A MESSAGE TO LEON PANETTA

Mr. Panetta, good/reliable, unbiased, "state of the art: intelligence is important, not simply "intelligence".

If our intelligence (that includes satellites) is great, and our borders well protected and prepared for any aggressive military or destructive chemical threats from other hostile countries or organizations; and if our military defense systems and large number of troops centered within our own borders can protect us from foreign invasion we would be better served than traipsing around the world, trying to interrupt and militarily intervene in other countries that have their own set of problems and will continue to have their own set of problems. When our allies ask for our intelligence or diplomatic assistance we should provide it as long as it does not cause harm or instability in that region of the world. Our presence simply adds to to their problems; and we should never provide weapons to anyone. The United Nations and NATO need to discuss these things.

I'm really tired (the American people are tired) of those in power trying to justify why our military should be on foreign soil.

Strengthen our own defenses and military systems here on our own soil; and do what's right for the health and welfare of our own citizens.

I'm not for cutting off aid to those countries that are poor and need assistance; but let the Red Cross, United Nations, and other respected relief organizations handle it. PERIOD!

THE RULE OF LAW AND MAKING VS POSING A THREAT

Yesterday I listened to the President’s address and some of Cheney’s address. The President was eloquent and addressed many of the concerns that Americans have regarding the detainees in GITMO.

Dick Cheney reiterated the lies he’s been trying to sell to the American people. He’s good at it … he’s done it for years.

Now comes the hard part … what President Obama didn’t do.
He said he would not put a stop to indefinitely holding people suspected (and I did say suspected) of crimes or being members of organizations that vow to kill Americans. The reason why they could not be brought to trial … the evidence was tainted or there simply was no evidence to prosecute them; but, we swear (cause intelligence – who never makes a mistake) say these people are a real threat to Americans.

I got to thinking. A husband hates his wife and her family; he tells his wife he is going to kill her, her mother, her father, her neighbors, her children … and everybody knows how he feels.
He even has a record of violence.

The wife and family go to the police and tell them what was said by the husband. Do we lock this guy up? And if we could, for how long?

A known pedophile gets out of jail. He says he still has urges; we tell him he can’t hang around children, but can we lock him up indefinitely?

The KKK hates Jews, Blacks, (probably Hispanics now) and wishes they were removed from the face of this earth. They have a history of torture and killing. They spew their venom as often as they can and they write books about why these racial groups must be removed from the face of the earth or at least the United States of America. Do we lock all these KKK members up?

How about the National Guard being sent in to take these KKK guys out? Do we do that?

A group of guys in another country hate Americans, wish they were dead and removed from the face of the earth and everybody knows it. Some have even killed Americans right here on our soil. Do we leave the United States and go to another country where we think this group is and lock up a bunch of people that may be part of this group? How about we torture and/or kill a few that we think is part of the group, and, by the way, a thousand or so innocent people who happen to be in the same vicinity get killed. Well, so what … that’s the cost of getting these guys who hate Americans and vow to kill Americans.

None of this is funny or to be taken lightly. These are serious discussions. They involve rights and liberties and rules of law. Is the "threat of violence" enough to detain you, and if so for how long?

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

THE RULE OF LAW

HUMAN RIGHTS

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

DETAINEE

DETAINEE TREATMENT ACT

Obama Endorses Indefinite Detention Without Trial for Some

Koh vs. Obama Administration on Indefinite Detention?

REPAIRING OUR HUMAN RIGHTS REPUTATION

MAKING VERSUS POSING A THREAT

CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

OLBERMANN COMMENTS ON THE MAY 21, 2009 PRESIDENT'S AND CHENEY'S ADDRESS TO THE NATION

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

WORLD'S DUMBEST

I don't know about you, but I definitely need a few laughs. A little while ago, I was watching TruTv and, ... guess what? ... the "World's Dumbest Criminals" comes on. Absolutely hysterical!

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Anyway, I found some great "World's Dumbest" videos on YouTube.

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So, I've got a treat for ya'll today. Ten of my favorite "World's Dumbest Criminals" for your viewing pleasure.

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ENJOY!!!!

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World's Dumbest - Robber's Worst Friend



World's Dumbest Criminals- Batman Gone Bad


Worlds Dumbest Criminals-Doofus and Valiant







World's Dumbest - Drunken Not Driving



World's Dumbest - Drunk Guy Tries to Wite-Out His Problem



World's Dumbest - Actor Rip Torn Drunk at the Police Station



World's Dumbest - Drunk Eyes


The mask the robber used was made entirely of duct tape


What Drunk Sounds Like



Ashland, KY - Staple Gun Stickup

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HEALTH CARE REFORM - WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

I don’t trust the government (Congress/Senate) or private health insurance companies to help design quality, affordable universal health care.

I’m suspicious that, no matter what they do, the average worker will not be able to afford health care.

Why?

The President is trying to create balance in the system, but Congress/Senate, Big Business and Health Insurance companies are creating road blocks.

As long as you have greedy management, greedy Wall Street, laws that allow businesses to pollute the air/water/earth, to screw the employee and not give them a fair wage, the average working American will still not be able to afford health care.

I’ve covered the fair wage topic in previous posts. I talked a lot about housing costs. I don’t need to even go into grocery, auto/home insurance, transportation costs, because housing costs will bankrupt you alone. Without credit cards and refinance [crush the life out of you/never get out of] debt, the average middle working individual/family cannot afford to live, much less afford health care. Period!

Congress/Senate must fight for higher wages, lower cost, clean renewable energy, low rent/lower interest rate mortgages, and if you have to have a few credit cards, make them fight for lower finance charges on those cards. In addition, businesses should not be able to lobby to influence legislation that impacts negatively on the average American [such as lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act].

What are we finding? We are finding collusion between Big Business/Health Insurance companies and Congress/Senate.

In other words, the average American will not get quality, affordable universal health care. What you will see is some watered-down hybrid health care system that makes health insurance companies (management, stockholders) richer; as well as those people who designed the system.

You can forget Republican support for a fair system, because they’re out to make themselves and private insurers richer off the backs of the average American.

If we’re using tax payer money, design a single-payer government health care system. Make sure pre-existing conditions will be allowed and rates should be on a sliding scale, based on income minus housing costs (up to a maximum). Get rid of collusion and corruption by putting safeguards in place, and designing regulation that prevents abuses by business and officials in government.

I want to add one more issue. Republicans consistently use the following talking point to scare people regarding public health insurance:
They say government will be in your business, trying to tell you what procedures you can and cannot have, and using your private information for some nefarious plot. BULL!

There is more denial of treatment and non-payment for procedures from health insurance companies than government sponsored health insurance. Private insurers can also raise your rates whenever they want; and the people who administer and make the decisions regarding purchase of insurance and claims can share information even though it is private information. For instance when you go to purchase life or health insurance, that information is shared with the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) which acts as an information exchange on behalf of its members. If you apply to another Member company for life or health insurance coverage, or a claim for benefits is submitted to such a company, the MIB, upon request will supply such company with information it its files.

Please write your representatives to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, Cap and Trade (so people don’t get sicker), significant minimum wage increases, and support the President’s plan to overhaul the tax system (especially for wealthy individuals and Big Businesses that pay no or almost no tax because of tax havens and loopholes).

Punish the representatives who oppose the above by not re-electing them. That means especially watching almost all the Republican Senators and between 7-11 Democratic (blue dog type) Senators on how they vote on issues and legislation. Also watch what issues they bring up, legislation they propose and amendments they try to slip in.

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Medical Insurance Bureau
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Stand With Dr. Dean - Emergency Briefing, May 4, 2009

WORDS DESIGNED TO KILL HEALTH CARE REFORM
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KEY TO AFFORDABLE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS MEDICARE-FOR-ALL SAYS INSURANCE EXPERT
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FROM A PHYSICIAN WHO IS NOW A LONG TERM PATIENT (in answer to a question from a Brit)
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Another Dissatisfied Worker
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