Saturday, February 09, 2008

Support the Troops Legislative Priorities

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has come up with a few legislative priorities. It's time to decide whether "Support the Troops" is talk, or for real:

* A New GI Bill.
A modernized WWII-style GI bill that fully covers the cost of an education at any public school or equivalently-priced private school.

Benefits for Reserve/National Guard servicemembers should be based on the cumulative length of their deployments and not on their single longest deployment.
Tuition costs should be paid up front and directly to the college, allowing veterans access to education without forcing them to rely on loans.

* Ensure Thorough, Professional, and Confidential Mental Health Screening.
IAVA supports mandatory and confidential mental health and TBI screening by a mental health professional for all troops before and after a combat tour.


* Overhaul Military and Veterans’ Disability System.
DOD and VA disability systems must be streamlined to provide adequate compensation for the injuries suffered by today’s military personnel.

* Make VA Health Care Funding Sufficient and Mandatory.
Every year, veterans are forced to fight for funding for veterans’ health care, and the VA budget is regularly late. This irregular funding system means that it is difficult for veterans’ hospitals to plan ahead for hiring or hospital repairs. The only way to ensure timely funding of the VA is to make VA health care funding mandatory.

* Combat Shortage of Mental Health Professionals.

According to the Pentagon’s Task Force on Mental Health, the military’s “current complement of mental health professionals is woefully inadequate.” Immediate and innovative steps must be taken to recruit and retain military mental health professionals.

* Protect Servicemembers from Unfair Contracts.
Students who are deployed overseas should be reimbursed for tuition paid towards interrupted coursework. Returning students must be reinstated with the same academic status they earned before they were deployed. 6% interest cap in the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) should apply to student loans.

MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.iava.org/legislativeagenda

To these I add: stop Bush's crazy occupation of Iraq. Our troops have done all that can be done. Let the Iraqis solve their own problems.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Happy To Caucus!

There are so many reasons to be happy going into the Saturday Caucuses!

1. At last, Washington State gets a turn to decide the future of our nation.
Microsoft. Boeing. And amber waves of grain. Washington State is not one of those arrogant, boastful states (hello Texas and New York!) but we're smart and fun-loving. So listen up!

2. Democrats have to choose between two good candidates. Wow!

3. I prefer Obama. Hilary has many good points and would be a fine president. But, America is ready to move on from the Bush/Clinton era.

4. Obama taught Constitutional Law for eight years. America NEEDS a president who's actually read the thing.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Election 2008: The New Mod Squad

The 2008 Elections have given birth to a new TV Series: The New Mod Squad!

The original Mod Squad was a police drama produced by Aaron Spelling, featuring three young, hip, crime fighters in a multicultural society. Its catchphrase was "One Black, One White and One Blonde"

The New Mod Squad, produced by Rupert Murdoch, has updated this to "One Black, One Blonde, and One Grumpy Old Man".

In the first episode of the New Mod Squad, Hilary searches for her soul and is captured by the DLC. Obama pursues her throughout the Red States, leading to a dramatic finish when McCain bombs the entire Middle East.

As the ending credits run, the trio sing their theme song

"We are all different,"
"But do not let that trouble you
"For we have one thing in common,"
"We're none of us George W".

Monday, February 04, 2008

Bush Wins Highspend Trophy!

George W Bush won his eighth consecutive Highspend Trophy today, with a $3 Trillion budget including over $400 Billion in new debt.

"We are proud to be on his team," said fellow Republican Mitch McConnell "His record high spending includes more than 8% more for the war profiteers that fund our Party, while freezing payments to hospitals and other health care providers. Instead of budgeting more to allow for inflation and population increases, we will let the natural forces of evolution take care of the sickly. It's nature's way!"

George's style of play included aggressive attacks on spending to help ordinary Americans. "We cannot afford clean water and health care for all American children," he explained, "We have a lot of bombing to do, and it's not cheap recording all that traffic on the internets."

Bush's style of play included some cost savings, such as withholding the customary paper copies of his budget to members of Congress and the media. "Let Congress print its own copies," said White House Spokesbarbie Dana Perino. "That way, the toner comes out of their budget, not ours."

"George has set a high standard," said fellow Republican John McCain "But I hope to beat his record, even if it takes me 100 years in Iraq."

In related news, earthquakes were recorded throughout the American southwest. "That's just Barry Goldwater," said a seismologist, "He's spinning in his grave again."