If there is any image of the problem with the Republican Party over the last few years it’s John McCain. I know, many thought I meant Bush, but even he was never the darling of the “We want to be popular” sycophants among the party leadership. John McCain has a made a career of bucking his own party’s principles to stand for whatever crackpot liberal idea came down the pike. Support for bailouts, amnesty, carbon credits, global warming, and the unconstitutional McCain Feingold shows part of the picture. The rest comes from his opposition to taxes—remember his opposition to the Bush tax cuts? Had I listed these positions before telling you of whom I was speaking, you would assume I meant a leftist Democrat—and you’d be right. Remember when it became obvious that McCain was going to lose the presidential primary to Bush. There was a big push to recruit him to run on the Democratic ticket. What made this so serious was how well he would have fit on that side of the aisle—he’ been little more than a Democratic mole for years.

Now, after fighting hard to get a conservative in the senate seat so long held by Ted Kennedy, those most responsible for the victory are being sold out by none other than their primary darlings. Senator-elect Brown has recorded phone ads for John McCain and Sarah Palin has announced her support for, and intention to campaign for McCain.

I case you don’t recognize that the plans of the liberal junta include expansion of government to an unprecedented degree, consider the 111 new government programs and bureaucracies created by the latest Healthcare bill released in the House of Representatives. To see a full list go here.

I will limit myself to mentioning a few with my own personal remarks. The numbers correspond to the above list.

1. Retiree Reserve Trust Fund (Section 111(d), p. 61)
Because the Social Security Trust Fund has been such a success.

4. Program of administrative simplification (Section 115, p. 76)
Just what we need, an administrative program to simplify administrative programs.

6. Health Choices Administration (Section 241, p. 131)
Since you will ultimately lose your healthcare choices, why do we need to administer those choices?

7. Qualified Health Benefits Plan Ombudsman (Section 244, p. 138)
Because we do not have enough unelected bureaucrats.

11. Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund (Section 307, p. 195)
We can always use another trust fund for Congress to plunder.

12. State-based Health Insurance Exchanges (Section 308, p. 197)
Can you say “unfunded mandate?”

14. “Public Health Insurance Option” (Section 321, p. 211)
A public option will be needed after they bankrupt the entire industry.

15. Ombudsman for “Public Health Insurance Option” (Section 321(d), p. 213)
Bureaucrats are popping up like mushrooms after a bad rain.

16. Account for receipts and disbursements for “Public Health Insurance Option” (Section 322(b), p. 215)
Special account for all the wealth they will be redistributing.

17. Telehealth Advisory Committee (Section 1191 (b), p. 589)
Because the other government telephone advisory systems have been so popular.

23. Independence at home demonstration program (Section 1312, p. 718)
Who better to teach independent living than a government liberal bureaucrat?

24. Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research (Section 1401(a), p. 734)
Comparative Effectiveness Research? I’m more effective than you.

25. Comparative Effectiveness Research Commission (Section 1401(a), p. 738)
Of course you need an ineffective commission to research effectiveness.

26. Patient ombudsman for comparative effectiveness research (Section 1401(a), p. 753)
Another one! Sheesh!

27. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 1412(b)(1), p. 784)
28. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for nursing facilities (Section 1412 (b)(2), p. 786)
I can hit both of these with the same statement: Because the federal government has such a reputation for improving performance and assuring quality in other programs.

33. Pilot program to develop anti-fraud compliance systems for Medicare providers (Section 1635, p. 978)
They have such a stellar record at preventing fraud.

34. Special Inspector General for the Health Insurance Exchange (Section 1647, p. 1000)
The head Bureaucrat-in-charge.

39. Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund (Section 1802, p. 1162)
More trust funds. Can’t you just see Pelosi salivating over all that money just lying around?

41. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Section 1907, p. 1198)
This will be needed because the new government health care program will squelch all other innovation.

42. Public Health Investment Fund (Section 2002, p. 1214)
They don’t even try to put the word ‘trust’ in this one.

43. Scholarships for service in health professional needs areas (Section 2211, p. 1224)
No one will want to spend their own money to become a doctor when profit is illegal.

44. Program for training medical residents in community-based settings (Section 2214, p. 1236)
See above

45. Grant program for training in dentistry programs (Section 2215, p. 1240)
See above

51. Prevention and Wellness Trust (Section 2301, p. 1286)
Money, money, money!

52. Clinical Prevention Stakeholders Board (Section 2301, p. 1295)
Huh!?

53. Community Prevention Stakeholders Board (Section 2301, p. 1301)
Now they’re just getting silly.

58. Center for Quality Improvement (Section 2401, p. 1322)
Isn’t Government Quality Improvement like military intelligence?

59. Assistant Secretary for Health Information (Section 2402, p. 1330)
What’s a secretary of Health Information without an assistant?

60. Grant program to support the operation of school-based health clinics (Section 2511, p. 1352)
Kids-with-Condoms program. When that fails you only have to miss third period to have that abortion.

61. Grant program for nurse-managed health centers (Section 2512, p. 1361)
Who needs high priced doctors?

64. “No Child Left Unimmunized Against Influenza” demonstration grant program (Section 2524, p. 1391)
It’s for the children!

65. Healthy Teen Initiative grant program regarding teen pregnancy (Section 2526, p. 1398)
‘No Child Left In-uterus” program.

69. Grant program to promote positive health behaviors in underserved communities (Section 2530, p. 1422)
To undo what years of welfare has created.

71. Grant program to develop infant mortality programs (Section 2532, p. 1433)
For those who make it past the abortoriums.

74. Grant program for community-based overweight and obesity prevention (Section 2535, p. 1457)
Because fat is not your program, the government should pay for it.

86. Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1610)
87. National Women’s Health Information Center (Section 2588, p. 1611)
88. Centers for Disease Control Office of Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1614)
89. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Women’s Health and Gender-Based Research (Section 2588, p. 1617)
90. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1618)
91. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1621)
Because more women vote liberal.

94. Grant program to disseminate best practices on implementing health workforce investment programs (Section 2591, p. 1632)
There is no better arbiter of best practices in medicine than a bureaucrat.

95. Demonstration program for chronic shortages of health professionals (Section 3101, p. 1717)
This will be needed because of all the shortages this bill will create.

97. Program of Indian community education on mental illness (Section 3101, p. 1722)
98. Intergovernmental Task Force on Indian environmental and nuclear hazards (Section 3101, p. 1754)
99. Office of Indian Men’s Health (Section 3101, p. 1765)
100. Indian Health facilities appropriation advisory board (Section 3101, p. 1774)
101. Indian Health facilities needs assessment workgroup (Section 3101, p. 1775)
102. Indian Health Service tribal facilities joint venture demonstration projects (Section 3101, p. 1809)
104. Grants to Urban Indian Organizations for diabetes prevention (Section 3101, p. 1874)
110. Native American Health and Wellness Foundation (Section 3103, p. 1966)
111. Committee for the Establishment of the Native American Health and Wellness Foundation (Section 3103, p. 1968)
These last few will be needed because of the poor performance of that little known government healthcare program: Indian Health Services.

What can the left do when their president slips in the polls daily? President Obama has failed miserably at everything he has done so far. He has not ended the Iraq war as he said he would. He will not be able to close Guantanamo as promised. He has not stopped the Iranian nuclear program. He has alienated friends and cuddled up to enemies and terrorists. He has spent the nation into a record debt, likes of which our nation has never seen. He has handled over the reins of his office to self avowed Communists and America haters. He tried to put his own people in charge of the Census. He has meddled in the finance industry and GMC, seizing control of huge swaths of the economy. Then there is of course healthcare, and his related failures there.

So how is the left to rehabilitate this president’s ratings and raise his poll numbers? Simple, give him the Nobel Peace Prize—no need to produce peace or even move towards it. Of course the prize has nothing to do with producing peace—remember Jimmy Carter won it. It has more to do with making political statements and influencing public opinion. The Nobel Committee is the new PR department of Obama political machine. Do you hear that whirring sound? It’s Alfred Nobel spinning in his grave.

In the debate on healthcare one of the chief arguments being given by the Obama administration is that the government option will be voluntary and those who currently have coverage will be able to keep it. It is also claimed that this is not an effort to do away with private coverage, but to care for those who cannot currently afford coverage. A few days ago I downloaded a copy of the bill (all 1000+ pages). I did this because whenever someone tells me that the bill says this or that, in this section or that, I like to go directly to the source and find out what it says or does not say.

In perusing the bill I found section 102: Protecting the Choice to Keep Current Coverage. This section must not be missed by anyone who considers this issue. In this bill those who have current coverage will be allowed to keep it. However, 102(a)(1)(A) forbids those offering coverage from enrolling any new clients on or after the first day the law goes into effect. This means that you can keep your coverage, but anyone who does not have coverage will be put into the government system with no option for private insurance.

When this happens the insurance companies will find that they have all the customers they will ever have. They cannot expand their businesses and according to 102(a)(3) they can never raise rates on those who are covered or according to 102(a)(2) can never change what they do or do not cover. This last one also prevents them from entering into any new cost-sharing arrangements to reduce costs. The companies can never expand, or raise rates to offset inflation or higher expenses. The only time a new policy could be written is when someone with private insurance, before hand, changes policies.

Understand what this means, if this bill passes those who are not covered by private insurance will have no choice but the government system—none other can be sold. Those who have coverage can keep it until the company goes out of business or they lose or drop the coverage another way—job change or economic downturn. Once this happens they too will be on the government system, for life, and the government that has proved its inefficiency and incompetence in so many areas will be able to let us down where it matters most. Higher prices, rationing, lower quality and early death for millions will be the legacy of this president. How’s that for Change!

Bill Clinton recently went to North Korea to negotiate for the release of two journalists. Those on the left and the right naturally have differing views about this. The reaction of the right seems to be more based on throwing mud at Bill Clinton before he gets more good press—like there is anything we can ever do to keep the press from fawning over Bubba. Many are saying that this is tantamount to negotiating with terrorists. I would disagree because, though we do not negotiate with terrorists, we have a long standing policy of negotiating with sovereign nations, even terrorist supporting ones. Many on the right are even attacking the two journalists, saying they were foolish and caused their own problems. This also is not a reason to leave them in North Korean custody. One of the things about the US that makes us better than many other countries is that while their government is imprisoning and killing their people we take great strides to protect ours, even at times going to war to protect them.

While the reaction of the right seems churlish, the reaction of the left is naïve. The North very successfully used this and we should admit it. Yes Bill Clinton helped these two women, but that is small in comparison to the world’s condition. The left is using this as a bludgeon against Bush, though he hasn’t been in office for months. They say this shows that diplomacy works, leaving one to assume that diplomacy should have been tried with Iraq and one can only assume with Afghanistan. First of all, we tried diplomacy for years with Iraq. With Afghanistan we acted quickly because they were supporting those who had killed so many of our citizens on 911. Since the Russians had lost to them in the 80’s they assumed we would lose as well. Of course they forgot that we were on their side in the 80’s. Now, while I have always maintained that we should not have entered Iraq when we did, that part of the discussion is over and we have been much more successful in Iraq than the left will ever admit. So let’s look at the scorecard of freed people. Bill Clinton freed two young women who stuck their necks out too far. George Bush freed two nations with populations of millions. While I am no fan of George Bush, you have to give him credit for some things.

We are hearing more details about Obama’s push to create the liberal Utopia where all needs are met by big brother and no one goes without. This week he is making a huge push for his healthcare plan. Like most things spawned from the Democratic side of the aisle it involves meddling in business, reducing freedoms and increasing dependence on Uncle Sam.

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Symbols of hatred were proudly displayed before the world on every visible inch of his skin. Fortunately, I met him in the one place such people are safely observed—behind the double wire fence of a state prison. Whether inspired by race, gender or eye-color such hatred makes us uncomfortable. We imagine living in a world without hate—where everyone loves everyone else, with no war, no discrimination and no violation of rights. Congress is attempting to create just such a world with HR 262 currently moving through Congress as the Ray Richardson Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Like most liberal legislation this bill will accomplish nothing but the abrogation of our rights.

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In honor of Earth Day I made elaborate plans to celebrate with the proper behavior due such a solemn occasion. Since people were being asked to turn off their lights for a period of time to show their dedication to conserving energy and saving the planet from the evil of man’s devices, I intended to observe the day in a way that made much more sense.

I planned to spend the day with every light in the house turned on and extend my usual five minute shower until the hot water ran out. In the evening I was going to clean the dishes in the dishwasher rather than by hand and use the heat dry instead of air dry the dishes. Along with this, I would idle both cars in the driveway for a couple hours to consume what I felt was an appropriate amount of fossil fuels. In short, I planned to use the maximum resources, making my carbon footprint as big as possible.

In the end I did none of this. Not because of repentance or remorse, but because I forgot it was Earth Day. I went about my day normally, working to make a living for my family and to improve the world through meaningful employment. My original plan was to show the proper amount of respect for the Earth Day holiday. In the end I succeeded more than I could have imagined, because I ignored it and went on with my life. This is exactly what such a phony, hyped ‘holiday’ deserves.

That night my daughter reminded me that it was Earth Day and I had the opportunity to tell her the truth: “Eco-fascists are using alarmism to get people to give up their rights and freedoms. When the old Socialist revolution failed, authoritarian whack-jobs had to find another vehicle to remake the world in their image. This is not an effort to save the planet, but to make us submissive sheep.”

This is the perfect way to handle Earth Day, as an opportunity to share the truth with a young person about how fleeting are our freedoms, and how susceptible the masses are to propaganda.

Israel has a new leader. One that is determined to protect her interests and not let western appeasement to rogue nations cause their own downfall. The once and now returned Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu has warned the world that the US must prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons or Israel will do so. Is this a simple matter of bluff and puff? Let Israel’s history answer that. They have proven that they will not place their safety in the hands of any others; they will protect their own people at their own cost, no matter how great. (more…)

The election is over, the confetti is gone, signs are down and the speeches are fading from our ears. The new Congress has been sworn in with expanded majorities for the liberal machine and the leadership of the House of Representatives, the body meant to speak for the people, has discovered their Orwellian tendencies. Despite promises to get to the people’s business and leave partisanship behind the Democrats have taken steps to insure the Republican minority has even less impact than even their paltry numbers would permit. This should not be a surprise because the guy in any debate decrying partisanship is either the biggest partisan in the room or your drunk neighbor who thinks Obama would give him a job if everyone would just get along. (more…)