Where's the Outrage?

• I was on call Wednesday night and unfortunately had meetings and a dentist appointment most of Thursday. My friends will tell you that I will commonly say, “Sleep is for wimps.” Well, right now I’m feeling pretty wimpy.
• Blogging stuff – I’m going to change my comment section. I have tried to work with the folks at Echo because I like the functionality of their product. Unfortunately, the product comes with no customer service. I have been unable to get my comments to synchronize for more than three weeks. Therefore, I will probably be dumping their product in the morning. There may be some transition but it shouldn’t take long. Thank you for your patience.
• Every now and then, I find out things that I already knew, like snowboarding is dangerous. There are several people in the hospital right now suffering from multiple different ailments because of snowboarding. A slick board, snow and no breaks — bad combination.
• One of my commenters was trying to point out the unconstitutionality of health care reform. There has been a move among conservative bloggers to point out that there is no healthcare provision in the Constitution (concrete thinkers). One of the leading conservative lawyers penned an op-ed in the Washington Post supporting this half-baked idea. Fortunately, healthcare reform is constitutional. The Senate passed a resolution supporting its constitutionality. Legal scholars have been focusing on the commerce clause in the Constitution as the basis for its legality. I’ll have a more thorough discussion on this tomorrow when my brain is working better.
• NFL free agency becomes a free-for-all just after midnight. Who are the top free agents? Julius Peppers is #1 in my book. If a team can get Peppers to play for 16 games, wow!!
• Many of the senators who voted against extending unemployment benefits come from states where unemployment is the worst.
• There appears to be a lawless vigilante group in Texas which is targeting gays. It would be nice to see them stopped.

More from Political Animal:

• Iraq: “Iraq opened its polls early on Thursday for hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police officers responsible for protecting the country’s electorate, and they came under assault themselves. In all, three attacks in Baghdad, two in Mosul and another in Diyala struck near polling stations where Iraqi forces mustered to vote, a potentially ominous foreshadowing of the violence extremists have vowed to carry out in an effort to mar Sunday’s pivotal election of a new parliament.”
• Jobs bill: “Democrats’ jobs agenda is moving again after stalling briefly, as the House passed one measure designed to boost employment Thursday and the Senate pressed forward on another. The House voted Thursday afternoon, 217-201, to approve a $15 billion jobs measure whose centerpiece is a Social Security tax break for companies hiring new employees. Six Republicans joined the vast majority of Democrats to approve the bill.”
• Still not good, but slightly better: “Claims for U.S. jobless benefits dropped last week from a three-month high, pointing to an improvement in the labor market that is slow to develop.”
• You know who’ll win if health care loses? Wellpoint.
• Robocalls as part of the NRCC’s “code red” program: “National Republicans are planning to unleash a huge wave of robocalls tomorrow targeting dozens of House Dems and warning their constituents that Obama and Nancy Pelosi are plotting to ‘ram’ their ‘dangerous’ health reform plans through Congress.”
• On a related note, the robocalls are filled with deceptive claims. Try to contain your surprise.

Rachel has more on the robocalls:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

• New chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee: Rep. Sander Levin (D) of Michigan.
• The House approved a resolution yesterday characterizing the Feb. 18 suicide plane attack in Austin as “terrorism.” The final vote was 408-2. Both opponents were Republicans.
• Get well soon, Michael Froomkin.
• I have to admit, I enjoy these stories immensely: “It’s no good for a family values Republican to get picked up on a DWI. But substantially worse to get picked up for a DWI after leaving a gay nightclub with an unidentified man in a state vehicle.”

Tags: Healthcare, Party Politics, Sports by ecthompson md
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I really like this. Students have gotten the shaft in this country for 30 years. Reagan raised student loan fees and interest rates. The states followed and it has been open season on students ever since. Why is tuition so ridiculously expensive?

From CNN:

A movement born of $1 billion in budget cuts to California’s state university system has blossomed into a nationwide protest, as students and professors in 33 states will challenge administrators and state lawmakers to ante up.

Most of Thursday’s demonstrations will focus on cuts to state-funded colleges and universities, which supporters say drive up tuition, limit classes and make higher education unobtainable to many.

A blog called Student Activism said in a Twitter update that 122 events are slated from coast to coast — most on campuses, and some at state capitals.

Dissatisfaction, anger and an uncertain future have led professors and students to call for a day of action to defend education. (more…)

From LAT:

A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to generally peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation.

From Los Angeles to New York and from San Diego to Humboldt, students, faculty and parents at many schools decried higher student fees, reduced class offerings and teacher layoffs in what organizers described as a “Day of Action for Public Education.”

“We are paying more to get less of an education. That’s why I’m out here today to protest against that,” said Cal State Long Beach art education student Jessica Naujoks, who joined an estimated 2,500 others at a campus rally there.

There were reports of some trouble in Northern California. Demonstrators blocked access to UC Santa Cruz and smashed the windshield of a car, triggering denunciations of such violence. At UC Berkeley, fire alarms were pulled in some classroom buildings, interrupting lectures. But statewide, no arrests were reported by early evening. (more…)

Tags: Domestic Issues, Education by ecthompson md
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Above you see, in better days, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer–on the right— with his 2006 running mate as Lieutenant Governor David Paterson.

Mr. Spitzer had to resign his office because he was visiting prostitutes.

His successor as Governor, Mr. Paterson, may now have to resign because he may have pressured a woman to drop a complaint in a domestic abuse case involving one of his aides.

Both these men would be in good shape today if they had treated women in a respectful fashion.

Tags: Other Political Thoughts by Neil Aquino
5 Comments »

Incumbent Republican Texas Railroad Commission member Victor Carrillo blames his Hispanic surname for his defeat in the recent Texas Republican primary.

Here is some of what Mr. Carrillo said in an e-mail message to supporters–

“As you now surely know, last night I was defeated (61% / 39%) in my statewide Republican Primary by my opponent, David Porter. Porter, an unknown, no-campaign, no-qualification CPA from Midland residing in Giddings filed on the last day that he could file while I was waiting in Abilene to bury my dad. He has never held any elected office, has no geoscience, industry, or legal experience other than doing tax returns for oil and gas companies.”

Here is the full message.

As the Marshall (Texas) News Messenger reported, there is precedent for Hispanic last names costing Republicans in Texas primary elections.

I have nothing but the back of my hand and a hearty good riddance for Mr. Carrillo. What did he expect from the Republican primary electorate?

If you’re a fair-minded Texan—or a fair-minded person from any place— you see here the nature of the Texas Republican party.

This November, Jeff Weems is the candidate for Texas Railroad Commission who is running on experience instead of on his last name.

Tags: Elections by Neil Aquino
2 Comments »

I first read about the blogger Jon Swift dying from the update below.  Jon, which wasn’t his real name, was one of the first major bloggers to answer one of my e-mails. He put my little blog on his blog roll. He engaged me in conversation. After a while, I was able to engage just about all of the major bloggers except for Jane, Huffington and Digby (they have never answered any of my e-mails). Jon was the rarest of conservatives, he was thoughtful, open, humorous and engaging. I know that the world would be a better place if there were more people like him around.

From Political Animal:

• Iraq: “Three powerful suicide bombings killed at least 33 people and wounded more than 50 Wednesday in the restive Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, authorities said. Most of those killed and wounded were Iraqi police officers charged with securing the province’s capital city ahead of elections Sunday. “
• Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced a “leave of absence” from his powerful post as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee today. Whether he’ll ever get his gavel back remains unclear.
• Marriage equality reaches the nation’s capital. Western civilization remains unaffected.
• Matters get slightly worse for New York Gov. David Paterson (D).
• Greece tried to alleviate creditors’ fears today with a new $6.5 billion austerity plan.
• Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) is blaming Harry Reid for Bunning’s five-day hostage standoff over unemployment benefits.
• On a related note, Kevin Drum explains, “Bunning is a moron.”
• Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is threatening to vote with far-right Republicans to kill health care reform. This isn’t the first time Grijalva has talked like this.
• I was very sorry to hear that the blogger known as “Jon Swift” has died.
• Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is not above trying to connect his hatred for gays to his opposition to federal wage requirements.
• As part of our ongoing coverage of SUNY Binghamton’s troubling transition to Division I athletics, the school announced this week that its basketball team will not be participating in the America East tournament this year.
• Leave Grant’s picture on the $50 alone.
• And finally, Rod Blagojevich was — in all seriousness — the “guest of honor at a Northwestern University panel on ethics in politics last night.” The disgraced former governor reportedly “elicited laughs from the audience — and not necessarily intentionally.”

Tags: Civil Rights, Economy, House of Representatives, Senate by ecthompson md
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We need Representatives like Anthony Weiner. He knows the facts. He understands the issues. He can articulate his thoughts. He doesn’t give any ground.  I love this guy!!

Tags: Healthcare, Media, Party Politics by ecthompson md
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If you voted against extending unemployment benefits, should you be forced to present to the American people what your alternative is? If you have no alternative, shouldn’t you be fired from the Senate immediately?

From DK:

Lamar Alexander, John Barasso, Bob Bennett, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Tom Coburn, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Judd Gregg, Orrin Hatch, Mike Johanns, Mitch McConnell, James Risch, Jeff Sessions and John Thune. Those are the guys who decided Tuesday night that Americans limping along on meager unemployment benefits apparently are, in the word chosen by Nevada Rep. Dean Heller, “hobos.” They all voted against extending those benefits.

If you’re drawing such benefits in Tennessee, Kentucky, Wyoming, Utah or Idaho, you have both of your Senators to thank for telling you to get off the dole and get a job ya lazy bum. Yep. Who would want to work instead of enjoying all that these magnificent government checks will buy? It’s such a cush life on the $275 weekly maximum you can draw from unemployment coffers if you live in Tennessee, where the jobless rate is 10.9%. If it’s you, your spouse and a couple of kids in the family, those benefits will put you $8,000 below the federal poverty line.

That is, if you were lucky enough before being laid off to work in a job covered by unemployment insurance in the first place. Only 38% of out-of-work Americans have that option. But whether you’re covered by benefits or are one of the less fortunate 62%, the above 19 members of the Party of No Way, No How have a couple of words for you: Tough shit. Like Jim Bunning riding the Senators-only elevator, they all just keep giving out-of-work Americans the finger. Those exact same 19 Senators plus 19 of their Republican colleagues also voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act a year ago. And most of them were on board to oppose the teensy job-creation bill that passed the Senate last month.

Tags: Economy, Senate by ecthompson md
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I’m getting pretty tired of snow. Asheville is getting a good dose right now. Going to shovel the front drive right now.

Tags: Environment by ecthompson md
2 Comments »

Senator Mitch McConnell wants to deal with Democrats now? I think it is too late for that. This isn’t Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football. Where were you 6 – 8 months ago?

From C&L:

Candy Crowley actually points out the Republicans hypocrisy on the use of reconciliation and also asks McConnell a question you don’t hear too often which is whether the public might like not being thrown off of insurance rolls or having their payouts capped if the health care bill does get passed. Of course we don’t get any follow up when he doesn’t respond to those specifics and trots out the tired lines about tort reform and cuts to Medicare, by which he means Medicare Advantage.

Par for the course all he’s saying is that if the Democrats will just adopt all of Republican’s ideas for “reform” they’ll play nice and work with them. Yeah, sure you will Mitch.

And even though Crowley asks McConnell if this is all just a political calculation on his part, she doesn’t ask him why anyone should actually believe that the Republicans would work with the Democrats on anything.

It would really be nice to see these guys knocked off of their talking points and challenged on whether they’re telling the truth or not, but if it’s a Republican on any of these Sunday bobble head shows you aren’t going to see it. (more…)

Tags: Healthcare, Party Politics by ecthompson md
4 Comments »

• The Errington Thompson Show is officially off the air here in Asheville. I may still do podcasts on a regular basis depending upon how they’re received. I would like to thank all of my supporters. I truly appreciate your time and your support over the years.
• I’m sorry, but I did not watch the Winter Olympics. I cannot get jazzed over a bunch of sports that I don’t usually watch. I can talk about football anytime, anyplace. Deion Sanders has a few words to say about Cowboys’ receiver Roy Williams.
• Several high profile running backs (Tomlinson, Westbrook) have been kicked out of their long-time establishments. I just don’t understand how you show Thomas Jones, one of the most productive backs in the league, the door. He rushed for over 1400 yds last year. Come on.
• Goldman Sachs is not interested in looking into executive pay.
• Progressives are trying to challenge Democrat Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Her stance on the public option has been unconscionable.
• Sen. Bunning and his filibuster is kicking me in my wallet. I’m really not appreciating it. I think that this is all part of the Stop Obama agenda of the Republicans… slow down the Senate. BTW, thousands of Federal workers were laid off because of the great Senator also. What a jerk!
• Juan Cole has some GREAT advice for climate scientists.
• Black folks need to thank white folks for voting for Barack Obama – See video (very funny):

• You see, there was this Step Show. This is/was a Black affair. The black sororities and faternities would put on these shows. This started in the mid to late 70′s, I guess. Well these are fun but no big deal. It seems that now it is a big deal –  there was a Sprite sponsorship and a $100,000 to the winner. A white sorority won. Zeta Tau Alpha. OMG. You should hear the uproar. Heck the story was on NPR the other day. You know that’s big when NPR decides to cover it. Now, I haven’t seen every entry but these girls stepped up and brought it!! Sprite later awarded 2 1st prizes.
• What are the 20 most looked-up words for January? “Avatar” was one of them.

What did I miss?

Tags: Business, Healthcare, Sports by ecthompson md
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How many Tim Coles are there?

From The Star Telegram:

More than a decade after he died in prison, Fort Worth’s Tim Cole – wrongly convicted of rape – finally received a pardon from the state.

Gov. Rick Perry sent out a statement saying that he gave Cole the state’s first posthumous pardon, saying he was innocent of the rape conviction that put him behind bars more than 25 years ago.

“I have been looking forward to the day I could tell Tim Cole’s mother that her son’s name has been cleared for a crime he did not commit,” Perry said in a written release. “The state of Texas cannot give back the time he spent in prison away from his loved ones, but today I was finally able to tell her we have cleared his name, and hope this brings a measure of peace to his family.”

This comes days after the state Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that Perry issue the pardon.

Cole is the wrongfully convicted inmate who died in prison in 1999, at the age of 39, from complications of asthma. Last year, he was exonerated of the rape of a Texas Tech student after DNA tests cleared him of the crime. His family traveled to Austin during the regular and special legislative sessions to repeatedly ask Perry to issue the pardon. (more…)

Tags: Legal by ecthompson md
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