Archive for July 9th, 2009
Health bill hits a snag in the House
Posted by: | CommentsThe democrats’ promised destruction of the American health care industry hit a little bump in the road when the Blue Dogs demanded some changes. Okay, so it’s not the best news, but it’s better than nothing. The longer it takes them to get a bill out for a vote, the longer we have for the truth about what they have in store for us to get out. Read More→
Popularity: 3% [?]
I must have heard wrong
Posted by: | CommentsThis morning while shuttling the kids to baseball camp an AP Radio news report at the top of the hour started with “There is a glimmer of hope in the economy.” Then the story: another half a million or so unemployed, consumer confidence down, and more layoffs expected.
I listened carefully for the “glimmer of hope.” I didn’t hear one.
Maybe I need to get my ears checked.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Congressional Report Says Fannie and Freddie Chief Culprits in Financial Crisis
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Gee, who knew. CNS News reports that a congressional report places the blame for the financial crisis squarely on the shoulders of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the politicians who made it possible. Will this news make the Main Stream Media? If the media bothered to report the truth last year perhaps Americans wouldn’t have given complete control of our nation to those responsible for the mess we’re in. While Republicans are partially to blame for promoting homeownership for everyone, it’s the democrats who set it all in motion and then blocked any regulation of the GSE’s.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Bear with me, please.
Posted by: | CommentsI’m working behind the scenes again on the design of this site. Hopefully it won’t effect you being able to load or view the blog, but just in case, it shouldn’t take me too much longer. If there are some weird looking things on the new design, not to worry. I’m working on it. Let’s hope this will be the last time I have to do this for a while.
Thanks!
Popularity: 3% [?]
More News of the Day
Posted by: | CommentsJeb Bush weighed in on President Obama. When asked if he thinks the president is a socialist, the former Florida governor didn’t mince words. He said he doesn’t know if he’s a socialist but he is a collectivist. That’s hardly an endorsement.
After a few members of the White House press corps griped about President Obama treating them like puppets, the White House secretly invited members of the White House press corps to its 4th of July shin dig. There was only one catch – they weren’t allowed to report on the event. One pool reporter was allowed in for a very short time, but we still don’t know who attended. But really, the Obama administration isn’t trying to control the press.
Independents are starting to get fed up with hopeandchange. I guess 10% unemployment isn’t what it was cracked up to be.
Leave it to the Democrats to load up a health care bill with pork. Billions for paths, parks and other pork. Any guesses on whose districts will be rewarded with the pork?
Nancy Pelosi’s supporters are claiming Leon Panetta vindicated her by saying the CIA did routinely lie to Congress. But others are saying “not so fast.” They may have wanted to keep the lid on that barrel of worms.
USA Today reports that billions in Porkulus funds are going to districts that voted for Obama, by about a 2 to 1 margin over those that went for McCain. Gee, that’s a coincidence!
Speaking of Porkulus, an additional $18 million of it is being spent on the Recovery.gov website. (See video below.) The firm contracted to work on the website is a big contributer to Steny Hoyer. Just another coincidence, I guess.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Good news! Senate puts off cap and trade!
Posted by: | CommentsFinally, a little good news, at least for the summer. Via Hot Air, The Washington Post reports that consideration of a cap and trade bill will be put off by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee until at least September. That should give us plenty of time to spread the message that passage of any cap and trade bill will destroy what’s left of the economy.
President Barack Obama’s push for quick action by Congress on climate change legislation suffered a setback on Thursday when the U.S. Senate committee leading the drive delayed work on the bill until September.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer said her self-imposed deadline of early August for finishing writing a bill to combat global warming has been put off until after Congress returns from a recess that ends in early September.
“We’ll do it as soon as we get back” from that break, Boxer told reporters. Asked if this delay jeopardizes chances the Senate will pass a bill this year, Boxer said, “Not a bit … we’ll be in (session) until Christmas, so I’m not worried about it.”
But Boxer did not guarantee Congress will be able to finish a bill and deliver it to Obama by December, when he plans to attend an international summit on climate change in Copenhagen.
With unemployment nearing ten percent, and more Americans realizing what cap and trade will do the economy, it’s going to be a tough sell. Let’s hope Obama goes to Copenhagen empty handed. Or maybe they could start looking at clean energy we know works….like nuclear! Wouldn’t that be a novel idea.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Albany Stalemate Over, Espada Flips Back to Democrats
Posted by: | CommentsUh, so why did he flip in the first place?
The New York Post reports that Pedro Espada has decided to return to the democratic fold in the state senate.
Espada, whose defection to the Republicans was the main reason for Gov. Paterson’s controversial action yesterday “naming” Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, revealed his startling plans to The Post.
The defection would bring a quick end to the Senate’s current 31-31 vote stalemate, in which Espada has repeatedly joined with the 30 Republican members in opposition to the Democrats. [...]
Several Democratic senators have repeatedly insisted they would not accept Espada’s return to their Conference because of a series of allegations of improper or illegal activities that his political opponents have leveled against him.
Espada has been described as an unpredictable ally by Republicans and Democrats and some of his statements in recent weeks, including his claim that as many as 20 Democrats were set to defect to the GOP, turned out to be false.
Wow, here in New York we have our own version of Arlen Specter. Lucky us!
Popularity: 4% [?]
White House: It’s not a $6000 purse, it’s a $900 purse!
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s good to know the First Family isn’t experiencing the recession. Next month they will be vacationing with the elites on Martha’s Vineyard. And a little flap has erupted over First Lady Michelle Obama’s purse.
Back in April she wore a pair of $540 Lanvin sneakers at a Washington food bank. Earlier this week (while strolling the wooded landscape outside of Moscow), she carried a sexy black clutch, which Italian luxury house VBH boasts is their shiny black alligator manila bag – with a retail sticker price of $5,950.
The White House says she was carrying the $875 VBH patent leather clutch.
Note the the White House: Most Americans don’t carry $900 purses, wear $500 sneakers or vacation among the elites on Martha’s Vineyard. For people so adept at playing class warfare you’d think they would get a clue.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Obama’s Health Care Double Speak
Posted by: | CommentsPresident Obama is continuing his practice of appearing to be in favor of both sides of every issue. It’s starting to look like the White House has a severe communication problem. Rahm Emanuel or Vice President Joe Biden will say one thing, Obama will say the opposite. And Obama is constantly contradicting himself.
This is by design. The Wall Street Journal explains the president’s public option two step. What we’re witnessing isn’t confusion, it’s deception.
Americans unschooled in liberal health-care politics may have trouble deciphering the White House’s conflicting proclamations this week about a new government insurance program for the middle class. Allow us to translate: President Obama loves this so-called public option, but he needs to sell it in a shroud of euphemism and the appearance of “compromise.” [...]
A rhetorical gong Mr. Obama has been banging a lot lately is the idea that the people pointing all this [problems with public option and how the democrats are pushing for it] out are liars. “When you hear the naysayers claim that I’m trying to bring about government-run health care,” he said in one speech, “know this: They’re not telling the truth.” He adds that opposition to a public option isn’t “based on any evidence” and that it is “illegitimate” to argue that his program is “is somehow a Trojan horse for a single-payer system.”
So much for changing the political tone. Perhaps the President should check in with his more honest liberal allies. Jacob Hacker, now a professor of political science at Berkeley, came up with the intellectual architecture for the public option when he was a graduate student in the 1990s. “Someone once said to me, ‘This is a Trojan horse for single payer,’ and I said, ‘Well, it’s not a Trojan horse, right? It’s just right there,’” Mr. Hacker explained in a speech last year. “I’m telling you, we’re going to get there, over time, slowly.”
The real question the political class is debating now is how slowly, or quickly, it takes to get there. And how they’re best able to disguise this goal — ideally as a “compromise.”
To seek the truth, pay attention when you hear the president say “there are those…”. Then go find out who “those” are he’s referring to and listen to what they have to say.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Cradle to Grave: Schumer proposes $500 for every baby born.
Posted by: | CommentsNew York Senator Chuck Schumer must think money grows on trees. His latest proposal is to give every baby born in the US $500, plus another $500 a year until the age of 18. That’s better than a chicken in every pot.
Schumer on Wednesday unveiled a proposal to make the $500 payments a permanent federal program to help people save money for college, a home or retirement — starting from the day they are born.
The federal government would match dollar-for-dollar contributions to the savings accounts of up to $500 per year as the children grow up, Schumer said. The money would earn interest tax-free, but could not be withdrawn until the account holder turns 18.
The plan is part of Schumer’s ASPIRE Act, or the American Saving for Personal Investment, Retirement and Education Act of 2009. The senator plans to introduce the legislation next week as a separate bill or as part of Social Security reform.
“It’s a dramatic and different way of encouraging people to save, long after the recession is over,” Schumer said Wednesday as he unveiled his plan to reporters.”The middle class needs help,” he said. “And the other problem we have in America is we don’t save enough, in general.”
In other words, Uncle Chuck thinks Americans are too stupid to save money on our own. No, we need government to do it for us.
Beware – the price tag on this plan will surely be much larger than the benefit.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Hey, what do you know? EPA admits cap and trade won’t work!
Posted by: | CommentsWell then, can we just scrap it? Ha! Not on your life!
Via Heritage
Barbara Boxer had the nerve to say Crap and Tax won’t involve any tax increases. Funny, huh?
But it gets worse. Although estimates of the cost of Crap and Tax range from $5.7 trillion to $9 trillion, democrats want to push forward anyway. Despite the fact that even the EPA says it won’t work.
EPA Administrator Jackson confirmed an EPA analysis showing that unilateral U.S. action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would have no effect on climate. Moreover, when presented with an EPA chart depicting that outcome, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said he disagreed with EPA’s analysis.
“I believe the central parts of the [EPA] chart are that U.S. action alone will not impact world CO2 levels,” Administrator Jackson said.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) presented the chart to both Jackson and Secretary Chu, which shows that meaningful emissions reductions cannot occur without aggressive action by China, India, and other developing countries. “I am encouraged that Administrator Jackson agrees that unilateral action by the U.S. will be all cost for no climate gain,” Sen. Inhofe said. “With China and India recently issuing statements of defiant opposition to mandatory emissions controls, acting alone through the job-killing Waxman-Markey bill would impose severe economic burdens on American consumers, businesses, and families, all without any impact on climate
Well isn’t that special? All cost and no gain – sounds like the new US foreign policy. So if this massive job killing bill – that’s so bad they plan for massive job losses in the bill - isn’t going to do a darn thing to help the climate, why is it still on the table?
Popularity: 4% [?]
Creepy – Justice Ginsburg thought Roe was to rid us of undesirables
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I thought I read this wrong – her first thought on Roe v. Wade was eugenics?!? Then I thought “It is Ruth Bader Ginsberg.”
It’s still creepy. Via Free Republic, WND reports on an astonishing admission by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Her remarks, set to be published in the New York Times Magazine this Sunday but viewable online now, came in an in-depth interview with Emily Bazelon titled, “The Place of Women on the Court.” [...]
Question: Are you talking about the distances women have to travel because in parts of the country, abortion is essentially unavailable, because there are so few doctors and clinics that do the procedure? And also, the lack of Medicaid for abortions for poor women?
Ginsburg: Yes, the ruling about that surprised me. [Harris v. McRae - in 1980 the court upheld the Hyde Amendment, which forbids the use of Medicaid for abortions.] Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. Which some people felt would risk coercing women into having abortions when they didn’t really want them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong.
Justice Ginsburg inadvertently revealed the way leftists in America think.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Karl Rove: Don’t trust Obama
Posted by: | CommentsThis may be Karl Rove’s best critique of President Obama to date. Rove lays out the facts. In February Mr. Obama promised that Porkulus would be an economic panacea – halting job losses and stimulating the economy. His fuzzy math is getting fuzzier by the day. Yet he expect us to trust him on health care?
The administration consistently pledges unrealistic results that it later distances itself from. It has gotten away with it because the media haven’t asked many pointed questions. That may not last as the debate shifts to health care.
The Obama administration wants a government takeover of health care. To get it, it is promising to wring massive savings out of the health-care industry. And it has already started to make cost-savings promises.
For example, the administration strong-armed health-care providers into promising $2 trillion in health savings. It got pharmaceutical companies to promise to lower drug prices for seniors by $80 billion over 10 years. The administration also trotted out hospital executives to say that they would voluntarily save the government $150 billion over 10 years.
None of this comes near to being true. On the promised $2 trillion, everyone admits that the number isn’t built on anything specific — it’s an aspirational goal. On drug prices, a White House spokesman admitted that “These savings have not been identified at the moment.” It is speculative that these cuts will actually be made, when they would begin, or whether they would reduce government health-care spending.
In other words, the president is either stupid or a liar. You decide!
Popularity: 3% [?]
LA Times blogger wants older Obama voters to die!
Posted by: | CommentsJust when you thought you’d seen it all! Via Ace of Spades HQ
A majority of young people still approve of Obama’s job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don’t (54%). Maybe they’ll die before the next election.
What a class act, that Andrew Malcolm.
Popularity: 2% [?]
