Right As Usual

I was reading a post on the Pajams Media site, and it nails some of my concerns about the Geithner nomination for Treasury Secretary. Number 2 gets my attention: 2. Disparate treatment of previously pulled nominees Zoe Baird (Clinton, 1993), Kimba Wood (Clinton, 1993), and Linda Chavez (Bush, 2001) all had relatively minor or potential issues with self-employment taxes on household help. Geithner’s unpaid amounts were exponentially larger. Is there a whiff of male chauvinism in the air? Either it's a big deal, or it's not. You really can't change that standard, depending on the party in power, and seriously maintain your pretense that you're above the partisan fray. Got it, Big O? BTW, I didn't like the snarky, quasi-royal assertion of authority The Big O displayed before the opposing legislators the other day: During his private meeting with congressional Democrats and Republicans on Friday, President Obama ended a philosophical debate over tax policy with the s...

I could be feverishly scouring the news, looking for "Obama" and "horrible dress", but I'm just going with the flow right now. I'm keeping up on the coverage of "The One" or "That One", depending on your political persuasion, but I'm not inclined to rush my preliminary thinking into a post. Some of that is personal. I'm trying to plan out the new semester; catch up on personal paperwork; clear out the clutter in the house; and spend some time with my husband. Not to mention just relax - it's been a bit hectic here over the holidays, and, as a result, I'm a bit run-down. A cold has been hovering for the last 2 weeks. I'm hoping to stop it in its tracks. I plan to let my elected legislators do what they know they should - scrutinize the Stimulus Bill, looking for trouble, and raising a little hell when they find it.

Now, I really can't say much more at this time, but, trust me, that's the phrase (not the word). More later in the week (hopefully).

Post-Clinton Dick Morris is doing a lot to redeem himself for his many failings. The book Fleeced! is one of them. In Fleeced! , Morris untangles the intertwined alliances between foreign powers and US politician, US failing companies and the legislators that let them charge what "Vinnie the Enforcer" used to, but in the case of these New Robbers, it's all legal - thanks to their buddies, the pols. [Disclaimer: I'm reading the library copy of the book.]

It turns out that Weather.com doesn't actually track the temperature of Hell, Michigan. Instead, it references the nearby Pinckney, MI forecast. However, we can safely say that the temperature must be close. Today, Monday, MLK Day, Pinckney is 13 degrees. That's in Fahrenheit. So, I think it's safe to say that what everyone always said was true - that a Black President would happen as soon as Hell freezes over.

Instapundit links to this story about the crash of flight 1549 - and the captain, who exemplifies everything we'd want in the man who holds our lives in our hands. But, it also praises the everyman, who let the women and children off first (I remember when that behavior was EXPECTED in an emergency), and the boatmen who raced to rescue the trapped passengers. The Boston Herald has the full story here.

Eric Holder - See here and here for statements from victims of the people he thought should be pardoned. This is not related to a reasonable judgment call. As Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice, he exercised considerable discretion over how to handle controversial decisions. And, as the testimonies above demonstrate, he failed miserably in that job. He was a lackey for the basest political maneuverings of the Clinton team. In short, he assisted in the shameful sale of justice to the highest bidder - such as Marc Rich (so aptly named). In the case of the FALN, he pushed for the pardon that would assist the election of Hillary Clinton to the Senate. I started to pull this together, then read And Rightly So!, who has a post that nails my concerns. SO much more efficient!

Read this NYTimes article about sweatshops in the 3rd World before you make up your mind. Sometimes, not wanting to accept incremental improvements can be a mistake. Yeah, clean conditions and middle-class wages would be preferred, but just a step up, to an indoor job, out of the sun and away from the rats, would be almost a dream come true for these people. Of course, there are THESE inhuman sweatshops: Piecework and assembly work is a middle step. It is for the relatively healthy and strong. Those with willingness to show up, every day, on time, will do well. It isn't the most exciting work in the world. Any job that requires little more of you than you to stand or sit in one place, doing the same actions over and over again, won't lead to riches, fame, or a life of leisure. But, it does pay the bills, keep a roof over your family, feed them, and allow your children to stay in school. In America, it's looked down on, unless the wages are so high that the worker can...

Anti-war protesters have been working hard to pressure Bush and Obama (pre-inauguration) to close the terrorist holding pen at Guantanamo Bay. Why? Is it because the prisoners held there will automatically become liberated? That won't happen. They'll simply be transferred to stateside military prisons. Is it because the prisoners aren't getting legal assistance? No. Their lawyers are free to talk to them, write to them, and receive letters and calls in return. Is it because the prisoners are being treated to inhuman conditions? No, it's been fairly well established that they are comfortable, have quality medical care, recreational access, religious accommodations, and halal food (so much so, some of the prisoners have gained too much weight). So, what is the problem? With the inmates held on an off-shore facility that is located in a country that Americans can only visit after securing the appropriate paperwork, and where access is tightly controlled by men with gu...

I've been shamefully focused on my job and my personal life. Enough of that! What is happening in the world? The airplane that ditched is the focus of much of the news. It's an amazing story - what could have been a tragic start to the year, ends up being an inspirational story. Amazing, and yet just what you and I expect from a professional pilot and crew. The economy continues to dominate the news. The falling dollar is both good and bad. The bad - our people at home feel the effects of an economy in freefall. The good - the weak dollar will, eventually, lead to other countries spending in our country. Look for us to become the tourist destination over the next few years. Time to invest in Disney World! Hey, Obama, couldn't you wait until you're actually, you know (homage to Caroline Kennedy), inaugurated? Lots more to post, but I have no time right now.

I'd like to make a suggestion about ways to deal with immigrants (legal or otherwise) who commit crimes that target categories of victims. Those categories might include: women, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, gays, or Jews. Offer them a deal: voluntarily deport yourself (and, in the case of resident aliens or naturalized citizens, give up any citizenship claims or right to reside), and we will lightly prosecute - i.e., conviction with recommendation for probation. Face it, sending them to our prisons is NOT that terrifying. It's R & R, with the opportunity to network with others of similar minds. It may be, however, a way to clear out people who have been resistant to accommodating to American ways. And, cheaper than any other method. For those guilty of murder, take the option of death or a life sentence off the table. Yeah, it's not going to be popular with the families, but it does get rid of them. Perhaps we could also make arrangements with countries of origin to ...

I've finally recovered from the holidays; during them, I was rather under the weather. Not really sick, but so tired. It took until last Thursday to feel really well again. In America, we seem to be in a state of suspended animation. Even the rather depressing news about the economy hasn't roused us out of our post-holiday stupor. It's as though we were waiting for some significant event to shake us into action. Oh, wait, that will happen next week, when Obama ascends to the throne. We can then let the doves out, dance joyously in the streets, and eagerly throw ourselves into the task of changing everything about our mean ol' country. I can't wait.

Ther's no better way to kill time in an airport than watching and eavesdropping. Americans are fascinating. First, Americans are chatty. They are not the least shy about sharing personal information. Do you want to know their family background, job, relationship with loved ones, medical details, or their opinions on just about anything? They'll tell you, unafraid to divulge virtually you want to know. The concept of reserve around strangers seems to be unknown. I've heard it said that you can tell an American by their free and easy walk. That may be true, but even more characteristic is the engaging informality that melts the barriers between strangers.