The nightmare isn't over

"To hear Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tell it, America’s long national nightmare is over. Except…it’s not. Our national nightmare isn’t the government shutdown; it’s Obamacare" The Foundry.

It's unfortunate that the GOP again allowed the Obama forces to say, "look over there," not at our scandals.

It's never a mistake to do the right thing, even if you lose.

From Senator Mike Lee (R)


"Dear Friends, Here we are again. Another unnecessary crisis. A proposal that maintains the status quo. Very little time to read and evaluate the bill. No time to explain it to our constituents.

This is Washington. It is exactly the kind of thing the American people are fed up with and exactly why several of my colleagues and I began the effort to defund and delay Obamacare back in July.

It appears that this particular fight will end much the same way Obamacare began: in a last-minute deal, negotiated in back rooms, then forced on Congress and the American people.

The Washington Establishment can’t bring itself to believe that this is why Congress has a poor approval rating – because Washington doesn’t listen to the American people. It ignores them. And when the American people can no longer be ignored, the administration shuts down national parks, blocks veterans from going to their own memorials, uses the IRS to target certain groups, and holds hostage critical funding for cancer research, low-income women and children, veterans’ health benefits, border security, and our National Guard.

It is shameful how Washington treats the American people and the people are right to be upset about it.

The media keeps asking, was it worth it? My answer is that it is always worth it to do the right thing. Fighting against an abusive government in defense of protecting our individual rights and freedoms is always the right thing.

Some say we shouldn’t have fought because we couldn’t win. But this country wasn’t built by fighting only when victory was certain. In fact, some of the most important victories in our history were the result of fighting battles against significant odds.

And even if victory seemed difficult or impossible, that wouldn’t excuse me or anyone else from doing the right thing. Avoiding difficult battles is how we ended up in this mess – $17 trillion in debt, out-of-control spending, a broken entitlement system, a tax code no one understands – all because Washington is willing to act only when there is guaranteed political gain.

When the avoidance of political risk becomes our dominant motivation, only the Washington establishment wins. And the American people lose.

Furthermore, in Washington, victories are rarely immediate and very few are permanent. Obamacare wasn’t enacted overnight and it won’t be repealed overnight. We must remind the American people of the harmful effects of this law at every opportunity if we are ever going to see it repealed.

The best case against Obamacare is proving to be Obamacare itself. We have repeatedly warned that the American people will be shocked when they realize the way the president has misled them about Obamacare.

The embarrassing rollout of the exchanges doesn’t even scratch the surface. Every day brings a new story of a family whose deductible has doubled, or a married couple that can’t keep the plan they have, or a business that can no longer provide insurance, or workers who are seeing their hours cut or losing their jobs altogether.

The realization that the administration has either been dishonest or incompetent – or both – is just starting to dawn on the American people. Even the president’s friends in the media are watching this slow rolling train wreck and are demanding the president do something to stop it.

The Chicago Tribune, the president’s hometown newspaper, puts it this way:
“Last spring, President Barack Obama said ‘there will still be, you know, glitches and bumps’ in the rollout of the new system. But what we're seeing now is no glitch or bump. There is a growing mountain of evidence that Obamacare has fundamental problems in design and implementation.”

The Tribune goes on to say: “We encouraged a one-year delay in the law. We recognize that's not going to happen. Obamacare is here. It's time, though, for the Obama administration to level with Americans about what's happening here. It's time to stop blaming Republicans and start talking about what needs to change.”

Incidentally, a delay in the law for the duration of the CR is exactly what we called for back in July. And now it appears that the president’s hometown newspaper agrees with us. Almost everyone but the president seems to recognize that this law is going to be terrible for the American people. It’s costing jobs. It’s hurting families. It’s making people’s health care situation worse, and it won’t solve the problems in our broken health care system.

And let me be clear: There will be very real consequences for people in both parties as a result of the implementation of this law. Today, Washington has the upper hand, but the American people will always have the last word. This is not over. We have an obligation to fight for the American people. And I do not intend to let the people down."

BLT Dip

Here's another spread it directly on your hips and skip the middle man recipe:

Ingredients: 1-1/2 pound bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled, and divided 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded) or to taste 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste) 1 tablespoons mustard 2 cups chopped seeded tomatoes 1-1/2 cup shredded Iceberg lettuce pepper an salt to taste Toasted bread rounds, crackers, or pita chips. Directions: Preheat oven to 350˚. Spray a 1 1⁄2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside 3/4 cup crumbled bacon. In a large bowl, combine remaining bacon, cream cheese, shredded cheeses, sour cream, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and mustard. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle chopped tomatoes, remaining 3/4 cup crumbled bacon and lettuce over hot dip. Serve immediately with toasted bread rounds, crackers, or pita chips...

Ransom takers, house burners, defaulters, global-economy crashers, nuclear-bomb users, extremists, threateners, extortionists, hostage takers, plant burners, and equipment breakers.

That's what the President of the United States thinks of 50% of the country--actually, probably more than that now since his approval rates are so low. And this is how he calls for civility!

"The problem with such disingenuousness—calling for civility coupled with the above invective, bragging about radically lowering deficits without specifying why and how they occurred, and taking credit for radically more oil and gas production while being indifferent or opposed to it—is that, although it can be delivered in a cool, flippant mode, it is also now six years old, and few believe any more that what he asserts so breezily as fact is much more than half true. In contrast, had he stopped the name-calling, honestly explained why deficits have gone down somewhat (from record highs), praised the private energy sector and promised to give it more help on public lands, and admitted the problems with Obamacare—he would now be negotiating." Victor Davis Hanson

Overcoming the Shutdown Crisis: Helping Dysfunctional Politicians with Family Psychology

Guest blogger: Dr. Linda Miles

I am openly dismayed and disillusioned by the behavior of many of our Congressional officials. Our politicians are exhibiting almost every serious problematic behavior I’ve dealt with as a Marriage Counselor and Family Psychotherapist for over 35 years. In the scramble for political advantage, keeping score has become more important than the welfare of our country

I think it’s time they started dealing with our national problems as mature adults and true professionals. The behaviors we are seeing match the seven classical hallmarks found in dysfunctional families everywhere:

1. Shame and Blame;

2. Scapegoating;

3. Contempt;

4. Defensiveness;

5. Gridlock;

6. Stonewalling;

7. Show Downs.

Finger pointing has become more important than solving the real problems. There is no respect being given and no meaningful exchange of ideas. Our politicians resist flexibility and are unwilling to try and reach synergistic solutions together. Energy is devoted primarily to staying in “Attack Mode”.

Have we not yet learned better strategies for conducting our political life? What is it going to take?

I believe that political leaders can solve the nation’s problems if they take a deep breath and agree to use the same techniques used by healthy families to overcome conflict everywhere.

Healthy families deal with conflict by facing the issues and fighting fairly. We must demand our leaders conduct themselves civilly, and conduct and maintain healthy relationships with each other.

We must demand effective leadership and honest, open, sincere authentic and meaningful communication.

We must demand that our elected officials leaders work together to solve problems, prevent harm, and provide mutual respect, even when they do not agree on ideas.

We need people to cool things off and take action to remove the immediate threat of the crisis, we need to see cool heads prevail and keep others from turning on one another.

We need people on all sides of the controversies to be willing to listen to each other’s pain and be willing to help one another.

Dr. Linda Miles, Tallahassee, Florida, www.drlindamiles.com

Where can the middle class afford a home? Ohio

“Some 86% of homes in the Akron, Ohio area are within reach of middle-class buyers in the area, the highest share in the nation, according to a report from Trulia, the real estate listings site. The next two cities on the list, with 85% of homes affordable to middle class, are Dayton and Toledo, respectively.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2013/10/10/where-can-the-middle-class-buy-a-home/?mod=trending_now_3

Blaming Bush redux, now it’s blame the Tea Party

The Tea Party isn't on the ballot; it has never demanded your pay check; it has never redistributed your wealth or run up the deficit; it has never sent your sons and daughters to the Middle East; it didn't kidnap a member of the Taliban this week from the hands of our Afghan allies, straining relations; it doesn't get chummy with the Muslim Brotherhood; it didn't promise to fundamentally transform this country; it has never asked you violate your religious beliefs; it has never strangled your business with regulation and red tape; it doesn't control any Washington bureaucracy; it doesn't take vacations on your tab; it hasn't cancelled your insurance as of 11:59 on Dec. 31 of this year; and it most certainly does not have the power to shut down anything under federal control, not even Michelle Obama's website (and apparently neither does her husband since it is still up and running). But the most narcissistic, nasty, petty president in the history of the U.S. has the gall to blame the Tea Party because blaming Bush was just getting old.

Good luck on keeping your healthcare

There are 20 more examples at “Obama’s Broken Promises” at National Review Online—sent by real Americans. http://nationalreview.com/article/360689/obamas-broken-promise-andrew-johnson/page/0/4?splash=

American the beautiful and closed

Thanksgiving is coming

Useful tips I should remember

http://sarcasticcharm.com/99-life-hacks-that-could-make-your-life-easier

Important things to know about Medicare

1) “Medicare is essentially compulsory. People who refuse to join Medicare Part A are not allowed to receive their earned Social Security benefits. On June 30, 2011, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and 12 GOP colleagues introduced the Retirement Freedom Act to decouple Medicare from Social Security. On February 7, 2012, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals held that ‘because plaintiffs are entitled to Social Security benefits and are 65 or older, they are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A benefits. The statute offers no path to disclaim their legal entitlement to Medicare Part A benefits.’”

2) “Medicare patients cannot pay cash for care. A 1997 law (Balanced Budget Act, section 4507) forbids private contracts between patients and doctors.” This means that “Medicare recipients cannot pay cash for a Medicare-covered service that Medicare DENIES until the doctor has opted out of Medicare.” (My Caps) So Medicare patients must first find a fee for a service doctor or specialist and then HOPE he will be willing and able to treat them! It is incredible that it makes no difference that Medicare has DENIED their claim. (Remember that illegals may well get this same treatment free of charge simply by walking into the nearest Emergency Room.)

3) “Initial refusal to enroll in Medicare Part B leads to costly penalties. Seniors are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B. Those who refuse and later change their minds will pay a premium for the rest of their lives that is 10 percent higher for each year they were not enrolled.”

Seventy seven million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are currently becoming eligible for Medicare enrollment. The number of Medicare beneficiaries will grow “…from 50.7 million in 2012 to 81 million in 2030.” During the next 17 years, doctors and hospitals will be reimbursed at a lower rate for Medicare services with each passing year. At the same time, the number of qualified physicians is expected to decrease dramatically as the number of older patients requiring care skyrockets. The left were hardly unaware of these facts when they rammed the Affordable Care Act through Congress.

In 2012, approximately 56% of Americans 65 or older voted for Mitt Romney. As weak and disappointing as this Obama-lite candidate was, he received a strong majority of the senior vote.

So the question becomes, in addition to acquiring the power of life and death over the American people, has the Affordable Care Act provided Democrats a method of “cancelling out” the Republican edge among future senior voters?

from http://www.westernjournalism.com/obamacare-death-panels-will-begin-work-medicare-recipients/#ZYZTohgzoUWfeKVX.99

Don’t look up

How’s your food supply?

We are now seeing how an angry, power hungry, petulant President can freeze up a nation to get his way. The Federal Government owns nearly 650 million acres of land - almost 30 percent of the land area of the United States (NV, CO, UT, WY, AZ over half), and right now, the President through his appointee in the Dept. of Interior can decide to close a road, a store, a hotel, a business, a home or even an Indian reservation on federal land (our land). Maybe those people learning survialist skills and storing food had the right idea?

Sally Jewell, head of Department of Interior (and the NPS) which is kicking people out of national parks and denying access on federal land (which we own, btw) reports directly to President Obama. She'd really like to kick out the oil and logging companies that are on federal land. Tourists are small potatoes. As usual, the leftists have us looking somewhere else.

Balloons pollute

If you’re happy or celebrating, don’t release balloons.

Four Presidents on Mt. Rushmore have a message for President Obama

“The federal government shutdown has closed access to some popular Black Hills area tourist spots, but the regional tourism association says some are still visible.

Direct access is closed to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and Devils Tower National Monument.” Huffington Post

“Blocking access to trails and programs at South Dakota’s most popular attraction was one thing, but state officials didn’t expect Congress’ budget stalemate to shut down a view of Mount Rushmore.

The National Park Service placed cones along highway viewing areas outside Mount Rushmore this week, barring visitors from pulling over and taking pictures of the famed monument.” Argus Leader, S.D.

The Shutdown

Mike Huckabee on the lack of common sense

Chalk up some another victim of our school officials’ zero common sense policies. In Cobb County, Georgia, 17-year-old Cody Chitwood was charged with bringing weapons into a school zone. It all started when drug-sniffing dogs detected gun powder from his ...car. That turned out to be residue from a firecracker that had been in the car since the Fourth of July. That suspicion led to a search that uncovered knives. You see, Cody is an avid fisherman, and out in his locked, parked car, he had his tackle box, which had fishing knives in it. He’s now facing a felony charge that could send him to prison for up to 10 years and destroy his hopes of joining the Air Force. A similar arrest happened to another senior at a nearby school. Luckily, this was so over-the-top, state legislators are finally considering changing the laws to restore some common sense to school weapons policies. It will leave me with fewer idiotic news stories to comment on, but I guess if it stops the destruction of kids’ lives for no good reason, then that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. From the FaceBook site of Mike Huckabee.

Shame on the President for his pettiness

Shame on the President for denying death benefits to our soldiers killed since Oct. 1. He never did like the military and from declaring Ft. Hood "work place violence" to keeping his military base golf course open during the shutdown to blocking WWII vets at the Washington Mall to see the memorial to denying these benefits he's flying the flag, "Mission Accomplished."

A private foundation, Fisher House Foundation, has stepped forward to cover death benefits for the families of troops who've been killed in combat after the Pentagon confirmed the payments have been suspended as a result of the partial government shutdown. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced Tuesday that the Maryland-based Fisher House Foundation has offered to cover the $100,000 payments that the government typically pays out to families within three days of a soldier's death.

These government functions are still going during shutdown—Michelle’s web page

#1 According to U.S. Senator Rand Paul, 85 percent of all government activities are actually being funded during this "government shutdown".

#2 Approximately 1,350,000 "essential" federal employees will continue to work during this "government shutdown".

#3 Overall, 63 percent of the federal workforce will continue to work during this "government shutdown".

#4 The U.S. Postal Service will continue to deliver our mail.

#5 U.S. military personnel will remain on duty and will continue to get paid.

#6 Social Security recipients will continue to get their benefits.

#7 Medicare recipients will continue to get their benefits.

#8 Medicaid recipients will continue to get their benefits.

#9 Food stamp recipients will continue to get their benefits.

#10 Those on unemployment will continue to get their benefits.

#11 Federal retirees will continue to get their pensions.

#12 The federal school lunch program has enough money to go through at least the end of this month.

#13 Public schools all over the country will continue to stay open.

#14 Almost all federal law enforcement officials will continue working.

#15 The Federal Reserve will remain "completely functional".

#16 The Supreme Court will continue to operate normally and federal courts have enough money to keep going for at least two weeks.

#17 TSA employees will continue to molest travelers at our airports.

#18 Air traffic controllers will continue to monitor traffic at our airports.

#19 Hopelessly outmanned border patrol agents will continue to try to stem the tide of illegal immigration.

#20 Visas and passports will continue to be issued by the State Department.

#21 The Veterans Administration will continue to offer substandard medical services, and it will be able to continue processing benefit payments at least for now.

#22 The Obama administration apparently has plenty of money to spend on closing open-air memorials that are usually open to the public 24 hours a day.

#23 The Department of Defense announced the awarding of 94 new contracts worth a combined total of more than 5 billion dollars on September 30th - the day right before the "government shutdown".

#24 The "government shutdown" has not prevented the new two billion dollar NSA spy center from opening up.

#25 Federal prisons will continue to operate normally.

#26 Amtrak trains will continue to run.

#27 The Patent and Trademark Office will be open.

#28 The Consumer Product Safety Commission will continue to issue product recalls if the products "create an immediate threat to the safety of human life".

#29 The National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center will continue to track weather patterns.

#30 If the federal government needs to respond to a natural disaster, this "shutdown" will not affect that. #31 NASA will continue to support the Mars Rover and the two American astronauts up on the International Space Station.

#32 All city employees of the D.C. government have been deemed "essential" and will continue to go to work.

#33 Even though the Obamacare exchanges are not working properly, people will still be able to access them.

#34 The IRS will continue to collect taxes, but it will be suspending punitive audits of conservative organizations.

#35 Barack Obama will continue to get paid for the full duration of this "shutdown".

#36 The U.S. Congress will continue to get paid for the full duration of this "shutdown". -

 http://www.worldviewweekend.com/news/article/government-shutdown-36-facts-which-prove-almost-everything-still-running#sthash.yVwdl8GF.dpuf

Congress’ gym is open, but there’s no towel service. What a shame.