February 26, 2010
Health Care Summit
Yeah, I watched it. This was my favorite moment.
Posted by jnfr at 07:34 AM | Comments (0)
December 24, 2009
I am a leftist too
And I am very happy that the Senate has passed a health care bill. Dear media, please don't paint all leftists as obstructionist on this issue. The reality is much more nuanced than that.
Posted by jnfr at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2009
The Public Option
And so Harry Reid is going to bring us the opt-out version of the public option. Personally I am fine with this position. Here is what I wrote to some friends about this issue:
The question isn't whether it's right to allow the red states to refuse health care (for themselves). The question is whether it's better or worse to allow the red states to deny health care to everyone. If an opt-out is all they can pass, then pass it. We can move the ball further another time.
And the politics of it are beautiful. Let the Republicans go home and tell their voters that they can't have health care for ideological reasons. I dare them to.
Huge thanks to Nancy Pelosi, the progressives in Congress, and the liberal netroots. The public option was declared dead over and over, and it was only hard work by the left wing that kept it on the table.
Don't stop pushing yet! Now let's get it passed.
Posted by jnfr at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2009
Just to say...
As much as I love this First Family, and I do, I'm still holding my breath that the Dems get health care at least half right. I'm hoping for three-quarters, but I know that's a lot to ask.
Posted by jnfr at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2009
Health Care Movement
I'm thrilled that something finally made it out of the Senate Finance Committee. Now maybe we can move on. I am constantly annoyed by how much attention Olympia Snowe gets. As Grayson pointed out: nobody elected her President, and she's had far too much influence on the process so far. It's time for that to end.
As all the conservative Dems crow about how the Baucus bill costs so little (roughly $800 billion), it's important to point out that the HELP Committee Bill offered by Kennedy/Dodd, which includes a strong public option, scored in at only $611 billion. Somehow the cable talkers aren't pointing that out.
If you're for fiscal responsibility in health care, then you have to be for a public option.
Update: The Washington Post has a good graphic up comparing the Finance bill, HELP bill, and the combined House bills on cost, coverage, and features.
Posted by jnfr at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2009
Best rant EVER
I've been loving Rep. Grayson a lot (almost as much as Rep. Weiner), for speaking the truth when it comes to healthcare. Now he's topped himself.
We as a party have spent the last six months, the greatest minds in our party, dwelling on the question, the unbelievably consuming question of how to get Olympia Snowe to vote on health care reform. I want to remind us all that Olympia Snowe was not elected President last year. Olympia Snowe has no veto power in the Senate. Olympia Snowe represents a state with one half of one percent of America's population.
What America wants is health care reform. America doesn't care if it gets 51 votes in the Senate or 60 votes in the Senate or 83 votes in the Senate, in fact America doesn't even care about that, it doesn't care about that at all.
The whole speech is excellent. Listen to it all.
Hat tip to MinistryofTruth at DailyKOS.
Posted by jnfr at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)
July 31, 2009
Jared Polis conference call
Last night I listened in on a conference call arranged by my CO CD-2 Rep. Jared Polis. I've posted a lengthy summary in a diary over at Square State, and cross-posted to DailyKos.
Posted by jnfr at 01:48 PM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2009
Now Is The Time
For us all to speak up for heath care reform.
Health care expert Joe Flower tells us why.
Posted by jnfr at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2007
Republicans vs. Healthcare
I am totally stealing this pic from John Cole:
John, if you want people to steal your Photoshops, you have to make them BIGGER!
Posted by jnfr at 06:57 PM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2007
Shameful
From Americans United for Change.
Posted by jnfr at 09:19 AM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2007
Veto
And that's all you need to know about Bush.
Posted by jnfr at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2007
Tony Snow
Let me join with the rest of the blogs in wishing Tony Snow all the best as he continues his fight against cancer. The articles say he is upbeat and intends to fight for his life, and I hope this goes well for him and his family.
His words about and to Elizabeth Edwards were more than kind, and clearly understanding. He seems like a good man, and as I noted when he took this job, his rock band is named "Beats Workin'". That still makes me smile.
Posted by jnfr at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2007
More Elizabeth Edwards
In case you missed John and Elizabeth Edwards appearing on 60 Minutes last night, CBS has a transcript of the interview, and a video clip at that link as well.
I thought they sounded great, but then I'm not one of the few who are disturbed by their decision to continue campaigning.
This clip was uploaded by the fine folks at TheBlueState, under the heading Katy Couric second-guesses the Edwards Family, and I have to say I share their take on the interview. Couric certainly went out of her way to press all the arguments against their decision, and didn't show much understanding of why they decided as they did. But they responded to her well.
UPDATE: There are several great responses to the Couric interview at the Huffington Post this morning. Susan Madrak, in The Cancer Scolds Explain It All For You, asks why we can't accept people wanting to live their lives as long as they are alive. David Sirota, in Et tu, Katie Couric?, discusses Couric's role as chief prosecutor with the Edwards being cross-examined. And Taylor Marsh, asking Is Katie Kidding?, wonders why Couric kept asking the same question ("you know you're dying so what's the point?") over and over in various ways.
I hadn't realized before reading the HuffPost that Couric's husband had battled cancer, and that she worked full-time during that struggle. You'd think she might be a bit more understanding.
UPDATE: And polling shows that Americans back the Edwards strongly for their decision to stay in the race, though a notable number (38%) believe he may eventually have to drop out.
Posted by jnfr at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2007
Elizabeth Edwards
Terrible news for the Edwards family, and all our best wishes go with them. But they are truly inspirational as a couple, aren't they? John Edwards is the candidate I've most strongly supported in this election so far*, and this only makes me love him more. But Elizabeth is every bit as impressive, and in a just world she could have been the candidate herself.
I've lost too many friends to cancer, but I also have many friends who have survived the disease and continue to live good, happy lives. May you do the same, Elizabeth. And thanks to both of you for your shining example of real progressive values.
*since Gore isn't running
UPDATE: I'm reading a number of comments here and there disparaging John and Elizabeth's decision to stay in the race. I think Jane Hamsher says it best, while referencing her own struggle with breast cancer.
I needed to know, for myself, that even though accomodations had to be made, I was still living my life on my terms. I fully understand why Elizabeth made the decision she did....
The willingness to fight, to not back down in the face of the disease, even when the stress level must be extraordinarily toxic, is worthy of tremendous admiration and certainly bodes well for her continued well being. For me personally, and for all women who face what she is facing, she is an extraordinary role model.
Posted by jnfr at 11:38 AM | Comments (2)
March 25, 2006
Surprise Plot Twist!
Recently South Dakota passed a law forbidding abortion in all cases except when the mother might die. The law hasn't been tested in court yet, and there are aspects of it that don't make sense, but it certainly gives notice that the war on abortion has begun.
But in a surprise twist, I read on ginmar's livejournal blog last week, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which holds tribal lands inside of S.D. and is led by a woman, is considering opening a Planned Parenthood clinic on sovereign native lands.
Napoli suggested that if it was a case of “simple rape,” there should be no thoughts of ending a pregnancy. Letters by the hundreds appeared in local newspapers, mostly written by women, challenging Napoli’s description of rape as “simple.” He has yet to explain satisfactorily what he meant by “simple rape.”
The President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cecilia Fire Thunder, was incensed. A former nurse and healthcare giver she was very angry that a state body made up mostly of white males, would make such a stupid law against women.
“To me, it is now a question of sovereignty,” she said to me last week. “I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction.”
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is among the poorest in the nation, and people who care about this issue are joining in to contribute to this effort. From ginmar again, here are the addresses to send encouragement and contributions.
Oglala Sioux Tribe
ATTN: President Fire Thunder
P. O. Box 2070
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
OR: and this may be preferred, due to mail volume:
ATTN: PRESIDENT FIRE THUNDER
PO BOX 990
Martin, SD 57751
Posted by jnfr at 12:43 PM | Comments (0)
February 24, 2006
Stand Up for Women's Rights
Amanda at Pandagon has some thoughts on how.
Jane at firedoglake is thinking smart on this issue, too.
Oh, and as she also asks, when are we going to ban in-vitro fertilization?
Posted by jnfr at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2005
This is bad, potentially very bad
I was unhappy when I learned that a deadly flu virus had been sent around the world by mistake. When that happened, it seemed inevitable what would come next:
Two-thirds of flu virus shipments destroyed, but 3 still missing: WHO
GENEVA-Health experts have destroyed two-thirds of the specimens of a killer influenza virus sent as part of routine test kits around the world, but were still trying to trace three shipments that were supposed to go to Mexico, Lebanon and Chile, UN officials said Friday.
The World Health Organization has been urging thousands of labs in 19 countries that received vials of the nearly 50-year-old H2N2 virus to destroy the samples amid fears of a global pandemic should the virus be released. The original number of countries was 18, but on Friday it was learned that one lab in the United Kingdom also had been sent a sample.
WHO influenza chief Klaus Stohr said late Friday that 13 of the 19 countries that received samples had confirmed their labs had destroyed the virus.
However, labs in Lebanon, Mexico and Chile "never received the specimen, even though they were on the distribution list," Stohr said.
Is it just me, or does that sound like they aren't entirely sure of all the places the samples were sent? They report that the WHO is investigating the missing samples. I sure hope they find them.
Posted by jnfr at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2005
New AIDS strain emerges
and it's more virulent than the one we have now. The new strain was found by doctors in New York, and seems to be resistent to three of the four most commonly used AIDS drugs. Plus, instead of taking years to develop from an HIV infection into full blown AIDS, it takes only three or four months.
I was already concerned about the possibility of a bird flu pandemic, but this is another sign that the microbes continue to fight back.
Posted by jnfr at 09:46 PM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2004
Stem cells in baby teeth
In October there was a conference on stem cell research, held in Australia. One finding presented at the conference was that children's discarded baby teeth, when carefully preserved, can have more stem cells than an embryo, and those cells may be more versatile as well. If further work bears this out, it provides a way out of the ethical dilemma stem cells pose.
The conference also reported on the use of stem cells to cure diabetes in mice, while elsewhere stem cells taken from an umbilical cord have been used to cure spinal injuries. It's essential that we move ahead with research using stem cells, especially those that come from such unobjectionable sources. For that reason I'm grateful that California decided to fund stem cell research, a move other states would be wise to follow.
Posted by jnfr at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2004
More on the pandemic
Today's New York Times has more on the potential for avian flu to cause a global pandemic.
Posted by jnfr at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2004
Whooping cough returns
I actually had whooping cough as a kid. I was pretty sick, too, though not as sick as when I had rubella. And scarlet fever wasn't fun either. We think of those diseases as something out of the dark ages, but they were not that uncommon within my lifetime. Now it seems that whooping cough cases are on the rise, and adults who get it may not even realize they have.
Posted by jnfr at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2004
Flu pandemic "inevitable"
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the World Health Organization issued a report which said a global flu pandemic is inevitable, probably in the form of a mutated bird flu virus. The WHO fears that as many as seven million people could die in a widespread flu outbreak, and urged all countries to prepare, especially those in Asia where bird flus spread most easily.
As for the U.S., this administration has shown itself to be incompetent even in preparing for ordinary flu, so if a deadly virus reaches us, we could be in big trouble.
Posted by jnfr at 09:01 AM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2004
Flu vaccine
I was one of the many people who couldn't get a flu shot this year. Since my husband and I both have asthma, I was unhappy with that. I was even more unhappy when I learned recently that the FDA knew about Chiron's problems over a year ago, and did nothing about it. They didn't even let the company know about sanitation problems they had detected.
I don't even know what to say about such stunning incompetence, in an area of public health that is life and death for many people.
Posted by jnfr at 07:50 AM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2004
Assault on abortion rights begins now
Before the new Congress is even in session, abortion foes are being handed a gift, attached to a must-pass spending bill. The provision assures that health care providers who refuse abortion services will still receive federal funds, and it's clearly a payback to the religious right for their help in re-electing Bush. Barbara Boxer, who received more votes than Kerry in California and who is an unabashed liberal, has vowed to fight the measure.
Posted by jnfr at 09:22 AM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2004
Don't even say the words
"reproductive rights". You never know whether the FCC might be listening.
Posted by jnfr at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)
November 12, 2004
Bush fights condoms
Bush and the CDC have ordered up new regulations which prohibit any HIV teaching that includes condom use. From now on, it's abstinence only, if you receive any federal funds. As I've noted before, abstinence only information doesn't work.
Posted by jnfr at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)
Fight Against Breast Cancer
Most of you have heard, I'm sure, that Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer just after election day. I have a number of friends who are survivors of breast cancer as well. Regular mammograms are essential in the early detection of breast cancer. Please visit The Breast Cancer Site, where you can (for free) click a button to donate money towards mammograms for those who can't afford them. Because we all deserve a healthy life.
And to Elizabeth Edwards, and any who are enduring this disease, I send my own blessing for your well-being and recovery.
Posted by jnfr at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2004
Restricting information
In addition to outright lying, one way the right tries to enforce their morality is by denying information to people, particularly to women and teens. Because so much of their agenda is aimed at controlling sexuality and enforcing births, information about birth control cannot be allowed. While they talk about preventing abortions, their true underlying agenda becomes clear when we discuss birth control. In their view, the only information kids should get about sex is advice to abstain, and information about birth control and STDs shouldn't be allowed.
Now I don't personally think teens in general should be having sex, especially young teens. But the problem with abstinence-only education is that it doesn't work. This blog posting at the Ms. magazine site points out that in Texas — where birth control information is suppressed — 15-17 year old girls have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. Kids don't stop having sex when you deny them information on birth control and STDs; they have unprotected sex instead, and end up having children while they're still children themselves.
Alternatively, we end up with even more abortions. While Bush has been president and has waged a consistent war against both abortion and birth control, the abortion rate has risen, after a decade where abortion rates fell every year. If our goal is to keep abortion safe, legal, and rare, suppressing information about birth control is not the way to proceed. And if you think restricting information is the way to prevent abortions and teenage sex, you need to think again, because your methods are not working.
Posted by jnfr at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2004
Lying to women in the name of morality
If it means scaring even one woman away from abortion, the right is happy to lie.
Women seeking abortions in Mississippi must first sign a form indicating they've been told abortion can increase their risk of breast cancer. They aren't told that scientific reviews have concluded there is no such risk.
Similar information suggesting a cancer link is given to women considering abortion in Texas, Louisiana and Kansas, and legislation to require such notification has been introduced in 14 other states.
Posted by jnfr at 07:53 AM | Comments (0)
November 09, 2004
Never forget their true agenda
...is to control women's sexuality, like it or not.
Druggists refuse to give out pill
For a year, Julee Lacey stopped in a CVS pharmacy near her home in a Fort Worth suburb to get refills of her birth-control pills. Then one day last March, the pharmacist refused to fill Lacey's prescription because she did not believe in birth control....
The American Pharmacists Association, with 50,000 members, has a policy that says druggists can refuse to fill prescriptions if they object on moral grounds, but they must make arrangements so a patient can still get the pills. Yet some pharmacists have refused to hand the prescription to another druggist to fill.
In Madison, Wis., a pharmacist faces possible disciplinary action by the state pharmacy board for refusing to transfer a woman's prescription for birth-control pills to another druggist or to give the slip back to her. He would not refill it because of his religious views.
Some advocates for women's reproductive rights are worried that such actions by pharmacists and legislatures are gaining momentum....
"We have always understood that the battles about abortion were just the tip of a larger ideological iceberg, and that it's really birth control that they're after also," says Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Posted by jnfr at 02:25 PM | Comments (0)
Red states = unhealthy?
A recent study found that people living in Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Vermont were the healthiest in the nation, while people in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana were the least healthy.
While every state has gotten healthier since 1990 when the survey started, the gains have been eroded by increasing levels of obesity, poverty, and a rise in the number of uninsured people.
I think the saddest statistic is that we experienced another rise in infant mortality rates, and are now only 28th in our level of infant mortality. A baby born in the U.S. has twice the chance of dying as one born in Japan or Sweden.
Posted by jnfr at 07:59 AM | Comments (0)