St. Ignatius and Some Linky Love...

Today is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. A number of years ago I attended the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life Retreat (SEEL) at Gonzaga University. It takes about a year to complete and the time just whipped by. It was the single most valuable thing I have ever done.

The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises are for everyone, not just Catholics. Creighton University has an on-line version that is wonderful. If you are experiencing dryness or dread (in particular over the carp coming out of Washington), the Spiritual Exercises might be just what you need.

Jean over at Catholic Fire has a wonderful and informative post on St. Ignatius including a brief biography, favorite quotes, prayers, and links.

Father Longenecker has a St. Ignatius post PLUS simple instructions on how to order his new book, The Gargoyle Code. I received my (signed) copy and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Simple, Elegant, and Delicious!

Chicken in Lemon Cream Sauce (Pollo in Salsa di Limone e' Crema) from the beautiful Bella at La Bella Vita. Includes lemon, cream, and capers. What could possibly go wrong?

Tracy, A Catholic Mom in Minnesota, has daily short meditations at her blog and it always a daily stop for moi.

And from Christine over at A Catholic View we have: FRC says Catholics United is ignoring facts of health care bill and Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide...The same thing?


I should picture and reflect on myself standing in the presence of my Judge on the last day, and consider what election (choice) in the present matter I would then wish to have made. I will now choose that rule of life that I would then wish to have observed, that on the day of judgement I may be filled with happiness and joy. Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

Call Me Selfish!

House approves $2B more for 'cash for clunkers'

WASHINGTON – The House has voted to rush an additional $2 billion into the popular but financially strapped "cash for clunkers" car purchase program. read the rest


Call me selfish if you want, but I don't want to fund your new car. I also don't want to pay for your health insurance or your mortgage.

Enough!!!

The Dems call this "common ground"?

Waxman Strong-arms Vote to Allow Abortion Coverage in Public Plan

[...]
the committee passed an amendment that is being billed by some Democrats as a "common ground" measure on abortion. The amendment--sponsored by Lois Capps (D-Calif.), whose National Right to Life Committee vote-scorecard is 0 for 74--would allow the "public option" to provide coverage for elective abortions and would allow federally subsidized private plans to provide abortion coverage as well. How exactly could this be construed as "common ground"? Congress isn't requiring the public option to cover abortion--merely allowing it. And through some nifty bookkeeping, abortions will supposedly be paid for out of private funds rather than tax dollars. read it all

Tort Reform

Here's an interesting article from Hot Air backing up what I said here about libel suits.

The quote from Investors Business Daily at the close of article:

IBD-E’s argument works across the entirety of the American economy, which is too vulnerable to predatory lawsuits. If Congress passed sensible tort reform that creates substantial penalties for plaintiffs and their attorneys for filing nuisance suits and baseless claims — in other words, make them bear the costs of abuse rather than the defendants — we could lift a serious burden from the entire economy, not just the health-care industry. However, as long as Democrats remain married to the trial lawyers, the chances of that kind of reform approach zero.



And from the Irritable Pundit over at Brushfire Sparks comes this fine article and accompanying graphic. It would be funny if it wasn't so true!

Pundit & Pundette: Michelle Obama's staff of 22

Pundit & Pundette: Michelle Obama's staff of 22


I've been so focused in on the health care carp that this completely slipped by me. This is ridiculous. I thought we had a president not a king and queen. Since when does a woman who, by her own words, is not proud of her country need 22 people dancing attendance on her?

Related:

More Michelle Obama staff appointments
What Michelle Obama's Staffers Earn
Queen-like staff support for First Lady

Your Health Care - Your Choice!

H/T Hot Air

Newt’s six-point health-care reform

Newt's plan has a fatal flaw. It doesn't address the fact that the federal government has no business providing health insurance. None! The government is responsible for much of the rising costs of health care because of their draconian controls of the market. Medicare and Medicaid are disasters and both are nearing insolvency and yet we have a president who thinks the government needs even more control.

The next group of folks who need to get out of the insurance business are employers. Employer provided health insurance was nothing more than an attempt to get around wage and price controls after WW II. What good is insurance that disappears if you lose your job?

Let's just put together a simple example of what could happen if your employer is not mixed up in your health care. I'm going to use neat round figures because it's not the amount but the outcome we are discussing.

If an employer pays $10,000.00 per year for health insurance for an employee and no longer has to do that, we would hope he would give at least half of that to the employee as added pay. The employee takes his $5,000.00 and shops a free market and is able to get the coverage he wants for $2000.00 per year. He pockets an extra $3000.00 per year. He can use that money to purchase goods and services or he can save toward a house or other large purchase. Meantime the employer pockets an extra $5000.00 per year with which to expand his business and hire more employees. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Newt's first point is stopping the fraud within our current system. How about getting rid of the system? Trust me folks, when you have a government program, you have fraud.

One of my jobs was as a optician. I worked once for a private optometrist who accepted Medicaid, something few optometrists do because of the extremely low schedule of reimbursement. After the doc discovered that Medicaid paid $20.00 for a field test, every kid that came in for an exam had a field test. It is rare that a young child ever needs a field test but when the doctor is able to attend to a patient while the optician does a field test in another room, it's like free money.

I know $20.00 is not a lot of money. But do that five times per day and it's now $100.00. At the end of the month it's an extra $2000.00. Multiply that by the number of optometrists in the country and it suddenly becomes a fairly large chunk of change. I'm not picking on optometrists, nor am I accusing them all of fraud. This is just an example of the ways in which government- run health insurance is so vulnerable to fraud.

The next group of people that need to be out of the health care business are attorneys. Newt brings this point up in point 5 and has some good ideas, but the best idea is to make the losing party of the lawsuit pay. What we have now are doctors paying exorbitant amounts of money to protect themselves as do all other businesses vulnerable to law suits. The insurance company reaches a settlement, even if the doctor or business is in the right, because it is cheaper to do so than slog through the court system.

People who have been truly wronged need a legal avenue to obtain justice. But with the system we have now, frivolous lawsuits clog the courts and cost consumers an enormous amount of money. It is always the consumer who pays in the end. If the grocery store didn't have to protect itself against "slip and fall" scams, and doctors didn't have to practice defensive medicine, maybe that gallon of milk, or your health insurance premiums wouldn't be so high.

You see, this is about choice; your free choice to manage your own health care, not the government, not your employer. Why are we putting ourselves at the mercy of whatever the government or the employer decides we should have?


Newt's Plan

1. Stop Paying the Crooks. First, we must dramatically reduce healthcare fraud within our current healthcare system. Outright fraud — criminal activity — accounts for as much as 10 percent of all healthcare spending. That is more than $200 billion every year. Medicare alone could account for as much as $40 billion a year. (Read about our latest CHT Press book, Stop Paying the Crooks, edited by Jim Frogue.)
2. Move from a Paper-based to an Electronic Health System. As it stands now, it is simply impossible to keep up with fraud in a paper-based system. An electronic system would free tens of billions of dollars to be spent on investing on the kind of modern system that will transform healthcare. In addition, it would dramatically increase our ability to eliminate costly medical errors and to accelerate the adoption of new solutions and breakthroughs.
3. Tax Reform. The savings realized through very deliberately and very systematically eliminating fraud could be used to provide tax incentives and vouchers that would help cover those Americans who currently can’t afford coverage. In addition, we need to expand tax incentives for insurance provided by small employers and the self-employed. Finally, elimination of capital gains taxes for investments in health-solution companies can greatly impact the creation advancement of new solutions that create better health at lower cost.
4. Create a Health-Based Health System. In essence, we must create a system that focuses on improving individual health. The best way to accomplish this is to find out what solutions are actually working today that save lives and save money and then design public policy to encourage their widespread adoption. For example, according to the Dartmouth Health Atlas, if the 6,000 hospitals in the country provided the same standard of care of the Intermountain or Mayo health clinics, Medicare alone would save 30 percent of total spending every year. We need to make best practices the minimum practice. We need the federal government and other healthcare stakeholders to consistently migrate to best practices that ensure quality, safety and better outcomes.
5. Reform Our Health Justice System. Currently, the U.S. civil justice system is the most expensive in the world — about double the average cost in virtually every other industrialized nation. But for all of the money spent, our civil justice system neither effectively compensates persons injured from medical negligence nor encourages the elimination of medical errors. Because physicians fear malpractice suits, defensive medicine (redundant, wasteful treatment designed to avoid lawsuits, not treat the patient) has become pervasive. CHT is developing a number of bold health-justice reforms including a “safe harbor” for physicians who followed clinical best practices in the treatment of a patient. Visit CHT’s Health Justice project page to learn more.
6. Invest in Scientific Research and Breakthroughs. We must accelerate and focus national efforts, re-engineer care delivery, and ultimately prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes which are financially crippling our healthcare system.

Losing Control of Your Health Care
By Robert Tracinski

Markets, Not Mandates
How medical markets would improve health care and reduce costs

Why I Oppose National Health Care
by Megan McArdle

Why public health care is philosophically wrong
by Michael Prell

Gateway Pundit: Dorothy D. Hoft... August 1925 - July 2009

Gateway Pundit: Dorothy D. Hoft... August 1925 - July 2009

Like Jim at Gateway Pundit, my mother lived with us before she died about 27 years ago. It is testimony to the fine woman Dorothy was that her she raised such a wonderful son.

I miss my mother every day and I know Jim will miss Dorothy, but our belief in the resurrection of the body gives us comfort.

Thomas Sowell Speaks

I've been a fan of Thomas Sowell for many years. I think he has a fine mind and when he speaks or writes it is with the simplicity of the very wise.


Disaster in the Making
Obama’s repeated demonstrations of his amateurism and immaturity.

By Thomas Sowell

After many a disappointment with someone, and especially after a disaster, we may be able to look back at numerous clues that should have warned us that the person we trusted did not deserve our trust.

When that person is the president of the United States, the potential for disaster is virtually unlimited.

Many people are rightly worried about what this administration’s reckless spending will do to the economy in our time and to our children and grandchildren, to whom a staggering national debt will be passed on. But if the worst that Barack Obama does is ruin the economy, I will breathe a sigh of relief. read the rest

Holy Carp.....!!!!

Thanks to Mighty Mom who found this at The Cook Shack

A Palette Cleanser

H/T to Father Erik at Orthometer who found this at Southern Appeal. Thanks ...

Mother Dismembers Baby

I suggest you not read the entire article if you are in the least bit squeamish. However, I don't see much difference, except for a few details, between what this mother did to her 3 1/2 week old child and what licensed abortion doctors do on a daily basis.

Would these same crime scene investigators or anyone in favor of "choice", be just as stunned and speechless if they spent a day at an abortion clinic?


Dismemberment of Texas newborn leaves crime scene investigators speechless; mother charged

The scene was so gruesome investigators could barely speak: A 3 1/2-week-old boy lay dismembered in the bedroom of a single-story house... read the rest - caution: graphic and not for the faint of heart

Healthcare debate's next hurdle: abortion

Some Democrats opposed to abortion rights threaten to pull their support for the bill unless it includes language restricting taxpayer funds for the procedure. read it all


From the Blog Prof:

Nurse forced to assist in late-term abortion, is suing Mt. Sinai in NY

Calling the Blog Prof

MI Schools and Muslim Principal Sued Over Firing of Christian Wrestling Coach

ANN ARBOR, MI, July 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Thomas More Law Center announced today that a federal lawsuit has been filed against a Dearborn, Michigan high school, Fordson High School, and its Muslim principal, Imad Fadlallah, over the firing of Gerald Marszalek because of Marszalek's connection to a Christian volunteer coach (read the complaint here). read rest of article

I'm thinking my favorite Michigan blogger The Blog Prof will grab this ball and run with it.

Health Care for Illegals?

Jury in favor of hospital that deported immigrant is the headline. It should have read illegal immigrant.

While I feel for the man at the center of this case, it points to a very serious problem with the delivery of our health care. It also reminds us that our system is under attack by the type of lawyers that will take any kind of case and tie up our courts.

The man, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was in a serious accident while in Stuart, Florida and was hospitalized for over three years before finally being returned to Guatemala by order of the courts.

His cousin and legal guardian files a lawsuit:

[...]
"The lawsuit filed by Jimenez's cousin and legal guardian sought nearly $1 million to cover the estimated lifetime costs of Jimenez's care in Guatemala. It also asked for damages from the hospital for "unlawfully detaining" him and punitive damages to discourage other medical centers from taking similar action."

I really like the part about "unlawfully detainment." The hospital spent millions of dollars to care for this man and the attorney dreams up unlawful detainment as part of the suit. And folks, guess who really paid the bill? Why, the people such as myself who pay for medical insurance foot the bill. Not to mention higher prices we pay for all services because doctors and hospitals pay exorbitant amounts of money each year to protect themselves from such lawsuits.



Reason Online: Buy Now, Pay Later
Real Clear Politics: Perils of Obamacare: The Three Big Lies
Pittsburgh Tribune: Footing illegals' health care

By Michelle Malkin


GOP Not Allowed to Say 'Government-Run Healthcare

Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), the secretary of the House Republican Conference and a former District Court Judge, is having his messages to constituents censored by Democrats on the Franking Commission. Republicans are no longer allowed to use the words “government run health care” in the communications to their constituents. read the rest

Meet Another Adrienne

Yep - I know you think one is more than enough, but it's not so....

Thanks to Dan Riehl, over at Riehl World View, I was able to meet Adrienne Ross (as in Betsy?) at her blog Motivation: Truth, a HUGE Sarah Palin supporter and an all-around lovely lady.

Adrienne teaches middle school English Language Arts, which tells me that she probably understands this whole comma business thingy. Commas will always elude me, but at my age I don't really care anymore.

Go over and say hi and take note of her great header.

And in slavish obedience to Stacy McCain's rule 5, "Everybody loves a pretty girl", I posted a picture of Adrienne.

Obama - Apologize Now!

H/T Memeorandum

This made my day...

Maybe our current President can take care of this over that beer he's like to have with Officer Crowley and what's his name. Somehow I doubt it...

House to consider resolution demanding Obama apologize to Crowley

DRAFT

House Resolution

Whereas on July 16, 2009, Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley responded to a 911 call from a neighbor of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis ("Skip") Gates, Jr. about a suspected break-in in progress at his residence, which had been broken into on a prior occasion;

Whereas on July 22, 2009, in responding to a question during a White House press conference President Barack Obama stated: "Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don't know all of the facts involved in this local police response incident";

Whereas President Obama proceeded to state Sergeant Crowley "acted stupidly" for arresting Professor Gates on charges of disorderly conduct;

Whereas, as a former Constitutional Law Professor, President Obama well understands that all Americans are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and their actions should not be prejudged prior to being fully and fairly judged by an appropriate and objective authority after due process;

Whereas, President Obama's nationally televised remarks may likely detrimentally influence the full and fair judgment by an appropriate and objective authority after due process regarding this local police response incident and, thereby, impair Sergeant Crowley's legal and professional standing in relation to said incident; and

Whereas, President Obama appeared at a daily White House Press briefing on July 24, 2009 to address his denouncement of Sergeant Crowley and stated: "I could have calibrated those words differently" but "I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station."

Whereas, President Obama's refusal to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Sergeant Crowley and, instead, reiterate his accusation impugning Sergeant Crowley's professional conduct in the performance of his duties;

Now therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

Calls upon President Obama to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley for having unfairly impugned and prejudged his professional conduct in this local police response incident.

Government Health Care Will Kill You

Why don't Americans just stand up and demand a return to the principles of freedom? I'm afraid that's like asking a drug addict just to quit using drugs. Americans are heavily dependent on government, and many do not believe freedom can be trusted to take care of them. Political candidates sound much more enticing when they promise more security and government benefits than when they speak of personal responsibility and cutting government spending.
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, Saving Freedom, We Can Stop America's Slide into Socialism




Health Care Compliments of the Federal Government

- publicly funded abortion
- higher taxes (for everyone)
- end or life “counseling”
- loss of present coverage (eventually)
- seniors getting the shaft (really important)
- monstrous additions to the deficit

Obama is anti-Christian

Another big H/T to ebeth. This link to a 3 minute video from her other blog, A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars, needs to be watched by all Christians. I was unable to embed this video so just click on the link.

I have been saying this same thing for many, many months. Obama will do anything to destroy the Catholic Church. If you are not a Catholic Christian be forewarned - he'll be coming for you next!

From ebeth:

Anti-Catholic Administration

Here is something everyone should be very AWARE. Please watch.

The Arrogance of Obama Knows No Bounds!

In an interview today:

Obama said Friday he didn't regret stepping into the controversy and hoped the matter would end up being a "teachable moment" for the nation.

Exactly what lesson are we supposed to learn, Mr. President? That a police officer doing his job will be publicly ridiculed by you on national TV? That you will comment upon something that is none of your business and, by your own admission, did not know the details?

No, of course not. I'll tell you what the nation learned. They learned that you are an arrogant racist and so is Henry Gates. They also learned that you are a dangerous fool and a divider of people.

My friend Ebeth over at Keeping My Ear to the Ground has a wonderful summation of Obama's remarks when he popped into the morning press conference at the White House.

Keeping My Ear To the Ground: The President is QUITE "Stupidly" in my opinion!!

Who is Michael Taylor?

This is something of which I had no knowledge. I'm headed to my favorite store (Costco), and when I return I'll be doing lots of research and more linky-love. In the meantime, read it and give me your take on what's going on.

And about the newly acquired French Press? Get one!!!


You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So!

The person who may be responsible for more food-related illness and death than anyone in history has just been made the US food safety czar. This is no joke. read the rest

Kevin Jackson's take on Gates

This is a must read from Blogger extraordinaire Kevin Jackson. At first I thought this whole Gates thing was just a distraction to keep us from thinking too much about Obamacare. But now I think it's much more important.

This whole incident reveals in full clarity exactly how incredibly racist our current president actually is. I haven't seen this much talk about race since OJ was pronounced not guilty for a crime he most certainly committed.

Until Obama started to make such an issue of race it never really crossed my mind that a black man was running for president.

And while you're over there be sure and order Kevin's book "The Big Black Lie."

There is no health care crisis!

I have to agree with Stacy McCain about Ann Coulter's column on health insurance - it is excellent and to the point.

Stacy's comments on the article are also succinct and mirror my feelings exactly. My husband and I never had health insurance except for the few cases when I worked a job where it was part of my compensation. And guess what? Nothing bad ever happened which is the case for probably 99% of the people in the world.

Each year I went in and had all my "girlie" things done and, hope you're seated, paid for it. Lots cheaper than paying beau coup dollars every year for coverage we didn't need. Once I even broke my leg and just popped into the privately run Emergency Care place. Total cost including x-rays and a boot for my leg? About $500.00 which is equal to about one months premium (if you're lucky.)

The people that I know that are covered with big policies from their employers are running endlessly to the doctor for every little thing under the sun. And don't fall for that old argument of "preventative" medicine. The yearly exam is sufficient to catch anything that may need additional attention.

When did we become such a nation of weak, fearful people endlessly worried about some catastrophe or another, and why are we so willing to fall for the manufactured crises that flow from Washington? You take a bigger risk getting in your car and driving to work every day.

Another Federal Agency????

What me worry??

Geithner defends financial oversight reform

WASHINGTON – Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke squared off Friday in a public dispute on who should become the nation's top consumer watchdog. read the rest

Well gosh - this wouldn't be about power and control would it??

Special for Henry Louis Gates

For Henry Louis Gates Jr.
The Attitude Dance
Tower of Power



And when you're through with the attitude how about
Funking the Dumb Stuff??

Gates will sue - promise!

Coming to a neighborhood near you: Professor "I'm just outraged" Gates will be suing - and soon. Mark my words....

I am so tired of whining Negroes. When did Negroes become black people anyway? I'd rather be a Negro.

And African-American? No they're not. They're Americans unless they were born in Africa. Charlize Theron is an African-American and I suspect Obama is too.

Meantime: Meet my new French press....

French press: Say hi to all my friends....

As soon as I recover a bit from my hard labor outside and scrape off the dirt, I'll be headed to the store to get some properly ground coffee to test drive my French press.

Snagged it at T.J. Max for $12.99. Closest price online was a sale price of $22.95 (plus shipping). Regular price $33.95

My buddy Mark in Spokane says they make really yummy coffee. Mark also has some really yummy posts up and running so pop on over and say hi!

Starting tomorrow (hopefully) I'll be doing a linky-love posting every Friday. There are so many wonderful writers out in cyber-space (like Stacy McCain who knows where to put commas) and his co-blogger Smitty (I have a crush on Smitty), who is having a serious nervous break down due to the rampant racism in Cambridge.

Voting has started at The Crescat for the Ugliest Church Art.

Dear Lord above, there are some appalling examples of everything that can go wrong with "art"

“The stars are aligned…”

Allow me to sum up Obama's press conference:

1. It's all Bush's fault
2. The Republicans are picking on me
   
3. Doctors are greedy and make big money taking out tonsils
4. Doctor's do unnecessary testing because they are stupid and have no idea of what another doctor is doing
   
5. Remove the profit angle from medicine and doctors will be motivated to work harder (and hopefully smarter)
   
6. I'm going to tax "rich" people to pay for all this
7. I'm the President
   
8. The White House is my house.
   
9. White cops are racist and stupid
10. The stars are aligned

The American Spectator: Fact-Checking Obama’s News Conference
Hot Air: Obama presser: What was the point?
The Washington Post: Obama Attacks Docs and Cops H/T Memeorandom

If you read nothing else today take the time to read this. Congressman Ryan dares to use the word moral. Good for him

Health Care Reform and the American Character
By Congressman Paul Ryan

[...]
A very short description of the American character would be: this ensemble of moral qualities that make it possible for persons to live under self-restraint, without dependency, in personal relationships with others in community under God. read the rest

RIP Gidget

Obama's Prime Time Presser

We certainly wouldn't want more than a week or two to go by without The One usurping the airwaves, costing the networks beau coup money, and making some of us miss our favorite programs.

Hubby just inquired if I was actually going to watch tonight. The answer was a less than happy yes. The problem though is this - since July 25th is my 19 anniversary in A.A., I'll have to watch this without a martini (three anchovy stuffed olives, please).

No congratulations ahead of the actual date. Tonight's presser may send me spiraling down into the welcome fog of alcohol again.

I Won't Pay to Kill People

I've given this matter great thought over the past few weeks and have reached a very important decision. Even though poll after poll is showing that The One is in big trouble, I know one thing - Obama and his evil minions are relentless when it comes to "re-shaping" this country.

I have no doubt that some sort of government takeover of health care is inevitable. It won't be the bill that is being pushed now, but this camel is going to be pushing his nose under the tent.

There is also no doubt in my mind that abortion will be covered in some form as well as assisted suicide. As a Catholic I cannot support such a thing and I would hope that all Christians would believe in the inherent evil of killing people.

I will be doing my best research to ascertain how much of our households individual tax dollars are going to fund abortion or assisted suicide, and that amount will be deducted from what we pay. I will also deduct taxes paid for items that have added tax for health care such as soda or what have you. If an individual wishes to kill their child or off themselves, they'll have do it without our dime.

They can fine us all they want. At our age we'll be long gone before they can figure out how to snag our dollars and really folks - it would look very bad to put granny or gramppy in the slammer.



Political Ticker: Senator: Democrats 'baffled' by president's health care stance
WSJ (also picked up by Memeorandum:) How to Make Health-Care Reform Bipartisan
Real Clear Politics: Lessons For Health Care Reform
Doug Ross @ Jour: Gee, I can't wait for Obamacare and Socialized Medicine
Hot Air: Video: Nadler won’t use Obamacare if it passes
Michelle Malkin:Obamacare for illegal aliens
NY Times: In Health Care Fight, Defining Moment Nears for President
H/T Memeorandum



Tweets from Peter Fleckeman by way of Curmudgeonly & Skeptical:

Just some line by line commentaries on what's in the bill Obama, which the senators, and representatives haven't read. Since these are Peter's tweets the spelling is necessarily truncated in some instances. I filled many of the words to make it a bit easier to read. I hope Peter doesn't take offense.

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get

Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!


Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose UR HC Benefits 4 you. You have no choice!

PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided 2 ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access 2 individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!

Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access 2 your banks accounts 4 elect. funds transfer

PG 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan 4 retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN).

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange 2 bring private HC plans under Govt control.

PG 84 Sec 203 HC bill - Govt mandates ALL benefit pkgs 4 private HC plans in the Exchange

PG 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!

PG 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example - Translation 4 illegal aliens

Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps 2 sign up individual. for Govt HC plan

PG 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Ben Levels 4 Plans. #AARP members - U Health care WILL b rationed

-PG 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individual will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice

pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt Monopoly

pg 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will tell YOU what u can make.

Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into pub opt plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay 4 HC 4 part time employees AND their families.

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w payroll 400k & above who does not prov. pub opt. pays 8% tax on all payroll

pg 150 Lines 9-13 Biz w payroll btw 251k & 400k who doesn't prov. pub. opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll

Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HC according 2 Govt will be taxed 2.5% of inc

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual. taxes. (Americans will pay)

Pg 195 HC Bill -officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access 2 ALL Americans finan/pers recs

PG 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that

Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill Govt will reduce physician services 4 Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected

Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty u have, you'll all be paid the same

PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr's time, professional judgement, etc. Literally value of humans.

PG 265 Sec 1131Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries

PG 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs

PG 272 SEC. 1145. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing!

Page 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals 4 what Govt deems preventable re-admissions.

Pg 298 Lines 9-11 Drs, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission-Govt will penalize you.

Pg 317 L 13-20 OMG!! PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.

Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand

pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can u say ACORN?!!

Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing

Pg 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority 2 disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing peeps in2 Govt plan

Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! WTF. My sis has down syndrome!!

Pg 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. Can you say HC by phone?

PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life

Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory!

PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding u in death

PG 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program 4 orders 4 end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends

Pg 429 Lines 1-9 An "adv. care planning consult" will b used frequently as patients health deteriorates

PG 429 Lines 10-12 "adv. care consultation" may incl an ORDER 4 end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOV

Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

The Other McCain: Rule 3 on IG-Gate (Plus, Notes forNewbies on Aggregation Method)

The Other McCain: Rule 3 on IG-Gate (Plus, Notes forNewbies on Aggregation Method)



The Other McCain's post Rule 3 on IG-Gate (Plus Notes for Newbies on Aggregation Method) is a must read. After breakfast I will have to re-read it as it falls under the "need to know" category of computer stuff. I guess it's time for me to know (at least a little bit more.)

Stacy forgets that there are people like moi who are not only challenged by commas but also by advanced computer wizardry. If he was any kind of real man, the loan of Smitty (just part time would be good), would be forth coming. It's only partly true that behind ever successful man is a good woman. Nope - behind every successful man is a good woman and Smitty.

The Blog Prof is in love...

The Blog Prof is in love with House Speaker Andy Dillon, or rather he's in love with Andy's health care proposal, which Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is naturally against.

Now I could certainly be in love with Andy for a completely different reason.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop Backs Health Proposal Of Democrat House Speaker Dillon! UPDATE: So does the Detroit Free Press!

Now this is what I call bipartisanship! Today was a watershed day for Andy Dillon's trial balloon/proposal of pooling all state workers into one health insurance plan, which he has claimed can save the state nearly $1 billion annually. read the rest or click on title

Racial Preferences in the Health Care Bill??

Mosey on over to American Thinker and get a load of this little bombshell. That's just what I want in my doctor. Someone who had to have the standards lowered so they could get into med school. /sarcasm

Racial Preferences in the Democrats' Health Care Bill

Under the Democrats' health care bill, if a medical school wants to increase its chances of receiving many different kinds of grants and contracts from the federal government, it should have a demonstrated record of training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups. This is because the Democrats' health care bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give preference to the entities that have demonstrated such a record in the awarding of these contracts to medical schools and other institutions. read the rest

Meantime Obama "admits the health care bill needs work."

He also said "the time for talk is through." -- President Obama, talking to liberal bloggers on a conference call Monday night.


Oh dear Lord, if that were only true. I have never seen a man who talks more and says absolutely nothing. On Wednesday he will thrust himself into our living rooms again by way of the TV.


Elle and I are off to pick up hubby at the airport. This will be the first time in almost 7 days I have left the house except to mow a small portion of the lawn. That entailed putting Elle in her cone and lashing her to the dining room table. Like my hubby said, "it will be ok because you won't be able to hear her screams over the mower." He was right.

Play nice while I'm gone...

For Hubby

The Gargoyle Code Available Now!

Advance copies of Father Dwight Longenecker's new book are available on his site. Be the first to get your copy. And if you ask nicely, he'll even sign your copy.

I'm ordering mine tomorrow as soon as hubby gets home with the PayPal card....

[...]
The Gargoyle Code consists of the correspondence between a senior devil and his minions as they attempt to tempt a naive young Catholic and an older conservative Catholic. The letters begin on Shrove Tuesday and continue through Easter Day so, while it can be read at any time, it also makes a super book to read during Lent.

Head on over to his blog, Standing On My Head, and place your order....

Shovel Ready President

To quote Dan Riehl:

"Can he overcome his lack of experience to prevail? He'll need to grow up and into the office and he hasn't done that, yet."

I don't know about you but I would prefer to have a "shovel ready" president, not one who has to grow into the office.

RightKlik has a good summation of what's going on - ObamaCare: a sick joke

And wow! Obamacare will cover 12 million illegal immigrants. Which means while he's cutting care for the elderly (they need to choose between the surgery or the pain meds, doncha know) he'll be buying lots of illegal votes. I figure if dead people can vote now, why not illegals...

Why don't we start by stopping the futile treatment of Senator Kennedy.

So just today Senator Kennedy makes his pitch for the government decimating the health care of the majority of the American people.

His closing statement? Glad you asked.

How America responds to the challenges of health care, he wrote, "will define our character as a country."

What exactly does Ted Kennedy know about character? Do you think he took the time to lay flowers on the grave of Mary Jo Kophechne a few days ago to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the day he killed her?

From Newsmax.com

On Friday, Democrats moved one step closer to giving free health insurance to the nation’s estimated 12 million illegal aliens when they successfully defeated a Republican-backed amendment, offered by Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., that would have prevented illegal aliens from receiving government-subsidized health care under the proposed plan backed by House Democrats and President Barack Obama.

The House Ways and Means Committee nixed the Heller amendment by a 26-to-15 vote along straight party lines, and followed this action by passing the 1,018-page bill early Friday morning by a 23-to-18 margin, with three Democrats voting against the plan.

The Democratic plan will embrace Obama’s vision of bringing free government medical care to more than 45 million uninsured people in America – a significant portion of whom are illegal aliens.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, costs under the Obama plan being proposed by the House will saddle citizens with $1.04 trillion in new federal outlays over the next decade.

Congressional Democrats and Obama have argued that their health plan is necessary to contain rising health care costs.

But, last Thursday, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf testified before the Senate Budget Committee and warned lawmakers that the proposed “legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health care costs."

A key factor increasing costs is that Democratic plan provides for blanket coverage to as much as 15 percent of the U.S. population not currently insured, including illegals.

Democrats had insisted throughout the health-care reform debate that illegals would be ineligible for the so-called public option plan that is to be subsidized by taxpayers.

"We're not going to cover undocumented aliens, undocumented workers," Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters in May. "That's too politically explosive."

Republicans, however, point out that the Democrats, by refusing to accept the Heller amendment, would deny health agencies from conducting simple database checks to verify citizenship. Many states give illegals driver licenses, which will be sufficient to get free health care under the plan.

Critics also contend that millions of illegals who already have counterfeit Social Security cards or other fraudulent documents. There is no enforcement mechanism in the legislation, experts say, to prevent illegals who use fake IDs to obtain jobs from also obtaining taxpayer-subsidized health insurance.

GOP representatives introduced the amendment to provide a way to weed out non-citizens from the program.

Accepting Gay Behavior Cuts Down on HIV?

This is one of the most ludicrous articles I have ever read. Just check out this quote:

The Oxford University researchers found that the prevalence of HIV/Aids among gay men in sub-Saharan African has been "driven by cultural, religious and political unwillingness to accept [gay men] as equal members of society".

Why no it hasn't! HIV/Aids is driven by homosexual men having sex with other men. Are they actually trying to say that if we accept the behavior of homosexual men the rate of HIV infections will drop? Doesn't sound like very good medicine to me.

BBC News Alarming Africa male gay HIV rate

HIV rates among gay men in some African countries are 10 times higher than among the general male population, says research in medical journal the Lancet.

The report said prejudice towards gay people was leading to isolation and harassment, which in turn led to risky sexual practices among gay communities. read the rest

The majority of homosexual men have always engaged in risky behavior and have multiple partners even while in a so called "committed relationship."

The Medical Institute of Sexual Health reports [Executive Summary, "Health Implications Associated with Homosexuality," 1999]:

- "Homosexual men are at significantly increased risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, anal cancer, gonorrhea and gastrointestinal infections as a result of their sexual practices."
- "Women who have sex with women are at significantly increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, breast cancer and ovarian cancer than are heterosexual women."
- "Domestic violence is...probably more common among homosexuals than among heterosexuals."
- "Significantly higher percentages of homosexual men and women abuse drugs, alcohol and tobacco than do heterosexuals."

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report that men who engage in homosexual behavior are 860% more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD), increasing up to 500% their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Men who have sex with men "have large numbers of anonymous partners, which can result in rapid, extensive transmission of STDs," the CDC warns. "Control of STDs is a central component of HIV infection prevention in the United States; resurgence of bacterial STD threatens national HIV infection prevention efforts."

Be Back Tomorrow

I must finish painting the bathroom before the temperature hits 97. Elle has been picking at her stitches and the doc has put her in a doggie anti-pick collar, which is not a big hit. During the day when I can watch her she doesn't have to wear it but at night it goes on. The result? All last night she managed to slam the rather sharp edges into my tender exposed body parts resulting in neither of us getting much sleep.

We will manage a nap this afternoon while it is hottest outside and then I will duct tape her to the wall and cut the lawn, which is looking more and more like a wheat field.

I will leave you with the saintly quote of the day from Father Anthony Ho and I will do my best to embrace my afflictions.

God bless......

We should offer ourselves and all we have to God, that He may dispose of us according to His holy will, so that we may be ever ready to leave all and embrace the afflictions that come upon us.---ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

Ronald Reagan on Socialized Medicine

H/T Hot Air

I'm Tired of the Fear Mongering

For a sixth straight day, Obama sought to keep the focus on his chief domestic priority in the face of mounting resistance on Capitol Hill, including conservative Democrats. White House officials are worried they face a tougher road to passage than anticipated.

"This is what the debate in Congress is all about: whether we'll keep talking and tinkering and letting this problem fester as more families and businesses go under and more Americans lose their coverage," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address. source

This all reminds me of a story told of my father's beginnings in the insurance business. He was doing his windup pitch to the client by asking him if he didn't want to make sure his family was able to bury him in the case of his untimely demise.

The client looked at him and said. "I haven't seen too many dead bodies laying about on the streets."

My father, being new to the biz, didn't have a ready answer for that one and so he packed up his briefcase and came home. I'm sure in later years (he was very, very successful), he thought up and response to that objection.

With Obama we have the same constant fear mongering. According to him people are dropping like flies, being kicked out of their homes, and sleeping under bridges - all due to lack of health coverage. Are their stories of hardship? Sure! And I agree that something needs to be done. But a public plan based on erroneous numbers and flat out lies is not the way to solve anything.

I for one do not wish to be mandated to buy anything. Nor do I want a government bureaucrat deciding when and how much health care I will receive. Under Obama's plan, health care will be rationed, doctors will be scarce, and we will pay for it big time with higher taxes, lost jobs, and increased cost of goods. There is nothing "free" about free health care.

Ugly Church Art

Don't miss The Crescat's Ugliest Church Art Contest. You can view submissions here. Voting will begin soon...

Adoro is back from her mission. Be watching for updates.

Cost analysis from the Blog Prof

Since he is not caring for a dog with an incision roughly the length of her whole back leg (which has stitches coming loose, I might add --- arrrgh), The Blog Prof has done a masterful job of putting together some figures about the proposed health care bill.

The addition of the BP's photo is my version of Stacy McCain's Rule Five on how to get a million hits on your blog in a year...

And don't miss Smitty's Full Metal Jacket Reach Around over at The Other McCain. (Did I mention I had a crush on Smitty?)

Chilling Words from The One

"I want to be very clear: I will not sign on to any health plan that adds to our deficits over the next decade."

Explain to me how over 1 trillion dollars will not add to the deficit? Does he really believe that taxing the "rich", cutting Medicare (which is broke) to the bone, and health care "savings" will make up the difference? I consider myself math challenged but even I can see this is ridiculous.

He said opponents of healthcare reform "warn that this is all some big plot for socialized medicine, or government-run health care with long lines and rationed care. That's not true either."

"I don't believe that government can or should run health care. But I also don't think insurance companies should have free rein to do as they please," he said.

What he means is, "I don't think anyone should have free rein to do what they want. " This whole thing going on has nothing to do with your health care. It has everything to do with control.

source

The LA Times reminds us why we are seeing him inserting himself into the news on weekends ...

And guess what? He's flying to Cleveland on Wednesday. How about that carbon footprint, Mr. President?

Pope Benedict

Have a great weekend

Thanks for the prayers...

How Long Before They Start Coming for the Bloggers

This is something that is discussed quite often at our dining room table. How long will the powers that be allow us to continue?

I know lots of people who rely on the main stream media for their news and the results are a disaster.
Atlas Shrugged addresses this very issue:

The Last Frontier of Free Speech: Gagging, Surveilling the Internet

AN OBAMA OFFICIAL'S FRIGHTENING BOOK ABOUT CURBING FREE SPEECH ONLINE

When it comes to the First Amendment, Team Obama believes in Global Chilling. read the rest

I've been informed the link doesn't work. Hopefully all fixed....

My Hot Day

My hubby is enjoying 60 degree weather in Minnesota while our temps are reaching into the high 90's. So what do I do? Why paint the bathroom of course. THREE times.

First color is too light, second color better, third color - perfect!

And poor Elle hates hot weather and is very insecure since her surgery on Wednesday. Here's how that works. I make sure she's resting comfortably in her little bed and commence to paint. In approximately 10 to 15 minutes she realizes she can't see me and starts to cry. I return to her bedside where she immediately falls back to sleep. I paint. In 15 minutes we repeat with the pats and reassurances. And on and on.

Gene Vincent

Unemployment tops 10% in 15 states....

Michigan is over 15%

How's that stimulus working for you??

Other states over 10%

Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Turning away from God has consequences....

Suzanna Logan who posts over at "insert clever s. logan here", wrote a fine piece about Bruno that I believe is a must read.

I've never been a fan of Borat, finding his humor crude and offensive, which is typical for so many of the people that call themselves comediennes. It further points up what I was trying to express in my post about having a spiritual problem in this country.

from Suzanna:

"When He sees His children--those who claim to have accepted the work His Son did on the cross--opening their hearts to the wickedness and depravity of the world rather than seeking to "be holy as He is holy," it grieves Him. I can imagine Him saying with a crest-fallen look, "Is this, this what I sent my Son for?" as Christian after Christian settles into their theater seats to watch Bruno."
read the rest

The Other McCain: Nice career you had, Susan Roesgen,it's sure a shame what happened . . .

Welcome The Other McCain readers. I love Stacy (fine, fine writer - he knows where to put commas), but I have a really big time crush on Smitty (don't tell him!)

For those of you who just wandered by, read this......it's great and sums up my feelings exactly...

The Other McCain: Nice career you had, Susan Roesgen,it's sure a shame what happened . . .

Evil Spirits Roaming Free

I've been fairly horrified these past months about the direction this country is taking. One of the problems in our "politically correct" culture is this insane desire to separate politics and religion, or indeed, separate any sort of religion or morality from the public square.

Nobody is willing to say the obvious - we have a spiritual problem. You cannot operate in the vacuum of humanism, turn your back on our Creator, and expect things to work. We have become a people living lives of "quiet desperation", surrounding ourselves with ugliness in art, architecture, music, and speech. Our so-called journalists have become foul mouthed shills for a corrupt administration. We entertain ourselves with movies such as the recently released Bruno, which is nothing more than main stream pornography.

We have become dulled to the outrages taking place in our society and yet refuse to stand up and say the truth. Sarah Palin is hated most for her reliance on God. That is the real basis of the constant stream of abuse and invectives hurled at her. I am reminded of scenes from The Exorcist while observing people rip into her.

Make no mistake about this; there is a devil. Jesus knew there was a devil and so should we.


From the combox:

My smart lawyer feller friend in Spokane has left such an insightful comment about Mark Levin's book Liberty and Tyranny. I felt it deserved to be put up here where everyone can read it.

Mark in Spokane has left a new comment on your post "Liberty and Tyranny Another must have book."

Well, I bought the book this weekend on your recommendation, and I have to say it was good, but I was surprised at how little he talked about the importance of family. His "Statist" take on liberalism didn't allow him to acknowledge that when it comes to marriage, family and the right to life, the government has a role in defending our social institutions and in protecting the life of the unborn. He got caught in his own ideology, and wound up not addressing the critical issues upon which the future of our civilization is predicated: the family and the right to life.

To be blunt, a libertarian order that preserves the culture of death is no better (and in fact may wind up being worse) than the current liberal order that embraces abortion on demand and other evils. One cannot demand natural rights for oneself and deny them to one's neighbor -- Lincoln understood this, it was his great conservative insight. In Lincoln's day, the natural right under attack was the natural right of liberty -- the right of each man to be free. In our day, the natural right under attack is the right to life -- the right of each person at each stage of his or her life to be free of the arbitrary deprivation of life by private caprice without the due process of law.

Without the preservation of all our natural rights -- the rights to life, liberty and property guaranteed to each person in our nation by our Constitution's 5th and 14th Amendments, no decent civil society is possible, no truly free social order is possible. All that will be is a predator-state, with the strong and the privileged feasting upon the weak and depersonalized. It will not matter whether such an order is cloaked in the rhetoric of freedom or not. It will not be a conservative order, and it will not be a free society. It will be a tyranny.

Well said, Mark!!

Don't Look If You Can't Stand The Sight of Surgery

This post is mainly for hubby who is visiting his son in Minnesota.

HI HUBBY!

His son Greg just had rather serious surgery on his tongue and is recovering for the next few weeks at University Hospital in St. Paul (or Minneapolis depending on which side of the river you are on.)

HI GREG!

His lovely co-workers bought him a laptop for a get well gift. How neat is that?

Elle came home today sans soft cast which the doctor didn't think was necessary on this leg.
She is still a bit woozy in this picture but wants to thank everyone for prayers and support.

It's 9:00pm - time for meds and food (for Elle, not me)

While our mom jean wearing president is busy trying to make this country more Russian than Russia, I will be taking my husband to the airport and picking up Elle from the hospital.

Problem looming here. Hubby acts as my editor for my longer posts. With him gone I'll have to soldier through with the commas and such all by my lonely. Now that should be interesting.

Maybe I can get Smitty over at The Other McCain to act as a surrogate editor for a few days.

Or I'm sure Blog Prof would jump right in and let me know if I've made a horrible "fox paw."

Until I return this afternoon, busy yourselves reading this fine article by John Griffing over at American Thinker.

Enough Is Enough
By John Griffing

Tyranny has sprung up from amongst us. President Obama has waged a blitzkrieg on American liberty, and, in only a short time, undercut the Constitution of the United States with a brazen arrogance that should shock Americans into action. read the rest

AP House plan boosts taxes on rich to 20-year high

Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, called the plan "the moral thing to do."

Moral? Moral?? It's moral to take money by force (called theft), and give it to someone else? These are the same people that think it's ok to kill an baby - even after it's born. What would they know about morals?

Individuals and employers would have new obligations to get coverage, or face hefty penalties.

It's moral to mandate someone have health coverage or fine them as much as $1000.00? It's moral to cut benefits to older Americans who have been forced into the crappy Medicare system, which by the way is broke, to pay for young people who won't work?

How dare these bottom feeders talk about morals.

Elle Out of Surgery

Due Home Tomorrow...

with another $1000.00 leg making her the worlds most expensive $50.00 dog. But dang - isn't she cute? She has my eyes...

I know my blogger friends have been doing a good job of keeping you all up to date and I thank them very much.

Before I'm able to get up to speed on my posts, please call your representative and senator and make your wishes known about this travesty that Obama is trying to ram down our throats laughingly called "health care reform."

Ran across this health care map the Republicans so nicely put together for us. That's sure how I want my health care handled. /sarcasm Click to enlarge





Hot Air: WaPo: House health-care surtax “bad policy”
Hot Air: ObamaCare: Taxing the uninsured
Glenn Beck: Healthcare or Freedom grab?
Frugal Cafe: Billions, Trillions, and More: CBO Releases Appalling Dollar Amount for Crappy ObamaCare

Blogging will be slow....

Elle blew her other knee this afternoon. She's seeing the doctor tomorrow and he'll probably operate on Monday. As hubby said, "well thank God she only has two back legs instead of three or four." At about $1000.00 per surgery she's turning into the million dollar dog......but we love her anyway.

I'm also getting hubby ready for his trip to Minnesota to visit his son who had his surgery today. He'll be in the hospital about three weeks.

Why do things always seem to happen all at once?

I trust these folks to keep you up to date on political goings on:

Mark in Spokane
Right Klik
The BlogProf
The Other McCain
Left Coast Rebel
Creative Minority Report


The Ugly Americans
The first family and their entourage.

A must read from Terry and if I hadn't been so busy today this is exactly what I would have said.

State workers’ premiums to increase

OLYMPIA – Premiums, co-payments and other health care costs will rise next year for tens of thousands of state workers and retirees, including thousands around Spokane.

“This today is an absolute travesty,” said Greg Devereux, executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Really? I think it's a travesty that the tax payers of Washington state should foot the bill for your health care.

Even with the increases, however, premiums for state employees will remain relatively low compared to what many private employers offer. Individuals in the most popular “Uniform Medical Plan,” for example, pay just $26 a month. That will rise to $41. For full family coverage, the premiums will rise from $82 a month to $123.

My husband and I pay over $500.00 for a high deductible policy, while state workers get it almost for free. And they have the audacity to complain?

My question for the day is: how are they going to like Obamacare if they think this is a travesty?

source

Liberty and Tyranny

Another must have book.

Silly me. I refused to buy this book at Costco because it looked rather small and insignificant. Since I read rather fast, I figured it would be an hour read for me and the price per word was too high.

I even mentioned that to the librarian when my name finally hit the top of the wait list (which has been a long, long time.)

Well, I was wrong! Now I will go purchase a copy of my own. This book has way more substance than I expected.

An Excellent Read!

Just Released...

I was lucky enough to grab this at the library and highly recommend it.

You can purchase it at Amazon if your library doesn't have it on the shelf.

Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America's Slide into Socialism

St.Paul/Mpls Blogger Alert

Hubby will be flying in next week to visit his son who just had his surgery, and he will no doubt be bearing gifts and salutations from moi to local bloggers.

Sunday Mass at St. Agnes will be a must!

I'm hoping he can spend some time with you guys. I know, I know - moi would be better, but you take what you can get. Actually, he's waaaaaaaaaay smarter than his better half.

I've spent the morning arranging his flights and car rentals and so I'm behind on my Palin article.

In other news:

Cap and Tax has been set aside until after the recess. That doesn't mean it is gone and I fear they will be throwing all their energy into the health care "reform."

More on Palin

Real Clear Politics: What Sarah Palin Represents
American Thinker: Hating Palin

Prayer request for blogger friend Packrat over at Swatting at Flies. Her Mom has taken ill and is having some surgery on Thursday. Stop over and offer prayers... Thanks

The Smart Car

This is what Obama wants us all driving....

I saw my first Smart Car yesterday while visiting our new Italian market that just opened in Post Falls.

They bought a Smart Car and have it all decked out with signage from their new market and deli and I will have to admit it has a certain cuteness due to its impossibly small size.

However................I can't see anyone actually considering this as an rational alternative to a full size vehicle, nor can I envision it actually saving gasoline.

I've always been careful about grouping my errands, not to save gas, but to save time. This car holds two people and probably about the equivalent of 4 bags of groceries. Forget about putting the the large toilet paper cube from Costco anywhere in this vehicle unless you travel alone and put the passenger seat down. How about a stop at the local nursery to buy plants or even a small tree? Nope, that won't fly.

Have a child? That would be a no go. Going out to dinner with your friends? No again. So what do you use this duded up golf cart for? Beats me. Maybe to and from work but then forget about making quick stops on the way home to buy anything of any size. The unintended consequence will be more trips or taking more than one vehicle therefore negating any gas savings.

I checked crash tests and they actually were fairly good, however I didn't see it pitted against an SUV or one of our local Idaho ginormous pick-ups. I'm not planning on running it into a brick wall and the likelihood of a pick-up ramming me is much higher. So why would anyone want to spend up to 20K for a car that ultimately doesn't save any gas and causes major inconvenience?

Robert Stacy McCain on the MJ memorial....

I can sure appreciate what he's saying, but on the other hand a whole bunch of folks got to see a terrific show for free. Can't beat that puppy with a stick, doncha know!

From the wonderful and inspiring Father John Speekman we have this wonderful homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

There are many things we do, and refuse to do, out of fear. Beginning a real prayer life is perhaps one of the most common. To become a person of real prayer is to bring about a radical definition of one's life and values.

Giving up smoking or alcohol does the same thing. When I gave up smoking at age thirty I remember thinking I would never be happy again. With alcohol it's even worse, apparently. Many alcoholics report that they don't give up because they don't know how they would deal with all those hours in a day if they were sober; it would require become an entirely new person, and for many that is just too frightening to contemplate.

All this leaves us with the question: What am I afraid of beginning or of leaving behind in order to become the kind of person I know I am really called to be? read the rest

Michael Jackson Memorial

I've never been a big Michael Jackson fan. In particular, I never thought his making the act of grabbing one's crotch in public acceptable was not one of his biggest contributions to the forward thrust of civilization. It always reminded me of a little boy who was just becoming potty trained running to his Mom when nature was calling, which is really who MJ really was - an emotional child.

But guess what? If 18K folks want to get together and have a big public memorial service at the Staples Center - well, so be it.

Was Jackson creepy? You bet he was. He led a sad and pathetic life and the world wide attention says a lot about who we have become as a society. But so far, the service is surprisingly respectful and orderly. But I also think the family should be billed for the millions that have been shelled out by the tax payers of a bankrupt state.

In the meantime - the guy is dead. Let whatever happens now be between Michael and God.

From the TaxProf:

House Democrats to Push for Surtax on Those Earning > $250k

House Ways and Means Committee members are likely to propose a surtax on high-income Americans to help pay for an overhaul of the health-care system, according to people familiar with the plan.

I got out my little calculator (I'm math challenged), and that works out to $10,000.00. Please explain to me why people who have worked hard and are earning over $250,000.00 should fork over an additional 10K to pay for health care for people who choose not to work at all?

How about this for an unintended consequence? People who are earning 249K will just make dang sure they don't earn that extra $1000.00. How many times have you heard people say, "I didn't take the promotion (or work the overtime, have a second job, etc), because it just pushes me into a higher tax bracket and I don't really earn any extra money?

Folks, I have big news for you. $250,000.00 may sound like a ton of money to a third or fourth generation welfare recipient, but it's not all that much money. Really!

Some of the best reading on the internet comes from comboxes. From Michelle Malkin's article "Get ready for health care tax-apalooza" we have this quote:

"A large portion is expected to come from reductions in Medicare and Medicaid. But that won’t pay for the full overhaul."

And commenter spaceycakes had this to say:

"It’s like cutting off the top part of the blanket & then sewing it to the bottom, and expecting the blanket to be warmer."

Jeffrey Lord has a very interesting take on the unintended consequences Roe v Wade may have on "ObamaCare" ....

Is ObamaCare the End of Roe v. Wade?

By Jeffrey Lord on 6.30.09 @ 6:09AM

Is ObamaCare poised to extinguish Roe v. Wade?

Wanted: Honesty on Health Care
The president's health care lies might be injurious to your health

President Barack Obama walked into the Oval Office with a veritable halo over his head. In the eyes of his backers, he could say or do no wrong because he had evidently descended directly from heaven to return celestial order to our fallen world. Oprah declared his tongue to be "dipped in the unvarnished truth." Newsweek editor Evan Thomas averred that Obama "stands above the country and above the world as a sort of a God."

But when it comes to health care reform, with every passing day, Obama seems less God and more demagogue, uttering not transcendental truths, but bald-faced lies. Here are the top five lies that His Awesomeness has told—the first two for no reason other than to get elected and the next three to sell socialized medicine to a wary nation. read the rest

I have thoughts about Sarah Palin (doesn't everyone), that I will bore you with tomorrow. No speculation on what she's going to do - she'll tell us when she's ready.

But I do have thoughts about this rabid dog hatred of her by the elitist snobs of the world (who, for the record, are becoming so crass and crude as to take your breath away)


The painful side effects of Obama's healthcare reform

There are warnings signs that the president and his allies are looking at government-run rationing of care for the oldest and sickest. read more



Promise-Driven Healthcare

“Don’t ever promise more than you can deliver,” legendary college coach Lou Holtz said in 1993, in the midst of, though not in reference to, Hillary Clinton’s plan to take control of health care in America. Alas, politicians ignore the sage advice of football coaches. President Obama, being a politician, has followed Hillary rather than Holtz, and is promising vastly more on health care than he or anyone else can plausibly deliver. read the rest

A whole bunch of wonderful peeps gave me this award.

Allow me to mention each one and tell you a bit about them (from my perspective)

I'll start with Lola over at What Lola Wants and Some Unsolicited Advice, 'cause she's a girl and that seems like the right thing to do. Lola runs a first class blog with an even mix of spiritual and secular. This lady is a one first rate classy dame and I always look forward to visiting her.

Joe over at Verbum Veritatis, who is considering the priesthood, has been a favorite of mine ever since I found him. I love his sense of outrage and wish more young people possessed the kind of zeal and passion Joe has. He's heading to Billings, MT (within striking distance of moi), for a retreat and look-see at their seminary. Hey, maybe Mark in Spokane and I can talk him into returning to CA by way of Post Falls and Spokane. That would be soooooooo cool!

Now Subvet over at Blowing San#1, is in a class by himself. Married to the wonderful Mighty Mom, Sub is not one to mince words. Thank God for people like him!

The BlogProf is last but never, ever least. This guy manages to take care of his professor duties, his family, body build, and still manages to post about a gazillion times per day. Every time I have my Google reader down to something manageable, he throws up a whole bunch of posts. I am convinced he never, ever sleeps. Never! And to top it off, I was going to give him this award and he gave it to me first. Arrrrrgh!

One person I can't thank here would be LarryD over at Acts of Apostasy. You see - he DIDN'T GIVE ME THE AWARD!! No siree - he gave it to bunches of other people but not to ME. And really, it's ok that he stiffed me on an award. It's ok that I spent an entire evening in the corner whimpering, sucking my thumb, and twirling my hair. Really! It's just fine. It's a good thing that Larry is one of the funniest people in the whole world other wise I'd be pissed, doncha know. But I'm not. Really!! Honest! I'm a bigger person than that. I don't hold grudges. Forgive (but never, ever forget), is my motto. Forgiveness is key to being a good Catholic. So I'm really, really ok with this. Really!

Here's the deal. I have to thank the peeps who sent it my way. Done!

Then I have to list a bunch of really honest things about myself - 10 to be exact. I'm not sure I can come up with 10 things people don't already know but here goes.

1. I hate cold water. I'm the one that takes 15 minutes to get in the lake unless someone picks me up and throws me in which happened lots when I was a kid. The idea of a cold shower makes me quake. Ugh!
2. I don't know how to clean fish. When I was little my Dad was going to show me how to clean fish. My Mom pulled me aside and informed me I did not want to learn how to clean fish. When I asked her why she said, "Because if you learn to clean fish then you'll have to do it." Wise woman!
3. I love coffee and drink waaaaay too much. Although now they say it can prevent and even maybe reverse Alzheimer's. Hmmmmmm...
4. I'm ADD and wouldn't have it any other way. I have many strategies to keep me somewhat on track, but some days the squirrel has gone nuts in my head and I become paralyzed into inactivity. I have to tell myself to just get up and do one tiny little thing and sometimes I'll actually write that one tiny little thing down on a tiny piece of paper and carry it around until the task is completed.
   
5. I love to read and plow my way through about 5 or more books per week. My idea of a good time is a trip to the library. When I come home I pile all the books up around me on the dining room table like a fortress, pour a cup of coffee, and peruse my new conquests. Fun!
6. I don't have any children and don't particularly like young kids. I do however like teenagers and they like me back. Scary!!
7. When I was very little I had a graveyard for every little bird or mouse that expired within reach of my little hands. It ran along the sidewalk next to the garage and was completely landscaped in miniature. Tiny little trees and bushes, walkways, ponds, and lots of crosses. My Mom always said when she took out the garbage she didn't know whether to cross herself or genuflect.
   
8. My first car was a 1956 Thunderbird (and no - I didn't buy it new!!!) I paid $1000.00 bucks for it and still have the little cardboard paybook from the bank. My payments were about $74.00 per month for a year. I drove that car for 10 years (it was HOT!), sold it for $12,000.00 and used the proceeds as a downpayment on my first house in Sedona, AZ.
9. I love anything with carbs and salt.
10. And..............my name is Adrienne and I'm an alcoholic. This month I will celebrate 19 years of sobriety.

Now I have to pass this award on:

1. Mark in Spokane gets one
   
2. Adoro is next
3. Cathy of Alex (my bacon buddy)
4. Father GJ at Voice of the Vicar - a brand spanking new blogger.
   
5. Father Anthony Ho
6. Karen at Gem of the Ocean
7. RightKlik
   

Elle Captures the Computer

I'm telling ya' - that Mom of mine never, ever gets off this dang computer. I know, I know - you're all really impressed with my typing ability, what with having paws and all. But I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I don't use my paws. Nope! I hold a pen in my mouth and tap out the letters. Ha! Betcha ya never thought of that possibility.

Anyhoo, a few days ago my Mom gets this mystery package in the mail and lo and behold, Sophie and I got a present. Our famous author friend, Katie Alender, who is also Mom to the glorious Winston, married to an equally famous Webby Award winner, and quilter extraordinaire sent us each a quilt.

I wish you could have seen my Mom and Dad trying to decide who would get which quilt. It was decided that I looked best in blue, and Sophie looked best in the green.




Sophie's quilt has little raccoon's and polka dots that sorta look like the holes in her head. Oooops! Did I just say that out loud? Here's the thing about Sophie. She sorta raised me from a puppy but it didn't take me long to figure out that she's not entering any doctorate program. But gosh dang, I just love her to bits and we're best buds.



So Sophie's new quilt was put on her feather pillow at the head of the bed. Yep, that's right guys - she sleeps right between Mom and Dad. How lame is that?



And here she is trying desperately to escape the camera. She HATES the camera and even when my Mom sneaks into the room with the camera behind her back it's like she can smell it or something.



My quilt has elegant little Scottie dogs. You can click on the pictures and make them bigger and you will be amazed that Katie sews really, really straight lines. Oh man, you should see my Mom's sewing. Wobble, wobble. heh!


And here I am with my 4th of July hair ornament trying out the new quilt. I'm lookn' good, doncha know!


We do have a problem with the queen of the house, Angela. She insists on trying out every bed - sort of like the big bad wolf person. She really likes to snag Erica's (she's my Mom's office cat) bed while she's outside getting some exercise.

Now I was having a perfectly fine day and then I went in the bedroom to take a nap. And what do I see but Angela on my quilt. Here's the deal, folks. I'm not a wuss or anything but there's a reason we call Angela "Bubble Butt" behind her back. Dang - that gal out weighs me and has a personality like a pissed off scorpion, so I chose the wise course and let her nap for awhile on the quilt.



I did hang around to make sure she didn't mess it up or anything.

And guess what, Aunt Katie? I think when I close my eyes I can smell Winston on the quilt and thank you from the bottom of my cute little heart.



Oh yeah - Mom got something, too. A super cool little eye pillow with buckwheat hulls, flax seed, white rice, lavender, and chamomile. She plops that thing on her eyes while she naps to soothe her eyes (which are very, very sensitive so this was a perfect gift.) Annnnnnnd, she got a personal book plate for Bad Girls Don't Die, Katie's awesome book that lives on her nightstand. All in all, I'd call it a pretty good day at our house with these wonderful gifts.

Celebrating the 4th

This weekend we celebrate Independence Day, usually just called the 4th of July, to commemorate our independence from Great Britain.

I find it perverse that while we drink beer and watch fireworks, we have a president who is doing everything in his power to enslave us to a federal government in ways that are unconstitutional. And there are people out there who think this is a great idea!

Just for fun, ask 10 people under the age of 30 if they even know what we are celebrating on the 4th. I think you may be surprised at how many of our young people "educated" at our government run schools don't have a clue. It's just an excuse for a party.

Obama is not going to be satisfied until he has complete control of your schools, your health care, your money, and your life. Don't sit back and allow this to happen. Our forefathers fought for our independence and you have a responsibility to protect and guard the constitution of this great country.

While doing his best with one hand to confiscate, no - make that steal, the largest hunk of money ever in the history of this country by attempting to pass Cap and Trade, he is reaching around behind you with the other hand grabbing at your freedom to make your own health care decisions. And woe to those who don't buy into this garbage. Our benevolent government is going to fine you $1000.00. That is outrageous!



Cap and Trade: The Big Con

Masquerading as an instrument of environmental salvation, the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill will result in one of the largest seizures of wealth in human history. The legislation will wreak havoc on American manufacturing and industry, and coerce the conformity of an already economically squeezed populace. The bill is a transparent power grab, based on a fictional crisis-the left's ever-dependable threat of global warming. read the rest at American Thinker

Good reads:

Climate Crisis Yet Another Flagrant Con

The Democrats’ National Energy Tax Creates the Largest Welfare Program in Our Nation’s History

Some headlines you just can't make up....

Police: Man hauled stolen meat in pants, sold it

All righty then - I have nothing to add to that ....

Unemployment Under Obama hits 9.5

Must be Bush's fault...

Once again the BlogProf (proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's not just another pretty face) has done a masterful job of summing up the situation.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has some numbers that should make even the Kool Aid drinkers head for their pitchers.

Meantime, Korea is blasting off short range missiles while our MSM is reporting on the oldest Jonas brother becoming engaged and the latest details on a love fest planned for Michael Jackson. Have we really become that insipid in this country? I guess so...

Pam Geller of Atlas Shrugged, a lady who not known to mince words, sums up the Korea debacle. She also has one of the best summations of what's going on in Honduras from one of her readers. If you're like me, it's pretty hard to keep track of the good guys and the bad guys.

The Master of a Million Hits, Robert Stacy McCain, has invited all of us to his annual fireworks show. It's a bit far for me to travel, but if you live in his area head on over. While he's busy with the preparations he has left The Other McCain in the willing and able hands of Smitty, who I heard is planning a bloodless coup. By Monday the new header will say, "The Other McCain, owned and operated by Smitty with occasional submissions by R.S. McCain which I may or may not print. "

I still have a meme and awards to deal with plus a very special gift I just received. I double pinkie swear I will do it later today. Promise!! I've already done the laundry and hung it out to dry, vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the closet, and washed the dog. And it's not even lunch time yet. Whew! I need a break!

Farrah Fawcett and why people don't like "rad-trads"

I very graciously didn't publish a comment I received about Farrah Fawcett so as to spare the commenter undo harassment. I call it Catholic charity at work in the real world.

My message for this person (you know who you are) is this:

1. You called Farrah a public sinner. Really? I hadn't noticed anything that would qualify her for that designation. Had she done things in her past that were, shall we say, less than kosher? Sure - and so have you. You see, Miss Rad-Trad, you have no idea regarding the state of her soul. You don't know what she is doing in her private life, and you certainly don't have the right to call her a public sinner.
2. Your rather snarky admission that you would pray for her "only because Catholic charity demanded it" is proof that you have no idea of what Catholic charity really is. Best you spend some time praying for yourself.
3. You promote schismatic groups on your blog and imply that people that attend a NO Mass are somehow less holy than you. I more than had my fill of your type while attending a SSPX chapel so I know of what I speak. Wearing skirts that were rejects from The Little House on the Prairie doesn't make you holy. It just makes you look silly.
4. You suggested I post pictures of Catholic saints rather than a picture of a woman in a bathing suit. All people who die in the grace of God qualify as saints. Therefore, if Farrah died while in a state of grace, she is a saint, with or without being clothed in a bathing suit. Don't believe me? Read your catechism. My hope (it's a virtue, doncha know), is that Farrah received the last rites and is happily swimming in heaven wearing that red bathing suit. This is what Catholic charity is really all about. You might re-read the parable of the Prodigal Son for further elucidation. And while you're cruising your Bible, see what Our Lord has to say about the Pharisee in the Temple.
   
5. And finally - my blog, my post, my picture! If you don't like it, Catholic charity demands that you just move on. It is presumptuous to the nth degree to deign it your province to correct me on my blog.
   

On the same day you left your nasty comment, Terry at Abbey-Roads posted this wonderful reflection. Perhaps you could benefit from reading it....I'll even print it in full here to make it easy for you.

Listen to what a person sounds like who is truly trying to attain holiness and try emulating them instead of sitting around after Mass eating donuts and bemoaning all the sinners in the Church.

Pestiferous evil
by Terry at Abbey-Roads
(emphasis mine)
.

I love reading St. John of the Cross, and although his works are geared toward genuinely spiritual persons striving for perfection in the contemplative life, as well as those who direct them, the Saint's writing is so clear and his doctrine so fundamental, it can be adaptable for the average person, especially his cautions and discussions regarding the moral life and the demands of the Gospel. At least in my experience I find his ascetical writings helpful in grounding my spirit whenever it falls into distraction, confusion, presumption and/or dissension. How easily I forget that the judgements I level against others fall back on me, while I ignore the log in my own eye.

.

For instance, in the section I will here cite from The Ascent, St. John is addressing the harm caused by the supernatural apprehensions of the memory - in other words the Saint is speaking to souls who experience and become attached to visions or supernatural imaginative knowledge contained in such revelations. Undoubtedly (and most gratefully) I do not experience such things, nor do I desire them, but the section remains meaningful for me as it concerns attachment to self-opinion and pride stemming from natural knowledge and intelligence.

.

"These supernatural apprehensions of the memory, if esteemed, are also for spiritual persons a decided occasion for slipping into some presumption or vanity. Since anyone not receiving these is liberated from falling into this vice, because nothing within warrants this presumption, so, on the other hand, anyone receiving them will be exposed to the idea that he is now worth something on account of these supernatural communications. (Or, for my purposes, natural knowledge and education.) "Though indeed a person in considering himself unworthy, and attributes them to God and is thankful for them, yet there usually remains in the spirit a certain satisfaction and esteem for the communication and for oneself. Consequently, without one's realizing it, an abundant spiritual pride will be bred."

.

This is quite evident from the displeasure and aversion these individuals feel toward anyone who does not laud their spirit nor value their communications (knowledge and opinion), and from the affliction they experience upon thinking or being told that others receive the same favors or even better ones (or are smarter and more knowledgeable). All of this is born of a hidden self-esteem and pride. And these persons are not aware that they are steeped in pride.

.

I love this...

.

"To avoid this pestiferous evil, abhorrent in the eyes of God, they should consider that virtue does not consist in apprehensions and feelings of God, however sublime they may be, nor in any similar experiences (natural knowledge and intelligence). But on the contrary, it comprises what they do not experience, that is deep humility, contempt for themselves and all things - very explicit and conscious to the soul - delight that others feel contempt for them also, and the desire to be worth nothing in the hearts of others." - Ascent III, 9

.

My interpretation is all highly personal of course, and as I said the intent of St. John's teaching is entirely spiritual, directed towards real contemplatives, nevertheless, it seems to me this lesson can shed light upon my defects associated with pride and self-opinion as regards natural knowledge acquired through education and experience. At any rate, it demonstrates for me that humility is the firm foundation for every aspect of the spiritual life in general, no matter what one's state in life.

Health Care for Everyone or No Health Care at All?

The question everyone needs to ask themselves is if Medicare and Medicaid are broke and ready to implode why would you want to subject yourselves to such a system?

I remember when my Mom was dying from cancer and I needed some nursing help. This was many years ago and dealing with Medicare was already a disaster. Medicare would provide a registered nurse but not a licensed practical nurse. I explained patiently that I did not require a registered nurse, who at that time received approximately $12.00 more per hour than a practical nurse. Made no difference to them. You either got a registered nurse or no nurse at all. And we wonder why Medicare is broke?


Medicaid and Medicare for All
How Obama would ration health care for all Americans.
By Peter Ferrara

National-health-insurance schemes always start by promising health care for everyone. But they always end up establishing powerful bureaucracies whose purpose is to deny people health care through rationing. That is because in a government-run health system, centralized rationing is the only way to control costs. read the rest

Rasmussen Poll: Obama's Popularity Plunging

The latest Rasmussen daily tracking poll shows that President Barack Obama for the first time has a negative approval index — more Americans disapprove of his job performance than approve. read more



THE PORK BARREL SAUSAGE CO.
NO DENYING THE PORK HERE!

I hear this is some of the best sausage made. I've placed my order.
Check it out!

The Plan