Strollerderby : senate

Morning News - GOP Calls Sotomayor Racist

Brett Singer — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The Republican/Conservative Hive Mind Coalition has decided how to attack Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. What is it? Drum roll, please... She's a racist! This comment from Rush Limbaugh is... well, you decide: "Limbaugh called the president 'the greatest living example of a reverse racist,' and said that he has picked another for the Supreme Court vacancy of retiring Justice David Souter. Limbaugh later equated Sotomayor to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke." David Duke? Huh? The comment Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and Hive Mind members are clinging to is one that Sotomayor made at a Duke Law School symposium in 2001: "a wise Latina woman would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

I haven't read much about Judge Sotomayor, but I think the GOP Hive Mind is grasping at straws by clinging to one quote that she made. How difficult would it be to review cases that were before her while she served as a judge, and to talk about those? I've said plenty of things that I wouldn't want thrown back at me if I were up for an important post. (Supreme Court seems unlikely since I don't have a law degree, but maybe I could be the head of the Department of Video Games and Comic Books.) Also, as a white man who grew up in the Bronx and worked for two years at a job where there were many Latina women, I can honestly say that a great many of them reached better conclusions than I did. So there.

Speaking of the GOP, Mitt Romney seems to think he's still running for President. He's mad at President Obama for the way he's handling our foreign policy. (Grrr... Mitt is angry... Grrrr...) I love how it's OK for people to criticize the President when said President is a Democrat. Remember how we were all supposed to support President Bush because we were a nation at war? That attacking the Commander-in-Chief of the United States could be damaging to troop morale, and make us look bad in the eyes of foreign leaders? I guess that doesn't matter anymore.

One more political item -- Dick Cheney (aside: if my name were "Richard" I wouldn't use "Dick" as my nickname) admitted that there was "no link" between Saddam Hussein and the September 11th attacks. But he still thinks we did the right thing by marching into Iraq. He, too, took issue with President Obama's policies. I'm not 100% positive about this, but didn't various Bush administration officials and the Republican/Conservative Hive Mind spend a lot of time and energy telling the public that Saddam Hussein was, in fact, involved in the September 11th attacks? If so, what is Cheney saying now -- sorry, my bad?

On to less important matters. Susan Boyle checked into the hospital after losing "Britain's Got Talent." She is said to be "suffering from exhaustion," which I think officially makes her a real celebrity, since I have never heard of anyone other than a celebrity checking into a hospital because they were tired. (I know, that's reductionist, and an over-simplification, and probably other words that basically mean the same thing as those two. Bear with me, I'm exhausted.) The funny thing about Susan Boyle? She didn't "lose." She came in second. She was a complete unknown and now she's famous enough to check into a hospital for exhaustion without being laughed at. She will certainly have some sort of career in the entertainment business if she wants to. How is that "losing"? A year from now, let's see who has had a better career -- Susan Boyle or the dance troupe Diversity. My money's on Boyle.

OK, one more serious thing: a federal judge has ruled that "Guantanamo evidence must be made public." This is "the unclassified evidence that it says justifies the continued imprisonment of more than 100 Guantanamo Bay prisoners." So, you know. So there.

Here's a headline you don't like to see: "Federal Reserve puzzled by yield curve steepening." It's one thing if I'm puzzled by financial matters facing our nation. But the Federal Reserve? They shouldn't be puzzled. They should know stuff. Lots of stuff.

Finally, something silly and utterly unimportant. Kathy Griffin says that Eminem walking out of the MTV Movie Awards was "a stunt." What happened? Sasha Baron Cohen, aka Bruno, stuck his heinie in the rapper's face.

Here's what happened:

And here's what Kathy Griffin thinks of it:

See? Now you know everything you need to know to start your day. Enjoy!

Image: Latina.com

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Morning News - Specter Switches Sides

Brett Singer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The big news yesterday was Arlen Specter making the switch from Republican to Democrat. The reason is partially about his Senate voting and political views, which often go against the Republican party line. Mostly, though, it's about the fact that he faces a tough Republican Primary fight because of that voting record, especially his recent support of President Obama's stimulus package. (Anyone else think that tbe phrase "stimulus package" sounds a little naughty? Like, if Jenna Jameson were to say it? Nevermind.) Democrats have pledged to support Specter as he runs for re-election, and the President will even fundraise with him if necessary. To me, this illustrates the problem with political parties. Why do we have them? I'm sure there's a reason, but I don't know what it is. Ross Perot may have been nuts, but a third party would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Anyway, with Specter's switch, this means that when/if Al Franken takes office, the Democrats would have 60 votes in the Senate, which is enough for a "filibuster-resistant majority" if they vote along party lines. Which brings me back to my point about parties being a bad thing. Even if you agree with the way things go on a party-line vote, it seems like the wrong way to go about doing things.

As for Al Franken, he's good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, the people of Minnesota voted for him. But Norm Coleman is still contesting the election. The case will be heard on June 1.

With swine flu running rampant, pig farmers are getting pinched. And by that I mean fewer people are buying pork. This in spite of the fact that, according to MSNBC, "the strain may not come entirely from pigs and cannot be spread by eating pork." Some piggy people want a new name for the disease other than "swine flu." Yeah. That'll happen. How about "the other influenza?" Nah, that sounds as dumb as "the other white meat" did.

Some good news and some bad news about the kiddie porn industry. A British watchdog group says that there are 10 percent fewer sites than before, but the images are "more violent." So... I don't know. I guess 10 percent fewer sites is nice.

OMG! American Idol! It's down to the final five! I, like, totally think Adam should win, don't you? OMG, yes!!! OK, that'll be enough of that.

Katherine Sebelius was confirmed as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, despite Republicans who objected to the fact that a doctor who performed abortions had contributed to her campaign. See, I thought abortion was legal in this country. Lucky for her, there's not a major health crisis in this country. Oh wait! Swine flu. My bad. Have fun, Kath!

Let's end with a weird one: a Serbian union official "chopped off his finger and ate it in a protest over wages that in some cases have not been paid in years." Zoran Bulatovic said that "he did it to show how desperate he and other workers were." Dude. That is both impressive and really, really disgusting.

Image: MSNBC

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Congress Looks at Postpartum Depression Support

JeanneSager — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:37:00 GMT

Unless you're Tom Cruise, you probably have some sense that postpartum depression is very real and moms could use a heck of a lot more support.

A bill winding its way through both houses of Congress could finally make postpartum depression awareness a priority in the country, along with making it easier for mothers to apply for and access treatment.

The Melanie Blocker Stokes Act, named for a new mother who took her life eight years ago, was introduced in the House of Representatives last year but floundered. Now it's back, with bills reintroduced in the House AND the Senate in 2009. According to a group stumping for supporters who will write to their Congressman begging for passage, the act "would mandate research on the benefits of screening for PPD, and it would also create programs to deliver outpatient, inpatient and home-based health and support services, including services that would promote earlier diagnosis and treatment."

Estimates put the numbers of women who suffer from postpartum depression at one in ten, but as this post from the Perinatal Pro blog correctly points out, women are often hesitant to ask for help - as much because they don't understand the true symptoms as because of a fear of looking like a bad mother. Less than two tenths of a percent of women suffer from a postpartum psychosis (think Susan Smith or Andrea Yates), but because of the intense media attention, many women think their symptoms have to be that extreme to be diagnosed with PPD.

In reality, the symptoms can be as simple as an inability to sleep even when the baby is sleeping, uncontrollable crying, massive changes in appetite or feelings of guilt. They sound like the symptoms of a lot of new moms - the issue is the degree to which they appear. Women need to know there's a way out - and getting proper treatment and support services is a big part of that. Take it from a mom who knows.

Want to help get it passed? All it takes is your name, address and zip code, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance will send an e-mail directly to your Congressman asking him or her to vote yes on this bill.

Image: National Institutes of Health (for more information on PPD)

The New State of Children's Health Care

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Soon after President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, the newly empowered Democratic Congress has once again signaled their commitment to what they’re calling “women and children first.” The Senate voted 66-to-32 to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover four million currently uninsured children by 2013. A tobacco tax will be used to pay for the increase in the federal program.

This legislation, which former President Bush vetoed twice, couldn’t come at a more important time, as job losses mean that tens of thousands of children are losing their health insurance.

One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is that it allows states to decided whether or not recent legal immigrants can benefit from federal programs like Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Currently, federal law bars legal immigrants from participating in these programs for five years after they move to the U.S.

According to The Times, “Many Republicans, including Senator John McCain of Arizona, said they worried that it was part of a long-term effort to replace private health insurance with government programs.” Since it's clear from President Obama's health care proposals that no one will be taking away McCain’s (or any rich, powerful man’s) private insurance, I think that the real concern is the possibility of having to pay an eensy bit more in taxes in order to help impoverished children and families get covered.

Some critics of the bill are also up in arms because the expanded program would offer federal assistance to families that do not qualify for Medicaid, but who can't afford private insurance--such as a family of four, living in New York, with a combined income of approximately $66,000. Although this is technically three times above the poverty level, it's easy to see how many families in this income range would find it impossible to spend upwards of $12,000 a year on health care.

Hmmm, let's see--would we rather help smokers keep their tobacco costs down or give four million children health insurance?

Photo: faithfulamerica.org

Ad Against Al Franken is Comic Book About Rape, Porn

JeanneSager — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:51:00 GMT

Hey kids, want to read about rape and porn? Thanks to Minnesota Republicans (via Gawker), now your kids can check out cartoony pictures of a little girl and her puppy alongside slams against former SNL star Al Franken.

It’s not hard to see how kids would pick up the mailer, sent out to on behalf of Norm Coleman, Franken’s opponent in the Minnesota Senate race. The drawings are all in cartoon form, with a rendering of a little girl with pigtails and a doggy’s face . . . right next to a “warning” that Franken “has written so-called comedy routines about raping women.”

The opening page of the leaflet shows a charicature of Franken poking his head out from behind a door. The inscription on the door reads, “Come on in kids . . . Senator Franken’s going to tell a few jokes.”

We get it, he’s supposed to be a pedophile inviting kids over for a little inappropriate content a la late night TV comedy.
Except the comic book-like brochure, with the words “come on in kids,” was distributed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. They’re throwing words like “raping” and “pornographic” around like fearmongering is going out of style.

So the kid who just learned to sort the mail and grabs the magazine that came just for them can get a taste of comedy Republican-style. And the horrified parent who hears them sounding out, “por, por, porna, porna . . . pornographic,” can vote Democrat this year.

Images: Gawker

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Anti-Palin Ad Targets Parents With Teenage Rape Victim's Plea

Is Mandy Moore Being a Homophobe or a Normal Daughter?

Tape of Ten-year-old's Death Released by Police Department

North Carolina to become Home of a Radical Homosexual Agenda?

Florida law mandates insurance payments for autism

Brett Singer — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Some good news from the south: Florida lawmakers have passed a bill that requires insurance companies to pay for treatment costs for autistic children – up to $36,000 per year, with a lifetime cap of $200,000. The bill was approved after another more complex piece of legislation that will offer inexpensive health insurance ($150 a month) to uninsured state residents.

Both programs are part of an initiative started by Florida governor Charlie Crist called "Cover Florida." Although the plan is being criticized by some for not being comprehensive enough, it certainly seems like a step in the right direction.

With health care making headlines this political season, maybe this news will inspire a debate about the specifics of how to get insurance to people who need it most, and also how to help families with autistic children get the treatment they need.

image: lacounty.gov

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Strollerderby : senate

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