Bear has sent us a very digital Christmas card. Thanks, Bear, and we hope Santa finds you up in New York.
Coburn Attempts to Block 9/11 Bill
Unbelievable. Senator Colburn of Oklahoma still tries to block the 9/11 bill and provides misinformation.
From Huffington Post:
The Senate did hold a hearing, however, in June, though Coburn didn’t attend it, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
To win Republican support, Democrats have slashed $1.2 billion from the cost of the bill — by cutting out a victims compensation fund. And Democrats have backed off the attempt to close tax loopholes that benefit major corporations and instead are offering to pay for the bill, according to aides familiar with the negotiations, by setting a fee on federal government contractors with foreign countries that have not signed certain procurement agreements with the U.S and by extending a fee that already exists on certain H1B visas. The latter fee had unanimous support among Republicans and Democrats earlier this year.
Support for the measure had apparently been growing before Coburn’s announcement. New York Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, two of the bill’s sponsors, both claimed Monday that the bill finally had the votes to pass. That contention appeared to be supported by the recent comments of a some key Republicans who had encouraged a Senate détente in order to send the package through to the President.
On Tuesday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani became the latest name on that list.
“This should not be seen as a Democratic or Republican issue. It shouldn’t even been seen as a fiscal issue. This is a matter of morality, it’s a matter of obligation,” Giuliani said on an appearance on a local Fox affiliate.
And last week, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said that “every Republican should vote for this bill.”
Current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent, also urged the Senate to reach an agreement, saying Monday that the “time for excuses is over.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, one of the bill’s sponsors, tells another story:
Just what is it going to take to get these people some help?
Marshall Explains his Opposition to Gays in the Guard
Does Marshall think that there are not gays in the military now? Why is serving in the military all about sodomy, AIDs, and all the other things he fears?
Lowell on Blue Virginia covers this story well. I am too speechless, even after all these years of Side-Show Bob. His homophobia is only surpassed by his ignorance on the topic of homosexuality.
No Nativity Scene in Washington this Year.
There will be no Nativity Scene in Washington this year!
The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the
United States Capital this Christmas season. This isn’t for any
religious reason. They simply have not been able to find
Three Wise Men in the Nation’s Capitol.
A search for a Virgin continues.
There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable
Marshall’s ‘Luv Canals’ Don’t extend to Gays in the National Guard
Give it a rest, Side-Show Bob. Del. Marshall must think Virginia won the Civil War and that the Old Dominion is not part of the United States.
It seems that Marshall wants gays banned from the Virginia National Guard. He says history is on his side. According to the News and Messenger:
Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, said he will introduce legislation in the 2011 General Assembly that would prevent gays from serving openly in the Virginia National Guard.
He said he has history on his side.
According to numerous Internet sources, Lt. Gotthold Frederick Enslin was drummed out of the Continental Army on sodomy charges in 1778.
“The policy started with George Washington. This is not something that’s brand new, but the press has largely ignored it because they don’t read history,” Marshall said.
Policies restricting gays from serving in the military have been in place since Lt. Enslin was dismissed.
Marshall said the recent repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy — put in place by President Bill Clinton — was simply President Barack Obama’s appeasement of the left wing of the Democratic party.
Perhaps Marshall would like to see what the Log Cabin Republicans have to say about all this? Were they against repeal of DADT? Marshall’s logic is flawed. George Washington’s family owned slaves also. Much has changed since Washington’s day. Hell, they even let the little woman vote nowadays.
Marshall droned on:
Observing the Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice has been observed in most cultures since time began. It signaled the shortest day of the year. The growing season had stopped in the northern latitudes. Early people looked on winter as a time of dread. In ancient times, many people didn’t make it through the winter. They died or their loved ones died. They battled the elements, faced starvation, ran out of fuel, and were often ravaged by disease. Winter was deadly to early people. Even as late as last century, winter could spell destruction for people. Depending on where you live and your circumstances, winter can be deadly even in our modern culture.
Today we know that the solstice is caused by the tilt of the earth’s axis. For the unscientific, we say that solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The ancients celebrated. They knew something was up celestially. They knew that the days had been getting shorter since what we know think of as June 21. And they knew that now they had hard months ahead but that the days were going to get longer and there would be more sunlight.
Non-pagan peoples also have their roots in this seasonal event. Jews, Christians and Muslims all have festival days associated with the Winter Solstice. Hanukkah and Christmas nearly always occur around the same time. Perhaps early Christians used this time to convert pagans to Christianity. After all, they were celebrating hope.
It was critical to early man to renew. That fear that the sun might never reappear gave way to great joy near the Solstice that the sun would come back and life would begin anew. Meanwhile, the ancients prayed to their gods to make it happen.
The ancients underwent Herculean efforts to mark and observe the Solstices. Stonehenge, Maeshowe in Scotland and Newgrange in Ireland all align special light during the equinoxes and solstices. Each structure highlights an important aspect of astronomical light. The fairly new field of archaeo-astronomy has thousands of examples of ancient man observing these celestial turning points. North America has its own sites, the most famous being the Sun Dagger of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.
Generally we think of solar and lunar architecture as being druid or celtic. However, there are examples all over the world and on every continent except Antarctica. In America many people incorporate the ancient symbols of the Winter Solstice in Christmas or Hanakah. Observers of pagan based religions practice the old ways.
While most cultures celebrated the Winter Solstice, one might ask, why celebrate? Good question. All sorts of superstitions and rituals were performed for good luck and to ward off bad things and evil that could happen. Of all early people, the Celts are probably the group many of us are most familiar with who celebrated Winter Solstice.
In Celtic myth, the Holly king and the Oak king, twins, were in a continual struggle for domination. At the Winter Solstice, the Holly King is overpowered and the Oak King rules until he is overthrown at the Summer Solstice. Winter Solstice is a time for celebration because it marks the beginning of the days getting longer. The cycle of the year is represented by this turmoil of continual struggle. Neither can exist without the other.
Many of our Christmas traditions include pagan ritual involving Winter Solstice. Yule logs, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Mistletoe, the date of Christmas, holly, the colors red and green, wreaths, and ivy all have roots in pagan culture or in other religions. Religions do not just spring up in isolation. They merge and infuse and often take the old beliefs and remodel them into newer ones.
So regardless of your religion or culture, you are sure to find a fit somewhere in the winter holiday season around the Winter Solstice. Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to throw another log on the fire and sit back and let the winds howl outside.
Music Tributes under the fold
The Solstice Treat: Full Eclipse of the Full Moon
This Tuesday brings a special treat for Winter Solstice. Not only is it Solstice but also there will be a full moon. And it just gets better. There will be a full eclipse of the full moon. The eclipse starts on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am. As it begins, the earth’s shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the moon. It takes about an hour for the “bite” to swallow the entire Moon. Total eclipse is at 02:41 am and lasts for 72 minutes.
If you aren’t planning to enjoy the entire eclipse in the dead of winter in the middle of the night, choose this moment: 03:17 am. That’s when the moon will be displaying the most vivid shades of coppery red. The next full eclipse of a full moon on Solstice will be December 21, 2094. I expect to miss that one. This Solstice is a very special celestial treat, if the weather holds out.
Pork, Pork Barrel Spending and Beavers
I used to like the show Bulls and Bears on Saturday morning. It made up, sorta, for the markets being closed. It has started being far too political. Too much politics and not enough on the stock market and money matters.
This past Saturday was no exception. Brenda Buttner is the host of this show and she began the discussion about pork spending. One thing led to the other and Toby started laughing about $208,ooo being set aside in North Carolina for beaver management. The entire panel broke up hysterically and acted like this was the dumbest use of money ever thought of. Toby said it was code for killing them.
Last Minute Legislation: Cheers and Jeers
The repeal of DADT passed. The Dream Act did not pass. DADT doesn’t take effect immediately.
According to the Washington Post:
“This is the defining civil rights initiative of this decade,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. “Congress has taken an extraordinary step on behalf of men and women who’ve been denied their rightful integrity for too long.”
Being gay has for decades been grounds for discharge, and tens of thousands of service members have been expelled after their sexual identities were exposed – sometimes under questioning. An estimated 13,000 troops have been discharged under the “don’t ask” policy that President Bill Clinton, after failing to reverse the policy, authorized as a compromise in 1993.
What people don’t remember is that Clinton put in DADT as a last resort. He would have preferred to make being gay a non-issue. however, Congress had threatened to make the rules stricter if Clinton issued an executive order. Much has changed in 15 years.
The years-long legislative debate over the policy came to an end Saturday as senators voted 65 to 31 to send the repeal legislation to President Obama, who campaigned on a pledge to eliminate the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly. Eight Republicans joined 57 members of the Democratic caucus in the vote; four senators did not vote.
Good for those 8 Republicans and shame on those who voted no.
As for the Dream Act, to me, it is a waste of human resource. A country that continually complains about social security not being sustained should try to get all the high paid workers it can. If students work hard, keep out of trouble and have superior grades, they should be entitled to complete for college, regardless of the status of their parents. I am tired of this sins of the father business when dealing with children.
From the Washington Post:
On Saturday, that strategy was in ruins after Senate Democrats could muster only 55 votes in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, a measure that would have created a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Under Senate rules, Democrats needed 60 votes to overcome Republican opposition to the bill. The House of Representatives had passed the measure this month, 216 to 198.
The irony of the DREAM Act’s failure is that it had strong bipartisan support at the start of the administration, and advocates thought it could generate momentum for more policy changes.
But as the country’s mood shifted on illegal immigration, support among Republicans and some Democratic senators evaporated, with many decrying it as backdoor amnesty for lawbreakers. Even a former co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), voted against it.
I wonder how McCain ended up voting? Shame on those senators who voted nay. Kids are once again victims. Its a sad day when we crap on kids who have grown up American because of their parents. No one is asking anyone else to pay the bill. Just let the kids into college.
McDonnell Ups the Pension Ante
Governor McDonnell has just upped the ante with the VRS, the Virginia pension fund. He gets off on the wrong foot by saying that the pension fund has been problematic for years and years. That simply is not true according to reports over the years from outside sources and independent audits. VRS has only come under fire in recent years, specifically after the crash of 2008. McDonnell’s attempts to paint the plan as compromised and unsustainable are purely political.
McDonnell has outlined his plan which will affect nearly 90,000 state employees, according to the Washington Post:
RICHMOND – Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) proposed Thursday that 87,000 state employees begin making annual 5 percent contributions – the first in nearly three decades – to the state’s retirement fund as a way to shore up the commonwealth’s pension system.
Virginia is one of only four states where government workers make no annual contributions to their retirement fund, the result of a 27-year-old deal in which the state agreed to pick up employee costs in lieu of a pay raise in 1983.
Shep Smith Agrees with Stewart, Blasts Congress
Last night on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart called on Fox News to address what needs to be done for the 9/11 responders who have a myriad of life-threatening diseases all caused by the environmental hazards of 9/11. Many are sick, have lost their health insurance, jobs, etc. The Zadroga Bill for 9/11 First Responders was to help with this situation.
Shep Smith of Fox News can always be counted on to stand up for what’s right, regardless of what political party is pushing what. Both Shep and Chris Wallace blasted Congress for their inaction yesterday:
For those without sound, from Mediaite:
Shep begins his rant:
How do they sleep at night after this vote on Ground Zero first responders from 9/11? Are they going to get that done, or are we going to leave these American heroes out there to twist in the wind?
Smith and Wallace never named names Friday afternoon, but did rip the “political” failure. Smith continued to skewer:
“Who’s going to hold these people’s feet to the fire? We’re able to put a 52 story building so far down there at Ground Zero, we’re able to pay for tax cuts for billionaires who don’t need them and it’s not going to stimulate the economy. But we can’t give health care to Ground Zero first responders who ran right into the fire? Went down there to save people? Do people know what this city was like that day? People were walking over bridges they were covered in ash they were running for their lives they were crying their family members were dead. And these people ran to Ground Zero to save people’s lives. And we’re not going to even give them medicine for the illnesses they got down there? It’s disgusting, it’s a national disgrace, it’s a shame and everybody who voted against should have to stand up and account for himself or herself.
It really was high theater. I wanted to get up and high-five both Smith and Wallace for saying what needed to be said.
Jon Stewart is Deadly Serious: Meet the first responders
Thursday night was the last Daily Show of the year and Jon Stewart was serious–not so funny about something he believes deeply in. Jon Stewart started off in his usual manner but things took a serious note as he discussed the James Zadroga Bill for 9/11 First Responders. Stewart punctuated the problem with a panel of 4 who suffer serious, life-threatening illnesses because of their efforts in the 9/11 clean up.
First the background of what has happened with the Zadroga Bill to provide health care costs and compensation to 9/11 first responders:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Worst Responders | ||||
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Things take an even more serious turn as Jon Stewart interviews 4 critically ill NYC first responders:
Stewart turns to Fox News. He credited them with giving 9/11 recognition its due diligence. He bashes the 3 major networks for their non-coverage of the Zagroda Bill. He lets the Senate have it with both barrels.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| 9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster | ||||
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Al Jazeera has covered this issue sympathetically. Stewart feels that it is an outrage that the American networks have not given full coverage to something due American heroes.
This is the only thread for right now. I ask you to listen to both videos. You probably don’t watch Al Jazeera. These heroes need us to back them. Get their story from the horses’ mouths.
State Employees Bite the Bullet…again
Governor McDonnell had a town hall meeting today with state employees to deliver some sobering news.
There will be no pay raises next year and state employees will have to pony up a portion of the VRS contribution. (Has that passed the General Assembly yet?) According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:
He did not say how much but cited a Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission report that found the Virginia Retirement System and other state-supported pension plans have unfunded liabilities of $17.6 billion.
The state has been paying employees’ 5 percent share since 1983. When a state employee at the town-hall forum pointed out that that payment began in lieu of a pay raise, McDonnell said “you are exactly right” but said the state employees will have to begin making a “shared sacrifice.”
What is a” shared sacrifice?” Who else is sharing this sacrifice? McDonnell did share some good news after the double whammy. He informed state workers that there would be no furloughs and health insurance would not go up. The furloughs were particularly troublesome in the past.
The good news is, people still have jobs.
Has pay been frozen for the General Assembly and for the executive branch of the state government?
This was the first town hall meeting for state employees. Most employees said that they appreciated the candor. Those who were not present could view the town hall meeting on the governor’s website.
Open Thread…………………………………Thursday, December 16
Is everyone cold enough yet? This is a brutal winter. Keep the conversation warm.
Public Parks SHOULD be FOR the Public……RIGHT???
Did everyone watch the Board meeting yesterday? What a joke! What an embarrassment!
In a nutshell, the ENTIRE Board, led by Corey and Wally voted to screw citizens and reward private interest groups, whether they be a small little league football team or big developers, it’s all about the short term payoff $$$$.
Did you know that the co-owner of the Avondale property and Brookfield homes paid an UNDISCLOSED amount to the Grizzly football team to build their ill gotten private/public parkland. Why should you care? Because WE all end up paying for the infrastructure required to support these homes. The property tax revenue from these new homes will NOT cover the services the County must provide for those homes. Oh, and let’s not forget the realignment of Vint Hill Road, funded by ALL taxpayers. WE all must pay for that un-needed improvement and in return, we don’t even get a lousy park, a private small interest football team does!
Where are all the fiscal conservatives?????????????????????????????????
Do you have kids that enjoy parks? How much money was “donated” to the Grizzlies so that they could build their ball field? Are you willing to sit by silently while developers pay off special interest groups in order to “buy” votes for their project. Where are our elected officials, our “servants of the public” ? What is their trade off in allowing these back room deals?
Remember when this Board REFUSED to create a partnership with Bull Run Conservancy, a park that would have served EVERY single resident at NO cost to the taxpayer, and yet THIS project, this back room deal, tranfering park rights to the Grizzlies, a private football league, is acceptable?
