These Buffalo live near Roanoke. These beasts simply amaze me.
They just seem so primative.
What about that mini blizzard this afternoon?
So far contraception has been our favorite topic to fight about in a long time. I find that amazing also.
75 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………………..Saturday, February 11”
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Blogroll
- 9500Liberty
- Bacons' Rebellion Blogspot
- Bearing Drift
- Blue Virginia
- Citizen Tom
- Counts of Monte Cristo. The
- Derecho, The
- Dixie Pig, The
- My Side of the Fence
- My Star Journey
- NARAL Pro-Choice VA Blog
- New Dominion Project
- Nova Common Sense
- NovaTownHall Blog
- One Libertarians's Point of View by Al Alborn
- Pete Candland's Blog
- Potomac Local
- Prince William Muckraker
- PW Conservation Alliance
- PWC Moms
- PWCPolitics.com
- PWCPolitics.com
- Red NoVA
- Shad Plank, The
- She the People
- State of NoVA, the
- The Jeffersoniad
- Townhall
- VEA Daily Reports
- VivianPaige
- WDGolden.com
- You, Me and the Lamp Post
Another important piece by Jane Mayer, this time on the corrupting influence of PACs and attack ads. http://m.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/13/120213fa_fact_mayer
Thanks, Moe. I will read it after Breaking Dawn is over. It got interruped by the death of Whitney Houston.
There is just something dishonest and inherently sneaky about the super pacs. Legislation is needed to outlaw them or a constitutional amendment or something. If we ever want to be ‘we the people’ those things will have to go. What was the Supreme Court thinking? Talk about activist judges!
Moon,
You will NOT believe who I saw today while at the pool place on Rt 1. Not only did I see them today, I see that they have put in their two cents on this article on the new Fence Ordinance. I hope you are sitting down. They’ve been MIA for over a year, if not close to two. Enjoy! Your first two guesses don’t count. 🙂
http://dalecity.patch.com/articles/fence-ordinance-the-almost-final-chapter#comments_list
I know who you are going to say without reading the answer. Mr. W. Where is Red Dawn?
LOL-I sent word to RD to visit the blog. I know he’s one of her favorites. Mr. Laf and I both did a double take.
So will mystery man be appearing on the blog, Laf? I hope so! He can tell off the supervisors from here.
amazingly depressing 🙁
I feel like we are living in another country fighting religious extremism.
Why can’t people see that people being unemployed is a self fulfilling prophecy, people without jobs need a safety net(food medical, etc.)
That increases the debt. People without jobs don’t contribute taxes(no revenue for government)
So the answer is not to reduce debt, it’s to provide jobs so taxes can pay off debt.
So let the Government provide Infra structure jobs(highways, bridges, electric grid, railways, etc.)
@Elena
I suppose you have seen that ‘personhood’ is advancing. I expect all the illegal immigrants are cheering for their new hero, Taliban Bobby.
I wonder how someone will prove where conception took place? I guess we will have to take their word for it.
@Bear,
What you day makes sense!
Here in Virginia we are becoming the Taliban. Lots of legislation that attack reproductive rights. I think I am going to have to have a burka made.
Amazon.com streaming movies has The Body Guard available. What a great movie. Of course anything with Whitney Houston music and Kevin Cosner is just great.
Amazon prime members get the movie for free.
Who will win the grammies tonight?
Lafayette & Moon, That’s awesome. Glad he is still around. I know we were concered about him MIA. I hope he does find his way over to this blog 🙂 I sure enjoyed that character!!
Hi Red Dawn
Laf can call him up and tell him to get on here.
Laf? How about poking him with a stick?
“I can find nothing in the Second Amendment’s text, history, or underlying rationale that could warrant characterizing it as ‘fundamental’ insofar as it seeks to protect the keeping and bearing of arms for private self-defense purposes.” — Justice Stephen Breyer
Karma can be a real bitch: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/13/justice-breyer-robbed-at-west-indies-vacation-home/#content
Obama’s 2013 budget would probably hurt the Washington area economy
By Ed O’Keefe, Tuesday, February 14, 2:56 AM
Much as slumping box office sales hurt Hollywood and lower car sales upend Detroit’s economy, a leaner federal spending plan would probably slow the Washington region’s economy.
Economists predict that the local area will grow more slowly in the coming years, largely because of the kind of pullback in government spending proposed by President Obama on Monday and advocated by many on Capitol Hill
The rate of local economic growth could decline between 2 percent and 2.7 percent this year, experts said.
Growth in the private sector could pick up the slack, but it may not be enough to fully offset federal budget cuts, according to a recent forecast from economist Stephen Fuller, who heads the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University.
Defense contractors have been preparing for the Pentagon’s spending slowdown for more than a year, cutting hundreds of jobs and reorienting their businesses to focus on areas that show promise, such as cybersecurity.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-2013-budget-would-probably-hurt-the-washington-area-economy/2012/02/13/gIQANfczBR_story.html
I hope VA’s Repug legislator reads this and pull their heads out of their butts. This is not very good news.
Can someone explain the true purpose of the Federal government as it applies to the individual? Does the Federal government provide more for the rich than they do for the poor? Is it the Federal government’s job to provide for the individual at all? It just seems to me that someone is trying to mold the Federal government into an adult daycare organization, and I don’t think that was the founding purpose, but I could be wrong.
NY Times speaks favorably of the budget and WSJ makes it sound like the formula for ruination. Morning Joe hosts a series of economists who all disagree.
I guess that means no one really knows jack.
We use to focus on the upper end of the bell curve, but now all the attention goes to the lower end. Not exactly the most successful way to achieve the best results in any endeavor.
@Red Dawn
@Moon-howler
The icing on the cake would be for him to make an appearance at the McCoart Bldg. today. He’s the last of the fiesty ones. I think he may have bigger fish to fry outside of the county/state. 🙂
In what fields do you think we focused on the upper end of the bell curve, SA?
I might have to agree with you on some of this.
Did you read the article on John Glenn this morning? Tom Wolfe called him the last greatest American hero. The 50th anniversary of the John Glenn orbit is next Monday.
Let me know if he does. I forgot that today was nap day, Laf. Nothing drones me to sleep faster than a BOCS meeting.
Virginia Republicans seems to want bigger more intrusive government when one looks at the legislation that has passed during this session. Lots of bedroom legislation. It is like they were salivating to get into all that stuff. Lots of intervention into education.
What seems to be missing? Jobs. Housing market. Infastructure improvements. Road improvements.
I don’t know how I feel about this ‘personhood’ law/amendment. I really need to dig into it when I get some free time.
PWC Proposed 2013 Budget: for those wanting to do a drill down, you can find it all online – and I am slightly impressed it is all posted to include CXO presentation before it is given.
http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Pages/Proposed%20FY%202013%20Budget.aspx
U r wrong.
Marin, did you go show your support of Starbucks? They were being boycotted by some anti gun lobby because they go by state law.
They are also being boycotted for supporting same sex marriage rights.
@marinm
Should Virginia decide when personhood is here when clearly the 14th amendment defines it?
Have you had a major shift in your belief system?
@Moon-howler
Yes, I took a few coworkers to Starbucks and paid for their hot tasty beverages. I got myself a hot caramel apple something or other..
My wife also bought herself and the mother in law some treats.
We ended up spending $40 today to show solidarity with a company that supports me.
Regarding #28. No, not the belief system but rather unintentional consequences of laws. I need to really look at that bill.
@marin, well our political belief systems are not always our personal belief systems.
Glad you showed solidarity. It isn’t hard to spent $40 at that store. I just got an earful about all the politics.
FWIW my direct issue with that law is with regard to fertilized embryo’s for IVF.
If an embryo is created but not used it’s either stored for later use or discarded. Under this law you would not be able to discard as that would be murder.
I can think up other scenarios as well. I just don’t think this was well thought out…
I don’t need to do all the hard work.. RESOLVE already did it for me. 🙂
Questions raised by Personhood Legislation
Below are examples of the threats to reproductive medicine and to infertility patients if the “Personhood Amendment” or similar laws were to pass.
If one or more microscopic embryos from an IVF cycle do not develop normally in the lab or fail to result in live births after transfer (all natural events), could the physician, lab, and/or patient be criminally liable?
Would non-IVF treatments such as simple inseminations be threatened because they carry a risk of miscarriage? (5) Would clinics with high miscarriage rates after inseminations be at risk for criminal liability? Could the miscarrying women be subject to criminal charges?
Would women with fibroids or other uterine abnormalities be forbidden to try to have babies because the problems with their uteruses reduce the chances that an embryo will successfully implant after IVF or an insemination?
What will be the ramifications for fertilized eggs that have been created in the course of fertility treatment but have not been transferred to a woman’s uterus? Who will have legal responsibility for them?
Will these laws take from people the rights of disposition over their embryos? Could couples and their embryos be adversaries in a legal proceeding? Is this a desirable outcome?
Will cryopreserved embryos have a right to be transferred to someone’s uterus for birth?
Not all frozen embryos thaw successfully. Could embryo freezing be prohibited as too risky?
Will patients be prevented from donating their frozen embryos to research after they complete infertility treatments?
Will patients’ medical records be subpoenaed to ensure that no one violated the embryos’ constitutionally guaranteed right to life?
May women who live in states where personhood laws pass travel to other states for IVF, or would their embryos still be restricted by the law of their home state, such that doctors in no other states would offer her treatment? Would she be forbidden to move any currently frozen embryos to another state to continue her treatment?
If infertility patients in personhood states cannot afford to live in another state during treatment, will they simply have to forego the dream of having a family?
I respect Del. Marshall but I can’t lend my support to the Personhood bill as written.
Those certainly aren’t questions I would think to ask. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
@marinm
Sideshow Bob has been thinking of nothing else for year.
@marinm
Good questions
@Moon, In most cases when selecting individuals for a task we select from the upper end of the bell curve. That is those that are the most capable of carrying out the task successfully from the normal distribution of those available. In school, sports, business, military, and government (maybe not so much) we apply the same process. We also promote those same individuals, and support them for they are the ones who can most likely ensure the success of any organization. This applies to the future of our nation as well. The nation should be promoting and supporting those who are successful, those who are the brightest, those who show the greatest capabilities if it wants to be successful also. However, this administration seems to do just the opposite. It dwells on promoting the less capable, those from the lower end of the bell curve, and chastising those who are successful, those from the upper end of the bell curve. That may be a great method for establishing a charity, or community self help organization, but hardly the proper method in building a great nation. Trying to make everyone equal in all aspects is impossible no matter how much you hammer those who are successful. The bell curve will always have a lower end, period.
I don’t see this administration as doing that. Who do you see as less capable? I think we have some impressive leadership looking at the generals, Mrs. Clinton, etc.
However, I thought about what you said when I talked to the grand kids about their valentines. I asked if they got special ones. They told me that you didn’t put names on them now, you just said from whoever and handed them out to everyone in the class.
Now what fun is that. Talk about suddenly becoming unimportant. Maybe I am just thinking of more mundane things.
Moonhowler,
How ya been, not been here in a while but the “Elder” mentioned you on another blog so I had to stop by to see what the other folks were saying about the idots bill.
I want to know, since an embryo or any other such development stage of the unborn AND because the proposed law states: § 4. The laws of this Commonwealth shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this Commonwealth, subject only to the Constitution of the United States and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and constitution of this Commonwealth; the following:
Whose rights come first? The Mother or the Unborn?
I believe the 14th Admendment states in part: nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
With that said and the mother commits a crime and is sentenced to Jail time, can the unborn hire an attorney to represent them in court and file a motion against “DUE PROCESS”? The unborn did not commit the crime, so why should they be in jail?
If the mothers life is in jeopardy, say due to a heart condition, and the only way to save her life would be a surgery that would end up terminating the pregnacy (saw it on TV once) …whose rights come first? The mother or the unborn child? What doctor would perform such surgery on ANY pregnant mother knowing that they could possibly “kill” the unborn child and go to jail because the rights, privileges, and immunities of the unborn were not considered?
Is the commonwealth going to issue “unborn certificates”? If a person becomes pregnant, can they then have an UNBORN tax deduction on their “state” taxes? After all, all the rights, privileges, and immunities would be given to the unborn. Or maybe the unborn has enough money in a bank account to file it’s own taxes?
I wonder if a pregnant women would have to get the courts to acknowledge her as the person who is deemed responsible for making medical decisions if she is the surrogate mother? Would the “real” parents be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of the unborn if there is a miscarriage?
Also, as someone else mentioned, would folks have to prove where the conception of the unborn took place inorder to receive the benefits of the Commonwealth of VA? Could they put farmers field in Culpeper or the tag number of the car? LOL
These are all just very curious questions….REALLY OUT THERE QUESTIONS, but questions none the less, that some attorney could fight for, on behalf of the unborn.
I could keep going but I won’t…BM are his correct initals!
Hey woman!! Glad you are here. I am laughing about your reference to initials. You bring up some mighty good points. This is a very dangerous bill and one that has all sorts of hidden implications such as the ones you touched on.
I am wondering if we won’t become a magnet for people wanting to go on welfare. Since a fetus would have personhood, I can see all sorts of folks flocking here to Virginia to conceive and then immediately apply for full welfare for the little person in an embryonic state.
BM–the welfare magnet. Will he call them ‘anchor babies’ also? Even if they aren’t born yet?
“After a particularly bitter primary battle some decades ago,
Chauncey DePew, a Republican leader from New York, observed:
‘The only question now is which corpse gets the most flowers.’ ”
Mo Udall
Too Funny To Be President. 1988.
May the same observation be made of the 2012 GOP Presidential
nomination struggle?
Snicker. Hi Steve. What’s the good word from beautiful downtown Manassas these days?
Hey Steve…how did the Prescott house motion turn out the other night? I heard it was 50/50 and Hal had to take a side…but I’ve not heard the outcome of it? I think I know the outcome, but don’t want to assume.
Never mind…I hear there hasn’t been a final decision made.
Too funny. I saw Elena’s FB post regarding Personhood and prego women being able to use HOV.. NICE!
Women/families wouldn’t be able to claim the unborn child on federale taxes but my guess would be that you could claim a dependant under Virginia taxes… That’ll put a dent into tax revenues. 🙂
I was hoping to be able to claim the year preceding my kids births in both cases. Just go back and do one of those retro tax things.
Kids will be able to get their licenses 9 months early. The ‘citizen children’ will really benefit from this initiative. Imagine that, Bob Marshall, friend of the illegal immigrant.
Isn’t Chuck Colgan a co-sponsor of that bill? If yes, then shame on him.
That’s why I put State on there…The Feds might be stupid, but not that stupid!
As to 9300 Prescott, suggest reading today’s Manassas Patch.
Since the struggle to save this historic home has, well, a lot
of history, you may also want to punch in – 9300 Prescott Manassas-
into Patch’s search function – as well a that of the WaPo.
The council’s vote was 3-3 and the Mayor will, I understand, break the tie
at our next regular meeting.
@Second Alamo
What end of the Bell curve do the Republican presidential candidates fall?
The same place all candidates, regardless of affiliation, fall, nowhere, they’re too arrogant to take the test.
What the halftime commercial should have looked like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wb1_3gPuiXw
Lots of AAPL bears singing this today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6Rtz8jY0e0I#!
AAPL was up 17 bucks at one point. At the end of the day, down 11. That is a hell of a fall. What happened?
I wonder what the dumb ass brigade in Richmond did today?
@Moon-howler
Even the best of ’em need a breather now and again. I’m rather pleased with myself in nailing the top to within a couple of bucks. It’d be nice to see it retrace to 450 so I can reload.
I am now being charged for Virginia sales tax on purchases I make from eBay, even though my seller is locaed in Connecticut. What happened? Did the legislature okay this? What did I miss?
I don’t know. I have never paid sales tax ebay. Maybe that seller is just ripping you off? I will see what I can find out. today is cross over day. I think the bill has gone to the senate. The law wouldn’t take effect until unly 1 probably, if it did pass.
@Starryflights
Ebay also has ‘stores’ and those ‘stores’ are just digital arms of a retail establishment that may have a presence in Virginia and therefore ebay would be obligated by pain of federale raid and arrest to collect the Kings tax.
Welcome to Big Government.
Marin, I remember why we quarreled over this report…sorta. It had to do with them counting FICA as a benefit.
Who compiled this information? I KNOW that the part of PWC is wrong. That is why I am skeptical. I feel that it is an organization that wants to make it look like education costs more than it really does.
@Starryflights
I haven’t had to pay tax on purchases made on eBay unless the seller was also a Virginia resident. The sellers that Marin mentions (larger retail establishments using eBay as a venue) may be collecting sales tax. I don’t use them so don’t know. I’ve purchased several items from smaller sellers in the last week without paying tax.
Crossover Day, Moon….now the fun really begins as each house tears into the work of the other.
Let’s hope the Senators have more sense than the delegates. Unfortunately, I don’t think my senator is exercising wisdom and he hasn’t now for over a year. On the other hand, his opponent would have kicked over old ladies to sign some oppressive bill to keep women in their place.
WSJ Headlines:
“Dow Closes Near 4-Year High” (2-16-2012)
“Dow’s Tumble Is Worst in 2012” (2-15-2012)
This is a wild ride. Go Bulls!!
@Steve
Go bulls go!!!
Dow
52 week 10,404.49 – 12,924.71
Open 12,779.81
Vol. 118.42M
Update from WaPo:
Here comes the Taliban!!!!