reading at work II...

OK, I shall type fast because this computer will quickly die. Here is what I'm reading at work:

1. While it is tongue-in-cheek, the reaction of Limbaugh to the twinkie nutritionist says a lot about how he views the world. The quote that really hit me was the following:

   One of the reasons I know what I know is that I know liberals, and I know liberals lie, and if Michelle Obama's gonna be out there ripping into "food desserts" and saying, "This is why people are fat," I know it's not true. "Rush, do you really believe that? It's that simple to you, liberals lie?" Yes, it is, folks. Once you learn that, once you come to grips with that, once you accept that, the rest is easy. Very, very simple. Now, my doctor has never told me to restrict any intake of salt, but if he did, I wouldn't. I'd just spend more time in the steam or the sauna sweating it out.

   Here's what really gets to me about this quote. It's the logic that's implied--his doctor is a liberal. Why? Because he's an expert. Experts are liberal intelligentsia, by default. Doctors can't be trusted. Physicists can't be trusted. No one who KNOWS what they're talking about can be trusted to make policy decisions, only "soccer moms" and "average joe" isn't "liberal" and should be listened to. Disgusting.


2. Rick Perry won for Governor...or, should I say, he won the position of "good springboard to run for President." Any Texan who voted for him who doesn't see this coming needs to go see the bats fly out from under the bridge...then jump off. Worse, his brand of anti-governmental populism is exactly the kind of thing that, while completely lacking in detail, knowledge and solutions, will sell well to a public that is looking for answers. While everyone is focusing on Palin and Huckabee, Perry is quietly working to position himself to come from behind. Immediately after beating Bill White for Governor, Perry quickly got to work fixing the $25 BILLION shortfall that the entirely Republican leadership of Texas has created. Wait? What is that? Never mind. In the face of opting out of Medicair, cutting education, and slashing CHIP forcing thousands of children living in poverty off of their current health care plan, the Governor of Texas has fled to the East Coast to promote his book in which he rails against...the 17th amendment (allowing for us to vote directly for our Senators) and Woodrow Wilson. Good job Texans...way to pick em. Looking forward, we can safely say that Texas is a bell weather of his conservative, tea-party agenda. Why? Because (see earlier link):

   Perry is arguably the most powerful governor in Texas history. His long tenure means he has named the people in every appointed position in state government. The House and the Senate are controlled by his party, and the opportunity to set an agenda and carry it through has rarely been better for a sitting governor.

   
   
3. Jim DeMint talks about how he and the Republicans will balance the budget and fix the deficit. He wants to cut Obamacare. Why? Because it cuts Medicaid. Um...does that make NO sense to anyone else? How should we fix the deficit? Cut health care. Why? Because it cuts the deficit. If that doesn't make sense to you, it's because it's illogical BS.



4. While the ability to quickly move people and goods quickly from one market to another should be an obvious economic win that would not only stimulate the economy by bringing jobs, but also improve infrastructure for the better lessening traffic and increasing business opportunities. However, the new Governor of Wisconsin has denied the federal stimulus funds that were allotted for these "shovel ready" projects. How "shovel ready"? The state has already spent $14 million and prepared over 400 workers to build the project. The incoming Governor says it will be "expensive to upkeep" and so has vowed not to continue the project. Governor Cuomo, of New York, has already petitioned the Government for the funds to bring HSR to his own state.