I just have to say a few words about what Pat Robertson said the other day on his show about Haiti. The just of what he said is that because of a supposed deal with the devil in the 18th century, that this terrible earthquake was God's wrath for that. He also intimated something similar about the United States when 9/11 happened.
I have to say, what an idiot!!! It burns me up that he said this and that, sadly, there are people out there in the world that truly believe what he said. In other words, if you are living wrong, then things will go badly in your life; consequently, if you are living right, then things will go well.
If God truly worked like this, then where would any of us be? What if things are not going well in a Christian's life? And who made Robertson the judge on such things? I thought God was the judge.
Once again, Pat Robertson has said something so insanely stupid, that it makes all of us cringe. I, quite frankly, am ashamed that he has the media position that he has with his show. I am ashamed that he says he's part of the Christian community. He is making true believers look bad in the eyes of nonbelievers.
I hope that he loses his show soon, by some manner. Hmmm. Based on Robertson's thinking, maybe I should pray the he would lose his voice permanently and never be able to speak again.
In the meantime, Christians need to stand up and say, 'no, we do not believe this way.' Can God use a tragedy such as the Haiti earthquake to draw people closer to Him? Yes, He can. Do I believe that He caused the earthquake to punish the Haitians for their supposed past sins? No, I do not. We should all be cautious of such thinking. It is dangerous.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
If By 'Transparent' You Mean 'Secret'...
If By 'Transparent' You Mean 'Secret'...
After much bribery and arm-twisting, the Senate managed just before Christmas to pass its version of ObamaCare by a 60-39 vote (amazingly, without a single GOP "aye"). Now, the bill heads for conference deliberation televised by C-SPAN, just as the cable channel offered and Barack Obama promised numerous times.
Or not.
Democrats let slip this week that there would be no typical conference committee on the competing House and Senate versions of the health bill, as "leaders" opted instead for private negotiations with "key" congressmen and senators, none of whom is Republican. Once an agreement is reached, each legislative chamber will vote again and send the unified bill to the president.
Without conference committee, a rule requiring public access to the conference report for at least 48 hours before a vote would conveniently not apply. That means even more liberty-stealing treachery can be slipped into the bill with little notice. Funny how the "public option" doesn't mean that the public gets to know what's in the bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) nevertheless had the gall to declare, "There has never been a more open process for any legislation in anyone who's served here's experience." In response, Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto mocked, "Has a most false or awkwardly worded statement ever come out of anyone who has served as speak of the House's mouth?"
In spite of Democrats' best efforts at "transparency," there are many extra-special things that we actually do know about the bill. For example, on page 1,020, the Senate bill states: "It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection." In other words, the bill creates an eternal law by prohibiting future elected Congresses from making changes to this subsection.
What's in the subsection in question? The infamous "death panel" -- the Independent Medicare Advisory Board (IMAB), who objective will be to "reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending" (read: to ration health care).
Meanwhile, the bill contains what amounts to a marriage penalty worth $2,000 or more in insurance premiums each year. The Wall Street Journal explains, "The disparity comes about in part because subsidies for purchasing health insurance under the plan from congressional Democrats are pegged to federal poverty guidelines. That has the effect of limiting the subsidies for married couples with a combined income, compared to if the individuals are single."
Finally, Obama signaled this week he's willing to break another campaign promise: The "no tax increases on the middle class" pledge. He threw his support behind the Senate's tax on higher end "Cadillac" insurance plans, something unions and House Democrats oppose.
The more the public learns about this continuing saga, the more vigorously opposed they become to "reform". No wonder Democrats want the process to remain secret.
[The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US)]
After much bribery and arm-twisting, the Senate managed just before Christmas to pass its version of ObamaCare by a 60-39 vote (amazingly, without a single GOP "aye"). Now, the bill heads for conference deliberation televised by C-SPAN, just as the cable channel offered and Barack Obama promised numerous times.
Or not.
Democrats let slip this week that there would be no typical conference committee on the competing House and Senate versions of the health bill, as "leaders" opted instead for private negotiations with "key" congressmen and senators, none of whom is Republican. Once an agreement is reached, each legislative chamber will vote again and send the unified bill to the president.
Without conference committee, a rule requiring public access to the conference report for at least 48 hours before a vote would conveniently not apply. That means even more liberty-stealing treachery can be slipped into the bill with little notice. Funny how the "public option" doesn't mean that the public gets to know what's in the bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) nevertheless had the gall to declare, "There has never been a more open process for any legislation in anyone who's served here's experience." In response, Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto mocked, "Has a most false or awkwardly worded statement ever come out of anyone who has served as speak of the House's mouth?"
In spite of Democrats' best efforts at "transparency," there are many extra-special things that we actually do know about the bill. For example, on page 1,020, the Senate bill states: "It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection." In other words, the bill creates an eternal law by prohibiting future elected Congresses from making changes to this subsection.
What's in the subsection in question? The infamous "death panel" -- the Independent Medicare Advisory Board (IMAB), who objective will be to "reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending" (read: to ration health care).
Meanwhile, the bill contains what amounts to a marriage penalty worth $2,000 or more in insurance premiums each year. The Wall Street Journal explains, "The disparity comes about in part because subsidies for purchasing health insurance under the plan from congressional Democrats are pegged to federal poverty guidelines. That has the effect of limiting the subsidies for married couples with a combined income, compared to if the individuals are single."
Finally, Obama signaled this week he's willing to break another campaign promise: The "no tax increases on the middle class" pledge. He threw his support behind the Senate's tax on higher end "Cadillac" insurance plans, something unions and House Democrats oppose.
The more the public learns about this continuing saga, the more vigorously opposed they become to "reform". No wonder Democrats want the process to remain secret.
[The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US)]
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