"The socialists said that America would never vote for socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they would vote for every plank of it."
"They say that once this is passed, this nation will be provided with a mechanism for socialized medicine, capable of expansion in every direction until everything is taken in...we can't say they didn't warn us"
Friday, August 14, 2009
Pelosi: Protestors and Disrupters are "Very American" In '06
Wow...I really hope we use this in an ad, and soon.
Fortune Lays Out The Ideal Health Care System
http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/14/news/economy/health_care_solution.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2009081410
They even explain why people are scared of it.
They even explain why people are scared of it.
Michael Vick Signs With Eagles
This blog was waiting until it had something interesting to add to the good move/bad move debate, but...nothing.
Makes you wonder how much faith Andy Reid has in Kevin Kolb, the presumed QB of the future.
Otherwise, Vick is just a high risk, high reward wildcat QB.
Makes you wonder how much faith Andy Reid has in Kevin Kolb, the presumed QB of the future.
Otherwise, Vick is just a high risk, high reward wildcat QB.
The Onion - Mark Warner Homeless?
Citing a marked decline in his appearance and personal hygiene, as well as growing piles of personal items under and around his desk, members of Congress have begun to voice concerns that Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) may be homeless.
Worries first arose after Sen. Warner was seen picking up old cigarettes around Capitol Hill during a congressional recess.
"At first, I thought he was just burning the candle at both ends," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who noted that the unshaven Warner is always the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave the Capitol at night. "But then on Sunday, I dropped by to pick up a few things and found Mark asleep under a blanket of Washington Posts on the Senate floor."
Full Article: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/congress_beginning_to_suspect?utm_source=a-section
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Obama Word Study
Politico has a very interesting study of the words used by President Obama since he's been inaugurated. Highly recommended reading it here, but the most interesting tidbit:
He has spoken the words "health" and "economy" each more often than the words “Iraq,” “Iran,” “Afghanistan” and “terrorism” combined, the analysis shows.
He has spoken the words "health" and "economy" each more often than the words “Iraq,” “Iran,” “Afghanistan” and “terrorism” combined, the analysis shows.
Not Specter's Week
According to the August 11 automated survey of 1,000 likely Pennsylvania voters, Toomey leads Specter by 48-36 percent, with 12 percent undecided. That's a pretty notable flip from Rasmussen's June survey, which found Specter with a 50-39 percent advantage.
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0809/Specters_week.html
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0809/Specters_week.html
Liberal/Media Slanders Against Health Care Protestors Not Working
A new USA Today/Gallup poll reaffirms this blog's continued faith in the American public to see through the Pelosi/Obama/MSNBC attacks on health care protesters as unamerican.
"From what you know or have read, have these town hall meeting protests against the proposed bills made you more sympathetic to the protestors' views, do the protests not make any difference to you either way, or have the protests made you less sympathetic to the protestors' views?" Options rotated
More Sympathetic No Difference Less Sympathetic Unsure
% % % % 8/11/09
34 36 21 10
"From what you know and have read, do you think each of the following is a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor in why the protests against health care bills are taking place at these town hall meetings? How about [see below]?"
Major Factor Minor Factor Not a Factor Unsure
% % % %
"Concern about the health care bills that average citizens had well before the meetings took place"
8/11/09
57 24 13 6
"Recent efforts by political activists to create organized opposition to the health care bills"
8/11/09
48 27 18 8
As you can see, of the people who are taking these protests into account, significantly more are growing MORE sympathetic rather than less to the protestors. In addition, people recognize that genuine anger plays a bigger role than political groups in getting these groups out, despite the media's best attempts to paint it otherwise.
There is room for improvement though, as this poll also reaffirm's Republican Punk's views on how these could be properly run:
"Generally speaking, do you consider each of the following actions at town hall meetings to be an example of democracy in action or an example of abuse of democracy? How about [see below]?" Options rotated
Democracy In Action Abuse of Democracy Unsure
% % %
"Individuals making angry attacks against a health care bill and what it might do"
8/11/09
51 41 8
"Booing when members of Congress make statements that the opponents disagree with"
8/11/09
44 47 9
"Shouting down supporters when they speak in favor of a health care bill"
8/11/09
33 59 8
Basically, being angry at the bill and the congressperson if they support it...yes! But be respectful. We kind of wish that was common sense, but what can you do. Let's let the poll numbers reaffirm it.
Source: Polling Report
"From what you know or have read, have these town hall meeting protests against the proposed bills made you more sympathetic to the protestors' views, do the protests not make any difference to you either way, or have the protests made you less sympathetic to the protestors' views?" Options rotated
More Sympathetic No Difference Less Sympathetic Unsure
% % % % 8/11/09
34 36 21 10
"From what you know and have read, do you think each of the following is a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor in why the protests against health care bills are taking place at these town hall meetings? How about [see below]?"
Major Factor Minor Factor Not a Factor Unsure
% % % %
"Concern about the health care bills that average citizens had well before the meetings took place"
8/11/09
57 24 13 6
"Recent efforts by political activists to create organized opposition to the health care bills"
8/11/09
48 27 18 8
As you can see, of the people who are taking these protests into account, significantly more are growing MORE sympathetic rather than less to the protestors. In addition, people recognize that genuine anger plays a bigger role than political groups in getting these groups out, despite the media's best attempts to paint it otherwise.
There is room for improvement though, as this poll also reaffirm's Republican Punk's views on how these could be properly run:
"Generally speaking, do you consider each of the following actions at town hall meetings to be an example of democracy in action or an example of abuse of democracy? How about [see below]?" Options rotated
Democracy In Action Abuse of Democracy Unsure
% % %
"Individuals making angry attacks against a health care bill and what it might do"
8/11/09
51 41 8
"Booing when members of Congress make statements that the opponents disagree with"
8/11/09
44 47 9
"Shouting down supporters when they speak in favor of a health care bill"
8/11/09
33 59 8
Basically, being angry at the bill and the congressperson if they support it...yes! But be respectful. We kind of wish that was common sense, but what can you do. Let's let the poll numbers reaffirm it.
Source: Polling Report
Dutch Prefer Porcelain Lover To A Real One
Sex might be fun, but the Dutch don't find it as fun as a pleasant trip to the bathroom, if survey results reported Thursday by the ANP news agency are to be believed. According to the poll of 1,000 adults, 88 per cent listed a visit to the bathroom as something "they enjoy the most," making it the most popular activity chosen, reported ANP. Only 21 per cent did the same for sex.
ANP described the survey as "representative." It was conducted by the Intomart GfK institute for the popular scientific magazine Quest.
Another reason to be proud to be an American.
Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/281273,sex-lags-behind-bathroom-visits-in-popularity-dutch-survey.html
ANP described the survey as "representative." It was conducted by the Intomart GfK institute for the popular scientific magazine Quest.
Another reason to be proud to be an American.
Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/281273,sex-lags-behind-bathroom-visits-in-popularity-dutch-survey.html
Debbie Stabenow Feels Global Warming When She's Flying
"Climate change is very real," she confessed as she embraced cap and trade's massive tax increase on Michigan industry - at the same time claiming, against all the evidence, that it would not lead to an increase in manufacturing costs or energy prices. "Global warming creates volatility. I feel it when I'm flying. The storms are more volatile. We are paying the price in more hurricanes and tornadoes."
And best response award goes to the Henry Payne with...
And there are sea monsters in Lake Michigan. I can feel them when I'm boating.
Source: http://community.detnews.com/apps/blogs/henrypayneblog/index.php?blogid=2041
And best response award goes to the Henry Payne with...
And there are sea monsters in Lake Michigan. I can feel them when I'm boating.
Source: http://community.detnews.com/apps/blogs/henrypayneblog/index.php?blogid=2041
Sarah Palin - Concerning The Death Panels
Not going to defend what she said (it legitimizes the Left and Media's claims of ignorance by the right), she does a decent job defending herself on her facebook, at the very least, showing she does understand the legislation, even if she does give into the temptation to use shock tactics to express it.
Obama At Negative Approval In Rasmussen Poll
Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That’s the lowest level of total approval yet recorded. The President’s ratings first fell below 50% just a few weeks ago on July 25. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.
(Republican Punk Note: Presidential Approval is difference between those strongly approving and those strongly disapproving, just in case you didn't notice!)
Source: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.
(Republican Punk Note: Presidential Approval is difference between those strongly approving and those strongly disapproving, just in case you didn't notice!)
Source: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Fortune Debunks Three Health Care Myths
Seeing that headline scared this blog for a moment as it stunk of Obama-partisan reporting from the mainstream media that calls anything the Right says about health care a myth because of a few well-intentioned, if untrue, fears that are being spread. However, Fortune instead takes on three bigger myths that both sides are guilty of, including this blog (#1 and #2), unintentionally.
Highlights:
Myth no. 1: Rising health-care costs are a problem in themselves.
We've all seen the graph that shows health-care costs increasing much faster than GDP; it's usually presented as evidence of the crisis we're in.
Take a graph with that same trajectory and label it "Sales of hybrid vehicles" or "Downloads from the iTunes Music Store," and nobody proposes government intervention to stop it. Yet health-care costs, too, are in fact revenues, and fast-rising revenues are generally seen as exciting and laudable in every industry except one. How come?
It's because we all sense that in health care we aren't getting our money's worth -- that tons of dollars are wasted. So the problem isn't that we're spending so much, but why.
That distinction is crucial because partisans on all sides will soon be telling us how their plan would slow the rate of spending growth. But slowing spending is easy -- just give people less care.
Instead, make advocates tell how their plan would address the "why" by cutting waste and boosting efficiency. When they do, make sure they don't invoke ...
Myth no. 2: The fee-for-service system is a major part of the problem.
The trouble with this reasoning is that we avoid that problem when buying other complex services, from consulting to car repair, on a fee-for-service basis.
The reason we buy loads of unnecessary health-care services is not the fee-for-service system, which we use to buy almost all services. It's that we aren't paying with our own money. Only 12% of U.S. health-care spending is out-of-pocket, a proportion that has been falling for decades.
Myth no. 3: A well-designed government plan can avoid rationing.
The Obama administration has stated flatly that "health care will not be rationed" under its plan. So let's be clear on this: Health care will be rationed. It must be. To say otherwise is to say the government can supply it in unlimited quantities to everyone.
Read the whole article here.
Highlights:
Myth no. 1: Rising health-care costs are a problem in themselves.
We've all seen the graph that shows health-care costs increasing much faster than GDP; it's usually presented as evidence of the crisis we're in.
Take a graph with that same trajectory and label it "Sales of hybrid vehicles" or "Downloads from the iTunes Music Store," and nobody proposes government intervention to stop it. Yet health-care costs, too, are in fact revenues, and fast-rising revenues are generally seen as exciting and laudable in every industry except one. How come?
It's because we all sense that in health care we aren't getting our money's worth -- that tons of dollars are wasted. So the problem isn't that we're spending so much, but why.
That distinction is crucial because partisans on all sides will soon be telling us how their plan would slow the rate of spending growth. But slowing spending is easy -- just give people less care.
Instead, make advocates tell how their plan would address the "why" by cutting waste and boosting efficiency. When they do, make sure they don't invoke ...
Myth no. 2: The fee-for-service system is a major part of the problem.
The trouble with this reasoning is that we avoid that problem when buying other complex services, from consulting to car repair, on a fee-for-service basis.
The reason we buy loads of unnecessary health-care services is not the fee-for-service system, which we use to buy almost all services. It's that we aren't paying with our own money. Only 12% of U.S. health-care spending is out-of-pocket, a proportion that has been falling for decades.
Myth no. 3: A well-designed government plan can avoid rationing.
The Obama administration has stated flatly that "health care will not be rationed" under its plan. So let's be clear on this: Health care will be rationed. It must be. To say otherwise is to say the government can supply it in unlimited quantities to everyone.
Read the whole article here.
Germany and France Snap Out Of Recession Despite Stimulus Packages That Obama Called Too Small
Germany and France enjoyed a shock return to economic growth in the second quarter of the year, data showed on Thursday, ending their recessions earlier than many policymakers and economists had expected.
German gross domestic product rose by 0.3% in the second quarter, bringing an end to the country's deepest recession since World War Two and boosting hopes of recovery in the broader euro zone.
French GDP also grew by 0.3% in the second quarter. The consensus in a Reuters poll of economists had predicted a 0.3% quarterly contraction in both countries.
An interesting note...their recessions were significantly deeper than that in the U.S. (Germany's GDP contracted by 7.1% on the year compared to 3.9% in the U.S.), but look at the size of their stimulus packages in comparison:
German gross domestic product rose by 0.3% in the second quarter, bringing an end to the country's deepest recession since World War Two and boosting hopes of recovery in the broader euro zone.
French GDP also grew by 0.3% in the second quarter. The consensus in a Reuters poll of economists had predicted a 0.3% quarterly contraction in both countries.
An interesting note...their recessions were significantly deeper than that in the U.S. (Germany's GDP contracted by 7.1% on the year compared to 3.9% in the U.S.), but look at the size of their stimulus packages in comparison:
So smaller, targeted packages (France = Less than 1.5% of GDP, Germany = 4.3% of GDP) appear to have been more effective than just throwing money at the problem (U.S. = almost 7% of GDP). Huh...
Also, who would have thought that the U.S. would be the most Keynesian country in the world (well, besides China, but they were running a massive surplus and are, well, COMMUNIST), and by a lot over France. Oh, how things have changed.
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