42% of Voters Support Impeachment, If (?) Bush Lied / Bush Losing Red State Voters

"If Bush lied," now that's funny. But on to the Dream of Impeachment - I've pasted the good news from Zogby below. Now all we have to do is keep on doing what we're doing and take back Congress in 2006. Hey, stranger things have happened; according to Zogby, 50% of red state voters have now opened their eyes.

Impeach the Misleader!

"And, in a sign of continuing polarization, more than two-in-five voters (42%) say they would favor impeachment proceedings if it is found the President misled the nation about his reasons for going to war with Iraq. While half (50%) of respondents do not hold this view, supporters of impeachment outweigh opponents in some parts of the country.

Among those living in the Western states, a 52% majority favors Congress using the impeachment mechanism while just 41% are opposed; in Eastern states, 49% are in favor and 45% opposed. In the South, meanwhile, impeachment is opposed by three-in-five voters (60%) and supported by just one-in-three (34%); in the Central/Great Lakes region, 52% are opposed and 38% in favor."

Red State Voters Open Their Eyes - 50% Disapprove

"In a more significant sign of the weakness of the President’s numbers, more “Red State” voters—that is, voters living in the states that cast their ballots for the Bush-Cheney ticket in 2004—now rate his job performance unfavorably, with 50% holding a negative impression of the President’s handling of his duties, and 48% holding a favorable view. "

Some Republicans Can Also See - One in Four Republicans Disapprove

"The President also gets negative marks from one-in-four (25%) Republicans—as well as 86% of Democrats and 58% of independents. (Bush nets favorable marks from 75% of Republicans, 13% of Democrats and 40% of independents.)"

No Bushy Bounce from Disastrous Speech

"President Bush’s televised address to the nation produced no noticeable bounce in his approval numbers, with his job approval rating slipping a point from a week ago, to 43%, in the latest Zogby International poll."

Thanks Zogby, I needed that.

Hat tip to Political Wire

Tennessean Gets It Wrong: State Saves Money By Not Arresting Protesters

The Governor continues his effort to demonize all who oppose his draconian health care cuts. His latest effort: The protesters are costing the state money.

A story in today's "liberal" Tennessean focuses on the money spent in "security costs" for the TennCare protest:

TennCare sit-in costs state $2,000 a day, official says

"About $20,000 has been spent in security costs for the group of TennCare enrollees and advocates who have staged a sit-in at the governor's Capitol Hill office to protest cuts to the program, Tennessee Highway Patrol officials said yesterday."

Not a word is said about the cost of arresting the sick and disabled protesters and their advocates. Why didn't the reporter broach the subject of the greater expense of arresting the protesters and taking them through the court system?

Probably because the story is nothing more than a press release straight from the Governor's office.

Gee, thanks, "liberal" Tennessean.

The Governor's Health Care Axe will cost an untold number of lost lives. But the "Democratic" Governor prefers to save money and spend lives.

TennCare enrollees and advocates have occupied the state Capitol for 11 days now. They say they will not leave until the Governor stops sending out his health care termination letters and agrees to come back to the negotiating table. They insist the Governor must hold public meetings aimed at solving the state's health care problems with something other than the Governor's TennCare Axe - which promises to cut hundreds of thousands of sick, elderly, disabled and poor people from the state health care program.

The Governor has a preference for 'closed door' meetings.

On the first day of the sit-in protesters were told they would be arrested if they did not leave by the time the building closed. Understandably, the powers-that-be thought better of arresting the sick and disabled protesters.

Governor Bredesen will be up for re-election in 2006.

The Bush Speech Drinking Game

Radical Russ over at Pam's House Blend has a great idea for those of us who find it hard to stomach yet another arrogant and misleading Bush speech:

"The rules of the game are pretty simple. Whenever Shrub says "9/11" or "September 11th", it's time to do a shot. For "Global War on Terror", it's time to chug a beer. It's a fun game, because after his 96 words of introduction and thanks to the carefully crafted and shamelessly-exploited backdrop assembled soldiers from Fort Bragg, he's not ten words into the opening sentence of his opening paragraph before I'm downing a shot of 100-proof Southern Comfort and chugging a Hefeweizen. . . .

My inebriation lowered my inhibitions enough to resort to shouting at the TV when I heard this: Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: "This Third World War is raging" in Iraq."

Keith Olbermann reported on MSNBC tonight that the number of folks who tuned in to hear the Bush speech was far fewer than ususal, and those that did tune in were largely the militant Bush fans. As Keith pointed out, that can be a problem when the entire purpose of the media event was to get the Bush approval ratings up.

Perhaps so few of us tuned in because we expected the speech to be more of the same, or:

"A disastrous speech by a paralyzed and inarticulate commander in chief who has nothing new to say, but figures saying it in front of a room full of people in uniform, with the word "terrorist" mentioned as frequently as possible, somehow gives it heft and gravitas."

If, like me, you missed the latest "disastrous speech," you can catch up at Crooks and Liars (hat tip to Shakespeare's Sister) where the Bush Speech-Round Up is both easier to stomach and more illuminating than the "inarticulate commander in chief" could ever hope to be.

Next time around, I'm seriously considering playing the Bush Speech Drinking Game.

Patriarchy Does Not Mean Men

Check out I Blame the Patriarchy for a fine retort to the usual clueless charge that feminism is all about hating men. What? Men aren't at the center of feminism?? Who knew?

But these mindless charges invariably come from men who have never read a feminist text in their lives.

Ooops, sorry about that. That would be most men.

Let me try again. . . These mindless charges invariably come from all kinds of men and, yeah, women.

Snippet from: I Blame the Patriarchy:

"I'd forgotten for a moment that feminists are required to waste at least half of their waking hours reassuring skittish fans of the status quo that we aren't man-hating nutjob conspiracy-theorists.

Until such time as I have the leisure to more adequately address this pressing issue, kindly accept that when I deploy the term “patriarchy” I am alluding to “The Establishment” or “the global megacorp,” or, as the excellent Mimbreno of The Other Dark Meat more accurately suggests, “the dominant culture.” This broad characterization of patriarchy makes it easier to blame it for everything.

Patriarchy does not mean men. Seriously. Look it up."

NOW Convention vs. Southern Baptist Convention: Who Does the 'Liberal' Media Love Best?

In a recent Queer Thoughts column, Joyce Arnold writes about the paltry MSM attention given to recent demonstrations "in support of religious diversity and in support of health care as a basic human right."

Snippets from Freedom Press:

"You could say, of course, that these were also protests “against”: against judgmental statements about “homosexuals,” among others, by the Southern Baptist Convention, and against the actions, or the lack of actions, by our elected representative to deal with a crisis of TennCare.

I was struck this morning, looking at what the Tennessean and the City Paper covered (by way of their web sites), to see how little there was about the TennCare sit-in, and how nothing there was about Faithful Witness. It’s not a surprise, though still disappointing, that the latter would be missed, or let’s face it, maybe ignored. It’s a bit of a surprise to see how short the one, Tennessean piece on the TennCare sit-in was.

Anyway, all of this made me curious, so I did a quick look at what the Tennessean had covered, regarding another local story, the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting itself, being held in Nashville. Starting last week, and going through the Tuesday paper (using their web site) I found:

“Baptists go door-to-door 'planting seeds’”; “Cowboy hats, biker boots aid Baptists' effort to reach more”; “Five-year slump in baptisms worries Baptists”; “Black Baptists look beyond racial strife of the past”; “Baptists send up praises throughout the Midstate”; and “Baptists count 449 doorstep conversions.”

Maybe Faithful Witness and TennCare Sit-In organizers should have included “Baptist” in their press release headlines. For that matter, whatever story or event you wanted to promote for the last two weeks, could have included “Baptist.”

Baptists Receive Faithful Witness. Baptists Meet While TennCare Advocates Sit-In Governor’s Office. While the Baptists Go Door to Door Yard Sale. Baptists Are In Town While Frist Meets with Bush." >

I had reason to remember this column earlier this evening when I was googling to see if the Tennessean had ever gotten around to writing a story about the upcoming National Organization for Women convention (July 1-3). I mean it seems like news to me. (And by news, I mean something deserving more than an itty-bitty mention in a calendar of events.)

I mean it's not like a thousand feminists invade the Bible Belt every year.

So I typed in my key words: "Tennessean: National Organization for Women."

And this is what I got:

"Baptists tackle big issues today The Tennessean, TN - Jun 22, 2005... some in the audience countering that women already are ... have been controversial, attracting national attention ... of Soulforce, an advocacy organization for sexual ... "

So there you have it. Want the MSM, or the "liberal" Tennessean, to cover the struggle for social justice? Take a tip from Joyce Arnold and sprinkle the word "Baptist" liberally throughout your headlines and press releases, like so:

Southern Baptists Clear out of Nashville Just in Time for NOW Convention

Gay Marriage: Canada Leads World In Equality & Civil Rights

"Canada now joins Belgium and the Netherlands as the only nations to allow same-sex marriage and in leading the world in recognizing that gays and lesbians have the same rights and privileges as any other citizens."

Landmark legislation was passed last night by the House of Commons. The legislation would legalize gay marriage all across Canada. The legislation is expected to pass easily in the Senate.

"After all, same-sex marriage is already legal in most of the country after courts in eight provinces struck down the traditional definition of marriage. Just last week, New Brunswick became the latest to let same-sex couples wed. "

Ever since same-sex marriage was first legalized in Ontario and British Columbia in 2003, gay and lesbian Americans have fled to Canada in order to enjoy the same civil rights that other Americans take for granted.

Polls indicate that a majority of Canadians support the right of gays and lesbians to marry. In the U.S. , polls find that while most Americans do not support the right, most young Americans do.

Americans have a long history of fleeing to Canada in search of freedom. From the days of slavery to the era of the Viet Nam War and on to the struggle of gays and lesbians for equality, Canada has long been a refuge for the minority groups who have been persecuted and oppressed by the American government.

Today, Canada continues to provide the U.S. - and the world - with a much needed example of a nation that walks the walk of freedom and equality for all.

Canadians for Equal marriage
Defend Marriage Canada

TennCare Protest Day #10: Massive Fundraiser Launched by SCLC

The leader of the Memphis Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) says the organization is launching a massive fundraiser for the TennCare protesters.

As many as 450 Churches may participate.

Rev. Dwight Montgomery said: "The brothers unanimously agreed that they would go to their respective churches and receive an offering this Sunday and we would pool those resources on Tuesday of next week and deliver those monies to the protesters."

They are going to be there until they get what they are asking for -- until the Governor commits that people who are qualified and should have TennCare should not be disenrolled."

According to Kevin Lofton, from the Memphis Center for Independent Living: "You've got people who need life giving medications, life giving therapies, life giving medical treatments and when you take that away from them, as our governor wants to do, they're gonna die."

Listen to the People, Governor Bredesen!

See:
Memphis Center for Independent Living (scroll down for list of articles documenting the TennCare Protest
Pictorial Timeline of TennCare Protest
Pictures of people threatened by Governor's TennCare Axe

Bush Speech Elicits Fake Applause: Bloggers Report

I missed Bush's latest 'stay-the-course' speech. Given the choice between seeing Bob Dylan or Bush, I wisely chose the former.

Apparently, I was wrong about Bush using the military for the usual obligatory cheers and applause. There are a number of reports from bloggers, including this one from Kos, which indicate that there was very little applause. Interestingly, bloggers report that the MSM reported that the very little applause was "fake."

Zach in Memphis Update: State of Tennessee Terminates Investigation

For some background, or to see my previous posts which touch on the blog storm that has erupted over Zach - the 16-year-old gay blogger who has spent the last few weeks imprisoned in a brainwashing camp meant to 'cure' him of his gayness - go here.

It should come as no surprise that the state of Tennessee "determined that the child abuse allegations were unfounded." Child abuse happens right under the nose of the Tennessee Dept. of Children's Services all the time. You get what you pay for, and in this state - which refuses to implement an income tax - what you get is a chronically dysfunctional state government.

I'd like to know if the person or persons who conducted this alleged investigation is/are as biased against gays as is this state government. I'd also like to know exactly what qualifications or credentials are held by said investigators.

It's worth noting that when the investigation was first announced, State officials made an issue out of the fact that the Love in Action brainwashing camp is not licensed by the State. State officials suggested that the facility should be licensed.

Yet nothing is said about the absence of a license now that the investigation has been halted.

Why is that?

From the Associated Press:

(Memphis, Tennessee) The state of Tennessee said Monday it has found no evidence to support child abuse allegations against a Christian group that tries to "convert" gay teens to heterosexuality.

The group, Love In Action International, says it believes that instilling strong Christian beliefs can keep gays from acting on their homosexual desires. The group, which also works with adults, has a program called Refuge for teens 15 to 18 years old.

The state Department of Children's Services said last week that it was looking into a report of child abuse at the Refuge program. (story) The program drew protests earlier this month from homosexual advocacy groups.

"DCS dispatched its special investigations unit to the facility, and after conducting a full investigation, determined that the child abuse allegations were unfounded," said Rob Johnson, an agency spokesman.

John Smid, executive director of Love in Action, said the allegations were never described to him but he assumed they involved a complaint of psychological abuse.

The program, Smid said, "is to help kids to grow in their relationship with Christ." "We understand people don't have control over what they feel, but we teach them they are able to control what they do," Smid said. "We don't have to act on those desires, even if we feel them." The group's work has been the focus of protest by gay advocacy groups, who say it is dangerous and irresponsible to engage in so-called ex-gay therapy.

Earlier this month, a Web logger going by the name of "Zach" said his parents were sending him to a religious organization that would try to convert him to heterosexuality.

The teen identified himself as a 16-year-old from Bartlett, Tenn., and said his parents "tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me. ... I'm a big screwup to them, who isn't on the path God wants me to be on. So I'm sitting here in tears ... and I can't help it."

The Department of Children's Services did not say whether it found "Zach" or if it determined he ever existed.

Love In Action is one of several so-called ex-gay organizations throughout the country.

The American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association both have said such therapy can be emotionally harmful, leading to depression and self-destructive behavior.

The Republic of T. also has the story.

TennCare Protest: Doctors & Nurses Join Sit-In - Day # 9

Medical experts have joined the sit-in inside the state Capitol. They join with the TennCare enrolles and advocates who have occupied the Capitol for nine days now.

Listen to the people Governor Bredesen!

Don’t use your TennCare meat cleaver on hundreds of thousands of sick, elderly, disabled and poor people.

Some of them will die.

Governor Bredesen, it's called immoral behavior.

“The healthcare professionals talked about the personal impact the loss of coverage will have on many of their sick patients.

"The brave people who have occupied the governor’s office are fighting for their human rights. They’re fighting for their very lives.

They’re fighting for their neighbors, and that includes all of us,” said John Lozier of the group Healthcare for the Homeless.

The protestors have asked Governor Bredesen to resume talks with them in a public forum by Thursday."

Bush Approval Rating Way Down - In Tennessee Too

Survey USA reports that Bush's approval rating in the nation is at a dismal 43%.

In the red state of Tennessee the Bush approval rating has fallen to a pathetic 48%.

In Tennessee, 49% do not approve.

In the 50 states, the Bush approval rating ranges from an encouraging high of 63% in Utah to a dismal low of 32% in Vermont. You can see the numbers for all 50 states at Survey USA.

Little wonder that Bush is set to give yet another big 'stay-the-course' speech tonight. As always, the Prez will attempt to pull up his numbers by using the military as his prop. After America hears all those obligatory roaring cheers to the 'boss', America is supposed to like him better.

But - yawn - we've heard it all before.

Via Political Wire

Feminists To Occupy Nashville Friday-Sunday - NOW Conference

It's not too late to register for the annual NOW convention which begins this Friday - here in Nashville. Just click on the NOW conference button over there in the sidebar. It's amazingly easy to register.

Kudos to the Nashville City Paper for being the first local paper to cover this historic event:

Nashville hosts NOW

Nashville will host the National Organization for Women's annual convention at the Loew's Vanderbilt Plaza. The convention, with the theme of "Unbought and Unbossed," will run Friday through Sunday.

"We picked Nashville because we like to have conventions in cities where activism is low," said Jenny Thalheimer, press secretary for NOW. "Last year's convention was in Las Vegas. We choose cities where we can introduce new options to women."

Topics such as establishing equality for women in multiple arenas and ensuring reproductive rights amid a hostile political climate are on the agenda, along with a prestigious list of speakers. Tennessee's own Hon. Martha Craig Daughtry, the first woman elected to the State Supreme Court, is a scheduled speaker.

Among the speakers joining Daughtry are Katie Hnida, who spoke out against sexual harassment at the University of Colorado, and Dr. Martha Burk, who gained national attention when she led the effort to open the Augusta National Golf Club to women. Kakenya Ntaiya, from the Maasai Tribe in Western Kenya, is the first woman in her village to receive an education, and will address her personal struggle and her hopes to found a school in her village.

In addition to the conference's regular schedule of events, NOW will hold its national officers elections on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. The officers are elected every four years.

For more information on the event, visit www.now.org. To contact the Nashville chapter of NOW, call (615) 269-7141.

Memphis SCLC Joins Sit-In: Says Jesse Jackson Should Endorse Protest - Today is Occupation Day #8

The SCLC are going to kick some Governor butt. Martin Luther King would be proud! As noted in an earlier post, the national president of SCLC and troops are also invading Nashville TODAY. Looks like it's going to get crowded in the Guv's office! Listen to the People, Governor! We are going to win this one!

"[W]e are going to get on the phone, members of SCLC, we are going to get on the phone, we are going to call various pastors...community leaders in Nashville and surrounding areas asking them to join in and support this particular sit-in."


From WMCTV.COM:

Memphians will join TennCare sit-in at Bredesen's office

Protestors in Nashville, outraged over TennCare changes will get some help from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Memphis.

SCLC's Memphis Chapter president Dwight Montgomery is packing things that will resupply the group of protesters participating in a sit-in at the governor's Nashville office. The protest is aimed at convincing the governor to abandoned plans to cut more than 320,000 people from TennCare.

"We're taking pillows, we're taking water were taking refreshments," said Montgomery. "And then we are going to get on the phone, members of SCLC, we are going to get on the phone, we are going to call various pastors...community leaders in Nashville and surrounding areas asking them to join in and support this particular sit-in."

The SCLC or Southern Christian Leadership Conference was founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The group's current national president - Charles Steel, is among those going in a show of support. Montgomery says its just the beginning of a wave of national attention focusing on TennCare.

"Locally we have the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and NAACP who have stated they are against the cuts and now we are hoping that after our national president would have made his presence tomorrow that we would have a Jesse Jackson or the new president of the NAACP to speak out against this and join in with us," said Montgomery.

Through a series of earlier demonstrations in Nashville, Memphis and other cities -- protesters have warned that cutting people from TennCare would spark an increase in sickness and even deaths as residents lose access to the state health plan and fall through the the health care system's cracks.

Friday, members of the SCLC will meet with members of the governor's staff to go over a proposal aimed at saving TennCare. The plan was developed by a coalition of local organizations. Reverend Montgomery and others hope to convince the governor to adopt the plan instead of cutting people off the TennCare rolls.

Health Care Is a Right in America: If You Are In Prison

The ultimate irony: the only place where health care is truly a right in America is in our prisons.

I'm certain this does not make the sick, disabled, elderly and poor people who are victims of Governor Bredesen's Health Care Axe feel any better.

For the many who are about to lose TennCare, surely this is the ultimate slap in the face.

But if all else fails, they might consider getting arrested, eh Governor?

Pictures here - Warning: Scary deathly-ill senior citizen criminals

{snippets}

The shrunken 82-year-old changes from her pajamas and pink house coat into jeans and a denim shirt labeled California Prisoner and begins her drill: breakfast at 6, sack lunch pickup at 6:30, infirmary at 7, where she acquires an ankle chain, belly chains and handcuffs.

She then hobbles to a van for the 40-minute ride to Riverside Hospital for dialysis beginning at 8. Helen Loheac suffers from chronic renal failure, a condition that she figures costs the state $436,000 a year, not counting the two $24.75-an-hour armed corrections officers who guard her, all 5 feet and 90 pounds, for up to eight hours a day three times a week.

The financial toll of incarcerating senior citizens nationwide is staggering. Eyeglasses, hearing aids, medications and therapies, often for chronic or terminal conditions, compound the $30,929 annual average tab for housing a young, robust prisoner.

Now 72, Parker is serving 15-to-life for murdering a man who he believed was having an affair with his wife. His time in prison, 20 years and counting, has not been easy on him—or on taxpayers. So far, doctors have treated Parker for three strokes and two heart attacks. His surgeries include heart bypass, knee replacement and cataract, which left him blind in one eye.

Parker gulps down 15 pills a day. He has been denied both parole and compassionate release while racking up, by his count, more than $1 million in treatment. If he were released, Parker says he would return to his home in Northern California and let the federal Veterans Administration pick up his medical bills. "I can't blame anybody but myself for being here," he says. "I don't want to be a burden to no one. Who in the world am I going to hurt, an old, crippled man like me?"

Eighty-year-old Claude Hoffman, sits on a bed covered with a patchwork quilt handmade by the ladies of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in nearby Vacaville and watches a small TV. Though most inmates in the eight-cell unit pass away within a few months, he arrived more than a year ago ready to die of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His stay, not including medications, costs the state $1,500 a week, three times as much as a healthy prisoner.

Hoffman was sentenced to 15-to-life for killing his girlfriend about 18 years ago, an act he committed while drunk. Now a born-again Christian, he spends most of his time writing to and about Jesus: "Every day I ask Christ our Lord to take me off the state rolls and let me go home to die," he whispers, using his inhaler to draw a breath. . .


Tip of the hat to Talkleft

Rehnquist May Retire This Week: Prepare for Uncivil War

With the High Court set to wrap up its term this week, all eyes are on Chief Justice Rehnquist. The 80-year-old cancer victim could announce his retirement as early as Monday. There is also considerable speculation about the possible retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

As a moderate, or swing voter, O'Connor's retirement would present a far greater threat to the Left than Rehnquist's. Without O'Connor on the Court, Roe could well go down.

But at this point in time, any vacacy on the court will surely provoke a very uncivil war:

"Already, battle lines are forming over what would be the first opening on the nation's highest court in 11 years and what is expected to be the most bruising fight over a Supreme Court nominee since the bitter confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas in 1991 or Robert Bork in 1987.

Advocacy groups on the left and right are primed with phone banks, e-mails, research on potential nominees and plenty of cash.

Progress for America has said it will spend $18 million to support whomever Bush nominates to the court; liberal advocacy organizations could easily match that."

Is there any reason to believe that Bush would choose to ease the divisive tensions in the nation by nominating a moderate? Promoting divisiveness is what Bush does best. It would be surprising and decidedly uncharacteristic if he failed to nominate someone in the ultra conservative vein of his 'favorite' justices, Scalia and Thomas. Bush may also spark a heightened cultural war by nominating either of them to the position of Chief Justice.

Kim at Alas a blog has prepared an excellent 'liberal cheat-sheet" or a list of the potential nominees with the grim details of the threats they pose to Truth, Justice, and the American way, or to the Left.

Her "liberal cheat-sheet" provides a quick and easy way to assess the depth of the threat posed by each of the possible nominees on "the short list."

TennCare: Cancer Patients Challenge Bredesen in Washington

It's not easy being Governor. That was the message Bredesen took to Washington when he spoke at the National Press Club Friday, according to an NPR broadcast on the same day. (Save NPR Petition)

Bredesen was challenged during the question period by two TennCare enrollees who are also cancer patients. One of them was Lori Griffin of Morristown, TN. She's sure she will be one of the many who will lose TennCare. She says her family makes $10.00 too much to qualify for TennCare under Bredesen's new rules.

She's had one dose of chemotherapy, but can have no more unless and until it is determined that she will indeed remain on the state's expanded Medicaid program. Lori Griffin says without TennCare, her only option is to die.

According to the NPR reporter, Bredesen tried to make the best of the situation by quipping: There was a concern that the room would not be full, so we brought a number of people from Tennessee (paraphrased).

The story, featured on All Things Considered, informed its national audience that while Bredesen was in Washington speechifying, his office was occupied by a room full of disabled and sick protesters.

No surprise that my favorite daily newspaper in the whole state also has the story:

{snippets}

WASHINGTON - Gov. Phil Bredesen made a pitch for health-care reform for states but ended up spending a lot of time defending his TennCare health program cuts to three vocal opponents.

During a question-and-answer period, two Tennesseans who are not reporters rose and asked Bredesen questions about how they can survive after losing TennCare coverage.

One was Lori Griffin of Morristown, who said she has cancer and takes up to 25 prescriptions. She does not work because she is caring for her seriously ill husband, who receives disability pay.

"If I don't get my prescriptions I will die," she said. She said she believes she will be removed from TennCare rolls under Bredesen's criteria because her husband's disability pay is slightly over the income-qualifying limit.

She and some other Tennesseans attended the news conference with the aid of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, based in Nashville.

Tony Garr, executive director of the group, said Bredesen's plan to cut TennCare does not leave a safety net for many needy Tennesseans. "Their lives are going to be at risk," he said later.

See also: Governor Bredesen's National Press Club Speech: Healthcare Deform

TennCare: Southern Christian Leadership Council Joins Protest Monday!

See Sharon Cobb for details about the vigil tonight and tomorrow night and every night the protesters are locked inside the Capitol.

Members of the SCLC (the organization founded by Martin Luther King, Jr.) will join protesters at the Capitol Monday. They, along with the President of the national organization will spend the night locked inside the Capitol in hopes that Governor Bredesen will finally begin to understand that this protest is deadly serious. There is one way to end it and only one way.

Listen to the people, Governor!

From the Nashville Peace & Justice Center:

Rally at the Capitol Monday with the National President of the Southern Christian Leadership Council:

THIS MONDAY, JUNE 27TH
NOON AT THE CAPITOL
National President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference,
Dr. Steele, and Memphis President, Dr. Montgomery
Join the TennCare Sit-In

IN THE ROTUNDA OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCEà LEGISLATIVE PLAZA AT 6TH & UNION STAIRS at 7TH & UNION ENTRANCE TO THE WEST SIDE
PARKING: LIBRARY (6 & CHURCH)

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN TO WELCOME DR. STEELE AND others from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as they join TennCare Enrollees and friends in the Capitol. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO SPENDING THE NIGHT AS PART OF A CALL TO THE GOVERNOR TO STOP THE CUTS AND YOU CAN STAY TOO…

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, http://sclcnational.org/content/sclc/splash.htm, was founded by Dr. Martin Luther King as part of the Civil Rights Movement and SCLC continues to lead in the struggle for justice. SCLC Memphis Chapter has lead the local movement in to stop the TennCare cuts and now their national organization joins us at the capitol in this struggle.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY THE EVENING:
AGREEMENT TO STAY THE EVENING:
6 PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people
2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding
3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people
4. Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform
5. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate
6. Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice

____ SUPPORTING THIS COMMUNITY ACTION, AND NEW TO THE GROUP, I WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE DESIGNATED GROUP LEADERS.

____ I WILL NOT YELL AT ANYONE OR PHYSICALLY THREATEN ANYONE MAY THEY BE SECURITY, GOVERNOR’S STAFF, POLITICAL OFFICIALS, OR MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

____ IF I PUT MYSELF AT RISK, THE GROUP WILL DO WHAT IT IS ABLE TO HELP BUT I AM SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN WELL BEING AND ACTIONS.

TennCare Protest: Pictorial Timeline, Bad News & Dangerous Governor - Update

Bad News Update: It's true. "No one will be able to bring food, water, prescriptions or medical supplies" to the protesters who will be locked inside the Capitol over the weekend (72 hours).

But hey, an ambulance will be on stand-by. This is right in line with Bredesen's sick idea of health care policy. When people get deathly ill from the after-shock of the "Democratic" Governor's cuts to TennCare, they'll also have the option of arriving at Emergency Rooms in ambulances.

Gee, thanks Governor Bredesen. Who knew you were a 'compassionate conservative'?

This is beyond the pale. Supposedly, the protesters have not been arrested because of concern for the fact that some of them are seriously ill and/or disabled. Obviously, there is no such concern. If they were arrested and thrown into jail, they would have food, water, and medicine.

Permitting the protesters to occupy the Capitol, while denying them food, water and medicine is the best plan Bredesen has for making them go away. No food, water, and medicine is not as big a media nightmare for Bredesen as:

"Disabled and Sick Protesters Handcuffed and Thrown Into Jail."

The protesters have not been arrested because Bredesen's number one concern is Bredesen. If the media pays too much attention to the story told by the protesters, Bredesen might look bad. Bredesen might suffer at the polls. Bredesen might face a serious challenge in 2006.

The Governor has chosen to allow the sick and disabled to occupy the Capitol (6 days now) because what he fears most is the media nightmare that would ensue if he ordered their arrest. There is no sign that the Governor is at all concerned about the message from the protesters - some of us will die if you continue to reform TennCare with an axe. There are, however, plenty of signs that Bredesen is thinking night and day about himself.

Bredesen can't hear the message of the protesters because he is busy thinking about his fear that the media might begin to pay serious attention to the real dangers his TennCare Axe presents to the lives of the sick, disabled, elderly and poor.

What Bredesen is thinking about:

''What these people want is a big media show. I don't want to be a prop in a circus.''

"I’m not interested in being a prop for some big media show."

"Look, I'm not interested . . in being a prop in somebody's TV spectacular."

News flash for you Guv, when ordinary citizens want the public to hear their side of the story, they have to resort to desperate measures. When you want your side of the story told, you simply give an order. But then, you wouldn't understand this because as a Millionaire Governor you are not an ordinary citizen. Until you stop thinking about yourself long enough to listen to the ordinary citizens locked inside your luxurious palatial office, you will continue to be a very out-of-touch and a very dangerous Governor. I was a fool to vote for you.

----

Here's a great pictorial timeline of the still-going-strong Save TennCare protest inside the Capitol. Really, it's excellent.

Protesters are now settling in for their first weekend locked inside the Capitol. At this time, the word is that they will be denied food and water throughout the weekend.

Surely that can't be true? I realize the Govenor wants the protesters to leave, but . . .


Quote of the Week:

"We will stay as long as necessary, absolutely, no doubt, we are staying." --Louis Patrick

Tag: TennCare

Zach: TN State Investigating Child Abuse at Gay Brainwashing Camp Hetero Horror

More news about Zach, the sixteen-year-old blogger who was imprisoned in a gay brainwashing camp for the crime of coming out to his parents.

The State of Tennessee is investigating allegations of child abuse at the “Love in Action” brainwashing camp.

“Love in Action is not licensed by the Tennessee Departments of Health, Mental Health, Human Services, Child Services or Education, according to Rachel Lassiter of Gov. Phil Bredesen's communications office.”

I wonder what kind of license is required for a camp that forces kids to participate in something called “shaming sessions.” Can you get a license to abuse kids?

As an editorial at Newshounds observes:

"Guess you don't have to be a Gitmo detainee to be incarcerated and subjected to 'coercive' techniques. You just need to be a gay teenager in Sen. Bill Frist's backyard!"

According to Pamela Dickey, director of the advocacy center for Childhelp USA in Knoxville:

"Emotional abuse is difficult to prove in the state of Tennessee You have to document that the child is undergoing depression or suicidal ideation, that he can't sleep, or can't eat."

How about the depressing and scary thoughts that Zach posted to his blog after learning that his parents were sending him off to Camp Hetero Horror?

“[A]ll I can think of is killing my mother and killing myself.”

Let’s hope the state of Tennessee is serious about this investigation. Tennessee state government is not the swiftest. In many areas it is utterly dysfunctional.

If the state dawdles and something horrible happens, it will be just as responsible as Zach’s parents-from-hell and the scary hate-mongers at the Memphis Hate in Action facility.

They have some nerve calling themselves “Love in Action.”

UPDATE: ol cranky at Disenchanted Forest has a good summary of how bloggers created a blogstorm that led to a family therapist filing a child abuse report with Tennessee authorities. She provides all the details; it's a great story about the power of blogs to do good. Now if only the state of Tennessee can handle the job. Oh, and the Hate in Action folks are also placing the blame on the internet, or bloggers. Way to go, bloggers!

See also:
News from Zach's Blog: Six More Weeks In Gay Brainwashing Camp

Sexist TN Billboard: Girls Are ‘Just Asking For It’

Knoxville Billboard Tells Girls to Cover up:

GIRLS
IF IT’S NOT FOR SALE
DON’T ADVERTISE

You guessed it, this is yet another effort by yet another sex obsessed abstinence organization: “While some find the message sexist in the way it targets girls, Scott Hughes, director of Just Wait, says it's really more about teenage boys.

’Guys are turned on visually by what they see, so it's really saying guys aren't men enough to control themselves, therefore you have to be careful on how you present yourself,' says Hughes."

Yeah, Scott, we’ve heard that before. That was once the rationale for the rule about women keeping quiet in the Church. Women speaking up in Church might cause men to have ungodly reactions. Men just can't control themselves.

Your sicko sexist billboard says: Women and girls get raped because of the clothes they wear. Men just can’t control themselves. Gee Scott, maybe you should move to the Middle East where they put women in body bags so men-who-can't-control-themselves won't be tempted to rape quite so often. We're sure you and your sexist organization would feel right at home there.

Hat tip to Michael Silence.

(I know I'm late on this one, it's been sitting on my desk for ages, but I just couldn't file it over there with all the other stories I don't have time to post.)

Bredesen's National Press Club Speech: Healthcare Deform

Informal reports regarding Governor Bredesen's speech at the National Press Club this morning indicate that he gave a speech very similar to his Democratic national radio address a couple of weeks ago. At that time, the Governor received considerable criticism regarding statements such as this one:

"Let's scrap the old, inefficient version of Medicaid that's led us to spend more and more of our finite resources on a system that never yielded the kind of public health results we'd hoped for."

According to our sources, the vast majority of qustions from reporters at the National Press Club, focused not on Bredesen's speech, but rather on his draconian cuts to the state's expanded Medicaid program, TennCare.

Our sources indicate that one reporter "was incensed with and aggressively and challenged [Bredesen's] comparison of grocery store food choices with health care 'choices'"

More on this as soon as it becomes available.


Tag: TennCare

Save TennCare! Protest Inside the Capitol: Occupation Day # 5

Call, Email and/or Fax Governor Bredesen’s Office.

Tell him you Support the Protesters.

Tell him to Stop the TennCare Cuts NOW, 'cause he's not gonna get any peace 'til he does.

Phone: 615.741.2001, Fax: 615.532.9711, Email: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us


Rally at the Capitol at noon today: Capitol Rotunda (Just outside of Governor’s Office) First Floor of Capitol. Enter through 6th & Union Legislative Plaza Entrance.

A Few of the People Endangered by the Governor's TennCare Axe

For a very disturbing look at some of the people who may die from the effects of Governor Bredesen's TennCare axe, go here.

Save TennCare Protest Inside the Capitol: Occupation Day #4 Wrap-up

Chris Lugo at Tennessee Indy Media provides more outstanding coverage:

Tenncare Enrollees Say They Aren't Going Anywhere
Governor About to Address National Press Club on Health Care,
Calls Occupation a "Circus"

{snippets}

Karl Meyer, a Civil Rights veteran who has been an organizer of this demonstration doesn't think the Governor is going to arrest people in wheelchairs, although he would favor stepped up action, "It is a lot less rigorous here than in a holding cell in the 'justice center' ie the Davidson County Jail. I don't think anyone is going to get arrested if they stay the course. The Governor has said it is public property and you are welcome here. I think they realize they have more resources and energy than we have. They have staff people and salaried people who do whatever they are told. As I understand people are going to spend the weekend here.

The press has been focused on things like people are sleeping overnight and they are avoiding the fundamental issues, so the general public remains ignorant of the underlying issues, so all the public knows is 'the Governor is saying he is doing all he can' and there is a group saying 'the Governor isn't doing all he can.' So it is a case of 'he says, she says' with no attempt by the press to find out the truth of the matter."

Casey Mann, a family physician, said he was there because he was concerned about the affect on his patients of losing Tenncare,

"I am a family physician and have patients who are on Tenncare. . . We have people who could lose their lives literally and that is what I am trying to prevent. I want the Governor to meet with us publicly to discuss this in a public forum so that we can discuss these issues."

Glenn Barnhill, who is in a wheelchair and needs the assitance of a ventilator to breath, said he would like to stay overnight, but the police will not let his home health care nurse come in at 8pm to spend the night. Nonetheless, he is optimistic, "We are still in hopes of having an open meeting with the Governor, a meeting that would be open to the press. . .

I plan on staying for the duration until we can, you know, the community and the government can raise some type of agreement that will satisfy both sides so we can get these people the health care coverage they need. I am hopeful that this will be a positive thing and I am not here to be an enemy of the governor. I would like to become his friend and work together."

Randy Alexander, a principal organizer with ADAPT, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, said that the Enrollees are not going to leave until the Governor meets with them. .

We are here standing in vigil because we believe every Tennessean should have health care and we should stand here in vigil until we have that. We have asked for conversations in public. How long are we going to be here? We are here for health care for Tennesseans, however long that may be.

Stop the cuts, let's get together and talk about what we want to save right now. This is Thursday, we have been here since Monday, this is building, the National Press is beginning to pick up on this. National SCLC is putting out a press release on this. I am here as a citizen of Tennessee to keep the Health Care we have and to fix it. The people in Tennessee are supporting us and that support is going to grow and it reaffirms why we are here."

Read the whole thing . . .

National Southern Christian Leadership Conference Joins Struggle to Save TennCare

The National Office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is joining the struggle to stop Governor Bredesen's efforts to take the axe to health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of the sick, disabled, elderly and poor.

"The National Office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will be joining the ongoing efforts in Tennessee to reinstate the TennCare cuts.

As a Coalition we are demanding for Governor Bredesen to respond to the Declaration to Save Lives. The Declaration was initially delivered to the Governor’s office April 8th, 2005. Despite the Governor’s claims of keeping lines of communications open concerning TennCare, he has yet to respond to any of the nine recommendations in the Declaration. The recommendations within the Declaration would have saved the state of Tennessee $649 million dollars and would have allowed thousands of Tennesseans to keep their TennCare coverage."

Tip of the hat to Pith in the Wind.


For more on the Declaration to Save Lives and it's delivery to Governor Bredesen, see: Black Churches Rise Up Against TN Governor. .

Support Health Care as a Human Right: Friday, Noon, Outside Gov's Office

TennCare: YOUR PRESENCE NEEDED FRIDAY (Occupation:Day #5 ) AT NOON

Capitol Rotunda (Just outside of Governor’s Office)
First Floor of Capitol. Enter through 6th & Union Legislative Plaza Entrance
Parking: Public Library ($1 -5), Sheraton ($10)
*Bring Valid ID and no pocket knives, etc.

Gather: 8am – Noon.. we want our numbers to progressively increase.
Noon: Large Community Gathering in support of TennCare.

While Governor Bredesen is in Washington, DC pitching his ideas to scrap Medicaid at the National level let’s makes sure the National Media (and therefore all RESIDENTS OF USA) know that Tennesseans are occupying his office in opposition to his cuts and in support of health care as a human right.

There's more at my sistah blogger: Sharon Cobb

Sell Your Homes, Hide Your Money, the Senile Supreme Court Has Ruled

Do governments need people?

Sell your homes and hide your money under the mattress. The senile neo liberals on the Supreme Court have ruled in favor of corporate take-over of your home.

June 23 (Bloomberg) -- "Local governments have broad power to take over private property to make way for shopping malls, office parks and sports stadiums, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled.

The court said government agencies can constitutionally take property in the name of economic development -- and even transfer it to another private party -- as long as the landowner receives compensation. The 5-4 ruling, which split the court largely along liberal-conservative lines, came in a case involving land near a Pfizer Inc. plant in New London, Connecticut. "

Dissenting Sandra Day O'Connor notes that this ruling gives cities the power to uproot families in order to benefit wealthy devel0pers:

``Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random,'' Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said in dissent. ``The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.''


See Blake Wylie for more on this outrage.

This is not liberalism, this is not communism, this is tyranny.

"When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny."-----Thomas Jefferson

Republican Women Ditching the Party

Fully one third of women who supported Bush 6 months ago now say they will vote for a democrat or are undecided.

Via Political Wire

Why Does Governor Bredesen Hate Medicaid?

The Governor’s efforts to dismantle the state’s expanded Medicaid Program, TennCare, can be better understood if we remember his very disturbing views on Medicaid:

"Let's scrap the old, inefficient version of Medicaid that's led us to spend more and more of our finite resources on a system that never yielded the kind of public health results we'd hoped for." --Governor Phil Bredesen

"The way in which Medicaid pays for services has more in common with a socialist economy than the common-sense economic and business principles that do such a good job allocating resources efficiently in other parts of our American life." --Governor Phil Bredesen


See also: Values Challenged Governor Bredesen

Bredesen to Speak on Health Care Reform (Axe) at National Press Club Friday

The Governor who campaigned on the promise to 'fix' the state's expanded Medicaid program, TennCare, will speak on health care reform at the National Press Club later this week.

The Governor is not going to be happy if protesters are still occupying his office when he gives his speech in Washington D. C. on Friday morning.

Speeches at the National Press Club are followed by questions from the national media.

Doubtless, the Governor is worried about the potential for national media coverage of the ongoing occupation of his office by sick and disabled protesters. Perhaps this explains the increasingly stressed demeanor of the Governor in the local tv news coverage.

Unless the Governor finds a way to run the protesters out of his office before his trip to Washington D.C. , it seems certain that the national media will pick up the story.

The Governor's speech before the national press is scheduled to occur on 5th day of the TennCare Protest at the Capitol, or Occupation Day #5.

Tensions Mount in Governor Bredesen's Office: Occupation Day # 3 Round-Up

The recent tv coverage of the TennCare Protest at the Capitol is portraying Governor Bredesen as increasingly annoyed, irritated and just plain pissed.

Why won't those pesky protesters taking up space in his office just go away?

Anna Thompson at TNIMC reports on some of the signs of the Governor's increasing annoyance, and summarizes some of the events of Day # 3 of the Occupation of Governor Bredesen's Office:

{snippets}

The Governor refused to speak to the assembled crowd of thirty and held a separate press conference in his office absent any Enrollees. The assembled crowd then organized their own press conference and presented their list of demands to the media. Tensions are mounting in the Governor's Office and there has been an increase in the number of State Troopers assembled in the Capital Building and there is now the continuous surveillance of an officer from the TBI who is controlling who is allowed to enter the Governor's reception area. Enrollees say they will stay until the Governor agrees to their demands.

Lori Smith, who has Lupus and is about to lose her Tenncare, said the Governor is refusing to meet with the Enrollees this morning, "The Governor's spokesperson said he declined to meet with us. He said the Governor is working to save the taxpayers money and this is the best he can do. . .. I have put my job at risk because of this action and I will stay here as long as my health allows me to do this. We remain committed to being peaceful and abiding by our Constitutional rights. If they have us arrested that will be the Governor's decision. The Governor has always been reluctant to talk. We have continuously asked for public forums and he has continuously denied this."

Louis Patrick who [has] been at the Capital for three days waiting to meet with the Governor [said]: "Health care should not be a politically divisive issue. We are going to be here until this is over."

Matt Leber of the Nashville Peace and Justice Center said that he was disappointed in the Governor's response, "There was a group of people on Tenncare that invited the Governor to come meet with them and the Governor said a spokesperson who didn't talk to us and talked to the media and then left.

I think he refused to meet with us because he felt it would make him look bad. It is too bad that he is calling these people who are sick and physically disabled and about to lose their health insurance a circus. It is too bad that he feels this way about the people he is supposed to be representing, many of whom will die if they lose their health insurance."

David Cline said that he was hoping the Governor would sign a document committing to retain private duty nursing as a Tenncare benefit as well as that he halt termination letters and that he resume talks by June 30th. He said he will continue to stay there until the Governor signs these demands. Cline has degenerative arthritis and scoliosis and said he got only two hours of sleep last night sleeping on the hard stone floor of the Capital building.

"We need his signature on these documents. There were three people in wheelchairs sleeping on the floor here last night." Enrollees say they will stay as long as needed until the Governor meets with them and agrees to their demands. Bredesen is expected to leave Nashville tomorrow to go to Washington DC to make a speech to the National Press Club about his Tenncare Reforms as a model for Health Care Reform nationally.

there's more . . .

Brian Conley vs. South Knox Bubba Controversy Continues

Michael Silence at the Knoxville News Sentinel weighs in on the controversy surrounding Brian Conley's attack on South Knox Bubba and creates yet more controversy.

Gov. Bredesen Insists On 'Closed Door' Meeting: Occupation Day #3

Update: Bredesen's preference for a closed door meeting is so strong that he cancelled this morning's meeting when protesters continued to insist on an open door meeting.

What's Bredesen got to hide?

The Governor's meeting with TennCare protesters was set to begin at 10:30 this morning. Despite the protesters' requests for an open meeting, Bredesen insisted that he preferred a closed door meeting.


More news from MSM:

Yesterday morning, [protesters] were joined by two dozen clergy members who came to show support. And last night, dozens of people gathered outside the Capitol to show their support.


Yesterday, the Governor paid an unannounced visit to protesters. Among other things, Governor Bredesen told the people who are fighting to save TennCare:

“I’m not interested in being a prop for some big media event.”

Michael Moore Eyes Governor Bredesen's TennCare Axe

This is Day #3 of the occupation of the Governor’s office by the sick and disabled heroes, and their advocates, who are determined to stop Governor’s Bredesen’s TennCare axe.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore has taken note of the of the Governor’s TennCare axe and the efforts of its victims to disarm the Governor and save the lives of the countless Tennesseans who depend upon TennCare for their health and for their lives.

Moore has published a story about the struggle to save TennCare on his website and linked it to its source: Sharon Cobb’s blog. Sharon met with Moore last October and discussed her concerns about the state's health care system. Since then, Sharon has produced a provocative documentary about the Governor’s efforts to rob Tennesseans of health care coverage and about the fear and dread felt by those who will suffer at the hands of the Governor.

A copy of Sharon Cobb's documentary is in Michael Moore's hands.

It should come as no surprise that Moore is interested in the Governor’s plan to terminate health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of sick, disabled, elderly and poor Tennesseans. After all, the fearless political commentator is currently working on a film that looks at America’s health care system. According to Moore, the American system is “inferior to that of much poorer nations.” It is a system that “benefits the few at the expense of the many."

Numerous studies back up Moore’s assertion. The most common measures of the health of a nation, or the quality of a health care system, are infant mortality and life expectancy rates. On these measures, the U.S. does worse than many other nations, including the much poorer nation of Cuba.

According to one proposed scenario, Moore’s new documentary, Sicko, will end with “Moore sailing to Cuba with ailing Americans to take advantage of that country's free healthcare.”

Local activists wonder if Moore’s interest in the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans who are about to suffer the excruciating pain of the Governor’s TennCare axe means the filmmaker is coming Tennessee.

Thanks to Governor Bredesen, Tennessee is a very good place to come if you’re looking for folks whose lives can be saved by making a trip to Cuba.

Cruelty Inside the Governor’s Office: Occupation day #2

After being denied food and water throughout the night, the sick and frail protesters who occupy the Governor’s office continued to be denied food and water this morning.

Sharon Cobb reports:

"I just got off the phone with Lori Smith, who spent the night inside the Capitol. Lori has lupus and MS, and had surgery last week. When the Capitol opened this morning, State Troopers would NOT allow food and water to be brought in to the protesters. However, state employees freely drank and ate in front of the protesters.

A doctor ordered Lori Smith to leave, and she almost had to be carried out--severely dehydrated. Lori could not believe the state employees were drinking and eating in front of her while being denied water herself."

there's more . .