Six Months

I am a bad blogger. I have let other things get in the way of my writing. Today is the six-month mark from the mid-term elections so my intention was to return to the blog and write about the progress that has been made (or not made) since that day. But once again, other things have gotten in the way. Usama bin Laden is dead.

Last night I was getting ready to catch up on some TV while playing on Facebook. Not different than any other night until about 10:10pm when a seemingly normal post from a local meteorologist informed me that President Obama was to address the nation at 10:30. I immediately reposted the information to my circle of friends and we began to speculate about what was about to be dropped into our laps. Our first reaction was to think of either Libya or Syria but then upon hearing about the National Security staffs being scrambled to their offices at such a late hour we then wondered about North Korea or the possibility of an imminent attack here at home. About 10 minutes into the discussion (and BEFORE it was mentioned by Geraldo Rivera) we asked, “what if it’s bin Laden?”

Just a few minutes later we listened with the rest of the world as the news began break that Usama bin Laden had been killed. The news was sketchy. First it was that bin Laden was killed a week ago and we had been waiting for DNA testing to make the announcement. That didn’t seem quite plausible as no one seemed to believe that a secret of this magnitude could be kept for that long. More and more information surfaced and the President finally emerged to deliver the news to the nation that he had ordered the strike on a Pakistan compound that had indeed killed the world’s most wanted man

Within minutes of the initial news, conspiracy theorists started spinning their layers of ‘facts’. Bin Laden was actually killed a week ago. No he was killed in 2002. He died of natural causes and President Obama was using his death to ensure his re-election. Whoa! Back off for a minute everyone and let the American people revel in ONE MOMENT of celebration.

On September 11, 2001 bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of 2,819 people. Before that he was responsible for the deaths of the seventeen sailors aboard the USS Cole. He had been tied to the US Embassy bombings, the first World Trade Center bombing and had openly declared war on the United States. This is a man that every red-blooded American man, woman and child should be happy to see removed from existence.

I patiently waited through the initial reports of bin Laden’s death and slowly the coverage on the news channels began to show the spontaneous celebrations erupting outside the White House, at Ground Zero and at Times Square. It was there, in the gathering in Times Square, that I received my moment of celebration - a lone New York City Fire Department truck, lights flashing, with several firemen atop being congratulated from all sides from the growing crowd.

Photo Copyright: Michael Appleton for The New York Times

So having received my wanted moment of celebration, I began to process the night’s events. We got him. I don’t care when or how really (although I must say it makes me extremely happy that it was hand to hand combat at the hands of a Navy SEAL team) I just care that he is no longer alive and walking the planet. I am happy that this news will bring peace to some (although not all) of the people who were most affected by his murderous actions. As a survivor of a violent attack who then learned of her attacker’s death, I understand the feeling of peace and relief that can come with the news.

In the aftermath of this celebration, we are left with the question, WHAT NOW? We are most likely in markedly more danger now than we were 24 hours ago. There will undoubtedly be attacks (whether organized or rogue) in retaliation for our role in their perceived leader’s demise. Bin Laden was not the true head of al Qaeda any longer and hadn’t been for a long time but we will receive blowback from his death. Did we win the war on terror? No, but we certainly proved to the world that no matter how long it takes, when you strike us we WILL come after you and we will take you out.

I applaud President Obama for continuing the work that President Bush started on a long ago September morning atop the rubble of the World Trade Center with a bullhorn. I wish that President Obama had thanked his predecessor in his remarks last night because without the heroism and Texas-sized bravado of President Bush, we would not being watching last night’s events unfold. The countless numbers of military forces who have served our country in three wars since September 11, 2001 should be thanked forever for their sacrifices and loss. The families of our fallen Marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors and Special Forces should be forever in our prayers. The first responders who continue to run into buildings should be thanked every time that you run into them.

Above all, be realistic. Usama bin Laden’s death does not make us any safer than we were yesterday. There are still fundamental changes, changes that were started the night of the mid-term elections, that need to be made or else our country’s survival will continue to be at risk. Do not let the excitement and exuberance over the death of a terrorist cloud your focus. I have faith in the American spirit and in the American people. When you take away our freedoms and try to take away our fight, we come out swinging. We will finish the job no matter how long it takes. President Obama just proved that. I just hope he remembers that it’s just the American Way when the people come for his job in the next election.

Frankie Says.........

So I think that the folks that run the schools in Florida have finally gone off the deep end. After last fall's debacle in Broward County where students were to be punished for not watching a speech by President Obama we now have a case in the Orlando area where a student is being threatened with suspension for wearing a bracelet to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

At first I thought that this might be an April Fool's Day story but then I realized that the ridiculousness of it had to be true. Apparently a 14-year old boy wore one of those plastic bracelets (thanks Lance Armstrong) printed with the phrases " I love boobies" and "Save a Breast". The school administration says that the bracelet caused a commotion. Really? I seriously doubt that the student wearing the bracelet was walking around chanting the phrases on his wrist.

The only conceivable commotion I can think of would be from other students (most likely other 14-year old boys) making comments about breasts and boobies. And if a teacher or administrator can't handle fourteen year old boys talking about breasts and various other female body parts than you probably are teaching the wrong aged students because that's all they are thinking about anyway. So why take the armband away? It raises awareness for breast cancer and countless other bands in an array of colors represent a myriad of other causes. So why take it away? Because it says "breast" and "boobie"? Unless your health teacher is referring to the female anatomy in health class as her lovely lady lumps well then I really don't see the issue.

I thought that schools today (especially those in Florida) were most concerned with teaching youth to be good global citizens? Isn't showing support for a disease that one out of every three women will be diagnosed with a worthy global initiative? Maybe its only okay to show support for a cause if you a part of a mandatory service work program?

I wish that I could say that Frankie was still wearing his bracelet but sadly the school's administration succeeded in their bullying tactics (can teachers be members of a service employees union?) and he has stopped. He told a local news agency, "I just don't want to get in trouble anymore." Sounds like a real trouble-maker huh?

So here's my idea. Every parent with kids at Tomlin Middle School and everyone else who thinks that this entire situation in completely ludicrous and out of control should adopt a new slogan...........

FRANKIE SAYS SAVE THE BOOBIES!

Waxman Fires First Shot on Capitalism

Wow! The Democratic leadership celebrated their healthcare "win" for all of four days before reality sunk in and the real work began. The beginning of the end of the free market system known as capitalism was witnessed this past weekend. Much like the first shot fired upon Fort Sumter that signaled the start to the Civil War, Henry Waxman has made a move that is just as foreboding.

Apparently there are some changes in the healthcare reform bill that effect the tax provisions available to companies who offer their retirees prescription drug benefits. These tax provisions are eliminated now that the law has been signed and these companies had a duty (under accounting rules) to report these losses as a part of their first quarter earnings. Companies affected by these changes and who made announcements stating so include; AT&T ($1Billion loss), Deere & Co ($150 Million loss), Caterpillar ($100 million loss) and AK Steel ($31 Million in losses). CEO's of these companies (and others adversely affected by the changes to the tax laws) reported these losses truthfully and unpolitically as required by GAAP (Generally Approved Acccounting Principles) to their shareholders and the public.

Mr. Waxman, apparently still high from the fumes of the twenty pens used to sign healthcare reform into law, got his knickers in a knot when American companies began to actually review the monstrosity known as Obamacare and didn't keep quiet about what they found. Mr. Waxman has called a handful of CEO's of companies, who released news of losses under the new healthcare regime, to Washington DC to appear before an Energy and Commerce Investigative subcommittee hearing on April 21. The California Congressman doesn't stop by "inviting" them to this hearing, no the CEO's also need to be sure to bring with them emails, documents and "the accounting methods used in preparing the cost impact statement released by AT&T this week".

So American companies are being called upon the proverbial carpet for abiding by GAAP rules and some would say free speech. Congress is smacking them down and in essence saying "No no, wait, that wasn't what we told you. We told you it would save money you can't tell people that we lied! No, no we can't have that. Now, please present yourselves to receive your punishment".

I think I see the problem and can almost understand where the CEO's went wrong. You see these companies use something called GAAP, Generally Approved Accounting Principles. Don't they know that they are supposed to use DAFT, Dubious Accounting (Barney) Frank Theorem?

It is also evident that Mr. Waxman has learned lessons from a high-level Obama advisor - good old "If we can't use the power of persuasion then we'll use the persuasion of power" Andy Stern. I assume that Congressman feels that he can help the misguided CEO's to see the light.

God help us all as our freedoms evaporate into thin air.

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Zombies Don't Need Dentists

This morning a story has surfaced that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele contemplated the purchase of a plane with GOP funds. In addition to the rumors of a jet purchase, there is also a litany of extravagant charges on trips to California and Las Vegas.

Really does this surprise anyone? Okay well maybe some will be surprised about the $1946.25 spent at Voyeur West Hollywood but all of these "expenses" are part and parcel for most politicians in Washington DC (and even in some state capitals as well).

It seems that the majority of politicians, once elected (and some even before), feel that they are better than the rest of the American public. First class airfare, private jets, limousines, champagne, luxury hotels and over-the-top meals at swanky restaurants quickly become the standard that they feel entitled to. This perception of permission on the part of our elected officials is nothing new.

When did this transformation from being a servant to the public good to being someone who requires a servant happen? I tend to believe it was during the Kennedy administration. America's love affair with Camelot allowed politicians to begin to think of themselves as celebrities. And aren't celebrities afforded better treatment in our society?

Politicians in search of the ultimate prize of power have a number of tools in their bag to allow them the lifestyle they have "earned". Not only do they have tax-payer paid salaries, expense accounts, travel and entertainment allowances they also have access to funds from political action committees, re-election funds and the donations received by their national party's fundraising. And that doesn't include speaking fees that are often deferred or donated to "charity" in order to comply with ethics rules.

Politics is like a virus and politicians are like zombies infected with that virus. Unlike the standard zombie, who doesn't need food, water or air, political zombies do not need morals, ethics or good set of dentures. So absent preparing yourself and knowing how to survive a zombie attack, you must exercise your will in other ways and educate yourself and find people who will fight the zombies and their moral-less actions in Washington DC. Elect these people to office and pray that they don't find themselves infected as they are sworn in. And if they become infected, repeat the process again. But NEVER give up the fight.

Special Note: The author neither endorses nor condones the list of ways to prepare yourself for a zombie attack. I merely provide the link for your enlightenment.

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My fear has been transformed

Yesterday morning I was scared. Its difficult to put into words how I feel at the moment. Its kind of like the scene in "The Patriot" where the Revolutionaries are making the final push and the line starts to fall and someone has dropped the flag. I'm confused and tired and wow it would be nice to turn, run and just give up. The House of Representatives voted last night to pass the Senate version of the healthcare reform bill. Obamacare is now a reality and 1/6 of the American economy is firmly in the hands of the government.

I am sick to death of the politicians in Washington telling me what I need. I am tired of them telling me that the founding fathers would want me to have health insurance. I am exasperated by their insistence that they are better equipped to decide how my business can operate than I am. I am simply worn out by over a year of fighting with politicians who neither listen to nor care about their constituents.

Politicians. There's a real winning group of people. We've got Nancy Pelosi who can't be farther in the pocket of all that is evil if she tried. Its been said that it was she, and not Rahm Emanuel, who urged the President to keep fighting for healthcare even after the Scott Brown election. I certainly don't want to visualize the locker room confrontations that she had to conduct to get this legislation to a vote. Then we have Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson and Kent Conrad (just to name a few) that were able to score big kickbacks with catchy names for their states. Some of those kickbacks have been stripped with the change language to the bill but at least they showed the ability to get something tangible for the selling of their vote. Maybe it will help them that they tried to get something for their state but then again they probably really don't care. None of them are up for reelection until 2012. They are free to wreak havoc for another 2 years.

That's not the case for poor Bart Stupak (D-MI). I think I need to make him one of my shirts. "I negotiated with the President and all I got was a lousy piece of paper". Mr. Stupak sold his vote for a non-binding promise of an executive order on abortion language. He didn't even hold the President's feet to the fire and ask for the executive order before the vote. I guess the economic woes of Michigan extend to their Representative's offices.

I know people who support this bill. They aren't bad people and I am confident that they do not want to see our beautiful Republic destroyed. These are people who have been convinced by the Washington DC and Chicago power machines that health insurance and a college education are a right. I don't blame them for their opinions. I just hope that someday that they can awaken from the dream.

The President went on TV to pat himself on the back and to again tell me how this was a good thing for the country. He made a statement that stuck with me. "To every unsung American who took the time to sit down and write a letter or type out an e-mail hoping your voice would be heard — it has been heard tonight." You are correct Mr President. The voices were heard and summarily were ignored over and over and over again. But do not be mistaken, we will not go quietly into the night, we will not go without a fight. The majority of the American people did not want this bill. Your bill went from a 67% approval to under a 35% approval in less than a year.

Well, I now know how to feel. I have seen the flag fall but that cannot be the end. I am energized and ready to pick up the flag again and fight. The light of the morning and the fact that the IRS is now going to control healthcare is going to bring more people to the fight. As more information is gleaned from the bill, we will gain more and more supporters and we will find a way to save our country. That's what we do, we're Americans.

When $940 Billion is NOT a Trillion

Only in Washington, D.C. is it a day to celebrate that a proposal that will only cost $940 Billion. The Democratic leadership in DC is "giddy" (to quote a Congressman) that the CBO has come out and stated that the healthcare bill's price tag is under the magic level of $1 Trillion.

Really? Really? If the average American spends $940 on a couch most likely they will tell you that they had spent a thousand dollars. Buy a car for $9400 in most cases you would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't feel that you had spent ten grand. So really democrats, do you really think that the American public is so dense that you can tell us that you AREN'T spending a TRILLION dollars to take over 1/6 of the economy?

And am I the only person who this morning is questioning the supposed non-partisan makeup of the Congressional Budget Office. Can I possibly be the only one who thinks that the delay with receiving the (barely but) under a Trillion price tag is a little suspect. I tend to believe that there was a lot more jockeying back and forth between Dems and the CBO to ensure that this number was what they needed. And now that they have the UNDER A TRILLION price tag they are giddy and moving forward with a vote on Sunday.

I may not be the greatest mathematician but if something costs $940 billion over the first ten years and that figure includes a planned Medicare savings (yeah like that has ever happened) of $120 billion, doesn't that mean that the bill actually costs $1.06 Trillion?? The planned savings from Medicare would include cuts that would affect millions of seniors who will lose a great portion of their benefits and they would be forced to foot even more of their healthcare costs. I thought that Nancy Pelosi wanted to close the donut hole not the other way around. And this is all dependent upon generating these savings. The CBO also projects that "total federal Medicare and Medicaid outlays will rise from 4 percent of GDP in 2007 to 12 percent in 2050 and 19 percent in 2082. So if the CBO predicts that the percent of GDP is going to grow that dramatically, how can they also state that they predict that there is a savings?

Feel free to email the author at stephanie@vpmedia.com