Ah, Dr. Tom Coburn. Our own principled conservative senator, who would never do anything remotely disingenuous.
Oh, wait. He's a politician—just like the rest of the gang. Of course he plays politics and grandstands, especially when it suits his purpose.
A Washington Post columnist has nailed Dr. Tom for his less-than-serious ideas about the D.C. area Metro system.
Dr. Tom thinks no federal regulation is necessary, but locals think otherwise, because (unlike Dr. Tom) they have to ride the Metro.
Read more about it here.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Oklahoma Beer: Mustang Brewing Comes Out a Winner
Tim Schoelen and his Oklahoma-based beer are winning praise in the craft-brewing world.
As reported in today's Tulsa World, Schoelen's Mustang Brewing Company is proving popular in the Sooner state. In fact, Schoelen's Washita Wheat won a silver medal at the World Beer Championships in July.
Mustang beer is available in Tulsa at McNellie's, Kilkenny's, Joe Mama's and the Fox & Hound, according to the World.
The AT gang admits to bending an elbow on occasion, so we plan on quaffing a pint or two of Schoelen's brew.
Kudos to Schoelen for creating a distinctive Oklahoma brew. And kudos to the World for bringing this to the attention of Oklahoma readers. The World's story is here.
As reported in today's Tulsa World, Schoelen's Mustang Brewing Company is proving popular in the Sooner state. In fact, Schoelen's Washita Wheat won a silver medal at the World Beer Championships in July.
Mustang beer is available in Tulsa at McNellie's, Kilkenny's, Joe Mama's and the Fox & Hound, according to the World.
The AT gang admits to bending an elbow on occasion, so we plan on quaffing a pint or two of Schoelen's brew.
Kudos to Schoelen for creating a distinctive Oklahoma brew. And kudos to the World for bringing this to the attention of Oklahoma readers. The World's story is here.
Losing Her Touch: Palin's Lame Legacy
Headline of the Day, courtesy of USA Today:
Editor's note: Palin has endorsed Mary Fallin in the race for Oklahoma governor. Hmmm…Two Sarah Palin picks go down to defeat
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Climate Misinformation: Wisconsin Republican's Junk Science
Let's call it the Inhofe Institute of Junk Science—a way to recognize the head-in-the-sand ideas of Tulsa's very own apostle of bogus science.
Apparently, other Republicans also ignore science in favor of fantasy. Thus we get erroneous climate information from a Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson, who is running for the U.S. senate. Johnson claims that sunspots are the source of recent extreme weather.
Too bad that's not the case. As Think Progress has documented, sunspots are a at a low level these days but the extreme weather patterns were predicted by global warming scientists.
But who needs science when you can make up your own "facts" to fit your conservative ideology? The full report here.
Apparently, other Republicans also ignore science in favor of fantasy. Thus we get erroneous climate information from a Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson, who is running for the U.S. senate. Johnson claims that sunspots are the source of recent extreme weather.
Too bad that's not the case. As Think Progress has documented, sunspots are a at a low level these days but the extreme weather patterns were predicted by global warming scientists.
But who needs science when you can make up your own "facts" to fit your conservative ideology? The full report here.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Obama Was Right on the Mosque
The wingbags and know-nothings have (quite predictably) jumped all over it, but President Obama got in right the other day on the proposed mosque two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City.
As the president noted, the United States of America permits freedom of religion. Indeed, the First Amendment establishes that principle, independent of popular opinion.
Unlike some autocratic nations, the U.S. doesn't tell people what to believe or how to worship. The U.S. is not, and should never be, a place were the government dictates religious beliefs or doctrines.
Sure, that's an unpopular position, which is why we need the First Amendment and a president who supports it wholeheartedly.
Over at The Daily Beast, writer Mark McKinnon has offered his considered opinion. It's worth a look. His comments are here: Obama Was Right on the Mosque
As the president noted, the United States of America permits freedom of religion. Indeed, the First Amendment establishes that principle, independent of popular opinion.
Unlike some autocratic nations, the U.S. doesn't tell people what to believe or how to worship. The U.S. is not, and should never be, a place were the government dictates religious beliefs or doctrines.
Sure, that's an unpopular position, which is why we need the First Amendment and a president who supports it wholeheartedly.
Over at The Daily Beast, writer Mark McKinnon has offered his considered opinion. It's worth a look. His comments are here: Obama Was Right on the Mosque
Grumpy Old Men: Conservative Cranks Make up the Tired Ole Tea Party
The Tea Party gang—always rattling on about the terrible state of nearly everything—turns out to be a group of grumpy old men.
USA Today recently released polling data on the Tea Party guys, most of whom are white (77 percent), male (56 percent) and older (47 percent are over 55).
And in a surprise to no one, they are overwhelmingly Republican (78 percent) and conservative (69 percent).
Think of old Uncle Gus, for instance, still whining about them damned hippies with their long hair, their weed and their free love!
That's right, Sooner fans, the Tea Party wingbags are the same folks who blame the Sixties for everything bad that's happened over the last 50 years. Of course!
Why'd we lose in Vietnam? The hippies!
Why'd God get kicked out of the classroom? The heathen liberals!
Why'd women and minorities start demanding equal rights? The potheads and flower children.
It's all their fault. Where's Richard Nixon when we need him?
USA Today recently released polling data on the Tea Party guys, most of whom are white (77 percent), male (56 percent) and older (47 percent are over 55).
And in a surprise to no one, they are overwhelmingly Republican (78 percent) and conservative (69 percent).
Think of old Uncle Gus, for instance, still whining about them damned hippies with their long hair, their weed and their free love!
That's right, Sooner fans, the Tea Party wingbags are the same folks who blame the Sixties for everything bad that's happened over the last 50 years. Of course!
Why'd we lose in Vietnam? The hippies!
Why'd God get kicked out of the classroom? The heathen liberals!
Why'd women and minorities start demanding equal rights? The potheads and flower children.
It's all their fault. Where's Richard Nixon when we need him?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Ideology over Oklahoma: Fallin's Political Ploy Takes a Hit
Rep. Mary Fallin is the Republican candidate for governor. In this very Red State, Fallin ought to be a shoo-in come November.
But Fallin's ideology—go as far right as possible—is problematic, as a Tulsa World editorial pointed out the other day. In an editorial, the World noted that Fallin turned the promise of new federal aid—money that will help Oklahoma—into a campaign issue.
Fallin, the editorial noted, "has joined the ranks of conservative members of Congress who've come up with a way…to have it both ways…." In other words, Fallin criticized the federal spending (like a good conservative), knowing full well that the money will come to the Sooner state anyway.
This raises an interesting question: Does Mary Fallin want new federal money for Oklahoma or not? As the World puts it:
But Fallin's ideology—go as far right as possible—is problematic, as a Tulsa World editorial pointed out the other day. In an editorial, the World noted that Fallin turned the promise of new federal aid—money that will help Oklahoma—into a campaign issue.
Fallin, the editorial noted, "has joined the ranks of conservative members of Congress who've come up with a way…to have it both ways…." In other words, Fallin criticized the federal spending (like a good conservative), knowing full well that the money will come to the Sooner state anyway.
This raises an interesting question: Does Mary Fallin want new federal money for Oklahoma or not? As the World puts it:
One has to wonder if Fallin, were she elected governor, would try to turn away federal funding for schools or health care?Good question. Fallin claims to adhere to "principled" conservatism, but this sort of bait-and-switch political posturing is hardly principled.
Palin's Picks: Ex-Governor's Endorsements Flop in Primaries
Sarah Palin's "golden touch" may not be so golden after all.
The former half-term governor of Alaska has been endorsing candidates in the Lower 48 this year with decidedly mixed success. In fact, Palin's conservative picks have a losing record—not exactly the winning streak Palin admirers have touted.
This week in Georgia, for instance, Palin's "Mama Grizzly" choice for governor lost the GOP primary race, one of several Palin picks to bite the dust this election season. The story is here.
The former half-term governor of Alaska has been endorsing candidates in the Lower 48 this year with decidedly mixed success. In fact, Palin's conservative picks have a losing record—not exactly the winning streak Palin admirers have touted.
This week in Georgia, for instance, Palin's "Mama Grizzly" choice for governor lost the GOP primary race, one of several Palin picks to bite the dust this election season. The story is here.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Sanford Flip-flop: Republican Governor Takes Federal Stimulus Money
South Carolina's disgraced Republican governor, Mark (Appalachian Trail hiker) Sanford, famously attacked the Federal stimulus plan, vowing never to accept a dime.
Now Sanford has reversed himself, accepting Federal dollars for South Carolina.
It's classic GOP flip-flopping, saying one thing and doing another. The Right loves to criticize Federal spending and the deficit, but they also want (and need) the money, which they quietly accept.
Read about it here.
Now Sanford has reversed himself, accepting Federal dollars for South Carolina.
It's classic GOP flip-flopping, saying one thing and doing another. The Right loves to criticize Federal spending and the deficit, but they also want (and need) the money, which they quietly accept.
Read about it here.
The Newt Chronicles: Former Wife Highlights Gingrich's Hypocrisy
Newt Gingrich was never as smart as he thought he was.
Sure, Newt was a rhetorical bomb-thrower and a world-class blowhard, but the Georgia Republican was also an arrogant and ego-driven narcissist with little regard for the lives of others.
Now Newt's former wife (number two) is telling tales out of school about Newt's private hypocrisies. It's an ugly story, but not one that will surprise Newt-watchers.
The sorry details here.
Sure, Newt was a rhetorical bomb-thrower and a world-class blowhard, but the Georgia Republican was also an arrogant and ego-driven narcissist with little regard for the lives of others.
Now Newt's former wife (number two) is telling tales out of school about Newt's private hypocrisies. It's an ugly story, but not one that will surprise Newt-watchers.
The sorry details here.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Eye-rolling Nonsense: Slate Writer Deconstructs Palin's Wacked-out Speech
Following the glorious verbal tradition of President George W. Bush, Alaskan Sarah Palin has achieved new depths in her misuse of the Queen's English.
Jacob Weisberg, the Slate writer who made a cottage industry from the illogical speech patterns of Bush, has been collecting the unintentional humor of Palin, speech so tortured that you wonder what, if anything, lies in that pretty little head of hers.
Weisberg is previewing his new book on Palin's nonsense in a column today in Slate, which includes a number of "winners." Some examples:
Simply amazing, isn't it? Palin-speak, as Weisberg points out, is a hodge-podge of confusion and muddled thinking—and a perfect example of conservative simple-mindedness.
More silly and convoluted Palin-speak here.
Jacob Weisberg, the Slate writer who made a cottage industry from the illogical speech patterns of Bush, has been collecting the unintentional humor of Palin, speech so tortured that you wonder what, if anything, lies in that pretty little head of hers.
Weisberg is previewing his new book on Palin's nonsense in a column today in Slate, which includes a number of "winners." Some examples:
"It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia."
"God's will has to be done, in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that."
"And I think more of a concern has been not within the campaign, the mistakes that were made, not being able to react to the circumstances that those mistakes created in a real positive and professional and helpful way for John McCain."
Simply amazing, isn't it? Palin-speak, as Weisberg points out, is a hodge-podge of confusion and muddled thinking—and a perfect example of conservative simple-mindedness.
More silly and convoluted Palin-speak here.
Sarah Palin vs. the Truth, Part 84
The amazingly glib Sarah Palin, former half-term governor of Alaska, is quarreling with the truth, again.
Palin has made bold claims about the Obama Administration's tax plans. Naturally, she's against everything containing the two words "Obama" and "taxes," having concluded long ago that the president is a secret socialist bent on destroying America by turning us all into European girly-men.
Or something equally ludicrous.
The fine folks at PolitiFact did some fact-checking and found—surprise!—that Palin's claims didn;t check out. The full story here.
Palin has made bold claims about the Obama Administration's tax plans. Naturally, she's against everything containing the two words "Obama" and "taxes," having concluded long ago that the president is a secret socialist bent on destroying America by turning us all into European girly-men.
Or something equally ludicrous.
The fine folks at PolitiFact did some fact-checking and found—surprise!—that Palin's claims didn;t check out. The full story here.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Fun Fox Facts: It's Unbiased and Correct (in an Cock-eyed Universe)
AltTulsa was reading the Tulsa World the other day when we ran across a letter to the editor from a reader in Broken Arrow.
The reader was incensed over a World cartoon attacking Fox News—you know, that citadel of "fair and balanced" news and information.
Imagine—an editorial cartoon that lampooned something! Has that ever happened?
The BA writer defended his Fox friends, of course, lauding them for presenting "unbiased, correct and informing events." (Really!)
Given this sort of keen analysis, it's no wonder that the writer also criticized the World and its fellow travelers, who are "favoring the far left liberal movement that is destroying this country."
That's right, Sooner fans, Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Oklahoma and the entire USA have been destroyed!
Look out the window and you'll see chaos, rioting and mayhem—Marxist-Leninist philosophies destroying the minds of our youth. Oh, wait. We see kids playing Little League ball in the park, teenagers at the mall, adults going to work and tending their lawns. They are even going to church!
Somehow, our BA friend (and Fox News) missed the daily life of ordinary Americans in favor of rhetorical excess and political double-talk.
The reader was incensed over a World cartoon attacking Fox News—you know, that citadel of "fair and balanced" news and information.
Imagine—an editorial cartoon that lampooned something! Has that ever happened?
The BA writer defended his Fox friends, of course, lauding them for presenting "unbiased, correct and informing events." (Really!)
Given this sort of keen analysis, it's no wonder that the writer also criticized the World and its fellow travelers, who are "favoring the far left liberal movement that is destroying this country."
That's right, Sooner fans, Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Oklahoma and the entire USA have been destroyed!
Look out the window and you'll see chaos, rioting and mayhem—Marxist-Leninist philosophies destroying the minds of our youth. Oh, wait. We see kids playing Little League ball in the park, teenagers at the mall, adults going to work and tending their lawns. They are even going to church!
Somehow, our BA friend (and Fox News) missed the daily life of ordinary Americans in favor of rhetorical excess and political double-talk.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
New Study: Health Care Reform Will Help Millions of Women
While the zanies on the right continue to whine about it, the recently enacted health care reform legislation is likely to—surprise!—help people it was intended to help.
The Commonwealth Fund has looked at the data and found that the legislation will improve the lives of millions of women.
Here's a summary of the findings:
The Commonwealth Fund has looked at the data and found that the legislation will improve the lives of millions of women.
Here's a summary of the findings:
The new health reform law, the Affordable Care Act, bodes well for as many as 30 million women -- a number that includes 15 million women who are uninsured, according to a new report issued by the Commonwealth Fund, a private health research firm in New York City.
This new report is the first in a series that will look at how health care reform will affect specific populations.
While women as a group are just as likely as men to be uninsured, they are more likely to have medical debt, bill problems, and have trouble getting insurance," Karen Davis, the Commonwealth Fund president, said during a telephone conference. "This report brings good news to all women who will now be more likely to get the care they need with a reduced risk of incurring the unaffordable medical bills that have affected so many Americans."
Wingnut Blogs Push Fake Mexican Cartel Invasion of Texas
Won't it be great to live in a world where wishes come true and facts don't matter?
That's the world of wacked-out consevative bloggers, some of whom have been inventing a great "the sky is falling" story on the Texas-Mexico border.
These wingbags hare pushing a bogus report of a Mexican drug cartel "invading" ranches near Larado, Texas—an act of war that the U.S. must avenge.
Oh, if only it bore some resemblence to the truth. The full fake story here.
That's the world of wacked-out consevative bloggers, some of whom have been inventing a great "the sky is falling" story on the Texas-Mexico border.
These wingbags hare pushing a bogus report of a Mexican drug cartel "invading" ranches near Larado, Texas—an act of war that the U.S. must avenge.
Oh, if only it bore some resemblence to the truth. The full fake story here.
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