LEADERSHIP CULTIVATION

Win One For Teddy, Pass Health Care Reform

America lost a genuine hero and champion of everyday people with the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy.  Teddy showed us how much we can achieve when we refuse to succumb to personal failings.  It's a known fact we can be our worst enemy and the biggest hindrance to personal success. But Teddy after experiencing so many bumps in the road, recovered to become maybe the greatest Senator in the history of the United States. His many detractors unwittingly may have been his biggest motivators.

Teddy had a problem with alcohol abuse and who can blame him after having to deal with the loss of all his brothers and a sister early in his life.  What an awesome burden?  I think I can cut him some slack.  Yet I am amazed that so many people with weaknesses (that would be everybody) hold Kennedy and others like Michael Vick to hypocritical standards that lack empathy or compassion.

A major lesson we can learn from Teddy's life is never delegate responsibility for personal success or failure to others. This week as television fed us a steady diet of Teddy's successes and failures, I couldn't help but think about Senator Jim DeMint's proclamation that "passage (or the lack thereof) of health care reform would be President Obama's watershed moment." If DeMint was paying attention, surely he came to the realization that life and political careers are full of watershed moments. Using DeMint's rationale, it could be said that health care reform is a Teddy Kennedy watershed moment as well. But given the obvious respect and affection that Democrat and Republican lawmakers had for Teddy, I hope they will put partisan politics on hold and pass a comprehensive health care reform bill.  What better opportunity exists to solidify the legacy of a friend. The "Gipper" aside, I hope they do it for Teddy.  May he find rest from his labor.

GOP Staging "Spontaneous" Protests to Healthcare Reform...Really?

Democrats are claiming that GOP operatives are staging fake spontaneous outbursts during town hall meetings held to talk about health care reform.  Wow imagine that, the GOP playing games with health care reform.  I find myself being redundant by asking the question, where is the surprise...isn't that what the GOP does? More pressing questions are why do Americans tolerate such theatrics and where does the GOP find these members of the so-called "country first" crowd who reveal by their actions that they care about anything but the best interests of Americans or America. Millions of Americans suffer daily from not having adequate or any health care and this bunch of clowns only care about playing and winning at political games.  It just boggles the mind that these shenanigans are allowed to work. The GOP is counting on that trend to continue so that they can accomplish their stated mission to prevent President Obama from being successful at any cost.

Republicans are consistent with their efforts to be obstructionists. Sensible people must be just as consistent with their efforts to stand up for righteousness and fight, fight, fight for what we know is right. Are we our brother's keepers? I think so. Political detractors call that Socialism. I call it being sensitive to the plight of others and caring about those who may be less fortunate.  I listened to an interesting conversation on the radio the other day where it was stated that most Americans are satisfied with their current health care coverage or the current health care system.  If that's true, the "satisfied" referred to must be those who have never been unemployed and uninsured or never been denied coverage or payment of an insurance claim because of a "pre-existing medical condition." Satisfied? I don't think so.  Can we have a better health care system?  Yes we can. Will it be easy to accomplish? No it will not because preservers of the status quo never sleep. Americans who want an improved health care system must not let sleep either!

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Blue Dog Democrats or Just Plain Yellow on Health Care Reform?

President Obama must be thinking "Ain't this a Beeswax" in reference to some Democrats collaborating with the GOP to try and derail the President's intent to bring much needed health care reform to America. Talk about working across the aisle. At a minimum, the President must be hearing in his head the old O'Jays hit, "Back Stabbers." One has to wonder about the motivation of these so-called Blue Dog Democrats who side with the obstructionists Republicans. The Republicans have made no secret of their wish to challenge the President for the sake of the exercise. Isn't that what they do? However I am particularly offended and irritated by Democrats who may be wolves in sheep's clothing. Maybe these Democrats should change their name from Blue Dog to Old Yellow with apologies to the real Old Yeller.  That description or just plain yellow seems to better fit their actions.

With the election of Barack Obama, the country voted for change instead of more of the same. The President warned us about those who would fight to keep the status quo.  And let's be fair about this, they are not all Republicans.  The actions of Republicans and Old Yellows alike who appear immune to the pain and suffering of everyday Americans living without adequate health care, should not be applauded. Their feet should be held to the fire by persons in their districts when they run for reelection.  Why should they be reelected when they have shown themselves to be insensitive to the health care needs of their constituents. Don't they care that people are suffering?  Old Yellows should look into the eyes of those who lack health care and ponder the effect of their delay on the health and well being of many who are suffering.

To know pain is to feel pain.  Do they feel pain? Most Old Yellows are very wealthy with the added luxury of having a congressional health care plan. Still they should be ashamed if their actions prevent the country from adopting an effective health care plan and settles for the watered-down version supported by their GOP comrades.The GOP has been grasping at straws since the election. They must be especially gleeful that their obstructionistic plans are getting an assist from insiders. "Et tu, Brute"? The President should be very wary of back stabbers who call themselves friends. " Somehow, I think he is and won't be terribly surprised when he emerges victorious despite the land mines being placed in his path by "allies."