March 27, 2007
Pleasant Drive Back to TN
It was actually quite uneventful for a change. I decided to drive a little on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It was right purdy!
But 50 mph is a tad slow for me, so I exited 25 miles and 2 hours later. Ok, it got a little slower because of the huge honkin’ RV’s I kept getting stuck behind.
Legit?
Bloggers are not journalists, Lithuanian parliament says
An Internet blogger in new EU member state Lithuania vowed Tuesday to fight a parliamentary decision refusing him accreditation on the grounds that he was not a legitimate journalist.
Well, actually, some bloggers ARE journalists. Come to think of it, actually, some “journalists” aren’t really journalists.
“The Media Law describes a journalist as a person who collects, disseminates and provides information to the media, based on a contract with the media, or who is a member of a journalists’ union,” parliament’s education, science and culture committee said.
They forgot to add factual. I guess facts sometimes tend to get in the way for some journalists. Odds are, they just don’t want a few facts to get out to the public? Slap some opinion in there, and ya got….The New York Times! 🙂
Evening Snack
House GOP: Protect ‘John Does’ on flights
House Republicans today surprised Democrats with a procedural vote to protect public-transportation passengers from being sued if they report suspicious activity — the first step by lawmakers to protect “John Doe” airline travelers already targeted in a lawsuit by Muslim imams that charges profiling.
Why were the Dems surprised? Isn’t that what we’re suppose to do? Report suspicious activity? WITHOUT worrying about being sued?
Senate signals support for troop withdrawal from Iraq
The Democratic-controlled Senate narrowly signaled support today for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next March, triggering an instant veto threat from the White House in a deepening dispute between Congress and commander in chief.
Republican attempts to scuttle the non-binding timeline failed, 50-48, largely along party lines.
50 a$$wipes! Plain and simple!
David Hicks’ father Terry says the Australian Government put pressure on his son to plead guilty to a charge of providing support for terrorism.
I guess it never occured to daddy that he just might actually BE guilty? Naw!
Crude Oil Rises a Seventh Day on Speculation of Iran Conflict
Crude oil rose for a seventh day in New York on speculation of a confrontation in the Persian Gulf between U.S. or British forces and Iran, raising concern supplies from the Middle East may be disrupted.
So, tell me again why we can’t drill in our own country? And build some new refineries?
Charges issued in nude photo incident
Twin sisters were arrested in Sheboygan on charges they took partially nude photographs in front of a 5-year-old boy.
The women, both 29, were arrested yesterday after staff at a Walgreens developed their film and spotted the “inappropriate behavior,” according to a Sheboygan Police Department press release issued today.
Sick, twisted, scum, trash!
Thompson rates third among GOP presidential candidates
He’s not even a candidate yet, but Fred Thompson already has risen to third among possible Republican presidential candidates, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll released today.
(…)
He was chosen by 12 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters who were polled, trailing former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani at 31 percent and Sen. John McCain of Arizona, at 22 percent.
Pretty cool huh! 🙂
Teen drinkers would lose licenses
In the first piece of legislation tied to the Feb. 11 accident that killed five Oswego teens, state Rep. Tom Cross and Weis proposed Monday that anyone under 21 caught drinking any amount of alcohol would face a three-month license suspension.
Only 3 months? That’s it? I would make it a LOT longer than that, and some time in the M E’s “lab”!
Prosecutor outlines case against Hull couple in 4-year-old’s death
The Hull couple accused of drugging their 4-year-old daughter to death continued to be held without bail at their arraignment today as the prosecution depicted two parents hungry for handouts but unable to secure government disability benefits for the little girl they ultimately drugged to death.
I can’t even begin to express my disgust for animals like this!
The Coliseum Mall is no longer open. Soon it will be no longer standing.
Demolition of the mall began on Monday morning as workers clear the space that will be home to the Peninsula Town Center, a modern outdoor shopping center expected to be fully open by spring 2009.
Now, I feel REALLY old! I remember when that mall opened. sigh…. Actually, I even remember when the one BEFORE that one opened. 😦
Distressed
It’s not smart to start tearing up when you are driving!
White House Spokesman Tony Snow Has Cancer Again
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is once again stricken with cancer after doctors found a cancerous growth in his lower abdomen, the White House announced Tuesday.
This is one of those people you just can’t help but like. The news that his cancer is back, and spreading is extremely disturbing.
The cancer, originally in his colon, has spread to his liver and elsewhere, Perino said. Snow spoke to President Bush Tuesday morning, who told Snow he and first lady Laura Bush are praying for him.
The Bushes aren’t the only ones praying. I didn’t mention Elizabeth Edwards cancer returning because I knew everyone else would be talking about it, yet there were, and are, prayers for her recovery as well.
Snow is consulting with doctors about what type of treatment to pursue as he recovers in the hospital following the surgery. There were no complications with the surgery and it takes about a week to heal, Perino said.
Is it possible for a person with cancer in their liver to get a transplant?
“He said he’s going to beat it again,” Perino said. “When I talked to him, he was in very good spirits.”
FOX News’ Dr. Manny Alvarez said a lot of effective therapies are available to treat liver cancer that has spread from colon cancer.
“It’s small enough that he should go into remission again after adequate treatment,” said Alvarez, who is not Snow’s doctor.
Ya know, I can’t imagine this guy getting down. He is such an upbeat person, I believe he can beat it too.
And On That Note…..
…..I’m off again! Next stop, Hardin County, Tennessee! 🙂 I’m looking forward to being an eggplant for a day or two (aka veggin’).
I’m going to try to take the scenic route (at least I hope it will be). Natchez Trace Trail. I might even stop and take a few pictures if there’s anything worth taking pictures of. 🙂
1st Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
McCain-Feingold: Five Years of Failure
Five years ago today, President Bush signed into law the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. Today, American politics is so clean you could eat off it — except for the mud-slinging, back-scratching, favor-trading, influence-peddling, bald-faced lying, indictments, and convictions.
Pretty apt description, if I do say so m’self!
Nonetheless, the folks who brought us the bill known colloquially as McCain-Feingold will be taking a wildly undeserved victory lap this week. After all the big promises leading up to the passage of McCain-Feingold, one is tempted to resort to the phrase “moving the goal posts.” But, in truth, the more apt simile would be that the reformers’ arguments are like bumper bowling: So long as they roll the ball in the right direction and manage not to hit anyone in the face, they get to feel good about themselves.
One good reason NOT to support John McCain for President – McCain-Feingold! There are others, like him being against the tax cuts that has given our economy a major jump start.
Take as a prime example of the reformers’ boasting a statement put out yesterday by the Reform Institute, a non-profit group affiliated with Senator McCain of Arizona. The statement claims that BCRA has “succeeded in its objectives.” How so? It “significantly reduced the corrupting influence of campaign contributions and enhanced the participation of small donors in the process.”
Say WHAT??? ROFLMAO What a bloomin’ joke! Moveon.org comes to mind.
As to the first part, that corruption has been reduced, this is a simple assertion, with not a single piece of evidence to back it up. There’s a reason for that: There is no evidence. By what metric does one measure “corruption”? Mr. McCain and his crew couldn’t define it before they passed McCain-Feingold; they can’t define it now; and, thus, there’s no way to measure it. Anyone paying attention to politics in the last couple years, however, would be surprised to find out corruption has been “significantly reduced.” The names of three former Republican congressmen — Tom DeLay (departed from Congress under indictment), Duke Cunningham (in jail for accepting bribes), and Bob Ney (pleaded guilty to corruption charges) — jump to mind.
Let’s face it. There is no way to clean up politics until you get rid of the politicians. People who make a career out of running for office do more harm than any good they could have if they had a set limit of time to do get it done. I’m more and more inclined towards term limits.
Then there was the claim that McCain-Feingold could restore trust in government. On this score, Mr. Thompson declared that “we are making headway to do something that will reduce the cynicism in this country and that will help this body, that will help us individually.” While, plenty of congressmen have helped themselves individually over the past five years (see: indictments and convictions and plea agreements, above), there is still enough cynicism around for Senator Obama of Illinois to make defeating it the main rationale for his presidential campaign.
Trust? Again….ROFLMAO! I don’t trust any of those D.C. elites as far as I could throw them. Not a one!
While the Supreme Court has so far upheld the patently anti-Constitutional ban on advertising by citizens’ groups 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election, the rise of Internet politics may eventually supercede this atrocity. Witness the anti-Hillary Clinton “1984” ad that caused such a stir on YouTube just last week. Such ads, cheaper than dirt (it costs money to distribute dirt, YouTube’s free), will only be more important with every election cycle.
We can only hope that the make up of the Supreme Court right now will use some common sense and have a lasting impact on OUR right to free speech as set out by the Constitution.
For this reason, look for Congress to start taking an interest in “unregulated” Internet speech any day now. Money has never been the issue. Cleansing our speech of impure thoughts about politicians is the real agenda.
I guess they’re going to have to learn how to do “mind scrubs”.
Morning Coffee 3/27/07
4 charged in drug death of area man
The four were arrested Monday morning following a seven-month investigation into the death of Richard B. Bubb Jr., said Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink during a Monday afternoon press conference.
They are Michael T. Resop, 35, of 244 E. First St.; Candace K. Schraven, 24, of 322 Ellis St.; Erin K. Gill, 24, of Campbellsport; and Veronica Sargent, 26, of Campbellsport. They have been charged with first-degree reckless homicide-party to a crime and delivery of narcotics.
Pillars of the community! I don’t have a problem with them being charged with reckless homicide. I’m curious how they can be, unless they force fed the pills to her. He made a choice to take them. But like I said, I do NOT have a problem.
Bredesen cedes power to take guns in disasters
Gov. Phil Bredesen, who was at one time leery of giving up that power, signaled his support Monday for a plan to prevent Tennessee officials from suspending the sale or transport of guns during a Hurricane Katrina-like emergency.
Terry Holmes, who teaches a state gun-permitting class, says disasters that stretch law enforcement thin are precisely the time when law-abiding citizens need their weapons.
Sounds like a win for Tennessee gun owners to me! I’ll be starting my classes as soon as we get settled. I already have a gun picked out! 🙂
Four Dead After Sewage Floods Gaza Town
“We had a project to treat sewage in north Gaza, it was worked on for two years,” Kawash said. “We built a pressure pipe line and pumping station,” he added. “But it was stopped after … troubles began.”
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum blamed the “sanctions against Palestinians, including Gaza and the West Bank” for the condition of Gaza’s infrastructure.
Yep, it’s everybody elses fault. Instead of using their resources for little things, like sewage treatment, they’d rather fight with each other, and watch their people die. They might want to consider behaving like a sovereign nation if they ever expect to become one. A little capitalism could go a long way.
Dispute breaks out over immigration vote signs
The president of the Farmers Branch chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens may face charges for taking down political signs supporting a proposal to crack down on illegal immigration.
(…)
The spat comes less than two months before voters decide on whether to ban illegal immigrants from renting in the city.
I wonder if they’ll have to show proof they are legal to vote?
New law raises birth control prices for students
Wisconsin college students grappling with the cost of tuition, housing and textbooks now are digging deeper into their pockets for another expense: birth control.
A change in federal policy has eliminated price breaks for many university student health centers, driving the cost of some birth-control products from less than $10 a month to $50 or more.
Pssst! Got a sure fire way to prevent pregnancy. It’s called abstinence, and it’s absolutely FREE! 🙂
French court annuls WWII deportation train ruling
An appeals court on Tuesday overturned a ruling that France’s state railway network should compensate the family of World War II deportees.
The original ruling last June had been the first of its kind. The administrative court in Toulouse had ordered the state and the SNCF rail authority to pay €62,000 (US$82,000) for their role in World War II deportations.
I’m curious what their reasoning was for overturning the decision. I see no problem with compensating the families of those who were forcibly deported from their homes. Oh, wait a minutes, it was just the Jews, right? Well, I guess that makes it ok then, doesn’t it. PFFFFT!
‘Dump your children here’ box to stop mothers killing their babies
Desperate mothers are being urged to drop their unwanted babies through hatches at hospitals in an effort to halt a spate of infanticides that has shocked Germany.
At least 23 babies have been killed so far this year, many of them beaten to death or strangled by their mothers before being dumped on wasteland and in dustbins.
How civilized! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Hicks pleaded guilty to get out of Gitmo: father
David Hicks pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge only to escape five years of “hell” at Guantanamo Bay, his father says.
The Adelaide-born man could be back in Australia by the end of the year after his shock decision to plead guilty to providing material support for terrorism.
Shouldn’t he be spending more time in prison, like say, the rest of his bloomin’ life? He wanted to kill people….innocent people, Australians included.
An Ol' Broad's Ramblings 