12 February 2005
Spectator
Why the Spectator isn't a Republican vols. XXIV and XXV, and Erie County Follies
Why the Spectator isn't a Republican, vol. XXIV
Sen. Hilary Clinton has introduced legislation that would extend the right to buy military health insurance to Reserve and National Guard personnel called to active duty. The Clinton bill would still charge those service men and women about a third of the cost of the insurance but that is still better than nothing; "nothing" being the health insurance almost half of the reservists and Guard folks have now. Many "citizen-soldiers" have lost their health coverage as a result of being called up, so this bill is fair and should have no trouble finding footing in a congress consumed by the patriotic fervor befitting a nation "at war," right?
Wrong, Kimosabe! It is apparently fair easier to slap a "support the troops" magnet on the ass of your car than actually try to help them. The Republicans in both houses and the Bush Administration oppose the bill. The reason? the cost!!!! I kid you not! They don't like the billion dollar price of the Clinton legislation. Like a billion dollars matters, right? Halliburton has stolen more than that.
Why the Specator isn't a Republican, vol. XXV
The Department of Defense has a long-standing policy of withholding a minimum of 15% of all contracts it lets until the final completion of the contract. That seems about right. Most contracts are multi-year deals and it only makes good sense to keep back a portion of the contract price until full satisfaction is achieved. But with the current cabal of thieves, liars, pretenders, deceivers, and cretins in this Administration, the Spectator gets a little skeptical any time she sees the word "all."In the Bush White House, "all" cries out for the inevitable exception that is little more than payola for the favored. And so it is with the Defense Department policy. "All" contracts have a 15% hold-back, EXCEPT - drumroll, please - Halliburton contracts. Honest. Only Halliburton gets all it's DoD money up-front.
Do you, like the Spectator, pine for those days when getting a hummer in the Oval House was an impeachable offense?
Erie County Follies
While eating curds and whey last night, the Spectator was certain she caught a glimpse of the white rabbit running under the table looking as his pocket watch. It occurred at the precise moment the Spectator read this incredible quotation in the Buffalo News attributed to Erie County Legislator Dr. Barry Weinstein: "I am opposed to immediate and huge downsizing. It's complete irresponsible." Well, at least one of the Irresponsible Team's all-stars is commenting. But what about Weinstein's comment last week? the one where he said he wouldn't vote for the sales tax increase ( which, DOCTOR, would have avoided 'immediate and huge downsizing') until the county executive had axed $30 million from the budget? Does this guy have a private stock of laughing gas? If so, he should share it and let us all in on the joke. Can you imagine letting this guy put his hands in your mouth? Emerson did say "consistency was the hobgoblin of little minds" but who would have thought Dr. Weinstein a fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson? The word "despicable" can be accurately used almost universally in county hall these days but there is something particularly disturbing about someone whose idea of public service is "I got mine, you find yours."
Copyright 2004 by Buffalo Report, Inc.