The Pennsylvania Progressive - Recent Comments

You beat me to it...

Jamoca — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:50:52 GMT

...in typing out a more formal rebuke and condemnation and expose on the whole issue with Rooney's remarks and it being, in my mind, more proof that parties need to go and that they really don't give one damn about the people, but only about each other and only about their precious party and some vivified delusion about power that is only given and supported by the people. Write all the laws, all the nonsense you want, if the people are NOT with you, then sooner or later, you'll either change your ways or you'll be changed out for something new and hopefully better.

All Rooney seems to want is for, as I said earlier this, people to be conforming little cogs in their machine to vote for their people and when it looks like that might not happen, screw it, stack the deck!

These morons of the major parties just don't f'n get it anymore and they don't really want to and are so brazen or full of themselves that at this point, they don't care if they come across as being that indifferent to us. I say, let's give them the same treatment and bring the parties to a crashing halt.

12th CD

Matt Thomas — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:54:17 GMT

Party regulars out here are all familiar with Mark Critz but this familiarity apparently does not extend to the district's rank and file Democratic voters...at least not in Johnstown where most know of Critz only from the recent media coverage.
Even with Hafer out there still remains 3 other challengers and with the party organization's and Joyce Murtha's endorsements, Critz will likely dominate this "gang of four" on May 18th.
The Republican challenger from 2008, Willian Russell, a retired Army officer and lambasted by Murtha as a carpetbagger from Viginia, will likely be Critz's opponent in November.
I know nothing of Russell's Republican challenger, one Tim Burns, other than he's some sort of business man from the town of "Eighty Four" down in Somerset County...but not certain whether he's affiliated with the giant 84 Lumber company which has its corporate headquaters in the same town.
Matt Thomas

But that isn't what he said n/t

John Morgan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:51:52 GMT

I will defend TJ

John Morgan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:27:08 GMT

by saying he defended me when my County Chair drove me out of the Democratic Party. I suppose they wish I was still inside the tent pissing out instead of outside pissing in...

John, I'm not seeing it

KJShaw238 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:23:53 GMT

Quoting the transcript above:

Within the first year of signing health care reform, thousands of uninsured Americans with preexisting conditions would suddenly be able to purchase health insurance for the very first time in their lives, or the first time in a long time. (Applause.)
This year, insurance companies will be banned forever from denying coverage to children with preexisting conditions.

I don't see any of that language as a rollback of the White House's position on pre-existing conditions.

There have been persistent rumors

John Morgan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:12:23 GMT

that Obama will trade off this provision. Both he and Axelrod said this week that only children will be protected. Why would they say that if it remains everyone? It doesn't make sense, especially in a big speech such as Monday's. The White House needs to make its position clear on this.

Here's the pathetic part

John Morgan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:47:01 GMT

the White House and Congress keep weakening the bill for NOTHING in return. No Republicans are switching their votes, no Republicans are voting for this bill and nor Republicans are going to vote for this bill.

After watching Alice in Wonderland Monday I'm thinking I fell down a rabbit hole.

Contrary info from Ezra Klein

Lee Levan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:18:03 GMT

John, I emailed Ezra Klein of the Washington Post who has been all over the healthcare insurance reform legislation in great detail from the beginning. He said that Obama has not dropped the preexisting condition prohibition. Instead: "The children one just kicks in immediately, while the normal one kicks in at the same time as the rest of the bill."

I think he needs a name change...

Jamoca — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:28:40 GMT

...to David A$$hole-rod, since he likes screwing Americans for absolutely nothing in return.

Much as I hate to say it, starting over from scratch on this whole fiasco would probably be better, as the Republicans have stated they want to do. However, given the current persons in control of setting and passing the agenda or lack thereof, I don't know if starting over would even come close to guaranteeing that sanity would prevail next time around.

Stupid IS as Stupid DOES in this case, I'm afraid.

Both sides the G-NO-P and the Dems have sold out for different reasons and for different things on this policy topic, but in both cases, it is the rest of us that are suffering. Everyone, please take that to heart and do something about it in November and realize if you want something done right, you need to do it yourself; individual efforts pulled together to really solve this crisis for the people, not the politicians or the corporate interests.

David Axelrod said it again today

John Morgan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:53:08 GMT

on a conference call. They've thrown adults under the bus now. The good news: you have lots of company.

I'm hoping that you misinterpreted what Obama said

Lee Levan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:19 GMT

If you are correct about cutting back on the ban on pre-existing conditions, I share your comments completely. Eliminating the pre-existing condition provisions of health insurance contracts has been an uncontroversial core principle of virtually every proposal which has been made. It has widespread, bipartisan support. Compassion and fair treatment aside, why, in the name of reason, would he limit that prohibition at this point in time?

I need to know more about this. It's incredible.

In some places & examples...

Jamoca — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:34:13 GMT

...that may be true as you point out, but these days, even the smallest "movements" of people banded together under the causes of things like the "tea party" crowd or others, are still at the mercy of special interest driven lies, dogma, and trickery, and I take issue with any and every party, movement, and organized group. To look at themselves, to understand where their positions come from, to challenge the notion that what they follow, what they believe in or what they want to see change in America is not also putting themselves, their families, their loves ones, and fellow Americans in peril or ruining the future of America, because they are perhaps under the indirect control of the very leeches and parasites that are sucking this country dry for their own sick amusement and pleasures.

The regular party political hacks are one thing, but even allegedly citizen-driven issue groups are still under some particular control, even if they're are somehow ignorant or unaware of the control. It is more seedy, it is more deceit driven, it is more derived from media stories, spin, lies, with a splash of facts, and quite a bit more insidious than even party driven talking points.

The Rachel Maddown show highlighted last night on the 3/8/10 show the presence of these backdoor, hidden agenda influences that are put out there as grass roots efforts to engage people by seemingly "everyday people", but are being driven by people tied to professional organizations, who have ties back to either parties or special interests. It is designed to denigrate, disrupt, dissolve the efforts of truly everyday Americans from getting a chance to participate in honest discussions and from coming to understand the truth as it really is with respect to the most cogent and important issues of the day.

Winning, perhaps in some respects, and for that I shall take some heart and hope, but there's a new, more insidious and dastardly strategy afoot by those who will practically do anything to avoid not only change, but to see their sun set on their power and control over this country and its people.

Political parties are on a fast track to oblivion ...

Matt Thomas — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:19:59 GMT

Jamoca...take heart...you have little need for organizing this anti-party revolt since both organizations on state and local levels are swiftly becoming redundant to the political process.
Political party endorsements will soon be seen by candidates as more in the way of a handicap or even as a curse than an advantage.
For example, Republican State Senator David Argall
from Schuylkill County, who is campaigning for Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District seat presently held by Democrat Tim Holden:
Argall was officially endorsed by his own Schuylkill County Republican organization.
Nevertheless, on his website (www.argallforcongress.com) you will find no mention of this "valued" endorsement. Argall's three primary opponents are already benefiting since most voters in both parties (as well as independents) feel that the party hacks should keep their mouths shut and allow the voters to decide.
At this point, poor Argall himself might wish he had never been voted this dubious distinction...but in doing so he would then risk looking like an ingrate.
Thus, you are already winning.
Matt Thomas

Critz seems like a crook....

PA Eagle Eye — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:56:57 GMT

if the dems pick him, they are finished. Critz says on 2010:

"I don't remember every little detail," he said. "This is a new world for me where I have to be so precise in everything I say. I'm not used to.

"Believe me," he added, "the issues that have been brought up are easily explained, but I don't want to get into a situation where I give a wrong date, and two months down the road I'm getting hammered."

I can easily explain why he lied to the post gazette, because hes guilty.

If i was the book keeper and business manager for a company engaged in serious unethical business practices... Im not sure Id remember "every little detail either."

This guy is finished. Anyone who is denying to tell you should step out of the race.... hes lying and going to get hammered while someone crafts up a half-assed explanation.

Sestak's staffers

Matt Thomas — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:58:51 GMT

As an active union member I worked as a volunteer for every Democratic presidential candidate from Jack Kennedy to Jimmie Carter and never got a dime for work that I was glad to contribute. The only exception was the McGovern campaign where I was assigned to the press plane on his east coast campaign tour as a reporter/photographer for the labor press...and my union footed that bill.
One might also want to remember that many staff people serve in a campaign with the hope that it may lead to a well-paying job...which it often does.
Matt Thomas