June 27, 2006 - More Gay Marriage
On June 6 we wrote, "Traditional marriage is up to the individual states, why should gay marriage be any different?"
We still feel that way, EXCEPT when a gay couple, in this case a Rhode Island couple, decides it should be okay to travel to a state (Massachusetts) that permits gay marriage and then come home and force their home state to accept that marriage.
They choose to live in Rhode Island, as such, they live by the laws of that state. If they want to legally marry then they should move to a state that allows it. The same applies to people who live in New Jersey and want their kids to get a drivers license at the age of 16. It can't happen therefore they would have to move to Pennsylvania to make it happen.
So, to the lesbian couple from Rhode Island we say, if you want to marry, you have just as much right to misery as the rest of us, just do it in the state that allows it and stop tying up the courts with this.
June 26, 2006 - Choose Life License Plates
The Associated Press is reporting that the Supreme Court refused Monday to consider appeals from abortion rights groups wanting to block states from issuing car license plates bearing the message "Choose Life."
We say good because this is a states' rights issue. Apparently, the pro-choice movement disagrees, or this would never have seen a court room.
Our personal views on the issue do not matter. What matters here is the Supreme Court refusing to consider hearing appeals is a victory for those of us who believe in a government with strong states' rights, which is exactly the way our founding fathers wanted it.
June 24, 2006 - Independent Candidates
In our efforts to keep this site as "non-partisan" as possible we're looking for independent candidates for office. One, Dr. Brad Blanton, has an advertisement running on the top of the home page. He is the author of Radical Honesty, a nationwide best seller that has been translated into seven languages. There is something to be said about a guy who wants to bring honesty into politics.
Know of any independent candidates for office? If so, let us know. Either leave a comment or email us. We'll throw a link up for them on our, soon to be published "candidates" page and, hopefully, get them to write some guest posts.
June 23, 2006 - Keeping His Promise
The Associated Press is reporting that the first-term mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Frank Melton declared a state of emergency and tightened a juvenile curfew because he wants to make the city "safe and secure."
According to the report Mayor Melton's campaign was built around fighting crime.
It appears to us he is doing what he promised. Unfortunately, it appears Mississippi law only lets mayors declare an emergency for five days, and City Council members have questioned whether Melton can declare an emergency and require new curfews without their approval.
Sounds like the city council members are upset the mayor is doing his job while they sit on their butts and do nothing.
His style and his language may sometimes be rough but at least the man is working to keep his campaign promises.
June 22, 2006 - WMDs Have Been Found, Well Maybe Not
According to reports here, here, here and here WMDs have been found in Iraq.
But, according to reports found here, here, here and here WMDs have not been found in Iraq.
We weren't going to post about this because, one of us being a Democrat and the other a Republican, there was a bit of arguing over exactly what to write. The final outcome was just post a bunch of links and let readers decide for themselves, because if this stuff keeps up we will never know the truth.
June 21, 2006 - Another $50 Billion For War
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a $427.6 billion Pentagon funding bill yesterday.
The bill included another $50 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Considering the bill passed the House 407 - 19, it looks like we are going to continue to "stay the course" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
June 20, 2006 - Blanco Sends In The Troops
According to published reports, acting at the mayor's request, Louisiana Governor Blanco said she would send National Guard troops in to patrol the streets of New Orleans.
The troops are being sent in because of a weekend of violence in which six people were killed.
Apparently, non-hurricane related violence is a reason to act.
June 19, 2006 - McKinney Walks
She hits a cop and the grand jury doesn't indict. Only in DC.
June 16, 2006 - Jefferson Removed
Fox News is reporting that House Democrats have voted to remove the bribe-taking Congressman Jefferson from his post on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Jefferson had the guts to try to negotiate the terms of his removal by offering to step aside on two conditions, that the caucus establish a rule covering cases like his and that his seat on Ways and Means go temporarily to a fellow Louisiana Democrat, Rep. Charles Melancon.
Democrat leader, Congresswoman Pelosi wisely refused to negotiate with the bribe taker.
Of course, Jefferson still maintains his innocence, and has called this action “unjust.”
In our opinion the Democrats were wise to take this action against Jefferson. It’s one thing to complain about corruption, it’s a totally different thing to actually do something about it. Maybe the Republicans will learn something from the Democrats.
June 15, 2006 - Political Jobs Updates
June 15, 2006 - Do They Deserve A Pay Raise?
According to published reports, "House lawmakers
have embraced a $3,300 pay raise that will increase their salaries
to $168,500."
"The 2 percent cost-of-living raise would be the seventh consecutive
yearly increase for members of the House and Senate."
"Lawmakers easily squelched a bid by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, to
get a direct vote to block the COLA, which is automatically awarded
unless lawmakers vote to block it."
In the real world your work is reviewed, then you get a raise if you deserve it. Congress' review is the polls and most Americans disapprove of the job they are doing.
This is the seventh year in a row Mr. Matheson has tried to stop automatic pay raises, eventually somebody will listen.
June 14, 2006 - Virginia Primary
We could have gone with the obvious and wrote something about Bush's visit to Iraq but to us it seems the big political news is Republican turned Democrat Jim Webb won yesterday's Democratic Primary in Virginia to take on Republican Senator George Allen.
Frankly, we think it might be a little difficult for Mr. Webb to beat an incumbent he endorsed only six years ago. What's he going to say, my endorsement was a mistake?
It should be an interesting race.
June 13, 2006 - Isn't It Time To Retire?
The
media is reporting the fact the WV Democrat Senator Robert C.
Byrd is now the longest serving senator.
That’s great but at 88 years old maybe it’s time to retire.
June 9, 2006 - "Honorable Explanation"
The New Orleans Times Picayune is reporting U.S.
Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, now has “an honorable
explanation” as to how he ended up with $90,000 of a $100,000 bribe
in his freezer.
We can’t wait to hear his “honorable explanation” considering,
according to the Times Picayune, “Jefferson clearly has all his
wits about him, to judge from the FBI tapes. He always knew exactly
how much he wanted to grease the wheels for international
telecommunications deals.”
“And he wanted quite a lot. The money in his freezer was chicken
feed. It wound up there after Jefferson told Lori Mody, a wired-up
government informer, that he needed to pay off Nigerian vice
president Atiku Abubakar. She handed him a briefcase containing
$100,000 in marked bills.”
“Jefferson later told Mody, in a telephone conversation, that he had
passed on the money, as promised. The feds promptly executed a
search warrant at Abubakar's Maryland pad.”
“But they didn't find the wampum, because Jefferson -- a big shocker
here -- had lied to Mody. He had hung onto the money and, when the
feds poked their noses into the freezer, $90,000 of it was sitting
there. What happened to the other $10,000 is unknown, but let's not
fret about pocket change. “
Add this to all the corruption on the GOP side of the aisle and it
makes up want to vote against all the incumbents.
June 8, 2006 - Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda is dead.
Apparently his "safe house" was not safe from two F-16 aircraft with two 500-pound bombs.
The F-16 pilots did a great job and probably should be paid the $25 million bounty that was on Zarqawi's head.
June 7, 2006 - Politics Philly Style
According to the
Philadelphia Inquirer,
"It was an evening of arguments and
police presence, though no beatings or arrests, as Democrats picked
69 leaders."
"Nobody got beat up and nobody got locked up," said U.S. Rep.
Robert Brady, chairman of the Democratic City Committee. "People say
that the Democratic Party is dead, but I say it's alive and kickin'."
Still, party leaders now have to sort through several complaints
of unfairness from losers in the fights, Brady said.
Our favorite ward fight was that one winner said she found it
personally embarrassing that a police cruiser, summoned by her
opponent’s staff, was parked outside her home, where the ward
meeting was held.
Only in Philadelphia!
June 6, 2006 - Gay Marriage
So they are going to debate gay marriage in Washington, DC today. Why?
Traditional marriage is up to the individual states, why should gay marriage be any different?
Besides, shouldn't gay people have just as much right to be miserable as the rest of us?
June 2, 2006 - Pandering Bush
According to news reports, President Bush will promote a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on Monday.
Apparently, this issue is supposed to excite conservatives.
The problem is this Republican administration is conserving nothing. They spend money like it's water. Now, Bush is going to pander to the religious right to hopefully make everyone forget this administration is not conservative with tax dollars.