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Q: What do God and Obama have in common?
A: Neither has a birth certificate!
Q: What is different about God and Obama?
A: God knows He isn't Obama!
Seriously, if there is no problem with Obama's birth certificate, why has Obama refused to share the original certified copy, which remains under seal with his school records? He has never given his campaign or White House staff permission to release the certified copy. What they released was what Hawaii calls an "authentification." According to The Patriot Post and other media, "Even those not born in Hawaii can obtain a short-form document like the one Obama has posted online" (The Patriot Post, July 17, 2009). It does not show information regarding the birth hospital and attending physician as would the full, certified birth certificate.
Now, we have the case of U.S. Army Major Stefan Frederick Cook, who refused to be deployed to Afghanistan as ordered. According to his lawyer, Orly Taitz, he was afraid he could be prosecuted as a war criminal because he believes Obama is not consitutionally qualified to be President because he was not born a U.S. citizen. Taitz was preparing to fight this issue in court. Cook had previously applied to be a conscientious objector.
The Army's response was surprising. One would have expected that they would have pursued court martial proceeding against Cook for failure to obey a legitimate order. Instead, Cook was granted his conscientious objector status and his deployment order was rescinded.
Taitz's stated afterwards, "It means that the military has nothing to show for Obama. It means that the military has directly responded by saying Obama is illegitimate -- and they cannot fight it. Therefore, they are revoking the order." Does that make the good folks in the Department of Defense "nutballs," the term one radio talkshow host, Andy Johnson (www.radiofreejax.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DowntobusinessAndy/), suggested for anyone who doubts Obama's citizenship?
Obama could easily settle this issue once and for all by releasing the certified copy of his Hawaiian birth certificate. The fact that he will not perpetuates the rumors that he was not born in the United States and that he attended college here as a foreign student.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Duty to Die, Redux
Former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm declared in March 1984, "We've got a duty to die and get out of the way with all of our machines and artificial hearts and everything else like that and let the other society, our kids, build a reasonable life." (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/29/us/gov-lamm-asserts-elderly-if-very-ill-have-duty-to-die.html) He claimed he was not referring to the elderly only as having this “duty to die,” however his saying that this duty is necessary so “our kids” can “build a reasonable life” puts the lie to that disclaimer. Perhaps Lamm also had in mind younger disabled people in the group with this “duty to die.”
Fast forward twenty-five years to what the Democrats in Congress are proposing in today’s health care reform. H.R. 3200, The American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, has over eighty sections altering or reducing Medicare provider reimbursements. Estimated reductions, if this legislation were passed, would be $361.9 billion (Source: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lewin-house-bill-heritage.pdf.This would represent a ten percent reduction over a ten-year period at the same time that Medicare enrollment is expected to increase by thirty percent as baby boomers become eligible.
Specifically, Medicare reimbursements would be reduced by 267.6% to hospitals, 10.8% to physicians, 11.2% to home health agencies, and 37.4% to skilled nursing facilities. Reductions for prescription drugs would equal 34.8% (Source: Congressional Budget Office, July 8, 2009, Preliminary Estimate of the Effects on Direct Spending and Revenues of Division B, Titles I-VII and Section 1872, of the House Tri-Committee Health Reform Discussion Draft.) .
The inevitable result will be reduced supply of Medicare providers at a time of rapidly escalating demand. H.R. 3200 demands seniors bear an inordinate burden to pay for health care for younger and working Americans. Under H.R. 3200, seniors on Medicare can expect longer waits for doctor appointments and procedures or outright denial of services.
President Obama recently echoed Gov. Lamm, telling the aged “to consider hospice care instead of treatment.” Tom Daschle, Obama’s first choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services and an advisor on health care reform, wrote, "... Health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them" (Source: whitehouse.gov/assets/hero/hero_weeklyaddress_7-18-09_CK-0081.JPG).
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel is Obama’s special health policy advisor. He openly advocated healthcare rationing to the elderly in a January 2009 article in the medical journal The Lancet. In the Hastings Center Report, he wrote it would be appropriate to deny health care to "individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens." He said an example would be “patients with dementia." Speaking of H.R. 3200, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Florida) says "Despite their promise to care for our seniors, Democrats have decided that it's too expensive to care for my senior constituents and everyone else's constituents…in order to pay for the government expansion of healthcare for the young, the healthy, and the wealthy" (Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=616402).
Clearly, Obama and the Democrats pushing their draconian health care reform think grandma and grandpa should find a nice iceberg and passively float away. No wonder they are so fearful of global warming. They will need all the icebergs they can get for us baby boomers in the next ten years if H.R. 3200 passes.
Fast forward twenty-five years to what the Democrats in Congress are proposing in today’s health care reform. H.R. 3200, The American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, has over eighty sections altering or reducing Medicare provider reimbursements. Estimated reductions, if this legislation were passed, would be $361.9 billion (Source: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lewin-house-bill-heritage.pdf.This would represent a ten percent reduction over a ten-year period at the same time that Medicare enrollment is expected to increase by thirty percent as baby boomers become eligible.
Specifically, Medicare reimbursements would be reduced by 267.6% to hospitals, 10.8% to physicians, 11.2% to home health agencies, and 37.4% to skilled nursing facilities. Reductions for prescription drugs would equal 34.8% (Source: Congressional Budget Office, July 8, 2009, Preliminary Estimate of the Effects on Direct Spending and Revenues of Division B, Titles I-VII and Section 1872, of the House Tri-Committee Health Reform Discussion Draft.
The inevitable result will be reduced supply of Medicare providers at a time of rapidly escalating demand. H.R. 3200 demands seniors bear an inordinate burden to pay for health care for younger and working Americans. Under H.R. 3200, seniors on Medicare can expect longer waits for doctor appointments and procedures or outright denial of services.
President Obama recently echoed Gov. Lamm, telling the aged “to consider hospice care instead of treatment.” Tom Daschle, Obama’s first choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services and an advisor on health care reform, wrote, "... Health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them" (Source: whitehouse.gov/assets/hero/hero_weeklyaddress_7-18-09_CK-0081.JPG).
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel is Obama’s special health policy advisor. He openly advocated healthcare rationing to the elderly in a January 2009 article in the medical journal The Lancet. In the Hastings Center Report, he wrote it would be appropriate to deny health care to "individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens." He said an example would be “patients with dementia." Speaking of H.R. 3200, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Florida) says "Despite their promise to care for our seniors, Democrats have decided that it's too expensive to care for my senior constituents and everyone else's constituents…in order to pay for the government expansion of healthcare for the young, the healthy, and the wealthy" (Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=616402).
Clearly, Obama and the Democrats pushing their draconian health care reform think grandma and grandpa should find a nice iceberg and passively float away. No wonder they are so fearful of global warming. They will need all the icebergs they can get for us baby boomers in the next ten years if H.R. 3200 passes.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bon Voyage, Uncle Walt
Walter Cronkite always wanted to ride in space. He loved the space program, and my fondest memories of him was his reporting on it. He often talked of his desire to go into space. Unfortunately, by the time space tourism started, he was too old or not in the necessary physical shape.
Now that he has passed, "Uncle Walt," as many called him, has taken his "spacewalk." Undoubtedly, if far surpassed any ride N.A.S.A. could have given him.
Walter Cronkite was a true icon of the Twentieth Century. He shaped broadcast news. Like many Americans, I grew up watching CBS Evening News and still do. He was a good role model for me as a teenager. I used his example -- to get the story, get it right and tell it straight -- in the research I did for different classes. He will be missed.
Now that he has passed, "Uncle Walt," as many called him, has taken his "spacewalk." Undoubtedly, if far surpassed any ride N.A.S.A. could have given him.
Walter Cronkite was a true icon of the Twentieth Century. He shaped broadcast news. Like many Americans, I grew up watching CBS Evening News and still do. He was a good role model for me as a teenager. I used his example -- to get the story, get it right and tell it straight -- in the research I did for different classes. He will be missed.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Run, Sarah, Run
The 2012 presidential campaign began on Friday, July 3, 2009. Sarah Palin's resignation amazed and dismayed most in the media. Most were highly critical of her move, especially her timing.
They will not admit it, but they were irked because she made the announcement on the day before a holiday. Most of the regular anchors and pundits were off because the Fourth of July fell on a Saturday this year. The announcement was made around noon in Alaska, which made it late afternoon for the East Coast media. They had to scramble to find commentators and reporters to cover the story in time for the evening news. Most of the interviews were via telephone. The irritation of having their holiday interrupted was clearly audible in their voices.
This is why I love Sarah Palin. You go, girl. The media muses said her announcement was proof she does not know what she is doing politically. I disagree. She knew exactly how to needle her media opponents in this most subtle way. She also knew exactly how to please those of us who support her. The more the media rail against her, the more we love her. We get it; they do not. All I want to know is where do I sign up to work on her campaign?
They will not admit it, but they were irked because she made the announcement on the day before a holiday. Most of the regular anchors and pundits were off because the Fourth of July fell on a Saturday this year. The announcement was made around noon in Alaska, which made it late afternoon for the East Coast media. They had to scramble to find commentators and reporters to cover the story in time for the evening news. Most of the interviews were via telephone. The irritation of having their holiday interrupted was clearly audible in their voices.
This is why I love Sarah Palin. You go, girl. The media muses said her announcement was proof she does not know what she is doing politically. I disagree. She knew exactly how to needle her media opponents in this most subtle way. She also knew exactly how to please those of us who support her. The more the media rail against her, the more we love her. We get it; they do not. All I want to know is where do I sign up to work on her campaign?
Friday, July 3, 2009
Enough Already
Eight days ago, Michael Jackson died. Ever since, the news media has exploited his death ad nauseum. I have had it, and I know I am not the only one. To the media I want to say, "Enough already. Give it a rest." From now on, when coverage is given to Jackson, I am switching channels. If this weekend is anything like last weekend, I may be watching the Weather Channel.
Now, I will admit I have not been a Michael Jackson fan. His and the Jackson Five's music is okay, but I never wanted to buy one of his albums. The moonwalk is amusing to watch, but I would never have bought a concert ticket to see him.
To me, Jackson is just another case of an extraordinarily fortunate but narcissistic entertainer who ruined himself with drugs and self-indulgence. Reportedly, he died over $400 million in debt. Sackfuls of drugs were removed from his home by investigators, according to press reports.
Jackson's death is sad but not tragic. He made wrong choices, and he reaped what he sowed. Faced with life's pressures, he was a coward, as every addict is.
On the same day Jackson died, Farrah Fawcett died. Now, that was tragic. Farrah did not choose cancer. Yet, when faced with it, she responded with courage and bravery. She was a good example to people of all ages of how to deal with life's struggles.
Fawcett's death received about two hours of coverage before Jackson's death was announced. After that, she received hardly any mention. Now, I am not suggesting that her death should have received the amount of time spent on Jackson's by the media.
In a world rife with real crises and important issues, neither death deserved more than short reports for a couple of days. We have an economy in a death spiral with mounting unemployment and a collapsing dollar. The legitimacy of two governments, Iran and Honduras, are in question following a disputed election and a coup, respectively. While troops are withdrawing from Iraq, war efforts in Afghanistan are ramping up. Korea is threatening to launch long-range missiles at Hawaii. Korea and Iran are thumbing their noses at the world as they pursue development of nuclear weapons. Congress is debating health care reform and global warming measures. The list goes on and on. Yet, for the weekend after Jackson's death, a viewer was hard-pressed to find any coverage of any of these stories. No, it was Michael Jackson all the time. Even Fox News fell into this trap. As one commentator said, "We have become the United States of Entertainment."
The media's coverage is lazy journalism. It is much easier and cheaper to let one story consume all their time and resources. This cult of celebrity provides an escape from the tough issues for both reporters and viewers. What makes it dangerous is it gives cover for nefarious politicians. While our collective attention is diverted, what are foreign and domestic leaders doing? Are they working for or against us?
Finally, this worship of Jackson is particularly disgusting because of the allegations of child abuse. I cannot know if Jackson ever molested any children when they visited his Neverland home. A jury acquitted him when some charges were brought against him. On the other hand, he made multi-million dollar settlements with some of his accusers. The one thing I do know is that, if he did molest any children, he answered to God for it. If he faked out that jury with the help of his lawyers, he did not fake out God. If his victims did not get justice here on earth, they can know they have it now.
Now, I will admit I have not been a Michael Jackson fan. His and the Jackson Five's music is okay, but I never wanted to buy one of his albums. The moonwalk is amusing to watch, but I would never have bought a concert ticket to see him.
To me, Jackson is just another case of an extraordinarily fortunate but narcissistic entertainer who ruined himself with drugs and self-indulgence. Reportedly, he died over $400 million in debt. Sackfuls of drugs were removed from his home by investigators, according to press reports.
Jackson's death is sad but not tragic. He made wrong choices, and he reaped what he sowed. Faced with life's pressures, he was a coward, as every addict is.
On the same day Jackson died, Farrah Fawcett died. Now, that was tragic. Farrah did not choose cancer. Yet, when faced with it, she responded with courage and bravery. She was a good example to people of all ages of how to deal with life's struggles.
Fawcett's death received about two hours of coverage before Jackson's death was announced. After that, she received hardly any mention. Now, I am not suggesting that her death should have received the amount of time spent on Jackson's by the media.
In a world rife with real crises and important issues, neither death deserved more than short reports for a couple of days. We have an economy in a death spiral with mounting unemployment and a collapsing dollar. The legitimacy of two governments, Iran and Honduras, are in question following a disputed election and a coup, respectively. While troops are withdrawing from Iraq, war efforts in Afghanistan are ramping up. Korea is threatening to launch long-range missiles at Hawaii. Korea and Iran are thumbing their noses at the world as they pursue development of nuclear weapons. Congress is debating health care reform and global warming measures. The list goes on and on. Yet, for the weekend after Jackson's death, a viewer was hard-pressed to find any coverage of any of these stories. No, it was Michael Jackson all the time. Even Fox News fell into this trap. As one commentator said, "We have become the United States of Entertainment."
The media's coverage is lazy journalism. It is much easier and cheaper to let one story consume all their time and resources. This cult of celebrity provides an escape from the tough issues for both reporters and viewers. What makes it dangerous is it gives cover for nefarious politicians. While our collective attention is diverted, what are foreign and domestic leaders doing? Are they working for or against us?
Finally, this worship of Jackson is particularly disgusting because of the allegations of child abuse. I cannot know if Jackson ever molested any children when they visited his Neverland home. A jury acquitted him when some charges were brought against him. On the other hand, he made multi-million dollar settlements with some of his accusers. The one thing I do know is that, if he did molest any children, he answered to God for it. If he faked out that jury with the help of his lawyers, he did not fake out God. If his victims did not get justice here on earth, they can know they have it now.
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