Doctor Who?

So the country has a new health care law in place. Note that I did not write that the "nation" has a new "health care reform" law. First, I submit to you that the USA is NOT a nation, especially if you consider the animosity we direct to each other as recently exhibited by the so-called patriots of the Tea Party ilk. The USA does not support the classic definition of a nation as is taught in political science and political geography courses (except in Texas, but that is another story for another tirade). Nor has health care been "reformed." A single-payer or universal health care law would be health care reform; the new law reforms only certain aspects of health care coverage and insurance company policy. Much more has yet to be done.

I read this morning in that drearily middle-of-the-road rag known as the New York Times that some doctor in Florida placed signage on his door demanding that Obama supporters go elsewhere for their health care. Not so unusual here in Corvallis, OR where a much respected physician has refused to provide health care to me because I am too ill and take too many medications (I'll give you his name if you ask offline). Health care in this country must be really reformed so that people in Florida and Oregon (and the other 48 states, also - assuming that Rick Perry hasn't led Texas to secede this weekend) can be treated by any and all physicians. No physician should be allowed to practice if she/he chooses to refuse care based upon politics and disease!

News From the 9th Circle

This morning I read in the Corvallis (OR) Gazette-Times that Texas had executed another post-birth human being. Nothing unusual in that for the Lone Star State, a political entity that values potential people far more than it does living, breathing humans. Be that as it may (I abhor abortion, but I abhor executions more). This particular case, however, is even more egregious than the usual callous disregard for human life and common sense that Texas Governor Rick Perry exhibits.

There is no question that the person who was executed (Robert Lee Thompson) was a criminal and deserved to be in jail. And because a clerk (Mansoor Bhai Rahim Mohammed) in the store that Thompson and his partner in crime (Sammy Butler) robbed was killed, Thompson received the death penalty.

Here is why Rick Perry has earned (not for the first time) my scorn. During the commission of the crime, Butler was the gunman and Thompson was the accomplice. Butler shot and killed Mohammed. Butler received a life sentence. I do not know the circumstances as to why there was such a difference in the sentences. In any event, the sentences were not Rick Perry’s doing or fault.

Thompson’s lawyer argued before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles that Thompson’s punishment, compared to Butler’s, was unfair. The Board agreed in a 5-2 decision on November 18, 2009 and recommended that Thompson’s sentence be commuted to life. Perry disagreed and Thompson was executed on Thursday.

The callous disregard for human life and common sense that Rick Perry has exhibited since he became governor when W was appointed to the presidency by an activist Supreme Court is such that he should be booted out of office as soon as possible. Nine years is enough of this despicable man’s insane tenure. He should be retired to his appropriate Circle of Hell.

Stinkin' Excuses

One of my not-so-humble correspondents who hails from Tejas claims that he cannot get past the password to respond to my blog. What is he talking about? Being the right-wing boomer that he is, he probably is semi-illiterate when it comes to computers. Maybe he needs to hire someone to figure this out. Even my sister figured it out. Tejas-man must be just too damned smart for this stuff. Since he could not respond to the blog, I have reproduced my pointy-headed, commie-pinko reply to his tirade against me..."...since you haven't read it, you have no right to lambaste me...yet...so are you stating that Jesse Helms was a lunatic lefty since he was racist, ignorant of economics, a mean-spirted character assassin, naive in foreign affairs and held in disdain all who did not agree with him?? Any password block that exists is on your system...I would not block anyone from replying. Air America failed (wait, it is still on the air...) because of lack of advertising revenue, which is controlled by polemicists such as you and your ilk.

OOO, that felt good..."

"And it's 1, 2, 3, what are we fighting for? Don't ask me I don't give damn, next stop must be Iran..." sorry Country Joe.

Those of you who know me will understand the title of my blog. Some of you may remember my nickname in Bowling Green, KY as the Rhode Island Redneck. Since I spent 29 of my first 36 years in Little Rhody, I just cannot get the dynamites, fried clams, fish 'n' chips, Del's, chowder (never with cream or milk!!!) and clam cakes, and 'Gansett out of my system. So call me a RI Yankee or a RI Redneck...

Let me state this about TX: the Austin Lounge Lizards "Stupid Texas Song" sums most of my feelings about TX and Texans. First the cons: arrogance; ignorance; bad baseball teams; George H. W. Bush; George W. Bush; Neil Bush; Barbara Bush (the grandmother); Jeb Bush; Tom Delay; Dick Armey; Rick Perry; Lone Star Beer; summer; spring; autumn; winter; cedar fever; Alberto Gonzalez; Harriet Miers; tornados; overated colleges and universities; pickup trucks; SUVs; Dick Cheney (I don't care if he registered to vote in WY and he was their House Rep - he's a Texan by choice); Amarillo; Dallas; Houston; Beaumont; Port Arthur; Westlake; football mentality; I-35 in Austin; malls, shopping centers and cheerleaders. I could go on...

The pros: cheerleaders; The Salt Lick; Round Rock Express; Lubbock (for the great musicians from thereabouts); steak (oh my - yes yes yes); San Antonio; Louis Meuller; BBQ; Lost Maples; Fredricksburg; Dan Rather; Bill Moyers; Ron Paul's honesty and courage; Andy Pettitte; the Pedernales River; Shiner Bock; Christina Marrs; The Spankers; Anne Richards; Molly Ivins; Jim Hightower; Don Luis at Azul Tequila in Austin; Antone's; Waterloo Records; Cheapo Records; The Saxon Pub, The Mucky Duck; Bend Studio; Matt the Electrician; Wammo; The Spurs; and did I mention the steak? I could go on...

Further details will be forthcoming.