naah—just plumb obvious

My long-used quickie example of why gubbmint health-anything is a lousy idea consists of asking them to imagine getting a leg busted and having to go to the DMV to get it fixed.  Usually a good conversation starter, wherefrom I can lead them thru a discussion of the stated policies of Rahm Emanuel’s demented brother, Ezekiel and the fact that Americans are about as good at gubbment [and being governed] as the Brits are at cuisine, the French are at mechanics, the Germans are at ...  well yanno.

Now I learn my exaggeration was no such thing:

Page 19 of the committee’s “plain English” text says: “The Secretary and/or states would do the following: ... Enable customers to enroll in health care plans in local hospitals, schools, Departments of Motor Vehicles, local Social Security offices, and other offices designated by the state.”

Question Where They Turn My Mike Off in the Middle:
If you haven’t even written the bill, despite that you’ve already voted on it, how can ya have a “plain English” version?!?

Chief Red Garnett: I do like Tater Tots.

A justice of the peace in northern Louisiana has refused to grant a marriage license to an interracial couple because he believes it would harm any children born of that relationship…

bonus KisP fun fact (from comments)

Approximately 3,120 of LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers were without power as of 11:00 p.m. today, while power has been restored to nearly 49,700 customers since the season’s first storm began Tuesday morning, bringing rain and gusty winds that continue causing outages in several neighborhoods.

In response to yesterday’s severe weather conditions, LADWP heightened its response to Level 2 at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday to increase the number of electric distribution maintenance crews and resources.

Councilman Greig Smith introduced a motion on Wednesday, October 14, to create an Inspector General position to serve as an independent watchdog that would review and report on the operations and management actions of the Department of Water and Power (DWP) in order to help restore the public’s trust in the DWP.

Instead of giving still MORE of our tax dollars towards hiring an Inspector Clouseau of the DWP, how ‘bout we first try appointing trustworthy, competent utility managers. Does no one in city hall know how to conduct a proper job interview?

STG this city is turning into a Third World shithole.

In more related STORMWATCH 2009 news…

how’s that taste?

*

that’s RACIST!

Brad Butler, CEO of Halloween Express, said his company received a late hot seller: “Barakula,” a ghoulish version of President Barack Obama’s face with bugged-out eyes, Vulcan-style ears and knife-sharp fangs.

“It’s a mask that came late, but is going to over-sell all the others,” Butler predicted. He said buyers snapped up his stock of 3,000 masks, and he has put in a rush order for another 6,000.

So yesterday, we have this and this.

Today (so far), we get this:

Reports: Russia warns US on missile defense

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian news agencies are quoting a top Russian diplomat as suggesting the U.S. should not talk with non-NATO nations about a prospective missile shield.

As I said in the “what a bargain” entry yesterday, I’m not seeing anything positive coming out of this.  Not only is there no concrete evidence of progress, but the press isn’t even trying to blow sunshine up our collective ass.  Which is pretty much unheard-of in this administration, where the media insists that every dark cloud has a silver lining, even if it’s actually just a flaking layer of chrome spray paint.

What the hell’s going on here?  “Should not talk”?  That’s not the language of diplomacy, that’s the language of a superior addressing a subordinate.  There is no pretense of equal terms.  There’s blood in the water and they’re taking full advantage of it.

I dunno about you guys but I was getting kinda comfortable with the idea that the potential for full-scale nuclear war was getting to be an anachronism.  I grew up with that nightmare.  So did most of you.  In recent years, that all seemed to be getting less and less likely; and while the threat of terrorism wasn’t a welcome replacement it was certainly less...all-encompassing, if you get my drift.

Maybe I’m overreacting.  Maybe this isn’t as ominous as it looks and I’m only getting part of the story.  But folks, what I’m seeing in this series of stories does not reassure me in the least.

who’s next?

If they can do what they’ve done to Rush - with his bully pulpit - what could they do to, say, a tiny little blogger like me?

Whose mind is that question going to go through, and what choices will they make behind that?

Is the standard now “if you can’t disprove a charge, it stands?”

WTF’nFF is happening to Americans that they let this shiite stand?

shark getting head-shy

President Obama recently shifted authority for approving sales to China of missile and space technology from the White House to the Commerce Department—a move critics say will loosen export controls and potentially benefit Chinese missile development.

first step!

An unidentified, newly released Libyan rehabilitated Islamic militant, left, is greeted by his relatives after being released from Abu Salim prison in Tripoli, Libya, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. The Libyan government-funded Human Rights Association has hailed the release of 88 Islamic militants, some of them belonging to a group with suspected links to al-Qaida, after they renounced violence.

A controversial new rule prohibiting the possession of firearms in areas where children are present went into effect in Seattle Wednesday.

“When children and families visit a Seattle Parks and Recreation pool, playground, community center or other facility, they are entitled to a reasonable expectation of safety,” said Mayor Greg Nickels said in a news release.