Republican Caucus

I was able to obtain this recording of the Republican Caucus meeting for this week. Apparently they're discussing the President's call for bipartisanship.



Boehner appears to be losing some of his tan.

The Start of a New Series

Today we are going to start a new series. It's called "Things you never read in Canadian newspapers"

The first in this series is from a story in yesterday's Chicago Tribune. It's a lovely story about a man who has worked for the city of Wheaton IL for almost 20 years. Last week his job was determined to be non-essential to city services, so he was dismissed. Now this would seem to be a non-story as there are millions of people in the same situation right now and even the fact that he was less than 6 months from potential retirement does not make this story particularly newsworthy.
What the kicker is, the thing that makes this worth putting in the first section of a paper like the Trib, is that the man's wife was diagnosed with lymphoma six years ago. The ending of his carrer of almost twenty years also ends the chance that he will be able to continue with the health insurance policy that he (and his ill wife) have been relying on. In six months he could have retired and been able to stay on the policy at a low cost. As it is now, he gets 12 weeks of severance pay and 18 months coverage under COBRA (if he can afford the premiums). After that he is at the mercy (!) of the open health insurance industry. He feels it is going to be tough to find a new carrier who will pick up the tens of thousands of dollars amonth that it takes to keep his wife alive.
You can read the entire story here.

Now, why don't we read heart rendering stories like this in the Canadian newspapers?

Breaking Weather News

Dateline: Sun Prairie WI

Noted Weather Rodent Jimmy the Goundhog (seen above in an undated picture) came out of his burrow today and DID NOT see his shadow. In a prepared statement, Jimmy declared an early end to winter and a quick transition to spring. Reporters gathered around the furry prognosticator to ask how this forecast jibed with Jimmy's long time disdain for the concept of Global Warming. Before he could answer, a large Redtailed Hawk swept down, grabbing Jimmy in his talons. The hawk had been seen earlier on a lamppost near Hwy 151.
Reporters attempted to contact the hawk but were told that he was at lunch and had no comment.
Mr. Groundhog is survived by his son, Jimmy Jr. When asked by reporters whether he wold continue in the family business, Jimmy Jr answered "Hell no, I'm moving to Florida."
No funeral is planned at this time due to lack of remains but friends say there will be a memorial service to be announced at a later date.

Hoar Frost

Freezing fog the last two mornings.

These shots were taken at 9AM as the sun was coming out. All gone by 10.

Topics in Healthcare

The local fishwrap had a lovely article Sunday about the anti-abortion crowd protesting UW Hospital offering 2nd trimster abortions at it's new surgery center. It had the usual suspects: Hospital officials explaining the need for the center and bearded Taliban members ranting about their religion local protestors explaining how Jesus hates abortions. Pretty routine stuff.
What always amazes me about these stories is that there is never a mention of health care in gereral. I mean if these people really cared about all those unborn babies why the hell aren't they out in front of their local Republican Party office demanding that they help put together a healthcare reform that would cover the prenatal care for every expectant mother? Why aren't they running around with pictures of real live babies that are in dire need of urgent medical care but their parents are too poor to obtain it? With the US infant mortality rate in there with some third world countries, one would think that might be a more important use of their time and energy. But alas, socialized medicine does not appear to be anywhere in the bible so god is either against it or at least ambivilent.  For as much press as these loonies get, you think just once someone might ask them about that.

Just in case you might think I'm a little hard on this crowd, here is a little bio (one of three in a sidebar) of one of the protestors. Tell me this guy isn't certfiable.

Amend This

Since Rep. Bart Stupak has introduced an amendment to the House bill on health insurance reform limiting insurance programs associated with any government sponsored insurance from offering any abortion services, he has taken a great deal of heat from the left. The most mainstream of these offer links to blogs offering links to Planned Parenthood for donations in Stupak's name. The more radical blogs have offered contests to make his name synonymous with some nasty biological function ala santorum.
I'll let others define why this amendment is so vile. What I want to point out is that this is the Stupak-Pitts amendment. Joe Pitts (R-Family) is a paid-in-full member of the looney right wing C-Street crowd. They are the ones laying out this medieval design on women's rights. Stupak deserves every bit of venom aimed his way, but don't miss the point that he's a stalking horse for the real enemy.
As far as I'm concerned, shoot the messenger. Just don't miss who sent him.

Fete De Marquette

The Fete De Marquette benefit for the Wilmar Neighborhood Center has had to move around a bit over the last few years but it has not suffered for the relocations. Once again the fine music line up has made it the closest successor to the late lamented Madison Blues Fest, if not in the breadth of the acts, at least in the joyousness of celebrating musical genres. Here's a couple of shots of the music.

Tab Benoit Friday night.

The Radiators on Sunday night.

A great time was had by all. Make sure that you don't miss it next year.