign staff did not perform even a rudimentary search of the archives of Palin’s hometown paper of record during the vetting process. 

Lastly, there is video of Palin firing an automatic weapon during some sort of target practice/campaign exercise. 

This is not to mention:

- a statement from palin herself this morning that her 17 yr old unmarried daughter is pregnant,
- she is being investigated for firing the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner for refusing to fire a state trooper who happened to be the ex-spouse of her sister embroiled in a bitter divorce dispute, and
- that she supported the “Bridge to Nowhere” before she opposed it.

You can’t make this stuff up…

Ground Zero for Palin’s vaunted “Executive Experience”…

Photo courtesy of Talking Points Memo

Who Saw Our OTMDems Commercials This Week?

Linda Verin made it all happen so fast, I didn’t absorb all the details, but I heard from several that they saw the ad multiple times on CNN and MSNBC (I think that’s where it ran...) Altho he’ll probably fume that I mention his name, special thanks to Dr. Scott Grumley for paying for the production costs.  Dr. Grumley, you are a great good man.  A very special thank-you to Bruce Downs, Lou Dina, and Steve Norris for their musical contributions.  Above all, flowers and candy to Linda Verin for her boundless energy, enthusiasm, and creativity, and for sharing those attributes with our little band of pirates.  She’s simply DA BEST!

For those that know me to be very frugal, it is my understanding these ads were CHEAP to run.  Additionally, as proof that this enterprise truly is no longer a benevolent dictatorship, I didn’t make any decisions, I just offered my two cents once or twice.  So, what did everyone think?  Can we get it put up on YouTube so I and everyone else who didn’t see it do so?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Ok, time to pack…

There is a God and His Name is Irony…

In the most remarkable alignment of the planets, today is John McCain’s 72,894th birthday, and the third anniversary of Katrina destroying a major American city.  If the following picture doesn’t serve to remind you of how W and John spent that day three years ago,

Gustav presently bearing down on the Gulf Coast and the coming media hyperventilation will…

The Future