tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89087802348311917402024-02-07T22:20:54.419-06:00Daily SquawkA running rant on politics and the world.CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-88525709163991870452010-03-30T21:05:00.001-05:002010-03-30T21:05:00.446-05:00Great Comparison of Left and Right<a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/03/29/searchlight-vs-l-a-rival-rallies-reveal-stark-rightleft-divide/?singlepage=true">Pajamas Media</a> has a wonderful comparison article up about two very different political rallies held recently. One rally was held in LA and featured a more "progressive" crowd. The other rally was held in Searchlight, NV and included a "conservative" group.<br />
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Look at some of the pictures below and ask yourself, "Where would I feel more comfortable?"<br />
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<big><strong>Conservative rally, Searchlight, Nevada, March 27, 2010</strong></big><br />
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<em><small>(Photos by <a href="http://www.lookingattheleft.com/" target="_blank">El Marco</a>)</small></em><br />
<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/El_Marco_0213.jpg" /><br />
<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/El_Marco_0138.jpg" /><br />
<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/El_Marco_0175.jpg" /><br />
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<big><strong>Left-Wing rally, Los Angeles, California, March 20, 2010</strong></big><br />
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<em><small>(Photos by <a href="http://www.ringospictures.com/" target="_blank">Ringo</a>)</small></em><br />
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<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/Ringo_LA_013.jpg" /><br />
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<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/Ringo_LA_008.jpg" /><br />
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<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/Ringo_LA_126.jpg" /><br />
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By the way, I love the irony of this image. Guess where it was taken?<img alt="" src="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/files/2010/03/Ringo_LA_060.jpg" /><br />
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Please visit the <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/03/29/searchlight-vs-l-a-rival-rallies-reveal-stark-rightleft-divide/?singlepage=true">Pajama's Media web site</a> to see more, and to link to reports about each rally.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hat Tip - <a href="http://www.hotair.com/">Hot Air</a></span>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-67362575378020533782010-03-23T15:21:00.001-05:002010-03-23T15:21:00.248-05:00Well, Now We're Stuck With ItAt least until the Supreme Court can weigh in and save us from this mess. Either that or we get the bill repealed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 03="" 2010="" 4"="" cartoonist="" cartoons="" href"http:="" href="" michaelramirez="" townhall.com=""><img border="0" height="242" src="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mrz032110dAPR20100320021353.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-22521980946005041862010-03-19T19:06:00.000-05:002010-03-19T19:06:00.466-05:00Health Care Procedural ShenanigansTo pass an unpopular bill through the Legislature, the House and Senate are conspiring together to use some procedural hi-jinks in an attempt to help protect the "voting record" of Democrats who face re-election this November. Sounds boring, right? Not really.<br />
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And there you have it. In 91 seconds, we see how the Democrats in the Legislature will push through a bill that will add almost a <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11355/hr4872.pdf">Trillion dollars to the National Debt</a> in the first 10 years of funding (note page 8 of the PDF).<br />
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Can we please stop spending my daughter's money now? I mean, she's only 7 and doesn't even have a job yet!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hat Tip - </span><a href="http://www.hotair.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hot Air</span></a>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-29512825426718623392010-03-16T18:53:00.001-05:002010-03-16T18:53:00.283-05:00Obama and the Health Care BillMake sure to check out the button.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mrz031610dAPR20100316031338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mrz031610dAPR20100316031338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-30852648251760127972010-03-04T19:53:00.005-06:002010-03-04T19:53:00.285-06:00CNN Provides the Answer to Saving Money on Health CareAnd the answer they come up with should surprise no one. Do they espouse a state-sponsored solution, with more government controls on pricing? Nope. Instead, the answer in the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/04/medical.waste/index.html?hpt=C2">CNN health care article</a> is <b>more competition</b>, through comparison shopping. This makes total sense.<br />
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The key to affecting any behavior in America is to aim at the wallet or pocketbook of the individual. When you make people more individually responsible for paying for their own care, people will start making better decisions. Thus, removing obstacles between the cost of care and the individual making the decision will help people make more cost efficient decisions.<br />
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The key, of course, is knowing what the price of something will be at different locations. The CNN article mentions several resources you can expect to provide information on the cost of different medical procedures. This includes insurance company web sites and social network sites dedicated to the health care industry. So, the more information you have, the better decision you can make regarding your health care.<br />
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Lowering the cost for health care consumers should be what any "reform" in Washington is about. To lower the cost, you need to provide more information to people about their options. The internet is a great resource, allowing people to quickly and easily compare providers. In the article, a woman even picks the ER for her daughter based on a web site that provides information about health care facilities.<br />
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You also need to foster real competition in the health insurance industry. You can do this by allowing health insurance companies to compete across state lines, similar to car insurance companies. This means businesses would have to offer a better plan than their competitor or risk losing their clients. It also opens the door for people with pre-existing conditions to get a health insurance plan, though this population will probably never get as cheap a rate as a healthy person for the simple fact that they are a higher business risk. <br />
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The idea of a 'public option' as the best way to foster competition has some major flaws. Yes, it would provide another health insurance choice for individuals, especially people who cannot get a "high risk" private insurance plan. Unfortunately, the down side to a Federal public option is that every tax payer pays for the plan, not just the individuals enrolled in the plan. Thus it decreases the motivation for people in the plan to price shop services.<br />
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The public option idea also duplicates something we already have, Medicare and Medicaid. Both of these medical coverage plans offer services to people who cannot get private insurance. Both of these plans, though, cost a large amount just to support the bureaucracies for each agency. As government run organizations, they have no business need to keep these costs down for the simple fact that they're not trying to earn a profit.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa211.html">Studies have shown</a> that our current health care system costs too much because we've placed intermediaries, both government and insurance companies, between the patient and the service. We simply need to open the health care market again to bring costs down.CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-20141213358902668942010-02-26T18:13:00.001-06:002010-02-26T18:13:00.240-06:00Healthcare Summit VideoI didn't watch all of the Healthcare Summit. I have a job that requires me to actually work. However, I did catch a couple of clips from the discussion. One that I particularly like explains my feelings quite well.<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zPxMZ1WdINs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zPxMZ1WdINs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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I agree with Representative Ryan's points. Healthcare is hugely expensive and is overly burdensome on our State and Federal governments (remember, much of the money for Medicaid comes directly from the states). Lowering the overall cost of healthcare would help both the governments and individuals. However, as Ryan pointed out, giving government <b>more</b> control over the healthcare industry, which is what the current bill would do, is not the answer.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hat Tip to <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/">Power Line</a> for the video.</span>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-44613349201075329912010-02-25T17:29:00.000-06:002010-02-25T17:29:00.258-06:00When to Cooperate... and When to Debate<a href="http://townhall.com/cartoons/cartoonist/MichaelRamirez/2010/02/1">Michael Ramirez</a> has a great image that illustrates the Republican side of the Healthcare Debate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://townhall.com/cartoons/cartoonist/MichaelRamirez/2010/02/1"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mrz022510dAPR20100225040743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The Democrats keeping saying they want the Conservatives to help pass healthcare reform and stop slowing the process. However, I think the Republicans are doing what their constituents want them to do, block a bad piece of legislation.CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-73957977886446745512010-02-24T18:26:00.000-06:002010-02-24T18:26:00.201-06:00Great TARP InfographicThis is a wonderful <a href="http://www.visualeconomics.com/a-detailed-look-at-tarp/">infographic about TARP</a> funds and where they've gone. I'm not sure we can ever say that this was a successful use of American taxpayer dollars. The infographic provides some sense of scale for the massive bailout for businesses from the Obama administration.<br />
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How can we convince them to stop wasting our taxes?CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-13669449323615584262010-02-24T13:17:00.000-06:002010-02-24T13:17:07.849-06:00What Democrats Had to Say About the FilibusterWhen the Democrats were in the minority, they had a definite opinion about the importance of the filibuster. Now that the Democrats are in power, we can only assume they feel the same way, right?<br />
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See the <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/02/025673.php">Power Line blog post</a> for the video.CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-28923988419930189082010-02-23T17:52:00.000-06:002010-02-24T13:28:56.371-06:00How to Be Successful!!!This video is a pretty succinct presentation on what it takes to succeed. With these 8 things, you can be what you want to be.<br />
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<object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6bbMQXQ180&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6bbMQXQ180&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br />
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As a follow up, check out his ideas that success is a journey and a "two way street." This means that, to be successful, you have to continually refine what you're doing and continue to work at your success.<br />
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<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CgNx9Bgac1I&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CgNx9Bgac1I&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="404" height="248"></embed></object>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-49672001160380302642010-02-21T20:21:00.000-06:002010-02-21T20:21:04.108-06:00"Failure is a God Given Right"I'm not really a Glenn Beck fan, but during his speech at <a href="http://www.cpac.org/">CPAC</a>, he made some strong statements about personal freedom and liberty I strongly believe in. In <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4881432">Gleen Beck's CPAC speech</a>, He talked about the right we have to pursue happiness, to pursue success. However, if you find success during the pursuit, you shouldn't be punished for it. <br />
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In this country, there is no real thing like "too big to fail." Your success of failure should be of your own making. The men running GM and Chrysler have simply figured out a way to finance their risks with the public dollar.<br />
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Our country was built on the idea that the effort of the individual brings its own rewards. No one owes you success. If you want to find success, you have to work for it and earn it yourself.CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-2432727758592491022010-02-03T19:14:00.012-06:002010-02-04T15:26:11.357-06:00Can Our Republic Survive?We must remember that our Representative Democratic Republic was formed with the idea that those voting for representatives to go to Washington actually knew:<br />
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A) What the important issues are for the country.<br />
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B) Where the different candidates stand on the different issues.<br />
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Sadly, <a href="http://johnziegler.com/editorials_details.asp?editorial=197">more and more research</a> shows the general American populace does not know enough to make informed decisions.<br />
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This is important because, without focusing on real issues and having a modicum of understanding concerning the candidates' position, we end up with demagoguery as the deciding factor in almost any political race. And even if appealing to the masses will get you elected, governing based on poll numbers will never be good for the country. Sometimes, to do what's best for the country, you have to buck the polls. Just ask G.W. Bush, who stuck it out in Iraq, knowing that a surge would bring more peace than retreat.CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-88960056162318009792010-01-28T19:27:00.000-06:002010-01-28T19:27:00.153-06:00Awesomely Funny VideoThe song is catchy, but the point is... guns are not evil. It's not the guns, it's the people who are using the guns that are the problem.<div><br /></div><div>This is from Australia, which has tighter gun laws than the US.<br /><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-TC2xTCb_GU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-TC2xTCb_GU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></div></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-75234228675349593422010-01-20T18:04:00.001-06:002010-01-20T18:04:00.575-06:00This is What Happens When you Have a Policy, but not a ConscienceThe story reported on <a href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-395940?hpt=Sbin">CNN</a> is unbelievable. Aid workers are blocked from taking vital medicines to Haiti because... wait for it... they're taking <a href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-395940?hpt=Sbin">too many bags</a>. Are you kidding me? <div><br /></div><div>Instead of rigidly sticking to some policy, you would think American Airlines would have the <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom.html">wisdom to do the right thing</a>. Sadly, no. Instead, American Airlines limited the number of bags the passengers/aid workers were allowed to take. "A wise person knows when to make the exception to every rule." Sadly, no one at American Airlines was wise enough to know that breaking the rules is necessary once in awhile.</div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-83302991252805156522010-01-12T19:05:00.001-06:002010-01-12T19:05:00.060-06:00A History Lesson from DetroitThis video is an amazing object lesson, with Detroit as the example used to illustrate about what happens when you let the Left (and Big Labor) have their way. <div><br /></div><div><object width="392" height="238"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1hhJ_49leBw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1hhJ_49leBw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="392" height="238"></embed></object></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-58897579117732406282009-12-10T19:00:00.000-06:002009-12-10T19:00:01.937-06:00Let's Have an Honest Anthropogenic Global Warming DebateThe debate on anthropogenic global warming is quite a bit cloudier, thanks to the release of the CRU emails. In the emails, we see 'scientists' discussing ways to help push a political agenda. They do this through using <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/understanding_climategates_hid.html">doctored and inaccurate data</a> and intimidation tactics against journals to <a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/26269/">remove a "troublesome editor."</a> What happened to real science, where scientists reported on facts?<div><br /></div><div>Real science seems to be subverted by something known as '<a href="http://buythetruth.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/climate-change-and-the-death-of-science/">Post-normal science</a>.' This post-modern approach states science must "re-invent itself as a political tool." The idea espoused by this post-normal science group is, surprise, that the data must be made to fit a specific narrative. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the major narrative we're all familiar with is Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW). This "Man Made Global Disaster" idea is based on questionable science, science that drops information that doesn't fit their story. In fact, the whole AGW thing is more akin to a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703558004574582541677434628.html">religion or political stance</a> instead of real science. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to have a real discussion about global warming, then show us your data and let's discuss why there are two climate events (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Warm_Period">Medieval Warm Period</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age">Little Ice Age</a>) are not included in your <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/13830/">hockey stick model</a>.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg5Eo03_tSolT22u9D5BKeR9gCux4tHli1T0F903YEjOUHKHGhbQT9jRmlJriy70lVJ1I7pEq4KflHZtnh0SBqVsW1s0rtuocVgK7Q2IIQQ73bRxeGOLZtGiaEJTGFqfOT0451zi66o0/s1600-h/hope-it-lasts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg5Eo03_tSolT22u9D5BKeR9gCux4tHli1T0F903YEjOUHKHGhbQT9jRmlJriy70lVJ1I7pEq4KflHZtnh0SBqVsW1s0rtuocVgK7Q2IIQQ73bRxeGOLZtGiaEJTGFqfOT0451zi66o0/s320/hope-it-lasts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413701309089095394" /></a>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-62496515693961411292009-12-04T07:11:00.000-06:002009-12-04T07:11:00.357-06:00Awesome Visual Aid<div>Ramirez has a great way of boiling down an issue and presenting it in a manner that makes the issue easily understood. Case in Point:</div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mrz120209dAPR20091202032307.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 462px; height: 350px;" src="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mrz120209dAPR20091202032307.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-60212383621015101072009-12-02T10:22:00.001-06:002009-12-02T10:28:56.558-06:00Thoughts on Obama's Recent SpeechOverall, I'm not too impressed with <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/12/obama-speech-text-afghanistan.html">President Obama's speech</a> (full text courtesy of the LA Times). The main issue I have is how his troop announcement came with a timeline. Very bad. Read the notes below.<div><br /></div><div><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraphs 5-6 – I’m glad he mentions the international and bipartisan nature of the beginning of the conflict. The US didn’t just ‘go rogue’ in Afghanistan.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraph 8 – Blame Bush comes in. Notice there is no defining the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Resolution#passage">largely bi-partisan vote</a> that went into this decision.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraph 10 (end) – If the efforts have been hampered by “insufficient Security Forces,” then why has it taken so long for Pres. Obama to make the decision to send more? He had information on what was needed before he even officially took office (note the highlighted text in the <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/10/024761.php">domestic speech</a>, and see the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3224481/Barack-Obamas-team-is-briefed-by-Bush-staff-on-after-warnings-about-a-terrorist-attack.html">international press confirmation</a>) .</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraphs 21-28 – This actually sounds fairly presidential. President Obama states the case that most ‘right minded’ Americans know. I like the reference to extremists apprehended ‘within our borders.’ Everyone knows the danger to the US, and Democracy, will “only grow if the region slides backwards.” And Obama acknowledges this is a global threat, one that needs more participation from our allies.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraph 33 - You’re giving a timeline for withdrawal already? Really? If you’re going to “tak[e] into account conditions on the ground,” then shouldn’t you leave it at that? What if everything is not copacetic by your deadline? Or, being the intelligent folks they are, what if the enemy simply decides to disappear until after the deadline? And just 2 years? Are you kidding me? That’s not nearly enough time to get the job done. This is troublesome. Of course, the date is no coincidence. July 2011 is basically campaigning season for Presidential candidates. It’s far enough away from the election day to claim “Leaving Afghanistan” as a political victory, while close enough to election day to help ensure security won’t totally go to sh!t before the (possible) reelection for candidate Obama.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraphs 40-43 – I agree with President Obama’s stance on Pakistan. I think we need to have closer ties to the nation if we are to have lasting influence in the region. Concentrating solely on Afghanistan would not solve the problem.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraphs 46-46 – I’m glad Obama puts to rest the whole “Afghanistan is Vietnam” mantra. It couldn’t be further from the truth. His main point, ‘they attacked us first,’ is germane to the whole reason we’re there.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraph 49-55 – So, President Obama wants to include a timeframe to establish a “reasonable cost” so we don’t go beyond “our means?” Why not simply define the objectives and leave when they’re done, instead of informing the enemy you plan to pull out? <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And does he think we can’t rebuild the economy without cutting costs in the War on Terrorism? He’s sadly mistaken about what will actually help the economy. If limiting the National Debt and building our economy were really more than mouthed words to him, he would work to reassure businesses here at home that his policies won’t put them in the poor house. So far, he hasn’t been a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124109550079373043.html">big supporter of free enterprise</a> (Note the sub-heading “Creditors Take Hit”) and <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/07/politics/otherpeoplesmoney/main4997900.shtml">contract law</a>.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraph 56 – If the “struggle against violent extremism” won’t be finished quickly, why the heck is he going to cut and run in Afghanistan after only 2 years? </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1">Paragraph 57 – Confront extremists with “pressure and strong partnerships?” Yeah, because that’s <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/29/AR2009112900992.html">worked so well in Iran</a>.</li></ol></div><div><br /></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-6672161186938980922009-11-20T19:35:00.000-06:002009-11-20T19:35:00.205-06:00Great Video About "Public Option" HealthcareThis is a great video that illustrates why a government run 'public option' is not really about competition. It seems the healthcare bills publicized recently are more about giving more control to our Federal Government and less about real solutions.<div><br /></div><div><br /><object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hfLXjsvmjZo&border=1&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hfLXjsvmjZo&border=1&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="349"></embed></object></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-40956964362587566542009-11-09T19:40:00.001-06:002009-11-13T10:15:01.741-06:00President Obama Doesn't Like You, AmericaIt's abundantly clear to me that President Obama has problems with America, what we should stand for and who our allies should be. He's ignoring history and the lessons we've learned. Instead, he seems to kowtow to our enemies and snub our friends. The latest snub? Not appearing in Germany at what is arguably one of the great moments in modern history.<div><br /></div><div>Paul Rahe, at Power Line Blog, has a great write up. </div><div><br /></div><div>"If we are to comprehend what is going on, we must pay close attention not only to what Obama says but to what he conveys in other ways. His tone is nearly always moderate but what he hints at and what he intimates by way of body language often convey the opposite Witness his warm embrace of Hugo Chavez. Behind the thin veneer of politeness, there is, I suspect, something ugly lurking. In the first of the autobiographies that he claims to have written, Barack Obama frequently speaks of himself as being in the grips of rage. We would do well to take him at his word."</div><div><br /></div><div>Reading his words really brought home how little the current president thinks of this nation. <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/11/024916.php">Read the whole article</a>.</div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-62438229974520285542009-11-06T18:42:00.000-06:002009-11-06T18:42:00.249-06:00Now THIS is Real Healthcare ReformThe Republicans have an <a href="http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare">alternative Healthcare bil</a>l, which you wouldn't guess based on the news coverage it's received. This bill would be an alternative to the bill(s) Reid and Pelosi have tried to get through the House and the Senate. The Republican Healthcare bill does several necessary things to help lower the overall cost of healthcare.<div><br /></div><div><ul type="square"><li><strong>Number one:</strong> let families and businesses buy health insurance <b>across state lines</b>.</li><li><strong>Number two:</strong> allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do.</li><li><strong>Number three:</strong> give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs.</li><li><strong>Number four:</strong> end j<b>unk lawsuits</b> that contribute to higher health care costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it's good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Republican bill would cost around $61 Billion (a fraction of the $1 Trillion needed for the Democratic bill) and, here's the kicker, DECREASE the deficit by $68 Billion!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that's Healthcare reform I can get behind.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hat Tip - <a href="http://www.hotair.com">Hot Air</a></span></div></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-64658816917868272372009-11-05T18:46:00.000-06:002009-11-05T18:46:00.449-06:00The RNC Has Been WarnedSeems like the Republican National Committee should wake up and see. The Republicans made a come back in recent elections, quashing the idea the party was dead. However, they made these gains because conservative thoughts, not some specific party, are the core of America's success. RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) are not easily tolerated. Just ask Dede Scozzafava. <div><br /></div><div>In a special election, one without a primary, she was ousted from contention by a real Conservative who ran as an Independent. When she dropped out of the race, who did she endorse? The Democrat. Very telling. This means people want a real Conservative, not just a Republican. It means people are voting on principle, not party.<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.comics.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/300000/00000/0000/800/300892/300892.full.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 451px;" src="http://assets.comics.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/300000/00000/0000/800/300892/300892.full.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a></div></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-60114837128347365522009-11-03T09:59:00.003-06:002009-11-03T10:07:55.590-06:00This is How I FeelIt seems odd that the Dems and Obama are trying to go ahead with a public option to healthcare reform when all of the evidence points to the fact that it will simply<a href="http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=510506&Ntt=sowell"> increase costs and decrease quality</a> for everyone. Of course, Obama could always just disagree with the guy who happens to have a PhD. in economics. I mean, if the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UcxU8PtzRs">dictionary is wrong</a>, who's right?<div><br /></div><div>I still say that expanding healthcare coverage and reducing costs are competing goals that cannot be achieved at the same time.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.comics.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/300000/00000/0000/300/300383/300383.full.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 435px;" src="http://assets.comics.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/300000/00000/0000/300/300383/300383.full.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a></div></div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-43339350650623618412009-10-21T19:54:00.001-05:002009-11-03T10:03:47.634-06:00Somewhere, Someone is Already Saying, "Racist!"A new book out, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Architects-Ruin-government-liberals-economy/dp/0061953342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255567931&sr=1-1">Architects of Ruin</a>" will undoubtedly draw criticism as a "racist" book. Why? Because it points out that lending to unqualified minority home buyers, individuals who normally couldn't get loans, helped lead to the housing bubble bursting. Mind you, all of his suppositions are supported by hard data from recent studies, including studies showing there was no real evidence of racism in lending. <div><br /></div><div>Of special note is how liberal activists pressured lenders to loosen their normal lending standards to give loans to minority people who might not normally qualify. My question is, who is surprised if someone not generally considered a good risk takes out a loan and then doesn't pay it back?</div><div><br /></div><div>The author, Peter Schweizer, posted an excellent overview of the book on the <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/10/024756.php">Power Line blog</a>. In his overview, Schweizer points out that, "The real culprits [of the housing bubble] are the social activists and their allies in Washington who pushed an activist agenda. They helped to propel us into the mortgage crisis we face today."</div><div><br /></div><div>Definitely recommended reading.</div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908780234831191740.post-85521693952914304872009-10-08T18:15:00.002-05:002009-10-08T18:15:00.323-05:00The Temperature Must Be Dropping...and demons are wearing sweaters. Why?<div><br /></div><div>Because I read an article from the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-gyllenhaal/not-fun-change_b_313722.html">Huffington Post</a> I completely agree with. Mind you, the author (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-gyllenhaal">Stephen Gyllenhaal</a>) and I may be approaching things from totally different directions, but it seems odd we both end up in the same place.</div><div><br /></div><div>The point of the article is that Mr. "Hope and Change" Obama, in fact all of the 'power brokers' at the top, have not changed at all. Big Government is still rewarding "Stupid" friends in Big Business. I can't say I'm surprised. It's one of the reasons I would like less government control and more market controls. </div><div><br /></div><div>The scary point for My. Gyllenhaal is when he finds a quote from Timothy McVeigh he agrees with. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can understand his feelings.</div>CRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564562180611871909noreply@blogger.com0