The Real Death Panels

Grand Junction Town Hall

A friend who lives in Hotchkiss Colorado was able to get tickets for the President's town hall in Grand Junction. This was his report.

From: imaginerivendell tds.net
Subject: Report of the Pres. Visit
To: "imaginerivendell tds.net"
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009, 12:46 PM

We wrote most of you earlier about our good fortune to get tickets for the Grand Junction Town Hall meeting with Obama (completely random selection). You all had great ideas for questions. Unfortunately, with almost 2000 people there and him only taking less than a dozen questions, we had no chance to ask any. We thought we were getting there at a reasonable time, but the gym was already packed by the time we got there. However, we ended up with some of the best seats in the house: slightly behind the podium, but above it and about 75 feet from Obama. We were right above the dignitary section which included the Governor, both Senators, etc.

I wanted to give a feeling of what it was like. And will try and avoid personal opinions or partisan comments, but you know me....

The most unpleasant part was driving through the protestors to get to the parking area. I favor discussion and debate about differing opinions, but seeing signs depicting Obama dressed like Hitler is way beyond anything resembling good taste and civilized behavior. There were lots of pro Reform pickets as well, but maybe I am getting at that age where all this to me is a waste of time. These people and these signs dont persuade anyone but if it makes them feel good....

The gym was packed and the behavior was very civil. We spoke politely with our seat neighbors, with only some indication they were strongly anti Obama. Stay away from politics and you can get along with most people.

We were at the very end of the bleachers (K was thankful for the pillow that security let her bring in!) and we spent much of the two hour wait watching the Secret Service milling around behind the curtains. Not hard to tell who SS is: black suits, grim demeanor, no smiles, no joking around or chit chat. You could tell when Obama entered the building. Two black suits calmly walked to the sides of the stage and took their statue positions, not moving, staring ahead. Then the dignitaries came in, walking in just ten feet below us. When the crowd realized it, the gym erupted in applause. This was the first indication that probably 80-90% was either pro Obama or at least genuinely polite and non partisan. Nice to know there may still be respect for elected officials.

Obama was introduced by a citizen picked to speak first because he had a compelling story: driven nearly to bankruptcy to due health insurance costs and hassles. What an honor this person had to introduce the President.

This was my first exposure to a sitting president and I was very impressed by his presence. He was confident but not at all arrogant or condescending. The thing that impressed me was his self assured dignity. I felt honestly I was in the presence of a great man, but a common man. He seemed just like the guy next door whom you would really like to know. His in- depth grasp of the issue and the details was amazing. He responded immediately to every question and was able to go into details in a way I certainly could understand. I felt like he avoided the talking point style of one liners and party line. He seemed open and honest and frank. Something I dont feel from most politicians whom you hear talking about issues. I came away feeling that if everyone could sit down with him and talk, we could avoid all the harshness, the divisiveness and rancor now going on. Listening to his reasons for the need for health reform, I could not see how anyone could disagree with him. He admitted there could legitimately be disagreement over details and stated he felt his solutions were the best answer, but that there could be other answers as well.

One person asked a question I wanted to ask and that dealt with the hatred and misinformation being thrown about. His answer was very good and did not throw blame (as I would have done). He said it came down to hope versus fear. He said people were simply being dishonest (Republicans who supported the idea of end of life counseling two years ago but are now using the pull the plug on Granny and death panel hyperbole). When asked about the issue of government taking over health care and making personal decisions, he drew big applause when he briskly replied that big insurance companies are making those decisions now-- do you trust them?

The tone from the audience was very civil, thankfully. I was very interested in watching the Secret service during his talk. One agent just below us was fixed on the audience in front of him. No facial expressions, almost no movement at all, just a stare that made me think he was counting every molecule on every person. The stare I see in my dog when she spots a chipmunk. Kinda spooky, but these guys are very very professional. I guess that is what I want. Strange to think how dozens if not hundreds of people are like a protective shell around this one person, allowing him to do anything in the world he wants.

When he left the stage, no one was allowed to move until he left the building. It's like our lives were put on hold for about 15 minutes until he was out of the way. I guess that is standard, but strange to me.

Overall, my impression was one of power, yet a benevolent, intelligent and calming power. He exuded a sense of hope and reassuring. This was at odds with what I see surrounding me in everyday life. I watched Meet the Press this morning since it was on health care. Listening to the business as usual rancor and name calling and 'talking without listening' type debate, I couldnt stand it and turned off the TV. Back to the real world. My thoughts once again----if only people, pro and con in this issue, could sit down and actually discuss issues and listen to each other and get past this hate and fear. I do believe the Fourth Turning will be about civil war----I dont know how we can get past the hate that exists between the two sides of this or any debate.

I do feel there is hope, but its going to take a lot of patience from all of us. And a very good Secret Service.
j

P.S. from K: As Sharyl said---It was all "Way cool!"
P.P.S. from K: Obama really does have a nice butt!

--
Joe and Katherine Colwell
Rivendell Retreat, LLC
30048 North Road, Hotchkiss CO 81419
970-872-4505
www.ImagineRivendell.com

What do I believe?

I believe that those people who are being manipulated by corporate interests to protest as tea-baggers and as disruptors of town hall meetings had their origins in the nasty lovers of Palin--the ones who reveled in the calling of Obama a lover of terrorists--the ones who liked Obama monkey dolls. These people are being manipulated to be the brown shirts of our time. We are headed toward a combo theocracy/corporatocracy. Lip service will be given to religious interests. Abortion will be banned. Gays will be outlaws. Women will have few rights. Blacks and browns will have fewer. Poor people will have none. In the interest of saving money, Social Security and Medicare will be done away with as will all services for the less fortunate. The only rights will be what is in the interests of corporations and the rich who will control the police state that was formerly called the United States of America. Of course if you cannot pay for health services, you will have the right to die. The new name of this country will be the Sovereign States of America. But the central government police state will rule with an iron hand. Democracy will be in name only and we will effectively devolve into a fascist state with privileges for a few and equality for none.

Amazing daredevil cycling

Born in Kenya

Ha Ha Make your own fake Kenyan Birth Certificate.
http://kenyanbirthcertificategenerator.com/

Out of House Forever

Seems like forever that we have been out of the house. William has set up a full house out here in the back yard. We have a kitchen sink, choice of cooking areas (camp stove and grill), laundry area (washing machine and clothes line), bedroom (RV), dining table and living room. The refrigerator and food prep area is up in the garage along with the 2 old recliners, coffee table and large TV. Right now the dry wall crew is here and the regular crew is working on William's special side patio and arbor.
Me relaxing in the living room on a hot evening.

Almost out

The rest of the kitchen is in boxes. Eating up what remains around so that there will be little to get out of the frig before it is moved into the garage. It's nice out here at the end of the yard. Cool in the shade and if it does get too hot I can just get in the pool. William is in the only cool room in the house--Jon's old room--the computer room in it's most recent incarnation. He is throwing out most of the stuff he had brought home from work. Realizing if he had not looked at it in years it was not worth keeping. People ask if we are having a garage sale with all the furniture in the driveway. But until Bill is done with the clear coat over the color epoxy coat on the floor we can't move anything in. We have ordered the tub and kitchen sink and many faucets so the plumber will have all the rough in stuff. Also ordering ceiling fans. Have to get busy on a few light fixtures. Things are probably going to move fast now. The roof is fully done. But the gutters were trash and will need all new. We'll pay for this somehow.

Out Tonight

Went out to the Nevada Theatre to watch "Sin Nombre." Gritty movie about the stream of migrants who come from Central America.

Home Alone-Just the Two of us

The Boulder Baker's took off this afternoon. That is I hope Cyndi has flown off. Her flight was long delayed. Dad and I have started really moving stuff out. Our driveway looks like a yard sale/bedroom. The contractors will be back in the AM and the helper will be available to us to help with move out chores. One is that Bill will be painting an epoxy type surface onto the garage floor before we move things into it. Dale will help with that.
One of the last things I was doing today was putting together banker's boxes and lids. I remember when Robert was a baby and he was just amazed that I was making boxes out of flat cardboard. Magic.

Jon and Gerlach in Truckee

Jonathan Baker Second in Truckee

Jon and Chad Gerlach were in the process of lapping the field at the end of the race in Truckee. In the pack Gerlach took the win and Jon got second. Jon got all the points during the race so he leads in the Omnium. He is spending the night in Reno to race the Reno Crit Saturday evening.
It is just the start of a big bike racing weekend as he will do the road race in Northstar on Saturday and then the Nevada City Classic on Sunday.

Back to Work (Volunteer work)

I will be filling in about once a month at Preschool Story time at the library. Since I actually have not done this in 30 years, I hope Axel will help whip me into shape. I have picked out these 8 books and 2 sing along songs.
Also I just got an email about working as a coach for a computer class at the Senior Center. I will have to study for that also as the class is on Vista and I will be filling in on session #3.

Craigslist

The 1907 Singer Treadle is out the door.
Just sold my biggest item and because this is such a small town, I sold it to someone I know.
Between Craigslist and the Hospice Gift and Thrift store around the corner, I am clearing out this house of extra items prior to our remodel move out date after Father's Day.

Private Insurance vs Private Insurance

Mich McConnell states that the reason that we should not have a public option in health care reform is that "The private insurance people would not be able to compete with a government option."
Twist your head around that one. On one hand the right tells us that "government" involvement in health insurance would be bad because it would be badly run and cost us too much. No one would want that. But on the other hand they are saying that we can't have a public option because that would put private insurers out of business. Because everyone would want it. WTF?????
Here is a classic cartoon to remind us of the health care industry. You see, the Private Insurance companies just can't be satisfied with profit. They've got to have more and more and more and MORE, they've got to have it all, all of our money, all of our health, all of it. Not just the meat, they've got to have The Gravy. All of it:

Basis for Meltdown

The Office of Thrift Supervision, created in 1989, was supposed to help with regulation of institutions. Trouble was it was also given responsibility for unregulated derivatives, given little power and was poorly staffed. It's only source of income was from the institutions it supervised such as AIG, IndyMac, WaMu, etc.
Also the credit rating agencies such as Standard and Poor's had been given too much power. Their funds also came from the institutions whose instruments they rated. Rate us high or we go to the rating agency down the block and you do not get paid.

Making a Driveway Puzzle

William decided that the cracked driveway needed safety markings before it is torn up later this summer.

Aerial views of the construction

William took these yesterday from the top of the tree fort. This was before they knocked down the chimney and pulled off the old sky light.

Food Jazz

So I was explaining to William how the meatless tamale pie I fixed tonight was a riff on my usual version. Food Jazz. I served it with a cole slaw made with cabbage and shredded apple. He said I needed to write it down and save it. So from my Recipe File:

Meatless Tamale Pie

1 cup chopped celery
1 large onion chopped
4 cloves garlic chopped
sauté in 3 T EVO
add
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can kidney beans drained
1 can black olives drained
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp oregano
¼ tsp garlic salt
1 T chili powder
Mix 1 T masa flour in water and add to above
Simmer

Mix together dry then add wet
1 cup corn meal
1 cup flour
1 T baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup milk
1 egg

Put vegetable mixture in a large covered casserole. Top with cornbread mixture. Top with about ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with glass lid and bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
Probably serves 6 certainly more than 2. We will have this as leftovers tomorrow.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Last night we went out to a LeGacy production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
With the belly-up failure of Foothill Theatre Company, our only professional theater company, we were left with 2 tickets that we were able to trade out for this very good amateur production. I hope some professional productions can come back. I really hope for the late summer Shakespeare we used to have.
Video snippet of another production of Picasso. Comedy is set in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris in 1904. Picasso and Einstein meet in a bar just before each becomes well known. We did a lot of walking around in the Montmartre when we were in Paris.

Shut my Mouth

So the Democrats joined Republicans to vote 90-6 in the Senate to refuse funds needed to close Gitmo. With friends like these Obama does not need enemies.

I heard the response of Harry Reid about how we did not want terrorists released onto our streets. As if a transfer from Gitmo would entail our first releasing the prisoners then chasing them down to re-imprison them. He was even called on this inane statement by a reporter and he repeated it. The Democrats are falling for the right wing line that you have to fear terrorists in prison, as if we do not already hold terrorists in prison, such as the blind sheik, the shoe bomber and the unibomber.