Grubergate Part 2: Gruber Admits ObamaCare Is One Giant Deception From Beginning To End

But first: Grubergate Part 1: 'The Stupidity Of The American Voter' 

This bill was written in a tortured way to make sure [the Congressional Budget Office] did not score the mandate as taxes. If CBO scored the mandate as taxes, the bill dies. Okay? So it’s written to do that.  In terms of risk-rated subsidies, if…you made explicit that healthy people pay in and sick people get money, it would not have passed… Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. 

Naturally, this revelation did not affect the love relationship between Barack Obama and all media.

Forbes, 2014  "When health economist and Obama advisor Jonathan Gruber said the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed only because of a “lack of transparency” and “the stupidity of the American voter,” he did more than insult millions of people. He admitted (1) if voters had understood what the PPACA does, the opposition would be so great that it would not have passed because even Democrats would have abandoned it, (2) the law’s authors knew this, and (3) because of this, they consciously sought to deceive voters about the enormous taxes the law imposes on millions of Americans, both at the law’s inception and at every turn during the public debate. In short, Gruber admitted ObamaCare is and has always been one giant deception from beginning to end, and its architects achieved by deception what they could not have achieved honestly.
. . . 

"Jonathan Chait writes:

Gruber was surely referring to the non-transparent mechanism of regulating insurance companies, causing them to charge less to the sick and more to the healthy, without Congress having to carry out those transfers through direct taxes…

Suppose Congress had decided not to regulate insurers but instead charged higher taxes to healthy people, and wrote checks directly to sick people. People would have hated it…

. . .

Santa Claus and the Mythology of Centralized Systems

"The real process, though perhaps less mystical, is no less enchanting."

https://spectator.org/cartoons/

The Foundation for Economic Education

Like other centralized economic schemes, we can only continue to believe in the myth of Santa Claus if we also believe in magic.

You Can't Suspend the Laws of Economics  "Last year, the USDA satirically issued an APHIS permit to Mr. Claus to be able to freely move his reindeer in and out of the country as necessary, but this flippant gesture sheds light on the countless regulatory hurdles that are characteristic of centralized authority. 

"Try as we may to suspend the laws of governments in order to enable Santa Claus to complete this impossible project, we simply cannot suspend the laws of economics (or physics, for that matter). Resources are scarce and have alternative uses. Preferences are subjective and not always easily understood or communicated. Knowledge is distributed, but prices established through trading in the market can help communicate relative preferences for more optimal resource allocation. Like other centralized economic schemes, we can only continue to believe in the myth of Santa Claus if we also believe in magic.

"The real process, though perhaps less mystical, is no less enchanting. To the extent that each person around the globe is relatively free to pursue their interests, through specialized labor and voluntary exchange in the marketplace an order emerges. It matters not if we share a common mythology, language, culture, or even if we desire the same ends; order emerges. It certainly isn’t perfect, but it is just perfect enough that we are able to give the credit to a mythical figure and his multitude of magical makers, and wide-eyed children see plausibility in that story. 

"But just as children grow from believing in Santa Claus to playing an active role in being Santa Claus, so too do we grow to look beyond the myth of magical central planning and to play a part in the distributed system of the market, for that is where the magic of Christmas is repeated every single day." . . .

International Women's Day Protester Suddenly Realizes She's Reinforcing Harmful Social Construct Of Gender

Babylon Bee

Pictured: liberal with bullhorn.

NEW YORK, NY—"A protester yelling into a megaphone on International Women’s Day suddenly realized she was reinforcing the “oppressive and harmful” social construct of gender by promoting a day that implies gender is inherently meaningful, sources confirmed Wednesday.

"Midway through screaming the phrase “Down with the patriarchy!” into the loudspeaker, the woman suddenly stopped and thought about how her presence at the protest suggested that the concept of womanhood represented something more significant than an arbitrary social construct foisted upon females.

“ 'Wait a minute, think about what we’re suggesting here,” the woman said to her fellow demonstrators as she lowered her megaphone, according to witnesses. “By participating in this protest, aren’t we suggesting that ‘man’ and ‘woman’ are ideals that transcend culture and subjectivity?”

“ 'What have we done?!” she added.

"The woman then called for the protest to be paused in order to rationally discuss the perceived inconsistency in the protesters’ deep-seated beliefs, but was quickly shouted down with her own megaphone, according to sources."
You do catch the Babylon Bee, don't you?  So what is the BB?

Photos: Walls Protecting Estates Of Politicians Fighting Border Wall

Weasel Zippers

The Clinton Compound:

"Can’t take a chance of some riff raff walking onto the property.

Via American Mirror:

Democrats locked in a standoff with President Trump over the southern border wall may be willing to shut down the government to get what they want, but they’re not willing to live without a wall around their own properties.In a recent interview, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described Trump’s promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border as “immoral, expensive, ineffective, not something that people do between countries,” according to the Harvard Gazette.It is, however, something Pelosi does with her neighbors.Images show the presumptive incoming speaker’s Napa Valley vineyard is surrounded with a rock wall, along with a large metal gate at the entrance, presumably to keep the unwashed masses out of her beautiful estate.Other high-profile Democrats who have spoken out against a barrier to stop the steady flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across the border use similar structures to protect their own families.Failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s estate in Chappaqua, New York is surrounded by an imposing white wall, complete with armed guards stationed at the entrance.Former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle also live behind a large brick wall surrounding their newly fortified home in Washington, D.C.

Keep reading…

"Can’t take a chance of some riff raff walking onto the property."

Below: The entrance to the Pelosi estate.

All The (Fake) News Fit To Print — Here Are The Year’s Worst Cases Of Journalistic Malpractice

Hat tip: Weasel Zip

Daily Caller

"As 2018 comes to a close, it’s time to review the year’s worst cases of media misquotes, misleading narratives, major corrections and straight-up fake news.

"While last year’s fake reporting largely occurred during the media’s relentless pursuit to prove Russian collusion, this year’s list is much more varied. However, some themes emerged: stories about then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the U.S. border were routinely flagged for misinformation.

"Without further ado, here is the list of 2018’s worst examples of fake news:" . . .

Related: About Face... Spin!  By Clarice Feldman

"It’s always amusing to watch the pundits and spinners turn on a dime. It used to be harder before the internet made it easy to retrieve what they said in the past. This week, with a tsunami of developments, the spinning is at full force.

Spinning

"Let’s start with the spinning of the news and how media poisons the well in favor of their loved ones.

"A. In 2014 CNN honored a Der Spiegel writer, Claus Relotius as “Journalist of the Year”. He could be reliably counted on to flatter the readers' anti-American biases, so he was a natural winner for the network. Unfortunately for him, he ran up against some Americans in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, who cared about the truth. They scoured his report on the town, interviewed the people he said he had and exposed him as an utter fraud. That persuaded his bosses to take a second look at the nonsense he had been peddling and they fired him for fabricating his accounts." . . .

Heathen Michael Moore Mocks Christmas – Puts Ruth Bader Ginsburg Doll as Tree Topper

Jim Hoft
"With each passing year the American left escalates their attacks our the country’s Christian roots and symbols."

"Socialist Michael Moore posted photos of his Christmas tree this year with a Ruth Bader Ginsburg doll on top.

Moore wrote: “My Christmas Tree Topper this year. Better than an angel or the star over Bethlehem. A nation of millions stand with you…”

From the comments to this post:

• • −

  

  
  

  Mike Morgan •

  
  

  Ruth is about to meet God. So are all of us. In terms of eternity, 70, 80, 90, or even 120 years is a blink of the eyes.We all need to be ready. If you don't already know who Jesus Christ is and why He showed up in Bethlehem, why we celebrate His life, and why we look forward to His return, ask a Christian.And read the Bible. It's all about Him and His great love for us, as imperfect as we are.

Did the Media Care When Obama Fired General Mattis?

One contrast between the last two presidents vis-a-vis General Mattis: all the years we watched ISIS conquer the region, Obama micromanaged the war there, going so far as to approve or disapprove specific targets - sometimes for environmental impact reasons. President Trump let the General be in charge and this area is being cleansed of ISIS; sadly too late for so many victims. TD

Daniel John Sobieski  "Defense secretaries come and go.  President Obama had four of them in eight years, who had some unkind things to say about his leadership or lack of it.  There was no talk of chaos or of the only adult in the room leaving.

"Suddenly, the media are in a meltdown after "Mad Dog" Mattis announced his departure from the Cabinet after President Trump announced our departure from Syria:

Foreign Policy Pentagon reporter Lara Seligman wrote the press corp [sic] is contemplating suicide over Mattis' resignation, "I think I speak for all national security reporters tonight when I say I'm about ready to jump off a cliff. But at least I already wrote the "who will replace Mattis" story two months (only two months?????) ago[."]

"Democrats who won't defend our southern border and who slept as Obama drew red lines with vanishing ink worry about an ISIS Obama created by a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq regaining strength and reforming in Syria and Iraq.  The general Obama fired is suddenly a man of principle whose leadership was indispensable:

House Speaker-designate Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she was "shaken and "concerned". "General Mattis was a comfort to many who were concerned about the path the Trump Admin would choose to take. His resignation letter is defined by statements of principle – principles that drove him to leave the Administration. All of us should be concerned at this time."

"There was no such concern when Obama relieved Mattis as commander of CENTCOM without so much as a phone call, a factoid typical of Obama's disdain for the military, its missions, and its heroes.

Where was the DC establishment ‘panic’ when OBAMA fired Gen. Mattis without even calling him?

These people don’t have any credibility a) because they’ve never had any respect or love for the president; and b) they didn’t whimper and whine and predict doom and gloom when President Obama unceremoniously fired then-Gen. Mattis without so much as a phone call.

 Flashback: Media Silence After Obama Fires General Mattis Without Even a Call  (Originally posted to The Gateway Pundit by Jim Hoft)
. . . "Foreign Policy Pentagon reporter Lara Seligman wrote the press corp is contemplating suicide over Mattis’ resignation, “I think I speak for all national security reporters tonight when I say I’m about ready to jump off a cliff. But at least I already wrote the “who will replace Mattis” story two months (only two months?????) ago @ForeignPolicy' “ . . .

Of course, this same cabal said next to nothing when Barack Obama FIRED GENERAL MATTIS in 2013.

"Obama didn’t even call Mattis!" . . .

Having posted all this, I must admit to trusting General Mattis regarding the Syria pullout. Who is the counsel advising the president on this and can we trust them more than General Mattis?

Anti-Trump dossier author was hired to help Hillary challenge 2016 election results

Washington Times

"British ex-spy Christopher Steele, who wrote the Democrat-financed anti-Trump dossier, said in a court case that he was hired by a Democratic law firm in preparation for Hillary Clinton challenging the results of the 2016 presidential election.

"He said the law firm Perkins Coie wanted to be in a position to contest the results based on evidence he unearthed on the Trump campaign conspiring with Moscow on election interference.

"His scenario is contained in a sealed Aug. 2 declaration in a defamation law suit brought by three Russian bankers in London. The trio’s American attorneys filed his answers Tuesday in a libel lawsuit in Washington against the investigative firm Fusion GPS, which handled the former British intelligence officer." . . .

That failing......

H.R. 695: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019

Govtrack  

Publius

"This bill is the vehicle for passage for government funding to avert a partial government shutdown on Friday, December 21, 2018. On December 19, the Senate passed this bill with provisions to fund the government through February 8, 2019. Subsequently, on December 20, the House added $5 billion in funding for a border wall, sending the bill back to the Senate.

"Although most government agencies were already funded for fiscal year 2019, this bill would fund the remaining agencies for about seven weeks. According to the Senate appropriations committee, the bill would fund for that time:

• USDA, FDA
• Departments of Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Interior, Environment, State, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
• Programs related to science, financial services, and other agencies
• The National Flood Insurance Program
• The Violence Against Women Act
• The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Immigration extensions (EB-5, E-Verify, Conrad 30 program for international medical school graduates, Special Immigrant Religious Workers program, and H2B returning worker authority for DHS)
• The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Act
• Two expiring provisions of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act
• Medicaid Money-Follows-the-Person and Spousal Impoverishment, through March 31

Retired Marine speaks out in support of Maj. Matt Golsteyn, charged in Afghanistan killing: 'He is not a murderer!'

NY Daily News

Mike Ramirez

"A retired U.S. Marine who worked with former Green Beret Mathew Golsteyn — who’s charged with murdering a suspected Afghan bomb maker — recalls the once-decorated hero as extremely respectful and unlikely to slay in cold blood.

"Emir Hadzic‏, a retired infantry gunnery sergeant who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, worked briefly with Golsteyn at the 29 Palms training camp in the Mojave Desert in California.

“ 'He chose to take time away from his family to train my Marines in Unconventional Warfare, in prep for our Afghan deployment,” Hadzic tweeted in a message of support Sunday. “His love for fellow servicemen and tremendous respect for Afghans was crystal clear. He is not a murderer!”

"Hadzic told the New York Daily News on Monday what it’s like to serve in Afghanistan — including what could have happened if the alleged bomb maker was let go. He said a murder charge does not make sense, even if Golsteyn did kill the man, as he has admitted.

“ 'If he violated anything, it would be rules of engagement,” Hadzic said. “I think that he knew that this person that he killed was a bad actor.' ” . . .

The shutdown is as fake as most of the news Official Washington reports.

Don Surber

. . . "But everyone knows that is BS. Some government offices will close, some government employees will stay home, and Congress will make sure they get back pay. Anywhere else that is called a vacation.
"This means the Post's precious advertisers will stay in business.
"The shutdown is as fake as most of the news Official Washington reports.
"President Trump's plan is simple. Shut the government down when the holidays have closed the offices anyway. Only 6 of the first 15 days of the shutdown are workdays.
"Besides, not much of the government gets shut down.
"NPR reported, "Three-quarters of the government will not be affected, because budget bills funding those operations had already been approved. But the remaining 25 percent subject to the shutdown includes Homeland Security, Justice, Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation departments.
" 'Even among those affected, some personnel are deemed essential and will be expected to report to work without pay, for now. That includes FBI officers, Border Patrol agents and Transportation Security Administration agents — during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. In the past, however, Congress has approved back pay for furloughed federal workers.' " . . .

US government shutdown appears set to continue until Thursday as fight over Trump's border wall stalls spending talks

CNBC

• Parts of the U.S. government shut down early Saturday as Congress missed a deadline to pass spending bills.
• A disagreement over whether to fund President Donald Trump's border wall stalled efforts to keep the government running.
• Lawmakers will try to come to an agreement to reopen the government over the weekend.

A senior Trump administration official offered no signs of compromise. He told reporters on Saturday, "We continue to articulate our expectations of $5 billion for border security and physical barriers."  A spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said his boss would be meeting with Vice President Mike Pence. He said Schumer "intends to remind the Vice President that any proposal with funding for the wall cannot pass the Senate."

"President Donald Trump threatened a government shutdown for weeks. He got one when the clock turned to Saturday.

"Congress missed a Friday midnight deadline to fund nine departments, or about a quarter of the government, and the Senate adjourned for Christmas without voting on a deal to bridge the impasse. Parts of the government closed after lawmakers failed to strike an agreement on seven spending bills.

"Lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement as Trump demanded $5 billion for his proposed wall along the border with Mexico. Democrats refused. Then House Republicans dug in, declining to pass a bill to keep the government running into February after the president threatened to veto it Thursday.

"Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning, threatening a "long stay" if he does not get the "Border Security" he's demanding." . . .

Feds spend more in food stamps in ONE month than POTUS wants for entire YEAR of wall funding

. . . “In October, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement, the federal government spent $5,892,000,000 on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is also known as the food stamp program,” Bannister writes.“In November, according to the statement for that month, the federal government spent another $5,428,000,000 on the food stamp program, bringing the total so far for fiscal 2019 (after only two months) to $11,320,000,000—or an average of $5,660,000,000 per month,” he added. . . .