President Obama gave his high stakes health care speech to a joint session of Congress last night.  He is a good speaker, but that’s about it.  He talks out of both sides of his mouth.  He talked about those who have been spreading lies about the health care plan that has been on the table.  He talked about death panels and “pulling the plug on grandma.” He said this is a lie.  Well Obama hasn’t talked about “death panels” specifically, but with rationing care that’s what it could turn into.  Imagine my mother who last April received a pacemaker.  Would she have recieved that pacemaker under rationed care?  My gut says probably not.  My heart can’t even imagine the other possibility.  Obama has talked about rationed care and deciding who gets a hip or other surgeries.  So maybe the verbage is not the same, but the concept is the same.  He talked about politicians who have gone around misrepresenting what is in the bill and he threatened those that do this.  He said he would “call them out”.  Well Mr. Obama, you need to be called out.  Before being elected President, Obama was one of the most liberal senators.  This continues as President.  He does not work both sides of the aisle. He can say his plan is bi-partisan and he supports ideas that Senator John McCain and President George W. Bush have presented, but it is nothing but a granstand.  He is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people once again.  I certainly hope that as people watched last night that there was no foggy haze blowing in their homes as Obama spoke lulling them back into the haze of the election.  His speech was suppose to be civil to the Congress, but his thinly failed jabs at conversatives were evident.  I am not a big fan of Rush Limbaugh. He’s a little too coarse for me.  However, I stand with him when he says ” I hope this president fails.”  I hope he does fail on trying to ramrod his healthcare reform down the throats of the citizens of the United States. He says don’t worry, if you have insurance now.  Nothing will change.  That’s simply not true. He laid out all sorts of ideas that sound good, but when it comes down to it we, the people of the United States of America, will be paying for it.  We need to continue the rallying cry, “We are mad as hell and we aren’t going to take it anymore.”  Tell your senators and representatives how you feel.  Don’t let Obama get away with this. 

“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 insurancereform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”

Many of us were required to read George Orwell’s book, 1984, in school.  It’s a disturbing book.  Thoughtcrimes or facecrimes. People gone in the cover of night.  Now this comparison my be a little overboard, but watching the news and seeing the Democrats and the Obama administration including President Obama lash out on ordinary American citizens that have every right to voice their opinions is making me wonder.  What does Obama really want for this country?  He was a community organizer, but obviously has no tolerance for those that organize themselves to stand up to what they don’t like.  He wants it his way or no way.  A quote from the book comes to mind. It’s harsh, but it makes you stop and think.

“The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from all the oligarchies of the past, in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives. They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just round the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.”

This quote struck me because it seems to be right in the Obama administration playbook.  When the Democrats regained control of the Congress, I remember Nancy Pelosi coming out and saying we will not be like the Republicans. We will work together and make this country better.  I have yet to see this happen.  In my humble opinion, things are worse now that the Democrats are in control.  They don’t care about us. What politician does?  In a perfect world, I would hope all congressmen and women were like James Stewart’s Mr. Smith.  I am sure there are a few congressmen and women that really do care and want the best for this country, but there are others like Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, (the list goes on and on) that don’t care.  They only care about themselves.  What is happening in America today is exactly what needs to happen. We need to stand and let our voices be heard.  Don’t be imitated.  This is not George Orwell’s 1984 and don’t let them think they can get away with this.

Robert Gibbs is the press secretary for President Obama. He is a piece of work.  When asked about the protests going on around the country about the health care reform that the administration is trying to ram through Congress, he said it was “manufactured anger.”  What does that mean? Does he think it’s only Republicans are “manufacturing” this anger. No, people from all walks of life are angry. Obama’s popularity numbers are going down big time and no one wants government run health care.  It’s about time people are waking up from the Obama induced haze that overcame most of the country during the election. Now people are seeing that he is trying to socialize every aspect of our country.  That is not the United States of America, the land of the free.  We have the can do spirit. Our ancestors were not given handouts and free stuff. They worked hard for everything they had.  I can’t imagine what they would think if they were here today.  It really irritates me that the protests that are springing up all over the country especially over the proposed health care bill are not being covered by the national media.  People are mad and they have every right to be.  The administration is trying to push these protests under the rug, but they will not go off into the night.  Congress will be going on their summer recess soon and I can guarantee every congressman or woman will be getting an earful.  Take the time to give your congressman or woman a call or email them.  Let them know you know what is going on and you won’t stand for it.  We, the people, must rise up and let Washington know that we know what is best for us.  It’s time for us to take our country back.

President Obama,

I didn’t vote for you, but I love this country so I want things to go well during  your time in office.  So far, not so good.  The economy seems to be turning around, but still no definite word on that yet.  My biggest gripe is your constant campaigning.  You’re the president now. You won.  Do your job.  Don’t go to Europe and apologize to them and say America is arrogant.  What was that all about?  Would you tell the doughboy in WWI or the solider that stormed the beach in Normandy during WWII that they are arrogant?  I mean after all, they helped save Europe, particularly Britain and France, twice.  Would you say that to a bunch of a veterans hanging out at the local VFW? I think not.  What about the men and women who are now serving? Would you say to a crowd of Europeans, “Oh don’t worry about them, they are just arrogant.”  They only work to keep peace in the world. Yes, that’s right — the world.  You can’t please everyone, but don’t try to please the wrong people.  Going to Europe and begging for forgiveness and then bowing to the Saudi king is just wrong.  As the president of the United States, you don’t do that.   Also stop blaming everything that doesn’t go your way on the past administration.  It seems that you have more than once come out and said this shouldn’t have been done this way, but then later reverse your decision because oops, it was being done correctly and guess what —    the administration before your’s was right.  Your first 100 days in office are over.  If Congress doesn’t vote the way you want, don’t blame it on the past administration.  You own it now.  You decided to close Guantanamo Bay  not the former administration and just because Congress including many Democrats don’t want to fork over the money to close it, don’t blame anyone else but yourself.  You need to get to work and stop campaigning.  Instead of giving speeches that aren’t important, get in the Oval Office and get some things done.  Instead of worrying about whether Fox News likes you or not, talk to the ordinary citizen and find out what is going on.  I bet you would learn a lot.  You said on the campaign trail you weren’t from Washington and you would change the town, but guess what you haven’t. You whine and belly ache like the rest of them.  Get to work, Mr. President and do something good for once.

Tonight I really wanted a steak so we went to the Texas Roadhouse.  I love Dr. Pepper.  Dr. Pepper was born in Waco, Texas. Practically everyone in Texas and Oklahoma for that matter drinks Dr. Pepper. So what really bugs me is when I go to a restaurant that labels itself as the Texas Roadhouse or Lone Star and they don’t serve Dr. Pepper.  I ask and I get oh, we have Mr. Pibb.  Okay, Mr. Pibb is not the same.  Then tonight the reply was we have root beer. Root beer! Are you serious?  There is nothing like Dr. Pepper.  So, please if you label yourself with Texas then you better act like it and get some Dr. Pepper on the tap! By the way, the steak hit the spot.

By 2014 everyone will have to use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the “Energy Bill”), signed by the President on December 18, 2007 requires all light bulbs use 30% less energy than today’s incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The phase-out will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with40-watt bulbs in January 2014.  Who do we have to thank for this,  no not Obama, but George W. Bush.   According to the Energy Star website,  a CFL will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.  Maybe you already use them. We are. I don’t really care for them as the light they emit is not as bright as an incandescent bulb. When I flip the switch on, the light takes awhile to really light up. Then there is the clean up. I had heard about the clean up if one breaks, but I never gave it  much thought.  Then I started reading about the process and it’s a doozy. CFLs contain mercury.  Now it’s suppose to be very low levels, but still it’s mercury. The same mercury that was in thermometers that no one uses anymore. The following information is taken from the EPA website (www.energystar.gov).  If a CFL burns out, the EPA suggests the consumer takes advantage of local recycling options.  If your local or state environmental regulatory agency allows you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags.  That’s right two plastic bags.  Aren’t we suppose to be using less plastic?  So what happens if a CFL breaks? Break out the Haz Mat gear.  Before clean up, you have to air out the room.  People and pets will not be permitted to reenter for 15 minutes.  If you have central forced air heating/air conditioning it has to be turned off.  Wait it gets better.  All glass and powder has to be scooped up using a stiff paper or cardboard and placed in a glass jar with a metal lid or in a plastic bag.  Use sticky tape such as duct tape to pick up any remaining fragments and powder.  Wipe the area clean and put the used towels in the glass jar. Seal the jar and put in a trash container or protected area.  If your state or local government does not allow disposal in the trash then you must go to the local recycling center which means you will probably have to drive.  How is this really saving the environment?  I understand we need to take care of our planet. I was president of the H.O.P.E ( Helping Our Planet Earth) club in high school.  We started a recycling program in the school and planted trees.  I really do care about the environment, but I think the CFLs are going too far.    So stockpile now.  Before too long you will have to buy regular light bulbs out of the trunk of some guy’s car in an alley. 

Last week thousands of people gathered in cities all across America for “Tea Parties”.  These were not gatherings to protest President Obama, but to protest government in general. Republican or Democrat, it did not matter.  The majority of people attending want our country back and I think are putting Congress on notice.  Next election, you might be gone.  Well I guess regular every day people can’t protest.  The left wing, liberals came out of the woodwork to complain about the tea parties.  It is okay for groups like Code Pink or other left leaning groups to protest, but not regular, pay your taxes Americans.  The mainstream media covered these events with disgust.  We already know that they don’t report fairly, but CNN and MSNBC used a disgusting term to describe the protesters.  It’s no wonder why these two networks are struggling with ratings. Comedian Janeane Garofalo and former co-host for an unsuccessful radio talk show on the failed Air America said on MSNBC, “Which, let’s be honest about what this is about. It’s not about bashing Democrats, it’s not about taxes… This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up.” She went on to call the protesters rednecks.  Oh please.  Why do the liberals care so much about these tea parties? They won. The guy they wanted is in the White House.  Can’t they just be happy? No, they will never be happy until everyone thinks like them.   So from tea parties to the Miss USA pageant…  Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked in the interview segment what she thought of gay marriage by openly gay Perez Hilton, an entertainment blogger.  She said, “I think it’s great Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be, between a man and a woman.”  That’s what she feels and she gave an honest answer.  Going into the interview segment, she and another contestant, Miss North Carolina, were neck and neck.  Then Miss California says ‘I think marriage should be between a man and a woman’ and she loses.  Again, what has happened to free speech?  This is the reason we can’t have an open dialogue in this country.  No one can honestly say how they feel because they will be labeled as a racist, a homophobe, etc…  The list goes on.  Until we can remember that everyone has the right to free speech we will never move forward as a country to heal these divides.

I recently posted a story on our family blog about a shopping incident.  I really feel bad that I did not do the right thing and take the opened container to the customer service counter, but like I said in the post I panicked.  Well I have received comments, but one in particular really got me.  It basically said that I had shown my boys that it was okay to hide things when I didn’t want to deal with the situation.  Well this person may be correct, however, they posted as anonymous.  The comment is not really at issue, but the fact the “person” posted so they would not be known.  It makes me wonder is this someone I know? Did they post anonymous so it wouldn’t hurt my feelings? I would much rather know who it is.  Why post an anonymous comment when you have to know that it will most likely be deleted and never shown? I just don’t get it.  I am rather irritated about this and will probably get over it very soon, but since this is my musings and rant blog, I decided to rant.  People who comment anonymously are cowards.  They are usually saying something that would probably never be said to a person’s face, but they think they can get away with it in cyberspace.  If you have something say, say it, but don’t be a coward and do it behind a mask of anonymity.

As I was watching the news last night everyone was in an uproar about the AIG bonuses.  It got me to thinking. What is the difference between AIG giving out bonuses using taxpayer money and Congress giving themselves pay raises using taxpayer money?   Not much.  As more information comes out it looks like Chris Dodd (D – Conn.) had something to do with putting an amendment in the legislation that protected those exact bonuses during the negotiations on the $700 billion stimulus bill.  According to Fox Business, Dodd added an executive-compensation restriction to the bill. The provision, now called “the Dodd Amendment” by the Obama Administration provides an “exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009” — which exempts the very AIG bonuses Dodd and others are now seeking to tax. Dodd is now trying to cover his tracks and is wanting to tax these bonuses with a 98% tax.   Yes, Congress is just as much to blame as AIG.  I had to laugh when news anchor, Charles Gibson of ABC News, asked business correspondent Betsey Stark who the bonuses were going to and she said they were going to the division that essentially helped run AIG into the ground.  This made me laugh because I think about those pay raises that Congress has given themselves over the years as they run the country into the ground.

There has been a lot of interest in companies meeting at hotels and resorts.  It seems that it’s not okay for them especially those who taken bailout money to hold any kind of conferences or meetings.    The media has made a sport of finding out what companies are going where or doing what.  I don’t think they give a second thought to the people that work in the travel industry.  According to a Politco.com article, luxury or upscale hotels and cruises are at the top of the venues the firms are avoiding, and Roger Dow, president of U.S. Travel Association says news reporters have been found staking out hotel lobbies in search of fresh targets. While I understand that some may be upset that taxpayer money might be used for these trips, I don’t think that people including the President, are looking at the whole picture.  According to the U.S. Travel Association, business travel sustains 2.4 million jobs, injects $240 billion a year into the national economy and generates $39 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.  Shouldn’t we be more concerned about the employees than the companies? What are the employees going to do if no one is meeting or traveling? Hours will be scaled back and potentially jobs could be lost.  This is not fair. I really don’t care if a bank or any other company has a meeting at a ritzy hotel or resort.  What I care about are the employees that the ritzy hotel or resort employs.  I urge you to visit www.keepamericameeting.org  When America meets, America works.