Barbara Simpson: Spell it, R-A-T-I-O-N-I-N-G

"The bottom line of any government health-care proposal is loss of individual rights and privacy with government bureaucracy taking over and having the final word.

"That's not good.

It's begun, and we must pay attention.

"First, several weeks ago, there were news reports of changes in how men should be screened for prostate cancer. Everything we'd been told was being changed or eliminated.

"Change the test, don't do it so often, and be more concerned with the state of mind of the man rather than whether his body might be harboring the seeds of the cancer that could kill him.

"The American Cancer Society press release stressed 'potential harm' from the tests and the reality there are some false positives, which could lead to 'unnecessary' biopsies.

"Note: an 'unnecessary' biopsy is one which turns out to show that the patient doesn't have cancer.

"Silly me! I thought that was good news – but I'm not a bureaucrat looking to cut costs.

"It's interesting they define 'potential harm' as being the state of mind of a man who suspects he has cancer but it turns out not to be true.

"Of course, they didn't delve heavily into the state of mind of a man who didn't have the early screening test and who then is diagnosed so late that the disease is fatal.

"It seems to me, a little early concern that turns out OK is what we want. According to the 'experts,' that's not the case.

"And then there was last week.

"What a week! Their attention turned to women, and we got a good dose
of what the future holds.

"First, the rug was pulled out from under the routine protocols for breast cancer screening. Then, a few days later, the same thing was done to the recommendations for routine Pap tests for cervical cancer.

"It's mind-boggling that tests that were groundbreaking in their impact when developed and introduced as ways to help women be diagnosed early and survive cancer were being downplayed, delayed and demeaned by people supposedly in the 'healing professions.'

"But remember those 'healing professionals' were joined and led by bureaucrats watching the bottom line.

"Every test avoided is money not spent.

"When the announcement was made concerning the changes, the media went nuts and so did women across the country. The echoes of their anger, screams and lamentations reverberated across the country, especially in broadcast media – most especially, in talk radio.

"The story got front-page coverage and lead story positions in newscasts – and deservedly so. When changes are made in what has been regarded as proper and routine screening for a disease that maims and kills millions every year, it's not surprising there's an angry uproar.

"What's odd is that while the breast cancer story was front-page news, the changes for use of the Pap smear barely made a short mention in much media. One local paper made only slight mention; another ignored it.

"A shrink would have a field day with that!

"The 16-member 'U.S. Preventative Services Task Force' announced the mammography report.

"The what?

"Those recommendations, published in the annals of Internal Medicine, revamp the guidelines for breast cancer screening. This is the first re-evaluation since 2002.

"For the task force, the rationale for the changes is the same as for men and prostate cancer screening. The words are the same: false positives, unnecessary biopsies and unwarranted mental anguish.

"The task force can coat the report with any justification it wants – and it does – but the reality is that it turns routine breast cancer screening upside down and ignores the fact that the 'unnecessary' biopsy is good news because it means the woman does not have cancer! What's wrong with that!

"The proposed changes are dramatic: Stop routine annual mammograms for women in their 40s. Do a baseline screening after 50 and only alternate years after that. "Stop annual mammograms for older women. Stop all mammograms for women over 74.

"From someone whose mother was diagnosed at age 87, the elimination of testing for seniors is outrageous.

"Needless to say, the changed guidelines don't sit well with the millions of women under 50 who've survived breast cancer because of early detection.

"As if those changes weren't drastic enough, the panel says women of all ages not be taught breast self-exams and be urged not to do them.

"To many, the recommendation report was viewed as a vendetta against women. It's not. It's simply the beginning of what's in store for everyone if government takes control of health care.

"Prostate cancer. Breast cancer. Cervical cancer. What's next? The same panel will make those decisions, too.

"Cut the screening. Delay the testing. Eliminate it for some based on age. Old people are expendable.

"Voila! Look at the money saved.

"On the other hand, look at all those dead bodies. But government doesn't care and neither do bureaucrats.

"Be afraid. Be angry and don't be silent."

Howard Galganov: I Told You So – Yes I Did

"In all fairness, it wasn’t HARD to be RIGHT in my prediction concerning Obama’s Presidency, even in its first 6 months, so I’m going to make yet another prediction:

"OBAMA WILL PROBABLY NOT FINISH HIS 4-YEAR TERM, at least not in a conventional way.

"He is such a political HORROR-SHOW, and so detrimental to the USA and his own Democratic Party, that the Democrats themselves will either FORCE him to resign or figure out a way to have him thrown out."

Ah, sorry to bother you Mr. Obama, Sir...

"Well, listen, anyway, I can't seem to get some information I need to wrap this up. These things seem to either be 'Not released' or 'Not available.' I'm sure it's just an oversight or glitch or something, so if you could you tell me where these things are -- I -- I have them written down here somewhere -- oh wait. Sorry about the smears. It was raining out. I'll just read it to you. Could you please help me find these things, Sir?

'1. Occidental College records -- Not released
2. Columbia College records -- Not released
3. Columbia Thesis paper -- "Not available"
4. Harvard College records -- Not released
5. Selective Service Registration -- Not released
6. Medical records -- Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule -- Not available
8. Your Illinois State Senate records -- Not available
9. Law practice client list -- Not released
10. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate -- Not released
11. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth -- Not released
12. Record of your baptism -- Not available

"Oh and one more thing Mr. President, I can't seem to find any articles you published as editor of the Harvard Law Review, or as a Professor at the University of Chicago. Can you explain that to me, Sir?

"Oh, but hey -- listen! I know you're busy! If this is too much for you right now -- I mean -- tell you what. I'll come back tomorrow. Give you some time to get these things together, you know? I mean, I know you're busy. I'll just let myself out. I'll be back tomorrow. And the day after. . .

"What's that Mr. President? Who wants to know these things? We the People of the United States of America ! You know, the ones that vote."

Derrick Roach: BREAKING: San Diego ACORN Document Dump Scandal

"Over the weeks and months ahead, BigGovernment.com will continue to release information from this shocking document dump by ACORN, slowly revealing the ugly truth of ACORN: the fact that their stated mission of helping the poor and downtrodden is just a ruse and a cover for an organization that is highly partisan and highly political, and thus rotten to the core."

Hermain Cain: Obama's handlers set him up to fail

"Unfortunately, this structure is breeding indecision and inaccuracies, and highlighting some serious incompetence. Well-scripted speeches to try to make things sound better than they are have lost their luster. It certainly will not work for another three years of your presidency.

"Mr. President, is it you or the people around you?"

Gabor Steingart: Obama's Nice Guy Act Gets Him Nowhere on the World Stage

"When he entered office, US President Barack Obama promised to inject US foreign policy with a new tone of respect and diplomacy. His recent trip to Asia, however, showed that it's not working. A shift to Bush-style bluntness may be coming."

Mychal Massie: Dems' demographic must-haves

"In lessons inculcated down through recent generations, they have taught blacks in their stockyards to assault other blacks. It was blacks that pelted then Republican candidate Michael Steele with Oreo cookies. Even though Michael is a moderate Republican, he is still a Republican. And that means he must be destroyed – discrediting him would not be enough.

"Even those blacks who have behaved themselves and followed the party line are quickly and severely reminded they have a place – evidence Harold Ford, the Democrat from Tennessee who dared challenge Nancy Pelosi. Step out of line, forget their place, and the sting of the lash is swift and certain.

"Jesse Jackson, the race-baiting retinue in charge of latrine politics, publicly humiliated Rep. Arthur Davis, D-Ala., for daring not to vote along party lines on the health-care reform bill. 'You can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man,' Jackson said at a reception held by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, of which Davis is a member. In essence, Jackson was telling him to vote the Democrat way, and to hell with what your constituents want – a heinous and morally opprobrious act by Jackson, but well in keeping with his character. Jackson's message was clear – don't step out of line.

"People for the American Way called conservative judicial nominee Miguel Estrada the Latino Clarence Thomas. Democrats in the Senate successfully stalled Estrada's nomination process until he finally withdrew his name. Alberto Reynaldo Gonzales, attorney general under President George W. Bush, was Hispanic and Mexican. Both Estrada and Gonzales came from humble backgrounds – yet they were visited with visceral attacks as not being Hispanic enough.

"But such was not the case with Obama or Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The credentials of Justice Thomas, Ken Blackwell, Dr. Walter Williams, Miguel Estrada and Alberto Gonzales will stand up to those of any liberal, be they black, white, Hispanic, other, or a Sotomayor. Liberal Democrats and their viremic minions castigate minorities, not singularly because they are minorities, but because they are conservative minorities – albeit this essayist argued that both Estrada and Gonzales were stealth Souters.

"Allowing their blacks and Hispanics to observe other blacks and Hispanics that do not think and vote the party line is a threat to Democrat rule. They can hide behind a mountain of rationale and denials, but the bottom line remains the same – don't let them get a taste of freedom, because if they do, Dems lose.

"It is for this reason that the liberal illuminati are so rapacious in their assault of Gov. Sarah Palin and her family. They want to send a message to all women that this is what they can expect if they 'go rogue.' The same can be said of the Republican illuminati pursuant to Gov. Palin, albeit their reasons for same are different.

"The politics of personal destruction is the viscous substance that lubricates their attack machine. They understand that they cannot afford even a marginal percentage-point shift from their three stocks.

"So, like their predecessors, they exact harsh retribution upon anyone who dares to stray. And in the absence of Nathan Bedford Forest, they have enlisted a baneful group of bandicoots, euphemistically called the press, to aid them."