Serephin's blog

Idaho, where our motto is 'Making Alabama Look More Appealing All The Time,'
finds a new way to embarrass itself thanks to the Bonner County Republicans.

NOTE: All vendors must substitute Mexican food with cuisine from either Belgium or Denmark. Pølsevogn on a stick or herring tacos is fine.

This video is from a People & Politics event held in Chubbuck last Saturday, June 19th by the Bannock County Democrats. Tom Sullivan, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Driggs (taking on Rethuglican Mike 'Señor Guano' Crapo) speaks on education -- and the Idaho GOP's lack of funding thereof.

For more info on Tom's campaign, go to tomsullivanforsenate.com

I've heard the Right Rev. Fischer loves the cock...

OK, so Fischer hasn't written about Adolph the Bastard Bantam yet, but give him time. For the rest of Bilious Bryan's animal rants, check out Teh Google:

•Bible ignored, trainer dies
•Bible ignored, grandfather mauled by grizzly

Obviously, this is the work of Satan, Liberals and Zombie Colonel Sanders.

A quick definition of Net Neutrality:

DEFINITION - Net neutrality is the principle that data packets on the Internet should be moved impartially, without regard to content, destination or source. Net neutrality is sometimes referred to as the "First Amendment of the Internet."

In the United States, high-speed Internet carriers, including AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner and Verizon, are seeking legislative support for a two-tiered Internet service model. In a two-tiered model, carriers would be able to charge owners of Web sites a premium fee for priority placement and faster speed across their pipes. Those opposing the carriers argue that the Internet was designed to work in a traffic-neutral way and has become what it is, to some extent, because of that neutrality. They would like to see Congress pass a telecom reform bill that contains language in favor of Net neutrality.

Last week, I received this from savetheinternet.com:

Net Neutrality Whip List

Seventy-four members of Congress have just signed an industry-drafted letter urging the FCC to abandon efforts to protect Net Neutrality and promote universal broadband access. By signing this letter, these members have sold you out to Comcast, Verizon and AT&T.

And whom from Idaho has signed on to kill Net Neutrality and turn full control over to the corporations?  read more »

Toe-tappin', bobo-slappin' disgraced GOP ex-Senator Larry Craig -- the gift that keeps on givin':

Just when Lavatory Larry thought he was out... Comedy Central pulls him back in.

The only difference between Idaho GOP goofball wingnut primary candidate Vaughn "AWK!" Ward and a pinata is, you don't get candy out of Ward when you beat him with a stick.

I take back the above written comment. Apparently, Ward IS candy to the national media. MMMmmmmmm, candy...

43SB reader KC in Boise found this flyer on his doorstep yesterday from "Republican Constitutionalist Traditional Family Values Pro-Life, Lower Taxes" candidate for District 19, Precinct 50 state Senate candidate Debra Miller, who's looking to take on incumbent Democratic State Senator Nicole LeFavour.

Here's the text of the flyer (with, *ahem*, editorial commentary) --  read more »

(My friend Nemesis should appreciate this.) When you're in a hurry preparing for a live newscast and trying to get your text typed into the Chyron, mistakes inevitably happen. With Idaho's senior GOoPer wingnut Senator Mike Crapo, having his name misspelled probably happens often.

And yet, somehow, the tag is so appropriate...

Way back in 2003, this note about then-U.S. Senator from Idaho, Larry Craig, went to print:

Idaho Senator Larry Craig sang lead vocals for the Singing Senators – a group of four republican senators who performed gospel and country songs at GOP fundraisers and charity events before group member Sen. Jim Jeffords, (I) Vermont bolted the party. But according to the latest issue of Newsweek magazine, Craig’s musical interests also include Ricky Martin. “I’ve got all your records!,” a breathless Craig told Martin. A spokesman for Craig confirmed his boss ran into Martin in a Capital Hill hallway and like any fan, made the most of it. “Often times there’s different movie stars and musicians around Capital Hill. It’s not always that Larry gets to meet them but this was a chance where he got to meet someone he’s a fan of,” Communications Director Will Hart told KBCI.

Today, singer Ricky Martin chose to stop pretending to be something he's not.

After years of keeping quiet about his personal life, pop star Ricky Martin has announced that he is gay.

“I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man,” Ricky said in a message posted on his official Web site. “I am very blessed to be who I am.”

Martin said writing his memoir and thinking about his twin sons led him to go public.

C'mon Larry -- time to crawl out of the stall. If Ricky can do it, so can you.

So, yes, earlier this month I had another birthday. Not necessarily the greatest thing in the world, but it sure as hell beats the alternative. (Had the usual -- German chocolate cake. Almost bought lemon cake mix and lemon frosting to shake things up, but tradition is a powerful force.) I'm not yet into old fogeydom, but I'm headed that direction. Here's how I know I'm getting old, based on what I remember:  read more »

Some nice silver-haired lady sharing her opinion...

Those darn telephoto lenses!

Gosh Darn! Doodies! Also!

Daaaaamn... I really wish I'd written this. (h/t The Daily Dish)

WHY you keep getting screwed-- MR. (Tea Party Patriot)

Hey you. You there in the Glenn Beck T-shirt headed off to the Tea Party Patriot rally.

Stop shouting for a moment, please, I want to explain to you why you're so very angry.

You should be angry. You're getting screwed.

I think you know that. But you don't seem to know that it doesn't have to be that way. You can stop it. You can stop it easily because the system that's screwing you over can only keep screwing you over if you keep demanding that it do so.

So stop demanding that. Stop helping the system screw you over.

Look, you can go back to yelling at me in a minute, but just read this first.  read more »

Since no one seems to have video of Pimp Jimmy O'Keefe and his Fool-Hardy Boyz trying to get to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu's office phones (for whatever nefarious purpose their little pinheads were entertaining), this clip will have to do.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.

It’s tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable – that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements; our hesitations and our fears; America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, and one people.

Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history’s call.  read more »

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

http://www.mlkday.gov/

Dear Teabaggers: the last eight years called. They want their misplaced rage back.

• Treasured Valley: Treasure Valley blogs
  Hanging with Schlangen, zero my hero, rocking out, Oprah and way cool products…

• The Political Game: Minnick's Balancing Act
  Over the weekend, Sisyphus of 43rd State Blues made some very good points regarding Congressman Walt Minnick and his dwindling Democratic base.

• NewWest Boise: Saving Public Access: the Pend Oreille Bay Trail
  For years, panhandle residents have been trespassing on a narrow strip of private land along the northwest shore of Lake Pend Oreille, using an old road along the shoreline to bike, run, ski, walk their dogs, and occasionally take a dip in the lake.

• Fort Boise: The party of useless obstruction
  I don't blame the Republicans for not coming up with alternate legislation. It's a lot of work to draft a bill, and there's no secret it would be dead on arrival. But I do wish they could come up with more of a strategy than "just say no," which seems to be the best they can do.

• Ridenbaugh Press: Whitopia
  A book we’re going to track down and check out: From a black scholar writing about race relations in a different way, “Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America.”

• Eye on Boise: Capitol construction ‘substantially complete’
  It’s a milestone for the two-year renovation of the state Capitol: The project has been declared “substantially complete,” and the building is now back in the hands of the state, rather than the contractors.

• F-Words: A false-positive is as false as a false-negative.
  The horrified reaction to the new guidelines for less-frequent mammograms in women over 50 has been driving me nuts. The way it's being sold is just terrible (as in they just don't want people to worry over nothing), but that doesn't mean that it's a bad recommendation.

• Morialekafa: Things that matter
  As far as I know, virtually all cultures have folk sayings, parables, and such that most often offer advice or supposedly helpful information gathered from centuries of experience.

• IdaBlue: Cronyism and good ol' boy politics
  The Statesman has a story about Lazy Y Ranch, LTD, settling a grazing dispute with the state of Idaho. Idaho's land board has refused to allow environmentalists to lease grazing lands, instead discriminating in favor of ranchers.

• The MountainGoat Report: A Model For Building Healthy Communities
  There's a great read at Kaiser Health News today on how two counties in rural Kentucky are delivering health services in the "worst health care region in America" and that despite the health care reform debate, some area experts don't anticipate much changing as a result of these current proposals.

• IdahoRocks: Just The Energy Bill
  I received an email this morning which I found enlightening because it made me wonder to what extent either ignorance or greed, or perhaps both, influenced the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Project Agency decision to provide monies for energy research into projects that do nothing to help prevent global climate change.

• Rob's Idaho Perspective: Into the Wind
  While many Boiseans were enjoying Boise State's crushing defeat over the University of Idaho, a few of us bird nerds were out exploring the avian species near Bruneau Idaho.

• Left Side of the Moon: Angry Gnome News from D.C.
  Thanks to a round-a-bout linking process, we find this from 123 Idaho on the latest from our angry gnome in D.C. Sooo…. Jim Risch wants to insert himself into the midst of an issue that in no way involves him. The individual at the heart of the issue is or was not a constituent, never was. The setting in which ‘the incident’ occurred was not even in Idaho.

• Nemesis Today: I Got Nothing
  I’m going to whine a little, have a public pity party. Then I’m going to go away for awhile, I think. Most regular readers know that my job is based in Boise, but because my employer sees the value of having me in that position, and because I won’t (ok, can’t afford to) move to Boise, they allow me to work from Idaho Falls. That has worked really well for the last 5 years…

• BW citydesk: Former ITD Director Still Wants Her Job Back
  With news of the appointment of a new ITD director this morning, we were reading up on the fate of Pam Lowe's wrongful termination lawsuit, which The Spokesman-Review has been following. Former Idaho Transportation Department Chief Lowe, who threatened a lawsuit in August, filed suit last week and added six more counts to her complaint this week.

• Rant Against the Machine: Thank You for Being Angry
  This is an excerpt from "White Privilege: Unpacking the invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh...Did you the the author was male? I did until I read the name of the author. Oops, I have a lot to learn still.

• All I'm Saying: Health and Beauty Update
  Well, I've passed my first week since my terrifying diagnosis of blocked armpit hair follicles. What's life like as a survivor? Well, I've discovered a few things about myself:

• The Stupid Shall Be Punished: USS Hartford JAGMAN Released
  Two media outlet -- The New London Day and Navy Times -- both published stories based on obtaining the "heavily redacted" investigation report into the recent USS Hartford (SSN 768) collision in the Straits of Hormuz. Excerpts:

• Ralph Maughan’s Wildlife News: Hoskins: Illegal plan just makes Turner richer
  Robert Hoskins’ op-ed on FWP giving the quarantined bison to Ted Turner- Op-ed in the Casper Star Tribune. Illegal plan just makes Turner richer.

• Blue Moose Democrat: My Keyboard Supports Sarah Palin
  I was working on a pretty good post about the right-wing’s obsession with accusing the media of treating Obama like a Messiah while themselves treating Sarah Palin the same way. I had transcribed a quote from today's Morning Joe and excerpted a Denver Post column. And then my computer ate it. GRRRRRR.