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The "Reform of the Reform" is in motion In today's edition of Italian daily Il Giornale, religious journalist Andrea Tornielli brings the news that several "propositiones" approved by the plenary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (reserved session held on March 12, 2009) regarding several reforms of the new Mass of Paul VI. Full translation below: ROME The document was delivered to the hands of Benedict XVI in the morning of last April 4 by Spanish Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. It is the result of a reserved...

Specifically, Mayo reiterated its view against what's been called the "public option" and emphasized the importance of end of life discussions with a patient's physician. "We do not support the creation of another government-run, government price-controlled, Medicare-like insurance plan," Mayo says in a document. On Tuesday, Mayo released two documents, "A perspective on current health reform issues from Mayo Clinic" and "A foundation for health care reform legislation." One of the perspectives is co-authored by Mayo CEO Dr. Denis Cortese. The purpose of the documents is to refocus Mayo's message on health care reform, outline processes legislators can follow in...

President Obama has called for a serious and reasoned debate about his plans to overhaul the health-care system. Any such debate must include the question of whether it is constitutional for the federal government to adopt and implement the president's proposals. Consider one element known as the "individual mandate," which would require every American to have health insurance, if not through an employer then by individual purchase. This requirement would particularly affect young adults, who often choose to save the expense and go without coverage. Without the young to subsidize the old, a comprehensive national health system will not work....

Mr. Obama has gone back on the campaign trail to try to sell his health care reform to the nation. Mostly hand-picked, sympathetic attendees have been showing up to his town hall meetings. He continues to make the same points regarding health care reform, which need to be addressed specifically. I hope to address more in future articles. 1. We need health care reform. We do not need health care reform. We have the best health care system in the world. We need health insurance reform. 2. Free market health insurance has caused our current problem. It is the government...

As the debate over health care reform rages on – and despite the fact that the debate should be over how to provide true health care affordability to all, if in fact the goal of the “overhaul” is genuinely about the good of the downtrodden – we hear one retort from Progressives, Liberals and neo-Marxists, both in government and out: Where is your plan if you don’t like ours? Truth be told, there are several conservative and Republican crafted plans but Madam Pelosi and Mr. Reid won’t entertain them and the agenda-driven mainstream media won’t cover them. But one thing...

Message from Governor Charlie Crist Dear Friends, During the 2008 legislative session, my administration worked with legislators of both parties to secure unanimous approval of the Cover Florida Health Care Access Program. This legislation makes affordable health coverage available to 3.8 million uninsured Floridians through a comprehensive market-based strategy. Cover Florida allows insurers to create innovative health insurance products that are affordable and guaranteed to Floridians who have been without insurance for at least six months, or who are recently unemployed – even if there are pre-existing health conditions. The coverage is voluntary for both individuals and for employers, and...

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) said on Wednesday that providing healthcare to uninsured Americans is "not what this healthcare reform debate is about."In making his comments, Ross, who is the centrist Blue Dogs' health reform point man, questioned one of the primary healthcare goals of the White House and Democratic leaders. "That is a side benefit to healthcare reform and an important one," Ross told the Arkansas Educational Television Network. Instead, the fifth-term congressman said the bill should focus on "cost containment."The Energy and Commerce Committee member reiterated that he wants to pass a health reform bill by the end of...

The liberal virtual reality helmet is supposed to give the person who wears it the liberal perception of everything they see and hear. Does it work? You bet! Check out the first test! NOTE: The author of this comic requests that you visit his web site and please refrain from copying it within this thread. Thank you very much!

With President Obama putting off the immigration reform debate until next year, immigrant rights groups are pushing the administration to suspend tough enforcement practices so illegal immigrants aren't punished under the current system.......rights groups have begun to use words such as "betrayal" in describing how they feel they are faring under the Obama administration... Those who favor a crackdown on illegal immigration say Mr. Obama has made it tougher for authorities to act by putting restrictions on raids and by rewriting the rules on those 287(g) agreements with local police. But immigrant rights groups say the president is still expanding...

Warrenton, Virginia (PRWEB) August 18, 2009 -- Today, the Social Security Institute (SSI) joined with Patients First to carry an urgent message to three critical states: ObamaCare as originally conceived is dead, and the real danger now is RINOcare or ObamaCare Lite, which the Administration is trying to smuggle into law disguised as a "bipartisan compromise." The purpose of the tour is to convince critical Republican Senators in these states that the time has come to abandon unrealistic and potentially dangerous efforts to negotiate a bipartisan compromise. Instead, the Congress should put consideration of major healthcare reform on hold for...

by Ted TallyWith President Obama's dream of a single-payer healthcare system going down in flames, it is now time for our elected leaders to look at the system again, with a goal of providing a better overall healthcare system for all. While those of us on the right continue to attend town hall meetings to let our voices be heard (and they have been) to kill socialized medicine, that does not discount the very fact that some reform is necessary. However, responsible reform is what is needed, not the pie-in-the-sky plan sponsored by the nation’s liberal leaders. In a nation...

The headlines are encouraging: The AP reports, “White House appears ready to drop ‘public option’.” Politico reads, “White House backs away from public health care option.” And the front page of USA Today says, “Obama may drop public option in health care.” These headers all stem from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ comment on CNN Sunday Morning that the public option “is not the essential element” of President Barack Obama’s health care plan. But by Sunday night the White House was already walking back Sebelius’ statement. An anonymous administration official told The Atlantic that Sebelius “misspoke” and White...

If you're going to make a virtual reality helmet, you need to know the EXACT effects it has on those who use it. NOTE: The author of this comic requests that you visit his web site and please refrain from copying the cartoon within this thread. Thanks!

WASHINGTON (Aug 16) - Bowing to Republican pressure and an uneasy public, President Barack Obama's administration signaled Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system. Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession probably would enrage Obama's liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers. Officials from both political parties reached across...

Tethered to the dialysis machine behind her reclining chair by two tubes attached to a catheter in her chest, Marta Berrera wearily stares at nothing in particular as blood flows out of, and then back into, her body. Every four or five days, she shows up at University Medical Center's emergency room, her failing kidneys requiring that her waste be filtered and excess fluid be removed through artificial means."I am so thankful to this hospital for doing this for someone who is not a citizen," she said Thursday, an interpreter translating her Spanish as she choked back tears. "Without this...

...So the birthers, the anti-tax tea-partiers, the town hall hecklers -- these are "either" the genuine grass roots or evil conspirators staging scenes for YouTube? The quiver on the lips of the man pushing the wheelchair, the crazed risk of carrying a pistol around a president -- too heartfelt to be an act. The lockstep strangeness of the mad lies on the protesters' signs -- too uniform to be spontaneous. They are both. If you don't understand that any moment of genuine political change always produces both, you can't understand America, where the crazy tree blooms in every moment of...

On the long and winding road of public opinion, it doesn't take much to go from driving one-handed with the top down and the whole world before you to missing a hairpin turn and careening over the cliff. Just ask President Barack Obama. One moment it looked like the American people would give our smooth-talking president everything he wants on health care reform, and then in an instant nobody trusts him any farther than they can throw his new overweight surgeon general. You can chalk that up to grumpy old Republicans if you like. But the blame for this crash-'n'-burn...

On Friday, President Obama traveled to Belgrade, Montana for a town-hall style meeting on health care reform. According to Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press, the crowd of approximately 1300 was generally supportive, and the meeting occurred without any serious disruptions. However, there were several critical questions regarding aspects of proposed health care reform plans. One attendee, Randy Rathie, declared: "You can't tell us how you're going to pay for this ... The only way you're going to get that money is raise our taxes." President Obama responded by saying, "You are absolutely right. I can't cover another 47 million...

For all Freepers that live in Pa., there will be a large Tea Party on August 29th at 10am. I have posted the website address so you can get more information. I personally and my father will be both going. We added it here so that we can gather as much support as possible. Lets get as many people as we can to show up and show our support. From what I have heard and seen on the website Bob Basso will be there as one of there as a guest speaker. Hope to see you there

Joshua has been taking the bus to his local Whole Foods in New York City every five days for the past two years. This week, he said he'll go elsewhere to fulfill his fresh vegetable and organic produce needs. "I will never shop there again," vowed Joshua, a 45-year-old blogger, who asked that his last name not be published. Like many of his fellow health food fanatics, Joshua said he will no longer patronize the store after learning about Whole Foods Market Inc.'s CEO John Mackey's views on health care reform, which were made public this week in an op-ed...

Many seniors worry health reform could hurt instead of help12. August 2009 16:37 "Democrats have a senior citizen problem," Politico reports. "Frustrated older Americans are packing the town halls on health care. They are incredibly passionate about their Medicare benefits. Polls show senior citizens largely disapprove of health care reform ideas so far. And of course, they vote — in larger numbers than any other demographic." For the most part, Democrats have focused on appealing to middle-class Americans and the uninsured, but at his New Hampshire town hall meeting on Tuesday, "President Barack Obama made a point to reach out...

The elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about is the very high and escalating cost of malpractice insurance that every health care provider must recover if they are going to practice medicine in this country. It all starts with tort reform -- putting some limits on the liability that our providers are exposed to whenever malpractice is charged or suspected. If there were some sensible limits in place, then there would not be the pressure to practice defensive medicine. Some estimates of the cost to our system of defensive medicine range upwards of 25-30 percent of...

Ever wonder just how the mind of a liberal works? Curious as to how they can be so wrong about so much? Get your first glimpse into the twisted gray matter they call a brain in this "Geeks On Caffeine" cartoon. NOTE: The author of this comic requests that you visit his web site and please refrain from copying the cartoon within this thread. Thanks!

I m not a lawyer basher but when it comes to tort reform and health care.... ...So far every time tort reform comes up in debate it manages to go away. That's a testament to the powerful and influential lobby of the trial lawyers. There's a huge amount of income potential every time someone steps into the doctors office, hospital emergency room or is scheduled for an operation. The only proof you need is to watch the number of television, radio, and print advertising offers for free legal assistance that pour out daily to the public. And lets be honest,...

We need people like you—lots of people like you—to go out in communities around the country this summer and help make change happen. And you can earn money doing it. Earn $4,000-$6,000 this summer. **I found these in every state but with different titles on craigslist)***

The healthcare reform bill pending in Congress is called “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act.” It is supposed to provide “affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending.” Unfortunately, rather than reducing the growth of healthcare spending, it is likely to increase it. And if the plan leads to a government takeover of the healthcare system, the only way it could keep spending under control is by restricting access to healthcare, just as is done in Canada and many European countries. Americans spend 15 percent of GDP on healthcare, which is almost twice as...

Listen to a member of Obama's goon squad brag about their bullying tactics at a recent Townhall meeting held by Florida Democrat Kathy Castor. This video was made because someone got in by saying that they were one of the union guys. To view the short clip...

REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (AP) - Rural voters are pressing two Minnesota congressmen for their support of a climate-change bill that could hurt small farmers. Reps. Collin Peterson and Tim Walz took heated questions during a panel discussion at the annual Farmfest, which draws thousands of farmers and rural voters to Redwood Falls. Peterson, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, told audience members he voted for the bill only because he knew it wouldn't become law immediately. He says it needs more work. Walz says the U.S. needs to find new ways to produce energy, including using coal and nuclear...

In 1986, Ronald Reagan and Bill Bradley created a legislative miracle. They fashioned a tax reform that stripped loopholes, political favors, payoffs, patronage and other corruptions out of the tax system. With the resulting savings, they lowered tax rates across the board. Those reductions, combined with the elimination of the enormous inefficiencies and perverse incentives that go into tax sheltering, helped propel a 20-year economic boom. In overhauling any segment of our economy, the 1986 tax reform should be the model. Yet today's ruling Democrats propose to fix our extremely high-quality (but inefficient and therefore expensive) health-care system with 1,000...

Health Care Reform: A Better Plan Charles Krauthammer WASHINGTON -- In 1986, Ronald Reagan and Bill Bradley created a legislative miracle. They fashioned a tax reform that stripped loopholes, political favors, payoffs, patronage and other corruptions out of the tax system. With the resulting savings, they lowered tax rates across the board. Those reductions, combined with the elimination of the enormous inefficiencies and perverse incentives that go into tax sheltering, helped propel a 20-year economic boom. In overhauling any segment of our economy, the 1986 tax reform should be the model. Yet today's ruling Democrats propose to fix our extremely...

Republicans and others should be talking about rational approaches to health care reform at this point; if they're not, they're basically not in the game. Real and meaningful reform would involve a small number of simple steps, and would save money rather than increase costs: By far the biggest item would be eliminating medical lawsuits altogether; that would reduce our medical costs by half or more. We'd have to establish a general fund to pay actual victims of malpractice for actual damages and a process to weed out bad doctors. Of course, the trial lawyers' guild is one of the...

Yesterday, I was curious as to what the reaction was by members of AARP to their obvious, biased, support of the Community Organizer's Faux Care, so I checked them out and was surprised that they were even allowing members to post opposition comments. Having canceled my membership some 5 years ago when I realized how far left they were, I used the name of a friend (also soon to be ex member) to sign up and posted my remarks. However, when I checked it just now, I was surprised on how many comments there were and how negative 99% of...

Also Thursday, the AFL-CIO announced plans to mobilize labor activists to attend town hall meetings in 50 congressional districts this month to counter the conservative protesters. White House aides David Axelrod and Jim Messina traveled to the Capitol for their presentation to Democratic senators. Senators saw videos of disruptions at events held by House members, and were told to organize their events more carefully as well as work with labor unions and other friendly groups to generate enthusiasm. They also were urged to use these events to stress insurance reforms such as a limit on out-of-pocket expenses for those covered...

Freepers, we need to flood the Whitehouse Healthcare Reform snitch line inbox. Send these morons an e-mail, let them know how you feel. If enough people do this, we can shut it down! Send your e-mails to flag@whitehouse.gov

Support for President Obama’s overhaul of the American health-care system is dropping because he’s not doing enough to “sell” the effort, according to a growing number of liberal voices. The public is deeply sympathetic to what Obama and Democrats want to do; the task for them is simply to instruct the unknowing masses on what is best for them (see Andrew Mitchell’s commentary here). In fact, the problem with Obama’s effort isn’t a failure to communicate; it is his inability to refute health-care facts and figures that, as they become more salient, are undermining his effort.

The White House damage control team is out in force on the internet trying to counter sitizen outrage agaiinst the healthcare "reform" advocated by Obama and Democrats. White House Office of Health Reform communications director Linda Douglas has a video out crying Obama' words have been "taken out of context." Whitehouse - Facts Are Stubborn Things Included in the countering efforts is, "Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send...

Acupuncture and Chinese Healing in U.S. Health Reform?Sing Tao Daily, Posted: Aug 02, 2009 TEMPLE CITY, California— The Sing Tao Daily reports that Chinese medicine and acupuncture groups are pushing for their health services to be included in the national health care reform. President of the Council of Acupuncture Oriental Medicine Associations An Yue Li believes Asian Americans who use Chinese medicine as a treatment should be covered. Chinese medicine has become an affordable treatment for many people as the cost for traditional treatment is increasing. Moreover, the groups are advocating for federal bill HR 646, which proposes to include...

The American Medical Association has weighed in on the new Obama Health Reform Proposals: The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve. The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. The Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, "Oh, Grow up!" The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash...

For Immediate Release July 27, 2009 Contact: Leslie Miller 202-624-6911 (lmiller@teamster.org) Web Site, Ad Campaign, e-Activism Part of Unprecedented Union Effort Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on Monday announced that the union will campaign vigorously for health care reform using a new Web site, an ad campaign, call-in days, e-activism and events planned throughout Congress’s August recess. The campaign will kick off with a new Web site today, teamstersforhealthcarereformnow.com, to mobilize members in the fight for health care reform. The Web site launch will be supported by a Web-based ad campaign on targeted state blogs and on-line publications.Tens of thousands...

Americans are fairly evenly divided on the health care reform proposals working their way through Congress, but most remain convinced that the plans will raise costs and hurt the quality of the care they receive. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% are in favor of the reform effort proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats while 49% are opposed. Those figures include 25% who Strongly Favor the plans and 41% who are Strongly Opposed. The specifics of what will be in a health care reform plan remains hotly debated in Congress at the moment. When a...

Sen. Tom Daschle, Rep. Jason Altmire, Healthcare Experts Tout Homecare As Cost-Effective Solution In The Healthcare Reform ProcessArticle Date: 26 Jul 2009 - 0:00 PDT During a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) stressed the cost-effective role that homecare can play in the reform of the U.S. healthcare system. The roundtable also addressed the controversial competitive bidding program for home medical equipment and services. The American Association for Homecare hosted the event, which was attended by congressional staff and media. Senator Daschle and Representative Altmire...

In a way, it's too bad President Obama tapped Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman to serve as ambassador to China. The ambassador-designee promised a Senate panel Thursday that, if confirmed, he would press American values in China. If only the Obama administration would press Huntsman's health-care reform values here in the United States. As governor, Huntsman has overseen a blueprint for the overhaul of Utah's health-care system that could be a model for a more rational approach to national reform. In one fell swoop, Obama effectively eliminated one of the most qualified Republicans to challenge his health-care reform, as well as...

Geithner wants to fast track financial regulatory reformCalcutta News.Net Saturday 25th July, 2009 Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has urged Congress to approve a financial package of regulatory system reform supported by President Barack Obama by the end of the year. Geithner and Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke testified with other officials to the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee: House and Senate committees have worked for months to move financial system reform forward, including steps to intensify supervision of financial institutions, strengthen existing regulation, and create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Under the proposal the House Financial Services Committee...

For the first time since President Obama entered the Oval Office, a majority of voters disapprove of the president's job performance in a Rasmussen tracking poll - a downturn that has the potential to sap the White House's clout as it begins the heavy lifting required for health care reform. Political strategists and pollsters said Mr. Obama is likely sacrificing his popularity by pursuing an ambitious agenda that engenders opposition. "As the president attempts to rebuild the economy and improve the health and welfare of an entire nation, he must use his political capital," said Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile....

House Democrats spent another day Thursday negotiating their health reform overhaul with few concrete signs of progress, heightening tensions and raising the possibility that leaders might bypass the House Energy and Commerce Committee and send the bill straight to the floor," CongressDailyAM reports. "The seven Blue Dog Coalition members on the panel emerged from a three-hour meeting with leaders and White House officials Thursday afternoon with little to say." The Hill: "'The preferable course would be to go through the committee,' Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) said Thursday night. 'But all options will be on the table.' Larson’s comments...

My husband was watching Kudlow's show on CNBC last night and said that Kudlow was interviewing a Republican about health care reform. My husband said he thought the Republican was from Kentucky (McConnell?). Anyway, when Kudlow asked the elected official what the Republicans were doing about health care reform, the response was that they were "trying to slow it down." Uhhhh . . . c'est what?!?!?!?! My husband was absolutely incensed that, as usual, the Republicans were planning to roll over and let the Democrats get their way on something so critical as the sham that is health care "reform."...

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Morning Bell: Obama Admits He’s “Not Familiar” With House Bill Today at 6:16am With the public’s trust in his handling of health care tanking (50%-44% of Americans disapprove), the White House has launched a new phase of its strategy designed to pass Obamacare: all Obama, all the time. As part of that effort, Obama hosted a conference call with leftist bloggers urging them to pressure Congress to pass his health plan as soon as possible. During the call, a blogger from Maine said he kept running into an Investors Business Daily article that claimed Section 102 of the House health...

CBO Scores Confirm Deficit Neutrality of Health Insurance Reform BillJuly 18th, 2009 by Karina News from the Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, and Education & Labor Committees on the CBO estimates released last night on America’s Affordable Health Choices Act: July 17, 2009 Washington, D.C. — The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released estimates this evening confirming for the first time that H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, is deficit neutral over the 10-year budget window - and even produces a $6 billion surplus. CBO estimated more than $550 billion in gross Medicare and Medicaid savings. More importantly, the...

Link "I understand why people want health care reform, I want reform… It is completely absurd how much any of us have to pay for any treatment in the United States. Trying to get affordable health care is a just cost, and we should persue it in greater haste than we currently are. Our system is sick as it is way too expensive. Now the big question, Is a government run system the answer? "