Circle City Pundit.com

Hostettler For Senate

2009-12-03T12:43:00.000-05:00

Corydon Tea Party

2009-11-16T11:30:00.002-05:00

Saturday, November 11th was no only a day to celebrate Veterans throughout the nation, down in Corydon it was a day to celebrate the history of this nation and to protest our current situation.

As the Harrison County GOP reports:

Corydon played host on Saturday to a Tea Party, held on the square on the grounds of the First State Capitol.

It was a beautiful day and between 550 and 600 people turned out to hear a variety of speakers talk about issues facing America, including the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the right-to-life, health care, cap-and-trade, bailouts, and other topics.

Patriot Paul, of Indianapolis Tea Party fame, read the Declaration of Independence.

More coverage from The Corydon Democrat and The Louisville Courier-Journal. Special thanks to the Harrison County GOP and Scott Fluhr for the photo at left.

A question

2009-10-18T01:26:00.001-04:00

Our taxes, whether it's income, sales or property; federal, state or
local, keep going up.

Yet we seem to be getting no proportional increase in services. In
fact, if you look at the core functions of government - security
through the military and police, fire, foreign policy, roads, sewers,
etc. - those services appear to be decreasing in effectiveness.

So we pay more to our government(s) yet we get less in services.

Where is the money going?

Is is just me

2009-10-09T09:40:00.000-04:00

Or has the Nobel Peace Prize not only jumped the shark, it jumped
every fish and aquatic mammal at Sea World San Diego?

"The Ego Has Landed."

2009-10-02T18:22:00.001-04:00

Kudos to Drudge Report for the fantastic headline.

As you know, I am probably the most knowledgable guy anywhere when it
comes to being rejected by girls. Obama's courtship of the
International Olympic Committee on behalf of Chicago (NOT the US) was
an utterly ridiculous use and waste of presidential prestige.

Which makes the IOC's rejection of Obama the equivalent of the guy
proposing to the girl on the scoreboard and big screen at an NFL game
- and being rejected. Multiplied by about 500.

Exit question: would Obama have gone to the same lengths to push an
Olympic bid for a city like New York, Los Angeles or Dallas, where
Obama cronies would not have directly benefitted?

When is Being "Objective" Not Really Being Objective?

2009-09-26T07:21:00.002-04:00

When you write angry, bitter partisan trash like Chris Worden did over at IPOPA in a piece entitled:
Horrific Census Work Death: Would Murder Surprise Anyone?

In it, Worden writes:

As you probably know by now, a U.S. Census worker was found in Big Creek, Kentucky naked and gagged, hanging from a tree with his census badge taped to his body and the word "fed" written across his chest.

The part I like is how the local authorities say they haven't ruled out suicide by Bill Sparkman, the substitute teacher and Boy Scout leader trying to earn extra cash doing door-to-door questioning in an area known for anti-government sentiment.

The Associated Press story features an intriguing suggestion that Mr. Sparkman might have inadvertently come across a marijuana harvest, but it's not clear to me how anybody would have thought the jig was up because somebody came to the door unless they were growing pot in the living room, in which case, one wonders why they would have answered.

If this case is solved, we will learn that a bunch of anti-government crazies who were whipped into a lather by right-wing radio decided they were mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

We got your message, so you can stop now. You really, really hate America.

To me, this is worse than lefties blaming the Oklahoma City bombing on conservative talk radio, mainly because Worden has attempted to position himself as some sort of reasoned pundit.

The truth is now out, and it appears Worden is no different than the raving lunatics who inhabit places like "Democratic Underground" and "DailyKos". Perhaps his writing skills are a bit bettter, but his rhetoric is unacceptable.

Because of this, I am removing all links to IPOPA from this blog and disassociating myself from IPOPA. Not that I think Worden will either notice or care, but I cannot accept that sort of immaturity.

Cawfee Tawlk

2009-09-23T16:15:00.000-04:00

Tawlk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic:

Democracies and republics eventually vote themselves out of existence.

Discuss.

Score card

2009-09-22T20:50:00.000-04:00

About that Barack Obama foreign policy:

Eastern Europe: In an effort to appease Russia, Obama reneged on a deal to base missile defense systems in Poland and Czechia, opening Eastern Europe to Russian domination and the US east coast to nuclear attack, as well as making our Eastern European friends feel betrayed.

Honduras: the Hondurans deposed a Hugo Chavez wannabe dictator in a manner that's completely legal in Honduras, with the army, the supreme court and the people acting in unison. Obama has taken action against Honduras to try to force them to take the old guy back, which has convinced said old guy to return to try to force his way back into office, creating a crisis in the process. Obama won't even let Hondurans into the US, but he will ...

Burma: let members of the murderous junta ruling Burma (Yeah, I know they want me to call it "Myanmar" now; they can bite me) into the US.

Iran: Pro-US and anti-Islamist forces are staging mass demonstrations to topple the mullahcracy from power. Obama won't lift a finger to help them, and appears to be actually helping the murderous mullahs stay in power.

I don't know that Barack Obama could do worse if he tried. Perhaps he is.

If you disasgree with that statement, fine. Tell me precisely where Barack Obama is not hurting the US with his foreign policy decisions.

Strangely appropriate

2009-09-20T21:50:00.000-04:00

After Barack Obama's recent actions concerning Poland, Czechia, Honduras, the F-22, missile defense and other defense and foreign policy actions, these words George W. Bush spoke to the Iraqi people during his 2003 State of the Union speech seen appropriate:

Your enemy is not surrounding your country, your enemy is ruling your country.

More dark clouds (or Counterdemocracy)

2009-09-10T20:03:00.001-04:00

Roger L. Simon asks whether Obama's tsar system is grounds for impeachment:

Barack Obama’s Czar System (it's "tsar," dammit! Tsar! T-S-A-R!!! -- ed.) which has recently come under scrutiny for some repellent, even paranoid, statements by his “Green Czar” Van Jones, a onetime “9-11 truther” who calls Republicans “assholes” on television – is an entirely different matter. This is directly an affair of state and seemingly an end run around the Separation of Powers. According to an article recently published at Examiner.com by Patrick McMahon, there are now thirty-one of these czars, covering areas from terrorism to domestic violence. Congress has not vetted a single one of them, as far as I know. Indeed, with only a couple of exceptions (Dennis Ross, etc.), we know who few of them are. Are others as extreme as Mr. Jones? Who knows? All we know is that they are there and that Obama (or someone) approved them. We don’t know exactly what their authority is and what they are supposed to do ultimately. They are a completely new part of our Executive Branch, invented by the President and/or his advisors. Was this what the Framers intended when they created the three branches of our government with all the checks and balances?

To explain how the US executive is expected to function under the Constitution, POTUS appoints cabinet secretaries, who take their posts only upon "advice and consent" of the Senate. The legislative branch thus serves as a check on executive power.

This legislative power has been circumvented to some extent in past administrations. The best example is that of Richard Nixon, whose secretaries of state and defense were relegated to merely ministerial functions, as Nixon centralized the defense and foreign policy responsibilities under his national security advisor, Henry Kissinger. There was a definite secrecy to it, but everyone knew who Kissinger was and his activities were largely public.

Now that model is being repeated exponentially with Obama's tsar system, but with the twist that these people are being given broad authority with no legislative review or public scrutiny whatsoever. Many of the ones identified so far have been found to be incompetent, corrupt or, worst of all, anti-American.

That's right. People who hate the United States are being given power to rule the United States by Barack Obama as tsars, with no opportunity for public input or even oversight. Van Jones. John Holdren. How many more America haters has he slipped in there?

With the tsars, even if the Republicans take over Congress next year, their power of oversight will be limited. The cabinet secretaries will be largely figureheads (see, e.g. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton). The real power will lie in the tsars -- secret, unaccountable, and hostile to the United States. With nothing anyone can do about it.

This counterdemocracy gets worse. While the tsars evade congressional oversight, Obama's old group ACORN is being given large powers over the census -- and vote fraud, in which it has been proven adept in the past. Efforts at removing Obama and his supporters from office could be hamstrung by ACORN's vote fraud.

There is also the Service Employees International Union, which in support of Obama's agenda makes no effort at hiding its willingness to practice physical intimidation and even assault of opponents of Obama. SEIU is a latter-day SA.

Examined as a whole, these appear to be elements of a concerted effort to prevent the American people from having any say over the activities of the Obama administration. And to keep it that way.

Is that grounds for impeachment?

September 12th, 2009 - Will you be there?

2009-09-10T16:56:00.000-04:00

Where Is The Libertarian Party Money?

2009-09-10T16:40:00.003-04:00

It appears that George Phillies who writes for the libertarian website, Nolan Chart is questioning Bob Barr's LP campaign for the U.S. Presidency and slams the 2008 campaign as mere 'illusion'. He goes so far as to say:

"In my opinion, one is led toward the conclusion that the Barr campaign was effectively a scheme to transfer money from Libertarian donors to Barr's Republican cronies and a few libertarian hangers-on," and cited

"LNC Chair William Redpath, who boasted of recruiting Barr as our nominee." The other nominees were 'an uninspiring lot', yet Barr raised a record of almost 1.5 million, yet "his campaign ended owing various people and groups nearly $200,000."

So where did all the money go? According to FEC reporting:

"Only 4% for public outreach and advertising? Can that be right? Here's a list, taken from the Barr 2008 FEC filings, of everything that appears to be public outreach:

Signs by Tomorrow Signs $17,338
Bumper stickers and promotional items $9984
NewsMax $6250
Commercial Signs $2994
Dr Don's Buttons $1262
Zazzle.com T-Shirts $1195
Charleston Gazette $1001
Google Ads $797
B&P Promotions $657
Equipity.com Book Publishing $12,619

This list is being generous. $12,000 to a book publisher to print a vanity press book gets you little traction. Bumper stickers and campaign literature that didn't mention the party name gets the party no push upwards. I am assured that the lawn signs were in fair part sold to supporters.

Campaign travel is useful if it draws press. Travel and events cost a quarter of a million dollars. Barr did go to New Hampshire; the statewide Libertarian candidates were not told where he was going.

For purposes of comparison, note that the Boston Tea Party presidential campaign spent $328, almost half as much. for Google ads, but they only needed to cover fewer states. $328 was a much larger percentage of their campaign budget.

Barr also paid people. The people at the top end were Liberty Strategies Contract Services $62,500 (Bob Barr's firm), Doug Bandow $52,644, Shane Cory $42,000, James Bovard (authoring) $30,000, Robert Stuber Fundraising consultant $24,000, Steve Sinton Field Consulting $20,000, Andrew MacPherson $16,074, Russ Verney (campaign manager) $14,388, Mike Ferguson $13,812 (Ferguson has now become a Republican), Stephen Gordon Field Consulting $12,858, and Ashley Petty (field consulting) $11,475. Those numbers do not include the $47,000 James Bovard is still owed for authoring.

The Real Estate Rent had as lead items The Paces Foundation, Inc Rent and Utilities $55,769, Post Corporate Apartments $33302, and Lisa Franzman $13757. The large electronic items were Terra Eclipse (IT and Transaction Fees) $68,645, Thru Tech (IT and office equipment) $36,486, Campaigner Pro software $14,243, and RackSpace IT $6370."

I'm sure many, including yours truly, who contributed to the LP's Bob Barr, despite the impossible odds of winning, did so because of principle. With third party alternatives such as the Constitution Party, Green Party, and independents despondent over the traditional two party system, it could have been a dynamic year for the LP to elevate itself in a otherwise perfect storm of national discontent. But if libertarian Phillies is correct, no amount of money bombs or nationally recognized candidate will make any difference if donations are spent ineffectively.

--Patriot Paul

Massive Tea Party Smacks Politicians (with original pics)

2009-09-10T16:28:00.003-04:00

Labor Day weekend saw multiple tea party rallies around the nation, including the largest to date in the Midwest held in West Chester, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. The sheriff's statistics were 18,000, held at the Voice of America (VOA) museum grounds and organized in large part by the Cincinnati Tea Party and Dayton Tea Party, 912 project members, the Ohio Liberty Council and other contributors. It was the largest on record for any town hall which was attended by four politicians; all Republicans: Mike Turner, Jean Schmidt, John Kasich, and John Boehner.

A startling event was a guy who para sailed with a giant U.S. flag as eighteen thousand put their hand on their heart, looked into the sky, and said the pledge of allegiance.

No criticism was spared by the crowd toward these politicians. While they appeared in casual clothes and tried to endear themselves as just ordinary 'we feel your pain' speakers, it became evident it was not working. Among the revelations was Jean Schmidt, Ohio 2nd district Congresswoman, who repeated that ultimate authority resided in the courts. This drew boos from the crowd who felt authority was in the people and the Constitution, but she held to her statement.

Another eruption took place when yours truly asked this question to representative Mike Turner: "Have you voted for any bills which you have not completely read, line by line?" Dancing around the question, the moderator restated it, with a response some bills were not important and he could not read each of them. Many showed their thumbs down and booed.

The message was clear. Republicans portrayed themselves as part of the problem, and citizens were quick to call them into account. As John Boehner indicated, he has never seen anything like this. The Cincinnati Enquirer picks up the story.

Video here.

--Patriot Paul

"Patriot Paul" Wheeler Makes the News

2009-09-10T16:25:00.001-04:00

From the "Society of Professional Journalists" webpage:

Locals rally against health care reform

By Julieta Chiquillo / Photos by Nikki Villoria The sound of car horns blasted through the Saturday morning lull in Indianapolis as drivers showed support for more than 40-50 protesters opposing President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan.

Signs reading “Government-run health care makes me sick” and “No Obama Care” were raised over the heads of several protesters, including children, who rallied at the corner of West Washington Street and North Capitol Avenue.

The protesters didn’t learn about the SPJ national convention until Saturday, said Laurie Carlson of Indianapolis. Her group convened at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to protest a Democratic Party-affiliated group touring several cities to rally support for Obama’s proposed government-run insurance plan.

Web sites said the group is scheduled to visit Indianapolis on Monday.

Working journalists from various outlets, including The Indianapolis Star, had interviewed some of the protesters Saturday, Carlson said.

“We’re here today to let Indianapolis know that we’re concerned about the possibility that his health care bill will be passed,” said Glenda Reber of Indianapolis. She wore a shirt that read “Don’t Tread on Me.”

Paul Wheeler, of Indianapolis, said lawmakers were stomping on citizens’ rights.

“We will continue to come out until the last snake legislator has to slither over our cold, smoldering bodies,” said Wheeler, who wore a Colonial-period outfit.

On the sidewalks outside the Indiana Capitol, protestors gathered Saturday to demonstrate their objection to President Barack Obama's health care plans.

He said the founding fathers would roll over in their graves if they knew the government was mandating citizens’ health care.

Obama’s proposal raises several concerns, Reber said, like affordability and excessive government power.

VIDEO: Healthcare Protest in Indianapolis

2009-09-08T19:59:00.000-04:00

Can "V.E.T.O." Really Work?

2009-09-08T19:53:00.002-04:00

Independent Political Report carries the interview from Front Page Mag. with Wayne Allyn Root, the 2008 Libertarian nominee for for Vice President and potential Presidential candidate for 2012. V.E.TO. stands for "Vote Everyone of Them Out". He refers to Incumbents who have made themselves, instead of citizens, the center of their universe. Citing a litany of grievances and touting his book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts”, Root gives an example in this question & answer:

His ultimate answer: "I believe it will take a third party coalition of Conservatives and free market, limited government Libertarians to take back America."

But wait a moment. To build a movement of Conservative-Libertarian ideals to return America to her founding virtues, would require a new thinking in both camps. Seems like for the sake of unity, this was attempted once and Bob Barr rejected the notion of compromise as diluting the principles of Libertarianism. In fact, to repair the schism among libertarians themselves, and yes even conservatives, would be like rebuilding two bridges broken in a variety of places in order to get all the cars back on the highway. Root refers to his book for details on how this is to be done, and one wonders if it's really possible, even practical. Forget the purists trying to compromise their beliefs for a watered down all for one and one for all. The litmus test for the Ls is a guarantee not to use force to effect social or political change, and the conservatives may be asking about the dearly held right to life issue.

Realizing the disenfranchisement of the American voter, Root wishes to seize upon an ever increasing independent movement, stating : "A recent Gallop Poll shows that conservatives form a majority in all 50 states. This is the Libertarian-Conservative limited government coalition that I plan to build to become the Ross Perot of 2012."

"FP: What is the classic story you tell in your book and on your many FOX News Channel appearances about the failure of government?

Root: In Nevada we have a unique approach to sin- legalize it, regulate it, and tax it. That gives the citizens personal freedom, and more importantly, relieves the burden on taxpayers. We have legalized gambling and legal brothels."

Can this really work? Don't expect conservatives to flock to a new America, based on legalizing some big don'ts we have, especially telling conservatives to legalize drugs, gambling, brothels, and whatever other sins are on the libertarian hit list. These are too many bridges to fix at one time for a broken down infrastructure, and I fear too many principles forsaken for the sake of unity. Voting out every incumbent..ok. But what are we really voting in its stead? We just went through an anti-Bush vote and look what we got. And I don't want to read a book to tell me how to do it better, especially if it means capitalizing on the legalization of our baser side and asking conservatives to legalize prostitutes. Libertarians already suffer for this stigma as nearly a cornerstone that underscores its more extreme side (though they regard it as a badge of honor), and look for a new schism if he intends to carry any conservatives into the next LP. convention. And this is something new?

Patriot Paul

About Obama's "czars"

2009-09-04T21:38:00.000-04:00

Let it never be said that we don't tackle the really tough issues
here ...

There has been much talk lately about Obama's extraconstitutional
"czars" - "auto czar," "green jobs czar," etc. - free their avoidance
of congressional confirmation or oversight whatsoever.

(Sort of like Emperor Palpatine appointing regional governors to take
the place of the Galactic Senate, not that Obama is anywhere near as
cool as Palpatine, Vader and the rest of the Imperials, but I
digress ...)

The latest example, of course, is the vile "green jobs czar" Van
Jones, not that there aren't plenty of even more vile members of the
current administration.

But - and I say this as one of Polish ancestry - the real problem is
this: "czar" is the Polish spelling of a Russian title, which is
itself based on the ancient Roman name and later title "caesar."

Going back to the term "czar," shouldn't we, instead of using the
Polish spelling of a Russian title, use the Russian spelling?

In other words, shouldn't all these unaccountable Obama "czars"
actually be "tsars?"

Senator Bayh: Why Are You Hiding?

2009-09-03T18:24:00.001-04:00

Cush Jobs and Abuse Threaten Citizens

2009-08-31T21:33:00.003-04:00

"Based on current projections, by 2011 the U.S. prison population will increase by 13% – which is triple the growth of the entire population as a whole – to more than 1.7 million . Supporting that increase in incarcerated people will cost American taxpayers and local/state budgets an estimated $27.5 billion. At that time, another 4 million people will also be on probation or parole." according to www.jailovercrowding.com.

Jail and Prison Overcrowding Statistics:

* Each year, over 600,000 people are admitted to state and federal prisons, and over 10 million are incarcerated in local jails

* Adding prison, jail, and probation populations together, the U.S. corrections population exceeds 7 million people – or 1 in every 32 U.S. adults

* Approximately 40% of offenders committing technical violations of parole conditions are sent back to jail – taking up valuable space that could be better used for those committing more serious crimes

* The average annual operating cost per state was $23,876 − or $65.41/day

* Among facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, it was $23,429 per inmate − or $64.19/day

* By 2011, the Western U.S. states will experience the greatest prison population increases (18%), while the Northeast will experience the lowest (7%)

* Jails populations are rising at a higher rate than prison populations, and the number of people in jails has doubled since 1990

Sources:
“Public Safety, Public Spending” (2008), The Pew Charitable Trusts
“Prisoners in 2007” (2008), Bureau of Justice Statistics
“Jailing Communities” (2008), Justice Policy Institute

The National Conference of State Legislatures has issued a July '09 statement regarding "Earned time polices for State Prisoners"

It cites one example of a Kansas poll which saw 80% of respondents wanted their tax money spent on re-entry education as opposed to longer incarceration time.

But former inmates find themselves returning to prison. According to The NY Times:

"The most pervasive cost-saving trend among corrections departments has been to look closely at parole systems, in which it is no longer cost-effective to monitor released inmates, largely because too many violate their terms, often on technicalities, and end up back in prison."

Pew reports:

"Vera’s report, The Fiscal Crisis in Corrections: Rethinking Policies and Practices, reviews enacted FY2010 corrections budgets and recent state legislation. It finds that 22 state departments of corrections (of 33 that had enacted state budgets at the time of printing) experienced budget reductions and details how they have absorbed the cuts."With 7.3 million Americans in prison, on parole or under probation, states spent $47 billion in 2008, the study said."

Indiana has 1 in 31 people behind bars or on probation. It took 5.3% of the general fund in 2008 and we spent nearly $700 million for offenders. Translated, that is for each $1.00 spent on prisons, there were 2 pennies spent on parole.

In July, 2006 "Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson said they decided to act after overcrowding at the county jail led to the early release last month of 477 inmates -- the second-largest total in six years." Marion County officials will spend $1.5 million to rent 200 beds at a privately run lockup to alleviate long-running overcrowding at the Marion County Jail.

"The overcrowding problem has resulted in the early release of hundreds of inmates." The jail was to spend 1.5 million for extra beds. "The Marion County Jail has repeatedly exceeded a mandatory population cap of 1,135 as inmates wait for their cases to move through the justice system.", according to AP.

Three years before that:

"Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson is meeting with a federal judge Wednesday to discuss overcrowding at the county jail. U.S. District Judge Sarah Barker will decide whether to hold Anderson in contempt for violating a court order limiting the number of inmates at the jail."

In 2003, Channel 6 reported: "Two inmates testified in court about conditions at the jail. They said prisoners get inadequate medical attention and often have to sleep on metal tables or on floors within "splashing distance" from urinals.

Officials with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union have been pushing the issue, Jenkins reported. "It's a horrific place. It's extremely dangerous and it's extremely dirty," ICLU lawyer Ken Falk said."

In October,'06, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz wrote on Indiana Barrister that prior to an election the politicization within a council meeting: "With a week to go before the election, City-County Council Democrats are asking their lawyers to see if sanctions can be filed against elected officials they say either gave false testimony this past summer regarding jail overcrowding or failed to do their jobs regarding the budget."

It has gotten so bad in California,:"

a three-judge federal panel, which this month ordered California to release 40,000 adult prisoners within the next two years, calling poor health care and overcrowded conditions a violation of inmates' constitutional rights.

The Division of Juvenile Justice, which operates under the larger adult corrections department, is laboring under a separate court-ordered reform plan prompted by a 2003 lawsuit alleging inhumane conditions. As part of the settlement agreement, an Alameda County Superior Court judge is now monitoring progress on systemic changes aimed at transforming the state's prison-like youth institutions into therapeutic centers.

The Ca.General Assembly is trying additional ways to cut costs and "is expected, by the end of the summer session in mid-September, to take up separate bills on a commission on sentencing guidelines and on "alternative custody" measures, which would allow nonviolent, elderly offenders to move out of state prisons into house arrest."

"A panel of federal judges decreed that unless the state quickly produces a credible plan to reduce inmates by one-fourth, it would be held in contempt, with a seizure, just as judges have already done on prison health care, possible. While some politicians may like a takeover to shift the onus off themselves, judges could then order wholesale releases without any plans for alternative custody or parole and/or, as they have done with health care, order the state to spend billions of dollars it doesn't have." An op-ed in The Sacramental Bee, writes:

"Democratic senators showed backbone by ignoring Republican taunts and law enforcement criticism to pass the plan. Bass — who had agreed to it during budget negotiations — stalled as her Democrats, many of whom are running for new offices next year, balked, apparently fearing being branded as soft on crime."

A random survey of states reveals the same chronic problem: no one is going to do anything until pushed by threat of lawsuit, the lawsuit itself, or the realization that the system doesn't work and lack of money to sustain it impacts the budget to force coming to grips with a problem few wish to talk about. This is the same 'throw away the key' mentality that has thrown away citizens tax dollars into makeshift jail and prison abuse with little oversight until a complaint is registered. If truth be told, many of the correctional facilities are maintained by jailhouse work programs requiring inmates as staffing the kitchens and maintenance, with most complaints never seeing the light of day. In effect, it is a closed society where workers slave for the State masters who earn plenty of overtime to pad their job, knowing that a revolving door or inmates ensures their paycheck.

It will take bold lawmakers to shift this complex problem into meaningful reform. Perhaps the problem is not the charge that they would be viewed as soft on crime, since that is a masquerade for being soft in the head. In short, the political ineptness to correct a problem gone into warp drive has cost taxpayers dearly both in practice and in resulting lawsuits. Protectionism of status quo correctional jobs and lack of political will only steepens what is now a crisis. Perhaps we the people footing the bill and ignoring the problems have put ourselves in a financial jail, and perhaps the zoo keepers and morally challenged lawmakers should have a taste of their own jailhouse food, lack of medical attention, and jailhouse maintenance jobs for a good dose of humility, if not retribution, for their sins against the people who trusted them.

--Patriot Paul

Hey There Obama

2009-08-28T16:32:00.001-04:00

Government Tells Veterans: DROP DEAD!

2009-08-28T10:46:00.004-04:00

On the heel's of a controversial Health-Care death panel (page 424 to 434 of their 1,017-page health care reform bill under the heading: "Advance Care Planning Consultation"), it's the revelation in The Wall Street Journal of the VA.'s 52 page Death Book; a booklet put out by Big Brother steering veteran brothers and sisters toward suicide; that has emerged into weekend news shows and a new controversy into how some in the U.S. government view veterans.

Called "Your Life, Your Choices", writing in the WSJ, Jim Towey, (president of Saint Vincent College, former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives [2002-2006] and founder of the nonprofit Aging with Dignity), points out:

"For example, a worksheet on page 21 lists various scenarios and asks users to then decide whether their own life would be "not worth living." The circumstances listed include ones common among the elderly and disabled: living in a nursing home, being in a wheelchair and not being able to "shake the blues." There is a section which provocatively asks, "Have you ever heard anyone say, 'If I'm a vegetable, pull the plug'?" There also are guilt-inducing scenarios such as "I can no longer contribute to my family's well being," "I am a severe financial burden on my family" and that the vet's situation "causes severe emotional burden for my family."

Who is the primary author of this workbook? Dr. Robert Pearlman, chief of ethics evaluation for the center, a man who in 1996 advocated for physician-assisted suicide in Vacco v. Quill before the U.S. Supreme Court and is known for his support of health-care rationing. After the Bush White House took a look at how this document was treating complex health and moral issues, the VA suspended its use. Unfortunately, under President Obama, the VA has now resuscitated "Your Life, Your Choices."

The stark picture is the latest in the attempted overhaul of a Government reshaped by the Obama administration which has assembled one of the largest collection of czars and Kervorkian advisers to guide their depopulation efforts. Read for yourself the .pdf version.

Fox News Sunday ran the story twice and interviewed Sen.Arlan Specter (R,D), a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, who said 'it raises "a lot of questions" and that he would call for hearings immediately. "I think consideration ought to be given right now to suspending it pending hearings."' (video here)

--Patriot Paul

'Hands OFF My Health Care' Hits Indy (with original pics)

2009-08-27T20:09:00.001-04:00

Scores of protesters converged on White River Park in downtown Indianapolis on Tuesday morning to show their displeasure with two basic governmental efforts: Don't let the government dictate my health options and stop the Cap & Trade effort that would drive energy taxes sky high with a hot air balloon reflecting the sentiment. State Treasurer Murdock was one of several speakers. Channel 6 News picks up the story.

--Patriot Paul

All The President's Death Providers, Part 1

2009-08-26T17:43:00.003-04:00

Till Death Panel Do We Part

Charges of a 'death panel' are being bandied about by some who feel the Health-Care bill gives allowance, even encouragement, from doctors to speak to patients in preparation for their medical cost in twilight years. The government will be paying doctors to perform these consultations, so is it any wonder some doctors and health care advocates are behind this agenda for their own financial reasons?

Secondly, they would be explaining to you concepts of a 'living will' and what 'power of attorney' means. In addition to a doctor putting on his attorney hat (hmm...), he is to provide patients with alternatives to several organizations and health-care providers (which ones and who makes the list or not...another hmm...). The federal code already outlaws federal $ being spent on suicide.

Is Sarah Palin correct when she wrote on her Facebook page:

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."

Undeterred by criticism, she writes again:

“Section 1233 authorizes advanced care planning consultations for senior citizens on Medicare every five years, and more often ‘if there is a significant change in the health condition of the individual ... or upon admission to a skilled nursing facility, a long-term care facility... or a hospice program.’"

Backers include the American Medical Association, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Consumers Union.

A shocking YouTube video by Rep. Michele Bachmann shows the atrocious mentality of the President's backers to the Health-Care plan in matters of selective discrimination.

As Adam Brickley points out:

"Bachmann was talking about two specific points: First, she noted that Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a key health adviser in the Obama administration and the brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, has indeed supported denying care to the elderly and disabled as a way of redirecting care to more able-bodied members of society.

Second, she pointed out that the administration is working to remove congressional supervision of Medicare and place it under the direction of panels in the executive branch (like the one on which Dr. Emanuel serves)."

In other words, the President's advisers are saying if you are a handicapped elderly, then resources need placed elsewhere to those who are salvageable and not quite as terminable. Short version: your time has come and its not the redcoats this time; it's the white coats coming, one death if by disabled; and another if by handicapped, for a medical parole board visit to remind you of final options. True, it's voluntary for you to listen, but mandatory of the Doctor to seek you out for this discussion.

Throwing fuel on the fire, Salon.com quotes Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa:

"There is some fear because in the House bill, there is counseling for end-of-life," Grassley told a town hall crowd. "And from that standpoint, you have every right to fear. You shouldn't have counseling at the end of life. You ought to have counseling 20 years before you're going to die. You ought to plan these things out. And I don't have any problem with things like living wills. But they ought to be done within the family. We should not have a government program that determines if you're going to pull the plug on grandma."

The National Right to Life Committee writes: "it doesn't take a lot to push a vulnerable person – perhaps unwittingly – to give up their right to life-sustaining treatment." This last statement makes a good point. If you see little hope in getting better in this lifetime, the government may not recommend your termination, but it won't stand in the way, and will proactively bring these end-of-life counseling discussions to you, and hopes you understand what is best. Not that the government would pay for a Kevorkian poisoning, but this time the doctors, paid by the government, will be a mandatory part of the discussion, normally reserved by family members.

It appears the government wants to be involved at all stages of life development; err..lack thereof, from abortion to the grave.

Q: Would the health overhaul legislation change the way people now deal with making end-of-life decisions?

A: It very well could. Supporters of the provision say the main consequence would be to formally bring doctors into a discussion that now takes place mainly among family members and lawyers. "When you execute a legal document with your lawyer, it ends up in your files and in the lawyer's files," said John Rother, a senior policy and strategy adviser for AARP. "Unless the doctor is part of this discussion, it's unlikely that your wishes will be respected. The doctor will be the one involved in any decisions."

An advocate for government death panels writes on capitolhillblue.com:

"Think of the wasted resources. We have comatose people in line for transplants, even though a new kidney, heart or lung will not reverse their fatal condition. We have brain-dead lumps of inanimate flesh wasting the most expensive, high tech, and rather rare and dear machinery, keeping those machines away from newly injured or diseased folks who could actually gain a huge benefit from their intended use. And worst of all, we keep people alive who really have no interest in more pain and suffering."

Another proponent who feels the government is pushing for a government euthanasia writes, according to msnbc:

"Still, one proponent of the euthanasia theory, Mr. Neumayr, said he saw no reason to stop making the claim. “I think a government-run plan that is administered by politicians and bureaucrats who support euthanasia is inevitably going to reflect that view,” he said, “and I don’t think that’s a crazy leap.”

In other words, we return to whether the government should be in this business at all, much less, the last years, months, and days of your life. The bad wording of the legislation and other portions of the Health-care versions of the House and Senate led to emails that shut down the House website this week. House bill.

ABC News, carries comments, even interpretations, from others regarding the section that Sarah Palin used in the House Bill, pg. 425 which is the advanced care consultation. It directs the medical provider to give the patients “a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning,” and an explanation “of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title,” as well as “an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders.”

Factcheck.org disputes this interpretation, saying “accepted definition of end-of-life planning means thinking ahead about the care you would like to receive at the end of your life -- which may include the choice to reject extraordinary measures of life support, or the choice to embrace them….the bill would not make these sessions mandatory.”

Here is the bottom line: One paragraph per se does not constitute a death panel to dictate your death, but the openness in the following pages after 425 put together a number of processes that lead to 'life sustaining' "orders" coupled with considerations of value of costs vs. care. Theoretically, can Grandma be denied a heart transplant when she also has terminal cancer? Factcheck is also semi-correct in saying these consultations are not mandatory, but a closer language look reads voluntary by the patient, but mandatory that the Doctor 'shall' make the effort and be reimbursed for it.

In a startling update:

"Key senators are excluding a provision on end-of-life care from health overhaul legislation after language in a House bill caused a furor. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement Thursday that the provision had been dropped from consideration because it could be misinterpreted or implemented incorrectly."

Isn't is strange that several pages may be headed to the shredder over something like death panels that never existed?

It appears the populists are having an affect, and representatives are hearing more than noise. Do we need the government making judgments on quality care vs. need vs. costs? Does Lady Liberty's words soliciting those less fortunate also require a governmental intervention to look after them, collectively having invited them to our shores? : "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." Does it matter whether this is a personal liberty statement or a collective 'we the people' statement?

Beyond the philosophical, it is the practical that most worries citizens. From the cry of Patrick Henry, As for me, give me liberty or give me death, it was his own decision; not that of a government where bureaucrats contrive 1000+ pages of legislation that balloon into thousands of applications for legal medical orders for your final out of body experience. Perhaps Palin's hyperbole is just what the doctor ordered for Washington, and just maybe we need to offer Palin a hat tip for the stirring the kettle. Let those legislators revoke their Cadillac plans and be the test subjects of their own creation for a few years.

--Patriot Paul

2009-08-26T16:17:00.001-04:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Question for the day

2009-08-26T14:53:00.001-04:00

Ted Kennedy is being called a "singular" figure in American politics.

Is it possible to be a "plural" figure?