The American Spectator : Amateur Hour

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Amateur Hour

By William Tucker on 8.4.09 @ 6:08AM

Politics thrives on people — like our president — who don’t know what they’re talking about.

I’ve finally figured out what politics is all about. You know that guy you sometimes end up sitting next to in a bar or get stuck with at a party? He knows everything about everything. He’ll tell you how the big guys control everything, it’s all one big racket, you can’t believe anything you read in the newspapers, it’s all going to come out some day, you mark my word. You roll your eyes and try to jab him with a little irony here and there, but it’s no use. You’re the naïve one. He’s got all the inside dope.

Well take enough of those people, put them all together until they vote themselves into a majority, and that’s what we call “politics.”

All this came home to the other day listening to President Obama talk about health care. He made some remark about how doctors perform a lot of unnecessary operations like tonsillectomies just to make money off them. That’s supposedly what’s wrong with the healthcare system — too many doctors making too much money. (This week it’s the insurance companies refusing to pay for these unnecessary operations.) So we’re going to appoint a federal panel “insulated from special interests” that will set prices and solve everything. (The New York Times repeated this tonsillectomy fable in an editorial, which only shows they attend the same parties as the President.)

He’s kidding, right? Doctors undertaking unnecessary procedures in order to make extra money?

Here’s an example. A couple of years ago I broke my finger and went to an orthopedic specialist. He looked at my finger, took an x-ray, and every five minutes he went over in a corner and started mumbling to himself. I thought he was kind of crazy until I realized he was talking into a tape recorder. He finally told me that every single diagnosis and decision he makes in his office has to be put on tape and sent down to Alabama, where housewives spent their days earning extra money by transcribing it all into written records. (The best doctors probably have voice-recognition systems by now.) I visited a urologist recently and he was doing the same thing. All this is done for one reason — to defend against lawsuits.

Sure doctors perform a lot of unnecessary procedures these days. Probably the best example is Caesarian sections, which now constitute one-third of all live births. In 1970 it was 4 percent. Most doctors don’t like C-sections and generally regard them as a last resort because the procedure has its own risks. A 2006 study in the Lancet concluded that above 15 percent Caesarians seem to do more hard than good. Yet doctors now perform them routinely. Why? Because they know they’ll be sued for tens of millions of dollars if they don’t.

The Caesarian epidemic has occurred because for years trial lawyers feasted on the victims of cerebral palsy. CP is a horrible condition and its victims make dramatic trial witnesses, painfully lolling in their wheelchairs and talking almost indecipherably. John Edwards became a multimillionaire by “channeling” CP victims before juries.

No one knew what caused CP when triall lawyers began their assault and no one knows today. But the lawyers managed to convince judges and juries around the country that it was because doctors weren’t performing C-sections. Doctors disputed the diagnosis but after a few dozen $50-million verdicts they gave up. “Alright,” they said, “we’ll do whatever you want.” And as a result, the incidence of cerebral palsy has not dropped one bit. It was 0.2 percent of all live births in 1965 and remains there today. CP may be caused by genetic defects or trauma or injury during pregnancy, no one knows. But one thing we know for sure is that medical malpractice has nothing to do with it. However, doctors will continue to perform Caesarians at their alarming rate in order to avoid trouble.

That’s the way things now go in the medical profession. Ever since trial lawyers and politicians decided to become doctors in their spare time, medical knowledge has taken a back seat. Obama argues that increased healthcare spending constitutes a “crisis,” but who says that’s true? It may be just the mark of an affluent society. What do people value more than their health? Twenty years ago you saw people hobbling around all the time on aching knees and hips. Today Americans spend $11 billion annually on 500,000 knee replacements and $7 billion on 200,000 hip replacements. Is this a “crisis” that has to be solved? Should we be spending money instead on trips to the Bahamas or video games?

Medicine costs more today because it does more. I was just reading Robert Stone’s Prime Green, a memoir of the 1960s, in which he suffered from blurred vision and went to the Stanford Medical School clinic, where some of the best doctors in the world drilled two holes in his skull to find out whether he has a brain tumor. (He didn’t.) That was before MRIs. Yet in 1993 Hillary Clinton was telling us about all the money “wasted” on high-tech equipment in the U.S. Every hospital in America wanted its own MRI machine while in Canada they got by with four for the whole country. Is this the amateur hour or what?

Politics thrives on people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Look what’s happened in energy. Any electrical engineer will tell you that windmills are the most useless instruments imaginable for generating reliable electricity. They’re intermittent, unpredictable, very difficult to incorporate onto the grid and require constant back up from other sources. Yet what are we building today? Windmills upon windmills upon windmills. Why? Because politicians around the country who couldn’t tell a volt from an ampere have decided to pass “renewable portfolio standards” requiring that utilities buy power from windmills and solar collectors. The laws of physics will be overcome by legislative fiat.

Now that the scapegoating of doctors has worn thin, the Obama Administration is targeting the insurance companies. Nancy Pelosi has instructed her fellow Democrats to “put them in the bull’s eye” while selling the government takeover to their constituents this month. Yet at the same time, the Administration has made the wonderful discovery that people who take big risks with their health by smoking, drinking or overeating run up large medical bills! There’s even talk of taxing fattening foods and somehow making people pay for their bad habits.

So what do you think insurance companies been doing all along? In the old days, before politics took over, insurance companies carefully vetted health insurance applicants, quizzing them about their drinking, smoking and lifestyle habits and setting premiums accordingly. Then politicians decided this constituted “discrimination.” It wasn’t fair that people who were overweight or wouldn’t stop smoking had to pay higher rates. So they invented “community ratings,” whereby everybody paid the same thing no matter what their age, habits or previous medical conditions. This not only encouraged people to continue drinking, smoking and overeating, it also allowed them to wait until they got sick before applying for insurance. All this obliterated actuarial practices and raised everyone’s rates — so that the Obama administration now has to “step in” and set things right.

Every country has two “establishments:” 1) the people who practice their craft for a living, understand their job, and know what it is they’re doing; and 2) the political class, which generally consists of people skilled at revving up crowds by not knowing what they’re talking about. How a country prospers depends on which of these groups gets to run things.

All this reminds me of a marvelous interview a New York Times reporter did in China in the 1970s when capitalistic management practices were just supplanting the old Communist system. The reporter was visiting a factory where the new business manager still had to share responsibility with a representative from “The Party.”

Page: 1 2 >

topics:
Health Care, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi

About the Author

William Tucker is news editor for RealClearEnergy.org.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (290) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Darin| 8.4.09 @ 7:06AM

Government creates the problem.
Government prevents problem solution.
Government perpetuates the problem.
Government makes the problem worse.
Government rides to the rescue.
Government creates a new problem.
Return to start.

CB| 8.4.09 @ 7:12AM

Your article is superb...but the picture of Obama and the headline "Amateur Hour" is downright scary....because it is so true.
God help us....

Craig| 8.4.09 @ 7:16AM

Great article.....but the picture of Obama and the title "Amateur Hour" is downright scary...if only it weren't so true.....

drudge ette obama| 8.4.09 @ 7:41AM

Obama turned 48 today. Never served in the military, never ran his own business nor lost it. Minimal legal background (don't give me the law review routine or the part time law lecturer response. That amounts to nothing in the scheme of things.) He hasn't had enough time to develop any expertise except the community organizing thing. Just turned 48. He is the ultimate quota who must giggle in the mirror every morning when he realizes he's President. Of course he's an amatuer.

Deborah D | 8.4.09 @ 7:42AM

Excellent, Mr. Tucker. I especially like:
"Every country has two 'establishments:' 1) the people who practice their craft for a living, understand their job, and know what it is they're doing; and 2) the political class, which generally consists of people skilled at revving up crowds by not knowing what they're talking about. How a country prospers depends on which of these groups gets to run things. "

That's our problem in a nut shell. The illustration of the Chinese party man and businessman was just perfect. Maybe our country needs a new level of "truth" since the media (TAS excepted here) isn't doing their job.

We need citizen watchdogs to watch the Congress. I think that's what the proliferation of blogs is beginning to constitute...at least until Big Brother shuts them down.

William L | 8.4.09 @ 8:05AM

And speaking of citizenship, there are still numerous reports Obama isn't an American and therefore shouldn't be President. Corruption has gone to a new lower level and the Democrats are making no apologies about being so incompetent and corrupt.

Someguy| 8.4.09 @ 8:25AM

Excellent column. Typo -- "trial" not "trail" lawyers.

Mattled| 8.4.09 @ 8:30AM

Drudge Ette,

Almost seems like a missed opportunity to "celebrate" King Hussein's birthday in some fashion----oh I don't know, maybe taking a jumbo jet and flying over the statue of liberty?

Calling up an Iranian terrorist and apologizing for all their ills and then thanking them for inventing the automobile?

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 8:31AM

Your article is spot on. We have elected a ruling class of professional attorneys, elitists and power mongers. I challenge anyone to name just ONE member of the house, senate or the administration that has ever successfully run ANYTHING. I cannot.

It's high time that we replace these lawyers with true leaders. How about a small business owner? How about the CEO of a fortune 500 company? How about a ditch digger or trash collector that has a good grip on "unintended consequences"?

Shoot, I would settle for the most basic level of common sense at the moment, and someone who wasn't married to a lobbyist.

The unfortunate truth is that any person with common sense that steps up gets stomped by the professional politicians and their foot soldiers in the media. Think Joe Wurzelbacher.

Until this changes, we will be stuck with these highly educated, yet ignorant ruling class of elites.

Indiana Alex| 8.4.09 @ 8:34AM

There is no way to defend the lack of mention of trial lawyers and bogus lawsuits in the dems bill.

It is nothing if not political.

Robert Rosencrans| 8.4.09 @ 8:46AM

Obama himself is amateur hour. Obama lies at the drop of a hat. Even more alarming are his 32 Czars who answer to no one.

Perhaps the real problem are the amateur reporters who believe it is their job to celebrate Obama and not reveal or investigate corruption.

Obama's Green Czar is a self proclaimed Communist. The other Czars represent all sorts of left wing views that are downright scary.

Pat Spooner| 8.4.09 @ 8:59AM

Regarding Obamacare, why should I and hundreds of millions of other hard working American taxpayers have to pay for medical care for millions of individuals who smoke, drink excessively, overeat and are obese, do not exercise or otherwise take care of themselves, use illegal drugs, all the while refusing to work to get an education or just refusing to work period?

Before Medicaid and Medicare how did the people survive with these same healthcare issues - we did just fine without the Federal governments' involvement and we can do that in the future. People must take more personal responsibility for their own health - the federal government will break the American economy if we allow them to continue with this carzy ponzy scheme!

This country, and in particular our federal and state governments, must get back to basics, the bare minimum. Government cannot continue to steal everything from working people or there will be no one left working.

Obamacare must be voted down; now and in the future.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 9:36AM

Rosencrans:

Need to update your info a little. There are actually 44 Czars now. 32 was last week's number.

And yes, they are all radical.

ds80| 8.4.09 @ 9:39AM

From the 1st paragraph: "You know that guy you sometimes end up sitting next to ... He knows everything about everything." Yes. If scrolling through insufferable blog posts equates to "sitting next to", then yes, and he's Liberal Reader, who will shortly tell us what we should think.

Amateur hour, indeed. Which is why he can aptly be referred to as "The Boy President"

JamesJ| 8.4.09 @ 9:42AM

How to solve the health care, population explosion, global warming, SS, medicare problems?....kill all the lawyers

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 8.4.09 @ 10:09AM

Mr. Tucker, you wondered whether obumassiah is kidding when he speaks stupidly. I can assure you he is deadly serious and he won’t stop until he kills all who do not worship him as he sees fit. You mentioned that Hillarious Clinkton thinks four Canadian MRI machines are all that is needed for a population of 33,212,696 people (2008 estimate). That’s a line only 8,303,174 persons long. Considering there are only 527,040 hours in a leap year, I’m sure ‘the smartest woman in the world’ would have no problem waiting her turn. Maybe while on line she’ll get a clue. Finally, you wrote “Nancy Pelosi has instructed her fellow Democrats to "put them (the insurance companies) in the bull's eye". With each passing day I’m more and more inclined to believe that the only chance of saving our country from its internal communist enemies is to put princess pee-lousy and her collective in our bull’s eye.

Annamma Abraham| 8.4.09 @ 10:44AM

It lifted up my spirits this morning when I saw that there are at least some people who understand what is happening in this country!

Tony in Central PA| 8.4.09 @ 10:47AM

There was a time when there were a lot fewer lawyers were elected to office and we were better for it.
As far as the needless tonsillectomy assertion from Obama, I can tell you as a dentist we have had an increasingly hard time getting ENT's to perform them, even when a kid needs one just so he doesn't have to constantly breathe through his mouth.
My wife functions as a risk manager in a Community Hospital. Almost every time a baby is born with some kind of defect, the first thing asked is, " Why wasn't a Caesarian - Section performed ? ". Doesn't matter what's wrong with the baby, its the standard of care set by trial lawyers. I don't see his Oneness wanting to reform their practices.

warpublican| 8.4.09 @ 10:53AM

Who's the amateur? So far, Obama has won every legislative battle he's fought - today his Supreme Court nominee will get confirmed. i'd say O's critics are the amateurs, hoping to change the discourse with mealy mouthed cliches like "amateur." Obama is a lot of things - many of them far from perfect. But amateur? He's still kicking your butts... Maybe if he loses one or two, then you can chirp...

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 10:56AM

WASHINGTON – Pending U.S. home sales rose in June for the fifth straight month, another encouraging sign of life for the embattled U.S. housing market, the National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.

For June, the Realtors group said its pending home sales index rose 3.6 percent to 94.6, from an upwardly revised reading of 91.3 in May. The last time there were five consecutive monthly gains was July 2003.

The results were far better than analysts expected. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected the index to come in at 91.2.

Bud| 8.4.09 @ 11:01AM

"Amateur Hour" doesn't quite capture the gravity of what is afoot. An amateur who is grounded somewhere in the same county as objective reality is potentially trainable. Unfortunately, we have at the head of the table an amateur who finds Utopian Fantasy a viable basis for political philosophy. This is a recipe for disaster of near-biblical proportions.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:01AM

"I'm telling you there's an enemy that would like to attack America, Americans, again. There just is. That's the reality of the world. And I wish him all the very best." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:01AM

"One of the very difficult parts of the decision I made on the financial crisis was to use hardworking people's money to help prevent there to be a crisis." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:03AM

"I think on a national level your Department of Law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we've been charged with and automatically throw them out." --Sarah Palin, referring to a department that does not exist while attempting to explain why as president she wouldn't be subjected to the same ethics investigations that compelled her to resign as governor of Alaska, ABC News interview, July 7, 2009

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:05AM

"They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." --Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Oct. 5, 2008

Tony in Central PA| 8.4.09 @ 11:06AM

Warpublican, I think the " Amateur Hour " extends beyond his Oneness to Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, etc. Basically the bulk of federally elected officials. If you want to thump your chest about the accomplishments of this Administration, realize first that a trained seal could probably get his Supreme Court nominee confirmed with the same kind of numerical advantage along party lines.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:06AM

"As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:10AM

"I understand the economy. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy." --ignoring the fact that it is actually the Senate Banking Committee which is responsible for credit, financial services, and housing -- the very areas currently in crisis, CNBC interview, Sept. 16, 2008

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:12AM

"My friends, we've got them just where we want them." --on Barack Obama and the state of the presidential campaign, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Oct. 13, 2008

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:14AM

"I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you." ―Palin, asked by Katie Couric to cite specific examples of how John McCain has pushed for more regulation in his 26 years in the Senate, CBS interview, Sept. 24, 2008

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 11:14AM

I firmly believe that "blunted" refers to something that was recently smoked, and soon to be legalized and taxed in the state of Kalifornia.

If you can't post something in relation to the topic at hand, please go away. Most of us are tired of the senseless trashing of an otherwise decent thread.

That goes for the Jew-hater that continuously posts here as well.

Back to MoveOn with you, fools.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:15AM

Shall I go on or is this enough amateur hour examples for you all?

Tim| 8.4.09 @ 11:17AM

"The Police acted stupidly, and no, I don't have
all of the facts".

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:17AM

Big J. You wanted amateur hour I gave it to you. Politics baby. WAr without bloodshed. Republican candidates are like amateur night at the Apollo. Most of the time your laughing and other times your scratching your head and saying "how the hell did they let you on stage"?

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 11:19AM

"If people would just properly inflate their tires and get regular tune-ups, we would save about as much oil that we would get by drilling here." - Barack Obama, regarding imaginary tune-ups that are not needed anymore and accusing the American people of driving their cars on flat tires.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 11:27AM

"Americans have made a lot of mistakes. At times we have been dismissive, uh, and even derisive." - Barack Obama touting America's greatness overseas on the first of his "Apology Tours".

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:28AM

I read the article and the dumb editor doesn't even mention why Obama is at fault for the health care problems. This moron even agrees with Obama. Talk about amateur hour.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:30AM

Big J. Tuneups that aren't needed? People still need tuneups my friend.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:32AM

Isn't Rush on for your daily brainwashing? Maybe you should hang it up and tune in and out.

Frank Marschino| 8.4.09 @ 11:32AM

If "blunted" really wants to compare ignorant statements, we have a treasure trove from BO and Grandpa Biden over just the past year that would make your head spin, or make you chortle uncontrollably that would dwarf, in both volume and stupidity, those he has cited....but since they have no relevance to this column, as with the ones he provides, it is pointless to list them.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:35AM

Throw them up Frank. I can use a good laugh. Still think Palin, Bush, and Mccain take the cake. The resurrection of the three stooges. Larry, Curly, and Moe.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 11:35AM

blunted:

Nope. Not for another half hour. Maybe you should take a little of your own advice.

I'll take my brand of "brain washing" over yours any day. What with "a thrill running up your leg" and all.

Wake up, sleepy head, and pass that doob. Obama's fixin' to do another prime time presser.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:39AM

This column has zero relevance to anything. It doesn't even make sense or follow in any sort of logical manner. It's absurd. This isn't even journalism. The example of the guy at the bar is pretty much the life story of William Tucker.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:40AM

Guys I don't even smoke weed but if it makes you feel better about arguing with a pot head, think what you want. Just being blunt my friend.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 11:43AM

"People still need tuneups my friend."

Ahh, blunted, tune-ups went the way of the carburetor. We now have computer-controlled fuel injection engines. These types of engines "tune-up" themselves while they are operating.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:47AM

Ray, you still need spark plugs, oil, lube, etc. Tune ups aren't just about carburetors. Sure you can go longer without one but you still need them. Not to mention millions of cars are still on the road that have carburetors. Go down to your local garage and ask if you don't believe me.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 11:47AM

"This column has zero relevance to anything." Actually, it has a lot of relevance to what is happening today.

Truth to Power| 8.4.09 @ 11:48AM

Blunted is quite the deep thinker. He goes from tune-ups are a good thing (something not debated) to making ridiculous claims about their benefits. This is the "telling of a lie for a good cause" technique so common on the left. I am a pro-choice advocate of tune-ups but I also understand that tune-ups, proper inflation of tires, solar and wind energy will not come close to answering our energy needs. Those that say they will are either liars or incredibly blunted.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:48AM

Any examples Ray about it's relevance? Sounds like Tucker is just trying to drum up support so he can keep his pathetic job.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:51AM

"All this came home to the other day listening to President Obama talk about health care. He made some remark about how doctors perform a lot of unnecessary operations like tonsillectomies just to make money off them. That's supposedly what's wrong with the healthcare system -- too many doctors making too much money".

Then he goes on to say:

"Sure doctors perform a lot of unnecessary procedures these days".

Duh.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 11:53AM

"Ray, you still need spark plugs, oil, lube, etc." Blunted, I know about that as I used to work for Rapid Oil Change, but what you're describing is NOT a tune-up, it's regular maintenance.

You may not understand this, but a TUNE-UP is when you balance the carburetor to deliver the optimal fuel-air mixture over various engine speeds. Ask any mechanic about that.

As, as for your "millions of carburetors" claim, only cars that are older than 20 years old still have carburetors. Ho many cars do you see on the roads that are 20 years old, or older? Millions? No, Thousands? probable.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:54AM

Truth to power.

Umm I just say tuneups still happen. I never said they are going to solve the energy crisis or even said they are beneficial. Obviously you need to take care of your car or it's going to break down so there is that benefit.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 11:56AM

"Umm I just say tuneups still happen"

You can say that all you want, but it isn't true. As a matter of fact, it's as an absurd a statement as any quoted in this article. Thanks for proving the author's point.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 11:58AM

I see many cars over 20 years on the road. Try driving out of your cul-de-sac.

dictionary.com: an adjustment, as of a motor, to improve working order or condition: The car needs a tune-up badly.

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 8.4.09 @ 11:59AM

Sting is glowing blue and I notice that the orcs have escaped their roach hotels to do their master’s bidding. Since their golden calf is sinking into the pit, they have to resort to attacking THE EVIL BUSH and Mrs. Palin once again. I guess they don’t read the New York Times. If they did, they might be surprised to learn that their baby bull is now the president and THE EVIL BUSH is just another Texas rancher. Mrs. Palin is no longer a public servant. So guess what, brainiacs? What they did no longer matters. The liar-in-chief’s actions do. I wonder how disappointed your messiah was when he learned he was only president of 50 states and not the 57 (or was it 58?) in which he thought he campaigned last year. Maybe you’d have a point if that joker (visit Drudge if you haven’t already downloaded that recent picture of your false god in white face) would try practicing what he preaches for once.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:00PM

Feb. 26, 2009 -- Often, I am asked "what is a tune-up?" One of the biggest changes in today's automotive industry is embodied in that question. My answer is "The times are changing...and the vehicles are changing." In fact, go and ask 10 vehicle owners their definition of a tune-up and chances are there'll be 10 different answers.

Certainly the classic "tune-up" was once the heart of the automotive business and contrary to some beliefs, today's modern vehicles still need tune-ups to keep them performing at the most efficient levels.

Prior to 1980 or so, a tune-up consisted of replacing the plugs, points and condenser; then setting the timing, adjusting the carburetor and checking or replacing the cap, rotor, wires, gas filter, etc. This service usually needed to be performed every 50,000 km or so because engines did not run as efficiently as today and parts would wear out more quickly.

As the pace of technology quickened, the procedures required to perform a traditional tune-up changed dramatically. The advent of computerized systems and electronic ignitions eliminated the need for the classic tune-up. Newer highly sophisticated electronic ignition and fuel systems are now the norm, using onboard computers to control critical engine and transmission management functions.
As a result of all this progress and technological wonder, there is a misconception that today's modern vehicles don't need tune-ups because they never break down. However, that simply is not true. Imagine you are at work and your computer crashes. You can't get any more work done. It's the same with your car. If the vehicle isn't being properly maintained, you are bound to have problems.

The 21st-Century Tune-up

Because vehicles have changed so much over the years, Car Care Canada has introduced the 21st-Century Tune-up in an effort to demystify the tune up issue for Canadians. The idea behind the 21st-Century Tune-up is to help re-define and educate motorists as to what a tune-up should consist of on today's modern vehicles.

So what is a 21st Century Tune-up? On today's modern vehicles, the following systems should be inspected:

• battery, charging and starting
• engine mechanical
• powertrain control (including onboard diagnostic checks)
• fuel
• ignition
• emissions.

Vehicle owners ask for tune-ups for a variety of reasons, including improving performance, maintaining reliability, planning a vacation, preparing for winter/summer or because they're giving the car to a friend or family member.

The 21st Century Tune-Up program is designed to:

• Improve reliability
• Reduce air pollution
• Improve performance
• Improve fuel economy
• Create driver confidence.

To help ensure good performance, fuel economy and emissions, Car Care Canada also recommends that motorists take the time necessary to become familiar with every aspect of their vehicle. They are urged to study the owner's manual to become thoroughly acquainted with the operation of all systems and pay special attention to the indicator lights and instruments.

The 'Be Car Care Aware' campaign is about helping motorists make informed decisions about their vehicles' care and maintenance. With the 21st-Century Tune-up, Car Care Canada will continue to help vehicle owners make strides in reducing vehicle neglect.

Be Car Care Aware is a campaign to inform Canadian drivers about the benefits of regular, vehicle care, maintenance and repair. Car Care Canada is a non-profit advocacy group that offers research, consumer education and information about the Canadian automotive aftermarket industry.

To learn more, visit the Be Car Care Aware website at http://www.carcarecanada.ca.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 12:01PM

blunted:

Proof positive that a large portion of the electorate is too "dumbed down" to hold the responsibility of choosing our leaders.

He rests our case.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:02PM

I know it's from Canada but you still need tune ups. Not going to say I told you so or gloat but if you don't tune up your car, your going to be calling AAA towing.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:03PM

I didn't even vote so what do you mean Big J?

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:04PM

"Try driving out of your cul-de-sac. " Assume much? I don't live in a "cul-de-sac." I live in a large metropolitan area, Minneapolis. We don't have any "cul-de-sacs".

As for your definition, I must point out, AGAIN, that computer-controlled fuel injection engines "tune" themselves as they operate. They don't NEED me to take them to an auto mechanic for a "tune-up" like Obama was asserting. Got any more nonsensical statements you, or Obama, would like to make?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:05PM

Yes, Obama like any man has his faults but come on. Mccain and Palin? Jesus, the entire world would be laughing at us. After George Bush it was inevitable.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:08PM

"Obama like any man has his faults but come on. Mccain and Palin?"

And there it is; the classic liberal argument. "Yes, our man is [fill in the blank}, BUT your man is," well, irrelevant to the argument at hand.

ds80| 8.4.09 @ 12:10PM

blunted, you sure require a lot of posts to say nothing. And your silly defense of "yes there *are* tuneups, gosh darn it", is desperate. You're in the dwindling cult of Defenders of The Boy President.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:10PM

RAy your missing the point. Tune ups aren't about just the carb. It never was. Even when I was 18 and had a 1972 dodge dart, a tuneup was changing the plugs, wires, battery, oil, lube, and whatever would help the engine run better. And if you read the above example about the benefit of a tuneup, Obama was correct in asserting it would help with mileage and carbon emissions. I don't think it will solve the entire energy crisis but it would make a difference.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 12:11PM

Didn't vote? Obviously you have nothing to say on any subject regarding politics.

Love that Canadian style car care? Just wait for the Canadian style health care coming our way.

By the way, the rest of the world IS laughing at us. All the while scheming about how to attack us next. They all know we have a boy president, fully enrolled in on-the-job training, an apprenticeship program, if you will. They all know that he has no intention of going to the Norks and getting our captured citizens back, that's why they sent slick Willy. North Korea knows it, Iran knows it and Israel knows it. That's why their gearing up to do a job boy genius isn't willing to do.

He's too busy holding prime-time press conferences and pushing his socialist agenda to concern himself with national defense.

THAT's why it's amateur hour.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:12PM

ds80. The grown ups are talking about tuneups. Wait your turn and stop interrupting.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:14PM

"Tune ups aren't about just the carb. It never was":

Keep digging that hole deeper, dude. Your own definition shows that a "tune-up" is an ADJUSTMENT made to the engine! It's NOT a replacement made to any part of the engine, like the plugs, air filter, oil, ect. That's called MAINTENANCE! Timely replacements made before failure is called PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:15PM

Moreover, I'm not defending a man but I'm not going to shoot down everything he says because of conservatives bitterness about losing another election. You guys do realize that you don't have to follow William Tucker's advice like a sheep?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:18PM

Ray your grasping at straws. It's pretty pathetic. Don't take my word, go down to your local auto repair and ask them what a tuneup is. I can't help you anymore and people on here think the matter has already been addressed.

ds80| 8.4.09 @ 12:18PM

My turn, blunted? You're the arbiter and dispenser of speech privileges?

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:20PM

"Moreover, I'm not defending a man but I'm not going to shoot down everything he says because of conservatives bitterness about losing another election"

What a hypocrite! What about the bitterness you displayed towards Bush, Palin and McCain?

"Mccain and Palin? Jesus, the entire world would be laughing at us."

Tell me again how you don't "shoot down" the things people say simple because they're the opposition?

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:22PM

Who's grasping at straws here, blunted? It sure isn't me. YOU'RE the one who presented the definition of a "tune-up," remember? Now that I'm using your own definition against you , you claim that YOUR OWN DEFINITION IS WRONG!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:22PM

"Any electrical engineer will tell you that windmills are the most useless instruments imaginable for generating reliable electricity. They're intermittent, unpredictable, very difficult to incorporate onto the grid and require constant back up from other sources. Yet what are we building today? Windmills upon windmills upon windmills".

NOtice how he didn't use one quote from an electrical engineer? Because everyone knows windmills are beneficial.

ds80| 8.4.09 @ 12:23PM

blunted apparently subscribes to sniffy condescending secular humanism. His choice of words says it all: "Jesus, the entire world would ...".

And he probably doesn't even realize it. It's second nature.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 12:23PM

blunted:

"I can't help you anymore and people on here think the matter has already been addressed."

You never did help us, blunt. The only thing you did was create a train wreck of this thread with your childish arguments about the definition of a tune-up. Hate to state the obvious, but you completely missed the point. Not gonna explain it to you, either. If your too immature to get it, no amount of explaining is going to help you.

If you really want to help, go away.

I've got a feeling that's not your true intention, anyway.

ds80| 8.4.09 @ 12:26PM

"I've got a feeling that's not your true intention, anyway."

Correct. I think he really wanted to impress us with his knowledge of tire tread wear patterns.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:27PM

Ray your actually not using the definition against me. An adjustment of the motor to improve working order is the definition. Go back and read it.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:27PM

"Because everyone knows windmills are beneficial. "

Tell that to Senator Kennedy, who bloced the installation of them in Nantucket Sound.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:29PM

"An adjustment of the motor to improve working order is the definition. "

How is the replacement of oil or plugs an adjustment? You don't adjust something by replacing it.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:30PM

There are now many thousands of wind turbines operating, with a total nameplate capacity of 121,188 MWp of which wind power in Europe accounts for 55% (2008). World wind generation capacity more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2006, doubling about every three years. By comparison, photovoltaics has been doubling about every two years (48% a year), although from a smaller base (15,200 MWp in 2008). 81% of wind power installations are in the US and Europe. The share of the top five countries in terms of new installations fell from 71% in 2004 to 62% in 2006, but climbed to 73% by 2008 as those countries—the United States, Germany, Spain, China, and India—have seen substantial capacity growth in the past two years.

By 2010, the World Wind Energy Association expects 160GW of capacity to be installed worldwide, up from 73.9 GW at the end of 2006, implying an anticipated net growth rate of more than 21%.

Wind energy as a power source is attractive as an alternative to fossil fuels, because it is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions. However, the construction of wind farms (as with other forms of power generation) is not universally welcomed due to their visual impact.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:31PM

Yes ds80, my subscription comes once a month next to my issue of American Spectator.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:32PM

Ray, If the argument was childish your culpable because you continued it. Don't be a hypocrite. It's not suiting for a man of your superior intellect.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:34PM

"There are now many thousands of wind turbines operating"

What you seem to be forgetting is the fact that they only work intermittently, when the wind is blowing as sufficient velocity. When the wind velocity is too low, or nonexistent, the generators stop producing power, and they must be SUPPLEMENTED by another power source, like coal or nuclear. Yes, they do help, but they're not very efficient, nor dependable. Just like solar power.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:34PM

Old no sexican. How are things in the Lone Star State? The place where guys like you end up lonely and praying to the North Star for a life.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:35PM

Wind power is often supplemented by solar power, not coal or nuclear. I figured that would be your comeback so I left it open.

Linda | 8.4.09 @ 12:36PM

People, just ignore "blunted" and he will go away. It takes two to agrue, and he has already proved that he is the person at the bar who thinks he knows everything about everything. There is no winning with him, and to be honest I don't even see that hes worth the effort to try.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:38PM

Did I strike a nerve Linda?

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:38PM

"Ray, If the argument was childish your culpable because you continued it."

Blunted, I didn't make that childish claim, BigJ did. Don't be foolish and attribute to me a false quote or assertion.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:39PM

"Wind power is often supplemented by solar power, not coal or nuclear."

Yea, right, especially when the sun has set.

bluntedf| 8.4.09 @ 12:44PM

Batteries supplement solar power. Come on Ray don't be a fatalist. Sorry about attributing you to Big J's assertion.

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 12:44PM

Hel-lo...

"...take enough of those people, put them all together until they vote themselves into a majority, and that's what we call "politics."

Darin (the first post) was right... Big gov't. is stuck in an infinite loop and we're idiots to not call ANY of them on it.

Linda | 8.4.09 @ 12:45PM

No, I just don't read pieces about politics to see a discussion on "tune-ups". I am more interested in the direction my country is taking and the cliff we are getting ready to jump off. I am watching it being destroyed everyday by people just like you. Ready to follow the "piper" without any questions. This is my main concern.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:47PM

I thought you were going to ignore me Linda? you and Ray should join the American fatalist society.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:48PM

Sotamayor is about to get confirmed.

Brian| 8.4.09 @ 12:51PM

Linda, it was nice of "blunted" to provide a perfect example of "that guy" Tucker was talking about.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:55PM

Brian. I don't claim to know it all but to start an article out with "that guy" and then proceed to talk about how he knows all about how Obama's ideas are dumb seems kind of hypocritical.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:55PM

"Come on Ray don't be a fatalist."

I'm not being a fatalist, I'm being a realist. Solar power doesn't supplement wind turbine generators are there are NO large solar farms like the wind farms in which to add power to the grid when the turbine stop turning. So, where's all that power coming from when the wind power generations are no producing energy?

It can't becoming from those solar powered batteries your describe as those are used in single installations like a single home or building. That, in no way, can supplement the lack of power the grid faces when the wind turbine generators are not turning. So, what's left? Gas, oil, coal or nuclear, or even hydro. Take your pick.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:57PM

"Well take enough of those people, put them all together until they vote themselves into a majority, and that's what we call "politics."

Sounds like Tucker is trying to convince the minority which is you guys that arguing with me.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 12:58PM

"Sounds like Tucker is trying to convince the minority which is you guys that arguing with me. "

Blunted, it looks to me that you're the minority here.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 12:58PM

What's this moveon.org everyone is talking about? Is that what Rush is calling his radio show? I'm confused.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:00PM

"I'm confused."

That seems to be the general consensus.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:02PM

Oh I went on to the website and it says Democracy in action but I'm confused why it is called moveon.org when the Democrats control the legislative and executive branch.

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 1:02PM

blunted,

'Politics' here is being used in the pejorative... are ya reading this at all? Or are you still hung up on the tune-up deflection?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:03PM

It really does Ray. Must make you feel proud that somewhere your in the majority even if it is where about 40 people go for "news".

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:07PM

I understand that Tucker wants you to think it is pejorative. Little do you know he is desperately trying to convince you that's what politics is all about. If that was the case, Bush wouldn't have been president in 2000.

Liberal Reader| 8.4.09 @ 1:08PM

Oh, yes, Tucker.

Reading your sparkling, erudite prose, I cannot help but conclude with you that your intellect towers over know-nothings like Obama. It's clear as day.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:08PM

"Must make you feel proud that somewhere your in the majority even if it is where about 40 people go for "news". "

How do you know where I "go for news?" Are you somehow able to track my viewing habits? NO? I didn't think so.

BTW, I get most of my news from (gasp!) The Washington Times, along with several other on-line news sources like (double gasp!) Fox News. Just like millions of other people every single day.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:12PM

Ray my friend. Stay away from Fox. Not sure about the times but at least it's not the Post. I foolishly side with AP. Fox, CNN, and etc seem kind of bias. BBS seems too British for my taste.

Nyfarmer| 8.4.09 @ 1:12PM

One night at Cheers, Cliff Clavin explained the "Buffalo Theory" to his buddy, Norm.
"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine ! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers." -- Cliff Clavin

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:13PM

OUch the Times were founded by a Church guy and is known for it's conservative view points. That explains a lot.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:14PM

Nice quote NY farmer.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:14PM

"Ray my friend. Stay away from Fox."

First of all, You're not my friend, I don't even know you.

Second of all, don't tell me where to, or not to, get my news. You're not my keeper so stop acting like it. I make my own decisions and I resent you're assumption that you know what's best for me.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:15PM

Linda biting her lip so desperately trying to ignore me now.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 1:16PM

Blunted:

Hey, coochie, coo!!! Coochie Coo!

OOOOOH, what's that over thing next to you? Right next to you! Is that a shiny object? OOOH, look at the pretty object, boy! Go get it! Get the shiny object, boy. Show us what a big boy you are. Grab it, boy!

Come on, boy, come on. Wow, look at how shiny it is! OOOHH, who's the smart boy? Who's the big, grown-up boy? You are! That's right, you are! Such a big boy! Now put it in your mouth. . . .

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:16PM

Easy Ray. I thought we were making some lead way. I was about to invite you to my family picnic.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:18PM

"I thought we were making some lead way"

I've disagreed with everything you said. How is that "lead way?"

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:18PM

grzylmk. I hear crickets. Don't quit your day job.

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 1:19PM

Grzmlyk!
Was wondering where you were! You are a hoot!
An admirer,
C

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 1:20PM

Smart boy! Smart boy! OOOH what a big boy you are!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:20PM

Just because we don't agree doesn't me I think your a moron. I like political banter like the rest of you.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 1:21PM

Folks, I think we have our new and improved version of Dave Mathews. Sorry if I irritated ya'll with my "rolling around in the mud". I was actually enjoying (for a bit, anyway).

By the way, since you posed the question: Things are GREAT down here in the Lone Star State. Business is picking up, more people than ever are moving here every day (more than likely, to escape liberal nut-jobs like yourself), and we actually have a balanced budget.

Since you asked.

That's what conservative leadership will get you. Now, how to infect Washington with that disease?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:22PM

Oh god a guy with OCD who will follow me around and make dog references. I finally made my presence on this site. My mission is complete.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 1:22PM

Come on, campy, Blunted is SMART! He's going to show all of us big, bad Neanderthals what it's like to be a BIG BOY! Why, his grammar and spelling and sentence structure and rigorous sense of logic are blowing my mind!

Come on, Blunted! Show us how you can go to the bathroom ALL BY YOURSELF like a big boy!!!

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 1:24PM

Ah, no, Blotted: Your mission is not complete.

There's one more task you must successfully accomplish. THEN it'll be complete.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:24PM

Umm Big J your alias is showing. Knucklehead. I thought you were ragging on me about how I was going to change my handle. Your a douche. BTW I don't live in California and my sister lives near that cesspool Houston. Texas is a shithole.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:24PM

" Linda biting her lip so desperately trying to ignore me now. "

Must make you feel proud that somewhere your in the majority even if it is where about 40 people go for "news".

"Ray your grasping at straws. It's pretty pathetic."

"Try driving out of your cul-de-sac."

Republican candidates are like amateur night at the Apollo. Most of the time your laughing and other times your scratching your head and saying "how the hell did they let you on stage"?

blunted, this is what you call political banter?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:25PM

Grzmlyk. Your kind of amusing. I like it.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:27PM

Ray, I can see how you wouldn't find it funny.

dcd| 8.4.09 @ 1:27PM

I still think there could be a signifigant changecome the 2010 elections. But will the republicans run continue to run light weight amatures like Bush and Huckabee or will they go with serious people like Gingrich and Giuliani.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:28PM

lol. Giuliani. That dude married his cousin. He is pro choice. Good luck with that. Gingrich is a joke.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:28PM

blunted, ad hominin attacks is not politcal banter and they are never funny.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 1:29PM

Come on, boy, now that you've made doody, you have to wipe and flush and wash your little hands so you can go outside and play with the bigger kids.

Who's the good boy! Who's potty trained! You are! Yes you are!

Bob| 8.4.09 @ 1:31PM

Kudos, Tucker -- you are precisely right about all politicians, not just Obama and the Dems. Their primary purpose in office is to get reelected, not serve the public good. They spend more time on reelection and building a war chest than any other subject. If they are in the House, they are in an active campaign 1/3rd of the time.

Obama doesn't have the right answers and neither do any of the Republicans. When the Republicans were in power, they were just as bad as the Dems. In Washington, it is all about power, not the people who elected them into office.

In addition, since much of what fills their election coffers comes from industry, the lobbyists also have a say. Their interest is not our -- they simply want an easier way to make money for their clients rather than competing on the merits of their products.

We need election reform to solve this problem, and I'm also in favor of term limits so we get real citizens into office rather than professional politicians.

Now most of you know I am critical of many of the posts on AmSpec because they are either not true or disregard factual information. But on this occasion, Tucker is absolutely right.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:31PM

OCD grzmlyk strikes again. Sorry Ray but it's actually ad hominem or argumentum ad hominem to the lay person

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 1:31PM

Umm (comma) Big J (comma) your alias is showing. Knucklehead. I thought you were ragging on me about how I was going to change my handle (irrelevant and untrue - strike from post). You(')r(e) a douche. BTW (By the way) (comma) I don't live in California (comma) and my sister lives near that cesspool (comma) Houston (strike from post. Untrue. Houston is a great place to live). Texas is a ****hole (strike from post. Profanity not becoming of a person with expanded vocabulary skills. Completely negates all credibility).

There. Fixed it for ya!
;)

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:34PM

"We need election reform to solve this problem, and I'm also in favor of term limits so we get real citizens into office rather than professional politicians."

Kudos to that! If term limits on the Presidency is appropriate for ensuring a more responsible government, why not have term limits on the members of the legislative branch as well? Sauce for the Goose, as they say.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:34PM

When you used The Nirvana fallacy to dispel wind power I let it go.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:35PM

"Sorry Ray but it's actually ad hominem or argumentum ad hominem to the lay person."

OK, does that mean you're going to stop using them?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:37PM

Oh god! Not an English lesson from Big J. This isn't a dissertation.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 1:38PM

Just trying to help, blunt. You look like a fool.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:40PM

No RAy, I don't believe in ad hominem in regards to politics. Politics is war without bloodshed. It doesn't apply to political arguments. If you haven't noticed this article is an ad hominem attack on Obama.

jack| 8.4.09 @ 1:40PM

Obama is racial quotas coming home to roost. The man is a complete imbecile and that has been obvious even before the proper tire inflation debacle. Just listen to the guy,he has no idea what he is talking about. He has destroyed more freedoms in the first few months of his admin than in the past 100 years. He has filled his cabinet with crooks and lobbyists,but what did you expect? He was caught in real estate bribe deal and no one cared. He spent 20 years at the knee of a hate mongering racist nazi and now he is president . very scary.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:41PM

" When you used The Nirvana fallacy to dispel wind power I let it go. "

What fallacy? Wind power is intermittent, correct? So, why is it a fallacy to point out the unreliability of wind power? Why is it a fallacy to point out that other power sources must supplement the lack of power available wen the wind dies down? Why is it a fallacy to point out that this supplemental energy is most likely to come from coal or nuclear energy, the two most abundant sources of energy in America?

Face it, blunted, that's not a fallacy, that's a reality.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:41PM

That's cool Big J. Thanks for the insight.

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:42PM

"I don't believe in ad hominem in regards to politics."

Yet you used them several times in the comments you made here to others, in the name of "political banter," no less! That makes you a hypocrite, does it not?

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:47PM

No RAy I said I don't believe in ad hominem as a fallacy in regards to politics. I guess I do believe in them so to speak. Anything goes in my book in politics. And yes wind power has it's faults and is not perfect but to dispel it as an alternative to fossil fuels is faulty. I see that fossil fuels can't be replaced entirely in todays day and age but what does the future hold? I think at some point it will be refined enough to eventually eliminate fossil fuels but obviously I can't say for sure.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:48PM

Big J. Can you fix my 1:47 post for me? I didn't proof read it.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 1:49PM

Also, bluto, if you don't want to look like the ignorant, uneducated, indolent, presumptuous, simple-minded, blinkered, propagandized welfare recipient you are, you might want to use proper English once in a while: It's "in regard to politics."

NOT "in regards to politics." Regards are better left to Broadway. And it shows your lack of edu-ma-cation.

But hey, why try to put lipstick on a dead pig now, after so many hilarious rantings?

Ya just can't unring the bell of stupidity.

Uh-oh. What's that I smell? Is blunty's pullup full again already? Back to the bathroom, boy! Show us what a BIG boy you are!

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:49PM

"Anything goes in my book in politics. "

First you claim that you don't believe in ad hominem in regards to politics and then you claim that "anything goers in my book." So you ARE a hypocrite!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:50PM

RAy, we went from arguing about tune ups to arguing about logical fallacies. What a day!

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:54PM

"And yes wind power has it's faults and is not perfect but to dispel it as an alternative to fossil fuels is faulty."

No, it's the other way around. To insist that wind power is a viable alternative to fossil fuels is the true fallacy. Wind power can never be an alternative to fossil fuels.

Face it, blunted, we're "stuck" with fossil fuels as they are the most abundant, most efficient, and most reliable sources of energy available. NOTHING can replace it, not for the foreseeable future anyways.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:55PM

YOur actually wrong OCD guy:

Although sometimes considered poor substitutes for about or concerning, the phrases as regards, in regard to, and with regard to are standard and occur in all varieties of spoken and written English, especially in business writing

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:55PM

YOur actually wrong OCD guy:

Ray| 8.4.09 @ 1:55PM

"What a day! "

Wes, we've all seen that not only do you not know what you're talking about, you're also a hypocrite! What a day, indeed!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:58PM

YOur actually wrong OCD guy:

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 1:59PM

YOur actually wrong OCD guy:

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 2:00PM

blunted,
It's "you're" in this case, not your...check that out in your Funk & Wagnalls.
And, for what it's worth, who started the tune-up argument in the first place? Off track from the initial discussion to show us....what?

bluntedf| 8.4.09 @ 2:00PM

YOur actually wrong OCD guy:

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:01PM

YOur actually wrong OCD guy:

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 2:01PM

OMG... now look at who's stuck in an infinite loop!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:01PM

umm speaking of OCD. sorry about that.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:02PM

You are correct Campy.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 2:03PM

You really are a moron, aren't you Marcell?

And it's not "Your wrong," it's "You're wrong."

I repeat: the correct usage is not "in regards to," it's "in regard" to. As the text you pasted into your response clearly says. How stupid can you be?

Get it? You can say "as it regards," or "as regards," but you can't say "in regards to." No "s" at the end. DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW, or do you need a chart?

Always happy to help an intellectual toddler get grammatically potty trained.

Still, it's very difficult to teach a block of wood.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:03PM

yes, I'm a hypocrite and I have no grasp of the English language.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:04PM

Isn't Marcell the monkey on "Friends"?

Michael Tomlinson| 8.4.09 @ 2:05PM

There are 3 reasons health care is expensive in the US. First, we currently have an excellent health care system and quality costs. Second, the government is the third largest payer in the health care system and like higher education that factor alone causes an excessive and inordinate increase in cost (a factor that will make nationalized health care costs go up beyond CBO estimates as illustrated by Medicare and Medicaid). Third, Democrat trial lawyers, like charlatan John Edwards, are funding their excessive and extravagant lifestyles by fleecing the medical community with frivolous law suits.

If Obama was serious about maintaining our current excellent health care system, but at lower cost to the consumer he’d reign in Democrat trial lawyers with Tort reform (Texas illustrates the success of that plan) and lower not increase governments involvement as a third party payer in health care. Instead, he is advocating a failed and costly government take over of health care (until recently he is on record advocating a socialized government nationalized single-payer health care system), government intrusion into such mundane things as American’s bank accounts and categorically refuses to do anything to protect the medical community from an avaricious Democrat special interest group (i.e., rich trial lawyers).

Will Obama pass a Feres Doctrine to protect the national health care system from Democrat trial lawyers? If not then we should factor in tens of millions of dollars in legal bills too when determining the price of health care? If Obama refuses to implement a Feres Doctrine will the Federal government provide malpractice insurance for doctors and providers? Could national health care be just another Democrat scheme to fleece taxpayers of behalf of their cronies or enrich their family members in the legal community much like Democrats Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Joe Biden, John Murtha and Barack Obama have done?

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 2:06PM

First of all, there's only one thing you've ever had a grasp of. My guess is you're looking down at it right now.

Second, monkeys have intelligence. So the name isn't very apt, is it?

Bud| 8.4.09 @ 2:06PM

re: blunted.

Never wrestle with a pig. It gets mud all over you, and the pig loves it.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It annoys the pig, and it wastes your time.

Bud| 8.4.09 @ 2:07PM

re: blunted.

Never wrestle with a pig. It gets mud all over you, and the pig loves it.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It annoys the pig, and it wastes your time.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:09PM

I kind of like annoying pigs Bud. Thanks for the advice. Or for the English police:

Bud, I kind of like annoying pigs. Thanks for the advice.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:12PM

Grizzle my nizzle. Read it again:

The key words being "although" and "sometimes".

1913 America lost control| 8.4.09 @ 2:18PM

Obama has nothing to do with America woes.
Becoming a “U.S. puppet” and an “E.U. stooge” in the eyes of global public opinion?

It is not Iran that is pursuing a confrontational foreign policy. It is the U.S. government. The U.S. government is antagonistic to the 30-year old Islamic government in Iran because it overthrew the U.S. puppet government in Iran. The U.S. government hides its antagonism behind moral veils such as “women’s rights”, “democracy”, “human rights”, and so forth, but the real intention is to bring Iran to heel. Whether Iran remains independent might depend on how Russia and China view the American threat to themselves.

Inarguably, one of the main reasons the Western media outlets and political leaders dislike Ahmadinejad is his steadfast stance on the nuclear program. According to the new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, there hasn’t been any categorical evidence for Iran’s atomic deviation, and U.S. statesmen haven’t shown any proof either. Given the forceful remarks of President Obama, who has expressed his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons technology, should we expect the continuance of belligerence and hostility between the two governments in the coming years?

The nuclear weapon issue is a pretext for Washington, not a real issue. It is merely a way to paint Iran as a threat. If Iran were to develop a weapon, it could not be used against Israel without destroying the Palestinians as well, and perhaps Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and areas of Syria.

As a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty, Iran is permitted a nuclear energy program. The IAEA inspections, to which Iran submits, are designed to detect any diversion to a weapons program. The U.S. government should stop making false charges against the Iranian government. If the IAEA finds evidence of a weapons program, then it would be appropriate for the U.S. to lead in imposing sanctions. Instead, the U.S. government has put the cart before the horse, imposing sanctions and threatening military attack prior to any evidence that Iran has a nuclear weapons program.

The unanimous NIE [National Intelligence Estimate] report concluded that Iran had abandoned its weapons program 5 years ago. As for Ahmadinejad, he lacks the authority to decide for or against a nuclear program, whether energy or weapons. Ahmadinejad is not the leader of Iran. He is essentially an administrator and a spokesman, a chief operating officer.

blunted | 8.4.09 @ 2:19PM

"Medicine costs more today because it does more". Yeah penicillin is curing cancer now.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:20PM

I'm assuming the monkey joke wasn't about my intelligence. From one white guy to another it doesn't work.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:22PM

1913 speaks the truth.

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 2:29PM

Aw jeez... When all else fails, let's play some contrived race card. Blunted, where in the hell did you come up with that? What 'race/color' then, do you consider a pig? Bud's right. I'm outta here.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 2:31PM

I agree, Bud, but Marcell/Blunted is an out-of-work punching bag, and I'm just trying to make him feel useful. It's a fool's errand, I agree.

I'm trying to get him a job as a central tunnel support on the Long Island Railroad, but he has yet to prove he's as intelligent as an iron beam.

Michael, I agree with you. Many libs will come back with the bogus statistic of how lawsuits only add 1-3% of costs to the overall healthcare "system." I think this is dubious at best, but in any case, it doesn't touch on the real drain on resources brought about by our litigious society: Defensive medicine. That's why so many cover-your-ass tests are conducted, why so many doctors perform c-sections instead of normal births and why you can't find an OB/GYN in the midwest.

And, of course, the cost of malpractice insurance is prohibitive for part-time and doctors practicing in lower-income areas. They can't afford to operate outside the insurance membrane, and they're serfs inside of it.

Also, government's insidious reach into the private healthcare system is much greater even than that - since employers got around wage freezes after WWII by offering health insurance as an alternative to salary, the government has imposed all sorts of tax incentives and coercive policies that essentially force employees into "cadillac" plans; they never see a bill for many procedures and medicines, so they practice no discrimination in their health care choices. This has distorted the free market enormously.

Additionally, the government has forced insurance companies to cover increasingly discretionary and often frivolous procedures, such as aromatherapy, psychological counseling of every stripe, gender reassignment surgery (a "right" that's covered by insurance for San Francisco city employees) and some cosemtic procedures. As these practices have become incredibly common - and the tab is picked up by some faceless third-party payer (at least from the health care consumer's point of view), insurance companies have had to raise premiums.

Many factors are responsibile for the high cost of health care: innovation that continually delivers so many new, accessible (and expensive) options to Americans, new (and initially expensive) medications that come online every day, the fact that our population is aging at an actuarially stunning rate, etc.

But the single biggest entity that is responsible for high health care costs is GOVERNMENT. The fact that GOVERNMENT is now saying it will bring down costs - when of course it has never done so in any way for anything - see Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Amtrak, the Post Office, the military, the eduction system and on and on and on - is laughable.

This isn't about health care at all. As many have pointed out, it's about controlling the population. The point is to subsume the value of the individual into the power of state. Obama doesn't give a rat's patootie about Americans' health; he cares about building his socially just utopia - and he doesn't care how many people he kills in the process.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:36PM

Later campy. Pigs got to go to the troth.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:38PM

grizzle. Out of work? That's funny. I'm assuming your and old wind bag that is retired because apparently in your mind if your at work you can't use the internet. Follow campy, I think there is room for one more at the troth.

Big J| 8.4.09 @ 2:40PM

troth = trough

Skillet-head!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:41PM

Yeah grizzle, Obama's health care plan is a diabolic plot to control the population. He's secretly trying to get us to turn Muslim and pray to Mecca. Maybe you should put down the computer and search for Obama's birth certificate. God you need to turn off Fox and Limbaugh and get a life.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 2:41PM

"From one white guy to another."

Funny, Marcell. I see right through you.

Stupidity is colorblind. And, incidentally, ignorance is the primary tool Democrats use to keep black people believing they give a damn about them. How's that LBJ Great Society working out for ya?

If the "black community" - a racist phrase that liberals love to throw around, and do so with shocking impunity - ever figured out what is actually in the best interest of black people, they'd be Republicans, or at least conservatives - which is what they were before the friggin liberals got their claws into them.

Yeah, I know you don't believe it, but it's true. Real conservatives actually believe that content of character matters more than color of skin. Liberals bow before the false god of racial quotas, affirmative action and "you damned well had better stay on the plantation, remain satisfied with nothing but resentment and promises and vote Democrat."

Campy| 8.4.09 @ 2:42PM

Grzmlyk: spot on.

blunted: it's TROUGH. Any good pig would know where his food comes from, so you must be Marcell.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:44PM

The main problem with health care is that to many fat americans eat Mcdonalds and expect the doctors to perform miracles. Put down the cigarettes, alcohol, and pork fat and wise up. To many fat republicans going around eating what they want and stressing over the demise of the country.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 2:47PM

Blunty, you are demonstrating that you are incapable of learning; I thought we covered this: That should be, "you're an old wind bag." Not "Your and old wind bag."

Sheesh! Who dresses you in the morning?

As for the level of your insults, all you need do is mention "Limbaugh" and "Fox News" and I'm put in my place! WOW, you ARE a clever boy, aren't you?

As for Obama's health care, yeah - you finally got something right (even a stopped clock is right twice a day). It IS a diabolical plot to control the population. Bingo.

But you're wrong about the Muslim thing; he believes he's above any religion. He only embraces Muslims to the extent he thinks they are victims of America's dominant culture. Like all narcissists with a messianic complex, he believes HE - and not Allah, not Jesus Christ, not Confucious, not Budda, not Jon Stewart - is the Way the Light and the Hope.

He's wrong.

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 8.4.09 @ 2:48PM

________________________________________
Blunted: What do you Peasants need Money for anyway?
I think part of the problem is?,.. that most people can’t comprehend what One Trillion Dollars actually means to them (in Reality)?,.. Oh it’s only a Trillion Dollars!!,.. and it’s for Healthcare!!,.. and that’s a good thing right?,.. No!!,.. it’s not a good thing!!,.. it’s a “Lot” of money!!,.. it’s like this Cash for Clunkers program they just pulled off on us?,.. they went through the first Billion Dollars in a couple of days,.. No big deal!!,.. and now they want to throw another Two Billion down this same Black Hole!!,.. Oh it’s only another Two Billion Dollars more!!,.. and it’s a successful program (says who?) to improve gas mileage and save the World from Global Warming!!,.. that’s good thing right?,.. No!!,.. it’s not a good thing!!,.. now I’m not a Mathematician nor am I an English Teacher, so please bare with me!!,.. but to get to One Billion Dollars (the original Cash for Clunkers)?,.. it takes 999 Million Dollars (plus One Million more),..and that’s One Billion Dollars!!,.. so if you’re following my weird Math?,.. to get to One Trillion Dollars (the starting price for this Health Care Fiasco)?,.. it takes 999 Billion Dollars (plus One Billion more) and that’s One Trillion Dollars!!,.. now I’m still not a Mathematician!!,.. and obviously have never been an English Teacher!!,.. so please correct me if I’m wrong?,.. but the difference between One Billion and One Trillion?,.. is a lot like the difference between a One Dollar Bill and a Hundred Dollar Bill,.. now that’s something we can all comprehend?,.. I have one Dollar in my pocket,.. but I wish it was a Hundred Dollars!!,.. but you see it takes 99 cents (plus One Cent more) to make up One Dollar!!,.. and 99 Dollars (plus One Dollar more) to make up One Hundred Dollars.
But if your Mechanic told you the repairs on your old car was going to cost you One Hundred Dollars,.. but came back to you one week later and said he needed an additional Two Hundred Dollars?,.. You would throw a hissy fit!!,.. and so would I!!,.. but that’s only Two Hundred additional Dollars to your Mechanic,.. and that’s a good thing right?,.. No!!,.. it’s not a good thing!!,.. but it’s not the Two Billion Dollars more that they want to throw down the Cash for Clunkers Black Hole!!,.. and the Cash for Clunkers Billions isn’t the Health Care Reform Trillion(S) that Pelosi is planning on stealing from all of us!!,..but anyway!!,.. anything that cost over One Trillion Dollars that’s in our budget?,.. Well?,.. we don’t need it,.. we don’t want it,.. and we can’t comprehend it!!,.. but I’ll try again anyway?,.. 1,000,000 is One Million Dollars!!,.. 1,000,000,000 is One Billion Dollars!!,.. 1,000,000,000,000 is One Trillion Dollars!!,.. now once again I’m not a Mathematician,.. but there a “Huge” difference between these numbers!!,.. do you see how these numbers keep getting longer as you go along?,.. with more and more zeroes in them?,.. and all those zeroes?,.. well they really are “Real” Dollars not donuts!!,.. and paying for all these numbers?,.. all those zeroes?,.. well that’s another thing all together?,.. Well that’s another thing!!:,.. Airplane: The Movie.,.. Oh yeah?,.. and if you haven’t figured it out yet Blunted?,.. this has nothing to do with the above article either?,.. but I just wanted to interrupt your stupid conversation for just one second,.. and tell you to get a life!!,.. yelling the loudest?,.. doesn’t mean you’re correct!!,.. it just means you yell loud,.. Oh yeah?,.. you’re a Dick!!

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:49PM

Youtube has a great example of the fattening of America:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgfatTyzgJk

LImbaugh the fat porker is on it.

Grzmlyk| 8.4.09 @ 2:52PM

Marcell, why don't you go out and get a job? Come on. I know it's hard to put the Wendy's uniform on at first, but you'll get used to it.

And if you bus tables well, who knows? You might eventually get a job working the grill. Now THAT'S responsibility.

blunted| 8.4.09 @ 2:53PM

Lullabys I understand what your saying but I would rather have that trillion go towards our people as opposed to dumping it on Iraqi welfare. Call me crazy. I have insurance so the health care arguments mean nothing to me.