Who Ya Gonna Call?

These 20 House Representatives are still undecided about the health care bill up for vote tomorrow. Call them for sure if you live in their district. If you have friends or family living there, let them know. If neither apply, I've seen it suggested that you call saying you will donate money to their competitor in the next election if they vote for government-run health care. Might be money well spent! It's a simple call really - just dial the number and when the line picks up you say, "Hi this is Savvy Citizen and I'm calling to ask Representative Whoever to vote "no" tomorrow on the health care bill." You can add more if you like, but this is sufficient.

Rep. Arcuri (NY-24)
D.C. Office: 202-225-3665
District Office(s):
Utica 315-793-8146
Auburn 315-252-2777/8
Cortland 607-756-2470

Rep. Boyd (FL-2)
D.C. Office: 202-225-5235
District Office(s):
Tallahassee 850-681-2902
Panama City 850-785-0812

Rep. Cuellar (TX-28)
D.C. Office: 202-225-1640
District Office(s):
Laredo 956-725-0639
McAllen 956-631-4826
Rio Grande 956-487-5603
San Antonio 210-271-2851
Seguin 830-401-0457

Rep. Edwards (TX-17) Yes, this is AGGIELAND!!!!!
D.C. Office: 202-225-6105
District Office(s):
Waco 254-752-9600
Brazos 979-691-8797
Cleburne 817-645-4743

Rep. Ellsworth (IN-8)
D.C. Office: 202-225-4636
District Office(s):
Evansville 812-465-6484
Terre Hatue 812-232-0523

Rep. Giffords (AZ-8)
D.C. Office: 202-225-2542
District Office(s):
Tucson 520-881-3588
Cochise 520-459-3115

Rep. Halvorson (IL-11)
D.C. Office: 202-225-3635
District Office(s):
Joliet 815-726-4998

Rep. Kanjorski (PA-11)
D.C. Office: 202-225-6511
Toll Free: 800-222-2346
District Office(s):
Luzerne 570-825-2200
Lackawanna 570-496-1011
Monroe 570-895-4176

Rep. Kirkpatrick (AZ-1)
D.C. Office: 202-225-2315
District Office(s):
Prescott 928-445-3434
Casa Grande 520-836-3226
Flagstaff 928-226-6914

Rep. Klein (FL-22)
D.C. Office: 202-225-3026
Toll Free: 866-713-7303
District Office(s):
Broward 866-713-7303
Palm Beach 561-544-6910

Rep. Kosmas (FL-24)
D.C. Office: 202-225-2706
Toll Free: 877-956-7627
District Office(s):
Port Orange 386-756-9798
Orlando 407-208-1106

Rep. Langevin (RI-2)
D.C. Office: 202-225-2735
District Office(s):
Warwick 401-732-9400

Rep. Maffei (NY-25)
D.C. Office: 202-225-3701
District Office(s):
Syracuse 315-423-5657
Irondequoit 585-336-7291
Newark 315-331-6903

Rep. Mollohan (WV-1)
D.C. Office: 202-225-4172
District Office(s):
Clarksburg 304-623-4422
Morgantown 304-292-3019
Parkersburg 304-428-0493
Wheeling 304-232-5390

Rep. Nye (VA-2)
D.C. Office: 202-225-4215
District Office(s):
Hampton 757-326-6201
Eastern Shore 757-789-5092

Rep. Perriello (VA-5)
D.C. Office: 202-225-4711
District Office(s):
Martinsville 276-656-2291
Charlottesville 434-293-9631
Danville 434-791-2596
Farmville 434-392-3254

Rep. Rodriguez (TX-23)
D.C. Office: 202-225-4511
District Office(s):
Del Rio 830-774-5500
Eagle Pass 830-757-8398
Fort Stockton 432-336-3975
N. San Antonio 210-561-9421
S. San Antonio 210-922-1874

Rep. Sanchez (CA-47)
D.C. Office: 202-225-2965
District Office(s):
Garden Grove 714-621-0102

Rep. Schrader (OR-5)
D.C. Office: 202-225-5711
District Office(s):
Salem 503-588-9100
Oregon City 503-557-1324

Rep. Scott (VA-3)
D.C. Office: 202-225-8351
District Office(s):
Richmond 804-644-4845
Hampton Roads 757-380-1000

Rep. Smith (WA-9)
D.C. Office: 202-225-8901
District Office(s):
Tacoma 253-593-6600

Letting A Little Light In

Grasping for straws? Maybe so, but it's hard not to be celebrating this morning after yesterday's election results. In case the good news hasn't found it's way to you, Republicans won the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia last night.

Many of the details are interesting, but some of my favorites:

• Many of the voters interviewed who voted Republican called their vote a referendum on the White House. People are desperately trying to be heard.
• This was Virginia (southern to some but definitely within the traditional MSM beltway due to it's access to D.C.) and New Jersey. Not Texas or Alabama or Utah. People all over the country are taking issue with the Administration.
• The grassroots networking system that has produced large numbers at Tea Party movements mobilized from all over the country to get conservative voters to the polls. This is something Democrats have been doing for years with organizations like moveon.org and finally Republicans wised up. Individuals from all of the country traveled to the northeast to volunteer their efforts in the campaigns. It's motivating to know that even though I live in a primarily conservative area I can make a difference somewhere else! If you can't travel, there are electronic phone databases that allow you to make campaign calls for another state from the comfort of your own home in say, Oklahoma.
  

Other good news that may be disregarded by the MSM - the NY-23 race for an open Congress seat. A mere 30 days ago there were 2 candidates. One Democrat, one Republican. In the past, I don't think voters have been paying a lot of attention to the flaws of their own candidate - which is probably how Republicans got into the position they are now. Not so here. She was a liberal Republican and the people called her on it. A man who was unknown a month ago entered the race as the Conservative candidate and ended up with 45% of the vote. Unfortunately, the Republican candidate only pulled out (and supported the Dem) last week so her name was still on the ballot and she took the 5% needed to win the race.

Still...the story has been fascinating me all month and the outcome last night holds a lot of promise in my mind. A message was sent to all politicians. Lazy liberal Republicans better watch out and Blue Dogs should think twice about voting for nonsense like the current healthcare bill.

Socialism is Funny

Well, not really, but this video is all kinds of funny. Can you tell I'm trying a more upbeat approach this week?

Lighten the Mood

Will Ferrell and a bunch of other celebrities did a sarcastic pro-public option video for moveon.org and some great spoofs have hit YouTube. If the nonsense is stressing you out, you might find these humorous. I was going to post the original video here, but I just couldn't bring myself to embed something from moveon.org on my blog. Even linking was too much. Big brother might be watching you know! :)

Short Term Memory

Politicians are betting on Americans having a short term memory when I comes to their reckless behavior, so I'm doing my part to remind my small corner of the world why it is so critical right now (while votes are being made on bills that don't even exist) to stay engaged. Keep calling your senators and your representative. Just some food for thought to motivate:

The government now owns General Motors, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, American International Group and partially owns Citigroup and Bank of America. It's been estimated that they own or control businesses that generate one third of the United States economy. I'll round it down to 30% being generous.

Healthcare is 18% of the economy.

I keep seeing an estimate that 8% of the economy will be controlled through Cap and Trade. The last person I heard say it was Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on Glenn Beck's radio show.

I'll even do the math for you: 30 + 18 + 8 = 56% of the economy controlled by the Government. 56% of what was private wealth a year ago would be government.

It is fully expected that the healthcare bill (draft) that has already been voted on and now being rewritten behind closed doors will be the first step to a government run healthcare for the United States. As dreadful as I think that will be regarding healthcare, the bigger picture is even more important.

Healthcare and Cap and Trade together mean the end of our free market society. I'm hoping to motivate, not scare or depress. The battle has been going on for so long that it's starting to feel like old news, which is good for Democrats who are tired of hearing negative feedback from citizens. They would love to pass this nonsense in peace. I still believe that American citizens hold the keys here if they will stay involved for the long haul.

As a Mom...

On September 25th Glenn Beck hosted a show completely dedicated to mothers who are concerned about the direction our country is heading. It was really good. I actually try not to watch Glenn Beck lately. He makes my blood pressure rise too high, and at a bad time of day for me - 4 p.m. That's a time when mom needs to be very patient, not stressing out about the uprising of Socialism in America...still, I turned it on that day to watch because I was really excited about the idea. 15 minutes into it, Obama came on to speak about something. It must have been important because I can't remember what he was speaking about.

In any event - Obama ruined that day's showing and it was shown again the next Monday. The next day, as inspired by the show, a woman started a forum for mothers called As a Mom...A Sisterhood of Mommy Patriots. It's kind of like Facebook, only it's hosted on Ning and it's only moms talking about their political and social concerns as conservative moms. Tuesday, the day the site went up - just two weeks ago, there were two members. Today there are almost 48,000. I think it's pretty cool.

Click here to check it out.

RNC Who?

There is a new RNC website up today that I think is worth checking out. It would appear that a lot of people are checking it out, so it's not working well enough at the moment for me to give details on what I like about it - so I'll do that later.

I wanted to address my feelings, and maybe yours, about the RNC. I've struggled lately as I've received requests for donations from various groups gearing up for the 2010 elections. Who do I support? I'm really a fairly textbook Libertarian, but I don't have high hopes for the Libertarian ticket any time soon.

The grassroots conservative movement in the past year has been amazing. For me, it has verified that my own ideals are not unique - and that's a good thing! The organization happening in local communities shows an untapped power in the American citizen that I haven't seen in my own lifetime. How does this translate into real action though?

I think/hope that the RNC is wising up and trying to be the answer. I've been a little cocky about my relationship with them - I mean, they must be drooling over the Tea Party activists and their devotion and money. Wouldn't they just love it if all they had to do was open their doors and the RNC would be infused with new numbers, new life, and new money?

It struck me today though that any conservative who hopes to see their ideology reflected in Washington needs the RNC. They need us and we need them. Yes, if they had behaved properly we would not be in the current mess...but there must be an organization to funnel all of the current energy into to accomplish much needed action. So, if you have been looking for something to DO other than read my ramblings and the ramblings of a million others in the political blogosphere, go to GOP.com and really check it out. I'm going to. Sign up, be a Facebook fan, engage. It looks like (though I haven't properly been able to click through everything) it may truly be an online community forum that can capture the grassroots energy that has mom's like me blogging during naptime!

Nobel Peace EFFORT Prize

TIME magazine's online header this morning:

"Obama Wins the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for Effort"

The first paragraph of this article touches on some of the things running through my mind right now, only nicer: "The Nobel committee awarded the 2009 Peace Prize to President Barack Obama Friday in a prospective, premature accolade normally reserved for those who have accomplished considerable, tangible results in the pursuit of peace."

Ooh ooh, there's more: "he has attempted to reinvigorate international agreements limiting nuclear weapons." Yeah, he's made a HUGE impact in Iran. So obvious by their recent announcements of nuclear capabilities.

I'm sorry, why did Barack Obama win this award??

(Thiandian News, Zurich) "...for his extra ordinary dialogue in the world, for the way in which he was solving conflicts thru negotiations." Oh, yes. I forgot how very gifted he is in giving speeches.

(Reuters) "...for offering the world hope and striving for nuclear disarmament"

Of course I love that Fox News pointed out the nomination deadline of February 1st. So he was nominated based on his campaign. I guess the whole world bought the Obama package hook, line, and sinker.

So, the Nobel Peace Prize went to a President who is currently leading two wars and has yet to do anything but talk about his ideas for peace. The committee even admits that he got the award for nothing more than trying. Today, children everywhere participate in sporting events where everyone gets trophies. Gifted and talented classes are being eliminated in favor of leaving no child behind. The November 9th, 2008 post-election headlines were "Anybody Can Be President." Today we have yet another example of how you don't actually have to do anything or accomplish anything to get a huge pat on the back. Barack Obama got an "E" for effort today. My job as a mother trying to raise productive children just got a little more difficult.

*Disclaimer: I'm not really sure how important or credible the Nobel Peace Prize is anyway since the last United States President to receive the award was Jimmy Carter.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

(Photo courtesy of Fox News)

Let me count the ways this picture is screwed up. 150 doctors were present at a White House press conference on healthcare reform this week. All in attendance clapped wildly at everything the President said. Red flags were flying in my mind, how about yours?

For starters...let's look at the obvious: All 150 are sitting happily in the audience wearing their white coats. Have you ever seen a doctor wearing a white coat anywhere other than the hospital or clinic? I mean, most of the doctors I know would wear a suit given the opportunity to conference with the President of the United States. There are actually pictures of White House staff handing out white coats to the doctors who forgot theirs, which only makes this even funnier to me. This is the equivalent of holding an auto workers' union press conference in the Rose Garden and smudging grease on the faces of the attendees prior to the photo op. How stupid do they really think Americans are? Are they just hoping they can hoodwink a large enough percentage that the support for their government healthcare program looks reasonable, no matter how misled the supporters are?

(Photo courtesy of LA Times)

"Wow, look at this picture! If doctors are supporting Obama's healthcare plans, they must be good." Let's take a look at the facts before jumping to the conclusion Obama is hoping we will jump to with his propaganda staging here.

Some of Obama's words at the "press conference" were especially troubling to me:

"...all the distractions that are out there, I think what's most telling is that some of the people who are most supportive of reform are the very medical professionals who know the health care system best -- the doctors and nurses of America."

This is so misleading. Particularly if you go back to the idea that Obama's camp claims "reform" is his plan and anything else is anti-reform. Doctors (and many nurses) are NOT for Obama's plan. Doctors want deregulation, tort reform, portability of insurance plans, and a number of other viable reforms that are not even on the table. The AMA supports Obamacare. Most people don't realize that the AMA has a very small membership made up of doctors.

"But, what about the doctors in this idyllic photograph?" There are answers for you. The invitation-only audience of doctors drew heavily from an organization called Doctors for America, formerly known as Doctors for Obama. Hmmmm.

Just for entertainment value, I found the picture I referred to above. I'm shocked they didn't have some stethoscopes to hand out as well. Maybe stage a doctor stopping to look in someone's mouth with a tongue depressor on his way to sit down...

(Photo courtesy of New York Post)

*If you are really interested in what doctors are saying, check out these survey results from Sermo, an actual non-partisan group of physicians.

Laugh at Me

Go ahead. Laugh as I share my insanity:

I'm hooked on many things iPhone despite their affiliation with so many liberal causes. They make good stuff...what can I say? I think they are a bit similar to Michael Moore and his movie condemning capitalism. Would Michael Moore's movie be a success if people didn't PURCHASE the tickets? Doubtful, however you measure "success." I have a feeling it will be dubbed a success even if nobody actually goes to see it. Turn to Apple: Maybe the left wing population supported them when nobody else was buying their products, but the current success of Apple did not happen without conservatives who believe in getting up and going to work to make money to buy stuff...like iPods, iPhones, and iMacs. They'll come around some day when they realize that ACORN workers are not supporting their bottom line. I'm getting off track here.

My husband got me hooked on Scrabble for the iPhone this week. After enjoying the game a bit, I noticed that just above the word "Scrabble" in the logo was the phrase "Every word's a WINNER." I shared my observation with Mr. B as well as my conclusion that the Scrabble people are in cahoots with the Obama Administration. He let out a nervous laugh and probably hoped to himself that I would not repeat such thoughts. Not so, dear. :)