The expressions on the faces of the people behind Rogen are just part of the fun.
I hadn’t heard at the time about Seth Rogen’s testimony before Tom Harkin’s Senate Labor and Health Committee, which occurred nine months ago this upcoming week. (Better late than never, I suppose.) It covers the topic of Alzheimer’s disease, which came to afflict his mother-in-law at an early age, and it is both effective and affecting. (Those of you with Alzheimer’s among your loved ones may find it difficult to watch, although for testimony of its type it is comparatively breezy.) It came across my transom (in this case, my Facebook transom) recently, and it was sufficiently interesting, engaging, and informative that it seems worth sharing with you here. (Sadly, almost no one within the Senate watched it, to Rogen’s tweeted dismay.) Vern will, I hope, add some appropriate (or inappropriate) musical accompaniment sometime later today, or so. Meanwhile, it’s a topic that should prove less divisive than some.
This is your pre-Holiday week Weekend Open Thread. Our next general Open Thread, covering the long weekend when experience tells us that no one reads this blog anyway, will appear Wednesday at noon. Talk about Rogen’s testimony, or whatever else you’d like, within broad bounds of decency and decorum.
I remember reading about a think tank that was active during the Reagan administration that was on the very edge of discovering meaningful and game-changing progress in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This world class group of scientists and doctors felt that they were close to a breakthrough in solving and treating this disease, but funding was needed, and an appeal to the government was specifically vetoed by the president. The irony of this was lost on many Americans. The key figure who possessed the knowledge that very well might have turned the corner on handling this horrible disease died. And all his knowledge with him. Reagan of course succumbed to the disease himself-a fittingly ironic consequence of his hubris and possibly early onset denial of having the disease himself.
Many politicians take up causes only when whatever affliction results in harm to themselves or their family. Which goes to show they only really represent themselves, not us.
If I were unfortunate enough to contract Alzheimers I would want the option of euthanasia, as I love my family and would NEVER want to impose the emotional and financial pain that my condition would impose on them. Yet the state would not allow me said option. Rather, the State would demand that my family drain their assets and emotional energy to ensure that I get 24/7 bedside care. At the same time, they promulgate the lie what we live in a ‘free’ nation. Nothing is further from the truth. As a result, thousands of good, honest, hardworking people are robbed of a dignified death and must tearfully slip a plastic bag over their heads under the cover of darkness to save their families from ruin and let them keep their life savings as opposed to giving it up to the medical industry. What an awful fascist policy.
I am sympathetic to a point, but if you feel that strongly about it, it is well within just about anyone’s ability to off themselves if they choose to. Make it look like an accident for insurance purposes though – but if you’ve actually been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s then it could plausibly have been the result of an unfortunate lapse in judgement. Win-win.
“I am sympathetic to a point, but if you feel that strongly about it, it is well within just about anyone’s ability to off themselves if they choose to.”
You completely failed to comprehend my point. Reread. In a purported ‘free’ nation Americans should be able to choose when they die and die in dignity. Offing oneself under a cloak of secrecy or being forced to manufacture one’s death to make it appear to be an ‘accident’ is an undignified death. An American should not have to lapse into a brain coma knowing that he or she is going to be responsible for the financial ruin and psychological torture of his or her loved ones. We allow our pets to die with more dignity. Why not humans? If you end up with Alzheimers and want to bankrupt your family – both financially and emotionally – go ahead. We’re just asking for another option that isn’t a violation of American law. Now do you understand?
This is worth watching…
And how ’bout partisans like Skallywag, who we don’t hear any more bellowing “Ben Ghazi” all day every day? The Republican-controlled House finished up their investigation and couldn’t find any wrongdoing:
http://intelligence.house.gov/sites/intelligence.house.gov/files/documents/Benghazi%20Report.pdf
Oh well. Look – squirrel!
Lindsay Graham is not letting us down! Facts be DAYYUMMED!
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/graham-benghazi-report-full-crap
It was high-ranking democrats like Susan Rice who got caught in open lies on national TV about Benghazi. And what happened to her as a result? Obama promoted her. Obama promotes proven liars. Apparently, he enjoys like company. One primary reason lies are told are to cover things up. If the democrats in high places lied ONCE about what took place in Benghazi (and then got promoted for it) what would stop them from lying the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th time about what took place there? And that poor LA film director who they tried to turn into a scapegoat. That poor man. It just goes to show how repulsive and uncivilized those swine truly are. They’ll implicate innocent citizens to save their own butts.
You either didn’t read the report or didn’t understand the report. Susan Rice reported on the information she was given, in which she had good reason to rely upon as being the best information available at the time — which it was.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have something I have to ask Vern:
What do you think, Chairman V: is this beelzebub, nameless, nameless imitating beelzebub, or some fresh horror visited upon us?
Fresh horror. Looks certain to keep us busy for a while though.
Vern, if you don’t like the truth just tell me. I’ll go away. Just let me know. I don’t want to spoil your party. 😉
You don’t pay much attention to the news or perhaps you simply ignore the news that you don’t care to know about, eh Greg?
Susan Rice knew the story she gave to the press about Benghazi was a lie. She was ordered to tell a lie and she told it. The investigation revealed that few inside the Obama administration believed the story about the youtube video inspiring the attack from the start. The CIA knew that it wasn’t spontaneous – but rather a well organized, well armed and well executed attack on the CIA outpost. We armed the terrorists (rebels) with weapons during Obama’s illegal attack on Libya to take out the Ghadafi regime (he was ultimately assassinated – in violation of the Geneva Convention). The terrorists refused to return the arms afterwards and that’s what lead to the violence.
That wasn’t Susan Rice’s only lie either. She lied about Bowe Bergdahl serviing with honor and distinction in the US Army. Bergdahl was the said defector who surrendered to the Taliban. His army colleagues told us the truth about him. A total misfit with a very strange background. All the information is public. I encourage you to seek it out and learn the FACTS.
Then there was the recent lie about Turkey agreeing to allow the US to use their airbases for our fighter jets in the Syrian airstrikes against ISIS. Another bald-faced lie that didn’t even make sense. Turkey hates the west more than they hate ISIS.
If it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck and paddles in the water like a duck……chances are darn good it’s a duck.
Many Americans have lost their common sense. Sad.
If only there were some Congressional investigatory report that could address the veracity of your ravings. Oh, wait — didn’t something come out last Friday afternoon?
So everytime Susan Rice lies to the public (as noted above) it’s somebody else’s fault? Wow. What a gig! Where do we sign up?? No accountability. Can do no wrong. Automatic promotions after the fact! As long as you work for a King I guess it means an automatic coat of teflon!
You don’t seem to understand the concept of “lying.” I guess we’ll have to start at the remedial level. How do you define “lying”? I know how I do — the way that the law does — but I want to know how you do.
Vern said: “The Republican-controlled House finished up their investigation ..”
That is bullshit – there is another House investigation –
The South Carolina Republican, a former prosecutor, told the New York Times that the probe may be finished by the end of 2015, “assuming cooperation from agencies, witnesses and the administration.”
But he told the paper that’s not a given.
“I say ‘should’ because we cannot predict what witnesses will say, what documents may be produced, and whether either will lead to additional lines of appropriate inquiry,” Gowdy said. “Just as I did not sign up for nor have any interest in a political investigation, likewise I have no interest in half measures, partial productions or a lack of access to witnesses with relevant information.”
This is not over by a long shot Vern. People knew Rice was spinning a tale when she was lying to the UN.
http://www.vox.com/2014/11/21/7259207/scientific-paper-scam