My Letter to Obama

Sent via White House.gov

I would like to voice my concern at the possibility of the dropping of a real public option for health care reform in favor of some sort of co-op, or the possibility of no public option at all.

I am from the heart of red country here in Tennessee.

Please do what is right for the country and include a real public option in whatever bill comes out of congress.

The republicans are not going to vote for health care reform.

This is not an issue where half or partial measures will do. If you do not do it now when you can make it happen we will not have the chance for quite some time to pick up where you leave off.

If Roosevelt had just decided to let the nay sayers win and had not established social security and medicare, but had went instead with a co-op to handle those two ends of his agenda we would not still be fighting to keep them today, they would not exist.

Republicans have been doing everything they can to erode public and private support for two of the most successful social programs of all time for the entirety of their existence. If they had their way social security would be privatized and ended and medicare would cease to exist.

These are the people you are FIGHTING and have been FIGHTING on this. They should not be the ones setting the agenda and the implementation.

While I agree that a feeling of mutuality and cooperation in government is important, at the end of the day you guys are the Progressives. You guys are the Democrats. Of course you have an agenda, so do they.

The public option IS the plan.

You promised health care reform, not insurance reform.

Insurance reform is important, but there will be no real Health Care Reform without a public option that cannot be bought out by private interests.

Give the Republicans the tort reform, give them a promise that the public option won't get special deals to undercut the private insurers. Compromise on those things, but give us a public option.

Give us a choice. The other guys aren't going to and never plan on it.

Republicans aren't going to vote for this no matter what, and if they do it's not the bill that you want or that America needs.

I have insurance. I also have a large medical bill that I will be paying on for at least the next two years because I had to go to the emergency room.

If you want me to be able to buy a car, or anything else that will help the economy, make it where I can go to the emergency room if I feel like I am dying and not still be on the hook for what is for me a huge amount even after the insurance pays their part.

Don't placate the people who can't be placated.

Be the President that gives us the next medicare, not just the guy who tried to get the ball rolling, the ball has been rolling for 40 years and hasn't gotten anywhere.

Willie at Riverbend

Is there anyone in music more awesome than Willie? I believe that Roxanne and I turned my sister into a convert at Riverbend.

We ended up with pretty good 'seats' beside the walkway on the right side of the stage. Clear views of Willie and the band.

More to come, enjoy some sounds from the show:

Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain Live at Riverbend, Chattanooga, TN 2009

Willie Nelson - Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away Live at Riverbend, Chattanooga, TN 2009

Willie Nelson - Always on My Mind Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Willie Nelson - Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Willie Nelson - On the Road Again Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Willie Nelson - Hank Williams, Sr. Medley (Encore) Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Swingin Midway Drive In Report

Well swingin midway drive in fans we had a real humdinger of a show last night. In case you missed it or in case you didn't we had two big flicks last night.

First up we had Star Trek, rated PG. It's a fast action space thing with explosions and that Spock fella that all the kids like.

Next up we had Wolverine, it's a scary one so we all locked our car doors.

We also stopped by the snack bar for some Nachos and Cheeseburgers, and those mmmm-mmmm good tasty french fries.

Don't forget the Flea Market is open every weekend, and Sunday is car load night.

Norm Coleman=Jay?

I realize this has to be a photo that has been around for awhile now, but doesn't he just look like the type of guy that you'd want representing you?

Granted, do you really want Al Franken representing you?

I'm pretty sure I'd rather have Al than this hippy turned Wally Cleaver.

"Most of you covered me, all of you voted for me..."

As I watch the remarks of Pres. Obama from the White House Correspondents' Dinner, I am thinking that some of his jokes may be viewed as slightly controversial by the right.

But I also have to say that we have a pretty funny President. He's got good timing.

He showed it at the Al Smith dinner, and the Roast of Rahm Emmanuel.

It's like Winnie Cooper was writing his jokes (that is the most obscure West Wing reference that I could go with).

GI Joe Warren Ellis Style

So somebody out there let Warren Ellis have pretty much free reign over the GI Joe universe for a new web series to, I assume, somehow promote the new movie.

I don't think this series will be cannon since two characters die in the first episode, and he made Zartan into a hermaphrodite tv pitchman.

I think it's pretty good. Dig the badass Snakeyes.

Part one: