An Apology and a Response.

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Sunday June 13, 2010 · 10:56 PM PDT

2010/06/13 · 22:56

Earlier today I posted a diary that caused some consternation.

I apologize to those in this community who were upset by it, and also appreciate those who took my question seriously and offered a response.

It was always meant to be deleted, (as I stated in the diary itself) and after I read through the comments, I did delete.

beijingbetty

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Friday January 15, 2010 · 8:05 AM PST

2010/01/15 · 08:05

[UPDATE: Gao Zhisheng resurfaced in March 2010, contacting the media, friends and family from a Buddhist retreat. He had been released from custody some six months earlier. He undoubtedly remains under police surveillance. He has announced that he is 'retiring' from political advocacy. ]

According to reports, top human rights lawyer and fierce reform advocate Gao Zhisheng has 'disappeared'.

By disappeared, I don't mean 'disappeared from his home'. Local police and state security agents had already 'disappeared' him the more conventional sense, nabbing him while he was visiting family in February 2009.

No, the news is that he disappeared while still in police custody.

beijingbetty

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Saturday September 12, 2009 · 1:11 AM PDT

2009/09/12 · 01:11

I love this man. Former Labor Secretary and UCB Professor Robert Reich lays out what is really going on in the health care reform fight --- which is about to become a pitched battle:

The real political race for health care has just begun. The significance of the President's speech to Washington insiders was its signal about where the White House is placing its bets and its support... Think of the speech as the starting gate of a two-month sprint between two competitors -- and they're not Democrats and Republicans.

More after the jump:

Poll

1042 votes Show Results

The fight for meaningful healthcare reform with a public option, no trigger, and no coops -

1042 votes Vote Now!

The fight for meaningful healthcare reform with a public option, no trigger, and no coops -

Is over. Obama sold us out. (Curse you Rahm!)

172 votes

Is still being fought. Obama & Congresscritters need to hear from us, and we have nothing to lose. (STFU Rahm!)

866 votes

Is not worth fighting. Obama & Congresscritters don't need to hear from me to know what I want. (Rahm always puts principle before politics, right?)

4 votes

How the Republicans Can Rise Again on Healthcare Reform.

beijingbetty

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Tuesday September 01, 2009 · 4:57 AM PDT

2009/09/01 · 04:57

HEALTHCARE reform is the defining issue not only for this President and the Democratic party, but for our generation.

While I am yet hopeful President Obama knows what he is doing, I think it important to also understand how important timing is for our goals and our political leverage. If we get this done, we have a good shot at moving ahead on the full plate of issues covered by the mandate for change.

But I feel we are being set up on the issue of healthcare reform. Whether it is by political design, or merely a window of political opportunism, I propose the following scenario as the reason why we should only strongly back meaningful, comprehensive health care reform including the public option.

We need to get this done.

Because if we don't, the Republicans will.

More below the jump...

Poll

36 votes Show Results

Healthcare reform as a Republican Issue is

36 votes Vote Now!

Healthcare reform as a Republican Issue is

Impossible. Democrats own this issue even though we've failed at getting it done for decades.

4 votes

Not likely. Their political base will never agree to it.

14 votes

Possible. They want healthcare reform but just don't want to see liberals get credit.

9 votes

Likely. The Republicans will recover by moving further to the right, and indulging their inner Liberatarians.

4 votes

This is Nuts. And Pie. Pecan Pie.

2 votes

I'm moving to Hong Kong where I can have UHC and play the Forex.

3 votes

From Hong Kong: Healthcare reform is not socialist.

beijingbetty

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Thursday August 06, 2009 · 8:01 PM PDT

2009/08/06 · 20:01

Don't believe the hype. The healthcare debate in the US is being jeopardized by right-wing extremists who yammer that universal health care is socialism.

Once again, they don't know what the hell they are talking about.

Universal health care is a hallmark of fiscal conservatism.

And the freest market economies of the world all have it.

This is a diary about my experience yesterday with healthcare in the most fiscally conservative, most capitalist place on the planet: Hong Kong.

More below the fold —

beijingbetty

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Tuesday July 07, 2009 · 3:44 AM PDT

2009/07/07 · 03:44

Glenn Greenwald asks an important question about the current riots in China's Xinjiang province.

And that is, what if the Uighurs were Christian and not Muslim?

beijingbetty

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Saturday October 04, 2008 · 9:42 PM PDT

2008/10/04 · 21:42

For AMERICANS ABROAD whose voting residence is

Illinois, Nevada, South Carolina, Alaska, Mississippi, Colorado, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia --

MONDAY OCT 6 is the effective deadline for your state, to register/request an absentee ballot!

Missouri closes October 8! And New York closes Oct 10!*

It is still not too late to register! If you ACT FAST you can get your application in on time!

Follow me after the jump...

beijingbetty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 28, 2008 · 8:30 PM PDT

2008/09/28 · 20:30

This diary is a response to two currently Rec' Listed Diaries on the hateful gas attack on children during mosque services, in Dayton, Ohio, diaried here --
Chris Rodda: Muslim Children Gassed at Dayton Mosque After "Obsession" DVD Hits Ohio
Taz Man: For those of you who care about terrorism AGAINST MUSLIMS

The people who planned the attack may have been provoked by the release and distribution of the Obsession DVD. They have also been emboldened after years of ~~subtle~~ not-so subtle messaging that equated American 'patriotism' with anti-Islam prejudice.

To borrow from the Aaron Sorkin, Islamic extremists represent your average Muslim like the KKK represent the average Christian. They don't.

Please go read those diaries above, and when you are steaming mad like I am, come back to this diary.

Because there is something you can do about it.

Poll

49 votes Show Results

The future of America is

49 votes Vote Now!

The future of America is

My America.

1 vote

Your America.

0 votes

Our America.

48 votes

China Quake 1 Month Later: The Good Kindness Can Do

beijingbetty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday June 14, 2008 · 9:30 PM PDT

2008/06/14 · 21:30

The scale of disasters overwhelm us. Whether it is in China, Myanmar, Katrina or now Iowa, it can be difficult to understand the plight of others, to know what to do in response. Being human, we are limited. Being human, we do the best we can -- sometimes all we can do is to try.

Here is an example, I think, from an organization and a group of people who are doing some very good, much needed work on the ground in China. Just one group among many who have come together, in response to the earthquake one month ago.

Half The Sky is an NGO whose goal is to improve the lives and prospects of orphaned children in China. They provide material aid, but also provide training for the special care and needs of orphans. Since the 8.0 earthquake, they have worked closely with local governmental agencies overwhelmed by the needs of thousands of newly orphaned children.

Following are clips from letters from Jenny Bowen, and it provides a point of view on the ground with the kids. Reprinted with permission.

For more Half the Sky Journals and pictures, please go here:
http://www.halfthesky.org/...
http://www.halfthesky.org/...

beijingbetty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday May 18, 2008 · 9:26 PM PDT

2008/05/18 · 21:26

Last Monday, a ~~7.9~~ 8.0 magnitude earthquake devastated areas of Sichuan Province, crumbling roads and buildings, laying waste to entire towns and villages. The death count is now over 32,000, and they expect it to rise to above 50,000.

According to Bloomberg, over 200,000 people have been injured, over 220,000 have been evacuated. 4.7 million homes have been destroyed in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. 4.8 million people have been displaced. 12.5 million animals and livestock have died, and their decomposing corpses threaten outbreaks of disease as people struggle for clean water, food and shelter.

Today China begins three days of mourning. I ask you to join me in a simple, humane gesture, wherever you are, whatever time zone you are in, whenever you read this.

The people of China will observe three minutes of silence in recognition of the widespread grief and devastation wrought by the quake upon millions of lives, as yet unfolding...

RSS

An Apology and a Response.

Why Google matters: Gao Zhisheng is Missing.

UPDATED: Reich Breaks It Down. Public Option Is NOT a Dem v. Repub Fight!

How the Republicans Can Rise Again on Healthcare Reform.

From Hong Kong: Healthcare reform is not socialist.

What if they were Christian and not Muslim?

URGENT: AMERICANS ABROAD from PA, OH, CO, FL, IN, VA, MT!

Don't let the Terrorists win at the polls.

China Quake 1 Month Later: The Good Kindness Can Do

UPDATED WITH VIDEO: China Disaster One Week Later - Three Minutes of Silence