Truth Surfer

This story has me disgusted... From MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann (Worst Person): Nearly eight years ago, a Wal-Mart shelf stocker in Missouri got broad sided by a semi. Debra Shank (ph), now 52, is now brain damaged, in a wheelchair, in a nursing home. She needs 24-hour a day care. She got 700,000 dollars from a settlement from the trucking company. After attorney fees, 417,000 was left for a trust fund to make her shattered life better. Wal-Mart promptly sued Mrs. Shank for the money, because, says spokesperson Webber, Wal-Mart‘s health plan says, and your company‘s plan may also say this—you better check—if you get really hurt and you receive damages in a settlement, your employer can sue to get back anything it paid you for your treatment. So they sued this woman who had 417,000 dollars for 470,000 dollars. Contrary to general opinion, Wal-Mart is not owned by the devil. Its stockholders are not uniformly horrible people. The stores often do not destroy and som...

In these dark times which we live, it's sure comforting that we have some light shining from the dim bulbs... Minnesota's 6th Congressional District's congresswoman Michelle Bachmann is barely shining with her "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act". Yes folks it's true. Michelle Bachmann is very concerned over light bulbs. The economy is in the tank, 4,000 plus young men and women have died in the mess we call Iraq and Ms. Bachmann wants the government to turn the lights off on the compact fluorescent bulbs... Bachmann's concern is over the mercury in fluorescent bulbs... I love this quote in response from the Star Tribune's article: "There is 200 times more mercury in each filling in Congresswoman Bachmann's teeth than there is in a compact fluorescent light bulb," said Julia Bovey, a spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Catch the whole story here Someone isn't playing with full wattage...

There are no words that can explain the sadness that this milestone brings. U.S. death toll in Iraq reaches 4,000 Please pray for peace. Pray that this war comes to an end before we loose anymore of our young men and women. Pray for the 4,000 families that this war has changed forever. Some Gave All

It's been five years, today, since we invaded Iraq. When the vote was in congress to give Bu$h authorization to go to war only a handful of members had the courage to do the right thing... Paul was one... the conscience of a liberal - what true courage looks like: Be courageous! Vote for candidates who have demonstrated the good judgment to do what is right, even when the political winds blow the other direction.

Peeps! Just got back from beautiful Mexico...sun, surf, and cervaza. It was wonderful and relaxing and now I'm paying for it. Naw, I didn't get the 3rd degree sunburn like all the other fools, but here's how my work goes... Go on vacation for a week but your workload doesn't. It just sits there and gets larger...waiting for your eventual return. It would be overwhelming and depressing but there's always something of value in the mix...for example, several friends read TS's annual posting on peeps and sent me some excellent links...enjoy! http://galorebot.com/blog/media/1/20070407-jesusofpeeps.jpg http://silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/images/2007/04/08/2003653210.jpg http://www.aawaa.org/images/eart8/levitt_daniel.jpg

Welcome to Truth Surfer's first Tough Question ! This is the first in a series of tough questions posed to various candidates. I'd like to begin with a disclaimer (yeah, I know - A disclaimer? I just want to make something clear): I am not officially endorsing anyone with these posts. The purpose of the posts pertaining to the 2nd CD race is only to stir thoughts and conversation. Congratulations Peter Idusogie! You are the first candidate to get the Truth Surfer's first ever "Tough Question". Let's get TOUGH! Ok it doesn't have the same ring as "let's play hardball"... I like Peter Idusogie, but something is bugging me... I'm struggling with Mr. Idusogie's candidacy. So I'd like to pose a question to him: Are you an independent (with a small "i") or a DFLer (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)? Let me state before you answer - I mean no disrespect with this question. Here's why I am asking (the background information): 2004 ...

Peter Idusogie, candidate for Minnesota Second Congressional District DFL's endorsement, had a busy Saturday. He spent most of his day at a county convention, where he gave a passionate speech and worked the crowd. Peter has a nack for "Retail Politics" and he showed what REAL retail politics is when, after the county convention, he made his way up to the Burnsville Center. Peter along with two campaign volunteers walked the mall talking with anyone and everyone who would stop and talk with him. He stopped and talked with a group that wanted a picture with him. He visited with a cell phone sales person and made his way to a clothing store. He demonstrated a great understanding of retail politics and people were drawn to him. Peter hasn't had his campaign running for long, but showed in one day that he could garner support from both DFL activist and the general public. Want to learn more about Peter Idusogie, visit his website: www.idusogieforcongress.com Peter is ru...

I wish Senator Clinton's campaign was as sweet as ice cream (see earlier post "What's your flavor?" by T&J), then I may feel like running after the ice cream truck to get an Obama-Clinton Sundae... Unfortunately, today we got more of the same bitterly negative politics, as we've grown accustomed to from the Clinton campaign. Some will play this post off as an attack, be warned. I am in no way attacking anyone, just stating the TRUTH. "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept." - Geraldine Ferraro Here's the full story from CNN: Ferraro: 'They're attacking me because I'm white' CNN does a great job in this story to not only cover Ferraro's comments, but also to lay out the history of the Clinton campaign's use of similar tactics. This is beyond disgusting to me...

Every year the Pioneer Press has a Peep Diorama contest. And every year my friends and kids enter. In 2004, we glimpsed 'the Peeps March for Choice in Washington DC'. In 2005, we held back tears of joy as we witnessed a union of love in a beautiful 'Same Peep Wedding'. In 2006, we traveled to 'Mount Choice-No-More' in the Black Hills of South Dakota. (why won't they let us control our own health?) In 2007 and 2008 we deferred to others...Some of my favorites include: The UFOs Peeps on Earth Dateline NBC Reservoir Peeps Saint Paul Winter Festival including the 'peepshow' shown here! While we have lots of ideas, time slipped away from us again this year....which brings me to my point...going to Mexico for a few days to search for intelligent life among the spanish speaking peeps. Look for my report when I get back (and maybe a 'day of the dead peeps' diorama)...ts

Senator Barack Obama understands the problem of poverty. He has seen the affects of poverty first hand. He has actively fought to improve the lives of those living in poverty. I am supporting Senator Obama for President, because we need someone who will fight to end poverty. He not only understands the problem, but has a multi-facetted plan to deal with poverty . I particularly find his plan to tackle concentrated poverty interesting: Establish 20 Promise Neighborhoods: Obama will create 20 Promise Neighborhoods in areas that have high levels of poverty and crime and low levels of student academic achievement in cities across the nation. The Promise Neighborhoods will be modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone , which provides a full network of services, including early childhood education, youth violence prevention efforts and after-school activities, to an entire neighborhood from birth to college. Back in May of 2006 CBS's 60 Minutes did a story about the Harlem Children...

Unlike some Democrats like aka TS Blogger Mr. Blue...I don't have to support my candidate by negative attacks on their competition. Sure campaigns will say it's the only way to win, and pollster say that's how to make up ground when you're behind and politicos will say look at how it helped BushCo but...well,look at BushCo! Do you really want to use his playbook (or Cheney or Rove!). Stop with the negative and start listing the positives...at least for the candidate you support. Rejoice in our richness as Democrats and stop the whining Mr. Blue. Regardless of which Presidential candidate wins (Clinton or Obama), Deomocrats win. It's like being asked to choose between two favorite flavors of your favorite ice cream...strawberry or french vanilla. Which ever one we get, WE WIN! Either flavor ice cream will beat out the two week old overcooked now reheated liver being offered up by the NeoCons...So rejoice in our richness as Democrats and eat your ice cream without bar...

I am now totally sick... Sick and tired of the Clinton campaign tactics. I am getting to the point where the little shred of respect I have left for Clinton is going leave me before I can make it to the toilet. You want to know why I'm ready to BARF? Here we go - the sickening details: 1. Clinton aide compares Obama to Kenneth Starr Oh, it gets worse... 2. Clinton and NAFTA Are you feeling queasy?? Hold on there's more... 3. Rules are rules, unless you're a Clinton Howard Dean: "The rules were set a year and a half ago," Dean said. "Florida and Michigan voted for them, then decided that they didn't need to abide by the rules. Well, when you are in a contest you do need to abide by the rules. Everybody has to play by the rules out of respect for both campaigns and the other 48 states." Could it get worse??? GRAB YOUR BUCKETS!!! 4. Hillary praises McCain while questioning Obama's security creds I'll write more about #4 tomorrow... I'm too s...

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me...and Tim too!

I miss Warren..and Hunter, and so many others...Well too much to do, I'll sleep when I'm dead...

Nobody says it like Jack...