This blog will focus on political images I have found all around the Internet, though I will intersperse some commentary and quotes that I find interesting.
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Daily shooting report
Still no new gun control laws. And seriously, check out the 8th one down - a Texas law I didn't know existed and which is probably unconstitutional that legalizes murder!
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| I can't believe this. What about the right to a trial? The right to a punishment that fits the crime? Really? Death for stealing $150? Fuck Texas. |
Monday, April 08, 2013
Psychology 101
It needs to be asked - why are Conservatives so ignorant?
From Daily Kos
Rick Perry strikes again.
Gov. Rick Perry says that the free expansion of Medicaid for the state included in Obamacare is just one big trick by the federal government.
"Texas will not be held hostage to the Obama administration's attempt to force us into this fool's errand," he said, flanked by Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Reps. Joe Barton and Michael Burgess.
Rick Perry isn't entirely clear on what being held hostage means, apparently. Three years of free money to make people healthier isn't effective hostage taking, but hell, it's Perry, and it makes more sense than this statement, from the same press conference: "It was federally sponsored jailbreak that betrayed the most fundamental promise any government makes its citizens." Okay, then.
But this is Dumb Pronouncements From Texas About Medicaid Day, so chime on in, Dick Armey.
Bottom line is that the status quo doesn't make sense for providers or patients. Neither does the Medicaid expansion called for by ObamaCare, which seeks to double down on a failed system while offering no constructive path to reform. As Texans, we can do better.
The answer, of course, is block grants. The feds should just give Texas a chunk of money to spend how it wants and to figure out on its own what it's going to do when the money runs out. Because the money will run out. That's a feature of the block grant plan: It's the system Republicans have devised to kill off Medicaid once and for all.
Right now, Texas has 2,036,000 uninsured adults [pdf]. Out of those 2 million, 1,748,000 would be eligible for Medicaid under the expansion, if Texas were to take it (289,000 are currently eligible, but are not enrolled). In one year, as many as 2,938 lives could be saved in Texas with this expansion. But for Rick Perry and Dick Armey, those preventible deaths don't matter. Because freedom.
From Daily Kos
Rick Perry strikes again.
Gov. Rick Perry says that the free expansion of Medicaid for the state included in Obamacare is just one big trick by the federal government.
"Texas will not be held hostage to the Obama administration's attempt to force us into this fool's errand," he said, flanked by Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Reps. Joe Barton and Michael Burgess.
Rick Perry isn't entirely clear on what being held hostage means, apparently. Three years of free money to make people healthier isn't effective hostage taking, but hell, it's Perry, and it makes more sense than this statement, from the same press conference: "It was federally sponsored jailbreak that betrayed the most fundamental promise any government makes its citizens." Okay, then.
But this is Dumb Pronouncements From Texas About Medicaid Day, so chime on in, Dick Armey.
Bottom line is that the status quo doesn't make sense for providers or patients. Neither does the Medicaid expansion called for by ObamaCare, which seeks to double down on a failed system while offering no constructive path to reform. As Texans, we can do better.
The answer, of course, is block grants. The feds should just give Texas a chunk of money to spend how it wants and to figure out on its own what it's going to do when the money runs out. Because the money will run out. That's a feature of the block grant plan: It's the system Republicans have devised to kill off Medicaid once and for all.
Right now, Texas has 2,036,000 uninsured adults [pdf]. Out of those 2 million, 1,748,000 would be eligible for Medicaid under the expansion, if Texas were to take it (289,000 are currently eligible, but are not enrolled). In one year, as many as 2,938 lives could be saved in Texas with this expansion. But for Rick Perry and Dick Armey, those preventible deaths don't matter. Because freedom.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Republicans in Texas
See they really have the ability to understand complex issues - you just have to hit them upside the head first to drive the point home.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Speaking of Republican dickheads
All of the states in the US have their own problems to work on, but the Republicans in particular can be some real dickheads...
From Daily Kos
From Daily Kos
Rick Perry begging California businesses to head to Texas
Perry has launched a high-profile battle for California companies, running radio ads in California touting the Lone Star State's low taxes and favorable business climate. The ads will be heard in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire area east of Los Angeles. "Building a business is tough, but I hear building a business in California is next to impossible. This is Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and I have a message for California businesses: Come check out Texas," starts the 30-second spot.
Perry hears that building a business in California is next to impossible? The same California that has more Fortune 500 businesses than any other state? The same California that has given us Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Intel, Disney, DirecTV, Amgen, Clorox, eBay, Visa, Mattel, HP, Gap and even Chevron? (How's that for a diversified economy?) Man, how did all those companies build their businesses when it was impossible to do so?
Perhaps Rick Perry heard wrong.
As I noted last week, conservatives have a ton invested in the fiction that California businesses are fleeing to Texas in massive numbers. The reality is that California had 254 businesses leave the state in 2011, only about three dozen to Texas. At the same time, California entrepreneurs started about 167,000 new businesses. So you can imagine, the Golden State isn't exactly trembling with fear.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Thursday, March 03, 2011
More news on the TSA - from Texas
I don't typically post information regarding proposed legislation at the state level - too often any such bills are unsupported and even more often, they are designed to incite emotional reactions. Lots of these bills are posted online and it is not hard to find them spoken about on blogs, but then the legislation goes nowhere.
I suspect the following post is of that nature - but it supports my own take on airport screening, and I think there is legal standing for this inn the constitution. I wish somebody would take this to the Supreme Court for review - even with the conservative court, based on their ruling within the past few days over the right to free speech in the Westboro Baptist Church case, I think that they'd rule that the TSA screenings are unconstitutional.
I suspect the following post is of that nature - but it supports my own take on airport screening, and I think there is legal standing for this inn the constitution. I wish somebody would take this to the Supreme Court for review - even with the conservative court, based on their ruling within the past few days over the right to free speech in the Westboro Baptist Church case, I think that they'd rule that the TSA screenings are unconstitutional.
Texas Legislation Proposes Felony Charges for TSA Agents
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Written by: Michael Maharrey
cross-posted from the Texas Tenth Amendment Center
Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) introduced a package of bills into the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday that would challenge the TSA’s authority in a number of ways. The first bill, HB 1938, prohibits full body scanning equipment in any Texas airport and provides for criminal and civil penalties on any airport operator who installs the equipment. The second bill, HB 1937, criminalizes touching without consent and searches without probable cause.
HB 1938 reads in part:
(b) An airport operator may not allow body imaging scanning equipment to be installed or operated in any airport in this state.
(c) An airport operator commits an offense if the operator fails to comply with Subsection (b).
(d) An airport operator who commits an offense under Subsection (c) is subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day of the violation.
HB 1937 includes the following:
(3) as part of a search performed to grant access to a publicly accessible building or form of transportation, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(A) searches another person without probable cause to believe the person committed an offense; and
(B) touches the anus, sexual organ, or breasts of the other person, including touching through clothing, or touches the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person.
(f) …. An offense under Subsection (a)(3) is a state jail felony.
Both bills empower the Texas Attorney General to bring suit in court.
The TSA will likely challenge such a law, but the Texas legislature stands on solid ground. Local governments control airports and no enumerated power in the Constitution gives the federal government the authority to regulate them. Under the Tenth Amendment, airport operation falls under state jurisdiction.
TSA regulations allow for passengers to refuse the body scans, but they must instead submit to an intrusive full-body pat down. This package addresses both issues. The HB 1938 legislation addresses the physical installation of full-body scans, and HB 1937 addresses the problematic constitutional issues of TSA security screening procedures. Random full-body scans and pat downs in the absence of probable cause arguably violates the Fourth Amendment.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…
Bookmark and Share
Written by: Michael Maharrey
cross-posted from the Texas Tenth Amendment Center
Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) introduced a package of bills into the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday that would challenge the TSA’s authority in a number of ways. The first bill, HB 1938, prohibits full body scanning equipment in any Texas airport and provides for criminal and civil penalties on any airport operator who installs the equipment. The second bill, HB 1937, criminalizes touching without consent and searches without probable cause.
HB 1938 reads in part:
(b) An airport operator may not allow body imaging scanning equipment to be installed or operated in any airport in this state.
(c) An airport operator commits an offense if the operator fails to comply with Subsection (b).
(d) An airport operator who commits an offense under Subsection (c) is subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day of the violation.
HB 1937 includes the following:
(3) as part of a search performed to grant access to a publicly accessible building or form of transportation, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(A) searches another person without probable cause to believe the person committed an offense; and
(B) touches the anus, sexual organ, or breasts of the other person, including touching through clothing, or touches the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person.
(f) …. An offense under Subsection (a)(3) is a state jail felony.
Both bills empower the Texas Attorney General to bring suit in court.
The TSA will likely challenge such a law, but the Texas legislature stands on solid ground. Local governments control airports and no enumerated power in the Constitution gives the federal government the authority to regulate them. Under the Tenth Amendment, airport operation falls under state jurisdiction.
TSA regulations allow for passengers to refuse the body scans, but they must instead submit to an intrusive full-body pat down. This package addresses both issues. The HB 1938 legislation addresses the physical installation of full-body scans, and HB 1937 addresses the problematic constitutional issues of TSA security screening procedures. Random full-body scans and pat downs in the absence of probable cause arguably violates the Fourth Amendment.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Texas in financial trouble as well...
Texas sucks up the largest share of Federal spending of any state in the nation, but bitches the loudest about paying taxes...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Should We Place More Trust In The Private Sector?
Republicans claim (their actions often belie their words once they get into power) that they hate big government and place their trust in big business. Businesses, their reasoning goes, will prosper when they do a good job and go bankrupt when they fail. But almost never is this true, for big business is all about profit and damn anything or anybody that gets in their way - their eyes on the profit are VERY shortsighted (reference the collapse of our banking system). The following is even further proof of the truth of my words, as if you need any more convincing. This is from Environmental Health News (click on the link to read more).
For 200 years, Randy Mumme’s family has raised cattle on the same plot of southeast Texas land. Then, about 10 years ago, something began to change. His steers were losing weight. Cows were miscarrying; one gave birth to a calf with three legs. Many calves were stillborn.
The family’s ranching practices had not changed over the centuries, but the environment had: His ranch is four miles downwind of large industrial plants that spew tons of carcinogens and other toxic substances into the air. Mumme and other ranchers in Point Comfort suspect the factories are contributing to the ill-health of their cattle.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Loyalty Oath for Democrats
I suppose I shouldn't be shocked at anything that comes from Texas. It's hard to tell if the morons that live there are transplants from other places moving in for the work - or if it is the natives that are so backwards. The following clip is from the AP via Yahoo.
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Texas to print presidential primary ballots without Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich's name.
The court refused to step into a dispute between Kucinich and the Texas Democratic Party over a loyalty oath all candidates must sign to make the ballot.
Kucinich and singer-supporter Willie Nelson objected to the party oath that a presidential candidate must "fully support" the party's eventual nominee. Kucinich crossed out the oath when he filed for a spot on the primary ballot.
The court refused to step into a dispute between Kucinich and the Texas Democratic Party over a loyalty oath all candidates must sign to make the ballot.
Kucinich and singer-supporter Willie Nelson objected to the party oath that a presidential candidate must "fully support" the party's eventual nominee. Kucinich crossed out the oath when he filed for a spot on the primary ballot.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Texas Loses It's Collective Mind
I must assume that rednecks have some sort of innate desire to commit themselves to causes, no matter how ridiculous those causes might be. Religion is one such cause - Baptists, Catholics, and all of the major religions have some sort of 'statement of belief" or creed which they must recite at least once a week while in the presence of their peers. It is not enough that the commitment be made privately, within one's own thoughts - it must be made in public - to declare one's devotion to that cause so that the crowd knows you are truly one of them.
I have always been a very proud American, but I am annoyed, and have been since I was a young man, at having to publicly recite the pledge of allegiance (or sing the national anthem, in the case of sporting events) to the flag at every public meeting I attend. What, I can't be a true American without making some public declaration of my undying devotion to a man-made geopolitical entity every time we gather together? This really gets very, very stupid, in my not-so-humble opinion.
Well, now there's another one - a pledge for the citizens of Texas that also commits them to loving their smaller geopolitical entity as well as their imaginary ghost-in-the-sky person. Coming next week - pledges for your town, county, neighborhood and family unit. You'll be so much better a person for publicly declaring your devotion.
From United Press International
I have always been a very proud American, but I am annoyed, and have been since I was a young man, at having to publicly recite the pledge of allegiance (or sing the national anthem, in the case of sporting events) to the flag at every public meeting I attend. What, I can't be a true American without making some public declaration of my undying devotion to a man-made geopolitical entity every time we gather together? This really gets very, very stupid, in my not-so-humble opinion.
Well, now there's another one - a pledge for the citizens of Texas that also commits them to loving their smaller geopolitical entity as well as their imaginary ghost-in-the-sky person. Coming next week - pledges for your town, county, neighborhood and family unit. You'll be so much better a person for publicly declaring your devotion.
HOUSTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Texas created its first state pledge in 1933, made the pledge mandatory for schools 70 years later, and now legislators have made it religious.
...
The Chronicle said that Harris County Republican legislators Sen. Dan Patrick and Rep. Debbie Riddle helped pass a law that brought religion into the mix, simply by inserting "one state under God" into the virtually unknown pledge.
From United Press International
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