Super Bowl Champs, Tax Dollars, and ObamaCare

As if a Steelers fan needed another reason to hate the Baltimore Ravens, this Steelers fan and staunch conservative just found one. I'll call it reason number 47-2008 in "honor" of the Ravens latest Super Bowl victory (47) and Obama's initial win (2008) of the White House.

Baltimore Ravens logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I learned a few days ago that the Baltimore "Black Birds," as I like to call them, have received $130,000 in tax payer funds from their home state of Maryland to promote ObamaCare. The "Black Birds" will apparently use the funds to promote ObamaCare on their website and through other media.

Personally, I think its inappropriate at best and a disgrace at worst. It's ridiculous for a professional sports team to get paid government money to push propaganda. NFL teams and their owners make millions every year from TV contracts, ticket sales, advertising and promotional deals, concessions, parking, and team paraphernalia. Many NFL teams have had multi-million dollar stadiums built for them at taxpayer expense. The state of Maryland paying the Baltimore "Black Birds" to promote ObamaCare is a ridiculous waste of money. I hope the tax payers of Maryland hold their governor and state legislature accountable at election time.

I've objected before to politics infiltrating movies, music, and football (Bob Costas, I'm talking to you), and I'm objecting again. The leftist infiltration is ruining entertainment. I sure hope it doesn't ruin football, too. When I turn on a football game, I want a football game - not politics, whether Left or Right, and especially not ObamaCare propaganda.

When I first saw this story in my daily e-mail from Glenn Beck's TheBlaze.com the other day, it aggravated me, made me dislike the "Black Birds" even more, and caused me to enjoy this past Sunday's 19-16 Steelers victory over the Baltimore "Black Birds" just a little bit more.

Go Steelers!! The Ravens suck!!

Source - TheBlaze.com article titled "New Documents Reveal This NFL Team Was Paid $130K to Promote Obamacare" 

Related articles

• Taxpayer Money Used to Bribe Baltimore Ravens to Promote ObamaCare (moonbattery.com)
• NFL Team Paid for Propaganda: Baltimore Ravens Shill ObamaCare for Taxpayer Dollars (ijreview.com)
• Baltimore Ravens Get $130,000 of Taxpayer Funding to Promote ObamaCare (grumpyelder.com)
• Super Bowl Champ Baltimore Ravens Getting Paid $130,000 to Promote Obamacare (+video) (joemiller.us)

Rock-tober - Week 2

It would be difficult to refer to Rock-tober as Rock-tober without featuring today's artist, John Mellencamp, at some point. Mellencamp has not appeared on The Sheepdog's Music Mondays before, and since today is a double shot Music Monday, I'll feature two of his tunes.

Mellencamp is an artist that has been very politically active during his career. Based upon his political activities and associations, I know he and I would agree on very little politically as he leans way to the left, and I lean way to the right. However, the dude has made some great music through the years that I still enjoy listening to. As momma used to say, sometimes "you have to take the bad with the good."

Both videos featured today are of tunes on his 1985 album titled Scarecrow. The first video is of "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." It is embedded below or can be watched by clicking here.



Video #2 today is of Mellencamp's "Small Town." It is embedded below or can be watched by clicking here. I hope everyone enjoys.

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• Video: Sneak Peek Of King/Mellencamp Musical Premiere (indianapublicmedia.org)

Movie Review - Elysium

Several weeks ago, a buddy and I went to see the movie Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. There really wasn't much playing at the time that looked any good. I had some reservations about Elysium, because of the far left-leaning politics of Damon, but, our wives were out of town, we needed to catch up, and the sci-fi theme looked interesting. Man, were we in for a surprise.

English: Matt Damon at the 66th Venice International Film Festival Nederlands: The Informant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The movie is future-based and is portrayed as taking place on the earth and in a fancy space station known as Elysium. The earth has pretty much been destroyed by years of overpopulation and war. The entire planet is now like a third-world country. Elysium, on the other hand, is a beautiful, luxurious world built by the rich for the rich. Basically, the earth is where the poor live and Elysium is where the rich live. Segregation by social class at its finest.

When the movie started, my radar went up immediately as mostly Spanish is being spoken. As the story-line develops, it continues, and there does not appear to be any middle class on earth or on Elysium, either. You are either a filthy rich legal citizen of Elysium or a dirt poor resident of earth. You may already have a sense of where this is going, but it gets worse. The film ultimately turns out be a multi-million dollar Hollywood propaganda piece promoting amnesty for illegal aliens and universal healthcare. Stay with me, and I'll explain.

The "legal citizens" of Elysium all have chips implanted under their skin that prove their citizenship and give them access to various services, including healthcare. Healthcare on Elysium is interesting, to say the least. Each legal resident has a medi-bay in their home. The medi-bays look much like a tanning bed. If you have a medical ailment, whether it be a cold, cancer, heart disease, etc., all you have to do is lay down in the medi-bay for a few minutes and it "cures" you. However, if you don't have the little implanted chip, the medi-bay doesn't work.

Smugglers on earth make money providing shuttle rides to the "illegals" on earth who want to try to sneak into Elysium. Most of the time, people are trying to leave earth for Elysium in order to get in one of the medi-bays to get cured of whatever. Basically, if you are a legal citizen of Elysium, you get great healthcare, a "cadillac" health plan if you will. However, if you are poor, stuck on the earth, and an "illegal," you have very limited healthcare, if you have any at all.

One scene in the movie shows three of the shuttles leaving earth headed to Elysium. Jodie Foster's character, the Secretary of Defense, orders them to be shot down. Two of them are, but one crash lands on Elysium. We then see "Homeland Security" robots round up the "illegals" on the crashed shuttle and immediately deport them back to earth. Sound familiar? Those evil rich people. They just want to keep the poor, illegals down. Yea .... I know - I'm overdoing it on the sarcasm again. Hang with me, though, there's more.

English: Matt Damon's Hollywood Star (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spider, one of the smugglers, devises a plot where Max, Matt Damon's character, goes to Elysium to download computer data, so that Spider can use it to hack Elysium's computer system. Now, what's Spider's plan? The plan is to change Elysium's database and make everyone on earth legal Elysium residents. Wow - just like that ... amnesty for everyone! No more illegals. Woohooo! Now all the sick or injured poor, illegals on earth can go to Elysium and get healed. Isn't it great?

So, as I said, Elysium is nothing more than a political statement by Hollywood supporting amnesty for illegal aliens and universal health care for all. It even contains the emotional, tugging at your heartstrings moment where the daughter, Matilda, of Max's friend, Frey, is smuggled from earth to Elysium for medical care because she has leukemia. There's a rush against the clock to get the database hacked and Matilda to Elysium and into a medi-bay before the leukemia kills her. The message is,"who would be so heartless as to deny medical care to a sick, dying little girl." It's the same emotional argument the left always uses - "it's for the children."

Needless to say, my blood pressure was up a little by the time the movie was over. It reminded me of :

• the pro-Palestinian political statement that U2 made during one of their concerts I attended a few years ago, and 
• Cars 2, which made a point of bashing the big, bad, rich oil companies for getting rich at the expense of the environment. That movie also promoted alternative automobile fuels, such as ethanol. The fact is that ethanol damages engines and requires more of our water supply to produce than gasoline. I even remember one scene in Cars 2 where a large, older model car was made fun of by the other cars for using more gas than them.

I think most Americans would agree with me when I say that when I pay my good money to be entertained, whether it be for a movie or a concert, I do not want politics to be shoved down my throat. It doesn't matter whether the politics lean right or left. It's not what I'm there for. I can watch that crap at home for free. When I go to a movie, it's because I want to get away from all the crap of regular every day life for just a little while, have some fun, and enjoy myself. It's an escape. When the producer brings politics into it, it completely ruins the experience.

I know someone's gonna leave a comment on this post along the lines of "you just hate immigrants." No, I don't. If you are an American citizen, and not a Native American, then you descended from immigrants, me included. I have no problem with immigrants or immigration. That is, legal immigrants and legal immigration. If you want to come to the U.S., come on. However, follow our laws and regulations. Do it the right way. Don't try to slip in the back door and expect to be welcomed with open arms. Not only is it unlawful and wrong, but it's basically trespassing. I don't know of anywhere trespassers are warmly welcomed. Do you?

I think Elysium is off the big screen now. However, if it isn't where you live, consider yourself warned. Don't spend your $11 or $12 on Hollywood leftist propaganda. If that's what you're into, just stay home and turn on CNN or MSNBC. It will be much cheaper.

As for Hollywood, would you people please leave the politics out of movies? I like going to movies, but if this crap continues, I can always stay at home or go to a ballgame.

Related articles

• These Are The ELYSIUM Droids You're Looking For (comicbookmovie.com)
• Going to the Movies in Bangalore: "Elysium," Snowden, Manning and Assange (mikerivageseul.wordpress.com)
• Elysium Review (niallmalcolmmovies.wordpress.com)
• Elysium Movie Review: Born To Be Special (madaboutmoviez.com)
• Review: Elysium (Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Dir: Niel Blomkamp) (reelgoodblog.wordpress.com)
• Elysium (trapdoorsthatopen.wordpress.com)
• Elysium - The Art Of The Movie (awesome-robo.com)
• Elysium (rhombusfanzine.wordpress.com)
• Elysium - No Paradise (thebigredbiotechblog.typepad.com)
• Elysium (thebigpicturefilmblog.wordpress.com)

Palin and Allah

Sarah Palin recently gave her 2 cents worth on the civil war going on in Syria. See what she had to say in the video embedded below or by clicking here.



I'm sure that many on the left, and even some on the right, will scoff at and make fun of what Palin said here. However, when you consider that most in the Middle East have a negative view of the U.S. calling us "The Great Satan", an "occupation force", and generally wanting us gone, I think Palin may be onto something.

I kinda like her idea, so yeah - let's let "Allah sort it out." It's the best idea I've heard in a long time in regards to Middle East policy.

Source - www.TheBlaze.com article titled "Sarah Palin On Syria - 'Let Allah Sort It Out' "

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• Palin slams military intervention in Syria: 'Let Allah sort it out' (itmakessenseblog.com)

A Season of Miracles

The Christmas Season is a joyous time of year. Most of us look forward to it year in and year out. We take time to catch up with family and friends and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmastime is often special for another reason, too. Every year we hear heart-warming stories about special happenings. Some of them we see on the news, while others are learned of by word of mouth. Typically, these stories have to do with giving, and generally involve someone going out of their way to help someone less fortunate. People often refer to these stories as "Christmas Miracles."

The term "miracle" used in a spiritual sense is something that was unlikely to happen but occurred because of Divine Intervention. Generally, Christians believe that God can be seen at work when a miracle such as a miraculous healing or a deliverance from a dangerous situation transpires. "Miracle" in a secular sense is generally used to refer to something that is a rare occurrence, may not happen again, is statistically unlikely, or simply can't be explained - i.e. The Miracle On Ice, the Music City Miracle. Today on The Sheepdog, you will experience a "miracle" of this type.

I am known for holding politicians on both sides of the aisle accountable for votes and / or policy decisions that I don't agree with. Oftentimes, I am harder on the Republicans than I am on the Democrats, because I used to be a GOP'er myself. However, I also try to be fair and dispense accolades on a politician and stand with them when they are on the "right" side of an issue and it is appropriate. Today is one such day.

I have been a frequent critic of Tennessee State Senator Mae Beavers (at right). In the past, I have poked fun at her and called her out on votes that I have felt were hypocritical and less than conservative. (You can read some of my past article about her by clicking here.) I know I am not on her Christmas Card List for these reasons. I have, however, on a few rare occasions agreed with her and supported her, particularly on issues affecting gun owners.

The other day I read an article on the online version of The Lebanon Democrat titled "Lawmakers to Consider Event Ticket Bill".  The bill's official name is the "Fairness in Ticketing Act". Bascially, the bill would regulate the resale of event tickets, such as football games, basketball games, concerts, and other events. Many are concerned that the bill would prevent a private individual from reselling tickets they purchased to someone else. For instance, let's say you buy tickets to a concert, but a week or two before the event you find out you can't go. The bill might prevent you from reselling your tickets to someone else to keep from having to eat them.

In my opinion, the fact that TicketMaster supports the bill makes it a bad bill. I have always felt that they have a racket going in regards to ticket sales. They charge outrageous fees on top of the already outrageous ticket prices for any event ticket. In addition, many times they are the only ones selling tickets to certain events making them, in my opinion, a monopoly. TicketMaster's opinion is that the bill is needed to prevent ticket brokers a.k.a. scalpers from buying up large blocks of tickets and then re-selling them at huge profits. However, that's not the whole story. There are special exemptions in the bill for TicketMaster. Surprise, surprise.

According to an article I ran across on BusinessWire.com titled "Fairness in Ticketing Act Benefits Ticketmaster over Fans", one provision in the bill requires ticket resellers to list their name, face value of the ticket, and the asking price. A second provision could allow TicketMaster to take control of the resale market in addition to the primary market. Furthermore, there is a specific exemption in the law to the requirement to the first provision above. Guess who qualifies for that exemption ? Yep, you guessed it - TicketMonopoly, ... oops. Sorry. I meant TicketMaster. Isn't crony capitalism great ? I bet if you started reviewing the campaign financial reports of Tennessee Legislators, you'd find several campaign contributions from TicketMaster

My wife and I attended the Steelers / Titans football game back in October with some friends. The day the tickets went on sale at 10 a.m., I was sitting in front of my computer attempting to purchase four tickets. As soon as the sale opened on the Titans website, all the tickets were gone. I will admit it was frustrating, but I started looking for them elsewhere. The four of us had set a limit for what we were willing to pay for a ticket. I found many tickets available that were above that limit. I finally found some great seats in our price range, bought them, and we went to the game. Others can do the same thing.

Movie or concert tickets symbol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In addition to TicketMaster, concert halls and sports arenas support the law. Personally, I don't buy that for two reasons :

1. They are in business to make money. So, why would they care who buys the tickets as long as they are bought ?
2. If they are truly concerned about making sure that Joe Six Pack gets a ticket to a game or concert at a reasonable price, then they could simply refuse to sell the tickets in large blocks to the brokers.

Instead of more government regulation, I have a better solution to the problem the Tennessee Legislature is trying to solve. First, the "gubmint" should stay out of it and allow the free market to work out a solution. Second, one solution would be for the ticket industry to "self-police" itself. For instance, the concert halls and sports arenas could simply choose to sell the tickets ONLY to individuals, and maybe set a limit, such as 4 or 6, as to the number of tickets one individual could buy. Then, consumers could decide if they are willing to pay the prices the venues set. If they are, fine. If not, simple economics will force the prices down to a level consumers are willing to pay.

In the article mentioned above, Senator Beavers says that she is opposed to the law, because it would take away the purchaser's property rights. She goes on to say that, in her opinion, "Once you buy a ticket, what you do with it is your business." I know many will be shocked, but I agree with Senator Beavers 110% on this issue, and I hope the state legislature quickly puts this bill in file 13 after session starts.

I am sure that today's article and my agreeing with Senator Beavers for once is surprising to some, particularly to people in Wilson County. A few may even wonder if a Sheepdog imposter wrote this article. I can assure you the author is I. I just want to be fair to Beavers, Obama, and other politicians by not only criticizing them when they are wrong, but by also applauding them when they are right.

Perhaps this article and the fact I agree with Beavers for once can be considered a "Christmas Miracle" in their own right. To Senator Beavers, I say good job and thank you in regards to opposing this legislation, and in the spirit of the season, I wish her and her family a Merry Christmas.

And before anyone asks, the answer is no - hell has not frozen over ..... yet.

Bad Sheepdog. Ruff !!

Use some common sense and "chillax"

We're all saddened by the events in Arizona last Saturday when Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (pictured right) and others were targeted by a shooter, Jared Loughner. I've listened to the pundits, so-called experts, and the media express their opinions on TV, the internet, and blogs. I've heard people on the Left blame folks on the Right, such as Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and others. Then, I've listened to the Right turn around and blame the Left. I've seen the reports that some members of Congress want to pass new gun control laws and restrict speech because of the shooting. However, it's apparent to me that what we really need is for everyone to take a deep breath, use some common sense, and just relax instead of having knee jerk reactions that help no one. After listening to all of it, I'd like to add my two cents in hopes of bringing a little common sense to all the madness.

According to Merriam-Websters online dictionary, common sense is "sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts." Common sense has been rare in the U.S. in the last several years, and it's been nearly nonexistent in the week since the Giffords shooting. While the blame game was going on, we heard cries from Congress that free speech needed to be regulated due to all the "heated rhetoric" in the media. Any speech that could incite someone to violence should be banned they said. So, let's take a look at what that might look like :

• The word "bat" would be banned. The word has many different uses and a few of them could offend someone or incite them to violence. For instance, are you talking about a "baseball bat," a "ding-bat," a "vampire bat," or an "old bat ?" Are baseball bats gonna be used as sports equipment or weapons ? Plus, we have to be careful about offending the "vampire bats," "ding bats," and "old bats." They're very sensitive you know. Everybody got it ?
• The word "knife" would be banned because it could be an eating utenstil, weapon, or tool used for cleaning and processing game and other meat products. We sure don't want to offend the animals or incite anyone to violence by talking about "knives."
• The word "kill" would be banned. Hunters now have to talk about "harvesting" their game. Also, when we kill, oops, I mean end a bug or other pest's life, we would use the word "terminate." Once again, we don't won't to offend the pests or incite a person to hurt anyone by using the "k-word." Lastly, whenever Congress doesn't pass a bill, they can't say, "We killed the bill." They have to say, "The bill failed." Is everyone straight on this ?

I probably went a little overboard on the sarcasm, but I think I made my point about how silly the proposed "speech ban" is. Even sillier have been the cries for more gun control. Some would like to reinstate the failed so-called Assault Weapons Ban and institute restrictions on magazine capacity due to the Giffords shooting. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has said he will introduce a new bill that will prohibit anyone from possessing a firearm within 1000 feet of a federal official, including the President, Vice-President, members of Congress, and Federal judges. The problem with these additional gun control measures include the following :

• The so-called Assault Weapons Ban passed during the Clinton Administration was a failure. The original reason for the unconstitutional bill, according to it's supporters, was that it would reduce crime. However, the ATF reported seeing no evidence that crime actually decreased due to the bill's passage.
• Rep. King's 1000-ft. perimeter gun ban bill would NOT have stopped the tragic shooting in Arizona. Anyone intent on breaking laws prohibiting murder to shoot a federal official is not gonna be concerned about breaking a law saying "NO guns within 1000 feet of a federal official." They could care less. If you actually think that would deter them, then I've got a great deal on some ocean front property here in Middle Tennessee for you. When would you like to come look at it ??
• Rep. King's proposed "1000 foot law" could have unintended and tragic consequences. For instance, let's say that a member of Congress is at event where they are accompanied by a spouse or friend with a concealed carry permit. The member is attacked and severely injured or killed. The spouse or friend could have defended them, but they had to leave their lawfully owned and carried firearm at home or in their vehicle because of this silly law. Is Rep. King really gonna try to pass such a law which would prohibit a Congressperson's spouse from defending them ?

Knee-jerk reactions never accomplish anything positive after tragedies. They can actually have unintended consequences. More government control over firearms and free speech is not the answer to the Giffords tragedy. Such free speech regulation was tried once before. It was called The Fairness Doctrine which was introduced in 1949 and then abolished by an executive order from President Reagan in 1987. During the term of the fairness doctrine, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated, President Ronald Reagan was shot, and President Gerald Ford was shot twice. The Fairness Doctrine did nothing to curb violence against federal officials. So, why does Congress think that new regulation on speech would be successful ?

In conclusion, I believe we all just need to "chillax" - chill-out and relax. The blame game that's been going on for a week is not accomplishing anything positive. It's not bringing the country together. Instead, it's just polarizing it even more. There is no one to blame for the tragedy except the young man, Jared Loughner, who chose to stalk Rep. Giffords and then solve his differences with her with a gun. If he had an issue with her, he could have chosen a peaceful resolution by simply having an intelligent conversation with her. He chose violence instead. The entire tragedy is on him and him alone. The rest of us need to take a step back, pray for the recovery of Congresswoman Giffords and the others injured, and use some common sense for a change and act like reasonable adults. Is that too much to ask ?   

Related articles

• Lawmakers And The Crazy Laws They Want To Pass In The Wake Of Tucson Tragedy (huffingtonpost.com)
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• The shooting of Gabrielle Giffords leaves members of Congress at a loss in more ways than one. (slate.com)
• Congress readies new gun-control bills after Gabrielle Giffords shooting - Christian Science Monitor (news.google.com)
• How Not to React to the Gabrielle Giffords Shooting [Stupidity] (gawker.com)

Atrocity in the U.S. - politicians killing transplant patients !!

Several weeks ago, Conservatives and others were singing the praises of the Republican Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer (pictured right). Arizona had just passed their new immigration bill and several other states were considering passing one like it. Brewer stood up to the Obama Administration's threats of a lawsuit over the bill by basically telling them to "bring in on." Now, Brewer has gone from a hero to a big fat zero. As you read the rest of this story, I want to encourage you to click on and read every story linked to and watch the video, also. Every American needs to know this information because it or something similar will eventually happen in your state if something is not done. Mark my words.

My regular blog readers know from my earlier posts on ObamaCare that I was wholeheartedly against it. The biggest reason is because in countries, such as Canada and England, where socialized medicine is currently being practiced that rationing and denial of care occurs as the cost of the program increases. In fact, in my July 16, 2009 post titled "Health Reform", I made the following prediction :

The government will begin rationing care at some point to try to lower costs leading to them deciding who gets treatment and who doesn't. It already happens in Canada and England. Basically, they play God deciding who lives and who dies.

Unfortunately, ObamaCare has not even taken effect yet and it is already happening. People said Sarah Palin was crazy when she said ObamaCare would lead to "death panels." Well, it now appears that she wasn't as crazy as they thought. The State of Arizona Medicaid progam is broke so they are denying coverage for life-saving organ transplants and allowing their sickest residents to suffer and die. In a memo dated September 30, 2010 from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, it states that effective October 1, 2010 pancreas, lung, bone marrow, liver, and heart "transplants will not be covered for people 21 years or older." It's hard to believe it's happening in the U.S., but it is and it's happening if you're only 21. Just imagine how the elderly will be treated one day.

An article, BrewerCare - Death by Budget Cut on Forbes.com, tells that the cut to Arizona's Medicaid transplant funding amounted to only $1.4 Million. However, it means that 100 Arizonians needing life-saving transplants will NOT get them unless they can somehow raise the money to pay for them. Most of them are so sick they can't work. So, how are they gonna raise the funds ?? Here's the truly shocking part - the state has $2 Million in the budget for "algae research" and used $1.7 Million of federal stimulus money for roof renovations on the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Which is more important - peoples' lives or a roof on a coliseum ?? Save the lives - let the dang roof fall in and the algae research wait !! I'll bet that if they dug a little, they could find enough wasteful pork spending to cut out of the budget to cover the $1.4 Million needed, too. The Democrats in the state legislature have asked Brewer, a so-called Republican, to call a special legislative session to try to find a way to fund the transplant program. She has repeatedly refused. I thought the Republican Party was Pro-Life. Guess I was wrong. This is the first time in my life I can say I'm embarrassed and ashamed to have ever been a Republican.

The video in another story, Jan Brewer Budget Cuts Have Arizona Governor Under Fire, which ran on HuffingtonPost.com really puts a human face on the crisis. Please watch it here.



I am both saddened and angry by the news that the Arizona Government is denying its citizens who need life-saving transplants coverage for them and basically giving them a death sentence by allowing them to die. I can't help thinking "but for the grace of God go I." Rationing is a fact of life in socialized medicine and generally the most expensive care gets rationed first - i.e. transplants. I fear that it will not end in Arizona. It is only a matter of time before other states are effected by it. Once ObamaCare cranks up, it will eventually effect the whole country.

I will probably be attacked by folks on the Right and on the Left for what I am about to say. However, I'm gonna say it anyway because it needs to be said. For years, we have set on our "assets" and voted in politician after politician whom have no morals or ethics and no respect for the value or sanctity of human life. They have then appointed and confirmed judge after judge with none either. We have walked into the voting booth without researching the candidates and repeatedly re-elected the worst of the worst because they had the "R" or "D" by their name or gave us something. We Christians did it, too, and it has resulted in thousands of innocent, unborn babies being savagely murdered. Yes - I said it. Murdered - period. We've called it "choice" and even allowed some of it to be paid for by taxpayer dollars. Now, we are allowing politicians to sentence our sickest citizens to death and calling it "a budget cut." We don't have the money to take care of people who can't take care of themselves, but yet we spend millions upon millions of tax dollars on sports stadiums and other crap we don't need every year. Our priorities are completely screwed up. When are we as Americans gonna say "it ends now !!" When are we gonna have a reverence, a respect, and some honor for the value and sanctity of human life ?? Who are we gonna let the politicians and judges kill next ?? Will it be the cancer patients ?? Or, the diabetics ?? Or, the elderly ?? People, we have blood on our hands. If we don't stop playing politics and stand up for what's right and reject what's wrong, one day Almighty God is gonna judge this country swiftly and thoroughly because we didn't protect human life. It is not of a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Furthermore, we have no one to blame but ourselves because we put the jokers in power who have done it. We, as a country, need to get back to praying, turn back to Him, and get our freakin' priorities back in order. One precious life has already been lost thanks to Brewer's transplant cut. If I were a family member, the state would have already been sued in hopes that it didn't happen to someone else. How many more have to die before Arizonians and Americans everywhere rise up and say, "we're not gonna take it anymore ??"

I'm waiting for your answer. And yes, this Sheepdog is pissed !!

Related articles

• Arizona Governor Jan Brewer-Rootin' Tootin' IT Illiteracy Riding High Lacking Digital Literacy With Budget Algorithmic Solutions to Find Funding for Transplant Patients (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
• Death by Budget Cuts: Arizona Governor Slashes Funding for Transplant Program (health.change.org)
• Health care cruelty in Arizona (washingtonmonthly.com)
• Arizona Is the New California, and It's Already Changing Our Lives (politicsdaily.com)
• Jan Brewer Medicaid Cuts Prompt Dire Calls For Life-Saving Coverage & Criticism Of 'Brewercare' (huffingtonpost.com)
• Arizona Gov. Brewer wants Medicaid Waiver To Reduce Medicaid Rolls To Lower Costs (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
• National Transplant Organizations Take a Stand Against Arizona Medicaid Cuts (eon.businesswire.com)
• You: News Analysis: Arizona Medicaid Cuts Seen as a Sign of the Times (nytimes.com)
• Organ transplants shelved with Medicaid cuts (cbc.ca)
• Arizona's Medicaid Cuts On Transplants Is A Classic Example of Decisions Not Based on Medical Needs But Rather Budget Only (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
• Arizona is Cutting its Medicare Budget By Denying Organ Transplants... (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)
• Arizona Begins Rationing Care For Medicaid Patients By Denying Coverage For Transplants (insidesurgery.com)
• "Death Panels Come to Arizona" and related posts (stinque.com)
• Arizona Cuts Financing for Transplant Patients (nytimes.com)
• Organ Transplants Unaffordable After Cuts (abcnews.go.com)

Stick a fork in ACORN

A week ago today, a historic election was held in which Republicans regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Democrats and nearly pulled off regaining control of the U.S. Senate, too. I ran across a story (see TheDailyCaller.com below) which contained more bad news for the Lefties that day - ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) has declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

ACORN's controversial past has been in the news recently, and I've discussed it in three previous blog posts. Furthermore, Mr. Obama has had a close relationship with them for years. We've all heard him blame George W. Bush for the country's current problems on numerous occasions. Following Obama's example, anyone care to guess who ACORN blamed for their financial woes ?? No - not Bush, but you're in the ballpark. ACORN blamed the other group Obama detests - the so-called "Right Wing media." You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that's FoxNews (i.e. Glenn Beck). After all, it was Glenn Beck who first looked into ACORN. Then again, are you really surprised ?? Isn't looking for someone to blame what the Lefties always do ??

Related articles

• Bankruptcy the End of ACORN - or Is It 'Transforming'? (foxnews.com)
• ACORN files for bankruptcy (thehill.com)
• ACORN files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy - and blames (or credits ?) 'right-wing media' for downfall (TheDailyCaller.com)

Old Politics vs. New Leadership in Tennessee

Below is an interesting article, Old Politics vs. New Leadership in Tennessee, by JB Williams that appeared in Canada Free Press.

Old Politics v. New Leadership in Tennessee

By JB Williams Wednesday, June 30, 2010

There is a national struggle underway for conservative control of the GOP in the 2010 elections and cases like the Tennessee Senate race between old RNC guard Mae Beavers and new GOP rising star Susan Lynn are playing out all over the country.

Old RNC power brokers like John McCain (AZ) and Carly Fiorina (CA) are fighting to maintain the status quo in a political party that long ago lost touch with its roots and the core conservative principles and values that most Americans hope to return to in the 2010 elections.

Across the board, incumbents are in BIG trouble in both political parties on the national scene. But that sentiment has spilled over into many state races as well and nowhere is that more evident than in the heated senate race in Tennessee’s 17th District.

As the left-wing Tennessean paper reports in its June 29th story —“It looks like it may be a summer for the record books, both in terms of heat and also for political shenanigans.”—“Anyone who is a regular listener to right-wing bloviator Steve Gill knows that “fact checker” is not in any job description on his staff. Gill’s attack on fellow far-rightist State Rep. Susan Lynn helps make the point.”

While I have been a supporter of Mae Beavers and a listener of Steve Gill in the past, I must admit that the left-leaning Tennessean has called this one right! Gill has been a well-known sycophant of TN Senator Mae Beavers for years now. His unwarranted personal attacks on TN Rep. Susan Lynn are well known in Tennessee, and have always been played off by locals as nothing more than Beavers Camp rhetoric.

However, the truth stands in the way of both Beavers and Gill this time around and Tennessee conservatives are looking for new conservative leadership, not old RNC campaign shenanigans.

As a conservative Tennessee blogger put it—“Before Mae announced she was running for Wilson County Mayor, she had options. Any decision concerning what to do about remaining the Senator from District 17 was hers alone. Mae admits many people encouraged her to run for Wilson County Mayor and that such encouragement was influential in her decision not to run for Mayor.”

Mae decided to retire from the TN Senate and run for the better paying Wilson County Mayor office, leaving her senate seat vacant and open to new conservative leaders like popular TN Rep. Susan Lynn. Mae also thought she had hand-picked her senate successor in long-time supporter and local businessman A.J. McCall.

But when McCall was forced out of the senate race, running far behind Lynn in the polls, and Mae was forced out of the race for Wilson County Mayor running far behind, Mae had a sudden change of heart.

Beavers dropped out of the Mayor’s race on the heels of McCall dropping out of the senate race, and Beavers announced that she was no longer going to retire her senate seat, placing her in a head-to-head competition with front-runner Susan Lynn.

The TN blogger states the obvious reaction of most Tennessee conservatives, especially Tea Party types seeking new conservative leadership and an end to old RNC political games - “No one forced her [Mae Beavers] to make that decision. She took counsel of her family, her God, her advisors, her constituents and herself and, ultimately, she alone made the decision not to seek re-election to the Senate. She alone had the freedom to make that choice for her life.

Once made, announced and implemented, other people took into account her choice and made their own decisions. Susan Lynn chose to run for Mae’s available seat and as many as 10 candidates may run for Lynn’s seat from TN House District 57. Money was spent, momentous decisions were made that impact individuals, families, voters, the TN GOP and perhaps even Americans beyond the borders of Tennessee.”

Beavers Shoots at Lynn and hits Tennessee Citizens

National Obama policies have forced the states to take up emergency legislation to challenge the federal government’s assault on Tenth Amendment rights.
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One of those measures is the Health Care Freedom Act, which the conservative legislators group ALEC had written model legislation on, making it easier for state legislatures to move quickly to protect their citizens from an over-reaching Fed.

Beavers is single handedly responsible for killing the Health Care Freedom Act in Tennessee leaving all Tennesseans exposed to the federal health mandates pushed into law by Obama.

• Lynn was the first to introduce the Health Care Freedom Act in the House with HB2622—a bill carefully crafted on the ALEC model, taking into consideration previous decisions by the state’s Attorney General concerning “unconstitutional” language in an older senate version.
• A couple weeks later, Beavers followed Lynn’s lead by introducing a competitive bill in the senate, SB2560. SB2560 included the language which the states AG had already deemed “unconstitutional” which means it would have been vetoed by Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen had it passed.
• Beavers refused to compromise by removing the “unconstitutional” text and going with Lynn’s HB2622 which had support in the House to pass, and was void of the “unconstitutional” text leaving Governor Bredesen no grounds upon which to veto.
• In the final hours of floor debate, Lynn reluctantly moved to accept Beavers bill despite knowing that it would likely be vetoed, in an effort to pass some form of Health Care Freedom Act. But in the end, both HB2622 and SB2560 failed to pass and once again, the old politics defeated new leadership, leaving the people of Tennessee without protection of a Health Care Freedom Act.

Now folks, this is exactly why most American voters are as angry with incumbent Republicans as they are Socialist Democrats today.

Beavers’ personal ambition won out over honorable statesmanship and the best interest of the people of Tennessee. Don’t expect to hear this truth from Beavers sycophant Steve Gill.

But it is for this reason that I hereby endorse TN Rep. Susan Lynn for Tennessee’s District 17 Senate seat.

I further request that ALL conservative Americans seeking honest conservative leadership in government join me in supporting Ms. Lynn’s campaign to end the politics of old in the Tennessee Senate.