While bad decisions and greed on the part of BP, to save money and time, caused the oil spill and the inability to contain it, Obama tries to straddle the fence on responsibility.
One one hand, Obama continues to lash out at BP as being responsible for stopping the leak and for leading the clean-up; neither of which BP is capable of doing.
Obama is satisfied with photo-ops on the gulf and having his temper tantrums with threats and name-calling directed toward BP.
Of course, the oil spill occurred 100% in United States territorial waters, a federal responsibility from the start, not in any state land as was Hurricane Katrina where jurisdictional issues arose between federal and state leaders.
Obama doesn't want this crisis to go wasted, as Rahm Emanuel has advised in dealing with crises. Obama merely sees this as an opportunity to pass energy taxes and reward his cronies with cap and trade legislation while basically saying the people suffering in the gulf don't matter in his big scheme of things of more regulation and taxes.
What kind of a fool or inept leader would appoint a commission of eight academic environmentalists to decide oil drilling policy? Obama is that kind of fool! This would be a joke if it weren't so serious for the people suffering in the gulf and the environmental disaster.
One the other hand, Obama wants America to believe he was " on top of this disaster from day one".
Of course, he has done nothing to help with the capping of the leak or with the clean-up after 65 days, where a true leader would have done many things in the first week.
Obama's "first responders" were a team of lawyers from the Justice Department, to determine who they could blame, sue or prosecute.
In week one, a leader would have convened world wide experts with actual drilling experience to advise BP on the methods of containing the leak. Obama has not done this yet.
In week one, a leader would have convened a panel of world wide experts on oil spill clean-up. Obama has not done this yet.
In week one, a leader would have suspended the Jones Act, in order to allow the 13 countries who have offered equipment and experience in cleaning up oil spills to operate their ships in American waters. Obama has not done this yet.
In week one, a leader would have suspended the David-Bacon prevailing wages law to allow rapid deployment of new workers to help with the clean-up. Obama has not done this yet.
In week one, a leader would have made sure that the EPA would suspend it's rules that were impediments to the clean-up. Obama has not done this yet.
In week one, a leader would have suspended the tedious FEMA contracting procedures, so that contracts for clean-up cold be issued rapidly. Obama has not done this yet.
Instead, Obama has the EPA, Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard doing almost everything possible to slow down and inhibit state and local plans for building barriers to protect the beaches and wetlands.
Obama is worse that just inept, he is dangerous and is causing the effects of the oil spill to be much worse than need be.
Obama's great contributions are to threaten to "kick ass" and then put an illogical moratorium on all other drilling to further the economic pain along the gulf.
THE ONLY DISASTER BIGGER THAN THE BP OIL SPILL IS OBAMA BEING PRESIDENT BECAUSE HIS PRESIDENCY SPILLS OVER INTO DISASTERS IN PROTECTING THE BORDERS, UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE PHONY STIMULUS (PORK) BILL, OBAMACARE, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MORE.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Iran Continues to Ignore Obama and the United Nations
WHAT IS OBAMA'S IRAN STRATEGY NOW?
THERE IS NO "STRATEGY" AND THERE NEVER WAS AN OBAMA "STRATEGY".
Obama always thought he could sweet-talk Ahmedinejad into giving up Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. This was the dream of an inexperienced fool.
We are on the fourth round of so-called "sanctions" that are meaningless; which put no actual pressure on Iran and make the United States look weak once again.
THE ONLY REALISTIC TACTIC SHORT OF MILITARY ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN A STRICT BLOCKADE UNDER BUSH AND THEN CONTINUED OBAMA.
It is now way too late for a blockade to be effective and Obama doesn't have the will to implement such a tactic.
The only realistic "strategy' at this time is to bomb the nuclear facilities using deep bunker busting bombs where necessary. But Obama doesn't have the will to do this either.
So what remains, Obama could openly give Israel full support with the proper bombs and refueling support for Israel to bomb the nuclear facilities as they did to Iraq years ago and Syria more recently.
But, Obama is so intent on pandering to the Islamic nations and showing he fair to the Palestinians, by being "tough" on Israel, that this will never happen either.
So, the Obama "strategy" is one of "HOPE". Obama's hope boils down to wait and see what happens and HOPE that Iran doesn't provide a nuclear weapon to the Islamic Terrorists(who Obama makes believe don't exist),who would then smuggle such a weapon across our open borders or through our ports and detonate such a weapon in a major city.
OBAMA PUTS THIS NATION AT RISK WITH HIS INEXPERIENCE AND WEAKNESS.
THERE IS NO "STRATEGY" AND THERE NEVER WAS AN OBAMA "STRATEGY".
Obama always thought he could sweet-talk Ahmedinejad into giving up Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. This was the dream of an inexperienced fool.
We are on the fourth round of so-called "sanctions" that are meaningless; which put no actual pressure on Iran and make the United States look weak once again.
THE ONLY REALISTIC TACTIC SHORT OF MILITARY ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN A STRICT BLOCKADE UNDER BUSH AND THEN CONTINUED OBAMA.
It is now way too late for a blockade to be effective and Obama doesn't have the will to implement such a tactic.
The only realistic "strategy' at this time is to bomb the nuclear facilities using deep bunker busting bombs where necessary. But Obama doesn't have the will to do this either.
So what remains, Obama could openly give Israel full support with the proper bombs and refueling support for Israel to bomb the nuclear facilities as they did to Iraq years ago and Syria more recently.
But, Obama is so intent on pandering to the Islamic nations and showing he fair to the Palestinians, by being "tough" on Israel, that this will never happen either.
So, the Obama "strategy" is one of "HOPE". Obama's hope boils down to wait and see what happens and HOPE that Iran doesn't provide a nuclear weapon to the Islamic Terrorists(who Obama makes believe don't exist),who would then smuggle such a weapon across our open borders or through our ports and detonate such a weapon in a major city.
OBAMA PUTS THIS NATION AT RISK WITH HIS INEXPERIENCE AND WEAKNESS.
California and the New Republican Candidates
The reasons why Republicans have not been elected in California are THE SAME as why California has:
1. 12.5% unemployment,
2 the highest taxes in the country,
3. huge budget deficits and
4. the worst state bond rating.
There is a majority of Californians who are benefiting from government handouts and state and local government employees getting exorbitant salaries and benefits. There is an out of control illegal alien problem that continues to suck money out of the system but is supported by employers and advocates of "social" justice which means no limits on illegal aliens.
Until enough people feel the pain, California will continue to re-elect the champions of socialism and pork in the likes of Pelosi, Waxman, Boxer, Feinstein and the ridiculous Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown who has left financial ruin in his wake as a professional politician for 40 years.
California is the Greece of the United States and under Obama the rest of the country is going down that path.
1. 12.5% unemployment,
2 the highest taxes in the country,
3. huge budget deficits and
4. the worst state bond rating.
There is a majority of Californians who are benefiting from government handouts and state and local government employees getting exorbitant salaries and benefits. There is an out of control illegal alien problem that continues to suck money out of the system but is supported by employers and advocates of "social" justice which means no limits on illegal aliens.
Until enough people feel the pain, California will continue to re-elect the champions of socialism and pork in the likes of Pelosi, Waxman, Boxer, Feinstein and the ridiculous Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown who has left financial ruin in his wake as a professional politician for 40 years.
California is the Greece of the United States and under Obama the rest of the country is going down that path.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Gulf Oil Spill and Obama's Response
1.The Obama Administration took NINE DAYS before organizing any response to help contain and cap the Gulf oil spill.
2. Obama has yet to personally visit the area to observe the damage.
3. The Obama team spent the weekend on talk shows trying to convince the public that they were involved "from day one". But, this is a blatant lie. No Department of Defense or any agency was involved until nine days later.
4. Once again, Obama thinks that spin, and repeating a lie often enough, can substitute for facts and actions.
5. This is arguably even more severe a dereliction of responsibility than Bush waiting two days after Katrina. In the Katrina case, we had a mayor of a New Orleans and a governor of Louisiana with responsibility and resources of their own and the protocol was for them to call in the federal government for help.
6. In the gulf oil spill, it is ridiculous to put the responsibility on a private company, BP, when an entire region of many states and industries are at risk as well a widespread environmental disaster is looming. The federal government should have been the first responder to protect the environment and stave off an economic disaster to many industries along the Gulf Coast.
7. Instead, the "first responders" from the Obama team, were a group of lawyers from the Justice Department; Eric Holder looking at who he might sue or fine, rather than fix the problem.
8. Obama spent the past nine days, bashing the new Arizona immigration law and pushing for government takeover of Wall street with a 1400 page bill, instead of immediately taking charge of the pending national disaster from the Gulf oil spill.
THIS IS ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE INCOMPETENCY AND MISDIRECTED FOCUS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
Will this oil spill give the Democrat's and Obama the excuse to get out of his reluctant commitment to pursue off-shore drilling?
2. Obama has yet to personally visit the area to observe the damage.
3. The Obama team spent the weekend on talk shows trying to convince the public that they were involved "from day one". But, this is a blatant lie. No Department of Defense or any agency was involved until nine days later.
4. Once again, Obama thinks that spin, and repeating a lie often enough, can substitute for facts and actions.
5. This is arguably even more severe a dereliction of responsibility than Bush waiting two days after Katrina. In the Katrina case, we had a mayor of a New Orleans and a governor of Louisiana with responsibility and resources of their own and the protocol was for them to call in the federal government for help.
6. In the gulf oil spill, it is ridiculous to put the responsibility on a private company, BP, when an entire region of many states and industries are at risk as well a widespread environmental disaster is looming. The federal government should have been the first responder to protect the environment and stave off an economic disaster to many industries along the Gulf Coast.
7. Instead, the "first responders" from the Obama team, were a group of lawyers from the Justice Department; Eric Holder looking at who he might sue or fine, rather than fix the problem.
8. Obama spent the past nine days, bashing the new Arizona immigration law and pushing for government takeover of Wall street with a 1400 page bill, instead of immediately taking charge of the pending national disaster from the Gulf oil spill.
THIS IS ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE INCOMPETENCY AND MISDIRECTED FOCUS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
Will this oil spill give the Democrat's and Obama the excuse to get out of his reluctant commitment to pursue off-shore drilling?
Mexico's Immigration Law is Common Sense and Should Be Adopted Here
Writing a straight-forward comprehensive immigration bill is a simple task. Mexico already has done all of the legislative work.
All the United States' Congress and Obama need to do is to copy the law already in place in Mexico and THEN ENFORCE IT.
Here are some key elements of the Mexican immigration law, it's common sense:
1. Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress".
2. Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents.
3. The Secretary of Governance may "suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest".
4. Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country: Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants.
5. A National Population Registry keeps track of "every single individual who comprises the population of the country," and verifies each individual’s identity.
6. A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number.
7. Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be fined or imprisoned.
8. Foreigners who commit a crime in Mexco may be imprisoned.
9. Foreigners who sign government documents "with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses" are subject to fine and imprisonment.
10. Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons.
11. Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished.
12. Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years.
13. Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison .
14. Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico — such as working with out a permit — can also be imprisoned.
15. Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says, "A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally".
16. Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned.
17. Foreigners who "act "against national sovereignty or security" will be deported.
18. Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law.
The Mexican constitution strictly defines the rights of citizens — and the denial of many fundamental rights to non-citizens, legal and illegal.
All the United States' Congress and Obama need to do is to copy the law already in place in Mexico and THEN ENFORCE IT.
Here are some key elements of the Mexican immigration law, it's common sense:
1. Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress".
2. Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents.
3. The Secretary of Governance may "suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest".
4. Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country: Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants.
5. A National Population Registry keeps track of "every single individual who comprises the population of the country," and verifies each individual’s identity.
6. A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number.
7. Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be fined or imprisoned.
8. Foreigners who commit a crime in Mexco may be imprisoned.
9. Foreigners who sign government documents "with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses" are subject to fine and imprisonment.
10. Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons.
11. Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished.
12. Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years.
13. Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison .
14. Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico — such as working with out a permit — can also be imprisoned.
15. Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says, "A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally".
16. Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned.
17. Foreigners who "act "against national sovereignty or security" will be deported.
18. Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law.
The Mexican constitution strictly defines the rights of citizens — and the denial of many fundamental rights to non-citizens, legal and illegal.
Obama White House - A Division of Goldman Sachs
GOLDMAN SACHS DONATED $1,007,370 TO OBAMA IN THE 2008 CAMPAIGN.
THE FIVE BIGGEST HEDGE FUNDS DONATED ALMOST ALL OF ITS MONEY TO DEMOCRATS; THE FIVE BIGGEST RECIPIENTS WERE SEN. CHRIS DODD (D-CT), SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV) AND SEN. CHUCKY SCHUMER (D-NY).
THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF GOLDMAN SACHS CHAIRMAN LLOYD BLANKFEIN ENDORSED THE DEMOCRAT'S WALL STREET REGULATION BILL. Guess why? Wall Street loves the $50 billion permanent "bailout fund" whereby big banks like Goldman Sachs can get bailed out with this slush fund and no further embarrassing congressional action would be needed. Goldman Sachs, like the government, doesn't have money of its own, its contribution to build the bailout slush fund will come from its clients (taxpayers).
What are the links between Goldman Sachs and Obama? First, Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, worked for Goldman Sachs and made millions. Other major links directly in the administration, or closley allied where they affect national economic policy, include:
1. Dianna Farrell: Obama Administration Deputy Director, National Economic Council; former Goldman Sachs Financial Analyst
2. Stephen Friedman: Obama Administration Chairman, President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board; former Goldman Sachs Board Member (Chairman, 1990-94; Director, 2005-)
3. Gary Gensler: Obama Administration Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission; former Goldman Sachs Partner and Co-head of Finance
4. Robert Hormats: Obama Administration Undersecretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, State Department; former Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs Group
5. Philip Murphy: Obama Administration Ambassador to Germany; former Goldman Sachs Head of Goldman Sachs, Frankfurt
6. Mark Patterson: Obama Administration Chief of Staff to Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner; former Goldman Sachs Lobbyist 2005-2008; Vice President for Government Relations
7. John Thain: Obama Administration Advisor to Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner; former Goldman Sachs President and Chief Operating Officer (1999-2003)
8. Reuben Jeffery III: Obama Administration undersecretary of state for economic, business, and agricultural affairs; former managing partner at Goldman Sachs
9.Neel Kashkari: Obama Administration assistant secretary of the treasury for financial stability, responsible for administering the TARP funds.former Goldman Sachs vice president.
10. William C Dudley: NY Federal Reserve Current President/CEO; former Goldman Sachs Partner and managing director – 2007
11. Stephen Friedman NY Federal Reserve, Former Chairman of the Board – 2009; former Goldman Sachs Board Member (Chairman, 1990-94; Director, 2005-)
12. Edward Liddy: Current Title: AIG CEO; former Goldman Sachs Board Member (Chairman, 1990-94; Director, 2005-)
13. Duncan Niederauer: Current Chair/CEO NYSE; former Goldman Sachs Managing Director – 2007
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Goldman-Sachs, The Financial Crisis and The Demagogue
The recently uncovered actions of Goldman Sachs are NEGLIGENT AT BEST and PERHAPS INTENTIONALLY DECEPTIVE AND CRIMINAL. The Justice Department is right in investigating Goldman Sachs and Congress needs to make some changes in the laws to better regulate megabanks and possibly break them up so we no longer have financial institutions that are "too big to fail". Goldman Sachs does not stand alone; many, if not all, big Wall Street banks and investment houses acted similarly in contributing to the 2008 crash and have been often working against the best interests of their clients while making huge profits for themselves for a decade or more. Meanwhile, many of these same megabanks got TARP fund bailouts and are now lending LESS money to small businesses than those banks that didn't get bailouts, while the executives of the bailed out firms are getting bigger raises and bonuses. This is what happens when government interferes. If Goldman-Sachs had openly informed every client that they believed the mortgage market was going to crash and that they were betting in that direction, then no-one could fault them for making a profit at a time when others did not see the looming disaster.
But, it appears that Goldman-Sachs mislead their clients, by commission or omission, to believe the opposite, which is unethical and perhaps criminal. The political grandstanding in congress is disgusting, but does not excuse Goldman Sachs actions.
What slips by with little notoriety, is the fact that the GOVERNMENT WAS COMPLICIT, for 15 to 20 years, in creating the conditions for the 2008 meltdown. The GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTITIES, FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC, led the charge for so-called "affordable housing" with little or no down payments, no proof of affordability and even without proof of employment. It is a disgrace that the government gets off the hook and is able to turn the total focus on Wall Street. If one person can be cited as being most responsible for the culmination in the financial meltdown of 2008, it is Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) who promoted the affordable housing gimmicks, who blocked every effort to regulate Fannie and Freddie, even to this day, and who lied to his colleagues in Congress and to the public many times by assuring everyone that Fannie and Freddie were financially sound. The people of Frank's district in Massachusetts must be ignorant or just gullible fools; they ought to take notice of their home values due to Frank's irresponsible actions and they can look forward to higher costs of living with inflation due to the huge debts accumulating in Fannie and Freddie. Barney Frank was not alone in protecting Fannie and Freddie from scrutiny; he had help along the way from Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. John Kerry, Sen., Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton and others who took political contributions from Fannie and Freddie.
Another area where the government was complicit in creating the financial crisis is when the GLASS-STEAGALL ACT WAS REPEALED under Democrat Bill Clinton in 1999. Glass-Steagall kept a clear separation between what was intended to be low-risk commercial banking and high-risk investment banking. The repeal of Glass-Steagall led to the growth of the megabanks and the mixing of commercial banks, investment banks, brokerage and mutual fund firms and insurance companies with everyone getting into each others' businesses and all dealing in new high risk highly leveraged financial instruments .
Obama has gotten into the act by claiming that in the Spring of 2008 he predicted the financial meltdown due to a lack of regulation. Of course, what OBAMA DOESN'T MENTION, is that he VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED REFORM of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the two government sponsored entities that were at the core of the mortgage crisis. OBAMA SIDED WITH HIS BUDDY REP. BARNEY FRANK (D-MA) TO PROTECT Freddie and Fannie from any scrutiny. Now, with the Goldman Sachs scandal, Obama has found one more chance to demagogue, create a boogeyman and push for "change" far beyond what is required, so that he can further transform America toward becoming a socialist nation.
Obama never misses an opportunity to take advantage of a crisis (as Rahm Emanuel has been quoted in the past). The opportunity here is for Obama and big government to take over the entire financial industry instead of making a few sensible reforms. WHAT IS NEEDED is full transparency of derivatives (they should be traded like stocks with all information available), full disclosure in real time of the direction of investment from financial institutions dealing in derivatives or other highly leveraged instruments, re-instituting Glass-Steagall or some similar legislation that once again separates commercial and investment banking and strengthening of the enforcement of numerous existing regulations by numerous existing government agencies. What is NOT NEEDED is more government agencies, more bailout funds and the government deciding if and when it can take over a financial institution.
But, it appears that Goldman-Sachs mislead their clients, by commission or omission, to believe the opposite, which is unethical and perhaps criminal. The political grandstanding in congress is disgusting, but does not excuse Goldman Sachs actions.
What slips by with little notoriety, is the fact that the GOVERNMENT WAS COMPLICIT, for 15 to 20 years, in creating the conditions for the 2008 meltdown. The GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTITIES, FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC, led the charge for so-called "affordable housing" with little or no down payments, no proof of affordability and even without proof of employment. It is a disgrace that the government gets off the hook and is able to turn the total focus on Wall Street. If one person can be cited as being most responsible for the culmination in the financial meltdown of 2008, it is Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) who promoted the affordable housing gimmicks, who blocked every effort to regulate Fannie and Freddie, even to this day, and who lied to his colleagues in Congress and to the public many times by assuring everyone that Fannie and Freddie were financially sound. The people of Frank's district in Massachusetts must be ignorant or just gullible fools; they ought to take notice of their home values due to Frank's irresponsible actions and they can look forward to higher costs of living with inflation due to the huge debts accumulating in Fannie and Freddie. Barney Frank was not alone in protecting Fannie and Freddie from scrutiny; he had help along the way from Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. John Kerry, Sen., Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton and others who took political contributions from Fannie and Freddie.
Another area where the government was complicit in creating the financial crisis is when the GLASS-STEAGALL ACT WAS REPEALED under Democrat Bill Clinton in 1999. Glass-Steagall kept a clear separation between what was intended to be low-risk commercial banking and high-risk investment banking. The repeal of Glass-Steagall led to the growth of the megabanks and the mixing of commercial banks, investment banks, brokerage and mutual fund firms and insurance companies with everyone getting into each others' businesses and all dealing in new high risk highly leveraged financial instruments .
Obama has gotten into the act by claiming that in the Spring of 2008 he predicted the financial meltdown due to a lack of regulation. Of course, what OBAMA DOESN'T MENTION, is that he VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED REFORM of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the two government sponsored entities that were at the core of the mortgage crisis. OBAMA SIDED WITH HIS BUDDY REP. BARNEY FRANK (D-MA) TO PROTECT Freddie and Fannie from any scrutiny. Now, with the Goldman Sachs scandal, Obama has found one more chance to demagogue, create a boogeyman and push for "change" far beyond what is required, so that he can further transform America toward becoming a socialist nation.
Obama never misses an opportunity to take advantage of a crisis (as Rahm Emanuel has been quoted in the past). The opportunity here is for Obama and big government to take over the entire financial industry instead of making a few sensible reforms. WHAT IS NEEDED is full transparency of derivatives (they should be traded like stocks with all information available), full disclosure in real time of the direction of investment from financial institutions dealing in derivatives or other highly leveraged instruments, re-instituting Glass-Steagall or some similar legislation that once again separates commercial and investment banking and strengthening of the enforcement of numerous existing regulations by numerous existing government agencies. What is NOT NEEDED is more government agencies, more bailout funds and the government deciding if and when it can take over a financial institution.
Truth About The Arizona Law on Illegal Aliens
Here is the truth about the Arizona law. It's a simple straightforward bill easy to read and is very specific about NOT PROFILING with various safeguards put in place which clarify the law so there should be LESS PROFILING than without the new law.
Meanwhile, with over 400,000 illegal aliens in Arizona and the vast majority being Hispanic, who should the law enforcement agencies be focusing upon in trying to identify illegal aliens? Asians? Blacks? Scandinavians? Australians? Native American Indians? GET REAL!
With limited law enforcement resources and catching illegal aliens a statistical process, it makes sense to focus on Hispanics.
THIS EFFORT IN ARIZONA PROTECTS ALL LEGAL IMMIGRANTS who are not citizens AND HISPANIC-AMERICANS AS MUCH AS ANY GROUP OF CITIZENS. IT IS A SHAME IF SOME HAVE TO BE INCONVENIENCED, BUT THERE IS A DE FACTO WAR OCCURRING IN THE BORDER STATES.
Legal non-citizen immigrants and Hispanic-Americans in Arizona and elsewhere are paying the price, just as is everyone else, in overburdened education, medical and law enforcement systems, in fewer jobs available, in lower wages in many jobs as illegal aliens work for lower pay and in being targets for crime. An element of the illegal aliens are involved in various VIOLENT CRIME, HUMAN TRAFFICKING , DRUG SMUGGLING, and GUN RUNNING, all of which degrade the quality of life, are a real threat to life and property and are are a major economic burden on United States citizens and on the tens of millions of legal immigrants from Mexico and elsewhere.
Obama's comments questioning the constitutionality of the Arizona law and judging it to create racial profiling, before the law has even taken effect and BEFORE ANY COURT HAS RULES ON ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY suggest that OBAMA IS EITHER A MORON OR A LIAR.
The Arizona law is no more punitive than federal laws on the books but which have not been enforced by Bush or Obama.
The leftist media, the race pimp Al Sharpton, the demagogue Obama, and many pro-illegal-aliens spokesmen have all intentionally mischaracterized the bill for political advantage in an attempt to create a racial divide and pander to "potential Democratic voters" known as illegal aliens.
The Arizona law calls for exactly what the grossly incompetent Janet Napolitano was requesting when she was governor of Arizona but now as Homeland Security head refuses to do anything about.
It may be irrelevant to those who want to gain political advantage or notoriety by mischaracterizing the Arizona law but: ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE NOT A RACE. This news must be a big disappointment to Obama, Al Sharpton and all the other hypocrites trying to create a racial crisis for political or financial gain.
ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE A CRIMINAL GROUP.
Arizona deserves great credit for trying to do what Obama and Bush have not had the courage to do.
This country needs a continuing flow of millions of legal immigrants to continue to thrive and grow as we have for 200 years, but we need federal laws to be enforced and the economic burden of illegal aliens to be eliminated.
Meanwhile, with over 400,000 illegal aliens in Arizona and the vast majority being Hispanic, who should the law enforcement agencies be focusing upon in trying to identify illegal aliens? Asians? Blacks? Scandinavians? Australians? Native American Indians? GET REAL!
With limited law enforcement resources and catching illegal aliens a statistical process, it makes sense to focus on Hispanics.
THIS EFFORT IN ARIZONA PROTECTS ALL LEGAL IMMIGRANTS who are not citizens AND HISPANIC-AMERICANS AS MUCH AS ANY GROUP OF CITIZENS. IT IS A SHAME IF SOME HAVE TO BE INCONVENIENCED, BUT THERE IS A DE FACTO WAR OCCURRING IN THE BORDER STATES.
Legal non-citizen immigrants and Hispanic-Americans in Arizona and elsewhere are paying the price, just as is everyone else, in overburdened education, medical and law enforcement systems, in fewer jobs available, in lower wages in many jobs as illegal aliens work for lower pay and in being targets for crime. An element of the illegal aliens are involved in various VIOLENT CRIME, HUMAN TRAFFICKING , DRUG SMUGGLING, and GUN RUNNING, all of which degrade the quality of life, are a real threat to life and property and are are a major economic burden on United States citizens and on the tens of millions of legal immigrants from Mexico and elsewhere.
Obama's comments questioning the constitutionality of the Arizona law and judging it to create racial profiling, before the law has even taken effect and BEFORE ANY COURT HAS RULES ON ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY suggest that OBAMA IS EITHER A MORON OR A LIAR.
The Arizona law is no more punitive than federal laws on the books but which have not been enforced by Bush or Obama.
The leftist media, the race pimp Al Sharpton, the demagogue Obama, and many pro-illegal-aliens spokesmen have all intentionally mischaracterized the bill for political advantage in an attempt to create a racial divide and pander to "potential Democratic voters" known as illegal aliens.
The Arizona law calls for exactly what the grossly incompetent Janet Napolitano was requesting when she was governor of Arizona but now as Homeland Security head refuses to do anything about.
It may be irrelevant to those who want to gain political advantage or notoriety by mischaracterizing the Arizona law but: ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE NOT A RACE. This news must be a big disappointment to Obama, Al Sharpton and all the other hypocrites trying to create a racial crisis for political or financial gain.
ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE A CRIMINAL GROUP.
Arizona deserves great credit for trying to do what Obama and Bush have not had the courage to do.
This country needs a continuing flow of millions of legal immigrants to continue to thrive and grow as we have for 200 years, but we need federal laws to be enforced and the economic burden of illegal aliens to be eliminated.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Happy Earth Day 2010
1. In 1968, Professor Paul Ehrlich, Vice President Gore's hero and mentor, predicted there would be a major food shortage in the U.S. and "in the 1970s ... hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death." Ehrlich forecasted that 65 million Americans would die of starvation between 1980 and 1989, and by 1999 the U.S. population would have declined to 22.6 million. Ehrlich's predictions about England were gloomier: "If I were a gambler, I would take even money that England will not exist in the year 2000." World-wide “population will inevitably and completely outstrip whatever small increases in food supplies we make. The death rate will increase until at least 100-200 million people per year will be starving to death during the next ten years.” FALSE!
2. “It is already too late to avoid mass starvation.” Denis Hayes, chief organizer for Earth Day 1970. FALSE!
3. “Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread famines will begin in India; these will spread by 1990 to include all of India, Pakistan, China and the Near East, Africa. By the year 2000, or conceivably sooner, South and Central America will exist under famine conditions….By the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine.” Peter Gunter, professor, North Texas State University, 1970. FALSE!
4. “Scientists have solid experimental and theoretical evidence to support…the following predictions: In a decade, urban dwellers will have to wear gas masks to survive air pollution…by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half….” Life Magazine, January 1970. FALSE!
5. “Air pollution is certainly going to take hundreds of thousands of lives in the next few years alone,” Paul Ehrlich in an interview in Mademoiselle Magazine, April 1970. FALSE!
6. Harvard University biologist George Wald in 1970 warned, "... civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind." That was the same year that Sen. Gaylord Nelson warned, in Look Magazine, that by 1995 "... somewhere between 75 and 85 percent of all the species of living animals will be extinct." FALSE!
7. “By 1985, air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half,” Life Magazine, January 1970. FALSE!
8. “Man must stop pollution and conserve his resources, not merely to enhance existence but to save the race from the intolerable deteriorations and possible extinction,” The New York Times editorial, April 20, 1970. FALSE!.
9. At the first Earth Day celebration, in 1969, environmentalist Nigel Calder warned, "The threat of a new ice age must now stand alongside nuclear war as a likely source of wholesale death and misery for mankind." FALSE!
10. C.C. Wallen of the World Meteorological Organization said, "The cooling since 1940 has been large enough and consistent enough that it will not soon be reversed." FALSE!
11. “We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation,” biologist Barry Commoner, University of Washington, writing in the journal Environment, April 1970. FALSE!
12. In 1972, a report was written for the Club of Rome warning the world would run out of gold by 1981, mercury and silver by 1985, tin by 1987 and petroleum, copper, lead and natural gas by 1992. FALSE, FALSE, FALSE and FALSE!
13. Gordon Taylor, in his 1970 book "The Doomsday Book," said Americans were using 50 percent of the world's resources and "by 2000 they [Americans] will, if permitted, be using all of them." FALSE!
14. “At the present rate of nitrogen buildup, it’s only a matter of time before light will be filtered out of the atmosphere and none of our land will be usable.” Kenneth Watt, Ecologist, 1970. FALSE!
15. In 1975, the Environmental Fund took out full-page ads warning, "The World as we know it will likely be ruined by the year 2000." “We have about five more years at the outside to do something.” Kenneth Watt, ecologist. FALSE!
16. “We are prospecting for the very last of our resources and using up the nonrenewable things many times faster than we are finding new ones.” Martin Litton, Sierra Club director, 1970 FALSE!
17. “By the year 2000, if present trends continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate…that there won’t be any more crude oil. You’ll drive up to the pump and say, `Fill ‘er up, buddy,’ and he’ll say, `I am very sorry, there isn’t any.’” Kenneth Watt, Ecologist, 1970. FALSE!
18. “Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, believes that in 25 years, somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of all the species of living animals will be extinct.” Sen. Gaylord Nelson, 1970. FALSE!
19. “The world has been chilling sharply for about twenty years. If present trends continue, the world will be about four degrees colder for the global mean temperature in 1990, but eleven degrees colder in the year 2000. This is about twice what it would take to put us into an ice age.” Kenneth Watt, Ecologist, 1970. FALSE!
20. "The Sky is falling" said Chicken Little, undated. FALSE!
Let's not forget the man-made global warming hoax of the last decade with the poster boy Al Gore who has already has made about $500 million promoting and investing in "green energy" schemes and betting on carbon trading.
Many of the false predictions about man-made global warming by film producer, Nobel Prize winner and profiteer Al Gore and by the corrupt climatologists who have promoted this hoax have been exposed.
1. 1995 was the warmest year in the past 15 years, cooling has occurred over the last decade.
2. Prof Phil Jones, the coordinator of the global warming prediction admitted his record keeping was "not as good as it should be" and he "may have lost" (conveniently)the data from around the globe used to show the infamous "hockey stick" curve that showed temperature flat for hundreds of years and recently rising sharply. (This curve is what Al Gore and numerous climatologists used to reach the so-called "overwhelming consensus" that man-made warming was occurring),
3. Prof. Phil Jones admitted that the Earth was warmer in medieval times than it is now (not previously admitted by man-made warming advocates and not shown in the hockey stick plot)
4. Prof. Phil Jones admitted that the Earth has gone through "natural heating periods"
5. The two latest warming periods, 1910 to 1940 and 1975 to 1998, could be explained by naturally occurring events and man may have had nothing to do with it (like solar flares affecting cloud formation),:
6. The U.N.'s IPCC 2007 Nobel Prize prize winning report made false claims that the Himalayan glaciers are melting (the claims were traced to media hype, false quotes attributed to the scientist who studied the Himalayan glaciers and no actual data,
7. The IPCC made false claims about sea levels rising in the Netherlands, now refuted by scientists in the Netherlands
8. The IPCC used faulty data from China to "prove" global warming.
9. Last week, the president of the Royal Statistical Society in England, said that the graph shaped like an ice hockey stick that has been used to represent the recent rise in global temperatures had been compiled using “inappropriate” (statistical) methods. “It used a particular statistical technique that exaggerated the effect [of recent warming]”.
Again, Happy Earth Day; it's good for a few laughs.
2. “It is already too late to avoid mass starvation.” Denis Hayes, chief organizer for Earth Day 1970. FALSE!
3. “Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread famines will begin in India; these will spread by 1990 to include all of India, Pakistan, China and the Near East, Africa. By the year 2000, or conceivably sooner, South and Central America will exist under famine conditions….By the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine.” Peter Gunter, professor, North Texas State University, 1970. FALSE!
4. “Scientists have solid experimental and theoretical evidence to support…the following predictions: In a decade, urban dwellers will have to wear gas masks to survive air pollution…by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half….” Life Magazine, January 1970. FALSE!
5. “Air pollution is certainly going to take hundreds of thousands of lives in the next few years alone,” Paul Ehrlich in an interview in Mademoiselle Magazine, April 1970. FALSE!
6. Harvard University biologist George Wald in 1970 warned, "... civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind." That was the same year that Sen. Gaylord Nelson warned, in Look Magazine, that by 1995 "... somewhere between 75 and 85 percent of all the species of living animals will be extinct." FALSE!
7. “By 1985, air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half,” Life Magazine, January 1970. FALSE!
8. “Man must stop pollution and conserve his resources, not merely to enhance existence but to save the race from the intolerable deteriorations and possible extinction,” The New York Times editorial, April 20, 1970. FALSE!.
9. At the first Earth Day celebration, in 1969, environmentalist Nigel Calder warned, "The threat of a new ice age must now stand alongside nuclear war as a likely source of wholesale death and misery for mankind." FALSE!
10. C.C. Wallen of the World Meteorological Organization said, "The cooling since 1940 has been large enough and consistent enough that it will not soon be reversed." FALSE!
11. “We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation,” biologist Barry Commoner, University of Washington, writing in the journal Environment, April 1970. FALSE!
12. In 1972, a report was written for the Club of Rome warning the world would run out of gold by 1981, mercury and silver by 1985, tin by 1987 and petroleum, copper, lead and natural gas by 1992. FALSE, FALSE, FALSE and FALSE!
13. Gordon Taylor, in his 1970 book "The Doomsday Book," said Americans were using 50 percent of the world's resources and "by 2000 they [Americans] will, if permitted, be using all of them." FALSE!
14. “At the present rate of nitrogen buildup, it’s only a matter of time before light will be filtered out of the atmosphere and none of our land will be usable.” Kenneth Watt, Ecologist, 1970. FALSE!
15. In 1975, the Environmental Fund took out full-page ads warning, "The World as we know it will likely be ruined by the year 2000." “We have about five more years at the outside to do something.” Kenneth Watt, ecologist. FALSE!
16. “We are prospecting for the very last of our resources and using up the nonrenewable things many times faster than we are finding new ones.” Martin Litton, Sierra Club director, 1970 FALSE!
17. “By the year 2000, if present trends continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate…that there won’t be any more crude oil. You’ll drive up to the pump and say, `Fill ‘er up, buddy,’ and he’ll say, `I am very sorry, there isn’t any.’” Kenneth Watt, Ecologist, 1970. FALSE!
18. “Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, believes that in 25 years, somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of all the species of living animals will be extinct.” Sen. Gaylord Nelson, 1970. FALSE!
19. “The world has been chilling sharply for about twenty years. If present trends continue, the world will be about four degrees colder for the global mean temperature in 1990, but eleven degrees colder in the year 2000. This is about twice what it would take to put us into an ice age.” Kenneth Watt, Ecologist, 1970. FALSE!
20. "The Sky is falling" said Chicken Little, undated. FALSE!
Let's not forget the man-made global warming hoax of the last decade with the poster boy Al Gore who has already has made about $500 million promoting and investing in "green energy" schemes and betting on carbon trading.
Many of the false predictions about man-made global warming by film producer, Nobel Prize winner and profiteer Al Gore and by the corrupt climatologists who have promoted this hoax have been exposed.
1. 1995 was the warmest year in the past 15 years, cooling has occurred over the last decade.
2. Prof Phil Jones, the coordinator of the global warming prediction admitted his record keeping was "not as good as it should be" and he "may have lost" (conveniently)the data from around the globe used to show the infamous "hockey stick" curve that showed temperature flat for hundreds of years and recently rising sharply. (This curve is what Al Gore and numerous climatologists used to reach the so-called "overwhelming consensus" that man-made warming was occurring),
3. Prof. Phil Jones admitted that the Earth was warmer in medieval times than it is now (not previously admitted by man-made warming advocates and not shown in the hockey stick plot)
4. Prof. Phil Jones admitted that the Earth has gone through "natural heating periods"
5. The two latest warming periods, 1910 to 1940 and 1975 to 1998, could be explained by naturally occurring events and man may have had nothing to do with it (like solar flares affecting cloud formation),:
6. The U.N.'s IPCC 2007 Nobel Prize prize winning report made false claims that the Himalayan glaciers are melting (the claims were traced to media hype, false quotes attributed to the scientist who studied the Himalayan glaciers and no actual data,
7. The IPCC made false claims about sea levels rising in the Netherlands, now refuted by scientists in the Netherlands
8. The IPCC used faulty data from China to "prove" global warming.
9. Last week, the president of the Royal Statistical Society in England, said that the graph shaped like an ice hockey stick that has been used to represent the recent rise in global temperatures had been compiled using “inappropriate” (statistical) methods. “It used a particular statistical technique that exaggerated the effect [of recent warming]”.
Again, Happy Earth Day; it's good for a few laughs.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
ObamaCare Highlights and the "No New Taxes" Hype
Everything in the ObamaCare bill is not fully exposed or understood as yet but some of the highlights can now be listed by year as they kick in. ObamaCare is supposed to be coming to you with "no new taxes" from Washington if you are gullible enough or ignorant enough to believe that. This is a sneaky concept because it plays on words that don't count fees, fines, secondary taxes that will be passed along as costs, insurance premium increases and mandated state tax increases as "new taxes" from Washington. It doesn't count taxes that will automatically increase if the Democratic Congress does nothing and lets current tax rates expire (the so-called Bush tax cuts) and revert to higher rates.
Over a period of a few years, $500 billion will be cut from Medicare, while millions more "baby boomer enter Medicare, which will eventually lead to rationing of some diagnostic tests and surgeries; it happened in Canada and in the U.K.
ObamaCare creates 58 or so new federal agencies or bureaus; a massive new bureaucracy with so many government worker and rules that it cannot help but get between health providers and patients.
ObamaCare has thousands of pork projects that have to do with 'wellness", exercise facilities, inner city health food stores, and on and on, all directed to route pork to those who support the Democrats.
Here are a few of the specific highlights of the health insurance reform aspects:
2010: Establishes a requirement to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26 to all existing health insurance plans starting six months after enactment (citizens over he age of 18 or at least 21 used to be adults, now they are children again in the "nanny" state).
2010: Health insurance companies will be banned from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. Adults with pre-existing conditions will be eligible for coverage into high risk health insurance pools until future health care exchanges are up and running.
Health insurance companies will be prohibited from levying annual limits and lifetime limits on coverage. All new health insurance plans must provide coverage for preventative services with no out of pocket cost (all health plans will be forced to comply by 2018). Those companies that offer health benefits for early retirees ages 55 to 64 will receive assistance from a temporary reinsurance program. All new health insurance plans will have to comply with new regulations that lay out an appeals process for when health insurance claims are denied. The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that insurance premiums will increase by $1000 per individual or $2100 per family (but this is "no new taxes").
2011: Increases the additional tax for Health Savings Account withdrawals prior to age 65 that are not used for qualified medical expenses from 10% to 20%.
2011: Everyone earning more than $200,000 as an individual or $250,000 for those who file married filing jointly will have their Medicare payroll tax increased from the current 1.45% to 2.35%.
2012: Reduces the benchmark payment for Medicare Advantage plans that cover 20% of all seniors.
2013: Imposes a 2.3% excise tax on all medical device manufacturers. (Ooops, this looks like a new tax that will certainly be passed on to the consumer).
2013: A $2,500 annual cap will be placed on all contributions to flexible spending accounts (amount indexed for inflation each subsequent year). (This will penalize everyone who has a FSA with higher limits but "no new taxes").
2013: The current tax deduction that employers receive for subsidizing the prescription drug costs of their employees who are eligible for Medicare Part D will be done away with. (Guess who will pay for this with lower raises or fewer benefits? But "no new taxes").
2013: The minimum threshold for being able to claim an itemized deduction for health care expenses increased from 7.5% to 10% of AGI although those over the age of 65 can stay at the 7.5% threshold through 2016. (Wait a minute!! What happened to the "no new taxes? Well, this is after the next presidential election.)
2013: The hospital insurance tax will increase .09% for those who earn more than $200,000 ($250,000 for those married filing jointly).
2013: Additional requirements on health insurance companies to implement uniform standards for exchanging health care information, electronic communication, and other measures to reduce insurance company administrative costs. (Sure to drive up premiums more as administrative costs go up, but "no new taxes".)
2014: All US citizens will be FORCEDto have health insurance coverage considered acceptable by the US Government or else pay a fine of $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015, $695 in 2016 (capped at 2.5% of AGI). All of the fines are per person per year except for families have a cap on the total fine of $2,250 and the fine amount for children is half of the adult fine. (This smells like a new tax but they call it a "penalty"! )
2014: Businesses with 50 or more employees will face a fine of either $2,000 or $3,000 per employee for not offering health insurance coverage. (here we go again with a "fine" but "no new taxes".)
2014: Eligibility standards are implemented for newly formed health care exchanges. (This is a code word for government deciding what needs to be in every policy and that you will have to pay for it whether you want that coverage or not.)
2014: Health insurance companies are prohibited from using an individual’s health status to issue a policy or renew a policy. All pre-existing conditions must be covered and higher health insurance rates cannot be levied because of health, gender, etc. (Higher premiums for all, but "no new taxes".)
2014: The eligibility standards for Medicaid will be changed to 133% of poverty for those who are not considered elderly. (Expect higher state taxes to cover this Medicaid increase, but the federal government can claim "no new taxes" from them.)
2014: New annual fees will be levied on all health insurance providers based on an insurance companies market share and whose total premiums exceed $25 million. (Now, who will eventually pay for these "annual fees? Not the companies!)
2017: States may allow businesses with more than 100 employees to buy insurance on their exchange.
2018: The “Cadillac” health insurance plan tax will kick in. A 40% excise tax will be levied on all employer provided health insurance plans costing more than $27,500 for families and $10,200 for individuals. (Watch the unions slip by with an exemption beyond 2018 if Democrats are in control.)
IF ANYONE THINKS THIS WILL REDUCE THE DEFICIT THEY HAVE LOST CONTACT WITH REALITY. ONCE OBAMACARE IS IN FULL SWING, AROUND 2013-2014, INDEPENDENT ECONOMISTS FORECAST DEFICITS OF ANYWHERE FROM $200 TO 500 BILLION PER YEAR. WE HAVE THE MODELS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID TO SUPPORT THE FORECAST OF SUCH DEFICITS. THIS WILL DESTROY THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND STANDARD OF LIVING AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
Over a period of a few years, $500 billion will be cut from Medicare, while millions more "baby boomer enter Medicare, which will eventually lead to rationing of some diagnostic tests and surgeries; it happened in Canada and in the U.K.
ObamaCare creates 58 or so new federal agencies or bureaus; a massive new bureaucracy with so many government worker and rules that it cannot help but get between health providers and patients.
ObamaCare has thousands of pork projects that have to do with 'wellness", exercise facilities, inner city health food stores, and on and on, all directed to route pork to those who support the Democrats.
Here are a few of the specific highlights of the health insurance reform aspects:
2010: Establishes a requirement to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26 to all existing health insurance plans starting six months after enactment (citizens over he age of 18 or at least 21 used to be adults, now they are children again in the "nanny" state).
2010: Health insurance companies will be banned from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. Adults with pre-existing conditions will be eligible for coverage into high risk health insurance pools until future health care exchanges are up and running.
Health insurance companies will be prohibited from levying annual limits and lifetime limits on coverage. All new health insurance plans must provide coverage for preventative services with no out of pocket cost (all health plans will be forced to comply by 2018). Those companies that offer health benefits for early retirees ages 55 to 64 will receive assistance from a temporary reinsurance program. All new health insurance plans will have to comply with new regulations that lay out an appeals process for when health insurance claims are denied. The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that insurance premiums will increase by $1000 per individual or $2100 per family (but this is "no new taxes").
2011: Increases the additional tax for Health Savings Account withdrawals prior to age 65 that are not used for qualified medical expenses from 10% to 20%.
2011: Everyone earning more than $200,000 as an individual or $250,000 for those who file married filing jointly will have their Medicare payroll tax increased from the current 1.45% to 2.35%.
2012: Reduces the benchmark payment for Medicare Advantage plans that cover 20% of all seniors.
2013: Imposes a 2.3% excise tax on all medical device manufacturers. (Ooops, this looks like a new tax that will certainly be passed on to the consumer).
2013: A $2,500 annual cap will be placed on all contributions to flexible spending accounts (amount indexed for inflation each subsequent year). (This will penalize everyone who has a FSA with higher limits but "no new taxes").
2013: The current tax deduction that employers receive for subsidizing the prescription drug costs of their employees who are eligible for Medicare Part D will be done away with. (Guess who will pay for this with lower raises or fewer benefits? But "no new taxes").
2013: The minimum threshold for being able to claim an itemized deduction for health care expenses increased from 7.5% to 10% of AGI although those over the age of 65 can stay at the 7.5% threshold through 2016. (Wait a minute!! What happened to the "no new taxes? Well, this is after the next presidential election.)
2013: The hospital insurance tax will increase .09% for those who earn more than $200,000 ($250,000 for those married filing jointly).
2013: Additional requirements on health insurance companies to implement uniform standards for exchanging health care information, electronic communication, and other measures to reduce insurance company administrative costs. (Sure to drive up premiums more as administrative costs go up, but "no new taxes".)
2014: All US citizens will be FORCEDto have health insurance coverage considered acceptable by the US Government or else pay a fine of $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015, $695 in 2016 (capped at 2.5% of AGI). All of the fines are per person per year except for families have a cap on the total fine of $2,250 and the fine amount for children is half of the adult fine. (This smells like a new tax but they call it a "penalty"! )
2014: Businesses with 50 or more employees will face a fine of either $2,000 or $3,000 per employee for not offering health insurance coverage. (here we go again with a "fine" but "no new taxes".)
2014: Eligibility standards are implemented for newly formed health care exchanges. (This is a code word for government deciding what needs to be in every policy and that you will have to pay for it whether you want that coverage or not.)
2014: Health insurance companies are prohibited from using an individual’s health status to issue a policy or renew a policy. All pre-existing conditions must be covered and higher health insurance rates cannot be levied because of health, gender, etc. (Higher premiums for all, but "no new taxes".)
2014: The eligibility standards for Medicaid will be changed to 133% of poverty for those who are not considered elderly. (Expect higher state taxes to cover this Medicaid increase, but the federal government can claim "no new taxes" from them.)
2014: New annual fees will be levied on all health insurance providers based on an insurance companies market share and whose total premiums exceed $25 million. (Now, who will eventually pay for these "annual fees? Not the companies!)
2017: States may allow businesses with more than 100 employees to buy insurance on their exchange.
2018: The “Cadillac” health insurance plan tax will kick in. A 40% excise tax will be levied on all employer provided health insurance plans costing more than $27,500 for families and $10,200 for individuals. (Watch the unions slip by with an exemption beyond 2018 if Democrats are in control.)
IF ANYONE THINKS THIS WILL REDUCE THE DEFICIT THEY HAVE LOST CONTACT WITH REALITY. ONCE OBAMACARE IS IN FULL SWING, AROUND 2013-2014, INDEPENDENT ECONOMISTS FORECAST DEFICITS OF ANYWHERE FROM $200 TO 500 BILLION PER YEAR. WE HAVE THE MODELS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID TO SUPPORT THE FORECAST OF SUCH DEFICITS. THIS WILL DESTROY THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND STANDARD OF LIVING AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
No New Taxes
If Obama and the Democrats do NOTHING for the remainder of 2010, then taxes will increase for 100 % of Americans. Here is how it will happen. If there is no legislation to continue the Bush tax cuts, then the tax rate will go up for all income tax brackets: wealthy, middle class, lower class. Obama will claim these are not "new taxes" just the reinstituting of "old taxes" which Bush should never have cut (the old "blame it on Bush" manta of Obama and the Democrats.) Also, corporate taxes, capital gains, dividends and inheritance taxes will incease. With ObamaCare, health insurance premiums will start to go up, but of course, Obama will blame the "greedy" insurance companies and not admit that his health plan forced premiums to go up (an indorect tax). Many other fees and indirect taxes will start to appear as passed along to the consumer as a result of ObamaCare. State income taxes will have to increase as ObamaCare forces states to increase the rolls of those on Medicaid. This is easy to blame on the states, so once again slick Obama thinks he can claim he did not increase your taxes. In the longer term, the huge budget deficits and increased national debt will devalue the dollar, causing inflation that will hit everyone; and once again Obama will blame Bush or someone else for inflation and claim he did not raise taxes although the standard of living for most Americans will decrease. Only the most ignorant and blind Obama puppets will fall for these excuses.
One More Nail in the Global Warming Hoax Coffin
A key piece of evidence in climate change science was slammed as “exaggerated” on last week by the UK’s leading statistician, in a vindication of claims that global warming skeptics have been making for years. Professor David Hand, president of the Royal Statistical Society, said that a graph shaped like an ice hockey stick that has been used to represent the recent rise in global temperatures had been compiled using “inappropriate” methods. “It used a particular statistical technique that exaggerated the effect [of recent warming],” he said.
Goldman-Sachs is the Boogeyman to Justify Takeover of Financial Industry by Obama
Goldman Sachs was probably negligent, if not complicit, in the huge losses incurred by its investors. Meanwhile, there can be no doubt that the timing and method of pursuing a redress in this matter is politically motivated by Obama to once again create a boogeyman that can help ram through a piece of legislation designed to give government huge control over the financial industry and maybe even over other corporations deemed "too big to fail". It's part of the Obama-Democratic playbook to create a boogeyman. Next, we can expect those who oppose Obama's financial regulatory reform to be labeled "racists".
1. Goldman-Sachs and the entire investment banking industry needs better regulation with regard to highly leveraged instruments such as derivatives based upon risky mortgages. The problem is just as much ENFORCEMENT as it is REGULATION. The SEC, the bond rating firms and every board of directors of investment banks were highly negligent or incompetent leading up to the 2008 credit crisis. They had the authority and the means to head off the economic crash but didn't do their jobs; it was not a lack of regulatory rules that caused the crisis.
2. Hedge funds have very little activity in hedging against the market going either up or down at various times; "hedge" is a misnomer to what these funds do. The hedge funds have turned into big gambling ventures dealing in highly leveraged financial instruments much more often betting with the direction of the market than "hedging " against it. Hedge funds need to be regulated, the leverage of any instrument needs to be reduced and more importantly, regulations need to be ENFORCED in an timely manner, not just after a disaster.
3. The biggest financial gambling houses, with virtually no enforcement of regulations and, worse yet, protection by politicians, are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These are government entities that have accumulated far bigger losses than any private Wall Street banks. Many politicians had as much or more effect in causing the financial crisis of 2008, one person who stands above all others in causing the meltdown is Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) for leading the effort to force banks to make highly risky loans and then blocking all attempts at regulation of Fannie and Freddie for 15 years. His buddy, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) aided in the effort to block all regulation of Fannie and Freddie; now like all two-faced lying politicians, Chris Dodd is leading the effort in the senate to ram through Obama's financial regulatory reform which is not as much reform as it is a vehicle for the government to take over and run the entire investment and banking industries.
4. There are a few simple actions that could be taken to reduce the risk of future financial meltdowns without giving the government the power to take over these industries, such as: (a) reducing allowed leverage ratios, (b)re-instituting the separation of commercial banking and investment banking; under Bill Clinton in 1999 the Glass Steagall Act was repealed which allowed commercial banks who were supposed to deal in low risk loans to get into competition with investment houses and offer high risk instruments such as mortgage backed securities and collateralized debt obligations, (c) increase the tax on stock trades to dampen the volume of day trading which has nothing to do with the intrinsic value of companies, (d) do not give any financial institution cover through bailouts as "too big to fail", and (e) lower the tax rate on long term capital gains and dividends and (f) put immediate limits on Freddie and Fannie with no more risky loans so "poor people" can own houses and have a plan to turn these government entities into private sector institutions.
5. These simple changes do not require a 1000 page financial reform act as proposed by Obama and will not increase the size of government but they would dampen speculation, the level of outright gambling, the opportunities for fraud or negligence and would encourage safe long term investments in the private sector.
1. Goldman-Sachs and the entire investment banking industry needs better regulation with regard to highly leveraged instruments such as derivatives based upon risky mortgages. The problem is just as much ENFORCEMENT as it is REGULATION. The SEC, the bond rating firms and every board of directors of investment banks were highly negligent or incompetent leading up to the 2008 credit crisis. They had the authority and the means to head off the economic crash but didn't do their jobs; it was not a lack of regulatory rules that caused the crisis.
2. Hedge funds have very little activity in hedging against the market going either up or down at various times; "hedge" is a misnomer to what these funds do. The hedge funds have turned into big gambling ventures dealing in highly leveraged financial instruments much more often betting with the direction of the market than "hedging " against it. Hedge funds need to be regulated, the leverage of any instrument needs to be reduced and more importantly, regulations need to be ENFORCED in an timely manner, not just after a disaster.
3. The biggest financial gambling houses, with virtually no enforcement of regulations and, worse yet, protection by politicians, are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These are government entities that have accumulated far bigger losses than any private Wall Street banks. Many politicians had as much or more effect in causing the financial crisis of 2008, one person who stands above all others in causing the meltdown is Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) for leading the effort to force banks to make highly risky loans and then blocking all attempts at regulation of Fannie and Freddie for 15 years. His buddy, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) aided in the effort to block all regulation of Fannie and Freddie; now like all two-faced lying politicians, Chris Dodd is leading the effort in the senate to ram through Obama's financial regulatory reform which is not as much reform as it is a vehicle for the government to take over and run the entire investment and banking industries.
4. There are a few simple actions that could be taken to reduce the risk of future financial meltdowns without giving the government the power to take over these industries, such as: (a) reducing allowed leverage ratios, (b)re-instituting the separation of commercial banking and investment banking; under Bill Clinton in 1999 the Glass Steagall Act was repealed which allowed commercial banks who were supposed to deal in low risk loans to get into competition with investment houses and offer high risk instruments such as mortgage backed securities and collateralized debt obligations, (c) increase the tax on stock trades to dampen the volume of day trading which has nothing to do with the intrinsic value of companies, (d) do not give any financial institution cover through bailouts as "too big to fail", and (e) lower the tax rate on long term capital gains and dividends and (f) put immediate limits on Freddie and Fannie with no more risky loans so "poor people" can own houses and have a plan to turn these government entities into private sector institutions.
5. These simple changes do not require a 1000 page financial reform act as proposed by Obama and will not increase the size of government but they would dampen speculation, the level of outright gambling, the opportunities for fraud or negligence and would encourage safe long term investments in the private sector.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Obama gathered leaders of about 50 nations to talk about ways of safe-guarding weapons grade plutonium and uranium. Obama blathered on in generalities about non-proliferation and reducing nuclear arsenals with some ideal vision of a nuclear-free world. Unfortunately, Obama's prepared remarks did not specifically mention Iran or North Korea or that these rogue dictatorships with strong ties to terrorists could soon be able to supply nuclear weapons to Islamic Terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah, based either upon common ideology (Iran) or for money (North Korea). Why did Obama avoid these hot issues in his remarks? The answer is simple, Obama has no answer for the undeterred continuing development of nuclear weapons by Iran and North Korea. All of Obama's sweet talking, alternating with threats of sanctions and isolation, have had absolutely ZERO IMPACT ON IRAN AND NORTH KOREA. The leaders of these rogue nations are not charmed by Obama as were the throngs of Europeans when Obama apologized for America. Iran and North Korea continue to laugh at Obama's naive approaches.
Examine the "nuclear weapons club" of eight nations. Does anyone think that Russia or China are the big nuclear threats to the United States? Does anyone believe that India, England or France will wage nuclear war? As for Pakistan, the biggest threat is whether Islamic radicals will take over the government at some point and supply Islamic Terrorists with weapons; but it is not realistic to expect Pakistan to dismantle all of its weapons so the best policy is to support the Pakistani government against the Islamic radicals. Finally, some Islamic nations like Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia came to the conference pandering to the Islamic radicals by complaining about Israel's nuclear capability. However, this is just political grandstanding. It is not believable that the leaders of these countries actually think Israel is a threat to them; in reality they would be at much greater risk of being incorporated into a greater Persian empire if Iran developed into nuclear weapons power.
So, once again, with his nuclear non-proliferation policy, Obama reveals that he is either too naive to set foreign policy or is intentionally weakening the United States as part of a "spread the power around" global philosophy. Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Palestinians and others walk all over Obama at every turn as do other nations. Obama endangers our allies and panders to dictatorships and leftist governments, the modern Jimmy Carter, although more dangerous because Obama has power.
Examine the "nuclear weapons club" of eight nations. Does anyone think that Russia or China are the big nuclear threats to the United States? Does anyone believe that India, England or France will wage nuclear war? As for Pakistan, the biggest threat is whether Islamic radicals will take over the government at some point and supply Islamic Terrorists with weapons; but it is not realistic to expect Pakistan to dismantle all of its weapons so the best policy is to support the Pakistani government against the Islamic radicals. Finally, some Islamic nations like Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia came to the conference pandering to the Islamic radicals by complaining about Israel's nuclear capability. However, this is just political grandstanding. It is not believable that the leaders of these countries actually think Israel is a threat to them; in reality they would be at much greater risk of being incorporated into a greater Persian empire if Iran developed into nuclear weapons power.
So, once again, with his nuclear non-proliferation policy, Obama reveals that he is either too naive to set foreign policy or is intentionally weakening the United States as part of a "spread the power around" global philosophy. Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Palestinians and others walk all over Obama at every turn as do other nations. Obama endangers our allies and panders to dictatorships and leftist governments, the modern Jimmy Carter, although more dangerous because Obama has power.
Extending Jobless Benefits - The Down Side
Congress is debating whether to extend unemployment benefits for another 20 weeks. This is an unending path of people staying unemployed and Congress, led by Democrats and supported by the Obama administration, trying to play the "compassionate" role and handing out more money. Meanwhile, there are some facts that get tossed aside by the Democrats.
First, they pledged to move to a "pay as you go" budgeting system; but this was all political rhetoric on the of part of the Democrats with no intent of actually having the revenue to pay for the expense. There is NO PLAN to fund the $90 billion jobless benefits through any increase in revenue.
Second, there are so many PORK PROJECTS in the phony Stimulus bill and in in ObamaCare, that hundreds of billions could be available for jobless benefits but are not available due to the irresponsible spending and the $1.4 trillion deficits being run up by Obama and the Democrats. If Obama wanted to decrease unemployment he would have reduced corporate, capital gains and income taxes. But he is more interested in making history with major social legislation, not something mundane like creating jobs.
Third, one study after another has shown that extending jobless benefits gives people an incentive to remain out of work. For example, one of Obama's own economists, Alan Kruger, concluded in a 2008 study that "job searches increase sharply in the weeks prior to benefit exhaustion". Obama's own White House economic advisor, Lawrence Summers wrote in 1999 in the Concise encyclopedia of Unemployment that "The second way government assistance programs contribute to long-term unemployment is by providing an incentive NOT to work. Each unemployed person has a 'reservation wage' the minimum wage he or she insists on getting before accepting a job. Unemployment insurance and other social assistance programs increase the reservation wage, causing an unemployed person to remain unemployed".
Fourth, giving people an additional incentive to stay out of work puts them at long term risk for remaining out of work as they lose critical skills and contacts. Options such as changing type of job, relocating to different cities or states and retraining get passed over as the unemployed remain comfortable with jobless benefits until it is too late to rejoin the workforce.
It's ironical, that the Democrats think they will appear as the compassionate party by extending jobless benefits but in the end this will help keep unemployment higher and therefore work against them in the election.
First, they pledged to move to a "pay as you go" budgeting system; but this was all political rhetoric on the of part of the Democrats with no intent of actually having the revenue to pay for the expense. There is NO PLAN to fund the $90 billion jobless benefits through any increase in revenue.
Second, there are so many PORK PROJECTS in the phony Stimulus bill and in in ObamaCare, that hundreds of billions could be available for jobless benefits but are not available due to the irresponsible spending and the $1.4 trillion deficits being run up by Obama and the Democrats. If Obama wanted to decrease unemployment he would have reduced corporate, capital gains and income taxes. But he is more interested in making history with major social legislation, not something mundane like creating jobs.
Third, one study after another has shown that extending jobless benefits gives people an incentive to remain out of work. For example, one of Obama's own economists, Alan Kruger, concluded in a 2008 study that "job searches increase sharply in the weeks prior to benefit exhaustion". Obama's own White House economic advisor, Lawrence Summers wrote in 1999 in the Concise encyclopedia of Unemployment that "The second way government assistance programs contribute to long-term unemployment is by providing an incentive NOT to work. Each unemployed person has a 'reservation wage' the minimum wage he or she insists on getting before accepting a job. Unemployment insurance and other social assistance programs increase the reservation wage, causing an unemployed person to remain unemployed".
Fourth, giving people an additional incentive to stay out of work puts them at long term risk for remaining out of work as they lose critical skills and contacts. Options such as changing type of job, relocating to different cities or states and retraining get passed over as the unemployed remain comfortable with jobless benefits until it is too late to rejoin the workforce.
It's ironical, that the Democrats think they will appear as the compassionate party by extending jobless benefits but in the end this will help keep unemployment higher and therefore work against them in the election.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Obama Gets to Appoint Another Supreme Court Justice
Republicans are calling for Obama to appoint a "mainstream" judge to the Supreme Court replacing the retiring Justice Stevens
Obama and "mainstream" is an oxymoron.
Obama has spent his life surrounding himself with, and adopted his political-social philosophy from, far left radicals, criminals, racists and America-haters like Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Louis Farrakhan, Michael Pfleger, Van Jones, Rashid Khalid, Bernadine Dohrn, Harold Koh, Mark Lloyd, Cass Sunstein, Tony Rezko, Saul Alinsky, Henry Louis Gates Jr, Frank Marshall Davis, Susan Rice, Eric Holder and on and on.
Many of these have made it into the Obama Administration. If you don't know who they are, check them out with Google.
Now, why would anyone expect a centrist nominee for the Supreme Court?
Obama has stated clearly that he intends to "transform" America. His first supreme Court appointee, Sotomayer, has a record of ignoring the Constitution and being reversed many times as a lower court judge.
We can expect another Sotomayer at best, and perhaps someone even more radical who wants to set social policy from the judicial bench.
Obama and "mainstream" is an oxymoron.
Obama has spent his life surrounding himself with, and adopted his political-social philosophy from, far left radicals, criminals, racists and America-haters like Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Louis Farrakhan, Michael Pfleger, Van Jones, Rashid Khalid, Bernadine Dohrn, Harold Koh, Mark Lloyd, Cass Sunstein, Tony Rezko, Saul Alinsky, Henry Louis Gates Jr, Frank Marshall Davis, Susan Rice, Eric Holder and on and on.
Many of these have made it into the Obama Administration. If you don't know who they are, check them out with Google.
Now, why would anyone expect a centrist nominee for the Supreme Court?
Obama has stated clearly that he intends to "transform" America. His first supreme Court appointee, Sotomayer, has a record of ignoring the Constitution and being reversed many times as a lower court judge.
We can expect another Sotomayer at best, and perhaps someone even more radical who wants to set social policy from the judicial bench.
Value Added Tax (VAT) -What Are the Prospects?
The Value Added Tax (VAT) like in Europe is essentially a consumption tax attached to the price of everything you buy. In Europe it is 15% or higher and despite promises by politicians, income taxes have not been reduced by the VAT. Lying politicians? What a surprise! One of Obama's economic advisors has floated the idea that a VAT in the United States is the only way to combat the growing debt. Naturally, ideas like cutting spending, even for entitlement programs, and cutting taxes to grow the economy and thus increase tax revenues don't occur in the minds of the leftists in the Obama administration. Many of Obama's actions and statements reveal that he wants to create a socialistic economy of the European style or worse.
A VAT would push the United States well down the path to socialism. The one bright spot is that if Obama and Democrats passed a VAT, it might be the best way to wake up those puppets still fawning over Obama. It would be painful for all, until repealed, but all other hidden taxes, fees, health insurance premium increases, eventual impact of inflation, ObamaCare forcing states to increase taxes to cover Medicaid adds and so on are subject to demagoguery by Obama; it will always be someone else's fault. However, a VAT, is "in your face" and even those that don't pay income taxes will get hit by a VAT. Obama and the Democrats know this will hit many of their base, so they will probably hold off until after 2010 and even after 2012, before trying to pass a VAT. This is one more reason why it is so important to take Congress away from the control of the leftists in 2010 and 2012 and to defeat Obama in 2012
A VAT would push the United States well down the path to socialism. The one bright spot is that if Obama and Democrats passed a VAT, it might be the best way to wake up those puppets still fawning over Obama. It would be painful for all, until repealed, but all other hidden taxes, fees, health insurance premium increases, eventual impact of inflation, ObamaCare forcing states to increase taxes to cover Medicaid adds and so on are subject to demagoguery by Obama; it will always be someone else's fault. However, a VAT, is "in your face" and even those that don't pay income taxes will get hit by a VAT. Obama and the Democrats know this will hit many of their base, so they will probably hold off until after 2010 and even after 2012, before trying to pass a VAT. This is one more reason why it is so important to take Congress away from the control of the leftists in 2010 and 2012 and to defeat Obama in 2012
Poverty Affects Children of All Races in the United States
WHEN YOU HAVE DUG YOURSELF INTO A DEEP HOLE, THE WAY OUT IS NOT TO KEEP SHOVELING.
Massive government programs to make poor people into wards of the state, started with the Great Society and have been added to ever since with Obama making all previous "nanny state programs" look paltry. These types of programs have destroyed family values, destroyed education, destroyed incentive, motivation and individual responsibility. These types of programs have rarely provided a path out of poverty for any racial group. It is the exceptional child who works out of poverty despite the government programs to keep a status quo with housing subsidies, food stamps, welfare checks, Medicaid, etc.
As of 2008 in the United States, there were 14 million White children living in poverty, 4.3 million Black children, 4.4 million Hispanic children and 0.5 million Asian children; with the minorities in poverty being at about 2.5 times the rate for Whites. Blacks being in poverty as victims of racism is the kind of simple lazy theme we always get from the leftists media and "race baiters" like Al Sharpton or Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post. However, the causes and cure are clearly far more complex and we have 50 or more years of experience to prove that the government cannot spend the way out of poverty through direct subsidies.
Massive government programs to make poor people into wards of the state, started with the Great Society and have been added to ever since with Obama making all previous "nanny state programs" look paltry. These types of programs have destroyed family values, destroyed education, destroyed incentive, motivation and individual responsibility. These types of programs have rarely provided a path out of poverty for any racial group. It is the exceptional child who works out of poverty despite the government programs to keep a status quo with housing subsidies, food stamps, welfare checks, Medicaid, etc.
As of 2008 in the United States, there were 14 million White children living in poverty, 4.3 million Black children, 4.4 million Hispanic children and 0.5 million Asian children; with the minorities in poverty being at about 2.5 times the rate for Whites. Blacks being in poverty as victims of racism is the kind of simple lazy theme we always get from the leftists media and "race baiters" like Al Sharpton or Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post. However, the causes and cure are clearly far more complex and we have 50 or more years of experience to prove that the government cannot spend the way out of poverty through direct subsidies.
The Flap Over Michael Steele as Chairman of the RNC
It's a shame that the issues raised about Michael Steele revolve around race and petty stuff like attending strip clubs.
As an independent conservative, I almost always wind up voting for the Republican candidate as the lesser of two bad choices.
I was hoping for some fresh new leadership and ideas from the RNC and some passion as shown in town hall meetings and by the Tea Party.
Michael Steele seems to be a follower and not a leader; his positions come out well after they have been formulated and expressed by others.
For most of the past year he has had a wimpy approach to criticizing the lies and socialistic policies of Obama.
Steele is bright and articulate but not inspiring and generally too timid. I'm not looking for a lying out-of-control crazy like the Democrat's had with Howard Dean, but someone who is out front with ideas like Newt Gingrich.
As an independent conservative, I almost always wind up voting for the Republican candidate as the lesser of two bad choices.
I was hoping for some fresh new leadership and ideas from the RNC and some passion as shown in town hall meetings and by the Tea Party.
Michael Steele seems to be a follower and not a leader; his positions come out well after they have been formulated and expressed by others.
For most of the past year he has had a wimpy approach to criticizing the lies and socialistic policies of Obama.
Steele is bright and articulate but not inspiring and generally too timid. I'm not looking for a lying out-of-control crazy like the Democrat's had with Howard Dean, but someone who is out front with ideas like Newt Gingrich.
Public Education in Washinton D.C. - The Worst In The Country
The public school system in Washington D. C. ranks 51st among all the states and D.C.
One of the few bright spots in D.C. has been the "DC Opportunity Scholarship Program" where low income families (average $23,000 income) get vouchers for private schools. The kids who attend these are predominantly Black by a large margin and poor but selected because they are highly motivated and good learners. The cost per student is about one-half that of the city-run public school system. Yet, Obama and the Democrats are PHASING OUT the DCOSP because the teachers union opposes vouchers to non-union schools and is afraid of comparisons of achievement between these successful voucher schools and the pitiful public schools where no standards are imposed for teachers or students. While Obama paid lip service to supporting Charter schools, another bright spot for D.C. kids, his education reform package is more focused on punishing those districts that don't comply with providing the same education for everyone and on taking over the college student loan program where everyone can go to college no matter what their capabilities or motivation. More examples of Obama's hypocrisy, pandering to special interests and socialist thinking of educating to the lowest level of quality in order to include everyone in a government controlled education system. By his actions, Obama shows that he doesn't actually care about the Blacks in D.C. (he'll get their votes no matter what) but rather on repaying special interest unions and centralized control of the education system. It's disgusting!
One of the few bright spots in D.C. has been the "DC Opportunity Scholarship Program" where low income families (average $23,000 income) get vouchers for private schools. The kids who attend these are predominantly Black by a large margin and poor but selected because they are highly motivated and good learners. The cost per student is about one-half that of the city-run public school system. Yet, Obama and the Democrats are PHASING OUT the DCOSP because the teachers union opposes vouchers to non-union schools and is afraid of comparisons of achievement between these successful voucher schools and the pitiful public schools where no standards are imposed for teachers or students. While Obama paid lip service to supporting Charter schools, another bright spot for D.C. kids, his education reform package is more focused on punishing those districts that don't comply with providing the same education for everyone and on taking over the college student loan program where everyone can go to college no matter what their capabilities or motivation. More examples of Obama's hypocrisy, pandering to special interests and socialist thinking of educating to the lowest level of quality in order to include everyone in a government controlled education system. By his actions, Obama shows that he doesn't actually care about the Blacks in D.C. (he'll get their votes no matter what) but rather on repaying special interest unions and centralized control of the education system. It's disgusting!
Revisting How ObamaCare Got Passed in Congress
Voting their conscience, and taking into account the will of large majority of the people they represent, has nothing to do with how the Democrats in the Senate or House voted on ObamaCare.
If it weren't for:
- arm twisting about campaign funds from the DNC,
- promises of help in raising money for the next election,
- outright bribes like the Louisiana purchase, Gator aid, Cornhusker kickback and more
- hundreds or thousands of earmarks that get hidden in the Health Bill and in other bills like the Stimulus funds,
- pressure for what office, committees and budget each congressman gets, and
- promises of ambassadorships or other future jobs if they lose the next election
THEN OBAMACARE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IN THE SENATE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IN THE HOUSE.
If it weren't for the sneaky Chicago tricks of misusing the "budget reconciliation" process for major social legislation in the Senate, then ObamaCare would never become law.
We have never had such a collection of liars, cheats, and corrupt leaders as Obama, Pelosi and Reid and so on in the history of the United States.
NOW THAT THIS ABOMINATION OF OBAMACARE PASSES, IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A BATTLE WILL GO ON FOR YEARS TO GET RID OF EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR IT, TO BLOCK ALL FUNDING AND FURTHER MODIFICATIONS AND EVENTUALLY TO ELECT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL SUPPORT A REPEAL OF THIS DISASTER.
If it weren't for:
- arm twisting about campaign funds from the DNC,
- promises of help in raising money for the next election,
- outright bribes like the Louisiana purchase, Gator aid, Cornhusker kickback and more
- hundreds or thousands of earmarks that get hidden in the Health Bill and in other bills like the Stimulus funds,
- pressure for what office, committees and budget each congressman gets, and
- promises of ambassadorships or other future jobs if they lose the next election
THEN OBAMACARE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IN THE SENATE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IN THE HOUSE.
If it weren't for the sneaky Chicago tricks of misusing the "budget reconciliation" process for major social legislation in the Senate, then ObamaCare would never become law.
We have never had such a collection of liars, cheats, and corrupt leaders as Obama, Pelosi and Reid and so on in the history of the United States.
NOW THAT THIS ABOMINATION OF OBAMACARE PASSES, IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A BATTLE WILL GO ON FOR YEARS TO GET RID OF EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR IT, TO BLOCK ALL FUNDING AND FURTHER MODIFICATIONS AND EVENTUALLY TO ELECT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL SUPPORT A REPEAL OF THIS DISASTER.
Monday, April 5, 2010
U.S. Allies Must Be Wondering: If Israel Can't Trust Obama Then Who Can?
The United States and Israel have remained strong allies for 60 years through Democratic and Republican administrations. At times, there have been disagreements on one matter or another, but the United States has always stood by its ally in the face of external threats and Israel has remained the beacon of freedom and hope in the Middle East. Even as Jimmy Carter sold out to Arab monetary contributions after his presidency and as Bill Clinton did the same, the security of Israel remained an unwavering aspect of the United States' foreign policy.
Now, Obama, with his cronies Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Susan Rice, have refused to stand by Israel against the nuclear threat from Iran. In fact, Obama has not only failed to deal with Iran but has made it clear that the United States would not support military action by Israel against the nuclear facilities in Iran. Obama has gone even further to pander to the Muslim world by demanding concessions from Israel to the Hamas led Palestinians, with no guarantees that Israel would get peace in return.
This issue is not just an Israel vs. United States diplomatic impasse. The implications are far greater. First, in the Middle East and neighboring nations, the message must be clear and very troublesome. If the United states will not stand by it's close ally Israel in a time of danger, how can any nation trust the United States during the Obama regime? What must the leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and "friendly" Arab nations like Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia be thinking? Perhaps they should strike the best deal they can with the radical Islamic forces because the United States cannot be trusted as an ally.
Second, the uncertainty must extend beyond the Middle East. We already saw how Obama double-crossed Poland and the Czech Republic on the missile defense shield and how Obama backed the would be dictator Zeyela of Honduras over those protecting the Honduran constitution. How can South Korea and Japan trust the United States under Obama with respect to aggression from North Korea. how can any former Soviet block country trust the Unite States under Obama with respect to Russia trying to resurrect the Soviet Union.
Obama is worse than than inept in foreign policy, he has shown the world that he lies and cannot be trusted.
Now, Obama, with his cronies Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Susan Rice, have refused to stand by Israel against the nuclear threat from Iran. In fact, Obama has not only failed to deal with Iran but has made it clear that the United States would not support military action by Israel against the nuclear facilities in Iran. Obama has gone even further to pander to the Muslim world by demanding concessions from Israel to the Hamas led Palestinians, with no guarantees that Israel would get peace in return.
This issue is not just an Israel vs. United States diplomatic impasse. The implications are far greater. First, in the Middle East and neighboring nations, the message must be clear and very troublesome. If the United states will not stand by it's close ally Israel in a time of danger, how can any nation trust the United States during the Obama regime? What must the leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and "friendly" Arab nations like Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia be thinking? Perhaps they should strike the best deal they can with the radical Islamic forces because the United States cannot be trusted as an ally.
Second, the uncertainty must extend beyond the Middle East. We already saw how Obama double-crossed Poland and the Czech Republic on the missile defense shield and how Obama backed the would be dictator Zeyela of Honduras over those protecting the Honduran constitution. How can South Korea and Japan trust the United States under Obama with respect to aggression from North Korea. how can any former Soviet block country trust the Unite States under Obama with respect to Russia trying to resurrect the Soviet Union.
Obama is worse than than inept in foreign policy, he has shown the world that he lies and cannot be trusted.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
"Haters" Come In All Flavors
Liberals who cry "racism" and "haters" when White people criticize Obama's policies should check out the 'HateWatch List of the Southern Poverty Law Center which is a very "liberal" organization (the group that busted the KKK with law suits). They will find mnay White Supremists and presumably White militia groups on the list, but not the Republican Party, FOX news, the Tea Party groups, talk radio networks or other Conservative organizations on this list. However, Liberals will find that hate groups come in all colors" and the HateWatch List also includes:
1. Nation of Islam (and Obama's buddy Louis Farrakhan)
2. New Black Panthers (with their protector Eric Holder)
3. United Nuwanbian Nation of Moors
4. Nation of Yahweh (SPLC)
One nevers hears a peep from the Liberal media about any of these groups; it's too touchy a subject and doesn't fit their preconceived notions.
Or how about calling out some of those that truly spread hate, fear and disrespect, such as:
1. Rosie O'Donnell
2. Michael Moore
3. Louis Farrakhan
4. Jeremiah Wright
5. Sean Penn
6. Huffington Post
7. MoveOn.org
8. Jean Garafalo
9. Bill Maher
10. Nancy Pelosi
11. Keith Olberman
12. CodePink4peace.org
1. Nation of Islam (and Obama's buddy Louis Farrakhan)
2. New Black Panthers (with their protector Eric Holder)
3. United Nuwanbian Nation of Moors
4. Nation of Yahweh (SPLC)
One nevers hears a peep from the Liberal media about any of these groups; it's too touchy a subject and doesn't fit their preconceived notions.
Or how about calling out some of those that truly spread hate, fear and disrespect, such as:
1. Rosie O'Donnell
2. Michael Moore
3. Louis Farrakhan
4. Jeremiah Wright
5. Sean Penn
6. Huffington Post
7. MoveOn.org
8. Jean Garafalo
9. Bill Maher
10. Nancy Pelosi
11. Keith Olberman
12. CodePink4peace.org
"Equality" is Not an Entitlement to a Free Ride
"All men are created equal" does not mean they get an equal amount of stuff through government mandates. It means "equal" in opportunity and in the eyes of the law; all mean have an equal opportunity to succeed or fail at any particular endeavor. It does not mean that the government is to spread the wealth so that everyone gets an equal home, food, clothing, car, household goods or healthcare. As things stand the government already makes sure that almost everyone has a minimum level of food, clothing, shelter and healthcare at what is defined as the "poverty level".
After that, you are on your own in "the land of the free". This "free" does not mean free housing, free food, free college education, or free healthcare. Obama and the Liberal-Progressive-Socialists-Leftists (whatever name they are hiding behind this year) do not seem to grasp these concepts of "equal" and "free".
After that, you are on your own in "the land of the free". This "free" does not mean free housing, free food, free college education, or free healthcare. Obama and the Liberal-Progressive-Socialists-Leftists (whatever name they are hiding behind this year) do not seem to grasp these concepts of "equal" and "free".
Liberals and Education
Watch the legislation under Obama-Pelosi-Reid and the policies of the Department of Education. This is a very precarious time for American education and the direction of education under Obama is bound to degrade the academic and intellectual power of the United States with undesirable consequences for the economy and standard of living.
1. Liberals want to CONTROL THE CONTENT to impose their version of history, justice and economics.
2. Liberals want to "level the playing field" by discouraging achievement of more motivated and intelligent students to bring them down to the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.
3.Liberals PANDER TO THE TEACHERS UNIONS, in return for political support; these unions are generally opposed to hiring and firing of teachers based upon ability and generally oppose standards for teachers.
4. Liberals use dispersing of PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDS as one more opportunity FOR FAVORITISM AND BRIBES such as in construction, of schools, buying books, cafeteria services, busing services, etc.
5. Liberals will use government controlled student loans to promote EMPLOYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR after graduation over employment on the private sector by excusing loans for those going into the public sector.
THE RECENT CUTTING OFF OF FUNDING OF SELECT SCHOOLS FOR SPECIALLY MOTIVATED KIDS IN WASHINGTON D.C. (THE WORST PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE NATION) AND THE OPPOSITION TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND A VOUCHER SYSTEM ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS PLAN FOR EDUCATION. EDUCATE EVERYONE TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR!
1. Liberals want to CONTROL THE CONTENT to impose their version of history, justice and economics.
2. Liberals want to "level the playing field" by discouraging achievement of more motivated and intelligent students to bring them down to the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.
3.Liberals PANDER TO THE TEACHERS UNIONS, in return for political support; these unions are generally opposed to hiring and firing of teachers based upon ability and generally oppose standards for teachers.
4. Liberals use dispersing of PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDS as one more opportunity FOR FAVORITISM AND BRIBES such as in construction, of schools, buying books, cafeteria services, busing services, etc.
5. Liberals will use government controlled student loans to promote EMPLOYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR after graduation over employment on the private sector by excusing loans for those going into the public sector.
THE RECENT CUTTING OFF OF FUNDING OF SELECT SCHOOLS FOR SPECIALLY MOTIVATED KIDS IN WASHINGTON D.C. (THE WORST PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE NATION) AND THE OPPOSITION TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND A VOUCHER SYSTEM ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS PLAN FOR EDUCATION. EDUCATE EVERYONE TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR!
The Dangers to Gen-Y and the 21st Century Generation
EVERY GENERATION has had its OWN STUPID TIME-WASTING FADS AND PECULIARITIES; so tattoos, living with parents, facebook, twitter and digital gaming are not any worse than comparable signatures of previous generations.
The real dangers for Gen-Y (Millenniums) and those born in the 21st century (Gen-Debt) are:
- a decline in engineering and science education at every level when the Untied States has led the world in economic growth and standard of living for a hundred years through science and engineering in a free market system,
- teachers unions driving mediocrity in education and opposing such advance as charter schools which particularly help inner city kids,
- the welfare system expanding under Johnson that has created a perpetual poor class,
- the potential for government run socialized medicine promoting mediocrity and rationing of health care with huge annual increases in national debt,
-the out-of -control growth of government jobs, benefits and pay relative to private sector jobs, benefits and pay again promoting mediocrity and more national debt,
-the swing toward government backing the majority of mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, started under Carter, enhanced under Clinton and being the dominant mode of financing under Obama, again promoting defaults and more national debt,
- the de-regulation of the banking investment industry under Clinton and then Barney Frank and Chris Dodd blocking reform for a decade, promoting economic chaos and leading to the economic meltdown in 2008,
- the corruption in Congress, particularly for the past decade, that has made deficit spending, bribery and pork a way of life creating more national debt,
- the potential government takeover of all energy production and costs which would essentially mean a takeover of the entire economy by government which has never run anything successfully, which is destined to decrease the standard of living and increase taxes,
- the "spread the wealth mentality" of the socialist Obama which is a killer of innovation, individual responsibility, investment for job growth and risk taking by entrepreneurs, leading to perpetual high unemployment and a decline in standard of living,
- the deadly threat from Islamic Terrorism which the current administration fails to acknowledge that could bring disaster to the United States.
NONE OF THIS IS BEING CONTROLLED BY GEN-Y OR THE GEN-DEBT; THEY WILL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.
The real dangers for Gen-Y (Millenniums) and those born in the 21st century (Gen-Debt) are:
- a decline in engineering and science education at every level when the Untied States has led the world in economic growth and standard of living for a hundred years through science and engineering in a free market system,
- teachers unions driving mediocrity in education and opposing such advance as charter schools which particularly help inner city kids,
- the welfare system expanding under Johnson that has created a perpetual poor class,
- the potential for government run socialized medicine promoting mediocrity and rationing of health care with huge annual increases in national debt,
-the out-of -control growth of government jobs, benefits and pay relative to private sector jobs, benefits and pay again promoting mediocrity and more national debt,
-the swing toward government backing the majority of mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, started under Carter, enhanced under Clinton and being the dominant mode of financing under Obama, again promoting defaults and more national debt,
- the de-regulation of the banking investment industry under Clinton and then Barney Frank and Chris Dodd blocking reform for a decade, promoting economic chaos and leading to the economic meltdown in 2008,
- the corruption in Congress, particularly for the past decade, that has made deficit spending, bribery and pork a way of life creating more national debt,
- the potential government takeover of all energy production and costs which would essentially mean a takeover of the entire economy by government which has never run anything successfully, which is destined to decrease the standard of living and increase taxes,
- the "spread the wealth mentality" of the socialist Obama which is a killer of innovation, individual responsibility, investment for job growth and risk taking by entrepreneurs, leading to perpetual high unemployment and a decline in standard of living,
- the deadly threat from Islamic Terrorism which the current administration fails to acknowledge that could bring disaster to the United States.
NONE OF THIS IS BEING CONTROLLED BY GEN-Y OR THE GEN-DEBT; THEY WILL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.
Americans Are Becoming More Skeptical of Global Warming
The scandals around the claims of man-made global warming have reshaped the thinking of many Americans; AGW now seems to stand for "Al Gore Warming" and not the scientific term "Anthropogenic Global Warming". The majority of Americans now are skeptical or outright don't believe that man-made global warming is real and that even a short period (perhaps 10 to 20 years) of natural (not man-made) global warming has passed or is near its cycle end.
While most Americans cannot follow the detailed technical arguments of the climatologists, they can smell a hoax when some facts are brought out and they can see Al Gore and others as simply profiteers who have created a huge scam for personal gain (something like the Bernie Mad off of climate).A recent Gallup poll showed that Americans rank global warming dead last among eight environmental issues to be very worried about . The following are eight environmental issues and the percentage of people who said they are very worried are:
Pollution of drinking water, 50 percent
Pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, 46 percent
Maintenance of the nation’s supply of fresh water for household needs, 45 percent
Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste, 44 percent
Air pollution, 38 percent
Loss of tropical rain forests, 33 percent
Extinction of plant and animal species, 31 percent
Global warming, 28 percent
WORRY ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING PEAKED IN 2007 AT 41 PERCENT AND WAS AT 40 PERCENT IN 2000.
This turn of opinion of the American public may not deter Obama and his cohorts from trying to jam through a Cap and Trade bill, or at least some aspects of such a bill, in order first, to appease the environmental extremists who supported Obama and second, to financially benefit political allies like Al Gore and the General Electric Company at the expense of the taxpayer.
While most Americans cannot follow the detailed technical arguments of the climatologists, they can smell a hoax when some facts are brought out and they can see Al Gore and others as simply profiteers who have created a huge scam for personal gain (something like the Bernie Mad off of climate).A recent Gallup poll showed that Americans rank global warming dead last among eight environmental issues to be very worried about . The following are eight environmental issues and the percentage of people who said they are very worried are:
Pollution of drinking water, 50 percent
Pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, 46 percent
Maintenance of the nation’s supply of fresh water for household needs, 45 percent
Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste, 44 percent
Air pollution, 38 percent
Loss of tropical rain forests, 33 percent
Extinction of plant and animal species, 31 percent
Global warming, 28 percent
WORRY ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING PEAKED IN 2007 AT 41 PERCENT AND WAS AT 40 PERCENT IN 2000.
This turn of opinion of the American public may not deter Obama and his cohorts from trying to jam through a Cap and Trade bill, or at least some aspects of such a bill, in order first, to appease the environmental extremists who supported Obama and second, to financially benefit political allies like Al Gore and the General Electric Company at the expense of the taxpayer.
Pelosi Shatters the Glass Ceiling
For those that didn't already know, Pelosi showed that a woman can be just as corrupt, underhanded, adept at bribery, intimidating, coercive, threatening and able to look you in the eye and lie, as any man. A real step forward for equality!
The Media Plays along with the "Violent Haters" Theme From Liberals
Liberals cannot defend the destructive spending and "redistribution of wealth" under their idol Obama. So, with their puppets in the media, they all spout the Democratic Party line that anyone who opposes ObamaCare and the overall move to a nanny state under Obama, must be a racist or a violent hater. The Left leaning media such as NBC, MSNBC, Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek and on and on; everyone knows who they are at this point, have played along with the Liberals phony charges despite the facts.These charges of protesters being "racists" and "violent haters" are nonsense, and are a pitiful attempt to discredit and marginalize any criticism of Obama. Anyone who has attended, or observed a fair view of Tea Party, and not the Liberal media's selective snapshots bent on distorting the image of protest groups, knows that such protests are among the most calm of any in American history. The Tea Party rallies and web sites are respectful, peaceful, polite and have people from all walks of life. By their appearance and demeanor, members are so far from the extreme right wing militia and White Supremists groups to which the Liberals try to couple them. The Tea Party people tend to be older, middle class,quite a few seniors and ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT FACTS AND GOVERNMENT. It's the easy way out for the media who don't actually have to examine facts; to just take the Democrat's talking points and put their own little individual spin on it and you have a TV segment or a newsprint column. Easy work for a paycheck but, in politically correct speak, the journalists are either "work motivated challenged"(lazy) or "ethically challenged" (corrupt).
Friday, March 26, 2010
While ObamaCare Destroys Health Care, Raises Taxes and Increases Debt, Leftists Make Up Stories About Violence
The Liberals-Progressives-Socialists-Leftists Democrats (whatever name they are hiding behind) are trying to divert attention from the corruption in passing ObamaCare and the government destroying of private health care. Obama and his cronies in the media and in Congress are whining about some phony charges of Republicans and Tea Party members inciting violence. This diversion is the usual trick used by Leftists; instead of answering factual objections to ObamaCare, the Leftists change the subject and resort to name calling. With this tactic, the Leftists don't have to do any actual thinking and don't have to deviate from their standard talking points which avoid the truth and are much easier to just parrot.
Here are some real issues that Obama and his puppets never address:
1. The Democratic Senate modifications to the Democratic ObamaCare have further increased the tax hikes to $620 billion and the Medicare cuts to $530 billion over ten years. Obama has never addressed the "double counting" of savings brought to light by Rep Paul Ryan or the decline in care that must occur with Medicare cuts of that magnitude.
2. ObamaCare only gives token attention to the $50 to $60 billion per year in Medicare and Medicaid fraud; which would be $500 to 600 billion cost cutting. Why hire 16,000 agents to go after that fraud instead of looking for those that don't want to buy insurance.
3. ObamaCare still has no allowance for buying health insurance across state lines; so while Obama demagogues about the insurance companies, he secretly is helping them by limiting competition; the result will be premium rate hikes for everyone.
4. ObamaCare has no provisions for meaningful tort reform; the outrageous lawsuit awards some get are only the tip of the iceberg in cost. The big savings would be from reducing unnecessary expensive defensive tests ordered by most doctors and hospitals
5. Remember the pledge for no tax increases on those making less than $200,000 per year? Well ObamaCare alone has the following taxes that hit about 72 million who are making less than $200,000/year.
-A tax of 2.9% on medical devices, conveniently starting in 2013 after the next presidential election.
-A tax amounting to $4.8 billion per year on prescription drugs starting in 2011 when full impact will not be understood until after the next presidential election.
-A tax on health insurance starting in 2014 amounting to $9 billion per year and increasing in 2017 to $10 billion per year; if paid by insurance companies this will be passed along to all insurance policy premiums. Again, conveniently starts after the next presidential election.
-A tax on so-called "Cadillac" policies of 40% over some threshold premium amount; so if you have a great private policy you will be taxed. If the employer agrees to pay this, then it will be passed along to affect raises, bonuses and hiring.
-A reduction in the allowable deduction for medical expenses by raising the threshold for deductions from the current 7.5% of your adjusted Gross Income to 10%' so if you have some unusually high medical expenses you get penalized in deducting the expenses from your income tax no matter what your income level.
-A tax on employers who provide health insurance of $3000 per employee who qualifies as from a"low income family". This will discourage hiring of people from "low income families" or affect wages and other benefits or encourage employers to not provide insurance and simply pay the fine.
-6. Obama claims this is not a takeover of the health industry, but ObamaCare creates 58 government bureaus or agencies and hires 16,000 new IRS investigators; this sure smells like a government takeover.
It's obvious that Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the Democratic leadership has lied and most of the media and hard core Democratic voters are playing along.
Here are some real issues that Obama and his puppets never address:
1. The Democratic Senate modifications to the Democratic ObamaCare have further increased the tax hikes to $620 billion and the Medicare cuts to $530 billion over ten years. Obama has never addressed the "double counting" of savings brought to light by Rep Paul Ryan or the decline in care that must occur with Medicare cuts of that magnitude.
2. ObamaCare only gives token attention to the $50 to $60 billion per year in Medicare and Medicaid fraud; which would be $500 to 600 billion cost cutting. Why hire 16,000 agents to go after that fraud instead of looking for those that don't want to buy insurance.
3. ObamaCare still has no allowance for buying health insurance across state lines; so while Obama demagogues about the insurance companies, he secretly is helping them by limiting competition; the result will be premium rate hikes for everyone.
4. ObamaCare has no provisions for meaningful tort reform; the outrageous lawsuit awards some get are only the tip of the iceberg in cost. The big savings would be from reducing unnecessary expensive defensive tests ordered by most doctors and hospitals
5. Remember the pledge for no tax increases on those making less than $200,000 per year? Well ObamaCare alone has the following taxes that hit about 72 million who are making less than $200,000/year.
-A tax of 2.9% on medical devices, conveniently starting in 2013 after the next presidential election.
-A tax amounting to $4.8 billion per year on prescription drugs starting in 2011 when full impact will not be understood until after the next presidential election.
-A tax on health insurance starting in 2014 amounting to $9 billion per year and increasing in 2017 to $10 billion per year; if paid by insurance companies this will be passed along to all insurance policy premiums. Again, conveniently starts after the next presidential election.
-A tax on so-called "Cadillac" policies of 40% over some threshold premium amount; so if you have a great private policy you will be taxed. If the employer agrees to pay this, then it will be passed along to affect raises, bonuses and hiring.
-A reduction in the allowable deduction for medical expenses by raising the threshold for deductions from the current 7.5% of your adjusted Gross Income to 10%' so if you have some unusually high medical expenses you get penalized in deducting the expenses from your income tax no matter what your income level.
-A tax on employers who provide health insurance of $3000 per employee who qualifies as from a"low income family". This will discourage hiring of people from "low income families" or affect wages and other benefits or encourage employers to not provide insurance and simply pay the fine.
-6. Obama claims this is not a takeover of the health industry, but ObamaCare creates 58 government bureaus or agencies and hires 16,000 new IRS investigators; this sure smells like a government takeover.
It's obvious that Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the Democratic leadership has lied and most of the media and hard core Democratic voters are playing along.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Obama Heightens Tensions with Israel by One More Lie
Here are the facts! Obama knows them. Hillary knows them! Biden knows them! But the three of them, along with much of the liberal media act deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to Israel, so they ignore or lie about the facts in order to pander to the "third World Nations that comprise the Arab League and the Islamic Nations League.
If the Arabs had accepted the 1947 partition to create a Palestinian State and a Jewish State, THERE WOULD BE NO SUCH THING AS PALESTINIAN REFUGEES. Instead 5 Arab nations (Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon chose to go to invade Israel in 1948 with the goal of wiping out the new State and the promise of giving all the lands to Arabs.
SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND ARABS LIVING IN ISRAEL CHOSE TO STAY AND THEY AND THEIR DESCENDENTS ARE CITIZENS OF ISRAEL.
The Arabs that fled fell for the same kind of hateful teachings of radical Muslims that led to 9/11 53 years later and to all the other Islamic Terrorists actions throughout the 1990s to this date.
THE EASIEST WAY TO A TRUE PEACE AND A PALESTINIAN COUNTRY IS FOR THE 21 MEMBERS OF THE ARAB LEAGUE TO ACCEPT THE RIGHT OF ISRAEL TO EXIST, RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AS A NATION, AND STOP PROMOTING AND AIDING TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL. FROM 1947 TO 2010 THE ARABS WILL NOT TAKE THIS SIMPLE STEP TO PEACE. THEIR INTENT IS OBVIOUS, THEY STILL DREAM OF DESTROYING ISRAEL AS SO OFTEN STATED BY AHMEDINEJAD!
Meanwhile, not a peep ever comes from the Liberals-Progressives-Socialists about the 800,000 Jews who were living in Arab countries and following the various conflicts up through and after the 1967 "Six Day War" these Jews became refugees, abandoning their homes and all property and fleeing these Arab countries to avoid persecution by the Muslim Arabs. Most of these Jewish refugees from Arab countries were welcomed and settled in Israel in stark contrast as to how the Arab countries treated the Palestinian refugees (keeping them in camps and using them for political purposes to this date).
There is a huge difference between West Bank settlements in Israel and building in East Jerusalem. Obama ought to take a break and Google a map of Israel. To label the new housing units in Jerusalem as "settlements" is political rhetoric. These are no more "settlements" than are new apartments in New York City or Dallas, and the Palestinians have no more claim to what gets built in the capital city of Israel than do England about what gets built in New York and Mexico about what gets built in Dallas. Obama, Biden, Clinton all know this, but they jumped on the opportunity to take phony offense at Israel's announcement in order to further pander to Arab nations.
If the Arabs had accepted the 1947 partition to create a Palestinian State and a Jewish State, THERE WOULD BE NO SUCH THING AS PALESTINIAN REFUGEES. Instead 5 Arab nations (Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon chose to go to invade Israel in 1948 with the goal of wiping out the new State and the promise of giving all the lands to Arabs.
SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND ARABS LIVING IN ISRAEL CHOSE TO STAY AND THEY AND THEIR DESCENDENTS ARE CITIZENS OF ISRAEL.
The Arabs that fled fell for the same kind of hateful teachings of radical Muslims that led to 9/11 53 years later and to all the other Islamic Terrorists actions throughout the 1990s to this date.
THE EASIEST WAY TO A TRUE PEACE AND A PALESTINIAN COUNTRY IS FOR THE 21 MEMBERS OF THE ARAB LEAGUE TO ACCEPT THE RIGHT OF ISRAEL TO EXIST, RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AS A NATION, AND STOP PROMOTING AND AIDING TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL. FROM 1947 TO 2010 THE ARABS WILL NOT TAKE THIS SIMPLE STEP TO PEACE. THEIR INTENT IS OBVIOUS, THEY STILL DREAM OF DESTROYING ISRAEL AS SO OFTEN STATED BY AHMEDINEJAD!
Meanwhile, not a peep ever comes from the Liberals-Progressives-Socialists about the 800,000 Jews who were living in Arab countries and following the various conflicts up through and after the 1967 "Six Day War" these Jews became refugees, abandoning their homes and all property and fleeing these Arab countries to avoid persecution by the Muslim Arabs. Most of these Jewish refugees from Arab countries were welcomed and settled in Israel in stark contrast as to how the Arab countries treated the Palestinian refugees (keeping them in camps and using them for political purposes to this date).
There is a huge difference between West Bank settlements in Israel and building in East Jerusalem. Obama ought to take a break and Google a map of Israel. To label the new housing units in Jerusalem as "settlements" is political rhetoric. These are no more "settlements" than are new apartments in New York City or Dallas, and the Palestinians have no more claim to what gets built in the capital city of Israel than do England about what gets built in New York and Mexico about what gets built in Dallas. Obama, Biden, Clinton all know this, but they jumped on the opportunity to take phony offense at Israel's announcement in order to further pander to Arab nations.
Three Principles of Modern Democrats
The three things Democrats have learned in order to govern are:
1. LIE and LIE AGAIN, NO MATTER WHAT THE FACTS SINCE MOST PEOPLE ARE TOO STUPID OR LAZY TO CHALLENGE YOUR LIES.
2.BRIBE TO GET YOUR WAY, NO MATTER HOW BLATANT OR WHAT THE COST SINCE IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY.
3. THE ALTERNATIVE TO BRIBING IS TO COERCE AND THREATEN USUALLY ABOUT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RE-ELECTION.
This is the Chicago Way taken to a NEW LEVEL OF CORRUPTION BY OBAMA AND HIS CRONIES and adopted quickly by Pelosi and Reid.
These THREE PRINCIPLES OF THE LIBERALS were applied very effectively in getting ObamaCare passed and signed into law. We can expect Obama-Pelosi-Reid to continue to use these three principles until they are voted out of power.
Americans, not just conservatives, have usually gotten angry in the face of corruption, bribery, lies by public officials and anyone (especially government) taking away their independence and freedom to make decisions and increasing taxes.
ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO US BY OBAMA AND HIS CHICAGO STYLE THUGS.
THIS IS THE ROOT OF THE ANGER AT OBAMA, PELOSI, REID AND OTHERS AND AT OBAMACARE.
IS THIS ANGER JUST FROM CONSERVATIVES? THE POLLS SEEM TO SHOW THAT THE ANGER AND DISTRUST IS MUCH MORE BROAD THAN JUST FROM CONSERVATIVES AND IT IS DESERVEDLY AT MORE THAN JUST OBAMA AND THE LIBERALS. WHILE OBAMA HAS EARNED THE ANGER AND DISTRUST, IT EXTENDS TO THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO ABANDONED THEIR PRINCIPLES UNDER BUSH.
WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 2010 AND 2012 ELECTIONS TO FIND OUT.
1. LIE and LIE AGAIN, NO MATTER WHAT THE FACTS SINCE MOST PEOPLE ARE TOO STUPID OR LAZY TO CHALLENGE YOUR LIES.
2.BRIBE TO GET YOUR WAY, NO MATTER HOW BLATANT OR WHAT THE COST SINCE IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY.
3. THE ALTERNATIVE TO BRIBING IS TO COERCE AND THREATEN USUALLY ABOUT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RE-ELECTION.
This is the Chicago Way taken to a NEW LEVEL OF CORRUPTION BY OBAMA AND HIS CRONIES and adopted quickly by Pelosi and Reid.
These THREE PRINCIPLES OF THE LIBERALS were applied very effectively in getting ObamaCare passed and signed into law. We can expect Obama-Pelosi-Reid to continue to use these three principles until they are voted out of power.
Americans, not just conservatives, have usually gotten angry in the face of corruption, bribery, lies by public officials and anyone (especially government) taking away their independence and freedom to make decisions and increasing taxes.
ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO US BY OBAMA AND HIS CHICAGO STYLE THUGS.
THIS IS THE ROOT OF THE ANGER AT OBAMA, PELOSI, REID AND OTHERS AND AT OBAMACARE.
IS THIS ANGER JUST FROM CONSERVATIVES? THE POLLS SEEM TO SHOW THAT THE ANGER AND DISTRUST IS MUCH MORE BROAD THAN JUST FROM CONSERVATIVES AND IT IS DESERVEDLY AT MORE THAN JUST OBAMA AND THE LIBERALS. WHILE OBAMA HAS EARNED THE ANGER AND DISTRUST, IT EXTENDS TO THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO ABANDONED THEIR PRINCIPLES UNDER BUSH.
WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 2010 AND 2012 ELECTIONS TO FIND OUT.
If Obama and the Democrats Really Thought That ObamaCare Would Work, Then...
1. they would not have structured it so the bulk of the supposed "benefits" and the real cost don't kick in until after the next presidential election; how convenient for Obama that most benefits and costs start io 2014;
2. we wouldn't have Rep. Dingle commenting that they have to wait four years for most of the benefits because it takes time to put in the administration to "control the people";
3. Democrats wouldn't respond to specific well documented fallacies in ObamaCare with cries that opponents are "racists" and "extreme right-wingers" who don't care if the poor die.
OBAMACARE IS A CORRUPT DISASTER AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE OVERTURNED OR WILL DEGRADE OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND BE A DISASTER FOR OUR ECONOMY FOR GENERATIONS.
2. we wouldn't have Rep. Dingle commenting that they have to wait four years for most of the benefits because it takes time to put in the administration to "control the people";
3. Democrats wouldn't respond to specific well documented fallacies in ObamaCare with cries that opponents are "racists" and "extreme right-wingers" who don't care if the poor die.
OBAMACARE IS A CORRUPT DISASTER AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE OVERTURNED OR WILL DEGRADE OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND BE A DISASTER FOR OUR ECONOMY FOR GENERATIONS.
News Flash for Obama and the Liberals: Bush is No Longer The President!
If you listen to Obama, his circle of close advisors, the left-wing of the Democratic Party, The New York Times, NBC and the rest of the liberal media along with the leftists blogs you would think that Obama is still a candidate and Bush-Cheney are still in the White House and the Republicans control Congress. They continue to berate Bush-Cheney for anything and everything that is not working.
Do they think that the public is too disinterested or stupid to not have noticed that Obama is in the White House, and the Democrats had a supermajority in congress for one year and still retain an overwhelming majority?
HERE'S THE NEWS FLASH! WE, THE PUBLIC, KNOW THAT BUSH IS NO LONGER IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CHENEY IS NO LONGER VP.
It's now March 2010 and Obama is in the White House and the Democrats have been in control for one year and two months.
So, Obama owns all of the past year's corruption, bribery, coercion, threats, government expansion, unemployment over 8%, deal making with big Pharma in ObamaCare, failure to allow healthcare insurance competition across state lines (which would really punish and weed out the bad insurance companies), record smashing $1.6 trillion deficit in one year, incompetent and tax cheat appointees, dozens of lobbyists in the current "no lobbyists" administration, absence of transparency in the legislative process that was supposed to be on C-span, post-partisan leadership that is the most partisan in history, failed policies with Iran and North Korea, double-crossing allies like Israel, Poland, Check Republic, the surge of domestic Islamic Terrorists, pork in the Stimulus bill, failure to prevent huge bonuses to bank executives bailed out by TARP, tens of billions in TARP "loans" to GM, Chrysler and AIG that have no chance of being repaid, pandering to unions with special deals, pandering to trial lawyers on no tort reform, pandering to teachers unions by squeezing out charter schools and, through corruption and ignoring the majority of people, pushing through a disaster of a health care bill which will decrease the quality of care and add trillions to the national debt.
The potential collapse of the United States economy is owned by Obama. The snubbing of England, France, Germany and the entire European Union while favoring dictatorships in South and Central America and in the Middle East and Asia is owned by the would-be Third World Leader Barrack Hussein Obama. The failure to have a coherent realistic energy policy and a direction for energy independence that will not cause huge price and tax increases is owned by Obama.
The "Big Government" takeover of two-thirds of the American auto industry, of the largest insurance company, of the entire health care industry, of the student college loan program are all owned by Obama. While Wall street and the banking industry need better oversight and much more effective enforcement of existing regulations, Obama is trying to bring them under the government fold with very restrictive regulation.
NONE OF THIS IS BUSH, NONE OF THIS IS CHENEY.
THIS IS OBAMA THE FAILURE, THE LIAR, THE SOCIALIST !
Do they think that the public is too disinterested or stupid to not have noticed that Obama is in the White House, and the Democrats had a supermajority in congress for one year and still retain an overwhelming majority?
HERE'S THE NEWS FLASH! WE, THE PUBLIC, KNOW THAT BUSH IS NO LONGER IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CHENEY IS NO LONGER VP.
It's now March 2010 and Obama is in the White House and the Democrats have been in control for one year and two months.
So, Obama owns all of the past year's corruption, bribery, coercion, threats, government expansion, unemployment over 8%, deal making with big Pharma in ObamaCare, failure to allow healthcare insurance competition across state lines (which would really punish and weed out the bad insurance companies), record smashing $1.6 trillion deficit in one year, incompetent and tax cheat appointees, dozens of lobbyists in the current "no lobbyists" administration, absence of transparency in the legislative process that was supposed to be on C-span, post-partisan leadership that is the most partisan in history, failed policies with Iran and North Korea, double-crossing allies like Israel, Poland, Check Republic, the surge of domestic Islamic Terrorists, pork in the Stimulus bill, failure to prevent huge bonuses to bank executives bailed out by TARP, tens of billions in TARP "loans" to GM, Chrysler and AIG that have no chance of being repaid, pandering to unions with special deals, pandering to trial lawyers on no tort reform, pandering to teachers unions by squeezing out charter schools and, through corruption and ignoring the majority of people, pushing through a disaster of a health care bill which will decrease the quality of care and add trillions to the national debt.
The potential collapse of the United States economy is owned by Obama. The snubbing of England, France, Germany and the entire European Union while favoring dictatorships in South and Central America and in the Middle East and Asia is owned by the would-be Third World Leader Barrack Hussein Obama. The failure to have a coherent realistic energy policy and a direction for energy independence that will not cause huge price and tax increases is owned by Obama.
The "Big Government" takeover of two-thirds of the American auto industry, of the largest insurance company, of the entire health care industry, of the student college loan program are all owned by Obama. While Wall street and the banking industry need better oversight and much more effective enforcement of existing regulations, Obama is trying to bring them under the government fold with very restrictive regulation.
NONE OF THIS IS BUSH, NONE OF THIS IS CHENEY.
THIS IS OBAMA THE FAILURE, THE LIAR, THE SOCIALIST !
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Is Obama at War with America?
Is President Obama At War With America?
By Austin Hill
Mar 21, 2010 Townhall.com
-If a frontal assault on the foundational principals and values of American life can qualify as being “at war” - then yes, Barack Obama is in combat with our country. And while the belligerence of both his administration and his party’s congressional leadership have seemingly created a sense of alarm across the U.S., their apparent disregard for their own self-inflicted political damage is all the more staggering.
-Taking aim at America’s foundations has impacted us both here at home, and abroad. European allies France and England have both made note of our President’s “short shrift” treatment over the past fourteen months, while earlier this month French President Nicolas Sarkozy chastised Obama for his protectionist, anti-free trade policies ( “this is not the right way to behave” Sarkozy told our President). And just last week Vice President Biden took U.S.-Israel relations to a new low point by criticizing the nation on their own soil.
-But domestically, Obama’s greatest offense to American life is fundamentally economic in its nature. And at its root, his assault on our sensibilities is best described in terms that he himself has used to criticize others.
-In a quickly produced campaign commercial back in the Fall of 2008, candidate Obama addressed the then- melting down American financial system, stating that “this crisis serves as a stark reminder of the failures of crony capitalism, and an economic philosophy that sees any regulation at all as unwise and unnecessary…” At that moment in time, long-standing American financial institutions were being crushed, mostly by their overexposure to sub-prime mortgages, while the stock market was tumbling precipitously.
-Was “cronyism” in the financial system really our problem back then? Arguably it was one of many problems at that time, although Obama’s insinuation that our capitalistic free market economy is “un-regulated” was phony (completely un-regulated capitalism does not exist).
-But today, cronyism is so flagrant and blatant at the highest ranks of our government, that the President and the congress have lost the confidence and the trust of both America’s cultural “right” and “left.” The stunning, “we’ll-stop-at-nothing” fight to take-over the healthcare industry and the medical profession has put Obama-styled cronyism on full display – and therein lies the greatest assault on America.
-The cronyism, however, didn’t begin with the healthcare fight. After taking office, President Obama got to work right away buying-off people who would serve his interests, as he continued the destructive precedent established by George W. Bush and handed over billions of our tax dollars to Chrysler and General Motors. He then established his special “Automotive Task Force,” and appointed as the head of the task force Steve Rattner, a Wall Street investor with no experience in the car business but with lots of experience in raising campaign money for Obama and Democrats.
-When GM and Chrysler ended-up in bankruptcy, President Obama insisted that everybody involved needed to “sacrifice,” yet the only people to experience a loss were the companies’ secured creditors. The Obama Administration used the full power of the White House to force the creditors to accept debt payment of thirty cents on the dollar, and then during the “re-structuring” of the companies managed to have chunks of each corporation “gifted” to the United Auto Workers Union (the UAW currently owns about 17% of GM, and slightly over 50% of Chrysler).
-President Obama had a good reason to provide “gifts” to the UAW – labor union members frequently make great, loyal, campaign foot soldiers for Democrats. And for this reason it was no surprise when President Obama negotiated an exemption from the mandates of his nationalized healthcare plan for UAW members – they already receive healthcare benefits, and it made no sense to entangle into government healthcare a group of people who could be politically beneficial to Barack Obama.
-Then there are the “gifts” to individual members of Congress. The “Louisiana purchase” with Senator Mary Landrieu and the “Cornhusker kickback” happened months ago. Yet all within the last week, we saw Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich go from a “no” to a “yes” vote on Obamacare after his wife was given a job working for Michelle Obama. And the Obama Administration used the power of the Department of the Interior to expand California’s water allocations, in exchange for the votes of on-the-fence Representatives Costa and Cardoza.
-And why, exactly, does the Obamacare agenda require all Americans to buy health insurance? Using the force of government to create more “demand” for their product was a great way for President Obama to garner the political support of the insurance industry.
-Yet at the epicenter of all of this – all the bribes, manipulations, and heavy-handed mandates – is the narrow, political self-interest of one man: Barack Obama. America’s cultural “right” decries the loss of freedom and the rise of abusive government, while the “left” decries a government that lines the pockets of for-profit corporations (companies that are presumed to be “greedy”), all for the benefit of one self-serving politician.
-This is the assault on America’s foundational principals and values. It is the assault of governmental cronyism, on our basic understandings of what is right, and fair.
By Austin Hill
Mar 21, 2010 Townhall.com
-If a frontal assault on the foundational principals and values of American life can qualify as being “at war” - then yes, Barack Obama is in combat with our country. And while the belligerence of both his administration and his party’s congressional leadership have seemingly created a sense of alarm across the U.S., their apparent disregard for their own self-inflicted political damage is all the more staggering.
-Taking aim at America’s foundations has impacted us both here at home, and abroad. European allies France and England have both made note of our President’s “short shrift” treatment over the past fourteen months, while earlier this month French President Nicolas Sarkozy chastised Obama for his protectionist, anti-free trade policies ( “this is not the right way to behave” Sarkozy told our President). And just last week Vice President Biden took U.S.-Israel relations to a new low point by criticizing the nation on their own soil.
-But domestically, Obama’s greatest offense to American life is fundamentally economic in its nature. And at its root, his assault on our sensibilities is best described in terms that he himself has used to criticize others.
-In a quickly produced campaign commercial back in the Fall of 2008, candidate Obama addressed the then- melting down American financial system, stating that “this crisis serves as a stark reminder of the failures of crony capitalism, and an economic philosophy that sees any regulation at all as unwise and unnecessary…” At that moment in time, long-standing American financial institutions were being crushed, mostly by their overexposure to sub-prime mortgages, while the stock market was tumbling precipitously.
-Was “cronyism” in the financial system really our problem back then? Arguably it was one of many problems at that time, although Obama’s insinuation that our capitalistic free market economy is “un-regulated” was phony (completely un-regulated capitalism does not exist).
-But today, cronyism is so flagrant and blatant at the highest ranks of our government, that the President and the congress have lost the confidence and the trust of both America’s cultural “right” and “left.” The stunning, “we’ll-stop-at-nothing” fight to take-over the healthcare industry and the medical profession has put Obama-styled cronyism on full display – and therein lies the greatest assault on America.
-The cronyism, however, didn’t begin with the healthcare fight. After taking office, President Obama got to work right away buying-off people who would serve his interests, as he continued the destructive precedent established by George W. Bush and handed over billions of our tax dollars to Chrysler and General Motors. He then established his special “Automotive Task Force,” and appointed as the head of the task force Steve Rattner, a Wall Street investor with no experience in the car business but with lots of experience in raising campaign money for Obama and Democrats.
-When GM and Chrysler ended-up in bankruptcy, President Obama insisted that everybody involved needed to “sacrifice,” yet the only people to experience a loss were the companies’ secured creditors. The Obama Administration used the full power of the White House to force the creditors to accept debt payment of thirty cents on the dollar, and then during the “re-structuring” of the companies managed to have chunks of each corporation “gifted” to the United Auto Workers Union (the UAW currently owns about 17% of GM, and slightly over 50% of Chrysler).
-President Obama had a good reason to provide “gifts” to the UAW – labor union members frequently make great, loyal, campaign foot soldiers for Democrats. And for this reason it was no surprise when President Obama negotiated an exemption from the mandates of his nationalized healthcare plan for UAW members – they already receive healthcare benefits, and it made no sense to entangle into government healthcare a group of people who could be politically beneficial to Barack Obama.
-Then there are the “gifts” to individual members of Congress. The “Louisiana purchase” with Senator Mary Landrieu and the “Cornhusker kickback” happened months ago. Yet all within the last week, we saw Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich go from a “no” to a “yes” vote on Obamacare after his wife was given a job working for Michelle Obama. And the Obama Administration used the power of the Department of the Interior to expand California’s water allocations, in exchange for the votes of on-the-fence Representatives Costa and Cardoza.
-And why, exactly, does the Obamacare agenda require all Americans to buy health insurance? Using the force of government to create more “demand” for their product was a great way for President Obama to garner the political support of the insurance industry.
-Yet at the epicenter of all of this – all the bribes, manipulations, and heavy-handed mandates – is the narrow, political self-interest of one man: Barack Obama. America’s cultural “right” decries the loss of freedom and the rise of abusive government, while the “left” decries a government that lines the pockets of for-profit corporations (companies that are presumed to be “greedy”), all for the benefit of one self-serving politician.
-This is the assault on America’s foundational principals and values. It is the assault of governmental cronyism, on our basic understandings of what is right, and fair.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Why Civilian Trials of Islamic Terrorists Can Damage The War on Terror
In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Victoria Toensing (former chief counsel for Senate Intelligence committee) cited four reasons why trying terrorists in civilian courts is dangerous and not applicable post 9/11. Constitutional protections have evolved since WW2 for civilian criminals like bank robbers but were never meant for enemy combatants like the Islamic Terrorists.
1. 1963: the Supreme Court formulated the Brady rule which requires the prosecution to give access to every witness and piece of evidence that might directly or indirectly place into question a witnesses credibility. This can lead to sensitive intelligence information being turned over to the terrorist and passed on to their network like Al Qaeda. The civilian trial of 9/11 hijacker Zacarious Moussaoui dragged on for three-and-a- half years while he demanded access to other captured terrorists. KSM and other captured terrorists are sure to take advantage of the Brady rule.
2. 1975: the supreme Court ruled that defendants in civilian trials have the right to represent themselves. Moussaoui took advantage of this rule and used the court as a platform for spewing his propaganda. KSM and others can demand to represent themselves and use the court for a platform for propaganda.
3. 1980: the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) allows defense attorneys who have security clearance to be given classified documents, but does not allow for a defendant representing himself. So, Moussaoui was demanding such documents. The would have had to dismiss the case or order the documents turned over. In the Moussaoui case, he pleaded guilty before documents were turned over but in the upcoming KSM and other civilian trials, the CIPA can be used to give Al Qaeda access to classified documents.
4. There is a century old "exclusionary rule" which prohibits the prosecution from using credible evidence if the police erred in any way in collecting the evidence. So, a terrorist captured in a foreign land might have physical evidence thrown out if their was no search warrant or if he was not given Miranda warnings or if hearsay evidence was collected in the foreign country.
These protections for civilian criminals would not be available to enemy combatants and war criminals being tried in military courts. In 2008, the Supreme Court sanctioned military commission procedures under the Military Commission Act.
Until 9/11, various administrations were uncertain how to handle terrorists and the United States had not understood that we were at war with Islamic Terrorism. Even after 9/11, there was ambiguity on how to prosecute terrorists, but this has been clarified but the Military Commission Act and now there is absolutely no reason to bring enemy combatants and war criminals to trial in civilian courts except for political pandering to the left-wing and ACLU types in America.
It is insane to think that Al Qaeda, Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups would change their beliefs about killing Americans and perhaps lay down their arms if they saw that their captured comrades were receiving a "fair" civilian trial rather than a military trial.
1. 1963: the Supreme Court formulated the Brady rule which requires the prosecution to give access to every witness and piece of evidence that might directly or indirectly place into question a witnesses credibility. This can lead to sensitive intelligence information being turned over to the terrorist and passed on to their network like Al Qaeda. The civilian trial of 9/11 hijacker Zacarious Moussaoui dragged on for three-and-a- half years while he demanded access to other captured terrorists. KSM and other captured terrorists are sure to take advantage of the Brady rule.
2. 1975: the supreme Court ruled that defendants in civilian trials have the right to represent themselves. Moussaoui took advantage of this rule and used the court as a platform for spewing his propaganda. KSM and others can demand to represent themselves and use the court for a platform for propaganda.
3. 1980: the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) allows defense attorneys who have security clearance to be given classified documents, but does not allow for a defendant representing himself. So, Moussaoui was demanding such documents. The would have had to dismiss the case or order the documents turned over. In the Moussaoui case, he pleaded guilty before documents were turned over but in the upcoming KSM and other civilian trials, the CIPA can be used to give Al Qaeda access to classified documents.
4. There is a century old "exclusionary rule" which prohibits the prosecution from using credible evidence if the police erred in any way in collecting the evidence. So, a terrorist captured in a foreign land might have physical evidence thrown out if their was no search warrant or if he was not given Miranda warnings or if hearsay evidence was collected in the foreign country.
These protections for civilian criminals would not be available to enemy combatants and war criminals being tried in military courts. In 2008, the Supreme Court sanctioned military commission procedures under the Military Commission Act.
Until 9/11, various administrations were uncertain how to handle terrorists and the United States had not understood that we were at war with Islamic Terrorism. Even after 9/11, there was ambiguity on how to prosecute terrorists, but this has been clarified but the Military Commission Act and now there is absolutely no reason to bring enemy combatants and war criminals to trial in civilian courts except for political pandering to the left-wing and ACLU types in America.
It is insane to think that Al Qaeda, Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups would change their beliefs about killing Americans and perhaps lay down their arms if they saw that their captured comrades were receiving a "fair" civilian trial rather than a military trial.
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