Michael Barone: Obama wants America to be Europe, but Americans don’t

by Rossputin | 6:36 am, October 19, 2009

Over at TownHall.com, the always insightful Michael Barone, who has forgotten more about politics than anyone else (except John Gizzi) will ever know, has another interesting article which lays out issue after issue on which Barack Obama has European-like views which are not just antithetical to the views of many Americans but becomeing even more so.

See Unlike Obama, Americans Reject European Model”, Michael Barone, TownHall.com, 10/19/09
http://townhall.com/columnists/MichaelBarone/2009/10/19/unlike_obama,_americans_reject_european_model?page=full&comments=true

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

When you make a (health care) deal with the devil, you’re the junior partner

by Rossputin | 2:32 am, October 19, 2009

Recent events have shown lobbyists across the health care sector the truth of Dick Armey’s axiom that “if you make a deal with the devil, you are the junior partner.”

In July, the pharmaceutical industry cut a “deal” with the White House in which the Administration promised the industry that health care “reform” won’t cost them too much (less than $80 billion), in return for the industry’s agreement to spend $150 million on ads promoting Obamacare.

“Big Pharma’s” behavior was an understandable reaction to the Washington reality, especially in this Administration, that if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. But the effect was to put on the menu every American who takes medicine.

Within a month, however, the drug industry had already received their first stab in the back, from a House bill that would allow the government to negotiate drug prices – something the “agreement” had seemed to specifically preclude. The NY Times reported in August:

“We were assured: ‘We need somebody to come in first. If you come in first, you will have a rock-solid deal,’ ” Billy Tauzin, the former Republican House member from Louisiana who now leads the pharmaceutical trade group, said Wednesday. “Who is ever going to go into a deal with the White House again if they don’t keep their word? You are just going to duke it out instead.”

Indeed. Who is ever going to go into a deal with the White House again?

How about the American Medical Association? The health insurance industry, the American Medical Association (which represents fewer than 30% of American physicians but misleadingly acts as if it truly represents “the nation’s doctors”), and various hospital groups have, until the Baucus almost-bill, tried to “work with” the Administration to tailor “reform” so that it would benefit them, regardless of how much it would cost everyone else.

The AMA thought they had a deal that any reform would be gentle on Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors. Indeed, the House bill seemed to promise a slight increase in those rates, at least for primary care physicians. No such luck once they saw what Baucus got passed. The Baucus measure includes massive cuts to Medicare payments and subsidies (which will never actually happen, just as required cuts have not happened each year since 2003). The story is the same for hospital groups which decided to support Obamacare early on, with the starry-eyed naivety of someone who has never dealt with a Chicago politician.

So another “agreement” bites the dust. Can you picture Rahm Emanuel sitting down with the industry lobbyists, crossing his fingers behind his back as he shakes hands over his “understanding” with drug makers, doctors, or hospital administrators?

And just in the past few days, we have the results of the latest Democrat betrayal. The PriceWaterhouseCoopers report which shows that the Baucus almost-bill will substantially raise health insurance premiums was commissioned by America’s Health Insurance Plans (“AHIP”), an industry lobbying organization. While the report is good ammunition against what will be a disastrously expensive government destruction of our health care system, those of us who oppose Obamacare in all its forms must not simply assume that AHIP is an ally.

Like the other medical industry groups who couldn’t resist the temptation to try to influence a government hell-bent on controlling everything, the health insurance industry sided with Obamacare, if somewhat more cautiously than the drug makers did. They even revived “Harry and Louise” who have suddenly switched sides from when the very same insurers used those very same characters to great effect to defeat Hillarycare.

The health insurers thought that government would force millions of young, healthy people (i.e. extremely profitable people to sell health insurance to) into their arms like so many herring being caught up in a giant net. That didn’t happen either in the Baucus bill, and the penalties being proposed for not having insurance are too low for the industry to believe they will effectively force people into insurance they don’t want or can’t afford. Apparently the insurers missed the fact that government is made up of politicians who can ill afford to alienate every young healthy voter in America.

In other words, AHIP released the PWC report not because they thought the Baucus bill was bad for medicine or for Americans, but because it wasn’t sufficiently coercive and because they thought they had a deal. And they did…Chicago style. Yes, the PWC information is useful for those who oppose Obamacare, that does not mean we should confuse AHIP with a friend of economic liberty or even a friend of the best possible health care system. If it were up to them, everyone would be forced to buy their product whether it was wanted or not, and at almost any price.

Really, who can blame them? If Obamalosireidcus is going to force insurance companies to take people with pre-existing conditions without charging them more and limit how much more the companies can charge old people versus young people (even though old people have much greater risk of expensive health problems), the insurance companies see two possible outcomes: Premiums rising well beyond what makes sense for the average healthy young or almost-young person to spend, leading to further “adverse selection”, i.e. healthy people dropping coverage, and continuing in a rising premium death spiral for health insurance. Or the government forcing young healthy people into the “pool” to “spread the risk”, forcing them to subsidize health care for old or sick people…with premiums still rising, just not quite as fast. Of course the health insurance industry wants an “individual mandate!”

Imagine how much auto insurance would cost if people were allowed to buy it just after getting into an accident. That’s what Obama wants to do with health care. Effectively, he wants to force people who don’t drive to buy expensive car insurance and subsidize the losses that the insurers will take by paying claims for accidents which happened before the accident-causing driver was even insured. It is economically and politically unsustainable, not least because it’s bad for both young adults and old adults, all of whom happen to have the right to vote.

Indeed, Obamacare is only good for two groups: the very small minority of chronically sick people who can’t currently get health insurance (but do we need to destroy the whole system to help them find an answer?), and (particularly if there is a public option) unions who hope to dump their health care costs on government, leaving them free to take the money they had saved for their members’ and retirees’ medical bills and spend it on getting Democrats elected. Any wonder why Democrats are so desperate to get this passed, given the rapid shift in the political tide against them in the past few months?

With this Administration, even the unions can’t be sure they have a deal – luckily for the rest of us. That said, when it comes to Armey’s axiom, in a deal between the Obama Administration and Big Labor, it’s hard to know who is the junior partner.

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Take the moral high ground in health care debate

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, October 19, 2009

Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute makes the case to “capturing the moral high ground” in the health care debate: Why Only Private Health Care is Moral. He gave this talk at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on September 19, 2009.
Part 1:

My notes on part 1: Brook discusses how those in [...]

KRCX Seng Center 10/15 Pt. 3 – Socialist Debate Second Half

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 8:00 pm, October 18, 2009

Part Three of our 10/15 special edition Seng Center, featuring the second half of our healthcare debate with socialist student Corey Holton. This is the second half of our debate, which focuses on the role of government in healthcare and whether or not we should switch over to a socialized healthcare system.

Direct Link
48.35 MB Download

Comments are more than welcome! E-mailed Jimmy at Jimmy@SengCenter.com or post on the site! As always, please be respectful in your remarks.

Tune in LIVE to Seng Center every Thursday night from 6-8pm MTN online at krcx.org, official website of KRCX 93.9 Regis University.

KRCX Seng Center 10/15 Pt. 2 – Socialist Debate First Half

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 8:00 pm, October 18, 2009

Part Two of a special edition Seng Center, featuring the first half of our healthcare debate with socialist student Corey Holton. This is the first half of our debate, which focuses on the role ofthe market in healthcare and whether or not we should look to it before government to solve our healthcare woes.

Direct Link
42.97 MB Download

Comments are more than welcome! E-mailed Jimmy at Jimmy@SengCenter.com or post on the site! As always, please be respectful in your remarks.

Tune in LIVE to Seng Center every Thursday night from 6-8pm MTN online at krcx.org, official website of KRCX 93.9 Regis University.

KRCX Seng Center 10/15 Pt. 1 – Exclusive with Dan Maes, GOP gubernatorial candidate

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 8:00 pm, October 18, 2009

Part One of a special edition 10/15 Seng Center, featuring our exclusive interview with Dan Maes, Republican candidate for Governor, recorded over the summer. For more information about Maes and to get involved in his campaign, visit him on the web at www.DanMaes.com.

Direct Link
49.05 MB Download

Comments are more than welcome! E-mailed Jimmy at Jimmy@SengCenter.com or post on the site! As always, please be respectful in your remarks.

Tune in LIVE to Seng Center every Thursday night from 6-8pm MTN online at krcx.org, official website of KRCX 93.9 Regis University.

Not Evil Just Wrong World PREMIERE!

by admin | 4:35 pm, October 18, 2009

**Update: Parents Face Felony Charges, Sheriff: “Hoax”; Family of Balloon Boy to Face Charges

by elpresidente | 2:29 pm, October 18, 2009

Parents’ story deflated: Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden–”It has been a hoax. It was a publicity stunt done with hopes of better maneuvering themselves for a reality TV show.” The charges: Richard Heene and his wife Mayumi are under investigation for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, attempt to influence a public official and [...]

A stimulus plan that works: No corporate taxes.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 9:52 am, October 18, 2009

Fortune 500 company DaVita is relocating from El Segundo, California, to Denver. According to the Denver Post article “Dialysis giant Davita zeroing in on Colorado site:”

Kent Thiry, DaVita’s chief executive, has said metro Denver’s central location, lower costs and desirability as a place to live factored into the company’s decision.

A “necessary lubricant,” Thiry said, is a new state income tax credit of 3.8 percent for up to five years to companies if they select Colorado over competitors and create at least 20 jobs.

An even more effective lubricant would be a state income tax credit of 100 percent for up to forever. Fewer taxes equal more jobs.

Leftists have mocked the Laffer Curve and what they derisively call “trickle down economics” for decades. When they do so, they demonstrate palpable ignorance. They might as well mock gravity. Indeed, they would, if it conflicted with their utopian vision of “fairness.”

California’s current state of economic disarray is a direct result of the implementation of leftist’s utopian vision. Their belief that government employed social engineers are better equipped to fairly distribute the fruits of production is demonstrably wrong.

When confronted with the facts, the leftist will reply that the social engineers didn’t quite get it right that time, but next time they will. Their faith in the government nearly surpasses the faith most Christians have in Jesus.

It only makes sense, then, that Obama is the left’s Newest Messiah.

Medical tourism on a cruise ship?

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, October 18, 2009

The following video is based on a new novel called Universal Coverage, by Daniel Putkowski. That is, it’s not real. However, medical tourism on a cruise ship is an interesting possible consequence of increased government control over our medical care and insurance. It’s sort of the medical version of Seasteading, started by Patri Friedman.

Here’s some [...]

Karen Morgan’s 15 Minutes of Colorado Political Fame: “Where’s Scott?”

by Ben DeGrow | 4:49 pm, October 17, 2009

The legend of gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis’ bizarre absences grow with a no-show at last Saturday’s North Suburban Republican Forum, reports the Colorado Statesman.
Okay, I know the absence itself isn’t really newsworthy. It’s the front-page photo taken by the Statesman’s Jason Kosena of Republican House District 27 area coordinator Karen Morgan (and mother of my [...]

Lech Walesa: Redneck racist.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 1:12 pm, October 17, 2009

According to the Associated Press

World leaders have reacted positively to Obama’s Nobel in most cases, the committee said, with much of the criticism coming from the media and Obama’s political rivals.

Perhaps. But Lech Walesa would not fall into either category. He said, “So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far.”

Walesa must be another racist, guntoting redneck. What other grounds exist for criticizing Obama?

The evils of capitalism.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 10:27 am, October 17, 2009

The evil free market, along with the even more evil Wal-mart, are responsible for cheaper books.

Stop the Leviathan.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 9:56 am, October 17, 2009

Aurora voters get to vote on whether or not their property taxes should be raised. Supporters of the measure say the money is necessary to keep libraries open.

This is not correct.

The government of Aurora has scapegoated libraries. The local government made a decision to cut library funding specifically because many have a visceral reaction to the thought of shuttering libraries. The government could have chosen some other, less glamorous government service to cut that no one would have really cared about.

Today’s Denver Post’s headline is simply wrong and falls for the very trap set by the pro-tax lobby.

The newsprint version reads “Aurorans’ choice: Hike tax or shut 4 libraries.” That is not the choice. The real choice Aurorans face is: “Hike tax or not.”

It’s the local government’s job to decide what to do with the tax revenue it receives. They do not have to close those libraries.

For more, see Save Aurora Homes.

===========

Today’s Denver Post article on Aurora ballot measure 4A, which would raise property taxes, includes this paragraph:

On a recent day, patrons at the Mission Viejo library were reading books, newspapers and searching the internet.

The article does not include this paragraph:

On a recent day, a 72 year old widow was sitting at her kitchen table, trying to figure out how to pay her electric bill on a fixed income.

If 4A passes, that widow’s life becomes that much harder. But some kid will be able to surf the net.

That’s your choice.

What’s more effective?

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 9:40 am, October 17, 2009

Ted Pascoe is protesting the loss of funding for a homeless shelter he runs. No doubt, he does good work. He helps those that need it.

Tina Griego of the Denver Post writes about his protest in her Saturday column, “Call Pascoe’s protest homelessness light.” His protest includes living outside, as if her were homeless, for a month.

Instead of living outside for a month, I wonder how much money he could have raised making phone calls for a month and asking for donations.

Open space trails: user fees & sponsorship, not taxes

by Brian T. Schwartz | 8:46 am, October 17, 2009

In response to the proposal to charge non-Boulder County residents a user fee for using trails, the Daily Camera published the following in the October 17 2009 edition:
User fees — I call them a good start. Government should not force people to fund open space if they do not use …

Libel and Slander on Rush Traced to NYC Lawfirm

by Mr. Bob | 2:52 pm, October 16, 2009

#tcot #teaparty #limbaugh #rush
PATTERSON, BELKNAPP, WEBB & TYLER LLP is apparently the source of the libel aimed at Rush Limbaugh. Let’s hope Rush takes it to the next level and that firm loses a lot of business. If you care to contact them and let them know how you feel about what someone there has done (be respectful, it may be a rogue employee) here is their email page.

American Thinker has the story

a forensic data retrieval technician should surely be able to narrow the focus and identify the likely poster. Perhaps Rush can enlist the aid of PBWT alumni, Rudy Giuliani, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau or firm partner, Edward F. Cox, (son-in-law of former President, Richard M. Nixon) in his search for justice.

There is no question that Mr. Limbaugh has been damaged by the salacious quotes added to his Wikipedia profile and their dissemination in the PC-stream media. Hope this helps Rush.

Not Funny Friday – Communist Primer (video)

by Mr. Bob | 12:49 pm, October 16, 2009

#tcot #che #revolution #socialism #china #teaparty
prim⋅er
1 /ˈprɪmər or, especially Brit., ˈpraɪmər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [prim-er or, especially Brit., prahy-mer] any book of elementary principles

Beck today has a Communist Revolutionary Primer for those public school students who never learned about who Mao Tse-Tung, Fidel Castro were (and are). Glenn gives facts you need to know but may not have been taught. I went to high school in the late 70′s early 80′s and had a HISTORY teacher who said communism was “just another form of government” on the same level as our own….so this is not new for revolutionaries to be among us. I learned about what communism was from my mom (who is a Democrat). Lack of education allows enemies of this country to succeed.

One Child, One Vote: “Strong Families” or Vote Farms?

by T.L. James | 11:12 am, October 16, 2009

Via a (barely-literate) Facebook comment this morning, I discovered 1Child1Vote (aka onechildonevote.org). The organization’s focus is, as the title suggests, “one child, one vote” – voting rights for all U.S. citizens, regardless of age. And they do mean “regardless of age” quite literally. The very moment a child is born on United States soil, he [...]

I Got’s a Peace Prize – Crowder Comedy

by Mr. Bob | 11:10 am, October 16, 2009

Friday Funnies. #tcot #ppc #teaparty #nobel
On a side note, Beck had a hilarious skit this morning about 2 kittens being stuck in a box kite.

Update 4: Raw home video of yesterday’s balloon launch!;Update 3: Boy Admits “We did this for a show”; Update 2: Boy found in his home; Update: Balloon lands, no sign of child; Breaking Drama in Colorado’s Skies: Boy, 6, stuck in “Flying Saucer” Hot Air balloon

by elpresidente | 10:42 am, October 16, 2009

**Breaking News Coverage** **Case referred to child protection services; audio of family’s 911 call **RAW VIDEO OF LAUNCH** Heene family releases home video of yesterday’s launch, father appears to flip out, countdown to launch heard (h/t Complete Colorado) Hot Air has a roundup of links on the probable hoax angle–family shopping a reality show; family [...]

Post-claims underwriting no justification for government health plan

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, October 16, 2009

If you internet service provider violated the contract you made with them by canceled your policy (say you’re hogging bandwidth) is that a reason for government to create a tax-funded “public internet service provider”? Of course not. The ISP in this case has violated its contractual agreement to a customer, and the purpose of government [...]

Strong Fundraising by GOP Treasurer Hopefuls: Race On to Oust Kennedy

by Ben DeGrow | 11:50 pm, October 15, 2009

As Rocky Mountain Right already has reported, Republican Walker Stapleton for the second straight quarter outraised incumbent Democrat state treasurer Cary Kennedy — narrowly this time, by a margin of $106,000 to $103,000.
Stapleton points out in his press release that he is “the first candidate for Colorado State Treasurer ever to raise more than [...]

Al Sharpton’s Corporate Sponsors – funded Rush Bash

by Mr. Bob | 4:17 pm, October 15, 2009

#tcot #redco #sharpton #teaparty #rush
Source; National Legal and Policy Center

Al Sharpton’s platform for his assault on Rush Limbaugh’s NFL ownership bid was the National Action Network (NAN), which is bankrolled by corporate America.

The following companies were identified this year by NAN as “sponsors”: American Honda, Anheuser Busch, Colgate-Palmolive, Comcast, Entergy, Ford Motor Company, Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Macy’s, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Wal-Mart. Sponsorship reportedly cost $50,000.

NLPC is asking these companies to end their support for Sharpton and NAN. Here’s how to contact them: CLICK HERE

Sharpton and his corporate enablers will only be able to enforce racial double-standards as long as we let them. Contact these companies now. Please let us know what response you get and/or if you find better contact info.

Sharpton Should Shut Up About Rush Limbaugh NFL Owner Bid

Did Colgate-Palmolive Accept Sharpton Award — or Not?

Sharpton Fined $285K by FEC as Result of NLPC Complaint

New NLPC Special Report Exposes the Real Al Sharpton

Brian Campbell Responds to Ryan Frazier’s CD7 Entry

by elpresidente | 2:34 pm, October 15, 2009

Brian T. Campbell, already a declared CD7 opponent to Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D), released the following to the press: The Committee to Elect Brian T Campbell, Sr. PO Box 972 Arvada, CO 80001 CAMPBELL FOR CONGRESS ‘A Taste of Common Sense’ www.BrianTCampbellSr.com campbellforcongress@gmail.com October 14, 2009 5:30 am FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Campbell for Congress [...]

Responsible Health Care Reform

by Mr. Bob | 12:59 pm, October 15, 2009

#tcot #redco #obamacare #caldara

Great new video by the Independence Institute explaining why Government run businesses run out of money (your money)

NRCC Recruits Frazier to CD7

by elpresidente | 12:05 pm, October 15, 2009

According to Politico: Aurora city councilman Ryan Frazier generated buzz among Colorado Republican party activists as an African-American Republican star in the making, but his Senate campaign never took off. Now he’s switching gears, announcing today that he’s running for the House seat currently held by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.). Frazier brings a strong resume [...]

SouthPark ACORN Episode

by Mr. Bob | 12:00 pm, October 15, 2009

#tcot #redco #breitbart #bighollywood #southpark
ACORN now immortalized by SouthPark.

Ryan Frazier Drops Senate Bid; Will Challenge Ed Perlmutter in CO-7

by Night Twister | 11:00 am, October 15, 2009

Update: Mount Virtus, People’s Press Collective, and Rocky Mountain Right weigh in on this story.
I was part of a conference call last night hosted by Laura Goode, spokeswoman for Ryan Frazier. Ben Degrow and T.L. James were also on the call. Goode immediately confirmed the rumors that Frazier was dropping out of the [...]

Democrat Speech Writer learns about the real world

by Mr. Bob | 10:07 am, October 15, 2009

#tcot #healthcare #teaparty #redco
Hat tip to Keith Peterson

She had to move to Massachusetts…when she didn’t have private insurance so found out first hand just how well the system she’d been promoting actually works. She asks a good question which I’ll answer here.

How could all of these weeks and months go by and no one is examining and talking about what has worked and what hasn’t worked in Massachusetts?

Answer; Because the Progressives are not interested in getting something that works, they are interested in getting control of this part of the economy. (see my Reagan Video from yesterday) She goes on;

While the state has the lowest rate of uninsured, a report by the Commonwealth Fund states that Massachusetts has the highest premiums in the country. The state’s budget is a mess and lawmakers had to make deep cuts in services and increase the sales tax to close gaps. The number of people needing assistance has at times overwhelmed the state. The mandate means that some people who can’t afford insurance are now being slapped with a fine they also can’t afford. There is no “public option” in the way the president describes it, no inter-state competition, no pool for small businesses and self-employed individuals like me to buy into groups that negotiate cheaper rates.…..

What makes this a double blow is that my experience contradicts so much of what I wrote for political leaders over the last decade. That’s a terrible feeling, too. I typed line after line that said everything Massachusetts did would make health insurance more affordable. If I had a dollar for every time I typed, “universal coverage will lower premiums,” I could pay for my own health care at Massachusetts rates.

Right now, the truth is if I could buy my health plan from D.C., then I would. If I could buy into a public option, co-op, or trigger plan, whatever they want to call it, then I would. If I qualified for the new exchange, then I’d get into that, too… READ THE ARTICLE HERE

To liberals who believe the government should be fixing things let me splain something…NOTHING is free…nothing. Eventually you run out of other people’s money.

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