PRETENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL PLATITUDES........PULEEZE

"Believe what I say NOT what I do", has officially replaced "Change we can believe in".

Obama's narcissism is something to behold.  I lost count at how many times he used the word "I" in this, his first State of the Union address to the nation.
Dick Morris was correct in his prediction that Obama was an ideologue who would not pivot--that his arrogance would preclude compromise. Thus the pathetic irony in Obama's condemnation of  his Washington cohorts for this same fatal flaw referenced throughout his pandering oration.

Apparently, the buck stops anywhere except at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
If it's not Bush's fault then it must be the fault of Congress, the banks, Wall Street, the wealthy, big business, any successful small business, the energy sector, China, racism, anyone who doesn't buy into global warming AKA climatic change, etc.
Obama is the quintessential pretender but his role as victim is wearing thin. It is time for him to man up and take responsibility for the office of POTUS.

The mystical nirvana Obama promises will crumble when the consequences of reality reveal the delusional foundation of his Marxist premise that the Federal Government not only can, but should, solve all of America's problems. Big government is, as Reagan pointed out, the problem, not the solution.
The government's role is not to raise us from cradle to grave, responsible for our every need; but rather to promote individual responsibility.

There are common sense reasons why Obama's speech was full of it.
How does Obama keep from falling on the floor laughing when he advocates:
1. the need for Cap & Trade in almost the same breath as promoting aggressive exploration of America's natural resources and being more competitive with China? 
2. that his fellow Dems not politicize health care.
That is Obama's exclusive right.  They must vote for it regardless of personal political consequences since he's not the one up for re-election. After all, if someone is going to fall on the sword it sure as heck won't be Obama.
3. taking money from big banks that are now lending responsibly to provide funds to little banks for high risk loans.
Didn't Albert Einstein say that insanity was repeating the same experiment over and over and expecting a different result?
4. an across the board Federal spending freeze described as irresponsible "hatchet style" by Obama when McCain advocated this during the campaign.
But there is a caveat: ~83% of the budget is exempted, a ~24% increase to the affected 17% has already occurred in the past year, the freeze doesn't take place for another year, if then.
What about cutting spending as opposed to jacking it up and then freezing the inflated amount? WTF?
5. another stimulus even though he hasn't spent 2/3s of the last one yet.
Sounds like a squirrel storing a stockpile of nuts before the freeze.
6. $100 BB fee on big banks for past bad behavior.
I'm sure none of that will trickle down to the consumer! Ha!
More nuts for the hungry squirrel in any regard.
7. pandering to the don't ask don't tell military madness.
Now that is a pressing issue right now.
8. circumventing decisions of the US Supreme Court that he disagrees with.
Personally, I also disagree with the high court on their recent decision allowing unlimited corporate political contributions, but that is not the point. George W  disagreed with Roe v Wade in 1973. Imagine the Left's outrage had W called out the Justices at a State of the Union address with a similar inappropriate outburst?
9. a mandate for higher wages for women at a time when employers are cutting wages and employees.
That's going to make women more attractive to employers in the current hiring environment?
10. it is about the American people and not Obama.
Who the hell is he still kidding?

My brother please!

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS SMILING

"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
-Benjamin Franklin

Obama and his so called Progressives could sure use a tutorial from Ben Franklin.

The State of the Union will be delivered in a couple of days.  There is no doubt that the Obama speechwriters are in overdrive trying to account for the once ridiculed Tea Baggers who hold true to this principle of Franklin.
The fishermen are simply fed up with the government confiscating and redistributing their catch before getting to market. 

The privileged elite often underestimate the common sense and power of the working class.
Obama is clearly out of touch with the American workers who provide for their families; that is unless they are unionized.
During the campaign, Obama was more concerned with the rising cost of arugula at Whole Foods than he was with the basic needs of the workers in America.  He ridiculed rural America's strong Christian faith and the 2nd Amendment when he labeled those who opposed him as bible and gun clutching weirdos.  Last week in Massachusetts he ridiculed the average "Joe the Plumber" working class yet again when he stated that anyone can buy a pick up truck-what's the big deal? 
Well the big deal, Mr. President, is that the working class understands and appreciates what Franklin and others of his time stood for; they've just been really quiet about it until now. 
Today they are tired of having to work harder and harder so others can choose not to.
They are the Silent Majority that BOTH PARTIES have taken for granted.
They have finally said ENOUGH and are mobilizing in record numbers all over America.

Populist apathy is what the hard core Republican and Democratic big wigs have come to expect.  It is what validates their extreme views.

So instead of merely complaining about how bad our choices of candidates for public office are----get involved.
*Have the conviction and independence to support merit over Party affiliation.
*Encourage good people to run for office.
*Support qualified candidates with more than your tongue or keyboard.
*Vote in the primaries and runoffs; not just the main election.
*Be a responsible voter and educate yourself on the relevant issues. 

A policy of catch and release does not feed your family.
So stand strong, not down; and support people of character, not professional politicians.

THE GOLDEN HEART BEAT THE SILVER TONGUES

Massachusetts rescued the United States Senate--who would have thought it?!
Thank you PEOPLE of Massachusetts and thank you U.S. Senator Scott Brown.

The message is clear; even to the bastion of liberal elitism:  the PEOPLE are fed up with the unprecedented degree of arrogance, entitlement, extremism and blatant corruption of our elected officials.
Big government and big spending are big trouble and the PEOPLE aren't going to take it anymore.

Lest the Republicans quash this opportunity, they must appreciate that this is NOT a win for the Republican Party per se, but rather a victory for the PEOPLE.
The extremists of each party have a stranglehold on the Republican and Democratic Parties and consequently their respective agendas are not remotely representative of mainstream America.
Scott's message was not hard core party line rhetoric that we are all so tired of enduring; but instead he pushed a populace theme of center right that appealed to the crucial independent voters as well as the moderate Democrats.
The hard core extremists on each side of the aisle had better take note.

Scott and his old pick up truck represent the struggle of the PEOPLE.  If Scott stays true to his message of representing what is in the best interest of the American PEOPLE and does not yield to the exorbitant temptations of self interest; it will be a great day for our country.

Slick oratory finesse was no match for integrity yesterday in Massachusetts.....let's hope the rest of  America took note.

AMERICA'S RELIEF IN HAITI: WILL IT BE TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH

Last night's lead story on 60 Minutes featured the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake.  It was heart wrenching.  The human suffering and loss of life in Haiti was unthinkable.  The graphic devastation was, as one reporter indicated, eerily reminiscent of the Holocaust....nature can be as cruel as evil dictators on some level.

The issue for America is not whether or not we should provide relief for this impoverished nation hit by yet another natural disaster; but to what extent and at what cost. We must of course provide emergency relief to stop the immediate human suffering; but to what degree after containment and stabilization?
America does not have the endless deep pockets the world has come to expect and she is also suffering from within. 

We can no longer afford to rebuild yet another floundering nation while ours is so unstable and precarious.
Common sense should trump our fear of perceived negativity by a world community who, with rare exception, never hesitates to judge our efforts.....while never themselves investing towards any relief effort for others. 

When nation rebuilding in Haiti takes centers stage, the world community, for a change, must equitably share the responsibility of  this endeavor. America is at it's breaking point.  China's wealth and the oil rich Middle East need to step up as do the Europeans and Russians. I mean they're all clamoring for one world order so what's the hold-up?

If Obama insists on analogizing his administration's response to the Haitians to Bush's Katrina response; all common sense will be lost on the issue along with our solvency as a nation.
Which impoverished nation will be next?  Bangladesh? Cuba?  Nigeria? Angola? Chad? ? Even Venezuela won't be off the table!
Foreign aid will go into turbo drive.

AMERICA NEEDS RESPONSIBLE NOT POLITICAL HEALTH CARE REFORM

Barrack Hussein Obama has turned out to be the ultimate Chicago gangsta politician......as painfully predictable as that may seem to anyone with a scintilla of common sense; it wasn't the change the dimwits on the left bargained for.
Secret deals, blatant payoffs, clandestine negotiations, etc. may all be common place in Chicago; but his O'ness campaigned on a promise of transparency as "CHANGE we can believe in ....yes we can".
The rampant pork barrel bribery behind closed doors has offended more than the C-Span producers.
The progressives must be scratching their collective naive heads in total disbelief.
Obama has delivered on his campaign promises about as well as Pat Lykos has locally in Harris County....total meltdown with a cavalier impunity and arrogance.
Relevant experience and qualifications do count in leadership roles.  Who knew?

Responsible health care reform should reward good behavior rather than corrupt politicians.
Instead of modeling failed and/or inferior health care delivery systems in total while trashing our existing system; it would be more appropriate to identify the issues and apply a risk benefit analysis of the options.
A basic health care reform bill should incorporate the following components:
1. Reward healthy behavior and penalize high risk behavior.
2. No penalties for pre-existing conditions that are not a result of high risk behavior.
3. Mandatory modified medical flex plans.
4. Indigent care clinics for the under-insured.
5. National tort reform.
6. Common sense overhaul of the FDA.
7. Free market insurance coverage that is portable with no carrier restrictions based on state lines.
8. Minimize and aggressively prosecute fraud and abuse.
9. Design a program that is open to innovation and not static.
10. Attract the best and the brightest to enter the medical field instead of running them off.

How long would your local grocery store stay in business if their customers could fill as many buggies as they wanted with whatever products they wanted for a $20.00 co-pay? Would you expect the quality of goods to go up under such a plan? Would you expect rationing?
How about if restaurants or car dealerships conducted business that way?  Steak and lobster or a burger? A Bentley or a Honda?
How insane.

Health care is a business and businesses thrive under a competitive free market capitalistic system better than any other model in the history of civilization.

The Plan:
All employees and any one else who wishes to participate in private American health care shall have the opportunity to purchase high deductible catastrophic health care from any carrier authorized to conduct business in the USA.
The employer shall be responsible for at least that portion of the catastrophic policy that was adversely rated as a consequence of the employee's job duties and may pay up to the entirety to attract and retain employees.
All coverage will be portable.
Every employee shall be required to contribute from each paycheck to a personal Flexible Health Care Plan until said plan is funded with sufficient dollars to cover his/her/family deductible; any contributions thereafter are optional.  When flex dollars are utilized for health care, salary contributions shall resume until minimum funding requirements are met.  All contributions to the flex account are tax deductible and excess contributions shall be permitted within statutory guidelines.  Flex dollars shall roll over at the end of each fiscal year and never escheat for lack of utilization in a fiscal year. Once the insured becomes eligible for Medicare he may, at his option, withdraw any remaining funds in similar fashion as to a Traditional IRA.  Further,  upon insured's death, any remaining funds in said account shall pass through his estate.
The cost of each individual's catastrophic plan shall be determined by his/her personal risk factors such as disproportionate body mass index, substance abuse, criminal record, participation in high risk behavior, etc.and adjusted annually.
Any premium amount attributable to personal high risk behavior shall be the sole responsibility of the individual and not the employer; unless such risk is job related or the employer waves the exemption.
Thus the individual will now have a financial incentive to engage in a healthier lifestyle and be more fiscally responsible in the procurement of care.
The patient will have no restrictions as to what MD he chooses to see.
He will also be motivated to shop his care and actively inquire as to the need/cost/quality of services and durable goods provided.
In essence the responsible segment of society will be self insured, his choices will be greater and his costs will be less.  
Insurance fraud committed by any provider, insured or carrier will have severe civil and criminal penalties imposed.
The government will provide indigent care facilities for those individuals too poor or unwilling (self employed or retired non-indigents) to buy into the private plan.
The government plan will:
1. provide basic health care based on ability to pay.
2. be immune from all acts of ordinary negligence
3. be staffed by residents who must complete a two (2) year rotation at an indigent care center with minimal compensation before being eligible for licensure in private practice AND be supervised by board certified attending physicians.
4. only provide generic medication unless brand name is deemed medically necessary
5. require that all non emergency patients who present to an ER be triaged by indigent care providers assigned to that facility
6. prohibit paramedics and other emergency response providers to transport non emergency indigent patients free of charge. Public transportation will, however, be provided as deemed appropriate.
7. prohibit coverage of chronic life support, organ transplants and other extraordinary measures that are a result of poor behavioral decisions; ignorance will not be an excuse for bad behavior.
However, nothing will preclude any person from independently paying for non covered  health care of himself or another so long as it is not illegal.

The FDA will be more cost effective in permitting products to market while continuing to provide for reasonable consumer safety.  Common sense will replace a warranty mind set.

BUT instead, Obama and his Congressional whores are setting up a government co-op for the delivery of medical care that will make the aforementioned Indigent Plan look like a Cadillac.
Long lines, rationed care, and third world caregivers from Pakistan will be the benchmark for every American except the liberal elite Politburo.

JUDICIAL QUID PRO QUO

Rather than bastardize the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution into a a self serving politically correct tool of judicial manipulation; I support a common sense interpretation that results in fair play and equity for all participants of the judicial process.
The playing field must be as level as possible to insure that justice is served.
The wealthy already have enough advantage in their ability to purchase legal counsel; the judge should not be for sale to the highest bidder as well.
The trial abilities of opposing counsel will never be equal; but a judge's treatment of all participants must be.
When a particular party and the decider of fact are financially in bed with each other, justice is jeopardized.
If an attorney sincerely wants to participate in the election process of the judiciary; rather than in the purchase of a favorable outcome, he should have no objection to do so anonymously.

A judge must be impartial, regardless of political affiliation.  He/she has a responsibility to render decisions in an equitable unbiased fashion and therefore should avoid even the mere appearance of impropriety.

Hence the issue of whether or not it is appropriate for an attorney, who might reasonably be expected to try a case in front of a particular judge, to be allowed to contribute, without restraint or limitation, to that particular judge's "campaign" and there be no quid pro quo implied.

Does the 1st Amendment guarantee that bribery and/or extortion be an integral part of the judicial election process?

Judicial candidates can only receive political contributions within a certain statutory time frame prior to the election.  Does that Unconstitutionally inhibit the Founding Father's Free Speech guarantee of the 1st Amendment? 

If attorneys who practice in front of a judge are given free reign to make judicial payoffs, why not allow criminal defendants to do the same prior to sentencing?
On the civil side, I'll bet big business would outspend those pesky plaintiff's prior to judgment being rendered.

For the politically correct: money talks and bullshit walks.....for the rest of us we need campaign reform.

CONGRATULATIONS TO FUTURE JUDGE DON SMYTH

Well it looks like Don Smyth was the STEALTH straw poll winner with an overwhelming margin of victory.  Smyth garnered more individual votes than all of the other candidates combined, real and imagined.
The surprise for me, was how dismal Rachael Palmer's support was.
The scuttlebutt that the entire misdemeanor division of the Harris County District Attorney's Office supported Deputy Dog Palmer is, thank goodness, apparently quite erroneous. 
Palmer was barely able to edge out the notorious spoiler, Jim Leitner, who was not an actual candidate and always seems to place last in every election he enters.
Palmer placed a distant third out of the three announced candidates--in other words last place.

Hopefully this is an accurate reflection of the Harris County electorate in the upcoming election. 
Regardless, Palmer's best hope is a low voter turnout; so the hotly contested Governor's race should nullify that potential miscarriage of justice. 

REMEMBER TO VOTE!!!

TERROR'S GRIP ON AMERICA

Terrorism has become a growth industry.
This Islamic behemoth is funded by the very people it seeks to destroy......the USA and the rest of the free world "infidels".

Oil and opiates are modern day symbols of power and the Middle East is the main producer of each. The enormous profits fuel the arsenal for their "hate delivery system".
To feed their insatiable addictions, America and the rest of the planet seem content to accept the consumer role for these goods; while providing weapons and huge chunks of global wealth in exchange.

We don't need their oil. 
America has enormous reserves of sweet crude, natural gas, coal and shale.  So what's up?  Big oil lobbyists, both domestic and foreign, feeding corrupt politicians, have stifled the exploration and production of our own natural resources.
The technology to "develop to market", alternative renewable energy options, have also been thwarted by big government; in spite of their pretense to the contrary.  Money talks and bullshit walks--simply put, the Feds can't think of a way to tax sunshine, wind or non-municipal water yet....as soon as they do, we'll have real energy options.
The private sector's drive and resolve to achieve greatness and excellence through innovation has been crippled by a system that rewards failure at the expense of  success.

America doesn't "need" illicit drugs either; she "demands" them. Stop the demand and drug problem solved.  Yes it really is that simple.
Drugs don't give anyone a new and improved reality as advertised, they destroy reality.
Drugs are an integral component of the dumbing down of America.
Minorities are disproportionately affected, but every American enslaved by the permissiveness of the drug culture is  "kept in their place" with the drug. 
Druggies have exchanged the drive and struggle for achievement with cultural acceptance at being driven like cattle to the slaughterhouse. 
So unless you want to be the next chicken fried steak, wake up and take responsibility for yourself, your family and your country.
The popular answer of: "you can't stop drug usage so you might as well decriminalize it" is as nonsensical as applying the same logic to rape. The widespread condoning of illicit drug use is advocating the wholesale rape of our youths' minds.
Now before criticism is levied at the failures of zero tolerance coupled with zero common sense and jail overcrowding by non violent substance abusers; instead approach the issue from the "tough love" stand point of a responsible parent towards his/her poorly behaving child. If you caught one of YOUR children smoking a little crack or simply found a pipe with a little residue hidden in his/her drawer would you simply say "it's okay suga', all your friends are engaging in similar activity and I just want to be your friend".  Of course not.  Notwithstanding,  it's not the government's duty, nor should it be, to raise kids from the cradle to the grave.  It is, however, society's responsibility, through it's laws and regulations to promote responsible behavior and provide consequences, rather than excuses, for bad behavior.

It is often said that an alcoholic must hit rock bottom before he has any real shot at success......we're there.
 
Who will challenge foreign interests and their domination over America if our own government is complicit?

And we have the audacity to call the terrorists crazy extremists....those bastards are as crazy as a den of foxes with a mission that they have no qualms dieing for.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE TEXANS?

HOUSTON TEXANS 34.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 27.

ENOUGH SAID.

GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!!  WE'RE HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS BABY!