Pertinent words:
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness
Full auto M-16's.
ObamaCare. Insane and reckless spending programs, benefitting Governments, not citizens. Government takeovers of GM, Chrysler. Bailout of the Zombie Citibank. Trillions in un-sustainable Gummint debts. $9Trillion in off-balance-sheet (FedReserve) "assets."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Stimulus, Indeed!
A chunk of "stimulus" money is funding:
...the weekly production of "Perverts Put Out" at San Francisco's CounterPULSE, whose "long-running pansexual performance series" invites guests to "join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun."
This news item is NOT related to the Trial Lawyer's plea for a $1Bn++ tax break.
HT The Winning McCain
...the weekly production of "Perverts Put Out" at San Francisco's CounterPULSE, whose "long-running pansexual performance series" invites guests to "join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun."
This news item is NOT related to the Trial Lawyer's plea for a $1Bn++ tax break.
HT The Winning McCain
Greedy Capitalist Insurance Workers
Amusing.
Folkbum/Schmitz got the PartyLine memo and propose that the Greedy Capitalist Pig insurance companies are the problem.
Or most of it.
Or some of it, anyhow.
Or whatever.
It's their fault, get it? That's what QueenNancy told Schmitz to say, by gum, and that's the story he's going to stick to.
The Greedy Capitalist Pig soubriquet might come as a surprise to Leo Suycott, the former President of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Milwaukee. The Blues were (here and elsewhere) practically the creation of organized labor; they were virtually specified as the health-insurance purveyor in union contracts when unions actually meant something in the industrial Midwest.
(The first exception was the Teamsters Union, who created the HMO prototype; see the building near 62nd/Bluemound. This gave the Teamsters' bosses the advantage of having free cash to finance their pals in organized crime, just like their pension plans did. Eventually, WEAC created its own insurance subsidiary, which horribly over-charges for the product. Talk about Greedy Pigs! But somehow Schmitzie doesn't mention WEAC, nor the Teamsters. Huh.)
In most places, The Blues replaced denominational-managed "benevolent associations" which provided medical assistance money to their Catholic, or Lutheran, (etc.) members.
It was Leo Suycott who built the Blues Buildings on Michigan Street, derided by FolkbumSchmitz. It was Leo Suycott who built the staff, including a very highly-regarded MIS group and their extraordinarily reliable and accurate Info Systems.
So now Leo and his lieutenants and predecessors are the personification of Greedy Capitalist Pigs.
Nice memorial.
Folkbum/Schmitz got the PartyLine memo and propose that the Greedy Capitalist Pig insurance companies are the problem.
Or most of it.
Or some of it, anyhow.
Or whatever.
It's their fault, get it? That's what QueenNancy told Schmitz to say, by gum, and that's the story he's going to stick to.
The Greedy Capitalist Pig soubriquet might come as a surprise to Leo Suycott, the former President of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Milwaukee. The Blues were (here and elsewhere) practically the creation of organized labor; they were virtually specified as the health-insurance purveyor in union contracts when unions actually meant something in the industrial Midwest.
(The first exception was the Teamsters Union, who created the HMO prototype; see the building near 62nd/Bluemound. This gave the Teamsters' bosses the advantage of having free cash to finance their pals in organized crime, just like their pension plans did. Eventually, WEAC created its own insurance subsidiary, which horribly over-charges for the product. Talk about Greedy Pigs! But somehow Schmitzie doesn't mention WEAC, nor the Teamsters. Huh.)
In most places, The Blues replaced denominational-managed "benevolent associations" which provided medical assistance money to their Catholic, or Lutheran, (etc.) members.
It was Leo Suycott who built the Blues Buildings on Michigan Street, derided by FolkbumSchmitz. It was Leo Suycott who built the staff, including a very highly-regarded MIS group and their extraordinarily reliable and accurate Info Systems.
So now Leo and his lieutenants and predecessors are the personification of Greedy Capitalist Pigs.
Nice memorial.
SPIME Networks
OK, here's your new term for the day.
...This subject is of deep interest with regard to the future collection of intelligence a fact acknowledged by the National Intelligence Council’s Disruptive Civil Technologies Conference (appendix F). The basic idea surrounding the ‘internet of things’ is that all things become nodes in a global network and to some degree act autonomously or to put it another way, “Our washing machines can ask for soap". This new or developing network creates a new category of object, known as a Spime [SPace +tIME] - a phrase coined by the science fiction writer Bruce Sterling. A Spime was defined by David Orban as an object with memory, computing capacity, location awareness and sensors. These Spimes already exist just not yet to scale. The leading driver of spime networks was initially thought to be RFID tags but actually it is smart phones that are providing the most compelling current platform. A great example of one such, spime is an application developed for the iphone by WideTag - called WideNoise. This uses the iphone to collect decibel readings posting them to a map to determine where the quieter areas in the world are.
Neat.
The intel application has to do with using cellphones to relay sounds of gunfire, artillery, military vehicles, etc.
HT: CounterterrorismBlog
...This subject is of deep interest with regard to the future collection of intelligence a fact acknowledged by the National Intelligence Council’s Disruptive Civil Technologies Conference (appendix F). The basic idea surrounding the ‘internet of things’ is that all things become nodes in a global network and to some degree act autonomously or to put it another way, “Our washing machines can ask for soap". This new or developing network creates a new category of object, known as a Spime [SPace +tIME] - a phrase coined by the science fiction writer Bruce Sterling. A Spime was defined by David Orban as an object with memory, computing capacity, location awareness and sensors. These Spimes already exist just not yet to scale. The leading driver of spime networks was initially thought to be RFID tags but actually it is smart phones that are providing the most compelling current platform. A great example of one such, spime is an application developed for the iphone by WideTag - called WideNoise. This uses the iphone to collect decibel readings posting them to a map to determine where the quieter areas in the world are.
Neat.
The intel application has to do with using cellphones to relay sounds of gunfire, artillery, military vehicles, etc.
HT: CounterterrorismBlog
Tax Breaks for the Needy: Trial Lawyers
Friends in high places produce rewards.
The tax break in question would allow plaintiffs' lawyers to deduct right away on their taxes the money they invest in filing speculative lawsuits.
When plaintiffs' lawyers take cases on contingency -- that is, when they sue in exchange for a percentage of the settlement or judgment -- the IRS treats the expenses involved in the suit as a loan to the client. Lipsen and AAJ would like to change that tax treatment so that lawyers can simply write off their costs in the same year they are incurred. Legal Newsline reports that the tax break is worth about $1.6 billion to trial lawyers.
"Corporate welfare" morphs. Now ordinary taxpayers are expected to feed the sharks, too.
The tax break in question would allow plaintiffs' lawyers to deduct right away on their taxes the money they invest in filing speculative lawsuits.
When plaintiffs' lawyers take cases on contingency -- that is, when they sue in exchange for a percentage of the settlement or judgment -- the IRS treats the expenses involved in the suit as a loan to the client. Lipsen and AAJ would like to change that tax treatment so that lawyers can simply write off their costs in the same year they are incurred. Legal Newsline reports that the tax break is worth about $1.6 billion to trial lawyers.
"Corporate welfare" morphs. Now ordinary taxpayers are expected to feed the sharks, too.
"Clunkers" Program Over With--You Read It Here First
*Cough* We told you so.
Congressional officials say the government plans to suspend the popular "cash for clunkers" program amid concerns it could quickly use up the $1 billion in rebates for new car purchases.
The Transportation Department called congressional offices late Thursday to alert them to the decision to halt the program, which offered owners of old cars and trucks $3,500 or $4,500 toward a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle.
We were off by one day--it is Friday, not Saturday.
Congressional officials say the government plans to suspend the popular "cash for clunkers" program amid concerns it could quickly use up the $1 billion in rebates for new car purchases.
The Transportation Department called congressional offices late Thursday to alert them to the decision to halt the program, which offered owners of old cars and trucks $3,500 or $4,500 toward a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle.
We were off by one day--it is Friday, not Saturday.
Propaganda Blast Coming from (D) Boyzzz
Here comes the spin, shuffle, shuck/jive, and BS.
In another sign that the White House will play a very hands-on role during the looming Congressional health care wars of August, senior Obama adviser David Axelrod is set to hold a private messaging session with House Dems tomorrow on the Hill, I’m told.
With a House Dem bill closer to reality, the battle will shift to a new phase: Selling it. And according to an email to House Dems that was sent over by a source, Axelrod and top White House health care adviser Nancy DeParle will be attending a breakfast with members to discuss “health care reform messaging.”
You can bet your jewels that the "messaging" will bury the abortion question as deep as possible.
You can also bet your jewels that there will be resistance to the Goebbels-gabbing.
In another sign that the White House will play a very hands-on role during the looming Congressional health care wars of August, senior Obama adviser David Axelrod is set to hold a private messaging session with House Dems tomorrow on the Hill, I’m told.
With a House Dem bill closer to reality, the battle will shift to a new phase: Selling it. And according to an email to House Dems that was sent over by a source, Axelrod and top White House health care adviser Nancy DeParle will be attending a breakfast with members to discuss “health care reform messaging.”
You can bet your jewels that the "messaging" will bury the abortion question as deep as possible.
You can also bet your jewels that there will be resistance to the Goebbels-gabbing.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
AlGore's Money Trail
For an altruist, Al's spending a lot of money.
The Climate Protection Action Fund, a subsidiary of Al Gore’s Repower America, paid $60,000 to the Glover Park Group during the second quarter of 2009 for lobbying on Waxman-Markey.
We earlier reported that Al Gore’s venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, paid $100,000 in lobbying fees so far in 2009.
Al Gore failed to disclose any of this when he testified in April before Congress in favor of Waxman-Markey.
Well, of course he didn't disclose. Al's an ALTRUIST, not a microcephaloid money-grubbing influence-peddling hypocritical puke.
Read the rest of the linked post for Al's Big Lie of this year.
HT: GreenHell
The Climate Protection Action Fund, a subsidiary of Al Gore’s Repower America, paid $60,000 to the Glover Park Group during the second quarter of 2009 for lobbying on Waxman-Markey.
We earlier reported that Al Gore’s venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, paid $100,000 in lobbying fees so far in 2009.
Al Gore failed to disclose any of this when he testified in April before Congress in favor of Waxman-Markey.
Well, of course he didn't disclose. Al's an ALTRUIST, not a microcephaloid money-grubbing influence-peddling hypocritical puke.
Read the rest of the linked post for Al's Big Lie of this year.
HT: GreenHell
A Modest Proposal
P-Mac has a modest proposal for the "ban meat" crowd.
I would suggest that if someone’s so convinced that meat is baking the earth, just quit eating it. Better yet, quit eating entirely and really reduce your carbon footprint. It’s OK, after all, to suggest that you die off to be carbon friendly, now that an Australian TV network did just that to children, helping them reckon the age at which they’ve used up their fair share of the Earth.
Self-starvation by the meat-is-Earthmurder crowd would be a win-win: They’d have a much greater positive effect by dying off than just by going vegan, if only because they wouldn’t then reproduce (remember, that’s supposed to be irresponsibly carbon-hogging, too), and it would leave the rest of us to enjoy steaks in comparative peace.
Irrefutable logic, too!
I would suggest that if someone’s so convinced that meat is baking the earth, just quit eating it. Better yet, quit eating entirely and really reduce your carbon footprint. It’s OK, after all, to suggest that you die off to be carbon friendly, now that an Australian TV network did just that to children, helping them reckon the age at which they’ve used up their fair share of the Earth.
Self-starvation by the meat-is-Earthmurder crowd would be a win-win: They’d have a much greater positive effect by dying off than just by going vegan, if only because they wouldn’t then reproduce (remember, that’s supposed to be irresponsibly carbon-hogging, too), and it would leave the rest of us to enjoy steaks in comparative peace.
Irrefutable logic, too!
Humor Break--Ernest Version
If you're over 21, you recall Ernest the Redneck--the actor, Jim Varney, died at age 50.
Here's a clip from NBC's evening news (check Brokaw as a youth!!)
Be SURE to watch it to the very end. It's only 2 1/2 minutes...
HT: AOSHQ
Here's a clip from NBC's evening news (check Brokaw as a youth!!)
Be SURE to watch it to the very end. It's only 2 1/2 minutes...
HT: AOSHQ
This Is a Solution?
Here's one way to create unemployment.
In Rhode Island:
State tax officials have put more than 1,200 businesses across the state on notice this week that they are out of business unless they pay their overdue sales taxes immediately.
[Rhode Island tax officials] said the first notice goes out in February to put businesses delinquent in paying their sales taxes on notice that their continued failure to do so “will result in your being denied a renewal of your sales tax permit and, if applicable, cigarette license effective July 1, 2009.”
Penalty? $5,000.00/day and up to a year in the slammer for operating without a license.
In Rhode Island:
State tax officials have put more than 1,200 businesses across the state on notice this week that they are out of business unless they pay their overdue sales taxes immediately.
[Rhode Island tax officials] said the first notice goes out in February to put businesses delinquent in paying their sales taxes on notice that their continued failure to do so “will result in your being denied a renewal of your sales tax permit and, if applicable, cigarette license effective July 1, 2009.”
Penalty? $5,000.00/day and up to a year in the slammer for operating without a license.
It's Palin's Fault
Somebody will find a way to blame this on Palin.
A pilot and passenger walked away from the crash landing of a single-engine plane in a Pierce County hayfield.
Sheriff's deputies say the C185 Cessna was piloted by Mark Campillo, 39, of Wasilla, Alaska, when it crash-landed near River Falls about 10 p.m. Wednesday. The pilot and passenger Miles Haisten, 53, also of Wasilla, were taken to River Falls Area Hospital.
A pilot and passenger walked away from the crash landing of a single-engine plane in a Pierce County hayfield.
Sheriff's deputies say the C185 Cessna was piloted by Mark Campillo, 39, of Wasilla, Alaska, when it crash-landed near River Falls about 10 p.m. Wednesday. The pilot and passenger Miles Haisten, 53, also of Wasilla, were taken to River Falls Area Hospital.
The Actualities of "Tolerance"
Bishop Fulton Sheen:
"America, it is said, is suffering from intolerance—it is not. It is suffering from tolerance. Tolerance of right and wrong, truth and error, virtue and evil, Christ and chaos. Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded. . . . Tolerance is an attitude of reasoned patience toward evil, a forbearance that restrains us from showing anger or inflicting punishment. Tolerance applies only to persons, never to truth. Tolerance applies to the erring, intolerance to the error. . . . Architects are as intolerant about sand as foundations for skyscrapers as doctors are intolerant about germs in the laboratory. Tolerance does not apply to truth or principles. About these things we must be intolerant, and for this kind of intolerance, so much needed to rouse us from sentimental gush, I make a plea. Intolerance of this kind is the foundation of all stability."
The definition of terms is usually 90% of the discussion. There's a lot more good stuff at the link.
HT: FirstThings
"America, it is said, is suffering from intolerance—it is not. It is suffering from tolerance. Tolerance of right and wrong, truth and error, virtue and evil, Christ and chaos. Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded. . . . Tolerance is an attitude of reasoned patience toward evil, a forbearance that restrains us from showing anger or inflicting punishment. Tolerance applies only to persons, never to truth. Tolerance applies to the erring, intolerance to the error. . . . Architects are as intolerant about sand as foundations for skyscrapers as doctors are intolerant about germs in the laboratory. Tolerance does not apply to truth or principles. About these things we must be intolerant, and for this kind of intolerance, so much needed to rouse us from sentimental gush, I make a plea. Intolerance of this kind is the foundation of all stability."
The definition of terms is usually 90% of the discussion. There's a lot more good stuff at the link.
HT: FirstThings
Egelhoff's Excellent Question
Here's how she frames it:
How much does an ambulance cost all of us? No, not how much does an ambulance cost you, but how much does an ambulance cost the system, cost all of us?
No question that ambo-runs are overused. It's become like a taxi (with a $zillion in fancy appurtenances and a 3-man crew.)
At $600-$750/run, that's a helluvalotta taxi.
The City of Brookfield's fire department is still sending an engine company on every ambo run. It's good for the Fire Department's 'numbers'---the chief can talk about "needs"---when in 90% of the cases there is no need whatsoever for an engine company. Period.
But the aldermen swallow the KoolAde every year. After all, it's not their money.
How much does an ambulance cost all of us? No, not how much does an ambulance cost you, but how much does an ambulance cost the system, cost all of us?
No question that ambo-runs are overused. It's become like a taxi (with a $zillion in fancy appurtenances and a 3-man crew.)
At $600-$750/run, that's a helluvalotta taxi.
The City of Brookfield's fire department is still sending an engine company on every ambo run. It's good for the Fire Department's 'numbers'---the chief can talk about "needs"---when in 90% of the cases there is no need whatsoever for an engine company. Period.
But the aldermen swallow the KoolAde every year. After all, it's not their money.
"Paid-For" ObamaCare
This is getting waaayyyyyy out of hand.
The U.S. Senate is considering a proposal that would dramatically raise what they call “lifestyle taxes” to pay for a huge federal health care program. Under this proposal you would be paying more for some of the simple things you enjoy, such as a soft drink and your favorite alcohol beverages. The proposal calls for a staggering increase in federal taxes on alcohol beverages of up to 229 percent!
Bad enough that old folks will have to hit the ice-floe.
Now the bastards will make it too expensive to knock back a couple ounces of Jack Daniels to go with that ice?
IIRC, the Second American Revolution was fought over whiskey taxes. No reason to abandon that tradition, is there?
HT: Berry
The U.S. Senate is considering a proposal that would dramatically raise what they call “lifestyle taxes” to pay for a huge federal health care program. Under this proposal you would be paying more for some of the simple things you enjoy, such as a soft drink and your favorite alcohol beverages. The proposal calls for a staggering increase in federal taxes on alcohol beverages of up to 229 percent!
Bad enough that old folks will have to hit the ice-floe.
Now the bastards will make it too expensive to knock back a couple ounces of Jack Daniels to go with that ice?
IIRC, the Second American Revolution was fought over whiskey taxes. No reason to abandon that tradition, is there?
HT: Berry
Looking at "Disorderly Conduct"
Long story short, this fellow Henry Silverglate maintains that the "Disorderly Conduct" arrest of Gates at Harvard was un-Constitutional.
It is worth recalling that the perfectly legal and Constitutional practice of open-carry in Wisconsin was rewarded with "Disorderly Conduct" arrests and charges until very recently.
By longstanding but unfortunate (and, in my view, clearly unconstitutional) practice in Cambridge and across the country, the charge of disorderly conduct is frequently lodged when the citizen restricts his response to the officer to mere verbal unpleasantness. (When the citizen gets physically unruly, the charge is upgraded to resisting arrest or assault and battery on an officer.) It would appear, from the available evidence--regardless of whether Gates' version or that of Officer Crowley is accepted--that Gates was arrested for saying, or perhaps yelling, things to Crowley that the sergeant did not want to hear.
Maybe. While I can agree that DC is probably the most abused charge in the entire book, Gates' yelling and screaming while on his porch was, I think, more of a factor. Had that yelling and screaming been confined to inside-the-house, Silverglate would have a tighter case. (Perhaps "Disturbing the Peace" would be the better charge--if such a thing remains available.)
In fact, Silverglate covers that possibility:
Yet what has happened to the notion that under the First Amendment, loudness is OK as long as one is not waking up neighbors in the middle of the night (known as "disturbing the peace"), and offensiveness is fully protected as long as it stops short of what the Supreme Court has dubbed "fighting words"?
Today, the law recognizes only four exceptions to the First Amendment's protection for free speech: (1) speech posing the "clear and present danger" of imminent violence or lawless action posited by Holmes, (2) disclosures threatening "national security," (3) "obscenity" and (4) so-called "fighting words" that would provoke a reasonable person to an imminent, violent response
He mentions a case which actually does prohibit 'fighting words' against a police officer, but also mentions that the decision has not been "shored up" by subsequent similar decisions. IOW, Silverglate would call that one case an 'outlier' in common parlance.
But in the end, Silverglate shows a fixation on free speech which is unsettling.
OTOH, there should be a chargeable offense entitled "Public Assholery" which could be applied to Prof. Gates.
It is worth recalling that the perfectly legal and Constitutional practice of open-carry in Wisconsin was rewarded with "Disorderly Conduct" arrests and charges until very recently.
By longstanding but unfortunate (and, in my view, clearly unconstitutional) practice in Cambridge and across the country, the charge of disorderly conduct is frequently lodged when the citizen restricts his response to the officer to mere verbal unpleasantness. (When the citizen gets physically unruly, the charge is upgraded to resisting arrest or assault and battery on an officer.) It would appear, from the available evidence--regardless of whether Gates' version or that of Officer Crowley is accepted--that Gates was arrested for saying, or perhaps yelling, things to Crowley that the sergeant did not want to hear.
Maybe. While I can agree that DC is probably the most abused charge in the entire book, Gates' yelling and screaming while on his porch was, I think, more of a factor. Had that yelling and screaming been confined to inside-the-house, Silverglate would have a tighter case. (Perhaps "Disturbing the Peace" would be the better charge--if such a thing remains available.)
In fact, Silverglate covers that possibility:
Yet what has happened to the notion that under the First Amendment, loudness is OK as long as one is not waking up neighbors in the middle of the night (known as "disturbing the peace"), and offensiveness is fully protected as long as it stops short of what the Supreme Court has dubbed "fighting words"?
Today, the law recognizes only four exceptions to the First Amendment's protection for free speech: (1) speech posing the "clear and present danger" of imminent violence or lawless action posited by Holmes, (2) disclosures threatening "national security," (3) "obscenity" and (4) so-called "fighting words" that would provoke a reasonable person to an imminent, violent response
He mentions a case which actually does prohibit 'fighting words' against a police officer, but also mentions that the decision has not been "shored up" by subsequent similar decisions. IOW, Silverglate would call that one case an 'outlier' in common parlance.
But in the end, Silverglate shows a fixation on free speech which is unsettling.
OTOH, there should be a chargeable offense entitled "Public Assholery" which could be applied to Prof. Gates.
How Much CO2? Polar Ice?
Factoids.
Polar ice, for example, has been present on the Earth for less than 20 per cent of geological time, Plimer writes. Plus, animal extinctions are an entirely normal part of the Earth's evolution. …
Plimer gets especially upset about carbon dioxide, its role in Earth's daily life and the supposed effects on climate of human manufacture of the gas. He says atmospheric carbon dioxide is now at the lowest levels it has been for 500 million years, and that atmospheric carbon dioxide is only 0.001 per cent of the total amount of the chemical held in the oceans, surface rocks, soils and various life forms. Indeed, Plimer says carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, but a plant food. Plants eat carbon dioxide and excrete oxygen.
Since those are facts, they are useless to the Cap-n-Tax crowd.
HT: Moonbattery
Polar ice, for example, has been present on the Earth for less than 20 per cent of geological time, Plimer writes. Plus, animal extinctions are an entirely normal part of the Earth's evolution. …
Plimer gets especially upset about carbon dioxide, its role in Earth's daily life and the supposed effects on climate of human manufacture of the gas. He says atmospheric carbon dioxide is now at the lowest levels it has been for 500 million years, and that atmospheric carbon dioxide is only 0.001 per cent of the total amount of the chemical held in the oceans, surface rocks, soils and various life forms. Indeed, Plimer says carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, but a plant food. Plants eat carbon dioxide and excrete oxygen.
Since those are facts, they are useless to the Cap-n-Tax crowd.
HT: Moonbattery
Stadium Tax Barometer Sticking It To 'Em!!
No surprise here.
Stadium district officials say that, year-to-date, the district is about 7% behind last year's sales-tax collection amount. And with seven months left to report in 2009, the district has collected more than $1 million less than had been projected.
...Milwaukee County is down 6.7% compared with the same time period last year. Ozaukee County, normally considered a wealthy county, is down 2.2% compared with last year.
Also, Washington County is down 5.5%, and Racine and Waukesha counties are down 8.2%.
It's no longer likely that the tax will end in 2014.
Stick It To 'Em, Tommy!!
Stadium district officials say that, year-to-date, the district is about 7% behind last year's sales-tax collection amount. And with seven months left to report in 2009, the district has collected more than $1 million less than had been projected.
...Milwaukee County is down 6.7% compared with the same time period last year. Ozaukee County, normally considered a wealthy county, is down 2.2% compared with last year.
Also, Washington County is down 5.5%, and Racine and Waukesha counties are down 8.2%.
It's no longer likely that the tax will end in 2014.
Stick It To 'Em, Tommy!!
Another Republican HealthCare Proposal
Ryan has a bill out there, and Dr. Tom Price (R-GA) will introduce another bill.
...the RSC prescription is to improve the individual insurance market by taking away its tax disadvantage. They also want to pre-empt the unreasonable state coverage mandates that have made individual policies unaffordable in states like New Jersey and Maine. (Must every insurance policy really cover marriage counseling? Accupuncture?)
Another key contrast between the two approaches is known as "guaranteed issue." In order to accommodate those with uninsurable pre-existing conditions, Obama and the Democrats have proposed re-shaping everyone's coverage, at the risk of ruining what's good in the current system in the process. The RSC plan, on the other hand, treats uninsurable people as the special cases they are. It subsidizes their care and gives states incentives to create risk pools for them.
The RSC's (and Ryan's) bills use this text as a guidestar:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Every now and then, it's useful to remind people about that Amendment, eh??
...the RSC prescription is to improve the individual insurance market by taking away its tax disadvantage. They also want to pre-empt the unreasonable state coverage mandates that have made individual policies unaffordable in states like New Jersey and Maine. (Must every insurance policy really cover marriage counseling? Accupuncture?)
Another key contrast between the two approaches is known as "guaranteed issue." In order to accommodate those with uninsurable pre-existing conditions, Obama and the Democrats have proposed re-shaping everyone's coverage, at the risk of ruining what's good in the current system in the process. The RSC plan, on the other hand, treats uninsurable people as the special cases they are. It subsidizes their care and gives states incentives to create risk pools for them.
The RSC's (and Ryan's) bills use this text as a guidestar:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Every now and then, it's useful to remind people about that Amendment, eh??
Deception Surrounds Catholic Demand for Health Reform
It's a truism that the healthcare system in the US could stand some reform. Nobody really argues against 'reform.'
But there are very serious issues, and at the top of the list is abortion.
As currently written, HR3200 will force the US taxpayer to fund abortions, overriding the Hyde Amendment. That IS the case, although the convenient lie is available: "It doesn't SAY that."
Well, your weather forecast doesn't SAY that the sun will rise, either.
Now comes a demand from three Catholic entities calling for immediate "reform" of healthcare. In and of itself, that's no surprise. But when those Catholic entities resort to linguistic manipulation to support their position, it is a disappointment, to say the least.
"Please call and e-mail your Representative in the next 24 hours expressing your support for Congress to enact health care reform now," the groups urge in an alert released last week. The page hosted by St. Vincent De Paul offers contact information and email forms for congressional offices.
"Saint Vincent de Paul is partnering with Catholic Charities USA and the Catholic Health Association to amplify our collective voice to let Congress know that health care reform can not wait," it continues.
"Can not wait"?? Really?? Can not wait until when, exactly?
Worse:
Pro-life lawyers say that the government health care insurance is bound to include abortion as an essential health care benefit and would be funded by taxpayer dollars, unless an amendment is introduced to specifically exclude abortion. However, all such amendments, including amendments to protect doctors' conscience rights, have failed in both the House and Senate.
Now watch the deception.
When LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) described the healthcare plan's abortion mandate to Roger Playwin, the National Executive Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, he interrupted to say: "The bishops' office has advised us that that's not accurate. So I can't speak to it, because all I know is that the bishops' office has said that story is going around, but it's inaccurate. That's all I know."
Playwin said that by bishops' office he meant the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, specifically the bishops' charity arm, Catholic Charities USA. "There's a lot of disinformation about - there is no legislation, number one," he said. Asked to clarify, Playwin said, "There is not a piece of legislation that the House and Senate are going to agree to about health care reform."
Either Playwin is lying, or Catholic Charities is lying, or in any case, Playwin was deliberately non-responsive to the question. He's a pathetic jerk.
Not only that, he didn't bother to cover his ass.
When LSN sought comment from the Catholic Health Association (CHA) on the matter, communications director Fred Caesar said he was not familiar with the press release, and directed LSN to a letter CHA issued to Congress in July 2008, urging them to uphold pro-life amendments in the annual appropriations bill.
And there are other problems in the proposals.
Judie Brown, president of American Life League, responded with outrage at the organizations' failure to address the serious problems inherent in the current health care legislation, saying that "There is no social justice in rationing charity."
"Millions of taxpayers will be forced to subsidize abortion, contraception, euthanasia and bureaucratic denial of health care to the poorest of the poor," she said.
This coalition better get its act together, and Mr. Playwin owes an apology to SVDP members--not to mention to millions of others who want reform, but want it done right.
But there are very serious issues, and at the top of the list is abortion.
As currently written, HR3200 will force the US taxpayer to fund abortions, overriding the Hyde Amendment. That IS the case, although the convenient lie is available: "It doesn't SAY that."
Well, your weather forecast doesn't SAY that the sun will rise, either.
Now comes a demand from three Catholic entities calling for immediate "reform" of healthcare. In and of itself, that's no surprise. But when those Catholic entities resort to linguistic manipulation to support their position, it is a disappointment, to say the least.
"Please call and e-mail your Representative in the next 24 hours expressing your support for Congress to enact health care reform now," the groups urge in an alert released last week. The page hosted by St. Vincent De Paul offers contact information and email forms for congressional offices.
"Saint Vincent de Paul is partnering with Catholic Charities USA and the Catholic Health Association to amplify our collective voice to let Congress know that health care reform can not wait," it continues.
"Can not wait"?? Really?? Can not wait until when, exactly?
Worse:
Pro-life lawyers say that the government health care insurance is bound to include abortion as an essential health care benefit and would be funded by taxpayer dollars, unless an amendment is introduced to specifically exclude abortion. However, all such amendments, including amendments to protect doctors' conscience rights, have failed in both the House and Senate.
Now watch the deception.
When LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) described the healthcare plan's abortion mandate to Roger Playwin, the National Executive Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, he interrupted to say: "The bishops' office has advised us that that's not accurate. So I can't speak to it, because all I know is that the bishops' office has said that story is going around, but it's inaccurate. That's all I know."
Playwin said that by bishops' office he meant the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, specifically the bishops' charity arm, Catholic Charities USA. "There's a lot of disinformation about - there is no legislation, number one," he said. Asked to clarify, Playwin said, "There is not a piece of legislation that the House and Senate are going to agree to about health care reform."
Either Playwin is lying, or Catholic Charities is lying, or in any case, Playwin was deliberately non-responsive to the question. He's a pathetic jerk.
Not only that, he didn't bother to cover his ass.
When LSN sought comment from the Catholic Health Association (CHA) on the matter, communications director Fred Caesar said he was not familiar with the press release, and directed LSN to a letter CHA issued to Congress in July 2008, urging them to uphold pro-life amendments in the annual appropriations bill.
And there are other problems in the proposals.
Judie Brown, president of American Life League, responded with outrage at the organizations' failure to address the serious problems inherent in the current health care legislation, saying that "There is no social justice in rationing charity."
"Millions of taxpayers will be forced to subsidize abortion, contraception, euthanasia and bureaucratic denial of health care to the poorest of the poor," she said.
This coalition better get its act together, and Mr. Playwin owes an apology to SVDP members--not to mention to millions of others who want reform, but want it done right.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Vote by Internet Fraud!
P-Mac advises that Wisconsin is now looking at allowing more ways to commit vote fraud.
Oh, joy.
Phone-it-in. There's no doubt whatsoever that nobody but the eligible voter in your home could use your phone, right? No kids over the age of 6, for example, or ...never mind.
Mail-it-in. I mean, who ever heard of postal fraud?
And, of course, the Ross Perot dream: Internet voting. Because MS Explorer is the very most secure OS ever invented by man.
Hoo-aaa!!
Oh, joy.
Phone-it-in. There's no doubt whatsoever that nobody but the eligible voter in your home could use your phone, right? No kids over the age of 6, for example, or ...never mind.
Mail-it-in. I mean, who ever heard of postal fraud?
And, of course, the Ross Perot dream: Internet voting. Because MS Explorer is the very most secure OS ever invented by man.
Hoo-aaa!!
Saturday, August 22, High Noon
Saddle up.
The Nationwide Recess Rally takes place on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009. If you believe your liberty, your hard earned money and your way of life is under attack through dangerous healthcare legislation currently being proposed, get to your local Representative office on August 22nd and make sure he/she knows.
Addresses for Wisconsin Congresscritters are on this page.
Jim Sensenbrenner will not vote for this piece of shit, HR3200. So it might be fun to do the time at Gwen Moore's office, instead.
Youse there in NE Wisconsin: Kagen needs to know he's very, very vulnerable.
The Nationwide Recess Rally takes place on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009. If you believe your liberty, your hard earned money and your way of life is under attack through dangerous healthcare legislation currently being proposed, get to your local Representative office on August 22nd and make sure he/she knows.
Addresses for Wisconsin Congresscritters are on this page.
Jim Sensenbrenner will not vote for this piece of shit, HR3200. So it might be fun to do the time at Gwen Moore's office, instead.
Youse there in NE Wisconsin: Kagen needs to know he's very, very vulnerable.
ObamaCare: Blue Puppies Happy, State Socialism In
The Blue Puppies were given a chew-toy--$100Bn off the initial price tag of $1Trillion--and went to their blankets to chew.
What's left?
It would still mean a massive expansion of Medicaid, providing subsidies for people to purchase government-designed insurance policies on a government-run exchange, creating a new government-run health care program that would put the nation on a pathway to single-payer, mandates on individuals to purchase insurance or pay a tax, and a tax hike on employers that did not provide health care to their workers. And it's not clear how many of the compromises will be adopted by the full House once this bill is reconciled by the two other committees.
State Socialism will crawl, rather than leap, into 1/6th of the economy.'
HT: AmSpecBlog
What's left?
It would still mean a massive expansion of Medicaid, providing subsidies for people to purchase government-designed insurance policies on a government-run exchange, creating a new government-run health care program that would put the nation on a pathway to single-payer, mandates on individuals to purchase insurance or pay a tax, and a tax hike on employers that did not provide health care to their workers. And it's not clear how many of the compromises will be adopted by the full House once this bill is reconciled by the two other committees.
State Socialism will crawl, rather than leap, into 1/6th of the economy.'
HT: AmSpecBlog
The Historic State Fair Racetrack
There's a lot more history to the State Fair racetrack than most people know.
In addition to being our next Mencken (or Twain), Iowahawk is an aficiando of fine, fast, engine-driven machinery, and devotes a lot of blogspace to the Miller engine folks here.
Lots of REALLY cool pix at that link. Here's the short history:
Miller was a Milwaukee race-engine builder, and was damn good at it.
Oh, there's more: after Miller went BK in 1933, one of his employees bought a bunch of tools, dies, and equipment and started his own race-engine building business.
His name was Offenhauser.
Damn. That track should be preserved if only for those names!
In addition to being our next Mencken (or Twain), Iowahawk is an aficiando of fine, fast, engine-driven machinery, and devotes a lot of blogspace to the Miller engine folks here.
Lots of REALLY cool pix at that link. Here's the short history:
Miller was a Milwaukee race-engine builder, and was damn good at it.
Oh, there's more: after Miller went BK in 1933, one of his employees bought a bunch of tools, dies, and equipment and started his own race-engine building business.
His name was Offenhauser.
Damn. That track should be preserved if only for those names!
Philosophy and the Reform of the Reformed Liturgy
One approach to the Catholic liturgical mess that has been ignored is the approach from philosophy--until now.
Reviewing a new book, Worship as a Revelation: The Past, Present and Future of Catholic Liturgy, by Laurence Paul Hemming, Fr. Brian Van den Hove, S.J. (!!) tells us a bit about that perspective.
Our author asserts that the enemy of Catholic liturgy is rationalism – "the fact that a propensity towards philosophical rationalism was one of the motor forces of the post-conciliar liturgical reform". Rationalism is defined as "the understanding that everything, all truth, arises on the basis of what can be foreseen by man, what is calculable and predictable for him in advance of its occurring." Again, "the rational is the essentially calculable...."
The effect of rationalism and its inherent problematic as applied to the "adaptation of the liturgy" has an extensive history. Only gradually did it become as strong as it is now. Hemming agrees with Martin Heidegger that "God is not an object of philosophy" and he finds an ally in Aidan Nichols on the point – "... the impulses for liturgical reform have their origins in a commitment to rationalism that stems, certainly from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and even before."
Yes. That 'rationalism' has a great deal to do with the misinterpretation of the term "noble simplicity."
...He mentions that the Eastern Church has preserved some liturgical understanding or "ancient practice" now lost in the West. Besides the loss of the "distributed body of Christ" is the loss of all sense of intertwinement between the cycles, sanctoral and temporal. The Christian East kept both insights.
One of the motivators behind B-16's promotion of the Extraordinary Form was to 'move towards the East', so to speak. Many of the Orthodox were appalled at the post-Conciliar "new liturgy" of the West.
With regard to "active participation" (actuosa participatio):
The author traces its root to the "modern self" of Cartesian philosophy. "In his Meditations on First Philosophy, after having established the self as first in the order of things of which I can be certain, the second indubitable thing Descartes discovers is God." However, the second indubitable thing Descartes discovered was not God, but the idea of God. After explaining the philosophy that reduces the external world to subjectivity, Hemming concludes: "Liturgical prayer works in exactly the opposite way." We do not approach the liturgy as complete selves – we let our incomplete selves be filled and perfected by the liturgy.
A very significant difference, indeed.
Therefore, in reality,
...Over a lifetime we slowly discover God in and through the liturgy. At least that is what should happen; or that was traditionally the perceived goal. Hemming asserts that the purpose of this book is to emphasize that we do not make or force God to become present in the liturgy. Rather, we listen and wait for God to act and to move us. "Prayer does not bring God or the divine presence to us."
It is even more interesting to note those who are in agreement with Hemming and those with whom he disagrees.
Allies in addition to Nichols include Alcuin Reid and Lauren Pristas. Cited favorably are Klaus Gamber, Martin Mosebach, Uwe Michael Lang and László Dobszay. Hemming is no supporter of Catherine Pickstock who, for a time, was quite fashionable in some circles. Other contemporary figures whose thought he engages in various ways include Odo Casel, Romano Guardini, Cipriano Vagaggini, Berhard Blankenhorn, Margaret Barker and John McDade.
Interesting lists, indeed. Guardini was a haute Romantische kinda guy, as (I suspect) was Pickstock.
If I infer from the thesis correctly, the late "liturgical movement" figures were increasingly rationalist in their views and praxis, and that trajectory more or less ran its course into the age of Weakland, Bugnini, Marini, (et al.) following Vatican II. Thus the eminently rationalist use of the "vernacular" to the exclusion of lingua sacra, Latin, and the horrific and often narcissistic 'music' now inflicted upon congregations in place of Chant, or even of genuinely artistic work.
The difficulty in determining best praxis is contained in the well-worn phrase of Pius X as he described the ideal of sacred music as 'elevating the minds and hearts of the Faithful to God.' It can be precisely located in the conjunction "and." And this injunction applies with equal force to all of liturgy and what surrounds it: the plastic and graphic art and architecture must conform to the 'mind and heart-elevation' as well. (At the risk of an inaccurate reduction, one could think of the "horizontal/vertical"-worship terminology to frame the discussion.)
Perfecting the balance demanded by "and" may never happen. But good reform should always be guided by it.
Reviewing a new book, Worship as a Revelation: The Past, Present and Future of Catholic Liturgy, by Laurence Paul Hemming, Fr. Brian Van den Hove, S.J. (!!) tells us a bit about that perspective.
Our author asserts that the enemy of Catholic liturgy is rationalism – "the fact that a propensity towards philosophical rationalism was one of the motor forces of the post-conciliar liturgical reform". Rationalism is defined as "the understanding that everything, all truth, arises on the basis of what can be foreseen by man, what is calculable and predictable for him in advance of its occurring." Again, "the rational is the essentially calculable...."
The effect of rationalism and its inherent problematic as applied to the "adaptation of the liturgy" has an extensive history. Only gradually did it become as strong as it is now. Hemming agrees with Martin Heidegger that "God is not an object of philosophy" and he finds an ally in Aidan Nichols on the point – "... the impulses for liturgical reform have their origins in a commitment to rationalism that stems, certainly from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and even before."
Yes. That 'rationalism' has a great deal to do with the misinterpretation of the term "noble simplicity."
...He mentions that the Eastern Church has preserved some liturgical understanding or "ancient practice" now lost in the West. Besides the loss of the "distributed body of Christ" is the loss of all sense of intertwinement between the cycles, sanctoral and temporal. The Christian East kept both insights.
One of the motivators behind B-16's promotion of the Extraordinary Form was to 'move towards the East', so to speak. Many of the Orthodox were appalled at the post-Conciliar "new liturgy" of the West.
With regard to "active participation" (actuosa participatio):
The author traces its root to the "modern self" of Cartesian philosophy. "In his Meditations on First Philosophy, after having established the self as first in the order of things of which I can be certain, the second indubitable thing Descartes discovers is God." However, the second indubitable thing Descartes discovered was not God, but the idea of God. After explaining the philosophy that reduces the external world to subjectivity, Hemming concludes: "Liturgical prayer works in exactly the opposite way." We do not approach the liturgy as complete selves – we let our incomplete selves be filled and perfected by the liturgy.
A very significant difference, indeed.
Therefore, in reality,
...Over a lifetime we slowly discover God in and through the liturgy. At least that is what should happen; or that was traditionally the perceived goal. Hemming asserts that the purpose of this book is to emphasize that we do not make or force God to become present in the liturgy. Rather, we listen and wait for God to act and to move us. "Prayer does not bring God or the divine presence to us."
It is even more interesting to note those who are in agreement with Hemming and those with whom he disagrees.
Allies in addition to Nichols include Alcuin Reid and Lauren Pristas. Cited favorably are Klaus Gamber, Martin Mosebach, Uwe Michael Lang and László Dobszay. Hemming is no supporter of Catherine Pickstock who, for a time, was quite fashionable in some circles. Other contemporary figures whose thought he engages in various ways include Odo Casel, Romano Guardini, Cipriano Vagaggini, Berhard Blankenhorn, Margaret Barker and John McDade.
Interesting lists, indeed. Guardini was a haute Romantische kinda guy, as (I suspect) was Pickstock.
If I infer from the thesis correctly, the late "liturgical movement" figures were increasingly rationalist in their views and praxis, and that trajectory more or less ran its course into the age of Weakland, Bugnini, Marini, (et al.) following Vatican II. Thus the eminently rationalist use of the "vernacular" to the exclusion of lingua sacra, Latin, and the horrific and often narcissistic 'music' now inflicted upon congregations in place of Chant, or even of genuinely artistic work.
The difficulty in determining best praxis is contained in the well-worn phrase of Pius X as he described the ideal of sacred music as 'elevating the minds and hearts of the Faithful to God.' It can be precisely located in the conjunction "and." And this injunction applies with equal force to all of liturgy and what surrounds it: the plastic and graphic art and architecture must conform to the 'mind and heart-elevation' as well. (At the risk of an inaccurate reduction, one could think of the "horizontal/vertical"-worship terminology to frame the discussion.)
Perfecting the balance demanded by "and" may never happen. But good reform should always be guided by it.
Favre: The Right Decison
Favre's retiring.
The guy is a world-class warrior and competitor, will be a Hall of Famer first ballot.
Frankly, I didn't care if he went to Minnesota or not--except I like him too much to watch him get hit, hard, by a MLB and get carried off with a permanent injury.
Good decision. See you in Canton!
The guy is a world-class warrior and competitor, will be a Hall of Famer first ballot.
Frankly, I didn't care if he went to Minnesota or not--except I like him too much to watch him get hit, hard, by a MLB and get carried off with a permanent injury.
Good decision. See you in Canton!
ObamaCare: Dump Defense to Get There
Well, Obama found a compliant twit to help pay for ObamaCare! Too bad it's Defense--which, unlike Health Care, happens to be specified in the Constitution as an obligation of the Feds.
The order from Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is based on an assumption that there will be no real growth in defense budgets over the next five years, a radical departure for a department whose budgets have increased more than 80 percent since 2001....
That would be $60Bn in cuts.
Two wars (one, admittedly, closing up soon). The Norks and Imanutjob/Iran waving war flags. Commie dictators threatening Honduras. IslamoFascists running around trying to find new places to play, kill, and riot.
"NO GROWTH" in DoD spending over the next 5 years?
I can understand inflation-adjusted plus "cost of wars" growth as a good target for spending.
But NO GROWTH?
Bozo.
HT: AOSHQ
The order from Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is based on an assumption that there will be no real growth in defense budgets over the next five years, a radical departure for a department whose budgets have increased more than 80 percent since 2001....
That would be $60Bn in cuts.
Two wars (one, admittedly, closing up soon). The Norks and Imanutjob/Iran waving war flags. Commie dictators threatening Honduras. IslamoFascists running around trying to find new places to play, kill, and riot.
"NO GROWTH" in DoD spending over the next 5 years?
I can understand inflation-adjusted plus "cost of wars" growth as a good target for spending.
But NO GROWTH?
Bozo.
HT: AOSHQ
Another Word for "Insurance Exchanges"
You want the other word for "insurance exchanges"?
Try "Independent Insurance Brokers" for starters.
Try "Independent Insurance Brokers" for starters.
Boots & Sabers in Gates Controversy: Well-Aimed
Well, it's a stretch, but hey...Owen deserves some attention.
In the middle of Iowahawk's latest offering, describing the Harvard/Gates situation from the point of view of another Harvard Asshole:
Our table exchanged knowing glances, for we knew immediately that Skip was only the latest victim of a system that singles out the Harvard faculty asshole for stigmatization and unequal justice. It is a system that all of us knew too well,...
Sometimes it even comes at the hand of self-styled "peers" from D-list state ampersand institutions. One colleague recounted the tale of his restroom confrontation with a Texas A&M professor at a national academic conference last year. After relieving themselves at adjacent urinals, my colleague noticed the oaf leaving hastily for the plenary session and decided to gently point out his hygienic forgetfulness. "A Harvard man washes his hands after urinating," he said. "And an Aggie don't piss all over his hands, asshole," came the reply.
Like I said, it's a stretch. But it's good to know that Aggies can aim.
In the middle of Iowahawk's latest offering, describing the Harvard/Gates situation from the point of view of another Harvard Asshole:
Our table exchanged knowing glances, for we knew immediately that Skip was only the latest victim of a system that singles out the Harvard faculty asshole for stigmatization and unequal justice. It is a system that all of us knew too well,...
Sometimes it even comes at the hand of self-styled "peers" from D-list state ampersand institutions. One colleague recounted the tale of his restroom confrontation with a Texas A&M professor at a national academic conference last year. After relieving themselves at adjacent urinals, my colleague noticed the oaf leaving hastily for the plenary session and decided to gently point out his hygienic forgetfulness. "A Harvard man washes his hands after urinating," he said. "And an Aggie don't piss all over his hands, asshole," came the reply.
Like I said, it's a stretch. But it's good to know that Aggies can aim.
Obama-Rahm-a-Jamma, CBO Edition
The FIBs.
Last week, President Obama spilled the beans on the Today Show that he had met with CBO director Douglas Elmendorf – just as the number-crunchers were casting ruinous doubt on White House cost-saving claims. Yes, question the timing. The CBO is supposed to be a neutral score-keeper – not a water boy for the White House. But when the meeting failed to stop the CBO from issuing more analysis undercutting the health care savings claims, Obama’s budget director Peter Orszag played the heavy.
Orszag warned the CBO in a public letter that it risked feeding the perception that it was “exaggerating costs and underestimating savings.” Message: Leave the number-fudging to the boss. Capiche?
Buy More Ammo.
HT: Malkin
Last week, President Obama spilled the beans on the Today Show that he had met with CBO director Douglas Elmendorf – just as the number-crunchers were casting ruinous doubt on White House cost-saving claims. Yes, question the timing. The CBO is supposed to be a neutral score-keeper – not a water boy for the White House. But when the meeting failed to stop the CBO from issuing more analysis undercutting the health care savings claims, Obama’s budget director Peter Orszag played the heavy.
Orszag warned the CBO in a public letter that it risked feeding the perception that it was “exaggerating costs and underestimating savings.” Message: Leave the number-fudging to the boss. Capiche?
Buy More Ammo.
HT: Malkin
I.G.-Gate, Part 29,765: Obama-Rahm-a-Jamma Politics
Obama-Rahm-a-Jamma politics, (no concrete shoes yet) in operation.
In a telephone interview today, Walpin said he noticed last week's report that Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) had contacted White House officials in March, publicly vowing that sanctions against Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson didn't prevent the city from getting its share of bailout cash.
Questions about what role Matsui may have played in Walpin's dismissal are being asked on Capitol Hill, and the ex-IG himself is curious about the Sacramento congresswoman's intervention, which drew attention after it was highlighted by California blogger Eric Hogue.
We're shocked! Shocked!!!
On the larger question -- whether political pressure over his investigation of Mayor Johnson's St. HOPE Academy was a factor in the June 10 quit-or-be-fired ultimatum from the White House -- Walpin is certain.
"I have no doubt about that," Walpin said.
[Walpin] was startled to discover that the President of the United States had directly ordered him fired.
You're from the wrong town, Mr. Walpin. We don't call them "FIBs" for no reason up here.
Of course, the (D) majority in Congress has suspended its investigation. They have an excuse (aside from Obama-Rahm-a-Jamma tactics): Walpin sued, so .........ummmnnnhhhh.....yah, THAT'S it! Walpin sued!!
HT: The Winning McCain/Spectator Blog
In a telephone interview today, Walpin said he noticed last week's report that Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) had contacted White House officials in March, publicly vowing that sanctions against Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson didn't prevent the city from getting its share of bailout cash.
Questions about what role Matsui may have played in Walpin's dismissal are being asked on Capitol Hill, and the ex-IG himself is curious about the Sacramento congresswoman's intervention, which drew attention after it was highlighted by California blogger Eric Hogue.
We're shocked! Shocked!!!
On the larger question -- whether political pressure over his investigation of Mayor Johnson's St. HOPE Academy was a factor in the June 10 quit-or-be-fired ultimatum from the White House -- Walpin is certain.
"I have no doubt about that," Walpin said.
[Walpin] was startled to discover that the President of the United States had directly ordered him fired.
You're from the wrong town, Mr. Walpin. We don't call them "FIBs" for no reason up here.
Of course, the (D) majority in Congress has suspended its investigation. They have an excuse (aside from Obama-Rahm-a-Jamma tactics): Walpin sued, so .........ummmnnnhhhh.....yah, THAT'S it! Walpin sued!!
HT: The Winning McCain/Spectator Blog
Yes, Individual Health Policies Will Go Away
But who cares? Actually, quite a few people care.
Most insured Americans get their health coverage through an employer. But a minority of about 6 to 8 percent -- mostly the self-employed, students, and others who lack a generous employee benefits package -- carry individual policies.
Besides the people who purchase those policies, there's the large Milwaukee-based company which ISSUES them, along with its several hundred jobs. But that's OK. There's always the several million "stimulus" jobs that they can get. Like pouring and finishing concrete. Or driving spikes into Doyle's choochoo train-rails.
In the Senate Democrats' bill, individual policyholders can keep their coverage, but they will be penalized under the individual mandate as though they did not have any coverage at all.
Very nice.
House Democrats' bill, on the other hand, would grandfather individual policy-holders. They could keep their coverage and even add dependents over time. But no new individual policies could be sold as of the first year ObamaCare begins.
Don't be stupid enough to think that makes any difference.
Under the best-case scenario, grandfathered individual policies would continue to exist until all of their holders die. But in all likelihood, economic and regulatory forces would conspire against them.
ObamaRegulation--the next best thing to just blowing off the policies.
Most insured Americans get their health coverage through an employer. But a minority of about 6 to 8 percent -- mostly the self-employed, students, and others who lack a generous employee benefits package -- carry individual policies.
Besides the people who purchase those policies, there's the large Milwaukee-based company which ISSUES them, along with its several hundred jobs. But that's OK. There's always the several million "stimulus" jobs that they can get. Like pouring and finishing concrete. Or driving spikes into Doyle's choochoo train-rails.
In the Senate Democrats' bill, individual policyholders can keep their coverage, but they will be penalized under the individual mandate as though they did not have any coverage at all.
Very nice.
House Democrats' bill, on the other hand, would grandfather individual policy-holders. They could keep their coverage and even add dependents over time. But no new individual policies could be sold as of the first year ObamaCare begins.
Don't be stupid enough to think that makes any difference.
Under the best-case scenario, grandfathered individual policies would continue to exist until all of their holders die. But in all likelihood, economic and regulatory forces would conspire against them.
ObamaRegulation--the next best thing to just blowing off the policies.
Socialized By Another Name
The Conrad/Grassley "alternative" to a Gummint-insurer?
Instead of including the public option, the bipartisan group is considering federally founded, not-for-profit, member-owned healthcare cooperatives that would compete with traditional insurance companies. Conrad, who has pushed this compromise, said the co-ops would receive $6 billion in federal start-up money and enroll 12 million people.
Umnnnhhh....
$6Bn at 6% is $360 million/year in cost-of-capital. So the Gummint 'will not put private insurers out of business,' but it WILL give this 'co-op' a $360 million/year subsidy.
SHHHHHHHHH!!! Don't tell anyone!!! Grassley and Conrad don't think you figured this out.
Instead of including the public option, the bipartisan group is considering federally founded, not-for-profit, member-owned healthcare cooperatives that would compete with traditional insurance companies. Conrad, who has pushed this compromise, said the co-ops would receive $6 billion in federal start-up money and enroll 12 million people.
Umnnnhhh....
$6Bn at 6% is $360 million/year in cost-of-capital. So the Gummint 'will not put private insurers out of business,' but it WILL give this 'co-op' a $360 million/year subsidy.
SHHHHHHHHH!!! Don't tell anyone!!! Grassley and Conrad don't think you figured this out.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sykes, Savage, and the "Birthers"
Started and ended the day listening to "Birther" stuff.
Charlie thinks that the recent cloudburst of press coverage of the Birthers is designed by Rahm-A-Jamma and Axle-Your-Rod to discredit the birthers as slackjawed neanderthal bible-clingers.
Yah, well. They may be all that, but don't forget they're armed, too, Rahmmie.
Later, Savage offered an insight which is very solid.
In his opinion, it's not really about whether Obama is a citizen, although that's what is on the table. He thinks that it's really a matter of serious discomfort with Obama's foreign and domestic policies. The Apology Tour. The Honduras Commie-Kissing. The "negotiate" with Taliban. The dumping of Israel. The complete jackass "Science Adviser." The Abortion-is-my-sacrament mentality. And the racist SCOTUS nominee.
And of course, the Statist domestic program, the Commie mentors, the Alinsky playbook....
The way Savage frames it, it's all about patriotism, or lack thereof.
And that makes sense.
UPDATE: When even the National Review Online can't get the facts straight, one wonders:
The Editors at National Review are flat out wrong. Demonstrably, provably, and verifiably wrong. Like so many other Obama defenders, NRO is confusing the CERTIFICATION of live birth that Obama has produced with the original CERTIFICATE of live birth. One is a green computerized record, the other is the document that records the doctor's or midwife's name, his signature, the hospital, and so forth. The salient point is that Obama has refused to produce the latter
Oh, well.
Charlie thinks that the recent cloudburst of press coverage of the Birthers is designed by Rahm-A-Jamma and Axle-Your-Rod to discredit the birthers as slackjawed neanderthal bible-clingers.
Yah, well. They may be all that, but don't forget they're armed, too, Rahmmie.
Later, Savage offered an insight which is very solid.
In his opinion, it's not really about whether Obama is a citizen, although that's what is on the table. He thinks that it's really a matter of serious discomfort with Obama's foreign and domestic policies. The Apology Tour. The Honduras Commie-Kissing. The "negotiate" with Taliban. The dumping of Israel. The complete jackass "Science Adviser." The Abortion-is-my-sacrament mentality. And the racist SCOTUS nominee.
And of course, the Statist domestic program, the Commie mentors, the Alinsky playbook....
The way Savage frames it, it's all about patriotism, or lack thereof.
And that makes sense.
UPDATE: When even the National Review Online can't get the facts straight, one wonders:
The Editors at National Review are flat out wrong. Demonstrably, provably, and verifiably wrong. Like so many other Obama defenders, NRO is confusing the CERTIFICATION of live birth that Obama has produced with the original CERTIFICATE of live birth. One is a green computerized record, the other is the document that records the doctor's or midwife's name, his signature, the hospital, and so forth. The salient point is that Obama has refused to produce the latter
Oh, well.
Doyle to Jump Into Merc Talks
Subsequent to ramming through the 'consolidated reporting' tax requirement (costing any Wisconsin-headquartered company a BUNCH of money,) our Governor intends to "help" the Merc Marine situation.
Oh, yah. That'll be interesting.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said he will be actively involved in negotiations aimed at keeping Mercury Marine Inc. from closing its Fond du Lac facility, where about 1,900 people are employed.
“We all need to be focused on an outcome that continues to provide family-supporting jobs for hundreds of workers in Fond du Lac and that allows Mercury Marine to continue its market leadership from its headquarters in Wisconsin,” Doyle said in a statement. “I will continue to be engaged and, as appropriate, directly involved as these negotiations continue to occur.”
So what's up?
Doyle said the state has offered “an aggressive package to help Mercury Marine maintain its market leadership and operate efficiently.”
If that "aggressive package" included rescinding the consolidated income thing for ALL Wisconsin-headquartered entities, it might save a few jobs beyond those of the IAM in Fondy.
Oh, yah. That'll be interesting.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said he will be actively involved in negotiations aimed at keeping Mercury Marine Inc. from closing its Fond du Lac facility, where about 1,900 people are employed.
“We all need to be focused on an outcome that continues to provide family-supporting jobs for hundreds of workers in Fond du Lac and that allows Mercury Marine to continue its market leadership from its headquarters in Wisconsin,” Doyle said in a statement. “I will continue to be engaged and, as appropriate, directly involved as these negotiations continue to occur.”
So what's up?
Doyle said the state has offered “an aggressive package to help Mercury Marine maintain its market leadership and operate efficiently.”
If that "aggressive package" included rescinding the consolidated income thing for ALL Wisconsin-headquartered entities, it might save a few jobs beyond those of the IAM in Fondy.
Just Sneeze and Bring Kleenex
Hmmmm...
A proposed policy change could ban some over-the-counter cough medicines and allergy medications for Elmbrook students.
...The second definition, recommended by Superintendent Matt Gibson, gets more specific in its language. It explicitly bans any substance containing ephedrine, which can be found in some iterations of the nasal decongestant Sudafed and the allergy medicine Claritin-D. The second definition also allows students to carry just a single dose of cough medicine. It does not ban caffeine pills or diet pills.
Gibson said he consulted with the Brookfield Police Department in writing the definition. Police specifically recommended including ephedrine in the definition.
During Fall and Spring, this could be rough on a few of the chilluns. It's not like the Elmbrook schools have a purified-air environment.
A proposed policy change could ban some over-the-counter cough medicines and allergy medications for Elmbrook students.
...The second definition, recommended by Superintendent Matt Gibson, gets more specific in its language. It explicitly bans any substance containing ephedrine, which can be found in some iterations of the nasal decongestant Sudafed and the allergy medicine Claritin-D. The second definition also allows students to carry just a single dose of cough medicine. It does not ban caffeine pills or diet pills.
Gibson said he consulted with the Brookfield Police Department in writing the definition. Police specifically recommended including ephedrine in the definition.
During Fall and Spring, this could be rough on a few of the chilluns. It's not like the Elmbrook schools have a purified-air environment.
Privately-Paid Medicine is Best Value
Gee. I'll bet Torinus will be Shocked!! Shocked!! to read this.
The president himself says that "over the last decade" Americans "have seen their out-of-pocket expenses soar." But, according to official government figures, per-patient out-of-pocket costs have risen only 35% since 2000, while Medicare's per-patient costs have risen 59% — [ ]without the prescription drug benefit.
Private insurance and private out-of-pocket spending, in tandem, have controlled costs far better than Medicare. However, if Medicare has, in fact, fared comparatively well vs. private insurance — as the supporters of President Obama's proposals claim — then that means it has fared particularly poorly vs. private out-of-pocket spending, thereby further strengthening the argument that private consumers, paying out-of-pocket, are the best bargain-shoppers and the keenest pursuers of value in health care.
The citations are part of a longer article, which in turn is a condensation of a major study which demonstrates that Medicare is THE "out-of-control" health-care spending vehicle.
Once again, Senator Grassley: Just Say No.
HT: Deek
The president himself says that "over the last decade" Americans "have seen their out-of-pocket expenses soar." But, according to official government figures, per-patient out-of-pocket costs have risen only 35% since 2000, while Medicare's per-patient costs have risen 59% — [ ]without the prescription drug benefit.
Private insurance and private out-of-pocket spending, in tandem, have controlled costs far better than Medicare. However, if Medicare has, in fact, fared comparatively well vs. private insurance — as the supporters of President Obama's proposals claim — then that means it has fared particularly poorly vs. private out-of-pocket spending, thereby further strengthening the argument that private consumers, paying out-of-pocket, are the best bargain-shoppers and the keenest pursuers of value in health care.
The citations are part of a longer article, which in turn is a condensation of a major study which demonstrates that Medicare is THE "out-of-control" health-care spending vehicle.
Once again, Senator Grassley: Just Say No.
HT: Deek
Grassley Doesn't Get It
Apparently Sen. Grassley is beginning to cave.
After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials.
Like bills drafted by Democrats, the proposal under discussion by six members on the Senate Finance Committee would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to any applicant. Nor could insurers charge higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.
Yah, but: the 'compromise' enshrines Gummint-sponsored "co-ops" (or something). Nobody can explains exactly what they are. So, as Allah ruminates:
It’ll be mighty interesting to watch the Democrats pitch this to the left as a de facto public plan while they’re pitching it to the right as anything but.
Torinus and Ryan have a better idea: State-run "exchanges" and all-private plans except for the "hard cases," which would have State-financed plans.
IOW, Senator Grassley: Just Say No.
HT: AOSHQ
After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials.
Like bills drafted by Democrats, the proposal under discussion by six members on the Senate Finance Committee would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to any applicant. Nor could insurers charge higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.
Yah, but: the 'compromise' enshrines Gummint-sponsored "co-ops" (or something). Nobody can explains exactly what they are. So, as Allah ruminates:
It’ll be mighty interesting to watch the Democrats pitch this to the left as a de facto public plan while they’re pitching it to the right as anything but.
Torinus and Ryan have a better idea: State-run "exchanges" and all-private plans except for the "hard cases," which would have State-financed plans.
IOW, Senator Grassley: Just Say No.
HT: AOSHQ
Wiring Problems: Who Did the Work, Elmbrook?
Seems like somebody forgot something.
Workers preparing Pilgrim Park Middle School for a new heating and ventilation system discovered unexpected asbestos and wiring issues that will increase costs by $120,000, but district officials expect the project to finish on budget.
...Some areas of the school had faulty or missing smoke and security censors. Another find: a "considerable portion" of communications system wiring was replaced several years ago, but never connected - the system continued to be operating off the old wiring. Workers also discovered improperly supported wiring.
So: who was the contractor?
Workers preparing Pilgrim Park Middle School for a new heating and ventilation system discovered unexpected asbestos and wiring issues that will increase costs by $120,000, but district officials expect the project to finish on budget.
...Some areas of the school had faulty or missing smoke and security censors. Another find: a "considerable portion" of communications system wiring was replaced several years ago, but never connected - the system continued to be operating off the old wiring. Workers also discovered improperly supported wiring.
So: who was the contractor?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Partying With the Thunderbirds
We were invited to watch the Air Show from a rooftop near Downtown.
So happens that the Thunderbirds used that very E/W street to go west from the lake, meaning that we could almost reach out and touch some very cool hardware.
Patrick has pix, and thanks again, Phel!! Great company, great day, and yummy low-cal food!
So happens that the Thunderbirds used that very E/W street to go west from the lake, meaning that we could almost reach out and touch some very cool hardware.
Patrick has pix, and thanks again, Phel!! Great company, great day, and yummy low-cal food!
One Way or the Other, You'll Pay for CO2
Interesting.
A key Sierra Club attorney says the group’s support for final passage of a climate bill is conditioned on the preservation of EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act [CAA] to require reductions in greenhouse gases (GHGs) from existing facilities, an assertion that appears to be a reversal from the group’s prior support for a House-passed cap-and-trade bill that would strip the agency of most of its air act authorities in dealing with GHG emissions. --GreenHell quoting Carbon Control News.
The CAA allows EPA to impose its will, whatever it may be that day, a dice-game with loaded dice for the Green Lobby.
In the game of chess, this is called a "fork." Assuming Sierra Club gets its way, whichever way it goes, you lose.
Unless you view massive increases in your utility-bill a "win."
It's also a signal that Cap-n-Tax is not going anywhere soon.
A key Sierra Club attorney says the group’s support for final passage of a climate bill is conditioned on the preservation of EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act [CAA] to require reductions in greenhouse gases (GHGs) from existing facilities, an assertion that appears to be a reversal from the group’s prior support for a House-passed cap-and-trade bill that would strip the agency of most of its air act authorities in dealing with GHG emissions. --GreenHell quoting Carbon Control News.
The CAA allows EPA to impose its will, whatever it may be that day, a dice-game with loaded dice for the Green Lobby.
In the game of chess, this is called a "fork." Assuming Sierra Club gets its way, whichever way it goes, you lose.
Unless you view massive increases in your utility-bill a "win."
It's also a signal that Cap-n-Tax is not going anywhere soon.
"Two Cows" Updated
From England, an addendum to the old story.
The old two-cow analogy is a useful one. You have two cows. The communist steals both your cows, and may give you some milk, if you’re not bourgeois scum. The fascist lets you keep the cows but seizes the milk and sells it back to you. Today’s Green says you can keep the cows, but should choose to give them up as their methane-rich farts will unleash hell at some unspecified point in the future. You say, sod it, I’ll keep my cows thanks. Tomorrow’s green, the Bolshevik green, shoots the cows and makes you forage for nuts.
Ummmnnhhhh....actually, I'll make the Green forage for HIS nuts. The more precious ones.
HT: Green Hell
The old two-cow analogy is a useful one. You have two cows. The communist steals both your cows, and may give you some milk, if you’re not bourgeois scum. The fascist lets you keep the cows but seizes the milk and sells it back to you. Today’s Green says you can keep the cows, but should choose to give them up as their methane-rich farts will unleash hell at some unspecified point in the future. You say, sod it, I’ll keep my cows thanks. Tomorrow’s green, the Bolshevik green, shoots the cows and makes you forage for nuts.
Ummmnnhhhh....actually, I'll make the Green forage for HIS nuts. The more precious ones.
HT: Green Hell
Talking Points Right From the Script
Gee. Somebody sent a script.
In Racine, the plant who graced the ObamaMessiah appearance in Green Bay showed up at a sparsely-attended rally (see the picture in the post) and thundered out a schlurp of rhetoric.
Garin's line, "Health care is a human right," drew applause from the crowd and a shout of, "I am not a statistic." She described the fight for health care reform as the "civil rights movement" of our time."It's the fight of our lives because our lives depend on it," Garin said
Hmmmm.. Good line, (unless you are a pre-born human, of course).
Meantime, in Milwaukee:
"This is about figuring out how to pay for a right in this country, a right to life," Patricia McManus, president and CEO of Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin told the crowd.
Just co-incidence, of course.
In Racine, the plant who graced the ObamaMessiah appearance in Green Bay showed up at a sparsely-attended rally (see the picture in the post) and thundered out a schlurp of rhetoric.
Garin's line, "Health care is a human right," drew applause from the crowd and a shout of, "I am not a statistic." She described the fight for health care reform as the "civil rights movement" of our time."It's the fight of our lives because our lives depend on it," Garin said
Hmmmm.. Good line, (unless you are a pre-born human, of course).
Meantime, in Milwaukee:
"This is about figuring out how to pay for a right in this country, a right to life," Patricia McManus, president and CEO of Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin told the crowd.
Just co-incidence, of course.
Torinus Hits the Grand Slam on ObamaCare
Beyond the headline coverage ("ice-floe" treatment of older people, abortion coverage, etc.) are a number of very important and not-clearly discussed practical problems with ObamaCare. These are the 'macro-problems,' so to speak.
Torinus nailed a few of them. One that had been mentioned on this blog:
The House-passed 8% payroll tax on companies that don't provide coverage. My company, like many companies, is spending about 15% of payroll on health care. Why would Serigraph and other companies not opt for the 8% penalty, drop coverage and let our employees go to a public plan? We would save several million dollars a year at taxpayer expense. The Wisconsin Democrats and AFL-CIO were more realistic when they put a 15% to 20% payroll tax into their Healthy Wisconsin bill.
Indeed. This does not require an MS/Mathematics. And as much as the Wisconsin plan was justifiably derided by Conservatives, their numbers are, indeed, far more realistic.
The "public option" that would pay a little more than Medicare rates to providers. Medicare uses government price controls to reimburse at 40% to 50% of retail charges. Big private insurers pay 70% to 80%. How could the private insurers ever compete with the public insurance company and its price controls? Smart analysts predict a stampede out of private coverage to the cheaper public plan. The subsidies, direct and indirect, will rival the massive expense of Medicare and Medicaid
This disparity was supposedly resolved over the weekend, after Torinus penned the article. But the actual numbers have yet to be released.
The failure to deal with the glaring need to change from fee for service to bundled payments by treatment episodes. If you pay for procedures, that's what you get, lots of procedures, all piled into out-of-control, inscrutable bills.
Again, this is supposedly being addressed by some sort of commission in DC. So? It will be at least a couple of years before anything resembling an agreement is reached at the Commission, and then another long time before it is implemented.
Read the rest. He's batting 1.000 in this column.
Torinus nailed a few of them. One that had been mentioned on this blog:
The House-passed 8% payroll tax on companies that don't provide coverage. My company, like many companies, is spending about 15% of payroll on health care. Why would Serigraph and other companies not opt for the 8% penalty, drop coverage and let our employees go to a public plan? We would save several million dollars a year at taxpayer expense. The Wisconsin Democrats and AFL-CIO were more realistic when they put a 15% to 20% payroll tax into their Healthy Wisconsin bill.
Indeed. This does not require an MS/Mathematics. And as much as the Wisconsin plan was justifiably derided by Conservatives, their numbers are, indeed, far more realistic.
The "public option" that would pay a little more than Medicare rates to providers. Medicare uses government price controls to reimburse at 40% to 50% of retail charges. Big private insurers pay 70% to 80%. How could the private insurers ever compete with the public insurance company and its price controls? Smart analysts predict a stampede out of private coverage to the cheaper public plan. The subsidies, direct and indirect, will rival the massive expense of Medicare and Medicaid
This disparity was supposedly resolved over the weekend, after Torinus penned the article. But the actual numbers have yet to be released.
The failure to deal with the glaring need to change from fee for service to bundled payments by treatment episodes. If you pay for procedures, that's what you get, lots of procedures, all piled into out-of-control, inscrutable bills.
Again, this is supposedly being addressed by some sort of commission in DC. So? It will be at least a couple of years before anything resembling an agreement is reached at the Commission, and then another long time before it is implemented.
Read the rest. He's batting 1.000 in this column.
Waxman to Spend More, Bribe Blue Dogs?
If the "blue dogs" are fiscally conservative, then are they going to accept MORE spending?
The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said on Friday he would take a proposal to a group of fiscally conservative Democrats that he considered to be a "significant breakthrough" on regional disparities in the funding of a proposed new public healthcare plan.
You know about that--it's what Ron Kind was bragging about over the weekend.
Some conservatives say that because there are already regions of the United States that are underpaid by the government's existing Medicare health care plan for the elderly, a new public health plan for everyone would be plagued by similar regional disparities.
So Waxman is offering to spend MORE Medicare money in certain areas of the country to obtain the votes of 'fiscal conservatives.'
Something's missing here.
The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said on Friday he would take a proposal to a group of fiscally conservative Democrats that he considered to be a "significant breakthrough" on regional disparities in the funding of a proposed new public healthcare plan.
You know about that--it's what Ron Kind was bragging about over the weekend.
Some conservatives say that because there are already regions of the United States that are underpaid by the government's existing Medicare health care plan for the elderly, a new public health plan for everyone would be plagued by similar regional disparities.
So Waxman is offering to spend MORE Medicare money in certain areas of the country to obtain the votes of 'fiscal conservatives.'
Something's missing here.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Why TEA Parties, Part 21,769
Umnnhhh...it ain't taxes at the top of the list. It's spending, followed by this sort of stuff:
Just 18% of adults think it’s the government’s job to tell Americans what kind of light bulb they use, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-two percent (72%) say it’s none of the government’s business, and 10% are not sure.
And this:
Americans have mixed feelings about the climate change bill now before the Senate that will have a major impact on U.S. energy use. Forty-two percent (42%) say it will hurt the U.S. economy, while 19% say it will help.
Spending. Nanny-Humungo Gummint. East Coast Bozo Know-it-alls.
And "Stick-it-to-Em" mentalities from even the small potatoes.
HT: Ace/Avenger
Just 18% of adults think it’s the government’s job to tell Americans what kind of light bulb they use, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-two percent (72%) say it’s none of the government’s business, and 10% are not sure.
And this:
Americans have mixed feelings about the climate change bill now before the Senate that will have a major impact on U.S. energy use. Forty-two percent (42%) say it will hurt the U.S. economy, while 19% say it will help.
Spending. Nanny-Humungo Gummint. East Coast Bozo Know-it-alls.
And "Stick-it-to-Em" mentalities from even the small potatoes.
HT: Ace/Avenger
The Cost of the Un-Insured
Hmmmm.
For all you "volume keeps prices low" yappers, consider this:
[Obama] said the "average American family is paying thousands" as part of their premiums to cover uncompensated care for the uninsured, implying that expanded coverage will slash insurance costs. But the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation puts the cost per family figure at $200
And for our friends in LaCrosse:
The president said that the United States spends $6,000 more on average than other countries on health care. Actually, U.S. per capita spending is about $2,500 more than the next highest-spending country. Obama's figure was a White House-calculated per-family estimate
Facts are stubborn things...
HT: AmSpecBlog
For all you "volume keeps prices low" yappers, consider this:
[Obama] said the "average American family is paying thousands" as part of their premiums to cover uncompensated care for the uninsured, implying that expanded coverage will slash insurance costs. But the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation puts the cost per family figure at $200
And for our friends in LaCrosse:
The president said that the United States spends $6,000 more on average than other countries on health care. Actually, U.S. per capita spending is about $2,500 more than the next highest-spending country. Obama's figure was a White House-calculated per-family estimate
Facts are stubborn things...
HT: AmSpecBlog
Dismal Numbers for Wisconsin
P-Mac shows us that the Wisconsin Department of Revenue uses funny numbers to paint roses over a pile of manure, jobwise.
It's not just P-Mac's (or Hefty's, or Torinus') opinion, either. Another measure is the Department of Revenue's own principal interest: tax revenues.
Individual income tax revenue June '09 is off 9.6% from June '08. Year/Year: off 8%
Sales/Use tax revenues off 11% from June '08. Year/Year: off 3.8%
While Corporate Income tax collections (09) are up 30.5% (combined reporting, folks!), Y/Y Corporate income tax collected is down 21.7%.
"The relationship between government and business in Wisconsin is at a low point," said Hefty. It's not just that state leaders added heavy new tax burdens. It's that they gave no sign of caring what businesses thought. "You at least give them a heads-up when you're about to drop a bomb," said Torinus.
In another story, the (D) majority of the Wisconsin legislature speaks about 'fairness' to justify union-membership for home-care workers and UW educators, and WEAC-kissing by removing the QEO. After all, the eeeeeeeeevil Republicans were keeping all those folks in tarpaper shacks down on the lowlands of the plantation, right?
Yah, well, maybe. But who is making the case for Simon Legree? Nobody I know.
There are thousands of small (and big) business owners and managers who actually care about their employees, remembering birthdays, granting (formally or not) paid-time-off for family events and needs, and annually struggling to find a good health insurance policy at a reasonable price for their employees. They also provide (and pay the costs for) a 401(k) program, pay State and Federal UC taxes, FICA taxes, and income/property taxes. They, too, contribute to charities like United Way, the symphony, churches, and Children's Hospital. I know a lot of them personally, and hear about many others professionally, or from friends and relatives.
Far more important than that, all of our manufacturing businesses provide jobs for Working Joes and Working Susies who do NOT have a Ph.D., or a J.D.--that is to say, the majority of Wisconsin residents. Most service businesses also employ Working Joe/Working Susie.
So when you come right down to it, chasing business out of Wisconsin is directly at odds with the alleged (D) "concern" for Joe and Susie.
And the Department of Revenue numbers show it. In red.
It's not just P-Mac's (or Hefty's, or Torinus') opinion, either. Another measure is the Department of Revenue's own principal interest: tax revenues.
Individual income tax revenue June '09 is off 9.6% from June '08. Year/Year: off 8%
Sales/Use tax revenues off 11% from June '08. Year/Year: off 3.8%
While Corporate Income tax collections (09) are up 30.5% (combined reporting, folks!), Y/Y Corporate income tax collected is down 21.7%.
"The relationship between government and business in Wisconsin is at a low point," said Hefty. It's not just that state leaders added heavy new tax burdens. It's that they gave no sign of caring what businesses thought. "You at least give them a heads-up when you're about to drop a bomb," said Torinus.
In another story, the (D) majority of the Wisconsin legislature speaks about 'fairness' to justify union-membership for home-care workers and UW educators, and WEAC-kissing by removing the QEO. After all, the eeeeeeeeevil Republicans were keeping all those folks in tarpaper shacks down on the lowlands of the plantation, right?
Yah, well, maybe. But who is making the case for Simon Legree? Nobody I know.
There are thousands of small (and big) business owners and managers who actually care about their employees, remembering birthdays, granting (formally or not) paid-time-off for family events and needs, and annually struggling to find a good health insurance policy at a reasonable price for their employees. They also provide (and pay the costs for) a 401(k) program, pay State and Federal UC taxes, FICA taxes, and income/property taxes. They, too, contribute to charities like United Way, the symphony, churches, and Children's Hospital. I know a lot of them personally, and hear about many others professionally, or from friends and relatives.
Far more important than that, all of our manufacturing businesses provide jobs for Working Joes and Working Susies who do NOT have a Ph.D., or a J.D.--that is to say, the majority of Wisconsin residents. Most service businesses also employ Working Joe/Working Susie.
So when you come right down to it, chasing business out of Wisconsin is directly at odds with the alleged (D) "concern" for Joe and Susie.
And the Department of Revenue numbers show it. In red.
Arne Duncan's Right--At Least Once
Heh. I had exactly this discussion with a friend--at that time he was a teacher--about 30 years ago.
President Barack Obama and Duncan on Friday unveiled proposed rules on how the money will be awarded. One of the firmest: "To be eligible under this program, a state must not have any legal, statutory or regulatory barriers to linking student achievement or student growth data to teachers for the purpose of teacher and principal evaluation."
Wisconsin is one of the few states that have such a rule, right there in state law.
Or, as Duncan put it in a New York Times interview: "Believe it or not, several states, including New York, Wisconsin and California, have laws that create a firewall between students and teacher data. I think that's simply ridiculous. We need to know what is and is not working and why."
His notion, generally opposed by, among others, teachers unions, is that teachers and their bosses should be held accountable for student success (or lack thereof). The idea applies not only to teacher evaluations but the controversial subject of merit pay for teachers.
The objection often raised is that teachers have no control over the home environment of their students, and that environment is absolutely critical to continued learning.
But that assumes the "snapshot" evaluation of a student.
Any evaluation of a given teacher/student must take into account that student's past history in achievement, just as it should take into account a teacher's past history with other students. A simple example:
Johnny didn't learn to read well in first grade. He only scored 45%. If his second- and third- grade teachers manage to keep Johnny at 45%, or improve him to 55%, they've done just fine. However, if after 2nd and 3rd grade, Johnny's score falls to 35%, or 25%, then is something wrong with either the 2nd or 3rd grade teacher?
Maybe. But before we shoot Teacher Sally in the head over Johnny, we also look at Teacher Sally's track record with all her OTHER students during the period in question. If she's done well with the others (maintaining or improving scores), then Johnny has a problem.
If her other students, by and large, have also showed deterioration, then Sally needs to go.
Seems that Arne has the right idea.
President Barack Obama and Duncan on Friday unveiled proposed rules on how the money will be awarded. One of the firmest: "To be eligible under this program, a state must not have any legal, statutory or regulatory barriers to linking student achievement or student growth data to teachers for the purpose of teacher and principal evaluation."
Wisconsin is one of the few states that have such a rule, right there in state law.
Or, as Duncan put it in a New York Times interview: "Believe it or not, several states, including New York, Wisconsin and California, have laws that create a firewall between students and teacher data. I think that's simply ridiculous. We need to know what is and is not working and why."
His notion, generally opposed by, among others, teachers unions, is that teachers and their bosses should be held accountable for student success (or lack thereof). The idea applies not only to teacher evaluations but the controversial subject of merit pay for teachers.
The objection often raised is that teachers have no control over the home environment of their students, and that environment is absolutely critical to continued learning.
But that assumes the "snapshot" evaluation of a student.
Any evaluation of a given teacher/student must take into account that student's past history in achievement, just as it should take into account a teacher's past history with other students. A simple example:
Johnny didn't learn to read well in first grade. He only scored 45%. If his second- and third- grade teachers manage to keep Johnny at 45%, or improve him to 55%, they've done just fine. However, if after 2nd and 3rd grade, Johnny's score falls to 35%, or 25%, then is something wrong with either the 2nd or 3rd grade teacher?
Maybe. But before we shoot Teacher Sally in the head over Johnny, we also look at Teacher Sally's track record with all her OTHER students during the period in question. If she's done well with the others (maintaining or improving scores), then Johnny has a problem.
If her other students, by and large, have also showed deterioration, then Sally needs to go.
Seems that Arne has the right idea.
Government IS the Problem, Tommy
Seems that former Governor Tommy "Stick-it-to-Em" Thompson thinks that without healthcare reform, the US economy will be crippled.
Former governor and cabinet secretary Tommy Thompson noted that health care in the United States costs $2.5 trillion a year — about 17 percent of the gross domestic product — and is expected to double by 2016. “Let me tell you why we need to fix it,” Thompson said. “First, that $2.5 trillion going to $4.6 trillion is going to prevent any company in the United States from being competitive internationally.”
He might be right. Then again, he might be wrong. Tommy sees what Tommy likes to see: more Government. In particular, more Government which requires more Tommy-related private enterprises dealing with "healthcare."
Tommy is perfectly happy to compare horse-apples and elephants to "prove" his point.
“Remember when General Motors was the largest company in America and therefore the world? Now it’s bankrupt,” he said. “What drove them into bankruptcy? The largest cost was health care.”
About $1,725 of the cost of each GM vehicle is due to health care costs, Thompson said. By comparison, he noted, Toyota has only $225 in health costs per vehicle
An 800% difference? You mean that healthcare in Japan costs only one-eighth of healthcare in the US? Or that Toyota workers are 8 times more healthy than GM workers?
Or how about this, Tommy: the UAW and GM committed mutual hara-kiri in their bargaining since 1950, demanding and offering benefits which became unsustainable, particularly when GM lost its market share due to arrogance, stupidity, and lousy products?
Tommy, your flim-flam-man rhetoric is no different than that of any other Gummint-addict.
****************
Tommy was the Sec'y of Health/Human Services, which ran Medicare and Medicaid, right?
So what did the other speakers have to say?
Another big problem, according to Franciscan Skemp Healthcare CEO Dr. Robert Nesse, is a growing disparity between what Medicare reimburses for the Midwest versus other parts of the country.
The government paid $5,812 a year for the average Medicare beneficiary in La Crosse, compared with $16,351 in Miami, Gundersen Lutheran Vice President Jerry Arndt told the group.
So. Nesse thinks that a FedGov program (at one time managed by Tommy) is screwing Midwestern medical providers. And the FedGov, having proved its competence so very well up to now, is supposed to provide a solution?
More of the same:
Nesse said studies show that 60 percent of the money spent on health care in California is waste and over-utilization does not add to quality of care or patient satisfaction.
Mr. Nesse fails to point out that California is supporting a huge illegal-alien population due to Medicare/Medicaid regulations. S'pose that has something to do with it?
In an ad in the Capitol Hill newspaper, “Roll Call,” Gundersen Lutheran CEO Dr. Jeff Thompson joined 16 other health leaders — including Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Denis A. Cortese — calling for Congress to reimburse based on quality and value, rather than simply the number of procedures and services
So. Drs. Thompson and Cortese think that FedGov programs are paying for the wrong things--quantity rather than quality. Dr. Cortese's letter specifically pointed to Medicare program problems--something that seems to be missing from this newspaper account. (Surprise.) (See comment # 81 on this thread.)
And now, magically, a FedGov program will "solve" this problem?
Only in the Land of BigGummint make-believe--where Tommy "Stick-it-to-Em" Thompson has been living for all his life.
ADDENDUM: A 'consultant' was quoted in the article, saying something to the effect that the US was ranked 26th or so in overall health worldwide. For more on that line of crap, see this post. Summarily, if you REALLY think that Cuba's healthcare is better than ours, perhaps you should move there.
Former governor and cabinet secretary Tommy Thompson noted that health care in the United States costs $2.5 trillion a year — about 17 percent of the gross domestic product — and is expected to double by 2016. “Let me tell you why we need to fix it,” Thompson said. “First, that $2.5 trillion going to $4.6 trillion is going to prevent any company in the United States from being competitive internationally.”
He might be right. Then again, he might be wrong. Tommy sees what Tommy likes to see: more Government. In particular, more Government which requires more Tommy-related private enterprises dealing with "healthcare."
Tommy is perfectly happy to compare horse-apples and elephants to "prove" his point.
“Remember when General Motors was the largest company in America and therefore the world? Now it’s bankrupt,” he said. “What drove them into bankruptcy? The largest cost was health care.”
About $1,725 of the cost of each GM vehicle is due to health care costs, Thompson said. By comparison, he noted, Toyota has only $225 in health costs per vehicle
An 800% difference? You mean that healthcare in Japan costs only one-eighth of healthcare in the US? Or that Toyota workers are 8 times more healthy than GM workers?
Or how about this, Tommy: the UAW and GM committed mutual hara-kiri in their bargaining since 1950, demanding and offering benefits which became unsustainable, particularly when GM lost its market share due to arrogance, stupidity, and lousy products?
Tommy, your flim-flam-man rhetoric is no different than that of any other Gummint-addict.
****************
Tommy was the Sec'y of Health/Human Services, which ran Medicare and Medicaid, right?
So what did the other speakers have to say?
Another big problem, according to Franciscan Skemp Healthcare CEO Dr. Robert Nesse, is a growing disparity between what Medicare reimburses for the Midwest versus other parts of the country.
The government paid $5,812 a year for the average Medicare beneficiary in La Crosse, compared with $16,351 in Miami, Gundersen Lutheran Vice President Jerry Arndt told the group.
So. Nesse thinks that a FedGov program (at one time managed by Tommy) is screwing Midwestern medical providers. And the FedGov, having proved its competence so very well up to now, is supposed to provide a solution?
More of the same:
Nesse said studies show that 60 percent of the money spent on health care in California is waste and over-utilization does not add to quality of care or patient satisfaction.
Mr. Nesse fails to point out that California is supporting a huge illegal-alien population due to Medicare/Medicaid regulations. S'pose that has something to do with it?
In an ad in the Capitol Hill newspaper, “Roll Call,” Gundersen Lutheran CEO Dr. Jeff Thompson joined 16 other health leaders — including Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Denis A. Cortese — calling for Congress to reimburse based on quality and value, rather than simply the number of procedures and services
So. Drs. Thompson and Cortese think that FedGov programs are paying for the wrong things--quantity rather than quality. Dr. Cortese's letter specifically pointed to Medicare program problems--something that seems to be missing from this newspaper account. (Surprise.) (See comment # 81 on this thread.)
And now, magically, a FedGov program will "solve" this problem?
Only in the Land of BigGummint make-believe--where Tommy "Stick-it-to-Em" Thompson has been living for all his life.
ADDENDUM: A 'consultant' was quoted in the article, saying something to the effect that the US was ranked 26th or so in overall health worldwide. For more on that line of crap, see this post. Summarily, if you REALLY think that Cuba's healthcare is better than ours, perhaps you should move there.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sharing the Love: 2 Governors
It appears that E. Spitzer was a sharing kinda guy.
...during the interview [with Opie and Anthony], she admitted that someone she called “Governor X” employed her services at least ten times during a year-and-a-half period.
"X" appears to be Ed Rendell, (D) of Pennsylvania.
Democrats share. Isn't that special?
HT: Riehl World
...during the interview [with Opie and Anthony], she admitted that someone she called “Governor X” employed her services at least ten times during a year-and-a-half period.
"X" appears to be Ed Rendell, (D) of Pennsylvania.
Democrats share. Isn't that special?
HT: Riehl World
MSM Spins for Ron Kind Canonization
Ron Kind (D) is concerned because he's up for re-election next year.
So what does he need to do? Separate himself (if only by the thinnest of margins) from QueenNancy's ObamaCare bill.
And there is an obliging press!
Wisconsin Rep. Ron Kind and other moderate Democrats in the House are playing starring roles in the evolving congressional debate over health care reform.
That line is the first clue. (The "moderate" Ron Kind voted to fund Planned Parenthood's abortuaries yesterday, along with every other (D) in the Wisconsin delegation.)
...Kind and a handful of other House Democrats held a news conference on Capitol Hill to announce that they had reached a deal with congressional leaders on a major point of contention for them: containing Medicare costs.
So what did our halo-wearing Congressman do to deserve canonization?
House leaders announced their deal with moderate Democrats after a round of talks that stretched late into the night over changes in Medicare to reward doctors and hospitals for the quality of care provided to patients rather than the number of services rendered. The changes made to the health care legislation in the House, Kind said, could be summarized in three words: "value over volume."
Well, sorta. Kinda. More or less.
Under the deal, the Institute of Medicine would issue recommendations in the next two years on how to change the way that fees are paid to providers. The changes would go into effect in 2012, unless Congress decides to block them.
The institute also would examine regional differences in payments to Medicare providers; changes would be implemented in 2014.
We would remind you that since 1968, Medicare has been subject to Congress' whims. To believe that this "deal" is going to rescue the healthcare system requires more than a little suspension of disbelief.
By the way, "moderate" Kind DOES agree with the rest of the bill--which would:
...require every American to obtain health insurance, provide government subsidies for those who can't afford to pay for their insurance premiums and create a government insurance program that would compete with private insurers.
Not to mention the 'cost-control' of 'suggesting' that one "takes a pill" instead of obtaining surgery or other life-extending treatment (the Dave Obey Reichsminister fur Gesundheitsversorge.)
All to save the country, of course--if not the entire universe.
"This is such an important issue," Kind said. "There are consequences to whatever we do. In taking action, there will be consequences; there are going to be severe consequences if we don't do health care reform."
Actually, the consequences will be measured on the first Tuesday of November 2010. That's all Ron Kind (D) is worried about.
So what does he need to do? Separate himself (if only by the thinnest of margins) from QueenNancy's ObamaCare bill.
And there is an obliging press!
Wisconsin Rep. Ron Kind and other moderate Democrats in the House are playing starring roles in the evolving congressional debate over health care reform.
That line is the first clue. (The "moderate" Ron Kind voted to fund Planned Parenthood's abortuaries yesterday, along with every other (D) in the Wisconsin delegation.)
...Kind and a handful of other House Democrats held a news conference on Capitol Hill to announce that they had reached a deal with congressional leaders on a major point of contention for them: containing Medicare costs.
So what did our halo-wearing Congressman do to deserve canonization?
House leaders announced their deal with moderate Democrats after a round of talks that stretched late into the night over changes in Medicare to reward doctors and hospitals for the quality of care provided to patients rather than the number of services rendered. The changes made to the health care legislation in the House, Kind said, could be summarized in three words: "value over volume."
Well, sorta. Kinda. More or less.
Under the deal, the Institute of Medicine would issue recommendations in the next two years on how to change the way that fees are paid to providers. The changes would go into effect in 2012, unless Congress decides to block them.
The institute also would examine regional differences in payments to Medicare providers; changes would be implemented in 2014.
We would remind you that since 1968, Medicare has been subject to Congress' whims. To believe that this "deal" is going to rescue the healthcare system requires more than a little suspension of disbelief.
By the way, "moderate" Kind DOES agree with the rest of the bill--which would:
...require every American to obtain health insurance, provide government subsidies for those who can't afford to pay for their insurance premiums and create a government insurance program that would compete with private insurers.
Not to mention the 'cost-control' of 'suggesting' that one "takes a pill" instead of obtaining surgery or other life-extending treatment (the Dave Obey Reichsminister fur Gesundheitsversorge.)
All to save the country, of course--if not the entire universe.
"This is such an important issue," Kind said. "There are consequences to whatever we do. In taking action, there will be consequences; there are going to be severe consequences if we don't do health care reform."
Actually, the consequences will be measured on the first Tuesday of November 2010. That's all Ron Kind (D) is worried about.
Birds of a Feather: Doyle and Judge Smith
Seems that Jim Doyle likes ......interesting people.
He appointed a new judge for Dane County who had served as an Ass't DA and then as a bureaucrat in Department of Corrections.
OK? Well, YOU be the judge.
27 News has uncovered Amy Smith, who is scheduled to be sworn in as a Dane County judge next week, was referenced as dishonest by an appeals court judge in 1992.
That was only the first time...
27 News previously reported Smith was referenced as lying in a separate, 1995 appellate case involving another drug prosecution.
Prosecutorial misconduct--one necessary ingredient for a police state.
He appointed a new judge for Dane County who had served as an Ass't DA and then as a bureaucrat in Department of Corrections.
OK? Well, YOU be the judge.
27 News has uncovered Amy Smith, who is scheduled to be sworn in as a Dane County judge next week, was referenced as dishonest by an appeals court judge in 1992.
That was only the first time...
27 News previously reported Smith was referenced as lying in a separate, 1995 appellate case involving another drug prosecution.
Prosecutorial misconduct--one necessary ingredient for a police state.
Friday, July 24, 2009
You Drive? Fuggeddaboutit
First, there's the hook-sentence:
What is the appropriate response to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who as General Motors prepared to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection declared that he wants to "coerce people out of their cars"?
I have a response, alright, but if I put it into electrons, I would have visitors. With dark suits. And non-concealed sidearms.
OK, going on...
First there was the "Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009," introduced in May by Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. Next, in June, came the "Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009," introduced by James Oberstar (D., Minn.), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Messrs. Rockefeller and Lautenberg aim to "reduce per capita motor vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis." Mr. Oberstar wants to establish a federal "Office of Livability" to ensure that "States and metropolitan areas achieve progress towards national transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals."
Isn't that precious? "Reduce per-cap ....miles." As the author of the column mentions, the vast majority of "per-cap miles" is NOT driven for fun and entertainment; it's driven for a purpose, whether getting to/from work, to/from the grocer, or to/from school and associated events.
Frankly, I don't know anyone who 'just drives around' aimlessly--and everyone I know plots their driving to include 'on-the-way-I'll-pick-up X' efficiencies. So what's to reduce?
Or maybe I'm hanging with the wrong crowd. I don't have a 6-SUV caravan following me around like the President does.
What is the appropriate response to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who as General Motors prepared to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection declared that he wants to "coerce people out of their cars"?
I have a response, alright, but if I put it into electrons, I would have visitors. With dark suits. And non-concealed sidearms.
OK, going on...
First there was the "Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009," introduced in May by Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. Next, in June, came the "Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009," introduced by James Oberstar (D., Minn.), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Messrs. Rockefeller and Lautenberg aim to "reduce per capita motor vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis." Mr. Oberstar wants to establish a federal "Office of Livability" to ensure that "States and metropolitan areas achieve progress towards national transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals."
Isn't that precious? "Reduce per-cap ....miles." As the author of the column mentions, the vast majority of "per-cap miles" is NOT driven for fun and entertainment; it's driven for a purpose, whether getting to/from work, to/from the grocer, or to/from school and associated events.
Frankly, I don't know anyone who 'just drives around' aimlessly--and everyone I know plots their driving to include 'on-the-way-I'll-pick-up X' efficiencies. So what's to reduce?
Or maybe I'm hanging with the wrong crowd. I don't have a 6-SUV caravan following me around like the President does.
The Horror of Partial-Birth Abortion
P-Mac reminds us that Mengele was not the last of a breed.
Judge Casey had put the question to several doctors on the side of the plaintiffs challenging the law, including Kanwaljeet S. Anand, a professor who specialized in pediatrics and anesthesiology at the University of Arkansas: Had they ever thought of administering anesthesia to the child killed in this way? The judge was apparently taken back by the reaction: ‘Some of plaintiffs’ experts testified that fetal pain does not concern them, and that some do not convey to their patients that their fetuses may undergo severe pain.’
“Was this a medical judgment? Or was it the hard, sober fact that, for the doctors who had settled in long ago with the defense of abortion as a right, the child in the womb had simply ceased to matter? The pain did not register as a point of concern because the child — even the child dangling from the birth canal at the point of birth — just did not count any longer as an object of concern. And therefore, of course, as an object of empathy.”
Judge Casey, a fellow who has 'feelings,' followed precedent in allowing this to continue.
P-Mac has the appropriate question, of course.
Judge Casey had put the question to several doctors on the side of the plaintiffs challenging the law, including Kanwaljeet S. Anand, a professor who specialized in pediatrics and anesthesiology at the University of Arkansas: Had they ever thought of administering anesthesia to the child killed in this way? The judge was apparently taken back by the reaction: ‘Some of plaintiffs’ experts testified that fetal pain does not concern them, and that some do not convey to their patients that their fetuses may undergo severe pain.’
“Was this a medical judgment? Or was it the hard, sober fact that, for the doctors who had settled in long ago with the defense of abortion as a right, the child in the womb had simply ceased to matter? The pain did not register as a point of concern because the child — even the child dangling from the birth canal at the point of birth — just did not count any longer as an object of concern. And therefore, of course, as an object of empathy.”
Judge Casey, a fellow who has 'feelings,' followed precedent in allowing this to continue.
P-Mac has the appropriate question, of course.
Is Obama in the Quagmire?
That's what Dick Morris thinks, and the logic is pretty good. Just think "quagmire."
Superficially, the United States appears to have a presidential system, but in fact it more and more resembles a parliamentary form of government. When a president loses the approval of the majority of the voters and polls reflect that his ratings have fallen substantially below 50 percent, he loses his power. In this context, polls are like parliamentary votes of no confidence in European systems. While the government does not fall if it loses in the polling, it limps on until either its ratings improve or it is voted out of office at the next election.
...it is the president's obvious inability to improve the economy that is exacting the daily toll in his approval ratings evident in all of the surveys. Like the body counts that mounted in Iraq and drove Bush's numbers ever downward, the rising unemployment numbers are stripping Obama of his popularity and power.
Obama's very activism in promoting the stimulus package in January as a cure-all has set him up for failure now that he cannot deliver on his overblown promises...
Morris could have cited LBJ's Vietnam, too. Same kinda thing.
As Limbaugh observed, Obama coulda pushed this through except for the FAIL of "stimulus," which (ironically) was designed to push the economy forward for the 2010 Congressionals. So Obama and Emanuel outfoxed themselves by giving QueenNancy and Harry their wish.
It's possible that the economy will recover, and "Porkulus" will work, in time for the 2010s. That means that the (D) folks will regain traction. And it's also possible that their inability to move anything besides "spend spend spend spend" will backfire. Horribly.
Meantime, nothing's going anywhere.
Heh.
HT: Ace
Superficially, the United States appears to have a presidential system, but in fact it more and more resembles a parliamentary form of government. When a president loses the approval of the majority of the voters and polls reflect that his ratings have fallen substantially below 50 percent, he loses his power. In this context, polls are like parliamentary votes of no confidence in European systems. While the government does not fall if it loses in the polling, it limps on until either its ratings improve or it is voted out of office at the next election.
...it is the president's obvious inability to improve the economy that is exacting the daily toll in his approval ratings evident in all of the surveys. Like the body counts that mounted in Iraq and drove Bush's numbers ever downward, the rising unemployment numbers are stripping Obama of his popularity and power.
Obama's very activism in promoting the stimulus package in January as a cure-all has set him up for failure now that he cannot deliver on his overblown promises...
Morris could have cited LBJ's Vietnam, too. Same kinda thing.
As Limbaugh observed, Obama coulda pushed this through except for the FAIL of "stimulus," which (ironically) was designed to push the economy forward for the 2010 Congressionals. So Obama and Emanuel outfoxed themselves by giving QueenNancy and Harry their wish.
It's possible that the economy will recover, and "Porkulus" will work, in time for the 2010s. That means that the (D) folks will regain traction. And it's also possible that their inability to move anything besides "spend spend spend spend" will backfire. Horribly.
Meantime, nothing's going anywhere.
Heh.
HT: Ace
Ram It On Through There, Waxman!
Apparently Waxman is simply going to toss ObamaCare onto the floor of the House without a committe vote. That's because the Blue Dogs will NOT assent to the lunacy therein.
Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman told The Associated Press negotiations with fiscally conservative Democrats on his panel cannot go on "interminably" because they would "empower" Republicans and allow the minority party to take control of the panel.
Well....
That leaves the possibility that Kagen, Moore, Baldwin, Obey, and Kind will be voting FOR this abomination just before returning to Wisconsin to listen to the people pretend everything's just hunky-dory.
I smell burned Congresscritters.....
HT: Ace
Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman told The Associated Press negotiations with fiscally conservative Democrats on his panel cannot go on "interminably" because they would "empower" Republicans and allow the minority party to take control of the panel.
Well....
That leaves the possibility that Kagen, Moore, Baldwin, Obey, and Kind will be voting FOR this abomination just before returning to Wisconsin to
I smell burned Congresscritters.....
HT: Ace
Too Bad Ripley's Dead
McMahon posts this, so it must be true.
Even though it is absolutely incredible.
...GM's decision to launch its new fragrance line in honor of Cadillac's 100th anniversary may go down as one of the most absurd moves by a troubled corporation ever. No doubt they kept a team of highly paid MBAs busy for months with the project, while the car end of their business was imploding faster than a black hole.
Is this what we get for our money — the $51 billion we taxpayers have ponied up to bail GM out of its self-inflicted woes?
"Cadillac, the new fragrance for men," doesn't seem like much to start the "New" General Motors Corp. on.
First off, this is pure sissy stuff.
A real MAN's fragrance would have been called 'Corvette', or 'GTO', or 'Chevelle 427 SS'.
Or maybe just a dab of gear-lube smeared across the back of one's hands. Or maybe some of that dust/dirt/grease/lube combination that accumulates on the oilpan, or the pumpkin--under the fingernails, of course.
Goes to show you why the MBA doesn't really get too much respect.
Unanswered question: which GM sissy-bozo-exec actually dreamed this up?
Even though it is absolutely incredible.
...GM's decision to launch its new fragrance line in honor of Cadillac's 100th anniversary may go down as one of the most absurd moves by a troubled corporation ever. No doubt they kept a team of highly paid MBAs busy for months with the project, while the car end of their business was imploding faster than a black hole.
Is this what we get for our money — the $51 billion we taxpayers have ponied up to bail GM out of its self-inflicted woes?
"Cadillac, the new fragrance for men," doesn't seem like much to start the "New" General Motors Corp. on.
First off, this is pure sissy stuff.
A real MAN's fragrance would have been called 'Corvette', or 'GTO', or 'Chevelle 427 SS'.
Or maybe just a dab of gear-lube smeared across the back of one's hands. Or maybe some of that dust/dirt/grease/lube combination that accumulates on the oilpan, or the pumpkin--under the fingernails, of course.
Goes to show you why the MBA doesn't really get too much respect.
Unanswered question: which GM sissy-bozo-exec actually dreamed this up?
What DID Mayo Say?
The operative paragraph in the Mayo letter regarding ObamaCare:
Under the current Medicare system, a majority of doctors and hospitals that care for Medicare patients are paid substantially less than it costs to treat them. Many providers are therefore already approaching a point where they can not afford to see Medicare patients. Expansion of a Medicare-type plan without a method to define, measure, and pay for healthy outcomes for patients will move many doctors and hospitals across this threshold, and ultimately hurt the patients who seek our care. We should not put more Americans into the current unsustainable system.
Very nicely worded--almost as well-worded as a Douglas MacArthur statement--but it leaves little question about the viability of ObamaCare in the mind of Mayo's author.
HT: PowerLine
Under the current Medicare system, a majority of doctors and hospitals that care for Medicare patients are paid substantially less than it costs to treat them. Many providers are therefore already approaching a point where they can not afford to see Medicare patients. Expansion of a Medicare-type plan without a method to define, measure, and pay for healthy outcomes for patients will move many doctors and hospitals across this threshold, and ultimately hurt the patients who seek our care. We should not put more Americans into the current unsustainable system.
Very nicely worded--almost as well-worded as a Douglas MacArthur statement--but it leaves little question about the viability of ObamaCare in the mind of Mayo's author.
HT: PowerLine
It's Time for a Republican HealthCare Counteroffensive
ObamaCare is not dead--it is temporarily recovering from serious wounds. For the next 40 days or so, Congresscritters will roam the home landscapes, looking for input from The Homies.
OK, let's give it to them.
Paul Ryan, Tom Coburn, (MD.), Richard Burr, and Ray Nunes have introduced a bill which is a sensible alternative.
Among other things, the bill includes "universal coverage" through State-administered health-insurance exchanges with the possibility of automatic enrollment, but does not REQUIRE enrollment; limits pre-existing condition refusals and provides for high-risk "pool" options; allows Medicaid/SCHIP members to enroll in "exchange" programs; does NOT allow illegal-alien enrollment; and provides favorable tax treatment for policyholders.
In brief:
“The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009,” transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. “The Patients’ Choice Act” promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more.
The (R) offering may or may not be perfect; it's entirely possible that some non-odious elements of the (D) offering could be blended into the (R) plan.
But until that (R) plan becomes highly visible, clearly and simply explained, and understood by the public, it will not be discussed.
Get it out there!!
OK, let's give it to them.
Paul Ryan, Tom Coburn, (MD.), Richard Burr, and Ray Nunes have introduced a bill which is a sensible alternative.
Among other things, the bill includes "universal coverage" through State-administered health-insurance exchanges with the possibility of automatic enrollment, but does not REQUIRE enrollment; limits pre-existing condition refusals and provides for high-risk "pool" options; allows Medicaid/SCHIP members to enroll in "exchange" programs; does NOT allow illegal-alien enrollment; and provides favorable tax treatment for policyholders.
In brief:
“The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009,” transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. “The Patients’ Choice Act” promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more.
The (R) offering may or may not be perfect; it's entirely possible that some non-odious elements of the (D) offering could be blended into the (R) plan.
But until that (R) plan becomes highly visible, clearly and simply explained, and understood by the public, it will not be discussed.
Get it out there!!
Health-Tax the Rich?
Geez. When a Brookings economist doesn't like the idea.........
Brookings Institution economist William Gale disagrees. He makes a strong argument against the Democrats’ plans to finance their health care bill by increasing taxes on the rich, which is, he writes, “bad economic policy, bad health policy, bad budget policy and poor leadership.”
Other than that, taxing the rich for health-care is just fine, eh?
Brookings Institution economist William Gale disagrees. He makes a strong argument against the Democrats’ plans to finance their health care bill by increasing taxes on the rich, which is, he writes, “bad economic policy, bad health policy, bad budget policy and poor leadership.”
Other than that, taxing the rich for health-care is just fine, eh?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Why the Race-Mongering, Obama?
Since Dear Leader decided to race-monger during his presser, we should ask why.
One real possibility:
ObamaCare is going down in flames, and it's likely that Cap-n-Tax will suffer a similar fate. His poll numbers aren't good. He will have a monumental fight over his profligate/debt-hogging budget proposal.
IOW, the SHTF.
What to do?
Initiate a diversion. Race wars are a diversion.
One real possibility:
ObamaCare is going down in flames, and it's likely that Cap-n-Tax will suffer a similar fate. His poll numbers aren't good. He will have a monumental fight over his profligate/debt-hogging budget proposal.
IOW, the SHTF.
What to do?
Initiate a diversion. Race wars are a diversion.
Doyle Hit With Lawsuit Over "Domestic Partners"
It was only a matter of time.
Today, WFA, through 3 of its board members...is honored to tell you that...[t]his morning, through the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and Wisconsin ADF-allied attorneys Richard Esenberg and Michael Dean who is with First Freedoms Foundation, we filed an original action petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court in defense of the constitution, the institution of marriage, and the expressed will of the people.
...The petition we filed, Appling v. Doyle, asks the court to accept the case as an original action (which means it goes directly to the Supreme Court, skipping the trial and appellate courts), to declare the statewide same-sex domestic partnership registry unconstitutional and to issue a permanent injunction against the registry, which would prohibit its implementation by all 72 county clerks.
Good.
Today, WFA, through 3 of its board members...is honored to tell you that...[t]his morning, through the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and Wisconsin ADF-allied attorneys Richard Esenberg and Michael Dean who is with First Freedoms Foundation, we filed an original action petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court in defense of the constitution, the institution of marriage, and the expressed will of the people.
...The petition we filed, Appling v. Doyle, asks the court to accept the case as an original action (which means it goes directly to the Supreme Court, skipping the trial and appellate courts), to declare the statewide same-sex domestic partnership registry unconstitutional and to issue a permanent injunction against the registry, which would prohibit its implementation by all 72 county clerks.
Good.
Ryan's Right: And You Will NOT "Get to Keep Your Plan"
Paul Ryan (R-Common Sense) had predicted that the overall strategy was to implement ObamaCare, but the tactics may have to mask the result. In other words, they'll do it by any means necessary including lying, cheating, and obfuscating.
Gosh, that's a surprise! Politicians acting just like politicians!
His outline was this: if the Socialized Medicine crowd fails to achieve "public option" (complete Federal command-and-control) they will:
1) Try for "cooperatives", another name for the 'public option', with the same long-term results; and if that fails, then
2) Federally legislate the terms/conditions of ALL health coverage. This will allow insurance companies to exist, but make them into de facto Federal agents.
Sure enough, a big chunk of #2 is in the House plan:
And self-insured health insurance plans also will have to meet any minimum benefit coverage requirements prescribed in the law.
"Self-funded" plans are generally used by companies who wish to avoid State mandated-coverage laws (e.g., chiropractics coverage, or autism, etc.) They comprise a significant part of the existing health-insurance landscape.
Gosh, that's a surprise! Politicians acting just like politicians!
His outline was this: if the Socialized Medicine crowd fails to achieve "public option" (complete Federal command-and-control) they will:
1) Try for "cooperatives", another name for the 'public option', with the same long-term results; and if that fails, then
2) Federally legislate the terms/conditions of ALL health coverage. This will allow insurance companies to exist, but make them into de facto Federal agents.
Sure enough, a big chunk of #2 is in the House plan:
And self-insured health insurance plans also will have to meet any minimum benefit coverage requirements prescribed in the law.
"Self-funded" plans are generally used by companies who wish to avoid State mandated-coverage laws (e.g., chiropractics coverage, or autism, etc.) They comprise a significant part of the existing health-insurance landscape.
Planet Moron Does Presser
Yes, all the rest of it is this funny.
Chip Reid, CBS News: Mr. President, there is growing concern that your health care proposals simply cost too much. How do you respond?
Obama: Let me answer your question this way. Just this morning, I received a commitment from CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, to offer the American people double coupons on alternate Wednesdays. That means, if you have a fifty-cents-off coupon for a 100-count bottle of Advil, you get $1.00 off. That’s double. And if you like the caplets you’re currently using, you can keep using them. No one will force you to get the liquigels if you don’t want them. Jake?
Jake Tappper, ABC News: Mr. President, critics of your approach to health care reform note that it does not make health care more affordable or improve care. How do you answer them?
Obama: Let me tell you what my health care plan does do. It provides for pathways. Miles and miles of pathways. You can bicycle, you can walk, you can rollerblade, you can run. That’s the kind of health care plan the American people want, and that’s the kind of health care plan they can expect from me as President of the United States. Chuck?
By the way, Moron has another excellent B. Hussein ObamaTalk analysis here.
Chip Reid, CBS News: Mr. President, there is growing concern that your health care proposals simply cost too much. How do you respond?
Obama: Let me answer your question this way. Just this morning, I received a commitment from CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, to offer the American people double coupons on alternate Wednesdays. That means, if you have a fifty-cents-off coupon for a 100-count bottle of Advil, you get $1.00 off. That’s double. And if you like the caplets you’re currently using, you can keep using them. No one will force you to get the liquigels if you don’t want them. Jake?
Jake Tappper, ABC News: Mr. President, critics of your approach to health care reform note that it does not make health care more affordable or improve care. How do you answer them?
Obama: Let me tell you what my health care plan does do. It provides for pathways. Miles and miles of pathways. You can bicycle, you can walk, you can rollerblade, you can run. That’s the kind of health care plan the American people want, and that’s the kind of health care plan they can expect from me as President of the United States. Chuck?
By the way, Moron has another excellent B. Hussein ObamaTalk analysis here.
"Stupid Arrest"?
Dear Leader insulted doctors last night, and then proceeded to insult cops.
We can acknowledge that there are rogue MD's and rogue cops--but elevating "a few" to "the class" is not the hallmark of an alleged ConLaw instructor.
And the friggin' police report on the Gates arrest was available, after all.
The "Don't You Know Who I AM??" technique is not recommended.
HT: NewsBusters
We can acknowledge that there are rogue MD's and rogue cops--but elevating "a few" to "the class" is not the hallmark of an alleged ConLaw instructor.
And the friggin' police report on the Gates arrest was available, after all.
The "Don't You Know Who I AM??" technique is not recommended.
HT: NewsBusters
The Illegals Will Save Money With ObamaCare!!
ObamaCare will enroll illegals, but ever-so-gently. Probably has something to do with the Geneva Conventions, or SCOTUS decisions, or something really complicated. Right?
...the Senate Finance Committee plan creates a new preference for illegal aliens by exempting them from the mandate to buy insurance.
That’s right. Law-abiding, uninsured Americans would be fined if they didn’t submit to the Obamacare prescription. Law-breaking border-crossers, visa-overstayers, and deportation fugitives would be spared.
Good to know SOMEONE will save money with ObamaCare!
HT: Malkin
...the Senate Finance Committee plan creates a new preference for illegal aliens by exempting them from the mandate to buy insurance.
That’s right. Law-abiding, uninsured Americans would be fined if they didn’t submit to the Obamacare prescription. Law-breaking border-crossers, visa-overstayers, and deportation fugitives would be spared.
Good to know SOMEONE will save money with ObamaCare!
HT: Malkin
Signs of the Times
Cramer highlights an article from Slate.
OnPoint, started in 2004 by Kevin Reeve, a 52-year-old professional scout and tracker, is the only school in the country that teaches urban tactical skills. In the past nine months, demand for the course has surged. For the first time, Reeve approximates his annual revenue to top $200,000—a fair sum for a business whose overhead consists largely of renting out space in community centers for classes and buying enough Goody bobby pins to prop up the coifs at a beauty pageant. In years past, Reeve said he barely pulled in enough revenue to make a profit.
...Currently, Reeve employs about six instructors, most of them ex-military, to teach the courses alongside him on a contract basis. OnPoint offers several courses in urban and wilderness survival, tracking, and scouting, but its escape and evade is by far the most popular—by tenfold, Reeve approximates.
Hmmmm.
Buy More Ammo, and then take a class!!
OnPoint, started in 2004 by Kevin Reeve, a 52-year-old professional scout and tracker, is the only school in the country that teaches urban tactical skills. In the past nine months, demand for the course has surged. For the first time, Reeve approximates his annual revenue to top $200,000—a fair sum for a business whose overhead consists largely of renting out space in community centers for classes and buying enough Goody bobby pins to prop up the coifs at a beauty pageant. In years past, Reeve said he barely pulled in enough revenue to make a profit.
...Currently, Reeve employs about six instructors, most of them ex-military, to teach the courses alongside him on a contract basis. OnPoint offers several courses in urban and wilderness survival, tracking, and scouting, but its escape and evade is by far the most popular—by tenfold, Reeve approximates.
Hmmmm.
Buy More Ammo, and then take a class!!
DearLeader Obama's Lies...
The Spectator's Phil Klein did the homework.
1) Obama said his cumulative deficit is “$2.2 trillion less than it would have been,” but the CBO says the deficit is actually $4.9 trillion more than it otherwise would have been.
2) While it’s true that Americans pay more than any other country, the actual health care costs per person in the U.S. were about $6,000 in 2007, according to a CBO report. So for Obama’s claim to be true -- that is, that other countries are spending $6,000 less, on average -- you’d have to believe that it costs every other advanced country zero dollars to provide all of their citizens with health care.
3) Obamasez: So, for example, in the HELP committee in the Senate, 160 Republican amendments were adopted into that bill
The actuality: The 160 refers to what we call technicals - these are amendments drafted to either correct technical errors in the bill language - and that can be anything from an amendment which cites the wrong section and paragraph of existing law (ex: Section 302 when we meant section 304) to errors in punctuation or transposed words.
Moreover, the vast majority of these were so non-controversial that the majority didn't even demand a vote - they were simply adopted by unanimous consent.
As to MEANINGFUL (R) amendments, not so much:
...only 45 GOP amendments, which we consider to have made substantive changes or improvements, were allowed a vote. 2 of those were agreed to.
Obama-Defined "Bipartisanship": "The Republicans may correct the grammar but they may not change the sentence."
And, of course, Dear Leader also accused MD's of being greedy pigs:
At one point, Obama made the insulting suggestion that when children go to doctors with sore throats, doctors consult payment charts, and unneccesarily remove kids' tonsils just to earn extra money. Aside from being a cynical remark, it isn't smart politically, as polling shows that Americans trust doctors far more than politicians when it comes to health care.
Yah, Dave Obey and QueenNancy are sooooooooooooo much better at medical treatment decisions......
1) Obama said his cumulative deficit is “$2.2 trillion less than it would have been,” but the CBO says the deficit is actually $4.9 trillion more than it otherwise would have been.
2) While it’s true that Americans pay more than any other country, the actual health care costs per person in the U.S. were about $6,000 in 2007, according to a CBO report. So for Obama’s claim to be true -- that is, that other countries are spending $6,000 less, on average -- you’d have to believe that it costs every other advanced country zero dollars to provide all of their citizens with health care.
3) Obamasez: So, for example, in the HELP committee in the Senate, 160 Republican amendments were adopted into that bill
The actuality: The 160 refers to what we call technicals - these are amendments drafted to either correct technical errors in the bill language - and that can be anything from an amendment which cites the wrong section and paragraph of existing law (ex: Section 302 when we meant section 304) to errors in punctuation or transposed words.
Moreover, the vast majority of these were so non-controversial that the majority didn't even demand a vote - they were simply adopted by unanimous consent.
As to MEANINGFUL (R) amendments, not so much:
...only 45 GOP amendments, which we consider to have made substantive changes or improvements, were allowed a vote. 2 of those were agreed to.
Obama-Defined "Bipartisanship": "The Republicans may correct the grammar but they may not change the sentence."
And, of course, Dear Leader also accused MD's of being greedy pigs:
At one point, Obama made the insulting suggestion that when children go to doctors with sore throats, doctors consult payment charts, and unneccesarily remove kids' tonsils just to earn extra money. Aside from being a cynical remark, it isn't smart politically, as polling shows that Americans trust doctors far more than politicians when it comes to health care.
Yah, Dave Obey and QueenNancy are sooooooooooooo much better at medical treatment decisions......
Calling Doctor Obama! Calling Doctor Obey!!
The Dear Leader will be your doctor.
With his example of the red and blue pills, and another about whether a child's hypothetical tonsils should be removed, President Obama unwittingly presents the real problem with his plan for reform. Here is a well-meaning government official who so fails to grasp the problem in health care that he can present such absurd oversimplifications and suggest that this sort of thing is the real problem -- doctors simply lack the common sense to make obvious medical decisions. President Obama wants us to solve this problem by putting himself and other government officials in charge of rescuing medicine from the medical profession. If medical doctors with a decade of schooling cannot distinguish between good cures and ineffective ones that must be discontinued, then by gosh, we're lucky that the good folks from the government can.
President Obama thus frames the issue as a false choice between doing nothing at all and handing over to Washington complicated, case-by-case medical decisions that cannot possibly be legislated or dictated by government.
Of course, that "blue pill" will just be morphine if you are old, or if you're young and not curable.
And there are those who actually believe this crap (see combox).
With his example of the red and blue pills, and another about whether a child's hypothetical tonsils should be removed, President Obama unwittingly presents the real problem with his plan for reform. Here is a well-meaning government official who so fails to grasp the problem in health care that he can present such absurd oversimplifications and suggest that this sort of thing is the real problem -- doctors simply lack the common sense to make obvious medical decisions. President Obama wants us to solve this problem by putting himself and other government officials in charge of rescuing medicine from the medical profession. If medical doctors with a decade of schooling cannot distinguish between good cures and ineffective ones that must be discontinued, then by gosh, we're lucky that the good folks from the government can.
President Obama thus frames the issue as a false choice between doing nothing at all and handing over to Washington complicated, case-by-case medical decisions that cannot possibly be legislated or dictated by government.
Of course, that "blue pill" will just be morphine if you are old, or if you're young and not curable.
And there are those who actually believe this crap (see combox).
Company HQ Leaves Wisconsin. Nothing to See Here
Just co-incidence, of course.
JBS S.A. is relocating corporate offices from Green Bay to the company’s North American headquarters in Greeley, Colo.
Brazil-based JBS S.A. purchased Green Bay-based Smithfield Beef Group and other operations from Smithfield last year.
The latest move affects 15 to 30 jobs locally, said Derek Lord, economic development director for Green Bay.
That Doyle 'consolidated reporting' provision had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with it.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
JBS S.A. is relocating corporate offices from Green Bay to the company’s North American headquarters in Greeley, Colo.
Brazil-based JBS S.A. purchased Green Bay-based Smithfield Beef Group and other operations from Smithfield last year.
The latest move affects 15 to 30 jobs locally, said Derek Lord, economic development director for Green Bay.
That Doyle 'consolidated reporting' provision had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with it.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Cash for Clunkers Update
Seems that there are a LOT of people who are happy to take Federal money to buy a new car.
At yesterday's rate of sales, the $1Bn available will disappear by Saturday, or so we are told.
At yesterday's rate of sales, the $1Bn available will disappear by Saturday, or so we are told.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Belling's Economics--He's Right
Belling reports anecdotes:
Mequon wives are cutting their own lawns....
Local health spa closing......
High-end cars now going through BP car-washes...
Fishing charters down......
Airport limos down, personal cars now transport...
Here's one Belling did not report:
A recent nationwide survey of family physicians shows 90 percent of dotors are finding patients increasingly concerned about their ability to pay for health care, and 58 percent of doctors reporting an increase in patient cancellations --BizJournal Milwaukee 7/22/09
Anent that medicine biz: "agency" RN's (temps) are not getting work; what was regularly 2-3 days/week is now 1, maybe 2.
Belling observes that a new tax ain't "stimulus." He's right.
Mequon wives are cutting their own lawns....
Local health spa closing......
High-end cars now going through BP car-washes...
Fishing charters down......
Airport limos down, personal cars now transport...
Here's one Belling did not report:
A recent nationwide survey of family physicians shows 90 percent of dotors are finding patients increasingly concerned about their ability to pay for health care, and 58 percent of doctors reporting an increase in patient cancellations --BizJournal Milwaukee 7/22/09
Anent that medicine biz: "agency" RN's (temps) are not getting work; what was regularly 2-3 days/week is now 1, maybe 2.
Belling observes that a new tax ain't "stimulus." He's right.
Just War Theory Encounters Terrorism
Just War Theory presumes that States are at war.
But terrorists such as Bin Laden are 'stateless.' It is not accurate to say that "Afghanistan is at war with the US" although BinLaden lives there with his personal goat.
So what happens to Just War Theory?
You'll find a variety of answers in this Catholic News Service story.
"In a duly constituted war, anybody on the front lines is fair game," said Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, co-director of the Fordham University Center on Religion and Culture and the Jesuit-run New York school's journalist in residence.
But "it seems to me that Mr. Bush's declaration of a war on terror is of dubious legality and dubious morality, as well as that it's a war that seems to have no clear endpoint, as long as you can name people who are potential terrorists or actual terrorists. This is a war that can go on forever," Steinfels added in an interview with Catholic News Service. "I have never seen an argument that says that the war on terror is a legitimately justly declared war."
Ms. Steinfels is a Lefty, if you couldn't tell--and a friend of Rembert. I disagree with her assessment that the WOT 'is of dubious legality,' insofar as the Congress agreed with the President's decision. Maybe Margie doesn't read the Constitution.
On the other hand:
David L. Perry, who concluded a six-year stint this year as ethics professor at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., wrote in the spring 1995 issue of the Journal of Conflict Studies: "Just as it is not a crime to kill the enemy during wartime, so too should it not be regarded as a crime or a morally reprehensible act when a nation, acting in concert with its obligation to protect its own citizens from harm, seeks out and destroys terrorists outside its borders who have committed, or are planning to commit atrocities on its territory or against its citizens."
"The assassin in effect acts as prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner combined; the target is precluded from being represented by counsel before an impartial court," added Perry, who earlier lectured in philosophy and religious studies at Jesuit-run Santa Clara University in California. "These concerns suggest that assassination ought only to be used as a last resort."
His take is sensible, especially since he underlines 'concerns' suggesting that assassination is really a last resort. It is.
The nexus of the problem, however, was expressed here:
Gerard F. Powers, director of Catholic peace-building studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, sought to make a distinction among targets of assassination.
"You're not talking about killing political leaders. You're talking about killing al-Qaida leaders. You're talking about killing terrorists," he told CNS.
"If terrorism is treated primarily as a crime, then the targeted killings would probably be problematic unless they occurred in the effort to arrest. And all the normal rules of police work apply," Powers added.
"But to the extent that terrorism can be seen as an act of war, then the targeted killings of known terrorists who are actively engaged in terrorism, or actively planning terrorist acts, then the terrorist becomes more like a combatant in war," he explained. "And the same criteria that would apply to war would apply to the killings of terrorists."
In the case of al-Qaida, Powers said, there "are elements akin to war" and "others more akin to crime. That's where the issues become blurred."
Somebody will have to revise JWT a bit to accomodate non-State entities.
But terrorists such as Bin Laden are 'stateless.' It is not accurate to say that "Afghanistan is at war with the US" although BinLaden lives there with his personal goat.
So what happens to Just War Theory?
You'll find a variety of answers in this Catholic News Service story.
"In a duly constituted war, anybody on the front lines is fair game," said Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, co-director of the Fordham University Center on Religion and Culture and the Jesuit-run New York school's journalist in residence.
But "it seems to me that Mr. Bush's declaration of a war on terror is of dubious legality and dubious morality, as well as that it's a war that seems to have no clear endpoint, as long as you can name people who are potential terrorists or actual terrorists. This is a war that can go on forever," Steinfels added in an interview with Catholic News Service. "I have never seen an argument that says that the war on terror is a legitimately justly declared war."
Ms. Steinfels is a Lefty, if you couldn't tell--and a friend of Rembert. I disagree with her assessment that the WOT 'is of dubious legality,' insofar as the Congress agreed with the President's decision. Maybe Margie doesn't read the Constitution.
On the other hand:
David L. Perry, who concluded a six-year stint this year as ethics professor at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., wrote in the spring 1995 issue of the Journal of Conflict Studies: "Just as it is not a crime to kill the enemy during wartime, so too should it not be regarded as a crime or a morally reprehensible act when a nation, acting in concert with its obligation to protect its own citizens from harm, seeks out and destroys terrorists outside its borders who have committed, or are planning to commit atrocities on its territory or against its citizens."
"The assassin in effect acts as prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner combined; the target is precluded from being represented by counsel before an impartial court," added Perry, who earlier lectured in philosophy and religious studies at Jesuit-run Santa Clara University in California. "These concerns suggest that assassination ought only to be used as a last resort."
His take is sensible, especially since he underlines 'concerns' suggesting that assassination is really a last resort. It is.
The nexus of the problem, however, was expressed here:
Gerard F. Powers, director of Catholic peace-building studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, sought to make a distinction among targets of assassination.
"You're not talking about killing political leaders. You're talking about killing al-Qaida leaders. You're talking about killing terrorists," he told CNS.
"If terrorism is treated primarily as a crime, then the targeted killings would probably be problematic unless they occurred in the effort to arrest. And all the normal rules of police work apply," Powers added.
"But to the extent that terrorism can be seen as an act of war, then the targeted killings of known terrorists who are actively engaged in terrorism, or actively planning terrorist acts, then the terrorist becomes more like a combatant in war," he explained. "And the same criteria that would apply to war would apply to the killings of terrorists."
In the case of al-Qaida, Powers said, there "are elements akin to war" and "others more akin to crime. That's where the issues become blurred."
Somebody will have to revise JWT a bit to accomodate non-State entities.
Properly Understood, Indeed
The contributions of "Fr. Z" are inestimable. He's connected, reliable, and well-schooled.
Now and then, though, he leaves an enigma on the table, as he did while reviewing a letter about the Extraordinary Form (1962 Rite) written by the Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Miami.
Quoting the letter:
In both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Roman Missal, full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful is to be desired above all else.
Fr. Z comments:
Properly understood, of course. And since this included the phrase "above all else" we can most suitably begin with the person’s baptized character and then his or her state of grace. You see, true active participation is first of all an interior reality, not an outward expression. It leads to outward expression, the most perfect of which – in the liturgy of Mass – is the reception of Communion by a baptized person in the state of habitual grace....
Well, yes. On the other hand, there are some who ardently believe that Fr. Z's comments are the limits of actuosa participatio--that 'saying or singing their parts' is NOT part of "properly understood."
That belief is erroneous, as legislation of Pius X, Pius XII, John XXIII, and Paul VI makes clear.
So, properly understood, "properly understood" means acting according to Papal legislation on the topic.
I'm sure that is what Fr. Z. meant to say.
Now and then, though, he leaves an enigma on the table, as he did while reviewing a letter about the Extraordinary Form (1962 Rite) written by the Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Miami.
Quoting the letter:
In both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Roman Missal, full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful is to be desired above all else.
Fr. Z comments:
Properly understood, of course. And since this included the phrase "above all else" we can most suitably begin with the person’s baptized character and then his or her state of grace. You see, true active participation is first of all an interior reality, not an outward expression. It leads to outward expression, the most perfect of which – in the liturgy of Mass – is the reception of Communion by a baptized person in the state of habitual grace....
Well, yes. On the other hand, there are some who ardently believe that Fr. Z's comments are the limits of actuosa participatio--that 'saying or singing their parts' is NOT part of "properly understood."
That belief is erroneous, as legislation of Pius X, Pius XII, John XXIII, and Paul VI makes clear.
So, properly understood, "properly understood" means acting according to Papal legislation on the topic.
I'm sure that is what Fr. Z. meant to say.
Bond-Ratings Are Malleable, Indeed
You don't have to be the sharpest pencil in the drawer to read between the lines here:
July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Standard & Poor’s backtracked on ratings cuts issued last week and raised the ranking on commercial mortgage-backed debt from three bonds sold in 2007.
The securities, restored to top-ranked status, had been downgraded as recently as last week, making them ineligible for the Federal Reserve’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility to jumpstart lending.
If you didn't figure it out, think Payoff. Big Payoff. Fraud. Conspiracy.
(By the way, TALF qualification allows the nuclear waste to be dumped on the US taxpayer.)
HT: Ticker
July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Standard & Poor’s backtracked on ratings cuts issued last week and raised the ranking on commercial mortgage-backed debt from three bonds sold in 2007.
The securities, restored to top-ranked status, had been downgraded as recently as last week, making them ineligible for the Federal Reserve’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility to jumpstart lending.
If you didn't figure it out, think Payoff. Big Payoff. Fraud. Conspiracy.
(By the way, TALF qualification allows the nuclear waste to be dumped on the US taxpayer.)
HT: Ticker
New "For Lease" Sign
As you cruise east on I-94 from Madistan to Milwaukee, you'll notice a VERY large and VERY well-lit billboard south of the road.
FOR LEASE: 850,000 square feet, RAILROAD, Janesville, WI.
Gee.
What building COULD it be?
FOR LEASE: 850,000 square feet, RAILROAD, Janesville, WI.
Gee.
What building COULD it be?
Tulips On Your Grave, Granny?
"Grim" is a double-entendre...
Many old people now fear Dutch hospitals. More than 10% of senior citizens who responded to a recent survey, which did not mention euthanasia, volunteered that they feared being killed by their doctors without their consent
....As the cost of socialized medicine in the Netherlands grew, doctors were lectured about the importance of keeping expenses down. In many hospitals, signs were posted indicating how much old-age treatments cost taxpayers. The result was a growing “social pressure”
So happens that the blog-author, Grim, is a Blue Dog Dem. His perspective, therefore, is of great interest. Too bad he's not a Congresscritter...
Many old people now fear Dutch hospitals. More than 10% of senior citizens who responded to a recent survey, which did not mention euthanasia, volunteered that they feared being killed by their doctors without their consent
....As the cost of socialized medicine in the Netherlands grew, doctors were lectured about the importance of keeping expenses down. In many hospitals, signs were posted indicating how much old-age treatments cost taxpayers. The result was a growing “social pressure”
So happens that the blog-author, Grim, is a Blue Dog Dem. His perspective, therefore, is of great interest. Too bad he's not a Congresscritter...
TurboTaxTimmy Sees the Bus Heading for Him
It won't be long before the ObamaBus claims another victim.
The Treasury Department took a bipartisan beating on Tuesday from lawmakers who claim the agency has failed to live up to its promises of transparency in handling the federal rescue of the financial system.
"The taxpayers now have a $700 billion spending program that's being run under the philosophy of 'don't ask, don't tell,' " Rep. Edolphus Towns, (D-N.Y.) said during a hearing on the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP.Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) went as far as to compare the Treasury's refusal to provide regular updates on how TARP money is being spent to the way convicted Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard L. Madoff misled his clients. . . .
When, not if.
The Treasury Department took a bipartisan beating on Tuesday from lawmakers who claim the agency has failed to live up to its promises of transparency in handling the federal rescue of the financial system.
"The taxpayers now have a $700 billion spending program that's being run under the philosophy of 'don't ask, don't tell,' " Rep. Edolphus Towns, (D-N.Y.) said during a hearing on the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP.Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) went as far as to compare the Treasury's refusal to provide regular updates on how TARP money is being spent to the way convicted Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard L. Madoff misled his clients. . . .
When, not if.
I Kinda Like the Sound of "25-to-Life"
These are animals.
A 22-year-old man beat three other people outside a Milwaukee bar July 11 before one of his friends fatally punched a fourth man, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
Robert Kochanski, 22, of Menomonee Falls, had just left the bar, appeared to be drunk and was "acting crazy," even punching one man twice in the head for no reason, one of his friends told police, according to the complaint filed against him.
Kochanski is charged with being a party to three crimes: second-degree reckless injury and substantial battery, both felonies, and misdemeanor battery.
Kochanski's friend, Daniel R. Curry, 22, of Milwaukee, was charged Saturday with felony murder in connection with the killing of 40-year-old Michael R. Ward.
Curry is accused of fatally striking Ward in the head while two other men - Kochanski and Paul J. Kaiser - struggled with Ward's friends
For the murderer, of course, 50 years or life. For the rest, not less than 25. Maybe the sentences should run consecutively.......
A 22-year-old man beat three other people outside a Milwaukee bar July 11 before one of his friends fatally punched a fourth man, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
Robert Kochanski, 22, of Menomonee Falls, had just left the bar, appeared to be drunk and was "acting crazy," even punching one man twice in the head for no reason, one of his friends told police, according to the complaint filed against him.
Kochanski is charged with being a party to three crimes: second-degree reckless injury and substantial battery, both felonies, and misdemeanor battery.
Kochanski's friend, Daniel R. Curry, 22, of Milwaukee, was charged Saturday with felony murder in connection with the killing of 40-year-old Michael R. Ward.
Curry is accused of fatally striking Ward in the head while two other men - Kochanski and Paul J. Kaiser - struggled with Ward's friends
For the murderer, of course, 50 years or life. For the rest, not less than 25. Maybe the sentences should run consecutively.......
Screwing Small Business Into ObamaCare
As Congressman Ryan indicated, the (D) folks are simply going to jam ObamaCare down your throat, no matter the lies, obfuscation, or chicanery required to do it.
As a public service, the Examiner is going through the details.
Today's feature of Health Care Reform is the mandate on employers to provide insurance for employees. ...The House Democrats' bill (text here) requires all employers with annual payroll greater than $250,000 (all but the tiniest businesses) either to pay a new and addition payroll tax, or else to provide health insurance for their employees. [Details follow in the linked story.]
Yah--we noticed that, too. And we came to the same conclusion:
Businesses with smaller profit margins might not survive this mandate. In many cases, especially for a firm whose employees have families and children, the employer is likely to opt for the payroll tax.
In other words, you WILL be tossed into the Gummint Plan. And if there is no "gummint plan" in place when this bill passes, there WILL be a Gummint Plan, because the "Party of Compassion" will see the need, and fill it. Sure, it's dirty pool or worse. Frankly, my dear, they don't give a damn.
The bill also makes certain that small businesses will eventually disappear (a sop to union and big-biz interests):
Small businesses cannot, in most cases, simply eat such expenses since they have such small margins. In order to counterbalance this new cost, many businesses will naturally want to turn to reducing employee wages. The House Democrats' bill, however, does not allow for this, even if the employees consent to such a reduction.
Of course, small-biz could also raise their prices, making them un-competitive, (a sop to union and big-biz interests.)
Get the picture?
As a public service, the Examiner is going through the details.
Today's feature of Health Care Reform is the mandate on employers to provide insurance for employees. ...The House Democrats' bill (text here) requires all employers with annual payroll greater than $250,000 (all but the tiniest businesses) either to pay a new and addition payroll tax, or else to provide health insurance for their employees. [Details follow in the linked story.]
Yah--we noticed that, too. And we came to the same conclusion:
Businesses with smaller profit margins might not survive this mandate. In many cases, especially for a firm whose employees have families and children, the employer is likely to opt for the payroll tax.
In other words, you WILL be tossed into the Gummint Plan. And if there is no "gummint plan" in place when this bill passes, there WILL be a Gummint Plan, because the "Party of Compassion" will see the need, and fill it. Sure, it's dirty pool or worse. Frankly, my dear, they don't give a damn.
The bill also makes certain that small businesses will eventually disappear (a sop to union and big-biz interests):
Small businesses cannot, in most cases, simply eat such expenses since they have such small margins. In order to counterbalance this new cost, many businesses will naturally want to turn to reducing employee wages. The House Democrats' bill, however, does not allow for this, even if the employees consent to such a reduction.
Of course, small-biz could also raise their prices, making them un-competitive, (a sop to union and big-biz interests.)
Get the picture?
Health Care Reform? The Jindal Principles
Jindal is justifiably regarded as a policy wonk. So?
This outline is clear, concise, and realistic.
Leaders of both parties can then come together behind health-care reform that stresses these seven principles:
•Consumer choice guided by transparency. We need a system where individuals choose an integrated plan that adopts the best disease-management practices, as opposed to fragmented care. Pricing and outcomes data for all tests, treatments and procedures should be posted on the Internet
•Aligned consumer interests. Consumers should be financially invested in better health decisions through health-savings accounts, lower premiums and reduced cost sharing
•Medical lawsuit reform. The practice of defensive medicine costs an estimated $100 billion-plus each year
•Insurance reform. Congress should establish simple guidelines to make policies more portable, with more coverage for pre-existing conditions. Reinsurance, high-risk pools, and other mechanisms can reduce the dangers of adverse risk selection and the incentive to avoid covering the sick. Individuals should also be able to keep insurance as they change jobs or states
•Pooling for small businesses, the self-employed, and others. All consumers should have equal opportunity to buy the lowest-cost, highest-quality insurance available. Individuals should benefit from the economies of scale currently available to those working for large employers. They should be free to purchase their health coverage without tax penalty through their employer, church, union, etc.
•Pay for performance, not activity.
•Refundable tax credits. Low-income working Americans without health insurance should get help in buying private coverage through a refundable tax credit
We would hope that Congresscritters such as Obey, Kagen, Kind, Moore, and Baldwin would actually read Jindal's offering. But based on their "read-the-offering" score during this session of Congress, I wouldn't bet on it.
This outline is clear, concise, and realistic.
Leaders of both parties can then come together behind health-care reform that stresses these seven principles:
•Consumer choice guided by transparency. We need a system where individuals choose an integrated plan that adopts the best disease-management practices, as opposed to fragmented care. Pricing and outcomes data for all tests, treatments and procedures should be posted on the Internet
•Aligned consumer interests. Consumers should be financially invested in better health decisions through health-savings accounts, lower premiums and reduced cost sharing
•Medical lawsuit reform. The practice of defensive medicine costs an estimated $100 billion-plus each year
•Insurance reform. Congress should establish simple guidelines to make policies more portable, with more coverage for pre-existing conditions. Reinsurance, high-risk pools, and other mechanisms can reduce the dangers of adverse risk selection and the incentive to avoid covering the sick. Individuals should also be able to keep insurance as they change jobs or states
•Pooling for small businesses, the self-employed, and others. All consumers should have equal opportunity to buy the lowest-cost, highest-quality insurance available. Individuals should benefit from the economies of scale currently available to those working for large employers. They should be free to purchase their health coverage without tax penalty through their employer, church, union, etc.
•Pay for performance, not activity.
•Refundable tax credits. Low-income working Americans without health insurance should get help in buying private coverage through a refundable tax credit
We would hope that Congresscritters such as Obey, Kagen, Kind, Moore, and Baldwin would actually read Jindal's offering. But based on their "read-the-offering" score during this session of Congress, I wouldn't bet on it.
WI Supremes Endorse Discrimination?
An interesting ruling from SCOWI.
The state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse was exempt from state work place discrimination laws in firing an Onalaska elementary school teacher in 2002.
In a 4-3 decision, the court said religious schools have a constitutional right to hire and fire employees to carry out their missions, and that includes many teachers. The decision dismisses an age discrimination complaint filed by Wendy Ostlund, who claimed after almost three decades at St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Onalaska she lost her job during a downsizing because she was 53.
All I know, of course, is what I read in the papers. Based ONLY on the facts as outlined there, it would seem that SCOWI just annulled 'age discrimination' for non-public-school employees, which is ........ummmmhhhh.......surprising.
The Diocese of LaCrosse maintains that this is NOT an 'age' issue. If this were a matter of dissenting from Catholic doctrine, then I would be very comfortable with the decision. If it is a matter of Ms. Ostlund refusing to perform duties, I'm comfortable with it.
But that's not what the newspaper says. Hmmmmm.
The state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse was exempt from state work place discrimination laws in firing an Onalaska elementary school teacher in 2002.
In a 4-3 decision, the court said religious schools have a constitutional right to hire and fire employees to carry out their missions, and that includes many teachers. The decision dismisses an age discrimination complaint filed by Wendy Ostlund, who claimed after almost three decades at St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Onalaska she lost her job during a downsizing because she was 53.
All I know, of course, is what I read in the papers. Based ONLY on the facts as outlined there, it would seem that SCOWI just annulled 'age discrimination' for non-public-school employees, which is ........ummmmhhhh.......surprising.
The Diocese of LaCrosse maintains that this is NOT an 'age' issue. If this were a matter of dissenting from Catholic doctrine, then I would be very comfortable with the decision. If it is a matter of Ms. Ostlund refusing to perform duties, I'm comfortable with it.
But that's not what the newspaper says. Hmmmmm.
Kagen: A Threat to Wisconsin
Kagen openly joins with Obey, Moore, Kind, and Baldwin to:
1) Force taxpayers to fund abortions;
2) Force taxpayers to cover illegal aliens' health policies;
3) Destroy the existing health-insurance system in 5 years or less;
4) Create a horrendous deficit problem above and beyond the current ObamaNomics atrocity;
5) Create and impose a "Die now!!" regimen of "treatment" for the sick and/or disabled;
6) Impose Congressional "standards" on health-insurance offerings; and
7) Chase current and future medical practitioners from the field.
Not a bad days' work, if you are an enemy of the United States.
For critics and doubters of the House health-care reform proposal, U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, has a fundamental question: Whose side are you on?
As for supporters of the bill, Kagen said, "We're on the side of the American people."
Frankly, Kagen, you're full of shit and thinking Wisconsinites utterly reject your insulting and demeaning characterization of opponents. In plain English, Kagen, F*&^ you.
The House bill would provide health-care coverage for an additional 233,000 Wisconsinites in 2013 and 375,000 in 2019, according to a report released by Families USA, a nonprofit health-care advocacy organization. Currently, about 8.5 percent of Wisconsinites lack health insurance.
We note that 'Wisconsinites lacking insurance' is a very inclusive description.
1) Force taxpayers to fund abortions;
2) Force taxpayers to cover illegal aliens' health policies;
3) Destroy the existing health-insurance system in 5 years or less;
4) Create a horrendous deficit problem above and beyond the current ObamaNomics atrocity;
5) Create and impose a "Die now!!" regimen of "treatment" for the sick and/or disabled;
6) Impose Congressional "standards" on health-insurance offerings; and
7) Chase current and future medical practitioners from the field.
Not a bad days' work, if you are an enemy of the United States.
For critics and doubters of the House health-care reform proposal, U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, has a fundamental question: Whose side are you on?
As for supporters of the bill, Kagen said, "We're on the side of the American people."
Frankly, Kagen, you're full of shit and thinking Wisconsinites utterly reject your insulting and demeaning characterization of opponents. In plain English, Kagen, F*&^ you.
The House bill would provide health-care coverage for an additional 233,000 Wisconsinites in 2013 and 375,000 in 2019, according to a report released by Families USA, a nonprofit health-care advocacy organization. Currently, about 8.5 percent of Wisconsinites lack health insurance.
We note that 'Wisconsinites lacking insurance' is a very inclusive description.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
DrugLord Guns: American Source
Well, SOME of the guns came from the USA.
An FBI agent was arrested in early July for illegally selling Barret M82 .50 caliber rifles that made their way into the hands of the cartels, including one confiscated in a raid in March of last year. The agent John T. Shipley, purchased at least 54 firearms from a variety of sources, and sold at 51 of them illegally for a profit, according to his indictment.
So Holder was right, kinda sorta.
HT: Confederate
An FBI agent was arrested in early July for illegally selling Barret M82 .50 caliber rifles that made their way into the hands of the cartels, including one confiscated in a raid in March of last year. The agent John T. Shipley, purchased at least 54 firearms from a variety of sources, and sold at 51 of them illegally for a profit, according to his indictment.
So Holder was right, kinda sorta.
HT: Confederate
New Governmental Prerogatives
For those of you who thought that the Constitution restricted the activities of the Feds, or that (certainly) the Feds have some humility, or at least modesty in their goals...
Think again.
In today's news we find:
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s health care legislation will give the Health and Human Services secretary the authority to develop “standards of measuring gender” -- as opposed to using the traditional "male" and "female" categories -- in a database of all who apply or participate in government-run or government-supported health care plans."
The Greeks had NO idea of the real meaning of "hubris." None at all.
HT: Shepherd
Think again.
In today's news we find:
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s health care legislation will give the Health and Human Services secretary the authority to develop “standards of measuring gender” -- as opposed to using the traditional "male" and "female" categories -- in a database of all who apply or participate in government-run or government-supported health care plans."
The Greeks had NO idea of the real meaning of "hubris." None at all.
HT: Shepherd
Un-Closing the Auto Dealers?
This will be fun to watch.
The House passed a Treasury appropriations bill last week that includes an amendment reversing President Obama on the closure of nearly 800 Chrysler car dealerships and more than 2,000 GM dealerships.
The amendment sponsor was Republican Steve LaTourette of Ohio. 215 Democrats and 4 Republicans voted for the overall package.
The "I Won" twit is very unhappy:
The White House said Wednesday it strongly opposes the measure, arguing it would “set a dangerous precedent, potentially raising legal concerns, to intervene in a closed judicial bankruptcy proceeding on behalf of one particular group.”
Jam it, FIB.
HT: Malkin
The House passed a Treasury appropriations bill last week that includes an amendment reversing President Obama on the closure of nearly 800 Chrysler car dealerships and more than 2,000 GM dealerships.
The amendment sponsor was Republican Steve LaTourette of Ohio. 215 Democrats and 4 Republicans voted for the overall package.
The "I Won" twit is very unhappy:
The White House said Wednesday it strongly opposes the measure, arguing it would “set a dangerous precedent, potentially raising legal concerns, to intervene in a closed judicial bankruptcy proceeding on behalf of one particular group.”
Jam it, FIB.
HT: Malkin
Carnahan Slammed Over ObamaCare
Video of (D) from Missouri getting jeered over ObamaCare.
He couldn't show them the money, folks. Coughcoughcough
HT: Gateway Pundit
He couldn't show them the money, folks. Coughcoughcough
HT: Gateway Pundit
Entrapment?
Kid gets hammered, decides not to drive.
Cop tells him to move his car out of the parking lot where he's sleeping it off.
Kid moves car.
Cop arrests him for DUI, kid gets convicted.
Cop gets slammed in Court of Appeals.
Good!!
HT: BerryLaker
Cop tells him to move his car out of the parking lot where he's sleeping it off.
Kid moves car.
Cop arrests him for DUI, kid gets convicted.
Cop gets slammed in Court of Appeals.
Good!!
HT: BerryLaker
Paul Ryan on ObamaCare
Important clip, only 8+ minutes.
Ryan outlines Plans A, B, and C whereby Obama takes over healthcare. Plans B & C are the same sandwich but with rye or white instead of whole wheat, by the way...
IOW, the only time the Democrats are not lying is when their lips are not moving.
HT: FoxPolitics
Ryan outlines Plans A, B, and C whereby Obama takes over healthcare. Plans B & C are the same sandwich but with rye or white instead of whole wheat, by the way...
IOW, the only time the Democrats are not lying is when their lips are not moving.
HT: FoxPolitics
$24 Trillion? And the Brewers Finish at .755
That number, $24Trillion, has excited a few hearts, but really, now....
As Ritholtz points out, it's only a Doomsday scenario which makes the number real, in which case "Buy More Ammo" is an imperative, not a prudent suggestion.
For openers:
It assumes that every home mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac goes into default, and all the homes turn out to be worthless.
It assumes that every bank in America fails, with not a single asset worth even a penny.
And it assumes that all of the assets held by money market mutual funds, including Treasury bills, turn out to be worthless
In other words, it is possible--just like it is possible for the Brewers to run the table on the rest of the season and all the post-season games.
As Ritholtz points out, it's only a Doomsday scenario which makes the number real, in which case "Buy More Ammo" is an imperative, not a prudent suggestion.
For openers:
It assumes that every home mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac goes into default, and all the homes turn out to be worthless.
It assumes that every bank in America fails, with not a single asset worth even a penny.
And it assumes that all of the assets held by money market mutual funds, including Treasury bills, turn out to be worthless
In other words, it is possible--just like it is possible for the Brewers to run the table on the rest of the season and all the post-season games.
ObamaCare Just Gets Worse
Not only will ObamaCare cover illegals (!)...but in addition:
One of the ironies of the proposed legislation is that it would fine American citizens who opt not to purchase insurance coverage, but would exempt illegals from such fines.
One now wonders how ObamaCare can garner ANY support from the populace.
HT: Moonbattery
One of the ironies of the proposed legislation is that it would fine American citizens who opt not to purchase insurance coverage, but would exempt illegals from such fines.
One now wonders how ObamaCare can garner ANY support from the populace.
HT: Moonbattery
The Very-Most-Special People: Banks
And it's starting to gain traction.
The top watchdog over the financial bailout package said the Treasury Department is rejecting "common sense" by not requiring banks receiving billions of dollars in government money to say how they are using the money.
In a report to be released on Monday, Neil Barofsky said banks that have received money from the $700 billion bailout package passed last year are able to indicate how they are using taxpayer money and that Treasury should require banks to be more transparent.
Whaddya mean, 'tell us how they are using the money'? Are you KIDDING??
In and of itself, that report is not exactly political dynamite. We already knew that Geithner is a third-class papershuffler whose prior life was dedicated to comity with banks.
But that's not the end of the story.
McCain:
The Obama administration's promises of "transparency" are being revealed as lies on the magnitude of "The check's in the mail" and "Sure, I'll respect you tomorrow morning." Avoiding public scrutiny of reckless misappropriation of taxpayer dollars is at least one possible motive for the legislation sponsored by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) -- discussed in this morning's American Spectator story about the IG investigations -- that would give President Obama power to fire and replace five IGs at federal financial oversight agencies.
"The IGs are restless. Time to fire the IGs."
Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill express skepticism of whether Democrats are genuinely interested in investigating anything except allegations of wrongdoing by the long-gone Bush administration. Not all of this skepticism is off-the-record, and it is by no means limited to the cases of Walpin and two other former inspectors general.
Lemmeesee, heah, Gomer. The TAXPAYER forks over several hundred billion dollars to banks. Banks are not required to tell us where the money went. Some Inspector Generals raise all kinds of questions, and another is fired, then slandered. Then a Connecticut Member of the House proposes that FIVE financial-related IGs get fired and replaced by Dear Leader Obama. (Connecticut also elected Chris Dodd, (D-The Banks/Countrywide).
That odor is not coming from the Milorganite plant.
The top watchdog over the financial bailout package said the Treasury Department is rejecting "common sense" by not requiring banks receiving billions of dollars in government money to say how they are using the money.
In a report to be released on Monday, Neil Barofsky said banks that have received money from the $700 billion bailout package passed last year are able to indicate how they are using taxpayer money and that Treasury should require banks to be more transparent.
Whaddya mean, 'tell us how they are using the money'? Are you KIDDING??
In and of itself, that report is not exactly political dynamite. We already knew that Geithner is a third-class papershuffler whose prior life was dedicated to comity with banks.
But that's not the end of the story.
McCain:
The Obama administration's promises of "transparency" are being revealed as lies on the magnitude of "The check's in the mail" and "Sure, I'll respect you tomorrow morning." Avoiding public scrutiny of reckless misappropriation of taxpayer dollars is at least one possible motive for the legislation sponsored by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) -- discussed in this morning's American Spectator story about the IG investigations -- that would give President Obama power to fire and replace five IGs at federal financial oversight agencies.
"The IGs are restless. Time to fire the IGs."
Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill express skepticism of whether Democrats are genuinely interested in investigating anything except allegations of wrongdoing by the long-gone Bush administration. Not all of this skepticism is off-the-record, and it is by no means limited to the cases of Walpin and two other former inspectors general.
Lemmeesee, heah, Gomer. The TAXPAYER forks over several hundred billion dollars to banks. Banks are not required to tell us where the money went. Some Inspector Generals raise all kinds of questions, and another is fired, then slandered. Then a Connecticut Member of the House proposes that FIVE financial-related IGs get fired and replaced by Dear Leader Obama. (Connecticut also elected Chris Dodd, (D-The Banks/Countrywide).
That odor is not coming from the Milorganite plant.
Gummint-Owned GM Lobbies Gummint
Of course it does.
In April, May, and June, GM spent $2,760,000 on lobbying according to its Q2 lobbying filing, compared to $2,800,000 in the first quarter. A GM spokesman pointed out to me that the first quarter number already reflects some downsizing -- the company terminated four lobbying accounts at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. GM terminated the rest of its contracts in early June, but still paid some of these firms the same fee it had paid previous quarters.
We should expect third quarter lobbying of around $2 million from government-owned GM, because that's about what the company's internal lobbying shop cost, according to a GM spokesman
Well, now YOU are a shareholder (kinda, more or less.) Think you should have a say?
In April, May, and June, GM spent $2,760,000 on lobbying according to its Q2 lobbying filing, compared to $2,800,000 in the first quarter. A GM spokesman pointed out to me that the first quarter number already reflects some downsizing -- the company terminated four lobbying accounts at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. GM terminated the rest of its contracts in early June, but still paid some of these firms the same fee it had paid previous quarters.
We should expect third quarter lobbying of around $2 million from government-owned GM, because that's about what the company's internal lobbying shop cost, according to a GM spokesman
Well, now YOU are a shareholder (kinda, more or less.) Think you should have a say?
Monday, July 20, 2009
IG-Gate Just Gets More and More Interesting
McCain (not the old, bald Conservative-despising loser) has done actual Reporting on the IG situation.
And yes, indeed, it gets better...
Why, for instance, did Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) rush through the House a bill that would give President Obama power to hire or dismiss five inspectors general -- including the IG for the Securities and Exchange Commission -- who under existing law report to the agency heads?
The IGs themselves have protested against the Larson bill, which has yet to be debated in the Senate, and it has not escaped notice on Capitol Hill that Larson is a prominent "Friend of Chris." That would be Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
There are 2.8 regular readers of this blog. .095 of you may recall that Chris Dodd hit this blog a LONG time ago as a Suspect-First-Class (h/t Random 10); it was clear at that time that Dodd would take care of the bankers because the bankers take care of ol' Chris, the Senator from CountryWide Mortgage.
And yes, indeed, it gets better...
Why, for instance, did Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) rush through the House a bill that would give President Obama power to hire or dismiss five inspectors general -- including the IG for the Securities and Exchange Commission -- who under existing law report to the agency heads?
The IGs themselves have protested against the Larson bill, which has yet to be debated in the Senate, and it has not escaped notice on Capitol Hill that Larson is a prominent "Friend of Chris." That would be Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
There are 2.8 regular readers of this blog. .095 of you may recall that Chris Dodd hit this blog a LONG time ago as a Suspect-First-Class (h/t Random 10); it was clear at that time that Dodd would take care of the bankers because the bankers take care of ol' Chris, the Senator from CountryWide Mortgage.
Vilsack: Iowa Porker
Oh, yah.
So Vilsack's Ag Department bought a ham, e-i-e-i-yo.
The canned pork purchase was 8,424,000 pounds at a cost of $16,784,000, or approximately $1.99 per pound.
So at Pick'n'Save, you can buy 2lbs of sliced, PACKAGED ham for $2.50/lb.
Two-pound package, already sliced.
Drudge reports that canned ham at Red Lion is about $0.79/lb.
I don't think Mrs. Vilsack lets her Iowa hamboy go shopping...
So Vilsack's Ag Department bought a ham, e-i-e-i-yo.
The canned pork purchase was 8,424,000 pounds at a cost of $16,784,000, or approximately $1.99 per pound.
So at Pick'n'Save, you can buy 2lbs of sliced, PACKAGED ham for $2.50/lb.
Two-pound package, already sliced.
Drudge reports that canned ham at Red Lion is about $0.79/lb.
I don't think Mrs. Vilsack lets her Iowa hamboy go shopping...
"Noble Simplicity" in Liturgy, Considered in History
Think that "noble simplicity" is a command? Demand?
Wrong.
Dr Alcuin Reid (London, England) read a though-provoking paper entitled “Noble Simplicity Revisited” on Sacrosanctum Concilium’s article 34. He traced the origins of the term “noble simplicity” back to its Enlightenment origins as a reaction to Baroque splendour. Looking at scholars such as Edmund Bishop (1899), Dr Adrian Fortescue (1912) and Dom Gregory Dix (1945), Reid concluded that, historically, it is not possible to find in either the early Liturgy or in the mind of Bishop, Fortescue or Dix, an endorsement “noble simplicity” as it was widely interpreted following the Council.
Dr Reid then gave a detailed exegesis of the text of article 34 of Sacrosanctum Concilium read in the context of the Constitution as a whole. The call for “noble simplicity”, which is a practical policy of the Council and not a dogmatic definition (and thus open to critical evaluation), cannot be used as an ideological ‘super-principle’ of reform, Reid asserted, to bring about a rupture with tradition.
He then asked whether this principle is in need of a critical reappraisal? He noted Kieran Flanagan’s assertion that it had given rise to a new Puritanism and that the reforms satisfied none of the constituents to whom the reforms were supposed to appeal (youth, etc.), who find the liturgy mostly boring. The contributions of Catherine Pickstock and David Torevell to this debate were noted. Interestingly, he observed, Sacramentum Caritatis does not use the term “noble simplicity,” speaking rather of the “ars celebrandi”.
There is such as thing as 'too much' ceremony, of course--just as there can be 'too much' music, or 'too many' lit candles. Having said that, when 'noble simplicity' is invoked as the mantra justifying the utter lack of art found in much of today's Psalmody (and hymnody) and Ordinaries, we have, Houston, a problem.
Ceremony, rightly understood, serves as a picket fence guarding that which is Holy and ineffable; without that 'picket fence' we risk trampling the Holy--something never envisioned (much less allowed) in Temple worship, or in Eastern Rites.
Wrong.
Dr Alcuin Reid (London, England) read a though-provoking paper entitled “Noble Simplicity Revisited” on Sacrosanctum Concilium’s article 34. He traced the origins of the term “noble simplicity” back to its Enlightenment origins as a reaction to Baroque splendour. Looking at scholars such as Edmund Bishop (1899), Dr Adrian Fortescue (1912) and Dom Gregory Dix (1945), Reid concluded that, historically, it is not possible to find in either the early Liturgy or in the mind of Bishop, Fortescue or Dix, an endorsement “noble simplicity” as it was widely interpreted following the Council.
Dr Reid then gave a detailed exegesis of the text of article 34 of Sacrosanctum Concilium read in the context of the Constitution as a whole. The call for “noble simplicity”, which is a practical policy of the Council and not a dogmatic definition (and thus open to critical evaluation), cannot be used as an ideological ‘super-principle’ of reform, Reid asserted, to bring about a rupture with tradition.
He then asked whether this principle is in need of a critical reappraisal? He noted Kieran Flanagan’s assertion that it had given rise to a new Puritanism and that the reforms satisfied none of the constituents to whom the reforms were supposed to appeal (youth, etc.), who find the liturgy mostly boring. The contributions of Catherine Pickstock and David Torevell to this debate were noted. Interestingly, he observed, Sacramentum Caritatis does not use the term “noble simplicity,” speaking rather of the “ars celebrandi”.
There is such as thing as 'too much' ceremony, of course--just as there can be 'too much' music, or 'too many' lit candles. Having said that, when 'noble simplicity' is invoked as the mantra justifying the utter lack of art found in much of today's Psalmody (and hymnody) and Ordinaries, we have, Houston, a problem.
Ceremony, rightly understood, serves as a picket fence guarding that which is Holy and ineffable; without that 'picket fence' we risk trampling the Holy--something never envisioned (much less allowed) in Temple worship, or in Eastern Rites.
Gary Sinise: Much More Than a TV Star
Much, much more....
Why is Sinise so generous to servicemen and people he's never met? He said he's grateful to all American military families. In fact, he knows what they do and what they endure because many of his family members are military veterans. Above all, he said he loves God and he's inspired by the Catholic faith.
More at the link, all of it good.
HT: Cavemen
Why is Sinise so generous to servicemen and people he's never met? He said he's grateful to all American military families. In fact, he knows what they do and what they endure because many of his family members are military veterans. Above all, he said he loves God and he's inspired by the Catholic faith.
More at the link, all of it good.
HT: Cavemen
Shari'a Law: Who Needs It?
Learned something the other day and thought I'd pass it along.
A very bright Milwaukee-area businessman took a tour of Afghanistan for charitable purposes. Near the end of the tour, he and a few others sat down for a long talk with a number of village elders, and eventually they got to the topic of Shari'a law.
The elders acknowledged that Shari'a is 'rough and tough' law. But they also maintained that most (Muslim) villagers wanted it.
Reason?
There is no US Constitutional requirement for "a speedy trial" in Afghanistan. For that matter, the legal system in Afghanistan is not exactly fair, either--if you have money, you win. Period. After a long, long, process.
With Shari'a, it's quick and it is actually more "fair" than the Afghani system.
Worth knowing and understanding.
A very bright Milwaukee-area businessman took a tour of Afghanistan for charitable purposes. Near the end of the tour, he and a few others sat down for a long talk with a number of village elders, and eventually they got to the topic of Shari'a law.
The elders acknowledged that Shari'a is 'rough and tough' law. But they also maintained that most (Muslim) villagers wanted it.
Reason?
There is no US Constitutional requirement for "a speedy trial" in Afghanistan. For that matter, the legal system in Afghanistan is not exactly fair, either--if you have money, you win. Period. After a long, long, process.
With Shari'a, it's quick and it is actually more "fair" than the Afghani system.
Worth knowing and understanding.
Cash for Clunkers--Rumor Update
Seems that there is a RUMOR...
When "Cash for Clunkers" comes forth (and it will), GM, FoMoCo, and Chrysler will NOT be offering special financing, nor consumer "rebate" deals on the vehicles sold under the 'clunkers' program.
Shop around, folks...
When "Cash for Clunkers" comes forth (and it will), GM, FoMoCo, and Chrysler will NOT be offering special financing, nor consumer "rebate" deals on the vehicles sold under the 'clunkers' program.
Shop around, folks...
Reichsminister fur Gesundheitsvorsorge
Well, not exactly health-care. It's rationing...
Ted Kennedy and Bob Shrum write on the topic:
We also need to move from a system that rewards doctors for the sheer volume of tests and treatments they prescribe to one that rewards quality and positive outcomes. For example, in Medicare today, 18 percent of patients discharged from a hospital are readmitted within 30 days--at a cost of more than $15 billion in 2005. Most of these readmissions are unnecessary, but we don't reward hospitals and doctors for preventing them. By changing that, we'll save billions of dollars while improving the quality of care for patients
Aside from the obvious silliness of that statement (detailed at the link), here's the plain English:
The government is going to decide--ahead of time, obviously, since deciding after the fact wouldn’t save any money; and based on certain general criteria, since the government isn’t going to review each individual case--what kinds of hospital readmissions for the elderly are “unnecessary” and what kinds aren’t. And it’s going to set up a system “to reward hospitals and doctors for preventing” the unnecessary ones. That is, the government will reward hospitals and doctors for denying care they now provide, care the government will now deem “unnecessary.”
Indeed, this understates the case. For in reality the government isn’t going simply to reward “good” and penalize “bad” admissions. It’s going to prevent insurance companies from paying for “unnecessary” admissions and procedures, if those companies want to participate in the government system. In other words, government bureaucrats are going to deem entire categories of treatment inefficient for all or certain categories of patients, and put those treatments out of bounds for doctors and hospitals
Too bad the best candidate for Reichsminister--Herr Doktor Mengele--is not available for service.
Ted Kennedy and Bob Shrum write on the topic:
We also need to move from a system that rewards doctors for the sheer volume of tests and treatments they prescribe to one that rewards quality and positive outcomes. For example, in Medicare today, 18 percent of patients discharged from a hospital are readmitted within 30 days--at a cost of more than $15 billion in 2005. Most of these readmissions are unnecessary, but we don't reward hospitals and doctors for preventing them. By changing that, we'll save billions of dollars while improving the quality of care for patients
Aside from the obvious silliness of that statement (detailed at the link), here's the plain English:
The government is going to decide--ahead of time, obviously, since deciding after the fact wouldn’t save any money; and based on certain general criteria, since the government isn’t going to review each individual case--what kinds of hospital readmissions for the elderly are “unnecessary” and what kinds aren’t. And it’s going to set up a system “to reward hospitals and doctors for preventing” the unnecessary ones. That is, the government will reward hospitals and doctors for denying care they now provide, care the government will now deem “unnecessary.”
Indeed, this understates the case. For in reality the government isn’t going simply to reward “good” and penalize “bad” admissions. It’s going to prevent insurance companies from paying for “unnecessary” admissions and procedures, if those companies want to participate in the government system. In other words, government bureaucrats are going to deem entire categories of treatment inefficient for all or certain categories of patients, and put those treatments out of bounds for doctors and hospitals
Too bad the best candidate for Reichsminister--Herr Doktor Mengele--is not available for service.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Summer Liturgy Tour
Did a little driving; some quick reports.
Prestigious west-suburban parish retains PGL* rating. 'Say the black, do the red' is in force except when the pastor decides to ignore the text of the Creed to assuage the feministas of his parish, most of which live in a nearby convent jammed with priest-wannabees. Music is marginally acceptable, still "4-hymn-sandwich," cantor-ette does not sing in tune, which is extremely irritating. Style of music is Barbra Streisand-esque; GIA books in pews. Pastor's sermons are the low point: not germane to anything, sentimentalist, low-to-zero doctrinal content. Limited congregational "Look!! I'm Praying!!" stuff at Our Father, subdued and brief "Greet-Your-Peace" routine.
Further west, another suburban parish earns ML** rating. This place has had a reputation for liturgical aberrations, none of which are abominable, all of which are grating. Music is competently performed with excellent cantor-ettes and decent keyboards guy. 4-hymn-sandwich with sour-milk "extra" words added to Ordinary and responses. Music generally awful; today we got cowboy-music recessional and utterly impossible-to-sing Psalm (although the cantor-ette handled it with ease); most of what I've heard is also Streisand-genre: abominable treacly OCP stuff. Congregation holds hands or does "Look, I'm Praying!!" hands-up at Our Father, fairly large production-number "greet your Peace" routine. Sermon today was......meh.
More to follow. Am curious about the rapidly-losing-members parish to the SE of here. Reports are that the pastor is ......ahhhhhh.........overly fond of Broadway. So much so that he chirps and burbles tunes as sermon material. Have to work up to that one, folks...
*PGL = Pretty good liturgy =5 points/10 point scale
**ML = Mediocre liturgy = 2-3 points/10 point scale
Scale: 10 points = Excellent across the board. Said black did red, music A-OK, maybe even Latin in there! (St. Anthony's/Milwaukee earns this.)
0 points = You did not attend Mass. Find a later offering or go to Confession.
Prestigious west-suburban parish retains PGL* rating. 'Say the black, do the red' is in force except when the pastor decides to ignore the text of the Creed to assuage the feministas of his parish, most of which live in a nearby convent jammed with priest-wannabees. Music is marginally acceptable, still "4-hymn-sandwich," cantor-ette does not sing in tune, which is extremely irritating. Style of music is Barbra Streisand-esque; GIA books in pews. Pastor's sermons are the low point: not germane to anything, sentimentalist, low-to-zero doctrinal content. Limited congregational "Look!! I'm Praying!!" stuff at Our Father, subdued and brief "Greet-Your-Peace" routine.
Further west, another suburban parish earns ML** rating. This place has had a reputation for liturgical aberrations, none of which are abominable, all of which are grating. Music is competently performed with excellent cantor-ettes and decent keyboards guy. 4-hymn-sandwich with sour-milk "extra" words added to Ordinary and responses. Music generally awful; today we got cowboy-music recessional and utterly impossible-to-sing Psalm (although the cantor-ette handled it with ease); most of what I've heard is also Streisand-genre: abominable treacly OCP stuff. Congregation holds hands or does "Look, I'm Praying!!" hands-up at Our Father, fairly large production-number "greet your Peace" routine. Sermon today was......meh.
More to follow. Am curious about the rapidly-losing-members parish to the SE of here. Reports are that the pastor is ......ahhhhhh.........overly fond of Broadway. So much so that he chirps and burbles tunes as sermon material. Have to work up to that one, folks...
*PGL = Pretty good liturgy =5 points/10 point scale
**ML = Mediocre liturgy = 2-3 points/10 point scale
Scale: 10 points = Excellent across the board. Said black did red, music A-OK, maybe even Latin in there! (St. Anthony's/Milwaukee earns this.)
0 points = You did not attend Mass. Find a later offering or go to Confession.
'It Is Desperation, I Know....'
That's Rahm Emanuel's latest theme song, as he runs ads attacking (D) Congresscritters.
The markets where the ad will run, according to the DNC press release, are: Savannah, Palm Springs, Seattle, Nashville, Bloomington, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Little Rock, Columbus, Marquette, Grand Rapids and Medford.
Not one vertebrate-bearing (D) in Wisconsin. Nosirreee, bob!!
The markets where the ad will run, according to the DNC press release, are: Savannah, Palm Springs, Seattle, Nashville, Bloomington, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Little Rock, Columbus, Marquette, Grand Rapids and Medford.
Not one vertebrate-bearing (D) in Wisconsin. Nosirreee, bob!!
David Obey's "Termination" Commission
David Obey, who pretends to be Catholic, pushed the money to form a "life and death commission" into Porkulus.
Here's Part Two of the Obey plan for you--the Reichsminister fur Tod:
One troubling provision of the House bill compels seniors to submit to a counseling session every five years (and more often if they become sick or go into a nursing home) about alternatives for end-of-life care (House bill, p. 425-430). The sessions cover highly sensitive matters such as whether to receive antibiotics and "the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration."
It's no wonder that his Bishop told him not to show up for Communion...
Well, of course, timely dying (the Obey plan for you) will save money, right?
Wrong, bucko!!!
...only a portion of the money accumulated from slashing senior benefits and raising taxes goes to pay for covering the uninsured. The Senate bill allocates huge sums to "community transformation grants," home visits for expectant families, services for migrant workers -- and the creation of dozens of new government councils, programs and advisory boards slipped into the last 500 pages.
Over 60? Buy more ammo.
Have parents over 60? Buy more ammo.
Neither of the above? Buy more ammo.
(It took only ~100 armed Jews to fend off a battalion of Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto.)
HT: Grim
Here's Part Two of the Obey plan for you--the Reichsminister fur Tod:
One troubling provision of the House bill compels seniors to submit to a counseling session every five years (and more often if they become sick or go into a nursing home) about alternatives for end-of-life care (House bill, p. 425-430). The sessions cover highly sensitive matters such as whether to receive antibiotics and "the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration."
It's no wonder that his Bishop told him not to show up for Communion...
Well, of course, timely dying (the Obey plan for you) will save money, right?
Wrong, bucko!!!
...only a portion of the money accumulated from slashing senior benefits and raising taxes goes to pay for covering the uninsured. The Senate bill allocates huge sums to "community transformation grants," home visits for expectant families, services for migrant workers -- and the creation of dozens of new government councils, programs and advisory boards slipped into the last 500 pages.
Over 60? Buy more ammo.
Have parents over 60? Buy more ammo.
Neither of the above? Buy more ammo.
(It took only ~100 armed Jews to fend off a battalion of Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto.)
HT: Grim
Predictable: Feingold Wants CIA Investigated
Gee.
3,000 Americans get killed by Al-Quaeda on September 11, 2001.
Shortly thereafter, the President of the US announces that the US will be going after AlQuaeda leadership in retribution. United States citizens stand up and cheer, following the lead of the rescue-workers on the scene at the World Trade Center.
The Washington Post reports that announcement.
NOW Russ Feingold, LeftyWacko, doesn't like it?
Sen. Russ Feingold is joining the growing ranks of congressional members asking Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate a clandestine CIA program to capture or kill al-Qaida leaders. The program, which reportedly was kept from Congress for eight years at the direction of former Vice President Dick Cheney, was canceled recently by CIA Director Leon Panetta.
"We should not lose sight of the fact that the program itself, as authorized, was illegal, not to mention immoral and unwise," Feingold said in a letter to Holder. In the letter, Feingold encouraged Holder to "focus on holding accountable the architects of the CIA's interrogation program."
Umnnnh.....Rusty.....exactly what did you say about this when it appeared in the WaPo?
Something stinks, and it is not Cheney/Bush/CIA. It smells more like the Pelosi-Hate America combine of snarky twits.
3,000 Americans get killed by Al-Quaeda on September 11, 2001.
Shortly thereafter, the President of the US announces that the US will be going after AlQuaeda leadership in retribution. United States citizens stand up and cheer, following the lead of the rescue-workers on the scene at the World Trade Center.
The Washington Post reports that announcement.
NOW Russ Feingold, LeftyWacko, doesn't like it?
Sen. Russ Feingold is joining the growing ranks of congressional members asking Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate a clandestine CIA program to capture or kill al-Qaida leaders. The program, which reportedly was kept from Congress for eight years at the direction of former Vice President Dick Cheney, was canceled recently by CIA Director Leon Panetta.
"We should not lose sight of the fact that the program itself, as authorized, was illegal, not to mention immoral and unwise," Feingold said in a letter to Holder. In the letter, Feingold encouraged Holder to "focus on holding accountable the architects of the CIA's interrogation program."
Umnnnh.....Rusty.....exactly what did you say about this when it appeared in the WaPo?
Something stinks, and it is not Cheney/Bush/CIA. It smells more like the Pelosi-Hate America combine of snarky twits.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
ACORN in Honduras!
No wonder Dear Leader Obama supported Zelaya the Criminal Statist in Honduras.
They both use ACORN methods.
6:30PMLibertad Digital reports that the Honduran government found and seized from the president’s residence 45 computers that had the pre-programmed results for the referendum that Zelaya intended to carry about the day he was expelled from the country. (My translation: if you use it please credit me and link to this post)
One of the prosecutors involved with the case showed the media voting results from table #345 at the Instituto Técnico Luis Bográn, in Tegucigalpa, showing a total of 550 counted ballots, with 450 votes in favor of Zelaya’s proposal, 30 against, 20 blank and 30 null.
Or you could call it "Be Prepared." Maybe "Be PRE-Prepared."
Translation by Fausta.
HT: Legal Insurrection
They both use ACORN methods.
6:30PMLibertad Digital reports that the Honduran government found and seized from the president’s residence 45 computers that had the pre-programmed results for the referendum that Zelaya intended to carry about the day he was expelled from the country. (My translation: if you use it please credit me and link to this post)
One of the prosecutors involved with the case showed the media voting results from table #345 at the Instituto Técnico Luis Bográn, in Tegucigalpa, showing a total of 550 counted ballots, with 450 votes in favor of Zelaya’s proposal, 30 against, 20 blank and 30 null.
Or you could call it "Be Prepared." Maybe "Be PRE-Prepared."
Translation by Fausta.
HT: Legal Insurrection
Trial Lawyers' Bonanza in ObamaCare? Not Yet
Just because it's gone now doesn't mean it won't re-surface.
...Republicans yesterday managed to block a remarkable provision that had been slipped into the House leadership’s 794-page health care bill just before it went to a House Ways & Means markup session. If their description of the provision is accurate — and my initial reading of the language gives me no reason to think it isn’t — it sounds as if they managed to (for the moment) hold off one of the more audacious and far-reaching trial lawyer power grabs seen on Capitol Hill in a while.
Read the post at the link--it's not easily reducible--but the Greed Lobby almost scored with this one.
And it WILL be back, folks.
HT: Agitator
...Republicans yesterday managed to block a remarkable provision that had been slipped into the House leadership’s 794-page health care bill just before it went to a House Ways & Means markup session. If their description of the provision is accurate — and my initial reading of the language gives me no reason to think it isn’t — it sounds as if they managed to (for the moment) hold off one of the more audacious and far-reaching trial lawyer power grabs seen on Capitol Hill in a while.
Read the post at the link--it's not easily reducible--but the Greed Lobby almost scored with this one.
And it WILL be back, folks.
HT: Agitator
Ooooh. That Smarts
Ummmmnnnhhhh...
Thomas Hatfield, 30, pleaded guilty Thursday in Cincinnati to being a felon with a firearm after he accidentally shot off one of his own testicles May 4 with a .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun. He was banned from owning the gun because of his status as a convicted felon, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Thursday.
"Nuts!!", he said.
The judge awarded a lenient sentence.
Thomas Hatfield, 30, pleaded guilty Thursday in Cincinnati to being a felon with a firearm after he accidentally shot off one of his own testicles May 4 with a .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun. He was banned from owning the gun because of his status as a convicted felon, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Thursday.
"Nuts!!", he said.
The judge awarded a lenient sentence.
Dead Babies, Idiot Neighbors, and Brain-Dead Clergy
Very sad story of another dead baby.
In brief, baby is born with a stack of problems, "mom" doesn't follow through with doctor appointments, Child Services doesn't take extremely aggressive stance, baby dies.
Here's what the next-door neighbor has to say:
"She was really struggling," said Randolph's neighbor, 48-year-old Alice Johnson.
"Even though I am very sorry for what happened to (Parion), I don't really blame her," Johnson said.
Oh, it gets even worse. After the "mom" was charged with criminal neglect, this:
"I don't think what she did was a crime," Alice Johnson said. "What's gone is gone. And I wish better for her in the future."
Frankly, Alice Johnson is brain-dead.
Oh, by the way--no mention of "fathers" here, either, about which Roeser wrote yesterday:
Actually, the long-range solution to this starts with the clergy-the black clergy in the neighborhoods…the gesticulating clergy at Operation PUSH…the rhyming heroic-couplet black orators at community organizations…the cowardly Catholic clergy downtown. Essentially they have forsaken their mission.
And the mission should be to return to the precepts of Judeo-Christianity and campaign…stump as in a political campaign…for the black poor to get married. How long will it take for these people…and the media…to understand that the family-married couples with father and mother-are the foundation of society…and that without it, with fathers scattering their seed and disappearing…with teen-aged black girls themselves without a family who importune males to impregnate them so they will have a cuddlesome little bundle to love…is the source of the problem?
Yah, well. They're too busy with "social justice," even if they have to step over the dead babies to squeeze it out of the Federal Gummint.
In brief, baby is born with a stack of problems, "mom" doesn't follow through with doctor appointments, Child Services doesn't take extremely aggressive stance, baby dies.
Here's what the next-door neighbor has to say:
"She was really struggling," said Randolph's neighbor, 48-year-old Alice Johnson.
"Even though I am very sorry for what happened to (Parion), I don't really blame her," Johnson said.
Oh, it gets even worse. After the "mom" was charged with criminal neglect, this:
"I don't think what she did was a crime," Alice Johnson said. "What's gone is gone. And I wish better for her in the future."
Frankly, Alice Johnson is brain-dead.
Oh, by the way--no mention of "fathers" here, either, about which Roeser wrote yesterday:
Actually, the long-range solution to this starts with the clergy-the black clergy in the neighborhoods…the gesticulating clergy at Operation PUSH…the rhyming heroic-couplet black orators at community organizations…the cowardly Catholic clergy downtown. Essentially they have forsaken their mission.
And the mission should be to return to the precepts of Judeo-Christianity and campaign…stump as in a political campaign…for the black poor to get married. How long will it take for these people…and the media…to understand that the family-married couples with father and mother-are the foundation of society…and that without it, with fathers scattering their seed and disappearing…with teen-aged black girls themselves without a family who importune males to impregnate them so they will have a cuddlesome little bundle to love…is the source of the problem?
Yah, well. They're too busy with "social justice," even if they have to step over the dead babies to squeeze it out of the Federal Gummint.
"Shovel-Ready", Eh?
Here's the quote:
“This is the most shovel-ready rail project in the Midwest,” he said. “Maybe even in the United States.” --James Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin.
So how "shovel-ready" is it?
If stimulus money covers the Milwaukee-to-Madison line, Doyle said, construction could start in four years
Oh.
“This is the most shovel-ready rail project in the Midwest,” he said. “Maybe even in the United States.” --James Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin.
So how "shovel-ready" is it?
If stimulus money covers the Milwaukee-to-Madison line, Doyle said, construction could start in four years
Oh.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Senator Kohl! Senator Feingold!
Helllooooo!
Senators!
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
The Senate proposal is 99.44% sure to be pure crap, too. (Repeat several times.)
There.
Now, if they show up in Wisconsin, they can't say "We didn't know your thoughts." The best they can do is say "Well, screw you. WE wanted YOU to lose out."
And that will be the beginning of the revolution.
Senators!
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
Keep your mitts off our healthcare. The House proposal is pure crap.
The Senate proposal is 99.44% sure to be pure crap, too. (Repeat several times.)
There.
Now, if they show up in Wisconsin, they can't say "We didn't know your thoughts." The best they can do is say "Well, screw you. WE wanted YOU to lose out."
And that will be the beginning of the revolution.
ZING! Bang!
Great story from The Hatted One.
Q: 'Officer -- did you see my client fleeing the scene?'
A: 'No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.'
Q: 'Officer -- who provided this description?'
A: 'The officer who responded to the scene.'
Q: 'A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?'
A: 'Yes, sir. With my life.'
Q: 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?'
A: 'Yes sir, we do!'
Q: 'And do you have a locker in the room?'
A: 'Yes sir, I do.'
Q: 'And do you have a lock on your locker?' A: 'Yes sir.'
Q: 'Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'
A: 'You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.'
Any questions?
Q: 'Officer -- did you see my client fleeing the scene?'
A: 'No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.'
Q: 'Officer -- who provided this description?'
A: 'The officer who responded to the scene.'
Q: 'A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?'
A: 'Yes, sir. With my life.'
Q: 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?'
A: 'Yes sir, we do!'
Q: 'And do you have a locker in the room?'
A: 'Yes sir, I do.'
Q: 'And do you have a lock on your locker?' A: 'Yes sir.'
Q: 'Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'
A: 'You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.'
Any questions?
MORE Cost of Cap-n-Tax
Accomodating a CO2 limit imposed by Waxman-Markey's Cap-n-Tax bill may not be cheap. Not only will buying the carbon (coal, natgas) become more expensive as the nation is marched back to the 1950's; just getting rid of the damn CO2 that IS used will cost.
A lot.
University of Houston energy Michael Economides says in this recent study that CCS for just Kyoto Protocol-type CO2 cuts in the U.S. would require the drilling of 161,429 injection wells by 2030 at a cost of 1.61 trillion dollars — and there’s no guarantee that the CO2 would stay sequestered, much less accomplish anything for the climate.
That price tag doesn’t include the cost of capturing the CO2 at the point of generation, purchasing rights of way for pipelines, pipeline installation costs, liability insurance etc. Economides says the total cost may be as high as $1 trillion annually.
By the way, Waxman-Makey requires a helluvalot more CO2 reduction than Kyoto.
Add more zeros.
HT: GreenHell
A lot.
University of Houston energy Michael Economides says in this recent study that CCS for just Kyoto Protocol-type CO2 cuts in the U.S. would require the drilling of 161,429 injection wells by 2030 at a cost of 1.61 trillion dollars — and there’s no guarantee that the CO2 would stay sequestered, much less accomplish anything for the climate.
That price tag doesn’t include the cost of capturing the CO2 at the point of generation, purchasing rights of way for pipelines, pipeline installation costs, liability insurance etc. Economides says the total cost may be as high as $1 trillion annually.
By the way, Waxman-Makey requires a helluvalot more CO2 reduction than Kyoto.
Add more zeros.
HT: GreenHell
ObamaCare Poll
I think this is ObamaCare's high-water mark.
"By a 50-42 margin, Americans oppose the House of Representatives' bill introduced July 14," said S. Ward Casscells, M.D., vice president of external affairs and public policy and the John Edward Tyson Distinguished Professor in Cardiology at the UT Health Science Center at Houston. "This bill would call for most employers to sponsor health plans and would also create a Medicare-like plan for those under 65 who have no other health plan. The increased costs would be covered by increasing income taxes* on individuals making more than $280,000 and families making more than $350,000."
And that "who's taxed" line will be operative until just after the 2010 elections, when you can simply strike all the words after "taxes" above (at the asterisk, for you Lefty readers.)
HT: Gateway
"By a 50-42 margin, Americans oppose the House of Representatives' bill introduced July 14," said S. Ward Casscells, M.D., vice president of external affairs and public policy and the John Edward Tyson Distinguished Professor in Cardiology at the UT Health Science Center at Houston. "This bill would call for most employers to sponsor health plans and would also create a Medicare-like plan for those under 65 who have no other health plan. The increased costs would be covered by increasing income taxes* on individuals making more than $280,000 and families making more than $350,000."
And that "who's taxed" line will be operative until just after the 2010 elections, when you can simply strike all the words after "taxes" above (at the asterisk, for you Lefty readers.)
HT: Gateway
Another "We The People" Video
It's worth watching if only because this guy is a REAL public speaker.
One thought I had while watching: it would be a lot of fun to go to the various Congressional office buildings and blockade the Congressional lunch facilities.
Tell the assholes to walk to MickeyD's and pay for their own lunch--full price--just like we have to.
One thought I had while watching: it would be a lot of fun to go to the various Congressional office buildings and blockade the Congressional lunch facilities.
Tell the assholes to walk to MickeyD's and pay for their own lunch--full price--just like we have to.
The Theology of Obama-as-Retributive-Deity
Roger Kimball assembles the logic behind the necessity of portraying Obama as a deity.
He quotes James Piereson's Weekly Standard essay:
[Between 1963 and the election of Jimmuh Carter] the Democratic party was gradually taken over by a bizarre doctrine that might be called Punitive Liberalism. According to this doctrine, America had been responsible for numerous crimes and misdeeds through its history for which it deserved punishment and chastisement. White Americans had enslaved blacks and committed genocide against Native Americans. They had oppressed women and tyrannized minority groups, such as the Japanese who had been interned in camps during World War II. They had been harsh and unfeeling toward the poor. By our greed, we had despoiled the environment and were consuming a disproportionate share of the world’s wealth and resources. We had coddled dictators abroad and violated human rights out of our irrational fear of communism...
And the Democrat Party then appointed itself to inflict retribution on the United States for its offenses.
Read the Old Testament to better make the link. In alternate, Israel and its enemies were smote by God, sometimes extremely hard, for offenses. (For purposes of the (D) exegesis, it's better to skip over Job and for that matter, all that passion/death/resurrection stuff, too.)
So in the (D) theology of Punitive Liberalism, there must be a transcendent power (god) who is capable of administering punishment for offense.
His name is Obama.
HT: Hot Air
FedEx/UPS Game Goes Pay-to-Play
Well, well.
Perhaps my reliance on Muth was ......ahhhh......misplaced.
Basically, the American Conservative Union, the organization that brings us CPAC each year, appears to have involved itself in a “pay to play” expedition with FedEx and UPS
Not to mention Americans for Tax Reform...
In the linked post (and the integrated link from Muth), the history is inadequately addressed--for good reason. Seems that UPS is the rent-seeker, which would make Muth's analysis....ummmmnnnnhhhh....inoperative.
In 1981, UPS began air services, and in the 1990s it tried, legislatively and judicially, to be put under the RLA. In 1993 UPS said all of its operations, "including ground operations," are properly subject to the RLA "because the ground operations are part of the air service." FedEx supported UPS's efforts, even though the vast majority of UPS parcels never go on an airplane, whereas FedEx's trucking operations exist to feed its air fleet and distribute what it carries.
But UPS' efforts failed--so they turned around and are now trying to bring FedEx under the same governing law (National Labor Relations Act) as UPS is, with the intent of exposing FedEx to Teamsters' organizing efforts.
And David Keene (et al) may well have 30 pieces of silver to show for it.
HT: RedStates
Perhaps my reliance on Muth was ......ahhhh......misplaced.
Basically, the American Conservative Union, the organization that brings us CPAC each year, appears to have involved itself in a “pay to play” expedition with FedEx and UPS
Not to mention Americans for Tax Reform...
In the linked post (and the integrated link from Muth), the history is inadequately addressed--for good reason. Seems that UPS is the rent-seeker, which would make Muth's analysis....ummmmnnnnhhhh....inoperative.
In 1981, UPS began air services, and in the 1990s it tried, legislatively and judicially, to be put under the RLA. In 1993 UPS said all of its operations, "including ground operations," are properly subject to the RLA "because the ground operations are part of the air service." FedEx supported UPS's efforts, even though the vast majority of UPS parcels never go on an airplane, whereas FedEx's trucking operations exist to feed its air fleet and distribute what it carries.
But UPS' efforts failed--so they turned around and are now trying to bring FedEx under the same governing law (National Labor Relations Act) as UPS is, with the intent of exposing FedEx to Teamsters' organizing efforts.
And David Keene (et al) may well have 30 pieces of silver to show for it.
HT: RedStates
The Weakest (R) Links on ObamaCare?
From Kimberly Strassel's column:
...the White House has stepped up its Republican wooing (this week summoning Maine's Susan Collins, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, Tennessee's Bob Corker and Georgia's Saxby Chambliss).
These are the Senators that Dear Leader wants when and if Grassley walks away from negotiations.
Collins, of course. Murkowski, yeah probably. Chambliss? Yeah, but less "probable." Corker?
...the White House has stepped up its Republican wooing (this week summoning Maine's Susan Collins, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, Tennessee's Bob Corker and Georgia's Saxby Chambliss).
These are the Senators that Dear Leader wants when and if Grassley walks away from negotiations.
Collins, of course. Murkowski, yeah probably. Chambliss? Yeah, but less "probable." Corker?
ObamaCare: Huh?
I'm absolutely certain that this is a necessary expenditure.
To make sure all the existing local and state environmental public health agencies don’t feel lonely, the Democrats’ plan creates a new “Coordinated Environmental Public Health Network” to “build upon and coordinate among existing nvironmental and health data collection systems and create state environmental public health networks.”
I'm sure that you agree it's necessary, right?
Good.
Then define exactly what it means.
HT: Malkin
To make sure all the existing local and state environmental public health agencies don’t feel lonely, the Democrats’ plan creates a new “Coordinated Environmental Public Health Network” to “build upon and coordinate among existing nvironmental and health data collection systems and create state environmental public health networks.”
I'm sure that you agree it's necessary, right?
Good.
Then define exactly what it means.
HT: Malkin
We Didn't Need Those Jobs at Assurant Anyway...
It's only jobs. Piffle. Who needs jobs in Wisconsin, anyway??
Ryan: In 2013, let's take Assurant, a large employer in Milwaukee - 800 of which live in the district I represent - Assurant is a big, individual market insurer. After 2013, Assurant can no longer enroll people in their individual market plans. Is that correct?
Bjorklund: Yeah. They can enroll family members of people who are already in and they can choose to participate in the [federal government] exchange, where they will have a large ready market, many of whom will have subsidies behind their backs, and they can operate in there.
Ryan: Okay. Just to ask the question again: outside of the exchange, which is where they are right now, they can no longer enroll people in the individual market plans they have after 2013 if they want to continue the insurance they have outside of the exchange.
Bjorklund: They can continue to enroll people in the policies that they have operating. They cannot create new policies outside of that window, outside of the exchange, but they can choose to operate in the exchange.
Rep. Ryan had more questions, but was shut off.
Obviously, one wants to know whether "the exchange" will require policy terms which are substantially different from Assurant's current offerings. Would those differences (if any) require Assurant to re-engineer its company to comport with the differences? Would Assurant be able to retain its market advantages (currently, relatively inexpensive short-term coverage)?
We don't know yet; the Dear Leader's bureaucracy ain't answering questions.
HT: Sykes
Ryan: In 2013, let's take Assurant, a large employer in Milwaukee - 800 of which live in the district I represent - Assurant is a big, individual market insurer. After 2013, Assurant can no longer enroll people in their individual market plans. Is that correct?
Bjorklund: Yeah. They can enroll family members of people who are already in and they can choose to participate in the [federal government] exchange, where they will have a large ready market, many of whom will have subsidies behind their backs, and they can operate in there.
Ryan: Okay. Just to ask the question again: outside of the exchange, which is where they are right now, they can no longer enroll people in the individual market plans they have after 2013 if they want to continue the insurance they have outside of the exchange.
Bjorklund: They can continue to enroll people in the policies that they have operating. They cannot create new policies outside of that window, outside of the exchange, but they can choose to operate in the exchange.
Rep. Ryan had more questions, but was shut off.
Obviously, one wants to know whether "the exchange" will require policy terms which are substantially different from Assurant's current offerings. Would those differences (if any) require Assurant to re-engineer its company to comport with the differences? Would Assurant be able to retain its market advantages (currently, relatively inexpensive short-term coverage)?
We don't know yet; the Dear Leader's bureaucracy ain't answering questions.
HT: Sykes
Honduras: The Dictators vs. the Catholic Church
As Zelaya prepares to invade the country of which he was President, a German newspaper publishes an interview with the Roman Catholic Cardinal/Archbishop of the country.
And it ain't very pretty. Here's what Cdl. Rodriguez had to say:
...we are struggling against a very powerful, because very well-financed, campaign, which is being directed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- to the extent that agents of the Venezuelan secret services are active in the country and are organizing the supposed popular protests against the removal of President Manuel Zelaya. Weapons have also been brought into the country. Thank God that up to now more blood has not been shed. But not a day goes by without my receiving a death threat.
...the Catholic Church enjoys great moral authority in the country, but is determined to resist foreign powers again taking control of this country: this time, in order to "bolivarize" it. The agents are already working against the Church, using the same methods that we have come to know from Venezuela. Last Sunday, Mass could not be held in any of the three churches in downtown Tegucigalpa, because gangs had ransacked the churches and threatened the faithful.
Seems that our Dear Leader's pals, Zelaya and Chavez, are Statist dictators. Hmmmmmmmm.
In fact, that support raises questions in Honduras, too:
Asked by FAZ reporter Daniel Deckers why the American government has publicly supported Zelaya -- "in perfect harmony with Chavez and his followers" -- Cardinal RodrÃguez replied: "A lot of Hondurans would like to know that. But nobody can explain it to us."
There are three possibilities, I guess. Either the State Department is grossly un-informed about what's really happening in that country, or State and Dear Leader simply prefer to deal with Zelaya rather than the new guy ("he's an SOB but he's OUR SOB")--or it could be the answer we really don't want to hear--that birds of a feather flock together.
And it ain't very pretty. Here's what Cdl. Rodriguez had to say:
...we are struggling against a very powerful, because very well-financed, campaign, which is being directed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- to the extent that agents of the Venezuelan secret services are active in the country and are organizing the supposed popular protests against the removal of President Manuel Zelaya. Weapons have also been brought into the country. Thank God that up to now more blood has not been shed. But not a day goes by without my receiving a death threat.
...the Catholic Church enjoys great moral authority in the country, but is determined to resist foreign powers again taking control of this country: this time, in order to "bolivarize" it. The agents are already working against the Church, using the same methods that we have come to know from Venezuela. Last Sunday, Mass could not be held in any of the three churches in downtown Tegucigalpa, because gangs had ransacked the churches and threatened the faithful.
Seems that our Dear Leader's pals, Zelaya and Chavez, are Statist dictators. Hmmmmmmmm.
In fact, that support raises questions in Honduras, too:
Asked by FAZ reporter Daniel Deckers why the American government has publicly supported Zelaya -- "in perfect harmony with Chavez and his followers" -- Cardinal RodrÃguez replied: "A lot of Hondurans would like to know that. But nobody can explain it to us."
There are three possibilities, I guess. Either the State Department is grossly un-informed about what's really happening in that country, or State and Dear Leader simply prefer to deal with Zelaya rather than the new guy ("he's an SOB but he's OUR SOB")--or it could be the answer we really don't want to hear--that birds of a feather flock together.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
War is Peace. 'Stimulus' is Stabilization
With a straight face, they pull this crap.
Turns out the $787 billion "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (AARA) was not designed for full economic recovery, but rather to "stabilize" the downturn. That's the word from White House officials today, who held off-camera briefings with reporters on how the AARA is working so far.
"This legislation was designed to cushion the downturn," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "That's why we have always talked about this as one function of economic recovery."
When pressed about the change in terminology, Gibbs said he was not trying to temper expectations after the fact. "I can probably find 15 or 20 occasions when I said this in the lead up," Gibbs said, explaining that he had always defined the AARA as part of a "multi-legged stool."
HT Ace. We are of the same opinion: they know the damn thing will be totally ineffective, and are hoping to kick the can to 2010 with this.
Turns out the $787 billion "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (AARA) was not designed for full economic recovery, but rather to "stabilize" the downturn. That's the word from White House officials today, who held off-camera briefings with reporters on how the AARA is working so far.
"This legislation was designed to cushion the downturn," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "That's why we have always talked about this as one function of economic recovery."
When pressed about the change in terminology, Gibbs said he was not trying to temper expectations after the fact. "I can probably find 15 or 20 occasions when I said this in the lead up," Gibbs said, explaining that he had always defined the AARA as part of a "multi-legged stool."
HT Ace. We are of the same opinion: they know the damn thing will be totally ineffective, and are hoping to kick the can to 2010 with this.
Sure, Joe. Whatever You Say.
After you read this, you could become just as confused as Joe Biden, "the Sheriff."
Vice President Joe Biden told people attending an AARP town hall meeting that unless the Democrat-supported health care plan becomes law the nation will go bankrupt and that the only way to avoid that fate is for the government to spend more money.
...“Now, people when I say that look at me and say, ‘What are you talking about, Joe? You’re telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt?’” Biden said. “The answer is yes, that's what I’m telling you."
Whatever you say, Joe.
It is commonplace for wannabee dictatorships to promulgate "the Big Lie." "Global Warming" was, and remains, a Big Lie. So does the line that "without ObamaCare, the USA will go banko."
Somewhere down the line, not too distant, they will concoct the next Big Lie, and whatever it is, it will justify martial law.
Buy More Ammo.
Vice President Joe Biden told people attending an AARP town hall meeting that unless the Democrat-supported health care plan becomes law the nation will go bankrupt and that the only way to avoid that fate is for the government to spend more money.
...“Now, people when I say that look at me and say, ‘What are you talking about, Joe? You’re telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt?’” Biden said. “The answer is yes, that's what I’m telling you."
Whatever you say, Joe.
It is commonplace for wannabee dictatorships to promulgate "the Big Lie." "Global Warming" was, and remains, a Big Lie. So does the line that "without ObamaCare, the USA will go banko."
Somewhere down the line, not too distant, they will concoct the next Big Lie, and whatever it is, it will justify martial law.
Buy More Ammo.
Unemployment: Bad or Worse, Take Your Pick
We'd mentioned U-6, which is the broadest measure of unemployment. Its measure is far worse than the usually-mentioned U-3.
But there are even more scary numbers out there; I was reminded of this by a friend.
John Williams of Shadow Government Statistics specializes in removing these questionable tweaks to the government's statistical data to better align current numbers with the methodology used to gather historical data. After reviewing the data, Williams believes that "the June jobs loss likely exceeded 700,000."
...The more inclusive "U-6" measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers, jumped from 16.4% to 16.5%. But even this doesn't adequately capture the situation on the ground: Back in the Clinton Administration, the definition of discouraged worker was changed to only include those that had given up looking for work because there were no jobs to be had within the last year.
By adding these folks back in, William's SGS-Alternate Unemployment Measure rose to a jaw-dropping 20.6%. Separately, the Center for Labor Market Studies in Boston puts U.S. unemployment at 18.2%.
The author also mentions the now-expiring UC benefits, which will (cough) 'depress' consumer spending.
Yup. It's time to raise taxes, alright. 'Cause THAT will help a lot.
But there are even more scary numbers out there; I was reminded of this by a friend.
John Williams of Shadow Government Statistics specializes in removing these questionable tweaks to the government's statistical data to better align current numbers with the methodology used to gather historical data. After reviewing the data, Williams believes that "the June jobs loss likely exceeded 700,000."
...The more inclusive "U-6" measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers, jumped from 16.4% to 16.5%. But even this doesn't adequately capture the situation on the ground: Back in the Clinton Administration, the definition of discouraged worker was changed to only include those that had given up looking for work because there were no jobs to be had within the last year.
By adding these folks back in, William's SGS-Alternate Unemployment Measure rose to a jaw-dropping 20.6%. Separately, the Center for Labor Market Studies in Boston puts U.S. unemployment at 18.2%.
The author also mentions the now-expiring UC benefits, which will (cough) 'depress' consumer spending.
Yup. It's time to raise taxes, alright. 'Cause THAT will help a lot.
"Latina" on SCOTUS' Diversity
Iowahawk verges on succeeding to the throne of Mark Twain, or Mencken. SWALLOW YOUR COFFEE before reading this.
This is exactly the kind of wise, precedent-faithful Latina legal approach that I believe will be welcome by others on the Supreme Court bench, all of whom bring their own unique genetic legal wisdom and instinctual empathy. Justices Roberts and Souter for example, with their aloof, sexless, constipated, emotionally-stunted WASPy intellects and natural affinity for preppy white collar criminals. Justice Stevens has this as well, along with a keen grasp for the legal issues facing Americans with senile dementia. As an Irishman, Justice Kennedy enjoys a natural "gift of the gab" and poetically tragic alcoholism. Like you, I imagine that Justice Breyer can be kind of pushy and whiny, but we should also remember that as a Jew he is probably very skilled at cases that involve complicated numbers and math. To the casual observer, it probably seems absurd to have greasy Italian "goodfellas" like Justices Alito and Scalia working inside the legal system, but if we give them a chance they may eventually break the code of Omerta and finally turn state's evidence against their Cosa Nostra bosses. Yes, many have criticized Justice Thomas for being a self-hating "Oreo" and "Uncle Tom," but I like to think that deep inside him still lurks the the DNA of an angry Cadillac-driving streetwise Superfly, ready to show "The Man" that his pimp hand is strong.
Well, what the hell. Why not?
And there's a lot more where that came from.
HT: Ace
This is exactly the kind of wise, precedent-faithful Latina legal approach that I believe will be welcome by others on the Supreme Court bench, all of whom bring their own unique genetic legal wisdom and instinctual empathy. Justices Roberts and Souter for example, with their aloof, sexless, constipated, emotionally-stunted WASPy intellects and natural affinity for preppy white collar criminals. Justice Stevens has this as well, along with a keen grasp for the legal issues facing Americans with senile dementia. As an Irishman, Justice Kennedy enjoys a natural "gift of the gab" and poetically tragic alcoholism. Like you, I imagine that Justice Breyer can be kind of pushy and whiny, but we should also remember that as a Jew he is probably very skilled at cases that involve complicated numbers and math. To the casual observer, it probably seems absurd to have greasy Italian "goodfellas" like Justices Alito and Scalia working inside the legal system, but if we give them a chance they may eventually break the code of Omerta and finally turn state's evidence against their Cosa Nostra bosses. Yes, many have criticized Justice Thomas for being a self-hating "Oreo" and "Uncle Tom," but I like to think that deep inside him still lurks the the DNA of an angry Cadillac-driving streetwise Superfly, ready to show "The Man" that his pimp hand is strong.
Well, what the hell. Why not?
And there's a lot more where that came from.
HT: Ace
The Intellectualoids: Population Control
McCain recites facts that any well-read Catholic already knows regarding the Reichsminister fur Wissenschaft, Obama version.
The population control movement, which generated the anti-baby hysteria that Ehrlich and Holdren promoted in their books, was largely the brainchild of John D. Rockefeller III. Rockefeller funded much of the movement himself and through a number of family trusts and foundations, and he encouraged other foundations (Ford, Scaife, Carnegie) to do the same.
And for those who are historically-challenged, Rockefeller "persuaded" Notre Dame University to jump into their restricted gene-pool, too, back in the '60's. Kinda helps 'splain the bowing and scraping ND did for Dear Leader, no?
The population control movement, which generated the anti-baby hysteria that Ehrlich and Holdren promoted in their books, was largely the brainchild of John D. Rockefeller III. Rockefeller funded much of the movement himself and through a number of family trusts and foundations, and he encouraged other foundations (Ford, Scaife, Carnegie) to do the same.
And for those who are historically-challenged, Rockefeller "persuaded" Notre Dame University to jump into their restricted gene-pool, too, back in the '60's. Kinda helps 'splain the bowing and scraping ND did for Dear Leader, no?
College for Parents: Charlotte
Yes, I read Wolfe's book, and yes, it should be mandatory for parents-of-college-freshmen.
I was reminded of it by this article.
...the same public that devoured Wolfe's other novels resisted Charlotte for another reason: because middle-aged readers, many of them parents, found the book's truth-telling about what their daughters and sons on campus are really up to simply unbearable. They're not alone. “Every Saturday night,” confided a friend whose daughter was a freshman last year, “I'd think of her and worry about what she might be doing at college – and then I'd purposefully put the whole thing out of my head.” She – and a few million other mothers and fathers, too.
(I still think that Bonfire was a better book, regardless.)
I was reminded of it by this article.
...the same public that devoured Wolfe's other novels resisted Charlotte for another reason: because middle-aged readers, many of them parents, found the book's truth-telling about what their daughters and sons on campus are really up to simply unbearable. They're not alone. “Every Saturday night,” confided a friend whose daughter was a freshman last year, “I'd think of her and worry about what she might be doing at college – and then I'd purposefully put the whole thing out of my head.” She – and a few million other mothers and fathers, too.
(I still think that Bonfire was a better book, regardless.)
Voting Rights? Or Fed-Judge Wrong?
Dreher supplies the backstory to a Federal court's order to establish "single-resident" voting districts in Irving, TX.
Hispanics make up the largest single racial or ethnic group in Irving. But creating a new City Council district where a majority of voters are Hispanic is virtually impossible, city attorneys argued in federal court filings.
Their reasoning: About 60 percent of Irving Hispanics who are old enough to vote aren't citizens and thus can't cast ballots Dallas Morning News
Comments Dreher:
So now we have a federal judge ordering a city to dismantle the election system it democratically decided upon, because non-Americans -- many of whom are here illegally -- don't have someone of their ethnic background representing them
Get used to it, Rod. There'll be plenty more un-American stuff coming from the Feds shortly, even though the 5th Circuit will likely overturn this turd.
Hispanics make up the largest single racial or ethnic group in Irving. But creating a new City Council district where a majority of voters are Hispanic is virtually impossible, city attorneys argued in federal court filings.
Their reasoning: About 60 percent of Irving Hispanics who are old enough to vote aren't citizens and thus can't cast ballots Dallas Morning News
Comments Dreher:
So now we have a federal judge ordering a city to dismantle the election system it democratically decided upon, because non-Americans -- many of whom are here illegally -- don't have someone of their ethnic background representing them
Get used to it, Rod. There'll be plenty more un-American stuff coming from the Feds shortly, even though the 5th Circuit will likely overturn this turd.
Weigel, Critic of Hymns
George Weigel is a fellow whom I criticize on occasion--but he has some very good ideas about Catholic hymnody here.
Catholics [...] settle for hymns musically indistinguishable from "Les Mis" and hymns of saccharine textual sentimentality. Moreover, some hymn texts in today's Catholic "worship resources" are, to put it bluntly, heretical.
...The first hymns to go should be hymns that teach heresy. If hymns are more than liturgical filler, hymns that teach ideas contrary to Christian truth have no business in the liturgy. "Ashes" is the prime example here: "We rise again from ashes to create ourselves anew." No, we don't. Christ creates us anew. (Unless Augustine was wrong and Pelagius right). Then there's "For the Healing of the Nations," which, addressing God, deplores "Dogmas that obscure your plan." Say what? Dogma illuminates God's plan and liberates us in doing so. That, at least, is what the Catholic Church teaches. What's a text that flatly contradicts that teaching doing in hymnals published with official approval?
The first hymns to go should be hymns that teach heresy. If hymns are more than liturgical filler, hymns that teach ideas contrary to Christian truth have no business in the liturgy.
Next to go should be those "We are Jesus" hymns in which the congregation (for the first time in two millennia of Christian hymnology) pretends that it's Christ
There's more, and he's right.
Catholics [...] settle for hymns musically indistinguishable from "Les Mis" and hymns of saccharine textual sentimentality. Moreover, some hymn texts in today's Catholic "worship resources" are, to put it bluntly, heretical.
...The first hymns to go should be hymns that teach heresy. If hymns are more than liturgical filler, hymns that teach ideas contrary to Christian truth have no business in the liturgy. "Ashes" is the prime example here: "We rise again from ashes to create ourselves anew." No, we don't. Christ creates us anew. (Unless Augustine was wrong and Pelagius right). Then there's "For the Healing of the Nations," which, addressing God, deplores "Dogmas that obscure your plan." Say what? Dogma illuminates God's plan and liberates us in doing so. That, at least, is what the Catholic Church teaches. What's a text that flatly contradicts that teaching doing in hymnals published with official approval?
The first hymns to go should be hymns that teach heresy. If hymns are more than liturgical filler, hymns that teach ideas contrary to Christian truth have no business in the liturgy.
Next to go should be those "We are Jesus" hymns in which the congregation (for the first time in two millennia of Christian hymnology) pretends that it's Christ
There's more, and he's right.
Xoff: "The Nukes Are Coming!!! Run!! Hide!!!"
Christofferson is, if nothing else, an informative fellow. Some of the information is useful.
For example:
Legislation is being drafted for introduction in the Legislature in the fall, based on a package of recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming. That task force included consumer and environmental groups as well as utility representatives, and all agreed that task force members would support the entire package, which contains many solid recommendations to reduce Wisconsin’s carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. But it also relaxes the rules on nuclear plants.
We had examined that report. It is exactly what you'd expect from a Doyle 'task force': anti-everything that resembles industry, and pro-social engineering, by any means necessary. The task-force report was not unanimously endorsed by the members of the task force, and Wisconsin industry will be crippled (or will disappear) if some of the Report's recommendations are implemented.
You've been warned, thanks to Xoff.
On the other hand, Christofferson/Xoff also issues dire warnings which are pure foofoodust.
Because there is no federally approved site for nuclear waste, the three commercial reactors in Wisconsin have been accumulating three decades’ worth of waste in temporary storage facilities next to the reactors at Point Beach and Kewaunee, near Lake Michigan.
To build more reactors to produce more dangerous waste while we have no safe means of disposal is beyond irresponsible. It is unconscionable.
Umnnnhhh, Bill: now that we have a 30-year track record of ZERO accidents, spills, harm, or apocalypse with storage casks, please identify the "unconscionable" elements of continuing such methods. Seems to me that we DO have "safe means of disposal," except that they are not the one you favor.
That's not the only herring in Xoff's can.
Then there’s cost. It doesn’t make economic sense to build new nuclear plants, which is why the nuclear industry is asking Congress for $50 billion in subsidies in the form of loan guarantees. Taxpayers already heavily subsidize nuclear power, and in the event of a major accident, taxpayers will foot most of the bill.
Sure. We all know that politically-correct energy is cheap, cheap, cheap, right?
The Pelosi gang proposes to increase the cost of heating your home and hot water by ~$2,000/year through Cap-n-Tax. Wind-power is subsidized to the tune of $23.00++/megawatt-hour--about twenty times the nuke subsidy (FY2007.) And Corn-A-Hole chews up quite a few subsidy-dollars, too, Bill.
See if you can take off your Chicken Little costume and come up with actual argumentation, Xoff. It would be a nice change.
HT: FoxPolitics
For example:
Legislation is being drafted for introduction in the Legislature in the fall, based on a package of recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming. That task force included consumer and environmental groups as well as utility representatives, and all agreed that task force members would support the entire package, which contains many solid recommendations to reduce Wisconsin’s carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. But it also relaxes the rules on nuclear plants.
We had examined that report. It is exactly what you'd expect from a Doyle 'task force': anti-everything that resembles industry, and pro-social engineering, by any means necessary. The task-force report was not unanimously endorsed by the members of the task force, and Wisconsin industry will be crippled (or will disappear) if some of the Report's recommendations are implemented.
You've been warned, thanks to Xoff.
On the other hand, Christofferson/Xoff also issues dire warnings which are pure foofoodust.
Because there is no federally approved site for nuclear waste, the three commercial reactors in Wisconsin have been accumulating three decades’ worth of waste in temporary storage facilities next to the reactors at Point Beach and Kewaunee, near Lake Michigan.
To build more reactors to produce more dangerous waste while we have no safe means of disposal is beyond irresponsible. It is unconscionable.
Umnnnhhh, Bill: now that we have a 30-year track record of ZERO accidents, spills, harm, or apocalypse with storage casks, please identify the "unconscionable" elements of continuing such methods. Seems to me that we DO have "safe means of disposal," except that they are not the one you favor.
That's not the only herring in Xoff's can.
Then there’s cost. It doesn’t make economic sense to build new nuclear plants, which is why the nuclear industry is asking Congress for $50 billion in subsidies in the form of loan guarantees. Taxpayers already heavily subsidize nuclear power, and in the event of a major accident, taxpayers will foot most of the bill.
Sure. We all know that politically-correct energy is cheap, cheap, cheap, right?
The Pelosi gang proposes to increase the cost of heating your home and hot water by ~$2,000/year through Cap-n-Tax. Wind-power is subsidized to the tune of $23.00++/megawatt-hour--about twenty times the nuke subsidy (FY2007.) And Corn-A-Hole chews up quite a few subsidy-dollars, too, Bill.
See if you can take off your Chicken Little costume and come up with actual argumentation, Xoff. It would be a nice change.
HT: FoxPolitics
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Not A Sykes-Lanche, But...
Back in the day when Sykes linked to blogposts, he shone his light here. Once, folks.
It caused a SykesSpyke in readers--IIRC, about 1000 in two days.
The next-largest bounce?
This one.
Lotsa hits from the Middle East, India, and the Far East.
It caused a SykesSpyke in readers--IIRC, about 1000 in two days.
The next-largest bounce?
This one.
Lotsa hits from the Middle East, India, and the Far East.
OMG! AlGore Is Wrong?
S'pose that QueenNancy will reverse the Cap-n-Tax?
The study, which appears in Nature Geoscience, found that climate models explain only about half of the heating that occurred during a well-documented period of rapid global warming in Earth's ancient past. The study, which was published online July 13, contains an analysis of published records from a period of rapid climatic warming about 55 million years ago known as the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum, or PETM.
"In a nutshell, theoretical models cannot explain what we observe in the geological record," said oceanographer Gerald Dickens, a co-author of the study and professor of Earth science at Rice University. "There appears to be something fundamentally wrong with the way temperature and carbon are linked in climate models."
Good wording, so I'll borrow it.
There appears to be something fundamentally wrong with the way the Democrats in Congress link carbon, climate, and taxes.
HT: Ace via Riehl
The study, which appears in Nature Geoscience, found that climate models explain only about half of the heating that occurred during a well-documented period of rapid global warming in Earth's ancient past. The study, which was published online July 13, contains an analysis of published records from a period of rapid climatic warming about 55 million years ago known as the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum, or PETM.
"In a nutshell, theoretical models cannot explain what we observe in the geological record," said oceanographer Gerald Dickens, a co-author of the study and professor of Earth science at Rice University. "There appears to be something fundamentally wrong with the way temperature and carbon are linked in climate models."
Good wording, so I'll borrow it.
There appears to be something fundamentally wrong with the way the Democrats in Congress link carbon, climate, and taxes.
HT: Ace via Riehl
The Trolls
Interesting observation.
Some people have noticed a shift in our trolls. Whereas before they were baiting in a cocky, amused what-a-laugh manner, now they're angry and spitting venom. Why?
Because before they were confident this was all going to be a cakewalk following a coronation and now they see it all slipping away, coming apart, breaking up.
You hear that? That's the sound of dreams dyin', son. They wail like banshees when they die.
They're scared and their tone reflects that. They sound as worried and angry as I was in 2006 and 2008 and we know how that went.
A year ago we laughed at Obama, and now he's Captain Invincible? What, building on his triumphant record of gaffe after gaffe and failure after failure?
I don't think so. I think he's a smooth but gutless punk who's never had to handle adversity in his life and he's already cracking under the pressure of it.--Ace/Ace of Spades
He's right--and that was especially clear during the Palin dustup of the last 7 days.
Some people have noticed a shift in our trolls. Whereas before they were baiting in a cocky, amused what-a-laugh manner, now they're angry and spitting venom. Why?
Because before they were confident this was all going to be a cakewalk following a coronation and now they see it all slipping away, coming apart, breaking up.
You hear that? That's the sound of dreams dyin', son. They wail like banshees when they die.
They're scared and their tone reflects that. They sound as worried and angry as I was in 2006 and 2008 and we know how that went.
A year ago we laughed at Obama, and now he's Captain Invincible? What, building on his triumphant record of gaffe after gaffe and failure after failure?
I don't think so. I think he's a smooth but gutless punk who's never had to handle adversity in his life and he's already cracking under the pressure of it.--Ace/Ace of Spades
He's right--and that was especially clear during the Palin dustup of the last 7 days.
HSTruman Had His Problems, Too
Don't stop with the short hagiography, folks.
...President Harry S. Truman.
Shorthand: “Gutsy, tough, scrupulously honest Cold War hero.”
Truth: Gutsy and tough, yes. More corruption occurred under his administration than in all administrations from Warren Harding onward. One hundred sixty were fired from the Internal Revenue Service for corruption alone and an assistant treasury secretary was fired for involvement in seeing that wealthy Democrats skipped IRS enforcement. To clean it up Truman has his attorney general hire a special prosecutor. When the special prosecutor turned up material embarrassing to the AG, the AG fired him. Then Truman fired the AG.
Bitterly stubborn under attacks that he coddled Communists, Truman refused to fire Harry Dexter White from his undersecretary post at Treasury but allowed him to go to the World Bank. The Venona Report certifies that White was a Soviet agent and that Truman knew it.
Cold war hero? He sponsored the Marshall Plan, yes. But on his watch and largely because of his State Department’s ineffectiveness, aid to Chiang kai Shek was inexplicably cut off allowing the Communists to win and conquer China which has remained in Communist hands ever since.
I can tell you that dyed-in-the-wool (D)/Roosevelt voters viewed HST with disgust more often than not. Of the above few failures, his worst was to allow Mao to enslave China.
HT: Roeser
...President Harry S. Truman.
Shorthand: “Gutsy, tough, scrupulously honest Cold War hero.”
Truth: Gutsy and tough, yes. More corruption occurred under his administration than in all administrations from Warren Harding onward. One hundred sixty were fired from the Internal Revenue Service for corruption alone and an assistant treasury secretary was fired for involvement in seeing that wealthy Democrats skipped IRS enforcement. To clean it up Truman has his attorney general hire a special prosecutor. When the special prosecutor turned up material embarrassing to the AG, the AG fired him. Then Truman fired the AG.
Bitterly stubborn under attacks that he coddled Communists, Truman refused to fire Harry Dexter White from his undersecretary post at Treasury but allowed him to go to the World Bank. The Venona Report certifies that White was a Soviet agent and that Truman knew it.
Cold war hero? He sponsored the Marshall Plan, yes. But on his watch and largely because of his State Department’s ineffectiveness, aid to Chiang kai Shek was inexplicably cut off allowing the Communists to win and conquer China which has remained in Communist hands ever since.
I can tell you that dyed-in-the-wool (D)/Roosevelt voters viewed HST with disgust more often than not. Of the above few failures, his worst was to allow Mao to enslave China.
HT: Roeser
"Catholic" College Goes Libertine
The Warrior notes that Cardinal Stritch college (or whatever they call themselves now) provides health coverage for one's main squeeze--married or otherwise.
Another pile of.....whatever.....landing on the desk of the Archbishop-to-be-Announced.
Another pile of.....whatever.....landing on the desk of the Archbishop-to-be-Announced.
$86 Million for "Public Lands"? Maybe Not-So-Public
The DNR (Damn Near Russia) is poised to strike again.
Back a few years ago, the Republicans agreed to fund Wisconsin 'public-land acquisition' at the rate of $86 million/year in exchange for ensuring that those lands would actually be accessible by the public.
DNR was given authority to write rules governing access, but the legislative intent was to preserve "access," not limit it. Recreational uses such as hunting/trapping/fishing were to be allowed, if at all possible, subject to reasonable limitations.
But DNR doesn't like all those damn filthy taxpayers who PAID FOR the land tramping all over it...so:
During this year's budget process, the co-chairs of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee, state Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) and state Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), sought to jettison the delimiting statutory provision altogether, but the proposal was deleted after a howl of protests from various outdoors' and sports' groups, aided by Republican lawmakers
That was only Chapter One.
...DNR convened a 29-member citizens' advisory group to help write the rule, much like the advisory group impaneled for the recent rewrite of the state's NR115 shoreland zoning code.
As with that latter group, some members of the panel have privately fumed about the agency's behavior during the meetings, saying, off the record, the DNR wasn't listening to what members had to say.
DNR? "Not listening"? Be still, my heart!!
...George Meyer, himself a member of the advisory committee, also alluded to the possibility the rule process could be subverted.
"We will need to be continually vigilant on this issue," Meyer wrote. "There are hints that a separate legislative bill may be introduced deleting the Stewardship public access requirements and we are also anticipating that those opposed to public access for hunting, fishing and trapping will try to water down the access requirements by rules which will be going to the Natural Resources Board later this year."
The concerns are justified by DNR's track record.
"We learned that the statement '97% of all stewardship land was open to hunting' did not reflect the real picture," Nania said. "Many properties were open for hunting during a day or two of the deer season and closed to everything else the rest of the year." [Nania is Exec Director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Ass'n.]
Not only its track record. Also by "interim protocol" which, in effect, will limit land use.
...as long as the DNR is tightening restrictions and determining the merits of objections to those restrictions, the NRB won't get involved. For some, using that interim protocol would lead to more closed land - and for a lot more activities than just hunting - and thus far the agency seems to heading in that direction.
At $86 million/year of your money, it's worth keeping up with DNR's internal machinations.
HT: FoxPolitics
Back a few years ago, the Republicans agreed to fund Wisconsin 'public-land acquisition' at the rate of $86 million/year in exchange for ensuring that those lands would actually be accessible by the public.
DNR was given authority to write rules governing access, but the legislative intent was to preserve "access," not limit it. Recreational uses such as hunting/trapping/fishing were to be allowed, if at all possible, subject to reasonable limitations.
But DNR doesn't like all those damn filthy taxpayers who PAID FOR the land tramping all over it...so:
During this year's budget process, the co-chairs of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee, state Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) and state Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), sought to jettison the delimiting statutory provision altogether, but the proposal was deleted after a howl of protests from various outdoors' and sports' groups, aided by Republican lawmakers
That was only Chapter One.
...DNR convened a 29-member citizens' advisory group to help write the rule, much like the advisory group impaneled for the recent rewrite of the state's NR115 shoreland zoning code.
As with that latter group, some members of the panel have privately fumed about the agency's behavior during the meetings, saying, off the record, the DNR wasn't listening to what members had to say.
DNR? "Not listening"? Be still, my heart!!
...George Meyer, himself a member of the advisory committee, also alluded to the possibility the rule process could be subverted.
"We will need to be continually vigilant on this issue," Meyer wrote. "There are hints that a separate legislative bill may be introduced deleting the Stewardship public access requirements and we are also anticipating that those opposed to public access for hunting, fishing and trapping will try to water down the access requirements by rules which will be going to the Natural Resources Board later this year."
The concerns are justified by DNR's track record.
"We learned that the statement '97% of all stewardship land was open to hunting' did not reflect the real picture," Nania said. "Many properties were open for hunting during a day or two of the deer season and closed to everything else the rest of the year." [Nania is Exec Director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Ass'n.]
Not only its track record. Also by "interim protocol" which, in effect, will limit land use.
...as long as the DNR is tightening restrictions and determining the merits of objections to those restrictions, the NRB won't get involved. For some, using that interim protocol would lead to more closed land - and for a lot more activities than just hunting - and thus far the agency seems to heading in that direction.
At $86 million/year of your money, it's worth keeping up with DNR's internal machinations.
HT: FoxPolitics
Oh, Yes--Taxes DO Make a Difference
Of course the Briggs & Stratton closures/relocations have nothing to do with Wisconsin taxes.
Obama/Soetoro's decision to attempt taxing foreign profits at the second-highest corporate tax rate in the OECD will absolutely cause large corporations to abandon the USA. There's no question about it. I drove through Switzerland recently and saw the billboards that McDonalds had put up throughout the country. The pictures of fries and sesame seeds in the shape of Switzerland effectively raised a middle finger to the UK, since the advertisements were announcing the relocation of McDonalds's European headquarters that had formerly been based in London.
Lather, rinse, repeat:
Of course the Briggs & Stratton closures/relocations have nothing to do with Wisconsin taxes.
HT: Vox
Obama/Soetoro's decision to attempt taxing foreign profits at the second-highest corporate tax rate in the OECD will absolutely cause large corporations to abandon the USA. There's no question about it. I drove through Switzerland recently and saw the billboards that McDonalds had put up throughout the country. The pictures of fries and sesame seeds in the shape of Switzerland effectively raised a middle finger to the UK, since the advertisements were announcing the relocation of McDonalds's European headquarters that had formerly been based in London.
Lather, rinse, repeat:
Of course the Briggs & Stratton closures/relocations have nothing to do with Wisconsin taxes.
HT: Vox
U-6 in Wisconsin: 15%
Really neat interactive map (is THIS "Web 2.0"?) in the NYTimes shows the U-3 and U-6 unemployment numbers.
U-3 is what Governor Doyle and the Administration want you to hear.
U-6 is reality.
HT: BigPicture
U-3 is what Governor Doyle and the Administration want you to hear.
U-6 is reality.
HT: BigPicture
The Rating Agencies Get Hit
This will not be fun to watch, but it is well-deserved.
...litigation was being considered as an option against the Ratings Agencies.
And it has commenced. From the complaint:
The AAA ratings given by the agencies “proved to be wildly inaccurate and unreasonably high,” according to the suit, which also said that the methods used by the rating agencies to assess these packages of securities “were seriously flawed in conception and incompetently applied…”
“The ratings agencies no longer played a passive role but would help the arrangers structure their deals so that they could rate them as highly as possible,” according to the Calpers suit
CALPERS is the California Pension Board. Big big big bucks--but Calpers is not necessarily interested in recovering the ~$1Bn in losses they've taken. Read the rest.
HT: Big Picture
...litigation was being considered as an option against the Ratings Agencies.
And it has commenced. From the complaint:
The AAA ratings given by the agencies “proved to be wildly inaccurate and unreasonably high,” according to the suit, which also said that the methods used by the rating agencies to assess these packages of securities “were seriously flawed in conception and incompetently applied…”
“The ratings agencies no longer played a passive role but would help the arrangers structure their deals so that they could rate them as highly as possible,” according to the Calpers suit
CALPERS is the California Pension Board. Big big big bucks--but Calpers is not necessarily interested in recovering the ~$1Bn in losses they've taken. Read the rest.
HT: Big Picture
SCOTUS Hearings: Through the Looking Glass
We all know that it's a charade. Still, (with all due respect to our Legal Beagle friends), it's worth asking whether Sotomayor is reading from a random-text generator, whereby words may have meaning, if one thinks they do, according to the Queen of Hearts theory.
Sen. Feingold: I'd like to hear your thoughts a bit on whether you see any common themes or important lessons in the Court's decisions in Rasul, Hamdi, Hamdan and Boumediene. What is your general understanding of that line of cases?
Judge Sotomayor: That the Court is doing its task as judges. It's looking, in each of those cases, at what the actions are of either the military, and what Congress has done or not done, and applied constitutional review to those actions
Well, yah, I guess so.
Sen. Feingold: But what would be the general test for incorporation?....
Judge Sotomayor: One must remember that the Supreme Court's analysis in its prior precedent predated its principles or the development of cases discussing the incorporation doctrine
Is that obfuscation, asininity, or pure BS?
Judge Sotomayor: No, I was just suggesting that I do recognize that the court's more recent jurisprudence in incorporation with respect to other amendments has taken -- has been more recent
Perhaps her logic courses were all circular, or something.
HT: Arms/Law
Sen. Feingold: I'd like to hear your thoughts a bit on whether you see any common themes or important lessons in the Court's decisions in Rasul, Hamdi, Hamdan and Boumediene. What is your general understanding of that line of cases?
Judge Sotomayor: That the Court is doing its task as judges. It's looking, in each of those cases, at what the actions are of either the military, and what Congress has done or not done, and applied constitutional review to those actions
Well, yah, I guess so.
Sen. Feingold: But what would be the general test for incorporation?....
Judge Sotomayor: One must remember that the Supreme Court's analysis in its prior precedent predated its principles or the development of cases discussing the incorporation doctrine
Is that obfuscation, asininity, or pure BS?
Judge Sotomayor: No, I was just suggesting that I do recognize that the court's more recent jurisprudence in incorporation with respect to other amendments has taken -- has been more recent
Perhaps her logic courses were all circular, or something.
HT: Arms/Law
FoMoCo: Commercials and History
Moonbattery posts both a Ford commercial AND some very interesting FoMoCo history here.
GO!! Read it!! And click the commercial, too.
GO!! Read it!! And click the commercial, too.
Eugenics And the ObamaCare Connection
Seems that Reichsminister Holdren's endorsement of forced sterilizations is getting a lot more attention than the White House would like. For good reason: Holdren's Eugenecist colleagues have written (prospectively) about the shape and thrust of ObamaCare, and that shape and thrust is already being assembled due to David Obey (D-ScrewYou).
So, of course, the White House denied that Holdren ever said anything about it.
Yah, well....it's in print, folks, countersigned by the 'Prophets' Ehrlich (remember that we were all starved to death back in the '80's? Remember?)
Oh, but it's even more fun. Malkin reports:
Seems that Reichsminister Holdren fervently admires a fellow named Harrison Brown. Brown was a "Distinguished Member" of the International Eugenics Society, no less.
Here's a sample of Harrison Brown's "thought":
Let us suppose that in a given year the birth rate exceeds the death rate by a certain amount, thus resulting in a population increase. During the following year the number of permitted inseminations is decreased, and the number of permitted abortions is increased, in such a way that the birth rate is lowered by the requisite amount. If the death rate exceeds the birth rate, the number of permitted inseminations would be increased while the number of abortions would be decreased. The number of abortions and artificial inseminations permitted in a given year would be determined completely by the difference between the number of deaths and the number of births in the year previous
Yup. That's what he said. You can look it up.
G.K. Chesterton figured out the eugenics bunch's logic early in the 20th Century:
If man is not a divinity, then he is a disease. Either he is the image of God, or else he is the one animal which has gone mad
The Eugenics crowd took answer (B) for ....well,..........several hundred million dollars, when you figure the Planned Parenthood booty.
Here's the ObamaCare/Obey theory:
To view the problem of health rationing objectively, what we need is a concept of man as a colonial creature, similar to ants and bees which, like ourselves, are so highly specialized and so dependent on one another that no one of them can long survive alone. In the hives and homes of these bees and ants, no special care is given to the aged or infirm. Consideration is for the welfare of the colony as a whole. --Dr. George Crile, Jr., Head of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, quoted by Cal Thomas of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, September 1984
Your problem, dear reader, is that you never thought of yourself as a bee or ant. (Obama's problem is that he is not a Queen....but he'll find out later, I suppose.)
This is what the Intellectualoids propose. If they can ram it through Congress.
Buy more ammo!!
So, of course, the White House denied that Holdren ever said anything about it.
Yah, well....it's in print, folks, countersigned by the 'Prophets' Ehrlich (remember that we were all starved to death back in the '80's? Remember?)
Oh, but it's even more fun. Malkin reports:
Seems that Reichsminister Holdren fervently admires a fellow named Harrison Brown. Brown was a "Distinguished Member" of the International Eugenics Society, no less.
Here's a sample of Harrison Brown's "thought":
Let us suppose that in a given year the birth rate exceeds the death rate by a certain amount, thus resulting in a population increase. During the following year the number of permitted inseminations is decreased, and the number of permitted abortions is increased, in such a way that the birth rate is lowered by the requisite amount. If the death rate exceeds the birth rate, the number of permitted inseminations would be increased while the number of abortions would be decreased. The number of abortions and artificial inseminations permitted in a given year would be determined completely by the difference between the number of deaths and the number of births in the year previous
Yup. That's what he said. You can look it up.
G.K. Chesterton figured out the eugenics bunch's logic early in the 20th Century:
If man is not a divinity, then he is a disease. Either he is the image of God, or else he is the one animal which has gone mad
The Eugenics crowd took answer (B) for ....well,..........several hundred million dollars, when you figure the Planned Parenthood booty.
Here's the ObamaCare/Obey theory:
To view the problem of health rationing objectively, what we need is a concept of man as a colonial creature, similar to ants and bees which, like ourselves, are so highly specialized and so dependent on one another that no one of them can long survive alone. In the hives and homes of these bees and ants, no special care is given to the aged or infirm. Consideration is for the welfare of the colony as a whole. --Dr. George Crile, Jr., Head of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, quoted by Cal Thomas of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, September 1984
Your problem, dear reader, is that you never thought of yourself as a bee or ant. (Obama's problem is that he is not a Queen....but he'll find out later, I suppose.)
This is what the Intellectualoids propose. If they can ram it through Congress.
Buy more ammo!!
Nasty 'Capacity'
Well, if there's no rebound.......
The rate of capacity utilization for total industry declined in June to 68.0 percent, a level 12.9 percentage points below its average for 1972-2008. Prior to the current recession, the low over the history of this series, which begins in 1967, was 70.9 percent in December 1982.
68% is horrible--but it comports with what you can see by driving past manufacturing plants around the area and looking in their parking lots.
HT: CalcRisk
The rate of capacity utilization for total industry declined in June to 68.0 percent, a level 12.9 percentage points below its average for 1972-2008. Prior to the current recession, the low over the history of this series, which begins in 1967, was 70.9 percent in December 1982.
68% is horrible--but it comports with what you can see by driving past manufacturing plants around the area and looking in their parking lots.
HT: CalcRisk
Surprise! ObamaCare Includes Abortion on Demand
Not that anyone with an IQ larger than their shoe size is actually 'surprised.'
...pro-life members of Congress said the plan’s approach to abortion is essentially the same as the Freedom of Choice Act, which would strip states’ right to limit abortion, establish abortion on demand across the country and allow federal funds to pay for the procedure.
...Gingrey and Smith joined other pro-life members of Congress in support of Rep. Joe Pitts’ (R-Pa.) sponsorship of an amendment to the House version of Obama’s health care plan, which is slated for mark-up this week. A similar amendment offered by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to the Senate health care legislation banning federally funded abortions was rejected last week.
The reason for such an amendment is Dave Obey's "advisory committee".
“The legislation vests new, huge, sweeping powers in an Obama-appointed committee tasked with establishing what is called essential health benefits that all plans must include,” Smith said. “Of course all that comes after the enactment and the signing into law the legislation.”
Smith added that abortion will be included in those benefits. “What we want to stress here is this benefits committee – which is unelected, and there will be minimal oversight – when they put together their minimum benefits of which abortion absolutely will be included on demand,” he said
The game is on in the District of Criminals.
...pro-life members of Congress said the plan’s approach to abortion is essentially the same as the Freedom of Choice Act, which would strip states’ right to limit abortion, establish abortion on demand across the country and allow federal funds to pay for the procedure.
...Gingrey and Smith joined other pro-life members of Congress in support of Rep. Joe Pitts’ (R-Pa.) sponsorship of an amendment to the House version of Obama’s health care plan, which is slated for mark-up this week. A similar amendment offered by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to the Senate health care legislation banning federally funded abortions was rejected last week.
The reason for such an amendment is Dave Obey's "advisory committee".
“The legislation vests new, huge, sweeping powers in an Obama-appointed committee tasked with establishing what is called essential health benefits that all plans must include,” Smith said. “Of course all that comes after the enactment and the signing into law the legislation.”
Smith added that abortion will be included in those benefits. “What we want to stress here is this benefits committee – which is unelected, and there will be minimal oversight – when they put together their minimum benefits of which abortion absolutely will be included on demand,” he said
The game is on in the District of Criminals.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
HIgh School Porn Parties...
I didn't believe it either--except that Dreher is a journalist. He doesn't make stuff up.
Recently I had dinner with a friend who teaches in a private (secular) high school. He mentioned at one point how much he worried about his students, who were heavily into watching pornography. Notice the placement of the comma in that sentence. Porn is so ubiquitous and normalized among the (well-off) kids in his school that it's considered the usual thing to partake of it. My friend went on to say that the situation was the same at the well-known (and relatively conservative) Christian university he'd attended. Among the male students, he said, "The question really wasn't, 'Do you use porn?' but rather 'Do you feel guilty about the porn you use?'"
Recently I had dinner with a friend who teaches in a private (secular) high school. He mentioned at one point how much he worried about his students, who were heavily into watching pornography. Notice the placement of the comma in that sentence. Porn is so ubiquitous and normalized among the (well-off) kids in his school that it's considered the usual thing to partake of it. My friend went on to say that the situation was the same at the well-known (and relatively conservative) Christian university he'd attended. Among the male students, he said, "The question really wasn't, 'Do you use porn?' but rather 'Do you feel guilty about the porn you use?'"