June 24, 2005
Sullivan and HIV
Sully takes some time to explain his ‘Apology for living’ piece, and I almost buy it. Until the very end, when he goes awry again.
I’m sorry, while I understand his point (If you monitor and treat, you’ll be fine), comparing HIV to diabetes misses the entire point. Yes, the message for those who have HIV should be monitor and treat.
The message for those who don’thave HIV should be ‘This can kill you, and the treatment is horrible and never ending, and if you get it you can infect others.”
Message Shift on Rove Flap
Yesterday:
Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman:
And the RNC listed the Dems they felt reflected Rove’s ‘statement of historical fact’. Who was on the list? Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Howard Dean (D-VT) , Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) , and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).
Today:
McClellan echoed the ‘Puzzlement’ at to why Democrats are taking this personally, since it wasn’t about them.
So we're all mistaken. Rove wasn't talking about Democrats, rather 'liberal organizations'. Hmmmm....Let’s go back, shall we, to Rove’s comments.
As usual, the press is letting the GOP shift the conversation, without bothering to point out the difference.
More on Kelo
In response to the Kelo decision, I am sending the following letter (and variations of) to my representatives on the Federal, State, and Local level.
I’m sure you have heard about the unfortunate decision the Supreme Court came to in the Kelo v. New London case. I’m writing to you to share my views on the decision, and to ask you about your views and what steps, if any, you may be considering in light of the decision.
Property in our country, has always been afforded a special place in the law. In contract law, property is one of the few items where the law recognizes that property is so unique that monetary reimbursement is not a proper remedy involving the ownership of property. In criminal law, we allow people to take measure to protect themselves in their home that we would not allow in other settings. Indeed, owning a house is the very foundation of the American Dream, and something people work extremely hard to achieve. Homes are more than simple possessions for most people, they become reflections of those people. Memories of joys and tragedies join the wood and cement as part of the foundation.
With this decision, the court has said that for the mere possibility of some tangential ‘public’ benefit, state or local government may deprive people of their homes with ‘just’ compensation. In effect, saying that the spirit of the home has no worth, and can simply be replaced by a home of equal ‘worth’ someplace else so that a private corporation may have the land it prefers. I can think of few concepts more chilling to the ideal of freedom that our country is supposed to stand for.
As my senator, I would like to ask what your reaction to the decision is.
While I recognize that the Supreme Court is the final adjudicator of law in our nation, it is the legislature’s role to correct laws that are flawed. I ask that you introduce legislation that would more narrowly define the ‘public use’ clause to prevent eminent-domain from being allowed in cases where the primary beneificary of such a move would be a privately held corporation.
I recognize this may require a constitutional amendment, but it seems to me this is a issue which is worthy of such an action.
Thank you.
Comments:
June 23, 2005
Zach Update
I may be a little behind on this, but Tennessee is investigating the Love in Action camp, which is essentially a reprogramming camp for gay youth.
Love in Action is not licensed by the Tennessee Departments of Health, Mental Health, Human Services, Child Services or Education, according to Rachel Lassiter of Gov. Phil Bredesen's communications office.
Comments:
Because Naked People Hate America
Hey. At least they’re not showing pictures of burning flags!.
Andy at Towelrod, which I visit only for the articles, wonders whether or not Gannon and West have updated their ads to be in line with the new regulations.
Context
Cheney: Last Throes.
General Abizaid: Nuh Uh.
Press: Huh?
Scottie McLellan: No, I think you have to look at the context of the Vice President's comments...
Scottie McLellan: And you don't point them out. What did he talk about? Well, we can selectively quote people or we can look at the context of the comments, and I think that's what is important to do...
Scottie McLellan: That's why I was stepping back and pointing out to you what the Vice President was talking about...
Scottie McLellan: It doesn't appear that you've looked at the context of his comments, and I would encourage you to do that. And I just addressed this question when you asked it.
Biblical truth
If anything will cure gays, it’s having to look at James Dobson all weekend.
Sorry, that was wrong.
I took a personal potshot at a person over his beliefs, and I feel terrible. Simply Terrible.
Just because Dobson is a hypocritical narrow-minded bastard who twists the bible for his own ends and preaches hate, doesn’t make him ugly.
Well, physically, anyway.
Republicans accuse Dems of Gorilla Warfare
But Durbin should be ashamed!
United Corporations of America
I haven’t read the opinion yet, but I can’t for the life of me understand how the SCOTUS has approved taking people’s land purely for economic reasons – and the help private companies.
Which, frighteningly, means I’m on the same side as Scalia.
Judging from the reaction of some of the homeowners involved, they’re still looking to fight. It’ll be interesting to see how far they go to oppose the taking of their land and how far the state will go to take it...
More as I read the opinion...
***** Update
It’s worse than I feared. I’m actually am on the same side as Right Side of the Rainbow.
***** Update II
I think O’Connor’s dissent is right on.
The majority essentially says that since there will be ‘benefit’ to the public, then the court should not second guess the legislature (which, in some way, may be seen as a federalist stance).
The dissent correctly points out that, especially in this situation where Pfizer will eventually be getting the land, there’s no way to separate the private gain from the public gain. Essentially, anytime a business comes in and says they can generate jobs and/or profit, there can be said to be a tangential benefit to the public.
Which, essentially, would make anyone’s home up for grabs.
WH defends Rove Comments
Apparently, in wake of the continuing plummet of their poll numbers, they have decided that lying about the Dems is their best only strategy.
But Durbin should be ashamed!
Bush and Social Security
He repeated the threat that The government intends to default on Social Security.
Note to Self
A Democrat Comparing torture at Gitmo to a Gulag is heresy. A Conservative columnist, comparing Canada’s Health Care system to a Gulag. Eh. That’s fine.
*****Update
Thanks to Gay Orbit for linking to me , which led to a link on America Blog, which means I can die happy.
Comments:Robert said (at June 23, 2005 09:17 AM):
Good catch - thanks!
And why are we "outraged" whenever anyone to the left of John McCain is called a "Communist" by mouth breathing Freeper-type who couldn't even define communism if they had to?
Henry said (at June 23, 2005 09:34 AM):
I would be more outraged, that the President's political advisor stated publically that Dems pretty much want to see our soldiers get killed.
I don't even blink at being called a communist anymore.
Michael said (at June 23, 2005 09:55 AM):
Initially, I forgot to credit you with the information! So you ALMOST got stiffed! Fortunately, I caught my mistake in time!
Chris said (at June 23, 2005 02:06 PM):
Sullivan also linked to it, giving "mad props" to Michael, thus vicariously, to you. ;-)
Henry said (at June 23, 2005 02:49 PM):
Well, I'm glad you did. Over 2000 hits, and Chris from Law Dork posted. My 60 seconds has finally come. And...is over. :)
Michael said (at June 23, 2005 03:02 PM):
Well, I only noticed I didn't credit Henry AFTER Sullivan linked, so sorry about that!!
But hopefully people are adding you to their blogrolls. I don't agree with everything you say here, but it's a thoughful blog. Cheers!
Speaking of misguided
That’s what I would call this Korel commentary on Jim West.
Korel is right, the story of how West came to be bears some reflection, but this is different from having sympathy for him. I felt bad for West immediately after the fact, but he managed to squander any good thoughts he may have had coming.
And, lest we forget, this wasn’t just about him being gay (though, he still claims he’s not) and bargaining for sex with people he met online. He was using City Jobs to finance his wooing.
That’s the difference.
Lest I remind people, we impeached Clinton for far less…
HIV and Fear
Yes, Andrew Sullivan’s recent Advocate column was misguided, as he completely warped the intention of Weinstein’s point. He wasn’t saying ‘Thank god HIV kills, so we can teach people. He was saying ‘It’s too bad that death seems to be the most effective tool to get people to protect themselves from HIV infection.”
It would be great if we could just say ‘Be Safe’ and everyone would be. Unfortunately, it’s not happening. And, while I think it’s important not to stigmatize people who are positive, I think it’s wrong to gloss over the fact that HIV is a horrible disease, which can kill you.
Of course, some of the responses to Andy were A little harsh.
June 22, 2005
Flag Burning
Because, we don’t want another 9-11.
You know, I would take 1,000 inappropriate Hitler/Gulag references over people who are so sure what others would tell me.
**** Update
And another GOP group links flag burning and 9-11.
Round Up
In a move which seems bizarre even for him, Tom Delay has compared what is going on in Iraq with Houston, Texas.
I’m not clear on his point, though. Is he saying that Houston is as dangerous as Iraq? Are the ‘deaths on the highway’ due to IEDs but the press isn’t reporting that? Is he calling for billions of dollars in aid to go to Houston to deal with their violence problem?
Delay also said:
I’m guessing, that at least ‘some’ of the ‘some people’ live on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Speaking of those same people on Pennsylvania Avenue, they have apparently decided that having Bolton go to the UN is more important than…well, anything. So when Mr. ‘I know it from the tapes’ Frist publicly stated he was wouldn’t bring Bolton up anymore, he was immediately summoned to the woodshed. The tone of the meeting was not publicly disclosed but let’s just say that, for once, Bush was glad about the Lawrence ruling.
Which reminds me, in addition to screwing Frist, the ACLU has complained that Bush is screwing science in his ‘overzealous’ approach to information control. However, a scientist has come out with a harsh rebuke to the ACLU.
Hopkins, who is the primary ‘black magic marker’ person at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, certainly seems to be an unbiased source to me. Among the science that has been repressed, in light of the 9-11 attacks, involve Global Warming, mercury emissions and emergency contraception. Because we all know if Al Qaeda had their way, they would make the earth all hot, so we have sex and, without the benefit of emergency contraception, have lots of children who, because of all the mercury in our system, would be mentally disabled – thus making us an easy target.
June 20, 2005
Left Hand meet Right Hand: CIA Edition
Goss
Bush (via Scottie)
Now, if you squint your eyes on the first one, maybe it’s the same thing. I can’t imagine the head of the CIA making such a 'slam dunk statement, when what he really meant was ‘I think I might know where he may be’. Well, maybe I can.
No amount of squinting works on the second one, though. Goss was saying ‘We would get him, but we have to be careful of the rights of sovereign nations. There’s little else that can be made of ‘Sanctuaries’ paired with ‘international obligation and fair play’. Scott claims we would go in, no matter what, and get him.
Someone’s not on message...
