Amid Recession, Obama Socializes Medicine

With home sales stagnant and unemployment rates in double digits, Obama helps ram through an expensive health care bill that offers nothing that will reduce health care costs. Only time will tell how much damage Obamacare will do to the best health care system in the world. Although we possibly could see a drastic decline in quality of care and longer lines and waiting lists for access to care, what we will probably see is that the bill arrived with a lot of fanfare and bragging rights for both sides, but in reality the bill will be little more than a political "flash in the pan". Obama had no choice but to push the bill through, but either way it is a lose-lose situation for Democrats. If the bill had failed, the Obama administration would go into the next election with absolutely NO accomplishments to its credit, but with the bill's approval, voters are blowing the doors off the GOP to get back into the Republican Party, as the Democrats have with the passage of the bill given us their most overt assertion of an agenda of socialism to date. Indubitably the GOP will retake Congress in 1994 fashion this November. If the economy rebounds, Obama perhaps can limp into the 2012 Presidential election on even footing, but if Obamacare inflicts even more financial uncertainty, he himself may have sacrificed his second term on a useless health care bill that is merely symbolic of the leftist leanings of his party.

Lame Duck Bredesen Clueless About Education

Bredesen's insistence on competing for Obama's "Race to the Top" funds and his desire to change higher education funding from enrollment numbers to graduation rates will do nothing more than take the "Dumbing Down of America" trend to a whole new level. Folks, we don't need to "race to the top" to find out that our public high schools are teenage wastelands of zero student and parent accountability coupled with unrealistic expectations of overworked and underpaid teachers so stressed out it is no wonder things like what happened in Knox County and Huntsville occur. Now we are going to pressure colleges to pass through apathetic, irresponsible, partying college students whom professors ought to fail but will now pass in the name of improving graduation rates and increasing the college's budget. Teachers at any level, especially the collegiate level, should NOT have to choose between their professional integrity and their paycheck. I sincerely hope that Bredesen's replacement has more realistic and credible options on how to improve education in the state. Businesses indeed will not locate in a state that just gives away diplomas and degrees to people that don't deserve them. They won't be worth the paper they're printed on.

Where do Both Parties Go From Here?

After the Brown victory in Massachusetts and the President's SOtU address, both parties are scrambling to figure out where they should go from here. Democrats, especially in the House, had been retreating from health care reform, fearful for their jobs with their evaluations coming up in November (i.e. the 2010 midterm election), until the President took up his role as chief of party and specifically chastized Democrats for doing so. Republicans are enjoying their newfound popularity as the party of opposition and outrage over the administration's intrusive health care plan and anemic attempts to revive the economy, but seem equally as ambivalent as Democrats about the idea of compromise, and what direction to take next. Coming together to restart the economy and create more jobs would be a step in the right direction for both parties. Clinton and the Republicans were able to share credit for such things as ending AFDC and creating government surpluses, but that was only after the 1994 wake up call. The blue collar conservatives are still wondering if they can trust a party that still refuses to embrace the common sense Reagan populism espoused by people like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, and Democrats seem unable to break away from their liberal base and reach out to the non-union middle class. President Obama criticized the agenda of the previous 8 years by saying, "Let's try common sense for a change" but so far neither party has embraced the idea.

Pretty Pol Palin Pushes Populist Power

Palin's rogue Republican reputation has become so popular that a military base feared one of her book signings there would become a platform for massive protesting against the administration of the Commander-in-Chief. Like many conservatives, I am somewhat ambivalent in my attitude toward Palin and her version of why the McCain camp fell apart, and why she did not take the press to task while they were trashing her ostensibly for her lack of knowledge on foreign affairs and her affinity for expensive clothes, when in reality the left was destroying her because they were absolutely terrified of her populist appeal. Palin may not be the next Ronald Reagan, but she is the only politician out there right now standing up for the "God and Gun" crowd. Contrary to Newsweek's comment that Palin is "bad for the GOP", I tend to believe that anyone that stands up for our first amendment rights to assemble and worship as we choose, and anyone that stands up for our second amendment right to bear arms, and anyone that stands up for the sanctity of life, is...well, since no one else is doing it...is....Sarah Palin.

Poll Shows Obama Taking Us Down Wrong Track?

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows that a majority of Americans think the country is going down the wrong track. The poll is surprising considering other indicators that the economy is pulling out of recession. I believe what the poll is showing is that even though some indicators are slightly improving, they are minuscule in comparison with the massive amounts of government money recently injected into the economy, thus many economists are uncertain about the longevity of the recovery. As taxpayers we don't seem to be getting a lot of bang for the buck. Unemployment remains near 10%, and the health care bill has stalled, endangered not by the minority Republicans as much as by bickering between moderate and liberal Democrats.

9/11 Community Fair Celebrates Local Government

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Department pulled off another great 9/11 festival. Citizens got to check out displays from a variety of government agencies. Lavergne's police department always has the coolest vehicles and equipment, but then again, being right across the state line from the 'hood, they probably need all of it. The US Army National Guard had a fully operational helicopter that took off for the spectators, as well as Vanderbilt's hospital wing chopper. To remember the 9/11 victims, local mayors and state legislators individually rang a bell while a huge contingent of motorcycle riding POW/MIA's looked on. This is one of my favorite community events, where we get to see how our tax dollars are spent and, though opposing the massive expansion of useless federal government, can appreciate the protection of the U.S. military and the practical amenities afforded by local and state government that impact us every day. And while the MPD might have had a problem with one of its canines last week, I must say that the mounted patrol's horses were some of the most docile mounts I've seen. Kids were walking all around them and petting all over them, and they seemed to like all the attention. The county also had some of their search and rescue German Shepherds that were kid-friendly.

Opah Greek Grill

I visited this establishment and freely recommend it to anyone. The sandwiches are huge and delicious. You'll get fat, hot pita bread filled with tasty meat, onions, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, feta cheese, and cucumber or ranch dressing, accompanied by rice, hummus, Greek salad or fries, all for a low combo price. Located near the Old Fort Wal-Mart, try it out. This strip mall is located in a part of town that has been developed for a long time, so it's a smart growth choice for Greek cuisine.