Football fans disguised as empty seats

Another Sunday with plenty of empty seats at NFL games. Here's a photo from today's Browns game (I hear they lost again):

photo credit: Gateway Pundit

Frank Jackson vs Zack Reed

Earlier today, Mayoral candidates Frank Jackson and Zack Reed debated each other at the Cleveland City Club. Here is the video:

Too long? Click here for the report on Cleveland.com. One excerpt:

Reed and Jackson presented very different views of where Cleveland stands today.

Jackson said he sees a bright future for the city. He credited his administration for working hard the last 12 years to steer the city through a predatory lending crisis, the foreclosure crisis and the recession, and positioning Cleveland to advance.

"We've worked hard every day to position ourselves where we could have a bright future," Jackson said.

He acknowledged that some parts of the city have fared better than others. His fourth term, he said, would focus on ensuring that all residents benefit from a better quality of life and greater prosperity.

Reed described a different Cleveland - one in which he argued Jackson has failed as a leader and people are suffering as a result.

While acknowledging some neighborhoods have prospered, others have been left behind, he said.

Crime rates, poverty rates and jobless rates continue to be among the worst in the nation, he said.

"When you elect me mayor of Cleveland you'll have a safer city," Reed said.

A contentious exchange.

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Ohio Pharmacists Association opposes Issue 2

Photo credit: El Dorado County Sheriff's Office

After putting together a blog last month on Issue 2 – the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act – it may still be confusing. Here is the very brief summary from the Ohio Pharmacists Assoc. with a link to the full article – which is accessible to any voter. It also contains a video message.

The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) has joined a growing coalition of stakeholders, experts, and patients in opposition to Issue 2 the so-called “Ohio Drug Price Relief Act” - a proposal (referred to as an initiated statute) that will be on the November 2017 ballot in Ohio.

As part of the Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue coalition, OPA will be working hard to defeat a measure that could have serious negative consequences for pharmacies, payers, employers, veterans, and patients.

The "Ohio Drug Price Relief Act" is being pushed by controversial California activist Michael Weinstein, and would prohibit Ohio’s state government from paying any more for prescription drugs than the lowest price paid by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Their web page is here.

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NFL = No Fans Left

 photo credit: IJR

   

The Independent Journal Review published photographs of several football stadiums, like the one above, of NFL games yesterday; they are half-full at kick-off! From the photo-article:

As more and more football players have protested during the national anthem and President Donald Trump has spoken out against them, fans have fired back at the National Football League for not taking action by boycotting, which has resulted in ticket sales plummeting.

Pictures of empty stadiums are the best way to see just how powerful the boycott truly is.

Click here to see more half-empty stadiums.

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Faithful Execution of Obamacare

 image credit: True Democracy Party

Andrew McCarthy is no fan of President Trump, but his clear analysis of Trump’s dismantling of Obamacare is in stark contrast with all the media hysteria:

The law is unraveling on its own terms.

. . . What Trump has actually done is end the illegal payoffs without which insurance companies have no rational choice but to jack up premiums or flee the Obamacare exchanges. The culprits here are the charlatans who gave us Obamacare. To portray Trump as the bad guy is not merely fake news. It’s an out-and-out lie.

Which is to say: It’s about as honest as the Democrats’ labeling of Obamacare as the Affordable Care Act.

The subsidy payments to insurance companies may be “critical” to sustaining the ACA, but they are not provided for in the ACA. The Obamacare law did not appropriate them. No legislation appropriates them. They are and have always been illegal. In essence, we are back to the question we asked a couple of weeks ago in connection with Trump’s then-anticipated decertification of Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal: It is not whether the president should take this action; it is why he failed to take it before now. 

Under the Constitution, no funds may be paid out of the treasury unless they have been appropriated by Congress. It is not enough for lawmakers to authorize a government program or action. The House and Senate must follow through with a statute that directs payment for the program or action. Standing alone, authorization is just aspiration; it does not imply appropriation. Congress authorizes a lot of things, but only the things for which Congress approves the disbursal of public money are permitted to happen.

. . .

Read the rest here. 

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Good news on Health Care

 photo credit: Legal Insurrection

Despite the GOP winning majorities in both the House and Senate, and then winning the White House, the pathetic GOPe in Congress have utterly failed to deliver on its promise to repeal the misnamed “Affordable Care Act.” The bill to repeal should have been on the President’s desk on Day 1, but the GOP, it would seem, never dreamed they’d have to make good on the promise.

Now President Trump has signed a few Executive Orders to begin to dismantle the monstrosity known as Obamacare, and Betsy McCaughey reports on what that means:

Trump strikes a blow 

for health care freedom

Free at last! That’s the message for millions who don’t get health coverage at work and, until now, faced two dismal options: going without insurance or paying Obama­Care’s soaring premiums. On Thursday, President Trump announced changes that will allow consumers to choose coverage options costing half of what ObamaCare’s cheapest bronze plans cost.

Democrats are already accusing the president of kneecapping ObamaCare, but these changes will reduce the number of uninsured — something Democrats claim is their goal.

The Affordable Care Act requires everyone to buy the one-size-fits-all package. You have to pay for maternity care, even if you’re too old to give birth. You’re also on the hook for pediatric dental care, even if you’re childless. It’s like passing a law that the only car you can buy is a fully-loaded, four-door sedan. No more hatchbacks or two-seaters.

Trump’s taking the opposite approach, allowing consumers choice. His new regulation will free people to again buy “short-term” health plans that exclude many costly services, such as inpatient drug rehab. These plans aren’t guaranteed to be renewable year to year; the upside is they cost much less.

. . .

. . . Trump has now seized the initiative, after congressional Republicans fell flat on their faces and failed to address the pain ObamaCare is inflicting on consumers stuck in the individual insurance market.

The president should keep going. What’s next? Trump should use his discretion to stop enforcing the tax penalty on those who don’t buy ObamaCare-compliant plans, including buyers of short-term plans.

Then he should cancel the sweetheart deal his predecessor weaseled for members of Congress and their staff members. Even though the Affordable Care Act requires them to buy coverage on ObamaCare exchanges, Obama arranged for them to have a choice of 57 gold plans and have John Q. Public pick up most of their costs. It’s an outrage.

Once members of Congress are feeling the same pain as everyone else, they’ll be more focused on repealing and replacing the dysfunctional health law. In the meantime, Trump is wisely providing relief where it counts the most — in people’s wallets.

Read the rest here.

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Your Election Day ballot

 art credit:  pattye benson 

Election Day is less than a month away. On the ballot are quite a few candidates, including those running for judgeships, and a few issues that voters may not be familiar with. So I am posting a link to the Cuyahoga Board of Elections here.

Follow the prompt boxes to enter your voting locations details (which will appear on your voter’s postcard that should have already arrived in your mailbox) including city or suburb, and where applicable, ward and precinct. Your sample ballot will then download for you to open. And you can take your time looking up candidates and issues, so you can make up your mind before you head for the polls next month.

Lake County voters: go here.

Geauga County voters: go here.

Lorain County voters: go here.

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