I read the news today:
Arlen Specter switched parties because he couldn't win the Republican primary, now he loses the Democratic primary to Joe Sestak. This just in Arlen, it's not about party this year, the key word is "incumbent." You're 80 years old, you've been in the Senate for 30 years. Your time is up.
Mitch McConnell's hand-picked candidate to succeed Jim Bunning got smoked by Tea Party favorite Rand Paul in the Republican senatorial primary in Kentucky. Once again, connections to the party establishment, regardless of which party, is the kiss of death this election season.
The latest example of why the anti-incumbent mood exists. Eight-term Congressman Mark Souder announced his resignation after an affair with one of his staffers was exposed.
I defer to the experts on the Gulf oil spill, but this smells like a cover-up to me:
As does this:
Also on the spill:
So if the government agencies don't have the "resources or expertise" to deal with the consequences of offshore drilling, why do they permit it to take place and just trust that the oil companies will be to "deal with an incident of such magnitude?" Sounds to me like expecting the arsonist to help put out the fire.
And finally, a grim milestone in Afghanistan.
This following General McChrystal's assessment that "nobody is winning" in Afghanistan and Secretary of State Clinton's pledge to Hamid Karzai of "a long-term U.S. commitment" there.
Oh boy.
Arlen Specter switched parties because he couldn't win the Republican primary, now he loses the Democratic primary to Joe Sestak. This just in Arlen, it's not about party this year, the key word is "incumbent." You're 80 years old, you've been in the Senate for 30 years. Your time is up.
Mitch McConnell's hand-picked candidate to succeed Jim Bunning got smoked by Tea Party favorite Rand Paul in the Republican senatorial primary in Kentucky. Once again, connections to the party establishment, regardless of which party, is the kiss of death this election season.
The latest example of why the anti-incumbent mood exists. Eight-term Congressman Mark Souder announced his resignation after an affair with one of his staffers was exposed.
I defer to the experts on the Gulf oil spill, but this smells like a cover-up to me:
"The Obama administration is actively trying to dismiss media reports that vast plumes of oil lurk beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, unmeasured and uncharted.
But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose job it is to assess and track the damage being caused by the BP oil spill that began four weeks ago, is only monitoring what's visible -- the slick on the Gulf's surface -- and currently does not have a single research vessel taking measurements below."
As does this:
"BP, the company in charge of the rig that exploded last month in the Gulf of Mexico, hasn't publicly divulged the results of tests on the extent of workers' exposure to evaporating oil or from the burning of crude over the gulf, even though researchers say that data is crucial in determining whether the conditions are safe.
Moreover, the company isn't monitoring the extent of the spill and only reluctantly released videos of the spill site that could give scientists a clue to the amount of the oil in gulf."
Also on the spill:
"Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano acknowledged Monday that the federal government doesn't have the resources or expertise to deal with an oil spill 5,000 feet below the sea, and must largely depend on oil companies to deal with an incident of such magnitude."
So if the government agencies don't have the "resources or expertise" to deal with the consequences of offshore drilling, why do they permit it to take place and just trust that the oil companies will be to "deal with an incident of such magnitude?" Sounds to me like expecting the arsonist to help put out the fire.
And finally, a grim milestone in Afghanistan.
"On Tuesday, the toll of American dead in Afghanistan passed 1,000, after a suicide bomb in Kabul killed at least five United States service members. Having taken nearly seven years to reach the first 500 dead, the war killed the second 500 in fewer than two."
This following General McChrystal's assessment that "nobody is winning" in Afghanistan and Secretary of State Clinton's pledge to Hamid Karzai of "a long-term U.S. commitment" there.
Oh boy.
Is he libertarian or republican. The only libertarian that I know that might be viewed as a bonafide is Friedrich Hayek. While he was a victim of his political age, he was most certainly a first rate mind and (nobel prize winner) very likely not a racist or a dyed-in-the-wool elitist
And not to belabor the point of how much disgust I feel for Rand Paul (seriously....what were mommy and daddy thinking to burden him with that kind of a name? Or not thinking? Is it a paeon to Ayn Rand?)....he said that Pres. Obama's handling of the BP oil spill was "un-American".
Jesus. This little turd needs to stick to eye surgery and hope he doesn't blind someone.
I watched that jackass on GMA this morning also. George Stephanopolous was reading a letter Rand Paul (he does look like a cowardly little mama's boy, BTW) had written to his city's newspaper back in 2002, listing his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Even though George had Mr. Paul's words right in front of him, Paul continued to deny it. He would not let George complete a single sentence, but kept interrupting him and saying "I never said that". And George said "I have your letter right in front of me, with your words....".
He's just as big a fruitcake as his dad. Or bigger.
I was appalled watching his performance. Methinks he needs to stick with what he knows. Opthalmology.
He doesn't know jackshit about real life in America.
Shortstuff,
Excellent point. I was watching Rachel Maddow interview Paul and she seemed to miss some of the opportunities that he gave her to skewer him. I don't know if she was staying on topic/talking points or what but she could have squashed him if she had but said what you just posted...'promote the general welfare'. Hell, I didn't even know that was in the constitution but it definitely goes to the heart of the matter.
You rock Shortstuff. All the Paul boys need is the robe and hood to complete the outfit. These guys, like their fellow TEA Partiers, are more dangerous than the Klan ever was. They disguise their hate and make it more socially acceptable to be a bigot.
I just posted an article on my blog last night about some of my favorite bigots.
Well, IMO, little asswipes like Rand Paul obviously have no inkling what the phrase "promote the general welfare" means in the Constitution.
These mo-rons obviously think life was sure good back in the circa-1955 years. You know, back in the days when Jim Crow was the law of the land (especially in the South) and women and blacks knew their places (pregnant and in the kitchen, and at the back of the bus). The days when white men ruled, and no one questioned their guns or their disgusting Confederate flags.
Mr. Paul probably is a little cowardly, pasty-white asshole. And I'm being generous by saying "probably".
I always thought his father had a screw loose. Looks like Sonny boy has more than a few loose.
Someone please go kick the living shit out of that jackass for me. I have kinfolk in Kentucky and I'm embarrassed for them.
Mark Twain said.."We descended from apes and have been descinding ever since."
Boy it seems that way sometimes.
Rand Paul. One of those morons who, when discussing civil rights and integration, and the improvement of thousands of Americans' lives would say, "Oh it (meaning integration) would have happened eventually anyway. Why get involved?"
Well, it MIGHT HAVE. Maybe. In another fifty to one-hundred years. So thousands of people are supposed to be discriminated against and mistreated until MAYBE these people get their heads out of their asses?
I don't think so. For one thing, there were four beautiful little girls who were MURDERED while attending church in Birmingham.
And they weren't the only ones. Emmett Till. The freedom rights workers in Mississippi. Rosa Parks. John Lewis.
Not to mention, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
There were many, many others who put their lives on the line for equal rights for ALL.
Rand Paul sounds like a pissant little white guy who just doesn't "get it".
Like father, like son. The wormy apple doesn't fall far from that rotten tree, does it?
apparently I should have said 'belle'. Romance has never been my specialty. As my father once said to me, "Son, don't use my marriage as an example of love and life, they're not all so f*cked up!" I'm paraphrasing, of course. My father always expected gentlemanly behavior...from me.
Heard an interview with Rand Paul today. He thinks discrimination is wrong but doesn't think the Federal Government should be allowed to get involved. No, just leave it to local governments and the goodness in people's hearts. Same with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
He's just as rabid as his dad. Hopefully Kentucky voters will send him packing in November.
Apparently Brad Paisley is a "Hurricane" regular. He likes your idea of a C&W song. He sent me an email.
According to the article:
"But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose job it is to assess and track the damage being caused by the BP oil spill that began four weeks ago, is only monitoring what's visible -- the slick on the Gulf's surface -- and currently does not have a single research vessel taking measurements below."
I think that begs the question, "If you can't SEE the oil has it really been "spilled?"
Oil that is "below the surface" is actually where it was BEFORE.It's just no longer contained in that subterranean rock formation.
Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here but, I don't think we can blame the MMA, or the DOI, or the FDA, or the NAACP for this position. Hey, if MY ass was on the line, or my neck hanging out there, I'd be tap dancing as fast as I can too. When you think abot it they're sucking up ALL they can and IF it's below the surface they certainly CAN'T suck it up. Besides, it MIGHT just fall back to the bottom of the ocean floor which is, in retrospect, where it ALL started out ANYWAY. It coalesces, gets covered over by sediments, and we'll just go after it again in 40-50 years. I'm pretty sure Bob will back me up here.
Now, Afghanistan..........boy that's 40 miles of BAD road. OTOH, all these incumbent politicians gettin' tossed out of congress.......I guess they're right, "every cloud DOES have a silver lining."
Stay thirsty my friends.
Specter needed to go and Lincoln also needs to go. People are sick and tired of the status quo in Washington. Tired of giving breaks to big business and Wall Street. Time to stand up for the working people! We need jobs! Hopefully this message wakes up President Obama - time for change.
My word, Carguy - ROFL!!!
Carguy,
Sounds like the makings of a good C&W song...
Dissin' Captain & Tenille...cmon, man...muskrat love AND Do that to me. That was my younger stepbrother and beau's 'SONG'. 2 years later as a teacher she was caught in bed with the Catholic school's p.e. coach when my stepbrother was on a sales trip. Ahhh, love is indeed grand!
It WOULD be interesting if, let's say, 40-50% of the incumbents legislators LOST. Now THAT would be a message.
Makes you wonder if Michelle Obama wakes up every morning, kicks her husband in the shin and says.."I told you running for president was stupid idea."
Makes you feel like you just got hit in the mouth with a wicked cut fastball that would have been "ball 4" AND with the winning run on third base while your best girl was in the stands. At the hospital, after learning you need a full set of dentures, you find out your blood test comes back "positive" for Hep "C". Walking out to the parking lot your brand new, fully restored, customized, took a year to build, 1970 "Hemi "Cuda" has been stolen with your girfriend's $20,000 uninsured diamond engagement ring in the glove box. BUT, they left your collection of "Captain and Tenille" cassette tapes behind with a note.."WTF???"