Moammar Gadhafi Requests Beautiful Girls To Exchange Views For Koran

Libyan Leader Hands out Korans to Hundreds of Italian Beauties.  Der Spiegel.

Yes.  You read correctly. 

Last week, according to the Italian newswire Ansa, an Italian agency began looking for hundreds of “beautiful girls from all of Italy” at the behest of the Libyan dictator. According to the advertisement, they were to be “cute, between 18 and 35 years old, at least 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) and well dressed. No mini-skirts or cleavage.” Gadhafi, the advertisement went on, wanted to “exchange views” with the young women and “honor them” the Libyan way. For their trouble, the women were to get €50 ($75) and a Koran.

On Sunday night, however, it became clear just what Gadhafi meant by “exchanging views.” Ansa reports that 200 women — minus those weeded out for not having dressed appropriately — filed in to the Libyan Embassy before being subjected to a lecture from the Libyan leader about the benefits of Islam. After the lesson was over, he invited them to convert.

You can imagine how well that went. 

He probably was still reeling from Khadafy booted from Camp Trump.  The NY Post reported on his camel themed cloth bedouin tent takedown from Donald Trump’s fancy schmancy Westchester/Bedford, NY estate back in September during the U.N. meeting.  See the tent in the yard there.  Not even a disciplined leader, he took to leaving his seat at the U.N. marked with graffiti.  His proclivity for seeking the odd even extends to using female body guards.   Sexist is another term that comes to mind.

And this man is a leader of a country? 

See:

• http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,661561,00.html 
• http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/khadafy_booted_from_camp_trump_NUssa2iM8mweE8hV1sxncM

Health Care Reform Bill Will Increase Costs And Decrease Providers

One report by a nonpartisan governmental agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid. 

Two stories that concur with the findings that current health care reform bills would decrease Medicare coverage and providers, and not have a significant effect on health care cost growth rates.

A separate story on the massive increased amount of improper Medicare payments.

And the government thinks it can run health care?  Taxpayers should be very leery. 

• Estimated Financial Effects of the :America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009″ (H.R. 3962) as Passed by the House on November 7, 2009.  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

…we estimate that most of the provisions of H.R. 3962 that were designed, in part, to reduce the rate of growth in health care costs would have a relatively small savings impact. 

Total national health expenditures in the U.S. during 2010-2019 would increase by about 0.8 percent.  The additional demand for health services could be difficult to meet initially with existing health provider resources and could lead to price increases, cost-shifting, and/or changes in providers’ willingness to treat patients with low-reimbursement health coverage.

With the exception of the proposed reductions in Medicare payment updates for institutional providers, the provisions of H.R. 3962 would not have a significant impact on future health care cost growth rates. In addition, the longer-term viability of the Medicare update reductions is doubtful.

• Report: Bill would reduce senior care – Medicare cuts approved by House may affect access to providers.  WP. 

A plan to slash more than $500 billion from future Medicare spending — one of the biggest sources of funding for President Obama’s proposed overhaul of the nation’s health-care system — would sharply reduce benefits for some senior citizens and could jeopardize access to care for millions of others, according to a government evaluation released Saturday.

The report offers the clearest and most authoritative assessment to date of the effect that Democratic health reform proposals would have on Medicare and Medicaid, the nation’s largest public health programs.

• CMS: House bill increases health care costs .  Politico.  Problems are listed with the bill per page.

In other words, outside of Medicare payment cuts to hospitals, the bill doesn’t curb increasing health care costs. And even the Medicare payment cuts will be difficult to sustain.

Report: Government Paid More Than $47B in Medicare Claims.  Fox. 

Excerpts of a new federal report, obtained by The Associated Press, show a dramatic increase in improper payments in the $440 billion Medicare program that has been cited by government auditors as a high risk for fraud and waste for 20 years.

See:

• http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/OACT_Memorandum_on_Financial_Impact_of_H_R__3962__11-13-09_.pdf
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/14/AR2009111402597.html?hpid=topnews
• http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1109/CMS_House_bill_increases_health_care_costs_.html
• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/14/report-government-paid-b-medicare-claims/
• http://www.free-animations.co.uk/money/money_1.html

Pigeon Goes After Bagel On Mission Impossible

Engaging animation.  6 minutes.  Keep volume low at work.

A rookie secret agent is faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase.

Pigeon: Impossible

November 08, 2009

Weakness On Display With Obama Bow In Japan

The University Of Connecticut Republicans have documented the greetings between various world leaders between the years 2003 through 2009. Score 46 handshakes from all except, one world leader who actually bowed.  Video at Big Government and Hot Air.  

ABC Political Punch gets the scoop from a Japanese expert.

“The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms….The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part.

After all those handshakes over the years, Emperor Akihito must have been wondering just who schooled the current U.S. president.  Still wet behind the ears, eh?

Obama Bows to Japanese Emperor Akihito

November 15, 2009

Twenty Eight Pounds Strikes Crown Jewels

Did this videographer see stars when he was the unlucky recipient of a large metal device hurled towards a special place?

Occupational hazard.

Twenty Eight Pounds Straight To The Nuts

November 3, 2009

Bush Esteem Rises With Quiet Fort Hood Visit

Thank you former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.  Hillbuzz. 

Wow.  Just wow.  The comments are quite enlightening as well.

Some previous anti-Bush bloggers find incredible newfound respect for the former President and the former First Lady.  And rightfully so.

And they are correct in lauding the Bushes, for their personal effort in comforting those at Fort Hood during the aftermath of the worst mass shooting at an Army base in U.S. history.  They specifically asked for no fanfare, no publicity.   They just wanted to offer consolation.  In private.  George W. Bush Secretly Visits Fort Hood Victims.  Fox. 

Quite a contrast to the current U.S. President who was at Camp David.  He eventually found his way to Fort Hood to pay his respects. 

See:

• http://hillbuzz.org/2009/11/10/thank-you-former-president-george-w-bush-and-former-first-lady-laura-bush/
• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/07/george-w-bush-secretly-visits-fort-hood-victims/
• http://www.thefoxnation.com/fort-hood-shooting/2009/11/09/obama-snubs-fort-hood-relax-camp-david
• http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-shootmain_11tex.ART.State.Edition2.4b919ec.html

Down, Down, Down He Went Again

How low, can you go?

Down, down, down. 

American president does not know protocol.  Still.  After his embarassing display the first time while bowing to the Saudi King Abdullah.  A clear violation of American presidential protocol previously, one would think he would have learned that lesson after the first offense.  Then again, his Muslim roots were probably reflexive at that time.  But again, and this time to Japanese royalty?  Repeatedly?! 

Bear in mind, bowing demonstrates reverence and subservience. 

Hot Air.

American Presidents do not bow to royalty.  In fact, heads of state do not bow or genuflect to each other in the normal course of diplomacy.  At least, they didn’t until this amateur came into office and failed to learn from the first time he did it.

NYT in 1994 looked up the protocol to check on the little thing that President Bill Clinton did with Japanese Emperor Akihito, when ”he inclined his head and shoulders forward, he pressed his hands together.”

But the “thou need not bow” commandment from the State Department’s protocol office maintained a constancy of more than 200 years.

Presidents don’t bow, and Emperors don’t toast,” one official said.

A modicum of respect is critical in diplomacy.  But full lumbosacral flexion is a different issue altogether.  Newsbusters asks an appropriate question.

…why is Obama violating it, and why aren’t America’s media excoriating him for doing so?

“President Barack Obama bows to Emperor Akihito of Japan.”
Image courteys of http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/14/obama-bows-emperor-la-times-asks-how-low-will-he-go.

Barack Obama bows to Japan’s Emperor Akihito

November 14, 2009

Collection of previous Bow posts below too.  

See:

• http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/14/obamateurism-of-the-day-156/
• http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/14/obama-bows-emperor-la-times-asks-how-low-will-he-go
• http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/19/weekinreview/the-world-the-president-s-inclination-no-it-wasn-t-a-bow-bow.html
• http://quipster.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/down-down-down-he-went/
• http://quipster.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/bow-bow-bow-he-did/
• http://quipster.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/more-on-obama-bows-to-king/

Keep Smiling All The Way To The Dentist

“Open wide and show me your pearlies.”

“Funny Mask Dentist – People Funny Picture”
Image courtesy of http://www.greatfunnypictures.com/index.asp?image=216.

Inspires confidence that your smile may one day become just like his smile.

College Students Shoot For Moon With Giant Caterpillar

Giant Caterpillar Found In College Dorm.   Shadow’s World.

The question is will it morph into a giant butterfly?

Image here.  Graphic catterpillar.

See:

• http://a-shadow-world.blogspot.com/2009/09/giant-caterpillar-found-in-college-dorm.html

Buy Health Care Coverage Or Face Fellow Criminals In Jail

Do it, or face the punishment.  Do as the socialist says.

Interview with the President: Jail Time for Those without Health Care Insurance?  ABC Political Punch.

During an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Jake Tapper today, President Obama said that penalties are appropriate for people who try to “free ride” the health care system but stopped short of endorsing the threat of jail time for those who refuse to pay a fine for not having insurance.

Hmmm.  Well, the Speaker of the House certainly had no hesitation in opining for it.  Pelosi: Jail time “very fair” for failing to buy your patriotic ObamaCare coverage.  HA.  Pourquoi?

…because otherwise they’ll assault citizens … with a bill for medical services … or something.

Considering there is no overt call against it by the President, then that is a tacit agreement that a trip to the pokey is in order for those not shelling out the big bucks for his and fellow democrat’s brand of coverage for health care rationing.

Meet your new roommates.

“Prisoners.  Robbery.  Assault.  Forgery.  Murder.  Burglary.  Rape.  Didn’t buy Obamacare health insurance.”
Image courtesy of http://blackerton.posterous.com/the-option.

See:

• http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/interview-with-the-president-jail-time-for-those-without-health-care-insurance.html
• http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/12/pelosi-jail-time-very-fair-for-failing-to-buy-your-patriotic-obamacare-coverage/