Ok, I am back. I tried the "facebook" thing and was, in a word, sadly disappointed.
it's glitchy, stubborn, and just plain sucks.
I know, its cool, everybody does it, but damn...
so I have returned to my basic good old fashioned blog that nobody reads.
at least here, I can post things that matter to me.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Sad Monday...
A vintage World War II plane crashed in the Atlantic near Fire Island Sunday, killing its sole occupant, a seasoned aviator who was practicing for an upcoming air show, officials said.
Robert Baranaskas, 61, of Northport, took off from Brookhaven Calabro Airport at 1:09 p.m. in his Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, a single-engine fighter plane. Sixteen minutes later, the olive green fighter spun out of the sky, crashing into the water 300 yards off the beach at Smith Point County Park, airport and Coast Guard officials said.
Baranaskas' body had not been recovered but a recovery team continued the search Sunday night.
The victim's son, Chris Baranaskas, 28, who often performed in his own vintage fighter plane, saw his father go down, police said. On the beach, he was serving as his father's spotter - a person on the ground who communicates with the pilot and warns of any other aircraft in the area.
The victim's son, Chris Baranaskas, 28, who often performed in his own vintage fighter plane, saw his father go down, police said. On the beach, he was serving as his father's spotter - a person on the ground who communicates with the pilot and warns of any other aircraft in the area.
Mike Biedenkapp, 30, of Patchogue, was watching the fighter plane from a parking lot near the beach when he saw the plane take a nose-dive."He climbed up, then came down like a corkscrew," said Biedenkapp, who ran toward the beach when he saw the plane disappear behind the dunes.
Witnesses saw a puff of black smoke, then the plane hit the water, sending up a 20-foot splash."There was a really loud noise," said Bryan Binder, of Sayville, who was surfing about 50 yards away and paddled over to try to help.Some locals grabbed boats and hit the water. But amid the debris, they found no sign of the pilot.
The Coast Guard, the Mastic Beach Fire Department, Suffolk police marine and aviation bureaus and the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard were among the responders, said Suffolk police Det. Sgt. Thomas Groneman.A strong current and murky waters were hampering the search effort, he said.
A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration was on the scene Sunday, and the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to begin its investigation this morning, officials from those agencies said.Jim Peters, an FAA spokesman, said the aircraft was "properly registered" and "legal in what he was doing."Personal aircraft must be registered with the FAA, and registration requires a certification that the aircraft is safe to operate, Peters said.
Baranaskas and his son, who owns and flies a P-51 Mustang, together founded Warbirds Over Long Island, an organization devoted to flying and celebrating World War II-era fighter planes.A calendar on the group's Web site lists their next scheduled air show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, from April 24 to 26.Baranaskas and his son housed their planes in a hangar at Calabro Airport operated by Northeast Air Park, an aviation company based at the airport, Calabro manager Jim Falbo said.About four vintage fighter planes are housed at Calabro, he said."He was a nice guy, a well-liked pilot," Falbo said.
My heart goes out to the friends and family of Robert. As a fellow aviation professional, I know what we do for fun may seem to some as dangerous, but we know the rules, we know the risks. I may be wrong, but this is how I would want to go out...flying, alone, me and a classic fighter.
Peace and Clear Skies Robert, I raise my glass in salute of friends, both here and gone.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Rush To New York...
Transcript of the Rush Show today....
RUSH: Now, let's see. In New York, they've been going back and forth at the state level on budgets. They are over-budget. They have a deficit in the double-digit billions, and they've been going back and forth in the State Assembly in New York over whether to raise taxes. They finally decided to do it over the weekend. "Personal income taxes for the upper-middle class and the rich are about to skyrocket under a secret deal reached last night by Governor Paterson and the leaders of the legislature. It's a two-tier tax plan." You heard about this, Snerdley? "It's a two-tier tax plan. They say it's going to bring in $4 billion annually..." I'll bet you that it does not come close to bringing in $4 billion annually. How's it going to do this? "...in part by raising income taxes 31% for all New Yorkers making more than $500,000 a year. Now, remember Mayor Bloomberg, who opposed this at one point -- I don't know where he stands on it now, but Mayor Bloomberg way back -- said (summarized), "Look, we got eight million people that live here, there are 40 or 50,000 taxpayers -- families, what have you -- that pay so much in tax that they essentially support the city -- and if they start to leave, we've got a big problem." He said, "Even if 5,000 of them leave, we've got a huge problem. We just can't run out there and keep raising taxes on the rich." The governor, Mr. Paterson, didn't hear him. "It's not just people earning over $500,000 a year that are going to get hit. A lower-tier tax increase would increase taxes by 14-1/2 percent for single people between 250 and $500,000 a year, and for married and joint filers earning 300,000 to 500,000. Taxpayers now hit the current top rate of 6.85% when their incomes reach $65,000. The Paterson plan would tax top-tier earners at 8.97%, the second-tier earners at 7.85%."This is just one of the elements of a $121 billion spending deal that the governor and legislative leaders forged in secret in a race to make the April 1st budget deadline. A lot of other taxes and fees, including expanding the deposit law to include plastic water bottles." The tax on tobacco is skyrocketing. Now it will be up over a dollar a pack. That happens also in April. But I want you to see if you can follow something here. They're going to raise taxes on all these people -- dramatically, 31% in New York State -- who earn over $500,000 a year. At the same time, the Obama administration is moving directly against one of the industries that pays people that much to limit their bonuses, to limit their salaries, to limit how much they can be paid, and to limit how they can run their businesses. So if the Obama administration succeeds in reducing salary -- they want a $1 million cap on these people, a salary cap. I'm telling you, these people have been paying a lot of tax freight. There is no way Governor Paterson's going to raise $4 billion a year on this. Because, folks, it's axiomatic: when you raise taxes on an activity, you reduce that activity. People start doing that activity less. In this case: working. When you reduce taxes on an activity, then that activity increases. When you reduce taxes on income, people start working harder to earn more. Governor Paterson needs to cut taxes on people. He needs to spur investment. He needs to get people going and working. It's just the exact opposite. Governor Paterson is like most other liberal Democrats: zero-sum game. The economy is a pie. It never grows. Somebody gets their slice; somebody gets their slice. If somebody's slice is bigger than somebody else's it means that somebody else is being cheated. So we gotta even this out. Obama looks at it the same way. So massive tax increases in New York -- and, of course, in New York City. And over all spending in New York will go up over 9%, almost 9%, overly spending will go up almost 9% while tax increases go up like 31% to a little over 8% in New York for the "super rich." (interruption) I don't know what the breaking point in New York is, Mr. Snerdley when people leave. (snorts) I'm leaving. I'm leaving. I am seriously... See, ladies and gentlemen, I would love to tell this story. I don't think I should. I don't think I should get personal, but I would love to tell my tax audit story of New York State and New York City since 1997. It happens every year, but that's not the point. I have to prove 14 different ways where I am every day of the year. I have to prove 14 different ways, 'cause I pay New York state and city tax on a per diem. When I am there working I pay whatever, you know, my rate is based on income for that day in New York. And I try to go as little as possible. If it weren't for hurricanes down here, I would never go up there. New York is the escape valve in case hurricanes are showing up in our area, because of the loss of electricity. So I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to look for an alternative studio somewhere outside New York, perhaps Texas -- another no-income-tax state -- and I'm going to get the hell over there, when a hurricane starts coming our way, 'cause I told Mayor Bloomberg: I'll be the first to lead the way. You know, this is just... I'll sell my apartment. I'll sell my condominium. I'm going to get out of there totally, 'cause this is just absurd, and it's ridiculous -- and it isn't going to work. It's punishing the achievers for the mistakes and the lack of discipline on the part of a bunch of corrupt politicians that have run that city and state into the ground for I don't know how many years -- and I, for one, am not going to take the blame for it.
BREAK TRANSCRIPTRUSH: Well, I announced that I was officially vacating New York after these stupid, punitive, massive tax increases, and basically I go to New York now for hurricane relief, whenever a hurricane hits. No other reason to go there. Well, sometimes I visit the overrated staff, but it would be cheaper to fly the staff down here to visit me than to pay these stupid tax increases! Anyway, the point is that I have affiliates from all over the fruited plain now offering their studios as a hurricane relocation location. Well, we're not going to go to Hawaii, that's certainly not a no-income tax state, either. We're not going to California. We're not going anywhere that pays massive taxes and they audit people left and right. That is a no go. Besides, if we did Hawaii, Dawn, the show would start at six a.m. I'd have to get up at midnight for show prep. I love Hawaii, now, don't misunderstand, but for me Hawaii is not for work. Greetings, my friends, welcome, great to have you back, Rush Limbaugh, the EIB Network and the Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies. Telephone number is 800-282-2882. The e-mail address, ElRushbo@eibnet.com. Speaking of New York, I tell you, Governor Paterson, you need to come up with a new slogan for New York: "New York: It's Never Enough." New York takes in billions with its lottery, billions more with the tobacco settlement of years ago, billions and billions more with their share of the Porkulus bill. And it's still not enough. And that's the liberal capital of the world. People ask, "How often do you go to New York now?" As little as I can get away with. I think last year I was there a total of 15 working days. I go up to see the staff at Christmastime. New York is probably going to celebrate that I'm not going to come back, and I know Snerdley. They hate me, so they're happy I'm not coming back. They're going to praise Paterson for driving me out, even though I am rarely there anyway. Or, instead of a slogan, like: "New York: It's Never Enough," the I love New York campaigns, "You May Love New York, But New York Doesn't Like You." That ought to be another slogan that Governor Paterson ought to employ. It's not a surprise. It's a no-brainer that they did this. This is what liberals do. They spend everybody into oblivion. They blame the rich for not paying enough, and they raise taxes on them. And they decrease the activity that generates the tax revenue. There are going to be others that are going to get out of there, especially in this economy. New York's not exactly in the midst of a boom recovery. Every state in this country is in its own version of recession one way or another.
RUSH: Now, let's see. In New York, they've been going back and forth at the state level on budgets. They are over-budget. They have a deficit in the double-digit billions, and they've been going back and forth in the State Assembly in New York over whether to raise taxes. They finally decided to do it over the weekend. "Personal income taxes for the upper-middle class and the rich are about to skyrocket under a secret deal reached last night by Governor Paterson and the leaders of the legislature. It's a two-tier tax plan." You heard about this, Snerdley? "It's a two-tier tax plan. They say it's going to bring in $4 billion annually..." I'll bet you that it does not come close to bringing in $4 billion annually. How's it going to do this? "...in part by raising income taxes 31% for all New Yorkers making more than $500,000 a year. Now, remember Mayor Bloomberg, who opposed this at one point -- I don't know where he stands on it now, but Mayor Bloomberg way back -- said (summarized), "Look, we got eight million people that live here, there are 40 or 50,000 taxpayers -- families, what have you -- that pay so much in tax that they essentially support the city -- and if they start to leave, we've got a big problem." He said, "Even if 5,000 of them leave, we've got a huge problem. We just can't run out there and keep raising taxes on the rich." The governor, Mr. Paterson, didn't hear him. "It's not just people earning over $500,000 a year that are going to get hit. A lower-tier tax increase would increase taxes by 14-1/2 percent for single people between 250 and $500,000 a year, and for married and joint filers earning 300,000 to 500,000. Taxpayers now hit the current top rate of 6.85% when their incomes reach $65,000. The Paterson plan would tax top-tier earners at 8.97%, the second-tier earners at 7.85%."This is just one of the elements of a $121 billion spending deal that the governor and legislative leaders forged in secret in a race to make the April 1st budget deadline. A lot of other taxes and fees, including expanding the deposit law to include plastic water bottles." The tax on tobacco is skyrocketing. Now it will be up over a dollar a pack. That happens also in April. But I want you to see if you can follow something here. They're going to raise taxes on all these people -- dramatically, 31% in New York State -- who earn over $500,000 a year. At the same time, the Obama administration is moving directly against one of the industries that pays people that much to limit their bonuses, to limit their salaries, to limit how much they can be paid, and to limit how they can run their businesses. So if the Obama administration succeeds in reducing salary -- they want a $1 million cap on these people, a salary cap. I'm telling you, these people have been paying a lot of tax freight. There is no way Governor Paterson's going to raise $4 billion a year on this. Because, folks, it's axiomatic: when you raise taxes on an activity, you reduce that activity. People start doing that activity less. In this case: working. When you reduce taxes on an activity, then that activity increases. When you reduce taxes on income, people start working harder to earn more. Governor Paterson needs to cut taxes on people. He needs to spur investment. He needs to get people going and working. It's just the exact opposite. Governor Paterson is like most other liberal Democrats: zero-sum game. The economy is a pie. It never grows. Somebody gets their slice; somebody gets their slice. If somebody's slice is bigger than somebody else's it means that somebody else is being cheated. So we gotta even this out. Obama looks at it the same way. So massive tax increases in New York -- and, of course, in New York City. And over all spending in New York will go up over 9%, almost 9%, overly spending will go up almost 9% while tax increases go up like 31% to a little over 8% in New York for the "super rich." (interruption) I don't know what the breaking point in New York is, Mr. Snerdley when people leave. (snorts) I'm leaving. I'm leaving. I am seriously... See, ladies and gentlemen, I would love to tell this story. I don't think I should. I don't think I should get personal, but I would love to tell my tax audit story of New York State and New York City since 1997. It happens every year, but that's not the point. I have to prove 14 different ways where I am every day of the year. I have to prove 14 different ways, 'cause I pay New York state and city tax on a per diem. When I am there working I pay whatever, you know, my rate is based on income for that day in New York. And I try to go as little as possible. If it weren't for hurricanes down here, I would never go up there. New York is the escape valve in case hurricanes are showing up in our area, because of the loss of electricity. So I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to look for an alternative studio somewhere outside New York, perhaps Texas -- another no-income-tax state -- and I'm going to get the hell over there, when a hurricane starts coming our way, 'cause I told Mayor Bloomberg: I'll be the first to lead the way. You know, this is just... I'll sell my apartment. I'll sell my condominium. I'm going to get out of there totally, 'cause this is just absurd, and it's ridiculous -- and it isn't going to work. It's punishing the achievers for the mistakes and the lack of discipline on the part of a bunch of corrupt politicians that have run that city and state into the ground for I don't know how many years -- and I, for one, am not going to take the blame for it.
BREAK TRANSCRIPTRUSH: Well, I announced that I was officially vacating New York after these stupid, punitive, massive tax increases, and basically I go to New York now for hurricane relief, whenever a hurricane hits. No other reason to go there. Well, sometimes I visit the overrated staff, but it would be cheaper to fly the staff down here to visit me than to pay these stupid tax increases! Anyway, the point is that I have affiliates from all over the fruited plain now offering their studios as a hurricane relocation location. Well, we're not going to go to Hawaii, that's certainly not a no-income tax state, either. We're not going to California. We're not going anywhere that pays massive taxes and they audit people left and right. That is a no go. Besides, if we did Hawaii, Dawn, the show would start at six a.m. I'd have to get up at midnight for show prep. I love Hawaii, now, don't misunderstand, but for me Hawaii is not for work. Greetings, my friends, welcome, great to have you back, Rush Limbaugh, the EIB Network and the Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies. Telephone number is 800-282-2882. The e-mail address, ElRushbo@eibnet.com. Speaking of New York, I tell you, Governor Paterson, you need to come up with a new slogan for New York: "New York: It's Never Enough." New York takes in billions with its lottery, billions more with the tobacco settlement of years ago, billions and billions more with their share of the Porkulus bill. And it's still not enough. And that's the liberal capital of the world. People ask, "How often do you go to New York now?" As little as I can get away with. I think last year I was there a total of 15 working days. I go up to see the staff at Christmastime. New York is probably going to celebrate that I'm not going to come back, and I know Snerdley. They hate me, so they're happy I'm not coming back. They're going to praise Paterson for driving me out, even though I am rarely there anyway. Or, instead of a slogan, like: "New York: It's Never Enough," the I love New York campaigns, "You May Love New York, But New York Doesn't Like You." That ought to be another slogan that Governor Paterson ought to employ. It's not a surprise. It's a no-brainer that they did this. This is what liberals do. They spend everybody into oblivion. They blame the rich for not paying enough, and they raise taxes on them. And they decrease the activity that generates the tax revenue. There are going to be others that are going to get out of there, especially in this economy. New York's not exactly in the midst of a boom recovery. Every state in this country is in its own version of recession one way or another.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
He Said What?
This morning, I was reading an article on line about the government cutting some defence spending. While I am totally against this, the one comment that just fired me up was posted in the comments section afterwords. The poster had the balls to suggest that military pay and benefits be cut, in his words, to save this country even more money.
I must admit, it does take a huge pair to actually say this in a public forum, but the idea that somehow military members are over paid is just wrong.
A quick look over at the Defence Financing and Accounting website revealed these numbers:
For a E-2 Private in the US Army, with less than 2 years in service, (right after finishing basic and AIT) is $1568.70 a month.
That figures out to be something like $396.18 a week.
now, if that Private were working a 40 hour a week job, he would be getting $9.80 an hour.
The problem is, military service is NOT a 40 hour a week job.
I think it could be said that it is upwards of 100+ hours, if you were deployed.
That would bring the hourly rate down to $3.96 an hour.
Wonder if the poster of that stupid comment would be willing to do what the members of the armed forces do for a measly 4 bucks an hour.
Save me the crap about "well, they get "combat pay"...its a insult at $225 bucks a month.
That's right folks, you too can get shot at, blown up, and be insulted by your own countrymen for a whopping $4.49 an hour.
Here is an idea, why not cut the pay of this wackjob who posted this comment and then shoot at him from time to time or try to blow up the car he is driving...something tells me he would be looking for a little more than $4.49 an hour for all that.
But this is the new hope and change filled America, where hard work and dedication is punished, where earning money is somehow evil, and being a glut on society is rewarded.
If anybody should be made to take a cut, it should be the dregs of society like this loser.
He should get a real job, give back to the country he owes so much too.
Enlisting would be a start.
I must admit, it does take a huge pair to actually say this in a public forum, but the idea that somehow military members are over paid is just wrong.
A quick look over at the Defence Financing and Accounting website revealed these numbers:
For a E-2 Private in the US Army, with less than 2 years in service, (right after finishing basic and AIT) is $1568.70 a month.
That figures out to be something like $396.18 a week.
now, if that Private were working a 40 hour a week job, he would be getting $9.80 an hour.
The problem is, military service is NOT a 40 hour a week job.
I think it could be said that it is upwards of 100+ hours, if you were deployed.
That would bring the hourly rate down to $3.96 an hour.
Wonder if the poster of that stupid comment would be willing to do what the members of the armed forces do for a measly 4 bucks an hour.
Save me the crap about "well, they get "combat pay"...its a insult at $225 bucks a month.
That's right folks, you too can get shot at, blown up, and be insulted by your own countrymen for a whopping $4.49 an hour.
Here is an idea, why not cut the pay of this wackjob who posted this comment and then shoot at him from time to time or try to blow up the car he is driving...something tells me he would be looking for a little more than $4.49 an hour for all that.
But this is the new hope and change filled America, where hard work and dedication is punished, where earning money is somehow evil, and being a glut on society is rewarded.
If anybody should be made to take a cut, it should be the dregs of society like this loser.
He should get a real job, give back to the country he owes so much too.
Enlisting would be a start.
Monday, March 16, 2009
This Just Pisses Me Off.
WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.
"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."
The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans!"
Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, " There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran's personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable."
Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.
"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said Commander Rehbein, "is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.
"I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining," concluded the Commander.
This should piss off all veterans. This is the "support our troops hope and change". how long will it be before companies do no thire any disabled vet fo fear of the insurance costs? Or terminate those they already have? And what about those vets who do not have insurance? are they to be left out in the cold with no medical care because the VA cant bill somebody? Or does that veteran get the bill himself?
This administration is not just a joke, it is an insult to every real american.
To all those veterans who this affects, now you know how much your sacrifice means to this country.
$540 Million dollars.
Make the check payable to a Mr. Obama.
The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.
"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."
The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans!"
Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, " There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran's personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable."
Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.
"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said Commander Rehbein, "is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.
"I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining," concluded the Commander.
This should piss off all veterans. This is the "support our troops hope and change". how long will it be before companies do no thire any disabled vet fo fear of the insurance costs? Or terminate those they already have? And what about those vets who do not have insurance? are they to be left out in the cold with no medical care because the VA cant bill somebody? Or does that veteran get the bill himself?
This administration is not just a joke, it is an insult to every real american.
To all those veterans who this affects, now you know how much your sacrifice means to this country.
$540 Million dollars.
Make the check payable to a Mr. Obama.
The Cat Cheats.
OK, I admit it. I am a kid at heart. I sell kites for a living, I collect hot wheels and matchbox cars, and I love yo-yo's.
Now most adult have no experience in this field, and it may be something that we learn as children, then forget as time passes and adult life takes hold.
The simple rule is this.
Never play yo-yo with a cat.
The cat is infinitely better suited to playing this game than you are.
for one, his role in the event is simple. All he has to do it hit the descending or stationary yo-yo and he wins.
You have the difficult part, that being the control of the yo.
If the cat scores a hit, which he is apt to do, the yo will spin out of control and the cat will look up at you with a look of glee on his whiskered face.
Now it is against the rules to bean the cat with said yo, as this will possibly escalate the game into a physical combat match that you, as a human, are also ill-suited for.
Now I have tried many variety of models of yo-yo's, and found that the cat has no preference for shape. He is able to tag the yo almost every time. I have requested a judges call on some of them since I think his latest tactic is to attack the string, but so far my cries have gone unanswered.
I know he is cheating.
Bu that's what I get for tempting fate.
Now if I just could get my dog to understand the concept of the "bee" part of "Frisbee", which is to catch and return the flying disk to me, rather than stand over it and wait for me to come retrieve it, I am all set.
Now most adult have no experience in this field, and it may be something that we learn as children, then forget as time passes and adult life takes hold.
The simple rule is this.
Never play yo-yo with a cat.
The cat is infinitely better suited to playing this game than you are.
for one, his role in the event is simple. All he has to do it hit the descending or stationary yo-yo and he wins.
You have the difficult part, that being the control of the yo.
If the cat scores a hit, which he is apt to do, the yo will spin out of control and the cat will look up at you with a look of glee on his whiskered face.
Now it is against the rules to bean the cat with said yo, as this will possibly escalate the game into a physical combat match that you, as a human, are also ill-suited for.
Now I have tried many variety of models of yo-yo's, and found that the cat has no preference for shape. He is able to tag the yo almost every time. I have requested a judges call on some of them since I think his latest tactic is to attack the string, but so far my cries have gone unanswered.
I know he is cheating.
Bu that's what I get for tempting fate.
Now if I just could get my dog to understand the concept of the "bee" part of "Frisbee", which is to catch and return the flying disk to me, rather than stand over it and wait for me to come retrieve it, I am all set.
It's Only Fair.
Comments about President Obama by Jackie Mason draw racism charges
Legendary funnyman Jackie Mason is getting jeers for referring to President Obama with a Yiddish word considered by many to be a racial epithet.
During his act Thursday night at Feinstein's at Loews Regency on the upper East Side, Mason, 72, caused some fans to boo and walk out when he called Obama a "schvartze," which is Yiddish for black.
"I'm an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where 'schvartze' was used," an unapologetic Mason told TMZ.com Sunday night.
"It's not a demeaning word and I'm not going to defend myself." Mason then went on a rant about racism, saying, "If it's a racist society, the white people are the ones being persecuted because they have to defend themselves."
The Rev. Al Sharpton noted that in 1991 Mason apologized for calling former Mayor David Dinkins "a fancy schvartze with a mustache."
"At this stage in Jackie's life and career, he should get our prayers more than our responses," Sharpton said.
Ok, for some reason, this little story just pisses me off to no end.
Lets start at the end and work backwards shall we?
Why does the Good Rev. Al Sharpton have a damn thing to say about this at all? Was he there?
Or is he the "Go To Authority" in this country for the final determination of what makes something "racist"? That should be easy. If he says it, it ain't. neither is anything any African-American says. If you marked any other box under "race", you're wrong.
Then we have the word itself. It is a Yiddish word, derived from the German word for the color black. It is listed as "often offensive". For those non Yiddish readers, think "blacky"...
Here is a great idea.
Get Over It.
In a time when we cant use the word "blackwall" to describe a car tire, or the scientific term for a collaped star, A black hole, can't be spoken for fear of being accused as racist, When the term "black out" is dropped from news reports about power outages, to be replaced with the politically correct term "loss of service", or "black boards" are called "presentation panels", we have gone way too far.
Just listen some time to media reports. I mean really listen. The word black is never used.
I am dying to hear what the call a "black bear" or heaven forbid, the section if Germany known as the Black Forest.
It is a word. The name of a color. Like orange. or green. Funny, on St.Patricks Day, everybody wears and thinks green. Is that racist? I personally wear orange, but I am Scottish. Look it up.
The truth is, The Rev. Al Sharpton and his ilk are being selfish.
They want the word all to themselves.
There is a current song in the Urban Top Ten titled "My President Is Black". I have seen personal profiles on websites of young african-americans that describe themselves as "nigga"...Pardon me, but what the hell...I think we should all have the ability to use these words.
Why does one group claim sole control over part of our joint language?
I think all caucasians should claim the word "white". No african american can use the word. No more white wall tires, no more White-Out correction fluid, and dont even think about calling it white bread.
Hey, that would be fair right?
Legendary funnyman Jackie Mason is getting jeers for referring to President Obama with a Yiddish word considered by many to be a racial epithet.
During his act Thursday night at Feinstein's at Loews Regency on the upper East Side, Mason, 72, caused some fans to boo and walk out when he called Obama a "schvartze," which is Yiddish for black.
"I'm an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where 'schvartze' was used," an unapologetic Mason told TMZ.com Sunday night.
"It's not a demeaning word and I'm not going to defend myself." Mason then went on a rant about racism, saying, "If it's a racist society, the white people are the ones being persecuted because they have to defend themselves."
The Rev. Al Sharpton noted that in 1991 Mason apologized for calling former Mayor David Dinkins "a fancy schvartze with a mustache."
"At this stage in Jackie's life and career, he should get our prayers more than our responses," Sharpton said.
Ok, for some reason, this little story just pisses me off to no end.
Lets start at the end and work backwards shall we?
Why does the Good Rev. Al Sharpton have a damn thing to say about this at all? Was he there?
Or is he the "Go To Authority" in this country for the final determination of what makes something "racist"? That should be easy. If he says it, it ain't. neither is anything any African-American says. If you marked any other box under "race", you're wrong.
Then we have the word itself. It is a Yiddish word, derived from the German word for the color black. It is listed as "often offensive". For those non Yiddish readers, think "blacky"...
Here is a great idea.
Get Over It.
In a time when we cant use the word "blackwall" to describe a car tire, or the scientific term for a collaped star, A black hole, can't be spoken for fear of being accused as racist, When the term "black out" is dropped from news reports about power outages, to be replaced with the politically correct term "loss of service", or "black boards" are called "presentation panels", we have gone way too far.
Just listen some time to media reports. I mean really listen. The word black is never used.
I am dying to hear what the call a "black bear" or heaven forbid, the section if Germany known as the Black Forest.
It is a word. The name of a color. Like orange. or green. Funny, on St.Patricks Day, everybody wears and thinks green. Is that racist? I personally wear orange, but I am Scottish. Look it up.
The truth is, The Rev. Al Sharpton and his ilk are being selfish.
They want the word all to themselves.
There is a current song in the Urban Top Ten titled "My President Is Black". I have seen personal profiles on websites of young african-americans that describe themselves as "nigga"...Pardon me, but what the hell...I think we should all have the ability to use these words.
Why does one group claim sole control over part of our joint language?
I think all caucasians should claim the word "white". No african american can use the word. No more white wall tires, no more White-Out correction fluid, and dont even think about calling it white bread.
Hey, that would be fair right?
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