The Militia Resurgence in America, and asking Questions about it's possible relationship to the Tea Party

Just a week ago there was a massive joint effort by the FBI,ATF and Police to arrest members of the Hutaree Militia that is mostly based in Michigan,but included Arrests in Indiana and Ohio as well. A total of Nine were arrested over 36hours because they had been monitored over a year. The Hutaree are indeed weapon focused, but also believe that they are fighting the Anti Christ and big Government. They supposedly had developed a plot to kill police officers and to kill more at a funeral. In light of recent threats made on Government Leaders and Reps , it is reassuring for the public to know that Groups making threats are being monitored.

The Jurist in this post has more about the Hutaree Movement, and how SPLC has been monitoring the group for escalation in rhetoric or threats of violence.
Heidi Beirich [Director of Research, Southern Poverty Law Center]: "The arrests this past weekend of nine members of the Hutaree Militia in what federal authorities are describing as a plot to murder a law enforcement officer in Michigan and then attack other officials who gathered for the funeral is another reminder of how burning hatred for the federal government can quickly morph into violence. After all, it was another government-hater, Timothy McVeigh, who blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 killing 168 people, including 19 children in a day-care center.

The Christian Science Monitor has more on the group and their "Declaration of War". Explores their origin , their doctrine and their path to violence. One of the arrested was "PaleHorse" he is well known in Ohio as he has been posting videos on YouTube since Obama was elected stating that there needed to be War on DC.
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Anyone who lived through the 1990's remembers the rise of Militia Groups. It was not just a rural Middle America phenomena, it was happening throughout the country and was significantly rarely covered on the News. As someone who lived out west during that era I encountered them by accident. My son was taking therapeutic riding with a little boy whose family was part of the Militia Movement.The mom and dad were both highly educated and busy raising 8 home schooled children. I was struck by their anti-government sentiments and rhetoric, but also how handily the word "Revolution" was tossed into the conversation by the mom. As a nurse and a mom I had never encountered Anti American Rhetoric like that before in my life. The conversation also invariably covered issues related to WHO they blamed the Demise of our Country on, Big Government and "liberal radicals". (This was back in 1995-1997, a time when Liberals were not commonly labeled as such. )

The Militia Movements out west were commonly aligned or allied with the AIP Movement, or the American Independent Party. ( People in Alaska were quick to educate us that Sarah Palin was a part of the AIP movement, wishing them well in a Christmas video when she was mayor and also that Todd was a member for over 6years, she still denies her membership or connection, but the Christmas video was still on YouTube as of August 2008). The American Independent Party has a sketchy history.Wikipedia has a cleaned up version of their history on site here.

The Militias of the 1990's were very much NRA/weapons dominated and some where Christian or Religious in faith. They were also Anti Government , Anti Taxes, and even out West it was clear that there was also a fair amount of hate and anger at Outsiders of any kind : People of Color, Different Religions and Cultures, as well as Anti-Immigrant sentiment. Out West people had tried to decipher for years whether the Militia Movement was connected to White Power Groups and Aryan Nation Groups.

In 1995 when Oklahoma City Federal Offices were bombed, repeatedly different journalists did try to explore whether Timothy McVeigh and the Nichols brothers worked alone or had they had help or been aligned with any Militia groups.It was a question,suspicion that was not answered fully. But out West there was some Militia Activity including bombs and bank robberies in Spokane Washington that had fragile but questionable ties to The Nichol Brothers and Timothy McVeigh.

Last summer when attending Health Care Meetings and rallies it the Tea Party began to show up with their Posters and Hatemongering shoutouts, and my first thought was I wonder if they are related to the Militia Movement of the 1990s. It was the rhetoric, the signs the posters, and the symbols. Now that HCR has passed and the Tea Party is holding rallies around the Country during Easter Break, we would be wise to stay aware of Rhetoric and signs and warnings.

In recent weeks I have been researching some of the Tea Party Leaders, including Mark Vanderborough who is associated with the Militia Movement in South Carolina. It would be prudent to research and learn more about the leaders and see if there are other Tea Party Alliances that are concerning.
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Questions Watching the Tea Party...
(1) Are they in any way related to or working with any Militia Groups?
(2) Is it merely coincidence that the there is rhetoric overlap ?
(3) WHO funds the Tea Party Movement? The Giant Buses ?
(4) Why has the GOP/RNC not commented on the Militia Arrests, the Threats on Lawmakers, or even
the Tea Party Hatemongering ? And why do they view "Domestic Terrorist threats" different than "Foriegn Terrorist Threats" ?
(5) And why has the GOP/RNC taken no responsibility for their language or their contribution to the hatemongering?
(6) Is HLS monitoring these homegrown Militia Groups as closely as they monitor other threats and groups ? Because we know under Bush they were not being monitored as strongly. Especially in light of all the Anti War groups that were being monitored it is doubly concerning.
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Other Sources to learn about Hate Groups, Militia Monitoring.
(1) The Southern Poverty Law Center is thoroughly monitoring and speaking out and educating Americans about the Militia Movement and Hate Groups in this country. Mark Potok has been on an increasing number of talk shows in recent weeks. Do go to their website and learn more, especially do read the Hate Map Section as it explores state by state the Number of Hate Groups and Militias. It also has information and tools to learn how to fight hate.
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April2nd Update :
Today we learned of a new group that has threatened the safety of 34 Governors and want Change, Gawker and other sources had information up about this New Group that bares watching and is in Multiple States.I will post more in the next few days.
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, Enigma Note: I am not trying to create fear, I am encouraging people to pay attention,be aware and to be educated and be able to better understand the level of hatemongering we are seeing in our Country. If you see or hear hate that is of a concerning level I encourage you to report it to SPLC.

Thoughts about Our President....

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President Obama went to Afghanistan this weekend...The troops needed to see and hear from him , it boosted their morale....And the trip allowed him to have a chat with Karzai...He has done alot in March, including Nuclear Talks with Russia and signing HCR and now a trip to Afghanistan.

Moscow's Beautiful Subway was rocked by two blasts last night....

First Video Update from France TV

2-4AM I did try to update (via twitter) for facts as they appeared. There were two separate explosive attacks in the heart of Moscow during AM Rush Hour. Thousands use the Subways (Tubes) in the AM to get to work. The Media there are reporting that the two attacks were 40 minutes apart and that more than 37 died on scene and that more than 30 were wounded, with numbers expected to rise. They reported first one female bomber with plastic explosive belt, and then a second one on a different carriage,but on the same line further along the track. The First Blast was near Lubyanka metro station and killed 23 people and wounded more. The Second blast was at Park Kultury and killed 13 and wounded more.

As there are cameras throughout the stations, the Investigators should be able to watch the films and learn more about the explosions and who carried them out. No one as of yet has claimed responsibility. But is believed attacks were carried out by two separate female suicide bombers.
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Sky News update
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CNN International from London with Zain Verji and Matthew Chance...
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Russia's Rian Novosti is reporting that atleast one female bomber did detonate plastic explosives as she went to exit a carriage.
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Moscow Times reports indicate two seperate attacks 40 minutes apart,both during busy rush hour traffic.
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MoscowTimes Photo galleries.
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BBC has more...
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The Beautiful Moscow Subway 4 days ago...Tunnels are very deep,very clean and well maintained, built in the 1930s and the carriages are known to be old and carry anywhere from 20-40 people. Do see how there is music played.

I will post more links about this....and info today.It is still being determined who and what did this.Two separate explosions occurred and it is estimated more than 40 are dead and more wounded. It is being said that suicide female bombers are involved,but the second blast was more fierce and some reports say that was an actual bomb.

Tea Party HateMongering Leads to Threats against Congress Members

As of Wednesday Morn 3.24.10.
After at least 10 reps have received threats in recent days, including all levels of intimidation from vandalism to death threats to threats to family members and their homes.Today the House held meetings with Security Authorities.This presser was striking as the GOP did not attend or stand with their fellow members or issue a statement. And so far there has been no statements of concern or repudiation by the Republican Leaders or members. MrBoehner has consistently re-iterated that alot of "citizens" are angry, almost justifying it ?Tonight on Evening News finally the violence and ugly climate of hate is reaching Lead Story status. Newspapers and print media have been slower to cover this disturbing trend. I encourage people to read the Southern Poverty Law Center website linked to the title and get educated regarding hate activities ( especially in ones state). I encourage you read the Fighting Hate section, and the Hate Watch Blog as it is monitoring the threats to our leaders.

From the SPLC Hate Watch Blog: One of the Most Significant threats that occurred happened when a Gas line was severed at the wrong home, the home of a relative of a Rep, this could have ended with horrific results...but it also shows that the violence has been ramped up within mere days....It is critical at this time that we help protect our reps and Leaders fightng for HCR and Change...the Climate of Hate has been ramped up to a dangerous level. I think many of us that went to Town Hall Meetings last summer are not shocked...but this is a situation that has become very heated in a matter of days. Do watch for interviews with Mark Potok of the SPLC when he is on MSNBC.

BING has a link that has SPLC's Mark Potok's interviews and videos and also includes SPLC's tracking of recent Threat events. It is more thorough than Google.
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The Guardian has quick roundup of the Thuggery, that is worth reading. Print media here has just started covering ...I will post more links as I find them.
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This ABC story has more Boehner quotes that are less than rational and also details some of the events.
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On Countdown of March 24th eve Lawrence ODonnell interviewed Mark Potok of SPLC and he explains the concerning rhetoric and increased violence.(see Below)
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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5AM FINALLY CNN has posted the regarding Congress receiving Threats ( this is the first major story on it for them). Please do read it, it also does have the Security presser-very small video in corner.But it also includes some very concerning Beck quotes-so this is a must read.

{Per CNN}Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck told his radio audience Monday that Democrats who supported the bill would be remembered as "an enemy of the republic" and "an enemy to the Constitution." But he urged viewers of his Fox News television show Wednesday to avoid violence, because "radical" supporters of the Obama administration are counting on such attacks to discredit their opposition, he said.
"Not only is it completely nuts and wrong, it's exactly what they want," Beck said. He told viewers, "They are begging for it. You are being set up."
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WHO are the TeaParty's Leaders right now ? Glen Beck ? Rush ? WHO? Or are they now listening and taking orders from Sarah Palin ? or is it Boehner ?King ? Bachman ? Dick Armey ?McCain ? WHO ? Because in just a mere matter of weeks the Repubicans are now embracing the Tea Party Mob? Pandering to the Tea Party. So we have a group of very angry uneducated citizens being ginned up with false information and a broken moral compass but steered hatemongering rhetoric. With Threats and Crosshair maps I worry what is next ? Will we awake to hear of a Night of Broken Glass. For their Hate is being targeted at an evergrowing list, DemReps and Leaders to Liberals and Progressives to people of color and different religions, gays and those that are foreign. Their hate is being honed and sharpened by the day at this point. We need a Strong vigilant media and Public willing to recognize Hate as opposed to political activism.
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This Reuters Post last night is so odd, it tries to paint the TeaParty as a legitimate Movement, that is having a difficult time orienting itself and that the Repubs are uncomfortable with them. I did not see that these past monthes, I saw the Repubs trying to figure out how to get cozy to them, how to message them , and how to embrace them and their seething anger. And it actually started with the McCain campaign and hte Summer of 2008, and the Summer of 2009 it was stoked by the GOP over the recess.What I think many Americans are seeing is The Republican Party of NO embracing the Tea party anger and hate and making that their new platform.
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WHO says What right now is important, this includes ALL leaders, Media and Pundits, in this climate rhetoric can be inciting violence and hate that can lead to a very heated dangerous situation. This situation is not going to go away, but for dems and liberals that have fought so long for better healthcare we are at a Critical Moment in our History.

The "Hell No You Can't : YES WE CAN" Video: (featuring John Boehner) ...It Rocks..MUST SEE and share...

Sarah Palin asks her "fans" to RELOAD and gives them a Crosshairs Map...

As Sarah Palin plans her "Reality TV show" on Discovery, I hope they look at the Name "Dangerous and Stupid" and that the Secret Service has a LONG chat with her. She posted a rant on her Facebook Page and told her fans to RELOAD-no I am not kidding, and she posted this map, complete with crosshairs....telling her minions to Target those Dems.Language like this is dangerous,inciting violence and hate,by using Hunting language and symbols.

Sarah Palin's facebook page is linked to the Title with bigger photo of map...

Today HCR Law was signed into History.....

(photo by Huffpo)
The President signed the Historic law the House HCR today.Marcellus Owens of Washington State looks on, he had written a letter to the President about his mom who died without Health Insurance. ( and was attacked by the RW media). Vicki Kennedy also looks on.

Here is an analysis of the HCR bill as it is right now by Karoli Kuns ,she breaks it down and explains it with great clarity.

HCR: Health Care Reform has arrived in America....the First time in Fifty Years since Medicare Passed in the 1960

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It was very exciting watching the Dems march to the House arm and arm and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi carrying her Gavel. (HUGE gavel that was the size of a crochet mallet, a gavel that said "I mean Business"). It reminded me of the Civil Rights Marches of the Sixties.After a seething weekend of volatile hatred spilling from the Teabaggers and the Republicans it was somehow fitting to see the Dems arm and arm, united walking tall..almost defiant. I was proud of them, moved by them..Hopeful.
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So I hung out with my son watching the last 2 hours of debate that felt like an eternity intense Chamber Rumble that lasted all day. I was on Twitter where people kept careful track of all that was said and it was a roller coaster of Honorable Amazing Democratic Speeches and hate filled GOP rants....and then the three Votes came and the counts...and by 11:46PM we had Made History. I am heart filled with gratitude and relief that we are on the right path with this, it is a Start.

As an UnInsured RN with a late teenage son , I have been very worried for too long. My son is covered under his dad's plan but next year he would not be. So now he will be covered until he is 26 years old and that means everything. And for Millions of UnInsured like me we will have a chance again to find Care, I hope and pray. I have been UnInsured since 2006 and I have been battling my own health battle alone, like millions of others. We now are no longer Invisible, forgotten, cast aside.

I have thought alot about Senator Teddy Kennedy through all of this. Off and on I have been relieved he did not see all of this Hatred and angst and ugly smears and slurs. Teddy would have wanted to have seen people working together and problem solving and that was not every what went on with this Bill, from day one it turned into so much more of a problem. And at times the MSM did not help, fueling the Foxy Propaganda and labeling a Hate Fringe Group as a "grassroots movement" was beyond foolish, it was dangerous and False. The Media Pretending that the Tea Party is a legitimate "Group" was basically empowering a Climate of Hate and Racism cloaked and costumed by the MSM as " Patriotic". And yet in some way Teddy would have had Courage and Insight to confront such Hate, but it was up to all of us to Face it and Confront it and Dismantle the Lies and Bigotry. And this Battle will rage on, that we know.

After he died last summer I kept thinking, WHO will be the Lion in the Senate. I kept worrying what if No One steps forward to fight and fight for people that need it. Then What. And then I realized, it it is not about Finding a New "Lion" , It is about digging deep finding the Lion within ALL of us and Fighting together. We are the Pride Now. It is time for us to Roar. Our Time. We truly are WHO we have been waiting for.
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"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die".....Senator Teddy Kennedy 1980 DNC Convention
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** Great article from Michael Tomasky in The Guardian on how the Dems reached their goal.
*(Photos from HuffingtonPost)*

Obama Today about HCR...it was an amazing Speech..

This was by far this best HCR speech yet...and really amazing how he talks about us-all of us and How we NEED HCR....

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It reminded me of this...2004 Highlights of the Convention.....we all Knew then ,....He is trying to stand up for us...

TeaParty Racist Bigots at Rally Saturday March 20th DC

I don't KNOW WHO these people are.....But I am ashamed to see this in MY America...OUR Country....This is footage of the Teabaggers Mobbing the honorable Reps Carson, Lewis and Clyburn....as of 10PM there has been NO apologies from the RNC or the GOP.....( I called and Left Messages on Boehner's VoiceMail )

HCR: TIME FOR HEAVY LIFTING TO GET HCR PASSED...SHOWDOWN WEEKEND...

Saturday 3,20.10 UPDATE: Do go to CSPAN and see the POTUS's speech from today, it was very inspiring.Do also keep Calling your REPS it is Working !!! Shoq Made this Great Helpful Phone List, COMPLETE Fencesitter list of WHO to call and email and their Contact Info.
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First off there are STILL DEMS that are sitting on a pretty thorny Fence. CBS Blog has great post WHO needs Phone Calls TODAY.... Scroll down and read the names and Start CALLING...there are over 50 Million with NO Health care...and not all are Dems even.But Millions of Americans NEED HCR see below: (DC Contact Information is linked to the Title). We also are doing this for our Children, they can not be forced to continue to face the Health Care Nightmare Millions of us are struggling with everyday. Medicare was not perfect when it was passed in the Sixties,but it has been improved to a working sustainable system for Millions today. Now is our time to change History.

WHY should you call ? Because we have millions of Americans that are fighting Diseases So if you scroll down here are the FACTS so you can be persuasive on the phone.....

36% of ALL Americans Seeking Health Insurance at this time are denied Health Care and Health Insurance due to Preexisting Conditions ( health and family history). Click here to learn about these Denials-PDF. HCR would end this Form of Discrimination once and for all.It will allow millions to finally have access to Healthcare,it will take time. But this is our moment to Change History regarding this issue.

(1) 45,000 Americans are Dying a year with NO Healthcare ( Harvard Study),Some one dies every 8minutes from NO Healthcare.
That we have this horrendous statistic is Shameful for a country with wonderful Hospitals and Healthcare available to the Rich.

(3) 11 Million Americans fighting CANCER need Healthcare Reform.

(4) 24 Million Americans living with Diabetes need Health Care Reform Now

(5) 350,000 Americans living with MS need HCR now.

(6) 81 Million Americans living with Heart Disease and Strokes need HCR.

(7) Women need Health Care Reform now . In this post Karoli Kuns explains why HCR will aid women and children, the history behind the situation. Another article in The Nation explores how women are not only an Underclass but face discrimination as gender discrimination is a part of the UnInsuring Women as being Female has become a Pre-existing Condition in the past 10 years.

(8) Autistic Children and Families need, 1/110 Children have Autism and need HCR now.

(9) HIV/AIDS Patients need Reform because they are Being Cancelled and Targeted for Cancellation, they also need HCR.

(10) 17,000 More People Losing Health Insurance EVERY DAY, that is over HALF MILLION every month....In 2008 the last Census Numbers acknowledged 47 Million without Health Care and Health Insurance.But since that time over 6.5 Million have lost their jobs and Health Care and Insurance. This many people UnEmployed and UnInsured without Healthcare, is a Health Care Crisis.These numbers also do not account the Underemployed or UnderInsured that also need HCR now.

(11) One in FOUR Californians Have No Insurance and the Numbers continue too soar there, they need HCR.

(12) 62% ALL Bankruptcies are due to Medical Debt, People are losing their Homes everyday while Battling Health Problems, and they too need HCR.

(13) Millions of People have been denied Healthcare and Health Insurance , atleast 30 Million , they need HCR now.

(14) 100,000 New Kidney Disease Patients a year need HCR .

(15) Lung Disease Patients Including those suffering with Allergies,Asthma and COPD are in need of HCR now.
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Do you need Information about the CBO score ? Here is the Analysis that shows that HCR saves Lives and Money.... 138 Billion Dollars over the next 10 yrs is Saved, and it presents biggest deficit reduction measure in 25 years.
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Rep.Slaughter has posted the NEW Updated Reconciliation Bill on her website....DO check it out
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Our Favorite HCR Warrior Mom Midge Hough in Chicago speaks up and asks us all to call our reps and ask for them to Vote for HCR NOW, she has worked tirelessly for the loss of her UnInsured young daughter-in-law Jenny who died this past year.....Please help honor Jenny's Memory.

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"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die." Senator Ted Kennedy.....

Please do Watch President Obama Speak in Virginia today ..it will be the last HCR speech before Sunday's Vote....
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Enigma Final Thoughts ...Remember this Historic Legislation will effect the lives of our Children....and it will Save Lives.Yesterday I was at the pharmacy and saw a young nun with a pin on her habit, "I support Life,I support HCR".
This bill is about Life,Saving Lives that we are losing every day now. (and yes, I gave her a Hug). So please call your reps,
Tell them to Have Courage and Make History and Help Save Lives.Thank you.
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You can email me (see side) or find me on Twitter, http://twitter.com/watergatesummer,

Keith Olbermann's Dad Died...please click Post linked to Title, it is Keith's Tribute

Monday Eve, tonight Lawrence O'Donnell gave a tribute to Keith and his dad it was very moving,and he also announced that in Theodore Olbermann's Name please give to the Free US Clinics and donate in his name . Micheal Moore was on the show and the first to give.....

HCR:It is Not Just MSM that has Ignored and Silenced the Concerns of the Medical Community , it is also the Blogger Community-BIG Blogs too.

As a Nurse of over 20+ years I have been very disheartened as the Health Care Battle has dragged on all these Months. I have diligently blogged the Battle, researching and covering Statistics,Data, Interviewing Americans with Nightmare Health Stories, and covering the Political Battles and Process. I covered all angles of it attempting to be objective and respectful of all parties involved. And as a longtime Blogger who has blogged many horrendous Situations ( Katrina to Bush's Crimes) I thought that I could blog it effectively. I also thought that in the Bush years the Blogs did a good job of covering the plight of our country. And as the Mainstream Media ignored Doctors and Nurses over and over, I thought that at some point the Blogs would step in and give Voice to the Medical Community. It did not happen.

The Big Blogs and the MSM should have been focusing on the Health Care Crisis in our Country, instead they were distracted and busy legitimizing the Tea Party Crap and calling it a "Movement", when they should have been focusing on >51 Million without Healthcare and 45,000 Dying each year without access to health care. I remain very grateful to all the fine folks I met on Twitter, Facebook and blogs who worked diligently on advocating for HC4ALL, by making calls and writing letters. I was truly inspired by all the amazing people I met who gave of their time and worked so hard. Most of the posts below are just a snippet of the 257 posts I wrote on WHY we need HCR,but they are our stories....

I attempted to show the correlation between Joblessnes, Homelessnes,Bankrupticies to Medical Debt, and why this Health Care Crisis effects us all....If You are a Nurse and want your point of View Heard and Shared please do email me.

Just to be clear I still support Health Care Reform and I still support Health Care For ALL and a Public Plan is still needed,but I will not be blogging on this issue anymore at this point.

I reached out to ALL the Bigger Blogs, sent links and tried to assist. Some offered me small Bystander Roles assisting in Research or taking part in phone Conferences. I am not part of the Political Nuts and Bolts Process and I don't read Insurance Forms for a living so most Big Blogs basically removed me from their Email Lists after a while, after all I was "Just a nurse".....
and I was not Politically "Progressive Enough" ( I was told by One Bigger Blog).But I continued to post links to Bigger Blogs, and Health Care Focused stories from C&L to Huffington Post, month after month. There are stories here from all over,MoveOn,ShannynMoore,California Blogs, to NOLA, to Vermont, to Anthony Weiner to Howard Dean. I tried hard to make sure that all aspects of the HCR battle were presented and presented fairly.

During this time I continued to link to others posts and giving them credit and gratitude for their research. I remain ever grateful to Keith Olbermann and Ed Schultz who have continued through thick and thin advocating for Health Care for all.During this past year alone of the Healthcare Battle I literally blogged hundreds of posts educating and advocating on our Healthcare Crisis.And in those hundreds of posts I rarely even mentioned that I myself am UnInsured,cancelled, I restrained from saying that...embarrassed mostly, and worried it would taint my Advocacy Efforts.

And I even spread over to Twitter, carrying on my mission to educate people about the Healthcare Crisis in this Country. About how many people were living and dying each year without proper healthcare. I tweeted the Damning Statistics on actual Death Rates, and UnInsured Rates,and UnderInsured as well.I tweeted many Humanitarian Tweets, but thousands were about the American Healthcare Crisis. I have spent the first months of this year reporting and blogging on World Disasters and Relief, as a Nurse I am looking at this area that might better need my expertise.

Very few Blogs blogged or reported the Free Health Care Clinics and the Patient Nightmare stories...some of these were picked up by Bigger Blogs and some were even picked up by MSNBC shows...again never a Hat tip or link or a thank you. Not once. ( so no small shock I have scaled back on blogging on HCR this year....But then even The Whitehouse has not emailed HCR emails at all in monthes....so I know I am not the only one that has stopped pounding the issue.)

And a year ago on my street I lost my second Neighbor that died without healthcare....alone in their home. And here I sit as silently wondering all this blogging alone ...silently....WHO has my blogging really helped...WHO ? It did not help my neighbors, especially the ones that died or sold everything , or lost their homes and cars to pay for their Cancer or other Medical Care.

As someone who has nursed hundreds since the days of President Reagan from ER to AIDS to PICU to PTSD,never ever refusing care to Anyone.This I know I have not blogged HCR this New Year of 2010 because at this point I feel like I am Yelling down very Empty Well...so this is my Final Post on HCR. We have a Healthcare Crisis in this country,Our Country, it is why 47,000 people are Dying without ANY Health Care per year. In the 8 minutes it took for you to read this, Someone Died with NO Healthcare at all.

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Links below to Signifigant Posts on Why We Need Healthcare Reform in America ,2009 there are Hundreds More You are welcome to scroll. I did not post all the Countdown, Ed Show updates, or the Bi-monthly updates on HCR or all the links to analysis of the Different Bills, or the CSPAN coverage or MOVEon Ads etc...
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2.25.10Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on HCR
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12.19.09 Vicki Kennedy's Letter about why HCR matters right now
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12.16.09 Where I stand as an RN on HCR
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December 15th HCR Update
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12.15 Mother Jones important post on HCR
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Ezra Klein's Post on HCR Dec.15th
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12.15.09 Anthony Weiner explains about HCR
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12.15.09 Low Cost Drug Needs
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12.14.09 Joey Liebermann and HCR
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Joe Liebermann on Sunday CBS show... 12.14.09
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12.14.09 Cancer Screening cut in 20 States...
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A personal Story, by Diana "We are dying for Healthcare "
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Healthcare Reform as of Dec.12th, and obstacles that continue
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About Hope....Its a Journey
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We must be a Children of a Lesser God... 12.09.09
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The Story of Jenny, a story that must be shared....12.07.09
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Keith Olbermann's Special Comment -One Hour 12.08.09
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Free Clinic in Arkansas 11.23.09
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Senate Health Care Bill examined (linked) 11.19.09
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November 14-17th there are 4posts on NOLA"s Free Clinic
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America has the most Ineffecient Healthcare System in the World....
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10.21.09 Insurance Company dropping people it calls "Dogs"
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Hawaii has much to teach us about How to Do Healthcare....October2009
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Geographical Mapping of the UnInsured across the Country (October23,2009)
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DHHS finally releases report on Insurance Descrimination October 2009
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BlueCross denying Coverage Exposed (Sept 2009)
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Jeff Sessions at the Medical Debt hearing....10.21.09
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2year old denied Coverage,Healthcare due to "size" October 2009
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New England Journal of Medicine : Most Physicians support a PUBLIC Plan for healthcare (Oct2009)
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Law Student begs for Cancer Care....(Oct 2009)
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Blue Cross Denying Coverage (9.09)
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Reuters article Explained : Re: WHO is insured and WHO isn't (Sept 2009)
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HARVARD STUDY FIND THAT 45,000 DIE PER YEAR WITHOUT ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE OR ACCESS TO CARE (aug/sept2009)
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17yrold denied care for Celiac Disease (Aug.2009)
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NYT Finally does story on Body Count of Those that are dying UnderInsured and UnInsured ...Sept2009
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Brave New Films on Cancer Patients losing their lives, and homes ....Aug/Sept 2009
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Sadly the MSM was so focused on legitimizing the MOB-when they should have focused on the HealthCare Crisis... Sept2009
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Poverty Numbers show how important HCR really is....
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Healthcare is a Right,NOT a privilege....
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The Story of the heckled woman in her wheelchair at a TownHall meeting....
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WHAT causes most bankruptcies ? Medical Debt....August 2009
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The Numbers Show WHY we need Reform and a Public Option 9.12.09
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450,000 Doctors can not be wrong as to what we need....August2009
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Teen with HIV denied HC and insurance....Aug2009
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WHO to call to Support PUBLIC OPTION Aug/Sept 2009
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Urban Institute puts Mortality Statistics in place related to lack of Care /Insurance
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One in Seven of Californians are struggling with Medical Debt. Aug.2009
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Amazing Singlepayer list put together by a Nurse...
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Statistics tell the Whole Story as to WHY we need Health Care Reform and Public Plan...(14posts on Stats in August)
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6th Leading Cause of Death is People without Insurance (August2009)
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Would Better Angels see that 50 Million need Health Care
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77% of Americans Want Public Option ,How do we get Media to Cover ( August 2009)
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We need Public Option ,My letter to the President and Congress and Senate... August 2009
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LA RAM Free Clinic Event, one of 3 Posts on LA 's Clinic August 2009
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I will put another post down below with some of the Other Signifigant Health Care Posts.....
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The Truth is that with the Horrendous Statistics of those without Healthcare and Dying without Health Care, HCR should have been passed as an Emergency Measure. 30 Million Pre-Existing Conditioned Americans have NO care, and No chance of access to Adequate or ANY healthcare today. 53Million Americans have NO Healthcare due to Employment Changes or Rescinded Care.47,000Americans die each year due to Lack of Care(Harvard). >70% of ALL Bankruptcies are due to Medical Debt. 17,000 More Americans join the UnInsured every day. Millions more ,even on COBRA are UnderInsured as the Insurance Companies Dictate Care.This Country is experiencing a Health Care Crisis, the HCR should have been passed as an Emergency Measure while UnInsured Americans are dying each day, one person dies every EIGHT minutes due to lack of Medical Care. PASS the Damn Bill Now before more Die.
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As a Nurse, a Mom , as an UnInsured American I did try to blog all the HealthCare Reform Battle, the Teabaggery ,CSPAN Battles, the GOP Obstructionism, the Democrat Spineless Moments, the Compassion Deficit and I still wonder would it have been different if Teddy was here ? Would we have HCR ? I don't know....I wish I did.... "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die." Senator Teddy Kennedy

RIP Jon Swift...Al Weisel 1963-2010

I found out today that Jon Swift died ...I am still really stunned....saddened..shocked...and puzzled...the last post at his blog was about Loss in March 2009...about Dying too young...last March. First I learned via an email from Bluegal and I could not believe it....I was in denial. 46? 46 ?!! really ? that is just too young to be gone...And then I read Skippy's Tribute it's beautiful and touching and Real. He was an amazing writer, but he also was so generous in his ability to accept and read others works....He was a very special blogger.

Reading what Skippy wrote, I was even more saddened, because I found myself worried did he have good enough healthcare...Did he get the care he needed...He was so damn young..How did this happen...But then I realized that the past two years I have had more than one late night call or message that made me cringe and think Why and Why so young....as a Nurse I guess I will remain haunted...Sifting through regrets and worries...

I was very lucky to have had interactions with this wonderful writer,thinker...and yes in many ways he did remind me of Colbert....Off and on in these past 5 years I would hear from him at odd moments, an encouraging email about a post or participating in his Blogroundups....I am terrible about participating in contests or RoundUps ( I lack social skills sometimes). He would send me emails about it, and I loved that we both were named "Al". I feel bad he linked to a post about a month ago- I think it was a post about Haiti, and another about HCR and he wrote me, and it has been bothering me all day-did I answer him. I was so down, frustated about HCR the past two monthes, that I can not remember if I answered him. And my email was hacked about 2 weeks ago, and now I can not find it. It was a valuable lesson that we need to take more time, to acknowledge each other, and share...I am grateful that Someone like him would take the time to acknowledge my little blog, and other wonderful blogs-big and small... and that he brought so many wonderful writers together. That to him Blogatopia was truly a place to connect.

Al was so appreciative of the Blogger Community, and I am so grateful for that, he encouraged that we view ourselves as a Community, even when there was strife or anger or angst.....that was a gift. He was a force of nature, a Voice that Bloggers should empower themselves and their writing and appreciate each other's purpose. To his mom I would say thank you for raising such a son.....

Leonard Cohen...just seems like the right choice...I don't know why...
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Art by Olive Ray....this is how I picture him...In heaven let us hope that there is an internet cafe....so all of we can find each other....but in the meantime ...we can appreciate each other's writings Here and Now. RIP Jon....Goodbye Al.