The Rubio story was barely noticeable when it first emerged. We had a Cuban-American conservative poster boy in a heated Senate Republican primary running against Florida Governor Charlie Crist. The headline to the early stories was that Rubio had charged more than $100,000 on his GOP American Express card. Republican leaders were quietly upset that the new face for ultra-conservative politics had used GOP money to pay for bottles of liquor, groceries, personal travel, family car repair and $130-haircuts. GOP critics complained that donors who gave money to the party did not anticipate that one-hundred thousand dollars worth of their contributions would be used as mad money by Rubio.
Another right wing hypocrite. Preaches fiscal conservatism but takes advantage of his donors to party and spend wildly. I want Rubio to have a “Lucy Show” ending. He’s like Sarah Palin…all the tea party sheep follow her, give her their money and she spends it on herself instead of any “cause.” (btw, sister Sarah is getting her own reality show and was on Leno–puke! Maybe if people ignored her she would go away)
But, these are the type of people the right wing loves to support–they never learn.
Hey Mike—good Ricky impression!
You nailed it Colleen, w/that statement about Right Wing hypocrisy! (And Mike nailed it, too, particularly his Ricky Ricardo accent)!
I used to Love when Ricky would give that line to Lucy about the “splainin”. This is also funny, and shows both Ricky’s accent issues and Lucy’s rather free approach to money:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VeaGLtY1OY
Unfortunately, unlike Lucy, who was a dithery, endearing clown of a woman, Marco Rubio just comes off as an arrogant SOB. I’m offended, particularly, at double billing the tax payers for air line tickets.
He should have come clean about it. I don’t know if politics really allows for people to ever come clean, however. Deny Deny Deny always seems to be the M.O.
It’s particularly sickening when it all comes from the right, as they are the most preachiest of both parties, always nattering on about being fiscally responsible and so forth.
Mara,
Thanks for the Lucy and Ricky clip! That’s a way to pay bills! LOL!
I’m so glad and grateful that the ROFR website is fully functioning again! That way I can post my comments/thoughts in this great forum again.
I never heard of this Marco Rubio before until Mike brought him to light exposing him for charging his constituents’ tax money for his own selfish interests. How unethical! If I were to take money from my job at either of the two parks I worked at and spent it on myself, I would most likely be fired in less than a few days (but I’m not like that). This did happen to a couple of other park assistants who worked for the same Park Authority that I worked at where they stole thousands and thousands of dollars from a lake park with a carousel and pool, and wound up getting arrested after they were found out as something was missing – this was 2 years ago, and I read about this when I was trying to Google if my county’s gov’t was getting any stimulus money (wonder if Bing.com would answer my search requests more linearly since they say it is not just a search engine, but the first ever decision engine).
Furthermore, with so much greed and corruption in politics, Wall St. fat-cats, and in the health insurance industry, I can say for the latter, given my HMO, it recently raised its rates again (even though they say this HMO, Kaiser Permenente is not-for-profit – if possibly by having something to do with the Kaiser Foundation as a charity). Although I won’t be paying for it myself, my folks certainly do, even though it’s unreasonably high. Something sure seems fishy with not-for-profit HMO’s that hike their rates annually or monthly. So, what I will most likely do about this is go to a health care reform rally in DC this Tues. after I found out about it in an e-mail from moveon.org. Apparently, the health insurance lobbyists who want to continue to raise their rates are going to be pushing more for them at this mtg. at a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dupont Circle in DC. So, given that I work PT, I’ll have time to go to this rally. In fact, this would be the first protest I’ve actually been to. Another reason why I will go is because I am even more frustrated with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Assurant Health that has denied me coverage in the past – and most likely profited (or saved a lot of money) from it. I’m going to bring a sign that says, “NO MORE CORPORATE MONOPOLIES ON HEALTHCARE”. Maybe I could even bring a “$” bag, like Michael Moore going after Goldman Sachs, AIG, et al., with me just in case if any of these health insurance lobbyists from BCBS or Assurant Health can express some humility for me when they denied me coverage and profited from it. How difficult can such justice be done retroactively where I can be compensated?…Sadly, there has not really been any regulations in place whatsoever yet, even after Obama took office over a year ago.
Anyway, Mara & Colleen, and other ROFR viewers/readers, did you miss me? Without ROFR for the past several weeks, I sure have felt a void in which to channel my voice, even though I can post comments on other progressive websites as well as Facebook…Other than that, I’m glad I’ll be able to check in to the ROFR website on a regular basis and post my thoughts. PS: I was not on vacation while ROFR’s website was under reconstruction, since I can’t really afford one under my PT salary. Hence, I’ve longed for the new ROFR site interface, and am so glad that it is back again for it’s usual postings of videos, articles, and discussions we all get to engage in.
NR,
We were wondering where you were and yes, we did miss you! Glad you are going with MoveOn.org to protest heath care. Take a $ bag…do the Mike Moore thing–that would be cool! Your first protest rally? Cool! They are fun, let me tell ya! The slogan on your sign makes a great statement –make it nice and big! NR, take pics of the rally and post them here if you can–thank you. I got pics of the events I went to. Great memories and souveniers! Glad you are back posting your thoughts and will be in on our discussions again. Alright!
Welcome back!!!
Hey, NR, *OF COURSE WE MISSED YOU*!!!!!
I was just wondering when you were going to find your way back to RoF, when I got Colleen’s happy email this morning saying that you were back!
Your *first* protest rally! Cool!!!!
Let me give you a few pointers (like I’m Such an expert on protest rallies….Not!).
Just one tip, really – Don’t show up like This:
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-04-16-TeaBagProtest.jpg
(Good lord…..looks like the statue of liberty has one Hell of a hangover….even her prongs are drooping)!
Another look to try and avoid:
http://riverdaughter.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/tea-bag-protester.jpg
(Uncle Sam….if Uncle Sam had just escaped from the looney bin)….
http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics_impact/2009/04/pl.taxday.272.cdb.jpg
(Oh, my Aching head!…..for some durn reason, this cap is Way heavier in the front of mah head, almost as iffen I loaded a buncha stupid cr@p on the top of it, for some crazy reason)!
http://www.ibabuzz.com/insider/files/2009/04/teaparty2.jpg
(I say, Does anyone know where the Rally Is!?! This rad look I’m rockin’ Ain’t gonna be lastin’ all day, so let’s get the party started, Honey-Bunnies)!
http://northshorejournal.org/LinkedImages//2009/03/tea-party-protest-3-11-2009.jpg
(Oh, my, it Does get a bit nippy at these rallies! That’s why I’m wearing my Awesome, Beautiful Hat, laden w/Tea Bags! Yes, it’s Very Nippy! Darn! It’s like Something keeps biting the back of my head! What could it Be)??? (Snake: It’s Me biting you! I deeply resent having to be taped to the back of your back, like this! You wanna make a fool of yourself, lady, be my Guest, but don’t drag Me into it)!
Hey, NR, *OF COURSE WE MISSED YOU*!!!!!
I was just wondering when you were going to find your way back to RoF, when I got Colleen’s happy email this morning saying that you were back!
Your *first* protest rally! Cool!!!!
Make sure you tell us all about it, here!
(I had some funny links to show, but when I posted them, I saw the “waiting to having my message moderated” message. Can’t blame RoF for that, though. There are a lot of angry nuts out there, and they can’t be too careful).
I meant that RoF can’t be too careful.
I don’t care if the angry crazed nuts are or are not careful….
NR writes: “Other than that, I’m glad I’ll be able to check in to the ROFR website on a regular basis and post my thoughts.”
(It’s certainly GREAT to have you back, NR).
“PS: I was not on vacation while ROFR’s website was under reconstruction, since I can’t really afford one under my PT salary.”
(Yeah, I hear you on that, NR! It may not be *Any* consolation to you, but at least you are still young. You might have a chance at a better life and I sure hope you do!!!! I find that it’s very embarrassing to be in this position and not be so young, anymore).
” Hence, I’ve longed for the new ROFR site interface, and am so glad that it is back again for it’s usual postings of videos, articles, and discussions we all get to engage in.”
(Me too! I still get that error message on my computer when I 1st visit this site, but as soon as I click on “home” it all comes up as it should).
Mara wrote:
“I still get that error message on my computer when I 1st visit this site, but as soon as I click on “home” it all comes up as it should”
It works that way for me, too.
You also wrote to NR:
“It may not be *Any* consolation to you, but at least you are still young. You might have a chance at a better life and I sure hope you do!!!! I find that it’s very embarrassing to be in this position and not be so young, anymore.”
Geeze….do I hear ya there, Mara. I’m too old for this shit….the shit I’m currently in.
In the TV show Miami CSI, the song Won’t get fool again by the Guess Who has the words “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” Guess what, the upcoming young Republicans are no different than the old Republicans.
In the TV show, The Honeymooners, Ralph Kamden was using the money for his chance to become rich and his wife Alice was upset when she found out and tried to talk him out of it. Furthermore, Ralph would go to his neighbor and friend Ed Norton to put money in and Ed’s wife, Tricia, would object to it as well.
Considering the Catholic and evengalist scandels in the last 20 years, you think that people would stop dropping their money into the coffers and demand the churche leaders to shape up or they can go look for a new job in a new occupation.
Seems to me that Rubio represents a lot of young Americans who are deeply in debt; however, most of these young Americans did not know anything about forced savings unlike in Japan and Germany because corporations with the blessing of the American government concentrate on debt instead of forced savings starting in the 1980s. Rubio should have known about savings for the future because he has connections with the higher brass GOP leaders who are millionaries themselves. Most rich kids have their dads or their dad’s friends teach them about financial savings. The rest of society doesn’t have that kind of access to knowledge like that. Furthermore, most stockbrokers’ firms don’t aggressively seek out potential investors who are in the lower middle, working, and poor classes. Edward Jones is one exemption to the rule.
I recalled the colleges and universities where you had credit card applications hanging outside the class rooms. Not once, did I see anything from the banks and the stockbrokers’ firms about investing for the future in terms of forced savings plans and putting money in the stock market. Furthermore, when you had open house on campuses, you would see bank representatives trying to get people to sign up for credit cards. Not once did you see them push for investment savings nor did you see representatives from the Wall Street firms at the campuses to sign people up for long term investments for the future.
I wonder if the Republican leaders will put Rubio over their knees and spank him like Ricky did with Lucy a number of times?
G,
Of course these young up and coming Reps are no different than the old Reps….because they were TAUGHT by the old Reps.
I also agree with your take about the Catholic church and how people should stop donating their money to them but G these followers of the church never get it. Here in my town they don’t care if the priests shape up or not. We just got a new Arch Bishop of the Milwaukee diocese who in his previous position protected sex abusers. Don’t seem to bother anyone…he’s still a good man….puke!
You talked about colleges and how they push for the young people to sign up for credit cards. They don’t care…it’s just spend, spend, spend. Don’t worry about debt or how to save. G, you think it’s bad on the college campuses? I just saw a Colbert show last week where he talked about how they are targeting grade school kids with these online games!!! They have the kids making purchases on credit..no shit!
Nope….the Rep leaders will not put Rubio over their knees and spank him. He’s their new shining star….or so they think.
G,
Many good points you write, there. I do think churches help people alot, not just have sex w/their kids and/or bore everyone to death on sunday and/or lecture about birth control, which is absurd, in this day and age, and/or make abortion into a war, instead of trying to show compassion for Why abortion exists, and/or….
Well, anyway. Credit debt is a killer, and to get people onto it so young is insane. You know what else I think is rather insane? Babies w/earrings. I know it’s sort of a spanish thing, but I also see white w/this going on, and let’s say they can wait until their kids are 3 or so – they get them pierced earrings!
(Sorry to go so off topic. I think it’s just crazy to make everyone grow up so fast, be it w/earrings or credit cards).
As for Rubio being spanked…..
One of the cringe-inducing things about I Love Lucy is this humorous attitude toward violence against women. Lucy would cringe and say: “Yes Sir” to Ricky, whenever he got Really Mad at her.
And sometimes he’d spank her. Well, considering that these 2 slept in separate twin beds w/little lamps by each one, perhaps this spanking was about the only excitement they could get going in their marriage. I mean, Somehow “Little Ricky” had to be created, but you’d never know just How, exactly, That happened.
And, then too, maybe Lucy pushed Ricky too much. She was Always trying to be in his show. Always. She did Everything she could, to be in that damn night club show.
Well, and I figure: why not? After hearing Bobba Lua (or Whatever Ricky’s signature song was called) for the Umpteenth time, the club goers probably could have used someone like Lucy to lighten things up a bit.
As to your question, G, I doubt Rubio will get spanked like Lucy did, but someone ought to say to him: “to the Moon, Rubio!” or some such thing (getting my old tv mixed up, I see)….
Hey – Maybe Rubio WAS spanked! Mike rather implied that something More on Rubio would come out, in the 2/27 show, as to all this money that Rubio has been spending w/the GOP credit card.
I just pray to god that diapers are Not involved w/Whatever Rubio got himself up to. Please God. No Diapers! That is ALL that I ask….
Just a small piece of trivia, but Mike and Charlie Crist are actually good friends. They roomed together while in Law School, and although they share different ideologies, they still talk to each other on a regular basis. The same with Mike and Joe Scarborough. Joe was a partner in Mike’s law firm several years back, and the two have been friends for a long time. From what I’ve heard, Mike and Joe used to bring in their guitars from time to time and play together in their office. There’s your Ring of Fire trivia for today.
Got back a short time ago from the Health Care rally in DC. We went from Dupont Circle to the Ritz-Carlton where health insurance execs were having a mtg (hope they heard and listened to us and reconsidered their priorities between people and profits, if such corporate minds can be changed). There was quite a good crowd, with much police on ground and in helicopters monitoring the scene (I wonder if the police would be less likely to monitor the teabaggers). The signs I carried were “NO MORE CORPORATE MONOPOLIES ON HEALTH CARE” and “Underemployed for the Public Option.” They were handing out signs to people for (fill in the blank) for the Public Option, so of course I filled in “underemployed” to describe myself. I was also telling others and at least one interviewer my situation regarding how I work roughly 2 PT jobs, living at home with my folks, and that my folks are paying for my HMO health care. I was there in one way, to help voice about lowering health insurance costs from corporate greed. So, we were all standing out in front of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel hoping that the health insurance execs in that mtg. were listening, hopefully even to make at least one iota of sympathy for those who may not have coverage. Some people were in wheelchairs, and at least one other said she had cancer…Now, I didn’t take any pix myself, BUT, if I come across any pix with me somewhere in it on the internet, I’ll post them here on this blog. Other than that, I can’t wait to see the news this evening!
All in all, like Mike and Ricky Ricardo said, the health insurance CEOs/execs got some ‘splainin’ to do on why our health care costs continually go up.
NR,
Alright! Sounds like you had a excellent time talking with like minds. Good for you! I hope you make the news tonight, too! NR, of course there were going to be a boatload of cops there…you weren’t Tea Baggers. I experienced that when I marched in Chicago a few years back against the Iraq war. Way cool you talked to an interviewer. Yes, post pics of yourself and the rally if they are on the internet. I am so glad your first rally was a good experience for you. We need the yoing people like you out there!
Farron,
Thanks for the ROF trivia today. Glad to know Mike plays guitar and who he associates with. Gives me insight. As Lee Iacocca says “with whom do you walk?” Sorry, I still think Joe Scarborough is an asshole and a misogynist. My opinion only. I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em. I loved during the 2008 election when Keith Olbermann (who I am a big fan of)told Scarborough “Get a shovel, Joe.” LMAO!!! I call Scarborough’s show “Morning Joe”……”Morning Blow.”
Says it all. It doesn’t change my opinion of Mike….it’s his business who he wants to hang with. I just know I wouldn’t.
Here’s a couple of videos of the Health Care March I was in today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFQud2sTyTc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4fvit1e_Ek
Here’s several photos from Flickr of the Health Care March, mostly from the SEIU:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=health+care+rally+march+9+2010&m=text
NR,
You had beautiful weather and a great crowd….made me want to be there. I saw some of this footage on Keith and Rachel. I saw Howard Dean on the footage cheering you guys on. Cool! Did you hear him speak? I like Howard Dean. It looked like a good time for a good cause. I saw some idiot post under one of the You Tube videos “Animals.” The only “animals” are the vbig insurance componies who let people die!
Thank you for the You Tube and Flickr pics! I was trying to find your signs but didn’t see them.
Farron writes: “I’ve heard, Mike and Joe used to bring in their guitars from time to time and play together in their office. There’s your Ring of Fire trivia for today.”
Excellent!!!! Good to know!!!!! Mike plays the guitar!!!! (I don’t know Why, but that is a bit hard to reconcile w/the concept of someone also being a lawyer). That’s why I’m glad to have the “trivia”. It helps me broaden my outlook! Plus, as we know, Mike is no *ordinary* lawyer. He’s a man of many sides, I think.
I don’t know a thing about Joe Scarborough, except I like how his name rhymes. (I’ve noticed that a lot of people named Joe or Joseph seem to be tough a$$es. Just my opinion, which is not *only* based on Kennedy lore, but also some people I know).
The “Morning Joe” television show seems rather interesting. Perhaps this Joe Scarborough is a person that is interesting and enraging at the same time? I don’t know. A couple of weeks ago I bookmarked “Morning Joe” because it seems interesting to watch.
NR, I read your account of being at the hellthcare protest w/interest. As Colleen says, it’s no surprise the cops were out in full force for such a “vigilante” group! Yes, we certainly need to be protected from people who think health insurance ceos are way too greedy!!!!
Did the news cover any of this? Let us know! I don’t watch tv, but I look at shows on the internet, sometimes.
(Say, isn’t it Nice to know one can go to a protest and NOT have to raid the pantry for a sh*tload of teabags)????
Farron writes:
“Just a small piece of trivia, but Mike and Charlie Crist are actually good friends. They roomed together while in Law School, and although they share different ideologies, they still talk to each other on a regular basis.”
(This is how I wish it could be w/all the Dems and Republicans, instead of having weak, cowardly, capitulating Dems – who might as Well be Republicns – and Republicans who are only about greed. I’m sure there Must be some ethical people on the right and perhaps Crist is like that).
Now that I think about it, it’s not surprising that Mike would play the guitar (although it IS intriguing; hey Farron, don’t be shy about letting us in on the “RoF trivia” when you can)!
Lawyers are a showy lot, aren’t they? They have to perform, in court. Mike kind of reminds me of a circus ringmaster (esp. when he’s on Fox Noise facing down the likes of Gary and Tobin or whatever that nut’s name is).
When Mike dresses w/his stylish flair and makes those great, funny and TRUE (not to mention deeply Perceptive) comments on Fake Noise, I think to myself:
Gee, it’s Great to be a Progressive and have someone like Mike on our side!!!!! Mike is really very interesting and entertaining to listen to, but it’s also an education in politics and how this world is run. David, too and also RFK Jr. They all have this quality that makes you want to listen to them.
I think of Jon Stewart too. He’s brilliant. He’s this kind of masterful clown (masterful meaning he’s in control of his game and also knows how to ride the flow of the moment). There’s a quality of searing anger underneath (and often overtly contained in) what he says, re: politics, but he’s also so damn funny.
And, to continue: that doesn’t mean I don’t get annoyed w/things Jon Stewart might say (and we all know that I – as well as Colleen – might get a teensy weensy tiny bit *perturbed*, mayhap – over some of things Mike may say, at times).
So, that’s not bad, though. I’d rather listen to a person who I *mostly* like what they say and agree with, but you can’t Predict that you will Always agree w/what they say. They might very well say some things you get fired up over.
That’s all to the good, no? I mean, at least when you have people like Mike, who are ethical and so deeply intelligent? It’s like being kept awake in school (school was so boring).
It’s like what I imagine “crazy wisdom” in Zen might be, this quality of keeping people on their toes.
And Mike and others I mention don’t have to work to do that, it’s how they naturally are (although I think much preparation must go into this show and other appearances the men make).
Don’t get me wrong: what I am talking about is *authenticity* coupled with *innate* skill and talent, and all of it grounded in meaningful preparation.
Yes, now that I think about it, that’s one powerful reason why I gravitate to this show. It’s Creative, yet also grounded in reality.
I got this bit somewhat jumbled:
That’s all to the good, no? I mean, at least when you have people like Mike, who are ethical and so deeply intelligent? It’s like being kept awake in school (school was so boring).
I meant to write that Mike can be provoking, but it’s done for a deeper meaning than to merely provoke (sort of the way I remember Howard Stern being. The guy – when I listened to him so long ago, on regular radio – he Clearly was talented and had brilliance, but he was also a mean SOB who went too far into merely provoking for show, and not trying to also wake people up).
If any of that make sense….
I know this all sounds a bit jumbled. I should have waited to write this later. It’s the Morning and I haven’t had my Joe, yet….
Coffee, that is to say….
(anyway, what I am saying is that the creativity Mike possesses is Real, and he should definitely be Proud of this, as he can integrate creativity into his words and his presentation in ethical, real ways, which are connected to what he does for a living)….
What I am trying to say is that facts are dry, often enough, but when they are presented in ways that make them LIVE, it often takes fire and creativity to do that…..
And, unlike the far right, Progressives ain’t lying through their teeth…..
Again, I stumble. When I wrote “the facts”, I meant Facts, in General, not what Mike talks about. I meant just: information. Like, this stuff on the financial meltdown is very dull stuff, indeed, even though it’s also riven through w/corruption.
A talented writer and speaker can take those dull, nauseatingly corrupt facts and use them to educate And entertain people.
I was just reading in Vanity Fair that Oliver Stone *meant* to make Wall St. – the movie – to show how corrupt Wall St. – the edifice of our financial woes – is, but instead, people just admired the movie and liked the Gordon Gekko character.
Now, I may be wrong, but this is due to the fact that people like outlaws. They like those who break the system (and plus, like the idea of limitless wealth).
Now, here is Mike, and he’s not breaking the system, (the opposite, in fact, and working to repair it) yet he has the fire of an outlaw. This might make not enough sense. I should come back to this, later….