Silly question?
Maybe.
But her recent political antics certainly provoke much widespread puzzlement and confusion. Either Susan is badly out of step with the Republican Party, or many in the Republican Party are out of step with Susan. As a very troubling symptom of Senator Collins political "pivots", the very left-leaning Portland Press Herald has been keeping her front and center in the paper on an almost daily basis, as she gives various Republicans a "black eye". It has kept most Republicans very unhappy!
These days Republicans come in many different "political flavors. There are: conservative "Tea Partiers", Libertarians, Middle of the Road types, RINOs, and then there is Senator Susan Collins. Is she an Independent, or an-almost Democrat, or what?
In all fairness, Senator Collins has many years of admirable public service as a Maine Republican Senator. She used to be a fairly recognizable "middle of the road Republican", able to compromise on legislation when it seemed appropriate to get things done. This was compromise without "surrender" of core Republican principles. Now we are left wondering as she jumps ship on core Republican issues like Obamacare - repeal and replace. Senator Collins recently proposed a bill to rescind President Trump's decision to disallow transgender persons in the military. The president's decision recognized the difficulty of having a functional, combat ready military if there is an array of internal social turbulence.
Here in Maine, there is much Republican perplexity about Senator Collins "next political move". Will she run for Governor of Maine? On which party? Republican, Independent, or Democrat? When will she make known her decision? Some suggest it will happen within a month. There is considerable concern being privately expressed among some Republicans that a Collins run for Governor could be a "spoiler" for those Republicans who have already announced that they are in the gubernatorial race. The speculation is that, having offended Maine Republican leadership, and therefore damaging her her chances in the Republican primaries, that she might enter as an Independent candidate. As an Independent, with great name recognition and with constant press approval of her rebellions against the Republican party, she might scoop up supporters from among more liberal Republicans and from a large number of Democrats, who like her attacks on Republicanism.
The word in the street is that over the years, Collins has accumulated a huge "election war chest" and doesn't need any financial support from the Maine Republican party. Furthermore, it is being whispered behind closed doors that she is hinting at helping with financial support for Maine politicians seeking Maine or national political offices. Loyalty to Susan Collins is the 'quid pro quo'. The "Collins marketing pitch": Imagine a "Republican Governor for 8 years. Imagine a Republican majority in the Maine House and Senate. Imagine an all Republican congressional delegation.
Just "make nice" to Susan Collins in the primaries and it all could fall into place.
Has she "cooked her goose", as Gov LePage claims, or can she entice with "a chicken in every pot" for loyal candidates?
Showing posts with label Obamacare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obamacare. Show all posts
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Four More Years of the Same? Or Are We Ready for a Change?
There are absolutely no surprises with Clinton, 4 more years of a carbon copy of Obama's left wing agenda: more regulation (of everything), more assaults on freedom of religion (kill it!!), more taxes, more government (except for a poorly funded, strangled, castrated military) and a more entrenched federal bureaucracy. Plus, Hillary will continue Obama's nationally polarizing disdain for opponents (known to this administration as "enemies"). Obamacare will collapse and taxpayers will be forced to pay for a single payer plan. 100% predictable.
Trump is certainly far from predictable, but "talks the talk" and offers plausible alternatives. Most important, he takes our security seriously.
Then, last, but by no means least, there are "The Supreme's", governing from the bench. Filling the current empty seat can't be held off for 4 years. It's Clinton vs Trump. An enduring legacy that could last 20 + years.
The choices couldn't be clearer.
RepubliCAN of Maine supports the current Republican candidate and any candidates who endorse the Republican candidate running for President.
Trump is certainly far from predictable, but "talks the talk" and offers plausible alternatives. Most important, he takes our security seriously.
Then, last, but by no means least, there are "The Supreme's", governing from the bench. Filling the current empty seat can't be held off for 4 years. It's Clinton vs Trump. An enduring legacy that could last 20 + years.
The choices couldn't be clearer.
RepubliCAN of Maine supports the current Republican candidate and any candidates who endorse the Republican candidate running for President.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
An open letter to Andy O'Brien of the Free Press on his article of District 12 Candidate
A recent article published in the Free Press is more an opinion of the writer than it is a piece educating the readers of where these two candidates stand. The piece "Knox County Senate Race - Miramant and Sutton Disagree on Role of Gov't, Existence of Climate Change" written with a heavy slant favoring Dave Miramant and mis-quotes Paula Sutton painting the candidate as someone who is uncaring or mis-guided on many issues.
The piece has prompted an open letter to the Free Press and writer Andy O'Brien response to the piece by Andy O'Brien which you can read below.
An open letter to Andy O'Brien of the Free Press On His Paula Sutton/Dave Miramant article
I read with interest your article outlining the positions held by the State Senate candidates Paula Sutton and Dave Miramant.
While most of the piece contains some facts I couldn't help but notice comments such as "Her campaign is also focused on opposing government funded safety-net programs for the needy, arguing that programs should be be volunteer based not funded with tax money." This statement is a half truth. Paula Sutton believes the truly needy including the handicapped and elderly are deserving of taxpayer help. There are limited funds to go around. So for you to say her campaign is "focused" on opposing government funded safety-net programs for the needy is not so. Paula Sutton is concerned as most taxpayers should be that welfare money goes to those most deserving of assistance.
The statement immediately before that saying that Paula is not employed or involved in a business is again, a half truth. Paula is now a consultant for the business she and her husband own but is taking a hiatus from working full time for their small business to run for the Maine State Senate.
Your paragraph on The Existence of Climate Change is an interesting one. The wording "Sutton is skeptical of the benefits of renewable energy." is also worded poorly. Paula Sutton realizes that renewable energy is fine but years away from society being able to utilize it as one would oil, propane and natural gas. Renewable energy trying to expand too quickly has accounted for money that was wasted. Solyndra was a solar company that received over $500 million dollars from taxpayers and it went bankrupt. That was not a good financial move and was a waste of taxpayer money. You also seem to put your personal spin on this, quoting reports that seem to say that climate change is a fact. What happened to the Al Gore choruses of global warming? There has been a "pause" in "global warming" a big "pause" of over 17 years!
There is a lot of money to be had in the "global warming" myth. Money that if the lie is repeated enough and believed enough by some people, the average consumer will be paying much more for utilities, cars, food and most everything.
Another paragraph and your bias continues to show, with a direct slam on Paula Sutton with the statement "Sutton said, incorrectly, that the gas tax is not dedicated to roads but dumped into the state's general fund." States are allotting a growing share of the funds they raise from gas taxes to debt service and spending unrelated to roads and bridges, making them more reliant on federal assistance to pay for new infrastructure.
Healthcare can be done on a grand and expensive scale (think and feel Obamacare) or done in smaller more cost effective ways like with the Knox County Health Clinic. Several doctors I have spoken with have told me if some relief could be forthcoming with student loans being reduced or partially forgiven for doctors and if medical malpractice insurance could be reduced to where only proven negligence were to account for most of the expense of malpractice insurance reducing its cost, that would free up a financial burden placed on doctors and allow for more time to dedicate to volunteering.
Your article does a disservice to the voting public. Label it the way it should have been labeled, an editorial.
David Miramant wants to raise our cost of living by raising taxes in a state that can't afford it.
We know from what you have written that you are a Democrat voting for Dave Miramant and Paula Sutton is a Republican with Conservative values and that bothers you, which showed in this piece.
To read the original article published in the Free Press click on this link.
The piece has prompted an open letter to the Free Press and writer Andy O'Brien response to the piece by Andy O'Brien which you can read below.
An open letter to Andy O'Brien of the Free Press On His Paula Sutton/Dave Miramant article
I read with interest your article outlining the positions held by the State Senate candidates Paula Sutton and Dave Miramant.
While most of the piece contains some facts I couldn't help but notice comments such as "Her campaign is also focused on opposing government funded safety-net programs for the needy, arguing that programs should be be volunteer based not funded with tax money." This statement is a half truth. Paula Sutton believes the truly needy including the handicapped and elderly are deserving of taxpayer help. There are limited funds to go around. So for you to say her campaign is "focused" on opposing government funded safety-net programs for the needy is not so. Paula Sutton is concerned as most taxpayers should be that welfare money goes to those most deserving of assistance.
The statement immediately before that saying that Paula is not employed or involved in a business is again, a half truth. Paula is now a consultant for the business she and her husband own but is taking a hiatus from working full time for their small business to run for the Maine State Senate.
Your paragraph on The Existence of Climate Change is an interesting one. The wording "Sutton is skeptical of the benefits of renewable energy." is also worded poorly. Paula Sutton realizes that renewable energy is fine but years away from society being able to utilize it as one would oil, propane and natural gas. Renewable energy trying to expand too quickly has accounted for money that was wasted. Solyndra was a solar company that received over $500 million dollars from taxpayers and it went bankrupt. That was not a good financial move and was a waste of taxpayer money. You also seem to put your personal spin on this, quoting reports that seem to say that climate change is a fact. What happened to the Al Gore choruses of global warming? There has been a "pause" in "global warming" a big "pause" of over 17 years!
There is a lot of money to be had in the "global warming" myth. Money that if the lie is repeated enough and believed enough by some people, the average consumer will be paying much more for utilities, cars, food and most everything.
Another paragraph and your bias continues to show, with a direct slam on Paula Sutton with the statement "Sutton said, incorrectly, that the gas tax is not dedicated to roads but dumped into the state's general fund." States are allotting a growing share of the funds they raise from gas taxes to debt service and spending unrelated to roads and bridges, making them more reliant on federal assistance to pay for new infrastructure.
Healthcare can be done on a grand and expensive scale (think and feel Obamacare) or done in smaller more cost effective ways like with the Knox County Health Clinic. Several doctors I have spoken with have told me if some relief could be forthcoming with student loans being reduced or partially forgiven for doctors and if medical malpractice insurance could be reduced to where only proven negligence were to account for most of the expense of malpractice insurance reducing its cost, that would free up a financial burden placed on doctors and allow for more time to dedicate to volunteering.
Your article does a disservice to the voting public. Label it the way it should have been labeled, an editorial.
David Miramant wants to raise our cost of living by raising taxes in a state that can't afford it.
We know from what you have written that you are a Democrat voting for Dave Miramant and Paula Sutton is a Republican with Conservative values and that bothers you, which showed in this piece.
To read the original article published in the Free Press click on this link.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Harry Reid staffers exempt from Obamacare exchanges
So while many government staffers are being asked by their bosses to sign up through the Obama exchanges - there are those who work for Senator Harry Reid who will be exempt from using the Obama exchanges. While it is true that our representatives have the option to exempt their staff - Senator Harry Reid is the only one... only one to exercise that right. GOP House Speaker John Boehner - a staunch opponent of Obama Care has directed his staff to sign up.
If the exchanges are good enough for the American public then it should be more than adequate for Federal employees - including Senator Harry Reid and his staff.
CNN
Washington (CNN) -- Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of Obamacare's architects and staunchest supporters, is also the only top congressional leader to exempt some of his staff from having to buy insurance through the law's new exchanges.
Reid is the exception among the other top congressional leaders. GOP House Speaker John Boehner, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have all directed their staffs to join the exchange, their aides said.
Full story and video: CNN
If the exchanges are good enough for the American public then it should be more than adequate for Federal employees - including Senator Harry Reid and his staff.
CNN
Washington (CNN) -- Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of Obamacare's architects and staunchest supporters, is also the only top congressional leader to exempt some of his staff from having to buy insurance through the law's new exchanges.
Reid is the exception among the other top congressional leaders. GOP House Speaker John Boehner, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have all directed their staffs to join the exchange, their aides said.
Full story and video: CNN
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Give me the numbers! Or does the administration really know what is going on?
OK, OK, I know. I've been hammering on the first big lie we were told about the health care program: "You can keep your plan." Now that the plan has been "implemented" and we know the POTUS lied to us, let's move on to Lie #2, shall we?? What fun!
Lie #2: "We won't know until mid-November how many people have signed up."
Uh...people? THIS IS A BIGGER LIE THAN THE FIRST LIE.
Here's why, and I will try to 'splain in simple terms, without getting too technical:
When you are at a web site where you "sign up" for anything (healthcare, free membership, a contest, a survey...virtually anything you have to "sign up" for), then you, a real person, become a "record" in a database.
In ALL database programs (with zero exception), a fundamental concept in database management and the FIRST THING any database reveals is....get this....how many records (i.e. how many people) there are in the database!! There is NO WAY TO NOT KNOW THIS. I could stop right here, but I will explain.
Let's give the feds the benefit of the doubt. Let's assume that the 36 states who started exchanges also need to feed that information to the feds, which could slow things down a little, but we would be talking about a lag time of hours to possibly one day.
Each state will have its own person on staff called a "database administrator" (db admin). Even if these individual db admins all have to report separately, still no big deal. The federal db admin sends one group email to the state db admins and says, "I need your figures tomorrow." Each state db admin, in approximately one minute of logging on to his or her computer, can have that information and email it to the fed db admin.
On the fed's end, once every state has reported, a lowly clerk with an adding machine adds those reported numbers together, and presto! They have a total.
Actually, they probably are using a "dashboard" to keep this information in real-time. A dashboard in a business or in a government program is similar to the gauges on your car's dashboard. The same as your car tracks mph and/or rpm and other "performance" factors, a dashboard in a business or government program might follow a dozen or more metrics. For example, it might track how many people visited the site, how long they were at the site, how many people created an account, how many signed up for insurance, etc. etc.
Now, I would be disappointed if I learned that the feds spent $93 million with CGI (the company that built the site) on a website that did not include a dashboard. However, I don't think I would be totally surprised, either.
Soooo, with a dashboard, they know all this information instantly in real- time. Without a dashboard, and even with all states reporting separately, the compiled information is always going to be less than 24 hours away from being available.
I'm sorry to break the news to you, cupcake, but they are lying to you. Again.
BOHICA.
This was originally written by Pierre Briere to find out more on him - see what he has to say on Facebook.
Lie #2: "We won't know until mid-November how many people have signed up."
Uh...people? THIS IS A BIGGER LIE THAN THE FIRST LIE.
Here's why, and I will try to 'splain in simple terms, without getting too technical:
When you are at a web site where you "sign up" for anything (healthcare, free membership, a contest, a survey...virtually anything you have to "sign up" for), then you, a real person, become a "record" in a database.
In ALL database programs (with zero exception), a fundamental concept in database management and the FIRST THING any database reveals is....get this....how many records (i.e. how many people) there are in the database!! There is NO WAY TO NOT KNOW THIS. I could stop right here, but I will explain.
Let's give the feds the benefit of the doubt. Let's assume that the 36 states who started exchanges also need to feed that information to the feds, which could slow things down a little, but we would be talking about a lag time of hours to possibly one day.
Each state will have its own person on staff called a "database administrator" (db admin). Even if these individual db admins all have to report separately, still no big deal. The federal db admin sends one group email to the state db admins and says, "I need your figures tomorrow." Each state db admin, in approximately one minute of logging on to his or her computer, can have that information and email it to the fed db admin.
On the fed's end, once every state has reported, a lowly clerk with an adding machine adds those reported numbers together, and presto! They have a total.
Actually, they probably are using a "dashboard" to keep this information in real-time. A dashboard in a business or in a government program is similar to the gauges on your car's dashboard. The same as your car tracks mph and/or rpm and other "performance" factors, a dashboard in a business or government program might follow a dozen or more metrics. For example, it might track how many people visited the site, how long they were at the site, how many people created an account, how many signed up for insurance, etc. etc.
Now, I would be disappointed if I learned that the feds spent $93 million with CGI (the company that built the site) on a website that did not include a dashboard. However, I don't think I would be totally surprised, either.
Soooo, with a dashboard, they know all this information instantly in real- time. Without a dashboard, and even with all states reporting separately, the compiled information is always going to be less than 24 hours away from being available.
I'm sorry to break the news to you, cupcake, but they are lying to you. Again.
BOHICA.
This was originally written by Pierre Briere to find out more on him - see what he has to say on Facebook.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Make DC Listen
On C-Span2 Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is talking about de-funding ObamaCare. He has been on since 2:41 pm today with minor interruptions for questions. It is 10:15 pm (7.5 hrs later) and he is still going strong.
At one point Dick Durbin (D-IL) posed questions to Sen Ted Cruz about his stand on Obamacare. Without blinking an eye Sen Cruz shot back whether or not Dick Durbin was willing to go on ObamaCare. Sen Durbin danced around answering the question. The point is that he wouldn't take ObamaCare. Sen Durbin would not commit to answering whether he would support putting everyone who is exempt - the Senate, Congress, federal employees and union members to name a few.
8 million people and counting who are exempt.
Will ObamaCare make health care more affordable? That is hard to say. What ObamaCare is doing though is unifying both sides of the aisle to de-fund this program. Make your voice heard - call or write your representatives.
Congress:
Pingree, Chellie 202-225-6116 email
Michaud, Michael 202-225-6306 email
Senate:
Collins, Susan M. 202-224-2523 email
King, Angus S., Jr. 202-224-5344 email
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Obamacare: Praying That Hollywood Can Bring Success
Because there is such resistance to Obama care the White House is turning to Hollywood to help sell Nationalized Health Care to the American public. Why because this country's youth who are needed to balance off and offset America's mature population. So as a young person the White House is asking that you pay rates that are higher than the penalty. Really..... Is the White House being realistic or are they off base? You decide....
CheatSheet
The Obama administration’s thirst to attract young Americans to the health care exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act, meant to bring coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, is well documented.
Because this demographic is cheap to insure, the Obama administration needs to convince young people to sign up for insurance on the superstore-like exchanges this October in order to balance out the older and sicker patients who are more likely to sign up for health insurance as soon as possible. The correspondingly larger insurance premiums paid by the young cover the big bills for the relatively small number of sick people. According to estimates made by the Obama administration, approximately 7 million people will sign up for coverage via the exchanges in 2014, and about 2.7 million of those enrollees need to be young, cheap-to-insure Americans for the system to work.
Full story: CheatSheet
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