Category: Evil

Coda on Kelo

No Comments

You remember Kelo v. City of New London? That’s where the city of New London took people’s homes in order to build a business park for Pfizer.

Well, following it’s purchase of Wyeth, they are closing their facility there, (also here) leaving the city with a big honking hole, and Pfizer looking to sell the land, for which it paid nearly nothing, and building.

You know, when you give free sh$# to contemptible greed-heads, this is what they do: They f@#$ you over when it’s convenient.

Needless to say, the plaintiffs in Kelo are as unamused as anyone in this development.

They No Play-a daGame, They No Make-a da Rules*

No Comments

So, in order to pacify the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops which has been completely captured by the right-wing and hostile to Democrats for something approaching two decades, the House has agreed to a allow an amendment to be voted that would effectively ban all health insurance policies that pay for abortion services:

Under the agreement, anti-abortion Democrats will be permitted to offer an amendment on the House floor to the health-care overhaul bill. The amendment would prohibit a new government-run insurance plan created by the health-care bill from offering to cover abortion services, congressional sources said. It would also block people who received federal subsidies for the purchase of health insurance from buying policies that offered coverage for abortions.

No doubt about this: by excluding these plans, it will cause their extinction, because it effectively bans such plans from the new insurance exchanges.

I think that the House Leadership should have told Bart Stupak (D-Vatican) to go Cheney himself, and perhaps a fuller application of criminal conspiracy laws, against people like, for example, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who actively conspired to conceal child abuse by clergy is in order too.

[update]

That piece of sh$# amendment passes, 240-194, a little bit after 10:00pm.

*I’m paraphrasing Nixon administration Secretary of Agriculture, and notable bigot, Earl Butz, and yes, I can understand how it’s potentially offensive, but far less offensive than members of the clergy attempting to dictate policy.

Not Enough Bullets

No Comments

With the H1N1 vaccine in short supplies , it now appears that there will be priority will be given pregnant women, infants and children and those up to 24 years, those who care for infants, health and emergency services personnel, adults with compromised immune systems or other chronic health problems, and the employees of large Wall Street banks:

CREW ASKS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO WHY WALL STREET IS GETTING H1N1 VACCINE AHEAD OF THOSE WHO MOST NEED IT

November 5, 2009

Contact: Naomi Seligman // 202.408.5565

5 Nov 2009 // Washington, D.C. – Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to investigate why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved the distribution of the H1NI vaccine to Wall Street firms at a time when the vaccine is unavailable to most Americans.

Recent news reports indicate 13 companies, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Time Warner, have been cleared to receive the vaccine.

The CDC is distributing the much sought-after vaccine to Wall Street firms despite reports of vast shortages. In fact, just yesterday CDC Director Thomas Frieden informed Congress that only 32.3 million doses are available, far less than the 159 million needed to cover those at the highest risk. Given the scarce supply, the CDC has recommended the vaccine be directed only to those at highest risk: pregnant women, infants and children and those up to 24 years, those who care for infants, health and emergency services personnel, and adults with compromised immune systems or other chronic health problems.

(emphasis mine)
Kathleen Sebelus should be fired for this, but Geithner needs to go first.

And you that little Timmy Geithner had a say in doing this. It smells of Geithner.

The rest of the press release after the flip.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today, “Although CREW has been unable to uncover the demographic makeup of Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and JP Morgan Chase, it seems safe to assume the vast majority of their employees are not pregnant women, infants and children, young adults up to 24 years old, and healthcare workers.”

State officials are concerned about the shortages. The head of Alabama’s Department of Public Health testified that 62% of the vaccines ordered by the state will not be available until after December 1, 2009 and the director of Minnesota’s St. Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health said he is expecting only 7,800 doses for more than 20,000 children. Los Angeles County’s three public hospitals ordered 110,000 vaccines, but have received only about 18,000 doses, and UCLA’s two hospitals received 1,000 doses for 10,000 staff and 35,000 patients.

This situation is echoed around the country, leaving most of those seeking the vaccine unable to receive it with no remedy in sight. Frieden admitted, “It is quite likely the current wave of influenza will peak, crest and begin to decline before there are ample supplies of the vaccine.”

Sloan said, “In what world do Wall Street employees deserve to be vaccinated ahead of high-risk children, pregnant women and health care workers? Unfortunately, for the thousands being turned away in clinics across America, the CDC has decided to prioritize the millionaires over the masses. The public has a right to know how and why this has happened and when it will stop.” Sloan continued, “First, the bailout, then the bonuses, now the vaccine. When will Washington start putting the needs of Main Street above those of Wall Street?”

“Anti-counterfeit” Treaty Becomes Hollywood Wet Dream

No Comments

Well, this was likely to happen when Barack Obama and His Stupid Minions™ said that “national security” required that the negotiations be conducted in the deepest secrecy.

Here are the bullet points:

  • ISPs would be required to aggressively and intrusively troll their user’s data for evidence of copyright violations.
  • ISPs would have to cut users off without any sort of judicial proceeding.
  • Breaking anti-circumvention technology for a legal purpose becomes illegal.

Unfortunately, since Hollywood gives to Republican, you can be sure that the Dems in Congress will be cool with letting the folks who gave us Gigli determining whether or not one has a right to be on the Internet.

Details here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Stay classy, Rush

No Comments

Yeah, Rush Limbaugh is now saying that former Republican candidate in New York’s 23rd district has, committed bestiality by endorsing the Democrat in the race.

Seriously, when one inventories the number of times that Limbaugh uses a sexual metaphor to describe someone that he does not like is striking.

I’m thinking that Mr. Limbaugh has issues, but then, that has been a likely ever since he returned from the Dominican Republican with a bunch of Viagra®.

The Mask Falls

2 Comments

Orrin Hatch admits that the real reason that Republicans oppose healthcare reform is because it would benefit Democrats:

Hatch asserted that the health bills, which he believes represent a “step-by-step approach to socialized medicine,” will lead to Americans’ dependence on Democrats for their health and other issues.

“And if they get there, of course, you’re going to have a very rough time having a two-party system in this country, because almost everybody’s going to say, ‘All we ever were, all we ever are, all we ever hope to be depends on the Democratic Party,’ ” Hatch said during an interview with the conservative CNSNews.com.

“That’s their goal,” Hatch added. “That’s what keeps Democrats in power.”

What it is all about is that they are afraid that, like the New Deal, the passage of successful programs will give the Democrats a generation in power.

It’s not about what is right for the country, it’s about power.

Update on Plame Cheney

No Comments

Marcy Wheeler is all over this, see here, here, and here, and her conclusion, and mine, is that Cheney told people to out Valerie Plame as a covert operative in order to hurt her husband, Joe Wilson (the non-shouting one).

Now that the grand jury information is out, even mainstream sources, like CBS News, are making it clear that they know that Dick Cheney lied through his teeth to investigators, though it would be nice if they called him a liar, as opposed to being so oblique:

Vice President Dick Cheney told the FBI he had no idea who leaked to the news media that Valerie Plame, wife of a Bush administration critic, worked for the CIA.

An FBI summary of Cheney’s interview from 2004 reflects that the vice president had deep concern about Plame’s husband, Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. ambassador in Africa who said the administration had twisted prewar intelligence on Iraq.

…

The vice president said he probably discussed Wilson with Bush’s top political adviser, Karl Rove, but told the FBI he would not have talked to Rove about Wilson’s wife.

Cheney’s denials that he talked about Plame are among the few things in the lengthy interview with the FBI that Cheney appeared certain about. He repeatedly said he could not recall key events. Among them, he said he did not recall discussing Wilson’s wife with Libby before her CIA employment was publicly revealed by conservative columnist Robert Novak in mid-July 2003.

Evidence at Libby’s criminal trial showed that Cheney had told Libby about Wilson’s wife in mid-June 2003.

(emphasis mine)

Unfortunately, there is no appetite for pursuing actions that border on treason.

Unfortunately, we have to deal with the Washington, DC we have, not the Washington, DC you might want or wish to have at a later time.

Evil: A Cheney Family Traditon

No Comments

Yesterday, I mentioned Obama’s trip to Dover to pay his respects to the dead whose caskets were coming back that day.

I figured that at some point, some prominent Republican would try to cast it ad evil and sinister, and out of the gate comes Liz Cheney, on the John Gibson Show:

“I think that what President Bush used to do is do it without the cameras. And I don’t understand sort of showing up with the White House Press Pool with photographers and asking family members if you can take pictures. That’s really hard for me to get my head around…It was a surprising way for the president to choose to do this.”

Only, neither George W. Bush or…You know….Her Father ever went to pay their respects to the dead.

In fact, they were they supporessed any and all photographs, whether the family assented or not.

Inouye to Propose Changes to Franken Anti-Rape Amendment?

No Comments

Well, we know that appears that defense contractors really hate Al Franken’s amendment limiting their ability to use binding arbitration to keep things like rapes of employees and discrimination cases from appearing from in open court.

Well, it now appears that, in addition to the 30 pro rape Republicans and the Obama administration, there are now reports Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye is looking at stripping out the amendment.

This would be regrettable, because the law currently supports the rights of defense contractors to gang rape a woman and lock her in a box, and so the law needs to be changed.

I contacted his office, and have not heard any response at press time yet.

Full text of Franken’s amendment after break:

Sec. 8104. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any existing or new Federal contract if the contractor or a subcontractor at any tier requires that an employee or independent contractor, as a condition of employment, sign a contract that mandates that the employee or independent contractor performing work under the contract or subcontract resolve through arbitration any claim under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any tort related to or arising out of sexual assault or harassment, including assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, or negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.
(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply with respect to employment contracts that may not be enforced in a court of the United States.

Jon Stewart is a F%$#ing Genius, He Should Get a Peabody Edition

No Comments

I have a call into Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye’s office regarding reports that there may be changes to Al Franken’s amendment prohibiting the writing of new contracts to contractors who use binding arbitration in discrimination cases, including, “any tort related to or arising out of sexual assault or harassment, including assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, or negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.”

While I am waiting for his office’s response, let’s have Jon Stewart put it all in perspective:

Barack Obama, Objectively Pro Genital Mutilation Since 2009

No Comments

Britain’s high court has ruled that all evidence of Binyam Mohamed by the CIA and its proxies will be reviewed in open court, despite the protestations of Foreign Secretary David Miliband to keep this matter hush hush.

As I noted earlier, one of the tortures was to have his genitals sliced with a scalpel and irritating liquids loured in the wounds.

This is what the British government, at the urging of the US government were trying to make “go away”.

Rather predictably, the Obama administration has condemned the decision by the court to reveal crimes against humanity:

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said: “We are not pleased”, adding that Washington kept such information confidential “to protect our own citizens”.

Anyone who did this, or allowed it to be done, is a criminal, and should be tried and imprisoned, not protected.

It should also be noted that the Obama administration has threatened to withhold intelligence from the British if the details of their torture get out.

I Love Alan Grayson*

No Comments

In discussing Cheney’s comments on Afghanistan, Grayson says, “Well, my response is — and by the way, I have trouble listening to what he says sometimes, because of the blood that drips from his teeth while he’s talking, but my response is this: He’s just angry because the president doesn’t shoot old men in the face. But by the way, when he was done speaking, did he just then turn into a bat and fly away?”

I love this for two reasons:

  • It’s wicked funny.
  • This, like his “Republicans want you to die”, comment, completely marginalizes his opponents by showing who they truly are.

*In a 110% purely heterosexual kind of way, of course, as the General would say.

Accountability on Wall Street, My Ass!!!

No Comments

Have you heard the latest? John Meriwether is setting up a new hedge fund.

Just who is John Meriwether, you ask?

Why he is a noted hedge fund manager, he:

  • Established Long term Capital Management
    • Which imploded in 1999, threatening to take down the entire financial system, until Alan “Bubbles” Greenspan used the Federal Reserve to bail his ass out.
  • Established JWM Partners.
    • Which he closed 3 months ago after losing 44% of his investors’ money.

So, after all that, he’s STILL in line to get to play with billions of dollars of other people’s money, and skim 2% of the principal, and 20% of any profits (HAH!!!) that he might earn.

Will no one rid us of these parasites?

I’m not suggesting murder, but I am saying that if I was on a jury, I would vote to acquit.

Now With Whale Penis Leather Seats

No Comments
Click for full size

Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition

Just when you think that the world cannot get more crassly commercial, we are told that a Russian armored car manufacturer has created the Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition, which has:

  • Whale-penis leather upholstery.
  • Gold Plated bulletproof windows.
  • A Tungsten exhaust system.
  • Diamond and ruby encrusted gauges.

As well as a Kevlar skin, because, if it’s an armored car, you want a Kevlar skin.

Great googly moogly.

H/t Marginal Revolution.

Wanker of the Day

No Comments

T. Boone Pickens :

Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens told Congress on Wednesday that U.S. energy companies are “entitled” to some of Iraq’s crude because of the large number of American troops that lost their lives fighting in the country and the U.S. taxpayer money spent in Iraq.

Boone, speaking to the newly formed Congressional Natural Gas Caucus, complained that the Iraqi government has awarded contracts to foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, to develop Iraq’s vast reserves while American companies have mostly been shut out.

“They’re opening them (oil fields) up to other companies all over the world … We’re entitled to it,” Pickens said of Iraq’s oil. “Heck, we even lost 5,000 of our people, 65,000 injured and a trillion, five hundred billion dollars.”

Because the Iraqis asked us to invade, create a civil war, and set off a chain of events that killed somewhere between 100,000 and 1,000,000 of them, all while driving another million of so out of the country.

I’m not sure what it is about the oil bidness, but it does appear that they attract more than their share of sociopaths: T. Boone Pickens, Dick Cheney, John D. Rockefeller, the bin Laden clan, the royal families of the UAE and Kuwait, and (of course) the House of Saud, just to name a few.

Damn.

No Comments

So, the House of Representatives by a vote of 307-114 has passed an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act which exempts torture, because, I guess, everyone in Washington wants them covered up, because with knowledge is the possibility of accountability, and accountability is an anathema to the Beltway Boyz.

What is most repulsive is that this is designed just to cover up Bushie malfeasance:

To follow up on my earlier post about Rep. Louis Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and her speech on her colleagues’ move to amend the Freedom of Information Act to prevent the release of photographs depicting abuse of detainees in U.S. custody, it’s worth looking at the conference report on the bill. The bill is called the “Protected National Security Documents Act of 2009,” but refers not to any “documents” per se, but only to any “photograph” taken between Sept. 11, 2001 and Jan. 22, 2009, that “relates to the treatment of individuals engaged, captured, or detained after September 11, 2001, by the Armed Forces of the United States in operations outside of the United States.”

(emphasis mine)

Big surprise, the guy supporting this the strongest is Joe Lieberman.