Obama to Propose Limits on Insurance Rates
WASHINGTON -- President Obama is making a fresh attempt to rescue his health care overhaul by proposing a measure that would allow the government to deny or roll back egregious insurance premium increases that infuriate consumers.
Coming just days before a White House health care summit with congressional leaders of both parties, Obama's new legislative proposal, which will be unveiled later Monday, likely represents the president's last chance to salvage his signature issue.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity because details have not yet been officially released, said the insurance rate proposal would give the federal Health and Human Services Department -- in conjunction with state authorities -- the power to deny substantial premium increases, limit them, or demand rebates for consumers. [Click to read more]
The average insurance company makes a measely 4% profit. That's about the worst return of any type of company! This proposal of Obama's will drive insurance companies out of business and directly into government hands, just the way Il Duce* Obama wants.
*For those of you in Rio Linda, Il Duce was the nickname of Mussolini, the leader of the Fascist Party of Italy, an ally of Nazi Germany. Fascism is a socialist form of government where all businesses are controlled by the government. They also seek to silence the opposition by setting controls on the media, demonizing all other views, and totally ignoring input from any other political parties. Sound familiar?
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
$1.1 Trillion in New Taxes? Come on, Mr. President!
Obama Budget Seeks $1.1 Trillion in Tax Hikes
WASHINGTON -- While President Barack Obama is proposing to cut some taxes for companies that hire workers, his budget would raise a host of other taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals.
The budget proposal released Monday would extend Obama's signature Making Work Pay tax credit -- $400 for individuals, $800 for a couple filing jointly -- through 2011. But it would also impose nearly $1 trillion in higher taxes on couples making more than $250,000 and individuals making more than $200,000 by not renewing tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush. Obama would extend Bush-era tax cuts for families and individuals making less. [Click to read story]
Imposing more taxes on "wealthy" couples will mean:
(1) Less investment in businesses. Therefore, more unemployment.
(2) Not hiring as many housekeepers, drivers, lawns people. Therefore, more unemployment.
(3) Not spending as much for goods. Therefore, more unemployment.
On the other hand, with all these new taxes, the government can afford to put more people on unemployment and welfare.
Sounds like a great idea all the way around!
WASHINGTON -- While President Barack Obama is proposing to cut some taxes for companies that hire workers, his budget would raise a host of other taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals.
The budget proposal released Monday would extend Obama's signature Making Work Pay tax credit -- $400 for individuals, $800 for a couple filing jointly -- through 2011. But it would also impose nearly $1 trillion in higher taxes on couples making more than $250,000 and individuals making more than $200,000 by not renewing tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush. Obama would extend Bush-era tax cuts for families and individuals making less. [Click to read story]
Imposing more taxes on "wealthy" couples will mean:
(1) Less investment in businesses. Therefore, more unemployment.
(2) Not hiring as many housekeepers, drivers, lawns people. Therefore, more unemployment.
(3) Not spending as much for goods. Therefore, more unemployment.
On the other hand, with all these new taxes, the government can afford to put more people on unemployment and welfare.
Sounds like a great idea all the way around!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
State of the Obamanation & More on Climategate
OBAMA SPANKS THE SUPREME COURT
Obama once again showed his disdain for the Constitution by spanking the Supreme Court in his first State of the Union. The Court had overturned several unconstitutional laws that have been around for quite a while, as well as parts of the McCain-Feingold act.
This was not the forum to disagree about campaign finance reform. A press conference or weekly radio address would have been much more appropriate. Besides, how much of Obama's money came from foreign interests? We may never know, since much of it was contributed in cash by people with false names and addresses. Also, a significant portion came through the internet and is not verifiable. Obama has opened himself up to a lot of criticism for this hypocrisy.
Scientists in stolen e-mail scandal hid climate data
The university at the centre of the climate change row over stolen e-mails broke the law by refusing to hand over its raw data for public scrutiny.
The University of East Anglia breached the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to comply with requests for data concerning claims by its scientists that man-made emissions were causing global warming. [Click to read more from the "Times of London"]
Yup. UEA was clearly breaking the law, and the scientists were being unethical--that is, they were lying about data and hiding it to cover their tracks. Why? Probably to steal more taxpayer money for bogus research. Well, now they've been found out. They all need to be sacked and prevented from doing research ever again! They have damaged the reputation of the scientific method.
Obama once again showed his disdain for the Constitution by spanking the Supreme Court in his first State of the Union. The Court had overturned several unconstitutional laws that have been around for quite a while, as well as parts of the McCain-Feingold act.
This was not the forum to disagree about campaign finance reform. A press conference or weekly radio address would have been much more appropriate. Besides, how much of Obama's money came from foreign interests? We may never know, since much of it was contributed in cash by people with false names and addresses. Also, a significant portion came through the internet and is not verifiable. Obama has opened himself up to a lot of criticism for this hypocrisy.
Scientists in stolen e-mail scandal hid climate data
The university at the centre of the climate change row over stolen e-mails broke the law by refusing to hand over its raw data for public scrutiny.
The University of East Anglia breached the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to comply with requests for data concerning claims by its scientists that man-made emissions were causing global warming. [Click to read more from the "Times of London"]
Yup. UEA was clearly breaking the law, and the scientists were being unethical--that is, they were lying about data and hiding it to cover their tracks. Why? Probably to steal more taxpayer money for bogus research. Well, now they've been found out. They all need to be sacked and prevented from doing research ever again! They have damaged the reputation of the scientific method.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Obama’s Report Card for 2009
Stimulus Plan: C
Left the process wholly to Harry Ried and Nancy Pelosi. They assembled a plan that didn’t address the immediate needs, but put together a long-term spending plan that deferred over 60% of the money spent until two years down the road. And it wasn’t STIMULUS but a conglomeration of liberal agenda spending that hadn’t been passed for the last 16 years (under Bush AND Clinton).
Olympics Bid for Chicago: F
Presidents don’t make this kind of trip except when it’s a done deal. Either he thought he could sway the outcome or his staff made a horrible miscalculation.
Far East Trip: D
Went out with open arms to try and garner support for Afghanistan. Clumsily bowed to the Emperor of Japan--unprecedented. Got scolded by China for being fiscally irresponsible.
Afghanistan: D
Took way too long to respond to the situation. Didn’t provide the generals on the ground what they thought they needed to win. We need to either WIN or GET OUT! An in between stance is just like what we did in Vietnam! It’s juyst going to get our troops killed.
Copenhagen Conference: D
Expected a big, binding agreement, but got NOTHING. The conference was a joke, especially after the “science” (or should I say “junk science”) was discredited by the e-mail scandal.
War on Terror: D
The attitude at the top filtered down to the intelligence community. That attitude? There is no war on terror. This allowed people to get killed at Fort Hood and an attempted aircraft bombing over Detroit. Both should have been caught. But if our President says there is no war, then why should we be vigilant?
Health Care Reform: D
He continually showed his ignorance by claiming things about the bills in Congress and the Senate that weren’t true! He was not involved in the process, but once again (just like the Economic Stimulus), did not make his requirements clearly known.
Bipartisanship: F
In spite of claims of reaching out to the other side, kept the loyal opposition out of the legislative process, creating the most polarized Congress since the Republicans won the presidency and congress in 1860.
Overall, President Obama and his staff showed gross naiveté in how they handled Congress, public opinion, and the rest of the world. Clearly, he received a baptism by fire he wasn’t ready for. The sad thing is, he doesn’t realize how badly he did, nor does he understand why his approval ratings are the lowest of any president for his first year. People had grand hopes. He has disappointed America.
Left the process wholly to Harry Ried and Nancy Pelosi. They assembled a plan that didn’t address the immediate needs, but put together a long-term spending plan that deferred over 60% of the money spent until two years down the road. And it wasn’t STIMULUS but a conglomeration of liberal agenda spending that hadn’t been passed for the last 16 years (under Bush AND Clinton).
Olympics Bid for Chicago: F
Presidents don’t make this kind of trip except when it’s a done deal. Either he thought he could sway the outcome or his staff made a horrible miscalculation.
Far East Trip: D
Went out with open arms to try and garner support for Afghanistan. Clumsily bowed to the Emperor of Japan--unprecedented. Got scolded by China for being fiscally irresponsible.
Afghanistan: D
Took way too long to respond to the situation. Didn’t provide the generals on the ground what they thought they needed to win. We need to either WIN or GET OUT! An in between stance is just like what we did in Vietnam! It’s juyst going to get our troops killed.
Copenhagen Conference: D
Expected a big, binding agreement, but got NOTHING. The conference was a joke, especially after the “science” (or should I say “junk science”) was discredited by the e-mail scandal.
War on Terror: D
The attitude at the top filtered down to the intelligence community. That attitude? There is no war on terror. This allowed people to get killed at Fort Hood and an attempted aircraft bombing over Detroit. Both should have been caught. But if our President says there is no war, then why should we be vigilant?
Health Care Reform: D
He continually showed his ignorance by claiming things about the bills in Congress and the Senate that weren’t true! He was not involved in the process, but once again (just like the Economic Stimulus), did not make his requirements clearly known.
Bipartisanship: F
In spite of claims of reaching out to the other side, kept the loyal opposition out of the legislative process, creating the most polarized Congress since the Republicans won the presidency and congress in 1860.
Overall, President Obama and his staff showed gross naiveté in how they handled Congress, public opinion, and the rest of the world. Clearly, he received a baptism by fire he wasn’t ready for. The sad thing is, he doesn’t realize how badly he did, nor does he understand why his approval ratings are the lowest of any president for his first year. People had grand hopes. He has disappointed America.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas American People -- More Debt Than Your Descendants Can Pay For!
From CNN -- Next step: Turn two health care bills into one
(CNN) -- The Senate on Thursday passed its version of the health care bill, inching the country closer to the biggest expansion of medical coverage since Medicare was enacted more than four decades ago.
Senate Democrats declared victory after the 60-39 party line vote, but one of the most complicated tasks is still ahead.
A conference committee must reconcile the differences -- notably a public option, how to pay for the plan that emerges, and coverage for abortion -- and merge them into one.
The House and Senate will then have to pass the revised plan before it can be sent to President Obama's desk. Each chamber needs a simple majority vote for final passage. [Click to read]
We're in for it now! How will we ever pay for this. I guess we can only hope and pray that during reconciliation the best parts of both bills are kept and the worst parts are thrown out. Doesn't usually seem to work that way. Pray hard for wisdom for the people on the reconciliation committees. We do need true health reform, but not like what's currently in either bill.
(CNN) -- The Senate on Thursday passed its version of the health care bill, inching the country closer to the biggest expansion of medical coverage since Medicare was enacted more than four decades ago.
Senate Democrats declared victory after the 60-39 party line vote, but one of the most complicated tasks is still ahead.
A conference committee must reconcile the differences -- notably a public option, how to pay for the plan that emerges, and coverage for abortion -- and merge them into one.
The House and Senate will then have to pass the revised plan before it can be sent to President Obama's desk. Each chamber needs a simple majority vote for final passage. [Click to read]
We're in for it now! How will we ever pay for this. I guess we can only hope and pray that during reconciliation the best parts of both bills are kept and the worst parts are thrown out. Doesn't usually seem to work that way. Pray hard for wisdom for the people on the reconciliation committees. We do need true health reform, but not like what's currently in either bill.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Health Care Reform That Isn't
Who is the government trying to kid? This is not "Health Care Reform". In the first place, it's not about health care, it's about insurance, one of the lowest-profit businesses on the planet. Do you realize they only make around 4%? In the second place, it's not about reform, it's about taking control of one of the largest business segments in the nation.
This is outright fascism. What is fascim? According to wikipedia, facism is:
a political ideology that seeks to combine radical and authoritarian nationalism with a corporatist economic system, and which is usually considered to be on the far right of the traditional left-right political spectrum.
Fascists advocate the creation of a single-party state, with the belief that the majority is unsuited to govern itself through democracy and by reaffirming the benefits of inequality. Fascist governments forbid and suppress openness and opposition to the fascist state and the fascist movement. Fascism opposes class conflict, blames capitalism and liberal democracies for its creation and communists for exploiting the concept. Fascism fashioned itself as the "complete opposite of Marxian socialism" by rejecting the economic and material conception of history, the fundamental belief of fascism being that human beings are motivated by glory and heroism rather than economic motives, in contrast to the worldview of capitalism and socialism.
In the economic sphere, many fascist leaders have claimed to support a "Third Way" in economic policy, which they believed superior to both the rampant individualism of unrestrained capitalism and the severe control of state socialism. This was to be achieved by establishing significant government control over business and labour.
Enough said. Under the Obama, Pelosi, Reid triumvirate, the American People and our freedoms are in trouble.
This is outright fascism. What is fascim? According to wikipedia, facism is:
a political ideology that seeks to combine radical and authoritarian nationalism with a corporatist economic system, and which is usually considered to be on the far right of the traditional left-right political spectrum.
Fascists advocate the creation of a single-party state, with the belief that the majority is unsuited to govern itself through democracy and by reaffirming the benefits of inequality. Fascist governments forbid and suppress openness and opposition to the fascist state and the fascist movement. Fascism opposes class conflict, blames capitalism and liberal democracies for its creation and communists for exploiting the concept. Fascism fashioned itself as the "complete opposite of Marxian socialism" by rejecting the economic and material conception of history, the fundamental belief of fascism being that human beings are motivated by glory and heroism rather than economic motives, in contrast to the worldview of capitalism and socialism.
In the economic sphere, many fascist leaders have claimed to support a "Third Way" in economic policy, which they believed superior to both the rampant individualism of unrestrained capitalism and the severe control of state socialism. This was to be achieved by establishing significant government control over business and labour.
Enough said. Under the Obama, Pelosi, Reid triumvirate, the American People and our freedoms are in trouble.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Job Creations "Summit" Today: Who's NOT Invited?
Guess who's not invited to our esteemed president's job creation summit today?
That's right, the Chamber of Commerce, which represents most small businesses. How many jobs do small businesses provide? 70% of them. Let me repeat that: SEVENTY PERCENT OF U.S. JOBS ARE CREATED BY SMALL BUSINESSES! And they have NO PLACE AT OBAMA'S TABLE!
So just who is invited? Let me see: unions, green groups, business leaders and economists supportive of White House policies, etc. What is this? It's not a JOBS SUMMIT. It's a SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY GRUBBING SUMMIT.
It's also a job protection summit: for Obama.
What will come out of this? My predictions are:
(1) They will say that the government needs to provide healthcare so the businesses won't have to.
(2) The government needs to spend more on green jobs.
(3) Small businesses (not represented at all) need to not be so greedy and hire more people at higher salaries.
Really helpful summit!
That's right, the Chamber of Commerce, which represents most small businesses. How many jobs do small businesses provide? 70% of them. Let me repeat that: SEVENTY PERCENT OF U.S. JOBS ARE CREATED BY SMALL BUSINESSES! And they have NO PLACE AT OBAMA'S TABLE!
So just who is invited? Let me see: unions, green groups, business leaders and economists supportive of White House policies, etc. What is this? It's not a JOBS SUMMIT. It's a SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY GRUBBING SUMMIT.
It's also a job protection summit: for Obama.
What will come out of this? My predictions are:
(1) They will say that the government needs to provide healthcare so the businesses won't have to.
(2) The government needs to spend more on green jobs.
(3) Small businesses (not represented at all) need to not be so greedy and hire more people at higher salaries.
Really helpful summit!
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Berlin Wall and Nationalized Healthcare DOA?
AP: Germany celebrates fall of Berlin Wall
BERLIN – With prayers, music and pomp, Germany on Monday remembered the 20th anniversary of the day the Berlin Wall fell, sending East Germans flooding west and setting in motion events that soon led to the country's reunification. [Click to read]
I got tears in my eyes to read this. I remember hearing about the 14,000 people that met to pray in and around a church for the reunification of Germany and then lit candles and carried them in protest. The next day, the wall fell. The East German leader later said, "We thought we were prepared for anything. But we weren't prepared for people united in prayer."
In 1990, I went to Berlin and chiseled some pieces off the wall. I still have them and take them out and look at them to remind me of how it used to be, and to pray that it will never get that way here!
AP Wire: House Health Bill Has Nowhere to Go in Senate
WASHINGTON -- Don't look for the Senate to quickly follow the House on health care overhaul.
A government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. They're locked in a battle with liberals, with the fate of President Obama's signature issue at stake. [Click to read]
The Senate is doing its job. The House tried to rush something through without major debate or bi-partisan input. In my opinion, the Senate will examine this bill, plot out the long-term ramifications, and propose something much better. Let's hope cooler heads prevail than those that pushed this monstrosity through the House!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Berlin Wall and Election Results
From USA Today: Berlin Wall now in pieces across USA
By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY
FULTON, Mo. — Twenty years after it fell, the Berlin Wall has spread around the world, morphing en route from an instrument of oppression to a symbol of freedom.
The wall is found across the U.S. — in scores of major fragments and sections on display in at least 26 states, from a community college in Hawaii to a floating restaurant in Maine to a park near the World Trade Center. [Click to read]
Remember when President Ronald Reagan said, "Mr. Gorbachov--tear down this wall!"?
I have pieces of the wall that I chiseled from it back in 1990, when I was on business in Berlin. It cheers me to see the wall in pieces! However, socialism has now come to the good old USA. Let's roll it back and tear it down, too!
From USA Today: Va., N.J. give GOP reason to celebrate
By Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Republicans swept governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday, giving the GOP bragging rights by winning two key states that Barack Obama carried a year ago.
Democrats scored an upset in a closely watched congressional election in Upstate New York that spotlighted the GOP's ideological divide. [Click to read]
Is this a message to the Obama administration that he's giving us change we didn't expect, like "Health Care Reform" that wasn't even in his campaign message? Or quadrupling of the deficit, when he claimed he would be fiscally responsible? How will the moderate and conservative Democrats in congress respond? Will they continue to buck the party line? Only time will tell.
From USA Today: Maine voters reject gay-marriage law
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Voters in the northeastern state of Maine repealed a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, dealing the gay rights movement a heartbreaking defeat in the corner of the country most supportive of gay marriage.
Gay marriage has now lost in every single state — 31 in all — in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine — known for its moderate, independent-minded electorate — and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign. [Click to read]
The people have spoken over and over again: "Marriage is between a man and a woman." It has been defined that way for thousands of years. There is no need to change it. There are other options for gays without calling it marriage.
By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY
FULTON, Mo. — Twenty years after it fell, the Berlin Wall has spread around the world, morphing en route from an instrument of oppression to a symbol of freedom.
The wall is found across the U.S. — in scores of major fragments and sections on display in at least 26 states, from a community college in Hawaii to a floating restaurant in Maine to a park near the World Trade Center. [Click to read]
Remember when President Ronald Reagan said, "Mr. Gorbachov--tear down this wall!"?
I have pieces of the wall that I chiseled from it back in 1990, when I was on business in Berlin. It cheers me to see the wall in pieces! However, socialism has now come to the good old USA. Let's roll it back and tear it down, too!
From USA Today: Va., N.J. give GOP reason to celebrate
By Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Republicans swept governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday, giving the GOP bragging rights by winning two key states that Barack Obama carried a year ago.
Democrats scored an upset in a closely watched congressional election in Upstate New York that spotlighted the GOP's ideological divide. [Click to read]
Is this a message to the Obama administration that he's giving us change we didn't expect, like "Health Care Reform" that wasn't even in his campaign message? Or quadrupling of the deficit, when he claimed he would be fiscally responsible? How will the moderate and conservative Democrats in congress respond? Will they continue to buck the party line? Only time will tell.
From USA Today: Maine voters reject gay-marriage law
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Voters in the northeastern state of Maine repealed a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, dealing the gay rights movement a heartbreaking defeat in the corner of the country most supportive of gay marriage.
Gay marriage has now lost in every single state — 31 in all — in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine — known for its moderate, independent-minded electorate — and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign. [Click to read]
The people have spoken over and over again: "Marriage is between a man and a woman." It has been defined that way for thousands of years. There is no need to change it. There are other options for gays without calling it marriage.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
From Yahoo News: FACT CHECK: Health insurer profits not so fat
WASHINGTON – Quick quiz: What do these enterprises have in common? Farm and construction machinery, Tupperware, the railroads, Hershey sweets, Yum food brands and Yahoo? Answer: They're all more profitable than the health insurance industry.
In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious profiteers making "immoral" and "obscene" returns while "the bodies pile up."
Ledgers tell a different reality. Health insurance profit margins typically run about 6 percent, give or take a point or two. That's anemic compared with other forms of insurance and a broad array of industries, even some beleaguered ones. [Click to read]
Once again, the Obama administration is creating strawman "enemies"--he really learned from Mussolini!
From CNN: Bank failures stack up: Now 106 for 2009
Banks in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, were shuttered, costing the FDIC an estimated $356.6 million.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The tally of bank failures easily broke past the No. 100 milestone on Friday night, with regulators announcing the year's 106th closure.
That's more than four times the number that were closed in 2008, and the highest total since 1992, when 181 banks failed. [Click to read story]
Still more fallout from the Clinton era--pushing banks to lend money to people who couldn't afford to pay it back--all in the name of "racial equity." If you remember, the Bush administration tried multiple times to fix this, but were blocked by the Democrat Party--especially Barney Franks--from doing anything! Now we're in the worst economy since the one that Carter caused.
We're still better off than the Carter Recession, though. Remember 20% inflation with 10% unemployment? I sure wish the news media would quit calling the current recession the "worst economy since the great depression." It's an outright lie!
WASHINGTON – Quick quiz: What do these enterprises have in common? Farm and construction machinery, Tupperware, the railroads, Hershey sweets, Yum food brands and Yahoo? Answer: They're all more profitable than the health insurance industry.
In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious profiteers making "immoral" and "obscene" returns while "the bodies pile up."
Ledgers tell a different reality. Health insurance profit margins typically run about 6 percent, give or take a point or two. That's anemic compared with other forms of insurance and a broad array of industries, even some beleaguered ones. [Click to read]
Once again, the Obama administration is creating strawman "enemies"--he really learned from Mussolini!
From CNN: Bank failures stack up: Now 106 for 2009
Banks in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, were shuttered, costing the FDIC an estimated $356.6 million.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The tally of bank failures easily broke past the No. 100 milestone on Friday night, with regulators announcing the year's 106th closure.
That's more than four times the number that were closed in 2008, and the highest total since 1992, when 181 banks failed. [Click to read story]
Still more fallout from the Clinton era--pushing banks to lend money to people who couldn't afford to pay it back--all in the name of "racial equity." If you remember, the Bush administration tried multiple times to fix this, but were blocked by the Democrat Party--especially Barney Franks--from doing anything! Now we're in the worst economy since the one that Carter caused.
We're still better off than the Carter Recession, though. Remember 20% inflation with 10% unemployment? I sure wish the news media would quit calling the current recession the "worst economy since the great depression." It's an outright lie!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Pay Czar Acting Independently of President
Pay Czar Feinberg, Not Obama, Behind Decision to Slash Executive Pay
White House pay czar Kenneth Feinberg was the driving force behind the move to order steep pay cuts from bailed-out executives, and did not even seek the president's approval before making his decision.
Under the plan, at the financial products division of AIG, the giant insurance company which has received taxpayer assistance valued at more than $180 billion, no top executive will receive more than $200,000 in total compensation, one person familiar with Feinberg's plan said. [Click to read more]
Bush's Czars were advisors only. They did not have the power to act independently of confirmed cabinet members or the president. Obama has given his czars totally unprecedented power!
Besides the fact that what the Pay Czar is doing is absolutely illegal, $200,000 maximum salary for companies that size is absolutely ridiculous! Engineers, Nurse Anesthetists, and some salespersons make close to that much, without having the responsibility of having charge of corporate decision making. How will they attract even competent talent? I certainly wouldn't work in a job in that position without proper compensation.
White House pay czar Kenneth Feinberg was the driving force behind the move to order steep pay cuts from bailed-out executives, and did not even seek the president's approval before making his decision.
Under the plan, at the financial products division of AIG, the giant insurance company which has received taxpayer assistance valued at more than $180 billion, no top executive will receive more than $200,000 in total compensation, one person familiar with Feinberg's plan said. [Click to read more]
Bush's Czars were advisors only. They did not have the power to act independently of confirmed cabinet members or the president. Obama has given his czars totally unprecedented power!
Besides the fact that what the Pay Czar is doing is absolutely illegal, $200,000 maximum salary for companies that size is absolutely ridiculous! Engineers, Nurse Anesthetists, and some salespersons make close to that much, without having the responsibility of having charge of corporate decision making. How will they attract even competent talent? I certainly wouldn't work in a job in that position without proper compensation.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Controlling the Media
Top White House Official Says Obama Team 'Controlled' Media Coverage During Campaign
White House Communications Director Anita Dunn is seen in a video from January talking about how the Obama campaign exercised absolute "control" over media coverage. [Click to watch]
The Obama campaign's press strategy leading up to his election last November focused on "making" the media cover what the campaign wanted and on exercising absolute "control" over coverage, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told an overseas crowd early this year. [Click to read]
Is this simply a brilliant campaign strategy, or part of an overall attempt to suppress free speech? Now they're trying to set the stage to control talk radio, minimize the impact of FOX News, and belittling the other networks who are reporting about FOX. Where will it end?
White House Communications Director Anita Dunn is seen in a video from January talking about how the Obama campaign exercised absolute "control" over media coverage. [Click to watch]
The Obama campaign's press strategy leading up to his election last November focused on "making" the media cover what the campaign wanted and on exercising absolute "control" over coverage, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told an overseas crowd early this year. [Click to read]
Is this simply a brilliant campaign strategy, or part of an overall attempt to suppress free speech? Now they're trying to set the stage to control talk radio, minimize the impact of FOX News, and belittling the other networks who are reporting about FOX. Where will it end?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Public Option, Tort Reform
From CNN: Harkin: Final health care bill will have public option
Sen. Tom Harkin promised Friday that a health care bill will be on President Obama's desk before Christmas.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, the Democrat who chairs one of the Senate committees tasked with developing health care legislation, promised Friday that a health care bill will be on President Obama's desk before Christmas and will include a so-called "public option." [Click to read]
Is he sure? I heard that there are at least five Democrats that are holding out? Are they going to strong-arm them into voting for it?
Tort reform could save $54 billion, Congressional Budget Office says
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Congressional Budget Office is now estimating that limits on medical malpractice lawsuits -- reforms favored by many Republicans -- could save the government as much as $54 billion over the next 10 years.
The government spends about $2.5 trillion on health care every year.
A tort reform package that includes caps on jury awards of $500,000 for punitive damages and $250,000 for "pain and suffering" damages would lower liability insurance premiums by about 10 percent, according to a report from the nonpartisan office issued late last week. [Click to read]
Why not do it? And for doctors who are repeatedly found guilty of malpractice, remove their license? It works for Professional Engineers!
Sen. Tom Harkin promised Friday that a health care bill will be on President Obama's desk before Christmas.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, the Democrat who chairs one of the Senate committees tasked with developing health care legislation, promised Friday that a health care bill will be on President Obama's desk before Christmas and will include a so-called "public option." [Click to read]
Is he sure? I heard that there are at least five Democrats that are holding out? Are they going to strong-arm them into voting for it?
Tort reform could save $54 billion, Congressional Budget Office says
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Congressional Budget Office is now estimating that limits on medical malpractice lawsuits -- reforms favored by many Republicans -- could save the government as much as $54 billion over the next 10 years.
The government spends about $2.5 trillion on health care every year.
A tort reform package that includes caps on jury awards of $500,000 for punitive damages and $250,000 for "pain and suffering" damages would lower liability insurance premiums by about 10 percent, according to a report from the nonpartisan office issued late last week. [Click to read]
Why not do it? And for doctors who are repeatedly found guilty of malpractice, remove their license? It works for Professional Engineers!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Health Insurance Reform & White House vs. Fox News
From FOXNews: White House Escalates War of Words With Fox News
Anita Dunn, White House communications director, calls Fox News a "wing of the Republican Party," after the White House began using its government blog to criticize "Fox lies."
Calling Fox News "a wing of the Republican Party," the Obama administration on Sunday escalated its war of words against the channel, even as observers questioned the wisdom of a White House war on a news organization.
Call the wambulance! This is one argument no administration can win. Politicians shouldn't criticize news organizations, period. If they want to disagree with a story, then that's perfectly fine. Otherwise, it smacks of censoring!
From FOXNews: 17-Pound, 4-Month-Old Baby Denied Health Insurance for Being Too Fat
Nothing brings a smile to an adult's face quicker than the sight of a happy, chubby baby.
But the sight of 4-month-old Alex Lange, who measures 25-inches long and weighs 17 pounds, is bringing a frown to the hypothetical face of insurance company Rocky Mountain Health Plans, The Denver Post reported on its Web site Monday.
What? This is ridiculous! Insurance companies (or the legalized Mafia, as my dad called them) need to be reigned in! We need an insurance tune-up to take care of "stuff" like this. However, let's not go too far and replace the whole car!
From CNN: Insurers, White House square off over reform bill
An insurance industry trade group says premiums for a typical American family would rise by thousands of dollars under a Senate overhaul plan. But the White House blasted the report as inaccurate. "This is a self-serving analysis from the insurance industry, one of the major opponents of health insurance reform," White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said. The bill is set for a vote today in the Senate Finance Committee.
Are they right, or are they being self-serving? Or perhaps both are true!
Anita Dunn, White House communications director, calls Fox News a "wing of the Republican Party," after the White House began using its government blog to criticize "Fox lies."
Calling Fox News "a wing of the Republican Party," the Obama administration on Sunday escalated its war of words against the channel, even as observers questioned the wisdom of a White House war on a news organization.
Call the wambulance! This is one argument no administration can win. Politicians shouldn't criticize news organizations, period. If they want to disagree with a story, then that's perfectly fine. Otherwise, it smacks of censoring!
From FOXNews: 17-Pound, 4-Month-Old Baby Denied Health Insurance for Being Too Fat
Nothing brings a smile to an adult's face quicker than the sight of a happy, chubby baby.
But the sight of 4-month-old Alex Lange, who measures 25-inches long and weighs 17 pounds, is bringing a frown to the hypothetical face of insurance company Rocky Mountain Health Plans, The Denver Post reported on its Web site Monday.
What? This is ridiculous! Insurance companies (or the legalized Mafia, as my dad called them) need to be reigned in! We need an insurance tune-up to take care of "stuff" like this. However, let's not go too far and replace the whole car!
From CNN: Insurers, White House square off over reform bill
An insurance industry trade group says premiums for a typical American family would rise by thousands of dollars under a Senate overhaul plan. But the White House blasted the report as inaccurate. "This is a self-serving analysis from the insurance industry, one of the major opponents of health insurance reform," White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said. The bill is set for a vote today in the Senate Finance Committee.
Are they right, or are they being self-serving? Or perhaps both are true!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Supreme Court Cases in the News
From CNN: High court debates dog fighting videos
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court voiced deep free speech concerns Tuesday about a law designed to stop the sale and marketing of videos showing dog fights and other acts of animal cruelty. Selling depictions of animal cruelty like this amateur dogfighting video may be illegal under a 1999 statute.
The justices heard an hour of lively debate about the scope and intent of the decade-old statute that supporters say has done much to stop the spread of profiting from the torture and abuse of animals. But media groups and the National Rifle Association were among those who say the law is overly broad. [Read full story]
Seems like the law, which was written with good intentions at preventing cruelty, is unintentionally too far-reaching. It would even prevent news reports and documentaries. The Supreme Court needs to clarify the limits of the law without striking it down completely.
From FOX News: High Court Takes Up Case of Cross on Public Land
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court is taking up a long-running legal fight over a cross honoring World War I soldiers that has stood for 75 years on public land in a remote part of California.
The cross, on an outcrop known as Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve, has been covered in plywood for the past several years following federal court rulings that it violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment prohibition against government endorsement of religion.
The justices were to hear arguments Wednesday in a case the court could use to make an important statement about its view of the separation of church and state. The Obama administration is defending the presence of the cross, which court papers describe as being 5 to 8 feet tall. [Read full story]
The 9th Circuit Court is the one that caused this trouble. It's historical and could set extreme precedent if not overturned. Also, how many times has the Supreme Court ruled ALREADY on cases like this one? And always in favor of letting the symbol remain! The 9th Circuit Court is just wasting our tax dollars by ignoring established precedent.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court voiced deep free speech concerns Tuesday about a law designed to stop the sale and marketing of videos showing dog fights and other acts of animal cruelty. Selling depictions of animal cruelty like this amateur dogfighting video may be illegal under a 1999 statute.
The justices heard an hour of lively debate about the scope and intent of the decade-old statute that supporters say has done much to stop the spread of profiting from the torture and abuse of animals. But media groups and the National Rifle Association were among those who say the law is overly broad. [Read full story]
Seems like the law, which was written with good intentions at preventing cruelty, is unintentionally too far-reaching. It would even prevent news reports and documentaries. The Supreme Court needs to clarify the limits of the law without striking it down completely.
From FOX News: High Court Takes Up Case of Cross on Public Land
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court is taking up a long-running legal fight over a cross honoring World War I soldiers that has stood for 75 years on public land in a remote part of California.
The cross, on an outcrop known as Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve, has been covered in plywood for the past several years following federal court rulings that it violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment prohibition against government endorsement of religion.
The justices were to hear arguments Wednesday in a case the court could use to make an important statement about its view of the separation of church and state. The Obama administration is defending the presence of the cross, which court papers describe as being 5 to 8 feet tall. [Read full story]
The 9th Circuit Court is the one that caused this trouble. It's historical and could set extreme precedent if not overturned. Also, how many times has the Supreme Court ruled ALREADY on cases like this one? And always in favor of letting the symbol remain! The 9th Circuit Court is just wasting our tax dollars by ignoring established precedent.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Afghanistan and Iran
From USA Today: Musharraf: U.S. Afghanistan pullout would be 'disastrous'
By Tony Leys, The Des Moines Register
DES MOINES — Americans need to prepare for the likelihood that more U.S. troops will be needed in Afghanistan and that they will be there many years, the former president of neighboring Pakistan said in Iowa Saturday.
Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under pressure last year, said it would be "disastrous" for the United States to pull out of Afghanistan now. If the Taliban are allowed to return to power, he said, they surely would allow al-Qaeda terrorists to rebuild strength in Afghanistan, destabilizing the region and posing a major threat to the United States.
The only solution, he said, is for international troops, led by the United States, to establish military dominance in Afghanistan and gain the trust of people there so a long-term political solution can be formed. [Click here to read full story]
We could be there for the long haul. I tend to agree with Musharraf on this one. But, it's going to take a lot of strength, courage, and guts on the part of our people to support this. I don't think it's there. We may end up pulling out too soon and paying for it later.
I'm including an opposing view below.
From Christian Science Monitor: Forget Afghanistan. Let's nation-build at home first.
By Walter Rodgers Walter Rodgers – Fri Oct 2, 5:00 am ET
East Otis, Mass. – The assessment of the war in Afghanistan from the top US general there is grim. Without more troops, Stanley McChrystal warned in a report that was leaked recently, "The conflict will likely result in failure."
His candor should be applauded. It gives President Obama and the American public – nearly half of whom now oppose the war there – an opportunity to ask themselves how we are going to save Afghanistan when we have not figured out how to engage in successful nation-building at home. [Click here to read the full story]
His base assumptions are faulty: We have freedom here and are not engaged in an internal war where factions kill each other with extreme regularity! Our "stability factor" is very high compared to Afghanistan--they need to be brought up closer to it.
From USA Today: U.N. nuke authority to inspect Iranian facility this month
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Sunday there is a "shifting of gears" in Iran's confrontation with the West to more cooperation and transparency and he announced that international inspectors would visit Tehran's newly revealed uranium enrichment site on Oct. 25.
The International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei, speaking at a joint news conference in Tehran with Iran's top nuclear official, said his agency "has no concrete proof of an ongoing weapons program in Iran." But the IAEA has "concerns about Iran's future intentions," he said. [Click here to read full story]
So Iran is going from confrontation to cooperation. Good! I believe the only reason that the Iranian government is agreeing is that they know the people will rebel if the inspectors aren't let in and they're threatened with a war. According to recent polls, the Iranian people are at least 80% pro-western and want democracy and peace with us. And we don't need to go to war with a people that likes us. If the government doesn't cooperate, we should support the people in an uprising.
By Tony Leys, The Des Moines Register
DES MOINES — Americans need to prepare for the likelihood that more U.S. troops will be needed in Afghanistan and that they will be there many years, the former president of neighboring Pakistan said in Iowa Saturday.
Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under pressure last year, said it would be "disastrous" for the United States to pull out of Afghanistan now. If the Taliban are allowed to return to power, he said, they surely would allow al-Qaeda terrorists to rebuild strength in Afghanistan, destabilizing the region and posing a major threat to the United States.
The only solution, he said, is for international troops, led by the United States, to establish military dominance in Afghanistan and gain the trust of people there so a long-term political solution can be formed. [Click here to read full story]
We could be there for the long haul. I tend to agree with Musharraf on this one. But, it's going to take a lot of strength, courage, and guts on the part of our people to support this. I don't think it's there. We may end up pulling out too soon and paying for it later.
I'm including an opposing view below.
From Christian Science Monitor: Forget Afghanistan. Let's nation-build at home first.
By Walter Rodgers Walter Rodgers – Fri Oct 2, 5:00 am ET
East Otis, Mass. – The assessment of the war in Afghanistan from the top US general there is grim. Without more troops, Stanley McChrystal warned in a report that was leaked recently, "The conflict will likely result in failure."
His candor should be applauded. It gives President Obama and the American public – nearly half of whom now oppose the war there – an opportunity to ask themselves how we are going to save Afghanistan when we have not figured out how to engage in successful nation-building at home. [Click here to read the full story]
His base assumptions are faulty: We have freedom here and are not engaged in an internal war where factions kill each other with extreme regularity! Our "stability factor" is very high compared to Afghanistan--they need to be brought up closer to it.
From USA Today: U.N. nuke authority to inspect Iranian facility this month
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Sunday there is a "shifting of gears" in Iran's confrontation with the West to more cooperation and transparency and he announced that international inspectors would visit Tehran's newly revealed uranium enrichment site on Oct. 25.
The International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei, speaking at a joint news conference in Tehran with Iran's top nuclear official, said his agency "has no concrete proof of an ongoing weapons program in Iran." But the IAEA has "concerns about Iran's future intentions," he said. [Click here to read full story]
So Iran is going from confrontation to cooperation. Good! I believe the only reason that the Iranian government is agreeing is that they know the people will rebel if the inspectors aren't let in and they're threatened with a war. According to recent polls, the Iranian people are at least 80% pro-western and want democracy and peace with us. And we don't need to go to war with a people that likes us. If the government doesn't cooperate, we should support the people in an uprising.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Gay Divorce, Afghanistan and the Olympics in Chicago
From the AP: Texas Judge Clears Way for Gay Divorce
DALLAS — A Texas judge cleared the way for two Dallas men to get a divorce, ruling Thursday that Texas' ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional guarantee to equal protection under the law.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said he'd appeal the ruling, which he labeled an attempt to strike down the ban approved by voters in 2005.
"The laws and constitution of the State of Texas define marriage as an institution involving one man and one woman," Abbott said in a written statement. "Today's ruling purports to strike down that constitutional definition — despite the fact that it was recently adopted by 75 percent of Texas voters." [Click to read the entire article]
The judge said she's basing the decision on Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Are we stuck with this? Or is there a way out? There is.
The Defense of Marriage Act (passed in 1996 and signed into law by President Clinton) says we don't have to accept gay marriage if our state doesn't want to. AND the Constitution says, "And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof." This gives them the right to do so.
The State judge is therefore trying to overrule a federal law. She is clearly out of her jurisdiction. Only federeal courts can rule on this matter.
My Opinion--Afghanistan and the Olympics in Chicago
The president said in his campaign speeches that Afghanistan was where we should concentrate to fight terrorism and he promised to build up our troops there. Yet now he says that it will take up to six weeks to review the request for additional troops. This week, he flew to Europe with Oprah to campaign before the Olympic Committee for Chicago. This could at least have knocked off a few days on the Afghanistan review!
Where are your priorities, Mr. President? We have a record number of people DYING in Afghanistan, yet you're worried about SPORTS? Come on!
DALLAS — A Texas judge cleared the way for two Dallas men to get a divorce, ruling Thursday that Texas' ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional guarantee to equal protection under the law.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said he'd appeal the ruling, which he labeled an attempt to strike down the ban approved by voters in 2005.
"The laws and constitution of the State of Texas define marriage as an institution involving one man and one woman," Abbott said in a written statement. "Today's ruling purports to strike down that constitutional definition — despite the fact that it was recently adopted by 75 percent of Texas voters." [Click to read the entire article]
The judge said she's basing the decision on Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Are we stuck with this? Or is there a way out? There is.
The Defense of Marriage Act (passed in 1996 and signed into law by President Clinton) says we don't have to accept gay marriage if our state doesn't want to. AND the Constitution says, "And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof." This gives them the right to do so.
The State judge is therefore trying to overrule a federal law. She is clearly out of her jurisdiction. Only federeal courts can rule on this matter.
My Opinion--Afghanistan and the Olympics in Chicago
The president said in his campaign speeches that Afghanistan was where we should concentrate to fight terrorism and he promised to build up our troops there. Yet now he says that it will take up to six weeks to review the request for additional troops. This week, he flew to Europe with Oprah to campaign before the Olympic Committee for Chicago. This could at least have knocked off a few days on the Afghanistan review!
Where are your priorities, Mr. President? We have a record number of people DYING in Afghanistan, yet you're worried about SPORTS? Come on!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
In the News--Last Day of September
From CNN: Exptriating Illegal Alien Patients
"There is no reason why the U.S. taxpayers should have to pick up the tab- when the person is a citizen of another country- it ought to be the responsibility of that government," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for Federation for American Immigration Reform or FAIR. [Click here to read story]
We get the same treatment in other countries--try going to a hospital or emergency room in the Carribean or Europe without a credit card! They will not let you in! I've seen it.
However, is it fair? Something we'll have to debate.
From CNN: Haters of America Are Still Out There
President Obama was applauded by Castro, Chavez, and Gadhafi (no friends of ours) when he said he wanted a "new era of engagement in the world." Are either of those three dictators going to be better world citizens or kinder, gentler leaders as a result of Obama's outreach? Put me in the doubtful column. [Click here to read story]
Is our president hurting or helping our image world-wide? I think he's hurting, especially when even the French are calling us weak!
From FOXNews: Senate Committee Rejects Stronger Anti-Abortion Language in Health Care Bill
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, whose amendment lost 13 to 10, argued before the panel that tightening is needed to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortion.
"I want assurances that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund abortions," said Hatch. "Let's put specific language from my amendment into the bill." The senator argued that women should be required to purchase abortion coverage through unsubsidized, supplemental plans called "riders."
Members of the Senate Finance Committee rejected an amendment Wednesday to strengthen anti-abortion provisions on the panel's sixth day of hashing out a health care reform bill.
Democratic Chairman Max Baucus of Montana said his health care bill before the Senate committee already reflects federal law, which bars funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
"This is a health care bill. This is not an abortion bill. We are not changing current law," he said. [Click here to read story]
Should life proponents push hard for this? Or is it already covered in another law? I think it's already covered. We don't need extra laws when we already have them. It makes for the potential of contradictory laws complicating things in court. What do you think?
From ABCNews: Heart-breaking, Wrong, and Not Quite Accurate
[Two health-care horror stories were shared by President Obama] at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigation hearing in June. It turns out that while it's impossible to defend the behavior of the insurance companies in either instance, the stories, as the president told them, were not accurate. [Click here to read story]
Our leaders need to get their facts straight--it happens all the time!!
From The Register: Treemometers: A new scientific scandal
Picking a temperature signal out of all this noise is problematic, and a dendrochronology can differ significantly from instrumented data. In dendro jargon, this disparity is called "divergence". The process of creating a raw data set also involves a selective use of samples - a choice open to a scientist's biases.
In particular, since 2000, a large number of peer-reviewed climate papers have incorporated data from trees at the Yamal Peninsula in Siberia. This dataset gained favour, curiously superseding a newer and larger data set from nearby. The older Yamal trees indicated pronounced and dramatic uptick in temperatures.
At the insistence of editors of the Royal Society's Philosophical Transactions B the data has leaked into the open - and Yamal's mystery is no more.
From this we know that the Yamal data set uses just 12 trees from a larger set to produce its dramatic recent trend. Yet many more were cored, and a larger data set (of 34) from the vicinity shows no dramatic recent warming, and warmer temperatures in the middle ages.
In all there are 252 cores in the CRU Yamal data set, of which ten were alive 1990. All 12 cores selected show strong growth since the mid-19th century. The implication is clear: the dozen were cherry-picked. [Click here to read the story]
Seems that people are lying! Why? Just follow the money. How much have Al Gore and his cronies made on Global Warming? What a scam!
"There is no reason why the U.S. taxpayers should have to pick up the tab- when the person is a citizen of another country- it ought to be the responsibility of that government," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for Federation for American Immigration Reform or FAIR. [Click here to read story]
We get the same treatment in other countries--try going to a hospital or emergency room in the Carribean or Europe without a credit card! They will not let you in! I've seen it.
However, is it fair? Something we'll have to debate.
From CNN: Haters of America Are Still Out There
President Obama was applauded by Castro, Chavez, and Gadhafi (no friends of ours) when he said he wanted a "new era of engagement in the world." Are either of those three dictators going to be better world citizens or kinder, gentler leaders as a result of Obama's outreach? Put me in the doubtful column. [Click here to read story]
Is our president hurting or helping our image world-wide? I think he's hurting, especially when even the French are calling us weak!
From FOXNews: Senate Committee Rejects Stronger Anti-Abortion Language in Health Care Bill
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, whose amendment lost 13 to 10, argued before the panel that tightening is needed to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortion.
"I want assurances that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund abortions," said Hatch. "Let's put specific language from my amendment into the bill." The senator argued that women should be required to purchase abortion coverage through unsubsidized, supplemental plans called "riders."
Members of the Senate Finance Committee rejected an amendment Wednesday to strengthen anti-abortion provisions on the panel's sixth day of hashing out a health care reform bill.
Democratic Chairman Max Baucus of Montana said his health care bill before the Senate committee already reflects federal law, which bars funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
"This is a health care bill. This is not an abortion bill. We are not changing current law," he said. [Click here to read story]
Should life proponents push hard for this? Or is it already covered in another law? I think it's already covered. We don't need extra laws when we already have them. It makes for the potential of contradictory laws complicating things in court. What do you think?
From ABCNews: Heart-breaking, Wrong, and Not Quite Accurate
[Two health-care horror stories were shared by President Obama] at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigation hearing in June. It turns out that while it's impossible to defend the behavior of the insurance companies in either instance, the stories, as the president told them, were not accurate. [Click here to read story]
Our leaders need to get their facts straight--it happens all the time!!
From The Register: Treemometers: A new scientific scandal
Picking a temperature signal out of all this noise is problematic, and a dendrochronology can differ significantly from instrumented data. In dendro jargon, this disparity is called "divergence". The process of creating a raw data set also involves a selective use of samples - a choice open to a scientist's biases.
In particular, since 2000, a large number of peer-reviewed climate papers have incorporated data from trees at the Yamal Peninsula in Siberia. This dataset gained favour, curiously superseding a newer and larger data set from nearby. The older Yamal trees indicated pronounced and dramatic uptick in temperatures.
At the insistence of editors of the Royal Society's Philosophical Transactions B the data has leaked into the open - and Yamal's mystery is no more.
From this we know that the Yamal data set uses just 12 trees from a larger set to produce its dramatic recent trend. Yet many more were cored, and a larger data set (of 34) from the vicinity shows no dramatic recent warming, and warmer temperatures in the middle ages.
In all there are 252 cores in the CRU Yamal data set, of which ten were alive 1990. All 12 cores selected show strong growth since the mid-19th century. The implication is clear: the dozen were cherry-picked. [Click here to read the story]
Seems that people are lying! Why? Just follow the money. How much have Al Gore and his cronies made on Global Warming? What a scam!
Back from Hiatus
Okay. I've taken off from this blog for far too long--two months now. It's time to come back. Starting tomorrow, I will post two-to-three times per week, unless I don't have time, or my computer goes down, or I have something better to do, or I don't feel like it.
Wait a minute! That's just what I've been doing for over two months!
Wait a minute! That's just what I've been doing for over two months!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Now for the Other Side
Last post, I blasted the Conservatives. This time I'll take our President to task.
Mr. President:
(1) You say that the health care "reform" needs to pass NOW to ensure the recovery. However, the bill won't take effect until 2013! This is worse than the "stimulus" bill that wasn't a stimulus bill--80% of the expenditures had nothing to do with stimulus, and 60% of of wasn't to be spent until three years down the road.
(2) You claimed that the health care "reform" bill wouldn't hurt a person's chances of getting private insurance, yet a clause in the bill prevents any new private insurance policies from being sold! Get your facts straight!
(3) You admit you don't know the facts of the professor's arrest in Boston, yet you blast the police for arresting him--and you did it on national TV! Pulling the race card like this is divisive and unhelpful. Maybe you just want us talking about race instead of the health care "reform" bill.
Very shrewd on your part. You are acting like Mussolini again! Makes me sick that a President would do that.
Mr. President:
(1) You say that the health care "reform" needs to pass NOW to ensure the recovery. However, the bill won't take effect until 2013! This is worse than the "stimulus" bill that wasn't a stimulus bill--80% of the expenditures had nothing to do with stimulus, and 60% of of wasn't to be spent until three years down the road.
(2) You claimed that the health care "reform" bill wouldn't hurt a person's chances of getting private insurance, yet a clause in the bill prevents any new private insurance policies from being sold! Get your facts straight!
(3) You admit you don't know the facts of the professor's arrest in Boston, yet you blast the police for arresting him--and you did it on national TV! Pulling the race card like this is divisive and unhelpful. Maybe you just want us talking about race instead of the health care "reform" bill.
Very shrewd on your part. You are acting like Mussolini again! Makes me sick that a President would do that.
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