MoveOn & R.E.M. released a new video from MoveOn members with personalized messages to their elected officials about a public health insurance option. It's quite powerful to see the many people and the circumstances they find themselves in fighting terrible diseases and conditions and a powerful industry committed to sucking every last penny from their living hands.

I really shouldn't be surprised at this point by what comes out of the mouth's of our elected officials. Case in point - Mark Sanford and Sarah Palin - but I just couldn't believe the garbage that spewed out of Georgia Republican Paul Broun's mouth on Friday on the floor of the House.

My favorite part of his speech comes when he talks of the Canadian and British universal health plans and states, all-knowingly, that they "don't appreciate life like we (the US) do, evidently." Really? What the f*ck does that mean? Dude, you are an @sshole!

The United States dramatically needs health care reform. And that can be nothing less than a public health care option. I'd go farther to say that we need a single-payer system. If you happen to live in Georgia - or just want to share your thoughts with Rep. Broun - call or email his office and let him know what will actually kill people (poverty, wars, hunger, not being able to get treatment for cancer, etc.) and scold him for his irresponsible, partisan rhetoric. You can reach his office at (202) 225-4101.

Guess who is resigning as Governor of Alaska? No, not Mark Sanford - he should be the other Republican Governor resigning but he isn't.

IT'S SARAH PALIN!

The announcement came at a hastily arranged press conference at her home in Wasilla today in what seems like an attempt to be lost in a slow news day before a holiday. There Gov. Sarah Palin announced that she will be resigning as Governor of Alaska on July 26. Lt. Governor Sean Parnell will then take over after being sworn in at a picnic.

She claims that family was the biggest factor in her decision.

"I polled the most important people in my life, my kids, where the count was unanimous," she said. "Well, in response to asking, 'Hey, you want me to make a positive difference and fight for all our children's future from outside the governor's office?' It was four yeses and one 'Hell, yeah!" And the 'Hell, yeah' sealed it."

It could also have something to do with the scathing Vanity Fair article that just came out.

I'm hoping that she either fades into oblivion or goes back to the beauty pageant circuit.

UPDATED!

I've just added Gov. Palin's speech - it's bizarre and confusing to say the least. She doesn't want to be a lame duck governor? Several people are already wondering aloud if she - or another family member - is pregnant again.

On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court announced their decision regarding the constitutionality of a state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. That decision makes Iowa the third state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry. Not just domestic partnerships (which is being pushed in my former home of Wisconsin) or civil unions as they have in Vermont but marriage.

Here's an excerpt from the unanimous Supreme Court decision:

"We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian
people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially
further any important governmental objective. The legislature has
excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a
supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally
sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in
dispute, that can affect this determination."

"We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of
the law. Faithfulness to that duty requires us to hold Iowa’s
marriage statute, Iowa Code section 595.2, violates the Iowa
Constitution. To decide otherwise would be an abdication of our
constitutional duty. If gay and lesbian people must submit to
different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification,
they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection
upon which the rule of law is founded. Iowa Code section 595.2
denies gay and lesbian people the equal protection of the law
promised by the Iowa Constitution."

Opponents of equal rights immediately started lobbying the legislature to begin the process of amending the state constitution. The earliest voters could vote on a constitutional amendment would be 2012 - if the phobes are successful at getting two consecutive sessions of the legislature to pass it. Luckily for all the rest of us Democrats control both houses.

Congrats Iowa! And for all you folks looking to tie the knot, I heard you can plan a pretty cheap wedding in Dubuque.

I received this from MoveOn and thought it was important enough to post. It's exactly from MoveOn's email.

The plan:
1. Makes a $634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers every single American.

2. Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.

3. Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be outsourced.

4. Brings our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.

5. Reverses growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.

6. Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies.

7. Increases grants to help families pay for college — the largest increase ever.

8. Halves the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the economy begins to recover.

9. Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC — the agencies that police Wall Street.

10. Tells it straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them.

And, it looks like Republicans are realizing they may not be able to block President Obama's budget. Finally things are looking up for this country.