Did you watch that speech last night? I admit I did not see all of it. I am not feeling so well and my brain is in low, low gear and it took all my energy to cook the supper but we watched it while we ate and then sat afterwards for the ending.
Mr. Moon and I looked at each other and we agreed that Barack Obama is the best president speech-maker since JFK we have heard in our lifetime.
His words were calm and yet forceful. He put the lie to the lies going around. He made his points and how anyone could listen to that and still think that the government is trying to take over the entire health care industry (which I sort of wish they would) has his head up so far up his ass that he can hear nothing but the sound of his own intestines chewing on his own bitter gall.
When the camera would pan the Republican side of the room I saw a bunch of angry white men whose lips were pursed and whose minds were made up. "They look like a bunch of angry Mormons," I said to my husband.
He agreed.
And then that cry from Joe Wilson, Republican from South Carolina- "You lie!" he shouted when Obama stated that this bill would not pay for medical care for illegal immigrants.
People like that do not want to believe the truth of the matter. They would rather believe that Obama is a demon who is leading us straight to hell and...what's the code word today? Socialism? Marxism? Tomorrow we may return to that tried and true red flaming threat of Communism.
I still say it all boils down to racism.
Well. That's what I think.
And I think our president is going to prevail and he's going to do the right thing because I believe that HE believes so strongly that we must provide everyone (except illegal immigrants, of course!) with health care because it is the right thing to do as human beings and as a nation.
And anyone who doesn't think the insurance companies have been sitting on top of a pile of gold, gleefully counting their ducats while denying payments to those who need it is full of the rankest sort of shit. Anyone who doesn't think THAT industry needs to be made accountable is obviously in the deep, deep pockets of that industry.
Well. That's all I have to say right now. I'm going to town to go with Lily to the ultrasound doctor and the midwife. Thank God she has insurance.
Thank God we have this president who is so smart and so unafraid to speak the truth in the face of ignorance and fear.
He had my vote. He has my vote. And with that speech last night, he re-earned my respect.
Sending you energy and good wishes- almost a grandma. I hope Lily has a great birth
ReplyDeleteWellll. I have a dear conservative friend, who's LDS. He's not angry....and really really funny. I'm afraid that the Republican's race isn't a factor either. My husband and sons are white men, my brotherinlaw and nephew are black men. They're all the same to me. THE SAME.
ReplyDeleteI watched that speech with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, knowing that this kind and competent man is looking out for me and my children.
ReplyDeleteAnd that idiot from South Carolina-how childish. How utterly void of respect and decency. Grow the fuck up!
I'm feeling in low low gear too, just trying to kick the beginnings of the killer cold that my babies have.
ReplyDeleteI liked the speech and though I respect the pres. and the reform issue, I thought the speech was bordering on vague. He is an excellent speaker though. Very convincing and moving.
I thought I might find something on the President's speech over here this morning. I thought of you when I sat down to watch last night. I also posted today about the damn republicans and their petty spitefulness.
ReplyDeleteObama's speaking abilities also remind me of JFK's. Clinton was an awfully good speaker, too.
I love you.
SB
I, too, am so pleased that we now have a president who can truly construct a sentence and speak with passion and conviction and power.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am so angry at those white men with the pursed lips, and especially the one who let his lips unfurl long enough to be disrespectful. I am especially disgusted that I, too, live in south Carolina.
I voted for him, and I'll do it again. As a gay man I wish he could do more for the LGBT community, but I do understand his points, where he's coming from and where he wants to take us.
Yea, I felt the same way when they'd pan to the republican side of the room. I wish the haters had their own planet to live on. They are just the epitomy of everything that is wrong with being human...
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not sure I'll ever get over the irony that most claim to be Jesus followers. I wonder how ole Jesus would vote on this bill? Hmmm... I wonder
I think I heard a different speech. If all that was wanted was the Republicans to be spanked, well he did that. But I didn't hear much that smacked of reform. A public option is just that, a maybe four years down the road. Mandating insurance, but no talk of regulating the industry. Public money in the way of subsidies going into private hands. I think the insurance industry walked away from that speech with a smile.
ReplyDeleteI'll wait to pull my hair out until there actually is a bill.
I agree with you, I completely suspect racism running amuck. I have no patience for such juvenile behavior, and the gentleman who spouted out "liar" like some pathetic 5 year old should have kharma come full circle on his pathetic white *ss. What kind of example is THAT for our children?
ReplyDeleteI posted some about Obama yesterday, but sadly my blog was out of service most of the day.
ReplyDeleteAnd I believe so much of what you wrote here, and I also beleive that you and Lily are going to have a lovely, lovely day. And I hope you start to feel better.
Not the first salient point about racism I've read today on this subject.
ReplyDeleteYou know though, the idea of wanting illegal immigrants to die in the street is pretty unpalatable to me - I don't even know if I'd find that a comfort.
There was a story about a Polish woman in Irelnd a few winters ago. She had lost her job and subsequently her flat and ended up homeless, in January. And hse got hypothermia and lost her legs.
After that she said her life turned around amazingly, the hospital took great care of her, she got into the welfare system and got an appartment etc.
I'd be happier to pay tax for her to have saved her legs than I am to pay welfare for half the scumbag wasters who exist on it cheerfully, long term.
The idea that she sat in the cold while her legs froze doesn't make me feel secure at all.
When you mentioned how your daughter is having a midwife appt today and also thinking about illegal aliens it made me want to share the following thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI know a midwife who at one time worked for a doctor who had a clinic where illegals would pay cash for his services and birth in the hospital. She was amazed how all these women (speaking of low risk pregnancies here) do not expect to be treated with drugs and scheduling inductions and other interventions. They arrived with their husbands and managed their births with very little interventions.
I remember watching Pres Obama speak in July about healthcare and one comment he made is that people may have to not go out and get the most expensive treatment or test if not needed (paraphrasing). Picture MRI machines that doctors have paid for and the expense of the imaging services. But also picture the "Americanization" of birth these days. Are American women and families willing to not have a birth that costs $15,000-$20,000 (low risk vaginal birth) that includes tests, anesthesiologists and interventions that may or may not lead to a surgeon's fee and longer hospital stay as well for the now 35% c-section rate?
Illegal immigrants already get free care in most ERs in the country. Which is a good thing, as I believe health care is a right, not a privilege.
ReplyDeleteI think Obama needs to be careful in his demands as the anti-reform lobbies are exceptionally strong, and if he asks for too much, everything will get shot right the hell down.
I did like seeing his anger and watching him take a stand again. And those republicans struck me as a bunch of obstinate white men, but I thought that was just me. Seems like a lot of folks saw the same thing.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'm still amazed he's gotten as far as this. Oh me of little faith
I can just imagine the core feelings those stoic old white men had watching that strong black man address them on 'their stage.'
ReplyDeleteMakes me giggle with glee.
I just don't get the mentality. What is wrong with white men? Why is it comfortable and easy to identify by race like that?
ReplyDeleteSally- Thank-you. Everything went well today. Except for the ultra sound doctor who kept asking Lily why she wouldn't want a C-section. That was weird.
ReplyDeleteCindy- The fact of the matter is, all of those men I was talking about did happen to be white and I said they reminded me of angry Mormons because they just looked the stereotype we all have in our heads of Mormon men who are very neat, clean, and have very short hair cuts and who tend to wear suits. I have no real fondness for any religion. That is that and that is the truth. I am glad your LDS friend is funny. I, too, would have to have a terrific sense of humor to buy what that church sells. And believe me- I've done some research here. A lot. It's probably no more foolish in its beliefs than any other religion but it's right up there.
And if you want to know my thoughts about race and how I got to the point where I am now, please go check my old post at
http://blessourhearts.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-color-are-lens-of-our-glasses.html
because I go into fairly long detail.
Just go there, read that and maybe you'll understand a little bit more about me. Or don't. And honestly, when you look at history, of course every "race" (and there is no scientific definition of such) has had its shining moments and its shameful ones. It just seems to me that white people are born with some an unearned sense of self-entitlement. Perhaps it's culture. But I believe, I think, that white people have used other races as expendable pawns in whatever it is they desire- whether an entire continent or to get their cotton fields picked or their railroads built or their tomato crops brought in. That is part of our culture. Still. And it seems to me that there are more than a few people out there who still see that as the way things should be. And religion has often been used to justify this. The LDS church has no great record when it comes to allowing African Americans to hold the same offices as white people in their church. In fact, they have a rather shameful history there.
Okay. That's enough. You got me started. And bottom line is that this IS my blog, which is like my house in that if you want to come visit, you are welcome, and if don't agree with me, you are perfectly welcome to say so.
But do your research, both here and in history and THEN tell me what you think of what I've said.
Thanks.
Rachel- Well. That is how I felt about it too.
ReplyDeleteErin- He is an excellent speaker. And yes, we should be wary of people who can speak well. We should. But I think he was quite clear on what he did say and that he did admit that there is much to be ironed out but I liked it when he said that now is the time for this to be done, to do the work, to do what is right.
Ms. Bastard- Yep. Clinton was a damn good speaker. I have been in town all day and haven't been to your site yet but I'm going there next. Much love...Ms. Moon
Bob- That was a very thoughtful comment and I thank you. I believe (hope) that Obama does want to extend rights to all citizens but that he is faced with such huge, life threatening, country-threatening SHIT that it's one thing at a time. That's what I'm hoping. Because dammit, the LGBT community has been patient for way too long.
Petit Fleur- Well, Jesus could just heal everyone. So there you go.
Sandra- I thought he was pretty strong on regulating the insurance agencies but I agree- I wish he'd just kick their asses and make them start from scratch. I do.
Marsha- Yep.
Kori- I read your post in my reader. I just couldn't comment on it. It was great and I wanted to tell you that and if your site is back up, I'll go do that.
Lily and I did have a lovely day and I'm okay.
Thank-you, sweetie.
Ms. Jo- Sadly, I think that story is told here every day. I, too, would want us to cover the health of anyone who is here. I don't give a shit whether they're legal or not. It's just human decency.
Michele Renee- I was hoping that he would mention the way we waste so much money for not great outcomes here in America when it comes to childbirth. I truly was. That definitely needs to be attended to but I think it's going to have to come from the "consumers," which is fucked up.
Michelle- Nope. I agree with everything you said. Every bit of it. And frankly, I'm still reeling in the miracle of Obama being elected and I am still joyful that it happened.
Angie- Oh. I hate to admit it, but me too.
I trust this president so much, that the sound of his voice lulled me to sleep after about 9 PM. If he could give a speech every night, I'd sleep a lot better and the makers of Ambien CR may go out of business.
ReplyDeleteCindy- And one more thing- it is very easy for white people in this country to feel a sense of entitlement. Look around- what the hell isn't run by white people? We may have a black president but that house and senate are not in any way representative of how our population actually looks.
ReplyDeleteMs. Lucy- You could just record that speech and play it every night.
Dear Ms Moon, yes and yes and yes. My Grandfather used to say that good manners were the backbone of civilization which may very well explain the outburst last night. However, to prove the point that lately they know how to shoot themselves without any help from an intelligent, educated, reasonable and rational President, today Joe Wilson's opponent's coffers are about half a million dollars richer thanks to his little drama in Congress last night. There are many ways to vote, and at least this one cannot be tampered with.
ReplyDeleteSigh. Some days I feel like the whole world's going crazy, and today is one of them. This whole week, as a matter of fact. All these "debates" that are getting more and more outrageous seriously makes me wonder if we're all, as a nation, going through a collective nervous breakdown.
ReplyDeleteI must live in a different world. It's disheartening to hear races criticized for their past abuses and wrongs. To think that there is a world where white men are condemed because of their percieved priviledge and other races are pitied because of their vicitm mentality. It's something that our family wants no part of. We're living in the today. We live and act as if we are all pink underneath our skin...which we are. Grieves me to hear blame and denegration on account of ones race. On account of things that their great great grandparents may or may not have done. I know this is your blog. I appologize if you think that my questioning was ignorant or disrespectful. I'm stunned at the difference of our viewpoints. It's not for me to understand.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of great speechmakers, skilled and trained in rhetoric and podium poise. I think one of the reasons President Obama is a such a great speaker is because of the inextricable combination of his head and his heart. He's uber-intelligent, and he really cares. My kids didn't see the back-to-school speech at school (we live outside the United States) but I am showing them the video-stream of the speech because his message is a universal one, no matter what your politics, your race or your culture.
ReplyDeleteSo Ms MOON
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that you actually have a government that finally wants to help ALL Americans?
Thank God if that's true.
We have a full health care system in the UK - free to all (paid for by taxes of course). And we do have lunatics who denounce it and point our American cousins and say "why cant we be like them?"
No bloody thank you.....is what Mr P responds.
If I am ill - I just turn up at the hospital - I dont fill in forms - or phone my insurers - I just get looked after - pretty much right away.
I am so grateful that the Labour Government created our health care system all those years back.
No - it's not perfect - but it WORKS
And why is it so hard now to post comments to your blog ?
ReplyDeleteAllegra- Wow. That's amazing. Just goes to show.
ReplyDeleteSJ- I tend to agree.
Cindy- All I can say is that yes, we do live in different worlds.
Mr. Pineapples- Thank you for that view from abroad which IS WHAT I'M SAYING!!!
I am so sorry you are having problems posting comments. What happens? Why is it hard? Explain and I shall try to fix the problem.
MDTaz- Thank you for another view from abroad. Where do you live?
ReplyDeleteI felt so proud watching him and glad he's our president. I cried at the end when he talked about the character of a nation because that's how it should be.
ReplyDelete