Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Thank you, Senate Finance Committee!

"Senate Panel Kills Gov't Healthcare Plan"
"Senate Panel rejects Public Health Plan"
"Senate Panel votes down Public Option for health care bill"

I saw the breaking news on msn.com in a teaser line and had to go see for myself. I was so excited, I nearly cheered outloud in my office at work. I could not get enough of reading those headlines!

I'm trying not to get too excited - never know what those liberals have up their sleeves... But at least it's a step in the right direction. Seems they are now going to debate on a second admendment to the bill and maybe combine other versions of the health care bill together.
CNN.com even suggested:

"Reid could implement a legislative option known as reconciliation, which would require only 51 votes to pass a health care bill."

So we MUST keep letting our voices be heard. It's working - they ARE hearing us - the Senate Panel vote is evidence of that. KEEP IT UP!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Obamacare: Go directly to Jail... DO NOT pass "go".

I am surprised that I have not heard much about this. I can't find any media sources carrying this - seems to be only blogs so far.

Did you know you can go to jail if you don't purchase health insurance under Obamacare? Yeah, me neither.

When I first found out about this yesterday, it was exclusively on blogs, so I'll admit I was skeptical. The only person on my blogroll who mentioned anything about it was Le.gal In.sur.rec.tion. I only hope the louder voices (Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, Boortz, etc) run with it to help it give the attention it deserves and knock it out of the park, like "death panels" and free insurance for illegals.

I was highly skeptical - I mean, a handwritten note? C'mon now... Sure, there's scans of it online, but how easy is it to make that kind of thing up? But sure enough, I kept searching and there it was -the same story on AmericanThinker, The Weekly Standard, and finally, Politico.

If you do not pay the $1,900 fee/tax/penalty/donation (whatever Obama wants to call it), you could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty.

Okay, first of all, this scares me - it really had shades of China or Russia.

Secondly, if someone can't afford health insurance now in the current system, what makes them think they can afford to during Obamacare? Why not use H.R. 3400, which aims to lower insurance costs for everyone? Or even another plan that accomplishes something similar?

If liberals really care about helping people as much as they say they do, then why not actually help them instead of FORCING people to do their will at the point of a gun? If H.R. 3200 was such a great plan and would magically give everyone health insurance while single-handedly saving the economy, wouldn't you think people would naturally gravitate towards it? If they would come up with a plan that had everyone's best interests in mind, were honest about it and didn't include any trap doors, I think people would be interested. Anything that has to force or coerce you to buy into it is never a good thing.

I've had someone tell me that I'm not "moral" because I don't want people to have health care. Now I've never said that I don't want people to have health care - I think it's a very important thing to have. But not everyone should have it - some people don't want it, and that's fine. I don't have vision insurance because it's cheaper just to pay one time for an exam and frames than to pay a little each month. Maybe it's the same with some of those who choose not to buy health insurance - maybe they have saving accounts, maybe they choose not to because they are young and healthy. Whatever the reasons - at least we have the right to choose. We have the right to choose to buy iphones and cable instead of health insurance. Great, more power to you. If it's important to you, you will find a way to pay for it. And if you are really that bad off or if something unexpected happened, like a job loss, that's what medicare and free clinics are for. I've read tons of stories about doctors who just want to help people and donate their time and resources just to help poor people. Help is there for people who need it and are willing to look for it.

How is it helping the honestly poor people to tax them almost two thousand dollars to afford something they couldn't afford in the first place? How is that moral? How is it moral to send them to jail for not complying with the government? At least they'd get free health care in there... and a place to live and three meals a day.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A clarification and how you can help

I just wanted to clarify something - I don't believe it's the national government's job to step in and help with a state issue unless the state does not have the funds or the resources needed to help themselves. Then the state needs to contact the national government for aide.

I believe the people will come together and lend a hand where needed within the state... and be more efficent than the national government, which I have no doubt the state of GA will do to rebuild. However, if the state's governor requests help, then the national government should act in a timely manner to provide help (especially if they've tooted their own horn in the past... especially if we are throwing money around to research the mating habits of some turtle or something...) I'd MUCH rather my taxdollars went to helping in emergency disasters, than to bailout failing car companies.

But this isn't about politics. We need to help each other out now. If you are interested, I found a few ways you can help. And by all means, if you know of another way to help that isn't listed, please let me know!:

From tomorrow until October 1st, if you shop at your local Kroger, you can either make a donation while shopping for groceries, or "round-up" your grocery bill to the next dollar to help. Donations go towards purchasing neccessities for flood victims.

Donate to the Red Cross or volunteer.

Disaster Network in VA is taking donations of supplies to deliver. Here's a list of what they need.

You can drop off donations at Crye-Leike Realtor offices - towels, blankets, baby supplies, etc. They have offices in Vinings, Woodstock, Canton, Alpharetta and Roswell.

U-haul is offering free storage to victims of the flood for 30 days.

That's it for now. If I see or hear of any others, I'll be posting those when I do.

FINALLY!

Just heard on that radio that Obama finally called Gov. Sonny Perdue. Apparently, I was wrong and Obama called Perdue Tuesday evening - I apologize.

But my point still stands. I seem to remember a candidate Obama, chastizing President Bush, saying how if things would have been different if Katrina was on his watch. Anyone else remember that? "Obama acknowledged that recovery [in New Orleans] has not come at an acceptable pace."

In the article on GPB.org, it states, "President Barack Obama says Georgia’s request for federal disaster aid will receive his prompt attention" and "A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said that it could take up to two weeks for the president to decide whether Georgia is a disaster zone". Do you consider this an "acceptable pace", Mr. President?? We're going to have it all cleaned up by then... Maybe, maybe I could see taking two weeks to get funds together and sent out to all of the appropriate places. Maybe. But TWO WEEKS to decide whether or not GA is a disaster zone??? Lemme give you a clue here: OUR HIGHWAYS ARE UNDERWATER, PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES - WE'RE A DISASTER ZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone needs to get this man a dictionary. First, he debates over the meaning of "tax", and now he needs two weeks to decide what is and isn't a disaster zone.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Madder than a wet hen in Georgia

First of all, let me start by saying I hope all of my readers and fellow bloggers in Georgia are safe and sound (and dry!). My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the floods. I hope we can get everything cleaned up and get people back into their homes as quickly as possible.

And while we are on topic, shame on you, Creative Loafing. I'm embarrassed to be from the same city as them. How disgusting. People are dying, many people have lost their homes and they are bringing politics into this?!?! We need to help one another out, regardless of political party. How about an article of what items certain area of GA needs? How about places we can go to help? How about something to bring people together to help get our lives back to normal as possible instead of trying to separate us more? Sickening that a person would even write that, and sickening that the publication would even publish it. Absolutely no class.

Speaking of no class, where is the President issuing at least a statement about this flooding? Or is he too busy doing his talk show/late night talk show circuit? When he's asked about the flood, will he say "What flood?", as he did when they asked him about the tea parties? WHERE IS HE? If you want to talk about "proper decorum" as they chided Joe Wilson about, then how about a small statement about hoping everyone is okay or something? If he can take time out for talk shows, take time out to acknowledge Ramadan, and take time out to defend his friend, Gates, against the police officers doing their job - I say it again - Where is he??

It's not even as POTUS he should say something, it should be a knee-jerk human response. We're saying it to each other here - WE, as in everyday people. And a person with as much media attention as he gets, should at least acknowledge it.

Granted this isn't as bad as Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, but where are the people that screaming during it that President Bush was racist and not acting fast enough? The Gov. of Georgia, Sonny Purdue, has asked for Obama to declare us a state of emergency, and no response as of yet. Apparently, Mr Hopenchange is too busy hobbnobbing with his friends from the UN to comment on the disaster.


"Obama is in New York at an annual United Nations General Assembly meeting. Perdue said he has been in touch with the president's staff by e-mail."

So Obama is apologizing for us for causing global warming and kissing up to the UN, while Purdue is e-mailing his staff??? Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?? Purdue hoped for some sort of response by the end of Tuesday and now it's the end of Wednesday. Obama wants to rush through 1,000+ page bills through Congress because "the time to act is now", but drags his feet during a time-sensitive natural disaster issue? E-mail the dog, Sonny, you might get a quicker response.

found on Boortz.com

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Obama's health care address - a circus

Nothing new really - same rhetoric, same lines. Speaking of, did anyone win the BINGO game? I think I read at least numbers 1, 5 and 6... there was a variation of 11 & 12, and 15, 23 and 25.

Wow... when I heard the opening lines, I had to pause it to make sure I was watching the right speech. "When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis...". This can't be it - I've heard this one before, but I was wrong. New speech, same words.

"I will not let up until those who seek jobs will find them" gets a standing ovation? Don't help us find jobs - stop killing them off. "We have pulled this economy back from the brink" - is this a speech about health care or the economy? Probably going to insist that we improve the economy by passing health care, no doubt. Another standing O... yawn... "I'd like to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during these trying times..." - I wonder if it was the right-wing terrorists that made these "trying" times?

"I am not the first President to take up the task of health care, but I am determined to be the last." - that can be taken two ways, Mr. President. I hope it is true. It's looking like this health care bill isn't going to pass and I hope future presidents stop trying to take away something I have earned. And why have so many presidents tried to reform health care, but failed - ask yourself that. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT! That's why!

"These people [who can't afford health care] aren't on welfare. These are middle class Americans." Whom poll after poll has shown that the majority of them that can afford it don't want it. I'm not a middle class American - I have health insurance. Apparently, it costs 3 times as much to buy it privately instead of through an employer. My insurance costs $93 a month, which granted would be a lot cheaper through my employer, but is easily attained by knocking out cable and other extras from the budget. If it's a priority to you, you will make it work. It's just that simple.

"We are the only advanced society to allow such hardship for its people" - good, what's wrong with being different? If we wanted to be like everyone else, then we wouldn't be the United States. He makes it sound like insurance companies deny people every day for having any little ailment and that simply isn't true. Yes, it's more expensive if you have asthma or migraines, like I do. And why shouldn't it be? I need more medical coverage and assistance than someone who doesn't have those conditions. I might get denied by a few companies, but I keep searching for one that will accept me. "30 million American citizens who cannot get coverage" - somehow I think his numbers are fudged.

Oh gawd... cue the sob stories about people who suffered at the hands of the evil insurance companies. Mix it up - tell some horror stories from those other "advanced" societies about people who were refused care. Go on - I dare you. "That's heartbreaking and wrong and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America". So pregnant women should be forced to give labor elsewhere because the ER can't take them, people in their 60's denied treatment because they are "too old", people in real emergencies getting sent home with a band-aid and asprin because the ER is too busy to treat them - is THAT how people should be treated in the United States of America, Mr. President? Because that's how they are treated in other "advanced" societies that have universal health care. Aren't those stories "heartbreaking and wrong"??

Yay, another standing ovation. Maybe these people just keep doing it to stay awake, who knows...
Why are campaigning for universal health care when there are bills already on the table?? Guess I'm just being hateful for asking that.

"Health care is placing a burden on taxpayers" - and you think your plan will solve this...? Our "health care problem IS our deficit problem"???? I thought overspending was our deficit problem, but you are right... if we pass this thing, it certainly will become a deficit problem.

"Now these are the facts. No one disputes them." Oh wow... I got a good hard laugh out of that one, thanks.

Seriously though, "the time for bickering is over"? Great... stop calling me names and call off your attack dogs. I had a co-worker call me an idiot today, but thought Republican representatives were all of a sudden jumping on the health care reform bandwagon. Pay attention to the news before you start calling me names. Republicans alone have offered three health care reform bills of their own and they have been on the table for about three to four months, but you won't know that if you only watch the MSM.

LOVED how PresBo said it would carry a hefty price tag ($900 million), but was still spending less than the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and Bush's tax cuts. "Sure, it's going to cost a lot, but not as much as my predecessor spent". Just as my co-worker's friend said: "Why they keep bringing up this debt? It's not like Obama caused it, so it won't hurt if we make it worse". (Seriously, you can't make these things up) What??? Excuse me... so you are already $100 in debt, but you are going to go buy a car to make yourself thousands of dollars in debt, but it doesn't matter since you are already in debt??? Can someone please explain this to me...

Guess I'm just being "cynical and irreponsible" here (thought the time for bickering has passed?), but he repeats all of his lies - no death panels, you can keep your doctor/plan if you like him/it and how his plan is in the middle of the political spectrum (no gov't run system and not making people buy it on their own) but says "The time for games has passed". Okay, so quit playing games with us and be truthful for once!!!

And I LOVED LOVED LOVED this quote: "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than to improve it." (But he is ready to listen to ALL ideas... The time for games has passed, Mr. President...) It's not about politics for me - it's about individual responsibility and a way of life. I WILL NOT have my hard-earned money taken away to give someone health care when I have worked so hard to attain it for myself. But it's ok... I really don't want to waste time talking to you about it either, Obama. Glad we are on the same page.

Who else loved the outburst from Rep. Joe Wilson from SC? Thank you, thank you, thank you for calling Obama on his lies. Way to go! And apparently Republicans got a good laugh when Obama said there were still details to be worked out. Looks like MSNBC seemed a little miffed about that...

What a circus! And in the end, the elephants ran away with the ringleader's top hat...


Related links:
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/us_health_care_overhaul/2009/09/09/258146.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul
Part 1 of Obama's health care speech

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

The Jones/Beck&Blogger War and Health care reform revisited

It was great news to wake up and hear about Van Jones resigning first thing Sunday morning. A point to Glenn Beck and all the bloggers for exposing him for the person he really is. Despite the good news, I can't help being wary. Yeah, all of these czars and other people Obama appoints are shady characters and don't need to be messing up things in the government, but they will still continue to advise the President "unofficially". Not to mention, they have a little more freedom to do as they wish - say anything they want, go wherever they want - and the backlash will be less severe from anything they end up doing. It just may have made him stronger. Arianna Huffington illustrates this in her blog, "Thank You, Glenn Beck!", but I think she goes overboard with the nauseating love fest. You only need to read the first few paragraphs, if you can stomach it, to get the point, (and no, not that she gushes over him like a preteen gushing over an idol - she does that in the first few sentences), that Beck has inadvertently made him stronger. I hope I'm wrong... but we shall see. Oh, apparently, they've coined a new name for all those meanies who chased Jones away with their lies and smear campaigns - "Hate Broadcast Terrorists". (Got to give them credit for that one - although "hate" and "terrorist" are both overused now, they have never used "broadcast" to insult people before)

In other news, Obama's giving his speech tomorrow about health care. I plan to listen to it, but I'm not expecting anything different than his other ones about campaigning for health care. I think it's funny that Reid is convinced their health care bill will be bipartisan?!?! Guess his vacation was a little bit too long... But if you want to make it more interesting, here's a BINGO game to play along as you are watching/listening.

And on a lighter note:



H/t to The Conservative Lady for the comic. (click it to make it bigger)



H/t to ParrotPatriot for this video. I think I'm beginning to like David Webb already...

Saturday, September 05, 2009

The Power of Words part II

Just wandered over to mybarackobama.com, where they posted a week ago that people opposed to nationalized health care were "terrorists". It has been taken down... hmm, wonder why? I guess the webmasters that the liberals employee are rich from putting up things and hastily taking them down again... You know, the website that has Obama's face, words and name all over it, but not directly endorsed by him... I don't know, but when sport stars agree to put their picture on a cereal box, isn't that "endorsement"?

Anyways, just another example of liberal word play: If you go to the site and click on issues, it takes you to this page. On the right hand side, there's a graphic that says "Stand with the President on Health Care" and below is a button you can click to "Declare your support" and will take you to a petition-type page with a video message from guess who? (even though this isn't his website...wow, someone's doing a great job impersonating him then)

Go back to the "Stand with the President on Health Care" graphic. Just what does that NOT say? First of all, if you are like me and against the liberal's version of health care reform, then it's safe to say that we do not agree with the President on how to reform health care. And that's fine - that's what America is all about - the freedom to disagree. But read those words again - "Stand with the President on Health care". Implying that if you don't agree with him, then you are against him (thought this wasn't about you, Mr. President). No longer are you disagreeing about an issue - you are against him personally (if this was his website...). But there's more!: you are not only against the President, but you are against health care too, you selfish person! It says "Stand with the President on Health Care", not "health care reform".

And the sad thing is - this is going to work on some people!! They are playing on people's emotions. "Well, I don't really agree with his plan... but I don't want to be seen as being against the President...



Phew... anyone else getting dizzy? I feel like I'm on a carousel run amok. Someone tell Pelosi to stop playing that darn organ music...

The Power of Words

I came across a video today with a bunch of celebrities pledging to help others and improve their own lives.

Great - nothing wrong with pledging to improve yourself or pledge to lend a hand to others. Fantastic. I personally love volunteering - there's no greater feeling than to help someone. Actually, I've learned more about myself when I've reached out to help others. I have met some of the best people by volunteering. And even though I recommend it to everyone I know and even everyone who will listen, I know that some people may not enjoy it like I do, or maybe they just don't have time - that's understandable. You aren't a bad person for not being able or not wanting to. It's your choice - it's optional, that's why it's called "volunteering".

And likewise, I am always striving to make changes for myself to improve my way of living. I (unsuccessfully) attempt to cut soft drinks out of my life. I try to eat healthy. I'm always trying to learn and experience new things. I'm always reading about something -either something that I'm curious about and want to learn more or something that challenges my views. There is nothing wrong with pledging to improve yourself.

A pledge you make to yourself is one of the greatest, most sacred promises you can ever make. Sure, there's no one to "police" you if you don't uphold it, but you have to answer to yourself if you don't fulfill your pledge. I think that's worse than having to answer to someone else.

But in the same token, I feel a pledge is an extremely personal thing. We all learn the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school. How many of us actually knew what it meant back then? You are swearing allegiance to your flag and your country. It's one of the most important and one of the earliest pledges we ever make. Who is going to come after us if you don't follow it? No one. Sadly, many people probably view them as just words. Words don't hold as much weight as they used to.

And back to my original point... I watch this video of celebrities making pledges.

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge


No question as to what this video is about with the title: "Celebrities pledge service to Obama". It starts with a quote from Harry S. Truman: "They say the job of the President is the loneliest in the world" and continue with "We'd like you to know - YOU AREN'T ALONE!". There's then a clip of Obama, telling us we need to not only serve ourselves, but each other.
"I pledge..."
"I pledge..."
"To help end hunger in America"
"By supporting Feeding America and our local food bank."
"I pledge..."
"I pledge..."
"To smile more."
"To laugh more."
"To love more."
And so on. (I'm not going to post the whole thing, I think we all get it by now)

Ok. Great. A bunch of celebrities telling us how they want to make the world a better place, how they want to improve themselves. Great. Good for them. Some I liked ("I pledge to consider myself an American and not an African-American"), some I didn't...

"I pledge to give service to Barack Obama."
And this:
"I pledge... to be the change." (echoed many times)
And this:
"I pledge to be a servant to our President...and all of mankind because together we can, together we are and together we will be the change that we seek."
And the grand finale, everyone fades out into a mosaic of Obama, and the words "Be The Change" underneath.

Oh, a PSA for the President. How cute. I wonder if this was aired on TV? Sounds a bit like propaganda. Ok, I get what they are trying to say... they're trying to encourage volunteerism, etc... But the wording disturbs me, and I hope it disturbs you too. "Give service to"?? "Be a servant to"??? The only people I know who take an oath like that are the Secret Service and maybe the military...and definitely not in those terms. They might pledge to protect him or to serve him... which is still different than pledging to be a servant or to give service. Sounds like a slight difference, but although you might serve your guests dinner, you are not their servant.

As I stated above, a pledge for me is an extremely personal thing. I would never pledge servitude to another person. This is the United States of America - the President isn't (or shouldn't be) a god-like ruler in which we all pledge our lives to. WE PLEDGE TO OUR COUNTRY, NOT TO A PERSON. This isn't China or Russia... The office of the President is equal (or was intended to be) to the other branches of government - legislative, and judicial.

This Administration (and it's cronies) are playing word games with us, like used car salesmen. We need to be vigilant and keep our eyes and ears open at all times.
They do this with the health care bill - "We never said anything about rationing. Look in the bill - rationing is never mentioned". Ok, yes, it's not mentioned by name, but it's implied -and tell me how you are going to add millions more to a system with the same amount of doctors without rationing? How do you plan to be the only nationalized system to NOT ration?
They do this with the name calling - "tea baggers". It's a derogatory term and they act like they weren't aware.
They do this with people like me, who are against universal health care. They change their name of the bill - first they try to change health care, then health insurance. They say we are against health care. We're not against health care, we never said that - we're just against YOUR health care. They post on a website, with Obama's name all over it, that we're "terrorists", but deny that it came from him. "Paid for by the Democratic National Committee" - isn't that who is in power now? Yes, but it didn't come from Obama directly...

We need to stop playing games. I meant those words I said back in school - "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." I will stand by this country and everything it stands for. I will fight with every resource I have to preserve what was established for us. My ancestors worked too hard to come to this country to give a better life for their families. It is now my job to protect my way of life and what the founders intended for this great nation. I am not fake. I am not being paid to do this. I am not fighting to protect the "status quo", nor am I afraid of change. I am not racist to want to preserve what my country stands for.

Every one of us living in the United States was given a great opportunity, if we were born here. I firmly believe we are one of the luckiest people on this planet. Others of us were not born here, but worked hard to get here, as many of our ancestors did. We have an opportunity that many others do not - we are able to work hard and be successful. That's the American dream. If you want to be a doctor, you can be one, if you work hard. It doesn't matter if your father was a farmer, it doesn't matter. If you are born into a middle class family, you have the power to move up or down. You aren't trapped into a class system, like other countries. Women in the US are especially blessed. We can speak out if we want to, we can have careers if we want to, we can be a stay-at-home mom if they we to. We have choices, unlike so many other women around the world. I love my country. I think it's the greatest on Earth and it is being taken away from us right in front of our eyes. We need to stop with the word games, we need to stop with the name calling, we need to stop fighting, or we're going to implode. My kids will never see the country that I grew up in and loved if we continue on this path. We need to stick together and use our voices and our words (and our votes) before it's too late. This we need to pledge to ourselves or else, we're all going to lose.