Private Buffoon

Pointless... but sorta fun

2012-02-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

In my lifetime...

2012-02-15T23:11:00.003-07:00

Interracial marriage in US hits new high: 1 in 12

IN MY LIFETIME: Interracial marriage was ILLEGAL!

Loving v. Virginia
Loving v. Virginia 388 U.S. 1 (1967), was a landmark civil rights case in which the United States Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, declared Virginia's anti-miscegenation statute, the "Racial Integrity Act of 1924", unconstitutional, thereby overturning Pace v. Alabama (1883) and ending all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States.

There've been many remarkable changes in my lifetime: Personal Computers, iPods, cellphones... but the most influential?: Civil Rights!... yes, for blacks, but also for gays... for anyone DIFFERENT!

Once upon a time, as a senior in high school, I was convinced that my generation would be the last to face racial prejudice & discrimination. Sigh.

No, we're not there yet - wherever 'there' might be... BUT: we're getting closer! (I think...)

... in MY lifetime...

Darn!

2012-02-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Michele Bachmann will not appear on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Not a good sign! (... for Mitt, that is)

2012-02-15T13:20:00.003-07:00

Mitt Romney Challenges Sarah Palin's Claim That He's Not Conservative Enough

Mitt is now responding to Sarah Palin???
Not a good sign!!!

Man up, Mitt: ignore Sarah.
(... well, if only for the rest of us - we REALLY don't want to give Ms. Palin ANY credibility!)

Oh, good: I'm not alone

2012-02-14T21:25:00.001-07:00

Republicans (heart) Not Romney
BREAKING: In Desperate Move, Romney Changes First Name to 'Not'

As stated previously: I'm REALLY enjoying the circus!

Just for fun: Ugliest woman EVER!!!

2012-02-14T18:40:00.002-07:00

YaDa-YaDa-YaDa...

2012-02-14T18:31:00.004-07:00

Polls now favor Santorum, the ninth flip of the nomination

... again, the "horse race" coverage is getting just a little old!... How 'bout major media INFORMING us about candidates' positions? - How would they govern???

... Naw - that's asking too much.

FYI: PrivateBuffoon is quite likely to continue publishing "Anyone but Mitt wins BIG!" for quite some time. (No - I'm not immune to "horse race" virus.)

... a day late & a dollar short... (but, still!)

2012-02-14T17:59:00.002-07:00

Republicans Cave on Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Geez: it took long enough.
At last a good headline: "GOP caves"!

Non-headline headline

2012-02-14T13:31:00.003-07:00

Upcoming Michigan Primary Could Prove Pivotal for GOP Race

"COULD" is the offending word.

Well, yeah:
... Martians COULD vote in general election;
... Gingrich COULD reveal affair with step-daughter;
... Santorum COULD admit to spying for Russia;
... Paul COULD confess heroin addiction;
... Romney COULD renounce his faith.

"COULD" is a wishy-washy word, not to be used in headlines!
Once again: is it too much to ask of the media that they provide substantive coverage???

Good news!

2012-02-13T20:08:00.003-07:00

[from VERY loyal reader TedTheCat]:

Georgia concludes Obama eligible for ballot as natural born citizen

"Severely Conservative" (... stolen from Krugman)

2012-02-13T19:16:00.003-07:00

Severe Conservative Syndrome
Paul Krugman, NYT Op-Ed
12 Feb 2012
Mitt Romney has a gift for words — self-destructive words. On Friday he did it again, telling the Conservative Political Action Conference that he was a “severely conservative governor.”

As Molly Ball of The Atlantic pointed out, Mr. Romney “described conservatism as if it were a disease.” Indeed. Mark Liberman, a linguistics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, provided a list of words that most commonly follow the adverb “severely”; the top five, in frequency of use, are disabled, depressed, ill, limited and injured.
...
... tinfoil hats have become a common, if not mandatory, G.O.P. fashion accessory.

Ah, yes: running to the right. As far to the right as possible, as quickly as possible.

As noted previously: pandering to 20% of the electorate may be how to win a primary, but it's not the best strategy for winning a general election!

And Romney is the moderate!!!

A Public Service Announcement from... CATS!

2012-02-13T17:36:00.002-07:00

Atom.com

Watch it now!

A PSA From Cats: We Will Piss

www.comedycentral.com

Funny Videos

Funny Cartoons

"Rick, Rick, Rick... !!!"

2012-02-13T17:24:00.002-07:00

New Pew survey: Among Republicans, Santorum in statistical dead heat with Romney

Maybe I'm just crazy, but I'd FAR prefer Santorum as GOP candidate come November!

... stolen from FB friend...

2012-02-13T16:55:00.002-07:00

LOL!

2012-02-13T16:40:00.001-07:00

Whitney Houston is STILL dead!!!

2012-02-13T16:07:00.001-07:00

Just for fun

2012-02-13T15:09:00.005-07:00

Article II, Section 1, U.S. Constitution
No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

I believe EVERY candidate for President ought be required to provide doctor/hospital-certified PROOF that he/she was NOT delivered by Caesarian section!... if they cannot provide such documentation, they do NOT qualify as "natural born" citizens!

Recall the "Second Apparition's" prophesy to Macbeth:

Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth.

... which gave Macbeth great confidence till he learned from his nemesis, Macduff, that...

Despair thy charm;
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripp'd.

"Natural born"??? - insist on PROOF!

More PROOF so-called "Global Warming" is a scientific hoax!

2012-02-13T15:03:00.002-07:00

Emergency food flown into stranded European towns
ALINA WOLFE MURRAY | Associated Press
13 Feb 2012
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Military planes and police helicopters flew in tons of emergency food to snowbound villages and ships in the Balkans on Monday, after blizzards so fierce that some people had to cut tunnels through 15 feet (4 meters) of snow to get out of their homes.

Take THAT, Al Gore!

Mitt's toast!

2012-02-12T21:58:00.001-07:00

Sarah Palin On Mitt Romney's Conservatism: 'I'm Not Convinced'

If Sarah doubts Mitt, has he any hope?

Will we jump on the bandwagon?

2012-02-12T21:06:00.002-07:00

Arabs back Syria opposition; Homs bombardment resumes

... in fairness, WE have backed U.N. Security Council resolutions to do SOMETHING!... it's our old Cold War foes, Russia & China, that are being obstinate. (... and in their defense: they're acting out of 'enlightened self-interest'... just like Wall Street!)

Sigh...

2012-02-12T21:00:00.002-07:00

Top Republican wants vote on birth control mandate

I note that even after "Obamacare", we are STILL the only developed country in the world without some form of universal health coverage.

Again:

We the People of the United States, in Order to
form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
[emphasis added]

If timely access to affordable healthcare does not constitute the "general welfare", what does???

GOP's goal for all of us: serfdom!

2012-02-12T18:44:00.003-07:00

House Transportation Bill 'Technical Correction' Would Strip Workers Of Pay Protections
Dave Jamieson
Huffington Post
12 Feb 2012
WASHINGTON -- A little-noted provision in the House Republicans' controversial energy and transportation bill would strip several thousand workers within the rail-industry of their federal minimum-wage and overtime protections, potentially making low-wage jobs pay even less.
[emphasis added]

When we are all making less than minimum wage, personal income tax on capital gains is abolished, and corporate tax rates are 0% - maybe THEN the GOP will be satisfied!!!

Welcome to the Golden Age of Feudalism... and WE the PEOPLE are the serfs!!!

PROOF that so-called "Global Warming" is a hoax!

2012-02-12T18:39:00.003-07:00

Wintry mix pelts south central U.S., icy temps chill east

We're screwed!

2012-02-12T18:04:00.004-07:00

Al Qaeda leader backs Syrian revolt against Assad

So, if we...
1. support the Syrian opposition, we're in league with al Qaeda
2. do NOT support the Syrian opposition,
... 2a. al Qaeda has one more beef against us
... 2b. when Assad is toppled, we'll be personae non gratae with new regime
3. stand back and look cute: see 2a & 2b above

How come the bad guys are so much more adept at policy than we are?

This is gonna be really fun!

2012-02-12T17:21:00.001-07:00

Santorum plans aggressive strategy against Romney

now THIS is a headline!

2012-02-12T17:16:00.002-07:00

Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns

Just FYI: austerity measures are just what the GOP advocates for the U.S. ... just like them damn European socialists!

Today's headlines

2012-02-12T15:45:00.002-07:00

Whitney Houston, Iconic Pop Star, Dies at 48
- In complicating move, al-Qaida backs Syrian revolt
--Lin, Knicks rally for 5th straight, beat Wolves
...... ME GOP: 61% for "Anyone by Mitt"

I LIKE Turkey's foreign minister!

2012-02-10T15:56:00.002-07:00

Turkey’s foreign minister: Syria’s Assad could’ve been Gorbachev, but chose to be Milosevic

What an apt comparison!
Glasnost or Genocide? - It's your choice, Mr. Assad!

GOP's vision for America

2012-02-10T14:45:00.004-07:00

Sigh...

2012-02-10T13:16:00.004-07:00

Twin Suicide Attacks Rattle Syrian City of Aleppo

By Molly Hunter | ABC News
10 Feb 2012
Syrian State TV reported early this morning that "two terrorist" explosions struck the northern city of Aleppo. 25 people were killed and 175 injured in today's attacks after two suicide bombers drove their vans into the military security building and the law enforcement headquarters, State TV quoted the Health Ministry as saying.

Aleppo, which borders Turkey and is Syria's second largest city, has been relatively quiet as violence rages on in other parts of the country.

As stated previously, I've no idea what appropriate 'solution' to this mess might be - other than Assad voluntarily relinquishing power, which seems doubtful.
At the same time, no civil wars are pleasant.

Bad news!

2012-02-10T13:12:00.002-07:00

Gingrich Group Looks for New Money as Big Donor Checks Stop

I note also that media are paying NO attention to Newt.

Any guesses on what will be his response to being counted out?
(He really does need SOME $$$ to keep going... hmmm... maybe it's time to send him a check!)

I just don't have the heart...

2012-02-10T13:10:00.001-07:00

... to follow CPAC.

apologies - under the weather...

2012-02-09T22:18:00.001-07:00

... not up to posting today.

This is getting fun!

2012-02-09T16:10:00.001-07:00

Rick Santorum Blasts Mitt Romney: He Offers No Vision, Is About 'Serially Tearing Down' Opponents

I'm really going to enjoy this show!

Just for fun: Lee Corso on football

2012-02-08T20:28:00.002-07:00

"To upset Wisconsin, Nebraska has to outscore Wisconsin."- Lee Corso

"Florida State has a chance to win this game by outscoring the Gators."- Lee Corso

"To beat the Badgers, Oregon's going to have to outscore them."-Lee Corso

... just a fun description

2012-02-08T20:12:00.001-07:00

"Rick Santorum, a Catholic more conservative than the pope,..."

This from The New York Review of Books [subscription required].

A Quiz: Which GOP candidate said this?

2012-02-08T20:10:00.002-07:00

True racism in this country is in the judicial system. The percentage of people who use drugs are about the same with blacks and whites. And yet the blacks are arrested way disproportionately.

They’re prosecuted and imprisoned way disproportionately. They get the death penalty way disproportionately. How many times have you seen a white rich person get the electric chair or get, you know, execution?

If we truly want to be concerned about racism…look at the drug laws, which are being so unfairly enforced.

Nope - no prizes.

The pundits among us

2012-02-08T14:30:00.004-07:00

Santorum's sweep has the pundits apoplectic!
The world is coming to an end!!!

Among my favorites:

[These two are from the same article]
- "Gingrich is toast"
- "Geography is trumping history"

I find it amusing that folks now count Gingrich out of the picture, while at the same time acknowledging that Geography is important: uh, Newt did pretty well in South Carolina, and is expected to do well in remaining southern states.
Me? I'm not counting Newt out! - if nothing else, he'll continue to snipe at Romney at every opportunity, and, who knows, maybe pick up some delegates in Georgia & Tennessee.

More brilliant punditry: Santorum still faces uphill race in Michigan, state Republican chairman says... this based on Romney's Michigan heritage: dad George was Governor.
Well, maybe... but Mr. Santorum seems to be doing pretty well in "middle America" - his Iowa & Minnesota message may resonate... and he's a dogged campaigner.
(... and Mr. Romney's dad may have been Governor, but Romney fils was governor of MA - that evil nest of liberals!... AND: Mitt has gone on the record that he'd have let Detroit's auto industry go bankrupt, in the name of pure, unbridled capitalism!)

GOP turnout: 2012 v 2008

2012-02-08T12:04:00.003-07:00

Colorado - 2012: 66,027; 2008: 70,229 (down 6%)
Minnesota - 2012: 48,657 (98% pcts reporting; pro-rated total = 49,650); 2008: 62,828 (down 21%)

These numbers strike me as odd in a year the GOP is rabidly anti-Obama.
Why aren't GOPers turning out to select their nominee - the white knight that'll save 'em?

"Anyone but Mitt" wins BIG in Minnesota!

2012-02-07T22:36:00.001-07:00

"Anyone but Mitt": 83%
Mitt: 17%

Romney's theme song

2012-02-07T20:18:00.001-07:00

This is just fun... and brilliant

2012-02-07T19:37:00.003-07:00

Whatever you do, don't say anything good about the auto industry

This from Nameless Cynic. As is common-place, folks on "My Blog List" are more observant and more articulate than I.

This seems like big news

2012-02-07T17:09:00.007-07:00

Note: PrivateBuffoon does not, as a rule, devote much ink to gay-rights issues... BUT: this seems like Big News:

Proposition 8 ruled unconstitutional by Court of Appeals

I'm still waiting to hear ANY well-reasoned argument AGAINST gay marriage.
The "small Gov't" folks seem more than happy to dictate in the area of personal morality: "You can marry that person... but not THAT person!"
... if your religion deems same-sex marriage an abomination, fine! - but why have you the obligation and the right to impose your RELIGIOUS beliefs on the rest of us???

... and it took some digging to find this

2012-02-07T16:22:00.002-07:00

Stocks turn higher on strong job openings

This is, in fact, NEWS, on a couple of levels:
1. It reports current market conditions (which could, admittedly, change tomorrow)
2. It mentions improving U.S. economy... I'm guessing most of the electorate is unaware of this surprising fact.

... BUT: It took more than just a little digging to uncover this story. Not on Yahoo's main news page, where I learned that "Santorum aims for victory in GOP contests"!

I am in complete agreement!

2012-02-07T16:07:00.004-07:00

From HuffPost

A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT
Chaotic 2012 News Coverage Not Doing Voters Many Favors

Sadly, the link has a different headline:

GOP Primary Show: Non-Stop News And Noise In The Age Of Twitter
... While reporters and political insiders absorb the primary show frame-by-frame, such granularity may be obscuring larger truths or trends. A January Pew study found "many voters unaware of basic facts about GOP candidates." For instance, only about half of those surveyed knew Romney had been the governor of Massachusetts. Less than half knew Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) wants U.S. troops out of Afghanistan.

The study suggests that there's a real disconnect between those following the up-to-the-millisecond campaign conversation and the rest of the country, which is less focused on the rush of details and more concerned about the struggling economy and their livelihoods.

I much prefer "A Tale Told by an Idiot" as descriptive of the product of political reporting during this campaign. Again (and I'll say it again): Is it too much to ask of the media that they report substantive issues, not only "horse race"?

The Pre-Game Press Conference

2012-02-07T12:34:00.002-07:00

Hooray, again

2012-02-07T11:18:00.002-07:00

Gulf states pulling ambassadors from Syria

I've no idea what effect this might have, but at least it makes clear to the Assad regime that current situation is intolerable.

Nope - I've no clue what appropriate 'solution' to this mess might be... well, other than Assad relinquishing power (doubtful).
Isolating Syria may help... or not.

I note that North Korea - as brutal a regime as can be imagined - continues to exist in isolation. The regime just doesn't give a damn.

This is capitalism?

2012-02-07T11:12:00.003-07:00

Minnesota Vikings Stadium Plan: Saddle Taxpayers With $1 Billion Field
The Huffington Post Ron Dicker
7 Feb 2012
Here's one way a Republican presidential candidate might gain more votes in Tuesday's Minnesota caucuses: Promise citizens they won't have to pay for the Minnesota Vikings' new football stadium.

A fifth plan for a $1 billion stadium in downtown Minneapolis emerged Monday, with taxpayers shouldering a large chunk to aid a privately owned NFL team that hasn't had a winning season in two years and has never won a Super Bowl. The state would be responsible for at least $340 million and Minneapolis for more than $300 million, according to estimates in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The Vikings haven't pledged a dime. They promised $425 million for an earlier proposal in the suburb of Arden Hills. That was several plans ago.
...
From 2000 to 2008, taxpayers contributed $5 billion of the $9 billion used to build 28 major league stadiums, according to a 2008 University of Utah study. That includes the $720 million Super Bowl site, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, a losing proposition for taxpayers, Bloomberg News reported.

In fact, most subsidized sports complexes are a bad deal for communities, the Utah study concluded. Harvard professor Judith Grant Long told Bloomberg that taxpayers shell out an average of 40 percent more than the original estimate of stadiums.

Are GOP candidates up in arms against tax-payer subsidies for "Welfare Queen" professional sports teams?
... No, I didn't think so.

Vacuous political headline

2012-02-07T10:44:00.002-07:00

Santorum aims for a victory in Republican contests

Santorum's a competing candidate for GOP nomination. Yes, he "aims for victory in Republican contests".
This isn't quite "dog bites man", but it's close.

The "horse race" coverage of GOP campaign is a bit off-putting, but, okay, it gives commentators something to discuss.
This headline, on the other hand, is either content-free or tautological - there's NOTHING in it!

Is it too much to ask for something a bit more substantive in the COVERAGE of the campaign? Presumably the journalists are getting paid to do SOMETHING.

This sounds like good news (I could be wrong)

2012-02-06T13:29:00.002-07:00

Heading into Minnesota, Romney focuses attacks on Santorum

Till now, Mitt has been pretty focused on Obama as the bad guy.
If his campaign is now deciding that Santorum is the villain, that's all for the good!
Go for it!

Blatant self-promotion: traffic!

2012-02-06T13:25:00.002-07:00

If you like what you read on Private Buffoon, please share it with a friend!
(Nope - I'm not looking to make $$$ - Buffoon is NOT monetized - I just want folks to read my brilliant analyses!)

Hooray!

2012-02-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

U.S. Embassy in Syria Closed, Diplomats Evacuated

Why am I skeptical?

2012-02-06T12:20:00.003-07:00

Obama: US has 'very good' intelligence on Iran

Note: my skepticism of U.S. Intelligence apparatus pre-dates W and Iraq NIE. It goes back at least as far as 1991, when Robert Gates was nominated by George H.W. Bush to be Director of CIA.

Recall, this was right after fall of Soviet Union.
During his confirmation hearings, Gates said something to the effect that, "Russia is going to have a very hard winter."
Well, duh!
THIS is the best the CIA has to offer???

Our intelligence services - who knows how many exist?!? - are out of control, and of questionable value, having been completely politicized.

See, e.g., Our Secret American Security State.

Where's the outrage?

2012-02-06T01:22:00.002-07:00

Activists: Syrian troops pound Homs neighborhoods
By BASSEM MROUE | Associated Press
6 Feb 2012
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops shelled neighborhoods in the restive city of Homs on Monday, a day after President Bashar Assad's government vowed to continue its deadly crackdown on the country's uprising, activists said.

The Syrian government under Assad is killing its own people.

Why is CNN the only network covering this?

Why do none of the GOP candidates talk about this?

Where is the outrage?

Best news of the day so far

2012-02-06T01:02:00.002-07:00

Gingrich vows to take fight to "timid" Romney
By John Whitesides | Reuters
5 Feb 2012
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Republican Newt Gingrich vowed on Sunday to press ahead with his struggling presidential bid after a big loss in Nevada, saying he will focus on drawing a contrast with "timid" rival Mitt Romney.

I'm still going with Spartacus as best movie metaphor: Newt will do all he can to destroy Mitt, even knowing that he'll be crucified in the end.

Sigh!

2012-02-06T00:17:00.003-07:00

Football season now officially over.

Baseball doesn't start till April.

(No: I've no interest in basketball, pro or college.)

Looks like the only "sport" diversion is GOP Presidential primaries!
I sure hope Gingrich, Paul, and Santorum stay in!

... hmmm... Maybe Mitt will drop out!
Vaguely relevant movie quotation:

Butch Cassidy: Well, the way I figure it, we can either fight or give. If we give, we go to jail.

Sundance Kid: I've been there already.

Butch Cassidy: We could fight - they'll stay right where they are and starve us out. Or go for position, shoot us. Might even get a rock slide started, get us that way. What else can they do?

Sundance Kid: They could surrender to us, but I wouldn't count on that.
[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, emphasis added.]

Just for fun: "What it was, was football"

2012-02-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

SuperBowl: yes, it WAS a good game!

2012-02-05T23:08:00.004-07:00

... spent with family & friends... lots of really good food.
... and a 4-point winning margin pretty much reflects the game: it was close, both teams played well.

Prediction: XLVI will go down as one of the best ever.
NE's 96-yd TD drive to end the 1st half was spectacular, as was their, what, 98-yd TD drive to open the 2nd half.
NYG's persistence, on both offense & defense, was fun to watch.
Manning was great (30/40: 75%; 296 yds; 1 TD). (So was Brady [27/41: 67%; 276 yds; 2 TDs].)

on the down side: I didn't win my betting pool! sigh.

SuperBowl Sunday!

2012-02-05T11:19:00.002-07:00

... a 'light posting' day.

I'm just hoping it's a good game!
... some vague preference for NYG, but Pats' win won't crush me.

My only REAL interest: I need final "total points" to end in '3'!
(Yep - I'm in a betting pool.)

"Anyone but Romney" again the big winner!

2012-02-05T11:18:00.003-07:00

In Nevada:
"Anyone but Romney": 52%
Romney: 48%

... AND:

Although Romney's victory is significant in percentage terms, the voter turnout for the caucuses was not substantial.
[emphasis added]

... not much enthusiasm evident from GOP electorate.

FYI: same story in Florida:

2008 GOP primary turnout: 1.95Mn
2012 GOP primary turnout: 1.66Mn

... turnout down ~15% from 2008... and this in a year when anti-Obama sentiment OUGHT to be driving GOP enthusiasm!

Just a reminder

2012-02-04T14:06:00.004-07:00

...27 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,

28 bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.

29 To him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.

30 Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.

35 But love your enemies, and do [them] good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:

38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.
[Luke, 6:27-38, American Standard version... so it probably doesn't count with Christianists, for whom G-d speaks only King James' English!]

Have the Bible-beating "Christianists" ever actually READ the Bible? Have they thought about the words?

Once-upon-a-time...

2012-02-04T13:58:00.002-07:00

... in a universe far, far away - I tried to write more-or-less coherent, more-or-less well-reasoned posts.

Given the state of political discourse today, that tactic seems absurd.
... so I've abandoned it (Yes - I DO take note of reality!).

Note: since abandoning the 'coherent, well-reasoned' tactic, Private Buffoon's traffic has increased significantly!

... oh, yeah: now I remember...

2012-02-04T13:40:00.002-07:00

... why I'd stopped paying attention.

Will the real Jesus please stand up?

... and a good many loyal GOPers condemned the President's remarks as "threadbare theology".

As often happens, The Reaction says things a LOT better than I!

As long as that nigger is in the White House, these folks'll be out for blood.
For your sake: I hope you own your house outright, mortgage-free... and that you NEVER get sick!... and it'd be really good if you won the lottery!
If you miss a mortgage payment, or need health care, or just lost your job... don't expect the GOP to help: these are just ramifications of the unfettered free-market!

Passive-aggressive creativity!

2012-02-04T11:55:00.006-07:00

Vermont inmates hide pig in official police car decal
Zach Howard | Reuters – Fri, Feb 3, 2012
(Reuters) - Inmates working at a Vermont correctional unit's print shop managed to sneak a prank image of a pig into a state police crest that is emblazoned on police cars, and 30 cruisers sported the design for the last year, officials said on Thursday.

I think the MacArthur Foundation oughta consider the inmate who came up with this idea for one of its "genius" awards!

"Yeah, I'm stuck in the prison's print shop, making crap for the state. How can I make this job more rewarding, more self-actualizing, more fun?
... Hey! - I've got an idea!!!"[Hint: check out the cow's markings.]

What a surprise...

2012-02-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria

On the bright side, they ARE acting in their own economic self-interests - just like good capitalists!

Sigh: yes, we care... but not Russia

2012-02-04T02:34:00.004-07:00

Insight: Syria's Assad set for long conflict

The Syrian regime is not unlike the Lybian regime: "Enlightened Despot Gone Mad". But Russia - 'cuz they've got economic interests in the area - fails to respond.

When a government - ANY government - decides it's best to slaughter its own people, something is wrong.

note: "Englighened Absolutism", as propounded by Frederick the Great, it the PERFECT form of government... but chances are the successor - son, daughter, vizier, prime minister - won't be quite so "enlightened".

... then again, when economic interests are at heart, nothing else really matters. (This is as true of the U.S. as it is of Russia!)

We should, in fact, be praising Russia for pursuing pure, unbridled capitalism!

Damn Socialists!

2012-02-04T00:44:00.003-07:00

Jobless rate at 3-year low as payrolls surge

Just 'cuz I like it

2012-02-04T00:09:00.002-07:00

Money talks! - sometimes for good!!!

2012-02-03T21:23:00.002-07:00

Komen reverses move to cut Planned Parenthood funding

Just in case you haven't been paying attention: earlier this week, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, one of the nation's largest breast cancer charities, announced that it would no longer fund Planned Parenthood, an organization devoted to women's health, including breast cancer screening.

Ostensibly the Komen foundation based its decision on the fact that Planned Parenthood is now under Congressional investigation (don't ask)... but it seemed sort of weird that
1) a recent high-level Komen hire is outspoken right-wing critic of Planned Parenthood
and
2) NO other organizations currently under investigation had been de-funded.

Just about EVERYONE - except the far-right critics - condemned the Komen foundation... and it's pretty clear that threatened loss of charitable donations played a large role in Komen's decision to do an about-face.

... It's still not clear that Komen will survive this blunder.

Remembering "the day the music died"

2012-02-03T21:01:00.004-07:00

February 3, 1959.

Best blog post title in a while (no, not mine)

2012-02-03T20:30:00.002-07:00

Stock markets surge, thwarting Obama's anti-capitalist agenda

This from The Reaction.

[It's on My Blog List... you should read it, and the others on My Blog List. They all write better than I do!]

... more 'personal note' stuff

2012-02-03T19:18:00.003-07:00

Teresa's formal memorial service was last spring.
Today's interment 'ceremony' was informal and brief.

Here are the few words I spoke, from Gilbert & Sullivan's The Gondoliers:

Try we life-long, we can never
Straighten out life's tangled skein,
Why should we, in vain endeavour,
Guess and guess and guess again?

String the lyre, fill the cup,
Lest on sorrow we should sup.

Life's perhaps the only riddle
That we shrink from giving up!

String the lyre, fill the cup,
Lest on sorrow we should sup.
Take life as it comes!

I am comforted by the knowledge that Teresa continues to live in the memories of her family & friends, and in our lives.

Personal note

2012-02-03T11:20:00.003-07:00

Teresa died last April.
I've been keeping her cremains, in a beautiful purple urn of her choosing, in a small shrine in the living room.
Today I'm heading to Santa Fe National Cemetery to place cremains in a niche.
The next step in 'saying goodbye'.

"You're fired!"

2012-02-02T22:05:00.001-07:00

Trump endorses Mitt Romney's presidential bid

... uh... coming right after "I don't care about the very poor", accepting Trump's endorsement seems particularly stupid!

Requiescat in pace

2012-02-02T11:47:00.002-07:00

Muhammad Ali trainer Dundee dies at 90

Light posting today

2012-02-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

see subject

PACs & Super PACs

2012-02-01T19:33:00.005-07:00

More history.
Back in the days of Adams and Jefferson it was considered inappropriate for candidates to personally campaign - or even pretend to be interested in the office.
All the campaigning was conducted by surrogates - mostly 'independent press' - pamphleteers.
And these pamphleteers had NO scruples whatsoever!
Accusing the opposition of having carnal knowledge of his pigs was perfectly acceptable! (The LBJ tactic: "Make him deny it!")

Nope: current political environment isn't the worst we've ever endured.
... it is, in fact, almost genteel compared to campaigns past.

(... How come no one knows this? This is simply HISTORY!... You can read about it! - in BOOKS!)

"Is this nastiest, dirtiest campaign ever?" (redux)

2012-02-01T18:45:00.003-07:00

See also Jackson v. Quincy Adams", 1828.

The campaign was marked by an impressive amount of mudslinging. Jackson's marriage came in for attack: when he had married his wife Rachel, the couple had believed that she was divorced; however, the divorce was not yet finalized, so he had to remarry her once the legal papers were complete. In the Adams campaign's hands, this became a scandal. Charles Hammond in his Cincinnati Gazette asked: “Ought a convicted adulteress and her paramour husband be placed in the highest offices of this free and Christian land?”

The notorious Coffin Handbills attacked Jackson for his court martial and execution of deserters, massacres of Indian villages, and his habit of dueling.

Adams did not escape attack. It was charged that Adams, while serving as Minister to Russia, had surrendered an American servant girl to the appetites of the Czar. Adams was also accused of using public funds to buy gambling devices for the presidential residence; it turned out that these were a chess set and a pool table.

Again: American Constitutional democracy has never been pretty... it just seems to work... sort of.

[... and sexual indiscretions have ALWAYS been front and foremost!]

political blogging is really easy!

2012-02-01T18:40:00.002-07:00

All you have to do is read the news!

... for what it's worth: please visit the folks on "My Blog List" - they all say stuff a LOT better than I do!

Uh... no!

2012-02-01T17:22:00.004-07:00

Is this the 'ugliest, nastiest, dirtiest' campaign ever?

No.
Just by way of comparison, see Adams v. Jefferson, 1800. The free press had a hay day! - no one was exempt from malicious libels. It was UGLY!

... American Constitutional democracy has never been particularly pretty.
It just seems to work... sort of...

When I was a kid I learned that America is a 'young' country.
Turns out this just ain't so!
America is one of the oldest surviving Governments in the world!
We somehow manage to muddle through the vitriol, the tangents, the by-ways.

At any given moment I despair... but we've made it this far sort of okay.
(... and, yeah - we could do a LOT better!... oops - does that last sentiment mean I have to leave?)

... more of the same...

2012-02-01T12:19:00.006-07:00

Alabama immigration crackdown costs state up to $11 bln: study
By Verna Gates | Reuters
1 Feb 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Alabama's crackdown on illegal immigrants, widely seen as the toughest in the United States, has cost the state's economy up to $10.8 billion, according to a new study.

Again, in the name of... well, I'm not sure what... "Patriotism", maybe? - Alabama joined a bunch of other states - led by Arizona - in a frenzy of mass-hysteria xenophobia.
The result: a human and economic disaster.
Will this outcome change anything?
No - the GOP are immune to reality.
(Recall: "Reality has a liberal bias.")

On the bright side: waves of anti-immigrant fervor have washed across America since its inception. The earliest manifestation thereof? The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
Martin Scorsese made a really good movie about anti-Irish sentiment in 1860s New York (Gangs of New York).
The railroads imported Chinese labor in the 1860s & 70s... spurring a host of anti-immigration - and anti-Chinese - legislation.
... early 20th century? Italians were the bad guys... then Eastern Europeans (anarchists all!)...
... We put Japanese-Americans in camps in WWII!!!

Currrent wave of xenophobia isn't a new phenomenon.
We'll recover... eventually...
BUT: at what cost in the meantime?
... and how come we can't learn from mistakes of the past?

GOP: union-busters!

2012-02-01T12:06:00.002-07:00

Indiana senate OKs anti-union "right-to-work" bill
By Susan Guyett | Reuters
1 Feb 2012
(Reuters) - The Indiana state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow workers at unionized businesses to avoid paying union dues, the last major legislative hurdle to making Indiana the first "right-to-work" state in the U.S. industrial heartland.

Full disclosure: I really don't understand the impact or meaning of "right to work" laws... but that won't stop me from offering my opinion. (When I was in maybe 5th- or 6th-grade in Tulsa, OK, one of the political hot-buttons was proposed "right-to-work" legislation. I didn't understand it then, and I don't understand it now.)

BUT: I don't think the specifics of "right-to-work" legislation are really the point here.
I think this is just GOP flexing its muscle against LABOR! - in the name of pure, unbridled, predatory, free-market capitalism.
"Organized Labor": BAD!
"Rapacious Free-Market": GOOD!

... and what I find really odd is that the Tea Party crowd - to the extent that they really represent a grassroots movement - are HURT by this legislation! They vote against their own self-interest! Why???

Folks, WAKE UP! - the GOP does NOT have your best interests at heart (... well, unless you're among the top 1%-ers!).

Mitt's making my job too easy!

2012-02-01T11:59:00.003-07:00

Romney: Campaign 'Not Concerned About the Very Poor'
By Z. Byron Wolf | ABC News
1 Feb 2012
... "I'm in this race because I care about Americans," Romney told CNN's Soledad O'Brien this morning after his resounding victory in Florida on Tuesday. "I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it."

Uh... Mitt: a couple of things.

Thing1: The very poor ARE Americans! ... you know, among those for whom you care to justify your campaign.

Thing2: That "safety net" you cite - isn't that what you, as a good GOPer - are sworn to demolish in the name of pure, unbridled, free-market capitalism?

I sure hope Obama's campaign folks are taking notes!

Just for fun

2012-02-01T02:41:00.003-07:00

First: OK SB 1418 is serious and scary... and evil...
... BUT...
Second: this is pretty funny (from The Onion):

Oklahoma Bill Would Ban Use Of Fetuses In Food

Thanks to loyal reader 'melisandre' for the link.

OK SB 1418, revisited

2012-02-01T00:26:00.004-07:00

Regarding post Uh... about Oklahoma bill to "Ban Aborted Fetuses in Food", I pointed folks to comment from TedTheCat, but I think it more appropriate to post the comment in full:

It turns out the bill is not clownish. It is evil.

A cell line called HEK 293 was created 35 years ago using cells from an aborted fetus in the Netherlands. Cells were manipulated and mixed with chemicals. The resulting cells don’t act much like human cells at all, but they are very easy to work with and have become workhorses of cellular biology. That’s why they’re used in many cellular experiments including the development of drugs and vaccines.

A company is using HEK 293 in its experiments searching for artificial sweetners which could replace sugar in soft drinks potentially reducing the incidence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. The bill would ban any product developed though that testing.

The bill would ban not just food but "any other product intended for human consumption." The author of the bill intends for medicine to be included as a "product intended for human consumption" and banned if its creation involved use of the HEK 293 cell line.

Many medicines used today were developed with the use of HEK 293. The bill would ban standard vaccines for chickenpox, rubella and hepatitis A and drugs such as Roche’s Pulmozyme for cystic fibrosis, Amgen‘s Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis and Merck's Zostavax for shingles. The bill would also ban new drugs being developed for AIDS.

The Pro-Choice crowd in Oklahoma would rather untold people suffer and die needlessly in the future rather than use science developed through the use of cells from one fetus aborted 35 years ago in the Netherlands.

... "it's not clownish. It's evil."

Thank you, TedTheCat!

Thanks to Nameless Cynic!

2012-01-31T22:24:00.004-07:00

I'd seen this, thought about it, then forgot it (30-second attention span!).

Allen West Tells Liberal Leaders To "Get The Hell Out Of The USA"
"Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America," Rep. Allen West (R-FL) said at the Palm Beach County Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner.
[emphasis added]

Congressman West and I have different visions for America.
He thinks America is just fine as is.
I think it can still be improved.
So - of course - I have to leave!

[Thanks to Nameless Cynic for reminding me about this idiotic tirade!]

The headline we'll never see

2012-01-31T21:22:00.005-07:00

Anyone-but-Romney Wins in Florida!

Anyone-but-Romney: 53.6%
Romney: 46.4%

[I'm taking "Anyone-but-Romney" as total of Paul, Santorum, Gingrich, 'other', from Yahoo News election results.]

Disappointed...

2012-01-31T20:02:00.002-07:00

No - not that Mitt won Florida, but that it was over so quickly.

So far, Iowa has been my favorite: it went on FOREVER...
... to the point that none of the network teams even pretended to be journalists by the end - all were just slap-happy!

Network experts are now counting Newt out.
I'll with-hold judgment...

This explains a lot...

2012-01-31T12:28:00.003-07:00

... about state of political discourse:

Fox News on top: Cable net celebrates 10 years at #1 in ratings

"Ignorance can be fixed. Stupidity is forever."

Shilling for the GOP

2012-01-31T00:33:00.001-07:00

Uh... [update]

2012-01-30T23:38:00.005-07:00

[update] To all: READ TedTheCat's comment!!!

Bill Would Ban Aborted Fetuses in Food

Nope - this isn't from The Onion.

Here's full text:

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 53rd Legislature (2012)

SENATE BILL 1418 By: Shortey

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to food; prohibiting the manufacture or sale of food or products which use aborted human fetuses; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-1150 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
No person or entity shall manufacture or knowingly sell food or any other product intended for human consumption which contains aborted human fetuses in the ingredients or which used aborted human fetuses in the research or development of any of the ingredients.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2012.

53-2-3065 JM 1/30/2012 11:50:46 PM

Full disclosure: I was born & reared in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
It's a good place to be FROM!

Oh, good: I don't need a condom!

2012-01-30T23:30:00.003-07:00

Gingrich’s Tenn. co-chair: AIDS cannot be transmitted through heterosexual sex

... But we knew this already: AIDS is just G-d's vengeance on FAGS!
... will Newt refudiate him?

note: I suspect Gingrich's Tennessee co-chair just doesn't want to wear a condom when he's with his, uh, 'girlfriend'.

Capitalism at work

2012-01-30T23:13:00.000-07:00

Pythons apparently wiping out Everglades mammals

In praise of CNN

2012-01-30T23:07:00.001-07:00

Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs; showdown at U.N.

I watch a LOT of news.
As far as I can tell, CNN is the ONLY network deliberately devoting time to covering Syrian mess.
Congrats!

The 'horse race' is fun, BUT...

2012-01-30T22:28:00.006-07:00

Full disclosure: I've been a Presidential campaign junkie pretty much forever.
I LOVE following the campaigns... once every four years.

That said: coverage of GOP primaries is getting just a little... well... old.
It's all about today's polls.
"Mitt's up!"... no, wait, "Newt's up!"... no, wait - Ron Paul has a shot (well, maybe not...)

Would it be too much to ask of the press - AND the CANDIDATES - to provide something substantive?
- What, exactly, are the candidates' positions?
How, if at all, do their positions vary?
How do they distinguish themselves ON THE ISSUES???
(... for that matter: what does each believe to be the top three issues facing the country?)

Yeah - Mitt's millions and Newt's infidelity are fun, but... seriously!
These guys wanna be PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
How would they run the country?
What legislation would they propose?
How would they deal with intractable Congress?
... What new wars would they launch???

Am I reading this right?

2012-01-30T22:23:00.002-07:00

House Republicans want $260 billion for infrastructure
Reuters
30 Jan 2012
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republicans will propose legislation on Tuesday calling for $260 billion in spending on transportation infrastructure for up to five years, an election-year proposal touted as a job creator in a tough economy.

Wow!

House REPUBLICANS!... those stalwart budget-slashers!!!

... okay - it's an election year ploy, but STILL!!!

"Spartacus" redux

2012-01-30T22:21:00.001-07:00

Gingrich Says He's in 'Til GOP Convention
By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. January 28, 2012 (AP)
On the weekend before the pivotal Florida primary, Newt Gingrich vowed Saturday to stay in the race for the Republican presidential nomination until the national convention this summer even if he loses Tuesday's vote.

Now it's official: Newt has publicly confirmed his "Spartacus" strategy: keep fighting till the bitter end, even knowing that he'll end up crucified along the Via Appia... Just to inflict as much damage on Mitt as possible!

... an unlikely - but fun-to-contemplate - scenario: With Ron Paul, Newt, and Mitt all in the race till the convention in August, there's just some chance none of 'em will have needed majority of votes for first-ballot win...
... If it drags on, perhaps dark-horse candidate will emerge... hmmm... maybe Florida's Jeb Bush! (... or, extremely wishful thinking, Sarah Palin!).
This could help explain why Mr. Bush has withheld his endorsement!

A "small government" conservative!

2012-01-29T20:39:00.002-07:00

Gingrich wants panel to look at in vitro clinics
By DAVID ESPO | Associated Press
29 Jan 2012
LUTZ, Fla. (AP) — Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich called Sunday for a commission to study the ethical issues relating to in vitro fertilization clinics, where infertile women receive treatment to get pregnant and large numbers of embryos are created.

"If you have in vitro fertilization you are creating life. And therefore we should look seriously at what should the rules be for clinics that do that because they're creating life," said Gingrich, who opposes abortion and says life begins at conception.

Keep the Gov't's hands off my Medicare... BUT please let 'em into my bedroom!

Just for fun: Patton

2012-01-29T15:37:00.006-07:00

When Samson took the fresh jawbone of an ass and slew a thousand men therewith, he probably started such a vogue for the weapon, particularly among the Philistines, that for years no prudent donkey dared to bray.
[THE EFFECT OF WEAPONS ON WAR, Major George S. Patton, Jr., Cavalry; "Cavalry Journal", November 1930]

Patton is my favorite military philosopher.

(... and the article is worth reading: pretty much kills our Pentagon's infatuation with ever-more-sophisticated high-tech weapons!)

"... an invented Palestinian people..."

2012-01-29T14:58:00.010-07:00

"And I think that we've had an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs and who were historically part of the Arab community. And they had a chance to go many places, and for a variety of political reasons we have sustained this war against Israel now since the 1940s, and it's tragic," Gingrich said.
[Gingrich Describes Palestinian People as 'Invented']

... uh... Newt: an etymological root of "Palestinian" is "Philistine" - the bad folks in the Bible from whom the Hebrews reclaimed the Promised Land.

"Palestinians" (Biblical "Philistines") have been with us - granted, as a thorn in the side - for millenia. Recall:

14And when he [Samson] came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.

15And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

16And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
[Judges 15:14-16, KJV]

... An "invented" people? NO!

One would be more accurate to claim that "Jordanians" or "Iraqis" are an invented people - pretty much the product of 19th-century "Great Game" politics!

Newt: You claim to be an historian.
Why can't you demonstrate SOME knowledge of HISTORY?