Michele Bachmann just plain lies, often...

...and the last example is here:

US News & World Report:

Michele Bachmann May Face Lawsuit Over 'Religious Freedom in The Military' Campaign

It doesn't get much worse than telling straight out lies for sake of raising money.  Political?  No, unless you consider "Stupid" to be a political party.  This would be even funnier if it were not for the fact that she has done this kind of thing before, namely using religious zealotry and paranoia simply to raise money for her own political coffers.

Maybe you can't "Pray the Gay Away" after all.

Article reference HERE.

"But the ex-gay movement has been convulsed as the leader of Exodus, in a series of public statements and a speech to the group’s annual meeting last week, renounced some of the movement’s core beliefs. Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful. His statements have led to charges of heresy and a growing schism within the network."


For the record I don't especially care what anyone thinks of homosexuality.  I really don't.  What people choose to do in their personal relationships is precisely that...their choice...and not mine.  I do, however, draw strong lines in the sand when some try to paint others as somehow being "defective" or undeserving of basic rights (such as the right to survivor's benefits, visitation rights for the ill, medical benefits, etc.) simply because they are different.  There's a word for that:  discrimination.


Given the above, I find the very notion of "pray the gay away" to almost be funny...the "almost" part comes into play because in reality it's not funny when someone paints another as being so defective that they somehow need divine intervention to be "repaired".  Note to file:  if God didn't want gay people He/She wouldn't be creating any of them.


Enough.


PS - For the record (and in the "pray the gay away" department) Michele Bachmann's husband is the gayest sounding supposedly straight man I've ever heard.

Can someone please step up?

I don't suspect this post will make me friends or influence people, but so be it.  Anyway, saying that I am disappointed in the 2012 Presidential election is like saying that fat guys like all-you-can-eat buffets.

On the Republican side, let's see what we've got:

• A moron (Rick Perry) who can't remember what the voting age is or what federal agencies he himself would like to ax.
• A ladies man (Herman Cain) who, rumor has it, got his 9-9-9 tax plan from a video game.  Funny, my daughters used to play Sim City and yet they never came up with a tax plan...just what was their problem?
• A self-righteous homophobic dolt (pick'm: Santorum or The Bachmann).
• "Mr Family Values", a.k.a. Newt.
• A guy who has changed more positions than your average porn star (Romney).
• A few others who can't win anyway (see Paul & Jon...and I'm not talking about the Beatles).

On the Democratic side you have the current President, who doesn't seem to stand for or accomplish anything.  Seriously, outside of health care reform (the core of which WILL be struck down by the Supreme Court...see HERE, among other things) JUST WHAT THE HELL HAS THIS GUY ACCOMPLISHED?  Please, someone tell me!  It's simply not enough to be against the other folks.  Oh, and please, it was the U.S. Military that killed Bin Laden.  The President simply said "yes" and watched it on TV.

Personally I think that the President needs a credible challenger.  Someone like Hillary Clinton.  Someone who can both stand on principle but yet actually get stuff done.  History is full of examples in the past:

• Ronald Raygun, "saint" Ronnie to some, worked extensively with Democrats in Congress, signed the largest amnesty bill ever for illegal immigrants, raised taxes and grew the size of government.  
• Billy-Bob Clinton signed welfare reform into law, had balanced budgets and presided over an expansion of the economy...but yet Republicans tried to have him impeached. 

Will someone step up?  I doubt it.  Call me pessimistic, but I think this country is screwed.

The vaccination against cervical cancer can turn your daughters into honor students!

Michelle Bachmann wants you to believe that a vaccination against cervical cancer can cause mental retardation.  Oh, and she brings this up to score cheap political points against Rick Perry.  Read how Leonard Pitts calls her out on it.

Leonard Pitts:  Bachmann's Irresponsible Behavior

For the record, all three of my daughters received this specific vaccination.  All three of my daughters are honor students as well.  There may be no connection between the these two facts, but my making a none-too-subtle claim that the vaccination can cause higher intelligence is just as valid as Bachmann's claim that it can cause mental retardation.  The difference?  I admit that my claim is just simply made-up bull$hit.

Tuesday Morning Random Thoughts

I really don't have time to write this morning, but I don't really care...I'm a-writing anyway.  What to say?  How about a few random thoughts:


Getting back into the groove isn't as easy as it should be.

My cat seems to have grown while I was away.

I still can't sleep really well. Just shy of 5 hours last night.

While on vacation the government in Libya fell.  If I go on vacation again perhaps the Syrian tyrant will fall.

The reality of my youngest daughter going away to college is starting to sink in.

I really need to get a washing machine.

Behold the wonders of the "To Do" list.

I am trying hard to worry less about the actions of others and instead of focus on what I can actually impact:  my self.

I dread what my Lotus Notes account looks like at work.  Best guess?  250 new emails...if I am lucky.

I hate checking voice mail.  Hell, I basically hate the phone, period.

The nuttier Rick Perry and The Bachmann sound, the more reasonable Jon Huntsman & Gary Johnson sound.

Scranton Teachers are apparently going to picket the opening of a new school.  Bad move.

Apparently Scranton City Council...you know, the group that passed the last budget...continues to disclaim all responsibility for the results...of their budget.  We knew Mayor Doherty spends money like a drunken sailor on shore leave in Bangkok, but weren't the members of the "stupor majority" supposed to held SOLVE the problems?  Funny, any idiot can point a finger and say "It's all HIS fault".

I am stalling rather than making my lunch for work.

I have to work on my weight.


Okay, enough stalling,  The day has to begin now.  "le sigh"

Road Apples, #93

Japan...My prayers go out the the victims of the multiple tragedies in Japan. 


Nuclear Power...Much wailing and mashing of teeth will commence (and has already commenced) about nuclear power in light of events in Japan.  I understand the concern, but the reality is this:  nuclear power provides about 20% of the total U.S. electrical capacity.  Translation...it isn't going away.  Time to move away from hysteria and on to practical solutions to make the plants safer.  Interesting enough, from what I've read it wasn't the earthquake in Japan that caused the issues at the power plants; rather it was the tsunami.


Don't Know Your History?  Blame the Media...Hey, it works for The Bachmann.  Story link HERE.  Let me lay it on the line:  Republicans should be embarrassed that this twit is considered a serious Presidential candidate for the party.  By the way, aren't people like The Bachmann supposed to be all about "taking personal responsibility"?

Libya...The score is shaping up to be Freedom 2, Despots 1.

Yours Truly...was referred to as a "high church-man" this past weekend.  I believe that this is a compliment; at least that's what I am taking it as...unless told otherwise...I think.  Anyway, related to this I attended my first (ever) Episcopal service recently, and I have to say that I was very impressed.  It was a combination of both the familiar (the Nicene Creed) and the different (a rather ad hoc process for offering the sign of peace).  More not ceasing from exploration in action. 

Political Bullcrap...The Scranton Times is all over the recent county Democratic endorsements.  Now what's the word I'm thinking of?  Hmmmm...oh, yeah, "irrelevant".  There is a larger post residing in this blurb.  More to come.

Speaking of Politics...of the "not bullcrap" variety, I was honored to attend a political campaign event for the Tom Borthwick's Scranton School Board run this past Friday (although I offer apologies for not staying long).  I almost never attend political events, but this young man deserves support. It's time to put someone on the SSB who isn't just another local political hack.

It Surely Will Be Spring Soon...as I saw several robins on the way to work today. 

Pants Hangers...File this one under "it's the little things in life"...well that or "Get a life dude!".  Anyway, I finally have enough pants hangers & actual space to hang pants.  I know, "big freak'n deal", but hey, I've always wanted to hang all my pants.  I HATE folded pants.  It's hard to tell what kind of pant you have, there are creases in the pant, etc.  Hanging pants is the natural evolution of clothes storage.

Guam is a small island

Watching The Bachmann's reinterpretation of U.S. history reminded me of this. Never let it be said that either party has a lock on stupidity.




The scariest part? He was so serious when he was saying this.

The Bachmann Speaks, Again

You simply can't make this stuff up.



Please, someone defend this twit.

The Bachmann Speaks

Taken directly from Minnesota Republican (& self-proclaimed Tea-Bagger leader) Michele Bachmann's alternative SOTU speech responsel:

And, the President should repeal ObamaCare and support free market solutions like medical malpractice reform and allow all Americans to buy any healthcare policy they like anywhere in the United States.

You can read the full text of her speech HERE.

Let's parse this one out.

"...repeal ObamaCare".
"ObamaCare"?  The system proposed by the President would require people to buy PRIVATE health insurance.  Maybe this should be "AetnaCare" or "CIGNACare", or just "MegaInsurerCare" because in the end, it is the PRIVATE insurance companies that get bigger here in the President's plan; there isn't any new healthcare delivery system called "ObamaCare" in the legislation passed last year.

"...support free market solutions"
We have had decades of "free market solutions" for heathcare and yet medical inflation has averaged something like 12% per year. Oh, it must be all the lawyers fault...

"...medical malpractice reform..."
You mean the thing that adds MAYBE 5% (my citation says 2%, but I will be conservative) to the nation's healthcare bill?  Now I agree that there is a dire need for reform in this area, but I'm not STUPID ENOUGH to believe that eliminating some malpractice suites or limiting damages will actually make a dent in medical costs.  By the way, don't throw the "but...but...defensive medicine" argument at me, because I'll ask for proof that doctors over prescribe/test solely as a result of malpractice threats.

"...allow Americans to buy any healthcare policy..."
This is the crux of what The Bachmann is saying, namely that it shouldn't be your employer that provides healthcare coverage for you, and it shouldn't be the government.  No, it should be YOU that buys it as an individual.  As I have said many times, I'd like to see the person among us who is better at negotiating premium costs better than, say, the Human Resources department at IBM.  Anyone here think that they have MORE LEVERAGE than a company paying millions for employee coverage?  Yet those same companies with all of their buying power haven't been able to keep medical inflation in check.


What The Bachmann is actually pitching here is a plan to get employers out of the healthcare benefit loop.  That should scare the crap out of you, because if "MegaInsurance" has been successful in ripping off the IBMs of this world, just think what they will be able to do to you.

Road Apples, #89

Weekend...This as been a "work on stuff I have been putting off" weekend, and my TV/computer/office room has the assorted files and papers laying around to prove it.  How bad is it?  Well I had to break out a portable table just to handle some of the stuff.  The good news is that I'm more than half way done with the big project I have been working on; the bad news?  I really put this one off for far too long.  Sometimes I think that I put myself through far too much stress via procrastination.

Reading...I recently finished reading the autobiography of Babba Booey, which frees my time up for some other books.   "Other books" means three that I'm now working on...

The Shaker Adventure (Margaret Fellows Melcher; via of Ms Rivers)
Life (Keith Richards; via brother Chris)
Create a Guilt-Free Life (Karen Bouris; via Amazon.com)

This is in addition to my normal load of Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Scranton Times, Mental Floss, PC World and Fast Company.  And I wonder why I've never gotten around to learning how to play guitar.

By the way, I highly recommend the Babba Booey book to anyone who is even a passing fan of Howard Stern.  The book is a very easy read and is remarkably funny at times.

Sirius...Speaking of Howard Stern, I've cancelled my Sirius subscription.  Call it a victim of economizing.  Well you can also call it a victim of practicality as well, since most of my longer distance driving is done via rental car and most rental cars these days have satellite radio.  That, coupled with my five minute daily commute means that it just wasn't worth paying $14/month to listen to just Howard Stern.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted and Babba Booey to ya'll.

Blogger Geek...I had the distinct privilege of having a bite to eat yesterday with NEPA's most popular local logger, NEPArtisan.  It's a damn shame Tom & I aren't in charge of the world (or at least just Scranton), because we certainly think we have all the answers.  Well I suppose that goes with the whole blogging thing.  Anyway it's always a pleasure to talk to this young man...he is going places, literally and figuratively.

Fingers Crossed Department...I'm keeping my fingers crossed for oldest daughter Katrina, as she is working on some post-graduation employment plans.  I am so proud of my girls!

Scranton Times...I mentioned the other day that I have no problem with the local newspaper charging for web content access.  That's still true mind you, even though it took me a just a week to use up my monthly quota of 10 "free" article views.  I do wonder though if the Scranton Times will continue to be able to charge what they do for website advertising, given the fact that their site hits will no doubt be decreasing by a fairly sizable clip.  I for one will not be linking to any more Times articles, which in and of itself should decrease Times website hits by at least one or two.

In the "I Don't Care" Department...Some random things I really don't care about...

...professional football in general & the Pittsburgh Steelers in particular
...idiots that manage to walk into shopping mall fountains & then cry lawsuit
...just about anything that psychotic representative Michele Bachmann does*
...local high school sports shows
...drunken school board directors who issue dramatic resignation statements**

(*) Although I will note that the best way to ensure a full 8 years of Barack Obama would be for the GOP to nominate Ms Bachmann for President.  A KKK Grand Dragon would stand a better chance of beating Obama than Bachmann does.

(**) How about just saying "I am a drunk, therefore I should not be on the school board" instead? For the record there is a reason why I personally don't drink.