They Lie! 'Death Panels' in Pelosi Healthcare Monstrosity

I wonder when the folks from Big Media, Big Pundit and Big Democrat will line upo to offer their apologies to Sarah Palin?

It's alive.

The Medicare end-of-life planning provision that 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said was tantamount to 'death panels' for seniors is staying in the latest Democratic health care bill unveiled Thursday.

The provision allows Medicare to pay for voluntary counseling to help beneficiaries deal with the complex and painful decisions families face when a loved one is approaching death.

For years, federal laws and policies have encouraged Americans to think ahead about end-of-life decisions, and make their wishes known in advance through living wills and similar legal documents. But when House Democrats proposed this summer to pay doctors for end-of-life counseling, it touched off a wave of suspicion and anger.

Well, I guess I shouldn't wait for any apoligies to Palin, especially when people are still busy making stories up about her.

Democrats also lied and said abortino funding wouldn't be in the bill, but it is and it's causing headaches on their side.

'It Would Be Wise to Keep Willow Away From David Letterman'

The embarrassment known as David Letterman can't seem to find his way out of the latest scrap with Sarah Palin and he's in retreat.

Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, are swinging back at David Letterman after the talk-show host made the Alaska governor and her family the focus of a series of off-color jokes.

After two days of back and forth between Alaska's first family and the late-night talk show host, the Palins today refused Letterman's invitation to come on his show after he offered an apology for comments Letterman made earlier in the week about the governor and her daughter.

"The Palins have no intention of providing a ratings boost for David Letterman by appearing on his show. Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman," PalinPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton said today

Ouch. Probably a good idea keeping Willow away. She'd probably hurt the aging hack.

The nerve of this has-been, lamely trying to invite them on for a cheap ratings stunt. Why on earth would these people bother giving him the time of day?

It's about time someone stood up to this punk.

Even those who disagree with Palin's politics find him offensive.

Instead of acting as though he's the victim of someone else's misunderstanding, as he did last night, Letterman ought to simply admit he blew it, big time, and personally apologize to the Palins and his viewers.

He also should to keep in mind that if you're going to ridicule someone's sex life, you might pick on someone your own size. And make very sure you have the right person.

Instapundit links. Thanks!

More from Don Surber.

Palin Wardrobe Complaint Dismissed

You can practically smell the frothing indignation from Olbermann as he prepares to make her the Worst Person in the World for looking good, which admittedly isn't hard.

Between the frivolous "ethics" complaints in Alaska and now this, her detractors are now batting 0-for-12.

The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint over the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The good-government group that filed the complaint, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, argued that candidates aren't supposed to use donor money for personal expenses such as clothes. The FEC ruled Tuesday that the ban doesn't apply to party money, however.

The Alaska governor was Sen. John McCain's pick for vice president. The purchases from such high-end stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus drew criticism for Palin, the self-described hockey mom.

The Republican National Committee told the commission that party money rather than candidate campaign money was used for the purchases, and that the shopping spree was allowed under campaign finance rules that let the party spend on behalf of and in coordination with presidential campaigns.

The controversy over Palin's clothing overshadowed the Republican campaign in the final weeks.

The RNC spent at least $150,000 on designer clothing, accessories and hair and makeup services for Palin after she became McCain's running mate in September. The designer duds contrasted with the practical, down-to-earth image that Palin and the campaign sought to craft for her.

The purchases included $75,062 worth at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis; $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue; $9,447 at Macy's; and $789 at the luxury retailer Barneys New York. Goods were also bought for Palin family members, such as $4,902 spent at upscale men's store Atelier and $92 at Pacifier, a Minneapolis baby boutique.

Misleading Headline of the Day: 'Obama the most admired man in the world'

It's a poll of Americans as to who they admire most in the world, and it should come as no surprise that Obama is atop the list. The president usually is, or president-elect, in this case.

A month before his inauguration, Americans choose Barack Obama as the man they admire most in the world, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. It's the first time a president-elect has topped the annual survey in more than a half-century.

President Bush falls to a distant second after seven years as the most-admired man.

Hillary Rodham Clinton leads the list of most-admired woman, a spot she's held for 13 of the past 16 years — as first lady, then New York senator and now Obama's designate for secretary of State. A newcomer is second: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who wasn't well-known nationally until Republican presidential candidate John McCain chose her as his running mate in August.

Yet here you have the Telegraph tell us he's the most admired in the world. But it's not a reflection of any kind of worldwide poll. So at the same time, this would make Hillary Clinton the most admired woman, no?

Somehow, I doubt she is. For all I know, some poll will come out and say Obama is the world's favorite. But don't tell us now a poll of strictly Americans where 32% favor Obama reflects the planet's opinion. If there were headlines the past seven years saying Bush was the world's most admired man, I sure missed them.

For example, this time last year it was Bush and Mrs. Clinton, according to this story.

They're the odd couple again: George Bush and Hillary Clinton, the most-admired man and woman in America.

Though on opposite sides of a political divide, the Republican president and the Democratic senator from New York are sharing the honor for a sixth straight year, according to a USA Today-Gallup Poll.

Last year it was most popular in America. All of a sudden now it's the world. How convenient.

Palin's Office Receives White Powder

This almost seems like a ritualistic rite of passage these days.

A letter containing white powder was sent to Gov. Sarah Palin. It was not immediately known if the incident was connected to letters received by governors in seven other states on Monday. Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said the letter was sent to Palin's office in Juneau and was received Tuesday. But Eric Gonzalez, an FBI spokesman in Anchorage, said they are investigating since the cases are so similar.

Gonzalez said the powder will be submitted to a lab, but did not immediately know if it had undergone field testing at the state Capitol.

Governors of Alabama, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island also had letters with white powder sent to them this week.

All of those were postmarked in Texas.

So this makes eight governors. I guess the other 42 ought to be on the lookout, although the clown in Illinois might welcome the distraction right about now.

IBD/TIPP Poll: McCain Surges Within 2.1%, Virginia Now Dead Heat

Considering the IBD/TIPP poll was the most accurate in 2004 (within 0.4%), this at least is some positive news for John McCain with the numbers the closest since October 23.

The race tightened again Sunday as independents who'd been leaning to Obama shifted to McCain to leave that key group a toss-up. McCain also pulled even in the Midwest, moved back into the lead with men, padded his gains among Protestants and Catholics, and is favored for the first time by high school graduates.

Consider it's now Obama 46.7 to 44.6%, with a MoE of 3.4. Note also there are still 8.7% undecided.

Most of the other polls have it anywhere from five to nine points for Obama with a 6.3% average margin.

Oh, and although all the "experts" have declared the race over, has anyone noticed Virginia is now a dead heat?

Virginia will be among the first states to report results Tuesday night, and should it vote Democratic for the first time in a presidential race since 1964 - as many polls suggest - Barack Obama probably will win the White House. But should McCain hold the state, the result could portend a McCain comeback nationally.

A new poll commissioned by The Virginian-Pilot concludes the state remains up for grabs. The survey of 625 likely voters found 47 percent supported Obama, 44 percent preferred McCain and a crucial 9 percent were undecided. Because the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, the race is technically a dead heat.

The telephone survey was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. on Wednesday and Thursday.

Update: Good roundups at Hot Air and Gateway Pundit.