According to Betty, if Christians discriminate against or criticize someone else, it's "Religious Freedom." But if anyone discriminates against or criticizes Christians, it's "Persecution."
See how simple that is?
Sunday, March 29, 2015
What is Chip Kelly doing?
In the off season there is a mood of desperation to find stuff to talk about. The big news of course is the draft but before that is the free agency and trade circus.
To say that Chip Kelly, coach of the Eagles, has been raising some eyebrows with the moves he's been making would be a drastic understatement.
First he traded LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for LB Kiko Alonso. This trade also freed up a lot of cap space for the Eagles.
Then he sent Nick Foles plus a 4th round pick in 2015 and a 2nd round 2016 draft pick to the Rams for Sam Bradford and a 5th round pick in 2015. The kicker in this deal is that if Bradford doesn't start eight games for Philadelphia they'll get a 4th round pick in 2016. If he gets injured, they'll get a 3rd round pick in 2016.
The Eagles also have Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley at QB and are rumored to be looking to move up in the draft for Marcus Mariota. The latest rumor is the Eagles would like to trade Barkley for a low round draft pick and sign Tim Tebow.
Finally he signed Demarco Murray from the Cowboys for the same amount of money that LeSean McCoy had been making and eliminated any cap space the first trade may have gained.
So, so far, we have McCoy, Foles, a 4th round 2015 pick and a second round 2016 pick gone and Alonso, Bradford, Murray and a 4th round pick in 2016 replacing them.
Kiko Alonso is a great pick-up that's going to cause NFC East rivals headaches for years to come and Murray is at least as good as McCoy. As for Bradford rather than Foles, we'll have to see.
Other possible moves would be Barkley replaced by Tebow and some low round pick from an unknown team and a trade to move up for Mariota.
Any team which would trade for Barkley would have to be really desperate at QB because Barkley hasn't exactly shown a lot in the way of potential. Any trade to move up for Mariota would cost a small fortune including at least 1st round picks for 2015 and 2016 and perhaps even a 1st or 2nd rounder for 2017.
Some football "pundits" have questioned Kelly's sanity but I suspect Kelly knows precisely what he wants and is simply going about getting it.
Watch the Eagles go for the Ttian's 2nd round pick in order to get Mariota. I don't think he's going to fall lower than that.
To say that Chip Kelly, coach of the Eagles, has been raising some eyebrows with the moves he's been making would be a drastic understatement.
First he traded LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for LB Kiko Alonso. This trade also freed up a lot of cap space for the Eagles.
Then he sent Nick Foles plus a 4th round pick in 2015 and a 2nd round 2016 draft pick to the Rams for Sam Bradford and a 5th round pick in 2015. The kicker in this deal is that if Bradford doesn't start eight games for Philadelphia they'll get a 4th round pick in 2016. If he gets injured, they'll get a 3rd round pick in 2016.
The Eagles also have Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley at QB and are rumored to be looking to move up in the draft for Marcus Mariota. The latest rumor is the Eagles would like to trade Barkley for a low round draft pick and sign Tim Tebow.
Finally he signed Demarco Murray from the Cowboys for the same amount of money that LeSean McCoy had been making and eliminated any cap space the first trade may have gained.
So, so far, we have McCoy, Foles, a 4th round 2015 pick and a second round 2016 pick gone and Alonso, Bradford, Murray and a 4th round pick in 2016 replacing them.
Kiko Alonso is a great pick-up that's going to cause NFC East rivals headaches for years to come and Murray is at least as good as McCoy. As for Bradford rather than Foles, we'll have to see.
Other possible moves would be Barkley replaced by Tebow and some low round pick from an unknown team and a trade to move up for Mariota.
Any team which would trade for Barkley would have to be really desperate at QB because Barkley hasn't exactly shown a lot in the way of potential. Any trade to move up for Mariota would cost a small fortune including at least 1st round picks for 2015 and 2016 and perhaps even a 1st or 2nd rounder for 2017.
Some football "pundits" have questioned Kelly's sanity but I suspect Kelly knows precisely what he wants and is simply going about getting it.
Watch the Eagles go for the Ttian's 2nd round pick in order to get Mariota. I don't think he's going to fall lower than that.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Let the Games Begin!
Ted Cruz became the first official candidate for president in 2016 announcing his intent to run at Liberty University in Virginia.
It was a little hard to determine from his remarks if Cruz wanted to be president or Chief Pastor.
I can only assume that Ted is trying to garner some easy publicity before the adults come out to play. Let's remember that this is a man that campaigned to shut down the government in order to stop Obamacare when Obamacare, as part of mandatory spending, wouldn't be affected by such a shutdown.
He has also has repeated demonstrated that he has no idea what Net Neutrality is but he's against it anyway.
It's really going to be hard to determine which of the potential GOP candidates is the worst. In addition to Ted Cruz we have possible candidates in Ben Carson, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie.
If I had to rank this menagerie head to toe it would probably look something like this:
#1 - Jeb Bush - Florida survived him as governor and he couldn't possibly be as bad as brother Dubya.
#2 - Chris Christie - Anything to get him out of New Jersey. Besides, Christie would at least be entertaining as hell.
#3 - Ted Cruz - Cruz is hopeless but everyone else is even worse!
#4 - Mike Huckabee - Mike has gone seriously down hill in the last eight years or so.
#5 - Scott Walker - Talk about scrapping the bottom of the barrel.
#6 - Rick Santorum - Yes, incredible as it may sound, there's someone even worse.
#7 - Ben Carson - This man is utterly delusional. I seriously believe that he has mental problems.
On the other side of the aisle there appears to be a wide range of choices. You can have Hillary. You can nominate Hillary. Or you can support Hillary.
Let's remember however that everyone was ready to crown her Democratic nominee in 2008 as well.
It was a little hard to determine from his remarks if Cruz wanted to be president or Chief Pastor.
I can only assume that Ted is trying to garner some easy publicity before the adults come out to play. Let's remember that this is a man that campaigned to shut down the government in order to stop Obamacare when Obamacare, as part of mandatory spending, wouldn't be affected by such a shutdown.
He has also has repeated demonstrated that he has no idea what Net Neutrality is but he's against it anyway.
It's really going to be hard to determine which of the potential GOP candidates is the worst. In addition to Ted Cruz we have possible candidates in Ben Carson, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie.
If I had to rank this menagerie head to toe it would probably look something like this:
#1 - Jeb Bush - Florida survived him as governor and he couldn't possibly be as bad as brother Dubya.
#2 - Chris Christie - Anything to get him out of New Jersey. Besides, Christie would at least be entertaining as hell.
#3 - Ted Cruz - Cruz is hopeless but everyone else is even worse!
#4 - Mike Huckabee - Mike has gone seriously down hill in the last eight years or so.
#5 - Scott Walker - Talk about scrapping the bottom of the barrel.
#6 - Rick Santorum - Yes, incredible as it may sound, there's someone even worse.
#7 - Ben Carson - This man is utterly delusional. I seriously believe that he has mental problems.
On the other side of the aisle there appears to be a wide range of choices. You can have Hillary. You can nominate Hillary. Or you can support Hillary.
Let's remember however that everyone was ready to crown her Democratic nominee in 2008 as well.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Civil Disobedience
A number of Religious Right types, including Rick Scarborough and James Dobson, are apparently pushing the idea of "civil disobedience" should the Supreme Court legalize gay marriage.
Exactly what form this "civil disobedience" would take is unclear but Scarborough is predicting that once gay marriage becomes the law of the land there will be mass arrests of Christians. Funny how that hasn't happened in any of the states where gay marriage is already legal.
Scarborough also claims that members of congress are lining up to sign a document pledging to commit this undefined "civil disobedience" in protest of a potential Supreme Court decision in favor of gay marriage.
I would assume if there are in fact any congressmen stupid enough to sign such a document that they would be from the Party of Stupid sometimes known as the GOP.
First of all I don't think it's a really good idea to essentially threaten the Supreme Court. Most judges tend to take a dim view of such shenanigans. Second, Scarborough is again severely overestimating the "who gives a shit" quotient on gay marriage.
Most people in the country, 55% at last count, favor gay marriage and I'm pretty sure a healthy share of the 44% that are opposed aren't about to go to jail over it.
I'm not sure if Scarborough and others of his ilk actually believe the nonsense they're spewing or are just whipping up their under 80 IQ trailer park fans in order to keep the donations flowing.
Exactly what form this "civil disobedience" would take is unclear but Scarborough is predicting that once gay marriage becomes the law of the land there will be mass arrests of Christians. Funny how that hasn't happened in any of the states where gay marriage is already legal.
Scarborough also claims that members of congress are lining up to sign a document pledging to commit this undefined "civil disobedience" in protest of a potential Supreme Court decision in favor of gay marriage.
I would assume if there are in fact any congressmen stupid enough to sign such a document that they would be from the Party of Stupid sometimes known as the GOP.
First of all I don't think it's a really good idea to essentially threaten the Supreme Court. Most judges tend to take a dim view of such shenanigans. Second, Scarborough is again severely overestimating the "who gives a shit" quotient on gay marriage.
Most people in the country, 55% at last count, favor gay marriage and I'm pretty sure a healthy share of the 44% that are opposed aren't about to go to jail over it.
I'm not sure if Scarborough and others of his ilk actually believe the nonsense they're spewing or are just whipping up their under 80 IQ trailer park fans in order to keep the donations flowing.
Netanyahu Wins
In a fairly surprising development Netanyahu's Likud Party experienced a last minute surge and won 30 seats in the Israeli elections.
Some analysts believe the surge can be traced to last minute hard line promises about expanding settlements in the occupied territories and even potentially annexing some of the disputed areas.
The victory probably assures a widening rift between Israel and her allies in Europe and the United States.
Part of the problem is the Israelis feel confident that the US isn't going to abandon them regardless of how foolish they act toward a long term peace settlement.
Netanyahu's policies are good for Netanyahu and Likud in the short term but in the long term they are a disaster for Israel and the region as a whole.
Likud keeps putting off any chance for a permanent solution in exchange for political benefit. It just goes to show that other electorates can be as dump as the American electorate.
Ultimately someone in Israel is going to have to figure out they're getting no where fast and a change of policy is required. Hopefully that will happen before too many more people get killed.
Some analysts believe the surge can be traced to last minute hard line promises about expanding settlements in the occupied territories and even potentially annexing some of the disputed areas.
The victory probably assures a widening rift between Israel and her allies in Europe and the United States.
Part of the problem is the Israelis feel confident that the US isn't going to abandon them regardless of how foolish they act toward a long term peace settlement.
Netanyahu's policies are good for Netanyahu and Likud in the short term but in the long term they are a disaster for Israel and the region as a whole.
Likud keeps putting off any chance for a permanent solution in exchange for political benefit. It just goes to show that other electorates can be as dump as the American electorate.
Ultimately someone in Israel is going to have to figure out they're getting no where fast and a change of policy is required. Hopefully that will happen before too many more people get killed.
Friday, March 13, 2015
The Party of Stupid
Yes, that's the Republicans.
The latest act of stupidity was an open later to Iran essentially saying it doesn't matter what kind of nuclear agreement you come up with we're going to win the next election and undo it anyway.
The letter was signed by 47 GOP senators supposedly to explain to the Iranians how the US Constitution works.
The Iranian response made it clear they understood the US Constitution better than the Republican senators and also understood International Law which the GOP didn't even seem to take into account.
Newspapers in the US and US Allies blasted the GOP action but in the arrogance of the Right Wing, they don't seem to care and neither do their trailer park base.
Like John Cleese says, they're just too fucking stupid to realize how stupid they are.
As for the Republican base, "hey, we're "mericans' and can do whatever we want" is their credo. Each and every one is a firm believer in American Exceptionalism. They're just opposed to everything that might make the country exceptional such as equal protection under the law and the separation of church and state.
Yes, I'm now no longer sticking by my "no foul language" rule. Screw it. I've fucking had it up to here with Right Wing lies, ignorance, backfire effect and just plain stupidity.
The latest act of stupidity was an open later to Iran essentially saying it doesn't matter what kind of nuclear agreement you come up with we're going to win the next election and undo it anyway.
The letter was signed by 47 GOP senators supposedly to explain to the Iranians how the US Constitution works.
The Iranian response made it clear they understood the US Constitution better than the Republican senators and also understood International Law which the GOP didn't even seem to take into account.
Newspapers in the US and US Allies blasted the GOP action but in the arrogance of the Right Wing, they don't seem to care and neither do their trailer park base.
Like John Cleese says, they're just too fucking stupid to realize how stupid they are.
As for the Republican base, "hey, we're "mericans' and can do whatever we want" is their credo. Each and every one is a firm believer in American Exceptionalism. They're just opposed to everything that might make the country exceptional such as equal protection under the law and the separation of church and state.
Yes, I'm now no longer sticking by my "no foul language" rule. Screw it. I've fucking had it up to here with Right Wing lies, ignorance, backfire effect and just plain stupidity.
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
Concept and Implementation
What do I mean by "Concept and Implementation?"
What I mean is that there are always two layers to any discussion. First there is the question as to whether the Concept or the intent is a good idea or not.
Let's consider Universal Health Care and start with the question, is providing universal access to health care a good thing or a bad thing?
This is where discussions have to start. First you have to decide if the objective is worthwhile or not.
Assuming there is agreement that the objective is worthwhile, then we can move on to how to implement it. That's the "Implementation" part.
Too often discussions get all jumbled up with issues of Concept and Implementation being mashed together in a confusing tangle.
The two conversations should be totally different. If you are opposed to Obamacare, Net Neutrality or Common Core, is it the objective that you are opposed to or the implementation?
Of course before you can even discuss whether the objective is worthwhile you have to understand what the objective is. I find too many people oppose things but don't have a clue what it is they're opposing.
What I mean is that there are always two layers to any discussion. First there is the question as to whether the Concept or the intent is a good idea or not.
Let's consider Universal Health Care and start with the question, is providing universal access to health care a good thing or a bad thing?
This is where discussions have to start. First you have to decide if the objective is worthwhile or not.
Assuming there is agreement that the objective is worthwhile, then we can move on to how to implement it. That's the "Implementation" part.
Too often discussions get all jumbled up with issues of Concept and Implementation being mashed together in a confusing tangle.
The two conversations should be totally different. If you are opposed to Obamacare, Net Neutrality or Common Core, is it the objective that you are opposed to or the implementation?
Of course before you can even discuss whether the objective is worthwhile you have to understand what the objective is. I find too many people oppose things but don't have a clue what it is they're opposing.
Netanyahu's Speech
The Israeli Prime Minister addressed a joint session of Congress yesterday in what is considered to be a double breach of etiquette.
First, Congress is not supposed to side step the State Department and invite foreign heads of state to speak. Second, it is standard policy not to meet with foreign dignitaries close to a election in their home country and Israeli elections are scheduled for mid-March.
OK, so much for that stuff. The simple fact is he came and he spoke so what really matters is what the man said.
Did he say anything earth shattering? Did he say anything that might influence the Obama administration's plans with respect to negotiations with Iran?
I'd have to say the answers are no and absolutely not. If anything Netanyahu probably made Kerry and the State Department MORE adamant about reaching an agreement. Since the Iranians aren't nearly as stupid as the Republicans in Congress, I'm sure they'll manage to use that to their advantage.
As far as I can tell Netanyahu's "strategy" with the Iranians is "keep kicking them until they see the error of their ways." The problem is I don't think any Iranian concession would satisfy the prime minister.
He spent the rest of the speech trying to talk Obama and the Democrats into not being really pissed off at him. I think he's pretty safe there at least as far as the Democrats in Congress are concerned.
I do believe he has hurt his position with a reasonable segment of the American Public but as soon as he loses the election in mid-March all will be forgiven as the new prime minister is sworn in.
Yes, that's a prediction or at least a hope.
So, what are my thoughts?
I still say that Netanyahu is playing with fire when he cuddles up with the right wing lunatic fringe in this country. I wonder if Israelis realize how he's damaging his image when he does that? I'm hoping they've figured it out and will boot his tail out.
I suppose we shall see what we shall see.
First, Congress is not supposed to side step the State Department and invite foreign heads of state to speak. Second, it is standard policy not to meet with foreign dignitaries close to a election in their home country and Israeli elections are scheduled for mid-March.
OK, so much for that stuff. The simple fact is he came and he spoke so what really matters is what the man said.
Did he say anything earth shattering? Did he say anything that might influence the Obama administration's plans with respect to negotiations with Iran?
I'd have to say the answers are no and absolutely not. If anything Netanyahu probably made Kerry and the State Department MORE adamant about reaching an agreement. Since the Iranians aren't nearly as stupid as the Republicans in Congress, I'm sure they'll manage to use that to their advantage.
As far as I can tell Netanyahu's "strategy" with the Iranians is "keep kicking them until they see the error of their ways." The problem is I don't think any Iranian concession would satisfy the prime minister.
He spent the rest of the speech trying to talk Obama and the Democrats into not being really pissed off at him. I think he's pretty safe there at least as far as the Democrats in Congress are concerned.
I do believe he has hurt his position with a reasonable segment of the American Public but as soon as he loses the election in mid-March all will be forgiven as the new prime minister is sworn in.
Yes, that's a prediction or at least a hope.
So, what are my thoughts?
I still say that Netanyahu is playing with fire when he cuddles up with the right wing lunatic fringe in this country. I wonder if Israelis realize how he's damaging his image when he does that? I'm hoping they've figured it out and will boot his tail out.
I suppose we shall see what we shall see.
Sunday, March 01, 2015
I Can't Take IT Anymore!
What's "IT" you ask? "IT" is the incredible ignorance of the American public.
Notice that I said "ignorance" and not "stupidity." We'll talk about stupidity some other time.
There is an old saying that you are entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts and what we're talking about here are simple facts.
When I read comments on the Internet I am literally flabbergasted at what people think is true. I don't know where they get some of their ideas. Even Faux News doesn't misinform this badly.
Look, you are entitled not to like something; you can even not like something for no particular reason but at least try to ascertain the facts.
I'm fascinated by this attitude that everything, no matter what it is, somehow is Obama's fault. Here are facts that some people don't seem aware off.
- The President doesn't make all the rules. Rules have been being made in this country for a couple of hundred years. Every new president doesn't rewrite all of them.
- The president's administration doesn't approve everyone that enters the country so the first patient diagnosed with Ebola in this country wasn't "let in" by the Obama administration.
- Obama did not only win the electoral vote in 2008 and 2012. In 2008 he won the popular vote 53%-46%. In 2012 he won it 51%-47%.
- The US is actively engaged in the fight against ISIS. US led coalition aircraft have executed some 5,000 sorties against ISIS forces.
- The 2009 budget deficit of $1.4 trillion was a Bush budget and not an Obama budget. Of course the deficits in 2010 and 2011 of $1.3 trillion were all his.
- The US, despite all of the spats, is still the best, and about the only, ally that Israel has left. The Europeans have already lost patience with Netanyahu,
-----Only the US and Australia voted against a security council Palestinian statehood resolution. Britain abstained. France, China and Russia all voted for it. Only a last minute decision by Nigeria to abstain prevented the US from having to use its veto.
-----It is a breach of protocol for congress to invite a foreign leader to speak.
-----It is US policy to never meet with a foreign leader close to election time in that leaders country.
Not that I expect any of these right wing fools to change their attitude after learning the facts. Psychological tests indicate that showing a conservative he's wrong simply makes him dig in his heels and become more insistent that he's right.
I've been wrong about quite a few things in my life but never so wrong as I was about Obama being able to somehow heal the discord in this country. To say things have gotten considerably worse would be a huge understatement.
Is it as bad as the 60s? We may not be literally fighting in the streets but I'm not sure I see a way out of this current conflict and this inability to agree on the facts is a big part of the problem.
The other big part is that social conservatives are just too plain stupid to realize what they think are the facts just ain't so.
Notice that I said "ignorance" and not "stupidity." We'll talk about stupidity some other time.
There is an old saying that you are entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts and what we're talking about here are simple facts.
When I read comments on the Internet I am literally flabbergasted at what people think is true. I don't know where they get some of their ideas. Even Faux News doesn't misinform this badly.
Look, you are entitled not to like something; you can even not like something for no particular reason but at least try to ascertain the facts.
I'm fascinated by this attitude that everything, no matter what it is, somehow is Obama's fault. Here are facts that some people don't seem aware off.
- The President doesn't make all the rules. Rules have been being made in this country for a couple of hundred years. Every new president doesn't rewrite all of them.
- The president's administration doesn't approve everyone that enters the country so the first patient diagnosed with Ebola in this country wasn't "let in" by the Obama administration.
- Obama did not only win the electoral vote in 2008 and 2012. In 2008 he won the popular vote 53%-46%. In 2012 he won it 51%-47%.
- The US is actively engaged in the fight against ISIS. US led coalition aircraft have executed some 5,000 sorties against ISIS forces.
- The 2009 budget deficit of $1.4 trillion was a Bush budget and not an Obama budget. Of course the deficits in 2010 and 2011 of $1.3 trillion were all his.
- The US, despite all of the spats, is still the best, and about the only, ally that Israel has left. The Europeans have already lost patience with Netanyahu,
-----Only the US and Australia voted against a security council Palestinian statehood resolution. Britain abstained. France, China and Russia all voted for it. Only a last minute decision by Nigeria to abstain prevented the US from having to use its veto.
-----It is a breach of protocol for congress to invite a foreign leader to speak.
-----It is US policy to never meet with a foreign leader close to election time in that leaders country.
Not that I expect any of these right wing fools to change their attitude after learning the facts. Psychological tests indicate that showing a conservative he's wrong simply makes him dig in his heels and become more insistent that he's right.
I've been wrong about quite a few things in my life but never so wrong as I was about Obama being able to somehow heal the discord in this country. To say things have gotten considerably worse would be a huge understatement.
Is it as bad as the 60s? We may not be literally fighting in the streets but I'm not sure I see a way out of this current conflict and this inability to agree on the facts is a big part of the problem.
The other big part is that social conservatives are just too plain stupid to realize what they think are the facts just ain't so.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Net Neutrality
Well, the FCC has taken the steps necessary to try and maintain Net Neutrality of the Internet.
Of course the Republicans and a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are saying their going to fight it tooth and nail. Of course the under 80 IQ trailer park Republican base is cheering them on.
Wait until the yokels can't get to their porn any more.
This one strikes me as a no brainer. The very idea of allowing an ISP to regulate who gets to use the bandwidth THAT I'M PAYING FOR to provide content is insane.
That's basically the ability to determine what people can access.
Consider two shopping sites one of which pays for extra bandwidth and one which can't afford to. The site with the extra bandwidth is going to be faster and easier to use.
Which one would you use assuming the prices were comparable?
How long do you think it will be before they drive the slow internet competition out of business and get to raise their prices?
Verizon says they will sue the FCC. I think we should tell Verizon that no Net Neutrality, no Verizon customers.
Of course the Republicans and a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are saying their going to fight it tooth and nail. Of course the under 80 IQ trailer park Republican base is cheering them on.
Wait until the yokels can't get to their porn any more.
This one strikes me as a no brainer. The very idea of allowing an ISP to regulate who gets to use the bandwidth THAT I'M PAYING FOR to provide content is insane.
That's basically the ability to determine what people can access.
Consider two shopping sites one of which pays for extra bandwidth and one which can't afford to. The site with the extra bandwidth is going to be faster and easier to use.
Which one would you use assuming the prices were comparable?
How long do you think it will be before they drive the slow internet competition out of business and get to raise their prices?
Verizon says they will sue the FCC. I think we should tell Verizon that no Net Neutrality, no Verizon customers.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Chaos in Alabama
You can't make this stuff up. If anyone had written a book with what's been going on in Alabama this week as a plot no one would have published it because it's too far fetched.
- Gay Marriage supposed to start Monday by federal court order.
- Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court orders probate judges to ignore federal court order. Says it only applies to executive branch.
- Most probate judges ignore Chief Justice instead.
- Some probate judges stop performing ALL marriages.
- Minister arrested in Autauga County Alabama because she offered to perform a same sex wedding at courthouse.
- Ku Klux Klan issues "Call to Arms!"
What's next? Is the ghost of George Wallace going to show up and stand in the courthouse door? What is wrong with these people?
- Gay Marriage supposed to start Monday by federal court order.
- Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court orders probate judges to ignore federal court order. Says it only applies to executive branch.
- Most probate judges ignore Chief Justice instead.
- Some probate judges stop performing ALL marriages.
- Minister arrested in Autauga County Alabama because she offered to perform a same sex wedding at courthouse.
- Ku Klux Klan issues "Call to Arms!"
What's next? Is the ghost of George Wallace going to show up and stand in the courthouse door? What is wrong with these people?
Monday, February 09, 2015
Judge Roy Moore of Alabama
You all remember Judge Roy Moore. He's the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who defied a federal court order to remove a monument of the 10 Commandments from the courthouse. As a result he was subsequently remove from his position as Chief Justice.
He then spent a few years trying to become governor but even the people in Alabama aren't that stupid and he usually lost big in the Republican primary.
Then the Republican Party nominated him again for Chief Justice and of course he won.
Now Roy Moore has the pleasure of residing over the establishment of gay marriage in Alabama. To say that he is kicking and screaming in an attempt to stop it from happening would be a serious understatement.
On Sunday night Moore sent a memo to all county probate judges in Alabama, the folks responsible for issuing marriage licenses and performing civil ceremonies, that they were not required to obey the directive handed down by a federal court stating that the laws banning same sex marriage in Alabama were not to be enforced.
Moore's rationale was that the court order was directed to the attorney general "...and all his officers, agents, servants and employees, and others in active concert or participation with any of them..." The attorney general is part of the executive branch while the probate judges are part of the judicial branch therefore they aren't bound by the court order.
And they wonder why people hate lawyers?
About 60% of the counties in Alabama appear to be ignoring Moore and issuing licenses and performing same sex weddings. The remaining counties appear to not be doing so. Whether that is in obedience to Moore or for some other reason is unknown.
So now we have the situation of a Chief Justice of a state supreme court claiming that a federal court order, the intention of which is perfectly clear even if one can nit pick the language, need not be obeyed by county probate judges and most of the county probate judges ignoring that directive from the Chief Justice of the state.
All I have to say to Judge Moore is Orval Faubus. He was the governor of Arkansas that made the mistake of trying to block a federal court order to integrate the schools using the Alabama National Guard. Faubus got to make the acquaintance of the 101st Airborne Division which President Eisenhower sent in to enforce the order after he nationalized the Alabama National Guard and ordered them to return to their armories.
I doubt that sort of action will be necessary here. Hopefully Governor Bentley of Alabama will figure out a way to shut Moore up and return some sanity to the situation.
He then spent a few years trying to become governor but even the people in Alabama aren't that stupid and he usually lost big in the Republican primary.
Then the Republican Party nominated him again for Chief Justice and of course he won.
Now Roy Moore has the pleasure of residing over the establishment of gay marriage in Alabama. To say that he is kicking and screaming in an attempt to stop it from happening would be a serious understatement.
On Sunday night Moore sent a memo to all county probate judges in Alabama, the folks responsible for issuing marriage licenses and performing civil ceremonies, that they were not required to obey the directive handed down by a federal court stating that the laws banning same sex marriage in Alabama were not to be enforced.
Moore's rationale was that the court order was directed to the attorney general "...and all his officers, agents, servants and employees, and others in active concert or participation with any of them..." The attorney general is part of the executive branch while the probate judges are part of the judicial branch therefore they aren't bound by the court order.
And they wonder why people hate lawyers?
About 60% of the counties in Alabama appear to be ignoring Moore and issuing licenses and performing same sex weddings. The remaining counties appear to not be doing so. Whether that is in obedience to Moore or for some other reason is unknown.
So now we have the situation of a Chief Justice of a state supreme court claiming that a federal court order, the intention of which is perfectly clear even if one can nit pick the language, need not be obeyed by county probate judges and most of the county probate judges ignoring that directive from the Chief Justice of the state.
All I have to say to Judge Moore is Orval Faubus. He was the governor of Arkansas that made the mistake of trying to block a federal court order to integrate the schools using the Alabama National Guard. Faubus got to make the acquaintance of the 101st Airborne Division which President Eisenhower sent in to enforce the order after he nationalized the Alabama National Guard and ordered them to return to their armories.
I doubt that sort of action will be necessary here. Hopefully Governor Bentley of Alabama will figure out a way to shut Moore up and return some sanity to the situation.
Sunday, February 01, 2015
Super Bowl XLIX
Malcolm Butler picks it off and the Pats win 28-24.
Why would anyone throw the ball into the middle of the field from the 3 yard line when you have Marshawn Lynch in the backfield? Wait a minute, this sounds familiar.
Let's go back to the championship game in 2013 and what I said then.
"Dear Pete Carrol, ...[you] didn't give it to Marshawn Lynch on 3rd and 1 AND didn't give it to Marshawn Lynch on 4th and 1. Pete, when you have a Marshawn Lynch you give him the freaking ball when you desperately need a yard."
Pete, when you're on the 3 yard line with under 30 seconds to play, the Super Bowl is on the line and you have a Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, YOU GIVE HIM THE FREAKING BALL!
Anyway, that makes me 10-1 for the NFL Playoffs this year. The only game I got wrong was the Colts and Broncos.
You'd almost think I know what I'm talking about. But not to worry, I'm not quitting my day job.
Why would anyone throw the ball into the middle of the field from the 3 yard line when you have Marshawn Lynch in the backfield? Wait a minute, this sounds familiar.
Let's go back to the championship game in 2013 and what I said then.
"Dear Pete Carrol, ...[you] didn't give it to Marshawn Lynch on 3rd and 1 AND didn't give it to Marshawn Lynch on 4th and 1. Pete, when you have a Marshawn Lynch you give him the freaking ball when you desperately need a yard."
Pete, when you're on the 3 yard line with under 30 seconds to play, the Super Bowl is on the line and you have a Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, YOU GIVE HIM THE FREAKING BALL!
Anyway, that makes me 10-1 for the NFL Playoffs this year. The only game I got wrong was the Colts and Broncos.
You'd almost think I know what I'm talking about. But not to worry, I'm not quitting my day job.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Deflategate?
Deflategate? The footballs were under inflated in the Patriots win over the Colts? I have no idea what to make of this one.
I mean, if the balls were purposely deflated, shouldn't this have benefited Andrew Luck as well as Tom Brady? The whole thing strikes me as silly unless there is some benefit in KNOWING that the balls are under inflated.
The latest is that the NFL is talking to a locker room attendant about having moved the footballs from the officials' locker room to a different area on the way to the field.
Was it his job to move the footballs from the locker room to the field? I mean, how long could them have been in a "different area" before someone noticed that the footballs hadn't arrived yet? Why isn't it the responsibility of an official to move the footballs from the locker room to the field?
Sounds like they're going to through some poor shnook under the bus so the team and the league can live happily ever after.
I mean, if the balls were purposely deflated, shouldn't this have benefited Andrew Luck as well as Tom Brady? The whole thing strikes me as silly unless there is some benefit in KNOWING that the balls are under inflated.
The latest is that the NFL is talking to a locker room attendant about having moved the footballs from the officials' locker room to a different area on the way to the field.
Was it his job to move the footballs from the locker room to the field? I mean, how long could them have been in a "different area" before someone noticed that the footballs hadn't arrived yet? Why isn't it the responsibility of an official to move the footballs from the locker room to the field?
Sounds like they're going to through some poor shnook under the bus so the team and the league can live happily ever after.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
The NFL Playoffs V
With the Pack ahead 16-0 I was feeling pretty good. Even though I had picked the Seahawks to win my heart wasn't in it. Even at 19-7 with less than four minutes to go it looked good,
Then bad things started to happen. The Seahawks made it 19-14 and an onside kick went right through Brandon Bostick's hands, hit him in the face and bounced into the arms of the Seahawks.
The Seahawks scored to make it 22-19 on a two point conversion that shouldn't have had a chance in hell. The Packers tied it 22-22 to send it into overtime but you just knew what was going to happen and it did. Seahawks win it 28-22.
At New England the Colts never really got into the game and got spanked by Brady and the Patriots 45-7.
Well, that makes me 9-1 with only one game left; the BIG one.
I'm going with the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. Tom Brady finally gets his 4th ring.
Then bad things started to happen. The Seahawks made it 19-14 and an onside kick went right through Brandon Bostick's hands, hit him in the face and bounced into the arms of the Seahawks.
The Seahawks scored to make it 22-19 on a two point conversion that shouldn't have had a chance in hell. The Packers tied it 22-22 to send it into overtime but you just knew what was going to happen and it did. Seahawks win it 28-22.
At New England the Colts never really got into the game and got spanked by Brady and the Patriots 45-7.
Well, that makes me 9-1 with only one game left; the BIG one.
I'm going with the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. Tom Brady finally gets his 4th ring.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Supreme Court will Act on Gay Marriage
The Supreme Court today announced that it will take up the issue of Gay Marriage.
Well it's about time Ollie.
I.m not going to guess what the court will do as that's something of an effort in futility. One can hope that they will side with the light and declare Gay Marriage legal across all 50 states.
At the other extreme would be to allow state bans of Gay Marriage. Why they would do that given the landslide of recent court decisions in favor of Gay Marriage and the delay in taking up the case until at least one circuit court ruled that state bans were OK would be beyond my understanding.
Are there other options somewhere between the two extremes? Perhaps, but I can't think of any off hand.
The decision is expected by June.
Well it's about time Ollie.
I.m not going to guess what the court will do as that's something of an effort in futility. One can hope that they will side with the light and declare Gay Marriage legal across all 50 states.
At the other extreme would be to allow state bans of Gay Marriage. Why they would do that given the landslide of recent court decisions in favor of Gay Marriage and the delay in taking up the case until at least one circuit court ruled that state bans were OK would be beyond my understanding.
Are there other options somewhere between the two extremes? Perhaps, but I can't think of any off hand.
The decision is expected by June.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
The NFL Playoffs IV
In a battle of the future vs. the past, the future won. The Colts beat the Broncos 24-13 and Andrew Luck will move on to play Tom Brady.
Luck against Wilson in the Super Bowl would be very interesting.
So I get the last game wrong and I end up 7-1 through the divisional round. On to the championship games.
Packers at Seahawks - Seahawks
I hate the idea of the Seahawks going back to the Super Bowl and I'm really hoping Aaron Rodgers and the pack will humble them next week but I doubt it. I have to go with the Seahawks.
Colts at Patriots - Patriots
I don't think Luck, on consecutive weekends, is going to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady at home. I'm going with the Patriots.
Luck against Wilson in the Super Bowl would be very interesting.
So I get the last game wrong and I end up 7-1 through the divisional round. On to the championship games.
Packers at Seahawks - Seahawks
I hate the idea of the Seahawks going back to the Super Bowl and I'm really hoping Aaron Rodgers and the pack will humble them next week but I doubt it. I have to go with the Seahawks.
Colts at Patriots - Patriots
I don't think Luck, on consecutive weekends, is going to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady at home. I'm going with the Patriots.
Cowboys lose to Packers
The refs givith and the refs taketh away. Here's the rule that took away what was originally called a Dez Bryant catch.
"If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete."
Stick that one in your fat tub and smoke it Christie.
The Cowboys get sent home by the Pack 26-21.
"If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete."
Stick that one in your fat tub and smoke it Christie.
The Cowboys get sent home by the Pack 26-21.
The NFL Playoffs III
Hey, hey, hey, two for two in the divisional playoffs on Saturday making me 6-0 for the moment.
Unfortunately I have a sort of tradition of getting the two Saturday games right and the two Sunday games wrong.
I suppose we shall see what we shall see.
Unfortunately I have a sort of tradition of getting the two Saturday games right and the two Sunday games wrong.
I suppose we shall see what we shall see.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Atlanta Mayor Fires Fire Chief
The mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, fired his fire chief Kelvin Cochran for self-publishing a book containing anti-gay comments. In the self-published book titled "Who Told You That You Were Naked?"
Cochran referred to homosexuality as "unclean," "a sexual perversion," "vulgar" and "inappropriate." Cochran received a month long suspension in November and at that time Reed said, "I want to be clear that the material in Chief Cochran's book is not representative of my personal beliefs, and is inconsistent with the administration's work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all citizens — regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race, and religious beliefs."
Cochran says that he checked with the city's ethics department on the book and didn't receive any "pushback."
Alex Wan, the only openly gay member of the Atlantic city council, issued a statement supporting the mayor's action. In that statement Wan claimed that Cochran's suspension came because of complaints from Cochran's employees over the distribution of the book to them.
This strikes me as being perilously close to a violation of Freedom of Speech. I suppose a possible mitigating circumstance could be that it's the mayor's administration and he can fire appointed officials that publicly disagree with him.
Some additional information came to light Friday when Mayor Reed acknowledged that Cochran was fired for distributing his book to employees which is apparently a violation of administrative rules.
What I have to wonder though is if Cochran's book hadn't contained controversial material would anyone have cared?
Cochran referred to homosexuality as "unclean," "a sexual perversion," "vulgar" and "inappropriate." Cochran received a month long suspension in November and at that time Reed said, "I want to be clear that the material in Chief Cochran's book is not representative of my personal beliefs, and is inconsistent with the administration's work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all citizens — regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race, and religious beliefs."
Cochran says that he checked with the city's ethics department on the book and didn't receive any "pushback."
Alex Wan, the only openly gay member of the Atlantic city council, issued a statement supporting the mayor's action. In that statement Wan claimed that Cochran's suspension came because of complaints from Cochran's employees over the distribution of the book to them.
This strikes me as being perilously close to a violation of Freedom of Speech. I suppose a possible mitigating circumstance could be that it's the mayor's administration and he can fire appointed officials that publicly disagree with him.
Some additional information came to light Friday when Mayor Reed acknowledged that Cochran was fired for distributing his book to employees which is apparently a violation of administrative rules.
What I have to wonder though is if Cochran's book hadn't contained controversial material would anyone have cared?
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