Stuff and Nonsense

As always, I'm a rather busy girl although it's not as crazy as usual which is good because I can concentrate on my goals without a lot of distractions. That said, I get really annoyed if something requires too much of my time and energy and focus and interferes with what I laughingly call a life. Last night I decided that it's time for me to leave some baggage behind so I did. I'll be sharing details in good time.

This four-minute video shows Elizabeth Warren grilling banksters on their improprieties. If y'all aren't outraged, I'm disappointed. (I had the urge to slap this guy upside the head.) Let's demand justice.



It's time for us to fight back!!! We need more reps like Elizabeth Warren!



Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay

Some Excellent Clarifying (short) Video and a Great Quote

Y'all know that I admire Robert Reich for his plain-speaking stand on the economy. Today two videos from him that speak for themselves clarify our current situation all too well.

Public vs. Private Morality . . .



How Mittens Got Rich . . .



And Cher started a Twitter storm . . .

I'm just going to leave all this to your judgement. I think y'all know by know that I'm an unrepentant liberal/progressive sort. Common sense tells me that it's my only choice. I'm dependent on my Social Security and Medicare (with no small amount blame to GOP policies.)

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Just in!!!!!

I am a busy, busy old lady today and just stopped to check my mail and moderate comments. I received an email with the words "sweetheart deal" in the title from those good folks at MoveOn.org asking me to pass on the letter below. I don't think these greedy folks have been given enough at our expense. I think it's important and am sharing it with y'all. Please join me in letting Obama know that we don't want Wall Street to get anymore favors on the backs of us ordinary mortals and please feel free to pass the letter to other interested parties which should be just about everyone y'all know.

Hi,

 Reports are out that in the next 48 hours, President Obama could
make the call on whether to hold Wall Street accountable and open an
investigation into the banks' role in the housing crisis, or agree to a
sweetheart deal that lets them off the hook.

I signed a petition urging the president to start an investigation to hold
Wall Street banks accountable for the damage done to our economy. Can you
join me at the link below?

http://pol.moveon.org/bankfraud/?r_by=34958-19415109-_A7n%3Dsx&rc=pac_bankfraud_letter.email.g

Thanks!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Thursday, Thursday Ramblings

The battle with the plumbing is continuing. Dan (my landlord) will be camped here most of the day -- again. I hope it finally gets fixed. It's frustrating and horrendously inconvenient which means I'll get nothing done!!! Sigh. At least, I have an excuse -- for a change. (Eyes rolling)

Last night around 11 o'clock  Michelle called and told me to close my doors and windows!  It seems that a guy who was out taking a walk was held up at gunpoint by two armed pedestrians near us.  Scary.  Her brother Jeff was out on their porch with a taser  -- I guess he was watching for them. I wouldn't mess with him.   It's weird.  I've always felt safe here but today I feel less so and hope this isn't the beginning of a trend. Word this morning is that the cops were patrolling all night.  The guys on our beat right now are pretty good. I (almost) feel sorry for anyone who decides to hold me up. I rarely carry cash. Yeah, I'm a slave to my debit card.

I think that the earthquake in Virginia took us all off guard. We actually had a little one in my part of Ohio in 1997.  It was disconcerting because we aren't famous for that. I suppose Virginians are equally perplexed.

I hope all y'all on the Eastern Seaboard are battening down the hatches for Irene the terrible and I hope she decides to take a turn and head out to sea.  


Here are Matt Taibbi and Bill Maher laying out the truth about the Fed in a little over a minute:



And I think it's a great day for some old rock and roll and old rock and rollers! In this video, Chuck Berry is 81!!! Where did the decades go?



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

The Best Op-Ed I've Read in Eons

I don't usually post twice in one day but this is so important I had to share it immediately.

Warren Buffet is one of my heroes. He actually believes what that he should share his good fortune and pay a big chunk of it in taxes -- that what used to be called responsibility. I don't know about y'all but I was taught to share with the less fortunate and I guess Buffet was, too. Here's an excerpt from an op-ed he wrote for the New York Times called Stop Coddling the Super-Rich. I talked about the Patriotic Millionaires a while back and Buffet has spoken well for the patriotic billionaires. The link above has the full text.

"Twelve members of Congress will soon take on the crucial job of rearranging our country’s finances. They’ve been instructed to devise a plan that reduces the 10-year deficit by at least $1.5 trillion. It’s vital, however, that they achieve far more than that. Americans are rapidly losing faith in the ability of Congress to deal with our country’s fiscal problems. Only action that is immediate, real and very substantial will prevent that doubt from morphing into hopelessness. That feeling can create its own reality.

Job one for the 12 is to pare down some future promises that even a rich America can’t fulfill. Big money must be saved here. The 12 should then turn to the issue of revenues. I would leave rates for 99.7 percent of taxpayers unchanged and continue the current 2-percentage-point reduction in the employee contribution to the payroll tax. This cut helps the poor and the middle class, who need every break they can get.

But for those making more than $1 million — there were 236,883 such households in 2009 — I would raise rates immediately on taxable income in excess of $1 million, including, of course, dividends and capital gains. And for those who make $10 million or more — there were 8,274 in 2009 — I would suggest an additional increase in rate.

My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice."

I can't add anything to what Buffet has said so well except to say that he's totally right!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Trying Hard

It's been busy and weird here and I'm getting this posted late because I realized that the Hall of Fame parade is tomorrow morning and, since I live a block and a half off the major artery where it's held, I had to get my errands done before they shut it down making navigating the city difficult at best. I haven't felt well due to lack of sleep and God knows what else and am trying hard to get things right here. What helps is that my neurologist has a sleep clinic and I meet with him next month. I hope he has help. I talked with my counselor, Dr. Gerri, and she was helpful and supportive of my current concerns.

* Last night I was Ana Michelle's playmate. She almost one year old and pure delight and I'm her big buddy. She's beginning to walk now and climbs in my lap grinning all the way. I love babies and am glad her mommy and grandma share her with me. Then again, her grandma says that I'm family and I am greatly honored.

* A question that keeps nagging at me about Michelle Bachmann's candidacy for 2O12 is this: She states that she submits to her husband. If she were elected (and I hope not), would we be governed by her or her husband? Either way, we lose. Just my take.

* Governor Chris Christie (who I usually think is nuts) gets a big round of applause for his no holds barred defense of his appointment of a Muslim judge. Guess who opposed it and yammered about Sharia Law? (hint: it begins with 'Tea')



* Sarah Palin trashed Mit Romney. She has a hard time with people who aren't batsh*t crazy.

* Texas Governor Rick Perry, who may be running for president, called Catholicism "a Godless theology of hate." Y'all know what I think of that. As a Catholic child, I was taught that Jesus loves me and "The Golden Rule" just like any other Christian child and I know my church's shortcomings all too well. I don't know what brand of Christianity Perry practices, but if that's what it teaches, it's obviously in Never-Never land.

I'm fed up with the whole damned mess!

Hopefully, I'll get some relief and can get back to regular posting and visiting all y'all.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

AWOL

Sorry I've been MIA.  The stress of Congress' inane antics and assorted nonsense here at home, frayed my last nerve and a break was necessary.  I did try to keep up on y'all and if I missed anyone, it was a sin of omission  not commission.  I'm probably gonna be slow on this for couple days -- I'm still not 100% and need to sort through some stuff but I do want to stay current here in the Land of Blog and I'll do what I can when I can.

* I saw a new acronym this morning:  the GOS (Great Orange Satan) and I think I like it a lot!!! What do y'all think? 

* I'm glad (read: relieved)  that my SS was deposited but am not happy with the deal with the GOS our representatives made.  We need to remember those who want to kill us off at election time next year and kick 'em out.  As it is, it's canceling any summer plans I had because I have to do my best to get some cash stashed.  I'm allowed to pay my bills and eat -- albeit very frugally. No road trips; no restaurant meals/nights out; no purchases except for scrips and necessities. I also canceled my annual Hall of Fame festival party/partying this weekend -- I just don't feel well enough to cope with it all.   

* Here's a video from a lovely, talented young lady who I've become friends with through the We Are Ohio campaign:



"Concerned citizens of central Ohio gathered at Senator Rob Portman's office today at noon, while the Senate was voting on the Satan Sandwich/Raw Deal budget bill on August 2nd, 2011. When even politically moderate grandmothers start talking about revolution, you know it's time for change."

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

The Insanity Continues . . .

Just a few notes and links . . . and yeah, I am tired and sick of the Republican party playing fast and loose with my life. I am truly frightened for my future and have no idea what I can do to salvage it.

* Russ of Russ' Filtered News posted the quote that really boils it all down to reality:

Where the blame should fall: David Brooks (whom I cannot tolerate) was finally correct: 'If the debt ceiling talks fail, independent voters will see that Democrats were willing to compromise, but Republican were not. If responsible Republicans don’t take control, independents will conclude that Republican fanaticism caused this default. The will conclude that Republicans are not fit to govern. And they will be right.'

My excellent friend Rain gives a sane and well-thought and rational rant here.

Barbara, at the beautiful and interesting Folkways Notebook and almost never get political, made this brilliant comment here yesterday:

I am tired of the whole charade. For the politicians to drag the middle and lower class through this mess is irresponsible of them. We need a total reevaluation of this whole system of operating. What happened to pressing issues like oil and food prices etc. Perhaps the politicians are happy they don't need to address these other concerns for awhile? At least not until gas reaches ten dollars a gallon.

Bill Maher with a irreverent one-minute comment:



Here's the oldie for the week -- and yeah, I'm in full tilt cynical/despair mode:



I an just plain sick at the prospect of my/our future and grieve for those more unfortunate than I.

Happy Blogging

Kay

In the Midst of Chaos . . .

I took yesterday off -- everything just got to be too much here and I'll spare y'all the gory details and just say that my last nerve was in mortal danger. The idiot Tea Party Freshman are still acting like damned fools which doesn't surprise me at all. I got a letter last night from mine and I sent a note back asking him if he was going to lend me the money to pay my rent when my Social Security check isn't deposited. I hope that I wasn't the only one who did that.

With the budget crisis at the forefront, I was pleased to see my Senator, Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), take the floor and talk about something useful and that we desperately need: jobs. He's a good friend of Bernie Sanders (and stood with him during the Berniebuster) who is co-sponsoring this bill that calls for making American flags be made in America -- currently, most are made in China. What's wrong with this picture?



I didn't have the time to do the text for y'all but I've included a letter that Sen. Brown and others sent to Obama that will tell you what he talked about. (A tip of my Thinking cap to the good folks at Crooks and Liars.

"Dear Mr. President:

In your State of the Union address, you called for consolidating and reorganizing the Administration’s trade agencies. To that end, you tasked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to examine the consolidation of export and trade offices managed primarily by the Office of U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department.

During this process, I urge you to ensure that this reorganization focuses not only upon export-related efforts but also the non-export policy needs of domestic manufacturers. Currently, the Office of Manufacturing and Services (MAS) is the designated office for supporting the Secretary of Commerce in his role as the federal government’s chief advocate for American manufacturing.

This office is within the International Trade Administration (ITA) and primarily supports sectors that have a direct connection to exports or impact trade flows. With more than 90 percent of the world’s customers outside the United States, this focus on exports is clearly a central plank in a national manufacturing strategy and efforts.

However, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a report I requested, found that MAS set an internal goal for 75 percent of its resources to support the National Export Initiative (NEI).

This singular focus upon exports is of great concern, especially when greater challenges face the manufacturing sector than export barriers, including: tax issues; access to credit and financing for viable producers; workforce training; and regulations. These challenges take on new urgency considering that from 2000-2009, fifteen of the nineteen aggregate-level U.S. manufacturing sectors shrank in output while manufacturing jobs fell by 6.1 million, or 34 percent.

You have given manufacturing policy significant attention, as outlined in the December 2010 “Framework to Revitalize American Manufacturing” and as evident in your recently announced Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. Further, your efforts to restructure the auto industry have saved thousands of jobs in my state and throughout the country, and now we are seeing new jobs created in the auto sector.

I fully support and encourage your efforts, but request that you consider a comprehensive and sustainable structure within the Commerce Department to serve as the voice for domestic manufacturers and the integrator of Federal agency manufacturing efforts within yours and future Administrations. I have proposed legislation that will help to achieve these goals, which with your support has the potential to create a more cohesive and coordinated approach to promoting U.S. manufacturers."

And here's three minutes of common sense from Bernie Sanders on the Ed Show on the current debacle:



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Just a Few Notes !

I keep trying to rest like a good girl but I keep getting great info from people wiser than I and I am compelled to share it with y'all. In these troubled times for us ordinary mortals, being informed is really our only defense against the crooks and liars out there.

* Y'all know that I admire and respect economist Robert Reich and he makes some excellent points on Obama's failure to stand up to the thugs in Congress here

* Undernews has an interesting note on our history that, in my less than humble opinion, is worthy of consideration. Sometimes people and businesses have to be forced to do the right thing. I love people who find this stuff.

* A tip to Michael Stickings over at The Reaction who skewers Sarah Palin as a "white Christian xenophobic bigot." I still don't understand why anyone still considers her viable.

* Don't be too shocked, but I am actually applauding John McCain today!!! Here's a one minute video that nearly left me speechless:



Text: "To hold out and say we won't agree to raising the debt limit to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, it's unfair, it's bizarro."

I hope someone listens!

Happy Blogging!!!

Kay

A Running Mate for Bernie?

Still feeling awful but trying hard to get around to visit y'all. (Pain hurts!)  I spent over two hours transcribing this for those of you who prefer text.  Typing one-handed is not easy! Please forgive any errors


I think I found a running mate for Bernie Sanders!




"Mr. Speaker, almost no one in Washington is talking about jobs. For two months now both chambers of Congress have been locked down in talking about the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, if you take a look at the Bush years, America lost almost 8 million jobs in the largest recession since the Great Depression and we've only gotten back about 2 million -- 2 million, creating jobs at a rate of 120,000 a month. That is far from where we need to head.

But rather than this Congress engage in intelligent dialogue on how to create jobs, we keep going down these side roads to nowhere -- to no where. Meanwhile unemployment just went up another 10,000 jobs. Every member in both chambers will be judged on not doing the work that the people want us to do. And that is to focus on how to use the power of the federal government to create jobs If you take a look at what the Republican majority in the House wants to do, they want to cut unemployment benefits. That's not even understandable to any rational person. They want to cut food.

I invite any one of them to come to my district. Come and stand in the food lines. See how it feels. Better yet, help us pack some of the bags and then distribute them and give them to veterans who are coming home from the wars who don't have jobs. Then ask yourself, "What are you really doing here?" "What are you doing here?"

What about health benefits for people who have fallen out of work and they don't have anymore benefits for their family? Why should we cut there? Some people like to proclaim proudly about being pro-life. Pro-life doesn't only involve the period before a child is born; it involves the entire life of a person -- a human being -- until natural death. These are philosophical questions that our members ought to be asking themselves about helping the American people at this critical point in our history.

Now, all of us want to produced balanced budgets. When you have full employment, you have balanced budgets and you get extra; you can pay down your long-term. You don't hear anything up here being talked about jobs. If it were happening, we'd have more job creation. We have less job creation. More people are going on unemployment benefits so the conversation is totally off base.

Let's just look at one sector where America and federal government could save money. America spends almost 250 billion dollars on prescription drugs and nearly a third of that is paid for my the federal government which means our people paying taxes -- when they work!

Let's look at that pharmaceutical industry. Now some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say: "Cut Social Security! Cut Medicare!" They don't talk about trimming the excess profits of the pharmaceutical companies and you know what? They're not paying their fair share into the federal till!

Let's just look at one bag of Heperin (sp?) in a hospital for which Medicare winds up paying $600. $600!!!!!!

(More about how the pharmaceutical companies are -- and subsequently, us -- raping our government omitted).

Why doesn't the federal use it's purchasing power to get better bids on these drugs and have competitive bidding in order to purchase? We did that in the 1990s; we haven't done it since. There's plenty of ways to get the funds to try to balance the budget but the most important way is to help Americans back to work."


Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Give 'em Hell, Bernie

Bernie Sanders took the floor of the Senate and issued a rousing "Shame on you!" to the Republicans:



Here's a text excerpt from Bernie's speech that gives the gist of the video:


As Social Security emerged as a target in White House budget negotiations, Sen. Bernie Sanders insisted that the retirement program must not be cut as part of any deficit reduction deal.

"Let us be clear," Sanders said. "Social Security has not contributed one nickel to our deficit or our national debt." The program that benefits more than 50 million seniors and disabled has a $2.6 trillion surplus, he stressed, and will be able to provide full benefits for every eligible American for the next 25 years. "I am especially disturbed that President Obama is considering cuts in Social Security after he campaigned against cuts in 2008," Sanders added.

Thank you, Bernie!!!! You spoke for us eloquently and well!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Bill Maher Says Exactly How I Feel about Republicans

Bill was off last week and was obviously thinking long and well about what's happening in this country and I think the 5-minute video says all too well:



I wish I had text for those of you who have problems with video.

It's definitely a stand alone piece and I hope that Obama didn't miss it!  I said long ago that I was tired of his trying to play nice with the other kids because the other kids are a poorly-raised bunch of spoiled brats and bullies who don't know to play nice and share their toys.  Mr. President, it's time to take a lesson from Teddy Roosevelt and carry a big stick -- and use it, if necessary -- or if you prefer, do a Harry Truman and give 'em hell so they know how you really feel and take care of the people who gave you your job.   You weren't elected by the highest 1% -- you were elected by elders and the middle and lower income folks who had "the audacity of hope" to believe in you!  It's time to remember us and restore the hope and faith we placed in you!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Just a Quick Giggle!!!!

I've been trying to get caught up on all y'all as well as working around the house and trying to adjust to new medication. That the sun is shining really helps!

I think y'all know what I think of Michelle Bachmann aka 'Sarah-Palin-with-a-law-degree'. My friend Russ up in Wisconsin calls her "Crazy Shelly" and posted all the reasons why we shouldn't vote for her here.

Hope y'all are enjoying the holiday weekend!

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

Update and an Important Request!!!!!

As I mentioned previously, today was doctor day as well as grocery day and "all the assorted nonsense that keep me functioning reasonably" day well so I spent most of it running around with Miss Ruby -- after taking her to the gas station (Yikes!!!!!), of course. She needs to be prettied up, too, but that will have to wait until after the holiday (I don't think she has a hot date with a BMW so that's okay and if she does, he'd better like her just the way she is. :)

* I had almost decided when I got home that I would not post here until tomorrow but when I checked my email, there was a message from my hero: Senator Bernie Sanders. He is still gathering signatures for his petition that he's taking to the President and asked me to ask y'all to sign it -- if you haven 't already -- because he'd like to take 100,000 signatures to President Obama. Right now it stands at about 98,000 and I figure that if y'all sign and ask your friends to sign and so on . . ., we can reach that mark and beyond!!! Here's the link: http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=c1fd7f9b-abd8-4e7a-a370-1867881259d8. Just click on it to sign and pass it on and help send a loud message to President Obama!!!!! Thank you in advance for your support!

* Dr. Maria was surprised (shocked?) when I whipped out a list of symptoms and concerns for her and we sat down and addressed each of them. The upshot is I have two new prescriptions and I will be seeing a neurologist and a ear, nose and throat specialist soon -- and the Legion, as I refer to my docs, grows -- I mostly don't like neurologists -- they have no sense of humor but with my history, I'm used to them. Bet y'all know how all this excites me -- NOT!

* My next stop was the grocery -- bad idea 'cause every elder on the NW side of town was there -- but I figured that with the holiday, it was only gonna get worse so I bit the bullet and filled my cart.

* The pharmacy was busy, too, and not long after I gave the tech my new scrips, I heard them asking me to please come to the pharmacy counter so I stopped what I was doing and went to see what they wanted. When I got there they told me that my insurance wouldn't pay for the ear drops Dr. Maria ordered. I asked, "How much?"
Answer: "about $200." Well, I was good and said, "No way." She said that she would call Dr. Maria and ask her to prescribe an affordable alternative. She called me later to tell me that Dr. Maria prescribed an alternative. Hallelujah! So I get to go back there tomorrow again.

* I was starving as I drove home and so I stopped at the excellent Greek restaurant in my 'hood and picked up a bruschetta with tomatoes and feta cheese -- a serious yum -- for about the same price as a fast food combo and ohhhhhhhhhh so much better and healthier for supper!!!

All was not skittles and beer, however. As I was unloading my car I fell going up the steps again and my knee bled and is black and blue. I iced it and it feels better. Someday I gotta learn to slow down.

Bryce was over and I gave him his birthday card. He laughed as it read: "When Mozart was your age, he had composed a dozen symphonies/But I bet he couldn't play video games as well as you do!" There was also cash which I'm sure he liked best! LOL

Tomorrow I'm gonna rest!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Just a Quick but Important Note!

My hero, Bernie Sanders, spoke for 90 minutes yesterday on the floor of Congress about a sensible solution for the financial crisis. Here's the video and y'all can visit his website and stand with Bernie by signing the letter he's sending to the President. When I signed there were over 65,000 signers and I hope thousands more are forthcoming!!!! Please help by signing and spreading the word!!!



There is text here.


Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Friday Thoughts and Video

I spent a lot of time yesterday on my computer -- literally. It's still not up to lean, mean fighting machine status from the crash so I cleaned out extraneous stuff and updated a lot of programs I use and there's still a lot to do. This looks like a job for Batman and he hasn't returned my calls so guess who has to do it? Sigh. I am, however, pretty much caught up on your blogs and hope to stay current . . . until the next time. :) I hate housework whether it's  my home or my computer.

The result is that this post of a couple very short videos that came in this week is the best I can manage. I hope you enjoy them.

* Here are the Patriotic Millionaires stating their case in 1:47 minutes. I like these guys and gals a lot.



* Y'all know that I'm a big fan of Robert Reich. Here he is explaining, in than 2:15 minutes, the truth about the mess we call the economy.



* Here's a great video on Social Security -- 1:01 minutes and you can sign a petition to strengthen it here.



* And here's 3:45 minutes of flash mob fun at Ohio State's new Student Union. I thought it was cute that OSU prez participated and seemed to be having a blast! He has a great sense of humor and loves the kids!



Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Update

I haven't been able to get a post up today due to various and sundry interruptions -- mostly from my upstairs neighbor. A conversation with her is an adventure. Trying to pry out what she wants/needs takes lots of patience and time at the best of times and today I am short on patience. Sigh. When I finally got to heart of the matter, I discovered that the problem was her computer. I'm not a techie type but I have learned some things because I am a freak about maintenance and so I asked her a few things and hit a bingo when I asked, "Did you dump your temp files and cookies?" and she asked, "No. How do I do that?" I was astounded but not surprised. I asked her what browser she used and she said, "Yahoo". I was glad we were on the phone because had I been upstairs, I might have smacked her upside the head. Instead, after much explaining, and talking her through clearing her cache and cookies despite her tendency to digress interminably, we got it done . I suspect that I need to go upstairs and do some major work on her computer one of these days to get it at decent operating efficiency but not today.

An hour later she called raving at my genius in making her computer work so much better. I can't believe that someone could own a computer as long as she has without learning the basics. And y'all know I didn't do anything "genius".

I know that some of y'all don't like my writing about politics much but, in the current political climate and my personal situation, I can't ignore
what is happening in this country. The Republicans are refusing any compromise on the budget bill they are trying to foist upon us and the government will shut down on March 4th. No Social Security, no Medicare, no federal agencies open, all programs closed until a budget bill passes. Of course, this will be hardest on the poor and middle class.

Scary? You bet. If you're not scared, you're richer than I am. I am going to lose everything I've worked for if something isn't done but I want compromise not capitulation. I'm tired of what the GOP has been doing and urge those of you who agree to let your Representatives know where you stand.

Here's my hero, Anthony Weiner, weighing in on the budget:



I think Anthony makes a great deal of sense, don't you?  And he even seemed calm!

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

Nobody Likes a Crybaby

I have been in serious Cranky Old Broad mode (as if being sick and buried in snow wasn't enough) ever since I saw Leslie Stahl's overly sympathetic interview of soon-to-be House Majority Leader John Boehner. It really made me angry.



This idiot astounds me!!! He's only two years younger than I am and I understand how he grew up because I came from a blue collar family and I don't complain about it -- it's just how it was for lots of us. It galls me that he makes a big deal out of only one bathroom. In those days *everyone* only had one bathroom and there were a lot of big families unlike today. I know a lot of middle class folks who are having a really difficult time adjusting to their reduced circumstances when the policies in this country destroyed their lives. It happened to my husband and I and I adjusted easier than he did because of my upbringing.

And oh hell!! I went to mass every morning before school, too -- it was part and parcel of going to Catholic school. It wasn't a big deal. We survived it. We also went to confession every week. It's just how it was growing up in the 50s! I think it's tacky that he even brings it up! And Leslie played to it and treated him with kid gloves. I was waiting for her to say "Poor baby!!!!" or kneel in homage.

And yeah, we all had chores that varied according to how big our families were. Somewhere that disappeared when someone somewhere decided that a work ethic was child abuse. I was lucky -- my chores were a piece of cake because my mother was/is a perfectionist and didn't give us anything too difficult. My least favorite chore was cleaning my dresser drawers every week -- not because it was difficult -- but because if they didn't pass muster, they were dumped out anf I had to start over!!! Yuck!!! (And my kids wonder why I'm obsessive-compulsive). When I became a teenager, my favorite job was mowing the grass. It was a time when I could think without interruption. My sister decided one day to get in my face one day while I was mowing and man-oh-man did I catch hell when I said, "You do it!" and walked away. And yeah, I worked crappy jobs and got scholarships so I could go to college, too. Big deal. Not! I'm proud that I did it and my kids did the same because their dad lost his job when they were in high school.

Boehner annoys me because he's a hypocrite. While he likes to talk and cry about how tough his life was as a poor kid, his actions in Congress decry (pun intended) any sympathy he has for us ordinary mortals. He supports and votes for tax cuts for billionaires while the people of his hometown suffer.

(Cranky Old Broad mode off) I hope I'll be back tomorrow with updates and not cranky.

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!! Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Marci Kaptur Is One of My Heroes

I almost didn't blog today. I had a tough day yesterday and the mess isn't over yet.
Nothing is ever easy here.

Y'all know that I think a great deal of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. A Toledo gal born and bred, she and I are the same age. She is a no-nonsense champion of the working folk of northwestern Ohio and this country. One could say that she and I went to different schools together as I spent most of my formative years in Toledo. She is a graduate of the excellent all girls Catholic high school to which my parents hoped that I would get a scholarship (I'm guessing she had one because her folks weren't rich either) but we moved to northeast Ohio and I don't think I've ever forgiven them for that but that's another blog . . .

Here's a new video of her on Dylan Ratigan show that further exposes what is happening to American homeowners. It's a wake up call to anyone who has a mortgage or is considering one. It's a very worthwhile ten minutes. One might ask, "It 11 o'clock (or insert appropriate time). Do you know where your mortgage is?" Sad. Raise hell with your Congress Critters!!!



And here she is on Hardball weighing in on what most Americans care about most: JOBS!!! I think she is right on the money -- no pun intended.



Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay