Flying Debris

Turned up yesterday. He was the only one with enough kahonas to bring me food when the cops were ambushing (jumping out of the shrubs with guns) every one in my front yard looking for Rick.

His little brother was one of the strays Rick took in and looked after. He (the little brother) worshipped Rick, closest thing to a dad he’d ever had I think, and was more inconsolable at the funeral than even Rick’s children.

He (the older brother) is home after 2 yrs in prison. We drove around yesterday and talked. I’ve sure missed him - a lot.

I knew when he went to jail, heard it through the grapevine. Assumed it was a possession charge, but it wasn’t, at least not a drug possession charge. Nope. He did 2 yrs in prison for possession of 2 boxes of cold medicine. I won’t bullshit you and say he was planning to cure a cold with the cold medicine. But at the same time - that’s the only thing he had.

Prisons are so overcrowded they’re releasing violent offenders every single day. And your tax dollars are being spent to house an inmate for (just shy of) 2 yrs, paroled for 37 days. 2 boxes of cold medicine folks, makes perfect sense, no?

Tags: Politics by admin
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your thoughts?

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for sponsoring SB 424.

SB 424, sponsored by Sen. Brian Crain, will increase Medicaid eligibility by allowing children who live with families whose income is up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify. Currently, in order to qualify for Medicaid benefits, children must live in families whose income is 185 percent of the poverty level. Proponents expect the legislation will enable the state’s Medicaid program to provide full coverage for 42,000 additional children.

SS death benefits end when beneficiary reaches the age of 18. As a result, benefits to the remaining beneficiaries increase.

A few months ago my youngest step-daughter turned 18, thereby increasing the amount of H. and my monthly benefits. Unfortunately the increase bumped H. out of the income bracket for healthcare through Medicaid/Medicare. For the past month I’ve been scrambling to find reasonable health insurance for her. A basic policy for healthcare, prescriptions, and dental care averages almost $200/month. I don’t want or expect a free ride from the government and I have no problem paying my share, but it’s kind of a kick in the teeth when the raise in our SS benefits booted H. out of the state’s healthcare program in turn forcing me to purchase insurance which costs more than the raise in benefits we received. Not a kick in the teeth - it just plain sucks!

I’ll have to pay for a policy in the interim - but when SB 424 does goes into effect H. should again be eligible for coverage through the state.

(much relief)

Tags: Politics by admin
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I’m only now writing about this because I have a very hard time discussing sexual abuse, especially of children, without dissolving into a red rage screaming for blood.

Evidence of sexual abuse and subsequent cover-up of the abuse in Texas Youth Corrections, has recently surfaced. Read the initial breaking coverage here.

More extensive and in-depth coverage (and related links) at Grits for Breakfast.

Is there anything more evil than this? Physical and sexual abuse of children locked away in jails - and then years of cover ups to hide the abuses.

Can you imagine for even one second, your child locked away from you and pleading for help - and not only does nobody help them, but those who could scurry around covering it up?

Without getting too deep into the ‘how, when, where’ details (which can be read at Grits for Breakfast) - a short overview:

Authorities are looking into about 300 new inmate complaints of abuse within the Texas Youth Commission facilities, with about 70 involving some sort of sexual contact.

Complaints cover a “wide variety” of issues, ranging from those involving sexual contact to a case of excessive force.

TYC’s Dwight Harris, Joy Anderson, Ray Worsham, and Wade County DA Randy Reynolds. demonstrably knew the details and apparently looked the other way.

There have been resignations and appointments and special investigations as the guilty scramble for cover.

Good ol’ Governor Perry appointed Ed Owens as interim chief of the Texas Youth Commission. Investigation into the abuse has just began, only ONE person has been fired. Yet less than a week after being appointed, Mr. Owens’ had the audacity to declare children in TYC are “safe”??!!!

(March 08, excerpt from Grits for Breakfast) At a joint House-Senate hearing today examining alleged abuses at the Texas Youth Commission, House Juvenile Justice Chairman Harold Dutton asked TYC interim Executive Director Ed Owens, “Can you say to every juvenile judge in Texas that if they send a child to TYC tomorrow, that child remains safe?”

“I would have to say yes,” said Owens.

On a better note, it looks like Mr. Owens will soon get his ass kicked squarely out the door, as it’s come to light that he previously ignored and covered up allegations of sexual abuse in Texas’ adult prison system.

Are we seriously expected to believe Governor Perry had no knowledge of Owens’ history when he appointed him?

umm yeh- you betcha.

So readers - if ever a time has come to take just a few minutes and write (e-mail) a letter to Governor Perry -that time is now.

Look in your child’s eyes and imagine - what if it was your child?

e-mail Governor Perry here.

find your TX State Representative here - write him/her.

find your TX State Senator here - write him/her.

Tags: Politics by admin
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Obama apologizes for saying troops lives’ “wasted”.

“During an appearance Monday in Nashua, New Hampshire, he apologized again, telling reporters he meant to criticize the civilian leadership of the war, not those serving in the military.”

I’m so burned out on nitpickers and drama people! Anyone with a brain understands what he said and what it did or didn’t mean.

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