An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Morning Coffee 08/26/08 – Foggy Headed Version
Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake in reducing payment errors. The durable medical equipment program, which costs more than $8 billion annually and pays for power wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen supplies and other equipment for home use, has long been considered vulnerable to waste, fraud and abuse.
A July report by the Government Accountability Office, for instance, found that Medicare has paid as much as $92 million since 2000 to suppliers who billed the government for equipment purportedly prescribed by doctors who were dead.
Michael Reinemer, a spokesman for the American Association for Homecare, a trade group for suppliers, said: “The association believes that any amount of fraud is unacceptable and that better controls at the front end of the process are needed to keep criminals out of the Medicare program in the first place.”
And these are the folks that the left wants to be in charge of health care? I don’t bloody well think so! Time to wipe that slate clean too! Start from scratch, and if they insist on having such a department, try hiring folks who can actually read and write, add and subtract, and use a smidge of common sense! Right now, government agency = total incompetence!
Pakistan turmoil deepens after coalition split
Pakistan’s political turmoil deepened Tuesday after the two main parties in the ruling coalition split, weakening the fragile government just a week after president Pervez Musharraf resigned.
The world’s only nuclear-armed Islamic nation, already facing a fresh campaign of bombings by a resurgent militant movement, now faces the prospect of a bitter political battle over the choice of Musharraf’s successor.
I wonder if they’d consider putting their nukes under lock and key, guarded by a disinterested third party till they get their difference worked out? One nutjob with a key would be all it would take!
100 protesters taken to temporary center
About 7 p.m. Monday, riot police using pepper spray forced a couple of hundred protesters out of Civic Center and then blocked them before they could reach the 16th Street Mall.
Police surrounded the protesters along 15th Street between Court Street and Cleveland Place and then
moved up reinforcements, including at least two armored vehicles.
Lynn Kimbrough, a spokeswoman for the convention’s Joint Information Center, said one officer fired pepper spray during the initial confrontation near the City and County Building and one officer fire pepper spray on 15th Street. She also said one officer fired pepper balls in once instance, but wasn’t sure of the timing.
Only 100? Criminy! Does anyone remember when they had to use the stadium in D.C. for all the arrests? Yes, that was MANY years ago, I know. After reading the whole article, I’ve yet to figure out exactly what they were protesting. Capitalism, war, fascism…..like they have a CLUE what that is!
Tenn. lawmakers at odds over TVA rate hike
Last week, TVA approved the rate increase, its largest in 30 years.
Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn said the U.S. is not developing enough of its own energy supplies and wants Congress to return early from summer recess to address opening up more oil, gas and coal fields.
“The Democrat no-energy policy is hurting Tennesseans at the gas pump, and now it will hurt them every time they turn on the light switch,” Blackburn said.
20% is a bit extreme. Well, MORE than a bit extreme. One thing that sets me back….Miss Marsha is laying ALL the blame on the Dhimmis. Not exactly 100% true. The Republicans haven’t done dick either. When you’re in control of both Houses, and the White House, there should have been some action! Yet, here we are.
Rice: Settlements unhelpful to talks
“I think that it is no secret, and I’ve said it to my Israeli counterparts, that I don’t think the settlement activity is helpful to the process,” she said. “What we need now are steps that enhance confidence between the parties and … anything that undermines confidence between the parties ought to be avoided.”
Palestinians say the construction undermines the talks and prejudices a final peace deal. But Livni said the construction would not affect the peace talks.
Honestly, I’d think the Palestinians would welcome Jewish building! Increase in property values and all that. What are the Pallies doing with the land? Are they growing crops to feed the people? Are they building schools and hospitals? Hmmm…
New Yorkers Claim Mistreatment at Hands of Chinese
Days without potable water, hours of interrogation, sleep deprivation, and the theft of more than $20,000 in cash and equipment are among the hardships two New Yorkers say they endured as prisoners of the Chinese government during the Beijing Olympics.
“They threatened our lives, threatened the lives of people we know, of our family members, and they told us that they could get us, even outside of China,” a 32-year-old artist from Williamsburg, James Powderly, said yesterday.
Were these folks under the misconception that the Chinese were actually NICE people, and would treat them like honored guests?
Illegal Immigration Raid in Mississippi Ends in 350 Arrests
Barbara Gonzalez, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman, confirmed the arrests in the raid that she said targeted Howard Industries Inc. of Laurel. Authorities said more people could be arrested.
The company produces dozens of products ranging from electrical transformers to medical supplies, according to the company’s Web site.
“This is a targeted enforcement operation that is part of an ongoing ICE investigation that has revealed that illegal aliens are employed at Howard Industries,” Gonzalez said, adding late Monday that agents were still interviewing plant workers.
Illegals? Working with medical equipment, and electronic stuff? I have a problem! BIG problem.
Terror Arrest Amid Threats To PM
Police say no actual plot had been put into place but there were calls for Gordon Brown’s death on an extremist jihad website in January.
The 25-year-old is the fourth person from Blackburn to be arrested for terror offences in the last two weeks.
(…)
The three others, aged 21, 22 and 23, are being questioned by police after two were arrested at Manchester airport and one in Accrington on August 14.
Neighbours described two of the suspects as “normal everyday lads”.
Police sources say all four of the men are linked to the threats to kill Gordon Brown.
Whatcha wanna bet at least one of ‘em is named Mohammed? I’m afraid the description of ‘normal everyday lads’ makes me question the Brits idea of ‘normal’.
Iran begins new submarine production
Iran has launched the production line of a new domestically-manufactured submarine in an attempt to boost its defensive capabilities.
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar inaugurated the production line of the new submarine Qaaem, on Monday.
Qaaem functions as a submarine capable of carrying and firing various torpedoes and subsurface missiles with a special operation crew onboard.
Defense against whom? The only folks I’ve seen doing any threatening is Iran itself!
Western Leaders Slam Russian Recognition of Breakaway Georgian Regions
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Georgia forced Russia’s hand by launching an attack targeting South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an apparent bid to seize control of the breakaway region.
In response, Russian tanks and troops drove deep into the U.S. ally’s territory in a five-day war that Moscow saw as a justified response to a military threat in its backyard and the West viewed as a repeat of Soviet-style intervention in its vassal states.
“This is not an easy choice but this is the only chance to save people’s lives,” Medvedev said Tuesday in a televised address a day after Russia’s Kremlin-controlled parliament voted unanimously to support the diplomatic recognition.
It’s getting rather difficult to figure out which side has the story straight. Russia blames Georgia for their actions. Georgia blames Russia. My head is spinning. I THINK it’s a power grab by Russia, at least that’s the way it looks from the outside.
Tennessee’s Clinton delegates may not be able to switch to Obama
If Hillary Clinton decides to release her delegates to vote for Barack Obama, some may be legally bound to vote for her anyway at the Democratic National Convention.
Bill Owen, a DNC committee member and former state senator from Knoxville, said Tennessee law requires that a person designated as a pledged delegate follow through by voting for his or her candidate on the first ballot.
But Bruce Shine, a Kingsport, Tenn., attorney who has been nominated for a seat on the Tennessee Supreme Court, said he does not believe the Tennessee law could be enforced against delegates in Colorado. Nonetheless, Shine said, he feels “duty bound and honor bound” to vote for Clinton because he was chosen as one of her pledged delegates.
“You could say that Tennessee state law doesn’t apply in Colorado, but my honor does,” Shine said.
Well, I guess honor should come before politics, but such a thing sure is getting hard to find. I’m kind of impressed. 
Official: Man wasn’t a ‘credible threat’ to Obama
“We’re absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention, or the people of Colorado,” Eid said in a statement.
FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright confirmed the FBI was investigating reports the man had threatened Obama, who will be in Denver this week to accept the Democratic nomination for president. The Joint Information Center – a command set up by city, state and federal authorities to field media inquiries during the Democratic convention – said it had no immediate comment.
This kind of crap seriously chaps my hide! I don’t care what your politics are, you don’t threaten the life of a candidate for anything…not even dog catcher. You can disagree! You can rant, rave, and act like a total fool, but you don’t threaten lives, and attempt to carry out such threats. Jackasses!
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“Illegals? Working with medical equipment, and electronic stuff? I have a problem! BIG problem.”
These are the people that put all the little screws in place. They do jobs that Americans do not want or are too lazy to do. Let’s deal just as much with the American citizens who sit on their duff and collect $$ from the various government programs – I know several – who think unemployment and disability at the age of 25 is their right. No, your right is the right to work.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
The immigration laws of our country and the restrictions placed on obtaining entry visas are completely against the Word of God.
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 22:21
…this is just one example; there are many.
While I acknowledge the lawlessness of those who enter illegally or overstay a visa, the real problem is with the laws themselves. They are very restrictive and biased.
While over 65% of the population of Paraguay lives below the poverty level, the US government requires that you show the title deed to a home in Paraguay in order to enter the US for a 2 week visit. Can you show a title deed to your home? If so, how long did it take you to get that deed?
You also must show bank accounts with balances of 3000.00 or more before they will even consider your application. That’s just for a visit. A work visa has even more hoops to jump through.
Most people who want to come and work in a MaryKay factory putting your lipstick into its twist up container have NO job availability in their own country and only want to work to support their family – no not their many children – usually their parents and siblings.
Meanwhile with so many jobs available to Americans, they sit on their couches waiting for the check to come, and then pay the cable bill so they can watch more of Jerry and Oprama.
I love your posts Ol’ Broad. I am hooked on your blog. However, many of us on the right do NOT know the facts on immigration law ans its outright bias. I would love to see some more research done on it.
Maybe I’ll just write that book after all…
@Pastor John:
They do jobs that Americans do not want or are too lazy to do.
I am going to take issue with that statement. It’s getting worn out! Yes, there are a lot of lazy people in this country, thanks to failed welfare policies. I happen to be one of those people who use to do those so called jobs Americans wouldn’t do, or was too lazy. I cleaned houses, scrubbed floors and toilets. I put little screws into holes, I stood on my feet in a factory bending metal sheets. I dealt with idiots at fast food joints. I worked on a road construction crew, in the heat of summer in Alabama! I do NOT want to hear jack about Americans who won’t work! We DO work! The illegals have come in, aided by companies too cheap to pay a decent wage, and unions who have priced most companies out of business.
I agree, there are laws that need to be looked at, fixed, and updated. How can we? We are overrun by people sneaking in the back door, we don’t have room for those we’d welcome through the front! Our resources are being stretched to the limit by feckless politicians who are totally clueless at how much said ILLEGALS are costing us. Healthcare? We can’t afford to provide it for OUR citizens because hospitals have to shut their doors. They don’t have the money anymore.
I don’t want to oppress any stranger. I will, however, shoot the SOB who breaks into my home. I have the right to defend myself, and my family from invaders. Even Paul knew it was a good idea not to stick around where he wasn’t invited.
I’m am very PRO LEGAL IMMIGRATION! That should be a priority. LEGAL!
Absolutely.
Legalize immigration and you would not have any illegals. Hmm.
Thank you for all your hard work.
We own a cleaning service. We start at 9.00/hour. Most of our employees make more than 10.00/hour. I have never had an American answer an ad for work. The American citizens that have worked for us we found through word of mouth in churches because they have asked their pastor to help them get work – and they always left because the work is too hard.
Your generation was different.
As a pastor in a city, I can tell you one thing: I could make a home visit to 100 Americans in this city during the day. If I wanted to visit an immigrant, I would have to wait until they got home from work!
PS – I’ll let you know when the book is done.
@Pastor John:
Would it surprise to you know I’m of the 60s generation? No, I’m not 60….yet! LOL
As I said previously, we have a system that has turned people into mooches. No longer do we teach our children work ethics. Shoot, we don’t teach them ethics at all! The education system has turned them all into mind numbed robots, spouting the “party line”. We’ve removed God from our midst and wonder why there is so much evil.
We need to resolve to end the welfare state! That includes social security for the masses, medicaid, medicare, etc. People need to start relying on themselves, instead of the gubmint! Earn, save, invest in their own future. The “greatest generation” turned us into a bunch of whining, mealy mouth wusses! Why? Because they didn’t want us to suffer and sacrifice so much, as they did. They thought they were doing us a favor. sigh….
Ok, off that rant. Dang! I’m in quite a mood today, aren’t I!
Yes, LEGAL immigration. Like what both sets of my adoptive grandparents did …..Ellis Island, the whole bit! Started farming, grew food, opened a grocery store, etc. LEARNED the language. Assimilated! Those are immigrants! Their children and grandchildren, and great granchildren are Americans. Not Lebanese-Americans, or German-Americans. United States of American AMERICANS. They are doctors, and lawyers, and even a politician thrown in from time to time. They served their country in time of need, and some even died in said service.
Yikes. Off an a tangent again.
@Pastor John:
And I’ll look forward to reading it!
Our children are homeschooled. We make sure they have ethics and morals.
When you ask my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up, she says Secretary of State.
All is not lost.
@Pastor John:
Oooo….. I am a BIG advocate for home schooling!!!! For the 6 months my oldest granddaughter lived with us, she was most definitely home schooled. That’s another story. Need some books? Got some for sale! LOL 10th grade level!
I believe if we could put education back in the parents hands, we’d have a lot of kids like your daughter wanting to be something more than a welfare recipient. grrrrrr
They do jobs that Americans do not want or are too lazy to do.
I think that should be “jobs Americans don’t have to do because the government will feed and house them whether they work or not.” When your basic needs are met, why work?
Just FYI:
I had my sister, my dad, my husband’s uncle, 2 of his friends came here to visit. They received visa for 10 years!!! Never were they asked for $3000, deed of any house and so on. So I don’t know where you got that info.
I have a cleaning co. also. I hired legal immigrants, most from the country I came from. Do you think they wanted to work? NO, because they were white collar workers back, and it was too low to clean. But I can bet that the illegal immigrants do jobs Americans won’t do because they are… ILLEGAL. Once they get the rights to stay, you won’t see them in construction or picking salads either.
@cristina:
Ya ever get the impression that there are too many folks who think they should start at the top?
Many of the ‘jobs Americans won’t do’ are entry level type jobs. Flipping burgers shouldn’t be a lifetime goal, yet a lot of folks act like it is, and should be paid accordingly. Criminy! Picking ’salad’….? Love that term. LOL I don’t suppose it has ever occured to any one that if ya get the FFA (Future Farmers of America) involved, the high school kids, they’d be learning a LOT about farming. Yeah, we need folks to pick our salads…how ’bout LEGALS? Some kind of legal immigration program, English classes, rules, laws, the whole kit and kaboodle. Earning citizenship….IF they want it. If not, they can go home.
Honestly, it shouldn’t be so difficult to come up with something that will help us, help those who want to immigrate…LEGALLY, and help the economy. But dang! When ya got 20 million buzzards trying to pick over our carcass, I get mad!
And cristina, YOU are a wonder!