Dear Mr. President.

[northofdenali]

Dear President Obama - I don't get return calls but didn't expect any. Here is why.

My anger is getting to the point where I'm nearly ready to register as an Independent - and I've been a registered Democrat since 1972.

We are losing our house because, despite 30 years experience, I don't look like Barbie and after last August's layoff have had exactly 3 interviews and no job offers. (Thank you Simon & Garfunkel and no, I haven't hit 7th Avenue).

Our fuel prices are ridiculous. The Alaska Pipeline is pretty close to my front door. Gas for the car - jeep - motorcycle is now at 4.19 a gallon and will be $5.00+ before "tourist season" hits. Heating oil is $4.35 per gallon and rising. A 1000 gallon gas tank to heat a home here MIGHT, depending on temperature, last a month.

Granted, this state is a wholly owned subsidiary of Big Oil. So, why are there no, NO investigations occurring here, and haven't since ANcSA in 1970?

Then we can talk about health care. The current system killed my mother, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law and, very recently, a cousin I called my brother. Another brother moved to New Zealand just to be able to care for his British wife - even though he had "health care" with one of the larger companies here in the "land of whatever Republicans want you to do".

I got a call today from the DCCC. Nope. This time, not a fucking penny. All politics (as said by my very favorite politician) is local. If you can't keep your promises while campaigning, you won't get my money, or my spouse's money, or the money from my local PFLAG group, or anyone else I can convince that liars are liars.

I don't know what corporations own you. I don't really care. I just know that you made promises, and I worked my ass of in a state so red it bleeds arterial blood to help get you elected.

Health care? Zip
Guantanamo? Zip
Iraq? Zip
Middle East in general? Zip
Assistance with housing/unemployment? Zip

You, sir, as much as I admire your wife and children, are a liar. I don't break my ass, or wind up with my Jeep trashed 3 times during a campaign, for liars.

K, guys here at DU - had a call from the DCCC today. Wanted money. WRONG person to contact. Spouse says I go from 0 to full-bore bitch in less than 60 seconds. It only took about 10 seconds talking to this fundraiser. Do I send the above letter or not? Opinions, pro and con are very welcome.

Hey Skinner et al - haven't been able to afford being online for a while - but please notice I am still an every-quarter donator, even if it's only a few bucks. Give my love to your families.

[FrenchieCat]

1. GoodBye and goodluck!

:hi:

[northofdenali]

44. Frenchie, you definitely know me better than that.

I haven't quit anything since 1968 (except depending on the VA, et al). Unless I get a formal "your ass is off this board" from an Admin? Don't expect my departure.

Hey, BTW, how are things going with you? My kitties say :hi: to yours. You are one of the LAST people on DU I expected to get trashed by, but shit happens.

Free speech is NOT just words. It's a moral concept.

I still :loveya:

[wndycty]

2. Health care zip?

What a fucking joke!

:kick:

[Name removed]

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[Armstead]

25. Semi zip

Sure, some good things in it, so it's not a total "zip." But it's definetly at the very least a semi-zip.

Mandates to buy unaffordable private insurance, and GOP style vouchers to maybe cover part of it possibly if you fall into the right categories.

Further entrenches private insurers as the only real source of coverage for most Americans.

No price controls with teeth on private insurers, and they stikll have a lot of leeway to deny benefits.

[northofdenali]

52. I wasn't fuckin joking and your mule registers like -

uh.

DUH.

So. you live in Daleyland. Good for ya, and as Rich would say, "gsbless" on his rounds through that fabulous city. That's if you're in or near Chicago, an area I love.

I can train mules, horses, dogs and cats..........but cat's aren't really trainable. I can promsie that one. My son-in-law SWEARS he is terrified of Sugar, an 8-pound Burmese mix we found in 1999 (somtimes the rescue overcomes common sense and I wind up with dogs/cats/ferrets/hamsters...., hey, call ME an idio!)

Your DU jackass? Tamed in 30 minutes or less, using nothing invasive, aggressive or mean, and I'd be happy to DU mail photos. And Diddies? She's our short-tailed, yellow belly bug hunter; subpecies: finger chewer, and hair. Usually my husband's - it is WAY longer than mine - or one of her fellow brats.

?ellow-bellied bug hunter

[jefferson_dem]

3. Buh-bye.

Happy trails...

By the way, your "Health care? Zip" comment is bullshit.

[Name removed]

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[Mimosa]

23. No it's not and you know why.

I'm in that boat of not being poor enough to qualify for Medicaid and not rich enough to afford $1,000 a month BC/BS health insurance premiums. By the way I applied for a $500 a month high deductible policy through Aetna and was turned down for pre-existing condition.

The 'gov subsidised' plan offered through the state (with a high deductible) for those who are rejected is $788 a month.

In 2014 the ACA 0f 2010 is supposed to possibly give tax credits for people who can't afford the high premiums.

Now you guys are hating and un-reccing people who are hard up and who tell the truth. No mercy, no kindness. Just attack the messengers all the time. Why is that?

I have sympathy for people who are losing their houses. Maybe some people are comfortable and have secure jobs. But many are getting desperate. They had hope, and expectations. they are willing to work. If there are jobs someplace else they can't afford to move. Not when they've hit bottm and lost their good credit. Sometimes the comments here sound as mean and heartless as those I read on Republican dominated political boards. :(

from OP:

My anger is getting to the point where I'm nearly ready to register as an Independent - and I've been a registered Democrat since 1972.

We are losing our house because, despite 30 years experience, I don't look like Barbie and after last August's layoff have had exactly 3 interviews and no job offers. (Thank you Simon & Garfunkel and no, I haven't hit 7th Avenue).

Our fuel prices are ridiculous. The Alaska Pipeline is pretty close to my front door. Gas for the car - jeep - motorcycle is now at 4.19 a gallon and will be $5.00+ before "tourist season" hits. Heating oil is $4.35 per gallon and rising. A 1000 gallon gas tank to heat a home here MIGHT, depending on temperature, last a month.

Granted, this state is a wholly owned subsidiary of Big Oil. So, why are there no, NO investigations occurring here, and haven't since ANcSA in 1970?

Then we can talk about health care. The current system killed my mother, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law and, very recently, a cousin I called my brother. Another brother moved to New Zealand just to be able to care for his British wife - even though he had "health care" with one of the larger companies here in the "land of whatever Republicans want you to do".

[jaxx]

6. Aw jeez

[hay rick]

7. K&R.

[liberalmuse]

8. Sick of this.

I don't come to DU as often as I used to - but there seem to be A LOT of President Obama haters and my dungeon is getting incredibly full. It's too much work. DU kinda sucks these days, and so do the people who sit on their asses incessantly typing whiny screeds about Obama. Wow, what a difficult job you must have. President Obama has nothing on you.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Mimosa]

24. Nobody 'hates' Obama

Many have reasons to be disappointed.

BTW, government isn't all about 'loving' a president or any elected representative. We're not 'fans' they're not rock stars.

[ClassWarrior]

46. Wow, what sort of pathology leads one to dream up such demons?

:crazy:

NGU.

[northofdenali]

48. Try child rape/murder.

It happens a LOT in the good ole USA.

Check the stats yourself. I'm confident you are able to use Google, Dogpile other search engines.

If it doesn't happen to you, it's non-existent? Try again.

[Name removed]

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[northofdenali]

15. A simple subject message saying I am wrong?

Give me backup. I have a copy of the bill handed personnally to me by Senator Mark Begich (D -Alaska). I have another faxed by Lisa Murkowski (I-Alaska).

Sweetie, I'm probably at least 30 years older than you and have been "involved in how government works" since I helped my Dad's campaign for JFK.

I have worked for state, federal, and local politicos. Sweet cheeks, I know more than you'd ever WANT to know about how "government" works.

You can look up OSS and CIA. THAT is the organization my dad worked for. And he kep confidential info away from Mom - but not us kids.

Wanna argue some more? Go PROVE what you are writing about.

[Armstead]

27. Or the writer DOES understand how government works & is disappointed at how Democrats are doing it

The notion that people who disagree or otherwise disapprove of the handling of it by President Obama and Democrats are ignorant is not the appropriate response to criticism.

How about actually stating why you disagree with that in actual terms, rather than just a dismissive bon mot?

[AtomicKitten]

10. GBCW.

[Name removed]

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[northofdenali]

14. Ya know, kitty? When you get to be my age -

Your little euphamisms will be laughing games to your grandchildren, if you're lucky enough to have them.


You also need more education, time away from the TV/VCR/DVD and some decent books. I'd reccomend starting with anything written by WillPitt (books under William Rivers Pitt); Molly Ivins and just for fun? Robin Hobb - fabulous fantasy writer with way more intelligence than you and I combined.

I've never, since joining DU, put a member on ignore. You are pushing enough of my waning energy (I have cancer amd am going to die) to make me do so.

Why

[AtomicKitten]

16. I got laid off two weeks ago.

The funny thing is that I actually have a reason to blame President Obama. It's because of his funding for Electronic Medical Records that I lost my job of 17 years. With no notice. I have no fucking clue what I'm going to do. One thing I do know is that I will not dump on other people because of my current circumstance. Life is stressful enough without having to don hip boots to get through all the gnashing of teeth and grinding of axes around here.

[northofdenali]

17. Been there.

First, you KNOW you are strong enough to get through this. You're obviously a trained, intelligent employee. Someone will snag you befor you're even ready. Give yourself a few days of downtime.

Second, you hit up local, state, and our idiotic frederal government for every damn penny out there and available to you.

Third - if you have a child under 18 (some states it's 21) make certain you have every drop of info you can get re: school, health or menral health issues). I promise, the time on the phone is worth it.

Fourth - ALWAYS count on your friends/relatives and DU. You can bitch your mind out here and none of us would reject you. Count on friendship first.

I was laid off in August last year. My mom died in January. My favorite cousin committed suicide in Februay. Our house is under foreclosure, and we've had to file bankruptcy. You are NOT alone.

Biggest laugh I got last week was from a US Army Master Sergeant. He told me, and I cracked up - "They're all liars. You just gotta figger out whose tellin' the least lies, then ya know who to vote for" He voted for Oboama, Mark Begich (1st term senator from here) and our new, solidly Repuke mayor (an asshole who won't keep a single "promiee). Sorry, dude, we may e neighbors, but I think you are a piece of roadkkil that my kitties will just sniff and pee on. :rofl: Your time's coming and I will be there. Sorry, but -damn, this dude has less brain matter than an armadillo.

Sent you DU mail. You have hugs, love, and lotsa Alaskanstyle coming your waay.

If I've been harsh? I have no reasons but the ones above. Like my sweetie says, 0 to full out Bitch in less than 30 seconds.

:hug:

I want some CONCRETE, not just critics and would very much appreciate DU mail, email etc. with documentation I can use. Opinions are great.

FACTS are essential. I'm way too old to deal with straight optimism.

[Honeycombe8]

32. What does GBCW mean? nt

[NYC_SKP]

35. Good Bye Cruel World...

or green buttered cat whiskers.

it's one of these, I'm sure!

:P

[northofdenali]

39. ROFLMAO!

My kitties tisker's whickle, too.............

[rug]

18. I can't think of a single reason not to send the letter.

[Name removed]

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[styersc]

21. And Mr. President, my lawnmower won't start. It started with Bush.

If you don't do something about it soon, I'll be voting Republican.

[northofdenali]

47. Without a bush, you wouldn't need your lawnmower.................

:rofl:

Best statement since I was stupid enough to start this thread. :hug::loveya:
And you voting repuke? I'd pay big money to see the look on your face when you did/do it....



BIG money. Trump wearing his roadkill? :rofl:

[Bluenorthwest]

22. At least he does not claim your spouse is some stranger to you

he does not claim that God detests you, that you are not 'sanctified' and that you 'lack a spiritual element' as he says about the gay people he believes should never have equal rights. He says Newt Gingrich is 'Sanctified by God' and all gay people are not. So you are at least considered to be a human being of full standing. We are treated like scum. And the same people who hound you hound us when we point out that we are not 'vampires' as Obama surrogates have said about us, nor monsters, prostitutes nor thieves as they say about us. Imagine if anyone dared to say those things about any other minority group! The reaction would bring the roof down. But call us child killers, many on this thread will simply explain to you that such things are acceptable, tradition, 'church talk'.
So they say criticism of political policy is 'hate' but discrimination against minorities is 'faith'. That is how twisted they can be at times. They hate love.

[northofdenali]

36. No crap, says the proud member of PFLAG of 18 years.

Discrimination of ANY type is unacceptable. I don't give a good damn about your color, creed, race, sexual orientation or chosen religion UNTIL and UNLESS you try and force me to accept you (this is not personal to you) when I just don't LIKE your ass.

I haven't had "plays well with others" as a top-10 to-do since kindergarten in 1959.

[ncteechur]

26. B-bye.

I hope you find your pot o gold over the rainbow.

[ReggieVeggie]

28. pathetic partisan shit

you should be ashamed but I know you're not

[northofdenali]

45. I do not lie. I tell the truth as I see it.

Ask me, RV, about past love life, living in the SF area and out on my ass daily demonstrating about Viet Nam? Fine. I can give you book and chapter.

I haven't been ashamed about a damn thing since I caught my parish priest sucking off my 7 year old brother, and screamed my ass off about it.

I thought Obama was the closest pol since JFK to be, possibly, a real leader. My house windows, jeep, and motorcycle were trashed during the campaign. When he was elected, my happy tears lasted over a week.

But, dammit, if you lie? What does that make you, and who is paying you to do so? I think it means you're a liar, and the 1% of this country that controls 40% of the wealth is our so-called government. I thought Mr. President would be different.

Of course, it sure as hell ain't the first time I've been wrong.

Facts? Partisan shit? When did you register under "D"? I did when I became "of age" in 1972 and have never voted differently. I get sick of Democrats who wind up acting like repukes.

Once again?

Health Care
Guantanamo
Iraq
Afghanistan

If you want to have a partisan bullshit fight, do it with someone who does NOT know reality. Sorry, but I do.

[northofdenali]

37. NC teecher, I'm glad my kids/grandkids don't take your classes.

But I've not been fond of our public education system in over 30 years, especially when a geography teacher informs my daugher there are no moose in Alaska and she gets in-school suspension for proving that hey, this is mom's back yard? What is that, a camel?

I also gave up on the proverbial pot of gold (both my parents were born in the Old Country) well before I gave up on Easter Bunnies, Santa Claus and the ability to attempt an argument with a non sequitor. Try again.

[Autumn]

29. We need a jobs program, we need an investigation into

gas prices, we need health care reform, not insurance finance reform. We need banking reform. We need a lot of reform, not pseudo reform, I get where you are coming from.

[ChiciB1]

30. SEND IT! I'll Get Flamed Too! n/t

[northofdenali]

40. ....

:hug:

[Name removed]

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[Honeycombe8]

33. Don't forget to thank the Prez for extending your unemployment cksTWICE, & for picking up your COBRA

and for picking up a large portion of your COBRA healthcare payments for you.

As for losing your house...there's a rule I've heard of...if you are lucky enough to have a working spouse, your mortgage payment should be low enough that one of the spouses could cont. the payments, even if the other one lost his/her job. Plus, of course, you had enough $$$ in your emergency savings account to pay for 6 to 12 months of living expenses, right?

If you didn't follow those two rules, or if there was a good enough reason for you not to, then you played a major part in losing your house.

I make a good income. Very good, considering what I thought I'd get paid, when I was young. Even so, I don't own a flat panel TV or a laptop, and I drive a 13 1/2 year old car. I have been on one vacation in my adult life...about 35 years ago I went on a three day canoe trip with friends. What I DO have, though is....a very large emergency savings account (I can easily go over a year and still pay all my expenses, with no trouble, even if I have an unexpected big house repair)...and a paid-off house (how I did this: I worked a LOT of overtime over a several year period of time, didn't go on vacations, didn't buy electronics or new tvs, didn't eat out much, etc., etc...and I paid every dime I could into paying my house off....the house I bought was easily within what I could afford, and I didn't spend much $ fixing it up...unfortunately, it shows :( ). I carry no credit card debt whatsoever. Ever. Period. If I don't have the $$$ for something, that means I can't afford it.

I will not be losing my house, even if I'm laid off, because of the steps I took to protect against that. I have no spouse to help me, so maybe that made take those protective steps. I have no relatives who would help me, if I become homeless.

This is how it's done. You apparently didn't do those things. That's your decision, and your business, but don't blame someone else because YOU spent your money unwisely and didn't make plans for a rainy day.

Oh, and also to save money....I watch what I eat, make myself eat veggies, walk or do exercise almost every day, and most importantly, eat a low-sodium low-fat diet. This will ensure that I do not get diabetes or high blood pressure or high cholesterol (since it doesn't run in my family). This will mean that I won't have to take medications for those chronic conditions down the road.

Plan ahead. And don't blame others for things YOU could have avoided.

[northofdenali]

38. Are you kidding? My unemployment does NOT come from Mr. President.

I'll work anywhere that will pay me more than minimum wage, despite well over 30 years of experience. This is a "right to work" state. Unions in Alaska? Hey, maybe Jess Carr handled it during the pipeline building mess, but then trying to rent a house/apartment/cabin/trailer or TENT was impossible here. I don't have COBRA, and if I did? My payments were listed at $1500 a MONTH, when unemployment here maxes out at $106 a WEEK. Do the math.

We don't own any maxed out electronics, drive a 10 year old motorcycle (paid off) once the ice is off the streets, a 7 year old paid off car, and most of our stereo equipment dates from the 1970's when my spouse bought them during a job with a stereo company.

We don't generally eat meat, usually a lot of vegetables that I grow in our greenhouse (paid for) and garden in the back yard, can or freeze using equipment INHERITED from my husband's mom (much dating to 1950). Up here, attempting to grow fruit is a literal waste of money. Oh, I DO buy flour and yeast for my bread (no machine) and most of the meat we do eat? We get out in the woods and/or tundra and get it ourselves. Our freezer is over 20 years old.

Our current monetary situation stems from paying off all my father-in-law's MEDICAL debts during the 7 years he lived here with US because no other options, including Alaska Pioneer's Homes, were available until after he died. Here, at home, in his own bed, with me having the nursing, feeding and transportation responsibilities.

A WWII Vet, retired from the so-called "wealthiest" (to 1% of some of us) state, Medicare (which costs money), Medicaid AND "health care" from his retirement? It paid all but $145,312. Then the banking institution (I'll name no names except this particular establishment starts with K and ends with Y and is 3 letters long) loans an Alzheimer's patient the money, but NO death/disability insurance, for a motor home. We paid it off and sold it.

After my layoff? OUR banking institution (named after a stagecoach operation) RAISED our mortgage payments by over $600 per month. Plan ahead? Gotcha. There went my 401K, IRA, my spouse's 401K and our total savings account.

Any additional snarky sentiments to share?

[TatonkaJames]

34. I've sent worse letters already every week for months...

Finally got an email reply last week. Standard form letter. What B/S.
What you have to remember here is Mr Obama is president in title only.
If he were to call the shots, I think he's the kind of decent human being
that would stop this insanity.
But he doesn't run the country. Like Carlin said, he's there as an "illusion"
for us. If he were to do what he wanted he'd wind up being another JFK
and then we'd have riots and a more divided nation.
It's going to take more than a letter; I'm talking mass demonstrations.

[northofdenali]

41. And I'll have your back. Guaranteed.

Leadership in politics and politicians went out the door with MLK, JFK and, dare I say it, Richard Nixon.

I'm nowhere nohow no way going to register as a repuke. It'd take a lot more than major disappointment and obvious lies to get me there. But as I previously mentioned "all politics is local". DO NOT call me up with fundraising bushit (intentional) and NOT know what our local/state politics are about.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZT01xeO3Ex4/TDcFSPmR9jI/AAAAAAAAC_A/xq-hlzvekqE/s1600/51EP7FXM1TL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[Name removed]

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[northofdenali]

43. Really? They're one of my hubby's favorite living beings.

Got him a great (small) jade turtle necklace just before I got laid off.

Turtles rock. Their human equivalents suck. Which applies to every Repuke I've ever met, including my little brother.

[RoadRage]

49. Wow.. this guy deserves the "WORST TIMING EVER" Award..

Seriously - it takes skill to post something serious like this exactly 3 minutes before it's announced that Obama just snubbed out Osama for the entire world....

[Moral_Imagination]

50. LOL i hope your Spouse gets out now...

[treestar]

51. So if he found you a job you'd change your mind

Do you suppose an R President will find you a job?