Why is the name "Tea Bagger" far more appropriate? Joking?

"Lipton" seems to be a favorite.

Bondage? How appropriate for the RNC. How many of these 'sex starved' folks are actually intimidated to 'toe the party line' due to 'evidence' that RNC holds against them? And art no less? My, my. No waterboarding art, huh?

Hm. Hoover anyone?

Why doesn't the FBI relieve these young people of their concerns about their reputation and demand all records that haven't been shredded from the RNC and get to the bottom of the decision making on this?

Rove: "The Architect" on RNC bondage bar scandal, Cal politics, Jerry Brown (click here)

Call him "the Architect" or "Bush's Brain,'' but former presidential advisor Karl Rove had plenty to say in Lafayette today -- about the RNC's latest scandal, and California's electoral landscape this year.
First, Rove on the near-$2000 reimbursement to Orange County GOP operative Erik Brown to pay for a "Young Eagles" fundraiser at the now-infamous West Hollywood lesbian/bondage-themed strip club called "Voyeur." He said he's called for the RNC staffer responsible for that repayment to be fired; Allison Meyers, the "Young Eagles" director, was indeed -- on Monday....

When is Attorney General Brown going to endorse a Governor hopeful that can actually win? Then the DNC is wondering what is occurring in California? Where are all their young hopefuls with the 'heart' of the future in mind?

Respect for senior members of the party is great. I endorse that, but, it would be greater to have new Democratic blood infuse a 'real' economic plan for California rather than just the same old RNC rhetoric that never works, but, only retreats to that 'feel good feeling.'

...The Republican Governors Assn. has developed (click here) a lesson plan to explain why it thinks voters shouldn't elect Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, as governor of California this year.
In "What's Brown Done," a seemingly low-budget video (based on the use of a dry erase board and markers that appear to be low on ink), a shaggy-haired, college-type (apparently Republican-looking) guy draws lines away from a stick figure labeled "You" to all the ways he says Brown has endorsed higher taxes and spending....

Why is it wrong to apologize to a Republican about anything? Because they never take responsibilty for their own behavior. They just exploit it.

Eric Cantor accuses Democrats of 'fanning flames' on member threats (click here)
Updated 6:05 p.m.By Ben PershingHouse Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) angrily lashed out at Democratic leaders for their handling of reported threats against members of Congress Thursday, accusing them of "dangerously fanning the flames" by blaming the GOP and confiding that he has also been the recipient of threats...

The flames of hate and violence were begotten by the right, including Palin and the Tea Baggers. Actions result in reactions. When citizens provoke fear and there is a reaction against them, why should any counter threat be a surprise?

Eric Cantor has a perfect opportunity to take control of the issue and disarm the threat to anyone, but, did he do it? No, he continued to play politics and continue to 'fan the flames' himself, THEREFORE, as guilty as anyone involved.

What does such irresponsible behavior clearly illustrate?

Republicans cannot govern, they can only campaign.

The FBI investigation is non-partisan.

FBI probes threats over Democrats' healthcare vote (click here)
* Senior House Democrat decries "very serious incidents"
* Palin tells supporters, "Don't Retreat, Instead -- RELOAD"
By Deborah Zabarenko
WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - The FBI and police are investigating attacks and threats against Democratic members of Congress who voted for healthcare reform, and a senior House of Representatives Democrat said on Wednesday his colleagues are at risk.
Democrats decried heated Republican rhetoric, including 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's Twitter comment urging supporters, "Don't Retreat, Instead -- RELOAD."
A Palin Facebook post continued the firearms theme, featuring a U.S. map targeting 20 members of Congress who backed the healthcare legislation, using the crosshairs of a gunsight to note each of their home states....

Obama continues the 'old world' mistakes of the Republicans.

USGS Provinces (click here) - WHAT????????? is this ? The USA has provinces in Russia and the Middle East. Well I have not seen any income tax returns from those nations so this is simply a coveting of the sovereignty of other nations that is grossly inappropriate and it should never exist.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (click here)
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WORLD PETROLEUM ASSESSMENT 2000 – DESCRIPTION AND RESULTS
By USGS World Energy Assessment Team*
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series - DDS-60

...The Orinoco Oil Belt Assessment Unit (click here) of the La Luna-Quercual Total Petroleum System encompasses approximately 50,000 km2 of the East Venezuela Basin Province that is underlain by more than 1 trillion barrels of heavy oil-in-place....

OH, I don't think so !!!!!!!!!

MAPS SHOWING GEOLOGY, OIL AND GAS FIELDS AND GEOLOGIC PROVINCES OF IRAN version 1.0 (click here)

This document was produced in 2006. It was made in cooperation with the Afghan government to allow for potential for national income. Well, wouldn't it be great to hand that over to the Taliban? I don't doubt this was done in cooperation, but, Iran? Iran cooperated with USA intelligence about its oil reserves? Really?

One other thing defies logic. Why would this assessment happen in the midst of a war with an uncertain outcome that was abandoned for the oil reserves of Iraq?

Prepared in cooperation with the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry Joint Oil and Gas Resource Assessment Team and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency
Petroleum Resource Potential GIS of Northern Afghanistan (click here)
By Douglas W. Steinshouer6, Timothy R. Klett1, Gregory F. Ulmishek1, Craig J. Wandrey1, Ronald R. Wahl2, Ronald J. Hill1, Michael Pribil1, Mark J. Pawlewicz3, J. David King3, Warren F. Agena1, David J. Taylor1, Abdulla Amirzada4, Amir Mohammad Selab5, Abdul-Salam Mutteh5, Ghulam Naqshband Haidari5 and Moeengul Gullabudeen Wardak5

Short of military demands there is NO NEED in the USA for fossil fuels at all. The continued focus on oil and natural gas as a means to provide domestic energy will only continue the 'culture' and at every turn the USA will seek war with foreign nations for the purpose of import.

Even after every domestic source is exhausted, a cultural oil dependency will provide an impetus for the need for military expansion and aggression.

On multiple occassions the geological scientists in the USA have stated there is danger in disturbing the fissure offshore of the East Coast and I would think Haiti would be enough proof of any of those predictions. Oil exploration has PROVEN to depress land elevations and cause changes in topography, hence, earthquakes.

..

...From 1979 to 1985 OPEC's share of the world oil market (click here) shrank from 50% to 30% as members (especially Saudi Arabia) continuously cut production to maintain high prices. But loss of market share did not alter the fact that OPEC members held 75% of the world's proven reserves and approximately 55% of the ultimate resources of conventional oil. Unless world oil demand could be curbed or economical substitutes to oil quickly developed, OPEC would inevitably regain lost market share. In 1999-2000, with help from Russia, Norway, and Mexico, OPEC engineered a doubling of world oil prices....
Whether it is an illegal oil war in Iraq or one on the East Coast of the USA, the 'idea' is old, antiquated and dangerous.

When fossil fuels are a priority in the economy of the USA they will continue to be a priority period. The way this has to resolve is for the USA to rid its economy of the nasty fossel fuel dependency. Electric cars, wind turbines, solar energy and high speed trains, magnetic preferably. This is an outrage in the 2010 when wars are being excluded as a method to economic viability and coastal areas may very well see less and less land as potential for habitation and economy.

The only domestic assessments of the natural resources of the USA in relation to oil and gas should be archived with the military and nowhere else. T. Boone Pickens and his natural gas car can go straight to hell.

The changes in Student Loan and Pell Grants will assist students facing increasing costs due to State deficits.

U.S. GDP Revision Fail to Downplay Strength of Q4 Recovery (click here)

Posted 3/26/2010 5:01 AM ET by from FX360
Although U.S. fourth quarter GDP growth was revised down from 5.9 to 5.6 percent, the impact on the U.S. dollar was minimal. The greenback sold off slightly against the euro and quickly rebounded after its knee jerk sell-off against the Japanese Yen. With the EU officially announcing its financial mechanism for Greece today, a mild downward revision to the U.S. growth numbers will not be enough to offset the positive sentiment....



University of California at Berkeley student Natalia Garcia protests on campus (click here) Thursday in Berkeley, Calif. Demonstrations, marches, teach-ins and walkouts are planned nationwide Thursday in what is being called the "March 4th National Day of Action for Public Education." Events are being held at most of California's public colleges and universities to protest budget cuts that have led to canceled classes, faculty furloughs and steep fee hikes. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

The Global Economic Crisis of October 2008 has come to roost in State budgets. As a result of that reality has been the increasing tuition rates at state funded colleges and universities. California has already raised tuition at least twice to the students in their colleges. The students are facing leaving their educational opportunities behind as rates continue to increase and become unattainable to them.

The USA cannot afford to have its 'brain trust' shrunk to endanger its future and sovereignty. These actions by the federal government are necessary and correct to insure the continuation of excellence and achievement at the State Universities.

Feds take over student loan program from banks (click here)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

President Obama will sign a bill today that ends a 45-year-old program under which banks and other private-sector lenders such as Sallie Mae receive a federal subsidy for making government-guaranteed college loans.

Instead, the U.S. Department of Education - which already makes roughly a third of these loans through its direct-lending program - will make 100 percent of them starting July 1.

The change will have a big impact on some lenders and colleges but relatively little on borrowers. They will continue to get the same loans - including Stafford loans for students and Plus loans for parents and graduate students - on largely the same terms....

BEFORE THE BELL: US Stock Futures Edge Higher After Fed Data (click here)

MARCH 17, 2010, 8:26 A.M. ET

U.S. stock futures on Wednesday pointed to an extension of the slow but steady gains over the past week, as markets continued to respond to news of the Federal Reserve's unchanged stance on interest rates.

S&P 500 futures rose 2.4 points to 1157.20 and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 3.5 points to 1932.00. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 22 points.

U.S. stocks rose Tuesday, with the DJIA closing higher for a sixth straight time and the S&P 500 finishing at a 17-month high as the Federal Reserve again said it would keep interest rates low for an extended period and as Standard & Poor's said it would not imminently downgrade Greece.

While expectations are growing that next month the Fed may change its language to a slightly more hawkish posture, the Bank of Japan doubled a loan program to $221 billion as it kept interest rates at 0.1%....

Obama: healthcare will need adjustments to cut costs

Obama signs health care reconciliation bill (click here)

(AP) – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is signing a bill Tuesday that finalizes his big health care overhaul and revamps the U.S. student loan system.

Obama will sign the bill and speak at Northern Virginia Community College, just outside Washington. That's the college where Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill, is an instructor.

The student loan provisions were included in a health care overhaul bill Obama signed last week. This final legislation tweaks some parts of the health bill that House members insisted be changed.

The president will meet later with French President Nicolas Sarkozy (sar-koh-ZEE'). Obama and the first lady also will host a private dinner for Sarkozy and his wife.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday (click title to entry - thank you) that a U.S. healthcare overhaul is a "critical first step" but that adjustments will be needed in the new law to further reduce costs.

Healthcare Reform

Critics of the ten-year, $940 billion overhaul have complained the revamp does not go far enough in reducing healthcare costs.

Obama, in an NBC News interview to air on Tuesday on the "Today" show, said adjustments will be needed to the law.

"I think it is a critical first step in making a healthcare system that works for all Americans. It is not going to be the only thing. We are still going to have adjustments that have to be made to further reduce costs," he said.

Obama is to sign a package of final changes to the new law on Tuesday in Alexandria, Virginia.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Todd Eastham

When is the FCC finally going to do their job and shut down Murdoch and Rush Limbaugh?

Yesterday we witnessed the arrest of nine Christian Based militia members. Their goal? To kill police officers and inspire more violence against them. The Murdoch and Rush enterprises do NOTHING by lace blatant lies with truth and insight violence.

This is the headlines from FOX news yesterday. It didn't denounce the intended actions of the militia members, IT WARNED THEM.

This article is a warning to the people of their viewer and listening audience. When is the FCC going to do shut them down, when they are giving out locations of police officers? All the programs yesterday evening O'Rielly, Hannity and the rest were nothing but lies laced with the truth.

FBI stages raids against christian militia group (click title to entry - thank you)

Kjerstin Ramsing

2:02 PM EST, March 29, 2010

HAMMOND, IN - Federal authorities are expected to unseal charges against several people arrested in a series of weekend raids in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

Sources accuse the FBI of targeting a christian militia group called the Hutaree. Two people were arrested in northwest Ohio, a third in Illinois. All this happened a day after cameras captured a raid in Hammond, Indiana. On its website, the group claims it's preparing for the end time battles to keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive.

Some of the seven people arrested face gun charges. Officials say they're also pursuing other suspects.



On February 16, 2010 I blogged this (click here):

Yesterday Senator Bayh said something that made me pause in wondering what this is all about, regardless of how I like or dislike his opinions. He appeared at a podium with his wife and children. How much of the 'hate' he understands does he carry as worry for his family or himself for that matter?

Beck is doing nothing, but, maligning the federal government and advocating violence. He stated the other day, "I saw a police officer standing on a corner the other day. He had a gun strapped to his belt and I wanted to ask him how he could handle the fact he had a gun and wasn't using it, because, if it were me I would be using it all the time."

There are a couple of things in that statement. It indicates those that are 'like' Glenn Beck are self-righteous and above the law. It also implants logistics to 'easily had' weapons that police carry on them. You know I never think about the weapons police carry. I mean never. I assume they are human beings and police officers first and expect them to defend and protect. I never see a police officer as a potential source for weapons.

Nor do I see a police officer as a threat. Beck saw the officer as a threat. A man or woman carry a weapon when he has none and he is trying to carry out a so called revolution against Progressives.

There is a limit to freedom of speech. Glenn Beck is way over that limit. I sincerely believe someone like Senator Bayh may be making adverse decisions in the best interest of the country because he is more a human being than someone like Beck ever could be.

In the article of this entry, the UK has noted an uptick in hate toward Muslims. The government is suppose to track these things and advice the Justice Department and leadership regarding issues that threaten innocent citizens. It is time the USA federal system do the job that needs to be done.

Glenn Beck on multiple occasions has advocated violence. He should not have access to the media and the FCC should begin prosecutions regarding the violence he advocates.

The United Nations prosecuted three journalists in regard to the Rwanda Genocide. Beck is not giving out locations of people to kill, YET. At least not that I know of. The guy is on a real power trip these days and the people in 'his movement' have substantially invested in its outcome.

There is something sincerely wrong when a well established and respected Senator doesn't seek re-election after he already researched and invested in his victory in 2010. I wish Senator Bayh well and hope he is successful.

Glenn Beck needs to be recognized for what he is and stop him from hiding behind the First Amendment of the USA Constitution. He is abusing the right to practice it. Fear accompanied by hatred is a real commodity and that is Beck's product. His only product.

When is this going to stop? When are our Congressional elected officials going to be safe and when will the FCC finally act to stop the hate mongers that are MORE than rhetorical, but, finding success in actually encouraging militias to act in violence against the USA Constitution?

I wish someone at the World Courts would do something if the federal administration in the USA are stymied.

Agreement to acquire Aviation Worldwide Services (AWS) from Xe Services LLC (Formerly Blackwater)

The company formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide, known for its security work in Iraq, is selling its aircraft company. (2007 Photo By Marko Drobnjakovic/associated Press)

Ft Lauderdale, Florida 3/27/2010 05:20 AM GMT (TransWorldNews)

AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR) has signed an agreement to acquire Aviation Worldwide Services (AWS) from Xe Services LLC. AAR is acquiring the business as part of its long-term strategy to expand its products, services and capabilities in support of government customers.

The purchase price for the acquisition is $200 million, which will be funded by a combination of available cash, a new 270-day credit facility and a 5-year term loan secured against certain aircraft. The business is expected to generate about $175 million of revenue on an annual basis and to be accretive to earnings and margins within the first year of ownership....


Federal prosecutors (click here) are considering weapons charges against former executives at Blackwater Worldwide over allegations that the private security company illegally stockpiled automatic rifles, including AK-47s, at its North Carolina headquarters, people close to the case said. Justice Department officials are reviewing a draft indictment against former Blackwater president Gary Jackson, former general counsel Andrew Howell and a third employee, the sources said. The company has changed its name to Xe.


With Iraq winding down and progress in Afghanistan the country doesn't need any so called expertise by them.

Gates concerned about Blackwater's conduct: Pentagon (click here)

(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates will review allegations of misconduct in Afghanistan by the company formerly known as Blackwater and shares concerns raised by a top senator, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin had made a personal appeal to Gates last week for the Pentagon to consider blocking a potential $1 billion contract with Blackwater, which has changed its name to Xe, to train Afghan police.

Levin cited what he called evidence of misconduct in a previous subcontract awarded to a Blackwater affiliate to conduct weapons training for the Afghan National Army.

"He is looking into it and he takes it seriously," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said of Gates. "He shares (Levin's) concerns," Morrell told reporters.

But Morrell played down the chances of any swift action to bar Blackwater from contracts, citing Pentagon rules and the company's unique capabilities....

... was also evidence Blackwater may have misappropriated government weapons, carried weapons without authorization and hired unqualified personnel with backgrounds that included assault and battery, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, Levin said.

Xe was not immediately available for comment on Friday....

Experts: Christian militia part of growing trend. I don't know, Sarah, looks like your electorate will be in prison come November.

A New Name in American Paranoia: The Hutaree Militia (click here)

By Steven Gray / Detroit Monday, Mar. 29, 2010

A U.S. Marshal composite photo of some of the suspects tied to Hutaree, a Christian militia that was preparing for the Antichrist, were charged with conspiring to kill police officers.

U.S. Marshal / AP

..................................................................................

Posted: 3:29 p.m. March 29, 2010

By Niraj Warikoo
Free Press Staff Writer
The actions of the Christian militia group (click title to entry - thank you) raided in Michigan are part of a growing trend of militant activity across the U.S. because of the weak economy and an African-American president, experts and a civil rights group said today....

Who is David Brian Stone, leader of the Hutaree militia? (click here)

A picture of Hutaree militia leader David Brian Stone is slowly emerging. His interest in guns and religion gradually spiraled out of control, reports suggest, leading to his arrest on charges of conspiring to kill police officers and oppose the US government by force.

By Will Buchanan, Contributor / March 29, 2010

Members called him "Captain Hutaree" or, somewhat cryptically, "RD." A federal indictment calls him the “principal leader” of the Hutaree militia – an extremist group federal authorities say was preparing to "levy war" against the US government by killing police officers....

Hutaree Militia: Parallels To Tim McVeigh; Cable News’ Next Big Story? (click here for video)

by Colby Hall | 12:15 pm, March 29th, 2010

...Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment...

Jesus and equipment, huh? Wow.

Sympathies to the Russian people.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday visited the scene of a deadly suicide bombing in the Moscow subway and laid flowers at the site.

Twin blasts occurred on Monday morning in the Moscow metro, killing at least 38 people and injuring more than 70. Following the attacks, which drew international condemnation, Medvedev ordered enhanced security measures across Russia.

The first blast took place at 7:52 a.m. (03:52 GMT) at the Lubyanka station near the former KGB headquarters, which now houses the Federal Security Service. The second bomb was detonated some 40 minutes later four stops along the line at Park Kultury station, which is also within walking distance of the Kremlin.

Medvedev laid a wreath at the spot on the Lubyanka station platform where the doors of the second carriage opened and the first bomber detonated her explosives, killing at least 24 people.

The president said those behind the terrorist attacks would be tracked down and eliminated.

"These are simply beasts, and regardless of their motives, what they did is a crime by any legal or moral standard," Medvedev told reporters on hand for the occasion.

"I have no doubts whatsoever that we will find them and eliminate all of them," he said, adding that everyone involved in the November bombing of the Nevsky Express had been killed. Twenty-seven passengers died in that attack, the first major terrorist incident beyond Russia's North Caucasus since 2004.

He also said he would soon sign a decree to establish a modern transport control and warning system in Russia.

Full service has by now been restored on the Sokolnicheskaya metro line, including for the stations where the bombings occurred.

Two women and a man are wanted in connection with the terrorist attack, a law enforcement source said.

Eyewitnesses described the chaos and panic that followed the blasts.

"I was in shock. I was deafened by the sound of the blast, but at first I didn't think it was a terrorist attack. Then I saw all the smoke and realized it had been an explosion. My only thought was to get away as quickly as possible," said Alexandra Antonova, who was at the Lubyanka station when the first explosion occurred.

Another witness said that some of the wounded were pushed along in the crowd of around 1,000 people trying to leave the station via one escalator.

"At the exit near the escalator two wounded women, who had been carried along in the crowd, overtook me. They had cuts on their faces and burnt hair. There was also a man with a wound on his neck."

Putin returns to Moscow

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed that the terrorists behind the attack would be eliminated.

"As you know, today in Moscow we saw a terrible crime against peaceful civilians," Putin said in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk before canceling his engagements and returning to Moscow, where he visited one of the Moscow hospitals where some of the injured are undergoing treatment.

"I am certain our law enforcement agencies will do everything to find and punish these criminals. The terrorists will be eliminated," he added....

I also consider the issue of Jerusalem a simple one.

The problem at hand is a 'shifting baseline.' In many of the diplomatic efforts to achieve peace between Palestine and Israel, the topic of Jerusalem has always revolved around 'demographic' composition of the city.

It has become a 'strategy' of both Palestinians and Israelis to 'effect' the demographics of the city.

That directive needs to end. There needs to be a 'target date (historical or otherwise)' of 'census' that clearly illustrates the 'true demographics' of Jerusalem. The difference of population growth between the two peoples is due to cultural differences. Those cultural differences are allowed to exist without effecting the authority of the two states in the city.

Stability is the answer to not only Jerusalem, but, all areas these two peoples share. The sooner the stability is reached the sooner a SINCERE peace can be reached and not just one for the sake of politics and arguments.



...Jerusalem’s Palestinian growth (click title to entry - thank you) rate has been high. Jerusalem’s Arab population is growing by 3 percent a year.

In contrast, Jerusalem’s Jewish population is growing by a little over 1 percent a year, and this primarily due to Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox population. On average, ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem – about a quarter of the city’s population - have more than seven children.

The expansion of Jerusalem’s Arab and ultra-Orthodox communities has contributed to increased political and religious tensions in the city. At the same time, it has weakened the city’s tax base and strained municipal services. Consequently, secular, middle-class Jews are moving out of Jerusalem....

It is obvious Ed Koch will never receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Perhaps that should be left up to Secretary of State Clinton.

None of the Obama Administration or any peoples wanting a definitive peace for the region are NOT antisemitic. It is grossly wrong to even imply that. Those that do should be ashamed. Secretary Clinton is sensitive to the Jewish Community both in Israel and of the diaspora.



The Former Mayor's abysmal attitude is hate mongering at its worst.

What any other diplomacy has failed to garner is a sincere definition of Palestinian sovereignty. Coming to terms with that will result in a peace between Israel and Palestine.

No one in the USA has deaf ears, however, there are some in Israel.

...In portraying Israel (click title to entry - thank you) as the cause of the lack of progress in the peace process, President Obama ignores the numerous offers and concessions that Israel has made over the years for the sake of peace, and the Palestinians' repeated rejections of those offers. Not only have Israel's peace proposals, which include ceding virtually the entire West Bank and parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians, been rejected, but each Israeli concession has been met with even greater demands, no reciprocity, and frequently horrific violence directed at Israeli civilians. Thus, Prime Minister Netanyahu's agreement to suspend construction on the West Bank - a move heralded by Secretary of State Clinton as unprecedented by an Israeli government - has now led to a demand that Israel also halt all construction in East Jerusalem, which is part of Israel's capital. Meanwhile, Palestinians are upping the ante, with violent protests in Jerusalem and elsewhere. And the Obama administration's request that our Arab allies make some conciliatory gesture towards Israel has fallen on deaf ears....

The peace settlement between Palestine and Israel can go a long way if there was agreement on what exactly defines Palestinian lands. Negotiations should never be this difficult.

Working with Fatah to limit the impact of Hamas is the best way to a peace settlement, so long as a Palestinian sovereignty can be agreed upon. The violence has to stop. Fatah has been trying diligently to bring Hamas to justice to end the extremism. Mr. Dahlan is one of the best hopes for the Palestinians.

Dahlan: Hamas jails fighter involved in Friday clashes (click here)
Monday 29/03/2010, 23:48 (Jerusalem)
Bethlehem – Ma'an – Fatah Central Committee member Muhammad Dahlan said Monday the de facto government has detained an operative involved in Friday's deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip, killing two Palestinian fighters and two Israeli soldiers.

The detainee, a member of Hamas' security forces, has been jailed in Gaza, Dahlan told students at the An-Najjah University, who refused to reveal his name.

Dahlan told students at the Nablus university that Hamas has yet to build anything substantial for Gaza throughout its rule over the coastal enclave "except for the total destruction of Gaza and murder."

Friday's deadly clashes in southern Gaza were the most violent since Israel ended its devastating assault on the coastal enclave 14 months ago....

There is still a lot of fear of Israel by Hamas for the offensive that was conducted under Bush when White Phosphorus was used. It is known it was supplied by the USA military under Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld. That level of determination to kill Hamas Palestinians is over kill. The offensive was far to aggressive for the issue at hand. The violence has to stop and using such extreme weaponry only solidifies the extremist views of Israel and destabilizes Palestine further, while radicalizing other militant groups in the region.

January 15, 2009

Spent shells prove Israeli use of white phosphorus, Gaza doctors say (click here)

Remnants of an Israeli white phosphorus shell, identified by the marking on the outer casing — M825A1 — have been found in the village of Sheikh Ajilin in western Gaza.

Witnesses in Gaza said that the shell was fired on January 9 and was taken indoors as evidence. They recalled seeing thick smoke and smelling a strong odour in keeping with the garlic-like smell associated with white phosphorus...

Simply denying these issues while complaining about Palestine isn't solving anything.

Apology to Rep. Eric Cantor. Violence is never the answer.

No, no. Violence does not 'stabilize' a democracy. Quite the contrary.



...Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert K. Reed (click title to entry - thank you) said Cantor and his family were not harmed as a result of Leboon's alleged activities. Reed added that there was no evidence LeBoon was involved in the shot fired at Cantor's Congressional office in Richmond after last week's vote on health insurance reform....

Before I do further reading of the new health care law...

...I am taking the time to proof read a bit.

Thank you.

The DNC needs to hire the original 'tough guy' to promote their candidates in 2010.

Mar 23 2010 6:51 AM EDT

Snoop Dogg Has 'Believable' Superpower In 'Malice N Wonderland' Movie (click here)

'I'm able to deflect bullets and cause a great range of sound that can blow your eardrums out,' he tells MTV News.

By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Shaheem Reid

Snoop Dogg is re-releasing his Malice N Wonderland album as a two-part project, a suite of new music and a pre-packaged movie, which, according to the veteran rapper, will help explain the concept behind the collection. Snoop told MTV News last week that More Malice, featuring new collaborations with Jay-Z and Kid Cudi, should provide fans with more than enough Snoop....



Caption: Snoop Dogg (Picture) Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Arrivals held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, California ....


"I think he (President Obama) is doing a great job." said "Malice in Wonderland."

Freedom Schooner Amistad in Cuba

The U.S.-flagged vessel Amistad nears the port of Havana. The Connecticut schooner Amistad, a replica of the infamous Cuban slave ship, has arrived in Cuba for a 10-day visit. The ship is to drop anchor in Havana on March 25 to observe the Amistad's 10th anniversary and commemorate the day in 1807 when the British Parliament outlawed the slave trade. Photo: AP

HAVANA TIMES, (click title to entry - thank you)

March 23 – The Freedom Schooner Amistad arrived Monday in the port of Matanzas, some 100 kilometers east of the Cuban capital, on its last leg of a tour of the Caribbean to commemorate the abolition of slavery, reported the local press.

The vessel is a replica of a similar one that left in 1839 from the port of Matanzas with a shipment of slaves, who rebelled and finally obtained their freedom by decision of the US Supreme Court, reported IPS.

In a public display of diplomacy, (click here) aka PDD, a U.S.-flagged ship will share its mast with the Cuban National banner in a united tribute against the ravages of the historical slave trade.

On March 25, 2010, the Amistad will commence a 10-day, two-city tour of Cuba. Even the 10-year-old vessel has a duel meaning for its use and a U.S. vessel in Cuban waters intends to show a thawing of rigid relations. Gregory Belanger knows the powerful image of a vessel displaying home and host flags docking in Cuba. Belanger is the CEO and president of Amistad America Inc., the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the ship.

"We're completely aware of all of the issues currently surrounding the U.S. and Cuba," he said. "But we approach this from the point of view that we have this unique history that both societies are connected by. It gives us an opportunity to transcend contemporary issues."...

The Amistad's presence was an opportunity to demonstrate the passions of the people of Cuba.

For Cubans, transition ahead (click here)

By Ted Mann

Publication: The Day

Published 03/28/2010 12:00 AM

Updated 03/28/2010 11:32 AM

...And while the political subtext of U.S.-Cuban relations was constantly on the mind of American and Cubans alike during the course of the Amistad visit, the treatment of internal political dissidents here was treated with a notable silence.

Scarcely a word about the Damas de Blanco, or Women in White, who were in the midst of seven days' worth of marches through Havana as the Amistad's support crew arrived in the capital. The marches, which were reportedly disrupted by counter-demonstrators loyal to the government and by police, mark the seventh anniversary of the Castro regime's imprisonment of more than 100 dissidents considered by Amnesty International to be political prisoners....

Hannity is lying.

On her show, "State of the Union," Candy Crowley EXPOSED the lies of Hannity in regard to the less than civilized behavior of the Tea Baggers that ? VISITED ? Capital Hill during the passage of the "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Murdoch's Shawn Hannity stated there was no proof of the uncivilized behavior of the Tea Baggers as they spit on a Congressman, whom by the way did not press charges.

Well, there was proof, but, the manipulative Hannity CHOSE not to show the video.

Evidently, the only PROOF Hannity understands is video, eyewitness accounts, including Police reports don't matter.

I was pleased Ms. Crowley thought enough of the integrity of the Congressman to dispell the lies Hannity was weaving.

I thank her for that.

This is just good reporting. Getting the facts correct and being sure there is at least one place concerned citizens can turn to find 'the truth' is simply taking on the responsibility of journalism.

It is not partisan reporting. It is simply just GOOD reporting and editorial content. "State of the Union," is more or less editorial content RATHER THAN the 'entertainment' show the Murdoch and Rush Shows claims are their 'right.'

While I am driving I listen to the rants of the Right on Rush or Murdoch depending on the tone for the day.

Well, yesterday on my way to Stoneville, the angry airwaves of Rush Radio was hard at work. I have never heard such hatred of human beings in a partisan way before in my life.

There is only one thing I am going to say. It seem more than obvious while I read the "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," that the 'exchanges' are where the Public Option lives. It is the exact same thing. The Public Option was going to open up the insurances Federal employees, including the President and Congress, have to chose from.

The exchanges are the same thing, only at a State level with commercial carriers. If there is any reason State Attorney Generals are opposing this law, it is only for political purposes. As far as I am concerned the 'candidates' opposing anyone that voted for the new law or have ambitions in politics, are seeking to defy the law in any capacity through the elections of 2010.

There is a Public Option. It is not called a Public Option, but, it looks remarkably similar. It is the exchanges that provide alternatives to draconian commercial insurance.

This is the tornado that was near the house last night.

I left after this. I drove west past Stoneville until this morning and then returned from that western point. It was an outbreak of about 6 - 7 tornadoes across the state. The storm was really strange. As the Charlotte tornado touched down, High Point was getting torrential rains, over 4 inches in a hour.

When the same Charlotte system arrived in High Point, the wind stopped, there was NO rain and even the birds stayed in the trees as if nothing was going to occur. There was no hail, just think gray to dark gray clouds, very, very low to the ground. I'll say about 100 to 150 feet above the ground. They were moving very fast. I had seen that once before, during a night outbreak on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. The tornadoes could be seen as clouds above the ground, but, the system was moving so fast they never reached the ground. Really strange stuff. The appearance of the clouds were definately meso-tornadic without a funnel appearance, other than the tornado itself.

As the same storm system approached High Point, the line of storms was directly over the town. Getting out of its way was the only recourse. The people of the area have no real place to go to save their own lives. There are no basements or any safe shelters to go to. There are no alarms/sirens that sound. There is a local television station, Channel 12, that has a really interesting 'model' for such emergencies. They stay on the air until the Tornado Watch ends. They tell people there is a funnel cloud on the ground and it is now you should be taking shelter. But, there isn't any real shelter to seek. An inside room of the house. That is just to eliminate flying glass if you don't have the tornado rip up the house.

But, on radar, the line of storms was obvious and it was easy to plot a path out of the way. So, I did. I don't argue with tornadoes, they usually win.

With a real lack of shelter in the area or within their own homes, the folks here don't really react to the emergency. They don't assert a sense of self-preservation. Sad, but, true.

Every building code in any State without basements that are susceptible to tornadoes should have a requirement to have one room, at least, a tornado SECURE, not just safe, SECURE room.

An underground area is always best, but, SOLID brick structure, small, no larger than a 12 by 12, like an entrance way foyer could suffice for a 'tornado secure' room.

A foyer this size could be built at a door to a trailer as well.

In case one does not understand what is occurring when these storms 'hit?' The turbulence is above the clouds. The dew point in the troposphere has moved up and only when the system is spinning fast enough to over comes upper air 'sheer' does it make it to the surface. That is why the 'vortex force' of the tornado itself is diminished. HOWEVER, this is an early set of tornadoes and the northern hemisphere troposphere has yet to heat to capacity (direct solar rays). The torrential rains are the leading edge of the system so it has no 'systemic' issues as the rest of the storm does. It is also typical that tornadoes occur 'worse' and 'more frequently' after sunset when the air is starting to cool and there is more movement up from the ground.

Have a better day.

Tomrrow is another day...

I didn't finish this entry from the 26th. If Lindsay Graham is an indication of the Re-election bids for the Republicans, it is all rhetorical.

There are no facts to the statements today by Graham. David Axelrod is 'spot on' with his insight. The problem is that the rhetoric of Graham scares people. The real task for the Democrats is getting the facts OUT and having them heard over the fear mongering of the Republicans. Graham is out stumping for Medicare Advantage and he, just like the CEOs, don't care how they do it. I believe David Axelrod has the best message of all. His facts are correct, but, evidently no one is interested in them.

To be more specific, the Republican scare tactics surround the issue of COST and deficit and debt. The Democrats HAVE TO address those issues with FACTUAL analysis of the cost, the deficit and the debt and drive those facts home every chance they get.

To be completely accurate, this could be the chance the Democrats have been waiting for to nail down the SSI, Medicare entitlements and how they are better financed today than before the law passed. It is also their chance to address the deficit and debt the way they see it and even call into legislation how the entitlements will be 'secured' by law and how the deficit and debt will be handled through 'law' so it can't be taken away from citizens ever again. I see all this as an opportunity to 'out shine' the previous and potential Republican leadership that never addressed these entitlements and their security ever before. I don't know any other President or administration that could before now. There is significant expertise throughout this administration and to the extent law can apply, it should be part of the reality of where the country is going and how it is solving its problems, today and tomorrow.

As I read through this law and the Reconciliation Bill to follow it is completely obvious whom the experts are in the legislature as well. These provisions are clearly discernible and expertly written. I am grateful the Democrats wrote the bills that lead to their passage into law without the 'sleazy methodology of the Republicans' tainting it. There, to date, aren't any hazy issues to resolve.

It is obvious from the Graham rhetoric the Republicans are completely dismissive of the needs of Americans. One cannot write a bill with this scope and not hit on valuable change to the American landscape. Even statistically that is grossly inaccurate.

It is all good.

The CORRECT name of the new law is:

"Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

For uninsured citizens to receive health care insurance.

(d) Eligible Individual- An individual shall be deemed to be an eligible individual for purposes of this section if such individual--

(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or is lawfully present in the United States (as determined in accordance with section 1411);

Section 1411 is under Part 1, subpart B, eligibility determinations. It is a very long section.

SEC. 1411. PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR EXCHANGE PARTICIPATION, PREMIUM TAX CREDITS AND REDUCED COST-SHARING, AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY EXEMPTIONS.

The title is plain language.

(a) Establishment of Program- The Secretary shall establish a program meeting the requirements of this section for determining--

(1) whether an individual who is to be covered in the individual market by a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange, or who is claiming a premium tax credit or reduced cost-sharing, meets the requirements of sections 1312(f)(3)...

1312(f) reads:

(3) ACCESS LIMITED TO LAWFUL RESIDENTS- If an individual is not, or is not reasonably expected to be for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States, the individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual and may not be covered under a qualified health plan in the individual market that is offered through an Exchange.

That is clear to me. It is about an individual and not a relative circumstance, so the person seeking to qualify is judged appropriate on the merits of their own person and not that of anyone else, at least at this point.

...1402(e),

(e) Rules for Individuals Not Lawfully Present-

Not lawfully present means the individual is in the members household illegally.

(1) IN GENERAL- If an individual who is an eligible insured is not lawfully present--

If an individual is an illegal alien there is no cost-sharing reduction for that individual. In other words that individual is not allowed to participate in the exchange. Nothing saying they cannot get health insurance without the exchange, but, they won't be allowed to participate in an exchange.

(A) no cost-sharing reduction under this section shall apply with respect to the individual; and


(B) for purposes of applying this section, the determination as to what percentage a taxpayer’s household income bears to the poverty level for a family of the size involved shall be made under one of the following methods:

This section under B defines poverty line. It doesn't provide any other exemptions to Illegals participating. If a person is illegal then they are not included in any of the exchanges. This section under B is irrelevant to that reality. There are provisions in the USA welfare laws that would provide for government payment. I believe section B is to clarify that standard.

The reason this is placed here is due to children that have been born in the USA, but, their parents are illegal aliens. We know that those children are considered citizens and their eligibility will rely on the family's income as to whether they are allowed into the exchanges. I think that is why it is entered here. Because (2) goes on to talk about lawfully present.

(i) A method under which--
(I) the taxpayer’s family size is determined by not taking such individuals into account, and
(II) the taxpayer’s household income is equal to the product of the taxpayer’s household income (determined without regard to this subsection) and a fraction--
(aa) the numerator of which is the poverty line for the taxpayer’s family size determined after application of subclause (I), and
(bb) the denominator of which is the poverty line for the taxpayer’s family size determined without regard to subclause (I).
(ii) A comparable method reaching the same result as the method under clause (i).


(2) LAWFULLY PRESENT- For purposes of this section, an individual shall be treated as lawfully present only if the individual is, and is reasonably expected to be for the entire period of enrollment for which the cost-sharing reduction under this section is being claimed, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States.

There are no illegal aliens allowed to participate in any exchanges even if they are high risk exchanges.

(3) SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY- The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall prescribe rules setting forth the methods by which calculations of family size and household income are made for purposes of this subsection. Such rules shall be designed to ensure that the least burden is placed on individuals enrolling in qualified health plans through an Exchange and taxpayers eligible for the credit allowable under this section.

This is not entirely within it's 'home' section. It is just referred to here and that is why I brought it forward. Within its 'home' section the words have more meaning than they do here. To some extent. What is different here, is that the Secretary of Health and Human Services acts in CONSULTATION with the USA Treasury Secretary. It will be those two cabinet level departments that will agree upon the rules mapped out here.

and 1412(d)

(d) No Federal Payments for Individuals Not Lawfully Present- Nothing in this subtitle or the amendments made by this subtitle allows Federal payments, credits, or cost-sharing reductions for individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

There it is. There will be no inclusion anywhere within this law to allow illegal aliens a place within it. President Obama and the House and Senate Democrats don't lie, the Republicans and Right Wing Media DOES.

...of this title and section 36B(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (click here) that the individual be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States;

(2) in the case of an individual claiming a premium tax credit or reduced cost-sharing under section 36B of such Code or section 1402--

(A) whether the individual meets the income and coverage requirements of such sections; and

B) the amount of the tax credit or reduced cost-sharing;

(3) whether an individual’s coverage under an employer-sponsored health benefits plan is treated as unaffordable under sections 36B(c)(2)(C) and 5000A(e)(2); and

There are more sections to look up. The 36(B)(2)(C) is from the IRS codes and those sections are really tedious to find. I tried one more time on line and it is futile. I'll find the 5000 section. I am going off line for awhile.

Okay, who hid section 5000?

Sec. 4402. Effectiveness of Federal health and wellness initiatives.

TITLE V--HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE

Subtitle A--Purpose and Definitions

Sec. 5001. Purpose.

Here it is:

This is established law. Don't get carried away thinking this was recently
dreamed up by the Democrats. Let me see if I can find out when it
was written.

Originally part of the law in Oct. 21, 1986, then
amended Dec. 19, 1989 and last amended before the
Health Care Reform Law (which really isn't called
the Health Care Reform Law) on Aug. 10, 1993.

There is a lot explained in Section 5000 of the
IRS Code,but, basically it states anyone receiving
benefits from a non-conforming insurance product no
longer has to pay the taxes if they don't want to, but,
they are ELIGIBLE for inclusion to an exchange so
long as they meet all the other requirements as well.

Sec. 5000. Certain group health plans
 
(a) Imposition of tax
There is hereby imposed on any employer (including a
self-employed person) or employee organization that contributes to
a nonconforming group health plan a tax equal to 25 percent of the
employer's or employee organization's expenses incurred during the
calendar year for each group health plan to which the employer or
employee organization contributes.
(b) Group health plan and large group health plan
For purposes of this section -
(1) Group health plan
The term ''group health plan'' means a plan (including
self-insured plan) of, or contributed to by, an employer
(including a self-employed person) or employee organization to
provide health care (directly or otherwise) to the employees,
former employees, the employer, others associated or formerly
associated with the employer in a business relationship,or their
families.
(2) Large group health plan
The term ''large group health plan'' means a plan of, or
contributed to by, an employer or employee organization
(including a self-insured plan) to provide health care (directly
or otherwise) to the employees, former employees, the employer,
others associated or formerly associated with the employer in a
business relationship, or their families, that covers employees
of at least one employer that normally employed at least 100
employees on a typical business day during the previous calendar
year.  For purposes of the preceding sentence -
(A) all employers treated as a single employer under
subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 shall be treated as a
single employer,
(B) all employees of the members of an affiliated service
group (as defined in section 414(m)) shall be treated as
employed by a single employer, and
(C) leased employees (as defined in section 414(n)(2)) shall
be treated as employees of the person for whom they perform
services to the extent they are so treated under section
414(n).
(c) Nonconforming group health plan
For purposes of this section, the term ''nonconforming group
health plan'' means a group health plan or large group health plan
that at any time during a calendar year does not comply with the
requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) or subparagraph (B),
respectively, of paragraph (1), or with the requirements of
paragraph (2), of section 1862(b) of the Social Security Act.
d) Government entities
For purposes of this section, the term ''employer'' does not
include a Federal or other governmental entity.

(4) whether to grant a certification under section 1311(d)(4)(H) (This is about veterans. Evidently they are as eligible as anyone else to join any exchange they want, including their families, it would seem.) attesting that, for purposes of the individual responsibility requirement under section 5000A...

(This is the same section as above only particularly the A under that section)

(A) all employers treated as a single employer under
subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 shall be treated as a
single employer,

It seems to me the more I read these 'inclusions' the law goes through a lot of trouble to include EVERYONE with the opportunity for health care insurance through the exchanges INCLUDING disabled veterans.

This 'qualifications' come from later in the bill. One has to remember that. Why? Because
these provisions don't expire. They don't end on January 1, 2014. This is it. These are the
citizens included in the reform.

...of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, an individual is entitled to an exemption from either the individual responsibility requirement or the penalty imposed by such section.

I'll read more tomorrow.

I happen to think this is a great law that will only become greater over time.

(b) Information Required To Be Provided by Applicants-

This is the information that is allowed to be obtained by insurers.

(1) IN GENERAL- An applicant for enrollment in a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange in the individual market shall provide--

(A) the name, address, and date of birth of each individual who is to be covered by the plan (in this subsection referred to as an ‘enrollee’); and

(B) the information required by any of the following paragraphs that is applicable to an enrollee.

(2) CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS- The following information shall be provided with respect to every enrollee:

(A) In the case of an enrollee whose eligibility is based on an attestation of citizenship of the enrollee, the enrollee’s social security number.

(B) In the case of an individual whose eligibility is based on an attestation of the enrollee’s immigration status, the enrollee’s social security number (if applicable) and such identifying information with respect to the enrollee’s immigration status as the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, determines appropriate.

The new law also brings in National Security as a directive as the Secretary of Health and Human Services has to consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine citizen and/or immigration status.

There is also a provision with an amendment that was proposed by Sessions. At this point I don't know if it was incorporated into this bill, but, it may be an option for the consulting period to include the provisions within that bill:

(c) Verification of Eligibility Through Documentation.— (click here)

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Exchange shall conduct eligibility verification, using the information provided by an applicant under subsection (b), in accordance with this subsection.

(2) VERIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS.—

(A) VERIFICATION OF ATTESTATION OF CITIZENSHIP.—Each Exchange shall verify the eligibility of each enrollee who attests that they are a citizen or national of the United States, as required by subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, in accordance with the provisions of section 1903(x) of the Social Security Act.

(B) VERIFICATION OF ATTESTATION OF ELIGIBLE IMMIGRATION STATUS.—Each Exchange shall verify the eligibility of each enrollee who attests that they are eligible to participate in the exchange by virtue of having been a lawful permanent resident for not less than 5 years, as required by subsection (b)(l)(B) of this section, in accordance with the provisions of section 1137 of the Social Security Act.

Five years seems excessive, but, a more reasonable standard might come from the length of time they have held a drivers' license and/or maintained a residence whereby they have receipts from rent and/or mortgage. The idea that an infant might be in danger is a factor that really should not be debated. Children are victim to their parents decisions. Considering the age of the individual might be a factor as well.

(3) ELIGIBILITY AND AMOUNT OF TAX CREDIT OR REDUCED COST-SHARING- In the case of an enrollee with respect to whom a premium tax credit or reduced cost-sharing under section 36B of such Code (the 36B Code is where credits to the Income Tax Code are placed when written into law) or section 1402 (This is the part of the IRS Code for the self-employed.) is being claimed, the following information:

(A) INFORMATION REGARDING INCOME AND FAMILY SIZE- The information described in section 6103(l)(21)...

Section 6103 deals with disclosure laws. I am trying to find (l)(21). I've checked two sources and the (l) sections go up to (20), but, no (21). That doesn't really mean anything as the online sources might not be the most up to date references, especially, if this is a fairly new provision. I'll try one more, but, it doesn't appear online anywhere. As a matter of fact the second source I checked is stated to be accurate up to January 7, 2003. So, I many not be able to find it online.

Nope. The online sources don't include it, but, they are somewhat dated to their status. Well. It is about disclosure. What this law does all through the context is draw on existing statutes to build on the upgrades that is this law. That is good practice, it also saves time and work. So, the (21) section somehow describes disclosure that will assist the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security define 'citizen' and 'legally present immigrants.'

Something occurred to me.

It would be darn decent of the administration if they would ask the folks that oppose abortion if they believe it would be beneficial to have expectant mothers included in any of the statue that does not address the unborn, if indeed this law ever includes illegal immigrant children born outside the USA as important enough to allow them to PURCHASE on the exchanges.

They can purchase insurance if they have the funds anyway, but, it would be a kind gesture to include those priorities if there are House Members of that constituency that would like to one more time add one more amendment (If not already there.) to include those children and expectant mothers. It might be cheaper to have an expectant mother, even though illegally in the country, have an abortion than not even if she feels strongly about wanting the child. She might be too burdened by her 'status' to keep the pregnancy.

If nothing else it would get them on record to their position and it would help clarify issues in the future for candidates seeking to uphold the dignity of these folks. Wanting women to take their pregnancies to term is not a bad thing, but, it is a bad thing to drop them off on the doorstep of life afterward and simply state, 'Cope with it.'

Abortion is a cultural issue and a socio-economic issue. That is something the Religious Right never owns as a reality. So do they accept illegal immigrants that are pregnant women with or without children in tow as important enough to accommodate? This could also be carried through in new Immigration Law rather than as an additional amendment to this law.

I would not EXPECT any USA law to purposely sabotage a parent that wants to keep their child by stating they HAVE TO provide the child for adoption after the pregnancy was attended to by an insurance exchange. No, no. Offering a child for adoption is a decision parent(s) have to make willingly and without doubt or regret, not as part of a law.

The previous five paragraphs are 'human rights' provisions if anything like that were adopted. It would prove to the greater community exactly our concern for those within our borders as human beings vs 'capital tools of labor.'

Justice Ginsberg, whom has a long record of upholding such interests with the USA and outside considerations, would probably consider that constitutional. I can't say that the conservative justices that are owned by corporations would though.

...for the taxable year ending with or within the second calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the plan year begins.

This plan began at the signature of the President. So the plan begins for the taxable year following this year or sometime within the next year.

The fiscal year for the USA government is:

• 1st Quarter: October 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
• 2nd Quarter: January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010
• 3rd Quarter: April 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010
• 4th Quarter: July 1, 2010 - September 30, 2010

The calender year began with January 1, 2010. The calender year begins following the fiscal year. That is why the wording sounds silly. The preceding calender year is 2009. The second calender year preceding is 2008. The taxable year ending September 30, 2008 is the 'proof' year.

The income tax records for most if not all citizens for 2008 will have already been filed, so it will be that year of proof that will count in regard to the 'status' of citizenship or legally present immigrants for the purpose of the law.

(B) CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES- The information described in section 1412(b)(2),

SEC. 1412. ADVANCE DETERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF PREMIUM TAX CREDITS AND COST-SHARING REDUCTIONS.

(b) Advance Determinations-

(2) (The lack of specification of subsection (A) or (B) indicates all of (2) and not just one section or the other.) CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES- The Secretary shall provide procedures for making advance determinations on the basis of information other than that described in paragraph (1)(B)

This is from Section 1412.

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide under the program established under subsection (a)

(Sub-section) (a) In General- The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall establish a program under which--

(1) upon request of an Exchange, advance determinations are made under section 1411 (1411 is what this consists. Rather than saying, '...under this section...' the legislation clearly states the section of which this is. This mention of section 1411 is to redirect attention to the fact this is continuing content of this statute.) with respect to the income eligibility of individuals enrolling in a qualified health plan in the individual market through the Exchange for the premium tax credit allowable under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (I've already discussed this.) and the cost-sharing reductions under section 1402;

(2) the Secretary notifies--

A) the Exchange and the Secretary of the Treasury of the advance determinations; and

(B) the Secretary of the Treasury of the name and employer identification number of each employer with respect to whom 1 or more employee of the employer were determined to be eligible for the premium tax credit under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the cost-sharing reductions under section 1402...

SEC. 1402. REDUCED COST-SHARING FOR INDIVIDUALS ENROLLING IN QUALIFIED HEALTH PLANS.

Section 1402 is a bit lengthy, but, it discusses the 'cost-sharing' and I'll discuss it within its location of the bill. It applies to Section 1412 that is inserted here.

...because--

(i) the employer did not provide minimum essential coverage; or

(ii) the employer provided such minimum essential coverage but it was determined under section 36B(c)(2)(C) (That is the provision within this law below and I'll read it as it occurs in the law.)...

‘SEC. 36B. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR COVERAGE UNDER A QUALIFIED HEALTH PLAN.

‘(c) Definition and Rules Relating to Applicable Taxpayers, Coverage Months, and Qualified Health Plan- For purposes of this section--

‘(2) COVERAGE MONTH- For purposes of this subsection--

‘(C) SPECIAL RULE FOR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE- For purposes of subparagraph (B)--

...of such Code to either be unaffordable to the employee or not provide the required minimum actuarial value; and...

In other words, to qualify for an exchange one can move outside that of an employer provided health care insurance IF the insurance is inadequate to provide "...minimal actuarial value...". Minimal Actuarial Value is basically the deductible to the policy. 70 : 30 Policy. 60 : 30 Policy. The actuarial value is the percentage that is provided by the insurer/company. The deductibles might also be unreasonable exceeding $5100.00 annually. If those 'values' are a burden then even if an individual is covered by employer provided insurance, that individual can move into an exchange to improve their costs for health care insurance.

So long as citizens take advantage of this provision, it should eliminate corrupt health care plans that don't deliver value to their enrollees.

While the subject presented itself, I would like to look at what makes a 'good' vs 'bad' health care insurance company.

When one is shopping for any kind of insurance, and I do mean any kind, one has to take into consideration the 'viability' of the company that is issuing the policy. One aspect of the Exchanges is the companies supplying benefits have to have enough 'assets' to cover the expenses of those that they insure. There won't be any fly by night companies in the Exchanges.

In other words, if a health insurance company has to be liquidated to pay its costs including that of the insured claims, there is a good change the consumer will be stuck with their health costs that should have been paid by the company in liquidation.

So, while costs are important, if the cost to insurance is low, it doesn't matter a 'hill of beans' if they can't stay solvent long enough for enrolles to be covered if the occurrence happens when the enrollee needs to file claims.

The most secure health care insurance in the USA is Medicare and Medicaid. Just think about what would have happened to the nation's health care infrastructure after October of 2008 and then realize why regulation of those companies is paramount to the well being of the citizens of this country.

If nothing else was saved after the global economic collapse of 2008, the health care infrastructure of the country was. It is why Homeland Security has to have in place a 'Single Payer System' should such happen again.

...that advance determination of eligibility with respect to any individual shall be made--

(B) on the basis of the individual’s household income for the most recent taxable year for which the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines information is available.

cases where information included with an application form demonstrates substantial changes in income, changes in family size or other household circumstances, change in filing status, the filing of an application for unemployment benefits, or other significant changes affecting eligibility, including--

(A) allowing an individual claiming a decrease of 20 percent or more in income, or filing an application for unemployment benefits, to have eligibility for the credit determined on the basis of household income for a later period or on the basis of the individual’s estimate of such income for the taxable year; and

(B) the determination of household income in cases where the taxpayer was not required to file a return of tax imposed by this chapter for the second preceding taxable year.

including information with respect to individuals who were not required to file an income tax return for the taxable year described in subparagraph (A) (this is the paragraph A immediately above) or individuals who experienced changes in marital status or family size or significant reductions in income.

This section of the law continues, but, here it will continue in the next entry.

Thank you.