So where was the media, several months ago!

They were too busy praising the administration instead of doing their jobs!

The lack of a critical eye by the press is tantamount to asking the question do we have real freedom of the press or an extension of the White House press staff?

The Republicans were ok with shoveling money to the banks and the big Wall Street firms and the insurance companies, but the Republicans didn’t want to pay for public works jobs.  The Republicans, who tried all along to obstruct administration plans, are now complaining that those plans aren’t working fast enough.
And remember, after all, it was Reagan’s “deregulation,” which is still the mantra of the Republicans, that started this mess.
Paul Krugman had it right. We need more to overcome the mess caused by deregulation and the greedy bankers and mortgage companies. The worst is yet to come, and all we hear from the right, the guys who caused this mess, is complaining and obstructionism.

Incorrect Assumption, You assume I am a Republican.
Second mistake – There is no such thing as a “public works job” that is code for “Take money from the successful (thru taxes) and give it to the less successful.

This of course never works because the “public works” jobs only exist as long as taxes flow from the successful to the less successful. I am always amazed at how basic fundamentals of economics are missed by so many.

Economics are not a “Right or Left” issue, it is a money issue.  Of course I would tend to agree with you on the Wall Street bailouts they should have been allowed to fail. However your assumption that this is a Republican motivated giveaway is misplaced.

It is a Washington, power give away I think we could agree on.  When you look at the giveaways going on with the current titans of Washington politics you will see that both parties don’t get it.

The Republicans did this! The Republicans did that! Did you ever in your life see a Democrat stand up and take full responsibility for what he did? Barney Frank? Chris Dodd? Rat-face Geitner?
Teddy (The Swimmer) Kennedy?

In a capitalist society nobody is “too big to fail”. Let a few of the big boys take a fall and watch how fast the rest of them clean up their acts.

I think it’s a terrible shame that ALL men and women who run for any type of govt office are not required to have a degree in Economics !

It may be that the Obama White House “misread” what it would take to reverse the current economic meltdown – but those who truly “misread” the economy were those who initiated the policies which contributed to destroying it, i.e., Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton and, especially, Bush 43 (who, also, got the ‘bail-out’ ball rolling between March, 2008, and Obama’s Inauguration in January, 2009.)

Re: Post 2;

Your comment:

“… And remember, after all, it was Reagan’s “deregulation,” which is still the mantra of the Republicans, that started this mess…”

Absolutely correct.  “Reaganomics”, “supply-side economics”, and “deregulation” are what got us here.  (And – has ANYONE EVER heard of a more stupid concept than cutting taxes followed by increasing spending?  Reagan and Bush 43 were ‘experts’ at it!)

From the article:

“Vice President Biden acknowledged today that the administration underestimated the depth of the economic recession months ago as it prepared a recovery package that is only now beginning to take effect.”

They had well over a year to look at this, then after then the tine after he was inaugurated.

Plain and simple, he got it wrong, and caused obamageddon, one NEVER raises taxes in a recession (a.k.a. Jimmy Carter). Regan pulled us out of that one, and Bush 43 pulled us out of Clinton’s recession.

Government must stay out of the private sector, the auto companies should have been let to file Chapter 11 for restructure, not using the bail out money to buy private stocks, then convert them to common shares, which gives them ownership in these companies who got bail outs.

At least when Bush bailed out AIG and others, there were required payment options. Therefore it was a loan, just as with Chrysler when Lee Iacocca saved the company and paid the government back in record time.

You cannot tax the hell out of a large company and expect them to stay here, such as almost tripling the Capital Gains tax, and Tax Cheat Geitner limiting what they can be paid, even Clinton didn’t do that, he knew just as Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43 how to run a business. Now obama is wondering why big businesses are moving off shore, the very same reason 7,800 small businesses have closed.

Not to mention you do not need 32 czars who answer ONLY to obama, not either House. Half the czars and his administration are former ACORN employees, and I am not speaking of Project Vote, I am talking about CCI and other arms which control Billions of dollars that are very difficult to trace.

The man is not stupid, he knows exactly what he is doing, and the goal is a fascist state. If Cap and Trade and Universal Health Care passes, he wins, we lose. Economists have stated that if Cap and Trade passes, it will be the largest tax implemented in the history of the USA.

TK,

Interesting take, however when you get back from the land of oz you might take a look at the facts instead of repeating the dribble that comes from MSNBC.

It was Democratic congress during Regan that over spent etc…

But if you are really interested in a debate over those years I would be glad to discuss historical facts and not liberal legend!

Post 8

James, good luck in getting a comprehensive conversation with tk, disagree with him too much and he will resort to calling you names, and try to impugn your integrity.

He started doing that with me for the past eight months, among other posters. Which he will most likely start with me again for this post.

Re: Posts 8 & 9: Well said, both of you.

Re: Post 7;

“… Regan pulled us out of that one, and Bush 43 pulled us out of Clinton’s recession …”

And, to this date, Reagan and Bush 43 added more to the national debt that any other presidents in history.  Reagan added an amount nearly equal to the total cost of WW II – and Bush 43 doubled that amount.

What you are ideologically calling “Obamageddon” is primarily the accumulated result of “Reaganomics” and Bush 43’s most-ridiculous-economic-policy of “Cut Taxes And Increase Spending”.

And, up until this week, your simple-minded mantra was that Obama was “a Marxist”.  Now, in a new month, you’re suddenly certain he’s “a Fascist”.  Do you even know the difference?  I’d bet not.

When do you start complaining about the color socks the guy wears?

Re: Post 8;

While Reagan, unlike Bush 43, may have had a Democratic Congress (I’ll have to look to see if BOTH Houses had clearly Democratic majorities from 1981-1989), he also had the tool of “Presidential veto power”.

He could have vetoed ANY budget submitted to him for his signature at any time he felt that budget represented “overspending”.  He never did so – and he increased the approximate $800 billion national debt in existence on Carter’s last day by some $2.4 TRILLION – almost the total cost of WW II.  Reagan sowed the seeds for the economic failure that actually occurred under Bush 43.  (Bush 43 added some additional $6 TRILLION to the national debt – and he HAD A GOP CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY for six of his eight years!)

As regards our economy, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43 screwed it up – and Obama has been handed the unenviable job of trying to figure out how to correct those 28 years of failed economic policy.  I certainly hope he succeeds.  But, if he does not, he’s certainly no worse, economically-speaking, than Reagan or Bush 43.

(And, you can stick your “land of oz” and “MSNBC” comments back up where the sun don’t shine!  To this point, I have not made any snide or snotty comments directed at you.)

Re: Posts 9 and 10;

“Peat” and “Repeat” would be traditional.

But, you paragons of discourse have at least temporarily gotten me all wrapped up in hockey jargon – so – for now – I’ll stick with Mr. Empty Net and Mr. Wash Out.

Dear Mr. Empty Net and Mr. Wash Out:

You two started with the namecalling (usually some derogation of Democrat and/or Liberal and/or Obama-ite) and personal attack style posts (and Mr. Empty Net has become obsessive/compulsive about it in innumerable impossibly tedious, rambling and babbling posts) – actually, Mr. Wash Out simply started dittoing Mr. Empty Net – and, as I’ve said before – I hate the no-real-ammunition-left tactic and think it’s middle-school-minded – BUT – I do believe in “an eye for an eye” – so – poke my eye and I’ll poke back!

On the other hand, play nice and I’ll play nice.  So – your choice!

Post 13,

Hey TK (((ECHO))),

Last week and before that, you claimed Bush 43 had added $11.5 trillion, what happened, did you watch Fox News and find out that is what the National Debt is now, after obama has spent about $2.2 Trillion now?

Want to blame the wars in Afghanistan, and Iraq on Bush and Bush only? Then you had better talk to the democrats in both Houses, other than Clinton’s recession is where Bush spent a good deal of that money. We cannot forget three major hurricanes, 12 other natural disasters, and his Billions in contributions to Darfur including paying guards to watch over the influx of equipment and aid so it would not be stolen. The only US President to help that country.

As far as name calling, AIM and myself can prove it was you who started that crap, and we just do not buy your mis-truths. some how I bet you have had your share of pokes.

There you go getting us off topic again.

Re: Post 14;

I realize you’re incredibly slow, yet still bicker-prone and argumentative even when you’re totally off-the-wall – - but THE FACTS of the matter – - which, like countless other things for your benefit – - have been repeated over-and-over again because of your, shall we say, various “challenges”:

National debt on Carter’s last day was about $800 billion;

Reagan increased that national debt by some $2.4 TRILLION (an amount almost equivalent to the cost of WW II) – bringing the debt up to some $3.2 trillion.

Bush 41 added some $1.4 trillion – bringing the debt up to some $4.6 trillion.

Clinton had budget surpluses in four of his eight years in office – made payments on the national debt – and left Bush 43 some $300 billion in surplus cash – BUT – in his eight years, overall, he did add some $500 billion to the national debt – bringing the national debt up to some $5.1 trillion.

However, like Reagan, GEORGE W. BUSH increased the national debt in record-breaking manner: Bush 43, single-handedly, added some $6.5 TRILLION directly to the national debt – bringing it up to about $11.6 TRILLION – NOT COUNTING the estimated additional $2.5 TRILLION it will cost to conclude Iraq and Afghanistan and cover the costs of 30,000 wounded/injured soldiers – some 17,000 injured critically and likely requiring lifelong medical care.

Consequently, Bush 43 added some $6.5 TRILLION directly to the national debt (bringing it up to some $11.5, or so, TRILLION) – with another estimated $2.5 TRILLION for Iraq, Afghanistan and military wounded continuing care – which totals some $9 TRILLION ON BUSH 43’s TAB.

Maybe if you start with 1+1=2 … and work at it real hard for a few years – you’ll eventually be able to get this (???)

And, go poke yourself!  R-E-A-L good!

Post 15:

Still off topic I see, and for the record, you used Poke first.

You do not visit the GAO site very often, do you…Look for the report which says Obama has now set a record for the United States deficit, dated May 27, 2009. With current spending, loans from abroad, printing money, and dipping into the Federal Reserve. Obama will outspend every president combined in history.
————————
Te Universal Health care is under scrutiny by the democrats and Republicans have temporarily tabled the bill, you remember the one the democrats passed without reading any of the 1,000 pages…NO ONE was given time to read it, it was presented at 3:00pm and came up for a vote at 10:am the next morning.

Just as they did with Crap and Tax bill, which if passed will be the largest tax hike in history, and not but three Congressmen stayed up all night to read it…So what happened to his promise to put Bills on the White House site for five days, then cut it to 48 hours, now down to less than a day.

Where is the Transparency the promised, details of much of what he is doing have yet to be explained to the public, which again he said he would do, but has not. During his campaign he promised Heath Care Reform, not one single time has he told the public it was intended to be a Nationalization of Health Care. Major Universities are reporting students changing their majors to other professions by 55% and dropping. They include all aspects of providers, from Surgeons, Specialist, all the way to General Practitioners.

They are demanding lower malpractice costs to be lowered and normalized, and expect to be paid a more fair wage than what has been proposed, or they leave, one of their primary concerns is Tort Reform. Joining with them are the pharmaceutical companies, the will not have the manpower or the resources to create new and better drugs.

As for your numbers in you above post, you should know that I prefer to read non Fiction.

Re: Post 16;

Do you know the difference between “deficit” and “national debt”?

I never mentioned anything about your alleged “universal health care” bill – and, to my knowledge, no such current bill has been voted on nor even brought up for a vote in the current Congress.

I never mentioned anything about the so-called “Cap and Trade” bill EXCEPT – IF it reduces pollution and promotes alternative energy – I’m definitely for those two outcomes.

If you think so-called “transparency in government” is LESS now than it was during the Bush-Cheney administration – then you’re probably beyond help.

Do you even recognize the difference between “nationalized health care” and a “national health care plan”?  We already have the latter in Medicare and Medicaid; Obama’s proposal is that such a “plan”, similar to the one in existence for government employees, be extended to those NOT on Medicare, Medicaid, or who are government employees’ plan – AT THEIR CHOICE!  At their choice!  Choice.  Get it?

Your post includes a lot of fantasy and comments which are unintelligible to me.

Beyond that – here’s a fact for you: the very stable administrative cost of the existing Medicare health care plan is 3%; the average administrative cost of health care plans managed by private health care insurance providers is – 20%!

Some other facts:

The average health care expenditure per person per year in the U.S. is some $7,500; in France, it’s some $3,600 – and France’s health care system is ranked first among developed countries.  And life expectancy in France is between 5 and 6 years longer than in the U.S.

Medical expense is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy filings in the U.S. – and approximately 80% of those filing DO HAVE INSURANCE (but were apparently “screwed by the fine print”)!

The REAL POINT here is that, like many other things, health care costs in this country have risen out of control – and SOMETHING needs to be done to remedy the situation.

When I graduated from undergraduate school, the average starting pay for college graduates was $12,000 and a still-being-made-now certain “luxury” car model cost $4,000; today, starting pay for college graduates is up about 3.5 times since my graduation – BUT – the cost of that very same luxury car has gone up 11 times! 

The simple problem: over the last 30 years, the growth in income for the average working American HAS NOT KEPT PACE with the increases in desirable or necessary goods and services – ESPECIALLY in anything and everything connected to “health care”. 

And, Wesley, there is no doubt you are the primary “fictionist” here.  In your incessant and partisan denigration of Liberals, Democrats, and, especially, Obama, you regularly present irrelevant fantasies, misconceptions, or your purposeful misrepresentations as “fact” (and, frankly, your extreme ranting and raving about Obama often makes you seem unpatriotic and, sometimes, absolutely unamerican).

Your above post has more than enough examples to prove my points about your fantasies and misrepresentations, whether they are willful or not.

Post 17:

This post does not make any sense, especially France, who is moving to the Right, and as with the rest of the EU, they are looking to our old style of heath care, due to so many preventable deaths.

I know a hell of a lot, don’t try to kid yourself, I study this stuff, not to mention I have been in all countries of the EU. Speaking with many people and friends, they hate their Health Care.

Re: Post 18;

It doesn’t make any sense to you that France’s health care system is generally considered to be the best among all developed countries – that its costs are less than half of the U.S. annual per capita spending – and that Frenchmen live, on average, 5-6 years longer than Americans?

Maybe you just have trouble making sense out of things???

Check it out yourself.

Post 18:

I suppose the 8,800 needless deaths there does not bother you, well of course it doesn’t.

Good God…with your profile, I hope you are never allowed, or get your hands on a weapon.

Perhaps the French live longer because they don’t have the racial strife that we have. Theirs is a much more homogeneous population (at least up to now).

Also, you don’t see them getting involved in any armed conflicts the way we do. Remember the old saw about the ad for the French Army rifle for sale—-never fired, and only dropped once.

As far as them having a superior health care system—-I’d want to see some original source documents for that claim!

Re: Post 20;

Now what are you smoking?  You’re posting on your own posts?  Your Post 20 is directed back at your own Post 18?

I have NO IDEA what the hell your “8,800 needless deaths” refers to!?!?!  (Do you?)

Re: Post 21;

I’m not an expert on “French racial strife” – but they’ve certainly had their hands full over the last 25-35 years or so with racial strife involving Africans, Muslims, etc.  So-called “riots” there have been more frequent and “more deadly” over that period than they have been here.

AND – check this yourself – France very likely has the MOST UN”homogeneous” population in the entire European Union.  France is very likely the “melting pot” of Western Europe.

The annual number of U.S. “armed conflict” deaths is miniscule compared to the total number of annual deaths in the U.S. – as is the number of annual deaths due to criminal activity.  Their statistical relevance in determining an overall life expectancy is minor.

HOWEVER, just as an example – for the last 30 years – there have been MORE THAN 100,000 DEATHS ANNUALLY in the U.S. due to simple and unnecessary “medical mistakes”!

Since 2001, France has been ranked #1 in the quality and effectiveness of its health care system among the top 50 most-developed nations.  The United States has been variably ranked in that same period between #37 and #44 – YET – among those 50 nations – the U.S. SPENDS THE MOST PER CAPITA, annually, on health care.  (The U.S. spends in the $7,500 per person range; France spends in the $3,600 range – and the UK and Canada spend less than that.)

(It shouldn’t take a lot of effort for you to be able to verify these facts on your own – IF – you make an attempt to use sources other than partisan right-wing propaganda sources.)

Post 23:

Pardon me, but I believe it is Switzerland have the fewest deaths per capita than anywhere else in the world. I have been there several times, you will be hard pressed to find any trash (litter) anywhere, there is no crime to speak of, and no racial problems. It is not only the cleanest place I have been, but the nicest people I have ever met. Almost the entire population is Christian, Roman Catholic and Protestant.

It take 12 years of renewing visas once you apply for citizenship, before you are heard by the government to become a citizen. That is only after many background checks, how you conduct yourself. Yes, it is a small country, and there are at least 150,000 people per year who try to gain citizenship, if you overstay your visa, you are put on a plane at your own expense.

Although it borders Germany and France, even they have to get a visa to visit.

Like to know another fact? They have CLOSED borders. The have 0 Muslims living or visiting, other than banking.

We could use a lesson from them.

As for US hospital deaths, I looked it up, 76% of all US Hospital Deaths are incurable diseases, accident victims, shooting victims, ER deaths. HSA has been fighting for years to exclude Hospital Deaths, with the exception of those who are admitted with normal health concerns, not those who are already terminal.

Re: Post 24;

See!  There you go again: spinning, bending, misconstruing, misstating, misrepresenting and manufacturing a “fact”.

No where, NO Where, NO WHERE have I made the statement (according to you) that France has “…the fewest deaths per capita than anywhere else …”

This is just another one of your endless non sequitur goofballnesses.

What I did say was that France has a life expectancy about 5-6 years longer than the U.S.

And I said nothing about “hospital deaths”.

The closest thing I mentioned was that, for many years, the U.S. has had more than 100,000 deaths per year due to simple and unnecessary medical mistakes.

Your, shall we say, “misconstructions”, continue unabated.  Norm Crosby would be proud.

(Thanks for letting us all know that Switzerland shares borders with France and Germany – but you forgot Italy, Austria – and Liechtenstein!)

I will reprint my letter, where you keep bringing up the same subjects in several posts, cross posting is very childish.

Prof.  Yossi Sheffi [email address removed]
Sent:  Fri 7/10/2009
To:  Wesley Lennon

Dear Wesley Lennon

Thank you for your inquiry into French Health Care, we have completed a study released on 10, March 2009, the results are listed below per your inquiry, should you need further information, please respond.

In 2008, researchers said their number 1 status of the study was flawed, arguing that there are things other than a country’s health care system that determined factors like longevity. So this year, two researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine measured something called the “amenable mortality.” Basically, it’s a measure of deaths that could have been prevented with good health care. The researchers looked at health care in 19 industrialized nations. France came in third in deaths that could have been prevented due to long waiting periods, followed by Canada, Great Briton, the United States was last in un-necessary mortality rates. 

France uses a dual Health Care System, Universal Health Care combined with Private Health Care, looking at President Obama’s proposed system using both, should it pass into law, we have noticed the U.S. Senate is stating that Private Health Care will be taxed, fined then slowly phased out, the intent is to force the Universal Health Care to all Americans into a Government run system, equal to what Canada is currently using. Private Health Care in France costs are very low compared to the United States, although most French citizens do choose the Universal, which is unfortunate as they put themselves in peril.

In closing, I would remind you French Immigrants must pay for Heath Care.

With regards,
Prof. Yossi Sheffi
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Director, MIT Center for Logistics

By the way the population make a difference:

France: 

Population: 65,073,482
Population Rank: 20

USA:

Population: 330,876,000
Population Rank: 3

Population difference: 265,802,518

Only behind China and India, both with over a Billion People.

Note that the hockey puck has yet to document any of his claims regarding the wonderfuul health care system of the French.

The thought of the Obamadonna-Incarnate bringing us down to the level of socialized medicine he seems to want for us (NOT the politicians, mind you)is frightening!

Post 27:

That is due to the lack of research, of which I have reminded him of several times. There is always more to anything than just looking up a subject without going all the way. Kind of what “so called journalism is to the liberal media these days”, they only put out what THEY believe and want you to hear.

Did you see our so-called Prez said online this week-end (All presidents before him have given a radio address on Saturday, but not this one). He is now claiming the entire $787 Billion stimulus had been spent, all this while leaving us to believe only 10% of it had been spent. So, where did the money go, it sure as hell did not go to the economy. The only winners since he took office are Big Labor (unions) for one, the rest of the world for his apologies he makes for what he calls the USA’s shortcomings, it is my belief we have *nothing* to be ashamed of…

Why were his lackey’s claiming only 10% had been spent when there were $410 Billion in pork projects?

Something which has really bothered me, is his statement (which are now being echoed by the MSM) about “Jobs Saved”, there is NO WAY in hell to even measure jobs saved!

Now he says he needs another $800 Billion to help Small Business, which is too late for 85% (or more) of those Small Businesses…from nothing to too late. Not only do we not have another $800 billion, but limits help to Small Businesses to $330,000.00 each, not nearly enough. Every single independent Economists have said that if obama’s projected spending (before the $800 Billion requested) in one term will have spent more that all presidents from George Washington to Bush 43 combined.

Those who voted for obama, voted for Change, what we got were Chains, and the largest Government in history, and did so under eight months. We do not need (so far) 32 Czars, each of which make $172,500 dollars and extraordinary benefits of which also adds to the cost of Government. Every single Czar is already covered by appointees, the difference is, these extremist czars do not have to answer to either House, this is just plain wrong, and should be illegal.

Every economic classes of people prospered under Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton (governed from the middle economically), and Bush 43…including increases in GDP, individual income, and jobs. Until 2006 when democrats gained control, is when the economy began to drop by using the leadership to squash Republican bills, and filibusters in the Senate.

Both House and Senate Parties began uncontrolled spending, that I put on Bush for not using the Veto on pork, but was the only way for him to get what he needed, was to sign the pork laden bills…obama made it worse when it was clear he would win the nomination, big businesses began leaving in droves. After elected he more than doubled the Capital Gains Taxes, which either ran off other companies, or caused them to have to slash jobs.

He promised us the jobless rate with the Stimulus would prevent unemployment to 8% or under, now it is at 9.5% and rising. Before the end of summer, it will be over 10% heading for who knows how high. Just last week, we lost 582,000 jobs. Problem is, all the people who have not filed for unemployment benefits, which when estimates are added in (due to dual income families, with one losing a job, may not yet file) would bring the jobless rate to 12.5% according to his own economists (which when they released that fact were fired).

It is obvious that the second proposed stimulus of $800 Billion claimed to be for Small Businesses (at a paltry 330,000 per) would put another $600 Billion for his Universal Health Care, not to mention he wants to take away the Medicare entitlement of $400 Billion per year to complete more of his Heath program.

Re: Post 26;

Typical “Wesley In Dallas”.  I happened to briefly mention an apple – and Wesley goes into some kind of a dissertation on oranges!

Here is what seems to be your and your professor’s central point in your post:

“… France came in third in deaths that could have been prevented due to long waiting periods…”

I, on the other hand, have NEVER MENTIONED “LONG WAITING PERIODS”, nor made any comparison whatsoever between France and the U.S. in terms of “long waiting periods”!

The ONLY REMOTELY-RELATED COMMENT I made – which you’ve apparently once again misconstrued – was “… for many years, the U.S. has had more than 100,000 deaths per year due to simple and unnecessary medical mistakes…”.

NOWHERE did I mention ANYTHING to do with “LONG WAITING PERIODS”.

AND – I have no clue as to what …

“… Prof. Yossi Sheffi, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, MIT Center for Logistics …”

has to do with French (or American) “HEALTH CARE” ???

Enjoy your oranges.

Re: Post 28;

Your (absurd) statement:

“… That is due to the lack of research, of which I have reminded him of several times …”

Yeah, right!  You and research go together like water and oil!

The next time I have a health care-related question – - I’ll absolutely BE CERTAIN to find myself a “Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering”!

And, by the way, another of your statements:

“… Every economic classes of people prospered under Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton (governed from the middle economically), and Bush 43…including increases in GDP, individual income, and jobs …”

In every year since Reagan assumed the presidency – the NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY in the United States – has INCREASED!

And, in the eight years of the Bush 43 administration, average WORKING FAMILY ANNUAL INCOME in the United States – DECLINED by somewhat over $2,000!

And another of your statements:

“… Until 2006 when democrats gained control, is when the economy began to drop by using the leadership to squash Republican bills, and filibusters in the Senate …”

Unintelligible.

(A wild guess: Democrats in Congress voting down Republican bills and filibusters causes the economy to go bad???)

Absurd.

Re: Post 27;

Hey, Frenchie, if you’re on Medicare (or will be, soon), you’re already on “socialized medicine”; or, if you don’t have two nickels to rub together (or won’t have, soon), you’re already on Medicaid, another version of “socialized medicine”; or, if you’re a government employee being provided with health care services, you’re already on “socialized medicine”; if you’re a Frenchie from Canada by birth, you’re also on “socialized medicine”; and, if you’re an illegal immigrant who freely uses the local emergency room as your personal doctor, you’re already on “socialized medicine”!

And – go and do your own “documentation”!  Do you have to be fed EVERYTHING on a silver spoon?  Can’t you do ANYTHING for yourself?

Post 29:

What does one have to do with the other? Are you kidding me, with any mandatory Universal/Socialist Health Care, there are always long waiting lines…that was Professor Yossi Sheffi’s point.

If you do not know what Civil Engineers at MIT, and the other things they do, you need to go to college.

FYI, I am still on Private Health Care, I am seen often the same day I call early for a needed appointment, they know my health condition and make room for me when ever possible…I lose that with a Heath Care system no one with any sense would want or need…obama had the money to cover those who do not have any health care, although they get it free anyway. No ER in the country would turn anyone away.

I stopped going to Memorial-Herman hospital branch in the Woodlands, Tx. (8 miles from here) as I had to wait 5 hours with Pleurisy combined with double Pneumonia, while illegal aliens were being tended to first. A crappy way to run any hospital, a common cold should be put at the end of the line.

Post #31:

tk, we are not the same, espcially regarding Silver Spoons, I have NEVER been given anything in my life I did not earn myself, nor have I asked. No silver spoon here, Bud!

Re: Post 32;

First, my Post 31, regarding “doing one’s own documentation”, a “silver spoon” and “doing something for yourself” was directed to Post 27, ostensibly posted by one “C. Roy”. 

Why are YOU responding to my post to “C. Roy”?

Are YOU “C. Roy”, too?

Second, it is absurd to pretend a Civil and Environmental Engineer is also some kind of an automatic expert on health care issues.

Third, deaths due to “unnecessary medical mistakes” and deaths due to “a long waiting period” ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.  I mentioned ONLY the former.

Buzz off.

I don’t think you understand, hockey puck. If YOU

want to make a statement about YOUR superior French systems, then YOU provide the authority for YOUR statements! Otherwise, they will be dismissed as the left-wing hot air they probably are.

Yes, medicare and medicaid ARE socialized medicine, and this may come as a surprise to you, puck, but they are quickly going broke. Add in a few more millions of illegal aliens (undocumented immigrants in your parlance, no doubt, Obama’s brilliant ideas, and watch the fit hit the shan.

Post 33: For the same reason you attack my posts intended for other people, Pot…Kettle…Black.

tk, and what do the French have to do with the story above regarding Biden? This story became off topic on Post #11, we are now at Post #35…Why do you do that on EVERY single thread?

If Cap and Trade (of course no one knows what that term means) it should be called what it is, the largest tax hike in history…should it pass the Senate, and Universal Health care, I do not want to hear you whining when you can no longer make ends meet, or if you get a serious illness (God forbid), and die due to the fact that you will have to wait months to see a specialist.

Since we are still off topic, it is my hope Sotomayor gets Borked, while on camera, she said Judges should have the ability to legislate from the Bench. The last thing this country needs someone who is a latina racist.

Especially since eight of her last ten 2nd Court of Appeals have been reversed by the Supreme Court. And on the Ricci case, she did not even bother to explain her dissent, she only wrote a single short paragraph. She rebuked blacks as less intelligent in her decision by stating the Firefighters test had a written section, thus it being unfair to blacks.

I could care less what race a judge is, as long as they follow the Constitution to the letter of the law, and judge without prejudice. I would prefer to see the Constitution scrubbed in the name of fairness, and rid it from laws passed over the years due to political preference, the Supreme Court is not a political body, and never should be again. And disband the ACLU as being partisan, I have submitted valid claims to them just to see if they would take my civil rights into consideration, every time they have said something such as, “Your request is not in the best interest of our purview”.

Re: Post 34;

It’s apparent that you, like other extremist dittoheads, simply “dismiss” the real-world facts that do not comport with your narrow-minded and often ill-informed perspective – so why would ANYONE waste their time “documenting” anything for anyone who has already made up their mind to find those even those documented facts “unacceptable”???

And, Mr. Genius-I-Know-It-All-Already, after you get through with your bitching – do you have any suggestions or alternatives to offer?  Didn’t think so!  A Charter Member of “The Party of No”!

And, as regards Medicare and Medicaid “going broke”: The cost of American health care is completely out-of-whack with comparable costs in other developed countries.  Canadian and Mexican prescription drugs are priced 65+% below their U.S. counterparts; France, the UK, and Canada per capita health care costs are half of the U.S.‘s and many of their results are better; and private health insurers in the U.S. have administrative costs averaging at least 7 times HIGHER than administrative costs incurred by Medicare, Medicaid and the government employees health care plan.  So – Genius – duplicative costs and predatory pricing need to be reduced – COST-CUTTING (regardless of what the “for profit” Wall Street establishment insists on).

And, of course, payroll contributions to Medicare and various deductibles and co-pays can be increased.  And, note, Know-It-All, health care costs have been rising for the last 20 years at an annual rate of about 3-4 times the level of inflation – and even in this recession year – health care costs have gone up some additional 9% since last July!

The “going broke” part is being caused primarily by your free-market “for profit” costs rising completely out of control and bordering on the predatory.

And, obviously, illegal immigration is certainly detrimental to controlling Medicaid costs – but you can blame Reagan for opening the door to that problem – with Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43 (and a Congress variably controlled by BOTH parties) for holding open the door and re-newing the Welcome Mat every few years.  If Obama does absolutely nothing about the problem – he’ll be no worse in that regard than Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43.

And I certainly agree with the first three words of your post – you DEFINITELY DON’T think!

Re: Post 35;

If you want to erroneously call the PROPOSED (but certainly not finalized) Cap and Trade legislation “the biggest tax hike in history” – be my guest.

If the proposed (but certainly not finalized)  “Universal” health care legislation is passed, it will allow me the CHOICE of enrolling in it or keeping my current health insurance (and – EVERYBODY dies!)

There is EVERY likelihood that Sotomayor will be confirmed – and VERY LITTLE likelihood that she won’t – so – get used to it.  For SURE, even if she is empathetic to minorities (including her own) – she’s certainly W-A-Y MORE QUALIFIED than was Harriet Miers!  (And, note, Mr. Expert, she DID NOT DISSENT on the Ricci case – she AGREED with the other two judges on the panel.)

And your statement: “… I could care less what race a judge is, as long as they follow the Constitution to the letter of the law …”

As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about.  “The Constitution” and “the letter of the law” are two entirely different things.  The body of the law, i.e., your “letter of the law” reference, is actually contained in state and federal statutes and statutory regulations, and the non-conformance with those statutes and statutory regulations are what the vast majority of judges deal with on a daily basis – and these statutes and regulations are generally fairly specific in their declarations.

The Constitution, the interpretation of which is often the primary responsibility of the U.S. Supreme Court, is a document written in very general terms and is, consequently, open to interpretation – either ‘strict’ or ‘broad’ – or, as is usually the case, somewhere in between.  The Constitution ENABLES the law and statutes and statutory regulations CODIFY it.

Like “C. Roy”, you NEVER have a constructive, productive, or positive thing to say – nor do you EVER suggest any workable alternatives.  All you do is incessantly rag on and babble on about anything and everything you perceive to be even remotely connected to your ideas (often wrong) of “liberal”, “Democratic” or “Obama”.

IIf you can’t define the difference between “liable” and “libel” – why should anyone believe that you know the difference between “liberal” and “conservative”?)

Post 37:

Have you read you own posts? All you do is make non-sensible comments, in which you always offer non-constructive babble, then ALWAYS ending resorting to personal attacks. By saying others do not offer constructive comments, you have forgotten yourself. Know as the Chicken Litter defense, unlike you, we take both sides of an argument and post the research results. If you take Obama and democrats at their word, then you will never think for yourself. This country was built on Free Thinkers (who actually made sense).

As for your comment “IIf you can’t define the difference between “liable” and “libel” – why should anyone believe that you know the difference between “liberal” and “conservative”?)”, (do I need to look in the dictionary to see if the word “IIF”, has two capital “I’s”), it is not necessary for me or most people. You still dwell on Libel and Liable, talk about Obsessive.

I watched the Sotomayor hearing yesterday while in the hospital (spent the night so I could get the other two pints of blood, and to have yet another Bone Marrow Biopsy). What became clear to me is what my research has already stated, Sotomayor used the word Libel and Liable in several sentences, regarding her interpretation of the law, the transcripts will prove that to be true. So get off your high horse (in your case that would be a “Shetland pony”).

The next question I want to ask you tk, I would love to ask over the phone so you do not have the time to look it up, I think you would get it wrong either way…What is “Cap and Trade”, the *real meaning*?

Continued on next post…

Cap and Trade, continued: Ever since Al Gore started on his incorrect quest for Global Warming, he personally has had has increased his wealth by an astounding 5,000%. Therefore obama’s interest in Cap and Trade is nothing more than money to the Government, which will pay for his Health Care Program, and oh so much more. But what people do not yet realize is, it will come out of their pockets in so many ways.

Cap-and-trade, it’s easy. The feds tell heavy industry what they can spew into the air. If a company goes over the emission amount, they must buy so-called carbon offsets from another company. So the companies that keep emissions low make money, and the companies that spew lots of gunk make less money. Of course, the gunk companies will pass their higher costs on to us, but hey, no program is perfect, right?

Now, less gunk in the air is good. A cleaner planet means better health for all of us. But already, India, China, Mexico and other countries have told President Obama they will not limit emissions. They don’t really care about global warming. So even if we cap-and-trade all day long, the Earth will continue to be dirty.

The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that the resulting increases in consumer prices – slightly less than the Waxman-Markey target – would raise the cost of living of a typical household by $1,600.00 a year. Some expert studies estimate that the cost to households could be substantially higher, up to $3,100.00. The future cost to the typical household would rise significantly as the government reduces the total allowable amount of Co2.

Americans should ask themselves whether this annual tax of $1,600.00-to $3,100.00 per family is justified by the very small resulting decline in global Co2. Since the U.S. share of global Co2 production is now less than 15 percent (and is projected to decline as China and other developing nations grow), a 15 percent fall in U.S. Co2 output would lower global Co2 output by less than 4 percent. Its impact on global warming would be virtually unnoticeable.

The proposed cap-and-trade system would be a costly policy that would penalize Americans with little effect on global warming. The proposal to give away most of the permits only makes a bad idea worse. Taxpayers and legislators should keep these things in mind before enacting any cap-and-trade system.

Several Independent Foundations have done an analysis of how this bill would affect our economy. From now till 2035 might sound like a long way off…but a child you have today will only be around 26 years ago and just starting to raise a family when that time comes. Here are their findings. The “environmental” bill would:

•Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion
•Destroy 1,105,000 jobs on average, with peak years seeing unemployment rise by over 2,479,000 jobs
•Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation
•Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent
•Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent
•Raise an average family’s annual energy bill by $1,600.00 up to 3,100.00
•Increase inflation-adjusted federal debt by 26 percent, or $29,150 additional federal debt per person

I will guarantee you, folks, that the government already has plans to make sure that low-income Americans will not pay a dime in increased energy costs. This will be just another notch on the entitlement belt.

Speaking of scams…don’t let the government fool you into thinking that ethanol is going to solve all of our problems either. Not only is it worse for our environment but it is going to cost you money. When that ragtag band of tired socialists and communists ran for the hills with the fall of the Soviet Union they immediately started looking for a new vehicle they could use for their anti-capitalist agenda. They found it. The environment. And they’re so happy that you are so easily conned.

Sources:
The Washington Times
The Economist Monthly
Several Studies done by acclaimed Economist and Environmentalists

I did the research, read everything I could find from the sources, therefore using their facts to put this together, this effort was over several days…also see below:

***There is a new slogan for this Administration: “Don’t feed the Hand that Bites you.”

There are also plans to add these permits (proposed name would be for the stock market will be CARCERDS, for Carbon Credits), a Government Stock to be traded in the Market (not sure that is legal, but when has that stopped this Administration).

Now we are back on topic of the Economy…

Re: Post 38, 39 and 40;

“Chicken Little”?  You’re it, man!  “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!”  That’s you mantra!

With regard to your interminable babbling (among other things) about a potential national health plan or your ranting and raving about potential ‘cap and trade’ legislation – do you realize there are NO FINALIZED VERSIONS of either proposal?

To begin, PROPOSED legislation must be originated and/or developed in both the House and the Senate.  Then, if each body is interested in pursuing such legislation, the leadership of each chamber will submit the proposal to each chamber’s appropriate committee (including members from BOTH parties) to review, accept, reject, modify, re-write, amend, etc., the proposal.

The committee decides if it will then actually submit the almost always-modified and amended proposal to its respective general memberships for consideration, review, debate, further amending, etc. 

At that point, the general membership of both the House and the Senate may further review and debate specific provisions of the proposed legislation and decide if they wish to proceed with the matter or not. If they decide to proceed, the proposed legislation will again, almost undoubtedly, be modified, re-written, re-configured, amended, etc.

Then, assuming both chambers of Congress agree to move forward with the then usually oft- and significantly-modified proposals – BOTH chambers will submit their respective versions to a joint committee whose purpose is to compromise and/or reconcile any differences in the bills that emanated from each chamber.  Obviously, there will be further changes made here.

Assuming this is accomplished (as opposed to the proposal being sent back to each chamber for further compromise and/or modification), a “final” version of the legislation would be generated and re-submitted to both the House and the Senate to be voted upon by each’s general membership – and if it is approved as written by both chambers – it will become statutory, a law.

The proposed ‘national health care plan’ and ‘cap and trade legislation’ are only in the beginning phases of this drawn-out process.  According to my information, a ‘national health care plan’, costing $600 billion over 10 years, has just emerged from its Senate committee.  To my knowledge, the House version is still under consideration in its committee.  To my knowledge, the proposed ‘cap and trade legislation’ is not actively being processed at this time.

Instead of all your “sky is falling” yammering – would it not make sense to withhold judgment on both a national health care plan and cap and trade legislation until such time as both issues emerge in their FINAL “PRE-APPROVAL” legislative form – whenever, and if ever, that happens???

And, instead of reflexively “being against everything” – even when your particular “everything” is only imaginary, hallucinatory or fantastical – would the thought EVER occur to you to offer up a workable alternative (that hasn’t already failed – like deregulation of financial services firms and corporate tax incentivization to move operations to foreign countries)???

All you do is bitch and moan and groan – usually about chimeras arising in your own mind – and you NEVER have a single positive alternative to offer .  You are the quintessential, lemming-like and hackish ideological partisan.  Your only modis operandi is to – “Just Say No!” – to EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you perceive has having originated “on the OTHER side” – in this case, Democratic, Liberal, Obama, etc.

I would suggest that you might consider using all your homebound free time to broaden your horizons – NOT narrow them!

And, keep in mind: the last eight years of Bush-Cheney (or was it Cheney-Bush?) administration (with six of those eight years accompanied by a GOP congressional majority) have, by-and-large, been DISASTROUS for this country!  At times, it seems a high school Student Council might have done a better job.  Were you also bitching and moaning and groaning for THOSE eight years?  (I doubt it!)  Obama-Biden and the current Democratic Congress have a L-O-N-G way to go before they get to be as demonstrably incompetent as were Bush-Cheney and their GOP Congress.

You vehemently complain about the mainstream media being biased, i.e., refusing to be objective, accurate, fair and balanced!  Do you have similar self-loathing regarding your own refusal or failure to also be objective, accurate, fair and balanced???

Unbelievable.

Re: Wesley In Dallas;

Here’s an up-to-date synopsis of the progress of the so-called “national health care plan”.

This past Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee approved its bill on a 13-10 party line vote.

The bill PROPOSES that businesses with 25 employees or more offer health insurance or pay $750 per year per full-time worker to the federal government.  Individuals would be required to obtain coverage.  The bill would also create an insurance exchange where individuals and small businesses could purchase health insurance.  The exchange would include a government-run plan that would compete with private insurers.  The bill would also include tax credits for some small businesses and subsidies for some individuals to help them buy insurance.

The Senate bill did not address how revenue would be raised to pay for health care reform since that element of the bill, under Senate rules, is required to be developed by the Senate Finance Committee – which is yet to announce its proposal.

A bill on the same issue was introduced in the House of Representatives this past Tuesday.  Under the existing House proposal, an insurance exchange similar to that included in the Senate plan would be created.  Additionally, employers would have to pay a penalty totaling 8% of their payroll of they do not provide health insurance.  Small businesses with less than $250,000 in payroll would be exempt from this requirement.  Firms with payroll between $250,000 and $400,000 would pay a penalty ranging from 2% to 6% of payroll if they don’t offer insurance.

The House bill proposes imposing a tax surcharge on high-income Americans to help pay the $1 trillion, 10-year cost of their bill.  A 1.2% surcharge would be imposed on married couples with adjusted gross incomes above $350,000 and on individuals with adjusted gross income above $280,000.  Taxpayers with incomes above those levels would be levied higher surcharges, with a maximum of 5.4% charged to joint filers with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million.  The surcharge would hit only 4% of small business owners and individuals who receive income from investments in small businesses – and the House bill contends that additional cost would be counterbalanced by benefits accruing to small business because the insurance exchange and market reforms would make employer-supplied health care insurance premiums much less expensive.

NOTE:  This summary is taken from an article entitled “Senate panel approves health care reform bill”, authored by Kent Hoover and appearing in the American City Business Journals, Inc.

Details will undoubtedly be changed dozens of times before the Senate and House bills are eventually joined in compromise and before a final version of the bill is ever voted on by the House and Senate.

If you want to gripe – you should gripe to your two Senators and your House representative.

WID:  As us liberals well know (but seldom admit),the equal protections of the 14th Amendment do not apply to the “rich”.

    Now, turning to the Communist Manifesto (the liberal Bible)we see that number two on Marx’s ten points was a heavy “progressive” income tax.

    Our beloved Obama-donna Incarnate is moving us that way as quickly as he can. The government knows what is best for us, so keep your mouth shut, pay whatever taxes HE wants you to pay, and do exactly as you’re told.

    Cap-and-tax is going to be just fine. Socialized medicine is going to be just fine. The Supreme Court is going to be just fine.

Post 43:

Yup, duh…us liberals is smarter dan dose dum Repulikins, uuuh huuu. we nose bester wat is gooder for peoples, day dont no we is goin to skrewing dem out of der mony. Da stuped konstiuton had God in it so it is rong an we aint gonna phollo it.
——————————
Did you notice that tk’s source did not mention that Private Insurance companies are going to be heavily taxed, which will cause companies to drop their employee coverage, or water it down so much it isn’t worth it, causing Doctors and Hospitals not to accept their coverage.

Tell me I am wrong when the Senate forces a vote on a bill without giving anyone time to read it, and/or discuss the bills. Whether or not the bill is 1,100 to 12,000 pages, simply reading it straight forward does nothing without time to verify all the bills and existing laws it will affect, those individual bills and laws must be read to cross reference to know what the ACTUAL meaning of the bill is to become. Every bill has consequences to other bills, which could invalidate a legally passed bill, and make that one null and void.

The 5.4 is not a percentage, it is points, which make the percentage actually 15.4%, odd they did not mention that. An emergency meeting of CEOs and Boards of companies which will be fall into obama’s and Eric Holder’s trap, have all agreed to take their companies off shore, just as those who left when they announced after obama won the Presidency has increased and doubled Capital Gains taxes in obama’s promises in 2008 and enacted in 2009. There are not enough companies left to pay for Health Care, and Cap and Trade, if they stay here, it will only widen the gap of taxes and job layoffs, by putting a heavier tax on the companies left in the US.

If you wnat to see the Health Care Chart, you can see it here:

Even the two largest Software companies will move if Cap and Trade is enacted, those would be Microsoft and Apple. As of today, there are another 522,000 new jobless claims in just last WEEK ALONE, bringing the total to 6.73 Million unemployed. That number does not reflect the people who have looked and given up, going to a single family income, of which experts put the actual unemployment to 10.7%.

The EU having so many US businesses are finding Capitalism, and are now moving in that direction,b y making deals with there companies, which will allow them to make profits. The UE countries are experiencing huge profits, are changing direction to the right, while we suffer by going to the left. They are now moving away from Socialized Health Care into Private Insurance Companies, as evidenced by France and Great Britain.

There is now so much dissent among democrats in both houses, that bills are being defeated in a Super Majority Senate, and let’s not forget that 44 democrats in the House voted against Health Care, it took eight turn coat Republicans to cross over to pass it in the House by a SINGLE vote. obama is not hiding his anger against dems in both Houses. Since the Judiciary will not take proper actions against criminal activities, Private attorneys are considering taking up the causes, and now filing law suites to protect he people since the Government will not do it themselves.

As I have mentioned, obama requested the $800 Billion stimulus for “Small Businesses”, which is not only too late as 85% of Small Business are now gone, leaving him with more than $600 Billion. Texas declined their stimulus, as did two other states, one of them was S.C.. Other states have wasted their stimulus, so you have 46 States requesting Bail Outs. If he begins State Bail Outs, such as California, where will it stop…

Then there is Goldman Sachs, this is something everyone should be aware of, it is noting short of criminal. What we really have is not Cap and Trade, but a Cap and Trade Con.

FTI tk, the number you quoted for $600 Billion for Health Care is not accurate, the actual cost will start at $1.5 Trillion, look it up, and do so not by cherry picking your source.

If you want to see the Health Care Chart, you can see it here:

http://docs.house.gov/gopleader/House-Democrats-Health-Plan.pdf

On another note: The newest Science Czar John Holdren – This man has written many books about population control, and is a strong believer in Eugenics.

This White House may as well be run by the Mafia, at least they have something obama dose not have…A code of Honor.

Here is a list of Obama’s current and prospective Czar positions:

1. Technology Czar: Aneesh Chopra.
2. Drug Czar: Gil Kerlikowske
3. Copyright Czar: Pending.
4. Energy Czar: Carol M. Browner
5. Car Czar: Ed Montgomery.
6. Terrorism/WMD Czar: Gary Samore.
7. Health Care Czar: Nancy-Ann DeParle.
8. Education Czar: Richard Condon.
9. Economic Czar: Paul Volcker.
10. Mortgage Czar: Pending.
11. Urban Affairs/Housing Czar: Adolfo Carrion.
12. Guantanamo closure Czar: Danny Fried.
13. Great lakes Czar: Cameron Davis.
14. Stimulus accountability Czar: Earl Devaney.
15. Cyberspace Czar: Pending.
16. Border Czar: Alan Bersin (Former US attorney).
17. Intelligence Czar: Admiral Dennis Blair.
18. Regulatory Czar: Cass Sunstein.
19. Pay Czar: Kenneth Feinberg
20. Iran Czar: Pending.
21. Tarp Czar: Herb Allison.
22. Middle-East peace Czar: George Mitchell.
23. *Science Czar: John Holdren. *This Czar will change into something else.
24. Green jobs Czar: Van Jones.
25. Afghanistan Czar: Richard Holbrooke.
26. Sudan Czar: J. Scott Gration.
27. Mideast policy Czar: Dennis Ross.
28. Information Czar: Vivek Kundra.
29. AIDS Czar: Jeffrey Crowley.
30. Faith-based Czar: Joshua Dubois.
31. Climate Czar: Todd Stern.
32. Science Czar: John Holdren – This man has written many books about population control, and is a strong believer in Eugenics

Conclusion

Where do we go from here? What does it mean to our fizzling democracy to have more Czars and more centralized power at the executive branch? 

The problem with this picture is that more Czars mean more layers of bureaucracy, more corruption, more control and abuse, as well as more inefficiency and ineptness.

Re: Post 44;

Your statement: “… Did you notice that tk’s source did not mention that Private Insurance companies are going to be heavily taxed …”

There’s NOTHING in the bill about “heavily taxing insurance companies”.

Your statement: “… Tell me I am wrong when the Senate forces a vote on a bill without giving anyone time to read it, and/or discuss the bills …”

YOU ARE WRONG.  There has been NO GENERAL MEMBERSHIP VOTE in the Senate on the bill.  There has ONLY been ONE committee vote – and that committee has been considering that bill for many weeks, so, if a GOP Senator on that committee (there were 10) “didn’t have time to read it”, it’s his/her own fault.  The 13-10 vote on the bill actually forwarded the bill (with 160 GOP amendments) to the Senate Finance Committee for their consideration.

Your statement:  “… The 5.4 is not a percentage, it is points, which make the percentage actually 15.4% …”

ABSURD!  (And, Wes, when talking about “percentages”, bankers and others involved in finance OFTEN SPEAK OF PERCENTAGES IN “POINTS” – where ONE POINT = ONE PER CENT!  Geez.)  Also note that the 5.4% applies to people with Adjusted Dross Incomes of OVER $1 million!

Your statement:  “…tk, the number you quoted for $600 Billion for Health Care is not accurate, the actual cost will start at $1.5 Trillion …”

WRONG.  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is only the first Senate committee to have voted on the measure thus far, ESTIMATED the cost of the bill IT approved to be $600 billion over 10 years.  Note, also, that in spite of your claim that 10 GOP Senators on the committee “didn’t have time to read the bill” – they DID HAVE TIME TO ATTACH 160 AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL – which the DEM Senators approved.  Note, also, that while the GOP Senators attached 160 amendments – NONE of the GOPs voted for their own amendments!  (“Actual cost” will ultimately depend on the EXACT details of the final bill – which is a L-O-N-G way from being “final”.)

The rest of your post is incoherent to me.

Re: Post 45;

You apparently have an absolute fetish about “Czars”.

The Constitution defines and limits the powers of the Executive Branch of government.  Therefore, regardless of how many “Czars” are appointed in the Executive Branch by the President, their power and authority is constitutionally-limited.  And, remember, Reagan started the whole “Czar” thing.

Your statement: “… This White House may as well be run by the Mafia, at least they have something obama dose (sic) not have…A code of Honor …”

Ridiculous.

I believe Carter was the first to use these so-called Czars:

*John Holdren Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Science czar Presidential appointed 1976.

Regan had ONE, which was also Senate Confirmed:

*Cass Sunstein Director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Regulatory czar[citation needed] Senate-confirmed position 1980.

Which was only temporary till the position was filled a year later.

See tk, once again…this is why you need to do research on your sources, using more than one.

What did I predict here on AIM back in January before the inauguration, that the Military would not want to sever someone like obmama?

I said current soldiers would not re-up as they did under Bush. They would lose current soldiers, and recruiting would fall drastically.

Well it is happening now, New requites and National Guard have found a way via Civilian Courts. A new case presented last week and won by an Army Reservist based on the enemy not adhering to the Geneva Convention, which we must follow under this Administration, including they are not sure the Commander in Chief is likely a Usurper, and that we are now fighting without allies. The case set a precedent, which will now be uniformly accepted. This ruling will apply to returning soldiers

All branches of the Military currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have been polled, will they remain in the military after their term is up, and will the Military re-sign for another tour.

The result was 66% saying no, 21% undecided.

All Military Recruiters are reporting a 69% drop in new Recruits compared to 2006/2007. All of this was on the heels of Mandatory Miranda Rights now being read to captured enemy combatants, who are without a country to which they belong.
——————————
New report:

Negative Economic Impact of Massive Government Expansion

Government programs obama implements which will last for years to come, balancing the budget by 2020 would require an additional 44% annual tax increase.  Also by 2020, the GDP deficit will grow by 250%.

Re: Post 48;

Your statement:

“… See tk, once again…this is why you need to do research on your sources, using more than one …”

Get off your middle-school self-puffery, Wesley! (And your damned “Czar” fetish!

In reality, the word “czar” (or “tsar”) was first used in American politics in the 1830s and was used by supporters of Andrew Jackson to refer to Jackson’s opponent, banker Nicholas Biddle, who they called “the bank czar”.

The terms was first widely used by journalists in the 1920s to refer to ‘political big wigs’ – and the term was used again in the 30s, during FDR’s presidency – to SPECIFICALLY refer to: INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH PUSHING THROUGH INITIATIVES – which is the SAME meaning inferred today inside the obama administration.

Presidentially-speaking, Richard Nixon first used the term to refer to Jerome Jaffe, made the first “drug czar” in 1971; Jaffe’s appointment was followed by that of John Coe and William Simon, who were Nixon’s successive “energy czars”.

The term has continued in use and, even George W. Bush engaged in “czarism”, appointing Gen. Douglas Cote as his “war czar”.

And – this is all irrelevant.

You’re using the term as a form of fear-mongering – AND – you’re playing on the Russian derivation of the word to infer ‘communism’, ‘socialism’, etc.  But, in the real world, no one in the Executive Branch, regardless of title, has any more “power” than the Constitution allows within the scope of the separation of powers among the three brances.

Once again – the term “czar”, as used in connection with appointive positions within the U.S. government, refers to: INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH PUSHING THROUGH INITIATIVES.

In other words:

An intramural “expediter”; an inside-the-administration, issue-oriented “ombudsman”; a “liaison”; a “team leader” or “team captain” – and all serve at the discretion of their designated supervisors and/or, ultimately, at the discretion of the president.

The rest of your post, like your fetish about “czars”, is nothing but a collection of partisan irrelevancies.

And, remember – relative to the rest of your tripe:  Reagan doubled the size of government and tripled the national debt – and Bush 43 nearly matched that.  So get off your damned harping on “government expansion” and the “deficit”.  After Reagan and Bush 43, GOPs have no business bitching about DEMs expanding the government or increasing deficits.

(Do you ramble all over the place on purpose, or because you’re easily bored, or because you find it difficult to concentrate, or because you’re just parroting somebody else’s talking points – or what ???)

You’re a tedium – like an ADHD child.

Post 50:

tk Said: “The terms was first widely used by journalists in the 1920s to refer to ‘political big wigs’ – and the term was used again in the 30s, during FDR’s presidency – to SPECIFICALLY refer to: INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH PUSHING THROUGH INITIATIVES – which is the SAME meaning inferred today inside the obama administration.”

Show me the link, or other proof…And for the record, FDR was also a Progressive.

I am not sure why I ask you these questions, you never have answered any of them for proof of you outrageous claims.

NO PRESIDENT has ever had 32 Czars (and more coming), that in itself is a huge expansion of Government, one…perhaps two I can understand, but not 32+ at a yearly salary of $172,500.00 each, (actually some are making more). That is no less than $5.520 Million a year.

Do you actually believe we need a “Pay Czar” to determine how much we can be paid?

It is detrimental to the Government itself, the less they make, the less taxes are collected.

All nongovernmental economists, and the CBO agree that obama’s spending is FOUR times that of Bush 43, period. I am amazed you cannot wrap that around your head.

If I listed all the names and slurs you have called me just this year alone, the post would fill more than an entire page.

For your information, the CBO Substantiated my claim that once obama introduced the first stimulus, it became HIS economy, and no longer Bush’s.

‘That’ is part of why you have no credibility.

Post 50:

“Once again – the term “czar”, as used in connection with appointive positions within the U.S. government, refers to: INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH PUSHING THROUGH INITIATIVES.

In other words:

An intramural “expediter”; an inside-the-administration, issue-oriented “ombudsman”; a “liaison”; a “team leader” or “team captain” – and all serve at the discretion of their designated supervisors and/or, ultimately, at the discretion of the president.
——————————
This many Czars are in direct conflict with other departments, they answer to no one but the president, they are NOT vetted, nor do they need confirmation from either House. This many are used to get the dirty work done. His Cabinet, and both Houses already have these responsibilities, and they do NOT like the Czars over-riding them.

Re: Post 50 and 51;

Show you a “link”?  You can’t even find the difference between “liable” and “libel” in a simple dictionary on your own! You claim to be this master of “research” – but somebody has to give you a “link”?  And – what’s the use of trying to further inform or educate someone who is already set in his/her own partisan and narrow-minded beliefs? 

(And, by the way, so-called progressive political parties in the US were created on several different occasions. The FIRST of these – and formally named “The Progressive Party” – was founded in 1912 by President THEODORE Roosevelt (a former Republican) – and was the most successful third party in modern American history.  Do you even know what American “progressive” political philosophy is all about?)

Your anti-“czar” fetish is bizarre.

Do you think your hated “cars” are any different in purpose than the 15 assistant coaches employed by the head coach of the University of Texas football team – the “head coach” who employs those “czars” of offense, defense, special teams, running backs, quarterbacks, kicking game, etc., etc., etc., TO IMPLEMENT HIS AGENDA among the star, grunt and greenie players who are “employed” on “the team” and whose job is to implement or put into action the head coach’s philosophy and agenda in hopes of “beating” all the “opposing teams” and, ultimately, winning the “national” championship?

Get off the “czar” crap.  It’s a bunch of irrelevant hot air.  You’re the classic example of a partisan political hack who is constantly throwing s**t against the wall hoping that every once in a while some of it will stick!  So far, you happen to be “oh-fer”.

Who are you to tell anyone what to do, I prove my points, and you are unable to even post a link.

Your post is full of lies, those who always attack are masking their own deficiencies.

Re: Post 53;

Hey, you’re the one recently puffing yourself up as a “thorough and effective master researcher”.  So – go and do some of your own thorough and effective and master research!

(Apparently, though, you’re just a “linkster”, not a real, traditional, originally-sourced “researcher”???)

And, I’m NOT telling you what to do.  I’m simply telling you, once again, that your “czar” issue is an irrelevancy and that you’re wrong about the origins of the use of the word “czar” in American politics.  And, of course, I gave you a close-to-home example of so-called “czars” on your local college football team – for which you have no response except:

“… Your post is full of lies, those who always attack are masking their own deficiencies …”

SO – would you now care to specifically enumerate those “lies” you claim are included in my post?   

(BTW – do you think when Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson “attacked” – they were “masking their own deficiencies”?  How about Patton’s invasion of Italy?  Or the Allies invasion of France?  As I’ve said, Wesley, you expel an awful L-O-T of hot and humid air!)

Post 54:

So, you do not think Government is not spending us into oblivion, why pay the unnecessary extra $5.520 Million a year.

And what does this have to do with WWII, or even Boxers???

WID:  I see you’re still going head-to-head with the hockey puck for whatever need for self-abuse.

As for “czars”, they are totally unnecessary, there being a presidential cabinet to handle all but the most extraordinary issues.

Liberal democrats, however, have always been adept at rewarding loyal party hacks with taxpayer funds, under one pretext or another.

These so-called “czars” have not had background checks or security clearances, nor have they been subjected to senatorial “advice and consent”. Neat way to reward your most useful “gofers”, isn’t it?

Don’t expect foot-kissers like the NYT or the Wapo to call His Eminence on it.

C.Roy,

It seems no where I post he continually brings up off-topic comments. It is my opinion he thinks he is intimidating me, but all it does is show a serious compulsion.

Congress is looking into the legality of so many czars, since they are also stepping on their authority, Holdren is one who is an extreme radical who has written many books on Eugenics. One of his first ideas was putting sterilization chemicals in drinking water in selected areas, one of which in the 1970’s included Black neighborhoods.

Of course we will be attacked for our comments…Ask me if I care.

Wesley and C.Roy ….I am on your side ! <Smile>  And Wesley, I wish to thank you for all of your time consuming research, as well as for taking so much time to post all of that here for us to read. It was most informative, and has been extremely helpful to me, and so greatly appreciated by me, for one !  Sorry that it has taken me so long to thank you!  Also thanks for your concern way back there and for the advice about Cobra, but I do have very good health and dental insurance, and hoping that the govt will allow me keep that and to keep affording that!  Seems so hard to believe that I would ever be posting such a statement !  Seems hard to believe that we actually have a President who doesn’t like America,  and who dreams of having a Marxist style of govt here too!  Very scarey !! 
Anyway, thanks again!  And best regards!!

Good for you, lady Welcome to the fray. Now, see if you can get WID to proof-read his posts. His spelling is just a shade short of perfect.

Thank “you” Diane, however I do not consider myself to be a partisan hack, during George Bush’s reign, I blasted the Republicans (one of the few times they have had the majority in both Houses) were spending as bad as any democrat.

Just as I blasted Bush for doing bail-outs instead of Government guaranteed loans with preconditions, such as was given Lee Iacocca to save Chrysler.

Yet the economic downturn began when the democrats took the majority, Bush was unable to control sub-prime mortgages due to filibusters, just as with Reagan, Bush 41, and Ford. And if Clinton actually had a surplus, why was there a recession in the final quarter of his administration. I would think everyone would know that two consecutive quarters of negative GPD is the definition of a recession. Not to mention he flat out refused to use CBO numbers, he was using a private accounting firm of his choosing.

Ps. C.Roy, where did I mess up? I admit when I am in too much of a hurry, I do not re-read my blog posts.

Too many posts to review them all. Actually, your spelling and grammar aren’t any worse than that of the hockey puck.

Nevertheless, be aware with fear and trembling that I’ll be watching your missives like a hawk as we go forth dealing with ignorant, arrogant, cement-headed liberals such as the hockey puck.

Oh, he is so much worse than most who post here, especially with grammar, I am shaking in my shoes.

He is what I would call a quakebuttock.

This is something everyone in the USA needs to see.

Click this link to see who have signed it, then notice the absence of any democrat:

http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/pledge-to-read

This one is for the Health Care Bill, the next one will be for Cap and Trade, then a push to have all members sign a pledge to read every bill themselves, not their individual staff reading it for them.

When the data is compiled, a commercial will air in every State.

Re: Post 61;

And you are the one and only Hockey Schmuck!

Re: Post 62;

Re-read your own posts if you want the “Before” version of “Good Grammar”! 

(And, you might expand your vocabulary lessons beyond O’Reilly’s word of the day!  And, talking about vocabulary, have you discovered the difference between “liable” and libel” yet?  And, have you figured out how to place the apostrophe in the contraction of phrases like “does not”?)

(Now, you fella’s, don’t go hurtin’ yourselves with all that heavy strokin’ goin’ on between ya’ll!)

Interesting that the hockey puck presumes to lecture on apostrophes when in the same post he spells the plural of “fellas” with an improper apostrophe, viz, “fella’s”! No end to their arrogance, is there?

BTW, puck, I’d soft-pedal the libel-liable crap until you learn the difference between “whit” and “wit”.

FYI, O’Reilly got the word from one of his emails (from a college student) he reads at the end of the show, then picked up himself, which he often does.

Oh, I apologize for arguing with a mentally disabled person, it is against my faith and morals.

Re: Posts 65 and 66;

Schmucker, you don’t have a whit of wit nor, apparently, anything else going for you.

WIDer, check your own posts if you want to practice your ability to perceive signs of mental disability.

Re: Post 55;

Like dealing with a difficult child!

Here’s your declaratory statement from Post 53:

“… those who always attack are masking their own deficiencies …”

To which I responded in Post 54:

“… BTW – do you think when Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson “attacked” – they were “masking their own deficiencies”?  How about Patton’s invasion of Italy?  Or the Allies invasion of France? …”

To which you responded in Post 55:

“… And what does this have to do with WWII, or even Boxers??? …”

NOTHING, Mr. Dense!  It had NOTHING to do with “WWII” or “Boxers”!

It had to do with YOUR declaratory statement that “that those who attack are masking their deficiencies” – to which, I followed up with the question: Do you think that when Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Patton or the Allies “attacked” – they were “masking their deficiencies”?

The point, Mr. Non Compis Mentis, was that your declaratory statement, “… those who always attack are masking their own deficiencies …” is just another one of the outlandish (and often untrue) declarations you often use to mask your own deficiencies while evading directly responding to the criticism of one or more of your statements!

And, of course, the fact that you didn’t “get it”, asking “… And what does this have to do with WWII, or even Boxers??? …” shows exactly how far into the weeds you really are!

Tiresome.

Boring.

Every Community has a Village Idiot, tk is AIM’s.

What is department do you work in? The Redundancy Department of Redundancy.

Re: Post 69;

You’re either just truly dense and have no problem with repeatedly embarrassing yourself – or you act that way on purpose in the belief people will find it humorous.

Either way: tiresome, boring and a waste of time.

(Talk about an idiot: Do you notice how you evade the issue and/or change the subject whenever your posts are criticized or your personal idiocies are pointed out?  And, have you noticed that your comment “those who always attack are masking their own deficiencies” might actually be your own self-description?  How would YOU characterize your own (“attack”)Post 69?  You’re pretty laughable, WIDer.  Kind of sad, too.)

Post 70:

re: Paragraph

“Do you notice how you evade the issue and/or change the subject whenever your posts are criticized or your personal idiocies are pointed out?”

I do not respond to your shortcomings, I have not been attacked by anyone but you, which enforces my statement.

Ps. I really liked the way you signed you post #68. 

Re: Post 71;

The real issue is – YOU do not RECOGNIZE YOUR shortcomings, WIDer – let alone respond to them!

YOU are “Tiresome”, WIDer!

YOU are “Boring”, WIDer!

Try as you might, you’re “Oh-Fer”, WIDer, “Oh-Fer”!

It is getting so that every time I come here lately in hopes to learn something new, that I find that spelling is the most important issue.  Not only do I feel concerned that I must be careful to spell everything correctly, but that I should probably also be very careful not to end a sentence with a proposition.., errr, I mean preposition! (LOL) Has anyone been scolded for doing that yet ?????  Did I use too many question marks ?  I think I will play it safe and just watch from outside the ring for awhile, and I won’t be placing any bets on tk either !  Have a great week, you guys ! <Smile>

Diane,

Not to worry, he is a closet liberal, or a plant. Ask him to prove his facts and you get personally attacked. When he presents his talking points to challenge yours, he cannot name his sources, or will just use on liberal site. As if there are not other facts out there, we all know there are two sides of any given story.

As with the Mainstream Media, he refuses to research all sides. Back when he began attacking me and others on a personal level calling us stupid, ignorant, liars and so on…When he began doing this, rather than respond to his name calling, the insults increased. During his rant, I noticed 27 misspelled words including bad grammar, so I politely mentioned them…

We have even overlooked many of his insults and went for the facts using pro and con debate sources, and still get attacked. Therefore, when he strays off-topic and he asked to go back on topic of the articles, we are again called names. It is the classic, “My dad can beat up your dad” sort of deflection of real issues.

I could post many links as to where these things took place, but I see no need to dredge up the past at this point in time. I joined this site and have donated several times for the privilege to have fair and honest debates, in many of the threads here where he is not posting; those debates stay on point, without hostility.

Very often I mention how I have disapproved of the 2004 Republican House and Senate’s out of control spending, just as I have criticized George W. Bush for creating a Stimulus package rather than a Government Loan with six months left in his presidency. So, here we stand, while I am awaiting yet another attack.

Re: Post 74;

Your statements:

“… As with the Mainstream Media, he refuses to research all sides …”

Wesley In Dallas personified.

” … went for the facts using pro and con debate sources …”

You wouldn’t know a “fact”, a “debate”, or a give-and-take, “pro and “con” discussion even if you tripped over them – and, in your posts, you are a one-sided, partisan, talking-point machine.  A mechanical parrot who has nothing better to do with his time than to incessantly regurgitate right-wing, fly-by-night, propaganda – usually poorly and often incoherently.

” … to have fair and honest debates …”

Your own basic dishonesty is evidenced by your insisting, for weeks, that the words “liable” and “libel” are synonyms – simply to evade admitting that you made a stupid mistake in the spelling of “libel” in a childishly argumentative post.

I have no hostility, WIDer.  I offer my opinion – and I often make it a point to criticize the ridiculous partisan blather and blarney that you often try to pass off here as some kind of informed and intellectually-balanced interpretation of real-world facts.  Following that – I simply do as I’m done unto.  Poke me with partisan blather and blarney – and I poke back.  (Example: “… Not to worry, he is a closet liberal …” or your ridiculous statement ” …‘My dad can beat up your dad’ sort of deflection of real issues …”)

P.S.

And for YOU to criticize someone else’s spelling, grammar, context or syntax – you, the original Norm Crosby incoherent clone – is an absurdity!  (Plus – you often sound like a crybaby – as in this Post 74 of yours.)

Wes,

A liberal’s way of thinking….

“My mind is made up. So DON’T confuse me with the facts!”  I have come to learn that Liberals HATE the facts, which always have the irritating way of interrupting their “benevolent” feelings.”  Even those “closet liberals”!   

I have come to believe that many liberals are extremely narcisstic, because they so often lash out with personal attacks on any one who disagrees with their opinions.  And I have also noticed that they actually seem to enjoy disagreeing with anything that anyone says, no matter what the topic !  I have also often agreed with some good points, along with facts which some liberals have made to me, such as what you mentioned regarding Bush with his runaway spending during 2004; along with many other issues.  And what I have always noticed is that a liberal will soon act sorely disappointed when I have agreed with them !  And then they will quickly finding another topic which they feel fairly certain that I will not agree !  In short, no one can ever seem to win with a narcissitic liberal, no matter what you say !  I think that liberals are actually very angry and frustrated inside their own skin regarding issues in their past history. They are always insisting that they are the victim , even after they are the ones who resort to the personal attacks. I also believe that some of them have borderline personality disorders. 
Sometimes when I have agreed with a liberal, they have actually walked away looking like the wind was let out of their sails, actually feeling speechless ; or they have accused me of being condensending!  And so, I have learned that even when you do find a time when you are able to agree with them,  that you just cannot win with them , no matter what you say !  They have shown me that they enjoy being alone inside their hard heads.  And that they actually seem to enjoy playing the victim !  I have even watched them set themselves up so that they can “play” the victim !   

We can certainly ignore tk, and hope he will give up and go away somewhere to play with some other liberal minded brats ; but the really sad and scarey thing is that we have one of these kind who is President of our country !!  And HE is certainly one that we absolutely cannot ignore.

And tk, one of these days if you ever wake up, I imagine that you are going to be sorely surprised in very big way that you were not paying close attention to the facts; instead of always being so consumed throwing your tantrums over what you CHOOSE to believe, and about what you CHOOSE NOT to believe, and putting everyone down!  Please WAKE UP, MAN, and save yourself !  We are not your enemies here !  I don’t often like a lot of facts which I learn here, or other places either; but there comes a time when you must grow up and face reality! No one is making up stuff to post here to deliberately make you or me angry. And everyone that I have seen post here (except for you) has been willing to state the facts, no matter what they wish were not the truth.  But you never do !  When someone posts some interesting research and states a simple fact that you don’t want to believe,  I have watched you go biserk, and set out to persecute that person by making fun of them for what they chose to share with everyone. You make fun of things sometimes, as if what they are posting is no big deal to you , or that it is not true !  And you are the one who is the cry baby ! 
Perhaps you were one of those children who was told there was no Santa Claus at too early of an age, and you are still angry ???? I don’t know. But I have been wondering why you get so upset with the guys who post things here, no matter what the topic. And so, I can only assume is because you are a closed minded hard headed narcisstic liberal. So if you are joining us here to learn, fine. But if you are joining us here to be a bully, then please stop and go somewhere else because you are interfering with my learning. And stop using the dumbdowned govt text books that you must be using for references.     

I heard something somewhere once, which I think is so true.  To be a liberal under the age of 20 (?) shows that you have a good heart.  But to remain being a liberal after that shows you are just being stoopid !!> It’s Mispelled… I KNOW !! I KNOW !!
Hey, I was a liberal feeling thinking person for awhile (many moons ago) before I began paying close attention to everything and now I am proud to say that I am a conservative. (Thank God !) And I am still learning, which is one of the reasons that I come here to ACI. And we are all always learning, no matter how old we get, because there is always something new to learn. And we all make mistakes now and then! > EVEN YOU !  So would you please stop with the insults and with the name calling and settle down and behave yourself ?!  I wonder if deep down you are a really a common sense thinking conservative who is just screaming to grow up and to break free ???  We can only hope !!

PS ……I just noticed that I “misspelled” misspelled !  Now how bad is that ?!! One of these days, I will learn not to be in such a rush, and to do a better job of proof reading, or even using the spell checker! <lol>

Diane,

Well said and well thought out. The job of our
Media when I was growing up, and taught in High School and College was; every story had two sides, which back in the day they did tell both sides equally, the way it should have always been.

Mainstream Media (MSM) from the Network News (including CNN, and MSNBC), Liberal newspapers such as the NY Times and 98.7% of all large city newspapers are not fair to both sides of any dissent against Obama or his policies, Democrats, activists groups are never reported, thus hundreds of millions in this country only see one side of a story, Obama’s side.

Nielsen Rating Service, who monitors and rates the public on the most watched television shows, also monitor the News Broadcasts. So Nielsen (a largely left leaning org.) released a report on who watches what news shows. Fox News scored #1 of 10 time slots in News Broadcasts, why you may ask? It is due to the fact that Fox gives you both sides, and on many stories they have pundits and many House and Congress members who are liberal to make their point, and the same with Republicans. Therefore you have a Point and Counter Point when a question is asked by the Anchor.

But since Fox does not always follow the MSM in not sharing only one point of view, they are demonized for being fair and objective (with the exception of possibility of Sean Hannity), but many of their Anchors and most field Reporters have come from CBS, NBC, and ABC News. At Fox they are not restricted by the Producers to report only one side. They are the “Real” journalists, and investigative reporting, because the still believe in telling the truth.

Fortunately and something I have not seen in awhile, are 52 fiscally responsible Democrats in Congress, 44 of which this last vote on Cap and Trade crossed over to vote with Republicans, however eight Republicans voted with the Democrats, causing the Bill to move to the Senate by “one” vote.

In the Senate, there are four democrats who are fiscally Conservative.

Hi Diane,

For the most part, I usually try to discuss points with liberals, when it usually fails, I normally walk away. But being attacked, I will fight back, but only on the Internet because your reputation is out there for all to see, I deflect away very often and just try to stay on topic. I believe everyone is allowed an opinion, and welcome an honest debate. Every once in awhile there are some liberals who will debate myself and others, and end up to agree to disagree. But the majority will attack you personally if you do not accept their opinions.

Other than AIM, I subscribe to MRC (Media Research Center), one of the newsletters I signed up for are specific instances where liberal news organizations are actually quoted as to what they report or do not report on, which shows exactly how skewed their coverage is these days. It is truly unbelievable what the public is not being told.

Tonight, Obama will interrupt Prime Time television at 8:00pm EDT for his 10th television appearance touting his Universal Health Care program. The reason…to convince more people to tell the Blue Dog Democrats in office to vote for the Bill, he even met yesterday with the Blue Dogs (Conservative Democrats) to allow the Bill to pass.

Yesterday in Chester, VA. Obama was giving a Health Care Speech where he said, and I quote, “What we will do is have the negotiations televised on C-Span, so we can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents, or who is making arguments on behalf of the drug companies, or the insurance companies”.

Then proceeded to have a “Private” meeting with them, and refuses to disclose what was discussed and who was there. So, where is all the Transparency he promised? Such as when he said “Any Bill will be posted on the White House web site for up to three days before it is voted on”. Never happened, in reality the Cap and Trade bill (which was over 12,000 pages), came to a vote within 48 hours, and no one was given time to read the Bill. The Democrats put the Bill together in private meetings, where no Republicans were allowed to attend. When any Bill is proposed, it needs to be read by the party members in both Houses, they are much more complicated than anyone knows. There are provisions in even a normal Bill, which effects other Bills and Laws, which have to be looked up to see what effects will result from the Bill presented. No one can possibly read a 12,000 page bill in 48 hours, even if they did not look up the effects, yet the democrats forced the vote anyway.

Therefore a Pledge to each member in either House were asked to sign this, to keep them honest. It will mean that the actual members will read the bill, not just staffers, interesting that a democrat has yet to sign the pledge, while there are 78 Republicans signing it as of now, it grew 13 signers from yesterday.

A Poll was taken, asking people if they knew what Cap and Trade was, out of 2,100 people, 87% thought it had something to do with Wall Street. A well hidden name for what it really is, the effects of this bill will impact people in so many hidden taxes, it is now being called “Crap and Tax”, are you ready for your utilities to be doubled or tripled? Are you ready for a $0.62 cent surtax imposed on Gasoline by the Government?

Problem is, it does not stop there, now Obama wants yet another $800 Billion in TARP for new spending to take over businesses. The CBO reports that all the TARP, will now cost the United States $23 Billion.

Nothing I have cited here is being reported on by any Media outlet other than Fox News.

Re: Post 77;

Dear Dr. Diane:

With all due respect – a completely nutty post.

(And, just so you know, my distaste is for the extreme ideological nutcases at both ends of the spectrum – and those here, like Wesley, who peddle nothing but misinformation, misstatements, misrepresentations, misinterpretations – all intended to justify and “prove” his own narrow-minded extremism.)

You sound like you might be capable of engaging in an intelligent conversation on the issues – so why would you waste you time in a sophomoric and partisan attempt at “psychoanalyzing the opposition”.  Forget attacking the messenger: focus on the message once in a while!

And if you think the world is divided between “liberals” and “conservatives”, then you’ve obviously been taken in by all the Wesleys way out there on the political fringe.  Note: 23% of registered voters are registered as GOPs; 38% of registered voters are registered as DEMs; and 39% of registered voters are registered as Independent, unaffiliated, or third party (third party registrants total 5%) – and, right now, the “liberals” you keep harping on represent the clear majority and hold the presidency and both houses of Congress – so – it’s ridiculous to be doing nothing but whining on-and-on because you can’t accept the fact that “liberals” were the winners.

As for me – I am a nearly life-long registered “Independent” (41 years) – with an additional single four-year stint registered as a Republican (1988-1992).  In terms of politics, I would NEVER join either party since (1.) I am not a joiner by nature; and, (2.) I think both major parties as currently constituted – suck. 

Politically-speaking, I prefer to call myself a “Traditionalist” – and I guarantee that in many, many ways – I am F-A-R more “conservative” than you and many people who post here.  Further, in the past election, I found I could NOT vote for McCain based on his selection of Palin as a running mate (I would have voted for him had he selected Charlie Crist or Colin Powell).  Neither did I vote for Obama; instead, I voted a write-in.)

I am NOT interested in your amateurish (and partisan) “personal advice”.  If you want to babble and blather, address your posts to Wesley – he seems to enjoy such “mindless mothering”.

If you want to do something constructive and reasonable (other than babbling ASSUMPTIONS about another who may have political perspectives different than yours) – why don’t you post extensive contemporary “defintions” here of BOTH “liberalism” and “conservatism” – since I don’t believe most people have anywhere near a true working knowledge of either – yet each continuously bitches about the other.  You might enlighten the unenlightened – and learn something yourself in the process.

Re: Post 80;

You know, Wesley, this post definitely makes you sound just like one of those whiney, bleeding-heart liberals toward which you ordinarily exhibit such ideological hatred!

And stop your blatant misrepresentation about the unavailability of proposed bills for ANYBODY to read at their leisure.

I gave you links a week or two ago where you could read the entire 1,018 page House health care bill – and I told you ALL bills, their progress, their amendments, the results of hearings thereon, and ANYTHING else related, are available at house.gov and/or senate.gov – as well as at various C-SPAN websites.

ADDITIONALLY, MANY of the various House and Senate COMMITTEES (including the Senate Finance Committee which is currently considering the Senate’s version of the health care bill) have their own websites where ALL detailed information on any and all bills under consideration is available on a daily, real-time basis.

However, as usual, Wesley In Dallas would never allow a few “facts” to interfere with the blarney he peddles, would he?

All you do is whine and gripe and rag-on-and-rag-on-and-rag-on about ANYTHING you can think of for which you can fabricate one irrelevant complaint after another – the expert in unadulterated blarney!

With all your free-time, why don’t you take some online courses in public administration, politics, the formulation of public policy, contemporary government, etc. – instead of interminably parroting extreme, ideological, partisan blarney???

Do you have ANY idea whatsoever what the word “constructive” might mean?

Why don’t YOU review BOTH SIDES of a story – and give credit, for example, to Bill Clinton for balancing the budget during four of his eight years; making some payments on the national debt; and leaving Bush 43 some $300 billion in surplus funds?  Or, why don’t you rightfully criticize the Reagan administration for a doubling of the size of government and a tripling of the national debt?

You bitch about the mainstream media – but your “reporting” is F-A-R more biased than the reporting of ANY regularly available media would or could EVER be!

Diane:  Contrary to the hockey puck, I believe you made some good points. With time, you’ll learn to ignore this pompous whithead and address the substance of whatever AIM article is under discussion. aya con Dios!

Re: Post 83;

I repeat:

“… Schmucker, you don’t have a whit of wit nor, apparently, anything else going for you …”

You’re even more boring than Wesley; at least he includes some polyglot propaganda with his ideological rants.  You, on the other hand, don’t ever offer anything more than simple-minded namecalling in one or two very short sentences.

So – I’ll try to do the same for you.

tk,any post…

Voting for someone who you KNOW has no chance of winning is akin to not voting at all, and yes I am aware of other parties, such as Independents, Libertarians, Socialist party and such.

I for one will not waste a vote, I am partisan against “Liberals”, real democrats I often admire, which were renamed in 1990 Blue Dogs by a Conservative Democrat. Which they all were during and before JFK. A Yellow Dog democrat is one who will vote for a democrat even if they believe that person to be bad for the country.

How is it that you read the Health Care Bill, while it is still being debated, and is in constant change in Congress, when they could not get their own party to vote for the first one, and likely will not vote for this one.

I had last nights obama’s speech on DVR, has he lost his ability to explain things which should make sense to anyone. He would talk for 20 minutes on per question asked, yet no one understood what he was saying. Several of the questions were planted, since he was answering while RAEDING from the teleprompter, it was very obvious he was not looking at the reporter most of his answers. He is killing himself for continuing to use the “Blame Bush” theme, which his own economists have told him it is time to take responsibility.

After his first stimulus, CLAIMING that it would cause a recovery by the end of the year. Economists are saying that since he took control of the economy with that stimulus package, the economy now belongs to obama and no one else. Reagan never put the blame on Carter after he was elected, Bush 43 did no blame Clinton for the economy after he took office…Yes I am saying that Clinton did not really have a surplus according to the CBO, and a dramatic economical slide during his last year in office. Clinton hired his own Accounting Firm, and refused to use CBP numbers, which even the MSM agreed with…

And for God’s sake, stop whining. My post to Diane is something she asked for, and received and blames you, as do the rest of us here blame you for going off topic and slamming anyone who disagrees with you, which makes you the Yellow Dog in this argument, whether or not which party you claim to be for.

I believe you are ticked off, since I can back my claims while you are unable to verify yours.

Get real, or get off…your choice.

Re: Post 85;

Your comment:

“… Get real, or get off…your choice …”

Stick that W-A-Y up where the sun don’t shine!

There was NO DOUBT in my mind that Obama was going to win the last presidential election – and by a significant margin – and I believed that plenty of DEM governors, senators and U.S. reps would be elected with him.

HOWEVER – I did not favor his candidacy, let alone his election – BUT – there was NO WAY I would EVER have voted for John McCain after he picked Palin as his running mate – which would also have been “a wasted vote” in terms of your blathering, because – there DEFINITELY was no chance for McCain to win with Palin on the ticket.  (With Crist or Powell – he might have had a chance – and I would have voted for him in that instance.)

Additionally, I favor NO third party – and NONE of their candidates since Perot have been worth a vote, either.  So – I wrote-in a vote for the individual who I would have liked to see as both a candidate and, ultimately, as president.

Your comment:

“… How is it that you read the Health Care Bill, while it is still being debated, and is in constant change in Congress, when they could not get their own party to vote for the first one, and likely will not vote for this one …”

You know, you can get singularly W-A-Y beyond jerky!  I TOLD YOU a couple of weeks ago where you could read ALL bills online – and all the modifications of them along the way – along with all other related information – and also TOLD YOU to untwist your own wound-up tighty whities until there was a FINAL version before your turned on your anti-everything hot air pump!

In FACT, Mr. Self-Styled Researcher, you can go to the sources I told you about then and read the entire 1,018 page House-proposed bill via a pdf (including ALL 160 GOP amendments ACCEPTED by the House) – you can further read the entire version which came out of the Senate’s HELP Committee – and you can further read the proposed modifications now emanating from the Senate Finance Committee, which is currently considering the bill.

Got that?  For the third time!  Mr. Self-Styled Researcher?

And take note: the ONLY thing you can “back up” is that your posts show you do nothing but parrot the partisan crap you pick up online somewhere – and it’s more than obvious that you can’t even do that very well!

Unfortunately, there may be people here who, for some Godforsaken reason, might actually believe some of the mistaken, misstated, misrepresented and misinterpreted and uninformed crap you post here as “real” – and for that – you should be both embarrassed and ashamed.

In your warped terminology, you may not “waste a vote” – but you sure waste a lot of space and a lot of people’s time on this forum!

As I’ve said – given that you’re homebound with plenty of free time on your hands, use your time positively and take some online courses from some reputable and accredited institutions so you can actually learn about some of those things you now only pretend to know about.

It’s hard to understand why the average cement-headed liberal would call Palin, who had been elected to two executive offices would be considered “inexperienced”, at the same time bowing to the Big BO, whose work exoerience has been covered up by the “MSM”, and whose senatorial experience consisted primarily of running for president.

IF BO has any executive/administrative background (“neighborhood organizer” -right!), it hasn’t been publicized. BTW, 52.6% majority is an honest win, but hardly signifigant.

BTW has ANYBODY ever released BO’s college or law school grades. Has he ever written anything for his Law Review?

Re: Post 87;

I realize there are probably a lot of things you may find “hard to understand”, but if you’re claiming that I stated in my Post 86 above that I would not vote for McCain because Palin was “inexperienced” – then you might try reading a little more carefully.

I did NOT state a specific reason why Palin’s presence on the ticket caused ME to become unwilling to vote for McCain – but “inexperienced” was NOT my primary reason.

Neither did I vote for Obama (I voted a write-in for the candidate I originally had hoped would get the nomination and win the rpesidency) – so your assumptions above, if directed at me, are wrong all around.

C.Roy Re : (Post #83)  Point well received and thank you ! 

And Re: (Post #87)  In total agreement with you there, also, regarding Palin with all of her great experience; as well as leadership, and accomplishments !  When one reads about all that she has done and what all she accomplished, she is amazing !  And then thee is B.O. (The community organizer).

Wes ….. I also watched the “fear-mongering-in-chief” the other night after working late. Yes, he was really something ! …..Demonizing doctors as tonsil terrorists, and all that you mentioned! Unbelievable !  And yes, still blaming Bush, and no doubt that he will always blame him for everything that goes wrong during his time in office.

I am still waiting on him to answer if He (should that be capitalizied ?…lol) and his wife and kids and congress will be using the same health care plan that he expects us to adopt! Of course, we all know that there is no way that they would drink and eat from the same half dried up and dirty trough as the masses! A lady actually asked that question one day, and he ignored her. 

It is so plain to see that Cap and Trade and the health care plan are all about growing bigger govt.  It is also plain to see that he doesn’t give a damn about quality health care for Americans , or about healing the economy, or about the private sector.  In fact he only wants to destroy the economy. 

Even Joe Biden has told us that when when the expensive parachutes fail that they sent out for all to use , that they will send more of the same!!  So it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that that they are setting this country up to fail , so that they can reform it to their liking.

Do you remember when Darth Invader “promised more transparency, and to put an end to the dark days of George Bush ?”  Well we are living in darkest days ever since he took office ! And he is still doing his best to keep the REAL BO hidden in the closet until he gains more control.  I read yesterday that The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics said that it would file suit as early as yesterday against Obama and his mafia ; errr admisnistration,  so that we can find out who all is involved with writing these bills, etc, etc.  Anyway, that is all I have seen so far regarding that topic. And I got that from daily news paper, which is serving to remind me more and more of my little Weekly Reader newspaper in grade school ! So anxious to learn more about that law suit.

Also wondering why anyone would vote for any candidate knowing that they would not stand a chance of winning.  I find tk so amusing that he even argues with his own postings.  Perhaps we are supposed to read his mind, and to know that what he actually posted is not really what he meant to say !???  One can only guess. 

Hi Ho, Hi Ho …It’s off to work I go.
Dr Diane <lol>

Hi Diane,

You are another voice of reason and reality. Sarah Palin is now even more popular even after properly resigning her post as Governor of Alaska; her polling is now at 72% Approval.

If you hear the Usurper in Chief’s 11th televised appearance to further push his Health Care Agenda before the August break for Congress. Another lackey in the Senate, Harry Reid declared the Bill dead until the end of the August Break. There is a great debate and a splitting of their own Party, the 52 Conservative Democrats want to know exactly how it will be paid for, but there just is not an answer.

During the very same Prime Time presidential address, the very last question asked was regarding the Black Cambridge Professor, he called the Police action was performed “stupidly”, without knowing a single fact about what had happened, other than the arrest of the professor, in which they let him go after he stopped being belligerent, and showed proof he was the owner of the Home.

A few days earlier, police were called to the same address as two black youths were attempting to break into the Professor’s home.

This time, his next door neighbor saw him using his shoulder to open the rear door to the home, when the police arrived on the scene and demanded to see proof of who he was, be became extremely angry, calling the officers racists and would not shut up long enough to answer their questions, and refused to offer any identity. So he was handcuffed till he settled down enough to show his ID.

All the officers were doing was trying to protect his home, since there had been a previous attempt at a legitimate break-in.

The Sergeant who responded was involved with helping black youths. Obama did eventually apologize to the sergeant and the Police Department, after the Fraternity of Police Officers Union went on television and told the whole story. There has been no apology from the Professor.

The article can be found here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/24/cambridge-police-unit-demands-apology-obama-stupidly-remark

Can you even imagine if any other President had made those remarks before knowing the facts?

Under Obama, the Government is 33% larger than any Government before him, part of that is having 32 Czars who are not required to be vetted by Congress, and answer to no one but Obama. Their job descriptions are already covered by other appointees and departments in Congress.

His latest Czar is in favor of Eugenics, and has written many books on the subject. One of the books describes how they can use population control by putting sterilization chemicals in the drinking water.

Never before has a president taken control over Private Companies. Now he is allowing Mortgage Companies to offer Sub-Prime lending, the very same thing that caused the economic collapse.

In just over six months, the CBO has stated obama has spent 5.5 times more than any other President in history, and planning even more.

When Congress and the Senate was taken over by Tax and Spend democrats, are what caused big business to leave the country, now obama has raised the Companies Capital Gains Taxes which has caused most of the rest of big businesses to either move off-shore or close down, and he is now blaming insurance companies for doubling the Health Care Premiums from businesses. He has broken the back of this nation, even making a pact with Russia for Nuke elimination, just as Regan had done in the 1980’s. But Regan found that the Russians only disabled non-working nukes, I am sure that will be the same, since Russia will not allow us to see them being disabled, and promised them he would not build the Nuclear defense system in Poland. That system is extremely accurate, and will destroy a nuke within seconds of a launch. It was meant for North Korea and Iran, now there is nothing to stop them from launching an attack.

Wes…..Happy to read that Palin’s approval rating is so high.  Does my heart good.  I also heard this morning that Gov Palin signed a Sovereignty bill before her last day in office. I heard that Tennessee has done this as well. Wonder what states will follow suit ?  Perhaps Texas ? <smile> Also wonder if they should do it soon before BO puts a stop to that ! 

Thanks also for the update on the Gates issue. I heard on the radio last night on my way home from work that Gates once went to court to defend rap musicians who use the words “M-F” in their songs.
Nice, huh ?  Sounds like a real great guy helping to defend and to further promote that trash which serves to influence the youth in this country. 
And I can only imagine that if the policeman had not gotten there when he did, and if someone other than Gates had been forcing his way in to rob that house for the second time; that the police dept would have still been tagged as acting stupidly !  No doubt we would have heard that the police did not even care to follow up on the call to run out to protect The Gates’ house because the police were racists !  Once again, there is just no winning with the radical left liberals. They always LOVE to play the victims , no matter what the scenerio !
I am also surprised to learn that he apologized to the policeman, since he seems to spend the majority of his time apologizing for the bad behavior (?)of Americans when he visits other countries. He never says anything good about America or Americans when he visits other countries. 

And regarding Obama letting down defenses with Russia. It is so upsetting.  Of course it comes as no big surprise to me that he would do this.  Afterall, B.O. also thinks that our National Guard should be willing to donate their time to help to protect the American/ Mexican border WITHOUT TAKING ANY GUNS ALONG!!  UNBELIEVABLE ! HE WANTS THEM DOWN THERE UNARMED !   

Read today in a financial magazine that the jobless rate hit a 26 year high of 9.5 percent last month and is expected to go to 10 percent by the end of this summer, and that the Dept of Labor reported 1,235 mass layoffs in June. All indicators in the REAL economy are getting worse.  Americans are not making much any more. We have been a nation of conusmers for a decade.  So it comes as no surprise.  The housing bubble has popped also, the one sector that was producing.  Caterillar announced results for it’s second quarter. Profits down 66 percent. Motors and gadgets are just not selling.  Jobs are disappearing and people are not spending. And there are no new jobs like Obama promised.  Just goes to show me that he learned a lot from Saul Alinsky about how to “CHANGE the system” from the inside. Saul Alinsky was the father of community organizing, and Obama and Hillary Clinton love him !  The economy has been set up to fail, so that the govt can reform things to their liking,  and to take total control ! I believe that more and more with each passing day. Hillary even wrote her senior thesis about Saul Alinsky when she was at Wellesley College. I think she is another one who should not be trusted. I don’t trust her or San Fran Nan, or any of those people who have too much control in our govt these days.  An interesting website regarding Saul Alinsky and his followers : Military-Money-Matters.com

Diane,

I like the web site you mention. As for Saul Alinsky, I am very familiar with his works and what he is all about, and it is all bad. We cannot afford for this country to become Socialist or Marxist, which it appears is the direction we are currently heading.

The Framers of the Constitution put in three branches of government so one party could not control all three, but it has now happened. They should have known that could have become a possibility and written laws to prevent it from happening.

tk, is bragging that France has the #1 Health Care system in the world, but they are nowhere close the the cures and drugs which help, are almost every one are made by our own Pharmaceutical Companies. In fact there was big news made last week, a research company has found a way to make adult Stem Cell technology as good if not better than fetal Stem Cells, they are a couple of years away from human testing, but have already used adult stem cells which will repair liver, kidney’s, even a cure for some of the worst untreatable diseases, such as Parkinson’s, promising for AIDs patients, Cancer, MS and others (including everything Fetal Stem Cells are being tested for). If ObamaCare passes, he will force drug companies to lower costs to the point to where they will no longer be able to create and improve life saving drugs.

As I have said before, those who voted for obama for Change, ended up with Chains. Also, the big argument with the new CIA director challenged Pelosi when she claimed the CIA never told her about Light Torture methods, Panetta produced a document with her signature on it, proving she was in the meeting, then called Panetta and called him a liar. Well she lied to Congress, which is a crime which would end her career in politics. This has been (so far swept under the rug), so now they are going after Dick Cheney, after he baited the Justice Department, by telling a truth. That there were plots to target and Kill Osama bin Laden and his right hand man, so Attorney General Eric Holder (not so honest either), is calling for an investigation into Cheney. But the plan was scrapped, then went after him on the battlefield. (Duh…Was that NOT a good plan?)

When the truth comes out, Pelosi will be in hot water, that no one will be able to stop kicking her out of Congress.

Some levity here, when Hillary visited North Korea, they called her a hopeless inept child, and do not want to talk with her again. <Laughing>

Back to ObamaCare:

Doctor Mark Siegel MD, PhD (Former Head of the AMA) in the new ObamaCare Health Scam, found on page 389 of the Bill refers to Mentally Disabled people as “Retarded”. On page 425 of the Bill at age 59, your Health Care would be severely limited, and at age 65 you would be considered Elderly, and would meet with your physician every “five” years to discuss what you want to do should you become very ill. Past the age of 75, would be known as normal old age, no choices here folks.

Everyone would have a “Heath Choices Commissioner” to determine what your Doctor would be allowed to do for medical test and treatments and has the power to deny.

When he talked with Democrats, the Conservative Blue Dog Democrats may never pass this legislation. The term “Retarded” was mentioned by Nancy Pelosi, and was entered into the bill. It was left there in the final Bill intentionally to be found when Republicans set down with Democrats to review the Health Care Bill.

The House Republicans have come up with a way to cover all Americans Health Care as it is now, for low to no premiums to pay. Speaking with the Insurance Companies, and Defense attorneys agree to restrict damages in Health Care law suits. The agreement is due to Insurance Companies will eventually be eliminated, and under Obama’s Health Care, Lawyers will be unable to sue providers and hospitals for any mistakes, and/or cause of death.

As it stands now, only Texas and California are the only two states who have instituted Tort Reform, which has lowered the Premiums Doctors, must pay. The result of this has brought many of the country’s best physicians to these two States.

Obama’s Health Care Plan will eliminate Private Insurers; Patients’ rights to private contract with physicians will be abolished, and will lead to rationing.

Diane, don’t you listen to this guy. All these right-wing toads can think about is Freedom, Freedom, Freedom! The government knows what is best for us, and we should do exactly as they say. As for Sarah Palin, she just isn’t as polished and high-class as we Harvard liberals prefer. Besides, the bi*** is conservative!.

As for the Second Amendment, you don’t need a personal firearm. Any trouble comes up, just reason with the thug until a policeman comes by.

It is almost midnight on Sunday night. after work. I cannot BELIEVE everthing that I am listening to when I have the time, and I am becoming more confused than ever ! Doing researh regaring France ‘s health care and throwing it out there ……all that I see here , and other places and doing my best to figure out everything.  I think I have it all pretty much figured out, and then I either read or hear things which sheds more doubt.I just know for certain that what has been happening inside the govt has not been right …no matter what or who is our President for a very long time. It is not just about B.O.  My memory is like a a big highway within a big city which goes all directions and I pay attention to everything that has happened. I soak it all up and then I go to all resources and I read and learn about every thing that I can…. even from the days of Hitler and Stalin and I look at how BIG govt took control.  I have studied ecomoics. I have an IRA ….purchaseda home, have a college education , have health care.  I moved to a sunshiney state last year and was so hoping to settle down to the American Dream……..and to be able to retire and to travel around awhile, as well as to be able to visit my grandchildren ; and even though I had my reservations about where Bush was leading us, I still wanted so much to believe that he cared. But I do remember him saying towards the last of his time in office:  ” Socialism won’t be such a bad thing !! ”  And then I read about all of the secrecy inside the Federal Reserve “. And I have done my homework about why the Fed Reserve was set up , and what year….etc, etc And I have worn many hats during my life and can remember college professors and the endoctrine ….and as a teacher for years, I have seen what the govt operated schools have expected the teachers to do !  And I KNOW that is all wrong !!  VERY WRONG !!  And I am fed up with all of the sneaky stuff !…….With things that I was not taught ,  as well as with so much ever since that has been left out of history books. I wrote to Sean Hannity last year about children were being forced to write essays regarding how wonderful Obama was …..but nothing in the text books ever mentioend anything about McCain.  I didn’t agree with McCain about everything and I didn’t think that he had the fire in his soul that it took to be our president …..but I did think that Palin had more on the ball that Obama or Biden. Anyway, our govt had not RIGHT to be teaching school kids that Obama was the ONE ! .  And inside those school systems , kids were handed out “Obama” buttons to wear and were scoled it they said, ” My parents are for McCain “.  Anyway, Sean Hannity did a small segment at the end of his show regarding this and warned people that this is what is happening all across America.  And that was the last that I have heard of this.  I woke up to late to realize that this was happening with my own children in their college years, and I am slowly working on helping them to look at both sides, finally !!!  I have been to many meetings and have spoken with some of those blue dog democrats who own farms, and who have private busineses who have been there at those meetings to promote The Fair Tax, and who have voted for HR25 every time it rolls around and they have said that this is the only answer ..to get people educated about this in order to take contol over their lives again. and to stop BIG GOVT from takin everything away from the people !  Not only does John Linderman want this , but also many Democrats and other Republicans. But what is so disturbing is that most people do not understand how it would work (as it has worked before… back before the war ) , but they refuse to believe it !!  Does the average person know how much they make ?  Or do they know how much they take home ?  Govt got greedy with the temporary tax withholdings and they decided to keep on doing that !  And it has been a down hill roller coaster ever since !  And if we really want to get into blaming someone ……we should blame the people who allowed our govt to continue on with this !!  There has been so much happening for years with our govt, and they have hoped that we would not notice. It has been a slow and sneaky process ….insice our school systems , our colleges , our TV programs, our corrupt media who are owned by the govt…..etc.  I remember my mother saying to me in the late 1950’s , that the communists will over come ……and they will do it any which way that they can and one way is by TV progaming.  Inside the school system during the past 30 years, we have had kids coming in being totally unrespectful of their teachers with sacrastic remarks and no teacher is allowed to say much to them , because if you do , you have a parent at the door upset that you hurt the child’s feelings !  Well, I am sick of this !
What people have been taught in schools and through the media and through TV shows has helped to bring this country to it’s knees !!!  As I said, it has been a slow and sneaky process that has been going on for many years , in hopes that no one would notice or pay any attention.  And it is still going on …..and THEIR BIG PLAN is to bury us !!  And the elderly in this country are going to have to their civic duty at the age of 60 and go for counseling because they cost the govt too much money , and forget about being grandparents.  And the younger and stronger generation will be working for the govt and making the same living so that everything will be fair …….while the fat cats in Washington will be living like the ROMANS did , at least for awhile.
That is how I see things right now.  And if anyone in here wants to say or prove otherwise, well ……I am ready to read or to listen to whatever you disgree with , because believe me , I WANT TO BE WRONG in my way of thinking, and from my observations through life.  Seriously !  I work with many elderly people now who are feeling so sorry that they voted for Obama.  Everyone is scared !!  Is that anyway for anyone to be feeling about their government ?  They all believe they will be going for counseling soon getting help to do their civic duty and to end their lives !!  HOW SAD IS THAT ??  I don’t have to wonder what has happened to this country. I have been watching it happen for years !!!  SO WHAT NEXT ??  WHAT DO WE DO ??  I may never be back here in this medium . I might be volunteering for Palin, besides working to help others who need my help. I am lucky so far and can afford to do so.  I am so fed up with people who want to keep trusting BIG GOVERNMENT and who need a NANNY !  I wish people would just GROW UP and stop depending on corrupt govt to take care of them and to make decisions for them !  Oh, I understand they have some nice parks and well lit areas with some nice park benches while we are all waiting in line to see a the doctor that they have chosen for us !  How considerate of them !! And when we all argue in here …..at least we still have that freedom, but bottom line is that I think we all want the same thing ……to defend our constitutional rights , but it is really hard to post things……..what you mean and well, it’s not like sitting around the table face to face and having a normal discussion.  It is hard here, but I am doing the best that I can , as I know everyone is !  GOD BLESS US ALL!

PS …….I proof read after I sent the last posting.  Lots of errors there , which is terrible, I know ! Even though it is not excuse.  I was in a rush after midnight and too many working hours, and lack of sleep.  ALso wish to apoligize for my rants and for taking up so much space. I am really trying to stay informed and appreciate all of your postings. They have been so helpful. And I don’t have it all figured out, of course !  Just feeling tired and frustrated at the end of the week,  and at the beginning of new one; along with dreading traveling out of town soon. Best regards and keep on posting, please !

Diane,

You know it has become bad when the Russian Newspaper, Pravda is more accurate and more truth exposed more corruption in this once Great country than our own Media. I have lived the American Dream, it has left us out in the cold now. There was a time when Bush was a very good President, until his last year in office, I truly believe the constant pounding he took from the Media eventually got to him and hurt his family. But there is no doubt his first 7 years were good. The economy began its downfall after the democrats took over both Houses in 2006.

But being pounded on the war in Iraq, is something the democrats were VERY instrumental in our going to war there in the first place. There were 87% of Congressional Democrats voted for the war and almost all of the Senate voted for the war, all based on the very same intelligence Bush had from our own people and the British, including much of the EU. WMDs were found, just not nuclear but banned Sarine an VX Gas which if enough is released into the atmosphere could be deadly to hundreds of Millions per drop. Our military found literally thousands of tons of these gas containers. Not to mention Saddam Hussein killed over 400,000 of his own people just to test the gas, much worse that the Serbian Genocide Clinton sent our troops into. Contrary to the media reports, they found hundreds of Al Qaeda training camps in Iraq.

Osama bin Laden was responsible for the first WTC bombing in the underground parking in the South Tower, and the bombing of the two U.S. Embassies in Africa (all under Clinton’s watch), bin Laden was captured in Jordan, being our ally, they offered him up to President Clinton…Clinton denied having him sent to the US. He could have prevented the Twin Tower incident had he taken him. Yet Billy Boy never offered an explanation as to why he would not accept bin Laden, furthermore, the press just barely reported the story.

When democrats took control of both the Senate and Congress, is when spending began to get out of hand, to get funding for the Troops, body armour, heavily armoured vehicles which could withstand the IED blasts, he had to capitulate to democrat spending they attached to his Bills for the War.

Bush’s other spending were for programs such as “No Child Left Behind” which after the first four years alone moved our international ranking in school scores up more than expected. School vouchers also played a role in getting failing students into private schools where their grade soared, even Obama took advantage of the program for his own children. Another program was creating surpluses in Medicare, and Social Security, which was almost empty when he took office. Under the Bush Tax Cuts we were able to pay for our Home by making payment on the back side of our loan, both my wife and I were able to put quite a bit of money into savings, contributed the maximum into our individual 401Ks, IRAs, Treasury Bonds, and played the Market well, and got out just in time, we sold 80% of our stocks in late 2006…nice returns.

Then Bush did the Bail-outs, which had a very negative impact on both Democrats and Republicans, all due to sub-prime mortgages for the poor. My Credit score is 840 (as high as it gets) my Wife’s was at 830, due to one late payment, and we still had to go through more than we should have to buy our home, even though at the time could have paid cash, but would have hurt our retirement. Yet, other less fortunate people with credit scores of under 350 were getting Mortgages easier than what we went through, thanks to organizations such as ACORN.

So when you hear Obama complain about how bad Bush left him economically, was actually a democrat program of sub-prime lenders. One thing Bush can NEVER be disputed, when he said he was going to do something, you could bet your butt it would be done. When he got the law passed to wiretap international phone calls is what stopped the airplane targeting the tower in L.A. and other proposed Al Qaeda attacks, but for that bill to pass, democrats had to sign on, but they attached massive spending for him to protect our country better with better Intel.

Bush not only gave EVERY American a real meaningful tax cuts, he also repealed by executive order, the Death Tax, the Marriage Penalty, the Inheritance Tax, made the Tax Brackets wider and more fair, for five years had one of the best economies we have ever had, Stock Market records which we may never see again. He tried to stop Eliminate Domain, but was filibustered, then when democrats took control over both Houses, it was easily passed.

If Bush was in any way in support of any sort of Socialism, I would like to see that in writing from his own words, that is one thing which is just not in his DNA. The biggest disappointment of all, was the out of control spending by Republican in the House and Senate, and the Bail-outs, he requested and receive $700 Billion, but spent only $350 Billion, that was done based on what the Fed Chairman said was needed to stabilize the economy. Because of that $700 Billion (which 100% of democrats voted for that Bail out package, Bush left Obama a $1.2 Trillion deficit. The only good thing that that came from the Mid-term elections which put democrats in control of Both Houses, is it got rid of the Spending Republicans.

Obama has already set spending records in the first six months, Bush was there for eight years even after inheriting a $900 Billion deficit from Clinton.

People should have woke up when Obama stumbled across “Joe the Plumber” and he asked Obama if he would be helping Small Businesses as Bush did, that he wanted to start his own Plumber Business. That is when the media caught Obama stating that he believed in “Spreading the Wealth”, a code name for Socialism. 

One thing which is really hurting Obama is he is still blaming Bush for the economy. Much of which came from democratic pork spending. Presidential historians and Economists regardless of party all agree, once a new president takes office, and begins his/her own recovery packages, the Economy then belongs to Obama, no excuses. He [Obama] did another bail out, and a $787 Billion plus the $350 Billion Bush never spent.

Reagan never complained about the huge deficit Carter left, just as Bush never complained about the recession Clinton left him.

On the news the played all of Obama’s Campaign promises regarding Health Care Reform, there was NOTHING he is doing now, compared to what he promised. One of the many reasons his approval rating is below 50% from 85% at the beginning, although the media (other than Fox and Lou Dobbs of CNN which may get him fired).

Obama is now blaming the Republicans for the failure to pass his Health Care plans. Yet democrats hold a majority in Both Houses and a Super Majority at that…so someone please tell me how it is the Republicans fault? The last vote count in Congress had 103 democrats voting NO.

The latest Rasmussen Poll reports on Obama’s Performance, this one based on only on Strongly Approve, and Strongly Disapprove is:

Strongly Approve:  29%
Strongly Disapprove: 40%

Then there is this

“According to published reports, Barack Obama’s legal team has been paid over one million dollars, so far, to STOP anyone from seeing ANY of his actual identification documents, or many other documents:
•  Actual long-form birth certificate (NOT an easily-forged electronic copy of a short-form document that is not even officially accepted in Hawaii)
•  Passport files
•  University of Chicago Law School scholarly articles
•  Harvard Law Review articles
•  Harvard Law School records
•  Columbia University records
•  Columbia University senior thesis, “Soviet Nuclear Disarmament”
•  Occidental College records, including financial aid that he may have received
•  Punahou School records, where Mr. Obama attended from the fifth grade until he finished high school
•  Noelani Elementary School records, where Barack Obama attended kindergarten (according to the Hawaii Department of Education, students must submit a birth certificate to register—but parents may bring a passport or student visa if the child is from a foreign country)
•  Complete files and schedules of his years as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004
•  Obama’s client list from during his time in private practice with the Chicago law firm of Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Gallard
•  Illinois State Bar Association records
•  Baptism records
•  Obama/Dunham marriage license
•  Obama/Dunham divorce documents
•  Soetoro/Dunham marriage license
•  Soetero/Dunham Adoption records
By the way, the issue of the Occidental College records is especially pertinent. The United States Justice Foundation (USJF) served officials at Occidental College with a subpoena to produce records concerning Barack Obama’s attendance there during the 1980’s, because those records could document whether he was attending as a foreign national. You see, Mr. Obama attended the school on a scholarship—and there are questions as to whether the financial aid he received was reserved for foreign students. The Obama attorneys have bent over backward to block us. He doesn’t want anyone to see those records. He’s STILL trying to hide them; those financial records STILL have not been released.

WHAT is Barack Obama trying to hide? WHAT is he afraid of? WHY doesn’t he just release these documents to prove that he is a natural-born citizen and, therefore, qualified to serve as President—especially his actual birth certificate?

Frankly, the evidence that Barack Hussein Obama was born in Africa—not Hawaii as he claims—and, therefore, cannot serve as the President of the United States, is compelling.
•  First, Mr. Obama’s refusal to release his birth certificate. If he has nothing to hide, what does he gain by refusing to allow the press to see the birth certificate?
•  Second, the contention by Barack Obama’s half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, that Mr. Obama was born in a particular Hawaiian hospital, only to claim that it was in a different hospital several years later. And, most recently, Barack Hussein Obama has contradicted himself, in writing, regarding the name of the hospital where he claims to have been born.
•  Third, the erecting of a wall around Barack Obama’s grandmother, the late Madelyn Dunham, by Mr. Obama, thus cutting off access to the one person then alive who would have been present if he was actually born in Hawaii.
•  Fourth, the posting of law enforcement personnel at the two hospitals in Honolulu mentioned by Ms. Soetoro-Ng in an effort to block the press from discovering the truth about the birth certificate.
•  Fifth, a taped phone conversation with Mr. Obama’s step-grandmother in Kenya, who claims that she was present at his birth… in what is now called Kenya!
•  Sixth, the “birth certificate” posted on the Obama campaign website and other liberal websites. Since Barack Obama was born in 1961, long before laser printers and office computers, his original birth certificate would be typewritten … unlike the laser printed “copy” purported to be genuine.”

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land called America, having lost their morals, their initiative, and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that person known as “The One”.

He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He hypnotized the people telling them, “I am sent to save you. My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my association with evil doers are of no consequence. For I shall save you with Hope and Change.

Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he has built must be destroyed.” And the people rejoiced, for even though they knew not what “The One” would do, he had promised that it was good; and they believed.

And “The One” said “We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!” And the people said, “Hallelujah! Change is good!”

Then He said, “We are going to tax the rich fat-cats.” And the people said “Sock it to them!” “And redistribute their wealth.” And the people said, “Show us the money!” And then He said, “Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody”

And Joe the plumber asked, “Are you kidding me? You’re going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??” And “The One” ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe’s personal records were hacked and publicized.

One lone reporter asked, “Isn’t that Marxist policy?”

And she was banished from the kingdom!

Then a citizen asked, “With no foreign relations experience and having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with radical terrorists?” And “The One” said, “Simple. I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!” And the people said, “Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!”

Then “The One” said, “I shall give 95% of you lower taxes.” And one, lone voice said, “But 40% of us don’t pay ANY taxes.” So “The One” said, “Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!” And the people said, “Hallelujah!! Show us the money!”

Then “The One” said, “I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!” And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.

And He said, “I shall mandate employer- funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall g ive every person unlimited healthcare and medicine and transportation to the clinics.”

And the people said, “Give me some of that!”

Then he said, “I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas.” And the people said, “Where’s my rebate check?”

Then “The One” said, “I shall bankrupt the coal industry and electricity rates will skyrocket!” And the people said, “Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don’t care for that part about higher electric rates.” So “The One” said, “Not to worry. If your rebate isn’t enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!”

Then He said, “Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let’s grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing…” And the people said, “Hallelujah!!” And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank like unto a rock dropped from a cliff. The banking industry was destroyed.

Manufacturing slowed to a crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then “The One” said, “I am the “The One” – The Messiah – and I’m here to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will have enough!”

But our foreign trading partners said unto Him, “Wait a minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more…”

And the people said, “Wait a minute. That is unfair!!” And the world said, “Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!”

And the people cried out, “Alas, alas!! What have we done?” But yea verily, it was too late. The people set upon “The One” and spat upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or shelter or hope. And the change “The One” had given them was as like unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built. And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, “Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!” But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.

And God (the Real God) looked down upon the land that He had once blessed and shook His head. Tears appeared in His eyes as he wondered at how a nation that He had blessed with so much could turn its back upon Him to embrace so little.

But Satan shaketh not his head. For Satan exalted in triumph over the land and the people that God had blessed.

Satan looked at The One and said “It is good. You have done well and I shall reward you and your followers. God no longer reigneth in America.

I do.”

You may think this is a fairy tale, but it’s not.

Re: Post 91;

You post far too much hot air here for anyone to respond to all of it.  But – here’s a simple (and irrelevant) sample of how you repeat false information:

“… This time, his next door neighbor saw him using his shoulder to open the rear door to the home …”

Regarding the 9-1-1 call to the police indicating the caller thought someone might be trying to break into a home (Gates’ home) – if it was “his next door neighbor” – don’t you think the neighbor would have RECOGNIZED Gates?

IN FACT, the call was make by a passer-by who actually worked SEVERAL homes away from Gates home as a housekeeper – reporting that she thought someone was trying to break-in through Gates’ FRONT door.

In this case, the distinction (and your comment) is irrelevant.  BUT – it shows how you indiscriminately pick up unsubstantiated/uncorroborated info from your favorite far right-wing websites – and then you post it here as “fact” – an action not unlike your never-ending complaints about how the mainstream media operate.

What’s the problem with a trip out of town now & then? Think of all the goofy liberals and other strange sights you’ll encounter. You might even come across an arrogant, meant-tempered Harvard “professor”!