Cooking Up Another Facebook Smackdown!

We just posted another Facebook note tonight about health care reform. Madame started off by mentioning the passage of a health care reform bill in the Senate Finance committee. No problem. As an Alaskan, Madame is used to cleaning up a Snow(e)y mess!

Madame talked about how sometimes "good intentions" lead to bad policy outcomes. She called the Great Opologizer out on some of his unfulfilled promises: not negotiating with insurance companies behind closed doors, allowing the public to read bills online, not allowing the unemployment rate to fall below 8% by passing the "stimulus" package, and even the promise of change! Hmm, those topics would make some good campaign ads!

Madame again brought up the need for tort reform, just as we had written about earlier. For good measure, Madame used some of her signature sarcasm to discuss free market solutions to health care, describing them as a "novel idea". Madame had better be careful using the word "novel". The Softy Southpaws are already scared that her memoir is selling so well. Who knows what they'll do if they get confused and think that she is going to write a novel on the free market! The modern version of Atlas Shrugged?

Madame closed by saying, "[n]ow is the time to make your voices heard before it’s too late. If we don’t fight for the market-oriented, patient-centered, and result-driven reform plan that we deserve, we’ll be left with the disastrous unintended consequences of the plans currently being cooked up in Washington."

Cooked up in Washington? Yuck! I'd rather be around Madame cooking up some moose chili! If only I could smell it and taste it!

Photo from Pro-Sarah

Madame closed out this post with a special section for Katie Couric which included a ton of heelnotes. We even did something a little different this time and used tiny urls. Perhaps you could say we went a bit rogue on the heelnotes!

President Obama's Thesaurus

I've been pretty confined by the laptop bag that Madame has safely stored me in on our flight to Hong Kong. We are now just hours away from her speech. I can't wait; I just know it is going to be good!

I did a lot of thinking on the flight over to Hong Kong. I've noticed with all of the articles that Madame has read since the Great Opologizer became President, it seems as if he and his administration have created their very own dictionary and thesaurus as a means of defining their policies and political strategy. For one, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs doesn't seem to quite know how to define Madame:




In this clip, Robert Gibbs says, " I'll let Webster define what one calls her". Well, Mr.Gibbs why don't you let LOTUS define what one calls her? You can call her Governor Palin, Madame 45, Goddess of Energy, Sarah Barracuda, the Iron Lady of the North, etc. Hmm, I guess that is more of a thesaurus listing, but you get my point.

When Madame and I were writing the "nail in Obamacare's coffin" Facebook post, Madame used the forever-to-be remembered phrase "death panels". We first wrote that post in Microsoft Word before transferring it to Facebook. As you may know, Word allows you to highlight a word and find a synonym if you so desire. Madame could have used the phrase "fatality board" or "casualty jury", but she knew that "death panels" would speak to the heart of the matter--bureaucratization of health care.

Madame called it like she saw it, rather than try to sugar-coat it like President Obama when he called health care reform that includes a pubic option, "health insurance reform". A spoonful of sugar does not make socialized medicine go down!

"Health insurance reform" instead of "socialized medicine" is not the first entry in the Obama thesaurus, nor is the Robert Gibbs needing a dictionary to define Madame the first time that the Obama administration has needed a dictionary to define something. In President Obama's media blitz on Sunday, during one of his interviews he did not seem to understand that fining people for not signing up for health insurance is, indeed, a tax. You can put lipstick (very badly) on a tax by calling it a fine, but it's still a tax, Mr. President.

There have been a few other occasions when the Obama administration has wanted to use other phrases to define political terms. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano now calls "terrorism" a "man-caused disaster". The Obama administration calls the "war on terror" " an "overseas contingency operation".

That's OK, though, Mr. President because another entry in your thesaurus is when you referred to Madame as a "prominent politician", as shown in the clip above. As Madame currently holds no political title, I'm thinking that President Obama is conceding that Madame is going to be his successor, if she chooses to run. Prominent politician is synonymous with Madame 45.

The BOM (Barack Obama Media) vs. Facebook

As Madame's eldest son Track is returning from Iraq this weekend, I don't anticipate that she and I will be working together much. So, consider this post "LOTUS, unplugged", but not for too long, as I don't want to run out of energy. I would like to touch on the issue of the media. There has been quite a bit of media malpractice, especially over the past 13 months or so. It is interesting that while the Softy Southpaws want to allow the continuation of abuse of medical malpractice litigation by not considering tort reform in their health care reforms, yet they are just fine with the amount of malpractice in the media. I suppose it is because the Softy Southpaws are very rarely the recipients of media malpractice. In fact, some feel that the idea of the mainstream media is not an appropriate term, perhaps it is more fitting to call it the Barack Obama Media (BOM).

As I was out surfing recently, I discovered that the Great Opologizer is going to visit 5 Sunday morning television shows tomorrow, perhaps to do more Obamacare re-runs. Wasn't it Albert Einstein who said, "[i]nsanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result"? By the way, if President Obama is doing 5 TV shows on a Sunday morning, wouldn't he miss church? Oh, he has yet to pick a church? Hmm, it is nine months into his presidency. Mississippi governor Haley Barbour pointed out that it took the Great Opologizer six months to pick out a dog for his family, yet President Obama wants to rush health care through before smart decisions are made.

Graphic from Another Black Conservative

While President Obama is making his pitch for his health care reform, Madame 45 has countered every time. Plus, as I've pointed out before, Pres. Obama pitches like a girl, Madme pitches like a woman. President Obama may use the MSM/BOM to attempt to get out his message, but Madame has used alternative means, namely Web 2.0, to get out her message. In fact, Facebook is now the fourth largest "nation" in the world with more than 300 million users. So, in essence, Madame's message has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of people. Some have even argued that our Facebook posts are the turning point in the health care debate:

There were no public appearances or speeches, no glitzy ad campaigns, no publicity tours, no interviews in the mainstream press or any new media outlet. Sarah Plain (sic) killed health care reform with a posting on her Facebook page, an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, and an exquisite sense of timing.

If history remembers one thing from the current debate over health care, it will remember the phrase “death panel.” Just as Harry and Louise form the enduring image from President Clinton’s failed attempt to take over the health care system, the “death panel” image will come to symbolize Obama’s failure and Palin’s triumph.

It’s almost the perfect political catchphrase. “Death panel” encapsulates everything people fear about the consequences of a government with too much power over those it is supposed to serve.

I still love the phrase "death panel". When Madame first typed it, I was confused. To me, the phrase death panel referred to what would come across my screen if I ever got a virus. However, when she described the implications of a government takeover of health care, I understood, and I realized that it was political gold. Now, don't tell Madame I'm writing this, but I think the following links comprise the First 2012 Presidential Debate:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=130481448434

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sk9kxaoLXM

http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?v=app_2347471856#/note.php?note_id=131081638434

Round One goes to Pugilist Palin!


(H/t to Kjanlady and Bestbud at C4P for their suggestions for this post)

Pugilist Palin- Updated

Credit to Karen Allen

During the 2008 presidential campaign, at a rally in Carson, CA, Madame 45 declared, "the heels are on, the gloves are off". Today, things aren't too much different; she is still a fighter. Well, sometimes, when we are about to get to work on a Facebook post or an op-ed, Madame has on slippers, running shoes, or clogs, but I think you get the point. Madame is a fighter. Yesterday, Madame wrote an absolutely amazing op-ed in the Wall-Street Journal, throwing a right hook and a left jab there at Obamacare.

President Obama attempted to fight back but his punch didn't land:

Every non-partisan organization that has looked at her claims say they are false. And the ideas in her op-ed are both scary and risky. Eliminating Medicare and giving our seniors vouchers instead is a bad idea that we shouldn't adopt.

"Scary" and "risky", Mr. President? Surely you are referring to your own plan. Madame responded with a killer punch in our latest Facebook posting:

I'm pleased that the White House is finally responding to Republican health care ideas instead of pretending they don't exist.[1] But in doing so President Obama should follow his own sound advice and avoid making "wild misrepresentations".[2] Medicare vouchers would give everyone on Medicare the chance to decide for themselves which health plan to use, rather than leave that decision to government bureaucrats. Such proposals are the kind of health care reform that Republicans stand for: market-oriented, patient-centered, and result-driven.

The White House talking points leave the rest of my arguments unanswered. They don't respond to the idea that all individuals should get the same tax benefits received by those who get coverage through their employers; that we must reform our tort laws; and that we should allow Americans to buy insurance across state lines. The White House also fails to respond to the Nyce/Schieber study indicating that wages will fall if the government expands coverage without reducing health care inflation rates.

One last thing: after President Obama's speech tonight, listen for which pundits use the words "false", "scary", and "risky" in describing the proposals I put forward. That's how you'll be able to tell who the White House counted as "allies" worthy of receiving its talking points.

-Sarah Palin

[1] See http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0909/White_House_talking_points_blast_Palin.html.
[2] See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/opinion/16obama.html.

You go, girl! If I had any hands, I would give you a high five and two thumbs up!

Then, tonight, the Great Opologizer presented his Obamacare re-run to a joint session of Congress. By the way, since we are on the subject of health care, is anyone else up for a "joint replacement", if you catch my drift? Anyway, here is a clip from when the President addressed Madame's statements:




I have to also say kudos to South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson for calling out President Obama on the issue of health care coverage for illegal immigrants. Way to go, Joe! You were successful at making Nancy Pelosi make a legitimate facial expression (check out the video). Of course, she may have made this face because she realized that she and Hillary Clinton were wearing the same red pant suit.

Update, Congressman Wilson has now, as I'm posting this, apologized. Make up your mind, Joe!

Oh well, Congressman Wilson may not be the quite the fighter that Madame is. However, let me say this now, I have an inkling that 2012 will be the "Rumble on the Tundra". It won't be pretty for President Obama. You see, Madame 45 fights like a girl!



Updated: Here is Madame's response to the Great Opologizer's health care speech. Whew, we've been so busy lately. The Tech industry needs to invent a LOTUS-friendly white skinny mocha so that I can remain energized for this health care reform battle.

Kudos to the Obamacare Fighting, Blue Star Hockey Mom

We have had quite the busy day today working on health care reform. We e-mailed a senator in the NY state senate, re-posted the e-mail to Facebook, and wrote an editorial for the Wall Street Journal. Hmm, I wonder what Peggy Noonan thinks about that. Let's just say Madame took the gloves off and put the heels on again to do some serious "type, type, type, send".

Unfortunately, I don't have the same health care reform stamina that Madame does, so I'll let her words speak for themselves. After all, they do speak volumes; it's the Palin Precept.

Instead, tonight, I would like to take this time to brag on Madame a bit. As we approach the 8th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 and as the number of troops are being increased in Afghanistan, I would like to commend Madame for her support of the American soldier. Let me just present a few examples. She is never ashamed to wear a flag pin, nor does she ever neglect to wear her Blue Star Mom pin. In fact, her pin has grown in the past few months:

Smaller Blue Star Mom Pin in July 2009

Larger Blue Star Mom Pin August 2009

In fact, during her farewell speech pictured above, she spoke up in support of the soldiers:

Together we stand with gratitude for the troops who protect all our cherished freedoms. This includes our First Amendment guaranteed freedom of speech – which, par for the course – I shall exercise. First, with some “straight talk,” I will address some, just some, in the media because another right that is protected is the freedom of the press. You have such important jobs reporting facts and informing the electorate and exerting power to influence. You represent what could and should be a respected and honest profession that could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy. Democracy depends on you. That is why our troops are willing to die for you. So, how about in honor of the American soldier you quit making things up.

Madame is good at reminding detractors, protesters, and "journalists" that the reason that they have the opportunity to speak out and exercise their 1st amendment rights is because of the American troops. Take a look at this clip from the campaign trail last year:



Just in the past month, she has spoken up for troops. We linked a WSJ article about the Death Book used in the treatment of veterans. Just a few days ago, we wrote another Facebook note blasting the Associated Press for publishing a photo of a dying soldier against the wishes of the soldier's family.

Additionally, she is participating in an auction to benefit wounded veterans. This would give people the opportunity to have family with Madame and the First Dude, for a starting bid of $25,000. I'm so lucky! I get to have dinner with them all the time--for free!

Additionally, Madame recently signed a letter to the President supporting his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. She wants to ensure the soldiers that she supports their fight against the Taliban.

Madame is quite a patriotic woman who truly stands not only with Track, but all of our troops fighting for our freedoms. She always wants to display her patriotism. Take a look at the wallpaper that Madame has installed for me.

My portrait (I wonder if this will hang in the White House in 2012)

Kudos to Madame- the Obamacare Fighting, Blue Star Hockey Mom!

Madame 45 likes to run

One thing that I have discovered about Madame 45 is that she likes to run, and I don't just mean in the athletic sense. She likes to run an offense, a town, oil and gas commission meetings, a state. She also enjoys co-running a family. We'll have to see if she has her sights set on running a country. Time will tell. She always seems to be acutely aware of "open doors" or "doors that are cracked" opened.

Today was a little less busy today on the LOTUS front; you see the big post was only at about 8:30 PM yesterday here in Alaska. I was proud of Madame for putting the Softy Southpaws (that's what Madame calls liberals) in their place. Madame has gotten used to being taken out-of-context and smeared, so she fights back. She is a fighter. She talked about her proclamation of Healthcare Decisions Day as governor and put it into context. You see, it's not very often that her words are put into context, so she decided to do it herself. She compared what was in the House bill with her proclamation of Healthcare Decisions Day and said they were as different as apples and oranges. The two policies are really that different! She wasn't just using that example in order to get votes from Washington state and Florida if she decides to run in 2012. Oh, and I must say, she was pretty excited about the provision being taken out the Senate bill, but she's not done yet!

We only really had one post today-- a statement from the American College of Surgeons. Apparently, the President made some comment about how much surgeries cost, and he was way off. You see, Madame is so good with budgeting and being fiscally responsible both in government and at home. You should see the budgeting excel spreadsheets I have saved on my hard drive! She just can't understand how the President could overestimate the cost of a foot amputation but completely underestimate the cost of the his health care plan. It's so simple to her!

But, I should get back to the running. Since it was a slower day for us, Madame went for a long run. She used me to charge her ipod. She has quite the eclectic collection of music on itunes: AC/DC, some country, some Amy Grant. I've always wanted to go on a run with her. I don't get what's the big deal. I AM portable!? Oh well, Madame's pretty speedy, so my processor probably couldn't keep up anyway. She's a tough one; she says her ankle hurts her sometimes when she runs; it's from an old high school basketball injury. Yet, she still runs. If I had a sore backspace key, I don't know if I could do it. I guess it's because running gives her sanity in this crazy world.