Why Would a Parent or Grandparent Choose "Progressivism"?

I'm in a deep "I miss my grandkids" funk today.  Really, everything I do revolves around them somehow.  They certainly are central to how I view the world and politics. 

I absolutely believe that there are plenty of "progressive" grandparents out there who love their grandchildren as much as I love mine.  Why are we so different?  Why are they so willing to mortgage their grandchildren's future?  Do they believe that somehow, the deficits won't impact their grandchildren or that the impact won't be negative?

I just don't understand a parent or grandparent who can look at a child knowing that the decisions that we make today will affect that child's entire future, and their attitude is, "they'll get used to it."  Get used to diminished personal freedoms?  Get used to dependency on the government?

I look at my daughter, who is so far away, and I am proud that she has the tools and the freedom to be her own person.  How do progressive parents justify restricting their own children's choices for the benefit of others?  Progressive policies bring everyone down to a governmentally sanctioned level.  Conservative policies give each person the ability to rise above their circumstances.  It is the difference between "be all that you can be" and "be all that you can get by with."  Who chooses the latter for their children and grandchildren when they could choose the former? 

So, I though I miss them dearly, and I won't be getting over it, I'm proud of all those who sacrificed in the past so that my daughter has the choice of how to live her life and raise her children, no matter where it takes them.  For my part, I promise to whatever I can to ensure that my grandchildren inherit a country that provides them with the opportunities of their own making.  Wherever it takes them.

The More I Think About it, The Less "Thankful" I Become

Yeah, I know I've already posted on this but the more I think about Barack Obama saying that we should thank him for the situation this country is facing the less thankful I become.  The fact is, fifty-two percent of Americans gave us the most self-centered, self aggrandizing, egotistical president who has ever existed.  Are you thankful now?  I linked to Carol at No Sheeples Here earlier, but if somehow you missed her latest video, here it is:



If you can look at the period since January 20, 2008 and not believe that Barack is the Marieist of all Marie Antionettes, please let me know.  If you can look at what has happened to this country under the reign, yes, reign, of Barack Obama, and not be appalled, I want to hear about it.

Some of the signs of an abusive relationshipare that the abuser cuts off the victim's contact with allies and the abuser ridicules and demeans the victim.  Folks, we are in an abusive relationship and Barack Obama is the abuser.  He has insulted our traditional allies.  He ridicules and demeans the citizenry.  He fosters an environment where we are dependent on him for our basic necessities.  Hell, if his EPA gets their way, the very roofs over our heads won't truly belong to us.

Let me return to Carol, and echo her words, We will NEVER be thankful.

Quote of the Day: Adrienne's Corner

Upon seeing that our esteemed (cough) former president, Bill Clinton, drew comparisons between the Tea Party and Timothy McVeigh, my gag reflex immediately kicked in.  Every time I think of the Bill Clinton years I think "cigar".  Oh, and "stained blue dress".  I just can't take the man seriously.  Unfortunately, every time I tried to write about Clinton's remarks on the Tea Party, the images of Clinton that inevitably appear in my head prevented anything printable in a somewhat family friendly blog  from emerging.  Adrienne's Corner to the resue:

Meantime, Clinton, who "did not have sex with that woman", is warning us that "the words we use really do matter" , and is worried the tea partiers may start blowing up buildings. And Barry Soetoro finds us "amusing."

Exactly.

Opportunity Lost

The Oregon teacher who sought to "destroy" the Tea Party has been placed on paid administrative leave.  As a "Tea Partier" I am not thrilled with Jason Levin's activities that included everything from foolishness to encouraging people to commit identity theft.  Most of all, I wonder what Levin was teaching his middle school students and disappointed that he choose to pass on a wonderful opportunity.

He could have divided his students in to two groups, one pro-Tea Party, one anti, had them research the positions of the group that they represent, held debates, etc.  This was a great teachable moment for Levin and he blew it. 

Actually, the teaching opportunities involving the current crisis of government are endless.  How many teachers are blinded to the possibilities by their own ideology?  I am not advocating politics in the classroom but the study of the political process is certainly legitimate.  Teaching children to research policy positions, if done objectively, is certainly desirable.

In a classroom where the teacher's goal is to teach children how to think, as a opposed what to think, the dissection of current events is a powerful tool.  Shame Levin didn't appear interested in teaching when the opportunity arose.

Thank You, Mr. President

Our president thinks that we are a bunch of ingrates because we haven't thanked him for cutting our taxes.  Well, thank you,  Mr. President, for plunging our country deep in debt and mortgaging our children's future.  Thank you for pushing the Stimulus Bill that gave us those turtle tunnels but not only didn't hold unemployment to the eight percent you promised us but gave us ten percent unemployment for as long as the eye can see.  Thank you, Mr. President, for pushing Cap and Tax for which the American people will pay and pay for.  Thank you, Mr. President, for taking away a health care system that 85 percent of us were satisfied with and replacing it with ObamaCare, that will raise all of our premiums, and taxes, while giving us the same level of care enjoyed in Great Britain.   Excuse me for checking my gratitude at the door.  In fact, screw you, Mr. President.

Image credit:  Doug Ross and by extension, Barack Obama, who is much better at stand-up comedy than leader of the free world.

For more civil commentary check here and here.

Young People Come Out in Support of the Tea Party

Thank goodness that there are young people who don't want to stay on their parent's health insurance until they are twenty-six years old. 

One of the many things that made me proud yesterday at the Tax Day event in Tampa was the number of young people who came out in support of the protest.  These are young people who take an interest in what is going on in their country, take the time to be involved and know that ultimately, the decisions that are being made today will more impact on their lives than on the old farts who are making the decisions.  Listen to the young woman in the following video (around 1:20 in):



I talk a lot about my concern about the country that my grandchildren will inherit.  Jeremy and Olivia are nine and six years old.  It is the young man in the picture above and the young woman in the video and their contemporaries that I look to for encouragement that we can turn this country around. 

There are a lot of great links to yesterday's events around the country.  Troglopundit, The Other McCain, and Instapundit all have roundups.  Check them out.

Crist Watch: As the Worm Turns

Stacy McCain has a source that says Charlie Crist will announce today that he is launching an Independent bid for US Senator from Florida.  Put that in the "might as well" category.  Having vetoed the Jeb Bush backed and Republican supported teacher pay bill on Thursday, he has effectively ended any chance he might have had to defeat Marco Rubio to become the Republican candidate this fall.  From Jennifer Rubin at Contentions:

This might make sense — if independents were enamored of public employees’ unions and against school reform. But they aren’t, and its the sort of thing that will make Crist unpopular with everyone but the teachers’ union, which will no doubt support the Democrat in the general election anyway. No wonder Crist’s campaign chairman quit. It was the type of move for which Crist has now become infamous — combining bad politics with bad policy.

Moreover, Crist managed to infuriate popular ex-governor Jeb Bush, who’s as yet not made an official endorsement in the race. But his statement lashing out at Crist’s veto is the sort of thing Marco Rubio will be putting in his campaign ads:

I am disappointed by the veto of Senate Bill 6. … By taking this action, Governor Crist has jeopardized the ability of Florida to build on the progress of the last decade, which includes raising student achievement across the board, narrowing the achievement gap for poor and minority students, and improving graduation rates. Florida’s sustained improvement is the result of bold reforms that were challenging, controversial and sometimes even unpopular. Reform is hard work but without a commitment to change, Florida would not be 8th in the nation today.

All in all, it was a harebrained move by a politician who has demonstrated why it is a very good thing to have contested primaries: voters can figure out who’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I feel compelled to point out that this would not have been a contested primary had the NRSC had its way.  More proof that the NRSC should stay out of local politics until after the primary voters have had the opportunity to have their say.

Allahpundit:

 And then Mack abandons ship:

Gov. Charlie Crist’s political mentor, former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, resigned Thursday as Crist’s campaign chairman in his race for the U.S. Senate…

“As you know, I strongly disagree with your veto,” Mack wrote his fellow Republican. “Your veto I believe undermines our education system in Florida and the principles for which I have always stood.”

Mack went on to say that Crist’s decision to veto the bill was “unsupportable and wrong.”

“As you can understand, I can no longer serve as chairman for your campaign for the United States Senate,” Mack wrote.

I know today’s veto was a big deal but it surely wasn’t so big that Mack would cut ties to his own protege over it in an act of conscience. Either he’s using this as a pretext to head for the lifeboats because the Republican nomination is now officially unwinnable or Crist’s told him privately that he’s running as an independent and Mack refuses to go against the party. Either way, Crist’s days as a Republican Senate candidate are over. Say, John Cornyn — you and the NRSC endorsed Crist almost a year ago, didn’t you? How are you feeling this fine evening?

I've said all along that Crist running as an Independent would be an act of throwing good money after bad.  It won't help him and simply feeds in to Crist's reputation as being an opportunist.  If he wants any chance of preserving his political career, Crist needs to bow out gracefully.  I'm not sure that "graceful" is currently on Crist's radar.  In any case, Crist has learned that you can't run as a Republican while, literally, embracing Democrats.






H/T Instapundit

Let the Party Begin UPDATED

Thank you to Doug Ross, No Sheeples Here, Marathon Pundit, and Paco for the links!

Things are starting to kick in here in Tampa.  I don't have a crowd estimate yet because people are absolutely streaming in to Joe Chillura Park here in downtown Tampa.  Enjoy the pictures I've gotten so far.  I will be updating as frequently as possible.

These two were my bench buddies for a while.

Nice little crowd has gathered now.

Video of "God Bless America"

I saw two anti-Tea Party protesters.  The first, a young girl, carried a sign that said, "The street that you are standing on?  Thank taxes."  She seemed a bit confused.  I didn't get a good look at the second guy.  Poor thing, the people by him obviously take very seriously the slogan, "We surround them."  I am thinking he wishes he had stayed home.

The Rubio and Adams supporters were out in force.  Great to see.  Eddie Adams is running against Kathy Castor here in the 11th District.  Today is the second time I've listenned to Adams speak in public and I am impressed with him.  Marco Rubio would have been here today but he recently learned that his father's cancer has returned and Rubio was spending time with him.. My prayers to him and his family.

Congradulations to Sharon Calvert and John Hendrix for doing such a great job putting this whole thing together.  All of their very hard work paid off.

I have more video but I am having trouble uploading.  Maybe tommorrow.  In the meantime, today was a good day!

Today is the Big Day!

I will be in Tampa participating in the Tampa Tax Day Tea Party event.  I will at the event as both a participant and a volunteer.  I have signed up to be the "official" videographer so please, wish me luck.

Some random thoughts on today.

This is an opportunity for all of us, across the country, to stand up together and make our voices heard.  Don't sit on the couch, get up.  If you are unhappy with the direction this country is taking find the Tea Party event closest to you and go.  If you have to work today, stop by on your way home.  Pick up the kids after school and take them to an event.  This is democracy and our children should be given the opportunity to see it in action. 

There has been alot of talk about infiltrators and crashers this year.  It is what it is and I can't think of any surer sign that the Tea Party has been successful than the ugliness directed our way by the Left.  Don't be intimidated and let yourself to be compromised by the Left's aggression.  Take pictures and if you don't have a blog and don't know where to send them to, email them to me at ctsloset@gmail.com and I will get them out there.

Remember, the choice isn't between standing up and sitting down.  The choice is between standing up and laying down.  Let's stand up together.

Happy partying and stay safe out there.

Sean Hannity and Marco Rubio at The Villages

Tonight Marco Rubio appeared at The Villages of Florida where Sean Hannity was taping his show and doing a book signing.  Hannity's guests included Rubio, Lt. Col. Alan West, Coach Lou Holtz, and Tucker Carlson.  I learned an important lesson about attending the taping a show at an outdoor venue-the closer you are the less you see and you hear nothing.  I was about 20 feet from the stage and didn't see a thing.  I moved back and was able to hear most of the show.

After the show I moved over to Rubio's bus and got a video of Rubio talking to the crowd and then went to the book signing. The line went down the road forever.

Just as I took this picture the crowd broke out in a cheer.  I turned just in time to see Sean Hannity zoom by me in a golf court.  He passed barely five feet from me and I missed the picture.

All and all it was a wonderful time.  Lt. Col. Alan West is an inspiring speaker who will make a wonderful Congressman.  The crowd was enthusiastic and it is an incredible experience to see so many people come out in support of their country.  Any time that I get an opportunity to listen to Marco Rubio I am right there. 

Now I'm exhausted.  Enjoy the video but be kind, it is a first for me.

Joke of the Day: Congress

Ah, divine justice sprinkled with irony and wrapped in a chortle. What could be more perfect?

From Allahpundit:

NYT: ObamaCare may have accidentally stripped Congress of health coverage

As someone once said, “Heh.”

The law apparently bars members of Congress from the federal employees health program, on the assumption that lawmakers should join many of their constituents in getting coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges.

But the research service found that this provision was written in an imprecise, confusing way, so it is not clear when it takes effect.

The new exchanges do not have to be in operation until 2014. But because of a possible “drafting error,” the report says, Congress did not specify an effective date for the section excluding lawmakers from the existing program.

Under well-established canons of statutory interpretation, the report said, “a law takes effect on the date of its enactment” unless Congress clearly specifies otherwise. And Congress did not specify any other effective date for this part of the health care law. The law was enacted when President Obama signed it three weeks ago.

There must be a “how dumb are they?” joke that is just perfect for this moment. The whole damn Democratic caucus was so smug when they passed this crap sandwich. What do they say-act in haste, repent at leisure?

No doubt this little oversight will be fixed. In the mean time, let’s all have a good laugh.

It is Me, Sean and Marco Tomorrow Night!

Okay, so it is more like Sean Hannity and Marco Rubio will be at the Villages tomorrow night along with Lt. Col. Alan West and Lou Holtz and I'll be one of the thousands there to greet them.  Unless I do something to embarrass myself in a really big way they won't even know I'm there.  If anyone knows of a way that I can call attention to myself without getting arrested, please let me know.  (If you are willing to make bail...no, no, well, no)

I'll have my brand new HD video recorder with me and with any luck I will learn how to use it before tomorrow night.  It is a two plus hour drive so more than likely it will be Wednesday before anything is up.

Anywho, I am stoked! 

Rubio has Gone From Way Ahead to Way, Way Ahead of Crist

It does matter if whether you are looking at a head to head match between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist or a three way race between Rubio, Crist and likely Democratic challenger Kendrick Meek, Rubio is kicking hind quarters.  Rassmussen  has Rubio supported by 57% of likely Republican voters versus Crist's paltry 28%.  Rubio has a double digit lead over Meek.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air is reporting that George Will may have driven a stake through the vampire Le Crist's heart:

A recent debate on “Fox News Sunday” illustrated the differences between the few politicians who are, and the many who are not, willing to face facts. Marco Rubio, the former speaker of Florida’s House of Representatives who is challenging Gov. Charles Crist for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, made news by stating the obvious.

Asked how the nation might address the projected $17.5 trillion in unfunded Social Security liabilities, Rubio said that we should consider two changes for people 10 or more years from retirement. One would raise the retirement age. The other would alter the calculation of benefits: Indexing them to inflation rather than wage increases would substantially reduce the system’s unfunded liabilities.

Neither idea startles any serious person. But Crist, with the reflex of the unreflective, rejected both and said that he would fix Social Security by eliminating “waste” and “fraud,” of which there is little. The system’s problems are the result not of incompetent administration but of improvident promises made by Congress.

Synthetic indignation being the first refuge of political featherweights, Crist’s campaign announced that he believes Rubio’s suggestions are “cruel, unusual and unfair to seniors living on a fixed income.” They are indeed unusual, because flinching from the facts of the coming entitlements crisis is the default position of all but a responsible few, such as Wisconsin’s Rep. Paul Ryan, who has endorsed Rubio. What is ultimately cruel is Crist’s unserious pretense that America faces only palatable choices and that improvident promises can be fully funded with money currently lost to waste and fraud.

At the age of 52 I can say that I don't much worry about retirement.  I can afford not to worry because for a long, long time I have religiously contributed to a 401K.  Prior to the 401K I contributed to an ESOP.  I can't remember thinking that I would depend on Social Security in my retirement years and I have a hard time believing that anyone in my general age group would count on Social Security being there for them.  Still, Rubio and Ryan are among the very few politicians who will admit that Social Security needs a major overhaul and that people in my group need to make alternate plans.  Everyone knows it but no one is willing to say it.  Crist's "fraud and abuse" shtick would be laughable were it not such a serious matter.

The filing deadline for the election is only days away and Crist is still insisting that he is not considering an independent run.  Should he not choose to run as an Independent I can't see him making it to the August primary.  Crist is no longer raking the money in and Rubio is. 

My prediction:  it will be down to Rubio and Meek by the end of June and in November it will be Rubio all the way.

Kerry, Lieberman and Graham, Oh, My!

Despite the fact that every day the false prophets of Global Warming are confronted with the evidence of their duplicity, they still have a friend in John Kerry:

"Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman will unveil their proposal later this month," Kerry spokeswoman Whitney Smith said, adding Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was "committed to making this Congress the one that finally passes comprehensive energy and climate legislation."

… Electric utilities would be the first sector to have pollution controls imposed -- starting in 2012 -- through a "cap and trade" system to bring down carbon emissions with required permits that would be traded in a regulated market.

Factories would join the pollution-reduction system in 2016, industry and environmental sources have been told.

A third sector, transportation, would see a tax levied on refined oil products, a Senate source told Reuters last week, with the expectation it would be passed on to consumers when they buy gasoline and other fuel products.

Well, this must mean that by 2012 all of our economic woes will have been solved. Why else would Kerry, Graham and Lieberman be working on legislation that will by design increase to energy costs to every single American? Think about it, not only would it cost more to heat and cool our homes, and drive our cars, but every good and service that we consume would cost more as well. This comes at the same time that our government is kicking around the idea of instituting a VAT. Perhaps, Sen. Kerry should ask his chauffer what a gallon of gas costs these days, though, I doubt the skyrocketing cost of fuel has the same impact on Kerry as it does the rest of us.

Unlike the politicians who enact legislation based on nothing more than their personal, often skewed vision, any increase in the cost of fuel, electricity, food, etc., has an enormous impact on American families. We simply cannot afford to continue funding Washington’s pet projects.

Congress has just gone through one bruising fight. Are they ready for another one?

Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens Threaten Cheap Publicity Stunt

From the Sunday, London Times:

Richard Dawkins: I will arrest Pope Benedict XVI

RICHARD DAWKINS, the atheist campaigner, is planning a legal ambush to have the Pope arrested during his state visit to Britain “for crimes against humanity”.

Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author, have asked human rights lawyers to produce a case for charging Pope Benedict XVI over his alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

The pair believes they can exploit the same legal principle used to arrest Augusto Pinochet, the late Chilean dictator, when he visited Britain in 1998.

Whatever one thinks of the merit of Dawkins’ case, this smacks of a cheap publicity trick. I am a fan of Hitchens’ work, though I more often than not disagree with him. It saddens me to see him involve himself in an endeavor that appears to be more about ego and self-promotion than justice.

The children who have been abused under the eyes of the Catholic Church deserve justice and some measure of closure. Neither is to be found in a stunt. Dawkins and Hitchens, both known for their heavily inflated egos are acting out of religious hatred and self-promotion while trying to appear to have noble intentions. I would suggest that both should take a deeper, more honest look at their motivations before they continue.

Those Crazy Kids in California Strike Again

Is California the easiest punchline in the world, or what?  Even in the throes of a financial crisis our brethren in Cali make no effort to curb their craziness.  Don Surber has a great post on the abject silliness on the State of Insanity, (or is it inanity?) known as California.  This pretty much sums it up:

LOS ANGELES (AP) – When the city’s Department of Water and Power spent $50,000 on lactation consultants two years ago to assist breast-feeding employees, the utility said it was a humanitarian move aimed at cutting absenteeism.

Okay. 

As a mother who breast fed both of her children, I freely admit that it does not come as easily or naturally as one might think.  However, it also would not have occurred to me that my employer owed me a lactation  consultant.  In the case of the Water and Power Department in LA, the taxpayers are the one's providing the consultants.  This in a city, within a state, who can't pay its bills now.

But why stop there?  Why not provide "diaper changing consultants"?  Not for the newborns, but for the adult children of California who somehow believe that the Government should take care of all their basic and most personal needs. 

Read the entire post.

Frank Rich is a Pompous Ass but Don't Expect Him to Apologize

Frank Rich, of the New York Times, out does himself:

No One is to Blame for Anything

Pardon me, and pardon the pun, but coming from Frank Rich, the song Who's Sorry Now is just too rich.  In one article, Rich managed to tar Alan Greenspan, the Catholic Church, George Bush and everyone who everyone worked for him including, presumably, the White House switchboard operator, etc.  I'm not saying Rich is 100% wrong in his criticism.  It doesn't matter if he is he is right or wrong. 

Frank Rich lacks the moral authority to call anybody out.  If anyone owes an apology it is Rich.  He owes an apology to the millions of patriotic Americans that he has smeared because they dared to disagree with his point of view.  He has repeatedly called every day Americans "racists" because he didn't like their positions on ObamaCare, Cap and Trade, and a myriad of Obama policies.  He vilifies people for thinking for themselves.

I note that Rich didn't include himself on the list of people who owe an apology.  He should have.

Tell the EPA to Stay the Hell Out of Our Homes

I've written about Cap and Trade on many occasions.  Today, Bob Belevedere at The Camp of the Saints, has a Cap and Tax post that hits home.  Literally.

Pull Over The Side Of The Road And Let Me See Your House License

If the Cap And Trade Bill passes, it seems that you will need an EPA-approved license before you can sell your house.

The Mind Numbed Robot is on the case, thanks to a reader who wrote this [big tip of the fedora to The Daley Gator]:

Beginning one year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won’t be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this “Cap & Trade” bill, passed by the House of Representatives. If it is also passed by the Senate, it will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced.

The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure that these voters will get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. And Mrs. Middle Class have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else..

But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won’t be able to sell your house without some bureaucrat’s OK. Yes, you read that right.

The caveat (there always is a caveat) is that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes (“mobile homes”) are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

I can't put in to words what it meant to me, as a single mother, to find a house that I could afford to buy.  A little "cracker" cottage sitting on the inlet, the house was built in 1923.  As a housewarming present my parents replaced the existing front porch with a Victorian style porch and the Saturday after the closing, Dad brought over a keg and my friends all gathered to get the house ready to move in to.  The women painted while the men went about cutting down a huge oak tree that looked like would come down on its own with one good shove.  The mighty oak proved stronger than it looked.  Good times.

As much as I love the house, it has become a burden.  I completely underestimated what it would cost to maintain a house this old.  Every day it is something else.  The porch has seen too many hurricanes and is being redone next weekend.  It is always something.  Now that the kids have grown and gone and the dogs have died, it isn't the same and I am ready to move on.

A little over a year ago, a (possible) miracle occurred.  The county rezoned my property as part of a revitalization plan.  The house may not be worth squat but the 130 feet of waterfront land is.  Of course we are smack in the middle of a housing bust and there isn't a whole lot of development going on.  Which brings me (finally) to my point.  Under the new EPA rules, I may need to bring my house into compliance, even though it will be torn down.  

The EPA has outgrown its mandate.   The department is injecting itself into every aspects of our lives.  Now they are coming in to our homes.  Private decisions made by and between private individuals are none of the government's concern.  If the government can can enter our homes, what is left?

We cede our rights without realizing it because the government moves slowly and quite frankly, we don't pay much attention.  But now the government has accelerated the pace.  We need to stand up and tell the government that it's power ends at the edge of our property not inside our front door.  It is time to start paying attention.
  

*Note to developers who may be reading-the time to make an offer is before the EPA puts its regulations in place and before the housing market comes back.  Just saying.

Another Grim Tale of Health Care Denied

Congressman Bart Stupak's words about ObamaCare from his resignation speech this morning:

Last month, we finally accomplished what I set out to do 18 years ago - we passed comprehensive national health care reform.

I'm proud to have helped bring it across the finish line for an important reason - it will significantly improve the health and prosperity of our Michigan families.

32 million more Americans, including 38,000 people living in Northern Michigan, will now have health insurance.

More than 197,000 in Northern Michigan will see their costs lowered, and all families will receive important consumer protections so that they no longer have to live in fear of being one illness or injury away from bankruptcy.

And from Don Surber, the grim reality of nationalised health care:

That’s right. Nikki Phelps, a 37-year-old mother of twin 2-year-old boys, and her husband, Bill, have to sell their $300,000 home in order to pay for a cancer fighting drug that her insurer shamelessly won’t provide.

The couple already has depleted its life savings on this drug in her 10-year battle against cancer.

The drug, Sutent, is said to double her life expectancy from her kidney cancer.

Yet there is nothing President Obama can do to force this insurer to do the right thing.

That’s because the insurer is the British government.

You see, Nikki and Bill Phelps live in England, where the mission of the universal health care program is to save money, not lives.

In England, the life and death decisions are made by a committee called the NICE panel.  As Paul Krugman admitted a week ago, ObamaCare empowers an "advisory board" whose decisions on care will be, Krugman said between fits of laughter, final.  Final, indeed.

Haven't heard Nancy or Harry, or even good ol' Bart say too much about the "advisory board".   Never a good idea to let the cat out of the bag too early.  But look to Great Britain or Canada for a clear picture of the future of health care here.  And then vote in November.

Rep. Alan Grayson Sets a Dollar Value on His Constituents

Congressman Alan Grayson said, “There are 308 million people that pay my salary. Do you know what that breaks down to per person?”

An utterly perfect statement followed by an utterly perfect question.  Really.  The short answer is .000564935 cents.  For simplicity's sake let's round up and say that Rep. Grayson's salary of $174,000 per year divided by 308 million citizens is .0006 cents. 

Rep. Alan Grayson had found himself in an untenable position-he had been out of the news for almost one week.  His insatiable ego was growing restless and he needed something to put himself back in the spotlight.  Viola!  The Orange County (Florida) Republican Executive Committee was holding a meeting in public.  Just the venue he needed to thrust himself back in to the news.

And thus it began:

On Thursday, April 8th, 2010, Congressman Alan Grayson, Democrat in Florida’s 8th district, interrupted a district meeting of the local Orange County Republican Executive Committee. The meeting was being held at Perkins, a family restaurant.

…Matthew Falconer, candidate for Orange County Mayor, quickly challenged Alan’s rudeness. Grayson demanded not to be interrupted, but Falconer quickly reminded the congressman that he is in fact interrupting their meeting.

Linda O’Keefe, member of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee and extraordinary patriot volunteer with the Orlando Tea Party said, “I’m wondering if Grayson realizes that we do still, for now, have the right to assemble! But can’t we have a meeting without being interrupted by our congressman?”

Currently, there are 12, Republican candidates looking to send Alan Grayson to the unemployment line in November.

Tom Tillison of the Tea Party Patriots Live radio show and the Orlando Tea Party, had quite a lively discussion with Alan afterwards for 10 minutes. Tillison said, “I let him know that he’s a congressman and he needs to act like one. I reminded him that these are his constituents.” Tillison asked Grayson, “Don’t you feel that you at least owe them an explanation for your recent votes?”, to which Alan replied, “I don’t owe them anything, they’re trying to defeat me.”

Tillison followed, “You are a U.S. Congressman and you approach these people acting like a thug.”….to which Grayson responded that he was “being attacked.”

It was during this outburst that Rep. Alan Grayson let his constituents in Florida's 8th District know exactly how much they are worth to him- .0006 cents.  Their opinions mean the same to him as do the opinions of all the other 308 million people in the United States.  Not even one penny.  Bet they feel special now.

Unable to Defeat Rubio, Crist Goes After Bush

Crist Threatens to Veto GOP Education Bill (Update: Crist Won't Rule Out Independent Run)

"The people" versus the Republican legislature?

BY John McCormack

On the same day that Marco Rubio announced he raked in a whopping $3.6 million in first quarter, Charlie Crist offered the latest signal yet that he may drop out of the Republican primary and run as an independent. Crist is "making noise about a possible veto of the bill that abolishes teacher tenure and tying teacher pay to test scores," the St. Petersburg Times reports.

Crist said he "would absolutely agree" that he is now setting himself apart from the Republican-controlled Legislature, saying: "If there are things that are happening that you don't think are in the best interest of the people of Florida, you know, I stand up for them, and that's what I'm doing," Crist said.

The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Thomas adds context: "Charlie goes nuclear on Republicans"

[Crist] vetoed a political fund raising bill sought by legislative Republicans. He has joined the call for a federal investigation into abuse of the state party’s AMEX.

He has pledged to veto an insurance regulation bill sought by Republicans.

And now in a major “in your face” to Jeb Bush and state party chairman John Thrasher, he says he may veto a merit pay bill for teachers, along with an end to tenure. Bush is the driving force behind this bill, and has enlisted Sen. Thrasher, a longtime ally.

If Crist carries through with the veto threat, Jeb will endorse Marco in short order and Charlie will have no friends left in the party’s hierarchy. That means no money, no endorsements, no nothing. His odds of winning in August will go from real slim to less than none barring some major revelation about Marco.

Charlie was stung by Bush's pronouncement that his (Crist's) support of the Stimulus bill was "unforgivable".
He had counted on Jeb to let the Stimulus screw up to pass without comment.  But Bush didn't, and now Crist is hitting back by trying to torpedo Bush's pet project, education reform and in doing so Crist is trying to curry favor with Florida's very powerful Teacher's Union just in case he decides to run for Senate as an Independent.  
 
Crist has no more chance of winning as an Independent than he does as a Republican but an Independent run would make it more difficult, though certainly not impossible, for Marco Rubio to defeat Democrat Kendrick Meek.  Crist decision comes down to one thing-how vindictive does he want to be?  Crist had expected a cakewalk in to the Senate.  When Rubio emerged as the new darling of the Republican Party despite the NRSC's backing of Crist, Crist was caught flatfooted.  
 
With no chance of winning, Crist may well decide to put his pride ahead of his party. 

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Voters Are Stupid

That Debbie, she’s a hoot, isn’t she? Her latest attempt to show her contempt for the voters in her district:

Rep. Wasserman Schultz Insists Health Care Law Doesn't Require Individuals to Buy Insurance
 
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D.-Fla.) is insisting that the new health care law she voted for last month does not mandate that individuals buy health insurance, despite language in the law that plainly says otherwise.

At an April 5 town hall meeting in Fort Lauderdale (see video below), a constituent asked Wasserman Shultz where the Constitution authorized Congress to mandate that individuals buy health insurance. She responded that the new health care law did not require individuals to buy health insurance.

In a written statement to CNSNews.com on Wednesday, her press secretary, Jonathan Beeton, said it was true that the health care law did not mandate that individuals buy health insurance and that Wasserman Schultz stood by her assertion at the townhall meeting.

“We actually have not required in this law that you carry health insurance,” Wasserman Schultz said at the townhall meeting.

“Yes, this is accurate,” Beeton said in his statement to CNSNews.com. “You have a choice of insuring yourself with affordable coverage, or paying an assessment that will offset the burden you place on other insured Americans and taxpayers by not being insured.”

 Okay, we don't have to buy insurance but we have to pay for it either in premiums or penalties.  That is what constitutes "choice" in Wasserman Schultz's mind.  In either case the government is forcing individuals to pay for something that they may not want.  Wasserman Schultz's cutesy parsing of the facts shows her disdain for the voters in her district coupled with an inability or unwillingness to honestly explain and defend her vote on ObamaCare.

The Obama Administration Clarifies What Is and Is Not Acceptable Speech

Breaking News! The Obama Administration will no longer use the terms “Islamic terrorist”, “Radical Islam”, or “Islamic jihad”. It was announced that the terms “Conservative terrorist”, “Radical Conservative” and “Tea Baggers” are still acceptable and should be used to describe the Administration’s enemies as often as possible.

The MSM is Acting Odder Than Usual

I don’t which came as a bigger shock-that the MSM suddenly discovered minority Tea Party members or that CNN, mid ratings free fall, has discovered that the Tea Party activists are just swell. Michelle Malkin explains the CNN epiphany:


Desperate CNN: Hey, those Tea Party nuts aren’t so bad after all. Please, please tune in!

Don’t expect the “minorities are Tea Ba**gers, too” theme to catch on. First, admitting that Tea Party events are minority friendly contradicts the “Tea Ba**gers are knuckle dragging, robe and pointy hat wearing racists” theme which is so important to those in the media who would rather attack people than discuss ideas. Second, it is taken for granted by “progressives” that blacks and other minority groups owe fealty to the Democratic party. Any minority who supports conservative ideals is immediately stripped of their “authenticity”.

The CNN thing is amusing in a “who ya trying to fool?” way. If CNN thinks that Conservatives in general, or Tea Party activists in particular, will set aside years of being dumped on by the network because of one not completely horrible report they are going to be terribly disappointed.

In any case, both reports are snicker worthy and that in and of itself is a good thing.

Arianna Takes a Smacking

Via NewsBusters


Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared on the Morning Joe to talk about his recent endorsement of Marco Rubio in Florida’s upcoming Republican Senate primary. Also appearing on the show was Huff n Puff’s Arianna Huffington. Huffington, in typical airhead fashion, didn’t possess the needed attention span to stay on topic. Rather than discussing Rubio, Huffington attacked Giuliani on his hiring of Bernie Kerick, his failed presidential bid and his support of waterboarding.

Giuliani is certainly no wilting flower and he did not take kindly to Huffington’s personal attacks. He and host Scarborough teamed up and completely eviscerated Huffington. Hopefully (though doubtfully) Huffington will think twice the next time she’s contemplating getting personal with one of her betters.
 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Americans are Made of Sterner Stuff than Our European Cousins

I never thought I’d say this but, I disagree with Mark Steyn. Profoundly. He writes:

On the matter of Paul Rahe vs Mark Steyn raised yesterday, a couple of reactions. First:

With our near-permanent welfare class and a generation of kids who’ve been told that they are children into their late 20’s, I cannot imagine a prolonged revolt against Obamacare... When the outrage wanes, a lot of people are going to tell themselves that, well, if the government is giving things away, they might as well get in on it.

Second:

Plus there's the Katrina Culture. Did any of those "Help Us" types waiting on the "gubmit" to rescue them look capable of crossing the Delaware to you? They'd have been more inclined to steal Washington's boots.

Congressman Paul Ryan writes:

...In 2004, 20 percent of US households were getting about 75 percent of their income from the federal government.

In other words, one out of five families in America is already government dependent. Another 20 percent were receiving almost 40 percent of their income from federal programs, so another one in five has become government reliant for their livelihood.

All told, 60 percent - three out of five households in America - were receiving more government benefits and services (in dollar value) than they were paying back in taxes.

That is not the demographic profile of the 13 colonies.

It's not only a numbers game. Even in the 13 colonies, a majority of people were not of an actively "revolutionary" disposition. In the last 40 years, the left didn't hollow out every important American institution from the grade school to Hollywood because they represented mass opinion, but because they wanted it the most. The question is whether opponents of Obama's dependency culture are up to their own "long march".

Look, I’ll be the first to admit that we screwed up. I am including myself in that “we”. Card carrying, life long Republicans who espoused small government, less regulation, lower taxes, yada, yada, sat on our ever widening tushies while government grew and in turn, regulated and taxed the holy snot out of us. No excuses.

But, as Rahe points out (at the link) we are not EuroWeenies. It took a lot but we have seen the direction our government is going in and we are not buying tickets for that bus.

Keep our kids on our insurance until they turn 26? Please. By age twenty-six we expect our “children” to be adults. Yeah, those first few weeks when they leave are rough. Six months later we’ve changed the locks.

Katrina is not indicative of the citizens in this country as a whole. Have you heard about Charly, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne? Not so much? That’s because when those four hurricanes came in back to back and pounded Florida one after another we took care of ourselves and we took care of each other. Think of the devastating floods we had. Do you hear about them months, let alone years later? No. The citizens of New Orleans may not be up to crossing the Delaware but those of us who haven’t spent our entire existence sucking on the government’s teat damn well are.

The people in New Orleans waited for the government to rescue them while buses sat unused and eventually flooded. No one else in this country aspires to that.

It was pretty darned easy getting in to this mess and it’ll be pretty darned hard getting out. But we will get out. Remember, we left Europe for a reason.

It's Hard to Hide from Bad Choices

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and Rep. Paul Hodes returned to New Hampshire and found the reception a bit chilly, or as Politico put it:


Spring forecast: Incivility with a chance of rage

Is anyone surprised that after being fed a steady diet of crap sandwiches since January 20, 2009 that constituents have developed a bad case of indigestion? If anyone in Congress bought the Pelosi/Reid/Obama “just vote for it, they’ll get over it” line they will find out in short order that it wasn’t just the voters who were fed something less than savory.

The members in Congress had a choice to make-they could either represent their constituents or they could lick the boots of their party leadership. I’m guessing that right about now many in Congress are deciding that the taste of leather is not so sweet. By November, the taste will have turned down right bitter.

This Isn't News to Me

Talk about blowing the narrative.

The Hill:

Four in 10 Tea Party members are either Democrats or Independents, according to a new national survey.

Not quite the demographics pushed by, well, everyone. Everyone on the Left anyway. Of course, if you actually attend a Tea Party event it becomes oblivious rather quickly that they are made up of a diverse group of people whose major commonality is a desire to get government out of their lives.

The national breakdown of the Tea Party composition is 57 percent Republican, 28 percent Independent and 13 percent Democratic, according to three national polls by the Winston Group, a Republican-leaning firm that conducted the surveys on behalf of an education advocacy group. Two-thirds of the group call themselves conservative, 26 are moderate and 8 percent say they are liberal…

…The group is united around two issues – the economy/jobs and reducing the deficit. They believe that cutting spending is the key to job creation and favor tax cuts as the best way to stimulate the economy. That said 61 percent of Tea Party members believe infrastructure spending creates jobs. Moreover, given the choice Tea Party members favor 63-32 reducing unemployment to 5 percent over balancing the budget.

It isn’t a “purely homogeneous” group, said Winston.

The group has a favorable view of Republicans generally but that drops from 71 to 57 percent if they’re asked about Congressional Republicans. Congressional Democrats are viewed very unfavorably by 75 percent of Tea Party members – a uniquely strong antipathy. An overwhelming 95 percent said “Democrats are taxing, spending, and borrowing too much.”

The group also vehemently dislikes President Barack Obama – even more so than those who called themselves Republicans in the survey. Over 80 percent of Tea Party members disapprove of the job he’s doing as president, whereas 77 percent of Republican respondents said they disapprove of Obama. The Tea Party members are also strongly opposed to the Democrats’ healthcare plan, with 82 percent saying they oppose it -- only 48 percent of respondents overall were opposed.

The Tea Party represents an ideology of what government should be. Yes, the Tea Party does lean towards the Republican Party but that does not mean that Republican’s can count on their vote. Republicans who veer towards the same old big government tax and spend coupled with heavy regulation (paging Sen. Graham) can find themselves in a world of trouble with the Tea Party members.

Least surprising is that there are Democrats who have become Tea Party activists. Not all Democrats are Barack Obama Socialist Liberals. Many, who have never voted for a Republican in their lives, are deeply unhappy with the direction that their party has taken.

Regardless of the makeup of the Tea Party, it has become a force to be reckoned with. One can either rail against it, ala The New York Times and MSNBC, or make fun of it ala Maher, but ignore it strictly at your own peril.

Gen. Petraeus for President?

Can our brothers across the pond be as sick of the One and Only as we are?  Toby Harnden, writing in the Telegraph, pretty aptly sums up the political mood stateside:

Americans have never been so disgusted with their politicians. More than three-quarters of Americans disapprove of Congress. President Barack Obama's favourability ratings have slumped to below 50 per cent and he is no longer trusted or believed by many who voted for him.

Republicans are faring little better and the growth of the Tea Party movement reflects the widespread disgust with Washington and the political class. Incumbents across the board are vulnerable in November's mid-term elections.

Many voters yearn for an outsider, someone with authenticity, integrity and proven accomplishment. Someone who has not spent their life plotting how to ascend the greasy pole, adjusting every utterance for maximum political advantage.

In this toxic climate, perhaps the only public institution that has increased in prestige in recent years is the American military. Its officers are looked upon, as General George Patton once noted, as "the modern representatives of the demi-gods and heroes of antiquity".

Where better to look for Obama's successor, therefore, than in the uniformed ranks? Not since 1952, when a certain Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during the Second World War, was elected President, have the chances of a military man winning the White House been more propitious.

Harnden's answer to what ails America-Gen. David Petraeus.  Well, we could do worse.  Petraeus is brilliant, accomplished and disciplined.  In other words, he is not Obama.  There is just one small problem, Petraeus insists that he isn't running. No how, no way, "read my lips"... I think he's interested.
 
Americans are looking for someone they can trust.  Having dedicated his life in service of the United States, Petraeus fits the bill.  Beyond that, Petraeus is plain spoken.  Lord knows, we are sick to death of nuance.  Pair him up with Rep. Paul Ryan and we have leadership.
 
Remember leadership?  The Pansy Gang from Chicago isn't leadership.  Smoke and mirrors isn't leadership.  We have dug ourselves into a deep dark hole and sweet talk, the forte of politicians, won't get us back out.  A Petraeus/Ryan team could have the right combination of backbone and intelligence to put us back on track.
 
Certainly worth thinking about.

Easter Smiles

TrogloPundit has the The Week in Automotivators.  Each are very good but the last is my favorite.  While there, check out Trog's current favorite quote and favorite picture.  Well done, Sir Trog.

Paco and POWIP both remind us that our Lord is Risen.

From Weasel Zippers:

John 11:25-26


Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die

Michelle Malkin couples news of the day with inspirational videos.

On an entirely different note, the Brideof Rove brings Easter greetings from the Keys.  Only in my beloved Florida...

Obi's Sister brings us the empty tomb and Five Reasons to Love Him.

Please enjoy the greetings from Coffee Milk Conservative, Ruby Slippers, Adrienne's Corner, Pundette and No Sheeples Here.

Mark Steyn Explains All

If there is anything that the Obama people can put in the the "success" column, it is that with breakneck speed, Obama has succeeded in offending and alienating our closest allies.  It is the one thing that Obama has done well, very well.  Mark Steyn explains all:

There is much speculation on the “root cause” of presidential antipathy to America’s formerly closest ally. It is said his grandfather was ill treated by the authorities in colonial Kenya in the 1940s, which seems as good a basis as any on which to reorder 21st century bilateral relations, or at any rate as good as the proportion of the Canadian overseas-aid budget devoted to abortion promotion. But I doubt insensitive British policing two-thirds of a century ago weighs that heavy on the president. After all, his brother back in Kenya lives on twelve bucks a year, and that doesn’t seem to bother him, so it’s hard to see why ancient slights to his grandfather would — except insofar as they confirm the general biases of his collegiate-Left worldview.

In that sense, those who argue that, having been born in Hawaii and been at grade school in Indonesia, he lacks the instinctive Atlanticism of his predecessors are missing the point. Yes, he has no instinctive Atlanticism. But that’s not because of a childhood spent in the Pacific but because of an adulthood spent among the campus Left from Bill Ayers to Van Jones, not to mention Jeremiah Wright. That also conveniently explains not just the anti-Atlanticism but the anti-Zionism, at least until the scholars uncover some sinister Jewish banker in Nairobi who seized the family home after the braying Brit-imperialist toff tossed Grampa Obama behind bars. Perhaps a singing Mountie yodeling selections from Rose-Marie beneath his jailhouse window all night explains the president’s revulsion to Canadian Arctic policy. Perhaps the Gujarati fakir sharing his cell and keeping Grampa up all night with his snake charming accounts for Obama’s 18-month cold shoulder to India. And you can hardly blame him postponing his trip to Australia given the lingering resentments after Grampa was bitten by a rabid wombat down by the billabong who then ran off with his didgeridoo.

Well, there you have it.  But our collectively snubbed allies can take comfort in this-Obama doesn't much like us, either.

One gets the feeling that Obama's dismissiveness towards Americans lies in his exaggerated view of. well, himself.  We are, frankly, too small for Obama.  We just don't get the New World Order that Obama is gifting us with.  We just don't get the Greatness that is Obama.  How wearying it must be to lead a nation of rubes.

We unevolved simply wish to go about our lives untethered to the Obama largess.  We selfishly believe that the money we earn belongs in our pockets rather than the government's coffers.  In our ignorance, we foolishly believe that we should decide how much of our money should be spent and what it should be spent on. 

Everything that Obama cares about is encompassed in the reflection in his mirror.  Everything and everyone else, citizen and ally alike, are mere nuisances standing between him and his perceived realization of Self.  I am on my own journey and I haven't the time to bow to Obama.

John 10:17-18


(17) For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (18) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

May our Lord's blessings be with each of you on this happy and miraculous day.

The MSM: Pushing a Myth

About mid-day Friday I got the migraine from Hell. I got home from work around 6:30, put myself to bed and didn’t get back out until this morning. I skipped Saturday altogether. Looking over Memeorandum,I’m half wishing I had skipped today as well.


So far this morning I’ve learned that from Instapundit that at least one Democratic congressman doesn’t care about our Constitution:



From there, I took a trip over to American Power where I see that The New York Times has combined a picture of the Weathermen, our President’s favorite terrorist group (I presume) with a picture of Tea Party activists, our President’s least favorite patriots:

Frank Rich follows in the Times with It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, It’s Barack Obama! in which he gives us this pearl:

NOT since Clark Kent changed in a phone booth has there been an instant image makeover to match Barack Obama's in the aftermath of his health care victory. “He went from Jimmy Carter to F.D.R. in just a fortnight,” said one of the “Game Change” authors, Mark Halperin, on MSNBC.

Apparently they don’t have access to the latest polls at the Times. Here’s a hint:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 32% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -10.

On health care, 53% of voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats. The latest weekly tracking shows that 54% favor repeal of the President’s health care plan. Those numbers will be updated on Monday morning.

Overall, 46% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-three percent (53%) disapprove.

Not quite Superman numbers, which explains the media’s need to marginalize the Tea Party. The media, including the New York Times, spent the run up to the election touting Obama as a World Savior. We lesser beings just didn’t see it. Now that Obama is nearly a year and a half on the job we have never before seen debt, ten percent unemployment, we’re shedding allies like a cheap sweater and we’ve all but lost our super power status. Rather, than honestly dealing with Obama failings the media spends it’s dwindling capitol demonizing anyone with the tenacity to point out that Emperor has no clothes.

Come November, Obama will be a lame duck president. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. How will the media play it then?

The "No Sh*t" Headline of the Day

From the Washington Examiner:

Obamacare was mainly aimed at redistributing wealth

Well, blow me down. Who would have ever thought that?

It hasn't attracted much notice, but recently some prominent advocates of Obamacare have spoken more frankly than ever before about why they supported a national health care makeover. It wasn't just about making insurance more affordable. It wasn't just about bending the cost curve. It wasn't just about cutting the federal deficit. It was about redistributing wealth.

Health reform is "an income shift," Democratic Sen. Max Baucus said on March 25. "It is a shift, a leveling, to help lower income, middle income Americans."

In his halting, jumbled style, Baucus explained that in recent years "the maldistribution of income in America has gone up way too much, the wealthy are getting way, way too wealthy, and the middle income class is left behind." The new health care legislation, Baucus promised, "will have the effect of addressing that maldistribution of income in America."

At about the same time, Howard Dean, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and presidential candidate, said the health bill was needed to correct economic inequities. "The question is, in a democracy, what is the right balance between those at the top ... and those at the bottom?" Dean said during an appearance on CNBC. "When it gets out of whack, as it did in the 1920s, and it has now, you need to do some redistribution. This is a form of redistribution."

Summing things up in the New York Times, the liberal economics columnist David Leonhardt called Obamacare "the federal government's biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago."

Yeah, well, “prominent advocates of ObamaCare” are suddenly showing their true intentions on several fronts.

Those of us who haven’t been blinded by the moonbeams flying out of the asses of Obama’s unicorns could see this coming. Can anyone name any of Obama’s domestic policies that aren’t intended to redistribute wealth? Worse, nothing in Obama’s policies are uplifting. The policies are not designed to improve the overall economic health of the lower classes. Rather, the policies are aimed at bringing the middle and upper classes down. Obama’s “level playing field” is in the sub-basement and he envisions us all down there singing Kumbaya together. Well, not all of us. The ruling class, aka Obama and the other enlightened ones, will still be chillin’ in the penthouse.

As long as there people who are willing to spout nonsense and people who are willing to believe nonsense, votes will be bought and sold based the classist notion that rich people somehow cause poor people to be poor. This tripe allows the socialists among us to be charitable with other people’s money while keeping the lower classes down on the farm. It is a good deal for the ruling class and the loafing class. For the rest of us, it is just one long, slow screw.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

The urologist will not turn any patients away. The sign is simply his way of letting everyone know where he stands. According to a poll conducted by the Orlando Sentinel the doctor is getting plenty of support. Eighty-three percent of the respondents voted “Good for him” .

Most people are fair minded. They know that ObamaCare will not only have a negative impact on them but also on our doctors. They will likely end up working more hours at less pay and no tort reform means no protection. I can’t help wondering if now might not be a good time for doctors to unionize.

In any case, I echo the sentiments of the Sentinel readers, good for him. I wish more doctors would do the same.

Republicans Mimicking Democrats: The Gimme Money Edition

Three in Congress, Including Ron Paul, Defy GOP Ear Mark Ban

Three Republican congressmen have defied their party's decision to ban all earmarks for one year, a move that could cost them their committee posts.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Reps. Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana and Ron Paul of Texas have joined Rep. Don Young (AK) in requesting earmarks for the 2011 fiscal year, despite a House Republican caucus vote this month to institute a moratorium on earmarks for one year.

Those members' committee assignments could be on the line, according to a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner.

"The Leaders expect all House Republican members to comply with the moratorium," the spokesman, Michael Steel, said in an email. "There will be situations have some confusion on how these rules are implemented, but if Members are deliberately breaking the rules, it will be a serious matter and one that the Steering Committee will consider."

You would think that with the country in serious debt and about to have its bond rating lowered, that at least Republicans could act fiscally responsible. Unfortunately, it is hard to make people act responsibly when they are spending other people’s money.

Take Paul, for instance. His position is that the government takes too much money from citizens so he has a duty to his constituents to take as much of that money back from government as possible. That brilliant bit of circular logic has led to these ear mark requests from Paul:

Project Name: City of League City Streetscape
Recipient: City of League City
Recipient Street Address: 305 E. Main Street
Recipient City: League City
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77573
Requested Amount: $1,000,000

Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Installation of pedestrian enhancements to improve pedestrian access to transit. Includes sidewalks, ADA ramps, wayfinding signage,pedestrian lighting, bike racks, and other transit amenities such as benches and trash receptacles.

Project Name: Historic Downtown Redevelopment Project
Recipient: City of Baytown, Texas
Recipient Street Address: Baytown City Hall
Recipient City: Baytown
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77522
Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Historic Downtown Redevelopment project will transform and modernize Texas Avenue by redeveloping downtown into a premier destination for residents and visitors to live, work, and play. This project will support economic growth by creating a pedestrian friendly area with landscaped sidewalks and medians. The project also includes new benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and decorative street lighting.

Both admirable projects I am sure, but, is it really a good use of the taxpayer’s dime to be spent “prettying up” a couple of cities in Texas? Looking over Paul’s “wish list” I see several projects that belong in the “nice but not necessary” pile.

That is the problem with ear marks. Rather than using them to fund essential projects, Congressmen go on shopping sprees. Now we face a situation where it is time to put the national credit card away and pay for all those neato projects from the past. I would have thought that Republican Congressmen understood that. Apparently not in all cases

Irony Alert!

Anarchists plan to protest anti-government protest.

Apparently anarchists are in favor of massive government intervention, huge bureaucracies and ever increasing taxes.  Who knew?

Granted, Tea Party members aren't anti-government per se, they just prefer smaller government and greater personal freedom.  Once upon a time anarchist were in favor of no government and allowing everyone to do whatever they damned well pleased.  But the times have changed and now the anarchists have gone establishment.  And while we've been told that all violence emanates from the right, anarchists do still retain their penchant for 'causing a scene' so I would suggest to my fellow Tea Party activists that on April 15th it would be wise to document, document, document.  Yes, that is the media's job but when was the last time the media did its job?

For the details on the anarchists planned 'intervention' during the Tax Day Tea Parties read here.

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