The Nookular Option

Blind allegiance

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:41:00 +0000

Frank Bailey, a former aide to half-term governor of Alaska Sarah Palin is releasing a book which details his disillusionment with her campaigning tactics.

"We set our sights and went after opponents in coordinated attacks, utilizing what we called "Fox News surrogates," friendly blogs, ghost-written op-eds, media opinion polls (that we often rigged), letters to editors, and carefully edited speeches," Bailey wrote.

Palin apparently told Bailey "I hate this damn job" before she resigned as governor in 2009.

Is any of this really surprising? Anyone who has followed the exploits of vindictive, polarizing Palin would have guessed that her campaign would be nothing short of Hell. But it's good to hear a former aide confirm our suspicions. The book is going to be titled, "In Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of our Tumultuous Years." I can't think more apt descriptions of her followers and her career--blind allegiance and tumultuous.

Read the entire article at the Anchorage Daily News. It's enlightening.

Fake deficit hawks

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:33:00 +0000

It's amusing to watch the GOP's new found zeal for deficit reduction, considering their record for exploding deficits. A couple of months ago, they held their breath long enough to get the Bush tax cuts extended, adding $858 billion to the deficit.

Now the Congressional Budget Office points out that repealing the Affordable Care Act would add an additional $210 billion to the deficit in the first decade.

H.R. 2 would, on net, increase federal deficits over the next decade because the net savings from eliminating the coverage provisions would be more than offset by the combination of other spending increases and revenue reductions.

In total, CBO and JCT estimate that H.R. 2 would reduce outlays by about $604 billion and reduce revenues by about $813 billion over the 2012-2021 period.

Does anyone take these clowns seriously?

Power to the People

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:58:00 +0000

A funny new blog

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:28:00 +0000

Our friend Jeremy started a new blog called "Ill Will and Everything Else." Very funny stuff!

Stop by and check it out!

"Smaller government" in action: Arizona closes rest stops

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:37:00 +0000

From the N.Y. Times:

"The people of Arizona kept their upper lips stiff when officials mortgaged off the state’s executive office tower and a “Daily Show” crew rolled into town to chronicle the transaction in mocking tones. They remained calm as lawmakers pondered privatizing death row.

But then the state took away their toilets, and residents began to revolt.

Arizona has the largest budget gap in the country when measured as a percentage of its overall budget, and the state Department of Transportation was $100 million in the red last fall when it decided to close 13 of the state’s 18 highway rest stops.

But the move has unleashed a torrent of telephone calls and e-mail messages to state lawmakers, newspapers and the Department of Transportation deploring the lost toilets — one of the scores of small indignities among larger hardships that residents of embattled states face as governments scramble to shore up their finances."

This part bowled me over:

Some residents see something sinister in the closings. Betty L. Roberts, who lives in Sun City, west of Phoenix, said the topic was a hot one among her friends.

'I honestly think they are setting us up because they want to do a tax increase,' Ms. Roberts said. 'I think by shutting down things people want, they will give us one.'

Sometimes I wonder if right-wingers are simply people immune to cognitive dissonance. They say government is evil and can't do anything right, and demand tax cut after tax cut. They protest a federal stimulus package that provided funds for, amongst other things, state governments. Now, we are seeing (and feeling) the consequences of this ideology in the form of diminished basic government services. Shouldn't right wingers be happy? Less taxes, and "smaller" government? Yet, people like Betty Roberts see a CONSPIRACY at work here. If you want government services, Betty, the government needs tax revenue. This is not a "set up," but rather a basic fact of life.

No doubt, governments can do evil things, but government is not an intrinsically evil concept. In fact, governments can do a really good job of providing cost-effective public goods. Like, for instance, public highway rest stops.

The way things are going, more "smaller government" is on the way. What's next? Maybe we'll get to experience the "freedom" of hauling our own trash to the dump.

The Nookular Option: February 27, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:39:00 +0000

The podcast of today's show is now available! As always, you can download the show from iTunes, or listen on our "Nookular" media player in the sidebar.

Cheers!!

More Blackwater mischief -- stolen assault rifles

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:02:00 +0000

From the UK Guardian:

"Employees of American defence contractor Blackwater took more than 500 assault rifles that were intended for the Afghan police force and routinely carried weapons without permission, it emerged in a hearing of the Senate armed services committee today.

It also emerged that to shed its sullied reputation and win contracting business in Afghanistan, Blackwater created what one senator called a shell company. Senators said that company, Paravant, deceived US officials into thinking Blackwater was not involved even as it laid claim to Blackwater's past performance to establish a track record...

...Blackwater has come under intense scrutiny in recent years for its employees' involvement in a 2007 Baghdad shooting in which 17 Iraqi civilians were killed, and other allegations. The company has since sought to rebrand itself as Xe, and in order to win the training contract in Afghanistan, created a firm called Paravant. Paravant represented itself as a separate company, even as the training personnel were aware they had been hired by Blackwater, according to witnesses and senators."

Man, theft and defrauding the federal government! Well, considering our government's rapid-fire response to the ACORN "scandal," we should be seeing some "de-fund Blackwater" legislation in short order.

Any day now...

NRA: Obama poised to "pounce" on gun owners

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:21:00 +0000

From the N.Y. Times:

"When President Obama took office, gun rights advocates sounded the alarm, warning that he intended to strip them of their arms and ammunition. And yet the opposite is happening. Mr. Obama has been largely silent on the issue while states are engaged in a new and largely successful push for expanded gun rights, even passing measures that have been rejected in the past...

...In the meantime, gun control advocates say, Mr. Obama has failed to deliver on campaign promises to close a loophole that allows unlicensed dealers at gun shows to sell firearms without background checks; to revive the assault weapons ban; and to push states to release data about guns used in crimes. He also signed bills last year allowing guns to be carried in national parks and in luggage on Amtrak trains...

...Asked by reporters about the Brady group’s critical report on the Obama administration, a White House spokesman, Ben LaBolt, pointed out that the latest F.B.I. statistics showed that violent crime dropped in the first half of 2009 to its lowest levels since the 1960s. 'The president supports and respects the Second Amendment,' Mr. LaBolt said, 'and he believes we can take common-sense steps to keep our streets safe and to stem the flow of illegal guns to criminals.'"

Okay, so it looks like that "Hussein Obama's gonna take our guns" scenario isn't materializing. But wait! Why abandon a perfectly good conspiracy theory?

Still, gun rights groups remain skeptical of the administration.

'The watchword for gun owners is stay ready,' said Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the National Rifle Association. 'We have had some successes, but we know that the first chance Obama gets, he will pounce on us.'

Apparently, it doesn't matter what Obama actually says and does. The only evidence worth considering is the worst hypothetical their Glenn Beck-addled minds can conjure.

First chance he gits, he gonna pounce and grab our guns!

Good grief!

The GOP's strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:58:00 +0000

Matthew Yglesias nails down the GOP strategy:

(a) the deficit should be lower

(b) taxes should be lower

(c) Medicare shouldn’t be cut

(d) defense spending should be higher

His conclusion is that this is not a governing strategy. True, but I don't think it's meant to be. They only have to convince the public that they intend on doing all of these things.

Uh-oh

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:12:00 +0000

I believe you can lose your tea-party card after admitting this.

Palin: quitter AND tax cheat

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:01:00 +0000

This is the type of scandal that might break a normal politician. But with the current state of the GOP, this might cement Sarah Palin's nomination:

Todd and Sarah are now millionaires, but they shirk their responsibility to pay local property taxes.

Attached are printed copies of Matanuska-Susitna Borough tax assessments from the public website (address shown at the bottom) regarding two lake frontage properties the Palins own in the Petersville Hills. Safari Lake is a gorgeous location, with stunning views of Mt. McKinley and the surrounding terrain.

Please note that two parcels total almost 20 acres and are assessed for a total value of $30,000. Also, there is a $0 value regarding any buildings on the property.

Any photos or visual inspection of the properties would clearly reveal that there are two large “cabins” on the property that are well built, and include thousands of dollars worth of improvements and amenities. The buildings are clearly nicer than many people’s homes.

Also on the property is a large shop for snowmachines and four-wheelers.

These buildings have been on the property for years now – yet the Palins have done nothing to correct the assessment.

Jobs lost: Bush/Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Part of the problem: Rahm Emanuel

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:41:00 +0000

From the Wall Street Journal":

"President Barack Obama's liberal backers have a long list of grievances. The Guantanamo Bay prison is still open. Health care hasn't been transformed. And Wall Street banks are still paying huge bonuses.

But they are directing their anger less at Mr. Obama than at the man who works down the hall from him. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, they say, is the prime obstacle to the changes they thought Mr. Obama's election would bring.

Some observers say Rahm Emanuel is losing favor with liberal Democrats. Could his job be on the line? Kelsey Hubbard talks with WSJ's Peter Wallsten about the future of President Obama's chief of staff.

The friction was laid bare in August when Mr. Emanuel showed up at a weekly strategy session featuring liberal groups and White House aides. Some attendees said they were planning to air ads attacking conservative Democrats who were balking at Mr. Obama's health-care overhaul.

'F—ing retarded,' Mr. Emanuel scolded the group, according to several participants. He warned them not to alienate lawmakers whose votes would be needed on health care and other top legislative items."

Yes, how dare liberals actually attempt to pull this centrist, Republican-lite president even slightly to the left! F—ing retards! What President Obama needs to do is officially adopt the GOP platform. It'll be worth it when we secure Olympia Snowe's oh-so-important seal of approval.

The Nookular Option: January 30, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:31:00 +0000

The podcast of yesterday's show is now available!

Thinking about attending law school, or know someone who is? If so, you won't want to miss our interview with Nando from Third Tier Reality, a blogger devoted to exposing the sorry state of the legal industry. Nando discusses the abysmal legal job market, recent trends such as mass outsourcing of law jobs, and how law schools fudge their employment stats.

In the second half, we chat with Brad Friedman, independent journalist at bradblog.com. Brad is doing some excellent work exposing the truth about recent right-wing attacks on ACORN, and he has a lot to say about James O'Keefe's recent legal troubles.

As always, you can download the show from iTunes, or listen using the "Nookular" media player in the sidebar.

Enjoy!!

Reagan Republicans & debt

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:07:00 +0000

As mentioned on yesterday's show...

(h/t Open Left)

Great point

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:58:00 +0000

I've been very critical of President Obama, but he makes an outstanding point here:

"If the way these issues are being presented by the Republicans is that this is some wild-eyed plot to impose huge government in every aspect of our lives, what happens is you guys then don’t have a lot of room to negotiate with me. I mean, the fact of the matter is that many of you — if you voted with the administration on something — are politically vulnerable in your own base, in your own Party. You’ve given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion. Because, what you’ve been telling your constituents is: this guy’s doing all kinds of crazy stuff that is going to destroy America. "

(h/t Think Progress)

Obama jumps the shark

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:53:00 +0000

Barack McCain Obama has officially jumped the shark with this stupid idea. Spending freeze during a recession? Hello 1937

Disaster Christianity?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:15:00 +0000

Don't worry Haitians! Solar-powered bibles are on the way! Food? Water? Shelter? Nope, don't need them--as long as "GOD" is in your life.

"As international aid agencies rush food, water and medicine to Haiti's earthquake victims, a U.S. faith-based group is sending Bibles to Haitians in their hour of need.

Not any Bible. These are solar-powered audible Bibles that can broadcast the holy scriptures in Haitian Creole to 300 people at a time."

The Nookular Option: January 23, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The podcast of Saturday's show in now available. You can listen via the media player in our sidebar, or download the show from iTunes.

In the first half, we chat with Scott Nelson of Public Citizen Litigation Group, and Bill Scher of Liberaloasis.com. In the second half, philosopher Ian Anderson joins us to discuss his new book, "God and Whose Army?" Ian's book is an excellent read, and available as a PDF download here.

Stay tuned for new episodes. In addition to our delightful banter, we have a lot of great guests on deck.

Enjoy!

Show update

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Saturday, Don and I will also chat with Scott Nelson--an attorney with the Public Citizen Litigation Group. We'll discuss the Supreme Court's decision to allow our elections to be flooded with corporate cash, and what it means. Scott was previously on our show here. Looking forward to it.

New shows starting January 23!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nookular Don) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:24:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

New episodes of "The Nookular Option" start this Saturday! For the first show of 2010, we'll be joined by philosopher and author Ian Anderson to discuss his new book "God and Whose Army? The Human Place in Finite Systems." In this book, Ian Anderson attempts to:

"move beyond religion's particular claims about the material
and ascertain the viability of theistic belief itself through a series of exhaustive thought experiments about the afterlife and other experiential and philosophical aspects of human life. The keyword in this last phrase is 'human' - our unique perspectives and limitations as human beings allow us to do more than prove that the universe doesn't require an intelligent creator. We can also evaluate that theoretical creator's claims, whether they pertain to its own godhood or to moral notions of right and wrong. A logical, systematic thought experiment has much to say about the possibility of religious belief itself, and allows us to evaluate the impact of such a baseless belief on one's worldview.

With this empowerment, though, comes responsibility: without the religious shadow of doubt to hide behind, we have no excuse to mistreat others - even if we are legally ordered to do so."

I've read Ian's book, which is engaging and well-argued. I'd encourage you to check it out, and as the book is available as a free PDF download, you're all out of excuses to not do so.

I'll make sure to pass along any comments or questions for Ian, so leave 'em if you got 'em.

Tune in Saturday, 4-6PM, at 88.3FM WXUT. See you then!

Billionaires for Scott Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:34:00 +0000

$708 billion more? Why not?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:11:00 +0000

AP--

President Barack Obama will ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on top of a record $708 billion for the Defense Department next year, The Associated Press has learned - a request that could be an especially hard sell to some of the administration's Democratic allies.

Why is it you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a "deficit doomsdayer" when the subject is health care reform, but when the President threatens to waste $708 billion more overseas, there is nary a peep?

Chuck Norris fact: he's insane

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:27:00 +0000

Chuck Norris is living out old scripts in his head.

I'm with Dean

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:09:00 +0000