The Oil Slick of Liberalism

Navy Seal Matt McCabe awaits trial for defending his country; Rev. Franklin Graham still hasn't heard back from the Commander-in-Chief about reversing the ban on Mr. Graham at the National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon, and Freddie Mac needs another bailout.Sounds like more of that change we're supposed to buy into.  Let's all continue to pray for young Matt McCabe that he, too, will be acquitted and that he can forgive his country for questioning his patriotism and personal sacrifice to keep us safe. Rev. Franklin Graham and his father, the beloved Rev. Billy Graham, generously and graciously received Barack Obama last week for a photo op so it would look as though Mr. Obama wanted to reach out to the Graham family in friendship following a drone attack on the Christian faith by the military.  During their chat, Rev. Graham spoke to Mr. Obama about being disinvited to offer prayers for Mr. Obama and all our leadership, our military, our nation and the world at the Pentagon today.  Mr. Obama assured Mr. Graham that he'd "look into it".  Barack Obama is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Military.  He can invite and disinvite any person he chooses to speak at a gathering at the Pentagon.  Was it Mr. Obama himself that sent down the order to make sure the Christian faith was not represented by Rev. Graham or was it one of his handlers, perhaps the same guy that had images of Christ covered up at Georgetown University last year during a presidential speech? Rev. Graham vows to show up today on the lawn of the Pentagon and exercise his right to free speech on this National Day of Prayer and he will pray in the name of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in spite of White House objection.

The subject of financial reform and breaking monopolies on Wall Street has taken a back seat these day due to an oil rig explosion, a law enforcing the law in Arizona and an attempted car bomb in Times Square.  The heated rhetoric and threats from the Administration in recent weeks to make sure nobody in the financial sector makes more money than the federal government deems appropriate has all but died away in recent days; there are more pressing issues.  That must be the reason that the news of Freddie Mac asking for over a $10 billion in bailout from us to overcome first quarter losses is only getting a notice in the crawler news at the bottom of TV screens this morning.  They've had at least $50 billion handed over to help balance their books but apparently that wasn't enough to cause Tim Geithner and his crew to shake up the leadership and demand the money changers come before Congressional grilling.  In fact, this Administration is so unconcerned about the waste, fraud and abuse coming from Fannie and Freddie, they've recommended quick passage of law to discipline every other entity involved in the mortgage industry and that they'll take a look at Fannie and Freddie "sometime in the next year."    The banks that so outrage this Administration actually have paid most or all of their borrowed money back; but Fannie and Freddie just keep asking for more and it somehow isn't headline news.

Pray, America.

Riot Police?

The President visited his adopted home state of Illinois yesterday.He spoke in Quincy to a hand-picked group of swooning supporters.  While he chided Americans with respect to how much money he thinks each ought to make, a peaceful group of tea partiers gathered on city streets outside.    Local police donned riot gear in order to 'control'  the suspected malefactors.  Sharpshooters monitored the tea party participants from roof tops with keen eyes set on grandfathers in lawn chairs suspiciously waving  American flags.  Surely, Mr. Obama and his team knew this display of force would be widely spread through videos and photos.  A message needed to be sent.  Interestingly enough, no YouTube videos have yet surfaced showing riot police patroling the Obama supporters that also lined streets to greet the motorcade.  Remember when the President of the United States didn't fear kindly grandmothers that simply want to express their concern over the country they are leaving behind?  Since when does the sitting President think its necessary to line the streets of small town America with heavily armed officers to keep an eye on returning war heroes?   Is it a threat to an Administration when law abiding, tax paying citizens join their neighbors on streets and sidewalks paved w/ their hard-earned dollars to hold up a homemade sign in peaceful dissent? 

When Mr. Obama promised to fundamentally change America,  little did we know the extreme he had in mind.  What can we expect now at future tea parties and patriotic 4th of July celebrations, honoring our Constitution and Founders?  Even more troubling is the anticipation of what might happen in November at voting locations.  Memorial Day will be here soon; a time to remember with humble, insufficient thanks those that served and died gallantly to protect our free speech and right to peacefully assemble. 

Is this change we can all believe in, or dare we hope for something much better?

Hair on Fire

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough commented yesterday that tea party patriots complaining about taxes "have their hair on fire" over nothing.I'm one of the very few Americans that ever watches Morning Joe for any length of time. Living in Colorado, that means I'm up at 4:00 a.m. to check on the day's liberal spin.  Joe and Mika both have admitted on air they get frequent emails during the show from White House staffers, so its a great source if you're interested in what story lines Rahm and David and the gang want put forth for the day. With few exceptions such as a great interview with NJ Gov. Chris Christy this week, Joe entertains the same old crowd of cronies, day in and day out.  Political heavy hitters such as White House correspondent, Chuck Todd, who keeps a daily watch on the Soup de Jour that is served in the West Wing cafeteria, John Meacham, editor of Newsweek and of  We're All Socialists Now fame and Gayle King, Oprah's sidekick who thinks Obama's greatest achievement has been the repairing of all our foreign relationships.  Maybe she's watched too many of her boss' episodes, but she loves being loved by the world.   None of these usual guests, along with most others, have ever had a decent thing to say about the Tea Party Patriots movement.  In fact, most talking heads on MSNBC have dug deep into their rhetorical arsenals for the most crude, improper, slanderous descriptions they can find to insult their fellow Americans.    One year ago, our President claimed he was "unaware" that tea parties were held across the nation, including a huge gathering right outside his door on the Washington Mall.  This year, Mr. Obama can't figure out why the tea partiers aren't thanking him.  Mr. Scarborough apparently agrees.  Afterall, no one earning under $250,000 per year has had a tax increase under the Obama watch, right?.  Why all the protest and noise?  Washington insiders can't figure it out, so as a member of the unwashed, chattering class, I'll attempt to enlighten them on some key points of dissent:

THE HEALTHCARE REFORM LEGISLATION that was passed inspite of the objection of the electorate is a big one.  Back room deals, Chicago-style political threats and arm twisting, elected government representatives selling their convictions and their souls in order to win political favors and more prompted many Americans to take to the streets on Thursday, April 15.  Oh, and the by the way, Joe, there's also the little matter of the $940 billion dollars (conservative estimate) this monster will cost which we actually don't have.  Where will the money come from?  Taxes, penalities and premium increases levied against the middle class, of course!

47% OF AMERICANS NO LONGER PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX, yet under Obama, more and more people are collecting  and consuming federally funded benefits and entitlements.  This isn't sustainable, Joe.   We are bracing for another big foreclosure  fiasco, both in homes and in commercial real estate.  We already know how our president will respond to that--a bailout charged to the middle class for generations to come.

MARGINAL TAX RATES ARE ON THE RISE FOR THE DECREASING NUMBER OF AMERICANS THAT ARE STILL PAYING OUR WAY.  We've noticed, Joe, that this administration stops at nothing to carry out its agenda.  We know our tax rates are headed upward, the Death tax will return, along with reinstatment of the marriage penalty.  Young families will get a smaller child tax credit.  More and more people will qualify for the Earned Income credit, but fewer among us will be picking up the slack, Joe. 

THE CAP AND TRADE BILL that is being quietly crafted in the model of the healthcare legislation (secret deals, doors slammed in the faces of Republicans asking to participate, using the Pelosi method of  'wait till its passed and then you'll see what's in the bill', and other honorable methods of ruling the people) will impose enormous taxes on all Americans.  It will become either very costly or impossible to buy and sell real estate which will likely equate to the Fed's buying up all private property.  Costs for energy will soar, while GE gets the contracts to produce all the new appliances and electric motors required for government compliance.  By the way, Joe, did you happen to hear that GE doesn't owe any taxes this year?  Apparently, they made all their money overseas and showed losses in the U.S., so that worked out well for your employer, right?  Good thing it wasn't a Big Oil company or Halliburton that didn't pay taxes, otherwise your guests would be rabid about the unfairness and demanding Congressional hearings. 

INCREASED DISCRETIONARY SPENDING BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION has risen by 24%, except for spending for the military and defense, which shows no increases even though our president reminds us that terrorism remains our biggest threat (please don't refer to the terrorists as Islamic extremists, though).  Somebody will pay for the increased spending.

THE CBO PREDICTS PUBLIC DEBT WILL GROW TO 90 % OF OUR GDP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.  Who suffers, Joe?  Who pays the interest on the debt?  Which future generation gets hit the hardest and pays the dearest price for this administration's complete disregard for fiscal responsibility and the caretaking of our financial future?  Who will listen to us, Joe?  We write our representatives and get form letters thanking us for our support and interest in return.  What else can be done besides grabbing a flag and heading out to a tea party?  We have no recourse until November, at which time the great bell of liberty will toll.

STIMULUS BILLS, BANK TAKE-OVERS, GOVT./ UNION TAKE-OVERS OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY and other big-government, Marxist-inspired interventions into the private sector and the private lives of Americans have outraged the general public.  We know the administration would love to take over the media and internet.  We know they are plotting bail-out's for failing newspapers instead of realizing the market drives whether or not a publication succeeds or fails.  If the govt. owns the big news corporations, they control what is disseminated to the people.  Fewer dissenting voices can be heard until they are silenced altogether. 

LIBERAL JUDGES LEGISLATING FROM THE BENCH is another outrage that has Americans saying 'enough'!  We expect all branches of our government to exercise their duties, yet refrain from over-stepping their Constitutionally mandated boundaries.

AMERICANS ARE PRETTY TICKED OFF, JOE, about high unemployment also.  Did you hear that our Chairman of the Federal Reserve just stated recently that unemployment will likely stay high for a good while longer and that the ONLY WAY TO OFFSET ALL THE INCREASED SPENDING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TO RAISE TAXES!  Paul Vocker agrees and tells us a VAT tax is really going to be needed, otherwise we can't sustain all the new spending.  Hair on fire over taxation, indeed!

CHINA AND OUR OTHER DEBTORS are worried about our ability to repay our massive debt, yet we have an administration that continues to pile on more and apparently, what we can't get in credit, we just print. 

WE ARE KINDA WORRIED ABOUT OUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, TOO, Joe.  Seems gun ownership isn't too popular amongst you Washington elites.  When we hear about proposed restrictions on gun ownership and our rights in general, we speak up, and since no one in Washington listens anymore, we take to the streets to defend our Constitution and Bill of Rights when we see them ignored, too.  We know liberals in Congress and the White House don't read bills anymore, and we know you guys in the media don't hold them accountable, so we have decided to hold all of you accountable for your failures.

UNDESERVING PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE HARD WORK OF OTHERS is another reason the folks are upset with this administration.   People that have worked hard all their lives to provide for their families and to be able to offer a charitable hand to neighbors truly in need are now considered selfish if we don't gladly pick up the tab for food, housing, clothing, transportation, health care, education and more for a growing number of people here legally and not, that use their addictions, laziness and entitlement mentalities to drain the rest of us.   The more they take, the less there will be for those that sincerely need assistance.  The media didn't have reports from the tea parties of violence or disorderly behavior, so instead, they have now decided to simply call all of us racists.  They are certain that the only people getting out in their communities in protest are white, older, wealthy Americans.  The tea parties I've attended include Americans of all ages, religions, income levels and races, but the camera crews for MSNBC never seem to find the cross section of faces or hear our voices.   

It is impossible for Barack Obama and the media types in his servitude to comtemplate the idea that his policies are dividing the country and more and more people from all backgrounds and walks of life are joining those old, white rich folks in city parks and courthouse squares to say NO to both the quiet, creeping take-over's and the blatant, overt assaults on the American way of life, our free markets and our personal freedoms given by God at birth.  By the way, Joe, the numbers of  'rich' people dwindle daily.

Joe Scarborough will never 'get it', but I wish he'd at least stop claiming to be a conservative Republican.  He gives the brand a bad name. Many of us are trying to improve our standing in the public eye by supporting true conservatives and those that take their oath to uphold the Constitution with integrity and commitment.  People like Joe keep setting that effort back.  Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll join his friend, fellow Floridian, Charlie Crist, and go Independent where its easy to sit on the fence and nod in agreement with those on both sides, never standing with our Founders and sticking to their guns.

What Would You Spend the Stimulus Money On?

During last night's Hannity's America, FOX News exposed just over 100 of the most outrageous Recovery Act expenditures.We've all seen the big green signs across Colorado, crediting the passing of the Stimulus Bill and our governor for the road work being done.  The signs themselves are costing taxpayers about $3000 each, with some states spending a million dollars or more just on the signs.  Jobs creation? As Hannity and his team of reporters went across the country revealing some of the incredible wastes of our money, a few examples stand out.  One community received enough stimulus funds to build a new fire station but the town won't be able to hire firefighters to work in it.  Stretches of pavement completed in 2007 were ripped up and re-paved with stimulus dollars, even while residents claimed the road was not even in need of repair.  Many of our institutions of higher learning cashed in and picked the pockets of taxpayers for pet research projects, meanwhile, leaving their huge endowment investment funds untouched.  Even the sport of football got a boost from Mr. and Mrs. Federal Taxpayer.  Research money was handed out to develop the next generation of gloves worn by players in games.  Most of us will rest easy knowing THAT issue is finally getting much-needed funding and attention.  Back in the old days, private sector companies such as NIKE and Under Armor developed the latest trends in sports equipment and created jobs.

Colorado made the list, as well.  The folks in Boulder will get skylights installed in a climbing wall facility so it will seem like climbers are actually outside.  As Hannity pointed out, we kinda already have God-given climbing walls with sky views---they are called the Rocky Mountains.

A reporter visited the community of Crested Butte to talk to locals about their receipt of stimulus money to study wildflowers.  One man talked about the correlation between Colorado wildflowers and tomatoes freezing in Florida.  I had some problems following as he tried to connect those dots, but another man on the street interview was as clear as our skies overhead this fine morning.

The FOX reporter asked this man if he agreed with stimulus money being spent in his area to study wildflowers.  Without hesitation, the man responded back with his own question:  "What would YOU spend it on?"  The reporter explained that he wouldn't spend it at all, and the gentleman from Crested Butte acknowledged that the two of them disagreed.  End of interview.

To the man that wondered what better reason to spend stimulus money than in a mountain town famous in part for its beautiful wildflowers, I also disagree with him.  How can it be that so many people in our towns and cities, our states and our nation as a whole still don't understand that whether it's stimulus money, Cash for Clunkers, extending unemployment benefits, health care for everyone and all the other pie in the sky spending initiatives, we don't have the money.  That man in Crested Butte most likely pays his taxes on time, obeys the laws and stimulates the local economy with his personal treasure.  He may be well educated and a good citizen overall, but he's failing future generations by maintaining his view of the role of government and how much money that government should be allowed to borrow and print.   Too bad some of our neighbors in the high country don't yet understand that the government has no money until they first confiscate it from the folks in Crested Butte and across the country. 

If my family had enough extra money available these days, we'd take a cross country tour and visit some of the community projects we are funding through the Stimulus Bill, such as bike paths in towns where almost no one rides a bike and new paint jobs for bridges that are no longer used.  We'd stop by the university and check on the progress of studying whether monkeys respond to cocaine in similar ways as humans, and we'd definitely see if the deer are using their new underpass rather than walking out of the woods and onto the road.  Hopefully, "deer crossing" signs were also purchased with tax dollars so the deer can read the directions to walk under the road rather than across it.

Responsibility Might Have Saved Us from Govt.-run Healthcare

We don't know yet whether Washington politicians will be able to force complete take-over of our health care delivery system or not.  One day the media slants toward a collapse of Obama's plans to transform our current system and the next day, word of the ongoing back room deals and arm-twisting in spite of our will hint that a massive change in how, when and where we receive health care services is inevitable.  As Congress and the Oval Office continue their political posturing and theater, as individuals, some of us may have been able to prevent what may be coming our way.  Just before the '08 election, an acquaintance of mine told me she was voting for Obama.  This woman has always vowed allegiance to the Republican Party and conservative values.  She told me the reason she was voting for him was because of his health care reform platform.  She and her husband retired  several years ago and they have selected a health insurance policy that requires a $2000  annual deductible, per insured, which allows them a lower cost premium schedule.  In the year leading up to the '08 election, this woman found herself in need of 2 biopsies, several ultrasound exams, 2 different mammography exams and several visits to a number of physicians because of a suspicion of breast cancer.   Happily she did not have breast cancer.   Her out of pocket expenses included the $2000 deductible, and 20% of other costs, per her insurance coverage.  She noted that she was able to negotiate a portion of that 20% with the different providers and in the end, she probably only paid between 12 and 15% of her share.  This is a person that enjoys a comfortable lifestyle, has money to travel extensively, drives a new luxury vehicle every 2-3 years and would, from all appearances, be a person able to bear some cost for her treatment during this incident.  Thinking she would be so grateful and relieved at her benign diagnosis, I asked why her story translated into support for the government to impose the public option.  She explained that she does not believe it should cost her anything to access and receive health care services.  During that conversation in August '08, she was completely serious in telling me that she lives in the richest country in the world, has paid taxes all her life and in exchange, she should not have to spend any of her retirement income on doctors and hospitals.  It is her right to receive the best care possible  on demand.  To this day, she believes she is entitled to a system that is completely cost free to her.  I recently pointed out to her that we are quickly moving away from being the richest country in the world.    I further explained that we will all experience a reduction in services and will be forced to start paying for the proposed plan years before a single person realizes a benefit.  I told her that when she is moved into the government system, the HHS Secretary will actually determine whether or not, at her age, if it's a good investment to allow my friend those 2 biopsies, several ultrasounds and many office visits, or if such an intensive diagnostic plan is simply too expensive for the system.  She thinks I'm ill-informed on the issue.

Another friend of mine is an ER nurse in California with nearly 40 years experience in her field.  She recently did an intake evaluation on a man presenting with a minor stab wound.  A Spanish interpreter was called in as he could not speak English.  As his story unfolded, she learned that he had entered California illegally several years ago, had been able to get a Social Security number although he added he had done so without ever having completed immigration paperwork.  He has a long history of drug addiction and heavy alcohol use along with serving some time off and on in California prisons.  As his medical and social history continued to emerge, he smiled broadly at my friend when he relayed to the interpreter that he has enjoyed all of the 'goodies America has to offer him'.  The 'goodies' he was referring to were assistance with housing, the WIC program for his 2 girlfriends and the children he has with them, food stamps, and of course, free health care anytime he so requires.

In our family, we have a number of elderly relatives in their mid to late 80's.  One in particular is a person that consumes health care services as a way to socialize and reach out for human contact.  This individual lives alone and rather than volunteer at the local schools, churches, library, hospitals or nursing homes, she chooses instead to visit several different doctors on a regular basis as a way to interact with people and have someone inquire as to how she is doing.  Every twinge or slightest pain sends her to a doctor.  A mild case of dermatitis caused by dry winter air doesn't prompt her to try an over the counter cream that her pharmacist believes will solve the problem.  She sees her primary care physician and insists on a referral to a dermatologist.  And so it goes.  Each visit to each physician amounts to a claim filed with Medicare and her supplemental insurance carrier.  After each entity has processed her claim, she ends up paying a few dollars of the many hundreds of dollars that each imagined medical crisis costs.  This individual is also a person that if means testing were put in place, it would be determined that she certainly could cover a greater load of the costs she imposes each month on our system.  The assistance she receives as a result of Pres. Bush's drug benefit legislation for seniors, along with Medicare and other supplemental coverage keeps her out of pocket expenses  for drugs, testing and office visits to about $1000 per year, which is a bargain compared to the 10's of thousands charged and written off under her specific coverage plans.  In her mind, she, too is entitled to no-cost health care after contributing to society for years as a taxpayer.  At the same time, as a taxpayer she also feels as most of us do that our taxes should also pay for good schools, nice smooth roads, safe bridges, ample police and fire protection and other civil services.  She hears the news and knows there are budget deficits across the entire spectrum of government and that cuts must be made.  She believes, however, that cuts should affect every one but her and she has no qualms about piling on debt that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will soon inherit.  Along the same mindset, another aging relative decided he needed a cane just in case at some point he had some difficulty walking.  He priced out the canes available at his local pharmacy and didn't want to pay $25, so instead, he scheduled a visit to his primary care doctor and asked for a prescription for a cane.  The doctor questioned why it was needed, but after the patient persisted, the script was written and filled by a medical supply facility at a cost to the Medicare system of over $100.   Again, this person is also financially able to buy the cane for himself rather than shift the cost to our bankrupt government system and those that will bear the debt for decades to come.

I believe our president and his Democrat controlled Congress will impose health care reform on our country, of one form or another.  Can a cleaning of the House and Senate in November be enough for us to turn it back?  We don't know that as yet.  One thing is for certain, however.  If individual Americans along the way toward this end had taken some personal responsibility and used some common sense in their individual utilization of health care, our costs would be lower today. 

As a society, many Americans have lost sight of their own individual contribution to sky rocketing health care costs.  For each person that receives an entitlement, others must bear the cost.  It's been easy to ignore that fact.  We forget that when an insurance company or Medicare or Medicaid "writes off" a charge, that dollar amount simply doesn't just go away.  It must be paid and that happens by passing along those costs to insurance companies and their clients and private payers.  There will always be citizens that cannot afford to pay for health care, and as a benevolent nation we've done a fairly decent job in caring for those people.   Others that do have the financial means to care for themselves have decided free and reduced cost care would allow them more money for other luxuries.  Persons here illegally have also been able to come to the trough and get care, often without paying anything. 

Many have climbed aboard the train, demanding a window seat and first class accommodations.  There are too many passengers stuffed into fewer and fewer cars and the train is now so overburdened, it is slowing to a stop.  There is no longer enough money to shovel into the engine to carry the huge load.  If some of us had jumped off along the way, making room for our legal citizens that truly needed subsidized care, maybe government-run, unfunded, limited access healthcare wouldn't be headed toward us now at light rail speed.