Potshots at Cheney

I have been amused by the Republican response to Cheney shooting his buddy in the face this past weekend during an illegal hunting trip. It's great to hear all these suits talking about how reasonable a mistake it was and how it was the guy's own fault for standing too close or whatever. If it had been a Dem who shot someone you can bet the story would be spun differently.

Jon Stewart, a genius I wish I got to watch more often, had this take on it:

"Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot a man during a quail hunt ... making 78-year-old Harry Whittington the first person shot by a sitting veep since Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, of course, (was) shot in a duel with Aaron Burr over issues of honor, integrity and political maneuvering. Whittington? Mistaken for a bird."

"Now, this story certainly has its humorous aspects. ... But it also raises a serious issue, one which I feel very strongly about. ... moms, dads, if you're watching right now, I can't emphasize this enough: Do not let your kids go on hunting trips with the vice president. I don't care what kind of lucrative contracts they're trying to land, or energy regulations they're trying to get lifted -- it's just not worth it."

e-Bay makes me warm & fuzzy

Is it just me or is this congratulatory note and the promise of a yellow star somewhat embarrassing? So many people use eBay regularly, I guess most Netizens already know about these notices. I didn't know about them until I got this in my Messages. Can I get a lollypop with that?

Woe unto you, hypocrites!

The news has been abuzz about political cartoons depecting the Prophet Mohammad with a bomb on his turban. Muslims are furious, but the Christian media appears perfectly happy to reprint the cartoons, knowing they are offensive. When taken to task they merely cite the privileges of a free press. Well. These are the same people who got the Book of Daniel cancelled, and are gunning for Will & Grace, Queer Eye, and even Spongebob--all because they do not fall within the guidelines of Christian values. Free press indeed! The irony makes my head hurt.

Cruel and Unusual?

I just read an article in the local paper about how the Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for Missouri inmate Michael Taylor. Taylor abducted and murdered a 15 year old girl in 1989. He pled guilty. Now he's claiming death by lethal injection is cruel and unusual, and they're going to delay executing him so they can discuss it. Hm. I wonder how he killed that girl. I wonder whether she had any chance to appeal the way she died. Taylor, who is black, also claims the system is biased against blacks. Hey, Taylor, you did it. It doesn't matter if you're black. You killed a girl and you should die. It isn't nearly enough to make up for what you did, but it's a start. You deserved death in 1989 and you still deserve it today! In fact, why are you still alive? I have no patience for criminals. I would work for the prosecutor's office if I thought I could make a decent living.