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Open thread 6/23
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted June 23, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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Bill O’Reilly Rips Newspapers at Columnists’ Confab
By Dave Astor
Published: June 22, 2007 5:00 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA Bill O’Reilly said newspapers have a dismal future and also criticized a writer in the audience during a speech Friday at the National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) conference.
“Newspapers are dying, and there are two reasons why,” said the Fox News host and Creators Syndicate newspaper columnist. “One reason is the Internet. The other is ideology.”
O’Reilly contended that many newspapers are losing circulation because they’ve allowed the “liberal” ideology of their editorial pages to “bleed into news coverage” — despite, he said, there being a greater number of “traditional conservatives” than liberals in the American population.
The result? “Audiences are estranged from most major newspapers,” O’Reilly told the columnist attendees. “They hate you. When someone hates you, they’re not going to give you your money.”
He also said liberal newspaper reporters far outnumber conservative ones. Many newspaper owners and publishers who are more conservative than their reporters, however.
O’Reilly specifically criticized The New York Times for not giving page-one play to the story about the men arrested for an alleged terror plot against New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. “They may be clowns, but clowns can kill people,” he said. “The 9/11 guys weren’t PhDs.”
Some observers have said the Times put the story on a section front rather than page one because previous announcements of alleged terror plots have often been overblown. But O’Reilly contended that the Times did it because of a liberal “political agenda.”
O’Reilly said contempt for President Bush is a factor in the way many newspapers cover things. “I know you hate Bush,” he told conference attendees, while acknowledging that Bush is “a hatable guy.”
The speaker added that “Fox News is derided by the print press all the time.”
Obama to Address National Meeting of the United Church of Christ
Associated PressFriday, June 22, 2007
” In the constellation of Protestant churches, the United Church of Christ is far from the biggest, wealthiest or best-known.”
“But Democrat Barack Obama is making time in his presidential campaign Saturday to address the denomination he joined two decades ago in Chicago, hoping his presence will signal to a broader audience of churchgoing Americans that he’s truly one of them.
“If he’s a nominee, he’s going to have to reach out to people of faith somehow and he has to do that in a way that doesn’t alienate the secular, liberal crowd,” said Laura Olson, a Clemson University professor who specializes in religion and politics. “If people can say, ‘Here’s what Obama said to the UCC,’ and quote from that down the road, that could help him win over people from moderate to progressive faith.”
There’s no question that he’ll get a rousing welcome at the national meeting in Hartford, Conn. — and not just because he’s the best-known face in the denomination.
The church, with about 1.2 million members, is considered the most liberal of the mainline Protestant groups. In 1972, the UCC was the first to ordain an openly gay man. And two years ago, the church endorsed same-sex marriage, the largest Christian denomination to do so.”
O’Reilly has a point, that’s why the Washington Times is constantly profitable. This is the same Billo who accused the Americans at Malmédy of war crimes because they got slaughtered by the Nazis after the Americans surrendered.
Billo isn’t exactly the best source to go to for facts. Then again, when have you ever been interested in facts?
So Cheney says the Office of the Vice-President is not part of the Executive? OK.
So what should it be called? How about…
“The Dick Branch.”
All this crap about a supposed liberal conspiracy in news media is just the neo-con propaganda machine putting in overtime. I used to work in the WE newsroom, and conspiracies would’ve been impossible there. These were people who’d gladly use up their entire lunch break arguing over where to go for lunch! Some of the reporters tended to be somewhat liberal, but the editors were decidedly conservative, and the publisher (who drove a WWII amphibious troop transport to work) considered Genghis Kahn a commie peacenik. Hardly a den of liberals!Of course if you can get a lot of idiots to believe it, in makes the job of forcing a news organization to print what the neo-cons want a bit easier.You can expect an assault on the internet next; they’re all terrorists, gamers and democrats who perform satanic fetus sacrices on the counters at Victoria’s Secret during the full moon! Didn’t you know?
The rest of the article that “republican” didn’t post, but than again I have never seen this poster be “fair and balanced”.
“Bill O’Reilly Rips Newspapers at Columnists’ Confab ”
By Dave Astor
Published: June 22, 2007 5:00 PM ET
………….Humor columnist Judy Epstein, speaking from the audience, criticized O’Reilly for accusing newspapers of being ideological when he and Fox News are ideological themselves.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman asked O’Reilly if any newspaper meets with his approval. “The Chicago Tribune does a pretty good job keeping ideology out of the news pages,” replied O’Reilly.
The columnist in the audience criticized by O’Reilly was Mike Leonard of The Herald-Times in Bloomington, Ind. O’Reilly took issue with a Leonard column about the widely reported Indiana University study that claimed O’Reilly used insulting language on the air every few seconds.
O’Reilly called the findings “absurd,” and said the so-called insults in the study included him using words like “liberal” to describe people. “Mike, you didn’t mention that,” O’Reilly told Leonard, whose piece appeared in an NSNC booklet filled with columns written by conference attendees. O’Reilly also criticized other facts and comments in the Leonard column.
When E&P asked Leonard for his response to the Fox News host’s remarks, Leonard defended the accuracy and approach of his column. “I take it as a badge of honor to be criticized by Bill O’Reilly,” added the past NSNC president.
Another attendee, columnist Dave Lieber of the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram, criticized O’Reilly for often being nasty to people who criticize him. “Sometimes it’s overkill,” said Lieber, who noted that he thinks media people should be “bigger than that.”
“I’m not bigger than that,” retorted O’Reilly. “I don’t mind being criticized with facts, but if you call me a racist or dishonest, I’m coming after you.”
Philadelphia Daily News columnist and NSNC conference host Stu Bykofsky introduced O’Reilly to the audience by noting that the Fox News host does take liberal positions on some issues. “He favors gun control and opposes the death penalty,” said Bykofsky, by way of example.
Bykofsky also noted that O’Reilly’s description of “the far left” as “Kool-Aid drinkers” explained why conference attendees had small packets of the powdered drink placed in front of them on the meeting-room tables.
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003602624
——————————Now on to something of real importance.
Why in the hell is US taxpayer money going to Saudi Arabia?——————————–House Votes to Ban Aid to Saudi ArabiaNewsMax.com WiresSaturday, June 23, 2007
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to prohibit any aid to Saudi Arabia as lawmakers accused the close ally of religious intolerance and bankrolling terrorist organizations.
The prohibition, reflecting persistent tensions with the kingdom after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, was attached to a foreign aid funding bill for next year that has not yet been debated by the Senate.
It also faces a veto threat from the White House because of an unrelated provision.
A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment on the legislation.
In the past three years, Congress has passed bills to stop the relatively small amount of U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia, only to see the Bush administration circumvent the prohibitions.
Now, lawmakers are trying to close loopholes so that no more U.S. aid can be sent to the world’s leading petroleum exporter.
“By cutting off aid and closing the loophole we send a clear message to the Saudi Arabian government that they must be a true ally in advancing peace in the Middle East,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat.
According to supporters of the legislation, the United States provided $2.5 million to Riyadh in 2005 and 2006.
The money has been used to train Saudis in counter-terrorism and border security and to pay for Saudi military officers to attend U.S. military school.
“Saudi Arabia propagates terrorism. We all know that 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi,” said Rep. Shelley Berkley, a Nevada Democrat. She added that Saudi youths had entered Iraq to “wage jihad” against U.S. forces fighting there.
Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born leader of the al Qaeda group that carried out the September 11 attacks, was expelled from the kingdom in 1991 for anti-government activities.
Lawmakers also complained that with Saudi Arabia’s vast wealth from oil revenues, U.S. taxpayers do not need to subsidize training Saudis.
“With poor countries all over the globe begging us for help, why are we giving money to this oil-rich nation?” Berkley said.
The U.S. State Department has routinely criticized Saudi Arabia for religious intolerance, disenfranchisement of women and arbitrary justice.
U.N. committees and groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also have been critical of the Saudi legal system and its rights record, including punishments such as flogging and amputation.
Riyadh tends to dismiss the criticism by saying it follows the traditions of Islamic law.
Saudi Arabia is home to the two holiest sites in Islam — Mecca and Medina — and to a conservative Sunni Muslim ideology often called Wahhabism.
Despite the efforts by the lawmakers to cut off aid, the United States has had a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia in terms of energy and security.
But recently Saudi King Abdullah has asserted a more robust leadership role in the Middle East, putting himself at odds with Washington over Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to the Energy Information Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Energy, crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia are the third largest after Canada and Mexico.
Until 2003, the United States kept up to 10,000 soldiers in Saudi Arabia to help enforce a no-fly zone over southern Iraq that was put in place after the first Gulf War in 1991. Most of those forces have been withdrawn.
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
“Obama to Address National Meeting of the United Church of Christ”
“The church, with about 1.2 million members, is considered the most liberal of the mainline Protestant groups” Posted by republican———————————–But I thought Jesus was a “liberal”!!!!!
“The Dick Branch” – I love it! It kind of goes along with some of his more profane utterances.
Obama promised to curb lobbyists’ influence from his first day as president. Declaring there is “more cleaning up to do in Washington,” he said he would ban political appointees in his administration from lobbying the executive branch after leaving their jobs. And anyone joining his administration would not be allowed to work on issues related to their former employers for at least two years.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201019.html?hpid=topnews
Yeah, Right! And so the lying begins.
The media is liberal; the idea of an accurate unbiased press arose in universities. What the conservatives hate is the reporting of facts.
Here’s a fact for you: Mexico, a country where abortion is illegal, and which has a population one third the size of the u.s. has one million illegal abortions per year, or about the same number nas in the U.S. Complications from botched abortions are a leading cause of death amon Mexican women
See I told ya so; you don’t like facts.
“Yeah, Right! And so the lying begins.”
XXX–It’s only lying if they don’t keep their promises after they are elected.
Giuliani’s 12 Commitments1) I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.2) I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders and identify every non-citizen in our nation.3) I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending. 4) I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.5) I will impose accountability on Washington.6) I will lead America towards energy independence.7) I will give Americans more control over their health care with affordable and portable free-market solutions.8) I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.9) I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.10) I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.11) I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents. 12) I will expand America’s involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.
Kelly–good one!!!!!!
“Here’s a fact for you: Mexico, a country where abortion is illegal,…..”
Door King–I think you might want to update your facts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/world/americas/25mexico.html?ex=1335153600&en=99c718222cb70bb7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
“The media is liberal; the idea of an accurate unbiased press arose in universities. What the conservatives hate is the reporting of facts.”
That is right! Reality has a liberal bias. Newspapers are supposed to report reality and not the fantasies of neo con Republicans. Things like evolution, the Earth is round and older than 6000 years are pretty well accpeted as facts- unless you are a Republican!
Hello all. I am not a person but an “automated robot” that reads your opinions here and replies to them. At least that is what the Wichita Eagle-Beacon thinks because they keep popping up with that damn “can you read this” puzzle you have to solve to post anything here. It sometimes takes me 3 tries to get to letters and numbers right. It is a pain in the ass! When was the last time an “automated robot” posted an opinion here?
Delores,I’m getting pretty skeptical of both parties and I am no supporter of Giuliani.
1) I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.= War forever.
2) I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders and identify every non-citizen in our nation.= An outright lie.
3) I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.= Increased Defense spending, less money for social programs. And pass the Pork!
4) I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.= More corporate welfare, more deficit spending, more borrowing from China.
5) I will impose accountability on Washington.= Pigs will fly.
6) I will lead America towards energy independence.= Increase American Oil’s obscene profits.
7) I will give Americans more control over their health care with affordable and portable free-market solutions.= Windfall for insurance companies, sky-rocketing co-pay.
8) I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.= Deny women control over their own bodies, Bizarro world definition of “quality of life”.
9) I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.= More fanatic Right-wingers on the bench.
10) I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.= Shred the Constitution, create a police state.
11) I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.= School vouchers, giving real school choice to those who can afford it.
12) I will expand America’s involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.= Off-shore American jobs.
(Sarcasm off)
The current administration has pushed me a little further to the left than I’m really comfortable with. The new democrat congress has turned out to be a Chinese Abortion. And I’m not seeing any candidate from either party who gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
First there was Bernard B. Kerik. Than this week Giuliani’s South Carolina campaign chairman,Thomas Ravenel indicted on federal cocaine charges.
Now: “Group wants Giuliani priest pal fired”
By FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press Writer Fri Jun 22, 5:41 PM ET
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Advocates for victims of abuse by Catholic clergy on Friday urged presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani to fire a priest who was suspended from the church and then hired by the ex-mayor’s security consulting business.
A spokeswoman for Giuliani said the firm had no plans to fire Monsignor Alan Placa.
Placa, a childhood friend of Giuliani’s, has defended himself for years over allegations in a 2003 Suffolk County grand jury report that detailed decades-old abuses by priests in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y.
None of the priests were ever prosecuted or even identified because statutes of limitations had expired long before the district attorney’s investigation. Days after the report, Placa acknowledged in an interview with The New York Times that he was implicated in the grand jury report but he denied that he had ever abused children.
“There’s ample evidence showing that Placa consistently protected predators, shrewdly deceived victims, and covered up horrific clergy sex crimes,” said a statement from David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. SNAP also contends that he abused children.
Placa was suspended from his duties as a priest in June 2002 after the abuse allegations surfaced. A lawyer, he currently works as a consultant for Giuliani Partners.
Placa was unavailable for comment Friday, said company spokeswoman Sunny Mindel. She said Giuliani was standing by his childhood friend.
“The former mayor believes that Alan Placa has been unjustly accused,” she said.
SNAP called for Giuliani to fire Placa following the publication of a Salon profile of the cleric. In the story, the online magazine quotes Richard Tollner, who testified before the Suffolk County grand jury and claimed he had been abused by Placa. Tollner told the magazine Placa molested him and at least two others, but school authorities did nothing when they were told about it.
Placa and Giuliani have been friends since their days together at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. After he was suspended, Placa received special permission to officiate at the funeral of the former mayor’s mother, Helen, in 2002. He also baptized both of Giuliani’s children.
LOL.
Dang, XXX, that was superior satire of the “ha ha” variety in your 8:51AM.
Too damn prescient, and haha funny in exactly the same way that black humor is haha funny. You know, sickeningly true but funny anyway.
Great post.
So still no coverage on the MSNBC report on bias in the media which outed one of our very own anchors here in Wichita.
Gee, nothing unethical about covering your and your buddies collective backsides. And you wonder why so few people believe in or support the Main Stream Media.
If this coverup involved any other business you people would be screaming. I guess hypocracy hasn’t gone out of style.
KAKE, KWCH, FOX News, and KSNW are to “news” what Coors is to beer. Or what Tiny Tim was to pop music. Or what bad counry music is to poetry.
Our local “news” stations are carictures of the news, period. The management purposely limit each to that role by virtue of what they are: a crude vehicle for local advertising. Each is just a way, an advertising channel, to mainline the “news” of Spangles’ latest breakfast offering to the viewing audience.
Pretty hard to get worked up about anything the local anchors might, could, or would do here. My opinion, of course.
How is it a “cover up” if campaign finance reports are public record? Not only that, but they’re almost universally posted online, and are easily downloaded by anyone with an internet connection.
XXX–I’m not having a “warm and fuzzy” feeling either, but I’m sure more people will come forward before long.
And this proves that Susan Peter is bias in her reporting because she gave money to a Democratic leaning organization?
Give me a break.
Thanks, Pedant.Considering the current state of American politics and government, if you don’t keep a sarcastic sense of humor, they’ll find you crying in a corner eventually.
SeanM.
What the hell are you talking about?
Wait . . .
On second thought, just save it.
“XXX–I’m not having a “warm and fuzzy” feeling either, but I’m sure more people will come forward before long.”Posted by: delores | June 23, 2007 at 09:39 AM
God, I hope you’re right. Can’t you just see a Fred Thompson presidency? I’ve heard too many people say they’d vote for him because they liked his TV character.
Third party? Waste your vote…it ain’t going to happen.
“XXX–I’m not having a “warm and fuzzy” feeling either, but I’m sure more people will come forward before long.”Posted by: delores | June 23, 2007 at 09:39 AM
God, I hope you’re right. Can’t you just see a Fred Thompson presidency? I’ve heard too many people say they’d vote for him because they liked his TV character.
Third party? Waste your vote…it ain’t going to happen.
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel issued the following statement regarding his amendment to cut funding for the Office of the Vice President from the bill that funds the executive branch. The legislation – the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill — will be considered on the floor of the House of Representatives next week.
“The Vice President has a choice to make. If he believes his legal case, his office has no business being funded as part of the executive branch. However, if he demands executive branch funding he cannot ignore executive branch rules. At the very least, the Vice President should be consistent. This amendment will ensure that the Vice President’s funding is consistent with his legal arguments. I have worked closely with my colleagues on this amendment and will continue to pursue this measure in the coming days.”
HEy dick…if you are not part of the executive branch…get rid of the SS, move out of our house and give us back our money…
And what is wrong with Sen. Obama giving a speech at his own denomination’s Synod meeting?? It will not be a speech delivered in the context of a worship setting…
The Synod plans out speakers and events for the meetings at least two years in advance. Sen. Obama was not a candidate for President when speakers were chosen for this meeting…
Anybody wanting to HEAR any of the speeches at Synod is free to do so.
http://www.ucc.org Navigate to the button marked General Synod.
I am not sure if Obama is speaking today, or tomorrow… I think today… Check it out if you are interested… If you just want something to make fun of, or criticize, dont bother…
There isn’t many options to the CAPTCHA system (those annoying letters or numbers that you have to read.)
If you’ve set Comment Authentication to “Required,” the option for requiring the CAPTCHA will be unavailable. In this case, the commenter is validated via their TypeKey identity.
Evidently, the WE Blog has their set extremely tight as it is only supposed to activate if three or more URL’s are posted. Theirs activate on one.
or
If information submitted with the comment matches TypePad’s comment spam blacklist
or
If the comment was submitted too quickly after a previous comment from the same IP address and triggers a throttle
or
If the comment is posted to a weblog post that is more than 30 days old.
or
If the comment is posted in a definitely different language from that set for the weblogIf the comment was submitted from an open proxy
This rewards TypeKey or TypePad Users.
If you set the Comment Authentication to “Optional” which appears what they have done here, everyone has to enter the numbers or letters, including TypeKey or TypePad users.
More info on CAPCHA here:
http://www.answers.com/captcha?cat=technology
And The Vice-President Cheney should preside over the Senate as stated in the Constitution.
Article I Section 3
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
Delores,
You need to get a clue. The U.S. couldn’t have put bases into Saudi Arabia unless they were invited by the Royal Family, and the U.S. invited.
All that other crap you posted about holy city this and that is nothing but contaminated liberal eyewash.
And now for some good news!
In spite of the tax cuts of the 1980’s, Federal tax revenue increased in every year except for 1983. In spite of the tax cuts of 2003, Federal tax revenue increased every year at all time record highs!
So, NO MORE TAX INCREASES are needed! Taxpayers then get to keep more of our hard-earned money.
Revenues1980 517.11981 599.31982 617.81983 600.61984 666.51985 734.11986 769.21987 854.41988 909.31989 991.21990 1,032.11991 1,055.11992 1,091.31993 1,154.51994 1,258.71995 1,351.91996 1,453.21997 1,579.41998 1,722.01999 1,827.62000 2,025.52001 1,991.42002 1,853.42003 1,782.52004 1,880.32005 2,153.92006 2,407.3
From the Congressional Budget Office http://www.cbo.gov/budget/historical.xls
And now for the bad news:
Federal Spending is also at all time record levels.
We need to CUT SPENDING!
Outlays1980 590.91981 678.21982 745.71983 808.41984 851.91985 946.41986 990.41987 1,004.11988 1,064.51989 1,143.81990 1,253.11991 1,324.31992 1,381.61993 1,409.51994 1,461.91995 1,515.91996 1,560.61997 1,601.31998 1,652.71999 1,702.02000 1,789.22001 1,863.22002 2,011.22003 2,160.12004 2,293.02005 2,472.22006 2,655.4
Source Congressional Budget Officehttp://www.cbo.gov/budget/historical.xls
On the revenue side, now what would revenue look like if you considered inflation into those figures? As an example, the stock market is breaking records one after the other, but if you look at inflation, the market has not gained much.. Spending-does that take into account the war spending on Iraq?
One set of figures I would have liked to see you post are how much the debt has gone up since Carter left office.
Delores,
You need to get a clue. The U.S. couldn’t have put bases into Saudi Arabia unless they were invited by the Royal Family, and the U.S. invited.
All that other crap you posted about holy city this and that is nothing but contaminated liberal eyewash.<<<
Republican– I swear you can’t read.
Delores,
You need to get a clue. The U.S. couldn’t have put bases into Saudi Arabia unless they were invited by the Royal Family, and the U.S. invited.
All that other crap you posted about holy city this and that is nothing but contaminated liberal eyewash.<<<
Republican– I swear you can’t read.
Sorry for the double post.
Max
House Panel Approves Pet ProjectsBy ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WriterThursday, June 21, 2007
The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved $153 million in pet projects, rewarding both powerful and not-so-powerful lawmakers alike with 377 cherished “earmarks” for their home districts.The unusual session was made necessary after Republicans forced Democrats to reverse plans to insert pet projects into bills before House debates rather than add them in closed-door House-Senate talks when it would be too late to challenge them.Of more pressing importance to lawmakers, however, is that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., have issued an edict cutting the amount of money devoted to earmarks in half. Obey denied all earmarks when passing a wrap-up spending bill earlier this year.”Many members will be disappointed,” said Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., chairman of a panel responsible for local clean water and sewer grants and national parks projects.Republicans are especially feeling the pinch. Now that they’re in the minority, they only get about 40 percent of the money for projects rather than the 60 percent they enjoyed when controlling Congress. The fact that earmarks are being cut in half doubles the pinch.Seven-term GOP Rep. Zach Wamp’s requests for Environmental Protection Agency water and sewer grants in Tennessee were not granted, though Democrats heeded calls for freshmen lawmakers facing potentially difficult re-election campaigns.For example, Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., obtained $500,000 for South Bend’s sewer systems and homestate colleague Brad Ellsworth won an equal amount for Evansville. Jason Altmire and Christopher Carney, freshman Democrats from Pennsylvania, also won projects.New rules require the sponsors of earmarks to be identified and certify that they don’t have a financial interest in them.By long-standing tradition, senior lawmakers and members of the Appropriations Committee get more for their districts than rank and file lawmakers. With the explosion of earmarks under GOP control of Congress, however, more and more earmarks went out to the rank and file as a means of rewarding loyalty to GOP leaders and cementing the political standing of lawmakers back home.Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., chairman of a panel responsible for Small Business Administration grants, resisted the temptation to grab more than his share, instead awarding $231,000 to each of more than 100 Democrats winning earmarks, including himself.In the bill funding EPA and Forest Service projects, Speaker Pelosi obtained $700,000 for a grant for San Francisco for use in the Lower Mission District while Obey obtained $2 million for a biomass-to-ethanol demonstration project.Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., won $129,000 for the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree Project, an economic development initiative in economically distressed Mitchell County. The money would double retail space available for a gift shop selling products — typically made by former factory workers whose plants have been shuttered — such as Christmas tree ornaments, handmade soaps and pottery.McHenry is a vocal conservative and burr in the side of Democrats running the House. He’s not popular with some Republicans; a senior GOP member of the Appropriations Committee pointed McHenry’s earmark out to reporters, calling it “interesting.”Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., has promised a substantial reduction in earmarks, but the free-spending Senate won’t go as far as the House as to cut them in half.The Senate panel Thursday approved three bills funding budget increases for health, medical research and the National Parks system.The bills were a $27.2 billion Senate version of the EPA and Interior Department measure, a $152 billion bill funding education, labor and health funding measure, and Congress’ own budget bill.The health and education funding measure, the largest domestic funding bill, has been a favorite target of President Bush, whose budget is seeking cuts of more than $4 billion from current levels.The committee instead added more than $10 billion to Bush’s request.
OK Children,
I’m trying to get the range for Saturday, July 28.
It’s a range open to the public, for an $8 fee. So we can do it but I’m going to try and get a some kind of a group rate deal for the lessons, etc.
Hopefully we can get a few teams for a match but if not we’ll just give a class to the novices amongst us and then have some target practice afterwards.
We will provide a variety of handguns and ammo for anyone that would like to come shoot.
Afterwards we’ll retire to the Waltanna clubhouse for a cookout/welcome home party for Nathan. All are welcome.
Hank
The $8 fee is *no problem*, Hank. Thanks a bunch for the effort you’re sinking into this. I’m sure that I among others REALLY appreciate it!
Can I bring some ground venison or buffalo to the bbq? Or beef? Or ??? Pop? Beer? Chips? Condiments? Buns? Anything?
Please let me know, ok?
Again, thanks!
Also, due to that damn wobbly Liberal gene I carry (the one that makes some of us males able to do things like fold laundry), I can cook like the devil himself. Whoo boy, right in my wheelhouse. In fact, I have been called the King of Eggs Cooked By Hi-Technology Application of Phase-Changed Water more than once. No kiddin’!
Also, fyi, I am fairly aware of pretty much every hygenic cooking practice invented or discovered between 1900 & 1930. Or so. So anything I cook up shouldn’t make anybody sick for more than a day or two (tops).
Just let me know, dude.
Just to spice things up…
It’s my impression that there are a certain number of posters, usually Republican, who just can’t seem to write a comment without taking some type of cheap shot at – liberals, gays, democrats… – you name it.
For what’s it’s worth (not much, I admit) my theory for some of this behavior.
I’ll bet these people are repressed in a lot of aspects of their lives. They feel powerless, put upon, and they’re mad as hell. Up until maybe 10/a5 years ago, these sorts just held it all in because it wasn’t socially acceptable to just “rip” on people. Underneath, however, those same comments now so publicly expressed were going through their minds.
Along come the Limbaughs and the O’Reillys and their ratings generating machines, and they realize this large group is out there. Limbaugh, O’Reilly et al. take to venting and railing against scapegoat groups – the very groups above – and this generates tremendous ratings.
It has had one further effect. Their behavior seems to have given the imprimatur to anyone with repressed grievances to just spit out hatred.
People may talk about how violent TV shows lead to criminal behavior, or a coarsening of what’s considered legal or ethical..Maybe, I don’t know. But what I do know from posting on these blogs is that venting your feelings on scapegoats has become standard practice for some people because they see and hear well-spoken and allegedly “informed” individuals coarsening the debate. In short, doing it just lets out a heap of repressed anger and helplessness.
???????????? | June 23, 2007 at 07:42 PM
Good example posted by ??? above. Just another example of our wonderful Congressmen from BOTH PARTIES spending more of the taxpayers hard-earned money – trying to BUY themselves re-election in 2008.
And this is a special extra spending appropriations bill which is just cream to the top of the $2.7 TRILLION (give or take a few billion) they already have approved for the current budget year.
Republican/Democrat/Indpendent or Other, wouldn’t it be great if We the People voted EVERY incumbent up for re-election in 2008 OUT of office!
Those Thieves are stealing OUR money for PORK spending trying to buy our votes – and we keep falling for it – like stupid sheep following our shepards over the cliff.
Hank -
I’ll make it a point to be there. And I’ll be glad to assist in instruction, range control, whatever. No, I’m not certified, but I know what I’m doing. I’ll gladly defer to the certified among us, however (Nathan, it appears).
[front sight - focus on the front sight!]
I’ll also gladly offer a few toys to sample for the uninitiated among us. Nothing particularly exotic, however. Of course, I’ll want to sample a few toys as well . . . .
Let us know what would what we should bring along. The beer, perhaps? (AFTER the range trip, of course). And please provide some detailed directions, for those of us on the other side of Wichita.
Delores,”"Here’s a fact for you: Mexico, a country where abortion is illegal,…..”
Door King–I think you might want to update your facts.”
You might want to actually read links before you post them. That was only for Mexico City; abortion is still illegal in the rest of Mexico, although I doubt they can maintain that, given public opinion there.
Not that I want to have this centered on me or anything….
I will be in Hutchinson Thursday July 26th through Sunday July 29 at the Range.
LOL
So I will be teaching Marines how to shoot that weekend and hopefully qualifying as an expert myself!
Can we do it any other weekend?
Sorry.
“Here’s a fact for you: Mexico, a country where abortion is illegal,…..”
Door King–I think you might want to update your facts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/world/americas/25mexico.html?ex=1335153600&en=99c718222cb70bb7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rssPosted by: delores | June 23, 2007 at 07:35 AM———————————
Here’s a fact for you: Mexico, a country where abortion is illegal,…..”
Door King–I think you might want to update your facts.”
You might want to actually read links before you post them. That was only for Mexico City; abortion is still illegal in the rest of Mexico, although I doubt they can maintain that, given public opinion there.,,,,——————————–The last time I checked Mexico City is in Mexico.
I think you need to go back and read my post. I was suggesting that “Door King needed to update his facts.
Saying that abortion is Mexico is illegal is just not factually correct.
Plan B.
Well, there isn’t a plan B just yet! But that’s OK, because there hasn’t been much work into formulating plan A.
I’ll have to figure out another weekend that I can do it. Since we were going to combine the match/BBQ with a mini coming home party we’ll come up with another date.
I appreciate all the offers for help! Please don’t think that this is some event that I’m in charge of. Anyone that has been to anything I’ve organized realizes there is an absence of adult supervision! Any help at the range or BBQ is appreciated! The success depends on the participants, not me.
When ever, if ever I’ll provide the cheeseburgers, a few handguns, a thousand rounds of ammo or so, the targets, maybe some of the beer I confiscated from the last pasture party out here and a place for the BBQ.
Nos that seems like a lot, but I’ve already got all that stuff, I just need to find it! That leaves covered dishes, potato chips, etc. for others. (the real work!)
I’ll try and come up with some alternate dates in a few days. August and Sept are full of dog stuff, so we’ll see.
Hank
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