Anti-Choice Morons

by: V

Fri May 04, 2007 at 11:44:51 AM MST

Classy Word Play

by: V

Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 09:57:41 AM MST

Set aside the fact that the Iraqi local citizens are opposed to this construction and Prime Minister al-Maliki expressly called for the construction to halt--remember that the Iraqis are taking the lead these days.  I heard the real gem this morning on NPR.  The administration has come up with a brilliant name for these 3.5 meter solid concrete abominations: "gated communities."  This is the best spin since the Paris Hilton tax on the uber-wealthy was renamed.  If this administration was half as good at military strategy as they are at wordplay we would be out of Iraq already.  Probably, we would have been in and out of Iran and Syria as well.  I am floored.

For 60 Minutes Fans

by: V

Sun Apr 01, 2007 at 17:39:23 PM MST

You can call Max's folks at (800) 332-6106.

Or you can send him an auto-e-mail using this page.

Remember three things when you call.  First, Max is up for re-election in 2008.  Second, every new election is a chance for Max to prove himself to us, again.  Third and most important, Max works for us--not the pharmacos, not the richest few, but each and every Montanan.

Update - There are two editorials in the Gazette today that discuss this and associated topics.

First, According to an AARP poll, around 85% of Montanans support Medicare bargaining for lower prices with big pharmaco.  This is not surprising because it makes good old fashioned Montana sense to bargain for a lower price, rather than giving the big guys exactly what they want.

Second, this editorial reminds us that Max is in a powerful seat on these decisions.  He has said that CHIP is his number one priority, and that is not a bad number one.

6 to 8 Pack Reduced to 4 Pack

by: V

Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 12:23:03 PM MST

Minority Leader Sen. Corey Stapleton (R-Billings) seems to feel left out of the process here:

Other Republicans on the committee were caught by surprise by the moves and suggested Senate Democrats had worked out the strategy behind closed doors.

Senate Minority Leader Corey Stapleton, R-Billings, asked Cobb whether he had spoken to Senate Democratic leaders about the plan. Cobb said he had.

"Is there some reason you haven't spoken to us?" Stapleton said to Cobb, an independent-minded senator. There was no response.

Could there be a reason why Sen. Stapleton was left out?  It might be the fact that the Republicans openly declared war on the Governor and the Democrats, as the session began.  Maybe it's because they have refused to consider compromising an inch to Democrats or sensibility throughout the session.  Seriously, after the House leadership, with at least tacit support from Sen. Stapleton, brokered a closed door deal to subvert a thirty year old process--let alone the 11,000 or so constituents, whose testimony was disregarded--it is a pretty tall order for Democrats and reasonable Republicans to trust the Republican leadership. 

Senate President Cooney apologized for any "out of the loop" feelings that may have been caused, but can we really blame the Senate for trying to take the last available rational action?  I certainly can't.

That aside, Sen. Stapleton candidly raises an important issue:

Stapleton said he had no problem with the Senate committee doing what it was going to do, but he called on the Senate to take "the higher ground" instead of rushing through the process and risk making mistakes.

"I would just ask that we slow down so we don't do just as the House did," Stapleton said, later objecting to the Senate committee making the changes in "such a hurried method."

Stapleton said he didn't want the Senate to show disrespect to the House.

Without adopting the bad ideas that the House has lain before them, I am not sure that the Senate can tread around the Representatives' feelings.  He is right, however, that Senate Democrats and reasonable Republicans should heed their own advice to the House.  A hasty fix might be just as bad as the original hasty meddling.  That said, none of the reported changes seem too outlandish.

Lange: Completely Insane

by: V

Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 09:23:58 AM MST

In the Jan. 19 Gazette, Michael Lange, House majority leader, wants children in foster care to be raised as they should be raised - with values, he said. Did these values send them to foster care? Did the fact that they never missed school, had therapy when needed, good, clean clothes to wear to school get them into care? I and dozens of other foster parents resent the implication that we are not capable nor trained to take care of these neglected children.

I can assure you they are not put in foster homes for no reason. Our state intake workers take every precaution to get 110 percent information on why they should be taken away until parents change and get help.

Also, within 30 days of a new placement, we go to the doctor, eye doctor, dentist, find a therapist if needed, and go out and buy a wardrobe so they can go to school looking like everyone else.

After 27 years, I've seen it all and never had a child who was erroneously placed because intake workers had nothing else to do. Our social workers have visits, medical records, programs for parents to do, pick up children for visits, go to IEPs (individual education plan meetings) and doctors' visits. Where will they find time for anything else?

How many parents really care? If they did, they'd rush to complete their program, give up drugs and alcohol and put parenting first. Lange should get a bill for more money and more workers to insure a secure program for needy children.

Phyllis Fosjord
Billings

Well said.  It also merits noting that foster parents like Fosjord are hard to find.  We don't have charitable folks beating down the courthouse doors to become foster parents and families for these poor children.  Requiring these candidates to adopt values that, frankly, did not work all that well for the unfit parents will only exascerbate this shortage.  Here's hoping that most of the Montana legislature will be guided by common sense and reject Mike Lange's unbalanced proposition.

Update -- The Gazette has an editorial of about the same quality today.

Forced Retirement in San Diego

by: V

Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 13:50:02 PM MST

The federal investigation into Congressional corruption is approaching a crucial deadline and potential dead end. Feb. 15 is the last day on the job for United States Attorney Carol Lam of San Diego, the inquiry's dedicated prosecutor, who is being purged by the Bush administration.

Her investigation led to the imprisonment of former Representative Randy Cunningham, the California Republican who took millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for delivering lucrative government contracts. But just as Ms. Lam was digging into other possible wrongdoing, the White House decided to force her from office without explanation.

Hmmmn.  I wonder...

Ms. Lam has been investigating the dealings of Brent Wilkes, a private contractor and deep-pocketed political contributor who was designated co-conspirator No. 1 in the Cunningham case. Mr. Wilkes developed other cozy relationships. Among other avenues, the inquiry has been looking into rich government contracts secured by corporations and lobbyists with ties to Representative Jerry Lewis - the former appropriations chairman - and his staff. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mr. Wilkes could be indicted before Ms. Lam leaves office. The question now is whether her successor, as yet unnamed, will pursue the inquiry with the same dedication or will quietly smother it.

The outlook isn't promising.

Possibly more damning than this:

[Attorney] General Alberto Gonzales is refusing to provide Congress with details on these unmerited dismissals. He insists that there's no attempt to quash fresh Republican scandals and says only the "very best" will be named as replacements.

I second the call that this article ends with.  Congress should be making this odd occurrence its business.  Democrat and Republican leaders in Congress should be asking questions, but not alone.  Rather than writing an editorial, the NYT should be digging deeper and asking questions.  This way constituents may take more interest--particularly in this climate of anti-corruption--and force their representatives to take action.

Iraq: Like a Quagmire, But Worse

by: V

Mon Jan 08, 2007 at 12:54:02 PM MST

Most of the Representatives must have read the reports about how ineffective a surge will be and how very much opposed to John "Escalation" McCain's plan the American people are.  The gazette reprints an EJ Dionne opinion today, that discusses this "No Blank Checks" plan as a paper tiger, considering modern American warfare, and the consolidation of power in executive hands. 

Consolidation is really what this post is about.  I am not a military scholar, and though I have felled many opponents on the blood-stained fields of Risk, I doubt that really qualifies me as a military strategist--though, I suppose it is possible that President Bush is using die to determine his next strategerific move in Iraq.  I do know something about how this American government was devised and intended to run.  Not much, but something is better than nothing.  The legislative and executive branches were supposed to be jealous paramours of the full power of the United States and opponents for its affection.  They were to guard what they had without yeilding, despite similarities of party or faith between branches. 

These days, that sort of government seems fanciful.  The legislative is at the beck and call  of the executive, and the strongest defiance would be to force President Bush to justify our spending in Iraq (deep intake of underwhelmed breath).  I have a suggestion for the Pelosi and the Democratic-controlled legislative: Stop playing footsie with the executive and grow the ovarios y cajones to take back what is yours.  The power of the purse should not be a paper tiger.

The best part of this plan is that it is not really partisan.  Denny should be just as anxious to protect the power of the legislative as Max or Jon.  That tension is part of his elected duty.

Update -- touchstone has a great post on topic as well.