Health Care, Hypocrites, And Hanging Together ‘No Matter What’
Posted by Michelle Moquin on March 3rd, 2010
Michael Moore: There’s Going to be a Second Crash (And Glenn Beck Can F–k Off)
We interviewed Michael Moore on The Young Turks today and he was not shy about sharing his opinions. Anyone surprised? He had very strong words for the Democratic Party, the state of our political system and Glenn Beck.
What he thinks of Democrats and Republicans:
You know, I tell you, these Democrats are disgusting. Wimps and wusses and weasels. You know, get some spine. This is why I have to admire the Republicans. They at least stand for something. They at least have the courage of their convictions. They get elected to office, they come into town, and they go “Get outta my way, there’s a new sheriff in town. This is the way we’re doing things. Get outta here.” And then they do it. You know. I mean what they do is crazy. But dammit, they are good at it. We should take a page out of their book.
Can we fix the broken political and economic system in America?
It’s not going to get fixed. There’s going to be another crash. The commercial real estate bubble hasn’t burst yet. That’s going to burst. The credit card debt is so huge right now, it will never be repaid. That’s a house of cards waiting to fall. So the crash of ’08 is going to look like coming attractions. And we’re in for a much, much worse time.
What he would have said to Glenn Beck if he was in Van Jones place:
Fuck off! That’s what I would have said. But again, you mentioned Glenn Beck, and of course, he’s the guy that’s called for my removal from the planet Earth, so…
Read full transcript here.
There’s one thing you know about Michael Moore, he’s going to come strong. Unfortunately, I share his pessimism about the system. But I believe there is hope at the end of that tunnel. And as corny as it sounds, that hope is with the American people. We have to stop letting corporate interests buy our politicians and government officials. Make a change.
-Huffington Post Cenk Uyger
Readers: I haven’t used the word ‘F**k’ on my blog for quite some time but I do love the way the word rolls off my tongue. And I can understand Michael Moore’s usage here, and his observation that the Dems can be spineless – they can and are… (When will the Democrats get some backbone and balls that hang together?) …just as well as we know the repugs can be….well repugnant. Repugnants hang together no matter what, even though they are the most hypocritical bunch.
And as Anonymous pointed out yesterday, “…can get away with their hypocrisy is that the news people never ask them to account for their lies.” Bunning: He’s the face of hypocrisy these days. All I can say to you is stop watching Chris Matthews – I used to like him but he’s ‘turned’. Tune in with Rachel Maddow- now she’s got the balls to call ‘em out and expose their hypocritical ways.
This one’s for you Anonymous, and of course all of my readers too:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the ‘Donate’ button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my ‘Donate’ page)
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:21 am
It’s good to see someone in our media with balls! Rachel has the balls! I find it difficult to swallow that Warren Buffet owns the Washington Post. He used to be the rich, old, white guy that gave a shit about other people. Perhaps it is the Insurance companies he owns and the differences now with all of this health care policies unfolding…
Come back Warren, come back…
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:49 am
Anonz
I got to use a computer today. My first mail is to you. Thank you for saving the lives of my family. I love you
Nyika
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:50 am
Hafa adai
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention this visit.
____________________________
Reuters: Taiwan president to visit Guam
Posted: Mar 02, 2010 8:48 PM
Updated: Mar 02, 2010 10:48 PM
by Sabrina Salas Matanane
Guam – Reuters is reporting that Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou will be visiting Guam during his tour of the South Pacific. Ma will be traveling between the 21st and 27th visiting Kiribati, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Solomons and Tuvalu.
He is scheduled to stop twice here for refueling. Reuters reports the Taiwan President will be discussing agriculture, solar energy and long term development with his counterparts.
___________________________
So, the Trench is that important, eh?
Peter
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:51 am
Hafa adai
Am I crazy? Or is every body and their mother coming to Guam?
_______________________________________________-
Japan officials reportedly coming to Guam
Posted: Mar 02, 2010 9:29 PM
Updated: Mar 02, 2010 9:29 PM
by Heather Hauswirth
Guam – KUAM News has learned that members of the Japanese Prefecture Assembly will be coming to Guam at the end of the month to discuss concerns over American bases and the Okinawa Marine relocation. However, the Japan Consulate Office would not confirm any details about the visit at this time.
We will keep you posted once more information is made available.
__________________________________________
So, Howie, What the hell do the aliens want? And what do you suggest we do?
Peter
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:55 am
MARRIAGE SEMINAR
??While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication,??
Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor,
??’It is essential that husbands and wives know each other’s likes and dislikes.
‘??He addressed the man,
??’Can you name your wife’s favorite flower?
‘??Tom leaned over, touched his wife’s arm gently and whispered, ‘It’s Pillsbury, isn’t it?
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:58 am
Here is one of the mailers the republicans are sending out to the flock to scare and to motivate them to attempt to stop Health Care reform.
=========================================
What Is “Reconciliation”
And Why Is It A Threat?
During last week’s health summit, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid uttered a remarkably dishonest and, in retrospect, ironic statement, claiming that “nobody is talking about reconciliation” to pass the health bill.
It was a dishonest statement because Democrats have been openly floating the specter of passing the health bill using reconciliation since it first became obvious it would have difficulty passing the Senate, including just days before the summit by Sen. Reid himself.
It was ironic because it seems that all the cable news shows, talk radio, blogs and pundits have been talking about since the summit is whether President Obama, Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will use the Senate budget reconciliation process to pass their big government, big bureaucracy health bill.
But what exactly is the reconciliation process? And why, exactly, is it so controversial a move to pass the health bill?
A Tool for Congress to Meet Spending Goals
The budget reconciliation process was created in 1974 as part of the law that created much of the modern rules and organizational structures used by Congress to pass the annual budget.
This new law required Congress to pass a budget resolution every year that would set the parameters by which the various congressional committees would write their specific parts of the total budget bill.
Within these budget resolutions, instructions can be given to specific congressional committees to create legislation that would alter current laws affecting spending and/or taxation in order to conform to the targets set out in the budget resolution.
To enhance Congress’ ability to meet budget resolution targets, these pieces of legislation are not passed under the normal rules of the Senate. Instead, they fall under the “budget reconciliation process” rules which prohibit unrelated amendments to the bills and set a maximum of 20 hours of debate on the floor. As a practical matter, this means only 51 votes are needed to pass a reconciliation bill because the limit on debate overrides the threat of a filibuster.
The Byrd Rule to Prevent Abuse of Reconciliation
While the budget reconciliation process was a success in its principal goal of giving Congress more power to meet the spending and revenue goals of the budget resolution, it quickly became prone to abuse.
Provisions that had nothing to do with meeting budget resolution requirements, even some that directly contradicted them, were passed using the reconciliation process.
To prevent this, the so-called “Byrd Rule,” named after Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, who introduced the legislation, was passed in 1985 and made permanent in 1990.
The Byrd Rule allows any senator to raise a point of order objection to provisions in a reconciliation bill that they consider extraneous to meeting budget resolutions requirements. Then, it is up to the chair – either the Vice President (as President of the Senate) or, more often, the presiding officer of the Senate if the Vice President is not present — whether that provision stays or is stricken.
However, the chair almost always relies on the advice of the Senate Parliamentarian to determine if that objection is legitimate. (Learn more about the parliamentarian here.)
This determination is made based on six tests created as part of the Byrd Rule used to weed out provisions that have nothing to do with raising or reducing taxes or spending. It takes a 3/5 majority vote to override the decision of the presiding officer if he or she finds that a provision violates one or more of these tests. (This Congressional Research Service report is a good primer on the Byrd rule if you want to learn more.)
Reconciliation in Action
Reconciliation has been used for 22 bills, of which, 14 were passed by Republican majorities. Nineteen of those bills were signed into law by the President. Three were vetoed. You can view a chart of these bills here.
Notice the similarity between them? All of these bills were obviously directly related to taxation and spending, and since 1985, have successfully met the Byrd rule tests.
Health Reform Is About More than Federal Spending
This is why passing the left’s big government, big bureaucracy health bill using the budget reconciliation process is so fundamentally dishonest and dangerous to Senate precedent.
Leaving aside the bill’s merits (which, to be clear, are abysmal), both its defenders and detractors would acknowledge that it is, for better or worse, a fundamental overhaul of the nation’s health system, both public and private. It sets new rules and regulations that span the entire healthcare sector. It is much larger in scope and more all encompassing in purpose than simply affecting federal spending and revenues.
This is not to say that the bill would not have some effect on the federal budget. Almost any piece of legislation could meet that meager standard.
The reconciliation process was only intended to be used for legislation directly related to meeting budget resolution spending and revenue goals.
The minor affect the left’s health bill would have on the deficit over 10 years (beyond that there is every reason to think it would increase the deficit substantially), even by charitable estimates, cannot be used to justify passing this sort of sweeping legislation using reconciliation.
This is one reason why a number of Democrats, including Sen. Robert Byrd, author of the Byrd Rule and who also helped create the budget reconciliation process in 1974, called the idea of using it to pass the health bill (and cap and trade) “an outrage that must be resisted.”
It’s also why Robert Byrd objected to President Clinton’s efforts to pass Hillarycare in 1993 using reconciliation.
Why should the left’s latest big government healthcare grab be held to any different standard?
Welfare Reform vs. the Left’s Big Government Health Bill
This week, the left is out in force, pointing to other significant pieces of legislation passed by Republicans using the budget reconciliation process as justification for passing their health care bill. One of the examples they are using is welfare reform.
Since welfare reform was passed while I was Speaker of the House, I am happy to compare the two cases.
First, welfare reform was an integral part of the Republican Congress’ efforts to balance the budget, producing immediate savings of over $50 billion dollars between 1997 and 2002. It was originally combined with the balanced budget act that President Clinton vetoed in 1995.
By contrast, for most of the debate over the health bill, the left has constantly boasted about how their bill was “deficit neutral”. President Obama repeatedly sought to assure the American people that he would not sign a bill that “added one dime” to the deficit. Medicare cuts were combined with new taxes to pay for the cost of new programs and bureaucracies.
So while real effective health reform would certainly have a positive effect on the deficit, it is clear that the left never intended for their health bill to be primarily a budget bill. Its focus was and still is on getting more people covered. It was only after Democratic leaders began setting the stage for passing the bill using reconciliation that they began emphasizing it as a way to reduce the deficit. (Paul Ryan explains here how their bill uses smoke and mirrors to create the illusion of savings).
Second, when we decided to roll welfare reform into the balanced budget bill in 1995, we never stopped the conference committee efforts to resolve the differences between the versions of the welfare reform legislation that passed in the House and Senate earlier in the year. This continuation of work, along with the active participation of the governors, allowed us to quickly produce the final bill in conference the next year, once it became clear that President Clinton was now finally ready to sign welfare reform.
In contrast, the Democrats have done an end run around the conference committee process that would resolve the differences between the House and Senate bills, instead trying to negotiate their final bill in secret at the White House. This process continues today, with President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid exploring different tricks they can use to ram a bill through their respective chambers without first producing a conference bill.
Third, welfare reform was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, with more Democrats voting for it in the House and Senate than opposing it. It was signed by a Democratic President. Bipartisanship was integral to the success of the bill.
Today, Democrats are turning to passing the bill using the reconciliation process precisely because they are rejecting bipartisanship. Republican Scott Brown’s stunning election in Massachusetts, thanks largely to opposition to the left’s health bill, has meant that the Democrats would need at least one Republican vote to break a filibuster in the Senate. And their bill is so bad they can’t get one.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, welfare reform was overwhelmingly popular with the American people. One poll showed that over 90 percent of Americans favored reform, including 88 percent of those on welfare.
As for the left’s health bill, after a year of debate and discussion, the American people have overwhelmingly rejected it. A poll we released at the Center for Health Transformation showed that it is opposed by a 2-1 margin. It is a fact that the more Americans learn about the left’s plan, both its substance and the corrupt manner in which it has been passed, the more they oppose it.
Three Corrupt Options for the Left
The left’s big government, big bureaucracy health bill is overwhelmingly unpopular with the American people. It is incapable of obtaining any bipartisan support in the Senate.
Faced with this reality, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid should do the responsible thing and scrap the unpopular bill and start over, focusing instead on smaller pieces of legislation that could obtain bipartisan support.
However, they’ve made it clear they aren’t willing to do this. The Democrats are determined to pass a comprehensive health bill no matter how unpopular it is. This means they have to use reconciliation to avoid needing 60 votes to end debate in the Senate.
There are several corrupt options available to the Democrats using reconciliation.
One option would be for the House to pass the exact same health bill the Senate passed in December (thus avoiding the need for the Senate to marshal 60 votes again for a final bill now that Scott Brown is in office) with an understanding that a separate bill with a series of fixes would be passed immediately afterward using the budget reconciliation process in the Senate.
The left argues that technically, this would keep the use of reconciliation fairly narrow. However, the plain truth of the matter is that the Democrats would be using the budget reconciliation process to pass a bill they could not otherwise pass using the normal legislative process. It is a dirty trick that ignores congressional tradition and the overwhelming opposition to the bill from America.
Another option is for the Democrats to try and pass the full health bill in the Senate with 51 votes using reconciliation and then for the House to pass the same bill that emerges from the Senate.
For all the reasons outlined above, this would be an enormously inappropriate use of the budget reconciliation process. But it also means that the left’s endlessly complicated bill that creates hundreds of new regulations, new programs, and new bureaucracies would have to survive the Byrd Rule tests, creating the possibility that by the time all the extraneous provisions are removed, the final “swiss cheesed” legislation would be unrecognizable.
For President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to promise to pass a bill when they, in reality, don’t know what the final bill will look like, is the height of irresponsibility. (Of course, they passed the stimulus without reading it so it would certainly fit with their precedent.)
How Far Are The Democrats Willing To Go?
Which brings us to a third, more drastic option for the Democrats to get their high tax, big government, big bureaucracy health bill passed.
As explained above, under the Byrd Rule, the vice president of the United States is ultimately responsible for deciding whether a provision in a reconciliation bill is extraneous. It is merely tradition that dictates he follow the advice of the parliamentarian, not a Senate rule.
To avoid their legislation being subjected to Byrd Rule tests, the vice president could choose simply to ignore the advice of the parliamentarian on points of order and rule to keep the extraneous provisions in the final bill. Any senator can appeal these rulings, but the appeal may be defeated with a simple majority vote.
To be clear, no vice president has ever acted in this fashion in the history of the reconciliation process. But no one has ever tried to push this kind of bill through reconciliation before either.
With the American people overwhelmingly opposed to the health bill, not to mention every other part of the left’s agenda, and the political environment turning increasingly toxic for the Democrats, President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi could decide to make a cynical, calculated political decision.
Faced with the high likelihood of political defeat in November, they could decide it is preferable to pass the bill they want and be defeated rather than to fail to get a health bill (or only a partial bill), and be defeated anyway.
In fact, this seems to be the message Speaker Pelosi was pushing this past weekend , dismissing her caucus’ concerns of defeat.
Republicans Must Vow To Replace the Left’s Health Bill
If the Democrats are bound and determined to exert all their power and manipulate every rule they can to pass their big government health bill, Republicans may not be able to stop its passage.
We’ll find out today as President Obama is set to announce his recommendation on the way forward.
But no matter what President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid decide, the bottom line for Republicans is that they must stand with the American people in opposing this bill.
This doesn’t just mean voting against it and using every parliamentary maneuver available to delay its passage.
It also means running on a platform of replacing whatever left-wing health bill the Democrats manage to pass with real health reform that empowers patients and doctors, not bureaucrats, to bring down health costs. And delivering on that promise in 2011 if Republicans gain control of Congress.
And if President Obama is still determined to ignore the will of the people by vetoing the Republican bill after such a clear message from America, it means that the Republican candidate for President in 2012 must run on a platform that includes signing the replacement of the left’s big government health bill. After all, no matter what dirty tricks the politician may try to get his way, in America, the people have the final say.
Your friend,
Newt Gingrich
=============================
Yesterday, on the Rachel Maddow show she called five senators liars. She did what white men anchors have never had the balls to do. Call a liar a liar. She called them liars on television.
I will have to agree with the sentiment expressed on this blog. Most white men have tiny balls to go with their tiny dicks. They stick together to keep the status quo, but to keep their position atop the mating pool.
Me, I’m like the Main Dude, I have a nice swinging pair to go with my tool so I am not intimidated by other men regardless of color.
That is not to say that if I were similarly inadequately endowed I would not be aligned with my more unfortunate white brethren in an attempt to maintain the illusion that I am more man because of the color of my skin.
Mike
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:37 am
My husband is so excited about Reagan being put on the $50. White men do so love themselves. Larry’s excitement is for a man that spent more money that all the presidents before him COMBINED. We could barely afford to own a $50 after Reagan screwed up our economy.
Yet this white man wants to see the picture of a white man on a bill that if you added up all the $50 bills ever spent by a President before him that inept crook spent 169% more.
This blog has in fun questioned the logic of women. I would like to seriously question the logic of white men.
My two teenage sons have grown up hearing the praises of Reagan. I have never put my two-cents in. But putting that man’s image on our money is where I draw the line if it causes a divorce.
Betsy
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 am
Anonz
Thanks for the action you have taken it seems that you were aware of the need to take action because “Just this past Monday, the government of Sudan launched a new military offensive in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur, resulting in the deaths of over 100 civilians and displacement of 100,000 civilians from their homes.
This violence came the same day our team returned from Sudan with countless stories from Darfuris living in fear.
Yet, just four days before this new round of violence, President Bashir confidently proclaimed after peace talks in Doha that, “The crisis in Darfur is finished; the war in Darfur is over. Darfur is now at peace.”
Bashir’s spin machine is in full force, and before he successfully uses next month’s elections to legitimize his rule, we have to get the truth out.
Donate now and help us raise $100,000 to launch a global media campaign so we can share the stories we got from Darfuris living in camps.
Our team was there, on the ground, just last week. They met with leaders from six internally displaced camps in Darfur. Our team heard their stories. Darfuris fear for their safety. The vast majority refuse to go home, because insecurity is too great.
These Darfuris weren’t at the recent peace talks. These are the marginalized voices, the survivors of genocide whom you and I have been fighting for.
These are the voices Bashir would like to silence. We cannot let that happen.
Make a gift now to help show that conditions are NOT in place to ensure free and fair elections in Sudan.
Several IDPs our team spoke with said that they didn’t bother to register to vote because “we don’t have real representatives to vote for,” and others felt that free political conditions do not exist.
Ironically, it was one year ago the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Bashir for his role in masterminding the violence in Darfur.
Don’t let President Obama and other world leaders look the other way while President Bashir AGAIN takes advantage of the people of Darfur and all Sudan to increase his power.
We need your help today to:
Launch a global earned media campaign so that our latest first-hand information will reach decision makers around the world;
Hold national events to talk about what we found with activists around the country;
Leverage our relationships within Congress and the Administration to make sure the U.S. speaks the truth about Bashir’s fraudulent elections.
Being a supporter of Save Darfur means being a voice for the marginalized survivors of genocide in Darfur and Sudan.
We’ve used this voice before, to focus world attention as systematic attacks were happening. It’s time for us to use that voice again, for the millions still waiting for a chance at real peace and stability.
Please, make a gift today to make sure the real voice of Sudan’s people is heard.
Thank you for standing with the people of Sudan at this pivotal moment.
Sincerely,
Suzie Armstrong
Save Darfur Coalition”
===============
I used quotes to cite the information from the “Save Darfur Coalition” so that those who think that we are crying wolf will see that we need help.
Anonz, I do not know where we would be as a people without help from those like yourself.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I’ve learned that you cannot make
someone love you. All you can do is
stalk them and hope they panic and give in.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Michelle: Here we go again. Chile and Argentina has said ‘NO’ to the Aliens — The refuse to believe in their capabilities and received an immediate response to show who is boss. Argentina is next.
This is FRESH news.
Check out the news for the dmage done to Chile this time.
HOWIE
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Michelle
We have just been hit with another earthquake. It is being called a 5.9 aftershock. But it is an earthquake that is shaking apart new buildings and knocking down ones ruined by the first.
I am not a female. But I would like to ask for help if we need it from a tsunami.
Gonzales
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Google is about to offer a service about 700 times faster than DSL.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Peter #4: The United States and other Nations want to control the mysterious Mariana Trench. So do various Aliens, including The Emperor.
They do not want to be shot at or have jets scrambled to chase them since they really cannot do too much harm. However, the other day the U.S. captured 2 Aliens with a simple technology which causes a disturbance in certain Alien’s Medulla Oblongata in the Brain, rendering them unconscious. This technology is the same one that was used at airports to X-Ray an entire person from head to toe. It has been found to cause brain cancer and is not being used at Airports any more. It also violated a person’s rights of privacy.
HOWIE
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Breaking News, Orleans Parish Crime »
Police arrest suspect in nursing home sexual assault
By Danny Monteverde, The Times-Picayune
March 03, 2010, 2:35PM
Michael DeMocker / The Times-Picayune
Detectives walk Marrero resident Raymond Tillman, 18, into Orleans Parish Prison on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. He allegedly sexually assaulted a 58-year-old woman at an eastern New Orleans nursing home Feb. 14.
New Orleans police on Wednesday arrested a Marrero man in connection with a sexual assault in the 9600 block of Hayne Boulevard in eastern New Orleans last month.
Raymond Tillman, 18, of Marrero, turned himself in at police headquarters at 11 a.m., said Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo.
Tillman was booked on a count of aggravated rape, Defillo said.
Investigators accuse Tillman of sexually assaulting a 58-year-old nursing home resident about 5 p.m. on Feb. 14.
Defillo said Tillman’s family urged him to turn himself in after they saw surveillance footage of him walking down a flight of stairs at the Nazareth Inn nursing home broadcast on the news last night.
————————————————
Who Dat
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
ZINC — BOOSTS LIBIDO, PRESERVES SIGHT, DEFEATS COLDS
Do you know zilch about zinc? Let’s rectify that, as this essential trace element is vital to your health and well-being. According to some reports, as many as 12% of Americans may have a zinc deficiency, a figure that may rise to as much as 45% in people over age 60.
Among the important functions of zinc in our bodies — it boosts the immune response… protects cell membranes from harmful oxidants and structural damage… repairs DNA… and supports nearly 100 different enzymes that regulate the chemistry of cells and organisms.
Regular Daily Health News contributor Mark Stengler, NMD, told me that zinc is also helpful in stabilizing blood glucose… contributes to neurological function… and helps the formation of testosterone, thereby potentially boosting sexual function.
(So the reputation of oysters as an aphrodisiac has a scientific basis — they have more zinc than any other food.) And, of particular interest to the older population, says Dr. Stengler, is that zinc helps prevent or reduce the damage of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in adults over age 60.
WHY DO WE LACK ZINC?
Our ability to absorb zinc may decline with age. On top of that, many older folks take medications known to deplete zinc, in particular thiazide diuretics and ACE inhibitors (used to control blood pressure) and acid-suppressing medications.
Additionally, having a digestive disorder that prevents proper nutrient absorption — such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease — can contribute to deficiency. And since animal products are a primary source of zinc, eating a vegetarian diet can also mean that you don’t get enough.
With so many people at risk, you’d think there would be good tests to measure zinc levels, but alas, the only ones available are not sensitive enough to be useful — so it is important to be aware of deficiency symptoms.
Severe deficiency causes severe problems (such as rashes, chronic diarrhea and night blindness), but that’s rare in developed countries. Lower level deficiency is far more common, but its symptoms can be troublesome, too — including depression, a loss of appetite and libido, and frequent colds and other infections.
ZINC AND COLDS
When you get a cold or respiratory infection, supplementing with zinc can help relieve your sore throat and shorten your suffering, a benefit that has been demonstrated in many studies. This has made zinc-based cold fighters, including the Zicam Cold Remedy line, quite popular.
There was considerable concern last year when the FDA issued a warning about use of Zicam products delivered nasally (its gels and sprays).
These are no longer being sold, and according to Dr. Stengler, Zicam lozenges are safe (a daily dose — six lozenges — has 80 mg of elemental zinc).
Dr. Stengler likes even better lozenges that contain 15 mg to 25 mg of elemental zinc, and in particular the brands Bluebonnet and LifeExtension.
At the first sign of a cold, have one every two hours away from meals, since zinc supplementation may also interfere with the absorption of iron and calcium, and competes with copper for uptake from the gut.
Note: Zinc may hinder absorption of antibiotics, so if you’re on them, be sure to use it at least two hours before or after the time you take the drug.
FOR HEALTH IN GENERAL
The zinc Recommended Daily Allowance is 11 mg a day for men and 8 mg for women. You can obtain this much from food (see below), but if you have signs of deficiency or are not eating a zinc-rich diet, Dr. Stengler says 15 mg per day is generally a good supplemental dose.
The upper limit for a zinc supplement is 40 mg — too much zinc has been associated with prostate cancer. Pregnant and nursing women should not take zinc unless instructed to do so by a doctor.
Zinc-rich foods include…
Beef
Crab
Turkey
Oysters
Liver
Dairy including milk, yogurt and cheddar cheese
Cashews, almonds, peanuts
Crimini mushrooms
Spinach
Pumpkin seeds
For most people at most times, he says, eating a varied, healthful diet and taking a daily multivitamin with zinc should be sufficient to prevent deficiency.
Source(s):
Mark A. Stengler, NMD, a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. He is editor of Bottom Line’s Natural Healing newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), director of the La Jolla Whole Health Clinic in La Jolla, California, and adjunct clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. To learn more about his work, visit http://www.drstengler.com and http://www.lajollawholehealth.com.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I too am sick of Chris Matthews attempting to pass himself off as a concerned white man. He is a bigot, man-knows-best in sheep’s clothing.
He is constantly putting on white men in the House and Senate who are dead set on limiting a woman’s right to choose abortion if she wishes.
He gives them a podium to the likes of Rep Bart Stupak (D)Michgan who are anti abortion and he is constantly watering down bigots like the governor of Texas with statements like he meant “session from Washington not the Union.
Matthews is a catholic male who uses religion to maintain his believe superiority to women.
Lacy
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
You nigger lovers better think about what you are doing. We are going to take back our country.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I agree with you Lacy. Chris Matthews is a closet bigot. He is very skilled at pretending to be fair or leaning towards democrat issues.
He uses his show to push anyone that he believes can give the democrats a run.
He is always running clips of people sayine “Conservatism has never been stronger than it is in America today. We’re taking our country back. Take back our country block by block. Take back our culture.”
He always pushes Pat Bucchanan. At every opportunity he gets him on as if Pat is unbiased.
My brothers are always arguing about which one of the is a closet bigot but they both agree Chris is one.
Lois
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I can’t watch C. Matthews because I see that sneaky white man bigot look. He Pushes Rick Perry’s comments at every opportunity claiming he doesn’t get him.
Sure he does, He thinks we don’t get what he is doing.
We do.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Anyone who a white say he wants to “take by our culture.” knows what the person is talking about.
That is racist language.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Besty
I’m with you. The reason why the picked the $50 bill is Grant is on it. They want to replace the General who kicked the South’s ass and ended slavery with the guy who called his fellow members of the Actor’s Guild communists to gain a job as its president and to get acting roles
Then as President of our country, he sold out to the banks and anyone who promised him a few coins after he left the White House.
Gale
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:38 pm
This needs to be repeated for those who grab an aspirin at any hint.
===============
Headaches linked to heart troubles
Migraines may be a lot more than a pain in the head… because the latest research shows they may be linked to problems in the rest of your body, too.
A new study finds that people who suffer from migraine headaches have twice the risk of heart attack. And the bad news doesn’t end there… the study published in Neurology also found that migraine sufferers have a higher risk for stroke, and are 50 percent more likely to face conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels — a triple threat that also puts these patients at risk for cardiovascular disease.
The overall risk is still relatively low… but since 29 million Americans suffer from migraines, any increased risk at all will impact large numbers of people.
The researchers used data on 6,102 people with migraines and 5,243 people without them who had filled out questionnaires about their headaches as well as their general health.
Those of you who suffer from these pains probably know there are two kinds: migraines with aura, which come with vision problems like flashing lights, and migraine without aura.
The researchers found both kinds of migraines increased those health risks… but those with aura had an even higher risk of heart attack. While migraines overall doubled the risk of heart attacks, migraines with aura increase the risk threefold.
None of this means treating the migraine will make these other conditions go away. In fact, the researchers believe migraine sufferers should realize that the condition is a threat to their health whether they’re suffering from a headache or not… even if they go long periods between episodes.
In any case, one thing you shouldn’t do is treat your migraine by gobbling down painkillers. Many of these meds can actually cause headaches — there’s even a name for them: medication overuse headaches, and studies have found that they may be responsible for up to 60 percent of all chronic headaches.
But don’t worry your head over what you’ll do without those painkillers… because there are safe and natural alternatives that have helped millions of people fight migraines:
Magnesium: Studies have found that magnesium supplements may reduce the frequency of headaches. Others have had success with magnesium intravenous drips.
Vitamins: Many people have found a boost from the B vitamins, especially B2, B6, B12 and folic acid (B9). Vitamin E has also been linked to migraine relief.
Feverfew: You’ll find this herbal remedy in almost any vitamin shop or natural foods store. Feverfew won’t necessarily give you immediate relief from a migraine — but studies have found that steady use may reduce the number of headaches over time as well as their severity.
Acupuncture: This ancient Chinese treatment is effective at fighting off both migraines and tension headaches — as well as many other forms of pain.
As always, talk to your doctor about which of these treatments may be right for you.
And sometimes, treating the migraine can be as simple as avoiding the triggers. Food additives such as aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrates have been known to cause migraines, and some people are sensitive to caffeine and sugar.
In any case, as you learn to fight your migraines naturally, pay attention to the rest of your health, too… because as the newest study shows, the pain might be in your head — but the impact could be throughout your body.
And if you’re looking to reduce your stroke risk, keep reading for some delicious news.
====================
I hope everyone will take a second look at taking aspirin.
Evelyn
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Michelle, I feel that putting Ronald Reagan on the $50 note is just as bad as using Mickey Mouse.
U.S. Currency has a tradition of putting past presidents who actually fought for our freedom and have gained their respect in History. What did Ronald Reagan do? Act?
He came up with Reaganomics which put our nation in a recession and began the 30 year Dynasty of Republican Billionaires in this Country. He profited heavily from special interest groups and began the sellout of America to Corporations. Should he be rewarded for that? I don’t think so.
I don’t like change for no reason. Grant fought against Slavery in the South during the Civil War for the Union Army which believed African Americans could live, work and pursue happiness in the North, just like everyone else.
He earned his face on the $50 Bill.
HOWIE