Even a polished speaker can have a slip of the truth.

Back in June, ABC “News” aired what the Investors Business Daily called an Infomercial for President Obama’s government run healthcare scheme. As reported by that newspaper, the President was asked during that shallow depth presentation if he and his family would abide by the rules, regulations, limitations, exclusions and restrictions of his healthcare “Reform”. I didn’t see the masquerade on TV myself, (apparently very few people did, it had abysmal ratings) but his answer to the question and refusal to pledge is a matter of record.

His reply? After ignoring the call to pledge to the same system we will be forced into, Obama admitted “If it’s my family member, if it’s my wife, if it’s my children, if it’s my grandmother, I always want them to get the very best care”.
What I have called "the politicians life boat" in an earlier essay has just been secured to the ship for exclusive boarding as soon as the inevitable iceberg appears.

I’m sure the White House press corps would usually be disappointed in the low TV rating of the sales pitch but I’m also guessing that since what one blogger called “Obama’s Michael Dukakis moment”, they are feeling like they are whistling past the grave yard until the danger of discovery of his unintentional slip of the truth has passed.

It was an “AH HA” moment if ever there was one, but with the exception of the IBD, I have not heard it mentioned anywhere by anyone. Granted I have been out of town for a few days, but this happened back on June 24th so I’m guessing most of you have never heard of it either. Please let me know if you have just so I’m not laboring under a misconception about how the media toadies have swept this under the ever lumpier rug.

It just brings up another sad thing about the untimely passing of my favorite pitchman, Billy Mays. Had he been available to do the infomercial professionally, instead of sending out Obama to make the amateurish admission to what only the terminally gullible didn’t already know, the President’s political operatives might be humming now instead of whistling.




Addendum;
On July 16th, Rep. Dean Heller R-Nev. Offered an amendment to the House version of this monstrosity which would require that members of congress enroll in their own government run healthcare program.
Democrats defeated the amendment 23-18.

Remembering Shifty

One of my favorite movies was actually a mini-series which many of you have also seen and enjoyed. I am almost embarrassed to admit how many times I have watched it. I have also read three books about the people and events told of in the true story.
The movie is Band of Brothers.

A friend of mine forwarded this email to me concerning one of the people who was central to the history in the story. We owe it to our parents and grandparents to never forget these true heroes.

Some folks who read this may disagree with me when I opine that we have lost many if not most of our freedoms (from within rather than from outside forces) and are on the verge of losing many of the rest in fairly short order as things continue to play out.

How can we let it happen to us when so many like Shifty gave so much to prevent it from happening?

Here is a copy of the email.
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center .

No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

"A nation without heroes is nothing."

Left Behind

I think we have finally found an "elected" person who is even further left than the Obama, Pelosi, Reid combine. I know it's hard to imagine, but almost everything that has happened in the last year or so has been unimaginable to me.

Meet the new Senator from Minnesota.



Yes, the new Senator who gives the above mentioned cabal a filibuster proof upper house of congress. The guy who will be the swing vote on whether or not you get a law that gives your health-care decisions over to the same folks who run the post office and the SEC. And just in time for the Fourth of July! How patriotic!

People of Minnesota, what were you thinking?

If you thought he was funny before, just wait 'til you get a load of some of his new gags now that he will be doing his stand-up routine in the Rotunda!