When Policy Meets Reality

There have been two revelations in the past week or so that bear some reflection and comparison.

Last week, researchers announced that they had figured out a way to make stem cells without embryos. This is good for all of us, as it will keep the abortion/right-to-lifers out of the treatment research for Parkinson’s and other diseases for which stem cells hold promise. Now all of those little abandoned embryos can live happily in the bottom of a liquid nitrogen filled tub.

This week the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) said that Iran had shelved its plans for a nuclear bomb four years ago. This sort of dumps a bucket of cold water on the few remaining neo-cons in the administration that were talking about World War 3 and looming mushroom clouds.

These debates are interesting when juxtaposed because they have become so polarized in the past few years. The Bush administration still seems reticent to stop the saber-rattling. Keep in mind that the NIE was used to promote the Iraq war because it supposed that Iraq had WMD’s. Who’s to say that it isn’t wrong. For their part, the people that have been pushing for embryonic stem cell research aren’t quite ready to give up that fight either. Science is rarely a perfect study. There are many things that could still go wrong with the research and put us right back where we were 2 weeks ago.

Mr. Bush, I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll shelve the embryonic stem cell research for the rest of your term, if you will promise not to invade any more countries for the rest of your term. Deal?

 

In the end the Congress still only serves one group

What a joke our congress has become. Just more proof they don’t work for the American people, but actually for the American Corporations.

Automakers would be required to meet an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, by 2020, the first increase by Congress in car fuel efficiency in 32 years.

Seriously? 13 years to get to 35 MPG?

Sadly it is a Democrat too that is the monkey wrench

But Democratic leaders were stymied over disagreement on the auto fuel efficiency issues as Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House and chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, insisted on some provisions to ease the transition for automakers.

But even sadder…

House Republicans have called the legislation a “non-energy bill” because, they said, it ignores any measures to promote domestic production of oil, natural gas or increased use of coal.

Is that typical response by the GOP.  Big Oil and Energy companies have lobbied to kill the bill too.  What a joke these guys are.  ALL OF THEM

 

Ruh, Roh, Romney is in trouble

The only reason Huckabee is soaring is because everyone else is flailing. Fourth Person Confirms On The Record That Romney Nixed Muslims In Cabinet

“He was asked if he would appoint a Muslim to his cabinet,” Keene told me. “And he said, `Not likely.’ He said flatly that it was highly unlikely that it was ever going to happen.”

 

The Capitalists Abandon The Republicans

I honestly am a bit concerned about this story. The shift in power in Congress has resulted in the lobbyist money shifting from Republicans to Democrats, dramatically in some cases. The article has a major weakness, though.

It suggests that industry may not be happy when Congress takes on some serious regulatory issues (greenhouse gases among them). What I am afraid of is that these PACs won’t have to worry about what the Democratic Congress does. The deal might already be struck. My better angels and I are hoping that the money does shift back and that Congress does what is right, not what gets them campaign money by the barrelful.

 

First hand Proof what Power does to people…

Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho, defying the wishes of many in his own Republican Party, said today that he would remain in the Senate through next year despite a court ruling against him in Minnesota, where he sought to rescind his guilty plea stemming from an undercover sex sting.

AWESOME!

 

The Gop Hearts Children

“If the president vetoes this bill, he will be vetoing health care for almost 4 million children, and he will be putting ideology — not children — first,” Sen. Hillary Clinton

But Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, wasn’t buying that argument.

“This is a perfect example of the type of partisan politics that goes on in Washington all the time,” he told CNN. “It’s not about trying to take care of the children; it’s about how can we get a political advantage.”

Lott added, “Do you really believe Republicans don’t want to help poor, low-income children?”

h/t Phantom

 

Breaking news!!!! NY Times Betrayus Add Kills Soldier!!

H/T VonCracker

It is a great GOP smackdown.

 

Putting the Rude in Rudy

Yesterday, while making a speech to the NRA, Rudy took a cell phone call from his wife.  Perhaps this was theater, but I have a strict rule that if you are in a job interview and your wife calls, let it ring.  Better yet, turn it off before you enter the interview.  Anything less is rude.  I do make exceptions if your wife is pregnant, or dying, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.  Sorry, Rudy, you’re fired.

 

Patriot Day: Larry Craig, Come Clean!

I would like to explain to you all why Senator Craig will be vindicated and potentially get the Vice Presidential nomination.

He is a secret agent in the culture wars.

Just like any war, it is important to have spys.  In order to gather effective information spys sometimes have to go under deep cover.  Haven’t the liberals been complaining that our intelligence isn’t good enough?  Now those word are coming back to haunt them.

Larry Craig has been spying on gays where ever he can find them.  He has staked out restrooms in Minnesota, Bathhouses in San Francisco and art galleries in P-Town (Provincetown, MA for those of you that don’t keep up on the gay lingo).  When I think of the things that he had to do to gain their trust, I stand in awe.

Now, a vast rainbow conspiracy is trying to “out” this culture warrior.  Well I’ve got news for you Adam and Steve, Senator Craig has been fooling you the whole time and the joke is going to be on you once the data that he gathered can be processed by our team of experts at Regents University.

Senator Craig, you are to the culture wars in this country, what John McCain was for that war that the liberals lost.

 

Brilliant tactical move

If you don’t pay the investigator investigating you, then well, he goes away…

That is what I call changing the culture of corruption baby

 

“I’m Kind of Disappointed in You, Senator”

Take a few minutes and listen to the leaked audio of the police interview with Larry Craig.  Say good night, Gracie.

 

Larry Craig (R-ID) Accused of Lewd (and Gay) Act

I almost tire of these stories. Larry Craig is accused of soliciting a sexual act in an airport mens room. Then he pulled an Atkins and handed his Senate business card and said “What do you think about that?” No word on whether he was trying to pick the cop up or not with that smooth line.

So, I think that it is OK to kick this guy out of office. If for no other reason than he voted against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Granted, he voted for the same-sex marriage ban, so presumably he didn’t actually want to marry the guy, I guess he just wanted a quickie.

I won’t go so far as to say that one should carry his vote against adding homosexuality to the list of hate crimes to its logical conclusion, but I wonder if straight Larry would have afforded the same. I am in favor of waterboarding him, though. Apparently, straight Larry would have been in favor, too.

 

What Motivates Gonzo to Stay?

I have been pondering this question for a few weeks now (when I haven’t been too exhausted to think…).  This isn’t a pleasant experience for Gonzo.  He has been called a liar, a lap dog, an idiot and several other terms that are more derogatory.  So why doesn’t he quit?  Why doesn’t Bush tell him to hang it up?

There are two scenarios that I keep running through.  One is that Gonzo doesn’t want to leave in disgrace.  He has appealed to Bush to support him because either they have a long relationship and Bush takes care of his friends, or because Gonzo knows things about Bush and he would hate for some of them to make it into the press…

Or is Bush refusing to cave in on the pressure to remove Gonzo on principle?  In that scenario, Gonzo is the victim here and has to keep trotting out to hearings and getting beat up.  So why wouldn’t Gonzo resign?  Fear of retribution?  Promise of future opportunities?  Loyalty to Bush?

I don’t know the answer, but it is a bizarre situation that we all seem to find ourselves in.  Can this situation just continue to go on for 540 more days?

 

Bloomberg Flees GOP

After spending a few days trashing the GOP, Bloomberg decided to part ways with his “party of convenience” and go independent.  ‘Bout time.  Now he can trash his predecessor full-time.

 

“Sorry, The Senator Can’t Meet With You. He’s Really Buried…No REALLY Buried”

The Secretary of HHS (of all departments) tried to set up a meeting with Senator Craig Thomas last Thursday.  Unfortunately for all involved, Thomas had already been dead for 3 days.  It was in the papers and on TV.  But word didn’t get out to whoever was setting up meetings at HHS.  Fox News must not have covered the story.