Just what is it that has Republicans so scared of Health Care…
posted by Bill Arnett @ 6:22 PM Permalink
…Reform? So scared that they have to make up outrageous lies and innuendo to try and stop it's passage? Did they take so much money from lobbyists that if HC now passes they will be sunk so deep into a hole of their own making that insurance lobbyists will never again place their money on losing horses that can't stop legislation they don't like?
I have to admit a certain bit of skepticism [ok,ok, I'll admit it! My bullsh*t detector lights up like a pinball machine on acid. Bill] every time one of the known, well known, prevaricators of the republican party start lecturing democrats in the national media that, "Those democrats better learn that they are going to suffer badly during the next election if they pass HC Reform [Hmm, where have I heard those initials HRC before?] without any republican support."
I know there is not chance in hell that should the democrats start passing this reform without any republican votes that republicans would en masse storm their way to the clerk and start changing their votes from nay to yea. Otherwise it will be crystal clear to their constituents and anyone needing, desiring, or that must be able to get affordable health care that the only thing for sure is the person they elected to represent them is so deep into the pockets of Big Health that they don't dare vote against the wishes of health care lobbyists or they will lose future donations of mega-bucks for their reelection campaigns.
Tell me how that would hurt the democratic party? It would, in fact, strengthen their hand at election time because democrats had to both lead the republicans to the trough, AND force them to drink that of which they would haven't have touched beforehand.
This really is the Big Shot for democrats: they can do what they know is right, show the courage to do what's right, and pass health care without regard to any upcoming elections. So it's do something Big and maybe lose office over your vote, or do nothing and allow republicans to reclaim the mantle of the party what's in charge and forever listen to them call democrats cowards and mean it, for it would be the truth.
So c'mon, democrats, DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT.
Labels: GOP, health care, health care reform, heroes, history, republican hypocrisy, republican lies
Goodbye to a very good man…
posted by Bill Arnett @ 11:46 AM Permalink
Representative Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to congress, has passed away at age 80. I always admired his quick wit, his grasp of our legislative system, his investigative abilities, the fact that he was just a fine gentleman, and that he would have been so in any day or age, recent or past.
He had esophageal cancer and had earlier announced his prospective retirement from congress to combat the cancer, a battle he has unfortunately lost.
His district included southwest San Francisco and much of San Mateo County for 14 terms in the House of Representatives. where he served the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the senior Democratic member since 2001 and chairman since 2007.
I just liked and admired the man, even when I disagreed with the position he took on using military power in Iraq, a view that he himself rethought in recent years and came to conclude it was a mistakes.
I no longer believe in god, but I know Rep. Lantos did, so I wish him godspeed and I am sure his God will take care of a very special man.
My condolences to all his family.
Labels: Congress, heroes, Holocaust survivor, Lantos, liberals, patriotism
Coward is a Hero
posted by The Sailor @ 4:53 PM Permalink
This is a bit different from our standard fare but when I read about it I just felt compelled to share. It's also nice to have a break from all the government crimes and politics (is that redundant?) we normally cover.
Here is an absolutely amazing feat of skill and professionalism:
Inquiry Finds Power Failure in London Jumbo Jet Crash
Both engines on the British Airways jumbo jet that crash-landed just short of a runway at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday failed to respond to a demand for more power during the final few moments of the flight, British investigators said Friday.
[...]
Part of the main landing gear was torn off and another part was jammed up into the wing; the airplane plowed on its belly across open grass before slowing to a halt when it hit the tarmac. The 136 passengers and 16 crew members exited through emergency slides.
Several passengers told British news organizations that they had been unaware of the emergency until it was over. “It was a very quiet, normal flight. I didn’t have the feeling we had crashed until we left the plane,” said Jerome Ensinck, a passenger. “When you look at the plane you realize it could have been way, way worse,” he said in a television interview.
Now aside from the fact that the headline is probably wrong, (I read
the initial report and it seems to say that the engines didn't respond with more power, not that they failed completely, and the plane didn't crash, it had a forced landing, (
Forced landing is defined as the inability to continue flight due to the consequences of damage, uncontrolled fire or thrust loss where imminent landing is obvious but aircraft controllability is not necessarily lost.)
Obviously this dedicated crew did everything right. On final approach, at 600 feet and 2 miles from the airport, (about 45 seconds from a normal landing), with co-pilot John Coward at the controls, they reacted immediately to the emergency and brought the plane in safely. The only serious injury was a broken leg, and while I can't find the cause in subsequent reports I'm willing to bet that it was during evacuation.
Here's part of the Captain's statement:
Captain Paul Burkill explained that it was actually First Officer Coward "who was the handling pilot on the final approach, and did the most remarkable job."
"As Captain of the aircraft I am proud to say that every member of my team played their part expertly yesterday, displaying the highest standards of skill and professionalism," Burkill said. "Flying is about teamwork, and we had an outstanding team on board yesterday."
Burkill also singled out cabin service director Sharron Eaton-Mercer: "It was typical of her selflessness that she took time to check that we on the flight deck were all right before going down the chute herself."
Video and full statement here.Having had 2 engine outs in an experimental aircraft where I was the pilot and only SOB, (Soul On Board ... or sunnavabitch, because I did the building and the maintenance;-), I can tell you it's somewhat disconcerting to not have the throttle respond and realize there is no way you're going to make it to an airport. And that was in a plane that landed at less than 60 mph while flying over fairly flat land and green fields. I can't imagine doing it at 170 mph with 151 passengers ... over London.
Kudos to the crew. Big, BIG, kudos to the crew!
Labels: aviation, aviation safety, heroes
