Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Of traitors, medical bankruptcies & enemies lists

THE GARBAGE TRUCK is out on the curb so I want to gather up a few items before it pulls away:

The bus tour of a right-wing Iraq/Afghanistan coalition of veterans has produced this comment from a supporter of the Operation Free tour, Pennsylvania Republican State Sen. Daryl Metcaife, with dire warnings about those of us who support climate change legislation:
"As a veteran, I believe that any veteran lending their name, to promote the leftist propaganda of global warming and climate change, in an effort to control more of the wealth created in our economy, through cap and tax type policies, all in the name of national secruity, is a traitor to the oath he or she took to defend the Constitution of our great nation. Remember Benedict Arnold before giving credibility to a veteran who uses their service as a means to promote a leftist agenda. Drill Baby Drill!!!"
According to Think Progress, which gave us that gem from Metcaife, he served in the army from 1980 to 1984. (Weren't we Iraq's and Afghanistan's friend at the time?) Metcaife, the blog reported, also refused to support Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Pennsylvania because "the resolution referenced domestic abuse suffered by men, which Metcaife interpreted as part of a 'homosexual agenda." It figures.

For all of this nonsense (drumroll), Metcaife is the winner of today's Grumpy Abe Linguistic Lunacy (GALL) Award.

And what about Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Diana Furchgott-Roth , who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on medical debt and bankruptcy reform. She insisted that medical debt bankruptcies would soar under reforms. Buy when Sen. Al Franken asked her how many such bankruptcies have occurred in countries like Switzerland and France, which have universal health care, she said she didn't know but would get the figure for him.

He advised her that she needn't bother because the number was zero. The same for Germany, he said. When she responded that he was obviously referencing zeros, he responded:

"Well, you're very good. Very fast. The point is I think we need to go in that direction, not the opposite direction. Thank you. " (And thanks again to Think Progress, which is having a field day with its ear to the dumb comments on the Hill) "

Finally, from Talking Points Memo we hear: Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander is advising President Obama not to create an enemies list by feuding with Fox News and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He said it would be comparable to the Nixon Administration.

Wow! Now they are comparing Obama to Nixon. Call the President a traitor, a socialist, a Nazi and all of those nasty other things, but to label him as Nixon is too much. Alexander may now be headed to the top of the enemies list.

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