Another President I'm proud of... he's Irish!

Irish President Michael D. Higgins takes on the Tea Party here in the States (and slips in a smackdown on Sarah Palin as a bonus):



President Higgins also doesn't let anyone talk over him.
Enjoy!

My President!

Tuesday, February 28, President Obama gave an amazing speech to the UAW.



As an IBEW union family, I loved the speech.

But I would ask President Obama to take that same passion for the coal miners who are mostly right now without union representation and they are dying.

Mine helmets and painted crosses sit at the entrance to Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch coal mine Tuesday, April 5, 2011 in Montcoal, W.Va. The memorial represents the 29 coal miners who were killed in an explosion at the mine one year ago today. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

Got breaking coal mining news today!
"CHARLESTON — Historic safety steps, once more written with the spilled blood of West Virginia coal miners, cleared the House of Delegates after one lawmaker Tuesday blasted Massey Energy’s attitude of “organized crime” in running the ill-fated Upper Big Branch mine."
Read more at:
Delegates pass mine safety bill

and the man who never apologized for killing 29 coal miners, Massey Energy CEO Dan Blankenship:

And Blankenship got a raise from Massey just a couple of months before the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.

http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/01/07/massey-gives-don-blankenship-a-raise/

yeppers, Don Blankenship is ready to enjoy HIS retirement!

Democracy is Coming

Leonard Cohen's music is brilliant, the visuals from Madison, Wisconsin, are stunning.
This is what Democracy looks like and if the corporations don't like it, well, that's just too bad.

(if you have problems with the embed click here for the YouTube version.

Here's to the Union workers!

Here's to the Union workers and the Stimulus!
Teabaggers are all over the lazy over-paid Union workers and keep moaning about how the Stimulus is a complete failure.
Well, here's a large dose of TRUTH!
You folks on the East Coast who lost power during Hurricane Irene? Lost power during the Halloween October 2011 winter storm? Lost power this weekend?
You think you are entitled to flip a switch and power should just be there?
Where do you think that comes from?

You want someone paid minimum wage to do THIS job to keep your power back on?

Or this?

Can you even fix THIS by yourself. or even with help from neighbors?

Don't think so.

Here's to the IBEW men & women who keep our power going and get out there in all sorts of weather to get it back soon as they can despite all bad conditions.

Which brings me to the Stimulus, which trained many line workers and more line workers are needed.
Jobs are out there and power linework pays well in more ways than just money.
Spouse's best part of the job is getting that power back on, especially in rural areas that are usually end of the line. And particularly when residents come out with cups of hot coffee or chocolate, sandwiches, and heartfelt thanks.

We're all in this together.

Too bad the teabaggers make it us against them.
.

Dreams from America

Letting this speak for itself:



Chief Shares His Dream of President Obama

Susan G. Komen is the newest death panel.. come on down!

Image courtesy and my many thanks to AzureGost!

This is just un-freaking believable, or maybe not...
The Susan G. Komen pink ribbon multi-merchandising and get peeps to walk for breast cancer and SEND THEM MONEY to pay their executives (and they are also some sort of job creators maybe or not...) just cut off breast cancer screening funding to Planned Parenthood!
Why you might ask?
Planned Parenthood provides affordable breast cancer, cervical cancer and general women's reproductive healthcare (including contraceptives) to women who have no health insurance.
But apparently PP is under federal investigation for providing abortions! (let's clutch our pearls!) There's more (and it's VERY shady on the Komen side) but it's late for me, so I'll add more after I have some sleep...
**full disclosure**
I was without health insurance most of my life until I married in my mid-20s back in the 1970s. PP was my ONLY healthcare provider for women's health issues until then and they literally saved my life, but that's another story.
**
Back to the story at hand and some links before tomorrow's update...
Some links:
NPR: Komen Charity Ends Grants To Planned Parenthood
Furor Erupts Over Susan G. Komen Halt Of Grants To Planned Parenthood
Susan G Komen Foundation Bows to Pro-Life Bullying; Stops Contributing to Planned Parenthood