I can't help but think how appropriate that saying is to the current Congress and their effect on the next presidential election. In my mind, there could be no more effective campaign propaganda for republican candidates than the liberal media filling the news mediums with endless stories of Congress' partisan, childish, pointless wastes of time and money whining about partisan crap.
We (the American people) get it: you don't like Bush, or any republicans. We got it 6 years ago. We understand that you will condemn anything any republican does. We get that you will stop at nothing, and leave no option unexplored, in your quest to damage republicans just because they are republicans. We get that there's no substance or reason behind any opinions you have, other than they are the opposite of the republican opinions. Your motivation is only to hurt republicans. You don't give a rat's ass what happens to the country, as long as the republicans suffer. You have made all of this very clear.
Want to know why you're the most disliked Congress in history? Isn't it obvious?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
On soda and health problems
The study:
There's a correlation between people who drink soda (regular or diet) and people who have heart problems.
The idiotic news media interpretation:
There's a causality between drinking soda and having heart problems.
The restatement of the study conclusions, for the slow people who might otherwise come to (and write about) a totally incorrect interpretation:
Fat, unhealthy people are more likely to drink soda than healthy people.
Now, anyone who wouldn't read my restatement of the study conclusions and say 'duh...'? Funny how couching something that simple in scientific jargon like 'correlation' and rearranging it causes a stirring of the stupids.
There's a correlation between people who drink soda (regular or diet) and people who have heart problems.
The idiotic news media interpretation:
There's a causality between drinking soda and having heart problems.
The restatement of the study conclusions, for the slow people who might otherwise come to (and write about) a totally incorrect interpretation:
Fat, unhealthy people are more likely to drink soda than healthy people.
Now, anyone who wouldn't read my restatement of the study conclusions and say 'duh...'? Funny how couching something that simple in scientific jargon like 'correlation' and rearranging it causes a stirring of the stupids.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Why you should work with Realtors?
So I heard a funny commercial, promoting why you should work with a Realtor to buy your next home. Among the selling points was how Realtors understand the market and can guide you in making a smart decision. This was followed shortly by how rates are still low, there are lots of properties available, and it's an excellent time to buy.
...
It would take a special kind of moron to think that this is a good time to buy a house in Southern California, what with the bubble in the process of popping and prices about to go through the proverbial floor. I can't imagine a worse thing to tell people to promote yourself as a valuable asset because you understand the market. Just... wow.
...
It would take a special kind of moron to think that this is a good time to buy a house in Southern California, what with the bubble in the process of popping and prices about to go through the proverbial floor. I can't imagine a worse thing to tell people to promote yourself as a valuable asset because you understand the market. Just... wow.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Distortumentary
Today's thought:
There should be a new category for movie classification: the Distortumentary. A production in documentary format which intentionally distorts the facts, accounts, theories, and information presentation to serves a personal or political interest.
Recent pioneers of the field would be Michael Moore and Al Gore, although I'm sure there are many more in the history of film making. So many, in fact, that I think these artists deserve their own category for their bold and occasionally creative mix of fact, fiction, and spin.
There should be a new category for movie classification: the Distortumentary. A production in documentary format which intentionally distorts the facts, accounts, theories, and information presentation to serves a personal or political interest.
Recent pioneers of the field would be Michael Moore and Al Gore, although I'm sure there are many more in the history of film making. So many, in fact, that I think these artists deserve their own category for their bold and occasionally creative mix of fact, fiction, and spin.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Approval ratings
Bush's approval rating: ~35%
Congress' approval rating: ~14%
Just lending credence the the idea that no matter what the republicans do, the democrats will find a way to do something more ridiculously moronic. Way to hit a new (all-time) low guys.
Oh, and I'd like to reiterate my prediction of Thompson in '08. With the way the democrats are behaving in Congress, I'd probably bet on a trained monkey if the republican's ran one. Which is sad, cause it would be nice to steer the country more towards the center. Maybe by '12 someone will get the lunatics away from the controls of the democratic party... don't count on it, though.
Congress' approval rating: ~14%
Just lending credence the the idea that no matter what the republicans do, the democrats will find a way to do something more ridiculously moronic. Way to hit a new (all-time) low guys.
Oh, and I'd like to reiterate my prediction of Thompson in '08. With the way the democrats are behaving in Congress, I'd probably bet on a trained monkey if the republican's ran one. Which is sad, cause it would be nice to steer the country more towards the center. Maybe by '12 someone will get the lunatics away from the controls of the democratic party... don't count on it, though.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Some days, politicians do good things
I know, it's pretty rare. But occasionally in the midst of all the partisan bickering, sniveling, infighting, railroading, grandstanding, and generally wasting time and huge amounts of money, somebody does something right.
In this case, it was Bush commuting Libby's sentence. Sure, he probably wanted to pardon him, but that can always be done later, a-la "11th-hour slick willy".
Oh, and just in case you don't agree, let's review:
- Partisan trail looking for a scapegoat and a soapbox
- Libby not accused of leaking anything (despite the media focus)
- Libby a "good guy" from all accounts, doing his job
- Convicted for inconsistent statements over two years of interrogation by hostile lawyers, and on the basis of personal recollections of events
- Given a ridiculously large sentence on the encouragement of a very biased prosecution and a somewhat biased jury
Basically, a sham trial of a scapegoat, convicted for giving statements inconsistent with other [hostile] witnesses, and had the book thrown at him by a hostile court. That's why the president is given the power to commute sentences and pardon people: to fix miscarriages of justice. And every once in a while, the system works.
In this case, it was Bush commuting Libby's sentence. Sure, he probably wanted to pardon him, but that can always be done later, a-la "11th-hour slick willy".
Oh, and just in case you don't agree, let's review:
- Partisan trail looking for a scapegoat and a soapbox
- Libby not accused of leaking anything (despite the media focus)
- Libby a "good guy" from all accounts, doing his job
- Convicted for inconsistent statements over two years of interrogation by hostile lawyers, and on the basis of personal recollections of events
- Given a ridiculously large sentence on the encouragement of a very biased prosecution and a somewhat biased jury
Basically, a sham trial of a scapegoat, convicted for giving statements inconsistent with other [hostile] witnesses, and had the book thrown at him by a hostile court. That's why the president is given the power to commute sentences and pardon people: to fix miscarriages of justice. And every once in a while, the system works.
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