Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Come Into My Palour

Dr. Phil Roe,Republican Congressman, 1st District Tennessee had some interesting observations, in his recent newsletter.  I thought I would share them with you and also a warning to Dr. Roe and those who even remotely think that Obama is honest about doing anything other than laying a trap to be used to get him re-elected in 2012.

 

In an interview with the National Journal, President Obama was quoted saying he would be “happy to sit down” with Republican members of Congress and go through the budget “line by line” to address the enormous fiscal challenges this country is facing because of the unsustainable ending.

The President has made similar offers in the past, like when I took him up on his offer to go over the health care bill “line by line” – which to this day I am still waiting to hear back from him.  Even still, I would certainly like to take President Obama up on his offer and meet at his earliest convenience to discuss areas in the budget that can be reduced or eliminated. That is why I, along with several of my colleagues, are sending the President a letter – once again – taking him up on his offer.

In the interview, President Obama claims that “everybody’s for a balanced budget amendment in the abstract.”  In fact, I am a cosponsor of H.J.Res. 1, Congressman Goodlatte’s balanced budget Constitutional amendment, which is specific, concrete legislation pending right now in Congress.  It would require the next and all future Congresses to balance the budget, except in the case of wars or military conflict.  Given the President did not offer any of his own solutions, I would encourage him to develop consensus around this particular legislation.

This country’s ever-expanding debt and deficits are a fiscal crisis.  Ultimately, the government has to live within its means, just like everybody else. An important part of government reform is spending less than you take in.  Despite my opposition last year, Congress also spent an amount similar to the Administration’s proposed levels of $3.9 trillion, which will be 27 percent of the gross domestic product. This has created the largest federal government since World War II, which has averaged about 19 percent of GDP.  This year, the Congress has failed to pass a budget altogether.

Our government needs accountability and balance because our future depends on it. That is why I hope that this time President Obama is serious about sitting down with members of Congress and going over the budget “line by line” in an effort to work together to come up with best solutions to get our nation back on track towards fiscal health.

By sitting down and going through ways to balance the budget together, we can attain a mutual understanding about why many House Republicans are raising concerns and move forward towards solutions.  Additionally, I would be happy to share some ideas on how we can enact bipartisan reforms that will decrease the deficit.

As someone who is truly concerned about the direction in which this country is headed, I hope the President’s offer is sincere this time and look forward to engaging on ways to move our country forward – something that has been lacking for much of the last two years.  



For those of you old enough to have actually read the following in school I offer it as a warning to all Conservatives and Republicans alike who may feel Obama is sincere.  As you will see sometimes sincerity has some bad consequences for those who fall for the line.

Some of you are not old enough to remember or have read this poem as it is not often seen in schools since the “progressives” took over the educations system some years ago.  It is not read or taught because it is a reflection of the “progressives” way of doing things and that just won’t do, now will it.  






The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt

Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."


"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"


Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"


"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."


The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!


And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.


Monday, October 25, 2010

Who Won Tomorrows Election

I found this very interesting editorial in the Asheville(North Carolina) Citizen Times this morning. It is appropriately titled Who Won Tomorrows Election. 
According to the editorial page the comments are slated to be delivered today by LeRoy Goldman in a lecture at Blue Ridge Community College.

It is rather lengthy but well worth the time it takes to read the entire article. I think you will find it insightful. Go here to read Who Won Tomorrows Election.

All credit is given to LeRoy Goldman and to the Asheville Citizen Times for the content of this post. 

 

Friday, October 22, 2010

More of the Lefts Dirty Tricks. Are You Surprised?

Once again Military vote suppression has come to a head. Given the fact that Obama has total disdain and contempt for the military is anyone surprised at this. The Left will do what ever it takes to maintain control all according to Saul Alinsky's playbook.  Illinois is not the only state where this is occuring. Most of the places are where close races and fear of losing long term Leftist seats are at stake. 
If you can't earn it, steal it appears to be the continuing motto of the Left.



The Obama Justice Department has become embroiled in more voting shenanigans, this time in the president's home state of Illinois. The Illinois State Board of Elections has been lying about the level of county compliance with mailing military election ballots. Executive Director Dan White claims 10 counties didn't meet the mailing deadline, but in reality 35 of the state's 110 voting districts failed to comply, effectively stripping untold military service personnel of their right to vote. One election official, Robert Delaney, held up sending 1,300 military absentee ballots for 14 days. But while Patriots who have vowed to fight and die for our country can't be guaranteed the right to vote, 2,600 inmates in Chicago's Cook County Jail received hand-delivered applications and ballots -- at the same time.
Fifteen other states have also failed to comply with the mailing deadline for military ballots, and the Obama Justice Department is looking the other way as it did with the New Black Panther Party case. Apparently, if you're white, or if you serve in the U.S. military (which tends to vote Republican), you're just not a priority to this White House.

Thanks to the Patriot Post for the above.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Is Obama Preparing to Surrender in Afghanistan?

I don't always see eye to eye with Mr. Longstreet  things since I think at times he leans a bit far to the far right for my taste but in this commentary, he is right on target. Take time to read the rest of the story on FAULTLINE USA 


Obama Prepares to Surrender in AfghanistanObama and the White Flag of Surrender
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet


In an article entitled “Iran joins high-level Afghan talks” by AP writer ALESSANDRA RIZZO, Rizzo says the following: “Iran took part in a high-level meeting on Afghanistan on Monday after the United States said it has no problem with its participation.

The international "contact group" met in Rome amid a renewed push to end the nine-year-old war in Afghanistan, including bringing Taliban into peace talks. The group gathers the Afghan government, NATO, the EU, U.N. and other key players — including Iran this time — to assess progress in Afghanistan. (MORE)

Monday, October 11, 2010

Lest We Forget



Today a member of "The Greatest Generation" Passed Away.

Rudolph (Rudy) Franklin Mathes  
 
January 10, 1920 - October 11, 2010

Today at 12:00 noon, my wife’s father, another member of the "Greatest Generation” slipped quietly into the arms of his Creator at the age of 90. While there is now an empty seat at the table here on earth, one that cannot be filled by any other, and there is sadness in the hearts of those left behind, there is rejoicing in Heaven, and he has been seated at the table of his Lord, a seat reserved only for him.

Rudy proudly served his country in WW2 through five major campaigns, including landing at Utah Beach on D-Day. While serving, he was often called upon to deliver messages across enemy lines. He learned a secret that allowed him to deliver these messages quickly and safely. He related the story of how he stole a German motorcycle and rode close enough to enemy camps to hear them talking in order to deliver his messages to units that were on the other side of the German lines. The Germans, hearing one of their own motorcycles, paid no attention to the rider, and Rudy was able to move about at will. He said he was no hero, but to those who knew him and served with him he was indeed a hero.

He counted it a great honor to have served for a time as a driver for General George S. Patton. He related the story of them coming under sniper fire from a tree while in an open Jeep, and he was able to get the General to safety.

His many decorations include a Bronze Star, but he didn't relate the story as to how the award came about. It was one of those things that members of his generation often kept to themselves, for they sought no individual glory but only victory and honor for their country.

The brave men and women who served with honor and pride during WW2 are becoming fewer with each passing day. Soon they will all be gone, but let us never allow their memory or the memory of what they did for their country to be forgotten. May we always give them the honor and respect they so richly deserve.

We are with heavy hearts today, but at the same time, we can rejoice knowing that Rudy is in a much better place where there is no pain or suffering.

There will be a Celebration of his Life on Thursday, October 14, 2010, at Woodall Anderson-Dugger Funeral Home in Johnson City, Tennessee. At this point, I do not have a time, but it will be announced in the Obituary in the Johnson City Press. Visitation time will be announced as well.

Nancy and I will be traveling to Johnson City on Tuesday or Wednesday. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 

Friday, October 1, 2010

OBAMANOCARE Invades the VA Medical System

Please take time to read this and the situation that I have described at the end of this blog post. It is very important to every Veteran in this country and to you as family members or even friends of these Vets.


When you read through the nearly seven hundred pages of the House stimulus
bill it is easy to begin dozing off after a few hundred billion dollars
worth of run-of-the-mill wasteful government spending. One has to keep a
keen eye out for the components of the bill that don't just steal your
money, but that may actually do you great physical harm, if not kill you
outright.

On page 151 of this legislative pork-fest is one of the clandestine nuggets
of social policy manipulation that are peppered throughout the bill.
Section 9201 of the stimulus package establishes the "Federal Coordinating
Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research." This body, which would be
made up of federal bureaucrats will "coordinate the conduct or support of
comparative effectiveness and related health services research."

Sounds benign enough, but the man behind the Coordinating Council, Health
and Human Services Secretary-designate (and tax cheat) Tom Daschle (of course Daschle has been replaced with another socialist), was kind
enough to explain the goal of this organization. It is to cut health care
costs by preventing Americans from getting treatments that the government
decides don't meet their standards for cost effectiveness. In his 2008 book
on health care, he explained that such a council would, "lower overall
spending by determining which medicines, treatments and procedures are most
effective-and identifying those that do not justify their high price tags."


Once a panel of government experts decides what is and what is not
cost-effective by their definition, the government will stop paying for
treatments, medicines, therapies or devices that fall into the latter
category. Initially, this will limit access to very expensive treatments
for federal employees, veterans, the elderly, members of the military and
their dependents and others who rely on the feds to pay for their health
care. But since this would place nearly half of health care dollars off
limits for such treatments, the demand for and further development of such
treatments would likely dry up. And Daschle wants to expand the
Coordinating Council's power even further, allowing the government to deny
tax benefits for private insurance that covers treatments deemed too
expensive by the Council. Thus, if a handful of government employees deem a
therapy not cost effective, no health insurance will cover it and it will
become virtually unobtainable to patients at any cost.


It has arrived at the VA already.

I have been waiting since June for meds/treatment. Six weeks ago the doctor said she was writing a prescription for the meds that I had had much success with BUT she said the pharmacy would have to decide if they could get the Humeria which cost over $3000 a month for my use. Strange, I thought the doctor wrote the prescription and the pharmacy filled it, not decide if it was affordable or available. I say affordable because that is what it is boiling down too. It seems that if the med is too expensive then TOUGH, you ain't getting it. I have realized that this is the reason that they failed to schedule the Infusion that I had been receiving. The cost is about $5000 for the infusion and I would receive 4 to 6 per year. Are you beginning to see the picture??. 

The doctor put a hold on the perscription that she wrote 6 weeks ago but failed to notify me. 

When she called on Tuesday, after I had voiced my concern to a coordinating clinic and doctor, she said there had been a mix up and that I would have my meds on Wed via FedEx.
Did I get them? NO!! On Friday(today) I called the Directors office and lodged a formal complaint against the doctor and stated that I am in the process of filing a suit for malpractice against her and the VA. Talk about panic!!!. The assistant director got in touch with the pharmacy. The pharmacy got in touch with the doctor and the meds will be ready on Monday. At 9:45 tonight the Patient Advocate, who I had not been able to get in touch with since trying many times since June called me, in a panic. She said, did you mention my name as the one not able to get in touch with or to return your calls?.. Heads are going to roll and everyone is tucking theirs between their legs to protect themselves.

That is not all of the story. Remember when Odummer talked about treatment teams? In the OBAMANOCARE package it states that the patient may be seen by a team which may consist of a RN, LPN, a nurse practitioner (if you are lucky) and a doctor(at last resort). I received a letter from the VA telling me that I had been assigned to a TEAM and that I would be seen by them, one of which is not even a medical specialist but rather an administrative type. How wonderful!!!
Well as I said, OBAMANOCARE has invaded the VA.

Next. Have you seen all the ads for doctors at the VA on TV? Remember in the NOCARE bill there will be REGIONAL HEALTH CARE CENTERS. Hmmm.
 Are they going to build these regional centers from scratch? Hardly, but then think about it. What is already in place across the US that is located in regions of every state for the most part? Well the VA of course and those my friends will become the new REGIONAL Centers for OBAMANOCARE. Vets will become just another number, take a number and get in line(which is done at the VA now) but those who have never served one day in the military will receive treatment and you can rest assured that the VETS will be placed at the bottom of the list given the lack of respect Obama has for us and his hatred of the military.
Of course illegals will be given treatment because as soon as they can be given amnesty by Obama and his minions in the Democrat congress they will be voters and they must be kept healthy long enough to vote. 

I warned about this mess in this blog at the beginning of the fiasco called health care. Of course the "Liar in Chief" said Vet medicine and medical care would never be touched. Read it for yourself, he lied. Of course he said there was nothing in his health care bill that effected Vets. But now you know where it is hidden. 

Are you a Vet? Do you know a Vet? Do you know a Vet that has had the same type of problems that I have just experienced? If so have them get in touch with me and give me a brief outline of their problem. The Congressmen that I have been in contact with want to know and want to know how many and I am just the ones to help them find out.

We paid a high price for our care and it's not going to be taken away from me or other Vets as long as I can sit at a computer and am breathing.

Won't you help a Vet today? Pass this along as requested and encourage those Vets to get their ire up and take a stand today. It's our only chance. If we do nothing we are destined to die without medical care. Of course Obama and his socialist followers would love that. Think how much money they would have to spend on their socialist programs if they could rid themselves of the pesky Vets who draw even the minimum disability or even use the VA minimally. Scary isn't it? Paranoid? Hardly, the proof is in my experience and the experience of others and in what I have offered for your information on who will be effected. Think about it!