Bumper Sticker Borrows Bounty Tagline

Bet Bounty paper towels never thought their product’s tagline would be usurped politically.

Bounty.  The Quicker Picker-Upper.

Check out I Won The World’s for one one bumper sticker where Yes He Did. 

“Obama:  The quicker ______ upper.”

See:

• http://www.quickerpickerupper.com/en_US/paper-towels/index.shtml
• http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=20497

Government Fuels Quiet Anger Across America

America’s Quiet Anger.  James T. Gannon at The American Spectator.

Still waters run deep.

There is a quiet anger boiling in America.

It is the anger of millions of hard-working citizens who pay their bills, send in their income taxes, maintain their homes and repay their mortgage loans — and see their government reward those who do not.

It is the anger of small town and Middle American folks who have never been to Manhattan, who put their savings in a community bank and borrow from a local credit union, who watch Washington lawmakers and presidents of both parties hand billions in taxpayer bailouts to the reckless Wall Street titans who brought down the economy in 2008.

It is an undulating anger that actually speaks volumes.  Read on. 

See:

• http://spectator.org/archives/2010/03/30/americas-quiet-anger

Hooves Make Way For 33 Worthless Presidential Promises

A Long Post: The Complete List of Obama Statement Expiration Dates.  “33 Broken Promises.”  NRO.

Take some time to read it.  Health care, health care negotiations, raising taxes, recess appointments, border security, Guantanamo Bay, military tribunals, recovery.gov, Iraq, debates, Iran, Jeremiah Wright/Trinity United, Jim Johnson, FISA, nuclear energy, NAFTA, public financing, working out a deal on public financing, welfare reform, gay marriage, partial birth abortion, division of Jerusalem.

Promises are made to be broken?  Hypocrisy belies the motivations of the maker.  

Poor manners abound just the same, for the adult who so easily and casually puts his feet on the historical furniture in the White House.  This middle aged adult has had plenty of time to refine his manners, except when posing for the cameras here and also here.

See:

• http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzI4MjQ3Mzk4MWJkNDkwNWZlYzcwNDA3NmQyNmIxYmI=
• http://cdn.nationalreview.com/dest/2010/03/29/618e5a7ad9ee63e97a07b7ef8aa283c4.jpg
• http://www.floppingaces.net/2009/06/10/obama-puts-feet-up-on-museum-piece-desk/

Bullying Becomes The Democrats

Big Brother Becomes Big Bully.  AT. 

What a way to go down in the annals of history.  That sounds like such a familiar theme in American government these days. 

A bully cares only about himself and his own greedy will to power. A bully taunts and threatens. A bully holds others in contempt. A bully disregards not only the wishes of those around him, but also the rules that may his restrain his power. A bully takes what is not his.

A bully will not stop until people rise up and put an end to him. 

Why yes.  It has. 

The smash-and-grab style of governing has since run rampant: rules, regulations, taxes, and mandates; the proliferation of unelected czars; the orders and commands; the abuse of power; the diktats-all stuffed down our throats.

Sounds more like thuggery.  The new style of government in this country brought to the forefront since the 2008 election, where Democrats took the House, Senate, and presidency. 

Where the people are ruled, instead of governed. 

See:

• http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/big_brother_becomes_big_bully.html

Higher Taxes And Income Redistribution To Pay For Health Care

Star Parker: On the government plantation forever?  Washington Examiner.

Parker gets it right.  Government entitlements fuel a never-ending hunger for more.  The direction of health care will be no different.

And, another bonus, as more Americans get herded onto the government plantation — 30 million more with this new bill — it’s easy to keep them there. So, the most likely political outcome going forward is higher taxes and income redistribution to pay for it all, further entrenching socialism.

As I have written before, if you want to know where it all leads, look at our inner cities that were long ago taken over by government compassion. This is our future, my fellow Americans.

Perhaps the next election can change the tide.  There certainly is quite a bit of opposition in a mjor swing state already.  Florida residents oppose Obamacare 54 to 34 percent. 

See:

• http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/On-the-government-plantation-forever_-89362282.html#ixzz0jXCmlLpl
• http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/#ixzz0jXF2VfAY

Palm Sunday March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday  Customs.  Catholic Expert.

Neat to see the customs across the world.  

Pope uses popemobile for first time on a Palm Sunday.  France 24.

Neat to see the Pope cruising along the faithful.  Neater to see strength in the face of adversity. 

See:

• http://www.catholicexpert.com/community/blog/view/314/
• http://www.france24.com/en/20100328-pope-uses-popemobile-first-time-palm-sunday-0

Massive Health Care Tab Estimates Coming Sooner Than Expected

The ObamaCare Writedowns.  WSJ. 

Looks like major businesses in this country are tabulating the costs associated with Obamacare.  And it does not look so optimistic, in stark contrast to how Democrats would have anyone think.

On top of AT&T’s $1 billion, the writedown wave so far includes Deere & Co., $150 million; Caterpillar, $100 million; AK Steel, $31 million; 3M, $90 million; and Valero Energy, up to $20 million. Verizon has also warned its employees about its new higher health-care costs, and there will be many more in the coming days and weeks.

The consulting firm Towers Watson estimates that the total hit this year will reach nearly $14 billion, unless corporations cut retiree drug benefits when their labor contracts let them.

Meanwhile, John DiStaso of the New Hampshire Union Leader reported this week that ObamaCare could cost the Granite State’s major ski resorts as much as $1 million in fines, because they hire large numbers of seasonal workers without offering health benefits. “The choices are pretty clear, either increase prices or cut costs, which could mean hiring fewer workers next winter,” he wrote.

The dreaded financial realities are beginning to roll in.  The only question is how much is everything going to increase in cost now.  But will the Democrats ever admit their “history” was truly a fiasco in the making instead?

The Democratic political calculation with ObamaCare is the proverbial boiling frog: Gradually introduce a health-care entitlement by hiding the true costs, hook the middle class on new subsidies until they become unrepealable, but try to delay the adverse consequences and major new tax hikes so voters don’t make the connection between their policy and the economic wreckage. But their bill was such a shoddy, jerry-rigged piece of work that the damage is coming sooner than even some critics expected.

See:

• http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704100604575146002445136066.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion

The Very Thought Of What Could Go Wrong

Email in circulation.

 

The very thought…  (Also at Pamibe, where the image is more striking.)

Let me get this straight……we passed a health care plan written by a committee

whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it,

passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it but exempts themselves from it,

to be signed by a president that also is exempt from it

and hasn’t read it and who smokes,

with funding administered by a treasury chief

who didn’t pay his taxes,

all to be overseen by a surgeon general

who is obese,

and financed by a country that’s broke.

What in the world could possibly go wrong?

Watch. 

See:

• http://pamibe.com/2009/12/the-new-aarp/
• http://www.animationer.dk/

Timeline For Health Care Legislation Provisions

Timeline of Major Provisions in the Democrats’ Health Care Package.  Committee on Republican Ways And Means.  Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI).   The entire post is here.  

A few to ponder here, especially the ones pertaining to Medicare, our parents and older relatives whom will be affected.  Even the younger people who are disabled who already receive Medicaid, will find they will be subjected to cuts and taxes if they have Medicare benefits as well. 

Everyone, young and old however, will be subjected to the taxes, directly, or indirectly. 

Will all those (young and old) who supported the current Democratic three arms of the government, be pleased when they get the tab EACH time the following come up?   

2010

• States and Federal officials review premium increases
• Impose 10% tax on indoor UV tanning (7/1/10)
• Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/10)

2011

• Medicare Advantage cuts begin
• Medicare cuts to home health begin
• Wealthier seniors ($85k/$170k) begin paying higher Part D premiums (not indexed for inflation in Parts B/D)
• Medicare reimbursement cuts when seniors use diagnostic imaging like MRIs, CT scans, etc.
• Medicare cuts begin to ambulance services, ASCs, diagnostic labs, and durable medical equipment
• Impose new annual tax on brand name pharmaceutical companies
• Americans begin paying premiums for federal long‐term care insurance (CLASS Act)
• Penalties for non‐qualified HSA and Archer MSA distributions double (to 20%)
• Seniors prohibited from purchasing power wheelchairs unless they first rent for 13 months
• Employers required to report value of health benefits on W‐2
• New Medicare cuts to long‐term care hospitals begin (7/1/11)
• Additional Medicare cuts to hospitals and cuts to nursing homes and inpatient rehab facilities begin (FY12)
• New tax on all private health insurance policies to pay for comp. eff. research (plan years beginning FY12)

2012

• Medicare cuts to dialysis treatment begins
• Medicare to reduce spending by using an HMO‐like coordinated care model (Accountable Care Organizations)
• New Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/12)
• Medicare cuts to hospitals with high readmission rates begin (FY13)
• Medicare cuts to hospice begin (FY13)

2013

• Impose $2,500 annual cap on FSA contributions (indexed to CPI)
• Increase Medicare wage tax by 0.9% and impose a new 3.8% tax on unearned, nonactive business income for those earning over $200k/$250k (not indexed to inflation)
• Eliminate deduction for Part D retiree drug subsidy employers receive
• Impose 2.3% excise tax on medical devices
• $500,000 deduction cap on compensation paid to insurance company employees and officers
• Part D “donut hole” reduction begins, reaching a 25% reduction by 2020

2014

• Individuals without gov’t‐approved coverage are subject to a tax of the greater of $695 or 2.5% of income
• Employers who fail to offer “affordable” coverage would pay a $3,000 penalty for every employee that receives a subsidy through the Exchange
• Employers who do not offer insurance must pay a tax penalty of $2,000 for every fulltime employee
• More Medicare cuts to home health begin
• States must cover parents/childless adults up to 138% of poverty on Medicaid, receive increased FMAP
• Modified community rating: individual or family coverage; geography; 3:1 ratio for age; 1.5 :1 for smoking
• Government board (IPAB) begins submitting proposals to cut Medicare
• Impose tax on nearly all private health insurance plans

2015

• More Medicare cuts to home health begin

2016

• States can form interstate insurance compacts if the coverage with HHS approval (2016)

2017

• Physician pay‐for‐quality program begins for all physicians
• States may apply to the Secretary for a limited waiver from certain federal requirements

2018

• Impose “Cadillac tax on “high cost” plans, 40% tax on the benefit value above a certain threshold: ($10,200 individual coverage, $27,500 family or self‐only union multiemployer coverage)

See:

• http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/WM_hcr_timelinel.pdf

AT&T Saddles Consumers With $1 Billion Charge For Obamacare

Health care bill causes AT&T to take $1 billion charge, cut benefits.  Washington Examiner. 

AT&T Inc. will take a $1 billion non-cash accounting charge in the first quarter because of the health care overhaul and may cut benefits it offers to current and retired workers.

Taxes are not discriminatory.  They trickle down and affect everyone.  Wonder how many of those people who have accounts with AT&T, voted for the Democrats who have rammed this health care bill down upon America?  They will surely be pleased at paying more cash from their own pockets for which they spawned.

Just the same, all companies in the country will need to pay taxes to pay for Obamacare.  They will just pass those costs onto us all, the consumers.

The Seven Most Awesome Quotes from President Obama’s Health Care Victory Speech in Iowa by Doug Ross, points to all the other companies that will have to pony up more cash, at the expense of consumers, and/or their own retirees.  He contrasts that starkly with the hypocrisy of a speech by the very creator of this debacle.

See:

• http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/health-care-bill-causes-att-to-take-1-billion-charge-cut-benefits.html#ixzz0jLauP2CD
• http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/03/best-quotes-from-president-obamas.html