Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made more comments about the F-22 project today, hinting that the F-22 project is part of "What Eisenhower warned us about in his farewell address to the nation."

President Dwight Eisenhower, of course, warned America about the rise of the "military industrial complex" in his farewell address given in 1961 during the Cold War.

The 34th president famously said "In the counsels of government we must guard against unwarranted influence whether sought or unsought by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

Military-industrial complex (MIC) is a concept commonly used to refer to policy relationships between governments, national armed forces, and industrial support they obtain from the commercial sector in political approval for research, development, production, use, and support for military training, weapons, equipment, and facilities within the national defense and security policy. It is a type of iron triangle...

It is difficult to estimate the degree of dependence of the U.S. economy on its military and defense spending, but it is clearly enormous, and legislators fiercely resist defense cuts that affect their districts.  In  Washinton State, an economist] estimated in 2002 that in Western Washington 166,000 jobs, or about 15% of the workforce, depended directly or indirectly on military installations alone, not counting defense industries.

President Obama should use this metaphor with respects to the health care industry, insurance industry, consumers and government.

He should say something along the line of, "Back in the 1990's President Bill Clinton and Congress stopped welfare as we know it, where millions of Americans who relied on the government for their day to day survival had no choice but to weaned themselves off that addiction, sometimes on their own accord, sometimes by force. They had to go to work, even if just part-time. 

And just a few days ago Congress finally after decades of approving them, rejected the notion that more F-22s were needed even though all the experts said they weren't.

Folks, Americans and our economy have relied for decades on our huge Health Care Complex as well.

There are millions of people in each and every one of our States that work for the health care industry, the pharmaceutical industry or the insurance industry.   Each of those States representatives and senators, in order to keep their seats in their State legislature or in Congress must stop any legislation that might harm the livelihood of their constituents'.  Every time someone starts talking about changing the status-quo and creating health care reform, legislators and Americans alike, get very nervous, even angry at times.  There are people out there that will do anything to stop any reform from ever happening.

Well folks, it's time to face the piper.  Instead of helping the economy, our health care system is actually harming it; and here's why."

That's where the president explains, "the damage that is being done to Americans across our great land and to our economy with respects to the costs of health care.  Even those Americans that work for the health care industry are now seeing their wages go down and the cost of their health care coverage going up each and every year.  They too are finding it hard to pay for their family's health care.

That's why doctors, nurses, pharmaceutical and other employees of the health care industry, groups like AARP and the American Medical Association are now supporting reform of our health care system."

This is where he should go into more detail about the legislative process and how things get done if deadlines are set....just as he did during his press conference.

CNN

Health care 'central' to America's economy...

Obama's health care experience to mirror 1994?

MSNBC

Health reform vital to economy

FOX

Reform is not a game

Obama: This isn't about me!

Drudge Report

The Red Pill

Stars are aligned for health care reform

TPM

"If you don't set deadlines, things don't happen"

Personally I think the headlines should say something like, "Americans Are Infected with a Virus".

"That virus is spreading through their televisions, their radios, cell phones and computers.  The virus is being spread from one human to another, neighbor to neighbor, co-worker to co-worker.

In order to avoid detection by Americans, the virus employs different kinds of deception. 

t consists of  ramped DISINFORMATION about the health care reform working its way through Congress right now, about the results of the Recovery bill we passed in February, about the deficit and debt and where the economy was --when my administration took office just six months ago."

"Let me be clear...."

That's what the president did tonight.  He tried once again to remind folks where we were the day he took office just six months ago, what his administration did to stop the train wreck (going into a deep depression) and how health care reform is just one huge part to get us back on track with respects to the economy.

He spent time pointing out that this health care bill isn't about 'him' or his 'administration', its about helping the country.

He pointed out the comments made by republicans that sounded politically motivated.

He even gave praise to Republicans for good ideas they put forth even though they refused to vote for the bill.

He pointed out examples of Americans hurting right now because they have no health care or fear losing what they've got.

He pointed out how far his administration's health care plans has come compared to the Clinton health care plan in 1994.  Pointing out that AARP, doctors and nurses, American Medical Assoc and pharmaceutical industry has now joined in the efforts to reform, instead of fighting against reform as in the past.

Most importantly, l felt anyway, he admitted that he understood our frustrations and fear about the billions being spent and talked about in the news almost since the recession begin last year.  He understood how Americans fear the unknown and change; but  asked us to look ahead instead, and see what will happen to our economy and health care if Washington does what they've done for the past 40 years - nothing, continually passing it on to the next generation.

The only 'breaking news' item I noticed was the statement that he vowed to reject any measure that, "primarily funded through taxing middle class."

This is NEWS.  Up to now, the funding was coming from cuts or from the very rich or a combination thereof.

As you may know the Democratic Party and President Obama are having trouble getting a consensus on a new Universal Health Care plan because of the costs and in some cases, the rules involved.  Some are saying that it will fail because the Republicans refuse to 'yes' to anything, some 'republican like' Democrats are demanding less be done and the liberal Democrats are demanding too much be done.

Perhaps this idea has already been floated and I just haven't heard it; but if this is truly the case (no health care bill can be passed), why not just pass one that includes Universal Preventive/Emergency Care instead?

In other words, have policies available or paid for (for those too poor to pay) that will provide for preventive medicine/emergency care?  The insurance would pay for routine checkups, yearly blood work, chemistry analysis, x-rays and bone scans.  Sort of like the yearly breast exam. 

It could pay for those appointments that you have for an infection like a virus or sinus and ear treatments.  It should also cover (true) emergencies such as  broken arms and legs, breathing problems, heart problems.

Perhaps the medicare drug program that was created for seniors could be extended to everyone (those that want to pay the premiums).

Exactly what would be considered preventive/emergency care coverage could be decided upon by a group of doctors.  The insurance companies would then setup policies to fit those needs.

Surgeries and long term care would be the responsibility of the patient (it's that way now) -- at least until the nation decides to go further with the Universal Health Care plan.

This plan should be a 'lot' cheaper than a complete Universal Health coverage.  Perhaps that would make everybody a bit happier and healthier?

WASHINGTON - Former Vice President Dick Cheney's Secret Service protection has been extended for at least another six months, beginning Tuesday.

Normally, ex-veeps only get six months of protection at taxpayer expense. But Cheney asked for an extension, and President Obama - whom Cheney has excoriated in several interviews since leaving office - recently signed off...

If the Obama administration hadn't gone along with Cheney's request, he would have been forced to hire his own security agents - or go without.

Can you believe this crap (excuse my language)?  This man is a millionaire yet he can't afford his own body guards?  He'll have a life time pension from all his terms in office, not including his pensions from places like Halliburton.
Just last year, the former vice president's reported 'taxable' income was $3,042,767.  That doesn't include any investments he has.  It was also reported that he and his wife gave almost $8,000,000 to charity over the course of his vice presidency.  That figure alone tells you how rich the man really is.
Yet, here is this so-called CONSERVATIVE Republican that doesn't believe GOVERNMENT should be involved in HELPING people --- asking for MORE TAXPAYER MONEY and TIME to be spent on PROTECTING HIM?
Talk about a hypocrisy!