Critter Corner

Yep, folks time to once again put on your Ranger Rick hat. We need to help the wolves. The Bushies did away with protection of wolves in Yellowstone and the Rockies. According to savethewolves.org, Obama has suspended Bush's suspension and now we just have to encourage the government to create a more responsible plan to allow our furry friends to live in harmony with us bipeds.

Rush's Rant

I do not and will never understand the appeal of Rush Limbaugh. To me, the man is vile and endemic of what is so wrong with conservatives. Rush had this to say the other day:

My hope, and please understand me when I say this. I disagree fervently with the people on our side of the aisle who have caved and who say, 'Well, I hope he succeeds. We've got to give him a chance.' Why? They didn't give Bush a chance in 2000. Before he was inaugurated, the search-and-destroy mission had begun. I'm not talking about search-and-destroy, but I've been listening to Barack Obama for a year-and-a-half. I know what his politics are. I know what his plans are, as he has stated them. I don't want them to succeed.

On one hand I am forced to agree with Rush. I did hope that Bush would fail. No let me rephrase that, I KNEW Bush would fail. His policies were not about looking out for the best interests of the majority, they were exclusionary and meant to divide rather than unite us as Americans. So Rush's basic premise is accurate, but there is a bit more going on here, obviously.

First, Obama and Bush are not only different men from different parties with different belief systems and different goals, but Obama is president during a time that is dramatically different than the one in which Bush became our commander in chief.  Bush inherited from the Clinton Administration a country in really pretty good shape, both in terms of our economy and our perception in the world. Obama has not been gifted with either of these luxuries. America's reputation around the world is in shreds and our economy continues to spiral down. (Is it just me or does it remind you of those nightmares where you are falling and there is no bottom?)

What this means is Bush failing and Obama failing as president become two entirely different matters. Of course, Bush's failures have led us to this situation that somehow, someway, Obama must resolve. But if Obama fails, what does that mean for America and Americans?

And the bigger question here, in relation to Mr. Limbaugh, is how DARE he be so cavalier with the future of our country? I am sure I am not alone with any of you gentle readers in personally being affected by this seemingly, over night breakdown of our economy. I have my own woes, which are slight in comparison to the woe's of my friends who have been left without jobs, health care, etc. as a result of the greed of bankers, brokers and their ilk.

I am quite comfortable in apologizing for my part in creating this mess by wishing Bush would fail. But I can not abide the thought that someone would wish for Obama to fail, guaranteeing a further decline for our country. That is truly unamerican and Rush should be ashamed.

Meet the New Boss

Same as the old boss  . . . well that remains to be seen I suppose. But NBC has finally announced that David Gregory will be filling the moderator shoes of the late Tim Russert for their Sunday morning political roundup, Meet the Press.

The 38-year-old journalist has jam packed some experience in his working years, so I don't doubt that he is up to the task. But change is a hard thing, something I personally don't always cotton to, and Russert's charm was as much is brains as his demeanor, tough with a gentile inner core. Gregory will have to develop his own style presumably, but from his tenure as a White House correspondent his style seems a tad more brash than Russert's, perhaps that was just due to the circumstances and the current administration's lack of respect for the press. Tune in and decide for yourself.

Beyond Abortion

More from the frontlines on Dubya's last ditch efforts to leave his mark on our country. You mean the scorched earth so far isn't enough?

For about 30 years, medical workers have had the option to refuse to perform abortions. Dubya and the gang would like to extend that "option" to include healthcare workers having the right to refuse to provide information or advice to any patient who might be getting an abortion.

Those who think this expanded "right of conscience" medical refusal effort is a load of BS say that the new option could open a whole can of worms that would allow healthcare folk to refuse much more than just abortion, including birth control and artificial insemination. Don't believe them? Check out these actual instances of people being denied care or information that the LA Times compiled:

In Texas, a pharmacist rejected a rape victim's prescription for emergency contraception. In Virginia, a 42-year-old mother of two became pregnant after being refused emergency contraception. In California, a physician refused to perform artificial insemination for a lesbian couple. (In August, the California Supreme Court ruled that this refusal amounted to illegal discrimination based on sexual orientation.) And in Nebraska, a 19-year-old with a life-threatening embolism was refused an early abortion at a religiously affiliated hospital.

Nice legacy Bush. Forty eight days is way too much time left for this jackass to be monkeying around with our rights.

Tell Me Something I DON'T Know

Just another example of how wrong the Bush Administration has been on so many fronts, today the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that we have been in a recession since December 2007. (Dubya is top of mind today, as Air Force One recently touched down at my local tarmac. Our "Commander in Chief" is sitting in on a roundtable of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, as well as giving out a Volunteer Service Award. Yes, this is our tax dollars at work folks. The country is in meltdown and he is handing out volunteer plaques. Nice.)

A whole year. Well I would venture to say that most of us knew that already. The question that remains, however, is how long this thing will last and how bad will it get before it gets better. Frankly, I don't know that anyone has an answer to those questions.

Stocks dived on the news, but interestingly enough 30-year mortgage rates have hit a low not seen in many years—5 percent. The big reason this happened is the Fed announced that it was actually going to use some of the bailout money to buy Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae bonds (like they said they would in the beginning, whatever.) In a rather bizarro co-ink-y-dink, I am writing a freelance piece on the deals available now for first time home buyers. The bank folk I have spoken to locally are all saying that the gloom and doom we hear on TV is not the reality and now is a great time to buy. Ok, I will grant you that if you have the cash now is a good time to buy, but I question how readily the banks are going to be giving money out these days. I don't mean to scream about the sky falling when I am merely getting dinged by a pecan, but something tells me that unless you have some stellar credit and cash in reserve, the banks are not going to welcome you with open arms.

But if I am wrong, that's great. I would personally love to refinance for a 5 percent interest rate on my mortgage . . .

Leave Me Alone

I hate going so long between posts, I don't want my gentle readers to feel unappreciated or alone, but I have not found much to be riled up about of late. Of course there is the "will she or won't she" debate raging over Clinton possibly becoming Secretary of State. Whatevs. It seems to me to be her best option, gives her more importance than if she is just a mere senator.

Yesterday the beloved spouse mentioned Bush making some changes to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). I am a big believer in the act and think it doesn't even scratch the surface of what we need for parents and families in this country. Of course the fact that I once had to argue with a dipshit HR person about whether or not I was allowed to take 12 weeks after the spawn arrived is another reason I am a big supporter of the act.

That being said, what little I was able to track down about the latest FMLA changes authorized by the Bush Administration aren't even enough to get me hot under the collar. I think it is good that it is being extended to military families (and not just immediate family either), frankly I had no idea they didn't have the ability to use FMLA to care for wounded family members. I am kind of bothered that they are allowed six months of leave under the act, something that is not available to non-military people.

I guess that is about it, just wanted everyone to feel loved.

By the Way

In guess you, my gentle readers, truly read this blog for insight or because you value my opinion (!), here is a round up of my thoughts, musings and reactions to some of the big pictures items going on lately.

1.  Clinton's name being put up at the Democratic Convention.

This is fine. No I am not worried that some delegates will go to her side and then there won't be a clear winner. Unbunch your panties people. This is merely a gesture of good will; it is clearly within the rules; and it won't cause any problems and will hopefully unruffle some feathers. Now if those crazy old broads who keep calling into CSPAN in the morning would stop saying they are voting for McCain now that Clinton isn't the nominee, we could get down to the business of electing a democrat this November.

2.  Russia vs. Georgia. Who's the bad guy here?

Unfortunately, my sense is it isn't that easy. Georgia's president doesn't appear to be the nicest individual on the block, but that doesn't mean that Russia's interests in invading are all that altruistic. I am afraid I can't speak about this in any more detail without just making shit up. But I can say this, apparently the current U.S. administration and Republican presidential nominee, McCain, have not been taking their daily does of irony factor. All these statements about it not being right to invade a sovereign nation in the 21st century from these jokers are just plain asinine. See for yourself here, and here.

3. The Olympics

I'm sorry I just don't care. Not to mention they come on past my bedtime. 'Nuff said.

A Supreme Ruling

Justice Kennedy penned today's 5-4 court decision ruling that the Gitmo detainees have the right to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.

Yes folks that is one for the Constitution.

And this makes the third time the high court has ruled in the favor of these suspected terrorists rights to a trial. Both previous times, Congress and the Bush administration had to come up with new trial procedures. This decision from the court says those still aren't good enough.

The Court declared that Section 7 of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 was unconstitutional because it wanted to get rid of habeas corpus, despite the fact that our Constitution says this can only be done in cases of rebellion or invasion.

Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas were the dissenters. I will pause while you get over your shock.

Here is Salon's news item on the decision. Glenn Greewald also has more about the decision at Salon.com.