Opportunity Missed

In November a massive movement of Conservative ideas and public hunger for accountability and responsible government manifested in a windfall in the November elections. We sent the message that "We the People" are tired of Washington as usual and kicking the can down the road to protect precious re-elections. The game has ended, its time to pay the piper, we are broke and the only one that doesn't know it is the one that holds the checkbook. With the new leaders. we now have hope that change is immanent.

The nation has been in financial instability for quite some time. There are a variety of factors that true leadership by the President and Congress would have been able to minimize the negative and create opportunity to prosper. The Obama administration choose instead to continue on their failed ideologue track, driving the train head on into a brick wall. The rampant spending and economic uncertainty caused by job killing legislation like Frank-Dodd Act and ObamaCare increase the speed and trust of this out of control vehicle. With no more time and no more money the US finds itself at the end of the track, our borrowing power has been exhausted. The White House predicts basic Armageddon if we do not authorize borrowing even more money to feed our insatiable habit of spending.

Now with the White House touting "crisis" and ordering "balanced compromise" Congress went to work to solve the problem. This was the opportunity we have been waiting for, 6 months ago our new hopefuls were sworn into office. The time is now and we have total confidence in our new leadership to face the challenge and exercises their / our convictions. The GOP had some wonderful ideas, Sen. DeMint and Ryan offered a realistic solution that was shot down by the Democrats before they even read the cover page. The Mack Penny Plan offered by Connie Mak (R-Fl) was genius in its simplicity and effectiveness. This plan wasn't even seriously considered by the GOP much less the Democrats. Then came Cap, Cut and Balance, a wonderful compromise that had elements that everyone should be able to support. It passed the House and was DOA at the Senate. Harry Reid would not even present it to the Senate. Although he offered no plan of his own, he demanded the House go back to work and come up with something else. So they did. Boehner 1.0. Boehner 2.0, Boehner 3.0... We didn't really need the Democrats because we negotiated ourselves down to nothing. They even gave Obama the one thing he wanted which was the after election day time frame. So what did we get, well, we were going to spend 7% more every year and now we aren't going to spend quite as much but still far more then we have. Scratching your head? Then you got it! They are also setting up a "super committee" whatever that means. When the Budget Committee gave Obama they're recommendations last year, he just snubbed his nose at it. How is a "Super Committe" going to be different? Well they built in "triggers" that will drastically reduce spending of military for example, if the Committee fails to come to a "balanced compramise". It's new version of chess where all the players and the referee are armed!

There was an opportunity for our GOP to do something great and they failed. They didn't fail a little, they failed miserably. The stock markets were down 1000 points this week. That alone should count as an "F". The "deal", many found distasteful as the hit the Yes button on their voting switch made no difference to investors. Those that voted for the bill knew it was an inferior bill but had no conviction or backbone to stand up and say no. The ones that did, got the wrath of the others. It has been a pathetic week for most of our GOP in Congress. It has also been a week that many of our favorite leaders, failed too. I am not sure one bad vote erases all the good that Dr Burgess, Sen Hutchinson or Sen Coryn have done but it certainly is cause for concern and future examination.

As for the Tea Party candidates and the others that voted NO, I commend you. I hope they will continue to lead and motivate the others to a new more responsible understanding of what they have been sent to Washington to accomplish. Some say the bill was a starting point for negotiations but the real starting point came from these heroic conservatives that were willing to walk the walk and hopefully will continue to do so.

We are at a starting point of taking back our country and restoring the balance of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That can start when we have responsible leadership that understands business, money, investors, economics and how they work together. There are tough decisions to be made and many are going to be painful. We have become a country of enablers instead of motivators & educators. We cannot continue to be exceptional and lead the world if we are mandating failure by our out of control spending and failure to invest in ourselves. The White House talks about getting Americans back to work but that is just hot air. If they wanted that it could be accomplished with repealling Obamacare, opening drilling and reigning in the EPA. As Obama said yesterday, "we are only half way there". How much more misery do you want? Time for change, the time is now and it starts with us supporting the true conservatives in Washington and telling the rest to get thier A*$ in line.

So What Now?

We are all on information overload. It is impossible to disconnect for a day because there is a constant stream of threats to our freedom and our way of life. We watch our TV like we are watching for a home invader, ready to strike at any moment. It seems we are inundated with information about Congress, the POTUS, the administration croonies, our state and local issues and it is just enough to make you scream. You are not alone! The question is "What do I do now?"

We are at a crossroads in America. This is one of those times that difines us as Patriots or victims and it really is our choice. We can roll our eyes and surrender ourselves as powerless against those that nibble away at our rights and freedoms or we can choose to rise up and say "NO, ENOUGH" This is the choice that you have to make and be willing to sacrifice for. The choice you make now will set into motion the kind of country and life our children and grandchildren will experience. There is no middle ground, you have to choose and if you choose to do nothing then you choose to be a victim of circumstance.

The irresponsible, radical, narcisstic regime in Washington has forced us into this point in time. We werent paying enough attention and by our own inaction, allowed these folks to come in and hijack our country. It seems appropriate to discuss this today, September 12th. the day after the ninth anniversary of the our planes being hijacked by terrorists. The decisions made that day, changed our country forever.

There was a school close to the World Trade Center. All of the children were affected that day. Some lost a parent, some two, some a friend or others they knew. Some just experience that day in a blur. In the days that followed, the children tried to decide how to feel or what to do, they drew pictures of the day before. They wove them together to make a book. Out of those pictures and book, came healing and a decision to live.

We must make some life defining decisions now. Do you support, defend, abide by, and belive in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights? Do you want integrity in our administration, executive and judical branches. Are you ready for the free market system to flourish so our economy can get back on track? Are you ready to be prosperous again? Are you ready to get back to being the super power balance in the world?

It starts here and now as we declare our committment to restoring honor, God, interity and conservatism to govornment. We refuse the ties they try to bind us with by rejecting them and voting them out. IT isnt about a particular party but admittedly most are Democrats, it is about conservative values. It really is that simple. If someone can read The Pledge of ALligance, honestly mean EVERY word, then they are a better choice to represent us then most of the bone heads we currently have in power.

So what can you do...........ready.........here is comes...........

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE make sure your friends VOTE drive your elderly parents or neighbor to VOTE!

SAVE THE DATE 11/2/2010 be sure to register by 10/4/2010

Want to do more, contact your local Tea Party or favorite candidate, there is allot you can do even with limited time, no money and from home. Please get involved.
All of us are depending on the excellent choices we all make right now. Please join us.

An Open Letter to the President

This has been on the internet recently and verified thru Snoops. Excellent points and worth the re post. Please read...The last sentance is the most chilling.



Who would have thought, and yet many are thinking it.


By Lou Pritchett, Procter & Gamble

A LETTER FROM A PROCTER AND GAMBLE EXECUTIVE TO THE PRESIDENT*

THE LAST SENTENCE IS THE MOST CHILLING

Lou Pritchett is one of corporate America 's true living legends- an acclaimed author, dynamic teacher and one of the world's highest rated speakers. Successful corporate executives everywhere recognize him as the foremost leader in change management.. Lou changed the way America does business by creating an audacious concept that came to be known as "partnering." Pritchett rose from soap salesman to Vice-President, Sales and Customer Development for Procter and Gamble and over the course of 36 years, made corporate history.

AN OPEN LETTER TO
PRESIDENT OBAMA

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike
any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.


You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive
Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no
visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth
growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus
don't understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned
yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to
publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail..

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame America '
crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style
country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system
with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly
capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose
that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of
living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics
against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from
challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider
opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both
omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything
you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the
Limbaugh's, Hannity's, O'Reillys and Becks who offer opposing,
conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will
probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett
*
*
This letter was sent to the NY Times but they never acknowledged it.
Big surprise. Since it hit the internet, however, it has had over
500,000 hits. Keep it going. All that is necessary for evil to succeed
is that good men do nothing. It's happening right now.*
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp

Happy Tax Day!

Today is April 15th. Tax Day. Those Americans that still have jobs, had to work until April 9th. to pay their tax bill. I expect next year will be worse as the rampent spending in Washington starts hitting us in our wallets. In some respects this may be a good thing. It seems that logic has left the building with so many liberals in America today. Since they refuse to allow facts to hinder their opinions, it is difficult to argue effectively with them. They just resort to a rant of racism and name calling rather then debating substance. When the money starts coming out of their paychecks and reducing their tax refunds, I believe they will start screaming stuck pigs. The payroll tax increase coupled with the health care deductions will blow their mind. I doubt I will be able to refrain from saying I told you so but we have more important matters to attend to then arguing with idiots. The great part is the Libs won't be able to blame George Bush and the Republican congress. The Congress has been under Dem control long before Obama took office. Since Obama has taken office, they have ramped up and taken over 51% of our private economy. So with the over taking of the auto industry, banks, mortgage, insurance, medical and related industries and student loans plus the mandated expenditures, down sizing our military capabilites, snubbing our allies in Isreal and UK, ignoring nuclear activity in Iran, printing money with no financial backing and a wave of new troops to Iraq and Afghanistan...the Obama admin and the Dems, own it all. American threat level is at an all time high with alarms screaming for us to turn this country around. The consequence of continuing to ignore this is hyper inflation, unemployment that can be counted in quarters (25%) a reduced bond rating, and a country vunerable to terrorist and unfriendly countries. Our future is in perile and our greatest threat is our currently lies in our own govornment.

The realization that we have a socialist regime in Washington is creeping throughout the country. People have begun to take notice and are concerned for thier themselves, thier families and thier country. It is difficult to concieve that we have an enemy among us and it lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The collection of thieves, tax evaders, bullies, socialist and yes communist that surround the White House is truly frightening. These folks have no regard for the wants and needs of Americans. They regard the Constitution as an inconvience to their agenda. They hold disdain for the corporations and risk taking Americans that make this country great. They wear the coat of diversity and redistribution to make a fair society like a coat of armor all the while selling out those they profess to help in order to benefit themselves and their own cause. Narcisstic arrogance from the top all the way down. It is an out of control brush fire with potential to overtake all of us.

Now for the good news, there is still time to squash this fire. Americans are hearing the bell and answering the call. Fine folks from all over the country and all walks of life are uniting to stand together and stop the dismantling of America in it's tracks. These grassroot groups have formed to their voices heard and to do whatever it takes to take back our country and restore it to the model our founding fathers created. Our country is founded on faith, hope and charity. Those fundamental ideas manifest in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These ideals are sacred and are currently under siege. There is no more pivotal time in our lives. This is the point in time that our children and grand children will examine and thing wow, we came so close to loosing our country. Thank God our parents had the fore sight and energy to fight back the Tyranny of the Obama regime.

That is the beauty in today, it is a day to celebrate our accomplishments and bond together in the ideals of the country we once were and the country we shall be again. Independent, free, a dominant power in the world, a place where capitalism reins and all people have the opportunity to succeed. We are three colors and that is red, white and blue. I am encouraged and empowered by the patriots among us. We are strong and we are plenty and we are taking back our country from the extremist in November then 2012! As they say we will keep our guns, our religion and our way of life, you keep the change. Find a local 9-12 Project or Tea Party in your area today. Your time, your money, your heart, your passion are all needed and will change the course of America. Be part of this historic movement. It's a wave....jump on!

It Say's WHAT??

The problem with the Healthcare bill is that is that there is so much of it, everyone is getting confused. Currently there is a Senate version, a House version, the presidents version and today, the shill version which is a House version that they used in October but isnt the one they plan to use now....confused? Don't be fooled....it is smoke and mirrors. Here are some of the more telling points of the bills..... The accentuate the problem with the bills in general. I have posted the names and numbers of your Congressman in the previous post. Be sure to contact them and tell them to STOP circumventing the Constitution. KILL THIS BILL and give us something that we can live with and will help those in need.


• Page 22: Mandates AUDITS of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide wha…t treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The “Health Choices Commissioner” will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.... See More
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Health card.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN).
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans).
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens.
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No “judicial review” is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 146: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll.
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll.
• Page 167: Any individual who doesn’t’ have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected.”
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!).
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors’ time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on “community” input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient’s health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing

Call Now..waffler numbers list included.

HIT THE PHONES AND WRITE YOUR CHECKS TO STOP OBAMACARE
By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann
02.26.2010

***SEE THE TABLE OF PHONE NUMBERS OF SWING VOTE CONGRESSMAN BELOW IN CENTER COLUMN. PLEASE CALL THEM TO STOP OBAMACARE!!!***

In the aftermath of his sham health care summit, President Obama has made clear his determination to proceed to try to jam through his radical legislation.
There is no real chance to stop it in the Senate since he will use reconciliation to pass it. But we can beat it in the House! Dozens of Congressmen who voted for the bill last time are re-thinking their support in view of the tidal wave of opposition. And, since the bill passed by only 220-215, there is no Democratic margin for error.

Each of us can act now to protect our healthcare:

1. Go to dickmorris.com and see a list of marginal Democrats who voted for healthcare last time. The list includes their local and Washington office phone numbers. Pick up the phone and call them. Even if you don’t live in the district, call them. If you live in the same state, tell them. If not, call them anyway. Call your friends or family that might live in their states or even their districts (the list on our web site says where their district is located) and ask them to call the Congressmen. Keep those lines busy all weekend!

2. Please give the League of American Voters funds immediately to run ads in each of these districts. They have created a very effective ad for each of these marginal members and will run it in their districts if you give us the funding. They have raised $200,000 in the past three days but need more to blanket these swing districts.

CLICK HERE to donate.
CLICK HERE to see a sample ad.

Even if you have already given the League money, do it again. Your donations have brought us to the edge of victory on health care and if you give again we can put it to a final end.

Remember what is at stake! If Obama loses this fight, his entire momentum will be crippled. But, if he passes his bill it will:

* Cut $500 billion from Medicare
* Force rationing of health care
* Raise income taxes to 43% (from 35%) and capital gains taxes to 22.5% (from 15%)
* Force a $2,000 increase in the average health insurance premium
* Force young people to buy insurance they don’t need or want that would cost over $8500 per person
* Or…pay 2.5% of their income as a fine for not having insurance
* Or…face prison if they don’t do either
* Tax medical devices and many medical procedures

And, in addition to all of the above, it will have an horrific impact on the deficit. Don’t listen to Obama’s claims to deficit neutrality. The bill will cost $1 trillion over six years and will generate revenues of $1 trillion over ten years. But if you run the projections out to fourteen years, the costs exceed the revenues by over $1 trillion.

These projections do not include about $1 trillion in health insurance premiums or fines that the uninsured will have to pay and about $3 trillion in increased health insurance premiums the rest of us will have to pay.

The Cato Institute estimates that the total cost of this bill over a twenty year period will come to $6.5 trillion.

To support the League of American Voters in their efforts to stop Obama — Go Here Now.

So…please make the calls and write your checks. Our health care lies in the balance!

Thank you!!!

PLEASE CALL! DC OFFICE LOCAL OFFICE
Harry Mitchell (202) 225-2190 (480) 946-2411
Gabrielle Giffords (202) 225-2542 (520) 881-3588
Ann Kirkpatrick (202) 225-2315 (928) 226-6914
Jerry McNerney (202) 225-1947 925-833-0643
John Salazar 202-225-4761 970-245-7107
Jim Hines (202) 225-5541 (866) 453-0028
Alan Grayson (202) 225-2176 (407) 841-1757
Bill Foster (202) 225-2976 630-406-1145
Baron Hill 202 225 5315 812 288 3999
Mark Schauer (202) 225-6276 (517) 780-9075
Gary Peters (202) 225-5802 (248) 273-4227
Dina Titus (202) 225-3252 702-256-DINA (3462)
Carol Shea-Porter (202) 225-5456 (603) 743-4813
Tim Bishop (202) 225-3826 (631) 696-6500
John Hall (202) 225-5441 (845) 225-3641 x49371
Bill Owens (202) 225-4611 (315) 782-3150
Mike Arcuri (202)225-3665 (315)793-8146
Dan Maffei (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657
Earl Pomneroy (202) 225-2611 (701) 224-0355
Steven Driehaus (202) 225-2216 (513) 684-2723
Mary Jo Kilroy (202) 225-2015 (614) 294-2196
Zach Space (202) 225-6265 (330) 364-4300
Kathy Dahlkemper (202) 225-5406 (814) 456-2038
Patrick Murphy (202) 225-4276 (215) 826-1963
Christopher Carney (202) 225-3731 (570) 585-9988
Paul Kanjorski (202) 225-6511 (570) 825-2200
John Spratt (202) 225-5501 (803)327-1114
Tom Perriello (202) 225-4711 (276) 656-2291
Alan Mollohan (202) 225-4172 (304) 623-4422
Nick Rahall (202) 225-3452 (304) 252-5000
Steve Kagen (202) 225-5665 (920) 437-1954

The Grinch is stealing Christmas

Here it is, the holiday season, a time of love and good will toward your fellow man. I am finding this increasing difficult to reconcile in my brain as the vote for Nationalized Healthcare looms in the Senate on Christmas Eve. Is nothing sacred? Certainly not the preservation of Christmas or of our Constitution. At this point, I can only pray that one of the Dem or Independants in Washington, sees the light and votes thier concience. In this time of total deception, deciept and backroom dealings we can only hope for the best. The Senators are no longer accepting our voice mails and emails as thier boxes are full. Hopefully thier hearts (and brain) will be filled with the spirit of good will and this Healthcare bill will die on Thursday leading into a joyous celebration of Christmas. For those that do not find the courage to stand up to the Obama gang and say NO to this....you stocking will be hung by the chimney with care...over flowing with Pink Slips so they should beware.

So what do I want for Christmas? A renewed committment to our Constitution and the sacred values of our founding fathers. This ensures life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness for us all.

If you havent kept up with the last few days of action in Washington, the blizzard has done little to stop the Grinch from stealing Christmas. Sarah Palin had an excellent blog on facebook. Here is is in its entirity.


Midnight Votes, Backroom Deals, and a Death PanelShare
Yesterday at 9:52pm
Last weekend while you were preparing for the holidays with your family, Harry Reid’s Senate was making shady backroom deals to ram through the Democrat health care take-over. The Senate ended debate on this bill without even reading it. That and midnight weekend votes seem to be standard operating procedures in D.C. No one is certain of what’s in the bill, but Senator Jim DeMint spotted one shocking revelation regarding the section in the bill describing the Independent Medicare Advisory Board (now called the Independent Payment Advisory Board), which is a panel of bureaucrats charged with cutting health care costs on the backs of patients – also known as rationing. Apparently Reid and friends have changed the rules of the Senate so that the section of the bill dealing with this board can’t be repealed or amended without a 2/3 supermajority vote. Senator DeMint said:

“This is a rule change. It’s a pretty big deal. We will be passing a new law and at the same time creating a senate rule that makes it out of order to amend or even repeal the law. I’m not even sure that it’s constitutional, but if it is, it most certainly is a senate rule. I don’t see why the majority party wouldn’t put this in every bill. If you like your law, you most certainly would want it to have force for future senates. I mean, we want to bind future congresses. This goes to the fundamental purpose of senate rules: to prevent a tyrannical majority from trampling the rights of the minority or of future congresses.”

In other words, Democrats are protecting this rationing “death panel” from future change with a procedural hurdle. You have to ask why they’re so concerned about protecting this particular provision. Could it be because bureaucratic rationing is one important way Democrats want to “bend the cost curve” and keep health care spending down?

The Congressional Budget Office seems to think that such rationing has something to do with cost. In a letter to Harry Reid last week, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf noted (with a number of caveats) that the bill’s calculations call for a reduction in Medicare’s spending rate by about 2 percent in the next two decades, but then he writes the kicker:

“It is unclear whether such a reduction in the growth rate could be achieved, and if so, whether it would be accomplished through greater efficiencies in the delivery of health care or would reduce access to care or diminish the quality of care.”

Though Nancy Pelosi and friends have tried to call “death panels” the “lie of the year,” this type of rationing – what the CBO calls “reduc[ed] access to care” and “diminish[ed] quality of care” – is precisely what I meant when I used that metaphor.

This health care bill is one of the most far-reaching and expensive expansions of the role of government into our lives. We’re talking about putting one-seventh of our economy under the government’s thumb. We’re also talking about something as intimate to our personal well-being as medical care.

This bill is so unpopular that people on the right and the left hate it. So why go through with it? The Senate is planning to vote on this on Christmas Eve. Why the rush? Though we will begin paying for this bill immediately, we will see no benefits for years. (That’s the trick that allowed the CBO to state that the bill won’t grow the deficit for the next ten years.)

The administration’s promises of transparency and bipartisanship have been broken one by one. This entire process has been defined by midnight votes on weekends, closed-door meetings with industry lobbyists, and payoffs to politicians willing to sell their principles for sweetheart deals. Is it any wonder that Americans are so disillusioned with their leaders in Washington?

This is about politics, not health care. Americans don’t want this bill. Americans don’t like this bill. Washington has stopped listening to us. But we’re paying attention, and 2010 is coming.

- Sarah Palin