Yesterday, President Obama made 4 recess appointments. He appointed 3 people to the Board of Labor Relations and 1 to the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB appointment is the most contentious.

The new head, Richard Cordray, received an appointment even though the chamber was technically only  in session every few days. Technically seems to be the big IF. The senate technically did not recess over the holiday, so there was no precedent for what President Obama did.

From the Advocate:

Conservative website mogul Andrew Breitbart has quit the advisory board for GOProud, saying he has a “zero tolerance” policy for outing people.

Trouble started when GOProud’s Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron reacted to an antigay Rick Perry television ad by angrily taking to Twitter, attacking pollster Tony Fabrizio.

“I’ve just about had it with faggots who line their pockets with checks from antigay homophobes while throwing the rest of us under the bus,” LaSalvia wrote.

GOProud issued a statement defending itself from the ensuing backlash, but that apparently only contributed to Breitbart’s disappointment.

“I have a zero tolerance attitude toward the intentional infliction of vocational and family harm by divulging the details of an individual’s sexual orientation as a weapon of political destruction,” Breitbart wrote on one of his websites, BigGovernment.com. Breitbart said he’d long ago told LaSalvia and Barron about his opinion on outing, which Breitbart said contributed to his “evolution from the political left to the right.”

Below is the entire Breitbart statement:

It is with sincere regret that I announce I must step down as a GOProud advisory member. On numerous occasions I have spoken with [GOProud leaders] Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron of the significant impact the practice of “outing” had in my evolution from the political left to the right. I was under the absolute impression that both agreed. I have a zero tolerance attitude toward the intentional infliction of vocational and family harm by divulging the details of an individual’s sexual orientation as a weapon of political destruction. As an “Advisory Board member” I was not consulted on this extreme and punitive act. Clearly, there are more productive means to debate controversial ideas and settle conflicts. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience stand with GOProud. I still stand by gay conservatives who boldly and in the face of much criticism from many fronts fight for limited government, lower taxes, a strong national defense as well as the other core conservative principles.

GoProud is a gay Republican organization.  Breitbart served as advisory capacity.  Perhaps he was their token straight.  Is Breitbart really standing up for decency or is he using this incident as a way of  distancing himself from a gay Republican organization?  I would hope that Breitbart is standing up against outing people without their permission.  Go Proud issued the following statement:

“Let us be crystal clear, however, Tony Fabrizio is not the victim here. Tony Fabrizio has lined his pockets for years with money from gay groups and is now one of the chief architects of a campaign strategy — not just an isolated television ad — intended to demonize gay people in order to score political points. Fabrizio claims he opposed the latest anti-gay Perry television ad. If Fabrizio really does oppose the ad and the broader strategy then the honorable and decent thing to do would be to resign from the campaign. Tony Fabrizio is no junior staffer he is one of the top campaign pollsters and strategists in the country.

“It is obvious that the campaign of Rick Perry is desperate, and in a desperate last ditch effort to become relevant in the GOP Presidential race he and his campaign have decided to employ a strategy that plays to the cheap seats and appeals to the worst in people. Rick Perry should be embarrassed and the people around him who are the architects of this strategy, particularly people like Tony Fabrizio, should be ashamed.”

As for LaSalvia and Barron, there is a special Hell out there for what they did.  Not everyone is comfortable being “out.”  Not everyone can be out. 

Only Breitbart knows his true intent.  He has been associated with some things I feel are unethical.  I hope this time he has done the right thing.  Go Proud  needs to get its act together.   That statement was unacceptable and judgemental.  From my perspective, Breitbart did the right thing.  GoProud also needs to be drummed out of town.  Hopefully the Log Cabin Republicans will give them an escort to the town limits then boot them out.

President Barack Obama said Thursday it was just common sense to keep girls under the age of 17 from being able to buy a morning-after contraceptive pill off a drugstore shelf. Citing his own two daughters, Obama said: “I think most parents would probably feel the same way.”

Plenty of pediatric leaders and women’s advocacy groups did not, as reaction flowed in to the administration’s decision to prevent the over-the-counter sale of the anti-pregnancy drug to sexually active girls of younger ages.

Critics said politics had trumped science, again.

Yes, pretty much.  President Obama, when he took office, pledged a commitment to scientific integrity.  President Obama has said that he had nothing to do with the decision but does support Sebelius. 

“I will say this, as the father of two young daughters: I think it is important for us to make sure that, you know, we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine,” Obama said in a brief news conference at the White House.

Obama’s daughter Malia is 13. His daughter Sasha is 10.

Obama said that as he understood it, Sebelius was wary of a 10-year-old or 11-year-old going into a drugstore and buying a medication – one on the shelves next to “the bubble gum and batteries” – that could be harmful if not used properly.

Things like that are usually in an out of the way area in drugs stores, housed with the condoms, spermicides, and other personal products.  For that matter, medicine like this could also be placed behind the counter, where it is now since ID is required to buy it if you look young. 

I understand a father wanting to protect his daughters.  But isn’t that allowing emotion to become involved in a science decision?  Our real best protection for our daughters might be to allow them to not get pregnant if they fear that might happen, for whatever reason.  It might just be a reason they don’t want to discuss with Mom or Dad. 

FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg made clear that the decision is highly unusual. She said her agency’s drug-safety experts had carefully considered the question of young girls and she had agreed that Plan B’s age limit should be lifted.

A person familiar with the decision said Sebelius did not share her reservations about Plan B ahead of time with the FDA.

Conservatives are praising Sebelius over her decision.  I am curious as to why.  Fewer unintended pregnancies means fewer abortions, fewer teens with babies, and fewer checks to write to help support the babies.  It just seems like emergency contraception is a much better idea than abortion or unwanted pregnancy. 

For those of you who don’t know Greg Reynolds, he and his wife frequently appear before the BOCS to attempt to make things right, especially for those who are least able to defend themselves.  He has gone to bat for the elderly, kids and immigrants, just to name a few groups of folks.  He was particularly vocal about getting the transportation to the senior centers back up and running.  He bids us all not to leave our religion at the door of the Supervisors Chambers. 

A correspondence from Greg Reynolds:

The Holly Acres Mobile Home Park story continues to unfold.

 

In the latest development in the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park the homeowners went to get the permits to proceed with the repairs to their damaged homes but the County denied the permits immediately after (and even though) the Board of Zoning Appeals had overturned the Zoning Administrator’s order preventing the repair and replacement of their damaged mobile homes.

 

It would be very helpful if you can attend the Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday, 11/29/2011 at 2 PM, to ask the Board members to help restore Holly Acres.

 

These 70 affordable homes do not seem to be a priority for the Board of County Supervisors but they are very important to the families that need permanent affordable housing. 

 

It seems unjust for the County to spend millions in upscale neighborhoods to restore slope failures but refuse to install a culvert of sufficient size under the CSX railroad tracks to save these 70 mobile homes.

 

Their past failure to act cost 70 homeowners and 16 small businesses millions of dollars in damages and the loss of permanent housing for hundreds of people. 

 

Please continue to monitor the situation and help in any way you can.  The 2 PM Board meeting is not a good time for people that work. John Steinbach and I will be there to speak out again.  We are trying to get our faith leaders and many other people to do the same.

Chairman Stewart has vowed to fight the Board of Zoning Appeals decision to allow the homes in Holly Acres Mobile Home Park to be rebuilt and/or replaced. When the home owners went the next day to get permits they were denied. We are trying to get as many people as possible to speak at the next Board of county Supervisors meeting on 11/29/2011 at 2 PM on behalf of the Board of Zoning Appeals decision to allow the homes to be rebuilt and replaced.

Mark “Smokin’ Man” Block accused the Rick Perry campaign of leaking the sexual harassment story to Politico. He also blames Politico for using anonymous sources.  He says both the campaign and Politico owe Herman Cain and his family an apology.

It seems to me that the story is old. There are 2 women who filed sexual harassment charges. Period.

A third woman has stepped forward who did not file charges but who felt like she was uncomfortable. Now any woman coming forward at this late date is just setting herself up for misery. She will be hounded by the press and some campaign will attempt to paint her as tramp of the century.

There is a lot of back-tracking and spin going on. I don’t believe the story is important. The handling of the problem is what is going to make or break Herman Cain. Yesterday it appeared he was on edge.

Ann Coulter herself has said the race card is being played. Herman Cain has been quoted as saying that this is coming up now because of the fact that he is black. Cain is no different than any other candidate who is out there and leading in the polls. If anyone sniffs out a weakness, the oppositional research will be all over it. Harry Truman needs to have a private word with Herman Cain: If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

I am more concerned over Cain’s knowledge base than I am his woman problem. Many a good president has had women problems–including those we don’t know about.

Read more on Foxnews.com    (that bastion of liberal thinking)

Geraldo wants an answer to a straight up question. This information does not bode well for a presidential candidate. 

Spokesperson J. D.  Gordon dodged Geraldo’s questions fairly clumsily. 

I feel a story taking on a life of its own.

According to Politico.com:

What I do find offensive is to blame it on Cain being a conservative politician. There were enough bad boys out there the past couple of years to give John Edwards a good run for his money.

Speaking of John Edwards, he keeps getting in deeper and deeper. He is now in criminal court. However, some idiot reporter claimed some old rich woman backed him. Bunny Melon is hardly ‘some old rich woman.’ Are reporters just getting dumber or is it my imagination?

Back to Herman Cain–any speculation here? Please don’t say its because he is conservative….that is such an excuse.

You can read more at politico.com.

There don’t seem to be card-carrying Democrats here but there are quite a few people who tend to be democratic supporters and voters.  I was once an informal Republican and later became a card-carrying Democrat.  Occasionally there were people chosen locally, state, or on the national evel who were just bad actors.  I ran in to some folks I simply couldn’t vote for.   So what do you do?   I am an Independent now and have been for probably 20 years.  I have no party localities. 

Steve feels it is a matter of principle to vote for a Republican, since he is also an officer in the City organization.  Is there a point where you shouldn’t just vote for party and should follow your conscience?  What earmarks should we look for?  It almost seems like we could end up electing the next Hitler if we don’t have some mental stops in place. 

Certainly both parties have had their share of people who really should not have had the public trust.  I am not sure we can trust the public or those in political parties to always exercise the best judgement.  Power corrupts and winning an election really is about power. 

Then there are the detractors and the distractors, the pledges, the sub-groups and the third parties.  Are those deal breakers?  Spoilers?  Can a sub-group destroy a political party by changing the complexion and tenor of the parent group?  At what point can a political party send a sub-group packing?  Does anyone want the Klan to join up with their party?  How about the black panthers?  Both of those sub-groups are extremist to me and to most others.  But what about when we don’t see our group as extremist?  Are we the best judges in this case?  Does the main party have the right to ask these groups to leave or at least distance themselves?

It’s something to talk about.  We have all skirted around some of these issues.  Let’s butt heads with this one. (gently of course)

Geez, if Pat Robertson says the GOP is too extreme, you need to worry.  Isn’t this the dude who said Katrina was caused by gay people?  If Pat get it, so should everyone else.  If Pat “liberals are akin to Nazis’ Robertson thinks you are too extreme, maybe he is on to something.  Perhaps he has had an ephiphany. 

Let’s focus. Who is the candidate who is going to come through here and do a big whup-ass on Obama?  Just tell us the candidate.  We will prepare.  Thanks for the warning, Pat.  Will the next warning  be delivered  by a horde of locusts?

Jon Stewart tells us that the soul of America has been awakened by Eric Cantor’s battle cry. Americans are being pitted against Americans. Who are we up against? University professors who can flunk you for beng too openly conservative at Fictional U! Go fighting figments of your paranoid imagination!

There is a long list of enemies.  Can you list them?  You might have to listen more than once.  I did.

There is a little math involved and even a Venn diagram.

Get some skin in the game!

It appears that John Edwards will be indicted per the green light from DOJ.   At issue is his use of campaign money to finance his pay-off to his mistress, Rielle Hunter. According to Huffington Post, much of the pay-off money came from a 99 year old heiress, Bunny Mellon. The Daily Beast reports:

You’d assume Rachel Lowe Lambert Lloyd Mellon—who, just shy of 100 years old, is probably the last surviving member of the old-money aristocracy that once lorded it over America—would be mortified by her involvement in a tabloid-ready sex scandal.

Hardly.

According to confidantes of the reclusive high-society doyenne best known as “Bunny,” she’s predictably annoyed by the media glare, and was infuriated last week when an ABC News helicopter buzzed her mansion in the Virginia horse country to get aerial photos for Friday night’s 20/20 segment based on a tawdry tell-all book by Andrew Young, a disgruntled ex-aide to her embattled friend John Edwards.

“Just think!” she marveled recently to a friend after the feds paid her a visit. “I have lived for 99 years, and I’ve never been interviewed by the FBI before!”
Yet, surprisingly, Bunny Mellon is also said to be energized and amused —“but with a tinge of disappointment,” one pal admits—by the cheeseball antics of the former North Carolina senator, the dashing young politician on whom she lavished so much money and adulation over the past six years, hoping to make him the next president of the United States.

Ms. Mellon lives in Upperville, Virginia.

John Edwards will go down in history with a thud.  He was the fair haired golden boy from North Carolina.  His rags to riches story captivated America and his down home way of letting us know he was one of us and hadn’t forgotten his roots appealed to many people, regardless of political persuasion. 

Then there was the fall.  The National In quirer continued to make rumblings about an affair.  Edwards’ wife was battling a rare breast cancer that was incurable.  Finally the Inquire had the goods on him and his world came tumbling down.  There was a mistress, a love child, an aid who took the fall, and a tawdry story to tell.  Ms. Mellon, described in the Beast as a “Sugar Mama,” apparently straightened her flag on the wrong guy.   The rest of us just think he is a rat bastard.  Wonder what she really thinks. 

Next time you want to have an affair and pay out some hush money, find yourself a 100 year old heiress to provide some Bunny Money.