Nothing unexpected: another heaping scoop of pabulum from the Prez. “I’ve asked Congress to do this, I’ve asked Congress to do that…” Danger, middle path, freedom, isn’t the 1st amendment great that this lady can question me?, God Bless America, c-ya, I’m out!

Transcript of speech with the protestor’s comments included:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obamas-may-23-speech-on-national-security-as-prepared-for-delivery/2013/05/23/02c35e30-c3b8-11e2-9fe2-6ee52d0eb7c1_story.html

We’re likely just seeing the tip of the iceberg here. Disgusting behavior.

It sounds like a bad joke, but I think Janet Reno was the last Attorney General with any balls.

Here’s the actual report from TIGTA, a group within the Treasury Department that audits the IRS and its processes. Yes, even the IRS gets audited :)

I was hoping it was these guys who found and caught this dumb scheme. Unfortunately, it was complaints from members of Congress that led to the audit being done.

“TIGTA initiated this audit based on concerns expressed by members of Congress. The overall objective of this audit was to determine whether allegations were founded that the IRS: 1) targeted specific groups applying for tax‑exempt status, 2) delayed processing of targeted groups’ applications, and 3) requested unnecessary information from targeted groups.”

http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/auditreports/2013reports/201310053fr.html

And given that it’s only in 2015 that (1) the penalties will start being assessed and (2) most of the likely positive financial impacts to insurance companies will only be quantified after 2014, the Dems ought to worry about 2016 as well. The pitchforks could be out in force for a change.

Did I read correctly that the Governor ordered the whole city of Boston to shelter in place? Am I crazy, or is that way over-reacting?

Knox: A half-step above garbage? That’s what will be called “The Silver Plan” when ACA goes into effect.

I’ve gotten the same health plan at my corporation for the past 5 years, so it’s easy to calculate the exact, apples-to-apples increase in premiums. Premiums increasing at 19% on average over this time period.

Totally agree although I’d go a step or two further. I’d require yearly classes with registration fees. Basically, you can have guns, but if it’s so important to you, you have to expend the effort to show its importance.

Basically, the Dems already knew the answer. The Gun Lobby won a long time ago and until the govt or some organization has the money or power to plant commercials on TV every day or every week showing those kids’ faces, then the Gun Lobby will continue to win. Period.

Here’s the link for the ACLU press release:
http://www.aclu.org/national-security/aclu-and-ccr-comment-new-york-times-article-killing-anwar-al-aulaqi

We probaby need to give a hat tip to (of all people) Orrin Hatch for bringing this up in Lew’s confirmation hearing.

killing us with…ARITHMETIC…really boring arithmetic

P.S. The Nature Conservancy should take note. I’ll take all cool calendar every year and not give you $#@* until you reform a bit, too.

For the Sierra Club, it’s a step in the right direction. They’ve been far too robotic in the past, mindlessly endorsing semi-green Repubs (Lincoln Chafee comes to mind) who in turn never bat an eye approving environment killers like SCOTUS justices Roberts and Alito.

I stopped donating to them years ago (a pity since my Sierra Club backpack lasted about 10 years and a zillion trips here and there before finally succumbing to wear and tear), but now I may reconsider.

Another thing that annoys me about his and other CEOs comments is the “health care should be competitive in the open market to promote innovation and creativity” meme. Come on! Medicine and medical technology should be competitive in the oepn market, but health care should be about getting and keeping as many people as possible WELL.

In an emergency room, we don’t look around at 5-6 vendors and have them bid on the services about who can take care of this patient. We decide who needs the help the most, provide that help, then move on to the next patient.

All the CEOs want to lump everything about getting sick into one big health care bucket. There’s so many more sectors to “health care”: medicine, medical technology, doctors, nurses, insurance, etc.

Mackey and Co’s thoughts are just another worn out prescription (pun intended) from their lockstep MBA philosophy.

“I hope that Notre Dame will support him; it would send some big, historical shockwaves in the media about homophobia, sports and the pressures on this young man”. And it couldn’t hurt to send some shockwaves the Vatican’s way either. I mean, what could be a more Christian (and I’m talking 1 B.C. or 1 A.D. Christian) position than to accept and forgive a gay man’s lie from the country’s pre-eminent Catholic university? The gulf between the Vatican’s beliefs and U.S. Catholics’ general beliefs has been very wide since the mid-60s. It would be a great time to throw the gauntlet down and show that not everyone has to be in lockstep with the Vatican’s doctrinaire and increasingly archaic positions.