OBAMACARE - TRUMP'S NEXT HUGE FIRST TERM ACHIEVEMENT (100 DAYS)

OBAMACARE - TRUMP'S NEXT HUGE FIRST TERM ACHIEVEMENT (100 DAYS):

OBAMACARE & IMMIGRATION IS GOP'S 2020 ELECTION VICTORY PLATFORM.

CAN THE GOP SUCCEED WITHOUT LETTING DEMS DISTRACT OR SABOTAGE THEM??


Sources: Fox News, Bloomberg News, USA Today, YouTube


***** Trump optimistic as government shutdown, ObamaCare replacement loom


Fresh from a two-week Easter break, Congress hits the ground running next week -- its legislative plate more than full, and its back against the wall with the government funding clock ticking down and the resurrection of a tuned-up ObamaCare replacement bill on its agenda.

Asked late Friday if he can get it all done, an optimistic President Trump told a reporter, "We'll see what happens. No particular rush, but we'll see what happens. A lot of good things are happening. "

Those upbeat remarks -- a week before the federal government runs out of money -- stand in stark contrast to growing fears in some quarters of another government shutdown.

A key House source told Fox News that negotiations on a new spending bill are, "ongoing and progressing" and that "a government shutdown is not on the table."

Trump's Budget Director Mick Mulvaney agrees, but on Thursday he threw a wrench in the works. He told the Associated Press that Democratic negotiators need to agree to fund some of the president's top priorities, including a down payment on a border wall and hiring of additional immigration agents.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's Communications Director, Matt House, fired back late Friday in an emailed statement: "If the administration would drop their 11th-hour demand for a wall that Democrats, and a good number of Republicans oppose, Congressional leaders could quickly reach a deal.

Asked Friday morning, after Mulvaney's remarks, whether the wall funding is a budget deal breaker, Counselor to the President Kelly Ann Conway played it safe. "I'll let the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] director and the president and others address that. We're confident that the government will not be shut down next week."

Conway’s circumspection may also stem from knowing Democrats are making their own budget demands, further risking a government shut-down.

"You have Democrats saying they want ObamaCare payments into this funding bill so Republicans are not going to like that," says Bob Cusack, managing editor of The Hill. "So there is certainly some brinksmanship going on and this is going to take some twists and turns but, at the end of the day, I think they'll get a deal done," he says.

"We boiled this thing down to something we want very badly and the democrats really don't want," Mulvaney said on Bloomberg TV. "We'd offer them $1 of CSR payments for $1 of wall payments. Right now that's the offer that we've given to our Democratic colleagues."

Adding another wrinkle to budget talks, the president wants the House to roll out the new American Health Care Act next week. It's a tuned-up version of the ObamaCare replacement that was pulled from the floor in late March, when it became clear Republicans didn’t have enough votes.

But voting on two complex pieces of legislation in a single week is extremely difficult. As an insurance policy against a government shutdown, Republicans will have a short-term continuing resolution at the ready, should it be

Richard Burr Keeps U.S. Senate Seat! Wins 55-43!

Richard Burr Declared Winner In U.S. Senate Race

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr vanquished Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall on Tuesday, retaining his seat in Congress with a renewed promise to rein in government spending and debt.

With 20 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Burr held 55 percent of the vote compared with 43 percent for Marshall. Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler had 2 percent.

Burr, who has served one term in the Senate after a decade in the House, had portrayed himself as an agent of change after two years of Democratic control of federal government. His message particularly focused on fiscal discipline, acknowledging past Republican mistakes of intense government spending but blaming Democrats for escalating the excess with President Barack Obama in charge.

"The result of this election shows that North Carolinians expect Congress to find reasonable and rational solutions to build a better future," Burr said after The Associated Press declared him the winner. "I am ready to lead in the effort to make sure the next generation has every opportunity possible to be successful."

Marshall, a veteran politician in Raleigh, had cast herself as an outsider in the race. She blamed Burr for contributing to problems with Washington politics and questioned his ties to interest groups. Marshall vowed to be a champion for average North Carolina residents, touting her work fighting Wall Street firms during her tenure as secretary of state.

Jacque Lewis, of Raleigh, said she is concerned that Burr is too cozy with his party, that Republicans are blocking financial regulation and that the GOP might privatize even part of Social Security. But she said her main worry was government spending — such as Obama's health care overhaul — leading her to vote for Republicans like Burr.

"Save money," said Lewis, 71. "Save money in some way. Save money in any way."

Laurie Fillion, 56, of Raleigh, said she voted a straight Democratic ticket in hopes the party could keep control of the House and Senate.

Fillion and her husband are living on her disability pay and his work as a custodian — totaling $29,000 a year. They begin to run out of food around the end of the third week each month, at which point they start living on hot dogs, spaghetti and ketchup.

"It's scary if the Republicans take Congress," Fillion said. "I know the middle and the low class will be forgotten about."

Unlike two years ago, when Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan emerged from obscurity in North Carolina to oust widely known Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, the Democratic establishment in Washington did little to aid Marshall, instead investing in other races around the country where incumbents were at risk of losing their seats. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent millions on Hagan, but they have aired no ads for Marshall and supported her opponent in the party's primary.

Burr, meanwhile, carried a wide fundraising advantage throughout the race, having brought in more than $8 million for his re-election bid compared to just over $2 million for Marshall.





Burr Maintains Significant, But Smaller Lead


Democratic Senate candidate Elaine Marshall has narrowed the gap with Richard Burr, but the Republican incumbent still maintains a comfortable lead according to two new polls.

A survey by Public Policy Polling shows Burr leading Marshall by a 48 to 40 margin, down from a 13 point gap three weeks ago. Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler was at 3 percent. She has closed the gap because some of the Democratic voters have begun to come home.

A WRAL News Poll also shows a narrowing gap, although it shows Burr with 53 percent and Marshall at 38 percent, with Beitler at 5 percent.

The PPP survey found that while Marshall is picking up support among Democrats, Burr's backing remains steady. It also found that Burr holds a commanding 52-24 advantage lead among independents suggesting his soft-edged ideological campaign is working.

Marshall has made gains at a time when she has raised her profile by finally going on TV with her advertising campaign and appearing in three TV debates.

The PPP survey of 597 likely North Carolina voters was taken from Oct. 15 to 17th and had a margin error of plus or minus four percent.

The WRAL poll was conducted by SurveyUSA polled 857 likely voters Friday through Monday. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, WRAL, Youtube, Google Maps

30 Major Causes Of Failure By Napoleon Hill

The 30 Major Causes Of Failure By Napoleon Hill


1) Unfavorable Heredity Background (This deficiency can be corrected via "Mastermind or Positive Thinking methods" and Education.)

2) Lack of a Well-Defined Purpose In Life.

3) Lack of Ambition to Aim Above Mediocrity.

4) Insufficient Education
(It takes more than a University Degree to make one a person of Education. Experience has proven that the best educated people are often those whom are self-educated. Education is not just Knowledge, but the Ability and Wisdom to properly apply Knowledge.)

5) Lack of Self-Discipline.

6) Very Ill Health.
(Ill health can come be overcome with Faith, proper nutrition, exercise, medication and a positive state of mind.)

7) Unfavorable Environmental Influences During Childhood.
(Most people who have Criminal tendencies acquire them as a result of being reared in a Poor Environment and the influence of Negative Associates during Childhood or Adolescent years.)

8) Procrastination

9) Lack of Persistence

10) Critical/ Negative Personality

11) Lack of Controlled Sexual Urge

12) Uncontrolled Desire of "Something For Nothing" Mentality

13) Lack Of Well-Defined Decision-Making Ability

14) Fear of Failure

15) Wrong Selection of Mate in a Marriage

16) Over Caution

17) Wrong Selection of Business Associates

18) Lack Of Faith/ Being Superstitious and Prejudice

19) Wrong Selection of an Occupation/ Vocation

20) Lack of Concentration Or Focus

21) Indiscriminate Spending/ Poverty/ Poor Financial Choices

22) Lack of Enthusiasm

23) Lack of Creativity and Imagination/ Inability to Dream

24) Intemperance

25) Anti-Social/ Inability To Cooperate with Others/ Poor Teamwork Skills

26) Possession of Power Not Acquired via Self-Effort
(Ex. Wealthy children who were NOT taught the value of Money or Work.)

27) Intentional Dishonesty/ Habitual LIAR

28) Egotism, Narcissism and Vanity

29) Lack of Critical Thinking Skills/ Guessing versus using Facts.

30) Lack of Capital or Sufficient Capital
(This is the common cause of Failure for Entrepreneurs.)








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Sources: Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Wikipedia, Youtube, Google Maps

Nancy Pelosi Is A Star! Partisan Health Care Bill Her Biggest Win

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Pelosi Achieves Biggest Political Victory Of Her Career With Health Care Bill



Nancy Pelosi showed Sunday why she is one of the most powerful Speakers in history.

In shepherding one of the most controversial bills through the House, Pelosi achieved what some thought what was impossible after Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts two months ago.

Pelosi's political stock took major hits at various points in the 111th Congress. Last year, she attracted widespread criticism for her seemingly contradictory statements on what she knew about U.S. interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists. Her handling of the Eric Massa scandal earlier this month was mocked by Republicans and her replacing of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) as Ways and Means chairman was anything but smooth.

Headlines on those issues had some whispering that Pelosi did not have the pull with her caucus that she used to. Some Democrats in the nation's capital privately predicted Pelosi couldn't pull off this close vote, especially with more than 30 House Democrats facing tougher reelection races than when the House cleared its healthcare bill last November.

Down at least two dozen votes earlier this month, Pelosi worked many members one-on-one. On Friday, she talked to Rep. Scott Murphy (D-N.Y.) about his vote off the House floor. Hours later, Murphy announced he was going to back the bill.

There were many others.

By leaning on her caucus, Pelosi got a number of yes votes that put her within range of 216. Some of the biggest "yes" votes in recent days were Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Brian Baird (Wash), Bill Owens (N.Y.), Ciro Rodriguez (Texas), Chris Carney (Pa.), Allen Boyd (Fla.), John Boccieri (Ohio), Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.) and Betsy Markey (Colo.).

Pelosi did make some wrong turns along the way, including considering using the so-called "deem and pass" strategy of passing the bill. The mulling of "deem and pass" proved to be a massive distraction, quickly becoming the focal point of the media's coverage of the bill.

Several Democrats, including Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.), vowed to reject such a procedural ploy.

Like she has many times before, she listened to her caucus. She then pivoted, opting against employing the tactic. Cardoza, who is a member of leadership, voted yes.

While several Democratic leaders boldly claimed they had the votes earlier this week, Pelosi knew she was still a significant amount shy. One of the best vote-counters in Congress, Pelosi was forced, once again, to strike a deal with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

It was an eleventh-hour deal that could have cost "yes" votes from abortion-rights Democrats. But Pelosi, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, convinced them that unless Stupak was on board, the bill would die on the House floor. They quickly got in line.

Certainly, Pelosi had a lot of help in passing the healthcare bill, most notably from President Barack Obama, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.).

Obama personally urged dozens of Democrats to vote yes, and while some refused to budge, others moved into the "yes" column.

But no one knows the House Democratic Caucus better than Pelosi.

And publicly, she never hinted how far she was down in the votes.

"I have faith in my caucus," Pelosi said earlier this month.

Pelosi has had a lot of experience in winning close votes.

She muscled a climate change bill through the lower chamber last year, 219-212. Months later, after a deal with Stupak, the House healthcare bill passed, 220-215. The Speaker also has finessed tought-to-pass war supplemental bills through the House.

This healthcare bill was the toughest lift. Centrists didn't like it because many of their constituents were telling them it was a bad bill. Liberals didn't like it because the legislation came from the Senate -- a chamber they don't trust and now openly belittle.

Along the way, Pelosi had to make sacrifices. After pushing hard for the public option throughout 2009, Pelosi was forced to abandon it this year. She also had to swallow most of the Senate bill while bending on the abortion provisions.
Republicans scoff at the notion that passing healthcare reform is a win for Pelosi and the Democratic Party, pointing to Brown's win and the looming election when many Democrats are expected to lose.

Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), chairman of the House Republican Conference, told his colleagues on Saturday that victory -- one way or the other -- would be theirs. That triumph would either come during the third Sunday of March or the first Tuesday in November, which is Election Day.

Still, Republicans privately admit they underestimated Pelosi when she took the gavel in January, 2007. Defying their predictions back then, Pelosi charted a cautious chart in her first year as Speaker, wary of endangering her majority.

As GOP poll numbers plummeted further, Pelosi adopted a more aggressive leadership style in 2008.

With Obama in the White House, Pelosi moved left, moving the climate change bill before healthcare reform. That decision irritated politically vulnerable Democrats and some in the Obama administration. The climate bill is considered dead in the Senate.

At the end of 2009 as the political winds shifted to the Republican Party, Pelosi attempted to put her caucus at ease. Saying she was in “campaign mode,” Pelosi vowed she would no longer move controversial bills until the Senate acted first.

Pelosi has long said climate change is her flagship issue, but it is unclear whether that measure will pass while she is Speaker.

It is clear, however, that her legacy as Speaker will be forever tied to healthcare reform.


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Sources: The Hill, MSNBC, Google Maps

GOP's Roadmap For 2010 Elections: Independents, Solutions & Tea Parties

The GOP's New Roadmap


The secret to Scott Brown’s success in Massachusetts was his strong appeal to independent voters—a template for the GOP in 2010, and a Democratic nightmare.

Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts Tuesday tells us a lot about the power of independents and what it takes to win their vote. Despite the media’s focus on the “fringe” elements on the far right and the far left of the ideological spectrum, the vast majority of Americans reside somewhere in the political center. Most people want the same things from Washington: a federal government that is efficient, competent, transparent, and frugal. Unfortunately for the party in power, our leaders in Washington have failed spectacularly on all these fronts.

“But Republicans started it,” liberals will squeal. Fair enough. But Democrats were handed decisive margins of victory in 2006 and 2008 to turn things around, and it appears that voters have run out of patience.

Independents are particularly disillusioned. They were quick to display anxiety about President Obama’s liberal agenda and appetite for spending. After passage of the White House stimulus plan, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) warned that a kind of “generational theft” was under way. That registered with independents. And their anxiety about the Democratic administration only snowballed from there.

Independents tend to have a lower tolerance than partisans for government shenanigans. They’ve watched the bribery and back-room dealing on health-care legislation in abject horror.

Obama’s inability to call “time out” on the Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill has taken a toll on the political health of the White House. He had a window several months ago to halt negotiations and demand that integrity and transparency be returned to the legislative process—a promise he campaigned on in his historic run for the White House. These missed opportunities have not gone unnoticed. In the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC poll, President Obama’s approval rating among independents is 41 percent, down from 52 percent on Election Day in 2008. And while independent voters are not the squeaky wheels in our political system, their mood swings have serious consequences.

In November, independents in New Jersey sided with Republican Chris Christie 58 percent to 31 percent, helping pave the way for his stunning upset in the governor’s race in this deep blue state. In Virginia, a state Obama turned blue in 2008, Republican Bob McDonnell carried independents by a margin of 65-34 percent en route to victory in that state’s governor’s race. And Tuesday night, independents in Massachusetts—who make up more than half of the electorate—decided that the most qualified candidate to succeed Ted Kennedy was Scott Brown, the “independent-minded Republican” in the race.

Scott Brown won for a variety of reasons. He is scrappy, accessible, humble and hard-working. The pickup truck helped. So did his young, energetic daughters. But the most interesting thing about Brown’s appeal among Massachusetts independents is that he didn’t back away from the issues that are of the greatest importance to Republicans. With confidence and without alienating the political center, Brown ran as the 41st vote against Obama’s agenda. He wasn’t intimidated or distracted by the white noise that emanates from Washington about how Republicans can’t simply run “against” something; they need to be “for” something. Scott Brown proved all the wise men (and women) wrong on that front by running as “41.” And he was for the important things: jobs, tax cuts, less government, and a strong military.

Brown also spoke in stark terms about terror. The wounds of 9/11 run deep in Massachusetts. Two of the planes took off from Logan International that day. Brown ran as an unapologetic supporter of waterboarding and an opponent of granting rights and privileges to enemies during wartime. Massachusetts’ voters went with him.

Brown did something else that’s important. He allowed voters to like Obama. For Republicans to win in November, they will have to acknowledge the personal appeal of both President and Mrs. Obama. Brown described his call from Obama in his victory speech Tuesday night and continued his courtship of the popular president in his news conference Wednesday with an in-depth read-out of the conversation the two men had.

Perhaps the secret of Brown’s appeal to the independent set is the simple fact that he knows who he is; he hasn’t been focus-grouped or scripted or insulated from the people he represents. He put it best when he ended his acceptance speech Tuesday night with this:

“[B]ecause of your independence and your trust, I will hold for a time the seat once filled by patriots from John Quincy Adams to John F. Kennedy and his brother Ted... I’m Scott Brown. I’m from Wrentham. I drive a truck. And I am nobody’s senator but yours.”


Sources: The Daily Beast