There has been a great wailing and gnashing of teeth over the past day or so as those who follow the healthcare debate react to the Stupak/Some Creepy Republican Guy Amendment.
The Amendment, which is apparently intended to respond to conservative Democrats' concerns that too many women were voting for the Party in recent elections, was attached to the House's version of healthcare reform legislation that was voted out of the House this weekend.
The goal is to limit women's access to reproductive medicine services, particularly abortions; this based on the concept that citizens of good conscience shouldn't have their tax dollars used to fund activities they find morally repugnant.
At first blush, I was on the mild end of the wailing and gnashing spectrum myself...but having taken a day to mull the thing over, I'm starting to think that maybe we should take a look at the thinking behind this...and I'm also starting to think that, properly applied, Stupak's logic deserves a more important place in our own vision of how a progressive government might work.
It's Political Judo Day today, Gentle Reader, and by the time we're done here it's entirely possible that you'll see Stupak's logic in a whole new light.
It's become more or less common knowledge that US forces have been using music as an operational tool for some time now, and I've begun seeing lists of the songs that are being used either to inflict pain, to demoralize, or to just generally disorient various people in various sorts of situations.
There are others, wiser than I, who will opine as to the questions of efficacy and the moral issues surrounding these kinds of operations; I will opine, instead, as to the quality of the songs used.
Frankly, had anyone asked, I could have put the torturers onto much better musical choices, just by selecting from my own "My Music" folder--which left me thinking: "hey, it's the weekend...why not do exactly that?"
Got any psychological warfare missions planned for the weekend? Expecting to have to direct amplified sound at an angry mob in a defensive maneuver Saturday night? Planning a Halloween haunted house that goes a bit...fuurther?
Come along with me then, soldier, and I'll provide you a playlist that should do the trick in almost any foreseeable emergency.
Those among us who are familiar with the Bible will recall that Jesus Christ himself was an active member of the health care community as he traveled about the Holy Land.
It is reported that he practiced within multiple medical specialties, and his works as both an ophthalmologist and a neurologist are recounted within the verses of the Gospels.
But what if Jesus had been practicing medicine in the therapeutic environment we're familiar with today?
In today's conversation we'll be tagging along with Jesus as he takes a few calls at his HMO's Customer Care Center-and by the time we get done you should be able to bring a whole new take to those discussions you've been having about why reform matters.
It has been quite some time, Gentle Reader, since we addressed the issue of political robot design, but recent events have forced us to return to the subject once again.
As you undoubtedly are aware, three high profile 'bots from Robotican™ Labs have recently experienced major failures.
It was originally thought that the problems were isolated to the Robotican™.1 Congressional Series of Devices...but it is now known that the failures also extend to the.2 Gubernatorial Series as well.
In today's story we will examine what is known about these failures, how they may impact other devices in Political Service, and what solutions might be available to address these issues.
Washington, D.C. (FNN)-In a move some are describing as a "news dump" timed to coincide with the attention being paid to President Obama's foreign trip, the Justice Department announced the Administration's plans to introduce legislation to legalize and regulate the manufacture, sales, possession, and use of what are today legally known as Schedule I drugs.
Additionally, Schedule II through Schedule V drugs will be made available to adult members of the public at their request, with a doctor's prescription no longer being required before such drugs can be dispensed.
The drugs being "legalized" through this legislation would include marijuana, LSD, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy; also included will be all pharmaceutical drugs currently under restricted distribution: among those are Xanax, OxyContin, and Viagra.
The AIG Bonus Scandal having been disposed of for the moment, Congress is all a-flitter, all of a sudden, about the new "Greatest Threat To The American Way Of Life In All Of World History Of The Week"...and this week the threat is The Mexican Drug War.
The Mexican Drug Cartels, Senator Joe Lieberman told us in a March 25th hearing, are the number one organized crime threat we face in America today.
The violence, we are told, is beginning to affect America's National Security...and unless I'm mistaken, Congress is looking to spin up for some sort of action that might range from sending thousands of troops to the US Southwest-and beyond-to going after users in the US "by any means necessary" to perhaps even getting all "Jack Bauer" on some Mexicans who would, presumably, have some useful information.
Although no one's discussed it yet, we will probably hear someone even propose sending cartel leaders to Guantanamo (Michelle Bachman...I'm thinking of you...).
However, there is another way to disarm these dangerous cartels...and history tells us it works.
So Congress, before you go passing some "warrantless wiretapping for drugs" 4th Amendment exception, allow me to suggest that instead of a drug war, what we really need...is a drug peace.
So it's Super Bowl time once again...and if you're like me, you really don't care all that much about the game-but you might actually pay attention to the commercials.
They're significant productions unto themselves, and they set the stage for a full year's worth of advertising as they migrate to the "small" TV market after the last whistle of the game has been blown.
Since lots of other commentators will analyze and dissect those commercials-and I'm one of those who likes to travel where others don't-we will, instead, talk about the ordinary commercials, the ones you see every day of the year...the ones you might see 20 or 30 times a day, every day of the year, if you watch enough TV.
There are three in particular we'll talk about today...and two of the three send a unique and particular message to the viewer. It may not be the message the advertiser intended-or maybe it is, secretly-but whichever it is, it's a pretty fair bet that you'll see each differently after we're through.
OK, America, so I pulled a tiny prank last night-and it was so classic that I have to tell you all about it.
It involves freedom of speech, a friendly message to one of those crazy Republicans we all know-and it forced that crazy Republican to get up at three in the morning because he could not handle the threat to his world view.
Wanna hear all about it?
Then come along and follow the story...because it's worth it.
There are but three days to go, Gentle Reader, and the McCain campaign is now down to fear and Joe The Plumber.
Those who seek to spread The Fear are resorting to fantastic schemes and amazing leaps of logic in an effort to find something to make The Fear rise in voters.
But to be honest, the crazy speculation lacks...imagination.
I believe I can present crazy speculation that is at least as interesting as what they've put out-and funnier to boot-and with that and the Halloween just past in mind we present the final weekend edition of the 2008 campaign cycle's blogging.
So, ya wanna hear a few debunked made up rumors that, frankly, have a lot more creative style?
When last we met, Gentle Reader, we were talking about more or less $150,000 in clothing and beauty services that had been purchased mostly for Sarah Palin's use by the Republican National Committee.
Since then, we have learned that John McCain himself once tried to outlaw the very type of contribution that led to this situation, we've heard McCain's campaign offer a very non-maverick-y denial...and we've learned that the highest paid member of the McCain campaign staff-the person who presumably has the magic touch needed to turn this thing around-will be working her magic with a makeup brush.
As we discussed yesterday, I think I could have dressed Palin for 1/3 of what the RNC paid. Yesterday we "purchased" five of the outfits I think she needs...and with half the shopping done, we're $670 over budget.
Can she be dressed for a mere $43,000?
Let's see if we can pull it off...
So you're the Governor of a State...but the next thing you know, you're running for Vice President. The boss says you gotta bling up the ol' Governor clothes-and the next thing you know, you're having to explain how you can be the common "hockey mom" from Wasilla and how you can be clothed in more than enough money to buy Joe The Plumber's house...both at the same time.
In the interests of telling the story fairly, I decided to conduct my own online shopping experiment.
Let's head over to Saks and Neiman's...and Bergdorf and Goodman's to boot...and let's just find out exactly what you would need to spend to look fabulous-and what you should probably be avoiding if you really want to project that whole "woman of the people" kind of thing.
That's right folks, today, we play "Joe The Personal Shopper" for Sarah Palin.
(Bottoms Up, y'all. Watch your livers. - promoted by boadicea)
Well, it is easy to tell it's September.
BBQ smoke hangs thickly in the air, the rain is getting cooler than it usually is in the summertime, and the Mariners are securely in last place.
And it is also time to return to school. For the new voter about to enter (or return to) College, all the crazy living can make you forget about important things, like...oh, I don't know...maybe an election or two.
To make sure this does not happen I'm going to put College and Politics together to create this year's first...wait for it...synchronized Sarah Palin drinking game.
So start pairing up your shotglasses, find the Scotch tape, and when you get back I'll tell you how it works.
(Update: Turns out they sold this home in 2006. Still - it gives a fascinating glimpse into the totally unpretentious and totally down to earth lifestyle of the Senator and Mrs. McCain. Who couldn't imagine themselves hanging out with Mac and the missus, drinking a cold...what...Stella Artois?)
I got out my camera, and took some photos of my house to show just exactly how John McCain is Just Like Me!
(Disclaimer: It is my understanding that in creating smaller versions of the original Architectural Digest Photos, and using them as part of this parody, that I fall within the bounds of "Fair Use." Architectural Digest photography by Robert Reck, and the McCain's portrait by Jim Mchugh.)
The Senator and Mrs. John McCain, looking freshly pressed, in their freshly pressed jeans. (Seriously! Look at those creases!)
In lieu of a picture of our my family, here's a detail of my Wrangler jeans and an iron I could use to press them...if I were that pretentious. Seriously - pressed jeans says nothing if not "I'm really pretentious...and I missed the whole point about wearing jeans."
For those who did not know, I'm a contract worker; and as a result I'm a direct beneficiary of the trend toward outsourcing.
And let me tell you, everyone's doing it. At different times I've worked for school districts, a company that makes tax preparation software, agencies of State Government...even the Navy.
So it was no surprise when I found out from the agency that I was to be assigned to a Human Resources Department to help with the overflow of employee evaluations that needed to be completed-and it was no surprise when they told me the job was like working in Hell.
I was a bit surprised, however, when it turned out they were telling the literal truth...and that's how I came to spend last week as a temp in Satan's HR Department-vetting John McCain for his annual evaluation.
Many words have been proffered regarding the FISA bill this week, and I was actually preparing an analysis of the events when, to my surprise, I received an email that made me alter my schedule completely.
I want to apologize in advance to Danny Medress, over at Democracy for America, for whom I was preparing the analysis; and all I can tell you, Danny, is that this was of such import that the schedule had to be slipped.
That said, presented here in its entirety is the memo I received ...and having read it through, I have to say I feel much safer.
I bring to you today a story that is eight years old and as recent as today's headlines.
A foolish tale of mirth and merriment it is indeed--and for those who want a real all-American Fourth of July story, well...this one fits better than a glass slipper on Cinderella's foot.
The story, as you might have guessed from the headline, starts with a simple premise and ends by paraphrasing Ronald Reagan's famous question:
Had we elected Jerry Springer in 2000 instead of George Bush the Younger, would we be better off today than we were eight years ago?
Come along for the ride, Esteemed Reader, and we shall see...
Andrew Schlafly of Conservapedia didn't like the results of a scientific paper (that he admitted he hadn't read), so he decided to demand the original data from the paper's author, Richard Lenski.
Dr. Lenski's response is so tempered, educational, and elegant, that I recommend reading the whole exchange (archived at Bad Science to guard against the inexplicable phenomena of disappearing entries that show conservative mouthpieces in their true light).
I've excerpted a couple of my favorite bits on the flip, though.
Our Republican friends have begun the campaign season with their usual class and style; and the resulting Internet gossip has reported that Obama is a secret Muslim, that his Christian Reverend is the scourge of American religion, that he's no patriot...and that he associates with every evil person on the planet, either by allowing them into his campaign or by his willingness to talk to those who hate us the most.
And Obama has, to this point, chosen to remain above the fray.
Because Obama has chosen the high road, I wanted to offer a few words about how we can be a more civil blogging community-and about a few things we should seek to leave off the table.
