Dissento's (Culture) War Journal
Saturday, November 29, 2003
This Must Be Fixed
I don't if the colleges are at fault here, or the Guard. Regardless, someone needs to fix it ASAP. Our National Guardsmen are being defrauded of their college tuition. This reminds me of those politicians who claim to cut taxes, but then raise "fees."
I don't if the colleges are at fault here, or the Guard. Regardless, someone needs to fix it ASAP. Our National Guardsmen are being defrauded of their college tuition. This reminds me of those politicians who claim to cut taxes, but then raise "fees."
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Hypocrite of the Week: Orrin Hatch
I found this at Eschaton and thought it worth sharing:
"In the recent marathon debate on judicial nominations, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch earnestly expressed the view that the Democrats' filibuster against several of President Bush's nominations was unprecedented and even unconstitutional. This led me to dig up some old Congressional Records from April 1980, when Senate Republicans mounted a filibuster against President Carter's nominee for general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board -- a man who had served as a career attorney at the board for 27 years.
The senator leading the filibuster said it was his 'unfortunate duty to challenge the nomination' because, although he 'personally liked' the nominee, he was 'too pro-labor' and other qualified nominees would be 'acceptable to business.' After five days of floor debate, the filibuster was broken on the second cloture vote, and the nominee was confirmed for a four-year term.
The reason I remember this episode so well is that the nominee was William A. Lubbers, my father, and the senator leading the filibuster was Orrin G. Hatch.
JEFFREY S. LUBBERS"
I found this at Eschaton and thought it worth sharing:
"In the recent marathon debate on judicial nominations, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch earnestly expressed the view that the Democrats' filibuster against several of President Bush's nominations was unprecedented and even unconstitutional. This led me to dig up some old Congressional Records from April 1980, when Senate Republicans mounted a filibuster against President Carter's nominee for general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board -- a man who had served as a career attorney at the board for 27 years.
The senator leading the filibuster said it was his 'unfortunate duty to challenge the nomination' because, although he 'personally liked' the nominee, he was 'too pro-labor' and other qualified nominees would be 'acceptable to business.' After five days of floor debate, the filibuster was broken on the second cloture vote, and the nominee was confirmed for a four-year term.
The reason I remember this episode so well is that the nominee was William A. Lubbers, my father, and the senator leading the filibuster was Orrin G. Hatch.
JEFFREY S. LUBBERS"
Integrity Delay'd
Once again, Tom Delay asserts is position as leader in finding new and exciting ways to be an asshole:
Republican Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). The same man who refuses to allow a vote on the House floor to extend the child tax credit to millions of children living in lower income working families, has established a new "charity" to raise funds in the name of neglected and abused children by hosting events with DeLay at the Republican National Convention!
While campaign finance laws restrict how much DeLay can raise in openly political contributions, donors to his new organization can give unlimited amounts.
Texas Star Telegram points out, this means DeLay's donors will get the access so important to lobbyists -- and " get an all-important tax deduction" for it -- while "DeLay gets to keep his donor list anonymous".
Not only is he seeking to avoid accountability from his lobbyists, he's doing it on the backs of abused children!
Once again, Tom Delay asserts is position as leader in finding new and exciting ways to be an asshole:
Republican Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). The same man who refuses to allow a vote on the House floor to extend the child tax credit to millions of children living in lower income working families, has established a new "charity" to raise funds in the name of neglected and abused children by hosting events with DeLay at the Republican National Convention!
While campaign finance laws restrict how much DeLay can raise in openly political contributions, donors to his new organization can give unlimited amounts.
Texas Star Telegram points out, this means DeLay's donors will get the access so important to lobbyists -- and " get an all-important tax deduction" for it -- while "DeLay gets to keep his donor list anonymous".
Not only is he seeking to avoid accountability from his lobbyists, he's doing it on the backs of abused children!
Friday, November 21, 2003
Dr. Laura , Our Next UN Ambassador
I feel like it's been awhile since we've heard from "Doctor" Laura, and I was beginning to forget what shrillness looked like. Fear not:
A caller to her show on Nov. 17 asked whether her 16-year-old daughter should take part in a Catholic High School class field trip to a local mosque. The purpose of the field trip was to have the students in a "moral themes" class learn how "Muslims are treated" in America.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger said in her response: "This is a class on morals. What is the point of going to a mosque?...You're joking of course...How many Americans have tortured and murdered Muslims...I think you ought to stand up against this class and this teacher. This is despicable. You tell him you are willing to go to the mosque only if it is one that has done its best to route out terrorists in its midst...instead of complaining...I am horrified that you would let her go...I am so sick and tired of all the Arab-American groups whining and complaining about some kind of treatment...What culture and what religion were all the murderers of 9/11...they murdered us...That's the culture you want your daughter to learn about?"
I feel like it's been awhile since we've heard from "Doctor" Laura, and I was beginning to forget what shrillness looked like. Fear not:
A caller to her show on Nov. 17 asked whether her 16-year-old daughter should take part in a Catholic High School class field trip to a local mosque. The purpose of the field trip was to have the students in a "moral themes" class learn how "Muslims are treated" in America.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger said in her response: "This is a class on morals. What is the point of going to a mosque?...You're joking of course...How many Americans have tortured and murdered Muslims...I think you ought to stand up against this class and this teacher. This is despicable. You tell him you are willing to go to the mosque only if it is one that has done its best to route out terrorists in its midst...instead of complaining...I am horrified that you would let her go...I am so sick and tired of all the Arab-American groups whining and complaining about some kind of treatment...What culture and what religion were all the murderers of 9/11...they murdered us...That's the culture you want your daughter to learn about?"
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Where's Anne Coulter when you need her?
More troubles for Rush: He's under investigation for money laundering. Doesn't Rush know that drug money supports the terrorists? The government told me so on TV.
Traitor! Treason! Traitor! Treason!
More troubles for Rush: He's under investigation for money laundering. Doesn't Rush know that drug money supports the terrorists? The government told me so on TV.
Traitor! Treason! Traitor! Treason!
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!
Chuck Schumer is the early hero of this hot-air-athon. He's the only one taking questions from the other side. The GOP has repeatedly wimped out and denied questions. Boxer did well too, by repeatedly calling them whiners. Honorable memtion goes to the Democratic Chart Maker. Great Charts!
Chuck Schumer is the early hero of this hot-air-athon. He's the only one taking questions from the other side. The GOP has repeatedly wimped out and denied questions. Boxer did well too, by repeatedly calling them whiners. Honorable memtion goes to the Democratic Chart Maker. Great Charts!
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Legislative Survivor
I love this: Senate Readies Self for Judges Talkathon . Now, this make politics interesting. I think the GOP making a goof though. Nobody cares about these four judges, and this Daschle line is a winner:
"The Republicans are consumed by those four jobs and ignore the 3 million jobs that we've lost over the course of the last three years under this administration's economic policies,"
Now bring on the immunity idol!
I love this: Senate Readies Self for Judges Talkathon . Now, this make politics interesting. I think the GOP making a goof though. Nobody cares about these four judges, and this Daschle line is a winner:
"The Republicans are consumed by those four jobs and ignore the 3 million jobs that we've lost over the course of the last three years under this administration's economic policies,"
Now bring on the immunity idol!
Friday, November 07, 2003
Stonewalling on 9/11
Who is the enemy here? What could possibly justify the runaround in the investigation? If there ever a thing to drop your guard and and accept some unbiased criticism and suggestion it's this. I don't even think this is a political deal. Merely a bunch of people being chicken shit. Appalling.
The Real Jessica Story: When the Pentagon actually does release information, it's often made up, apparently. Ms. Lynch is pissed about the fantasy stories made up about her capture. I'm impressed by her willingness to speak out.
Eric Alterman gets it right, as usual, for blaming the media for buying the story hook, line, and sinker, but he does Ms. Lynch a disservice by reducing her capture to this walk in the park:
Indeed, Private Lynch had not even been involved in a firefight. Her truck crashed in the Nasiriyah and she suffered numerous bone fractures. Eventually the story emerged of how well treated Lynch was in the Iraqi hospital in which she was allegedly captured.
This, of course, leaves out the fact that she was also raped, and who-knows-what-else. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume those reports haven't caught up to him yet.
Dean Puts his Campaign in the Hands of those that Actually Read Campaign Spam. Gov. Dean has left the decision to accept or decline federal matching funds to his supporters. Interesting move. I'm sure they'll vote to decline the funds (to do otherwise is suicide against the Bush war chest).
NPR Gets World's Biggest Happy Meal; Kroc family gets 40,000 tote bags: Now that Joan Kroc has given public radio two hundred freaking million dollars, could we please go two weeks without a pledge drive?
Who is the enemy here? What could possibly justify the runaround in the investigation? If there ever a thing to drop your guard and and accept some unbiased criticism and suggestion it's this. I don't even think this is a political deal. Merely a bunch of people being chicken shit. Appalling.
The Real Jessica Story: When the Pentagon actually does release information, it's often made up, apparently. Ms. Lynch is pissed about the fantasy stories made up about her capture. I'm impressed by her willingness to speak out.
Eric Alterman gets it right, as usual, for blaming the media for buying the story hook, line, and sinker, but he does Ms. Lynch a disservice by reducing her capture to this walk in the park:
Indeed, Private Lynch had not even been involved in a firefight. Her truck crashed in the Nasiriyah and she suffered numerous bone fractures. Eventually the story emerged of how well treated Lynch was in the Iraqi hospital in which she was allegedly captured.
This, of course, leaves out the fact that she was also raped, and who-knows-what-else. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume those reports haven't caught up to him yet.
Dean Puts his Campaign in the Hands of those that Actually Read Campaign Spam. Gov. Dean has left the decision to accept or decline federal matching funds to his supporters. Interesting move. I'm sure they'll vote to decline the funds (to do otherwise is suicide against the Bush war chest).
NPR Gets World's Biggest Happy Meal; Kroc family gets 40,000 tote bags: Now that Joan Kroc has given public radio two hundred freaking million dollars, could we please go two weeks without a pledge drive?
Saturday, November 01, 2003
