"RENEWING AMERICA'S PROMISE"

Recall where you heard the phrase sited above in this blog's title, 'renewing America's promise'?
Well, I'll just try and refresh you but this is not a reminder to you but to the elected  people in our nations current Congress.  And especially to the so-called 'blue dog' or conservative Democrats in the Senate who are prepared to vote against a 'public option' or public plan in the healthcare reform bill to insure that insurance companies be held accountable.

After hearing all of the debate and sometimes sheer lies being sprouted about this past summer in opposition to a universal healthcare reform bill almost exclusively proposed by Democrats in the legislature, I thought to myself what ever happened to those promises we heard on August 25th 2008.

What occured on that date? Well nothing other than the Democratic National Convention and their stated Platform.
What follows is the first paragraph in the preamble to the Democratic National Convention's Party Platform....
'We come together at a defining moment in the history of our nation – the nation that led the 20th Century, built a thriving middle class, defeated fascism and communism, and provided bountiful opportunity to many. We Democrats have a special commitment to this promise of America. We believe that every American, whatever their background or station in life, should have the chance to get a good education, to work at a good job with good wages, to raise and provide for a family, to live in safe surroundings, and to retire with dignity and security. We believe that quality and affordable health care is a basic right. We believe that each succeeding generation should have the opportunity, through hard work, service and sacrifice, to enjoy a brighter future than the last.
A great nation now demands that its leaders abandon the politics of partisan division and find creative solutions to promote the common good. A people that prizes candor, accountability, and fairness insists that a government of the people must level with them and champion the interests of all American families. A land of historic resourcefulness has lost its patience with elected officials who have failed to lead.
And what follows is a portion one of the very first planks agreed upon in this platform..
'We therefore oppose those who advocate policies that would thrust millions of Americans out of their current private employer-based coverage without providing them access to an affordable, comprehensive alternative, thereby subjecting them to the kind of insurance discrimination that leads to excessive premiums or coverage denials for older and sicker Americans. We reject those who have steadfastly opposed insurance coverage expansions for millions of our nation's children while they have protected overpayments to insurers and allowed underpayments to our nation's doctors. Our vision of a strengthened and improved health care system for all Americans stands in stark contrast to the Republican Party's and includes:



Covering All Americans and Providing Real Choices of Affordable Health Insurance Options. Families and individuals should have the OPTION of keeping the coverage they have or choosing from a wide array of health insurance plans, including many private health insurance options and a PUBLIC PLAN. Coverage should be made affordable for all Americans with subsidies provided through tax credits and other means.'

So yes there it is, written and adopted by ALL Democrats at that convention just a little over a year ago in Denver, Colorado.
I did not hear Senator Bachus or Senator Nelson nor Senator Lincoln and many others of the 'blue dog coalition' rise in vehement opposition at that time to a real PUBLIC OPTION as they so stridently do so today.
I also realize that I am but one tiny voice, but one of the majority of the American People you so loudly proclain you are representing in your opposition for real healthcare reform in this country.
You so-called 'blue dogs' were in lock step in Denver last year when it was fashionable to be a Democrat, yet you now stand in the way along with the Republican opposition of delivering the very thing we want.  Real healthcare reform with a public option and no more tricks with such things as 'triggers' and the like.  Please listen to your fellow Senator Rockefeller and do the job we expect  of the Democratic majority we elected and of which you were a part, by ceasing your opposition to a 'public option' and renew your promise to America.  Finally, THEY lost  last November because the American people rejected their ideas.
                                             

PRESIDENT CARTER AND THE RIGHT

I'm not supprised at the faux outrage I'm hearing coming from the right on President' Carter's statement last night on MSNBC'S 'Morning Joe' political talk show.  The NBC anchor Brian Williams interviewed the former President and his comment on race relations in this country  was in my opinon, straightforward and concise.  What he said was, “Racism ... still exists and I think it has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief among many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It’s an abominable circumstance and grieves me and concerns me very deeply,” .  Mr. Carter also reiterated that, “I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he is African-American,".

I have to agree with the former president's conclusions and I suspect that a fair majority of Americans do as well.  However, it appears that a certain group of conservatives, particularly those views heard this morning on the above mentioned television program just don't get it, or at the very least, they pretend to not understand the point he was making concerning the established fact of the ugly stain of racism in our country's history.

Of course the former President did not say nor did he infer  in any way that simply because some American's are opposed to the views and policies of the current administration, that they are ALL 'racists'.  Which is the recent rantings from conservatives,'tea partiers', birther's, and the like.

The former President is not a simpleton nor does he have any incentive to fan the flames of racism in a nation that is already on the verge of a wildfire.  Those who attack him in this way are either misinformed or are treading very dangerous waters.
I had my problems with the Carter administratiion  to be fair but to simply incite the crazies in this country to further divide decent people by disparaging him is not only dishonorable but very much so a dangerous tact.

CONGRESSMAN JOE WILSON'S LACK OF SHAME

When I heard Congressman Joe Wilson(Republican of SC) clearly and distinctly yell out on the floor of a joint session of Congress to the President of the United States, "YOU LIE", It simply stretched credulity to not believe my lying ears.

It was the sort of moment that should have caused all parties on all sides to take pause and clearly lay down the gauntlet. That that sort of shameful, rude, insidious, disrespect for our nations leader did more than just cross the line, it foretold the kind of people we have become in this country as a whole. And I say 'we' because because of the seeming apathy emanating from people who should know better and the outrageous support from others I do not expect very much from in support of his outburst.


What has become of this country of recent years when we appear to tolerate the most vile and worst from human behavior. Those with political agendas on the far right has gone so far as to propel this man to the status of 'national hero' and therby approving his incivility. Those of much more moderate views have given him a pass as' 'merely expressing frustration' because he's so damned angry at the President because they don't agree with his governing policies. Then there are the weak progressivies on the left that always seem to be caught off guard.


The House of Representatives is scheduled today to introduce a measure of condemnation against this wayward Congressman and yet no one really believes this will amount to very much. The irresponsible Congressman has already decided that it is more profitible to him to continue to be boosted by his rightwing pals than to offer any semblence of decent decorum usually expected from an elected US Congressman.


When will this madness we have come to know in this country abate? Not as long as we have supposedly responsible leaders who find it appealing to some in this nation who have no shame