Trumpcare Bill Fails To Pass Congress!

Eddie Munster Paul Ryan - BIG LOSER TODAY

President Donald J. Trump suffered a major loss today. The "dealmaker" couldn't make the deal. 

Of course now Trump is now blaming the Democrats for the failure of the bill to pass. This is interesting since the Republicans hold a HUUUUUUGE majority in the House. 

Paul Ryan was hellbent on passing Trumpcare yesterday on the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare") into law.  Guess he and his cohorts won't be doing a circle jerk on that mean spirited goal of taking away healthcare from 24 million Americans.

One would only hope that Trump learned a lesson today.  That he is not the Emperor.  He is not the king.  He is the president of the United States and he will have to work with ALL of the members of Congress, including the Democrats and yes, the much hated Nancy Pelosi.  

Today was a good day for America folks. Twenty-four Americans didn't lose their health care.

Are their problems with the Affordable Care Act?  Absolutely!  Now let's work with the Democrats to fix it. Put the American people first. Of course the only answer is a single payer system.  Let's do it!

Profiles in Cowardice

Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell

House Speaker Paul Ryan

Many years ago John F. Kennedy wrote a book called "Profiles in Courage."  Per Wikipedia (and I am quoting here):

"The book profiles senators who defied the opinions of their party and constituents and do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in (their) popularity because of their actions."

Sadly folks, in light of Donald Trumps recent disparagement of the Kahn's, a Gold Star family, the Republican leadership is demonstrating not profiles in courage but profiles in cowardice. 

The Republican leadership under Senator Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader and Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, refuses to pull their support of Donald Trump.  By doing so they have demonstrated that their party (the Republicans) is more important than doing what is right, recognizing that Donald Trump is unfit to be president. 
 

Donald Trump

Shame on them.

Weekly Roundup

That was the week that was.  Remember that show?  If you do then you are fricking old man!

So here's the deal.  Dr. Spo hit exactly on the source of my depression.  I have this sense of foreboding that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan actually stand a good chance of being elected president and vice president of the United States.  This possibility of this those to blatant liars being elected president not only depresses me for what they would do to this country once they got into power, but I am also depressed that so many people would vote against their own interests and vote for these two men who have no moral core.

Romney only wants to be president because he truly believes he is entitled.  Ryan wants to position himself in power to he can be the spearhead in dismantling all the social safety net programs since the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt.  Everyone knows that the Republicans have always opposed Medicare and Social Security for their inception.  Now they finally have two men who are "pretty", unlike the ugly pig faced Karl Rove and his ilk, who will slip into power by lies, fear mongering, and voter intimidation.  I fear for this country if Romney and Ryan get into power and take control of our government and start dismantling the social safety net.  Even worse, a Republican president stands a good chance in the next four years of appointing one of two new Supreme Court Justices.  If that happens look for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe versus Wade and the right to choose will again be illegal in this country.

That's all I'm going to say about the political situation.  The last presidential debate is tomorrow night.  I expect Romney to dominate the debate and continue with his lie and flip flop to a more moderate stance to appeal to the undecided voter.  By the way, who in the hell can be undecided at this late date?

Today Bill and I took another trip to Pennsylvania.  Today was a beautiful fall day.  Bill misses Pennsylvania so much.  I wanted him to see the fall foliage color before the cold gray days of winter descend on the landscape to the state north of us.  We weren't disappointed.  We also stopped in another cemetery to try and full fill twenty Find a Grave.com photo requests.  Didn't have any luck there.  Most of the graves were in the 1700's, that's over three hundred years old folks.  Many winter winds have worn away the lettering on those ancient tombstones.

On the way back we stopped in our new favorite restaurant, "Daddy's Kitchen."  We had the homemade cream of mushroom soup again.  Delicious!  I wasn't so fortunate in the choice of "sandwich."  I ordered a chicken quesadilla.  It was a cheesy mess.  I'm still digesting it four hours after I ate only half of it.  The french fries were superb though.

Today ends my "vacation" week.  I truly enjoyed it.  Tomorrow I go back to work at the hotel.  Tomorrow evening on my shift they're having an event.  A $1,000 plate (or whatever they call it since it's not really a sit down dinner) to raise funds for governor Markel's reelection campaign.  I'll be busy meeting and greeting.  I'll be busy but I don't mind.  At least governor Markel won't be making any comments about "not caring for 47% of the American public."  He's a Democrat.

Weekly Roundup

Yet another very busy week.  As I mentioned in an earlier posting, I met with my cardiologist on Wednesday to go over the results of a series of test I took last month to check out the extra "blip" in my heartbeat.  He said I was in good health for a man "my age".  So for a 70 year old I'm hanging in there. He did say the "bottom portion" of my heart was beating at a slower rate but I should be all that concerned about that because that was "normal" for a man "my age."  However, he did say that if I wanted to "really be sure" he could schedule a catheterization for me (up through my groin yet).  No thank you doctor.

Friday I made another visit to my dermatologist (these visits are getting to be routine now) to have a small growth removed from my left forearm.  One stitch later and the offending growth is on it's way to the lab for analysis.

Where my father grew up - NOT the Beverly Hillbillies - this was the real thing

This was the week Bill and had planned our road trip south.  We were going to visit my ancestral grounds in the mountains of western North Carolina, hillbilly country where my father was born and grew up until he was ten years old at which time his father (my grandfather) scooped up his nine sons (no daughters) and wife (my grandmother) and moved to southeastern Pennsylvania to live and work on his brother-in-law's farm as tenant workers.  Two more sons (my uncles) were born in Pennsylvania making a total of eleven Tipton boys to pick those fruits and vegetables on their Uncle Don Byrd's farm. My father met my Mother on a double date in 1940.  They were married shortly thereafter (mom was only 16 years old).  I appeared one year later and the rest is history or as I tell my southern Tipton relatives, "that's why I have a Yankee accent."

Me in those North Carolina hillbilly mountains this past spring - cemetery hunting

So where was I?  Yes, we were going to road trip south.  I even had the Dodge Caravan rented at Enterprise Rental in Rehoboth.  We checked the weather and decided not to go after seeing a forecast of possible showers at least half of next week.  Instead we took a road trip to Pennsylvania today to Union Hill Cemetery, where my said hillbilly grandfather and grandmother are buried with his brother-in-law Don Byrd.  I had some Find a Grave photo requests that I wanted to full fill.  On our trip down south I was going to cemetery hunt anyway.  On this trip I was going to visit my great-great grandfather John Tipton's grave.  He was killed by a Confederate ambush while he and his brother-in-law Curtis Bailey were recruiting for the Union forces in them thar mountains back in 1863.  I never thought I would find where he was buried but I discovered the located a few months ago quite my accident through Ancestry.com.  My visit to my Civil War hero ancestor will have to wait until spring.  Spring is a good time to visit those beautiful mountains.

Confederate Colonel Vincent Addison Wichter - the man who ambushed and killed my great-great grandfather John Tipton in 1863

Bill and I had a good trip to Pennsylvania.  You know we used to live there.  We didn't visit the old homestead this time though, just the cemetery.  Today was a beautiful, sunny, brisk fall day for soaking up the history and peacefulness of a cemetery. One of my absolute favorite past times.  I was talking to Dr. Spo yesterday on FaceTime and he was quite puzzled as to what the fascination is with Find a Grave and taking volunteer pictures.  He asked "Do you get paid for taking the photos?"  I said "No."  He said "Then why would you do it?"  Ah, Dr. Spo, it is hard to explain.  All I can say is some people like the opera (not I) and some people like to roam cemeteries.

I'm off of work next week which I am greatly looking forward to.  Even though I only work two days a week, it is nice to have a WHOLE WEEK off.  No phones calls about towel shortage, or questions about where is the best place to eat in Lewes, or "where can I park?"  Thank goodness the phone calls asking "Do you have a pool" stopped. I think that question ended when the kiddies went back to school, thank God.

Hey!  Did you all see the VP debate this week?  I loved Joe Biden! He wiped the floor with Paul "Lying" Ryan.  Who cares is Joe laughed?  He was LAUGHING at the ridiculousness of Paul Ryan's lies.  He wasn't going to let Lying Ryan get away with anything.  Go Joe!

"You're not getting away with ANYTHING tonight Lying Ryan."  Joe's got your number.

Now this week we get back to Barack "Barry" Obama.  Somehow I can't see Barry getting into Mittsy's  face.  Oh how I would love to see him call that phony out once and for all but I just don't think Obama has it in him. But we'll see won't we?

This evening I was going through my old letters.  I didn't realize how valuable they were until a few months ago.  Now hardly anyone writes letters.  I'm looking at these letters and they tell my life history.  I'm thinking about publishing all my letter in a separate blog.  If any of you want to see that blog e-mail me directly.  Everyone reads this blog, including some of my co-workers and I DON'T want them reading about some of the more salacious details of my younger days.  However, I don't mind if some of my gay (and straight) friends read them.  After all, I won't be on this planet much longer and it would be a shame if all that history (mine) was lost forever because I am quite sure when I am dead and gone someone will throw out all my saved letters.  No one in my family will be interested in them once I'm gone, especially since I'm gay and many of them would probably feel more comfortable if "Uncle Ronnie" and his "lifestyle" disappeared along with his demise.  Not trying to be maudlin folks, just realistic.

"We (I) Get Letters!"

Now I do believe it is time for me to pop in my Netflix DVD of Season 5 of "Six Feet Under."  I need me someone else's drama tonight.

The End

Save Big Bird!

Hey folks!  You know what we're going to remember from the first presidential debate this year?  Obama's lackluster performance?  No.  So what will we remember?  We will remember that Mitt Romney's plan to cut the deficit by firing Big Bird.

Sorry Mitt, put away the fireworks and change the Republican talking point about Obama failing to get the unemployment figure below 8% by the end of his first term.

Fire this guy!

Paul Ryan Booed Throughout AARP Speech

Paul Ryan was booed numerous times during his speech today in New Orleans before AARP.  Representative Ryan was telling his lies again and they weren't buying it.  See here.

Ryan repeated the lie that President Obama is "raiding" Medicare $716 billion dollars to fund Obamacare.  NOT TRUE.  President Obama is NOT REDUCING BENEFIT PAYMENTS but instead cutting payments to providers and eliminating unnecessary duplication of payments.  Ryan of course neglects to mention that his budget cuts Medicare benefits payments by 716 billion dollars.

Ryan lies.

Karl Rove and his ilk may think if they put a pretty face on the lie that the gullible seniors will believe their lies.

Ain't happening.

Does Romney Support Our Troops?

A simple answer, no.

Mitt Romney failed to mention support for our troops who are fighting in Afghanistan in his acceptance speech.  See here.  Mitt Romney became the first Republican since 1952 to accept his party's nomination without mentioning war.

#

Romney was asked about his failure to mention our troops in his acceptance speech this morning on his favorite outlet, Faux Fox News and here is his lame assed answer.  He said he didn't want to do a "laundry list" acceptance speech.  Our troops are now a laundry list?





There is a lot I don't like about Romney.  But perhaps the main reason I dislike this man is the fact he has five strapping sons and not ONE OF THEM has served in the military.  In fact, when asked about this several years ago he replied "They're serving on my campaign which is the same thing."  No Governor Romney, it is NOT THE SAME THING.

I and both of my younger brothers joined the Army right after graduation from high school.  No one told us to join.  We knew it was our DUTY to our country to serve in the military.  We never gave a thought to getting out of not serving.  Of course none of us was born into privilege like Romney or his five sons.

Romney and his five sons - none of whom saw fit to offer their service to our country in the military

I find it ironic that the man who wants to be commander in chief doesn't find it important to even acknowledge our men and women who are serving on the battle line in Afghanistan.  This is the same man who running mate Paul Ryan has proposed an 11 billion dollar cut in VA benefits.  Of course Paul Ryan has also never served in the military.

I cannot tell you how much I despise both of these men.  As I said before there are many reasons for me to dislike them from their war on women to their pledge to end Medicare and Social Security but the main reason I find these two political despicable is their total disregard for our men and women in uniform and veterans.

Isn't it ironic that Mitt Romney has surrounded himself with the neocons from the Bush Administration, most of whom never served in the military themselves?  Mitt and these neocons are already saber rattling, threatening war with Iran, Syria, and Russia.  Of course they're all too willing to go to war as long as they don't have to go or any of their family.

Romney failure to mention our war in Afghanistan and troops in his acceptance speech disqualifies him to be president of the United States.

Another Lie From Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan - Killer of Wildlife (and proud of it - check out his lipless grandpa smile)

Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee has been caught in another lie.

Paul Ryan's campaign walked back comments the VP nominee made about running a marathon.

"I had a two hour and fifty-something" marathon, Ryan said last week an interview. "I hurt a disc in my back, so I don’t run marathons anymore."

But the Ryan campaign confirmed to Runner's World that he has only run one marathon, the 1990 Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, which he finished in just over 4 hours.

The Republicans are trying mightily to sell the Low Information Voter that Ryan is an honest, choir boy  from Wisconsin who is going to tell us the hard truths that we, as the uninformed great unwashed need to know.  However, Paul Ryan this past week, by his outright lies, is proving himself to be just another politician who lies without shame.  

The admission comes after wide speculation that Ryan had exaggerated his marathon time. Running a sub-3 hour marathon means averaging under 7 minutes per mile for the entire race, a possible but extremely impressive feat. As the New Yorker's Nicholas Thompson put it, "It’s the difference between racing and running."

Sure, Ryan is a good match as a running mate for Mitt Romney, who also lies without shame. One wonders how many in the main stream news media will give Ryan a pass on all his lies just because they don't want to jeopardize this chances of obtaining an interview with his Baby Blues.

This isn't the first time Ryan has come under fire this week for stretching the truth.His RNC speech was chastised for misleading claims about Medicare and the 2008 closing of a Wisconsin plant.

The running fib "sounds trivial," wrote the New York Times' Paul Krugman. "But I remember the 2000 campaign, when Al Gore was constantly hounded by claims of fibbing on trivial issues — claims that, by the way, were all, as far as I could tell, fabricated. These alleged fibs supposedly showed some deep defect in his character. So if Ryan is making false claims about his physical prowess, this is absolutely fair game."

The troubling aspect of Ryan's lies is he is saying what his base want to hear, so intense is their hatred of President Obama that they will give Ryan a pass at his now blatant lies.  

The irony is that there is probably a legitimate case to be made against the reelection of President Obama.  I'm disappointed in President Obama although I am glad he ended the war in Iraq, lifted the   ridiculous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in our armed forces and saved the American automobile industry from going under.  That the Romney/Ryan campaign has resorted to blatant lies shows more about their lack of character than it does a serious alternative to the presidency of Barrack Obama.

Paul Ryan, Shameless Liar

Paul Ryan: Lying Ryan

How to tell Paul Ryan is lying - his lips move

Yes, I'm back to Paul Ryan now known as "Lying Ryan."  I was taught when I was a child that when you lie and you're found out, those who know you lose respect for you and will never believe you again.  That's why I've never lied (yes, it is true) in my life.  Oh sure, there are those times when telling the truth is inconvenient and even at times dangerous.  What have I done on those occasions?  Change the subject.  Or ask my own question.  To be sure, always telling the truth has gotten me into trouble...many times.  Some people just don't want to hear the truth.  They would rather be fed lies to reinforce their false beliefs.

To me, lying just wasn't worth having people lose respect for me.  Besides, I would have a terrible time trying to remember my lying story.  The old saying "What a tangled web we weave when we attempt to deceive."  Apparently the Romney campaign has no such compunction.  Paul Ryan came into the Ryan campaign as the good, choir boy Boy Scout.  He's young and attractive (not to me but to some others) and has an "aw shucks" attitude.  That attitude may play well among heartland voters who could swing the election.

The Liar fooling the folks (for a while anyway)

But as this article says "..Ryan lies like a hooker telling her john that she loves him."

Don't be fooled by the baby blues folks, Paul Ryan is like the little kid who knows he can lie through his teeth and those who want to believe his lies will believe anything he says.

I used to think Paul Ryan was attractive and a fairly interesting Republican who had a different set of ideas.  However when Ryan proposed in his first budget plan to eliminate Medicare as we know it by issuing a voucher for medical care, I thought "Is he crazy?"  Now, since I found out he is a millionaire like most of his Republican buddies he and his family will never have to worry about a medical bill.  Oh sure, he dragged his mom along with him at an appearance at a Florida retirement community to prove he wants to "save" Medicare for people like his mom and those old folks in that retirement community who vote and know a liar when they see one.  At least I hope they know a liar when they see one.

Paul "The Liar" Ryan before his makeover haircut 

Don't be fooled by those big baby blue hound dog eyes folks.  Paul Ryan is a liar. He's a perfect match for Mitt Romney who has a gold medal in lying.  God help us if this pair of liars are elected to the highest offices in this land.

For more of Paul Ryan's brazen lies go here.

Paul Ryan - Blatant LIAR

Paul Ryan, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee gave his speech last night at the Republican Convention.  Yes, the same Paul Ryan who wants to do eliminate Medicare as we know it by replacing it with a voucher program.  The same Paul Ryan who proposed reducing Medicare benefit payments TO BENEFICIARIES by 716 billion dollars.  The same Paul Ryan who claimed that President Obama is responsible for the closing of the Janesville Wisconsin plant (it was closed under the Bush administration, before President Obama took office)....yes, that Paul Ryan spewed out these lies last night during his Republican Convention speech. Even a columunist for Fox News (Sally Kohn) said Ryan set the world record for the biggest number of blatant  lies in a convention speech.  Of course most of the mainstrem press will ignore or gloss over Ryan's lies because they want access to interview him at a later date. For more of the specifics of Ryan's lies go here.

I didn't watch his whole speech (I didn't have my barf bucket handy) but what I did see and hear (the hate and vitriol) gave me the same chills I got when I watched Pat Buchanan give his hate filled speech at the 1992 Republican Convention in Dallas, Texas.  When I watched that speech by Buchanan, another thin lipped Republican,  I was a registered Republican.  Up until that speech I had been a registered Republican all my life.  But when I heard what he said about gays like me, a chill went down my back when I saw his hateful words cheered with enthusiasm by the all white Republican conventioneers.  The last time I saw such an enthusiastic crowd cheer such hate was when I saw old newsreel films of "good Germans" cheering Adolf Hitler.

I was in shock for a few days thereafter.  When I realized that this political party was not MY political party because I was not welcomed because of my sexual orientation.

Since that moment of awareness in 1992 I have watch the Republican party move from one of honesty and concern for the middle class to one of far right wing, intolerant religious views who had no compunction about using hatred of gays to tip an election in their favor.

These days demonizing gays and using fear of gays to swing elections in their favor are gone as more American voters realize that we gays will not destroy the county.  These days what the shameless Republicans do is lie, lie, and lie.  This is the influence of Mr. Banality of Evil himself, Karl Rove.

So take a look at this baby blue eyed Liar Paul Ryan.  Paul Ryan, he of the werewolf hairline.  He's a liar and if he and the soulless Mitt Romney are elected president be afraid, very afraid.

GOP Convention

GOP Convention: Chris Mathews tees off on Reince Priebus - Tim Mak - POLITICO.com

I won't be watching the Republican Convention this week.  I don't have the appetite to watch the likes of the odious Reince Preibus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee spew the Republican lies and distortions of President Obama's policies.  It's a good thing I'm working all four nights at the hotel this week so I won't be tempted to watch the sewer of lies that are sure to take center stage at the Republican convention in Tampa.

Two white men deciding what is good for women

The Republicans will trot out their new poster boy, Paul What's-his-name from Wisconsin.  Sure, Ryan ("What's-his-name") has a boyish cuteness.  But listen to him.  This is the man who has proposed to end Medicare as we know it.  This is the man who wants to propose privatizing Social Security and turning over the Social Security trust fund to the crooks on Wall Street.  You all know how that will turn out.  More rich people.  This is the man who, along with the ignoramus Todd Akin, co-sponsored a bill to redefine rape as "forceable rape."  This is the man who wants to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and make gays and lesbians second class citizens.  Yep, this is Paul Ryan, Republican vice presidential candidate.  Don't be fooled by the looks folks.  Neither Ryan or Romney are good for America.

Check out Chris Matthews confrontation with the odious Reince Preibus over Romney's "joke" about President Obama's birth.

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse:  

The term comes from the a Greek story of the Trojan War, in which the Greeks give a giant wooden horse to their foes, the Trojans, ostensibly as a peace offering. But after the Trojans drag the horse inside their city walls, Greek soldiers sneak out of the horse's hollow belly and open the city gates, allowing their compatriots to pour in and capture Troy.

Make no mistake about it folks, if Romney and Ryan are elected president and vice president this country will be overrun by politicians like Representative Todd Aiken of Missouri who over the weekend referred to "legitimate rape."  

Ryan and Aiken - looking out for women's interests?

Watching the news this morning I see the Republicans spokesmen falling all over themselves trying to change the subject back to Obama and the economy.  Tell me this, if the Republicans are so concerned about jobs and the economy why do so many of them keep talking about a woman's right to choose?  Why are so many of them hell bent on sticking their noses in people's private lives?  I thought this was a party of minimal government intervention.  What with Governor Bob "Vaginal Probe" McDonald of Virginia and Paul Ryan who CO-SPONSORED A BILL RESTRICTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WITH THE SAME REPRESENTATIVE TODD RYAN running for vice president, why do so many of the Kool-Aid drinking Republicans fail to see that a pretty boy like Paul Ryan is only a Trojan Horse to get his narrow right wing views in a position of power in the White House.  

Believe me folks if Romney and Ryan are in the White House you're going to see a lot of "legitimate rape" in this country of the middle and poor class.  

The "Trojan Horse"

Paul Ryan - Republican Vice Presidential Nominee

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, the 2012 Republican Presidential candidates

Oh yes, bring it on!  Mitt Romney made a bold choice today (which is VERY UNUSAL for the Mittster) and picked Wisconsin representative, kill Medicare Paul Ryan as his vice presidential choice.

You all know Paul Ryan don't you?  He of the Ryan Budget which proposes that would end Medicare as we know it and privatize Social Security to be replaced with a voucher system.  Yes, THAT Paul Ryan.

Romney had to make a vice presidential choice to shore up his conservative base to get them to the polls to vote for his sorry, phony ass.  He could have chosen Tim "The Wimp" Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota.  Or he could have chosen Bob "Vaginal Probe" McDonald, governor of Virginia.  But I have to hand it to Romney, he did make the bold choice by choosing Paul Ryan, the attractive and charismatic, boyish, big blue eyed Paul Ryan. Did you all notice how much more human Ryan was when he spoke this morning on the deck of the U.S. Wisconsin (what was THAT all about anyway?  Another "Mission Accomplished" moment?)  I have to admit that Paul Ryan is much more watchable than the robotic, phony Romney.

So here we go folks, a real choice.  You all want to vote for a ticket that contains a souless liar at the top of the ticket and a man on the second spot who wants to do away with Medicare and Social Security?

It's a choice folks.  I personally think that the Republicans just made their death wish a reality this morning.

We will see folks, yes indeed.  We will see.

Paul Ryan - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Liar Paul Ryan and his lying bill to end Medicare

Yes, Paul Ryan is hot.  He has a handsome face (albeit weak lips - can't be perfect).  Those eyes!  To die for.  A lustrous head of thick black hair.  What's not to like?

Folks, this is the man who would end Medicare as we know it.  This is the man who wants to cut the tax rate for the richest among us from 35% to 25%.  His plan will turn Medicare into a voucher system.  Yeah, I could see my Mom shopping around for insurance when she 85 years old, could hardly walk and suffering from dementia.  Yeah, I can see that multiplied thousands and millions of times over.

Don't let this man's good looks fool you. Last year he introduced his bill to drastically cut taxes for the rich and put the burden on middle class taxpayers and eliminate Medicare as we know it.

Of course he got a big blowback (pun intended).  So what does Representative Ryan do?  He lies.  Then he waits a year and doubles down and introduces the SAME BILL yesterday.

Don't believe his lying eyes.  And to think some actually think this liar is a potential presidential candidate. What planet do these people live on?

You're on the WRONG ROAD Mr. Ryan.  And yes, we SEE the wedding ring.