Monday, January 28, 2008

Sometimes politics is hilarious...

Now we're treated to the spectacle of the New York state chapter of the National Organization for Women getting all upset at Ted Kennedy because he supports a black man for President. To quote 'em:
"He’s picked the new guy over us. He’s joined the list of progressive white men who can’t or won’t handle the prospect of a woman president..."
Not that they'd be the kind of progressive women who can't handle the idea of a black President.

Anyways, lemme get this straight. A bunch of folks who prattle on about how it's sexist if ya treat someone different because they're female is insisting Ted ought to back Hillary because she's female??? Sounds kinda sexist to me.

But, then again, I think this joke is funny:

"I'm a feminist."

"You're a feminist? How cute."

...so maybe I just don't understand.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The blame game starts...

Capitalists are capitalism's most dangerous enemy (Newsweek), and

Our leaders have squandered our wealth (Lou Dobbs)

From Dobbs:
We all have to acknowledge that our problems were in part brought on by the failure of our government to regulate the institutions and markets that are now in crisis.
Oh, fuck off, Lou. There's been no shortage of government regulating the institutions and markets--no shortage at all. Meddling regulators colluding with politically favored fascisto-corporatists (as opposed to capitalists, by which I mean laissez-faire) is not at all the same thing as "a failure to regulate". And you know it, Lou. You've just got different intervention recipes is all.

Oh, "our leaders" absolutely have squandered our wealth (that much is true)--but they certainly didn't do it by leaving things alone.

Instead, pandering politicians and pundits of the left and right, interventionist economists, and business interests favored by the resulting legislations caused this mess. Now those same types are just looking to shift the blame. As usual.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Typical Chavez.

In my last post, I wrote: "On an otherwise depressing day, I at least have my faith restored that a politician somewhere is gonna spew some reprehensible (and, in this case, cowardly) dribble," and I followed with some prattle from a Dutch politician.

But when it comes to classic political spew, though, there's few as arrogant, sleazy and dictatorial as Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (AP).

From the article:
With the country recently facing milk shortages, Chavez said "it's treason" if farmers deny milk to Venezuelans while selling it across the border in Colombia or for gourmet cheeses.

"In that case the farm must be expropriated," Chavez said, adding that the government could also take over milk plants and properties of beef producers.

"I'm putting you on alert," Chavez said. "If there's a producer that refuses to sell the product ... and sells it at a higher price abroad ... ministers, find me the proof so it can be expropriated.
There's a shorter version, in plain english. Chavez' grand plans have totally fucked up Venezuela's economy and now he's more desperate than ever to force folks to fix his mistakes, as if more of the same is a solution. It won't work; it never does. This is just one more step on the escalator to economic collapse and squalor. In other words, just the typical socialist-interventionist end-game.

Oh, and this:
Addressing his Cabinet, he said: "If the army must be brought in, you bring in the army."
That's just unequivocal warning that he'll kill to get his way. Like I said: typical.

He's a typical megalomaniacal thug.

Really?

On an otherwise depressing day, I at least have my faith restored that a politician somewhere is gonna spew some reprehensible (and, in this case, cowardly) dribble. Today's nonsense:

Anticipating a possibly wildly violent reaction to an apparently inflammatory Dutch film that allegedly shows (in the words of the director) the Koran as a "source of inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror", Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch Foreign Minister, stated:
freedom of expression doesn't mean the right to offend.
Really?

Then what the fuck of any importance would such a "freedom of expression" be fit to protect?

Kevin McCormick

I just got the news that a treasured friend from my early musical days back in the late 60s/early 70s, Kevin McCormick, has passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Nick Springate of GoSeeTV, another long-time friend of Kevin's, has put up a wonderful Life & Times of Kevin McCormick at Typepad, pictures and videos--and a huge number of tribute emails and letters to and about Kevin. Kevin changed people's lives.

Kevin, it's not that you won't be forgotten. It's very much more that you will be often remembered.

There's nothing I could write that would ever really communicate how I feel this morning.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Ezra Levant vs "The Commish"

6 videos.

H/T to FARK and Little Green Footballs, but this stuff can't be spread enough.

I have no idea of Mr Levant's opinions on most things; I've never really paid him much attention. He might be a total asshole for all I know. But he's *exactly* right in his attitude towards the Human Rights Commission.



Freedom of Speech that doesn't protect unpopular speech--all unpopular speech--isn't worth a pinch of coonshit.

Thanks for standing up, Ezra. I'm really ashamed of my country and my province that you had to be there. Ya did good, though.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Instead of a smoke free workplace...

how about a meddler-free workplace?

MSNBC Associate Editor Brian Tracey wrote a small story about a German employer who fired the non-smokers on his staff because they were troublesome to him, constantly complaining. For whatever reasons, the employer prefers employees who smoke.

Tracey got kinda smarmy, writing:
Not surprisingly, the three fired workers are now suing for unfair dismissal.

They may have a strong case because we believe Jensen's policy is too narrow: In addition to being smokers, he needs to also restrict his hiring to people who overeat and get falling-down drunk at lunch.
Actually, Brian, maybe the employer just oughtta be able to choose his employees, and those who wish to work for him on his terms ought to be free to do so. That would, I know, be a disappointment to nanny-staters, and it'd reduce employment opportunities for bureaucrats, but still...

Me, I'm 100% with the employer on this one.

Monday, January 07, 2008

About what I'd expect...

Six years after new rules made it much easier to get a license to carry concealed weapons, the number of Michiganders legally packing heat has increased more than six-fold. But dire predictions about increased violence and bloodshed have largely gone unfulfilled, according to law enforcement officials and, to the extent they can be measured, crime statistics. The incidence of violent crime in Michigan in the six years since the law went into effect has been, on average, below the rate of the previous six years. The overall incidence of death from firearms, including suicide and accidents, also has declined.
Complete article by Dawson Bell/Detroit Free Press (worth the read).

...not that I think folks ought to need a freakin' license in the first place...