And you thought Bachman and Palin were the only wackos at the party

At a hearing concerning domestic partner benefits, Republican Mecklenburg County, Virginia Commissioner Bill James took a slightly different tact on the issue: referring to gays as if they were vermin. James spoke of the effort to “de-infest” areas where gays “congregate.”

According to witnesses, Democrat Commissioner Vilma Leake gave an impassioned account of her son’s 1993 death to AIDS. After she spoke, James reportedly leaned over to her and asked, “Your son was a homo, really?”

James later said that he would not apologize for his remarks. He said “homo” is just slang and not meant to be insulting. He added “[p]eople can believe whatever they want, they can believe in the tooth fairy and legend of Atlantis. I don’t determine what I do based on what people think. I determine it based on what I did and what I did was I asked a question and that question doesn’t deserve or require an apology.”

Guy Clark, the granddaddy of alt-country.

There are a number of artists from Texas or parts nearby that intrigue me musically.  James McMurtry , Steve Earle, JJ Cale and the list goes on. The granddaddy of the artists, from that part of the world  is Guy Clark. Hell he who goes back to the 60’s. Perhaps because we’re the same age but the vitality in his newest album impresses me.  As in his previous album he does a great cover of a Townes Van Zandt song, but my favorite is “Hemmingway’s Whiskey”.  The old guy is on his game here.  B+.

Today in the great state of Texas

Taylor Pugh, 4, (known as Tater Tot) is a bit too hairy for Floyd Elementary School’s principal. Taylor and his Dad are growing their hair to donate it for wigs for cancer patients. The suburban Dallas school district, however, insists that boys cannot have long hair and it has suspended him from classes since last month. Rick Perry the Republican Governor of Texas has talked of this state seceding -- can I sign the petition please.

Jon Stewart on the last teabagger event of 2009

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Highway to Health - Last Tea Party Protest of the Year
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Hooters and Health Care Reform

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s opposition to health care isn’t new. But their use of online ads, offering readers a chance to win a $150 Amex Gift Card for use at Hooters by signing up for “free emails” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which will explain “how to protect your family’s future and bring common sense solutions to the health-care debate.” In other words, getting involved with the Chamber’s campaign against reform could lead to beer and busty ladies.

It looks like Al Franken's bill to protect employees of military contractors from RAPE will pass

I knew I was going to like Al Franken in the Senate. The first thing he did when he got there was to sponsor a bill that would protect employees of defense contractors from rape. Any contractor doing over a million dollars of business with the Pentagon that prevents employees from suing over sexual assault and other grievances would lose their contract. Republicans, who voted no on the amendment in lock step, have been unable to get his amendment removed.

The bill, released yesterday, includes Franken's original language. Since the amendment survived conference the only way Republicans can stop it is stop it is vote against defense spending. With our armed forces in harm’s way in the middle east hopefully they won’t do that. It’s likely to be passed by both the House and Senate this week. What a breath of fresh air.

Time lapse view of the recession - scary, really scary