....he's slicker all the time

Well, our current president has proven himself the all-time Grand Wizard of the Shell Game.

Recently, he opened our borders for millions of "Americans" that were a victim of being "born here" as a product of illegal aliens (ooops, sorry...not PC, the "undocumented.")

While his persistent promises of "no new taxes" ring in our ears, while his insistence that the dreaded, unwanted mandate would not impose new taxes on those who chose not to comply — his own attorneys argued successfully that it could be ruled on by the Supreme Court as a Congress-imposed tax.....and today it was.

And no matter how he tries to convince us otherwise — he's slicker all the time in his convincing speech — this Obamacare is a massive new tax on every American!

Although a clear majority of citizens, especially seniors, adamantly opposed the healthcare takeover, Former Speaker Pelosi urged "let's pass the bill, and then we'll find out what's in it."

And we sure are.

We now find that this takeover of one sixth of the nation's economy will cost initially at least twice what the president said it would, almost $1.7 trillion . . . and that's just the start. And who's going to pay for all that? Guess who — every taxpaying American, that's who.

Greek socialism, here we come, ready or not!

A technically bankrupt nation taking on ever more drastic, unpayable debt, succumbing to the Pied Piper siren song of "hope and change."

The inexperienced captain of the Titanic ship of state sailing the vessel straight toward the looming icebergs, proclaiming "victory for the masses."

These are all new taxes starting in less than 5 months. Some take full effect by 2014. This list does not include anticipated increases in insurance premiums or actual health care.

• New tax on individuals who do not purchase government-approved health insurance-$17 Billion

• New tax on employers who fail to fully comply with government health insurance mandates-$52 Billion

• New 40% excise tax on certain high-cost health plans.-$32 Billion
• Increase the Medicare tax on wages and self-employment income by 0.9% and impose a new 3.8% surtax on certain investment income (for individuals over $200,000 and couples over $250,000)-$210.2 Billion

• Increase, from 7.5% to 10% of income, the threshold after which individuals can deduct out of pocket medical expenses-$15.2 Billion

• Impose a new $2,500 annual cap on FSA contributions-$13 Billion

• New annual tax on brand name pharmaceuticals-$27 Billion

• New 2.3% excise tax on certain medical devices-$20 Billion

• New 10% tax on indoor UV tanning services-$2.7 Billion

• New tax on insured and self-insured health plans-$2.6 Billion

• Double the penalty for non-qualified HSA distributions-$1.4 Billion

• Eliminate the deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D Subsidy-$4.5 Billion

• Limit the deduction for compensation to officers, employees and directors of certain health insurance providers-$0.6 Billion

America…land of the free! (Well, not anymore). Next blog: Obama’s quest to print Euro dollars? (or is it the Peso?)

...the shelf life of a pumpkin

Whining is something that we all do, but the question is why? When you whine nothing really happens other than you sounding like a baby. And if you sound like a baby then you are probably going to be treated like one. But seriously, why do people whine?

Ann Curry is a world-class journalist. Ann whined when she was overlooked for Meredith Vieira several years ago as the anchor on the Today show after 14 years of ‘reading the news.’ One short year ago Meredith left the show and everyone said Ann would be the best “fit” for the job….really?

Curry got the plum assignment in part because she was passed over last time, when Meredith Vieira got the nod, and the network brass didn’t want her to leave. Poor Ann….the Today show finally dropped out of first place in the morning ratings. A nearly two decade rule as the champ....you get the job...(because no one wanted to "pass you over" again)...and you drop to record low ratings.

Ann has never been a great fit as co-host of the Today show. Just about everyone at NBC, and in the television business, recognizes that. So I’m not surprised to learn that NBC has begun talks to move her off the program, just a year after she ascended to the job. If this New York Times report is right, she’ll be gone before the Olympics.

Has her turn-back-to-a-pumpkin moment arrived?
Lauer, who recently signed a mega-deal worth at least $25 million a year, is quite obviously the future of the franchise. If he's not feeling a comfortable rapport with his on-air partner, the network has to take that very seriously.

In an interview last month Ann was asked to open-up and answer:

What she'd change about herself: "I don't always understand my worth. I think it's a chronic condition for women. I'm not talking about professionally. I'm talking about in our personal lives. We constantly punish ourselves with degrading thoughts when we look at ourselves in the mirror. We allow people to treat us poorly, we allow our husbands or boyfriends to get away with things or we have relationships with girlfriends or colleagues who don't treat us well. We don't defend ourselves as we would our own children. Women have demanded and gotten better jobs and more power. But the one thing we deserve is a better relationship with ourselves. We waste too much time beating ourselves up. I think at my age of 55, it's time to stop doing that."

Crystal ball moment Ann. You will be that pumpkin again very soon….it is not your fault that Josh Elliott on GMA is better at smiling, interfacing with guests, engaging with the stories….oh, and he can read the news as well....now move on Ann....move on please!