September 03, 2005

Rhenquist

I didn’t agree with his judicial philosophy, but I was pulling for him to beat the cancer. It’s sad that he wasn’t able to.

He died, however, doing what he loved. He was active on the bench until just a few weeks ago, and that’s commendable.

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Posted by Henry at 11:20 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category::

September 02, 2005

This is the leader of the only remaining superpower

It’s not a reassuring thing.

Again, my attitude is, if it's not going exactly right, we're going to make it go exactly right. If there's problems, we're going to address the problems. And that's what I've come down to assure people of. And again, I want to thank everybody.

And I'm not looking forward to this trip. I got a feel for it when I flew over before. It -- for those who have not -- trying to conceive what we're talking about, it's as if the entire Gulf Coast were obliterated by a -- the worst kind of weapon you can imagine. And now we're going to go try to comfort people in that part of the world.

Read the last line again.

And now we're going to go try to comfort people in that part of the world.
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Posted by Henry at 01:54 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

This is something which should be decided by activist judges!

Arnold may be a little off GOP message, here.

With only a week left before lawmakers adjourn for the year, the measure faces a tough fight in the Assembly, which defeated it in June. Signaling a likely veto if it does pass, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman said he preferred to let judges sort out the legality of gay marriage; such a case is moving toward the state Supreme Court.
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Posted by Henry at 10:47 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Republicans, JustLeft on

Unbeleivable

The Government at work.

"Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans -- virtually a city that has been destroyed -- that things are going relatively well," Brown said.

At least supplies are starting to come into the city.

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Posted by Henry at 10:25 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Katrina

Keeping a clear head

Criticizing Bush for not landing in New Orleans (or elsewhere in Katrina effected areas) is stupid.

Bush’s aerial tour is a bad idea, in my opinion. It serves to accomplish nothing, and will take focus away from where it needs to be. This is especially true if he were to land anywhere.

I think it’s clear that both the federal and state governments have failed the people in the region miserably. I think it’s fine to criticize what you see as Bush’s policies (Cronies at FEMA, rolling FEMA into Homeland Security, cutting funds that were supposed to address flooding and levees, ect) is fair game.

This, though, is stupid. Bush should stay as far away as possible, and should spend his time chewing people out until they get done what needs to be done.

Things should not be this bad in America. Not even after a huge disaster like Katrina.

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Posted by Henry at 07:17 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Democrats, Just Left On

September 01, 2005

Hastert suggests bulldozing New Orleans

He also takes a swipe at San Francisco and LA.

Not surprisingly, fails to include Florida on the list. I wonder why.

Hmmmm, aren't San Fran, LA, and New Orleans liberal cities?

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Posted by Henry at 07:22 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Republicans, JustLeft on

Sneaky

Man, I’m always amazed at how sly some GOPers are in saying gays recruit children, without saying it bluntly.

Say it, Mr. McClintock!

"Can't you see that marriage is a fundamentally different institution... Marriage is the institution by which we propagate our species and inculcate our young."

Inculcate: To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill: inculcating sound principles.

So, what Mr. McClintock seems to be saying is that gay marriage will instill gay principles in the children. Or they will learn to be gay. Or something like that...

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Posted by Henry at 04:27 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Republicans, JustLeft on

CA Senate passes gay marriage bill

Read about it here.

Hmmmm, the vote was 21-15. There are 15 republicans on the Senate. I wonder who voted against it...

Hat Tip: Law Dork
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Posted by Henry at 04:21 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Gay Stuff, Just Left On

United states of Shoot anything that look suspicious

From a commenter at Gay Orbit

I totally agree. At this point, it’s most important to start getting people out of the Convention Center and Superdome. Start sending in the rescue helicopters and boats, with helicopter gunships patrolling the perimeter and shooting anything that looks threatening or suspicious.

That’s harsh and horrible – but I don’t think there are any other choices left.

Comment by North Dallas Thirty — 9/1/2005 @ 1:43 pm


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Posted by Henry at 11:15 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Katrina

Can we make a distinction

Between people who are ‘looting’ (IE stealing TVs) and people breaking into places to find food and water.

Not the same thing (though, both are going on).

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Posted by Henry at 10:03 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Katrina

Bush is a goddamned liar

There is no other explanation for this.

The president defended the federal government's response so far to the growing crisis amid urgent pleas for help from stranded victims of the storm in New Orleans. He said the breach of the levees that led to the submerging of much of New Orleans had not been anticipated.

Was there any major news organization that, before the hurricane hit the Gulf, hadn’t played out the ‘what about the levees’ scenario?

CNN 8/28/05

Nagin warned that Katrina's expected storm surge -- which could top 28 feet -- would likely topple those levies.

In worst-case scenarios, most of New Orleans would end up under 15 feet of water, without electricity, clean water and sewage for as long as six months. Even pumping the water out could take as long as four months to get started because the massive pumps that would do the job would be underwater.

ABC 8/28/05

The city is protected from both Lake Ponchartrain and the river by a series of levees, improved and heightened over the last 40 years.

But officials admit that the levee system, built to withstand a category 3 hurricane, could be easily breached by a stronger storm.

"If we had a direct hit of a category 4 or 5, or maybe even a slow moving cat 3, we would be totally inundated with water," said Geneve Grille, a levee engineer. "You couldn't pump it all out."

Fox News 8/29/05

Experts have warned for years that the levees and pumps that usually keep New Orleans (search) dry have no chance against a direct hit by a Category 5 storm.

"All indications are that this is absolutely worst-case scenario," Ivor van Heerden, deputy director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center, said Sunday afternoon.

As Fox stated, this possibility had been discussed for years.

So either Bush knowingly lied, hoping people would swallow it. Or, he’s so out of touch that he didn’t realize that New Orleans had levees and figured it he didn’t know, the rest of the government must not have either.

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Posted by Henry at 07:37 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

August 31, 2005

FDA under the GOP

Postponing making the morning after pill, even though an independent scientific panel has concluded there is no danger. Why?

FDA rejected that recommendation, citing concern about young teens' use of the pills without a doctor's guidance. Barr reapplied, asking that women 16 and older be allowed to buy Plan B without a prescription while younger teens continue to get a doctor's note.

They are worried about offering the drug to teens as a prescriptions, while OTC to adults. Apparently, that’s never been done before (having a drug prescription and non-prescription at the same time). They want to give people time to ‘comment’ on it.

Oh. The panel who said it was fine, said so two years ago.

Update:

An FDA official has resigned in protest over the politicalization of science at the FDA.

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Posted by Henry at 08:35 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

Maybe a good result?

While it’s a horrible way to have had it happen, maybe the Katrina caused gas crisis which seems to be striking the areas around Katrina will make the country pause to consider whether we really need to be buying Hummers. Or a Lincoln Navigator, which is bigger than my first apartment was (and probably more expensive).

I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it was the gas crisis in the seventies which led to the influx of Hondas and other small, fuel efficient cars. I’m old enough to remember waiting in line for gas (though not old enough to remember how much it cost).

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Posted by Henry at 05:12 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Society, Just left Of

Repent America joins the blame game

New Orleans was destroyed because of the gays.

"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city." Marcavage said. "From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."

"Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said.

We’re not sure what Mississippi’s or Alabama’s sin was. Maybe god’s aim was just off.

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Posted by Henry at 01:29 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: The Way Right, Just Left on

How much do we hate gays?

Enough to ban all clubs in a high school, so a PRIDE club can’t exist.

How much do you want to bet that the kids who wanted the Pride club will get the balme for this?

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Posted by Henry at 12:16 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Gay Stuff, Just Left On

Nice

Fox News asks if Taxpayers should help the victim of Katrina.

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Posted by Henry at 11:53 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Republicans, JustLeft on

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Dingbat.

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Posted by Henry at 07:41 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Democrats, Just Left On

Excuse me, Mr. President

Calling on the nation to conserve energy was probably something you should have done three (or more) years ago.

You shouldn’t still be ‘seriously considering’ it.

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Posted by Henry at 07:34 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

August 30, 2005

You knew this was coming

Katrina = God’s revenge

I figured Phelps would be the first, and Falwell and Robertson (assumably) learned their lessons after the 9/11 comment fiasco.

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Posted by Henry at 06:09 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: The Way Right, Just Left on

Katrina Revisited

I still maintain that using Katrina to criticize Bush’s handling of Iraq is in very poor taste. I do think, however, that criticism on Bush has spent the last 2 days seems valid.

Don’t get me wrong – in the grand scheme of things, Bush has very little to do with what happens on the ground in New Orleans. And, whatever may be the current fiscal realities of FEMA and other groups, the money will be found to help those left homeless.

Still, Bush seems to me to have made odd choices in how he has spent the day. Offering (another) speech on staying the course in Iraq, and accepting (never mind playing) a gift guitar on the same day that hundreds of Americans have died, and thousands of Americans are holed up in a football stadium because they have nowhere else to go.

None of this effects how Katrina is responded to. Just seems, to me, to be a poor choice for the leader of the nation.

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Posted by Henry at 05:45 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

Note that Quote

“Why, oh, why do we pay taxes? To afford bullocky ugly traffic wardens and those bastard railings on shops so that we can’t even get into them? I know they are for stupid people, to keep them from falling into the street, but we’re not all stupid! We don’t all need nurse maiding! Why not just tax the stupid people?"

Edina Monsoon


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Posted by Henry at 12:16 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Just Misc

The Coming Theocracy

Inches Closer:

In the meantime, [Bush Appointee] Martin, a former White House aide to President Bush, has been meeting privately with evangelical activists to assure them of his commitment to change the television landscape. The government does not regulate shows distributed over cable or satellite television for indecency. Similarly, there are no indecency limits on the content of satellite radio, where shock-jock Howard Stern sought refuge and will begin broadcasting next year. But in one session this summer, Martin told activists that he is privately reaching out to industry leaders to address racy content on basic cable and satellite television, says Rick Schatz, the president of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, a Christian ministry. "He said the free rein of cable and satellite and satellite radio is not acceptable," says Schatz, who sat in on the meeting. "He's committed to seeing something is done during his tenure."

Apparently, people are not aware of the ability to change channels. Or use the ‘V’ chip. Or not let kids have free rein of unsupervised TV. Or use parental controls offered by cable.

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Posted by Henry at 12:03 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

Opinion not Fact

Paul at Right Side of the Rainbow, takes a moment to mock someone who wrote an editorial saying Robert’s confirmation should hinge on whether he would protect gay rights.

“Roberts’ confirmation hinges on protecting gay rights” It does? I bet that’s news to the ten Republicans who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Beam her up, Scotty. Beam. Her. Up.

While the title to the opinion might be read to suggest ‘gay rights’ is the issue foremost to the Judiciary committee, the text of the editorial makes it clear that she is stating what she believes should be, not was factually is:

The Judiciary Committee ought to press him for guarantees that he'd be responsive to gay Americans' needs.

I’m sure Michael will call him dishonest at any time now.

(On the other side, Paul did agree with the editorial writer that the issue of gay rights won’t be much of a consideration, due top the large number of GOP members – most of whom support the marriage amendment).

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Posted by Henry at 09:36 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Gay Stuff, Just Left On

I must have missed that part of the bible

But apparently ‘You shall not admire the parents of gay and lesbian people’ is anti-god.

And, somewhere, Jesus weeps.

Hat Tip: Atrios
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Posted by Henry at 07:50 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: The Way Right, Just Left on

Katrina

I haven’t said much, because there’s not much to say. While the ‘worst case’ may not have played out fully, it’s just about as bad as it could be. Hundreds are probably dead, millions are probably homeless, and New Orleans will never be the same.

I have little patience for people who are using the disaster for political jabs. Or political cover.

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Posted by Henry at 07:41 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Just Misc

August 29, 2005

The Orginialism Myth

I have stated before, that the concept of originalism is marketing a best, that when you actually get down to the question of how our modern government would operate under the ‘original’ intent of the constitution.

My Constitutional Law professor, tonight, gave a great example of the folly of originalism. Women presidents. If you go by a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and intent of the framers, women are not allowed to hold either office.

From Article 2:

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follow...(Emphasis mine)

The constitution clearly states the president should be a man. And, since when the constitution was written, they intended that women could not hold office, under a strict originalist view, women can never be president of the united states.

Some might argue that the suffrage amendment changed this, but that amendment is clearly limited to the rights of women to vote, not hold office.

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Posted by Henry at 07:03 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Law, Just Left On

Crazies

I’m all for giving South Carolina to the Christian Exodus crowd.

If they all move to South Carolina, less change they’ll run for the school board here. Of course, I’m a little skeptical of the chances of a group who’s leader has so little respect for his followers.

Despite its cynicism about the Republican Party, Christian Exodus plans to use the party's popularity to its advantage. Rather than running for office themselves, Christian Exodus activists hope to influence which Republican candidates win local primaries.

"All we have to do is put our guy on the ballot with an 'R' sign," Burnell said. "It could be a corpse and they'll vote for him."


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Posted by Henry at 02:15 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: The Way Right, Just Left on

Updating

To MT 3.2. Which is why the site went down for a bit. I also had some plug-in problems, which was a pain to fix. I think we're running now, but we'll see if everything works.

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Posted by Henry at 01:12 PM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Just Misc

Wow

Okay, it’s a small election, but an openly gay candidate in NY has aired an ad which shows (and clearly identifies) his partner. Apparently, this is a first. So, Kudos.

Hat tip: The Coffee House Soapbox
Comments:
Posted by Henry at 11:20 AM || Link to me || Track this post (0) || Category:: Gay Stuff, Just Left On
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