Can Healthcare Insurance Really Be Required?

Many in favor of the healthcare bill and its mandated healthcare coverage for all Americans say that it is the same as requiring all drivers to get Auto Insurance.

I think we need to remember one thing.

In America we have the RIGHT to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. So there is a right to be alive, and have a life, and live a life, and be alive (oh, I said that already)….Well, you get the point.

In the new healthcare bill the Democrats want to say that since we are alive we have to have health insurance and that it is similar to having auto insurance.

Well, let me clear something up for my friends on the left. Auto insurance is only required if I want to drive. If I do not drive, then I do not have to have auto insurance. Driving is a privilege, not a right. So I can understand having to have auto insurance to drive; however, now the Democrats want to suggest that in order to have the right to live, you must have health insurance.

To live our lives in America is a right that we are privileged to have. To force people to have to buy insurance or face a fine or jail time would seem to be unconstitutional at best. Of course, when was the last time Washington allowed the constitution, or the facts, to get in the way?


Better check my policy,
Bill

HealthCare Bill Part 2

Here is the second in a series of blogs that will address the amendments added to the comprehensive healthcare bill that is supposed to “reform” the healthcare system in America. This one deals with some of the problems as reported by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Senator Sanders is the only acknowledged Socialist in the United States Congress and has several problems with the current bill which he expressed on his senate website. Here are a few of them paraphrased. You can see the entirety of his statements on his official senate website. So using Senator Sander’s own writings, here are a few of the problems with the bill as they deal with insurance REFORM from a socialist, hard left point-of-view.

First, the bill contains provisions that will place caps on what insurance companies can spend on things like executive salaries and other non-medical costs. Now here comes the Funny part, there are no penalties for exceeding these caps. So where is the motivation for the insurance companies to avoid going over the caps? Where was this when I was a kid and my parents told me not to eat any candy before supper? This could have saved me a few encounters with Dad’s belt. So this is insurance REFORM (that word sure does get used a lot).

Here’s another REFORM – everyone will have to get coverage now. To cover those healthy young people who usually choose not to have coverage, insurance companies will be selling them low premium, high-deductable, catastrophic healthcare plans. Now, those people will have to pay for insurance they probably won’t need and they’ll have an absurdly high deductable if they have to use it. A high deductable that would be similar to their costs without health insurance, thereby defeating the purpose of mandating coverage in the first place. So who reaps the windfall here? I know, I know, big insurance – Nice REFORM.

Lastly on insurance, based on the customer’s age, insurance companies will be able to vary the cost of the coverage by three to one for varying customers. This makes the insurance affordable for some and not for others, but this isn’t age discrimination or anything. Once again, here is some more REFORM that helps who?

So these are only some of the problems with the insurance REFORM portion of the healthcare bill that Senator Sanders pointed out. He has many more on his website covering other topics and they are all pretty eye-opening.

By the way, even with these problems and without his desired single payer health system, he is voting for the bill, but that has nothing to do with the special deals placed in the bill for his home state of Vermont – Nah.


Healthcare Bill or Insurance Entitlement…You Decide,
Bill

HealthCare Bill Part 1

Here is the first in a series of blogs that will address the amendments added to the healthcare bill was supposed to take strides to “reform” the healthcare system in America. This one deals with an amendment that was important to Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd.

Senator Dodd is credited with taking the healthcare torch and running with it after cancer left Teddy Kennedy incapacitated. Senator Dodd did an excellent job as the acting chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and it is important to give credit where credit is due.

One of the provisions Senator Dodd worked hard to include (this last Saturday night) was a provision adding $100 million to build a healthcare facility in Connecticut. Okay, technically this money is not specifically for Connecticut. It is to be dispersed under the direction of the Health And Human Services Department (HHS). While this is theoretically true, it should be pointed out that there is a big “NOT SO FAST BUCKO,” that should be highlighted here.

The fact is that the language in this legislation does leave the money up to the discretion of the HHS. Simply stated, the HHS has to award the money to “a health care facility that provides research, inpatient tertiary care, or outpatient clinical services.” It must be affiliated with an academic health center at a public research university in the United States “that contains a State’s sole public academic medical and dental school.” (OK, maybe that’s not so simply stated)

Pretty nifty writing there, but what that means is that Senator Dodd’s home state University of Connecticut (UConn) is one of about a dozen schools who could even compete for this grant. One has to imagine that UConn will have a pretty good chance of collecting this money with Senator Dodd being the chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Not sure how this affects the reform of healthcare in America, but it’s not a bad pick up for a Connecticut senator who is doing poorly in the polls with a reelection campaign coming up in 2010 – Just Saying.

Go Huskies,
Bill

Slow Down Harry!

So Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) says that all the contrary talk about the senate healthcare plan is reminiscent of past obstructionism to civil rights legislation. Normally I would not even begin to entertain Harry and his usual quips of unqualified remarks made in haste to cover his rear; however, this time he leveled the criticism at the Republicans. Well, let us help Harry and do just a little check on the facts.

First, Abraham Lincoln is credited with freeing the slaves and guess what, he was…Brace Yourself… a Republican! SHHHHH, don’t tell Harry, he’s on a roll.

Second, when the great liberal leader Franklin Roosevelt had his chance to advance civil rights did he? He had 13 years to do something and only in his last few years with the persistence of his wife and other influential leaders did he even do anything. Oh there were bills, but with a heavy hand from the congressional legislators, nothing was done. Plus, Roosevelt’s reliance on southern legislators and governors for support of his social agenda made it easy for FDR not to back civil rights legislation. Job security over what is right – sounds like modern day Washington.

Now for the Third Strike! In 1964, Democrat President Lyndon Johnson was championing civil rights, who was it that blocked the legislation in the senate? You guessed it, the Democrats who stopped cloture by voting 44 out of 67 democrats to stifle the legislation.

Now, I am not saying that the Democrats of today would have voted the same way they did back then. What I am saying is that Harry has got to get a better handle on himself. I know he’s under the gun and the big man came down to see them Sunday, but come on, at least give us a better analogy than this, especially when Harry is in the party that was the obstruction of his analogy.

Slow Down Harry - Later,
Bill

This week in America – November 18, 2009

Sorry I haven’t been as handy with this as I had wanted but I have been quite busy this summer and football season. Someone gave me a radio microphone this football season and I have been completely engrossed with that. But now it’s time to get back to the grindstone in the issues,

1. Attorney General Eric Holder wants to bring the terrorists in for a civilian trial. Hey Eric, this isn’t “What’s My Line,” or the “People’s Court,”…well I guess maybe it is some of the latter, but you get my meaning. These are dangerous terrorists and KILLERS. They were combatants caught on the battlefield and as such they should be prosecuted in a military court as approved by the Congress a few years ago.

2. Unemployment figures for October 2009 is over 10%...well thank God we passed that stimulus package back in the first few weeks of the Obama administration. Remember that one? It’s the one that President Obama said we needed because without it unemployment might reach 8%. What are they playing by golf scores? Isn’t 10% worse than 8%? Nice call on that one.

3. So in Allentown, Pa., a 17 year-old Boy Scout volunteered his time and worked hard to clear a walking path in a city park as part of his work towards earning Eagle scout. Commendable of the young lad. In this time when most teens are looking for some direction, here is this young man working hard to better himself. Then comes Nick Balzano, he’s the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) boss for Allentown. Nick is threatening to sue Allentown for allowing this scout hoodlum to volunteer when there are plenty of out-of-work union members who could have been used – for a price. You know, the SEIU already seems to have free run of the White House, now they want to go after the Boy Scouts of America – NICE!!

4. So Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Democrat who wants to run for Texas Attorney General says that the 2005 state constitutional amendment that makes the definition of marriage in Texas a union between one man and one women also contains a clause that eliminates marriage altogether in the state – Brilliant. Current Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says this law is perfectly fine and does not mean what Ms. Radnofsky declared. She is going to point this out and try and use this as a campaign issue – Really? Well go ahead Barbara, you should get the vote of everyone who is married and wants to remain married cause that’s what we want, to elect someone who is going to come into office and tell us all we aren’t married.

5. And the Winner of the Day, U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled in favor of several New Orleans plaintiffs saying the U.S. Corps of Engineers caused the disaster in parts of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina due to their lack of supervision of the levee system. The judge called it a manmade disaster. So let me get this one straight, if you live in an area that is below sea level and a once a century storm blows through, it is somehow the governments fault. Where was this judge when I was growing up and sent a baseball through Mrs. Johnson’s house? I could have sued on the grounds that Mrs. Johnson shouldn’t have built that house there in the first place – This is Genius!!!!

Carry On Folks,
Bill

This Week in America, August 11, 2009

1. Senator Arlen Specter, in a town hall meeting this morning, said the Senate doesn’t have a healthcare bill. Yes they do, it passed out of committee last week. He also said he wouldn’t vote for a bill that increased the debt – YEAH, just like when he voted for the stimulus bill.

2. In several 2007 interviews, then-Senator Obama made statements about how the development phase of a new healthcare bill should be open to all sides for discussion, even going so far as to state that he would have the meetings shown on C-SPAN. My, my, my how times have changed.

3. In yet another end-of-the-news-cycle, Friday move, The Obama administration (this time in the form of Timothy Geithner) sent a request to Congress to raise the national debt ceiling. By the way, this would be the second time in the last six months the ceiling has been raised; the other was in the stimulus bill.

4. If you go to any of the congressional town hall meetings with any other opinion other than those that agree with the proposed healthcare reform, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer have labeled you Un-American.

5. In 2005, Michigan Representative John Dingell said that President Bush should have to explain himself for leaving the public health and environment at risk while toxic sites lay untreated in the United States. Under President Bush, the government cleaned up an average of 38 such sites a year. President Obama’s administration will clean up 20 this year and 22 next year. Where is Rep. Dingell’s outrage over this reduction?

How’s you week going?
Bill

This Week in America July 31, 2009

1. President Obama has started his backyard beer drinking tour. How do I get on this list?

2. The Cash for Clunkers program has already exceeded its planned budget in the first week. By the way, it was budgeted through to the end of October. Congress and the President say it’s a great success. Since when is something a success when you overruns a three month budget in one week?

3. In the legislators-not-reading-bills-they-are-voting-on segment, Representative John Conyers, head of the House Judiciary Committee, said this week that he loves when other congressmen get up and ask the question, “did you read the bill?” His response is to know how you can read a 1000 page document in one or two days and understand it. He said that if the congress read everything they voted on, they would never get anything done. HEY, not doing anything, now that might be a concept.

4. An Inspector General’s report released this week said that 64% of the U. S. Department of Energy failed to use proper climate controls in their buildings resulting in $11.5 million in wasted energy. That’s enough to power 9,800 homes for one year.

5. Senator Christopher Dodd announced this week that he has Prostate Cancer. Since he and Senator Ted Kennedy are fighting cancer, and they are the champions of the President’s healthcare reform, I wonder if they will even be able to stomach using the antiquated and failing healthcare system here in America?

Well, I’m off to see the Wizard!
Bill

Today in America July 23, 2009

Here is a new slant to give Quick Points a little added shock to the system. Hopefully several points a day to give everyone something to think about. Maybe five or ten points a day.

1. Did anyone notice in last night’s “News Conference” that President Obama completely took aim at every aspect of our healthcare and law enforcement? Not one time did he even thank or show any sort of appreciation for the work of the American medical professionals – NICE!

2. He also took the time to point out that even though he knew very little about the incident, he felt the Cambridge, Mass. Police Department acted stupidly. Nice word to use to describe a situation that he admittedly knew little about. And on national TV no less – AWESOME!

3. Another special point from the Obama Hour was when the President made the case that this healthcare issue had to be taken care of as soon as possible. WHY? At a time when it appears that many Americans want some sort of healthcare reform, why not take some time and find a bill that a true majority can agree on.

4. Why is it okay for the president of the Black Chamber of Commerce to refer to Senator Barbara Boxer as “ma’am” but when a General of our Army respectfully calls her “ma’am” she jumps up on her high horse and demands he call her “Senator?”

5. Joe Biden is running around the country proclaiming that the stimulus plan is working as advertised and predicted only a few weeks after he said the country was worse off than predicted after the stimulus because conditions were worse than they had originally thought. That Makes Sense – kind of. GO-JOE-GO!!!

6. Did you know the U. S. Government has a Bureau of Public Debt? Shocking, someone should check on just what it is they do over there.

Enough for now, more tomorrow…maybe!
Bill

New Hampshire Creating Jobs!

Hats off to New Hampshire, they are charging forward with this stimulus thing! According to the New Hampshire’s own Office of Legislative Budget Assistant, the state has received $413,600,000 of federal stimulus money and has created – wait for it – 50 new jobs.

50 NEW JOBS – OUT-FREAKIN-STANDING!!!!!

Of course only 34 of those jobs are going to be permanent jobs, the rest will be full-time “temporary” jobs (don’t ask, I have no idea what that means). For those in the temporary status, don’t worry, all of these jobs will be state employee jobs and like all government jobs they are pretty much forever.

For those math nuts out there, that comes to just about $8,272,000 for each job created, or roughly a pay rate of about $5,000 an hour. Hurry now, apparently job applications are going fast.

Time to polish up the old resume,
Bill

Government Creating Competition?

The last week Goldman Sachs reported a better-than-forecasted second quarter earnings and now able to repay the bailout money. Something that should make every U. S. tax payer feels better about the current economy. But wait, even Goldman Sachs admits that much of their success is due to less competition in the marketplace.

Goldman Sachs CFO, David Viniar, called it a “fragmented competitive environment” and went on to say that fragmentation came from the failure of its two main competitors; Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, while the others were either bought out, failing or in some sort of reformation process, with government help.

It is important to point out that at the time Goldman Sachs received its bailout money the former Treasury Secretary who issued the bailout also happened to be the former Goldman Sachs CEO. Is that why Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers received no government bailout money, they had no big government connections?

What is the point of all of this? Well, before everyone gets excited with the possibility of an economic upswing based on the performance of the bailout gang, remember, a major part of their success is driven by less competition. A situation controlled by federal government involvement.

Look Out Ford,
Bill

Hillary – Keeping her word

Months ago a certain senator proved that he was not being true to his words and now here comes Secretary of State Clinton doing the same. Yes, it shouldn’t shock anyone that a career politician is not keeping their word. After all, this is a world where a politician who actually sticks to his or her word is as shocking as finding an automaker not looking for a handout – wait, that’s a different rant.

As a U. S. Senator representing the great state of New York, Hillary Clinton abhorred the idea of allowing foreign governments to NOT pay taxes on their diplomatic residences. She championed that cause and railed against the loss of tax money that would ensue should these foreigners be allowed to get away with such a travesty, much of which happened just last year.

Now, as the Secretary of State, she has CHANGED her position on this issue, much to the chagrin of the very voters she once called her own people (wait, isn’t she from Illinois or Arkansas or somewhere – oh never mind). This is a tax evasion that would essentially allow foreign countries to not pay New York a little over $260,000,000 in back taxes and $7,000,000 in annual taxes in the future.

But remember New York, she now serves at the pleasure of the man she once vehemently criticized as being unprepared for the office of President. As a result, it would seem that pleasing our foreign friends is much more important than you, and that your pettily tax revenue problems are no longer her (or the President’s) concern.

Does Milam County have a diplomatic residence?
Bill

So Why Is Sarah Stepping Down?

Okay, This week the big news in America was that Michael Jackson was still dead. On a minor note, the Governor of Alaska announced that she was stepping down. This was big news and as such I thought I would shed some light on this – at least from my perspective. Before I start let me throw in that I do not believe she had the intention to seek another term as Governor. These are the reasons I think she stepped down in no particular order.

1. She actually did not want to continue on as a lame duck and she would have, as it would have been necessary to announce her intention to run for reelection soon with the election coming up next year.

2. By stepping down, the Lt. Governor will be able to function as Governor and run as an incumbent, which is always a strong position.

3. It will help to keep the press from feasting on her as they have this last year. Obviously it won’t eliminate it but it will help to curve it – Maybe.

4. She can travel more and create the network necessary to run for office, be it the congress or the White House.

5. Gives her the time she needs to bone up on the issues, build a campaign team, and be better prepared for a run at office in 2012 (I think you know what I am talking about).

Of course this is all speculation but Sarah Palin is definitely unorthodox so who knows; however.com.org.net.edu…she may just be fed up with it all – NAH!

More To Come,
Bill

Who’s To Blame?

With the ascension of Al Franken to the U.S. Senate, the Democrats now have no one to blame for anything in Washington going forward. They have the ball, so to speak, and are in command. They now have a filibuster-proof Senate, a majority in the House of Representatives and have a Democrat sitting in the White House. What else do they need?

As a result, no longer can President Obama blame the GOP for delaying anything. He can pass whatever he wants, provided he can get the congressional Democrats to go along with it. No longer can he, or any of the Democrats call the GOP in Washington obstructionists trying to stop his agenda. He has the votes he needs to overcome those obstructionists.

Now what he and the rest of the Democrat party needs is to stand up and take responsibility for the decisions they make. Not blame the Republicans for their failings. They are truly the party in power and will have answer for their actions, or lack thereof. I have always told my children to stand up and be counted, take responsibility for those things they do – right or wrong. Now the Democrats in Washington have to learn that.

Maybe they should call Stuart Smalley?
Bill

David Letterman

Okay, everyone knows this one had to happen. I have to write about this. Now let me start out by saying I have not watched Mr. Letterman regularly in a few years, but when I was in college and first married, I watched often and was a big fan. But somewhere in the last few years Mr. Letterman has gotten a little too opinionated for me. I just always enjoyed his program for the humor and that seems to have been replaced with more biting and hateful jabs than humorous glances at people.

In my opinion, no one should make the kind of remarks he made about Governor Palin’s daughter, or anyone’s daughter for that matter. I think Mr. Letterman knows this – Now. It will be interesting to see how people will take his apology. I am not sure if it is for us to do anything more than forgive, just as the Good Book says.

There have been calls for Mr. Letterman’s removal and while this position is understandable, it is really not the American way. Mr. Letterman made a mistake, he and he alone can make up for that mistake. The viewing public and Mr. Letterman will be the ones to determine his future just as the Capitalists believe it should be. As a conservative, and a Christian, I think that is the way it should be, for everyone.

I am not from the government, so I can help,
Bill

IDs and the Black Panthers

So let’s get this straight, there is no way the Democrats like the idea of voters having to show photo ID in order to vote. Now the democrats in the Obama administration are more than willing to drop the charges against three members of the New Black Panthers who stood outside a Philadelphia voting station during the November 2009 general election.

Oh yeah, these three men not only stood outside the voting place, but the brandished clubs and threatened voters and poll workers – both black and white. But it’s all good; the Attorney General’s office was able to gain an injunction to stop this sort of thing in the future.

Um, excuse me, I am not a lawyer, but isn’t this a clear violation of the Voter’s Rights Act. If so, why do you need an injunction to keep someone from breaking the law – that’s what putting them in prison is supposed to do.

One of the poll workers worked was a Civil Rights Lawyer in the 1960’s South and worked on the Robert Kennedy Campaign. Even he said in an affidavit that it was one of the worst cases of voter intimidation he had ever seen.

So, like I said, let’s get this straight, the Democrats want no proof of who someone is before they vote and have no problems with dropping the charges against someone who intimidates and coerces the public in how they choose to vote.

I still like my ID photo though,
Bill

Government Motors

OH-MY-GOD, HIDE…HIDE…HIDE. The very day has come that President Obama said we had to avoid. Govern…uh…I mean General Motors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

OUT FREAKIN STANDNG.

Just so you know, this is the way it will all pan out. GM will break up as follows in order to gain over $30 billion to continue to operate. (By the way, if you use the example demonstrated following the last bailout, “continuing to operate” apparently suggests continuing on in a constant direction that leads to abject failure.) Here is how the breakdown of interest in GM will go:
10% to unsecured bondholders.
12.5% to the Canadian Government.
17.5% to the United Auto Workers.
60% to the United States Government.

This is soooooo wonderful. So let me get this straight. The same government game plan that has been so successful with the Post Office and Amtrak will now be put into place with government control of GM. Yeah I know President Obama said he will move to get rid of this interest in Gm as soon as possible – when.

That should have been done today by beginning a plan offering up that interest to Car Dealers, Customers, and investors. Not retaining it by the government until that interest is worthless due to proven and repeated inept management of government resources by the very government responsible for those resources.

I wonder if there are any Yugos for sale?
Bill

The FDIC

Remember when the FDIC backed the money in a bank account for $100,000.00 and we all thought that was a large amount of money. Man, have times changed.

Now that the country is in what the President terms an Economic Crisis, when everyone is supposed to have less money, and when the President has labeled those who make more than $250,000.00 as rich; the FDIC has raised the insurable amount to that same $250,000.00.

SO, now that we aren’t supposed to have any money, the federal government has decided to insure us to the amount of someone who is rich. GOSH, I feel better already.

Now consider this. In a recent evaluation of United States Bond status, given the federal governments current record-setting pace for debt creation, U. S. Bonds are expected to lose their Triple A status in the next year or two. Those same bonds would fall to Single A status as soon as 2020 and reach Junk Bond status by 2030. AWESOME huh?

My Favorite part of this whole mess is still the motto of the FDIC, “Backed By The Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government.” Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel near as comfortable as I did when the FDIC only insured us for $100,000.00.

I’ll take my money is large bills please,
Bill

Can I See Your ID?

So the Democrats in the Texas state legislature are against a voter ID law – SHOCKING!

Okay, let me see if I can get this straight. You have to show your ID to get a fishing license, You have to show an ID to get a marriage license, you have to show an ID to cash a check, You have to show an ID to use a credit card, MY GOD, you have to show an ID to pick up tickets for an airplane flight, sporting event, or a rock concert.

So how in the world are all these people able to show a picture ID for these purposes and it is not considered biased? The Democrats says it disenfranchises people from being able to vote – HOW!

Since it doesn’t affect their ability to fish, cash a check, use a credit card, or attend a ticketed event, then how on God’s green Earth is it going to affect their ability to vote. I could understand it being a detriment if it was done under a Jim Crow law, but this is the 21st Century and Texas has had the “Motor-Voter” law for quite some time.

Let’s call it like it is, pure and simple, if you make people show their ID to vote, you make people responsible for their own vote and effectively eliminate fraudulent voting. I guess this would have too much of a negative effect on Democrat voting numbers.

I wonder if I can get copies of my ID picture?
Bill

When to Say When

Okay – the North Koreans have nukes. They have tested the missiles over and over like last 4th of July, a few weeks ago, and several other times in the last few years. All that our government has said is, “ah, there’s no worries until they get a nuclear (or is it Nucular) warhead.”

Well guess what folks, they have it and they tested it underground this last weekend – Memorial Day weekend. Get it, test the missile on the 4th of July and test the nuke on Memorial Day. Got to give it to ole Kim Jong Il, he can read an American holiday calendar.

Seriously, NO ONE has done squat on this issue since Bill Clinton was president (and yes, that did hurt to say). Well, I mean nothing significant. Now there’s been a lot of talk by Bush and letter writing by Obama, but nothing that will create any results. I think it is time for the President to stand up and DO something.

What is it he will likely do? Pressure China, no wait, we can’t do that, who would loan us the money to pay for the stimulus or the new $3.6 trillion budget. Military strike, maybe about ten years too late but what the heck. Shake our fist and rattle our chains…Ahh, the old standby.

Well this one is not above President Obama’s pay grade. Actually, nothing is above his pay grade anymore and he now has to step forward and take some action.

I’m moving into the Bunker,
Bill

Pelosi and Her Disremembering – She Thinks?

There has been a big charge with the Republicans on Capital Hill about Nancy Pelosi and what she did or did not know about water-boarding. Regardless of one’s opinion on the issue of water-boarding, the question is not what she did or did not know; the question is why she doesn’t know what she does or does not know.

Speaker Pelosi is the third in line to the Oval Office. As such, we expect – NO, we should require more from her than anyone else in the United States House of Representatives. Despite her political views, it was her job as a member of the Gang of Four at the time to stand up and say something about a concern she has since expressed great distress over.

If Speaker Pelosi felt that water-boarding was not a viable method of extracting information, then she should have said something about it at the time. To date, she has claimed to have never been briefed on the subject, then said she had forgotten about being briefed on this subject, then she said the brief only stated that water-boarding was legal, and now she claims the CIA lied to her and the entire congress about its use of water-boarding.

It is difficult to know what the truth is, but it is doubtful that Speaker Pelosi is lacking in mental capabilities so much that she doesn’t know the truth either. This comes down to a question of character and regardless of political ideology; the character demonstrated in the handling of this issue is not the sort that we, as Americans, should expect from someone in such a high office.

All Hail to the Speaker,
Bill

Smoking in Public

The public smoking debate, or the prohibition of smoking in public debate, has been killed in the Texas state legislature for this session. Thank God!

Let it be known that on occasion, I enjoy a fine cigarette; I would not classify myself as a smoker because I am not one who must have a cigarette to get by. I am simply one of those individuals who are classified as a social smoker. I enjoy a cigarette when I am in the presence of others who likewise enjoy a smoke.

On the flip side, I also do not enjoy being around people smoking while there is eating going on. Before the food arrives, or after the meal is complete, feel free to light up; however, while there is eating going on, please refrain from smoking.

Now, with all that said, let me say this; I salute the state legislature for not pursuing this issue any farther. To ban all public smoking is not a health issue, it is a freedom issue. By placing a ban on public smoking, which many cities have already done, each one of us loses a little bit more of our freedom.

It doesn’t matter what position an individual takes on this smoking issue, it is simply one more step for government to take to dictate how we live our lives. It restricts our freedom by limiting where we are and are not allowed to do those things that are perfectly legal.

This little bit of tyranny always starts with some issue like banning public smoking, and by justifying that, we allow a dangerous precedent to be set; a precedent that will allow government control over other issues.

Protect Your Freedom,
Bill

A Two State Solution

It is Monday in Washington and the president is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Obama takes the stand that he believes that there should be a two state solution to the Israeli/Palestinian confrontation. He says this even though Netanyahu stated repeatedly that the greater fear to the Israeli nation is Iran and their pursuit of nuclear weapons.

President Obama made the point repeatedly that he felt that the harsh treatment of Israel toward the Palestinians must be changed and a peaceful two state solution must occur to set the tone for useful negotiations with Iran…REALLY? I think President Obama needs to do a little more research on foreign matters.

I will make this as simple as possible. First of all, there are two different factions in charge of the two areas of Palestinian control. Hamas controls the Gaza strip and Fatah controls the West Bank. So who does the Israeli government negotiate with Mr. President?

Second, every time the world cries out for a cease fire to stop Israel from defending itself against Palestinian militants, it allows those militants time to regroup, rearm, and restart their campaign of terror against Israel. Time and time again Israel has come to the table to work towards peace only to be slapped in the face by what the Obama administration has termed “Man-Caused Disasters” (commonly called terrorism) from those same Palestinians we are to show sympathy for.

I know President Obama has a large contingent of foreign policy-makers and advisors; however, I think in this instance I would have to defer to a man like Netanyahu who has been involved in this debate from the battlefield, the bargaining table and the various seats of government. You know, someone with experience. Oh yeah, I forgot, experience isn’t necessary, it is all about “Change.”

Shalom,
Bill

HealthCare, Are You Sure?

With President Obama calling for congress to give him a health care plan by July 31st, I think it is important to take a look at how some of the other public benefit programs are going.

Social Security will begin to have benefits exceed incoming taxes by 2016 and will be completely bankrupt by 2037, just in time for my retirement – Yipeeee!!!

Medicare began to have benefits exceed incoming taxes April 26, 2009 (remember that date from an earlier blog). That’s right, at this moment in time; Medicare is now working in a negative income mode, rather like the rest of the government…well except for social security, that still has a few years.

The topper is this, with events in government spending continuing on as the present administration has set out, Medicare will be completely broke by 2017. That’s it, ka-pooey, nothing left, empty, nada, rather like a bowl of ice cream after a Baptist social.

Look, I know many out there think the government is the harbinger of good hope for the health care issue in America, but it is not. To be honest, most of those hired to manage government-run agencies couldn’t manage a small ant farm. If they could, they’d be in the private sector having their pay capped by…well, that’s a different blog.

Anyway, for all those who think that government control of the health care system is the answer, let’s see if the government can first answer the question of how to fix social security and Medicare.

I think I need a new prescription,
Bill

Naming a New Justice

There are a few truths to winning a presidential election. One of these truths is the winner has the opportunity to select appointments to the Supreme Court. So as Justice Souter is retiring, President Obama will have the opportunity to nominate his replacement.

Many on the right are concerned that this will be a radical individual who will lean heavily to the left. I am not sure who the nominee will be, but if that individual is heavily Liberal, then it is Mr. Obama’s constitutional right to be allowed to nominate that individual.

With that said, I would like to see two things from President Obama in making his selection. First, avoid the Ivy League. I know the president is an Ivy Leaguer; however, so are all the justices except for John Paul Stevens. Actually, except for Justice Stevens, the other eight all come from Harvard, Yale or Columbia. And they blame us in the oil field as being to Old-Boy Network.

Second, I would like to see the new nominee come from somewhere other than the federal judiciary. All of the current members have come from the Federal Judiciary. Now is the time to get someone who comes from a state court, or a district court, or Private practice. Someone like my Grandfather who graduated from Emory and was a state circuit court judge in Georgia.

What the court needs is Common Sense and Real World Experience instead of the partisanship that has been so prevalent in the past. President Obama has the chance to make his first nomination, will he start to make a change in the federal way of thinking or will he give us someone with a background similar to what we already have?

ALL RISE,
Bill

Stopping Tax Cheats Starts in D.C.

Was that really Tim Geithner standing up there with President Obama saying how they were going to stop tax law loop-holes and tax cheats? - REALLY!

Now I applaud the notion of making people pay their taxes but shouldn’t it be just as important to lead by example. Yes I know Geithner, after being put on the spot and caught having “underpaid” his taxes, went back and made amends be repaying those taxes, kind of.

I also know that rather than leading by example and making restitution for the full amount, he took advantage of the statute of limitations and only wrote a check for those unpaid taxes that were required. Those that fell out of the statute of limitations were left unsettled. Since he is now the head of the IRS, I wonder how much in fines and interest he was charged for the portion he made good on.

I still find the funniest part was Geithner blaming his mistake on his misunderstanding of how to use Turbo-tax. I guess this year Geithner can ask for help from Tom Daschle, Charlie Rangel or one of the others who are or have served in Washington who, at various times had responsibility for some portion of the tax code, but apparently can’t understand the code that the rest of us are supposed to.

Guess we better get our ducks in a row cause the federal government is coming. Maybe they should start in Washington D.C.?

Wonder how long it will take to read the tax code?
Bill

National Debt Day - OH BOY!!

Throughout the year there are important dates that we look forward to and those that we dread. April 15th, does anyone ever look forward to this date? I mean if you have to pay. By the way, if your not paying on April 15th, then you are paying too much in with-holding the rest of the year so you’re really not getting any money back, just getting the no-interest loan you gave to the government returned to you.

There is December 25th, we all look forward to that, unless it’s December 20 and you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet. Thanksgiving, yes the date changes but the reason to look forward to it is the same wonderful feeling each year. March 17th, it is so good to be Irish.

This year April 26th is pretty significant. That was the day that our government quit working in the black and began working in the red. That’s right, as of the 27th of April; the federal government is working on credit. Credit we will all have to pay back – eventually. Actually, to be more accurate, it is money our children and grandchildren, and their children will have to pay, unless we have to follow Chrysler’s example and file bankruptcy.

To be fair, this date has been moving forward in the year for a LONG time; however, this year it has taken a tremendous move forward, from August 5th last year to April 26th this year. According to some estimates for next year, the national debt date will probably be somewhere in late February to early March. Not a very settling forecast.

Get out you checkbooks,
Bill

Chrysler

So after all the bailout money given to Chrysler, President Obama guaranteeing Chrysler’s warrantees on their vehicles, concessions by the UAW, a major ownership stake given to the UAW, a buyout by Fiat and concessions by many of their creditors; Chrysler still filed for Bankruptcy.

I wonder where they would be right now had they just filed a few months back before they had taken all the bailout money, the bite in the rear from the UAW, and given up their independence to an organization like Fiat. I mean come on, have you ever driven a Fiat? I would rather have one of those nasty old “K” cars than a Fiat.

I know that bankruptcy is bad, but worse is bankruptcy and all the strings that are now attached by the government, the UAW and Fiat.

I’ll be on the Ford Lot,
Bill

Those Wimps in Europe

So after two world wars and multiple other conflicts in the world that we Americans have worked to help Europe out of, it seemed like it was only President Bush’s Unilateralism that kept Europe from fully supporting us in the “War on Terror.”

Then we elected (well, not all of us elected him) President Obama on a platform of Multilateralism and Europe still refuses to offer any significant help.

So, is it really the man in charge, the ideals with which we go to fight, or the fact that most of Europe is made up of appeasement-seeking goobers (yes, that is the official term)?

You make up your own mind – I have.

Lookout for the fallout,
Bill

Purpose for this blog

I am writing this blog as a sideline from my original blog (horsesense-bill.blogspot.com). The Horse Sense blog is for lengthier more thought out blogs to make you think. This one is simply a chance to make some "Quick Points" for those of you out there to ponder and think about on a daily basis (at the suggestion of one of my friends, I should point out that "Daily" is a relative term).

One of my fellow bloggers, and friends, bet me I couldn't stay non-partisan with my first blog, and to an extent he is right. So I created this blog in case I drift off into a partisan rant. Another friend, and fellow blogger, also said I shouldn’t try to stay non-partisan and he was right; however, the purpose of Horse Sense is to not offend, but make people think.

SO – I have therefore created this blog to give my dedicated followers (and you know who the two if you are) the opportunity to get some quick insight that you might not get anywhere else.

I don’t have a problem with someone who disagrees with me from a knowledgeable standpoint, only those who ignorantly bang the drum of popularistic rhetoric without knowing of that of which they speak.

If you enjoy the blog, let me know. If you disagree with me, again, let me know. If you don’t understand, you may be the problem. Better get some knowledge!

Thanks and read on,
Bill