A judge in Pennsylvania has denied a request from a 12-year-old homicide suspect to have his case transferred to juvenile court.
Jordan Brown is facing adult charges in the February 2009 shooting death of his father's pregnant girlfriend, and a judge turned down a petition to have the case transferred from criminal to juvenile court.
. . .
Under Pennsylvania law, anyone over 10 accused of murder or homicide is charged as an adult. If convicted, the boy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, Bongivengo said.
. . .
The weapon was a youth model 20-gauge shotgun, designed for use by children, that belonged to the boy, according to investigators.
Thanks, Pennsylvania, for being so protective of children. At least those under 11. Because everyone know that at 11, adulthood sets in, with requisite understanding of responsibility and process.
I’m going to make the bold declaration that the last god damned thing we need in this country is “youth model” shotguns.
Indeed.
I'm waiting for the usual conservatarian suspects to weigh in: 2nd Amendment rights vs. Law & order . . . No wait . . . head . . . feedback loop . . . argghhh . . . brain explodes!
I guess Zero Tolerance expands to everything done by a kid. So the next time Isabella gets cranky & tired and cries, it's 30 days for disturbing the peace.
That a tsunami of anger is gathering today is illogical, given that what the right calls “Obamacare” is less provocative than either the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or Medicare, an epic entitlement that actually did precipitate a government takeover of a sizable chunk of American health care. But the explanation is plain: the health care bill is not the main source of this anger and never has been. It’s merely a handy excuse. The real source of the over-the-top rage of 2010 is the same kind of national existential reordering that roiled America in 1964.
In fact, the current surge of anger — and the accompanying rise in right-wing extremism — predates the entire health care debate. The first signs were the shrieks of “traitor” and “off with his head” at Palin rallies as Obama’s election became more likely in October 2008. Those passions have spiraled ever since — from Gov. Rick Perry’s kowtowing to secessionists at a Tea Party rally in Texas to the gratuitous brandishingof assault weapons at Obama health care rallies last summer to “You lie!” piercing the president’s address to Congress last fall like an ominous shot.
If Obama’s first legislative priority had been immigration or financial reform or climate change, we would have seen the same trajectory. The conjunction of a black president and a female speaker of the House — topped off by a wise Latina on the Supreme Court and a powerful gay Congressional committee chairman — would sow fears of disenfranchisement among a dwindling and threatened minority in the country no matter what policies were in play. It’s not happenstance that Frank, Lewis and Cleaver — none of them major Democratic players in the health care push — received a major share of last weekend’s abuse. When you hear demonstrators chant the slogan “Take our country back!,” these are the people they want to take the country back from.
Here's what hasn't been talked about much: the utter hypocrisy of the goals, and the conflation with the early American revolutionaries.
The original Boston Tea Party was a protest against taxation from Britain, which the Whig Party of the time felt was against the British Constitution. While some Tea Partiers of today also feel that the Health Care legislation is unconstitutional, there are vast differences between then & now.
In 1773 the colonies were largely under the rule of Britain, and were controlled militarily certainly by Britain. But today that's hardly the case. The US is a sovereign country, with both Federal & State laws, and no foreign control (well, supposedly).
So what are the Teapartiers mad about? What exactly do they want? They yearn for the country that never was, where people can get unemployment benefits yet rail against government handouts, especially if it's someone else's hand out. A country where folks know their place, especially if their place is below yours. A country which gives all an equal chance to excel above those who aren't equal. And a place that patriots can call home, and where they can call those who disagree traitors.
Yes, America in the 1950's was a great place, as long as you were white, and had access to a pension when your working years were over.
But we had no foreign military on our streets, no distant King taxing our products, and internal threats other than from Joe McCarthy's fevered fantasies. And neither do we today, other than from Glenn Beck's & Sarah Palin's and Michelle Bachman's fevered fantasies.
So Teapartiers, please get a grip, study some history, and shut the fuck up.
The years have not been kind to you. I grew up in a profoundly Republican home, so I can remember when you wore a very different face than the one we see now. You've lost me and you've lost most of America. Because I believe having responsible choices is important to democracy, I'd like to give you some advice and an invitation.
First, the invitation: Come back to us.
Now the advice. You're going to have to come up with a platform that isn't built on a foundation of cowardice: fear of people with colors, religions, cultures and sex lives that differ from your own; fear of reform in banking, health care, energy; fantasy fears of America being transformed into an Islamic nation, into social/commun/fasc-ism, into a disarmed populace put in internment camps; and more. But you have work to do even before you take on that task.
Your party -- the GOP -- and the conservative end of the American political spectrum have become irresponsible and irrational. Worse, it's tolerating, promoting and celebrating prejudice and hatred. Let me provide some examples -- by no means an exhaustive list -- of where the Right as gotten itself stuck in a swamp of hypocrisy, hyperbole, historical inaccuracy and hatred.
If you're going to regain your stature as a party of rational, responsible people, you'll have to start by draining this swamp:
It goes on and is quite lengthy, but has links to all the destructive behaviors exhibited by the wrong wingers who hold major offices in our country. Slightly rearranged, it would make an excellent peer reviewed paper of our current political situation.
Ladies & gentlemen (sheesh, he was 16 when he recoded this!?) please welcome Alex Chilton
Democrats shouldn't expect much cooperation from Republicans the rest of this year, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned Monday. [...] "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," McCain said during an interview Monday on an Arizona radio affiliate. "They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."
Ohfergawdsake, when was the last time the repubes 'cooperated'!?
@ John McLame (R-Loser), the bill passed the House, the bill overcame a filibuster in the Senate and passed, it passed the House again, and it was signed into law by the President.
WTF part of our democracy don't these bastards understand!?
I think it's just that there's a Smokey in the WH.
"Yes Mr. Peabody. Isn't that the year the American's finally got a watered down version of Universal Health Care that most countries had in full strength for years?"
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio): Health care passing 'over my dead body.' - March 17, 2010 "You know, I've been telling my staff nine months, 'They can't pass this bill.' And finally my staff wrestled me to the ground last fall and said, 'Mr. Boehner, we have to quit saying this because they're gonna pass this bill.' And I looked at my staff and I said, 'Alright, I'll try to throttle it back a little bit. But it'll be over my dead body.'"
Boehner on "Meet the Press" -- September 20, 2009 "So you think the plan is dead?" asked host David Gregory. "I think it is," said Boehner.
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) - March 12, 2008 "I've been being asked that question over the last couple days, and to be honest with you, I don't think they can pass the bill... I don't even think we need to be talking about 'after they pass it' because they don't have the votes right now..."
– Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Minority Whip, February 24: “Speaker Pelosi doesn’t have the votes in the House. . . . It is futile for for them to continue to try and push something on the American people that frankly won’t result in better health care.”
– Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), March 5: “Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi doesn’t have the votes needed to pass a health-care bill in the House of Representatives.”
– Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), Minority Leader, March 14: “If she had 216 votes, this bill would be long gone. They tried to pass it in September, October, November, December, January, February. Guess what? They don’t have the votes.”
– Cantor, March 19: “[T]here’s no way they can pass this bill.”
"Gee Mr. Peabody, I don't remember that part!"
"No one does Sherman. Once HCR passed everyone in America had access to health care, mental and physical, and they decided that the crazy, lying, crazy & lying folks who made those statements just needed help. But since treatment is voluntary the poor republicans and teabaggers just eventually spent their days wandering around the Capitol, looking for handouts from the K Street whores, ranting and raving about socialism and black people who don't know their place, and President Hayes."
"Gee Mr. Peabody, aren't there any of them left!?"
"Only one Sherman, poor Rep. Boner. His Congressional lifetime health care has paid for all his organ transplants except his brain. It's such a shame, he still thinks he's pimping for the K Street whores and the president refuses to speak to him."
"You mean ...?
"Yes Sherman, the Mack Senate was censored by the Hayes Commission."
If you thought that was bad, just wait till you see this:
Alex Chilton, who first shot to fame in the 60's as lead singer of The Box Tops, and later became an inspiration for scores of indie rockers, passed away Wednesday at age 59, having suffered a heart attack.
Chilton was born December 28, 1950 in Memphis, and during his early years absorbed the diverse currents of his hometown's music scene. In his early teens he joined a local rock/R&B combo, The DeVilles, who were later renamed The Box Tops. The group was noticed by producers Dan Penn and Chips Moman, and in the spring of 1967 entered the studio with Penn to record some tracks. Penn chose "The Letter" from a demo tape sent by upcoming Nashville songwriter Wayne Carson Thompson; The Box Tops' recording became an instant classic of 60's blue-eyed soul. Chilton laid down an impressive vocal track - a teenager in his first recording session, he sang like a veteran R&B performer. "The Letter" topped the US charts on September 23, holding the #1 position for four weeks, and becoming a major hit in nearly every country it was released. At age 16, Alex Chilton was an international superstar.
More hits followed in a similar vein - "Neon Rainbow", "Cry Like A Baby", and "Soul Deep" all sold well, although none approached the stature of The Box Tops' debut. Despite their overnight success, the group's members were quickly becoming frustrated by the musical pigeonhole their producers had put them in, with Chilton in particular becoming interested in British rock as epitomized by The Beatles and The Who. Other group members were angered by being replaced by session musicians in the studio on occasion. The Box Tops slowly drifted apart, finally disbanding in February 1970. Chilton spent some time in New York sharpening his vocals and guitar skills. Returning to Memphis, he put together Big Star with like-minded local musicians, most notably the talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Bell.
Beginning with 1972's #1 Record, Big Star put together three albums of erratic, if often brilliant, power pop. Bright guitars contrasted with Chilton's increasingly moody vocals, especially on the group's latter two releases, Radio City and Third/Sister Lovers, both recorded after Bell left the group. The early 70's, though, were not a good time for jangly guitar pop, no matter how innovative. The Beatles were still fresh in everybody's memory; bands who reflected the Fab Four's influence were subject to unfair comparisons with the masters. Big Star's affiliation with Stax/Ardent Records put the group at a further disadvantage. The Memphis label's experience was primarily with soul and R&B acts, and they had little idea how to promote or market a white rock group. Big Star's recordings barely made a dent with radio or the public, and the frustrated group disbanded in 1974. Chris Bell's career came to a tragic end in 1978 when he died in an auto accident.
Alex Chilton, teen superstar, was now considered washed-up by the music industry at 25. Depressed by the failure of Big Star, he spent the next few years making a series of indifferent recordings while being dogged by rumors of alcohol and drug problems. He had another stint in New York in the late 70's where, influenced by the scene at CBGB's and other punk venues, he adopted a rawer, looser style. He settled in New Orleans in 1982, where he would call home for the rest of his life. Now free of alcohol and drugs, he was notable on the New Orleans scene for the rest of his career as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer. His recording and performing habits remained somewhat hit-and-miss, however. With hindsight, it appears that Chilton simply wanted to work at his own pace, and having already rode the pop music merry-go-round, had no desire to climb aboard it again.
During the 80's, a new breed of American power-pop artists emerged; heavily influenced by Big Star and similar groups, they regarded Chilton as an icon. REM openly praised Big Star's work, and in 1987 The Replacements recorded their tribute "Alex Chilton", as well as inviting him to play on their album Pleased To Meet Me. Revived interest in Big Star led to the group coming together for a reunion in 1993. They have reunited intermittently ever since, and also recorded a new album in 2005. Chilton also participated in a Box Tops reunion in 1997.
For much of Alex Chilton's career, his was a talent lost in the wilderness. But for those familiar with The Box Tops' history, or for those who heard Big Star's erratic genius, Chilton will be remembered as a true rock legend, one whose stature will only continue to grow as the years pass.
So the Health Care Reform bill passed the house tonight, but not without some drama.
You see some crazy screwed-up things in the bloggersphere and Twitterverse, especially from right. And the craziest stuff has been from tea-partier types, with muddled ldeologies ranging Randian Glibertarians to authority-seeking right-wingers.
But tonight, when Twitter was flying a00 mph with both pregressive and conservative Tweets, debating and arguing the impending Health Care legislation vote, we got this:
Solly really should know better, because that kind of crap is seriously verboten. No serious GWBush hater ever wished for his demise, that isn't done in polite society. But the right these days seem driven by hate.
That tag he added? #TCOT? It stands for "top conservatives on Twitter."
According to his Google profile, Forell is the author of a blog titled Barack Obama Was An American Electorate Mistake, which centers around Forell's disappointment in Obama's presidency. This disappointment spills over into Forell's other blogs, including Anybody But Barack Obama 2012, and The Audacity of Hype, which both touch upon Forrell's disgust with the "cult" of Obama, "a man who has done little with his life, but has written about his achievements as ifhe had found the cure for cancer in between winning a marathon and building a nuclear reactor with his teeth."
Forell may think he's protected by the First Amendment when it comes to his tweets, but the law begs to differ, specifically 18 USC Sec. 871:
Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
You'll note however, that there's nothing specified about electronic threats. Perhaps that's why, as of now, Forell's Twitter account does not appear to be suspended; the tweet threatening the President's life was posted roughly six hours ago and has not yet been removed.
Hortense continues:
You'll note however, that there's nothing specified about electronic threats. Perhaps that's why, as of now, Forell's Twitter account does not appear to be suspended; the tweet threatening the President's life was posted roughly six hours ago and has not yet been removed.
Update: While Forell hasn't removed the offensive tweets, he has posted an apologetic P.S.:
Uh, maybe the President would respect your opinion more if you didn't, you know, encourage people to kill him. Just a thought.
Update #2: Forell is now backtracking like crazy, complaining about "whining liberals" and asking that we "all renounce the harsh rhetoric about the POTUS. Several, including myself, hv used inappropriate language. Let's remain civil!" A little too late, I'd say.
Update #3: I just received an email from Twitter, dated 2:55pm PDT, stating the following:
We have removed this profile due to violation of Twitter's Rules, specifically listed under "Content Boundaries and Use of Twitter": *Unlawful Use: You may not use the service for any unlawful purposes or for promotion of illegal activities.
It is against the Twitter Terms of Service to use the service to commit illegal acts. Threatening the life of the president (or president-elect) is a federal offense under Title 18, USC, section 871. All accounts in violation of our Terms of Service are permanently suspended and we report to legal authorities accordingly.
Update #4: Sam Gustin at DailyFinance is reporting that the Secret Service is now investigating Forell's tweets, with Secret Service spokesperson Max Milien stating: "We are aware of the actual posting and are actively investigating."
And though Twitter sent an email earlier declaring that Forell's profile had been removed, it appears that only the assassination-related tweets have been deleted from his account: as of 9:00 pm EST, his account still appears to be active.
You'd think that a conservatarian who favors a small government with scads of "Freedoms™" for personal action and free speech would have a clue that even in a virtual anarchy, someone makes the rules. Even in Thunderdome there was a boss. By actually calling for Presidential assassination, one gets the clearly unwanted attention of authorities, whose job it is to protect the POTUS, whether it's GWBush, Richard Nixon, or Barack Obama.
So Solly, that's really sweet you apologized, sort-of, but you went way over the line. If the Secret Service jams you up, it serves you right. You earned it.
[...] U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon cemented her earlier decision in December and made the injunction against government intervention permanent, asking all federal agencies to spread the word that money to ACORN be allowed without delay.
The judge wrote that it was "unmistakable that Congress determined ACORN's guilt before defunding it."
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected Orly Taitz's appeal of the $20,000 fine imposed on her for making frivolous filings in a long-running Birther case.
"We have fully considered Taitz's arguments," the ruling from a three-judge panel reads. "We find them unpersuasive and therefore affirm the district court's sanctions judgment."
A federal judge in Georgia imposed the sanction on Taitz in October, blasting her for, among other things, using "the courts as a platform for a political agenda disconnected from any legitimate legal cause of action."
The Appeals Court didn't deem their rejection of her petition worthy of publication. Probably because an Oily Taint might smear the opinion, in addition to the Justices themselves.
Sarah Palin is in the news again, and again, and again. Yes, American Idle is once again deemed newsworthy, and energizing her base, or is that her crack?
This is what she said: "I got to meet quite a few candidates who are lining up in a contested primary who want to take out Alan Grayson. And I think Alan Grayson -- what can you say about Alan Grayson? Piper is with me tonight, so I won't say anything about Alan Grayson that can't be said around children. [Good one, Sarah!] But thank you, Florida, for allowing candidates in a contested primary to duke it out over ideas and principles and values, all with the same goal, and that is unseating those who have such a disconnect from the people of America. That's what the goal is here in this race against Alan Grayson. Please fight hard, and do this for the rest of the country. Fight hard, and send a conservative to Washington, DC."
Palin, the former half-term Governor, current-nothing and future-even-less, charmed the all-Republican audience with her folksy folksiness and her homespun homespunnery. Atypically, Palin was wearing clothes that she had paid for herself. At the end of the event, she shared her recipe for mooseface pie.
In response to Palin's attack on Rep Grayson, Grayson actually complimented Palin. Grayson praised Palin for having a hand large enough to fit Grayson's entire name on it. He thanked Palin for alleviating the growing shortage of platitudes in Central Florida. Grayson added that Palin deserved credit for getting through the entire hour-long program without quitting. Grayson also said that Palin really had mastered Palin's imitation of Tina Fey imitating Palin. Grayson observed that Palin is the most-intelligent leader that the Republican Party has produced since George W. Bush.
When asked to comment about what effect Palin's criticism might have, Grayson pointed out, "As the Knave's horse says in Alice in Wonderland, 'dogs will believe anything.'" Earlier, as the Orlando Sentinel reported, Grayson said, "I'm sure Palin knows all about politics in Central Florida, since from her porch she can see Winter Park," which is part of Grayson's district.
Grayson said that the Alaskan chillbilly was welcome to return to Central Florida anytime, as long as she brings lots of money with her, and spends it. "I look forward to an honest debate with Governor Palin on the issues, in the unlikely event that she ever learns anything about them," Grayson added, alluding to Politifact's "liar, liar, pants on fire" evaluation of much of what Palin has said .
Scientists are studying Sarah Palin's travel between Alaska and Florida carefully. They hope to learn more about the flight patterns of that elusive migratory species, the wild Alaskan dingbat.
Gosh, Alan, don't be shy, tell us what you really think. Note to other Dems; this is what a spine looks like, try to acquire one.
When Glenn Beck urged Christians to leave churches that preach social justice, he allowed himself to be tripped up by conventional buzzwords of the campus Left. In plain English, "social justice" is a goal of all churches and refers to helping the poor and seeking equality. As a code word, it refers to a controversial package of goals including political redistribution of wealth, gay marriage, and a campaign against "institutional racism," "classism," "ableism," and "heterosexism."
Why is NPR reprinting an opinion article from the extreme right wing site National Review? If they are trying to broaden their base of contributors I have news for them, people who believe the hate spewed from the Nat'l Review are never going to donate money to NPR, and 'people like me' aren't going to in the future.
CNN announced that RedState.com editor Erick Erickson will join the channel as a political commentator, stating that he is "a perfect fit" for the new show John King, USA.
[...] Erickson defends Beck's statement that Obama is "racist" and lashes out at "Obama Brownshirts." [...] Erickson calls Michelle Obama a "marxist harpy wife." [...] Erickson calls [Supreme Court Justice] Souter a "goat fucking child molester." [...] Erickson: "At what point do the people ... march down to their state legislator's house, pull him outside, and beat him to a bloody pulp?" [...] Erickson: Purpose of Bachmann rally is "to tell Nancy Pelosi and the Congress to send Obama to a death panel." [...] Erickson has made numerous sexist statements. After an anti-abortion ad during this year's Super Bowl, Erickson wrote, "that's it?!?! That's what the feminazis were enraged over? Seriously?!? Wow. That's what being too ugly to get a date does to your brain"; and "Thus ends the credibility of all pro-abortion groups. Thanks Mrs. Tebow for that. Ugly feminists return to their kitchens."
CNN, the most trusted name in hiring violent, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic neanderthals. (See Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck et al.)
They could have hired a rational, logical conservative, (I swear they're out there, I can hear them breeding), but no, they had to go bat$hit crazy.
Can we finally be done with the 'liberal media' canard!?
Clarence Thomas, long a darling of the authoritarian right, has a new issue, and I think (& hope) that it gets really ugly really soon. From today's LATimes:
As Virginia Thomas tells it in her soft-spoken, Midwestern cadence, the story of her involvement in the "tea party" movement is the tale of an average citizen in action.
"I am an ordinary citizen from Omaha, Neb., who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you," she said at a recent panel discussion with tea party leaders in Washington. Thomas went on to count herself among those energized into action by President Obama's "hard-left agenda."
But Thomas is no ordinary activist.
She is the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and she has launched a tea-party-linked group that could test the traditional notions of political impartiality for the court.
Aside from the idiocy and hypocrisy of another well-funded astroturf "grass-roots" group, there is a real ethical problem brewing. The close of the article states it best:
But it would be up to Justice Thomas to decide whether to recuse himself. He could not be reached for comment.
As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Liberty Central can raise unlimited amounts of corporate money and largely avoid disclosing its donors.
Because of a recent Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, the group may also spend corporate money freely to advocate for or against candidates for office.
Justice Thomas was part of the 5-4 majority in that case.
Of course he won't recuse himself. On ethical issues, his hypocrisy is legendary and consistent. Fully availing himself of Affirmative Action when it furthers his career, he now criticizes it as his Conservatarian posture demands. He will take any action that's in his best interest, with no regard to appearance, propriety, or ethics.
And please, don't bring up Ed Rendell & his wife, a Circuit Court judge who has sought ethics and recusal advice when it seemed warranted. No, Justice Thomas and his activist wife are entitled Conservatives. In her case, she seems honest in her beliefs, albeit misdirected. But in his case, as evidenced by his testimony during his confirmation hearings (see Anita Hill & Roe v. Wade), he does what is expedient and what fits his personal agenda best. Truth and justice are simply victims of his arrogance.
1. Rove distorts Senate report to claim Bush didn't "lie us into the war"
2. Rove falsehood: Obama claims "Obamacare would not add to the deficit ... evidence shows just the opposite"
3. Rove revives tired smear that Gore wrongly said "that he had created the Internet"
4. Rove revives Gore-Love Story smear
5. Rove falsehood: Gore said he had "discovered the Love Canal chemical disaster"
6. Rove pals around with falsehood that Ayers was "Obama's great friend"
7. Rove wrong on number of presidents who left office by "assassination or resignation
And that's just the first page! Seriously, check it out, they do the research and have the links to it. Thank the FSM they have more time than I do. ********************
Sarah Palin has a message for critics of her crib-notes during February's Tea Party keynote speech: God did it too.
At a fundraiser on Friday for the Ohio Right to Life group, Palin assailed the media for getting "all wigged out about that" and claimed they're attacking her because they "couldn't argue the content" of the words.
Referring the crowd to a Bible passage from Isiah 49:16, she assured them she's "in good company."
"If what was good enough for God, scribbling on the palm of his hand, it's good enough for me, for us," Palin said. "In that passage he says, I wrote your name on the palm of my hand to remember you. And I'm like okay, I'm in good company."
Actually, the chapter and verse is Isaiah saying The Lord (maybe it's my lack of indoctrination, but isn't 'the lord' Jesus!? I get so confused by the bible) told him "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
And I'm so totally, ya know, like, also, too, not okay, with the Bimbo from Limbo comparing god (or jesus) carving their hand, with this retard having to scribble on her hand of the 3 major talking points she (and every republican) has given in every speech! i.e. “energy,” “budget tax cuts,” and “lift American spirit" ********************* Next up in the Race for the Loon:
Officials and student leaders at Virginia colleges are reacting mutedly, so far, to an order from state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that the schools stop protecting LGBT students.
In a letter (PDF) sent to the state's public colleges and universities and obtained by the Washington Post, Cuccinelli declared that the schools don't have the authority to uphold bans on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation when the state itself has no such ban.
"It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification, as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy, absent specific authorization from the General Assembly," the letter stated.
Virginia has many fine colleges and universities, but I have a feeling they aren't going to get many applicants next year. ******************** Another contestant in the Race for the Loon:
A proposed law designed to prevent child abuse in schools has been lauded by children's protection advocates, and slammed by House Republicans as an unnecessary expansion of federal government power. [...] Though the bill was a bipartisan effort in reaction to a government report last year that found "hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death" related to the practices, it was opposed by a vast majority of Republicans, who said the bill amounted to an intrusion on states' rights and the ability of local school districts to determine their own policies.
It really sucks that the Federal Government has to intervene, but if the local boards and the states can't protect the weakest among us it is past time. Torturing kids when the 'act up' is the job of the parents, not the states. ****************** We has another contender for Peak Loon:
A Louisiana sheriff plans to arm volunteers with shotguns, riot shields, batons, and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a "war wagon," as part of "Operation Exodus," a program to provide security in the event of a terrorist attack or civic unrest. "It's a calling," he says.
But wait! There's more:
The office of the Louisiana sheriff who's forming a citizen militia to defend the parish in the event of a terrorist attack says it has information about possible Islamic terrorist activity in its midst.
Srsly!? LOL! I mean OMG, terrorists live and train in BumFuk Lousiana?
Anyone else want to bet the sheriff & his pussie [sic] are 100% caucasian? (as far as they know;-)
If you look over to our right sidebar, down a little bit ... a little bit farther, there you go, you'll see a list of blogs we like and Link Exchange with. Jon Swift was one of the best.
He was so talented at satire of the reich wing that people would comment thinking he was serious. Some to castigate him, others (scary people) to congratulate him on his reasoned discourse, but mostly the folks who get it, got it, good.
He didn't post often, but when he did it was choice. But even I, the laziest of bloggers, noticed he hadn't updated for almost a year. I still checked in from time to time because he had one of those blogs that the comments keep coming and keep you coming back.
But I never wanted to see this comment:
I don't know how else to tell you all who love this blog. I am Jon Swift's Mom and I guess I'm going to OUT him. He was Al Weisel, my beloved son. Al was on his way to his father's funeral in VA when he suffered 2 aortic aneurysms, a leaky aortic valve and an aortic artery dissection from his heart to his pelvis. He had 3 major surgeries within 24 hours and sometime during those surgeries also suffered a severe stroke. We, his 2 sisters, his brother, his partner and his best friend since he was 9 years old were with him as he took his last breath. We have all lost a shining start who warmed our hearts, tormented us and made us laugh as he giggled at our pulling something over on us. He passed away on February 27, 2010. My beloved child will live on in so many hearts. I miss him more than I can say. If you are on Facebook, go to organizations and join "Friends of Al Weisel, Unite!" It will give you just a taste of how special he was. Farewell, Jon (Al)
I became acquainted with Jon Swift thru his brilliant writing, and then thru Blogroll Amnesty Day.
If there is a blogger's heaven, a place where one's thoughts in the purest form, (but with all the painstaking revisions magically included), are transformed into images and words then electrons and photons, Al is there.
My sincere condolences go out to his survivors.
Hic depositum est Corpus IONATHAN SWIFT S.T.D. Hujus Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Decani, Ubi sæva Indignatio Ulterius Cor lacerare nequit, Abi Viator Et imitare, si poteris, Strenuum pro virili Libertatis Vindicatorem.
Obiit 19º Die Mensis Octobris A.D. 1745 Anno Ætatis 78º.
And I decree that from now until the end of time every day is Blogroll Amnesty Day.
Bunning's "hold" also affects jobless benefits for thousands of unemployed workers, rural television customers, doctors receiving Medicare payments and others. [...] 1.2 million unemployed workers, including 14,000 in Kentucky, would lose federal jobless benefits this month if Congress doesn't extend them, and they all said that Bunning is an a$$hole
OK, I made the last sentence of the last paragraph up.
Pardon my outrage when one f**king republican is once again holding our nation hostage. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY jelly) claimed he was acting on principle, or maybe it was the interest on the principle he gets from 'campaign contributors.'
Bunny is retiring with a pension that we Americans pay for, and he and his family will have government health care for the rest of their lives that we Americans pay for.
Why doesn't he cry Socialism! about that? ***************
[...] Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona [R - Ustupid], the Republican whip, argued that unemployment benefits dissuade people from job-hunting "because people are being paid even though they're not working."
Unemployment insurance "doesn't create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work," Kyl said during debate over whether unemployment insurance and other benefits that expired amid GOP objections Sunday should be extended.
where to start, where to start ... OK, how about here: 1) It's called Unemployment Insurance for a reason, these people have been paying insurance, mandated by the gov't, in case they are unemployed. Guess what, it's time to collect. 2) Max payout in most states is 55% of what they were earning. Try living on 1/2 of what you're making now and most folks have a difficult time of it. Heck, even the banksters complain when their multi-million dollar salaries/bonuses are cut, imagine what it's like for real people! That sounds like an incentive to find work to me ... if there were any jobs. 3) Maybe it doesn't create new jobs, but it sure allows a lot of people to keep their jobs. From grocery stores to landlords to everyone else in the community, the basic fabric breaks down if millions of people have zero income.
And while the 2 above examples seem about as heartless as republicans can be, here comes the corker:
Emergency rooms should be able to turn patients away to cut costs, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) said last night
Appearing on Fox News's "On the Record with Greta Van Sustren" last night, Pawlenty said the federal law that mandates ER treatment should be repealed.
"Well, for one thing you could do is change the federal law so that not every ER is required to treat everybody who comes in the door, even if they have a minor condition," Pawlenty said.
First the repubes claim that everyone has access to health care because they can always go to the ER.
That's always been a specious argument because while you might be able to go to the ER for an emergency, they do nothing about post trauma care or even tests if you don't have the $$. And now these heartless bastards want to limit access to the ER!
Taken together the arguments the republicans espouse are 'lose your job? Tough.' 'Lose your unemployment insurance benefits that you paid into? Tough shit.' 'Lose your health? Die.'
Grayson was right. "the Republican plan is don't get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly."
