Building Trust; Pakistan and U.S. Pledge to Work (it)Together

Read the rest at the New York Times

Bill O'Reilly Lets Anthony Weiner Off The Hook

Anthony Weiner thinks he's as intimidating as Rahm Emanuel (at least to Democrats) and as smart as Paul Ryan. He's neither. All he can do is repeat his Pelosi talking points. And with good reason; Dems know that the IRS expanded role in enforcing the insurance mandate is toxic. The mere mention strikes fear in nearly all segments of society. Weiner cries about Republicans using scare tactics to spread misinformation and lies, and yet when he's asked five times to clarify one of the most controversial aspects of the health care bill, he retreats to the typical democrat ploy of avoidance.

Ask What Your Country Can Do For You - Obama Care 'Just Like Christmas'

From WRAL North Carolina

Durham, N.C. — Uninsured Triangle residents said Monday that they eagerly await the overhaul of the nation's health care system.

"It's just going to be like Christmas," said DeCarlo Flythe, who lost health coverage for his family when he was laid off almost three years ago. "It's going to be great. You know, no worries (about) the bills. We are going to go ahead and pay our co-pay and be alright."

Flythe, a diabetic, said he checked into buying a policy for his family, but he couldn't afford it. He recently landed another job, but the new benefits haven't kicked in yet.

"I worry day to day, honestly," he said. "I pray to make sure my child or my wife don't' get sick because, if they go to the hospital, we are looking at a couple of thousand (dollars in bills)."

Flythe was among the patients Monday at the Walltown Clinic, a joint program of Duke University and Lincoln Community Health Center that serves the low-income neighborhoods near Duke's campus. The clinic serves 3,000 to 4,000 patients a year – 80 percent don't have health insurance – and charges co-pays based on what patients can afford.

"People will come in and say, 'I suddenly don't have a job. I've lost my insurance. Can you help me?'" said Kaity Granda, a physician's assistant at the clinic.

Norman Rucker said he hasn't had health insurance in almost 10 years because his employers haven't offered it.

"I'm not a person who gets sick a lot, so I didn't think I'd need any medicine," said Rucker, who racked up about $100,000 in hospital bills over that period by going to the emergency room whenever he needed care. "I'm trying to pay them off. Collection agencies call me all the time."

Rucker's wife has insurance, but the couple couldn't afford to put him on the policy. Now, he's excited he may also have coverage because of health care reform.

"It'll make the world better. It'll make us all better, actually," he said.

Remember these people?



Glen Beck,

"They've had progressive leadership in Detroit for almost half a century. What has that leadership brought to Detroit? 17% unemployment, the highest homicide rate in the nation, one third of it's residents live in poverty, fewer than 6 in 10 graduated from high school last year, the median price for a home in Detroit is $7100. Progressive policies are keeping these people in slavery. Slavery to government, welfare, affirmative action, regulation, control."

Our fellow citizens indeed.

The New Deal, The Fair Deal, The New Frontier, The Great Society, The Big Fucking Deal...Biden Drops F-Bomb at Historic Signing

From the Guardian

The vice-president's loose lips fail him again as a microphone picks up an Anglo-Saxon aside meant for Obama's ears
Joe Biden is famous for having a mouth that out-runs his brain from time to time, and so it proved again, as the vice-president was caught exclaiming in no uncertain terms live on national television.

After introducing the president at the signing ceremony for healthcare reform legislation at the White House today, Biden turned and embraced his boss while excitedly whispering into Obama's ear: "This is a big fucking deal!" Loudly enough to be picked up by the cameras and microphones in the East Room. Fox News was the first to pick up on Biden's blooper, and repeatedly ran the clip (above). Biden can clearly be heard saying the phrase around the nine-second mark.

Headline taken from Andy Levy

Debbie Halvorson, Are You Listening? - Adam Kinzinger Plans 'Repeal & Restart' Health Care Town Hall Tour

From the Ottawa Daily Times

Republican Congressional candidate Adam Kinzinger has announced a "Repeal & Restart" health care town hall tour for area residents to discuss what they want repealed from recent legislation and areas of reform they would like from Congress to restart the discussions "in a more bipartisan manner."

The three-day tour will include a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 23 at Pitstick Pavilion in Ottawa. Other stops include New Lenox on Monday, March 22 and Bourbonnais on Wednesday, March 24.

"Just a few days ago, (U.S. Rep.) Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) announced she was reading the bill before deciding how to vote," said Kinzinger in a press release. "Her vote (Sunday night) is proof that she either loved what she read or caved to political pressure from party leaders.

"No matter the reason," said the candidate from Manteno, "Debbie Halvorson now owns this bill – Medicare cuts, tax increases, the whole thing. This is just bad public policy and the people of her district will remember come November how she turned her back on them yet again."

"This is the latest in a series of votes made by Debbie Halvorson that went against the wishes of her constituents. Last November, Halvorson voted for the House version of the health care bill that was overwhelmingly rejected by the American people."

"(Sunday night), she had an opportunity to correct her mistake by voting against this bill but being the consistent liberal she has proven herself to be, Halvorson chose party loyalty, massive spending, higher taxes and substantial cuts to Medicare – just as she did last November."

Almost without fail at every campaign stop, Kinzinger stresses that Halvorson has "yet to hold open town hall meetings with her constituents on health care."

Debbie Halvorson; elected by the people, for the people, yet she refuses to meet with the people. It's nice to finally see a candidate who's not afraid to talk with and listen to the voters.