http://www.turnto10blogs.com/index.php/rappsession en rapp@wjar.com Copyright 2009 2009-09-25T16:56:49-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/foreign_respect/23855/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/foreign_respect/23855/#When:17:56:49Z my buddy Capt. Cod sent this along…had to put it on the blog…i am only assuming it’s really an editorial…the paper is real, and the author works there.  regardless, it’s a sentiment worth enjoying. From a Romanian Newspaper We rarely get a chance to see another country’s editorial about the USA Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title ‘C’ntarea Americii, meaning ‘Ode To America ‘) in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei ‘The Daily Event’ or ‘News of the Day’. ~ An Ode to America ~ Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs. On 9/11, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart.  Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers.  Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts.  Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about. Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic , they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: ‘God Bless America !‘ I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people. How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.  What on earth can unites the Americans in such way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money?  I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion… Only freedom can work such miracles. Cornel Nistorescu   2009-09-25T17:56:49-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/mandatory_insurance/23852/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/mandatory_insurance/23852/#When:17:45:58Z rappers answered my question this week about whether they support mandatory health insurance for everyone.  A large response in oiur survey, had 59% saying it’s a bad idea…the e-mails that follow are those who chose to explaintheir position. IF EVERYONE GOT INSURENCE THEN THE DOCTORS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT WHERE EVERYONE PAYS THE SAME FOR THE SAME THING. NOT ONE PERSON PAYING $3.00   AND THE OTHER PAYING $600.  WE NEED TO HAVE A REGULAR PRICE FOR EVERYONE AND SO IT DOESN"T COST AN ARM AND A LEG FOR THE SAME THINGS   WE, AS THE PEOPLE OF THE US, NEED TO GET SMARTER AND TELL OUR HIGHER UPS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND MAKE THEM HELP THE LITTLE GUY OUT INSTEAD OF THE ONES WHO ALREADY HAVE EVERTHING   NANCY,  HOPE VALLEY If every U.S. Citizen had insurance: It would keep insurances costs lower. (Co-pays, etc) The hospitals would get their earned reimbursement from insurance payers and other federal programs. But instead: The free care (non-insured citizen) that enters each hospital is forced to take a loss and absorb within its financial structure. This currently is bringing down many facilities in the country… Bad economy? This is a large part of it……. Justine M we are privileged living in America. We have many freedoms other countries don’t have. It isn’t good to let the state or federal government dictate to its citizens what they have to do or not do. I served honorably in the military so as to protect and preserve our freedoms not to relinquish them. Charlie, West Warwick be forced to buy health insurance?  we shouldn’t be forced to buy anything.  i thought this was a free country. rae ann If I don’t have health coverage and I go to the hospital who pays the bill if i cant afford it?  Not me.  You shouldn’t have to force people to buy coverage but it may be the only way to solve this problem. Danny,  Warwick Neck Everybody must buy heath insurance or pay a fine. Brilliant. Is that like everybody driving in RI has insurance? Ha! Just make it a standard deduction from a paycheck, like social security, and get over it. Companies don’t want to pay to insure workers anyway. And insurance companies run this country. stuckinri 2009-09-25T17:45:58-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/buried_acorn/23418/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/buried_acorn/23418/#When:17:28:21Z The left-wing community organizing group ACORN has been getting hammered recently because some of its employees were recorded while advising a purported pimp and his hooker how to get subsidized housing, and avoid paying taxes.  It’s classic tv…practically worthy of Saturday Night Live, if it wasn’t a taxpayer funded group.  The Congress voted this week to cut off funding to the group, but Rhode Island’s junior Senator, Sheldon Whitehouse, voted to continue funding the organization.  It’s made a few rappers unhappy..not just about the vote, but about the coverage, or lack thereof, in the local media.  Here are the comments: Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) introduced an amendment to the HUD and Transportation appropriation bill to strip ACORN of all federal funding.  A week ago, Johanns wouldn’t have gotten the amendment to the floor.  Today, however, after three straight days of BigGovernment.com’s video exposés of ACORN offices in Washington DC, New York City, and Baltimore offering assistance to pimping, tax evasion, and trafficking in underage Salvadorean girls, Johanns not only got his vote — but he got an impressive bipartisan showing.  The Senate passed the Johanns amendment 83-7. The nay votes? Dick Durbin (D-IL) Roland Burris (D-IL) Robert Casey (D-PA) Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Sheldon Whitehouse one of 7 Senators to side with ACORN whats his reasoning? David D. I’ve responded to several of your Rapp Questions, but now I feel the question should be directed at you (journalists). Do you feel the media has been accurately reporting on recent events?  Do you feel your political commentary is fair and balanced?  When I watch people like Lester Holt comment that Van Jones resigned “after pressure from the GOP” I have to ask myself - did he really listen to the comments that Van Jones made?  Is that acceptable behavior for a high-ranking government official?  What about ACORN and the blatant disregard for the law, or simple ethics for that matter?  I guess it’s okay that President Obama served as their attorney.  Do you think “60 Minutes”  or another such show would even consider doing an expose on ACORN? I’m not holding my breath.  Fox News keeps getting bashed for reporting these items, but I don’t see the media refuting them.  The US Census Bureau has now severed ties with ACORN and their potential involvement with the census - sounds like big news to me, but not highly publicized. Mary Beth Swansea, MA I’m very disheartened by the fact that most news stations and newspapers are not reporting on the Baltimore ACORN story. This is a radical group who has close ties with our President, was a major campaign contributer, and recieved federal stimulus money. Now they give advice to a couple posing as a Pimp and a Prostitue on how to evade taxes and start a brothel with underage girls from El Salvador. How are you not reporting this! -Kendra I will by next week have people watching your news stations to see who the sponsors are and reporting to the tea party on what is, or most importantly is not reported on.  The public is deeply disappointed by what we now believe is a state controlled media.  Thank you for your attention to these paramount issues to us. Ronald L. IS HE NUTS!  Whitehouse will never get reelected if I can do anything to help his opponent.  One of seven Senators voted to continue funding for this bogus group of nitwits.  83 Senators voted NO.  J.S. 2009-09-18T17:28:21-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/who_works_for_who/23410/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/who_works_for_who/23410/#When:16:54:37Z To whom this may concern: Its time that the politicians start working for the people of all the states in the country, the Democrats need to work with the Republicans and stop trying always being the big cheese. The Democrats always need control. well its not your control it is the people of this country , I hope that next time around the Republicans can build up the party and continue working for the people of America . Mark P 2009-09-18T16:54:37-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/are_they_listening/22400/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/are_they_listening/22400/#When:17:28:06Z Rappers responded to this week’s question which asked if the Congresspeople are hearing the comments at the Town Hall meetings.  And, once again, Rappers surprised me with a near unanimous voice-  No!  The pols need their campaign contriburtors more than they need the people who showed up at the meetings…say you all.  Add your two cents by commenting!—— These arrogant clowns immediately forget who they represent the minute they arrive in D.C. Everyone who is concerned about what happens in D.C., should rent ‘The Distinguished gentleman’ starring Eddie Murphy. That movie is so on point as to the goings on in our nation’s capitol, it’s scary!!! Bill, Warwick If people do not realize that these are all staged by anti -Obama groups then what is wrong with them.  It is so obvious what the Republicans are doing.  They are so made that they are not in power that they have to revert to this kind of behavior.  Anyone with an ounce of brains can read between the lines and knows exactly what is going on here.  They keep hopping on government controlled health care.  Hello!!! What do you think Medicare is? It is government health care for the elderly.  Now the government wants you to have a choice on keeping what you have or going with a public option which may be cheaper for you especially for the self-employed who pay ridiculous premiums.  I know as I have a daughter, a son, and two son-in-laws who just cannot afford what is out there now for self-employed small business owners. Gail In a town hall meeting this past week in Dartmouth, with Congressman Barney Frank, the woman who stood at the microphone, holding a picture of Pres. Obama depicted as “Hitler”, accused a Jewish Congressman of supporting, a nazi health care policy.  We here in our home, all cheered Congressman Frank on as he lit into her.  With this level of intelligence out there, believing all the lies they are told, these people have no clue that this is how Hitler did come to power….with people believing the lies being told them.  In this case it’s the Republican Congressmen who are beholden to the medical-pharma industry.  These lies being told and passed on .......would rather see our President disgraced, then work for the good of the nation.  The Republican party is on record as saying as much.  “Let’s see if we can do to him what we did to Clinton.“  And people like this woman, instead of doing her homework, continue working for the medical-pharma industry….unbeknown to them. Jean, Somerset The tone of these scream fests cannot help but effect the Congressmen hosting them. Some will dig in , most will cave in. The radical playbook laid out by Saul Alinsky 40 years ago has been institutionalized by the right as a means to control the debate because it works. Weak politicians, a gullible public and a compliant media make it easy to make a minority look like a majority. Not enough questions are asked about who these people are and why they are commandeering public meetings. If you don’t think this is all programmed and controlled, come to Pawtuxet and bring a checkbook. I have a bridge I want you to look at. Bill G, Cranston Absolutely not. Lawmakers will do what the special interests want them to do. The little gets stomped on again. Lee L. Woonsocket It is apparent that the meetings are for promotional sales of the proposal and not for constituents feed back. I have a two option offer for Democratic Senators and Representatives.   Option One: Only Senators and Representatives are participants of the program for the balance of their terms to test it.   Option Two: We accept the ridiculous proposal, ONLY IF, the Senators and Representatives accept former Vice Pres. Dick Cheney as “Healthcare CZAR for Democrats”.  Deal???  I didn’t think so…. Flexible + Agreeable BMac, Cumberland                                                             These “meetings” are just a circus show for a slow news day.  The “lawmakers” are letting people blow off steam and trying to look like they’re really interested. They’re not. They are working for their big campaign donors. Period.  These compassionate lawmakers give themselves the best medical plans and it costs them zero. Most are already wealthy too.  Meanwhile we wait for some crumbs to fall from the table. Reality bites. stuckinri 2009-08-28T17:28:06-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/anything_wrong_with_this_picture/22380/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/anything_wrong_with_this_picture/22380/#When:17:24:30Z OBAMA’S HEALTHCARE PLAN will be written by a committee whose head says he dosen’t understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it, signed by a president that smokes, funded by a treasury secretary whose a tax cheat, overseen by a surgeon general whose obese, financed by a country that’s nearly broke. What could possibly be wrong with that ?? —paul 2009-08-28T17:24:30-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/12_days_off/22375/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/12_days_off/22375/#When:17:06:26Z I am responding to this because, I believe the state workers already gave up time this year?  They should not have to give up their time again.  Why doesn’t Caceri give twelve days of his pay to the defecit???  I am not a state worker but, I am a person that believes in being fair.  We never had such a big defecit til he came into off, that’s because he hired family and friends who line their pockets and his pockets, now we have to pay for it….We are the smallest state but the most corrupt. You stay here keep commenting on political issues, we need that. As far as the health insurance we don’t need Candian health ins. my husband has an uncle that needs surgery, he has to wait six months before he can have surgery.  That is why people from canada are moving her.  He is in his 70’s, I think their wanting to see if maybe he’ll croak before then… My husband and I have been without health ins for three years and can’t get any help from the gov’t, but illegal aliens can get it, their not even from this country and their here illegally, what is wrong with that?  The gov’t needs to keep their hands out of health ins.  It is between the dr and pt. Before healthcare was not suppose to make profit now every year they post their profits, what happened???? When our boys were younger we had to go on rite care, that was a very good program, we pad 96.00 a MONTH, no copays, could see the drs we wanted to, dentist…..  I sent letters twice to Obama and got no response, he’s a loser.  That house he is staying in at the marthas vineyard 28 acers, 38,000.00 for a wk, thats not including, food, golf, security, etc.  Can you find out who is paying for that?  He hasn’t even been in office for a year and he needs a vacation, I don’t think so…...  My husband and I haven’t taken a vacation since1999 because we can’t afford it,  WEEEEEEEEE need a vacation….  Don’t you think?????? Robin bill rap says…I will defend Carcieri, who will also lose 12 days pay under his proposal.  Though it’s a lot different for a six fugure salaried guy with an additional six figure pension from his private life…12 extra days off is probably a relief to him. 2009-08-28T17:06:26-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/sheriff_joe/22025/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/sheriff_joe/22025/#When:16:15:43Z Periodically I get updates onthe latest initiatives of Joe Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona.  He’s a bit of a folk hero for the treatment he doles out to his charges in the County Jail.  Now it looks likehe’s using them to cut costs in the stray pet department.  Check out this message i received.  Bill SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN! You all remember Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona , who painted the jail cells pink and made the inmates wear pink prison garb. Well…..... . SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN! Oh, there’s MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe! Maricopa County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs.  Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and the County Supervisors said okay. The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners.  They feed and care for the strays.  Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice daily.  He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who’d like to adopt an animal.  He has literally taken stray dog s off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows.  The best part?  His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million.  Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County shelter two years ago.  He was neutered and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him.  Cost us $78. The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day.  Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc.  He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals. I have long wondered when the rest of the country would take a look at the way he runs the jail system and copy some of his ideas.  He has a huge farm, donated to the county years ago, where inmates can work, and they grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food, doing all the work and harvesting by hand. He has a pretty good sized hog farm, which provides meat and fertilizer.  It fertilizes the Christmas tree nursery, where prisoners work, and you can buy a living Christmas tree for $6 - $8 for the holidays and plant it later.  We have six trees in our yard from the prison. Yup, he was re-elected last year with 83% of the vote. Now he’s in trouble with the ACLU again.  He painted all his buses and vehicles with a mural that has a special hotline phone number painted on it, where you can call and report suspected illegal aliens.  Immigrations and Customs Enforcement wasn’t doing enough in his eyes, so he had 40 deputies trained specifically for enforcing immigration laws, started up his hotline, and bought 4 new buses just for hauling folks back to the border.  He’s kind of a ‘Git-R Dun’ kind of Sheriff. TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIO.. HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY: Sheriff Joe Arpaio (in Arizona ) who created the ‘Tent City Jail’: **He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them. **He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails.  **Took away their weights. **Cut off all but ‘G’ movies. **He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects. **Then he started chain gangs for women so he wouldn’t get sued for discrimination. **He took away cable TV until he found out there was a federal court order that required cable TV for jails, so he hooked up the cable TV again….BUT only let in the Disney channel and the Weather channel. **When asked why the weather channel, he replied, “So they will know how hot it’s gonna be while they are working on my chain gangs.“ **He cut off coffee since it has zero nutr itional value. **When the inmates complained, he told them, “This isn’t The Ritz/Carlton. .... If you don’t like it, don’t come back.“ More On The Arizona Sheriff: With temperatures being even hotter than usual in Phoenix (116 degrees just set a new record), the Associated Press reports: About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire- surrounded tent encampment at the Maricopa County jail have been given permission to strip down to their government-issued pink boxer shorts. On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 degrees inside the week before. Many were also swathed in wet, pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their PINK SOCKS. “It feels like we are in a furnace,“ said James Zanzot, an inmate who has lived in the TENTS for 1 year.  “It’s inhumane.“ Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic.  He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates, “It’s 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn’t commit any crimes, so shut your mouths!“ Way to go, Sheriff! Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders.  Criminals should be punished for their crimes - not live in luxury until it’s time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on taxpayers’ money and enjoy things taxpayers can’t afford to have for themselves. If you agree, pass this on. If not, just delete it. 2009-08-21T16:15:43-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/urine_or_youre_out/22021/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/urine_or_youre_out/22021/#When:15:45:00Z i’ve seen different versions of this over the years…a simple concept, based on a kind of commonsense that is lacking from most government programs.  feel free to comment on this message from LadyNotAlways. Like most folks in this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me.  I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test. So, here is my Question:  Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ass - doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I guess we could title that program, ‘Urine or You’re Out’. Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don’t. Hope you all will pass it along, though.  Something has to change in this country—and soon! 2009-08-21T15:45:00-05:00 http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/something_fishy/21731/ http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/rapp_session/comments/something_fishy/21731/#When:03:21:27Z rappers-  what do you think about the Obama Administration asking us to forward any e-mail letters or website claims about the healthcare overhaul that appear to be ‘fishy’?  Do you think it’s a tactic to intimidate opponents?  Or is it a legitimate method to find out about falsehoods spread by special interests trying to keep the system profitable for themselves? e-mail rapp@wjar.com so i can put your ideas out for Southern New England to hear in the Rapp Session, Fridays at 5:30. bill 2009-08-15T03:21:27-05:00