The Beer Tab

If the American taxpayer is going to have to ante up every time the Obama White House goes into damage control mode, we'd best tack another trillion onto the deficit.

How much is it costing us for the president to stage his "teachable moment" beer show? How much will it cost to fly the participants round trip to the White House and back home again? How much of the president's time does this publicity stunt funnel away from the country's countless issues?

How many more times in the next few years will this president draw upon taxpayer funds to cover his clumsy tracks?

I think I need a drink.

Who's Teaching Whom?

There is a great deal to be learned from the "Gates-gate" incident. However, as Ruben Navarette points out, the true lessons may not match up with the racially-charged views of Professor Gates and our president.

First lesson: When a law enforcement officer shows up at your door in response to a call, remove any attitude chip from your shoulder.

Second lesson: When asked to produce identification by said officer, comply promptly, calmly, and without complaint.

Third lesson: Keep in mind that police risk their lives minute-to-minute to protect our individual safety, and behave with appropriate respect.

Fourth lesson: If you end up arrested because you never learned the first three lessons, accept personal responsibility and don't misplace the blame on the police officer.

Fifth lesson: A president who announces in a televised press conference that a police officer "acted stupidly," is acting stupidly.

Unhealthy Change

Why is the cost of my health care Barack Obama’s business?

~ Mark Steyn

Mark Steyn usually makes me laugh. Not this time. "The Nationalization of Your Body" is a grim must-read on Mark's website.

He's a Canadian who has lived in Great Britain, and he knows of what he writes. When you're done reading and having a few years scared off your life, click over to the "Free Our Health Care NOW!" website and join the over 800,000 American citizens who have signed the petition to preserve our freedom of choice in our personal health care and that of our families.

Perfection

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!

~ Chicago White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson

The boys of summer gave us a great day in Chicago.

Let's all take a moment to savor a rare baseball milestone: a perfect game, pitched by Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox.

This marks only the 18th perfect game in major league baseball history. Here is a link to video of the historic moment.

A good baseball day can pick me up from just about anything. Thanks, Mark Buehrle, and congratulations on your thrilling accomplishment.

America in Action

To those of us who may feel helpless and on the sidelines as the federal government rolls up its sleeves to seize more power, and to those who ask, "What can I do?" to prevent a disastrously flawed plan from being rushed into law, this link to the "Free Our Health Care NOW!" petition to halt the imposition of a socialized medical system provides a voice for the people of our country.

You must be a U.S. citizen over 18 years of age to sign. Over half a million Americans have signed it, to date. Send a message to Washington D.C. that we are still a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Double Whammy

It seems to me that former President George W. Bush took a great deal of heat for the 2001 recession, although the dot-com bust had come the previous year, during President Clinton's final months in office. Blame for the economic downturn quite easily found its way to Bush via MSM, although his policies addressed the economic issues and clearly shortened the recession.

Economists largely agree that the 2001 recession lasted eight months, from March to November 2001. However, in the press, Bush remained the scapegoat for a recession whose genesis predated his first term as president.

To follow logic--something generally foreign to our liberal mainstream media--Barack Obama should be answering for the current economic collapse, one that dwarfs the 2001 troubles almost to insignificance. But somehow, although President Obama's grab for government power has cost America trillions of dollars in the midst of widespread economic agony, the blame still sits on Bush. Obama has only to mention this "mess" he "inherited" to quiet MSM questions before they are asked--and he does so at every opportunity.

So how is it that the same hapless president, George W. Bush, can be responsible for the both the recession caused by events that predated him as well as the current recession, ever deepening as a result of actions taken after he has left office? It seems an obvious question, one that deserves an honest answer. Sadly, such queries don't receive much air time these days.

All-Star Ego

So the National League loses the All-Star Game yet again, 13th year in a row. Depressing. And San Diego Padre pitcher Heath Bell gave up the winning run. Humiliating.

Before the game, there was a video tribute by all five living presidents, but I've had more than my fill of President Obama's speeches. The president is unquestionably in love with the sound of his own voice, but I'm not. He tends to drone on at tedious length. Boring.

It was time for some "change" I could believe in. So I channel surfed for a bit...switched back, and found former President Carter talking. Annoying. Another quick channel jump, and I hopped back for the last few words from George W. Bush (I never thought I would miss that guy so much.) Continuing to switch channels throughout the opening ceremonies and commercials, I lingered on a news report and, when I went back to the game, I had missed Obama's first pitch (hey, I'll live).

The game was on, I was home free--or so I thought. But just when I thought it was safe to stretch out on the sofa with my corn chips and enjoy some baseball, who appears on screen? President Obama, all settled into the middle of the broadcast booth, complete with headset, chuckling, beaming, and--guess what?--talking! Nauseating.

What is with this guy? His compulsion to be the center stage hog at every and any event is beyond embarrassing. Does anyone care less than I do that his wife thinks he looks cute in his White Sox jacket? Is it too much to ask that America be able to watch the annual All-Star Game in peace?

I wonder if Obama's getting us ready for his play-by-play during the World Series. It wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Working Summer

One would think, as I am currently one of the millions of unemployed Americans, that I would have an abundance of time to post blog items. I certainly thought I would have the luxury of hours to fill a blank computer screen.

Silly me. Although this is my second turn on the unemployment scene in as many years, I was quick to forgot how much work it is, just looking for a new job. From fine-tuning a resume, to online applications, to returning messages, to phone interviews, and finally, to in-person interviews, job hunting eats up most of every day. In addition, I have networking lunches scheduled throughout the week with various friends and professional contacts.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It's gratifying to have the work experience and qualifications that merit a lively level of interest.

Thrown into this summertime mix is my daughter's vacation visit from Boston, accompanied by the usual gamut of social events that customarily swirl around Kristine. The centerpiece of her trip was San Diego's annual Over the Line tournament, where she played yesterday with her teammates of the past six years. There are plenty of events, day trips, parties, and barbecues to come this week, many including Mom.

But before I do anything else, I need to fax this completed and signed form back to a potential employer...

An Independent Choice

It took someone with the star power of Sarah Palin to knock the interminable Michael Jackson circus from the headlines. Even in the media black hole of a holiday weekend, the commotion she has created by announcing she will resign as Alaska's governor has been remarkable.

I'm not the "Paliniac" that many conservatives are, but I do like Sarah Palin. She's honest, she's real, and she's got guts to spare. And, Northwestern twang notwithstanding, she is completely capable of putting a sentence together without the aid of a teleprompter and with a minimum of "uhmmms." Refreshing, to say the least.

The real reason behind her sudden departure from elected office will be a source of unending speculation. While I don't like quitting a commitment to the public trust, if I put myself in her pumps I can understand her decision. She is trashed unfairly and unmercifully by President Obama's worshipful MSM, but I do think she can tolerate that terrible treatment. Palin is one tough lady.

My theory agrees with those who say that it's the harassment and attacks upon her children and her family, and the mounting legal bills to pay for the endless investigations into her actions as governor (in all of the settled cases, she has been acquitted of any wrongdoing). I think it's the media's thirst for Palin blood at any cost that has driven this public servant to abandon her post. If I'm correct, that is very sad for America.

Today, more than ever, this country needs good, sincere people who are willing to step forward and run for office. The media's absolutely disgusting treatment of Sarah Palin has made it more likely that such good people will think twice before throwing themselves--and their families--to the unprincipled and insatiable wolves of MSM.

If she is planning to try for the presidency, I'll be surprised. Quitting the governorship mid-term was not the best tactic for such a strategy. However, stranger things have happened. We have a term-quitter as president right now, as a matter of fact. Perhaps that's why the liberals remain so viciously terrified of her.

I'm glad that Sarah Palin has a multitude of job offers pouring in. She has earned every one of them, and I wish her the best of luck no matter what path she chooses to follow next.

Freedom Rings

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

~ closing line of The Declaration of Independence

I've always been proud that a Carroll was among the signers.

Happy 233rd birthday, U.S.A.

On Socialized Healthcare

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.

~ John Adams

Forbes has an insightful piece by Shika Dalmia, linked here, on five lies President Obama is feeding us about healthcare.  I advise reading the entire article--this is an issue that affects every American--but for brevity's sake, below are the Five Lies:

1. No one will be compelled to buy coverage.
   
2. No new taxes on employer benefits.
   
3. Government can control rising health care costs better than the private sector.
   
4. A public plan won't be a Trojan horse for a single-payer monopoly.
   
5. Patients don't have to fear rationing.
   

This week, I was speaking with a hospital executive in San Diego.  I asked her how the proposed changes in healthcare will impact her work.  She answered that it will make healthcare much more difficult, because so many million new patients will be infused into a system that already doesn't cope with the numbers very well.

Change is needed, we both agreed.  Costs must come down.  But we also agreed that Obama's arbitrary road leads to the government rationing of healthcare; there is no other logical conclusion.  There are simply not enough physicians.  Numbers don't lie, and, as John Adams once famously remarked, facts are stubborn things.

Parents with idealistic young adults, who hear the choirs of heaven in the background whenever the president speaks, need to ask their children some very direct questions.  If Mom gets breast cancer, are they willing to watch her wait nine months to a year to receive radiation treatments?  Are they comfortable with her being declared ineligible for an expensive chemotherapy treatment that might cure her?  If Dad needs heart surgery after age 60, or 65--whatever the "cutoff" is determined to be--are they prepared to accept his denial of treatment by a government health control board?

These are real questions that deserve honest answers, and very quickly.  Cap and trade (and tax) can be reversed, as can government control of banks and car companies.  But if we shatter our healthcare system, there is no going back.  That thought alone is enough to make me sick.