'Emma' Open Thread

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Florida's Rubio Knocks Medi-Scare Dems Into the ICU

As the Democrats ramp up in preparation of scaring the bejezuz out of our senior citizens, meanwhile making no provisions for tomorrows senior citizens, they took a blow straight to the chops by one Marco Rubio:

If they have a better way to save Medicare, what are they waiting for to show us? What is their plan to save Medicare?

Either show us how Medicare survives without any changes or show us what changes you propose we make. Anyone who supports doing nothing is a supporter of bankrupting Medicare.

Where is the House Democrat plan to save Medicare?

Where is the Senate Democrat plan to save Medicare?

Where is President Obama’s plan to save Medicare?

They have no plan to save it, and they do not plan to offer one. They have decided that winning their next election is more important than saving Medicare for my mother and retirees like her.

I have been in the Senate just long enough to be disgusted by the reality that Washington has too many people who think their personal political careers are more important than our country’s future.

Maybe the Democrats’ strategy to use Medicare as a political weapon will work. Maybe not offering their own plan to save Medicare will help them win seats in Congress and re-elect President Barack Obama. Maybe it is great for the Democratic Party. But it is terrible for people like my mother, and it is terrible for America.

I like this guy.

With a tip of the hat to Sissy Willis at SISU.

'Lone Survivor' Marcus Luttrell

One of the great things about books is the way they can just take us away, giving us the chance to experience other worlds and other realities. At my very fittest and strongest as a young man, I never had the kind of gravel in the gut as a guy like Marcus Luttrell and his buddies who make up our Navy SEAL teams, but he was kind enough to share with us his experiences in becoming a SEAL, and what it was like for him to slip into the violent, far off places we send our armed forces.

Marcus was there, along with three of his buddies, Daniel Dietz, Matthew Axelman and Lieutenant Michael Murphy as part of a four man SEAL sniper team, looking for a Taliban leader that they were tasked to eliminate. What were Navy SEALs doing in the peaks of the Hindu Kush? Well, they are the most stealthy snipers in the business, and Mikey, Danny, Marcus and Axe would go most anywhere their country asked them to.

How luck ended up with their chance discovery by three goat herders who literally just happened to walk right over the top of them, their decision to let the goat herders go, and the consequences of that decision make for a compelling tale. As a story, an adventure and an insight into the world of our special forces teams, it's quite a ride.

Obamiacs, TSA Get Down And Dirty

"Find a job you really love, and that will be the last day of work in your life.

In there usual statist fashion, the TSA has threatened the people of the state of Texas with eliminating all air flights in and out of the State of Texas to force the Texans to give up attempting to curb the dog in heat that the TSA has devolved into.

House Bill 1937 had passed the House unanimously 138-0, and was headed for a vote in the Texas state Senate before the federal government stepped in to undermine the legislation.

In a letter sent to Texas lawmakers, including to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Speaker Joe Straus, the House Clerk, and the Senate Secretary, U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy threatened to cripple the airline industry in the state if legislators did not back down.

“If HR 1937 were enacted, the federal government would likely seek an emergency stay of the statute,” Murphy wrote. “Unless or until such a stay were granted, TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passengers and crew. We urge that you consider the ramifications of this bill before casting your vote,” Murphy added.

Without their groping procedures the TSA could not ensure our safety? You mean, like they have in the past? Well, what about this, or this, or this, or this? Okay, maybe not that last one, but who can forget the panty bomber? Who can forget the shoe bomber? Every time TSA was out groping some granny they were leaving the safety of the flight up to the passengers and crew, who were left to wrestle some guy to the floor while he shouted "Allah Akbar." All the while the Homeland Security chief assured us the "system" was working. Well, failure of a bomb to explode does not constitute a system working. That's hardly a valuable guarantee they're handing out.

The Texans did not go quietly into the night. Apparently there was an extended and fiery debate on the floor of the Texas senate before Senate sponsor Dan Patrick pulled the bill.

The abuse of power that these clowns are so damn comfortable with makes me sick. Our federal government under Obama increasingly behaves with total disregard for the United States Constitution, and the constraints therein that our nation was founded upon.

Chronicles of a Manhattan Conservative

So the trip to Sissy's wasn't all about cats?

No.

As always, she's serving up a full plate, not the least of which was her comment on a book offered by a woman by the name of Jedediah Bila. I had never heard of her, but apparently after living in Manhatten for a number of years and working as an educator, she has written a book she titled OUTNUMBERED: Chronicles of a Manhattan Conservative

"They felt the need to 'remind' me that Obama is a 'genius,' Palin is an 'idiot,' and anything and everything is George W. Bush’s fault," Jedediah recalled sitting through lockstep faculty-lounge chatter in the aftermath of President Obama's election.

Sounds about right. Jedediah has come to some notice while doing early morning commentary on Fox's Red Eye show. Sissy ripped through "Outnumbered" in a day, and is saying it's good fair.

You can pretty much take that to the bank.

When Cats Talk

Earl Grey peers in.  These two don't say much, but there's a lot going on.

It's been far too long since we have been over to see what Sissy Willis is up to. What does she think of the goings on in the world? Well, it turns out things are very topsy-turvey, much is in disarray, there is change in the air, troubled days and more to come.

The Middle-East? The debt crisis? Heavens, no! We're talking about her cats, of course!

It's a big adventure over there. A new cat... hmmm. This troublesome feline has got Sissy watching "The Cat Whisperer" I know, right? Wow!

Isn't it fun to watch cats talk? Apparently it's all in the eyes, all in the body movements. It seems the problem is here. Sissy is sure to get it sorted out. Drop her a line of encouragement.

HG To Brighten, Add Vitality To Steyn Cruise

"Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes!!"

Everyone's favorite, April Gavaza, our very own Hyacinth Girl, has a seemingly forlorn hope to go off on the National Review Fall cruise.... and, by golly, we should all see if we can't help make it happen! Come on, put a fiver in the kitty. Roust yourselves, you can do it, and we shall get to go, one and all... vicariously of course, but we shall have participated none the less!

This is gonna be great fun! HG, Mr. HG, John Bolton, Andrew Klavin, K. Lo, VDH, Dinesh D’Souza, Tony Blankley, John Derbyshire, Jonah, Cal Thomas, my word, John Sununu, Andrew McCarthy, Ranesh, and Mark Steyn. Some of the most talented and interesting of conservative punditry. No, I will not be there, but lots of great guys and gals are going, and its our sincere hope, nay, our sincere duty, to send HG along.

Make your move and add a little sparkle to the Steyn Cruise.