“Captain Disillusion” has produced a re-edited version of a news story about a ghost caught on a gas station security camera that is much better than the original. Historical Comments Einzige (2008-10-30): Hilarious!
Here’s a nice set of graphs from the New York Times that shows various economic metrics by President and party majority in the Senate and House of Representatives. For the budget surplus vs. deficit, there seems to be a benefit to having one party in the presidency and another party in control of Congress. In general, it looks like Republicans in the presidency and the Senate produce bad results… (Via the Big Picture blog.)
There are reports that Sarah Palin is “going rogue” by continually going off message and clashing with key McCain aides. One McCain aide reports: “She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone,” said this McCain adviser. “She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. “Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."This is not the kind of person who should be in a position of political leadership in a representative democracy–perhaps in a banana republic, but not a first-world nation. (I do agree with her that “robocalls”–prerecorded political advertisements–are extremely annoying.)
Sarah Palin says that Bill Ayers counts as a domestic terrorist for setting off bombs, but declines to apply the term to those who set off bombs to blow up abortion clinics: WILLIAMS: Are we changing – it’s been said that to give it a vaguely post-9/11 hint, using that word that we don’t normally associate with domestic crimes. Are we changing the definition? Are the people who set fire to American cities during the ’60s terrorists in – under this definition? Is an abortion clinic bomber a terrorist under this definition, Governor? ...
Via the Reason blog: The 1976 U.S. Supreme Court case of U.S. v. Martinez-Fuerte established an exception to the Fourth Amendment, allowing the federal government to establish roadblock checkpoints within 100 miles of U.S. borders to stop people and search for illegal immigrants and smuggling. The ACLU notes that 190 million people live within 100 miles of U.S. borders, providing this helpful map. (Although Lake Michigan is entirely within U.S. boundaries, by treaty Canada is allowed full navigation rights to the lake–so it’s not clear if that 100-mile boundary would actually be as in the ACLU’s map around Lake Michigan.) There are currently 33 checkpoints in operation within the boundary area. Here’s some video footage of one of them in Arizona: (Via Checkpoint USA, which has numerous videos of interactions at one of these temporary checkpoints.) ...
Daniel Zubairi, one of McCain’s state leaders for Maryland, stepped forward to publicly criticize a person who was criticizing Obama and claiming that he’s tainted because of a Muslim background. CNN wanted to put Zubairi on air, but the McCain campaign said no. (Via Daily Kos.)
Former George W. Bush press secretary Scott McClellan says he’s voting for Obama: “From the very beginning I have said I am going to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done and I will be voting for Barack Obama and clapping,” McClellan told new CNN Host D.L. Hughley.
Arizona ballot proposition 101, the Medical Choice for Arizona amendment, says this: Be it enacted by the People of Arizona: 1. Article II, Section 36: Constitution of Arizona is proposed to be added as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor: ARTICLE II, SECTION 36. BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE, NO LAW SHALL BE PASSED THAT RESTRICTS A PERSON’S FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS OR PRIVATE PLANS OF ANY TYPE. NO LAW SHALL INTERFERE WITH A PERSON’S OR ENTITY’S RIGHT TO PAY DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL MEDICAL SERVICES, NOR SHALL ANY LAW IMPOSE A PENALTY OR FINE, OF ANY TYPE, FOR CHOOSING TO OBTAIN OR DECLINE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OR FOR PARTICIPATION IN ANY PARTICULAR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OR PLAN. ...
Good news! (Via Pharyngula.) Historical Comments Reed (2008-10-24): Those 'None' are better labeled as 'unaffiliated.' But striking nonetheless.Details from the original article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html (may require registration)
The City of Phoenix’s “notes” newsletter for October 2008 (PDF), which comes with the water bill, features a story on the front page about its Glenrosa Service Center receiving the city’s first LEED Gold certification for its environmentally sound features, like being “build with wood from responsibly managed forests” and possessing “low energy and water use fixtures, non-toxic carpet and paint, energy-saving lighting sensors, native drought-resistant vegetation, dual-pane windows, an under-floor air distribution system and a heat-reflecting roof." Page two features an announcement that “The APS Fiesta of Light will kick off the city’s holiday activities this season with a long-time tradition–the APS Electric Light Parade.” This parade of “illuminated floats, marching bands, performance units [?] and helium balloons” has a theme of “Preserving a Family Holiday Tradition.” I wonder how many years of the Glenrosa Service Center’s energy savings will be expended this year in preserving that tradition. ...