An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Morning Coffee 07/12/08
Channel 5 reporter Phil Williams testified he was on the Senate chamber floor in June or July 2005, probably doing an on-camera report, when he “casually” opened Ford’s desk and found several documents.
Three pertained to OmniCare, a managed health-care company that Ford is accused of accepting consulting fees from while serving on the TennCare Oversight Committee.
After he found the documents, Williams testified, he went back to the station, made copies and, at the instruction of his news director, turned the documents over to authorities.
I’m not sure if I should be amazed a reporter was actually doing his job, or shocked that a reporter felt free enough to snoop through what I would assume to be a private desk? Either way, Ford is slime.
Pioneering heart surgeon DeBakey dies at age 99
Surgeon Michael DeBakey, whose ground-breaking heart transplants and coronary bypass operations made him one of the giants of 20th century medicine, has died at age 99.
The Baylor College of Medicine and Methodist Hospital said DeBakey died on Friday of natural causes. Methodist Hospital in Houston was his primary surgical hospital for many years.
In a career that spanned more than seven decades, DeBakey developed a number of new surgical procedures that now are standard in treating heart ailments and led many to consider him the father of modern cardiovascular surgery.
(This might sound horrible, but honestly, I’m surprised he was still alive.) His accomplishments are numerous, and many owe him their lives. Prayers with the family.
Zimbabwe regime rejoices as UN sanctions vetoed
China and Russia on Friday vetoed the US draft resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on Zimbabwe as well as an assets freeze and travel ban on Mugabe and 13 of his closest allies. South Africa, Libya and Vietnam voted against the resolution, while Indonesia abstained.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the decision would be “incomprehensible” to the people of Zimbabwe and America’s UN envoy warned that Russia’s veto cast doubt on its reliability as a G8 ally. Russian later slammed this criticism as “unacceptable.”
Did someone actually think Russia was an “ally”? Jeez. A vote like this reinforces the thugs, making the Useless Numnuts even more useless….if that’s possible.
Senate passes mortgage rescue plan
A mortgage rescue to help hundreds of thousands of struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure and get more affordable, safer loans passed the Senate overwhelmingly Friday, but it faces a bumpy road amid continuing turmoil in the housing market.
The 63-5 vote reflected a keen interest by Democrats and Republicans to send election-year help to distressed homeowners with economic issues topping voters’ concerns.
“See? I voted to bail your sorry ass out of the mess you got yourself in. Now you better vote for me! Doesn’t matter that the taxpayers are the ones taking the fall! I’ll fix your life!” Heaven help us! The myopic view of this bunch never ceases to amaze me.
Mayor Shuts Down Pole-Dance Studio
Another crackdown on a suspected sexually-oriented business in Shelby County has the business owner scratching her head. Friday was supposed to be the grand opening of Eccentric Studios. The Bartlett business planned to offer dance classes in a way that prompted the mayor to close the place before it even opened.
Mayor A. Keith McDonald says the business, located in a strip mall, is a sexually-oriented business and is subject to zoning laws. He says while he received no complaints about the business, he decided to initiate the stop work order after his code enforcement officer showed him the business’ ad flyers and directed him to the company’s website. When the poles commonly associated with strip clubs were brought in, McDonald says the business broke ordinance.
But the owner, Rachael Vint, who is a classically-trained ballet dancer, disagrees, saying the classes she offers called ‘Strip To Fit’ are for fully-clothed exercise for women over 18 years old. Vint says, “Dance is an expression that is often misunderstood… The Waltz was once the most taboo thing in town. Now, so is Strip To Fit.”
There were no complaints, so why did the mayor shut them down? The pole. Now, having trained in ballet myself for many years, I can tell ya, it doesn’t matter which way that pole points, it’s one hell of a workout! There was no sex involved, it was an exercise facility. The mayor is a putz!
‘Iran would destroy Israel, US bases’
Iran would “destroy” Israel as well as 32 US army bases in the region if the Islamic Republic is attacked, an aide to Iran’s SupremeLeader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday.
“If Israel and the US fire a bullet or a missile at Iran, its forces will attack the heart of Israel and 32 American bases in the region before the dust from such an attack has settled,” Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Mojtaba Zolnour as saying. He added that such targets would be “destroyed” by the Iranian counterattack.
These backhanded threats are getting old. Like it or not, we will be in a war with Iran eventually that will make the Iraq war look like a schoolyard scuffle. Either we take ‘em out right from the start, or ……..
States fight voter registration ban at vet homes
New Hampshire has joined several other states demanding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reverse a policy that blocks nonpartisan voter registration drives in veterans homes, hospitals and other VA facilities.
Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake said he banned registration drives to avoid disruptions and because federal employees are not permitted to engage in political activities with government resources or on government time.
On the one hand, veterans should be able to register to vote easily. My first question: Why isn’t every veteran registered already? On the other hand, you’d have many less than savory voter registration groups, shoving their way in. Given the record of some of those organizations, many deceased vets might end up registered. Perhaps if they just had the forms available for the vets if they asked for them?
Program arranges adoption of horses, burros roaming crowded western land
Adoption opportunities for these wild animals rotate around the nation yearly, closer to home than one may think. Archdale, N.C., will host an opportunity July 18-20. Another will take place in Decatur, Ala., in late August.
But thousands and thousands of these animals roaming wild in Western states need homes. The land has enough resources for only 29,000. But federal protection and the lack of natural predators have resulted in substantial increases in wild horse and burro herd populations, leaving many wandering to find mere patches of grass.
Which is more economical? Feeding and housing a large four legged critter, or a car. Hmmm….with the critter, you get “fertilizer”. With a car, you get where you are going faster. Wonder if the Mr would give up his side of the garage?
Bush tries to blame Congress for high energy costs
President Bush on Saturday tried to pin the blame on Congress for soaring energy prices and said lawmakers need to lift long-standing restrictions on drilling for oil in pristine lands and offshore tracts believed to hold huge reserves of fuel.
“It’s time for members of Congress to address the pain that high gas prices are causing our citizens,” the president said. “Every extra dollar that American families spend because of high gas prices is one less dollar they can use to put food on the table or send a child to college. The American people deserve better.”
The headline speaks volumes about the writer/editor! A lot of the blame for the high cost of gas falls squarely on the shoulders of Congress and their puppet masters, the environazis. If the weasels hadn’t been so busy the last 10 or 20 years trying to screw over the citizens they were hired to represent, perhaps we wouldn’t be in such a mess.
Lack of Details in G8 Agreement on Climate Change Brings Criticism
The leaders agreed on a goal of at least a fifty percent reduction in worldwide carbon emissions by two thousand fifty. But many environmentalists criticized the lack of any detailed plans for working toward that goal.
I’ll give ya some details. The climate changes….on a regular basis. Deal with it, adapt! Honestly, I don’t know how man survived without freakin’ politicians? (insert sarcasm here)
Chatty burglar overstays welcome, gets arrested
Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Debbie Foster said a woman saw a man breaking into her home, and she called her husband.
The husband hurried home and saw Baker making his getaway. He called 911 before heading over to talk to the suspect, whom he knows. The men chatted by the side of the road until deputies arrived.
Foster told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that Baker was “pretty intoxicated.”
Proof: Alcohol makes ya stoopid! Heh.
Front of U.S. Capitol Closed Off After 30 Fowl Found Dead
U.S. Capitol Police closed off a swath of territory in front of the U.S. Capitol late Friday after some 30 birds and ducks were discovered dead in the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol.
Capitol Police Chief Phil Morse told FOX News it appears the water in the reflecting pool was somehow over-chlorinated.
Tests were being run and police were keeping people and vehicles away from the West front of the Capitol.
D.C. Fire was also assisting with the situation. The dead fowl were discovered around 10:30 ET.
Bird carcasses on the outside representing the walking brain dead on the inside.
