Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Random thoughts

♣ The Indianapolis Star reports that David Orentlicher, who has previously defended the "right" to verbally abuse police, "sent out a campaign mailing that featured an eye-grabbing picture of a draped body and accused (Republican candidate Kathryn) Densborn of being an extremist for not supporting stem-cell research." Orentlicher might be interested to know that embryonic stem cell research has resulted in no treatments for disease, while adult stem cell research (which Densborn supports) has brought many such treatments.

♣ Two environmentalists were arrested "after spending several hours perched on a ledge" 25 feet in the air to protest an alleged cover-up of global warming. How silly. There's plenty of information out there on the theory of global warming. This was a publicity stunt - and a dangerous one at that. Emergency crews should not have to spend time and resources making sure a pair of hippies are not injured because of dangerous protest tactics. The hippies should be made to reimburse the taxpayers for the cost of their rescue.

♣ Tongue Tied is entertaining as always, but I have to wonder: what kind of crybaby complains about a gingerbread cookie being called a "man" instead of a "person"? Should they add breasts to some of the cookies to make sure women are equally represented? What about overweight people? Should there be extra-wide gingerbread persons to represent them?

♣ Predicting who will win on Election Night is always an interesting prospect, especially in Monroe County. I will, however, make the following bold predictions: Jill Lesh, Judy Sharp, Peggy Welch, Kevin Brinegar, and Jim Fielder will win their races.

♣ A bill before the United States Senate would open up more area in the Gulf of Mexico for drilling oil, but the New York Times reports that "Half the royalties would go to the federal treasury, 37.5 percent would go to the four coastal states, and the rest would go into a fund to help other states purchase open space." Wouldn't this be more effective if it were a market-based solution?

♣ Let's assume for a moment that the Republican challenging Hillary Clinton for her seat in the U.S. Senate did tell a reporter that Hillary Clinton used to be ugly. (John Spencer denies he said anything to that effect.) What does it matter? Was the comment, even if made, intended for publication? I doubt a candidate for the U.S. Senate would be so stupid as to say that as part of his campaign. Hillary weakened her bid for the White House two years from now by whining and crying about the alleged remarks by Spencer.