Carolina Politics Online

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum won the straw poll vote at this event and with it comes the endorsement of the Asheville Tea PAC. Eichenbaum is running in the 11th Congressional District to get the Republican nomination and the opportunity to unseat Congressman Heath Shuler (D) in November.

Regarding the video, who ever edited it duplicated the first minute and forty seconds, so you can save yourself some time and just skip right to 1:40 and start listening there.

A judge who ordered Yadkin County commissioners to appear in court Friday to explain why the county hasn’t built a new jail canceled the hearing Tuesday, a day after the commissioners agreed to move forward with plans to build the jail.

The resolution, approved 3-1 on Monday, said the county plans to contract with a Charlotte firm to build the jail “without delay on the board’s part.”

Superior Court Judge John Craig III declined to comment to Carolina Journal. He had told county commissioners in November that he could fine them, remove them from office, or jail them until they agreed “to properly carry out the duties of their office and get the jail project underway without further delay” on a site about four miles from the county courthouse.

The Carolina Journal

What the hell is it with these N.C. judges? Last year, a judge in Wake County ordered a mother to stop home-schooling her children and undergo a psychiatric evaluation because he thought her church was weird.

Now we have a man who thinks his gavel is a crown and his bench is a throne. How else could he threaten the duly-elected legislature of a county with jail time if they don’t so what he says?

But Celtic, you say, that jail neeeeeded to be built. He was only making the commission do what it had to do.

Bullshit. It sounded like that jail needed to be built. But a judge cannot threaten a sitting elected body with deprivement of liberty in order to get his way. What if, instead of  a jail, he decided that taxes needed to be raised and threatened the commission with jail unless they complied? Would that be OK?

Voters elect the county commission to make these decisions- NOT judges. A judge bullying and threatening an elected body to get his way is a threat to freedom and to the republic.

Yadkin County resident Larry Long said he has filed a complaint with the state Judicial Standards Commission about Craig. The commission wouldn’t confirm that a complaint had been filed.

“He does not have this authority the way I look at it,” Long said. “If he has this authority, every county in this state is in trouble. I think he stepped way out of line with what he can do.”

Bob Orr, the executive director of the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law, said such actions by a judge usually would be prompted by a lawsuit filed by someone challenging the conditions of a jail.

“It’s pretty unusual where the judge unilaterally starts driving the commission,” said Orr, who is also a former state Supreme Court justice. “[This] may be OK, but I don’t know.”

Mr. Long is right. If what this mini-tyrant of a judge did is OK, we are all in trouble.

There was a bit of suspense in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday morning about whether newly-elected city council member Cecil Bothwell should or would be sworn into office. Bothwell, who was elected last month, is an atheist. The North Carolina constitution still bars atheists from holding elected office.

“I’m not saying that Cecil Bothwell is not a good man, but if he’s an atheist, he’s not eligible to serve in public office, according to the state constitution,” said H.K. Edgerton, a former Asheville NAACP president told the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Article 6, section 8 of the North Carolina constitution states: “The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”

The Washington Post

These threats against Bothwell are completely unacceptable.  This is precisely what the Establishment Clause was placed in the Constitution to prevent.  Neither the Federal nor any state government has the legal authority to apply a religious litmus test to any public office holder.  In a free society we do not bully other people based on their religious beliefs or lack thereof.

Article VI Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution reads: ” The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

That’s pretty cut and dry and trumps whatever language still survives in the North Carolina State Constitution.  Mr. Edgerton certainly has the right to be upset about Councilman Bothwell’s beliefs, but he does not have the right to have him expelled from office based on those beliefs.  That’s an issue to be settled in the future between Bothwell and God.

Heath Shuler (D-NC-11) may be in serious reelection trouble next year for a couple of reasons.  For one, he’s a Democrat representing a district that voted for both John McCain and George Bush and was held by a Republican representative for 12 years prior to Shuler winning the office.  The country has been slowly moving away from Obama and the Democrats after witnessing their destructive policies and radical actions and Republicans are sure to benefit from that growing disdain.  That will work against him right there, but what might put the final nail in his political coffin could be the land deal and his involvement with the decisions made by the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Basically, Shuler lied.

Shuler’s office points out that he has been cleared of wrongdoing in the case by the House ethics committee, federal authorities and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) inspector general. But a report released by that inspector general this week indicates he wasn’t truthful about the matter with the local press.

The report from the inspector general states that, contrary to Shuler’s claims, he contacted TVA CEO Tom Kilgore while the land swap was in progress. Shuler has told the local press that there had been no contact between him and the TVA, according to reports.

“Specifically, if all of this was above board, why did TVA and Shuler feel compelled to tell the media that there was no contact between the congressman and TVA in relation to the Maintain and Gain application?” the report said. “There obviously was.”

The Hill

That was a pretty important detail for Shuler to divulge and yet for some reason it “slipped his mind.”  You don’t forget important details like that in an ethics investigation and you don’t lie about it if you truly believe you have done nothing wrong.  I simply cannot come to any other logical conclusion.  The man had guilt on his mind.  What other reason could there possibly be for his actions?

The RNC is going to beat this to death next year.  If you live in the 11th District you are going to see ad after ad after ad about this land deal.  The RNC will most certainly work to find a top tier candidate, but even a mediocre one may be able to take Shuler out next year as there may be people who will vote Republican as a vote against Shuler more than a vote in support of the GOP candidate.  Either way, I don’t think Pete Sessions will particularly mind what their motivation is.  They’ve wanted this seat back since they lost it in aught six. ( I could have typed ‘06, but I have really been looking for a reason all week to use the word aught.)

This is incredible.

To all who would cast U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as political villain, Heath Shuler had this to say: “She’s the most misunderstood person in Washington.”

Along with questions about health care reform and cap-and-trade legislation, students wanted to know what Pelosi is like as a person.

“She’s very misunderstood,” the congressman said. “She’s a devout Catholic. Don’t get in a Bible discussion with her.”

Asheville-Citizen Times

Wow.  Don’t even start on the whole “devout Catholic” thing.  I am Catholic, while not a practicing one, I was raised in a Catholic home with a Catholic mother and I know that one of the biggest tenets of Catholicism is the respect of life, including that of the unborn.  Abortion is the anathema of the Catholic church and Pelosi is a huge supporter of abortion on demand.  As a Libertarian, I am not completely on board with outlawing abortion even though I consider myself pro-life, but I also would not be described as a devout Catholic.  No devout Catholic politician would protect the right to an abortion.

But that aside, Pelosi may be a Bible “scholar,” but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t the lying, corrupt, sleazy politician that she is.  The woman is manipulative and conniving and she is an extremist left wing socialist by all comparisons.  She is steering this country into a head on collision with disaster and her actions are going to destroy the lives of millions of Americans if her agenda is not stopped.

It’s rather striking to me that Shuler would take the time to even have this discussion.  I mean, I don’t expect him to trash her or say anything negative, but that also doesn’t mean he should be painting her like she is the sugar plum fairy either.  His words tell me very clearly that in the next Congress he will be prepared to reelect her as Speaker.  We can’t have that.  We cannot have the extremist fringe running this country.

I supported Shuler’s reelection last year, but next year I don’t think I can.  He did well his first term, but since he’s survived his first reelection he’s started to slip.

Queen Pelosi has set a vote for this Saturday, November 7th for the $1.05 trillion tyrannical health care bill they have pieced together in the House. The Democrats hold 258 House seats; 218 aye votes are needed to pass, which means 41 Democrats need to defect from their party in order to stop this, assuming no Republicans vote for it and I don’t think any will. That might sound like a tall order, but it may not be. The Blue Dog Democrats as well as other more moderate Democrats representing Republican districts are considerably nervous after Tuesday night’s election wins for the GOP in Virginia and New Jersey, so there will be considerable resistance to this bill, mainly on the grounds that it is too expensive.

This can be stopped, but the public has to take action. If your Congressman is a member of the Blue Dog coalition absolutely call their offices and tell them to oppose this bill.  In North Carolina we have two Blue Dog Democrats, Congressman Heath Shuler (NC-11) and Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC-07).

If your Congressman isn’t a member of the Blue Dogs, but still represents a moderate or Republican leaning district, like my Congressman, call them too. They are just as vulnerable to an angry public.  I would recommend contacting Congressmen Bob Etheridge (NC-02), Larry Kissell (NC-08),  and John Spratt (SC-05).  And even if you have an out of touch far left kook “representing” you in Congress, it doesn’t hurt to call them either. You might be surprised. And call the Republicans too, just to be sure.

If you don’t want to be thrown in jail for not buying a government approved health care plan, then you had better take some action. If you don’t you only have yourself to blame when intrusive government comes barreling down on you and your family.

It would appear as if Shuler’s land shenanigans have caught the eye of the House Ethics Committee.

Before he was elected to Congress in 2006, Shuler invested in a real estate development called the Cove at Blackberry Ridge near Knoxville. The investment is worth from $5 million to $25 million, according to his financial disclosure reports. In August 2008, the News-Sentinel reported that the TVA gave the Cove waterfront rights to build a boat dock in exchange for other land the real estate venture owned. The swap was made while Shuler sat on a House transportation subcommittee that oversaw the operations of the TVA, an entity chartered by Congress to manage the Tennessee Valley and its resources.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the TVA released redacted pages of a companion inspector general’s report that said the inspector general had determined that the “employee denied knowing Congressman Shuler held an ownership in Blackberry despite evidence [that the employee] was fully aware of his ownership status.”

The TVA declined to identify the employee or provide any more details about the employee’s knowledge of what took place in negotiations over the waterfront parcel, stating that the information was being withheld to “protect personal privacy, witness statements and the deliberative process,” the News-Sentinel reported.

The inspector general’s office forwarded its report to the ethics committee in Washington.

The Washington Post

So the employee who had a hand in negotiating this land swap on behalf of the TVA said he had no idea Shuler had an investment in the property, but then we find out, oops, yes he did.  So was this a special favor to Shuler and if so, what did the employee get out of all of it?  I imagine these are the questions the Ethics Committee will be looking for answers on in coming weeks.

In the Asheville City Council race this coming Tuesday, several candidates are competing, but only three can be elected to the At-Large seats.  I have gone over the platforms and statements of each candidate and have narrowed down the three that I would vote for if I live in Asheville.  You can call these endorsements if you like; I prefer to call them my recommendations.  Endorsements come from important people and institutions and I am but a humble blog administrator.  In no particular order, my choices are as follows:

Ryan Croft

Mr. Croft is big on the budget and while it may not be the most sexy issue out there, it should be one of the top discussions in everyone’s mind.  We are a country drowning in debt.  Our Federal government has accumulated a national debt of over $11 trillion with an almost $2 trillion budget deficit for just this fiscal year.  Our Congressional leaders are driving us into bankruptcy.  The Asheville City Council may not have any influence over the carelessness of the Federal government, but they can keep their own fiscal house in order.  Croft is committed to fighting for a balanced budget and rooting out waste and unnecessary government spending to get there, not raising taxes.  Croft seems to understand that in tough economic times, tough decisions must be made and he doesn’t appear frightened to make those calls.

J. Neal Jackson

Mr. Jackson is the owner of Eagle Supermarket in downtown Asheville.  Who better to know what a growing business needs than someone who possesses the experience of owning and operating his very own business in the city?  Additionally, Jackson has a strong educational background with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Entrepreneurship.  You can’t ask for better credentials in a city leader.  Jackson shares Croft’s fiscal sanity and is committed to pushing the city towards employing local companies for city infrastructure needs.  That’s just good sense.  The local government should use its local businesses and give back to the people of the community.

Esther Manheimer

I choose Ms Manheimer because she has a strong focus on improving the overall quality of life in Asheville.  It takes more than lower taxes to build a strong community, but a combination of affordability, efficient services, and environmental aesthetics.  Manheimer is a backer of reducing pollution and expanding public greenways and transportation.  All of these factors are important features that enhance the quality of life for all residents in a city and serve as incentives to attract more people to the community.  She also is an advocate of a strong business climate and supporting new and existing entrepreneurs in the city.  I think she has the right balance with the issues.

I think these three candidates would bring a nice equilibrium to the council.  We have a bit of the right, a little on the left, and some consensuses right in the middle that everyone can agree on.  I feel it’s important that all views get represented on the issues in order to generate the brightest ideas and solutions possible for the city.

ASHEVILLE — From budgets to bike lanes to combating drug dealing, priorities listed by City Council candidates covered a wide range as their campaigns hit the final stretch.

Though candidates listed few common top priorities, both Smith and Manheimer mentioned transportation, with Smith talking about affordable housing, but also the need for “a multi-modal transportation system.”

Manheimer said it was “incumbent upon the council” to carry out master plans, one of which was for greenways. Bellamy also pointed to master plans for downtown, transit and the water system.

“The one thing I would say is, ‘finish,” the mayor said.

Croft said the major need was infrastructure, saying he didn’t like “the way we manage our maintenance, upgrading and building projects.”

One candidate, Jackson, pointed to declining revenues and increasing costs, saying the priority was “getting this budget back under control.”

Mumpower stuck by a regular theme of his, saying hard drug dealing in the city “remains under the radar” and he would continue to fight it.

Bothwell said he would try to get publicly financed elections to fight the influence of “big money in Asheville city races.

Smith said he wanted to encourage housing built for people making 30-140 percent of median income.

Cape said downtown development should be encouraged on Coxe Avenue, where a lower elevation could better accommodate taller buildings.

Asheville Citizen Times

So here they are.  Six hopefuls ready to forge their legacy upon the City of Asheville.  Let’s pick them apart.

Esther Manheimer – On her candidate Web site she states the following:

This diverse group illustrates Esther’s broad backing and highlights her ability to work with all of our citizens to move our community forward on important issues such as economic and community development; multi-model transportation; sustainable, affordable tax rates; repairing critical public infrastructure; and fostering a business climate that grows quality jobs.

That’s a good agenda.  I like that agenda, which is why I am somewhat baffled she would choose to focus on greenways as a priority.  With a down economy vivacious vegetarian and grassy knolls are going to be the furthest things from peoples’ minds as they walk into the voting booth.  A growing business climate and affordable tax rates would have been a much more obvious choice here, but then again, I wasn’t at the forum and can only rely on the reporting.  Perhaps all is not as it seems.

Neal Jackson wants to focus on the budget and that is again a wise and responsible goal.  We don’t want our cities to end up with like the Feds now, do we.

Ryan Croft – Focus on the infrastructure.  I am always amazed that cities haven’t learned from the business world when it comes to maintaining infrastructure.  In corporate America we use something called the Systems Development Life Cycle, a method of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, primarily technology, to keep it up to ever improving business standards.  You allocate money yearly for this purpose.  You’d think cities around America would do the same for their sewer systems, buildings, etc.  Ever been to Detroit?  If you are ever unfortunate enough to drop in someday, take a walk downtown and look at all the old buildings with the cracks going up the side and bathrooms that haven’t been remodeled since 1955.  It’s a real treat.

Carl Mumpower – You’ll remember Mr. Mumpower from his unsuccessful bid to unseat Heath Shuler last year.  Personally, I think Mumpower is a bit off his rocker, but he has been arguably the most responsible councilman with the peoples’ tax dollars, so I give him a thumbs up for that.

Cecil Bothwell – Ah yes, publicly financed elections, or better yet known as the incumbent protection campaign.  Oh please, forcibly extract my wealth from me through the bondage of taxation and hand it out to all of the political whores who want to exploit public service for their own personal gain.  Don’t allow me to make the choice of who to give my money to.  Not to mention, that with every candidate getting equal financing, challengers to incumbents end up with a grave disadvantage.  Incumbents already have name recognition which is usually to their favor unless they’re a complete douche bag.  In most cases the only way a challenger can compete with that is to raise enough money to buy the media necessary to get their own name out there.  By denying that ability, you are only securing another term for the power entrenched incumbent.  Mr. Bothwell, you get a thumbs down.  And piss off.

Gordon Smith – Gordon administrates the Web site Scrutiny Hooligans.  I am not crazy about what is otherwise known as affordable housing, but Smith is smart enough to focus on an issue that will likely resonate with folks during bad economic times.

Robin Cape – Lower elevation to build taller buildings.  That’s the best she could come up with?  No wonder she couldn’t make it on the ballot.

So there you go.  If you live in Asheville here are your choices.  Vote wisely, although I’m not holding my breath.

Hendersonville mayor Greg Newman (R) has said that he will run for congress against Rep. Heath Shuler (D) in N.C.’s western-most house seat. Newman was elected mayor in 2005, and before that he was a local lawyer and prosecutor.

“What I think I’m going to have to do to be successful is make myself available in the district and get outside Hendersonville and Henderson County, and really connect with people with both parties,” said Newman, 47.
“I’m just going to have to go out and do what I’ve done as a lawyer for 20 years — get out there and make my case,” Newman said.

The Ashville Citizen-Times

Anyone challenging Shuler has a tough road ahead of them. But if Shuler is going to lose, this is probably the year. Shuler has done a very good job of appearing to be a moderate voice, but 2010 will be the most opportune time to tie him to Queen Nancy and her happy band of goofballs up in D.C.

Attorney Ed Krause has also entered the race as a Republican, but with considerably less fanfare than Newman. Other candidates being mentioned are Western Carolina University Professor Daniel Ostergaard, former state Rep. Charles Thomas, and 2008 candidate Carl Mumpower.  Dr. Dan Eichenbuam of the Ron Paul-ite wing of the party might jump in too.

State Alcohol Law Enforcement agents seized 929 gallons of moonshine Wednesday and arrested a Wilkesboro man, authorities said Friday.

“This is one of the biggest seizures of white liquor I’ve seen come out of the mountains in my career,” ALE Director John Ledford said in statement.

WRAL

Damn, so much for that trip to Wilkesboro I was planning next weekend.

Tamera Frank, a Yancey County social worker has announced her intentions to run against State Senator Joe Sam Queen (D-Waynesville).  Yancey is running on a platform of limited government, free speech, and gun rights.  She has stated that her time serving on the Yancey County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has given her the opportunity to openly fight corruption.  I believe the 47th District is one of the ones in which the Republicans have a special interest in their quest of trying to take over the State Senate next year.

A TVA employee falsely told the agency’s inspector general that U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler had not contacted TVA about a lakefront development permit, an internal report released Tuesday said.

The employee “denied knowing Shuler held an ownership in Blackberry despite evidence he was fully aware of the ownership status,” says a report released Monday by Tennessee Valley Authority. The employee also “denied Congressman Shuler had contacted TVA about Blackberry’s (dock) application. However, an internal e-mail shows (the employee) knew or should have known otherwise.”

The Cove at Blackberry Ridge, in Roane County, Tenn., is on a lake controlled by the TVA. Under the regulatory agency’s maintain-and-gain program, developers could get waterfront access provided they swapped waterfront land elsewhere that could be protected from development.

Shuler, who invested in the Blackberry development before he was elected to Congress in 2006, later was appointed to the House Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resource and the Environment, which has oversight of the TVA.

The IG’s report for the first time says that Shuler had at least some contact with the agency about a lakefront marina permit application submitted by a company that he partly owned.

Times-News

So Shuler said there was no contact between him and the TVA, but now the Inspector General’s report says there was.  What reason would the employee have to lie about it if there wasn’t some kind of malfeasance going on behind the scenes?  So far the circumstantial evidence here isn’t looking very good for Shuler.  He invested in this land development and then after getting elected to Congress chaired the sub-committee that regulates the TVA which has jurisdiction over the water rights that the Shuler’s development sits on.  That presents a clear conflict of interest in of itself. Shuler claims he has kept his name out of any dealings with the TVA, but that is obviously not the case if a TVA employee just got caught lying based on a statement confirming what Shuler said.

“We are asking for their license, registration and proof of insurance,” Mitchell said. “Then as we are getting the driver’s information, we look to see if there are any signs of impairment.”

K-9 units were used to search vehicles suspected of carrying drugs.

Along with local authorities, which included the Hendersonville Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Fletcher Police Department and N.C. Highway Patrol, just across the state line were the Traveler’s Rest Police Department, S.C. Highway Patrol, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and other South Carolina agencies.

Hands Across the Border is a six-day event in multiple states that leads into Labor Day weekend. This is the only planned event in Western North Carolina. There will be other checkpoints throughout the six days in other cities and states. The goal is to promote public awareness and reduce injuries and fatalities on local highways, according to Henderson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Charlie McDonald.

Times-News

Yeah, it’s for “safety.”  LOL.  Let’s just be honest and call this what it really is…. a fund raiser for the State of North Carolina.

What do you get when your name is Heath Shuler and you invest in a waterside land development, run for Congress a year later, chair the subcommittee that regulates the authority that regulates the water along said waterside land development, and fellow investors profiting off of preferential treatment received by dropping your name around?

A nice big scandal in the making.

Before he ran for Congress in 2006, Shuler invested in the Cove at Blackberry Ridge, a high-end development on the shores of a lake controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Because part of its charge is to protect marine shoreline, the TVA allows water access only if the applicant is willing to swap undeveloped shoreline land somewhere else, ensuring no net loss of unspoiled land. After Shuler became a sitting congressman and chair of a congressional subcommittee with TVA oversight, the TVA inspector general initiated an investigation into the Blackberry Ridge application and the regulators’ handling of it.

The inspector general found that an “appearance of preferential treatment was exacerbated by (Blackberry Ridge) representatives dropping Shuler’s name with TVA employees.” The IG “found no evidence, however, that either Shuler or his representatives used Shuler’s position as a United States congressman to pressure TVA to grant Blackberry water access.”

We have expressed in these columns before our view that Shuler’s Blackberry Ridge ownership presents an irreconcilable conflict with his service on a committee with power to regulate the TVA. He has insisted that he had no contact with TVA about the application, and has taken no active role in the development.

The problem he faces now rises from an almost passing reference in the IG’s report: “The second report [not released] contains matters that are being referred to the House Ethics Committee.” This secret report has become, as one might expect, fodder for the Republican Party to raise questions. That they are born of partisanship does not invalidate them. What are these matters that merit review by the Ethics Committee?

Several news organizations, including the Times-News, have attempted to gain access to the report. The TVA has rebuffed our efforts.

Shuler’s office has always treated the Blackberry Ridge issue as an arcane matter of narrow interest to the Times-News editorial board and a few others. But only Shuler can put questions to rest — by making sure the full TVA report is released.

We don’t even know for sure that there is a House Ethics investigation but if there is one, Shuler should waive confidentiality and insist that it be released. By his own description, he has done nothing wrong; there’s no story here; everyone move along.

If that’s true, then he takes no risk in demanding that the Ethics Committee release its report on the TVA deal. The alternative, waiting for the report to become public, only makes it look as if he has something to hide.

The Times-News

The Asheville Citizens-Times notes a turn out of 250 people at the Asheville rally, far less than the number of people showing up at town halls opposed to government run health care.

“We want to make people aware of the myths that are out there,” said John Hayes, president of the local chapter of the NAACP.

One of those myths is that reform won’t help average Americans, he said.

On the contrary, a bill proposed in the U.S. House would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, place caps on charges for out-of-pocket expenses and prohibit the dropping of coverage for those who become seriously ill, Hayes said.

There is an upside and downside to that proposal.  If insurance companies are required to take anybody and cannot deny them for any reason plus be forced to cap out of pocket expenses on the insured, this is going to raise the cost of premiums for everybody that already has insurance today.  This is a “catch 22.”  On one hand a lot more people will be covered, but on the other hand everyone’s health insurance gets more expensive and the cost is the main issue people have.

He said another myth is that reform would result in people being forced to change insurance companies or doctors. “This is simply not true,” he said. “Nobody wants to change the elements of the current system that are working.”

Mr. Hayes needs to read H.R. 3200.  We’ve been back and forth on this topic right here on this Web site with people on both sides of the issue.  The way I and many others read the grandfather clause is that beginning in 2013 anybody without current insurance can only get it through the government run health care exchange.  If you change jobs, same thing.  If your plan were to be altered, same result, and in five years everyone has to be moved to it anyway.  Other people say that’s not true.  I stick to my view on this.  Who the hell knows who is really right anymore considering the convoluted language on every page of that 1,000 plus page bill?

Furthermore, the requirement for companies to cover their employees or pay a fine to the government every year if they don’t could very well move a lot of companies to dump their employee coverage and force them on to the public plan because it would be cheaper for the company to pay the fine.

Those who fear health reform would result in the rationing of care should realize that’s already being done by insurance companies, Boyd said.

No, it isn’t.  An insurance company denying someone care because it is too costly is not rationing.  This is a manipulation of the word that supporters of ObamaCare are using to try and trick people.  Rationing is defined as the controlled distribution of a scare good or service.  Britain and Canada ration health care because they don’t have enough health care providers and don’t have enough medical supplies and medications and that is because they are running the system.

Dr. Lewis Patrie, a retired physician, said one reason the cost of health care is skyrocketing is lack of a publicly funded insurance option like Medicare that’s available to all.

The reason health care cost is rising is because there are no free market forces bringing the costs down.  Around 85% of Americans have insurance and they are only paying  a copay which is a fraction of the real cost.  Then you have all the government regulation at both the Federal and state levels.  There are the lawsuits and another factor that you don’t always hear about is the advancement of technology.  Medical technology is getting better every day and well, it’s expensive.  It’s going to cost more, but as time goes on as with all new technologies it will get cheaper.

The government started all of this mess and it just amazes me how many people run to them to fix it.

Another one down.  Keep up the pressure!

ASHEVILLE — U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler on Thursday reiterated his stance that every American deserves health care coverage of some sort, but he stressed repeatedly that he won’t vote for the health care reform bill currently in the House of Representatives.

Shuler, D-Waynesville, fielded questions from callers for 90 minutes on a local radio talk show, “Take a Stand,” with host Matt Mittan. The congressman repeated several themes: Any health care reform must not add to the deficit, the country needs to focus on wellness programs and prevention, and the health system needs to be overhauled before adding 46 million uninsured Americans.

“It would be easier to start over,” Shuler told the audience of 570 AM, emphasizing the need for sweeping reform. “Reform has to happen. We have to reform health care. We have to make sure that people with pre-existing conditions are covered.”

A member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Caucus, Shuler said his group has pushed to lower the cost of plans under discussion and will continue to do so. The caucus will play a key role in passage of any reform.

Asheville Citizen-Times

Lower cost plans are exactly the way to go, although I don’t know precisely what it is Shuler and the Blue Dogs have in mind.  No taxpayer dollars should enter into factor, period.  Any plan that does that should be rejected.  I also agree with Shuler that every American deserves health coverage and that is what is so great about this country.  Every American has the opportunity to get it if they work for it.  It shouldn’t just be handed out.

Asked if people have a right to health care, Shuler replied, “To certain populations I think it’s a right

No, it isn’t.  It’s a service.  And we don’t have rights in this country to just “certain populations.”  I’m sure that isn’t the way he meant to phrase it.

Rallies for the pro-ObamaCare crowd will be held around North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina this Saturday.  Details below:

About 100 members of the grassroots group that opposes government spending and regulation gathered outside Shuler’s office on Saturday to hold their own live, town hall meeting.

The meeting was part of a series of “Recess Rallys” being held nationwide by Tea Party groups in opposition to the current health care reform legislation. “He (Shuler) and a lot of other congressmen held town hall meetings over the telephone and that really isn’t a town hall meeting,” said Gary Shoemaker, who helped organize the event. “We wanted to have the real thing.”

Shuler was invited to the meeting, but did not attend. Shuler’s spokesman Doug Abrahms said the congressman “had other items on his calendar today,” but that he has met with members of the Tea Party recently and is aware of their opposition to the bill.

Abrahms said along with the telephone town hall meetings, Shuler has also been on radio, television and at other venues voicing his own opposition to the current legislation. “I think his view is and has been that the tele-town conference is a more productive way to reach more people in the district,” Abrahms said. “It stops a lot of political grandstanding that you see at public town hall meetings.”

Asheville Citizen-Times

Abrahms does have a valid point.  A telephone town hall allows Shuler to get all of his points across to his audience without being disrupted and shouted down.  However, it also gives him too much control over the venue and does not allow the public’s voice to be adequately heard.  Personally, I think these tele-town halls are a cop out because the Congress is afraid to face the people they work for.