What Lack Of Diversity?

This selfie taken by vice president-elect Pence zipped around the interwebs a few days ago. As you can see, our fair congresswoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is prominently featured up front. And she should be because she's the only female member of the House Republican leadership. 

But a lot of people took issue with this photo. Many people observed there was a lack of diversity in this picture of Republican legislators, staff, etc. And when you look at that sea of white faces you have to admit that finding Waldo would be quite the challenge.

Well, Cathy wasn't about to let those lack-of-diversity charges go unanswered. I found her response in this article.

"There is a lot of diversity when you look at the experiences, the backgrounds," the Washington lawmaker, who has been reelected to her post as Republican conference chairwoman, told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" program.

"We are younger," McMorris Rodgers said Friday. "You look at our leadership team. We're 23 years on average younger than the Democrats. I do believe we need to continue to grow the party, though, and continue to reach out to every corner of this country, every person, so that they know that the policies, the proposals are the ones that are going to prove their lives."

That explanation helped me a lot. I mean, I see mostly white men in the photo and quite a few of them have grey in their hair. I count at least nine women and five of them are right up front for your viewing pleasure. But when you only consider the Republican leadership, which Cathy thinks is the most important point to make here, there's supposedly a huge age difference.

Well who knew that from looking at this photo of Republicans?

And then there's background and experiences. This threw me off at first but then I realized Cathy was speaking in code. Background. It's a clue. Look in the background of the photo. To the far left. See? Diversity!

Experiences. Another clue. Look at the people up front. "Hey, everybody, we're taking a picture on three. Ready? One. Two. Three!" 

Congresswoman Virginia Fox has no idea why Pence is pointing with a stick that has a flat square thing on the end so she is looking for the photographer. See? Diversity!

You just have to know how to look for it.

I Guess It's Funny

There's an absolutely bogus article on Runner's World about a fourteen-month-old finishing a marathon. There were three diaper changes, a nap, and she finished in 9 hours and 24 minutes. Barefoot. And she wants to start her own line of gluten-free energy bars.

Truly believable photoshop effort.

There is a mention of actual young runners so apparently it's intended to be an over-the-top look at young distance runners. (Insert forced laughter here.)

Horrible, Horrible News

In today's Spokesman Review we have an article validating Cathy McMorris Rodgers' many warnings about how terrible Obamacare will be for the State of Washington.

In Washington state, where final rates emerged this week, it will cost less, cover more people, and provide more comprehensive benefits than consumers get today.

See what I mean?

And what is it like today for people who can't afford health insurance?

Today, people without insurance can get some types of care in hospital emergency rooms, where costs are high and get passed along, via hospital fees and insurance rates, to those who do have coverage. But when the uninsured experience serious medical problems, the bills often push them into bankruptcy; medical costs account for 60 percent of personal bankruptcies in the United States. And, due to the inability to pay for care, many ailing Americans simply go without it and die: According to the American Journal of Public Health, lack of insurance is linked to 44,789 deaths per year in the United States.

And Obamacare will improve upon that?!?!

Cathy McMorris Rodgers was right. This pernicious government takeover cannot be tolerated. I look forward to her town hall meeting (meetings? - never!) this summer where she plans to tell us how she and her fellow Republicans will work hard to prevent this travesty from happening. Maybe they'll repeal it 50 times just to show how serious they are. After all, it's been 3-1/2 years since the Affordable Health Care legislation was passed and during this time Cathy McMorris Rodgers and her fellow Republican House members have done all they can to impede this horrible legislation.

And yet after years of saying there's a better way to do this, they have yet to offer up any legislation. Nothing.

Some may say it's a messaging problem, but I think Cathy McMorris Rodgers and her party's message comes across quite clearly.

Protect Your Children And Your Country

It appears that Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers feels strongly about preserving traditional...um...ammunition.

Following continued attacks by anti-hunting groups to ban traditional ammunition (ammunition containing lead-core components) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) became an original co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation (H.R. 1558) to clarify the longstanding exemption of ammunition and ammunition components under the act.

We already have unleaded gas and lead-free paint. If traditional ammunition is not preserved, imagine the deleterious effects this could have. It could lead to perverse ways of killing, ways that go against nature. Children will be taught--probably in public schools--that such unnatural methods of killing are normal. Children could be placed in households completely intolerant of traditional ammunition. States would no longer protect traditional ammunition and the use of nontraditional ammunition could even spread to other countries.

Thank goodness we have someone in Congress who possesses the moral backbone to stand up for traditional ammunition.

Much-Feared Government-Run Health Care

This is horrible news.

The Defense Department is projected to reduce spending by $1.67 billion on prescription medications sold in retail pharmacies in fiscal 2010, following the full implementation of Section 703 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2008.

...

For the past several years the DoD has paid commercial rates for prescription drugs purchased in the Tricare retail pharmacy network; however, the DoD is included in the 1992 Veterans Health Care Act as one of the “big four” government agencies entitled to federal prices when it purchases pharmaceuticals for its beneficiaries.

The DoD currently receives federal ceiling prices, the maximum price that can be charged for brand name drugs in military treatment facilities and the Tricare Mail Order Pharmacy. Through authority provided in Section 703 of the 2008 NDAA and the “final rule” implementing the regulation, the DoD will now get these same discounts in the Tricare retail pharmacy network.

Don't they realize that the pharmaceutical companies are already hurting enough in this economic downturn. When faced with a decision to buy food or treat their toenail fungus, erectile dysfunction and restless legs, what are most Americans going to do?

Next someone will get the idea to apply the savings towards the Medicare Part D donut hole victims.

Why Didn't I Think Of That?

Bicycle licenses. What a great idea.

Bicyclers across the region are known as accommodating and uncomplaining — as long as they get their way. Now is the time for them to show it by contributing to the public trough.

Will any of this happen? No, because from my perch, I don't know of a single, elected public official with the guts to propose a bike tax.

Guts? More like stupidity. But the man does have a point. I never could understand why cyclists have always been given a free ride. It's not enough that they pay every tax just like everyone else except a gas tax--unless they also own a vehicle. In that case maybe Kent could be considered an absolute freeloader since he doesn't own a vehicle and consequently doesn't chip in his fair share by buying gas at the pump. Imagine how much money could be collected, especially from real cyclists who have a mountain bike, a commuter bike, a road bike, a beater bike, etc.

If you think you can stand the aggravation, go ahead and read the op-ed. It's full of poorly thought out bad ideas. But don't say I didn't warn you.

At Least Jesse James Was Up Front About It

From an article in The Nation:

The swindle of American taxpayers is proceeding more or less in broad daylight, as the unwitting voters are preoccupied with the national election. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson agreed to invest $125 billion in the nine largest banks, including $10 billion for Goldman Sachs, his old firm. But, if you look more closely at Paulson's transaction, the taxpayers were taken for a ride--a very expensive ride. They paid $125 billion for bank stock that a private investor could purchase for $62.5 billion. That means half of the public's money was a straight-out gift to Wall Street, for which taxpayers got nothing in return.

The president of the United Steel Workers is paying attention.

"This is no different than if you paid me $10,000 for a car for which no one else would pay more than $5,000," writes Leo Gerard. "You bought it for $5,000 and gifted me the other $5,000."

A final looting of the public treasury before a change of administration? Of course not! What kind of people do you think they are? Or do you live in a not-so-pro-America part of the country?

Say, where's your flag pin?

Because I Care

* In the United States, the richest 1 percent of households owns 38 percent of all wealth.

* The top 5 percent own more than half of all wealth.

* The richest 10 percent of families own about 85 percent of all outstanding stocks. They own about 85 percent of all financial securities, 90 percent of all business assets.

It really bothers me when a small group of people is singled out. I hope these uncertain financial times are not detrimental to these minorities. They have feelings, too, you know.

You Can Bank On It

Kellogg's commissioned a study that showed a breakfast of Frosted Mini-Wheats improved attentiveness in kids by 20% over a breakfast of...wait for it....water.

Children were tested prior to eating breakfast to get a base measurement. Then, children were either provided a breakfast of Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® cereal or water. Next, the children were given a series of tests (the same tests and measurements as prior to the breakfast) each hour for three consecutive hours. The results were taken for three hours after breakfast since this is most likely when children may start to feel hungry, which may lead to distraction.

Apparently the kids that didn't eat were quite likely just getting hungrier so they had more difficulty paying attention. That means eating breakfast is better than not eating breakfast. I had no idea.

Maybe Kellogg's will do something to address this serious development and donate Frosted Mini-Wheats to food banks so the kids who really miss breakfast won't have to. Hey Kellogg's, are you paying attention?

Security Absurdity

Check out the enhanced ID requirements the TSA is implementing as of June 21.

Passengers who refuse to show ID, citing a constitutional right to fly without ID will be refused passage beyond the checkpoints. Passengers who say they have left their ID at home, will be searched, and then permitted to board their flights.

Because we all know that only terrorists stand up for their constitutional rights.

Weren't We Paying Attention?

The Senate Intelligence Committee released it's report showing that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest knew they were using false statements to support invading Iraq. It takes my breath away. I mean, I had absolutely no idea. I think my faith in my government is shaken to the--hey, Britney forgot to wear panties again.

Barry Bonds...

...sets a new record by hitting home run number 756. But let's focus on what's important here. Who caught the ball and how much is it worth?