THOUGHTS

Some "Thoughts" from the most famous American Philosopher, Yogi Berra

All summer long citizens have been peacefully yet forcefully congregating to petition their Congressional representatives and asking the question, "have you read the bill?" The responses from our representatives have been nothing short of misdirection and double speak. It continues today.

The Baucus bill on health care has been voted out of the committee to be voted on the floor of the Senate. This is after the 'markups' were added. Markups are everyone's little part of what they think the bill should have in it. Mostly paybacks to big contributors and usually meaning that we as a citizenry will lose in the end. The problem is that missing are a couple of major components that were attempted to be added by amendment. These were rejected along party lines save for one democrat that crossed over to vote for the amendment with the rest of the republicans. That democrat was Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. So much for all the bipartisanship our President spoke so glowingly of this last weekend in his public blitz of our 'pravdatic' media.

First was an amendment to post the bill on the Internet 72 hours prior to a floor vote. This morning I saw Senator John Kerry (who according to Limbaugh, served in Vietnam) explain in so many words that we were just too stupid to understand it. That's my interpretation of course but he did say this: “Let’s be honest about it, most people don’t read the legislative language.” He went on to explain just how difficult it was to read these kinds of things. You can decide if he says you are too stupid to understand it or not.

How to Spot a Liar

Poor Joe Wilson. While listening to President Obama and overcome with emotion shouts out 'You Lie!" with President Obama responding 'not true'. Now the democrats along with their provdatic consiglieres, the main stream media, are in a demonic thrall over it all. Oh Really! Where were these same ideological paragons of 'democracy' when Harry Reid called President Bush a liar and a loser? Not to be found. Why? Ideologues. When we have people in power that believe in an idea and would rather implement that idea than listen to those they are supposed to represent then we have big troubles in little China pal. Those people are kings and despots, not leaders of Free people.

Our Congress took a whole week to decide to attempt to shame Joe Wilson on the floor with a rebuke. Why is it ONE YEAR LATER that Charlie Rangel, HEAD of THE HOUSE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE has not been brought up on ethics charges for getting caught not one time or two times but at least three times in the last 18 months for not paying taxes. He 'forgot' he had $500,000 in a bank account. Really Charlie? You forgot and you are the funnel for all the monies that pass through Congress - and you 'forgot'.

I came across a couple of short paragraphs the other day from a man I hold in the deepest respect, Dr.Thomas Sowell. He wrote:

"One of the secrets of being a glib talker is not getting hung up over whether what you are saying is true, and instead giving your full attention to what is required by the audience and the circumstances of the moment, without letting facts get in your way and cramp your style. Obama has mastered that art.

Con men understand that their job is not to use facts to convince skeptics but to use words to help the gullible to believe what they want to believe. No message has been more welcomed by the gullible, in countries around the world, than the promise of something for nothing. That is the core of Barack Obama's medical care plan."

Thank you Dr. Sowell. You just pointed out in four sentences how to see snake oil when you're being asked to buy it. No doubt, Obama is a smooth talking liar and we have many gullible people in this country. He has even praised himself by telling others that he has a 'gift' when it comes to rhetoric. He made fictitious statements at the beginning of his speech to Congress and then imparted the remainder of his speech based on those lies. Of course, he can always parse on the fact that there is no bill but he never did condemn the  current HB 3200 out of the house. He centered on three things:

1) He wont sign a bill that adds ONE DIME to our debt.

I know I look stupid but do you? Do you have a big sign on your forehead that says 'rape me, my children, my grandchildren and my great grandchildren!'? Mr President, do you think you're talking to a bunch of your mind numbed robotic supporters from ACORN that will just nod their heads and cheer you on regardless of what you say? The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says that in the first 10 years there will be a 290 billion dollar deficit and in the next 10 years there will be a deficit over well over a trillion dollars. Now keep in mind that there is no program for the first 2 years (we really need this ASAP or the sky will fall and my stimulus package will fail and it will all be your fault - Oh Really!) except for taxes on us. Then, the next two years it will gradually kick in but not be in full stride until 4 years after it's passed. All the time our government is garnering tax monies to run it. Keep in mind that this is the same government that ran out of money in the 'cash for clunkers' program - they couldn't  project a week into the future, let alone 20 years.


2) There is no funding for abortion.

Again Mr. President, where is your head? The following amendment was added to HB 3200 on July 30, 2009

"An amendment offered by Rep. Capps D-CA., would allow for immediate federal funding of elective abortion coverage through the public plan, permit taxpayer subsidies of private plans that cover elective abortion, and mandate that all areas of the country contain one private plan that covers abortion."

That amendment was passed on a vote of 30 yea, 28 nay and currently exists in the House bill. It appears that either President Obama is 'misinformed' (and that doesn't raise his 'gravitas') or that he's intentionally 'misleading' (we've always called them LIARS in our home) the nation.


3) Illegal immigrants will be kept out of the health care system.

The house bill is still open on this but the Baucus bill out of the Senate quickly added a VERIFICATION clause so one must prove their citizenship before participating. No such precaution exists in the House bill. That's like telling people 'free ice cream for anyone over 10' and then not carding anyone. More insane little games our politicians play and that hurt our country.


So who's the liar now Mr. President?


Our Federal government is trying to enslave us economically and it's not a democrat/republican (two sides of the same coin) thing, it's a power grab and you're the engine. Many Americans are now waking up to realize just who is pulling the strings and just how dangerous it is when someone 'up there in DC' pulls those strings. Those in power are trying every way they can to deflect the issues and many of those strategies, quite frankly, are getting a bit old and they always divide and hurt our Republic instead of moving us forward.

Our Constitution is being ignored and it is being ignored by the very same people that swore an oath to protect and defend it. In other times this would be called treasonous and I see no reason for that adjective not to be applied to them today.

The 'angry mobs' that met in dozens of cities on 9-12 to assemble and speak out against the direction our country is headed resulted in NO arrests. So much for the 'angry mob' labels attempted to be pinned on them from biased media and ideological politicians.

Our Founding Fathers gave us a Nation in 18 pages of a 'Thought Revolution', more commonly referred to as our Constitution. Why do we have bills being foisted upon us of over 1,000 pages?

If President Obama didn't lie about allowing illegal aliens access to the new, yet to be passed, health care bill then why last Friday night did the democrats add a verification venue to HB 3200 for a way check to see if someone is here illegally?

Why did Charlie Gibson of ABC News not know about the ACORN problems, a major scandal in our government? Current reports as of 9-14-2009: FNC:322, CNN:90, MSNBC:10, NY Times:1, ABC:1, NBC:2 It appears our forth branch of government is looking the other way save for two.

Why are we funding an organization (ACORN Housing) that would help pimps and prostitutes import under age girls into prostitution and slavery into their own neighborhoods? And why did 7 of our senators vote against de-funding such an abomination? Why did 9 Republican senators not vote? And why are 6 of the 7 that voted against de-funding, democrats with the remaining one a confirmed socialist? Whya re two fo them form Illinois? Voting against: Sens. Roland Burris, D-Ill.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., voted against the Senate measure.

Why is it that in Baltimore are they looking at charging the under cover reporter that exposed a scandal and not looking into the ACORN Housing scandal itself?

I heard our President today addressing a number of religious leaders over a group phone call. He repeatedly put forth the vein that 'we are our brother's keeper' and that the richest nation on earth should be looking out for our poor. That's just great and the good thing is that I agree with him on that theme but it's the method of doing this is where I part company with President Obama.

My concerns are more than one. Where is the ACLU where, according to them, you can't say a prayer at a school meeting of adults in Florida on this? Why haven't they taken up arms and attacked our President on bringing religion into the political theater?

We are our brother's keeper but the Christ did not force us to be so; just two commandments were the greatest. That we love our Creator with all we have and that we love our brothers as we love ourselves. I believe in this but I also believe that it is each person's right to believe it or not and that  is what makes our country so great.

This was sent to me by a friend. I checked it against several hoax and debunking sites and it is a true story. I don't know from where it originates but it teaches those that are willing to learn. The question at the end is the lesson.

"A violinist playing in the Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3 year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.

45 minutes:
The musician played.  Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ....
How many other things are we missing?"

                                                                                      THOUGHTS

For the last twenty years I have published my Thoughts in the Dispatch.  Since I found out from Bill I should start a Blog using some of the Thoughts I have written in the twenty years

(I will have a new column each two weeks for this blog.)


Nothing in Human Affairs is worth any great anxiety - Plato


When your are thirsty, it's too late to think about digging a well - Japanese Proverb


Give what you have.  To some it may be better than you think - Longfellow


The way to be nothing is to do nothing - Nathaniel Howe


A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of  silver - Proverb


An honest man is the noblest work of God - Alexander Pope


To choose time is to save time - Francis Bacon


Half a man's wisdom goes with his courage - Emerson


He is a fool who cannot get angry, but he is a wise man  who will not- engllish


There is not man so poor as he who has only money - Edwin Pugh


Thanks for the opportunity to use these thoughts

Charlie Lefevre

Did you know the FDA was magic? Expiration dates on the two most common swine flu vaccines just got changed. It was FM folks! Just like that they moved the expiration dates forward AND changed the way they can be stored (oh, we'll waive that criteria for 90 days) and they did this even though both have been indicated in the creation of new super strains that can't be fought.  Well, they may be tested but from what the article says you can leave the Tamiflu outside in temperatures of 104˚ for 14 days consecutive or not.

I'll post the government document here in its entirety and the link can be found here:

Stockpiled Antivirals at or Nearing Expiration

During this public health emergency, the FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations that expand access to medical products that may become necessary.

I can hardly believe that a White House blog has asked! From the Wall Street Journal:

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn is taking issue with a Tuesday posting on the official White House blog in which the Obama administration asks supporters to report back when they receive “an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy” to an official e-mail address: flag@whitehouse.gov.

Associated Press

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday questioning his administration’s request for supporters to report “fishy” behavior on health care to an official White House e-mail address.

“I am not aware of any precedent for a president asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,” Cornyn writes today in a harshly worded letter to President Barack Obama in which he asks the president to immediately halt the effort.