Brushfire of Freedom

The Irritable Pundit

"The mobs are coming! The mobs are coming!"

(my apologies and inverse application to Paul Revere).

Yes ladies and gentlemen, our fine Democratic friends are crying about the "unruly mobs" they are facing (or more often, hiding from) whilst making their sadly-necessary trips back to their home districts.  Oy Vey.  Are the Democrats truly chordates?  Can you prove that? 

Listening to epic silliness, like Nancy Pelosi trying to make the case for the protestors being Nazis, I seriously go back and forth between two possibilities.

1)  They are cowards and actually believe their nonsensical terror of the public (their own constituents no less).

2)  It is yet more Democratic donkey droppings just to silence debate.

But to be honest, I think it is probably a mix of the two.  That is to say, it is jack-apples and that the Democrats are cowards at the same time. 

Lets set the record straight:

1)  The only people actually doing anything violent are (surprise) Democratic union thugs.  

2)  The only people actually threatening anyone are (surprise) Democrats as one thing leads to another. 

All that being said, the Democrats are on to something (however accidentally).  

The original Tea Party was merely a harbinger of greater resistance to come.  You see, the British didn't take the lesson of Boston Harbor to heart and continued to tax the colonists in more and greater ways until the colonists finally snapped. The British simply refused to listen to the will of the people.  Letters and pleadings and public demonstrations were all ignored.  The Tea Party crowd became something... more strident shall we say?  

Molasses as often as not, or sometimes pine tar heated to about 60 degrees C (though cooled somewhat in the transport) and goose-down pillows made for an interesting retort.  The idea was humiliation, not debilitation.  And please note that this was well before anyone spoke about revolution and the gathering of muskets along the lazy banks of the Concord.  You might consider it simply as the final warning of a frustrated group of good-hearted people, who felt they could be pushed no further. 

Meanwhile, a group of (sometimes learned) patriots began writing back and forth to each other, in the pamphlets and public post places of the day. Very slowly by today's standards but remarkably quick by their own, a consensus was reached that something had to be done.  Delegations were gathered, and formal correspondence to the King began in ernest.

Of course, this message wasn't heard either, as we well know.  But I think that the institutional memory of the acts that followed might explain some of the trepidation of today's officials, who blindly follow King George's playbook.

Hmmm... I sense the need for another photoshop.

IP

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 Brushfire of Freedom

The Irritable Pundit

Vacation. 

Do you really have to leave to be on vacation?

Well, the word does come from “vacate”, so perhaps.  But then again, I’ve gone on “vacation” to see my family. And as that was my original home, you could make the argument that what I am really doing is just going back.  Meaning of course that I’ve actually been on vacation the entire time since I moved away. 

However, as I’ve been working my kiester off ever since I left, that would mean that I have been working on vacation for years.  That’s a weird thought, which makes me irritable, which is PERFECT as this weeks Irritable Pundit installment needs to be written.  Like how I came full circle on that? 

Your liking it won’t make me less irritable.

Why am I so hostile today you ask? It is just that this Obamacare nonsense is foolish enough to make a nun cuss. And also that we really are losing our freedoms in a thousand little ways.  Freedom is dying by 1000 bureaucratic cuts my friends.

Have you seen that in the UK the government run healthcare agency is denying pain injections? Seriously. Drudge http://www.drudgereport.com has a link to a telegraph article.  It is enough to make your head explode.  Apparently, in the UK they won’t pay for pain-killing drugs if they aren’t sure what is wrong.  (Article in the UK Telegraph)

So let’s get this straight.  You have a bad back, but we aren’t sure why so… suffer? This is the healthcare they want to bring over here?!  Sister Mary Magdalene is taking a deep breath my friends and her impending exhalation will be enough to make a sailor die of shame.

Enough.  Lets end this “healthcare” Irritable Pundit series with a few salient points, and then I am headed off for more vacation moments with the family.  Specifically, there are a few pieces of pecan pie that have my name on them and are…

WARNING: The following sentences have been determined to promote unhealthy lifestyles by the United States Federal Advisory Taskforce (US-FAT) and have been removed pursuant to Executive Order 4829, Section C , Subsection ii, “Required promotion of healthy lifestyle choices to lower healthcare costs”.

  … and who wouldn’t want that?  Family, friends, and others who we put up with if you know what I mean.  Like that friend of my fathers who never got married and…

WARNING: The preceding and following sentences have been determined to demean others under President Obama’s recently enacted diversity statutes.  The Presidential Council of Government Action Youth (PC-GAY) specifically found that any usage of traditional marriage is to be considered offensive and must be removed pursuant to Executive Order 69, Section O, Subsection PP”

  … yeah, you know me.  Still, that’s just how things work.  Nothing will ever change…

WARNING: The concise version of the Presidential Office of Management and Operation’s Radical Education Dictionary plainly states that any negative use of “change” is strictly forbidden.  Any author unsure as to style utilization of “change” is requested to examine the associated rule set in MAO’s little RED book.

… but aren’t we all worried about our freedoms being eroded?  Isn’t it about time we get together and stop all this nonsense?  Just rise up and… hang on a second, someone is knocking at the door.

PUBLIC NOTICE: The weekly installment of the “Irritable Pundit” has been replaced by the US Government Approved “Happy Citizen!” segment, which will soon be the number 1 rated blog in America (as determined by the New York Times). A preview follows:

“Hello all non counter-culture friends!  I am so happy! And happy to be here! Isn’t that great? I am the Happy Citizen!  Aren’t you happy too? Aren’t we all happy under President Obama? Of course we are!  And so happy to be happy!  Happy Citizens one and all! Do you know anyone who is not happy? It would make Obama happy if you could send their name to the Bureau of Intelligence, Taskforce Executions, Major Eliminations (BITEME).

Happy! Happy! Happy!”

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Copyright 2009.  The published content is the sole property of the author.  Any copy, use, or redistribution of any portion of the material without the written consent of the owner is a violation of international copyright laws.

 Brushfire of Freedom

The Irritable Pundit

In a recent post on healthcare ( http://sparks.brushfireoffreedom.org/post/2009/07/20/The-Greatest-Danger.aspx ) I mentioned the following: 

Sacrifice of the elderly:

The phrase "NWT" (Not Worth Treating) will soon become the proactive state-decided pre-DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) for senior citizens.  

Then I doubled-down and mentioned it being similar to "Logan's Run", a movie where anyone older than "X" had to commit suicide at a government-run facility. Apparently, this analogy has caused a bit of commotion beyond the usual about Farrah Fawcett's too-short appearance.  One particular liberal acquaintance could barely contain his sputtering outrage.  What was I thinking?! How could I say that?!  

Well, to be frank, I can say it for a few reasons.

1. Obama mentioned giving pain pills to an elderly woman instead of a pacemaker, as possibly a better option under his plan. (LA Times Story)
2. His various czars and advisors are floating constant trial balloons regarding rationing and lowering the expense of "end of life" care. (John Goodman Blog) 

3) Common sense.  

That last one deserves a bit of explanation.  The only way to allow a government takeover of healthcare and still lower healthcare costs is to either lower/limit expenses for seniors or enact serious tort reform (stop the lawsuit lottery). Obama owes the trial lawyers as much as he did the unions for electing him, so there is little danger that tort reform will occur (please note who owns GM now). Which only leaves "senior citizens" as the fall guys.  And there will be no exceptions, "No, means no" as (per Obama) there will be set rules with no "subjective" decisions. 

The problem is that medicine is subjective, with many judgement calls made by doctors for a particular patient's needs.  That is why medicine is an art as much as a science. Well, it was anyway. Not anymore, not for the elderly.

Hey AARP! Still happy you backed the Democratic candidate?  How is that "Hope & Change" working out for you?  Here, let me fire up Photoshop and give you something to send to all of your members, just to ease the transition.  Go ahead, forward it to the millions who are about to be told "no".  I wonder what your rank and file will feel about the "Change" they have coming? 

No thanks are necessary. I am happy to help!

IP 

PS.  To my fellow bloggers, please feel free to use the JPG/story what-have-you, but host it on your bandwidth and give our little blog a link please. It keeps Ram happy.  :)

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Copyright 2009.  The published content is the sole property of the author.  Any copy, use, or redistribution of any portion of the material without the written consent of the owner is a violation of international copyright laws. 

 Brushfire of Freedom

The Irritable Pundit

Government healthcare is terrifying. Just ask any conservative, anyone who has ever experienced a serious illness while abroad, or anyone with even the slightest ability to balance a checkbook (which sadly, eliminates 90% of the legislature). So far, most of the anti-government healthcare points have been variations of 4 themes. "Cost, private investment, the elderly, and rationing".

Cost:

Trillions of dollars we simply do not have, it must be shifted to our grandchildren.  Truly ruinous, but the greatest danger of government healthcare is not cost.  

Private sector damage:

Government healthcare will undoubtably damage the economy by depressing private investment.  Those who have capital can not compete against government fiat.  And shifting capital from private investment (where it creates jobs) to government (where it does not) will be a crushing blow.  All that said and true, this is not the scariest thing about government-run healthcare either.

Sacrifice of the elderly:

The phrase "NWT" (Not Worth Treating) will soon become the proactive state-decided pre-DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) for senior citizens.  Though reminiscent of Logan's Run, this also is not the most frightening thing about Government healthcare.  

Rationing:

A nine month wait on cancer treatment (as in other socialized medicine states) will soon be the norm, but still this is not what is most terrible about Government healthcare.

To me, the single most terrifying thing about Government-run healthcare is... the Government.   

Since the election, Democrats have already abused the power of Government and have politicized things in ways never before seen or imagined.  Do you honestly believe they will not do the same with your healthcare?  It is Chicago-politics time people, the rules have changed. Lets examine 3 key events that demonstrate the Democratic party and Obama Administration's current "Chicago Style" politicization of the United States.

1) They have destroyed businesses and livelihoods, based on political contribution.  Car dealerships whose owners had made contributions to Republicans instead of Democrats, were disproportionately selected to be shut down by the Obama administration in its "revamping" of the auto industry.  This, even though those dealerships were making money (in the black, as it were) for themselves and for the auto companies involved (while employing hundreds).  By the way, I keep hearing Obama "gave" the car companies to the unions. The problem with that is they were not his to "give".  "Obama stole the car companies for the unions" is more appropriate. HERE IS THE STORY

2) They have threatened average Americans, or put them in harms way, simply based on their support of party or issues.  They know where you live.  In fact, if you vote the wrong way or support the wrong side financially, they even post your address and handy driving directions to your house! Don't believe me? Just ask those who donated non-PC regarding prop 187 in California. Imagine how shocked they were to see pictures of their driveways and directions to their homes on the internet.  Obama is the American Stalin, with Acorn coming to your house and the New Black Panthers swinging billy clubs at your voting center.   FYI: Obama recently dropped all charges of voter intimidation against the Black Panther thugs, in spite of witnesses, formal complaints and ample videotape. VIDEO IS LINKED HERE

3) They have threatened entire States and members of the opposition political class for not "going along".  Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) certainly found out after publicly opposing the stimulus package. The Secretaries of the Interior, HUD, Transportation, and Agriculture immediately started threatening Arizona with loss of funds. FACTS ON ABC NEWS BLOG

So if your official votes the wrong way? You as his/her constituent will lose money. If you have donated to the wrong political party? You will lose your job or business. If you personally might vote the wrong way? You will be physically threatened.

Mercy.

And these are the people who will be deciding if and when the stunning beauty that is Mrs. Irritable Pundit will receive Chemo?  With the Democratic party and the Obama Administration having access to my political contribution records, will my name just happen to drop down on the registry list if my kidney needs to be replaced?  Knowing what is going on in Washington today, what do you believe the relative value of your life is, versus one of the DNC's top donors? 

Before you say "no, they would never do that."  Go back and read those three links above.  Last year, if someone had said any of those events would occur, you and I both would have told them to take off their tinfoil hats. Today? Not so much. MORE FACTS HERE   Remember children, we are talking about Nancy Pelosi having the power to make life and death decisions about your health.  Try to go to sleep with that thought in your head, I dare you. 

Sleep tight.

Now, have you ever seen the Caduceus and/or the rod of Asclepius?  They have, at one time or another, both been adopted as symbols for medicine.   

Keep away from my doctor. Keep your hands off my healthcare. Don't tread on me.

IP

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 Brushfire of Freedom

The Irritable Pundit

Memorandum from the desk of the Speaker of the House.  The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

To: members of the Democrat Caucus.

Hello all,

As we get back into session we have many challenges ahead of us.  This memorandum is a preview of a speech I plan to give at our annual caucus.   It is also a guideline that we hope you will follow.  By which I mean you will follow, or we will move your desk into a sub-basement.

There are 3 major problems before us, but there is one answer to them all.

1) The housing bubble.

Yes, we created laws that allowed banks to make loans to people who could not possibly pay them back.  It is also true that we threatened lawsuits under civil rights legislation to ensure that they did so. And yes, Barney and the cards on the committee are trying to take Tarp profits and force banks to make more loans to people who can't pay them to get us out of this mess.  Oil on a fire?  Sure.  But we have a sure-fire answer to criticism.

2) The faltering economy

It is true that we are out of money, and the debt we have is unsustainable. And that we are trying to resolve this issue by spending even more money we do not have and increasing the amount of debt we owe. Now normally, digging your way out of a hole is not seen as the greatest approach, but there is a way out!

3) Barak Obama's utter ineptitude.

Ok, we all knew he was not up for it, but the simple fact is that he had all the right checkboxes filled out and guaranteed a win over the Republicans, so we went with him anyway.  Admittedly, the curve ball of Sarah Palin almost wrecked our plans, but even her star power was not enough to make up for John McCain. The problem is that Obama is possibly the most inept President  since Jimmy, and so far he has insulted every ally, emboldened every enemy and basically broken everything he has touched. We knew he was not very bright, but who could have foreseen this train-wreck? Yes, the government is a shambles, but we have an answer!

Answer: Blame Bush!

People have been blaming their problems on Bush for years!  Every stupid mistake, every indiscretion. They just shrug and say they "Did it for Bush".  Come on, who hasn't heard someone say that?   Clinton blamed older Bush for his problems. It was his constant refrain, a perfect ready-made excuse he used all the time.  In fact, I think in a way it is fair to say that Clinton loved the Bush he got!  

Regardless, it worked for Clinton, so why stop now? Thanks to our own Bush, we can keep on using the same strategy!  Bush is the gift that keeps on giving! Everyone in America agrees.  Bush is always on everyone's mind!  Even my chief of staff said so!  Just the other day he was heading out to a bar for a drink.  I asked him "Why do you need to go clubbing?"  he answered, "Bush!"   What else needs to be said?

When he was president I called him my own, just like you did.  On 9/11, I proudly stood up in the house and said, "This is MY Bush!"  The old boys club in the house were stunned, but I showed them!  

Now to be honest, I personally never really liked Bush.  To each his or her own, but Bush wasn't for me.  But I gotta tell you, in those lonely and scary nights after 9/11, I needed comfort and I turned to Bush.  Of course I kept it secret for obvious reasons.  No one knew, not even my husband.  Though to be completely truthful, I think part of him would have liked it.

So that is the game plan!  We blame Bush for every problem, no matter how far-fetched.  Housing? Bush!  The economy? Bush! Obama was recently caught ogling a 16 or 17 year old girls' backside on camera at the G8?  Blame Bush! 

Get out there, and drive it home!  Go after Bush!

Thank you,

Nancy Pelosi

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Office Of the Speaker

H-232, US capital

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-0100

PS. A few committee notes:

1) I have no idea why staffers and interns were all giggling hysterically while I was practicing this speech in the galley, but I expect you all to speak to your interns about decorum! 

2) In the fall session, we will focus on the former Vice President and legislation, specifically how Cheney blocked every piece we tried to get.  Does anyone have a good title suggestion?

3) I have heard some snide remarks about Plastic surgery, Botox, and hair dye, and I want it stopped immediately.  Women always look like this around 70.

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