No more "summit" talk...

I've never been a fan of Bill O'Reilly.  I think he's a fence-sitter and arrogant.  While Glenn Beck can sometimes strike folks as a bit over the top, at least he has passion and  tries to be respectful to those who have differing opinions.  If Joseph Klein is right that O'Reilly gave Obama high marks for that headache inducing waste of time yesterday, well - boo on him. 

We all know the purpose of the summit was to try and make republicans look bad.  I think the Obama strategy backfired badly. However, the attention span of the American people (those that even bothered to watch), is short and shallow. 

If you read some of the comments on Obama's website (no link on purpose), you will see over 800 comments from people that think he sounded and looked brilliant - even though the majority of the MSM, of all people, thinks he and his minions looked pretty incompetent.

Realize this:  Obama, as a true narcissist, thinks he did great and will move ahead with any means necessary to pass this horrible bill.  The less time we spend hashing over every little nuance of yesterday's political theater, the more time we'll have to call our representatives and senators. 

Obama Enjoyed Hearing Himself Talk at Health Care Summit
by Joseph Klein

Bill O’Reilly must be angling for an interview at the White House with President Obama because he gave Obama high marks for his handling of the health care summit yesterday.  I watched most of it and saw a pedantic, petulant, arrogant Obama who spoke for 119 minutes – nine minutes more than the 110 minutes that all 17 Republicans took to make their statements.  When added to the time taken by the Democratic congressional spokespersons, the Obamacare supporters consumed a whopping 233 minutes. read the rest

Are you willing to be enslaved?

Left Coast Rebel has posted some comments from Canadians (What the Canadians are Saying About Danny Williams and U.S Healthcare) about their health care.  It points up what happens to people's thinking who have lived in a "nanny state" environment for a few generations.

When you take away the freedom of people to make decisions for themselves, you eventually rob people of the will and incentive to do so.  It  becomes a form of slavery.  The known, even if it is bad, becomes preferable to the unknown. Our lives become meaningless and purpose becomes a  memory.

Our founders agreed that certain rights were bestowed on us by our creator and not by the government.  It's an important point that needs to be remembered lest we become slaves to the government that is supposed to do "our will" - not theirs.

Preparing for Health Care "Summit"

1. Popcorn - check
2. Shasta diet grapefruit - check
3. Back support pillow - check
4. Pepto-Bismol - check

While this administration continues to spend money it doesn't have, let's look at some of the unintended consequences of what's going on.  We all know about the obvious stuff such as the millions of unemployed or under-employed folks.

Since Obama has taken office the turmoil in this country has ramped up to a degree I have never witnessed in all my voting years.  How many productive hours of work or recreation have been swept down a memory hole by worry and uncertainty?   How many people have actually had their health compromised by this constant dread so many of us have come to live with?  How much of our money has been spent to chauffeur Obama and his minions around so he can do what he (sorry, my editor was busy) push his socialist agenda? 

And while we have had our peace of mind shattered and our freedoms eroded, the people we have elected continue to reap the benefits of high salaries and tax-payer provided perks, not to mention their bloated pension funds. 

Tomorrow they will gather together and participate in what is most assuredly a waste of time and money.  And we the people, who pay their salaries, will once again be subjected to more wasted time and probably suffer a massive case of heart burn.

The one thing I'm sure the democrats are not paying attention to is the rage that is building in the American people.  People can handle being insulted, just as they can handle being praised.  What drives people bonkers is being ignored.

Related:

Michelle Malkin: Lights! Cameras! Health care Oba-kabuki!; Update: WH excludes governors, state legislators

OBAMACARE’S LETHAL THIRD RAIL SHOCK TO COME
by Elizabeth Lee Vliet, MD
Subway riders know the adage – The third rail is deadly –it carries the current that can kill you. Avoid the third rail. We are about to get that “third rail” for government-controlled healthcare. Then comes the death blow to your medical privacy, your freedom to choose medical treatment options, and your ability to control the cost of any private health insurance you may want to buy. read the rest

The Dems Are Just Not Going to Stop

Boehner: President’s Health Care Proposal Jeopardizes Summit, Doubles Down on Failed Approach Americans Have Already Rejected 

  
GOP Leader: “The President has crippled the credibility of this week’s summit by proposing the same massive government takeover of health care based on a partisan bill the American people have already rejected.” 

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to the partisan health care proposal posted online by the White House for discussion at the upcoming bipartisan health care summit: 

“The President has crippled the credibility of this week’s summit by proposing the same massive government takeover of health care based on a partisan bill the American people have already rejected.  This new Democrats-only backroom deal doubles down on the same failed approach that will drive up premiums, destroy jobs, raise taxes, and slash Medicare benefits.  

“This week’s summit clearly has all the makings of a Democratic infomercial for continuing on a partisan course that relies on more backroom deals and parliamentary tricks to circumvent the will of the American people and jam through a massive government takeover of health care.  

“The best way to protect families and small businesses in this time of economic uncertainty is to start over with a step-by-step approach to health care reform focused on lowering costs, and that’s exactly what Republicans are fighting for.  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the Republican bill reduces premiums for families and small businesses by up to 10 percent.  The Republican bill reduces premiums by implementing common-sense reforms such as allowing Americans to purchase insurance across state lines.  Despite their rhetoric to the contrary, none of the Democrats’ proposals – including the President’s – provides this much-needed reform in a manner that can actually be effective.    

          

“Republicans are also standing with the American people by calling for health care reform to protect human life and not use taxpayer money to fund abortion.  The Republican bill would codify the Hyde Amendment and prohibit all authorized and appropriated federal funds from being used to pay for abortion, which the President’s proposal would allow.  Pro-life Democrats in the House have already pledged to vote against this provision.  Health care reform should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it – and the American people agree.”

H/T Gateway Pundit

 

Obama's Plan - Don't Bend Over...

Pat, over at And So It Goes in Shreveport, has done a wonderful job of summing up my feelings over Obama's health care plan and this upcoming "summit" with the Republicans.

I have such a feeling of dread over this upcoming health care summit that is to be televised this week. Why do I have the feeling that we're walking into a massacre? read the rest

But..........the worst feeling of dread I have is caused from learning that Pat is an English teacher.  Oy vey!!  As my long-time readers know, I suffer from comma deprivation (although my editor has determined that I am getting much more proficient.)  I have this vision of Pat reading my posts with a red "cyber" pen in her hand, making slashes and check marks.  Do I need this kind of stress in my life??  

More on those $1000.00 Computers & Obama's "healthcare" bill rolls out...

My last post on the $1000.00 computers given to the Pennsylvania high school students garnered lots of different  opinions.  One of my kitties has a vet appointment this morning for blood work and I will address the comments when I return. I will say this much: I am most in agreement with the comment made by Greasywrench:

And as...
written books becomes a quaint thing of the past.

longhand writing is a distant memory.

students quit doing math equations on a sheet of scrap paper and rely on a calculator.
Our basic skills continue to erode.

Our children rely solely on computers. I love computers. I have a simple A.S. in Computer Information Systems and consider myself a geek with advanced skills. But... the more we rely on them the more vulnerable we become.

As far as computers go, they can't recognize context when it comes to writing and most of the drivel I read on message boards these days reminds me that no one knows what a spell checker is.

My point being if you can't/don't master the basics, how in the Hell is one going to be proficient in advanced activities? We need to teach our children the basic skills of Reading, writing and arithmetic first. And a good course on critical thinking would be great. Then maybe, just maybe they can be moved along to more complex issues. Haven't we learned anything from the Asians? American's today want to start at the top and then work their way up.

Jeff Miller, Mark, Mary Ellen, and Motherhen made some good points, too.   Subvet is with me on who should be providing the laptops and Belinda's comment is going to take another reading (or three), as I could hardly process what I read and I think her concerns are valid.

While I'm gone, it would be helpful to read RightKlik's post on how Newsweek conducts polls to get the response they would like to have.  The technique is really not much different than any good salesman would use to elicit the proper response from his potential buyer.  It is one of the reasons I don't pay much attention to polls.

Hack Wilson has a very good response to a letter to the editor of his local newspaper concerning racism. 

And finally - it appears Obama has unveiled his very own health care plan.  Reading that will be top priority today.  Until then - Michelle Malkin has the links and some first thoughts available.

Here come government health care price controls; Update: Obamacare 2.0$$ unveiled

Here's the proposed bill 

Quick! More Silver Bullets and Stakes Needed

This health care thing will just not go away. Do I think Obama will "act stupidly" and try and ram it through anyway?  You betcha! 

LifeNews: Obama Pro-Abortion Health Care Reconciliation Bill Expected Monday, Then Summit
Doug Ross: Terrified Health Insurers Lay Off Thousands to Prepare to Prepare for Socialized Medicine
Gateway Pundit: Obama & Dems to Ram Through Unpopular Health Care Bill With 51 Votes
Enterprise Blog:  Why the Healthcare Overhaul is Almost Surely Unconstitutional
Bungalow Bill: Obama Writing Healthcare Bill to Pass With 51 Votes

Eric Cantor, Dogs, and Ponys

Eric Cantor states in this interview that the Republicans are not interested in a "dog and pony" show when they meet with Obama on health care. I'm not sure how it could be anything but a "dog and pony" show.  This meeting  is shaping up to be a classic Alinsky tactic: “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”   They have already been "picked" as the target by attending a meeting completely controlled by Obama and his minions who will set the agenda, control the seating and even the cameras.

They will unable to respond (frozen) as Obama "scolds" and accuses them of being obstructionists - the "party of no."   They will be forced to sit quietly and accept this, or to get up and walk out. Neither of these options would have a good outcome.

Obama will personalize the issues by making it the Republicans fault  people are dropping in the streets due to lack of health care and being buried in Obama T-shirts (so creepy!), thereby polarizing the debate even more.

Here's the real kicker, though.  These people, and I include both Republicans and Democrats, still get paid no matter how much time and energy they waste. They will still receive all the perks of their job, and will leave office with an exorbitant tax-payer funded retirement.  Try that if you're running a business and see how well it works. 

Some Excellent Reading gathered together, not with impersonal spy-bots, but through the hard work of my fingers and my eyeballs:

Creative Minority Report:  The Primacy of Humanity by Erin Manning 

Homilies and Reflections from Australia:  6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Keeping My Ear to the Ground: Mother Nature is Doing Us a Favor

DaTechguy:  The de-education of Anne Hathaway

Boehner & Cantor tell Obama to stick it or something similar...

For your reading pleasure compliments of Fox News...

(emphasis mine)

Fox News has obtained a letter penned by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) addressed to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. 

February 8, 2010
The Honorable Rahm Emanuel
Chief of Staff
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Emanuel:

We welcome President Obama’s announcement of forthcoming bipartisan health care talks. In fact, you may remember that last May, Republicans asked President Obama to hold bipartisan discussions on health care in an attempt to find common ground on health care, but he declined and instead chose to work with only Democrats. Since then, the President has given dozens of speeches on health care reform, operating under the premise that the more the American people learn about his plan, the more they will come to like it. Just the opposite has occurred: a majority of Americans oppose the House and Senate health care bills and want them scrapped so we can start over with a step-by-step approach focused on lowering costs for families and small businesses.

 

Just as important, scrapping the House and Senate health care bills would help end the uncertainty they are creating for workers and businesses and thus strengthen our shared commitment to focusing on creating jobs. Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward on health care in a bipartisan way, does that mean he will agree to start over so that we can develop a bill that is truly worthy of the support and confidence of the American people?

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said today that the President is “absolutely not” resetting the legislative process for health care.   If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate.  Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward in a bipartisan way, does that mean he has taken off the table the idea of relying solely on Democratic votes and jamming through health care reform by way of reconciliation? As the President has noted recently, Democrats continue to hold large majorities in the House and Senate, which means they can attempt to pass a health care bill at any time through the reconciliation process.

Eliminating the possibility of reconciliation would represent an important show of good faith to Republicans and the American people.If the President intends to present any kind of legislative proposal at this discussion, will he make it available to members of Congress and the American people at least 72 hours beforehand? Our ability to move forward in a bipartisan way through this discussion rests on openness and transparency. Will the President include in this discussion congressional Democrats who have opposed the House and Senate health care bills? This bipartisan discussion should reflect the bipartisan opposition to both the House bill and the kickbacks and sweetheart deals in the Senate bill.Will the President be inviting officials and lawmakers from the states to participate in this discussion?

As you may know, legislation has been introduced in at least 36 state legislatures, similar to the proposal just passed by the Democratic-controlled Virginia State Senate, providing that no individual may be compelled to purchase health insurance. Additionally, governors of both parties have raised concerns about the additional costs that will be passed along to states under both the House and Senate bills. The President has also mentioned his commitment to have “experts” participate in health care discussions. Will the Feb. 25 discussion involve such "experts?"  Will those experts include the actuaries at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), who have determined that the both the House and Senate health care bill raise costs – just the opposite of their intended effect – and jeopardize seniors’ access to high-quality care by imposing massive Medicare cuts? Will those experts include the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, which has stated that the GOP alternative would reduce premiums by up to 10 percent?  Also, will Republicans be permitted to invite health care experts to participate?

Finally, as you know, this is the first televised White House health care meeting involving the President since last March. Many health care meetings of the closed-door variety have been held at the White House since then, including one where a sweetheart deal was worked out with union leaders. Will the special interest groups that the Obama Administration has cut deals with be included in this televised discussion?  Of course, Americans have been dismayed by the fact that the President has broken his own pledge to hold televised health care talks. We can only hope this televised discussion is the beginning, not the end, of attempting to correct that mistake. Will the President require that any and all future health care discussions, including those held on Capitol Hill, meet this common-sense standard of transparency and openness?  Your answers to these critical questions will help determine whether this will be a truly open, bipartisan discussion or merely an intramural exercise before Democrats attempt to jam through a job-killing health care bill that the American people can’t afford and don’t support. ‘Bipartisanship’ is not writing proposals of your own behind closed doors, then unveiling them and demanding Republican support. Bipartisan ends require bipartisan means.

These questions are also designed to try and make sense of the widening gap between the President’s rhetoric on bipartisanship and the reality. We cannot help but notice that each of the President’s recent bipartisan overtures has been coupled with harsh, misleading partisan attacks. For instance, the President decries Republican ‘obstruction’ when it was Republicans who first proposed bipartisan health care talks last May. The President says Republicans are ‘sitting on the sidelines’ just days after holding up our health care alternative and reading from it word for word. The President has every right to use his bully pulpit as he sees fit, but this is the kind of credibility gap that has the American people so fed up with business as usual in Washington.We look forward to receiving your answers and continuing to discuss ways we can move forward in a bipartisan manner to address the challenges facing the American people.

Health Care Bill Needs a Stake In Its Heart!

 Obama Invites Republicans to a Health Care Summit  Meeting  Breakfast  Set-Up

Obama, unable to resist the urge to inject himself into Super Bowl Sunday festivities, had a sit down with Katie "let's play journalist today" Couric during the pre-game show.  Showing up in what is becoming his trademark tieless-I'm-just-one-of-the-guys look, Obama proceeded to announce a meeting with the Republicans on health care.  These are the same Republicans who, while representing half of the voters in this country, have been locked out of the proceedings.  And to prove how "transparent" this administration really is, the meeting will be televised.  Never mind that this monstrosity of a bill has been crafted behind closed doors, fueled by bribes, payoffs, and threats. 

Since this process has started, all ideas brought forward by the Republicans have been ignored.  The MSM has been complicit in this travesty of "governance."  Obama has made it clear that the bill, all 2000 pages, is a keeper.  But suddenly Obama, who no longer has a super majority, wants to welcome the ideas of the Republicans??

The Republicans would do well to read the Miranda warning given to suspects in a crime before they are questioned and recognize a set-up in the making.  

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?

Anyone who willing talks to the police, even an innocent person, is inviting trouble into their lives.  In these situations the house just about always wins.  The same could be said for this "meeting."  

Republicans need to send a polite "no thanks" to the Obama White House.  If they don't, I would strongly urge they, metaphorically speaking,  have their lawyer present.

Health Care Freedom Plan: Sen. Jim DeMint

Patients' Choice Act: Sens. Coburn and Burr and Reps. Ryan and Nunes.

Health Care Reform: GOP.gov/John Boehner

 Related:

Red State: The 19 Televised Pleadings by Obama to the GOP on Health Care

Hot Air: ObamaCare: The “bipartisan” summit scam

Red State: The Obama Trap and the GOP

Dan Riehl : Obama's Annual Health Care Show: Will There Be Smocks? 

Michelle Malkin:  Obama’s Kabuki summit invitation: Just say no

Health Care and Reality w/ Update

While I am happy about the election of Scott Brown, I am still quite sure the "evil three", Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are going to find some way to pass ObamaCare.  I hope I'm wrong! 

PELOSI AND REID PLOT SECRET PLAN FOR OBAMACARE

by Dick Morris and  Eileen McGann

"Highly informed sources on Capitol Hill have revealed to me details of the Democratic plan to sneak Obamacare through Congress, despite collapsing public approval for healthcare “reform” and disintegrating congressional support in the wake of Republican Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts."  read the rest

Reality:  The quality or state of being actual or true.  

Reality, or Obama's lack of,  seems to be a central theme lately. Hmmmm, wonder why?

From the Washington Times:   Obama's loose grip on reality

I couldn't have said it better. No, really - I couldn't!  I still have the dumb. 

The Weekly Standard:  Obama on the Brink of Crackup More on reality...

Dr. Zero's article The Blue Assumptions does justice to the subject of authority; what authority is and our four mistaken assumptions about it.

Humor Alert!

On the day before what is sure to be labeled a "historic" State of the Union by the MSM, in which Obama will utter "unprecedented" nonsense syllables, a bit of humor is in order.

Update: What did I just tell you???

"I hope the President will use this historic moment to shine the spotlight on our troubling fiscal policies and lay out his plan for addressing these challenges head-on," Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Indiana, said in a press release.

Head over to Amusing Bunni's Musings and check out the email she received from Organizing for America inviting her to attend a State of the Union Watch Party or have one of her own.

Curious to see how many parties were scheduled for our area, I plunked in zips for Coeur d' Alene, Post Falls, and Spokane on the Organizing site.  Only one gathering is scheduled for the entire area and that would be at the Democratic headquarters in Spokane at the aptly named "Toad Hall."  Can't make this stuff up!

Cathy of Alex has something of real importance to say about "Everything in Moderation" (except bacon)

Doug Ross reminds us once again about how the average liberal feels about us. We're stupid. Americans Too Stupid to Understand the Power and Majesty of Democratic Policies that are Bankrupting the Country

Laugh Out Loud Award

Smitty, over at The Other McCain,  earns my husbands "Laugh Out Loud Award" today. In his fine article, Unions as a Higher Form of Capitalism, Smitty used the term "rectal pluck" to describe how the administration comes up with it's job numbers.

From Buffalo Bill (a new addition to my blog list) :  The Left Thinks Obama is an Idiot and the Right Thinks Obama is an Idiot   Excellent! 

Money Quote of the Day

  "Don't be afraid to see what you see." Ronald Reagan

Yep! It's called reality...

We made our first journey to the WinCo in Spokane last night. Some excellent deals and sure to be a monthly addition to my shopping.  Now I have a kitchen FULL of stuff to organize and put away. 

See you all later...

Does Illness Spread on the Internet??

I am feeling decidedly un-well.  Many of my blogger buddies are also not well  coming down with colds or such. Can we catch stuff online? Just wondering...

Started AirBorne (although I use the generic WalBorne which is Walgreen's brand)  first thing this morning.  I believe it really makes a difference.  Today I was going to get caught up on my letter writing (with pen and paper, doncha know), because I am so far behind.  But first I think some couch time is in order.

While I'm on the couch, take a few minutes to read this great article by Dr. Sanity.  As crude as Michael Savage can appear to be at times, he is right when he proclaims, "borders, language, culture."  Dr. Sanity also has a link to an article by John Leo exploring Robert Putnam’s sobering new diversity research.

MULTICULTURAL INSANITY: The New "Realism"

"If you want to understand why American foreign policy seems so ridiculous and ineffective these days, you need look no further than the doctrines of political correctness and multiculturalism. Our society is drowning in sea of PC and a culture of multicultural BS." read the rest

 And this just posted on Yahoo:

  

Government health insurance option appears doomed

A  few choice quotes:

"They also want the final measure to include a House-passed proposal for a nationwide insurance exchange, to be regulated by the federal government, where consumers could shop for private coverage. The Senate bill calls for a state-based system of exchanges."  Isn't that government run health insurance????

And the money quote from this article:

"The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private."

Need I say more?

From the Green Room of Hot Air:

37 vulnerable House Dems we need to target on health care

Hop on over and check out the list provided with phone numbers, addresses, faxes, and emails.  It also identifies area's of vulnerability for each senator. If you see your senator on the list - you know what to do...

Also at the Green Room is an outstanding article by Directorblue (Doug Ross) "The Path to Slavery"

"Modern liberal Democrats like to talk about “choice”. But when it comes to school choice — allowing inner-city children to escape the enslavement of teachers’ unions — Democrats shriek in opposition  "read the rest

 Which bring me to what New Hampshire is up to (rat scum bags!!!)

New Hampshire Poised for Landmark Homeschool Vote

Proposed law would make New Hampshire's homeschool law the most restrictive and burdensome in the nation

 CONCORD, New Hampshire, January 7, 2010  - The New Hampshire House of Representatives is scheduled to consider next week an amendment to House Bill 368, which critics say would make New Hampshire’s homeschool law the most restrictive and burdensome in the nation. read the rest

I get really riled when they go after the home-schoolers.  It has been proven over and over that home schooled kids do better academically than the kids in government run schools.  I have also never met a home schooled kid that wasn't socially head and shoulders above a public school kid.   The government has no business indoctrinating "educating" our children. 

And then they do stupid things like this:  New York Couple Arrested for Failure to Register Homeschoolers

Busy Monday

I'm headed off to run errands this morning. As usual American Thinker provides us with much to ponder.

I agree with Mr. Smith. When I saw Mary Landrieu clucking about her 300 million bribe payoff for aid to her state, my first thought was, "Heck, we have these DC elites batting about trillions of our dollars -  300 million is chicken feed."  Fool!

Mary Landrieu Takes Louisianans for a Ride by J. Robert Smith

I've also been following quite closely the series put together by James Simpson on the Cloward-Piven Strategy.  Here is another part of the series with some serious advice for all of us who care about our country. 

Play nice while I'm gone. Or not... 

Update before I leave:

at Adrienne dePitera:

Recipe Party Alert
Thanksgiving Dinner Preparation Tips
DIY Photo Light Box

Kiss Your Health Care Goodbye

The following article points up quite nicely what I have been saying all along.  I don't want government involved in my health care at all.  I would be just as happy if Medicare was scrapped in favor of real health care reform.  Grandfather in the people already on Medicare, and allow a real market solution for future retirees.

My husband just reached the age of Medicare.  We are both self-employed and have paid large sums of money each month for a very high deductible insurance policy.  You'll be pleased to note, due to government interference, I paid each month for maternity coverage.  NB: I don't plan on having a baby one month before my 64th birthday.  We have paid for all our own medications, office visits, and lab work. And guess what? That was fine with us. 

If this health care package of carp passes, the young people and slackers of the country who demand "free" health insurance will get what we are getting.  You will be forced into a government plan, just as older citizens are forced into Medicare.  We hate it.  Of course we have options. We can continue to pay for coverage, except you are financially punished if you delay signing up for Medicare.

In our area, it is almost impossible to find a doctor that will accept Medicare patients. Those that do, have a waiting list.  By luck and the grace of God, one of my husbands long-time students is a doctor and accepted my husband (you just don't want to diss your banjo teacher, doncha know!)

We chose Medicare Advantage for my husband and will pay more. Within two weeks of being on the program, we received notification that the rates are going up while the coverage has been slashed.  We are essentially getting nothing. And that will only get worse. If this bill passes we won't even have the option of paying more for an Advantage type plan because it will be gone, along with the private health insurance companies.

If you think arguing with your insurance company over treatment is a nightmare, wait until you have to argue with the government.  Raise your hand if you have had a good experience getting in a tangle with the IRS.  Whooops, don't see any hands.  Those are the same people who will decide what care you will get.

This is your future young people of America.  You've been on a free ride for most of your life. It's going to cost you big time now.  Congratulations!
 


From Big Government:  Congress, We Don't Trust You With Health Care At All

Linky Love

 Dems have 60 for health care; Lincoln a 'yes'

I fear for our country...

Linky Love and New Friends...

Smitty, over at The Other McCain, has done his usual bang up job on his Full Metal Jacket Reach Around (FMJRA)  Spreading a bit of what I like to call Linky Love, is a wonderful way to reach out and meet other bitter clingers like-minded folks

 Smitty says it so well:

This week's FMJRA is a shout of anger, a bellow of dismay, a scream of horror at the Congress That Shall Live in Infamy. If the legislation now oozing through the bowels of Congress was anything other than toxic sludge, they would speak boldly and with pride of the details, rather than hiding them. Reid and Pelosi's actions are all the indictment necessary. read his FMJRA

Not to be outdone, The Reaganite Republican is having a  linky love party, complete with chips and nuts.  He was nice enough to link to me and while checking out his other links, I found Amusing Bunni.  So after wasting even more time  spending quality time reading and watching cute videos on her blog, I can attest to the fact that you MUST GO VISIT Bunni. Now! One smart bunny in the blogosphere!!

Terry, over at Abbey-Roads wrote a superb article about the homo-sexual outing of priests and bishops.

Activists in D.C. intend to begin outing closeted homosexual priests and bishops in retaliation for Archbishop Wuerl's anti-same-sex marriage efforts as well as a USCCB pastoral letter, which has been perceived as an 'anti-gay attack' - when in actual fact it is a defense of marriage, defining Catholic teaching on issues of faith and morals.  read the rest

From Ebeth at A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars:  Did You Know: What happened BEFORE original Sin?

Subvet has a story about an Ophthalmologist who it appears has gotten fed up with Medicaid patients. 

My take:

I suppose his bedside manner may leave a bit to be desired.  However, after I worked as an Optician for a Optometrist who accepted Medicaid, I can fairly say the average Medicaid patient was extremely abusive to the system.  Children were given unlimited frame and lens replacements and, trust me, they took full advantage of that.  It was not uncommon for glasses to be replaced monthly.

Of course, this was all taking place while the doctor was scamming the system by performing unnecessary tests that were being billed to Medicaid.  This is what happens when you remove "charity" from local control.

Dr. Earl Sunderhaus, an Asheville eye doctor, has what might charitably be described as a brusque bedside manner.
That much is not in dispute.
But the N.C. Medical Board may decide Sunderhaus overstepped the bounds of decency when he recently told a patient she was irresponsible for being unemployed, on Medicaid, and relying on taxpayers to cover another pregnancy after giving birth less than a year earlier. read the rest

Proud to be a Citizen of Idaho!

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) from the great, and very red state of Idaho, speaks out about the health care bill.

Ordinarily I would never cut and paste completely from another website or blog, nor provide a link.   I am unable to access Gateway Pundit due to their "bandwidth being exceeded" and recovered this from my reader.  The information about this forced takeover of our economy and our way of life must be gotten to the greatest number of people possible.  I'm sure under the circumstances, Jim Hoft will forgive me...

From the video: Sen. Crapo says, “This 2000-page bill will drive up the cost of health care insurance and medical care, not down, increase taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars, cut Medicare for senior citizens by hundreds of billions of dollars, grow the federal government by over $2.4 trillion in new spending, push the needy uninsured into a failing Medicaid system, impose a damaging unfunded mandate on our struggling states, leave millions of Americans uninsured, and establish a massive governmental intrusion into management of our health care economy.”

Here is the full transcript from Senator Crapo’s address:

“This is Senator Mike Crapo from Idaho. Americans are calling on Congress for health care reform because they can no longer tolerate its skyrocketing cost. They want us to stop the punishing increases in insurance premiums and health care costs that, year after year, are driving families across this nation to the edge. And, they want us to ensure that they have meaningful access to quality health care. But, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid finally revealed the 2,074-page bill that has been crafted for weeks now behind closed doors, that’s hardly what we got.
“This two-thousand page bill will:
** Drive up the cost of health care insurance and medical care, not down;
** Increase taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars;
** Cut Medicare for senior citizens by hundreds of billions of dollars;
** Grow the federal government by over $2.4 trillion in new spending;
** Push the needy uninsured into a failing Medicaid system;
** Impose a damaging unfunded mandate on our struggling states;
** Leave millions of Americans uninsured; and
** Establish a massive governmental intrusion into management of our health care economy.

“This is not true health care reform, and it is not what the American people want. This bill will result in higher premiums and higher health care costs for Americans – period.
“At a time when we are experiencing record double-digit unemployment, the Reid bill raises taxes by nearly half a trillion dollars. A significant number of these provisions violate President Obama’s promise to the American people, namely that lower – and middle-class Americans would not see a tax increase under his proposals. And, yet, this bill clearly breaks that promise as it taxes a wide range of Americans: the uninsured and the insured; families with so-called high value insurance plans; employers who create jobs or provide retiree drug coverage; individuals who need medicines or medical devices; and many others. It also levies fines and penalties on individuals, families and businesses.

“Medicare faces cuts of nearly $500 billion to create the new government entitlement, even though Medicare is already facing enormous unfunded liabilities and looming insolvency. These cuts will reduce access to, and the quality of, care our seniors receive from a number of Medicare providers, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health and hospice services. And, as they see their access to and quality of care reduced, seniors enrolled in the popular Medicare Advantage plans will also lose many of the benefits that they enjoy today.

“We are already experiencing record deficits and debt, and yet, this bill creates a massive expansion of government, growing the size of the federal government by over $2.4 trillion over ten full years of implementation. When you take away the budget gimmicks used in the early years of the implementation that make the total cost look smaller, the truth is glaring and the Congressional Budget Office agrees: this plan will increase federal spending and health costs, not lower them. That means both you and the federal government will see costs go up.

“The legislation pushes 15 million people into the failing Medicaid system rather than giving them access to health insurance. And, in addition to forcing the neediest of the uninsured into a failing entitlement program, this expansion will result in $25 billion in unfunded Medicaid mandates on the states, which are already struggling financially. This mandate further jeopardizes state budgets as it forces them to drive up spending.

“The bill creates a government option insurance company and establishes unprecedented expansion of governmental control over health care. It establishes the government as the determiner of what kind of insurance Americans can purchase. It also imposes new federal mandates on all Americans. The first mandate would apply to the individual: buy insurance, or the IRS will collect a fine from you. Then, on employers: face a penalty if you don’t provide a government-approved health plan. The bill imposes $28 billion in new taxes on employers who don’t comply. Those new taxes would be passed along to employees in the form of reduced wages and lost jobs.

“You’re going to hear a lot about this bill. That’s why I encourage you to read the bill yourself and form your own opinion. This bill is available on my website as well as a number of other Internet sites. Take a close look at how the bill is funded and who and what it covers and doesn’t cover and how it may impact you and your family. It’s a real eye-opener!

“In recent months, I’ve heard from many Idahoans in my home state about health care, and they echo what Americans want in health care reform–lower costs and better quality. What Americans really want is the kind of step-by-step reforms that Republicans have been advocating for years — common-sense ideas like the ability to purchase insurance across state lines, allowing small businesses to pool together to offer more affordable health insurance to their employees; changing the incentives in our system from numbers of procedures to quality of outcomes; eliminating pre-existing condition limitations, equalizing the tax treatment of insurance; eliminating waste, fraud and abuse and promoting wellness and prevention programs that encourage people to make healthy choices. These are the kinds of reform that make sense and would really make a difference for all Americans. Thank you for listening.”

Please take time today to call your US Senator.

It only will take a minute.

** HERE IS THE PHONE LIST.

Don’t let the democrats destroy our health care system.

Mike Crapo's website

Stop the Health Care Bill

We need to be calling our Senators and telling them to vote NO!  Remember - a vote for this to go to debate is a YES vote on the bill. 

I've heard rumors that the phones have melted in DC, so you may have to email.

When I heard that Nelson (Nebraska) was voting yes, I called and told them I would be giving campaign contributions to make sure his opponent was elected.

RedState has a very good compilation of the important points of this disastrous bill.

REDSTATE WEB EXCLUSIVE

November 19, 2009
MEMORANDUM
FROM: Michael Hammond
RE: The Reid Bill: The Mandates, Public Option,
Regulation, Rationing, and Taxes

[Redstate] EDITORS NOTE

Harry Reid’s objective has been to secret the provisions of the most important piece of legislation in our lifetimes until he could cram it down Americans’ throats because there was insufficient time to analyze and mobilize against it. To some extent, he has succeeded. I have done what I could, given the need to disseminate this at least a day before the Senate moved to cloture on the motion to proceed. I have therefore focused on the mandates, the public option, regulation, rationing, and taxes. read the rest

...and then call your Senator

Ouch!

H/T: Americans for Tax Reform

Full List of Tax Hikes
In Senate Democrat Health Bill 

 Individual Mandate Tax (Page 324/Sec. 1501/$8 bil): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the following schedule (capped at 8 percent of income):

	Single	Single +1	Single +2
2014	$95	$190	$285
2015	$350	$700	$1050
2016, etc.	$750	$1500	$2250

Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS).

Employer Mandate Tax (Page 348/Sec. 1513/$28 bil):  If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $750 for all full-time employees.  Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees.

If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer).

Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Page 1979/Sec. 9001/$149.1 bil): Starting in 2013, new 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($8500 single/$23,000 family).  Higher threshold ($9850 single/$26,000 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions.  CPI +1 percentage point indexed.

From 2013-2015, the 17 highest-cost states are 120% of this level. 

Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2 (Page 1996/Sec. 9002/Min$): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns.

Medicine Cabinet Tax (Page 1997/Sec. 9003/$5 bil): No longer allowable to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)

HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Page 1998/Sec. 9004/$1.3 bil): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
FSA Cap (Page 1999/Sec. 9005/$14.6 bil): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (now unlimited).
Corporate 1099-MISC Information Reporting (Page 1999/Sec. 9006/$17.1 bil): Requires businesses to send 1099-MISC information tax forms to corporations (currently limited to individuals), a huge compliance burden for small employers
Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals (page 2001/Sec. 9007/Min$): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new "community health assessment needs," "financial assistance," and "billing and collection" rules set by HHS.

Tax on Innovator Drug Companies (Page 2010/Sec. 9008/ $22.2 bil): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year.

Tax of Medical Device Manufacturers (Page 2020/Sec. 9009/$19.3 bil): $2 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to shares of sales made that year.  Exempts items retailing for <$100.

Tax on Health Insurers (Page 2026/Sec. 9010/$60.4 bil): $6.7 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year.

Eliminate tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D (Page 2034/Sec. 9012/$5.4 bil)

Raise "Haircut" for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI (Page 2034/Sec. 9013/$15.2 bil) : Waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only
$500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives (Page 2035/Sec. 9014/$0.6 bil)
Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax (Page 2040/Sec. 9015/$53.8 bil): Current law and changes:

	Wages (Employer/Employee)	Self-Employment Net Income
Current Law and New Rate on First $200,000 ($250,000 MFJ)	1.45%/1.45%	2.9%
New Rate on Amount Which Exceeds $200,000 ($250,000 MFJ)	1.45%/1.95%	3.4%

The 0.5% new rate addition is not deductible for the self-employment tax adjustment.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike (Page 2044/Sec. 9016/$0.4 bil): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services

Tax on Cosmetic Medical Procedures (Page 2045/Sec. 9017/$5.8 bil): New 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery to be paid by the surgery patient.

Abortion: Yay or Nay?

From Mary Ellen in the Combox:

Regarding the health care bill...I've been trying to find a blog that clarifies this so-called "compromise" on the abortion issue on the Senate bill. I never knew there was a compromise when it comes to killing babies, but that seems to be the mindset of our government these days. My fear is that it will be enough (along with arm twisting from their party) for Dems who were originally against funding abortions to sway their vote. I tried reading the excerpt of the bill and can't make heads or tails out of it.

From The American Spectator: HarryCare is a Rotten Deal

[...]Under tremendous pressure from pro-choice groups, Reid did not include the Stupak language in the Senate bill. Instead, the Senate bill mandates that every state insurance exchange must offer a plan that covers abortion in addition to one that does not. It also allows for the government-run plan to cover abortions as long as the HHS Secretary can assure that no federal funds will be used to subsidize the procedure. As for the subsidies, it proposes an unworkable "segregation of funds" that theoretically is supposed to make sure that the actuarial value of the abortion benefit isn't paid for with tax dollars. read the rest

 Just in from Americans United for Life:   Reid Releases Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last night unveiled a health care bill which provides for an unprecedented expansion of federally-funded abortion.  The bill includes pro-abortion language and mirrors the false compromise Capps Amendment from the House debate — it allows the public option to include abortion coverage and provides federal subsidies for private plans which cover abortion.  read the rest  

I've posted two things that seem to be diametrically opposed.  I haven't had time to read the pertinent passages but will try and get on that later. 

And from Big Government:  Inside Harry Reid’s Massive Health Care Tax Plan