Is Obamacare the answer? Let's look at socialized medicine.

So many people have been mesmerized by the 'concept' of "Health Care for Everyone". But these people aren't actually looking at what that means. Oh it certainly sounds wonderful to think that with the wave of his pen, President Obama will deliver quality health care to all Americans...but is that what we'll really get?

Let's listen to some folks who live with just such a health care system, and see what their experiences have been.









In Canada, people who can afford to do so, make plans to find their health care in the United States. If Obama institutes nationalized health care in this country, not only will Canadians have nowhere else to turn, neither will we.

If medications and procedures are limited based on how much they cost, then what will happen to all the research being done on 'cures' for various conditions? Even if someone discovers a cure for breast cancer, or juvenile diabetes, or a myriad of other afflictions and illnesses, what difference will it make when the "system" cannot afford them?












England isn't any better than Canada. Obamacare will be anything but 'free', people will be paying for it with their health, and their lives!

For lots of great information on this issue, check out "Conservatives for Patient's Rights"

We Need More Honesty Like This....

Andrew McCarthy's Letter to Attorney General Holder
May 1, 2009
By email (to the Counterterrorism Division) and by regular mail:

The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General of the United States
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Holder:

This letter is respectfully submitted to inform you that I must decline the invitation to participate in the May 4 roundtable meeting the President’s Task Force on Detention Policy is convening with current and former prosecutors involved in international terrorism cases. An invitation was extended to me by trial lawyers from the Counterterrorism Section, who are members of the Task Force, which you are leading.

The invitation email (of April 14) indicates that the meeting is part of an ongoing effort to identify lawful policies on the detention and disposition of alien enemy combatants -- or what the Department now calls “individuals captured or apprehended in connection with armed conflicts and counterterrorism operations.” I admire the lawyers of the Counterterrorism Division, and I do not question their good faith. Nevertheless, it is quite clear -- most recently, from your provocative remarks on Wednesday in Germany -- that the Obama administration has already settled on a policy of releasing trained jihadists (including releasing some of them into the United States). Whatever the good intentions of the organizers, the meeting will obviously be used by the administration to claim that its policy was arrived at in consultation with current and former government officials experienced in terrorism cases and national security issues. I deeply disagree with this policy, which I believe is a violation of federal law and a betrayal of the president’s first obligation to protect the American people. Under the circumstances, I think the better course is to register my dissent, rather than be used as a prop.

Moreover, in light of public statements by both you and the President, it is dismayingly clear that, under your leadership, the Justice Department takes the position that a lawyer who in good faith offers legal advice to government policy makers—like the government lawyers who offered good faith advice on interrogation policy—may be subject to investigation and prosecution for the content of that advice, in addition to empty but professionally damaging accusations of ethical misconduct. Given that stance, any prudent lawyer would have to hesitate before offering advice to the government.

Beyond that, as elucidated in my writing (including my proposal for a new national security court, which I understand the Task Force has perused), I believe alien enemy combatants should be detained at Guantanamo Bay (or a facility like it) until the conclusion of hostilities. This national defense measure is deeply rooted in the venerable laws of war and was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the 2004 Hamdi case. Yet, as recently as Wednesday, you asserted that, in your considered judgment, such notions violate America’s “commitment to the rule of law.” Indeed, you elaborated, “Nothing symbolizes our [administration’s] new course more than our decision to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay…. President Obama believes, and I strongly agree, that Guantanamo has come to represent a time and an approach that we want to put behind us: a disregard for our centuries-long respect for the rule of law[.]” (Emphasis added.)

Given your policy of conducting ruinous criminal and ethics investigations of lawyers over the advice they offer the government, and your specific position that the wartime detention I would endorse is tantamount to a violation of law, it makes little sense for me to attend the Task Force meeting. After all, my choice would be to remain silent or risk jeopardizing myself.

For what it may be worth, I will say this much. For eight years, we have had a robust debate in the United States about how to handle alien terrorists captured during a defensive war authorized by Congress after nearly 3000 of our fellow Americans were annihilated. Essentially, there have been two camps. One calls for prosecution in the civilian criminal justice system, the strategy used throughout the 1990s. The other calls for a military justice approach of combatant detention and war-crimes prosecutions by military commission. Because each theory has its downsides, many commentators, myself included, have proposed a third way: a hybrid system, designed for the realities of modern international terrorism—a new system that would address the needs to protect our classified defense secrets and to assure Americans, as well as our allies, that we are detaining the right people.

There are differences in these various proposals. But their proponents, and adherents to both the military and civilian justice approaches, have all agreed on at least one thing: Foreign terrorists trained to execute mass-murder attacks cannot simply be released while the war ensues and Americans are still being targeted. We have already released too many jihadists who, as night follows day, have resumed plotting to kill Americans. Indeed, according to recent reports, a released Guantanamo detainee is now leading Taliban combat operations in Afghanistan, where President Obama has just sent additional American forces.

The Obama campaign smeared Guantanamo Bay as a human rights blight. Consistent with that hyperbolic rhetoric, the President began his administration by promising to close the detention camp within a year. The President did this even though he and you (a) agree Gitmo is a top-flight prison facility, (b) acknowledge that our nation is still at war, and (c) concede that many Gitmo detainees are extremely dangerous terrorists who cannot be tried under civilian court rules. Patently, the commitment to close Guantanamo Bay within a year was made without a plan for what to do with these detainees who cannot be tried. Consequently, the Detention Policy Task Force is not an effort to arrive at the best policy. It is an effort to justify a bad policy that has already been adopted: to wit, the Obama administration policy to release trained terrorists outright if that’s what it takes to close Gitmo by January.

Obviously, I am powerless to stop the administration from releasing top al Qaeda operatives who planned mass-murder attacks against American cities—like Binyam Mohammed (the accomplice of “Dirty Bomber” Jose Padilla) whom the administration recently transferred to Britain, where he is now at liberty and living on public assistance. I am similarly powerless to stop the administration from admitting into the United States such alien jihadists as the 17 remaining Uighur detainees. According to National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair, the Uighurs will apparently live freely, on American taxpayer assistance, despite the facts that they are affiliated with a terrorist organization and have received terrorist paramilitary training. Under federal immigration law (the 2005 REAL ID Act), those facts render them excludable from theUnited States. The Uighurs’ impending release is thus a remarkable development given the Obama administration’s propensity to deride its predecessor’s purported insensitivity to the rule of law.

I am, in addition, powerless to stop the President, as he takes these reckless steps, from touting his Detention Policy Task Force as a demonstration of his national security seriousness. But I can decline to participate in the charade.

Finally, let me repeat that I respect and admire the dedication of Justice Department lawyers, whom I have tirelessly defended since I retired in 2003 as a chief assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. It was a unique honor to serve for nearly twenty years as a federal prosecutor, under administrations of both parties. It was as proud a day as I have ever had when the trial team I led was awarded the Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award in 1996, after we secured the convictions of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and his underlings for waging a terrorist war against the United States. I particularly appreciated receiving the award from Attorney General Reno—as I recounted in Willful Blindness, my book about the case, without her steadfastness against opposition from short-sighted government officials who wanted to release him, the “blind sheikh” would never have been indicted, much less convicted and so deservedly sentenced to life-imprisonment.

In any event, I’ve always believed defending our nation is a duty of citizenship, not ideology. Thus, my conservative political views aside, I’ve made myself available to liberal and conservative groups, to Democrats and Republicans, who’ve thought tapping my experience would be beneficial. It pains me to decline your invitation, but the attendant circumstances leave no other option.

Very truly yours,

/S/

Andrew C. McCarthy
cc: Sylvia T. Kaser and John DePue
National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

I seriously don't think there is anything that bugs me more than when someone is trying to deceive me. It also makes me crazy to see deception going on and it is not exposed for what it is. I want to jump up and down and start yelling, "Hey, Hey, that's not right!!! That's not true!!"

Over the last couple of weeks I've been stewing in a pot of "crazy soup" as I watch Barack Obama blatantly contradict himself, and all the while the main stream media says nothing. They are so complicit in this great deception going on that all they can do is smile and gush and put a good spin on all he does.

Last week, after just signing the BIGGEST pork laden spending bill in the history of pigs, Obama announced that he was legislating a bail-out for mortgage owners who were facing foreclosure. And this money isn't ear marked for home owners who followed the rules, saved for their homes, bought within their financial means...this money is going to people who should never have gotten home loans to begin with! Thanks to the Carter and Clinton administrations, sub-prime mortgages were "required" to be made available to people who could not otherwise afford a home. It was a recipe for disaster from the get go, and rife with opportunities for abuse.

In spite of his promises to allow the "people" have an opportunity to view legislation before it was passed and to comment on it, he has made no attempt to be "transparent" and approachable. So when he made his housing bail-out announcement last week I was boiling to say the least! Not a word of dismay or rebuke was mentioned in the nightly news about this latest 'serving' on our collective plate of debt. Then surprisingly I saw a clip of a reporter for CNBC on the evening news, ranting about the topic. I believe they included the clip because they were trying to marginalize the guy, when in fact it revealed him to a larger audience. After watching the clip, I just had to watch it again, and then again. It was so cathartic to actually hear someone in the news anywhere be honest about Obama. Here's the clip:

Ironically, yesterday Obama held a "Fiscal Responsibility Summit" at the White House. Uh, a little late to do that wouldn't you say? Do husbands and wives face a financial crisis and rush out to spend up their debt even further and then consider how to be responsible? I don't think so. I believe the summit was a PR attempt to counter Rick Santelli's rant. A rant, that thousands of Americans say a hearty Amen to!

Obama's "Fiscal Responsibility Summit" was for show. It's smoke and mirrors. He's trying to do one thing and look like he's doing something else. Tonight the words will continue, as he addresses the nation on our economy. I promise you that he will do all he can to cast the blame on the last administration. He'll paint the worst possible picture of what we face, and imply that we are all just victims of the last 8 years. Pointing blame and not taking any fiscal responsibility for his own rash decisions in the last month. He'll point out that it will "take a long time", so as to assuage expectations for a time table, while probably announcing more bail-out measures. Just like the experienced illusionist, his words will paint a picture for hearts and minds to embrace...while behind the curtain, he works a more insidious plan for "hope" of "change".

Thou Shall Not Lie...

“Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them,” the Obama-Biden campaign website states. “As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.”

I don't recall being allowed the opportunity to look over the Stimulus Bill before it was passed by the House, do you? And it doesn't look like "We the People" will have 5 days to look at the bill before it's signed into law. In fact there has been a full court press going on to keep any and all information about it's content to a minimum until it was safely passed. While waiting on the "signed, sealed and delivered" to get to his desk, Obama has been schmoozing it up, campaigning for the merits of this bill. But apparently his trip to the Caterpillar Co. in Peoria the other day didn't have the intended outcome. Take a look:

OOPS!! Aparently Obama is much more comfortable in glossing over the truth with reporters than is the CEO of Caterpillar, who is interviewed after Obama's speach. He went on to say, "There's only $46 billion in heavy construction in this thing, that's not going to help us at all."

Another interesting aside to this story...Obama was speaking to 1,400 workers. He was smiling and and making hopeful noises and then he mentions that the local congressman from Peoria would be hanging around the plant to talk with anyone there who wanted to lobby for this wonderful stimulus plan. ~ Not one person spoke to him.

"... be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness....Hosea10:12

Kay Arthur discusses her new books, "Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28" and "Youniquly Woman." Find more information at www.precept.org

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."
-- Hosea 10:12

Pressing on...

Like the sun, breaking through a thick fog, I've finally had a break in my post election funk! Praise God!! I feel like I've been in a pit for a couple of weeks, plotting an escape, but God in His mercy just reminded me to re-focus my heart on Him. Once I did that, the rest of my mind followed. I have peace and I'm back on course and pressing on.

In my blog today I want to introduce you to Anastasia, who is a dear sister in Christ. She sells her handmade crocheted items on Etsy, in her shop named Mattscraftywife.

Anastasia is a busy wife and stay at home mom of five children, two of them with special needs. Her items aren't just beautiful, they are practical too. Here is a picture of one of her favorite items that she has listed now. Isn't this an adorable set?

I asked Anastasia some questions about her craft and here is what she said...

What led you to start creating your art/craft? "I have been an avid cross stitcher since my teens, and wanted to learn a new craft. My mom taught herself how to crochet and I realized I wanted her to teach me too! So, 4 years ago, she taught me the basics and I just took off from there.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why? "Knitting, which I learned to do but haven't done much with yet."

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft? "That handmade items can be more beautiful than store bought cookie cutter items. Love and care goes into every item I create."

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters? "Enjoy what you do. If you don't enjoy it, what's the point?"

Here is my favorite item in her shop now. It looks especially warm on this unusually cold November day....BRrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

You can find a nice variety of items at Mattscraftywife. Recently she was selling these great items, which I found in her 'feedback'. Anastasia welcomes custom orders too, so if you don't see it in her shop contact her with a request.

Thank you Anastasia for sharing with us about your lovely store. Visit her today, by clicking on the link below.




You can also see more of her photos and check out her blog at the following links.

http://mattscraftywife.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattscraftywife

Look up....

Colosians 3...
1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him
be manifested in glory.

5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

6 for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;

8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful
speaking out of your mouth:

9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.