IT'S ABOUT TIME

From Instapundit: DOESN’T HAVE THE VOTES: Pelosi announces that she can’t pass Senate ObamaCare bill. “Brown’s arrival in the capital today carried a message that Democrats finally began to comprehend, after dismissing voter anger at town halls for months as meaningless.”

From that link..

"This puts an end to the complicated pass-this-now, do-a-modification-later approach that had been floated over the past week as it became apparent that Democrats would lose Massachusetts. It also probably means an end to the reconciliation approach, which could only be used to pass the least popular elements of ObamaCare — Medicare cuts and tax hikes. We’re probably looking more at a Square One approach, and this time the Obama administration may try to draft key Republicans into the talks in order to get bipartisan cover." (my emphasis)

I call that a huge victory for the American People. We all can see that some type of pragmatic, common sense, health reform is needed, but not in the form of Obamacare. Starting at square one is the right thing to do. And, with Scott Brown in the room, puts some of the Republican ideas back on the table.

OUT OF TOUCH

It's always amusing when a politician is so out of touch with their state. Following is a statement from the Chairman of the California Democrat Party, John Burton, asserting that California won't follow the same follies as the Coakely campaign did:

"Nobody in California that is running for office would take off for a weeklong vacation before the general election after a tough primary, and they probably would be standing out in front of Dodger Stadium or Candlestick Park shaking hands," he said, alluding to one of Coakley's widely cited gaffes involving the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

Candlestick Park? I hope no one is standing in front of Candlestick Park, b/c there wouldn't be any hands to shake. There hasn't been since 2000 when the Giants moved to PacBell Park, which is now called AT&T Park. And, funnier is that he said this "alluding to one of Coakley's widely cited gaffes involving the Boston Red Sox baseball team."

Yes, out of touch. And, that's just a campaign gaffe. The discontent with the ruling party and its agenda doesn't enter his mind as a problem that California might have. Again, out of touch.

IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES

It was very exciting to see the turn of events that led to the election of Scott Brown yesterday in Massachusetts. There is a sense that people are starting to see the writing on the wall, in terms of the left progressive's agenda and they don't like it. The scales are coming off, in terms of the idolatry of Obama. Perspective and balance have a chance, again. The independents are still looking for the hope and change they thought they'd get in an Obama administration.

I think the movement propelled by the Tea Party Express provides the best chances for the change in Washington that so many are looking for. The main sentiment is "less government" and "reduce spending" and "keep us safe." That is appealing to all centrists - left or right leaning.

On the other hand.....there are two diametrically opposed points of view in our country in regards to what constitutes, "going in the right direction." They seem irreconcilable.

What prompted me to think about this today was an article by Nile Gardner, from Telegraph Blogs.

It's title is:

"10 Reasons Who George W. Bush Was a Smarter World Leader Than Barack Obama."

I read the article and agreed with all of the points. How refreshing it was to have someone lay it out like that in bullet point form.

The part that floors me is in the comments section. This article really hits a nerve. It has generated over 175 comments so far. People just see black and white and one's black is the other's white. (and I'm not talking about race!)

It's one thing to disregard the blogger's points, but the way those with opposing views spin the same facts and turn them upside down never ceases to amaze me. I know they think the same of my point of view. The points of view are irreconcilable. There is no overlap for about 25% on the left and 25% on the right. It seems to me that there are points of gray for about half of the electorate.

The message to Washington yesterday was the rejection of a one party government by the centrists/independents in the electorate. There is a pit in everyone's stomach when they read the anger from one faction to the other. There is a complete disconnect. The center that extends both left and right, just wants everyone to get along. Use common sense and the Constitution and fix our problems. It seems so simple. It's the interest groups, lobbyists, and unions that pull the strings that makes it complicated.

That's why the time immediately after 9/11/01, while sad and scary, was also wonderful. There was a unity in America that we hadn't felt in a long time and haven't seen since. A common enemy brings unity. Then, it was Al Quieda. Now that has been muddled and the common enemy on the left is the right and the common enemy on the right is the left. I hope that the revolution, using peaceful protest and the ballot box, (vs. bullets or bullying), coming to pass through the silent majority who has always just wanted everyone to get along and for government to get the job using common sense solutions and sticking to the principals in the Constitution, will bring us together by our common heritage, instead of our country coming together because of materialized threats from terrorists.

VACCINE GOOF

Can you imagine this? How Did School Staffers Get Insulin Instead of Flu Vaccine?

When staff members at a Wellesley, Mass., school went to the nurse last Friday, they expected to be injected with a vaccine for the H1N1 flu. What they received instead was a shot of insulin resulting in a bout with low blood sugar.

I wonder if this happened before or after school? I hope after, b/c teaching with low blood sugar sure is a disadvantage in a classroom where the kids are likely functioning with high blood sugar!

This is a potentially very serious mistake, depending on the person it's given to such as someone with hypoglycemia. Will there be accountability and law suits for this, like there would be if it were a private administration of the wrong vaccine? If so, the CBO needs to account for those costs when determining the cost of Obamacare. If not, the hypocrisy would be unbearable.

LOVIN' IT

As I mentioned in one of my first (if not the first) post was how frustrated I've been at how the powers in Washington ignored and dismissed the Tea Party movement. I also am hopeful and excited about the implications of the Brown vs. Coakley election today.

I'm not alone. Those two concepts are completely intertwined. The dismissal of the Tea Party movement invigorated them and those sympathetic with their gripes and concern, and eventually, gave the movement more legitimacy than ever, as others not necessarily completely in sync with the Tea Party type's concerns became distressed by the Democrats shoving BIG stuff down our throats w/o paying attention the the opinions of the majority of the American people.

The tone-deafness and lack of bi-partisanship of their representatives have made the independents and even some democrats mad. No matter what the pundits and politicians say, most Americans know that the freedom of speech, including dissent, is healthy for democracy, and applies equally to all citizens, not just Dems. This Massachusetts race is finally waking some of the reps up.

"This is real," he [Newsom] said. "At our own peril, we dismiss these tea parties as ... some sort of isolated extremism. ... It's not."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/01/19/MNU81BJRM1.DTL#ixzz0d58rsWB7

Others, not so much.

She [Pelosi] insisted that - whatever the outcome - the results today will in no way represent a repudiation of the Obama administration, especially on the matter of health care reform.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/01/19/MNU81BJRM1.DTL#ixzz0d5Aaknp2

Still, others, want to remain confident, but can't help admitting concern.

"What happens in Massachusetts in January doesn't predict what is going to happen in California in November," said Boxer campaign manager Rose Kapolczynski. "We're taking nothing for granted."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/01/19/MNU81BJRM1.DTL#ixzz0d5AuKGFH

Democracy at work. I love it.

I KNOW THE FEELING

I was reading an article linked by instapundit regarding the early heavy turn out for the Massachusetts special election.

One sentence caught my eye that I really identified with.

The last time that Massachusetts elected a Republican to the Senate, I was in eighth grade. I’m now 50.

I’ve been voting in here since 1982. This is the first time that my actually counted for anything. I’d like to get used to that feeling.

The democrats have a pretty strong hold here in California. When I vote for the Congressmen man Congresswomen choices, I vote, but I don't really feel like it counts, b/c I know the opposition will win.

Sorry if the format in my blogs are inconsistent. I'm still learning. : )

SILVER LININGS

There is no doubt that the earthquake in Haiti has been a disaster beyond anything we've seen in this hemisphere in forever (my lifetime, anyways). It is painful to watch so many people suffering both physically and emotionally, as they deal with the primitive conditions, destruction, lack of food, water, and shelter, injuries, and most of all dealing with the loss of life, which affects not only the heartbreak of loss of family and community members, but also the stench that reminds them of it every moment. It's especially heartbreaking to see all of the kids who have been orphaned by this devastating tragedy.

Thanks be to God, that there are always good things to point to in the midst of suffering. One thing I saw this morning that warmed my heart was the amazing impact this event is going to have on every kid in one of the orphanages (they all survived), run by two sisters from Pittsburgh. They used facebook and twitter to contact friends and supporters in Pittsburgh. Those friends contacted the governor of Pittsburgh, who flew to Haiti and helped to cut through the red tape to get them the care they need. They are now at the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, being very well taken care of. They will stay in group homes in America, and will be adopted by U.S.A. families. As despairing as the greater tragedy in Haiti is, this event will save these 24 children and give them a life they never would have had.

There are other displays of the best of humanity amidst the suffering as well. God's arms are surrounding so many through the arms of the amazing faithful servants who answered the call to "go," even before this tragedy. Many others are sending their support in other ways, such as monetary donations that are allowing those there to not only extend their love, but also have the things they need to help them. We can continue to pray that those supplies will get into the hands that need them so desperately.