Seriously, this lady posts video on her site that contradicts the claims she makes in the text.  

http://thedanashow.wordpress.com/

She says there were only a few hundred older folks at the rally, and then posts video with Adam, who’s pretty young, and pans around showing the huge turnout.  Not that you could point that out on her site, since she has comments disabled.

Dana Loesch = Joke

[poll id=”

48

“]

Nice to see the pro-health care forces dwarfing the tea-baggers for a change. The energy was like that of last November in support for Obama. I caught most of the speeches on my google phone. It was great seeing many familiar faces, Don Necessary, Glenn Kage, Susan Cunningham, Merrill Bauer, Darin Gilley, Jen Haro, Bev White, Tom & LaDonna Appelbaum, Dale Steinberg, Deb Lavender, Melanie Shouse, Will Roth, Joy & Jeanette Ward — and those are just from the top of my head! Of course there were well over a thousand folks vocalizing their support for health care reform. “Public option”, “single-payer”, “health care reform now!” were shouted out by everyone there.  

Walk Through to Front Lines, tea-baggers vs. folks for health care for all…

Of course, congressional polls always are.  But this one is especially worthless.  Fortunately no one is breathless over it.  

The right-leaning Rasmussen Reports did a poll late last week to gauge congressional satisfaction  that showed 57% of respondents would like to replace the whole congress.

If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, just 25% of voters nationwide would keep the current batch of legislators.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% would vote to replace the entire Congress and start all over again. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure how they would vote.

Overall, these numbers are little changed since last October. When Congress was passing the unpopular $700-billion bailout plan in the heat of a presidential campaign and a seeming financial industry meltdown, 59% wanted to throw them all out. At that time, just 17% wanted to keep them.

Polls like this are especially ridiculous, but lets unpack it a little bit anyway, and here is a good place to start: Overall, these numbers are little changed since last October. You may recall that we had a general election just days after the previous poll where none of that anger translated into incumbents losing their seats en masse, even though 435 Representatives and 30-odd Senators were standing for election.  

Polls like this make for a few seconds of entertaining soundbites because some idiotic hairdo will inevitably ask an elected legislator “What about the Rassmussen poll that registers wide dissatisfaction with the congress?  A majority wants to throw you all out!”  

Just once, I want an elected official to look at one of these moronic “reporters” and say “Polls like that are useless and you damned well know it, and if you don’t, get out of my press conference right now and go back to high school and come back when you have passed American Government.”  Play that on your 24-hour-loop, jackasses.

Congress, by the very nature of the beast, is going to have many detractors.  That is because it is a large, diverse body made up of 535 individual legislators and of all those names, only three ever appear on MY ballot.  It’s those other 532 polecats and crooks  (who ought to be indicted before lunch) that are screwing things up, you see.  

It is just the nature of the institution that our own representatives poll favorably (barring scandal) among their constituents, while the numbers for the body at large reflect our inherent distrust of “others.”  For that reason, polls like this are not just ridiculous, they are, at best, counterproductive.

Crossposted from They Gave Us a Republic

With its location on the midwest part of the United States, the state of Missouri is a large tourist destination for outdoor recreation, information technology and transportation. Environmental efficiency is on the rise throughout the state because of technology and green building methods progressing rapidly. 

Not only will these methods produce a healthier lifestyle, it will save you money. Many older homes built prior to 1980 may still harvest obsolete and corrosive building materials which can create health concerns.

Green methods of building and construction have become a prominent aspect of Missouri's communities.

Implementing green methods of building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits. These include: Conservation of natural resources, enhance air quality, protect eco systems, energy sustainability, increase property value, improve quality of life, improvement of pulmonary and cardiac health, Reduction of waste.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was utilized throughout the 20th century as an ideal form of insulation and piping in construction applications. Most of Missouri's asbestos has been as a result of its large petroleum industry. Oil giants such as BP Amoco, Chevron and American Oil all have refineries stationed in the state.

Libby Montana Asbestos Threat

On June 17, 2009, the towns of Libby and Troy in Northwest Montana were placed under a public health emergency by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Vermiculite which is contaminated with asbestos was mined in the town of Libby until 1990. Due to the asbestos being minded for decades, thousands of workers and civilians were unknowingly exposed. Several asbestos-related diseases have been documented in Libby as a result.

The new EPA administrator has made vigorous statements in not only acknowledging the grave health concerns surrounding Libby, but has demanded for aggressive cleanups to protect the citizens from asbestos exposure. Asbestos industries have been heavily scrutinized for concealing information and not informing the public on the dangers associated with asbestos. 

Tips & Advice

It is not always an easy process to determine whether or not a particular insulation contains asbestos. If any suspected asbestos is located, leaving it undisturbed is advisable as this will prevent its fibers from becoming airborne. The Missouri Department of Environmental Quality assists citizens in the inspection, removal and safe disposal of asbestos. Removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of a rare, but severe form of asbestos lung cancer known as mesothelioma. With a latency period that lasts 20 to 50 years, it isn't until the later stages of progression when physicians usually are able to accurately diagnose this disease.

Missouri Going Green!

Recently, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Included in this act were extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using eco-sustainable methods.

Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include added insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC specifications, sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with U-factored rated wood doors are also eligible.

Green options to asbestos include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof.  Statistics show that the lcynene foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 25 percent annually, according to studies done by manufacturers. These green insulation alternatives have the same beneficial qualities as asbestos, minus the health deteriorating and toxic components.

Wow what a rally! The The Organizing for America team worked up a wonderful “Health Insurance Reform Now” rally on Hampton and Elizabeth near I-44 this Sunday eve at the St. Louis IBEW Hall. The President of the Board of Alderman Lewis Reed, our County Executive Charlie Dooley, Labor Council President Bob Soutier and Rep. Russ Carnahan spoke at the event. It was so exciting and inspiring to see SO many people on the only moral side of this issue stand together and let their voices be heard!!

Of course the “teabaggers” showed up but the group was small and OUR event was organized to marginalize these very sad and misguided people. We chanted them down from across the street. They tried to make noise and distract but they were ineffective in their efforts.  We were probably six times their number, maybe more. I am being “conservative” with that number LOL!

I spotted the infamous Josh Schroeder in the crowd posing as one of us. Ya THAT Josh Schroeder that turns off the comment section on his blog when someone disagrees with him. I walked up to Schroeder and asked him if he was indeed who I thought he was. He was surprised someone would recognize him. I told him, “I know who you are!” And what do hypocritical teabagger preachers do when confronted with their arrogance and greed? They cut and run! I turned around to inform an event organizer that we had an infiltrator and poof he was gone. Oh well! To have gotten a picture of him with the Health Care Reform sticker oh his gravy stained green polo would have been classic!

We received the following press release today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Johnson County Democrats And UCM College Democrats Hold A Rally and March for Real Health Care Reform

Warrensburg, MO – …Johnson County Democrats along with the University of Central Missouri-College Democrats will hold a march and rally for a real health care reform on Wednesday, Sep. 2, in Warrensburg…

Supporters and activists for this health care reform initiative will start gathering at 5:00 p.m. in the Johnson County Courthouse The march…will start at 5:30 p.m. and end at the University of Central Missouri – Union 237B…

…A rally for health care reform has been planned at University Union – Room 237B at 6:00 p.m., following the march. During the rally several speakers will emphasize the need for a real health care reform, based on their experiences and knowledge of the present health care system. Those attending the rally will be asked to sign petitions and write letters to their members of Congress.

On May 28, 2009, the Johnson County Democratic Central Committee had adopted for a health care resolution in favor of a public option.

“I think the public option is a common-sense solution to the soaring costs of health care services and insurance,” Jane Vansant, Chair, Johnson County Democratic Central Committee said. “I don’t understand how people can say that government provided health insurance like Medicare is terrible and then worry that too many people will want it.”

Randy Huggins, Johnson County Democratic Central Committee Member from Leeton…emphasized that the real health care reform rally will be an opportunity for the citizens of Johnson County to receive factual information about the health care reform legislation.

“Most students are insured under their parents until they graduate college, some however do not go to college and work a part-time job without healthcare are left out and are at risk to have serious health problems,” Nick McDaniels, President, University of Central Missouri-College Democrats said. “Another group of students, college graduates, and students who are going to graduate school also get left out by the current system.”

McDaniels highlighted that with issues like these challenging America it is clear we need serious health care reform, including a strong public option, which will allow community members to thrive and have a healthier and cheaper option for healthcare.

For more information regarding the real health care reform rally and march please contact Jane Vansant, Chair, Johnson County Democratic Central Committee at jlvansant@yahoo.com, or Nick McDaniels, President – UCM College Democrats at nrm74240@yahoo.com

Johnson County Democrats can be followed on http://www.jocodemocrats.org, as well on facebook under Johnson County Democrats.

###

Any bets if Micheal Mahoney bothers to show up?

First, I don’t know Jeff Smith, but according to what I have heard and read, he was an intelligent and conscientious legislator who tried hard to serve his constituents.  Second, if Smith did what he is accused of doing, which seems to be a pretty sure thing right now, then he deserves to pay the full legal penalty. I have no intention of making excuses for dishonest and illegal behavior, and I can understand why progressives might feel betrayed by Smith.

That given, I was absolutely taken aback by a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial which, with little or no concrete evidence, but with a full measure of sanctimony, attributed Smith’s behavior to a desire for personal gain:

One word that comes to mind is venality: Willingness to be bribed or bought off, or to prostitute one’s talents for mercenary considerations.

I don’t know about the Post-Dispatch editorial board, but when I read the indictment against Smith, the charges seemed clear enough: He engaged in unethical behavior during an election and then lied to federal officials to cover it up.  Nowhere in the indictment did I see any reference to Smith’s motives. Perhaps the Post-Dispatch knows something that speaks to this issue that I don’t know about, but, if that’s the case, they weren’t really forthcoming about it.

Instead the Post-Dispatch editorial board writers tried to back up their melodrama by appealing to the well-known fact that it is possible to use political office to feather one’s personal nest. The real clincher for the P-D folks seemed to be that Rod Jetton, while speaker of the Missouri House during the Blunt administration heyday, ran a dubious political consulting firm.  

I don’t know anything about Smith’s motives, but I suspect that his behavior may not be that uncommon and need not be explained by highly speculative claims of venality, but simply by referencing a political culture where lack of integrity and personal and civic betrayal are routinely excused by the  bromide “politics ain’t beanbag.”  

As for venality, if the Post-Dispatch wants to ring that bell, one need only consider how health care reform, which every sane citizen knows to be vital to our continued well-being and prosperity, is being, quite legally, held hostage by the loud voice of the big bucks medical industries, exercising their First Amendment rights straight into the coffers of  compliant congress members.  What Smith allegedly did is illegal, but is it really so much worse than the calculus politicians routinely apply in order to balance civic demands against their desire to be re-elected?