■ Benicia congressman says his constituents very opposed to strike; won’t commit to supporting president’s call to action
By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson said Thursday that Congress needs answers to its questions before it votes on President Barack Obama’s plan to make strategic strikes on Syria.
Thompson, a Napa Democrat, is Benicia’s representative in the House.
One of the questions Thompson wants answered is who used the chemical weapons that Secretary of State John Kerry says killed more than 1,429 in Syria, including 426 children.
“Anytime anyone uses chemical weapons, it’s not only appalling, but it should be of great concern to us as Americans and world citizens,” Thompson said in a Thursday interview with The Herald. “If something can be done to stop that, it should be stopped.”
Syria is on the Mediterranean Sea’s east shore and is bordered by Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Israel. Its capital, Damascus, is one of the oldest cities in the world, though the Syrian Arab Republic, as the country is formally named, is only a few decades old.
Syria has been in crisis since 2011, when countrywide demonstrations merged with other protests in the movement called the “Arab Spring.” In Syria, protesters called for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has led the country since 1970.
As the Syrian government sought to quell the protests, the rebellion escalated to an armed insurgency joined by defecting soldiers and others.
Russia and Iran have been allies of the Syrian government, as has Hezbollah. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been supporting the rebels, who have been joined by Jabhal al-Nusra. The United Nations has said that by June, the death toll had passed 100,000, and that about 6 million Syrians have been displaced, either within the country or to other nations.
Noting that Syria has been believed to have one of the world’s largest stockpiles of chemical weapons, Obama warned in Aug. 20, 2012, that large-scale use or movement of those weapons would be a “red line” that would change the calculus in determining U.S. involvement in the crisis.
Reports of the use of chemical weapons came as early as December 2012, when Al Jazeera reported unconfirmed accounts of a gas attack in Homs, an ancient city about 100 miles north of Damascus.
Later reports from Russian and British investigators found evidence of chemical weapons’ use.
Russia has disputed American and French assertions that the Assad government has used some chemical weapons against Syrians, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a recent interview with the Associated Press that he needs more proof as to whether Assad or the rebels are to blame for the weapons’ use.
Paulo Pinheiro, who led the UN human rights investigation, has said there were “reasonable grounds to believe that chemical agents have been used as weapons,” but said the UN couldn’t determine who used them.
Subsequently, rebel groups have said the Assad government has been using chemical weapons in new attacks, while Russians have accused the rebels of using nerve gas against government forces.
Putin has publicly opposed any military attack on Syria by the U.S. or any Western nation unless it has UN support. That’s a challenge, because Russia’s position on the UN Security Council means it can block passage of that body’s resolutions.
As for those who wonder why the U.S. appears to be the default police force in such international situations, and why the UN doesn’t do more, “It’s not ideal how it’s set up,” Thompson said.
“We’re the world’s most powerful government, with the most powerful military,” he said.
Whether this military might could halt chemical warfare in Syria, he said, “There’s no easy answer.” He agreed that some of the disputes that lead to conflicts in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East stem from arguments that go back thousands of years.
In a blow to Obama’s hopes that any intervention would come from multiple countries, Great Britain’s Parliament voted against participating.
“The UK expressed a lack of enthusiasm,” Thompson said. “There is talk they may revisit this.”
While that decision might have surprised U.S. leaders, Thompson said, “I agree there is a definite shortage of world consensus on how to proceed. It’s probably accurate that other countries would like to see us do something,” without actively participating themselves.
“This is no different from times in the past,” he said.
In Obama’s call Saturday for U.S. military action against Syria, the president said, “This menace must be confronted.” But Obama also asked Congress to approve strategic attacks that he promised would not involve “boots on the ground.”
Thompson said Obama hasn’t chosen to support anyone in Syria. “One thing the president is clear about is, he’s not picking sides,” he said. “It’s not about regime change.”
Some have questioned why action wasn’t taken earlier, such as in 2011 when the Syrian government tried to shut down the protests, or in 2012 when reports of chemical attacks first arose.
“It’s easy to Monday-morning quarterback,” Thompson countered. “Part of the irony of the reluctance to do anything in 2011, we didn’t know if the rebels were the good guys or the bad guys. We’ve since found out a lot are the bad guys.”
The president has a specific intent in his call to action, Thompson said. “Assad needs to get the message that use of chemical weapons won’t be tolerated.”
And Thompson said he’s glad the president has asked for Congress’s support. “I think it’s important for Congress to debate the issue,” he said.
However, he questioned the timing of that invitation.
“The leaders of Congress waited too long to engage us in debate,” he said, unhappy that the entire legislative branch was called in, then given a deadline by which it needed to sort out information and make a decision.
In its vote Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Obama’s action 10-7, and the full Senate will vote on the matter next week.
The House of Representatives also will vote, but Thompson said the House’s decision may come later.
“I heard a report that it may not happen until the following week,” he said. “Like any central issue, when the votes are there, they’ll take a vote.”
Meanwhile, he said, “the debate is full and honest.”
The sides in the congressional debates haven’t lined up along traditional party or conservative-liberal lines, Thompson said.
In fact, he said, “People are all over the map — on a scale of one to 10, very.”
Thompson’s constituents also are weighing in, and, unlike Congress, they are giving him a clear consensus.
“Overwhelmingly, folks don’t want a military involvement in Syria or anywhere else. We’re war weary.” He said his constituents’ comments aren’t much different from those in others’ districts.
Obama also has said he may act without congressional support. “I don’t believe the president needs the vote of Congress to act,” Thompson said. But, “it’s important that Congress is involved, and it should be inclusive.”
Thompson said he hasn’t decided yet how he’ll vote on Obama’s request to strike Syria. He said that as a member of the Intelligence Committee, he’s in a different position than some of his colleagues.
“I have a lot of questions. I’ll give the administration every opportunity to explain its rationale, but I’m skeptical,” he said. “My constituents have the right to be concerned.”
Will Gregory says
More news on how constituents across the country feel about a possible war with Syria.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., admitted her constituents’ calls were “overwhelmingly negative” over a possible Syria intervention, but she added, “They don’t know what I know.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-american-people-have-spoken-calls-to-congress-499-to-1-against-syria-war/5348397
Will Gregory says
Yes, but there was an attack utilizing poison gas that took place in Ghouta on August 21 – so who did it?
Questions: Will the Herald do a follow-up interview with Representative Mike Thompson (about Syria) regarding new evidence provided below by investigative reporter Seymour Hersh? What did Senator Dianne Feinstein mean when she stated, “They don’t know what I know.”
More information for the community to consider…
“Let’s be clear about what administration officials yet to be identified did: they described NSA intercepts detailing preparations for a military drill that had occurred months earlier as communications sent in the days prior to August 21. This reminds me of another bit of “intelligence” that turned out to be a forgery: the Niger uranium papers, although the Syrian intercepts forgery wasn’t quite as crude. This administration is much better at lying than Team Bush – but apparently their much-touted anti-leak program isn’t Hersh-proof.”
“Government officials testifying before Congress parroted the administration line that they knew the sarin gas attack was the work of the Syrian government. Can it be that Secretary of State John Kerry had no
knowledge of intelligence indicating otherwise? I’ll bet I’m not the only one who finds that hard to believe.”
“One of Hersh’s sources in the intelligence community throws his hands up in the air and asks: “’How can we help this guy’ – Obama – ‘when he and his cronies in the White House make up the intelligence as they go along?’”
http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2013/12/08/syria-sarin-and-subterfuge-they-made-it-all-up/
DDL says
0bama lied about Syrian chemical attack cherry picked data
This comes as no surprise to those who were saying this all along.
Looks like here is an example were the far left (Will’s link) and at least one member of the MSM (Washington Times) are in agreement.
Special thanks to Mr. Putin for helping to save thousands of lives.
Can they withdraw that Nobel Peace Prize now?
Robert Livesay says
Dennis how do the local far left leaning Liberals get out of this? WMD on President Obama’s watch? Can we now say President Obama wanted the USA in an unauthorized war? Maybe it is about time this Liberal group start paying attention to this President and his very inexpirenced shaky ways. All Liberal comments welcome.
DDL says
Bob, I will send you a private e-mail on this subject and we will soon see their responses.
Hank Harrison says
This is one of the reasons people have so little regard for your intelligence, Bob and Dennis. You base your views on initial reports, rejecting subsequent evidence. I know how hard you want to believe anything bad for Obama, but intelligent people will wait for more information.
Robert Livesay says
Your predictable answer is #7. There are nine available so lets see how all the other nay sayers fit in to the nine available answwers. Local Liberals are verty predictable and very easy to figure out. Keep on commenting all you local Liberals this a very interesting game. See what number fits your comment. There will be no surprises.
Hank Harrison says
There never are, when you are involved. Would it surprise you to learn that you are killing this country?
Robert Livesay says
. I do appreciate that you know how powerful I am. Sorry you are at a lose for any answers.Hank how am I ALL ALONE killing this country. You have a big problem with no way out. Keep it up Hank you alone are destroying the local Liberals credibility and I do beliweve they want no part of you.
Hank Harrison says
I do appreciate that you know how powerful I am, that I speak for all the liberals in this very liberal town. And with one voice we say, in politics Bob Livesay is wrong about everything.
Robert Livesay says
Please tell us all what I am wrong about. Just answer the question HANK. Start with Obamacare.
Hank Harrison says
This, for starters:
http://m.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/12/republican-rejection-medicaid-expansion-depraved
Robert Livesay says
Please tell the folks how Bob Livesay alone is killing this country. Now that is really an amazing statement Hank.
Hank Harrison says
I didn’t say “alone.” You did. But make no mistake, you and your ilk are killing this country.
Robert Livesay says
But you did say you and it was meant for me and me alone. Sorry Hank you can not anything right.
Hank Harrison says
Sorry Bob I’m not responsible for how you misinterpret things. Only you and you alone are. Sorry Bob you just can’t get anything right.
DDL says
Hate to rain on your little insult fest here Mr. Hanky, but the “initial reports” from your savior 0bama told us that Assad had committed war atrocities and 0bammy was ready to go to war (yes bombing and missiles would be considered to be war, no ground troops not withstanding).
I said more info was needed and that a decision to go to war was premature, as some reports indicated that the attacks may have come from the rebels (who bammy was supporting), not Assad.
This report, four months later serves to confirm that those who thought it best to wait were correct all along.
I also expressed support for the Congressman. Pertaining to this comment:
“I have a lot of questions. I’ll give the administration every opportunity to explain its rationale, but I’m skeptical,” he said. “My constituents have the right to be concerned.”
The Congressman was right to be skeptical four months ago and the President F’d up. But you nor any other 0bamaphants will ever admit that.
BTW – Your comment was predicted: #7 to be exact.
Hank Harrison says
Would that the Lundamentalist had always been so circumspect about starting wars. Maybe you could share with us your scribblings from the run-up to an actual war?
I like that there are nine possibilities of liberal responses. On any given question I could narrow conservatives responses down to three.
And interesting to see you such a supporter of KGB officials, above. Your inner fascist is showing.
DDL says
Hank said: And interesting to see you such a supporter of KGB officials, above. Your inner fascist is showing.
Nice try at another insult, but let’s think seriously a moment about the options here:
Putin: “Let’s wait, talk, examine this more closely”
Obama (to Congress): “please let me bomb the hell out of Syria so I can prove myself to be a War president. I could do this on my own, I don’t need your permission, but if things go wrong then your in it with me.”
and you side with 0bama on this?
I never thought you were a war monger.
Hank Harrison says
Nice try at another misdirection. Obama went to Congress, Obama didn’t go to war. “So I can prove myself as a war president” is how Republicans think. The reptile brain again.
DDL says
While I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization,> I know that the country will be stronger … and our actions will be even more effective” if the strike is authorized by Congress, Obama said Saturday in a televised address from the Rose Garden.
Hank Harrison says
All presidents jealously guard their powers; no presidents abdicate power willingly. Most of us learn that about the time we learn to ride a bicycle.
And again, the war didn’t happen. You guys really are desperate, aren’t you?
Robert Livesay says
Hank be nice. You got caught in a trap and cannot get out. All alone with no rope or hope in site. Sorry Hank there are still eight to fill. Have ago at it.
Hank Harrison says
What trap?
DDL says
Bob,
Actually, I think this coment: “And again, the war didn’t happen.” would meet the qualifications of #8.
Two down, seven to go.
Robert Livesay says
You are correct Dennis. He will take all nine all by himself. Keep at it Hank you are doing just fine.
Hank Harrison says
Answer the question.
Robert Livesay says
It appears you are not following your own statement Hank. So that is the reason One-Sided Hank that the folks now understand your views on intelligence which are very limited. Sorry Hank.
Hank Harrison says
Answer the question.
Will Gregory says
Deceiving the US Public on Syria —
From the above article:
“Benicia congressman says his constituents very opposed to strike; won’t commit to supporting president’s call to action”
A key passage from the article below for the community to consider…
“A former senior intelligence official told me that the Obama administration had altered the available information – in terms of its timing and sequence – to enable the president and his advisers to make intelligence retrieved days after the attack look as if it had been picked up and analysed in real time, as the attack was happening.
“The distortion, he said, reminded him of the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, when the Johnson administration reversed the sequence of National Security Agency intercepts to justify one of the early bombings of North Vietnam. The same official said there was immense frustration inside the military and intelligence bureaucracy.”
http://consortiumnews.com/2013/12/09/deceiving-the-us-public-on-syria/
Will Gregory says
Deceiving the US Public on Syria —
Since our Representative Mike Thompson is a member of the House Intelligence Committee: it would be interesting to know his thinking on our position via vie the elected Assad government vs. the documents posted below, which indicates the U.S. is backing Sunni groups like:. Al Qaida and ISIS.
A few key passages from the article below for the community and our appointed and elected officials to seriously consider….
“Turkey, for all practical purposes, has been a handy, sprawling Salafi-jihadi Infrastructure and Logistics Center; it offers everything from porous borders enabling countless jihadi return tickets from Syria to Europe, facilitated by corrupt police, to a convenient crossroads for all kinds of smuggling and a hefty money laundering ops.” (Sultan Erdogan’s War on…Russia, Pepe Escobar, Sputnik)
“Escobar sums up Ankara’s role in Syria as succinctly as anyone. Erdogan has been ISIS best friend, of that, there is little doubt.”
And;
” Powerful politicians in the US, including John McCain, Lindsay Graham, Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton and others, have all alluded to this area as the most suitable location for a no-fly zone. And, despite the fact that Obama refuses to send US ground forces to fight in Syria, he has continued to fuel the conflict in other less conspicuous ways. Just last Wednesday, under the cover of the Thanksgiving holiday when the media was preoccupied with other matters, Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 which provides another $800 million in aid to armed extremists in Syria and Ukraine. The NDAA, which effectively prevents the closing down of US concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo), reflects Obama’s determination to continue Washington’s vicious policy in Syria which has resulted in the deaths of more than 250,000 and the displacement of 11 million more.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/01/putins-revenge-the-fight-for-the-border/
Will Gregory says
Obama’s foreign policy enigma—
The Sunni vs. Shia civil war—which side are we supporting in Syria?
Since our Representative Mike Thompson is a member of the House Intelligence Committee: it would be interesting to know his thinking on our position via vie the elected Assad government vs. the documents posted below, which indicates the U.S. is backing Sunni groups like:. Al Qaida and ISIS.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/defense-intelligence-agency-create-a-salafist-principality-in-syria-facilitate-rise-of-islamic-state-in-order-to-isolate-the-syrian-regime/5451216
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-islamic-state-isis-is-made-in-america-the-pentagon-had-planned-the-fall-of-mosul-and-ramadi-in-2012/5451363
Thomas Petersen says
A little trip back in the way-way back machine,’ it appears.
DDL says
Thompson makes a lot of sense on this issue, based on his quotes above.
Will Gregory says
From the above article:
“Anytime anyone uses chemical weapons, it’s not only appalling, but it should be of great concern to us as Americans and world citizens,” Thompson said in a Thursday interview with The Herald. “If something can be done to stop that, it should be stopped.”
From the article below: A (chemical weapons) history lesson for the community to consider…
“From 1966 to 1972, the United States dumped more than 12 million gallons of Agent Orange (a dioxin-powered herbicide) over about 4.5 million acres of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The government of Vietnam estimate the civilian casualties from Agent Orange at more than 500,000. The legacy continues with high levels of birth defects in areas that were saturated with the chemical. Tens of thousands of US soldiers were also the victims of Agent Orange.”
http://www.zcommunications.org/germ-war-the-us-record-by-jeffrey-st-clair.html
DDL says
And how is that relative to Syria in 2013?
Reg Page says
Perhaps it would be helpful to remind folks that it wasn’t a Republican President who was convinced that Viet Nam was essential to our security and certainly didn’t want to go down in history as the first President to lose a war.
DDL says
I was thinking that would be rubbing salt into a still gapping open wound.
Reg Page says
I know, and I didn’t intend to start a back and forth on this issue. However, Will brought it up and I think it is fair to recall the hysteria that led us into Viet Nam as it is awfully reminiscent of what seems to be happening now.
Will Gregory says
From the above article:
“Thompson said he hasn’t decided yet how he’ll vote on Obama’s request to strike Syria. He said that as a member of the Intelligence Committee, he’s in a different position than some of his colleagues.
“I have a lot of questions. I’ll give the administration every opportunity to explain its rationale, but I’m skeptical,” he said. “My constituents have the right to be concerned.”
“This article (below) is a call for independent thinking and congressional oversight, which rises above partisan considerations.”
A key passage for the community to consider…
“The American people have a right to a full release and vetting of all facts before their elected representatives are asked to make a decision of great consequence for America, Syria and the world. Congress must be provided answers prior to the vote, in open hearings, not in closed sessions where information can be manipulated in the service of war. We’ve been there before. It’s called Iraq.”
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/06-8
Will Gregory says
Where is the ‘hard” evidence?
From the above article:
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson said Thursday that Congress needs answers to its questions before it votes on President Barack Obama’s plan to make strategic strikes on Syria.
Thompson, a Napa Democrat, is Benicia’s representative in the House.
From the article below:
“A U.S. congressman who has read the Obama administration’s classified version of intelligence on the alleged Syrian poison gas attack says the report is only 12 pages – just three times longer than the sketchy unclassified public version – and is supported by no additional hard evidence.
Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also said the House Intelligence Committee had to make a formal request to the administration for “the underlying intelligence reports” and he is unaware if those details have been forthcoming, suggesting that the classified report – like the unclassified version – is more a set of assertions than a presentation of evidence.”
One might have thought that the Obama administration – understanding the public skepticism after the disastrous Iraq War – would have gone to extra lengths to lay out all the facts to the American people, rather than try to slip by with another “dodgy dossier” and excuses about the need to keep all the evidence secret.
President Obama seems to believe that “transparency” means having some members of Congress interrupt their busy schedules of endless fundraising to troop down to the intelligence committee vaults and read some pre-packaged intelligence without the benefit of any note-taking or the ability to check out what they’ve seen, let alone the right to discuss it publicly.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/congress-was-denied-the-secret-details-regarding-the-alleged-chemical-weapons-attack/5348812
Bob Livesay says
Will I always get confused with your using other folks info. Now I do believe at one time you were A featured Forum writer with a picture and all. Maybe you could tell the readers why you do not contibute in that manor anymore. Seems to me using your own words with your picture would be more effective. A simple answer would be enough. Will I am looking forward to your picture and a feature article on the Forum page. Will when do you think that will happen or are you happy using other folks material and commenting only. Just curious. Thanks Will.
Will Gregory says
From the article above:
“Thompson: Answers on Syria needed before vote.”
A letter to Mr. Obama for the community to consider…
From the article below:
“Little did your school boy chums in Hawaii, watching you race up and down the basketball court, know how prescient they were when they nicknamed you “Barry O’Bomber”.
http://www.countercurrents.org/nader070913.htm
Hank Harrison says
Not clever
Will Gregory says
More information on the Sarin Gas attack in Syria for the community to consider…
From the above article above:
“Thompson: Answers on Syria needed before vote.”
From the article below:
MEMORANDUM FOR: The President
FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)
SUBJECT: Is Syria a Trap?
Precedence: IMMEDIATE
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36157.htm
Will Gregory says
From the above article:
“Thompson: Answers on Syria needed before vote.”
More information (answers?) for the community to consider about intervening in Syria…
From the article below:
“That article suggests that the administration had originally planned for the report on intelligence to be issued by Clapper rather than the White House, apparently after reaching agreement with the White House on the contents of the paper.
But Clapper’s name was not on the final document issued by the White House, and the document is nowhere to be found on the ODNI website. All previous intelligence community assessments were posted on that site.
The issuance of the document by the White House rather than by Clapper, as had been apparently planned, points to a refusal by Clapper to put his name on the document as revised by the White House.
Clapper’s refusal to endorse it – presumably because it was too obviously an exercise in “cherry picking” intelligence to support a decision for war – would explain why the document had to be issued by the White House.”
http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/09/obamas-case-for-syria-didnt-reflect-intel-consensus/#more-50638
Harvey Rifkin says
PROTEST THE SYRIAN IMPENDING INVASION BY OUR US CRIMINAL LEADERS. Hundreds will be there to support your protest also.
WHERE: Main and Mt. Diablo Blvds, Walnut Creek, Calif.
WHEN: Saturday Sept 7, 10am to noon
BRING: Youreslves, friends, protest signs, and please post to FB.
The Petro-Military Industrial Complex and the Glabal Bankers must be held accountable for this deceitfull False Flag charade that will only kill more innocents and continue the imperialistic rapacious greed fomented by the PNAC doctrine to destabilize 7 Middle East countries in 5 years purely for eceonomic gain.
Bob Livesay says
Harvey the one thing I would like to see is your followers comments. Do they have the guts to come out against a President that they voted for? Now maybe they are against his responce. That is Ok. The most Liberal Senaters are for the Presidebnt and his proposed actions. Are all you Liberals now going to vote against Boxer and Diane? I think not. It is all vocal nonsense that means nothing. Harvey just tell us will you vote for tham next time out? Harvey stop your grand standing.
Harvey Rifkin says
Bob: When it comes to foreign policy there is little difference between the Repubs and Dems who are puppets to Wall Street and Petro-Military Industrial Complex. I will vote for a write in candidate or Peace and Freedom candidate. I know its pie in the sky initially, but we all have to make a bold statement against these two major criminal political parties.
Harvey Rifkin says
Boxer, Pelosi, and Boxer have an undying need to kiss the asses of the DNC and vote Obama’s the puppet sometimes BS smoke screen, i don’t. Neither do I have much time for unconditional loyalty, patriotism, or any other kiss ass stuff. I always march to the beat of my own conscience and pledge allegiance to no country, political party, or religion.
environmentalpro says
Oh, Harvey! With talk like that, you know you are only going to get certain folks all rashy and constipated.
DDL says
Harvey:Boxer, Pelosi, and Boxer have an undying need to kiss the asses of the DNC
Is that two ass kissers or three?
Harvey Rifkin says
I meant Feinstein also, I guess I was so pissed off at Boxer that I had to put her name in twice.
DDL says
Harvey: I was so pissed off at Boxer
Hey, join the crowd.
Thomas Petersen says
At the same time, it seems you are giddy about the prospect of war.
Harvey Rifkin says
Me giddy about war, not a chance in Hell, because thats what it is.
environmentalpro says
Not you.
Harvey Rifkin says
Lets always try to work backwards from the economic end points of what the powers to be are trying to accomplish primarily from an economic point of view(PNAC doctrine, control of natural resources, control of transport lanes[pipe, ship, etc], creation of Rothschild central banks, allied support(Israel), etc. By America’s past behavior have we demonstrated a genuine desire to stop torture, bombing, drone strikes, illegal infringemnet on privacy, napalming, gasing, growth aof military solutions as the primary road to peace. America in its imperialistic nature has been a very poor role model for accomplishing fair outcomes and non-violent solutions.
Robert Livesay says
For starters Hank the President has never fully disclosaed the cost of Medicaid to the states. The 100/90% is not correct. If a person was already eligible and did not sign up the states get the regular payment of about 60% not the 100/90% as the President stated. That is a big cost considering how many folks were put into Medicaid. It will break the states. Try California just for one. You are in for a big surprise Hank. But us very well informed Conservatives know the real out come of Obamacare. We do not live on false claims by the President we live in the real world. Get up-to-date Hank. Read up on Obamacare and quit taking the Pelosi stance.
Hank Harrison says
Unconscionable. Like I said, it comes down to this: Fuck the poor. And you and everyone who votes Republican is culpable.
Robert Livesay says
Sorry Hank you are wrong again. Obamacare is a failure and you and the followers of President Obama on ObanaCare are the ones keeping the poor very poor and right under your thumb. Even as we speak you Liberals are losing the Hispanic backing. Hank get up to date AND CLEAN up your language. My 2 year old granddaughter can read very well and knows what those words mean. You may not but she does. So clean up.
Hank Harrison says
Bob you live in bizarro world. Your next presidential candidate will get less of the “Hispanic” vote than Mitt did. Your party is losing big time on immigration every day they refuse to pass a comprehensive bill. Obamacare will come to be regarded as well as Social Security and Medicare are — it’s already happening. Wake up and take off the Fox blinders. And if the Herald blog is the worst thing your granddaughter comes across on the Internet then you have nothing to worry about.
Robert Livesay says
You may
DDL says
Bob said: Obamacare is a failure
Bob,
They are trying to do the best they can, with limited resources, after all they only had three years, 650 million dollars and one of Michelle’s best friends from twenty years ago to help them. We need to be more patient, we need to see a few more million people dropped from insurance coverage before they can turn this thing around.
Here is the latest ‘news’ on the status of 0h-bummer-Kare:
New, Improved Obamacare Program Released On 35 Floppy Disks>
You can bet they will have that website fixed for sure, as promised, on Nov. 30th.
Will Gregory says
” United States” foreign policy news the community can use…
From the above article: “:Thompson’s constituents also are weighing in, and, unlike Congress, they are giving him a clear consensus.”
“Overwhelmingly, folks don’t want a military involvement in Syria or {anywhere else}. We’re war weary.”
My question for Rep. Mike Thompson is–How will you vote on the Iran nuclear deal ?
From the post below more information and news for Mr. Thomson and our appointed and elected representatives to consider …
“Bipartisan Group of 60 Senior National Security Leaders Endorse Iran Deal”
http://www.lobelog.com/bipartisan-group-of-60-senior-national-security-leaders-endorse-iran-deal/
and:
“Nine reasons Obama is going to win on Iran. The first: Netanyahu”
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/07/obama-going-netanyahu
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/07/obama-going-netanyahu#sthash.bML7lp0q.dpuf
Will Gregory says
“We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it.” …“To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.”
– Robert H. Jackson was the chief United States prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials.–
More foreign policy news the community can use…
The Sunni vs. Shia civil war—which side are we supporting in Syria?
Key quote from the article below: ” How is this all going to end?”
Since our Representative Mike Thompson is a member of the House Intelligence Committee: it would be interesting to know his thinking on our position via vie the elected Assad government vs. the article posted below, which indicates the U.S. is backing Sunni groups like:. Al Qaida and ISIS–
“The World’s Silliest Empire ”
“I couldn’t help but notice that over the past few weeks the Empire has become extremely silly—so silly that I believe it deserves the title of the World’s Silliest Empire. One could claim that it has been silly before, but recent developments seem to signal a quantum leap in its silliness level”
Will Gregory says
“We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it.” …“To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.”
– Robert H. Jackson was the chief United States prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials.–
More foreign policy news the community can use…
The Sunni vs. Shia civil war—which side are we supporting in Syria?
Key quote from the article below: ” How is this all going to end?”
Since our Representative Mike Thompson is a member of the House Intelligence Committee: it would be interesting to know his thinking on our position via vie the elected Assad government vs. the article posted below, which indicates the U.S. is backing Sunni groups like:. Al Qaida and ISIS–
“The World’s Silliest Empire ”
“I couldn’t help but notice that over the past few weeks the Empire has become extremely silly—so silly that I believe it deserves the title of the World’s Silliest Empire. One could claim that it has been silly before, but recent developments seem to signal a quantum leap in its silliness level”
http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-worlds-silliest-empire.html#more