I Agree With This

From Talking Points Memo:

It's not so much that Weiner didn't screw up royally, they say. It's that they say it's just not that big a deal, and making it into one falls into a Republican trap. And, besides, they say, as long as Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is still walking the halls of the Capitol, why should the left be forced to lose one of its most ardent supporters?

Look, folks, Weiner effed up. Get over it. We have a Republican party (working hand-in-hand with Fake Noise) trying to destroy this country, and we don't have time for this nonsense.

For Me, But Not For Thee

Well, isn't this a fine how-do-you-do.

According to The Raw Story:

Paul Ryan already benefited from the Social Security fund he now wants to gut.

The senator's father died when he was sixteen. For the next two years, he received Social Security survivor benefits--benefits that enabled him to go to college, earn two degrees (economics and political science), land a Congressional internship, ascend to the top spot in the Budget Committee...and cripple the very program that started him on his way.

Shall I dub thee "monumental hypocrite?"

Seriously, folks, this is what Social Security does. It's not just for old farts anymore, and it never was. Their Top Services: Apply for Benefits page lists these available services.

Retirement, spouses and/or Medicare benefits

Survivors benefits
Disability benefits
For a child
For an adult
Child's benefits
Parents benefits
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
For a child
For an adult with a disability
For an adult age 65 or older

This is a program that benefits all the American people, and we all pay for it. Willingly so, in most cases...certainly in mine.

And the Republicans want to gut it.

I think we're facing a crucial moment as a country. Do we want to remain the America we know, the compassionate America that takes care of its own? Or do we want to turn into a heartless corporate dictatorship that throws its worker-slaves under the bridge when they can't work anymore?

Take a look at which political party wants to turn America into Koch-istan...and vote accordingly.

Hypocrisy for Dummies

I saw this letter in the Arizona Republic today and couldn't help but reply to it. I don't expect the paper to publish my reply, so I decided to post it here.

The letter:

I would like to say "Bravo" to Gov. Jan Brewer for telling New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg to keep his nose out of Arizona's business regarding gun sales. I am proud that Arizona has lawmakers who do what is right and not what might be politically correct.  


For all the folks wanting taxpayers to pay for their transplants, I don't recall the Constitution requiring taxpayers to pay for everyone's health care. I know the liberals will say that is cruel. But I fought for this country for people to be free, not for free stuff. - Doyle Carmody,Mesa

One could take this apart sentence by sentence, starting with the idiocy of approving of demonstrably illegal activity regarding gun sales, and the "political correctness" of trying to gut the Constitution. I concentrated on the last paragraph. Here's what I said.

Re: "Free country, yes; free stuff, no"


Shorter Doyle Carmody: "I've got mine, so screw you."


If he is indeed a veteran, as implied in his letter ("I fought for this country for people to be free") then he is a monumental hypocrite. He is given low-cost or free health care, courtesy of the taxpayers via the Veterans Administration, yet he would deny such life-saving care to others.


He seems to forget that among the things he fought for is the obligation of a civilized society to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves.


There's a word for that, my friends. Selfishness.

This is, of course, in reference to my state's cutting off Medicaid coverage for transplants, and possibly condemning 96 people to death.

Mr. Carmody doesn't say he's a conservative, although it's strongly implied. Regardless, this is how conservatives run. As I've stated before, their philosophy is morally bankrupt.

Boehner's Hypocrisy

How about that. John Boehner feels it’s perfectly all right for Americans to exercise autonomy over their own bodies by choosing to smoke or not to smoke a legal product--but wants to deny women the same autonomy.

Let’s look at the relevant quote.

“Bob, tobacco is a legal product in America,” Mr. Boehner replied. “And the American people have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to partake or not.” Noting that many things are bad for a person’s health, he added, “The American people ought to have the right to make those decisions on their own.”

Now let’s rewrite it a bit.

“Bob, abortion is a legal procedure in America,” Mr. Boehner replied. “And American women have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to partake or not.” Noting that many things are bad for a person’s health, he added, “Women ought to have the right to make those decisions on their own.”

See how that works, if you’re truly against government intrusion into people’s lives?

But of course the Republicans aren’t, which they are showing us every day. Freedom (and the Constitution) be damned.