House Passes Health Care Reform Bill 220-215

The house passed the Health Care Bill tonight by a margin of 220-215 for the bill.  It is a culmination of nearly 75 years of attempts to pass a bill. With the passing of tonight bill it is the first step in the process. The Senate will have to pass their version of the bill. 39 democrats  actually voted against the bill. Which says volumes about the split between progressives and so call Blue Dog Democrats.

President Obama, congratulated  Nancy Pelosi, for a great victory in overseeing a  house majority in the vote for Health Care reform. The passing of the bill insures that every American will have affordable health care. Only one  Republican voted for the the Health Care Bill.

Americans Have Head In The Sand Snydrome Concerning Health Care Insurance Coverage

A New York Times Op-ed said it all this morning.  That Americans are distorting the truth about Health Care in America. Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama (Republican) seems to think that we have  system  that is working why should we  mess with it?  In fact Shelby said we have a Health Care program that is the envy of the world.  That statement would probably raise a few eyebrows both at home and abroad.  The truth of the matter is most Americans are one job loss away from no  from no coverage at all.  Yet we spent endless hours debating whether all Americans deserve it. Because I don’t want my taxes to go up or some other lame excuse.

Most Americans are one paycheck away from being destitute.  The truth of the matter is, that we as Americans ought to be ashamed of ourselves.  We are a country that says, “As long as I got mine, I do not care about anybody else”  The truth is there are millions of Americans that have theirs and a ton of every  ones potential wealth. Yet we expects companies to provide health coverage for us and we pay our fair share for it, yet companies are trying to desperately shed that cost from their books. Company provided Insurance is not the answer, when it is just a temporary fix.  It that’s all you have, good luck when you lose your job, then go on COBRA and then have no health insurance coverage at all. Trust me nearly all of us have a pre-existing condition of some sort. You can’t keep the Health Certificate coverage that the company provides. It is not portable. But your pre-existing condition is and it is  a reason for insurance companies to deny you insurance.

What is a pre-existing condition, nearly everything? If you inflate the risk pool, with a  pre-existing condition they will not provide coverage. And don’t think they don’t know about  your health problems.   They do and they have very sophisticated ways of finding out. There are companies that keep a record of  your health status.

How is it that banks manage to get a bail out, pay out a bonus, and then be  first in line to receive the  Swine Flue Virus Shot?  Can someone answer that question?   How is it that those  55 years or older bear the brunt of job reductions and layoffs?  Because of America’s corporate greed, has allowed all these companies a reason to lay people off.  Don’t be fooled, there was no reason other than greed and higher profits, that millions of Americans are now on the brink of being homeless, because corporations took advantage of the layoff bonanza , made up many reasons for it, and laid  undeserving people off.

Farve Wins In Green Bay

Brett Favre and the 7-1 Viking did it once again to the  Green bay Packers, this time in their own house.  Winning the much-anticipated homecoming for Favre 38-26.  The victory was a little bitter-sweet for Favre who played sixteen years in Green Bay.  The Packers cannot feel good about the fact that they let Favre go, only for him to return playing for their main rival, the Viking. It is a storybook ending for Favre and one the he will not soon forget.

 

Reid Includes Public Option in The Senate Health Care Bill

Senator Harry Reid announced today that a public option would be included in the Senate bill for vote.  It is unclear how may Democratic votes are there to ensure passage, but Senator Reid feels confident that the votes will be there.  Despite the likely  possibility of losing support from the lone Republican to support health care legislation, the Democrats are pressing forward with the provision to include the public option.  Senator Olympia Snow of Maine, the only Republican to support  the finance committee bill has vowed to not support any bill that includes a public option.

Should Visiting Facebook Be Allowed At Work?

Should companies prohibit employee from visiting Facebook while at work?  Interesting proposition. It seems the same old rules that we have followed, should be modified to a certain extent.  There are indeed productivity issues involved and some companies say that security issues are involved as well.  Therein lies the dilemma, how do we evolve into a workforce that embraces technology, while  safeguarding larger concerns of productivity and security?  The majority  have the view that visiting Facebook should not be allowed while at work.

A recent USA Today poll posed the question, Does your company policy prohibit employees from visiting social-networking sites while at work?  Sort of a running poll. The respondents gave a pretty predictable answer.

Yes completely 54%

No, but some limits apply 35%

Flat out No 10%

Don’t Know 1%

Where do you stand on the issue  I would like to know?

Cheney Is At it again- Convergence of Relevant Stuff

America Mourns The Death Of Ted Kennedy

The death of Senator Teddy Kennedy was not a surprise. Many of us knew he had an uphill battle to fight against a very aggressive brain tumor. The passing of Ted Kennedy has brought on much reflection not just about Ted Kennedy, but about the family of service; the Kennedy’s.  This family faced many tragedies, more than many of us could ever dream to confront.  The Kennedy’s are survivors and no matter what you think of  their politics, no one can deny the flair and the resolve that the  three brothers, John, Robert, and Teddy showed during the latter half of the twentieth century.

Ted and his brothers were not perfect, but that is certainly human nature. Yet all three brothers managed to  leave a mark on society like no other family in the history of American politics.  Ted Kennedy is said to be the most liberal of the three brothers, with Robert running a close second. President John Kennedy was more of a conservative, despite popular opinion to the contrary.

Ted Kennedy was an expert of  compromise n the Senate. Despite his politics, Ted Kennedy had gift in finding common ground with Republicans. So many Republicans have come forward to talk about Kennedy’s  capacity to bring Democrats and Republicans together in order to get bills passed.  This  was Ted Kennedy’s legacy.  The Kennedy family has given an incredible gift to the American people. Let’s not forget their legacy and their service to America.  Let’s not forget Senator Ted Kennedy.

Brett Favre Is Back, A Viking No Less! In the Packer’s Division!

Brett Favre is back! Last year it seemingly was in a land far, far  away with the New York Jets, Not  in the Packers back yard and I might add, lots of folks are steaming mad.  Primarily the Green Bay Packers.  Will the Packer have motivation…Yes. Will Brett Farve have motivation….Yes, Yes!  It will make good reality football and lots of entertainment.  Suddenly the  spotlight has shifted from Michael Vick to Brett Farve.  The NFL ratings will be up this year.

The two quarter back the Viking have  are terrible.  So a 40 year old Brett Favre is not quite a bad idea of the Viking. So you have mad people in Minnesota, namely the two quarterbacks competing for starting jobs and you have  mad Green Bay Packer, primarily because  Brett Favre is back in the same division with them.  It really makes for some interesting drama. The Michale Vick story will  move a few slots down, probably to the relief of the Philadelphia Eagles and Vick. Everyone will be talking about Brett Favre’s return for the remainder of the year.

The only question that remains is whether Vick  has enough in the tank to make an impact this year. Only time will tell.Let’ sit back and enjoy the show

President Obama’s Op Ed In New York Times

OUR nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future of health care in America. And over the past few weeks, much of the media attention has been focused on the loudest voices. What we haven’t heard are the voices of the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly struggle every day with a system that often works better for the health-insurance companies than it does for them……  “Barack Obama”

New York Times Op Ed

Pitino Needs To leave Louisville- He Is A Distraction

I have been a Louisville Cardinal basketball fan  since 1967. The Days of  Wes Unseld, Butch Beard, Mike Grosso and a host of others.  I followed the Cards when Denny Crum took them from a good  mid major program to a National power winning National Championships in 1980 and 1986.  I was there as a fan when  the Cards struggled in the 90’s and saw the Rick Pitino led Kentucky Wildcats make their mark and winning a National Championship.

They were led by the ego driven opportunist Rick Pitino.  Pitino hung the moon in Kentucky and then he hoodwinked the  Boston Celtics  who paid him millions of dollars to destroy the team.   Perhaps Pitino was a little too  fast for the slow lifestyle of Kentucky, but not fast enough for the Celtics who sent him packing.

Fast Forward to 2009, Pitno is in one of the most difficult situation in his most ambitious coaching career.  The gist of the story is Pitino had a brief relationship with the woman. Pitino said she was trying to blackmail him. Now the woman is on trial and all sorts of embarrassing information is surfacing. To me it is an embarrassment to the University of Louisville and a tribute to Denny Crum, who was literally  forced out as head Coach  so King Rick could come back to Kentucky after he   literally dismantled a dynasty, the Boston Celtics.

It is time for Pitino to leave and the Athletic Director should follow him out of the door. It is embarrassing to the University and the basketball program is suffering. But Louisville is being Louisville by standing by anyone who wins. The city is a basketball haven and  they love Rick Pitino. It is a shame that this man can continue to  con the entire universe and make you think you were wrong. But that’s what got him where he is today. There lies the problem and why Pitino is  in the news nearly everywhere…….Bring back Denny Crum or anyone at this point, anyone but Rick Pitino!

Mike Vick Has Work To Do On His Image

Michael Vick is back in the NFL. To some that in itself is a travesty. To others, they wish him well after he has paid his dues with a 2 year prison term for unseemly and inhumane crimes against animals. No matter where you stand on the issue it is a passionate argument on both sides. Do you reward someone with millions of  dollars after  committing such a despicable act?

The other side of the argument is even prisoners released from prison should be allowed to  make a living for themselves and their families.  Better we let them make a living and perhaps the chance of rehabilitating themselves, verses being a burden to tax payers and perhaps a liability to society in the future.

Make no mistake, Vick made a huge mistake and  his moral compass was bankrupt. But this man given his crime, appears to be remorseful and only time will tell.  Can we forgive? We should. No one is society is  perfect, all of us has fallen short of the  road to excellent values.  No living human being can say they have not made a mistake, perhaps not on the level of a Michael Vick, but nevertheless we are not perfect.

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to go out of the limb and offer Vick a contract. Plenty of people are questioning why? It is understandable. The  Philadelphia Eagles have showed more courage in giving Vick a chance than many NFL teams.  He is without question, a tremendous football player and his talent is unquestioned. Many teams probably thought long and hard about signing Vick, but shied away from the  backlash the the Eagles coach and  ownership are sure to receive from animal rights group,  fans,  and average people who have pets of their own.  It is a slippery slope and a road less traveled for all concerned.

So it is up to Vick to prove himself; he has a lot of work to do, but that comes with the territory when you make mistakes, you must pay for them,  sometimes for a lifetime.  I wish Vick well in his quest to rehabilitate himself, there is a lot on the line for him, the Eagles, the NFL, and the many people who have stood in support of Michael Vick; Tony Dungy, Donovan McNabb and others.

This situation will play out for years to come. It up to Vick to remake himself and it want be easy.