Disregard 'The Kimmel Test'

Weekly Standard

Both Jimmy Kimmel and Senator Cassidy mean well, but Kimmel is overstating the problems of the Graham-Cassidy legislation-and Cassidy should have known that he can't make promises involving the difficult tradeoffs of health care policy.

 . . . "But Kimmel recently had a son born with a heart defect. It was an understandably traumatic and transformative event, and Kimmel got to thinking about the kids born with a heart defect whose parents were not as rich as he was. So he started using his show to lecture his audience on certain aspects of health reform. One Republican senator, Louisiana's Bill Cassidy, responded by saying Kimmel raised some valid points. “I ask, does it pass the Jimmy Kimmel test?" Cassidy said in May on CNN. "Would the child born with a congenital heart disease be able to get everything she or he would need in that first year of life ... even if they go over a certain amount?" 

"So the new GOP health care bill, known as Graham-Cassidy, was written with this in mind. The bill grants a lot of flexibility and authority for health care spending to the states, provided that the states demonstrate that they are keeping insurance coverage affordable for those with pre-existing conditions, e.g. babies born with heart defects. However, Obamacare required a large number of health benefits be required by insurance companies, and Graham-Cassidy significantly reduces the number of essential health benefits that are required to be covered. Another waiver in Graham-Cassidy allows insurance plans more flexibility in introducing premium pricing. 

"The bottom line? The GOP bill makes a good-faith effort at requiring pre-existing conditions be covered, but it's hard to say in practice whether or not doing away with essential health benefits and premium price controls will allow to insurers a backdoor to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions in certain circumstances." . . .   Mark Hemingway

Reading list 9-22-2017

Group Files Complaint Against Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Comment on ESPN Host   "On Wednesday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders weighed in on the controversy surrounding ESPN host Jemele Hill, who had tweeted that President Donald Trump is a white supremacist, but now the Democratic Coalition says the White House Press Secretary went too far, possibly breaking federal law." . . .

Maxine Waters tosses another insult at Ben Carson — here’s what she said
"As the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Finances, Waters will be questioning Carson when he testifies before the committee. And she has already said she aims to attack him as vehemently as possible."

. . . "Waters has been mocking Carson for weeks, calling him a “white-wing nationalist,” saying she would “tear his a** apart,” and also threatening that she would “take him apart.' ”...

Mel Brooks Calls Political Correctness The Death Of Comedy   "In recent years, comedians have found themselves in hot water for making politically incorrect topics about everything from race to gender. Dave Chappelle received a barrage of criticism from humorless journalists over his jokes about transgender people and Caitlyn Jenner. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has also complained about how political correctness was stifling humor."

Militant Antifa Group Announces Nationwide ‘Deface Columbus Day’

Tony Branco

Liberal Protester: “Hands Off Of [North Korea]!”
"Ho-Ho-Ho Chi Minh!"

Israel To Arm Apache Helicopters With Its Own Spike Missiles
"How Obama's betrayal during the 2014 Gaza War made it possible."

. . . "It was an unprecedented move. While Israel was at war with a genocidal enemy committed to its destruction, Obama decided to withhold vital military equipment in an effort to place Israel at a military disadvantage. 

"Despite his best efforts to harm Israel, the Israelis decidedly won the 2014 Gaza War and taught Hamas a lesson it would soon not forget but Israel drew lessons of its own. It realized that Obama was at best, an unreliable ally and Israel could potentially be held hostage to the irrational whims of an unfriendly administration in times of war."

Professor Keeps Job After Call For ‘Dead Cops’ But Conservative Fired For 4 ‘Racist’ Words

“This Guy is a DISGRACE” Dan Bongino DESTROYS Professor Pez Dispenser

Mad World News  "After college professor and violent Antifa terrorist Mike Isaacson advocated for the murder of police officers, he was allowed to keep his job indoctrinating young minds. However, as soon as a white conservative teacher wrote 4 simple words, she was branded a racist and immediately fired from her teaching position." . . .

When you read their statements, you have to feel that she should have been fired, while he should be fired at the very least, TD

Dom is a conservative Christian who specializes in Middle Eastern affairs, Islamic immigration (hijra), Christianity, Islam, and Sharia law. She hopes to expose Islam as a fundamentally violent, political and religious ideology that seeks to use freedom and democracy to destroy freedom and democracy.

Traditional Values Are White Supremacy?

David Limbaugh

"Does the political left -- which dominates the mainstream media, Hollywood, academia and the Democratic Party -- really believe its ubiquitous charges of racism against conservatives, or are they a sick ploy to discredit, ruin and defeat its political opponents?

"During President Obama's tenure, a conservative could hardly oppose Obama on policy grounds without being accused of racism. It didn't matter that conservatives had fought Hillary Clinton's health care plan in the '90s because they opposed socialized medicine. It didn't matter that they had opposed Bill Clinton's tax hikes. Their opposition to Obamacare and Obama's proposed tax increases had to be motivated by race.

"If you repeat an absurd claim often enough, it becomes believable to some people. And the left has been hammering away so long against the supposed racism of political conservatives that many people, hordes of whom know better and multitudes of millennial political neophytes who apparently don't, have bought into this toxicity." . . .

Dances With Leftists

Dances With Hillary

Is China helping or not?

Hollywood and CNN will love this: China said Trump's claim its banks cut off North Korea is 'not consistent with the facts'
. . . "China is in a bit of a predicament with the North Korea issue. On the one hand, it wants North Korea to cease its provocative nuclear program. On the other, China is responsible for 90 percent of North Korean foreign trade and acts as the country's main partner. Beijing has cut off several imports in conjunction with U.N. sanctions, but has expressed concern about harming the well-being of regular North Koreans while the international community looks to stop dictator Kim Jong Un from advancing his nuclear program." . . .

But wait a minute; what about this?

Trump’s financial strategy persuades China to put screws to North Korea

" . . . He asked for the cooperation of China, the main source of North Korea’s cash.

"Hours later, the People’s Bank of China announced it was directing all other banks in China to halt financial transactions with North Korea." . . .

The China Syndrome   . . . "I think that Xi has proved a disappointment to President Trump, as he has to previous administrations seeking help on North Korea. President Trump deserves credit for doing something about it in relatively short order.

"Rocket Man, however, seeks to heighten the contradictions. Today’s news brings word that North Korea’s foreign minister says the regime could detonate a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean in response to President Trump’s UN speech threatening the destruction of North Korea if forced to defend the United States or its allies. Developing…"

Chicken truck crash will be memorialized by PETA

WISTV

"A week-old crash on Interstate 95 in Orangeburg County will be memorialized. Yes, you read that correctly. 

"On Sept. 15, a truck carrying chickens down I-95 near mile marker 91, which is about a mile south of the US 15 exit near Santee, crashed, spilling live and dead chickens on the side of the road.

"The dead chickens are where the memorial comes in. PETA is using the crash as an opportunity to remind folks to go vegan.

"The memorial billboard will feature a chicken next to the words "I'm ME, Not MEAT. See the Individual. Go Vegan."

" 'This devastating crash left countless birds mangled and suffering," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement. "PETA's billboard will let travelers know that the best way to prevent such tragedies is to keep smart, sensitive chickens off the road in the first place by going vegan."

"The driver of the crash, meanwhile, was not injured."

Obama's knockdown, drag-out fight with Chicago's South Side denizens

Yet as fun as it is to see Obama finding himself on the sharp end of community organizing as he constructs his huge, windowless, cementy, prison-likepresidential library on the South Side of Chicago, there's obviously truth in the charges that he hasn't done much of anything for black people..

Monica Showalter  "President Obama was in for a surprise when he found that Chicago's denizens weren't as enamored of him as he thought they were.

"He's running into heavy flak from the very people he used to community-organize for on the South Side of Chicago, taking incoming for not giving them a big enough slice of the pie in the establishment of his presidential library going up there. What's more, they say they want to hold him 'accountable' for not doing anything to better the lot of black people during his presidency, which is probably the real issue, and one that never got discussed during his presidency. Well, it's being discussed now, right in front of him, and it's not pretty. The Chicago Tribune reports:

At a community forum Wednesday night, a discussion about the proposed agreement morphed into a shouting match over whether Obama actually loves black people. One man in the audience yelled, “No,” while others said he wasn’t necessarily “their brother.”

"Seems that when you hector people to stand up to 'the man,' you can't be surprised when they stand up to 'the man' when you are 'the man.' " . . .

. . . 

" Education was a loser, too, with Obamacutting net funds for black educational establishments as well as shutting down charter school vouchers in places like Washington, D.C. Under Obama, bad race relations expanded even as Obama billed himself as the centrist healer - they actually reached an all-time low, according to this poll.

"Black incomes went down, the black unemployment rate went up, and blacks were thrown back to welfare programs such as food stamps just to survive. . 

"With a record like, it's downright tragic that black people did not speak out earlier. Now they're stuck with Obama in their neighborhood, and for once, are just protesting the plutocrat. What do they have to lose?"

What black America won't miss about Obama by John Blake*, CNN

. . . They're almost relieved to see Obama go. 

"It's not that black people aren't proud of Obama or his family. His approval rating among blacks has been astronomically high throughout his presidency. But that pride has been accompanied by pain.

"Here are three unexpected ways that Obama's presidency changed black America." . . .

The writer discusses three points that he sees where Obama harmed America:

Change No. 1: Unfriending white America . . .Change No. 2: Reliving their parents' nightmares . . .Change No. 3: He's become 'my brother from another mother' . . .

* Please note this writer has street Cred

My own statement on Obama's election as President, written in 2009:

Many of us fear the path America is being led down by our government, media and educational institutions and want to be sure they are watched fervently. It was a revelation to actually see how many Democrat elected officials have supported this massive swing to the left. One would have thought that, though liberal, they valued our free market system and economic freedoms. It has become hard to believe the US is a right-of-center nation (as surveys claim) when the culture and its factions exert such a leftward pull on our politicians. On TV programs such as "Law and Order"-to name just one- leftist philosophies are promoted while conservative ones are debunked. Mainstream news programs are fountains of anti-Republican, -conservative propaganda.

Foremost in memory is the shabby treatment meted out to President Bush at White House press conferences, press dinners and Hollywood functions. And of course we all know how Republicans and conservatives are the butt of late-night talk-show jokes.

Even past noble causes and their current leaders have become withered, almost comical clones of their past heroes. Look at the regression from Dr. King to Al Sharpton. During those terrible days of black struggle to be treated as American citizens, we longed for the day an African-American could be elected president. Who wouldn't while seeing what happened to African-Americans as they merely tried to live life as others did by eating at a lunch counter or being welcome in all public places? Joan Baez and other activists would place their bodies between black children and their object-throwing taunters as they entered schools and we were stirred. We felt the day this nation elected a black President would show America had truly become America.

But not this president; not Barack Obama.

We envisioned a black president who would govern as an American who loved this country. One who loved America for her exceptionalism; for having the character to overcome her worst elements; for all her economic strength that it was now possible for everyone to grasp the opportunity to share.

But now we have some ominous dots to connect and a picture takes shape: William Ayres and his causes; Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Van Jones, all preaching their hateful philosophies. We saw Cuban flags and pictures of Che Guevara on walls of Obama campaign offices; red Soviet flags flying over crowds in post-election rallies. We heard the socialist views spoken to Joe the Plumber and this administration's disdain for private enterprise. Then there is the continual ignorance displayed on foreign affairs along with a complete reversal of allies and enemies.

The vast crowds of equally ignorant sycophants crying out in ecstasy and adoration for Barack Obama was not reassuring.

Barack Obama's presidency has lifted a rock off the Democrat Party and revealed some ominous qualities that had long been off of our collective radar; that there are many Rev. Wrights and Bill Ayers sitting in Congress. We fear the effect these people have on our culture and nation and feel we must not let anything they do or say go unnoticed.

Another Major Programming Change at Fox News

American Thinker  "It was a week of big news at Fox News as the channel shuffled its nighttime program schedule, moving Hannity to 9 P.M. and adding a new show with Laura Ingraham starting October 30 at 10. On Thursday, there was another major announcement: also on October 30, following Ingraham’s new program, a new, live late evening hour devoted to hard news will debut at 11 P.M. Fox News @ Night will be anchored by veteran Fox News correspondent, host, and anchor Shannon Bream."
. . . 
"Shannon Bream is very open about her deep Christian faith. In 2013, she was the first woman graduate of Liberty University to deliver the school’s commencement address. Her new, more prominent profile at Fox News now will likely continue to rile enemies of Fox like Media Matters which has attacked Bream many times for her Christian beliefs."

. . . "In the key five hours of nightly programming (7 P.M. to 12 midnight M-F), three of the hours at Fox News will be anchored by women (Ingraham and Bream joining Martha MacCallum who does a live show at 7 P.M.) and two by men (Carlson and Hannity). At the other two cable news channels, only one woman is represented on each of them during those hours (Erin Burnett on CNN at 7 P.M. and Rachel Maddow on MSNBC at 9 P.M.)." . . .

Liberal outrage over Bream being called attractive by her presenter begins in three...two...one...

. . . "Brian Williams Wins Dan Rather Memorial Award for the Stupidest Analysis at MRC" . . .

Media Research Center  . . . 

. . . "The Federalist’s Senior Editor Mollie Hemingway served as the category’s presenter as attendees voted among the four possible quotes. Afterward, House Freedom Caucus Chairman and Republican Congressman Mark Meadows (N.C.) accepted the award in jest on Williams’s behalf.

"Meadows joked that Williams “would have been here, but he’s flying in a helicopter somewhere over Iraq.” 

"During his remarks, Meadows implored conservatives to “stay engaged” and thanked both Brent Bozell and the MRC for allowing conservatives to have “a level playing field where real conservatives can speak up and truly know that their voice will be heard.' ” . . .

"For all the noteworthy moments from the Gala, go here.

Bernie Sanders will debate Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham over health care on CNN

Circa

"CNN has announced that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will debate Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) over the latter pair's proposed Obamacare repeal bill on air, reports The Hill.

"CNN anchor Jake Tapper and chief political correspondent Dana Bash will moderate the town hall-style event live from Washington D.C." . . .

Heather Nauert holds her own against the media.

"NBC Reporter Gets Destroyed On Trump's Threat To North Korea"

State Dept. Defends Trump’s ‘Fire and Fury’ Edict: ‘The Kind of Language Kim Jong-un Will Understand’

"During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert defended President Donald Trump’s “fire and fury” edict to North Korea.

"In a contentious exchange with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Nauert was asked about the claims from many in Congress that Trump’s warning to North Korea was bombastic or alarming.

“ 'What is alarming; two ICBM tests in less than a month,” Nauert said. “Two nuclear tests that took place last year…when there’s an earthquake in China, I get many emails and calls from [reporters] asking ‘Was it another nuclear test?’ That is how big of a deal this is, what’s going on.”

"Nauert added that tough talk is the only way to get through to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un." . . .