Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts

Monday, September 21, 2009

OBAMA THROWS NON-SUPPORTERS UNDER THE BUS


In his latest Under the Bus Attack on our allies, Barak Obama COINCIDENTALLY on the 70th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Poland, abruptly cancelled the long-planned missile shield for Eastern Europe. The agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic, allies in our war in Iraq, cost their leaders political capital in their own countries. That doesn't matter to Obama. Russia's President Medvedev called Obama's action “a responsible move.” Of course this all comes only a few days before Obama meets with Medvedev at the United Nations and the Group of 20 economic summit. Let's make sure we support our "loyal friends and supporters."

Obama's reasoning, he says, is that Iran's nuclear capabilities were over-estimated.

Let's ignore the fact that the world's top atomic watchdog just released this report from Vienna: “Teheran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead, according to a secret report seen by The Associated Press. The document drafted by senior officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency is the clearest indication yet that the agency's leaders share Washington's views on Iran's weapon-making capabilities.”

SO WHO'S LYING? Is Obama ever going to get tired of bending over to pick up the soap in the shower? It's obviously not torture to him.

Here's another first in the Obama presidency--in fact in all presidencies. He revoked the visa of the PRESIDENT OF HONDURAS because he sides with the left-leaning outstered former president, Zelaya, who wanted to change the Honduran Constitution to eliminate term limits, a move ruled unconstitutional by the Honduran Supreme Court who also had their visas revoked. AN ATROCITY LIKE THIS, A VISA REVOCATION OF ANOTHER COUNTRY'S LEADER HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. IT IS A BADGE OF SHAME AND A DISGRACE TO OUR NATION. Cozy up to Zelaya and Chavez. Pass judgement on another country's constitution. It's an interesting insight into Obama's beliefs and not really anything he did not reveal in his campaign—but people did not see Hope and Change for what it really is in this man's mind.

A pattern emerged quite early in the Obama administration. Throw Non-Believers Under the Bus. It became obvious when Obama didn't get his way at the April 2009 G20 summit when European leaders scoffed at Obama and generally agreed that the U.S. would no longer play the dominate role it has in the past. Especially vocal, if you remember was France's Nicolas Sarcozy who cited Obama's inexperience. I guess this jolted Obama's “I have a gift” ego.

We witnessed how he treated England's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, gifting him with 25 dvds of American movie classics, incompatible, btw, with English dvd players.. He added insult to injury by gifting Queen Elizabeth with an iPod containing, among other "treasures," recordings of his speeches.. He was also complicit in neglecting to invite the Queen, the only living head of state involved and displaying for her people an example of courage during World War II, to the D-Day Anniversary Ceremonies at Normandy.

He threw Georgia under the bus when the Russians violated their sovereignty despite the fact that Georgia is a country who supported us in our Iraq efforts.

Perhaps most heinous is throwing us, the United States, under the bus by cronying up to the likes of Hugo Chavez, Castro, and other far-left, radical, anti-American leaders. He put pressure on Israel, our only real ally in the Middle East representing the only democracy in that area while he bowed to the Saudis and pledged money to repair damage caused in Gaza as Israel defended itself against daily bombing attacks in cities like Sderot.

Let's not forget the guaranteed bond holders who were called unpatriotic for actually wanting what the law guaranteed them when the car companies were appropriated by the government.
Let's not forget the seniors who will be facing government devised tables that decide when an “investment” in their health will bring a fair return on the money spent. Senator McCaskell stated yesterday that she wants to save money by denying wheelchairs and mechanized scooters.
Let's not forget the honest protesters at tea parties and town hall meetings—many who voted for Obama (to their everlasting shame)--who have been called unpatriotic.
Let's not forget people who dare to disagree are racist, branded by, among others, racist anti-Semite Jimmy Carter, two of whose books are highly recommended by that astute literary critic Osama bin Laden.
Let's not forget that dissenters are possible home-grown terrorists according to Homeland Security's Janet Napolitano, and just yesterday as proponents of violence as a teary-eyed (as much as possible with such massive amounts of botox in her face) Nancy Pelosi suggested. True, Obama doesn't comment. He could stop the madness, but it is all part of the game plan.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET FOX NEWS, especially with Obama appearing on five Sunday news programs yesterday—including on Univision (What the heck is that?) and the late night programs as well. THAT'S THROWING EVERY FOX NEWS VIEWER UNDER THE BUS. IT TELLS US WE ARE UNIMPORTANT AND THAT WE DON'T COUNT. I GUESS OBAMA IS NOT EVERYONE'S PRESIDENT, JUST HIS SUPPORTERS'.

I will keep mentioning UNDER THE BUS tactics. No doubt there will be many more.


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Saturday, August 15, 2009

WHITE HOUSE EMAILS--QUESTIONS ABOUT PRIVACY RIGHTS

JUST BEFORE I WAS READY TO POST THIS ARTICLE, I CHECKED MY HOTMAIL ACCOUNT. THERE WAS AN EMAIL FROM FRANK STELLA, AN AFT REPRESENTATIVE. HE FORWARDED TO AFT MEMBERS DAVID AXELROD'S EMAIL . WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THINK ABOUT IT.

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The flap between Major Garrett and Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs extends right into my home. Coincidentally I happened to be listening to the news conference live when Garrett asked his question. I received that day the same unsolicited email that Garrett alluded to and that Gibbs ingenuously questioned—publicly impugning Garrett’s honesty. Gibbs doubted that such a thing could happen. IT DID.

I’ve got a lot of questions, but here are a basic few:


1. How did the White House get my email address?
2. Why is the White House sending me emails? I didn’t sign up for them.
3. Since the White House cannot purge emails because of federal regulations, into what kind of “file” have I been relegated?
4. Since this email is no more than SPAM, why didn’t my hotmail filter send it immediately to Junk Mail?
5. What right has the White House using these email addresses as an advertising tool to spread propaganda? I specifically use the word propaganda because of the content of the email which I will copy and paste on this post so you can see what David Axelrod, Obama’s political advisor and sometime spokesman is up to.
6. And maybe in the bigger scheme of things, this is the most important question: Since the White House, Congress, and much of the media is complaining that the Town Hall meetings are attended by people who are organizing against healthcare (just as they said about the Tea Parties), what would they call this behavior????

If this isn’t organizing on a big scale, what is it? And unlike the websites that suggest people show up at meetings to voice their opinions an TO WHICH INDIVIDUALS GO OF THEIR OWN VOLITION, this organizational effort is unsolicited, unwanted, and at least in my case, against my will and A BASIC INVASION OF MY PRIVACY.

This tactic is being perpetrated on us by the same people who objected, as an invasion of privacy, to finding out who was checking out library books that describe, among other things, how to construct bombs. You’ve got a right to learn how to build bombs, apparently, but no right to voice your opinion if it’s not in line with the Obama administration. Gives one pause to think.
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PS LOOK AT THE SALUTATION. I AM NOT DAVID AXELROD’S FRIEND!

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Dear Friend,

This is probably one of the longest emails I’ve ever sent, but it could be the most important.

Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform. Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back — even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions.

As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, “where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed.”

So let’s start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you’ll find a lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.

Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered by what’s below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.

Thanks,
David

David Axelrod
Senior Adviser to the President

P.S. We launched www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck this week to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head on. Check it out:



8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/

8 common myths about health insurance reform
1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.
Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now
1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html
2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html
3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html
4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes
5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline
6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction
7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html
8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf





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Sunday, July 26, 2009

BARAK OBAMA--THE HALF-TRUTH PRESIDENT

As Barak Obama continues his assault on the American People regarding health care, he is beginning to show his true side, and it is desperately pathetic. So used to the unending adulation of his public, he has regressed to a whining and complaining little boy who sputters half truths in order to get his way.


In the last few days he has emphatically stated that Republicans will not go along with him because this will be his "Waterloo." He accuses them of trying to "torpedo" his plan in order to gain politically. Obama claims the Republicans want no change to health care in the country. I've heard Republicans and others suggest for years that tort reform would work on the problem of malpractice lawsuits and all the accompanying costs involved in doctors and hospitals protecting themselves. That was a big part of President George W. Bush's plan to work on health care--a plan firmly trounced by the Democats in Congress.

This issue does not appear to be addressed in the new bill. To see who stands to gain, look at people like John Edwards for whom medical malpractice was his road to millionairedom.


Additionally, Obama has totally disregarded the 57 blue dog Democrats who realize this health care plan is, at the very least, fiscally irresponsible. He never mentions dissension within his own party. The truth is there are doubters on both sides of the aisle; he tells us half the story.


Obviously, President Obama, the man who was going to bring transparency to the presidency, doesn't even want to tell us the truth.


Let's deal with the bill itself--a bill presented in such a hazy way that one would expect it will fix every problem in health care without taking away our choices, freedoms, or money (except for the rich who won't miss it anyway). Here perhaps we should be grateful for half truths because most of what we are hearing are out and out lies!


Rahm Emmanuel is still pushing for a vote before the recess, but members of Congress have not read read the bill. That's exactly what happened with the stimulus package. How can one vote intelligently without having read and digested the information? How do I know they haven't read the bill--aside from the obvious that the President wants the vote before the recess but the bill is not yet completed?


On page 389 of the proposed legislation, there are references to the "mentally retarded." Agree or not, this is now considered a politically incorrect term bringing all kinds of criticism when used in movies, etc. Yet Congress allows this wording in its bill and NO ONE has objected to the term. I guess no one read as far as page 389.


The age where there must be a determination about using aggressive procedures to fight illness is 65. You read that right. Yet the claim is that AARP supports the legislation. Why would they want to hurt their membership? Do the older supporters of Obama and his plan realize that their lives may be sacrificed in order to save younger people? Shall we call Obama the Soylent Green President?


Who makes the determination concerning aggressive care? The person suggested is the Surgeon General. Who is the Surgeon General? The President has nominated a doctor whose practice has done wonderful things for poor people. She runs clinics. She is well respected and is obviously a good woman and hopefully an excellent physician. BUT she is not associated with teaching or research hospitals. Her experience is not with the cutting edge techniques consistently being developed, and there is no way that she can be up to speed in these areas. Yet she and her staff (who selects them?) will make health care decisions for the entire country--health care decisions that should be made by the patient and his/her physician. When President Obama says CHOICE, he obviously is not talking about choice of the individual; he is talking about choice of the government. ANOTHER TWISTING OF THE TRUTH.

Speaking about sacrifice, let's look at how this kind of health care works in other areas.

Massachusetts with Mitt Romney's health care design is going broke due to the exhorbitant costs. The projected cost and the real cost had nothing in common. Waits to see doctors are long, and tests are scheduled weeks down the road.

The cancer death rates in Canada are 17% higher than in the U.S. despite a smaller population. Long wait times for tests mean long wait times for treatment. The same cancer death rate difference exists in England. Canadians who are able come to the U.S. for improved treatment.

Canadians also come here for certain appliances such as hearing aids. At a dinner in Montreal, I was discussing my digital hearing aids which are more sensitive and versatile. Canadians are offered old fashioned analog hearing aids. The ability to pay for the more expensive and more sensitive digital aids does not factor into any decision. Analog is cheaper and the government needs to take away choice in order to supply everyone equally.

When we were in Ireland in the fall of '07, we read of two health scandals in government-run health care United Kingdom. A hospital in England, in order to cut laundry costs, simply flipped the sheets when one patient left and before the next arrived. The result was a staph infection epidemic! The second scandal concerned Ireland's return to do-it-yourself dentistry by people with toothache pain so severe they couldn't suffer through the long waits to see the dentist. They resorted to many ways of removing their teeth including the old string on the doorknob game. If you find this hard to believe, don't. It is the whole truth.

The President talks about taxing only the rich to pay for this plan. He neglected to add that he is considering an excise tax on plans that go above and beyond the government sponsored plan. Here he will tax the insurance companies that offer "gold-plated" plans. That means if you or I are paying more for better coverage, our audacity will be punished. If we feel insurance is the way we wish to spend our money, we will be punished in order to pay for people who choose to spend their money in other ways--a large percentage of the uninsured are young people who do not see health insurance as a personal necessity. They will lose their right to choose as well. Do you see your liberty being threatened little by little? You should. Bye Bye "gold-plated" plans. If you were an insurance company paying extra taxes, would you continue to offer them?


As a matter of fact, bye bye insurance companies. Not today, but down the road. They will be unable to compete with government sponsored plans.



Let's deal with another problem with truth. The Franking Commission which decides when Congress-sponsored mail to constituents travels postage free, has decided that the term "government-sponsored health care" is a partisan term and disqualifies for free postage any Congressman or Senator who employs that term. The appropriate term, "public option," is to be used instead. How's that for Freedom of Speech?! How's that for issuing half truths or lies (you make the call) to the public. Keep 'em ignorant and you'll keep 'em under your thumb.


Here's an interesting lack of truthfulness. This health plan is supposedly designed to give all Americans the best of care. When an amendment was offered to insist that the President and members of Congress sign on to this plan, the amendment was not even included in the bill. The people crafting this wonderous plan all know the truth, and they are not going for it any more than we should go for it.

One last point (although I can go on) before this post gets any longer (and it could). Obama's people keep talking about 47 million uninsured. There is a saying, "Figures never lie but liers figure."

That statistic includes people who can afford insurance but choose not to have it (primarily younger people). They will be forced by law to buy insurance.

That number includes illegal immigrants in this country. Do you want your tax money to make sure the people who are here by breaking the law are supported by law to have health care while yours may very well be compromised in order to do that?

That statistic, a yearly statistic, includes anyone who does not have insurance for even one day--a person who changes jobs, for instance, or a person who opts for different coverage and there is a lag between the time when one ends and another begins.

The whole truth is that we are not getting the whole truth. But if these proposals become law, we will be giving up choices about our health, end-of-life issues, and our money. To me this means giving up freedom to which our Federal Government has no right. Technorati Tags:
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Friday, July 3, 2009

OBAMA GIVES US REASONS TO FEAR

If we are not frightened by what is going on around us in the Federal Government, we've stuck our heads so far down into the sand that ostriches have nothing on us. In fact, we may have chosen to stick our heads in quick sand! It doesn't appear that the Obama administration is going to stop the reckless spending, the intrusion into private industry or the usurpation of states' rights. There is the problem that Congress is not reading bills before they are passed. There is the problem of smokescreens that blunt the press' reportage of the country in favor of the spectacle.

Christine Romer was just interviewed on television. This MIT Ph.d and former Berkley professor is part of the Obama economic team. Here's the skinny right from the horse's mouth concerning the effectiveness the Stimulus package. It is the same stimulus package that had to be passed immediately without time for Congress to read it and without time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

1. Only 4% of the money has thus far been dispersed.
2. By the end of the year, only 23% will have been dispersed.
3. Despite campaign promises (though she admits the Obama campaign had no “crystal ball”), unemployment, today at 9.5% is quickly approaching double digits. It is at its highest level in 26 years. (I note that double digit unemployment is endemic in socialist France and Spain)
4. Despite campaign promises, there is no predicted “end” to the recession. There is hope it will moderate by the end of this year—or next year. (Or….)


In other words, even the Administration cannot conceal the abysmal failure of the Stimulus package that has slam dunked this country and its future generations into a money pit of debt. But we, the people, are not hearing or reading of this in the news outlets. We are, except for those who search for news, being kept in a stupored ignorant state,

Yesterday CNN, reporting on California's tragic budget crisis giving rise to the issuance of IOUs to workers—an interesting turn as I assume no mortgage companies, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. will accept those IOUs in lieu of payment—stated that most troubled state governments are using the stimulus money to close budget gaps. That means paying their own bills! How in the world will that use stimulate the economy? The simple and obvious answer is that it will not. In reading the scenario, however, one can readily see how, despite the massive debt we are building to countries like China, our problems will only worsen. When the aforementioned companies, stores and gas stations do not accept IOUs, how will they pay their employees or restock their shelves or refill their tanks? And so the snowball rolls.

While I'm on the subject of CNN, this morning their “money girl” sat with Kiran Chetry and explained how money “experts” are “sifting through the numbers” looking for signs of economic improvement. That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. But when the “experts” find one sign, that's what they report, and it makes poll numbers change on the populace's long-term outlook. These days the polls have slightly increased in the belief that things are looking a touch better. I think of that old adage, “Figures never lie but liars figure.” I also pray that offering HOPE will be an acceptable way to pay one's bills. (Does one say, "I HOPE to pay"?)

With the untimely deaths of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett grabbing the headlines so many of the country did not realize the House barely passed the Cap and Trade bill, a bill that will severely impact on our way of life. Now it goes to the Senate where it hopefully will be stopped. Nevertheless, one piece of the bill keeps hitting the news—Fox News—that is. When a homeowner wants to sell his home, the house must first be inspected and the seller must upgrade to fulfill any energy requirements the Federal government has instituted. Who decides on these requirements? Who does the inspections for the government? How does one factor in the cost of the improvements to the selling price of the house? None of these issues are addressed in any but the most general way, but they will impact every single seller in this country in a major and very specific way. Think about it.

I called Congressman John Hall's office twice before the vote on the Cap and Trade. I left a message at his NY office, and spoke to someone in the DC office. When I said that there was no way the Congressman could have read the 300+ page Waxman amendment submitted at 3AM that morning and therefore how could the Congressman vote intelligently on the final legislation, the answer I received was, “Good question.” No kidding. John Hall, by the way, voted for the bill. Why? Good question. I hope the Democratic party gave him a reward treat—perhaps a doggie biscuit for doing well in obedience school.

I guess I will continue banging my head against the wall by contacting my two Senators—don't laugh—Schumer and Gillibrand—asking them to consider us, their constituents, first. I do believe EVERYONE SHOULD CONTACT SENATORS to let them know how awful it will be to bury what’s left of the country in Chinese debt and to send what's left of our business to countries who do it for less. Meanwhile, it's interesting that Obama is against any trade restrictions. All of a sudden he is a free market dude. He'll create jobs, all right. Only they won't be in America.


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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

OBAMA CONTINUES TO DIS OUR NATION'S FRIENDS

Today Israel is holding a nationwide air raid drill. Simulated fire power destruction litters the Israeli countryside. Children in schools are practicing for the worst. News commentators suggest that the amount of destruction far exceeds that which would occur from the rockets--relatively less lethal--that continue to bombard Israel from the north and the south. The demonstrated destruction of this drill is more like the destruction wrought by a bigger warhead--the kind of which Iran boasts. Commentators suggest that this drill demonstrates that Israel is in a state of readiness to react to a strike on them from Iran. They also suggest this is a statement to President Obama--a reaction to America's change in support.

It is frightening to watch these air raid drills on television. It is frightening to hear the suggestion that a strike from Iran could create another massive loss of Jewish life--another REAL attempt at GENOCIDE. We're only a bit more than 60 years from the last attempt to wipe Jews off the face of the earth.


Meanwhile, President Obama is heading to the mideast. He is visiting several countries in the area---BUT OBAMA IS NOT VISITING ISRAEL. I watched the news conference when the President sat with Netanyahu. He never looked at him. He talked at him, not with him. The essence of that talk was to warn Israel to stop building on the West Bank and to agree to the two-state solution--without first requiring the Arabs to agree to Israel's right to exist.

Remember, too, that Obama gave huge sums of money to Gaza after the recent battle with Israel--one that began as Israel tried to stop the barrage of rockets launched into towns like Sderot. Before the smoke cleared, the "Palestinians" were smuggling more rockets into the area via tunnels from Egypt. Israel was to blame for the damage?????? Israel is warned to change????

In the same way that my post on merit (one post prior) points to Obama's disregard for merit in favor of political expediency, his actions in this case point to his lack of respect for our allies around the world. He demonstrated this in his treatment of Poland early in his still-short-but-far-too-long-for-me administration, his dvd gift to Gordon Brown as well as his iPod gift to Queen Elizabeth a short time later, and recently his complicity by not immediately insisting that Queen Elizabeth be invited to the Normandy ceremonies. She, the only ruler still living who lived through WWII and who worked in England's gallant war effort, was not invited by the French. Incredibly gauche.

On this trip, the President will stop over in Germany and visit Auschwitz. It is a political stop for him, objected to even by Obama's uncle, part of the American militiary that freed the Auschwitz victims. His uncle rejects the idea of using this site for gaining political cash; Obama can't see the horrific irony of using it while throwing our only mideast ally, Israel, under the bus. What ISN'T going on inside Obama's head is, at once, astounding and problematic.

While Obama will kow tow and make a "major address to Muslim nations," he has no qualms about insulting those other Americans hold near and dear.

Let me note that while the slobbering love affair with Obama's onscreen personality (or onteleprompter) continues, HE HAS YET TO CONVINCE ANYONE TO CHANGE THEIR BASIC STANCE AND SUPPORT US MONETARILY OR MILITARILY. He has, in fact, failed to impact any problem in any positive way; he continues to bamboozle the American public.

While Congress has at least begun to question some of what is going on, the question remains whether they or the American public will wake up and rub their knuckles hard against their eyes to get them to open after a way-too-long sleep.

Friday, May 22, 2009

OBAMA, GITMO, AND THE NEWBURGH TERRORISTS

At the same time President Obama is vague on his plans for closing Gitmo and dealing with its dregs-of-humanity-prisoners, he has been rebuffed by Congress in his attempts to grab another bunch of billions of dollars. They insist on an exit strategy first. Finally!

Obama is still so convinced of his popularity that he sees no reason to be transparent, forthcoming, or honest with the American public, and it looks like Congress, anxious about the next round of elections, is beginning to take note. Obama is a “show me the money” guy and probably a very poor chess player. He cannot see the consequences of each move nor think several moves ahead. Chess strategy competence would be useful as long as the president realizes that combating terrorists is not a political game.

Hopefully the country will hear the wake-up call of this Wednesday's failed homegrown-terrorist plot to use explosives to destroy a synagogue and community center in Riverdale, Bronx, New York. They also planned to use Stinger missiles to down military planes at Orange County’s Steward International Airport. We need to remember 9/11 and to understand that the war on terror—domestic as well as international—is not over.

Particularly frightening is the birth of this homegrown plot. Only one of the four men was born outside of the country and a Muslim by birth. The other three were thugs from Newburgh, New York. They converted to Islam in prison where the four became friends and hatched the plot. Finalized plans emanated from a mosque in Newburgh, New York. An informant notified authorities. Thank goodness for that informant and thank goodness that the FBI and State Police Swat teams were prepared and ready. What if there had been no informant?

Let’s look at the bigger picture.

1. Our prisons are a fertile breeding ground for recruiting proven violent people to act out their psychopathic disregard for human life, laws, values, and customs. ARE THESE PLACES TO SEND THE GITMO DETAINEES AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THEIR POISON IN THE “BLAME AMERICA FIRST” TRADITION?

2. Will the Obama administration—indeed, the entire anti-Bush contingent—after unrelenting and unremitting attacks on methods used to foil homeland terrorist plots admit to the success of those methods and retain them or, as in the case of Gitmo where even the New York Times reports that seven out of ten released detainees return to terrorist activities, continue to rail and abandon successful methods?

3. At the expense of our country’s safety will Obama loyalists downplay the importance of these attempts and try to paint the participants as bungling idiots as they did with the Ft. Dix plot terrorists and the terrorist plot in Florida?

Already the Associated Press quotes Sen. Chuck Schumer as saying, “the group was relatively unsophisticated, penetrated easily and not connected to any outside group.” The idiocy is not on the part of the plotters. The idiocy is on the part of self-serving politicians who surmise that unsophisticated people cannot find ways to manufacture bombs. Just look on the internet. Hijacked aircraft took down the World Trade Center.

WABC news reported that the alleged suspects did not appear to have the ability to execute the plot. Perhaps they suggest we wait to see if they did. Pull back our experts and intelligence to level the playing field.

Returning to the Gitmo detainee connection, one has to wonder how these haters and murderers will fare once under the jurisdiction of Federal judges and the slew of lawsuits (probably ACLU) I prophesize will deluge the courts demanding swift trials, no isolation (cruel punishment), right to confront their accusers, government classified documents as evidence, etc. Will they be freed into society? They cannot be deported. No country will take them. (France took one person) Who will support them? Your tax dollars.

Obama should have learned a lesson after de-classifying enhanced interrogation documents. The backlash about releasing the photos (which I bet will be “leaked” anyway) caused problems. Then he denied the release of the documents outlining enhanced interrogation successes which Dick Cheney requested. He seems incapable of thinking ahead. Obama has to learn, before it’s too late, that when you put the cart before the horse, you aren’t going anywhere.



Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Taliban Ops Chief was at Gitmo

This Associated Press article is worth reading:

http://www.military.com/news/article/taliban-ops-chief-was-at-gitmo.html?col=1186032310810

He's not the first of these "innocents" to be released and return to trying to kill our soldiers. It makes me wonder about Congress' measure of value in the world. Apparently the "rights" of these terrorists is more important than the rights, lives, and protection of Americans or the lives of our military.

Congress doesn't care about bringing these terrorists to the U.S. where they will be accorded the privilege of our justice system in which the way evidence is obtained becomes as important as the evidence itself. In this case, it means spilling the beans about techniques, informers, and other intelligence techniques, thereby weakening what data collection we have to help protect us from, among other things, another 9/11. These are things the intelligence community CAN'T reveal. American justice is geared toward "after the deed is committed" as opposed to planning and/or being a force to commit a heinous act. Differs from Sharia law, doesn't it?

Congress doesn't seem to give a rat's tail about being party to aiding and abetting the Taliban in killing Americans. But each terrorist released back into the wild is part of their disregard. Thank you Sen. Murtha and your ilk and your kith and kin.

Monday, March 2, 2009

$410 BILLION IN PORK--BUT NOT EVERYONE IS GRABBING. FIND OUT WHO ISN'T CHASING PIG

Listen carefully folks. While you’re drowning on CHANGE (and this you can believe in), and you hope someone comes to the rescue, you better pray it’s your audiologist and your old English teacher. You’ve got to parse every word you hear from our government officials or you won’t know where you’ve sprung a leak in your savings, your future, and your children’s future. Remember that this “mandate” we keep hearing of came about with a 52% win of the popular vote. That number doesn’t become a synonym for landslide!

This monumental budget President Obama introduced will help him keep his campaign promises by plunging us into inconceivable debt. This budget was ready to present last summer (with Obama’s co-sponsored earmarks; see http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/2009/02/obama-removes-his-name-from-pork-barrel.html ), but Nancy Pelosi held it up waiting for the new administration. The result of all this spending will be that the middle class, which really came into existence after the Second World War, will be destroyed by tax increases. Maybe income taxes will rise “slightly” (depending on your definition of the word “slightly”), but we will be taxed in other ways—energy usage, loss of deductions for mortgage insurance, charitable donations, etc. The net result will be higher costs for everything!

I’m not surprised about the charitable donation change. When the numbers came out during the election, I was shocked to learn that I donated a higher percentage of my income than Barak Obama—and to a wider range of charities. Joe Biden’s charitable contributions were at best negligible. How telling. These are people who eschew personal responsibility toward others. They are not their brother’s keepers. They want government to take the responsibility. Scary. They’ll decide to whom we should be charitable.

Chuck Schumer says the American people “don’t care” about earmarks—those little bits of personal vote-buying tidbits officials bring home and hand out to thankful donors. It’s a perverted pay it forward: government to representative, representative to businessman, etc.

I can’t totally blame Democrats for the 9,000 pieces of pork, earmarks, special projects or whatever the name of choice is these days. The Democrats account for 60% of the barrel. The Republicans get 40%. So much for principle. But I listened to the President’s campaign speech when he said he was going to get rid of earmarks. I watched the President’s budget speech. I heard him say there were no earmarks in this budget, and I watched Pelosi, sitting behind him, break into that stiff botox-driven grin. They really do think we’re stupid. And some of us obviously are!

Those non-existent pieces of pork will cost us $410 billion. That's a lot of something for nothing! LOL I guess that number is considered inconsequential these days when our President pooh-poohs things that cost trillions. But the dollar I don’t contribute to the government is the dollar I get to keep, and $410 billion in a country with a population somewhat over 300 million means I get to hold on to some dollars for which I worked. I like that idea! Too bad my holding on to MY money doesn’t seem important to President Obama.

There is still some integrity in Congress. There are some Congressmen and Senators who do not take pork. This year all were Republican except for four Democrats who stood up to the broken campaign promise.

The people with anti-pork barrel integrity are (and not in any particular order): Flake, Boehner, Cantor, Campbell, Nunes, Westmorland, Kline, McCoud, Jones, Hensarling, McHenry, Foxx, Burton, Price Shadegg, Ryan Pitts, Jenkins, Lance, Pence, Chaffetz, Cooper, Waxman, Hunter, Rooney, McClintock, Coffman, DeMint, Coburn, Feingold, McCaskell, Burr, and McCain. That’s all, folks.

Kudos to these representatives. Go online and email them. Thank them for their integrity. Maybe if they know we know of and appreciate the right thing….

Know, too, that Rep. Jeff Flake (R. AZ) attempted to introduce a measure to have the House Ethics Committee investigate the relationship between earmarks and contributions. His measure was tabled—in other words, killed. All but two Republicans and 17 Democrats voted for the measure.

Terrible, huh? But what did you expect?

Friday, February 27, 2009

OBAMA REMOVES HIS NAME FROM THE PORK BARREL

A quick point.

Of the 9,000 pieces of pork thrown in the budget--60% Democrat (oink, oink, Joe Biden) and 40% Republican (did you leave your principles at the door?)--the ones co-sponsored by then-Senator Obama have lost one sponsor. Obama's name, which appeared many times over, has been removed from all the legislation. His name has been removed; the pork remains under the aegis of others. Hmmmmm Nothing like trust, transparency, hope and change.
What did you expect?

Thursday, February 26, 2009

OMIGOSH-WE'VE ELECTED A POSTER BOY

We’ve elected a Poster Boy. President Obama cannot make the switch from candidate to President. He runs around the country giving campaign speeches, scaring the daylights out of people, harking back to President Bush just in case there is a single citizen left who might blame Congress (in particular Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid) for the problems we’re in. His gloom and doom approach puts the public in a depressed panic, and he suggests irreversibility if the country does not follow his lead.

The odd thing about going along with him is that he hasn’t led. The pork filled, non-stimulus, attack on the working middle-class bill wasn’t constructed by him. It is a Pelosi-Reid production loaded with the left-leaning ideology-driven programs they couldn’t pass as individual bills. Admittedly not one member of Congress—in either House—read the stimulus (now renamed Recovery) before they voted. The President, insisting on its immediate signing in order to avoid imminent disaster, headed to Chicago for the weekend without reading it, and in a campaign (oops) stop several days later at an RV factory town, signed it into law. (This self-same president who wants us to be wary of our gasoline usage makes his pitch in an RV factory town? Hmmmm)

During the election, if one didn’t vote for Obama, you were branded a racist. Now, if you don’t blindly follow—and it’s got to be blind since no one who gave us this humongous bill read it—you’re not supportive. If you don’t go along, you’re the enemy. I haven’t heard one ad hominem attack on Obama—a Democratic staple for President Bush—but the Obama groupies continue to attack with name-calling and demonization of people who don’t agree with President Obama’s direction.

What we are still getting from President Obama is a windstorm of hot air. No specifics. No HOWs. In his forthcoming 3.5 Trillion Dollar budget, he announced some cuts in the millions of dollars. That’s supposed to be impressive? But even as I watched him deliver this retooling of the budget part of his speech to Congress, he made sure to call the accounting of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars “dishonest” and continue to slam President Bush several times. OHHHH Obama is grand at this!

Our “recovery” bill is loaded with pork. What part of the pig will show up in the budget? We’ve already seen him break promises about bringing lobbyists into his administration; we’ve already seen a cabinet filled with tax cheats; we’re hearing Obama-speak about nationalizing banks. Today Congress worked on the Fairness Doctrine, though they’re not calling it that. The Omnibus bill adds another 450 billion in handouts. Gotta listen very carefully to this guy because we need to know the meaning of “is.”


"Fairness+Doctrine"

Saturday, January 24, 2009

"I WON" = WE PAY

Someone ought to teach this Democratic Congress how to get a horse to stop (pull in the reins and say “whoa”) or how to stop a car (press on the brakes) or a runaway train (pull on the break lever). Someone ought to get a competent Chesley Sullenberger-type to land the broken “jet-of-state” safely. We are like lemmings heading to the edge of a cliff and getting closer everyday. We are like turkeys with our heads up and our beaks open during a sudden downpour.

We are on the verge of disaster, and when confronted by House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) about giving tax credits to people who don’t pay taxes, our new President Barak Obama says, “I won. So I think on that one I trump you.” Huh???

Exactly how to fix our broken economy seems still to be unclear to all experts, but last I looked, the word “stimulus” means “something that arouses and excited to activity.” As I said earlier
the proposed stimulus package put together without any Republican input (not that they've shown more sense; they voted for the first package) contains so much pork that Congress ought to add that to the fart bill they’ve suggested for cows!!!!! I’m not sure who is passing that murderously horrific gas, and I think it’s coming from Pelosi, Reid, & Co.

I have one question about several aspects of the bill. HOW DO THESE PROPOSALS STIMULATE THE ECONOMY TO RESTORE NATIONAL FINANCIAL HEALTH?

$726 million for afterschool snacks
$50 million for the NEA (National Education Association)
$200 million for work on the National Mall—including grass
(deemed too expensive during the boon years)
Many other millions for contraception, Medicare, Head Start, nurse training, student loans.

I AM NOT SAYING THESE ARE NOT WORTHY CAUSES; I’M SAYING THESE DO NOTHING TO JUMPSTART THE ECONOMY.

The original package was supposed to deal with the base problem—the mortgage crisis. Where’s the money for that? And how is that money being spent?

The American public is being DUPED AGAIN so that President Obama can say he got a lot done in his first one hundred days? What is this Congress thinking?


"stimulus+bill" "I+won" "financial+crisis" "100+days"

Sunday, January 18, 2009

WILL BUSH-BASHING REMAIN OUR PRESS' NATIONAL PASTTIME?

Even as Barak Obama and his slobbering fans prepare for his coronation, the Bush haters cannot let up one iota. I expect to see Chris Matthews begin to shake—this time from Bush-withdrawal syndrome rather than from arousal caused by Barak Obama. Earlier this week, the Bushes were slammed for spending money (from a private fund set up for that purpose) on new State china. The economy is bad, so this cost is extravagant. Did I hear anything about toning down the inauguration because of its extravagance?

This morning I watched sections of CBS’s Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. One segment dealt with inauguration speeches. Presidents from George Washington forward were mentioned for their good or bad speeches, their brief or lengthy speeches, their memorable or forgotten lines or for any other number of reasons. Neither picture nor mention was made of George W. Bush. Another segment dealt with how presidents age in office as they deal with the stress. Guess who was omitted. To CBS, President George W. Bush doesn’t exist, and the sooner CBS can deny his contributions in any way, the better.

The press has been having at blast at delivering parting shots. George W. Bush cannot even say that there are things he would have done differently without getting slammed! His farewell address was torn apart by these ravenous dogs. Editorial pages are filled with opinions on President Bush's "failed" presidency. He's been called the worst president in history.

Called the messiah by at least one famous idiot, Barak Obama, I suppose, will never take a wrong turn leading us out of the wilderness. He’s not the Moses some have compared him too; he's better. Moses made mistakes and never got to the Promised Land. Nor is Obama the Lincoln he compares himself to. Lincoln's focus was on preserving the Union; Obama’s is to alter it.

Sunday Morning even tossed some comments about the transition team President Bush organized to make sure Obama does not come into the White House as he did. Remember? He came into a White House trashed by the departing Administration. Not only did Clinton and Hilary take “souvenirs” but also their staffs wrecked computers and removed the letter w from keyboards, carved messages into the desks, and left graffiti. Taxpayers paid for the damages, and the departing First Couple got a pass.
President Bush made sure that President-elect Obama was fully briefed on what is going on around the world. His staff was given “worse case scenarios” and went through the procedures, etc. that would be followed in a variety of situations. Even as Mr. Obama talks about dismantling much of our intelligent gathering possibilities, President Bush leaves him a country that has not been attacked since the horrific events of 9/11. President Bush should be applauded and recognized for his actions. Let’s pray Obama continues to safeguard us.

While members of the media continue to deride President Bush, partly I fear to give our new President a cushy landing, I’m wondering when the honeymoon will end. Will it be when the truth about some of his appointees becomes more apparent? (Treasury Secretary Geithner’s failure to pay $34,000 in taxes is, in Obama’s words an “innocent mistake.” Attorney General Erik Holder’s supporting pardons for FALN terrorists and financial swindler Marc Rich doesn’t seem to bother him either.) Will it be when so many of his unkept and always unkeepable promises dash the hope of those who voted for him? Will it be when the country wakes up to the biggest pork barrel (nicknamed the stimulus package) ever rolled out of Congress without any Republican input but pushed by Pelosi, supported by Reid and branded ok by Obama? Is the press just too stupid to get it and the American public too mesmerized to demand it?

I’ll be glad when I no longer get anti-Bush “jokes” in my email. I will not miss the constant unfair criticism and disrespect. I will love not having Americans go abroad to knock my president or my country. I also wish Obama to succeed in keeping America safe and great. I want him treated with the respect the office deserves. I have my fingers crossed, but honestly, I don’t have much hope.

Monday, January 5, 2009

REPEATED WARNING ABOUT FUEL TAXES

Go back to June
(http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/2008/06/gas-taxes-is-governments-cash-cow.html)
and July http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/2008/07/more-on-our-gas-woes-dont-expect.html
when I warned about Congress and states working themselves into a lather about raising gas taxes. They just didn't have the nerve during the election period.

Now that Obama is safely awaiting his inauguration and gas prices have stopped causing holes in our government-evaluated deep pockets, they feel it's time to act. It will come quickly.

BTW, the fall in gas prices coincided with George Bush's pronouncement that we SHOULD drill offshore. AFTER that announcement came the news about a change in our driving habits.

My biggest problem is that it appears I underestimated the extent to which the government is willing to steal from us. $.10 doesn't quite meet their needs, so we should start buying those little jars labled "gas money." Start saving now.

Not only that, there is the move to put GPS devices in cars to tax us additionally on milegage. Several states are considering it now. But here's the scoop: They will decide it is too much invasion on privacy because your destinations might be tracked. How to get around that? When you have your car's yearly inspection, a tax will be levied on the odometer readings. The ACLU will breathe a sigh of relief and we will follow like lemmings to our financial demise thinking the government is looking out for our rights.

And a final note. Thank you Gov. Corzine. The gas stations on the Jersey Turnpike are Lukoil--Russian owned. Nothing like supporting U.S. Yeah, nothing.

JUDGING DEMOCRATS: ONE MORE BLUNDER AS BILL RICHARDSON TRIPS UP AND OUT

The news about Bill Richardson's withdrawal as the Secretary of Transportation calls for some serious thinking about how to judge Democrats.

1. Remember the transistion from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush. The Clintons themselves ransacked the White House taking with them everything they wanted that wasn't nailed down. Their staff wrecked the computers, stealing the W keys, and carving obsene messages in the desks. The offices were a mess and had to be redone--AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE.

George W. Bush, on the other hand, created a Transition Coordinating Committee. Security Clearance was started months ago so that key positions could be filled ASAP. Remember that as late as 9/11, some Bush appointees had not been cleared. Apparently President Bush will conclude his terms as President with the respect the office deserves. Character counts when we judge a person.

ON THE OTHER HAND...

2. Barak Obama, haunted, if only by saavy voters, by his associations, continues to be shielded by the media as his appointees and past label him a political opportunist. Fighting his lack of experience, he choses Bill Richardson as Transportation Secretary. Here's a double whammy: experience and Hispanic. BUT Richardson is embroiled in a Federal investigation of his own, and the press has once again chosen sides.

There is no widespread reporting that the company that donated $100,000 normally donated to Republicans so was less likely to suddenly shift to donate to Bill Richardson-affiliated organizations. Nor are there reports that the multi-million state contracts went to this company--Los Angeles based. I'm sure the taxpayers of New Mexico are pleased with that.

3. Perhaps we should consider ourselves lucky because more important than this Federal Investigation is that Richardson was in the running for President. Once again a politician has publicly proven that personal gain is far more important than public good.

4. Harry Reid, our leading Senator, doesn't like the smell of tourists in the summer. He represents us smelling, nosy, folk!

5. Harry Reid, our leading Senator, publicly states that the Senate can seat (or not seat) anyone it chooses for no stated reason even if the person meets the Constitutional requirements. How's that for Chutzpah! We'll see how he reacts to Roland Burris.
"political+appointee"