Summertime Blues

Do you ever have that time of year when it seems like everybody is dumping on you? And even though it's beautiful outside, you just can't seem to get happy and get going?
Well I do. It's always right around now, too.

Fire Tom Vilsack

USDA reconsiders employee ouster over race remarks

"I am of course willing and will conduct a thorough review and consider additional facts to ensure to the American people we are providing services in a fair and equitable manner," Vilsack said.

Huh. Too bad he didn't actually bother to do a proper investigation BEFORE he fired her. Before he fired her for something she said 24 years ago. Before she even worked at the USDA. Tom Vilsack is an asshole.

Oh. By the way, releasing a statement at 3:00 A.M.? That's cowardly.

Um... bitchy much?

Will Chelsea Clinton's Wedding Ruin Mine? A Bridal Nightmare

This is poor writing and gossipy nastiness all wrapped together in one.

See, even the Old Spice guy loves libraries.

Tax cuts for the rich

Let me think...
Let me think...
So. Just to get this clear in my head. Republicans have, one again approved tax cuts for rich people, while denying unemployment benefits for, you know, the unemployed.
Right.
'Cause it always makes sense to have the people who make the most amount of money pay the least in taxes. Of course.
I mean, I know I'm not a fancy economist or anything. But, for some reason that just doesn't make any sense.
Guess I'm just a naive know nothing.

Somebody wrote this. With a straight face and everything.

Why I Don't Believe In Nikki Haley's 'Conversion'

Dear NPR, don't let buffoons like Sohni Baliga write for you.
It gives you a bad name.

Who's paying for this?

LAPD Trying to Control Crowds After Lakers Victory [UPDATED]

(Disclaimer: this is written on my own computer, on my own time.)

As you know, I work for the City of Los Angeles.
Today, Thursday, 2 days before my tenth anniversary with the City, I was required to layoff two employees. It wasn't for cause. It was because the City is in desperate financial straits.
It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

And now, tonight, the Lakers have won a national championship. Whoopie?
The news is full of reports of massive numbers of police on the streets. Because of the fools who live in the City who are currently rioting around Downtown Los Angeles.
Fucking. Morons.
Thousands of dollars of damage. All those hours of police and fire salary.
And hey! Let's not forget the inevitable "victory parade". Which, I'm sure, will be paid for by the City.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
A victory parade for a bunch of millionaires.
Just awesome.

The new political discourse

Texas lawmaker accuses White House of BP shakedown

Apparently, today, it is perfectly acceptable for a private company to be responsible for the very worst environmental disaster in the history of the company. At least, that is, if you're Texas Republican Joe Barton.
Just wrap your mind around that.
It seems that Republicans are willing to destroy the country to smear the President and Democrats.
Maybe somebody smart should make this a running point.

This is probably one of the best things I've ever read

The Best Thing I've Read All Year

It's a letter to the editor of a Vermont paper about the "homosexual agenda". You need to read this. Mrs. Underwood is pretty damn amazing. Her email address is at the bottom of the letter, but unfortunately, it doesn't work.
She so eloquently puts into words what many of us friends and families and allies feel.

Oh. HELL. NO!

Miss him? Bush's reputation might be ready for a rebound

Parody? Or publicity for Laura's sure to be horrible book?
Either way, there is no way in hell that the half moron President's reputation is ever going to get better.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say he will continue to be known as the worst President ever.

Why should bigotry be continued?

Military tells Congress to keep gay ban for now

"Potential opposition in the ranks"? What sort of fucktardery is this? Seriously, I am so damn sick and tired of hearing that bigots need to be indulged. Let's see, homosexuals serve openly in the British army, the Israeli army, and the Dutch army, to name just a few places. The world doesn't come to an end.
We need to get over this sort of thing.

And we thought his father was bad.

Cong. Hunter Under Fire for Advocating Deporting U.S. Born Children of Illegal Immigrants

Congressman Duncan Hunter, whose father held the seat he's in right now for 14 terms, turns out to be just as much of a rampant, bigoted asshole as his father was.

I call bullshit on this poll

AP-GfK poll: Recession helps GOP against Democrats

Or maybe, once again, I fail to take into account the rampant stupidity of the American people. 'Cause please, tell me how on earth anyone can take a look at the country and say that the Republicans would be better for the economy. Have the 8 years of Bush failure been forgotten already? Has the fact that Bush and the Republicans took a budget surplus and turned it into a trillion dollar deficit been forgotten? Has the fact that Bush led the country into 2 unfunded wars been completely forgotten?
Sometimes I feel like I'm in crazy land.

Women, you should move out of Nebraska

Nebraska enacts two laws limiting abortions

And you know, I don't think that's too strong a thing to say. Why the hell would you want to live in a state that wants to limit your rights in such a way? Why would you want to live in a state that think you're too stupid to know what is right for your own body?

They have GOT to be fucking out of their minds.

Pope's preacher: Accusations akin to anti-Semitism

There is no possible way that anyone can have actually said that and expected to be taken seriously. A grown person of reasoning age compared the criticism of coverup of sexual abuse by Catholic priests to the Holocaust. The mind boggles.

Stupak is violating the ideals of the Party Platform

Renewing America's Promise
Democratic Party Platform, 2008

2008 Democratic Party Platform: "Renewing America's Promise"

Please go look at page 50. Here, I'll put the relevant part in a block quote.

Choice
The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right
to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all
efforts to weaken or undermine that right.
The Democratic Party also strongly supports access to comprehensive affordable family
planning services and age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed
choices and live healthy lives. We also recognize that such health care and education
help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for
abortions.
The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman’s decision to have a child by ensuring
access to and availability of programs for pre- and post-natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs.

Huh. Awk. Ward.

Something cool a friend led me to today

Listen carefully to me

I've mentioned time and again that I'm a civil servant, right?
Yeah, I work for the City of Los Angeles. And to be very clear, I am writing this post on my own time at my home computer. This is not being written during work hours using office equipment.

And if you have a moment, before I start my rant, head over to Save the Library and sign the petition if you wouldn't mind.

And now to what's making me beyond insane right now. Do me a favor. If you ever go into a library and have a problem, DON'T use "I pay my taxes." Got it? Don't do it. Here's the thing, so do I. And I'm not under any mistaken belief that the $.75 of my taxes that go to the library in any way shape or form pay my salary. And that's exactly the threat that is being made when the line "I pay my taxes" is used. It's among the most cliched, hack-kneed phrases out there as well.
Paying your taxes is not an excuse for being rude, bullying or threatening me or anyone else who works for the City for that matter.
Just don't do it.

Alan Grayson makes me happy.

Florida doesn't really give us too much to be happy about.
But Alan Grayson is one of the good things out of Florida.

Read this fabulous rant:

Alan Grayson for U.S. Congress

It's amusing on every level.

Tales from the Library

I don't do this often (or ever), but I have to share a reference encounter I had. Names are not used, 'cause I don't know anyone's names.

A gentleman came up to the reference desk this afternoon. He wanted some information about a specific incident during World War II, relating to the Holocaust. I looked up some information for him and we were just generally speaking about it.
Another man approached the desk and said how amazing it us to hear us talk about the Holocaust. He said his grandfather had been a survivor. He'd taken the place of a rabbi who the grandfather looked like and gone into the concentration camps. He then told us that his grandfather was "kept with others who had information that the nazis wanted." He asked if we'd ever heard of Mengele. Then proceeded to tell us about how his grandfather was a genetic specialist, who assisted Mengele with his experiments. Apparently his grandfather knew how to work with genes and was able to help Mengele create super babies. The girls were lovely and smart, etc, etc. But the boys were all sociopaths. The man then said his mother was one of those girls. Then said both his brothers were bad. One in jail, the other, he didn't elaborate. But he, on the other hand, wasn't. And what was so different about him? Well, he'd been electrocuted 16 times throughout the course of his life. Supposedly, every few months, he goes in and is studied by doctors to find out why he isn't aging.

The patron I was helping and I just stood their dumbfounded. After all, how often do you run across someone who claims his relative was a nazi collaborator? And that he's the result of Mengele's experiments?
Mind you, I did want to ask him how many times he'd seen Boys from Brazil.

Oh, for Heaven's Sake!

Assembly fails to approve Maldonado for lieutenant governor

You know, I'm not a Maldonado fan. He's a Republican. Arnie wants him. So two things guaranteed to make me dislike him.
The California Senate is apparently smarter than the Assembly. Maldonado's district is Democratic. If Maldonado is approved as Lieutenant Governor, that opens up his Senate seat. Which would go to a Democrat! Getting the State closer to the magic 3/4 that needs anything to be done.
If only the Assembly would pull it's head out and think of this.

Hey Harold, DON'T call me!

Last night failed Tennessee Senatorial candidate was on the Colbert Report, talking about how he's considering a run for the Senate seat held by Kristin Gillibrand.
Ford, who 4 years ago, lost his run for Senate from his home state of Tennessee, has recently decided that he may think about running.
Forget about the fact that he just registered to vote in NY. Forget about the fact that he's never been further Upstate than Brooklyn.
Ford's been hired by Merrill Lynch as a senior policy advisor. So he's the candidate of big banking. I should add, Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is in favor of Ford's possible run.
You know, the last two carpetbaggers who ran for the Senate in NY actually bothered to go visit the State, not just New York City. Hilary Clinton, before her run visited every single County in NY. There are 62 counties. Ford's taken a helicopter ride around the city.

If you watched the Colbert Report last night, you saw Stephen ask Ford some questions about his apparently flip flopping positions. Including those on gay marriage, which he's now conveniently in favor of.
But if you watched, you also saw Ford refer to his possible opponent as a "young lady." Now, you may have noticed that I'm not particularly fond of this idea of Ford's. But I'm generally in favor of primaries. Competition is good for the Democratic process. But you know something? Not so much in this race. Ford's a smarmy git at best. The least respectful term he should EVER use in referring to Kristin Gillibrand is: "my esteemed opponent." Young lady? Can he be any more condescending and dismissive? Hard to see how that is possible.


Gillibrand, Democrat for US Senate

Gillibrand's ActBlue page

By the way, as a former resident of the state, who still has plenty of family and friends in NY, Harold Ford will not get one vote from any of them.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Harold Ford Jr.
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

Prop 8 on trial

Prop 8 Trial Tracker

I keep forgetting to link this. Prop 8 is on trial. The (frankly fantastic) Courage Campaign is liveblogging the day's proceedings. You can follow the proceedings at the link.

Weak with laughter

Statement from the President on Today's Supreme Court Decision

With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.

Come on Mr. President. The health insurance companies already pretty damn much voted down any meaningful health care reform. Big banks and big oil? Com on! I'm laughing my ass off at this "we're going to stand strong" statement. Please. Make me look like a fool for doubting your commitment to the actual American people. Do it. I'd be happy to eat my words.

Dear President Obama,

I like you, I really do. I mean, hell, I didn't make all those calls and knock on all those doors 2 years ago because I didn't.
But man, am I disappointed in you. A year ago you came into office and promised hope. You had a Democratic supermajority in the Senate to work with! You have 256 Democrats in the House! Nancy Pelosi is a fierce Democrat! But you won't work with them. You'll make them work for compromise, middle of the road or worse positions.
Don't get me wrong, there has been a shitload of things accomplished that are fantastic. I mean, after all, you did sign the Ledbetter Act into law. And the bank bailouts were important. Too bad you didn't require anything from them before you gave them billions of our dollars. But let's not quibble.
And God knows, you've had an awesome shitload of unexpected crap happen. Pirates? I mean, come on!

I know you're not going to care about what I think. And hell, I don't even think anyone other than me will end up reading this.
So let me tell you why I'm upset and disheartened.
Want to know what I see? I see you aim for compromise all. the. damn. time. And hey, that's great and all. After all, there are people other than Democrats in this country. But you never EVER seem to stand for any of our Democratic ideals. I am a FIERCE pro choice advocate. Have you bothered to protect reproductive rights at all? Not that I can see. Stupak and Nelson should never ever have been able to include their amendments.
Do you have any idea how many gay and lesbian friends I have? Want me to tell you how much it hurts me to see them treated like second class citizens? Why am I having to point out that being gay shouldn't be a reason for denying a person the basic human right of marriage? Or prevent them from serving our country in the armed forces?
I saw banks and Wall Street getting billions of dollars. But you know what I don't see? Poor people getting any help. How many people are living off credit cards? Did you ever think of really actually doing something about credit card reform? I don't see that you did. Rates are still out of control. They're going to be paying the cards off forever. Forget any kind of savings that will allow them to be able to purchase a home of their own ever.
You notice I haven't said a thing about health care? Yeah, 'cause that subject fucking breaks my heart. I'm so damn lucky that I have adequate health care, courtesy of my employer. But you know who I deal with every single day? People who don't! People who can't afford to do to the same. Why can't our government do something about this? People should be able to go to the doctor and be healed without having to fear that they'll be bankrupted. Don't you see that? How can we consider ourselves a leader in the world when we fail our people so very badly?
I've given up hope that the wars we as a country are involved in overseas will ever end. I've given up hope that illegal wiretapping will ever be prosecuted. I've given up believing that my country won't torture.

But hey, who am I? I have no political clout in this world. I have a fantastic Senator whose office I can call and know that they will hear me. But I also know that when it comes to having Barbra Boxer's back on important issues, you won't. You'll aim for compromise with the Republicans. Every. Single. One of them will then proceed to vote against the compromise you've forced to happen.
You know, I get happy chirpy emails from OFA telling me how great everything is. Let me tell you Mr. President, it isn't!
Eh. Why am I bothering?

Actually, Peggy Noonan, THIS is what an American looks like

So shut the hell up you massive cow!!

Things that shouldn't need to be explained

In the days since the tragic earthquake in Haiti, I've heard so much rampant stupidity come out of the mouth of right wingers. Things that make me question their humanity.
One of the things I've heard that has bothered me the most is the criticism of the President. The line goes: "well, he took 3 days to come out and talk about the Christmas terrorist attack and he comes out right away and talks about Haiti."
My head spins with the insanity.
Let's see, the Christmas terrorist attack failed. Asshole lit his dick on fire in an attempt blow up a plane. It was thwarted by other passengers on the plane! The plane didn't blow up! And I'm glad the President didn't come out and talk about it. Why is taking time and finding out details and facts a bad thing?
Haiti is an immense, horrible disaster. Thousands of people are dead. Millions are homeless. Do I really need to explain why it was critical that the President came out right away and said something?
In easiest possible terms, thwarted attack, no one dies, it's smart to take time to find out the facts.
Immense human tragedy, with massive amounts of lives lost, it's smart to react as soon as possible. It helps to keep more people from dying!

Huge Earthquake in Haiti

Many casualties expected after big quake in Haiti

The quake was a 7.0. Also, it's reported that a hospital collapsed.
Doctors Without Borders is helping. Maybe, if you can spare some, send them some money.

And, since I spent my morning brushing up on fire and quake safety, please make sure you are prepared in case of catastrophic disasters.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all much love and happiness in this New Year.
Here's hoping that the new year ahead of us is filled with optimism and hope.

Congratulations D.C.

DC City Council votes to legalize gay marriage

The vote was 11-2. And now it goes to the Mayor to be signed. May I just say, right on DC? Of course, since it's D.C, it does have to go to Congress.

And now the Senate sticks its foot in

Senate confronts abortion in health care debate

Ben Nelson has introduced an amendment to the health care bill in the Senate that is almost word for word identical to the odious Stupak/Pitts amendment in the House version.
Is there some reason that these odious, moralizing Democratic assholes can't keep their noses out of a LEGAL MEDICAL PROCEDURE?

Wait. So we're NOT maladjusted freaks?

Never Married, Over 40, Well-Adjusted

Gosh! Color me shocked!
Okay, granted that I'm not 40 yet. But pretty close. It's not that far around the corner.
I'm pretty damn sure that the people around me would agree that I'm quite capable and self sufficient.

Someone actually got paid to write this

The White House's unprecedented use of 'unprecedented'

I know it's Politico, so I really shouldn't be shocked at the unprecedented (see what I did there?) vapidity of the story. But come on, really? Is this really something that needs to be written?

There are assholes and then there are guys who give whole new meanings to the word

Homeowners Fenced Off From Driveways

Or maybe he's a whole new description of dickhead. 'Cause this story is insane!

Time for SOMEBODY to be stripped of their tax exempt status!

Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum

Wow.
Hey, if the Catholic Church wants to be involved in politics, they can surrender their tax exempt status and welcome to the fray.

Not even a little surprised at this story

Blackwater Said to Approve Iraqi Payoffs After Shootings

The story says the bribe was for $1 million. And that Erik Prince knew about it.
This is when I begin my endless repetition of the question "why are we still paying Blackwater and why are they still in Iraq"? The may have changed the name of the company, but they're still criminals.

Bart Stupak

Democrats to resolve abortion impasse on the House floor

Bart Stupak is supposedly a Democrat. I disagree. I think he represents the whiny ass, panty sniffing, woman hating caucus.
By all that is holy, if the Stupak amendment passes, I will DO ALL IN MY POWER to make sure he is primaried and voted out of office.

Someone needs a basic lesson on analogies

Obama’s Pet-Goat Moment

You know, don't go read that bit I linked. It'll make you angry. Linda Chavez, the fool who typed that compares 9/11 to the shootings as Fort Hood. And says that "this is Obama's Pet Goat moment." I... I... speechless.

Are they just making Congressmen extra stupid these days

GOP Rep. Deal, Candidate For Georgia Governor, Asking For Obama's Birth Certificate

You know, I'm so damn sick of this garbage. The insane whiners whose candidate lost last November can't get the fuck over themselves. And for members of Congress to entertain this nonsense is absurd.
Our country is fucked up. The economy is teetering. People are dying because they can't get basic healthcare. But the petulant screaming of a bunch of losers is getting more attention than the real basic needs of people.
Fan-fucking-tastic.

Election nights are killing me

So another election day has come and gone here in America.
It's the first time in a long time that I haven't gone to the polls on election day.
That's only because we didn't have an election here in Los Angeles.
But you know there were many races around the country. (Duh)
And the yapping talking heads all told us how "important" they were. After all, if the Republican challenger won in either VA or NJ, well, then Obama is a failure. Of course, they said that right up until the polls showed them it totally wasn't.
Let's not forget NY-23. Oy.
And Maine. Voting on the basic rights of people. We have to stop doing that, by the way. Human beings have the right to marry the man or woman of their choice. None of the rest of us have the right to vote on this. It's disgraceful.
I'm tired of these losses. (Not that I was all right with it last year, by the way.)
What right do we have to vote and decide who has a right to marry?
We don't.
And we should be ashamed.