I tend to follow some British blogging and what is going on in the UK. What I have found fascinating in the last few weeks is the contempt of U.S. health care expressed in comments, blog posts and their media while simultaneously stories like the following also appear in their media. I thought I’d share a round up of things I haven’t seen getting much, if any, attention here.

In the last six years, the Patients Association claims hundreds of thousands have suffered from poor standards of nursing, often with ‘neglectful, demeaning, painful and sometimes downright cruel’ treatment.

The charity has disclosed a horrifying catalogue of elderly people left in pain, in soiled bed clothes, denied adequate food and drink, and suffering from repeatedly cancelled operations, missed diagnoses and dismissive staff.

Link

This report on malnourishment in NHS wards:

The number of patients starving on NHS wards has doubled in just two years, according to new figures.

Figures obtained by the Conservatives show the number of serious incidents relating to poor nutritional care has almost doubled.
The number of incidents, reported anonymously, has risen from 15,473 in 2005 to 29,138 in 2007.
Figures also show huge regional variation, with numbers in the North East rising from 389 in 2005 to as many as 1,353 in 2007.
In total almost 70,000 patient incidents relating to nutrition were reported between 2005 and 2007.

LINK

How about 30,000 deaths in 5 yrs. from hospital contracted infections?

Data from the Office for National Statistics covering 2004 to 2008 is expected to show record numbers of deaths linked to the superbugs in England and Wales.
Opposition politicians said the Government had allowed “a horrifying death toll” because of its “slow and sloppy” response to spiralling levels of infection in NHS hospitals.

LINK

Maybe those infection rates are related to this:

Shocking figures released last month reveal that 70% of Britons NHS hospitals are continually plagued by vermin. The figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and brought to public attention by the Conservative party, show that more than two thirds of NHS trusts brought in pest controllers at least 50 times over the last 2 years.

Almost 20,000 incidents of pest infestations were reported between January 2006 and March 2008. Infestations of rats, mice, cockroaches, fleas, bedbugs and other biting occurred in wards, clinics and even operating theaters across the country.

80% of NHS trusts reported problems with ants, 66% with rats, 77% with mice, 59% with cockroaches, 65% with fleas, 24% with bedbugs and a further 6% with maggots. Outbreaks included rats in maternity wards, wasps and fleas in neonatal units and maggots in patients’ slippers.

LINK

I know a diary is supposed to contain lots of commentary, but I don’t know what to say about stories like these, other than I hope and pray the over whelming majority of our hospitals don’t have these issues to any significant extent. However, I fear our VA hospitals do.

Can you say “In the tank?”

ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE
Tue Jun 16 2009 08:45:10 ET

On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

Highlights on the agenda:

ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.

The network plans a primetime special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

LINK

The obvious is, “Can you imagine the media firestorm if Fox had done this during the Bush administration?”

I do believe, though, that in the long run this is a good thing, as it is so blatant.

How should Palin respond to the NRCC and NRSC snub?   It seems clear that she is anathema  to the establishment Republicans.  In the currently developing climate, I think there are far worse things than having one’s outsider cred bolstered.   So I’d ask Sarah to please not sit around like the snubbed girl at the dance, pining for them to ask you to waltz.  I hope you’ll (I may regret this turn of phrase) embrace your inner Dominatrix, and look for ways to punish them.   In that spirit I have a name for you, Marco Rubio.

You should, of course, vet him as well as possible to make sure there aren’t any ugly skeletons in his closet.  If, after that, you feel you can support him in good conscience and he is agreeable, then you might try a fund raiser or two for him.  You did draw 20,000 in Seward N.Y. something I doubt, Newt, Steele, or any other of the Republican establishment could do.  If that goes well, then when it is time, perhaps stumping for him.  Help us defeat the NRSC and their boy Crist.

Like I said earlier, it is clear that the Republican establishment wants nothing to do with you.  I don’t see how you have anything to gain from pandering to them or worrying about ‘em.  Take the NRSC head on, look ‘em in the eye and headbutt ‘em.  If you’re really thinking about 2012, then I think this would be good experience and add to your “standing up to the Republican and Washington establishment” cred.  I’m sure others will disagree.

12.55am: CCHQ now reporting that Labour may lose all ten of the seats it is defending in Bristol.

12.45am: CCHQ tell me that we have won St George East, Bristol, from Labour, with a swing of more than 9%.  Hurrah!

12.05am: Good reports for Conservatives from Staffordshire.

11.15pm: Sources predict Labour will be disappointed at outcome in Lincoln.

Conservative Home

Iain Dale has some additional info

* Prescott slams the Labour campaign.
* LabourList calls for Brown to quit.
* Tories doing better than expected in Labour held Staffordshire
* Tories have won St George East, Bristol, from Labour, with a swing of more than 9 per cent.
* Indications are that Labour has lost all ten wards it holds in Bristol.
* Conservatives gain all six seats in Tamworth and now need 5 more seats to control Staffordshire County Council.

He also has brief clip of Tory leader David Cameron reacting to yet another resignation from Gordon Brown’s cabinet,  James Purnell.  Purnell also called on Brown to “step aside”. It’s going to be interesting to see if Gordon Brown is going to try and hang on,  step aside (for Alan Johnson), or call a general election.

Is this what Obama meant when he said we need a civilian defense corps just as well trained and equipped as the military?

IMPERIAL, Calif. — Ten minutes into arrant mayhem in this town near the Mexican border, and the gunman, a disgruntled Iraq war veteran, has already taken out two people, one slumped in his desk, the other covered in blood on the floor.

The responding officers — eight teenage boys and girls, the youngest 14 — face tripwire, a thin cloud of poisonous gas and loud shots — BAM! BAM! — fired from behind a flimsy wall. They move quickly, pellet guns drawn and masks affixed.

“United States Border Patrol! Put your hands up!” screams one in a voice cracking with adolescent determination as the suspect is subdued.

It is all quite a step up from the square knot.

It’s interesting to note that the villain here is a “disgruntled Iraq vet”, but Iraq vets are not the only threat the kiddies are being trained to fight. They include illegal border crossers, terrorists and “active shooters”, however one would assume that they are being trained to take on all those the DHS considers possible threats, like people with Ron Paul bumper stickers, anyone that invokes the Constitution or complains about the Obamessiah.

If there are critics of the content or purpose of the law enforcement training, they have not made themselves known to the Explorers’ national organization in Irving, Tex., or to the volunteers here on the ground, national officials and local leaders said.

Gosh, apparently this article changed that, because Learning For Life has issued a statement, which is one of the most blatant and whiny non-denials I’ve ever seen.

Mock me as paranoid but I think this looks mighty  police stateish.

Slideshow

Article

Contacts at Learning for Life

William Taylor,
Director of Criminal Justice
Liaison – Criminal Justice Organizations
(972) 580-2241
btaylor@lflmail.org

John Anthony, MS
National Director
(972) 580-2420
janthony@lflmail.org

Well, today the Ninth Circuit (the federal appellate court covering most Western states) ruled that the Second Amendment restricts the power of state and local governments to interfere with individual right to have guns for personal use.  That is, the Fourteenth Amendment “incorporates” the Second Amendment against the states, as the Supreme Court has found it to do for most of the Bill of Rights.  I rarely get a chance to say this, but the Ninth Circuit gets it exactly right.

Link

While the ruling probably doesn’t go as far as some would like, considering it comes out of the most liberal circuit in the Fed. Judiciary, I’d call it a major victory. It’ll be interesting to see if it is appealed and what SCOTUS says.

The Press Release:

Weld County Sheriff’s Office received a letter threatening to place bombs in or around the Greeley area after the date of April 20th, 2009 with the “intent to kill the most number of Americans” if the jail did not release immigrants who are being held for deportation. The letter is hand written in Spanish on the front and back of two pages of paper directing threats primarily towards judicial and law enforcement officers as targets. The bombs are not specifically described. Sheriff Cooke wants the public to know that the Sheriff’s Office is working diligently to locate and arrest person or persons responsible for threatening harm to our community. The Greeley Police, along with state and federal law enforcement have been notified. Sheriff Cooke is asking that residents be alert and mindful of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. The jail currently has in custody 58 inmates with I.C.E. holds. __________________________ John B. Cooke – Sheriff

Link (pdf)

Wow, I thought those right-wing, anti-illegal immigration extremists were the greatest threat facing the nation. I sure we won’t here a word about this from the MSM.  I really don’t know what else to say, other than rant, except I hope it is an empty threat.

Further proof of the “superiority” of the European way.

The assault was recorded by bus CCTV. A policeman posted the video on a Facebook site: He has been arrested and suspended from his post. The authorities fear the video is being used by right-wing sites to stir up fear about racist violence by black and arab youths against French citizens.

…

The delegate for Sud-RATP, the hardline union for Paris transport workers, said that the violence was unexceptional for late-night services. What is exceptional, he added, was for the public to see the images. “Who broadcast this video on the internet?” he demanded, “the victims, the aggressors, the driver and the other passengers did not choose to be put in the public eye in this way. It’s unacceptable.”

Video at Eursoc (violent but not bloody)

There is more on how bad it is getting in France from the Times

The sense of violence running out of control is also being fed by reports of an explosion of corner-shop (convenience store) hold-ups in Paris and other cities by teenage robbers. Armed robbery by minors jumped 44 percent in 2008. The police say they are being overwhelmed by casual stick-ups in which groups of baby bandits with airguns or fake pistols or knives help themselves to the takings of small shops. A bébé braqueur describes the fun in Le Point news magazine, out today: “When you arrive, you scream straight away. Just the sight of your hood and they start trembling.”

Link

I don’t want to draw too many parallels to the U.S. and our immigration issues, since we don’t herd immigrants, illegal or otherwise, into state sponsored ghettos like les banlieues. I do think it underscores the importance of vigorously asserting the rule of law, and defending the 2nd Amend and the right to self defense. I also wonder if more incidents like this are occurring here than we hear about.

I also fear that whistleblowers here will begin to suffer the same fate as the policeman arrested for posting the video on Facebook. It seems to be the sort of thing the left has no problem doing.

If someone has already posted on this, sorry.

H.R.45
Title: To provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms, and for other purposes.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

(a) In General- In this Act:

(1) FIREARM; LICENSED DEALER; LICENSED MANUFACTURER; STATE- The terms `firearm’, `licensed dealer’, `licensed manufacturer’, and `State’ have the meanings given those terms in section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code.

(2) QUALIFYING FIREARM- The term `qualifying firearm’ has the meaning given the term in section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Amendment to Title 18, United States Code- Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(36) The term `qualifying firearm’–

`(A) means–

`(i) any handgun; or

`(ii) any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device; and

`(B) does not include any antique.’.

SEC. 101. LICENSING REQUIREMENT.

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(aa) Firearm Licensing Requirement-

`(1) IN GENERAL- It shall be unlawful for any person other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to possess a qualifying firearm on or after the applicable date, unless that person has been issued a firearm license–

`(A) under title I of Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, which license has not been invalidated or revoked under that title; or

`(B) pursuant to a State firearm licensing and record of sale system certified under section 602 of Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, which license has not been invalidated or revoked under State law.

`(2) APPLICABLE DATE- In this subsection, the term `applicable date’ means–

`(A) with respect to a qualifying firearm that is acquired by the person before the date of the enactment of Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, 2 years after such date of enactment; and

`(B) with respect to a qualifying firearm that is acquired by the person on or after the date of the enactment of Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, 1 year after such date of enactment.’.

SEC. 102. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

(a) In General- In order to be issued a firearm license under this title, an individual shall submit to the Attorney General (in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subsection (b)) an application, which shall include–

(1) a current, passport-sized photograph of the applicant that provides a clear, accurate likeness of the applicant;

(2) the name, address, and date and place of birth of the applicant;

(3) any other name that the applicant has ever used or by which the applicant has ever been known;

(4) a clear thumb print of the applicant, which shall be made when, and in the presence of the entity to whom, the application is submitted;

(5) with respect to each category of person prohibited by Federal law, or by the law of the State of residence of the applicant, from obtaining a firearm, a statement that the individual is not a person prohibited from obtaining a firearm;

(6) a certification by the applicant that the applicant will keep any firearm owned by the applicant safely stored and out of the possession of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(7) a certificate attesting to the completion at the time of application of a written firearms examination, which shall test the knowledge and ability of the applicant regarding–

(A) the safe storage of firearms, particularly in the vicinity of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(B) the safe handling of firearms;

(C) the use of firearms in the home and the risks associated with such use;

(D) the legal responsibilities of firearms owners, including Federal, State, and local laws relating to requirements for the possession and storage of firearms, and relating to reporting requirements with respect to firearms; and

(E) any other subjects, as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate;

(8) an authorization by the applicant to release to the Attorney General or an authorized representative of the Attorney General any mental health records pertaining to the applicant;

(9) the date on which the application was submitted; and

(10) the signature of the applicant.

(b) Regulations Governing Submission- The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations specifying procedures for the submission of applications to the Attorney General under this section, which regulations shall–

(1) provide for submission of the application through a licensed dealer or an office or agency of the Federal Government designated by the Attorney General;

(2) require the applicant to provide a valid identification document (as defined in section 1028(d)(2) of title 18, United States Code) of the applicant, containing a photograph of the applicant, to the licensed dealer or to the office or agency of the Federal Government, as applicable, at the time of submission of the application to that dealer, office, or agency; and

(3) require that a completed application be forwarded to the Attorney General not later than 48 hours after the application is submitted to the licensed dealer or office or agency of the Federal Government, as applicable.

(c) Fees-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall charge and collect from each applicant for a license under this title a fee in an amount determined in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) FEE AMOUNT- The amount of the fee collected under this subsection shall be not less than the amount determined by the Attorney General to be necessary to ensure that the total amount of all fees collected under this subsection during a fiscal year is sufficient to cover the costs of carrying out this title during that fiscal year, except that such amount shall not exceed $25.

SEC. 103. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.

(a) In General- The Attorney General shall issue a firearm license to an applicant who has submitted an application that meets the requirements of section 102 of this Act, if the Attorney General ascertains that the individual is not prohibited by subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, from receiving a firearm.

(b) Effect of Issuance to Prohibited Person- A firearm license issued under this section shall be null and void if issued to a person who is prohibited by subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, from receiving a firearm.

(c) Form of License- A firearm license issued under this section shall be in the form of a tamper-resistant card, and shall include–

(1) the photograph of the licensed individual submitted with the application;

(2) the address of the licensed individual;

(3) the date of birth of the licensed individual;

(4) a license number, unique to each licensed individual;

(5) the expiration date of the license, which shall be the date that is 5 years after the initial anniversary of the date of birth of the licensed individual following the date on which the license is issued (or in the case of a license renewal, following the date on which the license is renewed under section 104);

(6) the signature of the licensed individual provided on the application, or a facsimile of the application; and

(7) centered at the top of the license, capitalized, and in boldface type, the following:

`FIREARM LICENSE–NOT VALID FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE’.

There is no co-sponsor on this bill, and I’ll be surprised if it passes as I believe the majority of Dems are, pun intended, gun shy. I’m sure there are those that would like to see it pass, just for the backlash. Still, we need to be vigilant. It’s at the committee level right now.

h/t Confederate Yankee

Whitehouse.gov has the details in the Urban Policy section:

Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.

The Tiahrt Amendment is intended to protect confidential information, not inhibit law enforcement.

As Trggerfinger points out, the is no “gun show loophole” this is in fact, directed at private sales. If I buy a firearm over the ‘Net, I pay for it and then the seller is required to ship it a licensed dealer, then I have to go an pay a transfer fee, which covers the cost of the receiving dealer to perform the background check and other paper work. Would it be unreasonable to require a private sale to be conducted through a licensed gun dealer, in similar manner? I don’t know, I can kinda see this both ways.

“Child proofing” would probably inhibit the weapon’s use for self defense. If “child proofing” is even really possible.

Finally, a clear statement to reinstate the assault weapons ban. ‘Nuff said.

Berg has been denied, but it appears he won’t be going quietly into the night:

1. If Obama is sworn in as President, we will file a Petition for Writ of ‘Quo Warranto,’ a case that will challenge Obama as being ineligible to serve as President because he is ‘not qualified.’

While I, like others, empathize based on Obama’s habit of not being very forthcoming when it comes to documentation, it would seem to me that once Hawaii said he was born there, the Full Faith and Credit clause would be, constitutionally speaking, controlling. I could, of course, be wrong. That is all.

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal ruled today that a controversial article about Islam in Maclean’s magazine did not violate the province’s hate speech law.

Link

I’m glad to see it, but it never should have happened in the first place.

H/T Insty

Bodi Politici has pics

Palinmania may be more muted than it was, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be dead.

Genius, pure genius. McCain needs to include some of the Obama childrens vid in an ad.

`

“We believe they have been accepting donations from foreign nationals and excessive contributions,” said RNC Communications Director Danny Diaz. He said there were “questions with regards to the legitimacy” of the hundreds of millions low-dollar contributions Obama has received.

Amanda Carpenter at Townhall

Ya’know, McCain supported the surge in Iraq, it looks like we’re seeing an Oct. surge against Obama.

Consider the cases of Obama donors “Doodad Pro” of Nunda, N.Y., who gave $17,130, and “Good Will” of Austin, Texas, who gave more than $11,000—both in excess of the $2,300-per-person federal limit.
…
This summer, watchdog groups asked both campaigns to share more information about its small donors. The McCain campaign agreed; the Obama campaign did not. “They could’ve done themselves a service” by heeding the suggestions, said Massie Ritsch of the Center for Responsive Politics.

Link

Obama’s unwillingness to cough up records might make a good ad. Include Berg v. Obama, why are Barry and the DNC trying to get it dismissed when all he has to do is provide a certified copy of his birth certificate?

Pics from Palin’s rally in Ca. courtesy Spolitics

Chaifetz arena

Lots of pics

This post was inspired by a piece at Instapundit. on what to do about the left-wing MSM and he also links to J.D. Johannes’ thoughts on the matter. In a nutshell, Reynold’s advocates supporting alternative media and Johannes emphasizes the blogosphere doing more original reporting. These are worthy and admirable endeavors, but I think there is potentially more that can be done to combat the MSM. First, I think two fundamental things we have to look at; the blogosphere’s resources and capabilities, and potential allies.

Read More →

Metallica w/Cliff

Gretchen Wilson/Alice in Chains

Governor Blunt’s statement:

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.

“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.

“What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.

“This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson’s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election.

“Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts – not a free society.”

H/T Gateway Pundit