AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Ask any House Republican about repealing President Barack Obama’s health care law, and you’ll get the same fiery, self-assured talking points about tearing down what Speaker John Boehner has called a "monstrosity."

But talk to some of the 16 freshman lawmakers who have declined their government health benefits, and you’ll hear a different side of the story — about tough out-of-pocket expenses, pre-existing conditions and support for health reforms that would help those who struggle with their coverage. As they venture into the free market for health insurance, these lawmakers — many of whom swept into office fueled by tea party anger over the health care law — are facing monthly premiums of $1,200 and fears of double-digit rate hikes.

The experience has caused some of them to think harder about the "replace" part of the "repeal and replace" mantra the GOP has adopted regarding the health care law.

"I have a niece who has pre-existing conditions, and I worry about her if she was ever to lose her job," said Florida Rep. Richard Nugent, one of the freshman lawmakers who declined federal health insurance benefits.

Maryland Rep. Andy Harris caused an uproar during freshman orientation when he demanded to know how long it would take for his federal health insurance policy to kick in. Since then, the question of whether lawmakers who ran against the health law should accept their own government benefits has become a favorite game of partisan ping-pong in Washington. Democrats are demanding that the lawmakers who voted to deny reform benefits to the American public turn down their own federal employee health insurance, and Republicans have argued that accepting benefits from the government is not inconsistent with GOP support for employer-based coverage

Our President is truly clueless

Today in a speech before the US Chamber of Congress he implores US businesses to invest their piles of cash to help the economy grow.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110207/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_chamber

However the clueless one fails to mention that to repatriate the majority of the cash on their books, because it is held overseas, these businesses will have to pay a major tax penalty.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ab7f088a-322e-11e0-a820-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=crm/email/201127/nbe/USBusiness/product#axzz1DG8gbJR4

interesting, from the NEJM

http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=13396&query=TOC

Stupid Conservative Things

Some of the dumbest things conservatives have done in the past few years include:


Meddling in the Terry Schiavo case (intuding in a difficult, private matter)

Meddling in Elian Gonzalez (coming between a father and his child)

and possibly

Seemingly continuing to support a dictator as his country protests for freedom.  Yes, there is the risk that the couunty could come under the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and become another Iran, however, that is what state departments are for.  If we argue that the Iraq war was worth it to bring democracy to the Middle East, then why oppose it when it tries to spread?

Own a GM?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/02/05/when_government_motors_fails_again_108733.html

That Socialism Stuff sure does work.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020404934.html

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/legal_ugly_unsafe_igmHR7AIndw0LBZjeBTSqO

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/05/opinion/05collins.html

$32B in Cuts - That's It

The GOP rode the Tea Party back to power in the House, decrying the deficits, and promising massive cuts to spending. Yesterday, the House GOP proposed a paltry $32B in spending cuts. That's it. We have a $1.5T deficit and they were only able to find 2% to pare. After all the town hall takeovers, all the shouts and tears, all the hysteria... 2%!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/us/politics/04budget.html?ref=politics

Russell Pearce the Man of Honor

Russell Pearce would likely have a criminal record like his son if he hadn't struck a deal. After bouncing around in several state jobs, Pearce ended up as Director of the Motor Vehicle Division in 1995.
After less than four years at MVD he was fired in 1999 for tampering with state files (as was his son, Joshua, who pled guilty). Pearce falsified a woman’s driving record, erasing a DUI, and Transportation Director Mary Peters, a prominent Republican who later served as Bush’s Secretary of Transportation, canned him.
The only reason he does not have a blotch on his record is that Peters chose not to prosecute if he quit.
Pearce said he was “cleared," but Peters told the Arizona Republic: “There’s a big difference between being cleared and choosing not to file criminal charges” (Aug 21, 1999). Russell Pearce first wife filed domestic abuse charges in support of her divorce claiming he put his hands around her neck and began chockinh her during an argument. This is some man of honor!

Your Opinion

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is an astroturf front group started by oil billioniare David Koch and Richard Fink (a member of the board of directors of Koch Industries). AFP works together with the Koch family’s other conservative foundations and think tanks to disrupt Barack Obama's presidency. Accordingly,   AFP has opposed health care reform, stimulus spending, and cap-and-trade legislation,   which is aimed at making industries pay for the air pollution that they create. AFP was also involved in the attacks on Obama’s "green jobs" czar, Van Jones, and has crusaded against international climate talks. According to an article in the August 30, 2010 issue of The New Yorker, the Kochs are known for "creating slippery organizations with generic-sounding names," that "make it difficult to ascertain the extent of their influence in Washington.

I must be a member of AFP!

Baxter, you don't have to be a "front group" to oppose the Socialist agenda of this President.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-1SMV3ok58

Charting Obama

President Obama and the Democratic Congress created the economic environment in which more jobs were created - on net - in two years than in the preceding eight years of GWB. The economy is growing again - to the point now that further stimulus may be unnecessary. We should all be grateful for this exceptional performance. Objectively measured, the markets clearly approve.

In two short years, the Dow is up over 50%, the S&P 60%+ and the NASDAQ a whopping >90%.

Never Ending Programs

Amazing to say the least

Is this appalling or what?  I don’t think this kind of abuse is unique to California.  

I’m pretty sure we have similar abuses elsewhere. 
  
 Click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wElqMl5TJM

Federal Reserve Balance Sheet - It's not a secret

Time for a little concern

Subject: Interesting financial interrogation

If this is genuine, it is the most worrying sign yet of what the future holds for the financial well being of the Western World.

Watch then prepare to tighten your belt!!

http://dailybail.com/home/there-are-no-words-to-describe-the-following-part-ii.html