Don’t forget to check out my discussion with Lewis K. Uhler and how 5 Republican Senators may hold the future of healthcare in their hands. A must read.

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Original Post

Update: ACLJ has Lawyers in Government Affairs Office working now on the legality of the White House spy program. Via the radio show today. To listen, see below (around 14:48 seconds into the show). Also read White House Spy Program Violates .Gov Domain Guidelines And Privacy Act of 1974 – Updates And Who To Contact.

Sign the petition The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ – think of the ACLU, only the opposite) website that asks Congress to remove abortion services from mandatory coverage in the health reform bill. Included in the petition is the following language (emphasis mine):

As a firm supporter of protecting life, I am deeply concerned about the official White House release calling on Americans to report those who make “fishy” statements about health care reform. The release is an attack on free speech and designed to stifle public debate about the health care issue.

Hear live casts and listen to archived radio shows at Jay Sekulow Live!. Play today’s show “Attack on Free Speech”, it’s a real eye opener. Forward the audio. GOP Sen. John Cornyn will be on the show tomorrow.

Related:

Is Obama Or Executive Branch In Violation Of The Privacy Act of 1974?

Bush Vs. Obama – Wiretapping Terrorists Vs. Spying on Citizens.

In other news and opinion:

“I hope Glenn Beck kills himself”

Thug life: Enter the unions

ACORN Watch: Louisiana investigates

Cornyn to Obama: Shut down Snitch Central

Where is the left’s outrage now?

Sound of crickets.

Obama is now asking citizens to spy on citizens (emphasis mine):

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Let that sink in – Obama is authorizing the spying of citizen against citizen.

In the least, such a request is disingenuous. It may border on an abuse of power. If tax payer dollars are being used it is beyond the pale.

Recall when Bush authorized NSA wiretaps to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations? Recall how ballistic the left went?

The juxtaposition is amazing to behold. President Bush authorizes spying on terrorists plotting to kill Americans – people like you and me, our parents, grandparents, children, and siblings. Obama is authorizing spying on citizens who spread the truth about health care reform – what he calls disinformation. He is authorizing spying on those who disagree with him and his tactics. Warning sirens scream at top decibel upon reading the draconian words “through casual conversation”. At what point do we stand up and say, “enough is enough”?

As conservatives, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. This issue is such an abuse of power that, alongside protesting health care reform, it is our duty as citizens and bloggers to ensure this perversion of federal power reaches every nook and cranny of America; that it become household knowledge. Let’s help Obama burn through his political capital faster than he is burning a hole in our wallets.

Nobody wants their government spying on them. Even liberals should find themselves shocked at such arrogance and corruption of the power of the federal government. Remember, one day there will be a Republican in the White House again. This is something all of us should stand firmly against.

Get the message out. Use every tool at your disposal. Remember, with ObamaCare, at some point in the future your life will, literally, be in hands of some bureaucrat. You may even have a parent whose life will hang in the balance with passage of the current legislation. It is your duty to ensure that as many people know about Obama’s Orwellian corrupt abuse of power.

The actions Obama is taking should so outrage the public that national scrutiny has the potential to sink his presidency – and it should. These types of tactics may be acceptable in Venezuela, China, and Russia. Spying on your citizens in this country – no way.

Just imagine the grand mal seizures on the left side of the aisle had Bush tried this.

Vodka, comrade?

Here are a few things you could do:

• Given the update above that the White House may not be subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, it is imperative you contact the RNC – melt the phones (202.863.8500). I talked with them today and was told something was in the works for this month. Put the pressure on to get a nationwide commercial that will inform the American population of this abuse of power. Donate if you can. Insist they run the commercial as often as possible starting as soon as possible – August is crucial, it must be done in August. We are a “don’t tread on me” bunch and if this information goes viral, look for Obama to lose all his political capital and health care reform to be DOA come September. I don’t think even the mainstream media will be able to ignore this. If a case does exist, look for lawsuits in the future. Contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them pass a law that prohibits the collection of such data and requires the destruction of the current data. Make them go on the record as supporting spying on American citizens or protecting our rights. The RNC add should ask the viewers to do the same. Any Congressional member against such action can be targeted by opponents in primary elections. Believe me, most of them will act and act accordingly.
• Use the “Share This” button at the bottom of this post to email this story to all your friends. Ask them to forward it on.
• The Share This button can also be used for social networks.
• Just copy the URL above in the address bar and email it. Again, ask that it be forwarded.
• Same as the first two items, but if you don’t like my wording, link to the White House spy page and describe your own thoughts on the matter in the email. Send it and ask it to be forwarded. Feel free to just copy some of my post and add your own thoughts. You don’t have to link back to this site. Find another site that also talks about this issue. I am really impressed with a post by the American Thinker titled Citizen Informants.
• Call your favorite talk show and make the comparison between Bush and Obama. While Bush was spying on terrorists, Obama is spying on the American public, he is spying on us. Express your concern regarding this matter.
• If you run a blog – blog about it. If you are a lawyer or scholar you may have additional insights to share.
• Email and call your Senators and Representatives. Point out the hypocrisy of how Bush was treated vs. Obama. Ensure they understand that what Obama is doing is unacceptable by any sane standards of what it means to be an American.

P.S. I am still waiting for any news from the American Center for Liberty and Justice (ACLJ) – the good twin to the evil ACLU.

In other news and opinion:

Cornyn to Obama: Disband the Internet Snitch Brigade. The Anchoress chimes in.

Don’t forget about Operation Go Flag Yourself.

Well, well: Dems revoke gag order on GOP health care chart

Culture of corruption: Hill edition

Iran: 3 Americans could be tried for espionage

Democrats accuse GOP of inciting mobs. Looks like the CNN Political Ticker is shutting out the truth. Neither of my two comments has appeared. One of them linked to this story and the other to Michelle Malkin’s exposure of liberal hypocrisy concerning unruly mobs. The timestamp on both of my comments is well within the range of existing comments. Hmm, sounds fishy. I think I need to email the White House.

Want to know what mob rule really looks like?

DU Thread of The Day: What Birthers Really Want To Say Outloud.

DNC: Resistance to ObamaCare is futile

Dear White House: Look who’s funded by the health care industry

“Coordinated mobs”? Think again

For The Fatherland

Chuck Schumer, always the blow hard, is threatening the use of reconciliation to pass health care reform. Either Schumer is operating with half a deck, or his posturing amounts to a toothless threat. If I were a betting man, my guess is that Chucky is using this threat to deflate the public opposition to the socialist health care bill (eugenics, anyone?) during the August recess. If we believe putting the fear God into Congress members to be futile, the hope is we’ll take our marbles and skulk home. Not so fast, Chucky boy. The reconciliation process is not the big bad bogeyman that Schmuck Schumer would have us believe.

Oversimplified, the reconciliation appears to be a process requiring only 50 votes in the Senate assuming the Vice President is the tie breaker. Sounds bad. OMG, they can shove it down our throats, we’re dooommeeed!

To borrow the vernacular of advertising, “But wait, there’s more!”. As Chucky stammers off his threat, he forgets some very important rules concerning the reconciliation option. Oh, that pesky Byrd rule! From The American Prospect: The Health-Reform Reconciliation Fantasy:

But reconciliation is not just a “50-vote senate,” as it’s sometimes called. It’s a process constructed in the 1970s for a specific, limited purpose: to bring existing programs in line (reconcile them) with a long-term budget. Since then, it’s been used for huge policy changes: the Reagan and Clinton budget plans, the Bush tax cuts. But there are limits. Under the senate’s Byrd Rule, intended to hold the process somewhat to its original purpose, reconciliation can’t include provisions that have no budgetary effect or that have an effect outside the current budget window, which right now is five years. (Byrd Rule limits can be waived, but by 60 votes, so you’re back in the 60-vote Senate.)

To greatly oversimplify, what this means is that it’s almost impossible to use reconciliation to build something new. You can expand Medicare or shrink it, cut taxes or raise them. But to construct something that doesn’t already exist will inevitably require provisions that don’t in themselves have a significant budgetary impact: regulations, structures, guidelines, realigned bureaucracies. In particular, much of the structure of health insurance exchanges that are envisioned in the House and HELP Committee bills would not survive the Byrd Rule axe. Only the flimsiest outlines of a health reform bill would survive – the financing would be there, but not the structures to ensure that the money would be used properly. Further, reconciliation would give the Finance Committee – which controls the money – even more clout over the more liberal HELP committee.

Some have suggested using reconciliation to install the rough skeleton of reform, and then fixing it later, but the act of using reconciliation in the first place is such a nuclear option that it is likely to poison the waters not just with the four semi-reasonable Republicans but also with the Democrats who are left out of the deal, and will be needed on subsequent legislation.

The American Prospect is getting this right – something I rarely say about a liberal. But then the author ignores the cliff and plunges over:

But what if Congress did it in reverse? Use the 60-vote Senate to pass whatever they can pass now — we liberals will grumble but live with it — and then use reconciliation next year to fix it. With the exchange structure and subsidies established, it wouldn’t be hard to add an employer mandate, which would save money. With the rudiments of even a weak public plan in place, it wouldn’t be complicated to expand it and modify its eligibility rules, in ways that might save or cost money but in either event, involve budget changes to an existing program rather than creating something new. Aggregating small changes over the next few years (on the model of the steady expansion of Medicaid engineered by Henry Waxman and others over the 1980s and 1990s) could non-controversially build the kind of robust and equitable system we dream of.

It’s not ideal, and any political scheme based on do something now and hoping to fix it later faces the reality of all the partial reforms that litter the landscape. A plan that is so bad that it brings a backlash is more likely to be repealed than fixed. But it might just be that the big reform of health care can’t be achieved all at once. And this would at least get the pieces in place for the next phase to move forward, with or without the current obstructionists.

One problem though. I can think of many possibilities in 2010 or 2012 where Republicans can use either reconciliation or a veto proof vote to stick the knife in deep, twist it for good measure, and look into the eyes of socialism as we watch it die.

Many pundits will label my predictions as naive, but most pundits work under using the current rules of the game – they could not do otherwise. I have more freedom to take into account what I am seeing on the ground. A revolution is occurring, a tectonic shift in the political landscape, and where I once was a pessimist, I am now an optimist. Never have I felt such emotion, unbridled and so raw it possesses you.

But more importantly, I love my father (my mother is no longer with us). It is my duty to ensure that he is not cast away like a bag of trash because he is too old and considered not worth saving by some bureaucratic shithead. He contributed to this society, dutifully paying his taxes and being a good citizen. His life has not been easy, but his life is certainly worth something.

While I never say or write in the following manner, to the supporters of this bill – f**k you. Mess with my family and you are going to find one extremely pissed off and motivated voter shoving his boot up your ass as he pulls the voting lever. If my father dies under your watch, I would not want to be you – not for all the money and power in the world.

And I won’t be alone.

In other news and opinion:

Great stuff from Michelle Malkin here, here, and here.

Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey: The irony of “reconciliation”

Obama’s propaganda machine trying to save Obama from his own words.

Emperor Misha I on the Obama Socialist Joker Poster: It Certainly Seems to Have Hit a Nerve. We need a Rottweiler to help take a bite out of socialism. It’s meaty and delicious and looks even better the next day as a waste product.

Chew on this, assholes. It’s a two way street, but hey, I’d be happy to make it one way and chase your hapless cowardly asses before catching up to you and beating you to death with my pinky.

Truth to paper – now that’s real art.

As I watch these videos (here and here) of congress members coming home to meet the wrath of their constituents, the hairs raise on the back of my neck. I am reminded of the Declaration of Independence. While the following was used as a preamble to describe the abuse of power by Great Britain and subsequent call-to-action for independence, the beginning is a generalization of the human condition under any form of tyrannical government:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.

If the liberals want to make health care a right, then by all means do so. The right to health care, combined with the inclusiveness of rationing and subsequent denial of care, would directly contradict the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, with the greatest insult visited upon the right to life.

I think Congress and the Senate are on very dangerous grounds here. The backlash and public upheaval should they force through this boondoggle will be a great force, motivated by anger – a potential earth shattering apocalypse – metaphorical, and possibly literal.

For years the gatekeeper against our revolutionary spirit was apathy , so eloquently explained in our Declaration of Independence as:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed

But under Obama I am beginning to see signs that many believe we have suffered enough:

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Our duty.

The mask is off. Here is a video the proves beyond argument that Obama and the liberals are maneuvering towards a single payer socialized health care system, regardless of the lies they tell us. No more. Thanks also Ma Bird who is following me on Twitter for this story.

Now add to the mix of insults and lies the promise from Obama the middle class would not be taxed with his administrations recent statements that

We Can’t Promise Middle Class We Won’t Raise Their Taxes.

More on that here.

Can you say powder keg?

Call and email Congress now. Visit the town hall meetings. Read the words above from the Declaration of Independence and remind them who it is they work for and represent.

Should you become discouraged as you take up your signs, make calls, and send emails, keep the following quote from Thomas Jefferson in mind:

People get the government they deserve.

Send these two videos to everyone you know. This gets the point across. Heck, send them to your Senators and Representatives. Thanks to Nancy who is following me on Twitter for providing the links:

Part 1

Part 2

The videos can also be found over at Not So Sure.

Also read Did ‘Cash for Clunkers’ just put Obamacare on the junk heap? and check out this other video that shows you just how poorly senior citizens are already being treated. Ties in well with the first video above.

In the Hill Tweet Room, I just noted a tweet from Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley:

Little disingenuous for pres obama to say “hurry up” pass healthCare. Wk here wk there makes little differenc considerin startup is 2013.

Hmm. If the final bill’s statup date is in 2013 that provides us with many opportunities I have been mulling over:

• Assume the 2010 elections sees a number of Democrat seats go Republican in both the House and Senate. Even without a majority or a slim majority and, given the threat of the veto pen from Obama, there may be political stalling tactics and other procedural tricks to slow down or change the current legislation in preparation for 2012.
• Given 2010 will probably see a moderate reduction in Democrat seats, then 2012 is the perfect opportunity. The Republican’s can grab back the majority in the House and Senate with a Republican president replacing Obama. The public, aware the Senate requires a filibuster proof majority, votes accordingly. A subsequent new health care reform bill effectively negates the previous bill and provides for real reform.
• Some states could attempt to assert their 10th amendment rights and tie up the legislation in the courts for as long as possible. They may even win the battle.
• As I live in Texas, I love Rick Perry’s statements concerning succession. Perhaps a succession movement would take hold in this country from various red states. However, this final option produces a high probability of creating a serious constitutional crisis. Still, if all options are closed, then I would personally support such an approach.

I really should replace “Republican” with “fiscal conservative”. As long as there are fiscal conservative, limited government politicians who caucus with the Republican’s, then I think there is a chance that any health reform that includes a public option either overtly or covertly that makes it out this year could be stalled and negated by 2010 or 2012, with the later being more likely. The only downside to this is the damage done to the current system as it prepares for 2013 and how easily reversible that damage is. It is for this reason that I think that anything that would stall progress on whatever liberal bill we get out of Congress is a good thing.

Of course, all of the above is predicated on the belief a bill will be forthcoming. I am still optimistic this can be stopped, although in my darkest hours in know that something will probably come out by the end of the year. And I don’t doubt that any bill which sees the light of day would spell the end of quality health care in this country and the beginning of a socialized, eugenic, pile of crap.

In other news and opinion:

Did ‘Cash for Clunkers’ just put Obamacare on the junk heap?

Hot Air video: Seniors worried about health care removed from Feinstein’s office. Oh those dangerous senior citizens! I live in fear of them every day. They are so prone to violence, running about in their “gangs”. Those vicious thugs! How dare they voice an opinion!

Way to listen there Feinstein. So this is how the Democrats are going to cram health care down our throats – ignore their constituents. That’s 21st century American liberals for you.

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….

On again, off again in the ping-pong battle that is health care. First, Blue Dogs agreed to ObamaCare in the House in exchange for $100 billion in cuts to the program. In exchange, democrat leaders in the House agreed to hold off on a vote until after the recess. Not so fast, say the liberal democrats:

House liberals have quickly rejected a healthcare compromise their leaders forged with centrist Blue Dogs, putting the deal on shaky ground only hours after it was announced.

“It’s unacceptable,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “We’re not going to vote for anything that doesn’t have a robust public plan.”

The Progressive Caucus has 83 members. Members are circulating a letter for signatures protesting the deal.

Woolsey said liberals cannot accept that the public plan will not be linked to Medicare, and said subsidies have been cut to the point where the plan won’t help the middle class.

The Blue Dog deal was made with Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who is also a member of the Progressive Caucus.

Aside from Waxman, there are five members of the Progressive Caucus on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is not enough Democratic votes to block a bill. But there are other members who are dissatisfied with the compromise, including three of the seven Blue Dogs who had been negotiating with Waxman, but did not join the deal.

Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), another supporter of a “robust public option,” was more open to the compromise.

Capps, a member of the business-minded New Democrat Coalition, said it was too early to tell if she and other Democrats on the committee would deliver the rest of the votes to help the Blue Dog amendments pass — despite Ross’s insistence that additional votes would come from fellow Democrats, not Republicans.

Myself, I hope we don’t see a compromise or vote before the recess, although it may be a blessing in disguise, providing the GOP with plenty of specifics to tear apart during the recess instead of working with the generalities of the Obama health care nightmare. Maybe the progressive caucus figured this out.

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. Also, please attend your local Recess Rally August 22nd.

More from Ed Morrissey.

What a bad month for Obama. After working with the House to jam Cap-n-Tax down our collective throats, it looked like nothing could derail the Obama express. Already, ObamaStimulus, well under way – or not – showed signs of not working. So much so that His Highness found himself forced to invent new wording to describe his failed stimulus philosophy – jobs saved or created. Like we would fall for that one.

After ObamaCap-n-Tax, Captain America along with his first mate Nancy Pelosi, rubbed their hands together in unbridled excitement, sensing the fruition of liberal wishes all across the great land of Obamatopia. Certainly the Greek Gods smiled down upon them. Soon they would be replaced by The One. Then came the bad news. Not so fast Captain Disaster.

For some reason, liberals hate reading. They don’t read bills, they don’t read the Constitution – I am not sure they are aware of the document – and they don’t read the American people. When a Gallup poll showed America shifting towards conservatism – they wrote it off, ignored it, tried to explain it away; anything but admit it. Liberals everywhere found it inconceivable and beyond imagining that the sheeple of this country found their way of governing to be – well – distasteful and undesirable. They were “shocked” at the Tea Party protests, and “shocked” as they found themselves outnumbered at their own planned venues designed to fill our hearts will love for the social engineering of medicine. Outnumbered by conservative vermin- sometimes at a ratio of 10-to-1.

Disinformation, they protested. His Highness jumped on board – claiming the Republican’s disinformation campaign concerning his beloved health care was “destroying my presidency”. Interesting that he also admitted, along with many members of the House and Senate, that he was unaware of most of the aspects of the bill. In short, he had not read it, or even bothered to have someone read it for him. The argument of “I don’t know the facts, but I conclude the other side is distorting them”, falls flat on an American public that – surprise! – possess a great deal more smarts than the elites in the Washington liberal establishment and their fellow pirates at MoveOn, Daily Kos, and most of the media outlets give them credit for. Of course, Obama is well aware the scaffolding of the bill serves the purpose of killing private insurance and forcing everyone onto the “public plan”. The real disinformation campaign is by Obama and the liberals on the Utopian ship to Nowhere. Only a liberal could look you in the face, claim you are lying, and know who the real liar is. If not a liberal, then someone very neurotic – but then they are the same, are they not? But I digress.

Some not so liberal Democrats, their heads screwed on straight after suffering through the backlash on Cap-n-Tax from their constituents, noticed they had a backbone and were not the puppets of Madam Pelosi and His Highness. A crack in the wall appeared.

Then came the plummeting poll numbers for Obama’s policies, and the latest Rasmussen poll that has Obama’s approval index at -11. The recipe for disaster is almost complete. Martha Stuart would be proud:

• Add one measure of cap-n-tax passed by the House.
• Add an element of surprise to many representatives at their constituent’s anger for the rushed passing of the debacle that is cap-n-tax
• Add a few level headed Blue Dogs democrats to the liberal mix
• Let boil for a couple of weeks as health care is debated
• Add enough rope to the roiling stew to allow His Highness to hang himself at a presser pushing socialized health care
• Add more rope to allow His Highness to hang himself with additional controversial statements concerning a certain police officer and a teacher at Harvard. Proclamtions our Dear Leader predicated on the statement he possessed none of the facts. Sound familiar?
• Add plunging poll numbers and a missed August deadline for health reform
• Add an entire congressional recess for the public’s intelligence to be further insulted by liberal advertisements touting how well the government runs things and sound the praises for the gift that is socialized health care without actually calling it socialized health care. Watch in amazement as they keep trying to tell us that we can keep our current plan if we like it. Nothing about pushing out private insurance on an exchange where it is forced to compete with the “public option”. Nothing to see here, just move along.
• Simultaneously add in advertisements that show the truth of liberal diversion and legislative tactics concerning said socialized health care and what “the public plan” really means. Higher costs, rationing, and the death of ingenuity. Not to mention control over when you will die. Thanks a lot for the hard work grandma, but the sad fact is, your just too darn old and not worth saving, so perform your duty for the collective and just die already will you. Government as God.
• During this month, mix in an earful of complaints and outright anger directed at representatives and senators who suddenly find the fear of God a constant companion as their re-election in 2010 hangs in the balance.
• Lastly, mix in additional plunging poll numbers for His Highness, especially given that The Obama-conomy: “It’s worse than you think”

  Let it all stew and watch Obama’s liberal castle crumble around his ears. This is not to say His Most High can’t do any damage in the 3 1/2 years remaining, even with the slaughter for liberalism that will be the 2010 elections. His Highness will drag this country through the mud as often as possible, but we have weathered worse. It will take a long time to get rid of the taste of the ObamaNation.

  In closing, I had the opportunity to watch Zach Galifianakis, of “The Hangover” fame in a film titled “Visioneers”. An odd little movie to be sure, but with many poignant points. In this world of the future, dreams are considered bad. Both in the literal sense – as when sleeping – and in the figurative sense – such as possessing them. Having either or both types of dreams can lead to one exploding – in the literal sense (I told you the movie was a bit odd). I won’t give away the plot, but there is one scene in the move when the protagonist is told that in order to get rid of dreams, it is important to kill that which is most important to you. For most of us, this would be our family or a loved one. In the context of this country, that would be life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, or as my Naval friend says, “Life, liberty, and the happiness of pursuit”.

  Then it struck me. That is exactly what socialism is – what liberalism is. It is the overt and often covert attempt to level the playing field by making everyone as miserable as everyone else. No more excellence allowed in this utopia. If you succeed, we will punish you and take away the fruits of your labor. Anyone found possessing ambition or passion will be trampled upon, ridiculed, pilfered, and outcast. No dreams allowed, except those provided for by the state. Do not think for yourself, do not think for others; do not think, period. Mediocrity and blandness are the order of the day and we will all be equal, not under God, but under the clenching fist of Government, for Government is now your God, and that other god is no longer allowed, for there is only one true God, known as “The State”.

  For now, just call Him Obama.

  In other news and opinion:

  Jonah Goldberg hits the proverbial nail on the head: None dare say rationing:

  Let us for a moment adopt the proposition that health care is in fact a “right,” as pretty much every liberal politician has told us.

  Now let us consider how President Obama’s health-care bill would work. An official body – staffed with government doctors, actuaries, economists and other experts – will determine which treatments, procedures and remedies are cost-effective and which are not. Then it will decide which ones will get paid for, and which won’t. Democrats call this “cost-controls.” But for the patient and the doctor, it’s plain old rationing.

  Now, imagine if the government had a body of experts charged with figuring out what your free-speech rights are, or right to assemble, or worship. Mr. Jones, you can say X and Y but not Z. Ms. Smith, you can freely assemble with Aleutians, Freemasons and carpenters, but you may not meet in public with anyone from Cleveland or of Albanian descent. Mrs. Wilson, you may pray to Vishnu and Crom, but never to Allah or Buddha, and when you do pray, you cannot do so for longer than 20 minutes, unless it is one of several designated holidays. See Extended Prayer Form 10-22B.

  Michelle Malkin: “The siren call of judicial activism”. Here is to hoping that, one day, a majority of our federal legislature suddenly decides that judicial activism is grounds for impeachment. If judges are allowed to continue to invent law from the bench, then the constitution is nothing but a piece of paper. We already have a group of people to do that – Congress. Remember that strange concept called separation of powers? It is not a hurdle to be overcome – it is written in the very fabric of this land.

  Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey: New Dem strategy on ObamaCare: Ignore the evidence and just trust us!. No thanks. I would sooner trust a used car salesman or a snake oil peddler.

  Call it faith-based economics. Just forget all of those people who make a living at looking at balance sheets, cost projections, and legislative analysis — trust us! For a party that screeched about returning science to its “rightful place” in policymaking, they seem highly enamored of tarot cards and entrail-reading when it comes to their own fiscal policies.

  Glenn Reynold’s on Michelle Malkin’s Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies. Read it, buy it for a loved one, pass it on.

  Emperor Misha I eviscerates in the usual fascinating fashion, exposing Obama and his Latin American advisor. Kinds of puts things in perspective. Read Pieces Coming Together.

  The CNN political ticker reports: RNC commits nearly $1 million on health care campaign. Now that’s change put to good use. More of the same, please! See the story for a list of the Democrat targets. I don’t think CNN will allow the trackback to my story – as they have in the past. Fair and balanced? I think not. Puppets who like to have their strings pulled – you betcha. Am I surprised? Come on, take a guess…

  

Now this is getting fun. It’s like watching a good cage fight. Now The Hill is reporting that Blue Dog Democrats said they were “lied” to by their Democratic leaders (emphasis mine):

The seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee stormed out of a Friday meeting with their committee chairman, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), saying Waxman had been negotiating in bad faith over a number of provisions Blue Dogs demanded be changed in the stalled healthcare bill.

“I’ve been lied to,” Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chairman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) said on Friday. “We have not had legitimate negotiations.

“Mr. Waxman has decided to sever discussions with the Blue Dogs who are trying to make this bill work for America,” Melancon said.

Now that’s a good line for a commercial. I can hear it now….

Although those Blue Dogs were supposed to be headed back into another meeting of the Energy and Commerce Democrats, their anger was visible.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, the only hope for passage of the bill in the House will be to go straight to the floor, an option leaders shied away from endorsing but said was an option.

But the Blue Dogs issued dire warnings to leaders contemplating that approach.

“Waxman simply does not have votes in committee and process should not be bypassed to bring the bill straight to floor,” Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the lead Blue Dog negotiator, said on Friday. “We are trying to save this bill and trying to save this party.”

Melancon said there would be 40-45 “solid no” votes from the 52-strong Blue Dogs, among other problems throughout the caucus.

“If they try to bring it to the floor, I think they’ll find out they have more problems than the Blue Dogs.”

A leadership aide said no decisions have been made on how to proceed.

Ouch.

So far I have to say I am proud of the Blue Dogs for standing on principle. The big question is whether they have the character and gumption to continue to stand together against the liberal tide and do what is right for this country.

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. Lend the Blue Dogs your support.

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

Just how bad is it for the opposition? Dallas Tea Party activists outflank MoveOn at Obamacare protest

Hot Air: Waxman threatens to bypass own committee.