HEY !!
WHITE GUYS NEED Affirmative Action !!
Right Mr Ricci ??

The 'Poster Boy' for 'Reverse Racism' (sic) got HIS JOB through set asides !!!!

Just another Dumb White guy with a chip on his shoulder and a deep sense of ENTITLEMENT


'...Ricci originally got his job on the New Haven force through his own discrimination complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He claimed he was denied employment on the basis of his dyslexia...'

OH ! THAT test ?
THAT Test was BIASED Against the Dyslexic !!
I DEMAND a PASSING SCORE !!



From the New Haven Independent via Huff Post:

'...Washington, D.C. — (Updated 10:18 a.m.) As firefighter Frank Ricci arrived in the nation’s capital for his moment in the spotlight, U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch came to the his defense against an alleged “smear campaign.”

Ricci is set to take center stage Thursday as a witness against Judge Sonia Sotomayor in her Supreme Court confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The country will be watching.

Ricci and fellow New Haven firefighter Ben Vargas (pictured) were inside the committee hearing room Wednesday morning as questioning of Sotomayor continued....'

'...As Ricci becomes a national symbol of the deserving candidate whose opportunities were vanquished by alleged reverse discrimination, attention has focused on a fact that complicates his case. Recent reports revealed that Ricci originally got his job on the New Haven force through his own discrimination complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He claimed he was denied employment on the basis of his dyslexia....'

'...“In a separate interview, People For the American Way (PFAW) Executive Vice President Marge Baker (pictured) said all her group did was alert members of the media to an apparent contradiction in Ricci’s past.

“What we’ve done is pointed out that, in the past, Mr. Ricci has used the civil rights laws, in particular the Americans with Disabilities Act, to get hired by the New Haven Fire Department.” That fact “puts into context” Ricci’s discrimination claims in Ricci v. DeStefano. In that case, he claimed he was being denied opportunities because the city, fearing a lawsuit under a similar civil rights law, refused to certify the results of a promotional test.

“The point is, you can’t have it both ways,” said Baker.

The senator was asked if highlighting an apparent contradiction between the two discrimination suits constituted a smear.

“Those cases were about discrimination against him. He won both cases. So I think he comes out of it looking very, very good,” said Hatch. To suggest that the cases are “some sort of privilege or benefit to him, is smearing the guy. I don’t think there’s much question about that. They’re doing it in a pretty sophisticated smear.”

Baker dismissed the charge.

“With all due respect to Senator Hatch, he’s attacking a straw man,” she said in a press statement Tuesday. “It is not a smear to point out than an individual used the law to protect his interests. It’s time to get past this distraction and have an honest discussion about the importance of anti-discrimination laws for all people.”

Another PFAW member countered that this TV ad is what a real smear looks like.”...'


THAT test is INVALID because I DIDN'T PASS

THIS TEST is Valid Because I DID PASS !!

This has been sold wrong again.   Healthcare reform will NEVER happen if it's sold on the "healthcare is a human right" platform.   The "human right" claims (as valid as they may be) are too easy to poo-pooh compared to the evil TAX INCREASES & RATIONING.    It HAS to be sold based on the savings it can generate and the streamlining it will enable.   Anything else is doomed to failure once it gets under the klieg lights.

We all know the republicans will do everything they can to destroy a true health care reform. We must let them know we will no longer allow or tolerate big business, lobbyists, special interests run our country and make crucial decisions for us.
There most certainly is enough need but believe also there is the support and approval for the Americans to override the republicans obstruction.
Go to ussenators.com and let them know what you think.
We must fight for public option. Without it health care reform will be a farce and, once again, the raping of the American people.

Sen. Conrad: "When you're talking about legislation that will affect the life of every single American, getting this right is critically important," Conrad said.  "And it takes time."


And what gives you these god-like qualities that aid you in writing this bill Senator Conrad? You're just a guy with a big stick that womps people over their heads. You don't know anything about how healthcare is done in the country, and you certainly cannot come up with a one sized fits all so called solution to the problem.

Take some advice Mr. Conrad. Get lost.

Take your time, get it right and then pass it!  With or without the Republican whiners -- pass the damn thing already and then let me know when and how I can sign up.  

I'll be more than happy to say good bye to the heartless b-st-rds that make up my HMO.  Their motto is to deny, delay and then finally pay 30 cents on the dollar.  I won't miss them at all.

Liberals in this country can take hike. A long walk off a short pier. Obama's job stimulus plan has failed, and now liberals want to trust this moron Obama with health care? Not a chance. You stupid libs want everyone else to pay your way. Get a job and get a life. Clueless people like Conrad and Kerry don't have any idea what they are doing. That's all they know is how to tax the people more and more. It's not working libs, not this time. What's going to be a pleasure to watch is this issue going down in flames, even with a 70+ voter Dimecrats majority in the House and a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. Then once and for all this issue will be dead. Let's get to it libs, it's going to be funny to watch you cry when this is done.

Kerry. What a chin. Too much inbreeding.

There's a self imposed deadline on Conrad, Kerry and all the other nutbags supporting this bill. It's called the next election.

Scott,

Don't even get me started on Gonzales v. Raich. Scalia isn't a very good justice and his opinion on this case I thought proved that quite well.

BTW.  I wonder how the public option healthcare is going to handle the use of medical marijuana.  I haven't heard anything.

Good to see another libertarian on the board.  I was begining to think I was the only one.  I get lumped in with the Bush-lovers on a daily basis.  It's kind of annoying.  

Msierra,

I realize the commerce clause get's a broad interpretation and I posted previously regarding Madison's View (I figure it's the best view since he wrote much of the Constitution).  

Many people quote case law in this debate, but precedent set by the courts have been inconsistent in regards to the commerce clause.  It seems to get applied differently depending on which political party is in power.  i.e. in the 30's the supreme court ruled that farmers were not allowed to grow their own feed for their livestock.  The reasoning was that if they did they were taking money away from "interstate commerce" since they should be buying it at the higher price from a farmer who grows grain.  However today dairy farmers are permitted to grow grain to feed their herds.  So which is it?  

Since the Judicial is supposed to be the branch that has the least amount of bias, and this portion of the Constitution has been interpreted in an absolutely biased way, I have deffered to the guys who wrote the document for help in its interpretation instead.

Also...
I don't see how moving money from corporations hands and tax payer hands into a public fund falls under protecting free trade between the states?  Perhaps you could explain your logic.  Keep in mind I'm not saying the public plan itself is a bad idea just questioning the legality.  

In fact many states have unconstitutional laws prohibiting purchasing out of state health care insurance plans.  

If these laws were struck down (because they are unconstitutional) a privately owned version of a national insurance plan might be possible.  Perhaps even a non-profit using a similar model that credit unions use were it's member owned.  

Sen Conrad appears to be the only one making sense.  I'm hoping his common sense will prevail and realize that doing this right takes some time.  And getting it right is far more important than getting it done fast.  

I am going to agree with Senator Kent Conrad on this one; however, that doesn't get you a pass to work night and day to achieve a successful outcome.
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and from yesterday - and earlier today:
“Ed, San Antonio,
All due respect. Do you understand that the reason US corporations are "shipping" jobs overseas is because US Corporate Tax Rates are some of the highest in the world? What we need is International Tax Competiton.”  Cicero (Sent Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:17 PM)
That’s BS.  Taxes are owed and paid where the corporation is headquartered.  Further, due to Transfer Pricing, in kind services are netted against overseas operations.  What they are avoiding is the overhead COSTS of workers in the US – including healthcare.  All of this is to maximize profits, which are then converted to equity payouts in the form of bonuses or deferred compensation (stock options, etc).
NPR had a very good article on this last October/November.  Very few American companies ‘owe’ taxes.  And I agree with the person yesterday that said, why blame the corporations for using every loop in the tax code.  I don’t blame them, per se.  I really resent Congress for being in bed with the lobbyists.  Hell former veep Cheney actually invited the Oil companies to the Whitehouse to author our energy policy – so what I resent is that the Middle Class is screwed over once again so the Greedy gluttons can ‘benefit from all of the wonderful opportunities this great country has afforded them” or thanks to Daddy’s Trust Fund.  It is hard to discern those who ‘made’ it from those who ‘took’ it or those who had it ‘given’ to them.  It’s incredibly compelling, although not terribly honest.

And Jonathon, your technical point about the Constitution not specifically stating Healthcare is to be provided by government – is not literally written in the document, nor energy or stimulus funds.  I suppose it was argued that Education was not a ‘right’, as specifically stated; but thanks to Brown vs. Board of Education – KS – it is, indeed, settled law.  Civilized society has determined that the General Welfare of our citizens is inclusive of a public education through high school.  Many of us who agree with that assertion believe a healthy population, free of disease is ALSO part of the General Welfare.

So many continue to state how concerned they suddenly are about deficits without being honest about where the money goes.  If we can afford to inject ourselves into Middle East oil states, than we can damn sure afford to take care of our own.  This is more of the Hurricane Katrina mentality of Barbara Bush. [sarcasm meter 99%], ‘This flood situation has actually helped the impoverished more than they otherwise would deserve’.  Obviously, I am speaking with a significant amount of nuance, I don’t expect Bill, Fairfax, VA to understand; but, Jonathon, you seem capable of connecting some dots.
============
Elizabeth Teede, Bellevue, NE (Sent Tuesday, July 14, 2009 10:31 AM)
I appreciate the sentiment; but please, I refuse to turn the other cheek so Liz Cheney can use the propaganda microphone that she has only been given because her father got her a job at the State Department (to insure he had an inside ‘Cleaner’).  Respect is EARNED, not granted – and there isn’t a Cheney on this planet that is worthy of it.  So, yes, while I agree with your sentiment that our discourse on this forum should maintain a modicum of respect – I will not be throwing any in the direction of the Cheneys or their apologists.
=======
“I just don't like the idea of being "forced" to buy anything.  If I don't succumb, then I will be fined $1000.  WTF??  I thought this was the land of the free.  We've lost too many of our freedoms already.”  E. Mercer, NC (Sent Wednesday, July 15, 2009 10:52 AM)

On the face, I agree with you; but the flip side is where we tend to have problems.  If we could guarantee that those people ‘choosing’ to not buy insurance coverage could never default or file bankruptcy from medical costs, then I would be okay with healthcare as a ‘choice’.  Our current model is that people without insurance are TREATED and then they bug out on the cost.  Everyone else is already footing the bill for the services the uninsured received.

Progress is never easy and never happens over night. Please make sure it is done correctly and there is no reason you cannot have it completed before the August break.

Kerry and Conrad...you've had plenty of time to know what the hell the bill consist of, so the stall tatics won't work.I pay you both to work and I damn well want my money's worth out of the two of you. Don't you all have health care? How much thought went into your health care packages? Get back to work now.
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To: Allen - Omaha, NE

Allen it was me. I answered your posting. I will repeat this to you again. Black women are well aware of racisium regarding the birth control issue. I don’t know where you’ve gotten those numbers from but they are not correct. Young “black” females don’t opt for abortions too quickly. Families usually take care of the unborn in "most" instances, it's a tridition.

The adoption rate for “Black” babies are low and the availiblity of babies are extremely high.

I work in the Health Care sector and I happen to know facts. Where did you get the 35% ratio from Allen? I don’t resign in California as doesn’t a “large” majority of “Black” voters. It would be remiss of me to categorize what’s in the hearts and minds of all “blacks verses the “voting rights” of others.

I don’t know where you live, but In my city abortion clinics aren’t situated in “so called” black communities…that sounds sepratist doesn’t it…one more time Allen…what clor is considered black, when the race is a flower gargen of color and ethnicity isn’t always defined on paper??

So Obama said the Demcorats can have a partisan bill. Well, Pelosi and Reid certainly took that advice to heart. They is nothing bi-partisan about any of the Democrats bills. They are a libreals heaven on earth, well if liberals believed in those things. It has everything in it. 1) Total government control of health care 2) Mandatory and forced purchases of insurance 3) Taxing the rich 4) Full regulation of how hospitals and clincis are run 5) Price controls. You name it, the liberals got it. Change is here, and so is socialism.

Elections have consequences. Apparently the last one destroyed America.

Senate - 35 votes - tops.

House - 190 votes - tops.

If you're against health care legislation, call 1.877.SOBuSOB.  Yes, that truly is the number for the congressional switchboard!

Lets see, Obama has destroyed the job market, purchased the domestic automakers who promptly went bankrupt, taken control of the Energy sector of economy with cap and trade, is attempting to take federal control of the health care system, and added $2T dollars to the national debt in 6 months (with a lot more to come).

Most people would call that a bad run of luck, well at least for the taxpayers.

Forget the special interest groups (drug companies, insurance companies that donated to your campaigns) you two, without seats...they won't matter unless you plan on working for them in the future, Kerry, I know that your wife is loaded, so you guys need to pay your fair share.... no stalling...

Conrad is one of the Dem senators who is bought and paid for by the health insurance industry. The "reform" that he and the Repubs want is some sort of window dressing that will appease the public whil allowing the insurance industries to continue ripping off sick people as usual. If the bought senators are very clever, they may figure out a way to make it even easier for the insurance companies to rip off sick people than it is now under the guise of reform.

The terrorists aren't needed to wreck America. Obama is taking care of that for them.

When are the Democrats going to tax the air we breath?

I agree with Conrad that they need to slow down and get it right.  Meanwhile, for those of you that currently have health insurance, you better hurry up and get all your check-ups and procedures done ASAP before this disaster hits.

Good grief!!  At first glance, I thought that was Lurch.  But upon further inspection, it turned out to be Kerry.

FR: Conrad said.  "And it takes time."

It takes time to steal all that money from Americans pockets. These things are delicate and must be done right.

Conrad sounds like the wicked witch of the west.

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