Here Are a Few With A Clue

There a some real Republican politicians still around. Watch and learn:



Both courtesy of Curmudgeonly & Skeptical.

More Health Care "Reform"

According to this article, the Republicans have had 3 alternatives on the table starting in May of this year:

In May, Republicans in the House and the Senate formed a bicameral coalition to produce the130-page “Patients Choice Act of 2009.”

In June, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) introduced the “Health Care Freedom Plan,” a 41-page proposal.

And in July, the Republican Study Committee, under the leadership of Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), unveiled the “Empowering Patients First Act,” a 130-page plan.

To quote the article:

Some of the provisions included in one or more of the bills include: investing in preventive medicine, an overhaul of Medicaid, reduction of abuse and fraud in the Medicare program, supplemental health insurance for low-income families, tax credits for health insurance, and a ban on federal funds being used for abortions.

Are they better than the President's plan? Republicans generally think so, others obviously do not. Disagreeing about which one is better is part of the political discussion, and one that I hope could be had honestly. However, claiming that no Republican alternatives have been offered is a false argument and is IMNSHO a clear indication of the unwillingness of the Democrat leadership to have an honest debate or discussion on this subject.

And if that's not enough proof we have "Obama opposed healthcare reform before he was for it":

Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) has been one of Obama's staunchest critics on this issue. He says the president opposed meaningful Republican legislation while he still a member of the Senate.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina)"I want Americans to be clear that I have introduced major healthcare reform every year I've been in the Senate. Barack Obama did not introduce any that I'm aware of. He voted against Republican reforms that would have made it less expensive and more accessible for individuals to have their own insurance if they didn't get it at work," DeMint points out. "He's done everything he can to maintain the status quo so that he could call for government intervention -- and we need to expose that to the American people."

Tell me it ain't so; that our current President would engage in disingenuous partisan politics to further his own personal agenda.

MSNBC Propaganda

For those of you who might have missed it several people openly and legally carried guns at a recent speech by Mr. Obama in Phoenix. It is worth noting:

Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday's event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.

Now we have the mainstream media in the form of MSNBC attempting to conflate those peaceful, legal activities into a threatening racist issue:

Observe the hysterical allegations and fear-mongering that appears to be the purpose of said report.

It's all false propaganda. Here is a video and still shot of the same person at the same event. The still shot even comes from MSNBCs own web site.

Observe that MSNBC had to frame and chop the video of the man with the rifle to obscure his skin color, otherwise it invalidates their entire premise. Disgusting. I wish I could say I'm surprised at their bias, and their lying, but I'm not.

Parade of the Obliviots

Describes this mornings commute; from the soccer moms in their Ford Explorers (yes there was more than one), to the dude in the work van who was more concerned with drinking his large cup of Dunkin' coffee than driving, to the Latina princess using her cell phone like a PA mike, and the guy napping as he drove in his generic Chevy sedan it seemed nobody was paying attention to what lane they were in, what lanes were open, their speed, or where anyone else was on the road. Days like today make telecommuting so very attractive.

And while I'm in rant mode, what is with people using their cell phones like old-fashioned radios by holding it front of their mouth to talk, then holding it to their ear to listen, then their mouth, then their ear ... ...? It strikes me as rather strange, inefficient, technically unsavvy behavior.

Health Care "Reform" Tom-Foolery

First we have:

White House appears ready to drop 'public option' (Aug 16 2009, 7:36 pm ET)

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that government alternative to private health insurance is "not the essential element" of the administration's health care overhaul. The White House would be open to co-ops, she said, a sign that Democrats want a compromise so they can declare a victory.

then within hours we have:

Administration Official: "Sebelius Misspoke." (Aug 16 2009, 9:11 pm)

A second official, Linda Douglass, director of health reform communications for the administration, said that President Obama believed that a public option was the best way to reduce costs and promote competition among insurance companies, that he had not backed away from that belief, and that he still wanted to see a public option in the final bill.

Sebelius's trial balloon got shot down by her own boss within hours. How's that for a vote of confidence? If one reads the bill I'm sure they will find that a public option is integral to this bill and thus cannot be removed from it.

Speaking of reading the bill, here's someone who has: "What HR 3200, 'America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,' Says". I'll summarize his points, but please go read the full analysis to understand the full impact danger of this bill:

1. Will the plan ration health care? Yes
2. Will the plan punish Americans who try to opt out? Yes
3. What constitutes “acceptable” coverage? "the bill makes health plans in which individuals pay for routine services, but carry insurance only for catastrophic events, (such as Health Savings Accounts) illegal."
4. Will the plan destroy private health insurance? Yes
5. Does the plan TAX successful Americans more than others? Yes
6. Does the plan allow the government to set fees for services? Yes
7. Will the plan increase the power of government officials to scrutinize our private affairs? Yes. [Think what this means for HIPA protections]
8. Does the plan automatically enroll Americans in the government plan? Yes
9. Does the plan exempt federal officials from court review? Yes

Keep up the pressure on your public officials to reject this evil bill. If not, then run away; run away fast.

Green Car Goonery

There's been much discussion and debate on the In-Tar-Webs about the Cash-for-Clunkers debacle, it's actual and theoretical efficacy as an economic stimulus program, and whether it should be refunded. All of that has totally missed the point.

Cash-For-Clunkers is NOT an economic stimulus program; it is an amateurish social engineering program designed to advance the Green environmental agenda by paying people to destroy their current cars and buy "greener" ones. For example, a true economic stimulus program would inject the used vehicles back into the market to encourage further economic activity not require that they be destroyed. It merely masquerades as an stimulus program to take advantage of the current economic crisis in true Alinsky fashion.

And for the more cautious among us, here's a video from Glenn Beck about some more insidious potential problems with this program.

It is worth pointing out that just because the government could do some of the things discussed in the video does not mean that they actually are.

No more of my tax dollars to this program. Let it die.