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Friday, November 20, 2009

The Foundation

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." --Thomas Jefferson

Government & Politics

Health Care Cost Nightmare

Harry Reid claims his 2,000-page bill will reduce the deficit. He's quite the comedian.

It's an accepted fact that no government program comes in on budget, and this maxim likely won't change with the health care legislation that recently passed the House. Republican analysis of the bill in the Senate Budget Committee reveals that a more realistic price tag for the House version, after the benefit provisions are figured in, comes to $3 trillion over 10 years, not $1 trillion as Democrats claim. The disparity comes from the fact that the taxes and fees meant to pay for the bill occur immediately, while major aspects of "reform" won't be implemented until at least 2013. Thus, the true cost of the plan won't reveal itself until well after the current president has stood for re-election.

Despite Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) assurances that the bill will lower health care costs, another report released this week by the nonpartisan Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found that the House plan would actually raise costs by $289 billion over 10 years. Furthermore, Medicare would be cut by half a trillion dollars, leading to reduced benefits and services.

On that note, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Senate's 2,074-page, $849 billion version of the health care takeover plan. Reid has laid out an ambitious plan to pass HarryCare by Christmas.

The Senate bill clocks in a tad cheaper than the House version in part because many major provisions, such as the public option, would be delayed until 2014 -- one year later than the House bill. Reid also claims the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $650 billion in its second 10 years. A 2,000-page bill will reduce the deficit? That Reid is quite the comedian. Besides, while the Congressional Budget Office says the bill will reduce the deficit by $130 billion over 10 years, CBO cautions that its effect on the deficit over the following decade would be "subject to substantial uncertainty." That's comforting, isn't it?

Notably, the Senate bill includes a 40 percent tax on high-deductible "Cadillac" insurance plans (though, naturally, Congress' Cadillac plan is exempt) as opposed to the House's tax on the "rich." It also includes a 5 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgeries (how will Nancy feel about that?), which apparently helps pay for providing -- surprise -- federal subsidies for abortion.

Reid wants to hold a vote to begin debate as early as this weekend. He has "promised" not to use the procedural tactic of reconciliation, which would allow him to pass the bill with only 51 votes instead of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster -- but experience shows how little we should trust Democrats' promises.

As for that prized debate, Harkin referred to a Republican call to read the full bill on the Senate floor as a political tactic, and he threatens that Democrats will hold a live quorum to keep everyone in the chamber while the reading is taking place -- which sounds awfully like a political tactic to us.

It's interesting that both parties seem to view the public reading of the bill as some sort of parliamentary game. Perhaps if public readings of proposed legislation took place all of the time, we would actually know what Congress is up to. What a novel idea.

Democrat senators who pride themselves as being deficit hawks will have a tough choice to make in the coming days and weeks. Will they support HarryCare, which makes them look like hypocrites when they face the voters next year and in 2012? Or will they do the right thing and stop this runaway entitlement before it shoots out of the gate?

The BIG Lie

Where is the constitutional authority for a federal mandate that individuals must buy health insurance?

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) says that one's easy: "The very first enumerated power gives the power to provide for the common defense and the general welfare. So it's right on, right on the front end."

James Madison, primary author of the Constitution, vehemently disagreed, writing, "If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions."

Thomas Jefferson likewise stated that if Congress could "do anything they please to provide for the general welfare ... [i]t would reduce the whole instrument [the Constitution] to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please." For the simpletons in Congress, Jefferson concluded, "Certainly no such universal power was meant to be given them." Regardless of what Senator Jeff Merkley says.

This Week's 'Braying Jackass' Award

"We even have blacks voting against the health care bill. You can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man." --race hustler Jesse Jackson, calling out Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus who dared to stray from the Democrat Plantation by voting against PelosiCare

Faith and Family: Shut Up, She Explained

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), like every other Democrat, could use a constitutional education. Oddly enough, though, the part of the Constitution DeGette needs brushing up on is the Left's favorite part: The First Amendment. Leftists have abused it for decades to hammer their agenda into our laws and culture. But they have also intentionally ignored its guarantee of the free exercise of religion. To them, the Constitution is just a scrap of paper written by dead white men. It's old and irrelevant today except for the few phrases that can be used to promote their socialism.

Regarding the health care legislative monstrosity working its way through Congress and the input of religious groups, DeGette said that "religiously-affiliated groups ... should be shut out of the process" because of their opposition to federal funding of abortions. "Last I heard, we had separation of church and state in this country," she sulked. "I've got to say that I think the Catholic bishops and all of the other groups shouldn't have input."

As Family Research Council President Tony Perkins observed, "According to her, if a group of people who are in association with one another because of their Christian faith, they should not have a voice in the crafting of public policy. What she is asserting is that if your ideas and actions are a product of your faith, you're a second class citizen and your voice should not be heard."

New & Notable Legislation

The House passed Medicare "doc fix" by a vote of 243-183 Thursday. The bill would permanently fix the way doctors who provide care for Medicare patients are reimbursed. The projected cost of the fix is $210 billion over 10 years and it doesn't include a way to pay for it, meaning that while Barack Obama has changed his tune and is now decrying the deficit, the House is busy adding to it.

Legacy of the American Revolution

"Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood. ... A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." --John Adams

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Bowing to a Perceived Legacy

He's at it again. While in Japan as part of his eight-day trip to Asia this week, Barack Obama greeted Emperor Akihito of Japan with a deep bow. While protocol dictates that his (Akihito's, not BO's) subjects bow before the emperor, heads of state are considered equals and need not bow -- in fact, most don't, instead simply shaking hands with Akihito. In February 2007, for example, Vice President Dick Cheney greeted Akihito with a warm handshake. Obama's deep bow signifies great deference to a superior -- a seemingly strange act for a narcissist.

Earlier this year, Obama all but scraped his forehead on the floor before King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia as well, another mark of the jarring trend in his revamped foreign policy. President George W. Bush's foreign policy was considered by the world's elite and diplomatic striped-pants crowd to be that of an uninformed American cowboy hick, but Bush's successor is certainly making up for any strength the U.S. showed in the last eight years. The story behind the bow is obvious then: Obama is simply continuing his World Apology Tour.

From the Left: Cold Cash Placed on Ice

Friday the 13th was indeed an unlucky day for former Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA). It was the day he was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his participation in a bribery scheme involving a Nigerian politician -- a scheme which led to additional charges of money laundering and racketeering.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III handed down the sentence, which was less than the 27 years sought by federal prosecutors, after calling the case "the most extensive and pervasive pattern of corruption in the history of Congress" and "a cancer on the body politic." Jefferson was also ordered to repay over $470,000 to the government, but prospects of repayment are slim as the former congressman and his wife recently filed for bankruptcy.

Jefferson has 10 days to appeal; otherwise, he'll be movin' on up to a federal corrections facility to begin his sentence. To borrow from an old lawyer joke, what do you call one corrupt Congressman in jail? A good start.

Clinton Judge Impeached

A federal district judge who overturned a Louisiana law banning partial-birth abortion is now on trial himself, facing impeachment charges before Congress. G. Thomas Porteous Jr., a Clinton appointee, is accused of seeking money and gifts from attorneys with cases before his court, stretching back to the 1980s when he was a state judge. By 2000, Porteous had run up credit card debts -- mainly cash advances at casinos -- exceeding $150,000. Other allegations against Porteous include declaring bankruptcy under a false name in 2001 and filing false financial disclosure statements.

The obvious question beckons: Was justice for sale? It's unfortunate that Porteous appears to have a gambling problem because his questionable integrity could also have tainted his decisions. Porteous ruled against the partial-birth ban, calling it a "back-door effort" to limit abortion, despite overwhelming front door legislative support for the measure, and used his power on the bench to supplant that of the legislature. The system of government we hold dear depends on integrity in all three branches, and it seems that Louisiana doesn't have the best track record on that front.

Army Corps of Engineers Blamed for Katrina Flooding

Let's make it three-for-three with Louisiana and judges. "A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Army Corps of Engineers' failure to properly maintain a navigation channel led to massive flooding in Hurricane Katrina, a decision that could make the federal government vulnerable to billions of dollars in claims," reports The Washington Post. U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled in favor of six residents who blamed the Army Corps for flooding in the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish, and he awarded $720,000 to the plaintiffs. Two residents of eastern New Orleans were not so lucky, as Duval said the Army was not at fault for flooding there. The Post notes the most important factor here: "The ruling should give more than 100,000 other individuals, businesses and government entities a better shot at claiming billions of dollars in damages." Talk about windfall profits.

National Security

Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed

"Can you give me a case in United States history," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asked of Attorney General Eric Holder this week, "where an enemy combatant caught on a battlefield was tried in civilian court?" Holder, the chief surrender-facilitator, was outlining to Congress the administration's latest ploy to appease its über-Left base, namely, moving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) -- the self-proclaimed mastermind of 9/11 -- and four other al-Qa'ida 9/11 planners from Guantanamo to New York to be tried like ordinary civilians in a Manhattan federal court. When Holder hemmed and hawed ("I don't know. I'd have to look at that. I think that, you know, the determination I've made..."), Graham shot back, "We're making history here, Mr. Attorney General. I'll answer it for you. The answer is no."

The courtroom is located just a few blocks from what was once the World Trade Center.

What on earth could Holder be thinking? Okay, perhaps we've overstated our case a bit. After all, it's not as though trying KSM in a U.S. court will be seen as a sign of weakness by America's enemies -- oh no, wait: it will. And it isn't that doing this will put American lives in NYC at risk from potential al-Qa'ida attacks against the "Great Satan" -- oh, um, guess it'll do that too. So much so, in fact, that Sen. Chuck Schumer is seeking $75 million from the administration to cover terrorist shipping and handling. But at least it will keep the line between unlawful enemy combatants and common domestic criminals from blurring ... or not. You get the picture.

Let's also not forget that KSM, et al., will now enjoy our civil justice system's constitutional protections -- the same ones U.S. citizens get. Will waterboarding be considered "duress" for confession purposes under the U.S. civil justice system? How about a lack of Miranda warnings? (Holder refused to answer this question.) What about the federal rules of evidence and their impact on disclosure of sensitive intelligence collection methods? Will any issues be raised on appeal if a change of venue from Ground Zero is denied? These are merely a few of the countless questions that are now fair game for KSM and his lawyers. Eleven months ago, these thugs were ready, willing and able to plead guilty and to get their heavenly rewards. Now? Not so fast.

Before Holder's decision, another option having a rich tradition in U.S. history and international law had been readily available: military tribunals. In the wake of the Supreme Court's bizarre decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006), which effectively -- albeit temporarily -- struck down military tribunals, Congress passed the 2006 Military Commissions Act specifically to reaffirm this judicial due process for illegal combatants, including KSM. Unfortunately, that option is now foreclosed.

As it is, whether he knows it or not, the Chosen One is betting his presidency on these trials. That's because the American people understand one thing: As an illegal enemy combatant, KSM should not be entitled to the same rights and privileges as the innocent U.S. citizens he murdered on 9/11.

If these despicable vermin aren't convicted, sentenced and put to death, America will not forget who allowed it to happen, "Chosen One" or not. That's quite a gamble.

This Week's 'Alpha Jackass' Award

"I don't think it will be offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him." --Judge Barack Obama

When questioned later on being judge, jury and executioner, he clarified, "What I said was, people will not be offended if that's the outcome. I'm not pre-judging, I'm not going to be in that courtroom, that's the job of prosecutors, the judge and the jury. What I'm absolutely clear about is that I have complete confidence in the American people and our legal traditions and the prosecutors, the tough prosecutors from New York who specialize in terrorism."

Support the Props, er, the Troops

Barack Obama traveled to Osan Air Base in South Korea Thursday on his way back from an eight-day trip to Asia. The Washington Post reports on the president's interaction with the troops: "Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time), and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cell phones to snap pictures. 'You guys make a pretty good photo op,' the president said." Once again, it's all about Obama. But he "supports" the troops!

The Post also noted, "He got a huge cheer when he told them he was increasing military pay. 'That's what you call an applause line,' he said, before boarding his jet and taking off." Could the commander in chief be any more out of touch with the troops he ostensibly leads?

Hurry Up and Wait

Last Saturday, President Obama asked Congress to delay investigations into the attack on U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood by jihadi Nidal Malik Hasan until federal and military authorities complete their own probes. Maybe he wants the investigation on the same timeline as his decision on troop levels in Afghanistan.

Obama asked lawmakers to "resist the temptation to turn this tragic event into the political theater," apparently wanting to save that for KSM's civilian trial in New York. Fortunately, Congress and the Pentagon are pressing ahead anyway. In the Senate, Joe Lieberman's Homeland Security Committee opened its investigation Thursday, and in the House, Rep. Howard McKeon of California, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he also will press ahead with an investigation. While Obama has said he is not opposed to congressional hearings, his delay request looks like he's appeasing radical Muslims and avoiding the obvious conclusion in this case: That the Ft. Hood incident was a traitorous jihadi attack on military targets on American soil.

According to Obama, we have to wait for the current probes to "look at the motives of the alleged gunman, including his views and contacts." Well, Mr. President, as we recounted last week (Warfront With Jihadistan: Right Here at Home), Hasan had "Soldier of Allah" printed on his business cards, he screamed "Allahu Akbar" while gunning down our soldiers and he exchanged emails with a radical Muslim cleric who encouraged Muslims to kill U.S. troops.

So we already know all about Hasan's motives, views and contacts. The dead of Ft. Hood deserve justice, but in today's United States, especially under the Obama regime, that justice may be a long time in coming.

Immigration Front: Amnesty Back on the Table

If you felt an invisible slap in the face over the weekend, it was probably Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's announcement of plans to provide amnesty to the 14 million illegal aliens living in the U.S. She explained that everything's different now that the Southwest border has been secured and fewer immigrants are entering. "[T]he federal government has dedicated unprecedented resources ... and it's made a real difference. ... [S]eizures in all categories ... are up dramatically." Just this year over $34 million in cash has been seized.

The bitter 2007 debate over illegal immigration occurred "during a period of historically high levels of illegal entry," Napolitano claimed. Now, however, with the recession and "better" enforcement, immigration numbers have dropped by more than half. "Requiring illegal immigrants to register to earn legal status ... will strengthen our economy as these immigrants become full-paying taxpayers," Napolitano said. Then, our newly minted citizens can come out of the shadows, join unions and end the cause of strife between them -- the fact that illegals work for a fraction of the pay of union members. "Think about it: unions will never achieve the best terms for workers when a large part of the workforce is illegal and operates in a shadow economy," Napolitano said. She has seen a "major shift" in the immigration landscape that the Obama administration hopes will make it easier to pass the Grand Amnesty.

Business & Economy

Hope 'n' Change: Stimulus Games

Folks in Arizona's 15th Congressional District sure are happy right now. Or at least they would be if that district actually existed. But details shmetails! Obama's Recovery.gov Web site reported 30 jobs saved or created in the nonexistent district. Fantasy districts didn't stop there: 15 jobs were created in imaginary Oklahoma districts, 39 in phony Iowa districts and 25 in Connecticut's fictional 42nd district -- all at a cost of almost $30 million. Responding to the "unrealistic data," the Obama administration cut 60,000-plus jobs from its most recent stimulus report. Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Rob Nabors hilariously claimed, "[T]hese are cautious, responsible steps to ensure that the information provided to the American people is accurate and reliable."

One thing all too accurate is the number of Americans losing jobs at an alarming rate. The Associated Press reports that more than 15 million taxpayers -- including many retirees – may "unexpectedly owe taxes ... because the government was too generous with their Making Work Pay tax credit." In other words, Uncle Sam goofed in administering a program -- unheard of, we know.

Income Redistribution: Ponzi Motors

In the first volume increase since January 2008, sales at government-owned GM rose 6.6 percent last month. To celebrate the temporary sales bump driven by the government's Cash for Clunkers rebate debacle -- the one that paid taxpayer money to taxpayers who purchased vehicles -- GM will repay $6.7 billion of the $49.9 billion in federal aid it received. GM has lost $88 billion since 2004 and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June.

Consistent with the circular reasoning so in vogue with liberal visions of funding ObamaCare by taxing ObamaCare, GM is robbing Peter to pay Peter by repaying the government with money from a government contingency fund. While a glaring departure from the usual liberal schemes of robbing Peter to pay Paul, the ridiculousness of GM's plan is too rich. What's the logic in repaying taxpayer loans with taxpayer dollars? The astounding size of this automotive Ponzi scheme would make even Bernie Madoff blush.

In other automotive news, Ford, the only American car manufacturer that isn't beholden to the Obama administration, reported a third-quarter profit of $1 billion. Have you driven a Ford lately?

Around the Nation: About Those Energy Savings...

Two expressions in pop culture of conflicting principles are Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" and Robert Heinlein's TANSTAAFL -- "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." When pitted against each other TANSTAAFL wins every time.

The latest example comes from Ohio, where electric utility FirstEnergy planned to leave two energy-saving compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs free on customer doorsteps. But the "free" bulbs are not actually free, despite lower energy consumption costs. The utility bought the bulbs for $3.50 each. How effective was the utility in negotiating a price for the bulbs? Not very. An Ace Hardware Web site advertises a five-pack of similar bulbs for $13.99, or $2.80 a bulb.

Is the overpriced bulb really free? No. The utility will charge average users an extra 60 cents per month on their electric bills for the next three years, or $21.60 altogether, to cover the cost of the bulbs and the electricity not sold because of the more efficient bulbs. Customers will pay the surcharge whether they use the bulbs or not, and the utility is protected from revenue loss.

Not surprisingly, this scheme has customers howling, which, in turn, caught the attention of politicians. Ohio's governor wants to postpone the bulb distribution over concerns about passing the cost along to consumers without notice. Even Leftist nutcase Congressman Dennis Kucinich has asked the FTC to investigate. Just goes to show, in a rational society, that TANSTAAFL is the natural winner -- which is not to say that we'd bet on this society's being rational.

Culture & Policy

Climate Change This Week: Copenhagen Crash

"Delay is no longer an option," said Barack Obama. Believe it or not, he wasn't referring to health care "reform." He was president-elect Obama at the time, and he was talking about climate change. The Promised Land was to be next month's conference in Copenhagen, where, in glorious unity, nations would come together to save the planet from carbon emissions.

A year later, however, the world-saving plan is still on the back burner. At a breakfast in Singapore attended by Obama, the conference's attendees announced that they are setting a more realistic goal for Copenhagen -- namely, it will be a meeting to prepare for another meeting next year.

The envirofascist community blames the U.S. for this, in particular the Senate, which has -- until now, at least -- refused to force feed the American people yet another unwanted policy in cap-n-tax. But there is also the issue of what the world's biggest carbon emitters, India and China, would agree to. In the past, President George W. Bush refused to consider the Kyoto Protocol because these nations would not adhere to the same environmental limitations. Bush rightly concluded the treaty would give them a huge economic edge.

Obama, knowing he had nothing concrete with which to go to Copenhagen, shrewdly agreed to the less aggressive approach but stated that world leaders should not let the "perfect be the enemy of the good." That's not exactly how we would put it.

From the 'Non Compos Mentis' File

Captain Planet, a.k.a. Al Gore, warned this week about the temperature of the earth's core, saying, "People think about geothermal energy -- when they think about it at all -- in terms of the hot water bubbling up in some places, but two kilometers or so down in most places there are these incredibly hot rocks, 'cause the interior of the earth is extremely hot, several million degrees, and the crust of the earth is hot...."

According to National Review's John Derbyshire, however, "The geothermal gradient is usually quoted as 25-50 degrees Celsius per mile of depth in normal terrain (not, e.g., in the crater of Kilauea). Two kilometers down, therefore, (that's a mile and a quarter if you're not as science-y as Al) you'll have an average gain of 30-60 degrees -- exploitable for things like home heating, though not hot enough to make a nice pot of tea. The temperature at the earth's core, 4,000 miles down, is usually quoted as 5,000 degrees Celsius.... The temperature at the surface of the Sun is around 6,000 degrees Celsius, while at the center, where nuclear fusion is going on bigtime, things get up over 10 million degrees. If the temperature anywhere inside the earth was 'several million degrees,' we'd be a star."

But, again, Gore couldn't be bothered to check his facts. He was too busy Photoshopping the earth to add hurricanes.

Judicial Benchmarks: NFL Team Can Keep Name

In 1992, the Washington Redskins were fresh off a Super Bowl championship season when a small group of Native Americans began a court fight against the team to vacate its trademark name and Indian head logo. As the NFL franchise has since had its ups and downs on the field, so has the case in court. The plaintiffs' lone victory in 1999 was overturned in a 2003 appeal, and the saga was finally put to rest this week when the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of that ruling.

Washington fans haven't had many chances to sing "Hail to the Redskins" this year. Indeed, after seeing the Redskins so far this season, one can understand why the Native American groups might want the logo rescinded, but fans can rest assured that the team, which has held the "Redskins" moniker since 1933, will retain that identity, even if its play on the field of late has been anything but "brave."

The Union Label

A 17-year-old aspiring Eagle Scout in Allentown, Pennsylvania, recently spent 250 hours clearing a 1,000-foot walking path in a local park. "I decided to do my part in completing this part of the trail. In that way, others could enjoy walking along the river without having to walk on the busy road," the Scout said. Who could possibly have a problem with that?

The Service Employees International Union, that's who. Nick Balzano of the local SEIU said that the union is considering filing a grievance against the city for allowing the Scout to do a job that only union members should be doing. After the city laid off 39 SEIU workers earlier this year, Balzano said, "We'll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails" because "[t]here's to be no volunteers." Of course, instead of voluntarily working on the trail (or Balzano's grammar), the union will be working on the grievance.

Fortunately, common decency may yet prevail. After the mayor publicly announced his support for the Scout, Balzano hedged, saying that the union will likely "let this one go." What generosity.

To Keep and Bear Arms

As Margaret Parrish of Georgia headed outside to see what her puppies were barking at, things immediately took a turn for the worse. As she opened the door, an unidentified intruder grabbed her by the hair and placed a gun to her head. Margaret's husband, 83-year-old John Parrish, watched as the suspect told her, "If you make a sound I'll blow your brains out." He then proceeded to duct tape the arms and legs of both Margaret and John and then left to begin searching through their home. Danny Carlson and a 10-year old girl were also among those in the house and soon found themselves being tied up as well. This bought John time to get free of the duct tape as he remembers thinking, "I had to get my gun." Once free, John grabbed his .22-cal revolver and began firing at the suspect who promptly fled the home.

And Last...

Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize recently despite not having done much for peace during his short (but oh so long) nine months in office. During his trip to Asia this week, he added another trophy to his case. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak presented Obama with a Tae Kwan Do outfit complete with the coveted black belt. It remains to be seen whether the black belt will give Obama the courage to win in Afghanistan or to handle terrorism as an act of war rather than a crime, or even to speak without a teleprompter. Still, the president was grateful, considering that his Tae Kwan Do training has encompassed zero long years. Then again, he does have some pretty extensive experience with bowing...

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Comments

mike b

Re: Health Care Cost Nightmare

unbelievable....is there nothing that can be done to stop these lunatics? Apparently nobody in the government with the horsepower to put an end to this sabotage has the courage or integrity to do anything... there are still peaceful, legal means at hand to save this country from these fools, but it will take some kind of direct intervention from somebody in power who still respects the constitution and the American people. Where are they? The silence is deafening....

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:05:52 AM

Anton D Rehling

The new symbol of Fascist oppression is no longer Hitler Nazi swastika. It is Obama Red, White, Blue rising sun circle. His henchmen are Pelosi, Reed, et al. get ready America, it is in your face. Are we going to wait till 50 million of us have gone the way of Mao Zedong 70 million?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:09:27 AM

Terri M

I love this publication, and today, I absolutely love your caption with Harry Reid. Perfect.

Another thing I don't understand is why these people want to change this country. There are plenty of countries to choose from with a socialist agenda. I would love to deport ALL of them.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:26:29 AM

mheath

Yes, the preamble of the Constitution does say to "promote" the general welfare. But Article 1 Section 8 says in the first paragraph, "The Congress shall have power to ... provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States..." Here it left out the word "promote."

Still, this doesn't mean that they can force Americans to purchase any product or service. Congress has no more constitutional authority to force a person to by health care insurance than they to to force us to buy a Chevrolet.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:39:49 AM

Darlene Perry

RE: Army Corps of Engineers blamed for Katrina Flooding

Has anyone looked into whether or not Congress properly funded the Corps of Engineers so that they would be able to properly maintain that navigation channel?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:40:34 AM

Tony Hartford

HarryCare sounds like Hara-Kiri.

I laughed while reading "Health Care Cost Nightmare" when I saw the new term "HarryCare". I thought of Hara-Kiri, the ritualistic disembowelment my a disgraced Samuri. Sad to think that could be the bureaucratic prescription from the Death,..er, I mean "End of Life" panels for those veterans who have exceeded their state allotted life span.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:42:12 AM

Anton D Rehling

Lets not forget that there were federal funds given to New Orleans to maintain their leveies and channels, but, the money was re-routed into other important things like corrupt political payoffs et al. Problems with Katrinas impact on New Orleans were not created by the Army Corp of Engineers but the corrupt politicians of Louisiana and their corrupt use of tax payer money. Will the truth ever be told by our lying cheating government?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:49:30 AM

Anton D Rehling

Health Care Cost nightmare, HarryCare-Hara-Kiri sounds like the beginning of what was a hollywood movie called, Logans Run. Everyone was allowed to live till 30 and then vaportized in the governments lie of a life renewal program. It is amazing how what I veiwed as an impossable scifi senario then seems to be comming true today.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:55:37 AM

Lawrence Pate

Reading what is posted on Senator Jeff Merkley's website concerning health care reform is disgusting. He is in lockstep with the Democrat party leadership of Reid and Pelosi in seeking total government control of the healthcare system.

http://merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=83DC663D-DED3-45C2-970D-EBC97FEBF71F

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:57:12 AM

J Fultz

I really, really disagree with bringing the Enemy Combatants to U.S. soil for a civilian trial... but if they are coming here is a solution. Let the New Yorkers know they are coming, bring the terrorists to Times Square, open the door kick them out and let the New Yorkers have the first shot. I don't think we will need a trial after that.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 12:11:10 PM

Pete Kleff

The photos of Berry Obama bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Emperor Akihito of Japan were truly astonishing. Not only was his display of subservience a break in protocol, but an embarrassment to all Americans. I am ashamed of this man who makes claim to the American presidency.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 12:28:56 PM

Robert Densic

The recent story on First Energy of Ohio distributing CFL's and charging customers tells most of the story. For the rest we need to look at those "well intentioned politicians". The year previous, the Ohio House and Senate passed The 2008 Ohio Energy Bill which MANDATED electric companies reduce consumers electric consumption by set percentages each year. Imagine that... politicians telling a business they need to sell less of the commodity that is the basis of their business. Did they tell McDonald's they need to sell fewer Big Macs because they were causing obesity?

This is what happens when politicians try to insert themselves into the free market... the consumers (and voters) end up taking it in the shorts!

Just wait until the building design and construction industry changes building codes MANDATING reductions in energy consumption. Efforts are already in place.

When will we all stand up and boot all of these meddling idiots to the curb?

Bob Densic

Posted November 20, 2009 at 12:41:41 PM

Jerry

They just don't get it, do they?

The problem with escalating medical care cost is not the insurance companies, but the litiginous BS artists that have the entire country sue-happy! If someone has a problem, any more, they just don't deal with the problem, they listen to what they used to call ambulance chasers who keep telling them that "Someone HAS to pay!!!!!"

Well? Where do they think the doctors and hospitals everyone's suing get the money to pay them?

Okay, from the insurance companies. BUT! No one seems to have any idea that the insurance companies aren't just printing the money for insane damage settlements in the basement! They get it from - guess what? PREMIUMS! So the amount of money they pay out goes up, guess what?

PREMIUMS go up!

Well, speaking as a person who, himself, was in business for years, when my costs went up, the cost of my services went up.

Most Americans, however, seem to be unable to make that simple one plus one connection!

But here's a sure-fire way to cut medical costs, even if people don't get it! The Constitution draws a solid line between the legislative and judicial branches. ANY attorney is an officer of the court - whether he's actually practicing law or not!

Therefore, an attorney holding a legislative office of any kind is a clear cut, open and shut, CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

Get these guys out of Congress, and they'll quit making laws designed to pad their cronies pockets! Then cap the payouts for medical issues, including loss of limbs. While at it, factor in a "stupidity quotient" as well. That should stop people who buy a cup of hot coffee and take off down the road while trying to cream it from getting multi-million dollar settlements. Or someone suing a medical supply company because someone got drunk and poured the whole bottle of pills down their throat!

Everything is connected!

I agree that medical costs need to be gotten under control so everyone can be covered, but the PTB's are just not looking beyond the obvious to the true root cause of the problem, which, in this case, is the very Congress that's trying to figure out what's wrong!

Posted November 20, 2009 at 12:46:05 PM

Anton D Rehling

The abuses of our government has gone beyond subversive activities, our elected government with few exceptions have violated every aspect our constitutional protections and their oath of office. The free people of the United States of America have been reduced to government chattel. We no longer own our lives like freemen. Our daily activities, our personal decision making have been hijacked by an over reaching tyrannical bureaucracy. Our pursuit of life, liberty and our pursuit of happiness has been reduced to governmental dictate. The benefits of our labor have been seized for governmental philanthropy, redistributing our labor to those whose only contribution to our society is another generation of couch potatoes.

Our Declaration of Independence in part states, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

It is time we demanded our exercise of Article II section 4 of our constitution for all those constitutional subversive pukes in our government. Problem is it will take a majority of those who are now abusing their power and violating their limits to bring about a restoration of our freedom and rights. The alternative is to bring them to answer for their abuses by the freedom loving Americans in these United States. Do the citizens of this country have the steel of will to recover the freedom that has been stolen? I believe the answer is yes, what stands between us and that time is another unbearable tyrannical totalitarian governmental legislative straw on our backs!

Posted November 20, 2009 at 1:02:32 PM

Roy MacLean

A comment about the right to keep and bear arms: when the main stream media gets all up in arms (pun intended) when individuals defend themselves, how come none of them mention Switzerland's crime rate for home invasions and home robberies?

Could it be that Switzerland requires all men to serve in the armed forces and keep their assigned weapons at home and at the ready? Do you suppose that criminal types in Switzerland recognize there is at least one weapon in the home, and someone in that home knows how to use it? OR...do you suppose the main stream media does not want to compare the intelligence of the respective criminal nations within each country?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 1:17:49 PM

Jimmy D

I thought I had a brain but I musta been wrong.

Ok, so I didn't mastermind the greatest attack on my country... but let's just say no one loves me, I did something really bad and I'm going to trial. The AG of the USA, knows how unpopular I am and says, "I'm going to see to it this guy hangs and you can bank on it." And my lawyer smiles and says, "You can relax now. By definition we just won on appeal."

If the AG of the USA says we're gonna use the criminal court system, the basic tenet of which is that you are innocent until proven guilty, and then turns around and shoots off his mouth so as to either 1) give this mass murdering maniac a free pass to appeals court, or 2) undermine, deny and make futile the most sacred basic principal of our legal system...here's where I'm wondering where my brain went...if one and one makes two, why aren't we hearing any and every honorable Politician of either party howling like a pack of angry wolves for the removal of this dangerous AG of the USA.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 1:32:53 PM

G Dub

I walked out my front door 30 minutes ago to collect the mail,

but what did I see that the KCP&L elves had left me a present under my tree.

Two tiny CFLs all wrapped up in ribbon,

awaited my furor at Al Gore's rendition

of the global warming scam,

which is plundering our land

of any sanity left in this good 'ol USS of A.

I placed a call to KCP&L to have someone come to pick up the unwanted gift and I thought my wife was going to expire from laughter.

Then I read: in Around the Nation: About Those Energy Savings... and I see that this idocy has spread. Thanks Al, and than God that you were never our President - we have one now that takes the cake.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 1:42:03 PM

armstrong

Didn't the white house meet recently with religious groups in favor of his health plan? Why is the opinion of religious people only valid when they support the community care giver? Maybe, since they believe so strongly in the seperation of church and state, the WH is sayingthat religious opinion that supports his position isn't really religious. I think I might go along with that.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 1:53:58 PM

Robert

As a practitioner of martial arts it burns my hide that Obama was given a BLACK belt by the South Korean president without the long years of hard work necessary to EARN such an honor. A YELLOW belt would be more fitting to go along with his world apology tour.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 1:58:56 PM

Ardy Mattox

You called it HarryCare, which is good... I prefer Harrykari(Hara-kiri) for how it is going to affect us all!

Posted November 20, 2009 at 2:02:07 PM

WO Brisco

I usually am in full agreement with pretty much all your talking points/positions, but find myself disagreeing with your taking GM to task for using "bail out" funding to repay the US Gov/Taxpayer. Whether payback is from profits realized, or from bail out funding GM's not using, is inmaterial to me; the bottomline being we're beginning to get our money back.

Now, whether or not that will continue (GM must make a profit sooner or later if they're to continue not to use the Federal funding) is still to be seen--and, yes, I have strong doubts that full restitution will ever be made.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 2:32:06 PM

Paul Rodriguez

It's intersting how good stuff can get mixed into the bad. Congress' recent vote, while "freezing" payments to doctors, also deflected the administration's attempt to reduce payments to, and thereby restrict, Tricare, which covers the free medical care to military retirees and their dependents. This one issue was settled in court some years ago, when the court found that free medical care to military retirees was a contractual obligation on the part of the government, and not subject to some beancounter's whim. And, it only makes sense. For the government to break faith with its defenders is not only dishonorable, it sharply reduces the incentive to making a career of performing unpleasant necessities. Those of us who have spent twenty or more years going in harm's way don't deserve to have our own government take away our salted peanuts.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 2:39:42 PM

Perri Nelson

You need to do a little more digging to find out what Senator Merkely was saying. Yes, the "promote the General Welfare" clause is in the preamble, but Article 1, section 8 is where Congress' enumerated powers can be found, and the very first one is listed here for your perusal...

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

So Congress IS constitutionally authorized to use the power of the purse to provide for the general welfare of the United States.

What's important though is to understand that that clause does not mean the general welfare of the people, but rather of the union of the States.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 3:24:21 PM

Anton D Rehling

The result of this so called Health Care Reform and other unconstitutional government take over of our businesses and lives will be massive Civil Disobedience. I for one am keeping my powder very dry.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 3:28:41 PM

Howard Last

How come the Republicans are not screaming that federal control of healthcare is unconstitutional? Could it have anything to do with Dubya pushing the expansion of Medicare with the prescription drug plan (Part D)? Remember when Tom Delay that great conservative broke (oops twisted arms)? And remember it was Dubya who signed the bill banning incandescenmt light bulbs. Tell me again the difference between democraps and republicrats. James Madison call your office.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 3:47:36 PM

Howqard Last

There will not be any long trial for the madmen who took part in killing some 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. Because they are going to have the rights of U.S. Citizens in the trial thanks to BHO and company, they will invoke the 6th ammendment right to a speedy trial. The trial will not last more than a day to throw the case out of court. Any Constitutional experts that disagree?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 3:53:36 PM

Rifleman

The "general welfare clause" wasn't added as a separate consideration by the Founders. Madison intended to couple the "general welfare clause" with the twenty one "Enumerated Duties" assigned to the federal government in Article 1, Section 8, so that Congress would be constrained to spend money ONLY on those 21 Duties. Once those Duties had been fulfilled, Madison intended Congress to adjourn and not to become full-time, cum permanent, employment. They were to stay in session only as long as it took to fulfill those LIMITED Duties. Congress has no Constitutional authority to be involved -- even a little -- in health, retirement, education, "the environment," private enterprise, student loans, agriculture subsidies, abortion, guns...The fly in the Constitutional ointment came in 1934 and again in 1935 when the Supreme Court (packed by Roosevelt) ruled that Congress could determine what the "general welfare" of the nation was and could spend according to their feelings. We're downstream from 75 years of We, the People, becoming increasingly comfortable with the dismantling of our founding Document at the whim of Congress. We have become accepting of Congress's spending at every opportunity and for every imagined reason or cause. We are most certainly at a crossroads. If we do not demand a return to the limits imposed by that document on our "representatives," the collapse of this nation into absolute governmental control is inevitable -- and it won't be our children who will see it become reality.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 4:38:00 PM

B. Lee Pemberton

Thank you, Patriots for giving my days a jumpstart with what is usually about the only sensible news coming in!

America is being beaten into the dirt by Obama and his "thug-ocracy", but The Patriot publications give us hope that all is not lost. No doubt we will see a second Revolution, but if that's what it takes.....

Posted November 20, 2009 at 4:50:38 PM

Rick L

NFL Team Can Keep Name

To bad the Washington Bullets couldn't beat the PC crowd and keep their name. It's sorta funny that the name was changed from an inanimate object to a practitioner of witchcraft. So much for the "separation of church and state".

Posted November 20, 2009 at 6:03:27 PM

SHosemann

HarryCare has quite a ring to it.

I think the better spelling might be: HaraKiri.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 6:09:29 PM

Skeptic, Ohio

How's this for a theory? When Obama bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, it was from the heart and his Muslim upbringing. Then his handlers said "That won't do. It showed his loyalty and submission to Islam. We need to find someone else for him to bow to!" So he went to Japan and bowed to the emperor. It was a calculated action. Better to look like a fool than a man sold out to Islam.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 6:48:18 PM

Frank R Trask

It seems to me that all the noise about global warming and cap&trade and China and India,etc. ignores the fact that ALL of it is baloney. We have heard so much of the "warming of the planet" over the past 10 years or so that it now seems to be ingrained in our minds, when none of it has ANY basis in fact. I generally refer to it as "Solar Warming" when any nutcase starts in on global warming. I suppose the real reason it has any legs in Congress at all is because most of the politicians are lawyers and have NO technical sense. I am one of the 31,000 scientists signed up in opposition to all of it.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 6:56:11 PM

Bill Porter

Conserning the CFL bulbs in Ohio... A couple of years ago our local PSI (as it was known then) sent out packages of "engery saving items" that included three different sizes of CFL bulbs.

Only trouble was, when mine arrived and I opened the box, all three bulbs were in pieces. Of course mercury gas had been released somewhere along the way. I sometime wonder how "stupid" people can be?

-Bill

Posted November 20, 2009 at 7:18:40 PM

Bill

Were it not for the Bible's promise of no more tears, no more sorrow in the hallowed halls of heaven, the Nation would be overwhelmed by the mournful cry of those killed at Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, et al at the act of the President of the U.S. bowing to the Emperor of Japan!

Posted November 20, 2009 at 7:26:54 PM

Fred Reeve

re: the Obama bow, I learned in a martial arts class

and from one of Chuck Norris early movies that you never bow with your head down because that is a sign

of servility, whenever the Japanese came over here during WWII I remember seeing pictures of them bowing but they always kept their eye on you!! Our communist in chief obviously doesn't know his etiquette at all. Really makes you feel proud for him doesn't it? Yeah, GAG ME WITH A PITCH FORK, PULEASE.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 8:19:32 PM

Frank James

One Congressman in prison is not a good start it is a bare beginning.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 8:50:41 PM

John

Perhaps Lee Myung-Bak's presentation of a Tae Kwan Do outfit complete with the coveted black belt was in mockery of the Nobel Prize he also didn't earn.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 9:00:17 PM

JohnB, Obamagrad

"Rise before Zod. Now, kneel before Zod. You are not the President. No-one who leads so many could possibly kneel so quickly." -- General Zod, Superman II

Posted November 20, 2009 at 9:05:03 PM

Gordon Auchincloss

U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled in favor of six residents who blamed the Army Corps for flooding in the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish, and he awarded $720,000 to the plaintiffs. Two residents of eastern New Orleans were not so lucky, as Duval said the Army was not at fault for flooding there. The Post notes the most important factor here: "The ruling should give more than 100,000 other individuals, businesses and government entities a better shot at claiming billions of dollars in damages." Talk about windfall profits.

SEEMS MORE LIKE WATERFALL PROFITS TO ME.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 9:27:08 PM

Lillian Clanton

I sure do enjoy this web site. It keeps me up to date with what is going on in the world that is important to everyone. Keep up the good work.

Posted November 20, 2009 at 9:35:58 PM

skorrent

Re: the KSM trial-

While much has been said of the tragic consequences of a possible "not guilty" verdict, can you imagine the consequences of the precedent set if a civilian court found this man "guilty", and the SCOTUS upheld, after his treatment violated nearly every aspect of defendant's rights we citizens have come to demand from law enforcement. Who is to determine when these defendant's rights will be observed and when ignored in the future?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 11:49:12 PM

THOMAS

In writing of Artur Davis' vote against health care and Jessie Jacksons derision of him as not being a black man, let me assure you that he is indeed a black man. He is running for governor of Alabama and both his vote and Jacksons remarks are intended to futher that quest. Davis knows he needs the white vote in Alabama in order to win ( just as Obama mmm mmm mmm did to win the white house) and Jackson is just giving him cover. I hope it doesn't work but it probably will as so many people are afraid of the racist label if they don't vote for him. I haven't heard him speak yet but I intend to and I hope more than once so I can make up my mind in a fair manner. So far I am not impressed with Obama mmm mmm mmm.

Posted November 21, 2009 at 12:11:29 AM

Neil Burroughs

I think you should start quoting the communist manifesto with every story. The obvious to some may not be obvious to all. The parallels are too rich not to note, given all the "useful idiots" (and quite a few useless ones) in Washington. The manifesto (lower case is deliberate) was required reading in ROTC in college. It falls under the heading of Know You Enemy. 'Lil Abner got it right, "We have met the enemy,and it is us."

Posted November 21, 2009 at 12:51:24 AM

E.Broch

The omnipitent ones bowing and scraping to to the faux leaders of the world must be a genetic thing.

Posted November 21, 2009 at 2:56:45 AM

Jonathan Oram

Nonexistent congressional districts? Maybe if you study it more closely, you will find information on the 7 additional states the President referred to on the campaign trail. Should find plenty of opportunity for statistical chicanery there.

Posted November 21, 2009 at 7:49:07 AM

John Hickman

Friday Digest, November 20th. If, as Janet Napolitano says, "Think about it, unions will never achieve the best terms for workers when a large part of the workforce is illegal and operates in a shadow economy", and 14 million illegals gain automatic citizenship, I see unions swelling in ranks and the cost of broccoli skyrocketing........ "Think about it!"

Posted November 21, 2009 at 8:05:44 AM

April Hutchings

Re: HarryCare [ref. HillaryCare]: A better name for this "care" would be "Harakiri", the Japanese name for ritual suicide.

Posted November 21, 2009 at 10:21:41 AM

J. Oaks

It's no wonder that union membership has been falling, prompting typical union tactics like Card Check. The jerk Balzano of the SEIU complaining about a Boy Scout's volunteer work in cleaning a trail so others can better enjoy it, typifies unions' actions and ilustrates why unions leave such a bad taste in most people's mouths.

Posted November 21, 2009 at 1:36:11 PM

Anton D Rehling

Let our government know, acting outside the limits placed in the Constitution is unacceptable. Taxing the citizens of this country for every breath we take and every mile we walk or drive will no longer be tolerated. The elected government is not our masters; they were elected to defend our way of life, a life of liberty and independence, not servitude and submission. Let it be known that we are putting the elected on notice, you are not our Kings and Queens! Our money is not your money; you are not entitled to our sweat and labor beyond the operation of the government and the national defense. Do not treat us with contempt! This is your wake up call, the slumbering giant often referred to as the Silent Majority will no longer remain silent. Do what you were elected to do and follow the limits we placed upon you. The American population is a tolerant one but our tolerance is being pushed beyond the breaking point.

www.patriotmarch.us

Posted November 21, 2009 at 2:53:45 PM

Bill Hamblin

"The One" has chosen his new name and title; Emperor of the Earth in perpetuity, Rectumus Maximus the First. This being from the "new" latin.

Posted November 21, 2009 at 4:10:28 PM

jo powell

Thank you so much for your wonderful words of wisdom. Please do not stop helping us to know the truth. It is so refreshing each week. I know that you put in a lot of work to give us what we need--notice I said "NEED". Again, my profound thanks and admiration for all that you have done and are doing. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

jo powell

Posted November 21, 2009 at 4:49:44 PM

Frank E.Waterstraat

11/21/09

Barrack Hussein Obama,is Bankrupting our land.

touring the world trashing America bowing to Muslim

Leaders,Cutting the Defense budget,delays a field

Generals request for troops and equipment,using

the Consttution for toileties,Cap & Trade will take

jobs away from U.S. workers and send them overseas.

OBAMA HEALTH CARE WILL NAIL THE LID ON THE COFFIN!

Now try to convince me OBAMA isn't a TERRORIST!

Posted November 21, 2009 at 6:56:17 PM

william gily

In Congress, Who are these people? I hear people saying if this healthcare reform passes we have to this or we have to do that. I say BULL!!!!! We do not have to give up our freedoms for that trash in DC. I say call to arms NOW!!!! I will not be a slave to trash like obama and his thugs!!!! DON'T TREAD ON ME!!!!!

Posted November 21, 2009 at 7:13:56 PM

Anthony Varriano

Obamacare is going to run a huge deficit just from treating all those who are sickened by this unconstitutional power grab.

Posted November 22, 2009 at 2:04:39 AM

Guy L W Hardy

In reference to your rebuttal to Sen Jeff Merkley (D-OR), you state that his reference is to the Preamble to the Constitution. Unfortunately (for I am in your corner), he is accurate in his statement that it is part of the first of the enumerated powers - Article 1, section 8, part 1.

That said, I must take issue with his position regarding the power enumerated. The power is that "to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises" - not to enforce purchase of a service, but to direct fulfillment of responsibility; the clause, "provide for the common defense and general welfare" describes the reason for collecting those revenues, not the enumerated power itself. Requiring Americans to buy anything is a far cry from collecting a direct tax on property, and excise on exercise of privilege, or a duty on the import of value not produced in support of the national economy. Even when requiring property tax be paid, the American who does not want to pay such a tax need only refrain from buying real property. To avoid paying excises, one need only avoid luxuries, or pay for goods in trade or labor.

The real issue here appears to be: should the government be in the business of providing services that are not already provided for by the taxes we pay into it? Services that must be paid for otherwise? Is this not precursor to a monopoly, and therefore illegal under American law?

What of the public option? How many Americans warm to the thought that they might have to pay for something that they do not want to use, something they have already purchased otherwise? This is precisely what is going to happen if this government-run health care system becomes a reality: those who pay taxes will be paying for their own coverage - if they want to take advantage of the public option - and paying for the coverage of others, too. THEY SHALL BE PAYING TWICE, but benefiting once. And those who do not pay taxes? They pay not at all. Who wants to pay for something they shall never use - under threat of punishment - so that others may use it for free?

This does not take into consideration the cost of running the bureaucracy that results from this program. Worse, it does not appear to factor in the single weakest point in any insurance plan - catastrophy. One or two localized disasters - a tornado or a train wreck - can be handled by two or three different companies providing coverage to those afflicted. When, however, the destruction extends more generally - such as that seen with hurricanes Andrew, Hugo, and Katrina - insurance companies are incapable of coping with all of the claims coming at them and still remaining solvent; they have stockholders to answer to. How does the US government propose to handle the first really crippling disaster that comes calling, considering that its stockholders are the American taxpayers? Millions of people fall victim to a wide-spread epidemic of a particularly nasty bug - and they all come looking for help. This only has to happen once to break our economy irreparably.

Anyone who has been alive for the last twenty years has seen nature and mankind produce ruin on an unprecendented scale - who can rationally assert that it shall not happen again?

Posted November 22, 2009 at 12:34:20 PM

Cheryl Ramos

I live in Ohio and appreciated your article (Friday Digest 11/20) on "No Such Thing as a Free Lunch." The organization that advocated for the First Energy program is the Ohio Consumer Counsel. Their alleged mission is to represent the consumer against the price increases of the utility companies. They have recently hired, as their head, a person who formerly worked for an environmental group. The OCC regularly partners with the Sierra Club in Ohio. They are now advocating that AEP (American Electric Power) of Ohio increase its energy conservation efforts by, you guessed it, charging AEP customers $2 more a month. In exchange we will get a coupon for the CFLs and a rebate of $25 if you turn in your inefficient appliance. So even if we use less electricity, we pay more to pay for the utility's program of energy conservation pushed by the Ohio Consumer Council. In the OCC's last newsletter they advocated that we dry our clothes on the line and not use our dryer! Right, not use one of the two (the automatic washer and dryer) great inventions that freed women!

Posted November 22, 2009 at 3:21:17 PM

Robert G.S. Plant

Those who planned and carried out the attacks to US on 9/11, are not signatories to the Geneva Conventions.

They are organized, trained, uniformed (face scarves) military combatants representing an identifiable political entity (Muslim). Those surviving the field of battle should be tried by military courts-martial. Executed (if found guilty) by military firing detail. Mr. Holder, who also is a criminal(tax evader) should have no say in the matter. Is there any way to stop this PC nonsense and self-serving efforts of the anointed?

Posted November 22, 2009 at 11:16:21 PM

H Hazell

Re The BIG Lie,

Actually, Senator Merkle is correct. The opening statement of Article 1, Section 8 reads as follows: "Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;..." His interpretation, however, is wrong. Like Jefferson implies, there must be constraints and the practical infrastructure of government beyond that of defense is what should be the result of providing the general welfare. Healthcare and many other things should remain individual responsibilities governed by individual choices.

Posted November 22, 2009 at 11:25:27 PM

Ruth Ann Wilson

Dear Cheryl in Ohio,

That is a good post. People need to understand that these "do gooders" only mean for the ones still left who are "paying for the "Free" lunches" pay more and all the wonderful inventions that have blessed and helped women who have had to "help shoulder the burden of going to work to pay for their "FREE" lunches" are to be eliminated.

"You make bricks and no straw or hay" said Pharaoh, Old Testament, Holy Bible.

May the Lord deliver us from this "hoard of environmentalists and sympathizers" who have come in to "eat out our substance."

For God & Country

Ruth Ann Wilson

Posted November 23, 2009 at 8:08:05 AM

Ruth Ann Wilson

God has answered prayer.

The "hoard of environmentalists and sympathizers" have been found out. All the "hidden" files are "coming out".

Thanks be unto God.

For God & Country

Ruth Ann Wilson

Posted November 25, 2009 at 8:00:43 AM

Randy Carter

On Natural Resources - If this adminstration does away with coal mining to power electric making plants, ban drilling for natural gas that is abundant in the US. My question is, how will they charge electric cars etc. when the electric power producing plants go to Brown Out conditions? What will be more important in the summer? Air conditioning or going to work or to the store? If we went after all of our natural resources, we would create jobs, bring oour economy back to greatness very easily.......we are a foolish nation for not acting.

Posted November 25, 2009 at 4:43:31 PM

Hank S.

RE: 'And Last'...

I bet there an awful lot of TaeKwanDo black belts who are upset right now! When I was in the A.F. (in the mid '70's) I had friends who were into that 'sport' and know that a 1st degree Black Belt

can take years to attain. Once again, our 'Turkey in Chief' gets Something for Nothing!!

Posted November 26, 2009 at 1:38:50 PM

Monty Arch

Re:compact fluorescent (CFL) Bulbs

How can these save energy , when a Hazmat team will be using a lot of energy to come to your house to decontaminate it from the mercury spill. I wonder if the health care reform will cover mercury detoxification?

Posted November 29, 2009 at 6:29:00 PM

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