If All You See…

By William Teach July 3, 2015 – 1:00 pm

…is a horrendous hamburger made out of evil meat, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is A View From The Beach, with a post on the rain tax repeal.

Read: If All You See… »

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Salon Suddenly Upset Over Threat Of Using “Nuclear Option”

By William Teach July 3, 2015 – 11:17 am

Salon has been back and forth on the use of the nuclear option, mostly in favor of doing away with filibusters when Democrats are in charge. Of course, now that there is a possible threat to repealing Obamacare through the nuclear option (as opposed to using the parliamentary shenanigans used to pass the law, which was underwater in approval ratings before it was passed, while it was passed, and since it has been passed)

GOP’s Obamacare nuclear option: Will they nix the filibuster to obliterate the law?
The court challenges are over. Will they play legislative hardball if they unify control of the government?

Now that a certain court case about whether four not perfectly clear words in the Affordable Care Act invalidate the statute has been laughed out of the Supreme Court, the theater for future Obamacare-killings returns to the legislature.

Senate Republicans are considering an experiment this Congress to see how much of a full repeal package they can move through the chamber under the simple-majority rules of reconciliation. If any bill made it out of that arduous process, it would get vetoed by the current president. But at least Republican leaders could know how much they’d be able to chew off in 2017 under potentially unified Republican control of government.

So then the question becomes: Would you support using the “nuclear option” to kill the filibuster in order to move an Obamacare repeal to the president’s desk?

We raised this possibility last week, and it’s beginning to filter into candidate interviews. It sounds like Jeb Bush, for example, is finally learning how to contend in a Republican presidential primary. When pressed about nuking the filibuster in an interview with Hugh Hewitt last Friday, Bush said that he “would certainly consider” it if the right elements of a replacement plan were in place. Scott Walker had an even more definitive answer for Hewitt:

You’ll have to hit the link to read that part. Hey, even nutcases like Salon deserve the hits (somewhat off topic, it annoys me to no end, plus, it is really bad form, when blogs excerpt virtually an entire article, especially all at once. At that point, it is no longer Fair Use of intellectual property)

If Mitch McConnell and colleagues found themselves under pressure from the Republican base to nuke the legislative filibuster but opted not to, it wouldn’t just be because they’re worried about preserving their rights when they’re inevitably back in the minority. It would also be about protecting themselves while they’re in the majority.

So, now that the GOP is controlling Congress, Salon wants them to remember (well, concern trolls) that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Funny how that doesn’t happen when Dems are in charge.

Read: Salon Suddenly Upset Over Threat Of Using “Nuclear Option” »

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NY Times Loves How Communism Is Good For Cuba’s Environment

By William Teach July 3, 2015 – 7:03 am

Well, yeah, when people have no money, live in 3rd world conditions, sure, that’s great!

(Daily Caller) The New York Times has published a story bemoaning how American companies looking to do business in Cuba could threaten the country’s “pristine” environment that’s the product of decades of communist dictatorship.

“The country is in desperate need of the economic benefits that a lifting of the embargo would almost certainly bring,” the Times article reads. “But the [embargo], combined with Cuba’s brand of controlled socialism, has also been protective, limiting development and tourism that in other countries … have eroded beaches, destroyed forests, polluted rivers, damaged coral reefs and wreaked other forms of environmental havoc.”

Cuba came under communist rule in 1959 after Fidel Castro successfully overthrew the Batista government. For decades, Castro ruled as a dictator and ally of the Soviet Union, imposing a harsh communist regime on the Cuban people that stymied economic growth and people’s standards of living, leaving much of Cuba’s environment untouched.

“Already, American corporations are poised to rush into a country only 90 miles from Florida’s shores,” the Times article warned, but not without noting the despair faced by many Cubans who suffer from a lack of prosperity.

“Despite modest economic advances in the last 15 years, much in Cuba can seem frozen in time, crumbling Havana buildings and old Chevys and Ladas serving as markers of how far the country has been left behind,” the Times reported. “But that has also meant that much of Cuba’s more than 3,500 miles of coastline has remained undeveloped.”

Yes, their environment is great. And, I’ll agree that over-developing the coastline is a blight. I have to wonder how many who work at the NY Times will forgo their own trips to the beach, either down at the Jersey Shore or along the Long Island coastline. Oh, and they forget about the deplorable environmental conditions in other Communist countries, such as the Soviet Union and China. They also do not seem too concerned over the environmental degradation caused by “green” companies like Solyndra.

Cuba’s centralized economic system means frequent shortages of food and other basic products. The Economist noted in 2010 that Cuba’s farms barely produced 20 percent of the country’s food needs, and even with recent agricultural reforms under Raul Castro there are still shortages.

Reuters reported last year that the “communist-run country still encounters chronic shortages” and that “Cubans have come to consider shortages normal, providing both a source of frustration and humor.”

Well, at least it wasn’t caused by “climate change”. Over to the NY Times

Cuba’s green sensitivities evolved as much out of necessity as ideology.

The collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1991 and the continued isolation by the United States forced the country to fend for itself. With the tools of big agriculture — fuel for heavy machinery, chemical fertilizers, pesticides — out of reach, farming moved away from the increased sugar production that characterized the Soviet era, turning more to organic techniques and cooperatives of small farmers. Oxen replaced tractors, and even today, a farmer walking behind his plow is a common sight in the countryside.

Huh. So, they were kinda forced to live like it’s a couple hundred years ago. Much in the same way Warmists/Enviroweenies want to do everywhere else for Other People.

Read: NY Times Loves How Communism Is Good For Cuba’s Environment »

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People Totally Concerned About Offending Arrestees In Baltimore

By William Teach July 3, 2015 – 6:45 am

Issues that are of Serious Concern. And by people being concerned, I mean those in the media and typical Social Justice Warriors, because most in the comments couldn’t care less about offending criminals

(WBALTV) The Baltimore City Police Department has launched an internal investigation after a WBAL-TV 11 News viewer shared four photographs of a sign inside a city police wagon.

The photos show the doors of the parked police van left open. On the inside of the back door is a sign, attached or possibly stenciled on, that reads: “Enjoy your ride, cuz we sure will!”

The sign’s placement makes it clear that this is a message for people who are arrested to see after they’re put in the back of the van and the doors are shut.

Police Department officials told 11 News the photos are real and they triggered an internal investigation.

The high mucky-mucks in the Baltimore PD are Very Concerned about offending people who’ve been arrested and are being transported to jail.

BTW, it’s doubtful the sign can be seen when the door is closed. It’s most likely intended to be seen by people who broke the law, were arrested, and about to be transported as they enter the van.

There used to be a saying “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” Now it’s apparently “we worry about your feelings, hardened criminal.”

Another BTW, some are saying that the photo is altered. City Paper says that, to the best of their knowledge, it is real. But, the photographer, who refuses to be identified, hasn’t give up the originals as of yet. Personally, I see no reason to doubt the authenticity. Cops have a funny sense of humor.

A third BTW: one would think people would be more concerned with all the crimes and shootings in Baltimore. The BPD’s Twitter feed shows lots and lots of shootings.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: People Totally Concerned About Offending Arrestees In Baltimore »

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What’s Scarier Than Shark Attacks?

By William Teach July 2, 2015 – 4:18 pm

Real environmentalists tells us, and have a really, really good point

(NJ.ccom)  When Marilyn Schlossbach stopped offering straws to customers at her restaurants last month, it was not her expenses she was trying to reduce.

An environmentally conscious restaurateur and surfer who has participated annually in beach trash sweeps, Schlossbach said she’s trying to reduce her consumption of plastics.

And while she’s been able to cut down on her expenses because of it, she said she’s more interested in the message of environmental responsibility it sends to her customers and staff.

“When I go on the beach, one of the biggest problems is straw consumption,” Schlossbach said at a press conference at her Langosta Lounge restaurant on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. “I’m hoping our one little thing can ignite people to want to do something similar and cut back on their plastic usage.”

Clean Ocean Action on Wednesday used Schlossbach’s restaurant to kick off its annual summer campaign to educate the public about the dangers of plastics on the marine environment.

While the focus of the article may be on plastic straws, with a mention of some other plastics, especially micro-beads, overall, entirely too much of all the various types of plastics make it into the waters, especially the seas. Bottles, straws, bags, you name it. Over the years, other types of pollutants have been seriously diminished. There was a time when you’d see all sorts of crap, including medical waste from companies illegally dumping it off of NYC (I’ve personally seen empty bags of blood and used needles floating, along with so much other nasty crap), at Jersey beaches. People, unfortunately, also just leave their garbage on the beach, sometimes burying it in the sand, rather than throwing it out.

And then it ends up in the ocean. And it makes it into the ocean from so many other ways. Not all environmental regulation and law is a bad thing. It was rather easy to solve the medical waste issue, and significantly update ocean waste disposal. How do you deal with straws and plastic forks?

Read: What’s Scarier Than Shark Attacks? »

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If All You See…

By William Teach July 2, 2015 – 1:00 pm

…is a sea that will rise up and kill everything sometime soon, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Last Refuge, with a post on Cuba demanding the return of Gitmo.

Yes, switching up to American flag hotties for the rest of the week, going through next week. I think I’ve made the point with the Confederate flag.

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David Suzuki: We Totally Need To Eliminate Fossil Fuels And Go Carbon Zero

By William Teach July 2, 2015 – 10:38 am

Hey, remember how members of the Cult of Climastrology told us they aren’t trying to eliminate all use of fossil fuels? Yeah, about that, hyper-Warmist David Suzuki tells the truth

Zero Carbon Emissions: The New Language Of Climate Change

If nothing else, the G7 countries’ recent agreement to end fossil fuel use for energy by 2100 signals a shift in the way we talk and think about global warming. Previous agreements were about reducing carbon emissions from burning coal, oil and gas. This takes matters a step further by envisioning a fossil fuel–free future.

There are reasons for cynicism: the long time frame means none of the politicians involved in the commitment will even be alive, let alone held accountable, for meeting the target in 2100; Canada and Japan watered down Germany’s proposal to end fossil fuel energy by 2050; and many governments, including Canada’s, haven’t met even their current weak commitments. But in calling for deep emissions cuts by 2050 and an end to fossil fuel energy by 2100 — “decarbonization” — the non-binding pledge at least shows governments recognize the need to confront climate change. (snip to the end)

Moving toward zero carbon emissions — in a much shorter timeline than agreed upon by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States — is absolutely necessary, and not just for the climate. Eliminating fossil fuel energy will cut dangerous pollution, create new economic opportunities and ensure resources are available for wiser applications.

The words of scientists, government leaders and other experts — and now Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama — make it clear that it’s time to turn the page on this destructive and relatively recent chapter in our history. Now we must ensure our leaders strengthen and act on their commitments.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if Warmists are so concerned about fossil fuels, why do they use them themselves? If we’re all doomed, why do they continue to use vast amounts of fossil fuels themselves?

Of course, Suzuki mentions the need for a carbon tax and a cap and trade scheme, which, surprise, puts lots of money into the hands of the government, rather than in the private sector. That’s one of the real goals.

Read: David Suzuki: We Totally Need To Eliminate Fossil Fuels And Go Carbon Zero »

Posted in Global Warming, New Climate Deniers | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

AP Throws A Dose Of Reality Into Church Arson Controversy

By William Teach July 2, 2015 – 8:10 am

There have been 8 predominantly Black churches which have burned over the last 10 days. Only 3 can positively be identified as being arson. The rest? Lightning strikes are some of the most probable causes, especially for the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greeleyville, SC.

Three of those fires have been ruled arson, one was determined to be caused by a falling branch and faulty wiring, and the others remain under investigation. Several have been blamed preliminarily on lightning; weather in the South this week has been turbulent.

This doesn’t stop the Social Justice Warriors from bleating about raaaaacism and stuff. And, in some cases, they could be right. Let’s never forget that there are hateful people out there of all stripes. Of course, these same SJWs aren’t particularly concerned when Jewish religious centers are hit with swastikas and other hate, including arson. Nor are they concerned when Blacks attack white people in hate crimes. It’s almost like they are just trying to patronize Black people for their votes, whipping them up into a frenzy

Church fires common, but usually not the result of arson

As investigators probe the cause of a fire that destroyed a rural South Carolina black church rebuilt after the Ku Klux Klan torched it 20 years ago, statistics show church fires are not unusual, and that the vast majority in recent years were not intentionally set.

Of the blazes that occurred at houses of worship dozens of times a week across the nation, about 84 percent were not intentionally set and many arsons are probably not hate crimes, the data shows.

No one keeps an up-to-date tally of every church fire in the United States, making exact comparisons impossible.

Yet if the six church fires around the Southeast were all that occurred in recent days, it would prove a relatively safe period for houses of worship.

An average of roughly 31 congregations burned every week from 2007 through 2011, according to a 2013 estimate by the National Fire Protection Association. The association based its estimate on data collected by the U.S. Fire Administration and supplemented with survey results.

Of all those church burnings, only 16% were arson.

Kitchen equipment and faulty heating or electrical systems were more likely to burn a church than an arsonist.

And lightning.

“Perception matters,” said Marty Ahrens, an analyst for the fire protection association. “We don’t know all the causes of all the fires that have gone on this week. But if the church arsons had not happened so soon after the tragedy in Charleston, that horrible incident, would it have gotten the same level of attention?”

Good question. Any that were arson are a shame. Unfortunately, there are bad people out in the world. There are also those who would use this for their hyper-political purposes, rather than offering help.

Some attacks on black congregations defy simple racial motives. For example, a taskforce formed by then-President Bill Clinton found that 63 percent of the people arrested for bombing or burning black churches in the late 1990s were white. But 37 percent were black.

The motives of the attackers varied widely, according to a taskforce report from 2000. Some suspects were vandals or pyromaniacs. Others were trying to cover up crimes such as burglary or financial theft. Others just held grudges.

Huh.

Read: AP Throws A Dose Of Reality Into Church Arson Controversy »

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Montana Polygamists Apply For Wedding License

By William Teach July 2, 2015 – 7:48 am

Well, this was quick (via Twitchy)

(ABC News) A Montana man said Wednesday that he was inspired by last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage to apply for a marriage license so that he can legally wed his second wife.

Nathan Collier and his wives Victoria and Christine applied at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings on Tuesday in an attempt to legitimize their polygamous marriage. Montana, like all 50 states, outlaws bigamy — holding multiple marriage licenses — but Collier said he plans to sue if the application is denied.

“It’s about marriage equality,” Collier told The Associated Press Wednesday. “You can’t have this without polygamy.”

At this point, I’d love to hear the argument against this from the Same Sex Marriage Social Justice Warriors, who told us that legalizing gay marriage would not lead to polygamy. One of the “excuses” is that love is not really love when the contract is between more than 2 people, because the entire contract must be changed!!!!!!!!!!!! Or something. Expect all sorts of machinations and juking and jiving from SSM SJWs, at least those who told us this would not happen.

Collier has “married” Christine in a religious ceremony, but they have not signed any official government documents, in order to avoid bigamy charges.

Collier said he is a former Mormon who was excommunicated for polygamy and now belongs to no religious organization. He said he and his wives hid their relationship for years, but became tired of hiding and went public by appearing on the reality cable television show “Sister Wives.”

The three have seven children of their own and from previous relationships.

“My second wife Christine, who I’m not legally married to, she’s put up with my crap for a lot of years. She deserves legitimacy,” he said.

Hey, love is love is love. Equality. We can’t stand against that, can we? Collier has attempted to contact the ACLU, which, so far, has failed to respond. You’d think they’d be all for this. They’ve come out in favor of polygamy before. Will they stand up for it now? Of course, they’ve also said that legalizing SSM would not lead to plural marriages.

More: Jazz Shaw catches an interesting argument from Cathy Young at Time

In a free society, the private sexual choices of adults should not be criminalized. But they are not automatically entitled to cultural approval or societal support systems.

Jazz notes

My, my my… that sounds awfully familiar. Where might I have possibly heard it before? Could it be some argument about how Christians really aren’t concerned about what gays do in the privacy of their bedrooms, but they just don’t want them redefining the concept of marriage?

Funny how SSM SJWs are doing all they can to avoid that slippery slope.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Montana Polygamists Apply For Wedding License »

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Surprise: Corals Adapt To Warmer Water Temperatures

By William Teach July 1, 2015 – 4:08 pm

Weird, right? According to Cult of Climastrology doctrine, corals are doomed, along with all other life on earth, because they can only deal with a very narrow temperature range

(Times of Malta) Some corals are adapting to climate change and becoming more tolerant of warmer temperatures, a study has found.

The discovery opens the door to saving threatened coral populations by allowing them to spread their genes.

Scientists crossed corals from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with others whose home was 480 kilometres further south.

Larvae inherited significantly greater heat tolerance from Great Barrier Reef parents. An Australian mother conferred a five-fold increase in the ability to withstand heat while a father contributed an additional two-fold increase.

The researchers were able to demonstrate that heat tolerance could evolve rapidly with existing genetic variation.

Warmists forget, and ignore, historical data that shows that sea heights have been much higher, with higher water temperatures, hence the reason we have things like coral atolls. In order to create these coral islands, the corals must have thrived in those conditions. But, Warmists are pretty much flat earthers at this point.

Read: Surprise: Corals Adapt To Warmer Water Temperatures »

Posted in Collapsing Science, Global Warming | 7 Comments | Trackback URL
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