Don’t forget to pay your annual service fee…

…or your house may burn down.

Firefighters Watch As Home Burns: Gene Cranick’s House Destroyed In Tennessee Over $75 Fee (VIDEO)

A smoldering rage may be all that remains after Gene Cranick’s home burned to the ground last week in Obion County, Tennessee.

Firefighters are usually the bold “veni, vidi, vici” sort, but those from neighboring South Fulton could only say “veni, vidi.” They came. They watched. That’s it.

Cranick lives outside of the city limits and he admits that he forgot to pay a $75 annual service fee that would have provided him with fire protection. Firefighters wouldn’t lift a finger, much less the hoses that might have saved the house.

The fire reportedly started in some barrels outside. As the flames crept closer to the home, Cranick says he offered to pay whatever it would take. The plea fell on deaf ears. Hours later, the home was gone.

So were three dogs and a cat.

“They coulda’ been saved if they put water on it. But they didn’t do it,” Cranick told MSNBC.

The South Fulton firefighters did show up and managed to save a neighbor’s field. The neighbor had paid the fee. But they would provide no heroics for the Cranicks. A local news report shows them climbing back on their trucks, flames still dancing over what was once the family’s home.

The event was dubbed “pay for spray” by MSNBC host Keith Olbermann. It’s a chilling vision of what could play out in a third world America, where paying taxes isn’t enough to cover basic services. Fire protection, it turns out, is a privilege in some communities. On Monday’s show,Olbermann railed against the larger implications the incident, calling it “a look now into the America envisioned by the tea party … just a preview of what would come in a kind of a la cartegovernment.”

WATCH:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Think Progress was equally incensed:

Readers: You’re probably on it, but I missed this one a a few days ago, and when I heard of it, I was shocked. I don’t even know how to express what is appalling anymore because these days there is so much that is “appalling”, that the word “shocking” has lost much of its impact, not to mention the word “appalling”, and “atrocious”, and “disgusting”…Need I go on?

These days what isn’t shocking is actually what is quite “surprising”. Do you know what I mean or does it sound like I am just talking in circles? My example is the homeowner Paulette Cranick, who doesn’t blame the firefighters. “They’re doing what they are told to do. It’s not their fault,”

Okay. I have a problem with this. I don’t care if they are doing what they’re told, it isn’t right and they know it. How can firefighters just stare at a burning house when it is their job to save it? Not to mention knowing that the family pets were in their dying – what if a person was in there, would they still stand by? Can you imagine?

When are people going to stand up for each other and do the right thing?

Not to mention the tax dollars in this particular area that aren’t going towards covering a fire unless you pay this “extra” fee. And what about Beck? Fuck Beck. It’s not surprising what came out of his mouth.

That’s just my opinion. What’s yours? It’s Friday…start flapping your lips. Blog me.

**********

Jennifer: Back to your comment. All I want to say is that I will take your concerns, as well as the concerns of those that e-mailed me, into consideration and act accordingly.

Josie: That stat is scary and very disappointing.

Chin: You make a very valid and logical point and it is noted.

Democrat women: How about changing this stat that Josie reported and making sure that you go out and vote on November 2nd? Do I really need to ask? Just do it.

Anonymous: That is so funny!

Now I’m out of here. Happy Friday!

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)

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Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

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Good morning!

I know some of you are not fans of Michael Moore, but I like him. And when he goes after the Republicans (an easy thing to do) it is one thing, but when he compliments the Dems (a bit tougher thing for him to do), it is entirely something else. And I know when he does, it must mean something is happening. I got this in my e-mail yesterday:

Dems Come Alive! …a follow-up from Michael Moore

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Friends,
Ok! We’re halfway through the week and we’re off to a great start. Last week I gave the spineless Dems five friendly suggestions for things they could do on the off chance they were interested in winning the midterm elections on November 2nd:

1. Deliver a blunt, nonstop reminder to the American people about exactly who it was that got us into the mess we’re in.
2. Declare a moratorium on home foreclosures.
3. Prosecute the banks and Wall Street for the Crime of the Century.
4. Create a 21st century WPA (hire the unemployed to rebuild America).
5. Pledge that no Dem will take a dime from Wall Street in the next election cycle.
So how are we doing 5 days later? Not bad! It turns out that at least some of these ideas were so simple even elected Democrats could come up with them!

1. Dems have started running tough, killer ads that have balls and SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

Check these out:

In the California Senate race, Barbara Boxer is going after Carly Fiorina on the outsourcing Fiorina did as CEO of HP.

Rep. Tim Bishop of Long Island, New York hits his GOP opponent Randy Altschuler on how HIS business sent jobs overseas.

Richard Blumenthal half-nelsons his Connecticut Senate opponent (and former WWE CEO) Linda McMahon who said we should consider cutting the minimum wage and then lied about having said it.
Jeez, it’s like they wanna win! More of these, please — NOW!

2. Foreclosure Moratorium fever among the Dems has amazingly swept the nation in the last week!
Democratic Attorneys General all over the country are now demanding moratoriums for their states: California (Jerry Brown, now running for Governor), Connecticut (Richard Blumenthal, now running for Senate), Delaware (Joe Biden’s son Beau), Massachusetts (Martha Coakley, who probably wished she’d done this earlier since she lost the special Senate race in January to Scott Brown), Illinois (Lisa Madigan), Texas (Greg Abbott — a Republican!) and Colorado (John Suthers — another Republican!). And so is Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (at the urging of Rep. Ellijah Cummings, who you may remember from ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’).

Meanwhile, the Attorneys General of Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina are opening probes into the mortgage industry. And the banks are feeling the heat — GMAC, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have already suspended foreclosures in 23 states (with Detroit’s Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, calling on them to extend it to Michigan and the rest of the U.S.).

Wells Fargo? Citibank? Are you paying attention? Now’s the time to do something good so you can later mention it to the sentencing judge.

Rep. Gabrelle Giffords of Arizona has called for a nationwide foreclosure moratorium, and Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey says that may be necessary.

And it goes on and on. Check the special section on my website that I’m updating every day as more and more Democratic officials announce they will no longer allow banks to kick families out of their homes.

3. Prosecute the bastards! Looks like that’s what they’re maybe finally going to do. Check out this stunning letter sent to Attorney General Holder yesterday by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and 30 other members of congress (PDF):

“…we urge you and your respective agencies to investigate possible violations of law or regulations by financial institutions in their handling of delinquent mortgages, mortgage modifications, and foreclosures. … The excuses we have heard from financial institutions are simply not credible three years into this crisis. … It is time that banks are held accountable for their practices that have left too many homeowners without real help.”

According to the New York Times, banks will likely face a “wide range of government investigations” for years. Judges may ask for them to be indicted for perjury or obstruction of justice. The Justice Department could prosecute banks for mail and wire fraud, or for making false statements to the government. And the SEC could open civil investigations.

Now we need to hear the Justice Department announce their investigation.

And look — Larry Summers is gone. Great move! The people’s advocate, Elizabeth Warren, is in — genius move! If that’s the direction Obama is now heading in, then these bankers may be shaking in their Salvatore Ferragamos.

So, not a bad start, Democrats (20 months late)! Just four weeks to go and I’m feeling that maybe, just maybe, we may prevent the All Souls Day Massacre. The pundits, who are essentially tools for the Corporate States of America, may have to eat a lot of crow. And if the Dems escape death’s door, they had better not let this nonsense happen again.

So, President Obama and Congress, let’s get busy on ideas #4 (WPA jobs) and #5 (pledge to take no further campaign money from Goldman and their friends).

C’mon everybody — there’s at least 3 million of you reading this (including the 700,000 of you who are my Twitter followers and my 300,000+ close Facebook friends). Let’s pressure the Dems to quit cowering and kick some butt — NOW!

Tell them it’s easy and to repeat after us:
* Stop the foreclosures!
* Prosecute the banks and Wall Street and war profiteer corps!
* Remind the public 24/7 who created the mess!
* Announce a real jobs program!
* Promise not to take Wall Street’s dirty money!
* Win the election!

Simple! Do it!

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

P.S. On a different subject… One of the most moving, hopeful and powerful documentaries I’ve seen this year (or any year) opens at the Quad in NYC on Friday. It’s called, “Budrus,” and it’s about a town by that name in the West Bank. The Palestinians in that town (and many of their Israeli neighbors on the other side of the Wall that’s being constructed) come up with a way to totally undo the Israeli Defense Forces: pledge to defeat the occupiers by never firing a bullet, never throwing a stone, never causing any harm to their Jewish brothers and sisters. Whoa! What happens next is so effed up, so incredible, you have to see this movie to believe it. The film is brilliant. It won the top Founders Prize for nonfiction film at my film festival this summer. It will soon be coming to other cities. Do not miss it!!!

************

Readers: I definitely think something is happening. I like it – Let’s keep the momentum going. We are less than 4 weeks away from the November 2nd elections. Thoughts? Comments? You know what to do.

Clark: I liked it. :)

Jennifer: Thanks for your comment, and you pose a good question. One that I would like to answer. However, my answer is going to take more time than I have to give today, so I will address it tomorrow.

And now Readers, before I conclude today here’s a little something from Zen Lill, that she wanted me to post.

You’ve experienced the wit, intellect, and the sharp tongue of the individual. Now let’s see if you can define the face behind the brain…And you might find it is difficult to complete the image as it is to phantom the intent.

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

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Good morning…

Not to go all politico again, but we are getting down to the wire and I just can not stress how important this November election is to the Democrats, not to mention the GOP. Especially the GOP, who are desperate to go back to the good ole days and get their country back.

I posted this as a link in one of my writes a few weeks ago, but how many of you actually clicked on it and read this report? Well…here it is again just in case you didn’t.

REPORT: Conservative Groups Gearing Up To Spend $400 Million On Midterm Election

In the wake of the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling earlier this year, corporations and special interest groups now enjoy the ability to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections. Now, with less than 10 weeks until November, it’s clear just how far conservative groups are willing to go to try to influence the midterm elections.

According to a new report from ThinkProgress, conservative organizations have committed (or already spent) $400 million to advance their conservative agenda at the ballot box this year. For comparison’s sake, this outside money alone is more than the Democratic campaign committees spent combined when they took back both houses of Congress in the last midterm election. Indeed, the Wall Street Journal notes that special interest groups have already spent three times as much in 2010 than they had in 2006.

Among the outside groups that plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars electing conservatives are some familiar faces and some new ones as well. While the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce have long supported conservative causes, the former plans to double its spending from $10 million in 2006 to $20 million now and the latter will triple its commitment to $75 million this year. Many new groups are also entering the scene in a big way, including Karl Rove’s American Crossroads group with $52 million and Norm Coleman’s American Action Network with $25 million.

Those conservative groups trying to use $400 million in outside spending to tip the midterm election include:

- Chamber of Commerce has pledged to spend $75 million
- American Crossroads has pledged to spend $52 million
- Americans for Prosperity has pledged to spend $45 million
- Republican State Leadership Committee has pledged to spend $40 million
- American Action Network has pledged to spend $25 million
- American Future Fund has pledged to spend up to $25 million
- Club for Growth has pledged to spend at least $24 million
- National Republican Trust PAC has pledged to spend at least $20 million
- An unnamed health insurance industry coalition has pledged to spend $20 million
- National Rifle Association has pledged to spend $20 million
- Faith and Freedom Coalition has pledged to spend $11 million
- FreedomWorks has pledged to spend $10 million
- Americans for Job Security has pledged to spend $10 million
- Susan B. Anthony List has pledged to spend $6 million
- Our Country Deserves Better (Tea Party Express) has already spent $5 million
- Tax Relief Coalition has already spent $4 million
- Republican Majority Campaign has pledged to spend $3 million
- Campaign for Working Families has pledged to spend $2 million
- Heritage Action for America has pledged to spend $1 million
- Financial Services Roundtable has already spent $0.5 million
- Family Research Council has raised $0.5 million
- Citizens United Political Victory Fund has pledged to spend $0.2 million

TOTAL: $399.2 million

Given the number of progressive accomplishments in the 111th Congress, including health care reform, the economic stimulus bill, and Wall Street reform, it’s no wonder that conservative groups are fighting tooth-and-nail to prevent a repeat next term. Chris LaCivita, a Republican strategist who has also been involved in many independent-expenditure campaigns, told Politico, “If there is a time for independent groups to step up, this is it. This is the year for independent groups to put up or shut up.” Indeed, with conservative special interest groups putting it all on the line this November, their $400 million pledge may even increase before long.

In a pair of town houses less than 10 blocks from where the Supreme Court gave his group a place in legal history, David Bossie is making movies and cutting a path for a new art form: the nonpolitical political ad.

Bossie is the president of  Citizens United, a conservative group whose anti-Hillary Clinton movie in 2008 led to a landmark ruling this year. The Supreme Court threw out parts of a 63-year-old law prohibiting corporations and unions from paying to air ads for or against political candidates.

The decision has contributed to an explosion in political advertising by outside groups, so far most of them allied with the Republican Party, that have flocked to raise big money from individuals and companies and flooded into some of the most competitive races across the country.

Bossie, however, is sticking with his movies — conservative documentaries that are critical of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress or that champion conservative icons and causes.

Over the next week, Bossie says he plans to spend “a couple hundred thousand dollars” on 30-second ads on national cable television promoting four of his new films, available on DVD. The amount is modest compared to the millions being spent by other outside groups, but the political message in the ads is clear — Obama’s and the Democrats’ policies are wrong and conservatives need to assert themselves.

“Getting people activated, getting motivated is clearly part of our goal,” he said, sitting in his office two floors above Pennsylvania Avenue and next door to his film studio.

“The stakes on Nov. 2 are just unbelievably important,” former Democratic strategist-turned-conservative commentator Dick Morris says in one ad, referring to congressional elections that could determine whether Democrats keep their majority in the House and Senate. Images of Obama appear, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid behind him. “He has no understanding of how to be president,” Morris adds. “Elections have consequences.”

But the ads, according to the Federal Election Commission, do not amount to electioneering.

In June, the FEC concluded that Citizens United was entitled to a “media exemption” extended to news stories or commentary by broadcast, cable or satellite television or radio stations that aren’t owned by a party, political committee or a candidate.

As a result, Citizens United doesn’t have to include a disclaimer that identifies who paid for the ad or assert that it is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, like other political groups must do.

The ads will promote DVD movies such as “Battle for America,” the one featuring Morris; “America at Risk,” calling for a new commitment to fighting terrorism; “Generation Zero,” about the financial meltdown; and “Fire for the Heartland,” a salute to conservative women.

Bossie, a top Republican congressional investigator who led inquiries into President Bill Clinton’s Whitewater land deal and his fundraising, said he takes his inspiration from director Michael Moore, the provocative left-wing documentary maker who directed “Fahrenheit 911,” which accused President George W. Bush of using the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a pretext to go to war in Iraq.

“A lot more people saw the ads than saw the movie,” he said of “Fahrenheit 911.” “It permeated the culture.”

Still, the Supreme Court decision prompted by his anti-Hillary Clinton movie has done far more to expand the reach of political advertising for other outside groups than it has for Citizens United.

“It was always a custom-designed test case,” said Trevor Potter, a campaign finance lawyer who worked on John McCain’s Republican presidential campaign and is a critic of the ruling. “The beneficiaries were always going to be other players.”

Obama, who took the unusual step of denouncing the court’s decision during this year’s State of the Union address, has made the case a staple of his current stump speech and has criticized it twice during his Saturday morning radio and Internet addresses.

“I want you to understand right now all over this country special interests are planning and running millions of dollars of attack ads against Democratic candidates,” Obama said at a Democratic fundraiser in New York on Wednesday. “Because of last year’s Supreme Court decision inCitizens United, they are now allowed to spend as much as they want, unlimited amounts of money, and they don’t have to reveal who is paying for these ads.”

Obama’s chief political adviser, David Axelrod, continued that line of criticism Sunday, complaining that Republicans had blocked legislation to require groups that air political ads to reveal their donors.

“You know, there’s an old saying that if you want to keep things secret, you have something to hide,” Axelrod said on ABC television.

Bossie takes delight in the attention.

“You can see by the actions of the White House and the Congress, this Citizens United ruling has gotten under the skin of the liberal establishment, the leadership of the House and Senate and the White House,” he said. “They are completely emotional.”

I’ll end with a little political humor...

*********

Robert, Mindy: I am delighted that both of you are going. As I mentioned, I would love to hear your comments on the documentary.

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

My dear friend Tracey, as in “Tracey”, Reiki healer, and wonderful wife of “Elliot” our resident film noir guy, is helping to promote an International Film Circuit documentary. “Enemies Of The People” has gotten many awards, including Sundance this year, and is coming to the Bay Area for three special showings.

Here’s a little peek:

Award-Winning Film plays Three Days Only in Bay Area
with Filmmaker in Attendance

Mon, Oct 11 @ 7pm
BALBOA THEATER
3630 Balboa St (37th Av) • SF • 415-221-8184
www.balboamovies.com/

Tues, Oct 12 @ 4p
UC BERKELEY HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER
110 Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley

http://hrc.berkeley.edu/events.html#enemies

Weds, Oct 13 @ 4:30p, 7:15p & 9:30p
GRAND LAKE THEATER
3200 Grand Ave • Oakland • 510-452-3556
www.renaissancerialto.com/

FILMMAKER ROB LEMKIN IN PERSON at ALL SHOWS

International Film Circuit is pleased to present Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath’s ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE, one of the most harrowing and compelling personal documentaries of our time. Winner of a dozen top documentary festival awards, including a Special Jury Prize at Sundance and the Grand Jury Award at the Full Frame Festival, ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE exposes for the first time the truth about the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge who were behind Cambodia’s genocide. It is also an intimate journey into the heart of darkness by journalist Thet Sambath, whose family was wiped out in the Killing Fields, but whose patience and discipline elicits unprecedented on-camera confessions from perpetrators at all levels of the Khmer Rouge hierarchy. More than simply an inquiry into Cambodia’s experience, the film is a profound meditation on the nature of good and evil, shedding light on the capacity of some people to do terrible things and for others to forgive them. ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE will open in New York on Friday, July 30 at the Quad Cinema, with a national roll-out to follow.

In 1974, Thet Sambath’s father became one of the nearly two million people who were murdered by the Khmer Rouge. Sambath’s mother was forced to marry a Khmer Rouge militiaman and died in childbirth in 1976, while his eldest brother disappeared in 1977. Sambath himself escaped Cambodia at age 10 when the regime fell in 1979.

Fast forward to 1998, and Sambath, now a reporter with the Phnom Penh Post, got to know the children of some senior Khmer Rouge cadre and gradually earned their trust. Then, for a decade, he spent weekends visiting the home of the most senior surviving leader, Nuon Chea, aka Brother Number Two under Pol Pot. Over time, Nuon Chea began to reveal to him about the truth of the genocide, including details of the killing. Sambath also won the confidence of lower-level Khmer Rouge soldiers, now ordinary fathers and grandfathers, who demonstrated for him how they slit people’s throats. It was the first time these murderers admitted what they had done. He taped their interactions, and together with British documentarian Rob Lemkin created this landmark film.

For Sambath, it has been an ongoing, lifelong personal journey to discover what was behind such horror; he neglected both his family and his own happiness in the search for truth with hope of reconciliation. ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE is at once a cinematically beautiful, chillingly insightful, and deeply personal piece of documentary filmmaking.

“Stunning. Inspiring. A testament to one man’s persistent search for the truth.
Extraordinary on several fronts…an intensely personal film undertaken at some risk.”
- Stephen Holden, New York Times

“One of the most GRIPPING and MOVING films I have ever seen. STUNNING. ”
– Andrew Marr, BBC Radio

“A must-see exposé. Fascinating and Remarkable.” – Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

*************

Readers: I can not boast that I have seen this film, but I am intrigued, aren’t you? And I will be attending one of the viewings. Why not support this film and join me? And then I want you to blog me and tell me what you thought of it.  Sound good?

Zen Lill: My pleasure. :) The difference between sitting and chatting poli all day is that you really don’t get anywhere with it. People are either with you or they aren’t, and having a conversation isn’t going to change that. When you phone bank you will have a script; very to the point. You can knock out 60-70 calls in less than 2 hours. And you’re calling people who are already registered Dem voters. (I realize you regard yourself an “Independent”, but to my understanding, you promote yourself like you would vote like a Dem [?])

That being said, you will get many answering machines, but the people you do talk to are usually very nice and appreciative that you are volunteering for the cause. And most importantly, stats show that if they weren’t going to vote, and they make a commitment on the phone to you that they will go to the polls and vote, they most likely will. Simple – That’s grassroots baby. Thanks for giving it a go.  :)

Peace out…

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 :)

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Good morning.

I mentioned I was exhausted yesterday from saying the words, “Do something”. Is that really the truth? No. I said it more out of frustration. Frustration of the times and what I have been reading. It’s really no skin off my back to encourage people to get involved and “do something”. In fact, I  rather  like it. A lot. But I also like results. We have two choices: 1) We’re either going to do it…or 2) We’re not.

Now here’s a person who is exhausted and her exhaustion, unlike mine, I feel is warranted.

REPUBLICAN MANIFESTO: THE PARALYZING OF AMERICA
By Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration
Chicago, Ill.

I am exhausted listening to people talking about their exhaustion defending the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. As I listened to the lady at the recent town hall meeting who said she was exhausted with trying to defend President Obama to others who are disenchanted, I became even more exhausted.

Not once did I hear her say that she was exhausted with the obstructionisms, the odious smears, innuendos and lies being told about our president. I also did not hear her say that she would do all she could to discourage the GOP from blocking and preventing most of the progressive, humane agenda that the president has laid out to benefit all of America’s citizens.

What is so troubling to me is that Democrats are sitting back and allowing the tea party and the Republicans to dominate the conversation by perverting all the good the Obama Administration is doing. These detractors are deliberately twisting and distorting the truth. Their 24/7 attention to the constant repetition of lies has so numbed and confused the average person that they are accepting these lies as the truth.

I am exhausted listening to people criticizing and disrespecting our president.

I am exhausted listening to all the ranting and ravings of the tea partiers and ultra conservative Republicans, all designed to derail the Obama presidency.

I’m exhausted realizing how many stupid, non-thinking and easily manipulative people there are in the United States of America.

I’m exhausted witnessing how the American education system has deteriorated to the point that Americans are ready to embrace mediocrity, ignorance and prejudice. We have produced a nation of automatons and clones who are incapable of thinking and cannot make decisions that are in their own best interests.

I’m exhausted knowing that President Obama inherited the biggest and most chaotic and devastating situation ever to occur in American history.

Today, September 23, 2010, the Republicans came out with their manifesto which in essence will paralyze America. To return to the policies that put our country in the greatest financial crisis since the original Depression of 1929 is criminal. They openly admit that they will dismantle all the progressive programs advanced and passed by the Obama Administration.

Now if you want to see exhaustion, wait and do nothing and let the Republicans replay their scenario of man’s inhumanity to man, catering to the rich and powerful, decimating the middle class and totally dissolving the lower class until they become the underbelly of society.

Should the Democrats be negligent enough because of lack of fervor to allowa Republican takeover, then I want to hear that same lady who so eloquently dressed the President down for the millions of people all over the world to see and hear; I want her to speak out. Speak out if she has a voice left after bemoaning our country going to hell in a hand basket as they take us back to the conflagration that put us in the condition we are in now. Dante’s Inferno could be no worse.

You think you’ve got it bad now? Why? Is it because you are ungrateful for all this Administration has produced despite the obstreperousness of the right wingers? It will be worse than during the Bush Administration because we have not learned from history or psychology. Doing the same failed things over and over gets the same failed results.

It is time for Democrats to stop moaning and groaning and to knock on every door, open the white pages and call everyone in the telephone directory to save our country. We have a good team and it is getting better. We have made enormous strides and progress in less than two years.

The jobs are coming and they will be created here in America to make products by Americans and for Americans so that we can all get above the flood waters that we have been drowning in because of the Bush years – eight to be exact. Painstakingly these were eight years of mismanagement, pandering to the rich and the elite, shipping our jobs overseas depriving American workers of the ability to sustain themselves, and running up overwhelming debt while borrowing money to fund two wars.

We have destroyed lives and properties in two countries, simultaneously; and, now we are rebuilding what we have torn down. Our own infrastructure is outdated and seriously in need of repair or replacement. Let’s bring our money home to take care of home.

We had an ill conceived education program which did nothing except further dumb down America’s children and turn them into drones for passing tests. It did not matter that they were not learning or gaining knowledge or being prepared as lifetime learners, as long as they could pass these arbitrary tests, they were passed along.

Is this what we want for our children, America? Is this what we want for ourselves? Haven’t we suffered enough, America? If you say yes, then do something about it. If you don’t have genuine enthusiasm, fake it until you make it. Don’t allow our country to become paralyzed again with ill prepared, ill informed tea partiers replacing knowledgeable, forward thinking Democrats.

Let’s go forward! Let’s defeat the prognosticators! Let’s take our country back to the Clinton years, to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt years, to the good old days when a man and a woman who were willing to work were able to find a good paying job and then be able to circulate money within our country to stimulate our economy so we can again know the prosperity that wiser, humane Administrations created for us.

This is our Democracy, let’s practice what is necessary to sustain a thriving Democracy by voting for the Democratic lawmen who really and truly practice, COUNTRY FIRST. It is time to EXHAUST all your energies and your resources to keep the bums out! We don’t need witchcraft or voodoo economics, we don’t need to be paralyzed.

We need a functioning, thriving Democracy where all of her citizens are given an equal opportunity to pursue life, liberty and happiness. This is what we owe ourselves. This is what we owe our children and their children and their children’s children. This is America. We are Americans.

Let’s start acting like Americans who have always heeded the call to treat the least of these as we would want to be treated ourselves. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. This is our manifest destiny! hb

Readers: Kudos to Dr Burleson! I may not know how to be that inspiring myself, but I sure as hell know how to find the people who are. So if that doesn’t make one think,…if that doesn’t inspire people…if that doesn’t motivate people to get off of their lazy asses, I don’t know if anything will, and we may have to kiss our lazy asses goodbye because our country will go to hell in a hand basket, if we don’t lend a hand and “do something”.

That’s all I’ve got today. I think it’s enough. Well…maybe not. There is always LOVE…and HOPE that the people will do the right thing.

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"