I'm Going Behind Bars For Good!

I support the Muscular Dystrophy Association every year by participating in their MDA Lockup program.  As a repeat offender I am going behind bars for good.  My bail is $1600.  I need your help to raise my bail.  All donations are tax deductible and support the MDA in their mission of research and support for folks with these devastating diseases.  My $1600 dollar bail will mean that two kids with muscular dystrophy will be able to go to an MDA run summer camp and just be kids in a safe and effective medical support environment.  

I know times are tough right now.  Every dollar helps the MDA provide support for these folk who suffer tough times each and every day.  If you can afford only one dollar it helps.  If you donate one dollar and then ask ten friends to donate one dollar and ask them to ask ten friends to donate one dollar and so on I will make bail easily.  Now I am not trying to limit myself.  If you can afford more than a dollar please do what you can.

  To make a secure credit card donation online click here.  Thank You!

Let's Hold Our Elected Officials to a Higher Standard!

Greetings all,

I am posting copies of letters I sent to one of Colorado's state senators.  It is an ongoing discussion, but I wanted to share this as I feel it is important that no matter what our differing political beliefs, we can work to solve our problems with a little civility and decency.  It is time to put the partisan era behind us and move on to rebuilding this great country.  

There are many reading this who live in Senator Shultheis' district on the north side of El Paso County.  Please contact senator Shultheis and hold him accountable for his actions.  We must hold all of our elected officials to a higher standard.  They sought out the responsibility to govern and must accept responsibility for their actions both good and bad.  For those others reading this to you as an example that we do not have to stand idly by while our elected leaders continue to perform their jobs poorly.  Please take time to contact your elected officials regularly.  The more we all stay in their in boxes, the more they have to listen to the will of We the People.

"What I'm hoping is that, yes, that person may have AIDS... as a baby and when they grow up, but the mother will begin to feel guilt as a result of that." --David Schultheis Colorado State Senator

Mr. Schultheis,

It sickens me to read that you actually would prefer that a baby be born with AIDS so that the mother may feel guilty about her behaviors that caused the problem.  As best as I can tell you are the only person in the Colorado State Senate who voted against this bill.  

I am writing to tell you that I am sickened by your behavior as a legislator.  You along with many of your Republican colleagues ran out of good ideas a long time ago.  In case you hadn't noticed Senator, The people of Colorado and the United States have voted for progressive change.  We the people have demanded change.  We are tired of the negative politics of hate and dogma that the Republican party has become associated with.  You sir continue to move this image forward for your party along with many of your other Republican colleagues around the country.

I believe that you must make a public apology for this statement.  It is time to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem sir.  If you cannot bring your self to apologize for this insensitive and hateful statement then I think it will be time for you to go.

Sincerely a registered Independent voter from Colorado Springs.

-- 
Jeremy Cook

XXX XXXXX XXXX

Colorado Springs, CO XXXXX

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Ravenlaughing@gmail.com 

Jeremy:

 

These words were taken entirely out of context

____________________________________________________________________________________________

This was the complete reply to my first letter.  So I wrote Senator Schultheis the following:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Senator Shultheis,

I find it entirely unacceptable that you are a legislator in this great state.  As you can see I received your reply to my letter.  I have also managed to find your blog and this has cemented my view that you are not fit for public office in Colorado or any other body of government.  Unfortunately or maybe fortunately you are not my Senator.  If you were my Senator, we would be discussing recall procedures.

This first thing that stands out in what I have seen, read, and heard about is that you refuse to take responsibility for your actions or what you say.  If you said, "What I'm hoping is that, yes, that person may have AIDS... as a baby and when they grow up, but the mother will begin to feel guilt as a result of that,"

be a man and own it.  

You write in your blog

 "Unfortunately, I made a comment to a reporter in haste that misspoke my position on this issue. That happens. It’s a risk for all those who work in the public eye."

Yet in your reply to me all you can say is that your comment was taken out of context.   Which is it an unfortunate mistake, or a comment that you made that which was taken out of context by a reporter?

I'm sorry Senator, but you can't talk out both sides of your mouth and eat your cake too.  If you don't mean it don't say it.  That's the values I was raised with.  

The next thing I noticed is that you are one of these politicians who likes to "be for it, before you were against it."  The following is also taken directly from your blog :

"When I first heard of the bill in the Health and Human Services Committee several days earlier, I was quite moved by testimony as to how such testing could assist an unborn baby, mitigating effects of his or her mother’s HIV/AIDS condition. As a result, I voted “Yes” in supporting the bill along with the rest of the committee."

"Subsequent to the committee vote, and prior to my vote of “NO” on the floor, I wrestled with a number of issues regarding the bill. I sought counsel from quite a number of people for whom I have great respect. The primary question and the one I apply whenever any issue is brought up for discussion is: “Is this a proper role for government?” '

I am not taking this out of context am I Senator?  I think not.  I think you are talking out of both sides of your mouth again.

Next up in our discussion I would like to comment on the following also from your blog:

"Long-standing stigmas against out-of-wedlock sexual activity were put in place by societies to slow the spread of disease and deal with challenges of raising children without full family units. Our nation has walked away from those stigmas over the past half century…illegitimate birth rates are through the roof…some argue the true cause of poverty, criminal or substance abuse in our society can be primarily tied to the ills of out-of-wedlock births. It is a serious issue, but, as a caring nation, we try not to impose the mistakes of the parents on their children."

While I agree that many of the ills of society are aggravated by unwanted pregnancies, I would not say that they are the cause of poverty, crime and drug abuse in our society.  Was poverty in the middle ages caused by illegitimate births?  I doubt it.  I believe that as a caring nation we must figure out how to break this cycle of poverty and crime and substance abuse etc, by helping people up, not kicking them when they are down.

Also from your blog Senator:

But the question still remains, “Is this a proper role for government?” 

If you believe it is right and fitting to require testing for any particular health situation, should we then require it for other conditions or issues? Assuming we should test in all circumstances for HIV/AIDS, perhaps one could argue the legislature should require testing by physicians of any patient for any other variety of issues. How about residual cocaine use? Marijuana? Alcohol? I’m certain some could argue such testing would achieve lofty and compelling societal objectives, enabling doctors, health care providers, and others to know when to prescribe or direct intervention efforts. Should we then share those required test results with Children’s Protective Services? With law enforcement? Insurance companies? Our banks and credit unions? How about requiring testing for other conditions? Pregnancy for any female regardless of age? For cholesterol problems? High blood pressure? DNA testing to create a database to clear any person of alleged crime, or identify perpetrators? Should we use the results of any test to deny health care to patients deemed undeserving under any proposed national health care scheme where rationing takes place because of resource limits?

The answer to your first question is yes.  We should be able to test new mothers and everyone for medical conditions.  It is time that we have quality affordable health care for each and every person in this country.  And while this is an issue for another arena, it is your party and your parties values that keep people with out health care.  Drug testing is already done on a grand scale in this country.  Sir if you feel that we should not be testing for HIV in pregnant mother, then you must believe that we don't need drug testing when a worker is injured on the job, because it is not governments responsibility, and there are privacy issues.  In response to your question about denying health care  based on test results shows the ludicrous nature of you argument.  The purpose  in having a national health care plan is to ensure that all Americans have quality health care.

Senator, while I understand how the sins of the parents pass on to the next generations, I don't believe it is a proper role for government to ensure that the children suffer from those sins.  I am willing to guess that you are against abortion, though I didn't bother to check, and yet you would hope for a baby to be born with HIV/AIDS so that the mother can suffer guilt.  Again, I am sure you are talking out of both sides of your mouth sir.  

I am now asking you to resign your position sir and to make a public apology.  You must either stand by your statement or take it back and apologize.

-- 
Jeremy Cook

XXX XXXX XXXX

Colorado Springs, CO XXXXX

XXX-XXX-XXXX

ravenlaughing@gmail.com 

Wodhof Urban Farmstead 

Decriminalize Common Sense 

"The cause of all our personal problems and nearly all the problems of the world can be summed up in a single sentence:

Human life is very deep, and our modern dominant lifestyle is not."

-Bo Lozoff

One can educate ignorance, but it is futile to argue with stupidity!

COAL INDUSTRY SPOKESMAN “DOESN’T KNOW” IF COAL CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING

As a spokesman for the coal industry, Joe Lucas is having a hard time coming to grips with reality.  As a paid spokesman is it not his job to toe the company line.  Could it be that he really feels guilty about the work he does lying to the American people and can't face us and tell us the truth.  

We the People need to continue to push back against the dirty energy lobbies.  They have spent millions of dollars to tell us how much we need their dirty energy and bribe, uhhh uhh uhm cough cough, I mean convince our elected officials to continue the destructive policies that have brought us to the present problems in the world.

Coal is not the answer to our energy problems.  I watch tons of it roll by my house everyday.  It is headed from the strip mines in Wyoming to power the states that need it the least if they would invest in their wind and solar resources.  

Please take time today to call or send a note to your elected officials to remind them that we do not need the services of the coal and oil lobbies in this country anymore.  

So Begins The Fight For Health Care Reform!

In just about 48 hours, President Barak Obama will convene a White House summit on health care reform.  The problem is that the lobbyists are gearing up for the a huge battle.  They have the funds and the status quo.  What they don't have is the will of the American People.  We voted Mr. Obama into the White House to handle our business.  He won by a huge landslide with more people voting than at any other time in our history.  On his agenda is to reform health care and make sure that each and every person in this country has affordable quality health care.  He cannot do it with out us.  President Obama also vowed on the campaign trail that the lobbyist will have to go.  He needs our help.

Moveon.org is running a petition to show our support for health care reform that will be delivered in person to the members of the summit.  They currently have over 200,000 signatures and would like to arrive at the summit with 250,000.  Please click here to sign the petition and let the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists know that they are no longer wanted or needed in Washington.

Next please contact your elected representatives in Washington and ask them to support President Obama in making sure that every person in the United States has quality affordable health care.  We cannot afford to not reform health care in this country.

Health and Human Services Cabinet Nomination: Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius

I found this article about Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the potential problems with her confirmation in the Senate for Health and Human Services Secretary. 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Catholic League president refers to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as "enemy of the unborn"
  
• Progressive groups defend Kansas governor, praise bipartisanship 
  
• Archbishop chastised Sebelius over abortion bill that she called unconstitutional
  
• Sebelius nomination likely to get backing of Democrats, moderate Republicans

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/02/sebelius.abortion.fight/

The fact is that Catholic League President Bill Donohue, who called Sebelius the "enemy of the unborn, appears to always looking for the next controversy to promote his particular brand of Catholicism.  The Catholic League seems to be an extreme right wing of the Catholic faith.  Please see the opposition's notes on the Catholic League and Bill Donohue published by Catholics for choice.

Governor Sebelius appears to have the support of GOP Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts of Kansas for her nomination to Health and Human Services.  These are two of the most conservative Senators in Washington when it comes to the abortion issue.

The Kansas Governor has support from other groups as well.  The group Catholics United stood up for Sebelius noting that she has worked to lower the abortion rate in Kansas.  They also have posted excerpts of a 2006 speech in which the governor said she opposed abortion.

"My Catholic faith teaches me that all life is sacred, and personally I believe abortion is wrong," she said then. "However, I disagree with the suggestion that criminalizing women and their doctors is an effective means of achieving the goal of reducing the number of abortions in our nation."

Governor Sebelius' nomination is not the venue to have the discussion we need to continue to have about abortion.  The two term governor has been praised by many for her bipartisanship and working with the other side in Kansas.  What we need now is someone who can come into Washington and help President Barak Obama fulfill his promise to reform health care in this country.  We can no longer afford to have a broken health care system in this country.  

No matter your position on abortion, please take a few minutes to write your Senators and show your support for Governor Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.  This department is large bureaucracy that oversees everything from food and drugs to cancer research.  We need a capable administrator who can work with both sides to resolve many of the issues currently facing this country.

WTF Republicans?

To my Republican friends, all I can ask after watching the news this evening is: WTF?  I saw on Rachael Maddow that the newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele, says that the GOP needs a hip hop makeover.  Really? 

First, I think they need a reality makeover.  I was curious to see what would happen when the Republican National Committee voted to make Michael Steele their chairman.  It was a toss up between Mr. Steele and and a couple of others.  Mr. Steele was elected when he finally got a majority of the the 168 voters after six ballots.  One of the other candidates, Katon Dawson, quit his whites only country club a month before declaring himself in the race.  There were charges of graft, and incompetence all around.  So after much deliberation, the RNC picks Michael Steele, the first ever black national leader of the Republican party.  He has often been accused of being a social liberal by others in his party.  My first thought when Mr. Steele was elected was that the RNC was playing a game of "see we have black guys too."  Now I see the Mr. Steele is going to give the Conservative party a "hip hop make-over."  This really should be interesting to watch, much like a train wreck or car accident.  

The Republicans have lost their minds since King George III left office.  They are bragging about their lack of support for the stimulus plan, and yet there are some Republican representatives going home to tout the benefits of the plan for their states to their constituents though they voted against it.  Sorry, you can't have your cake and eat it too.  To use the words of our former war criminal in chief, you are either with us or against us.  We are against the ropes right now, and the Republicans are choosing to try to obstruct the things we need to do as a country to fix our problems.  There are Republican governors, such as Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and others, who are considering not accepting money from the stimulus bill for their state.  If Republicans continue on this path of stupidity I hope their constituents give them the boot as well.  

Here is the deal.  Much of the mess we are in is due to Republican leadership in both the White House and Congress, with their policies of deregulation and trickle down economics.  Now is the time to work together to find common ground and solve the problems that face this nation.  If you want to follow the money, please visit recovery.gov .   To contact elected officials please visit USA.gov to let them know what is on your mind.  

As for the coming Republican train wreck, all we can do is sit back and watch.

Cheney admits to warcrimes on television

The waterboarding technique illustrated by former Tuol Sleng inmate Vann Nath.

I hope you have watched this video.  If you love this country you must contact your Senators and Representatives and let them know it is OK to prosecute the outgoing administration for crimes.  Dick Cheney has blatantly shown his complicity in authorizing torture and other crimes against humanity.   Our elected leaders in Congress and the White House swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States when they take office.  It is obvious from the past eight years that the Bush administration thought the Constitution made a nice door mat for the White House and have been wiping their feet on it ever since.  Congress has neglected its duties to defend and protect the Constitution.  

The current Congress is afraid of the political fall out and only wants a commission to find the "truth."  This borders on treason and complicity.  We the people have spoken overwhelmingly for change.  We have many things to do to set this country right and moving forward into the twenty first century.  We must not forget to protect our beloved Constitution along the way.  If we fail to prosecute and punish the actions of this administration then we set a bad precedent for future presidents.   

We impeached Bill Clinton for getting a blow job outside of marriage and lying about it, yet we continue to let the Bush administration commit atrocious war crimes that undermine American credibility in the world.  Cheney has admitted to committing war crimes and yet we let him walk the streets.  

The administrations justification for all of their crimes is that water boarding is not torture.  Excuse me.  We are using a technique that stimulates drowning to get information.  It was first used by the Spanish Inquisition to get supposed witches and heretics to confess that they were in league with the devil.  It was used in colonial times by the Dutch East India Trading company during a revolt on the Island of Amboyna in 1623.  After the Spanish American war, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the court martial of an American general for using this form of torture.  The United States prosecuted Japanese officers after World War II for using similar techniques on American troops.  In Vietnam, American generals designated this technique as illegal and off limits.  The Khmer Rouge used water boarding techniques between 1975 and 1979 during their mass genocide of their people.   At the top of this article is a painting of the technique of waterboarding by the Khmer Rouge.  This painting is on display at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.

The United States has signed most of the international treaties banning torture, and yet we have a president and vice president who insist that it is OK.  It is time for us to help the president-elect Obama and the new congress clean up this mess.  Please contact you elected leaders and ask them to ensure that two wrongs don't make a right.  You can also speak to the incoming administration by visiting Change.gov.