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Cuba Watch: SICKO Highlights its Humanism
Filmmaker Michael Moore marches with nurses from the California Nurses Association (CNA) to a special screening of his new documentary ‘SiCKO’ at the State Capitol in Sacramento June 12, 2007. Cuba’s Communist government joined the debate surrounding Moore’s documentary on Friday, saying the film will allow the world to get a glimpse of the humaneness of its health system.
Cuba says Moore’s “SiCKO” highlights its humanism
Cuba’s Communist government joined the debate surrounding Michael Moore’s new documentary “SiCKO” on Friday, saying the film will allow the world to get a glimpse of the humaneness of its health system.
The film, due to open in the United States on June 29, indicts the U.S. health-care system as putting the profits of insurance and pharmaceutical companies ahead of public health concerns.
To make his point, Moore traveled to Cuba in March with three volunteers who worked in the ruins of New York’s World Trade Center after the September 11 attacks. He said the three are now suffering health problems tied to that work and are struggling to get appropriate treatment in the United States.In Cuba, the film says, they received exemplary treatment at virtually no cost.
Yeah, right.
Let’s examine the Cuban health care system:
Universal health care has long given the Cuban regime bragging rights, though there is growing concern about the future. In the decades that Cuba drew financial and military support from the Soviet Union, Mr. Castro poured resources into medical education, creating the largest medical school in Latin America and turning out thousands of doctors to practice around the world.
But that changed after the collapse of the Soviets, according to Cuban defectors like Dr. Leonel Cordova. By the time Dr. Cordova started practicing in 1992, equipment and drugs were already becoming scarce. He said he was assigned to a four-block neighborhood in Havana Province where he was supposed to care for about 600 people.
“But even if I diagnosed something simple like bronchitis,†he said, “I couldn’t write a prescription for antibiotics, because there were none.â€
He defected in 2000 while on a medical mission in Zimbabwe and made his way to the United States. He is now an urgent-care physician at Baptist Hospital in Miami.
Having practiced medicine in both Cuba and the United States, Dr. Cordova has an unusual perspective for comparison.
“Actually there are three systems,†Dr. Cordova said, because Cuba has two: one is for party officials and foreigners like those Mr. Moore brought to Havana. “It is as good as this one here, with all the resources, the best doctors, the best medicines, and nobody pays a cent,†he said.
But for the 11 million ordinary Cubans, hospitals are often ill equipped and patients “have to bring their own food, soap, sheets — they have to bring everything.†And up to 20,000 Cuban doctors may be working in Venezuela, creating a shortage in Cuba.
A little different story, no?
Michael Moore is creating BUZZ for his movie that he hopes makes him a few more $ millions.
Does anyone REALLY think Moore gives a shit about the American health care system?
More on Cuba’s healthcare system here and here.
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Michael Ramirez on Michael Moore’s SICKO
Technorati Tags: Michael Moore, Sicko
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: The Left’s Inability to Rebut Rudy Giuliani on Terrorism
Wall Street Journal: The Left’s Inability to Rebut Rudy Giuliani on Terrorism
And John Edwards is a light weight in dealing with terrorism as is Obama and Clinton.
It staggers the imagination to think these folks could actually be the President.
Rudy is RIGHT about Edwards and the RIGHT man for the Presidency.
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Nation Lacks Strong LeadershipRudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – “My 12 Commitments to Americaâ€
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy’s Houston Baptist Speech
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Reaffirms Abortion Rights
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Abortion Rights and February 5 States Are Strategery for Rudy
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Can Rudy Overcome Pro-Choice Abortion Stand?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: The May 3rd GOP Presidential Debate – Abortion and Iraq?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy the Front-Runner
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Obama, Edwards Prove Giuliani Right
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy on Offense and Democrats Don’t Like It
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – “America Will Be Safer with a Republican Presidentâ€
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Conservative Christians Favor Giuliani
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Fred Thompson Watch: Why?
Fred Thompson on Abortion and FamilyThe question has to be asked:Why would an almost 65 year old former Senator with two young children (one less than a year old) bother with running for the Presidency?Wouldn’t his family be better off with him at home or a less time consuming job? So, he can spend more time with his children and grandchildren (from his first wife)?
Just asking…….
Do you think anyone at the National Right to Life Conference for which the video above was filmed will wonder the same thing?
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Fred Thompson Watch: Thompson is IN
Fred Thompson Watch: Representative Blackburn Jumps Ship
Fred Thompson Watch: The Scrutiny Begins
Technorati Tags: Fred Thompson
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Giuliani Notes: Rudy in Portland Oregon
Then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, left, gestures as he announces that New York City appears to be leading the nation’s fight against crime, Sunday, Jan. 5, 1997, at a New York City police precinct. Figures for early 1996 show a 10.5 percent drop compared to the 3 percent nationwide decrease. New York city Police Commissioner Howard Safir is at right. Republican presidential candidate Giuliani has a ready answer for solving the nation’s woes – computerized statistics.
Candidate Rudy Giuliani makes quick Portland visit
Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani will make a quick stop in Portland on Friday.
Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City who was serving during the 2001 terror attacks, is expected to arrive at the Flying Elephants Deli in downtown Portland around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
The deli is located at 812 Southwest Park Avenue near the Fox Tower building.
Rudy has been a more visible Presidential candidate in the Far West than any other candidate.
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Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor Endorses Peripheral Canal
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger greets the audience at a sit-down dialogue with moderator Rick Rodriguez , left, executive editor of the Sacramento Bee, during the opening plenary of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference in San Jose, Calif., on June 13, 2007.
Delta-circumventing project was rejected by state’s voters in 1982
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called Thursday for a canal to transfer water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, marking the first time he has expressed support for the historically controversial project.
The Republican governor, speaking at a town-hall forum in Bakersfield, told farmers he would fight to ensure they have enough water for the next two to three decades.
“We need more water,” he said, according to a recording. “We need to build more storage, and we have to build conveyance, the canal, and all of those kinds of things.”
About damn time.
And, now, Arnold has to sell it to the environmental community which should be easier due to Delta environmental endangered species impacts, national security concerns, and earthquake worries.
Look for a bond issue by June 2008.
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: Peripheral Canal, California Water Project, Arnold Schwarzenegger
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North Korea Watch: North Korea Continues to Develop Nuclear Weapons
Anti-North Korea protesters chant slogans with a defaced North Korean flag at a protest demanding disarmament of North Korea’s nuclear weapons in Seoul June 15, 2007. The path to disarming North Korea of its nuclear weapons will prove much harder than clearing a deadlock over its funds that took nearly two years, South Korea’s chief envoy to six-way talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear programmes, was quoted as saying on Friday.
U.S. intelligence agencies think North Korea is continuing development of nuclear weapons, as well as working on “miniaturization” of weapons for missile warheads, according to a senior Bush administration official.
Since the February nuclear accord reached in Beijing, North Korea has continued work on weapons, said a senior Bush administration official involved in North Korean affairs.
“There are no indications that they are not pursuing a nuclear weapons capability, to include the weaponization and miniaturization,” the official said.
U.S. intelligence officials think North Korea, which received equipment through the covert Pakistani nuclear-supplier network headed by Abdul Qadeer Khan, obtained Chinese documents on designing a small warhead, the key to developing a nuclear weapon small enough for missile warheads.
The Chinese-language warhead design documents were first uncovered in Libya, which gave up its nuclear program in 2003.
Three recent missile tests in North Korea over the past several weeks were anti-ship cruise missiles fired during exercises that were not unusual for North Korean military forces at this time of year, the official said.
“Those who are looking at the six-party process and where we are today with [the Banco Delta Asia funds transfer] are very disappointed,” the senior official said. “This doesn’t build confidence. This is a time that is very tense and we want to go to implementing the 13 February agreement. So even though this is a normal exercises, I think there is an element of disappointment that North Korea would move in that direction.”
North Korea has shown no signs of preparing of another underground nuclear test but “they could have a nuclear test at any time with minimal or no warning,” the official said.
The October test was a “nuclear event” but the blast caused by the test was smaller than North Korea had hoped, the official said.
Does America have another surprise awaiting this 4th of July? Remember when Kim Jong-Il test fired a missile towards Hawaii last year?
There needs to be resolution of these negotiations or UN sanctions should resume against North Korea.
Stay tuned……
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North Korea Watch: Deal or NO Deal?
North Korea Watch: North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Disarmament
North Korea Watch: North Korea Tentatively Agrees to Nuclear Disarmament
Iran Nuclear Watch: North Korea Helping Iran With Nuclear Testing
North Korea Watch: North Korea Wants United Nations Sanctions Lifted
North Korea Watch: Bush Warns North Korea – “Don’t Transfer Nukesâ€
North Korea Watch: A Return to 6 Party Talks – A Diplomatic Win for President Bush
North Korea Watch: Pyongyang Threatens War Against South Korea
North Korea Watch: Kim Jong-Il REGRETS Nuclear Test
North Korea Nuclear Watch: President Bush – United States WILL Stop North Korean Nuclear Transfers
North Korea Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice Promises United States Defense of Japan
Technorati Tags: NorthKorea, KimJong-Il
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Missile Defense Watch: Gates – Missile Defense in Eastern Europe Continues
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks with the media after a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, not shown, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday June 15, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ assertion that the Bush administration will not replace its plan for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe with Russia’s counterproposal for a radar site in Azerbaijan was met with silence from the Russians Friday.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Bush administration is not willing to replace its plan for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe with Russia’s counterproposal for a radar site in Azerbaijan.
And NATO is drawing up plans for an additional short range missile defense plan for Southern Europe:
Meanwhile, NATO ordered its military experts to draw up plans for a possible short-range missile defense system to protect nations on the alliance’s southern flank that would be left exposed by proposed U.S. anti-missile units in central Europe.
According to U.S. and NATO officials, the addition of the European bases to anti-missile installations in North America would protect most of Europe from the threat of long-range attack from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East. But it would leave Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and parts of Romania exposed.
To fill that gap, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO experts would produce a report by February on short-range anti-missile defenses “that can be bolted on to the overall missile defense system as it would be installed by the United States.”
Now, will Putin cancel his meeting with President Bush in July?
Stay tuned……
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, shakes hands with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday June 15, 2007.
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Cox & Forkum: G-8 Party Crasher
Missile Defense Watch: Bush Talks Tough on Missile Defense
Missile Defense Watch: Russia’s Putin Blames America for New Arms Race
Missile Defense Watch: Russia Tests New ICBM – RS-24
Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System Test – Postponed Until Summer
Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System To Be Tested Thursday
Missile Defense Watch: USA and Israel in $205 Million Missile Defense Deal
Missile Defense Watch: Russia and USA Clash Over European Missile Shield
Missile Defense Watch: THAAD Missile Defense Test is Successful
Missile Defense Watch: United States Missile Defense Operational Within a Year
Technorati Tags: Missile Defense Agency, Missile Defense
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Day By Day by Chris Muir June 15, 2007