Bill Maher Is 100% Correct

In the video posted below, Bill Maher makes the point that "the audacity of hope part is over. Right now, I'm hoping for a little more audacity." President Obama is wasting an opportunity to pass real healthcare reform, end the war in Iraq, protect the environment, stop using oil from the Middle East, and stop bailing out banks and businesses who have no interest nor intention to become fiscally responsible. President Obama is acting less like a president with both houses of Congress on his side, and more like he is bought and paid for by the Republican Party. He needs to get aggressive on these issues or he will find a large number of his supporters looking for a truly progressive candidate to replace him in the next election. Please, Mr. President, get real on energy, the environment, the War in Iraq, the bailouts, and healthcare. There is no better time.
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Gulf War Illness Is REAL

FINALLY, the Congress mandated "Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses" has determined that approximately one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the Gulf War suffer from "Gulf War Illness." Eighteen years after the war ended, we finally have a thorough reporting of the illnesses that over 170,000 Gulf War One vets have been experiencing for almost two decades. Perhaps now there will be a serious effort by the medical community to find cures for these brave men and women. President George W. Bush has said that he is most proud of leading the selfless men and women in the United States Armed Forces during a time of war. Certainly, he should be most shamed by the lack of care that these same selfless men and women have received before, during, and after he and his father sent them into combat. By the way, CNN was afraid to post these comments in the "comments" section listed below the story on its website: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/11/17/gulf.war.illness.study/index.html?

Why The Media Pressure On Obama?

The "Liberal Media Bias" is a complete myth. Case in point: the media's over-analysis of Barack Obama's choice for a Vice Presidential running mate. Where are all the questions about McCain's choice for Vice President? Faux News pounces at every opportunity upon the people chosen to help Mr. Obama select the best candidate for Vice President. The news networks have barely mentioned (if at all) the people helping McCain at the highest levels of his campaign staff. At least we know who is on Mr. Obama's team. Apparently, Mr. McCain is hiding his key staff. Republicans are showing themselves to be cowards. They are afraid to run on the issues. It is all about character assassination and innuendo. This may have been successful in the past, but this year it will not be a winning strategy. Try to "Swiftboat" Mr. Obama, and the Republicans will be rewarded with the loss of the Presidency and more seats in Congress. Honestly, that would not please me. I prefer to see a divided government - one party in control of Congress and another in the White House. It creates more accountability on both sides. However, if the Republicans keep using the methods of avoidance and character assassination, the Democrats will have a very good election year.

The Forgotten Soldiers

As we hear the daily news from Iraq, many of us pay attention to number of soldiers killed in a recent attack. However, most of us ignore the other number - the number of wounded. This war is creating an epidemic. As of this date, September 10, 2007, the Pentagon has reported 27,767 soldiers wounded in Iraq. However, some experts believe that this number is low because it may not include those soldiers who are sent back into the field after recovering from an injury. These experts have estimated the actual number of wounded to be anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000. Still, if we accept the Pentagon's official count, it is certainly not negligible. These are soldiers who need extended medical treatment and rehabilitation. Many are not able to hold jobs after returning to civilian life. According to a recent AP article, thousands of soldiers have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and 20% of them will suffer "prolonged or lifelong symptoms and need continuing care." The article focuses only on that one type of injury - TBI. There are thousands more who have lost vision, hearing, use of limbs, etc. also facing the same need for continuing care. Does Bush care? No. The funding under his administration and the former Republican controlled Congress allowed horrendous conditions to exist in our Veterans Hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Things are improving, but the deficit created by GWB and company is monstrous and will take decades to correct. Of course, that is assuming that Americans are intelligent enough not to put another war-mongering puppet into the White House. And that is a big assumption to make.