deadissue.com

Maybe someone can explain this to me. 

Wednesday, a 18-year-old chimp named Tony , escaped at around 8:25 a.m., Engells said. Dr. Christian Abee, director of the center, said a team that specializes in safe animal capture techniques followed the chimpanzee across the center’s campus onto adjacent ranch land. Officials tried to capture the animal for 45 minutes and used “at least one tranquilizer dart” before a 5-year-veteran of the police department fatally shot the animal, Engells said…

Counselors will be available at the center today and tomorrow to provide counseling for the center’s 120 employees. “A tragic event of this type takes its toll on our caregivers,” Abee said.

“A toll on caregivers” these animals are in a facility that does medical research on them, in fact probably the most humane death this animal could hope for was a bullet. It is amazing the lengths some people will go to see themselves as a victim.

This is almost as bad as Geraldine Ferraro trying to claim that she is somehow a victim, actually maybe the bozo’s at UT are worse.  It is close.

I didn’t even know about this stuff, I must be geting old

If their was one red phone moment for Hillary Clinton it was during the Rwandan genocide when almost a million people were killed. Hillary did not seem too concerned that Bill was not answering the phone. Then again Hillary may not have been sleeping next to bill when the phone was ringing, maybe Monica was in that position at the time. OK maybe I am taking the metaphor too far, but if Hillary was really the “co-president” at the time it seems like she needs to explain why the United States did nothing, while she was co-president.

Matthew Yglesias writes

Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, and a brilliant and original thinker and advocate for the intelligent deployment of American power in order to build a more just and humane world. But she’s supporting Barack Obama, she made a gaffe, she promptly and rightly apologized, and then she resigned. And now this afternoon, the Clinton campaign has continued to push out Power-bashing material in order to prove, I guess, that there’s nothing and nobody they won’t try to destroy if they think that will provide them with some slender additional shot at getting themselves and their clique back in power. It’s a bit disgusting.

I think this is what really bothers me about Hillary Clinton and her followers, I doubt they would have any problem outting a CIA operative if they thought it would help their chances in this election or at any time for that matter. Eight years or perhaps sixteen years of the ends justifys the means governence is enough.

I guess they have confirmed that this guy is or was in the Marines.  Thie one almost leaves me speechless, other than to say sometimes I am ashamed to be human.

Most people have probably heard about Hillary Clinton endorsing John McCain, or at least claiming that he has crossed the threshold to be commander and chief, whatever that means.  Mathew Yglesias says the following:

There is, however, a deeper worry that this expresses. Why does Hillary Clinton think McCain would be a better foreign policy leader than Obama? Now I expect millions of people around the country to agree with Clinton about that in November. Millions of people will, I think, decide that invading Iraq was a good idea, that staying in Iraq indefinitely is a good idea, that pushing the envelop of confrontation with North Korea and Iran is a good idea, that refusing to abide by any of our treaty commitments is a good idea, etc. Those people will, naturally, conclude that McCain would be the better commander in chief. That’s inevitable. I expect those millions of Americans to be outnumbered by millions more who prefer Obama’s approach and who want to see America pulled back from the brink and back toward something like the liberal internationalist tradition that’s governed us at our best since the Second World War rather than to continue on the path of militarism and hegemonism that’s been responsible for the bulk of our mistakes.

The part that sticks out to me is where Hillary Clinton seems to agree that we as a country do not need to abide by any treaties or even international laws. She seems to to be running her campaign in much the same manner.  Any rule she doesn’t like she just ignores, at the beginning of the campaign she knew delagates from Florida and Michigan would not be seated and that candidates were not supposed to campaign in those states. all of the participants in the democratic primary knew and agreed to the rules and accept for Hillary Clinton the abided by the rules.  What Hillary do, she ignores the rules gets herself on the ballot in Michigan and campaigns in Florida and is now trying to get the from Michigan and Florida to count towards her nomination. This is very much like the last eight years where their was a complete disregard for laws and treaties, one can only assume that Hillary Clinton would govern in much the same way she has campaigned, I don’t think the country can handle four  more years of that.
Yglesias can be seen here

I get that what this guy did is not as bad as an organized dog fighting ring but it is still pretty disgusting.

An animal rights group wants the PGA Tour to take action against player Tripp Isenhour, facing charges for hitting a hawk with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show.

“Because of the high profile nature of this case, the PGA needs to take steps to address its interest and to make it clear that they don’t condone animal cruelty,” said Dale Bartlett, the Humane Society of the United States’ deputy manager for animal cruelty issues.

He said the organization would contact the PGA Tour on Friday to discuss the issue.

Isenhour was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird, misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

The entire article can be seen here

According to MSNBC Hillary Clinton while winning 3 of 4 states probably did not win a substantial number of delagates over the ones awarded to Obama.  In fact becuase of the mixed system in Texas where 1/3 of the delagates are awarded by a caucus system she may have come out behind in total delagates awarded.  None of this nuance will keep Hillary Clinton from claiming that she has acheieved the biggest victory ever.  It seems like the Clinton camp is trying to keep the election close and get the super delagates to award her the nomination.  If that doesn’t work she may try to get the Florida and Michigan delagates seated which again might get her the nomination but would circumvent the will of a majority of primary voters and caucus goers.   The problem with this approach, is that it says to the caucus goers and primary voters who nominated Obama by the rules of the party, “I know what is best, and it is not who you voted for”.  This approach is incredibly condascending and reeks of party elitism.  It is sort of like when Dick Cheney was supposed to find a good vice presidential candidate for George Bush and he picked himself.  Hillary is trying to pick herself to be the democratic nominee for our own good.

I know two people who caucused for Obama, one of whom says she will vote for McCain if Hillary is nominated.  Her reason eing that she is tired of Bush and his condescending little smirk that implies he knows best and she feels that Hillary has the same condascending attitude.  My other friend says he will support Nader because in his words their are “no differences between Hillary and McCain”.  To an extant he is right both Clinton and McAin are long time politicians who supported the Iraq war and tried to start another war with Iran.  While at the same time both of them have ignored most of the problems of the last eight years until they decided to run for president.  Both Hillary Clinton and John McCain have a lot of experience living in Washington DC; but John McCain has more so if that is your only criteria then McCain would probably be a better president.  And while McCain is a jerk he is at least not a condescending jerk. 

If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination it really does make the point for the cynics that, that all politicians are the same so you might as well just vote for the guy you would rather have a beer with. 

While all the cool bloggers are talking about the Wire.  I thought someone should point out that in the Sarah Connor Chronicles the cliffhanger for the season finale involves the well being of Cameron, the terminator.  It is interesting that the writers of the show figured that more people would turn in next season to see what happens with Cameron than any of the other charactors.  Maybe the machines really have won.

I was watching John McCain on TV the other night where he talked about getting sworn in to the Naval Academy when he was 17 years-old; which is impressive, when I was 17 about all I can claim is that I got both hired and a few months later fired from Burger King.  Before John McCain was appointed to the Naval Academy he lived on naval bases throughout the world, his dad was an Admiral and I would assume Admirals are given nice housing on most bases.  Once at the Naval Academy he went on to an impressive career in the Navy, where he became a pilot and was eventually shot down over Viet Nam.  Where he was held prisoneer for 5 years when he was released he came back to the United States and ran for Congress.  Later he became a Senator.  I am sure that his record is probably more impressive than I am making it sound, but one thing is missing from his record, he has never lived outside of a government job. 

Even when John McCain was a kid his insurance and housing was covered by the US government.  Once he got released from the POW camp he would have been covered by the VA, plus he would have recieved back pay for his time as a prisoner.  At no time in McCain’s life has he had to worry about health insurance or finding a job for that matter.  Many people have pointed out that John McCain is not too concerned with economic issues, I don’t think I have heard him talk about economic issues during the campaign, outside of a few references to tax cuts.  From his life experiences it is probably pretty hard to understand why anyone would worry about health insurance thanks to the Navy he has always had coverage.  Same with making a mortgage payment or paying for groceries, these things have always been provided for him.  His life experience is more in line with coming back to a country that did not appreciate the sacrifices he made in Viet Nam, and surviving for 5 years in POW camp.  In his case his main priority it seems, is to makes sure that other peoples sacrifices in Iraq are not in vain, it does not seem like he cares that this quest for honor in Iraq might bancrupt the United States.

As impressive as John McCain is, he does not have the experience to be president.  Throughout his life most of his needs have been taken care by the United States government.   Most people living in the US are not in the same situation, we at some point in our lives have to look for a job, figure out a way to pay for an education, find a way to get medical care.  In John McCain’s 71 years I doubt he has ever had to worry about any of these things and it seems to have made him very uncaring for those who do.

It is 3 am do you know where your president is? Hillary Clintons latest ad(you can see it here)
Plays the fear card, the problem is the Republicans locked up the irrational fear crowd a long time ago. In fact for a many of us one of the big problems with republican politics is the idea that everyone should be afraid all the time. Running around scared leads to bad decisions like invading a a country that is no threat to anyone while at the same time ignoring real problems. The politics of fear is something that the republicans own and I say let them keep it.

The USDA is refusing to ban “downer” cows from the food supply:

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told Congress yesterday that he would not endorse an outright ban on “downer” cows entering the food supply or back stiffer penalties for regulatory violations by meat-processing plants in the wake of the largest beef recall in the nation’s history.

Appearing at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Schafer said the department is investigating why it missed the inhumane treatment of cattle at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in Chino, Calif., including workers administering electric shocks and high-intensity water sprays to downer cows — those too sick or weak to stand without assistance.

This seems kind of strange, unless the numbers of downer cows are much larger than people in the business are willing to admit, why would it matter if a few cows are kept out of the food supply. Given the risk to the food supply it seems like a no-brainer to ban downer cows. Either the industry is incredibly petty  and is willing to risk the nations health for a few extra dollars, or the problem is far more pervasive than the industry is willing to admit. In which case they know that if downer cows are taken out of the food supply they will lose a substantial sum of money.  In either case it seems like the USDA needs to crack down on the meat packing industry before they cause a national health crisis.

The entire article can be seen here

Kevin Drum sumarizes last night democratic debate as follows

Seriously, though, can someone please put a sock in Tim Russert? I didn’t even see the entire exchange, but his badgering of Obama on the Louis Farrakhan issue was pretty wretched. It was maybe legitimate to bring it up in the first place, but to keep at it well after Obama had made his position crystal clear was beyond the pale.

Nor did Hillary cover herself with glory on this question, with her inane “denounce” vs. “reject” comeback. Obama’s response — Fine, if it will make you happy, then I denounce and reject Farrakhan — was dexterous and smooth.

It seems like Hillary was trying to pile on, this is the same Hillary who has been complaining that the media treats her poorly. But when she has an opportunity to bully someone she is happy to do it, and happy to use the media when they benefit her. This attempt to have it both ways blunts her message or maybe even makes her look like a hypocrite. The sooner the Clinton campaign packs it in the better it will be for Democrats.

As the desperation of the the Clinton campaign intensifies the rhetoric gets more off the wall.  Last night on Countdown with Kieth Olberman they had several sound bites from Hillary Clinton.  In one of them she was being somewhat sarcastic and condescending towards Obama supporters, basically saying that Obama expects the skys to open up with goodwill and of course Hillary beiing old and wise knows better.  In another soundbite she was chastising the Obama campaign for critiisizing her “mandated” health care plan and trying to claim that she was a victim of the “mean” Obama” crowd.  All this against a backdrop of a photo that most people believe was distributed by the Clinton campaign showing Obama in tribal clothes.  The photo seems to be an attempt to argue Obama is a Muslim.   

For me these sound bites and actions show much of the problem with the Clinton campaign.  First, she is trying to argue that she is the exerpienced and properly cynical candidate, next she is trying to argue that she is the victim, which seems to contradict the idea that she is an experienced leader.  Finally, she seems to be the one who is practicing the “dirty tricks”.  Not once did she try to defend her health care plan and its use of mandates(which is defensible) and she seems to be on the wrong side of most other big issues.  It is hard for her to argue that she is the person to get the US out of Iraq when she voted for the war and still seems to support it.  It is hard for her to claim good judgement on foreign policy when she voted for the Kyl-lieberman amendment, so instead she keeps trying to get votes based on the idea that she is somehow more deserving that her opponent.

Hopefully if Hillary Clinton loses in Texas she will realize it is time to give up and let the Democratic party move foreward with a candidate that has a vision for America and not just a victim complex.

Looks like the millions or possibly billions of dollars spent on anti-depressants are probably wasted:

Prozac, the bestselling antidepressant taken by 40 million people worldwide, does not work and nor do similar drugs in the same class, according to a major review released today.

The study examined all available data on the drugs, including results from clinical trials that the manufacturers chose not to publish at the time. The trials compared the effect on patients taking the drugs with those given a placebo or sugar pill.

When all the data was pulled together, it appeared that patients had improved – but those on placebo improved just as much as those on the drugs.

The only exception is in the most severely depressed patients, according to the authors – Prof Irving Kirsch from the department of psychology at Hull University and colleagues in the US and Canada. But that is probably because the placebo stopped working so well, they say, rather than the drugs having worked better.

Seems like the US health care system fails to focus on results and instead focuses on the best way to spend money and not solve the problem.
The entire article can be seen here

This is from a book written by Tucker Carlson Via Ezra Klien

During his first run for office, McCain learned that one of his opponents had tracked down his first wife, looking for dirt. According to a political consultant who worked for him at the time, McCain cornered the man at the next candidate’s forum. “I want you to know,” McCain said, “that campaign aside, politics aside, if you ever do something like that again — anything against a member of my family — I will personally beat the shit out of you.”

McCain is not a good guy or a straight talker, he seems like a lieing thug wannabe. The sad thing, he was the best of the republican field.  

Mr McCain seems to be making the situation worse.  I have always thought that if Bill Clinton had just admitted the Lewinski affair the entire thing would have been over in a matter of days.  Maybe John McCain needs to admit whatever happened and move on.

Just hours after the Times’s story was posted, the McCain campaign issued a point-by-point response that depicted the letters as routine correspondence handled by his staff—and insisted that McCain had never even spoken with anybody from Paxson or Alcalde & Fay about the matter. “No representative of Paxson or Alcalde & Fay personally asked Senator McCain to send a letter to the FCC,” the campaign said in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

But that flat claim seems to be contradicted by an impeccable source: McCain himself. “I was contacted by Mr. Paxson on this issue,” McCain said in the Sept. 25, 2002, deposition obtained by NEWSWEEK. “He wanted their approval very bad for purposes of his business. I believe that Mr. Paxson had a legitimate complaint.”

The more time McCain spends trying to parse words, the worse this is going to get.
The entire story can be found here

I got this via mathew yglesias. Without the sex angle this story may not have got the play it deserves. In fact the enire thing is somewhat hard to follow. As near as I can tell John McCain went to bat for Paxson communcations after they threw a little money and perhaps a couple of other things his way.

After a brief period of Democratic dominance, McCain returned to become chairman of the committee in 2003 and 2004. During that period, he took crucial legislative action that saved Paxson Communications from a bill that would have, in the words of CEO Lowell “Bud” Paxson, finally ruined his company.

Even more ironically, McCain took this action for Paxson in spite of his long-standing position that television broadcasters had inappropriately used the transition to digital television (DTV) to benefit themselves financially at the expense of the American public.

McCain initially supported legislation that would have forced Paxson and handful of broadcasters – but not the great bulk of television stations – off the air by December 31, 2006. Bud Paxson himself personally testified about this bill with “fear and trepidation” at a hearing on September 8, 2004.

Two weeks later, McCain had reversed himself. He now supported legislation that would grant two-year reprieve for Paxson – and instead force all broadcasters to stop transmitting analog television by December 31, 2008. Paxson and his lobbyists, including Iseman, were working at this time for just such a change.

This seems like influence peddling on the part of John McCain, whether he was recieving payments in the form of cash or maybe little “special time” with a certain lobbiest. He changed his position after these people were “nice” to him. In fact Mr McCain was apparetely is very popular with certain groups:

According to information compiled by the Center for Public Integrity’s “Well Connected” Project on Telecommunications and Media, John McCain is the single largest recipient of campaign contribution by Ion Media Networks and its predecessor, Paxson Communications. McCain received $36,000 from the company and employees from 1997 to mid-year 20006. McCain’s donations edged out former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who received $27,000, and former Rep. W.J. “Billy” Tauzin, R-La., who received $22,500.

McCain old out for $36,000 and maybe tryst? Without the tryst part people probably would not have cared.  Now, I have a feeling people are going to start caring about everything McCain has done over his 25+ years in Washington, and it seems like at least some of it may be offensive to the average voter.

Could Clinton have run a worse campaign?

While the Hillary Clinton campaign has made the Ohio and Texas contests on March 4 into their new firewall, they have only recently discovered the arcane rules of delegate selection in Texas, which could potentially mean that even a substantial popular win translates into only a slight edge in delegates.

The Washington Post reports that Hillary strategists learned in a closed-door meeting this month about the Texas contest, which splits delegates among the state Senate districts and also between the primary and a caucus held that night. It’s ultimately a commentary on their lack of planning for a race lasting after Super Tuesday — when they thought they’d have the race locked up — that they have only just now learned of delegate rules that were of long-standing public knowledge.

At this point you have to wonder how someone who has presided over one of the worst presidential campaigns in history, a campaign that did not even seem to understand voting rules in Texas, can still believe that she is ready to be president. Hillary Clinton should consider getting out of the race before she does further damage to her reputation.

see the entire article here

This seems like a classic he said, he said sort of thing, but police are usually pretty good about getting ID’s:

On a 911 call early Jan. 1, Seth Harris told Columbus police that Quinn was with a group at La Fogata Grill and that they were insulting gays outside the restaurant.

“There’s a group of football players, Brady Quinn from the Browns … and he’s trying to cause a fight,” Harris told the operator. “His friends are yelling at all of the gay people that are around here.”

Harris said he had a verbal exchange with Quinn.

In a statement released Wednesday through the Browns, Quinn said he had dinner on New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend and other couples but that nothing else happened.

“At no time that night was I involved in a verbal or physical altercation, nor did I have any interaction with the police,” Quinn said in the statement. “I want to be clear that I did not engage in any of the alleged conduct, nor did I make inappropriate comments to anyone.

“Any allegations to the contrary are either untrue or the result of misidentification.”

However, Columbus police said when they arrived Quinn was arguing with 32-year-old Jason Thompson.

It is too bad that football is not a year round sport, both because it would keep the players out of trouble and give us something to watch on TV

The entrire article can be found here.

I wanted to link to this as it seems like a very smart comment about health care:

Health insurance is not like automobile insurance. You can mandate automobile insurance, and if people can’t afford it, they can take the bus. You can’t just “mandate’ health insurance. Either health care is a right that society provides, or it is not. It’s interesting how the system now works. As the system stands, drug addicts, diabetics who don’t comply with their regimens, and smokers who give themselves COPD can get care, as long as they either can afford to pay for insurance (pay for their sins by buying insurance and shifting the cost of their care to the rest of us) or are dirt poor. In fact, the poorer they are, the better the care. And the worse people take care of themselves, the better the care they get. You can get a heart transplant more easily than you can get a colonoscopy.

The entire post can be found here