Tales of Republican Hypocrisy - Today's Edition

Really, I could do this everyday - this one simply speaks for itself.

30 Sep 2009 - NEW ORLEANS — A Washington-based public watchdog group said Tuesday it has asked a Louisiana state agency that reviews lawyer conduct to investigate allegations that U.S. Sen. David Vitter solicited prostitutes.



The bar complaint by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) arises from the Republican's admission of a "serious sin" in 2007 after his phone number appeared in records of a Washington prostitution ring. At the time Vitter stated “This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible.”

Vitter, an attorney, has refused to discuss details or answer questions about the matter. He has denied subsequent allegations of involvement with prostitutes in New Orleans.

A Vitter spokesman accused CREW of trying to shift attention away from Democratic ties to the community organizing group ACORN, and did not address the group's allegations of misconduct by Vitter.

CREW, a nonprofit group with a history of complaints against both parties, notes in its news release that Vitter is among a host of Republicans calling for criminal investigations of ACORN and an end to government funding for its programs. Republican criticisms of the group were energized after employees at some ACORN offices were recorded recently apparently giving advice to a woman posing as a prostitute and to a man posing as her pimp about cheating on taxes and operating a brothel.

"Vitter Seeks Investigation of ACORN for Assisting Fake Prostitution Ring; CREW Seeks Investigation of Vitter for Role in Real Prostitution Ring," reads the headline on the CREW news release.

If I were Vitter, I would be afraid, very afraid. When asked in 2000 about the strains a political career can have on a marriage, his wife said “I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary...If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.”

Perhaps such an unforeseen occurrence has already happened to the Senator? His attacks on Acorn might be overcompensation?

Tales of Republican Hypocrisy - Today's Edition

This is a new periodic feature I'm adding to my blog to highlight the bald hypocrisy that has become a mainstay of the modern Republican Party and soured our national debate. I could probably add a new one every day, but that would probably bore me to death. Personally, I would be quite content to round of the whole bunch of liars, thieves, hypocrites, birthers, racists, and other right-wing scoundrels and send them all to Texas. Then build a very big wall around the place and let them do whatever they want in the name of freedom on their side of the wall.

Today's right-wing nutcase - Rep. Kevin Brady, T-Texas. See my point?

Protesters who attended Saturday’s Tea Party rally in Washington to protest big government are unhappy with the level of service provided by DC's government subsidized subway system (already the irony becomes so appealing).

Rep. Kevin Brady asked for an explanation of why the government-run subway system didn’t adequately prepare for this past weekend’s rally - which took place to protest government spending and expanded government services! So, they were unhappy that they didn't get what they don't want. Seems simple to me.

“These individuals came all the way from Southeast Texas to protest the excessive spending and growing government intrusion by the 111th Congress and the new Obama administration,” Brady wrote (Congressman, do you know what you are saying here? Do you at least see the - well, irony?) Guess not. He went on “these participants, whose tax dollars were used to create and maintain this public transit system, were frustrated and disappointed that our nation’s capital did not make a great effort to simply provide a basic level of transit for them.”

Brady wrote on Twitter “METRO did not prepare for Tea Party March! More stories. People couldn’t get on, missed start of march. I will demand answers from Metro.”

Brady said in his letter to Metro that overcrowding forced an 80-year-old woman and elderly veterans in wheelchairs to pay for cabs (not run by the government, Congressman).

How has this champion of public transportation services voted in the past, you might ask? Surely he voted "yes" on the 2009 stimulus bill, which provided some millions for the DC Metro?

He voted "no."

In July, a Transportation and HUD appropriations bill, came up for a vote. It included $150 million for emergency maintenance funding for the DC Metro. Can you possibly guess how Rep. Brady voted? Need we look at his past votes on such matters?

Congressman, I'd give you the Worst person in the World award, but Keith Olbermann already has that honor. But by any measure of sanity and reason, you are a stupid, wretched hypocrite!

The LA County Fair Vs. Fellini's Satyricon; If Loving Al Green is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right

Saturday was opening day of the 2009 LA County Fair in Pomoma, about an hour's drive from us. We had no great interest in attending, but The Rev. Al Green was doing a show that night. I've been an Al Green fan since the height of his pop career in the 70s, so it seemed like a good idea to go see him. More on The Good Reverend a bit later.

Avie had the general atmosphere of the Fair right - it was an American version of Fellini's Satyricon. Hunter S. Thompson would have described the scene as one of fear and loathing.

Of course, there were copious amounts of bad food. Lots of barbecue. Lots of sugar. Lots of fat. Lots of alcohol. And a majority of the people wandering around the grounds looked like they'd indulged for quite some time. OK, I admit that some of the barbecue smelled good.

But for me, the whole thing had a bad taste.

Perhaps it was a poor attempt to recreate a part of America that no longer exists.

There was something foul and ugly beneath the surface.

No, this wasn't the town carnival I remember from my youth.

In some of these photos, smoke from the current wildfire on the LA foothills is visible.

Fortunately, we had Al Green to see. First, we were treated to a much-to-long set by The Spinners, who did a good job at recreating their 70s hits, but played way too long. There followed a pretty long set-up period as well.

But then Al Green took the stage and all was forgiven. He smiled, he laughed, he rolled on the floor til his suit was dusty. He passed out roses to the ladies in front of the stage. He loved us, and we loved him. He passed out more roses. He gave one woman his "100 dollar silk handkerchief." His band was tight, and his voice was in as good a form as ever. He soared for the high notes and hit them. He did his hits, and did bits from classic R&B songs. He sang like an angel - he is, after all, a messenger from god. Al Green's god is OK with me. Let's stay together.

Chilly Scenes of Winter

Growing up in upstate New York in the 50s and 60s, I have very clear memories of snow. Lots of snow. Most winters, we would get at least one big blizzard which would dump several feel of snow on us in a very short time. We would have to dig our way out.

These pictures were taken by my father. According to my brother Brian, who scanned these shots from slides, they are of the Blizzard of 1966, which shut down most activities in Rochester for nearly a week - one report I saw online stated that around 100" of snow fell on the Oswego area, east of us.

The big red house is the house I grew up in. At the time it was 100 or so years old, though my parents made a number of improvements and built a large addition in the back. When my parents bought it in 1945, it was a working farm with some 72 acres. They sold it in the early 80s. The one remaining visible vestige of the farm is the old chicken coop, the small building in the left center. We used to climb on up to its roof and jump down into the snowdrifts.

Looking down Slocum Road - Ontario, NY.

Mush of this snow we had to dig by hand, though my father had a small Farmall Cub tractor to plow the driveway. If you like snow, this is a great place for you.

This last photo is much earlier - probably around 1954-55. My sister Liz, brother Tom, Dots the Wonder Dalmatian, and me.