Beach Peanuts

Cliff Stearns Isn't A Doctor, But He Plays One In Congress

Cliff Stearns (R-You-Kidding-Me?-FL) knows very little about women's health and even less about birth control, but one thing he's sure of? Women have no right to either one unless they're wealthy enough to pay for it out of pocket, apparently.

Stearns recently conducted town hall meetings in Ocala, Florida, and he made a fool of himself on video with several issues that were discussed. He expanded on the delusion that President Obama wasn't a United States citizen in spite of his birth certificate, etc., and he expressed his desire to sell off public parks. Then he conducted a discussion on birth control and demonstrated that he's absolutely clueless about birth control and womens health. That's unfortunate, because he's in a position of power and has every intention of restricting a woman's access to both.

He's famous for his so-called "investigation" into Planned Parenthood and wants desperately to defund it because of abortion services. Never mind that only 3% of medical services provided by Planned Parenthood involve abortion. Stearns, as you'll see in this video by the Florida Political Action Cooperative, isn't big on facts. No, just wants Planned Parenthood gone, despite the fact that they provide cancer screenings, testing, treatment, contraception (33.5% on contraception, see an overall chart of service percentages here) and other related medical services for women. Many of those women are also low income, and you know how the Republican Party is when it comes to the poor. So poor women don't stand a chance with Cliff Stearns and his cohorts. Planned Parenthood must go!

But back to this town hall in Florida. Here we see women asking Stearns questions about the recent fuss over birth control coverage, and despite the fact that they're women, and therefore have a certain expertise on the subject, Stearns thought he would set them straight on the issue.

For instance, when one tried to explain to him that birth control is a health issue, he said they were "missing the point" and birth control was NOT a part of health care. He also informed them that they could just "buy birth control themselves" if they really needed it and he seemed unaware that women can't just waltz into the corner drugstore and throw a packet of birth control pills into the shopping cart along with say shampoo and toothpaste. When the women informed him that birth control pills require a prescription, he seemed baffled. Not to worry though, whenever the women had him cornered with facts, he just changed the subject.

When the subject of the insurance mandate came up, he got a little help from a man off camera who shouted "and stop asking me to pay for things for you!" which made Stearns pretty happy as you'll see in the video. Without bothering to explain that this is a matter of private insurance, and that the off camera heckler wasn't being asked to pay for anything, Stearns quickly switched gears and called on another man in the crowd for a question.

End of discussion.

So ask yourselves ladies, (and men who care about them) do you want this man, or any elected official from the Republican Party to play doctor and decide what you should and shouldn't have a right to do with your own body? Because those are the stakes right now. If Republicans gain any more control in the next election, they've demonstrated not just here in Florida, but in many other states they're willing to go a lot further than just taking away access to birth control.

Elections matter.

Here's an example. Be afraid:

  

Why Are We Giving The "Game Changers" A Free Pass?

I read a few reviews of the HBO movie "Game Change" before it aired, and I wasn't sure I cared to watch it. So many said that it was geared towards making Sarah Palin a sympathetic character and a victim. Since we all lived the nightmare of 2008, most of us already knew better. She was no victim.

I did watch it though, fully prepared for that predicted portrayal of Palin, but I was pleasantly surprised. Rather than a Sarah pity party, it actually portrayed her similar to the wingnut narcissist we've come to witness in the last few years. If anything, they may have just toned down the crazy a notch or two.

The most sympathetic character seemed to be John McCain. I was struck by how he was made out to be not just the "hero" as per usual, but the "movie McCain" seemed almost competent, aside from the scene where he refuses to "deal" with Palin out of fear she'll "turn on him too." (So heroic.) I'll give McCain credit for explaining the truth to a voter that President Obama was a decent man rather than a terrorist, but other than that, I wouldn't say "competent to be President" described the McCain of 2008. Nor did many voters, thank God.

But what bothered me the most wasn't in the movie.

What bothered me in the past, and bothers me even more since the movie came out is the way traditional media is giving a free pass to the real life "Game Changers," Steve Schmidt in particular, and enabler Nicole Wallace. Schmidt is the one who picked Palin, and Wallace, who was not only tasked with the impossible job of turning Palin into someone who looked like she had a clue, but has gone on to write a novel inspired by what she calls a woman who is "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" making it to the White House. How quaint.

Here's my question: Why is the traditional media treating these two like mere candid celebrities who act as if they were on the outside looking in? Granted, I suppose we shouldn't be completely surprised, after all it's been well documented by several bloggers that members of past failed GOP Administrations, among others, fill the majority of the time slots on the network Sunday shows rather than members of the Democratic party who are actually well accomplished. Time after time on the major networks, when an expert on certain policy or electoral politics is needed, the media loves a failure. Who better to ask how to win an election than someone who has made a career of failed ones? It boggles the mind.

But Schmidt and Wallace? Please. Schmidt is a political analyst for MSNBC who is trotted out for his expertise on all things political much like another popular GOP failure, Michael Steele. (Full disclosure, I'm a fan of most of MSNBC's programming and many who work there, but I have to wonder why they picked these two?)

Wallace on the other hand pops up whenever Palin's name is mentioned for more than just her routine "I'm a victim, watch my temper tantrum!" antics. Whenever Palin "must be discussed" in detail, there's Wallace all bubbly and willing to trash her as if she were just a mean girl sorority sister of hers rather than a bumbling, ignorant woman unleashed on gullible voters who Wallace knows better than any of the viewers.

Excuse me if I don't jump in line to congratulate these two for telling the real story behind their campaign, because what these two did to damage our politics and nearly our country wasn't a "Game Change." It was a horror show.

The McCain-Palin "Country First" campaign was a travesty that never should have happened. Schmidt and Wallace knew it never should have happened, but they were perfectly willing to do whatever it took to put "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Iran, but seriously folks" McCain and Palin, who seems to have the mental age of a spoiled 5 year old but with less smarts, into the two highest offices in America. Yes, the man who was more afraid that his running mate would turn on him if he dared criticize her than he was fearful that she might one day gain access to and put her finger on the button and take us all out in an atomic blaze of God fearing glory, or whatever it is she believes.

I heard one interviewer say how noble it was of Schmidt to stand up to Palin and deny her the chance to give an unprecedented VP concession speech. Yes, if true, that was a point in the movie where viewers no doubt were cheering Schmidt on. But what would have been more patriotic was if he had never placed Palin and this entire country in that position in the first place. He never should have chosen Palin to run.

Wallace claims she was horrified with Palin and couldn't work with her. She's also admitted that when the time came, she couldn't even bring herself to vote. I suppose she feels we should thank her for that and say "all better now?" Nope, sorry. What would have been impressive was if she would have spoken up during the campaign rather than after we were lucky enough to dodge an electoral bullet.

Sure, they know they were wrong to do what they did, and they say they've learned from their mistakes. I'm sorry, but I don't think that's good enough. As all seems to be forgiven from the media standpoint, Schmidt now pontificates GOP strategy in the current election, which gives me pause. Have we learned from the mistakes made on behalf of the GOP in the 2008 election? I don't think so. Just look at the current field of Republicans who are left. I wouldn't call them much of an improvement on McCain-Palin. Rather than learn from previous mistakes, they've merely doubled down on them.

No, today's Republicans aren't any more concerned with putting the country first than the 2008 crew were. They see the entire race as a game, so "shaking things up" with a "game change" is all they have left. Wouldn't it be nice if someone from the Republican Party, or say an analyst or novelist who brought us to the brink would actually be bold enough to not only say that, but try to change things for the good of the country instead of continuing to play along?

Now that would be a true "Game Change."

Cliff Stearns: The Witch Hunter Becomes The Hunted

Cliff Stearns (R-FL) is getting a lot of attention these days, and not in a good way.  

Stearns loves a good witch hunt and in so doing, he really dials up the crazy.

He's tried his best to deprive women of health care by launching an "investigation" of Planned Parenthood  in the hopes of defunding it, and his hearings on Solyndra were considered to be an embarrassment. 

At a town hall meeting back home in Florida recently, Stearns said "we don’t need more national parks in this country, we need to actually sell off some of our national parks."  

Now Stearns can add "birther extraordinaire" to the manufactured controversy section of his resume. During the same town hall meeting he joined the club of politicians who refuse to correct those who question the legitimacy of President Obama's birth certificate. Stearns not only refused to correct a constituent who said the President wasn't born in the United States, he expanded on it.

From Think Progress, via The Florida Political Action Cooperative:

The Florida congressman noted that there is a “general consensus” that Obama “produced a birth certificate,” but gave no indication that he agreed with this sentiment. He also advanced an phony conservative meme, debunked by Dave Weigel and others, that Hawaii’s governor was incapable of locating the birth certificate:

STEARNS: All I can tell you is that the general consensus is that he has produced a birth certificate. The question is, is it legitimate? That’s where we stand now. I’ve seen a copy of it on television. But you know the Governor of Hawaii couldn’t get what he felt was an original of the birth certificate. He tried to do it and gave up on it.So I think what Obama’s showing is a facsimile, but I think that debate probably is not enough, shall we say, just to impeach him. We’re going to have an election in five or six months so we can change the course of history by electing someone other than Obama. That’s what elections are all about. If we started impeachment this time of year, very difficult in terms of time and strength.

Perhaps Stearns hopes his episode of birther madness making the news now will divert the focus away from another controversial issue he's involved with: A possible FBI investigation of Cliff Stearns. 

Clay County Clerk of the Court James Jett has accused Stearns of plotting to buy him out of this fall’s Republican congressional primary. Stearns’ office turned the table, calling Jett’s actions a “contemptuous” ploy to solicit compensation.

Stearns has denied the allegations according to Politico:

Jett reportedly taped part of the conversation with Horne, the newspaper report states. “I’ve got this on tape,” Jett said. “This has national ramifications, and I don’t want to harm the Republican Party.”

Paul Flusche, a spokesman for Stearns, denied that any offer was made to Jett by Stearns, or that Stearns had authorized Horne or anyone else to make such an approach to Jett.

“Mr. Jett’s claim is totally unfounded — no one is authorized to make any claims or concessions on behalf of Rep. Stearns. He has not communicated with Mr. Jett at any time to get out of the race,” Flusche said in a statement released by Stearns’ offce. “This is a pure and simple political maneuver by Mr. Jett to illegally entrap former friends for vindictive reasons.”

I guess one man's political maneuver is another man's witch hunt?

Florida 2012 Legislature Adjourns Without A Single Anti-Abortion Bill Passed

Despite all the legislation from last year's session of the Florida Legislature aimed at blocking abortions in the state, no abortion bills were passed in the 2012 session, but not for lack of trying. Ten anti-abortion bills were introduced this year, compared to 18 bills introduced last year.

Considering the push against women's health issues and abortion throughout the country in states controlled by Republicans, this was a win for women's health in Florida.

Consider last year's session:

Abortion bills from 2011:

ABORTION — CHOOSE LIFE (Passed): Proceeds from Choose Life license plates will go to Choose Life Inc. for assisting pregnant women, instead of counties. (SB 196/HB 501)

ABORTION — HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES (Passed): Health care plans created through the federal health care law cannot offer coverage for abortions. (SB 1414/HB 97)

ABORTION — PARENTAL NOTIFICATION (Passed): Requires minors seeking a judicial waiver for parental notification of an abortion to get the waiver in district court rather than a wider-reaching appeals court. (SB 1770/HB 1247)

ABORTION — THIRD-TRIMESTER BAN (Failed): Expands ban on third-trimester abortions to include viability of the fetus. Doctors who perform abortions would be required to receive ethics training. (SB 1748/HB 1397)

ABORTION — ULTRASOUND (Passed): Women preparing to undergo an abortion must be offered the opportunity to have the results and images of an ultrasound explained to them. Woman can decline to see the image. (SB 1744/HB 1127)

During the 2012 session, at least ten anti-abortion bills were introduced. Among them, one introduced by Republican Rep. Charles Van Zant which would have made it a felony to perform an abortion unless strict criteria were met, and with no exceptions for rape or incest.  Another would have outlawed race and sex based abortions. The “fetal pain” bill was introduced, which would have outlawed abortions after 20 weeks. There was also a bill that women’s health advocates called an “omnibus anti-choice bill” because it contained several measures that would make it harder for women to obtain a legal abortions and harder for providers to provide the legal service.

The race and sex based abortion bill was introduced despite the lack of  evidence that such a thing occurs, and it was much the same with the fetal pain bill. The fetal pain bill would have made no exceptions in the case of rape or incest, even though research on whether a fetus can feel pain have been deemed neither scientifically nor constitutionally sound.

The Omnibus abortion bill, a final attempt to "clean up" several parts of abortion bills that didn't pass last year also failed. The bill also contained the failed fetal pain measure from this year.

As the session adjourned, Planned Parenthood released the following statement:

Tonight the Florida Legislature formally adjourned the 2012 Legislative Session without passing any legislation that would limit women’s access to essential health care services.

“We are encouraged that legislators put women’s health before politics by rejecting efforts to target health centers that provide the reproductive health care and family planning services that women need,” said Judith Selzer, Vice President for Public Policy at the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates.  “Given that Floridians continue to be plagued by the lagging economy and a growing lack of access to health care, legislators must continue to reject attempts to make it even harder for women to access health care services.”

This is not to say they won't be back at it next session. Outside of the legislature, there's also another attempt at the push for a "Personhood" amendment looming for 2014.

But at least for now, on the close of this year's legislative session, this is a win for women's health in Florida.

From Jurassic Park To Sharia: The Florida Legislative Session Is Almost Over Edition

On the final days of the Florida Legislative session, some miscellaneous news items from the last few days:

The Florida Supreme Court rejected the Florida Senate's redistricting plans while upholding those of the House. Reactions here.

Legislation passed to allow the University of Florida and Florida State University to raise tuition above the current 15 percent a year cap — if it survives the veto pen of the governor.

Legislation for a non-existent problem in Florida, or the Anti-Sharia law didn't come up for a vote and died in the Senate.

A modest energy bill restoring millions in expired renewable energy tax credits was passed.

The "Jurassic Park" bill is on it's way to Gov. Scott which will allow him to decide whether 16 Florida zoos and aquariums should be able to lease state-owned land to conduct "enhanced research" on a variety of animals, including giraffes, zebras and rhinoceroses.

Google oriented driverless cars were also given the green light.

The controversial "Parent Trigger" bill for Florida schools also died on the Senate floor.

Gov. Rick Scott is not happy with PIP legislation.

Protests in the Capitol: Floridians For A Fair Economy, including United Health Care Workers East union members fill the fourth floor rotunda of the Capitol, Thursday, regarding quality health care and jobs.

Brody bill passes in the House.

Florida Senate passed a bill today that critics have warned would severely weaken Florida’s Department of Health.

Another attempt at drug-testing, this time of state employees, is on it's way for Gov. Scott's signature while a ruling on the first one is expected any day now.

And with tax breaks for big businesses, but severe cuts to social programs, this is shameful: Legislators zero out programs helping the homeless.

Unfortunately, more to come....

Parent Trigger Bill Defeated In Senate

The controversial "Parent Trigger" bill that would allow parents in under-performing schools to opt for certain turnaround programs, died in the Florida Senate today. The vote was 20-20. 

The bill, which was really another way of saying the schools would become privatized as Charter schools for profit was opposed by parents but groups that stood to benefit pushed for it relentlessly.

Even today as the bill went up for a vote, Jeb Bush wrote an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times praising the bill without mentioning his non-profit Foundation for Excellence in Education which stood to gain, along with Parent Revolution, funded by, among others the Walton Family Foundation, and Students First, a national organization founded by Michele Rhee (an education adviser to Gov. Rick Scott) that supports “school choice,” charter schools and standardized testing, as well as The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). 

Parents who vehemently opposed the bill made long trips to Tallahassee to voice their opinions were all but shut out, and some who were allowed to speak were cut off after a mere 15 seconds.

The vote count is below:

 

"As You Would Expect," Bad Week For Rick Scott In Power Struggle With Judges

This hasn't been a good week for Florida Governor Rick Scott and judges.

Earlier in the week a Leon County court judge ruled against Scott over his cut to state employee salaries to offset pension expenses, saying it was an unconstitutional breach of contract:

The ruling leaves a $1 billion budget hole in the state budget for the 2011-12 budget year and another $1 billion hole for the 2012-13 budget year. It also has a $600 million impact on county governments whose employees are in the Florida Retirement System.

“The 2011 Legislature, when faced with a budget shortfall, turned to the employees of the State of Florida and ignored the contractual rights given to them by the Legislature in 1974,’’ wrote Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford, who also relied on a 1981 state Supreme Court ruling favoring public employees.

She said the Legislature’s decision to cut public employee salaries three percent, without renegotiating their contracts, was an "unconstitutional taking of private property without full compensation" that violated the rights of public employees "to collectively bargain over conditions of employment."

Vowing to appeal, Scott issued a statement, saying this:

“As you would expect, I believe this decision is simply wrong.

"The trial judge has ignored thirty years of Supreme Court precedent in a decision that refuses to allow Florida to have common-sense pension reform. This is another example of a court substituting its own policy preferences for those of the Legislature.  The Court’s decision nullifies the will of the people and leaves Florida as one of the only states in the country in which public employees contribute nothing towards their retirement, leaving working Floridians with100 percent of the tab.

"The State plans to file a swift appeal to reverse this decision.  Nonetheless, the Court’s order should be stayed throughout the appellate process, which will avoid an immediate impact on the 2012-2013 budget."

"As you would expect?" An odd way to begin a formal statement, but a statement just the same I suppose. More like Scott substituting his policy preferences for laws in Florida, because we've seen this movie before.

So we can add the appeal to the list of taxpayer funded court fights from Mr. Fiscal, Rick Scott.

Meanwhile, another case in the power struggle between Rick Scott and Florida's judicial system appears to be over at least for this year:

 A proposal to give Gov. Rick Scott more power over the courts appeared dead Wednesday amid a disagreement whether Scott should have the power to fire people appointed by former-Gov. Charlie Crist to a panel that helps select judges.

The panels, known as Judicial Nominating Commissions, screen potential judicial nominees for the governor. A House bill, HB 971, would allow Scott to fire Crist’s appointees and replace them with his own.

Sponsor Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said the proposal would allow voters to hold Scott more accountable for the decisions made by state judges.

Sponsor Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said the proposal would allow voters to hold Scott more accountable for the decisions made by state judges.

But the Senate amended the provision Wednesday so that it would not apply retroactively to Crist’s appointees. Senate sponsor Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, said Scott had no intention of terminating Crist’s appointments anyway. “Gov. Scott agreed to it without any hesitation,” Simmons said.

But Gaetz said the change defeats the purpose of the bill and that he would not bring the amended measure back to the House floor before the session is scheduled to conclude Friday.

“The Senate bill preserves the dead hand of Charlie Crist,” Gaetz said. “So the issue’s dead.”

The Senate bill passed 24-14, with Republican Sens. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, joining Democrats in opposition.

Democrats said they wouldn't be in favor of such a thing regardless of which party held the Governor's office, and for good reason.

For now at least, we can breathe a sigh of relief over what would have been disastrous: Giving Rick Scott even more power over Floridians and the law than any other Governor in the state's history.

Cliff Stearns Joins Buchanan, Rivera, And Rubio On List Of Florida Republicans Under Investigation

Latest Member Of The Club

You can add another to the list of a group of Florida Republicans currently under investigation of one kind or another: Leader of the movement to defund Planned Parenthood, Cliff Stearns:

A private clash became public Wednesday when Clay Clerk of the Court James Jett accused U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns of plotting to buy him out of this fall’s Republican congressional primary. Stearns’ office turned the table, calling Jett’s actions a “contemptuous” ploy to solicit compensation.

Jett said the FBI wiretapped his phone and recorded conversations about offers to withdraw.

The FBI wouldn’t confirm or deny an investigation, and no one would corroborate Jett’s accusations.

Jett is running against Stearns in newly drawn Florida District 3, which includes much of Clay County. Stearns now represents Clay in 6th District from his home in Ocala, but that city is now in U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent’s district. Stearns said he will move to Orange Park.]

[Jett said one offer included a job on Stearns’ campaign staff that would pay him to cover the approximately $25,000 he had spent on his congressional run. He also said he was told there could be a job heading the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or a U.S. marshal position once there are vacancies.]

[According to paperwork Jett provided to the Times-Union, he also gave Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll’s name to the FBI. Jett said Carroll, a former Clay County state representative, confirmed the job offer to his political consultant, Matt Justice.

Stearns has led the push in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood. Stearns is endorsing U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV in his bid for the Senate and will be fund raising for him.

Stearns joins the group of several Florida Republicans who are currently under investigation:

Rep. Vern Buchanan is under investigation over campaign contributions, an investigation that is widening. In spite of that, John Boehner recently held a fundraiser for Buchanan.

David Rivera and Marco Rubio have both been under investigations for their financial disclosure problems. Rubio recently also asked that an ethics investigation against him be closed, I suppose just in time for a hopeful VP run?

Let's hope the Stearns investigation will keep him busy enough to keep him from further policing women's unteri.

Photo: Cliff Stearns, U.S. House

"Parent Trigger" Or Hostile Takeover Of Public Education For Profit?

A vote on the controversial "Parent Trigger" bill has been pushed back until tomorrow in the Florida Senate.

The so-called "Parent Trigger" bill would allow parents in under-performing schools to opt for certain turnaround programs, which is really another way of saying the schools would become privatized as Charter schools for profit. Groups who have pushed for the law are Foundation for Excellence in Education, a non-profit led by former governor Jeb Bush, and Parent Revolution, funded by, among others the Walton Family Foundation, and Students First, a national organization founded by Michele Rhee (an education adviser to Gov. Rick Scott) that supports “school choice,” charter schools and standardized testing. It's also quite possible there's involvement from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) which writes cookie cutter legislation for bills just like this one all across the country, although they deny involvement. Parent Trigger bills similar to this one have popped up in several states like California.

How ironic, or in other words, how Republican, that a bill called a "Parent Trigger" and is spoken of as a school "choice" issue is anything but. One group that opposes it? Parents. Unfortunately they haven't been allowed much of a say in the matter. In fact the Bush group has pushed back against parents who oppose:

The Foundation for Florida's Future sent out a fundraising letter seeking "pushback," saying: "Despite incredible successes over the past 10 years, those who seek to protect the status quo are as passionate as ever. This includes the League of Women Voters, AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association and local affiliates such as FundEducationNow and Save Our Schools."

If the lobbyists who have been hired to pass this bill are accusing Florida parents of defending our cherished neighborhood public schools, we say, "Guilty as charged." We love our children and the children of this state more than ourselves.

And it's not just the push back. Parents who have traveled to Tallahassee to voice their opinion have been all but shut out, or perhaps a better phrase would be "shut up or silenced."

We are frustrated that, for the third time in a week, a Florida parent testifying against the "Parent Empowerment Act" was cut off after less than 15 seconds. We travel to Tallahassee on our own dime. We arrange for baby sitters, help with homework over the phone and miss precious hours of our children's lives in order to tell our elected officials what we want. We're tired of being cut off, interrupted or not allowed to speak. We've heard one politician after another say that "parents really need to be empowered." The irony is that we are empowered. We're here. We've been here.

When politicians grant highly paid lobbyists unlimited time to testify and refuse to let us speak, it makes us furious. We are Florida taxpayers, parents and voters. If we don't have a right to speak during "parent empowerment" testimony, who does? We are tired of being told by wide-eyed politicians that they have never heard from us. Our position on the "parent- trigger" bill has been published by every major newspaper.

And it's not just the lobbyists. Parents who are in favor of the bill and who have been allowed to speak weren't actually from Florida, but from out of state. 

Parents denied a chance to be heard feel this is more a corporate empowerment bill than one of parental choice:

Not one legitimate parent group has asked for "parent-trigger" legislation. We do not support this corporate empowerment bill that uses parents' love to "pull the trigger" and pass all that they hold dear into the hands of a for-profit corporation eager to peel off a chunk of every child's per-pupil funding money for itself. We will not be silent while legislators use our money to fund three separate, unequal and unfair systems of education. We do not support laws that benefit 10 percent of the schools while the other 90 percent suffer.

This has gone too far. Florida public education is a process, not a product. This asset was created for and financed by the people of this state. It belongs to us. We will not apologize to anybody for defending our schools. We oppose the "Parent Empowerment Act" and its bad-faith intentions to privatize our public schools.

This bill comes after severe budget cuts to public schools already suffering, making them vulnerable to what amounts to a hostile takeover to privatize the schools. Parents have every right to be angry. From the party that so often accuses Democrats of wanting to "force regulations and laws down the throats" of everyday Americans, what better definition of that very same thing than what's happening with this bill?

The probably party line vote has been pushed back because the votes were too close to call.

Let's hope there aren't enough votes Friday. Privatizing schools would only benefit the profiteers pushing it, and education, and our children are the ones who will suffer the most.

Ego Of Allen West "Willing And Ready" To Serve As Vice President

Never mind that no one has, nor likely will ask him, but Allen "Excuse-Me-While-I-Fire-This-Pistol-Over-Your-Iraq-Detainee-Head-For-Psychological-Purposes" West (R-aving Mad Florida) is ready to put himself out there and serve his country as Vice President.

Really.

From Politico:

Rep. Allen West said Tuesday he is “always willing and ready to serve my country” when asked about a potential vice presidential bid — a job Sarah Palin recently said he should be considered for.

“As far as the vice president thing, you know, who knows what the future lies [sic] because it wasn’t too long ago, you know, I was sitting in the desert of Kandahar, Afghanistan, and now I’m here talking with you,” the Florida Republican told CNN’s Soledad O’Brien. “But, you know, I am always willing and ready to serve my country in whatever capacity that the American people would desire.”

Yes, who knew back when he was "sitting in the desert of Kandahar, Afghanistan" that he would soon be forced to retire for firing a gun over the head of an Iraq detainee for "psychological purposes?" Who could have guessed? Funny how things work out.

Sure, crazy was a popular novelty in the early Tea Party days, but as that dwindling group has no doubt learned, when you elect crazy, don't be surprised that about all you get for a return on your voting investment is crazy sound bytes, much like this one.

And who better to feed the ego-beast than another one: Sarah Palin? Yet another narcissist who is incapable of accepting has-been status. Note to West: No one cares who Palin would like to see in the VP slot. I guess that makes you her biggest fan. Well, outside of Palin herself anyway.

Normally I would say don't hold your breath, but in this case I won't. If that would keep Allen West quiet for a few, I'm all for it.

On the other hand, nothing would send undecided Republican voters to the "D" side of the ticket faster than a Republican one with Allen West in the number two spot, so I've got to say I'm torn on this one.