Archive for June, 2012

Gettin’ Health Risks Right (June 25, 2012)

Posted in Citizens United Decision, Courts, Fracking, Health Care, Perjury, Perjury/Dishonesty, Supreme Court on June 25, 2012 by e-commentary.org

. . .

_          “Nicotine in cigarettes is not a health risk.”1

_          “Lead in paint is not a health risk.”

_          “Asbestos in brakes is not a health risk.”

_          “PCBs in transformers are not a health risk.”

_          “DDT in pesticides is not a health risk.”

_          “DES in milk is not a health risk.”

_          “Chemicals in cosmetics are not a health risk.”

_          “Fracking fluid in our drinking water is not a health risk.”

. . .

[Corporations in politics are not a health risk.  The Supreme Court decided that Montana can be owned and run by corporations even if Montana does not want to be owned and run by corporations.  http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/25/nation/la-na-court-montana-20120626.]  

Bumper stickers of the week:

When you are trying to measure someone’s credibility, take a gander at his or her track record especially someone running for office.

“Dishonesty is not a health risk.”

1          Why were they called “coffin nails” one hundred years ago?  Why not prosecute the tobacco industry executives with a surfeit of Ivy League degrees who blatantly lied to Congress under oath?

Why All The Shouting: Campaign Finance And The First Amendment (June 18, 2012)

Posted in First Amendment, Perjury, Perjury/Dishonesty, Sports, Supreme Court on June 18, 2012 by e-commentary.org

 

. . .

C1        “Hard for me ever to depart from an absolute view of the First Amendment right of free speech.  But adhering to an absolute view of the First Amendment right of free speech requires one to depart from an absolute view of the First Amendment right of  free speech.”

C2        “I think I hear you.”

C1        “Limits on campaign spending are limits on free speech.  But not to place limits on free speech for those who can shout and scream and drown out others with their dollars places a limit on the free speech rights of others who are silenced because they do not have the dollars to make their speech heard.”

C2        “Without some limits, one person can shout louder and shout down another person.  Without some limits, one person can silence hundreds of other persons.”

. . .

C1        “Johnny Edwards is exonerated of charges that he engaged in campaign shenanigans and Roger Clemons is exonerated of charges that he lied to Congress.  But Johnny Roberts misled Congress and then distorted a ready case to change the law involving campaign finance in Citizens United.”

C2        “Does not seem right.  Johnny E. is still a sleaze and Roger Clemons fibbed to Congress but not beyond a reasonable doubt.”

C1        “The decision in Citizens United allows Johnny R’s cohorts to stack and pack the Senate and preclude any inquiry.”

C2        “Still does not seem right.”

. . .

[See the “e-ssay” titled ”Why Johnny And Roger? (April 30, 2012).”  The John Edwards and Roger Clemens trials are additional indictments of the failing American legal system.]

Bumper sticker of the week:

 “A democracy cannot function effectively when its constituent members believe laws are being bought and sold.”  Citizens United v. FEC, __ U.S. ___, ___, 130 S.Ct. 876, 954 (2010) (Stevens, J., dissenting).

 

From Sea (Of Japan) To Shining Sea (June 11, 2012)

Posted in Environment, Japan on June 11, 2012 by e-commentary.org

. . .

C1          “The tides and winds and currents are generally predictable.  So everyone knew that the floating pile of flotsam and debris and detritus was sailing inexorably from Japan to the shores of the West Coast.”   

C2          “And the people and politicians demanded that something be done.”

C1          “Something was done?  Did I miss something?”

. . .

[See the “e-ssay” titled “Fukushima Daiichied (March 12, 2012)”]

[See the regular commentary at http://enenews.com/ and articles such as http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/destructive-hitchhikers-tsunami-debris-hauls-invasive-species-across-pacific-to-us-shores/2012/06/09/gJQAYb16PV_story.html.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

“I don’t believe in colleges and universities.  I believe in libraries because most students don’t have any money.  When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money.  I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.”  Ray Bradbury (1920 – 2012).

“Isn’t making a smoking section in  a restaurant like making a peeing section in a pool.”  George Carlin

Gettin’ It Right (June 4, 2012)

Posted in Abortion, Capital Punishment, China, Death Penalty, Global Climate Change, Global Warming, Race, Society on June 4, 2012 by e-commentary.org

. . .

R          “We need to continue segregation and maintain the policy of ‘massive resistance’ to integration.”

R          “We need to continue to enforce miscegenation laws.”

R          “We need to continue not to recognize Red China.”

R          “We need to continue sending troops to Vietnam.”

R          “We need to continue sending citizens to the gallows.”

R          “We need to continue our control of the Panama Canal.”1 

R          “We need to continue treating women as second class citizens.”

R          “We need to continue a man’s right to decree that a woman does not have the right to choose.”

R          “We need to continue mistreating those who are gay, lesbian, and transgender.”

R          “We need to continue disregarding overwhelming evidence that we are abusing Mother Nature.”

R          “We need to continue . . . .”

. . .

1          “After all, we stole it fair and square.”

[See the “e-ssay” titled “I Am A Republican (February 7, 2011).”]

Bumper stickers of the week:

When you are trying to measure someone’s credibility, take a gander at his or her track record.

Will the Chinese finance America’s invasion of China?