Tag Archives: texas

“Texas Stupid” Alive and Well – Perry and Obamacare

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Terry| Leave a comment
Rick Perry

Hyuck Hyuck Hyuck!! "Texas Stupid" is alive and well! This week, governor Rick Perry turned down Federal funding that would fund nearly ALL of Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, all in the name of ideology. Too bad, uninsured Texans! I got another possible presidential run coming! Hyuck-hyuck-hyuck!!!

They’re hardly unique among “red” states, but Rick Perry announced this week they would forego over $100 billion in Federal funding for Medicaid expansion part of the implementation of ObamaCare.  Perry’s explanation…that he will not be “held hostage” by Obama.

Medicaid expansion in Texas would provide health coverage for an additional 1 million Texans.  With Federal funding providing $100 billion over 10 years, Texas’ cost?  Just $7 billion over 10 years, a small fraction of the total.   Despite providing DESPERATELY needed coverage for folks in a state where health care coverage is already a major issue, despite the Federal government picking up nearly all of the tab, and despite HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS IN TEXAS DESPERATELY PLEADING FOR PERRY TO TAKE THE MONEY, Perry still said no.

Ideology, or the welfare of Americans?  It’s pretty damned obvious which one of these two that Republicans think is more important.  Perry, like other ideologically driven Republicans, seem more interested in doing anything they can to oppose Obama than they are in actually governing or helping Americans.

The story on NPR provided speculation that an additional factor in Perry’s cold-hearted decision was another possible presidential run in 2016.  By declining the Federal dollars for Medicaid expansion, Perry can now say “I opposed Obamacare!”, something which may indeed garner him a few votes among the Tea Party losers crowd.  Given Perry’s completely laughable performance in the last election, he’s deluded if he thinks he has ANY chance of winning a Republican primary, much less the presidency.

America has already done 8 years of “Texas Stupid”.  Perry’s decision this week shows that Texas Stupid is still alive and well however.  I would say I feel sorry for Texans who have to deal with this idiot, but it’s idiot Texans who voted in this schmuck in the first place.

Posted in Politics

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Scum of the Week – Texas Judge Tom Head

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Terry| 1 Comment

Man, what a week in the news.  SO many potential choices for the scum of the week.  But the “winner” for the week is Texas judge Tom Head.

Head is an elected county judge who also has responsibilities for emergency management in his county.  In broadcast interviews this week, Head said that the greatest threat facing his county is Obama being reelected, saying he believes it could result in civil war.  According to Head, Obama has been installing “Czars” in positions of power, people who will make Congress irrelevant.  He also states that Obama will “give away” U.S. sovereignty to the United Nations.  Then he says civil war will be necessary to get rid of the “Dictator”, and that he personally will stand up to the U.N. tanks and the like that Obama will supposedly call in.

My…freakin…god.  I have a damned low opinion of the human race as a whole, but I swear to god, there’s a good 50% of Americans who are 1) dumb as a board, and 2) bigoted pigs.  I LOVE wackos like this who point out the impending disaster if Obama is re-elected.  Obama has been in power 3 1/2 years.  Has he “called in the UN” yet?  Has he reduced Congress and the Constitution to an irrelevant level?  Has he done A SINGLE THING to reduce the freedoms that Americans enjoy!?!?!?

I’m not surprised any more at the complete IGNORANCE of our own elected officials. Todd Akin?  This loser?  In American democracy, sadly, these losers ARE representative of the American populus as a whole.

Posted in Culture Wars, Politics

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Perusin’ & Musin’ – The Republican “Morality” Edition

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Terry| Leave a comment

Just some random thoughts from perusing the web.  Seems to be an extra dose of disgusting Repubs in the news lately.  Hasn’t been the first time I’ve scoffed at the supposed moral high ground Republicans seem to TRY to take on most issues.  Walk the walk…

“Legitimate Rape” – I’m not going to beat this one to death, since it’s obviously gotten a lot of coverage over the last 24 hours.  Suffice it to say I totally agree with this great article from Laura Helmuth that Todd Akin’s “misstatement” was nothing of the sort, that it was his underlying sexism and ignorance slipping out.

Republicans calling for Akin to quit - Pardon my cynicism, but the ONLY reason Republicans are calling for him to quit, is because his verbal gaffe has cost him any chance at beating McCaskill for that Missouri Senate seat.  If the press hadn’t jumped all over Akin, IF Akin weren’t affected politically by his comments?  The silence you would hear from Republicans would be deafening.

Skinny-dipping Republican Congressmen - Skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee while on “business”?  Way to go House Freshmen Repubs…classy stuff.

Repubs keep pushing voter restrictions – What does it say when an entire political party seems hell-bent on STOPPING people from voting?  Unless they happen to be rich, white “Christians”?  Suppressing the votes of minorities and the poor, reliable Democratic voting blocs, seems to be the primary strategy of Republicans for this next election.  Repubs cry “VOTER FRAUD!!” as their excuse, but it’s painfully obvious the real reason is to dissuade minorities from voting, ESPECIALLY when report after report says there IS no meaningful voter fraud in the U.S.   I think the only thing that could be more obvious is if Repubs wore KKK uniforms while they smiled and called for voting regulations.

Four people shot at a Walmart - Four people shot in the parking lot of a Walmart, and it barely makes the news.  And as usual in this election year, it draws not a peep from the cowards too worried about the next election to make any calls for meaningful gun control.

Posted in Culture Wars, Politics

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Mass Shooting, Mass Stabbing – Just another Day in America

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Terry| Leave a comment

In Columbus, Ohio today, a man stabbed four people before being shot by police.  In Beaumont, Texas, a man shot four people outside a courthouse, killing 1.   Just another day in America, where such headlines rarely ARE the main headlines any more.  Why should they be the main headline, when mass shootings seem to be an everyday occurrence?  Such events just aren’t surprising any more.  Such events simply aren’t newsworthy enough anymore for more than a short-term blurb on a website or a short mention on a news program. 

I find it a little depressing when the price of gas rising a nickel has become a much bigger story than multiple shootings.  Look at what people in America think is important.  In one outlier of a poll that came out over the weekend, Obama’s approval rating went down unexpectedly, and the media were falling all over themselves proclaiming a link between rising gas prices and Obama’s approval rating.  Stories started popping up everywhere about Obama’s Achilles heel come November…high gas prices.

Whatever happened to gun control as an important issue in America?  Granted, you have one party that seems to have been taken over by right-wing nuts who seem to continually be whining unless they’re allowed to carry a concealed Uzi.  But what about Democrats?  Have the right-wing wackos and the NRA become so powerful, so vocal on the issue of firearms that those in favor of gun control have given up?  

A mass shooting here and there?  A three-year old blowing his head off when his idiot dad leaves him in a car alone with a loaded gun such (just happened in Washington)?  If events like this aren’t even worthy of a news headline anymore, I guess they’re not worthy of political debate either.

Posted in Culture Wars

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One Word Description for GOP Candidates

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment
Pew Research Center Poll

There's a lot more for Herman Cain to be encouraged about in this poll, than for Rick Perry or Mitt Romney.

The Pew Research Center asked respondents what was the one word that comes to mind when you think about the major GOP presidential candidates.  Maybe Herman Cain does have a chance in hell. 

By far, the word most commonly associated with Mitt Romney was “Mormon”.  First of all, I find that very disappointing, from a human nature standpoint.  Given Romney’s political exposure as a governor and two-time presidential candidate, I would have hoped people knew more about his politics than his religion.  Perhaps some do, but from the huge number of people defining Romney by his faith and not his politics, it is unfortunate, but obvious, that his faith could indeed cost him in the primaries.   It’s also quite obvious why Rick Perry has refused to denounce his allies who have focused on Romney’s faith.  Perry obviously WANTS Romney’s faith to play a role in the election.  If I’m Romney and I see this poll…I’m worried.

As for Rick Perry…the word most associated with him, by far, was “Texas”.  I find that as less of a surprise, as Perry was more of an unknown for most Americans, and Perry certainly revels in his Texas heritage.  But there’s a LOT for Perry to worry about in this poll.  Given the debacle of the Bush presidency, it’s not encouraging for Perry that so many voters associate him as (yet another) Texas governor.  Even worse for Perry are the other words associated with him.  Let’s see…in the top 10 words, we have “Idiot”, “Ass”, “Crook”, “Dislike”, and “Scary”.  I’m assuming Pew lumps similar words, as the first word that ALWAYS comes to mind for me when I think of Perry is “Jackass”.  It appears I’m not alone!   With Perry having such a strong association with “Texas” and very negative personal terms, if I’m Perry…I’m worried.

As for Cain…the “word” most often associated with him is “9-9-9″.  It’s VERY interesting that the political neophyte is the only one of the three whose name is primarily associated with his political views.  No matter how ridiculously stupid those views are.  Voters know very little about Cain, and the primary reason people say they can relate to Cain’s 9-9-9 plan is because “it’s simple”.   Unfortunately the 9-9-9 plan and voters both share that primary characteristic.  Politically, it’s easier for a rather uneducated voter to relate to Cain right now, as 9-9-9 is easier to understand at face value than Romney’s 59-point economic plan.  9-9-9 had about a week in the sun before the true nature of the plan was discussed in the media.  When “Occupy Wall Street” protests are spreading throughout the globe, Cain isn’t going to be able to cruise through the primaries based on 9-9-9, not when it’s become quite obvious that his plan would drastically cut taxes for the rich, while raising the tax burden on lower income people.

Still, if I’m Cain, I find this poll very encouraging.   Right now, Cain is cruising on a sea of voter ignorance.   I hope to god that changes, but one thing you can never seem to do is underestimate the ignorance of the American voter.  No matter what, enough voters have negative views of Romney and Perry that Cain will get a certain level of support.

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Perry Censors Climate and Environment Science in Texas

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment
John Anderson, Rice University

Rice University researcher John Anderson and other project scientists have demanded their names be removed from a scientific report on Galveston Bay after Texas government officials removed material referencing climate change or other negative effects on the Bay caused by human activity.

A politician from Texas, actively censoring scientific reports?   Hmmm.  That sounds familiar.  Except in this case, it’s not the Bush administration, it’s Rick Perry’s office in Texas.  The state of Texas paid for a scientific report on the “State of Galveston Bay”, a report that scientists from a Houston research group completed.   The 200-page report contained information on historic sea-level rise due to climate change, and how the rate of measured sea-level rise has been increasing.   There were many other references in the report to the negative effects human activities have had on the Bay.

Upon receiving the final draft of the report from project scientists, Perry’s Commission on Texas Environmental Quality (TCEQ) simply removed the material dealing with climate change, sea-level rise, or negative environmental impacts on the Bay.   The TCEQ spokesman simply said they “disagreed with information in the report”, and hence it was deleted. 

It definitely harkens back to the days of the Bush administration, where political appointees and administrative personnel are actively censoring scientific research.   It’s bad enough for politicians to censor scientific opinion on what is likely to happen in the future.  This act of censorship does that, but goes even further and simply deletes references to actual, measured, historical scientific data (sea-level rise in Galveston Bay).   I give a lot of credit to John Anderson and the other scientists who completed the report, as they’ve had the guts to come out publically complain about the censorship.  The scientists have also demanded that their names be removed from the report, as they (justifiably) don’t want their names associated with a “scientific report” where the unbiased science has been edited for political reasons. 

It’s a very dangerous path when politicians start interfering in science.

Posted in Politics, Scientific Awareness

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Perusin’ and Musin’

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment

Perusing and MusingSome random thoughts from perusin’ the web…

Obama’s accomplishments – I saw an article today comparing Obama to Jimmy Carter, with the point being that both are supposedly incredibly ineffective presidents.  Pardon my language, but bullshit.  And pardon the language here, but check out whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com.   As a card-carryin’, tree-huggin’, liberal wacko, I recognize some disappointments in the Obama administration, but I also recognize 1) the cards he’s been dealt, including an impossible to work with Congress, and 2) the remarkable accomplishments he HAS achieved that seem to get little press.  Even Bin Laden’s capture is hardly ever mentioned (and is also why Republicans seem scared to touch Obama much on foreign policy any more, except in a really shallow and meaningless way). 

Slovakia’s Parliament Rejects Euro Bailout – GOD DAMN IT OBAMA!!  Yet another indication of the bumbling Obama administration’s poor handling of the economy!!  Well, OK, Obama can’t control the Slovakian parliament, but that’s my point.  Obama, and government in general, get WAY too much credit or blame for economic issues.  Look at U.S. markets over the past several months.  They react almost daily to the latest news regarding a Greek bailout, austerity measures in Spain or Italy, etc.   In a globally integrated economy, there’s only so much one government can do to try and improve economic conditions.  And that’s in a BEST case scenario, where the government isn’t so hopelessly partisan and unproductive as ours.

Rick Perry Refuses to Condemn Anti-Morman Rant – Rick Perry said he will not repudiate a Texas pastor who last week called Mormonism “a cult”, something which voters should take into account when considering Mitt Romney.   Perry says he won’t repudiate it because it’s just “a distraction” that Romney is trying to capitalize on.  My thought…Perry will make up every excuse he can not to repudiate it, because he knows that the “Christian Right” (aka, bible-thumpin’, hate-mongerin’ wackos) agree with the Texas pastor, and he can score political points with them if Romney’s faith stays in the headlines.

Kim Kardashian Wedding draws 10.5 million on E! – Over 10 million viewers watched part one of the Kim Kardashian wedding on E!.  I honestly don’t know a single thing that Kim Kardashian has ever done in her life.  But yet, I wonder how many people in America know more about her than they do about the Republicans debating tonight?  As I noted in a post a few days ago, 46% of Americans can’t even name ONE of the Republican candidates.  I wonder if a higher percentage of Americans know about this “star’s” wedding, even though there’s not a single real accomplisment of any importance that I think you could attribute to Kardashian.

Ice Loss in Greenland Continues to Accelerate – The Greenland ice sheet is rapidly losing mass, and the rate of decline has been accelerating.  If you are a climate change idiot skeptic, PLEASE take the time to check out SkepticalScience.com and educate yourself.  Be it there or elsewhere, I could literally post a story like this just about every day.  But of course, climate change is all one very well-executed conspiracy by we scientists, right?

Senate Republicans Block Jobs Bill – Thanks to the mechanics of the Senate and the wonderful filibuster, 46 Republicans voted against continuing debate on Obama’s jobs bill, effectively tabling it.  I LOVE this last line of the article…”Republicans opposed the measure over its spending to stimulate the economy and its tax surcharge on millionaires“.  That pretty much sums up the Republican stance right now…keep the economy as weak as possible before next year’s election, and protect their sugar-daddies deep financial pockets.

Posted in Climate Change, Perusin' & Musin', Politics

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More Texas Climate Records Fall

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment
Perry Rain Prayer

While others in the GOP try to "pray away the gay", Rick Perry tries to "pray away the heat".

Yet more climate records are falling in Texas as record heat and drought continue to bake the state.   Wichita Falls has had an astounding 100 days of 100 degree temperatures this summer.   What’s amazing about the record is that the old record was “only” 79 days of 100 degree temperatures.  From a climate record, and just from a basic statistical standpoint, this summer has truly been well above and beyond normal.  

It’s not just Wichita Falls.  As the story above notes, 15 out of the largest 19 Texas cities have set heat records for most days in triple digits.  Some Texas cities have DOUBLED the record number of triple-digit days…again, an amazing statistical anomaly.  It’s almost as if, oh, I don’t know…some kind of “climate warming” effect is going on or something.  It’s almost as if…call me crazy…there’s some systematic, global climate effect that’s contributing to previously unheard of temperature and precipitation trends.

But, hey, that’s CRAZY, right?  To think that something, oh, say, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning or land-use change, could cause a warming of the climate?  RIDICULOUS!!!  I think the best course of action mankind could possibly take is to follow in Texas Governor Rick Perry’s shoes, and pray for rain and lower temperatures.

All together now…close your eyes…put your arms down at your sides…and, while clicking your heels together 3 times, repeat after me…”There’s no place for climate change science…There’s no place for climate change science…there’s no place for….

Image above from Blue Herald…

Posted in Climate Change

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Texas sets all-time record for U.S. State – Hottest Summer Ever

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment
Texas Drought Index

Historic summer heat record. Historic drought. Historic fire season. And still Rick Perry doubts climate change is happening.

They always do things bigger in Texas!  Texas has broken a weather record that has stood for over 75 years.  Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl days of 1934 had the all-time record for a U.S. state for the hottest summer ever.    Texas this summer blew that record away by over a degree and a half (that’s A LOT in climate terms).  Oklahoma’s 1934 record is now 3rd, as Oklahoma this summer also beat that 1934 record.  Louisiana this summer was close behind, and now has the 4th hottest summer record. 

If I were a vindictive person, I might call this karma coming back to bite Rick Perry in the butt, for his continued, idiotic proclamations regarding his disbelief in climate change.

What an amazing year it has been for weather in the U.S.  Besides the heat this summer, some states have had their one of their driest summers ever…and yet others have had their wettest summers ever!!  In April, we also had the biggest tornado outbreak ever recorded.  We had record snowfall in the Rockies this winter, and near-record rainfall in Montana in the Spring, both of which caused record flooding for the Missouri River and other rivers.  

Science predicts more extreme weather as a result of climate change.   Ah, if only Americans gave a damn about science, or even BELIEVED in science any more.

Posted in Climate Change, Environmental Awareness

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