Thursday, January 13, 2011

Reynolds on Palin

I liked Glenn Reynolds's (aka Instapundit) views here that I have copied them in full.
NICK GILLESPIE: Palin’s Not Complicit in Loughner Shooting, but She Sure Ain’t Presidential, Either. Has any other public figure ever had to try to act “Presidential,” though, while being accused of complicity in mass murder?

On the other hand, if (as isn’t clear to me) she actually wants to be President, she’ll have to learn to be Presidential. Barack Obama has had his problems in that department, too, and unlike Palin, he’s had the benefit of a desperately supportive and eager-to-please mainstream media.

Palin, on the other hand, has been royally screwed-over by that same media, and has managed to come back and beat them out again and again, from “death panels” to “blood libel.” And that engenders considerable sympathy. A musician friend of mine who’s not especially political emailed me the other day: “I don’t particularly care for Palin, but every time they do this to her, I find myself hoping she becomes President, out of pure spite.”

I understand the sentiment, but being screwed over by the media, while it may breed sympathy, isn’t a qualification for being President. Richard Jewell was royally screwed over by the media, too, but he didn’t belong in the White House because of it. if Palin is to be elected President, it’s not going to be on a sympathy vote.

But here’s what’s going on in the dance between Palin and what she calls the “lamestream” media: Every time they attack her, they wind up doing something that hurts them worse than it hurts her. She may not become President, and she may not even want to be President — though, regardless, it’s in her interest to keep everyone guessing as long as possible — but with little more than an Internet connection and Facebook she’s done more lasting harm to their position than anybody else. Last night Barack Obama threw them under the bus over the whole “rhetoric” question, just hours after she had managed to work them into a snarling frenzy with an Internet video. Even though it’s hurting them, they can’t — and I mean, literally, psychologically can’t — leave her alone. And she’s getting rich the whole time.

So I don’t know about “Presidential,” but who’s dumb, here?
Added further down on the Instapundit website were these tidbits which I liked too. Mr. Reynolds is refering to the liberal media's nasty obsession with Sarah Palin.
She’s living in their heads, rent-free, 24-7.

MORE: Reader Akiva Eisenberg writes: “Ayup, but those are unfurnished apartments…”

God Bless America

If this doesn't make you proud to be an American then you have no heart. So very sweet.

Hockey crowd sings after 8-year-old's national anthem glitch

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Random Round-Up 01-12


President Obama Job Approval

NJ Governor Chris Christie surges in statewide poll

Scientists Inadvertently Killing Penguins, Researchers Find

The Great Food Crisis of 2011 Maybe if we stop burning corn in our cars?...

UGH Big Brother's Body-Scan Plan This is crazy intrusive! Basically the DHS wants to do naked scanners on every one in any public setting, sporting events, museums, etc.

The Sixties Were Violent, Not Today

Did Sheriff Dupnik drop the ball? AND Fun Facts About Arizona Recall Elections

Most Americans Oppose Debt Ceiling Increase

Judicial Watch Sues HHS to Obtain Obamacare Waiver Documents

Under the Cover of Darkness, Illinois Democrats Hike Taxes

Beware the extremist moderates!


How a housing slump will slow the jobs train

Assange claims to have dirt on NewsCorp in ‘insurance’ file

Exclusive: Alan Dershowitz Defends Sarah Palin’s Use of Term ‘Blood Libel’ The woman wears a pin of the Isreali Flag for crying out loud.

Small Businesses and Big Unintended Consequences

Let’s Address Democrat Outrage Over Dangerous Rhetoric – Hold Hearings Immediately!

Did Bank of America get another, secret taxpayer-funded bailout?

It Isn't The Rhetoric They Fear, It's The Passion

I Hereby Renounce All Cause and Effect

From Ike's dilemma to Obama's disaster



Dumb atheists - Supreme Court again is asked to drop ‘In God We Trust’

Global warming reveals shortage of snow plows in Atlanta

Snow in 49 states including Hawaii

Gitmo belongs to Obama now

The Government Spending Threat to Economic Freedom

Three Irreconcilable Fiscal Majorities

Barry and Sarah talk violence


Citizen Soros: Funding Anti-American Film (Part 3 in a Series)

Six reasons America is only the ninth-most free economy in the world

Invoking Giffords, Kerry Touts Windmills, Reveals Greens’ Confusion

Big Lies and Little Ones Paul Krugman's only example turns out to have been fraudulent.

Let’s Talk About The Democrat Party’s ‘Arrestables’



Worker's Notice to Employees: A Friendly Reminder About Unions

Anti-Vaccine Doctor Planned to Profit from Scare

Dem Leader Clyburn Calls For Gov’t Censorship; Daughter is FCC Commissioner



Lebanese Government Collapses After Hezbollah Ministers Resign

Let Us Not Praise Pro-Terrorist Newspapers

New Media Soundly Defeats Left-Wing Media’s Political Witch Hunt

CBS Poll: American Public Not Buying Democrat, Media Spin on Arizona Shooting

Baby Boomers Could Force Economic Catastrophe

The plot thickens: BBC Hits UK Govt with Freedom of Information Demand in Cold Winter Forecast Fiasco

The Authoritarian Media The New York Times has crossed a moral line.

Same as the Old Boss?

Sheriff Dupnik’s Officers Visited Loughner in his Home Multiple Times Before Shooting Incident

ACORN leader avoids prison for voter fraud conspiracy
This isn’t the first time Busefink was involved in shady electoral dealings. Even while under indictment in Nevada she ran the 2010 national voter drive for Project Vote, which was President Obama’s employer in 1992. Project Vote and ACORN have long been indistinguishable. Project Vote still operates out of ACORN’s offices in Washington, D.C.

Busefink also ran ACORN’s fraud-ridden 2008 voter registration drive. In that drive, officials chucked an astounding 400,000 bogus registrations.
Given her history, I think the sentence should have been much stiffer.



A Predictable Tragedy in Arizona We emptied state mental hospitals starting in the 1960s without providing adequate treatment alternatives.

Housing Market Slips Into Depression Territory

Virginia to consider banning illegals from colleges

A Quick Reminder on Paul Krugman and Climates of Hate

A Disturbing Motif: Online Manifesto, Mass Shooting

Redistricting imperils Dennis Kucinich

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Still Breaking My Heart


May all those who died rest in peace and those who are suffering the loss of their loved ones or the pain of recovery find hope and solace in the support and prayers all decent Americans are offering them.

Letting Crazies Loose

Mental Illness and Mass Murder How many more tragedies like the Tucson shootings will we have to watch before we start facing the harsh truth? Personally, I consider it a kindness to institutionalize those who are mentally incapable as it provides them with needed care and protects innocents (like 9 year old girls) from being brutally murdered. Just sayin'. AND "If you see it on the news one night, know that I got out fast..." AND this from Jerry Pournelle
Back in 1971 when I started the shooter would have been put in a mental health institute unless he could be medicated to safely be out under someone's watchful eye. They changed the laws in the later 70s and 80s to make sure folks like this were not institutionalized. They were more and more let 'on the street' in what Daniel Patrick Moynahan called the "dumbing down of America". The current standard is that they cannot be institutionalized and have their freedom restricted anymore unless the local prosecutor can prove that "they pose a threat to themselves or others who cannot avoid them". So they are let go to run free or let out with medication that they often stop taking, causing them to revert back to looney.

Random Round-Up 01-11


President Obama Job Approval

A secret $6 billion bailout for Puerto Rico?

Smooth move dumbasses. John Adams tried that 200 years ago with the Alien and Sedition Acts and that was an epic fail. Why isn't that liberals have no new ideas? Dem planning bill that would outlaw threats to lawmakers

Boehner will keep flying commercial

Debt default is no laughing matter

In Budget Crises, an Opening for School Reform School systems can put students first by making sure any layoffs account for teacher quality, not seniority. AND Three Reasons You Should Join “National School Choice Week”

Is this a good thing? - The Fed’s QE2 Traders, Buying Bonds by the Billions

Please! Simplify! Dump the Current Tax Code and Start Over

To House GOP, Illegal Immigration Is Jobs Issue AND Detaching the Anchor From Anchor Babies

Rep. Steve King Says Witnesses Are Ready to Testify in Congress About Alleged Fraud in Federal Compensation Payments to Black Farmers Pigford is a disgrace for a round-up go here.

How to Use Evil to Promote Your Agenda

Downturn's Ugly Trademark: Steep, Lasting Drop in Wages

Like paying taxes and other law-abiding requirement, following the rules - even if they are for the safety and well-being of 100s of fellow travelers - is for the "little people" Arianna Huffington, fellow passenger escorted off airline after dispute over her BlackBerry

It's Back...Assange: We're stepping up release of leaked docs

The Internet Is Threatened By Government Regulation

Thank you for keeping up the good fight - Radio hosts: We won’t back down

Thomas Sowell - A Republican Showdown?

The Case for Social Security Personal Accounts


From the brand new Tatler website - Clicking through images of Jared Lee Loughner’s backyard skull shrine, linked from Drudge. I’m not seeing a Gadsden flag

Explaining Evil

Stay classy - MoveOn launches campaign against vitriolic language — despite sordid history of using vitriolic language

Don’t think of an elephant: Giffords, ghouls and gimmicks



Acid Rhetoric Flashbacks

Dems Need to Look to Their Own Ranks for ‘Elevated Rhetoric’

Paul Krugman's totalitarian temptation

Chuck Norris - Obamacare's Baby Death Panels (Part 1)

Pennsylvania voters develop a taste for the Tea Party

While I'm sorry he did wrong, I'll always have a soft spot for the man who drank DDT during a Congressional hearing to prove its safety. DeLay Sentenced to 3 Years on Conspiracy Charge

Citizen Soros: Suppressing Conservative Ideas (Part 2 in a Series)

A civil rights official disgraces himself

Please let it be - Is 2011 The Beginning of the End for Medicare?

Dangerous Liberal #11: Peter Lewis (Link to the list of 50 here) AND The 20 Most Annoying Liberals of 2010

The NEW Road to Serfdom, reviewed

Two Roads Diverged A review of Daniel Hannon's latest in the American Spectator and by my husband.

For those of you who need to be reminded of the awesomeness that is Dan....
It takes a great amount of gumption to title your first book published in the U.S. after an undisputed classic by an icon of liberty, but Daniel Hannan, MEP, is not short in the gumptive department. This is, after all, the man who stood up in the European Parliament before then British prime minister Gordon Brown, and in words of liquid gold told him exactly what the British public thought of him. That intervention struck a global nerve with people dissatisfied with their leaders, and the speech was watched on YouTube by 2 million people within a few days. Now, Mr. Hannan has written a letter of warning to America called -- channeling F. A. Hayek's classic -- The New Road to Serfdom. It deserves to be read by 2 million people.
Read the whole thing AND I never, never, ever get tired of watching this speech. Daniel, you are fantastic!
AND

Monday, January 10, 2011

Left Hating

The progressive “climate of hate:” An illustrated primer, 2000-2010 Be careful. This is nauseating because it is true. Don't believe, follow the links (there are many).

Random Round-Up 01-10


President Obama Job Approval

Fighting public-sector unions

From Ken Blackwell who should have been the RNC chair instead of Steele. The Constitution Did Not Condone Slavery
Further, the Three-Fifths Compromise reduced the power in Congress of slaveholding states while giving an electoral bonus to any state that voluntarily emancipated its slaves. When seven of the original thirteen states abolished slavery, they were allowed to count free black people in the census for purposes of representation in Congress.

It is especially galling to have liberals attack Republican Members on these matters. They forget that it was Republicans who gave us the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments—those great guarantees of civil rights. Every vote cast against those amendments was cast by a Democrat. It was Republicans who passed the first anti-lynching bill in the House—in 1922. Those bills were routinely killed by Senate Democrats until 1957.
Read the whole thing!



Like all political ideas, this will end badly - GOP activists: Dems’ filibuster repeal could actually help undo Obamacare

Why Teacher Pensions Don't Work Defined-benefit systems aren't merely Ponzi schemes. They discourage talented teachers who would prefer front-loaded compensation.



The heartland rises

Keep up the good work Issa! Issa's Early Effect

A Feminist Look at Palin’s Military Jargon. The left-wing jabs at the Palin piñata in the wake of a horrible tragedy ought to be enough to convince more Americans of the moral vacuity of the “progressive” community.

Now ObamaCare debate moves to the real world

From "Dr. Sanity" - FASCIST PIGS, FANATICAL IDEOLOGUES, AND DELUSIONAL ILLNESS



Welcome to Personal Responsibility 101

Citizen Soros: Manipulating the Media (Part 1 in a Series) My favorite part about Soros is that he is closer to the grave than the cradle.

It's what they do - Flashback: How Clinton exploited Oklahoma City for political gain

Even FDR didn't like public sector unions - The Battle Ahead: Public Sector Unions



Interestingly, the critic was more concerned about racial traits than ideology - The Diversity Police Are At It Again

Breeding Men Who Riot

Round-Up at BigJournalism.com on the left's "reporting" of the AZ Tragedy

NYT's hypocrisy is increasingly "dog bites man" news - The shame and hypocrisy of the New York Times

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Prayer for Christina

Nine-year-old girl killed in shooting was born on Sep. 11, 2001 Dear Lord, this child was born on a day of tragegy and taken from us on a day of tragedy but in her 9 short years she clearly filled her family with joy. Please take her up to heaven and keep her in your divine embrace. And please bless her family, friends, and loved ones and give them the peace of knowing she is with God and all the angels of heaven. Amen.

Random Round-Up 01-09


The Shooting of Rep. Giffords and the Left Wing Smear Machine

Empire Falls Next to California, New York may be the country's biggest fiscal basket case. At least Governor Cuomo seems to grasp the situation.

Obama Math

Abuse Industry Paves the Royal Road to the Welfare State

We're the government and we're here to claim we helped you

Our Precious Bodily Fluids

How to lose jobs and alienate taxpayers

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Silly Sign


I took this picture while driving home the other day for a British friend who thought it was one of the most perfectly silly things he'd ever seen. I have to agree but then again the "Humped Zebra Crossing" sign at one of London's major railroad stations is pretty silly too.

Because I can


God Bless These Brave Muslims

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields"

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Iron In The Blood

This is the first 15 minutes of a documentary about my brother-in-law (you can see my sister drop the f-bomb too). It's titled Iron in the Blood.

Iron in my blood from Keith Roberts on Vimeo.

Another Sham Article By AP

I guess the AP just doesn't like AZ.

2nd person denied Ariz. transplant coverage dies

Interestingly, it's in the 2nd to last paragraph (completely buried) that AZ had to cut back its medicare because of a loss of FEDERAL funding.
Brewer and Republican lawmakers want to drop approximately 250,000 people from AHCCCS enrollment because of the state's continuing budget troubles and the impending loss of federal stimulus funding that has propped up spending on the Medicaid program.

Arizona faces a projected $1.4 billion shortfall in its next state budget.

Brewer has said she will ask President Barack Obama's administration for a waiver permitting the enrollment reduction. The federal health care overhaul otherwise bars the enrollment reduction.
Additionally, it appears to only be happenstance that these two people died after this budget cut happened.
"A Phoenix-area man, Mark Price, died Nov. 28 of complications from preparation for a bone-marrow transplant that was to be privately funded. That funding was provided anonymously after The Associated Press and other media outlets reported that he was notified of two possible donors on Oct. 1, the same day the coverage was reduced."

Finally, they don't even know if the second person was even on medicaid.
"Contacted for comment on the latest death, Brewer spokeswoman Paul Senseman said the governor's office didn't have confirmation that the person was enrolled in the state Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System".

In short, while all deaths are tragic if you are sick enough to need a transplant, then the odds of your dying are prety high to begin with. Claiming these budget cuts "caused" these deaths is a huge stretch and yet another example from the deceptive MSM.

If anything, this situation in Arizona is a glimpse of our future because it is more accurately an examle of the rationing that occurs when healthcare is financed via the government (medicare, medicaid, tricare, vet care). Get used to it or repeal.

More Junk Science

Study linking vaccine to autism was fraud This is truly despicable and a blow to legitimate scientists everywhere. For shame.

International Terror Alert Statuses

International Terror Alert Statuses
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats, and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
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The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards". They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
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The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender". The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
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Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides".
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The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".
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Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
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The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
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Americans meanwhile, and as usual, are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies "just in case".
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Canada doesn't have any alert levels.
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New Zealand has raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA". Due to continuing defense cutbacks, New Zealand has only one more level of escalation,
which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".
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Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!", "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Daily Round-Up 01-05



Holder MUST GO - Holder Uses New York Times to Tamper with New Black Panther Investigation


AND THE GOOD NEWS IS....


Boehner: ‘The People’s House’

Freshmen Bring Business Resumes

North Dakota may produce 700,000 barrels of oil per day by 2014-2017 and over 11 billion barrels of reserves

House GOP asks business for advice on regulations

Welcome to the ‘Cut and Grow Majority’

Rep. Darrell Issa: We’ll Investigate Pigford. If Issa does what he says he wants to do, then he's my new hero.


The Constitution: Binding, Not Sacred



GENERAL BAD BEHAVIOR


Dave Barry’s 2010 Year in Review - It's funny because it's true.

Will it be RICO for the Rizzos?

Not gonna happen Soros, so go to hell - George Soros: Time For US To Get Used To New World Order

Moving Beyond Gloria & the Gals

If We Say It Is, It Is . . .

Actually, I can't tell if this is good or bad... Ahmadinejad Reportedly Slapped by Underling


TEA PARTY NEWS

Tea Party Already Changing Spending Culture in Washington

The Constitution: Binding, Not Sacred

Big Union/Leftie Groups 01-05



After Consistently Losing Elections, Unions Ask Feds for Help

Should There Be A Warning Label for Stupid?



Public Pension Rumblings

The UAW and Unionization by Ultimatum

Fighting Corruption 01-05



`Hell-Raising' LePage of Maine Vows to Cut Government Like Chris Christie

The New PJM ‘Transparency Project’: Questions for Our Readers

Rep. Darrell Issa: We’ll Investigate Pigford. If Issa does what he says he wants to do, then he's my new hero. AND Issa, House GOP Preparing Major Investigations of Obama Administration

More Loud Voices, Please



We’re Keeping Tabs Now: The GOP Lame Duck Scorecard. Nothing washes over anymore — we'll be watching every congressman's vote and holding them accountable. First: a lame duck wrap-up.

Congress Rediscovers the Constitution The House Republican majority has said it will require members to cite the specific authority for any bill they introduce.

Text of the Repeal Bill (Just two pages)

Media Bias 01-05



Ten underreported stories of 2010, plus one

MSNBC Chuck Todd doesn’t want GOP to investigate Obama

Opposing view on 'net neutrality': Unnecessary intervention

Today in Broadcast Regulation



In London, A Case Study In Opinionated Press

Friends With Benefits

MSNBC’S Mika Brzezinski Wonders “What’s Wrong With Social Justice?”

Holder Uses New York Times to Tamper with New Black Panther Investigation

Bad Politician Bad 01-05


President Obama Job Approval

Dog Bites Man - 111th Congress Averaged 25% Approval, Among Recent Lowest Pelosi has presided over least popular Congresses of past two decades

Obama was for keeping a debt ceiling before he was against it - Using the debt ceiling for a powerful message

Dysfunctional Duo's Undoing

Don't Be Fooled, Republicans Are Facing Big Challenges

Darrell Issa’s looming letters to the Obama administration

The size of government matters

Government by regulation. Shhh.



Chicago on the Potomac

Just Another Radical Obama Appointee. Cathy Davidson, nominated for the National Council on the Humanities, is another in a long line of highly questionable Obama appointees.

Here's to hoping - In House, new Republican majority plans to act fast to undo Obama's agenda

Please somebody stop him! - Obama Signs 35 New Laws Including Food Safety

One for the House The weird timing of the Democrats' "filibuster reform."

Obama Can't Count on Support in Senate

We’re Keeping Tabs Now: The GOP Lame Duck Scorecard. Nothing washes over anymore — we'll be watching every congressman's vote and holding them accountable. First: a lame duck wrap-up. And now you've been warned.

Democrats Pursuing a New "Nuclear Option" on Filibuster

How a Bill Really Becomes Law

Pelosi Saves Her Best For Last

Mayor Bloomberg’s Office Spearheaded Drive for Ground Zero Mosque, New Docs Show. Bloomberg is such a tool.

Energy Costs Cloud Obama’s Hopes for Political Turnaround

The Spaghetti Strategy: Advice to Republicans. A strategy to advance freedom by keeping President Obama and his radical appointees on the defensive

In Economic Woes 01-05



'Fair Trade'? Free Trade Is Fair Trade

When States Default: 2011, Meet 1841

Top Five Things Obama Has Done to Raise Gasoline Prices

Government by regulation. Shhh.

Why Did We Nationalize AIG? There's still no good answer why AIG got such different treatment than Goldman Sachs. It's not too late to undo some of the damage



State details foreclosure chaos

'Saving' the Housing Market

Fixing the economy the scientific way

See the Spending



Court Slams FDIC for Failing to Abide by FOIA Law in Judicial Watch Bailout Lawsuit

IRS dithers while prisoners file phony tax returns, collect millions in refunds

Is Obama Intentionally Damaging Our Economy?



Gosh I hope so - Can the Spending Be Stopped?

Battle Lines Form Over Government's Role House Republicans Draw Fire After Putting Transport Budgets on Notice, Presaging Tough Budget Fight

Voter Concern About Economy Hits Highest Level In Over Two Years

‘Earmarks’ to nowhere: States losing billions

Using the debt ceiling for a powerful message

Obamacare 01-05



Thomas Sowell - When time is money

We’re Voting to Repeal. And ‘You’re Welcome.’

The States Versus ObamaCare As new state attorneys general take office in the coming weeks, I expect an increase in the number of states challenging the law in court.

Keep Your Laws Off My Body

Obamacare Mess is Legacy of Democrats' Brief Moment of Power



Wisconsin Poised to Challenge Healthcare Law

This is a balanced examination of A First Look at Pawlentycare

Text of the Repeal Bill (Just two pages!)

Fingers crossed,not for much longer - Pelosi: We’d Have Passed ObamaCare Even If Everyone Was Happy With Their Health Coverage


Can Congress Make You Buy Broccoli? Can Congress force you to eat certain foods? To buy health insurance? So much for the 1970s mantra of "My body, my choice."

Rep. Eric Cantor submits a health care bill every member of Congress will be able to read



Don't Repeal and Replace, Repeal and Defund

Report: 'Death panel' provision out of Obama Medicare policy

Obamacare Stands in the Way of Growth

Obamacare Ends Construction of Doctor-Owned Hospitals

Obamacare: The End of the Beginning