Dec. 16th - Healthcare Reform Repeal Petition Newsletter

Here is the newletter that I just received from the Campaign for the Petition to Repeal Healthcare Reform ...

Dec. 16th, 2010


TOP STORY »Petition Drive is "Red Hot"

The Repeal It Now! Campaign to erase the disastrous HealthCare law is off to a red-hot start. Even in its first few weeks, the campaign has produced overwhelming results. Americans from coast to coast have responded strongly to television ads calling for outright repeal of the HealthCare Act. "We are well on our way to our first million petitions," said campaign chairman, Ken Hoagland.

"Mike Huckabee, Michael Reagan and even Joe the Plumber have helped us gather a growing momentum that will inevitably result in outright repeal of this destructive law in the coming year," said Hoagland. "We will use the largest petition drive in the history of the nation and a variety of overwhelming grassroots and legislative tactics to force a veto-proof vote for repeal in the coming months," he said.

"Because Congress forced this law down our throats over the objections of a majority of Americans it is only right that the American people answer back with an overwhelming demand for repeal," said Hoagland. "The many destructive realities of the new law have already begun to damage the fabric of American society and our economy and are fuel for the fire that now burns in the American people for outright repeal of this destructive legislation," he said.

The Repeal It Now campaign announced its first petition delivery will be in January to greet the incoming Congress. "There must be no mistake by Congress that the American people are determined to see this law overturned," said Hoagland. Through this newsletter and special e-mail reports the Repeal It Now campaign will inform supporters of both our progress and the expected "maneuverings" that Washington will offer to avoid faithful representation of American citizens. "We won't be accepting any excuses," said Hoagland.

"Yes, many pundits don't believe that the Senate can be made to vote for repeal," said Hoagland. "We strongly disagree because we believe in the power of Americans to force true representation. We believe that with determination we can change the political reality that now exists in Washington," he said.

Please help us continue to drive petition signatures by forwarding this email to every family member, friend and co-worker you know and ask them to click here and Sign the Petition Today!



White House Friends Get Hundreds of ObamaCare Waivers

The White House has quietly granted more than 200 waivers for new healthcare act requirements, essentially granting repeal to more than a million people. For average Americans, however, only outright repeal through our campaign will bring relief from this destructive law.

Unions like the Service Employee's International Union (SEIU), perhaps the most partisan of all Mr. Obama's supporters (who devoted millions of dollars to attacking Republican candidates), was one of the first waivers granted -- allowing their members an "escape hatch" from ObamaCare. All unions were granted exemption from income taxes on the value of high cost plans -- unlike every other American.

Adding salt to the wound, the law exempts the President, Vice-President, cabinet officers and Capitol Hill staffers who work for Congressional Committees, among others.

The promise repeated over and over again that average Americans could keep their health care coverage has now been admitted to be false with the Administration itself conceding that as many of eight out of ten existing programs will disappear under onerous new coverage requirements.

A full list of exempted unions and others business will be detailed in upcoming newsletters.



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Happy Birthday, Old Blue Eyes ...

Happy Birthday, Frank Sinatra!  You would be 95 this day and though you're no longer here with us in body: your spirit lives in on your wonderful music. 

Whenever spirits are down in our house, and we are in need of pick-up, my girls all sing in chorus, "Let's put Frank on!"  We turn on your CD and soon everyone is singing, dancing and laughing again.  We love you, Frank!

New biography: "Frank the Voice", By James Kaplan


Playlist: Happy Birthday, Old Blue Eyes ...

Sign the Petition: You CAN Do Something to Help Repeal "Healthcare Reform" Law

Were you outraged that the "Healthcare Reform" Bill was pushed through Congress, despite strong opposition from the American people? 

Did you not buy Nancy Pelosi's claim that: "We have to PASS the bill before we can see what's in it."?!

Well, we've seen what backroom deals and thousands of pages of unread (prior to voting) documents have produced and we STILL DON'T WANT THIS "Healthcare Reform"!  If you feel the same way as I do, then visit this website and sign this massive national petition to have this lousy and damaging piece of legislation repealed:


Sign the Petition to Repeal Healthcare Reform Law

(Note: the first screen with the Mike Huckabee video clip is the signing of the petition. The subsequent screen is just if you want to contribute money to help raise awareness of this cause. If you don't want to contribute: just close out the window. You have still signed the petition.)


This campaign is being headed by former presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee.  Don't delay, visit today! Take a stand against political corruption and the potential devastation of our healthcare system (i.e., turning our U.S. Healthcare System in the fiasco that is socialized medicine in Europe).


On another note ...
As I was reading recent news articles on the Healthcare Reform Law, I happened to come across a very well written,detailed explanation of what is wrong with the Healthcare Reform Law as it currently exists.  The article also puts forth very realistic solutions for what we can, and should do, to address "fixing" our current healthcare system woes.  The article is found at the "Americans for Tax Reform" website and is titled "Healtcare Soultions" (click on title to visit the webpage).

President Supports Middle Class Tax Cuts Extension: Well Done Mr. President

I have to say that for almost the first time since President Obama took office, I am proud of him for putting his foot down, embracing reality and doing what he needed to do in order to look out for us, "We the people."


The President is absolutely right: continuing to stay on partisan fighting lines, quibbling over ideology, would only hurt the American people when the amount of money that they had "in their pocket" to pay bills and to try to make ends meet in this lousy economy would be further depleted by tax credits expiring Dec. 31, 2010. I've heard estimates that the average amount required to be paid out by a middle income family (without the extension of these tax credits) would be about $3,000 on average.  In terms of percentage, I have heard that if the tax cut extensions are not passed that the lowest middle class tax bracket will go from 10% tax on income to 15%.  That's a 50% increase in the taxes paid!

It's funny; Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid could seem to care less about our nation's rising national debt up until now. They want to spend, spend, and spend without a thought about the legacy of mounting debt that we leave to our children. But now that these "middle class" tax cuts have been extended, all of the sudden Democrats are hollering and whining about our mounting national debt and how "Now is not the time to extend tax cuts for the (cough, cough, choke) 'wealthy'"?!? Talk about hypocrisy!!! Since when is "middle class" wealthy? And it's not like this is entitlement spending ... It's just letting those that actually put money into the system keep a little bit of what they have during these tough economic times, in the hopes that doing so will help to get the economy moving once again.

Well done, Mr. President: you did the right thing in this instance and history, not to mention "We the people", will remember you favorably for your courage in standing up to your own party hard-liners and your willingness to compromise so that the people would not have to suffer in the name of party ideology.

12/8/2010  Well, I guess that the Republicans held out for extension of tax credits for incomes beyond $250,000.  I must say, I am disappointed in the Republican Party for doing this.  Seems THEY (the Republicans) are willing to stalemate at the expense of "We the people."  Very sad indeed!!  The Republicans should have been willing to settle for up to and including $250,000.  I guess, the Republicans want to clearly set the tone for future "compromise" early on in this congressional session?

Terminal Diagnosis for Elizabeth Edwards ...

God Bless Elizabeth Edwards and her family.  You'll be in my special thoughts and prayers.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/07/earlyshow/living/parenting/main7125280.shtml

"Death is not the end "...  It is merely the doorway for what comes next.

(@Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved, Michelle C. of whatplanetareyoulivingon.blogspot.com)

1/31/2011  Query:  "Is a terminal diagnosis always terminal?"  Answer: In my opinion: No, it isn't.  Not if you catch the disease early enough and if you believe in the power of prayer.  Let me know who you are, what you disease is, and I will pray for you specificially.  I truly and firmly believe in the power of prayer.  God Bless you my friend!  Keep hope ...

A Happy Thought From My Youngest ...

My back is sore today, from overdoing in a workout again.  You'd think I'd learn to ease up a bit when I'm stressed, instead of pounding myself into the ground ... but old habits die hard, I guess?  Anyway, we went out for a nice family dinner this evening and when we came home, I went to sit by the fireplace with the heating pad on my back.  My youngest came up to me and said, "Where does it hurt, Mommy?  I'll massage your back for you."  She is so sweet.

I showed my youngest daughter the spot that hurt in my middle back.  Then she began massaging my back tenderly with her tiny, but strong, little fingers.  A few minutes later after some giggles and converstation, she announces for all to hear ... "I sure do bless the Lord with my awesomeness!"  Out of the mouths of babes ... I couldn't have said it better myself.  Perhaps her angel whispered the same into her ear for her to hear and she just decided to share?

Go University of Oregon DUCKS!!

I need to write about something happy today. Thanksgiving was fun this year, from a snow point-of-view.  So even though we were away from  our family and friends, in Texas, we had our own little family of sorts along with lots of snow to help us celebrate this year.  According to locals who have lived here, in the Seattle area, all of their lives: "We've never had a White Thanksgiving!"  The kids had a blast with getting to miss two whole scheduled days of school due to the snow.  And of course, they thoroughly enjoyed going sledding for hours on end each day, including Thanksgiving Day!

The kids' "Monster Snowball" .... Thankfully, this thing was flung at me ; )

Fortunately, we had most of the supplies needed in order to throw together our Thanksgiving dinner, and what we didn't have: we just did without. So it was a simple Thanksgiving celebration; sometimes returning to basics helps to refocus your appreciation for all that you are truly grateful to have. And while extended family was greatly missed:  we made the most of the day, on our own, the best way we knew how to do.  I think, just maybe, getting back to the simpler things in life is something we as Americans, as a nation, should all be focused on this Thanksgiving most especially, given the state of our current economy.  Just a thought: take it for what you will.

Of course, no Thanksgiving would be complete without the college football games and holiday parades. Unfortunately, neither Ken's team (the Florida Gators) nor mine (University of Texas Longhorns) are having a very good year this year.  I guess our teams' poor performances are to be expected due to the influx of a large new freshman class of players who have seen very little game time this season.  A good friend of mine, however, happens to be a graduate of the University of Oregon.  Her team, The Ducks, are having an amazing year!  The Ducks are presently in first place and headed onto the National Championship last time I checked.  So I'd be willing to bet she --my high school friend, Kathy-- is pretty happy right now.  Bet she's cheering for her Ducks as we speak.  Go DUCKS! We'll be rooting for ya'll. : )

Another Thanksgiving Day ....

Cajun injected turkey, instant mashed potatoes, my amended veggie stuffing, whole cranberries out of a can and a frozen pumpkin pie ... Oh my?!  I did make homemade gravy and Ken made a loaf of homemade bread ...  

Drawing by my youngest from last year ... Kids were too busy sledding this year to spend time

coloring turkies, Indians and the like ...

Another Turkey day come and gone ... No mushy "Thankfulness" this year ...

A prayer for our military service persons overseas away from their own loved ones this Thanksgiving 2010.  And a champagne toast to the Pilgrims and Indians who had the right idea that original celebratory feast day so long ago.  With a nod to Hope that our spiraling out of control country will find its way back to the ideals of this long ago feast that we Americans religiously (mindlessly?) celebrate annually on Thanksgiving Day. 

National Opt out Day for Airline Travelers

I can't wait to see how the National Opt out Day for passengers traveling via commercial airlines in the U.S. works out.  I feel for those trying to get to their loved ones in time to celebrate Thanksgiving, but in truth Thanksgiving is just a day ... and so much more is at stake with our essential liberties on the line.

I will be praying for those brave enough to make a stand.  More power to you and God Bless!!

Maybe we still are the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE?

Well according to a friend of mine who travelled from Chicago, Illinois International Airport, the TSA agents were only randomly picking people for the pat-down.  My friend said, someone was in the body scanner with a line waiting for scans.  Someone else was being patted down, in front of her.  Then, the TSA agent waved her and 3 other women through ... meaning that they did not have to undergo either the body scan or the full body pat-down.  Seems the TSA is set to avoid any complications or system slow downs on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Maybe we're now the land of hypocrites?

P.S.  The icing on my cake this holiday season?  My twelve year old asks me why we, as Americans, celebrate Thanksgiving when America later stole the Indians lands, food sources, and way of life ... driving the "lucky ones?" to a miserable life on tiny government reservations?  Yeah ... Happy Thanksgiving ... I'll think on it for awhile, maybe I can find an upside ... We do have Native American Indian blood in our family a few generations back.

What about trains, buses, ferries and cruise ships?

I have to ask myself lately:  Why is Department of Homeland Security focusing solely on passenger airliners? 

 

 

 

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Photo By Me:  Grapevine Vintage Railroad

(@Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved, Michelle C. of whatplanetareyoulivingon.blogspot.com)

What about trains, buses, ferries, cruise ships ... concerts, professional sporting events, political rallies?  Why not be proactive in prevention ... instead of waiting for a tragedy to occur before implementing security protocols?  Hmmm ... maybe because, you can't drive a train, ferry or cruise ship into the White House?  Guess, you could try a bus, but you probably wouldn't get very far.

Then again, do I really want to have to undergo a body scan or a "full body pat-down" in order to go to the movies or the mall?  Maybe not ... but surely there is some happy medium.  The bottom line is that I'm not going to live my life in fear of some terrorist attack.  When it's my time to go, I will go and I will have no regrets ... I guess, there is a fine line between being safe and being free.

What a world we live in?  So what can we, as ordinary citizens, do about it?  My twelve year old is already planning her political career ... She's starting with a run for student body president of her middle school next year, but she has high hopes and aspirations ... I've no doubt she'd get into government, take names and make some heads roll.  Ah, the energy and idealism of youth ... Too bad we have to grow up?

New TSA Invasive Security Procedures: Is this still the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE??

People today are worried about their "information" falling into the wrong hands. Specifically: name, age, date of birth, credit card numbers and the sacred social security number. You'd never share your most private health information with your casual acquaintances, employers, even extended family in some cases. And fingerprints ... those are sacred too, are they not? Yet the federal government now wants to you to submit to a full detailed body scan ... a print of your entire body. And some people are willing to submit to this scan? It just boggles my mind?! Truly?! Many people say that they are willing to submit to these scans because they don't want to undergo the alternative: the invasive "full body pat-down" which has aptly been described as "sexual assault under any other guise than government."  While the detailed body scan images --which are essentially an image of you without clothing ...nude-- have been referred to as pornographic?

I say that the government has no right to ask for either a body scan or a "full body pat-down" as condition of my flying unless they have reasonable and justifiable grounds that I specifically pose a threat to the safety of the passenger airliner that I am about to board. In this country, what used to be the land of the FREE and the home of the brave, one is assumed innocent until proven guilty. It is totally absurd to me that we would allow the presumption that ALL potential airline passengers are guilty as a rationale for subjecting citizens who choose to fly via passenger airlines to these new TSA security procedures ... especially when these new procedures fail to make any significant improvements to overall airline safety.  There are still too many shortfalls in the TSA security protocols, chief among these shortfalls being that the body scanners and "full body pat-downs" fail to detect liquid and plastic explosives.

I also find it absurd: 1) that people are willing to trust that the dose of radiation given by these machines is "safe" for repeat flyers or those already on the high side of "safe" (due to pre-existing medical or other work related exposure) on a cumulative basis; 2) that people trust that this body print image will not be stored and used for some ulterior purpose (e.g., body parts and healthy organs inventory (conspiracy theory), health fingerprint database for the government). I wonder how this "body scan" image compares to the "Life scan" body images being pushed by the health industry as a snapshot of your current health status, able to detect tumors, cancer, and heart disease among other things ? Is it all relevant that we see these new body scan machines roll out just after the passing of "Obama Care" ... Healthcare Reform law?  Especially in light of the fact that there have been no new incidents here in the U.S. and no specific security intelligence on new credible threats?

If this still is the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE, then let us unite and fight this latest infringement of government upon our essential liberties. Let us call them on it ... Let us refuse to submit to these gross violations of our persons and DEMAND that the government instead take steps to ensure our REAL safety when choosing to fly on U.S. passenger airlines. Namely: 1) that cargo be more thoroughly and intensely screened for explosives; 2) that trained canines be used to scan cargo, passengers and carryon luggage in an effort to detect liquid and plastic explosives which the new body scans and "full body pat-downs" cannot do; 3) that profiling by expertly trained personnel* be employed to identify persons of interest who do warrant a more thorough interview and screening process before being allowed aboarad a passenger airliner; *4) that the money being spent on these ridiculous body scanning machines be spent instead on hiring and properly training expert security personnel (i.e., former military or security personnel) to implement the latter security provisions, with their main focus being the ability to properly identity potential threats to safety, thereby focusing resources where they are most needed ... instead of straining the current system of TSA's poorly trained, poorly paid, and under-qualified staff to its very limits with the currently required screening and violating every man, woman, and child over the age of twelve.

I am sending these thoughts of mine, written here, to every elected official that I can think of. I have also made the decision NOT TO FLY ...period, without exception, until our essential liberties (not to mention basic dignity) when choosing to fly at U.S. airports has been resotred.

These days, I find myself wondering, not what planet am I living on, but rather what the **** country am I now living in??!!??

New TSA Invasive "Body Scan" and "Body Pat Down" Procedures Are Just Smoke and Mirrors ...

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~Benjamin Franklin


I, personally, think that the new that the new TSA Security Screening Requirements are first, and foremost, a gross violation of our very persons not to mention our essential liberties, and  further, that these new "security procedures" are unecessary and overall ineffective measures towards the end of preventing another terrorist incident on board a U.S. passegner airliner.

Bottom line, if nothing else, ask yourself this: Why are these invasive procedures being implemented at the beginning of the busiest travel season of the year in the United States?

If "we, the people" revolt against these new procedures, when another incident happens on one or more of our passenger airliners ... if the "people's revolt", and legal challenges are successful, then the government essentially has a "Get Out Jail FREE" card. Do they not?

So do we sit back and just take the government's implementation of these new and invasive security procedures? I say "NO"!! ... Why?

Because these new procedures not only MISS THE TARGET (by a long shot!!), they are overall largely ineffective. These new "body scan" machines WILL NOT detect liquid nor plastic explosives, but trained dogs ... canines ... could. A TSA "body pat down" will not detect liquid or plastic explosives concealed in body cavities, but a trained dog potentially could.

Further, use of profiling would identify persons of interest that warrant a more thorough interrogation before being allowed onto passenger airplanes. Ironically, our Homeland Security Department will not deny that special treatment may be allowed for certain groups of people when applying these new security measures (e.g., Muslim women wearing burkas), but we won't use similar rationale for implementing profiling (a proven, highly effective security measure for Israeli Airport Security) ?

We, the American people, should DEMAND that our government not just do SOMETHING, but that our government should do what it takes to effectively implement proven security measures ( ... I plan to elaborate upon specific security measures that should be implemented in my post tomorrow...) that would prevent another tragic incident from happening on board a U.S. passenger airliner. This current across the board violation of all passengers choosing to travel via U.S. passenger airlines is sadly just smoke and mirrors.

And of course another cynical friend of mine harkens back to his ongoing divining rod for all that is wrong in the world today: "Follow the money!" ... And in this case, his theory proves true. Do the investigating for yourself: "Rapid ...Scan" the company manufacturing these "body scan" machines, parent company: "OSI Systems, Inc." ... Who recommended them? Was there a conflict of interest? Who made money off of the sale of these machines? ... Anybody working on behalf of our government? Hmmmmm ....

Dream of Autumn ...

I love this time of year!  Autumn is my favorite season, by far I think.  I've been out trying to capture some of its inate beauty this past week ... This is my favorite capture so far.  Enjoy!  Hope Mother Nature is putting on a fabulous display for you and yours.  Peace & Love!

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"Autumn Dream"

@Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved ... Michelle C. of whatplanetareyoulivingon.blogspot.com

I feel inspired once again ...

 After all the work in recent weeks leading up to our big Halloween Bash, last night ...I decided to take some time out just for me. I took a walk in a nearby neighborhood and discovered a bounty of color, textures, and sounds as a crisp fall breeze danced joyfully through the rustling leaves ... I feel inspired once again : )

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"Autumn Breeze at Twilight"

@2010 Copyright, All Rights Reserved ... Michelle C. of whatplanetareyoulivingon.blogspot.com

Happy Halloween!

It's been a FUN Halloween season. I LOVE this time of year!! ... Don't know why? It just makes me feel ALIVE!! ... The colors ... the chill in the air ... the harvest ... anticipation ... celebration. I feel like a kid again : )


We had a BIG Halloween party last night, Saturday, and it was SHEER CHAOS, with the entire 7th grade running throughout our house for 3 hours ... But loads of FUN!!

So Alice, in her "Halloween Wonderland", had a Happy Halloween ... Hope you and yours did as well.

My Three Daughters' masterpieces : )  "3 Spooky Jack-o-Lanterns Be We"!!

Peace & LOVE,

Michelle