http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3377422
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509300008

http://www.freakonomics.com/2005/09/bill-bennett-and-freakonomics.html

http://mediamatters.org/

LIMBAUGH: He's just saying, let's not get sidetracked on debating abortion on whether it will do this for the economy or that for the crime rate or -- it's silly. It's a matter of morality and life. Folks, what he said should have been applauded. What he said should reverberate.

Look, you know I’m drowning in a sea of BS if I’m not writing about the first conviction toward Tom DeLay’s forcible removal from office. You know I can’t see past all the crap if I’m not blogging about the blessed savior Felt. And you know I’m outta my skull with detritus if I am not screaming and ranting my blog off about what a complete pack of worthless jack-holes the Texas Lege is for their work during their ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS ON THE FRICKIN’ JOB.

But I don’t have the time to enumerate their sins, today.

So, in the fifteen seconds before my next deadline:

I’ve been thinking a lot about how companies are suing their former employees in order to reduce the benefits they (the company) agreed to pay. I’ve been thinking about how companies promise retirement benefits to their workers and then pawn those polices off on the Federal government. I’ve been thinking about how companies lobby Congress to pass laws that allow them to do these things. I’ve been thinking about racism and (dare I say it in aMERICO), I’ve been thinking about class.

In other words, I’ve been thinking about how *we’ve* been turned not into sheep, but veal.

How long will we continue accept these conditions? What will it take to cause the average Joe and Jane to shake off the sleep of consumerism?

I don’t know.

I’ve got bills to pay and work to do.

Somebody pass the Soma, er, I mean the Starbucks.

Thanks

Check out this story from the Chron. Basically, its reporting on a trend in big business to eliminate all "unplanned" absences.

Yes, all. If you call in sick AND you didn't plan *IN ADVANCE* for this sick day (this exact date) then you could be fired.

Breaks down like this: you get x number of "unexcused absences." Once you exceed that number, no matter the reason, you are

terminated. So, you have no "sick days." All paid days off are bundled together.

I love the example they give in the story. "We aren't firing you because your grandmother died. We are firing you because

of the date she died on."

In fact, I am dealing with this exact situation. Very frustrating. I find it intolerable that I can no longer call in sick.

even though I have "sick days." My fondest wish is to be stricken with a communicable disease so I can be sure and

get to work and cough on all my supervisors and everyone in HR.

Then there is another story about government *actively* disseminating propaganda.

Suddenly, the Oil Refinery bidness became one of the safest industries to work with no deaths reported in both 2002 and 2003. Awesome, right?

No.

Just like…

cost of the war in Iraq,

the cost of changes to Medicare,

the state of the Social Security system,

torture <see my previous blog on the “necessity” and “utility” of torture>,

WMDs…

the Bureau of Labor Stats has monkied with the numbers. See, they don't count "contractors" toward a refinery's "death count." Those deaths are tracked, but they are put into a sub-category that carries no weight in terms of firing off an alert to OSHA that their *may* be safety issues at a plant.

In fact, all refineries have "offloaded" the most dangerous work to contractors. The result is when these people die, they don't count.

Literally.

According to current guidelines, none of the fifteen deaths in Texas City explosion will be counted. Additionally, if no MORE than three employees die for the rest of this year, the Bureau Labor Stats will report ZERO deaths at this site.

Hmmmm, under reporting deaths. Where have I heard that before?

Good gOD, Dave, get your shiznit together, man. I really could use a good laugh.

One last hit:

Defense Sec’tary Rumsfeld wants to move the concentration of military bases from the Northeast. Wants to relocate them to the South and West.

Hmmmm. Northeast, South and West. Help me out! Is there some connection between, some geological-quasi-political reason for this move….I wonder…..

> Here's a story about Yahoo turning over the contents of a dead soldiers Inbox to his next of kin. This story really cheesed me off because, it seems to me, Yahoo's policy is very clear. Upon death, Yahoo deletes the account. To me, that is a promise of privacy. I have the expectation that no one will have access to this account unless I give them my password. Perfect. I like it that way.

And, I don't know about you, but I use my Inbox to store more than email. I keep some pretty personal stuff there. Things I don't want ANYONE to have access to (dude, don't talk to me about the illusion of security or privacy - do what you say you will do when you say you will do it). However, there is nothing filed away that would be necessary upon my death.

Now, I get what the family desires. Its not right for a parent to bury a child. And they, understandably, want more of their son to hold on to. But, again, to me there is this expectation of privacy. We all have thoughts that, if expressed out loud, might misrepresent who we are and what we believe. Or, more importantly, thoughts that might misrepresent the person we want/need/desire other people to *believe* we are.

Just because you gave birth to me, doesn't give you unrestricted access to what's inside my head.

Period. 

> Maggie Gyllenhaal is getting Dixie Chicked.

<bias> Dude, there is *something* about this chick</bias>

Poor thing.

She had the gal to suggest that we look at the events of 9/11 in a larger context. "...Because it is always useful as individuals or nations to ask how we may have knowingly or unknowingly contributed to this conflict..."

Knowingly or unknowingly. Pretty harsh criticism.

Here, I'll tell you right now how "we" *unknowingly* contributed to the events of 9/11: we have bases in Saudi Arabia. Let's see, what else is in Saudi Arabia....hmmm...Oh, yeah: Mecca. I wonder how the religious right in this country would cotton to a Muslim army base in Jerusalem (I know, I know, but close one eye and try). Now, the people that were murdered that day had nothing to do with that decision. And, maybe, they would have still rammed those planes into our people if our troops weren’t in their country.  Maybe not.

Still, it’s a fair question to ask.

And while we’re talking about getting Chicked: I am fed up with people getting all uppity because someone in Hollywood expresses an opinion. So, what! Its like the TV and Radio. You don't like what you hear, change the channel or don't go to the movie.

Look, I can't stand Mel Gibson and his father's view on God, religion, and a ton of other things. Does that mean I won't go see another Mel Gibson film or one by his production company?

Maybe.

Probably.

I used to love Mel. Thought he was fun to watch. Admired him for doing Hamlet AND respected him for not completely sucking at it.

Now, I just see him as human. Take him or leave him. Yeah, I wish he would shut up and just make movies. But I'm not going to spam his website telling him what an anarchistic azz he is because he won’t shut up. That's childish. I'll just close one eye and still try to enjoy some of his previous work.

> DeLay Update:

Your prayers and positive karma *are* working (or was it the animal sacrifices I asked you *not* to perform). Yesterday, the Republican leadership said that they're ready to cancel the rule changes they made so that an investigation of DeLay can begin.

Those rule changes where made specifically to shield DeLay from FURTHER knocks from the Ethics committee (he received *three* last year).

Keep up the good work!

> Microsoft Sux MORE!

In case you haven't been following local politics in the state of Washington, there was a bill under consideration to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians. MS, first supported the bill. Then, withdrew their support (I wonder why?). Now, that the bill has died, BILL has made comments that suggest "next time" they will support it. Again. You know, until the end.

Good going, Bill. Bravo. Guts (I guess I really shouldn’t bust on Bill. They do have domestic partner benies. That’s cool.)

Oh, and it looks like the Texas Leg will add legislation to ban gay and lesbian marriages AND civil services.

You know, I get that *your* religion doesn't dig the whole "gay" thing. Fine. But, in a country that was founded on "Make No Law Respecting Religion," shouldn't we at least allow a civil procedure? Can't we please, please move out of the 19th century?

Please?

> Read the Washington Post to find out why Condi doesn't want you to know how dangerous the world has become in the last year: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/26/AR2005042601623.html

> Finally, some good news and bad news about the new Pope

Actually, its all bad news for the new Pope, but good news for an individual church.

Three men are suing this church, the diocese, and now the new Pope for the sexual abuse they were subjected to at the hands of a priest to be.

The good news first: the church appears to have handled the situation correctly. Upon being notified of the behavior by this would be "man of the cloth," the church kicked him out AND notified child protective services. Awesome. Why can't they all do that?

Why? (here's the bad news) The men are alleging that this Pope is part of a conspiracy to cover up reports of abuses. Turns out there is a letter, penned by the new Pope while serving in his previous position as head of the congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In this letter, he states that "...cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret."

Doesn't sound good, to me. Sounds a lot like the whole "we'll take of our own, don't tell the police" line we heard about a couple of years ago.

And they mock Clinton's "Don't ask, don't tell."

Whatever.

George for all his many sins *AND* choosing not to show E3 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre JUST BECAUSE HE COULD MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY ACROSS THE STREET.

Good God! How much freakin' money does this guy need (I know, I know. I'm an idiot.)

Hey, speaking of the insane, I just ran across a Star Wars Fan Movie (actually, I'm pretty excited that I *haven't* heard about this before now). Check it out: http://www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/

___________

Steve because HE'S PLAYING JOURNEY *AGAIN*! Because he's STEVE "Don't spit in my face, you wanka" JONES and he's playing JOURNEY AGAIN! AGAIN!

Look, I tolerate the guy's fascination with Cliff Richard AND bad electronic love songs from the 80's (there are good ones?). I figure its the price you pay (Today Chris Kataan was on the show. Hilarious). But ENOUGH with the JOURNEY! STOP IT NOW! DAMNIT. GAWD! Please.

___________

Update:

* WMDs have been re-classified by the White House to include "improvised explosive devices." So, I guess because I have bleach AND ammonia that makes me Chemical Ali?

* When asked why people who emerge from bankruptcy are inundated by Credit Card offers, the American Bankers Association said "just because people have gone bankrupt doesn't mean they can't handle credit. Some times bankruptcy is caused by a job loss, medical bills, and divorce." Really? In that case, you better get on over turning the new law. Those are exactly the people that won't be able to use bankruptcy any longer.

__________

Lastly, Tom Delay is still an azz.

> When asked about the latest accusations, he replied: "This stuff that's in the press is frivolous." Not exactly a denial.

> When asked if he had ever "crossed the line of ethical behavior," DeLay replied "Ever is a very strong word." Ah!

> On his grasp of the Constitution: "The reason the judiciary has been able to impose a separation of church and state that's nowhere in the Constitution is that Congress didn't stop them."

Good night, everybody!

I really can't get excited to write about anything, today. So, I'm going to cheat:

Headlines (a day or two late):

* Cardinal Law (google this guy is you don't know recognize his name) leads a mass to celebrate Pope JPII.

Great.

Perfect.

Well, you know, it took 2,000 years for the Church to apologize for demonizing Jews, 500 years to apologize for the Crusades, and sixty years to apologize for passive support of the Holocaust.

I guess it may take awhile before the Church’s tolerating (supporting?) the REPEATED VIOLATION of children BY THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELL BEING OF THEIR SOULS will get to the top of that list.

* Two Republicans have verbally pooh-poohed on Tom Delay's parade. Awesome news. Of course, I'm not sure how much better off we all are with Delay loose in the world. Something tells me he ain't going back to killing bugs. Well, full time, anyway.

* Oh, and now (I’ve waiting so long to post that I’ve crossed news cycles) Delay is blaming it all on the democrats and that pesky left-wing media.

You know, if the media is so left-wing, why is there only one AirAmericaRadio "Network"? I mean, you expect a reasonable person (oops, already screwed) to believe that the left-wing is deft enough to infiltrate

EVERY

     SINGLE

          MEDIA

               OUTLET

[NEWSPAPERS, MAGIZINES, TV, MOVIES, ALL MUSIC (not Country&Western)]

but not TALK radio? The liberals control all content EXCEPT that one? What? They couldn’t figure it out?

ITS TALKING!!!!!!

Right.

You know, sheep get slaughtered. That's what they are bred for. I just hope spring holds off until they can EVOLVE a brain (though, I'm pretty sure evolution looks down on a species having to "re-evolve" anything).

Besides having a azz-load of cash, ole Claytie-boy used to want to be Governor of Texas. Claytie-boy ran ads (a lot of ads) that culminated with him, dressed to the 9's in his *working* cowboy gear, riding his horse at a pretty good clip. Then, he pulled up the reins, sharp, and literally flew off the horse, landing solidly on his two feet to announce he wanted to be in charge.

Wow.

Look, he is good with a horse. This ain't no drugstore cowboy. And this is Texas politics.

So, why did he lose?

It’s true that Texas had not quite become the, um, Republican strong hold it is today. But, Bill Clements (R) had been elected Governor twice (though not in a row - that damned ole Mark White (D) snuck in there for one term between BC's two++). So, another good ole boy, true, a Republican, but still a good ole boy, can't be blamed for wanting the job.

This was 1990. Maybe Claytie-boy was the first *victim* of the changes that would lead, two years later, to Bill Clinton's rise. Maybe, Texas wasn't ready to let go of its "yellow-dog" status. Or, maybe (and this is the romantic in me), the good folks of Texas weren't quite ready for a true-blue redneck to run things.

<Note: the Governor in Texas doesn't really run things. He gets the credit, but its the Lt. Gov and the Speaker of the House that have the Constitutional power in the Lone Star State**>

See, weeks before the election that pitted Claytie-boy against Ann Richards (D) (Oh, if you've heard stories of her being a lesbian, that was Karl, too), Claytie-boy was having the press to his ranch for a “greet and eat.” He had plans to take those reporters out on his ranch, maybe show them some of his trick ropin'. Unfortunately, it was raining that day.

So, there they all were, sittin' and standin' underneath this porch, drinkin' coffee with the candidate, waiting for the rain to stop. Guess there must of been some "uncomfortable silences" because the CANDIDATE FOR THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS SAID IN FRONT OF A PORCH *FULL* OF REPORTERS: "Rain is like rape, there's nothing you can do about it, so you might as well lay back and enjoy it."

<Note: if you google "Clayton Williams" and "Rain is like" you will notice that there are a couple of variations. None that change the meaning.>

He lost that election and he deserved to. Anyone that oblivious to what he's saying, and who he is saying in front of, doesn't deserve to lead squat (and they still don't. People are just sheep. Scared, uneducated, sheep.).

Why have I taken your time to tell this tale from days gone by? To give you background for a Claytie-boy update:

See, we're gearing up for the Governor's race. Rick Perry (R) is the incumbent. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) is currently a U.S. Senator. She has been putting out trial balloons for months about running against Rick in the next election. And Claytie-boy has an opinion about whether she should run.

He's against it. He's for party unity and thinks she should stay in Washington. All of which he told, directly, to Hutchison. You know, personally. Because that’s the kinda man he is.

Oh, not Kay. No, no, no. He spoke directly to her husband:

"Williams said he didn't speak to the senator directly but told her husband, attorney Ray Hutchison, of his concerns several weeks ago."

Great guy, that Claytie-boy. A real man's man.

But, in his defense, Kay does send mix signals. In her own ad, when she first ran for the Senate, there was something "hinky" going on. Assume the ad ran for thirty seconds. For 29 1/2 of those seconds, we were shown images of her qualifications to lead from the Senate. The last, little, bit shows her, in a skirt, at some "picnic" waving, turning, and getting into the PASSENGER side of a big, red FORD/GM truck.

"Hi, I'm tuff on taxes, tuff on commies (it’s been awhile), tuff on the brown people, but my husband runs the house."

Maybe I'm being a little ruff on Kay. I've never liked her (starting with this ad), or her politics. And those politics cancel out whatever "advantage" their might be having a women in the Senate. It has always seemed to me that someone has been pulling her strings.

What does all of this mean?

*With any luck:* a three way race for the Republican's. Rick, Kay, and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. And they ALL self destruct with a fireball large enough to kill off the dinosaurs.

*If there's a god in heaven:* Strayhorn wins, handily.

*If a god in heaven loved us:* a great Democratic candidate wins (hahahahahahahahaha).

------------------------------------ 

++ By the way, if you've heard the story about Karl Rove bugging his own office and blaming it on the "other" guys, it was the race where Mark White beat his guy (Bill Clements).

** Its fair to ask, then, "Why do you bust GWBush's biznalls over his record as Gov if he doesn't weld the power?"

That's a great question. Look, if he want's to claim that he helped the children of Texas while Governor, and that that qualifies him to be President, then I get to say, "Hey! Jackazz! The children of Texas are, and have been, worse off since you came in and quit halfway through your second term." You wanna take credit that's not yours to take, that is just politics. Don't cry to me is you get the blame that comes with it.

Have you heard or read about this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1432041,00.html

Here is the "issue" in a nutshell:

The former Italian hostage who saw her rescuer shot dead at a US checkpoint in Baghdad said yesterday they might have been targeted because of US objections to Italy's policy of negotiating with kidnappers.

Ok, anyone that has read any of my "Rants" knows how I feel about the US actions in Iraq. However, this claim, that the reported was targeted because a ransom was paid has left me speechless. And, quite frankly, pissed. Pissed because Bill O'Reilly and I will be on the same side of an issue and THAT doesn't make me happy. EVER.

Which is more probable? That she was targeted or that they were speeding toward a check point (or, just as tragic, the grunts at the checkpoint over-reacted)?

So, can anyone explain to me how her rationalization makes sense? Was the plan (by the U.S.) to fill her car full of holes, air ship it to Mosul, and let someone else find it? Was the plan to remove her from the car and dump her somewhere? What was "the plan" when those escorting her were never found?

I don't know. This story just makes me very cranky (the whole O'Reilly thing).

Lookit, I can see how torture became standard procedure. Grunts were told to soften up prisoners for interrogation. Bam. We did it. The command structure needed to punished, but that is another blog. And (now, please stay with me 'til end), one can see the logic/the reason for the order (stay with me!). There was a reason. Soften up to gain access to info. Now (here you go), the reason *assumes* that the info you will get is usable (see my previous blog about the uselessness of torture). And that is the flaw. That is why torture doesn't work. That is why torture is a bad idea (well, one of a few good reasons why). Still, one can follow the logic.

Note: for those of you who may be asleep, this is not an endorsement, nor an excuse for those actions. Understanding the reason is NOT the same as agreeing with it. Besides, how can you fight something you don’t understand? Nothing has hurt us worse than our continued ignorance of NAZI Germany. Calling Hitler “insane” or “evil” doesn’t help us to understand how a people can be lead to do the things, to ignore the things that happened everyday in that horrible time. The key here is *the people were led*. There was a method, there was a plan. Understanding the reason & methods is key to preventing it from happening again. 

Killing someone because you disagree with the method used to gain their release...what is the logic? OK, the only one that makes sense is "anyone who f***s with the U.S. gets it between the eyes."

Now, I *am* cynical. But I am *not* that cynical. I believe this government is corrupt and a whore to big business. I believe that this government is criminally negligent for the events of 9/11. I believe Bush and Chaney & co. are shallow, greedy men.

What I don't believe is that this government has started targeting individuals for being rescued.

Not yet.

I'll need a whole lot of convincing...

Background:

* The House just approved a measure that would jack fines for "indecency" through the roof.

* Janet Jackson exposed her lovely nizipple for two seconds.

* Over 500 thousand complaints were registered by the FCC over the nizipple shot

Side-bar: Did anyone bother to ask the FCC why it was ok to talk about four hour erections but not an accidental shot at a lovely nizipple?

 Solution:

** A coordinated "attack" on FCC (Hello thought police! This is a non-violent "attack.") **

Step One: Get over one million individuals to agree to call/write/email the FCC after specific "event"

Step Two: pick the events. This is the tricky part. Its gotta be something (several somethings) that warrant a legitimate complaint. I say its tricky because, while my preference would be every televised religious "program," I don't think that's productive. Necessarily. I mean, if there is someone speaking about damning someone because of their lifestyle, well maybe. Also, don't want to inflict punishment where it isn't due. For example, I wouldn't want to target a news program unless that program has actually done something to warrant this action.

Step Three: Keep it on the down-low.

The point is, if 500 thousand complaints is what it takes to make the FCC move, lets use it to "our" advantage. Half a million isn't nuttin' to put together. Especially when you aren't asking anyone not to buy gas or not shop for groceries. All they have to do is call or email.

Shoot, next time Ann Coulter shows up on the screen aught to be enough. Scary broad! Eat a sandwich. (wait, is that a lifestyle choice I'm damning her for....

So, before the election, my lovely Mother told me why she couldn't vote for Kerry: "we can't have legalized 'gay' marriage."

Right.

Well, because I know how well informed she is (see above), I pointed out the whole Jeff Gannon - Gay Hooker for Compassionate Conservatives - good enough to work *for* the President, not good enough to be a full citizen.

She feigns outrage. When I, again, try to point out how corrupt "her" President is, she says (very annoyed), "You think I'm happy with Bush? I'm outta work. He's talking about cutting my Social Security benefits. You think I'm happy!"

All politics is local.

I asked her if she was volunteering for the Democrats. She said yes, but I am not convinced. She's never been political. But, if I could nudge my almost reactionary wife over to the light side of the force, I can prolly get Ma' to agree to allow people to be people.

-------------

Clarification 1: Again, its not that Jeff Gannon is a "Gay." Its that the people he shills for hate him because he's gay but aren't afraid to use him. I mean, he is a prostitute (allegedly?).

Clarification 2: With all the other "issues" riding on this past election, she picks "Gay Marriage." Not the war. Not the lies. Not the wasted lives. Not the economy. Not those silly tax cuts. Gay Marriage. In case you were wondering, this is why they pursue these silly "initiatives."

More on our buddy Jeff Gannon from Salon:

Thus a phony journalist planted by a Republican operation, used by the White House press secretary to interrupt questions from the press corps, called on by the president for a safe question, protected from FBI vetting by the press office, disseminating innuendo and smears about critics and opponents of the administration, some of them gay-baiting, was unmasked not only as a hireling and fraud but as a gay prostitute, with enormous potential for blackmail.

You know, I wanted to write something tacky about someone needing "their pipes cleaned" at the White House, but I think it would send the wrong message. What is wrong/hilarious about the whole Jeff Gannon episode is *not* the guy's sexual orientation. I mean, since he's shilling for the most nasty group of homophobes, one MUST point it out. But, only to show the hypocrisy of the right-wingnuts that hired him (the DELICIOUS irony that someone inside the White House worked very hard to get this guy inside the press corp and AVOIDED THE VERY FBI BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM FROM BEING EMBARASSED).

Of course, that assumes that they are, in fact, embarrassed. Since the liberal media has fallen asleep at the job, guess they have nothing to worry about.

In that case, my bad. Good job. You win. Time to invent the Left Wing version of the Michigan Militia.

------------------

Quick Shout out to John Dimitri Negroponte. Congrats on your new post. With your acumen, I'm sure we will all sleep better at night.

Read the full Joe Conason article here:

* How did this character obtain a coveted place in the White House?

* What did the White House press staff know about him?

* How does his story fit within the larger scandal of payola punditry, with federal funds subsidizing Republican propagandists in the press corps?

* Did someone in the Bush administration give him a classified document?

From deep in Bush Country, I often see bumper stickers that read "Only Fools believe the Liberal Media."

I'm just sick about the state of this country. <gen_donate_money/time>....................</gen_donate_money/time>