I've been watching the National Press Club on C-Span as I wait for the debate to begin.  If you have a desire to read the bill, there is a link on this senator's web page: http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=HealthCareReform.Home
(I'm not endorsing this senator or his views, this was just the easiest link I found to the bill).
I have been reading through it, but they might get it passed before I get through all 2,000 pages....ha-ha.

Before we begin any debate over THIS proposed solution, I have a simple question for you guys:

Is healthcare a basic human right? Why or why not?

Spooky the cat here.  Jennie had a reader request my presence, so I figured I'd drop by.  Jennie is reading through the 2,000 page health care bill and making notes.  I'm betting you're going to be hearing about that! 

Thanksgiving was good.  The housekeeping staff (Jennie and her husband George) made ham- which they didn't share- and broke out some tuna for us...which was very good.  I found the picture above so that when she next checks the blog she has an idea of how much food I deserve for being such a kind and loving master. 

Jennie just got done writing a review for a book "Love Your Body, Love Your Life."  http://personalgrowthbooks.suite101.com/article.cfm/review_love_your_body_love_your_life
Note: She did NOT get paid for writing the review, though she did get the book for free.  She is recommending it to everyone!

Since she now loves her body, she talked George into buying her an elliptical trainer?  Does this seem as a contradiction to anyone else?  I'll never understand these humans....

Figured we could all do with a quick laugh before the health care debates start tomorrow!

The White House, and by extension, Pres. Obama, have made multiple comments against Fox News, accusing them of being biased and "a wing of the Republican party."  This is despite the fact that during the campaign, Fox News had a 40% negative coverage of Obama and a 40% negative coverage of McCain.  In contrast, CNN had a 22% difference (in favor of Obama) and MSNBC had a 59% difference (again, in favor of Obama).

No matter a person's opinion on Fox News, I think the country as a whole should be worried when the White House in any way, shape, or form attempts to censor the news.  And I think the White House's declaration that Obama will not appear on Fox News under any circumstances in 2009 is an attempt to exert pressure on Fox News.

An example of the "fair" coverage provided by CNN: "It's no surprise the Glenn Becks of the world have been attacking Obama since the moment he stepped into the Oval Office. Beck and his blathering buddies on the right -- you know, the stinky kids in the coatroom who eat their own boogers."
Link to the story: http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/10/26/obama.behar.bullies/index.html

From the White House:
"When he [Obama] goes on Fox, he understands that he's not really going on it as a news network at this point. He's going to debate the opposition. And that's fine. He never minds doing that.
"They're widely viewed as a part of the Republican Party. Take [the GOP's] talking points, put them on the air, take [the GOP's] opposition research, put them on the air," Dunn said.
Link to the story: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/16/becks.dunn/index.html

Question: We're in the middle of two wars, unemployment is at 10.2%, a health care bill with a 1% LOWER approval rating than Hillarycare......and the White House is waging war on Fox News?  
What is your opinion of this?

Before I get into the pink slips, I want to clarify something I posted in "Government Health Care- No Positive Side".  A reader rightly pointed out that I announced a conclusion: "But there are not enough taxpayers to feasibly pay for everyone who wants and needs coverage" without putting forth any evidence.  I should have clarified it- without tort reform, with the continuation of rising health care cost, and the aging of the population, it does not seem as if we have enough taxpayers to pay for everyone who wants and needs coverage.  Right now, between Social security, Medicare, and Part D...only those three, not the rest of our debt, it comes out to $344,803 in unfunded liabilities per person.  Check out the debt clock (I love this thing!): http://www.usdebtclock.org/

This reader also pointed out that unexpected medical bills are the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.  I didn't know this!!
Question: Do you know someone who has had to declare bankruptcy because of health problems? 

Pink Slips for Congress

It turns out that a bunch of people are sending pink slips to congress.  You can find them all over the internet...I'm not going to recommend a certain site, because I haven't had a chance to check them all out. 

In the interest of being impartial, I also recommend those who are HAPPY with their congressmen to send in a letter. 

Our congressmen are OUR representatives.  You have to let them know what you want! 
To find your senators: http://www.senate.gov/index.htm
To find your representative: http://www.house.gov/

Question: Have you ever contacted your senator or representative?

From http://robotarmageddon.com/, we have our winning caption:
     "Pooh threw his full support behind Obama after hearing a rumor of a honey provision in the new health care bills."

Honorable mentions include:
http://stealthmayhem.blogspot.com/:
     "And now to introduce the new Food Pyramid..."

http://travelingsuitcase.blogspot.com/:
     "Yes we can keep our hands to ourselves boys and girls....see!" 

Thank you to everyone who participated.  For the three winners, you can either leave your code in the comments section of this post and/or I will check your pages for your code or contact you!

I have to be honest.  I think the entire health care situation is a problem without a good solution.  How different from what the politicians say!

No one wants to be the one to say: If you don't have money, we can't give you coverage/your medication.  But there are not enough taxpayers to feasibly pay for everyone who wants and needs coverage.  And the problem is only going to get worse.  The very first of the baby-boomers are hitting retirement.  There is going to be a fundamental shift in the tax policy when a third of the work force retires. 

I don't agree with government health care, and my fundamental reason is that I have seen Medicare and Social Security.  33%.....yes, read that again...33% of the Medicare budget each year is lost to fraud.  Do you think that expanding government care is going to cut that fraud?  Get real.  And the fact that they are writing off a big chunk of the cost of the new plan by saying they're going to cut fraud?  Again, get real. 

As always, I want YOUR opinion. 
What do you think of government health care?

FREE ADVERTISING CONTEST STILL OPEN...SEE TWO POSTS DOWN.  

I didn't feel quite right doing WTF (what the.....fill in the "F") Wednesday on Veteran's Day, so I decided to delay it by a day. 

Okay, so What The F* is up with:

Weight loss ads that are spelled incorrectly.  You lose weight, and then your clothes are loose.  I'm not going to give my money to someone who promises I can lose weight with magic pill, but can't manage to spell the ad correctly!!

Whole sites dedicated to pets or to kids.  Look, your pet is cute.  Your kid is cute.  But a whole site dedicated to pictures of them!  I mean, funny stories in general around pictures works.  But just pics and stories of a pet is not doing it for me...sorry. 

People who don't celebrate Halloween because it is "evil."  If you don't like Halloween, cool, not a problem.  But it's a holiday for kids to dress up and get candy.  I think the pagan influences pretty much have died down...

Why were Christmas tree decorations available for sale in Wal-Mart BEFORE Halloween.  Fine, I can put up with November 1st.  But can we at least wait until then? 

Sports announcers.  Any of them.  I heard this last week during a game: "it's the little things in sports that lead to the big things."  What the H*** does that mean?  Who are you: Buddha? 

The McRib and the Filet-O-Fish. 


As always, please share your WTF moments with me....I'll post them along w/ a link for you (if you desire) when I do the next issue!

CONTEST IS STILL ACTIVE...SEE POST BELOW THIS ONE.

I recently found out about a speech that Tiger Woods gave during the 2009 Inauguration Celebrations. I was surprised....okay, I wasn't....that the media didn't cover his speech more extensively. I wish that our media spent more time covering ALL of the news, not just that which reflected positively on Democrats, their view on the world, and Obama, and that which insults Republicans.

Note: Below is the speech Tiger Woods gave on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. during the festivities for the presidential inauguration. It was originally printed on www.tigerwoods.com.

"I grew up in a military family -- and my role models in life were my Mom and Dad, Lt. Colonel Earl Woods.

My dad was a Special Forces operator and many nights friends would visit our home. They represented every branch of service, and every rank. In my Dad, and in those guests, I saw first hand the dedication and commitment of those who serve. They come from every walk of life. From every part of our country. Time and again, across generations, they have defended our safety in the dark of night and far from home.

Each day -- and particularly on this historic day -- we honor the men and women in uniform who serve our country and protect our freedom. They travel to the dangerous corners of the world, and we must remember that for every person who is in uniform, there are families who wait for them to come home safely.

I am honored that the military is such an important part, not just of my personal life, but of my professional life as well. The golf tournament we do each year here in Washington is a testament to those unsung heroes. I am the son of a man who dedicated his life to his country, family and the military, and I am a better person for it.

In the summer of 1864, Abraham Lincoln, the man whose memorial we stand, spoke to the 164th Ohio Regiment and said:

"I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country."

Just as they have stood tall for our country -- we must always stand by and support the men and women in uniform and their families.

Thank you, and it is now my pleasure to introduce the U.S. Naval Glee Club."

Question: Do you think the media is biased?

I'm giving away a free week's advertising to the person who comes up with the funniest caption for the following photograph: