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