Mississippi??? - Who knew?

Mississippi, a Vaccination Leader, Stands by Its Strict Rules
Mississippi?????

My weak libertarian bent DOES in fact question the power of the State to mandate medical intervention. ... if only the anti-vaccine folks weren't so crazy.

More and more I'm favoring "Enlightened Despotism" - an essay which I recall as attributed to Frederick the Great of Prussia, and which I read in Mr. Mitchell's 12th-grade World History class at Tulsa Central High School.
A Google search suggests this memory is imprecise. Any help?

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I've previously mentioned, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

1. It's purely American.
2. It's more-or-less secular.
3. Food with family & friends is a good idea.

This year we - my Jewish wife & I - are also celebrating Hanukkah... which is also a more-or-less secular holiday commemorating a small miracle in late Second Temple times.

We'll be joined by sisters and new in-laws-to-be - my son's fiancee's family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Here's Why Ken Cuccinelli Will Lose"

Why Ken Cuccinelli Will Lose in Virginia and What It Means for the GOP

Simple answer (with a nod to Lee Corso):

... because he gets fewer votes.

Why are they surprised?

Regarding House GOP threat of government shutdown or government default, several commentators have questioned GOP's willingness/ability to govern.
Why?
Republican congressmen routinely campaign on anti-government platforms. The Federal Guv'mint is evil, sucking the life blood from all true Americans.
Why is it now surprising to learn they were serious?

Please! Affordable Care Act is NOT "health CARE reform"...

... it's Health INSURANCE reform!
Labeling - accurate labeling - could really help!

The 40% solution

Speaker John Boehner has a problem - his House caucus. I believe I have a solution for him.

U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 5: "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a member."

There are currently 200 Democratic Representatives, 233 Republican Representatives, and 2 unfilled seats in the House of Representatives; let's give those 2 seats to the GOP, for 235 GOP members. Speaker Boehner is intimidated by the so-called Tea Party faction within his party. I'm guessing that this faction represents, at most, 60% of the GOP caucus, leaving 40% more-or-less sane Republican Representatives.

40% of 235 is 94.

Together with the 200 Democratic Representatives, this provides a voting bloc of 294 - more than two-thirds of the 435 House members.
In fact, Speaker Boehner needs only 90 somewhat sane GOP Representatives to get two-thirds of 435 votes (=290).

With the Democratic House leadership, and the leaders of the more-or-less sane GOP House members, Speaker Boehner can draft a resolution expelling the troublesome members of his caucus.
Problem solved.

It's all good

Faithful readers:

1. I'm getting married to Melissa Axelrod, UNM linguistics prof.

2. She's sold her house. I've sold my house. We've bought a house together.

All is good.

New medical conditions

tachycardia: Pathologically rapid heartbeat
... which suggests...

tardycardia: Pathologically slow heartbeat

If that abnormally slow heartbeat was caused by eating too much saturated fat?
Lardytardycardia.

... if the saturated fat was from healthy, robust pigs?
Hardylardytardycardia.

If you consumed the saturated fat from healthy, robust pigs at a festive gathering of friends?
Partyhardylardytardycardia.

... and if the festive gathering of friends was devoted to reading Shakespeare?
Bardypartyhardylardytardycardia.

... and if your condition induces flatulence?
fartybardypartyhardylardytardycardia.

To my Republican readers

Disclaimer: OK - it's not at all clear that I have ANY Republican readers... but just in case!

First, I assume that all of my Republican readers are somewhat sane, and not members of the wing-nut extreme.
That said: Your party has deserted you!

The current GOP is quite serious in its threats to put the U.S. into default - just to throw a tantrum 'cuz they're not getting their own way.

If you're in the habit of sending $$$ to the NRC, or the NRCC, or the NRSC, might I suggest that your dollars would be better spent - for the good of your country - by sending 'em to American Red Cross, your own favorite charity, or your church/synagogue/mosque?

Don't throw your $$$ away on folks who are determined to crater both the U.S. and the global economy for petty political ends.

Stop the madness!

I can't complain...

NM has two (2) Dem Senators, and my House district (NM1) is in Dem hands.
NM went for Obama - again - in 2012.
Right-wing lunacy? I've done my small part to avoid it in my small state.

Yes, please - let's crater the economy!

Debt Ceiling Showdown: GOP Pledges To Extract Cuts From Obama

The last time the House GOP threatened U.S. debt ceiling, S&P downgraded U.S. bonds... then they blamed Obama. So now they're gonna do it again? Stop the madness!

A modest proposal

It'd be really cool if I had thousands of readers... but I don't. Nevertheless, I am proposing a simple PR campaign: Write Speaker Boehner.

Speaker of the House
H-232 The Capitol
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner:
I support President Obama's proposal for avoiding the "fiscal cliff".
Sincerely

If you happen to live in a Congressional District with a Republican Representative, you might also send a copy to your Representative.

Your Representative's mailing address can be found at Find Your CongressPerson.

If you'd prefer email, here's Speaker Boehner's contact page:

Contact John Boehner

Using the Pay It Forward mechanism, if enough of my very few readers take this to heart, Speaker Boehner will be inundated with snailmail and email, all favoring President Obama's sane proposals.

Yes! - please ask three (3) of your friends to do the same!

Turkey Day update

... just a quotation from a friend:

"Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what." Anonymous

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
It's secular - religious overtones are secondary.
It's American - the rest of world goes on happily without us.

Most of all, for me the basic premise - giving thanks - is a good thing. Yes, I am thankful for my family, for my undeserved good-fortune in life, for friends.

Whew!

This is a really good time to not be blogging.

Petraeus.
"Fiscal Cliff".
Syria.
Gaza.
"GOP implodes".
... and, oh yeah, Benghazi "scandal".

Petraeus: men (I'm one) are idiots.

"Fiscal Cliff": hey, maybe Intel will actually pay 35% tax rate (as opposed to 24% reported for their 3rd fiscal quarter).

Syria: I view this as just one consequence of W's effort to "stabilize" the Mid-East by invading Iraq for no reason whatsoever. (Tho' I recognize there's more to it than just that)

Gaza: wish I had the answer... Not the time to vacation in Israel.

"GOP implodes": Yeah, right. There's always hand-wringing after a loss - usually to no effect.

Benghazi "scandal": Huh???

VERY brief reflections on the election

1. NM1 went to Dem Michelle Lujan-Grisham... only the 2nd Dem to represent the district since its establishment in 1969. Martin Heinrich first won the district for Dems in 2008.

2. Martin Heinrich defeated Heather Wilson for Senate, replacing retiring Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman. It was close, with Heinrich garnering just 51% - BUT: close or not, NM now has two (2) Dem Senators (Tom Udall is the other), neither facing re-election for another four (4) years.

3. I don't understand why NM and AZ - neighboring Southwest states - have such different politics. Immigration - legal or otherwise - is NOT a hot button in NM politics... and, bad as she is, Republican Governor Susana Martinez is no where near as repulsive as AZ's Jan Brewer.

4. Surprisingly, the Democratic party looked pretty well ORGANIZED this time out. For a fun read, see A Vast Left-Wing Competency at Slate.com.

5. I'm convinced that if Obama had been a white guy named Steve, he would have won re-election in a landslide... and believe the only reason the race was close was because significant numbers of GOPers just wanted to get rid of "that nigger in the White House".

6. I'm hoping a re-elected Obama is up for just a little extortion, letting Congressional Republicans know in no uncertain terms that he will use the President's "bully pulpit" to crucify them in 2014 if they attempt to hijack his agenda.

7. Congrats to the GOP: they will almost certainly succeed in making Obama just a two-term president!

I voted!

My civic responsibilities are met: I voted today. If you're in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, you can get sample ballot & list of early voting locations at: Bernalillo County Clerk. Be a good citizen. VOTE!

New Mexico is BLUE!

... just another video...

GOP Medicare