2012 archive
One More Time 0
I said it then and I say it now.
Republicanism equates wealth with virtue; therefore, the gaining of wealth by any means possible is the acquisition of virtue; and that virtue in turn magically washes clean sins committed in acquiring the wealth that begot the virtue.
It’s a touching “Heads I win tails you lose” canon: Their rewards on Earth ensure their rewards in Heaven. Q. E. D.
Exhaust Thieves 0
There has been a rash of thefts of catalytic converters, most from new cars at dealerships, in these parts.
The most popular target are those out-sized monsters, Toyota Tundras, because it’s easy to get under them:
The security guard heard clanking in the back parking lot. She yelled that she was calling the police, and a man ran away. He left behind 13 catalytic converters under a row of Tundras, according to Josh Hamilton, the dealership manager.
Hamilton speculated that the man may have unbolted the parts with a power drill or a ratchet set. The parts were intact and placed, rather than dropped, on the ground, he said.
My advice would be trade in your Tundra for something that needs only one parking space, like a small Winnebago.
Decoding de Code 0
Farnsworth explains the meaning of “states’ rights.” A nugget:
This speaking in code is called “Dog Whistle Politics”, and the Republicans have elevated it an art form.
The next time someone says, “because states’ rights” to you, ask him, the state’s right to do just exactly what to whom?
Everybody Must Get Fracked 0
It adds the spice of danger to life:
The USGS results are consistent with earlier findings by the Environmental Protection Agency that contamination from fracking had seeped into monitoring wells near gas drilling operations in Pavillion, Wyo., a rural community within the Wind River Indian Reservation. The contaminants detected include methane, ethane, diesel compounds and phenol, a known neurotoxin.
It’s on an Indian Reservation, so if probably doesn’t count.
Money Changers in the Temple 0
Notice how the professional religionists always seem to be going for the gold?
A bitter split three years ago in an evangelical group providing Bible studies at California’s Capitol has sparked an East Coast lawsuit. Two groups – Capitol Ministries and Capitol Commission – are rivals for the chance to bring Christian teachings to legislators at capitols nationwide.
Each nonprofit group blames the other for backstabbing and deceit in the effort to touch lawmakers’ hearts through ministries funded by millions of dollars from Christians and sympathetic churches, foundations and businesses.
The story makes Hamlet, minus the swordplay of course, seem like an episode of the Flintstones.
Wholesome Competition Is a Healthy Experience 0
Indeed, it is almost Saintly in the way it prepare children for the grown-up world.
D List 0
In my local rag, Mike Gruss dissects his “favorite Craig’s List ad of the year.” Here’s the ad; follow the link for the dissection.
I miss the classifieds.
The Voter Fraud Fraud 0
More evidence has been uncovered that the Republican hysteria about “voter fraud” is a manifestation of psychological projection.
Unskewered Polls 0
Over at Unqualified Offerings, Jim Henley reveals the formula that right wingnut Dean Chambers uses to make sure that poll results just look right to him.
Here’s three pieces of the algorithm. Follow the link for the rest.
1. Does a poll show an Obama lead outside the so-called margin of error? The poll is skewed.
2. Does a poll show an Obama lead inside the MOE? That’s a “statistical tie.”
3. Does the poll show a Romney lead inside the MOE? Don’t call this a “statistical tie.” Call it a Romney lead*.
Fantasy Basketball in Virginia Beach 0
Local Virginia Beach Babbitts recently floated a plan to shovel money to developers to build a sports palace.
(Or was that “build a sports palace to shovel money to developers”? The object of the subject sometimes transposes.)
They might want to consult with their fellows in Glendale, Arizona.
The annual debt payment is two to three times that, $23 million to $29 million this year, depending on whether the city can successfully refinance. In addition to the debt payment, the city will pay millions more for someone to manage Jobing.com Arena.
Takin’ Its Akin Back 0
Dick Polman describes how, now that the deadline for withdrawing from the race has passed, GOP bigwigs are once again supporting Todd “Legitimate Rapes Don’t Make Babies” Akin.
In my local rag, editorial writer Darryl Lease fingers the missing element–something missing since at least the Nixon era:
Most of us can find ours in a mirror. Some GOP officials, it appears, will need special technology.
Mitt the Flip and the 47% Solution 0
Leonard Pitts, Jr., points out that it is to demonize those who struggle.
They wrap their attacks in rags of righteousness and pretensions of pragmatism, but there is something viscerally wrong, morally shrunken, in a nation where the most fortunate are encouraged to treat the least fortunate as some enemy race.
So the big story here is not about what damage Romney did to his campaign. Yes, the fact that he used condemnation of the poor as a lever of political advantage shames him.