Democrats Fightin’ Amongst Themselves

I read this on Redstate.com and just had to repost it.  It centers around comments made by Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) regarding the blue dog democrats opposition to a public option in the health care legislation in the house.

Kilpatrick: Public Option the Only Option for Blacks

Posted by Mark Impomeni, Thursday, July 30th at 5:30PM EDT

There’s a revealing quote buried inside Politico’s account of a revolt by liberal members of the House Democratic caucus over the deal between Rep. Henry Waxmam (D-CA) and four members of the Blue Dog Caucus. Liberals are upset that the deal effectively guts the public option in President Obama’s healthcare takeover. And as is usually the case, when liberals get upset, the truth about the contempt that they harbor for their core constituencies begins to show. How else can this comment by Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick be explained?

At one point, Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), a former Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman, expressed outrage that conservatives would insist on significant cuts and a weakening of the public option, arguing that many of the Blue Dogs were letting down their black constituents, who make up 25 percent to 40 percent of their voters, in some instances.”

Yeah, that’s right. Opposing the public options on cost grounds betrays blacks. Because, you know, all blacks are destined to be on the public dole, right Congresswoman?

Interesting.  Democrats fighting amongst themselves.  Sounds fine to me.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Have A Drink on Me!

Maybe I’m just a prude, but the President calling two people to the White House to have a beer so they can “get along” seems a little ridiculous and un-Presidential, especially when the “controversy” was perpetuated by Mr. Obama himself.  We all have heard his comments on the affair saying that the Cambridge Police acted “stupidly” when dealing with the incident.  Nice.  Commenting on something that involved a black individual and a cop must mean the cop is a racist, right? 

If Obama would have kept his mouth shut until he actually knew ALLthe details this wouldn’t have been quite as big as it became.  The fact that he is black is immaterial.  The fact that he is an elitist Harvard Professor is immaterial.  The officer responded to a call, questioned Mr. Gates, Mr. Gates became beligerant, Mr. Gates was arrested.  Do you really think we would have heard about this if Mr. Gates was a pasty white fellow like myself?  I think not!

Well, here’s the audio of the 911 call that evening:

Call me an idiot, but I didn’t hear any racism in that call or from any of the interaction between Mr. Gates and the Police Officer that has been reported.  For crying out loud, there was a black officer present on the scene.  Don’t you think he would have raised a stink if there actually were some charge of racism?  Just a crazy thought on my part.

To the real point of this post, I don’t get the “Beer Summit” thing at the White House.  Don’t we have more pressing issues in this country?  I thought all this talk of racism was over now that we elected the first black President.  Guess not.

I can say that I would welcome an officer like Sgt. Crowley to my town.  He is calm, collected and fair minded in his approach to the situation. 

All I can think of…did they drink an American made beer (by and American beer company)?  Not unless it was Sam Adams.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

First Pitch Smackdown – Obama vs. Bush

I received an email from a charter member of the Rob’s Rant Revolution highlighting the difference between the first pitches of President Obama and President Bush.  Before you send me hate mail, this is just for fun – but very interesting if you like Baseball.

  

President Bush – First Pitch

• 2-Seam Fastball. Will cut down-and away. The typical strikeout pitch.
• Power-T position before the throw. Generates hip drive for max. velocity.
• Eyes on the target.
• Pitching hand cocked back so batter can’t see ball during delivery.
• Business slacks. He ain’t here to play, hes gonna break the catchers hand.

ASSESSMENT
Strike three – batter looking. Fastball looked inside coming towards plate then broke away on the inside corner.

________________________________________________________

President Obama – First Pitch

• Palm ball. Comes in slow and doesn’t move.
• No Power-T. Right hand hanging down towards dirt.
• Eyes and mouth show fear that a batter will actually be in there to knock it 603 feet..
• Pitching hand open so batter can see ball during delivery.
• Blue jeans? When they asked him to throw out the first pitch he wrote a speech.

ASSESSMENT
This ball will be hit so far it will need a flight attendant.

 

***SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON***

 

 

Interesting.   I suppose this is why we didn’t actually see the pitch to into the glove of Pujols’ glove at the All-Star Game.  Also, I guess it helps that Bush 43 owned part of an MLB team at one time. 

I have no idea who credit this email to, but I’ll be glad to if I find out.  Thanks in advance – I got a good laugh on this one.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

The Waiter and the Homeless Man

I received this email from the Don’t Tread on Me! group on Facebook. Good story – thought I would share. 

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read “Vote Obama, I need the money.” I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on an “Obama ’08” tie, again I laughed–just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need–the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy the money and told him to thank the server inside as I decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

Question: How can you make your fellow man (or woman) prosperous?
Answer: There are many ways, but one way NOT to is by living off that fellow man/woman.

 

Direct link to the group: Don’t Tread on Me! (Since 1776)

I have no idea if this is a fictional story, but I liked it.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Health Care Reform – Tea Party for Senator McCaskill

An impromptu Tea Party?  The movement is growing!

The citizens showed up in St. Louis to grill a representative for Senator Claire McCaskill on “health care reform.”  This is an outgrowth of a peaceful protest that occurred at Senator McCaskill’s office regarding her ideas to transform the US health care system.  Her staffers botched the interaction so to make good they set up this forum.  They expected 150 people to show up – they got over 1,000!  What a turnout.

This is a growing trend of the citizenry that actually gained national exposure on Greta Van Susteren’s show on Fox News:

Hopefully this will be a growing trend around the country so we can get some “real” reform without the government sticking it’s nose in the mix.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Obama Health Care Reform Boondoggle

I keep thinking on all the Obama proposals…what is the rush?  First it was the “Stimulus” bill, then it was “Cap and Trade” and now it’s “Health Care.”  The same mantra that is rolled out is that we have to do it or else!  Or else what?  Reduced care to the masses?    I think not.  Higher costs to the actual taxpayers?  I think so. 

From the televised speech last night:

“If you don’t set deadlines in this town, things don’t happen. The default position is inertia,” the president said, singling out his critics for playing political “games” with health care reform. 

Reform is critical for rebuilding the economy and controlling the deficit, Obama argued. But with momentum slowing considerably in the effort to reach a deal on time, the president conceded that he wants to “do this right” and said he wouldn’t sign a bill that doesn’t achieve key objectives like reducing costs. 

At the news conference, called to rally support for health care reform, Obama acknowledged that Americans are “understandably queasy” about debt and deficits — and the impact health care reform would have on both. 

Obama used the news conference to try to put skeptics at ease, both inside and outside the Beltway. He said health care reform would not only improve the quality of care they receive at reduced cost but in the long run actually rein in spiraling deficits and debt. 

“If we do not control these (health care) costs, we will not be able to control our deficit,” he said. 

He rejected the notion that his administration only wants to “spend and spend.” In an odd boast, the president said his administration has already reduced the 10-year deficit projection from $9.3 trillion to $7.1 trillion. 

Reduce deficits huh?  The GOP House Ways and Means Committee has come up with their own figures and it projects the costs out past the Obama presidency (presumed to be 8 years) and past the natural lives of most of Congress:

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Democrats’ health care proposal includes over $1 trillion in new spending between now and 2019.
 

The plan includes more than $820 billion in job-killing tax increases on small businesses and families making as little as $18,700 per year over the next decade.
 

But even these massive new taxes aren’t enough to pay for the Democrats’ plan.
 

CBO found the Democrats’ plan will increase the federal deficit by $239 billion over the next 10 years.  What the Democrats don’t tell you is that the bill is not fully implemented until 2015, hiding the true costs and deficit impact of this government takeover of health care.
 

CBO also confirmed that the Democrats’ rate of spending will lead to “a substantial hole that would need to be filled by the other provisions if the overall legislation were to be deficit neutral at the end of the 10-year window and into the following decade.”As the graph below shows,if the Democrats’ health care spending continues at those rates, it could cause a massive spike in the federal deficit – reaching as high as $1.6 trillion over the next 20 years.

 

Here’s a chart that the GOP came up with to outline the democratic plan for the “reform” of the health care system:

OK, to be totally fair, here is the democratic chart (the original one).

Do we need reform?  I would say yes, but a government option is not the right answer.  Just look to Medicare and Medicaid for the answer of whether Uncle Sam can administer an adequate health care option.   Taking more time to actually draft a good option – outside of total government control – should be the goal of our lawmakers.  I won’t hold my breath on that one.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Obamonopoly!

I received this a couple of weeks ago and just have gotten around to posting on the Rant.  I think we are all playing this game already.

Of course, it’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Barbara Boxer Gets A Smack Down

This is just great.   Black Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Harry Alford gives Senator Barbara Boxer a smack down.  Accusing Sen. Boxer of racism is awesome – by an African American no less.  It’s past time for someone to call these guys to the carpet.  Great job Mr. Alford! 

It sounds like Sen. Boxer likes the the old phrase…”some of my best friends are black.”

Of course, that is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

 

 

Obama is Not Lovin’ on the Teleprompter

As much as I dislike President Obama, this is really hard to watch.  This video came from a Town Hall meeting in Bristol, VA.  Maybe the breathalyzer should be done on the POTUS.

And they gave President Bush a hard time.

Enjoy.

 

 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Local Bakery Says Cap and Trade Will Kill His Business ***UPDATE***

Living in the St. Louis area is great.  This is a wonderful city with lots to do and also a great environment to raise your family.  To that end it is always good to see a local business make national news.

A local business, McArthur’s Bakery, decided they had had enough when local Representative Russ Carnahan voted to approve the 1,500 page Cap and Trade bill.  Randy and Dave McArthur decided to do what they could to let their customers and others passing the bakery in south St. Louis what his US Representative did – he posted it on his electronic sign.  This attracted not only the attention of Rep. Carnahan, but also the likes of FoxNews.

According to Randy McArthur:

“We make (our product) with electricity, we bake it with gas, we refrigerate and freeze it with electricity and we distribute it with gas and oil,” said McArthur, who said he worries that high prices could cost his company up to $15,000 a year in an industry with a very tight margin for profit.

That video really highlights the concern of small businesses and the real cost of this massive expansion of government for a non-problem.  Hopefully this will start a real uprising of small businesses to show the “real” effects of cap and trade.

 

***UPDATE***

Dave McArthur was interviewed on Glenn Beck’s show last week.  Good interview.

 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Obama on an Italian Booty Call?

You can make up your own mind on this one.  Did he or didn’t he look at the butt?

Personally, I don’t care.  Looks like he did, but it’s easy to catch something that is or is not there by freeze-frame.  Just check out the look French President Nicolas Sarkozy.  Kind of looks like they both are a-lookin’.  I don’t blame them.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Palin Took Out Michael Jackson?

We all know that Al Sharpton has a couple of screws loose, but this one is really out there.  To me this exchange takes the cake.

Evidently Mr. Sharpton has a radio program.  This fact astounded me, but the bigger befuddlement is that people actually listen to this guy.  Rev. Al had a caller that started off praising Michael Jackson and that she loved his music, etc., etc.  So far so good.  The conversation went further to bring up a possible reason that Gov. Palin stepped down from her Governorship in Alaska.  The notion was that she must have “done something” to Michael Jackson and there is a coming scandal. 

Not only is this ludicrous, but Rev. Sharpton just let it go as a possibility.  No radio host can totally control the rantings and wild theories of the callers, but in this case ther ewas NO discussion, NO questions, NO probing.  I guess that is what we can expect from our favorite opportunist.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Sharpton Plays the Race Card

This is an old story.  The Rev. Al Sharpton is constantly telling the world that we’re all racists.  The Michael Jackson memorial service was nothing different.  The whole speech was geared to create a victim of Jackson.  Why is he the victim?  He made massive amounts of money doing what he did best – sing and dance.  To assign him this status to blame everyone else (but Jackson) for his demise is total crap.

Those of us who are informed about current events know that Al Sharpton is an opportunist that has to have a camera in front of his face at all times.  The term narcissist comes to mind.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

People Don’t Like The A-Holes

I ran across this commercial for Hardee’s and chuckled.  They seem to be trying to emulate the edgy commercials from Burger King. 

Which to you prefer?  I’ll take the B-holes, thank you very much.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Michael Jackson RIP – Good Riddance ***UPDATE***

I consider my Dad one of the most insightful people on the planet.  He is one of my heroes.  His wisdom and knowledge have been imparted to me and I’m sure I will never be the person he is, but there is always hope. 

We talked this morning about several current events – Cap and Trade, the coming Health care boondoggle along with the death of Michael Jackson.  I told him that I didn’t want to be morbid or callous, but that I really didn’t care much about the passing of Mr. Jackson.  We both agreed that the world is a better place without Michael Jackson.  Before I start to get hate mail from all the fans of Wacko Jacko, let me explain myself.

The life of Michael Jackson is a tragic one.  He and the other Jackson’s had a horrible childhood at the hands of their father.  He rose to become one of the most prolific entertainers the world has ever known.  His musical accomplishments are well known and indisputable.  Yes he was a Pop icon.  Yes he did great things for music.

As a father, all I can think of is his proclivity to molest small children.  Did these psychological problems stem from his horrible childhood – maybe – but that never excuses someone from these activities.  Society obviously judged him differently than other pedophiles.  The only difference with Michael Jackson and similar individuals currently sitting in prison (or former wards of the state) is that he had the money to pay off the families.  Like we know from the OJ case, just because you are not convicted in a court of law doesn’t mean you’re not guilty.  Sane people know the truth regardless of a court ruling.

All you fans of Michael Jackson take your time to mourn, but also remember all the disgusting things he has done and shattered lives that he has caused.  Mr. Jackson is lucky that those things were not done to my children as I’m not quite as magnanimous as others might be. 

 

***UPDATE***

Over the weekend Representative Peter King from New York made some great statements regarding the coverage of Michael Jackson.  Here is the original statement:

And here is Rep King backing up his statement on CNN:

Good for you Rep. King for standing up for your statements.  If you say something you should be ready to back it up and not pander to what everyone in the media expects or wants to hear.  I happen to agree with Rep. King, but it is refreshing to hear a politician back up his statements.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant