Southeast Colorado Progressives
Southeast Colorado citizens who want to make a positive difference in our communities, our state and our country.
(Cross-posted copiously, because it's just that good.)
I adjusted this Candorville comic to better fit on blog pages so I could share it as widely as it deserves.
If you don't get it in your local dead tree news venue, Candorville can be enjoyed online HERE.
I adjusted this Candorville comic to better fit on blog pages so I could share it as widely as it deserves.
If you don't get it in your local dead tree news venue, Candorville can be enjoyed online HERE.
This weekend, I happened to be looking through a batch of old clippings from the Basement of Doom, part of a lot we bought at an estate auction many years ago. This headline, which my research says is from a January 1953 editorial from the Pueblo Chieftain, said:
It's About Time We Awoke To The Oil Industry's Double Talk
Opening sentence: "We wholeheartedly endorse the ultimatum given by Governor Thornton and the chairman of the State Legislature's special oil tax committee to the oil industry to come up with a "fair and equitable" plan for its own taxation or take what the Legislature will hand it."
A little Googling showed me that Gov. Thornton had gotten tired of waiting for the oil industry to quit whining about how more taxation would kill the industry in Colorado. (Gosh, doesn't THAT sound familiar?) They had promised to come up with a plan everyone could live with, on their own, if the voters would just kindly not vote in an oil severance tax bill on the fall ballot.
Well, of course once the election was over the oilies didn't live up to their promise. So Gov. Thornton put his cowboy boot down in January and said they had THREE DAYS to come up with something, or the Lege would do it for them! And that's exactly what happened.
I will have to leave it to economists and/or historians to fill in the blanks of what happened between those days and now. Makes you wonder, though. Will someone in 2063 be looking back and marveling at how our elected officials stepped up to do the right thing for the state and the people way back in 2008?
We can only hope.
It's About Time We Awoke To The Oil Industry's Double Talk
Opening sentence: "We wholeheartedly endorse the ultimatum given by Governor Thornton and the chairman of the State Legislature's special oil tax committee to the oil industry to come up with a "fair and equitable" plan for its own taxation or take what the Legislature will hand it."
A little Googling showed me that Gov. Thornton had gotten tired of waiting for the oil industry to quit whining about how more taxation would kill the industry in Colorado. (Gosh, doesn't THAT sound familiar?) They had promised to come up with a plan everyone could live with, on their own, if the voters would just kindly not vote in an oil severance tax bill on the fall ballot.
Well, of course once the election was over the oilies didn't live up to their promise. So Gov. Thornton put his cowboy boot down in January and said they had THREE DAYS to come up with something, or the Lege would do it for them! And that's exactly what happened.
I will have to leave it to economists and/or historians to fill in the blanks of what happened between those days and now. Makes you wonder, though. Will someone in 2063 be looking back and marveling at how our elected officials stepped up to do the right thing for the state and the people way back in 2008?
We can only hope.
Well, here we go again...time for another Secretary of Veterans Affairs to resign. This time we find that another arm of the George Bush mis-administration has made a dubious legal interpretation, trampled on the rights and benefits of veterans and is denying any wrong-doing.
You have to read the entire New York Times story to believe the depths of this tragic scenario.
This is a bizarre and deplorable action on the part of the mis-administration of the current occupant of the White House. Refusing to facilitate voter registriation is definately not prohibited by the Hatch Act. It's really disappointing that former Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) remains silent on this controversy.
I was listening to yesterday's news about the current occupant of the White House on his farewell tour of Europe. This phrase was used by the reporter in the form of, "The last visit to Europe by President Bush."
I realized that this is a very positive development. I'm looking for more "lasts" of anything and everything for the coWH. The case against the mis-administration regarding Iran is particularly damaging.
It's clear that since entering office that the coWH has acted against the best interests of the United States on relations and policies towards Iran; the jumbled focus of his European tour sound bite script. Rather than advancing the best interests of the US, the current mis-administration has consistently played to the advantage of Ahmadi-Nejad and the ruling Iranian radicals. Read More »
I realized that this is a very positive development. I'm looking for more "lasts" of anything and everything for the coWH. The case against the mis-administration regarding Iran is particularly damaging.
It's clear that since entering office that the coWH has acted against the best interests of the United States on relations and policies towards Iran; the jumbled focus of his European tour sound bite script. Rather than advancing the best interests of the US, the current mis-administration has consistently played to the advantage of Ahmadi-Nejad and the ruling Iranian radicals. Read More »
Tell 'em to check THIS LISTING on eBay!
Sure, Brighton is not exactly right next door to the Pepsi Center, and maybe $299 a night ($1495.00 total) is a TAD steep...but hey, it's the Comfort Inn! AND it's a smoking room! What could be bad?
Sure, Brighton is not exactly right next door to the Pepsi Center, and maybe $299 a night ($1495.00 total) is a TAD steep...but hey, it's the Comfort Inn! AND it's a smoking room! What could be bad?
Heads-up Colorado Springs and Northern Colorado. Beyond the fact that I've been working pretty hard for months to get this off the ground, it's just gonna be great! This issue has been ignored (or at least danced around the edges) for too long.
A Conversation with Rand Beers Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Keeping Our Promises: Veterans, Soldiers and their Families
Rand Beers, President and Founder of the National Security Network, former senior White House national security staffer and Vietnam-era Marine, will be the featured speaker at two town hall forums on issues facing the military community: repeat deployments for members of the active-duty Armed Forces, Guard and Reserves, the needs of a growing new population of disabled veterans, and the burdens on military families. Beers combines front-line experience (Rifle Company Commander in Vietnam and 10 years in the White House) with years of briefing our nation’s political leaders and, with the National Security Network, trains and advises candidates and advocates on how to address these issues in today’s political environment. A question and answer session will follow.
1:00 – 3:00pm
UCCS: The Upper Lodge
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
6:30 – 8:30pm
Bill Reed Middle School
370 West 4th Street
Loveland, Colorado 80537
RSVP: rkeenan@nsnetwork.org
Read More »
As you may know, especially if you happened to read THIS POST by Pat Waak on the Colorado Dems blog, a committee has been formed to examine the problems we experienced at the State Convention and Assembly in Colorado Springs last month. Our goal is to pinpoint causes so that the problems aren't repeated in the future.
I say OUR goal because I volunteered to be on this committee, representing the Eastern Plains.
Right now we are getting organized, figuring out sub-committees, and collecting input from county officials, delegates, alternates and anyone else who has an opinion on the Democratic Party events in Colorado Springs on May 16 & 17th.
Besides the local counties I am to contact, I have volunteered to spread the word about the Ad Hoc committee and the opinion collection process via the blogosphere. If YOU want to make a statement, you can either comment here, direct me to a blog post elsewhere, or email me with what you want to say.
If you just want to have your concerns heard, that's fine. Bringing them to my attention will ensure your thoughts become part of the public record and history. What will be even MORE useful, though, is if you add your ideas and suggestions for future improvements and problem prevention.
The collection period will end June 27th. I hope to hear from you! Tell your friends!
I say OUR goal because I volunteered to be on this committee, representing the Eastern Plains.
Right now we are getting organized, figuring out sub-committees, and collecting input from county officials, delegates, alternates and anyone else who has an opinion on the Democratic Party events in Colorado Springs on May 16 & 17th.
Besides the local counties I am to contact, I have volunteered to spread the word about the Ad Hoc committee and the opinion collection process via the blogosphere. If YOU want to make a statement, you can either comment here, direct me to a blog post elsewhere, or email me with what you want to say.
If you just want to have your concerns heard, that's fine. Bringing them to my attention will ensure your thoughts become part of the public record and history. What will be even MORE useful, though, is if you add your ideas and suggestions for future improvements and problem prevention.
The collection period will end June 27th. I hope to hear from you! Tell your friends!
I wasn't goofing off because it was a holiday weekend, I swear! JUST as I was patting myself on the back last Friday evening for being almost caught up, I noticed I was suddenly awfully congested in my chest. As though it had been booked for a tour by Bronchitis and the Wheezers, the atonal faux-accordion-pop group.
So I was mainly in bed from then until noon or so today. Thank goodness for my trusty laptop, which not only let me keep up virtually with the big world, but is warm and comforting to cuddle when you are sore from coughing.
Could have been worse, of course. In a funny co-incidence, as I was looking over the blogs I read on Wednesdays I found this article on Damn Interesting.com about The Heroes of SARS. It's an excellent overview of the epidemic from start to finish, showing how some things that are often politicized worked RIGHT for once. There's even a whistle-blower who got listened to! And not stomped on later!
By the way, if anyone is interested in ancient history, I did a write-up on my personal experiences and views of the State Assembly and Convention.
John Edwards to be Obama's VP? Check out the link below and be the first kid on your block to go "Hmmmm...."
http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/
(Top post in the ones for May 22.)
http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/
(Top post in the ones for May 22.)
The case is growing that on a national level the GOP is facing a collapse in 2008. Close on the heels of the Congressional special election loss of a historically consistent GOP seat in Mississippi (and two others) yet another veteran GOP house member has dropped out of his re-election race under scandalous circumstances.
A full explanation of the case of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) is provided by the Hill's Jackie Kucinich in the extended text.
This is more than a corrective swing in the political climate. The radicalization of the GOP has depleted their candidate pipeline of all but the most marginal of fringe characters. Add to this the repeat scandals of GOP incumbents and the result is brand failure.
The retail/consumerism obsessed American populace is arguably on the verge of abandoning the GOP label. Precise issues and programs may not lead the reasons, but a failure in basic values and trust appears to be the key to independents and other voting groups casting their ballots for Democrats in even deeply red districts. Read More »
A full explanation of the case of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) is provided by the Hill's Jackie Kucinich in the extended text.
This is more than a corrective swing in the political climate. The radicalization of the GOP has depleted their candidate pipeline of all but the most marginal of fringe characters. Add to this the repeat scandals of GOP incumbents and the result is brand failure.
The retail/consumerism obsessed American populace is arguably on the verge of abandoning the GOP label. Precise issues and programs may not lead the reasons, but a failure in basic values and trust appears to be the key to independents and other voting groups casting their ballots for Democrats in even deeply red districts. Read More »
(x-posted extensively because we can all use a smile)
My son Sterling snapped this shot of our local Representative Wes McKinley marching in yesterday's Lamar Days parade.
My son Sterling snapped this shot of our local Representative Wes McKinley marching in yesterday's Lamar Days parade.
I have started receiving somewhat threatening anonymous phone messages from "toto", the person who posted this Reply
"Re: Impeachment/ Pardoning oneself
Reply By Toto Yesterday at 2:20 pm MDT
Neither Democrats nor Thom Hartmann (nor any of the sites to which impeachco links) can be made to notice the fact that Traitor-in-chief Bush has twice inadvertently made loose-lips-sink-ships statements implicating himself in 9/11 (whatever it was...):
IOW, Bush repeatedly, voluntarily(!) told us that what he knew and when he know it, and how he knew it: Link = 911blimp.net/aud_BushImplicate sBush.shtml"
To this blog posting of mine Link
If I cannot get help identifying this person I will go to Qwest, then to the authorities. Given that the caller references websites he apparently owns that are hosted out of state I will if necessary get the FBI involved. Server records at PNA and the website hosting service (and Qwest phone records) can be gotten by subpeona. I would like to settle this quietly and quickly if possible.
I would appreciate everyone's help in identifying this person. The messages on our voice mail were a carbon copy of his reply message on ProgressNowAction.org I think he may be a 9/11 Truther who is frustrated that Cheney and Bush may be allowed to get away with their crimes without accountability. I sympathize, but this is not the way.
The ownership of 911blimp.net which apparently is his website, is also anonymous, but I suspect it is related to the other websites he references...
911u.org and fawcett911.us
( both of which are listed as being owned by someone in Colorado Springs) The owner's listed Verison phone number of 719-555-000 is not working and was I suspect phoney when submitted.
All three of these websites are hosted by advancednetworkhosting.com in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, leading me to suspect that all are owned by the person who is making the anonymous phone calls to me.
PLEASE: Anyone having some knowledge of who this please email me, John Kennedy at "protestinthestreet@yahoo.com"
Thank you.
PS: to the perpetrator. I will end my investigation if you email me an apology complete with your full name, address, and phone number, and a promise never to do it again.
Just so the perp understands: I do op/eds at author at OpEdNews.com.
A few days ago a fellow commented on one of my articles by suggesting the assassination of Congressmen. I immediately reported the guy to the FBI and the Secret Service. It turned out to be under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service which is currently investigating. I have recordings of your voice messages and I am not bluffing.
An emailed apology done Very Soon will end it, otherwise?
..
"Re: Impeachment/ Pardoning oneself
Reply By Toto Yesterday at 2:20 pm MDT
Neither Democrats nor Thom Hartmann (nor any of the sites to which impeachco links) can be made to notice the fact that Traitor-in-chief Bush has twice inadvertently made loose-lips-sink-ships statements implicating himself in 9/11 (whatever it was...):
IOW, Bush repeatedly, voluntarily(!) told us that what he knew and when he know it, and how he knew it: Link = 911blimp.net/aud_BushImplicate sBush.shtml"
To this blog posting of mine Link
If I cannot get help identifying this person I will go to Qwest, then to the authorities. Given that the caller references websites he apparently owns that are hosted out of state I will if necessary get the FBI involved. Server records at PNA and the website hosting service (and Qwest phone records) can be gotten by subpeona. I would like to settle this quietly and quickly if possible.
I would appreciate everyone's help in identifying this person. The messages on our voice mail were a carbon copy of his reply message on ProgressNowAction.org I think he may be a 9/11 Truther who is frustrated that Cheney and Bush may be allowed to get away with their crimes without accountability. I sympathize, but this is not the way.
The ownership of 911blimp.net which apparently is his website, is also anonymous, but I suspect it is related to the other websites he references...
911u.org and fawcett911.us
( both of which are listed as being owned by someone in Colorado Springs) The owner's listed Verison phone number of 719-555-000 is not working and was I suspect phoney when submitted.
All three of these websites are hosted by advancednetworkhosting.com in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, leading me to suspect that all are owned by the person who is making the anonymous phone calls to me.
PLEASE: Anyone having some knowledge of who this please email me, John Kennedy at "protestinthestreet@yahoo.com"
Thank you.
PS: to the perpetrator. I will end my investigation if you email me an apology complete with your full name, address, and phone number, and a promise never to do it again.
Just so the perp understands: I do op/eds at author at OpEdNews.com.
A few days ago a fellow commented on one of my articles by suggesting the assassination of Congressmen. I immediately reported the guy to the FBI and the Secret Service. It turned out to be under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service which is currently investigating. I have recordings of your voice messages and I am not bluffing.
An emailed apology done Very Soon will end it, otherwise?
..
A load of fun from my most recent research.
Marilyn's Record (Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VpvKGE8JGY&feature=related
SCHIP (Colorado Progressive Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATAI7PhQfgc&feature=related
Veteran's Issues (dccc.org)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxQ4wyFAXmk
Marilyn Musgrave Casket Robber (Colorado Families First)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvBmgrheIo4&feature=related
Marilyn Musgrave Steals from Troops (Colorado Families First)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDvuxgrw1OY
Marilyn on Wages and Health Care (afscme)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9baNRoZ0VPU
Pink Suit (Iraq War) (Jane Fuestell, Colorado Progressive Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3zpQE6BRo
Grow the Network (Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oin4qCmgx4
Marriage Amendment (DearMarilyn.org, Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swslqr2OVs8
Marilyn Attacks (bird dog, Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXnidagZCk
Approached by Gay Couple (bird dog)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgM9AUpJpBI&feature=related
Colorado Republican Posse (Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJrUibDqGBw
The infamous speech before the Family Research Council
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MlUQ8nK1oM&feature=related
Anita Bryant: The Musgrave of Yesteryear (Hit with Pie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWXpkvwtenM&feature=related
Had Enough? (Paccione for Congress)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb9p25dFSOQ
Debate Answers: Gay Marriage (Paccione for Congress)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8shLBjHBCU&feature=related
Musgrave Attacks, Paccione Answers (bird dog, Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtVZ-SLUDn4&feature=related
Overtime (Pro-Paccione from dccc.org)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmM5_QX4jN4
Musgrave's Priorities (Markey for Congress)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i26VQ3ZPDtA&feature=related
Marilyn's Record (Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VpvKGE8JGY&feature=related
SCHIP (Colorado Progressive Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATAI7PhQfgc&feature=related
Veteran's Issues (dccc.org)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxQ4wyFAXmk
Marilyn Musgrave Casket Robber (Colorado Families First)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvBmgrheIo4&feature=related
Marilyn Musgrave Steals from Troops (Colorado Families First)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDvuxgrw1OY
Marilyn on Wages and Health Care (afscme)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9baNRoZ0VPU
Pink Suit (Iraq War) (Jane Fuestell, Colorado Progressive Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3zpQE6BRo
Grow the Network (Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oin4qCmgx4
Marriage Amendment (DearMarilyn.org, Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swslqr2OVs8
Marilyn Attacks (bird dog, Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXnidagZCk
Approached by Gay Couple (bird dog)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgM9AUpJpBI&feature=related
Colorado Republican Posse (Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJrUibDqGBw
The infamous speech before the Family Research Council
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MlUQ8nK1oM&feature=related
Anita Bryant: The Musgrave of Yesteryear (Hit with Pie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWXpkvwtenM&feature=related
Had Enough? (Paccione for Congress)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb9p25dFSOQ
Debate Answers: Gay Marriage (Paccione for Congress)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8shLBjHBCU&feature=related
Musgrave Attacks, Paccione Answers (bird dog, Progress Now Action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtVZ-SLUDn4&feature=related
Overtime (Pro-Paccione from dccc.org)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmM5_QX4jN4
Musgrave's Priorities (Markey for Congress)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i26VQ3ZPDtA&feature=related
(x-posted, because I care)
I've been at the Mildly Toasted stage of Cheesed Off ever since Thursday, because of Colorado Ethics Watch First Annual "Ethics Roundup".
It's not that I think it's a bad idea, or that it was done by bad/misguided people. Definitely not. But on two of the three sites where I've seen it mentioned, I am not the only one wondering why the heck Wes McKinley got added to the Ten Most Corrupt list.
Here's what they got him on: his staff failed to file required campaign reports on time. Twice.
Yes, someone should have done it, and yes, it's Wes's responsibility, in the end, to see it got done. But he got fined, so he's paid his debt to society, as it were. Also, it should be noted there were NO irregularities mentioned in the CEW's report, just the naughty, naughty lateness.
It has not yet been adequately explained to me how being late with something makes a person corrupt. (If failing to meet deadlines = Evil!, wow, am *I* ever going to Hell!)
I'll tell you what this reminds me of -- school. Did you ever have an assignment that you didn't get finished on time? I sure did. Some teachers would dock you a letter grade. OTHERS would refuse to take any late papers at all, ever, and give you an F.
I guess if CEW wants to be That Guy, they have a right to make that choice. But it seems to me that being rigid and punitive, equating failures of clerical technicalities with conflicts of interest, alleged bribery and/or physical violence, brings their sense of balance and judgment into question.
If their judgment is questionable, why should the public care about who they put on their list?
So all in all, I'm afraid I have to give CEW a C- for their report. Next time, please show your work.
I've been at the Mildly Toasted stage of Cheesed Off ever since Thursday, because of Colorado Ethics Watch First Annual "Ethics Roundup".
It's not that I think it's a bad idea, or that it was done by bad/misguided people. Definitely not. But on two of the three sites where I've seen it mentioned, I am not the only one wondering why the heck Wes McKinley got added to the Ten Most Corrupt list.
Here's what they got him on: his staff failed to file required campaign reports on time. Twice.
Yes, someone should have done it, and yes, it's Wes's responsibility, in the end, to see it got done. But he got fined, so he's paid his debt to society, as it were. Also, it should be noted there were NO irregularities mentioned in the CEW's report, just the naughty, naughty lateness.
It has not yet been adequately explained to me how being late with something makes a person corrupt. (If failing to meet deadlines = Evil!, wow, am *I* ever going to Hell!)
I'll tell you what this reminds me of -- school. Did you ever have an assignment that you didn't get finished on time? I sure did. Some teachers would dock you a letter grade. OTHERS would refuse to take any late papers at all, ever, and give you an F.
I guess if CEW wants to be That Guy, they have a right to make that choice. But it seems to me that being rigid and punitive, equating failures of clerical technicalities with conflicts of interest, alleged bribery and/or physical violence, brings their sense of balance and judgment into question.
If their judgment is questionable, why should the public care about who they put on their list?
So all in all, I'm afraid I have to give CEW a C- for their report. Next time, please show your work.
The common perception about Marilyn Musgrave's intellect is that she's not the sharpest disc on the manure spreader. (That's meant to be an ag joke, but if you prefer to see it as political commentary, fine by me.)
Even so, I was flabbergasted by THIS ARTICLE in the online Greeley Tribune, telling about Marilyn explaining the so-called stimulus check procedure to residents at a local retirement community.
MM said she was concerned about seniors who live off of Social Security...LIKE HER MOTHER.
0.o
I don't know the details of Marilyn's personal finances, of course, but I'm pretty sure there are no poor Republicans holding congressional seats. Which means there are two possibilities here.
One, Marilyn was cluelessly trying to bond with her audience by saying they were in the same financial straits as her poor dear old aged mother living month to month on her meager SS checks...even though it was a little fib and her mom has plenty of other assets.
OR....
Marilyn's mom lives on or near the poverty line while her daughter jets back and forth from DC and lives the high life like all the other Bushistas.
I wonder which it is?
Even so, I was flabbergasted by THIS ARTICLE in the online Greeley Tribune, telling about Marilyn explaining the so-called stimulus check procedure to residents at a local retirement community.
MM said she was concerned about seniors who live off of Social Security...LIKE HER MOTHER.
0.o
I don't know the details of Marilyn's personal finances, of course, but I'm pretty sure there are no poor Republicans holding congressional seats. Which means there are two possibilities here.
One, Marilyn was cluelessly trying to bond with her audience by saying they were in the same financial straits as her poor dear old aged mother living month to month on her meager SS checks...even though it was a little fib and her mom has plenty of other assets.
OR....
Marilyn's mom lives on or near the poverty line while her daughter jets back and forth from DC and lives the high life like all the other Bushistas.
I wonder which it is?
I hope you were one of the people who watched Obama's speech, either live or as one of the over a million so far on YouTube. Either way, you can tell your grands someday that you saw history being made.
If you aren't offended by The Bad Words, here's a hilarious 'live blogging' commentary on the speech by the infamous Rude Pundit.
10:59: Damn. We're not used to this sort of honesty from a candidate. Can't compute. Cynicism circuit shorting out.
If you aren't offended by The Bad Words, here's a hilarious 'live blogging' commentary on the speech by the infamous Rude Pundit.
10:59: Damn. We're not used to this sort of honesty from a candidate. Can't compute. Cynicism circuit shorting out.
(x-posted variously)
At the end of January our area hospital, Prowers Medical Center in Lamar, Colorado, officially announced they were in trouble. They ended up over a million dollars in the red for 2007, part of a downhill financial slide that has been going on for some time.
Like most hospitals, PMC uses a management company, Quorum Health Resources. Quorum helped PMC come up with a '100 day plan', which started with laying off 12 workers (only 2 of whom were not clinicians of some kind). (No one actually asked, but how much do you bet Quorum gets their fee off the top every time a payment period comes around? I'm just sayin'.)
Naturally this announcement and action kicked the local rumor machine into high gear. So on Tuesday night an open meeting was held to let the public ask questions and find out what was being done to meet the crisis.
The Cultural Events room at the library was packed, with dozens of people lining the walls. Members of the current hospital board gave a presentation of current findings before opening the floor to questions.
We were told PMC had to write off approximately $2 million in charity/unpaid charges for 2007. Only about 1/3 of the patients it sees have private insurance. Medicare pays only 1% above cost on the bills charged to it, and Medicaid pays a mere 35% of what is billed to it. The average cost of a patient's hospital treatment has doubled over the past few years to $10K. Therefore the basic problem is that most of the self-paying and Medicaid patients that the hospital treats represent a loss that private insurance payments and current government funding can't cover. Hence the bleeding of red ink. Read More »
At the end of January our area hospital, Prowers Medical Center in Lamar, Colorado, officially announced they were in trouble. They ended up over a million dollars in the red for 2007, part of a downhill financial slide that has been going on for some time.
Like most hospitals, PMC uses a management company, Quorum Health Resources. Quorum helped PMC come up with a '100 day plan', which started with laying off 12 workers (only 2 of whom were not clinicians of some kind). (No one actually asked, but how much do you bet Quorum gets their fee off the top every time a payment period comes around? I'm just sayin'.)
Naturally this announcement and action kicked the local rumor machine into high gear. So on Tuesday night an open meeting was held to let the public ask questions and find out what was being done to meet the crisis.
The Cultural Events room at the library was packed, with dozens of people lining the walls. Members of the current hospital board gave a presentation of current findings before opening the floor to questions.
We were told PMC had to write off approximately $2 million in charity/unpaid charges for 2007. Only about 1/3 of the patients it sees have private insurance. Medicare pays only 1% above cost on the bills charged to it, and Medicaid pays a mere 35% of what is billed to it. The average cost of a patient's hospital treatment has doubled over the past few years to $10K. Therefore the basic problem is that most of the self-paying and Medicaid patients that the hospital treats represent a loss that private insurance payments and current government funding can't cover. Hence the bleeding of red ink. Read More »
The wheels are moving to enshrine the current occupant of the White House on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. While it's clear the driving force to create this facility is to protect the secrets and offenses of the coWH, it is fun to see some critics having a laugh at W's expense.
Still, there is soooo much work to be done correcting the damage he has done. America certainly does not deserve Bush McClone as the next President.
Reprinted from an admired source (with a few choice edits) with an encouragement to share.
The George W. Bush Museum is being planned at Southern Methodist U. DALLAS Methodists opposed to a George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum and Policy Institute at Southern Methodist University here are mounting a last-ditch effort to block a nearly completed deal by throwing the decision to a regional church conference in July.
Prominent features of the George W. Bush Library are:
1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which will be perpetually under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you can't remember anything and practice the phrases "…yes Mr. President…whatever you want, Mr. President."
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room where you don't even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.
8. The Dick Cheney Room in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
9. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
10. Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8 scale model of the President's ego. To highlight the President's accomplishments, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.
Still, there is soooo much work to be done correcting the damage he has done. America certainly does not deserve Bush McClone as the next President.
Reprinted from an admired source (with a few choice edits) with an encouragement to share.
The George W. Bush Museum is being planned at Southern Methodist U. DALLAS Methodists opposed to a George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum and Policy Institute at Southern Methodist University here are mounting a last-ditch effort to block a nearly completed deal by throwing the decision to a regional church conference in July.
Prominent features of the George W. Bush Library are:
1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which will be perpetually under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you can't remember anything and practice the phrases "…yes Mr. President…whatever you want, Mr. President."
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room where you don't even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.
8. The Dick Cheney Room in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
9. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
10. Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8 scale model of the President's ego. To highlight the President's accomplishments, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.
I just done got my hair did. Well, a haircut anyway, by Lamar Community College's finest! Now I am making a list of things not to forget. Then pretty soon I will go back to looking in my closet and shaking my head sadly....
Anyway, if you see me, pop over and say Hi!
This is what I look like -- in black and white.
(and minus 45 years.)
In color, and these days, I have bright blue hair. Yeah, you've seen me around....
Anyway, if you see me, pop over and say Hi!
This is what I look like -- in black and white.
(and minus 45 years.)
In color, and these days, I have bright blue hair. Yeah, you've seen me around....
(Variously x-posted)
This is the Arkansas River.
You can't see my house from here, but it's about two miles upstream and half a mile to the left.
I do not like the idea of a billion gallons of water contaminated with lead, cadmium and Lord alone knows what else whooshing by down here, bringing all the birds and fish it killed upstream as it goes.
I'm weird like that.
The ongoing screw-ups and circular finger-pointings surrounding the situation up in the Leadville mines that makes this toxic overflow a potential threat have been going on since AT LEAST 1995, and maybe longer than that, from what I've read. And you can pretty much put what's actually been DONE about it so far in your eye and never blink.
So a guy named Tom Weins, State Senator for the area, gets the idea to use this new-fangled web thingie to whip up some public outrage and attention, partly by starting a web site: http://www.savethearkansasriver.org/
The plan worked, because the affected government agencies, who seem to have more lead in their butts than Leadville ever THOUGHT of producing, have been shamed into action...maybe. In time? Maybe. We can hope.
But what is bothering me now are the folks I think of as being on MY side of the political spectrum, in favor of saving the Earth and all that, who are all PO'd about Weins' website. Why? Because...he might be getting some political gain out of it.
I'm not 100% sure HOW he's going to gain, since the mayor and some of the Leadville citizens are furious over the fallout from the revelation of the problem. Costing the town and the people there money can't possibly be good for getting future votes, and getting a reputation as a guy who will kicks up a huge fuss instead of working quietly behind the scenes with The System won't make him more liked by the Powers That Be. But maybe that's one of the many things I don't understand about Politics.
Yeah. The guy's a Republican. Some of them HAVE to be right about things SOME of the time, right? Law of averages and all that?
As I said in my comments on Colorado Confidential,
I bet if that Weins guy was a Dem, we'd be pinning a medal on him and treating him to a ticker tape parade for being such a super-duper friend of the environment.
But that's just my opinion. Why not go to the site and read the links and comments (especially the comments!) for yourself?
Maybe even leave one? Help save my favorite backyard river?
This is the Arkansas River.
You can't see my house from here, but it's about two miles upstream and half a mile to the left.
I do not like the idea of a billion gallons of water contaminated with lead, cadmium and Lord alone knows what else whooshing by down here, bringing all the birds and fish it killed upstream as it goes.
I'm weird like that.
The ongoing screw-ups and circular finger-pointings surrounding the situation up in the Leadville mines that makes this toxic overflow a potential threat have been going on since AT LEAST 1995, and maybe longer than that, from what I've read. And you can pretty much put what's actually been DONE about it so far in your eye and never blink.
So a guy named Tom Weins, State Senator for the area, gets the idea to use this new-fangled web thingie to whip up some public outrage and attention, partly by starting a web site: http://www.savethearkansasriver.org/
The plan worked, because the affected government agencies, who seem to have more lead in their butts than Leadville ever THOUGHT of producing, have been shamed into action...maybe. In time? Maybe. We can hope.
But what is bothering me now are the folks I think of as being on MY side of the political spectrum, in favor of saving the Earth and all that, who are all PO'd about Weins' website. Why? Because...he might be getting some political gain out of it.
I'm not 100% sure HOW he's going to gain, since the mayor and some of the Leadville citizens are furious over the fallout from the revelation of the problem. Costing the town and the people there money can't possibly be good for getting future votes, and getting a reputation as a guy who will kicks up a huge fuss instead of working quietly behind the scenes with The System won't make him more liked by the Powers That Be. But maybe that's one of the many things I don't understand about Politics.
Yeah. The guy's a Republican. Some of them HAVE to be right about things SOME of the time, right? Law of averages and all that?
As I said in my comments on Colorado Confidential,
I bet if that Weins guy was a Dem, we'd be pinning a medal on him and treating him to a ticker tape parade for being such a super-duper friend of the environment.
But that's just my opinion. Why not go to the site and read the links and comments (especially the comments!) for yourself?
Maybe even leave one? Help save my favorite backyard river?
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