Sarah Palin In Demand

A women who is either loved or hated with not much in between. The far right loves her, the far left despises her and yet The Politico reports that since she has resigned from her office as Governor of Alaska, she has received 1,070 invitations for "paid speeches and political appearances."

Twenty speakers’ bureaus made offers to represent her. She has signed with Washington Speakers Bureau, which represents everyone from George and Laura Bush to Bob Woodward and Katie Couric to Alan Greenspan, Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani.

More than 950 requests for speeches have poured in for Palin, and over 120 candidates for office have asked her to appear, including folks running for Senate, House and state Legislature, aides said.

Palin will be doing both paid speeches, which are expected to go for six figures apiece, and unpaid speeches for political and charitable causes, including Christian organizations, groups that support families with special-needs children and military families.

Palin has made no commitments so far, and Washington Speakers Bureau will start responding to the invitations this week.

Political Wire points out that those do not even include the business opportunities:

She's also about 85% finished with her book, due out this spring from HarperCollins. "Then she'll begin looking through the inch-and-a-half-thick file her lawyer, Robert Barnett, has built of offers for network and cable pundit gigs, documentaries and business opportunities."

I wonder if the far far liberal left has a clue as to how their vitriolic actions made Sarah Palin as in demand as she is?

Ironic huh?

.

Obama's Numbers Drop Fast

Gallup on August 24, 2009 headlines with "Obama Weekly Approval Average Now 52%, a New Low."

The sub header:

Approval among seniors, upper-income Americans has fallen below 50%

Two days later.

August 26, 2009, Gallup headlines with "Presidential Approval Usually Falls Below 50%; Timing Varies."

Sub header:

Obama at 51% approval in eighth month in office

The kicker here is the Authors note in the first paragraph:

Barack Obama's latest job approval rating is 51%, according to Aug. 23-25 Gallup Daily tracking. [AUTHOR'S NOTE: Obama's job approval rating has fallen to 50% since this story was originally published.]

On Gallup Daily, there is a graph, and more concerning for Obama than his approval ratings dropping as fast as they are, is his disapproval ratings. (Run your mouse over any portion of the lines and it will show you the exact dates the surveys were taken)

As of June 28- July 1, 2009, Obama had 61 percent approval and 30 percent disapproval.

As of July 31- August 2, 2009, his approval spiraled down to 56 percent with 38 percent disapproval.

Today, right now, August 31, 2009, 50 percent approval and 42 percent disapproval.


.

National Health Care and the Constitution

Today deals with the legality of nationalizing our health care system.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/national-health-care-and-the-constitution/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Handicappers Predict House Losses In 2010

Reporting on all the latest polling, seeing discontent and anger from ordinary citizens across the country in townhalls, not only about Obamacare, but about spending and the government deficit, we see a pattern emerging which now has experts predicting huge Dem losses in the House in 2010.

Via The Politico:

Some of the most prominent and respected handicappers can now envision an election in which Democrats suffer double-digit losses in the House — not enough to provide the 40 seats necessary to return the GOP to power but enough to put them within striking distance.

Top political analyst Charlie Cook, in a special August 20 update to subscribers, wrote that “the situation this summer has slipped completely out of control for President Obama and congressional Democrats.”

"Many veteran congressional election watchers, including Democratic ones, report an eerie sense of déjà vu, with a consensus forming that the chances of Democratic losses going higher than 20 seats is just as good as the chances of Democratic losses going lower than 20 seats,” he wrote.

Hugh Hewitt writes

"If Democrats continue to push for the deeply unpopular Obamacare, their numbers will only get worse."

I take it a step further in believing that no matter what the Democrats do at this point, the tide has turned.

They have control of the House and Senate and a Democratic president who is popular, but his policies are not, and are earning criticisms from both sides of the aisle as well as right down the middle.

The stimulus plan costs $787 billion and right after that they passed another spending bill for $410 billion, all loaded up with earmarks and to which Obama signed. The latest White House projections as well as the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) projections expect a $2 trillion hike on the formerly projected Deficit, bringing it to $9 trillion.

The of course Obamacare, which Obama tried to get the House and Senate to jam through before most even had a chance to read it, that failed and now people know what is in it and are coming out against it with majority numbers.

Obamacare might have been the straw that broke the camels back, but once broken, not easy to reset it, if at all possible.

Say they pass Obamacare without the public option or any truly controversial portion, the liberal base rebels, have already started doing so publicly at the mere thought of it, and their energies are no longer focused on helping Democrats maintain control.

Say they leave the public option in, they lose over 60 percent of Independents and moderates, which polling shows is the figure of Independents against Obamacare as it is written, against the public option and the trillion dollar cost of Obamacare.

The elderly have been showing up at townhalls all over the country, the largest voting demographic, and they are opposed to Obamacare again, by majority figures.

Obamacare, as is, has turned into a hot potato for the Democrats, making them damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Obama, nor the Democrats can take back the spending bills, nor the earmarks aka pork, nor can they change the latest figures on the deficit.

For better or for worse, they are on the tide and having to ride it where it takes them and it has been pulling them under at a rate so fast, there was no way to predict it.

So, experts have made their predictions on the 2010 race and there is plenty of times for the numbers to fluctuate, but how many truly believe they are going to stop going down?

I would like to see what those experts believe about the Senate, where it would take less seats for Republicans to take control again.

Is it any wonder why moderate Democratic politicians and Blue Dog Democrats voted into conservative districts, are distancing themselves from Obama policies, especially the more controversial parts of Obamacare?

I said when Obama got voted in, when the House, the Senate and the White House were all controlled by the Democrats, that it would be a good thing in a way because they could no longer blame the big bad Republicans for every single thing that happened and they would be held accountable for their decisions, their bills, and their spending.

In 2010, they will be.

.

Raiders Recap--2009 Preseason Week 3

Two football games occurred yesterday. The one worth watching was not on television.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/raiders-recap-preseason-2009-week-3/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Wapo Acknowledges Enhanced Interrogation Techniques Worked

I imagine the writers of the front page Washington Post piece are getting their share of complaining emails from people furious at their article, to which the story admits that the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, became an "asset" after enhanced interrogation techniques were used on him, after traditional methods had failed to extract any information that could save lives.

In 2005 and 2006, the bearded, pudgy man who calls himself the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks discussed a wide variety of subjects, including Greek philosophy and al-Qaeda dogma. In one instance, he scolded a listener for poor note-taking and his inability to recall details of an earlier lecture.

Speaking in English, Mohammed "seemed to relish the opportunity, sometimes for hours on end, to discuss the inner workings of al-Qaeda and the group's plans, ideology and operatives," said one of two sources who described the sessions, speaking on the condition of anonymity because much information about detainee confinement remains classified. "He'd even use a chalkboard at times."

These scenes provide previously unpublicized details about the transformation of the man known to U.S. officials as KSM from an avowed and truculent enemy of the United States into what the CIA called its "preeminent source" on al-Qaeda. This reversal occurred after Mohammed was subjected to simulated drowning and prolonged sleep deprivation, among other harsh interrogation techniques.

It is a three page piece, so make sure to read it.

The Weekly Standard brings attention to other pieces which confirm what is in the Wapo piece, so make sure to read that as well.

None of this answers the question of whether EIT's should be used, but it does make it clear that in certain cases, such as the one used as an example, they worked.

.

Henry Waxman + Link Love Saturday

For those who did not see my post yesterday, I was accosted on Thursday by Seth Horowitz, who works for the Luxe Hotel. This was at a Henry Waxman luncheon, and it seems that either the Congressman himself or his staff members are targeting Republicans for abuse. My main post yesterday has more details. This is an update.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/henry-waxman-link-love-saturday/


http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/04/ideological-bigotry-my-book-is-now-available/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Reid For Co-Op Instead Of Public Option?

Via TPM, an amazing case of doublespeak, or with the updated emails from Harry Reid's spokesperson, triple speak.

During a tele-townhall with constituents today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he supports a public option...but then he added an extremely important caveat. Reid said he doesn't think the public option ought to be a government run program like Medicare, but instead favors a "private entity that has direction from the federal government so people that don't fall within the parameters of being able to get insurance from their employers, they would have a place to go.

Asked for clarification, Reid's people tried to explain:

Late update: Reid spokesman Jim Manley emails in that Reid's preference is for a "public option," but would not confirm that Reid means "public option" as commonly understood: an insurance program run by the Department of Health and Human Services or another government body.

Late late update: Manley adds, "The govt could contract w a private company to administer the public option. [Sen. Reid] is willing to consider a co-op if he is shown it works to make insurers honest."

Clear now?

.

Townhall Meetings- Citizens Vs Bussed In Union Thugs

H/T to Gateway Pundit, who has more videos and accounts of the whole event, make sure to go see them all.

Teaser video below:



Go, watch them all and follow the links.

.

Police Officer: "It ain't [ America] no more"

*cross-posted from Assoluta Tranquillita*

Came across the following:




And there you have it. No editorialising needed from me.

[Update: Found the following comment on Flopping Aces here

I have responded to this outrage by e-mail to the Reston police dept. Also you can phone 703-478-0904 and voice your complaint to Capt. Deborah L Burnett. The e-mail address is
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/

You know what to do!]

Ronald Bailey Takes Erza Klein To The Workshed

I seriously didn't expect what I saw when I clicked on this Reason piece.

Quick recap to catch folks up.

Krauthammer makes a prediction on how Obamacare will eventually play out on the op/ed pages of Washington Post and Klein takes to those same pages showing his skewered definition of what "rationing" means.

Enter Bailey over at Reason, who quickly explains the concept to Klein in simple words even he should be able to understand.

Like most left-leaning folks, Klein clearly doesn't know the definition of rationing. Take this one from Britannica:

Government allocation of scarce resources and consumer goods, usually adopted during wars, famines, or other national emergencies.

Klein evidently thinks that market outcomes that he dislikes mean that government should step in and impose outcomes that he does like. All right, let's admit it; the health insurance market and the rest of health care are royally screwed up as a result of decades of government interventions and mandates. Consequently we don't actually find the usual benefits of falling prices and improving products and services that we experience in normally operating markets where robust competition and choice reign.

Bailey finishes his spanking of Klein with this:

But through the usual leftwing lack of imagination and a truly touching and naive faith in the efficacy of top/down government "solutions," Klein ends up advocating for government rationing and for imposing a government monopoly on health care, instead of for more competition and choice.

Kinda caught my funny bone, so there it is.

.

Cap And Trade Battle About To Heat Up Again

H/T Red State on the video from NAM, shown below:



The National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business are launching a multi-million dollar ad campaign against Cap and Trade and targeting moderate Democrats who are already on thin ice with their constituents over the Obamacare bill.

The National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business are targeting moderate Democrats who have voiced skepticism about the legislation, which is still under consideration in the Senate. The cap-and-trade bill passed the House in June on a 219-212 vote.

Television, radio and Internet ads will run statewide through Sept. 4 in Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.

The ads urge senators to vote against the bill, arguing that the legislation will raise energy costs on small businesses and consumers. A study by NAM says that the legislation would cost 2.4 million jobs and raise electricity prices as much as 50 percent by 2030, statistics contested by environmental groups and government studies.

"Our message to senators is that the Waxman-Markey bill is an 'anti-jobs, anti-energy' piece of legislation," said NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons.

Considering the news yesterday that unemployment is expected to jump to an average of 10.2 by 2010, this message may very well stop shaky Democrats from getting behind the cap and trade bill.

Another one of the ads that will be shown:



.

Boycott Doesn't Hurt Glenn Beck's Ratings, In Fact, Audience Grows

Amazing, a boycott specifying the Glenn Beck show, has been in progress, because of Beck's controversial calling of Obama "a racist" and yet the latest figures show that not only has his audience grown, but he became the top viewed show, on any cable news network.

5PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Glenn Beck– 3,040,000 viewers (888,000) (1,385,000)
Situation Room—688,000 viewers (141,000) (271,000)
Hardball w/ Chris Matthews—536,000 viewers (139,000) (217,000)
Fast Money—215,000 viewers (55,000) (80,000)
Prime News–267,000 viewers (97,000) (109,000)

An advertising boycott against Fox News host Glenn Beck has succeeded in keeping most major sponsors from running commercials on his show even as the controversial commentator's viewership has grown.

Beck attracted 2.81 million viewers Monday, his third-largest audience since his show launched on Fox News in January, according to Nielsen Media Research data provided by the network. On Tuesday, nearly 2.7 million viewers tuned in, his fifth-largest viewership to date. And the conservative host got a plug from former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who urged people to watch his program in a post on her Facebook page.

What happens when a boycott not only fails to hurt the intended victim but instead increases his popularity?

Depends who you are, but to those who arranged the boycott of advertising on his show, they keep pushing the boycott and making Beck's ratings go even higher.

The boycott of Beck's show has also not hurt Fox News at all, evidenced by the latest news of Fox beating CNN and MSNBC in audience draws.

.

Worse than Henry Waxman

I was verbally (and nearly physically)accosted by a hotel manager who was hosting Henry Waxman's "townhall." I did nothing wrong, minded my own business, and had my civil liberties assaulted.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/worse-than-henry-waxman/


http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/04/ideological-bigotry-my-book-is-now-available/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Warrenpoint: Never forget

(video found here)

And another post at Assoluta Tranquillita here

Always remembered and honoured. They matter.

Privacy Issues Of Obamacare

CBS News reports another startling detail of H.R. 3200, better known as Obamacare.

Section 431(a) of the bill says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and "other information as is prescribed by" regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for "affordability credits."

Section 245(b)(2)(A) says the IRS must divulge tax return details -- there's no specified limit on what's available or unavailable -- to the Health Choices Commissioner. The purpose, again, is to verify "affordability credits."

Section 1801(a) says that the Social Security Administration can obtain tax return data on anyone who may be eligible for a "low-income prescription drug subsidy" but has not applied for it.

Over at the Institute for Policy Innovation (a free-market think tank and presumably no fan of Obamacare), Tom Giovanetti argues that: "How many thousands of federal employees will have access to your records? The privacy of your health records will be only as good as the most nosy, most dishonest and most malcontented federal employee.... So say good-bye to privacy from the federal government. It was fun while it lasted for 233 years."

They updated their piece with comment from Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, after wondering in their article where the Electronic Privacy Information Center stood on the issue of section 431(a) of the Obamacare bill:

"We would oppose section 431(a) of the bill because it violates the intent of the Privacy Act which generally requires agencies to obtain information directly from individuals and not from other agencies."

Since the bills didn't get jammed through before Congress went on their august vacations as Obama insisted, it seems folks are getting a chance to actually read the bill and find these tidbits that would have made it through without our knowledge.

.

When Will America's Mass Exodus Come?

Another window into our future if Congress and the Senate vote to continue raising the already ridiculously high taxes on the rich.

Read excerpts from this Bloomberg article and tell me if they don't sound very, very similar to what Obama and the Democratic leadership are trying to do here, in America.

The number of U.S. citizens in Britain fell 3.8 percent to 126,000 in the 12 months through September, according to the Office for National Statistics. The trend probably continued this year, with the Confederation of British Industry estimating the U.K. financial industry will lose about 45,000 jobs in the first nine months of 2009, or 4.3 percent of the total.

Americans are heading home as Britain plans a 50 percent tax rate for those who earn more than 150,000 pounds ($248,000) a year and employers cut benefits for workers living abroad, reducing the allure of London. That comes a year after the U.K. said foreigners who have lived in the country for more than seven years must pay 30,000 pounds annually or give up the special status that shields overseas income from British taxes.

Fed Up.

The worst recession since World War II has left U.K. residents facing tax increases and spending cuts after Britain’s monthly budget deficit ballooned to a record 8 billion pounds in July. In addition, some employers are reducing benefits such as tax equalization, school tuition for children and cost-of-living allowances that supplement expatriate salaries.

Schools catering to international students report a drop in enrollment for the first time in seven years, and relocation companies say they are moving fewer people to Britain.

Janet Sherbow lives in London’s Chelsea district with her husband, Nikos Mourkogiannis, the former chief executive officer at the European arm of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based management consulting firm Monitor Co. The family plans to move to Greece after their daughter finishes high school next year.

“We are fed up with all the stealth taxes, the non-doms levy, and now the 50 percent tax rate,” Sherbow said. “Six American families have moved from my street in the last six months.”

Job losses, raising taxes on the rich and rising deficit.

Lets see here.

CBO just projected unemployment will rise to a 10.2 percent average by 2010.

CHECK.

The latest adjusted projections on our deficit raise it to $9 trillion.

CHECK.

Democrats propose and have been pushing the idea of raising taxes on the rich to fund their spending, and Obamacare.

CHECK.

When the people that employ the masses, produce our goods, provide health insurance and pay 90 percent of all federal income tax as it stands now, get sick and tired of the government stealing their money, via higher taxes, to support the rest of the country, where will they go to be appreciated for being productive instead of punished for it?

Cato@Liberty asks a question:

Brown is killing the free-market goose that laid the golden eggs of Britain’s success. I really don’t understand the vision of such politicians — don’t they know what they are doing? I want people to be successful. I want entrepreneurs to create wealth. I love growing, vibrant cities. Why do some people want to destroy all that?

A simple answer... they want what other people have sweated and worked hard to earn without having to work for it themselves.

The why is easy, they are jealous of other people's success and abilities to create wealth when they cannot.

.

Unemployment To Jump Over 10 Percent

Despite promises that the $787 billion stimulus package would help to keep unemployment below 8 percent, new projections say it will rise to over 10 percent.

Just 10 days before taking office, Obama's top economic advisers released a report predicting unemployment would remain at 8 percent or below through this year if an economic stimulus plan won congressional approval.

H/T Hennessey, for leading us to the Congressional Budget Office's summer update.

Not only is the estimate for the deficit been raised to $9 trillion, but the unemployment rate will be raised to 10.2 percent.

Page 14, of the Budget and Economic Outlook update, 92 page PDF file here, says:

In CBO’s forecast, the unemployment rate continues to rise, climbing from 9.3 percent this year to an average of 10.2 percent next year (peaking at 10.4 percent around the middle of the year), and then falls to 9.1 percent in 2011.

'Nuff said.

.

Taking Ted to the (wood) shed

The 24 hour grace period is over regarding Mr. Kennedy. It is time to tell the truth and take Ted to the (wood) shed.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/taking-ted-to-the-wood-shed/http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/taking-ted-to-the-wood-shed/


http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/04/ideological-bigotry-my-book-is-now-available/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Democratic Senator, Landrieu, Likely To Oppose Government Insurance Plan

The News Star:

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu told a relatively friendly overflow Monroe Chamber of Commerce crowd that she would likely oppose any government insurance option in health care reform and lobby against a proposed energy tax known as Cap and Trade.

Landrieu, D-La., who spoke during a chamber luncheon today, also met with local doctors earlier and briefly addressed about 15 demonstrators opposing a public insurance option and Cap and Trade.

When asked after her speech if the senator would support a public option under any circumstances, she said, “Very few, if any. I’d prefer a private market-based approach to any health care reform that would extend coverage.”

“I’d like to cover everyone — that would be the moral thing to do — but it would be immoral to bankrupt the country while doing so,” Landrieu said.

Pelosi's House of Representatives have enough Democratic votes to jam through any bill they want, but the Senate, to bypass a filibuster, needs 60 votes for any plan they propose, and although Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, did have his 60 filibuster proof Democrats, the passing of Ted Kennedy put him back to 59 and blue dogs, moderate Democrats, are hesitant to overrule the will of their constituents who have been turning out in droves to show opposition to the public option as well as the trillion dollar cost of Obamacare.

If Mary Landrieu, known as a conservative Democrat, is true to her words here, this is one less vote Harry Reid can count on.

TPM also reports Landrieu's previous stance on the idea that Democrats should stick together against filibuster, as a procedural matter.

Landrieu has also balked at the idea that she and other Democrats should be expected to oppose filibusters as a procedural matter. "I'm going to keep an open mind, but I am not committing to any procedural straitjackets one way or another," she said in July.

Looks like after this little August vacation for Congress, the Democratic leadership is going to have their hands full and it is doubtful they are going to be able to shove the public option down all of our throats.

Landrieu is not the only conservative or moderate Democrat that balked at Reid's "procedural matter", according to Roll Call back in July when Reid tried to push the idea:

Senate Democratic leaders have stepped up the pressure on their rank and file to unify on procedural votes after finally gaining a filibuster-proof majority, but centrists who have long been headaches for the leadership are so far refusing to commit to the strategy.

“Most Senators vote their conscience and they do what they think is right. They didn’t come here to be told what to do by somebody else,” moderate Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.) said.

.

Patients Association Publishes Patients Not Numbers, People Not Statistics

The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) is a government run healthcare system and the Patients Association has published what is being described as a "horrifying catalogue" of "neglectful, demeaning, painful and sometimes downright cruel" care f patients using first hand accounts, showing examples of "elderly people left in pain, in soiled bed clothes, denied adequate food and drink, and suffering from repeatedly cancelled operations, missed diagnoses and dismissive staff."

The Telegraph reports on the new publication by the Patients Association. (A link to the report itself will be at the bottom of this story)

The Patients Association said the dossier proves that while the scale of the scandal at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust - where up to 1,200 people died through failings in urgent care - was a one off, there are repeated examples they have uncovered of the same appalling standards throughout the NHS.

While the criticisms cover all aspects of hospital care, the treatment and attitude of nurses stands out as a repeated theme across almost all of the cases.

They have called on Government and the Care Quality Commission to conduct an urgent review of standards of basic hospital care and to enforce stricter supervision and regulation.

Claire Rayner, President of the Patients Association and a former nurse, said:“For far too long now, the Patients Association has been receiving calls on our helpline from people wanting to talk about the dreadful, neglectful, demeaning, painful and sometimes downright cruel treatment their elderly relatives had experienced at the hands of NHS nurses.

“I am sickened by what has happened to some part of my profession of which I was so proud.

The Patients Association, home page here, has links to the press release on this latest report as well as the 78 page PDF to the report itself.

The press release lists 16 partial accounts being used as examples of the care, or lack thereof, of patients in the NHS.

That is the type of "quality" care received in a government run healthcare system.

.

Grassley And Feingold On Obamacare

Feingold:

"We're headed in the direction of doing absolutely nothing...."

Grassley:

I don't think it's going to be possible to work it out with the administration because they're all over the field — all over the ball park, I guess, as we say.

And, you know, one weekend, the secretary of HHS is saying you don't have to have a public option. The next day, the administration gets hit from the left, so the Obama says public option is still very, very important to them.

But, yes, I do believe it's possible to reach an agreement. But I have to confess to you to be a little more cautious when I say that now, because I've been out here listening to my constituents. And if — and if other members of Congress are hearing what I'm hearing, they're saying, "Slow it down. Do it a little more carefully. Make sure you know what you're doing. And maybe do it even a little more incrementally. ...

It may cause us to change course. I doubt if it will drop negotiations. It might even open the door for other Republicans that have plans to come into the discussion.

Considering the majority opinion on the topic, these two might be speaking the truth.

.

62 Percent Of Non-Affiliated Voters Think Obamacare Bill Should Be Changed

Rasmussen headlines with "24% Say Democrats Should Pass Health Care Reform Without GOP Votes."

The devil is in the details though:

But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% believe the Democrats should change the bill to win support from "a reasonable number of Republicans." Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure what congressional Democrats should do.

Republican voters overwhelmingly think the bill should be changed, and so do 62% of those not affiliated with either major political party.

However, Democrats are more conflicted. Forty-one percent (41%) of those in the president’s party believe their legislators should pass the bill without any GOP votes, while 34% disagree and think the legislation should be changed to attract Republican support.

Most liberal voters (52%) say that Democrats should pass the legislation without the Republicans. Most moderates (55%) disagree.

We expect Republicans to usually side with Republicans and Democrats to usually side with Democrats on this issue... but the Inependents, not affiliated with any party, they are the key.

They are the people who undoubtedly have no political axe to grind and are the ones I generally watch the most often.

The numbers say it all and the question we are all left with is "Will the Democratic leaders let their hard left liberal base lead them off the cliff?"

.

Democratic HQ Vandalized By Democrat To Stir Up Hate Ahainst Obamacare Opponents

Amazing, just as wrong headed and stupid when done by a liberal, as in this case as it is when done by a conservative in another case.

This time, a 24-year old, Maurice Schwenkler, was arrested for vandalizing, by way of smashing 11 windows at Colorado Democratic Party headquarters.

History on Schwenkler, provided by Denver Post, shows:

Maurice Schwenkler wore a shirt over his face, a hooded sweat shirt and latex gloves before he and another man fled the scene on bicycles, police said. Schwenkler was apprehended after a short chase. The other suspect remains at large.

While Schwenkler does not appear in the state's voter registration database, a person by that name in November 2008 received $500 from a political 527 committee called Colorado Citizens Coalition for "communications," according to campaign finance disclosures.

The accountant for the 527 appears to be the same woman who handles the books for many other Democratic-leaning political committees.

More confirmation on the political leanings of Schwenkler, from 850 KOA:

Records with the Secretary of State's office show that a Maurice Scwenkler was paid to go door to door in a Colorado House district in 2008 by the Colorado Citizens Coalition. That's a 527 organization that spent money on behalf of mostly democratic candiates. That organization got hefty contributions form a variety of sources including $210,000 from the Colorado Education Association.

Malkin reminds us that if you call out one, it is also fair to call out all:

I called out GOP fake hate crime perpetrator Ashley Todd last year and have documented a long list of hoax crimes across party, racial, and gender lines for nearly two decades.

So, the latest case of so-called progressives vandalizing a Democrat headquarters in Denver comes as no surprise. And neither does the initial attempt by Colorado Democrats to blame “hate” by “the other side” and to shamelessly tie the crime to town hall protesters.

Did Liberals fall for her "stir up the hate" campaign?

Well, yes they did.

Think Progress jumped on the story and here are some choice responses:

1. amish_edison says:

   ---

   Cowards. Pure and simple. Ignorant, violent, uneducated cowards. A true reflection of right-wing sheep.

   August 25th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

   ---

2. fletc3her says:

   ---

   I suppose we can be thankful the right wing terrorists didn't kill anyone this time.

   August 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

   ---

3. Purple State says:

   ---

   Let me guess. The pundits out there are going to say this one was done by the secret Democratic party elves too.

   August 25th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
4. raynman says:

   ---

   and when the unthinkable happens, the right wing will deny any culpability and complain that they're being persecuted

   August 25th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

That was just a few little sample from one site as to how easily Schwenkler manipulated the left.

.

Babies Born In Toilets- Welcome to Government Run Healthcare

The UK has the NHS, National Health Service.

The National Health Service (NHS) is the name used to refer to the four publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom, collectively or individually, although only the health service in England uses the name 'National Health Service' without further qualification. (Via Wiki)

The Daily Mail shows some amazing numbers they obtained through Freedom of Information data for 2007 and 2008 from 117 out of 147 trusts which provide maternity services.

Some of those details show:

Latest figures show that over the past two years there were at least:

* 63 births in ambulances and 608 in transit to hospitals;
* 117 births in A&E departments, four in minor injury units and two in medical assessment areas;
* 115 births on other hospital wards and 36 in other unspecified areas including corridors;
* 399 in parts of maternity units other than labour beds, including postnatal and antenatal wards and reception areas.

Additionally, overstretched maternity units shut their doors to any more women in labour on 553 occasions last year.

Not enough beds, not enough midwives, not enough doctors and not enough space.

That is just dealing with maternity issues, remember the waiting lists, to which the image below says quite a bit.



Quote from Daniel Hannan, the Conservative MEP, about NHS (National Healthcare Service, UK, in a Fox News interview.

"I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. We have a system where the most salient facts of it you get huge waiting lists, you have bad survival rates and you would much rather fall ill in the US."

Moving right along to Canada, a reminder of how their Government run healthcare system is on the verge of imploding.

Welcome to the world of Government run healthcare.

With Obama and Democrats pushing hard for Obamacare, and liberal bloggers, shamelessly using Ted Kennedy's death to push their agenda, is it any wonder that for the first time in two years, Republicans are trusted more than Democrats on healthcare?

.

Ted Kennedy Dies

Ted is Dead. That is what was said. Then I went to bed.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/ted-kennedy-dies/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Ted Kennedy Dies Of Brain Cancer, Age 77- RIP

After suffering from a a malignant brain tumor, which was diagnosed in May of 2008, Edward M. Kennedy, known as Ted, died before midnight on Tuesday , August 25, 2009, from brain cancer.

"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever," the Kennedy family said in a statement. "He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it."

Kennedy did not attend his sister, Eunice Shriver's public funeral, who died two weeks ago, although he did attend a private gathering. His absence from the public services fueled speculation about his deteriorating health.

Recently Kennedy urged the Massachusetts state legislature to change the law , which would allow an interim Senator to take his place instead of holding an election to replace him as is the current law in place in Massachusetts, something different media outlets reported on at the time.

Sympathies to the family and RIP ted Kennedy.

.

The Racism Charge Against Any Obama Criticism

ABC's John Stossel on the racism charge against any Obama criticism.

Come on. Every president eventually is criticized by the media – even one as “transcendent” as Obama. The President’s supporters should engage his critics with facts, not charges of racism.

Read the whole thing.

.

Beck Boycott Doesn't Affect Fox Channel Revenue

While companies have stopped advertising their products on the Glenn Beck show after he called Barack Obama a racist, Fox News has not lost any money, because those ads are just being used on other Fox shows.

While the advertising boycott has generated substantial media coverage, Fox News said it has not impacted the network’s revenues or Beck’s audience. "The advertisers referenced have all moved their spots from Beck to other programs on the network so there has been no revenue lost," a spokeswoman said.

Better yet, for Beck, it certainly hasn't hurt his audience any either.

The flap that ensued did not appear to dampen Beck’s viewership. This month, his show has averaged 2.25 million viewers, 99% more than tuned in during the same period last year, when the network aired “America’s Election HQ” during the time period. And his ratings are up from July, when Beck's program averaged 2.05 million viewers. Fan websites such as Defend Glenn have called for viewers to fight back against the advertising boycott, and some media veterans have denounced the tactic as a suppression of free speech.

The fact that this boycott hasn't hurt Fox nor Beck, seems to confuse some.

Here are some simple facts to answer to those confused.

Companies are business to make money. Fox News is one of the most watched channels. While some corporations do not want to be associated with overly political views, they do want to advertise where the most people will see those advertisements, hence making their money.

It is called Capitalism, look it up.

In the meantime, for Beck, it is business as usual.

.

Report Shows Prediction About Swine Flu In US

Via, ABC news:

Up to half of the population of the U.S. could come down with the swine flu and 90,000 could die this season, according to a dire report from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

From the CDC (Center For Disease Control and prevention map of the weekly Surveillance Report, week 32, week ending August 15, 2009.

(Click image to enlarge)

On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level from Phase 5 to Phase 6 indicating that an influenza pandemic is underway. The novel influenza A (H1N1) virus now will be referred to as “2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus.”

.

It Is Official- 19 Percent Rise In Obama Deficit Forecast

The bad news keeps coming, kind of funny how that is happening while Barack Obama is safely out of the way on vacation.

Bloomberg:

Obama Raises ’10 Deficit Outlook 19% to $1.5 Trillion

Over the next decade, the budget picture is darker, with the 10-year deficit reaching $9.05 trillion, up from $7.1 trillion forecast in May, the budget office said Aug. 19.

“Whatever their cause, the administration is very concerned about these out-year deficits, and getting those deficits under control is a top priority of the administration,” Orszag said.

‘Sustainable Path’

He said the budget blueprint Obama submits to Congress in February will “include proposals to put the nation back on a fiscally sustainable path.” He declined to give specifics.

The median estimate of 31 economists in a Bloomberg News survey completed Aug. 21 was for a fiscal year 2010 deficit of $1.3 trillion.

“The market will view this as a very consensus-oriented forecast” and there won’t be any significant reaction, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Zandi predicted Congress will pass a second “mini” stimulus bill next year of about $250 billion to aid jobless workers, state governments and tax credits to help home buyers. “The economy will be growing at an uncomfortably slow rate, not enough to bring down unemployment, and of course it’s an election year” for Congress, he said.

The White House is trying to spin it already, they are also using multiple stories to distract from this as well as the Obamacare argument going on nationally, with the EIT report and the renomination of Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke to another four-year term.

I guess they figure if they throw enough red meat out there, the wolves won't all go after the same piece.

.

Gitmo, Another Area Obama Loses Support

Rasmussen:

Seventy-five percent (75%) of U.S. voters are at least somewhat concerned that dangerous terrorists will be set free if the Guantanamo prison camp is closed and some prisoners are transferred to other countries. Fifty-six percent (56%) are very concerned.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 24% are not concerned about the potential danger.

Support for the president’ s plan to close the prison camp for suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba continues to erode. It’s been steadily dropping since Obama announced the camp closure just after taking office in January. Only 32% of voters now favor closing the prison camp, down six points from May and down 12 points since the President announced his decision in January.

Fifty-five percent (55%) now oppose closing the prison, with 13% not sure. In January, just after the president announced his decision, just 42% were opposed.

The numbers speak for themselves.

.

Palin's Original Remarks on Death Panels did not include End of Life Care

The verbal tennis match regarding H. R 3200, or Obamacare, has lead to confusion amongst American citizens. The most recent round concerns Palin, Obama, and "Death Panels." Which leaves citizens asking," What are the facts?"

After weeks of discussion it seems the provisions of what is now labeled as “Obamacare” are still relatively mysterious to the population. The 1000+ page bill titled H.R. 3200 has been confusing citizen and public servant alike, but this confusion has not stopped the obfuscation of facts where punditry is concerned.

The most recent and widely publicized debate surrounding “Obamacare” involves accusations made by Sarah Palin on August 7 that H.R. 3200 afforded the opportunity for Death Panels. Her reasoning centered on President Obama’s Health Advisor, Ezekiel Emanuel and statements he made in a pamphlet concerning rationing health care in times of limited resources.

In response to her Facebook “Death Panel” statement, Barack Obama and progressive pundits stated that Sarah Palin was in deliberate use of scare tactics over a 10 page portion of the bill which laid out plans for end of life care discussion between physician and patient.

For the rest of the article go to http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/278227

Reid, Conyers And Now Patrick Face Serious Challenges

I asked yesterday, after the news that Democratic Harry Reid trails in polls behind two possible Republican challengers and John Conyers faces a tough reelection, who would the next Democrats be, to pay for the unpopular push of Obama's policies.

Rasmussen answers that question today.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has an even longer way to go now if he wants to win a second term next year.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Massachusetts voters shows the Democratic incumbent trailing potential Republican challenger Christy Mihos 40% to 35%. Eleven percent (11%) like some other candidate, and 15% are not sure.

In June, Mihos had a statistically insignificant 41% to 40% lead over Patrick, so the bad news for the governor is that he is losing support.

Patrick has a one-point lead over another possible GOP competitor, health care executive Charlie Baker, 40% to 39%, with seven percent (7%) opting for some other candidate and 15% again undecided. In June, Patrick led Baker 41% to 36%.

Showing once again that Democrats rarely learn from their mistakes, news reports show they are still pushing Obamacare, with the public option, even harder... doubling down so to speak, and there is increasing talk about "going it alone."

I say they should go for it, and Republicans should stick to their guns and refuse to have anything to do with it. This way, when Democrats pass something opposed by the majority like the public option portion of Obamacare, as shown in poll after poll after poll, from multiple polling organizations, the people, the voters, know exactly who to blame for completely ignoring the majority.

.

Why The Young Isn't Helping Obama With Obamacare

The Washington Post lists a couple reasons as to why the younger Obama supporters, who helped get him elected, has been quiet on the issue of healthcare aka Obamacare, but they ignore one glaring reason.

Wapo:

Younger people are generally healthier and rely on less medical care, particularly young working men who make up the largest group that goes voluntarily without health insurance. They also are less likely to be as vocal at contentious town halls; many are either working or in school during the daytime forums.

Despite Obama's attempts at getting the younger crowd to become active, as the elderly already is in opposition to Obamacare, birds are chirping from that quarter.

Perhaps other reasons comes into play here.

How about the fact that it is the younger supporters who will be stuck with the, just upped, deficit that Obama has already created over the long term, or how about the fact that the younger, technical savvy crowd has the potential to become some of the richest people around and might not exactly be thrilled to learn that they will be paying for everyone else.

Or maybe it could be the disappointment being shown from liberals about Obama's broken promises.

Who knows, but I find the Washington Post writer didn't delve into the myriad of reasons it could be and simply blamed general good health and busy schedules.

.

Townhall Truths and Liberal Lies

There is plenty of truth coming from the townhalls, but it is not coming from the left.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/townhall-truths-and-liberal-lies/

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/04/ideological-bigotry-my-book-is-now-available/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

McGurn: 'Obama needs to move to the right. '

WSJ:

On this day in 1994, Bill Clinton's presidency was saved.

It didn't look that way at the time. After threatening to keep Congress in session until a health-care bill was passed, then Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell gave up and let members return home for their recess. The legislative push for universal health care never recovered, and scarcely 11 weeks later Republicans led by Newt Gingrich woke up to find that they had just won control of both houses of Congress.

Mr. Clinton's presidency, however, did recover. And though the Republican revolution in Congress would ultimately run aground, in retrospect we can see two important legacies: It helped usher in a new era of prosperity for the American people, and in the process helped Mr. Clinton save his presidency.

Today the lesson that President Barack Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress take from that 1994 defeat is that they need to avoid Mr. Clinton's "mistakes." Avoiding mistakes, however, is not a winning strategy. A far more productive strategy would be to embrace Mr. Clinton's success, which was freeing himself from his party's left and returning to the centrist themes he had campaigned on.

Good luck with that Mr. McGurn.

Obama may be politically savvy, but his charm has indeed worn off as McGurn noted, but Obama is much farther to the left than Clinton ever was and is too young and inexperienced to understand how to copy the Clinton experience.

McGurn makes sense but I wouldn't suggest anyone holding their breath waiting for this move to the right.

.

Distracting From Obamacare With EIT Report

Monday, the long awaited report that Dick Cheney requested be released, has been and as a distraction technique to take the focus off Obamacare and the public option, it has temporarily worked, especially on the liberal left and even many on the right, who immediately dropped their hot potato topic and anger over healthcare and instantly, breathlessly, started typing away about the latest news about the enhanced interrogation techniques used again three detainees during the Bush administration.

Power Line has gone through the whole report and the analysis is definitely a must read, as has Weekly Standard, also another must read.

Weekly Standard also has a memo released by the GOP, concerning the information obtained from the use of the enhanced interrogation techniques.

Key portions:

Similarly going unreported today is that the release of the IG report should finally put to rest claims that the CIA interrogation program was not effective and did not produce actionable intelligence, made, for example, by Senator Whitehouse on the floor of the Senate on June 9, 2009. Analysis of the effectiveness of the CIA interrogation program in the IG Report reveals the following:

• “Agency senior managers believe that lives have been saved as a result of the capture and interrogation of terrorists who were planning attacks, in particular, Khalid Shaykh Muhammad, Abu Zubaydah, Hambali, and Al-Nashiri.” page 88 para 217.
• After the use of the enhanced interrogation techniques on the bomber of the USS Cole, “al-Nashiri provided lead information on other terrorists during his first day of interrogation.” pages 35-36, para 76.
• Hambali “provided information that led to the arrest of previously unknown members of an Al-Qa’ida cell in Karachi.” page 87 para 216.
• Intelligence derived from the CIA interrogation program led to a general increase in relevant intelligence reports, producing over 3,000 intelligence reports between 9/11 and the end of April 2003. page 86 para 213.
• A redacted entity “judge the reporting from detainees as one of the most important sources for finished intelligence.” Similarly, another redacted entity “viewed analysts’ knowledge of the terrorist target as having much more depth as a result of information from detainees and estimated that detainee reporting is used in all counterterrorism articles produced for the most senior policymakers.” page 88 para 218.

Then they discuss the analysis of the effectiveness of the CIA interrogation program:

• “Results from the first al Qaeda HVT interrogated using the aforementioned enhanced techniques, Abu Zubayda, have been outstanding. . . . This has ultimately led to some instances of the US Government being able to neutralize Al Qaeda capabilities worldwide before there was an opportunity for those capabilities to engage in operations harmful to the United States.” CIA Business Plan discussing RDI program, page 13, March 7, 2003.
• “using the quality of the intelligence as the yardstick, the program has been an absolute success.” Interview with a senior CIA officer regarding CIA RDI program, page 1, para 2, July 17, 2003.
• “there was no other way CTC [CIA Counterterrorist Center] could have gotten the information they have obtained from the detainees.” Interview with a senior CIA officer regarding CIA RDI program, page 1, para 2, July 17, 2003.
• “detainees have provided information that led to the arrest of other terrorists Zubadayh provided information that led to the raid that netted Ramzi Bin al-Shibh.” Interview with a senior CIA officer regarding CIA RDI program, page 2, para 3, July 17, 2003.
• al Nashiri “is providing actionable intelligence” after the use of the enhanced interrogation techniques. Spot report regarding interrogation of al Nashiri, page 1, para 2, Jan. 22, 2003.

You can read the whole report here.

Here is Dick Cheney's statement.

The timing of this release couldn't be more obvious, politicians have been getting slammed from one end of the country to the other by concerned citizens, livid over Obamacare, and as a distraction, this topic is hot enough to have actually worked.

For the moment.

.

My Interview With Larry Greenfield

In interviewed rising star Larry Greenfield of the Claremont Institute.


http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/my-interview-with-larry-greenfield/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Raiders Recap--Preseason 2009 Week 2

This is yesterday's post, belatedly so.


http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/raiders-recap-preseason-2009-week-2/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

The Democrats And 9/11

The American Spectator:

The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry.

This effort to reshape the American psyche has nothing to do with healing the nation and everything to do with easing the nation along in the ongoing radical transformation of America that President Obama promised during last year's election campaign. The president signed into law a measure in April that designated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service, but it's not likely many lawmakers thought this meant that day was going to be turned into a celebration of ethanol, carbon emission controls, and radical community organizing.

Read the whole thing.

No commentary needed from me needed here, it is pretty clear.

.

Virtual March on Washington for Veterans

On Sept. 15, we are going to make history with the first-ever virtual march for disabled veterans. And we hope you will take part.

You won’t need to travel to participate. You won’t need to spend any money to have your voice heard. You don’t even have to be online the day of the march, so no need to check your calendar. The DAV is working to ensure this will be the easiest and most convenient way ever to stand up for veterans.

With this march, you will support those who came back from war missing a limb, paralyzed, unable to see, terribly sick or otherwise disabled. They put their country – our country – before themselves. They gave so much, and now they need you to stand up for them.

There are many issues facing veterans today. The march will highlight those issues and what needs to be done to better the lives of veterans and their families. Together, we will generate greater public awareness and support for strengthening federal policies that provide health care assistance to disabled veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as those from prior eras and conflicts.

Please take a moment to show your support for disabled veterans by joining the march today. Simply enter your e-mail address at the top of this page. We will also need your ZIP code so we can let lawmakers know which regions have constituents who care about the plight of veterans and their families. We will not share your email address with or sell it to anyone, nor will we use it to solict donations....

For more, go over to Assoluta Tranquillita here.

First Reid, now Conyers... Who's Next

Yesterdays news showed Harry Reid behind, in polling, two different Republican challengers for his Senate seat in 2010, and today we see House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.)may also have a rough reelection in front of him as well.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) could face a tough reelection race in 2010, according to a new, independent poll released this weekend.

Next- Representative Carolyn Cheek Kilpatrick (D-Mich.):

27 percent of Detroiters said Rep. Carolyn Cheek Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) deserves reelection almost a year after she was almost unseated in a Democratic primary challenge.

58 percent said that someone else should replace Kilpatrick, with 14 percent undecided.

Note to Democratic politicians... you just keep pushing Obamacare and that "public option", conservatives don't have to do very much at this point except kick back and watch you folks shoot yourselves in the foot.

Any opinions on who is next on the chopping block?

[Update] 8/25/09- The question has been answered, next on chopping block is Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

.

Seniors' Health Care Bill of Rights

Michael Steele took to the pages of the Washington Post with a piece called Protecting Our Seniors, where he unveils the Seniors' Health Care Bill of Rights, making it clear that seniors should be protected in any type of healthcare reform instead of having $500 billion cut from the Medicare program, as proposed by Democrats.

The Republican Party's contract with seniors includes tenets that Americans, regardless of political party, should support. First, we need to protect Medicare and not cut it in the name of "health-insurance reform." As the president frequently, and correctly, points out, Medicare will go deep into the red in less than a decade. But he and congressional Democrats are planning to raid, not aid, Medicare by cutting $500 billion from the program to fund his health-care experiment. The president also plans to cut hospital payments and Medicare Advantage, all of which will mean fewer treatment options for seniors. These types of "reforms" don't make sense for the future of an already troubled federal program or for the services it provides that millions of Americans count on.

The Seniors' Health Care Bill of Rights is explained more clearly at GOP.com.

• PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM: President Obama and Congressional Democrats are promoting a government-run health care experiment that will cut over $500 billion from Medicare to be used to pay for their plan. Medicare should not be raided to pay for another entitlement.

• PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR DOCTORS: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment will give patients less power to control their own medical decisions, and create government boards that would decide what treatments would or wouldn’t be funded. Republicans believe in patient-centered reforms that put the priorities of seniors before government.

• PROHIBIT EFFORTS TO RATION HEALTH CARE BASED ON AGE: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment would set up a “comparative effectiveness research commission” where health care treatment decisions could be limited based on a patient’s age. Republicans believe that health care decisions are best left up to seniors and their doctors.

• PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment would have seniors meet with a doctor to discuss end-of-life care that could mean limiting treatment. Republicans believe that government should not interfere with end-of-life care discussions between a patient and a doctor.

• ENSURE SENIORS CAN KEEP THEIR CURRENT COVERAGE: As Democrats continue to propose steep cuts to Medicare in order to pay for their government-run health care experiment, these cuts threaten millions of seniors with being forced from their current Medicare Advantage plans. Republicans believe that seniors should not be targeted by a government-run health care bill and forced out of their current Medicare coverage.
  
  
• PROTECT VETERANS BY PRESERVING TRICARE AND OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: Democrats recently proposed raising veterans’ costs for the Tricare For Life program that many veterans rely on for treatment. Republicans oppose increasing the burden on our veterans and believe America should honor our promises to them.

Our seniors deserve to be protected, as do our veterans and for the GOP, it doesn't hurt that seniors are angry at Obamacare proponents and worried for their future healthcare and just happen to be the largest voting demographic.

Seems the Democrats should have remembered that last part before proposing such massive cuts to the Medicare program.

.

Obamacare Violates The Constitution?

David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey are partners in the D.C. office of Baker Hostetler LLP and served in the Justice Department under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and they have written a piece in the Washington Post discussing the legality for "the federal government to adopt and implement the president's proposals."

Teaser:

Consider one element known as the "individual mandate," which would require every American to have health insurance, if not through an employer then by individual purchase. This requirement would particularly affect young adults, who often choose to save the expense and go without coverage. Without the young to subsidize the old, a comprehensive national health system will not work. But can Congress require every American to buy health insurance?

In short, no. The Constitution assigns only limited, enumerated powers to Congress and none, including the power to regulate interstate commerce or to impose taxes, would support a federal mandate requiring anyone who is otherwise without health insurance to buy it.

Read the entire piece.

The fact is, Americans have freedom of choice, even if those choices aren't smart, Congress, nor Obama can "force" anyone to buy health insurance and threaten to fine them if they do not.

.

Poll: Nevadans Can Replace Harry Reid

According to Las Vegas Review Journal, "Either Republican Danny Tarkanian or Sue Lowden would knock out Reid in a general election, according to a recent poll of Nevada voters."

Nevadans favored Tarkanian over Reid 49 percent to 38 percent and Lowden over Reid 45 percent to 40 percent, according to the poll.

Reid's status makes him an icon of the Democratic Party and ties him to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and President Barack Obama, both of whom are losing ground among centrist and right-leaning voters in the country.

Winning "becomes more difficult when you are actually the one having to carry the water for the president," said Richard Davis, a professor of political science at Brigham Young University in Utah. "He (Reid) has got to get something out of the Obama administration that he can claim as his own."

Reid has a year to try to turn his approval ratings around, but I seriously doubt he can.

.

Don Rickles on Democrats

I am speaking in San Jose this weekend at a pair of functions, so I am outsourcing my column to Comedian Don Rickles.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/08/don-rickles-on-democrats/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

Republicans Want Healthcare Reform That Makes Sense

Kudos once again to Jazz Shaw at Moderate Voice, who dug up the Republicans healthcare proposal, to which was stuck into the House Ways and Means Committee, where it gathers dust.

Shaw explains quite a bit of it, then he concludes:

Why won’t this ever see the light of day? (That is, aside from the fact that the GOP suggested it.) Among other reasons, because Titles 4 and 5 also include fiscally responsible proposals which too many Democrats despise. First, they mandate means testing for the direct government assistance in the form of grants and advancements which would cover every American citizen who can truly not afford health insurance. Why this is such an abomination to my liberal colleagues I will never understand. Also, Title 6 has a provision to encourage the reform and limitation of frivolous lawsuits which, along with other waste and abuse, drives up costs across the board.

That last one is apparently a real deal breaker for most Democrats, who rely on a group mentality where everyone will eventually slip and fall on the sidewalk of a rich person and hit the lottery. None of these, of course, will come to an open vote and likely never even be read by the public. But you should know that one of the biggest lies being foisted off on you by supporters of Obamacare is that Republicans are unwilling to get involved in a better solution. They already have. But nobody is listening or talking about it, either in the majority or the lion’s share of the media.

Read Shaw's piece then look through the actual proposals... common sense ideas, real solutions and yet no one has heard of it.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

.

Blue Dog Admits "People Are Scared" and Anger Is Real

Despite the left's attempts to categorize the massive turnouts at townhalls where people have expressed their anger at their representatives over Obamacare and the economy, one Blue Dog, Allen Boyd (D-Fla., admits the anger is real and that people are "scared" and he admits that because of that anger and fear he "may face a real threat next year at the polls."

But as he fended off gnats buzzing through the August humidity after a morning fending off angry constituents at a town hall meeting here, Boyd confided that the depth of the unease spurred by the health care debate had caught him by surprise.

“They may be in a minority, but they are a larger minority than we’ve seen in the 20-plus years that I’ve been doing this,” said Boyd of the standing-room-only crowds who have been showing up to shout, boo, mutter and, in one case, hand him an actual stack of pink slips since he returned home for recess. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The overhyped and in many cases fraudulent sense of grass-roots fervor during an August Democrats would like to forget is easy to minimize. But for all the cries of Astroturf fakery and ginned-up crowds, a ground zero view in a district like Boyd’s underlines that a very real sense of anger and frustration is bubbling over as summer wanes.

A visit to Florida’s 2nd District also is a bracing case study in the mounting political peril some Blue Dogs like Boyd may be facing. Boyd acknowledged that after coasting to victory in a string of elections, including when a popular President George W. Bush was on top of the ticket in 2004 and national Republicans actively plotted his ouster, he may face a real threat next year at the polls.

And his candor is borne out of his own up-close view from the past three weeks. While some of his colleagues took refuge in constituent-free codels and undisclosed private meetings, Boyd plunged headlong into a series of public forums throughout his district and discovered the sort of public unrest that doesn’t come around very often.

“People are scared,” Boyd said twice, trying to explain what would drive his constituents away from home and work and out into the broiling Florida sun in the middle of the week to see their congressman.

Just think, that was before the latest bombshell that the Obama White House has just raised their deficit projections by over $2 trillion.

People are angry. People are making their voices heard. Blue Dogs understand they are walking a thin line coming into the 2010 elections, where most of them were voted into conservative districts that would have no problem voting them right back out again if they do not listen to their constituents.

.

New White House Projection Raises Deficit By Two More Trillion

Jazz Shaw from Moderate Voice reminds everyone of Obama's promise in February to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term of presidency.

Another promise bites the dust as news hits the stands that the new projections under Obama will actualy raise the deficit beyond the originally projected $7.108 trillion to an approximate $9 trillion.

The Obama administration will raise its 10-year budget deficit projection to approximately $9 trillion from $7.108 trillion in a report next week, a senior administration official told Reuters on Friday.

The higher deficit figure, based on updated economic data, brings the White House budget office into line with outside estimates and gives further fuel to President Barack Obama's opponents, who say his spending plans are too expensive in light of budget shortfalls.

The White House took heat for sticking with its $7.108 trillion forecast earlier this year after the Congressional Budget Office forecast that deficits between 2010 and 2019 would total $9.1 trillion.

"The new forecasts are based on new data that reflect how severe the economic downturn was in the late fall of last year and the winter of this year," said the administration official, who is familiar with the budget mid-session review that is slated to be released next week.

"Our budget projections are now in line with the spring and summer projections that the Congressional Budget Office put out."

The White House budget office will also lower its deficit forecast for this fiscal year, which ends September 30, to $1.58 trillion from $1.84 trillion next week after removing $250 billion set aside for bank bailouts.

Record-breaking deficits have raised concerns about America's ability to finance its debt and whether the United States can maintain its top-tier AAA credit rating.

Funny how Democrats and the White House claimed the Congressional Budget Office was overstating the chance of the deficit actually costing $9 trillion and accused them of understating the potential savings from plans not passed yet, and now they come out and confirm the CBO's prediction.

Remember, now they want to add another trillion plus to this number with Obamacare!

Hot Air reminds us of previous estimates that ended up being false.

How many economic projections has Team Barry utterly cocked up so far? Is anyone keeping a list? Off the top of my head, there’s this one, the infamous guesstimate that the stimulus would keep unemployment under eight percent, and the Cash for Clunkers funding that was supposed to last three months and ran out in a week. In these capable hands does the financial viability of universal health care rest. Exit question: Is this the stake in the heart of ObamaCare? One of the main reasons The One’s polling is deteriorating is public skittishness about deficits. Suddenly, in one fell swoop, the problem’s fully 30% worse than the White House thought, which all but destroys the credibility of their health-care projections going forward. (Not that they had much credibility to begin with.) It’s time to walk away, Blue Dogs.

Nice little weekend gift to drop on the country as Obama and his family go on vacation.

.

RECESS RALLY TODAY!

Some Background
The core groups behind the Tax Day Tea Party, joined by a plethora of liberty movement minded organizations, coalitions and grassroots groups, are once again working together in a unified effort for freedom.

The initial project, as most Americans know, helped organize the April 15th, Tax Day Tea Party effort that resulted in a day of rallies in more than 835 cities across all 50 states. The TaxDayTeaParty.com website witnessed more than 1.7 MILLION unique visits in less than six weeks.

This success was only possible because of a coalition of groups and Americans working towards the same goal in a collaborative and unified effort....

The current administration and congress has intensified the attacks on the foundation of America. First it was the wildly irresponsible “Stimulus Package” that only “stimulated” the pockets of special interest groups… all at the expense of the taxpayers.

Then came the constant nationalizing of the private industry and the declaration of war against the free-market system and private business.

The final blow appears to be in the form of fully socialized healthcare. If passed, we believe this legislation will create problems that are virtually impossible to fix. We also believe that if this legislation is passed, the private industry and small businesses of America will face certain death in the very near future.

This is unacceptable....(my emphasis)

If all of what is happening in America today is unacceptable to you, go to the Recess Rally website, and see what is going on in YOUR state.

NOW is the time for all Americans to stand up and be counted. Go HERE.

God Bless America.