Today brings news that the government is investigating a major insurance company. What’d they do this time? Rescind the coverage from an old lady while she was falling down the stairs? Collude with a competitor to fix prices?
No, according to the Associated Press, the government is investigating Humana for sending out a mailer that could be construed as opposing Democratic Party policy.
You probably didn’t know that it was a crime to oppose the Democratic Party’s policy positions. Well, if truth be told it isn’t. But now that we have thugs running the government, you can be investigated anyway.
Concerned that Senator Max Baucus’ health care reform bill cuts payments to insurers who operate the Medicare Advantage program, and imposes a $6 billion "fee" on the industry, Humana warned seniors in a mailing that "millions of seniors and disabled individuals could lose many … important benefits and services." Democrats in Congress and the White House say otherwise. They say the insurance companies are overpaid. Baucus says the cuts won’t affect benefits, although how he knows this when he does not run any insurance companies is not made clear.
In any case, disagreeing with Democrats is no longer to be tolerated. Try it and they’ll "investigate" you.
As they say in Chicago, "We not gonna investigate you a second time."
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Caleb Howe
Extremely Bad for the First Amendment
seandparnell (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 1:29PM EST (link)Threatening companies that they’ll be investigated (and worse) if they fail to toe the government line in their political speech? The First Amendment is supposed to prevent exactly this sort of intimidation (along with outright censorship, obviously).
Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics
http://www.campaignfreedom.org
Who is going to be the rainmaker on this, though?
yoyo (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 1:56PM EST (link)Like I used to say when I was [much] younger when questioned by friends about speeding: “Ain’t nothing illegal until you are caught & prosecuted.”
We can “catch” them all the time, but unless someone is willing to prosecute….
Humana would have to be willing to foot the bill and headache to sue the gov’t and have the SC rule – most likely. In doing so, they know that they would have to air all of their laundry, and the MSM would spin them to be found guilty in the court of public opinion….
Checks & Balances do not work if no one is gets the scales involved.
Nemo me impune lacesset
“No one will provoke me with impunity!”
=============================
Pukin’ Dogs – The Fighting 143
Sans Reproache
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The ‘yoyo’ replaced my cigarettes January 22, 2006….
Not necessarily
Menlo (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 8:02PM EST (link)They could just refuse to obey the order HHS sent to them and act if the administration initiates legal action. Either way though, they would have to endure the legal process and media coverage.
“The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.” -Felix Frankfurter
Humana could sue
mosander Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:04AM EST (link)For violations of the 1st Amendment and the fact that Obama isn’t a legal citizen to get involved. If we could just get it into court before he eliminates free speech everywhere and takes us to his FEMA internment camps!
They should sue
Richard Mullins (Diary) Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:06AM EST (link)Now the question will the do it. They have Tricare as well as other things.
Richard Phillip Mullins BlogThe Squash Satire SiteNews on Happy Jet Airlines
Rmullins Pics
Rpmullins Twitter
Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.
Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.
Why give it that credibility?
Menlo (Diary) Wednesday, September 23rd at 11:13AM EST (link)I still think think the best way to handle it would have been to ignore it and to continue informing people, perhaps even expanding its outreach. That’s what I’d have done. I would not take such an order seriously.
It doesn’t matter anyway though since Humana decided to bow down to Obama and stop the mailings altogether. In doing so, they have shown they don’t care about the draconian bills in Congress. they don’t care about their customers, and they do care about cozying up to Obama and his evil administration.
“The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.” -Felix Frankfurter
While what you say is true,
mikedaire Monday, September 21st at 1:57PM EST (link)how can we go about and stop them? They’re supposed to uphold the constitution, not violate it, as this government has been doing at every turn. Public pressure can only bring about so much change and the 2010 election is too far away. Aren’t there a number of states that can recall their Congressmen and Senators? Should we pursue that as well as the constant public pressure?
No provision for recall of federal officers. nt
Achance (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 2:16PM EST (link)In Vino Veritas
I suppose then our only recourse
mikedaire Tuesday, September 22nd at 12:17AM EST (link)is to keep up the intense scrutiny and keep applying public pressure. 2010 cannot come fast enough for me.
Amen
mosander Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:05AM EST (link)I just hope Czar Obama doesn’t declare a coup before that!
mike
sarge324 Tuesday, September 22nd at 3:16PM EST (link)constant pressure on our elected officials.if they dont listen there is 2010
Don't let up 2010 is far away but not out of sight
martyinaz Monday, October 26th at 12:19AM EST (link)This is not the time to let up on keeping our position in the ears of those Bozo’s in Congress.Nearly all are up for re-election. Some, like Pelosi from San Franciscowill be too strong to remove. She is from serious kool-aid country and will not be ousted. But many are from districts that will be on the fence with their Representatives. These are the ones who will listen if you threaten their political futures. Tell them how it is, then on election day vote them out anyway. Take no prisoners! Write to or e-mail every politician in your district, Democrat or Republican, and make your position known. We can take back what we have lost. But, we must stand united and ACT. Forget these mass mailings, they just hit the trash can. Instead just do your part. E-mail them every week. You will be heard.
They can be expelled by their peers using the same rules as the recent censure.
nessa (Diary) Tuesday, September 22nd at 3:37PM EST (link)But where will you find a congress critter with enough intestinal fortitude to propose it? If you can find that one, where are the ones who will support him or her? No way, no how.
The public should issue a “Vote of No Confidence.” Its proceedural and meaningless when it comes from congress, Impeachment is normally used although votes of no confidence have been a part of American politics. The last time one was used was December of 1950 when Republicans voted that SecState Dean Atchison should be removed from office, to no avail.
I guess if the public, actually the Tea Parties, were to issue a vote of no confidence it would have to be a petition and would have no effect beyond what it could generate in the media. But it might be effective in notifying BOTH parties that they are not performing to our standards. The Republicans need to feel a little threatened by We The People as well as the Dems. A certain amount of trepidation is good for a congress critter, they should all have high blood pressure and ulcers worrying about satisfying us!
“If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Contributor to Unified Patriots
teh twitter
It's just getting harder and harder
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 1:55PM EST (link)to avoid drawing parallels that refer to the guy with the funny mustache.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Well I'm seeing him as a New Stalin
Richard Mullins (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 2:02PM EST (link)maybe without the trenchcoat.
Richard Phillip Mullins BlogThe Squash Satire SiteNews on Happy Jet Airlines
Rmullins Pics
Rpmullins Twitter
Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.
Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.
Compare and contrasting despots
Idolator (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 4:04PM EST (link)I saw a program one time that compared Hitler and Stalin. Their back ground and familial upbringing were suprisingly similar.
I’m not going to make assertions on what would be a subjective analysis but I see many similarities between the current President and two of histories’ most heinous oppressors.
Check it out your self.
Look at yourself! Have you looked at yourself?!?
I'm not so sure this isn't a violation of law...though it shouldn't be!
AceInTX (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 2:12PM EST (link)Can’t it be construed as a violation of MCCAIN/Feingold because it is advocation for a candidate, party or position?
We can hope they try to use M/F to squelch the debate.
Flagstaff (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 2:56PM EST (link)More grist for the Supreme Court mill.
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
Not a McCain-Feingold violation
seandparnell (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 4:37PM EST (link)Violation of the First Amendment, yes. Violation of the notion that we’re allowed to dissent from the government, yes. Violation of free speech and thought, yes.
But even McCain-Feingold didn’t envision this sort of speech suppression.
Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics
http://www.campaignfreedom.org
Is there ANYONE in elected office who will challenge this on the record ?
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 6:58PM EST (link)There’s got to be one…. ONE ?….. CongressCritter who is trying to keep their sworn oath for upholding and defending The Constitution of The United States.
How about it… any takers to challenge the administration ?
Mitch McConnell is challenging McCain Fiengold
AceInTX (Diary) Tuesday, September 22nd at 1:08AM EST (link)in the case concerning the Hillary Clinton Documentary
Let’s pray the SC Justices see the lunacy that is McCain Fiengold!
I doubt Jefferson thought his use of the term "wall of separation between church and state"would be used like it is today...
AceInTX (Diary) Tuesday, September 22nd at 1:05AM EST (link)but the courts have helped that along nicely since 1954 haven’t they?
to the point where most people think it's an actual phrase in the first amendment...
AceInTX (Diary) Tuesday, September 22nd at 1:09AM EST (link)instead of a letter Jefferson wrote to a minister and church
I just heard ABC radio say they were being investigated for sending out false claims.
Danielle Davis (ocleverone) (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 6:15PM EST (link)I swear, I just about drove off the road.
They made it sound that Humana was sending out false insurance claims.
ABC has stooped to its lowest.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
Is ABC Trying To Counter-balance George Stephanopoulos' Dictionary Mauling of NObama Yesterday?
Ausonius (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 6:30PM EST (link)Another day, another outrage, another attack on freedom!
The whirling dervishes of slavery: spinning everywhere, silently shackling you one limb at a time, telling you that another chain will protect you and make life fair.
Ausonius: 310-395 A.D. Teacher, Poet, Consul, General, Farmer.
Personal Tutor to the future St. Paulinus of Nola and to young Gratian, heir to the throne during the turbulent final years of the Western Roman Empire. When his former student Gratian was assassinated, Ausonius threw up his hands and retired to his farm in Gaul. Rome was captured by barbarians 14 years after his death.
Cato@rock.com
I never thought that I'd live to see
spritelywatchdog (Diary) Monday, September 21st at 10:45PM EST (link)the day when such a hard core propaganda campaign was being launched against American citizens. When are the politicians going to stand up and say enough already? After the czars have stripped them of their power?
More of my views can be read at http://spritelywatchdog.blogspot.com
Accountability in 2010 and in 2012.
Give me Liberty, or give me Death. – Patrick Henry
Agree, But why would they!!!!?
ecroper Tuesday, September 22nd at 12:23PM EST (link)Maybe they are all hoping that they will be chosen to be to be one of the untouchables.Truley Chicago MOB rules.
Their HOPE
ecroper Tuesday, September 22nd at 12:44PM EST (link)A CZAR THAT IS
Unbelievable
redpens (Diary) Tuesday, September 22nd at 6:33AM EST (link)The Democrat party can’t stand to be presented a dissenting point of view. They are not an American political party. They should get it over with & put the hammer & sickle on the donkey now. Yeah, I said it Dems. Come investigate me.
Humana is just one voice...
somerschool Tuesday, September 22nd at 8:45AM EST (link)The combination of the Humana censorship and the NEA propaganda was a bit much for me yesterday… but in thinking it over, I can see a possible silver lining. NOBODY reads junk mail. Humana’s self-serving mailer would have gotten very little attention without this ham-fisted action by the thought police. You can get a lot more bang for your buck by turning this into a news story (Obama Administration censors seniors) than you’d ever get from a profit-motivated mailer.
The problem, of course, is to get the news out around the state-run media. But seniors aren’t stupid and they know there’s reason to be jittery…
SOME seniors aren't stupid; but,
LDahl752 (Diary) Tuesday, September 22nd at 9:33AM EST (link)there are a whole lot of them that ARE NOT well-informed. And, it is sad. In my own family there were a couple of older women who believed Al Gore’s lies in 2000 that GWB wanted to “mess with their Social Security.” If they lean towards the Dems at all, they are quite inclined to believe what comes out of the liberals mouths. If they’re more conservative, they’re willing to accept the other side of the story — from companies, conservative commentators, etc.
Well, maybe most of us are like that, elderly or not. And, you’re right, somerschool. Many seniors are becoming jittery; and, hopefully, they’re speaking about their worries to their friends. We can hope so, eh?
Linda D, Henderson NV
Worst Than Jimmy Carter
mayflowerboy Tuesday, September 22nd at 10:12AM EST (link)The dems found a president worst than JC. He must think that we’re blind . except for the Fox viewers, thats why he would not do an interview. WE GOT YOUR NUMBER BHO. TRUTH / JUSTICE / AN THE AMERICAN WAY !!!!!!
The Holy Grail
ecroper Tuesday, September 22nd at 12:37PM EST (link)When Jimmy Carter realized he was about to be knocked out of his historicle number one position as the Best of the Worst, He couldnt help himself,Its a TITLE that holds both ends of the spectrum and a definition only the liberals understand.-( BEST & WORST all in the same sentance) so he tried using the Race card and I think it worked. God Bless America!!!
What next
ecroper Tuesday, September 22nd at 11:54AM EST (link)Many definitions have changed in the past few months. A liar is not a liar, people who are racists are not racists, the truth is not the truth and the list goes on. Lets not forget the definition of A Tax.Count on it people, you know who is said we are in for CHANGE. When we were kids, we used to play harmless war games , cowboys and indians things like that. It always seemed to amaze me that when someone really started losing badly or wanted to reallywin at any cost the would simply change the rules.Sound familiar.HUH!! This Country has a great set of rules already in place for Us, the Constitution and The Bill Of Rights. They alone are just words on paper, When you apply them they do amazing things for us.Mainly protect us from those we trust with the power we give them.Thats why they are in place, to protect us from powers that have excedded their boundries. We have work to do people and its not going done just sittin around . Lets get OUR COUNTRY BACK . WE might even have to Take IT Back… Remember Always remember we have GOD on our side. He has only 10 rules that apply.(they can be memorized) We still are ONE NATION UNDER GOD, lets start acting like . When God does what he does, Then YouWwill Know That HE IS GOD!!!
CHANGE he can't spell, it was CHAINS
mosander Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:18AM EST (link)Around every citizen and his pocketbook. A malignant narcissist will never believe he is wrong. He will never believe or acknowlege that HE is in the minority. He will after the next election, but I think our constitution will be done in. He keeps wanting stronger police and children indoctrination so they can keep the population from stopping him killing the REPUBLIC this is NOT a Democracy!
insurance
sarge324 Tuesday, September 22nd at 3:10PM EST (link)hooray for humana they spoke up.now its time for the rest of the companies to stand up and be counted.the truth is out there show the people how they will lose if government takes over.obama and his people have lied.there is no facts on health care and on cap and trade.they are ripping at the american fabric,and some people think that is good.blind faith is what their counting on.they will not beat the americans.
The Big Lie, Hitler put it best.
martyinaz Monday, October 26th at 12:57AM EST (link)As Hitler put it in chapter 10 of Mien Kamf, people accept the big lie as the truth. They are used to the little lie because they do it themselves, and can easily identify it. But the big lie is unidentifiable and therefore it is believed. The majority of Americans accepted the big lie of, “Change”. Boy, oh boy, did they get it. AND MANY STILL BELIEVE IT.
Get rid of ALL Liberals-Democrats
loybanks Wednesday, September 23rd at 3:27AM EST (link)In 2010 and 2012 we MUST Vote Out ALL Liberals-Democrats from ALL publicly held offices all across the country. Get rid of all of them once and for all time.
All Congressmen and women and all Senators. We can’t forget any of them.! Vote them ALL OUT!
Obama and his minions have shredded the U S Constitution, so must take this action to once again get our country back.
Re:Robert Hahn They don't investigate you in Chicago.......
DavidS1787 (Diary) Monday, October 26th at 12:31AM EST (link)n/t