Sunday, November 29, 2009

Excitement today....

Today I will be able to watch the all-time football Ironman as the Vikings take on the Chicago Bears.
Brett Favre is a tremendously gifted kid, albeit a 40 year old kid whose love for the game has never eclipsed by his talent.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Being thankful this Holiday Season

As we as a town, state and nation reflect on the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday, let us take care to remember all of the many blessings that we have and to count.

Let us give thanks for living in an imperfect world with all of its challenges and opportunities.

Let us give thanks that we have enough to eat, and to welcome those whom we know and love into our homes and dinner tables.

Let us give thanks that our political system allows dissent and has the capacity for rebirth at regular intervals, lest we suffer the lessons of tyrannies past.

Let us remember those who fight and serve this great country, so that we may enjoy the fruits of our labors and those of our fore fathers before us.

Let us remember loved ones who are no longer with us or cannot be with us today due to illness or passing.

Let us remember to bring more of our charity into our jobs, our homes, our churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, that we always help our fellow man, regardless of who he is.

Let us uplift ourselves and our loved ones and give thanks to God in whatever way brings joy, and not harm to ourselves and all mankind.

Let us have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mike Rowland

Monday, November 23, 2009

With more than 50% disapproval of the current health reforms based on cost, potential for rationing and lack of universal care, the legislation currently proposed by the Senate and House only passes because Democrat leadership adds millions in pork.

Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Rep. Cao, also of Louisiana received more than 300 million in order to obtain their support. Senators Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Ben Nelson vote ostensibly to continue debate, hiding behind the fact that any changes to the Senate bill will require a 60 vote majority based on the rules of the Senate.

There will be no Stupak amendment on Abortion, there will be no tort or frivolous lawsuits, and there will most assuredly be no cost control or containment as the Congress will not be able to recover the 500 Billion in Medicare fraud.

Our taxes will go up, on the rich, but on the rest of us as more and more people are forced onto government assistance in health care.

Our State Taxes will increase because there are provisions in the bill that increase the people covered under Medicaid to 133% of the poverty level. There will be little to no additional federal funding for this and so states will be forced to increase taxes in order to accommodate this unfunded mandate.

I urge everyone to oppose this bill and tell your Senators and Congressmen to put a stop to the bills currently being promoted and suggest commonsense approaches to the high cost of health care.

Mike Rowland

He may be your Senator, but he is my Senator no more.

Citing the tradition of having a debate on the issues, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson vote with the rest of the Democrats to bring the Harry Reid cobbled together FrankenHealth bill to the floor to debate.

Republicans opposed this on a variety of grounds, primarily on cost, effectiveness of cost containment, the unprecedented level of government intrusion and a host of other things. Ben Nelson claimed that he wasn't necessarily in favor of the bill, but needed to have debate.

UPDATE: Using the DNC computer time to slow or reverse the current health care plan

Apparently this link works and the DNC is not content checking the submissions.

http://my.democrats.org/page/speakout/posthouseLTE is a website link posting on the DNC website to show your support for health care. If you click on it, you will be sent to a post that helps you write a letter to the editor of a large number of newspapers near your zip code. It includes national publications and the Denver Post, but sadly, only the Scottsbluff paper makes it here.

Friday, November 20, 2009

So bold you can't believe you eyes.

Harry Reid of Nevada has pulled yet another one. In a slight of hand move, the new Senate health bill contains a provision to make a one time payment to Louisiana in the amount of 100 million dollars. Coincidentally, Mary Landrieu, the so-called moderate Democrat from that state is facing some mounting problems getting elected next year. In a state known for political corruption and politicians like Ray Nagins (remember.. he wants to make New Orleans a "chocolate city" after Katrina?) and the disgraced Democrat William Jefferson who was found guilty on bribery charges, it looks like Louisiana Congress me and Senators and selling their votes.

Something has broken in our system of politics where politicians vote, not for the best interest of the nation, but for the ability of lining their own pockets (or their states) and in doing so squander their constitutional duties for the modern equivalent of 30 pieces of silver.

Closer to home, Ben Nelson, Democrat from Nebraska said today that he was going to vote on cloture for the Senate Health reform bill this Saturday. He released a statement saying that his vote was about preserving debate and that it wasn't an endorsement of the legislation per se. It is a red herring.

Please contact Senator Nelson and tell him to not vote for cloture on the health care fiasco.

Omaha
7602 Pacific St.
Ste 205
Omaha, NE 68114
Tel: (402) 391-3411
Fax: (402) 391-4725



Lincoln
440 North 8th Street
Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508
Tel: (402) 441-4600
Fax: (402) 476-8753

Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-6551
Fax: (202) 228-0012

Thursday, November 19, 2009

If they are speaking, they must be lying

Dorothy Parker wrote in the local newspaper that she thought President Obama wasn't getting a fair shake because he was being criticized for being a Muslim. Her source of truth on this was a spam email she says was designed to tear down "Our President."

I don't know Ms. Parker, but it is safe to say that she should monitor her internet usage or the usage of it by members of her family and friends. While I agree that there are a number of people out there who believe that Obama isn't a real US citizen and/or he is hiding his so-called Muslim beliefs for some ulterior purpose, I don't honestly believe that those two issues are significant reasons for the uproar over policy decisions.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Pay for Play

Reports have been circulating that the primary growth in new jobs (Not the calculated stimulus created or saved jobs number) is in the government sector. Just a little something for those of you to consider...

When the Government grows jobs in the public sector, the demands for taxes to pay for their salaries and benefits, including government paid for health care increases at an increasing rate. It is also an established fact that money spent on managing the government doesn't contribute to the overall GDP the way that manufacturing jobs and entrepreneurial risk takers have historically done.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Putting on the your best face, while pulling your own pants down.

As President Obama makes his record 20th international visit to China and other parts of Asia this week, Eric Holder, the US Attorney General announced plans to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 4 others to New York's federal southern district court in New York City to face thousands of counts of murder and other terrorism related charges. According to Holder and Senate Democrats who support the announcement, that we will be showing the world that our system of justice will provide a fair opportunity for these men as defendants and will finally bring to justice the leaders of the attacks of 9/11. What it will really do is expose our backsides to additional terrorism just as the trial of the infamous blind Sheikh for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing did by naming Osama Bin Laden as a co-conspirator, alerting him in time to escape the Sudan.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Health Care Passes Critical Point

With the 220 to 215 vote in the US House of Representatives, the US cleared a major obstacle in the decades long battle to establish universal health care. Speaker Pelosi (D-Ca) chuckled, that with one Republican vote by "Joe" Cao of Louisiana, "That equals bipartisan." The vote was bipartisan alright, but it was in the opposition to federal funding for abortions and its massive price tag.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Massacre at Fort Hood Please pass this along

Nidal Malik Hasan, a 39 year old Muslim with ties to extremist rhetoric fought back against his impending deployment to Afghanistan by shooting unarmed military personnel who were getting processed for overseas deployment, killing 13 and wounding more than 30 others. Before the first funeral can take place, left wingers and family members are trying to explain away the worst massacre to ever occur on a US military base.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Political Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap

The devastating losses for the Dems in Virginia, coupled with the stunning upset loss of the NJ Governor's race to the Chris Cristie are certain to have long standing impacts in the political landscape of the nation for the mid term elections in 2010.