WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Rep. Eric Massa announced his two latest town hall meetings:

Saturday, 10/03/09:

2:00 - 4:00 pm

Van Etten Town Hall Meeting

Van Etten Town Hall

83 Main Street

Van Etten, NY 14889

Sunday, 10/04/09:

3:00 – 5:00

Chili Town Hall

Roberts Wesleyan College, Cultural Arts Center

2301 Westside Drive

Rochester, NY 14624

Although I have been informed that these are just generic town halls, you can bet that the topic of conversation will be health care, as well it should be.  90% of politics is just showing up, so let’s try to show up and let him know we’re still here and that we still know that single payer is the best option, but without a public option of some sort, there is no health care reform.

They say that Jesus spent alot of time with men.  Twelve disciples, hanging around together all the time?  Could it be?

Probably not. Personally, I think he was married to Mary Magdalene (who was not a prostitute, as is often portrayed) but for some reason, the accepted version of the Bible has kept him single and celibate, which would certainly confirm his divinity, as the human male is destined to be thinking about sex all the time.

So, I found this website, The Catholic Knight, and this guy is a little upset that Catholic Lawmakers have signed on to a bill to overturn DOMA:

Last week Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York) introduced the Respect Marriage Act - H.R. 3567. In reading the title one might think this bill is about protecting traditional marriage…just the opposite.

In a statement on his website, Rep. Nadler writes, “The introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act responds directly to a call from President Obama for congressional action on the issue. As the president recently confirmed: ‘I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. It’s discriminatory, it interferes with states’ rights, and it’s time we overturned it.”

H.R. 3567 is off to a good start having 90 co-sponsors at its introduction — 35 Catholic…

And who do we find on this list?  Our very own, Congressman Dan Maffei.

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: The following are open questions to the bishops of these congressmen. Why have these politicians not been formerly excommunicated? Please explain. Are you bewitched by their charisma? Are you being blackmailed? Do you fear their wrath? What power do they have over you? Just curious.

Do you get the feeling he’s yelling here?  Did I say “a little upset”?  I mean “alot upset”.

He does look a little evil here!

Perhaps, a public stoning is in order?

“Obama is Hitler” Edition

Let’s keep the “Obama equals Hitler” drumbeat going and describe the President as an “Enemy of Humanity.” That’s exactly what Republican Congressman Trent Franks did at the recent  “How to Take Back America” conference in St. Louis.

“Enemy of Humanity?”  Hmm, gee, maybe that was too much.  Franks assigned his staff apologist to clarify:

Bethany Haley, spokeswoman for Franks, said the congressman was referring to “unborn humanity” and should have clarified his statement. She also said that Franks meant to say that Obama’s abortion-related policies have no place in government, rather than that Obama has no place in government.

Yeah and Obama’s a racist too, just like Hitler. If kids have a fight on a school bus, let’s  cheer when Rush says that in “Obama’s America the white kids now get beat up,”  and  calls for a return to segregated busing. Authorities said last weeks’ school bus scuffle did not seem to be racially motivated, but that didn’t stop  Rush Limbaugh from jumping on the story.

Following Rush’s contribution, white supremacists marched in Belleville Illinois:

While a police sniper watched from the roof of the police station, 22 members of white supremacist groups, shouted obscenities and made obscene hand gestures. One man, who had a crew cut and wore a black uniform, told the crowd of onlookers, “Wake up white America!”

“We were out there to denounce the violence,” said Belleville resident Jason Bonn, who is a corporal with the National Socialist Movement, a group with a name similar to the Nazi Party of Germany during World War II. Bonn’s group is “fighting for white civil rights.”

Plus, of course, the genocidal insanity of fuel-efficient cars makes Obama the Hitler of our time. A repeat kick in the wingnuts for Bob “FUBO” Lonsberry who spewed this hateful nonsense back in May,when he  compared President Obama to Der Fuhrer.

Now, we will have Obama cars.

And why not. Hitler designed cars, why should our Fuehrer be denied the pleasure?

…

But this isn’t about the arrogance of power, this is about how many of us will have to die because of this man’s arrogance of power.

To meet the dictator’s whim, American automobiles will have to be far smaller and lighter. Families accustomed to SUVs and mini-vans will have to crowd into light, compact sardine cans.

Which will spill them like so much produce onto the highway when they wreck.

…

That means he has decreed that more of us will die on the highways.

…

Hopefully it won’t be one of your children who has to be sacrificed for Chancellor Obama’s volks wagen.

…

And now the Fuehrer is designing cars.

Thank you, Maggie.  We can all rest a little easier now, knowing our public safety equipment is up to date and expensive.

The vote went as expected, right down party lines per Jill Terreri at RocNow:

The county will pay $11.2 million every year for 20 years in exchange for state-of-the-art public safety communications equipment.

An oversight board will have five members, not three, after an amendment Republicans offered.

Democrats voted in favor of that change, but all of their proposals to amend the measure did not pass, and the minority caucus voted against the final motion.

After the three-hour meeting, County Executive Maggie Brooks said the arrangement would enable the county to be a leader in public safety communications equipment.

Just kidding, but I know that it often feels that way.  On the other hand, it’s what’s happening and we’re trying to give you as much information as possible as this issue winds it’s way through congress.  Here’s Howard on last night’s Countdown:

Dick Cheney spent some time in the Adirondacks last Friday according to The In Box.  He was there for peak color and I was not.

The Tri-Lakes were buzzing over the weekend about former VP Dick Cheney’s visit to the Adirondacks on Friday.

According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Cheney was at Camp Topridge on Upper St. Regis Lake for a retreat being held by the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

The event was hosted by Harlan Crow, described by the paper as a Texas real estate mogul.

A retreat?  Probably got to hang out by the lake and watch the leaves fall.  Can’t blame a guy for maximizing his opportunities.  Just hope he wasn’t hunting.

Well, that’s not really breaking news, is it?  But this is:

By a 15-8 vote, the Senate Finance Committee just made sure the so-called public option will not be part of its version of legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system.

My husband was listening to this on the radio.  He heard Schumer’s response.  Apparently Chuck is pissed!

More on this later.

With apologies to the Fuccillo Motors (well, not them you) - “this is Huge, Rochester Huuuuuuuge!”

Remember when I commented on Sirota’s column in the D&C last week?  James Lawrence over on the D&C’s Editorial blog made it official - they are looking at adding  Sirota to the stable of columnists offered by the D&C.

The last thing we want to be is predictable. (OK, hold the comments. Predictability is a matter or perception.) Anyway, Sirota is being considered as a regular. I spoke to him before leaving on vacation and he is excited about the prospect of coming aboard as a regular. No decision has been made, but again, he’s under consideration.

If you like Sirota’s work,  leave a comment here. By the way, I’ve caught him a couple of times as a talkinghead on CNN in recent weeks.

Yeah, we like him too -for the same reason the D&C does -

We used him for the first time because his point of view was something different, well argued and well written.

So, want to support Sirota and bring a true progressive columnist to the D&C?  Hop over to the their blog and leave a comment or send D&C opinion editor James Lawrence an email (jlawrenc@democratandchronicle.com).

From MPNnow.com:

Last week, Democrats nominated Paloma Capanna of Webster to run for a judicial seat. Capanna unsuccessfully challenged state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, last year for his 54th District seat.

Capanna has been a family law attorney in private practice for 17 years and has an office in Perinton.

Third time with her hat in the ring.  Paloma, an outstanding candidate, sadly running against a Republican Incumbent in the 7th Judicial District, an historically Republican District.

The Mad as Hell Doctors are holding a final“White Ribbon Rally” for Single Payer on Wednesday, in Washington DC.  Remember Dr. Flowers?

Dr. Margaret Flowers, one of the “Baucus Eight” arrested in May 2009 for protesting a Senate hearing which excluded single payers advocates from testifying, is helping the Mad As Hell Doctors plan the White Ribbon Rally.
“Single Payer has a lot more friends in Washington than the media likes to portray,” says Flowers pointedly. “So I’ve invited a lot people who would love to the opportunity to demonstrate their support for the movement. People like Rep. John Conyers who cosponsored HR 676, Rep. Eric Massa from New York, Senator Bernie Sanders, Wendell Potter from CMD and others - these are all extremely wise Washington types who understand that single payer in the only honest solution.”

(My bold.  Of course he’s going to be there.  Yes, Mr. Greenbaum, this is a Washington Representative who knows what real health care reform looks like.)

In keeping with the original intention on the tour, the Mad As Hell Doctors will also conduct what they call a Care-A-Van, lead by their logo-wrapped flagship Winnebago affectionately known to their supporters as ‘Winnie.’ “We really want people to decorate their vehicles with lots of ribbons,” says Dr. Joe Eusterman, fellow Mad As Hell Doctor and Winnie’s self-appointed captain. “We want people to have fun with it, the way we have. Be safe, but be imaginative. That’s how we’ll attract attention. And who knows, a few people might even get some of our MAHD t-shirts if they really impress us.”

The Care-A-Van will take place on September 30th, the same day as the White Ribbon Rally, starting in Frederick, MD at 9:30 am with a 10:30am stop in Columbia, MD . From Columbia, the long line of ribbon-decorated cars will press on toward Silver Springs Metro Station. In Silver Springs, the Care-A-Van participants will park their cars and take the Metro to McPherson Square in preparation for their March to Lafayette Park at 3:00pm.

I would, so, like to be there, but that need to pay bills thingy still stands in the way. Anybody free on Wednesday?

Sitting here, reading this letter from my employer, I never thought it would come to this:

In mid- August, New York state enacted an emergency regulation that requires health care personnel to receive annual flu vaccinations.  The new regulation requires that both paid and unpaid health care personnel who have direct patient contact, or, who have frequent contact with direct care providers, be immunized against the flu virus.  Like all other mandatory requirements for health carepersonnel (e.g., annual updates, MMR vaccination, TB test), this immunization is a condition of employment.

(Text of the NYS regulation can be found, here.)

My first question is, what emergency led the state to these “emergency regulations”?

Emergency measures are being taken without an emergency.

The Nurses Association questions the authority of this body to impose such a sweeping mandate as an emergency rule, without the declaration of a public health emergency. When there is a public health emergency and the governor or state health official initiates a public health strategy to curb the spread of a communicable disease, the state may mandate quarantine, vaccine, or other such measures for the public good. But the action must have a real and substantial relation to an immediate threat to the public health and safety [(Jacobson v. Massachusetts 197 U.S. 11 (1905)].

(And, just for the record, I never had the MMR vaccine.  I actually had Measles, Mumps and Rubella and, as a consequence have acquired a [gasp!] natural immunity. I have, only once, received a flu vaccine and have been working in the health-care field since 1989.)

I am greatly offended that injecting toxins into my body is now a requirement for employment.  The NYSNA shares my sentiments and has this to say:

Speaking on behalf of its 37,000 registered nurse members, the New York State Nurses Association continues to oppose the emergency amendment to the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York requiring healthcare personnel to be vaccinated for influenza.

We are urging that, in the absence of a declared public emergency, this regulation be allowed to expire. This will permit the State Hospital Review and Planning Council, the Department of Health, and the various stakeholders to fully review the impact of this rule.

[snip]

As we have previously testified, while vaccinations are generally effective, they do not guarantee protection from the flu. If the vaccine is poorly matched to the virus in circulation, vaccinated individuals can still contract the flu. Infection control is still necessary. In addition, to our knowledge DOH has offered no guidance to facilities about how to assign and protect workers who cannot be immunized for medical reasons.

It also is unclear whether nurses who are fired because they refuse to be immunized will be subject to unprofessional conduct charges under Regents Rules Part 29.

To return to the concerns expressed in the hundreds of calls we have received, nurses and other healthcare personnel object to:

• Insufficient information on the efficacy and safety of the H1N1 vaccine.
• The absence of a provision allowing them to refuse the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons.
• The removal of their right to weigh the pros and cons of immunization and make a choice regarding their own health.

The Patients Bill of Rights includes the right to refuse medication. The dedicated workers providing care should have the same rights as their patients.

So, is this really about protecting workers and patients, or is this about more money for drug companies who supply vaccine coupled with a scorched earth policy from the NYSDOH?

Again, fear is what is driving us to make uninformed, knee jerk regulations which affect peoples lives and livelihoods and that have no proven beneficial effects.

The forgotten (insert tongue in cheek, here) American Heroes:

From Dissident Voice comes a well written treatise discussing each aspect of Medicare for all with a mantra of (what else?) “Yes We Can”.  In response to comments evolving from my recent post, The truth about HR676, I offer this up to those who feel that single payer is unrealistic in the current climate.

Even with health insurance, many Americans are a medical crisis away from bankruptcy. Research shows 62 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were medical, a share up 50 percent since 2001. Most of the medically bankrupt had health insurance — the kind insuring profits, not health care.

Health insurance executives don’t worry about going bankrupt from getting sick. Forbes reports that CIGNA’s CEO made $121 million in the last five years and Humana’s CEO made $57 million.

Locally, you can find the list of Excellus employees who’s gross salary (2008) was $200,ooo or more, starting with David Klein, CEO at$2.73 million.  What are they producing? - Nothing.  They are being paid to transfer money from one entity to another and their highest profits come from NOT transferring money, ie- denying claims.

Now, I’m not anti-capitalism, but at some point, social responsibility has to be recognized, and capitalism from profiting off people’s misfortune and illness is it’s antithesis.

Health industry lobbyists and campaign contributors have gotten between you and your congressperson so they can keep getting between you and your doctor. There are 3,098 health sector lobbyists swarming Capitol Hill — nearly six for every member of Congress.

As Business Week put it in August, “Health insurers are winning.” They “have succeeded in redefining the terms of the reform debate to such a degree that no matter what specifics emerge in the voluminous bill Congress may send to President Obama this fall, the insurance industry will emerge more profitable.”

This is exactly why we have to unite for single payer.  There are all kinds of organizations endorsing HR 676, but how to pull them all together into one unified body with a voice that can’t be silenced by the money changers?  Can this be accomplished starting with the interwebs?  How about HR676.org?  Our local PDA, Genesee Valley Chapter may be able to direct you.

Single payer.  It’s as unrealistic as a bi-racial US president.

Via City News

The committee has invited detailed proposals from Anthony J. Costello and Son for a proposal in Brighton; SRC Development Group for the Medley Centre project in Irondequoit; Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in Farmington; J. Fiorie & Co. for Canal Ponds in Greece and Gates; and an unnamed site in the Town of Webster.

“Our initial invitations were extended to projects in a variety of geographic locations,” said Frank S. Hagelberg, chair of the site selection committee. “Other proposals may also be considered after the initial round of presentations, and nothing has been ruled out at this time.”

Brighton?

Remember when the talk of the town was a Costello development in Brighton?   More hotels, a Whole foods market blah blah blah.  So what is this lets shelve all that and build a big theater in Brighton?

The question for each town is simply

Will a theater built in the ‘burbs be budget neutral?

Remember the issue with RenSquare was that the funds cold not be raised to build it.  What exactly has changed?

What a week.  Local election discussion, Greece Town Budget issues, ROBUTRAD pleas and COMIDA becomes day care’s sugar daddy  RenSquare makes the news, and Congressional Candidate Tom Reed is smacked down by the hometown newspaper.  The D&C published David Sirota.  There is more of course -

Here is the week that was on Rochesterturning.

Local Politics -

The Democrats are doomed in November if you are to believe the quotes in this D&C article.   There is cause for optimism as the voter party ID has turned blue over time.  The historical dearth of candidates in towns hasn’t helped build a base but the scandals could be a factor.  The quotes from the various party chairs weren’t encouraging nor was this passage attributed to Mayor Johnson - “He’s not so sure about Greece, where he was trounced 5 to 1 by voters there in his 2003 run against Brooks.”  yeah Dick Beebe 2006.  Wonder what changed in those three years Mayor Johnson.  I guess back to voter ID.

Greece - the scandal hotbed (well, at least one of them) increased services and lowered taxes - we ask is it sustainable?

COMDIA - We are subsidizing non-Rochester based  Day Care Centers.  Centers that your non growing local economy probably doesn’t need and your local government shouldn’t be providing tax breaks.    Of course, we discover a donation to the local GOP - wonder how that is related and this isn’t the first time Doodle Bugs received public money.

ROBUTRAD - yet another guilty plea.

The St John Fisher Law School is delayed - In an obvious self-serving statement RenSquare proponents blame lack of, well, RenSquare.  We note that claim is BS.  Wonder if the State will get the Joe Robach grant to support a St John Fisher Law school back?  (how much was it?  a million dollars?)

Federal Politics -

Both Massa and Maffei were wrong not voting to rebuke Joe Wilson - Here is why.

Run away, Run Away -  Cancel ACORN’s contracts but cancel the contracts of other organizations guilty of more malfeasance?  Well, not so fast.

Tom Reed channels his inner Tom Delay and dances all over himself before he falls and sees stars.  The Corning Leader, his hometown newspaper calls him on it.  Yes, Tom Reed is a hypocrite.

Rep Massa denounces Libyan President Khaddafy’s visit to the U.S.

State Politics

We are reminded that the Gov isn’t felling the love - an area we covered in detail last week when President Obama purportedly inserted himself in the Governors race.

Meanwhile Governor Paterson and NYS get help in the form of a LT Governor and a new poll is released that shows unsurprising his poll numbers continue to be in the tank.  The question is raised “I’m not sure why the New York governor’s race is so heavily polled, since the numbers don’t change much, but I guess people like gawking at train wrecks.”  Yep.

Future ex State Senator Hiram Monserrate video is released.   The one where he allegedly slashed his girlfriends face with a bottle.

Quick Clicks -

Health Care?  The New York Times trashes HR-676 and there is a good rebuttal.  There are also decent discussion in the comments.  Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi seems to send a signal that the Blue Dog influence is waning.

Does your RT access on a blackberry act weird?

Local power companies want to increase your rates substantially.

Wingnuts returns -

Senator Bernie Sanders makes the case for Clean money Clean Elections.

Finally -  why do teabaggers, various pundits and GOP electeds conveniently ignore budget busting deficits when it doesn’t suit them (like those under George Bush)?  David Sirota publishes an column calling the condition Selective Deficit disorder.   That the Democrat and Chronicle PUBLISHED the column was shocking.  Want more Sirota in the D&C - email James Lawrence (jlawrenc@democratandchronicle.com).

That’s it for this week.