I just received a campaign update from the Whitman Campaign in my inbox and noticed a big “Whoops!” by one of her many high-paid campaign consultants. Meg’s opening message says, “At the Orange County and Ventura County fairs, I had a chance to tell residents firsthand about myself and my vision for A New California.”
Notice something wrong?
I received this in my inbox at 12:35 p.m. and my sources at the Ventura County fair say that Meg hasn’t even shown up there yet. I guess that they’re still working out the kinks over at the Whitman campaign, it must be hard to coordinate between all of the consultants. They better shape up soon though, this doesn’t help the perception that Meg isn’t ready for prime-time.
While many believe that “Implementing Mr. Obama’s reforms would literally be worse than doing nothing,” questions arise as to what would be a better direction for health-care reform. Even though a recent poll concluded that “70% of Americans are satisfied with their health-care arrangements,” the overwhelming push of the Obama administration to move forward with reform tactics have led many to question the effectiveness and scope of health coverage as well as the best approach for improving the “unsustainable” system.
However, President Obama’s tactic of separating the patient from medical transactions with doctors and drug companies, instead relying on government payments, it is presumed that patients will demand more from their doctors, as payments become a lesser concern. Further, by taxing small businesses and the rich to afford this plan, employers will be urged to downsize their companies, as the cost of employing an individual will increase significantly.
More rational alternatives include a patient-centered approach, focused on the relationship between the patient and doctors. This strategy encourages personal responsibility and accountability to find cost-effective decisions by both parties. It will reduce the possibility overspending on procedures as patients are personally influenced by decisions, and it will reduce the number of mandated benefits insurers are required to cover. While no solution is faultless, alternatives to Obama’s proposed health-care reform plans are necessary for a successful plan.
Taryn Dicterow is a Junior at University of Southern California, majoring Political Science with a minor in Spanish. Thus far, Taryn has pursued her two major passions: the arts and political affairs. She has published a play in “10 minute Plays for Teens By Teens,” competed in singing competitions and performed both on and off stage with the Laguna Playhouse, No Square Theatre, The California Conservatory of the Arts, Kids Next Door, and more. Other activities include, Executive Director of USC Young Republicans, Orange County Young Republicans, Gamma Phi Beta, Undergraduate Student Government Internal Affairs (USC), and various levels of involvement in student film projects.
During the Spring of 2009, Taryn interned for both state Senator Tom Harman and Congressman John Campbell, learning more about the federal and state processes and issues pertinent to her constituency as well as the nation. Over the summer, Taryn interned at Gen-Next, writing articles for news updates and letters, planning events and more.
We’re happy to welcome Taryn to our Dana Report team. Fight On!
Conservative protests of Obama’s socialized health care plan have shocked the Democrats. It makes sense, conservative and protest are usually oxymoronic. In all seriousness, we usually have better things to do than shut down sidewalks or scream at the idiots our fellow citizens elect to represent us in congress.
The past few months however, have brought a stream of conservative protest unseen in America for many years. It started with the Tea Parties in March and April, and has now spread to the healthcare debate and the Democrats arbitrary tax-and-spend policies.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer got an earful at an high-speed rail event in New York on Tuesday:
And many more Dems have been, and will be, feeling the heat from their constituents as congressmen head home for the August recess.
Demonstrations against the Democrat’s utopian projects are so shocking to their conscience that they can’t believe the protest is legitimate. The Democrats have to dismiss conservative dissent because they see themselves as the ones “speaking truth to power,” even-though many of them have been in power for over two decades. “It’s Astroturf,” they say, every-time concerned citizens bring commonsense into the political debate.
Well, it ain’t Astroturf—meaning a manufactured grassroots movement—average Americans are unhappy with the Democrat’s policies and are speaking-out, for real. Nancy Pelosi’s whack-job attack against these concerned citizens yesterday is certain to motivate more conservatives to express their opinions:
That’s right. Pelosi said that townhall protestors are “carrying swastikas.” The Speaker of the House, the third person in line to the Presidency of the United states, is calling Americans Nazis. That’s what happens when hate-filled morons are elected to office and stick around for way too long.
With all this talk of Nazis and astroturf, the news that the Obama administration is asking its supporters to report dissenting e-mail directly to the White House is deeply troubling. What on earth are they going to do with the information they receive?
Don’t be too surprised when the Hope Police knocks on your door.
In the United States we don’t have a problem with health care. The US has the best health and medical care in world.
I’m not saying our medical system is perfect—it’s not–but, the care just isn’t the problem.
In the worst case, anyone can receive medical care (for free!) at an emergency room—even illegal aliens. In the best case, an illness or disease can be diagnosed and treated early because of the flexibility of our free-market medical system.
Again, the care isn’t the problem. The problems are insurance coverage, malpractice law, and the major government interventions into the health industry that already exist. I’ll discuss solutions to those problems in another post.
This post is meant to tell you that if ObamaCare passes we will have a health care crisis.
A New York Post piece published last week delves into the sick and twisted ideas of Barack Obama’s health care advisers, the people who will be running ObamaCare. If you think “sick and twisted” is a little strong read the article, you’ll see that it may not be strong enough.
In June, 6% of Israeli’s considered the Obama administration pro-Israel, down from 31% only a month before. What’s surprising about the extremely low esteem for Obama is that Israel is essentially a European-style nanny state. Most Israeli’s fall further to the left than most Americans. While many Israeli’s may agree with Obama’s political ideology, the President’s strong-arm tactics and mischaracterizations of the Israeli-Arab conflict leave him as one of the most disliked American presidents ever in Israel.
Candidate Obama promised to show a more friendly American face to the world, and to enhance working relationships with friends as well as enemies. Six months down the road however, it looks like the Administration’s strategy is to offend, insult, and bully our allies while building weak, subservient relationships with the worlds most dangerous actors.
RedCounty.com and National Review Online have two great stories on the latest trial lawyer scare tactic over BPA in baby products. It’s an under-the-radar story that exposes the liberal media’s role in furthering the trial lawyer agenda.
From the Associated Press: “A state board voted Wednesday that the chemical, also known as BPA, will not be covered under Proposition 65, a voter-approved measure used by regulators to identify substances that can cause cancer or reproductive harm. The panel of seven physicians voted unanimously, saying there’s not enough scientific evidence of BPA’s potential dangers.”
Trial lawyers have been scaring the public about BPA by claiming it causes cancer and birth defects. And because the chemical is found in almost every plastic, trial lawyers have the luxury of cherry-picking society’s most vulnerable targets. (Does anyone hate puppies or babies?)
Enter the current hysteria over BPA in baby bottles. The trial lawyers have no facts to support their claims, just shoddy yellow journalism from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The paper ran frightening yet “award-winning” stories as a part of a 2008 multi-part investigation into BPA.
Sound science contradicts the Journal Sentinel‘s reporting. BPA has been used as a chemical additive in plastics for 50 years. The EU says BPA is safe. Now, you can add California medical experts.
California’s regulatory decision is big news because (1) the panel is made up of unbiased doctors (2) the panel’s decision was unanimous (3) the panel stated BPA attacks are unwarranted.
But, as Mark Hemingway points out, the media has an incentive to fan the flames of public fear.
It’s another reminder that there are some perverse incentives for journalists. Dramatic reports on threats to public safety win awards. Reporting that those same threats are overblown and likely egged on by those hoping to make millions off class-action lawsuits is applauded by no one.
The European Union’s scientific experts and a unanimous panel of California doctors claim BPA is not a threat. They must really hate babies.
Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Harry C. Alford calls out Senator Boxer’s sleazy tactics – “Senator…We are referring to the experts, regardless of their color… This has nothing to do with the NAACP, it really has nothing to do with the Black Chamber of Commerce, we’re talking about energy. And that road the chair went down I think is God awful.”
California’s Central Valley, the most fertile farming land in the nation, has been plagued by man-made drought for years; caught in a political debate that pits the Delta Smelt fish against thousands of farmers and their crops.
Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner jumped into the water wars today joined by farmers and farm workers in Firebaugh, CA. Poizner unveiled short and long-term plans to solve California’s water crisis and return prosperity and life to the Central Valley.
“We cannot continue to ignore the substantial economic toll that the reduced water supply has taken on the livelihoods of so many Californians,” said Poizner. “Our state must protect its citizens in this emergency. We cannot allow bureaucrats in Washington D.C. to issue blanket regulations that harm our state both environmentally and economically.”
Poizner’s team is the first gubernatorial campaign (that I know of) to take advantage of Twitter’s “hashtag” function to promote such an important issue. The Poizner team’s viral marketing campaign asks Twitterers to send messages to Speaker @NancyPelosi using the hashtag #WaterNow. The Twitter campaign is associated with a “Water Now” section on the Poizner webstie, and a petition to allow water back into the Central Valley.
Former HP CEO and McCain economic adviser Carly Fiorina is preparing to enter the race for US Senate against Barbara Boxer, the Los Angeles Times reports. California politicos have been speculating about Fiorina’s run for months, and the talk didn’t stop even after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February. According to the LA Times Ms. Fiorina has been making calls to key Republican figures, setting up the foundation for a campaign to unseat Boxer next fall.
Before facing Babblin’ Babs Ms. Fiorina will face primary opponent Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who has been campaigning hard since late last year. Ms. Fiorina will likely jump into the race ahead of Mr. DeVore considering her national name recognition and deep pockets. As a woman, Ms. Fiorina also has a great advantage over Mr. DeVore in that she will be competing for a woman’s seat in a state with a majority female electorate—she would also be the first woman to ever challenge Ms. Boxer.
The CA Senate race will be an important race to watch as we close in on the 2010 elections. California’s economy is in miserable shape, and the dumbest member of the Senate (excuse me, Senator Boxer) has been pushing California-style failed policies on the country since she was first elected in 1993. Ms. Fiorina will be a formidable opponent for Boxer.
