This year a new additional $2.7 billion a year tax was imposed on drug companies under Obamacare.  Doesn’t affect me, you say?  Of course it does.  Drug companies, unlike the federal government, can’t print money, so this tax is being paid by you in the form of higher drug prices.  Personally, I’ve already noticed the increase.

Next year, under Obamacare, medical device manufacturers will pay an additional $2 billion per year in new taxes.  Who do you think will pay for that?

And, beginning in 2013, if you earn any interest or dividend income, you must pay an additional 3.8% tax on that income as a “Medicare” surtax.

Beginning in 2014, insurance companies will pay an additional $6 billion per year in taxes.  Can you say higher premiums?

Were that not enough, beginning in 2014, if you don’t have a health insurance policy that is approved by the federal government, you will pay a tax (yes, the government is now calling it a tax) of up to $2500 per year.

I really want to believe my President when he says something, but…

Then again, President Obama is corect.  He didn’t raise taxes once.

UPDATE: Here’s the young President with the whopper of the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGj-wbanL9w

Some video for you, then you can decide for yourselves. First up, the President speaking to the chamber yesterday, the President announced he would review and eliminate outdated regulations that have become a logistics nightmare and,as he has come to understand, keep hiring down.

Let’s get rid of those “outdated and unnecessary regulations,” the onetime corporate scold said, and remove that “burdensome corporate tax code with one of the highest rates in the world.”

The president boasted that his administration had slowed down environmental rulemaking and accelerated drug approvals. Rather than browbeat corporate America, as he did in his early days in office, he pleaded for more hiring with sports phrases such as “get off the sidelines” and “get in the game.”

Ahhh … the carrot … and now the stick. Time to spread the wealth around:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kx6PEt16SY

Change. I remember as a young employee and proud union member I used to believe that companies paid lower level workers too little and conversely, upper management too much. What I lost sight of, and the President still doesn’t understand, employers don’t pay workers based on what people consider “fair”, they pay based on “worth”. They hire employees based on need and pay no more, nor less, than what it takes to bring the worker on and provide value to the company.

More irony. Even as the President called for an end to unnecessary regulations … his minions were pouring it on. Take a look at this screen cap from Fox News last night.

Not to mention … the latest from the Labor Department. No big secret to the Chamber President who said he worries most about the new regulations that haven’t been placed on business from the EPA, DOL, not to mention Obamacare. Change? Not so much. But then they always tell you who they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfJm1xTiPSQ

Last night Fred Barnes on the Fox All Star panel called the visit a “fake” while Krauthammer called it all show. The bottom line here is the President know he needs business, not so much to elected but to get the economy moving, which I guess are one in the same. What he does not understand is he can’t command it.

Last night on The O’Reilly Factor Juan Williams finally got a little heated and it was fun to watch. First, he apparently is no mood to accept an arm’s length apology. Then, once fully heated to a boil, he let’s NPR have it. “They wanted me gone”. Indeed they did Juan. But the best I think comes at the end. Juan is obviously upset and hurt, and he should be.

Clearly, he’s not the kind of guy who likes this kind of publicity and never expected it. But he is obviously very touched by the outpouring of support, especially from his “bud”, Bill O’Reilly. “We’re not letting go of this madam, we’re not letting go.” Uh Oh.

UPDATE: Sorry I didn’t set up the video. The conversation picks up right after watching NPR’s Vivian Schiller making her famous “His feelings are between Juan and his psychiatrist” comment which I have posted below on the blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2-Db8a9xJ8

My guess is … he won’t.

Both worth watching. As Krauthammer said, Obama will drag us kicking and screaming in a green economy, like it or not.

First up Krauthammer. I thought he was very gentle with the President although the message was clear. No leadership.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pJQGdL70Yk

Next, Bill O’Reilly. If you lose Bill, have you lost the nation? Again, the theme the same. No leadership.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud3jXirPQ2I

O’Reilly is tryig to pin down Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) on who will enforce the Health Care penalty for people who choose not to buy insurance and refuse to pay the penalty. A reasonable question … that O’Reilly asks five times. But Weiner never gives an answer. The ultimate answer of course is the IRS but Weiner won’t budge.

This little comedy routine actually runs six minutes. I could only cut three minutes at the end, and frankly, it’s all you could take too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O6Jk7icfMw

These lefities so think we are stupid, or is it just O’Reilly they think is stupid. My guess, they think O’Reilly will let them spew their crap in the interest of bipartisanship. Silly lefty.

I think I like this one better. Ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M

Update (Steve): Thanks to Ed Morrissey at Hot Air for the linkage.

It started with Rush’s rant last week where a woman caller brought up O’Reilly’s name and Rush took a level only Rush could. He mocked Bill about his “fair and balanced” pander to the Obama administration … but Rush’s rant also included shots at Bill’s … umm … self awareness?

It must have struck a nerve because O’Reily spent the first half hour of his show asking a variety of guests if they thought Obama was a socialist. Newt was first up. Answer was classic. But as you listen you will notice that Bill continually confuses socialism with communism and totalitarianism. No Obama is not trying to confiscate private property … well not all private property (see GM, Chrysler, college loan industry, health care) but he believes in Government control that goes far beyond government regulation. But why let me tell you. Here’s Newt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GUe6LMzFGU

Not a socialist, just President Johnson on steroids. No, not quite. Johnson never had a pat czar and didn’t own a car company. But that’s just me. Comments welcome. I will likely touch on this, so if you have objections, make em known.

Of course, O’Reilly is completely and totally wrong here. We know a good portion of the stories coming from the Katrina hurricane were false, I wrote about that back in December of 2007, and Popular Mechanics debunked plenty of the myths in their March 2006 issue.

In these exact situations you must have the ability to defend yourself and your property. If there are murderous mobs and looters roaming the street, you want the lights on, your alarm on, the windows and doors locked, and the dog barking. Of course, since the power is out and emergency services are thinly stretched, you best be able to defend yourself and your family on your own.

Are these situations rare? You bet, but when you have seconds, the cops are only an hour or so away.

It’s not the cops fault mind you – not at all – it’s simple reality. They can not be everywhere.

Bill O’Reilly thinks it’s perfectly acceptable for cities to confiscate weapons during times of emergency … exactly when you need them most. Maybe he’s got enough money and a big salary to hire a couple of body guards the cops will not hassle. I don’t Bill, nor would I expect others to take care of me or my family during these situations. Be prepared ya know?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvrwsZwL5vE

Note: I’m note talking about membership in Oathkeepers, I’m specifically commenting on O’Reilly’s comments. Hat tip to Gateway Pundit.

UPDATE (Jim): Via Instapundit: It’s not Mr. Rhodes who’s view is extreme, it’s actually Mr. O’Reilly’s, not to mention unconstituitonal. The New Orleans settled with the NRA  gun confiscation case in 2008.

Fairfax, VA-After a three-year legal battle over the unconstitutional confiscation of lawfully owned firearms, the City of New Orleans has agreed to settle a law suit by the National Rifle Association (NRA). A permanent injunction has been issued against the city, Mayor Ray Nagin and current Police Chief Warren Riley. The Second Amendment Foundation assisted NRA in the legal battle against Mayor Ray Nagin and the City of New Orleans.

Glen also points out Federal law in this matter:

SEC. 706. <> FIREARMS POLICIES.

“(a) Prohibition on Confiscation of Firearms.–No officer or employee of the United States (including any member of the uniformed services), or person operating pursuant to or under color of Federal
law, or receiving Federal funds, or under control of any Federal official, or providing services to such an officer, employee, or other person, while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or
emergency, may–

“(1) temporarily or permanently seize, or authorize seizure
of, any firearm the possession of which is not prohibited under

[[Page 120 STAT. 1392]]

Finally in 2006 even Obama voted in favor of the Gun confiscation statute. Imagine, O’Reilly to the left of Obama.

O’Reilly’s researchers look into the MSM’s coverage of the Tea Party Convention in Nashville and discover two positive stories out of thousands. Reason enough O’Reilly says, the make the claim that the media hates the Tea Parties.

His guest Jim Vandehei pushes back by, not taking a critical whack of NBC, CBS or the NYT. Instead he criticizes FN editor Bill Sammon’s comment that the media hates the Tea Party. O’Reilly is baffled and get’s hot and the result is classic TV …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJT689ya-lU

I have no doubt that the vast majority of the MSM look at the Tea Party movement with disgust. The very idea that ordinary middle Americans have the audacity to take to the streets and push back like, well like ACORN, has rattled their world. “Why Mom can’t behave this way. They must be nuts, fruitcakes, racists, mobsters, Teabaggers?”

We have documented the media coverage since August. CNN’s confrontation with Tea Party folks in Chicago, Anderson Cooper and MSNBC’s glee in playing with the Tea Party name, the New York Times ignoring the story from February through August … the list does on and on. All media? I am not sure, but the vast majority continue to characteristically frame the Tea Party protesters in a negative light, and that my friends is not fair and balanced, and we have noticed.

O’Reilly had Fenstermaker on his show last night, and here is the video courtesy Gateway Pundit. (Actually, had to grab the video from another source – the PoliticsCentralX You Tube channel.)

O’Reilly calmly asks Fenstermaker a few times if he personally thought there was any justification for killing thousands of innocent civilians. He refuses to answer, and states over and over the jury will decide if anyone was murdered. O’Reilly reminds him millions are watching who probably think he’s a weasel.

There is something really strange about Fenstermaker. Is he a pawn encouraged to get out in front of the media and test the waters? Does he really wants to be part of the defense team? (Note, he is not part of the defense team.)

Since he has only met with one of the terrorists (not sure which one) and will not be on the defense team why do we care what this guy thinks?

What is his thought process here? I understand that he – as a defense lawyer – wants these terrorists to have a fair trial, but they could have had a fair trial in a military court.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNOYzYNoOw0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU2TkGdCFTY

To my former WFSB colleague’s credit, he tells Neil, he has a point. Indeed.