OkieBrent's Soapbox

Recorded in 1971, and not released until 1975 – amazed that this is still an issue today.

From yesterday’s Washington Post:

Medicaid got a chilly reception when it launched in January 1966. It was up to the states to decide whether to participate and only six initially signed up: Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Read the entire story here.

Loretta Lynn, who used to be a Republican (and may still be for all I know), recorded the following song in 1971 (I was 6 years old).  Her record label didn’t release the song until 1975 (when I was 10 years old).  Now here it is 2012, I’m 46 years old and a bunch of old, rich, white guys elected to Congress or state legislatures are going crazy voting on and discussing “The Pill” … what a crazy, crazy world.

I just finished reading the book “The Stem Cell Hope: How Stem Cell Medicine Can Change Our Lives” by Alice Parker. It is not a fun read, but it is an extremely informative and, surprisingly, a fairly easy read for such a complex issue. I’ve never been much of a science guy (it’s always interested me, but my brain tilts more to the creative side than the science side).

The book was recommended to me by my best friend of more than 30 years, Todd. Todd has lived for 46 years with cystic fibrosis. CF is one of the many diseases which stem cell research offers hope.

In the debates concerning Stem Cell research, I’ve heard much about Parkinson’s and alzheimer’s disease but did not realize how much hope stem cell research offered for possible cures to so many other horrid diseases: CF, diabetes, ALS and so many others.

Todd started a blog just over a month ago. While his main topic is living and coping with CF, it is eye opening to anyone who has to live with any disease – or even to people like me who has lived 45 years with no disease. If you know of anyone living and dealing with any disease – but especially with CF – I encourage you to read Todd’s blog: Live, Learn and Fight.

I also highly recommend you reading “The Stem Cell Hope” – you’ll learn a lot, you’ll get angry (especially at politicians) and hopefully you’ll find hope for the future.

Over my voting age life (the last 27 years) my position on many issues has changed. Sometimes only slightly and other times I’ve done a complete 180-degrees. On the issue of abortion I’ve evolved.

I hate the terms “Pro-choice” and “Pro-life” and how they divide groups of people. I consider myself to be both Pro-choice and Pro-life.

I hate abortion, but I have never in my 45 years met anyone who is pro-abortion. Pro-choice is not equal to pro-abortion. Truly, life is not perfect and sometimes abortion is the only choice, or best choice in a horrible situation.

This issue has never been one of my passions, one for which I’ve marched, or written about in an opinion piece. And until the recent onslaught of anti-choice actions in Congress and legislative bodies across the nation I had never donated money to either side of this debate.

On February 18th I made my first donation to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood prevents 600,000 unwanted pregnancies a year – not through abortion, but through access to contraception, good education and real family planning.

The reasons that I am where I am on this issue can best be summed up by the words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before Congress on April 22, 2009.

Oklahoma’s Senior US Senator Jim Inhofe (10/5/2009) talking about the healthcare reform process in the Senate:

… I think they’re going to have a hard time doing reconciliation because that would be the first time on a major tax bill that that’s been done in our nation’s history …

Reconciliation is a Senate process that requires only 51 votes to pass a bill, rather than the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Inhofe is either senile, bat-shit crazy or just a flat out liar.

Former US Senate Majority Leader, Republican from Tennessee Dr. Bill Frist (10/05/2009) stated the following:

… I’ve used reconciliation. … It’s budgetary stuff. And so I did use it for tax cuts and all …

In fact the US Senate used it to pass both of Bush’s Tax Cuts for the Rich, of which Inhofe voted in favor of both times.

For more, click here.

The Good Senator Jim is Democrat State Senator Jim Wilson of Tahlequah.  Senator Wilson announced today that he will file legislation to prohibit insurance companies from classifying domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.   As I posted on September 16th, Oklahoma is one of 8 states where domestic violence is considered a pre-existing condition.  Senator Wilson stated:

“These women have already been victimized by their abuser—but here in Oklahoma they can be victimized again by their own insurance company.  Maybe under current law it is legal for companies to do this, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. My legislation would close this loophole.”

Good for you Senator Wilson and Thank You!

The Bad Senator Jim is of course, Republican US Senator Jim Inhofe.  He had a starring role in Bill Maher’s “New Rules” for Friday, October 2nd.  It’s not yet posted online, but will be soon if you missed it on HBO.  Check here to watch it when it is up for all to see.

UPDATE:  You can now watch Bill Maher’s New Rules here.  

Most embarrassing quote for Oklahoma:

“…Senator James Inhofe, Republican from Hee-Haw”

Best Quote:

“These people are so stupid they make me question evolution.”

Inhofe also made Think Progress’s Wonk Room today on his recent appearance on CNBC attacking proposed climate change legislation.  You can watch his performance and/or read the transcript here.

Number of Americans who die every 12 minutes due to a lack of healthcare.

A newly launched website by the Democratic National Committee is designed to target Republicans who engage in spreading lies about the healthcare reform proposals.  I say “Hooray!”  The DNC’s first target is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.  Click on image below to visit “Call ‘em Out”.