Brad Marston at Greater Boston Young Republican Fall Social

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Hatch Dems Medicare Cuts a "Joke"

Senator Orrin Hatch held a blogger call last Friday where he explained the numerous problems with the Democrats health care reform plans. It should be noted that Senator Hatch has a history of working across the aisle on health care issues. He definitely wants health care reform, but believes the current attempts at reform are fatally flawed.

The most glaring problem with health reform plans is the cost. Only the Baucus plan attempts to be budget neutral and it does so by raiding Medicare, Hatch described the plan to cut Medicare by 4.4 trillion as, "a joke". It also appears that Congress may try to address the problem of doctors' Medicare compensation outside the scope current health care reform plans. This issue, commonly referred to as the 'doctor fix,' will cost a significant amount of money, therefore labeling it as something other than 'health care reform' is a way of adding the cost to the deficit while masking the true cost of health care reform.

Senator Hatch also noted that the head of the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) Doug Elmendorf has proven himself as a honest and reputable person. He explained that one of his major concerns about reform plans is that the CBO has stated that they have no idea what effect reforms will have on the cost of health care and the cost of health insurance premiums. Senator Hatch, like Senator McConnell, also stated that the Democrats should make good on their campaign promise of transparency and at minimum should have the CBO grade any congressional plan and post their online 72 hours prior to a vote as promised last election by President Obama.

It should be noted that their are currently several different health reform plans that have come out of committee. The Baucus plan from the finance committee is the only one that can make any claim that it is budget neutral. It reaches budget neutrality through huge cuts to Medicare, and increased taxes on things like medical devices. However the other plans, one out of the Senate HELP committee lead by Senator Dodd, and those from House committees are nowhere near budget neutral as promised by the President. Now these plans are being merged together behind closed doors in a decidedly un-transparent manner. What the final bill will look like is still a bit of a guess, but considering how poor the committee bills are that the final bill will be based upon, Senator Hatch's assessment that the best hope for real health care reform is to defeat the current plans and make the Democrats start over and truly attempt a bipartisan bill appears to be right on point.

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Orrin Hatch Details Serious Flaws with Dems Health Care Reform Plans

Rasmussen Reports: Hucakabee Leading GOP As Potential Candidate

Rasmussen Reports (10/16/09):
Nationwide Republican voters:
Pick to represent the GOP in the 2012 Presidential:
- 29% Mike Huckabee
- 24% Mitt Romney
- 18% Sarah Palin
- 14% Newt Gingrich
-  4% Tim Pawlenty
-  6% Some other candidate
-  7% Undecided

Least Like to see get the nomination:
- 28% Tim Pawlenty
- 21% Sarah Palin
- 20% Newt Gingrich
-  9% Mitt Romney
-  8% Mike Huckabee

Viewed Favorably:
- 78% Mitt Romney & Mike Huckabee
- 75% Sarah Palin
- 69% Newt Gingrich
- 45% Tim Pawlenty

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H/T eGOPNews - ARRA News Service

#BeatCancer Takes Off on Twitter - Raises Funds

Tip for the day... Anyone who uses Facebook or Twitter include the hash tag #beatcancer in your posts to raise money for cancer related charities. Each Tweet or Facebook post raises $.01, the goal being that the more it is spread through people's networks, the more people re-tweet and re-post, the potential for money raised rises exponentially. Cool way to raise money for a good cause, and interesting social media experiment to see how effective the big 2 social media sites can be in both spreading a message and generating fund-raising dollars.

For more info from Mashable... Social Media Campaign to Beat Cancer

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#BeatCancer Social Media Cancer Fundraiser #BeatCancer

Commander-in Chief AWOL - Obama "Fiddles Around" While American Troops Lose Heart

by Dr. Bill Smith: Before proceeding it is only right to say that as a 22 year veteran, I am by nature a "hawk" and support all efforts to stop the enemies of America. However, I already saw one war - the Vietnam War - mired down by bureaucracy and lack of direction. [For those who prefer using the term "Vietnam Conflict," tell it to the American families, friends of the veterans who served and lost 58,159 comrades in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia plus all those who died from war related issues after that "conflict."]

Most career military have served under Presidents with whom we did not politically agree. Some Presidents were more competent than others. Most Presidents and Defense Secretaries who had not served in the military have made decision or failed to make decisions that resulted in the wasting of military resources and lives. Although not always understood by the general population, military leaders clearly understand that the military is both a tool in defending America including America's economic interests and a tool of diplomacy. However, when a president lacks declared interest or focus during a time of war - or major deployments with people at risk, military casualties increase and troop morale suffers and leads to more losses.

The Times Online is reporting a story about "American troops in Afghanistan losing heart." It is like "deja view" - a scene from the past when leadership and adequate direction was not shown by prior Commander-in-Chiefs and Secretaries of Defense. A few excerpts from the article:

American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months on the front line in the war against the Taleban [sic, Taliban]. Many feel that they are risking their lives — and that colleagues have died — for a futile mission and an Afghan population that does nothing to help them, . . . “They feel they are risking their lives for progress that’s hard to discern,” . . . “They are tired, strained, confused and just want to get through.” The soldiers are, by nature and training, upbeat, driven by a strong sense of duty, and they do their jobs as best they can . . . admitted that their morale had slumped.

“We’re lost — that’s how I feel. I’m not exactly sure why we’re here,” . . . “I need a clear-cut purpose if I’m going to get hurt out here or if I’m going to die.” . . . Asked if the mission was worthwhile, . . . “If I knew exactly what the mission was, probably so, but I don’t.” The only soldiers who thought it was going well “work in an office, not on the ground”. In his opinion “the whole country is going to s***”.

The battalion’s 1,500 soldiers are nine months in to a year-long deployment that has proved extraordinarily tough. Their goal was to secure the mountainous Wardak province and then to win the people’s allegiance through development and good governance. They have, instead, found themselves locked in an increasingly vicious battle with the Taleban [sic, Taliban].

They have been targeted by at least 300 roadside bombs, about 180 of which have exploded. Nineteen men have been killed in action, with another committing suicide. About a hundred have been flown home with amputations, severe burns and other injuries likely to cause permanent disability, and many of those have not been replaced. More than two dozen mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs) have been knocked out of action.

Living conditions are good — abundant food, air-conditioned tents, hot water, free internet - but most of the men are on their second, third or fourth tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, with barely a year between each. . . . The men are frustrated by the lack of obvious purpose or progress. “The soldiers’ biggest question is: what can we do to make this war stop. Catch one person? Assault one objective? Soldiers want definite answers, other than to stop the Taleban [sic, Taliban], because that almost seems impossible. It’s hard to catch someone you can’t see,” . . .

“It’s a very frustrating mission,” . . . “The average soldier sees a friend blown up and his instinct is to retaliate or believe it’s for something [worthwhile], but it’s not like other wars where your buddy died but they took the hill. There’s no tangible reward for the sacrifice. It’s hard to say Wardak is better than when we got here.” "We want to believe in a cause but we don’t know what that cause is.” . . . The soldiers complain that rules of engagement designed to minimize civilian casualties mean that they fight with one arm tied behind their backs. . . “You get shot at but can do nothing about it. You have to see the person with the weapon. It’s not enough to know which house the shooting’s coming from.” . . .

The constant deployments are, meanwhile, playing havoc with the soldiers’ private lives. “They’re killing families,”. . . “Divorces are skyrocketing. PTSD is off the scale. There have been hundreds of injuries that send soldiers home and affect families for the rest of their lives.” The chaplains said that many soldiers had lost their desire to help Afghanistan. “All they want to do is make it home alive and go back to their wives and children and visit the families who have lost husbands and fathers over here. It comes down to just surviving,” . . . “If we make it back with ten toes and ten fingers the mission is successful,” . . . “You carry on for the guys to your left or right,” . . .

Lieutenant-Colonel Kimo Gallahue, 2-87’s commanding officer, denied that his men were and insisted they had achieved a great deal over the past nine months. A triathlete and former rugby player, he admitted pushing his men hard, but argued that taking the fight to the enemy was the best form of defense. . . . Above all, Colonel Gallahue argued that counter-insurgency — winning the allegiance of the indigenous population through security, development and good governance — was a long and laborious process that could not be completed in a year. “These 12 months have been, for me, laying the groundwork for future success,” he said. . . .

These reported comments depict more than just complaints by G.I.s. They are a clear signs of bigger issues both at the DOD, in the force structure and support of today's military, and with the direction of the war as defined by the President of the United States. As for the field commander on the record comments about his belief in the mission, this was expected but it is not a measurement of success. However, while failing morale and expressions like "you carry on for the guys to your left or right" are both true and admirable, they are also a definite indicator of failed purpose and direction.

As heads up, the following comments are directed to what appears to be an often AWOL (absent without leave) Commander-in-Chief: Mr. Obama, you choose to run for President of the United States. And, the American people elected you to be president. Most Americans know that a "chief" responsibility of the president is being Commander-in-chief of the military. It is not being the commander of the American people. While you have "fiddle around" tripping off to other countries expressing your regrets about the United States or to another location to promote or sign a bill that could have been done efficiently right in the Oval office; while you wasted time trying to recruit the Olympics or taking time for another sports event or White House party; while you expend a disproportionate amount of your time on agendas which have or will send the United States further into debt and on efforts to reshape the social fabric of America, you are not focused on your primary responsibility of being Commander-in-Chief.

American military are dying or at risk because of your lack of leadership. Members of the military understand sacrifice and giving their lives for a greater cause. However, they do not understand dying without purpose or a clear objective. Often they die for their comrades but they do not wish to die for absentee leadership or an undefined mission.

Mr. President, above all else, (except possibly for those who feel they must engender themselves to you for their jobs and their agendas or who happen to hate America) people on both sides of domestic issues expect you to complete your primary duties as president. The United States of America has men and women in harms-way risking America's chief treasure - American blood. For "Pete's sake" - Wake-up! You are the Commander-in-Chief! It cannot be delegated; nor should it continue to be ignored! It is a lonely sacred responsibility. Mr. President, no matter how important you believe your other agendas to be, you must focus on your primary responsibility as Commander-in-Chief!

Obama's Doctors

President Obama has attempted to sell his health plan to the American people on two previous occasions by by standing in front of a large group of supportive nurses. Yet this failed to do the trick so this time President Obama invited two doctors from each state in the union to the White House to show people out there that there really are professionals that support the President's health care reforms. This time would be serious, this time they'd have their doctor's outfits on. One poor doctor who showed up without his white coat looked sadly out of place, but never fear the Obama administration is here with a spare coat at the ready. Don't want a doctor to lose all his super powers with no white coat, and besides who wants to wreck a pretty picture of 100 properly attired doctors with the President of the United States.

This photo op was such a powerful image that the administration looked for other ways to visually convince Americans to support other Obama administration proposals.



In fact they held one doctor over and convinced another familiar face to help sell the President's second stimulus plan...



This was such a success that later that same day came the announcement the the Justice Department would be addressing the concerns of illegal aliens...



Then came President Obama's surprise announcement of the appointment of his two new green job czars...



Finally President Obama, under advisement from his most recent appointments, decided green aliens would receive a government stimulus check if they cashed in their used space ship for a newer more fuel efficient model...

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Obama - How to Sell a Plan

Bob Graham Stomping All Over Florida House District 91?

by Yomin Postelnik, Republican Candidate for Florida House District 91: Over the past day I’ve received word that after 6 months of indecision, Chip Burpee will be entering the race on the Democratic side. I believe this means that his boss, retired Senator Bob Graham, will be campaigning against me. My reaction is simple: Bring it on. This is exactly what we need to mobilize all South Floridians who want real solutions and who know that the time for lifelong political hacks has long past and that now is the time for real solutions.

Political hacks should satisfy their ambitions by raising money for career politicians and taking whatever cut they want of it. When they decide that they themselves can become legislators, that’s when they become dangerous. It’s because of career politicians that there are so few new ideas in politics. Chip Burpee, a lifelong staffer, hasn’t offered up a single constructive idea in his life and his supposed decision to run is an insult to the District. Our state needs solutions, not blatant power grabs.

It is clear that Bob Graham still wishes to exert influence and control on the political scene. Accordingly, the logical step would be for him to run for office. Having a lackey, one who served him in a very junior capacity until after he retired from office, now run on his behalf is shameful – and no good can come of it for our state.

While Bob Graham may have had a long and diverse career in politics, Burpee is a man who has never dealt with the public that he now wishes to serve. And while Graham’s career has certainly been overrated - after all, as Governor he was best known for his failure to stop the Mariel Boatlift and for his signing of an unprecedented number of death warrants, 153 to be exact - he was always well liked, personable and in touch with the needs of constituents. Burpee is anything but.
Burpee embarked on his path in life as a political hack at the age of 18, serving as a staff assistant and deputy scheduler in Bob Graham’s office. During the six years in which he worked on and off for then-Senator Graham, the only position of semi-importance that Burpee held was for less than five months.

Burpee’s entire experience outside of political hackery was as a manager of an uppity, pretentious restaurant. Yet he calls this “business experience.” He’s currently the “Chief of Staff” for a long retired politician. And he calls that a job!

Even his education was large on style but utterly devoid of substance. Burpee received his education in Paris, France, where he studied “diplomacy.” Those whose sole area of study is “diplomacy” will generally tell you that that’s a nice way of saying “how to lie nicely.” Burpee has no background in education, ethics, business or any experience or first hand knowledge of anything that could be of benefit to his desired constituents. The last thing that Florida needs is someone whose entire field of study centered on mastering the art of political spin.

His latest decision to run after two other members of his party announced months ago and have formulated campaigns is a disservice to his own party. Their supporters must undoubtedly be upset by the intrusion and by Bob Graham stomping all over their primary. One even switched parties just to be able to run in this race. All jokes aside, why South Florida voters would want a representative who, essentially, wasted everyone’s time with his indecisiveness is beyond me. And Senator Graham’s attempt to belatedly insert himself into the race, walking all over two Democratic campaigns in the process, is uncalled for.

Among political hacks, Chip Burpee is among the least creative. He’s a man who has yet to offer up a single idea at any time during his lifelong career as a second rate staffer.

Should Bob Graham wish to tarnish his legacy and recruit political hacks who offer no new ideas for the District and who have never done anything for the people of Florida, then he should rethink his strategy. The recruitment of Burpee is the worst form of political payback and is designed to give Graham power and influence by putting an incompetent in an important position where he will make decisions that affect education, small business and Florida families.

The people of District 91 will not stand for it. We deserve better and we will demand nothing less.

Democrats have long promised that District 91 would be “the largest battle in South Florida.” If by that they meant that this election would finally expose the Jimmy Carter-like incompetence of the otherwise likable Senator and former Governor Bob Graham, then I’ll have no choice but to oblige. It certainly is interesting that Bob Graham’s biggest failure, the Mariel Boatlift, is one that Jimmy Carter is still trying to live down to this day.

I will not attack the puppet. I’ll go after the puppet maker who still controls the strings. People in District 91 know the difference – and no one appreciates a retired politician trying to control his party’s legislative agenda by proxy, through a third rate political hack who has yet to offer up a single substantive idea in 12 years of political machine grinding.
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Visit Yomin Postelnik Campaign Site: A Better Florida Yomin Postelnik offers Florida the opportunity for a solid conservative to work through the critical economic issues facing Florida created by the unfunded mandates of the Obama administration and the declining return of revenue collected by Florida but retained by the Federal Government. The Editor of America's Best Choice and National Political Director Conservative Solutions ("Let's Get This Right"), Dr. Bill Smith, has endorsed Yomin Postelnik as "the best choice for Florida's future in House District 91.

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America's Best Choice

Dem Health Plans Fail To Deal Effectively with Cost

Health care reform is yet to substantively deal with 'gorilla in the room' - Cost. This is one of the fundamental reason why health care reform is needed. Yet no plan truly deals with this problem adequately. With the federal deficit shooting upwards and the country in the middle of a recession this only makes the need to deal with cost that much more pointed, but it does not seem to be a legislative priority.

Mort Kondracke of Roll Call explains in his article Will Reform Cut Health Care Costs? Don't Bet on It that the health care reform plans have no enforceable cost reducing measures. Cost cutting measures that are attempted rely on insurance companies, drug companies, and other health groups to keep their word and cut costs. This is at best a gamble, and not a very good one at that.

There's reason to fear that, even with reform, the nation's total outlays for health care - currently 17 percent of gross domestic product - will continue to soar, and so will federal health spending and insurance premiums.

The Obama White House promised reform would "bend the curve" of health spending - now growing 3 percent a year faster than the economy - but bills pending in Congress contain no guaranteed cost-containment measures such as a global budget, or national lid, on health spending.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, total U.S. health spending is scheduled to rise to 20 percent of the GDP by 2018, 25 percent by 2025 and 38 percent by 2050.

In May, health care stakeholder groups, including hospitals, insurance companies, doctors, drug companies and device makers, promised President Barack Obama they'd institute measures shaving 1.5 percent per year from the current 7 percent growth rate of health spending, saving $2 trillion over 10 years.

But as the journal Health Affairs observed in an issue brief in August, "these agreements are not enforceable" and, indeed, House "reform" legislation would free doctors from any reductions in Medicare reimbursements.

It's no wonder the American Medical Association supports the House bill, H.R. 3200. The Senate Finance Committee bill gives doctors just a one-year break from scheduled fee reductions, but past patterns are that Congress annually saves doctors from any cut.

Another group promising cuts - and now supporting Obamacare - is the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Its contribution to controlling health care costs? Just $80 billion over 10 years - out of total U.S. pharmaceutical outlays of $3.3 trillion.

And, as Fortune magazine pointed out, part of PhRMA's cuts are designed to get more Medicare recipients to use brand-name drugs when generics actually would be cheaper.

According to Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Susan Dentzer, "bending the curve" of health cost growth depends upon "a lot of floating magic asterisks" in the Senate legislation, including the transformation of several pilot projects into actual policies that alter health spending patterns.

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No Good News On Health Care Costs

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Republican Resurgence in the Mid Atlantic

Virginia McDonnell surges to a new lead in the polls going over 50% with a solid lead among independents. DNC chairman and part time governor Kaine is still on the road.

New Jersey Jersey City and other towns have passed pay to play bans in a great statement against corruption even those currently under indictment favored the bill. And Democrats wonder why they are losing.


New York Both Republicans and Democrats held their annual conventions this past week. The Republicans have a new leader, Mr. Cox, which was a minor defeat for the Giuliani hardliners. The two parties are geering up for next year's election. People are starting to position themselves for an anticipated Democrat primary between Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Governor David Patterson.

The Club for Growth is the war path against big spending Democrats and Republicans.

Maryland The State is knocking around drivers for more money. Speed Cameras and and a Texting while driving ban are the news along with new restrictions on teens.

Maryland insists on impoverishing some of its citizens with a mandatory 25% cut in "Greenhouse emissions" by 2020. The bill at least makes more sense than the overall energy cut demanded by Markell. At least other ways of finding energy will be entertained whether or not the goal is realistic. Where is the Maryland GOP when you need a loyal opposition? Speed cameras and energy rationing seem like winning issues even for such a moribund organization.

Pennsylvania is no longer Obama friendly territory. Not only is Gov. Rendell in trouble but the President's numbers have sunk to a new low. Senator Specter may have picked the wrong couple to help him.

The budget deal that was struck still hasn't passed due to rebellious Democrats who hate oil drilling and want the people to suffer with higher taxes and energy prices.

Delaware H1N1 is running through the state, including my home just like Maryland, but most cases are never tested for and therefore are unreported. You have to ask for testing like we did. What is the agenda? I am finding a lot of cases of something like it but most were never tested even though they went to the doctor. Is there a wink not to report the disease? What is the public health effect? Why does it take a week or longer to get results? No significant upgrades in testing have occurred since last year. Is the state failing the public?

U. S. Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell is up there with the big boys pulling 40% in the latest poll. Is it time for HuckPac and Sarah Pac to pay attention?