National Healthcare... Constitutional ?

Wallbuilders
March 3rd, 2010

During the past year, the largest single news story has been that of health care; certainly, no issue has resulted in more calls to the Capitol.

The Health Care Bill (which has apparently stalled – at least for the time being) has raised apprehensions in many areas (e.g., the economic costs, the politics of socialism, the growth of governmental powers, etc.); however, very little has been presented of the numerous ways in which the bill is actually unconstitutional. In fact, should the bill eventually pass, several lawsuits are pending over its various unconstitutional aspects.

To read a constitutional analysis of the bill's many unconstitutional aspects by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, click here.

Landrieu Signs On for Reconciliation...

National Review Online
March 3, 2010

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La.), a key vote in a 50+1 strategy for passing a health-care "sidecar" bill, appears to have come out in favor of reconciliation. From the Washington Post via Senatus:"The general feeling in our caucus is we’ve worked very hard, this is a very reasonable, general approach to health-care reform, that the status quo is wholly unacceptable, and that we’re hoping to move forward," Landrieu said Tuesday.

Read the full story here.

First Step Toward Peace?

Heritage Foundation
March 8th, 2010

Despite as many as 100 explosions which killed at least 38 people in Baghdad, Iraqis defied a desperate insurgency yesterday and turned out in strong numbers to choose a new Parliament.

According to The New York Times, "turnout was higher than expected, and certainly higher than in the last parliamentary election in 2005. Sunnis who largely boycotted previous elections voted in force, and an intense competition for Shiite votes drove up participation in Baghdad and the south." The NYT went on to describe the election as "arguably the most open, most competitive election in the nation’s long history of colonial rule, dictatorship and war."

The United States still has much work to do in Iraq, but yesterday's successful election is a major victory not just for Iraqis, but for everyone who wants to see peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

American Minute
Bill Federer
March 9, 2010

The Confederate iron-plated ship Merrimac destroyed two Union boats during the Civil War. The Union responded with the ironclad Monitor.

Dedicating a statue to the Monitor's designer, John Ericsson, May 29, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge stated: "When the ironclad Merrimac went out on the morning of March 9, 1862, to complete its work of destruction, it was at once surprised by this new naval innovation. After a battle lasting four hours in which the Monitor suffered no material damage, the Merrimac, badly crippled, withdrew, never to venture out again. The London Times stated that the day before this battle England had 149 first-class warships. The day after, she had but two, and they were iron-plated only amid ships. Naval warfare had been revolutionized."

When offered payment in 1882, John Ericsson replied: "Nothing could induce me to accept any remuneration for the Monitor. It was my contribution to the glorious Union cause, which freed 4 million bondsmen." John Ericsson wrote to President Lincoln: "Attachment to the Union alone impels me to offer my services at this frightful crisis -my life if need be- in the great cause which Providence has caused you to defend."