alamantra's Comments (85)

“I think that auditing the Fed and changing the law that allows banks to regulate themselves is a great idea. It's part of that transparency people like me voted for ...its the kind of change I can believe in. I'm one of Sen. Shelby's constituents, and I write him often ...usually to let him know that I disagree with him on ...well... most everything. I found his comments on Health Insurance Reform to be particularly deplorable:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Senator-Shelby-of-Alabama-by-Alamantra-090925-2.html

However, I can support him on this and it will be a real change for me to write him to let him know that.”

“I don't understand the "biased liberal media's" fascination with these cretins. They get more free advertising from MSNBC, CNN, HuffPo etc than they do on FOX. We know what they are, and that they care more for aggrandizing themselves than they do for the people of the United States of America.
Well, if we're going to be their free press, let's not do it by half measures. No...since the White House has declared that FOX is NOT a news organization and they have access to the public airwaves under that (allegedly false) pretext, then there needs to be a congressional investigation and and FCC investigation to find out what rules, laws and covenants are being broken. If they are found to be using the public airwaves improperly, then there may need to be individual and collective charges filed for conspiracy. It was FOX's status as a "news" organization that gave it credibility when it sold the American people on an unnecessary and costly war, and called those who questioned their government "unpatriot­ic." Ironically, it is now suddenly patriotic, not simply to question the government but to openly transmit seditious thoughts, words and deeds toward it. Enough.”

“Actually the push-poll that just called my house was very obviously right-wing. The first question was "Do you want to see President Obama voted out of office in 2012"? It's almost funny that you can talk about the so-called "liberal" MSM, excluding FOX on an article that demonstrates, if anything ever could to you, that FOX is the preferred dispenser of MAIN STREAM MEDIA on cable news. That should be enough to demonstrate that the so-called MSM is catering to the right wing. If that's not enough just look at who is running broadcasting companies like Clear Channel, Citadel etc. As to the policy of showing caskets of fallen soldiers, twas the Republicans who instituted that policy. The current administration supported the policy change that has allowed caskets to be shown provided it is done with the approval of the family. They DO display caskets coming in... Maybe should contact FOX and ask them where the coverage is.”

“Shouldn't the right wing trolls be gathered in front of their boob tubes about now? ...It's just about feedin' time. Since so many seem to not like libs, why do they want to spend their days hanging out on lib sites? Do they think that they're going to persuade "us" to change our ways? What a waste of time...”

“It's the Republican side that is pushing the mandates ...without helping people pay for them. ...And of course, if they could force people to have to have insurance and get rid of the minimum wage what a glorious GOP world it would be. (Brought to you by the same people who brought you The Patriot Act, Warrantless Wiretaps, Cointelpro Operations at the GOP convention, The desolation of New Orleans, The outting of a CIA agent, and two botched wars. ....We should really care what they have to say. Not.)

The cuts PRESIDENT Obama propose would be in the subsidies and entitlements Insurance companies receive under Medicare part D. A great deal of that money could be used to benefit the people who are on Medicare instead of the insurance company "death panels."

I don't understand why anyone should feel sorry for the insurance industry or even care if it gets dismantled. They have been more of the problem and less of the solution for 40 years. When doctors don't have to run tests to make a profit, or force people to come in for a visit so they can file a charge ...then we might start to be on our way to real healthcare reform.”

“As I recall, Beck only took one theological class, at that ....Of course, at FOX that makes him an expert on religion.”

“So how are you going to "force" the 764,000 Americans with Cerebral Palsy, like one of our sons, to provide for themselves? There are over 54 million Americans who are disabled, 35 million are severely disabled, 11 million need daily assitance just to function. ...How are you going to "force" them to provide for themselves?

GOP call: NO!
GOP response: "You're on your own."”

“Yeah ...getting kids to stay and school and do homework ...what a radical agenda. Trying to force insurance companies to lower their costs to being something like affordable ...shockin­g. Increasing benefits to our men and women in uniform ...how utterly unamerican.”

“No one can have "emergency control" over the internet. "The internet" isn't some centralized "thing." It's millions and millions of computers connecting with each other all over the world. At best President Obama could order this or that server offline. The Iranians tried to turn off the internet by shutting down various communications outlets ...and that didn't work, either.”

“It's not that amazing when one considers that The Beverly Hillbillies: "Giant Jackrabbit" episode had 22 and half million viewers.

"According to Jim" drew over 4 million viewers back in June ...and finished at 149 in the rankings. I would venture that either of those shows had more to offer in the way of content than Beck ever does ...especia­lly the Hillbillies.

His career does have several curious parallels with that of the Lonesome Roads character from "A Face in the Crowd."

Beck will eventually wind up in the same forgotten pile where one can find Hee Haw ...only Hee Haw will be better remembered.”

“Pres. Obama said that he opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions.

Pres. Obama didn't say that he unconditionally supported single payer. He has always supported a public option as a mechanism to bring everyone into health insurance coverage. This is, in his view, one of the best ways to drive health insurance costs down.

Pres. Obama didn't say that he opposes war. He said that he opposed an ill-conceived war in Iraq that took our eye off the ball that got hit our way after 9/11. George Bush and Company sent our troops into harm's way in Afghanistan and just left them there without much of a real mission ...and didn't take out the people who were responsible for 9/11.”

“Beck is such a well informed and well intentioned individual ...and so are his fans:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/2/760870/-Glenn-Beck-Fan,-Highly-Armed,-Busted-For-Casing-National-Guard-Base,-Thinking-It-Was-A-FEMA-Camp-”

“Don't forget about the labor camps for everyone carrying GOP membership cards after New Year's.”

“This isn't too much to get worked up over. Russia just gave the United States permission to do 4,500 overflights across its borders to bring troops and equipment to Afghanistan. Even Faux News picked up on that one:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/06/russia-cooperation-afghanistan-shows-degree-turn/”

“The Health Care Plan is designed to give people MORE choice, not less.”

“Not if you're a rethuglican. The only thing that matters is that Pres. Obama and all connected to his administration fail. The fate of the citizens and the pressing issues of the day couldn't be of less importance to them. Even when Team Obama does something very good and inspiring, there is no acknowledgement. HOw much time did FOX News give to the new G.I. Bill? ...Who is going to say our service men and women don't deserve it or haven't EARNED it?
The Right-wing-nuts are now getting to the point where they are quite prepared to blur the lines between civil disobedience and sedition ...which is not protected under the first amendment.

As to his poll numbers, though: MSNBC just reported that the most recent polls show that Pres. Obama has enjoyed an uptick of 4 pts. Happy Birthday Mr. President.

I want to congratulate former Pres. Clinton for his work in this. Bubba done real good. His stock has most definitely gone up with me. The screwheads can all go sit in the corner, sharpen their sticks and gnash their teeth for all I care,”

“So your message is "Leave Health Care Alone." That's fine. Send me your address and YOU can pay my family's medical bills. We'll just get rid of the intermediaries. Oh by the way, I've got a child with cerebral palsy, so get your checkbook out.

You say that you represent "average and reasonable folks." From what I've seen via YouTube, "reasonable" doesn't apply. If, by "average," you mean "status quo" ...I can accept that description of what your post represents.”

“"2. Will the law require Members of Congress and federal employees to be enrolled in the "government option/public plan," and if not, why not?"

Even though Alabama Rep. Artur Davis (D) says he opposes the House bill and will not be supporting it, he has curiously sponsored these two bills:

1. H.RES.626 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of Congress who participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) should be automatically enrolled in the public plan.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 7/10/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Administration; House Ways and Means

2. H.RES.657 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of Congress who participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) should be automatically enrolled in the public option and be subject to any personal income tax increases levied as a result of healthcare legislation, regardless of their annual gross income.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 7/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Administration; House Ways and Means”

“The Soviet Union was an empire of laws under Khrushchev. Should Gary Powers have had to do his full stretch of ten years after he was caught spying on them?

Is this how you feel about our soldiers when they're captured? : "They knew the risks, ..Let em rot." ?”

“That's the best belly-laugh I've had all day. Thanks!”

“We need to lobby MSNBC to get rid of all of that prison garbage and become a REAL 24 hour news channel.”

“I've seen much made about how what Joel Tenenbaum did was stealing and how good it is he got nailed. Some have said that the only regret is that they didn't stick it to him harder. Very well, let's look at these songs as just a brandx item. We're talking about the recording industry being compensated as much as $150,000 per track for a .99 cent item. So if a kid steals a candy bar should he or she have to pay a $150,000.0­0 fine? There's something to be said for letting the punishment fit the crime.
Another sentiment I have seen is that artists have a right to their intellectual property and that their interests have to be looked after. Perhaps, but the RIAA doesn't work for recording artists, doesn't exsit for recording artists, but the record companies ...those people who exploit the artist moreso than any internet music pirate ever could. Do you people have any idea how many artists get screwed by the record companies, sign away their rights just to be some label's tax write-off? Do you think that recording artists who make and pay for their own recordings should have to pay the RIAA to air their own music on internet radio platforms like Live365? The RIAA, in many ways is the worst thief of all.
Yes, we should reward the RIAA because of what this guy did ...certain­ly ...It all makes cents.”

“1. Small labels are not all bankrupt. There are more small labels today than ever.
See a site like: http://www.a2im.org/ for a sampling of just how much is out there. That's just one independent music organization.

2. There is plenty of music that is as innovative, socially conscious and rocking as anything in from the 60s and 70s via sites like myspace, music alley, imeem, garageband, reverbnation and so on. I also review music and if you are more specific as to your tastes and preferences, I'm quite sure I can point you to several examples via sites like myspace, music alley, imeem, garageband, reverbnation etc. The reason that you don't hear it is for the very reasons I gave above. The larger commercial music paradigm, which RIAA is a part of, obscures it.

Several years ago I had a channel on Live365 where I played my own music. Suddenly there was a rule change driven by the RIAA, and I was told that I would now have to PAY a fee that would go to the RIAA to broadcast my own work. Why should the RIAA profit off of me for work that it had no hand in creating, whatsoever? The answer is, they shouldn't.
The RIAA has also actively worked to take out internet radio:
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/03/05/riaa-targets-internet-radio
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070304/223155.shtml”

“Exactly.”

“I'm a songwriter, musician and DIY recording artist and I have nothing but contempt for the RIAA. These fines are outrageous. It is ludicrous to think that a song that sells for .99 cents on the open market suddenly becomes 750 to 150,000 times more valuable simply because someone downloaded it without paying for it. ...How much does the RIAA pY the Edison estate? Afterall, if it weren't for Thomas Edison there wouldn't be any record players to begin the long road of building an industry from which to fatten a few greed heads lucky enough to be in the position to exploit the work of the people who actually create the music. ...And what has the recording industry actually accomplished? It is part of a system whereby the public gets exposed to a handful of mediocre music which is repeated endlessly until the public is convinced that it is "good" and then buys it.
If I had a dime for every musician I knew that got taken by a recording contract and lost their shirts, I could pay Joel Tenenbaum's fine.
The recording industry's model is obsolete and was never anything to write home about in the first place. Fortunately improved home recording technology coupled with internet distribution has been a game changer. Unfortunately the recording industry keeps lobbying to have rules imposed that stifle it's indie competition. Its something I would suggest isn't worth supporting but is worth the public's contempt. Don't buy their products.”