Thoughts On A Sunday

It looks like New England is experiencing it first (and maybe only) heat wave of the summer. This is the first time temperatures have been in the 90's since May (there two days where temps reached 90 degrees, but the humidity was only 15%, which meant it didn't feel like it was 90).

The beaches have been crowded for the first time in a long time.

Ironically, school starts here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire in two weeks.

So much for summer.

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The first two Atlantic tropical storms have made their appearance, again quite late as compared to most years.

Tropical Storm Ana is expected to remain a weak storm and will likely pass over Puerto Rico, Hispañola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), and possibly Cuba.

Tropical Storm Bill is expected to strengthen into a hurricane but its path and strength is still unknown.

I seem to remember when the Global-Warming-Is-All-The-Fault-Of-The-Evil-Humans alarmists predicted more numerous and powerful hurricanes due to the warmer climate. Instead we've had less and weaker storms. But the alarmists say it's also an indicator of global warming.

So global warming causes both more and fewer storms that are both stronger and weaker than 'normal'.

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I was listening to a recording of Obama's speech at the Portsmouth, NH town hall meeting that took place this past Tuesday. While I disagreed with his talking points (I thought most of them were fluff meant as sound bites to make it sound like he knew what he was talking about), there was one thing he said I agreed with wholeheartedly.

He talked about the chain of visits and tests a patient might go through: you go to your doctor, he orders tests. Once the results are in he refers you to a specialist who in turn orders many of the same tests as your doctor. The specialist wants to admit you to a hospital for treatment, and the hospital runs the same tests as your doctor and the specialist. There's little sharing of information between your doctor, the specialist, and the hospital. That's wasteful and expensive.

I agree. But one thing Obama failed to address is the prevalence of defensive medicine, where physicians and medical facilities run tests to gather evidence to defend themselves if/when they are sued for malpractice. That practice won't stop until there is tort reform and that isn't likely to happen as long as the President is beholden to the trial lawyers lobby. That's not going to change any time soon.

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Best anti-Obama protest sign ever.

(H/T Pirate's Cove)

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RightWingSparkle has her own take on Obama's crumbling image and the American people's growing lack of trust in him.

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Here's yet another story of union thugs assaulting an anti-Obamacare protester, in this case a handicapped woman using a walker.

Gotta love all those tolerant, caring Democrats, don't you?

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Wizbang gives us a view of how the Left views dissent, particularly in regards to protests against Obamacare, cap-and-trade, and the stimulus.

It's no surprise they look upon anyone questioning the Obamessiah as obviously deranged.

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Also from Wizbang: Obama admits he'll have to raise taxes for the 95% of taxpayers he said he wouldn't tax in order to pay for Obamacare.

And yet another major campaign promise bites the dust.

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Was the Cash for Clunkers program really nothing more than a stealth program to bail out the auto industry? It really doesn't make sense from an economic point of view, costing ten times more than it would save in carbon credits and skewing used car market prices.

(H/T Viking Pundit)

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It appears our two representatives to Congress, Carol Shea-Porter (D-1NH) and Paul Hodes (D-2NH), have decided they won't bother holding any town hall meetings with their constituents.

Instead they'll spend time with friendly crowds, meaning union members and Democrats. Shea-Porter is taking it one step further, not wasting any time in New Hampshire but instead spending time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Netroots Nation liberal blogger enclave.

I guess she figures she doesn't need to spend time at home. After all, on more than one occasion she has expressed the sentiment that her only constituents are those that agree with her. Republicans need not bother contacting her office.

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BeezleBub and I made it out on the lake late in the day, heading over to Ellacoya State Park and anchoring just off its beach. We managed to get a good half hour of swimming in before heading back, cruising into the setting sun. It was a nice sunset on a calm and almost empty lake.

This was the first real summer day we'd had the chance to experience as it should be since last year, and long overdue.

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At least someone thinks Sarah Palin made an important point about the so-called “death panels”.

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There's nothing wrong with looking at other states to see how they handle one issue or another, either as a way to solve some pressing policy problem or to use as an example of how not to do something. But to use laws from other states to justify court decisions in your own state where such laws do not exist or apply is something to be avoided at all costs.

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And that's the news from Lake Winnipesaukee, where summer is finally in full swing, people are debating health care, and where school starts in two weeks.