Afterburner: The Lynching

I have nothing to add to the following video clip regarding coverage of the recent trial of 'White-Hispanic' George Zimmerman and the events leading up to it. 

The next ten minutes says it all...

Thanks to my Navy son, stationed in Japan, who found this video clip online.

Too bad no one in the Media was able to find it here in America...

I guess they were all busy sitting around waiting for the kid in England to be born?  Yeah, now THAT's a story we need to be following.  Yes, 'third in line' to the crown - another 'monarch' is born!

This is soooooo much more important news than that of a crooked Media and 'abuses of power' right here in the good old USA.  But, as I guess at this point, these last two items are OLD news - it's no longer news.

Long live the King (after the two ahead of him croak)!!!

"And I want my formula shaken, not stirred..."

Stand By Your Sham...

"Sometimes its hard to be a woman
Giving all your love to just one man
You'll have bad times
And he'll have good times
Doing things that you don't understand
 
But if you love him you'll forgive him
Even though he's hard to understand
And if you love him
Oh be proud of him
'Cause after all he's just a man"

A reading from the Book of Hillary, Chapter 69, Verse 1996:  
"The political spouse is patient, the political spouse is blind. She does not envy, she does not boast, she has no pride.  She is not rude, for she is self-seeking, she is easily angered, but she keeps no written record of wrongs. The political spouse does not delight in evil but always rejoices upon the election. She always protects, always tolerates, always votes, and always perseveres.  For the political spouse knows that her turn is at hand..."

Amen.

From the New York Post...    
Limp XXXCuse:  Weiner blames rocky marriage for sext relapse

Anthony Weiner came up with an extraordinary excuse yesterday to explain why he went back to sexting after supposedly kicking the habit — he was suffering from marital woes.


In a startling e-mail letter sent to rally campaign supporters, Weiner said he sought hot-blooded female consolation on the Internet when he and his wife, Huma Abedin, hit a rocky patch in their relationship last summer.


At the time, Weiner had been out of Congress for a year, having resigned in disgrace, and was giving interviews with his wife at his side claiming he was cured. 
 

"What do you mean I can't have my iPhone!?!?!?!  Don't you know who I am???"

   
If this guy's 'cured', I wouldn't want to ever see the 'sicker' version of the man.  I could quite happily live my entire life and NEVER see Carlos / Anthony / Weiner (or whatever 'bits' of himself he decides to Tweet) again.

Just one week ago our buddy, 'Carlos Danger', was in the lead position for the NYC Mayor's race.  Today, at lunch time, well, not so much.  He's Number 2 on today's poll (hmm, oddly appropriate...).  

But don't worry, he's a Democrat - he'll be just fine - Democratic ethical standards are 'different' than many of ours are.  

But hey, don't get me wrong, there are LOTS of dirt bag Republicans / Conservatives out there as well.  The difference is that when a Conservative, or a Republican does wrong, we get all 'Amish on their heinie' and 'shun' them into irrelevance.  For a Democrat, being involved in a Sex-related scandal is a resume enhancer. 

Here's one for ya' - you drive a woman off a bridge in your car, leave her to drown and don't report the accident for nine hours... 

What happens to a Republican?  BOOM!  Everyone denounces him / her and he / she dies IN PRISON after being shanked by a White-Hispanic (I hear that they're 'violent').  Then, of course, your ignoble end is reported on CNN, MSNBC, and Huffington Post for six years and every other Republican is compared to them...  For all time.

Our real-life, water-logged Democrat politician referenced above?  Fast-forward a few years and other politicians call you the 'Lion of the Senate' and everyone from both Parties cries at your funeral.   Then they talk about what a 'Giant' you were?  Really?  

All things considered, I'd prefer to be of 'average height' and have NOT killed someone in a lecherous, drunken-stupor, thank so much.  

Pretty sure that I'd sleep better at night, at least... 

Ted Kennedy - Lion of the Senate

Will Anthony 'pull out' of the race?  Yes, I believe he will.

Will his wife stay by his side (publicly, at least)?  Yes, she will.

Will Huma continue to allow Hillary to 'mentor' her?  Yes, remember, when the going gets 'weird' the 'weird' turn Pro.  And Hillary, well let's just say that she's got a freaking PhD in 'Weird Spouses'.

Will I give a rat's rumpus either way?  Nope.

I just never want to read the following words regarding a politician from EITHER Party ever again:

TheDirty.com editor Nik Richie described Weiner as a “sexual predator” who immediately “lured” the young woman into online sex…


“Anthony Weiner was not good at phone sex,” said Richie, quoting [Sydney] Leathers. “[He] would orgasm in 30 seconds.”


Nice going 'Quick Draw'... 

(Note to self:  Search for 'Quick Draw' on Twitter - it's probably Weiner...) 

"I jes hope that he deedn't 'Shoots heemself in the face' again..."

Some days it's just too easy.

With apologies to Baba Looey and the rest of the guys and gals over at Hanna-Barbera...

Cuisinarts of the Gods

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm an animal lover.  I want ALL animals, humans, fungi, fish, and even 'most reptiles' to peacefully co-exist wherever possible.

Huh?  Okay, what's so funny? 

Oh, yeah, I get it, my being an 'Animal lover' sounds funny to you, huh?  Yeah, it was hysterical when I was in Third Grade also, but I moo-ved on...  As for you, get your mind out of the barnyard and cut that out - ya'll are SICK.  

Follow along, you might just learn something...  

All I'm saying is that if a cute-little-fuzzy-bunny is crossing the street in front of my car I WILL swerve to avoid striking 'Monsieur Rabbit' if at all possible.  The only caveat here, of course, if there are a group of Nuns and orphans standing on one side of the street, a semi-truck of baby harp seals in front of me, and a group of Golden Retriever & Beagle puppies on the third side of the street, and um, then, sorry ''the bunny gets the bumper''.  

Yeah, you've got to have priorities.

So if you are a bunny reading this post and you watched your brother Peter get run over by a speeding Toyota - that wasn't me.  It was most-likely some White Hispanic who hates 'bunnies minding their own business' in the middle of the night.  



Yeah, probably a White-Hispanic guy with a 'thing' for wabbits...

George 'Elmer' Fudderrman - White Hispanic

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking - one of those White-Hispanics, out walking with a gun, just looking for trouble.

This has very little to do with today's post - but as with most of my posts, they pretty much go where they want.  Yes, I try my best to keep up with them as they wander away from me, but sometimes, just sometimes, they run back upon themselves and they ALMOST make sense.  

This is one of THOSE posts.

Today's unintended congruence has a bit do do with the classic Warner Brother's cartoon featuring Bugs and Daffy starring in "Rabbit Season / Duck Season".  

I'm just hoping that if you're reading this, you're more of a Rabbit than a Duck.  

Being a Duck is so dang dangerous these days...

From the Daily Caller Online:  Study: Feds underestimated how many birds get killed by wind turbines


A new study found that the federal government underestimated the number of birds that die colliding with wind turbines across the country.


In fact, bird deaths were found to be 30 percent higher than previous estimates given by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2009.


“I estimated 888,000 bat and 573,000 bird fatalities/year (including 83,000 raptor fatalities) at 51,630 megawatt (MW) of installed wind-energy capacity in the United States in 2012,” writes K. Shawn Smallwood, author of the study that was published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin.


'''

Last month, environmentalists and bird enthusiasts watched in horror as the rare White-throated Needletail flew into a wind turbine and died on the Outer Hebrides.


“This wasn’t even a turbine on a huge wind farm, it was a solitary turbine to provide power to a small community,” said a 38-year old who witnessed the bird hit the turbine. “There is huge concern in Scotland about plans for big wind farms and the danger they would pose to big birds of prey like golden eagles and sea eagles.”


In the U.S., nearly all the birds killed are protected by federal law, but the Obama administration has so far refused to prosecute renewable energy companies whose turbines kill birds.


“Despite numerous violations, the Obama administration — like the Bush administration before it — has unofficially exempted the wind industry from prosecution under the Eagle Protection and Migratory Bird Treaty Acts,” wrote the Manhattan Institute’s Robert Bryce. “By exempting the wind industry from prosecution under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or the Eagle Protection Act, the federal government is providing another indirect subsidy to the sector.”

...

However, the Obama administration has prosecuted fossil fuel companies that kill far fewer birds than their wind-powered counterparts.


In 2009, ExxonMobil pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of killing 85 federally protected birds and agreed to pay $600,000 in fines and fees. That same year, Oregon-based PacifiCorp was also fined $1.4 million for the killing of 232 eagles in Wyoming, which were electrocuted by the company’s power lines.


“What it boils down to is this: If you electrocute an eagle, that is bad, but if you chop it to pieces, that is OK,” said Tim Eicher, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent who helped prosecute the PacifiCorp.
 


Let me get this straight, protected avian wildlife killed and chopped into bits by large, spinning blades generating 'green' electricity is cool, but if the electricity goes out over an insulated wire from a coal, or water-powered plant, and a bird is killed...  Prosecution (of the electrocution death) is actionable under Federal Law?

Oh, yes, now that DOES make sense.  Because, um, if you kill something while acting with the 'best of intentions', you're exempt from prosecution!  Everyone knows this!!! 

Given this new (and selective) interpretation of the Law, one wonders what caused the fuss from Eric Holder regarding that White-Hispanic guy in the first place?  After all, he 'meant well', and given the guidelines adopted by the Obama Administration (regarding green-minced-bird-bits), that's what matters, isn't it?

Yes, nearly 1.5 Million estimated birds were killed in 2012 - but they were killed by Earth-Friendly people with the 'best of possible intentions'...

And this, makes it all...  Okay.

"Duck Season!"

BOOM!

Don't worry Daffy, Rabbit Season's just around the corner...    
 

Oh, sorry Bugs, with Holder and Obama running things, we're all living in a Looney Tunes cartoon now.  I just can't wait for the day when Porky pops his head out of the White House and yells...

Federally-Mandated Sticks and Twigs

We're so sorry, Nephew Albert,
But we haven't cooked a bloody thing all day.
We're so sorry, Nephew Albert,
But the kettle's on the boil and we're so easily called away...
                          -- "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey" by Paul McCartney

Yes.  I did it.  I changed up a few words in the lyrics above.  

I'm soooo sorry, Uncle Albert... 

This is one of my favorite songs of all time as it reminds me of the kid I 'used to be'.  It reminds me of the summer of 1971 when I, and hundreds of other fellow Boy Scouts spent a summer week camping on Gardiner's Island.  

During July, 1971, it seemed that the only song on my battery-powered AM radio WAS this song.  Camping, roughing it, while "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey" was pumping out of my little AM radio plastic speaker several dozen times a day - yeah, it was 'mostly' all good.

Ah, but then there were the 'buffaloes'...  Um, not so good.  

You'll see.

  

We filled our canteens from these huge green military 'water buffaloes' which, sitting in the summer sun, kept the water hot enough to make 'hot' tea.  The water had a metallic 'twang' to it and we Scouts speculated that if we were able to ever open up one of these buffaloes we'd find it full of water, scrap metal, car radiators, and rusting tin cans.  It was probably best that we never figured out how to open the thing up...  Some nights I still dream of opening the spigot at and a class ring clinking onto the rocks through the open tap.  Then, of course, I smell the whiff of decay, a human finger momentarily blocks the spigot and then...  

[Note to self:  Stop reading Stephen King]

Oops, sorry.
 
We also received rations of dehydrated food to prepare at our campsite under the large WWII era dining fly.  The food wasn't very good, it was ALL dehydrated (which was good since the water was 'almost' boiling when retrieved from the Troop's Water Buffalo).  I also remember there was not a lot of food for we 'swarthy Scouts' to dine upon by our open campfire.  On Tuesday evening I spilled an entire plate of "Chicken a' La-trine" onto the ground by the edge of the fire pit and during the evening and morning which followed - no critters came to eat it.  When wildlife doesn't eat your spilled food at camp - perhaps you shouldn't eat it either? 

All things considered, however, I'd trade a good week at work for a bad week at that particular summer camp any day.  Bad food, or not.

Enough of 1971, for I must fast-forward you (literally) to 2013 to another hot summer, some other kids, and additional bad food choices dictated for some by 'others'.  

However, in this current-day version of summer, no Scout uniforms are visible,  the water buffaloes are in Afghanistan, and the music on the radio and iPods, well, let's just say, "It ain't good like it used to be...".

Seems like nothing is 'good like it used to be'...  

Ah, but maybe that's just me being gloomy on this warm, sticky Wednesday.

ENOUGH OF THIS GLOOMINESS - HEY IT'S 2013!!!  


Let's party like it's 1984!!! 

LET'S MOOOOOOO-VE (INTO THE FUTURE)!!!
(Please bear with me as I now have a Disco-Funk Riff running through my head...  I'll be back in a moment)

Ah, that's better!  Here we go!

WashingtonTimes.com, July 9, 2013:    New York school drops Michelle Obama lunch standards: Kids too hungry


New York's Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district has become the latest casualty in first lady Michelle Obama’s preferred lunch plan, dropping the menu after too many students complained of hunger.


“[Food service manager Nicky] Boehm and her staff worked hard to implement the new regulations, but there were just too many problems and too many foods that students did not like and would not purchase,” said Assistant Superintendent Chris Abdoo about the National School Lunch Program in a statement reported by EAGNews.org. “Students complained of being hungry with these lunches and the district lost money.”


The school system decided to instead create its own lunch menu for next year.


The district lost about $100,000 trying out the federal menu, which offered such meals as “part” of a chicken patty on a minicroissant, EAGNews.org reported.


“Students felt they weren’t getting good value for their money,” Ms. Boehm said in EAGNews.org. “The high schoolers especially complained the portion sizes were too small and many more students brought in lunch from home.”


This isn’t the first school to drop the federal lunch menu plan. Catlin, Ill., schools did the same, calling the guidelines too “restrictive,” EAGNews.org reported.


The U.S. Department of Agriculture is in charge of managing the lunch program and estimates Mrs. Obama’s new wish list for student meals would cost about $3.2 billion to bring to fruition around the nation.


Can you imagine a New York School District saying "NO" to Michelle Obama?  My my, what is this world coming to?  Who knew that New York Schools were so, so, "Racist"? 

When I began digging around for 'stuff' to include in this post, I never realized that there was a federal website called choosemyplate.gov.  In reality, I don't know WHY I didn't realize that this site would exist - as for the past five+ years the government has its sticky little fingers pretty much in everything I look at / into.  I should have KNOWN.  

Surprisingly enough however, there is NO www.choosemyhealthcare.gov (yet) - I'm assuming this is because in the future you'll have no choice about your health care as the Exchanges will be the place your employer sends you to 'get insurance' since you won't be getting it through your job whenever ObamaCare is ready for prime time.  

Wanting to give it the old 'college try' I searched for the choosemyhealthcare.gov site and the first search result which came up was this one...

..............................................................................
Obamacare Health Quotes
Health Insurance starting at $1 per day from top companies.
..............................................................................

Yeah, how do you like me now? 

Rejoining our post (already in progress!), the school district in New York State LOST $100,000 because students didn't want to eat the 'Sticks and Twigs' mandated by Michelle Obama's stringent dietary guidelines.  

In fact, many students went back to bringing their lunches from HOME.  Sheesh, we can't have THAT happen (you know, people providing for each other because they feel responsible FOR each other - because they are a FAMILY).  

The government, as any rational persons KNOWS, must not have people depending upon their family because this represents a LOSS of responsibility for the government.  And, if responsibilities are stripped from the government, well, it might just need to get SMALLER, spending might be reduced, vital services (Obama Phones) might be discontinued, people would once again begin looking for work and no one wants that, do they?  

NO!  That's crazy talk!

Yeah, I guess that I AM feeling a bit gloomy today.  Sorry.

I'll leave you with this fragile thread of logic:

• When the government does not trust you enough to feed your own children?  Perhaps the education given to you by the government in schools is 'lacking'?
• If the education given to you by the government is 'lacking' perhaps we need to re-think the education system?
• If we re-think the entire education system, perhaps we need to look at alternative teaching options such as Charter Schools, Private Schools, Religious Schools?
• And if we look at alternative teaching options, shouldn't we fund them using State / Federal monies since, according to Michelle Obama, people graduating from schools are too stupid to know what to eat and how to feed themselves?

Just for giggles, you saw the choosemyplate.gov 'Official Artwork' above, someone (not me) took a few liberties with it to make it a bit more realistic (for one Presidential family at least)...

Yes, I thought it was funny.  

Humor is firmly rooted in truth.

The Obamas no longer allow themselves to be photographed whilst they are 'Dining'.  I wonder why that is?  

Perhaps it's because they are NOT eating anything remotely looking like this?

Lastly, since Michelle went on SesameStreet to sell her sticks and twigs to the children of the Nation, I close today's post with Cookie Monster's 'Official Rebuttal Statement' to the First Lady's "Let's Move" program...

Have a nice day folks...

Enjoy the remaining years of Michelle Obama's 'helpful national projects'.

Ronald Reagan - Psychic?

Fifty years ago a guy named, Ronald Reagan, recorded a warning for Americans regarding Socialized Medicine.  

Forty-plus years later, we forgot and America elected a Socialist with a dream of 'Affordable Health Care'.
 
Dang.  

P.C. Police Travel Tips!

Hello Citizen Vacation Travelers!!!

Thinking of getting 'away' this summer?!?!

Looking to put some distance between you and the place you spend 94% of your regularly-scheduled year?!?!

Have you been putting off your family's vacation (for years) due to uncertain financial conditions at your business, in your State, or in the Nation in general?  Well put off that vacation NO longer - it's time for you to go somewhere!!!  And face it, in this economy, anywhere's a better place to be (a literary tip of my big ole cow head to Harry Chapin.)

Yes, men, women, boys, and girls it's time for you to do YOUR part in 'lighting up' our anemic economic recovery.  Yes, I know that the normal recovery following a Recession is roughly 12 - 18 months and our economy's been limping along for YEARS now, but come on, get over it, it's Bush's fault - accept it - moove on!!!  Go ahead, bite the bullet, make that decision to get away NOW (while you still can)!!!  

Operators are standing by to take your reservation!!!  (And President Obama requests that you use LIVE Travel Agency Personnel because using a computer to do 'stuff' is only holding the economy back - thanks!)  

But, um, oops, before you go, there are a few things you need to be aware of...  Yes, just a few teensy tiny housekeeping items so that you don't make other people feel uncomfortable while you're traveling.  

Because, when it comes down to it, it's not about YOU, it's all about them.

Whoever THEY are...

This just in from the "Seriously, You're Really NOT Kidding?" Department of Moos Room, courtesy of the TSA:


July 2, 2013, TSA Traveler Information Message...

Ramadan, a holy month for persons of the Muslim faith, begins this year approximately on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 and ends on Thursday, August 8, 2013.   

(Moos Note:  Ramadan begins 'approximately' on July 9th?  Seriously?  Don't you think the TSA would confirm the dates prior to sending out this travel alert?)

TSA understands that this is a significant religious event for the Muslim community. TSA has reminded its security workforce that traveling passengers may be observed at various areas in the airport - including security checkpoints or on aircraft - engaged in religious practices and meditations during Ramadan. 

TSA would also like to inform the traveling public that they may notice passengers who are observing Ramadan engaging in the following activities at the airports:


 

• Passengers observing Ramadan will abstain from any food, water, smoking or vices of any kind.

• Passengers observing Ramadan may be more likely to engage in prayer at airports or on airplanes while traveling than at other times during the year.

• Before prayer, Muslims go through ablution, i.e., a cleansing or washing of certain areas of the body that is usually done in private if possible, but may be observed in airport restrooms.

•  Passengers observing Ramadan may be seen reading, listening to or orally reciting the Holy Qur’an at airports and on airplanes.

•  Passengers observing Ramadan may carry prayer beads and “whisper” prayers constantly.

Thank you for your understanding!  And have a great trip!  

One last thing, don't make the sign of the cross and say a silent prayer as your plane lifts off - this might be considered offensive to someone sitting across the aisle from you.  

While traveling in the United States, consider yourself our nation's Representative Diversity Champion - don't let us down!  We're counting on you to be Religion-Free this Summer Vacation Season!!!



Happy trails America!!!   

The Fifth of July

July 4th, Washington, DC

Yesterday (in case you were in a coma and missed it) was the Fourth of July.  The Fourth came and went as most others before it - no new news here.  Earlier this week I saw / heard folks stocking up on BBQ items, several chronologically-impaired adults wondering why the date can't always fall on either a Friday or Monday, and more than a few teens buying contraband Chinese-made fireworks out of the trunks of cars.

Yes, a Fourth of July like so many others.

Then, of course, the calendar inexorably thuds forward to another day and we wake up to this...

Once again we take a perfectly good American Holiday and we use it to 'trash up the place'.

Yes, today is the Fifth of July.  

Today is the day on which we need to begin to clean up our National Mess.  

The Founders couldn't have foreseen what we've managed to do to their 'bouncing baby Nation' during the past 237 years.  

Well, perhaps one of them did back in 1787...

Philadelphia, 1787:  Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin,"Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" 

With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded,"A republic, if you can keep it."

"If you can keep it."

Ah, maybe it's because I'm tired?  Maybe it's because I woke up crabby knowing that I have to work today and my boss does not?  Or, perhaps it's because I didn't sleep much last night due to heat, firework noise, and that little voice yipping at me as I tried in vain to fall asleep?  The voice kept repeating Benjamin Franklin's words spoken outside of Independence Hall all those years ago.

Memory is like that - one day you can't remember what your wife's nephew's name is, and the next, something you heard in Sixth Grade History class pops into your melon when you least expect / want it to.

Yes, today is the Fifth of July.  Do we continue to trash up the United States of America as we have in the past, or do we clean up the Old Girl, steady her on her feet, and nurture her back to health / prosperity?  

It's up to me.  It's up to you.  

It is NOT up to chance or to fate.

It's up to US.

Today is the Fifth of July.  If you blow it up, clean it up.

In reality it doesn't matter who 'blew up' our Country - what matters is that we clean it up and fix the mess we've allowed to be made for ourselves and for future generations.  

We, the People, will get our Houses in order.

Heat, fireworks, lack of sleep or memory-lapses will not prevent us from doing what needs to be done.  Members of Congress will be coming back soon to again stand, speak, lecture, and listen to each other.

It's a good time for them to listen to US.  

Happy Fifth of July, America...  

Godspeed.

  

ObamaCare Magic

Well, if nothing else, the man in the White House is consistent.

Another BIG announcement impacting employers / employees across the U.S. and the announcement is made...  While Congress is gone, Americans are preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July, President Obama is thinking about returning from Africa and...  Egypt is preparing to implode.

Yup, time to make the after-hours, pre-holiday announcement and watch to see if ANYONE gorging on hot dogs, iced tea, and apple pie notices...

Huh?  What's that?  You don't know what I'm talking about?  Oops, sorry, that's because you're NOT supposed to know what's going on in your government.  It's safer for you not to know - if you know what I mean.  Because when something's for the 'Greater Good' you need to know that there are many, many things, greater than yourself. 

Please be aware that if you continue, and keep reading, you'll be doing what this Administration doesn't necessarily want you to do: 

a.  Being Informed,
b.  Getting Informed and finally,
c.  Informing others

Why might they not want you to know what's going on? 

BASIC RULE OF LIFE #73:  When there's going to be spectacular Train Wreck, the best viewing location it is far up on a hill watching from the comfort of a folding chair with an amber-colored beverage in hand.  (This is vastly preferable to being ON one of the aforementioned trains going 60 MPH head long towards a second train - heading straight for you.) 

Unfortunately, for you, me, and MOST other Americans, your seat on the Federally-subsidized "Hell-Bent Express" is reserved!

The personable (and pleasantly dressed) IRS agent manning the ticket window reaches out and deposits your ticket into your open, trembling hand.  In the distance, somewhere on the platform, the conductor in a starched brown uniform shouts, "All aboard!" 

This means you.  Yeah, get on the train. 

No.  Seriously. 

Get on the freaking the train or they'll put you on it. 

It's for your own good.  You'll see.  It's always for YOUR own good.  

Even if it...  Kills you.

  

July 2, 2013, 08:30pm, The Huffington Post:  Obamacare Employer Mandate Delayed For One Year

Employers who don't provide health insurance will be spared penalties of up to $3,000 per worker until 2015, a one-year delay of a major component of President Barack Obama's health care reform law, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.


Under Obamacare, companies with at least 50 full-time employees are required to provide qualifying health benefits to workers or face financial penalties called "shared responsibility payments." The provision of the law aims to shore up and strengthen the system that provides health benefits to most covered Americans. Under regulatory guidance to be published next week, the Obama administration will free companies from this mandate and from rules that they report information about their health benefits to the federal government next year.

"During this 2014 transition period, we strongly encourage employers to maintain or expand health coverage," Mark Mazur, assistant secretary for tax policy at the Treasury Department, said in a statement. The change does not affect people who will buy health insurance on their own or small businesses that will buy coverage through the law's health insurance exchanges.

More than half of Americans, 170 million people, are covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, according the census data. Of companies with at least 50 workers, 94 percent already offer health benefits, a survey by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation shows. The one-year delay of the penalties won't have a meaningful effect on jobs being the leading source of health care coverage, said Paul Fronstin, a senior research associate with the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
...

"The fact is, employers have been offering coverage voluntarily for how many years now. They didn't drop it before the law was passed. They offered it for business reasons," Fronstin said. "I don't think you'll see a mass exodus because of this."

Postponing enforcement of the "employer responsibility" mandate also isn't likely to result in significantly fewer people gaining health coverage because of Obamacare next year, said Larry Levitt, senior vice president for special initiatives at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

"The practical effect on how people will get covered is really small," Levitt said. "It might mean ever-so-slightly fewer people gaining insurance, but it'll be a very small number because the vast majority of larger employers already offer coverage." The Congressional Budget Office projected only a modest increase in job-based health benefits because of the law, he said.

...

"This announcement means even the Obama administration knows the 'train wreck' will only get worse," House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. "This is a clear acknowledgment that the law is unworkable, and it underscores the need to repeal the law and replace it with effective, patient-centered reforms.'

The administration's move on the employer penalties follows a recent Government Accountability Office report suggesting the law's health insurance exchanges for individuals who don't get coverage at work and for small companies may not be ready for the six-month enrollment period that begins Oct. 1. In April, the administration also delayed part of the law intended to provide small-business workers with more health insurance choices.

These negative developments for the implementation of the health care reform law shouldn't been viewed as major warning signs, however, Levitt said. "I don't think people should read too much into this in terms of how ready the administration is to implement the rest of the law, but I think some people will draw those conclusions. I think it's more of an issue of perception than an issue of reality."

POINT OF CLARIFICATION:  Hey, Mr. Levitt, "Perception" IS "Reality" if you're the guy "Perceiving" it...

Example:

Yeah, the guy in the suit?  His perception rocks - reality, conversely, 'rocks' not so much. 

Okay, so if you follow the Administration's storyline, they're doing this 'delay' of the employer mandate so that 'larger employers' will have time to 'get their stuff together' prior to the full and udder (it's a cow thing, just go with it) roll-out of ObamaCare in 2014. 

The funny thing is that this deferral effectively pushes back OC's (ObamaCare's) deployment until AFTER the 2014 elections.  

Huh, I wonder why that is?

My perception is that this is being done purely for political reasons, as Democrats don't want a leadership 'blood letting' following the full implementation of ObamaCare in 2014. 

My perception is that since no Republicans voted for this legislation, Democrats are hoping a 12-month deferral will give them several more years to oppose Republican reforms (when, and if they every actually happen) and pass bad additional flawed legislation similar to our current Immigration Bill. 

My Perception is that there are no longer two parties in America - there those people who love America's as it WAS, and those who want to bend it to what they want it to BE.

My Reality is that I'd better get to work... 

Lest someone Perceive that I don't care any more and I become another of the takers, vs. the 'giving' kind-of-guy that I am.

Oh, and regarding the 'cut-&-pasted' photo that begins this post, I perceive that this Administration having the 'Ultimate Power' to do a major sleight of hand (as done late yesterday afternoon) is a lot like having many, many, BIG name stars in a major Hollywood motion picture on which you spent a LOT of other-people's money. 

Yeah, the movie gets made, but what happens when no one is interested in paying to see it?

But when you've got the only theater in town, and you can FORCE people to go, yeah, now you're on to something...

Happy Independence Day America! 

You know, it's odd, but I don't feel quite that we're quite as Independent as we used to be...