Sunday, July 11, 2010

"Morning Papers" - Its Origins



















The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

I have a question to the Democrats running for office. Would you let the blind drive?

Why then let the electorate be ignorant of 'the truth?'

If there is one thing the Democrats just don't 'get' when it comes to the Fourth Arm of the Government, the media, is that they are like a 'herd' instinct.  They go where the actoin is and if the Dems don't 'make their own action' then they are always catching up with the people that lie and cheat and sincerely don't care about the country, except, what they can exploit from it.  The Democrats need to LEAD, but, they need to lead the Press as well.

Map a path, speak to it and don't waver.  The Truth is powerful

Then there was that whole Wall Street THING. I mean voters aren't for real with this, right?



Sam Zell

...In 2007, Sam Zell, the billionaire Chicago investor, (click title to entry - thank you) sold a portfolio of 573 properties he had assembled over three decades, Equity Office Properties Trust, to the Blackstone Group for $39 billion. It was the largest private equity deal in history, but Blackstone did not stop there: it immediately flipped hundreds of the buildings for $27 billion....


The way I see Sam Zell, is as are really interesting study in 'What did he know and when did he know it?"



Sam Zell managed to save himself long before the collapse that Paulson engineered came into play.  See, if folks were paying attention and 'reading the tea leaves' and watching people with a 'big stake' in the game, it would have been obvious what was transpiring.

Paulson was in office for over a year as Treasury Secretary when Zell sold his commercial enterprise.  Sam Zell didn't accumulate wealth by being stupid.  He knew what he knew when he knew it and it was sometimes pure instinct.  But, in the case of the real estate market, Zell decided to bail with his 'high priced' properties when he realized that Paulson was supposed to be solving 'the problem' that started to manifest in 2007.  But.  Instead.  Paulson was always in China.  Paulson was racking up so much time in China he could probably claim citizenship.

After Snow left the Bush White House, Wall Street sincerely believed Paulson was going to get things straightened out. 

He didn't.

Goldman Sachs had too much riding on the mess and pushing AIG over the edge was too tempting.  So, while Paulson was distracting Wall Street to China and his travels abroad, Zell realized he was being abandoned.  He probably didn't know why, but, he knew he was and that is all someone like Zell needed to know.

The 'Tea Leaves' were all there.

Otherwise, Sam Zell would be panhandling with everyone else.  Zell had his ear to the ground and if he knew there was no excuse for the "September Surprise" by Paulson to the American people.

Why would an electorate ever trust these bozos ever again?

Yeah...but...is anyone really listening to what the people want. They want manufacturing back and they want their stolen jobs returned.

I like David Axelrod, he has a lot on the ball.  The link at the title goes to his comments across the spectrum today.


...Americans care much less about the deficit than they do losing their jobs to China. They care less about the deficit than they do about the continued push of America toward a "knowledge worker service economy." They do not believe it has worked and are unlikely to have any more patience with waiting for it to work as they see our trading partners co-opt our hard work in technology and know-how. They want to pull manufacturing back on shore, regardless of political leaning, and they are sick of Wall Street running the government....



We want our manufacturing back.  Michigan is building wind turbines.  We want to build our railroads, cars, house applicances.  We want it back.  We had our 'labor' jobs stolen from us and we want them back.  Just that simple.  We want to punch a clock and make solar panels and stuff.  Got it?  We want moral manufacturing jobs.  We want to be proud of ourselves, our products and our country again.  Easy.

There are Former Presidents to be asked to follow up on any short fall to the support for Haiti's recovery.

Ex-President George W. Bush tells Christian school in Texas faith helped him in tough times
Associated Press
02/28/10 1:32 AM EST


FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Former President George W.Bush says he turned to his faith during tough times in his eight years in office.

He told more than 1,100 people at a banquet Saturday night for Fort Worth Christian School that he didn't see how he could be president without prayer.

The former president also says he doesn't plan on staying in the public eye. He says he won't be "out there opining" or criticizing his successor.

Bush also says he's writing a book about his decisions in office so "you can draw your own conclusions."

Students presented Bush with a $5,000 check from fundraising efforts to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti. President Barack Obama has enlisted Bush and former President Bill Clinton to spearhead private fundraising for Haiti quake relief.















Bill Clinton to travel to Haiti for six-month anniversary of Port-au-Prince earthquake
By staff writers F
rom: NewsCore
July 12, 2010 9:46AM
FORMER US President Bill Clinton will travel to Haiti on Monday (tomorrow AEST) to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the earthquake that devastated capital city Port-au-Prince on January 12.



Time.com said Mr Clinton would meet Haitian President Rene Préval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and participate in a memorial ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
Mr Clinton led fundraising efforts for relief efforts in Haiti with former President George W Bush at the request of President Obama after the January quake, which killed 230,000 people and injured another 300,000.
Mr Clinton traveled to Haiti in January, February and March to help coordinate aid efforts.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/bill-clinton-to-travel-to-haiti-for-six-month-anniversary-of-port-au-prince-earthquake/story-e6freuyi-1225890622494
 

You just can't make this stuff us. And Americans want to trust the Right Wing again based on the love of the USA Constitution. What would George Washington say?


...Despite billions of dollars spent on a test-and-punish approach to school "reform," today's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report provides more evidence that the federal No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB) is a failure. With few exceptions, across three age groups and two subjects, the rate of improvement slowed compared with the previous period while gaps between blacks and white as well as Hispanics and whites ranged from widening to unchanging to slightly closing....

Standardized testing simply reveals how students can perform in a focused set of values, it doesn't speak to the child or the adolescent or the young adult and their preparedness for LEARNING.

People need to get over this mess.

I sincerely don't want to beleaguer the point regarding COIN, but, there are some issues still not cited here.

"The entire COIN strategy is a fraud perpetuated on the American people," says Douglas Macgregor, a retired colonel and leading critic of counterinsurgency who attended West Point with McChrystal. "The idea that we are going to spend a trillion dollars to reshape the culture of the Islamic world is utter nonsense. 

Macgregor was a classmate of McChrystal at West Point.


...he has upped the number of Special Forces units in Afghanistan from four to 19. "You better be out there hitting four or five targets tonight," McChrystal will tell a Navy Seal he sees in the hallway at headquarters. Then he'll add, "I'm going to have to scold you in the morning for it, though." In fact, the general frequently finds himself apologizing for the disastrous consequences of counterinsurgency....


In the first four months of this year, NATO forces killed some 90 civilians, up 76 percent from the same period in 2009 – a record that has created tremendous resentment among the very population that COIN theory is intent on winning over. In February, a Special Forces night raid ended in the deaths of two pregnant Afghan women and allegations of a cover-up, and in April, protests erupted in Kandahar after U.S. forces accidentally shot up a bus, killing five Afghans. "We've shot an amazing number of people," McChrystal recently conceded.

The worrisome issue surrounding the desire of General McChrystal to retire is that is has promulgated more 'justification' for occupying Afghanistan.  I am not so sure considering the maneuvering that he wasn't simply a political scapegoat either.

Ninty civilians are significant, but is it moral to ask soldiers to die for a misinterpretation of the 'unknown,' a guess. 

The Defense Department has re-emphasized, and rightly so, the 'proper' methods of interacting with the media.  Secretary Gates has stated under his service he has witnessed many good soldiers and officers leaving the military because of media contact.

There is much on the line.  Staying in Afghansitan for the Right Wing is about their 'idea' of advancing democracy and not really about National Security.  They believe in Nation Building.  Afghanistan stands to be a 're-engagement' of war if there were a return of a Republican to the Executive Branch.

It is far too dangerous to a 'global peace' and 'stability' to stay in Afghanistan and indulge the corrupt nature of the government. 

I believe General McChrystal served in every way he was asked and knew that being 'the good soldier' wasn't truly possible in 'the real world,' but, being an effective one was.

I sincerely like General McChrystal.  The entire mess is unfortunate, but, also very dangerous.

COIN is a 'dreamscape' of a failed President.  We need to rethink the entire idea.


The ouster of Gen. Stanley McChrystal in favor of Gen. David Petraeus this week had the intended effect of a reset button on the war in Afghanistan, at least inside the Beltway. Outside of Washington, it appears to have focused attention on the perilous state of the war, and the confusing nature of the mission. In the latest poll on the war, approval on the war is nearing a low ebb, and a large plurality believes the US is losing. Withdrawal was not polled by Newsweek, but I’d expect at least a plurality in favor.
http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/06/27/the-next-washington-bait-and-switch-remove-the-afghanistan-deadline/

Bill O'Reilly has this 'thing' he does every Friday. It is a quiz. Click the title to this entry, thank you.

These are the questions from July 6, 2010.  In the first question alone, Murdoch's 'boy' manages to wipe out respect for not just President Obama but Michael Steele as well. 

Bigot? 

Where did anyone get that idea?

The insults and bias and down right hatred just foments from there with the rest of this charade. 

Fair and Honest?  Not in my lifetime. 

1. Afghanistan is a "war of Obama's choosing," he said. Who?
The correct answer was GOP head Michael Steele Steele also said the U.S. should not be in a land war in Afghanistan, leading some prominent conservatives to call for his resignation.



2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by about 10% in the second quarter. Which individual Dow component was up for the quarter?
The correct answer was There were no gainers The best performing Dow stock was McDonalds, which fell 1.27%. The four companies listed in our question were the biggest losers.



3. When Elena Kagan is confirmed and takes her seat, the Supreme Court will be lacking which of these?
The correct answer was Protestant The court will consist of six Catholics and three Jews.



4. Kenneth Feinberg, who is in charge of distributing BP's $20 billion fund to victims of the oil spill, previously did what?
The correct answer was Feinberg's book "What is Life Worth?" details the process of awarding victims fairly.



5. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it creates more jobs than almost anything else. What?
The correct answer was Unemployment benefits Pelosi argued that unemployment compensation "creates jobs faster than almost any other initiative."




6. The Washington Post Company, which is trying to sell money-losing Newsweek, rejected a bid from Newsmax Media. Why?
The correct answer was Newsmax is too conservative Newsmax was reportedly turned down because of its conservative editorial stance.


7. According to a new poll, most Germans want to see what brought back?
The correct answer was Deutschmark More than half of Germans want to scrap the euro and return to the trusty old deutschemark.



8. In what city did Al Gore order the massage that landed him on the cover of tabloids?
The correct answer was Portland Gore was visiting Portland in 2006 when he paid $540 for the services of a masseuse, who later claimed she was sexually assaulted.



9. Which British pop star becomes a septuagenarian this week?
The correct answer was Ringo Starr Ringo, nee Richard Starkey, was born in Liverpool on July 7th, 1940.



10. Rolling Stone magazine, fresh off its career-ending expose of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has named a new "health columnist." Who is it?
The correct answer was Ozzy Osbourne The drug-addled rocker hopes "people can learn from my stupid mistakes," and aptly refers to himself as "a medical miracle."


Extra! July/August 2001The Most Biased Name in News


Fox News Channel's extraordinary right-wing tilt
By Seth Ackerman


"I challenge anybody to show me an example of bias in Fox News Channel."--Rupert Murdoch (Salon, 3/1/01)
Years ago, Republican party chair Rich Bond explained that conservatives' frequent denunciations of "liberal bias" in the media were part of "a strategy" (Washington Post, 8/20/92). Comparing journalists to referees in a sports match, Bond explained: "If you watch any great coach, what they try to do is 'work the refs.' Maybe the ref will cut you a little slack next time."...


http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1067

W.Va. Governor Pushes Renewable Energy

August 11, 2008

Associated Press
August 8, 2008
2:44 PM ET

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) - Gov. Joe Manchin plans to push renewable energy projects ranging from hydroelectric dams to solar power in West Virginia.

Speaking at a Southern States Energy Board meeting Friday, Manchin said more renewable projects will protect West Virginia from criticism as it pushes coal as critical to helping America achieve energy independence.

Manchin says using wind, biomass, even waste to generate electricity still leaves West Virginia 75% or more short of meeting its needs. But Manchin says doing so means no one can discredit the state's message about coal.

West Virginia has underscored that message by approving a $2.23 billion clean-coal plant and supporting a proposed $800 million coal-to-liquids plant capable of making methanol and unleaded gasoline....

Anyone suggest solar to West Virginia?

Biomass is out of the equation.  It always has been, but, until the EPA was lead by Secretary Jackson there has been nothing but 'gutless wonders' lining the halls and unwilling to make it as dangerous to the USA troposphere as coal is.  There sincerely is no such thing as 'Clean Coal' and I believe the people of West Virginia are ready to hear that. 

Sequesting carbon dioxide into a liquid or solid is like trying to find a place for spent nuclear fuel rods, where, for how long and what if something goes "W"rong.  Not only that, but, the USA can only use so much 'dry ice' in anyone's lifetime.  Then there are all those Halloween Party's where it is turned loose anyway.

The biggest and most dangerous lie ever propagated by the Right Wing was the issues surrounding the Climate Crisis.


The date was April 3, 2007
WASHINGTON, April 2 — In one of its most important environmental decisions in years, (click title to entry - thank you) the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobile emissions. The court further ruled that the agency could not sidestep its authority to regulate the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change unless it could provide a scientific basis for its refusal....

Where are the flag waving Right Wingers now?  Where are they when the LEGITIMATE Supreme Court Justices made this ruling?  Where are they now?

The Date was December 7, 2009.

Science overwhelmingly shows greenhouse gas concentrations at unprecedented levels due to human activity
WASHINGTON – After a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and careful consideration of public comments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten the public health and welfare of the American people. EPA also finds that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that threat.
GHGs are the primary driver of climate change, which can lead to hotter, longer heat waves that threaten the health of the sick, poor or elderly; increases in ground-level ozone pollution linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses; as well as other threats to the health and welfare of Americans....


http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/7ebdf4d0b217978b852573590040443a/08d11a451131bca585257685005bf252!OpenDocument
 
 
Climategate scientists cleared of manipulating data on global warmingMuir Russell report says scientists did not fudge data, but they should have been more open about their work....


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/08/muir-russell-climategate-climate-science


The Climate Crisis is not Rocket Science, it is more complicated than that and until there is a clear path to educating the public, scientists are going to have to lead and guide policy.  Just that simple.  There is only one planet and it cannot continue to be abused by economies with disregard for its delicate balance. 

There has never been over 8 billion people on Earth before and if that isn't significant, try to understand the amount of 'agricultural' commodities it takes to feed them daily.  Where does all that come from?  Magic?  Then realize the CO2 those same people breath has to be absorbed somewhere.  Where suppose do you believe that is going to happen?  Huh?

George Washington and his horse Blueskin have both passed away. So did all the other 'white guys' that were land and slave owners.

























They were very brave and wonderful men with a common cause.  They wanted their freedom from British rule.  I am confident it was more than 'taxation without representation' that caused their coalition of values.

The USA Constitution in its original form is a magnificent document.  It was not alone it isn't 'manifestation' of the desire for freedom.

http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=480

It can be said that most people experiencing 'colonialism' seek their freedom as a means of expressing culture.  Typically, colonialism brings oppression of values and with that restless of people accustomed to 'being themselves.'

The Bible, both Old and New Testiment, have many places where freedom from oppression has been expressed as an 'ideal' people were encouraged to strife toward.

The Q'uran is based in achieving freedom from oppression. 

So, to say the USA Constitution is unique and more special than many past documents of the same brevity would be arrogant and disrespectful of the humility most of the Founding Fathers exhibited through their decision making and struggling war strategies.

If George Washington were alive today and you were to bring him upto speed on how the thirteen rebellious colonies, including the prison colony of Georgia, turned into fifty states and many provinces he would never believe it.

He would, however, marvel at the magnificent of the FLEXIBILITY of the USA Constitution and how the Bill of Rights has grown to accommodate all citizens of all race, creed and natonal origins.

He would marvel at how the country became a haven for an influx of people seeking opportunity and would embrace the vast changes the country had undergone including the marvels of Ellis Island.

He would be saddened by the World Wars and be dismayed and disillusioned by the unjustified wars the USA had to fight.  He would never condone the plutocratic experiment in the USA under the Bush/Cheney years and he would frown at the religious bias shown by the Executive Branch during those years.

I don't know what he'd say about birth control or abortion, except, he'd probably see the wonderful idea that women were alive and able to contribute and work and live their lives on their own terms.  With 3 million people within the borders of the USA, he'd probably ask, "Is there more room west to expand?" 

I love the Founding Fathers of this country and their courage no different than anyone else that claims the right to say that, however, I don't believe the 'original' USA Constitution is to embrace as a 'political tool' for oppression of the future or values of today.

The Membership of the Republican National Committee are the most dangerous people on Earth.

The likes of 'Rove' have 'sculpted' an electorate out of Extremists.  They are people that don't believe in diversity, are mired in stereotypes and literally hate citizens that are not financially successful.  They characterize themselves as hard working, yet, when it comes to people that are hard working but not financially successful, they aren't 'real' Americans.

Biased?  Yep.

Bigoted?  Absolutely.

Love their government?  NO !

Love their 'original' Constitution?  You they wrap themselves with it and claim to be 'the real Americans.'

During the 2000 race, the RNC with Rove as 'the architect' found every extremist in the country and promised them the moon.  With those promises dangled in front of them like a carrot to a mule, G.W.Bush managed to 'wrangle' his way into the White House.    From that day and for the next eight years the USA citizens were treated to some of the most corrupt and incompetent members of our society as legislators and executives to our government.  They used 'fear' as a tool with every opportunity that presented itself and made sure we all needed to be praying to the SAME God.

Now, facing odds against them, the Republicans have managed to wrap themselves in the 'Founding Fathers' and the "USA Constitution" and are entertaining more extremists than they have ever entertained before. 

Is the country in trouble? 

You betcha. 

They are sniveling liars that are still trying to carve out an alternate reality to 'find their way back in' to power to run this country further into the ground.

The song below by Lady Antebellum is nominated for a "Teen Choice Award." (click title to entry - thank you)

A what?

The 2010 Teen Choice Awards announced more nominees, this time including best country song and best country album. Those who picked up nominations are:
Choice Music: Country Song


'Need You Now', Lady Antebellum


'The House That Built Me', Miranda Lambert


'Water', Brad Paisley...

'Fifteen', Taylor Swift


'Undo It', Carrie Underwood

The song is about adutls seeking to have sex together.  They aren't married.  They obviously 'know' each other from before, but, give me a break, this is an adult concept featuring 'alcohol' as a 'permission' to 'act' and this is a WHOLESOME song for teens that seek Country - Western as a form of art of choice in their lives.
 
Don't even try it.  This is about longing and being together and how to cope with being apart with a friend called alcohol.  Adults that meet in the 'wee' hours of the day, AIN'T TEENS looking for a friend, they are adults seeking someone to have sex with. 
 
The 'hallway' is a hotel, don't get pregnant though, abortion is a 'no, no.'
 

 
And that isn't all.  There is this tune:
 
It depersonalizes a young woman into being a sex object.  I suppose they are married, or could be, the song is 'cute' enough.  But, don't tell me that a woman should be 'herself' everyday of her life in order to be loved.  Why is it a 'girl' is preferred over a woman anyway?  I thought a MAN had sex with a WOMAN.  No?  A MAN 'make love' to a GIRL.  Oh.  I guess the 'women' is a little to old and disposable.  Hm?
 
This is about having sex, making love, I suppose.  But, don't try to tell me 'the lump in the bed' routine is REAL.
 
It ain't !
 
"Sleepy LITTLE smile on my hairy chest."
 
"Dancin' around like a fool, starring in her own little show..."  So cute, endearing and easy.  His own little dancer.  Right.
 
The Republicans need a NEW virginal role model for their campaigns, ya all.  I can get away with that I am from North Carolina.
 
The TOP TEN DIVORCE STATES, are in the South:
 
# 1 Nevada : 7.1



# 2 Arkansas : 6.2


= 3 Alabama : 5.4


= 3 Wyoming : 5.4


# 5 Idaho : 5.3


= 6 West Virginia : 5.2


= 6 Kentucky : 5.2


= 8 Tennessee : 5.1


= 8 Florida : 5.1


# 10 Mississippi : 4.9

Of the top ten ONLY two were Blue States during the 2008 Presidential Elections, Florida and Nevada.  Let's just stop the charade, okay?  And what is this 'right wing hatred' of Rock'n'Roll about anyway?  The 'theme' of songs can be found by a Rock artist, the only difference is that they don't pretend to be virginal to increase sales.

"Gimme that girl" by Joe Nichols
Hang up that red dress,
let down your hair,
cancel those reservations
there's no need to go no where.
As good as your looking right now,
girl bet your thinkin I'm crazy,
there's a side of you that I wanna see
that never ceases to amaze me.


Gimmie that girl with the hair in a mess
sleepy little smile with her head on my chest,
thats the you that i like best,
gimmie that girl.
Gimmie that girl lovin up on me,
old t-shirt and a pair of jeans,
thats the you i wanna see,
gimmie that girl.


Gimmie the girl thats beautiful,
without a trace of makeup of on,
barefoot in the kitchen,
singing her favorite song.
Dancing around like a fool,
starring in her own little show,
gimmie the girl the rest of the world,
ain't lucky enough to know.



Gimmie that girl with the hair in a mess
sleepy little smile with her head on my chest,
thats the you that i like best,
gimmie that girl.
Gimmie that girl lovin up on me,
old t-shirt and a pair of jeans,
thats the you i wanna see,
gimmie that girl, gimmie that girl.
repeat
 
It's Sunday Night

"Need You Now"

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor

Reachin' for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time


It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now



Another shot of whiskey can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time


It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now


woah woaaah.


Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothin' at all


It's a quarter after one I'm all alone and I need you now


And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now


And I don't know how I can do without


I just need you now


I just need you now (wait)


Ooo, baby, I need you now

Pinning the PAST failures on the present leadership.


The Democratic Party is still not talking to the nation the way the nation needs to hear it.

When legislation is passed, there needs to be a stipulation that its purpose it to CORRECT an ILL or a FLAW in the USA that has a HISTORY dating back to a demonstrated dynamic that is 'realized by.'

In the case of health care it was the lack of available health care to Americans which was causing deaths BEFORE they even were able to obtain medical or surgical treatment.

In the case of the Veterans, it was to correct a short sightedness that was illustrated by the increased suicide rates noted during the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The list goes on.  No passage of a bill, regardless of its 'Pay Go,' or even 'benefit' to the USA debt should be left to be 'speculated' as to why the bill was passed and where the responsibilty lies for its need. 

What would also be helpful, is for the Democrats to not just talk about 'Pay Go' and 'Responsible Government,' but, to illustrate where the USA Debt actually begins to turn around and where there is an expected surplus.  How 'spending now' is justified for the 'outcomes later.' 

The DNC needs to be more aggressive in assigning responsibilty for the nation's woes and how the Democrats ALWAYS turns the corner to 'Unfair' and 'Irresponsible' and "Immoral" government.  Allowing citizens to die in lacking health care or at their own hand after serving this country is not only "W"rong, it is "I"mmoral by any 'belief system' I am familiar with EXCEPT the Republcan Plutocratic Economic Belief System.

Until later.

Obama: More post-traumatic stress help for vets

























Updated: 5:08 PM Aug 30, 2007
Military Suicide Rate Highest in 26 Years..Vets Urge Support
 A local group of supporters, veterans and faith leaders met in Topeka Thursday morning to show support for a funding bill that would support troops in health care, injury research and job training.

Posted: 12:14 PM Aug 30, 2007
 Reporter: Brian Dorman
 Email Address: brian.dorman@wibw.com

A local group of supporters, veterans and faith leaders met in Topeka Thursday morning to show support for a funding bill that would support troops in health care, injury research and job training.
Veterans say it is necessary to support this bill and that Kansans need to urge local officials, especially Senator Brownback and Roberts to support this bill that is threatened to be vetoed by President Bush.
They stressed that this is not about whether we should be at war or not it is about what we need to be doing for those that are at war and those that will be going to war when they return.
An Army Suicide Event Report discovered that suicides in the Army has reached a 26 year high alarming local and national agencies. It will be up to support from Kansas Leaders like Brownback and Roberts to vote for the Labor HHS-Education appropriations bill to allow funds for programs of suicide prevention as well as job training and homelessness prevention services.
In the coming weeks it is expected that this bill will be up for vote in the U.S. Senate. The president has threatened to veto the bill that Thursday's group is calling critical for immediate needs for troops returning home from war.


http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/9474342.html


...The changes that Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki (click title to entry - thank you) will announce Monday fulfill "a solemn responsibility to provide our veterans and wounded warriors with the care and benefits they've earned when they come home," Obama said in his weekly radio and online address Saturday.
The new rules will apply not only to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but also those who served in previous conflicts.
No longer will veterans have to prove what caused their illness. Instead, they would have to show that the conditions surrounding the time and place of their service could have contributed to their illness.
"I don't think our troops on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application," the president said. "And I've met enough veterans to know that you don't have to engage in a firefight to endure the trauma of war."...