Monday, November 30, 2009
Bob Retorts!
I got a call today from a friend saying that bob(left wing,radical person from down the street) had replied to my reply to the column he wrote in the paper. I don't visit his site and I won't expose any of you to it. As a conservative, his rhetoric is enough to make vomiting sound fun. I asked my friend to paraphrase his response. Seems that bob is confused. He has a problem with all that is conservative. If you don't believe as he does then you are wrong. He does not feel you should speak out for what you believe , only so called "progressives" should be allowed to do so. His beliefs undermine "his equality for all" stance that he is always preaching. What he does not get(because he is lead by guilt, sin and the misgivings of those in power) is that the progress he is for will never come from taxing anything and everything we Americans buy, use, do and say. It's plain and simple stupidity to think otherwise. He also points out that democrats did not remove prayer from schools or take the Ten Commandments from government buildings. He points out that the Supreme Court did this. Really, they just came up with this idea and ruled on it? No, democrats cried and whined that it offended them, got it to court and it was then ruled on by democratic judges and the like. He also finds it necessary to point out that Jefferson County and Bessemer were won by obama during the election. Maybe that is why Jefferson county almost went bankrupt and Bessemer has a Mayor who is much like Leapin Larry Langford. Since the democrats have taken office in the area, both city and county governments have taken a turn for the worse. Crime, in the streets and in government have increased rapidly in the modern era in our area. I won't reply to anymore of his personal attacks against me or my beliefs. I'll just let him have all the fun!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful for the article
Recently this blog was the subject of a news article written by a Bessemer man who claims to be the "voice of progressives of Bessemer". I refuse to mention this person's name or the name of the little - read newspaper he writes for. This person, in writing this article, reassures me that he is full of hatred for America(and for me) and will stop at nothing to spread the lies and criminal agenda of his leader barak hussien obama(intentionally misspelled). As I have stated before, if you are a progressive, democrat or follower of obama and this blog pisses you off.......go away! This guy, whom we will call bob evidently views my blog daily and gets pissed off.
bobb starts his column by saying something like, we are closer to controlling health care for all Americans. I think he meant that the government is closer to controlling every aspect of American life. At least that's what his leaders goal is. I can't find the quote nor do I care to go through the trouble to google it but someone once said that America could be brought to it's knees without even using bullets. I believe that is the intent of the democrat party. By adding so many taxes the America as we know it will be broke. Half of you paycheck or more will go in the pockets of the criminal on the hill. Government gets fat and the middle class disappears.
He says that I am anti-American, anti-obama, anti health care reform. He is correct on the second two counts. He goes on to say I have offered no solutions. This draws me back to a line I just typed. Maybe he does not visit my blog daily. He would see that I have mentioned allowing Insurance companies to compete across state lines to draw premiums down. He says the Republicans don't have a bill. To me, that is much better than the one democrats have!
The other problems he mentions have been created or made worse by his leader. The economy-obama admitted that his "bailout" was a mistake. Really, you give billions to companies who have misspent money for years and expect that to work? I guess hussien had to repay his largest campaign contributors!
Two Wars-obama has met with General Stanley McCrystal 1 time in 11 months and refuses to take action or even respond to the call for more troops. This is the most pressing issue at hand and all he is focused on is putting America deeper into debt and stealing money from the working class and giving it to those who refuse to work.
The environment-what about it? Is he speaking of the mythical creation of "global warming"? This spawn of the democrat party as a way to embezzle more taxes from the American people? Laughable at best!
bob accuses Republicans of being in attack mode. I accuse progressives of being in Lie mode! They think America is stupid! When speaking of the estimated cost of health care reform they throw out a number in the billions and expect us to believe "it's already paid for", or "it won't increase the deficit"! Then, when reading the bill you see there is a tax on almost everything that was previously untaxed.
bob mocks my fear that his democratic constituents will dictate how we celebrate religious holidays. They have already taken prayer from schools, the Ten Commandments from all Government Buildings and are pushing to use the term Holiday Tree or Holiday ornaments. instead of using the word Christmas. If bob and his cronies have their way it WILL happen.
Bob criticizes my spelling or lack there of. Really, you wrote about that? Bob, has it ever occurred to you that I might take the time to spell a persons name correctly if I respect them and maybe I just don't give a damn to spell it correctly if I have no respect for that person or what they stand for? boob can write about me or my blog as much as he wants, I don't mind! It assures me that I am doing an admirable job voicing the concerns of fellow conservatives.
Next time bob, try to be more hateful, it becomes you!
bobb starts his column by saying something like, we are closer to controlling health care for all Americans. I think he meant that the government is closer to controlling every aspect of American life. At least that's what his leaders goal is. I can't find the quote nor do I care to go through the trouble to google it but someone once said that America could be brought to it's knees without even using bullets. I believe that is the intent of the democrat party. By adding so many taxes the America as we know it will be broke. Half of you paycheck or more will go in the pockets of the criminal on the hill. Government gets fat and the middle class disappears.
He says that I am anti-American, anti-obama, anti health care reform. He is correct on the second two counts. He goes on to say I have offered no solutions. This draws me back to a line I just typed. Maybe he does not visit my blog daily. He would see that I have mentioned allowing Insurance companies to compete across state lines to draw premiums down. He says the Republicans don't have a bill. To me, that is much better than the one democrats have!
The other problems he mentions have been created or made worse by his leader. The economy-obama admitted that his "bailout" was a mistake. Really, you give billions to companies who have misspent money for years and expect that to work? I guess hussien had to repay his largest campaign contributors!
Two Wars-obama has met with General Stanley McCrystal 1 time in 11 months and refuses to take action or even respond to the call for more troops. This is the most pressing issue at hand and all he is focused on is putting America deeper into debt and stealing money from the working class and giving it to those who refuse to work.
The environment-what about it? Is he speaking of the mythical creation of "global warming"? This spawn of the democrat party as a way to embezzle more taxes from the American people? Laughable at best!
bob accuses Republicans of being in attack mode. I accuse progressives of being in Lie mode! They think America is stupid! When speaking of the estimated cost of health care reform they throw out a number in the billions and expect us to believe "it's already paid for", or "it won't increase the deficit"! Then, when reading the bill you see there is a tax on almost everything that was previously untaxed.
bob mocks my fear that his democratic constituents will dictate how we celebrate religious holidays. They have already taken prayer from schools, the Ten Commandments from all Government Buildings and are pushing to use the term Holiday Tree or Holiday ornaments. instead of using the word Christmas. If bob and his cronies have their way it WILL happen.
Bob criticizes my spelling or lack there of. Really, you wrote about that? Bob, has it ever occurred to you that I might take the time to spell a persons name correctly if I respect them and maybe I just don't give a damn to spell it correctly if I have no respect for that person or what they stand for? boob can write about me or my blog as much as he wants, I don't mind! It assures me that I am doing an admirable job voicing the concerns of fellow conservatives.
Next time bob, try to be more hateful, it becomes you!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A License required for your house...
A License required for your house...no longer just for cars and mobile homes...
Thinking about selling your house - A look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and trade bill) This is unbelievable!
Only the beginning from this administration! Home owners take note & tell your friends and relatives who are home owners!
Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. H.R. 2454, the "Cap & Trade" bill passed by the House of Representatives, if also passed by the Senate, will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced. The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure these voters get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class America will have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else.
But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house. Yes, you read that right. The caveat is (there always is a caveat) that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.. To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be forced to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements. Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label"in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner. If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell. And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act. The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program (AKA the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") and is authorized to make any future changes to the regulations and standards he alone determines to be in the government's best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress; then the Administrator can set much tougher new standards every year.
The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings. However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time. Sect. 202 Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America . Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (i.e., ex$pen$ive) to meet in a few years. Oh, goody! The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements IF you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as"can't have an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K", or anything else to target the upper middle class (and that's YOU) and prevent them from qualifying for the grants. Most of us won't get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More transfer of wealth, more "change you can believe in." Sect. 204 Building Energy Performance Labeling Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act."
This means that within 5 years 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled.. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help enforce the labeling program. Some of this money will, of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year.
Oh, the label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label. And, just like your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often - maybe every year. But, the government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only cost about $200 each time. Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they first started: that in California it would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate; a 333% increase.. Expect the same from the home labeling program. Sect. 304 Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d) that 1 year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.
http://www.nachi..org/forum/f14/cap-and-trade-license-required-your-home-44750/
Thinking about selling your house - A look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and trade bill) This is unbelievable!
Only the beginning from this administration! Home owners take note & tell your friends and relatives who are home owners!
Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. H.R. 2454, the "Cap & Trade" bill passed by the House of Representatives, if also passed by the Senate, will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced. The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure these voters get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class America will have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else.
But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house. Yes, you read that right. The caveat is (there always is a caveat) that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.. To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be forced to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements. Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label"in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner. If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell. And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act. The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program (AKA the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") and is authorized to make any future changes to the regulations and standards he alone determines to be in the government's best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress; then the Administrator can set much tougher new standards every year.
The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings. However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time. Sect. 202 Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America . Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (i.e., ex$pen$ive) to meet in a few years. Oh, goody! The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements IF you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as"can't have an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K", or anything else to target the upper middle class (and that's YOU) and prevent them from qualifying for the grants. Most of us won't get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More transfer of wealth, more "change you can believe in." Sect. 204 Building Energy Performance Labeling Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act."
This means that within 5 years 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled.. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help enforce the labeling program. Some of this money will, of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year.
Oh, the label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label. And, just like your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often - maybe every year. But, the government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only cost about $200 each time. Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they first started: that in California it would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate; a 333% increase.. Expect the same from the home labeling program. Sect. 304 Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d) that 1 year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.
http://www.nachi..org/forum/f14/cap-and-trade-license-required-your-home-44750/
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday Funny / Reality in a few years.
The phone rings and the lady of the house answers.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Sanders, please."
"Speaking."
"Mrs. Sanders, this is Dr. Jones at St. Agnes Laboratory. When your husband's doctor sent his biopsy to the lab last week, a biopsy from another Mr. Sanders arrived as well. We are now uncertain which one belongs to your husband. Frankly, either way the results are not too good."
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Sanders asked nervously.
"Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer's and the other one tested positive for HIV," the doctor said. "We can't tell which is which."
"That's dreadful! Can you do the test again?" Mrs. Sanders asked.
"Normally we can," the doctor said, "but the new health care system will only pay for these expensive tests just one time."
''Well, what am I supposed to do now?" she asked.
The doctor said, "The folks at Obama Health Care recommend that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town. If he finds his way home, don't sleep with him."
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Sanders, please."
"Speaking."
"Mrs. Sanders, this is Dr. Jones at St. Agnes Laboratory. When your husband's doctor sent his biopsy to the lab last week, a biopsy from another Mr. Sanders arrived as well. We are now uncertain which one belongs to your husband. Frankly, either way the results are not too good."
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Sanders asked nervously.
"Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer's and the other one tested positive for HIV," the doctor said. "We can't tell which is which."
"That's dreadful! Can you do the test again?" Mrs. Sanders asked.
"Normally we can," the doctor said, "but the new health care system will only pay for these expensive tests just one time."
''Well, what am I supposed to do now?" she asked.
The doctor said, "The folks at Obama Health Care recommend that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town. If he finds his way home, don't sleep with him."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Senate Health Care Bill Summary
**LEGISLATIVE UPDATE**
Senate Health Care Bill Summary
November 19, 2009 Contact: Michael Ciamarra 205.870.9900
As the Senate prepares for debate on Sen. Harry Reid’s “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (HR 3590), which has been dubbed by some pundits as Obamacare 2.0, we want to offer you an overview of the bill. The staff of Sen. Mitch McConnell has released a short summary of the Reid/Obama health care plan. Solutions that promote better individual health and wellness; promote health care financing to bring more consumerism and competition to the insurance market; medical malpractice reforms, and rooting out fraud and waste in the government-run programs of Medicare and Medicaid, amongst others, are not part of the Reid/Obama plan.
SHORT SUMMARY OF SENATE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
· Total Number of Pages: 2074
· Spending: The cost of the bill is $2.5 trillion over 10 years of full implementation (2014-2023).
· Taxes Increases: Taxes will go up $493.6 billion—nearly half a trillion dollars.
· Medicare Cuts: Medicare will be cut $464.6 billion—another half a trillion dollars.
· Abortion: The bill permits the use of accounting gimmicks that will, for the first time, allow federal dollars to go to plans covering abortion. The bill does not include the Stupak language, and as a result, National Right to Life describes the Reid bill language as “completely unacceptable” and said it would “result in coverage of abortion on demand in two big new federal government programs.”
· Government Plan: The bill includes a government-run plan and provides states with the possibility of opting out of participating in that plan. According to CBO, the government-run plan “would typically have premiums that were somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges.”
· Employer Mandate: The bill will impose $28 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide government-approved health plans. These new taxes will ultimately be paid by American workers in the form of reduced wages and lost jobs.
ADDITIONAL CBO BACKGROUND:
· The bill would bend the federal cost-curve up. CBO says, “Under the legislation, federal outlays for health care would increase during the 2010–2019 period, as would the federal budgetary commitment to health care.” The coverage expansion would drive a net increase in government spending on health by $160 billion over 10 years.
· CBO scored the bill as reducing the deficit by $130 billion over FYs 2010-2019.
o However, CBO notes that the bill includes two budget gimmicks that hide the true cost of the bill. Doctors are assumed to get a 23 percent cut in 2011 which would carry into subsequent years. Fixing the SGR would cost $247 billion. Additionally, the CLASS Act generates $72 billion over the budget window, but later turns to deficits. Eliminating these two gimmicks means the bill would be $189 billion in the red. It would also put the real cost of the bill over a trillion dollars.
· The start dates for the individual mandate, exchanges, and employer penalties were all moved from July 1, 2013, to January 1, 2014.
o This is another budget gimmick to hide the true cost of the bill.
· 24 million people would be left without insurance.
· Unfunded mandates on the states: The bill mandates that states spend an additional $25 billion in Medicaid expenditures
· Taxes on uninsured individuals would total $8 billion.
· Taxes on employers from the “free-rider” penalty would total $28 billion.
· 5 million Americans would lose their employer coverage.
· Cuts to Medicare include: Permanent reductions in the annual updates to Medicare’s payment rates for most services in the fee-for-service sector of $192 billion; $118 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage; $43 billion in DSH cuts; $23 billion in unspecified cuts by the Medicare Advisory Board.
· Only 19 million people will get a subsidy to help them buy health insurance.
o None of the 162 million people with employer-based care will even be eligible for a subsidy.
· The government plan would have higher premiums than private plans. CBO said the government plan would “typically have premiums that were somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges.”
o With the opt-out provision, two-thirds of Americans are expected to have a government plan available in their state.
o Co-ops are included but would have “very little effect.”
· The CLASS Act would reduce deficits by $72 billion in the 10-year budget window, but “would begin to increase budget deficits” in the decade following 2029.
· The IRS would need $5-$10 billion to expand and implement the provisions in the bill.
· The costs of the subsidies in the exchange would grow at 8 percent a year.
· The tax on high value plans will quickly be applied to almost all plans. CBO expects the revenues from the Cadillac Plan tax to grow at 10-15 percent per year outside the budget window.
· Includes a $15 billion “Prevention and Public Health Fund” slush fund.
· CBO says it would be “difficult” to maintain the predicted savings over a long period of time—meaning that the plan will likely run deficits when savings do not materialize.
The Alabama Policy Institute (www.alabamapolicy.org) is an independent, non-profit research and education organization. As a resource to federal, state and local government, the media and citizens, we research the issues being debated in Montgomery and Washington and provide our analysis and ideas through our publications and reports.
For information or comments, contact Michael Ciamarra, Vice-President of the Alabama Policy Institute, 402 Office Park Drive, Suite 300, Birmingham, Alabama 35223, 205.870.9900 or e-mail michaelc@alabamapolicy.org.
Senate Health Care Bill Summary
November 19, 2009 Contact: Michael Ciamarra 205.870.9900
As the Senate prepares for debate on Sen. Harry Reid’s “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (HR 3590), which has been dubbed by some pundits as Obamacare 2.0, we want to offer you an overview of the bill. The staff of Sen. Mitch McConnell has released a short summary of the Reid/Obama health care plan. Solutions that promote better individual health and wellness; promote health care financing to bring more consumerism and competition to the insurance market; medical malpractice reforms, and rooting out fraud and waste in the government-run programs of Medicare and Medicaid, amongst others, are not part of the Reid/Obama plan.
SHORT SUMMARY OF SENATE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
· Total Number of Pages: 2074
· Spending: The cost of the bill is $2.5 trillion over 10 years of full implementation (2014-2023).
· Taxes Increases: Taxes will go up $493.6 billion—nearly half a trillion dollars.
· Medicare Cuts: Medicare will be cut $464.6 billion—another half a trillion dollars.
· Abortion: The bill permits the use of accounting gimmicks that will, for the first time, allow federal dollars to go to plans covering abortion. The bill does not include the Stupak language, and as a result, National Right to Life describes the Reid bill language as “completely unacceptable” and said it would “result in coverage of abortion on demand in two big new federal government programs.”
· Government Plan: The bill includes a government-run plan and provides states with the possibility of opting out of participating in that plan. According to CBO, the government-run plan “would typically have premiums that were somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges.”
· Employer Mandate: The bill will impose $28 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide government-approved health plans. These new taxes will ultimately be paid by American workers in the form of reduced wages and lost jobs.
ADDITIONAL CBO BACKGROUND:
· The bill would bend the federal cost-curve up. CBO says, “Under the legislation, federal outlays for health care would increase during the 2010–2019 period, as would the federal budgetary commitment to health care.” The coverage expansion would drive a net increase in government spending on health by $160 billion over 10 years.
· CBO scored the bill as reducing the deficit by $130 billion over FYs 2010-2019.
o However, CBO notes that the bill includes two budget gimmicks that hide the true cost of the bill. Doctors are assumed to get a 23 percent cut in 2011 which would carry into subsequent years. Fixing the SGR would cost $247 billion. Additionally, the CLASS Act generates $72 billion over the budget window, but later turns to deficits. Eliminating these two gimmicks means the bill would be $189 billion in the red. It would also put the real cost of the bill over a trillion dollars.
· The start dates for the individual mandate, exchanges, and employer penalties were all moved from July 1, 2013, to January 1, 2014.
o This is another budget gimmick to hide the true cost of the bill.
· 24 million people would be left without insurance.
· Unfunded mandates on the states: The bill mandates that states spend an additional $25 billion in Medicaid expenditures
· Taxes on uninsured individuals would total $8 billion.
· Taxes on employers from the “free-rider” penalty would total $28 billion.
· 5 million Americans would lose their employer coverage.
· Cuts to Medicare include: Permanent reductions in the annual updates to Medicare’s payment rates for most services in the fee-for-service sector of $192 billion; $118 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage; $43 billion in DSH cuts; $23 billion in unspecified cuts by the Medicare Advisory Board.
· Only 19 million people will get a subsidy to help them buy health insurance.
o None of the 162 million people with employer-based care will even be eligible for a subsidy.
· The government plan would have higher premiums than private plans. CBO said the government plan would “typically have premiums that were somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges.”
o With the opt-out provision, two-thirds of Americans are expected to have a government plan available in their state.
o Co-ops are included but would have “very little effect.”
· The CLASS Act would reduce deficits by $72 billion in the 10-year budget window, but “would begin to increase budget deficits” in the decade following 2029.
· The IRS would need $5-$10 billion to expand and implement the provisions in the bill.
· The costs of the subsidies in the exchange would grow at 8 percent a year.
· The tax on high value plans will quickly be applied to almost all plans. CBO expects the revenues from the Cadillac Plan tax to grow at 10-15 percent per year outside the budget window.
· Includes a $15 billion “Prevention and Public Health Fund” slush fund.
· CBO says it would be “difficult” to maintain the predicted savings over a long period of time—meaning that the plan will likely run deficits when savings do not materialize.
The Alabama Policy Institute (www.alabamapolicy.org) is an independent, non-profit research and education organization. As a resource to federal, state and local government, the media and citizens, we research the issues being debated in Montgomery and Washington and provide our analysis and ideas through our publications and reports.
For information or comments, contact Michael Ciamarra, Vice-President of the Alabama Policy Institute, 402 Office Park Drive, Suite 300, Birmingham, Alabama 35223, 205.870.9900 or e-mail michaelc@alabamapolicy.org.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thoughts for Friday
I am glad it's Friday! It's been a long week. Next week will be a short one as we get ready for Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for? I have alot to be thankful for. My wife and three little girls, my family, my job and my health just to name a few. I am happy with my life!
Watching the news last night I learned that the liberal estimate for the cost of the health care bill would be about 850 Billion. Then I change the channel and find out that is wrong and it will be 2.5 Trillion. If it passes, we will start paying taxes on it immediately and won't see it take effect until 2014.
Here is a list of SOME of the taxes we will be paying...
Excise tax on charitable hospitals
Tax on innovator drug companies
Medical device manufacturing
Tax Health insurance
Medicare payroll tax
Blue cross blue shield tax hike
Tax on cosmetic medical procedures
The medicine cabinet tax - You are no longer allowed to use health savings accounts or are no longer allowed to use flexible spending accounts or health reimbursement on pretax dollars to purchase nonprescription over-the-counter medicines except for insulin.
The employer mandate tax - If an employer does not offer health care coverage and at least one employee, at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit the employer must pay an additional nondeductible tax of $750 for all full-time employees. FOR ALL EMPLOYERS REGARDLESS OF NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Then there is a tax that will hurt the most, the Income Surtax. If you are single in 2014 you pay an extra $95, in 2015 you will pay an extra $350 and in 2015 an extra $750.
If you are single plus one, 2015 you pay $700, and 2016 you will pay $1500. In an additional health care surtax.
Those are just the surcharges!
If you decide not to buy Government Health care you will pay an additional $2250.00 or 8% of your income.
We must stop this legislation. This plan will break America. The government can't even run Medicare correctly. How will they run it for everyone?
We won't be able to afford it as companies raise prices to cover all the new taxes they will be paying. We will be reduced to a impoverished country!
Let me ask you this. If your taxes go up by 1/3, groceries, gas, clothing and all services go up any at all and your employer starts cutting your hours to cover the extra they have to pay, just to stay in business, will you be able to afford it?
Watching the news last night I learned that the liberal estimate for the cost of the health care bill would be about 850 Billion. Then I change the channel and find out that is wrong and it will be 2.5 Trillion. If it passes, we will start paying taxes on it immediately and won't see it take effect until 2014.
Here is a list of SOME of the taxes we will be paying...
Excise tax on charitable hospitals
Tax on innovator drug companies
Medical device manufacturing
Tax Health insurance
Medicare payroll tax
Blue cross blue shield tax hike
Tax on cosmetic medical procedures
The medicine cabinet tax - You are no longer allowed to use health savings accounts or are no longer allowed to use flexible spending accounts or health reimbursement on pretax dollars to purchase nonprescription over-the-counter medicines except for insulin.
The employer mandate tax - If an employer does not offer health care coverage and at least one employee, at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit the employer must pay an additional nondeductible tax of $750 for all full-time employees. FOR ALL EMPLOYERS REGARDLESS OF NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Then there is a tax that will hurt the most, the Income Surtax. If you are single in 2014 you pay an extra $95, in 2015 you will pay an extra $350 and in 2015 an extra $750.
If you are single plus one, 2015 you pay $700, and 2016 you will pay $1500. In an additional health care surtax.
Those are just the surcharges!
If you decide not to buy Government Health care you will pay an additional $2250.00 or 8% of your income.
We must stop this legislation. This plan will break America. The government can't even run Medicare correctly. How will they run it for everyone?
We won't be able to afford it as companies raise prices to cover all the new taxes they will be paying. We will be reduced to a impoverished country!
Let me ask you this. If your taxes go up by 1/3, groceries, gas, clothing and all services go up any at all and your employer starts cutting your hours to cover the extra they have to pay, just to stay in business, will you be able to afford it?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Ft. Hood murderer appointed by Obama Home Security team
Check it out. Nidal Hasan, was a Homeland Security advisor on the Obama
transition team
(He was a participant and is listed on Page 29 of the document and page 32 of the PDF file at bottome left of page).
Now we have a little insight into why Obama said to not jump to
conclusions about Nidal Hasan.
This murdering Muslim who killed and wounded the people at Fort Hood , Texas was an advisor to Obama's Homeland Security team.
Look on page 29 of the Homeland Security Institute link below.
Http://www.gwumc.edu/hspi/old/PTTF_ProceedingsReport_05.19.09.PDF
transition team
(He was a participant and is listed on Page 29 of the document and page 32 of the PDF file at bottome left of page).
Now we have a little insight into why Obama said to not jump to
conclusions about Nidal Hasan.
This murdering Muslim who killed and wounded the people at Fort Hood , Texas was an advisor to Obama's Homeland Security team.
Look on page 29 of the Homeland Security Institute link below.
Http://www.gwumc.edu/hspi/old/PTTF_ProceedingsReport_05.19.09.PDF
You Women should be ANGRY!
Yesterday a federal advisory board (not a single Oncologist among them) decided that from now on Women should wait another 10 years to have a mammogram performed. The American Cancer Society said it disagrees with the findings of the task force and continues to recommend annual screening, including mammograms, for all women beginning 40 and over.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Florida, who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer at 41, called the panel's recommendations "really disturbing" and "absolutely irresponsible."
The Preventive Services Task Force reviews medical data and bases recommendations on effectiveness and risks involved. It is composed of 16 health care experts, none of whom are oncologists.
We are here folks! Not only will your tax dollars be used for the slaughter of unborn Babies, it will prevent women from recieving preimptive testing for breast cancer. This government agency will tell you that testing is not needed. Cancer is beatable if diagnosed early on. With these new restraints wich are sure to be inforced by obamacare, you will not know you have cancer until it's too late.
In other words, if you get cancer the government will say it's too expensive to treat and since you are 50 or over you won't be paying taxes that much longer.....so we won't get the money we spend to fight your cancer back in taxes.........so just die!
This sounds harsh, I know.....but open your eyes, it's happening.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday, "My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer, and they still are today."
"This is how rationing begins," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee. "This is the little toe in the edge of the water. And this is where you start getting a bureaucrat between you and your physician."
If you think this is wrong, write your senator and let him/her know that they will be voted out of office if they vote yes for the healthcare bill!
Another thing. If you are a left winger, progressive democrat, liberal activist or if you agree with or are happy with the obama administration, this blog is not for you! If you leave comments on this blog they will be deleted and not aproved. I care nothing about being fair to you. The administration you support is not fair to the American people. I hope this pisses you off!
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Florida, who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer at 41, called the panel's recommendations "really disturbing" and "absolutely irresponsible."
The Preventive Services Task Force reviews medical data and bases recommendations on effectiveness and risks involved. It is composed of 16 health care experts, none of whom are oncologists.
We are here folks! Not only will your tax dollars be used for the slaughter of unborn Babies, it will prevent women from recieving preimptive testing for breast cancer. This government agency will tell you that testing is not needed. Cancer is beatable if diagnosed early on. With these new restraints wich are sure to be inforced by obamacare, you will not know you have cancer until it's too late.
In other words, if you get cancer the government will say it's too expensive to treat and since you are 50 or over you won't be paying taxes that much longer.....so we won't get the money we spend to fight your cancer back in taxes.........so just die!
This sounds harsh, I know.....but open your eyes, it's happening.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday, "My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer, and they still are today."
"This is how rationing begins," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee. "This is the little toe in the edge of the water. And this is where you start getting a bureaucrat between you and your physician."
If you think this is wrong, write your senator and let him/her know that they will be voted out of office if they vote yes for the healthcare bill!
Another thing. If you are a left winger, progressive democrat, liberal activist or if you agree with or are happy with the obama administration, this blog is not for you! If you leave comments on this blog they will be deleted and not aproved. I care nothing about being fair to you. The administration you support is not fair to the American people. I hope this pisses you off!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Sarah Palin's Book
Sarah Palin's book is now on sale. I have heard alot of hoopla surrounding it. I plan to read it one day(time permiting). Will you be buying a copy? Palin is being tight lipped about weather she plans to run for President in 2012. The only issue I see with her being president is that the Terrorists and people from the Middle East do not respect women. It may be a problem for her dealing with those crazies, we will just have to wait and see. If she does run and wins, she should be primed and ready to deal with those crazies after dealing with the radical progressives in this country. They are alot like terrorists themselves! What do you think of Palin as president?
Sarah Palin will be in Birmingham on November 23, 2009 for a book signing. The event will occur at Books A Million at Brookwood Mall at 4:30pm or 7pm. These are the two times listed by two different news sources.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Real American Girl
BUTTE, MONTANA
Shotgun Pre-teen vs. Illegal Alien Home Invaders:
Butte, Montana November 5, 2007
Two illegal aliens, Ralphel Resindez, 23, and Enrico Garza, 26, probably believed they would easily overpower home-alone 11 year old Patricia Harrington after her father had left their two-story home.
It seems the two crooks never learned two things:
(a) They were in Montana, and
(b) Patricia had been a clay shooting champion since she was nine.
Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.
Resindez was the first to get up to the second floor only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buckshot from the 11-year-old's knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals.
When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.
It was found out later that Resindez was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home invasion robbery. That victim, 50-year-old David O'Burien, was not so lucky. He died from stab wounds to the chest.
Ever wonder why good stuff like this never makes it onto NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, CNN, or ABC News?
Here an 11 year old girl, properly trained, defended her home, and herself . . . against two murderous, illegal immigrants . . .. and she wins.
She is still alive. Poor David O’Burien is not so lucky.
Now that is Gun Control!
Thought for the day:
Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like . . . .
Calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'
Shotgun Pre-teen vs. Illegal Alien Home Invaders:
Butte, Montana November 5, 2007
Two illegal aliens, Ralphel Resindez, 23, and Enrico Garza, 26, probably believed they would easily overpower home-alone 11 year old Patricia Harrington after her father had left their two-story home.
It seems the two crooks never learned two things:
(a) They were in Montana, and
(b) Patricia had been a clay shooting champion since she was nine.
Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.
Resindez was the first to get up to the second floor only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buckshot from the 11-year-old's knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals.
When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.
It was found out later that Resindez was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home invasion robbery. That victim, 50-year-old David O'Burien, was not so lucky. He died from stab wounds to the chest.
Ever wonder why good stuff like this never makes it onto NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, CNN, or ABC News?
Here an 11 year old girl, properly trained, defended her home, and herself . . . against two murderous, illegal immigrants . . .. and she wins.
She is still alive. Poor David O’Burien is not so lucky.
Now that is Gun Control!
Thought for the day:
Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like . . . .
Calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'
When did America bend this low?
When did we stoop low enough to elect a president that finds it appropriate to bow to another world leader? It happened!
This jesture was disrespectful to our country, it's past and future leaders and all of it's citizens. He even went so far as to give a deeper bow than he did to the King of Saudi Arabia. I have not looked into it but I bet you won't find another instance of an American president bowing to foriegn leader. This man is a disgrace to America and the office of president. Citizens who voted for him should be ashamed. Most are, however hateful radical progressives think he is sliced bread. They follow him like a cult leader and will never admit he has done wrong.
This jesture was disrespectful to our country, it's past and future leaders and all of it's citizens. He even went so far as to give a deeper bow than he did to the King of Saudi Arabia. I have not looked into it but I bet you won't find another instance of an American president bowing to foriegn leader. This man is a disgrace to America and the office of president. Citizens who voted for him should be ashamed. Most are, however hateful radical progressives think he is sliced bread. They follow him like a cult leader and will never admit he has done wrong.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Veterans Day Ceremony - November 11, 2009 - Arlington National Cemetery.
During the National Anthem EVERYBODY in the picture is either saluting or has hand over their heart - All except ONE. He is a sorry disgrace to our military, our veterans and our country. He will bow to the king of Saudi Arabia, but won't salute or respect our veterans.
During the National Anthem EVERYBODY in the picture is either saluting or has hand over their heart - All except ONE. He is a sorry disgrace to our military, our veterans and our country. He will bow to the king of Saudi Arabia, but won't salute or respect our veterans.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Norman Mattoon Thomas
Norman Mattoon Thomas (11/20/1884 - 12/18/1968)was a leading American Socialist, Pacifist and 6 time presidential candidate for the Socialist party of America.
The Socialist Party candidate for President of the U.S. Norman Thomas said this in a 1944 speech...
"The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But, under the name of liberalism, they will adopt ever fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened".
He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a presidential candidate for the socialist party. The democrat party has adopted our platform".
In case you live in a cave.......Tennessee lost, Auburn lost and Alabama rolled over Mississippi State 31-3 and looked much improved, Mark Ingram ran for 149 yards and improved his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. It was a great day of College Football!
The Socialist Party candidate for President of the U.S. Norman Thomas said this in a 1944 speech...
"The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But, under the name of liberalism, they will adopt ever fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened".
He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a presidential candidate for the socialist party. The democrat party has adopted our platform".
In case you live in a cave.......Tennessee lost, Auburn lost and Alabama rolled over Mississippi State 31-3 and looked much improved, Mark Ingram ran for 149 yards and improved his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. It was a great day of College Football!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
As I sit this morning and watch my wife set up our Christmas Village at our home, I wonder how long we will have the freedom to do so? All the religious holidays we celebrate and the freedom we have to speak up about what we believe in are being threatened by the democratic regime lead by barak hussien obama and his czars at the White House. The democrats have already taken prayer from schools and the not so great president of this great country won't even cover his heart while singing the national anthem. What is this country becoming? Is America really this gullible? Do his followers really believe his lies? This president lashes out at Fox news every chance he gets. No president has ever thought it necessary to reprimand a news organization. He knows Fox can and probably will uncover him for the fraud that he is. Americans as individuals are called racists if they don't agree with his criminalistic ideas. Where are we headed? To this American it sounds as if we are headed toward becoming a communist nation. Will you let that happen? Will you stand for your constitutional rights? They want to take your guns, your freedom of speech and your right to select the health care provider you want. They want to decide what items are available in vending machines and they want to tell you how to raise your kids. I could go on and on. Will you stand for any of this? I won't! Call your senator and let them know they will lose their seat if they vote YES for obamacare. Talk to people you come in contact with every day and let them know what is happening. It's time to lift our voices and say NO to communism!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
It Don't Cost Nuthin' to be Nice
At a Touchdown Club meeting many years before his death, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant told the following story:
I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was havin' trouble finding the place. Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant."
I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white fella in the place. But the food smelled good so I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?" I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today? He says, "You probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins, collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins (small intestines of hogs prepared as food in the deep South) are, do you?" I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place." They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"
I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says, yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good. And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach.
As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should pay.
The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.
I met the kid I was lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him. I had wasted a day, or so I thought.
When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. The next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had."
Now let's go a whole buncha years down the road. Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed. Y'all remember, (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on see some others while I'm down there...
Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama ?" And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says OK, he'll come. And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?" And he said, "When my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama, and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met." Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said, "You probably don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him."
"My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to."
I was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breakin ' your word to someone.
When I went back to sign that boy, I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now; and he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that woulda made Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed football.
I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road. If you remember anything else from me, remember this. It really doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable..
~ Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant ~
Editor's Note: Coach Bryant was in the presence of these few gentlemen for only minutes, and he defined himself for life. Regardless of our profession, we do define ourselves by how we treat others, and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression. We can be rude, crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice. Nice is always a better choice. I like what Stephen Grellet, French/American religious leader (1773-1855) said, "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."
I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was havin' trouble finding the place. Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant."
I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white fella in the place. But the food smelled good so I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?" I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today? He says, "You probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins, collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins (small intestines of hogs prepared as food in the deep South) are, do you?" I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place." They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"
I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says, yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good. And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach.
As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should pay.
The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.
I met the kid I was lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him. I had wasted a day, or so I thought.
When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. The next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had."
Now let's go a whole buncha years down the road. Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed. Y'all remember, (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on see some others while I'm down there...
Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama ?" And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says OK, he'll come. And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?" And he said, "When my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama, and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met." Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said, "You probably don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him."
"My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to."
I was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breakin ' your word to someone.
When I went back to sign that boy, I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now; and he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that woulda made Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed football.
I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road. If you remember anything else from me, remember this. It really doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable..
~ Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant ~
Editor's Note: Coach Bryant was in the presence of these few gentlemen for only minutes, and he defined himself for life. Regardless of our profession, we do define ourselves by how we treat others, and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression. We can be rude, crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice. Nice is always a better choice. I like what Stephen Grellet, French/American religious leader (1773-1855) said, "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Appointments
Can you even believe this??
Well, boys and girls, today we are letting the fox guard the henhouse. Tomorrow, the wolves will be herding the sheep!
Obama Appoints two devout Muslims to homeland security posts. Doesn't this make you feel safer already?
Obama and Janet Napolitano appoint Arif Alikhan, a devout Muslim, as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development. Source for announcement: Homeland Security Press Room. http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/obama-appointment-arif-ali-khan-asst-secretary-dhs.html
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is proud to announce that the DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano swore-in Kareem Shora, a devout Muslim, who was born in Damascus, Syria as ADC National Executive Director as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). http://www.adc.org/
NOTE: Has anyone ever heard a new government official being identified as a "devout Catholic, Jew or Protestant, etc." before?
Just wondering....
Doesn't this make you feel safer already??
"Devout Muslims" being appointed to critical Homeland Security positions?
That should make our homeland much safer, huh!!
Was it not men of the "Devout Muslim Faith" that flew planes into U.S. buildings not too long ago. What the heck is this president thinking,
or planning??
This announcement was made on Aug 20. Why are we just now hearing about it???
Can you even believe this??
Well, boys and girls, today we are letting the fox guard the henhouse. Tomorrow, the wolves will be herding the sheep!
Obama Appoints two devout Muslims to homeland security posts. Doesn't this make you feel safer already?
Obama and Janet Napolitano appoint Arif Alikhan, a devout Muslim, as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development. Source for announcement: Homeland Security Press Room. http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/obama-appointment-arif-ali-khan-asst-secretary-dhs.html
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is proud to announce that the DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano swore-in Kareem Shora, a devout Muslim, who was born in Damascus, Syria as ADC National Executive Director as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). http://www.adc.org/
NOTE: Has anyone ever heard a new government official being identified as a "devout Catholic, Jew or Protestant, etc." before?
Just wondering....
Doesn't this make you feel safer already??
"Devout Muslims" being appointed to critical Homeland Security positions?
That should make our homeland much safer, huh!!
Was it not men of the "Devout Muslim Faith" that flew planes into U.S. buildings not too long ago. What the heck is this president thinking,
or planning??
This announcement was made on Aug 20. Why are we just now hearing about it???
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Senior Health Care Solution
I was just sent an email that I thought was funny.
So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do? Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. Your are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives. Of course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need! New teeth, no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered. And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care. Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.
Of course I don't condone killing anyone and I don't think people kill for this reason....OK maybe some.
In other news
A Gardendale man who is currently serving and 18month sentence in the Federal Prison in Atlanta was sentenced yesterday on the State portion of his crime. He was sentenced to 2 years in a State correctional facility for defrauding tax payers and beneficiaries of the medicare system. He stole 75k from you and I and those older than us by stealing powered wheel chairs and Durable Medical Equipment. He also received 5 years probation and 8 years additional if he commits other crimes while on probation. This guy happens to be my wifes ex-husband.
So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do? Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. Your are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives. Of course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need! New teeth, no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered. And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care. Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.
Of course I don't condone killing anyone and I don't think people kill for this reason....OK maybe some.
In other news
A Gardendale man who is currently serving and 18month sentence in the Federal Prison in Atlanta was sentenced yesterday on the State portion of his crime. He was sentenced to 2 years in a State correctional facility for defrauding tax payers and beneficiaries of the medicare system. He stole 75k from you and I and those older than us by stealing powered wheel chairs and Durable Medical Equipment. He also received 5 years probation and 8 years additional if he commits other crimes while on probation. This guy happens to be my wifes ex-husband.
Monday, November 9, 2009
22 ways to be a good Democrat
~~22 Ways to Be a Good Democrat~~
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than US nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make The Passion Of The Christ for financial gain only.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, General Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison and A.G. Bell.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton, aka Witch One, is normal and a very nice caring person.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, but manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States .
21. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers off on Christmas Day, but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."
22. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than US nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make The Passion Of The Christ for financial gain only.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, General Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison and A.G. Bell.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton, aka Witch One, is normal and a very nice caring person.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, but manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States .
21. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers off on Christmas Day, but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."
22. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy
This was written by Sherry Hackett, Buddy Hackett's widow........
President Obama: Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as aNational Service Day. Sir, it's time we had a talk.........
During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of ourtradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiancewas spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one nothonoring our tradition.
YES, "We noticed."
During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intendedto visit all 57 states.We all know that Islam, not America has 57 states.
YES, "We noticed."
When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a floweron the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pilewithout leaning over.
YES, "We noticed."
Every time you apologized to other countries for America 's position on anissue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country.When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, youhave not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyondbelief.
YES, "We noticed."
When your pastor of 20 years, "God-damned America " and said that 9/11 was" America 's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heardrecriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You laterdisassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it waspolitically expedient to do so.
YES, "We noticed."
When you announced that you would transform America , we wondered why. Withall her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS INMIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn't besitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highestoffice in this Country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what wecan glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one.
YES, "We noticed."
All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself withindividuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which youappointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, likeyou, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country andher traditions.
YES, "We noticed."
You are 9 months into your term and every morning millions of Americanswake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle workingAmericans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with capand trade, will bankrupt this nation.
YES, "We noticed."
We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not infavor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled"un-American","racist", "mob". We wonder how we are supposed to let youknow how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seemisolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the rightto speak out.
YES, "We noticed."
On September 11, 2001 there were no Republicans or Democrats, onlyAmericans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whateverway we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans.
And YES, "We noticed."
There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could helpunite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nationthan the attack on 9/11. You have failed us.
YES, "We noticed."
September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans. You propose to make9/11 a "National Service Day". While we know that you don't share ourreverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as whatit is...a disgrace.
YES, "We noticed."
You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold.You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy.
YES, "We noticed.."
We have noticed all these things.
We will deal with you.
When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office.
Take notice.
I want full custody of my children, not just weekend visits!
God
President Obama: Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as aNational Service Day. Sir, it's time we had a talk.........
During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of ourtradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiancewas spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one nothonoring our tradition.
YES, "We noticed."
During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intendedto visit all 57 states.We all know that Islam, not America has 57 states.
YES, "We noticed."
When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a floweron the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pilewithout leaning over.
YES, "We noticed."
Every time you apologized to other countries for America 's position on anissue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country.When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, youhave not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyondbelief.
YES, "We noticed."
When your pastor of 20 years, "God-damned America " and said that 9/11 was" America 's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heardrecriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You laterdisassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it waspolitically expedient to do so.
YES, "We noticed."
When you announced that you would transform America , we wondered why. Withall her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS INMIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn't besitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highestoffice in this Country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what wecan glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one.
YES, "We noticed."
All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself withindividuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which youappointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, likeyou, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country andher traditions.
YES, "We noticed."
You are 9 months into your term and every morning millions of Americanswake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle workingAmericans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with capand trade, will bankrupt this nation.
YES, "We noticed."
We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not infavor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled"un-American","racist", "mob". We wonder how we are supposed to let youknow how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seemisolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the rightto speak out.
YES, "We noticed."
On September 11, 2001 there were no Republicans or Democrats, onlyAmericans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whateverway we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans.
And YES, "We noticed."
There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could helpunite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nationthan the attack on 9/11. You have failed us.
YES, "We noticed."
September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans. You propose to make9/11 a "National Service Day". While we know that you don't share ourreverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as whatit is...a disgrace.
YES, "We noticed."
You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold.You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy.
YES, "We noticed.."
We have noticed all these things.
We will deal with you.
When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office.
Take notice.
I want full custody of my children, not just weekend visits!
God
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