Pandora Radio – Listen to Free Internet Radio, Find New Music

If I haven’t told you lately how much I love Pandora – I do.

NYT analysis: Victories rekindle GOP’s hope – The New York Times- msnbc.com

You’re kidding me right? You think because a state like VIRGINIA voted in a Republican Governor that this is supposed to be some sort of harbinger of things to come. That somehow the whole country is destined to be swallowed up by red tidal wave?

I don’t know whether to laugh, or snort.

I’m not certain if there’s a left media, or a right media in America. Some would argue that MSNBC represents left media. Some would argue Fox News represents right media. But, one thing that is becoming clearer, it’s all one big – moronic media. In this day of tabloid journalism and one up-mans-ship on the wow factor it’s understandable that our news conglomerates would want to create a story where there isn’t one.

I suppose the picture painted of darkening clouds on the horizon is supposed to create interest or a stir in a non-story, but it’s not working for me. Firstly, Governors races have little bearing on the national agenda. People in a particular state vote for their Governor – and get this – on State issues. Surprise moronic media. For Christs-sake – CALIFORNIA has a republican governor! It means little. Secondly, this represents nothing on the scale of the ‘republican revolution’ which gave us the likes of Newt Gingrich and others and their contract on America.

So, stop, please – stop. Trying to create a story out of nothing. Stop scoring the psycho violin music every time there’s a local referendum and try and transpose that on a national graph. Mary please.

I sure miss Tim Russert.

Is Fiat Helping Chrysler–Or Fiat? – Forbes.com

It may be time to say goodbye to another American Brand(s).

Chrysler, and by extension Dodge (no need to mention Chrysler, the last interim trustee of this great American brand killed that portion) is still in decline and has no prospect of ever returning to profitability, let alone greatness.

It seems Fiat has pulled off the greatest Automotive coup since BMW stole Rolls Royce away from VW. With no apparent plans of ever infusing cash into this ailing maker, the billions taxpayers have already invested seem to being squandered. The government essentially ‘gave’ Chrysler to Fiat in hopes that they would invest eventually, and at least initially infuse the company with some small-car product and know-how. But, that seems to be a premature wish.

More likely Fiat is going to raid the company for it’s rear drive platform, i.e. the Chrysler 300 so that they can expand their own offerings. In return? Well – they’ve killed the Nissan/Chrysler venture. They’ve killed the Mercedes truck import initiative. Basically anything promising that could help provide income to develop new products has been starved or cut. So where will the money for new product come from? Here’s my guess. There is no plan for new money and by extension, new product. The Italian plan all along has been to rape Americans for the Taxpayer investment already put forth, which was essentially life support to keep the company viable long enough for Fiat to absorb some of the production capacity for its own Fiat and Alfa lines. Take the platform of the rear wheel drive 300, an excellently engineered drivetrain as it was originally the previous generation e-Class Mercedes Benz, and allowing the Chrysler and Dodge nameplate to wilt. Oh. And, all the American jobs that go with it.

Sure, they may keep Jeep. But only as a brand that might have global recognition and some (tarnished) cache. I suggest this. When those Fiat 500’s roll off the line, if they aren’t badged Chryslers, you spit on em when they drive by. You’ve already pissed away your tax dollars to provide a huge corporate give away to this Italian company – you might as well add some more body fluids.

I wonder where the magic-better-than-yours-why-don’t-you-consider-this Republican Health Care plan is? What do they propose. For a group that has no new ideas, no proposal, and nothing new to offer, they certainly have gotten a lot of traction with no promise of anything.

Why on earth would anyone listen to the negative of a group that isn’t offering an alternative. This only solidify’s the reputation of the Republicans becoming the party of “NO”.

The plan, as I understand it (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/09/transcript-gop-response-obamas-health-care-address/) Read Rep Charles Boustany’s response of the Obama Healthcare Proposal: the Republican party would have you.. just not get sick. Rather, make healthier choices, earlier in life and these problems won’t exist.

Are you kidding me?

For reals.

That’s your solution?

Ok ladies and gentleman.

This Nancy-Regan-Just-Say-No approach may work if offered an illicit drug, but not when the demon of heart attacks is standing on your porch.

There’s simply no way of knowing if you’ll be in that percentile that experiences a catastrophic health event, and if you do – is that the appropriate time to establish how much you contributed to the condition? Is that what formula we’ll use to determine how much a person will pay for their portion of the bill? Talk about death panels, who will head the what-portion-is-yours panels?

The conservative folks of this country are beating their chest, and crying and espousing lies but in all that there are no concrete plans on what they suggest we do instead. So, until they put up – I’d offer – shut up as a good plan.

Thank you.

Perhaps it’s best that Eunice followed so closely by Ted has passed on into another dimension.

I updated the blog links on the right hand side. Below the link for my pictures on Flickr is a link for Rob’s pictures on Mac Gallery. Yes. I know. We’re one family but when it comes to these things we still can’t get it together. He really likes his Mac Gallery – while I still sing the praises of Flickr.

But I suppose if one site blew up, we’d still have some pictures on the other. In any event, Rob has recently completed some art projects so he keeps those on his Mac Gallery so you can keep up with what he’s up to on painting.

Take care and let us know how you’re doing!

This could be the big one. It’s why the Republican-America-Haters have boasted that this could be President Obama’s waterloo.

I call them America-Haters, because for all their talk of patriotism, it’s clear that they’d rather be “right” than see the country prosper. For all their crowing about how much they love capitalism, and equate that to the American way of life, they just as soon as see it run over a cliff than even consider anything they deem to stray from the path of capitalism.

And, driving off a cliff it is.

The statistics composed by the National Coalition on Health Care, which can be found in some variation from other sources, indicates that the current rate of health care spending is approximately 4.3 times the cost of national defense. In 2008 we spent as much as 17 percent of our Gross Domestic Product on health care. More than any other industrialized nation in the world. (Compare: Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France)

Now, this isn’t the worst part. The worst part is that this isn’t stagnate. These figures are on an upward trajectory. There is no end in sight for these costs. They will continue to climb, some estimates having the GDP dedicating 20 percent to health care costs as we enter the next decade.

Now. Before we go further. I’ll tell you right now. Republican-America-Haters will stand up at this point and say. “Stop comparing American health care to Canada or Germany. We have the best health care system in the world! Precisely because it is profit/capitalism based. The research which brings the best drugs, the most promising cures, and most advanced treatments comes because of our current system!”.

I wouldn’t argue this. We have the Cadillac if you will (in some regards) of health cares. However, we can no longer afford to drive a Cadillac. In 2008 the average employer paid for each worker covered $12,700 with each employee contributing on average, $3,700.

Under a plan where the U.S. economy continues to grow, and incomes increase, and property values climb and the GDP enlarges, and the overall productivity flourishes – this model could sustain itself for the foreseeable future. But we all know that today – none of these factors exist. In fact the enlarging costs of health care are exacerbated by the shrinking economy. Meaning – yes. We’re headed for a cliff.

People wonder what will we do if the State of California, the worlds 7th or 8th largest economy, fails or collapses. I would argue, what would we do, if the U.S. federal government follows behind it? We view the federal government as if were a savior for all our ills. The reality, our deficit continues to grow and not unlike a person who lives on their credit cards, someday the bill will have to come due. In no case can you continue to outspend your income for an indefinite period. At some point, the credit line will cease.

Such is the case with our federal government, and the economy as a whole. The model we’ve been using for health care insurance in this country is broken. It no longer works. It is dragging our hopes for the future down.

That is why we must rally behind our President during this critical time. The Republican-America-Haters are employing tactics such as shouting down town meetings and disrupting public forums where this topic is addressed. It’s a ploy they used in Florida during the hanging chad incidents. They paid congressional staffers and other Republican operatives to storm voting offices. This gives the impression that folks are against something. That they are riled up about something. It plays to the cameras well – and the average American sitting at home watching Katie Couric may think. “Wow. I must be on the wrong side of this debate if all these people are upset about this.”

Don’t believe it.

It is time for us to do our part and see these ploys for what they are. To ask those who would come to the table to ‘discuss’ health care, what their alternatives are. We need to ask the party of “NO” what they propose, what solution they offer – because the status quo, keeping things the same is not a solution. It may have worked in different times – it doesn’t any longer.

It’s time however too for our President to step up. I appreciate that President Obama has done an admirable job of attempting to court both sides of every issue. His approach seems genuinely concerned with all sides and making sure that he appears to be a President for all Americans. He seems to hope that all sides can come to an agreement – a comprimise.

This will be the President’s waterloo if he continues this approach.

When Congress comes back in session in the fall – I hope the President starts talking Turkey. I hope he lays out a specific plan, that addresses the MAIN concerns. (It won’t address every concern, it never can). And push for a vote. It’s clear, at this juncture that it may fall upon party lines. That Republican-America-Haters may appear to be left out of the dialog, but they are not. Crossing your arms, holding your breath, stomping your feet and uttering “no” is hardly a dialog.

The American people hired President Obama to get things done. If he fails to get this, the most important act of his presidency done, then he will not lived up to the promise and the task we set him upon. Americans want a better life. Americans need a better life. An overhaul of our health care insurance system is the most fundamental key to that progress. Without it, there will only be a steady decline.

So, I’m prepared to listen. I’m waiting to hear the specifics of any proposal. I’m waiting to see a genuine debate in the Senate on this topic. I don’t fear that President Obama is going to drive us into a ditch with any proposal he may offer. There’s little comfort in that idea – that he could drive us into a ditch. However, I’ll take my chances because we are assuredly headed for a cliff.