Ever wonder where the money went?

Libertarians chide Congress for passing bill filled with pork -- and turkey, and more

WASHINGTON -- Just in time for Thanksgiving, Congress has passed another obscenely expensive budget bill crammed with pork -- and turkey, and potatoes, and soybeans, and bananas, and 11,768 other items that have no business being purchased with taxpayers' money, Libertarians say.

"This turkey of a bill couldn't fly anyplace except Washington, DC," said Joseph Seehusen, executive director of the Libertarian Party. "And while special interests have a lot to be thankful for, this legislation should cause ordinary Americans to lose their appetite."

The $388 billion omnibus spending bill for 2005, passed by Congress last weekend, contains an eye-popping 11,772 earmarked "special projects," adding up to $15.8 billion. Though the mammoth spending bill was temporarily held up by a tax provision, Bush is expected to sign it once that measure is removed.

And that's bad news for taxpayers, Libertarians say.

"Congress' Thanksgiving recipe for pork includes, well, pork," Seehusen observed. "Specifically, the Missouri Pork Producers Federation has been awarded $1 million to convert hog waste into energy. And just to prove they're in the holiday spirit, these turkey-barreling politicians threw in $225,000 for the National Wild Turkey Federation in South Carolina."

Also on the legislative menu: $1,593 to store potatoes in Madison, Wisconsin; $800,000 for "soybean rust" research in Ames, Iowa; $250,000 for asparagus technology and production in Washington state; and $25,000 for a banana factory for an arts program in Bethany, Pennsylvania.

But that's not all, Libertarians warn. As if to prove that no funding request is too frivolous, Congress will also spend $25,000 to study mariachi music in Nevada; $100,000 on a swimming pool in Ottawa, Kansas; $306,000 to repair an outhouse in Indiana; and even $75,000 to renovate the Merry Go Round Playhouse in Auburn, New York.

"Clearly, having the opportunity to spend other people's money brings out the animal instinct in politicians," Seehusen said. "That's why they squandered $1 million for a 'world birding center' in Texas; $150,000 to pay for 'beaver management' in Wisconsin; and $75,000 for hides and leather research in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania."

Americans who want to get an even better idea of the size of the bill can simply pick up a Thanksgiving turkey, Seehusen suggested. "This 3,000-page bill weighs in at 14 pounds, a good size for a bird, but a bit overweight for a responsible spending plan."

Perhaps the most telling provision in the mammoth bill, Libertarians say, is the $1.5 million that was quietly inserted for the Rep. Richard Gephardt Archive at the Missouri Historical Society -- demonstrating
that politicians never forget their favorite special interest: themselves.

"Programs like the Richard Gephardt archive prove that pork-barreling politicians continue to inflict financial damage on the country long after they're retired," Seehusen said. "Unfortunately, taxpayers don't
need an archive to remember all the ways that greedy politicians are gobbling up their money."

BayouBuzz.com-Louisiana Politics and News

What's next, knitting needles?

Stay tuned for a reprint of my article on abortion.

New York Times excerpt:

Negotiators Add Abortion Clause to Spending Bill

November 20, 2004 By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and CARL HULSE

WASHINGTON, Saturday, Nov. 20 - House and Senate negotiators have tucked a potentially far-reaching anti-abortion provision into a $388 billion must-pass spending bill, complicating plans for Congress to wrap up its business and adjourn for the year.

The provision may be an early indication of the growing political muscle of social conservatives who provided crucial support for Republican candidates, including President Bush, in the election.

House officials said Saturday morning that the final details of the spending measure were worked out before midnight and that the bill was filed for the House vote on Saturday.

The abortion language would bar federal, state and local agencies from withholding taxpayer money from health care providers that refuse to provide or pay for abortions or refuse to offer abortion counseling or referrals. Current federal law, aimed at protecting Roman Catholic doctors, provides such "conscience protection'' to doctors who do not want to undergo abortion training. The new language would expand that protection to all health care providers, including hospitals, doctors, clinics and insurers.

"It's something we've had a longstanding interest in," said Douglas Johnson, a spokesman for the National Right to Life Committee. He added, "This is in response to an orchestrated campaign by pro-abortion groups across the country to use government agencies to coerce health care providers to participate in abortions."

Full article can be seen here. Registration (easy, free, and fast) required.

Minnie 'n John

So, John Ashcroft is booking, as some would say. Before you rejoice yourself into a swivet, consider what monster will be lurking in the wings, and in the dark corners of the administration's sick mind. Torquemada perhaps? Vlad the Impaler? Who knowz?

While the sun still shines my good readers, let us recall fondly,the one ridiculous, non-damaging feat for which Dear John will be long remembered. A modesty panel (several actually) for Minnie Lou.

For the unaware, a modesty panel is the front panel of a desk or typing table, which was added exclusively to keep women's legs out of site during the workday, as they toiled in offices filled with lust crazed males who would be rendered incapable of slaving their tushes off for The Boss Man, should they catch a glimpse of silk stocking. Those were the days...

Here is a lovely link for you. It leads to the BBC's article on the infamous draperies, with a nice little bagatelle at the very end, I just know you'll adore.

Another link. Read Dr. Susan Block on the subject. This is a good one. (wicked chuckles)

"...But Asscraft knew all about the Spirit of Justice when he accepted the job of Attorney General. He shouldn't have taken the job if he didn't like the trappings." Dr.Susan Block

D.C. DOES IT RIGHT

Washington, D.C.
Kerry 90%
Beautiful.

No wonder he
spends so much
time in Crawford.

Headline: Zell Miller Sells Soul to Devil

Yes, his seat went to the party of his choice. If this piece of iguana vomit ever runs for any office higher than garbage commissioner, I will take on the sending of care packages to you for the rest of my life when you're in prison...all YOU have to do is run him through with a pike. No, not the fish. Look it up in the dictionary, and at the same time try "mace", no not the spray, and not the spice.

Scum floats, maybe someone will mistake him for a pile of flotsam, and pitch him into a grinder to make fertilizer. God, I loved Fargo.

flot·sam
a. Wreckage or cargo that remains
afloat after a ship has sunk.
b. Floating refuse or debris.
c. Discarded odds and ends.
d. Vagrant, usually destitute people.

I like item b.

It's just a bit after 8:00 PM. The vodka bottle and I have had a meeting of minds. Keeping myself occupied until I know for a certainty that I'll fall asleep before I give in and sit here wringing my paws until all the tiny, but important, bones crumble.

The small good news: Barack Obama
It's now official. He won (of course). Eat your heart out Keyes.

China is having riots, which they would have preferred to keep quiet. How else will they kill off the dissenters without quashing the demand for cheap goods that flow like the Yangtze River from their land to ours. Must save face. Do not protest too loudly, or in addition to your punishment by firing squad, we will torture your most favored son. Whoops, made a mistake there. They do it by lethal injection now, neat death-all the better to harvest organs from bodies that are not blown to bits. A burgeoning enterprise there.

President Twig was expressing his ambitions regarding Cuba a day or so ago, sucking up to the Latino voters. Evidently, after he invades Iran, he has plans for Cuba too. Never a mumblin' word passes from the lips of the sainted leader of the idiot pack, regarding China and it's perpetual wrongdoing in the rights department. Evidently his god has little interest in human rights, but a lot of interest in money. Gotta keep them priorities straight boys and girls.

What else is there to bitch about? Eh, the night is young. I'm sure something will irk the Wolf, who should feel mellow now, but instead feels like throwing bricks at people.

Blogs are so bitchin' when it comes to bitching.

BLONDE? WTF? A trick of the lighting, but how sweet.

The Voting Dog

Your Vote Counts!

Just because your state is very likely going to go with the Democrats on election day, doesn't mean your vote won't count for anything. If you're thinking it won't, allow me to explain something to you. This is not a scolding, so don't feel I'm on your back.

The number of votes cast do get counted, because statisticians love numbers, and these numbers say something important. They say that you, John or Jane Doe, are active Democratic or Independent voters, and that makes you a threat. There's something very sweet about being a threat in such threatening times. We need a hammer or a club these days, or maybe a nice old fashion mace. Our weapon will be in our numbers. The greater our numbers, the louder our voice.

Speak your mind on November 2, 2004. Let your voice be heard. Cast your vote, and know that it is saying something important about you, and about us.

We're here, and we're watching everything they do. Everything. They wouldn't care about ten pairs of eyes, they'd sure as hell care about thousands of pairs of eyes. The greater the statistical data that shows our presence, the more they'll pay attention.

Our vote is our club, our fist, and our power. We are strong when we are united. When we vote, we unite. We need to take Congress back. We must. That is our next goal, no matter how it goes on November 2nd. We must never imagine the job is done, even if we get to the top again.

Keep your attention on anyone who occupies the White House for the next four years, but don't stop there. Never stop, now that you've started. We stopped in the past, and look at the result.

Teach your children about voting. It's your job, don't leave it up to someone else. It's not the job of the schools; it's your job. Do it.
Teach them to watch what's going on around them in this country and the world outside.

Teach your children not to fall asleep behind the wheel, because the politicians never sleep when something is afoot, they work all night, sometimes accomplishing some very ugly things we would not approve of. Our politicians always need to be watched no matter what side they're on. They're on their own side first.

Don't forget though, we pay their wage, and it's a good wage. What other employees do you know of that can vote themselves a raise?

Keep in mind, no matter how much they want you to leave everything in their hands, they are there by our sufferance, they work for us, they're answerable to us, not the other way around. That includes the President whether he knows it or not. No boss worth his salt let's his employees run the show, and no boss in his right mind ignores the goings on in his own business. He watches it like a hawk. America is our business.

Speak out loud. Cast your vote tomorrow. And watch them like a hawk.

Vigilance is forever.

Movie Time!

The alert and conscientious Mr. Dave comes through again. See here. Then make a nuisance of yourself by signing up and sending this to your friends. We only have one of these that counts. It's called our environment.

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