Author Archives: nemski

About nemski

A Dad, a husband and a data guru

Kaufman To Run

Freshman Senator Ted Kaufman had decided to make a run for the Senate seat he was appointed to, even though, this goes against he back room deal the made with Biden and Miner.

Kaufman has become the darling of the US Senate with the issue of banking reform. He’s shown himself to be one of those guys who says what he means, means what he says — well, except for the “I’m not running” crap.

With his Crusty the Clown looks and, insiders say, Mr. Burns personality, Kaufman has set the Delaware Way into a tizzy similar to a six-grade dance. Word has it that Chris Coons went on a rampage destroying office furniture in the New Castle County Offices when he heard the news. Apparently, the Coons camp has no idea where he is and they deny he’s shacked up in a motel in Rehoboth with Tom Gordon.

We contacted Mike Castle’s office and were hung up on immediately when we mentioned we were calling from Delaware Liberal. We tried to reach Christine O’Donnell, but we were unsure of which staffer’s house she was staying at.

He Was For It Before He Was Against It

As you might have read, President Obama has finally pushed through some recess appointments. Republicans are “upset”. John McCain said he was “very disappointed” and:

Once again the administration showed that it had little respect for the time honored constitutional roles and procedures of Congress

Let’s take the Hot Tub Time Machine back to 2005 when Bush was thinking of pushing John Bolton through on a recess recess appointment. Gee, I wonder what McCain said then:

I would support it. It’s the president’s prerogative.

Once again, Republicans prove my theory that if President Obama discovered a cure for cancer, the GOP would find fault with the discovery.

Thursday’s Evening Read: TMZ Edition

A few weeks ago, the internet was a twitter with GQ’s interview with John Edwards’ girlfriend in Hello, America, My Name is Rielle Hunter.

New York Times’ columnist Gail Collins looks at Sex Scandals to Learn By.

If you thought Tiger Woods’ scandal was something, take a read about England’s John Terry, Last Taboo in English Football: Playing Footsie With Mate’s Mate.

Wednesday’s Evening Read

Time Magazine looks at 10 Ideas for the Next 10 Years. Here is Gregory Rodriguez on The White Anxiety Crisis.

The Times’ Washington correspondent Giles Whittell looks at the our health care crisis, Obama is bashing on the brick wall of unlogic.

Politics editor of The Atlantic Marc Ambinder comments on 3 Reasons Why Republicans Might Not Take Over The House.

Is Graham a RINO in Recovery?

Sen. Linsdey Graham, John McCain’s BFF, talking about health care reform on South Carolina radio inteview:

Nancy Pelosi, I think, has got them all liquored up on sake and you know, they’re making a suicide run here.

Rep. Mike Honda, a Democrat of Japanese-American descent, was not too pleased:

I am disheartened that Senator Graham chose to use racially tinged rhetoric to express his opposition to health care reform. There is a way to engage in healthy debate without alienating Asian Americans, who are an important part of this democracy and healthcare reform.

I guess Graham is trying to rebuild his racist-conservative street cred after being called out as “half-a-sissy” by Tea Party activists in October.

A Quiet Victory

The one debate between scientists and deniers that I don’t relish is the argument vaccinations cause autism. Maybe as I parent, I understand the need, the desire to find answers to questions that remained unanswered. Earlier this week, three separate rulings determined that vaccines — specifically thimerosal —are not linked to the cause of autism in children. One ruling said the following:

This case . . . is not a close case. The overall weight of the evidence is overwhelmingly contrary to the petitioners’ causation theories.

Conversely and predictably the antivax community responded with:

Government attorneys defend a government program, using government-funded science, before government judges.

Obviously there is still a long way to go to convince the antivax parents that they are fighting a losing battle. Scientific blogger Phil Plait summarizes the problem succinctly:

This [antivax] movement is doing serious damage in two ways. One, it’s scaring parents unreasonably into not vaccinating their kids, putting these children and others at risk for contracting preventable diseases. But second, this whole debacle is distracting researchers against looking for the real causes behind autism. In other words, these people are fighting against their own cause.

We need real answers about autism, and the antivax movement is wasting tremendous resources that could be far, far better spent looking at the reality of the situation. Instead, they rail against phantoms, and the real victims are children, theirs and everybody’s.