How'd She Get Out?

I thought we had all the most severely afflicted batshit crazy people gathered in Texas. Seems one of them may have oozed accross the border into Oklahoma. Either that or they have their own supply. From DU.

Insured or Not, it's a Crap Shoot.

This is just about as good an explanation as I've seen about why we need health care reform and why the government needs to be involved. I know at least one family where bankruptcy was the only alternative after a serious illness while they were "covered" under an employers health plan. I had a bout with melanoma late last year where a large patch of skin was removed from my arm along with some lymph nodes in my shoulder. The cost deductible had to be met for each discipline of the medical procedure instead of what one (a non medical type person like myself) would expect. The bottom line was thousands out of pocket.

Almost everyone I know is one major medical event from being bankrupted regardless of their "coverage". This is not a good system.

More hate from the local folks

Continuing with my obsession ( stole the idea from "first draft", a much better blog than this one) with the local pitchfork crowd here in the republic of SE Texas. The following article appeared in the local paper today and even something as benign as this drags this bunch out from under their rocks to spew intolerance and hate. My comments in bold type.

Live music, community part of Juneteenth
By Lucretia Cardenas
Updated: 06.09.09
Bring a lawn chair and an empty stomach next week to spend the afternoon enjoying what’s expected to be the largest Juneteenth celebration hosted in downtown Conroe.“A Dream Achieved” will be from 1-9 p.m. on June 19 at Heritage Place Park, located at 500 Collins St., to celebrate anniversary of the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas learned they had been freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

Article comtinues at site..... Now for the fun stuff. The following are the comments attached to the news article:

Bass1511 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 7:51 AM:
" Another ridiculous holiday that would be racist but for the race that is celebrating it. "

smokinjoe wrote on Jun 10, 2009 8:36 AM:
" Bass1511Well said. "

perse wrote on Jun 10, 2009 8:56 AM:
" On the other hand, if you stopped trying to be such bigots about other races and cultures, you could join in an absolute multitude of ethnic and religious holidays and festivals around here and begin to celebrate the diversity that actually makes this such a terrific place to live -- well, except for a few too many redneck throwbacks still trying to live in the general ignorance of the 18th and 19th centuries.You shouldn't have to be Black to celebrate the joy of Juneteenth in Texas when our neighbors actually became our neighbors instead of our livestock. Nor should you have to be Hispanic to appreciate the overwhelming victory celebrated in the state as Cinco de Mayo. How about March 2 -- the holiday we all should celebrate but no longer do because too many of us like you two no longer recall our own cultural history and apparently feel threatened by those who do? "

Bass1511 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:16 AM:
" perse, I am not a bigot - I am an American who is tired of Black College Funds, Black History Month, Black only Unions, Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Museums of Black History...I could go ON AND ON, but you get the gist of it - now when it becomes okay to have White College Funds, White History Month, White only unions, Museums of White History, etc. etc. etc., without hearing the screams of RACISM, come on back and talk to me. Seems to me that EVERY race except the WHITE race has their "multitude of ethnic and religious holidays and festivals" - and THOSE, my little friend, are the bigots. The white race continues to stumble around trying to be politically correct to keep from hurting your little feelings. "


woodlands64 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:12 AM:
" perse, what an opportunist "

pprwrtr wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:24 AM:
" We celebrate and even re-enact the Civil War in Texas. The Civil War is a low point in our history, no matter what side you were on. It devastated the country (deaths and destruction), but it was worth is to free the slaves, if that's what it took! We celebrate a lot of ethnic and racial cultures during the year and this is another way for people to get together and celebrate. The African-American (Negro) race is one of the many races and ethnic groups that came to America (mostly against their wills). We all came from some other country (except the American Indian--and we took care of that when we got here!) and we all have our celebrations. Some of the bigoted rednecks (who never consider themselves bigots), who don't want any diversity in America, try to hold down certain groups (different ones at different times, whoever is most unpopular with them at the time). The attitude is that if they "allow" others to have less rights, they will have more--but greed/denial of rights for some Americans never really accomplishes anything. Another example of this ignorance of cultures is 9/11, which took cultural and redneck ignorance to a new high--a few Muslim extremists committed crimes and some were so ignorant that they couldn't or wouldn't understand the difference between the thousands of good Muslims everywhere and the few criminals! This also brought cultural ignorance to a new high and is very hard on Muslims in America. The majority of Americans just have to accept the unwillingness of a few to keep up with modern civilization. We are all Americans now and have to live together, even if some don't like it. "

Bass1511 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:41 AM:
" Per pprwrtr, "The attitude is that if they "allow" others to have less rights, they will have more". I agree 100%, but probably not for the way you meant it. By the way "negro" is now politically incorrect - shame on you for saying the "n" word. I'm surprised they haven't changed the name of the NAACP - after all, saying someone is "colored" is also a no no. Boo hoo hoo. I agree wholly, unconditionally, and 100% in equal rights - so when do we all start being equal? When ANY race can decide to have its own holiday, its own Miss America pagent, its own history month, its own civil liberty unions, its own civil rights activists, its own award for someone who has accomplished something special each year, its own police/fireman's union, its own heritage societies, its own holiday, its own Association for the Study of [Afro-American Life and History], its own [Black] Caucus of the American Library Association, its own National Association of [Black] Journalists its own National [Black] Bar Association, its own National Conference of [Black] Mayors, its own National Council of [Negro] Women, its own National [Minority], its own National Society of [Black] Engineers, its own National Urban League - do I need to go on for you?* Rainbow/PUSH Coalitionfor then I will certain agree that we have finally reached that point. "

pprwrtr wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:09 AM:
" Bass1511--We (white people/Causasians) still segregate ourselves all the time socially and even a lot of work places. Why can't the blacks/Negro race do that? There are three races on earth--Caucasian, Negro, and Oriental. This is fact and is not degrading, etc. to call a race the official name, nor would I have done that. I do not agree that Caucasians have more rights than Negroes. I think it is starting to become more equal and I think we have a long way to go. The only way to be kind and live together is to have equality. When people form groups, it is usually to have camaraderie among them--usually a social group. A Negro college encourages youth, who are still white/shy to get an education. All history is white history until recently. Associations for studying black history are to learn black history, which isn't taught in public schools. The winners write history the way they want it. I could go on about these awful organizations, but you get the point. Some people object to equality--period--and get upset if any group that hasn't had it before is obtaining it. I hope you aren't prejudice and bigoted, but sometimes when you don't know people, it sounds like it. If you have ever personally known middle class black people and have enjoyed or admired them, it changes all your outdated beliefs you have been brought up with. "

smokinjoe wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:42 AM:
" You have the United Negro College Fund. You have Martin Luther King Day. You have Black History Month. You have Cesar Chavez Day. You have Yom Hashoah.You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi. You have the NAACP. You have BET... If we had WET (White Entertainment Television), we'd be racists. If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists. If we had White History Month, we'd be racists. If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives, we'd be racists. We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce , and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that??A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships... You know we'd be racists.There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US . Yet if there were 'White colleges', that would be a racist college.In the Million Man March, y ou believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.Why is it that only whites can be racists?? "

Bass1511 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:46 AM:
" Thank you, Smokin Joe. "

Bass1511 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:59 AM:
" pprwrtr - I haven't seen in "white/shy negro youth" lately. That is a very interesting term. So, what you are saying is that these poor shy black youth just never would be brave enough to attend a college unless it was all black? And I certainly agree that Caucasians don't have more rights than Negroes. That is the only statement in your post that I actually did agree with.By the way, I have a lot of black (is that okay?) friends - very good friends, in fact. And none of them slander me for my opinion for the simple reason that my opinion does not attack the race, it attacks the racism. My thought is, if the word racism is going to be thrown out, then it should apply in every situation for every race, not just the convenient ones. "

htfno316 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 12:29 PM:
" so what is it pprwrtr...you don't think if we were to come to know a poor or rich blacke person it wouldn't change all our outdated beliefs...you think 600,000 american lives was worth it to free the slaves.I have many friends you would call negro pprwrtr that own businesses and have jobs, work hard each day, own homes, the american dream, and they are just as fed up with all this race card cra* that you and your like throw around...they did what it takes in this country to succeed and haven't spent their lifetime standing around leaning on the racism crutch. stop being bitter and take a hard look at yourself... "

woodlands64 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:01 PM:
" Wow, if I hated my country as much as some, I think I would go to Russia where you belong "

pprwrtr wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:20 PM:
" Bass1511--I did not mean to write "I do not agree that whites have more rights than blacks." Whites have always had more rights than blacks, but it is getting more equal. Thank goodness those who resent Juneteenth celebration are few and far between! "

pprwrtr wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:24 PM:
" htfno316--YES, I definitely think all the lives lost is worth not treating human beings like animals! You wouldn't think that unless it involved you and yours, but some have a bigger picture of reality. This made the blacks free of being slaves in America forever. It was worth whatever it took. At least now, we aren't as barbaric and/or uncivilized. "

devilmaytell wrote on Jun 10, 2009 2:15 PM:
" And the racist rednecks post on and on and on.........ad nauseum. "

perse wrote on Jun 10, 2009 2:57 PM:
" Don't they ever.... "

mls123 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 2:58 PM:
" Bass1511 is just staing a fact and we should not have all this racism. If David Duke decided to start up the NAAWP people would start crying RACISM but it is ok to have the naacp. We should not have a black history month, we should have an American history month and talk about all of our history.Devil has said in the past that when WHITE people gather at Heritage Park it is just a bunch of redneck racist so I guess this juneteenth is just a bunch of black panthers and lazy democrats eatting bbq and watermelon. "

smokinjoe wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:10 PM:
" mls123 LOL!!! Good memory! LOL!!! "

woodlands64 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:46 PM:
" All of Rev Sharptons followers are coming out. "

cottonpicker wrote on Jun 10, 2009 5:32 PM:
" Can't wait! "

pprwrtr wrote on Jun 10, 2009 6:22 PM:
" mls123--You are right about one thing--we should have an American History month and talk about ALL history, but we never did. Through the years, it's been all about white history. I, nor the next generation, did not learn about black heroes in school or anywhere except through post-school study, we persisted with our education. We should never have had to have a black history and a white history. We should never have had to have a Civil War to stop treating blacks like livestock either, but some things need to be said and need to be done to get things straight. My ancestors died in the Civil War (on the Rebel side) and the least I can do is try to get people to be tolerant, promote equality, and think about these things. It is just total ignorance to resent Juneteenth and not want people to celebrate. What they are celebrating is quite a big deal! "

woodlands64 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:07 PM:
" The true issues are with the liberals and race pimps who continue to keep the chains on the poor and the minorities through social programs. They tell them they are underprivledged, not good enough. They place the bonds of economic slavery of welfare on these people, and then profess to be the savior of the lower classs.In the mean time, orientals and hispanics come to this country, speaking little or no english, and work themselves up to be very successful and proud........and at the same time the distungisting liberals keep the economic bonds of slavery on other classes. What a group of hypocrites and ignorant. "

Hard to believe, aargh!

Ellen's Address at Tulane

Candor and humor with depth. I ran accross this from my Saturday romp through some of my "favorites" that I've neglected of late. They say they don't mind a "double post" and while I'm not sure I know what that is, my guess is me posting it here. Begging their indulgence, it's too good to keep to myself.

The Local Rag

This is what passes for news and commentary in the local rag here in the Republic of SE Texas. Aaargh! Once a week this paper runs a list of convictions in the local courts by name and charge and the first thing that some idiot spews in the comments are that they are all "Obama supporters". Any comments to the contrary are immediately pounced on by the rabid hoard of idiots screaming "liberal!!". No mystery to me why we are stuck with Cornyn, Hutchison, Brady, Perry, etc.

Judicial Reign of Abuse

US District Judge Samuel Kent has been convicted of obstruction of justice for lying about his sexual misconduct toward at least two female members of his staff and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. Even though he'll be in jail, he gets to keep his $174000 annual salary unless he is impeached by Congress. The two staffers that came forward testified at his sentencing trial and yesterday provided testimony before Congress on the assaults they have endured for years.

The humiliation of the events themselves coupled with the emotional trauma from testifying in public twice to ensure this Judge is stopped should be more than enough to support impeachment. Why this went on for as long as it did until these women came forward isn't an issue and so far it hasn't been. I say this as it was the first thing I thought of although not as a means of defending the offense. Being male naturally disqualifies me as any judge of the torment suffered by the victims. My disgust for the crime and the added insult of continuing to pay the judge becomes relevant to me when I put myself in the position of the husband, son, or father of either victim. My respect and appreciation of their courage comes from the same comparison.

I've gotta ask why any congressionally appointed official doesn't automatically lose their salary and pension when convicted of a felony?