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January 31, 2009
Philosophical Alaska Photo
Kids grow up so quickly.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:33 PM
Getting Exposed To Nature
This is not quite what I had in mind
A local Swiss government plans to take action against a sudden and apparently unwelcome phenomenon - naked hikers.Authorities in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden plan to introduce fines for anyone found walking in the picturesque mountain region without any clothes.
They decided to act before this year's hiking season began, after noticing a sudden influx of nudists last year - many of them from Germany.
"FKK", or "free body culture", is a popular pastime in Germany.
It's stories like this that remind me that the Europeans are indeed our Betters in so many ways.
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo...
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:57 AM | Comments (7)
January 30, 2009
Glory Days ~ ANOTHER "Mistake" ?!?!?!
From a guy who, ya'd think, SHOULD BE "MISTAKE" proof, with all his years doing what he does. All his years being a "man o' the people" AND an OUTSPOKEN advocate for those same "people". A "MISTAKE" that ~ coincidentally ~ concerns the garnering of a shitpot of buckaroos. Imagine that.
The Boss is owning up to a mistake.In an interview with The New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn’t have made a deal with Wal-Mart. This month, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest-hits CD.
"Mistake", my tax paying, blue collar ass. And damned if it 'was only discovered after
Give the filthy WalMart "mistake" money to charity, a WalMart employee health fund ~ to TARP, why doncha ~ and I might think about ceasing the massive, disgusted snorts emanating from my flared nostrils, à la any of your repetitive, clenched teeth performance induced poses.
As for you and the SoopahBo: I will be tuned to Animal Planet's Kitten Half Time Show, where the mewling "p-words" on stage will have honestly been born to run.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:25 PM | Comments (9)
Oh, HELL, Yes!
Just the call I'd expect the UNION representatives entrusted with my well-being to make.
Boeing's engineer union in Wichita to reject new contractUnion leadership at Boeing Co.'s Wichita, Kan., aircraft facility are asking its engineer membership to reject a proposed labor contract.
Is there an underground contentious/pretentious asshole cloning facility funded by dues that provides ALL unions with the SAME quality of leadership, regardless of their individual affiliations?
Has to be. No other explanation for it.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:24 PM | Comments (1)
Blago's Impeached
I'm certainly not crying any tears for him, but it always makes me a little nervous when elections can be so easily overturned. The man certainly seems to be a coarse, er, punk, but the Good People of Illinois twice elected him, and they certainly have had more exposure to him than any of us. The Illinois Constitution is to my reading way too vague on impeachment
SECTION 14. IMPEACHMENT The House of Representatives has the sole power to conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer, whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
It seems to me a majority of members can impeach someone for anything if they feel like it, as there's no "high crimes and misdemeanors" guidance.
That's a pretty low and arbitrary bar; hell, there is no bar; and that just doesn't seem right.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:49 AM | Comments (6)
Someone Needs to Write This Guy
...a letter.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed former President George W. Bush for pushing Israel to "wipe out" the Hamas leadership in Gaza during his final days in office.
Schmaybe one of those left over Obama exercises meant for Imadinnerjacket. Simple fix ~ white out "Ayatollah", script in:
"Hezbollocks Jefe Hassanass Nastyassroller"
It'll get to the right orifice office.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:24 AM
January 29, 2009
Pop Quiz: WHAT Is This a Picture Of?
No, dummies! It's a drunk white guy riding a white horse through a snowstorm.
("The HELL you say!!")
Got hisself arrested, yessir.
Not to worry, though, my animal loving compadres.
A friend of Daniels picked up the horse.
All's well that ends well, n'est pas?
Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:47 PM | Comments (4)
Cars Threaten Earth's Very Existence
Via Cullen comes this scary tale of deadly restraint
Toyota is recalling 1.3 million vehicles worldwide because of a seat belt defect. The recall includes more than 130,000 Yaris models sold in the United States.Toyota Motor Sales USA says it is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 134,900 model-year 2006 and 2007 Yaris subcompact cars. The automaker says in severe front-end collisions, the seat belt is at risk of causing a foam pad in the vehicle to ignite.
I'm trying to wrap my fragile mind about how exactly this would happen, but I just can't.
In other deadly automotive and bleeding-edge scientific developments, Tim inadvertently reveals that the LHC we need to be greatly concerned about does not lie buried beneath Switzerland but in fact is found on the very straight highways of the Australian Outback: the Large Holden Collider
This is what the W427 is all about. Its engine displaces 7.0 litres, the largest on any current road car. And what the Corvette-sourced engine lacks in the latest technology it makes up with sheer brute.There’s 375kW, or 500 horsepower in the old scale, so it’s hardly lacking in go. HSV claims the W427 can reach 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, which cements it as one of the fastest four-doors on the planet. It’s also the fastest, most powerful road car produced in Australia.
From the moment you start the engine there’s a discerning growl accompanied by just enough rumble to remind you the W427 isn’t your average family car.
Friends, if two of these collide head-on at top speed the Black Hole that will be created by the impact will most assuredly end civilization as we know it.
As well as be one hell of a waste of Aus $300,000.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:53 AM | Comments (4)
GOP Finally Shows Some Spine
In a frankly shocking display of principle the GOP managed to get every single member to vote against the Insane Spending Act of January 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night, filled with new spending and tax cuts at the core of the young adminstration's revival plan for the desperately ailing economy. The vote was 244-188."We don't have a moment to spare," Obama declared at the White House as congressional allies hastened to do his bidding in the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Please note that I am calling this the January Insane Spending Act, because I greatly fear that this Congress will come up with even more reckless cash spewing as the year progresses. Strike that: I know they will come up with the spending.
I don't see how this is 'stimulus' for the economy. It is simply throw-a-lot-of-money-at-it, see what happens, panic we-must-be-seen-as-doing-something-ism. It's disgusting, short-sighted, and will saddle all of us with an incredible amount of debt forever. If rampant spending and speculation are what got us into this mess, this is the equivalent of trying to put out a fire by dumping on a lot of gasoline.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:31 AM | Comments (7)
January 28, 2009
President Reagan's Challenger Speech
Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But, we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle; but they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together. For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, 'Give me a challenge and I'll meet it with joy.' They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us. We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers. And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them... There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, 'He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.' Well, today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete. The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'
God Speed.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:30 PM | Comments (4)
In Defense Of Governor Paterson
Look, I'm certainly no fan of his. It is frankly ridiculous that it took so long for him to decide upon a replacement for Clinton. But for the media to keep hammering him over how Kennedy was "treated" detracts from the real scandal here
Criticism of Gov. David Paterson's handling of the Caroline Kennedy fiasco continued unabated Tuesday."I'm going to address this issue for the last time," Paterson said.
Slim chance. With the New York Post comparing his ability to tell the truth to Pinocchio, Paterson was on the hot seat again Tuesday over his administration's handling of Kennedy...
..."Are you going to apologize to Caroline Kennedy?" one reporter asked.
Sweet baby jeebus, the one person who really should apologize in this whole circus is that pampered let-them-eat-cake "um, I don't know, like wow" spouting skeletor moron Caroline. Who the hell does she think she is? Acting as though she deserves the Senate seat because of her bloodlines? What has she ever done, other than spend money? She's certainly never actually, you know, worked. I mean, sure, she's probably ordered one of her servants to fix Nuncle Teddikins another double; there is that. Oh, and I forget: there's Tragedy! And Camelot! in her family. Well, tough shit; lots of families have had a lot tougher times than that collection of smug self-righteous bastards, and with a lot fewer resources to get through it all.
She should apologize to the people of New York for her insulting behavior.
The people of New Jersey, on the other hand, well we thank her for the high entertainment value she has provided.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:38 AM | Comments (10)
January 27, 2009
Thank God: It's OVER
No more need to worry about recycling or expensive "altermative" energy production methods
Global warming is 'irreversible'A team of environmental researchers in the US has warned many effects of climate change are irreversible.
The scientists concluded global temperatures could remain high for 1,000 years, even if carbon emissions can somehow be halted.
So now, since there's no point in doing otherwise, we can use all the coal we want and finally buy a Prius-crushing full-size pickup...all guilt free! Huzzah!
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:34 AM | Comments (10)
January 26, 2009
Thief Confirmed
Will now be given keys to Treasury, authority to dole out taxpayer monies to other thieves
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Senate lawmakers voted Monday to confirm Tim Geithner as the next Treasury secretary amid ongoing uncertainty about the nation's economic future.Geithner, who will spearhead President Obama's response to the financial crisis that threatens to unravel economic growth around the globe, won approval by a vote of 60 to 34.
Democrats on Capitol Hill had been pushing for a quick confirmation of Geithner, arguing that the threats facing the economy required immediate action.
"Actually, Senator, I just found that W-2 right here up my sleeve! My bad!"
Democratic lawmakers have been growing increasingly concerned in the past few weeks that corporate giving for Party causes was down dramatically, a worrisome trend they feared would only accelerate unless some one was found to funnel large amounts of taxpayer-funded crack directly to the firms who had lost the most. "Thank god we've got our man now," they sighed.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:50 PM | Comments (8)
It's Business Time
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 05:36 PM | Comments (4)
Please, Uncle Sam...
...may I have some more?
$100 billion just isn’t what it used to be.
Over the weekend, Freddie Mac (FRE) requested a second draw on its Treasury Department credit facility, saying $30-35 billion would suffice to keep its net worth above zero, thank you very much. After taking $14 billion in the third quarter of last year, Freddie has now chewed through almost half its $100 billion taxpayer-provided safety net in just 5 months.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:43 PM | Comments (5)
I Gotch 'Yer Stimulus Right Here
It's disgusting how pork-bloated this stimulus package is. A couple hundred million for Planned Parenthood. A couple hundred million for people to get digital tv converter boxes. Over 800 billion dollars of complete crap. And of course we're told "it may not be enough." Every Democratic spending wish list of the last 8 years now gets rushed through because we "need to do something."
"Cutting spending" obviously is not "something."
Well, it's not something that the Government can conceive of, mind you; they leave that for us, because soon all of our income will go towards paying interest on these great follies.
Here's a little item that sums things up beautifully: because one can never burn through $45 billion in taxpayer bailout money fast enough, Citigroup is getting a new $50 million dollar jet
Beleaguered Citigroup is upgrading its mile-high club with a brand-new $50 million corporate jet - only this time, it's the taxpayers who are getting screwed.Even though the bank's stock is as cheap as a gallon of gas and it's burning through a $45 billion taxpayer-funded rescue, the airhead execs pushed through the purchase of a new Dassault Falcon 7X, according to a source familiar with the deal.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm against these bailouts but if they are going to happen one condition must be that the entire executive management and the entire Boards of Directors of all of these companies have to resign immediately. It is INSANE to give billions of our money to the very same people who got us here.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:25 AM | Comments (7)
And Here I Thought It was a "Green" Way
...to recycle those prayer rugs.
Indonesia's top Islamic body banned Muslims from practicing yoga that contains Hindu rituals like chanting, the chairman of the group said Monday, citing concerns it would corrupt their faith.
Besides eventually ruling the world, can anybody tell me why you'd want to be Islamic? There just doesn't seem to be a lot of joy in it.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:09 AM | Comments (5)
January 25, 2009
I've Got Hope And Change Fever!
Well, mostly I've just had the fever. It started, oddly enough, on Tuesday night and sat right at 102 or so all of Weds, Thurs, and Fri until the happy drugs the doctor gave me kicked in. I finally feel halfway normal now and can start weening myself off of the codeine.
Blech.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 04:38 PM | Comments (7)
January 24, 2009
I Saw This Headline On Drudge
"Ebola may have passed from a pig to a human..."
and I thought "Thank God he's finally grown up."
But alas, that's not what the story's about.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:42 PM | Comments (4)
January 23, 2009
GASP! SHHHHHhhh!!!
For Heaven's sake! Nobody tell Sharon...
...The latest problem, according to the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, is that Russell Crowe has simply become too fat to play the lead role.
Crowe's failure to lose the weight he gained for Scott's 2008 thriller Body of Lies has reportedly forced the departure of Sienna Miller, who was due to play Maid Marian, as the svelte actor's presence might have magnified Crowe's corpulence.
Come to think of it, I'm feeling a bit faint meself...
Even worse: "...producers are "looking for an older, plumper actress to play the role so [Crowe] doesn't look like a paunchy grandpa", so someone suggested:
Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:41 PM | Comments (10)
January 22, 2009
Butt What If I've Got a Ticket to Asspen?
Air Canada's medical form includes a diagram of how doctors can calculate the width of a patient's behind.Cheeky me sure wouldn't want to be left behind!
Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:47 PM | Comments (9)
More on Merrill's Recently Departed
This just broke this morning, courtesy of intrepid CNBC reporter Charlie Gasparino. When you read it, I believe you will GASParino as well.
In early 2008, just as Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain was preparing to slash expenses, cut thousands of jobs and exit businesses to fix the ailing securities firm, he was also spending company money on himself, senior people at the firm say.According to documents reviewed by The Daily Beast, Thain spent $1.22 million of company money to refurbish his office at Merrill Lynch headquarters in lower Manhattan. The biggest piece of the spending spree: $800,000 to hire famed celebrity designer Michael Smith, who is currently redesigning the White House for the Obama family for just $100,000.
The other big ticket items Thain purchased include: $87,000 for an area rug in Thain's conference room and another area rug for $44,000; a "mahogany pedestal table" for $25,000; a "19th Century Credenza" in Thain's office for $68,000; a sofa for $15,000; four pairs curtains for $28,000; a pair of guest chairs for $87,000; a "George IV Desk" for $18,000; 6 wall sconces for $2,700; six chairs in his private dining room for $37,000; a mirror in his private dining room for $5,000; a chandelier in the private dining room for $13,000; fabric for a "Roman Shade" for $11,000; a "custom coffee table" for $16,000; something called a "commode on legs" for $35,000; a "Regency Chairs" for $24,000; "40 yards of farbric for wall panels," for $5,000 and a "parchment waste can" for $1,400.
The documents also show that Thain signed off on the purchases personally. "Labor to relamp the six wall sconces" cost $3,000, and Thain authorized the payment of another $30,000 to pay the expenses Smith incurred in doing the work.
I guess if you've paid $35,000, you DON'T want to call it a "toilet". But it does beg the question ~ in this case ~ if the REAL shit was in or on that regal throne.
It was also noted during the Larry Kudlow/Gasparino/Becky Quick round table that Thain paid his DRIVER $230 GRAND a year. His driver.
How come I never get these gigs? They wouldn't even have to last any length of time
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:33 PM | Comments (3)
Quote of the Day
The Obama administration is less than a week old, but we're already being asked to accept some sacrifice in our lives: the double standard that the rich and powerful can skate on their obligations while the rest of us suffer the hard consequences.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:27 PM
One WHALE of a Chicken Apparently
...is in his pot.
H-P chief's family sure likes to eatThe excellent Footnoted blog digs up a curious item in Hewlett-Packard's (HPQ) new proxy filing. CEO Mark Hurd was reimbursed $80,000 for taxes on meals eaten last year while on business travel with family members.
Lemme repeat: $80K on JUST the meal TAXES. I have also appropriated the picture accompanying the article...
...since one of the comments following the article is so...pithy.
Nothing says 240K worth of food like a picture of corn dogs...
Indeed.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:10 PM | Comments (5)
January 21, 2009
Who's Yer Buddy, Who's Yer Pal?
Nice to know someone's lookin' out for us...
...If you were one of the many of us who thought that government's eminent domain powers only applied to real property, I have some bad news to report. As it turns out, our government now seems able to condemn intangible property as well. That includes your rights as a shareholder.
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: I guess the B of A head bubba is pissed at the former Merrill head's fuzzy math.
Thain quits Bank of America: reportsJohn Thain, former chief executive of Merrill Lynch & Co, has resigned from Bank of America Corp , just three weeks after the companies merged, The Wall Street Journal and CNBC television said.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:47 PM | Comments (6)
Quote of the Day
"Capitalism without bankruptcy is like religion without Hell."
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:30 PM
January 20, 2009
Good Luck, Mr. President
So in a few short hours Barack Hussein Obama will take the oath of office and become our 44th President. Well, best of luck to you, Mr. President. You step into a job that little can truly prepare you for, and the responsibility of 300 million lives now falls squarely on your shoulders. I pray that you will lead with wisdom and have the courage to make the unpopular decisions that are best for our country, not for any one party or interest group. I pray that you and your family are kept from harm. And I pray that our wonderful country and her wonderful, wonderful people continue to cherish the ideals that make such a day like this possible and never take such freedoms for granted.
O' beautiful, for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.O' beautiful, for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!O' beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!O' beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:41 AM | Comments (13)
I Went Down To Sandy Hook This Morning
Just to mark the high tide for the last time, as today is the moment when the rise of the oceans will begin to slow.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:03 AM | Comments (7)
A Handy Reference
To keep track of who's who and how they're related in the incoming administration.
Connections connections connections.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:38 AM | Comments (1)
January 19, 2009
I'm Sure You Can Hear the Ancient High Kings
...screaming.
...Irish demand for Guinness and other dark-brown stout beers also has waned in recent years as youthful drinkers prefer foreign lagers and vodka-based drinks.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:48 PM | Comments (8)
The Gack Factor Gets Worse
Lincoln this, Barack and Michelle that...sweet Mary, Mother of God, get the coronation over as quickly as possible. I love the thought of a black man as president. I love the thought of little girls in the White House again. For the sake of the country, I want him to just be damn fantastic ~ part the waters, cure the common cold and all that ails us. I hope he's the right guy. I truly do.
But I am sick of the annointment (Ebola this evening, "I can't drink this!!! Pepsi's changed their f*cking logo to Obama's!"), the cultishness, the terrifying wave of mindless idol worship that's enveloping the air around me. There's this very personable, accomplished guy...and the lunatic fringe is a pace ahead...and behind...and swirling in clouds of their own making over his head, each gasping and grasping in fevered anticipation, each trying harder than the last to raise their hyperbole to mythic proportions ("I'll see you two Lincolns and raise you a Martin Luther..." "SHIT! We got anything to beat what Bryan Williams just said? WRITE, damn you!!!!"), that their heroic poesy might be remembered above the others.
Nobody was singing songs about Beowulf until after he iced Grendel. Worth remembering.
And I suppose, crank monkey that I am, that I could forgive in some measure the ludicrousness of the madness were it ONLY confined to our President Elect, Office of. But no. License breeds license, ergo deeds attributed to doers who ~ at least in the confines of my admittedly narrow sphere ~ never did. Re: tonight's concert...
...The musicians did the real inspiring. Bruce Springsteen, backed by dozens of chorale singers, performed "The Rising," the title cut of his album that helped the healing process after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
¿QUE?!?!?! I remember Bono at the Super Bowl ~ THAT was a healing moment for all time, by God. But I got no clue WTF this Springsteen thing is. First I've heard of it, without actually hearing it. And old mumble chop's warblings are pretty hard to understand anyway ~ like Ozzie Osbourne ordering coffee without the personal charm ~ so I'd have probably missed the healing message regardless. (In my defense, I completely got the drift of Toby Keith's "We'll put a boot up your ass" song. His elocution's excellent.)(Heh.)(I felt better after I heard it!)
::sigh::
Oh, well. It's all coming to a head right quick. For all the bullshit on the airwaves and print pages, your average Americans are pretty levelheaded and, while rolling their eyes now, will get tired of the euphoria gloria if it exceeds its allotted party time.
Here's to you, Mr. President-elect. My President-elect. Ours. I wish you nothing but the best, and want only the best, from and for both you AND us. That's the trust incumbent with the office. Rise above everything Chicago ever taught you, what be honest, steadfast and from the heart. An AMERICAN heart.
It reminds me of something. Years ago I queried about something I got drilled at me routinely ~ airline captains having one of the highest stress levels of any job, hence all the cardiac cases. Was that true, I finally asked the Grinch himself? Did the responsibility of all those lives every day eat at him?
He said, "No" and I was incredulous. What I got back was an exasperated, "Think about it..."
"They don't get there if I don't."
I hope you can get us there, President Obama. I truly do.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:15 AM | Comments (4)
This Requires a Quote From One of My Favorite Movies
Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all.What's all this insensitivity in response to, you ask?
"Grumblings in the ranks", I respond.
...Tony Plana, who plays Betty's father in the television series "Ugly Betty," said he was ecstatic about President-elect Barack Obama's victory. He said an Obama administration could improve the lives of all minorities.But he also said Hispanics deserved a better spot on the inaugural festivities list.
"It's a concern this event tonight is not an official event of the administration. It's a little sad for me Latinos had to organize their own event," Plana said. He said he hoped it did not mean Hispanics would be relegated to a back seat. The event was organized by the National Council of La Raza and other Hispanic organizations.
Usted quiere some queso with that vino, señor?
I suggest you get used to the feeling.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:04 AM
January 18, 2009
Re: Bingley's Grill. There's Cold...
...and then there's OLD.
Happy Birthday, oh Brother of Radiant Sweetness and Light.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:37 AM | Comments (21)
A Light Dusting Of Gorebal Warmening
We had a light dusting of Gorebal Warmening this morning
Very luverly to wake up to.
El Señor Grill may look cold now, but he will get a workout later.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:40 AM | Comments (1)
January 17, 2009
USAir Video
Here's some Coast Guard video from the NY Post. The NY Waterway boat is there in 4 minutes flat from the time the plane lands (if one can say 'lands' when no land was harmed during the filming of this video)
What a fantastic aligning of the planets for this rescue to work.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:23 PM
A Philosophical Question
Why do capers only come in bottles that seemingly only a coke spoon (an implement I've never owned) fit in? How the does one extract "1 tbsp, drained" from an orifice that no spoon I own can enter?
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:58 AM | Comments (13)
January 16, 2009
I Be Lovin' Me Some Obama!!!
After hoping for ALL THESE YEARS?!?
Dunkin' Donuts coming to town; 3 stores planned...In August, it could be time to make the doughnuts in Pensacola.
Dunkin' Donuts has announced a plan to build three restaurants in the Pensacola area.
That's change I can believe in!!
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:42 PM | Comments (8)
In a Cruel, Dog Eat Dog World
...girlfriends gotta stick together.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:59 PM | Comments (4)
Quote of the Day
Alas, age reduces our Walther PPKs to single shot weapons.FYI.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:00 PM | Comments (2)
Breaking News!
From our intrepid reporting staff:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals today filed a lawsuit against USAir pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger accusing him of wanton and premeditated cruelty to animals for his “vicious murder” of two Canadian Geese and causing “incalculable environmental harm” for his “reckless spillage” of several thousand gallons of kerosene into the fragile ecosystem of the Lower Hudson Watershed.“Imagine the last moments of sheer terror of those poor beautiful creatures,” PETA spokesperson Denia Humana said, “as this “Sully” stalked them down and fed them into the gaping maws of his ferocious carbon-spewing Cuisinarts. And then to compound his genocide he imperils countless millions of Sea Kittens by cruelly and calculatingly finding the one place to land his Sky Murderer that would cause maximum damage to Gaia’s innocents. I mean, couldn’t he have used a building or something?”
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:25 AM | Comments (10)
There Isn't Really Much More To Be Said
About the USAir landing in the Hudson yesterday. Simply an amazing, miraculous piece of flying aided by very calm conditions; the slightest wind and he catches a wingtip on the water and she would have cartwheeled...with dramatically different results.
I can think of 155 people who got very very drunk last night.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:09 AM | Comments (8)
January 15, 2009
Hmmm, Tempting...
But still not quite enough to get me to move to Peru
LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's top court has ruled that workers cannot be fired for being drunk on the job, a decision that was criticized by the government on Wednesday for setting a dangerous precedent.The Constitutional Tribunal ordered that Pablo Cayo be given his job back as a janitor for the municipality of Chorrillos, which fired him for being intoxicated at work.
The firing was excessive because even though Cayo was drunk, he did not offend or hurt anybody, Fernando Calle, one of the justices, said on Wednesday.
Although the combination of Pisco Sours and job security is awfully hard to beat.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:12 AM | Comments (3)
January 14, 2009
Interesting CNN Headline
"Blagojevich swearing in Illinois state Senate. See it right now."
Not really sure I want to.
Update: Now they've changed it to "Blagojevich oversees swearing-in for Illinois state Senate"
Hahahaha. Remember, they're the professionals, folks.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:15 PM | Comments (7)
New Jersey And You: Screwed Together
Lawhawk has got a perfect round-up of yesterday's blathering
The state budget is bigger this year than it was last year; and the upcoming fiscal year plans on being no different. All the talk about cuts is just that. They're not actually cutting budgets, but reducing the increase in spending year over year. It's still increasing, but just not as much as various groups have wanted.This is a shell game, and state taxpayers are paying through the nose.
Read the rest for other choice tidbits. What a complete disaster our state is, and there's no real relief in sight. Sure, a lot of folks are putting their hope in Christie, who may in fact turn out to be good if he in fact gets the nomination. But evidently he's run awful campaigns in the past and this column from December makes a brilliant point about what he'll be facing if elected
And then there's the fact that Christie would be likely to base his campaign on the fight against corruption. That's a great credential, but the real problem in New Jersey is not what the Trenton crowd is doing illegally. It's what it does legally. The bankrupt pension fund, the out-of-control spending on urban schools and the taxes that have business fleeing the state are almost entirely the result of programs that are not only legal but in some instances the direct result of state Supreme Court rulings.
(emphasis added by me)
We've got to radically overhaul Trenton.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:34 AM
When Ever I Feel A Little Chill
I always look to Mt. Washington for a reality check. Right now, -18 F with 95+ mph winds, so a wind chill of -66.
Makes the 24 here in Manhattan feel down right toasty.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:19 AM | Comments (4)
January 13, 2009
Can You Say "Blow..."
..."Jo"...wait. (I have to rephrase. My niece reads this. Got it.)
..."Me Down. That's Just WRONG."
...In October 2008 a judge in the Bayou case, Adlai Hardin Jr., ruled that investors who cashed out their interests within two years of the scheme's exposure had to hand back their principal as well as their profits—even though they were innocent victims of the swindle—if there was evidence that they got out because they suspected, or had been warned, there was something amiss. (The court also ordered profits made within the last six years to be surrendered.)......Mitchell Banas, a lawyer who represents an endowment for Christian Brothers High School in Memphis—which got its money out of the Bayou fraud before it collapsed but now must return both profits and principal—says the outcome is "extremely unfair." His client, he says, withdrew its money from the scheme on the advice of financial advisers who smelled a rat; now the school is left "between a rock and a hard place."
So your financial advisors do the right thing and get you the Hell outta Dodge...and shame on you. You get to pay for the folks who schmaybe wouldn't listen to reason and greedily stayed, only to lose it all.
Oh, yeah. My kinda good thing.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:07 PM | Comments (6)
The Most Manipulative of CARtels
..."No one wants to see GM go down the tubes," said picketing Jim Brown. "But we have to keep our standard of living, and GM is going to have to cooperate."
Extortion: A lesson in how to continually bite the hands that feed you and STILL come out smelling like a rose...well...something we could all identify at first whiff.
...On Sept. 24, 2007, a year during which GM lost an average of $3.2 billion per month, the United Auto Workers launched a national strike against the company, ordering the shutdown of 80 GM plants in the United States.I got your "union seat" right here, pal......On Feb. 26, 2008, a UAW strike at five American Axle plants, a key GM supplier and the sole axle supplier for the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, stopped or slowed production at 30 of GM's North American factories and crippled GM's pickup truck and SUV production throughout the United States.
...April 17, a UAW-ordered work stoppage over a work rule dispute at GM's Lansing Delta plant in Michigan halted production of the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave.
...May 5, 2008, workers walked off the job at GM's Kansas City plant over work rules and seniority disputes...."...at the automaker's Kansas City factory that builds the fast-selling Chevrolet Malibu, already in tight supply,"...
...General Motors, in short, had finally produced a car that the public really wanted and the guys walked out.
...On July 16, 2008, the UAW called a strike against a Johnson Controls plant in Tennessee that supplies GM with consoles and seats for the Chevrolet Traverse crossover vehicle.
"We want a flawless launch for this vehicle," UAW Local 1853 President Mike O'Rourke told Reuters, "but it's going to be with union seats and union consoles."
Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:31 PM | Comments (2)
Gosh Darn It! Don't Ya Just HATE It?!?!
These little misunderstanding kerflufflepuffels are such a bother, dadgumdarnit.
Geithner made honest mistakes on taxes, Obama spokesman says
Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:23 PM | Comments (7)
Another Loss In NJ For The People
I couldn't find anything in their online edition, but in the dead-tree edition of yesterday's Asbury Park Press there was a story that this law eliminating school budget voting had been passed and was on its way to Corzine's desk for signing. What a shock, the political machine moves to take away the one venue folks have in deciding how their monies are spent. Can't have the Little People muddying up the process now, can we?
I love the "logic" behind this bill
“School boards and school budgets are being decided by a minute population, and it’s disheartening,” said Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo, a Democrat from Hamilton Township, who co-sponsored the bill.
I'm willing to bet that the number of people who voted in the school budget elections in my town alone far exceeded the number of people who voted in the Assembly to take this right of ours away from us.
Once I get the results on how each member voted on this I will post them.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:47 AM | Comments (4)
The State Of The State
"Better days ahead"
Yes, because we'll be rid of you.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:28 AM | Comments (6)
January 12, 2009
Well, That's One Way To Launder Money
Probably not quite what he had in mind, though
The body of a Somali pirate who reportedly drowned soon after receiving a huge ransom has washed ashore with $153,000 in his pocket, his uncle says.The man was one of a group of pirates who seized the Saudi supertanker Sirius Star in November.
They reportedly received $3m (£1.95m) for freeing the tanker but five were said to have drowned after fleeing.
A relative of the drowned pirate told the BBC the family was now trying to dry out the recovered money.
As an aside, maybe we should give all these pirates money; it seems to be the most cost-effective way to kill them.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:47 AM | Comments (5)
Pet Peeve
Just a quick note to you Casual Friday types out there: arriving at work with the collar of your button-down shirt unbuttoned is not "casual" or "relaxed;" it is slovenly.
That is all.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:07 AM | Comments (9)
January 09, 2009
When Curbing Greenhouse Emissions
...goes too fart. Presenting "The Amazing Dog Poop Ass Bag".
(With a name like that, you thought it would be Al Gore video, didn't cha?)
And always remember to lava los manos after your incredibly humiliated best friend uses the restroom.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:50 PM | Comments (13)
I'm Hoping It's a Previously Unheard Acronym
...for "Federal Judge".
Ky. fudge freezes assets of oil securities firmSeems a little awkward just the same.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:32 PM
NJ News: Christie Is Running
And thankfully the rest of the name ain't "Whitman"
TRENTON — Former federal prosecutor Christopher J. Christie, who built a reputation as a political corruption-buster during seven years as U.S. attorney for New Jersey, announced his intention to run for governor Thursday, setting up a potential showdown with Gov. Jon S. Corzine.In an e-mail to supporters, Christie, a Republican, said he was filing papers to run and intends to make a formal announcement the first week in February.
...The filing with the Election Law Enforcement Commission allows Christie to start raising money for the 2009 race, an important step since multimillionaire Corzine — who dumped more than $40 million of his own money into the 2005 gubernatorial race — plans to seek re-election.
Though Christie faces a financial disadvantage, the 46-year-old has a solid reputation after putting several of New Jersey's high-profile politicians behind bars. He's been flirting with a gubernatorial bid since resigning as U.S. attorney Dec. 1.
Undoubtedly the best hope for the Republicans, it seems to me.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:30 AM | Comments (6)
January 08, 2009
Maybe They Tried The Pizza
Chuckin' punches at Chuck E. Cheese's
The wobbly video shows a group of adults mulling inside Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Susquehanna Twp. Suddenly it pans left and captures a fight breaking out.The 22-second clip, uploaded Sunday to YouTube, is the latest example of what police describe as a disturbing and bizarre crime trend: escalating violence among adults at a place designed for children's birthday parties.
Susquehanna Township police have been called to the restaurant on Union Deposit Road 12 times in the past year for reports of disorderly conduct, assault and theft. Those calls have resulted in 13 arrests, including six women -- five adults and a juvenile -- charged with disorderly conduct in a Saturday-night brawl.
I praised Sweet Baby Jeebus when Daughter outgrew that vile den of inequity.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:11 PM | Comments (12)
God Bless You, Officer Porcello
via Ace, comes this beautiful story of one of NY's finest serving one of America's finest
Sometimes when old Marines die they do fade away into unmarked graves in Potter’s Field.Such might have been the case for Gaspar Musso, USMC 925050, who fought in the Battle of Tinian in the Marianas Islands in 1944 and who died Nov. 15 at age 84 in a Brooklyn nursing home.
Enter Police Officer Susan Porcello, a PBA delegate at the 68th Precinct in Bay Ridge and one of those big-hearted New Yorkers who still make this the best city on Earth.
A wonderful wonderful story for these cold winter days.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:27 AM | Comments (6)
If Only Carl Sagan Were Still Alive...
His trademark phrase "billions and billions" would be appropriated by the Governments "trillions and trillions
Obama also confirmed that he plans to lay out a roughly $775 billion economic stimulus plan on Thursday but indicated that the amount could grow once it gets taken up by Congress."We've seen ranges from $800 (billion) to $1.3 trillion," he said. "And our attitude was that given the legislative process, if we start towards the low end of that, we'll see how it develops."
How is this money they are throwing about ever going to be repaid?
Sadly, our children are going to be so screwed by all of this.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:49 AM | Comments (2)
January 07, 2009
Offsets Are Bigger Than Al Gore
And that's BIG.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:43 PM | Comments (1)
"Exclusive Rights" To An Inaugural Ceremony?
HBO and the "star-studded event" can kiss my ass
NEW YORK -- HBO will kick off coverage of Inauguration Week with an exclusive Sunday, Jan. 18, telecast of the star-studded opening ceremony, two days before the saturation coverage of President Barack Obama's inauguration begins in earnest.In 1993, HBO paid $1.5 million to the Presidential Inaugural Committee to exclusively televise Bill Clinton's kickoff from the Lincoln Memorial, something that annoyed non-HBO subscribers who weren't able to watch the concert by Bob Dylan and Diana Ross.
This time around, HBO -- which has been awarded the rights for an undisclosed sum -- is planning to offer the event free to cable and satellite subscribers, regardless of whether they have the pay channel or not. The entertainment lineup for the event, which may also be streamed, hasn't yet been announced, but both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to attend.
And why is there a "star-studded" opening ceremony in the first place? It's not the Olympics.
What's next... "The Washington Monument, brought to you by Viagra"?
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:01 AM | Comments (31)
January 06, 2009
DAMmit!!!
I'm pissed.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:38 PM | Comments (12)
Senate Farce
Well, today we'll see how the Burris and Franken farces play out in the US Senate, that august body of pure statesmanship.
What a national embarrassment.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:59 AM | Comments (13)
The Russian Bear Is No Longer Passing Gas
That's not as good news as you might think
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine escalated Tuesday when Ukraine accused the Russian supplier of blocking pipelines to Europe, and three European countries said their supply from Russia had been cut or reduced.Ukraine's state-run gas company said Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, had reduced the amount of natural gas flowing through Ukraine to nine mostly Eastern European countries.
... Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey told CNN on Tuesday that their supplies of Russian natural gas had been affected.
A spokesman from Bulgaria's Ministry of Economy and Energy told CNN the supply was halted because of the Russia-Ukraine dispute. And a spokesman for Romania's Economic Ministry told CNN it had suffered a 75-percent reduction "as a direct result of the dispute."
A Turkish Energy Ministry spokesman told CNN that Russian gas supplied to Turkey through Ukraine had been completely cut. The country was raising supplies of gas from another pipeline in order to compensate, he said.
Russia's plans to flex her energy muscles have been severely crimped by the collapse in energy prices, as have her treasury and planned military expenditures. I would not be surprised to see her tighten the screws on the recalcitrant orbit nations even further.
Update: Here are some further thoughts on the problems Russia is facing:
Is there some wild card out there that could make the global economic mess even worse?For months now, my attention has focused on Russia. The country is big enough, and its problems serious enough, that it could take the global crisis to a new level of danger.
The good news is that Russia is in much better shape than it was the last time it shuddered into crisis, in 1998. The bad news is that Russia's current problems bear an eerie resemblance to those that took the country into default, led to the fall of a once-popular political leader and forced the U.S. Federal Reserve to organize a bailout in order to prevent a panic in the global financial markets.
Read the whole thing.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:51 AM | Comments (6)
Some Good Questions
The Farce that is the BCS system
In what system does an undefeated team that beat six bowl teams, including the No. 1 team for the last half of the season, have no shot at the title? In what system does a former No. 1 team that only played one bad half in September and would be favored to win the national championship by every sports book have no chance to win the championship? And in what system does another former No. 1 team that loses one game on one freaky play get passed over for a title shot in favor of a team it beat on a neutral field by 10 points? It's a system so absurd and illogical that only Paris Hilton might be able to understand it.
8 game playoff system. Let's go.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:33 AM | Comments (10)
January 05, 2009
I Don't Know About You All
...but, right now, THIS on the MSNBC home page?
All it says to me is:
Israel Kills the Little Babies of Very Nice Looking People For No Good Reason
No wonder these guys kicked Coulter off for good. I'd say "damage the brand", but hey!
Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:28 PM | Comments (4)
Maximus
...LIVES!!!!
It's hard to get much cooler than that!!
Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:17 PM | Comments (4)
Wedgwood Breaks
Heavily in debt firm shocked to discover that people aren't buying expensive pottery
In 1987 it merged with the similarly well-known Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an Irish-based luxury brands group.But BBC business editor Robert Peston has said it was "no surprise" that the heavily indebted firm had floundered.
"Waterford Wedgwood's collapse is a resonant event, that speaks of a noxious global squeeze on consumer spending," he said.
"Almost everything that it manufactures is a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.
"And most of us are thinking twice about shelling out on nice-to-haves."
A lot of us are thinking twice about shelling out on must-haves, as well.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:44 AM | Comments (5)
Perhaps 600,000 New Government Employees?
Boy, that will do wonders for the deficit, now won't it.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:40 AM | Comments (4)
January 03, 2009
A Little Encouragement From the Swilling
Dear Israel,
Shalom.
Now, go get 'em, Tiger.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:44 PM | Comments (2)
Ah, Bingley?!?!?!?
I could use a little guidance here, Mr. Java-know-it-all. They be gettin' mighty RED mighty FAST...
Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:41 PM | Comments (12)
January 02, 2009
A Tune
(With apologies to The Limeliters.)
In Illini's fair city,
Where pols are so pretty,
There once was a gub'nor named Roddy Blago.
He strolled halls of power,
And charged by the hour,
Crying, "Cough up the moolah!
To D.C. you'll go!"A lie, a lie, oh!
A lie, a lie, oh!
Crying, "Cough up the moolah! To D.C. you'll go!"He's like a whoremonger,
And sure 'twas no wonder!
For so were the gub'nors in his chair before.
He threatened and pleaded,
For cash that he needed,
Crying, "Cough up the moolah!
To D.C. you'll go!"A lie, a lie, oh!
A lie, a lie, oh!
Cryin, "Cough up the moolah! To D.C. you'll go!"But Patrick Fitzgerald,
Chicago's Tribune and Herald,
All knew of the plans of Slick Roddy Blago.
They stepped on his pee-pee,
And made Roddy weepy,
Crying, "No moolah for Senator,
Your choice cannot go!"Ho, ho, ho, ho!
In case you don't know!
Crying, "We're on to you, scumbag!
Your choice cannot go!"Now Rod's apoplectic!
His arrogance, electric!
Well, he goes and picks him one anyway! So...
Reid blows a gasket,
The pick's copasetic,
Crying, "Always wanted this gig,
And he picked ME, so blow!"Get over it, yo!
Get over it, yo!
Crying, "Bite me, you racists!
To D.C. I go!"This sets up a impasse:
A MacKinney-like morass.
Does he rush the gate guards,
To let himself in?
And back in Chicago,
Sits smug Roddy Blago,
Crying, "Graft, greed and cunning,
In the end always wins!"I told you all so!
All so smart, think you'd know!
Crying, "Graft, greed and cunning!
Chicagoland wins!"
Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:53 PM | Comments (8)
I, for One, HOPE Sh*t Like This CHANGEs
...after the annointment installation inauguration, 'cause I'm 'bout sick of it.
If you ask citizens of other countries to paint a portrait of the average American tourist, it would look something like this: a loud, chubby sight-seer wearing a fanny pack, baseball cap, printed T shirt, jean shorts and sneakers.
Not that part, 'cause that part's TRUE. This is the next sentence and PRECISELY what I'm talking about.
...It may seem like a funny, if harmless, image, but combined with the imprint of the outgoing president, the fashion-challenged cowboy in chief, the stereotype of the ugly American has become intractable.
WHAT the Kathie Griffin f*ckedy f*ck F*CK?!?!?!? Bush is fashion-challenged?? He wears a very nice suit 23/7, for Chrissakes and, to my limited knowledge, has never sartorially embarrassed the U.S. on an international stage. WHERE do they GET this shit? Actually, get the nerve to PRINT this shit, since it's a class in The Art of Outyoass 101. It's like everybody has to get that last slap at him in, even if it's the most ridiculous, petty, unanswerable, headscratching childishness imaginable. Gott im Himmel.
But sneaky bastards Newsweek DOES get to say ONE thing not even the incoming Vice-elect was allowed to:
...The United States has a serious public-relations problem, but the election of President Obama—with his youthful, clean-cut good looks—offers a valuable opportunity for a national top-to-toe makeover.
"Fawn" ain't just a LtCol's secretary or baby deer any more.
Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:27 PM | Comments (6)
Just Look At Michael Jackson Now
Sad, really
Ok, well actually it's Karl Lagerfeld. They must be related.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:05 PM | Comments (3)
Well, This Will Be...Interesting
There may be some excitement in DC on Tuesday
(CNN) -- The man tapped by Illinois' embattled governor to fill an open U.S. Senate seat will be turned away if he arrives for Tuesday's inauguration of new members, according to two Democratic aides.Roland Burris, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, will not be allowed on the Senate floor, according to the aides -- one who is familiar with Senate Democratic leaders' plans, and the other an aide to the Senate Democratic leadership.
Democrats in the Senate have twice this week said they have the authority to refuse to accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested December 9, accused by federal authorities of corruption, including allegedly trying to sell Obama's seat for personal gain.
The Democrats are right, they do have the authority. Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution sets out the minimum standards for a Senator:
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
And as a form of protection against scoundrels (well, blatant ones, at least) the following specific passage is found in Article 1, Section 5
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members
The meaning could not be any clearer: even if someone meets the minimum requirements and is elected or chosen to fill a seat the final decision on whether they will be allowed to or not rests with the body they are trying to join.
Now I "know" that the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in Powell v. McCormack that Congress in fact does not have that power. But the Court was wrong; certainly we can all think of examples when the Supremes have made wrong decisions, and this is one of them. Let's also not forget that there was simply no way that the Warren Court was going to allow itself to be seen as "denying" an elected Africa-American, even one as corrupt as Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., in the explosive months following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Oh, and here's some interesting trivia for you: guess who beat Powell in 1972 and sits in his seat to this day? Why only that paragon of virtue Charles Rangel.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:33 AM | Comments (10)
January 01, 2009
Hair Of The Dog
Somebody tied one on last night...
I really need to keep a better eye on him.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 04:44 PM | Comments (2)
Mil Pr0n
We went to see the Intrepid on Boxing Day
Your tax dollars at work!
I lurvs me the Blackbird.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at 04:42 PM | Comments (5)