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January 31, 2012
Fiscal Reality? Pah!
Member of so-called "reality based" party refuses to accept actual reality.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Rep. Chellie Pingree told Gov. Paul LePage during a private meeting on Tuesday that it was unlikely that any federal Medicaid waivers would be granted to allow some of the health care cuts he has proposed.Sure, DHHS is bankrupting the state, but we can't cut a dime because...UNICORNS!After a 45-minute meeting between the two in the governor’s office, Pingree spoke briefly to reporters.
“The governor and I had a very honest conversation about what a tough problem he and the Legislature has,” she said. “I continue to disagree with him on the issue of Medicaid waivers … I don’t know that the federal government at this point is going to say to Maine, it is OK to put people back out on the street with no health care coverage.”
Actually, Pingree does have a solution in mind.
Pingree was asked whether she offered the governor any alternatives.Funny how liberal solutions always come back to someone else giving up their money.“I said one thing the governor can do is go back to companies like Wal-Mart that actually educate their workers to qualify for Medicaid as opposed to giving better coverage to their own workers,” Pingree said. “One of the reasons many people have turned to Medicaid is because the cost of paying for health care through your job have gone up and employers are giving less and less. For many of the big chains, they could do more of their share.”
Also, I've actually worked for Wal-Mart. They never told me to qualify for government assistance. Just saying.
Posted by slublog at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2012
The Coveted Slublog Endorsement
This has been an awful primary season.
Again.
After only a couple of primaries, Republicans have a choice between three politicians who have embraced big government solutions in the past, and Ron Paul. After much thought, I've finally decided which candidate I can wholeheartedly support.
This candidate has my unconditional support.
Posted by slublog at 07:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2012
An Open Letter to the RNC
Dear Morons...sorry, that's no way to start a letter. Let's try again.
Dear RNC Leaders,
Here we are again.
Four years ago, the GOP primaries began and I was a big supporter of Rudy Giuliani. He did poorly in Iowa, then New Hampshire and in South Carolina. His loss in Florida ended his campaign and I had to consider an alternative candidate. I think Giuliani could have beat Barack Obama in the general election. Unfortunately, voters in four states decided that he would never have the chance at such a campaign.
Four states.
Every time a state other than those tries to move their primary to a place where it would have some relevance, the RNC punishes that state by stripping it of delegates, or taking away convention perks. The party has shown its commitment to the current system time and again, and frankly, I'm sick of it.
This year, after voters in two states cast their ballots, five candidates dropped out: Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman. We are in another election cycle where I am once again denied the chance to vote for my preferred candidate. Thanks to a stupid, out-of-date primary system, the candidate I would have chosen has already been eliminated by a handful of voters.
Cycle after cycle, voters in two states are given more power than the rest of us. The current system is antiquated, unfair and frankly, idiotic. And it needs to end. I'm sick of it, and I'm probably not the only one.
Tomorrow, I'm going to walk to City Hall. I'm going to change my party affiliation from 'Republican' to 'None.' I will not give any money to the GOP nominee, nor will I volunteer any time. None of those left is fully acceptable to me, so they will have my vote and nothing else.
Change the process, and you have a chance at winning me back. If you keep courting the spoiled brats in New Hampshire and Iowa, you will lose me and those like me forever.
Choose Wisely,
Slublog
Posted by slublog at 12:06 AM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2012
BDN Editorial Staff, Mind-Readers
How do I know they can read minds? Behold:
Paul LePage probably is fond of the cliche, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” We can infer as much from his first State of the State address Tuesday night.Yes, you read that correctly. The governor is, you know, 'probably' fond of that saying. Of course they can't be sure of that, but they're going to write an entire editorial on his State of the State speech based on that assumption because he used the word 'outraged' a few times and stuff. So, you know, he's almost definitely fond of that particular cliche.
And stuff.
For the record, the governor used that word exactly twice. I counted.
Then, there's this - the BDN fact-checks the speech.
Here's the weird thing. I checked two newspaper archive databases with the search terms "Baldacci state of state fact check" and got no results back from either search. It's almost as though they're treating the Republican governor differently than the Democrat. Funny, that.
Posted by slublog at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)
Comments
Now that the blog is back up, I've had a query about comments. I do plan to bring them back online, just as soon as I can get the spam filters working correctly.
Posted by slublog at 08:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2012
Maine Liberals: Why Cut DHHS...
When you could just as easily raise taxes?
Engage Maine said the state’s wealthiest 1 percent pay an effective state and local tax rate that’s 12 percent lower than the average Mainer’s. Making residents who earn more than $350,000 a year pay “their fair share” at the average state tax rate and restoring the 2010 tax rate for those earning more than $200,000 annually would generate $72 million a year, said Garrett Martin, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, a member of Engage Maine.A revenue problem?He pointed out that the state is spending less General Fund money than it did in 1998, in inflation-adjusted dollars.
“We don’t have a spending problem here,” Martin said. “What we have is a revenue problem.”
Yeah, not so much.
Maine's 2009 state and local tax burden of 10.1% of income is above the national average of 9.8%. Maine's tax burden has remained relatively constant from 10.1% (23rd nationally) in 1977 to 10.1% (9th nationally) in 2009. Maine taxpayers pay $3,832 per capita in state and local taxes.Combine an above-average tax rate with a below-average per capita income, and it adds up to a simple truth: there's not a lot of money left for the government to take.
The progressives, though, have only one playbook, containing variations on one play - they believe they are entitled to more of your money, all the time. Their appetite for taxes will never go away, and never wanes. The only way to keep them from taking it is to keep them out of office.
Posted by slublog at 06:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
No Crying in Football
Update: Harbaugh: "nonsense."
Awwww....I know it hurts...let it out...
Baltimore Ravens kicking consultant Randy Brown told Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team today on 94 WIP that the scoreboard in New England was incorrect during that final drive. “The scoreboard was one down behind, the entire last three plays, from what we understand,” Brown said. That caused Billy Cundiff to have to rush on to the field with just seconds left on the play clock to try and make the kick, which he missed.Losing such a close game has got to hurt, but this sort of whining is just unbecoming. This guy was the coach directly responsible for the kicker, he's trying to take the heat off himself and he knows the best way to do that is point fingers at a team and a guy disliked by many in the league.When Cataldi asked Brown if he thought the Patriots did it it on purpose to gain an advantage, Brown replied, “I don’t think you can rule anything out in New England, can you?”
Is Brown trying to suggest that not one person on the Ravens sideline could accurately count downs? Not one of the coordinators let Harbaugh know there was a mistake? If Brown's looking to blame someone, he can look at his coach, who had a time out he could have used but did not.
If the Ravens want to make it to the Super Bowl, they've got to be honest about their weaknesses and fix them instead of looking for villains to blame.
UPDATE - Harbaugh responded earlier today.
“Any suggestion the wrong down info was a deliberate effort to affect the outcome of the game is nonsense,” Harbaugh said Wednesday, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.Good for him. Unless teams have strong evidence, they shouldn't throw around these sort of accusations.
Posted by slublog at 09:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 24, 2012
Why Do Conservatives Distrust the Media?
WASHINGTON — Declaring the American dream under siege, President Barack Obama called Tuesday night for a flurry of help for a hurting middle class and higher taxes on millionaires, delivering a State of the Union address packed with re-election themes. Restoring a fair shot for all, Obama said, is "the defining issue of our time."Fairness. That's in the Constitution,right?Obama outlined a vastly different vision for fixing the country than the one pressed by the Republicans challenging him in Congress and fighting to take his job in the November election. He pleaded for an active government that ensures economic fairness for everyone, just as his opponents demand that the government back off and let the free market rule.
Okay, that's just snark. Fairness is not mentioned in the Constitution, for a simple reason - life is not fair. I do not say that because I'm a comfortable member of the "one percent." Quite the opposite.
My father was in the military and I was raised on bases around the country. My first job was framing pictures at an art auction. That was when I was in high school. When I was in college, I paid for books and gas money by working in retail and food service. I have put up with grumpy customers who have literally hit me with shopping carts and burned myself on skillets and with hot frying grease.
After graduation, I got my first 'professional' job, which led to another job and graduate school, which led me to where I am today. I earn a decent salary with good benefits because I've worked for them. My wife is a medical professional who makes more than me. In Obama's world, neither of us should profit from our efforts to better our station in life. In our president's eyes, the fact that we earn more than others is reason enough to hand over more of our paycheck to ensure we aren't making more than we "should."
Frankly, the fact that our president has decided that he knows the acceptable level of personal profit we should earn from our labor is frightening. At best, his statements on 'fairness' make him a dreamer. At worst, they reveal his true nature - a near-fascist who dreams of a utopia defined by his personal desires.
Neither is comforting.
What's even less comforting is that the media seems all too willing to frame their stories in a way that supports his message. In their eyes, Obama wants "fairness." The GOP? They want you to be at the mercy of the awful "free market." Look upon the invisible hand and despair!
So...Newt? Mitt? After that speech, all I have to say is yes. Just...yes.
Posted by slublog at 11:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Pipeline? We Don't Need No Stinking Pipeline!
In the State of the Union address, President Obama emphasized the need for more "green" energy. This call came about a week after Obama killed the Keystone pipeline from Canada.
Obama, in his insipid speech, talked about alternative energy sources. I would like to see him explain how I can heat my home with a windmill or solar panels.
Until then, I will burn both oil and wood pellets to keep me and my family warm. The alternative is really not that attractive. If the media were fair, this man's death would be a national story as an example of why Obama's energy policies are so misguided.
Fortunately for the president, he's a Democrat, so this will remain a senseless tragedy. Funny how that works.
Posted by slublog at 11:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Time to Show Some Professionalism
In the past few years, Bangor voters have finally elected young people to serve on the city council.
After reading this, I'm thinking we might have made a mistake.
“Sure, I might have gotten elected in 2010 and sure I might’ve been, or might be, 23 presently, but for the chair of the Bangor City Council — and I don’t care if you’re chair or not — to address me in that manner is disrespectful and unbecoming of your office,” Longo told Weston. “Don’t you ever do that again and I demand an apology for your actions. It was very distasteful and it better not happen again.”Seriously?Longo added that Weston had insulted him as well as anyone who voted for him. He repeated his demand for an apology.
Weston then recognized Councilor Ben Sprague after saying: “Very good. Thank you, Councilor Longo.”
Longo bristled and repeated his demand. Weston said, “I heard you. Councilor Sprague.”
Longo repeated his demand twice more before Weston responded, “Councilor Longo, enough.”
“I’m not your son, OK! I ask for an apology,” Longo said. After Sprague said that this was a conversation that they should probably have “off hours,” Longo gathered up his materials, stood up and left the meeting. He did not return.
“I said I was sorry to the other councilors and city staff who were there because I shouldn’t have left,” Longo said Tuesday afternoon.
Mayor Weston...Councilor Longo...I have but one request.
Please, grow up and get over yourselves.
Bangor needs new blood and new ideas. Stupid, senseless feuds like this will make voters wonder whether this generation has what it takes to lead the city. Personally, I think we do have potential, but it is squandered by foolish arguments over trivialities. Mayor Weston, thank you for apologizing. Councilor Longo, curb the drama. Did you really need to walk out? Next time, try to show some professionalism.
Seriously, guys. Don't make me fill out candidacy forms and petitions to replace you.
Just do your jobs. Is that too much to ask?
Posted by slublog at 11:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
On Second Thought...
After that speech?
The blogging mojo may be back. Obama's got to go.
More to come, folks...
Posted by slublog at 10:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack