Democratic contender Hillary Clinton has been called on the carpet for not telling the truth about a trip to Bosnia in 1996. According to Senator Clinton, in a speech she gave in Washington on March 17, "I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."
However, a video of the trip shows a different story. It shows Clinton and her daughter walking from the plane and greeted by a young girl in a small ceremony. No snipers, no drama.
As we could expect, Clinton did not take responsibility for not telling the truth but conveniently characterized her lie as a "mistake."
Unfortunately Mrs. Clinton seems to need to fabricate stories to prove she will be ready to lead "day one." Being a leader comes from knowledge and experience - real experience - not fabricated and packaged experience that never really happened.
(You can read more and watch the video here. You can get a funny t-shirt about it here.)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The American's Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
(Written by William Tyler Page in 1917, accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.)
Saturday, March 22, 2008
NC Congresswoman Foxx: Medicare Heads For Iceberg
Here is a great article by NC Congresswoman Foxx from her March 6 E-newsletter. She provides great insight into where Medicare is going and bravely calls for Congress to focus on it now. As I've said before, I'm proud to be represented by her!
Medicare heads for iceberg
Some in Congress want to stay the course
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
Democrat and Republican leadership introduced a bill at the end of February to help stabilize and reform the Medicare system. This important development came as no surprise. The legislation was, after all, the result of what’s known as the “Medicare Trigger”. It’s a mechanism built into the 2003 Medicare law that overhauled and expanded the Medicare system. Basically, the trigger is a gauge of Medicare’s financial well-being.
Before we get to the trigger, some quick background on Medicare:
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for retirement-age Americans.
In North Carolina more than 1.3 million people, or about one in seven North Carolinians, depend on Medicare.
The program’s long-term obligations and rapid growth are contributing to its future meltdown if Congress does not take action.
The Medicare trigger is designed to grab the attention of Congress and force legislative action when the program’s financial health reaches a certain stage. The technical points of the law specify that Congress must act when 45 percent of Medicare spending will be drawn from the federal government’s general tax revenue (as opposed to the designated Medicare trust funds).
But the 45 percent figure is much less important than the facts about Medicare’s long term health. Let me be blunt. Medicare is headed for the proverbial iceberg. In a January 2008 report, the Congressional Research Service said that Medicare spending is poised to soak up more than half of all federal spending and 21 percent of all national health expenditures by 2016.
The Medicare Trustees estimate that Medicare’s unfunded liability—the federal government’s future Medicare funding shortfall—is at least $34 trillion. That’s 34 with twelve zeroes after it, a number that utterly dwarfs the $9 trillion national debt or any other measure of federal spending or deficits. Alternatively, it amounts to $297,000 for every household in America.
Medicare faces an unsettling reality. Today’s beneficiaries will receive their benefits as promised, but tomorrow’s retirees—our children and grandchildren—may not fare as well if Congress sits on its hands. And many in Congress seem prepared to do just that.
USA Today recently reported that the Majority’s proposed 2009 budget “rejects” action on Medicare. An election year decision? Perhaps. But according to the Government Accountability Office, every year of inaction increases federal entitlements’ unfunded liability by about $2 trillion. Frankly, we can’t afford any more “election year decision” on Medicare.
You will need to search long and hard to find an official who is eager to tackle the difficult task of Medicare reform. It is an issue fraught with tough decisions and will require compromise from both sides of the aisle. But difficult decisions are no excuse for ignoring Medicare’s future funding crisis, including the projected zeroing out of the Medicare Part A trust fund in just over 10 years.
Leadership sometimes demands tough decisions for the good of our nation. Getting the ball rolling to create a sustainable Medicare program not only diminishes the pain of future reform, it also helps us keep our promise to tomorrow’s retirees. The Medicare legislation that was recently introduced certainly isn’t perfect. That’s the idea. It is a starting point for discussion and debate.
One area for discussion is the junk lawsuits currently plugging the courts that result in an additional $28 billion in federal medical spending. It comes as no surprise then that many experts say the medical liability system is in crisis. The legislation’s three-pronged approach tackles the issue of medical liability reform; improves medical information technology and pricing transparency; and adds means-tested prescription drug premiums.
Are these the best or only ways to advance Medicare reform? Not necessarily. On the other hand, I support getting this Medicare reform discussion started, no matter the starting point. Medicare certainly won’t fix itself, and the longer Congress sits on the sidelines, the harder it gets to do the job right.
Editor’s Note: Virginia Foxx is a United States Representative from North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District. You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.foxx.house.gov.
Medicare heads for iceberg
Some in Congress want to stay the course
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
Democrat and Republican leadership introduced a bill at the end of February to help stabilize and reform the Medicare system. This important development came as no surprise. The legislation was, after all, the result of what’s known as the “Medicare Trigger”. It’s a mechanism built into the 2003 Medicare law that overhauled and expanded the Medicare system. Basically, the trigger is a gauge of Medicare’s financial well-being.
Before we get to the trigger, some quick background on Medicare:
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for retirement-age Americans.
In North Carolina more than 1.3 million people, or about one in seven North Carolinians, depend on Medicare.
The program’s long-term obligations and rapid growth are contributing to its future meltdown if Congress does not take action.
The Medicare trigger is designed to grab the attention of Congress and force legislative action when the program’s financial health reaches a certain stage. The technical points of the law specify that Congress must act when 45 percent of Medicare spending will be drawn from the federal government’s general tax revenue (as opposed to the designated Medicare trust funds).
But the 45 percent figure is much less important than the facts about Medicare’s long term health. Let me be blunt. Medicare is headed for the proverbial iceberg. In a January 2008 report, the Congressional Research Service said that Medicare spending is poised to soak up more than half of all federal spending and 21 percent of all national health expenditures by 2016.
The Medicare Trustees estimate that Medicare’s unfunded liability—the federal government’s future Medicare funding shortfall—is at least $34 trillion. That’s 34 with twelve zeroes after it, a number that utterly dwarfs the $9 trillion national debt or any other measure of federal spending or deficits. Alternatively, it amounts to $297,000 for every household in America.
Medicare faces an unsettling reality. Today’s beneficiaries will receive their benefits as promised, but tomorrow’s retirees—our children and grandchildren—may not fare as well if Congress sits on its hands. And many in Congress seem prepared to do just that.
USA Today recently reported that the Majority’s proposed 2009 budget “rejects” action on Medicare. An election year decision? Perhaps. But according to the Government Accountability Office, every year of inaction increases federal entitlements’ unfunded liability by about $2 trillion. Frankly, we can’t afford any more “election year decision” on Medicare.
You will need to search long and hard to find an official who is eager to tackle the difficult task of Medicare reform. It is an issue fraught with tough decisions and will require compromise from both sides of the aisle. But difficult decisions are no excuse for ignoring Medicare’s future funding crisis, including the projected zeroing out of the Medicare Part A trust fund in just over 10 years.
Leadership sometimes demands tough decisions for the good of our nation. Getting the ball rolling to create a sustainable Medicare program not only diminishes the pain of future reform, it also helps us keep our promise to tomorrow’s retirees. The Medicare legislation that was recently introduced certainly isn’t perfect. That’s the idea. It is a starting point for discussion and debate.
One area for discussion is the junk lawsuits currently plugging the courts that result in an additional $28 billion in federal medical spending. It comes as no surprise then that many experts say the medical liability system is in crisis. The legislation’s three-pronged approach tackles the issue of medical liability reform; improves medical information technology and pricing transparency; and adds means-tested prescription drug premiums.
Are these the best or only ways to advance Medicare reform? Not necessarily. On the other hand, I support getting this Medicare reform discussion started, no matter the starting point. Medicare certainly won’t fix itself, and the longer Congress sits on the sidelines, the harder it gets to do the job right.
Editor’s Note: Virginia Foxx is a United States Representative from North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District. You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.foxx.house.gov.
McCain - The Conservative Choice
Here's a very good article on John McCain. It outlines why he is the conservative candidate for 2008 and contrasts him with Hillary and Obama.
From A Founding Father
"Religion and good morals are the only solid foundation of public liberty and happiness." Samuel Adams
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
From A Founding Father
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole forceof the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader." Samuel Adams
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Audacity Of What Obama Hopes To Change
I just read a brief article on what we could expect from an Obama administration. It is a very well documented article, you can read it here.
In one of my recent posts I outlined what a Hillary Clinton administration would do to reverse our conservative gains. And I must say that an Obama administration would give us the same thing.
Like many other conservatives I haven't been thrilled with how the race has gone on the Republican side. But we do need to make a choice about who we will vote for. We cannot sit this one out because there is not someone exactly how we would like them to be. We can't afford to let a liberal administration renovate and change some of the gains conservatives have made in the past few years.
Every election matters and every vote makes a difference.
In one of my recent posts I outlined what a Hillary Clinton administration would do to reverse our conservative gains. And I must say that an Obama administration would give us the same thing.
Like many other conservatives I haven't been thrilled with how the race has gone on the Republican side. But we do need to make a choice about who we will vote for. We cannot sit this one out because there is not someone exactly how we would like them to be. We can't afford to let a liberal administration renovate and change some of the gains conservatives have made in the past few years.
Every election matters and every vote makes a difference.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Danger On Day One Of A Clinton Presidency
In an on-line article from the Concord Monitor, Hillary Clinton made clear what changes she would make in the first days of her presidency.
Here's what she says she will do:
A nation must not only be strong militarily, it must also be strong morally. As much as people don't want to hear it, we are one nation under God. Our country was built on Christian values and ideals and we have had God's blessings on us as a nation. We cannot turn our back on these values - we must hold them dear and defend them.
Here's what she says she will do:
- End the "gag rule" which prevents the government from funding international groups that help women receive abortions or give abortion counseling
- Sign a bill to increase funding for embryonic stem-cell research
- Repeal portions of the Defense of Marriage Act
A nation must not only be strong militarily, it must also be strong morally. As much as people don't want to hear it, we are one nation under God. Our country was built on Christian values and ideals and we have had God's blessings on us as a nation. We cannot turn our back on these values - we must hold them dear and defend them.
Ready To Lead?
Hillary Clinton has been repeating the phrase that she is "ready to lead" on day one. She touts her tenure as first lady and Senator as credentials for being able to lead and appropriately answer the midnight emergency call.
Clinton's own website says this under the heading "Ready To Lead": "As First Lady and U.S. senator, Hillary visited more than 80 countries and met countless world leaders as America's representative. In the Senate, Hillary has continued to promote America's interests through her work on international affairs."
Reading those sentences doesn't give me the impression she is able to lead. It simply lets me know she did a lot of traveling. The role of First Lady is not an elected office, so she should not have been the decision maker (or hopefully she wasn't) when Bill Clinton was president. How does being First Lady make her ready to lead? In the Senate she has done her job as a Senator, but again, Senators do not make foreign policy decisions or send troops into battle.
Saying you are ready to lead and providing fluff for credentials is not reassuring and is nothing more than rhetoric and hype.
Clinton's own website says this under the heading "Ready To Lead": "As First Lady and U.S. senator, Hillary visited more than 80 countries and met countless world leaders as America's representative. In the Senate, Hillary has continued to promote America's interests through her work on international affairs."
Reading those sentences doesn't give me the impression she is able to lead. It simply lets me know she did a lot of traveling. The role of First Lady is not an elected office, so she should not have been the decision maker (or hopefully she wasn't) when Bill Clinton was president. How does being First Lady make her ready to lead? In the Senate she has done her job as a Senator, but again, Senators do not make foreign policy decisions or send troops into battle.
Saying you are ready to lead and providing fluff for credentials is not reassuring and is nothing more than rhetoric and hype.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
He Fought The Good Fight
I was very disappointed that Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race tonight. I was very proud of the honorable and gentlemanly way he ended his bid for the White House. He was very gracious and eloquent in defeat.
While he did not win the nomination, he did win the respect of many. He brought fresh ideas and old-time values to the race. He came from nowhere and captured the imaginations and votes of millions. He stood fast to the end, and has honorably bowed out.
Now is the time for us to rally 'round John McCain and support his candidacy. While there have been many articles and debates on his conservative credentials, the conservative credentials of the Democratic contenders has never been in doubt - because they have none.
Thank you Mike, and God bless you!
While he did not win the nomination, he did win the respect of many. He brought fresh ideas and old-time values to the race. He came from nowhere and captured the imaginations and votes of millions. He stood fast to the end, and has honorably bowed out.
Now is the time for us to rally 'round John McCain and support his candidacy. While there have been many articles and debates on his conservative credentials, the conservative credentials of the Democratic contenders has never been in doubt - because they have none.
Thank you Mike, and God bless you!
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