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Reply to sourdough

***sounds like your dough isn't the only thing that's turned sour...were you there today, have you spoken to any of them? On what besides garafalo, maddow and olberman do you base your strong opinions?

---"Tea Party Patriots, also known as Racist, impotent (politically), easily lead right wingers who wouldn't know the truth if it ran up and kissed them"---

I know a lot of them and they aren't rasicts...don't be lead astray but the ease of which so many play of the race card. These people don't care what color the President is as long as he stops spending the green and putting us so far into the red.

The other point to make is that there is nobody "leading" them. With few exceptions, they don't take marching orders, they act on their heart and their gut.
They aren't acorn or the seiu...they are just average people who have had enough of both republicans and democrats and politics as usual...and you should come out and see for yourself before you insult your sincere fellow Americans.

And if you know the "truth" please pass it around cuz it seems to be in short supply...as does courtesy, civility and respect. Try passing that around too and maybe we'll all get kissed.
Dave Ettl

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Sourdough, I have something you can kiss instead.

Meanwhile, the tea Party and the march afterward, (which many Tea Party attendees supported as well, once they learned of it) had a successful turnout and many COMMUNITY LEADERS were there to support it as well.

It was a really good event and I didn't see any nazi's brown shirts, racists, I just saw concerned americans that believe America is heading down a socialist type of life, which we think in our hearts is wrong.
I do however expect Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid to apologize to all tea party people for their hateful remarks or RESIGN. It is not acceptable to have people like them as senators or reps.
These people has no morals!

Mai,
I want to thank you for your good story on both events.
We did gather over 321 signatures on petition that will be faxed to Senator Murray & Cantwell as well as Rep. Hastings
Keep up the good work.
Kirk

Here's a video of event asking for Nancy Pelosi to apologize for calling us Nazi's or RESIGN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUL5sL4km8s&feature=email

She is so far out of touch with the real world, one of the elitist policticians!

Dave, I am with you on this issue of politics as usual. I am sick of both parties, Republican and Democrat taking this country to both extremes of divisivness.
I think the American people are getting sick of political parties attacking every single issue from a perspective of no middle ground, no compromise, and a scorched earth policy of smear tactics. I did notlike it when Bush was attacked unmercigully by the left and I don not like ti when Obama is now being constantly portrayed as UnAmerican, disloyal, etc. what I don't like about my elected officails, I take it out on them at the ballot box.

Civil discourse has fallen victim to extreme viewpoints on race, health care, the economy, crime. with civil discourse comes solutions.

I for one want something done about health care costs. I pay fully 20% of my income for health insurance for my self and my family and yet I cannot even get a physical for preventative health care and if I lose my job, I must pay the premium or go without it when I have a spouse who has diabetes. And it is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it is an American Issue that has continued unaddressed for too long.
Unfortunatley through all hype, I cannot tell who is telling the truth anymore about different plans. That is what died in this debate, the truth and the facts leading to frustrations. I don't know the answer but ranting and raving slogans and trite attacks is not getting us to a better system.

Weasel and those like him cannot provide any evidence to support their rantings. Mr Weasel provided a link that he thought would absolve him of racism, but it only suppoprted the fact. A study of immigration, that he thought supported his outrageous lies, only examined immigration and said not one word about illegal immigration. Apparently Mr Weasel does not know the difference between legal and illegal immigration. Right wingers are sheep, and these Tea Party rantings are proof positive of that. Holding one of these demonstrations in Yakima is pretty much preaching to the gullible, racist choir.

Here's the link that Mr Weasel provided
http://faculty.washington.edu/ellism/wa-immigration.pdf
An excellent article that does not support his racist position, and clearly shows that Weasel is uninterested in facts.

Sourdough....I would be insulted by your infantile remarks, but I realize that you are either totally ignorant to the situation, or are a common, garden-variety, uninformed far left-wing radical.

I ain't totally ignorant granny, cause I used to be one of you until I saw the truth. And I know the truth is not something most right wingers are interested in. In fact, I'm not even garden variety. I used to be a pastor, until I saw the folly in that line of work, too. Truth really will set one free, and there's not a whole lot of that in either religion or right wing hysteria.

sourdough-

Your fanaticism and over anxious rush to throw labels on people is about all I need to observe of you to realize you have little to no credibility.

Nice to see our local insurance lobbyist Kirk Groenig is up bright and early on Sunday morning with nothing to say.

I'd like to ask Mr. Groenig with the rest of the industrialized world treating health care/insurance as a not-for-profit industry, why should not America too get in step with our compassionate brothers and sisters from countries around the world? Why is it Kirk that Americans should pay twice what Canadaians pay for pharmaceuticals? Is this right? Is this fair to us consumers? Why is it Kirk that administrative costs for insurance with private providers are approximately 30%? Why is it Kirk that private insurance companies continue to ration health care, even though health insurance premiums are paid by the consumer month-in-month out? Why is it Kirk that American citizens can be refused insurance for pre-existing conditions? Is this in the best interest of the American people, or just in the best interest of private insurance companies?

@kitnews:
"These people don't care what color the President is as long as he stops spending the green and putting us so far into the red. "

So where were all of you the last 8 years when this was going on? Oh, wait, you were too busy calling people who were questioning the President and his spending policies "unamerican".

The next time you are in a restaurant, look your server in the eye and tell yourself that this person does not deserve affordable health care for themselves and their family.

ammod....

I'm glad you can see I'm up bright and early, you do that when you work for a living, paying taxes, helping others, donating to needy causes and caring about people.You can bash me all you want, I don't care.Do you volunteer ?
Do you donate money to needy?
If not why not....no excuses ...
Yes, I don't support ACORN, Americorps, and the like...too much free lunch programs in the U.S. for deceptive people.
We in the US are the most compassionate and caring people in the world, but don't ask me to approve of communism, I won't.
You, Nancy Pelosi, and the like can keep calling me names,I expect lies to come out of your mouth.
I'll pray for you!

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I agree with johnny, where was the TP crowd when Bush was lying to us about Iraq? TPers are obviously not interested in wasting money on the murder of thousands as long as a white president is telling them what they want to hear. But, a black president telling the truth about health care (that we are not the top of the heap, and that we need reform) and right wingers all of a sudden claim to care about taxes. Truly pathetic. I am so ashamed that I once believed Republican lies...

Mr. Groenig...

I asked you some basic health care reform questions that a lot of people want answered. Instead of offering answers, you pat yourself on the back for what a great guy you are. How about sticking to the subject matter and address the questions? Or are you just as hypocritical as Doc Hastings and the rest of the Party of No? I challenge YOU to address and answer the questions I asked in my post? There's no bashing of you...so stop looking for pity from your Tea Party Pals...I too work, pay taxes, volunteer, blah, blah, blah...That's not the point...Just answer the questions! That's not asking too much for an insurance agent that doubles as a lobbyist!

Ammod...
if you want I would be glad to meet with you and suggest actual reform ideas that would improve health care in US.
Just give me your name and when to call you?
Let's be honest about changes and have open communications.(I don't know why our current 2 senators do want input from voters, as this is wrong)

Thanks

Kirk

Actually Kirk- I'm interested in the answers to those questions as well- can you post them on the forum if you have them?

I think if we could just get rid of Granato everybody would be a lot happier.

ok, here are a few reforms that can actually help.
1.)Tort reform , help reduce defensive medical costs at least 25%, help take pressure off caring doctors, which also would reduce malpractice costs
2.)Go after fraudulents claims , which account to about 220 billion in 2007, according to sarah Rosenbaum at George Wash. University in Wash D.C.
3.)Introduce true castasphic plans, more Medical Savings account, less mandated benefits
4.)Establish review for better medical outcomes, that would help patients have improved health which only a few states currently have.
5.)Allow for insurance to be purchased across states lines
6.)Lets really get to the real legal uninsureds in the U.S. which is 16-17 million.(Total U.S. 308 million in U.S.)
(The amount of uninsureds Pres. used to say was 50 million, now in his last talk it was 30 million, which maybe in few more weeks it will be 16-17 million which is more realistic.)
Since we are a nation that believes in honoring the laws, we do need to enforce protection of our borders as well as enforcing the removal of illegals(Russians, Chinese, Hatians, Cubans,etc. in the U.S. Our Immigration Dept has not protected us and is failing to use programs like E Verify which would uncover and not allow immigrants with criminal backgrounds in USA.
We as citizens cannot pick the laws we want to have enfortced or the laws we don't want to be enforced.
I gave your the courtesy of a response, please give the the same, of who are you and why are you hiding behind a fake screen name, why not use your real name?
So if you want to coninue to call me names, go ahead, I will not respond to your hateful, racist comments but will pray for you.

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Thanks for calling us TeaBaggers...

why all the name calling?

Nothing but negative comments...
by the way the yakima herald reporter was there, but I didn't talk to her nmae was Mai.

Have a good day!

I read once that in WA state policemen are mostly democratic and I thought that was very unusual. Maybe they know something. There, I believe, is a very far right wing group that has obtained control in Yakima and are extremely vicious. Neo Nazi I thought always meant like punk kids or something. They are stealing large amounts of money that people think are going to migrants, etc. Talk about stoking the fires of racism. Are they using the money for our country? I sincerely doubt it.
I don't think anybody should respond to this specifically, they are disgustingly revengeful. I'm gonna be leaving soon or I wouldn't say it. Republicans should at least get together and investigate this or more and more people will get far left wing and it's your money ,too.

If you see a nasty comment or more about this then I think I touched a sore spot.

Johnny,
Spare me your sanctimonious drivel. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you are on-skepticism of government is a good thing. If you don't support civic participation on both sides, you don't support democracy-and that IS unpatriotic. And the next time YOU are in a restaurant, look your server in the eye and ask them what YOU could do to better their situation. Reach into YOUR pocket and offer to help. Oh yeah, I forgot. Thats government's responsibility-not yours.

I'm glad that these tea party goers are being increasingly seen as a nuisance. Its funny that these were the same people calling anti-war protesters unamerican... but when it comes to keeping almost 50 million uninsured, they pride themselves. What a messed up set of standards. I also find it very sad that these rallies are being held by the same racists and xenophobes that are against everything non-right-wing and backwards.

I never called the Tea Party protesters "unamerican" and I fully support them protesting, even if I don't agree with them at all. I have stated this on other comment threads and should have done so here, my apologies.

Actually, unless the service is downright horrible, I always tip 20-25%. I waited tables for five years and had no health insurance the entire time.

I don't have kids, but you don't see me complaining about having to support other people's children with my tax dollars.

Speaking of attendance figures, at least Michelle Malkin corrected herself that there weren't exactly 1.5 million 9/12 protesters and more like 60-70,000.

Ogre writes:

"Its funny that these were the same people calling anti-war protesters unamerican... but when it comes to keeping almost 50 million uninsured, they pride themselves."

Nice straw man there Ogre. Do you seriously believe that all the tea party goers oppose health care reform? Get a clue. Nobody is arguing that reform is not needed- just how best to go about it and most importantly, how to pay for it Most of them oppose a government-run option and for good reason. If government acts as both a provider and a regulator there is an inherent conflict of interest. Don't you get that? Why aren't the Dems talking about portability? Why are they only paying lip-service to tort reforms? What about vouchers? What about the Swiss model (my preference)? Can you name me one thing government does better than the private sector? Neither can I. There is a free-market solution to this, with government in the role of regulator-not provider.

aamodtdb & wsu1c210

I gave my suggestions and now want to know your names.
Are you not proud of your comments, such much for transparency here and at the Whitehouse, more of the same.

Kirk,

Unfortunately due to the nature of my job, I do not associate my real name with any of my online accounts. I don't want my students or their parents to track me down in an online forum to complain about the grade they got on their last essay. I'm sure you can understand that as a Social Studies teacher it is my responsibility to appear neutral to my students in regard to specific political platforms so as not to influence their opinions.

I also want to say thank you for posting your reform ideas in a concise manner. I appreciate being able to see some options that aren't just "No, nothing, nada."

wsujc210
thanks for your remarks about my reform ideas, not just a no as some people think.
I have put my real name out there as I have been honest and open contrary to the bad names etc about me.
I do know quite q few dems, they do know me and know I'm straight forward,talk plain but they don't want to admit I'm quite fair and honest.
thanks
Kirk

I think that Mr. Groenig gave very approachable and viable options in lieu of a socialized healthcare system. I live in the heart of the barrio. I am strongly against illegal immigration, anchor babies, benefits to non-citizens, our tax-paying citizens are being bled dry. My pockets are empty. If my (many monolingual and illegally here) neighbors really knew how much of an activist that I am through emails to my congressman, senator, and the president, I could easily become a target of violence. I am an upstanding citizen. I contribute to society and to my community. I do not need to fear that if I speak out, I may suffer adversely for it! So I am glad that I have a pseudonym that I "can hide behind" and state to my fellow Yakimans my beliefs. That is much different than using this forum as a way to belittle and bully another. All citizens deserve affordable health-care. Non-citizens should pay for it (at a higher rate for being extended the courtesy of our health-care system) or go back to where they migrated from.

Anyone who calls these events anything other than patriotic is a lazy, uninformed, ignorant waste of space. This isn't a Republican/Democrat debate. This is about making our politicians listen. Oh and if you don't have a job and pay taxes, keep your stupid opinion to yourself.

here is a time lasped video of Wash D.C. Tea Party Rally

http://www.wikio.com/video/1647495

seeing is beleiving, The Trun out was huge!

I had no idea that many people were there 1.5 -2 million

Where is the News Media?

Actually kirk- that number is inflated, there were a LOT of people there, but not that many.

rheitzm, your assumptions are offensive. I disagree with the message these rallies send, yet I am employed, informed, pay into the system and I keep my opinion on my sleeve- anyone who knows me personally knows exactly what I believe, and I will not keep my opinion to myself thank you very much.

"Nice straw man there Ogre. Do you seriously believe that all the tea party goers oppose health care reform? Get a clue. Nobody is arguing that reform is not needed- just how best to go about it and most importantly, how to pay for it Most of them oppose a government-run option and for good reason. If government acts as both a provider and a regulator there is an inherent conflict of interest. Don't you get that? Why aren't the Dems talking about portability? Why are they only paying lip-service to tort reforms? What about vouchers? What about the Swiss model (my preference)? Can you name me one thing government does better than the private sector? Neither can I. There is a free-market solution to this, with government in the role of regulator-not provider."


Oh, trust me, most ARE against reform of any kind. They'd rather be against anything "socialist" (by the way, I doubt most tea party protesters even know what socialism is) than actually come up with solutions.


How can ANYONE stand being in a country with the highest healthcare spending in the world, when the country's healthcare system ranks 38th in the world? I cant believe so many idiots are against reform. I'd rather trust the government over a profit making insurance company any day. The government won't cancel my coverage if I can't afford it, nor will they turn me down for pre-existing conditions.

Wow! Enough name calling already.

I have attended most of the local rallies dealing with government spending/direction and illegal immigration. I am not a racist and I do care about people.

Something else I care about is my country and I believe it is headed in the wrong direction. That direction didn't start last November, but the pace has certainly increased since then.

I believe that every elected official should uphold the oath he/she took upon taking office .... it dealt with protecting and defending the Constitution. To those who support the federal government operating or even overseeing the U.S. health care industry, here is my question, "Where in the U.S. Constitution does it authorize the federal government (Congress or Executive) to provide medical service or insurance to the public?"

Now, since I believe in the Constitution as our foundation, I have to have that answer before I can go any further with which is the right plan to implement.

If you don't like the law, change it. If you don't like the Constitution, change it. Don't just ignore it. I believe that when law and the Constitution are ignored, that is anarchy.

universities, social security, medicare, public schools, roads, libraries...ect. are fine... but hospitals are not? Where the heck are your standards and priorities man?

"man"? I just said that I wasn't going to call people names.

There is plenty of room for discussion about the MANY other inappropriate areas where the federal government spends money, but right now, I'm focusing on health care. That's why I didn't address your other items.

My SINGLE standard and priority, for the federal government, is the U.S. Constitution. Further, if the federal government gets involved in areas that the Constitution specifically disallows, that is "unconstitutional".

the constitution states that the federal government must ensure general welfare for all its citizens, or is that unpatriotic? Sadly enough, people think so.