This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: “The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves”

  • More “ObamaCare” News

    Well, we have some more news about that       Plainly Pathetic Abominable Collection of Asininity       Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, AKA “ObamaCare”.  And as is usual, the news isn’t all that good for the US taxpayer.

    First, here’s an Item I apparently overlooked previously.  Remember those “non-profit cooperatives” that were supposed to provide much of ObamaCare’s insurance coverage?  Remember that as of last October, nearly half of them had folded?

    Well, about a month ago more info was released about just how badly those cooperatives did, financially, in 2014 and 2015.  (Short version:  they lost their butts.)

    By March, the number of failed cooperatives was up to 12.  These cooperatives lost $376 million in 2014.  In 2015, their losses are estimated at $1 billion.  And they apparently still owe hospitals and doctors around $1 billion as well.

    The “rest of the story”?  Well, the Federal government apparently loaned cooperatives around $2.4 billion collectively at start-up.  The 12 failed cooperatives apparently still haven’t repaid $1.2 billion that the Federal government loaned them.

    Gee.  That means one of two things will happen.  Either we the taxpayer will eat the cost of those loans –  or their parent firms will raise future premiums to cover losses as well as repaying them.  Which means that you and I will pay for them through increased premiums in the future.

    Wonderful.  Just freaking wonderful.

    In fact, it appears that the higher premiums may take effect later this year.  The new 2017 “ObamaCare” premiums are expected on 1 November.  Premiums announced in November (for next year) are expected to show rather marked increases over last year’s ObamaCare exchange premiums.

    How much?  Well, I’m not sure – but last year, premiums were up an average of “only” 8% or so, and the current       gang of fools in DC who foisted this idiocy on the American public         Administration touted that fact as “good news”.  I’m not really sure why, though – in contrast, CPI inflation for 2015 was 0.1%.  (Yes, that is a zero to the left of the decimal point.)

    Gee – losing money out the wazoo, billions in outstanding debts and loans, and substantial future price increases virtually guaranteed.  What’s not to like?  (smile)

    Sheesh.  We need to kill this idiotic mistake of a law posthaste.  Then burn its corpse until its ash, mix the ashes with quicklime and water, and dump the resulting slurry down an abandoned mine shaft.  Then dynamite the mine shaft so it collapses.

  • No “Boots on the Ground”, Mr. President? Yeah. Right.

    As Jonn noted yesterday, we’ve lost another one in Iraq.  This brings to 3 the number of US troops lost during combat operations against Daesh.

    The SEAL (initial reports were that he was a soldier) who was KIA was acting as an advisor to Kurdish Peshmerga at the time.  He was killed by direct fire in an engagement that occurred after Daesh forces penetrated Pesmerga lines.

    But don’t worry.  The POTUS has repeatedly told us we won’t have any “boots on the ground” or “combat troops”  in Iraq or Syria.

    Yeah, right.  Being killed while serving as an advisor to Peshmerga ground forces certainly sounds like “boots on the ground” to me.  And getting killed by direct-fire during a ground engagement also sounds one helluva lot like ground combat, too.

    But rest assured – those aren’t “combat troops”.  And we don’t have “boots on the ground” there.

    But what do you expect?  This is the same POTUS that told everyone they could keep their doctor under ObamaCare, too.  How’s that worked out for everyone?

    Yeah, you’re right – your leg’s wet.  And it’s not raining.

  • Russia’s Military Gets “Frisky”, Part 4

    Well, it looks like Russia’s military is flexing it’s muscles again. Or maybe Vladimir Putin just decided he wanted to flip off the POTUS again.

    Damn. I should know better than to write something like the previous paragraph.  It’s redundant as hell, isn’t it? (smile)

    Anyway: it appears that for the second time in about 2 weeks, a Russian SU-27 has “barrel-rolled” a US recon aircraft operating in international airspace.

    This time, though, the Russian jet “only” came within 100′ of the US aircraft. During the last barrel-roll incident, the Russian aircraft’s closest approach to ours was approximately 50′.

    OK, Mr. President. Vlad has given you the finger with both hands yet again, then immediately afterwards mooned you. But he’s apparently “branching out” a bit now. One of his aides must have suggested he insult you in German. This time I’m pretty sure he yelled “Deine Mutter arbeitet auf Vierzig Deutsche Mark-Straße, Arschloch!” as he was mooning you.

    Oh, and did I mention that it appears increasingly probable that Syrian-Russian operations to recapture the city of Aleppo – currently held by Syrian rebels – now appear imminent? That is, if they haven’t already begun?

    Your move, Mr. President. Time to get your “he-man war hero” SECSTATE working on another “strongly-worded diplomatic statement” or two.

    Or maybe you could simply ask him if you could borrow Terresa’s cojones .  Maybe if you did that you could start acting, well, Presidential.

  • “It’s the High Taxes and Over-Regulation, Stupid.”

    Well, new figures for US economic growth are out.  And it turns out last quarter was not a good one.

    The US economy’s annualized real growth rate for the first quarter of this year?  Try a whopping 0.5%.  Yes, that’s a ZERO to the left of the decimal point.  And yes, that’s the annualized growth rate.

    That’s the slowest quarterly annualized real growth rate we’ve seen for the US economy in 2 years.

    The US economic real growth rate was so low last quarter, it was nearly 30% less than expected.  And it was only expected, based on midpoint projections, to be 0.7% – which is itself abysmally bad.  It also marked the third straight year with a p!ss-poor beginning, economic-growth wise.

    This follows on the heels of a rather anemic fourth quarter of last year.  During that quarter, in real terms the US economy grew at a “massive” 1.4% annualized rate.

    It seems a cinch to say that we won’t see 3% real growth this year overall.  So far, the current       gang of economic idiots screwing things up by-the-numbers in DC      Administration has yet to see a single year with US real economic growth at or above an annual rate of 3%.  That makes the Obama Administration the first US Presidential Administration in history to fail to deliver even a single year of 3% growth.  In fact, if the economic growth rate for this year doesn’t reach 2.67% (kinda doubtful at this point IMO), the Obama Administration will be the fourth-worst  Administration in US history, economically speaking.

    If current projections hold, the 8 year average for US economic growth under this      gaggle of economically naïve tools      Administration will be around 1.55% – if they’re lucky.  If the economy doesn’t improve dramatically with respect to last quarter during the rest of this year, they won’t even see that.

    When the US economy doesn’t grow, well, thinks kinda suck for everyone.  For comparison, during the Reagan Administration, the 8 year AVERAGE for real economic growth was 3.5% per year.  Gee – ya think maybe that had something to do with why it’s perceived as “good times”, economically speaking?

    Predictably, the POTUS doesn’t appear to have a clue why the economy is growing so slowly, and keeps touting “low unemployment”.  Well, Mr. President, let me provide you a clue or two – free.

    Here’s yer first clue.  The unemployment rate is dropping for two reasons.  First, it’s dropping because people who want to work are becoming discouraged and ceasing to look for work.  And second, your inane policies regarding social welfare programs have removed many consequences for doing so.  Here’s one example:  you still haven’t reinstated Clintoon’s work requirements for SNAP (AKA food stamps) eligibility since you suspended them in 2009.

    When a recovery begins, the economy starts consistently growing again at a strong rate – typically a real annual growth rate of 3% or higher.  When that happens, people will start looking for work again – which means the unemployment rate will spike.  And the labor participation rate, a much better overall measure of economic health than unemployment, will start to rise consistently.

    Right now, we’re still in Carter Administration territory on the latter.  And since we haven’t seen a spike in unemployment yet, any claims that we’re “in an economic recovery” today . . . are bullsh!t.

    Now, for the second clue.  Regarding why the economy isn’t growing – see the title of this article.  Have someone explain it to you if you don’t “get it”.

    Sheesh.  I will be so damn glad to see someone with a freaking clue about the economy running the show in DC.  At least Slick Willie seemed to know his butt from a hole in the ground there.

  • “And the Hits Just Keep On Coming” . . . for the VA

    We all know that the VA has serious problems.  But this appears to be a new – and disgusting – issue that hasn’t previously surfaced.   Maybe you want to wait until well after lunch before reading the linked story from Fox.

    Whistleblower: Cockroaches served in food
    at Chicago-area VA hospital

    In this case, the “whistleblower” is one Ms. Germaine Clarno – president of the facility’s AFGE Local.

    If the name “Germaine Clarno” seems familiar, it should.  Jonn’s written about her before.

    In case you’re forgotten: Clarno is the same “whistleblower” that refused to discuss other issues involving patient care with Republican Members of Congress from Illinois after her preferred Democratic officials did squat when she brought those issues to their attention.  Clarno herself admits that the issues were serious enough that people died needlessly.

    Then again, when you’re willing to play politics when lives are literally at stake I guess you’re willing to do the same when the food is substandard or vermin-infested. And I’m guessing Clarno’s known about the food issue for a while, too – she says, “It’s been like this for years, ever since anyone can remember.”

    The linked Fox article’s worth reading; so is the article Fox in turn links from Conservative Review, which gives more details.  But as I said earlier:  maybe you should wait an hour or so after having lunch to read either.

    Sad.  As well as infuriating – and absolutely inexcusable.

  • “We have sent many operatives to Europe with the refugees.”

    The Washington Post today has an excellent and informative article – if also a somewhat disturbing one. It documents in some detail how four Da’esh operatives passed themselves off as “refugees” and used that ruse to infiltrate Europe.

    On a crisp morning last October, 198 migrants arrived on the Greek island of Leros, all of them seemingly desperate people seeking sanctuary in Europe. But hiding among them were four men with a very different agenda.

    The four were posing as war-weary Syrians — all carrying doctored passports with false identities. And they were on a deadly mission for the Islamic State.

    Two of the four would masquerade as migrants all the way to Paris. There, at 9:20 p.m. on Nov. 13, they would detonate suicide vests near the Stade de France sports complex, fulfilling their part in the worst attack on French soil since World War II.

    The other two Da’esh operatives were detained in Greece for lying about their identities. However, after a time they were released and allowed to continue their journey. They were later arrested in Austria – thankfully, before they could commit a terrorist attack. God only knows what other actions they took to support terrorism in the interim.

    The article goes on to provide more info about the issue of Da’esh using the “refugee” flood as cover for infiltration. That info paints a rather disturbing picture.

    Think about that for a moment. In one group of less than 200 “refugees”, 4 of them – or over 2% – were decidedly not “refugees” at all. Rather, they were radical Islamist operatives intent on committing terrorist atrocities in a foreign land. They were merely using the ruse of being “refugees” as cover for their infiltration in order to avoid more thorough screening.

    Over a million “refugees” from the Middle East have entered Europe recently. European intelligence agencies believe several hundred thousand of them may never have been adequately screened on entry.

    If even 1% of those unscreened “refugees” are instead terrorist operatives, that’s 1,000 terrorists for every 100,000 alleged “refugees” who entered. And based on an admittedly small sample, there’s evidence that the actual rate may well be more than double that.

    Da’esh brags that they have many more such “sleeper” operatives in Europe now. Indeed, this article’s title is a quote from a Da’esh commander discussing the subject.

    So far, only a bit more than three dozen of those Da’esh operatives infiltrated as “refugees” have been identified and apprehended in Europe. And of those, seven of them participated in the Paris attacks last year.

    And yet, the      gaggle of naive fools and clueless tools running the show in DC      current Administration wants to admit tens of thousands of “refugees” to the US, too. But don’t worry – the Administration assures us that any such “refugees” admitted will be screened “thoroughly”.

    Yeah, right. In reality, if admitted they won’t be screened anywhere near as thoroughly as the foreign born spouse of the couple responsible for San Bernardino. And we know how that turned out.

  • Russia’s Military Gets “Frisky”, Part 3

    I’m sure that everyone’s heard that earlier this week, the POTUS called Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin.  While he did not address the recent incidents where Russian military aircraft “buzzed” US ships and aircraft during the call, the POTUS apparently did ask Putin to “maintain the cease fire in Syria”.

    Well, it appears the POTUS now has his answer.

    Per a US defense official, Russia has moved the bulk of its forces in Syria to the vicinity of Aleppo.  Why?  The official further indicated an offensive to retake Aleppo from Syrian rebels “is poised to take place soon”.  Local fighting has apparently already resumed in the Aleppo area, and Russian bombing in support of Assad’s forces has been occurring since November – cease-fire or no cease-fire.

    I don’t think it’s exactly rocket science to figure out why Russian forces in Syria just relocated.

    US officials also report that “hundreds” of new Iranian troops are also now in Syria.  Given Iran’s past support for Assad’s regime, I’m guessing they’re probably not there to support the Syrian rebels.

    Now, about those “buzzing” incidents: while the POTUS and Putin didn’t discuss them during their PHONECON, they’ve also returned to the news this week. The Russian Ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, met with the NATO-Russia council yesterday – for the first time in 2 years. Afterwards, Grushko publicly accused the US of trying to “intimidate” Russia by conducting naval operations with our allies in international waters in the Baltic. He then went on to say that Russia would take “all necessary measures” in response to future such encounters.

    Yep. Looks to me like Putin has once again given the POTUS the finger – with both hands – followed shortly afterwards by mooning.  But this time, I believe Putin shouted something in Russian just before “shooting the moon”.  The first two parts sounded something like “yob” and “ti-voy-you”, respectively.  Not sure I caught the last part correctly, but I think it sounded something like “Matt”.

    Your move again, Mr. President.

    My prediction:  look for yet another ineffectual but “strongly worded” diplomatic protest by the State Department after the Syrian-Russian offensive near Aleppo begins – and that’s it.  I’ll frankly be shocked if we do anything more than that.

    I wonder if Putin – or anyone else in his inner circle – has pulled a muscle or otherwise injured himself from laughing at us. I know their sides must ache terribly by now.

  • Another Chapter In That Continuing “Good News Story” Called ObamaCare

    We have some recent news about that        Patently Puerile, Asinine Current Administration concept       current Administration initiative called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) – AKA ObamaCare.  And, as usual, the news isn’t all that good.

    A few weeks ago, news articles surfaced saying that insurance carriers were worried about ObamaCare.  Specifically, they began warning the public that losses sustained by policies issued through state exchanges were unsustainable.

    Well, yesterday the other shoe fell.  UnitedHealth – the nation’s largest provider of health insurance – has announced it will pull out of most state ObamaCare exchanges next year.

    Why?  Simple.  They want to stay in business.  UnitedHealth estimates their losses due to policies issued through ObamaCare exchanges over the last two years at approximately $1 billion.

    Gee, who’d a thunk it?  I mean, insurance is only based on the market model that the insurer sells many policies, but pays out a comparatively small number of claims.  Specifically, over the long term an insurer must take in more in income than they pay out in claims and other expenses to stay in business.  Otherwise, over the long term they go belly-up.

    That’s a major reason why health insurance companies typically have an exclusionary period for preexisting conditions.  It’s also why truly bad drivers end up in the “shared risk” insurance pool in most states – and then pay through the nose for their auto insurance.  Both practices are designed to bring revenues above expected claims payouts; and both practices are supported by hard statistical data.

    ObamaCare’s prohibition on the exclusion of preexisting conditions radically changes the financial basis for ObamaCare insurance policies – it’s raised the amount paid out in claims hugely.  This means there are two options an ObamaCare insurance provider has if they want to stay in business:  raise premiums dramatically, or cease participation.  United Health has just begun the process of doing the latter.

    But wait – ObamaCare has made insurance cheaper, right?

    Yeah, right.  Now, tell me another shaggy dog story – this time one that’s funny.

    It turns out that both patient medical costs and health insurance premiums are rising under Obamacare.  Given basic economics, that was also eminently predictable.  A recent study by Blue Cross/Blue Shield found that on average ObamaCare policy holders are sicker and require more medical care, at larger cost, than people who obtain health insurance through their employers.  Wanna guess where the money for those extra costs comes from?

    If you guessed “increased premiums”, give yourself a gold star.  Well, that plus subsidies – which are paid out of your taxes.

    Gee.  What a surprise.

    Bottom line:  ObamaCare is based on flawed economic analysis, bad assumptions, and with wishful thinking.  It’s the equivalent of King Canute ordering the tide not to rise.

    However, there is a major difference.  King Canute didn’t expect the tide to obey him; he was making a point to his courtiers concerning the limits of his authority.  The imbeciles that brought us ObamaCare actually expected basic economics to change on command.