30
Sep
This is the best one yet. Following in the line of Boobs 4 Bourbon Street and Girls Gone Wild for New Orleans, I have now been introduced to PinkAid. YOU can be a sexual superhero and help the victims of Katrina/Rita by having sex with your preferred partner. Sounds simple don’t it? I love the teaser:
All donations go to the Habitat for Humanity. I can’t see that they are endorsing this event.
The characters running that site are hoots and a story on their own from what I can gather. Yes, that is a clip from one of their movies.
More blogs on Katrina Relief, Habitat for Humanity, Pinkaid
I have not been a fan of the Porkbusters effort. I think I’ve made that clear already. They have taken an idea and run amok with it. Rather than attacking our own, why not look at what we’re giving to people who never pay ANY taxes at all? Rather than pulling money out of circulation that can stimulate economic growth, why not look where no economic growth would affect us anyway? Rather than penalizing innocent US citizens because of a natural disaster, why not put pressure where pressure is do and expect the members of NATO and EU to pick up some of the slack on foreign spending? Hmmm? Whatsayou Porkbusters? Now, here’s a list that pretty well sums up what is leaving the US in 2003 that in more cases than not doesn’t really affect someone living in the towns Porkbusters wants to take money from:
| Summary of All Countries | |
| in $US millions, constant | |
| Source: US Overseas Loans & Grants [Greenbook] | |
| Account Name | 2003 |
| > USAID Child Survival and Health Fund | 1,512.65 |
| > USAID Development Assistance | 1,457.38 |
| > Assistance to Eastern Europe & the Baltic States | 496.32 |
| > Assistance for the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union | 489.69 |
| > Transition Initiatives, International Assistance Program | 58.74 |
| > International Disaster Assistance (OFDA) | 480.26 |
| > International Organizations and Programs | 288.17 |
| > Development Fund for Africa | 1.3 |
| > Central America & Caribbean Disaster Recovery Fund | 1.13 |
| > USAID Operating Expense, General | 614.46 |
| > USAID Operating Expense, IG | 34.5 |
| > USAID FS Retirement & Disability Fund | 45.2 |
| > USAID Working Capital Fund | 3.39 |
| > Security Support Assistance/ESF | 4,266.07 |
| > USAID Development Credit Authority | 16.84 |
| > USAID Property Management Fund | 0.55 |
| > USAID Foreign National Employees Separation Fund | 4.13 |
| > USAID Capital Investment Fund | 39.85 |
| > Oceans, Environment and Science Initiative (OESI),ESF | 1.78 |
| > Democracy & Human Rights, State; ESF | 36.66 |
| Total USAID and Predecessor Grants | 9,849.07 |
| > Title I Food For Peace Loans, in $US | 134.3 |
| Total Food Aid Loans | 134.3 |
| > Title I Food for Progress | 73.96 |
| > CCC Food For Progress | 111.81 |
| > Title II Emergency Programs | 1,276.54 |
| > Title II Development Programs | 432.87 |
| > Title II Other | 258.32 |
| > Section 416(b) Regular | 176.07 |
| > Section 416(b) Global Food for Education | 85.34 |
| Total Food Aid Grants | 2,414.92 |
| Total Food Aid Loans and Grants | 2,549.22 |
| > Contribution to IADB | 18.23 |
| > Contribution to IDA | 0 |
| > Contribution to Asian Development Bank | 0 |
| > Contribution to African Development Bank | 5.08 |
| > EBRD, General and Support Fund | 38.72 |
| > Debt Reduction | 91.06 |
| > Global Environment Facility | 146.85 |
| > Contribution to IFAD | 14.91 |
| > Contribution to MIGA | 1.62 |
| > Global fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, CDC | 347.73 |
| Total Other Economic Assistance – International/Multilateral Institutions Grants | 664.2 |
| > Peace Corps | 295.07 |
| Total Other Economic Assistance – Peace Corps Grants | 295.07 |
| > Drug Interdiction & Counter Drug Activities, Defense | 276.21 |
| > Andean Counter-Drug Initiative, State | 729.45 |
| > International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement | 220.72 |
| Total Other Economic Assistance – Narcotics Grants | 1,226.38 |
| > Inter-American Foundation | 14.94 |
| > Migration And Refugee Assistance, State | 747.67 |
| > Trade and Development Agency | 60.81 |
| > African Development Foundation | 14.19 |
| > Compact of Free Association, Interior | 166.3 |
| > Ambassador’s Fund, State | 0.97 |
| > Fish & Wildlife, Interior | 35.25 |
| > Mine-Action Related Activities, CDC | 4.9 |
| > Intl Affairs Technical Assistance, Treasury | 10.73 |
| > Intl Child Labor and Education Init., Labor | 125.22 |
| > Open World Program (formerly Russian Leadership Program) | 19.18 |
| > Agricultural Research Service, USDA | 9.76 |
| > Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, USDA | 14.84 |
| > Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA | 4.08 |
| > Forest Service, USDA | 63.1 |
| > Transportation Planning, Research, and Development, DOT | 5 |
| > Federal Aviation Administration, DOT | 0.63 |
| > National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT | 0.1 |
| > Federal Highway Administration, DOT | 0.03 |
| > Federal Trade Commission | 1 |
| > National Endowment for Democracy, State | 39.65 |
| > Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce | 0.01 |
| > Global AIDS and Immunization Program | 531.23 |
| > International Criminal Investigative Training and Assistance, DOJ | 4.65 |
| > Iraq Reconstruction and Relief* | 3,477.56 |
| Total Other Economic Assistance – Other Active Grants | 5,351.82 |
| > Credit Sales Under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Loans | 3,800.00 |
| Total Military Assistance Loans | 3,800.00 |
| > Military Assistance Program (MAP) Grants | 257 |
| > Foreign Military Fianancing Program (FMFP) | 5,955.77 |
| > Peacekeeping Operations | 214.25 |
| > Non-Proliferations, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs | 378.41 |
| > International Military Education & Training | 79.48 |
| > Cooperative Threat Reduction, Defense | 480.96 |
| > Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid, Defense | 72 |
| > Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Energy | 373.2 |
| > Humanitarian Demining Defense Wide, Defense | 12.89 |
| > International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) | 10 |
| > Warsaw Initiative, Defense | 15.98 |
| > Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation, Defense | 0 |
| > Defense of Israel against Terrorism | 11.89 |
| > HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), Defense | 7 |
| > Biochemical Nonproliferation and Security, CDC | 9 |
| > Biochemical Nonproliferation and Security, EPA | 2.95 |
| Total Military Assistance Grants | 7,880.78 |
| Total Military Assistance Loans and Grants | 11,680.78 |
| > Ex-Im Bank Loans | 1,116.17 |
| > Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) | 45.8 |
| Total Non-Concessional U.S. Loans | 1,161.97 |
| > Contributions to International Organizations | 923.37 |
| Total Annual Obligations to International Organizations | 923.37 |
| Total | 33,701.87 |
Now, I’m not going to go so far as to say we need to cut off spending on food and medical supplies. But, eleven point six BILLION dollars in military aid can be put off for a year or two and go a LONG way towards rebuilding New Orleans without penalizing the rest of the US.
It’s not pork, I know that’s not the rage. But, I think it’s a lot more logical. Come on EU and NATO, let’s see what you guys can do without the US carrying the full load for a few years while we take care of our own for a while.
More blogs on pork spending, Katrina, Katrina relief, US foreign military spending
Orin Kerry asks "The question is, why would DeLay waive the statute of limitations?" Now, Orin’s as sharp a lawyer as they come, but he then asks "Do any VC readers with experience in criminal law have additional insights to share about this? "
I am not a criminal lawyer. I am not a criminal ( no experience with criminal law on either side of the fence ). But, I’ve dealt with a LOT of politicians in my life. I can state unequivocally the problem Orin is having is thinking like a lawyer and not a politician. You have to understand, being a politician of the magnitude Tom Delay has reached means having an ego that dwarfs any lawyer’s. Delay’s on a level Orin just can’t comprehend. As such, Delay KNOWS he can beat any of these charges because he’s smarter than Earle. He also knows that if he skooted out on a technicality, he would be crucified by the liberal media that’s been waiting like dogs on a leash to get at him. The only option Delay has PR-wise is to face down Earle, take ten steps, and give it his one best shot.
Sometimes, in order to best understand the law, it’s best to not try to. Delay’s not responding to legal precedent, he’s responding to what he perceives as a personal challenge from Earle. This will get nasty. It’s personal.
More blogs on Tom Delay
29
Sep
I have been waiting for this to happen. Now that it is, not sure what I think of it. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee is blogging to some degree at Redstate.org. In this particular thread she is discussing ideas to save federal money to be spent for Katrina/Rita relief. Her idea primarily attacks:
- Earned Income Tax Credit abuse. Nothing terribly exciting.
- ..reform of the Department of Defense’s military exchange system
- what Medicare paid for 16 medical equipment and supply items with the prices paid by the Veterans Affairs Administration.
Everything was going fine until she mentioned one of the taboo topics: Veterans. You don’t mention Veterans unless you’re wanting to give them more. Of course, the comments go flying off the deep end for the most part. She could have done this as a post on her web page, I don’t see what her point in making it a blog entry was. She hasn’t responded to any comments so far, so the true nature of blogging has not been fulfilled. I don’t know her intent to continue blogging. But, if all she’s going to do is use blogs as a forum, I’m not happy with that. What makes blogs unique is their seperation from everything that ruined news media. I don’t want the blogosphere to turn into CNN lite.
From now on, politicians who have a message need to just put it on their web page. Pretend bloggers look bad.
Answer the comments Ms. Blackburn and that will shut me up. Otherwise, don’t fake it.
( BTW, the ideas are good, not good, and horrible. I don’t mind explaining why, here. )
More blogs about Marsha Blackburn or pork barrel
28
Sep
What will they think of next?
28
Sep
A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.
In previous posts about Tom Delay, I have expressed my displeasure with his leadership. As well, I have opposed the Republicans changing the rules for him. And, I have felt that the bulk of Tom’s problems are motivated by his craft, that being ruthless politics. However, he has now been indicted, time for the Republicans to choose a new House Majority Leader.
That’s a good thing whether Tom’s innocent or not.
More blogs on Tom Delay
Patrick Ruffini has the August results of his Republican straw poll up. It’s interesting to me. He runs two polls, one for "legitimate" candidates and one including the "fantasy: candidate of your choice. Of the legitimate contenders, here are the Top 2.:
| Giuliani |  5143 (29.5%) |
| Allen | 3459 (19.8%) |
Now, if you toss in the fantasy candidates, here’s the top six:
| Rice | 6427 (36.9%) |
| Cheney | 2380 (13.6%) |
| J. Bush | 1579 (9.1%) |
| Thompson | 1387 (8%) |
| Giuliani | 1331 (7.6%) |
| Allen | 977 (5.6%) |
When I surveyed Ruffini’s result for July, I went to the trouble of breaking down the electoral votes to see who would actually "win". Rudy won in a electoral landslide if not popular vote. That was the bottom line in July. Now, go figure this, Condi Rice won EVERY state. Saves me the trouble of having to do a graph. In a "blue v red" comparison, Rice faired much better in liberal states than conservative. She’s just covering everything across the board. I’m not sure what the realities of Rice ’08 are, but if Jessica Simpson‘s not running, I might be leaning towards Condi myself.
27
Sep
The SFGate.com ran this photo as a teaser for their article titled:
Thousands across U.S. march for peace
Bay Area: Largest war protest since conflict started in 2003
Only problem is, they don’t show much of anything else. For instance, they don’t show this:
And, they don’t show this:
However, Zombietime.com was there as well. They took more pictures. They’re telling the whole story. SFGate’s not.
27
Sep
I have been chastised more than once for interfering with people’s efforts at browsing for soft porn. My links to Tara Reid’s boob and Paris Hilton have brought people here only to be rewarded with the desired content, but, they have to read about boring politics and other social ills, which browsing for soft porn is supposed to be a distraction from. I thought I had hit gold by combining the two with the Girls Gone Wild for New Orleans charity. Now, I’m probably the first to introduce yet another in the theme of exposing yourself for the benefit of others: Boobs 4 Bourbon Street. I love their idea as much as GGW4NO. You donate at least the minimum to the charity of your choice in a list they have, forward the email receipt to the boob people, and you get access. Pretty clever.
And who said faith based initiatives would never work?
27
Sep
This clip is being circulated as "the greatest movie line ever". Not sure
if that’s true, but it’s funny as hell.
This clip actually came from the movie "The Ghost Breakers
The "polarized political rhetoric" is from 1940. I generally
try not to trash one party or the other ( without reason ). But, Bob’s
line is just too funny to pass up!
