Bruce Ruiner: Crazier than a 3 Act Monty Python Play

OK, I'm having a bit of fun coming up with silly titles, bear with me, but they are apropos.

On February 9th, Rauner signed an executive order declaring that fair share is dead for public employees in Illinois because he doesn't believe that forcing non-union employees to pay union dues requires them to fund political activity they don't agree with, which they don't cuz it's illegal.

Really? Didn't he go to the King Ronnie Reagan bible school? Doesn't he know that King Ronnie signed into law that public employees union dues cannot be used in political campaigns?!?!?

We do have a voluntary PAC that we can donate to if we feel it's a good thing(yes, I do donate...in fact I just doubled my monthly donation a couple of months ago).

Or, maybe it's just that he doesn't really care about facts or truth, he just cares about getting his way because that's what he's done through out his business career, umm, Bruce? You're not in Kansas(Wall Street) any longer. This, my dear boy, is the real world where even lowly clericals get to have a say in their workplaces.

So, then he "hires" Dan Webb, from Winston and Strawn law firm(the law firm that Jim Thompson is also a partner) to fight the evil union thugs in court. Mr. Webb is so sure of this white knight of uber rich that he will do this "pro bono", yep folks, that's right for free. Free. Now, I know that some big, expensive law firms take on one or two pro bono jobs per year, but those are usually for people who can't afford to hire them. Let's remember that this is a governor that signs what is supposed to be a legal state document which is usually enforced by the attorney general. But this yahoo knight hires a private attorney?

ButButBut, there's MORE!
All of a sudden there is more movement--Lisa Madigan, the state Attorney General says this is a contractual matter and cannot be undone by an executive order. Leslie Munger, Illinois Comptroller, states that she will not break the law and will ignore the governor's executive order(and she's a republican that was appointed by said yahoo white knight) and lo and behold! Dan Webb backs out because his firm has some conflicts of interest...it wouldn't look very good that the firm already has private clients that are suing the state and now have a governor of the state suing the state?

Well, that's OK, cuz the White Knight Bruce accosted another buddy/attorney to take the case...Phil Beck, who's claim to fame is the Bush v Gore supreme court fight, which, even tho Gore won the popular vote(and the presidency), Beck was instrumental in the staged protests and BS to ensure a Bush presidency(and the demise of the middle class in America). They will shove this crap into the federal courts...but, wait a minute...if it's dealing with state law(which Bruce idiot is), doesn't that belong in state courts because of that 10th amendment? Oh, but I am talking about Bruce Almighty who thinks he's above the law...and playing the bi-polar governor....

Rauner: Cake for my buddies, Crumbs for the rest of Illinois!

Since Mr. Rauner took the governor's office in January, he's been giving his whiny stump speeches about how he didn't know how horrible the state finances were, he kept falling on the fainting couch, clutching his pearls, crying, "No one told me it was as bad as THIS!!!!" Guess he reads as much as Sarah Palin does if he didn't know some basic facts about Illinois' revenue stream. Remember this is someone who allegedly has a great education, has made millions, maybe even billions of dollars, but doesn't know that state of the state he's running in?
Or, is this just a ruse, blame Quinn, say he didn't know and then say, as he did before the polling numbers plummeted on his plans, that he needs to raise taxes(mainly on middle, working, lower class--you know the 90% of us that don't make our salary from capital gains and interest income)...oh, and even in this horrible state, cut taxes for the uber rich and corporations. How stupid are you if you didn't see this coming????
I think it may be time for an overview of what he's said and what he's done since took office:
Prior to office, said he wanted the general assembly and governor NOT to vote on anything that would effect his term, and, except for the death of Judy Barr Topinka, they didn't...and he's whined about it. He just found out that OMG! Illinois doesn't bring in enough revenue....and look at all these bills!
Prior to taking office(but again, after he saw the bashing unions hurt him in the primary), he said he wasn't going after unions. Now? He wants to shut down my right(as a public employee or retiree) to voice my opinion through political donations, cut wages with right to work for less wage zones, and started his "corrupt union bosses" lies...again.
Prior to taking office, he complained about medical marijuana being passed in Illinois, he felt he should have the right to set up a highest bidder scenario for the licenses, complained(loudly) that Quinn hadn't given out any licenses. So, he pushes through a bunch and, what?!?!!? Lo and behold, the applicants hadn't cleared the FBI background check...and one of the people who received a license to handle medical marijuana? A strip club owner who's had brushes with the law in the past...ewww. Maybe there was a reason that Quinn hadn't given out those licenses yet?
Prior to taking office(and since), Rauner yelled about the "overpaid" state employees...and now? He's paying his new, never held a state position, 38% more than Quinn paid his staff, including a chief of staff for his wife(at over $100K a year). His executive assistance is paid 96% more($135,000) than what Quinn paid his assistant($69,000). You can buy alotta cake with those dollars. Guess Rauner forgot that his staff's salaries were also a matter of public record...oops.
So, I keep hearing the Who's ballad,(and I'm paraphrasing), Here's the new boss, same(worse) as the old boss! But, yet, many will be fooled again.

I'm BACK!

No, I didn't abandon my blog...blogger and I were not on "speaking" terms...finally back. Will have a couple of posts soon!
I'm working on politics, of course, but a greater understand of our relationship with our soldiers---not "the troops", not "the military", but soldiers--the men and women who serve.

SCOTUS, Makers of American Sharia Law, Part Two

So, after SCOTUS ruled that it's just fine to assault, intimidate, spit at, attack, even kill women walking into a Women's Health Center, they go on to make sure that more women may end up in that clinic.

First, I'd like to apologize for the next paragraph/rant...just that this really pisses me off.
Yep, I'm referring to the "Hobby Lobby" case. In this case, the plaintiffs make the argument that they should not have to offer certain types of birth control because its against their so called religious beliefs. The plaintiffs feel these are actually abortifacient, even though people with MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC degrees have proven that fairy tale a lie, and because of this LIE, they should not have to pay for them through insurance for their employees. Never mind that they've BEEN paying for these forms of birth control as EARNED benefits the employees have, never mind that the doctors and scientists have proven this is a fallacy, never mind that there is nowhere in the bible that states abortion is or isn't approved by their version of god(and we know that abortion has been around since at least the time of Socrates). Never mind that Hobby Lobby INVESTS in companies that MAKE actual abortifacients...OK for them to make money off of abortion, just not right for employees to receive medical attention for family planning which prevents abortion?????
OK, rant over. Maybe.

First, the batshit crazy rightwing law firm shopped Hobby Lobby to get the "name" status for the lawsuit. See, Hobby Lobby had offered all birth control without a second thought...until the black guy in the white house got a law passed saying that birth control would be covered under the Affordable Care Act. Their religious "crisis" didn't bother them until after the ACA, hmmmm, I smell a rat! Of course, their religious crisis doesn't include spending millions of $$ in China to buy cheap crap to sell either, even tho their money then can be used to pay for abortions in that country.

The case before the Supreme Court ended in its usual 5-4 decision with the catholic males on one side and the fair four on the side of constitutionality. The catholic males also said that this was a very narrow ruling, only dealing with 4 types of birth control and only applied to privately held corporations. Sure.

To begin with, the Affordable Care Act listed 20 types of contraception that must be covered by health insurance offered by businesses. The case that Hobby Lobby was involved in claimed that Plan B, Ella and two types of IUD's were abortifacients which violated their holier than thou religious rights. It didn't matter that all science proves this is not a fact, just cuz the HTT's(Holier Than Thou) believed it, the catholic geezers on SCOTUS went along with it since it gives them a hardon to screw over those that have less.

Justice Alito, who wrote the 5/4 opinion, tried, in the language, to say the scope of this ruling was limited, but then a series of orders released after the ruling show exactly the opposite of "narrow".

The first two dealt with 2 corporations (Autocam and Eden Foods), having catholic owners, by vacating the decisions of the US Appeals Court and said that the Appeals court must rehear the cases due to the Holly Lobby decision. Both of these cases centered around the Appeals Court decision that had rejected that these businesses wanted to eliminate offering any type of the 20 mandated forms of birth control. Even though over 90% of catholic women have used "real" (vs. the "rhythm method") birth control. 

And then, there was the decision that the Wheaton IL college doesn't even have to fill out the form to file a religious objection because it violates their frail religious beliefs to even think about icky birth control/private lady bits. Wheaton College did not want to fill out the form that the United States Government requires which then enables the insurance companies to take on the responsibility of paying for those types of birth control that can offend those of such strong, but frail belief system(cuz they have to think about icky lady bits) and have to be smacked with actual scientific facts that these forms of birth control do not cause abortion. All they have to do is write a letter to HHS, saying, "Bad voo doo for religious people" or something like that.

So, with these decisions, the so-called "narrow ruling" has been broadened considerably and SCOTUS has determined that its OK to discriminate against preventative health care for women. You know the old Dred Scott decision? Separate but equal? Yep, this decision feeds on that type of bad decision of the past.

There is an up side to this. The last time that the right wing treated women in this manner, that we didn't count as much as white males and didn't deserve the protection of laws, we came out and voted. Against them. Hard. So, I hope to see many many women using their voting rights(before they take THOSE away) this November and send a message to the old fogies on SCOTUS. We do MATTER and we're angry with your stupidity and bigotry.

SCOTUS: American Sharia Law

For the last 6 years, I've been listening to hysterics on the right screaming about stupid things they think President Obama will do: FEMA camps,government implants, taking everyone's guns away, Sharia Law. None of these things have happened due to President Obama, but now, the Supreme Court reactionary justices are enacting christian sharia law....
In at least 2 of the latest 5-4 decisions, the right wing men of the Supreme Court have ruled that women are less than men. We are not worth being treated the same as men, we deserve to be less than men because of the old catholic right wing guys majority.
First the Massachusetts case: The Supreme Court, in a 5/4 decision(like that's a surprise) declared the Massachusetts buffer zone of 35 feet at abortion clinics against the constitution because it did not allow the protesters their right of free speech. By the way, the Supreme Court is just fine with a 100 foot buffer zone at the Supreme Court...hmmm.....
The reason this law was enacted at 35 feet was due to murders that occurred at the hand of those people who allegedly value live fetuses, but have no problem killing live men and women who feel they have the ability to make decisions for themselves...or work at a clinic. So SCOTUS seems to feel that its more important for protesters to be able to scream and spit into the faces of women than the women's right to safety and LIFE. Oh I forget, only fetuses have a right to life. And, as I said before,  the Supreme Court buffer zone is almost 3 times that of MA abortion clinic, 100 feet. Guess if we have something to say to justices, we need a bullhorn...or maybe they have psychic, mind reading abilities.
Although the anti-abortion groups are having orgasms over this ruling, it does not take down every state's buffer rule(most are less than 35 feet), but they feel they're mowing them all down. Even tho the ruling does state that the Massachusetts zone was being found unconstitutional because of the length. Not like the groups understand nuance or anything after they hear "we win"....
So, after SCOTUS ruled that it's just fine to assault, intimidate, spit at, attack, even kill women walking into a Women's Health Center, they go on to make sure that more women may end up in that clinic.
But, remember those old guys who voted against a safety zone for women and workers? They feel that they still deserve a 100 foot safety zone from The People.

Robin Williams, Mental Illness and suicide shaming

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."

I think we've all heard this quote and, to a point, agree. On the other hand, if you've never experienced the sheer black walls of the abyss known as severe depression, you can't understand how just ending the pain, even if it means ending your life, can be enough at that moment in time.

Luckily, many more people attempt suicide than succeed. Of course, if people know about the attempts, those survivors, many times, are shamed, laughed at, called names. So they, no WE, hide behind our secrets not allowing others behind the curtains that lead to the abyss.

I have attempted suicide at different times of my life, looking back, some were for attention(cola and aspirin when I was 14 and upset with my parents comes to mind), but others I had the full intention to finish the job, to stop the unending, debilitating, suffocating pain that surrounded me, no matter what I did.

I've also been luckier than many who suffer from depression because, although chronic, I have more good days than bad, unlike others who live with the suffocating weight on a daily basis. Yes, I've tried therapists, psychiatrists, even anti-depressants, without much help, anyway not for long periods of time. I come from a lineage that has been plagued with depression, anxiety, addiction--dating back to at least my grandparents' times. Red hair, green eyes-one from each side of my parents...and addiction on both sides, depression maybe only one. Yes, it's heredity, but like other diseases, the whole family will not suffer alike. And all learn from an early age that we don't talk about it in the open, only in hushed tones in the kitchen with sourful looks towards "the crazy one".

In my family, those looks were usually fostered towards my mother. She had always been considered "high-strung"--she grew up in the 30's and 40's...anxiety wasn't something people knew about in those days. In fact, the doctor had my grandmother giving my mother a glass of wine before she went to sleep in her teens! That was how anxiety was treated. In the 60's she developed panic attacks, depression  and later agoraphobia(fear of leaving the house). They gave her Librium, then Valium...and told her it was ok to have a cocktail in the evening to calm her nerves...they forgot to mention that it should only be ONE cocktail.

To be fair, my mother could be the life of the party; she loved to dance, sing, play piano. Her claim to fame was she auditioned and was accepted to the Chicago Opera, but she declined because "good girls and young women did not act like a trollop". It was the late 40's, early 50's and if you were on the stage, you obviously didn't have much of an upbringing. My mother, in the early 60's actually made more money than my father, she being an executive secretary(to a VP at a prestigious bank), he being a payroll/accounting clerk. But after the kids were born, her working role had to be closer to home. Then the panic attacks started(while she was taking Dexedrine to lose the baby fat because you must be slim and trim if you wanted to work in better places) and she had a blood vessel break in her nose when I was 9(I remember there was blood everywhere--still scary to this day when I think about it) and her world became smaller and smaller and smaller--until it was only her home. All drapes closed because she'd panic if she looked outside. And I began to grow up in the dark. With more monsters attacking on a daily basis.

My childhood completely changed. I won't bore you with the details(and I've shared as much as I can without drinking already), but by the time I was 10, I was getting my brother up for school, then both of my siblings. I would do the "shopping" for the week at the neighborhood grocery store(to pick up items my dad forgot on the real shopping trip or we'd run out of during the week, including my mother's cigarettes...just wrote a note to the store so they knew I was getting them for her, too bad for her that didn't work for the alcohol). I'd also travel with her on the train during the summer so she could see her psychotherapist, who didn't accomplish too much. Of course, I'm not sure how truthful my mom was to him about what was going on at home. As I grew older, my sadness turned to anger--which many people who suffer from depression rely on--see, if you say you're depressed, people pick on you, they stay away from you. If you're angry alot? People are ok with that in many ways. And, of course, I discovered alcohol...on my own.

First time I had alcohol outside the home? 8th grade field trip--to a Cub's game. Fruit soaked in liquor. Sweet and made me feel better. Yes, that was that downward spiral. But I didn't succumb until some years later.

By now, I was angry most of the time I was stuck at home. I'd be fine, for the most part at other relatives' homes, I'd be fine at high school and with my friends, but the suffocating darkness was something I fought daily at home. Yes, I blamed my parents. It was their failures that caused me to be this way. I'd mouth that, but I'd never really believe it. I believed I was just a horrible creature that didn't belong.

I would say I've consciously attempted suicide at least 4 times since my 18th birthday, the last time being 2003 or 4. Very stressful time in my life, both home and job. I was driving on the highway, not particularly thinking about anything, when the tendrils of suicidal ideation began...whispering...all I'd have to do is speed and launch my car off the tollway overpass...it'd be quick, no one would be the wiser and I wouldn't be in pain. I didn't make a "choice" not to commit suicide, see, I was too afraid that I wouldn't end the paid, I'd live through the "accident" and end up without the use of limbs or in a vegetative state or somewhere in between. See, I never had enough self esteem to think I could actually complete the job since I was such a loser and failure. Oh, I was also on an anti-depressant at that time and quit that shit.l

This all began because on the same day that Robin Williams ended his pain, another women lost her battle with cancer and one of her friends, being in pain, said Robin had the "choice" to live and her friend didn't. I've battled both cancer and depression--the cancer was much easier. People understand physical illnesses, but mental illness? It's something scary for many and misunderstood for most of us. After I post this, I'm sure that people who've known me for the last 40 years or longer will wonder what the fuck? NOT KIM. She's so determined, strong, independent, smart...and funny...Yes, KIM...depression is easily hid, specially when people, even loved ones, family and close friends, aren't looking for it.

Since I've retired, I've not thought of suicide as an answer. Yes, there are times I've been depressed...and I'm not sure how I will feel after I post this. I've been tearing up/crying while I write it, but I felt it had to be written.

Robin, may those depths be lifted, may you finally find peace. May your family know that you dearly loved them and they had no fault in this matter and remember the bright, funny loving man that you were.
And before you shame someone for suicide or an attempt, please think about this post. 

I need to publish before I lose my nerve. Thank you.

Think You can't change what congress? Congressional Ethics Committee backs down after REAL LIBERAL media busts them

On July 2, the Congressional umm, Ethics Committee issued a small item about changes in what congress members had to report on their expense reports. See, the "Ethics" Committee(and I'm using that term very loosely) decided that those vacations that are paid for by corporations/private individuals? Well, its just redundancy to report those on the personal expense reports of congress members, let's just report those to the Clerk of the House and anyone who is really interested can find them there. Remember the saying, "needle in a haystack"? Oh, but it was done for EFFICIENCY. Not trying to hide anything, never!
Well. First CREW  wrote about this bullshit, since most people have no idea that we even have a clerk of the house, but they do know how to check their respective house member's financial sheet, if so inclined. 
Then we had a statement from Nancy Pelosi who agreed with those evil liberal folks that this should not be allowed. It had been done in the past and caused people to end up in jail, after we having to pay $$$ for the court cases. Most Liberal media posts picked it up and reported it, but I did not hear about it on the corporate media sites: ABC, NBC, CBS, of course FAUX NEWS, although Free Speech TV did cover it, along, again, with most liberal areas of the media.
So....on July 3rd? There was so much fall out(yes, we thinking people, aka, liberals know how to use our phones, email, twitter, etc.) that the Ethics Committee reversed their ruling and, now again, Congress members must report, in financial statements, any junket from private areas.
So, tell me again how it doesn't matter if you speak up? Don't vote? This shows that when we pay attention and do something, we make a difference.

Good JOB! Keep it UP!