Prose Before Hos » government_employee

DISREGARD MY POSITIONS, I SUCK COCKS!

government_employee — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:46:53 +0000

What a surprise, another staunch supporter of family rights and opponent of homosexuality turns out to be…. (drumroll please) A HOMOSEXUAL:

WORSE: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk AFTER LEAVING A GAY BAR.

WORSER: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving a gay bar WITH ANOTHER MAN IN THE CAR.

WORST: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a MARRIED state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving a gay bar with another man in the car.

Then again, maybe he was just screwing dudes so he could know thy enemy! I’m pretty sure there is a passage in the Prince about hot man-on-man action being a key component of political maneuvering.

Technorati Tags: dey dook der sexuality, ray ashburn, homophobe, anti-gay, republican, gay republican, conservative christian, senator from california, state senator ray ashburn

Hey Now, Hey Now, Democracy Is Over………

government_employee — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:05:03 +0000

In case you have any doubts, Corporate America has officially been given free reign over Washington DC and American ‘democracy’. The Supreme Court decided yesterday by a 5-4 margin that:

The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on their participation in federal campaigns.

By a 5-4 vote, the court on Thursday overturned a 20-year-old ruling that said corporations can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to pay for campaign ads… The decision, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, removes limits on independent expenditures that are not coordinated with candidates’ campaigns.

Ergo: You can never restrict a corporations use of money because it is free speech. Only in America….

A Modest Proposal: Let’s Grind Up Old People Into High-Protein Bars

government_employee — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:42:30 +0000

In America, we are hitting a cross-roads with health care reform. It has fragmented and polarized political discourse while political leaders have failed to come up with an adequate compromise. As a contributor to a great blog like Prose Before Hos, it is my responsibility to think “outside the box” and come up with solutions to the nations greatest ills.

The largest constituency that is opposed to health care reform are the elderly, evidenced by a recent CNN poll where “six in 10 seniors opposed to the president’s proposals [for health care reform]“. Conventional thinking would say “Oh no! How do we convince slobby gross old people to agree to sign up for Obama’s death panels?”

This is why conventional thinking is worthless. Maybe Chuck Todd will send his grandparents into the FEMA Health Care-O-Caust camps being set up by Rahm Emmanuel. But you know what that means? You still have a gross geezer body covered in vermouth and stall Cheez Its to dispose of. And that takes a lot of time and money, especially considering FEMA’s specialty is making sure minorities die during national disasters, not disposing of the social and economic vampires that are the elderly.

The real answer is that we can not hesitate to grind up our elderly into delicious high-protein bars. Old people not only oppose health care reform (bad), but they smell (worse), they talk too much (worser), and they gross out everybody when they eat (the worst). Seriously, have you seen an old person eat? It’s repugnant. They get crap all over their lips and they don’t even realize, and half of the time their clothes are on sideways and they don’t care because they will spend the rest of their lives waiting for the Grim Reaper to take them away from the real-life hell that has become their existence.

Anyway, if we convert them into high-protein energy bars, we can solve numerous problems plaguing society. First, health care reform will be more viable, and we can finally have the socialist society promised to us by the Koran. Secondly, we can deprive fat people of any food except for these energy bars. Third, kids can learn to appreciate the values of their elders by consuming their flesh for their slimy, gray nutrients.

Bonus: If MIT decides to get off it’s lazy asses and do something for society, they will figure out a way to convert old people into sustainable energy. I don’t care if we’re throwing their wrinkled, moribund bodies into train engines, let’s just do something with them. Because frankly I’m tired of having my Friday night’s at Bennigans ruined by old people eating in front of me.

What are the chances?

government_employee — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:31:17 +0000

I know we should all be proud of Bill Clinton for saving the journalists in North Korea. Good work, whatever, etc.

But, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s thought this — how likely is it that those two girls are pleasuring Slick Willy on the ride back to the Land O’ Freedom? I mean, he just saved them from years of agonizing brutality and it’s a hell of a flight back from Korea to the United States. Let’s just not act surprised when they come off of the tarmac with ’stains’ all over their DPRK prison uniforms.

Conservatives & Historical Hypocrisy In Screaming Affirmative Action

government_employee — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:11:19 +0000

One of the highly entertaining aspects of Sonia Sotomayor nomination and confirmation process has been the constant refrain of “Affirmative Action” pushed by conservatives as they seek to undermine Sotomayors reputation. You see, in conservative circles, affirmative action is synonymous with a person of color getting a job that they didn’t deserve (when there is probably a much more qualified White Male available!).

Apart from being laughable given Sotomayors extensive judicial experience and readily apparent intellectual discipline, conservatives seem to have a comically short-term memory in relation to their own less-than-qualified picks for the Supreme Court. Or, in short, Clarence Thomas.

I’m not necessarily saying Clarence Thomas was selected by George H.W. Bush for the Supreme Court because he was black. But I am saying Clarence Thomas has been an embarrassment to the Supreme Court for his 18 years on the Supreme Court, displaying a complete lack of even basic understanding of Constitutional Law and repeatedly falling asleep during oral arguments on some of the most important constitutional and civil right cases of the past 2 decades. Incidentally, Sotomayor was appointed by H.W. Bush to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York around the same time Thomas was appointed to the Supreme Court.

The simple question is Independent of personal background, is Sotomayor qualified for the Supreme Court?, and the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Pose the same question about Clarence Thomas, and the answer is a resounding no.

Technorati Tags: Sonia Sotomayor, sotamayor, supreme court, affirmative action, reverse racism, clarence thomas, conservatives, qualifications for supreme court nomination, confirmation, republicans

Even Fox News Hates Sarah Palin

government_employee — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:42 +0000

Fox News, once the Kristol/Krauthammer central of Palin cheerleading, is angry at the self-centered idiocy that has become Sarah Palin (which makes on think they are all too aware of coming scandals involving Ms. Palin):

“Sarah Palin is inarticulate and under-educated… who really has no credentials for any job.”

Full Transcript of Liz Trotta’s piece on Fox News:

Liz Trotta: It’s very easy to say that the liberal media is caving in on her, and yes, they are; but she has given them a lot of raw meat. The woman is inarticulate, undereducated, and I pose this question: ‘What do you think William F. Buckley would have thought of her as the standard-bearer for the conservative party?’

I think a lot of this criticism is well-deserved.

…This is one of the rare cases where I think all the liberal stylists like Maureen Dowd, Gail Collins, and the rest of them really have a case. I mean, she just begs for adjectives like flaky and wacky.

…[Maureen Dowd's column] was a well written, funny piece. And, you know, there’s one other element here, and I think most writers are afraid to bring it up. They sort of skirt the idea that this is a woman who has used her good looks and her gender to really get ahead in the political world. That’s something, of course, the men don’t want to admit, and certainly not the women.

So what are we talking about here? We’re not talking about a great statesman of profound experience whose banner is integrity. We’re talking about somebody who, right from the get-go, has been a flashy person who gets into a lot of trouble and really has no credentials for any job.

Technorati Tags: sarah palin, sarah palin, sarah palen, resignation, fox news, liz trotta, undereducated, inarticulate, unqualified for governor, alaska, wasilla, it came from wasilla, op-ed, criticism of sarah palin on fox news, video, transcript

The Health Care Bailout — How Big Insurance and Pharmaceuticals Are Taking Over Health Care Reform

government_employee — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:26:28 +0000

If you remember the platforms of the 2008 campaign, Obama and other Democratic nominees endorsed health care reform centered around providing a low-cost public option, allowing quicker and wider distribution of generic pharmaceutical alternatives, and investing in America’s antiquated medical infrastructure. Obama went as far as to suggest in late 2007 that “The time has come for universal health care in America… I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country.” [source]

Public option health care plan is becoming more of a dream and less of a reality thanks to heavy lobbying of Congress by the health care industry. The estimated $1 to $2 trillion dollars in health care reform is starting to resemble a bailout that will solidify the monopolies of health care companies. The new health care reform bill championed by centrist Democrats encourages ‘free-market’ principles, or, for those unfamiliar, the active encouragement by the legislative branch of collusion between health care companies and exploitation of American consumers. Essentially, the health care reform bill has been transformed from a consumer-oriented reform package to a massive kick back to the health care industry, with a mere wrist-slap for their more unscrupulous practices.

Incidentally, this movement towards a health care industry, pharmaceutical-friendly coincided by very damning appearances by health care CEOs in front of congress. This included admissions by the CEO of Assurant and UnitedHealth that their companies colluded with providers to drive up prices, dropped coverage when consumers became sick, and rewarding employees for denying coverage to lower-class people. [source]

Unless there is significant action towards reclaiming health care reform, Americans will be facing another government-sponsored funneling of tax-payer money towards big business.

Technorati Tags: health care reform, lobbying, health care industry, universal health care, barack obama, congress, senate, health care bailout, assurant, united health, pharmaceutical industry, lobbyists, free market, tax payer money

Christian Extremism Is Undermining America

government_employee — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:18:48 +0000

The death of Dr. George Tiller, while ghastly, comes as no surprise, as the past 28 years have seen an increase in ‘normalization’ of Christian extremism and a refusal by both the media and government to confront violent Christian fundamentalism. Yet a majority of the most horrific domestic terrorism and international war crimes committed by Americans have been done under the guise of Evangelical Christianity. An incomplete list:

Eric Rudolph

Oklahoma City Bombing

source

Former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld routinely used militaristic passages from the Bible on the cover pages of White House intelligence documents, according to new revelations by GQ magazine….

One republished on the GQ website came from March 31, 2003, showing a US tank roaring through the desert about 10 days after the United States invaded Iraq to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein. Over the image was printed a verse from Ephesians: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

[source 1, 2]

source

And yet there has been a complete unwillingness to brand what a significant portion of Americans identify with as dangerous or extremist. But for American democracy to thrive as it was envisioned — equitable, just, and secular — the growing force of Christian radicalism must be confronted in American society.

Technorati Tags: Christianity, christian extremism, radicalism, Dr. George Tiller, george bush, christian radicalism, christian terrorism, domestic terrorism, american democracy, abortion, terrorism, christian terrorism, militias, right-wing radicalism

Addendum: Fuck Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats

government_employee — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:11:01 +0000

Witness todays cowardice of the Democratic Senate:

President Barack Obama’s allies in the Senate will not provide funds to close the Guantanamo Bay prison next January, a top Democratic official said Tuesday.

With Harry Reid’s explanation being aptly called ‘incoherent cowardice’ by Andrew Sullivan:

REID: I’m saying that the United States Senate, Democrats and Republicans, do not want terrorists to be released in the United States. That’s very clear.

QUESTION: No one’s talking about releasing them. We’re talking about putting them in prison somewhere in the United States.

REID: Can’t put them in prison unless you release them.

Harry Reid, ladies and gentleman, who has spent the past 9 years wavering between being a complete coward and an incomprehensible idiot.

Technorati Tags: harry reid is a complete coward, harry reid wears special mormon underwear while he shits himself thinking about republicans, senate democrats are pussies, cowards, democrats are cowards, torture, Guantanamo Bay

Charles Krauthammer Or The Grinch?

government_employee — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:20:56 +0000

Wise Words

government_employee — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:13:03 +0000

“The United States is committed to the world-wide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example. I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of law-abiding nations in prohibiting, investigating, and prosecuting all acts of torture and in undertaking to prevent other cruel and unusual punishment. I call on all nations to speak out against torture in all its forms and to make ending torture an essential part of their diplomacy.”

– George W. Bush in 2003

– George W. Bush in 2007, “The United States government does not torture”

Technorati Tags: george bush on torture, george bush addresses torture, torture in america, united states government, defining torture, does america torture, abu ghraid, torture prosecution, barack obama, george w bush, Guantanamo bay, waterboarding

On Slashing $100 Million

government_employee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:32:00 +0000

Earlier this week, Greg Mankiw jumped on the reports that Obama planned to ask his cabinet members to slash $100 million from their combined budgets:

Just to be clear: $100 million represents .003 percent of $3.5 trillion.

To put those numbers in perspective, imagine that the head of a household with annual spending of $100,000 called everyone in the family together to deal with a $34,000 budget shortfall. How much would he or she announce that spending had to be cut? By $3 over the course of the year–approximately the cost of one latte at Starbucks. The other $33,997? We can put that on the family credit card and worry about it next year.

On the surface, this is an easy and obvious judgment — $100 million is a penny in the well and we’ll never get to fiscal solvency if we don’t make dramatic budgetary changes!

But for anyone who has ever in their life worked at the federal government, this will come across as a rather naive assessment of the ease of slashing federal agency budgets. Budgetary cuts are fought tooth and nail with the kind of fervency that would make a Prussian bureaucrat explode.

I’ve had the pleasure of working at two federal agencies and I can personally attest to how difficult it is for department cuts to gain traction or simply reach the right people. I watched two managers turn beet red in a screaming match over a discrepancy of $500 in an over $5 million dollar budget. I’ve seen a $1000 budget ‘adjustment’ (hint: moving money from one project to another) take over a year to pass through the right hands to actually be passed (with the ‘besieged’ departments doing their best to block the cut by any means possible). Budget cuts seem to awaken the inner demon in every government employee, channeling an anger usually left for divorces and little league games.

I know $100 million doesn’t sound like much given the current economic situation and federal budget. But trust me, getting federal agencies to voluntary cut their budgets by $100 million will be a painful and agonizing process.

Technorati Tags: greg mankiw, on cutting budgets, barack obama, 0 million, 100 million dollars, bureaucracy, economists, addressing budget cuts, federal budget, federal deficit, fiscal solvency, federal cuts, national government, government agencies