Tuesday, February 26, 2008

John Murtha: Porker Of The Year!

Not so long ago, Nancy "San Fran Nan" Pelosi promised that Democrats would "drain the swamp," of Washington's pork-barrel spending.

And now Democrat congressman John Murtha (yes,
that John Murtha) of Pennsylvania has now been crowned the King of Pork by Citizens Against Government Waste:
Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today announced the final results of its online poll for the 2007 Porker of the Year. Rep. John “Jack” Murtha (D-Pa.) won in a landslide victory, receiving 63.4 percent of the vote. A distant second, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) received 10.6 percent, while Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) came in with 9.9 percent, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had 6.7 percent, and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) both finished up with 4.1 percent. The finalists were chosen by CAGW staff from among the 12 Porker of the Month winners for 2007.

Rep. Jack Murtha has long been known inside the Beltway for using threats, power plays, and backroom deals to control spending decisions. There is an area of the House floor known as “Murtha’s Corner,” where the legendary appropriator dispenses earmarks. The overwhelming vote for Porker of the Year vote shows that his shameful behavior is attracting attention throughout the country. The congressman inserts pork whenever he can to serve himself and his district. In fiscal year 2008, he brought home 72 pork projects worth $149.2 million.

The House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman was named May Porker of the Month for throwing a temper tantrum and threatening his colleagues over a challenge to the $23 million earmark for the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) in Johnstown, Pa. in the Intelligence Authorization Act. In 2006, the House Government Reform Committee called the NDIC “an expensive and duplicative use of scarce federal drug enforcement resources.”

Rep. Murtha became infuriated by Rep. Mike Rogers’ (R-Mich.) motion to remove the NDIC earmark. According to Rogers, Rep. Murtha warned, “I hope you don’t have any earmarks in the defense appropriations bills because they are gone and you will not get any earmarks now and forever. … That’s the way I do it!” Rep. Murtha also threatened a Boeing project in Rep. Todd Tiahrt’s (R-Kan.) district after he voted with Rep. Rogers.

Murtha violated House ethics rules by both failing to submit his required earmark certification for the NDIC in a timely manner and threatening to block the earmarks of those who voted against his project. A privileged resolution seeking a formal reprimand of Murtha was killed on a 219-189 party line vote.

His outburst was not an isolated incident. Rep. Murtha also purposefully put up roadblocks and barriers to hinder earmark accountability and reform. According to an October 2007 issue of Congressional Quarterly Weekly, Rep. Murtha’s response to a reporter’s inquiry regarding the difficulty of matching up earmark information in appropriations bills was: “So, you have to work. Tough [expletive].” The House Appropriation Committee included earmarks in its reports but they were unsearchable and the lists were difficult to read.

For flouting the rules and playing games with reform, while filling spending bills with pork and arrogantly threatening anyone that challenges his authority, Rep. Jack Murtha is the 2007 Porker of the Year. More information on the winner and finalists can be found on CAGW’s blog swineline.org/porkeroftheyear.
Given how Murtha has railed against the loss of both lives and treasure in Iraq, maybe he should also be made Clown Prince of The Kingdom of Hypocrisy as well.

Update: (02/27/08) Michelle Malkin is inviting everybody to Murtha's Pork Party.

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Carnival Entries Are Due!

Entries for the 160th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by The Sam Jackson College Experience.) are due. Please email them to: zumbooruk [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 4:00 PM (Eastern) 1:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if possible.

Visit last week's midway, hosted by Sharpbrains, right here.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the midway should open Wednesday.

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."

The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts.

Council Member Entries: Right Wing Nut House garnered the most Council votes with Make Washington's Birthday a National Holiday Again.

Non-Council Entries: Michael J. Totten took first place with The Dungeon of Fallujah.
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In Our Mailboxes Yesterday Morning

The Unknown Administrator put a sheet of paper in each teacher's mailbox Monday morning that had only the following statement:
"Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing- the result."
That was it. Nothing more.

As always, we who work in the classroom remain puzzled....

Monday, February 25, 2008

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."

The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts.

Council Member Entries: Right Wing Nut House garnered the most Council votes with Mandate Me, Baby Wolf Howling came in second with Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and McCain Derangement Syndrome, Soccer Dad placed third with Of Israel, the Palestinians and the United States and Cheat-Seeking Missiles finished fourth with America In a Six-Word Slogan.

Non-Council Entries: BeldarBlog took first place with Are We At War? And What Is the Political Consequence of That For Conservatives In This Election? Michael J. Totten's The Final Mission, Part II earned second place with The Final Mission, Part II and American Thinker's Obama's Politics of Collective Redemption was third.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Carnival-Carnival!

The 159th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Sharpbrains.) has opened-up its midway!

And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at The Carnival of Homeschooling.

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The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."

The Council has met and cast their ballots for the posts submitted two weeks ago.

Council Member Entries: Done With Mirrors garnered the most Council votes with A Short Hitch, Cheat-Seeking Missiles placed second with The Most Ridiculous Story of 2008? Part 2, third place was earned by The Colossus of Rhodey's I'd Have To Ask??, and fourth place went to Bookworm Room with Good Immigrant, Bad Immigrant.

Non-Council Entries: Small Wars Journal came in first with Changing the Organizational Culture (Updated), EU Referendum's "Mass Producers of Distortion" placed second, and Captain's Quarters' The Coming Meltdown for the Democrats was third. The Provocateur's The Terribly Mixed Record of Alan Greenspan finished in fourth place, while Oliver Kamm's Our Policy In Iraq came in fifth. Global Guerrillas' Pandora's Box finished was sixth.
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Let's Carnival!

The 158th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by Instructify.) has opened-up its midway!

And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at this week's edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

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Saturday, February 09, 2008

Trying A Child For Her Own Murder: Legalistic Idiocy

It's too bad that our appointed-for-life supreme court law-making body considers the sterilization of those who murder children to be "cruel and unusual punishment:"
"NEW YORK (AP) -- After police discovered the frail, battered body of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown in her home in 2006, authorities say her stepfather was quick to admit he had bound her to a chair with duct tape and beat her on a daily basis.

Videotaped and written statements by Cesar Rodriguez -- combined with grim crime scene photos from the room where the victim was tortured, starved and forced to urinate in a litter box -- have brought jurors to tears at his high-profile murder trial in Brooklyn.

But the emotion in the jury box hasn't discouraged Rodriguez's attorney from forging ahead with a brazen strategy: effectively putting Nixzmary and her mother on trial.

The aggressive former prosecutor, Jeffrey Schwartz, has portrayed the mother as the real killer, calling her a "monster" and mocking her as "Mommy Dearest."

He has also labeled Nixzmary a violent and uncontrollable "little Houdini" -- a reference to her supposed knack at slipping out of the makeshift restraints devised by her parents to keep her from attacking her younger siblings.

Schwartz has said he wants to call the mother, Nixzaliz Santiago, as the first defense witness. The maneuver was expected to interrupt testimony next week while a judge hears arguments about whether to allow Santiago, who faces a separate trial later this year, to take the stand.

In her opening statement last month, prosecutor Ama Dwimoh asked jurors to reject any attempt to demonize the girl, describing her as a defenseless, innocent child who weighed only 36 pounds at her death.

"He wasn't no daddy," Dwimoh said of Rodriguez. "Daddies don't blame their child for their actions. Murderers do."

The defense's no-holds-barred tactics could backfire, said Peter Guadanigno, a defense attorney who once prosecuted child abuse cases in Brooklyn.

"They're trying to blame a 7-year-old's behavior," he said. "It's disgusting and a jury will be offended."
Read all of it.

Sadly, such "parents" disgusting little creatures will continue to be able to make babies long after committing these monsterous crimes.

And one more thing: since it happened in New York, you can bet your bottom-dollar that, if convicted, neither Rodriquez or the child's "mother" will ever face the executioner.

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Friday, February 08, 2008

The Disastrous D.C. School System

Take a quick look at the problem that the public school system in our nation's capital has with finding fully licensed teachers:
Next up on Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s agenda to make D.C. Schools more accountable? Getting “highly qualified” teachers into the classrooms. Under the controversial law “No Child Left Behind,” all teachers must demonstrate that they are qualified to teach their subjects, usually by completing graduate coursework or passing certification tests like the Praxis series.

Last year, nearly half of all core subject classes taught in DC schools were taught by unqualified teachers. The worst-staffed subjects?

- Geography — 32.9 percent qualified
- History — 33.8 percent qualified
- Chemistry — 47.3 percent qualified
You really should read the whole thing.

With the third-highest per-pupil spending in the country, the D.C. school system
spends at least $12,801 per student and still can't produce good results.

It's a national disgrace.

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Heidi Gets Her Comeuppance

Those of us who went through the '90s may well-remember Heidi Fleiss, the arrogant, well-born lady procuress who made millions as "The Hollywood Madam" while rubbing shoulders with L.A.'s rich and famous.

Then she got busted, and spent a little time in the pokey.

And now Heidi is a complete train wreck
:
PAHRUMP, Nev. (AP) — Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was arrested Thursday on charges of illegal possession of prescription drugs and driving under the influence, authorities said.

Fleiss was pulled over at about 9:30 a.m. by sheriff's deputies responding to a report of a possible drunken driver, the Nye County sheriff's office said.

Fleiss, 42, and a passenger in the car, John Owen, were found to be under the influence of a controlled substance, the sheriff's office said. Fleiss had prescription medication but could not produce a valid prescription, the sheriff's office said.

Fleiss was arrested on four counts, including possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription and driving under the influence. Owen, 53, was arrested on charges of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

A call seeking comment to a cell phone believed to be Fleiss' went unanswered Thursday, and there was no number for Owen listed in the Pahrump directory. Sheriff's deputies said they did not know if either had an attorney.

She posted bail of $1,376, while Owen posted bail of $1,264 and both were released.

Fleiss operates a coin-operated laundry, called Dirty Laundry, in this desert town 60 miles west of Las Vegas. She moved to Nye County in late 2005, after having been jailed in California for running a prostitution ring.
She's over 40 and still hasn't grown up.

I guess some hammerheads people never learn.

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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Canivals Are Open!

The 157th edition of The Carnival of Education (hosted this week by The Colossus of Rhodey.) is now open!

And don't forget to round out your educational experience by seeing what the homies are up to over at the acrostic edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Vote Early, Vote Often!

Today's voting is the closest that our country has ever had to a national primary.

Here in California, we get to vote for the candidate of our choice.

But we're not going to forget for a moment that a vote for Hillary, "The Countess of Chappaqua" Rodham-Clinton isn't just a vote for the first viable female presidential candidate; it's actually a vote for Billary.

We think of Billary as a "2-for-1" deal on snake-oil.

But we're not buying.

Update: (02/07/08) Another Billary lie.

Heh. Billary is also a deadbeat. Have these two no shame?

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Get Your Canival On!

Entries for the 157th edition of The Carnival Of Education (Hosted this week by The Colossus of Rhodey.) are due. Please email them to: colossusofrhodey [at] gmail [dot] com . (Or, easier yet, use this handy submission form.) Submissions should be received no later than 6:00 PM (Eastern) 3:00 PM (Pacific) Today. Contributions should include your site's name, the title of the post, and the post's URL if possible.

Visit last week's midway, hosted by Creating Lifelong Learners, right here.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the midway should open Wednesday.

The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest among posts from the Conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."

The Council has met and cast their ballots for last week's submitted posts.

Council Member Entries: Joshuapundit garnered the most Council votes with Energy Independence -- What It Am And What It Ain't.

Non-Council Entries: Dr. Sanity took first place with The Conclusion We Dare Not Face.
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Saturday, February 02, 2008

Gun-Ed Goes Public

And now we have politicians in one state taking a serious aim at giving kids lessons in gun play:
West Virginia is considering a bill to teach schoolchildren how to handle a gun and hunt safely; its proponent hopes the law will increase state revenues from hunting licenses, a state lawmaker said Thursday.

"We will teach a hunting safety course during their physical education class," state senator and bill sponsor Billy Wayne Bailey told AFP. The courses would be imparted in secondary schools, from the eighth to 10th grade (13-16 years of age).

"They will learn gun safety, the proper use of fire arms. All the weapons will be disabled so there is no chance of discharging," he said, adding that the state Senate was expected to take up the bill next week.

"Hunting is an economic and cultural thing and we have seen a decline of hunting licenses over the past years," said the lawmaker, explaining that his bill would boost interest in hunting in West Virginia.

Children 10 years and older can already apply for a hunting license in West Virginia, which makes 1.5 billion dollars a year from hunting-related activities, the senator said.
Since this will be aimed at kids, if this proposal is signed into law, we can't help but wonder if the state will produce video-lessons on gun safety featuring their governor Elmer Fudd.

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Friday, February 01, 2008

Tales From The Trenches: Polski3

California junior high school history teacher Polski3 brings us a situation report from the front lines:
Teacher asks a student a question, such as "do you have your assignment?" Student response is: a) the blank look b) a silent shrug of the shoulders c) a verbal "I don't know" or d) a disinterested roll of the eyes along with silence or an utterance of annoyance. Teacher tells student that they can turn in the assignment the next day and if they need help or have any questions about it, please come in for a minute after school. Teacher adds, that most of the time, students with a question who come in after school to ask their question or get help are there for mere minutes.
You should really read the whole thing.

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Expelling The U.S. Marines

The ruling junta city council of Berkeley, California, has decided that the United States Marines are no longer welcome:
BERKELEY — Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go.

That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3, with Gordon Wozniak, Betty Olds and Kriss Worthington dissenting, to tell the Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

It also voted 7-2, with Wozniak and Olds dissenting, to explore enforcing its law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation against the Marines and to encourage the women's peace group Code Pink to protest in front of the station.

In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a designated parking space in front of the recruiting station once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week from noon to 4 p.m.

Councilman Gordon Wozniak opposed both items.

The Marines have been in Berkeley for a little more than a year, having moved from Alameda in December 2006. For about the past four months, Code Pink has been protesting in front of the station.

"I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said after votes were cast.

A Marines representative did not respond to requests for comment.The resolution telling the Marines they are unwelcome and directing the city attorney to explore issues of sexual orientation discrimination was brought to the council by the city's Peace and Justice commission.

The recommendation to give Code Pink a parking space for protesting and a free sound permit was brought by council members Linda Maio and Max Anderson.

Code Pink on Wednesday started circulating petitions to put a measure on the November ballot in Berkeley that would make it more difficult to open military recruiting offices near homes, parks, schools, churches libraries or health clinics. The group needs 5,000 signatures to make the ballot.

Even though the council items passed, not everyone is happy with the work of Code Pink. Some employees and owners of businesses near the Marines office have had enough of the group and its protests.

"My husband's business is right upstairs, and this (protesting) is bordering on harassment," Dori Schmidt told the council. "I hope this stops."

An employee of a nearby business who asked not to be identified said Wednesday the elderly Code Pink protesters are aggressive, take up parking spaces, block the sidewalk with their yoga moves, smoke in the doorways, and are noisy.

"Most of the people around here think they're a joke," the woman said.

Wozniak said he was opposed to giving Code Pink a parking space because it favors free speech rights of one group over another.

"There's a line between protesting and harassing, and that concerns me," Wozniak said. "It looks like we are showing favoritism. We have to respect the other side, and not abuse their rights. This is not good policy."

Fran Rachel, 90, a Code Pink protester who spoke at the council meeting, said the group's request for a parking space and noise permit was especially important because the Marines are recruiting soldiers who may die in an unjust war.

"This is very serious," Rachel said. "This isn't a game; it's mass murder. There's a sickness of silence of people not speaking out against the war. We have to do this."

Anderson, a former Marine who said he was "drummed out" of the corps when he took a stand against the Vietnam War, said he'd love to see the Marines high-tail it out of town.

"We are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of dollars on propaganda," Anderson said. "This is not Okinawa here; we're involved in a naked act of aggression. If we can provide a space for ordinary people to express themselves against this kind of barbarity, then we should be doing it."
Isn't it ironic that the college town that has always preached tolerance to the rest of us should be so intolerant as to no longer welcome the very folks who are willing to put their lives on the line in order to preserve that very right to preach to the rest of us?

The Berkeley City Council should be ashamed of itself.

But then again, since the nearby city of San Francisco chose to ban the popular Junior R.O.T.C. program from its public high schools, this is the sort of behavior that we've come to expect from The People's Republic of Northern California.