Dems scramble after warning from health insurers

MyWay News "Insurance companies aren't playing nice any more. Their dire message that health care legislation will drive up premiums for people who already have coverage comes as a warning shot at a crucial point in the debate, and threatens President Barack Obama's top domestic priority."...."The study projects that the legislation would add $1,700 a year to the cost of family coverage in 2013, when most of the major provisions of the Baucus bill would be in effect." (Emphasis added)Baucus Health Bill Could Prevent Medical Expense Deductions: Wheelchairs, Chemotherapy, Seeing-Eye Dogs. More Here: "THE REAL COSTS OF THIS BAUCUS BILL"

The Power of Payback

by Victor Davis Hanson "Some of you know [Nemesis] also as a variant of eastern Karma, or the folk notion of ‘what comes around, goes around’, or the now common “ain’t payback a bitch”? We all agree on the symptoms: overweening success and surfeit (koris) lead to hubris (gratuitous arrogance), which in turn promotes destructive behavior (atê), that at last calls you to the attention of divine Nemesis — who ensures your ruin.

Are Obama advisers downplaying Afghan dangers?

McClatchy "Finally, failure in Afghanistan would deal a massive blow to U.S. international standing to the benefit of Iran, Russia and China, and undermine the NATO alliance, the U.S. officials said."

Steve Wynn Schools Jennifer Granholm on How to Create Jobs

Rush Limbaugh "Government has never increased the standard of living of one single human being in civilization's history. For some reason that simple truth has evaded everybody. The only thing that creates an increased standard of living is giving someone a job, the demand for their labor -- whether it's you and I, Chris, or anybody else. The people that are paying the price for this juggernaut of federal spending are the middle class and the working class of America."

America's sheriff: White House strips immigration policing powers from Arizona sheriff

UK Guardian "A controversial (they say) Arizona sheriff known for taking a hard line against illegal immigrants has been stripped of some of his powers in what he described as a political move by the Obama administration."

Nobelitics/ What will a peace prize do for the soldier on the battlefield?

by Victor Davis Hanson "But can Noble(sic) Peace laureates still escalate in the short term to win a war, save thousands of Afghan lives from a Taliban takeover and ensure that “evil-doers” do not plan another 9/11 from safe havens? Will you — or tiny Norway — determine U.S. foreign policy? Is the medal around your neck a shiny medallion of honor or an albatross sent from a wily bestower?" What Price for Obama’s Nobel Prize? "Who are these folks issuing Obama a prize on credit to steer America along their preferred course?"

The Nobel quest for mediocrity

By Patricia Swicicki "It appears that the Nobel Peace Prize, once a prestigious award, and the office of the Presidency have become one of mediocrity both in their goals and standards."

Administration's war on Fox News a ratings boon for network

By Rick Moran "Frankly, I can't figure what the fuss is all about. With about 90% of the media slavishly devoting themselves to promoting Obama and his agenda, this relatively small corner of opposition (at least from prime time hosts and Glenn Beck - not from the straight news division) would seem a gnat to be brushed aside not the target of a White House nuclear assault. Perhaps Chris Wallace's observation that they are crybabies rings truer than anyone in the administration will admit."

Time for Decisiveness on Afghanistan

The Atlantic "...the public agony over his deliberations may already have done incalculable damage. The Afghan people have survived three decades of war by hedging their bets. Now, watching a young and inexperienced American president appear to waiver on his commitment to their country, they are deciding, at the level of both the individual and the mass, whether to make their peace with the Taliban—even as the Taliban itself can only take solace and encouragement from Obama's public agonizing."...."Obama must capture the toughness and competence that Bush displayed as a war leader at the end of his term. Otherwise, in the coming months, the Democrats may be seen as having lost a war. And if that happens, not even the Nobel Peace Prize will rescue Obama's reputation."

A Vain President, or a Weak One? Americans don't like pushovers--especially pushover presidents.

By Fred Barnes "A weak president is vulnerable, politically and otherwise. In Jimmy Carter's case, being seen as weak in dealing with Iran and the Soviets was a major factor in his defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980. Americans don't like pushovers, especially pushover presidents. Obama is at risk of becoming a pushover. Afghanistan is his test."

Meet the People Who Were Passed Over for Obama

Weekly Standard Here is just one: "Sima Samar, women's rights activist in Afghanistan: "With dogged persistence and at great personal risk, she kept her schools and clinics open in Afghanistan even during the most repressive days of the Taliban regime, whose laws prohibited the education of girls past the age of eight. When the Taliban fell, Samar returned to Kabul and accepted the post of Minister for Women's Affairs.""

The Power & Danger of Iconography

"Iconography ? What's that? Well ... you really need to click here to figure it out. Seriously ... watch this before you do anything else today. It is very very good. Now ... where do I get one of those LOL bumper stickers? (You gotta watch the whole thing). Well ... I did the research for you. You get it right here." (Neal Boortz)