DarkStar Spouts Off

1900+ Pages

If a Representative or Senator had 10 people to read equal pages of the bill, they would each read 190+ pages. Didn't some Representative say there is no way they could read long bills?

Does it take 1900+ pages to "reform health care"? 

Do you think it is likely there are things not related to "reforming health care" in the bill?

Do you think it is likely that there are conflicting provisions in the bill?

Do you think it is likely the legal mumbo jumbo was written in a way to be intentionally obtuse?

There is no damn way this is a good bill.

You've Been Jacked By The State

This is just wrong.

Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento - Starting Sunday, cash-strapped California will dig deeper into the pocketbooks of wage earners -- holding back 10% more than it already does in state income taxes just as the biggest shopping season of the year kicks into gear.

Technically, it's not a tax increase, even though it may feel like one when your next paycheck arrives. As part of a bundle of budget patches adopted in the summer, the state is taking more money now in withholding, even though workers' annual tax bills won't change.

Think of it as a forced, interest-free loan: You'll be repaid any extra withholding in April. Those who would receive a refund anyway will receive a larger one, and those who owe taxes will owe less.

This is straight UP gangsta!

Who is to say the state won't issue an IOU on your refund?

The Policeman's Job?

I seem to remember when some Black men in Philadelphia wanted other Black men to form neighborhood patrols to help cut down criminal behavior in the neighborhoods, that some people said it was a  bad idea because that was the job of the police.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Residents of Ohio's capital city are complaining that police officers are telling them to move out if they're fed up with neighborhood crime.

At least two Columbus city council members have heard the complaint.

An aide to Councilwoman Charleta Tavares says she has received more than 20 calls. Councilman Andrew Ginther says if police are making the comments, they're neither acceptable nor appropriate, though he says he believes most officers want to be helpful.

What was that they were saying again? It appears, to me, that the police are now saying they are collecting a pay check.

Why Haven't They Mention He's Married?

Why hasn't the Baltimore Sun mentioned that Lipscomb is married?

"I have no one else to blame but myself," he said. "If I had not made some stupid and selfish decisions I would not be here today."

He said that comment was for his wife.

Ronald H. Lipscomb, a developer who once was romantically involved with Mayor Sheila Dixon, received probation before judgment Thursday for making an illegal campaign contribution.

Romantically involved with a married man is an affair, right?

Remove Them All From The Gene Pool

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, who participated and/or watched MUST be removed from the gene pool with extreme prejudice.

Two suspects were arrested and third is being questioned in the gang rape of a California teen outside a high school homecoming dance, police said Tuesday.

The 15-year-old Richmond High School student hospitalized in stable condition after the attack, which happened while as many as 15 people, all males, looked on but didn't help or call police, investigators said.

The sex assault took place on school grounds Saturday while the dance was under way inside the school, authorities said.

"She was raped, beaten, robbed and dehumanized by several suspects who were obviously OK enough with it to behave that way in each other's presence," said Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan.

I repeat, everyone and I mean EVERYONE, who participated and/or watched MUST be removed from the gene pool with extreme prejudice.

Think HARD About This: What Company ISN'T Govt Regulated?

Think very hard about the question I'll pose after this:

The Federal Reserve joined the Treasury Department on Thursday in imposing new limits on executive pay, extending the government's control over compensation at taxpayer-owned companies to institutions that are merely government regulated.

What business ISN'T government regulated?

After years of setting minimum wages, the government is now telling some companies how they should structure pay for those who run them.

Do you think this won't trickle down?

Next Time, It's A Mac

Windows Vista downloaded an update and, as has been the norm, the update failed.

Yes, it failed AGAIN.

Next time, I'm buying a Mac or Mac Book or Mac Book Pro. Enough of this garbage.

This Is Foul On Many Levels

This is real strange and real foul, on many levels

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Seven people pleaded guilty for their part in abusing Megan Williams -- but now Williams says that abuse never happened.

She will hold a press conference Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, to recant her claims of abuse, attorney Byron L. Potts, who represents Williams, told The Charleston Gazette on Tuesday night.

"She has decided she has been living this lie for approximately two years and she has decided to tell the truth," Potts said. "She fabricated the story and she did this in retaliation because she was having a relationship with one of them."

In a news conference, it is said she lied because she was mad at her boyfriend.

Here come my levels of foul in no particular order:

1. If she was mad at her boyfriend, why lie about rape and do those things to yourself? What did she do, decide to do an orgy and then get everyone in trouble?
2. What about the physical evidence that points to an assult?
3. If she's lying now, what happened?
4. The prosecutors are standing by the conviction because they say that even though she has recanted her statements, there is other evidence to support the conviction. Just like with prosecutors across the country, if a mistake is made, they are NOT willing to correct the mistakes and that is INjustice.
5. [ Update ] Why did they plead guilty?

This is just foul.

[ Update 2 ] Kinda, sorta, related:

Federal prosecutors during the Bush administration sometimes required defendants to waive their right to DNA testing as part of a guilty plea. Justice Department officials at that time argued there was no point allowing those who had confessed to their crimes to use genetic testing later on to get their convictions overturned. But Attorney General Eric Holder may not be in favor of continuing this policy, as evidenced by his recent order for Justice lawyers to review DNA waivers.

 

Legal advocates who favor eliminating the waivers argue that a guilty plea is not always proof of a person’s guilt. Suspects will admit to committing certain crimes in order to lessen their sentence as part of plea deals between prosecutors and defense lawyers.

This Is Why I Ignored The Fox News Snub

This is why I ignored Obama snubbing Fox News:

It was, after all, George W. Bush who became the first modern president to refuse literally every interview request from the New York Times over the span of nine years. The NYT's Sheryl Gay Stolberg explained about a year ago, "[Bush] White House officials are quite open about the fact that we have not gotten an interview because they don't like our coverage."

And then there was Dick Cheney, only going on Fox News or Rush Limbaugh for interviews.

No more here to see, next slide.

I Say Get Rid Of Political Parties

Even though I'm currently a Republican, I think the U.S. political system, and maybe the U.S., would be better off if political parties did not exist. So, I'm a bit dismayed at the following in that context:

In a letter dated Aug. 17, the city received the Justice Department's answer: Elections must remain partisan because the change's "effect will be strictly racial."

"Removing the partisan cue in municipal elections will, in all likelihood, eliminate the single factor that allows black candidates to be elected to office," Loretta King, who at the time was the acting head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, wrote in a letter to the city.

Ms. King wrote that voters in Kinston vote more along racial than party lines and without the potential for voting a straight Democratic ticket, "the limited remaining support from white voters for a black Democratic candidate will diminish even more."

I've heard it said that the Democrats are being patronizing to Black voters and that the Democrats feel as though they are "entitled" to the Black vote. I think it's true and this may be an example for all to see.

Palin Doing Oprah Show

Palin is going on the Oprah Show.

More later. I'll provide the crow.

Sharpton, Bad!

If conservatives think that Al Sharpton is so bad, why don't they criticize Fox News for having him on O'Reily or Hannity?

Do I have to remind you that O'Reily and Sharpton had dinner together at Sylvia's?

Does symbiotic relationship mean anything to you?

Naaaahhhhhh,... Ya Think?!?!?!

Balloon Drama Was A Publicity Stunt

fort collins, colo. -- The story that a little boy had floated away in a giant balloon was a hoax concocted to land a reality television show, authorities said Sunday, and the boy's parents probably will face felony charges.

The stunt two weeks in the planning was a marketing ploy by Richard and Mayumi Heene, who met in acting school in Hollywood and have appeared on the ABC reality show "Wife Swap," Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said. The Heenes have reportedly been working on a reality TV deal in Los Angeles.

Falcon Heene, 6, may not have even been hiding in the rafters of his family's garage during the intense five-hour search for him Thursday, Alderden said.

The stunt temporarily shut down Denver International Airport and caused the National Guard to scramble two helicopters in an attempt to rescue the boy, who was believed to be inside the homemade balloon that floated more than 50 miles across two counties.

Charging them with filing a false report is not enough. Make them pay 300% of the cost for responding to the hoax.

33 - 31, Ravens Get The L

D. Mason: BEAST.

R. Rice: BEAST.

J. Flacco: BEAST.

Ravens secondary: Bambie.

Kicker(?) S. Hauschka: Thumper.

GREAT comeback, but an L is still an L.

Double Standard?

Remember when one of the Dixie Chicks spoke out against Pres. Bush? Remember all of the calls for boycotting the group's concerts and CDs? Weren't many of them politically aligned with Limbaugh?

Remember the effort by K. Mfume to get a syndicated talk show and how he was attacked for doing so? Remember how people said he was ideological and that his attempts to get a show seemed shady because the NAACP was saying media doesn't have enough Black faces?

Remember people like Jesse Lee Peterson going after sponsors of Jesse Jackson, Sr's Wall Street initiative? Remember the out cry because of Jackson, Sr's comments and his "shake down" of corporations?

Yeah, Right, "Tired"

The police can't re-interview "balloon boy's" family because they
are "tired."

From what?!?!?!?!

Interviewing?

Rush Limbaugh And Team Part Ownership, Part II

If some of Limbaugh's statements are going to come back to haunt him during his quest to be a part owner of an NFL team, these are the statements that I think should be used.

I pointed out in this post that Limbaugh said Blacks haven't advanced in 50 years.

It's a white Republican, Rush Limbaugh, who is saying Blacks have not advanced in 40 years.

I was listening to the show when he said it. Here's a link, although some people may not like the source.

Limbaugh: We know that technological advancement is going along at light speed. And yet during this period of time, whether it be the last 57 years or be it the last 20 years, it seems that a majority of the black population has remained angry, frustrated, and behind. They've been left behind. They are acting like they've been left behind, and of course we've heard that this is because of racism, natural systemic institutional racism in America, that we are unfair, that this country is just horrible and rotten.

When there are statistics that directly contradict this statement, and when Limbaugh, himself, has railed against liberals, particularly Black liberals, who state that Blacks have not gained anything, then I have to ask why the statement ISN'T race baiting.

In my opinion, what Limbaugh said about McNabb wasn't racist. It was a statement about the media, however, it was wrong. There are many examples of the media praising quarterbacks who really don't deserve it. For example, right now I think Tony Romo is one of them.

But, to me, this is a major comment that should cause the team owners to look askance:

Look it, let me put it to you this way. The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.

There are other ways to say the antics of the game is doing damage to the game. To call the behavior gang behavior without the guns?

Huh?

Frankly, it's the 50 years comment that sets me off, even more than the gang comment.

But that's just me.

Rush Limbaugh And Team Part Ownership, Part I

It looks like Rush being part owner of a football team is not going to happen. There are many people saying Rush should be "allowed" to own a football team as long as he has the money. That's not the case.

NFL ownership is, essentially, a private club. As such, entry into the club is restricted to those who meet the NFL's criteria, whatever that criteria is. And if the NFL owner's don't think Limbaugh should be a part of their private club, so be it.

This isn't a "free speech" issue. One more time, "free speech" as defined by our Constitution means that people can speak out against the government without having to worry about reprisal from the government. It doesn't mean people can say anything they want and be free from the NON-GOVERNMENT consequences of speaking out.

What Would You Do?

You've been playing organized football ever since you were 8 years old.

You played in high school and you played in college. You think you can play on the professional level so you make yourself eligible for the draft.

You're good.

You know you're going first round.

You're Black.

You don't like Rush Limbaugh.

You get selected in the first round by the St. Lewis Rams, who is partially owned by Rush Limbaugh.

Their first offer is a multi-year contract with a multi-million dollar signing bonus.

What would you do?

What do you expect NON-ESTABLISHED, players to do?

Pension Ticking Time Bomb

Steep Losses Pose Crisis for Pensions

The financial crisis has blown a hole in the rosy forecasts of pension funds that cover teachers, police officers and other government employees, casting into doubt as never before whether these public systems will be able to keep their promises to future generations of retirees.

The upheaval on Wall Street has deluged public pension systems with losses that government officials and consultants increasingly say are insurmountable unless pension managers fundamentally rethink how they pay out benefits or make money or both.

Within 15 years, public systems on average will have less half the money they need to pay pension benefits, according to an analysis by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Other analysts say funding levels could hit that low within a decade.

After losing about $1 trillion in the markets, state and local governments are facing a devil's choice: Either slash retirement benefits or pursue high-return investments that come with high risk.

What makes anyone think public retirees will accept having their benefits cut?

The urgent need for outsize returns by these vast public pension funds, which must hit high investment targets year after year to keep pace with rising retirement costs, is in turn fueling a renewed appetite for risk on Wall Street.

Before the crisis, many public pension funds had experimented with risky trading techniques or committed more of their money to hedge funds and other nontraditional firms, which in turn invested some of it in complex mortgage securities. When these melted down, pension funds got burned.

Now, facing an even bigger funding gap, some systems are investing in the same securities, betting that a rebound in their value will generate huge returns.

"The amount that needs to be made up is enormous," said Peter Austin, executive director of BNY Mellon Pension Services. "Frankly, they are forced to continue their allocation in these high-return asset classes because that's their only hope."

Some pension experts say the funding gap has become so great that no investment strategy can close it and that taxpayers will have to cover the massive bill.

This just makes me want to crawl into a hole, assume the fetal position, grab a teddy, and go to sleep.

No matter how much I save, I'm going to be broke because of high taxes.

Spouting Off On: Obama's Nobel

This weekend, we went to an "Obama Wins the Nobel" party. I was asked what I thought and I told them that I thought the award was to be given for achievements not for HOPE for future achievements.

I was not the only person who thought that way until one person said the award had been given to people who had not achieved something, but who had laid the foundation for future achievements of other people. There was a good discussion at the "party" and I still think what I think.

But it is, still, also good to see people lose their minds over this, many of the same people who said, before this, the Nobel didn't mean anything, now really blowing arteries over this.

But the issue really bores me, if you really want to know.

Spouting Off On: I Am Not A Partisan

I am not a partisan.

I am not a partisan because I think and I try to think logically.

I am not a partisan because to be a partisan, means I have to ignore facts that don't make any ideas I have from "my side" look bad.

I am not a partisan because I am a realist, some say cynic.

I am not a partisan because a good idea is a good idea; period.

I am not a partisan because I am God created and confident in the abilities given to me by God.

I am not a partisan because I am a grown a** man.

If I don't fit your idea of a Black person or of a Republican, that's your problem and I refuse to make it my problem.

Roderick, I am a Republican because I am. Grow up and then deal with it.

Oh, What A Day!

Obama gets the Nobel Prize. The HATE is thick now!

A Moment Of Silence

Ben Ali, founder of Ben's Chili Bowl, has passed.

A moment of silence please and raise a chili half-smoke in his honor!

Simple Point

If you liked it when generals spoke out against Bush, then you have to like it when they speak out against Obama.