I have just made 34 long distance calls to urge Congresspersons to vote YES on the Health Reform bill 676 & also on the single payer amendment. It bothers me that this site doesn't give me the individuals to target, as some that I called are co-sponsers & I did NOT need to call them. Also why do some of them want to know where I am calling from---does it not count that I called if I am not from their state? I told them I was calling from MONTANA----Big Sky Country!!!

the "blue dog" democrats are about to ruin the chance to reform healthcare. The republicans have no chance to derail the train without their help. don't give them the time to come with a plan to pass a gutted bill. in the 1980's the democrats made the same mistake. they had control of both houses of cingress but because of infighting among themselves everything became gridlocked. many people credit the so called "gingrich revolution" with the republican take over of congress in the 1990's but it was actually that we were dissatisfied, disillusioned and discouraged with nothing being accomplished and felt that a change was needed. that is the true picture of what happaned and now the same thing is on the verge of happening again. in the 1990's the republicans fell on the sword to impeach president clinton. there was no honor in what they did but they had the courage to do it anyway.

CLG Pandemic Action Alerts 14 Jul 2009 Petition against mandatory vaccines; contact the White House, US Congress--More flu news here.

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

The Oil and Gas Companies definately get the best of both worlds, unlike the American taxpayer. While extracting natural resources from public lands that are owned by all of us, they also get to take us for a ride in more ways than just gouging prices. An ideas piece by Nick Rahall, the Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources has spelled out some of this welfare given to Corporations that posted record profits on the backs of the American consumer in the last several years.

In calling for royalty reform, Rahall has spelled out exactly how Big Oil and Energy not only gets preferential treatment, but fleeces the American taxpayer right along with the American consumer:

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

You know, one thing I get so sick of hearing from all the right-wing loons is how Progressives like myself and many of you are un-American. We have our patriotism questioned on a daily basis. Right-Wing idiots on the radio rail about how we do not believe in the Constitution and the values this country was founded on. Well, details that have emerged in the last couple of days show that the Bush Administration and their shameless enablers in the Republican Party and the former Republican Congress are the ones who really do not believe in the Constitution, or the freedoms granted by it.

I found this to be quite interesting.  The judge found that not only are blogs not news - not only are bloggers not journalists - but bloggers shouldn't be shielded by protections journalists are.

The Dark Side of Climate Change: It's Already Too Late, Cap and Trade Is a Scam, and Only the Few Will Survive

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I have been as critical of Democrats in the process of pounding out reform for our failed healthcare system in the last few months as anyone. In the "House of Lords" that has become the U.S. Senate the discussion is so very frustrating that one forgets that many good Democrats in the House deserve much credit. They have moved the discussion towards where it needs to be.

However, in the House on two tough calls that will be tough votes, House Democrats are forging ahead with serious and realistic goals in actually achieving universal coverage. They are showing guts in calling for sacrifice:

WASHINGTON – An income tax surcharge on highly paid Americans emerged as the leading option Wednesday night as House Democrats sought ways to pay for health care legislation that President Barack Obama favors, several officials said.

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

Two-hundred and thirty three years ago our forefathers spawned a revolution against tyranny. Now, two and a third centuries later a different kind of tyranny exists in America. The scorn and ridicule of Corporate America towards their workers to me represents something worse than taxation without representation.

All over this country working Americans get up and take time out of their lives daily to make greedy, rich, un-American Corporations billions of dollars. Despite all of this what is the first things these folks do to show their appreciation??

At every turn, and in every possible way Corporate America constantly seeks to steal away rights of workers. Their greed causes them to constantly search for ways to cheat American workers out of the fair wages and benefits they have earned.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Have a happy, safe Fourth.

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.