PAUL HARVEY, R. I. P.

It is sad news to hear that Paul Harvey, of the the greatest American radio broadcasters of all time, has gone to the glory at the age of 90.

Mr. Harvey was a newsman, but an honest one because he did not hide his biases.

Mr. Harvey loved America. He did not hide that fact. And he did dispense with the news But one always knew where he stood on the news of the day.

Eventually Mr. Harvey began the wildly popular radio segment, "The Rest Of The Story" in which a chronological order of a person's life was talked about and that person's identity was revealed in the end. Some where really unbelievable.

Did you know that it was Mr. Harvey that coined the term "Reaganomics"? It was.

In an age of seemingly aloof and out of touch media, Mr. Harvey seemed to represent the so-called "Silent Majority" long before there was the advent of conservative talk radio. I remember beginning to listen to Mr. Harvey in high school in the late 1970s. It was his common sense that gave me a new insight to the world than the drab, dreary liberalism of the day. It was positive and uplifting and made me realize that we who are Americans are a great and worthy people.

Paul Harvey, you will be missed.

GOOD DAY!

Its War Against Success In America

Economist Larry Kudlow smacks down the commander-in-chief in the War Against Success In America, President Barack Obama in this epic post.
In reading this, I realize where that extra $13 bucks a week my dear leader is "giving" to me will go.
To pay higher electric bills. Not to mention higher sales tax, vehicle tax and income taxes here in the not-so Golden State.
By President Obama going after the productive people that make the economy run, he is augmenting the comment that he made earlier this year about the government being the only group that can bring us out of the economic slide. Of course, it is an economic slide in part because of Team Obama continuing to stoke fear and loathing among most Americans.
Mr. Kudlow is confident that the economy will recover, but nowhere near the four percent growth that Team Obama envisions in the budget's out years.
Lets note what has occurred in about one month since President Obama took the oath of office.
Congress passed a $789,000,000,000 so-called economic "stimulus" plan and President Obama signed it into law.
Now a $410,000,000,000 "omnibus" spending bill is winding its way through congress.
And just yesterday, Team Obama announced a $3,500,000,000,000 federal budget.
Since my pocket calculator does not go into the trillions, adding just the three items above on paper, the grand total so far is $4,699,000,000,000.
And, President Obama has to find some money somewhere besides using the same currency printers that the Zimbabwe government does.
So, make the so-called "wealthy" eeevvvviiiillll and take their money and pay for this government grab.
It is sad but true, but President Obama is the commander-in-chief in a war that he relishes.
The War Against Success In America.

Taxes And President Obama-Do Not Say That You Were Not Warned

Well, well, well!!!
President Obama today spoke to the nation and gave an outline of the budget that he will be proposing to congress sometime in April.
And it is a doozy.
And, it is chock-full of. . .TAX INCREASES!
I noted in an earlier post that one way President Obama is going to raise taxes is by letting the tax cuts that former President Bush 43 instituted in 2001 expire. That is called a tax increase on the cheap.
But, look at some of the tax increases that President Obama and the Democrats are going to force on the American people:



On people making more than $250,000:

1) $338 billion - Bush tax cuts expire
2) $179 billion - eliminate itemized deduction
3) $118 billion - capital gains tax hike

Total: $636 billion/10 years

Now, I know that a lot of people are going to say that people making $250,000 should pay a lot more in taxes. But, lets keep in mind that $250,000 could be combined income. In other words, a husband and wife, both professionals, work. One makes $175,000 a year. The other makes $150,000 a year. That makes $325,000 a year combined income. People that make that kind of money tend to be higher educated and also the type that may take some of that income and start a small business. Will they do that when their taxes are raised? When they can not use itemized tax deductions? (As an aside, a good reason to look at a flat tax).

What this does is create class envy and warfare.

To stipulate, the combined income of Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I comes no where near $250,000 a year.

But some day, we may. And under President Obama's tax hike scheme, we will pay a lot more. where is the incentive to get out of the middle class to upper middle class?

It is not there under President Obama.

What he will do is take the money from the "rich" and pay for the most massive increase in federal government control of the economy since to so-called New Deal.

Lets call this the Raw Deal.
And the following chart shows the breakdown by department of a $3,000,000,000,000 federal budget.
Note that the budget breakdown shows that the overwhelming amount of money the federal budget goes to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other non-defense spending. Sixty-percent goes to the above programs.
And, it will be the most productive people paying to increase the size and scope of the federal government.
Again, you were warned. You Hope and Change voters believed that you were going to get that middle class tax cut. You know, for the "95%" of "the middle class". Too bad that it will only be a whopping $13 a week. But, remember, you will be getting that whopping $13 a week because President Obama is just going to tax the "rich".
Hype and the Same, baby! Hype and the Same!

Terrific News! The Rocky Mountain News Folds!

Some more good news on the Dinosaur media front as a really big newspaper bites the dust as of tomorrow when the Rocky Mountain News publishes its final edition.

Now, Denver is like so many other cities in the United States. A one newspaper town. And that is more than likely hanging on a thread.

The Denver Post is the "winner" in this newspaper war.

In 2001, the News and Post essentially merged in what is called a working agreement. It had been how some newspapers stayed afloat. Anyway, both newspapers had their own editorial staff, but merged operations such as advertising and production.

But, those agreements basically end the war and the newspaper that begs to be part of it, in this case the News, is living on borrowed time. And now, no time.

Why do I celebrate these events?

I really do not celebrate as much as am amazed at the arrogance of those who have run these once great publications. The editors and the writers that seem to shun many who like if not love newspapers. Those with a clear agenda. We know who they are. And yet, they still want to blame such things as the economy rather than the fact that many advertisers are looking at such places as the internet to spend their precious dollars. That many potential readers are put off by getting propaganda rather than news or sports.

There are rumors out there that Rupert Murdoch is looking to buy the Los Angeles Times.

I hope that he does.

Mr. Murdoch would transform that newspaper and make it one that people want to read. That is why the New York Post is a must read newspaper. The cross-town rival tabloid Daily News is sinking to the same fate as the Rocky Mountain News.

Maybe I will get that last edition tomorrow to add to my collection.

Ash Wednesday And The Beginning Of Lent

Today, for those of us who are Christians, is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent.

It is the day in the Christian church year that we are reminded of our humanity and mortality. In the Episcopal church service, when one goes to the pastor to have the ashes imposed on his or her forehead, the pastor utters these words:

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Before that, the pastor will say this prayer.

Almighty God, You have create us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sigh of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

It is one of the mysteries of the Christian faith yet a poignant reminder that we need to remember at all times what we are: mere mortals.

For the next 40 days, Christians are asked to sacrifice and or recommit themselves to serve God. Many will give up something that they really love, like chocolate, as a spiritual discipline. Others will commit themselves to reading the Holy Bible with renewed commitment. Some will do both.

For me, I have decided that I will not eat meat on Friday. And fast completely on Good Friday. Also, I will commit to reading the spiritual devotional, Day By Day, put out by the Forward Movement of the Episcopal Church.

Many think of Lent as a bad thing. All about giving up.

I think of Lent as a time for renewal and giving more to God.

What do you think of Lent? What will you do to keep a good Lent? And, if you have never thought about what Lent means, would you think more about it and commit yourselves to get closer to God?

Remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.

Happy Days Are Here Again! And Another THREE Newspapers On The Bankrupcy Bandwagon!

UPDATED & BUMPED:

I forgot to mention this about some newspapers in Connecticut:

Meanwhile in New York, Journal Register Co., publisher of the New Haven (Connecticut) Register and other newspapers, won approval to continue paying basic operating costs, including employee salaries and benefits and newspaper delivery contracts. Lawyers representing lenders made no objections.

HT: Jammie Wearing Fool @ www.jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com

Wow!

Usually, this is a Friday feature here on Right View From The Left Coast.

But, only yesterday and today, three more newspapers are either filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or being prepped to be sold and or closed down.

The latest is the San Francisco Chronicle, the flagship Hearst newspaper.

To be fair, the Chronicle did not declare Chapter 11. No, they basically said that they will do more cuts and eventually put the newspaper on the block for sale. If no buyer is found, it could very well join its sister newspaper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer into the ash bin of newspaper history.

Two other newspapers did file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News, owned by the same parent company, went the Chapter 11 route.

Here is the way that the newspaper landscape could look in one year's time.

The west coast's largest cities could be newspaper less.

The Los Angeles Times' parent company, Tribune, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Because the Times was purchased by the Tribune company, it may end up being sold as part of the restructuring. Or, you guessed it. Closed.

The San Francisco Chronicle faces worse as there is no Chapter 11 in their future. Either stop the bleeding or be sold or closed.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is in the same boat as the Chronicle.

Again, to beat the dead horse, these newspapers have all capitulated as unbiased providers of news and information. They all have become lefty rags and many readers have left in droves.

The internet excuse is just that. An excuse.

People do like to actually read a newspaper. Sure, many young people do not, but they never have. Eventually, many people grew into reading newspapers. I am in the rare category of liking both the actual paper and the immediacy of the internet.

When newspapers lose credibility with many readers, they seek alternatives. And, many never go back.

It is not just in news and or editorial content.

It is the way many newspapers cover sports. Or the arts and entertainment. There in larger newspapers seems to be an agenda. Not information that one can use. An agenda.

And it appears that many, if not most, of these newspapers are simply going to go down in their lefty ship rather than change what they are doing and how it is losing readers and advertisers.

Yes indeed, happy days are here again!

I wonder if there will be a fire sale of all those Obama election extras when these newspapers do go under?!

The Biggest Lie Of President Obama's Speech Last Night

Not because I believe in bigger government - I don't.
President Barack Obama before a joint session of congress
on February 24, 2009

Read that again and again between now and election day, 2010.
Because if you believe that, then you have to believe that President Obama, in trying to nationalize health care, institute cap and trade, regulate the banking industry, and spend our way to prosperity on the backs of the so-called "wealthy" is not increasing the size of the federal government before our very eyes.
It is insulting to every American, those that did and those of us that did not vote for President Obama, that he dared to utter those nine words with a straight face.
This shows the charade that President Obama is trying to pull off. Making you believe that all the government intervention in the economy, in health care, in the environment, is somehow not bigger government.
The worst part. I think that President Obama really believes that. He really believes that he is not advocating big government.
Again, keep those nine words in mind from now until November 2, 2010. That is when the American people will be able to judge if that was a bunch of hooey or the truth. We shall see.

The Speech, The Reaction

Confession up front.
I did not watch President Obama's speech to a joint session of congress. Nor did I watch the Republican response from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
That said, here is a transcript of the president's specch.
And the response from the Louisiana governor.
For once, I offer no commentary on either performance.
So, I thought I would link to some people on the right side of the blogosphere and their reactions.

http://spectator.org/blog
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/
http://weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp
http://www.gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/
http://rsmccain.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the links, and let me know what you thought of both the president and governor tonight.

Taxing Dope, Another Left-Wing Brainstorm

I suppose now that Gov. Benedict Arnold believes that tax-hikes are the cure-all for all that ails California, he might want to take note of this brainstorm from one of his Democrat friends in the state assembly.
Why treat marijuana like alcohol and of course, tax it royally.
This brainstorm is courtesy of Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) who thinks that this is some cutting-edge issue along the lines of same-sex marriage, medical marijuana. Too bad he does not throw Prop 13 in there as the beginning of the tax-cutting movement that propelled Ronald Reagan to the White House is 1980.
But, a real great point made by The Other McCain is that it is better to keep marijuana illegal because once the government gets it grimy paws on it, they will treat it like any other "sin" tax. And we all know how well that has worked out.
There is no evidence that this back door legalization of marijuana would do anything to curtail crime and illegal activity. But, advocates do not want to be bothered by facts. These advocates are looking at marijuana as another revenue stream.
Lets get real.
The Democrats that all but run California and the enabler-in-chief, Gov. Benedict Arnold, proved that they do not have the stomach to make substantial cuts in government in the not-so Golden State. If that were to happen, we would not hear such rubbish such as legalizing marijuana. And, it would not end there.
In fact, the state is like the drug abuser, looking for the next fix.
For that reason alone, it is best to keep marijuana illegal.
Too bad such brain surgeons as Assemblyman Ammiano are not thinking of ways to cut the size and regulatory nature of government.

Sen. Bunning's Other Diagnoses

Kentucky Republican senator, Jim Bunning, may have been hit by a base hit one too many times when he was a major league pitcher.
That is all I can explain for such a thoughtless comment about supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her battle with pancreatic cancer.
But, go further into the story.
Where Sen. Bunning takes out a lot of fury on National Republican Senate Committee chair, Sen John Cornyn for apparently willing to spend precious funds defending Sen. Arlen Specter and Sen. Oylmpia Snowe and their senate seats.
If this is true, then Sen. Cornyn has some splainin to do.
The last thing that Sen. Cornyn needs is a controversy to irritate the conservative base. Sen. Cornyn needs to have that base energized going into 2010 and the mid term elections. Also, it sets up a bad precedent of picking candidates before they are vetted by the voters. Under the leadership of Karl Rove, that happened more than once and one of the beneficiaries of that was none other than Sen. Specter in his reelection bid in 2004.
While Sen. Bunning deserves an ejection for his heartless comment on Justice Ginsburg, he deserves to have the charges against Sen. Cornyn answered. And so do all Republicans.

Is It A Racist Or Stupid Cartoon?

This editorial cartoon appeared in the pages of Americas great newspaper, the New York Post, this past Wednesday.
When I first saw this cartoon on Wednesday, I did not get it. I had to look, and look. My first thought once I think I got it was that congress is about as smart as a chimp and either or could have written the so-called economic "stimulus" bill.
But, how wrong I was. So wrong.
According to a man that should be in jail, Al Sharpton, it is a "racist" cartoon.
Why, you may ask, did this cartoon raise the ire of the original race huckster?
Because the chimp represents President Obama according to the race huckster.
Really?
I really have thought that it is a stretch, but I did listen to Juan Williams on Fox News Sunday. And this is a transcript of the following panel discussion:

WILLIAMS: I don't see how you can get around it. I mean, it's unbelievable to me. They say in the picture well, it's not necessarily the case that this chimpanzee represents Barack Obama , but then who does he represent?
I guess the idea is, oh, all politicians are a bunch of monkeys playing around with the stimulus package, or Congress writes the bill, not the president. But I think Barack Obama is identified -- he's the personification of the stimulus package in the country.
And to have this image of him as a monkey -- I mean, it appeals to -- it appeals to the most base racial stereotypes that we as Americans have gone through.
So the way it hit me was I wanted to excuse it. I wanted -- in my mind, because I think the New York Post is a fine, funny newspaper, and that cartoonist has every right to make fun of the president or anybody else, but it did strike me as racial.

Unlike Mr. Sharpton, Mr. Williams makes sense. I took another look at the cartoon. But the more I look at it, the more that it is a stupid cartoon.
A good cartoonist would have had something on the chimp, that said "congress" or "congressional Democrats" Usually, the cartoonist would indicate what each group in question represented.
But, by not clearly indicating that the chimp represented congress, the cartoonist left way to much to interpretation. And that means it is a lousy cartoon.
FTR, I have seen worse cartoons in the Post. Usually all on Page Six, the gossip page.
By letting race hucksters like Mr. Sharpton get any traction on this, the cartoon missed the point. And the Post did the right thing in issuing an editorial apology to anyone genuinely offended by the cartoon. But it rightfully took the race huckster crowd to task and rightfully so.
I think that it was a lousy cartoon because I do not think many who looked at it got it. And, there is potential that people could see it as a veiled racial attack.
In the future, for this cartoonist, it is important to make clear in someway what is meant so that there is not this kind of interpretation in the future.

SHOCKER! President Obama To Tax "Rich" And End War In Iraq

As if any of this is a surprise, President Obama is set unveil the first federal budget of his presidency. That budget will include, shock of all shocks, tax increases and "winding down" the War Against Islamofacist Terror in the Iraq theatre.
And, as noted in an earlier post, President Obama will allow the tax cuts congress approved in 2001 and then President Bush signed to expire.
So, not only will the president let the tax cuts expire, but add more of a tax burden to those that the tax cuts helped.
BRILLIANT!
One of the ways that President Obama wants to bring down the $1,000,000,000,000 deficit is by eliminating waste and inefficiency in government.
Good luck with that one, Barack!
Since congress passed the so-called economic "stimulus" bill, it will be chock-full of waste and inefficiency because much of the funding is for federally approved programs. And we all know how great those programs are run.
Tomorrow, President Obama will host-I kid you not-a "summit" on "fiscal responsibility" with a select group of business and political leaders.
Now, funding a so-called economic "stimulus" plan that is nothing more than putting a Democrat wish list under the guise of economic "catastrophe" is not exactly my idea of fiscal responsibility.
Nor is the potential of another slew of federal dollars to "bailout/rescue" banks and American automakers that are on the brink of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Not to mention a bailout of many American homeowners that should have never bought a home in the first place.
Can anyone, I mean anyone, really tell the public that there will not be fraud in these federal government schemes? Can anyone continue to justify the federal government handing more money to banks that have failed to account for what they did with $350,000,000 already doled out? Or the federal government bailing out American automakers that have had a two-fold problem? The first problem is that the American automakers are building cars that the American consumer does not want. And secondly because of federal meddling and bureaucracy that stifles potential innovation.
But, lets zero in on the two highlights of the Obama administration trying to tame an out of control deficit.
Taxes.
In another one of those Democrat innovations on how to raise taxes, it appears that the Obama administration is going to tax the investment income of hedge fund managers. That means that it would no longer be under capital gains taxes, which are currently at 15%. Making it regular income would more than likely put those in the highest tax bracket, 35%.
Since many hedge fund managers are Democrats and or allied with Democrats, I do not see this as a good thing. And, neither should those hedge fund managers.
Coupled with letting the 2001 Bush tax cuts lapse and go back to 2000 levels, that means that those who would be likely to begin a business, take the risks that come with starting a business will take a pass. They will be busy working to pay a lot in taxes.
But, the myth that the cost of the War Against Islamofacist Terror is the cause of all the deficit mess will be put to the test.
By cutting forces in Iraq, putting some but not all, in Afghanistan, we are supposed to save a lot of money.
True, because the Obama administration is not just transferring all troops from one war zone to another, some will come home.
But, the need to replace weaponry that has been lost in both the Afghanistan and Iraq theatres will be high priority.
Except, not for the Obama administration.
Another real cost will be if there is another, and yes that word, catastrophic, terrorist attack. If that happens and because of cost-cutting at the Defense department and or Homeland Security, how would the Obama administration like to explain that?
While so many Americans bought in to the "Hope and Change" feel-goodism of the Obama candidacy, the Obama presidency has been nothing but Doom and Gloom. And the more that President Obama talks about the real economic pain that we all feel, by not discussing the reality that we will come out better on the other side means that the reality of the Obama administration is "Hype and the Same".
And, right from the Democrat handbook, throw in as much class warfare as possible and it is a recipe for disaster.
But, don't worry.
All we are going to do is tax those eeeevvviiiiilllll "rich" people and "wind down" our war in the Iraq theatre.
And all will be well and we can all sing Kumbaya.
Sorry, I just do not think this road is a good one. We tried it once with President Franklin Roosevelt and it took a war to get us out of that economic disaster. I do not think that a President Obama has the stomach for another war of that kind of dimension to get out from under this economy, the "worst" since, oh well, World War II.
Hype and the Same, baby! Hype and the Same!

Abel Maldonado, Political Whore

California state senator, Abel Maldonado, is nothing but a political whore for caving in for his 30 pieces of silver and being the decisive vote that foisted $13,000,000,000 in tax hikes on the citizens the not-so Golden State of California.

Sen. Whore Maldonado is supposedly a Republican. But, along with former Republican senate leader Dave Codgill, gave the tax-and-spend Democrats cover and necessary votes to once again pass the buck of excessive spending that has been the hallmark of California for many years.

In return for Sen. Whore Maldonado being the decisive vote, for the 30 pieces of silver, there will be a vote, again, for an open primary, ban legislative pay increases in deficit years and eliminate the 12 cent hike is gasoline taxes.

Lets take the open primary.

If there is one thing that Democrats and Republicans mostly agree on it is to keep the primaries up to each party. If both want only registered party members to vote, fine. If one or both want to open up to non-party members, fine. But, "moderates" like Sen. Whore Maldonado want an open primary so that "moderates" will win in both Democrat and Republican primaries. Supposedly. The solution to that was passage of Proposition 11 that takes the drawing of legislative lines away from the legislature and to an independent commission. But, "moderates" like Sen. Whore Maldonado want to dilute the parties even further with the open primary. And, that is not good for democracy. Strong political parties produce strong ideas and compete for the votes of the people. If we want to elect technocrats, then get rid of the parties all together.

Banning legislative pay increases when the state is in a deficit is nothing but a political gimmick.

Eliminating the 12-cent gasoline tax hike is a good thing. But, all it ended up doing was changing around to adding 0.25% more to the state income tax.

What was allowed to go ahead to accomplish $13,000,000,000 in tax hikes are the following:

– Increases the state sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar, generating $5.8 billion through the next fiscal year.
– Raises the fee for licensing vehicles to 1.15 percent of market value, up from the current .65 percent. The move is projected to generate $1.5 billion. About $602 million of that would be dedicated to local law enforcement.
– Raises the state personal income tax rate by 0.25 percent, generating $3.7 billion in the next fiscal year. If the state receives more than expected from the federal government, the increase in the rate would be reduced to 0.125 percent.
– Reduces the amount taxpayers can claim on a dependent care credit to the federal level of $100 instead of $300, saving $1.4 billion.

So, to eliminate a real in-your-face tax, the 12-cent gasoline tax hike, there is the phantom taxes that taxpayers will be forced to pay over time.

Most egregious is the sales tax hike that, as noted, in Los Angeles county, will be 9.25%.

What Sen. Whore Maldonado has done is proven what happens when "moderates" get involved. Because they have little if any principles, they are always willing to cut a deal instead standing up against what they have to know is not a solution but passing the buck. Because Sen. Whore Maldonado did nothing to promote real budget and tax reform, more borrowing is being allowed that will only keep the problems going, and going, and going. Something like the big government Energizer bunny. And, more and more of those who can make California a great place will leave for other states. States that are growing. States that are not regulatory strangleholds. States that keep taxes low. States that reward those willing to take the risk of entrepreneurship. Because, thanks to those like Gov. Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sen. Whore Maldonado, they are just speeding up the emigration.

I hope that Gov. Benedict Arnold, Sen. Whore Maldonado, Sen. Codgill and Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) are happy. And also the Republican assembly leader Mike Villines, Roger Niello and Anthony Adams are happy too.

A recall is a waste of time as the 2010 election looms. Gov. Benedict Arnold can not run for reelection. The career of those who caved is on borrowed time. If they are up for reelection, they will face primary challengers. And rightfully so.

When Republicans run as small, efficient government conservatives and then vote to maintain the status quo and depend on the federal government to bail the state of California out, they deserve a real butt-kicking.

So, Sen. Whore Maldonado, enjoy your victory. It will be your long-term downfall. And possibly a black-eye for the California Republican party.

Gov. Palin's Mythical Tax Problem

My favorite lefty commenter on this site, Right Wing Snarkle, pointed out a story in the Anchorage Daily News that Gov. Sarah Palin owed back taxes on per diem expense claims that she made while she was at her residence in her home town, Wasila.
Here is Mr. Snarkle's comment verbatim:

Hey, does your latest heartthrob have her own unpaid-back-taxes problem?
Gov. Sarah Palin must pay income taxes on thousands of dollars in expense money she received while living at her Wasilla home, under a new determination by state officials.
The governor's office wouldn't say this week how much she owes in back taxes for meal money, or whether she intends to continue to receive the per diem allowance.
As of December, she was still charging the state for meals and incidentals."The amount of taxes owed is a private matter," Sharon Leighow, Palin's spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. "If the governor collects future per diem, those documents would be a matter of public record."
So, she gets paid to eat at home. What a freeloader - Who woulda thought?
But I guess it's OK if you're a repub...

No, it is not OK if one is intentionally not paying taxes.
But, here is a part of the story that Mr. Snarkle failed to point out:

The payments became a touchy issue for Palin last fall when she was running for vice president and campaigned as a budget watchdog.
The Washington Post published a story in mid-September that said she had charged the state almost $17,000 for meals and incidentals while staying in her own home.

Now, here is the money paragraph:

"At the Governor's request, we reviewed the situation to determine whether we were in full compliance with the pertinent Internal Revenue Service regulations," Kreitzer wrote. "As a result of this review, we determined that per diem needs to be treated as income, requiring a revision of W-2 forms for any affected employees."

In other words, when the revelation came out, Gov. Palin asked the state administration commissioner to make a determination.
Gov. Palin did not shirk the responsibility. She asked for and got a clarification. And will revise the tax forms and pay the appropriate taxes.
Unlike the Treasury Secretary, Turbo Tax Cheat Tim Geithner, Gov. Palin did not use Turbo Tax and simply ignored certain questions. Nor did Gov. Palin take a chauffeured limo for years and not count that a la Tom Daschle.
So, Mr. Snarkle, no, it is not the same situation. Not in the least. And it would help if you would include all the facts before going on a rant.

Calculate The Cali Democrat Tax Orgy

The Sacramento Bee has an interesting little chart that one can put in the figures and determine how much more one will pay if one Republican state senator buckles and agrees to "Republican" governor Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat leaders $15,000,000,000 tax hike.
Under the figures that I provided for Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I, we would have to fork out an additional $442 dollars to help perpetuate the big government that neither the Democrat legislative leaders nor "Republican" governor Benedict Arnold want to seriously reform and or make cuts.
The calculator does not take in the fact that the sales tax in Los Angeles county, the highest in the United States after Crook county in Illinois, will be 9.25%. And, it does not add the fact that many items not currently part of the state sales tax will become taxed.
Thus, that $442 is just the tip of the iceberg.
Consider grocery shopping.
While most food items are not taxed, some may be added to the sales tax.
How about clothes shopping.
That is already taxed.
Many people need to get new clothes for work. Say one has to spend a couple of a hundred dollars to update a professional wardrobe. Well, maybe they will think twice, especially here in Los Angeles county.
If you are a pet owner, prepare to pay sales tax to take Fido or Fluffy to the vet. Does anyone think that people will not think twice about that extra expense when they are already on a tight budget? And they have to pay a 9.25% sales tax on every dollar? A $250 vet bill will become a $273.12c bill. A senior citizen that is already on a fixed income and has a pet companion may not be able to afford that extra nearly $25 expense.
And, there is a tax surcharge in the works for all state income tax payers.
It is depressing to see the initial cost of what a $15,000,000,000 will cost just this average California family.
It is also all the more reason that Republicans need to stand firm and not give in to the Democrat tax orgiests and the enabler-in-chief, Gov. Benedict Arnold.
BTW, if you are here in the not-so Golden State, one potential wobbler is Sen. Abel Maldonado. Send him an e-mail or give him a call to let him know to Just Say NO! to this abomination. He needs to know that the majority of Californians do not support this scam being forced by Democrat legislative leaders and enabler-in-chief Gov. Benedict Arnold.
Use the calculator and see the cost this will be for you. Then get mad. Then take action.

California GOP Senators Grow A Spine

In the ongoing budget drama here in the not-so Golden State of California, state senate Republicans ousted their leader, Sen. Dave Cogdill, who was negotiating to raise taxes and "cut" the state budget to offset a $42,000,000,000 deficit.
The state senate GOP elected Sen. Dennis Holligsworth to be the new leader. Sen. Hollingsworth is a tax payer friend as he has consistently opposed the scam being pushed by "Republican" Gov. Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislative Democrats.
Here are some nuggets from last night's senate session:

"We need to stop treating the taxpayers across California like a personal ATM," Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) said from the Senate floor, hands pounding the air to drive home his point.

"This is a balanced package," countered Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), fixing her gaze on the Republicans across the aisle. "It asks everybody to pay a little bit more in a variety of ways."

"This budget is not fair and balanced," scoffed Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater).
(A little plug for Fox News Channel?)

But, the catalyst for the senate Republicans to replace their leader came from radical Democrat Sen. Mark Leno from-where else-San Francisco:

"You ought to follow your leader or choose a new one."

Hey, thanks for the advice, Sen. Leno.
It is amazing that a radical Democrat state senator had more wisdom than the Republican caucus to get a new leader in the negotiation process to promote more government spending cuts and tax cuts that will help grow the state economy, not the state government.
It is time for the "Republican" governor and legislative Democrats to get off their high horse and start to address the real problem.
That is the state government is too large to begin with and total reform is what is needed to get out of this mess.
The current "cut", tax and borrow approach is what keeps getting California in these messes to begin with.
Maybe now with a new Republican leader in the state senate, serious negotiations can begin.
And having a person in the negotiations who has been a tax payer friend in Sen. Holligsworth is showing that the California Republicans are looking out for the tax payers.

More Tax Idiocy

Well, I must write that this latest attempt at raising taxes and allegedly trying to alter people's bad behavior is one for the books.
Five members of the Oregon state legislature want to raise taxes on beer by the barrel.
Only by 1,900%!
That comes out to about $49.61c a barrel of beer.
The article points out that the malt beverage tax has not been raised in 32 years.
But this increase is ridiculous.
Most ridiculous is why the tax hike is being proposed.
To fund prevention, treatment and recovery programs for those addicted to alcohol and other substances.
Of course that is a worthy goal.
But, it always never seems to get through the do-gooders cranium that raising taxes, so-called "sin" taxes, often have the opposite effect because if the hike is high enough, people will not buy the "sin" items such as beer, other alcohol, cigarettes and the like.
So, if these do-gooders do not get the kind of money that they want in this tax hike, how would they come up with money to fund these programs?
BTW, lets play the game of "Guess the political party".
Here are the names of the five legislators:
Reps. Ben Cannon and Michael Dembrow
Portland Sens. Jackie Dingfelder and Diane Rosenbaum, and Springfield Sen. William Morrisette
In the article linked, no one knows what political party the five belong to.
But, thanks to the yeoman work over at the Ace of Spades HQ, I can report to you that all five are, drum roll please. . .DEMOCRATS!
Proof positive that Democrats always like to raise taxes for seemingly good reasons yet do not realize that people will stop purchasing products that are going up and that they do not really need.
Oh well, that is Oregon. It is in firm control of the Democrats. There is no Republican governor to keep any tax hike in check.
Almost seems like California tax idiocy has moved north to Oregon.

The Vacationing, Y A W N, President

A little item over at Townhall.com shows that President Obama is planning to return to his home base, the Windy City, Chicago, every six to eight weeks as long as he is president. Hopefully only four years. Or at this writing, 1.433 days.
Funny, nary a "How dare he" from the fawning propaganda rags and electronic lackeys.
I mean, former President Bush 43 would take August off in Crawford, Texas, and the media would have story after story about how terrible it was and that he was not really working.
While there have been terrible ice storms in Kentucky and tornadoes in Oklahoma and a deadly plane crash in Buffalo, New York, our president was no where near any of these locations.
After all, according to the Obamots in the DDBMSOWM, former President Bush 43 should have been down in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina personally stopping the onslaught of the storm. And Mr. Bush 43's not so quick getting down to the Gulf coast was a sign of racism.
So, can we hold President Obama to the same standard?
If you expect the DDBMSOWM to do that, not only should you not hold your breath, but laugh your head off. Because they will not.
So, after all the hard work of President Obama in expanding government beyond anyone's wildest imagination, the president needs a rest. It is taking him three days to sign a bill that he told the American people that if it were not passed, it would be a "catastrophe".
Well, I guess it is not that much of a catastrophe since President Obama, who could have signed the bill anywhere, had to get a rest of three days and make a big signing ceremony in Denver.
Hope and Change, baby! Hope and Change!

HT: Dwayne Horner @ www.townhall.com/blogs

The Food Police And The Latest Globaloney Warming Scam

It is really incredible the lengths that the Globaloney Warming crowd will go to keep laying out the myth of man being the only reason that earth is supposedly getting warmer.
Wait, I am sorry but it is not just man that is causing Globaloney Warming.
Another contributor are cows.
Sweet, lovable and delicious cows are another reason we are seeing the oceans rise and our fragile island home ready to explode in a spasmodic warming explosion.
According to Nathan Pelletier of Dalhousie University in Canada, part of the problem getting that sumptuous Fillet Mignon to one's plate is that beef is an inefficient food to produce. Another problem is that, to be blunt, cows fart so much methane that it floats up into the atmosphere.
Not to mention all that the cow eats and the manure that they produce and well, hell that might be at least a 10 degree increase in Globaloney Warming from just a cow fart alone.
So, what does Professor Pelletier and those of his ilk want to do about it?
Why, switch to having salad more often, of course. And every now and then, have a poor, helpless chicken to somehow replace the taste of a delicious hamburger from a place like In 'N Out burger.
BLEECH!
Do not get me wrong.
I do like salad and I enjoy chicken as well.
But, do not take away my hot dog, hamburger, pot roast, Porterhouse steak!!!!!
Yet, these Globaloney Warming alarmists are trying to change the eating habits of people.
Take this from Chris Weber a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania:

"Food is of particular importance to a consumer's impact because it's a daily choice that is, at least in theory, easy to change. You make your choice every day about what to eat, but once you have a house and a car you're locked into that for a while. Switching to no red meat and no dairy products is the equivalent of (cutting out) 8,100 miles driven in a car ... that gets 25 miles to the gallon," Weber said

Oh, I forgot to mention that dreaded dairy is also a problem for the Globaloney Warming alarmists.
The problem for the Globaloney Warming alarmist crowd is that it appears that they will make stuff up like this as a way to force people how to eat. And, take away another right of people to eat food that they want.
There is no viable proof about any of these findings. It is the work of a few scientists and so far has not stood up to scholary review and test.
But, that will not stop these people from scaring a lot of people into giving up eating red meat. For no reason but to salve their fragile conscious that they are doing something, anything, to save the planet.
Sorry to be very, very cynical, but I just do not think that cutting back of eating red meat or dairy products is going to make all that much difference. And, again, one does not know that cutting back is going to affect Globaloney Warming if there is such a thing, one way or the other. Even Dr. Weber agrees with that assessment.
Now, there are legitimate and proven health concerns about eating red meat in excess. But, to blame that on Globaloney Warming is a stretch of all stretches.
Go ahead, enjoy that burger. That hot dog. That delicious New York cut of beef steak.
Enjoy before the food police take it away.

HT: Mark Levin @ www.marklevinshow.com

Does Obama Sell The Deal Well?

In an article for the upcoming edition of The Weekly Standard, editor Bill Kristol has an interesting take on the first major accomplishment of the Obama administration-the so-called economic "stimulus" scam.
Mr. Kristol is right in condemning the fact that President Obama let the Democrat congressional leadership of Laurel and Hardy, aka House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have their signature all across the bill. Thus, letting them dictate the bill and get absolutely no input from Republicans, it looks like what it is. A 1,073-page Crap sandwich.
I think that this part of the article is very telling:

And where is Obama amid all this turmoil? Well, he's not amid it--and he's apparently not curbing or directing it. He seems to be magnetically levitating at least a few inches above the ground, doing campaign events in swing states and in his home state of Illinois, revving up the crowds to  .  .  .  do what? To encourage congressional Democrats to support their own package?

See, President Obama is out on the campaign trail to keep his own supporters excited. The reality is that he did not need a Republican vote anywhere. In the House or the Senate. And, all three Republicans in the senate, the Three Stooges of Sens. Collins and Snowe of Maine and Sen. Specter of Pennsylvania, could have voted against the bill and it still would have passed.
What it showed that even in four, or two because of campaigning, years of being a senator, he is already a creature of Washington and the Beltway. By letting two of the worst Democrats have their fingerprints on the so-called economic "stimulus" scam, he can not in good conscience say that this was his baby. That he took the lead in horse-trading to get some Republican support.
Bottom line.
It is time for President Obama to show the leadership skills that he touted in the campaign. As Mr. Kristol says, it is time to govern.
And, it is not something that President Obama has done at any time in his professional or academic life. Until now.
I hope that next time, he takes the lead and does not overly defer to the congress. He needs to be able to bring aboard as many from all sides as did his predecessors.
Otherwise, the "levitating" act will wear thin and President Obama will come crashing down to earth.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The end of capitalism, courtesy of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. I wonder if they let her through the airport like this on her way to Rome?

Photo HT: Ace @ www.ace.mu.nu

And Now, The Spendulus Porkulus Goes To President Obama

As the Democrat controlled House of Representatives passed the so-called economic "stimulus" earlier today, the Democrat controlled senate followed suit by a vote of 60-38, with the Republican Three Stooges of Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter giving this $787,000,000,000 abomination the green light and President Obama's signature.
The outcome was a foregone conclusion as the Democrats did not need any Republican votes in the House and did convince the Three Stooges in the senate to go along with this orgy of left-wing initiatives that have been on the back burner for many a moon.
Yet, we were told that President Obama did all he could to bring along Republicans to make this so-called economic "stimulus". Of course, the way that one does that is to tell them that "I won. I will trump you on that" as President Obama did. Of course it is a petulant House Speaker named Nancy Pelosi that shut out any Republican input on the legislation.
Yea, real bipartisanship.
The lesson for Republicans is this.
There will be no real bipartisanship and there never was going to be any bipartisanship in the Age O' Obama. Plain and simple. Period.
The painful lesson for the United States is that this will not work. Again, there are too many people that voted for 1,071 page piece of legislation that will tell you they have no idea what is in the legislation. When bills like this are rammed through, it is nothing more than a payback to those loyal to the party in power, this time the Democrats.
Oh, and now this economy is all the Democrats and President Obama's. No more blaming the eeevvvviiiiillllll Republicans and former President Bush.
Hope and Change, baby! Hope and Change!

One House Down, One To Go To Spendulus Porkulus

The House of Representatives, to no one's surprise, voted for the so-called economic "stimulus" plan, 246-183 with seven Democrats voting with all the Republicans against this abomination.
My congressman, Democrat Adam Schiff, voted with President Obama in a $789,000,000,000 payback act for Democrat supporters.
It appears that the bipartisanship on this matter is with those opposed to this so-called economic "stimulus" scam.
If you are represented by one of the brave seven Democrats, call them and thank them for voting against this abomination.
And, lets be clear. NO MEMBER OF THE HOUSE has taken the time to read the 1,071 page behemoth. Note this gem from Missouri Democrat congressman Emmanuel Cleaver:

“There is plenty to complain about for everyone, and perhaps that’s the sign of a good compromise,” said U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat. “Regardless of party, we all cast our votes with one hand and crossed our fingers with the other.”

Yes, do not read a 1,071 page bill. And, if one does not read it, and vote for it, can we blame them when the scam does not work?
This is an abysmal moment in the history of the United States.
The fact that we have an administration, led by President Obama himself, stoking fears of massive unemployment if this plan is not passed, with absolutely no oversight or debate should scare most Americans.
But, it does not appear to be doing that.
Most Americans want government to do something, they just do not seem to know what. And, that is just how the Obama administration and the Democrat congress likes it. So, that by the time the American people realize the mistake that was made, it maybe too late.
Remember there is a mid term election in 2010.
Some hope and change. Its more like hype and the same.

What Are You Going To Do With That Extra $13 A Week Thanks To President Obama?

WOW!
Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I will look forward to the extra $13 a week that the so-called economic "stimulus" scam will give us the rest of this year.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA!
I mean, it is $52 more than the $600 dollars we were given last year in an attempt to boost the already sagging economy.
Remember that $600 dollars that now First Lady Michelle Obama said would just cover the cost of earrings?
This so-called tax cut that is in the so-called economic "stimulus" scam is nothing more than a joke.
It is no better than the $600 that many Americans got last time and somehow, we are suppose to grovel at President Obama and the Democrats?
NO THANKS!
BTW, the $652 that I figured is in a 52-week year.
In reality, according to the Associated Press report, the "tax cut" really translates into a $400 "tax cut". And, the $13 figure actually goes down the next year to $8.
WHOOPEE!
And, what is not talked about in all of this is that the real tax cuts that former President George W. Bush gained for the American people in 2001 will expire next year. And that will be a tax increase.
So, I guess we should just enjoy this while we can.
Because next year, we will not have a Democrat congress extend the Bush tax cuts. They hated them from the get-go. And they will simply let them die.
No, they want to give a hand-out that does not one thing to help the economy at all.
Well, I have to consult with the missus as to what we will be doing with that whopping $13 dollars a week.
Maybe we can go to Spago's sometime!
Hope and Change, baby! Hope and Change!

COURAGE!

Although the accompanying photo looks pained, this is a man of courage as New Hampshire senator, Judd Gregg, got his bearings and said thanks, but no thanks, to President Obama's offer to be the new Commerce Secretary.

And even more amazing is since Sen. Gregg did not resign his senate seat, he will stay on but not run for reelection.

Some people on the right side do not get why Sen. Gregg would have even accepted President Obama's invitation in the first place. But, Sen. Gregg said it best himself.

Gregg said he got caught up "in the euphoria" of being nominated. He called it a mistake.

And the reality is that no matter what party one is in, it is hard to turn down a cabinet post when the president offers it to you.

But the reasons why Sen. Gregg could not accept were two fold.

First, the Obama administration was taking away one of the few functions of import of the Commerce Department.

The once every 10 year national census.

In a blatant political move, the Obama administration is giving that responsibility to the White House chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel.

Thus, the Commerce Department will have little say in how the census is conducted. For more background on the matter, Michael Barone has a lot to write on that subject.

And as important is the fact that Sen. Gregg just could not stomach the so-called economic "stimulus" bill that is being rammed through congress as I type.

It is one thing to be nonpartisan, but to give up one's whole ideas and being to serve the president, no matter who he or she is, is nothing more than cowardice.

And, Sen. Gregg is not a coward.

Sen. Gregg was very gracious in turning down the offer to be the Commerce Secretary.

But, hey there are three "Republican" senators that might want the job.

Sens. Collins and Snowe from Maine and Sen. Spector of Pennsylvania.

Those three have little principals since they are willing to go along with the so-called economic "stimulus" scam

I am certain that they would have no problem taking their non partisanship to the next level.

Hey, maybe appoint all three and have them rotate the position. Oh, and the Democrat governors can appoint their replacements.

More from the land of Hope and Change!

But it takes an act of courage from Sen. Judd Gregg to say no to a president that on key issues, he does not agree with.

Now, that is Hope and Change!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOV. PALIN!

There are about four hours left, Alaska time, to wish their governor, Sarah Palin, a happy 45th birthday!

Oh, I know that there are some long faces in the conservative world because she will not be at the big CPAC confab at the end of this month.

But, that is because the state legislature is meeting at that time and after all, Gov. Palin was elected to be a governor. And she takes that job seriously. Not like a man elected to the senate and thought two years later, he would make a fairly good president.

I digress.

Some advice on the CPAC flak.

There is something called a satellite video hook up. Gov. Palin can deliver a speech by a video and even do so at a time of her choosing. It does not have to be like. It would help, but it is not necessary. And Jim Geraghty has some fairly good analysis as to why Gov. Palin is not going to be attending CPAC.

Believe me, it does not diminish my support for her one bit. There will be three more CPAC meetings before the 2012 election.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, Gov. Palin!

HT: The Other McCain @ www.rsmccain.blogspot.com

California Budget Scam

Well, it appears that California Gov. Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger has finally got his way and the taxpayers of the not so Golden State are going to get hosed once again.
A supposed budget "deal" has been worked out between the "Republican" governor and legislative leaders, re: Democrats.
Here are some of the low lights of this "deal"

• Vehicle license fees would nearly double, going from the current rate of 0.65% to 1.15% of the value of a car or truck. BTW, it was when former Gov. Gray Era Davis sought to raise the so-called car tax that it was the beginning of his end.
• The sales tax would increase by 1 cent, raising the rate in Los Angeles County to 9.75%. And that is the second highest in the United States only trailing Chicago and Crook, er Cook County in Illinois.
• Gasoline taxes would increase by 12 cents a gallon. And, keep in mind that this state is where the people pay most of the highest price of gasoline in the United States.
• And Californians would pay a new surcharge on their personal income taxes, amounting to 2.5% of their total tax bills. And, Californians pay some of the highest personal income taxes in the United States.

Oh yes, there are allegedly going to be $15,000,000,000 in budget cuts. But, as the lawyers say, read the fine print. If the state of California gets a windfall of billions in the federal so-called economic "stimulus" plan, voila! The budget cuts will vanish.
Pretty much like the credibility of our elected state "leaders".
So, now that our illustrious governor and Democrats have once again forced Republicans to go along, and almost always just enough Republicans do cave on these budget nightmares, any reason for a business or entrepreneur to stay in California is about to end if this deal does pass.
Why is tax hikes the only solution that these politicians understand?
Because as far as Gov. Benedict Arnold is concerned, he has no clue to stand on principal and use this opportunity to get the state legislature to enact real tax and budget reform.
When Gov. Benedict Arnold was first elected after the voters recalled former Gov. Gray Era Davis, he tried to get the voters of California to enact the kinds of reforms that would have avoided this mess.
There were four measures.
One would end teacher tenure. The second would have allowed state unionized employees from opting out of union political contributions. The third would have put serious state spending limits on the budget. And the fourth would have set up a multi and non partisan state commission to draw the legislative lines based on the census.
But, someone forgot to inform the governator that he had to campaign for the four ballot initiatives that he pushed to get on the statewide ballot and call a special election.
No one opposed forgot to fight and defeat all four measures.
Led by the California Teachers Association, a barrage of radio and television ads hit the airwaves before the initiatives even made the ballot and the special election was called by Gov. Benedict Arnold. By the time he and his allies campaigned for the four initiatives, public opposition grew and there was no way that the measures would pass.
After the defeat of all four initiatives, Gov. Benedict Arnold decided that it would be easier to be liked and went so far as to appoint a Democrat to be his chief of staff and the rest is history.
Now, the only reason that anyone who is just marginally conservative to support Gov. Benedict Arnold is apparently out the window as he is agreeing to so-called temporary tax hikes and phantom budget cuts that will be back in place once the rest of the United States pays for our mess under the so-called economic "stimulus" plan.
And we Californians wonder why the rest of the United States has dislike towards us.
What is needed is a leader like another governor from long ago named Ronald Reagan. To have a vision and a real reform agenda. And to be politically astute in how to get it implemented.
Whoever told Gov. Benedict Arnold to put a bunch of initiatives on the state ballot and call a special election to boot was crazy.
Had Gov. Benedict Arnold concentrated on, say the budget spending limits, he could have passed that. But, it should have been done one issue at a time.
Now, we are all in a mess and this is not a solution but a piece of toilet paper on a gusher of red ink and incompetence.
Oh, by the way I will thank the rest of the United States for helping us out courtesy of President Obama.
If there is ever a time for reform in this state, California, now is the time. And one of the two Republican candidates for governor, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and E-Bay founder Meg Whitman needs to be out in front of what they would do differently than the clowns currently in Sacramento, on both sides of the political aisle.

Stimulus = Sneakiness

The so-called economic "stimulus" bill being rammed down the American people's throat by a corrupt Democrat congress and president has a nice little sneaky, back door beginning of socialized medicine. And it is on the backs of senior citizens.
In this piece by Betsy McCaughey at Bloomberg News, she alerts the American people to some provisions that lead to a rationing of health care based on-you guessed it-cost effectiveness.
What the provisions do is essentially put the prescriptions of one former senator and tax cheat Tom Daschle in practice.
One of the creations that will take place is the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology. And guess what this new federal government czar will do? Why he will make sure that doctors do treatments that the federal government deem appropriate and "cost effective". And, according to Tax Cheat Tom, doctors would have to give up some autonomy and learn not to operate as solo practitioners.
Well, is this not what the advocates of socialized medicine have blamed on the insurance companies all these years? That the insurance companies make the kind of life-and-death decisions based on "cost effectiveness"?
The reality is that the Democrats want to use the delivery of health care the same way that they use everything else. To pay off a special interest group.
But, by sneaking in this socialized medicine plan, maybe, just maybe they have gone too far.
Maybe it is time for the senate and the house members to actually read the stimulus and get a clue that this is not a time to back door and or front-load socialism.
It is time to get the economy back on track.
This is not going to do anything but possibly take the American people on a point of no return. And the end of non-government health care delivery as we know it.

Sen Schumer Is An Idiot

Leave to Democrat New York senator, Charles Schumer, to put his stamp on the debate over the so-called economic "stimulus" bill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfICUoWKBw.
Yeah, right, the American people suddenly like when their elected representatives lard up legislation that is supposed to stimulate the economy.
I suppose that some of what Sen. Schumer is referring to is such important, and yes "porky" stuff like this:

• $300 Million for Federal Employee Company Cars And Neighborhood Electric Vehicles: (Pg. 96 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, “For capital expenditures and necessary expenses of acquiring motor vehicles with higher fuel economy, including: hybrid vehicles; neighborhood electric vehicles; electric vehicles; and commercially-available, plug-in hybrid vehicles, $300,000,000”)
• $3 Million Tax Benefit For Golf Carts, Electric Motorcycles and ATVs (That Don’t Exceed 25mph): (Pg.474 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, “Credit for certain other vehicles… meets the requirements of section 571.500 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations;” And “Estimated Effects of the Cantwell Amendment,” Joint Committee on Taxation, 2/06/09)
• $125 Million for DC Sewers: (Pg. 94 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, “$125,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, to continue implementation of the Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control Plan”)
• $1.652 Billion for Government Facilities And Renovations: (Pg.3 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, Government facilities upgrades for the Department of Agriculture, $200M; Pg.41 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, $377M; Pg.124 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, the Smithsonian Institution, $75M; Pg.130 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, the Health Resources and Services Administration, $88M; Pg.130 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $412M; Pg.133 of the Collins-Nelson Amendment, the National Institutes of Health, $500M)

Yeah, I guess all of this is what we were waiting for when President Obama was elected.
This is not a stimulus bill what so ever.
It is nothing more than years and years of pent-up Democrat frustration and a willing president to make sure all the Democrat special interests are richly rewarded for handing the reins of power to the Democrat party.
Oh, maybe Sen. Schumer thinks that the American people may be interested to know that stock market fell four percent today upon the news of Treasury Secretary Tax Cheat Timothy Geithner's "announcement" on the new round of bank "bailout/rescues".
But, since no one really cares about a little pork, why would any one care if the stock market tanks?
Sen. Schumer, you are a real idiot!

16 Year Old Transexual-Can It Happen Here?

Meet Kim Petras.
She looks like any average 16 year old girl.
However, Kim Petras, well she used to be Tim Petras.
And, she began her journey from boy to girl at the ripe age of 12 years old.
It is an amazing tale of this young German "girl" and her discovering her feminine side but "she" did and is now officially Kim Petras.
As The Sun newspaper in London, England, describes, "Kim" seemed to always know that she was a girl trapped in a boy's body.
A psychiatrist, Dr. Bernd Meyenburg from the University of Frankfurt Hospital, explains Tim's transformation to "Kim" this way:
"Very few youth psychiatrists have any experience with transsexual developments. The families wander from one psychiatrist to the next.
I was always against such operations on children so young but after seeing how happy one of my patients was and how well adjusted after returning from having the operation abroad while still a teenager - I realised that in some cases it is the right decision.
Kim is such a case - she always knew what she wanted."
Well, that may be all well and good, but a serious question has to be asked.
Is it not possible that "Kim's" so-called "identity" crisis nothing more than a cry for attention? One can make a case that some children, and keep in mind that "Kim" was beginning hormone therapy at the age of 12 years, simply can convince themselves of any situation. And, wanting to become the opposite gender may be another case of that.
No where in the story is there any mention of parents and what they thought of the whole travesty.
Also, nowhere in the article is who paid for this operation.
Since Germany is one of those "enlightened" European nations that has socialized medicine, it is probably safe to assume that the German taxpayer paid for such an operation.
And, how can a 16 year old make such a life-changing move without more than a psychiatrist's A-OK because he knew that "Kim" would be happier as a girl?
What will happen if "Kim" comes to realize that she made a mistake and, oh say when "she" is about 25 years old wants to go back to Tim? What will the same Dr. Meyenburg have to say then?
There are a lot of unanswered questions.
But, of thing is clear.
So-called transgendered people are on the rise and may be no more than a symptom of a depraved age.
An age in which people are so convinced of being opposite of the gender they were born with that even at the age of 16, a boy can become a girl. And, without any parental input.
I think that the parents were neglecting their responsibility by allowing this operation to happen. And to even begin the hormone therapy at an age in which most are just beginning to realize what they are and who they are.
And, it does bring up a legitimate issue that if socialized medicine becomes an eventuality under President Obama, will the American taxpayer be forced to pay for such cosmetic operations?
Of course they would.
Along with abortions and other medical procedures that are no more than cosmetic procedures.
"Kim" Petras is setting a dangerous trend by lowering the bar, and the age, that one can decide that they want to go from boy to girl-or the other way around.

Fear Mongering With Barack Obama

Throughout the 2004 presidential campaign between Democrat Sen. John Kerry and former President George W. Bush and in the last campaign, we were constantly told that the Republicans were doing nothing but creating fear in the American people unnecessarily.

Now, I did a Google search with the following:

George W. Bush Fearmongering Politics.

That entry brought back what Google refers to as about 298,000 matches. No doubt a hefty amount.

Then, I changed the name.

Barack Obama Fearmongering Politics.

And that entry was about 439,000 matches. That is roughly about one and a half more entries than former President Bush 43.

I bring this up because President Obama has resorted to fearmongering over the so-called economic "stimulus" bill that is snaking around through congress.
Take from the president's radio and web address to the United States just this morning. Here is a sample:


"If we don't move swiftly to put this plan in motion, our economic crisis could become a national catastrophe. Millions of Americans will lose their jobs, their homes, and their health care. Millions more will have to put their dreams on hold."

Well, Mr. President, to many it has already arrived. But to say that not passing the kind of bill that you want is going to lead to some kind of economic Armageddon is, well, fear mongering of the worst kind. And, it shows a lack of ability to fully explain what the so-called economic "stimulus" bill would do.

What it shows is that President Obama does not get how even immediate legislation works. And it shows that he is not above using fear to get what he wants.

But the irony is that during his own inaugural speech of several weeks ago, President Obama told the American people that they chose hope over fear. And yet, today President Obama is trying desperately to save legislation that was flawed from the beginning. And, President Obama is treading down a road that he railed against the Republicans for doing, in his opinion, for the last seven years at least since the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

If the so-called economic "stimulus" bill is that good, what the president needs to do is sell it on the merits. Not go on about millions of jobs being lost, millions losing their homes and millions losing their health care insurance. The reason that the president has not been able to sell the plan on the merits is because the public is actually looking at what the so-called "stimulus" will do and when it will show its potential full effect. Over 70% of the stimulus may not even have an effect on the economy for three years-2011. If people need jobs now, need a way to save their homes and health care, then President Obama and the Democrats will have to take the issues that the Republicans are bringing up much more seriously. And since they don't, we see a panicked president using apoplectic language to frighten the American people into supporting something that they really do not support as it is now.

It shows how not-ready-for-prime-time President Obama is.

Sure, he invites Republicans over to the White House for some cocktails and seems to really be interested in what they have to say. Until President Obama says, "I won. I'll trump you on that", there seems to be a serious attempt at what President Obama claims to want. Bipartisanship. From that point on, he lost most Republicans and is now on Fear Monger road. Much like the previous president, George W. Bush. According to the Democrats and the left.

The Obama cult may not get it, but it is when things are rushed that mistakes are made. Mistakes that may never be resolved. And, the president has to know that. He lost Republican support much the way President Bush 43 lost support when he held the 2004 election results over the Democrats in touting his "political" capital and that he was going to use it.

Did not work then and will not work now.

Fear is a bad sign for a politician. And the worst for a president that ran on a platform of can't we all just get along. Using genuine concern and making matters worse is exactly what President Obama is doing.

And, he does not care if he has to resort to old-school politics to do it.

Some Hope and Change!