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On top of an $18.9 million Defense Department grant doled out in Sept. 2010, the Institute received $13.6 million from the Department of Education, according to USASpending.gov. In the 2009 federal budget, another $5.8 million was appropriated through the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services. The state of Massachusetts gave the University of Massachusetts $5 million, earmarked for the Institute. As a senator in 2010, current Sec. of State John Kerry waged an unsuccessful attempt to earmark another $28.9 million for the museum ... the $18.9 million Defense Department earmark was “funneled through the Defense...

The stated mission of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute is to teach the general public about how the U.S. Senate works, so it’s fitting that the shrine to the late Massachusetts Democrat is funded, in part, by $38 million in taxpayers’ money. The $78 million combination museum and interactive civics exhibit was formally dedicated by President Obama on Monday. Besides a section honoring Kennedy’s 46-year political career, which ended with his Aug. 25, 2009 death, the Institute will offer a “Senate Immersion Module” which aims to teach visitors how the upper chamber works. (snip) On top of an $18.9 million...

via Michelle Malkin

It's a fact of American life that a good share of the electorate is , and even of President Obama. What's less certain are the reasons why. For some Democrats, the explanation is simple: race. In recent weeks, West Virginia Sen. , Mississippi Rep. and former Florida Gov. have all said racism is the driving force behind Republican resistance to the president. Republicans, unsurprisingly, say their disdain for Obama is based not on the color of his skin, but on the content of his policies. "If any white Democrat had pushed through a billion-dollar stimulus plan and a takeover of...

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi corrected a reporter Thursday who called Democrats’ health care law “Obamacare.” “First of all, it’s called the ‘Affordable Care Act,’ ” the California Democrat said after a reporter asked about House GOP efforts to try to tweak the law. Democrats, who just a couple of years ago were happy to call President Obama’s signature achievement Obamacare,...

L.A mayor’s party will glam uptownBy Tim Funk Posted: Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012 An army of A-list celebs and politicos are expected to show up at the N.C. Music Factory on Sept. 5 for a Hollywood-themed gala hosted by L.A. Mayor – and Dem convention chairman – Antonio Villaraigosa. The Dish has learned that the Factory’s Fountain Plaza and Osso Restaurant will get a one-night make-over. Picture palm trees, classic L.A. architecture and lots of California wine. **SNIP** Grandson Joseph Kennedy III, a candidate for Congress, will introduce a video salute to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy on the convention’s...

Damn it's been a good week. Posting two of the most appropriate pieces of artwork - the Obamacare zeppelin going down, and the minutemen hero bill. Here's the bill. Front side first. For the whole series of Zero themed artwork, go here: "Flickr Archive of Zero Artwork"

For several months now, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., has been drafting a health reform bill with a bipartisan group of three Republicans and three Democrats designed to garner support from both parties.Just in time for President Obama's address to Congress, some key points in the forthcoming bill were unveiled. The final bill is expected to be released this week. Unfortunately, it features a number of provisions that would hamstring medical innovation. Baucus' overhaul would be partially funded by new fees on the health care industry. Starting next year, medical device makers would be forced to pony up...

In a letter delivered after his death, late senator Ted Kennedy called for 2009 to be the year of long-awaited US health care reform, President Barack Obama said. Obama told US lawmakers he had received the letter just a few days ago after Kennedy died on August 25 having lost his 15-month battle with brain cancer. The Democratic lion had voiced confidence that this year "that great unfinished business of our society", which he worked for during almost five decades in the US Senate, would be passed, Obama said. "He repeated the truth that health care is decisive for our...

This letter is from Dr. Zane Pollard. He operates at Children's Health Care of Atlanta. Google him, he has an extremely very impressive resume. Friends: I have been sitting quietly on the sidelines watching all of this national debate on healthcare. It is time for me to bring some clarity to the table and, as your friend, by explaining many of the problems from the aspect of a doctor. First off the government has involved very few of us physicians in the healthcare debate. While the American Medical Association has come out in favor of the plan, it is vital...

As a family physician caring for East Texans, I have encountered many patients and friends seeking my views on the health-care reform issues Americans face. This is my message for them and for our elected representatives who are attempting to make dramatic changes to the health-care system on which we all rely. The United States truly needs a more cost-effective health-care system. The efficiencies that are needed are not likely to come from government. I am unaware of any service in which government leads in efficiency. The HR 3200 approach to reforming health care will result in an increased administrative...

Unbelievable. I watched it three times and still cannot believe what I saw and heard. Roll the tape: [VIDEO AT SITE] These people are shameless. Absolutely shameless. You would think that after the Paul Wellstone memorial went so far off the tracks that they would have learned. Seems that isn't so. Rush said last week that the services for Uncle Teddy would be a spectacle to behold because the Democrats cannot help themselves. Once again, Rush was right. As Allah at Hot Air said: Enter this poor little boy, charged with politicizing a prayer because the gutless pols around him...

All in all, no matter how this legislation ends up in terms of content or fate, it’s a towering pile of doo-doo and it will be decided in the Senate. Why not name it for Senator Kennedy? Either way, pass or fail, the bill symbolizes everything that Senator Kennedy represented. It should also be noted that Senator Kennedy, like all fabulously wealthy people, had nothing to gain or lose with this legislation. This law, should it pass, will be for the great unwashed masses subjected to government-run health care because their businesses will save money with the public option. Senators,...

I thought that Freepers should do our part to help the President sell the newly-renamed KennedyCare bill to the American public. To that end, please post your ideas here for slogans that can be used to get the message across about the impact that this bill will have on the American people. I'll start us out with a few I picked up on various threads and some I came up with on my own.

The US banking system will lose some 1,000 institutions over the next two years, said John Kanas, whose private equity firm bought BankUnited of Florida in May. “We’ve already lost 81 this year,” he told CNBC. “The numbers are climbing every day. Many of these institutions nobody’s ever heard of. They're smaller companies.” Failed banks tend to be smaller and private, which exacerbates the problem for small business borrowers, said Kanas, who became CEO of BankUnited when his firm bought the bank and is the former chairman and CEO of North Fork bank. “Government money has propped up the very...

Skyrocketing numbers of expensive medical imaging procedures - from CT scans to nuclear stress tests - are not just straining the nation's health care system, but are exposing patients to significant amounts of potentially cancer-causing radiation even though little research has been done into whether those tests actually make people healthier, a new study suggests. The tests, say the study's authors, may be doing more harm than good. "One reason why these tests are being used more is they're getting better and better and they're an extremely helpful part of diagnosis and treatment," said Dr. Reza Fazel, a cardiologist at...

"This is the cause of my life - new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American - north, south, east, west, young, old - will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege."

Here is video of a very emotional Vice-President Joe Biden today talking about the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy. Biden quoted Shakespeare, saying "we shall never see the likes of him again." . . . . . (Watch Video)

Constituents of Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann have two chances this week to discuss pressing issues with her, including a public forum on health care. The 6th District Republican will be in St. Cloud today to tackle questions about Social Security. The seminar is geared toward women and Bachmann says she'll be joined by an official from the Social Security Administration. On Thursday, Bachmann heads to Lake Elmo for the health care forum. She'll be accompanied by Congressman Michael Burgess, a fellow Republican from Texas who has a background in medicine.

A coalition of conservative groups dedicated to dispelling the myths of global warming is keeping the heat on lawmakers when it comes to "cap and trade." The Cooler Heads Coalition recently held a closed door meeting in Washington, DC. The coalition comprises individuals from conservative organizations who are leading the charge against the Waxman-Markey energy bill, also known as "cap and trade" and referred to in the meeting as "energy rationing and tax." Although the healthcare debate currently is the main newsmaker in DC, the Cooler Heads Coalition says the Waxman-Markey energy bill is still alive and well. They also...