a word from hz

by HZ

Rachel Maddow made my heart move faster than one of my attacks, so I had to let her go when she got on PBO about the parade thing. She pisses me off when she goes on about it.

I wish Rachel would let it rest and honor the call of the Pentagon and PBO. He shared with Bob Woodruff last evening his feelings when Bob asked the question of him. I respect his decision and the Pentagon’s.

She could really get the viewers that she wants if she had taken her call into another level of how we all could respect our troops’ returning. This could be “A Country Showing Appreciation”. Then when all are home, we can have a parade.

I could see towns and cities all over the country having a “date night” for our troops and their spouses. Invite our local eateries in each state to donate their restaurants, lounges, music halls, theaters, concert halls to open up for one night with everything on the house. Then her viewers could donate a dinner, movie tickets and dinner, basketball game and dinner, broadway show and dinner, Sunday Brunch with family, town picnics with town and city halls sponsoring the food and entertainment for a weekend.

Beauty salon and spa treatments for family, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, cable companies, donating repair service for homes that have been neglected because of spouses were not able to be home to make some much needed repairs. Gutter cleaners service donated. Companies donated shopping sprees for clothing for the families for the spring. Some families may need a new automobile to get around, so have car dealers go in together and give out a limited number of cars for those needed families.

Sat. breakfasts and a gift from their our local hardware stores, local Macy’s to get a gift for the house, bed and bath gift baskets for their homes, furniture stores donating a home furnishing piece, local water companies picking up a two three month water or gas bill, grocery stores donating 250.00 dollars of groceries for a year, a car mechanic repair for a family car of at least 500.00, a retailer donating home appliances for the families, etc. School supplies and bookstores donating books and supplies for a year to each family. Enrollments for students in a sport, a year of piano lessons, dance lessons, healthy cooking classes from famous chefs a duration of time, donating musical instruments and lessons for 1 full year to children who have not been able to do so because mom or dad were away fighting for us.

Anything that would lighten the load for the family readjusting into the family’s home again with new and durable goods and services. Cleaning service for a home for a month. Phone service for at least two months, a computer for the family with internet service for a year. And the list could go on and be generous. These brave men and women were generous with their lives in their commitment to keep us safe. It may sound way out there, but nothing is way out there when you put your life on the line over and over in duties daily for all of us. Really. Yes, really.

Encourage a nation to get involved at this point to help and give back where it really counts. Then we can all step back and have our wonderful parade for all of our servicemen/women when they ALL are finished.

help?

A gazillion thanks to those of you who contacted me recently about a ‘troll’ in our midst, you know who you are – thank you again. The troll won’t be back.

We should be honored, there’s been a pretty major attempt in the last few weeks by trolls (of the Tea and Firebagger variety) to get on the site – they post really smart stuff like:

“I just love President Obama, he’s amazing …. but a right wing friend of mine just emailed me stuff that suggests he’s an America-hating (Fox link), muslin, communist (Fox link), Nazi, socialist (Fox link), evil, satanic (Fox link), fascist who eats white babies (Fox link) and spits them out on the floor, like they’re chewed tobacco – and Michelle is like totally a KGB spy! (Fox link) Please help me reply to my friend with the truth.”

Seriously trolls, you gotta do waaaaaaay better than that.

We’ll get lots more of this cringeworthy crap in the months ahead, so because I don’t have the chance to read all the comments every day, I’d really appreciate if you helped me out by alerting me to this silliness:

So, please email me at theobamadiary@gmail.com if you think you spot one of these creatures.

It usually takes me (at least) a week to reply, but bear with me – I’ll get there in the end!

I just want to keep this blog free of nasty nutjobs, so if you can help ….  thank you 😉

‘missing the pulse of the country’

“i’m from bank of america and we’ll help you out”

Business Insider: After all the speculation that Rick Perry’s threats against Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke would hurt his relationship with Wall Street, at least one banker is pledging his company’s support.

WGIR New Hampshire Radio’s Paul Westcott captures this clip of an unknown individual telling the Texas governor at a “Politics & Eggs” event in New Hampshire: “I’m from Bank of America and we’ll help you out.”

UPDATE: ZeroHedge identifies the Bank of America official as James Mahoney the Director of Public Policy for the bank. Mahoney is a member of the board of directors of The New England Council, one of the events sponsors.

It’s worth noting again that Perry threatened Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, and said any attempt by the Fed to print more money would be “almost…treasonous.”

UPDATE 2: Mahoney is not registered as a lobbyist, and a BofA spokesman tells POLITICO he works on policy …. Spokesman Lawrence Di Rita: “Bank of America does not endorse Presidential candidates. The reference was about following up on the substance of the speech about job creation and economic growth. Discussing policy issues that affect our company and our customers is something we do with policymakers of both parties routinely at the local, state, and Federal levels.”

ZeroHedge: Should we be surprised, frightened, disgusted or simply say “we knew it” …. At least we know now who is funding what, and whose interests potential future president Perry will be paid to defend.

Thank you Fred

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flashback … the kindness of strangers

Source – 2008 (extracts): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn’t have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her.

Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988.

At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary’s turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.

“You’ll have to pay a $103 surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway,” the man behind the counter said.

Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.

“I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions,” says Mary.

Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy.

“I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do. Then I heard a gentle and friendly voice behind me saying, “That’s OK, I’ll pay for her”.”

Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.

….She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.

The piece of paper said ‘Barack Obama’ and his address in Kansas, which is the state where his mother comes from. Mary carried the slip of paper around in her wallet for years, before it was thrown out.

“He was my knight in shining armor,” says Mary, smiling.

She paid the $103 back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.

In the spring of 2006 Mary’s parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.

In a letter to Mary’s parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped ‘United States Senate, Washington DC’, Barack Obama writes:

“I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I’m happy I could help back then, and I’m delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator.”

The parents sent the letter on to Mary.

“It’s amazing to think that the man who helped me 20 years ago may now become the next US president,” says Mary delightedly.

Original Norwegian newspaper link

this blog needs your help!

Yay, a new post!

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Hiya people, just to let you know I’m going to be away from home for the next three weeks or so and at times I’ll have limited internet access. I will, though, be posting every day, it’s just that updates will be slower some of the time.

 On days like that I’d hugely appreciate it if you could keep things going by posting links to articles and videos in the comments – and when I get back on the blog I’ll update everything and release unregistered visitors’ comments from the hell that is ‘pending’ (unless you’re Tea/Firebaggers, of course).

Love ya all 😉

PS Just to reassure you, everything is excellent – those three weeks on the road will be 1% work and 99% pleasure!

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What? You want this again? Oh, okay!

‘government’s disaster response wins praise from those affected’

New York Times: It has been the deadliest natural disaster on American soil since Hurricane Katrina. But the government response to the tornadoes that devastated the South last week has, at least in the first few days, drawn little of the searing criticism aimed at federal agencies back in

In numerous interviews in the low-income Alberta neighborhood here on Friday, shortly before President Obama and other officials toured what is now an unimaginable wasteland, residents said they had few complaints about the handling of the aftermath by state, local and federal agencies.

Many expressed mild frustration about limits on their access to damaged homes, the pace of road clearing and power restoration, and traffic jams caused by roadblocks and nonfunctioning signals. But most agreed that government and charitable agencies were coping as effectively as feasible with immediate demands for shelter, food, water and medical care, along with search and rescue operations.

“It ain’t like Katrina,” said Darius Rutley, 21, whose house in Alberta was obliterated. “We’re getting help.”

Axavier Wilson, 20, who survived the storm in a closet as the rest of his house blew away, said he had been impressed that both Gov. Robert Bentley and Mr. Obama had visited rapidly. “I don’t think there’s much to mumble and grumble about,” he said. “Everybody feels secure about getting help.”

There was a single cry of “Help us” on Friday from a man who watched the president’s motorcade roll through a treeless lunar landscape, but hardly the wails of stunned desperation shouted from New Orleans rooftops…..

Full article here

Thank you Blackwaterdog

comical….

AMERICABlog: So the same person who complained about the stimulus yet kept his state afloat because of the stimulus money is now asking for federal tax dollars to help with wildfires. If Perry had his way, there would be even less federal tax dollars. Where does he think this money is going to come from? It always seems to be the states that complain the most about taxes who are always grumbling for more tax dollars. It’s not that their requests are unreasonable, but when they make it their mission to attack the system and then come forward with hands out, then there’s a big issue. What a complete fraud:

“Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought additional federal help in battling wildfires across his drought-parched state as a woodland blaze gutted at least six homes on Sunday and threatened hundreds more in Austin, the state capital….  Some 220 homes in all have been lost, according to a letter released on Sunday from Perry to President Barack Obama requesting a federal disaster declaration.”

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LA Times

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TexasLiberal: Texas Governor Rick Perry wants President Barack Obama to declare parts of Texas as disaster areas because of ongoing wildfires …This call for help from Washington is being made by a Governor who has engaged in treasonous speculation about secession, and who is pushing savage budget cuts on the most vulnerable Texans.

Why do people suffering the impact of wildfires merit quick help, while many in Texas nursing homes or many Texans who are sick due to no fault of their own merit only sharp cuts?

Of course, it is really no surprise that Rick Perry wants help from Washington. According to a map prepared by former Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs, Texas took almost $28 billion dollars in federal stimulus money.

…I’d also like to know when the Tea Party volunteer fire companies and the Tea Party disaster relief teams will be rushing to assist people impacted by the fire? Where are county Republican parties in Texas organizing teams of citizen-volunteers to help out our fellow Texans so that they will not have to turn to government?

…Are we going to allow socialized fire companies of public employees team up with Washington to do the job that everyday Texas citizens should be doing?

People who have been harmed by the fires should be helped. However, since many of our political leaders in Texas would rather people die than use the Rainy Day fund or raise the taxes needed to meet the legitimate needs of Texans, it is fair to comment when these same officials declare that some Texans are indeed worthy of help from government.

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Thanks for this news, CEB

‘help wanted – seeking: president of the united states’

Eclectablog: ….you will need to accomplish the following tasks:

* Freeze pay of highest-paid White House staff on first day of office while maintaining good workplace morale.

* Make federal government more transparent by opening up records of previous administrations and instructing staff to be more amenable to Freedom of Information Act requests. This should be accomplished no later than the day after assuming office.

* Sign Executive Order to close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This should be done by no later than the third day in office and should be done despite the fact that Congress will not allow you to actually accomplish this by denying any funding for it.

* Sign Executive Order to prohibit torture. This should be done by no later than the third day in office.

* By no later than the tenth day in office, sign legislation into law that requires fair pay regardless of gender, race or age.

* During the third week in office, direct the Secretary of Interior to cancel 77 oil and gas company leases on federal lands that were authorized by the previous office holder’s administration.

* By the end of the third week in office, sign an Executive Order backing the use of union labor for large federal construction projects.

* During the early part of the second month of your term, you shall begin the process of repealing or modifying a federal law protecting health workers who refuse to treat patients for reason of “conscience”. This process shall culminate no later than two years into your term, plus or minus two months.

(Much more at this link)

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This is magnificent – please go here to read the full post. And pass it around!!

‘new education benefits for wounded warriors’

White House: …. in the last days of the Session, both the House and the Senate passed a Bill, S. 3447, that significantly enhanced and changed the Post 9/11 GI Bill and other educational benefits…. This Bill made a lot of important changes to these programs specifically for wounded warriors and disabled veterans….

Vocational Rehabilitation Program Stipend. …. a disabled veteran receiving the housing stipend under the Vocational Rehabilitation  Program …. can now opt to receive the more generous amount under the Post 9/11 GI Bill …. this will be hundreds of dollars more per month for tens of thousands of eligible beneficiaries.

Vocational School Training and Apprenticeships Now Covered. The Post 9/11 GI Bill can now be used at many more vocational schools, apprenticeships, and on-the-job-training programs, which means that you can use it to enter into almost any field that you want.

Housing Allowance for Online Learners. A housing allowance is now available for exclusively online learners, so even while you are recuperating and cannot attend class in person on a campus, you can start your education online and receive the housing support allowance you need.

Book Allowance for Active Duty. If you are still on active duty, and want to start your education, you can now receive the $1,000/year book stipend that was previously not available for active duty personnel.

Prep Courses and Test Fees Now Covered. If you have not yet applied for schools, and want to bring your SAT/ACT scores up, the Post 9/11 GI Bill can now be used to fund prep courses and the test fees themselves so you can be more competitive when you apply.

Time for Eligibility Tolled During Recovery and for Caretakers. The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), which has a 10-year expiration date, has been extended for wounded, injured, and ill veterans and their caretakers for the length of their recovery time…

More here