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Saturday, December 19, 2009
Don't Give Up!
Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 3:43 PM
Want to express your disgust with the backroom sweetheart deals Harry Reid is using to push through a health reform bill that's hated by left, right and center?

Check out ReverseTheVote.org.  It targets 24 Democrat congressmen in swing districts who voted for health care "reform."  Remember, it doesn't take much for one of them to change his or her mind when it comes to the final vote on health care.

And one could be all it takes.




Saturday, December 19, 2009
Obama in Copenhagen: Our Dramatic Breakthrough "Limits Warming To No More Than 2 Degrees"
Posted by: Greg Hengler at 3:35 PM
It's not even funny any more; scary is what it is.






Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Acid Test
Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 3:26 PM
Shouldn't Democrats who vote for the health care legislation be willing to live under it? 

If you run into your "representative" (note the scare quotes, because many of those voting for the bill are doing so in defiance of their employers, the voters) while he or she's out on Christmas recess, ask if s/he is willing to forgo the federal employees' health benefit plan in favor of this new legislation being imposed on the rest of us.

That's the acid test.




Saturday, December 19, 2009
What's the Next Step?
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 1:35 PM
Now that the health care bill will likely pass in the Senate with Reid's 60-vote majority, the next question to consider is this: How do you think Pelosi will buy-off enough pro-life Blue Dogs and pro-public-option progressives to pass the measure through the House?

While the Speaker is trying to figure that one out, Politico is reporting today that Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak, Mich., is working behind the scenes with House GOP leadership to sink the compromise

An aide to Rep. Bart Stupak (D. Mich.) coordinated opposition to a Senate compromise on the place of abortion in health care legislation this morning with the Republican Senate leadership, the Conference Catholic Bishops, and other anti-abortion groups, according to a chain of frantic emails obtained this morning by POLITICO.

The emails show that Stupak — who has so far remained silent on language accepted by Senator Ben Nelson (D. Neb.) and faces intense pressure from the White House to accept it — is already working behind the scenes to oppose the compromise.

They also demonstrate a previously unseen degree of coordination between Stupak and the office of Republican leader Mitch McConnell.






Saturday, December 19, 2009
HC Bill's "Concessions" on Abortion = Zero
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 12:04 PM
I'd love to ask Sen. Ben Nelson exactly which "concessions" were made in order to line-up his support behind Reid's Obamacare bill.  First of all, the bill does NOT prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion.  In fact, unless states act in passing legislation that would ban the practice, taxpayer funds WILL be used to subsidize abortions. 

The only 'concession' I see is that states have the option to "opt-out" of abortion funds--note the language is "opt-out," not "opt-in."  The default position of the bill is to fund abortions.  Way to stick solidly to those principles, Ben. 

Furthermore, Reid's managers amendment reads:
(1) NO PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS REGARDING ABORTION.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt or otherwise have any effect on State laws regarding the prohibition of (or requirement of) coverage, funding, or procedural requirements on abortions, including parental notification or consent for the performance of an abortion on a minor.
At last count, there are 13 states in which state supreme courts have mandated public funding for abortions and an additional 4 states which voluntarily provide the funding.  The way that I read this provision is that this bill will not preempt these state laws or voluntary practices, and, with its passage 17 states will automatically begin funneling federal tax dollars to abortion clinics.  

Is Ben Nelson only pro-life in Nebraska--a state which currently restricts publicly funded abortions?  Or is he actually against the practice of abortion, regardless of state? 

If Nelson is signing his support onto this bill, he is agreeing to support the public funding of abortions in at least 17 states.





Saturday, December 19, 2009
What Was Nelson's Price?
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 10:55 AM
Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson gave up his fight against the Obama health care plan this morning when Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced his own 383-page "managers amendment."  Call me a skeptic, but I believe there are probably things included in that amendment which helped "persuade" Nelson to vote 'aye.'

We all know Nelson's opposition to the bill was largely about the bill's federal funding of abortions--a practice the bill new language "limits," but specifically does not ban.  In fact, page 39 of the newly released language specifically outlines "abortions for which public funding is allowed." 

But in addition, Nelson has recently complained that the bill's proposed expansion of Medicaid entitlements to certain low-income individuals would put stress on the state of Nebraska.  Nelson suggested states should be able to "opt-in" to the program if they wished to participate. 

Surprise!  Page 98 of today's new managers amendment specifically identifies the state of Nebraska for a higher level of federal matching funds--funds that would fully fund its Medicaid expansion an entire year past those of other states:  
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (b) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined under subsection (b) with respect to all or any portion of a fiscal year that begins on or after January 1, 2017, for the State of Nebraska, with respect to amounts expended for newly eligible individuals described in subclause (VIII) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i), shall be determined as provided for under subsection (y)(1) (A) (notwithstanding the period provided for in such paragraph)
So in order to get Nelson's support, the country is bankrolling additional benefits for the state of Nebraska.  Nice.

Update:
Like a true politician, Nelson says he supports the bill now, but says he "reserves the right" to change his mind.





Saturday, December 19, 2009
JAM DOWN
Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 10:32 AM
Bargaining behind closed doors, Democrats have prevailed upon Ben Nelson to provide the 60th vote for a health care bill that no one -- besides, apparently, 60 Senate Democrats -- really wants.

No one really knows what's in the bill and no one really knows how much it will cost.

People from the left, right and center have made their opposition clear.

But in the greatest act of legislative arrogance of my lifetime, Democrats have pressed on. 

Here, Senator John McCain complains about the breakdown of comity in the Senate.  I'd submit that the problem is much larger -- even going so far as to say that it's a breakdown in a representative democracy when the people's servants in the national legislature ignore their clearly stated wishes.




Saturday, December 19, 2009
Updated: Man Faces Up to Year in Prison for Being Naked in Own Home
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 7:20 AM
From Fox News:
A Virginia man is scheduled to go on trial for indecent exposure Friday after police say he stood naked inside his house as a 7-year-old boy and his mother walked by.

The mother and child allegedly observed the defendant, Erick Williamson, first through a doorway and again through a window that had no drapes, MyFoxDC

Williamson, the father of a 5-year-old, said he was in the confines of his home and should be allowed to be naked there. Police said he made a point of making himself visible to the pair as they walked to school along a path outside his home.

Williamson denied the allegations, saying he's not an exhibitionist and didn't know people could see him in his kitchen, MyFoxDC reported.

Williamson's arrest received national attention and spurred debate about whether a person should be subject to arrest for exposure from inside his own home.

His trial is set to kick off in Fairfax County General District Court, if convicted he could face up to a year in jail.
Update: Williamson has been found guilty of "indecent exposure."  He received a suspended sentence and no fine for the misdemeanor.  If you live in Virginia and don't already own one, you might want to invest in a good bathrobe. 





Friday, December 18, 2009
Obama Dispassionately Reads Through Copenhagen Speech: "We Are Running Short Of Time"
Posted by: Greg Hengler at 5:24 PM
As Ace writes, the brilliant windbag gets quite a neck workout without Mr. Teleprompter. BTW: I think I had the same cadence while reading "Where The Wild Things Are" out loud to my parents when I was in second grade.








Friday, December 18, 2009
Why Does AARP Support Obamacare?
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 3:07 PM
Young America's Foundation & Hot Air demonstrate:







Friday, December 18, 2009
Sen. Coburn Defends the "Party of No"
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 2:56 PM
Well said, Senator.  H/T: Michelle Malkin








Friday, December 18, 2009
Say What? Pelosi Claims Copenhagen Conference is About Jobs...?
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 2:46 PM
That's what she's claiming.  Too bad Dems' plans for carbon taxes would put countless people out of work, but apparently it seems logical to Nancy Pelosi.  The LA Times reports:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a savvy politician whose vote-counting prowess will be tested in the off-year elections fueled by voter anger, said recently that as the calendar turns to 2010, she was in campaign mode and would focus almost exclusively on the issue of most concern to voters: jobs.

So it was not too much of a surprise this morning when the San Francisco Democrat, joined by 20 other members of Congress, arrived in Copenhagen for a climate change summit announcing that the visit is really meant to create jobs.

"We see Copenhagen as a meeting about job creation," she said. "How do we move forward to create millions of clean energy jobs and new technologies to keep America No. 1?" 

The House Speaker also didn't hesitate to throw her own president and party leader under the bus, distancing herself and her Dem colleagues from Obama's decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan:

In keeping with her pledge to focus on jobs, Pelosi also signaled to the White House that President Obama is on his own when it comes to funding for the troop surge in Afghanistan. "The president's going to have to make his case," she said, making clear that she is done asking colleagues to back wars they do not support.






Friday, December 18, 2009
Just 34% Say Passing Obamacare is Better Than Doing Nothing
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 2:36 PM
The latest poll from Rasmussen suggests American voters would rather Congress and the President take no action whatsoever in reforming the nation's health care system than passing the proposals currently under consideration:

Middle-income voters are more likely than others to say that passing no legislation is the better option.

One reason for this is that most Americans now believe they will be worse off if reform passes. Fifty-four percent (54%) hold that view while just 25% believe they would be better off.

Senior citizens are more pessimistic than younger voters. Just 16% of seniors think they’ll be better off if the legislation passes while 59% have the opposite view.






Friday, December 18, 2009
"Commercializing of Christmas" Actually Shows Caring, Community
Posted by: Michael Medved at 2:25 PM
During the holiday season, it’s become common to criticize the commercialization of Christmas.

From a deeper perspective, however, the surge of gift-buying strengthens the commercial and personal connections of inter-dependence that make community possible. If retailers enjoy good Christmas business it’s a sign of strength for the larger society, just as disappointing results indicate widespread hardship.

Buying and selling are entirely voluntary transactions—demonstrating the operation of a free market that functions best when there’s peace on earth to men of good will.

What’s negative about the prospect of hundreds of millions of Americans taking great pains to express affection for friends and family? In fact, the kind instincts behind the giving mania and the ubiquitous figure of Santa may at least bring us closer to the higher love that’s part of the holiday’s religious message.




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Comments Comments

Monk
 Re: Say What? Pelosi Claims Copenhagen Conference is About Jobs...?
  By NOTW
NOTW 12:58 AM
 Re: Say What? Pelosi Claims Copenhagen Conference is About Jobs...?
  By Bob Munck
munck
 Re: Al Franken Denies Lieberman Extra Minute To Speak -- McCain Fires Back
  By mike
green jobs
 Re: Say What? Pelosi Claims Copenhagen Conference is About Jobs...?
  By mike
mike 12:44 AM
 Re: Al Franken Denies Lieberman Extra Minute To Speak -- McCain Fires Back
  By Bob Munck
corndog
 Re: Updated: Man Faces Up to Year in Prison for Being Naked in Own Home
  By mike
Actually Obama is telling the truth
 Re: Obama in Copenhagen: Our Dramatic Breakthrough "Limits Warming To No More Than 2 Degrees"
  By Dave M
Monk
 Re: Say What? Pelosi Claims Copenhagen Conference is About Jobs...?
  By NOTW
mike 12:10 AM
 Re: What Was Nelson's Price?
  By Bob Munck
Munck
 Re: JAM DOWN
  By NOTW
Jo 11:42 PM
 Re: Say What? Pelosi Claims Copenhagen Conference is About Jobs...?
  By Bob Munck
munck
 Re: Al Franken Denies Lieberman Extra Minute To Speak -- McCain Fires Back
  By mike
axeman
 Re: What Was Nelson's Price?
  By NOTW
Jo 11:21 PM
 Re: JAM DOWN
  By Bob Munck
ladies and gentlemen
 Re: Obama in Copenhagen: Our Dramatic Breakthrough "Limits Warming To No More Than 2 Degrees"
  By mike
Jo 11:57 PM
 Re: Al Franken Denies Lieberman Extra Minute To Speak -- McCain Fires Back
  By Bob Munck
careful
 Re: What Was Nelson's Price?
  By mike
"Jo" all one need do is remind them
 Re: JAM DOWN
  By cottoneyed
Interstate
 Re: Al Franken Denies Lieberman Extra Minute To Speak -- McCain Fires Back
  By Jo
careful
 Re: Al Franken Denies Lieberman Extra Minute To Speak -- McCain Fires Back
  By mike

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