Passage of Obamacare, a Sad Day for America

Last night I watched CSPAN with sadness, disappointment, contempt and anger as the House passed the National Healthcare Bill. Somehow I believed that some of the moderate Democrats would grow a pair and it wouldn’t pass but to no avail. Democrats in this Congress have proven time and again they can be bought off, bribed or coerced into anything the Messiah wants or believes is best for us.

I can’t think of a time in my 50 years where I have ever been more frustrated with my government and my country as I am today. My generation has went through Vietnam, Watergate, the Carter years, Slick Willie, the Wall Street Collapse, the George W. bank and auto bailouts, the Climategate fraud and now this disaster. The majority of Americans overwhelmingly said NO to this monstrosity but it fell on the deaf ear of the jackasses in DC.

This Health Care Bill tops all the other government scandals combined times 10. Why oh why would we actually believe or trust the incompetents in Washington to control the single biggest personal right and choice we have as Americans? Does anyone actually believe this isn’t going to cost us a truck load of money and gives us less freedom or personal choices for Health Care?

No need to look farther than Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare to find the answer which isn’t even addressed in this bill. All have billions and billions in unfunded liabilities but Democrats say trust us, this $1 trillion dollar program will be different, its budget neutral, won’t cost us a thing and will in fact reduce the deficit? Really? What new math are they using?

This massive Socialist Health Care Bill aka Ponzi scheme makes the Bernie Madoff Wall Street rip off look like a $20 7/11 Three Stooges robbery gone wrong.

It’s hard to comprehend how most sensible and reasonable people on either side would not be absolutely outraged by this unprecedented power grab. Either people are hopelessly ignorant to the facts and past history or don’t have a grasp of basic economics or are just so beaten down and apathetic they don’t give a damn. Maybe it’s combination of all of the above.

Reform is what was needed not another centralized government bureaucracy to rob the honest hard working taxpayers. Did you know that 43% of Americans do not pay a single penny in federal income tax? So that means 43% have no vested interest or outrage in having 30% to 50% of their paychecks sucked away in Federal, State, Local, Property or Capital Gains taxes. They of course love this bill because they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

Unfortunately the taxpayers will take another hard kick in the gonads while they reap the benefits of our blood, sweat and tears while they sacrifice nothing.

This isn’t about being compassionate and greedy we all want people to get the healthcare they need but the uninsured also need to understand that nothing in this life is free and someone somewhere will have to pick up the tab.

The United States is the greatest country on earth because you have the right and individual freedom to go as far as your will and talent will take you. The dangerous road our so called Congressional Representatives went down yesterday puts us ever closer to the cliff of a hard Socialism.

The sad thing Obama is just getting started, next up is Immigration Reform, Cap & Trade, and a VAT (Value Added Tax). If the Democrats can get Immigration rammed through before November they’ll add millions of undocumented workers to their side come election time.

The only way to stop this is by going to the voting booth in November. Register today and get involved by helping and contributing to the candidates who want to put the brakes on this never ending Washington spending bender.

Prayer wouldn’t hurt either, God help us fight a peaceful civil rebellion and get our country back.

Green before, White After...I Love the Spring

Before

 

After

What a beautiful day it was yesterday here in Astoria. It was sunny and we got up to a high of 64. It was the perfect day for outside house and yard work. We removed all the bushes and shrubs we had near the house and transplanted them in other locations in our yard. The bushes were so root bound we had to remove them because they were compromising the foundation of the house. Eventually we plan to put new flowers and ornamentals in the front.

Bleach is a miracle product. With about 5 hours of elbow grease and a scrub brush I was able to transform a green, moldy house to a pristine, white house. I'm so happy with the results; it literally looks like the house received a new paint job. Unfortunately, today I’m paying for it physically. I used muscles I never knew I had and I’m sore, but it sure was worth it.

We finished off the day barbequing some rib-eye steaks on the new grill we bought last weekend and enjoyed a great bottle of Old Vine Zinfandel to boot. I love spring; its great the weather is starting to warm up here and every day that isn’t cloudy and rainy is a good day. You really learn to appreciate every sunny day when you live in the NW.

Thomas Freidman's "Global Weirding" op-ed is not just Weird but Worse

Click on the link below to view Thomas Freidman’s New York Times op-ed if you dare:

Global Weirding is Here

My big problem with Freidman is his big problem with oil, natural gas and coal energy. He goes on and on about how we need renewable energy sources and more investment in new technology for other forms of energy. He says we need to invest in it because it will help us depend less on oil imports from the Arabs but at the same time he doesn’t want us to drill or explore for our own oil, natural gas or coal in this country. I’m all for new investment in the renewable energy but I’m also a realist and understand basic economics.

From the research I’ve seen the best laid estimates for how much all these wonderful new energy technologies produce today is 7% of our total energy needs. The cost related to achieve that 7% are astronomically higher than you can imagine. This number includes, wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and bio-fuels. We must drill for more of our own oil and natural gas here in the States, off shore and in Alaska. More clean coal must be used to help our energy needs as well. Oil and natural gas are still the cheapest forms of energy to produce until the technology and the economics of the renewabl's catch up.

Even in the best case scenario 20 to 30 years from now we’ll still be a nation powered by oil, gas and coal. People who know nothing about drilling and mining have no idea how highly regulated both have become over the last 20 years and how it does little or no damage to the environment when they do.

As for the global warming question:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is not pollution and Global Warming has nothing to do with pollution. The average person has been misled and is confused about what the current Global Warming debate is about, greenhouse gases. None of which has anything to do with air pollution. People are confusing Smog, Carbon Monoxide (CO) and the pollutants in car exhaust with the life supporting, essential trace gas in our atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Pollution is already regulated under the Clean Air Act and regulating Carbon Dioxide (CO2) will do absolutely nothing to make the air you breath "cleaner". Regulating Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions through either 'Carbon Taxes', 'Cap and Trade' (Which Freidman supports) or the EPA will cause energy prices (electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, and heating oil) to skyrocket.

The facts are in and the facts are that the data the scientists have used to base their global warming argument on are false, prefabricated and misleading. The only thing I do agree with in his piece is that it’s time for the scientists to give us factual supported data and if they don’t have it they must go back to the drawing board to make a more honest assessment about climate change. For now it’s all bunk and Al Gore hot air.

31,000 Scientist said the same 2 years ago when they signed a Petition saying Global Warming was a fraud but nobody was paying attention.

Click below to read about the Petition:

Scientists Sign Petition Denying Global Warming

Oh by the way... maybe if Freidman holds his breath long enough he won't release any CO2 into the atmosphere. Planet Earth is Saved, Whew!

9/11: Science and Conspiracy: National Geographic Channel

I  watched this show the other night on the National Geographic Channel and it debunks every argument the 9/11 Truther's have with factual based science. NGC gives some of the leaders of this nutty conspiracy airtime to object to the overwhelming evidence that it was an impossibility, but it falls on deaf ears.

The reality is that it’s absolute insanity to believe that such a large number of people could have been involved in such a gigantic conspiracy when thousands of people would have to have been in on the scam. That argument alone kills the whole theory but if you have any doubt watch this show. It airs again on the NGC on Sunday Night February 7th at 7:00 p.m. Pacific or click on the link below to watch the show on the internet if you’re interested.

9/11:  Science and Conspiracy: National Geographic Channel

Week 1 2010 NFL Playoff Predictions

Week 1 NFL Playoff Predictions:

Jets X

Bengals

I like the Jets D. They have maybe the best unit in the AFC. The Bengals looked terrible on O in the last meeting and I look for a similar outcome this week.

Ravens X

Patriots

Same thing here, the Ravens D will dominate this game. Without Wes Welker, Randy Moss gets double teamed and the Ravens D will shut down Tom Brady in the passing game and do the same on the Pats below average running game.

Eagles X

Cowboys

I know the Cowboys spanked them this past week but I believe the Eagles rise up and upset them this week. Tony Romo is a notorious choke artist, look for him to do it again in this game.

Packers X

Cardinals

This one is a tough one for me personally. I like both teams as a fan. The Cardinals have always been my favorite NFC team going clear back to when they were in St. Louis. My gut tells even though I’d like to see the Cardinals win this one the Packers come in a much more talented and hungry team. Right now a very good argument could be made that Aaron Rodgers is playing the best football of any QB in the NFC going into the playoffs and that includes Brett Favre and Drew Brees.

I put Rodgers very high on all my fantasy draft lists this year and I was so happy that my hunch about just how well he would play this season worked out for me. He was my starting QB in over half of the 12 fantasy leagues I was in. He also led my team to a victory in the one money league I played in so I’m very high on Rodgers. I want a Cards win in this one but just don’t think they can pull out another great postseason miracle like last year.

My Preseason Picks for 2009:

NFC NORTH

Division Winner: Green Bay Packers

2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

NFC SOUTH

Division Winner: New Orleans Saints
NFC Champion

2. Atlanta Flacons Wildcard
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC EAST

Division Winner: New York Giants

2. Philadelphia Eagles Wildcard
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins

NFC WEST

Division Winner: Arizona Cardinals

2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams

AFC NORTH

Division Winner: Baltimore Ravens

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns

AFC SOUTH

Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts
AFC Champion & Super Bowl Champion

2. Houston Texans Wildcard
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC EAST

Division Winner: Miami Dolphins

2. New England Patriots Wildcard
3. Buffalo Bills
4. New York Jets

AFC WEST

Division Winner: San Diego Chargers

2. Oakland Raiders
3. Denver Broncos
4. Kansas City Chiefs

My prediction about who would be the best teams in both the NFC and AFC were spot on. I still like my picks. Since both the Colts and the Saints have home field advantage throughout the playoffs I see them both in the Super Bowl with the Colts winning it.

I know the Saints have stumbled down the stretch but I believe they come out like a house a fire when they host their first playoff game and march to the Super Bowl with relative ease.

As for the Colts, I think way to many people have underestimated just how good this team is. Peyton Manning is the smartest big game player (the smartest player in the NFL period) in the playoffs and even though this Colts team doesn’t have the same talent as the last Super Bowl unit I give the Colts the edge based on Manning’s leadership, experience and intelligence alone.

My sentimental pick is of course the Arizona Cardinals to win the whole thing. Will they win it? Very doubtful. They don’t have much of running game, they’ve got injuries to key players that get them beat by the Packers.

My sentimental pick for an AFC team would be the San Diego Chargers. I hate Philip Rivers to be sure but if any team is long overdue in the AFC it would be them. Personally I don’t believe their defense will play well enough to get them there. Yea, they have the O but as we've seen time again the teams who play great defense and mistake free offense in the playoffs usually come out the victor.

Who do you guys like and why? I’m interested.