Because in Texas we hate Gays!

We don't care for child welfare, child healthcare, or child education but we don't want them around "those gays". CHIPs can take a huge hit, we can be in danger of closing schools, and the CPS and Childwelfare system is in a major crisis, but according to Talton and other Texas Representatives the biggest problem with our children is that they are being in raised in Gay foster homes. So, we'll just pull 'em all out of "those gay" homes and put them in orphanages, because according to Talton orphanges are awesome. Because in Texas we hate gays more than we love children.

On the Lege: Foster care ban blogged

That's my Senator

Yeah not only did the state Senator from my district make a real classy statement, "I've already yielded more than a high school cheerleader at a drive in," when asked to yield to another question. But what really seems to me as the good part is that he blamed the statement on Tourette's Syndrome, which he doesn't have. Their is the new political strategy, if you screw up just blame it on a medical condition you don't really have. Yeah that'll do it.

Flub flummoxes Senate into rare silence

An election that isn't political ...

I wish everyone would lay off the talk of the potential new Pope. This isn't a political election where campaigns and stump speeches occur. This is an election where thier is really only one elector, the Holy Spirit working through 118 possible new Popes. No Cardinal is anymore or less "palpible" except in the eyes of the Lord. This isn't a political campaign, even though we in America like to turn everything in to polls, and focus groups, and predictions. This is an election by one elector, the Holy Spirit, casting 118 ballots through the Cardinals.

The Minuteman Project ... not the "good type" of revolution

Does this sound like a good idea to anyone? Both President Fox (Mexico) and Presient Bush have both condemed the project and rightly so. This is a group of volunteers that will travel the border and "inform" Border Patrol of illegal acts. Yes, some the of the volunteers will be carrying concealed weapons and some of the volunteers are from known white supremacist groups and thier in a predominantly minority area. This all sounds like a great plan huh.

The Minuteman Project

Unititled

Quote of the Week

"The case is full of great ironies. A large part of Terri's hospice costs are paid by Medicaid, a program that the administration and conservatives in Congress would sharply reduce. Some of her other expenses have been covered by the million-dollar proceeds of a malpractice suit - the kind of suit that President Bush has fought to scale back." - NPR commentator Daniel Schorr (thanks to Witherspoon and Stuart Robertson)

Honestly, right now I have no words to describe how i feel. I want to send a heart felt prayer to the Schindlers, Terri, Michael, and all those involved at the Hospice, in the courts and government, and around the nation.

Witherspoon Society

Gorillas, Iraq, Mao Ze Dong, and Victory

Prior to the Vietnam war the Viet Minh were traing under Mao Ze Dong in China learning how to tweak Communist uprising model, to better suit it for Asia. Mao taught Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh that there are three stages to a sucesful uprising (among other things).

In guerilla warfare there are three stages:
1. small groups with little traing and little to no proper weapons no real military hierarchy and a very "hit and run - live to fight another day" strategy used on small, vulnerable targets
2. larger groups (think 7-12 people) makeing more planned attacks but still on small, vulnerable targets (never getting to big for thier britches) ranks are now growing from the public support that comes from the uprising and traingin also follows still not an army though
3. this stage looks the most like an army and works like a small army the ranks have grown with every success in the previous stages and with it come supplies, weapons, traing, and a military hierarhy that can control and make educated decisions this stage could meet an established army face to to face but always keeps that original outlook that small culnerable targets are wothwhile too

The fact of the matter is, this outline has no timeline and can be used over months, years and decades. Starting over at level one is always a possibility and the resistance will o one at some level as long as someone will carry the flag. Actual defeat is very hard to accomplish. Mao Ze Dong won using this technique and so did Ho Chi Minh.

So where is Iraq in all this historical mess. Well think Fallujah or any of the other Bathe Party strong holds wehere insurgents are, daily, attacking American and coaltion forces. We, as Americans are not ready to "lose" this war but there is no clear cut, acceptable victory fo us either. Iraq is a lose, lose situation that unless we are willing to spend 50-100 years there in occupation , continually puting down uprisings. Not only that, but our presence actually provokes moer uprising as has been reported in the media. We are making a catasrophic mistake by staying there (and yes we are staying there in our "enduring" bases.) There is no victory for us ...

... only more death and bloodshed on both sides.

The Long and Misplaced Arm of Congress

The Schiavo "right to life" case is an emotionally charged issue that hits at our basic instincts and values. But there are a couple of key issues to consider.

Mrs Schiavo at one time had chosen to not live in this vegetative state. This has been heard in about 15 court cases and by numerous judges and most (if not all, I'm not totally sure) have ruled in favor of Schiavo's husband to romve her feeding tube. As is now the tube has been removed. I believe that Terri's wishes should be followed through quickly and graciuosly.

Am I th only one who thought that Republicans were for limited government? Wouldn't the actions of the Republican majority in Congress go against the "limited government" belief? And, once again, I could be wrong but I thought the Republican Party was also for individual rights and choices. Wouldn't that mean that the Republicans in Congress would stay out of the way and allow Schiavo and/or her guardian (husband) to make the appropriate decision.

This is a dangerous precedent for the government to go through. At any time the government may intervene when they don't agree (no matter the legality) or when families are in contention about a plan of action. This is a very thin rope to walk and I don't look forward to what else Congress may do to intervene in families and individuals.

Finally, Congress is not the place to decide personal life and death issues. This is for individuals and families. This again sets a dangerous precedent for the "right to life/death" that has been in place for many years now.

Text of Congressional bill relating to Terri Schiavo

CNN.com - Emergency vote puts Schiavo case in federal court

Release from Duke Divinity School's Director of Institute on Care at the End of Life

Budgeting and Animal Farm

Anyone out there ever have to read Animal Farm as a senior high school? Well what is going on right now is a great bit of politics that would make Napoleon proud. If you shake your hand over here (make tax cuts at one time) then you can't connect that with what the other hand is doing (cuts in basic services at another time of year). It's almost magic.

But whats really amazing is that cutting income would mean that you have to cut output also, but politicians don't want to have to connect the econimic principles infront of the public. We are, obvisouly, just smart enough to figure out what is going on at the same time, but just dumb enough that if you spread out what your doing over a couple of months we can't figure it out. Oh well.

Destined for Deficits (washingtonpost.com)

And I don't want to leave out the blurb that lead me to the article above (give credit where credit is due).

MoJo Blog#26