I have very advanced heart disease and I am the surprised owner of 25 stents. Many know my political blog, but not my heart disease blog. The current political fight does take a toll on one’s health. It is stressful dealing with idiots running the country and finding yourself in the middle of a fight for your life. It is also exhilarating. That said, I often feel the need to refuel and remind myself of why I am fighting.

As I state in My Story on my heart disease blog, I am a proud member of Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church.

I consider the pastor, Larry Coulter, an influential, inspiring and entertaining speaker. His presence can lift even the lowest of spirits and his sense of humor hints at the possibility that had he not chosen being a pastor, he could have ranked among the best of comedians. He does not wear his politics on his sleeve, so I certainly do not speak for Pastor Coulter, nor do I know if he agrees with most, any, or all of what I write. However, each of us is called in his or her own way and his sermons always appear to be directed like a laser at you, this listener, and nobody else. It’s uncanny.

He is joined by a wonderful group of people, including Associate Pastor Mike Killeen and Associate Pastor Britta Dukes. All are blessed with the ability to make one laugh, cry, and hang on their every word. I often go back and listen to Pastor Coulter’s sermons if I am feeling down and need a lift. For those so inclined, I find this type of therapy to be extremely beneficial and I highly recommend it. Being inspired is an integral part for anyone living with heart disease, recovering from treatment or in most of your cases, just dealing with fighting for liberty and freedom and worrying what the future has in store for you, your parents, children and grandchildren.

Listen to some of Larry’s sermons here. Archived sermons can be found here. In 2008, I was particularly impressed by the “Vine Ripened” series that occurred during the period of August 31st through November 3rd. I don’t see a donate button on the site, but if you find the sermons to be as fulfilling as I have, if you wish you can contact Larry or any of the staff and ask how you can contribute. Although I am a member, this is not a donation drive. If you like the sermons and wish to contribute, then please do so. If you don’t wish to contribute, that is absolutely fine and I still hope you will take the time to listen to the sermons. I believe Larry to be one of America’s undiscovered treasures and hope you will agree.

One of the differences between a liberal and a conservative is that liberals have no idea how much money it takes to keep a nation in poverty. They sure as heck are trying to find out.

The Wall Street Journal indicates support is eroding for ObamaCare, and there is every reason to believe support will continue its free fall over the August recess. Just keep in mind that ObamaCare is like the killer in a cheap horror film who, at the very end, when everyone is convinced he is dead, suddenly jumps up and continues his reign of carnage. The solution always seems so obvious. Once you think the bad guy is dead, make sure by emptying a shotgun and fourteen rounds of 45 caliber destruction from your Glock 37 into the killer’s chest and head. Then stab him until you find yourself out of breath. End by cutting off his head for good measure.

That is how we must treat ObamaCare. Shoot it, stab it, cut off its head, and throw in a hammer and sickle as bonus weapons to kill off this piece of liberty stealing socialist garbage.

The narrative over the last two months is clear and needs no repeating. The bottom line – support for health care reform of the style that liberals favor is not well-received by a growing number of a population wary of a government takeover of health care. I believe even some liberal representatives may find themselves mightily challenged in the 2010 elections. We just have to make sure they get the message that even they could be in trouble, not to mention the Blue Dogs and Democrats from conservative states and districts and any RINOs contemplating reaching out to assist those whose agenda is the destruction of the some of the very foundations of this country – liberty and individual freedom, not to mention state’s rights.

That is why it is so important to attend your local Recess Rally August 22nd. Don’t forget to contact your senators and representatives now and over the recess. The link for House members includes committee information and Blue Dog identification.

From the WSJ:

Support for President Barack Obama’s health-care effort has declined over the past five weeks, particularly among those who already have insurance, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found, amid prolonged debate over costs and quality of care.

In mid-June, respondents were evenly divided when asked whether they thought Mr. Obama’s health plan was a good or bad idea. In the new poll, conducted July 24-27, 42% called it a bad idea while 36% said it was a good idea.

Among those with private insurance, the proportion calling the plan a bad idea rose to 47% from 37%.

Declining popularity of the health-care overhaul reflects rising anxiety over the federal budget deficit and congressional debate over the most contentious aspects of the legislation, including how to pay for it. The poll also shows concern over the role of government in determining personal medical decisions.

Trying to regain momentum, Mr. Obama is shifting his pitch to new consumer-protection rules for insurance companies, part of a bid to win over Americans who already have coverage.

David Axelrod, one of the president’s top advisers, acknowledged that the White House’s months-long focus on controlling medical costs hasn’t worked. “Consumer protections are a lot more tangible,” he said.

On Wednesday, Democratic leaders in the House reached accord with conservative party members to move their bill through the last of three committees, although the full House won’t vote on the measure until at least September. “Failure is not an option,” said California Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman.

The White House is eager to show progress and build public support before Congress breaks for summer, when opponents plan to continue their campaign. “If this bill hangs out there over the August recess my guess is it will get shredded,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio), said.

Shred away people, shred away.

In other news and opinion:

More culture of corruption: Who let the New Black Panther Party thugs off?

Ed Morrissey: Initial jobless claims increase again. But, but, but… I thought the stimulus package was supposed to stimulate!

Byron York: New WSJ poll is bad, bad news for Obama, Democrats. I would like to add, “and great, great news for America”. We’re not the USSA yet.

In other pertinent news critical to the survival of this nation, we have this little gem from the CNN Political Ticker: Beer choice at Obama meeting touches off new debate.

But Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch told NPR if it was up to him he would make a special beer just for the event.

“I’d make a blend of ingredients from all over the world. Which is certainly what’s represented there with the three participants,” he said. “I would blend those ingredients together artfully and harmoniously, because that’s really what we all hope for.”

And they all lived happily ever after, and Iran gave up its ambitions for the atomic bomb, and had free and fair elections as radical Islam found itself magically transformed into piece loving, teddy bear hugging liberals.

Kumbaya my lord, kumbaya….

UPDATE 2: Is there a possible rift starting to appear? According to The Hill, there just might be: Waxman may let health bill skip committee. Here is the quote of interest:

Democratic critics of the bill have warned that the bill doesn’t have enough votes to pass on the floor, and say an end-run around the committee would galvanize opposition among centrists.

“That would clearly ruffle some feathers,” said an aide to a Blue Dog lawmaker.

Breitbart is reporting: Conservative House Dem says health talks collapse:

The head of a group of fiscally conservative Democrats says negotiations with House leaders on health care have collapsed.

Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., who heads the Blue Dogs’ health care task force, told reporters Friday that after a week of talks, the effort to reach agreement between the leadership and the conservative to moderate Democrats fell apart. He said that leaves Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., without the votes to advance the health care bill out of his committee.

However, Waxman has threatened to force a floor vote to break the impasse within Democratic ranks on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

Pray for the Blue Dog’s and lend them your support. Here is a great list from Tea Party Patriots that provides not only which committee each representative is on, but whether they are Blue Dog. Call the Energy Committee members, especially Waxman, and the the Blue Dogs. Let them know you support them and as long as they do the right thing for this country, we have their backs.

Michelle Malkin: Waxman wants Blue Dogs to heel, signals committee bypass.

CNN Political Ticker is reporting: House Democrats splinter over health care

UPDATE 1: Really Bad News: Waxman: Blue Dogs must relent on health reform:

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) says there is “no alternative” to having healthcare legislation bypass his committee if Blue Dog Democrats don’t agree to legislation.

Waxman said if the seven Blue Dogs on his panel do not relent, they could join with the committee’s Republicans to “eviscerate” healthcare reform.

“I won’t allow them to hand over control of our committee to Republicans,” Waxman told reporters.

“I dont see what other alternative we have, because we’re not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee ”

But its okay to sell-out the American people. Has Waxman and the Blue Dogs checked Obama’s latest poll numbers? Less than 50% as of today – for the first time. Tread lightly.

Look at it this way – you are not empowering Republicans, you are saving your jobs.

__________
Original Post:

Sound familiar – like with the cap-and-tax bill. Just jamming it down our throats. Well it looks quite possible that Ralph Emanuel may be correct in that a vote will happen next week. From the National Review:

Inside Health Policy’s Julian Pecquet, who’s staking out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, reports that Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman “stormed out” of yesterday afternoon’s health reform meeting and told reporters he has nothing to announce. Asked whether the speaker could bypass his committee and take health care reform straight to the House floor, Waxman replied, “Ask the speaker.”

Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, is also in the meeting, along with Rahm Emanuel and Phil Schiliro. And if you’re really desperate for details, we can also tell you that staffers were given Girl Scout cookies.

UPDATE: Following the meeting with Blue Dogs was a separate confab with Pelosi, Clyburn, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and — this is where it gets interesting — Rules Committee Chair Louise Slaughter. Pelosi mostly avoided reporters as she left the meeting. But when asked about bypassing Energy and Commerce she said, “I don’t want to do that.”

Hoyer and Slaughter said no decision has been made.

Apparently, this ain’t over yet. Keep up the pressure; email and phone your representative. To find out who your representative is and write them check here. To contact your representative by phone go here.

More from Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey: Rahm Emanuel says House will vote on ObamaCare next week. Ed says “Uh, sure”. But don’t count out Nanny State Nancy yet.

If this does not derail Nancy and Ralph, I don’t know what will: Also from Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey: Rasmussen: Obama loses majority support.

Also read How To Kill Private Healthcare – Allow Lawsuits Against Employers

Sweetness & Light: Pelosi Not Bound By Obama’s Rx Deals

In other news and opinion:

Surprise! Dems run away from Gitmo again. From Michelle Malkin.

It used to be that of the two things assured in life – death and taxes – the government controlled only one. Now they want control of the other.

The trillion plus dollar cost of ObamaCare (read socialized medicine) often obscures an obvious fact. The real cost of socialized medicine is in lives. As I have indicated on this site (read Even The NYT Won’t Avoid The Truth – Socialized Healthcare Stinks and I Have 25 Stents – And I Don’t Want The Public Option), the real impact of socialized medicine – loss of ingenuity, the death of the medical specialist, rationing, and high cost – are the real casualties of any public plan.

I do not suffer fools lightly, and thankfully it appears the American public, not quite as tuned out as the elites in Washington wish, are fully attentive to the smoke screen thrown up by the liberals in congress and now demand to see behind the curtain of obfuscation generated to hide one of the most liberty killing, costly (in terms of lives and money), and ineffective reform bills ever to hit the legislature.

It does not take a genius to understand that allowing the public option to compete on an exchange with private insurance is a recipe for the full takeover by the public option. It insults our intelligence that elites in Washington think us incapable of understanding how a non-profit, government funded public option would crowd out for-profit private insurers. Raise taxes or print money – the government, in the end, always wins. But at what cost? Are we truly to believe that government is capable of efficiency. Mentioning efficiency and government in a sentence that equates the two is a sure sign of a serous disconnect with reality.

The most liberty stealing feature of the public option is that now the government gets to decide if you get that treatment. They decide if you live of die.

If you think socialized medicine is a good thing, just spend an hour on Google and check out the rationing and other horror stories of so-called public options from around the world.

Something else to be thankful for, the death of Obama’s attempted make over of our country does not end with just his health care policy.

Bret Jacobson of Opposing Views writes Obama May Be Forced to Give Up Top Economic Initiatives:

It looks as if Americans — already pummeled by an economic slide from dropping home prices to 10 percent unemployment — may avoid the final knockout punch. Political pundits are forecasting increasing odds that that grassroots pressure may force President Obama and Congressional Democrats to give up on some of their top policy initiatives — legislation that would have saddled already-strapped taxpayers with even greater economic burdens.

Sure, the trillions already wasted in stimulus and deficit spending are bad. But that price tag is nothing compared to the three worst potential policy threats that seem to be losing momentum as more voters read their newspapers and more politicians starting reading the bills they’re voting on.

On the cutting block, Global Warming/Cap and Trade, Card Check Union Organizing (all but dead), and the health care public option (on serious life support and hopefully dying). Mr. Jacobson continues:

Change We Can’t Afford

While President Obama was elected by sizable majorities, it is not clear the public sent him to Washington with any specific policy mandates.

Meanwhile, discussion of the nation’s leftward lurch has some support among polling on voter identification, but ideological identity still favors conservatism in America. Moreover, recent figures show more Americans think the Democratic party is too liberal.

It seems America voted for some sort of “change,” though the Democrats’ version has not been what the doctor ordered on health care, energy taxes, or increasing the influence of union officials. In no instance has the public shown an appetite for going socialist.

There are certainly a host of small policy problems likely to be passed by big-government types in both parties. But Democrats have firmly grabbed the “overreach” mantle, though now it fits like an albatross.

By seeking economy- and society-altering policy overhauls with combined price tags of trillions of dollars, a handful of political elites showed they lost touch with a public that is, by and large, conservative. They’re just not crazy enough to seek change we can’t afford.

This is not over – not by a long shot. Complacency is the friend of Obama’s policies. The biggest mistake a boxer can make is overconfidence. Drop your guard for a moment, and that opponent who seconds ago looked destined for the floor surprises you with a right uppercut to the jaw. We are winning the battle of hearts and minds with objectivity and rationality on our side; but when has rational thought defined government?

More health care news:

Glenn Reynolds:

ANOTHER HEALTHCARE BILL NUGGET: “The section, titled ‘Advanced Care Planning Consultation’ requires senior citizens to meet at least every 5 years with a doctor or nurse practitioner to discuss dying with dignity.”

You have got to be kidding me. Thanks mom and dad, and our government thanks you to for all that hard work you did raising us. But your just too old and its just not worth keeping you around anymore. Sorry.

Michelle Malkin: Barack Obama speaks the truth! Update: Mayo not okay-o with Obamacare

Music to my ears, but don’t stop those phone calls and emails yet: Obamacare: Code Blue

Must see video via Glenn Reynold’s: NO PACEMAKER FOR YOUR MOM — have her take a pain pill.

I had to read this one twice. I think I slipped a disk during the double take. Better get that taken of before rationing arrives. From the Heritage Foundation: Morning Bell: Obama Admits He’s “Not Familiar” With House Bill. Ahem, excuse the question from a dumb citizen, but is anyone else out there bothered just a little about this statement?

I used to run a blog titled Lump on a Blog. It was a political blog for many years. Some of you possibly read it now and then. Last year I changed the theme of the blog – it now is a site for sufferers of heart disease.

Starting three years ago, I began to have chest pains that seemed more like heartburn at the time. To make a long story short, three years and multiple coronary interventions later, I now find myself with 25 drug-eluting stents in three major heart arteries. If you want the gory details, read My Story.

To give the reader an idea of just how many stents this is, I once posted on the Cleveland Clinic ask the expert forum about my declining maximum heart rate. I am now 42 years old and my maximum rate topped out at 160 beats per minute and not the expected 178 bpm. Within the question, I made a reference to my number of stents.

The Cleveland Clinic is the golden standard of heart disease care and treatment in the United States, so imagine my surprise when the expert replied to my query that my worries about my maximum heart rate were unfounded, but that he hoped the 25 stents I referenced were not all in my coronary arteries. Since then, two other cardiologists have told me that I probably hold the record for someone my age. However, I am alive – at a cost of over a quarter of a million dollars.

Of course, I have good insurance through my company and my personal cost was less than $2000. If unemployed, there are programs that assist in paying these bills and hospitals often work with patients in lowering the amount due. My wife’s mother used one of these programs to pay the entire cost of care after the death of the my wife’s father due to cardiomyopathy caused by a virus. They found out about the program after receiveing a letter from Bill Clinton (or his staff). Don’t let anyone fool you – these assistance plans exist, you just have to ask about them. Amazingly, it was the letter from Bill Clinton that alerted my wife and her mother to the existence of the Hill-Burton Free and Reduced Cost Health Care program. All the medical costs were covered.

Other programs exist, such as charitable organizations, that cover more than just drastic emergency events; it took my wife’s father more than three years of care before the disease took him from us. It makes one wonder just how many truly uninsured exist in this country that would be forced to pay for care. Where are the studies? Are most of the uninsured illegal immigrants? These are questions I have yet to find an answer for.

Another option, bankruptcy, although not desirable, is pursued most often in this country due to health costs. Given the above facts, one would think my support for the public option in healtcare a slam dunk; not so.

I come from Canada, so don’t get me started on socialized medicine. Plenty of examples exist and if you can use Google, prepare to be inundated with horror stories. The same is true for Great Britain and many other countries, some that have both public and private health care, and some only the public option. Assume for a moment that government public health care does not shut down our private health care system. I have yet to see how it would not diminish it. In competing with a public plan, private health care would be required to ration care in a manner similar to the public option. Let’s take a case close to home for me in a small little country called New Zealand, which has both a public and private health care plan.

Fromt the New Zealand Herald, On the waiting list roller-coaster:

Murray Benton has had to wait more than two years for life-saving heart surgery promised by Auckland City Hospital.

That’s more than 18 months longer than he should have had to wait under the Government’s strict policy of offering surgery only to those who can be treated within six months.

It has been a time of worry and lost opportunities for Mr Benton, who has had to give up many physical activities, and even watching rugby on television, to minimise his exercise- and stress-induced attacks of angina pain.

As well as helping him avoid a repeat heart attack, he hopes the surgery will enable him to do things like help with house alterations for one of his daughters and to return to riding his surf-ski.

A 64-year-old buildings and maintenance manager from Albany, Mr Benton has been booked for surgery at least three times, only to be shunted down the waiting list at the last minute because of other, more urgent cases and the hospital’s aim that the operation be done by a surgeon involved in his first heart surgery in 1983.

Yesterday, the hospital told Mr Benton it had booked him for surgery next Thursday, but could not guarantee it would be done then. The phone call came after the Herald inquired about his case and Mr Benton’s wife Sue suspects this spurred the hospital into action – but a hospital spokeswoman said the booking had already been made.

National Party health spokesman Tony Ryall said Mr Benton was a victim of the Government’s “hoax promise” of surgery within six months.

“Despite the billions of extra dollars going into health, people like him are waiting extraordinary lengths of time to get vitally needed surgery.”

Mr Benton had a heart attack without warning in 1983. He was given a triple bypass operation. In December 2004, after suffering chest pain, he was admitted to North Shore Hospital for eight days. He says he was put on the surgery waiting list then, but Auckland City Hospital maintains it was in December 2005.

Mr Benton accepts the need to treat acutely sick patients ahead of him, but believes the hospital must have insufficient resources if it cannot cope with its elective-surgery patients.

“It’s a fairly major operation. You build yourself up to it and when it doesn’t happen, it’s like being on a roller-coaster.”

The general manager of the hospital’s cardiac service, Kay Hyman, said the aim of having a particular surgeon treat Mr Benton had restricted the opportunities to schedule Mr Benton’s surgery.

She said there had been a significant reduction in the number of patients waiting for heart surgery in the past two years.

JOIN THE QUEUE

February 28, 2006: Auckland District Health Board had 341 patients waiting for heart surgery; 88 of them had waited for more than six months.

February 29, 2008: 225 people waiting; 31 for more than six months.

Is this truly what American’s want?

Don’t feel sorry for me, I am doing quite well these days – my maximum heart rate is now 185 bpm and I have passed my last three stress tests. I don’t know what the future holds, but I have learned many lessons. As I stated in My Story:

Ah, youth – wasted on the young, missed by the old. I am not sure the etymology of the phrase: “You are only immortal, for a limited time”, but I first heard these words in a song titled Dreamline, from my favorite band, Rush. The meaning to me now is more obvious than ever. In my younger days, my entire life stretched in front of me much like the vanishing point in a perspective drawing, or that point on the horizon where the sky meets the earth. I knew that one day I would reach that point, but existentially it still felt like there would just be some other distant vanishing point magically appearing, and so on, ad infinitum.

I take personally responsibility for my own condition. Starting in my early twenties, I knew my triglycerides were over 2000 (less than 150 is recommended). I smoked, did not exercise, took my medications intermittently; the very definition of a coach potato. I don’t believe you should pay for my mistakes and I don’t need a nanny state to take care of me if the result is mediocrity for all. The government controlled public option attempts to level the playing field in an attempt to provide for everyone. Like all other attempts at nationalization, you sacrifice excellence and treat it as a cheap commodity. There are other ways to reform health care that does not kill private insurers. The public plan in not an option – it is a death wish for millions of people. Ironically, if the public option is enacted, it is the rich, so quickly demonized by the left as evil for daring to possess money, who will be capable of affording quality health care. For the rest of us, think crap shoot.

In Obama’s America we all lose.

In more news and opinion:

Michelle Malkin has some great news on cap-and-trade: The farce of cap-and-tax revealed. Looks like we are heading in the right direction. First, the realization that cap-and-trade is a non-starter and will only cost the U.S. if we go it alone. Next, the realization that anthropocentric global warming has been a hoax all along.

Also from Michelle: Tax-maniacs backing off health benefits?

Ed Morrissey: Hoyer: No one would vote for ObamaCare if they read the bill

More from Captain Ed: Confidence in Obama, economy still dropping. Surprise, surprise, surprise.

From Glenn Reynold’s at Instpundit: IN THE MAIL: A big PR package with a copy of Atlas Shrugged. The press release is headlined: From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years.

I agree with this: Sister Toldjah declares today “bad news for Obama day”. The awakening has begun.

Megan McCardle teaches Kevin Drum about healtcare:

If only Kevin had a subscription to The Atlantic–very reasonably priced at 19.95 a year–he would have found a hint in Virginia Postrel’s article about Herceptin and early stage breast cancer, which we ran in March. That article is about New Zealand, but the controversy over Herceptin was not limited to the Southern Hemisphere; Britain had a famous case involving the expensive cancer drug, in which a woman successfully used a combination of legal and media pressure to force the NIH to provide her with the drug for her early-stage breast cancer (she has since died). Early stage HER2 positive breast cancer is hardly a 0.001% event–25% of breast cancers have the HER2 trait, and those tend to be the more aggressive kinds of cancer. The drug had already been offered for early stage cancers in the US for years, even though no one had definitive proof that it worked.

This may be why–contrary to what Mr. Drum has apparently read–cancer survival rates in Europe lag those in the US. (Although this is complicated: we catch cancer earlier, because we’re screening-test-mad, and some cancers just hang out for decades without killing you). At the highest macro level, life expectancy, Europe generally outperforms us. But it’s not clear how much of that is health care, and how much things like our murder rate, and our famously sedentary lifestyles. When you drill down into many diseases, we outperform them. And many argue that we outperform them on hard-to-measure “lifestyle” issues: how fast your torn ACL gets repaired, how quickly (or whether) you get a hip replacement, etc. Such quality of life issues are nearly impossible to measure, though this hasn’t stopped many people from trying. But I don’t really trust the figures they generate.

I always wondered how the U.S. ranked 37th in the world. The indication that it could be our sendentary and stress filled lifestyles makes a great deal of sense. Do I dare hope those who measure such metrics will decide to take this data into account? Of course not – inconvenient truths are ignored by liberals to advance their agenda. Think global warming.

Truth is the first causality of liberalism.