Democrats Gone Wild - Senate To Finalize War Spending Bill – Includes “Cash for Clunkers” Program

Fuel Efficient? 2009 Hummer: 16MPG Highway - photo: truckinweb.com

An “emergency” spending billis set to move from the Senate to the Oval office today – the House passed the bill early this week with objections from Republican’s and anti-war Democrats. The majority of the bill’s funding is geared towards the Afghanistan-Iraq wars, however, it also includes 7.7 billion dollars for the flu pandemic, 108 billion to bail out the IMF (International Monetary Fund), and 1 billion for a program which can be credited to Sen. Diane Feinstein called “Cash for Clunkers”.

The fact that the U.S. economy is not exactly “healthy” should prevent any funds from being dispersed in the form of “loans” to the IMF, at least temporarily – Republican’s argue that the funds may end up in the hands of countries that aren’t exactly friendly towards the U.S. and did not support that particular portion of the bill. The kicker, however, is the “Cash for Clunkers” bill, which will offer a “rebate” to consumers who currently have low mileage vehicles and trade-up for a more fuel efficient model. Among auto’s one might want to consider: the Hummer (ironically produced by General Motors - or Government Motors).

Unbelievable: Should one purchase a new SUV, that gets 2 miles per gallon more than the old vehicle, they are entitled to a $3,500 rebate, should that new vehicle get 5 miles per gallon more, the rebate increases to $4,500.
The new owners of GM, Car Czar, Massachusetts 4th Congressional District Congressman Barney Frank and the U.A.W, are ecstatic over the measure. Apparently, this is one of the few areas in spending in which the Democrat Controlled Congress feels it is necessary to move “slowly” - fuel efficiency.

What is most interesting is that harsh critics of the measure are coming from, of all places, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi’s backyard. The San Francisco Chronicle is appealing to Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, to stop the madness. Should Gregg be unable to fend off Feinstein’s vision of promoting fuel efficiency thought government handouts, one can bet the house that the Bill will barely touch the Oval Office Desk before it is signed, sealed and delivered.

Will they never learn? As the comparisons increase between the failed Carter Presidency (foreign policy and economics) and the Obama administration, one has to question why not one of those individuals writing this junk and imposing it upon the American Taxpayer, either does not have, or refuses to investigate historical data that would indicate abject failure as a result of frivolous spending, bailouts, and pork! As Obama and the U.N., work out the latest “strongly worded’ missive to North Korea, the Senate and Congress continue to play fast and loose with Taxpayers dollars and the President is likely to either have pre-approved of this nonsense, or he is unaware of the consequences. Either way, Carter’s doppelganger has made a complete transformation from “hope and change” to “chaos and confusion”, be it in concert with or fooled by a like-minded (confused and chaotic) congress.

The Obama Health Care Plan – At Odds with The AMA, Hospitals and Providers - Politics Trump Justice

Speaking to the AMA in Chicagoyesterday, the President, touting his proposal for Universal Health Care, ran into a snag when he indicated that he would not support limits on jury damages in malpractice suits. In fact, the audience booed – of course, as noted in the AP release, supporting legislation that would limit damages in malpractice suits, would offend the largest donors to the Democrat National Committee: trail lawyers and unions. In his usual manner, the President, used “crisis” to emphasis the need for haste in passing Government run healthcare – he compared it to GM, in fact, and as of yet, there is no indication that the Government run Auto Maker will have any success what-so-ever.

Case in point - The Universal Health Care plan that is being foisted on the American Public at the speed of light (similar to the Stimulus plan that certain members of the administration now admit, was done without a clue), has hospitals and other health care providers concerned; simply put, in order to pay for the entire plan, services must be cut somewhere, and cuts to these benefits, would be just the beginning. The plan currently being drafted by the Democrats includes $600 million in new taxes. The model is similar to the Massachusetts plan – in that it allows individuals to choose a government plan, and/or a private insurer – with the Government plan being far less pricey, (subsidized by the state) than the traditional health insurance plan. Several scenarios’ develop, rates under the traditional carriers rise, and taxes on individuals rise, in order to cover the plan subsidies.

Should anyone study the Massachusetts model, the original intent of the Governor Mitt Romney, being to offer insurance through a system that had basic coverage, morphed into a complete coverage program under the Patrick administration – the costs rose significantly as the Commonwealth (Legislature), added mandate upon mandate to the new State Plan, including elective surgery, not fully covered under most private plans Therefore, a trial of universal health care is in place, in the State of Massachusetts, and to date, it is a dismal failure. How does the State pay for the pricey program? Through increases in premiums for those who can “afford” to pay, through fees assessed on those who cannot afford, or will not participate in the plan, and, of course, increases in general taxes.

Perhaps more than one of the Senators now opposing the model of Universal Health Care, have looked at the Massachusetts model, or more to the point, perhaps they understand now, that decisions made in haste, with a president that uses fear as a factor to get legislation passed, are not always in the best interest in the nation. Suffice it to say, that this version may not make it past the planning stages.

Way to Go Joe – Biden Acknowledges Stimulus Guessing Game

Vice President, Joe Biden - image: Time.com

From Time Magazine: Vice President Joe Biden, in a recent appearance on “Meet the Press”, put forth the notion that everyone involved in the stimulus “guessed wrong” (key quotes from Time follow):

"No one realized how bad the economy was. The projections, in fact, turned out to be worse. But we took the mainstream model as to what we thought -- and everyone else thought -- the unemployment rate would be."
"Everyone guessed wrong at the time the estimate was made about what the state of the economy was at the moment this was passed."
"The bottom line is that jobs are being created that would not have been there before."
"Can I claim credit that all of that's due to the recovery package? No. But it clearly has had an impact."

Therefore, based upon the Vice-Presidents take on the out-of-control government spending, it was a “guessing game”, based on a model of assumptions. Moreover, those who feel that Barack Obama and company are studiously moving the country to the left, may be in error, because, based on what Biden has to say, they are instead, floundering about, taking stabs at what they “think” might work. Herein lays the problem, although it is apparent that the President is to the left of center, with a Vice-President that is somewhat of a “loose cannon”, most view the man as competent, brilliant in fact – surrounded by brilliant people who will make good sound decisions in order to further American interests – so say the media, and those pundits that pontificate on certain cable networks. That said, what appears to be the case, and may more likely be a fact, blinded by a Progressive education that gave former President Jimmy Carter, sainthood status, no one in the administration bothered to research historical data, and therefore, the results of overspending, bailouts and stimulus – and the outcome are predictable.

Had anyone with an ounce of sense, gone back over what had happened in the past 40 years, with clarity of mind and lack of political rhetorical think – the situation America is now facing would have been a shade different – the nation needed deeper tax cuts, allowing banks, and auto-makers to fail, so that in the long-run, the healthier businesses (note: political ties to each and every one of those institutions that were given aid), would have risen – the others would have become “history”, and the nation would have recovered rapidly – specifically the private sector. It is a proven economic model, while the current model is proven as well, to be somewhat disastrous, economically.

Rushing forth in panic, driven by political ideology with no sane historical references, is what has happened to our country – according to Joe Biden. Ironic is it not? Historically, those that rush blindly into situations of an economical nature (See Carter, “inheriting” a fiscal disaster from his predecessor and the response which caused the coinage of a new term “Misery Index”), serve one –term in office. Therefore, those who are caught in the middle of this – the unemployed, those who are sick at heart at what has happened to our nation in such a short period of time – should take heart – in a mere three years the polls will once again be open, and someone, man or woman, will step forth, offering advice of an historical nature, that will of course, sound very good to those masses who are beaten down by high inflation, out of control taxation from federal and state administrations, and the result will be – predictable. Although one cannot look for another “Reagan”, as that would be counter-productive, one can bet the house that a new conservative (notice no mention of Party Politic) one who is fiscally grounded, will lead the nation forward in 2012. For those who feel they should have looked harder at Clinton instead of blindly following the “American Idol” of presidential candidates, keep in mind, packaging is what it is, packaging - the more attractive the package, the harder one must dig to find out what that “package’ actually has accomplished – and then, take a look at the other package – the one that may have some “baggage”, but has a clear record. Simple lock step, slogans, should not shape a campaign, unless of course, there is more than rhetoric to substantiate the slogan. Therefore, the privilege of going to the polls to vote and hire a new administrator for the country (which is what the President’s function is – a CEO so to speak), requires some dedicated research on the part of those who actually wield a vote.

In retrospect, therefore, the blame should not be placed on the shoulders of Barack Obama, as President, he is doing what he can, in order to move the nation forward – the blame should rest with those who put forth a candidate of limited experience, undermined a candidate who had the right experience (Clinton), and packaged this candidate so well, that the nation surely would “purchase the goods” so to speak, and then, the blame also lies with those who voted blindly, on rhetoric or on endorsements. Case in point: a family member who, one would think, given gender and age as a factor, would have naturally supported Hillary Clinton (while this blog clearly supported Mike Huckabee, another moderate – but conservative with a proven governing record), however, true shock and awe were in store, when this dear person said when queried who she would support: “Obama (breathlessly) – Caroline Kennedy endorsed him!”. Now, a short six months later, buyer’s remorse, and the inability to look the family conservative in the eye, has set in. Therefore, a lesson of sorts to conservatives everywhere, regardless of Party (yes there are conservative democrats), be kind to those who were blinded by packaging and endorsements and offer to help make more educated choices in future elections. Additionally, send a note of thanks to Vice President Biden; he is truly the gift that keeps on giving.