Nothing to do with politics or the race for 2012, but the following critique of the Star Wars universe is worth a quick click. Some of the comments are also a hoot.

WARNING!!! Do Not Be Consuming Any Beverages When Reading

A couple of samples:

Blasters

A tactical nightmare: They’re incredibly loud, especially for firing what are essentially light beams. The fire ordnance is so slow it can be dodged, and it comes out as a streak of light that reveals your position to your enemies. Let’s not even go near the idea of light beams being slow enough to dodge; that’s just something you have let go of, or risk insanity.

Stormtrooper Uniforms

They stand out like a sore thumb in every environment but snow, the helmets restrict view (“I can’t see a thing in this helmet!” — Luke Skywalker), and the armor is penetrable by single shots from blasters. Add it all up and you have to wonder why stormtroopers don’t just walk around naked, save for blinders and flip-flops.

“…..Today no war has been declared – and however fierce the struggle may be, it may never be declared in the traditional fashion. Our way of life is under attack.

Those who make themselves our enemy are advancing around the globe. The survival of our friends is in danger. And yet no war has been declared, no borders have been crossed by marching troops, no missiles have been fired.

If the press is awaiting a declaration of war before it imposes the self-discipline of combat conditions, then I can only say that no war ever posed a greater threat to our security. If you are awaiting a finding of ‘clear and present danger,’ then I can only say that the danger has never been more clear and its presence more imminent.

It requires a change in outlook, a change in tactics, a change in missions – by the government, by the people, by every businessman or labor leader, and by every newspaper. For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence – on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice. on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations…..”

You will be surprised by the answer.

Rasmussen Survey on Social Security

How confident are you that the Social Security system will pay you all promised retirement benefits during your lifetime?

• Very confident 13%
• Somewhat confident 25%
• Not very confident 36%
• Not at all confident 24%

One of President Obama’s top economic advisors says the president will attempt to reform Social Security before the end of his first term. Should reforming Social Security be one of President Obama’s top priorities?

• Yes 36%
• No 41%

Should working Americans be allowed to opt out of Social Security and provide for their own retirement planning?

• Yes 49%
• No 37%

Should Social Security taxes be increased to insure that all promised benefits are paid?

• Yes 27%
• No 54%

Is Social Security a good deal for working Americans today?

• Yes 47%
• No 38%

Survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted August 19-20. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

A majority of voters under 50 say workers should be allowed to opt out. A plurality of those over 50 disagree.

A majority of voters over 50 say Social Security is a good deal for workers. A plurality of younger voters take the opposite view.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Republicans like the idea of letting workers opt out, as do 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party. But just 33% of Democrats agree. Nearly half (48%) of Democratic voters are opposed to letting workers opt out of Social Security.
(more…)

Pew Research Survey on “Death Panels”

Some critics of health care reform legislation say it includes the creation of so called “death panels” or government organizations that will make decisions about who will and will not receive health services when they are critically ill. How much, if anything, have you heard about this?

• A lot 41%
• A little 45%
• Nothing at all 13%

From what you know, do you think it is true or not true that the health care legislation will create these so called “death panels”?

• True 30%
• Not true 50%

Among Republicans

• True 47%
• Not true 30%

Among Independents

• True 28%
• Not true 51%

Among Democrats

• True 20%
• Not true 64%

Among regular viewers of Fox News

• True 45%
• Not true 30%

Among regular viewers of CNN

• True 26%
• Not true 54%

Do you think the press has been too critical, not critical enough or fair in the way it has covered Barack Obama?

• Too critical 23% (16%)
• Not critical enough 28% (26%)
• Fair 43% (53%)

Survey of 1,003 adults was conducted August 14-17. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Washington Post/ABC News Survey on Health Care Reform

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?

• Approve 57% (59%)
• Disapprove 40% (37%)

Note: Obama remains far more popular among young adults than old – 71 percent approval among 18 to 29-year-olds vs. 47 percent among seniors. But the biggest gap is partisan: He’s moved not at all among Democrats – 90 percent approval in February, 90 percent now. But he’s gone from 37 percent approval among Republicans to 19 percent now; and, among independents, from 67 percent approval in February to 50 percent now.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy?

• Approve 52% (52%)
• Disapprove 46% (46%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling health care?

• Approve 46% (49%)
• Disapprove 50% (44%)

Note: Obama’s approval rating for handling health care has fallen steadily from 57 percent in April to 46 percent today, led by a steep a 17-point slide among independents, from 53% to 36 percent.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan?

• Approve 60% (62%)
• Disapprove 33% (30%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the federal budget deficit?

• Approve 41% (43%)
• Disapprove 53% (49%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling taxes?

• Approve 51% (56%)
• Disapprove 40% (38%)

How much confidence do you have in Barack Obama to make the right decisions for the country’s future?

• Great deal of confidence 28% (31%)
• Good amount 21% (28%)
• Just some 26% (25%)
• None at all 24% (15%)

How much confidence do you have in the Republicans in Congress to make the right decisions for the country’s future?

• Great deal of confidence 4% (4%)
• Good amount 16% (16%)
• Just some 45% (50%)
• None at all 33% (28%)

Note: Only 46 percent of Republicans have confidence in their own party to make “the right decisions” for the country.

How much confidence do you have in the Democrats in Congress to make the right decisions for the country’s future?

• Great deal of confidence 14% (12%)
• Good amount 21% (24%)
• Just some 35% (38%)
• None at all 29% (25%)

Do you think Obama’s economic program is making the economy better, making it worse or having no real effect?

• Better 43%
• Worse 23%
• No effect 32%

Overall, given what you know about them, would you say you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration?

• Strongly support 27%
• Somewhat support 18%
• Somewhat oppose 10%
• Strongly oppose 40%

Note: Support’s at just 36 percent among independents, the crucial political center. Among the 85 percent who do have insurance, 43 percent support reform. Reform’s supported by 58 percent of adults under age 30, but 44 percent of 30- to 64-year-olds and just 34 percent of seniors. And support’s 8 points higher among women than it is among men.

Do you think Obama will or will not be able to make significant improvements in this country’s health care system?

• Will 49%
• Will not 46%

If the health care system is changed, do you think the quality of your health care will get better, get worse, or remain about the same?

• Better 19% (16%)
• Worse 33% (31%)
• Same 47% (50%)

If the health care system is changed, do you think the quality of health care for most people will get better, get worse, or remain about the same?

• Better 37%
• Worse 38%
• Same 23%

And if the health care system is changed do you think your health insurance coverage will get better, get worse, or remain about the same?

• Better 14%
• Worse 40%
• Same 43%

And if the health care system is changed do you think your health care costs will get better, get worse, or remain about the same?

• Better 19%
• Worse 41%
• Same 37%

Would you support or oppose having the government create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans?

• Support 52% (62%)
• Oppose 46% (33%)

Note: Opposition to a public option has increased by 17 points among Republicans, from 59 percent in June to 76 percent now; but it’s also risen by 15 points among independents, from 32 percent then to 47 percent now. (It’s essentially unchanged among Democrats). Opposition has increased by 16 points among conservatives, to 67 percent, but also by 11 points among liberals and by 9 points among moderates, albeit to much lower levels, 22 and 38 percent, respectively.

Which comes closer to the way you feel: government reform of the nation’s health care system is necessary to control costs and expand coverage, or government action on health care will do more harm than good?

• Strongly feel reform is necessary 35% (34%)
• Somewhat feel reform is necessary 16% (23%)
• Somewhat feel will do more harm than good 10% (15%)
• Strongly feel will do more harm than good 35% (24%)

Say a candidate for Congress supports the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration. Would that make you more likely to support that candidate for Congress, more likely to oppose that candidate, or wouldn’t it make much difference in your vote?

• Much more likely to support that candidate 14%
• Somewhat more likely to support that candidate 9%
• Somewhat more likely to oppose that candidate 6%
• Much more likely to oppose that candidate 26%
• No difference 43%

Note: Four in 10 Democrats say they’d be more likely to support a candidate who favors reform, but 65 percent of Republicans say they’d be more likely to oppose such a candidate. Most crucial in election equations are independents, and by 2-1 they say they’d be more likely to oppose than to support such a candidate, 31 percent to 16 percent. Narrowing to independents who’d be “much” more likely to support or oppose a candidate on these grounds, supporting reform is a negative for 25 percent, vs. a positive factor for 10 percent.

How would you describe your feelings about the changes to the health care system being proposed by Congress and the Obama administration, would you say you are enthusiastic about them, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry about them?

• Enthusiastic 15%
• Satisfied 32%
• Dissatisfied 31%
• Angry 18%

As you may know, some opponents of the proposed health care reform have been angrily protesting at town meetings with their members of Congress. Overall, do you think these protests have been appropriate or inappropriate?

• Strongly feel they’ve been appropriate 33%
• Somewhat feel they’ve been appropriate 19%
• Somewhat feel they’ve been inappropriate 15%
• Strongly feel they’ve been inappropriate 30%

Survey of 1,001 adults was conducted August 13-17. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 35% (D); 25% (R); 40% (I). Results from polls completed July 18, June 21, and April 24 are in parentheses.

It is incomprehensible why some people’s hearts bleed for terrorists when they are punished for committing their atrocities. The fuss made over those Taliban monsters, all too cushily accomodated at Guantanamo! Now Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, convicted of blowing up the Pan-Am plane over Lockerbie in Scotland on December 21, 1988 , killing 270 people (259 in the plane, 11 on the ground), has been released from prison, after serving a mere 8 years of a ‘minimum 27 year’ sentence, ‘on compassionate grounds’ because the wretch is dying of cancer. What moral right has this Scottish Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill, whose decision it was, to forgive him any of his punishment time? It may make MacKaskill himself feel good, but 270 people dying a terrible death, and the lasting grief of those who survived them, is an exorbitant price to pay for him to have a feeling of personal virtue. To make the disaster matter so little is to mock the victims, the living and the dead.

And there is even more that is sickening about this story.

If al-Megrahi was guilty of planting the bomb on the plane (some doubts over his guilt have been argued not entirely unreasonably, but he was found guilty in a court of law and I thought at the time of the trial that the evidence was convincing), it was certainly not his own plan. Nothing of that sort could possibly be plotted in Libya without the say-so of Qaddafi. We’re talking about a dictator. There are no free-lance terrorists in a country like Libya. When there’s a Libyan terrorist strike it’s because Qaddafi orders a Libyan terrorist strike. Not just allows it. Orders it. And Qaddafi himself will suffer no lasting consequences.

What ‘negotiations’ – read ‘conspiracy’ – went on behind the scenes between Qaddafi and British diplomats?

What message does the release send to other plotters of terrorist atrocities?

To look into these events is to look into a moral sewer. Come to think of it, ‘moral sewers’ is an apt description of the British Foreign Office and the left-wing parties that govern Scotland and the United Kingdom.

The strongest moral condemnation of the release that Obama could bring himself to utter is that it’s a ‘mistake’. But that’s no surprise. We know what he feels about Islamic terrorists. We know for whom his heart bleeds.

Jillian Becker is editor-in-chief of The Atheist Conservative. She was formerly Director of the Institute for the Study of Terrorism in the UK

Pat Buchanan wrote an excellent blog post on health care rationing and death panels. 

Read the entire post from The American Conservative;

“The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.”

Of Sarah Palin it may be said: The lady knows how to frame an issue.

And while she has been fairly criticized for hyperbole about the end-of-life counselors in the House bill, she drew such attention to the provision that Democrats chose to dump it rather than debate it

And understandably so. For if Congress enacts universal health care coverage, we are undeniably headed for a medical system of rationed care that must inevitably deny care to some terminally ill and elderly, which will shorten their lives, perhaps by years. Consider:

Democrats call Medicare the model of government-run universal health care. But Medicare is a system whereby 140 million working Americans pay 2.9 percent of all wages and salaries into a fund to pay for health care for 42 million mostly older Americans. And Medicare is already going bust.

If Obamacare is passed, the cost of health care for today’s 47 million uninsured will also land on those 140 million. And if Obama puts 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens on a “path to citizenship,” as he promises, they, too, will have their health care provided by taxpayers.

Here is the crusher. The Census Bureau projects that, by 2050, the U.S. population will explode to 435 million. As most of these folks will be immigrants, their children and grandchildren, the cost of their heath care would also have to be largely born by middle-class and wealthy taxpayers.

_________________________________________________________

Kristofer Lorelli can be contacted at lorville@rogers.com, on Facebook and twitter/Kris_Lorelli.

I’m not sure about what’s worse:

1. That there are, in fact, government-run death panels.
2. That Democrats are telling us that there will not be any government-run death panels, when we know that there must necessarily be, in order to control costs.
3. Or, that Oregon’s chief death paneler is so unprepared in the following local TV news story to answer such a common question about death panels.

Video:

HT Redstate, Club for Growth.

The Federal Government funds five “public option” healthcare systems/insurances today.

We’ve get Medicaid for the poor and Medicare for the elderly. Both are projected to add tens of trillions of dollar to the debt (giving us a third world fiscal profile).

Obviously without some sort of reform they’re not affordable or sustainable in the long-run.

We’ve got Tri-care federal insurance for military retirees. It fills a gap in care for veterans and their families. This system is facing a lot of strain as veterans age and the ranks of beneficiaries swell. In some states it’s very hard to find physicians willing to participate in this public option.

We’ve got Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics providing care. My dad receives his medicine from these hospitals but goes to “real doctors” for the rest of his healthcare. As events at Walter Reed demonstrated sometimes the VA isn’t responsive to patients until the whiff of scandal is in the air.

We’ve got the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. In this program the government pays two-thirds of the insurance premiums for federal employees and offers a handful of private insurance options.

None of these public options are rousing successes that lower the costs of providing quality healthcare. Some of the programs underpay doctors to reduce their costs but this often results in hurried and lower quality care. Few of the better doctors will tolerate dealing with the public options.

So we’ve got five public options to try to fix and improve.

If we create a new public option on the same broken model we’ll just get the same flawed and fiscally unstable sort of public option we’ve already got.

As of today, this is my sentiment: it is more likely than not that Democrats will successfully ram through legislation that takes over US health care, and that may re-define America.  At that point, the only short-term hope for American freedom and quality health care is for a fifth originalist justice to be added to the Supreme Court within the next 5-10 years, forming a majority that will declare unconstitutional all sorts of federal programs.

I hope I’m wrong.

Today, The Wall Street Journal published an article, “New Rx for Health Plan: Split Bill.”

The White House and Senate Democratic leaders, seeing little chance of bipartisan support for their health-care overhaul, are considering a strategy shift that would break the legislation into two parts and pass the most expensive provisions solely with Democratic votes.

The idea is the latest effort by Democrats to escape the morass caused by delays in Congress, as well as voter discontent crystallized in angry town-hall meetings. Polls suggest the overhaul plans are losing public support, giving Republicans less incentive to go along.

If you think that Democratic congressmen in swing districts are feeling overwhelming pressure from their voters, and if you think that reason will certainly prevail (“My constitutuents don’t want this, and I had better listen to them, in order to get re-elected”), then I ask you to re-consider.  The pressure from Democratic leadership and from lobbyists will be relentless.

Conservative independent and Republican voters must not only maintain but increase, re-double our efforts, if we hope to win this battle against the far-left who currently have control over Democratic Party.  Keep up the hard work within your congressional districts.

______________________________________________________________

Benjamin Hodge publishes the Web site KansasProgress.com, based in Johnson County, KS, in the Greater Kansas City area.  Hodge is a delegate to the Kansas GOP, a former state representative, and a former board member at Johnson County Community College.  You can join Hodge’s efforts on Facebook, through his personal Web site, on Twitter, and through his PAC.

PPP (D) Colorado 2010 Gubernatorial Survey

• Scott McInnis (R) 46% (48%)
• Bill Ritter (D) 38% (41%)

• Josh Penry (R) 40% (40%)
• Bill Ritter (D) 40% (42%)

 
Among Independents

• Scott McInnis (R) 38% (42%)
• Bill Ritter (D) 37% (41%)

• Bill Ritter (D) 37% (40%)
• Josh Penry (R) 32% (35%)

Favorable / Unfavorable [Net]

• Scott McInnis 30% (32)% / 25% (28%) [+5%]
• Josh Penry 23% / 20% [+3%]

Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Bill Ritter’s job performance?

• Approve 40% (41%)
• Disapprove 45% (49%)

Survey of 969 voters was conducted August 14-16. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted April 17-19 are in parentheses.

_________________________________________________________

Kristofer Lorelli can be contacted at lorville@rogers.com, on Facebook and twitter/Kris_Lorelli.

PPP (D) 2012 Presidential Survey

• Barack Obama 47% (48%)
• Mike Huckabee 44% (42%)

• Barack Obama 47% (49%)
• Mitt Romney 40% (40%)

• Barack Obama 49% (50%)
• Newt Gingrich 41% (42%)

• Barack Obama 52% (51%)
• Sarah Palin 38% (43%)

Among Independents

• Barack Obama 42% (44%)
• Mike Huckabee 41% (43%)

• Mitt Romney 41% (43%)
• Barack Obama 41% (42%)

• Barack Obama 45% (46%)
• Newt Gingrich 38% (39%)

• Barack Obama 50% (47%)
• Sarah Palin 34% (41%)

Among Republicans

• Mike Huckabee 80% (76%)
• Barack Obama 11% (12%)

• Newt Gingrich 76% (80%)
• Barack Obama 13% (11%)

• Mitt Romney 74% (71%)
• Barack Obama 11% (18%)

• Sarah Palin 74% (79%)
• Barack Obama 15% (14%)

Among Moderate Republicans

• Mike Huckabee 63%
• Barack Obama 24%

• Sarah Palin 57%
• Barack Obama 32%

Among Moderates

• Barack Obama 56% (58%)
• Mike Huckabee 32% (32%)

• Barack Obama 57% (56%)
• Mitt Romney 30% (32%)

• Barack Obama 60% (61%)
• Newt Gingrich 28% (30%)

• Barack Obama 63% (62%)
• Sarah Palin 25% (31%)

Among Men

• Mike Huckabee 49% (49%)
• Barack Obama 43% (43%)

• Newt Gingrich 46% (49%)
• Barack Obama 45% (44%)

• Mitt Romney 44% (46%)
• Barack Obama 44% (46%)

• Barack Obama 48% (47%)
• Sarah Palin 41% (47%)

Among Women

• Barack Obama 50% (53%)
• Mike Huckabee 39% (36%)

• Barack Obama 53% (54%)
• Newt Gingrich 35% (35%)

• Barack Obama 50% (51%)
• Mitt Romney 36% (35%)

• Barack Obama 56% (54%)
• Sarah Palin 35% (40%)

Among Voters with Bachelor’s Degree

• Mike Huckabee 47%
• Barack Obama 47%

• Barack Obama 49%
• Newt Gingrich 47%

• Barack Obama 49%
• Mitt Romney 45%

• Barack Obama 53%
• Sarah Palin 43%

Among Voters Age 18-29

• Barack Obama 51% (54%)
• Mike Huckabee 40% (40%)

• Barack Obama 53% (54%)
• Newt Gingrich 40% (40%)

• Barack Obama 58% (57%)
• Mitt Romney 28% (37%)

• Barack Obama 60% (60%)
• Sarah Palin 28% (40%)

Favorable / Unfavorable [Net]

• Mike Huckabee 45% (42%) / 28% (33%) [+17%]
• Mitt Romney 37% (37%) / 34% (37%) [+3%]
• Newt Gingrich 33% (36%) / 42% (42%) [-9%]
• Sarah Palin 40% (47%) / 49% (45%) [-9%]

Among Independents

• Mike Huckabee 48% (44%) / 24% (30%) [+24%]
• Mitt Romney 40% (45%) / 31% (28%) [+9%]
• Newt Gingrich 34% (31%) / 45% (44%) [-11%]
• Sarah Palin 37% (45%) / 49% (43%) [-12%]

Among Republicans

• Sarah Palin 72% (76%) / 16% (19%) [+56%]
• Mike Huckabee 66% (66%) / 13% (19%) [+53%]
• Newt Gingrich 56% (65%) / 21% (17%) [+35%]
• Mitt Romney 52% (54%) / 18% (25%) [+34%]

Among Moderate Republicans

• Mike Huckabee 54% / 17% [+37%]
• Mitt Romney at 45% / 20% [+25%]
• Sarah Palin at 53% / 30% [+23%]
• Newt Gingrich 44% / 29% [+15%]

Among Republicans who think Barack Obama was born in the United States

• Mike Huckabee 60% / 17% [+43%]
• Mitt Romney 57% / 17% [+40%]
• Newt Gingrich 52% / 22% [+30%]
• Sarah Palin 58% / 31% [+27%]

Among Conservatives

• Mike Huckabee 61% (65%) / 13% (16%) [+48%]
• Sarah Palin 68% (73%) / 20% (18%) [+48%]
• Newt Gingrich 52% (59%) / 20% (18%) [+32%]
• Mitt Romney 49% (53%) / 22% (20%) [+27%]

Among Moderates

• Mike Huckabee 40% (34%) / 30% (36%) [+10%]
• Mitt Romney 34% (33%) / 36% (39%) [-2%]
• Newt Gingrich 24% (24%) / 49% (52%) [-25%]
• Sarah Palin 29% (33%) / 58% (58%) [-29%]

Among Voters Age 18-29

• Mike Huckabee 45% (34%) / 19% (36%) [+26%]
• Mitt Romney 32% (33%) / 34% (39%) [-2%]
• Newt Gingrich 30% (24%) / 32% (52%) [-2%]
• Sarah Palin 30% (33%) / 53% (58%) [-23%]

Obama Job Approval

• Approve 52% (50%)
• Disapprove 42% (43%)

Among Independents

• Approve 48% (46%)
• Disapprove 42% (42%)

Among Republicans

• Approve 16% (12%)
• Disapprove 79% (82%)

Among Moderates

• Approve 62% (61%)
• Disapprove 32% (32%)

Among Birthers

• Approve 16%
• Disapprove 75%

Survey of 909 voters was conducted August 14-17. The margin of error is +/- 3.3 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 41% (D); 35% (R); 24% (I). Results from the poll conducted July 15-16 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

The birthers love them some Sarah Palin. She’s the most popular politician in the mix with them at 66% favorability. Next is Mike Huckabee at 58%, followed by Newt Gingrich at 46%, and Mitt Romney at 43%.

Looking at the numbers from another angle – 63% of all Americans with a favorable opinion of Sarah Palin are birthers. Same thing with 53% of those who like Gingrich, 50% who view Huckabee positively, and 44% for Romney.

So there is a definite divide between what the birther wing of the party and the non-birther wing of the party think about Palin and Romney.

This is no surprise but the ideology breakdown among GOP birthers is 69% conservatives and 30% moderates, while it’s 53% moderates and just 46% conservatives among non-birthers.

The fact that none of the GOP candidates exceeds a 60% popularity level with Republican voters who think Obama was born in the United States may speak to the need for ‘none of the above’ to be the party’s nominee in 2012 if they’re going to get the moderate votes they need to win the Presidency back. I continue to think the best hope for them to win is to go outside the quartet of early favorites we’ve been polling on a month to month basis.

With poll numbers sinking and angry town hall shoutfests increasing, momentum has certainly turned against Pres Obama.  His healthcare dream has turned into a nightmare, and cherished goals are being dropped, one after another, from the bill.  Has the time come to hoist the flag of victory, proclaim the takeover of healthcare by the government to be defeated, and run a victory lap?

Quite simply, no.  Public sentiment is certainly running against the plan, which means no plan could pass today.  Once Congress returns to work, however, much of this will fade in their memory.  Give a little time for the public to think the debate’s over and calm down, quietly twist some arms in the back room, add all sorts of pet projects to people on the edge, and this could still be a reality.

Several of these people don’t care what their constituency wants, they will force them to accept what’s best for them.  They are smarter than the rest of us, and they know what’s good for you more than you do.  It’s extreme arrogance and hubris, and it shouldn’t be forgotten.

In short, while things look good right now, they can turn around very quickly if we don’t keep the pressure on.  If we can stop them this year, it’s likely we won’t see it again for many years to come.  Nobody’s going to push it next year, as it will be too close to elections.  After next year’s elections, Dems are not likely to have a strong enough majority in the House to push this through.  It’s now or well into the future for them (perhaps another 15 years).  Keep telling them how you feel, and don’t stop fighting until this monstrosity is completely off the table.

Washington Post/ABC News Survey on Afghanistan

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan?

• Strongly Approve 25% (33%)
• Somewhat Approve 35% (29%)
• Somewhat Disapprove 14% (13%)
• Strongly Disapprove 19% (17%)

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war in Afghanistan was worth fighting, or not?

• Strongly feel worth fighting 31% (34%)
• Somewhat feel worth fighting 15% (18%)
• Somewhat feel not worth fighting 10% (11%)
• Strongly feel not worth fighting 41% (34%)

Do you think the number of U.S. military forces in Afghanistan should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?

• Increased 24%
• Decreased 45%
• Kept about the same 27%

All told, do you think the United States is winning or losing the war in Afghanistan?

• Winning 42%
• Losing 36%

As you may know Afghanistan is holding national elections this week, how confident are you that these elections will produce a government that can rule the country effectively?

• Very confident 3%
• Somewhat confident 31%
• Not too confident 39%
• Not confident at all 25%

How confident are you in the ability of the United States and its allies in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban?

• Very confident 19%
• Somewhat confident 40%
• Not too confident 22%
• Not confident at all 18%

How confident are you in the ability of the United States and its allies in Afghanistan to provide effective economic development?

• Very confident 11%
• Somewhat confident 50%
• Not too confident 24%
• Not confident at all 13%

How confident are you in the ability of the United States and its allies in Afghanistan to encourage the creation of an honest and effective government?

• Very confident 10%
• Somewhat confident 46%
• Not too confident 25%
• Not confident at all 18%

Survey of 1,001 adults was conducted August 11-17. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 35% (D); 34% (I); 25% (R). Political views: 40% Moderate; 37% Conservative; 20% Liberal. Results from the poll completed July 18 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Should Obama embrace his generals’ call for even more forces, he would risk alienating some of his staunchest supporters. Although 60 percent of Americans approve of how Obama has handled the situation in Afghanistan, his ratings among liberals have slipped, and majorities of liberals and Democrats alike now, for the first time, solidly oppose the war and are calling for a reduction in troop levels.

Overall, seven in 10 Democrats say the war has not been worth its costs, and fewer than one in five support an increase in troop levels.

Republicans (70 percent say it is worth fighting) and conservatives (58 percent) remain the war’s strongest backers, and the issue provides a rare point of GOP support for Obama’s policies. A narrow majority of conservatives approve of the president’s handling of the war (52 percent), as do more than four in 10 Republicans (43 percent).

Among liberals, his rating on handling the war, which he calls one of “necessity,” has fallen swiftly, with strong approval dropping by 20 points. Nearly two-thirds of liberals stand against a troop increase, as do about six in 10 Democrats.

On the GOP side, views are more evenly distributed, as Republicans divide about equally in support of an increase, a decrease and no change to troop levels.

When challenged to explain what part of the Constitution gives them the power to even pass health care reform, I’ve heard at least a couple liberal talk radio callers rest their defense in the Preamble to the Constitution’s use of the term “General Welfare.”

But does General Welfare really mean that health care reform is constitutionally permitted? Well, as it happens the Father of the Constitution, James Madision, became President and was presented with a public works bill which he vetoed and in that veto message he addressed the meaning of the General Welfare clause:

Having considered the bill this day presented to me entitled “An act to set apart and pledge certain funds for internal improvements,” and which sets apart and pledges funds “for constructing roads and canals, and improving the navigation of water courses, in order to facilitate, promote, and give security to internal commerce among the several States, and to render more easy and less expensive the means and provisions for the common defense,” I am constrained by the insuperable difficulty I feel in reconciling the bill with the Constitution of the United States to return it with that objection to the House of Representatives, in which it originated.

The legislative powers vested in Congress are specified and enumerated in the eighth section of the first article of the Constitution, and it does not appear that the power proposed to be exercised by the bill is among the enumerated powers, or that it falls by any just interpretation with the power to make laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution those or other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States…

To refer the power in question to the clause “to provide for common defense and general welfare” would be contrary to the established and consistent rules of interpretation, as rendering the special and careful enumeration of powers which follow the clause nugatory and improper. Such a view of the Constitution would have the effect of giving to Congress a general power of legislation instead of the defined and limited one hitherto understood to belong to them, the terms “common defense and general welfare” embracing every object and act within the purview of a legislative trust. It would have the effect of subjecting both the Constitution and laws of the several States in all cases not specifically exempted to be superseded by laws of Congress, it being expressly declared “that the Constitution of the United States and laws made in pursuance thereof shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges of every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.”

Given that Madison took such a dim view of roads and canals, anyone to bet that Madison would view universal health care as an appropriate use of government power under the Constituton?  Madison writing in Federalist #45 is even more explicit:

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.

Of course, it’s true that most federal programs from Abstinence Education to Zoos and including such third rail budget busters like Social Security and Medicare are patently in violation of the spirit of the Constitution. However, I’m not of the mind that we can change the Constitution by simply ignoring it. If liberals succeed in passing health care reform, no judge will stop them. Courts have tolerated far too many violations of the plain text of the Constitution to change their ways now. I only ask that our friends on the left spare us ignorant pseudo-constitutional justifications for this monstrosity.

Check out this over at politico:

President Barack Obama needs some outside help pushing health care reform, and he’s turning to rabbis to get it.

In a morning conference call with about 1000 rabbis from across the nation, Obama asked for aid: “I am going to need your help in accomplishing necessary reform,” the President told the group, according to Rabbi Jack Moline, who tweeted his way through the phoner.

“We are God’s partners in matters of life and death,” Obama went on to say, according to Moline’s real-time stream.

Wow! … Just … Wow! With that, I think we can safely say that Obama has jumped the shark on healthcare. It is all over but the shouting, and there will still be a lot of that.

In my lifetime — and I’ve been aware of the world since the Johnson administration — I have never seen a President burn through political capital as fast as this one. Even Gerald Ford who pardoned Nixon his first few days in office wasn’t this bad. (I saw a wag over the weekend make the comment that Jimmy Carter is extremely grateful to Barack Obama for having an administration even more incompetent than his.) Obama’s incompetence is truly a thing to behold. He is almost totally clueless on how to govern the American people. He is just throwing anything and everything up on the wall; desperately hoping something, anything will stick.

Another sign of a flailing administration was over the weekend Obama floated the idea that the Public Option was negotiable.  The left erupted in fury, threatening to vote down any bill that doesn’t include a public option.  Now his administration has backed off saying the Public Option is not negotiable.

Is this guy in over his head or what?

It’s going to be a long three and a half years until January 2013.

Pew Research Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

• Approve 51% (54%) [61%]
• Disapprove 37% (34%) [30%]

Among Independents

• Approve 45% (48%) [56%]
• Disapprove 43% (37%) [29%]

Among Whites

• Approve 43% (48%) [52%]
• Disapprove 46% (41%) [38%]

Among Married Men

• Approve 43% (44%) [53%]
• Disapprove 49% (45%) [39%]

Among Married Women

• Approve 47% (49%) [59%]
• Disapprove 40% (40%) [35%]

In dealing with important issues facing the country, are Barack Obama and Republican leaders in Congress working together or not working together?

• Working together 24% [39%]
• Not working together 63% [50%]

(If answered ‘Not working together’) Who do you think is most to blame for them not working together?

• Republican leaders in Congress 46%
• Barack Obama 27%
• Both 14%

If the health care bills being proposed by Barack Obama and Congress are passed into law, would you be:

• Very happy 15%
• Pleased 29%
• Disappointed 22%
• Angry 18%

If the health care bills being proposed by Barack Obama and Congress FAIL to pass into law, would you be:

• Very happy 18%
• Pleased 21%
• Disappointed 31%
• Angry 9%

Is your overall opinion of the Republican Party very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly Unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable 7% [7%]
• Mostly favorable 33% [33%]
• Mostly unfavorable 32% [34%]
• Very unfavorable 18% [17%]

Is your overall opinion of the Democratic Party very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly Unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable 12% [15%]
• Mostly favorable 37% [44%]
• Mostly unfavorable 25% [21%]
• Very unfavorable 16% [13%]

Survey of 2,010 adults was conducted August 11-17. The margin of error is +/- 2.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 38% (I); 33% (D); 23% (R). Results from the polls conducted July 22-26 are in parentheses. Results from the polls conducted in mid-April and June are in brackets.

Rasmussen Florida 2010 Senatorial Survey

• Charlie Crist (R) 48% (46%)
• Kendrick Meek (D) 29% (28%)
• Some other candidate 10% (12%)
• Not sure 13% (14%)

• Marco Rubio (R) 43%
• Kendrick Meek (D) 30%
• Some other candidate 8%
• Not sure 19%

How would you rate the job Charlie Crist has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 17% (15%) [19%]
• Somewhat approve 42% (45%) [49%]
• Somewhat disapprove 21% (20%) [25%]
• Strongly disapprove 19% (16%) [7%]

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 27% (32%) [35%]
• Somewhat approve 15% (14%) [18%]
• Somewhat disapprove 10% (12%) [13%]
• Strongly disapprove 47% (38%) [34%]

Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?

• Strongly favor 20%
• Somewhat favor 17%
• Somewhat oppose 7%
• Strongly oppose 52%

When it comes to health care decisions, who do you fear the most: the federal government or private insurance companies?

• The federal government 60%
• Private insurance companies 33%

Favorable / Unfavorable [Net]

• Charlie Crist 64% (57%) / 35% (36%) [+29%]
• Marco Rubio 41% / 31% [+10%]
• Kendrick Meek 37% (37%) / 34% (36%) [+3%]

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted August 17. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted June 22 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted April 23 are in brackets.

Inside the numbers:

Crist captures 76% of the GOP vote and 23% of Democrats in a run against Meek. Rubio has support from 74% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats in his match-up with the four-term congressman.

Nineteen percent (19%) of Florida voters have a very favorable opinion of Crist, while 14% view him very unfavorably.

Meek is viewed very favorably by 12% and very unfavorably by 15%.

Thirteen percent (13%) see Rubio very favorably, but nine percent (9%) have a very unfavorable opinion of the Cuban-American legislator from Miami.

PPP (D) Colorado Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job performance?

• Approve 49% (49%)
• Disapprove 47% (45%)

Among Independents

• Approve 48% (48%)
• Disapprove 46% (47%)

Do you support or oppose President Obama’s health care plan?

• Support 38%
• Oppose 51%

Among Independents

• Support 36%
• Oppose 48%

Do you think the government should stay out of Medicare?

• Yes 38%
• No 46%

Among Republicans

• Yes 62%
• No 22%

Among Independents

• Yes 34%
• No 49%

Do you think Barack Obama was born in the United States?

• Yes 58%
• No 24%
• Not sure 18%

Among Republicans

• Yes 33%
• No 43%
• Not sure 24%

Among Independents

• Yes 64%
• No 18%
• Not sure 18%

Do you approve or disapprove of Democratic Senator Mark Udall’s job performance?

• Approve 39% (41%)
• Disapprove 38% (46%)

Survey of 969 voters was conducted August 14-16. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 39% (R); 36% (D); 26% (I). Political views: 45% Moderate; 35% Conservative; 20% Liberal. Results from the poll conducted April 17-19 are in parentheses.

SurveyUSA Kentucky 2010 Senatorial Survey

GOP Primary

• Trey Grayson 37%
• Rand Paul 26%
• Roger Thoney 5%
• Bill Johnson 2%
• Other 13%
• Undecided 17%

Democratic Primary

• Dan Mongiardo 39%
• Jack Conway 31%
• Lillie Miller-Johnson 4%
• Darlene Fitzgerald Price 3%
• Maurice Marion Sweeney 1%
• Other 9%
• Undecided 14%

General Election

• Trey Grayson (R) 46%
• Dan Mongiardo (D) 40%
• Undecided 14%

• Trey Grayson (R) 44%
• Jack Conway (D) 37%
• Undecided 18%

• Dan Mongiardo (D) 43%
• Rand Paul (R) 41%
• Undecided 16%

• Jack Conway (D) 43%
• Rand Paul (R) 38%
• Undecided 19%

Survey of 1,944 registered voters was conducted August 15-17. Of the registered voters, 516 were determined to be likely voters in the May 2010 Republican Primary; 647 were determined to be likely voters in the May 2010 Democratic primary. The margin of error among registered voters is +/- 2.3 percentage points; +/- 4.4 percentage points among likely GOP primary voters; +/- 3.9 percentage points among likely Democratic primary voters. Party ID breakdown: 52% (D); 41% (R); 8% (I).

Progressive blogger Chris Cillizza, has some interesting analysis on the 2010 elections in California.

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina‘s decision to open an exploratory committee to weigh a possible challenge to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in 2010 creates the possibility that Golden State Republicans may well field their most competitive statewide ticket in more than a decade next November.

If, as expected, Fiorina runs against Boxer, she could well headline a ticket with former eBay CEO Meg Whitman who is regarded as the Republican gubernatorial frontrunner — giving the GOP two prominent businesswomen with the sort of personal wealth that will allow them to be competitive statewide.

“This will be the strongest [Republican] ticket since 1994,” predicted Rob Stutzman, a California Republican consultant advising Whitman’s bid. “Two strong Republican women is definitely a fresh take for voters.”

In 1994, Republicans had Gov. Pete Wilson (R) run successfully for second term, which ensured sixteen straight years of GOP control of the governorship, and then Rep. Michael Huffington use his personal wealth to nearly pull off a massive upset of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Republicans have struggled mightily to stay competitive in the nation’s most populous state in recent years. The party holds just 18 of the state’s 53(!) congressional districts, two of the eight statewide offices (governor and state insurance commissioner) and President Obama won the state by 24 points in 2008.

And, according to  recent party registration figures, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state by more than two million; there were 7.6 million registered Democrats to 5.3 million registered Republicans as of May 4.

Even Republicans’ greatest success story in recent years — the ouster of Gov. Gray Davis and the election (and reelection) of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger(R) — is due far more to the Governator’s star power than to the relative strength of the California GOP. (Schwarzenegger’s candidacy, while seeming to revive a dormant entity, ultimately glossed over broader structural problems with the state party.)

But, recent polling conducted by Research 2000 for the liberal Daily Kos blog suggests that Republicans may have an opening — particularly in the race for governor.

Whitman ran six points behind state Attorney General Jerry Brown (D) and was in a dead heat with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom(D). Boxer held a much wider 52 percent to 31 percent edge over Fiorina.

To be sure, this dream scenario for Republicans is far from a sure thing. Whitman faces a serious primary challenge from state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former Rep. Tom Campbell and remains an untested and unproven first-time candidate.

And, while Fiorina has significant personal wealth, she also has substantial baggage from her time at the head of Hewlett-Packard, a post she was forced out of in 2005.

“Fiorina is weak because of her failed tenure at Hewlett-Packard,” said Bill Carrick, a longtime Democratic media consultant based in California. “Whitman is potentially more serious because of her money and a better business record.”

Given the electoral doldrums in which California Republicans currently find themselves, competitiveness in major statewide races is a worthy goal. Both Fiorina and Whitman should be able to parlay their personal wealth and unique profiles to position themselves as credible alternatives to their Democratic rivals.

_________________________________________________________

Kristofer Lorelli can be contacted at lorville@rogers.com, on Facebook and twitter/Kris_Lorelli.

Quinnipiac Florida 2010 Gubernatorial/Senatorial Survey

(If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist, for whom would you vote?

• Charlie Crist 55% (54%)
• Marco Rubio 26% (23%)

(If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Corrine Brown, Ron Klein and Kendrick Meek, for whom would you vote?

• Kendrick Meek 18% (18%)
• Ron Klein 12% (8%)
• Corrine Brown 9% (12%)

If the 2010 election for governor were being held today and the candidates were Alex Sink the Democrat and Bill McCollum the Republican, for whom would you vote?

• Bill McCollum 38% (34%)
• Alex Sink 34% (38%)

Among Independents

• Bill McCollum 38% (32%)
• Alex Sink 23% (37%)

Favorable / Unfavorable [Net]

• Charlie Crist 60% (60%) / 27% (28%) [+33%]
• Bill McCollum 42% (40%) / 13% (13%) [+29%]
• Alex Sink 23% (25%) / 8% (7%) [+15%]
• Kendrick Meek 14% (12%) / 5% (7%) [+9%]
• Marco Rubio 15% (14%) / 9% (11%) [+6%]
• Ron Klein 11% (11%) / 6% (5%) [+5%]
• Corrine Brown 8% (10%) / 10% (10%) [-2%]

Among Republicans

• Charlie Crist 68% (70%) / 23% (21%) [+45%]
• Marco Rubio 24% (24%) / 6% (8%) [+18%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling his job as governor?

• Approve 60% (62%)
• Disapprove 30% (28%)

Among Republicans

• Approve 66% (68%)
• Disapprove 28% (21%)

Among Independents

• Approve 63% (61%)
• Disapprove 27% (31%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mel Martinez is handling his job as United States Senator?

• Approve 37% (43%)
• Disapprove 39% (31%)

Among Republicans

• Approve 45% (53%)
• Disapprove 33% (24%)

Among Independents

• Approve 36% (43%)
• Disapprove 41% (34%)

Do you approve or disapprove of Mel Martinez’s decision to retire from the United States Senate?

• Approve 52%
• Disapprove 23%

Among Republicans

• Approve 46%
• Disapprove 33%

Among Independents

• Approve 54%
• Disapprove 24%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator?

• Approve 47% (49%)
• Disapprove 28% (22%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill McCollum is handling his job as Florida Attorney General?

• Approve 53% (51%)
• Disapprove 16% (16%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alex Sink is handling her job as Florida’s chief financial officer?

• Approve 37% (39%)
• Disapprove 21% (17%)

Florida has had Republican governors since 1998. Do you think Republican rule has been good for the state or bad for the state?

• Good 52% (50%)
• Bad 35% (37%)

Survey of 1,136 voters was conducted August 12-17. The margin of error is +/- 2.9 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted June 2-7 are in parentheses.

PPP (D) National Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job performance?

• Approve 52% (50%)
• Disapprove 42% (43%)

Among Independents

• Approve 48% (46%)
• Disapprove 42% (42%)

Do you support or oppose President Obama’s health care plan?

• Support 40%
• Oppose 47%

Among Independents

• Support 35%
• Oppose 49%

Do you think the government should stay out of Medicare?

• Yes 39%
• No 46%

Among Republicans

• Yes 62%
• No 24%

Among Independents

• Yes 31%
• No 50%

Do you think Barack Obama was born in the United States?

• Yes 62%
• No 25%
• Not sure 14%

Among Republicans

• Yes 36%
• No 44%
• Not sure 20%

Among Independents

• Yes 64%
• No 18%
• Not sure 18%

(more…)

PPP (D) Colorado 2010 Senatorial Survey

• Bob Beauprez (R) 42%
• Michael Bennet (D) 39%

• Ken Buck (R) 35%
• Michael Bennet (D) 39%

• Ryan Frazier (R) 33%
• Michael Bennet (D) 38%

Favorable / Unfavorable (Net)

• Ken Buck 17% / 18% (-1%)
• Ryan Frazier 11% / 19% (-8%)
• Bob Beauprez 30% / 40% (-10%)

Do you approve or disapprove of Democratic Senator Michael Bennet’s job performance?

• Approve 31%
• Disapprove 38%

Survey of 969 voters was conducted August 14-16. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 39% (R); 36% (D); 26% (I). Political views: 45% Moderate; 35% Conservative; 20% Liberal.

According to the Left, Sarah Palin is controversial while Hillary Clinton is mainstream.  According to the Left, Mark Sanford deserves no credibility, while Eliot Spitzer is not only politically credible, but is considered a go-to expert by Slate on how small investors should navigate today’s stock market (the column’s title:  ”Still a Chump’s Game”).

No, conservatives should not sink to playing by the there-are-no-rules, win-by-any-means theme of the Left.  But in no way should we unquestioningly accept their rules for how we play.

Rasmussen Florida 2010 GOP Senatorial Primary

• Charlie Crist 53%
• Marco Rubio 31%
• Some other candidate 5%
• Not sure 11%

Favorable / Unfavorable (Net)

• Charlie Crist 75% / 23% (+52%)
• Marco Rubio 53% / 19% (+34%)

Survey of 470 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted August 17. The margin of error is +/- 5 percentage points.

Michele Bachmann says that she never meant to run for office, but God called her to do so — and that God might call her to do so again:

“After the election of 2006, when I was sworn in in 2007,” Bachmann replied, “I was expecting a fairly liberal group of people in Congress. But that’s not what I found. I have been pleasantly surprised by a number of my colleagues, who believe in the founding principles we share.

“Three years ago, the Republican Party had overspent and had been a part of the problem of enhancing the power of government over the power of the individual,” she continued. “And I think the GOP got the comeuppance it deserved at that point in that it had lost fidelity to its founding principles.

“What I have seen birthed out of the hardship of the elections in 2006 and 2008, however, is a winnowing of that mindset that caused the Republican Party to lose so badly,” she said. “There is still a remnant, a strong fighting element in the House Republican Caucus that is more in line with the principles of, say, Mark Levin’s ‘Liberty and Tyranny’ than they are with the principles that cause the GOP to lose.”

Finally, WND asked Bachmann if she could see a day when the candidate who began her political career in jeans and a holey sweatshirt would one day run for the presidency.

“If I felt that’s what the Lord was calling me to do, I would do it,” she answered. “When I have sensed that the Lord is calling me to do something, I’ve said yes to it. But I will not seek a higher office if God is not calling me to do it. That’s really my standard.

“If I am called to serve in that realm I would serve,” she concluded, “but if I am not called, I wouldn’t do it.”

Is Bachmann going to be one of the 2012 vanity runs? Between Sarah Palin and her, this could be shaping up to be the most amusing election in generations.

Robert Novak was a paragon of conservatism and one of the great reporters of our time – as I’m sure you have read today. However, for me, he was also one of the people to whom I owe the life I live today.

You see, Robert Novak was trustee of the Phillips Foundation, which grants scholarships to conservative student activists and fellowships to aspiring journalists. As a result of my activism in college, I had the privilege of receiving a $7,500 scholarship from the Foundation for each of my last two years in school.  At the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, this covered my entire tuition plus books. Hence, I could pursue many activism opportunities (including starting a blog) that would have otherwise been put to the side in order to hold down a job. Getting that scholarship – which was meant for the exact purpose of freeing students to pursue conservative activism – changed my life. 

So, thank you Robert Novak. I look forward to seeing you again some day. As odd as this may sound – I’m sure they found a place for the ”Prince of Darkness” in heaven.

NBC/Wall Street Journal Survey on Health Care

In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing as president?

• Approve 51% (53%)
• Disapprove 40% (40%)

Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing in handling the issue of health care reform?

• Approve 41% (41%)
• Disapprove 47% (46%)

Do you generally approve or disapprove of the way that Republicans in Congress are handling the issue of health care reform?

• Approve 21%
• Disapprove 62%

Do you think the American health care system needs a complete overhaul, major reform, minor reform, or is there no need for change?

• A complete overhaul 21%
• Major reform 39%
• Minor reform 31%
• No need for change 7%

From what you have heard about Barack Obama’s health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea?

• Good idea 36% (36%)
• Bad idea 42% (42%)

And from what you have heard about Barack Obama’s health care plan, do you believe it will result in the quality of your health care getting better, worse, or staying about the same as now?

• Quality will get better 24% (21%)
• Quality will get worse 40% (39%)
• Quality will stay the same 27% (29%)

Thinking about efforts to reform the health care system, which would concern you more?

• Not doing enough to make the health care system better than it is now by lowering costs and covering the uninsured. 41%
• Going too far and making the health care system worse than it is now in terms of quality of care and choice of doctor. 54%

Would you favor or oppose creating a public health care plan administered by the federal government that would compete directly with private health insurance companies?

• Favor 43% (46%)
• Oppose 47% (44%)

Please tell me which one statement you agree with more on the issue of creating a new public health plan administered by the federal government.

• People say it would help lower health care costs because it would compete with private health plans. This new public plan would provide coverage for the uninsured and all Americans would have an option for quality affordable health care. 45% (41%)
• People say that patients might not always have access to their choice of doctors and the government would lower costs by limiting medical treatment options and decisions that should be made instead by patients and doctors. 48% (52%)

I am going to tell you more about the health care plan that President Obama supports and please tell me whether you would favor or oppose it.

The plan requires that health insurance companies cover people with pre-existing medical conditions. It also requires all but the smallest employers to provide health coverage for their employees, or pay a percentage of their payroll to help fund coverage for the uninsured. Families and individuals with lower- and middle-incomes would receive tax credits to help them afford insurance coverage. Some of the funding for this plan would come from raising taxes on wealthier Americans. Do you favor or oppose this plan?

• Favor 53% (56%)
• Oppose 43% (38%)

Has what you have seen, read, or heard about town hall meeting protests made you more favorable toward, less favorable toward, or made no difference in your feelings about President Obama’s health care plan?

• More favorable 16%
• Less favorable 19%
• Made no difference 62%

Do you think that these protests are doing more harm than good, or more good than harm?

• More harm than good 43%
• More good than harm 42%

Let me read you a number of criticisms that town hall protesters have made about the proposed health care plan. For each one, please tell me whether this seems to you to be likely to happen or unlikely to happen.

Will give health insurance coverage to illegal immigrants

• Likely to happen 55%
• Unlikely to happen 34%

Will lead to a government takeover of the health care system

• Likely to happen 54%
• Unlikely to happen 39%

Will use taxpayer dollars to pay for women to have abortions

• Likely to happen 50%
• Unlikely to happen 37%

Will allow the government to make decisions about when to stop providing medical care to the elderly

• Likely to happen 45%
• Unlikely to happen 50%

From which ONE of the following television news sources do you get MOST of your information about the health care debate?

• Broadcast Network News (NBC, ABC or CBS) 40%
• Fox News 23%
• CNN 17%
• MSNBC 7%

Survey of 805 adults was conducted August 15-17. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 39% (I); 33% (D); 20% (R). Political views: 38% Conservative; 34% Moderate; 23% Liberal. Results from the poll conducted July 24-27 are in parentheses.