Nick Nack Patty Waak-O!

'08 race worker held in damage to Colorado Democratic HQ

Pat Waak-O, people in glass houses shouldn't rush to judgement or hire nuts with hammers.

Oorah, Marine!

Lockerbie Revisted

Unfortunately, none of the 207 murdered victims of Pan Am flight 103 were given any humanitarian considerations. Unlike their murderer, they did not receive a hero's welcome when their plane touched down. They were not shown mercy. They did not have their death sentence revoked. Is this the resolve that we are willing to show the world?

Papers, Please!

I find myself asking myself with increased frequency where I'm living anymore. Law abiding citizens are increasingly imposed upon in the name of security. Our privacy and our rights are increasingly trampled on for the defense of the fatherland, uh....I mean homeland security. The government will further increase restrictions on our freedom to travel as airlines will be forced to report traveler data to the govnernment rather than review watchlists provided by law enforcement agencies. In essence, travelers will have to receive permission from TSA to book flights, cruises and receive boarding passes. Secure Flight is a new program designed to make travel safer, but digs deeper and restricts more of the rights of law abiding citizens. Good FAQ here. Hard to believe what we've come to in such a short period of time. If we don't give all our information to the government in exchange for permission to travel, I suppose that means the terrorists win?

"Galapagos" Ben, won't you come out tonight?

In the continued "Galapagos" Ben watch, Chandler is still dodging constituents, town halls and the proposed health care legislation. Obviously, his fear of confrontation outweighs his desire (if any) for constituent feedback and access to their elected representative.

Ben Chandler's Summer Reading List.

I suppose kids are a safe group. Odds are that none of them will question Ben on health care. Just keep 'em busy with those monkeys jumping on a bed.


I think these titles might be more appropriate for a post-health care reform world.

"Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed; One Falls off and Has to Wait 6 Months for an MRI."

"If You Give Grandma a Pain Pill, She Might not Need a New Hip."

"David Gets in Trouble by Using More than His Allotment of Health Care and Throwing the Cost Curve Out of Whack."

Mail Call!

“U.P.S. and FedEx are doing just fine,” Mr. Obama joked. “It’s the post office that’s always having problems.”- President Obama August 11, 2009

We know what sort of problems the USPS is facing. Falling revenues and increasing obligations to retirees and projected cuts in service are turning the USPS into a federal money pit. Sounds lke another government business: the auto industry. I suppose we can expect USPS-like efficiencies and level of service from Obamacare. Perhaps Obamacare will introduce the "forever co-pay." Pay more now to lock in your co-pay forever. Hopefully, not too many people wind up in the dead letter office.

Maybe the USPS can figure how to solve their problems by looking to Medicare, uh...maybe Social Security, well....surely there has to be some government program that doesn't ultimately become insolvent? Right?

Chicago Machine Sticks to the Playbook

Just watch the actions of the Commu-crat leadership over the past several weeks and you can see the influence of Chicago radical Saul Alinsky. His 13th rule of power tactics has been employed to deal with the so-called "un-American" town hall protesters.

Alinsky's 13th rule states:

Pick the target: The Administration and Congressional leadership have singled out anyone opposed to Obamacare as their target.

Freeze it: Commu-crats have attempted to freeze the process by shutting down the town hall meetings because of what they deem uncivil behavior. Of course, that really means is they are afraid to be challenged, right "Galapagos" Ben?

Personalize it: Washington leadership has further personalized the attacks by saying the movement isn't even authentic but simply organized and manufactured by the GOP and national organizations. To them, these aren't angry citizens dissatisfied with this legislation, it is simply a vast right-wing conspiracy. I assure you the rage is real. Perhaps representatives can't see that hunkered down with in their district or on a foreign junket with only the deepest of supporters having access to them.

Polarize/Escalate: In the final coup de grace, Comrade Pelosi thinks that the opposition to Obamacare are Nazis and "un-American". Cut off support from the American public, after all who would support a Nazi? What they are underestimating is all the "fly over" country that they consistently have kicked to the wayside over the past thirty+ years in a push to support their favored constituency in large urban areas. We are standing together on this and I think you should realize that by now. Obama has also called for Dems to "hit back twice as hard" to escalate the strategy because by now the opponent should be on the ropes rather than actually gaining momentum and strength. Bring it, we're ready.

Debate about the direction of our country is never un-American. It is ultimately American. Running from the debate and trying to shut the American people out to simply push forward an agenda is cowardly. What too many of these representatives are choosing to neglect is the fact that they are supposed to represent their constituents, not the administration or their own agenda.
I suppose everything would be perfectly patriotic if we were marching against the war.

The Proof is in the Pudding

This is a big ole' scoop of pudding. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Rahm Emanuel's brother, is one of the people helping Obama formulate his health care policy. The following excerpt is taken from a 1996 article written by Dr. Emanuel for The Hastings Center:

"This civic republican or deliberative democratic conception of the good provides both procedural and substantive insights for developing a just allocation of health care resources. Procedurally, it suggests the need for public forums to deliberate about which health services should be considered basic and should be socially guaranteed. Substantively, it suggests services that promote the continuation of the polity-those that ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic. Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuro-psychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason."

In short, be a contributing member to the greater good or risk being left in the cold. As usual with the liberals, some are less equal than others.

"Galapagos" Ben, don't run away!

"Galapagos" Ben Chandler of the 6th District of Kentucky has refused to meet with constituents, is not available by phone and has no scheduled meetings to discuss any issues during the recess. As a member of the Blue Dogs, he's turned out to be more of a yellow dog and certainly Obama's lap dog in supporting Cap and Trade and helping to nail the coffin in Kentucky's coal industry, of course all in the name of "the children".

"Galapagos" Ben can only serve one master. Will it be his constituents or the Obama White House?

Astroturf or Grassroots?

I think the leadership of the Commucrat party needs to realize the opposition to their public healthcare plan is deep rooted and couldn't be any further from "astroturf". The emotion seen playing out at town halls across the country is a result of years of constituent frustration from lack of response from and access to the representatives who claim to represent their interests in Washington. Voters are tired of talking to interns on the phone when they call. Voters are tired of receiving form letters back in the mail responding to their concerns. Voters are tired of their rep running scared and only holding meetings with the deepest segment of his/her support.

Check out Georgia Rep. David Scott's thoughtful response to one of his constituents.

I particularly like the finger pointing, shouting and accusations made by the Rep. Scott. Smells like fear to me, Rep. Scott. Here's hoping you and "Galapagos" Ben have a lot of free time after you lose your seats in the next election. We'll see who turns out; astroturf or grassroots.

Change You Can Believe In

Remember the good ol' days before the President started recruiting snitches to turn on friends, neighbors and co-workers?

You'll be on a list!