Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Good News Bad News on the Rules Package

Posted: January 10, 2023 by datechguy in Uncategorized

The Good News is that the rules package that was agreed to as a condition for Kevin McCarthy’s speakership has passed with only one GOP member voting against.

There was always a chance that there would be a block voting against it which would have really crippled the GOP in congress this session but apparently cooler heads prevailed.

There are also some excellent provisions in the package including one that, while good in principle will make at least this session of congress a tough one for the GOP agenda.

The rules package says bills must be on one subject only. This was actually a reform that was first included in of all places the confederate states constitution to prevent the kind of horse trading that was common (vote for my river being dredged and I’ll vote for your port improvements) that had been abused by earmarks lately.

It’s a big win for transparency but it also means that deals with the Democrats in the senate will be tough.

While the House has the power of the purse without passage in the senate and POTUS signature none of those house initiates can pass, so deals will have to be made and all such deals will require some sort of a quid-pro-quo. You give me what I want and I’ll give you what you do. In fact with the need to please both the white house and the senate it will likely be a quid-pro-quo quo.

In theory of course you can have say three bills pass to provide those two quos and a quid but the problem is with a party notorious for lying concerning deals do you dare risk something in three bills that might pass in one?

Now if the plan is to simply stop the Biden agenda this won’t be an issue but if you want to get any kind of legislative solutions during this session it could be fatal.

It will likely be worth it but the GOP needs to set expectations with their base because if they don’t it could end up biting them.

You have been warned.

Report from Louisiana: Gibson out as Endymion Grand Marshall

Posted: January 9, 2023 by Pat Austin in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,

 By: Pat Austin

SHREVEPORT – Epiphany has come and gone and now it is Mardi Gras season. This is a very big deal in Louisiana and of course especially in New Orleans who relies on those tourist dollars in a big way.

One of the major krewes in New Orleans, Endymion, announced over the weekend that the Grand Marshall of their parade would be actor Mel Gibson.

Now, when I read that shortly after the announcement, I admit, my very first thought was…”Ooooo his father is a Holocaust denier…is Mel Gibson even relevant?” Then I let it go and moved on about my day.

And then later I opened my news feeds and Gibson is out.

As it turns out the outcry against Gibson as an anti-Semite and a racist was enough to cause Endymion to walk back their choice:

Local Jewish leaders were outraged that Endymion had sought to celebrate Gibson, given the celebrity’s history of antisemitic and offensive remarks and outbursts. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans Rabbinic Council issued a joined statement saying they were “appalled that Endymion chose Mel Gibson as the parade’s 2023 Grand Marshal to begin with.”

The statement said, “Mel Gibson has a long history of making antisemitic, racist and misogynistic slurs. While the actor has made half-hearted attempts to apologize for his remarks over the years, there is still a great deal of pain associated with his name and deep wounds in the Jewish community from those controversies, which may never heal. Given his history of fueling antisemitism and other forms of hate, we find his choice as Grand Marshal of Endymion was completely insulting and shortsighted.

“Although we are relieved he is no longer riding, we hope the Endymion leadership will take the opportunity to learn why the selection of Mel Gibson caused such pain and disappointment to the Jewish community, as well as the marginalized communities he has harmed in the past.”

Well. That didn’t take long.

I don’t really follow pop-culture much so while I did remember reading about Gibson’s father years ago, I did not actually know that Gibson had the same reputation against Jewish people. I personally find it abhorrent, if true. A quick internet search finds several documented instances to support these claims, and the concerns of the ADL. I won’t link them because it is disgusting and if you want to read that garbage you can find it, easily.

For me, I’m eschewing “city” Mardi Gras once again this year in favor of the Cajun tradition of courir de Mardi Gras. Now that…THAT is Mardi Gras! Oh my heavens what an experience!

As for Mel Gibson, well, as of this writing he has not issued a statement.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Five Thoughts Under the Fedora A GOP Reminder, No Outrage Over Denver, No Priest Involved? Nothing to see, Upsets Online, 10 in a Row but Still Going

Posted: January 9, 2023 by datechguy in Uncategorized

An important reminder concerning the GOP speaker fight.

Any promise to pass bills that repeal Obamacare or get rid those extra IRS agents or to solidify the national definition of “man” and “woman” are meaningless because such bills have to not only get passed by a Democrat controlled Senate but signed by Joe Biden.

A much better idea is to make sure that investigations take place and regular order is restored. These are the promises that the House can do without the left and if I’m a member of the conservative caucus that’s what I’d focus on.

Let’s see what gets done.

Remember when the programs of GOP Gov Abbott of Texas and GOP Gov DeSantis of Florida bussing illegal immigrants to places like NY & Chicago that declared themselves sanctuary cities provoked an outcry of angst among the national media.

Well apparently it’s different when a Democrat governor does it because Dem Gov Jarred Polis  of Colorado is joining the crowd in sending such folk to what they call “their final destination”

For some reason this is not producing the national condemnation that the previous moves from GOP governors have done. I wonder why?

Actually I don’t.

Speaking of stories you haven’t heard of. I saw one this weekend concerning sexual complaints against public school employees in Chicago last year by students.. Apparently there were 470 of them

This is in one school district in one year in one city. Yet the national media did not find the topic newsworthy enough.

Could you imagine if there was 1/10 of that number involving students at Catholic schools? There would be no other story on the next.

In my 1970 Draft league the New York Yankees took the Red Sox in six games to win the AL pennant and in a huge upset the 1970 San Francisco giants who did win 99 games managed to defeat a Cincinnati Reds team that won 116 games.

It just goes to show you that you never know in sports

As of this writing the Giants are up 2 games to 1 vs the Yankees. In each game so far the winning team has scored at least 10 runs.

In my face to face baseball league it’s been a real drought. I was sitting pretty in 1st place but thanks to a series of injuries I’ve managed to lose my last 10 in a row.

One of the hardest things to do is to keep playing when you haven’t won a game since October but part of being in a league with other people is give your best effort even when it all falls apart.

But I’ve got to say when you can’t buy a win it can really be a struggle.

One Quick Note on McCarthy Winning the Speakership on the 15th vote

Posted: January 7, 2023 by datechguy in Uncategorized

As Kevin McCarthy officially became speaker after midnight and we wait to discover if his promises to those who had held out mean anything let me point out something.

Over and over we heard that there were Democrats ready to oppose Pelosi as speaker during her time. There were a ton of stories on the matter, but not once did these so called maverick democrats have the guts to do what the GOP holdouts had here.

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