PAUL RANTS

Posted by Paul at March 29th, 2010

There goes Mitt Romney’s chance to become the Republican candidate in 2012. He signed a health care bill for Massachusetts just like the one President Obama signed for the nation — the one Romney is now raging against. Which proves what I’ve been saying all along: Romney is a soulless Ken doll with no convictions. So, good luck with that in 2012, Republicans.

But’chya still got Sarah! By the looks of their last appearance, John McCain will be her running mate this time around. The party of Hell No (Palin’s words, not mine), proud to stand for getting nothing done.

They’ve come a long way from the Republicans under Bush, who gladly set spending records getting stuff done for corporations.

Two predictions: Tea baggers continue to assert their influence on the GOP to the point that every candidate must embrace them; and the new health care laws gain a measure of quiet acceptance. Trying to get health care for everyone is a kind act, whether people appreciate it or not. Pandering to your vocal fringe doesn’t have the same upside.

UPDATE: When Mitt loved Teddy

Posted by Paul at March 27th, 2010

The doctor says it’s time to stop eating crap. I happen to love crap, so this won’t be easy. I saw Gordon Ramsay make a veggie cole slaw vinaigrette on TV that looked tasty, but am I really going to do all that chopping..?

Plaque in the abdominal aorta is common in men of my age. That doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. We’re talking about American men of my age in 2010.

So now I must completely change my lifestyle; I’m someone’s dad now. No more cheap fast meals, and more than a maximum of 2 visits per week to the gym.

No, this won’t be easy, but there it is. Could use a chef and a personal trainer about now. I wonder if that’s in the new health care bill.

Posted by Paul at March 23rd, 2010

The new health care bill is as thick as three phone books. Few know everything it contains, and no one really knows what affect it will have. The insurance industry gets a windfall of new customers and some long overdue regulation, that much seems certain. Poor people and small business owners get tax breaks, rich people get tax hikes. Oh yeah, and the government won’t be giving Americans health insurance, they’ll be forcing them to buy it if they don’t have it already. This part hasn’t fully sunk in yet.

Expanding Medicare for all and letting private health insurance go the way of the dodo is possibly the furthest thing to what happened (but don’t try to tell that to a Tea Bagger). Billions of dollars in insurance industry lobbying tilted the bill seventy-five percent in their favor. The other twenty-five goes to the poor, those with chronic illness or pre-existing conditions, and those under twenty-seven years of age living with their parents.

On the losing end we have anyone uninsured who doesn’t want to buy health insurance in the first place, no matter the cost. Now they must buy insurance, and the government says how much they will pay. Never mind that two people with the same income might have different ideas of what’s affordable. The whole plan rests on everyone being in the pool to bring down prices. Which means millions more using services, who in turn get more healthy. At least that’s the idea.

The last health bill this expensive took away Medicare’s right to negotiate drug prices. It was signed by George W. Bush to the delight of drug companies and the dismay of any taxpayer paying attention. But most people didn’t know about or understand that bill. This one is front and center. It could actually benefit citizens as well as the health industry. But nothing is certain… Hooray!

Posted by Paul at March 17th, 2010

1973: The Stones and Zeppelin were at their peaks. Pink Floyd, another seasoned British rock band that played more evocative and precise music than either of them, had not reached the American masses. That changed with Dark Side of the Moon. Already a step forward musically, it had something bigger going for it: there had never been a rock LP that sounded as good on a stereo system, not even close. Multi-layered and full of presence, Dark Side of the Moon had a mostly uptempo side and a mostly mellow side, sound affects and saxophones, and David Gilmour’s soaring guitar, laying waste to any put to wax before. Roger Water’s lyrics seemed to be written by an older, wiser person, but really just one who’d been through a lot at a young age. Engineer Alan Parsons and Abbey Road studio were veritable members of the band. Headphone sales spiked. As kids we were in awe of Dark Side, everyone seemed to own a copy. It holds up.

Posted by Paul at March 16th, 2010

“Johnny” Edwards was a handsome billionaire presidential contender, so I get why Rielle Hunter became his mistress. I even get why she’s now talking about their relationship in the press.

But talking about Elizabeth Edwards and the Edwards’ marriage problems is just unseemly. Edwards or his wife can talk publicly about their marriage if they wish, but his mistress? Extremely presumptuous of her. How about: “I’m not going to comment on their personal lives, it’s not my place.” ? No, that won’t do; in these times we elevate lack of decorum. Better to spout off like a contestant on a reality show. If Hunter is really worried about what her daughter will think one day, maybe a catty portrayal of a woman she doesn’t know and whose life she helped ruin is not the best example to set.

UPDATE:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Posted by Paul at March 4th, 2010

It was 1983 when good rock music stopped coming out. Then a strange album called Murmur, by a group called REM arrived, straight out of Athens, Georgia of all places. And by strange I mean the album cover, and the fact that I couldn’t understand a word of what the singer was singing. But Murmur pleased my ear. Was it mellow or edgy, art rock or alt/country, I couldn’t tell and I didn’t care. They were breaking new ground in the guitar-bass-drums thing, without the players being technically very skilled, a sublime trick. Not very skilled except for their bass player/harmony vocalist who held the whole thing together melodically and played occasional piano or organ. The guitarist and singer would grow more skilled and comprehensible, and their albums would grow by leaps in sonic power, eventually gaining some measure of commercial acceptance. But somehow, to me anyway, Murmur would always define REM, when the four of them first put it all together, and without trying to, left their mark on rock music.

Posted by Paul at March 2nd, 2010

Where did he go? The steely-eyed organizer who beat the Clintons and the Republican spin machine. Overwhelmed by the maze of loyalties and agendas in Congress to the point he can no longer organize anything, let alone lead the way out. He’s too careful, too inclusive. I’d rather see him screw up spectacularly than witness this slow dismantling of his potential. I know: the system’s rigged, he doesn’t stand a chance to change anything, really. Or he’s still getting his sea legs, and one day he’ll be known as a strong leader. He’s yet to be tested. Or the test is far too complicated.