St. Mary's Academy, west of Lawrence, Kan., recently refused to let a woman ref one of its basketball games. Why? The other ref for the game claims school officials said would be putting a woman in a “position of authority” over men, a definite no-no to those who give literalist credence to the Pauline imposter who wrote 1 Timothy.
Actually, not, according to a school press release. It said the school educates boys and girls separately, for a variety of reasons. Here, it said it didn’t want one of its male athletes running into a woman.
Oh, these religious numbnuts weren’t evangelicals or fundamentalists, either. They were conservative Catholics, as one might guess from the name of “St. Mary's Academy.” (That said, it teaches pre-Vatican II beliefs, so you know it’s the Roman Catholic equivalent of Protestant fundies.)
So, either the school is afraid of bossy women, or it’s afraid of menstruating women breathing contamination.
No matter. It’s still sexist.
February 25, 2008
If you’re going to be in a plane crash, or have a mid-air heart attack, be sure not to fly American
The big AA now has a public-relations nightmare on its hands, as well as a likely lawsuit. On a flight from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a passenger complained about feeling unwell. Twice, the passenger asked a flight attendant for oxygen and both times was told no.
Finally, the flight attendant checked with the cabin, and they said it was OK to use a portable oxygen tank.
One problem — it was empty. So, too, was a second tank. By this time, the passenger-cum-patient had collapsed. So, the plane’s defibrillator was apparently hauled out.
You guessed it. Didn’t work. The passenger died before the plane could make an emergency landing.
Finally, the flight attendant checked with the cabin, and they said it was OK to use a portable oxygen tank.
One problem — it was empty. So, too, was a second tank. By this time, the passenger-cum-patient had collapsed. So, the plane’s defibrillator was apparently hauled out.
You guessed it. Didn’t work. The passenger died before the plane could make an emergency landing.
Why I won’t vote for Obama now indeed
I know Barack Obama’s comment I’m going to reference below was directed specifically at Ralph Nader, but I’m going to assume he would direct the sentiment — that Nader doesn’t deserve even one vote — to the eventual legitimate third party candidate as well.
Well, Obama, I know one less vote you deserve.
Well, Obama, I know one less vote you deserve.
February 24, 2008
Washington Monthly ‘weakest post of the week’ Feb. 17-23
This may become a semi-regular thing, depending on how often Washington Monthly’s Kevin Drum can come through in the clutch to deliver an especially squishy post. This week, I was at first looking at one or more of his McCain-Iserman posts, but Saturday, Kevin gave us a clear winner.
With this comment: “It’s worth saying this over and over: insurance companies don’t discriminate because they're evil. They do it because it’s what insurance companies do. It’s a core part of their business, and if they don't do it they'll go belly up,” it’s a no-brainer.
Why have they been getting worse and worse at it, Kevin? Why have they themselves not been admitting the system, as it now stands, is broken for many people not on the money-making end?
Because insurance companies, as currently constituted, are evil, Kevin.
What a squish.
With this comment: “It’s worth saying this over and over: insurance companies don’t discriminate because they're evil. They do it because it’s what insurance companies do. It’s a core part of their business, and if they don't do it they'll go belly up,” it’s a no-brainer.
Why have they been getting worse and worse at it, Kevin? Why have they themselves not been admitting the system, as it now stands, is broken for many people not on the money-making end?
Because insurance companies, as currently constituted, are evil, Kevin.
What a squish.
Josh Marshall spills Nader bullshit at TPM
The Talking Points Memo headline entitled Bush's Chief Enabler Signs On says it all. Here’s what I wrote to TPM about its bullshit headline:
1. I will not vote for him, on the assumption, which none of the news stories made clear, that he is running as an indy and NOT seeking the Green nomination. (I do plan, as of this time, to give full consideration to voting Green, though.)
2. I did vote Green, and not Nader, in 2004. The Green Party had an official candidate not named Ralph Nader, as it chose David Cobb as official standard-bearer.
3. That said, the “chief enabler” headline is bullshit and you know it. Yes, I would have preferred he only run in “uncontested” states in 2000. That said, the Florida butterfly ballot and its creator, Al Gore's campaign, and Al Gore's failure to fully contest Florida afterward and to encourage enthusiasm for others to do so, are all "Bush's chief enablers," not Ralph Nader.
4. Ohio 2004? John Kerry, if anybody, the chief enabler, if you want to look for one. The Green Party shelled out money for an Ohio vote recount. Kerry personally, and the Democratic Party officially? Nothing.
It’s bullshit like this which is part of what keeps me and other independent progressives, left-liberals, etc., from signing on the Democratic Party dotted line. So, if you're looking for 2008 “enablers,” look in the mirror while you're at it, Josh or whomever wrote this headline.
1. I will not vote for him, on the assumption, which none of the news stories made clear, that he is running as an indy and NOT seeking the Green nomination. (I do plan, as of this time, to give full consideration to voting Green, though.)
2. I did vote Green, and not Nader, in 2004. The Green Party had an official candidate not named Ralph Nader, as it chose David Cobb as official standard-bearer.
3. That said, the “chief enabler” headline is bullshit and you know it. Yes, I would have preferred he only run in “uncontested” states in 2000. That said, the Florida butterfly ballot and its creator, Al Gore's campaign, and Al Gore's failure to fully contest Florida afterward and to encourage enthusiasm for others to do so, are all "Bush's chief enablers," not Ralph Nader.
4. Ohio 2004? John Kerry, if anybody, the chief enabler, if you want to look for one. The Green Party shelled out money for an Ohio vote recount. Kerry personally, and the Democratic Party officially? Nothing.
It’s bullshit like this which is part of what keeps me and other independent progressives, left-liberals, etc., from signing on the Democratic Party dotted line. So, if you're looking for 2008 “enablers,” look in the mirror while you're at it, Josh or whomever wrote this headline.
I warned you not to do it, Ralph
Determined to become the Harold Stassen of our age, Ralph Nader has announced another run for president. Given the fact that the Green Party was nowhere mentioned in this or several other versions of the story, I assume that means he’s going to run as an independent no matter what, whether or not he even tries to get the Green nomination first. His website talks about getting Nader on the ballot in 50 states, another indication he’s not going to run as a Green.
Ralph, if you were to become the Greens’ official candidate, I’d vote for you. Otherwise? No way in hell. You’re on an ego trip, and you’re splitting the left-alternative vote.
That said, Obama is right that Nader can come off as a “my way or the highway” type:
On the other hand, on issues like becoming more pro-Israeli, even pro-Israeli hardliner, etc., Nader lands some shots back.
Oh, and if the age issue is legitimate? You’re more than two years older than McCain.
Ralph, if you were to become the Greens’ official candidate, I’d vote for you. Otherwise? No way in hell. You’re on an ego trip, and you’re splitting the left-alternative vote.
That said, Obama is right that Nader can come off as a “my way or the highway” type:
In many ways, he is a heroic figure, and I don’t mean to diminish him. But I do think there’s a sense now that, you know, if, if somebody’s not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda, then you, you must be lacking in some way.
On the other hand, on issues like becoming more pro-Israeli, even pro-Israeli hardliner, etc., Nader lands some shots back.
Oh, and if the age issue is legitimate? You’re more than two years older than McCain.
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