Tue, Nov 3rd - 5:57PM

Here is one that came out lately from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/03/obama.poll/

This is a good discussion of what CNN fails to mention about these numbers that is really more newsworthy then their not so delicate Pro-Obama spinning:

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/03/cnn-poll-54-disapprove-of-obama-economic-performance/

If you were to believe CNN, everything is getting better for Obama and You Should Get On Board before the Train Leaves The Station.  The drastic swings in his popularity towards the loosing side is not newsworthy in their eyes.  I am sorry, but the train has already gone, and if you were on board, you are taking a looooong trip to nowhere, and Obama is nowhere on that fantasy train.  Some of the CNN staffers, who believe their own drivel, might be there with you, so you are at least likely to be able to take it out on them if you finally get mad enough to loose your temper over what they did to you...

Another thing that was brought out in critiquing this poll is that party demographics were not addressed.  Neither were the distributions by sex or race.  (although this critique did not point that out)  If you know anything about polling, bringing more of a group that is likely to be more favorable to the possition you are trying to support will skew your results away from reality quite quickly.  Women favor everything about Obama at about a 3 to 2 ratio on the average.  Democrats, almost 4 to 1 for him, at least mildly -- if not enthusiastically.  African Americans are about 17 to 3 pro-Obama, no matter what.  There is very little differentiation in that particular group.  In others, specific items cause great changes in the level of the support, depending upon the issue being addressed.  But for African Americans, that is not very much the case.  The Economy, the War in Iraq, the Health Care Bill, His Nobel Peace Prize, all the other issues score in a very narow band, at least acccording to those Polls that are willing to divulge that information.

I am very suspsicious of CNN's 'spectacular' news.  If they had bothered to mention the obviously newsworthy information, I might be more generous.  However, this strikes me as more PR work than real journalistic reporting.  And CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, NPR (and the list goes on) want *more* Government money than they already get so that they can tell you whatever they want to without worring about loosing their viewership and their jobs. Oh yes.  They are businesses that have been 'on the take' (well, NPR and some others are truely not for profit) to a small extent for quite some time.  They feel left out with the latest handouts from Uncle Sam, though...

I really expect that CNN deliberately withheld the demographic breakout, not because it would protect any privacy, but because the sample was so badly skewed that a high school teacher in statistics would likely use it as a very bad example of what a polling sample should look like in relation to the population that it is supposed to represent.  I expect at least 10% extra African American Democrat Women are in this poll.  So it likely tells us nothing about reality, but CNN does not care about that.  They are not about reality in news, but favorable liberal spin...

In Truth,

Mel

Wed, Oct 28th - 6:00PM

The 'Public Option' is one of the big Points to Push for Pelosi and the Extreme Left Leaning Liberals in Congress.  They would have you believe that this can be done 'for free'.  It won’t cost you and me anything.  Riiiiight…

Previously, the CBO had estimated that the 'Public Option' versions of Health Care Bills circulating in the House would increase the Federal Deficit by $1.1 Trillion in ten years.  That’s a Million Millions folks, and if boggles the mind.  That did not sit very well with ‘Madame’ Pelosi, especially because she could not claim partisan leanings from Douglas W. Elmendorf, whom the Democrats themselves just Confirmed as head of the ‘Non-Partisan’ CBO in December of 2008.  Worse yet, he is known to be a Democrat himself with somewhat left of center leanings within that party itself.  She had no one to cast spurious denigrating comments at in the CBO, so she had to try to get that assessment ignored until she could ‘fix’ the problem.  Most of us were not fooled, although her faithful liberal drones took it hook line and sinker, or just did not care about the cost, and so were willing to deny the truth to push their agenda forward.

Well, if you have been listening to CNN and other mainstream media lately, you have probably heard by now that the ‘New Improved Public Option’ would actually reduce the deficit according to the CBO.  They will point to one thing that causes this:  The ‘New Improved Public Option’ ties reimbursement rates for doctors to current Medicare rates, plus a 5 percent increase.  This doesn’t sound bad at all, now does it?  Well, that is only one of the changes that caused this change in price tag.  But for now, let’s just assume for a moment that this is really only the only change that causes this.  What does it really mean?

Well, one of the empty promises that Pelosi and her Cohorts are making is that ‘nothing will come between you and your doctor’ meaning that the government will not intervene and dictate what options are or are not available.  Guess what?  Not everything is available under Medicare.  Medicare Advantage, which millions of retired Americans now rely upon, is what allows them (at an out of pocket cost) to get treatments normally denied under Medicare.  So, if you are somehow forced into the Public Option, guess what?  You are going to lose options, unless getting paid for services rendered is nothing between everyone and their doctor…

By The Way, those people on Medicare Advantage are going to get the shaft.  For some of them, it will mean that previously available life saving or life sustaining treatments will no longer be something they will have access to.  In short, no ‘Death Panels’ are needed.  They will be denied and they will die.  Period.  Of course that will further reduce health care costs and I would not be shocked to find that reduction in costs computed somewhere deep in the latest CBO estimate.  For those whose lives do not depend upon Medicare Advantage (and I am not sure how many of those Millions we are going to sentence outright to death) there is at least going to be a drastic reduction in the quality of life.  It might be that their current treatment for dementia will not be available any more and they will just slip into a vegetative state using their ‘New Improved’ medications.  Remember the Red Pill/Blue Pill question President Obama asked us about?  Well, it is very literally this very thing.  You will not get to choose which pill.  The Government will choose for you.  Now swallow it, Neo!

I also expect that for some others, the reduction in the quality of their life will be in the form of increased physical pain.  For others, it could become depression that is no longer controlled.  The imagination is the only limit to all the harm the Government can cause here.  I would not at all be shocked to learn (if this passes) that some people’s lives will become so unbearable as a direct result of this that they commit suicide.  The real thing to watch very closely (and the liberal media will not go looking for this for you) is the mortality rates among our more senior citizens.  I expect a spike that liberal leaning statisticians could argue would be ‘spurious data’ which is a nice way to say that ‘those lives don’t matter’.

Before I get away from this assumption that the 5% over Medicare is going to cause all of these savings, I’d like to travel down a somewhat darker road.  Part of the problem in the current system is people being denied reasonable care based upon the fact that they may not have insurance.  Guess what?  Currently people are denied that reasonable care simply because they have Medicare as their insurance, which pays substandard rates and results in costs greater than the reimbursement.  Can you say Financial Failure?  What is going to happen if Hospitals can’t just send unwanted Medicare Patients to another Hospital?  They’ll go under.  Go away.  Not to be replaced without serious subsidies to make up for the lost revenues.  So the Federal Deficit may not go up, but someone, maybe the City, or maybe the State, will have to pay for the shortfall.  You and I will pay for that cost that the Federal Plan is trying to hide from us.  The ‘free lunch’ is only for Pelosi.  Oh, and if you want a real life shocker, investigate into the Chicago Hospital that sent a 4 year old boy to another Hospital because he was covered by Government Medicare.  And this was something that Michelle Obama can be indirectly linked to.  If someone as squeaky clean as her can be involved in this, what hope is there in the more general sense for our medical system to not respond in just such a fashion?

Keep your eye on the ball.  But you and I have no hope.  These shucksters have all the sleight of hand tricks down pat.

One of the points (made by the previous CBO reports – I don’t know if it has been excised from this one currently out) is that Private Insurance will be replaced by the Government Run ‘Public Option’ if it is put into play.  The reasoning is simple:  Companies will have to pay less for this insurance (which is substandard to the insurance they currently give their employees) because the Government can and will force rates upon providers that private insurance companies cannot.  So don’t be fooled.  Pelosi says you won’t loose your current insurance.  That is de jure, the truth, but de facto, a lie.  It will indirectly cause most of us to loose our current insurance.  So ask yourself which is more important:  The de jure truth that nothing mandates any changes in anyone’s insurance?  The de facto truth that the drastic change in the landscape is expected by the CBO to cause most all private insurance to be dropped within ten years?  How will this happen, you ask?

Again, this is quite simple.  Remember that Hospitals and Doctors are going to take a bath on Medicare plus 5% rates.  Private insurance negotiates and pays much higher rates than that, mostly to make up for lost revenues for those Doctors and Hospitals.  It is just the way it is done.  I am not saying that is right, in fact I don't think it is at all.  In fact I'd somewhat favor making the Hospitals accept the Government rates for all insurance, which would drive health insurance costs down and bankrupt the Doctors and Hospitals unless there was serious push back on Medicare rates which would expose the real cost, which we really need to come to grips with.  It is a hidden cost that is passed on to us without our seeing where it is coming from as it stands now.  Every person who gets onto Welfare and Medicare costs more than just what the Government Pays Directly.  Understand how that works and some of the games don't work for you so well any more.  Wake up!  Get real!  All is not as it seems!

An argument can actually be made that a contributing factor in why our costs have skyrocketed lately is that Illegal Immigrants put a financial burden on the Health Care industry.  Yeah, those 10+ Million (out of the 40 Million Number Pelosi and Obama love to bandy around so much) are probably costing us at least some of that... Some of these people would get no care whatsoever in their own country and that is sad.  John Leguizamo is very sympathetic of that need.  Enough so to make you an I pay for it.  But does he pay for it?  Just three guesses and the first two don't count.  Are you willing to pay a very heavy burden to make that health care so universal as to invite even more of them in for just this reason?  Bring more in and it increases costs that someone must pay.  Does their insurance pay for this?  Of course not.  Yours and mine does.  Now, increase the number of sub cost payments from the Government.  That is somewhat better than no payment from the patients, but who is really making that payment in the first place?  Yup – it is you and me, folks.  We are the taxpayers, for now – at least until this country goes completely in the toilet.  The first place they will make that money up is from the Private Insurance companies.  Those companies will be forced to raise rates at a pace that will make the current health care cost explosion look tame.  Companies will have people like you and I who will be justifiably angry with this and may even demand a change in health care providers, unaware at how the Government has caused this very problem to arise.  And as the number of private insurance companies gets smaller and smaller, the costs will rise faster and faster.  And the Democrats want Republicans to get on board to share the blame.  The smart Democrats are getting off at the soonest stop they can.  This is a boondoggle that is so big, the truth will eventually have to come out.  The smoke and mirrors will only work for so long.

Like I said before:  Keep your eye on the ball.  But you and I have no hope.  These shucksters have all the sleight of hand tricks down pat.

Better yet, tell them you don’t want to play their game anymore.  Get outta town!!!

In Truth,

Mel

P.S.

Of course, when I say 'we have no hope' I am speaking in the worldly sense.  Those who have no hope in Christ, well, they truely have no hope at all!!!

Here are some links for you.  They are all from the more Left Leaning Media sources, so if you can garner the message I have above out of what these people have spun it into, imagine just how bad the truth really is!

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/democratic-leaders-pick-budget-director/

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/28/health.care/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/21/health.care.cbo/

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/27/health.care/

http://mediamatters.org/research/200910280029

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/10/01/john-leguizamo-whats-wrong-with-socialism/  (I'll go to find the YouTube Version of this to keep it Totally Left Leaning -- just listen to Leguizamo here!!!)

http://www.cis.org/IllegalsAndHealthCareHR3200 (this is not very left of right leaning in my reading of it -- let me know what you think of them...)

Mon, Oct 19th - 7:00PM

For those of you who don't know it, the title of this one is a Monty Pythonism.  I take absolutely no credit for it whatsoever!

I am usually quite serious here.  I thought I'd take a break and go for the lighter side of this life God has Given us...

So without further ado, I give you a couple of funny things to enjoy.  This is not meant to be uplifting or educating, or even funny for everyone.  I just liked these too much!

For you headbangers: (Yah Dude!!!)

For you country western types: (This'uns fer Y'all!!!)

Short ones: (This is over quick!!!)

The one that someone else shared here: (I couldn't resist -- Warning this is NOT politically correct and VERY much a political protest song!!!)

This is a funny one with a serious message: (I could see someone singing this one to make a serious point!!!)

Just in case any of these stick in your head, I am going to make another disclaimer: Blame Tim, not ME!!! And if you run all of these at the same time, I am not responsible for what it does to your computer!!! (for real!!!)

(heh)

Enjoy,

Mel

Fri, Sep 18th - 3:22PM

It has taken me a while to digest what the "President" said.

However, the truth is simple.  Obama lied, he lies, and I fully expect he will continue to lie!!!

Technical Point:  Obama talks about bring healthcare to the "40 Million Uninsured in America" and we buy that talking point hook, line and sinker.  Ok, let us just suppose he REALLY means that all of those 40 Million are going to get health insurance.  I actually do believe his representation on this is quite accurate.  What is one of the biggest blocks in that 40 Million?  What people, if removed from that demographical mish-mash would leave this talking point looking somewhat anemic?  You guessed it.  Take out the illegal aliens here in the US and that number becomes MUCH smaller.  They are responsible for so much of that number, no-one in the Democratic Party *ever* talks about the breakout of that number.

The Truth is This:

Take out illegals and those who *choose* not to carry health insurance (which includes healthy college students who would rather use the money to buy a keg for a party -- maybe even contributing to drunk driving deaths) and that 40 Million becomes a number close to 5 Million.  That is still a lot of people, and these people could use some help, but the Goverment should be the last resort.  Obama wants to make it the first and maybe (if he can get it) the *only* choice.  I hope we all know just how efficient our Government is not.  I expect an ice cream cone, that I could get in 29 flavors at Baskin Robbins for $3.50 would cost $20.93 if I bought if from Uncle Sam, especially if he put a tax on Baskin Robbins to make their ice cream cost around $30.00 per cone.  And I expect I would only get vanilla, and not a very good vanilla cone at that.

I favor even a surcharge on elective cosmetic surgery and raising taxes on cigarettes (which Obama, who smokes, would *hate* and his friend in tinsel town would hate that other proposal, the percentage of *that* tax should not have to be too high to have an effect!) to fund some sort of help and would give that money to Charities to Help People Directly, Like ACORN (without their corruption) instead of through the Government Directly.  If The Charity Screws up, find another charity, or even limit the time they can get the monies before they must be rotated to a new fund.  That money might not all get to the 5 Million that are truely needing it, but it would surely cost the average person a *lot* less than to get his proposal financially covered.  When he says it will not cost anything -- Well -- HE LIES!!!

So 40 Million covers illegals.  Either Obama wants to cover all 40 Million (including the illegals) or he does not.  He said we *must* cover all these people, and I think most people believe him when he says that.  I do.  However, *if* that is true, then it must *also* be true that we will insure the illegals who make up a vast amount of that number.  If that is the case, then when Joe Wilson shouted out "You Lie" he was stating a fact, albeit somewhat voiciforously and lacking somewhat in decorum.  Since when is decorum such a big deal?  Since the friends of the liberal media took over on the Hill.  The statement "You Lie" is the Truth.  He lied about covering illegals or he is lying about covering all 40 Million.  Obama cannot cut this both ways.  One of these representations he makes again and again and again is clearly a lie.  He knows it and continues to bald face lie.  This is not a slip on Obama's part.  It is a deliberate, conscious and continuing LIE!!!  That would make me mad if I was in Joe Wilson's shoes.  It makes me mad and I am not in his shoes!

Then this HYPOCRIT, called Obama, accused talk radio hosts, cable news and conservative leaders of deliberately spreading falsehoods. He wants you to believe that everyone who opposes his plan to nationalize medical care is lying.  He has toned it down somewhat from the draconian measure his administration took that not even Bush would have dared.  If you don't know what I am talking about, read this and be afraid of what this man is willing to do:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10311246-38.html

The high and mighty attitude of 'Madam' (as in ruler of a Cat house) Pelosi has nothing to do with Decorum.  It has to do with churning out political points.  Here is a short (1:16) slip from the State of the Union Address in 2005. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBxmEGG71PM

Note that there are *numerous* cat calls and boos, some which can be clearly distiguished in the time frames between 5-11 seconds and 20-22 seconds into this segment.  Where was the massive outrage of this even more severe breach of protocol?  Well, it was not their darling, so the press felt you didn't need to have this brought to your attention.  Now, cheering can also be just as expressive in a negative way.  I want you to look at another short (1:35) clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mqSXsNJzRM

The Democrats Applaude themselves from :58 to 1:17 for blocking all attempts at Social Security Reform, when they should have been ashamed for their partisan behaviour.  No.  They are proud for being unruly!  And we accept this, why?  Although this does not breach the form of protocol, it most certainly violates every spirit of respect that the president is due.  I have one word for this:  HYPOCRITS!!!  If they cheered here and then voted to condemn Joe Wilson, they will be measured by their own measure!  Their own voices will speak out against them!

Back on March 18th,  I told you that Obama Lied about his position on Abortion.  I think very much so he has done that again.  Why?  Well, this may sound strange, but is not as much about what has been said as about what has not been said. 

I am talking about the remark in Obama’s address that “no federal funds will be used to fund abortions.” Have you noticed that not one single pro-abortion legislator (who on the whole are probably the most outlandishly rude extremists in Congress, topped possibly only by the Pro Gay Rights crowd) has said anything in opposition to this particular part of Obama’s speech?  They are suprisingly quiet, almost queerly so, don't you think?  What do you suppose they know that you and I do not that is keeping them quiet?  They are not ones to respect protocol even as much as Joe Wilson, so that obviously is not the answer.  They have had several days to make noise about this, but we have not heard even a peep.  Does that strike anyone but me as strange?

Here is what I think:

Despite his talk about bipartisanship, not one Republican or Libertarian has been asked to talk to the White House since Early Spring.  Ok.  Not much to that, I guess.  However, it could be one of many available ways that Obama is assuring those legislators that Publicly Paid for Abortions WILL be part of the final bill.  They seem to be awfully happy right now.  I wouldn't be if I thought my baby was going to be killed by Obama. (pun intended)  I'd be making one HELL of a lot of noise, and we all know that they are FULLY capable of doing this without any qualms whatsoever.  So they have been told SECRETLY that they are going to get their way.  Something about that doesn't strike me as very Transparent, does it?  Like I really believed THAT particular lie to begin with.

The more I go into and analyze this man's speech, the more angry I become.  If I had to deal with him every single day, with the shadow of his lies hanging like a curtain over all of Washington, I'd probably act much like Joe Wilson.  Only thing is, give me enough time, and the President would never get me to say I am sorry until he apologized for lying first!

AMEN and AMEN!

Mel

Wed, Sep 16th - 2:03PM

I have an article out of CNN that I'd like you to read:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/10/obama.heckled.speech/index.html

If you read this carefully, CNN is pretty much trying to make the point that this could not be an emotional outburst and that Congressman Joe Wilson was the liar.

In shortened format I will outline CNN's arguements:

1.   The president denied that health care legislation would provide free coverage for illegal immigrants.

2.   The congressman responded by shouting: "You Lie!" to the presidents assertion.

3.   CNN recognizes the basis that the congressman claims is that there were expressed quite clearly:

"It was spontaneous. It was when he stated, as he did, about not covering illegal aliens, when I knew we had those two amendments, and I say that respectfully," Wilson said.

He was referring to two amendments on one version of proposed health care legislation, which he said would have provided for verification of citizenship. Both of the amendments were defeated, he said.

...

Wilson also cited a report by the Congressional Research Service that he said showed the health care proposals would include illegal aliens.

"And I think that is wrong," he said.

"We need to be discussing issues specifically to help the American people. And that would not include illegal aliens. These are people -- I'm for immigration -- legal immigration. I've been an immigration attorney. But people who have come to our country and violated laws, we should not be providing full health care services," he said.

4.   CNN then pseudo-debunks this claim:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/27/cnn-truth-squad-will-health-bill-pay-for-illegal-immigrants-an-update/

As an aside, they used themselves as the source.  It sort of begs the question when the source to support the arguement is the arguement itself restated by the same persons.  (That is a logical point that CNN is too dim to understand, it seems...)

5.   Additionally (according to CNN)

A CNN review of the Congressional Research Service report found that the health care legislation does address illegal immigrants. It says that noncitizens who can be considered "resident aliens" under tax law, which doesn't distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants, would be required to buy health insurance.

Yet the proposal clearly says that federal subsidies would go only to U.S. citizens and immigrants who are in the United States legally.

The inference is quite clear.  CNN is painting Joe Wilson as having no merits to his arguments.  My reply is quite simple:

"By order of the King, it is illegal to be unhappy in Happy Valley.  Therefore and henceforth, all citizens are required to be Happy at all Times.  So says the King!"

There, that ought to do it.  Everyone is "happy" now!  Can CNN disagree?

If you read their "Truth Squad" version of "Fact Check", you will find them indeed admitting that

"Thus, legal permanent residents, and noncitizens and unauthorized aliens who qualify as resident aliens … would be required under H.R. 3200 to have health insurance," the new report states.

CNN tries to defuse this by then going on to say:

Critics say there is no way to enforce the ban on subsidies for undocumented workers, since the Democratic majority in the House turned back a Republican effort to explicitly stiffen citizenship checks. But Medicare and Medicaid already require those enrolled to provide "a substantial number of documents" to show they're U.S. citizens or legal residents, said Henrie Treadwell, a professor of community and preventive medicine at Atlanta's Morehouse University medical school.

Um, excuse me for your non sequitur CNN.  It does not follow that Medicare and Medicaid (failed programs to be scrapped according to the President in clear speech designed to validate how we would be better off with yet another Government run program!) legal requirements would have any bearing upon the current proposal unless specifically legislated.  The amendements that were shot down intended to do just this!  By shooting those amendments down, this arguement has not one shred of valid basis.  It is circular logic of denial.  We say there is no problem because of "X" therefore, we do not need "X".  "X" and "X" are the same thing, ignorant beasts!  (I don't think they are ignorant -- I think they know full well what they are doing and I was just trying to be a little bit kind.  I failed.)  Furthermore, the quoted inclussion in the bill is: legal permanent residents, and noncitizens and unauthorized aliens who qualify as resident aliens to be covered by having to have insurance and not excluding them from the subisdy.  Can you see the difference between the Medicare/Medicade requirements, and what is clearly stated here?   Apparently, the CNN "Truth Squad" on a "Fact Check" cannot see the difference.  (I think it is more likely they think the average American Citizen is too dull to catch this -- I think they are fully aware of their own lies here.)

It was an understandable emotional outburst, that it can be said, was a severe breach of protocol.  That is the worst it can be said to be.  It looks, from the Video Tapes of the account, that he immediately understood and regreted this mistake.  He made the apology to the President -- not directly, because he was denied that opportunity.  That was appropriate, and I would hope, sincerely meant, even though I think the status quo in Washington is something that Does need to get more than just shaken up.

The following ties it up for me.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=113682&catid=14

1.  He apologized to whom he really should have.

2.  The apology was offically accepted.

3.  "...citizen verification, now on Friday has been adopted by the Senate. The White House has issued a statement that it will be included in their bill."  (funny, since CNN SWEARS there is no need for this at all in their great wisdom...)

4.  Congress, in pretty much a partisan move, "...voted largely along party lines to admonish Congressman Joe Wilson..." says more than CNN really wanted to about the truth of the issue.  They were not out for the truth, but wanted to smear someone and thought they had a likely target.

Can you understand why I have so little respect for the news according to CNN???

In Truth,

Mel