Category Archives: Government
Cliven Bundy Steps in It
Just when Cliven Bundy was generating sympathy for standing up to the man he opened his mouth and stepped in it
Crazy Cliven’s cows graze on on federal grass and he hasn’t paid the bill for 20 years. That makes him sort of a welfare queen of the range. Which is why it was surprising to hear him talking about “negroes” on government subsidy. Here he is in his own words:
Western Water Wars
Western Water Wars went wild last week when young Dallas Swonger peed in an Oregon reservoir and forgot to flush.
Thanks to the Water Bureau’s quick thinking response, the three parts per billion of Swonger effluent were safely removed by draining 38 million gallons of water. No deaths or injuries were reported.
Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish – yes that’s his real name – humbly accepted credit for the life saving action:
“I didn’t have a choice. I don’t have the luxury of slicing it too thin when there’s a potential risk, however small, to public health,” he said. “Frankly, it’s one of those calls where you know you’re likely to be criticized no matter what. The professionals who report to me all said, ‘Dump the water. Don’t take any chances.’ It’s the conservative but correct call.”
Tale of Two Pulitzers
ABC News president Ben Sherwood had the bad form to complain about being denied a Pulitzer Prize. Television isn’t even eligible for the prizes. They’re awarded to newspapers and digital outlets. Is a TV network’s digital site eligible? Beats me.
Anyway, Sherwood sent a 4 page letter to the Center For Public integrity demanding that ABC reporter Brian Ross be cut in for a share of CPI‘s prize. The reporting was about a doctor/lawyer conspiracy to deprive black lung victims of medical benefits.
Last I heard from Brian Ross he was busy mis-identifying James Holmes, the Denver theater psycho killer, as a Tea Party member.
Two Pulitzers
Meanwhile, Ed Snowden and Vlad Putin were overlooked by the Pulitzer Committee for an award shared by The Washington Post and The Guardian. The two papers were honored for stories detailing NSA spying. The snubbed Snowden, hero or traitor, depending on your point of view, did the basic reporting by stealing information from the NSA. Putin, a renowned New York Times columnist and famous Russian hockey player, is Snowden’s patron.
Cliven Bundy’s Cows
Cliven Bundy’s cows were on federal land. His argument that his family had occupied that land before the feds took it over sounds like the same argument Geronimo could have made.
Still, when the BLM showed up armed to the teeth, along with a million dollar posse of hired cowboys it was hard not to root for for Cliven. The free speech zone BLM set up was a little off-putting too. Last I heard it’s all still a free speech zone.
As the federal government nurses its $4 trillion a year habit, it’s agencies, from IRS to the Department of Education, are increasingly packing heat. Here’s a 2008 YouTube clip of the president calling for a civilian national security force as strong as our military.
That speech was in the context of expanding AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps (or corpse if you prefer). Hot Air puzzled over the meaning of his cryptic comments.
White House War on Women
The White House thought it was a good idea to focus attention on the war on women’s pay. Until it turned out the White House wages the same war. Women who work there earn 88 cents for every dollar men earn. The White House blames the pay gap on work experience, education, and hours worked – the same reason given by the private sector.
