Cross posted with sensibledemocrats.blogspot.com

An Introduction of What you won't see here
Compare a DailyKos Diary about the Status of Forces Agreeement compared to a Washinton Post Press Release/AP Press Release

DK:" Iraqi Cabinet Votes to Oust U.S.! "
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1 1/16/121349/21/198/661871

WP: :" Approval of the so-called status of forces agreement would be a cause for relief among Bush administration officials, who have grown increasingly concerned that U.S. forces would begin the new year with no legal basis to remain in Iraq. A U.N. mandate authorizing their presence is set to expire Dec. 31."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2008/11/15/AR2008111500679_ pf.html

ME: So if they really wanted to kick us out , they wouldn't have signed SOFA.

DK: "This is huge not only because of the "dates-certain" involved, but also because those dates are not subject to future negotiation or "facts on the ground."

"This is militarily untenable and will accelerate Obama's withdrawal schedule"

AP: "Dabbagh said Iraq's government has received U.S. assurances that the President-elect Barack Obama would honor the agreement, and pointed out that each side has the right to repeal it after giving one year's notice"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081116/ap_o n_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_429

My own insertion: Since I have a brain and the people on DailyKos don't, they forget the obvious. If things remain calm there, we'll be the ones begging to negotiate to keep permanent bases there.

Peace at last?

From the Sunday Times, London, comes this great headline and story about a projected breakthrough in peace between the Israelis and Palestinians to be negotiated by Obama:

Barack Obama links Israel peace plan to 1967 borders deal

It's practically official, folks.  Hillary Rodham Clinton will be our new SoS!!!!!  

I'm so excited I'm having trouble expressing myself.  As a previous Hillary supporter turned Obama activist, I'm feeling even happier about Obama than I was after he was elected.  

I see such great things for them as a team.  The world is finally going in the right direction.

<Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.</p>

Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.

Clinton would be well placed to become the country's dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.>

from, the Guardian

I served in the IDF in a combat unit with a gay comrade, and knew of others.  There was minimal friction or discomfort on the part of some, but no notable disruption to the unit.  No one felt threatened in the showers.  No one questioned his commitment to the safety of his fellows or his ability to do his part.

Coming on the heels of Prop H8, this is very good news.  Historical precedent shows that racial integration of our armed forces helped prepare the way for the civil rights movement.  These commanders deserve an extra salute for taking this step.

The statement below via: http://palmcenter.org/press/dadt/release s/104Generals%2526Admirals-GayBanMustEnd .

We - the undersigned -- respectfully call for the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Those of us endorsing this letter have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish. Scholarly data shows there are approximately one million gay and lesbian veterans in the United States today as well as 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving in our armed forces. They have served our nation honorably. We support the recent comments of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General John Shalikashvili, who has concluded that repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy would not harm and would indeed help our armed forces. As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality. Such collaboration reflects the strength and the best traditions of our democracy.

Former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander
Admiral Charles Larson, USN (ret.)
Lieutenant General Quinn Becker, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Henry Emerson, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Robert Flowers, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Robert Gard, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Jerry Hilmes, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Donald Kerrick, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Ira Owens, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Thomas Rienzi, USA (ret.)
Vice Admiral Harold Koenig, USN (ret.)
Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, USN (ret.)
Vice Admiral James Zimble, USN (ret.)
Major General Anders Aadland, USA (ret.)
Major General Floyd Baker, USA (ret.)
Major General Harry Brooks Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Leslie Burger, USA (ret.)
Major General Alexander Burgin, USANG (ret.)
Major General Rosetta Burke, AUS (ret.)
Major General William Burke, USA (ret.)
Major General Michael Conrad, USA (ret.)
Major General Eugene Cromartie, USA (ret.)
Major General James Delk, AUS (ret.)
Major General Oliver Dillard, USA (ret.)
Major General John Faith, USA (ret.)
Major General Jack Farris, USAF (ret.)
Major General Fred Forster, USANG (ret.)
Major General Robert Gamrath, AUS (ret.)
Major General Albert Genetti Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Luis Gonzales-Vales, AUS (ret.)
Major General David Hale, USA (ret.)
Major General Randy Jayne, USANG (ret.)
Major General Lawrence Johnson, AUS (ret.)
Major General Dennis Laich, USA (ret.)
Major General Frederick Lawson, AUS (ret.)
Major General Thomas Lynch, USA (ret.)
Major General Dennis Malcor, USA (ret.)
Major General John Roth, AUS (ret.)
Major General Henry Rasmussen, USA (ret.)
Major General Alan Salisbury, USA (ret.)
Major General Michael Scotti Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Harry Sieben, USANG (ret.)
Major General Paul Smith, USA (ret.)
Major General Robert B. Smith, USA (ret.)
Major General Charles Starr Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Story Stevens, USA (ret.)
Major General Joseph E. Turner, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General John C. Adams, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Hugh Aitken, USMC (ret.)
Brigadier General John "Joe" Allen, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General Patricia Anderson, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Dale Barber, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General George Baxter, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Baxter, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General George Blysak, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Harold Bowman, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Douglas Bradley, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Jack Capps, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Richard Carter, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Steve Chapplis, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General BG David Cole, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General William Colvin, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Joseph Cutrona, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Tom Daniels, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General Von DeLoatch, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Dilworth, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General George Eggers Jr., USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Evelyn Foote, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Giffen, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Hardy Jr., USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Carlos Hayden, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Edwin Heffelfinger, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General James Hunt, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General John H. Johns, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General J.D Johnson, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr, CSMR (ret.)
Brigadier General Douglas Kinnard, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Dean Mann, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General James Martin, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General William Meehan II, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Harold Miller, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Kenneth Newbold, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General I.R. Obenchain Jr., USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Phil Peay, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Dorothy Pocklington, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Poirot, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Philip Pushkin, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Virgil Richard, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General William Richter, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Kenneth Rieth, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Ernst Roberts, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Murray Sagsveen, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Norman Salisbury, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Donald Schenk, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Bettye Simmons, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Theodore Vander Els, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Daniel Wardrop, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Watling, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General John Weinzettle, USA (ret.)
Rear Admiral James Barnett, USN (ret.)
Rear Admiral Robert Krasner, USN (ret.)
Rear Admiral Charles Rauch, USN (ret.)
Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, USPHS (ret.)

AUS is the Army of the United States.
**General Scotti passed away in September, 2007. His widow asked that his name remain on this statement.

It wasn't that long ago when I was just crying in my bedroom, not knowing what I could do next. Prop 8 had passed in California, and it felt like I was completely stripped of my human rights. Why did everything go so wrong when it seemed like the worst had just ended with Barack Obama's victory?

But in the next few days, hope returned. Lawsuits were filed to protect people's rights. People soon took to the streets to protest the temporary "win" for hate. And most importantly, a new civil rights movement was born as people began organizing to show the state, the nation, and the world that love conquers all.

So how has a temporary defeat resulted in a sudden push for victory?

(Cross-posted at Calitics)

Although we have had one woman running for President and one female vice-presidential candidate, the 2008 election was not a complete success for women. We elected ten new women to the House and two to the Senate, but also suffered bitter defeats in House races where incredibly qualified challengers like former Microsoft executive Darcy Burner and Huntington Beach mayor Debbie Cook lost hard fought races against lackluster Republican incumbents. Furthermore, the pipeline of women elected on the local and state level (especially here in California) has flat-lined.

Chronically ill U.S. patients have the least access, the worst coordination of care, and the worst medical safety experiences among patients in the developed world's eight most developed nations, a new study released last week in Health Affairs In Chronic Condition: Experiences Of Patients With Complex Health Care Needs, In Eight Countries, 2008
- shows. Regardless of the fact that we pay more, we get far less. In essence, this study also shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the US is rationing healthcare. Healthcare that the chronically ill in most other developed nations usually receive is unaffordable to many chronically ill adults in the US.

For the chronically ill in the US, this often results in tragic outcomes that are completely preventable.

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/con tent/full/hlthaff.28.1.w1/DC1

In Chronic Condition:
Experiences Of Patients With
Complex Health Care Needs,
In Eight Countries, 2008

Chronically ill U.S. patients have the most negative access,
coordination, and safety experiences.

by Cathy Schoen, Robin Osborn, Sabrina K.H. How,
Michelle M. Doty, and Jordon Peugh

ABSTRACT:

This 2008 survey of chronically ill adults in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States finds major differences among countries in access, safety, and care efficiency. U.S. patients were at particularly high risk of forgoing care because of costs and of experiencing inefficient, poorly organized care, or errors. The Dutch, who have a strong primary care infrastructure, report notably positive access and coordination experiences. Still, deficits in care management during hospital discharge or when seeing multiple doctors occurred in all countries. Findings highlight the need for system innovations to improve outcomes for patients with complex chronic conditions. [Health Affairs 28, no. 1 (2009): w1-w16 (published online 13 November 2008; 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w1)]

Medical science advances and improved living standards have saved lives and contributed to longer life expectancy, yet industrialized nations now face the growing challenge of caring for patients with chronic diseases. Health systems initially designed to respond to acute, episodic illness increasingly care for patients with ongoing conditions, where the goals include preventing complications or deterioration rather than cure. Often coping with multiple conditions, chronically ill patients may see multiple clinicians at different care sites, increasing the risks of errors and poor care coordination. Across industrialized nations, chronically ill patients account for a disproportionate share of national health spending, placing them at the center of initiatives to improve health system performance.1

Experiences of chronically ill patients, especially those with recent hospitalizations or serious illnesses, offer unique perspectives. To learn from such patients, the 2008 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey interviewed adults with chronic conditions who had recent health care experiences in eight countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Including France for the first time, the survey builds on an annual series that informs a symposium with ministers and policy experts from surveyed countries. This study focuses on access, coordination, safety, and care management experiences.

The countries participating in the survey represent a diverse mix of insurance designs and primary care systems. Among the eight countries, the United States stands out for having the most expensive system ($7,000 per capita compared to under $3,500 in the other countries as of 2006), for its gaps in coverage, and for high cost sharing even for patients with insurance.2 The other seven countries have systems with comprehensive minimum benefits and universal coverage. Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have no cost sharing for primary care. France's insurance system protects patients with specific chronic illnesses from coinsurance. Germany limits cost sharing to 1 percent of income for the chronically ill and 2 percent for all households.3 The Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom require patients to register with a general practitioner (GP) who acts as a gateway to more specialized care. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom are noted for their strong primary care foundations.4

Secretary of State - I'm all for Hillary Clinton for this post. Main reason is that she would be very good at it. There may be a bit of conflict but I'm sure No Drama Obama can handle it. Politically, her appointment would increase his support among women. Economically, Obama should ask Doris Kearns Goodwin for a share of the royalties from increased book sales.

Treasury Secretary - Larry Summers has been the front runner but many are worried that the Harvard thing will be a big problem. I'm inclined to believe that this problem will fade away, leaving us with the complaint that Summers is too abraive. I think that Obama can convince him to tone down. And, whenever he wants abrasive, Summers can visit Raul Emanuel in the White house.

The Puppy - A major White House decision. Once selected, there will be a question of name. If
it's a girl puppy, I would name it Hillary. Then, there's a chance that a Hillary will do as Obama says. If a boy puppy, I would expect it to grow into an attack dog and name it Raul.

homer   www.altara.blogspot.com