An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Morning Coffee 05/15/08
Iraq seeks ban on Israeli medical help
The Iraqi parliament is angry over reports that an organization in the capital has been sending Iraqi children for medical treatment in Israel.
A parliament statement confirmed reports about this enterprise, even though government sources previously said it was untrue, according to Al-Jazeera.
The statement, released by the parliament’s Health and Environment Committee, said the activities of this organization, which is operating out of Baghdad’s Green Zone, was harmful both to the Iraqi people and to the government, since there are no diplomatic relations with Israel at any level, and this practice is a violation of the Arab League’s boycott policy of Israel.
Iraq just lost all my hopes and support! I would think the health and well being of the people is more important than an irrational hatred. I thought wrong. They can all blow themselves up, as far as I’m concerned.
Tax loophole fight could cost more state jobs
State lawmakers fought Wednesday to save a $15 million tax break for family businesses, but the cost could be hundreds of state jobs.
Tennessee is already preparing to offer voluntary buyouts to 2,000 state employees, in a move that could trim $63 million from the budget. It would need to eliminate another 500 jobs to save $15 million more.
Let’s see, which is the priority….family owned business, or state employees feeding at the public trough?? Hmmm…. I’ll take door number two, for 15 mil, Monte!
Iran Role ‘Clearly Visible’ in Attack on Israeli Mall
A rocket attack from Gaza at the heart of a major Israeli city, occurring just as President Bush launched a three-day visit to celebrate the Jewish state’s 60th anniversary, may signify a major escalation in the intensifying regional confrontation between pro-American countries and Iranian-backed Islamist forces.
Uh…just how many pro-American countries are there in that region? My guess would be….one.
Anti-psychotic drugs and children
Similar U.K. and U.S. studies on the use of anti-psychotics on children are raising questions about whether youth from both countries are being over-treated.
The U.K. study, published in the medical journal Pediatrics, showed a 75 percent increase in the amount of children being prescribed anti-psychotics over a 13-year span. In a similar American study using statistics from 1996-2001, the amount of children prescribed anti-psychotics increased 95 percent.
They could have saved a lot money, and asked me. The answer is definitely …….YES! Parents and teachers don’t want kids to act like kids, so they drug them. The end results are not pretty. There are some kids who do need chemical treatment, but not all! They aren’t psychotic…..they’re KIDS!
Moms may not get kids back unless they distance themselves from polygamist religion
Texas, calling a polygamist sect an abusive environment, is poised to tell its mothers they will lose their children unless they distance themselves from portions of their religion.
Some lawyers believe this could mean women would never be able to return to the Yearning for Zion ranch in Eldorado and would have to choose between some of their beliefs and their children.
When a lot of their “beliefs” have no basis in the Bible, I’d say this is probably a good idea.
HIV-positive man sentenced 35 years for spitting at officer
An HIV-positive man convicted of spitting into the eye and mouth of a Dallas police officer has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Because a jury found that Willie Campbell used his saliva as a deadly weapon, the 42-year-old will have to serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was sentenced Wednesday.
Seems kind of extreme to me, but ok. He’d probably have gotten less time if he had shot someone. 
U.S. can win Iraq war within four years: McCain
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Thursday he believes the Iraq war can be won within four years, leaving a functioning democracy there and allowing most U.S. troops to come home.
Better get the big bombs ready, cuz the way I see it, the only way to have a full fledged win is to scrap ‘em and start over.
Shelby County budget proposal freezes tax rate
County Mayor A C Wharton unveiled a balanced budget on Wednesday that will not require a property tax increase next year, but will include about $12 million in cuts, layoffs and no salary increase for employees.
“The commission said no tax increase, see if you can do it by way of cuts and we honored that request,” Wharton said. “It’s up to the 13 members of the commission to see if they wish to adopt what we’re proposing. I hope they will.”
Memphis is in Shelby County. The mayor of Memphis wants to raise taxes an astronomical amount. If the County freezes, and the city raises, which one trumps? I’m a little confused.
Burgeoning Polar Bear Population Listed as Threatened
Even though polar bears have more than doubled in number in recent decades, the federal government has decided to list the bears as a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The listing means the government believes the polar bear population is in danger of diminishing to such a small number in the foreseeable future that it could be in danger of extinction.
So, the number of the cute big bears has doubled, but some moron in the gubmint watches that little film full of lies, and they cave to the BS? That just more than pathetic! We should be ashamed that we have allowed these people to run rough shod over this country, and it’s people!
Chavez Tells Colombia Building U.S. Military Base On Border Would Be Act of ‘Aggression’
President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday warned Colombia not to allow a U.S. military base on its border with Venezuela, saying he would consider such an act an “aggression.”
Chavez said he would not permit Colombia’s U.S.-backed government to establish an American military base in La Guajira, a region spanning northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
So, what’s the little bully going to do? Take away even more rights from his people to protest? It’s not an act aggression ya little pissant. It’s called self defense from tyrants……like YOU!
Lebanon backs off decisions that provoked Hezbollah
Lebanon’s governing coalition has formally reversed two decisions that had provoked the militant group Hezbollah, bringing the country a step closer to resolving a week-old political crisis that triggered the worst factional violence here since the nation’s 15-year civil war.
The announcement Wednesday night came after a day of intensive meetings between Lebanese leaders and an Arab diplomatic delegation led by the foreign minister of Qatar. Rescinding the decisions was a victory for Hezbollah, the Shiite group backed by Syria and Iran that has been trying to wrest more political power from the government. After it was announced, shortly after 11 p.m., loud bursts of celebratory gunfire echoed across the city for almost an hour from Beirut’s southern suburb, Hezbollah’s stronghold.
Caving into terrorists? Not a smart move. And why do terrorists have a “stronghold”? Why doesn’t the Lebanese military bomb it into oblivion?
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