MA Senate Race- New Poll, Brown Leads « Liveshots

As the whole world looks on at the horror unfolding in Haiti many may be too distracted to pay enough attention to the Massachusetts senate race;  Massachusetts has always been a progressive state with many independents and they hold the key to defeating this awful health care bill. Health care does need to be reformed and many good ideas have been bruited by politicians on both sides but the shameless trickery  now taking place is not the way. Such important legislation must have bi-partisan support and that has not been sought in any reasonable way. The old saying "power corrupts......" comes to mind. The following report gives me some hope that the patriotic citizens of Massachusetts will once again cast a deciding vote for the good our wonderful republic.
MA Senate Race- New Poll, Brown Leads « Liveshots

Posted using ShareThis

Egyptian Chronicles: Helping Haiti

I posted this article as an example of the commonality of interests that exists all over the world. I have followed the Egyptian Chronicles for quite a while.I have not always agreed with its postings and the many hateful comments made by others to the site( unfortunately a sickness that affects many blogs)but I admire the editors spunk and her desire to better the life of all Egyptians.

 Egyptian Chronicles: Helping Haiti

Posted using ShareThis

Helping Haiti

 That sad and long suffering little place called Haiti has been struck down by a great catastrophe and assistance is urgently needed. The USA and many other countries have responded quickly and as usual many volunteers are rushing to the scene.The following account of the great loss suffered by the UN in  Haiti was received by email this morning. It includes links to facilitate donations to the relief effort and I urge everyone to contribute.

The UN headquarters building for the peacekeeping force was flattened with over 150 UN folks inside, including people from at least 20 countries (U.S. included).   All are missing and unaccounted for.   This may shape up to be the single largest loss of life for the UN ever.  Many of my colleagues fear that they have lost many good friends and mentors – Annabi (the head of the UN in Haiti) was one colleague’s direct boss for over 8 years. 

The good folks at the Fairfax Fire and Rescue arrived on the ground about 2 hours ago with 72 people, 6 dogs and all the equipment needed to find and dig people out.  LA search and rescue is loading up in California with a similar team to arrive overnight, and Miami Dade is loading up with an identical team.  UK, Netherlands, Iceland also sending smaller teams.   Next 48-60 hours is critical for getting to people.

  

Fastest and easiest way to give is on the front of the White House and USUN websites (www.whitehouse.gov and www.usun.state.gov) -  text  “HAITI” to 90999 and $10 will be added to your cell phone bill for a donation to the Red Cross.

Rescueing Coakley in Massachusetts

To show you what a scary world we live in- This blog has been online for a matter of hours and already a Google  ad has been placed by the  SEIU - Service Employees International Union. The ad consists of a youtube purporting to be favorable to a TEAParty but it is cleverly edited.By time I got around to this posting  it had disappeared but it will be back.  For another look at the SEIU go here

Scott Brown is doing very well against Coakley and raised 1.3 million last night. To contribute to his campaign go here.

homylafayette Iran News in English: Tehran University professor Massoud Alimohammadi assassinated: fact and fiction

You will have seen the news story of the assassination of a Tehran University Professor today. The following link will take you to an interesting account. It is so sad that our government is still playing around. Talking tough and doing nothing. Weakness on the part of our leaders is a go ahead signal for terrorist leaders such as though who rule Iran.It is ironical that the current opposition is a replay of the feelings that lead to the demise of the Shah who was not as repressive. Those good young idealists who yearned for freedom and democracy made a pact with the devil and were over time consumed by that theocracy that is now in control.


homylafayette Iran News in English: Tehran University professor Massoud Alimohammadi assassinated: fact and fiction

Posted using ShareThis

Welcome to the Old Guys Blog

As many readers of the Aiken Journal know I retired from the Aiken City Council in November 2009.The Aiken Journal was started as an email to constituents and then was also published online as a website and later as a blog. The Aiken Journal originally covered only City of Aiken and Aiken County items of concern but due to my propensity to worry about the whole world I started to cover broader interests.The Aiken Journal will generally limit its coverage  to City of Aiken, County  and South Carolina subjects and I have created the www.octogenarianonline.com to cover my personal interests around the world. I have also included in the archives of this new blog postings concerning national and world topics that were published by me in the Aiken Journal.These archive items have been removed from the Aiken Journal. I hope everyone visits the new site as it gets up and running. Good comments are always welcome.

Why the Health-Care Bills Are Unconstitutional

 The following is the beginning of an excellent piece that was posted on the WSJ Opinion Journal today.To read the entire article go here

If the government can mandate the purchase of insurance, it can do anything.

By ORRIN G. HATCH, J. KENNETH BLACKWELL AND KENNETH A. KLUKOWSKI

President Obama's health-care bill is now moving toward final passage. The policy issues may be coming to an end, but the legal issues are certain to continue because key provisions of this dangerous legislation are unconstitutional. Legally speaking, this legislation creates a target-rich environment. We will focus on three of its more glaring constitutional defects.
First, the Constitution does not give Congress the power to require that Americans purchase health insurance. Congress must be able to point to at least one of its powers listed in the Constitution as the basis of any legislation it passes. None of those powers justifies the individual insurance mandate. Congress's powers to tax and spend do not apply because the mandate neither taxes nor spends. The only other option is Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.