David Mixner's Brilliant Op-Ed on how the Right has got it wrong... again.

The time has come for the American right wing to pack it up, stop its hatred and end its disruption of American society. They have proven time and time again that they are almost always on the wrong side of history. Let's give them some expensive luggage with RNC monogrammed on it and send them into the sunset. Time to end the 'lock and load' mentality, lawmakers who have 'targets' semi-imposed over their faces and the new code word for racism and homophobia of "We want our country back." Back to where and to whom?

The extreme right record of utter and total failure to stop the march to progress is the reason we should not have to bear their craziness anymore. The record is numbingly clear: They were wrong about Social Security. They were wrong on integrating the military forces under President Truman. They were wrong about McCarthyism in the early 1950's. They were wrong about passing civil rights legislation in the 1960's. They were wrong on Medicare. They were wrong about women rights. They were wrong about 'trickle down economics.' They were wrong about tax breaks for the rich. They were wrong about the war in Iraq. They were wrong about climate change. They were wrong about LGBT rights and they are wrong about healthcare reform.

Can you imagine our world if they had been successful in stopping any of the forces for change above? We would have a world with our seniors poor and unable to have healthcare. We would have African-Americans unable to vote. We would see women relegated to being housewives and not leading our nation. All homosexuals would still be in the closet with many having lobotomies, committing suicide and being arrested. The world has become and is still becoming a better place because of progressive legislation and ignoring the calls, shouts and anger to protect the narrow-minded status quo.

Fact is, they can't have their country back. Their country is moving forward into a greatness with a richly diverse and exciting population. Their country is still a place that still believes individual freedom and equality for all its people no matter if they are popular or not. As Frank Rich pointed out in his column this week in the New York Times, their country now has an African-American President, a woman as Speaker of the House, a Hispanic on the Supreme Court and a gay man as head of the Banking Committee in the House. Those who seek to end this march into the 21st century simply can't turn back the tides of time.

All they can do is make us more divided, pay a higher price to protect the people of this nation, fill the air with anger and make the march of progress a heavier burden. Time for them to realize that for the last 100 years they have been on the wrong side of history. I say to them: Give it up and enjoy your new healthcare and make sure your children are at last getting adequate care. I am willing to bet that in five years every single mindlessly angry voice will be using this new healthcare system and many of them will be saved economically by it. Progress is good. Generosity is appreciated. Intelligence is revered. Get used to it.
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This post can be read  in its original format  at  davidmixner.com   here :
The-right-constantly-on-the-wrong-side-of-history.

The Opening Scene! The New Series of Doctor Who

Finally! A Poltical Playbook the GOP can REALLY Use!

Bryan Safi over at infomania  gives  our  Republican friends  some much needed advice on managing their image when the truth "Comes Out". 



(hat tip to Huffington Post for this one...)

The End of the Republican Party....

The  Republican Party has  charted  their course.    Right  off  a cliff...

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The Republican Alternative..

The GOP is  promising to "repeal"  Health Care reform  in favor of their  own  brilliant  health care plan..

So in case you  were not  paying attention and missed  out on exactly what the Republican Health Care Plan  is, here  is a quick review.  (hat tip to Americablog.com)

The GOP's Waterloo...

Conservative columnist and former George W. Bush Speechwriter David Frum's take on last nights health care reform victory...

"So today’s defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours. "

Frum of course  was referring to  GOP mental giant  Senator Jim Demint,  who predicted  the defeat of  Health Care Reform would be  President Obama's  "Waterloo".

Now that Health Care Reform has passed and will become law, and all  the nutjob Teabaggers  can do is  scream their tiny  heads  off and  threaten an unending series of lawsuits. (That will all be thrown out...)   I find my self  wanting  to  call up  Senator Demint and  ask him  the great  Dr. Phil question;    So Jim,   that  whole  "Waterloo" idea ... How's that  workin' out for you?

I love Markos'  take on  all of this  (via dailykosTV)

Senator Jim Demint,  this one's  for you !

After all this hulabaloo over Health Care Reform...

What  America REALLY needs is  a  NEW DOCTOR!

Health Insurance Reform Passes!

This is what change looks like.

• 
  
  Every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.
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  Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. 
• 
  
  Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.

President Obama's reaction to tonight's historic vote:

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The Debate is Over... PASS THE BILL

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John Stewart's brilliant take on Glenn Beck

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Conservative Libertarian
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

My Boss, talking about Health Care Reform

How both Labor and Managment  along with  Kaiser Permanente can affect the direction of health care reform was one of the main topics of discussion at my company's  2010 Union Delegate Conference. After addressing the 700 delegates, George Halvorson, president and CEO of Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospitals, shared his thoughts on the subject with Barb Grimm.

In this clip, Halvorson talks about how KP can serve as a model for the nation--after all, the organization cares for 8.6 million people, more than the population of 42 states and 142 other countries. We are an ideal laboratory for the care of a large, diverse population. Halvorson also shares why he thinks we’re on the verge of a “golden age of health care improvement” and discusses the intersection between unit-based teams and health care reform.

Top 10 Anti-Gay Activists Caught Being Gay (via Ranker)

List of Top 10 Anti-Gay Activists Caught Being Gay on Ranker

Serious "hat tip"  to  joemygod.com for this one!

Andrew Sullivan on Catholisism and Gay Marriage...

For the most part,  I tend to take  a lot  of  what  Andrew Sullivan says with a grain of salt.   In the past, as a former repubican,   I have found  his  conservatism forced; and as a Protestant,  have found  his  theology  riddled with contradictions  he simply chooses to ignore.   If I were ever allowed to stage a  "dream debate",   I would  love to see  Stephen Fry take Sullivan on,  but I digress...

That being said, I have to acknowledge  Sullivan as clearly one of the great free thinkers of our age.  During his speech and  Q&A  at Princeton University recently,  Sullivan says  a few things   on the subject of  theology that I  might take issue with.  But  his response  to a questioner on the nature of marriage itself, and how the idea of  same sex marriage  is completely  in tune with the basic and most fundamental  message of  Christianity, was quite simply brilliant...



The entire lecture can be viewed via the Princeton website  here.

HR-4789 A simple, practical effective solution....

HR-4789 is a simple four page solution to the entire health care debate. There are no new entitlement programs, no added federal expenditures, and no need to spend billions to set up a new provider network. Americans would be able to BUY into Medicare at cost. Paying out of their own pocket to access the EXISTING medicare provider network. It would be sensible, affordable, and workable.

WHich of course means Repbulcans will do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to stop it. The GOP wants the health care system to REMAIN AS IT IS. And as HR-4789 would mean real competition and choice , the GOP is terrifed of it.    
 
Because allowing Americans to BUY into the exisiting medical provider network that their taxes  pay for, MIGHT  endanger  insurance company profits;   the GOP  will never ever  allow it  to be voted on...

CA Republican "Family Values" in Action

(via Huffingtonpost.com) 

Early Wednesday morning, State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Calif.) was pulled over and arrested for drunk driving. Sources report that Ashburn --a fierce opponent of gay rights -- was driving drunk after leaving a gay nightclub; when the officer stopped the state-issued vehicle, there was an unidentified man in the passenger seat of the car.

Ashburn has issued an apology for the incident:

"I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me - my family, my constituents, my friends, and my colleagues in the Senate."

Talking Points Memo did a little  bit of homework and found the Senator's 2005 efforts to defend California  from  the   Gay threat :

"We need to preserve traditional values for the future of our children. Children must be raised with morals and principles. As a society, we must provide them with a secured and loving environment that allows them to flourish."

Those are the words of California state Senator Roy Ashburn, a father of four, quoted in a 2005press release announcing a rally to support "traditional marriage."

Ashburn, of course, is the senator with the anti-gay record who was reportedly a regular at Sacramento gay clubs. He was picked up for a DUI early Wednesday morning, reportedly with an unidentified man in he car.

So we decided to look back: just how anti-gay is Ashburn's record?

Said Equality California director Geoff Kors in an interview with TPMmuckraker: "He has voted against every LGBT rights bill that's been introduced in California since he's been in the office."

At that 2005 anti-gay marriage rally, Ashburn said that "Our friends and neighbors in our community are restating the obvious -- that the institute of marriage is fundamental to our society. Marriage between one man and one woman is fundamental to civilization."

That's according to an AP account (via Nexis) of the rally, which was disrupted by protesters. According to the article, Ashburn's office claimed that "hundreds gathered at Patriots Park to support traditional marriage and family values."

But a local newspaper reported "there were actually fewer than 20 supporters."

Here's a look at the votes of Ashburn, a Republican of Bakersfield:

• In 2006, he voted no on a measure to add material on the contributions of gay Americans who had contributed to the development of California or the United States
• In 2008 he voted against expanding anti-discrimination laws to include sexual discrimination.
• In 2009 he voted against a resolution to oppose Prop 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot question.
• Last September, he voted against recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages.
• That same month Ashburn opposed creating Harvey Milk Day, to honor the slain gay rights icon from San Francisco.

Craig Ferguson on  "The Late Late Show" had the best take on the whole  situation...

If you are so inclined...

Ok, usually I don't like to do this, but  in the case  it's for a  great cause.    An old friend of mine, Steve Funk is running for  State Assembly from the Illinois 18th District.  (For those reaching for their maps,  that  is the North Side of Chicago.)     He is running as a libertarian.  If you  are so moved,  please  donate  to help put Steve Funk on the Ballot in  Illinois.  In an era when  neither Democrats or Republicans seem able to get anything done,  it makes sense to start electing independents  who can  think outside the old idealogical boxes!