2024 archive
Lies and Lying Liars Dance a Walz 0
The speed with which Republicans have moved to misrepresent, besmirch, and smear the record of Minnesota governor Tim Walz takes one’s breath away. Indeed, it might lead an optimist to conclude that Republicans are afraid that he might attract votes in November.
At the Idaho State Journal, Mike Murphy debunks de bunk spread by Idaho Republican Party chairwoman Dorothy Moon in a recent column about Walz. Here’s one bit of the bunk he debunks; follow the link for the others.
Moon begins her scrutiny of Walz by saying “Under Walz, Minnesota put tampons in boys’ bathrooms….”
Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there, Chairwoman Moon. You are off to a bad start. This is not what happened at all.
The bill Gov. Walz signed was a budget item providing free menstrual products to all students who needed them beginning in fourth grade, making Minnesota one of 28 states that currently require schools to provide period products.
Two female students, ages 14 and 16, proposed the idea to the Minnesota legislature. The girls had been taking extra tampons to school to share with classmates who could not afford them.
One of the girls summarized their efforts: “It wasn’t part of a political agenda. It was to make students feel safe.” Too bad our adult political leaders often fail to be so levelheaded.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It is not a good idea to go to bed with politeness.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, history Charles B. Dew contemplates a couplet.
_________________
*Mark Twain.
A Tune for the Times 0
“Block number” is your friend.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
The Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini highlights the hypocrisy. A snippet:
Earlier this year, Republicans in the U.S. Senate bowed to Trump’s demands and killed a bipartisan security bill introduced by Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
(snip)
The bipartisan bill was not bad for border security. It was not bad for those looking to stop the flow of illegal drugs. It was not bad for those working to solve the asylum problem. It was not bad for the border patrol, since it included more officers and enhanced security.
In essence, the bill was not bad for America, just the opposite.
The border security bill was only bad for one thing — Donald Trump’s campaign..
“So Your Source Is ‘Trust Me, Bro’?'” 0
The Pillow of the Community loses an argument with a 12-year-old. And other stuff.
Aside, Accessory after the Fact Dept.:
Yesterday, First Daughter, her son, and I visited Norfolk’s Gardens by the Sea (which is a marvelous place which you should visit if you are ever in these parts). As we entered the visitors’ center, we saw an old white guy–maybe even older than I–wearing a tee-shirt that read “I’m voting for the felon.”
Honest to Pete, it made me ashamed to be an old white guy.
The Crypto Con 0
I guess a life-long con artist just can’t resist the temptation, even if he be a bit late to the game.
No doubt, though, he will find plenty of pigeons in his flock.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another child . . . .
One more time, “accidental” and “negligent” are not synonyms. Law enforcement and news media should stop pretending that they are.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Michael in Norfolk feels a need to point out what is obvious to anyone willing to look. A snippet:
Follow the link for his reasoning.
“Chicago Is Her Kind of Town” 0
In a hoot of a bit, Stephen Colbert interviews (ersatz) Melania Trump.
Afterthought:
When I worked for the railroad, I spent a lot of time in Chicago. Chicago gave me some of my fondest memories.
Criminalizing Camping 0
Emma talks with investigative reporter and journalist Rebecca Burns about the right-wing’s effort to punish homeless persons for being in this new gilded age.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another “responsible gun owner” has politeness in the bag.
One person was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound.
Loan Sharks 0
I notice that, when student loans are discussed, it is seldom noted that the price of college has skyrocketed while middle-class income has stagnated over the past 40 years of this new gilded age.
