[My] Life in Wisconsin

No Really

I'm alive.

Unless stated, ALL words & photos are © at 12 comments:

Fat Cats and Bitty Baby Bulges


I had to be in Green Bay the other day and snapped this photo as I crossed Hwy 172
While I am not in construction, I found it creepy to see them assembling a 4~lane highway bridge with WOOD!
The only conclusion I came to was that this was the support for the concrete?
I sure as heck HOPE so! 
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Good Morning All;
For me, there is good news?!?  ~and worse news...
I have learned that I do not have 3 fractures in my back. 
I have 5.
That sorta sucks.

Here's a heads-up for you...Some nasty news about the Fosamax I have been taking... Will have to find a link for you later, but heard that in the short term it helps- But in the long term it seems to be responsible for creating more brittle fractures.

Casey and Greg were out this past weekend. While she was here, I asked for her to bring a pitcher of water outside since we have had no precipitation lately.
I needed to water my chives... It's been a long winter, and I am sure they were thirsty.

Two days later, I took this picture...
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Cnv0183
Mmmmmm.....    We will be having yummy potatoes within the next week or so.
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Casey brings her little snacks along with her since I rarely have anything too yummy in the house-
This time it was peanuts, and there were no two ways around the sharing aspect of it all.
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Cnv0187 
One for Punk, and two for Casey; one for Sput and two for Casey...
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Punk is always peeking around for snacks...
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Cnv0188
Whatcha got there????   hehehe
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Our 'dry spell' has ended since we watered those chives- They are predicting rain through the weekend. (Sam and Katie sure know when to go on vacation; they are in Bermuda if I remember correctly).  At any rate they are missing the rains...

It has been warmish- daytime temps into the 50's- But when it is so damp, it's chilly still.

Last night, upon realizing that my toidy wasn't filling up at its normal rate, I checked the water.
Sure enough- It was down. AGAIN! what the hey?

I walked out to the pumphouse around 11:30 or so, through this darkness.

And this pea soup...
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Cnv0191 
Fog. Up close and personal...
Am hoping it really IS the fuse this time...

Casey had an appointment this morning, and said she will also bring a few new fuses for it, just in case.
The chicken warmer light was still burning in the pit, so it isn't froze. Besides, it has been much too warm for that silly noise. Methinks my water pit is possessed... hehehe
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Speaking of possessed, there have been a few comments on whether or not Sputty is fat
He is, and I now have proof!

Many of you remember Amos, (my Moose~da~Kitty)?

Here is Amos in his heyday...

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Amos kitler182 
21 pounds of pure arrogance and "cattitude"
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And here is Mr Sputnik.

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Cnv0190 

**** I can plainly see the resemblance, don't you?!?
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Casey had a doctor appointment on Tuesday. Punk couldn't wait to go!

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Cnv0184
She has to wait for me to take that picture! hehehe
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CaseyAnne has been feeling awful- And for the past few days had nasty pain when she had gone to bed.
She has what appears to be a hernia, by her scar. But it has nothing protruding through it. Just an itty bitty bulge. About the size of the top third of a softball...
Soft too. Nothing hard to the touch.
Even the doctor found this odd. We will keep an eye on it and see what happens.
The good news is that her white blood cells have finally returned to normal-
(And that's a big "yay")!

But, she is also quite anemic, and he gave her a script, iron, for that.
If I was rich I would feed her $teak every day. Too bad for her that pills are cheaper.
Come to think on it, it's too bad for me too.
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Cnv0185
Dr Szabo and his little pancreapneumogastro Casey! hehehe
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Casey has just gotten here- Time to head out to the old milkhouse and play with water and electricity.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Love to all

XOXO
Me
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DJ Flom


Three year old DJ Flom helped save 21 people from an apartment fire.

The fire started in DJ's bedroom after his nightlight caught fire. It quickly spread to his wall and to his bed
The three year old woke up and went into his parent's room, waking them up.

There was a working smoke detector in the apartment, but DJ woke up even before the detector went off. Fire officials say that if he hadn't, things could have been much worse.

DJ told them that his grandma had woke him up and said his bed was on fire.

The strange thing is, DJ's grandma had died 2 months earlier.
From Channel 11 news this morning, Robert Hornacek reporting-
(I can't find the story on their site yet, Good Day Wisconsin ends at 9AM, perhaps then).
Local story from Oconto- about 20 minutes north of me.

How awesome is this?!?

I know some of you do not believe in the fascinating world around us of the paranormal.
Some of the more pragmatic do not believe in miracles.
I know some do not believe in angels.

But how can you not believe in Grandma?

Miracles?
Angels?
Grandma?

I do not believe this 3 year old concocted this 'story'.
What say you?

XOXO
Me
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Toyota: "Stop lobbying against car safety"


http://pol.moveon.org/chamber/toyota2/

Chances are that we all know of someone who owns/drives a Toyota.
This is from my inbox this morning.
Please click and offer your own words to Toyota.
They have the audacity to lobby AGAINST American Auto Safety Standards?

Take a moment to click and to submit the petition.
You do not have to write your own words, but a separate box is there if you wish to.

XOXO
Me

************

From US News: "“Toyota’s tentacles are spread far and wide on Capitol Hill. Senate records show Toyota-related entities spent $4.1 million on lobbying last year — and $35.2 million during the past decade.”


http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0211_toyota_safety_kaufmann.aspx
The article continues by illustrating the close ties between the NHTSA and the auto industry, pointing to how political appointees, who included car industry lawyers, ran the agency. It cites Andrew Card, George W. Bush’s chief of staff and former lobbyist for the auto industry, as concluding that “it may be that some investigations were terminated for political reasons.”

From Gladys:
"Toyota says its most interest is safety ...
REALLY ??
So, why lobby against auto safety standards for years, why a card carrying member of the Chamber of Commerce who also lobbied for years against safety standards and regulations!! Who's zooming who??
Senators Shelby and Sessions of ALA (R), Senators Cochran and Wicker of MS (R) and Gov. Barbour of MS (R) should all be subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury, along with Toyota's Japanese CEO !!
What is an American life worth to these republican politicians ??

Despite all their recent problems, Toyota is giving money to lobbyists who oppose car safety standards through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

I signed this petition to Toyota urging them to quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and I hope you will too. Click the link"

If Toyota wants to earn back our trust when it comes to safety, they need to stop funding lobbyists at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce who fight car safety protections.

The " Toyota: Stop lobbying against car safety " campaign is brought to you by MoveOn.org Political Action™.

************ Text from site:

Toyota wants customers to believe that safety is it's number one priority. So why is Toyota funding lobbyists who oppose auto safety standards? Toyota remains a funder of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which for years has led efforts to strangle car safety protections.

Sign our petition urging Toyota to quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to Toyota.



Privacy Policy (the basics): We do not share the information you’ve given us with unaffiliated groups without your explicit permission. For petitions, letters to the editor, and surveys you've signed or completed, we treat your name, city, state, and comments as public information. We will not make your street address publicly available, but we may transmit it to members of Congress and to the President as part of a petition. MoveOn will send you updates on this and other important campaigns by email. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from our email list, you may do so. For our complete privacy policy, click here.



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Little Updates.


Good Evening All;

I have been 'away' for a time.  Lots of things to (try to) do with the arrival of warmer temps for us.  (Mostly that requires my presence outside).  hehehe
Punks too. And Sputty of course.

I have also been fighting this lightswitch migraine. On and off, and on and off.
I had thought that perhaps my back meds were responsible, somehow, making my head less awful. I might have spoken too soon. I try not to take the migraine meds- (they all make me feel as though I have downed about 6 pots of coffee, and I hate feeling that way).
I awoke this morning to a much better head, (compared to how I have felt the past few days anyway). I wasn't up for 2 hours, and back came my aura- It lasted over an hour and a half. So while my head is still ok, it is just threatening to come back. I hate that feeling too.
Weird too, that when I get these headaches, my stomach shuts down as well. I know migraine affects your whole body, but hey this is long enough already. I will get a shot if it keeps on tomorrow.
Of note. At my last appointment, I learned that I now have 5 fractures in my back.
They didn't stop me from doing a bit of raking today though.

I receive an email from Lori's mom every day- (Lori is the gal who just had the same surgery as Casey did).
Lori is doing so very well that she might be released tomorrow already!  Another feather in Dr. Sutherland's cap.  Like Casey though, Lori does have to stay in Minnesota for a few days just to make sure all is well before she heads back home.
What grand news!

I have been sitting on some news about William and Lawrence too.
First of all, William has been promoted to HHC Company Commander!
I have been, AM, and always will be, so very proud of him.

Now about Lawrence... Around Christmas, he had an episode of passing out. (He is 10). 
They brought him in a few times- He has a heart murmur; and as it stands now, he is also awaiting genetic testing. They are checking for Marfans.   I can't find the blog where I was originally diagnosed, but this is one of the things my own spine doctor had mentioned to do with my back.  And since I had dismissed it way back when I do not know a lot about it.
For now though, Lawrence is pretty much grounded- Absolutely NO contact sports of any kind until they find out more about his mitral valve and the possibility of Marfans.
Please keep him in your prayers?

I see we have just been issued a dense fog advisory.  A few days ago there was a huge pile up about 25 miles south of here on Highway 41. I believe upwards of 40 cars were involved. The miraculous part is that only 13 people had injuries.  Unbelievable! Weather was foggy then also. 
I am not as charitable as the news reporters though, so I won't blame the fog for the crashes. The simple fact is that the drivers involved were overriding their headlights. You cannot drive faster than what you can see. (Wonder what the insurance companies say about that)?
I remember that chapter from high school drivers ed. That was right up there along with inattentive driving... Mostly, I remember those gory movies.
Gross.

I think I had better post a few pictures taken with snow. The snowy pics may (or may not), be becoming obsolete with all these warmer temps.
Todays high was in the 50's. The weatherman said it has been since the beginning of November since we have had it that warm. (Seems longer to me).   hehehe

On to those pictures...
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Cnv0156 
Sputnik.

I have decided he is an evil cat. Casey was trimming his nails yesterday as we sat outside. I held him in a seated position facing away from me...
At one point I said, "Man, Sputty you are fat!"
With that, (and with God as my witness), this cat turned his head/neck around, made eye contact with me, and HISSED IN MY FACE!
Casey and I laughed and laughed!
I am so glad she saw that happen- Nobody would ever have believed it.
Yup. He is pure evil... (And fat).
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Cnv0164 
Ssearching for mouse trails under the snow, on the side of the old shed.
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Cnv0162
He obviously heard something.  Unfortunately he caught nothing...

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Cnv0155 
Punk, taking a break in the snow...
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Cnv0173 
Playing fetch with Casey's bottle of Dr. Pepper.
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Cnv0177 
Trying to get it open!  No, it didn't work, (especially from the wrong end)!
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Cnv0179 
And time to rest.
I am sure she is trying to figure out how to hold a paintbrush for that wall?
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Punk had gone along for Master Gabriel's adoption last week.
In the 30's only, but sunny- More than warm enough for her to stay in the car.

On the way there, late, I had to stop for a train.

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Cnv0165 
No snarling, but she growled for all 200+ railroad cars!
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When we arrived at the courthouse, just who was peeking down from the 3rd story?
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Cnv0152Gabriel waiting to be adopted! He is SO happy to be a Piantek! 
God love them, Kristin and Steve also kept my fathers name in there!
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Cnv0154 
Goofy Gabriel!
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Cnv0166 
Gabriel and his sisters- Alexis and Kaylee
Just a few months apart, they are almost triplets! Kristin sure has her hands full!
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Hope you are all well and that you are also enjoying these Spring~Preview days.
I'd better close for now. My head is throbbing a bit and it is time then for me to go lie down.

Love to all.

XOXO
Me
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Quiz: Could You Be Hypothyroid?

http://thyroid.about.com/library/hypoquiz/blhypoquiz.htm

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Good Morning Everyone;
I will be blogging shortly, but wanted to call your attention to this quiz.
Are you feeling like a slug?
Especially this time of year, (and for the past few months), many of us do not get our requisite 'sunshine'.

Many suffer from "Seasonal Affective Disorder", or SAD. (More commonly known as "the winter blahs").

Hypothyroidism is something to really consider, (even IF you suffer from SAD).

Undiagnosed hypothyroidism is responsible for a great many medical maladies, including, but not limited to, cancer and Alzheimers.

My own thyroid levels change with the seasons, so even if you have had yours checked in the past 6 months, you may be surprised to learn that things have deinitely  changed.

I was to return to my doctor in January. Will have to reset that appointment as time permits. (Mental note made).

*****

Could your thyroid (the master gland of metabolism and energy) be underactive?

As of 2006, experts estimate that as many as 59 million Americans have a thyroid condition, and the vast majority are hypothyroid, and have an under~functioning, slow or sluggish thyroid.

Most people with hypothyroidism aren't even diagnosed- Instead, they suffer various symptoms without themselves realizing that they are thyroid-related, or going to doctors who then explain away or misdiagnose symptoms.

This quiz walks you through some of the most common hypothyroidism risk factors and the frequently seen signs and symptoms of an underactive or sluggish thyroid.

After you've answered the questions, you'll get a rating, which will evaluate how many of your responses fit with the characteristics of someone who is at risk for hypothyroidism.

This helpful tool can be the starting point for your efforts to get properly diagnosed and treated for an underactive thyroid!

QUIZ STARTS HERE - http://thyroid.about.com/library/hypoquiz/blhypoquiz.htm

*****


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Daily Kos: State of the Nation


http://www.dailykos.com/

Hi All-
If you say you don't care, there is something inherently wrong with you.
If you say you do care then you will be either condemned or applauded.

While the rest of these are not a surprise to anyone who pays attention, (and you should), I am having a real problem seeing that the #'s for people that are "likely to vote" are so dang low!
That says something awful about the ignorance and the apathy of our American public.

XOXO
Me

Perhaps 'apathy' should be a pre~existing condition???


********************

ABOUT DAILY KOS

Founded in May 26, 2002, Daily Kos is the premier online political community with 2.5 million unique visitors per month and 215,000 registered users. It is at once a news organization, community, and activist hub. Among luminaries posting diaries on the site are President Jimmy Carter, Senator Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and dozens of other senators, congressmen, and governors.

Even more exciting than that however, are the hundreds of thousands of regular Americans that have used Daily Kos to shape a political world once the exclusive domain of the rich, connected, and powerful.

Daily Kos has eight paid staffers and continues to ramp up its features, from top-tier independent polling (about 100 polls in 2008, double that scheduled for 2009) to its groundbreaking Electoral Scoreboard.


Daily Kos Weekly State of the Nation Poll

Research 2000, Adults MoE 3%,
Mar 01, 2010 - Mar 04, 2010 (last week's results in parentheses)
Full Crosstabs
 FAVORABLEUNFAVORABLEDON'T KNOWNET CHANGE
PRESIDENT OBAMA53 (55)43 (40)4 (5)-5
    
PELOSI:36 (38)56 (52)8 (10)-6
REID:27 (23)66 (67)7 (10)5
McCONNELL:21 (20)63 (62)16 (18)0
BOEHNER:19 (20)62 (62)19 (18)-1
    
CONGRESSIONAL DEMS:37 (39)61 (59)2 (2)-4
CONGRESSIONAL GOPS:24 (19)67 (65)9 (16)3
    
DEMOCRATIC PARTY:39 (40)57 (55)4 (5)-3
REPUBLICAN PARTY:30 (29)66 (62)4 (9)-3


© Kos Media, LLC

Site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified.
"Kos" and "Daily Kos" are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC


********************

Daily Kos Weekly State of the Nation Poll

Research 2000, MoE 2.8%, Mar 01, 2010 - Mar 04, 2010
Previous  




BARACK OBAMA

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL53434
MEN46513
WOMEN60355
DEM8983
REP14824
IND49465
WHITE45523
BLACK9055
LATINO62308
OTH/REF65269
18-2964316
30-4456404
45-5949474
60+46513
NORTHEAST74224
SOUTH35623
MIDWEST55414
WEST57394
REST OF USA61345



NANCY PELOSI

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL36568
MEN22735
WOMEN503911
DEM76177
REP8857
IND23689
WHITE33607
BLACK493813
LATINO42508
OTH/REF44479
18-29424810
30-4438566
45-5933589
60+32608
NORTHEAST463816
SOUTH28657
MIDWEST34597
WEST40573



HARRY REID

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL27667
MEN23743
WOMEN315811
DEM51418
REP10872
IND19729
WHITE25705
BLACK344817
LATINO315613
OTH/REF335116
18-2935578
30-4429665
45-5925687
60+207010
NORTHEAST365410
SOUTH21745
MIDWEST25687
WEST29656



MITCH MCCONNELL

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL216316
MEN265915
WOMEN166717
DEM7885
REP521533
IND147214
WHITE265915
BLACK58114
LATINO106822
OTH/REF87220
18-29127216
30-44226513
45-59236017
60+255817
NORTHEAST87913
SOUTH344719
MIDWEST206515
WEST166915



JOHN BOEHNER

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL196219
MEN245719
WOMEN146719
DEM6877
REP501434
IND117118
WHITE245818
BLACK47818
LATINO86725
OTH/REF77221
18-29117118
30-44196318
45-59215920
60+225721
NORTHEAST77617
SOUTH324622
MIDWEST186418
WEST146818



CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL37612
MEN29692
WOMEN45532
DEM62353
REP12871
IND33652
WHITE32662
BLACK61363
LATINO41563
OTH/REF43534
18-2947503
30-4438602
45-5934642
60+33652
NORTHEAST46503
SOUTH31681
MIDWEST36622
WEST38602



CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL24679
MEN33616
WOMEN157312
DEM8866
REP562717
IND17767
WHITE29639
BLACK8875
LATINO147016
OTH/REF117514
18-2913807
30-4424697
45-59276310
60+296011
NORTHEAST13807
SOUTH325315
MIDWEST24697
WEST22735



DEMOCRATIC PARTY

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL39574
MEN31663
WOMEN47485
DEM66304
REP12853
IND34614
WHITE34633
BLACK64306
LATINO45505
OTH/REF46495
18-2949473
30-4441563
45-5936604
60+34615
NORTHEAST49456
SOUTH32653
MIDWEST38584
WEST40564



REPUBLICAN PARTY

  FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL30664
MEN39592
WOMEN21736
DEM13843
REP66317
IND24733
WHITE36622
BLACK7858
LATINO176914
OTH/REF167212
18-2919783
30-4430682
45-5933625
60+35605
NORTHEAST18784
SOUTH39538
MIDWEST30682
WEST28702



Direction

QUESTION: Do you feel the country overall is heading in the right direction or wrong direction?

  RIGHTWRONGNOT SURE
ALL38602
MEN31681
WOMEN45523
DEM64342
REP12871
IND34642
WHITE33661
BLACK62326
LATINO45523
OTH/REF45514
18-2948502
30-4440591
45-5935632
60+33652
NORTHEAST48493
SOUTH31672
MIDWEST37612
WEST39592



Generic Congressional Ballot

QUESTION: Would you like to see more Democrats or Republicans elected to Congress in 2010?

  DEMOCRATSREPUBLICANSNOT SURE
ALL454213
MEN394813
WOMEN513613
DEM9055
REP3943
IND354025
WHITE385012
BLACK76420
LATINO553312
OTH/REF573013
18-29581725
30-44464311
45-59424810
60+385012
NORTHEAST621721
SOUTH33598
MIDWEST454312
WEST464113



*** Voter Likelihood

QUESTION: In the 2010 Congressional elections will you definitely vote, vote, not likely vote, or definitely will not vote?

  DEFINITELYVOTENOT LIKELYDEF NOTNOT SURE
ALL212322331
MEN242619229
WOMEN182025433
DEM192026431
REP242519230
IND212421331
WHITE242520229
BLACK111728638
LATINO131725540
OTH/REF121627837
18-29161728534
30-44202223431
45-59232520230
60+242719228
NORTHEAST192124432
SOUTH232519231
MIDWEST212422330
WEST202124332



Demographics

Men57448%
Women62652%
Dem38532%
Rep29825%
Ind51743%
White89975%
Black14512%
Latino978%
Oth/Ref595%
18-2919316%
30-4435930%
45-6446739%
65+18115%
NE25321%
South37131%
MW30125%
West27523%



GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN:

Northeast:
DC, ME, VT, NY, MD, PA, CT, DE, MA, NH, RI, WV, NJ

South:
FL, NC, SC, AL, MS, GA, VA, TN, KY, LA, AR, TX

Midwest:
IL, MN, MI, OH, WI, IA, MO, KS, IN, ND, SD, OK, NE

West:
NM, CA, OR, WA, AK, HI, MT, ID, UT, NV, AZ, WY, CO



SCRIPT:

For favorability questions, respondents are asked: "Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of _______?"



Methodology

A total of 1200 adults nationally were interviewed by telephone. A cross-section of calls was made into each state in the country in order to reflect the adult population nationally.

The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than plus or minus 2.8% percentage points. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that the “true” figure would fall within that range if the entire adult population were sampled. The margin for error is higher for any demographic subgroup, such as gender, race, or region.


********************

Hmmm... Aside from bookmarking this site, what say you?
When will we learn?  Why have we not been taught to vote?



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Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on 'fear'


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html
Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

I was heading offline, and will be shortly... But I wanted to make you aware of this.

I was directed to this link by way of our "Intelligent Debate" site.
Thank you TroyJ!

XOXO
Me

___________________________
By BEN SMITH | 3/3/10 4:23 PM EST

The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism."

The strategy was detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation, obtained by POLITICO, which also outlines how “ego-driven” wealthy donors can be tapped with offers of access and “tchochkes.”

The presentation was delivered by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart to top donors and fundraisers at a party retreat in Boca Grande, Florida on February 18, a source at the gathering said.

In neat PowerPoint pages, it lifts the curtain on the often-cynical terms of political marketing, displaying an air of disdain for the party’s donors that is usually confined to the barroom conversations of political operatives.

The presentation explains the Republican fundraising in simple terms.

"What can you sell when you do not have the White House, the House, or the Senate...?" it asks.

The answer: "Save the country from trending toward Socialism!”

Manipulating donors with crude caricatures and playing on their fears is hardly unique to Republicans or to the RNC – Democrats raised millions off George W. Bush in similar terms – but rarely is it practiced in such cartoonish terms.

One page, headed “The Evil Empire,” pictures Obama as the Joker from Batman, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leaders Harry Reid are depicted as Cruella DeVille and Scooby Doo, respectively.

The document, which two Republican sources said was prepared by the party’s finance staff, comes as Chairman Michael Steele struggles to retain the trust and allegiance of major donors, who can give as much as $30,400 a year to the party.

Under Steele, the RNC has shifted toward a reliance on small donors, but the document reveals extensive, confidential details of the strategy for luring wealthy checkwriters, which range from luxury retreats in California wine country to tickets to a professional fight in Las Vegas.

The 72-page document was provided to POLITICO by a Democrat, who said a hard copy had been left in the hotel hosting the $2,500-a-head retreat, the Gasparilla Inn & Club. Sources at the event said the presentation was delivered by Bickhart and by the RNC Finance Chairman, Peter Terpeluk, a former ambassador to Luxembourg under President George W. Bush. 

The RNC reacted with alarm to a question about it Wednesday, emailing major donors to warn them of a reporter’s question, and distancing Steele from its contents.

“The document was used for a fundraising presentation Chairman Steele did not attend, nor had he seen the document,” RNC Communications Director Doug Heye said in an email. “Fundraising documents are often controversial.

“Obviously, the Chairman disagrees with the language and finds the use of such imagery to be unacceptable. It will not be used by the Republican National Committee – in any capacity – in the future,” Heye said.

The most unusual section of the presentation is a set of six slides headed “RNC Marketing 101.” The presentation divides fundraising into two traditional categories, direct marketing and major donors, and lays out the details of how to approach each group.

The small donors who are the targets of direct marketing are described under the heading “Visceral Giving.” Their motivations are listed as “fear;” “Extreme negative feelings toward existing Administration;” and “Reactionary.”

Major donors, by contrast, are treated in a column headed “Calculated Giving.”

Their motivations include: “Peer to Peer Pressure”; “access”; and “Ego-Driven.”

The slide also allows that donors may have more honorable motives, including “Patriotic Duty.”

A major Republican donor described the state of the RNC’s relationship with major donors as “disastrous,” with veteran givers beginning to abandon the committee, which is becoming increasingly reliant on small donors.

The party’s average contribution in 2009, according to the document, was just $40, and the shift toward a financial reliance on the grassroots may help explain Steele’s increasingly strident tone toward the Obama Administration.

While the crude portrayal of Obama may be - as Steele ‘s spokesman put it - “unacceptable,” other elements of the presentation may be of equal interest to close political observers. 

The RNC plans to raise $8.6 million from major donors alone in 2010, less than 10% of its total 2009 fundraising take, which was primarily from small donors."

The center of that plan is an extensive, and colorful, schedule of events. Along with traditional fundraisers with conservative luminaries including Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, the party plans to raise $80,000 for a trip to London to meet David Cameron, the British Conservative Party leader, on September 17.

The RNC’s “Young Eagles” – younger major donors and the only group, according to a major donor, continuing to pull its weight financially – are invited to a “professional bull riding event” in October, expected to raise $50,000, and to a no-holds-barred Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in Las Vegas the same month, expected to raise $60,000.

The RNC’s aim, according to one section of the document: “Putting the Fun Back in FUNdraising.”

CORRECTION: The RNC raised a total of $81 million in 2009. An earlier version of this story understated that figure.



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"It's Time to Act"


"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."



Good Morning Everyone;
I have been silent on the HealthCare issue for quite some time. It became almost a non~issue for me with the deletion of The Public Option.
BUT... Since there is still minor hope for The Public Option, of course I have much to say about it all.

Casey and I did watch that Health Care summit last Thursday. We were very proud when President Obama (found his gonads and) finally stood up to the blatant disrespect; even while keeping the agenda on Health Care.

We were just 2 of the following people.
"Some had the audacity to hope that the Republicans would come to the table to work with the President to solve problems like health care. Now, it’s clear they are putting insurance industry profits above the health of America’s families."

D. Bhargava, from "The GOP Health Plan: A Cruel Joke"

We found it odd that "the leading Republican spokesperson for their new plan, Congressman John Boehner has pocketed nearly a million dollars from the insurance special interests." (Cited above).

Perhaps "odd" isn't the correct word.
"Par for the course" would be more fitting.

Read on- As always, I have cited my sources.

______________________________

Anthony Mason, CBS News, quoted below

"As Washington tries to write a new prescription for HealthCare, American business says it can't afford to be left in the waiting room"
  • Some of you are getting by.
    • somehow.

  • Some have lost their jobs already.

  • Still others do not have the money for food.

  • Some are working- having their hours and wages cut.
    • "Benefits" is a gold mine to an employee
    • And an obscene word to an employer

  • Some are working two jobs
    • and still trying to raise their children.

  • Some still believe they can sit on a pedestal and literally or figuratively, denigrate those that cannot even 'see' the pedestal.
    • Those pedestals will crack!
      • If they haven't begun to crumble already

  • Many of us (on my pages) are ill or incapacitated in some manner. 
    • (Through no fault of our own).

  • Some even are fortunate enough to know what they need,
    • but lack the funds necessary to have their medicines,
      • or the surgeries that would save them.

To those that are still working...
  • Does your job offer security?
  • Do you really feel safe?
  • Should you?

"Every 10% rise in HealthCare costs the economy 120,000 jobs." Source: Rand

  • How much has your health insurance gone up?
  • Do you even have your employer based insurance anymore?
I wonder now, how many people [that were originally so against this plan[ have since lost their jobs? (IMHO, knowing one of these people, I have to say that even their arrogance couldn't save them).
* Pea, I am not talking about you- You are not arrogant. You are kind. You are wise.

Some grand companies are even dropping health insurance and not telling their employees. Click for that story.
Talk about deception!

What one angry commenter said: "The American People have NOT said they do not want this Health Care Bill, it is the biased media in certain large cities and states reporting that the people don't want it, NOT the people saying they don't want it, some group has taken over and is trying to convince people that they don't want it.
STOP and think, who was it at the Tea Bag Parties, and at the town hall meetings that were on the news networks???
90% of those that spoke out against it are retired and already on medicare!!! They were convinced to assemble and speak out against an issue that did not even concern them. Did they ask the currently employed people that DO NOT have health care? NO..... Did they ask the unemployed? NO. Who did they ask?
As many people as they could that the health care bill would not affect whether it passed or not. "
End quote

While I may disagree about this mans comment about the Tea Baggers, this article did make me wince- First from it's obvious language, then from the fact that he may possibly be correct.

Still, reeking of Nixon's Silent majority is not what my blog is about.

This is: "Most Americans would like to see a "public option" in health insurance reform but doubt anything Congress does will lower costs or improve care " end quote.
Thomson Reuters PULSE Healthcare Survey

There are questions still.
Like, has your senator taken a stand on the public option?  Click.
120 House members signed their support also. Click.
Note: "Statements are only counted if they make clear that the senator will vote yes if the House version of the public option (or stronger) is brought up for a vote in reconciliation."

Also quoted, "If 100 senators are not on board for a public option and true reform, then NONE of them is listening to the American people." end quote

"Capitalism, when you're shopping for a TV or a car, is fine; [but] when necessities are involved, capitalism is pure evil. We should aspire to something better. If you want to call that socialism, which I define as caring about people, that's fine with me."  end quote
I could not agree more!


"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"


If you, for any reason, are not hearing these truths, may you be safe and secure in the knowledge that you did nothing to help while the deaths and lives of many fellow Americans are summarily hanging in the balance.

What do these words mean to you? As taken from The Preamble to the US Constitution at the top, "promote the general welfare"

Here are your options...
  1. Please define "security" for me.
  2. Then define "health" for me.
  3. How is YOUR health?
  4. More importantly, how will your health be tomorrow?

Sleep well my friends.

XOXO
Me

"It's time to act" from President Obama's most recent health care speech
click

Also (ALL from whitehouse.gov).




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