SAIGONBOB

Will Obama Give America the Health Care We Want or The Health Care We Need?

   

Some of our Democratic Senators are balking at the size of health care package, proposed by President Obama.
    Most liberal democrats are for a single payer system, where health care delivery would be paid by all taxpayers.  This comes from the Medicare system which has worked for seniors.'
    This is the Medicare for all American's.  This is the health care we want.
    However, since a dog-fight on the subject has broken up Democratic opinion, President Obama is going to have to negotiate his way from the Oval Office to the Capital.

    This will be a tough fight against his own party. to just get the health care we need.

     No matter how sincere our federal elected officials , they receive millions of dollars of special interest money........dollars they need for reelection........from the health care industry.

    Obama has to become a lot tougher, in order to beat the system for health care.

    He has about 30 days to get it together.

    
Thank you,

Bob Kholos

     

           

Satchel Paige-the New Book and my Cancer

 Author Larry Tye has written a new book on one of the great baseball players-Satchel Paige.
 The title is : SATCHEL--The Life and Times of an American Legend.
  I just started it, and it is a wonderful read.
  As I go into the hospital for my stem cell transplant, I can't think of a better book to escape reality and pass the time.
  Satchel was my childhood hero.  When my father was 12 years old, in Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, he sold soft drinks, while Satchel Paige pitched in a "Negro" league game.
  As a young adult, when I worked at KMPC radio in Los Angeles, I had the fortune to meet Satchel Paige.
  Even in 1965 he was in great shape--tall and slender--he came dressed in a dark suit and skinny tie, with black shoes, and white sweat socks.  I met him as he entered the station to be interviewed by sports announcer Fred Hessler and "sports at 6."
 When I was in college, I did my first public speaking class based on the autobiography by Satchel Paige, and how he learned to play baseball in the segregated south, while incarcerated in a juvenile facility.
During the summer months, I'll be listening a lot to Ella Fitzgerald, reading "Satchel," and recuperating from my transplant.
Thanks,
Bob Kholos

THE OBAMA "EFFECT."

UPDATE:(9/13/2009) It appears that the "reform" candidate in the Iranian elections lost--but there are riots in the streets--I still consider this the Obama "Effect."

It appears, after waiting for many years, we have a President who, when he speaks, the world listens.
After his speech in Cairo, an American friendly administration was voted into office in Lebanon.
Now, although the vote still hasn't been counted, and Obama reached out his diplomatic hand to the Iranians, a so called reformer has made a real challenge to the more reactionary elite of that country.
Its not a real democratic election in Iran, because the religious leaders decide who can and cannot run for public office---but it is still a major shift, particularly among the younger voters of the Shia controlled country.
This new Obama Effect is challenging the old world order, and his vision and toughness in the area of health reform, domestically, for example, has brought much of that special interest community into a movement, not seen since the persuasive Lyndon Johnson.
We may not get exactly what we want on the health care front, but because of the OBAMA EFFECT, Americans will see an entirely different health care delivery system, this time around.
Thanks
Bob Kholos

Another Stem-Cell Transplant

    

In a couple of weeks, I go into a big city hospital for a donor's stem cell transplant.
     I have had recurring Cancer for over two years now.  I did have an earlier transplant, but it was from my own body, and that didn't work.
     The doctor's are thinking that this one will work, because, in essence, I'm getting some one else's immune system.
    Of course, the danger here, is that my body rejects the transplant.  At which time, I'll be in some trouble.
    The hospital is two hours from my home, and therefore I will have to rent an apartment for 4 months.  I have to follow certain dietary rules, and be very close to the hospital for constant follow-up.
    If I get a fever, after the transplant, for example, they throw me into a special isolated Emergency Room, because I will be very susceptible to illness.
    Right now, even with my broken foot, I feel pretty good....and still blog.
     The week of June 16, I probably won't be able to blog for about a week or so....we'll see.
     While undergoing treatment, I love to listen to Ella Fitzgerald....and a friend is going to download on my MP3 player, a professor's entire course on WWII.  This should be very interesting.  I was born in Los Angeles during World War II.
      I'll be watching the usual baseball games, but unfortunately, will not be able to attend any major league games this summer. This is a real loss for me.
     When I was a young man, I wanted to be a baseball play by play announcer, and my first major job, was with KMPC radio in Los Angeles....where I got to practice sports announcing.
      Thanks for reading:
      Bob Kholos

LA Mayor Villaraigosa-- Too Controversial for Governor Run?

   

  Once again, according to the Los Angeles Times, Mayor Villaraigosa is dating another pretty TV news anchor.
     Although separated from his wife, the last time he had an affair with a Los Angeles based TV journalist, she wound up losing her job, because of conflict of interest, in her reporting of the Mayor.
     There is mounting evidence, with another affair, that Mayor Villaraigosa is much too controversial to run for Governor.
     This is a big boost of State Attorney General Jerry Brown, who is likely to capture much of the Latino vote, should Villaraigosa exit the 2010 gubernatorial contest.
     Here is an excerpt from the Los Angeles Times story, June 2, 2009.
     For follow-up check Steve Lopez column in the same newspaper:

    

KTLA

Lu Parker is a general assignment news reporter and weekend anchor for KTLA Channel 5.

L.A. mayor is dating local newscaster

Email Picture

KTLA

Lu Parker is a general assignment news reporter and weekend anchor for KTLA Channel 5.

Villaraigosa has been seeing Lu Parker of KTLA Channel 5 since March. An affair with another newscaster broke up his marriage two years ago.

By Phil Willon
June 2, 2009

A Los Angeles television reporter is dating Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, about two years after his extramarital affair with another local newscaster led to the breakup of his 20-year marriage.

KTLA-TV Channel 5 reporter Lu Parker, a former Miss U.S.A., has been dating Villaraigosa since March, station officials confirmed Monday. On Sunday, while working as a weekend anchor, Parker announced a story about the likelihood of Villaraigosa running for governor in 2010.
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Bob Kholos

Dick Cheney Should Shut Up--Draft Dodger--Mean Spirited

I've had it with that famous draft dodger from the Vietnam War, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and his "new openness."
It's hard to believe that a guy who screwed up so badly on the War in Iraq, now gets no scrutiny from the national media, when he criticizes the Obama administration.
He has the audacity to take on President Obama for going to Egypt to make a speech, while Cheney was Haliburton's "boy" as VP.(I make this comparison because Obama is above board and honest about why he is going to an Arab country, while Cheney was making war profits for his former bosses at Haliburton)
President Obama will be making a trip to Saudi Arabia, also.  It's no surprise that he won't get criticized by Cheney for that trip, considering the Saudi's owned the Bush White House.
I haven't heard one reporter ask Cheney why he avoided the draft so many times during the Vietnam War, and then didn't hesitate to send others to their deaths in Iraq.
No one is challenging Cheney on his remarks about Colin Powell, and wouldn't it have been prudent to listen to the former Chairman of the Joint Chief of staff, on going slow in Iraq.
Thanks for reading:
Bob Kholos

Bob Schieffer - CBS News-A Class Act

During his interview with former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, on Face The Nation, Sunday, May 24, 2009, Bob Schieffer was at his journalistic best.
He drew out the long standing moderate Republican on Dick Cheney, Gitmo, and the future of the GOP.
Why, this man, who earned the two Purple Hearts---one rescuing a helicopter crew in Vietnam--has to answer to draft dodger, Dick Cheney, and right wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, is a real question for average Americans, who care about decent people running our government.
As long as the media gives credibility to Cheney and Limbaugh, the Republican Party will be out in the wilderness for a long, long time.
Thanks for reading:
Bob Kholos

Photo: From Politico.com

Dick Cheney vs Colin Powell--Draft Dodger vs Real Man

Former Vice President Dick Cheney is starting to talk---talk a lot---about nothing.   He avoided the draft in Vietnam 5 times, so he could let other soldiers die in his place.   When he had no chance of being drafted, he dropped out of his PhD course, and went on his political way.  
I could care less that he was a draft dodger, but instead he became all "macho man," designed the war in Iraq, and some wonderful men and women lost their lives---their arms and legs, because Cheney was incompetent, and didn't take the advice of a man, who earned a Purple Heart in Vietnam, Colin Powell.
Its no secret that  Gen./Secretary of State Colin Powell, wanted to go slow and study the situation more before committing combat troops to the danger zones of Iraq.
For his experience in warfare, his punishment by Cheney, and Rumsfeld, was to lose his job in the administration.(I don't think Rumsfeld served America in the military.)
So, my question is this:  Why is the media giving so much credibility to the former veep?  Why don't they ask him why he didn't volunteer and serve in Vietnam?
The public shouldn't  have to watch Cheney--the draft dodger, at the same time President Obama is outlining security for America.
The real man--former General Colin Powell, should be given the last word, after Cheney's speech tomorrow.
President Obama's speech is at 10am(EDT), while "Mr." let everyone else fight my wars," Cheney talks at 10:45am(EDT) on Thursday, May 21,2009.
Thanks--Bob Kholos

No Blog for Few Days--High Dose Chemotherapy

I'll be pretty sick after my high dose chemotherapy, and thus will not be able to blog for the next few days.
I love to talk politics, baseball, college basketball, and college football....but for now I have to rest.
-Bob Kholos

Why Major Corporations Should Spend More Money in Las Vegas

     A month or so ago, a major corporation was shamed into canceling a a major get-together at the Wynn Las Vegas.  This was a horrible mistake.
     The idea to get the economy going again is to spend money, not save it.
     Las Vegas is the perfect place to lay down your buck for that big business get together.
     Most of the casino's and hotels in Las Vegas are Union backed, and therefore, even the "drink girls," get a living wage....some of them to the extent of buying a new house and starting a family.
     Las Vegas is Americana---where no one cares what your background is, or how much money you have.  Even social status is unimportant, as long as you can spend a couple of bucks at the one arm bandit, or some of the long odds table games.
The art community is busting out in Las Vegas--some of the greatest shows you'll ever see are in Las Vegas.  This helps the creative community to continue to be employed.
The city is having economic difficulties, like the rest of the United States, but spending money there will have a major domino effect on, not only the economy, but the personal lives of the hard working people, who make your stay, memorable.
Hotel rates at the major strip hotels are great right now.  Its less expensive to stay at a 4 star hotel during the week, than it is to stay in downtown Portland, Oregon, or Los Angeles,California.
 In fact, on the plane, one jewelry entrepreneur, told me that they moved their entire country wide companies from New York to Las Vegas, because it was cheaper in Vegas than going across the street into the confines of that cities hotels.
So, major corporations, get that Mai Tai, or have a beer, and let loose and give your employees a break,
so Las Vegas will have a major come-back.

Thanks for reading:
Bob Kholos