I have linked Progress for SC on my blogroll. I thought you would like to read their statement of purpose"
Welcome to progress for South Carolina. We are a new blog dedicated to saving South Carolina from the brain-dead policies of the wacky right. We are going to work to expose the truth about what is happening to working families in South Carolina. The right is quickly threatening our schools, our environment, the safety of workers, and the ability to afford quality health care. So look out John Graham Altman, David Wilkins, Glenn McConnell and Marshall Sanford we've figured you out.
Monday, February 28
"Free" Speech
Progress for South Carolina, has a very interesting debate going on. (read here) Apparently there is a unique "right" of political expression and advocacy in our public schools.
Profound Change?
What happened in Lebanon today is significant. Hugh remarks that there is a, "sense of imminent and profound change sweeping through the oppressed peoples of the Middle East is too strong to ignore. With hundreds of thousands of Lebanese demanding their freedom, can the people of Iran who have pushed for freedom before be far behind? And can the Syrian thugs not see the writing on the wall. Retreat at this point has got to seem the better option than continued hostility towards both their neighbors."
Saturday, February 19
Right?
Ok, Democrats are an opposition party right? Maybe some day. Look at Gloria Borger's take. Gloria thinks that perhaps the Capital One ad-guy might be a better choice to lead the DNC than Howard Dean.
Betrayal?
Tomorrow's New York Times reports that Doug Wead, an author and former aide to Bush 41, disclosed that he taped Bush 42 as he was first moving onto the national political stage. Here are some excerpts"
Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead: "As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways." He added, "I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement."
"It's me versus the world," he told Mr. Wead. "The good news is, the world is on my side. Or more than half of it."
Bush could hardly contain his disdain for Mr. Gore, his Democratic opponent, at one point calling him "pathologically a liar."
Preparing to meet with influential Christian conservatives, Mr. Bush tested his lines with Mr. Wead. "I'm going to tell them the five turning points in my life," he said. "Accepting Christ. Marrying my wife. Having children. Running for governor. And listening to my mother."
Wead recorded Bush because he viewed him as a historic figure. You think that the president might regard Wead's actions as a betrayal?
Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead: "As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways." He added, "I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement."
"It's me versus the world," he told Mr. Wead. "The good news is, the world is on my side. Or more than half of it."
Bush could hardly contain his disdain for Mr. Gore, his Democratic opponent, at one point calling him "pathologically a liar."
Preparing to meet with influential Christian conservatives, Mr. Bush tested his lines with Mr. Wead. "I'm going to tell them the five turning points in my life," he said. "Accepting Christ. Marrying my wife. Having children. Running for governor. And listening to my mother."
Wead recorded Bush because he viewed him as a historic figure. You think that the president might regard Wead's actions as a betrayal?
Friday, February 11
100 Percent
The Associated Press reports that,
"A woman unable to talk since she was hit by a drunken driver 20 years ago has begun to regain her memory and form words, sending her father "from despair to joy..."She's 100 percent Sarah again. The family is back together, and it's just simply a joyous situation," her father, Jim Scantlin, told CNN."
"A woman unable to talk since she was hit by a drunken driver 20 years ago has begun to regain her memory and form words, sending her father "from despair to joy..."She's 100 percent Sarah again. The family is back together, and it's just simply a joyous situation," her father, Jim Scantlin, told CNN."
Thursday, February 10
Oh and...
By the way, remember when the president was working to get his prescription drug benefit passed and the democrats were saying it was too scant to make a difference? Well, Hugh points out that democrats are pushing for "Medicare reform," which mean 'single payer,' which means a national health service, the costs of which would dwarf the present system, and the quality of which would quickly decline."
So, if Bush is wrong that Social Security's solvency is an urgent issue, it appears that the democrats are trying to help him by assuring that the systems cost continues to increase further exasperating its ability to stay afloat.
So, if Bush is wrong that Social Security's solvency is an urgent issue, it appears that the democrats are trying to help him by assuring that the systems cost continues to increase further exasperating its ability to stay afloat.
Wednesday, February 9
Are you Confused?
Are you confused as to what all the clamor concerning President Bush's Social Security plan? Perhaps it might help to know what the current plan is.
President Franklin Roosevelt established the Social Security Program on August 14, 1935.
After Social Security numbers were assigned, the first Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes were collected, beginning in January 1937.
Medicare became law on July 30, 1965. Nearly 20 million beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare in the first 3 years of the program.
In 1972 the SSI program was created and automatic Cost-of-Living-Adjustments (COLAs) were enacted.
In 1937 there were 53,236 beneficiaries, and in 2002 there were 46,444,317.
An estimated 159 million workers, 96% of all workers, are covered under Social Security.
There are currently 3.3 workers for each Social Security beneficiary. By 2031, there will be 2.1 workers for each beneficiary.
Social Security is financed by YOU with a payroll tax of 12.4 percent of wages. 6.2 percent is paid by you and 6.2 percent paid by your employer.
If you are self-employed, you pay the full 12.4 percent. The tax only applies to the first $88,000 of wage income.
The average monthly benefit for a retired worker is over $900 a month. This figure is based on the worker's earnings history over his lifetime. The maximum benefit is approximately $1,700 a month. Benefits are tied to the rate of inflation once workers retire, so benefit levels should keep up with the cost of living.
President Franklin Roosevelt established the Social Security Program on August 14, 1935.
After Social Security numbers were assigned, the first Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes were collected, beginning in January 1937.
Medicare became law on July 30, 1965. Nearly 20 million beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare in the first 3 years of the program.
In 1972 the SSI program was created and automatic Cost-of-Living-Adjustments (COLAs) were enacted.
In 1937 there were 53,236 beneficiaries, and in 2002 there were 46,444,317.
An estimated 159 million workers, 96% of all workers, are covered under Social Security.
There are currently 3.3 workers for each Social Security beneficiary. By 2031, there will be 2.1 workers for each beneficiary.
Social Security is financed by YOU with a payroll tax of 12.4 percent of wages. 6.2 percent is paid by you and 6.2 percent paid by your employer.
If you are self-employed, you pay the full 12.4 percent. The tax only applies to the first $88,000 of wage income.
The average monthly benefit for a retired worker is over $900 a month. This figure is based on the worker's earnings history over his lifetime. The maximum benefit is approximately $1,700 a month. Benefits are tied to the rate of inflation once workers retire, so benefit levels should keep up with the cost of living.
Sunday, February 6
This is Too Quiet
My wife and I had our every-other-month date night this weekend. We have some wonderful friends that we swap kid-sitting with so we can take a night off of parenting to spend some time with each other. Now this may sound a little strange, but you just imagine trying to keep your sanity while four independent souls rush from crisis to crisis every day. So anyway, this was our weekend to have some time to ourselves and right from the moment I arrived home something very strange occurred.
Normally I find myself thinking or saying, "Can we all just be a little quieter?" Actually to be a little more precise, "Stop talking so LOUD!" When I came through the door I found myself preparing for the onslaught of the little ones all talking at once and swarming about me in a ceremonial-like frenzy, which is their way of saying welcome home. (I feel like superdad every time.) Of course as I proceeded throughout the house there was nothing but silence. Almost an eerie-like silence. When I found my wife we both said, "Wow, it's so quiet." Almost like, hey something is wrong here. But the whole point of the date night is to achieve this momentary bliss. And that is what it seems like when there are no little shoes to tie, or hair to comb, or fights to break up, and especially no diaper duty!!!
But you know, for all the demands in a parent's life, I must say when my children are gone for a little while that I miss them so much so fast. After all, their demands prove that we are vital to their well being, and if you really think about it they give so much more than they could ever take. So, all you parents out there that wish you could just transport to some other existence for just a little while, my guess is that it wouldn't take long before you would say, "This is too quiet."
Normally I find myself thinking or saying, "Can we all just be a little quieter?" Actually to be a little more precise, "Stop talking so LOUD!" When I came through the door I found myself preparing for the onslaught of the little ones all talking at once and swarming about me in a ceremonial-like frenzy, which is their way of saying welcome home. (I feel like superdad every time.) Of course as I proceeded throughout the house there was nothing but silence. Almost an eerie-like silence. When I found my wife we both said, "Wow, it's so quiet." Almost like, hey something is wrong here. But the whole point of the date night is to achieve this momentary bliss. And that is what it seems like when there are no little shoes to tie, or hair to comb, or fights to break up, and especially no diaper duty!!!
But you know, for all the demands in a parent's life, I must say when my children are gone for a little while that I miss them so much so fast. After all, their demands prove that we are vital to their well being, and if you really think about it they give so much more than they could ever take. So, all you parents out there that wish you could just transport to some other existence for just a little while, my guess is that it wouldn't take long before you would say, "This is too quiet."
Saturday, February 5
Like Sea Crabs
A definition of Bloggers by Dirty Harry:
Bloggers are sea crabs. The MSM (Main Stream Media) drop a body of information and tens of thousands of us fall on it, tear it apart, scrutinize, and digest.
Friday, February 4
Catastrophic Failure
The Associated Press reports that, "Lawmakers criticized FBI Director Robert Mueller on Thursday for continued problems with their Virtual Case File, a computer project that was supposed to dramatically improve management of terrorism and other criminal cases."
"Catastrophic Failure," is how Sen. Judd Gregg, (R., N.H.), called the project which is to be the final piece of the overhaul of antiquated FBI computers.
Concerning the $170 million already budgeted and largely spent for the project, the inspector general said in a statement to the committee that,"we are not confident that the FBI has a firm sense of how much longer and how much more it will cost to develop and deploy a usable system."
So what to do now? Well, The FBI head Robert Mueller says that he will have a better idea as to cost and a timetable in a few months.
"Catastrophic Failure," indeed!
"Catastrophic Failure," is how Sen. Judd Gregg, (R., N.H.), called the project which is to be the final piece of the overhaul of antiquated FBI computers.
Concerning the $170 million already budgeted and largely spent for the project, the inspector general said in a statement to the committee that,"we are not confident that the FBI has a firm sense of how much longer and how much more it will cost to develop and deploy a usable system."
So what to do now? Well, The FBI head Robert Mueller says that he will have a better idea as to cost and a timetable in a few months.
"Catastrophic Failure," indeed!
Thursday, February 3
The Spin
Don't you just get tired of the 24hr spin?
This is a tast of Dirty Harry's comparison of the media coverage on proposed Social Security reform.
Los Angeles Times:
This is a tast of Dirty Harry's comparison of the media coverage on proposed Social Security reform.
Los Angeles Times:
1998 An effort "to craft a bipartisan bill to assure Social Security's solvency."
2005 "The White House has made a lot of Republicans walk the plank on this. Now it sounds as if they are sawing off the board."
The Washington Times
1998 "A bold move to put the future of the massive retirement program at the top of his agenda."
2005 "But the president declined to take ownership of any of these politically risky changes, offering them instead as the ideas offered in the past by other politicians, all Democrats as it turned out"
When Words are Not Enough
Janet Norwood, right, of Pfugerville, Texas whose son was killed in Iraq last year, hugs Safia Taleb al-Suhail, leader of the Iraqi Women's Political Council, during the State of the Union address Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Wednesday, February 2
There's Aways a Catch!
Reuters reports, Fighting fire with fire a Malaysian state will fight the battle against corruption by offering police a cash reward if they reject a bribe.
The reward will be equal to twice the bribe.
Oh the police must also arrest the person who offered the bribe to be eligible for the reward.
There's always a catch!
Turning the Debate
The New York Times recently had an piece by Neela Banerjee on the changing tactics of the Pro-Life movement to reduce the number of abortions in America. Their Pregnancy Centers and Medical Clinics are providing women the opportunity to understand the reality of what is going on within their bodies by utilizing technology.
Banerjee reports,
Take Andrea Brown, 24 years old and unmarried, who Banerjee says was desperate for an abortion. As a result she went to a Pregnancy Center run by a church-financed organization. The center offered her a free sonogram and then everything changed.
"When I had the sonogram and heard the heartbeat - and for me a heartbeat symbolizes life - after that there was no way I could do it," Ms. Brown said.
The Pro-Choice Reaction
Groups that favor abortion rights, however, see the technique as a pressure tactic. Susanne Martinez of Planned Parenthood Federation of America reacts to stories like Ms. Brown by saying,
"From the time they walk in to these centers, they are inundated with information that is propaganda and that has one goal in mind. And that is to have women continue with their pregnancies."
Nancy Keenan, president of Naral Pro-Choice America, said that,
"while ultrasounds were legitimate medical care for pregnant women, they shouldn't be misused to badger or coerce women by these so-called crisis pregnancy centers...With or without ultrasound,women understand the moral dimensions of their choices."
The Pro-Life Response
Dr. Sandra M. Christiansen, medical director of the Carenet Pregnancy Center of Frederick, Md says that, "we want to provide women with critical information as they face a life-altering procedure and decision."
So while the Pro-Life side is providing more information to these desperate women, the Pro-Choice see it as a means to "badger or coerce."
As Carol Liebau points out in her post on this story,
"Seems to me that if you've nothing to hide, there's no harm in providing as many facts as possible to women who find themselves in the sad and difficult position of confronting an unwanted pregnancy."
Technology seems to be turning the debate to life.
Banerjee reports,
Take Andrea Brown, 24 years old and unmarried, who Banerjee says was desperate for an abortion. As a result she went to a Pregnancy Center run by a church-financed organization. The center offered her a free sonogram and then everything changed.
"When I had the sonogram and heard the heartbeat - and for me a heartbeat symbolizes life - after that there was no way I could do it," Ms. Brown said.
The Pro-Choice Reaction
Groups that favor abortion rights, however, see the technique as a pressure tactic. Susanne Martinez of Planned Parenthood Federation of America reacts to stories like Ms. Brown by saying,
"From the time they walk in to these centers, they are inundated with information that is propaganda and that has one goal in mind. And that is to have women continue with their pregnancies."
Nancy Keenan, president of Naral Pro-Choice America, said that,
"while ultrasounds were legitimate medical care for pregnant women, they shouldn't be misused to badger or coerce women by these so-called crisis pregnancy centers...With or without ultrasound,women understand the moral dimensions of their choices."
The Pro-Life Response
Dr. Sandra M. Christiansen, medical director of the Carenet Pregnancy Center of Frederick, Md says that, "we want to provide women with critical information as they face a life-altering procedure and decision."
So while the Pro-Life side is providing more information to these desperate women, the Pro-Choice see it as a means to "badger or coerce."
As Carol Liebau points out in her post on this story,
"Seems to me that if you've nothing to hide, there's no harm in providing as many facts as possible to women who find themselves in the sad and difficult position of confronting an unwanted pregnancy."
Technology seems to be turning the debate to life.
A Fait Accompli?
So does it really matter that Howard Dean will in all probability win the race for the Democratic National Committee chairman? Well, many think it's a good thing. Yesterday the WSJ OpinionJournal noted that,
"The New York Daily News quotes Dean as saying, at a DNC gathering over the weekend, "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for."
Blogger Edward Morrissey takes Dean at his word:
Dean and his followers demonstrate the illness that has infected the American Left since the 1960s. They don't just oppose--they hate. They hate Republicans, they hate suburbia, they hate just about everything America has done."
As Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost dropped out of the race yesterday he called Dean and,
"congratulated him for running a strong campaign. The challenge ahead for Governor Dean will be to unite the party, rebuild the DNC and win elections in every region of the country."
It remains to be seen if this too will be A Fait Accompli?
"The New York Daily News quotes Dean as saying, at a DNC gathering over the weekend, "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for."
Blogger Edward Morrissey takes Dean at his word:
Dean and his followers demonstrate the illness that has infected the American Left since the 1960s. They don't just oppose--they hate. They hate Republicans, they hate suburbia, they hate just about everything America has done."
As Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost dropped out of the race yesterday he called Dean and,
"congratulated him for running a strong campaign. The challenge ahead for Governor Dean will be to unite the party, rebuild the DNC and win elections in every region of the country."
It remains to be seen if this too will be A Fait Accompli?
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