Historic vote

I've been sick all weekend and just stayed in. My daughter came over for dinner and brought a video. Nearing the end of the movie, she announced that we needed to stop the video briefly and watch the end of the historic vote in the House on the health care bill (she'd been getting CNN updates via her Blackberry which dinged repeatedly) . I'm glad she did!

What an amazing thought- that people who are sick with everything from the flu-like junk I've had -to really serious stuff like cancer will be covered.

• There's a family member who has a chronic condition...I won't have to worry that someday they'll be cut off from insurance for having the misfortune of the disease topped with no insurance.


• My husband and I won't have to worry about not getting coverage because we've had cancer AND both of us have a great prognosis thanks to health care.


• People will have coverage and go get the medicines and procedures they need. I didn't think twice about the drugs my doctor prescribed for this thing that has been going on for at least a month. The drugs were covered and I was glad to have both a doctor and the pills when I needed them!!!


• I won't feel guilty knowing I have insurance and so many who need it don't. (I'm glad to do my share of picking up the tab, you nasty tea-baggers...)

Not perfect? Yep. But we can work on that.

I can't wait until this thing gets through both houses and is signed. Start calling the ever cautious Sen. Evan Bayh NOW to tell him not to miss the historic moment when it is his turn.~DG

Thanks Bishop Mike

NOTE: I got this emailed "e-pistle" from our Bishop (United Methodist Bishop of the Indiana Conference). He said it eloquently, far better than I could. Donkey Girl rarely pushes her religious point of view (and she has no idea if Bishop Mike is a Democrat), but I thought this was very worthwhile sharing...

“Praying for Peace in the Midst of Violence” – November 6, 2009

I am writing this E-pistle in the aftermath of the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, yesterday in which it is accused that an army major shot and killed 13 people and injured many more. That tragedy prompted me to write this E-pistle and to invite all United Methodist people in Indiana to pray for those victims and their families.

Now as I am writing this message, I am seeing the news of another shooting in Orlando, Florida. It is not yet determined how many people have been killed or injured in this shooting rampage.

In the midst of such violence, our temptation is to starting jumping to conclusions. I have already heard comments about the alleged shooter in Texas being a Muslim, and no doubt we will hear others jumping to other conclusions about the shooting in Florida once we know the identity of that perpetrator. We need to realize that “jumping to conclusions” is a human response to try to restore our sense of balance as we deal with unimaginable situations. Sometimes we think that if we can find a quick and easy answer to the “Why?” questions, then our world is somehow back into balance and security.

I understand that need for answers, but I urge you NOT to jump to such conclusions. Allow yourself to live with the anxiety of hearing about such terrible situations, without needing to find someone to blame or some quick and easy “answer” to these situations. No doubt we will learn in the days to come many of the multiple reasons behind these awful events, and those reasons may lead us to discuss how to alleviate or even to prevent such violence.

In the meantime, our appropriate response is to PRAY. Pray for peace, pray for the healing of those injured, pray for the families of those who have lost their lives, pray for a just solution, and … yes … even pray for the person or persons who have inflicted such violence. Hearing the words of Jesus that we should “love our enemies” and “pray for those who persecute us" is a somber reminder that we can and should pray, even in the midst of terrible situations and unimaginable violence.

Does our praying do any good? Yes. It helps us to cope. It brings the spiritual resources of God’s people to bear on the situation. And it moves us from looking for easy answers and toward the more lengthy process and seeking God’s will. Most of all, praying brings us into the spirit of peace that only God can offer. So, pray. Pray for all involved in these terrible situations. Pray for peace. Pray.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner

The more things change...

Donkey Girl and spouse went to Williamsburg, VA for Fall Break from school. It was a fascinating place to visit and we immersed ourselves in the colonial history of our country. One of the best parts was the "Revolutionary City" re-enactments that were given each day. In addition to these dramatic presentations, there were times when the various colonial leaders were presented by the actors.


We went to such a presentation by the man doing Patrick Henry. The crowd was mostly white and older- retired people who had the time and money to be there hanging about on a weekday. It seemed from the reaction of the crowd to Patrick Henry's stirring words that these folks were ready to overthrow our present government. It was as if they had no understanding of what colonial life was like and why Patrick Henry spoke so strongly about overthrowing an oppressive government (the King). I guess they thought that because people have taken Henry's words (out of context) for use on Fox, that he's their hero. I left with a feeling that if they had met Patrick Henry in real life they really wouldn't have liked this upstart fire-brand who was anything but conservative.

I've read a bit more about Patrick Henry and plan to keep on learning about him. I think so far the main thing I've learned is that "the more things change the more thing stay the same". If you read very far into the founding of this country you'll find the people involved are a pretty mixed bunch. No one is pure and totally wonderful. For example, most of the men of Virginia that were involved in the Revolution held slaves and couldn't bring themselves to free the slaves- even in their wills. Most of them admitted that slavery is wrong and yet in the next breath could be very eloquent about freedom... They were a mixed bag too religiously and had the typical failings of the rest of us. What really is amazing is that somehow they got it together long enough to win our freedom and craft our country!

Reading about the lives of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams etc. has surely been enlightening. I recommend it and places like Williamsburg, VA to anyone wanting to get in touch with the real story of the Revolution.

You can read more about Patrick Henry at www.history.org/Almanack/people/bios/biohen.cfm





"His light and heat were seen and felt throughout the continent; and he was every where regarded as the great champion of colonial liberty.” William Wirt (Biographer of Patrick Henry)

~Donkey Girl

Crazy Cranky

Weird mishmashes of xenophobic blather drive me crazy cranky. I'm feeling this way tonight after reading the Evening News Letters to the Editor section. The nastiness of the "Montezuma's Revenge" letter is my beef. The guy goes off (wildly) on people speaking Spanish in the United States...

I can understand that people are uncomfortable with new things. People are often suspicious of anything new to them. But honestly, Hispanics aren't new to this country. Maybe they are new to this guy, but they've been in North America at least 500 years! There are lots and lots of them here now, too. I'm thinking it is time for this guy and his ilk to get over the fact that there are folks in this country that speak Spanish. There have been for a long time and it looks like into the future there will be Spanish speakers here, too.

In this case, the guy in the paper is all upset because there are signs somewhere in the U.S. in Spanish. I've traveled a bit in the mid-west and I have yet to see signs in Spanish (except at the airports where they are welcoming people in various languages.) I suspect this guy was moved to write his racist rant, because he 's been vegging out in front of the Fools at Fox on TV or inhaling too much Rush- or both. I have serious doubts he's been anywhere, seen much of anything or done anything out side his comfort zone in a LONG time. This has got to be TV/radio griping passed on to us in print (thanks Evening News!). Frankly-my guess is that he's got his panties in a knot over something he really doesn't even know about first hand.

Here's a newsflash jingoistic guy- I was raised in Colorado over a 1/2 century ago. Hispanics there then, signs in Spanish then, kids in school that spoke both English and Spanish then. I've lived to tell the tale! For at least the past 500 years there have been folks in North America that spoke different languages and yet...we survive. Calm down and stop spewing hate.~ DHG

(Had to look up jingoistic, xenophobic or ilk? Learn to speak English for gosh sakes!)

An open memo to Joe Blow

“Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within every one's power and that is not easy.” Aristotle

Are you listening Joe Blow Wilson of Rep. of SC? Being angry "the right way" was not within your power the other night. The right time? I think you blew it!

You've gotten notoriety from all of this... and perhaps campaign funds. But there is also a cost to blowing your anger all over the House during prime time in front of the President and the nation. Really not "the right way", sir. (Frankly, I thought it made you look out of control and if I were to run a campaign against you I'd make sure we'd play on that weakness...perhaps even goad you into more angry outbursts. Who wants a Rep. who has lost control? If this is your problem, then your opponent will surely highlight this failing. )

Perhaps you weren't out of control and were deliberate in your outburst. If this is the case, then let me thank you for making the American public even more suspicious of Congress. Angry for the right purpose? Again- I think not.

Either way- you've now drawn plenty of attention to yourself. Aristotle is succinct in his analysis of this emotion. Either you rule it or it rules you. You been angry the easy way, but given this very public display of your anger you'll have to watch your anger and your step even more so than before. This could become the way people define you. The R's pit bull? I'd think twice before becoming that kind of pet.

As one who struggles with this whole issue, I encourage you to become more of a student of Aristotle. I think we are fast approaching the time when angry outbursts will come back to bite those who don't control it. ~ DG

Curiouser and Curiouser

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

There are times I think I'm mad (meaning crazy). It is as if somehow you've fallen down the rabbit hole and suddenly what you know is all turned upside down. Friday was like that at school...
The school had gotten a number of calls from parents about the Presidential address to school kids that will be broadcast this coming Tuesday. Some parents were agin' it and others wanted to be sure that their student got to see it.
The librarians were called in to help here. I had to put a notice on the school's web site and the other librarian has to be sure to tape the address, in case anyone misses it. As with many "controversial" things teachers will be providing an alternative assignment and alternative place to be for those who are in classes that will be watching (not all will) the speech about doing well in school and setting goals.
I blurted out- "What is this country coming to" when I was told about this situation...because honestly that's what I'm thinking. It seems we are coming apart at the seams. When kids in school can't watch the President on TV telling them to do well in school- what have we come to?
What kind of example are parents setting? When they don't like something- like this black President (who they insist wasn't born in America) - they say just stick your fingers in your ears and go LA-LA-LA loudly while sticking out your tongue? Really?!
We are all mad here...DG

Baron Hill: Movie Star!

Hi Friends! Donkey Kong here...
I've not posted to the blog in awhile: A combo of general informational burnout and just being lost in summer...Its been nice!
Alas...Sotomayor is in, this is good!
Cash for Clunkers...Highly successful, this too is good!
The recession seems to be ebbing....This will be good!
Healthcare reform? Still waiting!

Got a link to the new Michael Moore movie promo for
:Capitalism: A Love Story
Our Rep. Baron Hill is in it!
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhydyxRjujU

If Baron has gone Hollywood next time you see him...Knock off his sunglasses!

Till next time friends,

Donkey Kong

My kind of Kin

Long time readers of the Clark Co. Indiana Democrats blog will know that Donkey Girl really likes quotes from H.L. Mencken. I've used several of his over the years in this blog and on the Clark co. dems web site "Quote of the Month" page.

But I have a second love now! We vacationed last weekend in Brown Co. IN and I finally read some of Kin Hubbard's stuff while staying at the Ab Martin Lodge in the park. I'm hooked. We bought a book that has some of his cartoons and lots of his writing. It is terrific.

For those who don't know him, Kin Hubbard was a Hoosier humorist who did cartoons about the character Abe Martin (pictured here) and many other cartoon folks who inhabited his version of Brown Co. To read more about him go to: http://www.indianahistory.org/pop_hist/people/hubbard.html. But for today I just want to leave you with this quote from him...

"Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny."

More Kin later ~DG

OH NO!

The party of Dr. No...

Do you recall your James Bond plots? (If not and you really do want to recall the whole plot just click the title and go to Wikipedia's summary of the plot.)

In Dr. No, the evil mastermind of the title is part of the "private criminal/espionage organization SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), and plans to disrupt a highly publicized Project Mercury space launch from Cape Canaveral..." (thanks Wikipedia) Of course, in the end Bond stops Dr. No's evil plans and escapes with the girl.

Can you begin to guess where Donkey Girl is going with this?

Yep- you got it! The Republicans have joined Dr. No's little party that promises terrorism, revenge and extortion.

What fun! What plans do we have for disruption today, Dr. No?

All this town hall hooliganism reminds me once again that when in doubt R's fall back on the old standbys of lies and the "just say no" doctrine.

Post your vitriolic videos, act nasty in public, cry loudly and stomp your feet on TV. Keep it up and people will eventually come to see you as the NO-NO-NO party. No ideas, no manners and no sense. ~ DG