The ancient Egptians, we’re told, imagined the sun as a giant ball of dung hoisted by industrious beetles from one horizon to the other. The GOP has its own brand of sacred scarabs, thick on the ground wherever there’s a supply of manure to be mined. If one dung beetle brave warrior for truth, justice & the Amurkin way should fail in his attempt to scrabble up the legislative ladder, there’s always a fellow warrior to take up the grift microphone.
From Dana Millbank, at the Washington Post:
President-unelect Rick Santorum made his triumphant return to the Capitol on Monday afternoon and took up a brave new cause: He is opposing disabled people.
Specifically, Santorum, joined by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), declared his wish that the Senate reject the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities — a human rights treaty negotiated during George W. Bush’s administration and ratified by 126 nations, including China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
The former presidential candidate pronounced his “grave concerns” about the treaty, which forbids discrimination against people with AIDS, who are blind, who use wheelchairs and the like. “This is a direct assault on us,” he declared at a news conference.
Lee, a tea party favorite, said he, too, has “grave concerns” about the document’s threat to American sovereignty. “I will do everything I can to block its ratification, and I have secured the signatures of 36 Republican senators, all of whom have joined with me saying that we will oppose any ratification of any treaty during this lame-duck session.”…
Courageous? Or just contentious? The treaty requires virtually nothing of the United States. It essentially directs the other signatories to update their laws so that they more closely match the Americans with Disabilities Act. Even Lee thought it necessary to preface his opposition with the qualifier that “our concerns with this convention have nothing to do with any lack of concern for the rights of persons with disabilities.”
Their concerns, rather, came from the dark world of U.N. conspiracy theories. The opponents argue that the treaty, like most everything the United Nations does, undermines American sovereignty — in this case via a plot to keep Americans from home-schooling their children and making other decisions about their well-being….
From Roll Call:
For more than a decade, Indiana Republican Dan Burton has been a leading House voice on autism and a proponent of the theory that mercury in vaccines contributes to the disorder. He held at least 20 hearings examining the potential link between the two during three terms as chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and one as head of the panel’s subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, according to his office.
With about a month left before he retires, Burton will have one last chance to pursue the issue from his seat on the Oversight panel Thursday, when the panel holds a hearing on autism spectrum disorders. Burton said he plans to focus his questions on environmental factors — such as mercury or other contaminants in water — that have the potential to affect children’s neurological systems, as well as the vaccine issue…
But while Burton requested the hearing and expects to preside over part of it, the testimony lined up by the Oversight panel is expected to take a wider look at the autism spectrum rather than zeroing in on the controversy over vaccines. In an invitation to the National Institutes of Health, Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said the hearing would look at “the federal response to the recent rise in ASD diagnoses,” the distribution of government resources, and research and treatment options…
After failing to prove that HIllary Clinton had Vincent Foster murdered, ‘Watermelon Dan’ Burton has proposed any number of vain crusades to prove that whaterver terrible things have been in the news this week, it’s somehow the Democrats’ fault. I assume that Darrell Issa, always fashion-forward in the criminal-conspiracy parade, will switch to insisting that all those ASD diagnoses were provided to ‘moochers’ and ‘takers’. Which will, of course, be all the fault of the Democrats…
No matter the change of beetles, there’s always another flaming ball of dung.
Tara the Antisocial Social Worker
There are two groups of people whose rights any sane person should champion.
The elderly, because if you’re lucky you’ll be one someday.
And people with disabilities, because if you’re not so lucky you’ll be one someday.
arguingwithsignposts
There used to be a really hateful punk group called the Meatmen who had a song called “Crippled Children Suck” (no I won’t link it). Apparently they grew up to become congressmen.
Felonius Monk
Since this is an open thread about
Posted: November 28, 2012
Dear Parents and Citizens: This is an urgent call to action affecting your Bloomfield Hills Schools and public education in Michigan. A package of bills designed to corporatize and dismantle public education is being hastily pushed through this current ‘lame duck’ legislative session. If we do not take immediate action, I believe great damage will be done to public education, including our school system. We have just three weeks to take action before it’s too late. The bills are:
House Bill 6004 and Senate Bill 1358: Would expand a separate and statewide school district (the EAA) overseen by a governor-appointed chancellor and functioning outside the authority of the State Board of Education or state school superintendent. These schools are exempt from the same laws and quality measures of community-governed public schools. The EAA can seize unused school buildings (built and financed by local taxpayers) and force sale or lease to charter, non-public or EAA schools.
House Bill 5923: Creates several new forms of charter and online schools with no limit on the number. Bundled with HB 6004/SB1358, many of these schools could be created by the EAA. Public schools are not allowed to create these new schools unless they charter them. Selective enrollment/dis-enrollment policies will likely lead to greater segregation in our public schools. This bill creates new schools without changing the overall funding available, further diluting resources for community-governed public schools.
Senate Bill 620: Known as the ‘Parent Trigger’ bill, this would allow the lowest achieving 5% of schools to be converted to a charter school while allowing parents or teachers to petition for the desired reform model. This bill will not directly affect our district, but disenfranchises voters, ends their local control, and unconstitutionally hands taxpayer-owned property over to for-profit companies. Characterized as parent-empowerment, this bill does little to develop deep, community-wide parent engagement and organization.
I’ve never considered myself a conspiracy theorist—until now. This package of bills is the latest in a yearlong barrage of ideologically-driven bills designed to weaken and defund locally-controlled public education, handing scarce taxpayer dollars over to for-profit entities operating under a different set of rules. I believe this is fundamentally wrong. State School Superintendent Mike Flanagan and State Board of Education President John Austin and others have also expressed various concerns, as has the Detroit Free Press.
See the Whole Post
Nutella
So this ad really wasn’t hyperbole at all, was it?
Mr Stagger Lee
Is being a dickhead a disability? I think it is called being a sociopath. Mark Lee I believe would qualify.
mai naem
I would like some enterprising reporter to ask Issa if his kids received the standard vaccines.
Felonius Monk
@arguingwithsignposts: Apparently they grew up to become congressmen.
And one apparently is a former frothy-mix senator from PA.
Suffern ACE
@arguingwithsignposts: they also had songs called French People Suck and Camel Jockeys Suck. But I think they might have been posing…at least my straight edge skinhead freshman roommate said they were. I kind of had to believe him as he scared me quite a bit.
Chris
I don’t know what’s more fucking laughable about these clowns;
The fact that they think the UN forcing the rest of the world to meet American standards (e.g. the Americans With Disabilities Act) would somehow mean that they and the rest of the world are infringing on U.S. sovereignty, rather than the other way around.
The fact that they honestly believe the UN, which as an instrument of coercion is utterly powerless until the U.S. gives it the go-ahead, is somehow in any position to become a dark, anti-American One World Government.
Or the fact that they seem to honestly believe that those Dark One World Government forces, if they exist, truly have nothing better to do with their time than to go around mutilating their cattle, fluoridating their water, and forcing them to obey laws that already exist re caring for the elderly.
Maude
They could have Don Imus and his wife testify.
gnomedad
Scott DesJarlais: I used to believe in abortion; now I believe in evolution.
jeff
Anyone suffering is an offense to my worldview.
pseudonymous in nc
The One World Government nutters would be just fine if that government was the US government.
Suffern ACE
@gnomedad: and he would believe in it again, if he should ever, say, knock up a mistress. And then go back to not believing in it.
Citizen Alan
@Chris:
I blame Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, the authors of the Left Behind series, which, among other idiocies, was written in the absolute conviction that the UN has its own standing army unbeholden any member state.
Punchy
Hg and vax again? This wanton ignorance/dismissal of mainstream science hooefully seeds the death of these fuckers and their shitball party.
Forum Transmitted Disease
@arguingwithsignposts: The Meatmen are the most awesome band ever. Seriously one of my favorites. They have something to offend everyone. Hell, they offend me. They’re still great.
While they did not become congressmen, singer and founder Tesco Vee was a schoolteacher for many years and in between tours these days is a vintage toy dealer.
He wrote the first song – first anything, really – that I’d heard or read that addressed sexual abuse of children by priests in the Catholic church, did so in such detail and clarity I’m pretty sure he was a victim. Song’s called “Pope On A Rope”. Direct, Mr. Vee is.
Felonius Monk
Speaking of Dung Beatles with Disabilities — Does anyone know whether or not Sully has pulled his head out of his ass yet?
some guy
the idea that these numbskulls have any oversight on how the regulations regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders are formulated and/or implemented makes me want to scream.
Bmaccnm
Will Senator FrothyMix (R, Third Ring of Hell) be accompanied by his daughter, Bella, during any of the negotiations?
PsiFighter37
I didn’t win the lottery. I has a big sad now.
Okay, not really, but it’s fun to daydream about what I could do with cash like that.
Alison
@PsiFighter37: How sad is it that for me the first thought is OMG I COULD PAY OFF MY MEDICAL DEBT. Which isn’t even that much, relative to others’ medical debt I’ve heard of, but even so…
This damn country.
Jamey
Fuck the disabled. They think they’re so cool with their swanky parking spaces, reserved bus seating, and cushy access ramps to everywhere…
catclub
@PsiFighter37: I think the psychic energy wasted on that daydream is the worst thing about the lottery. It sucks energy away from ‘since I am not going to win the lottery, how should I get on with my dreams.’
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@efgoldman: Oh, that’s easy. NO.
redshirt
I’m the first one with The Simpsons reference?
GOD: YOU WILL CARRY TWO OF EVERY CREATURE ON YOUR ARK!
Noah: Every creature? Even dung beetles?
GOD: ESPECIALLY DUNG BEETLES!
PsiFighter37
@Alison: I have this very elaborate plan set up if I ever do win the lottery in a sizable amount. I think it’s an epic idea, but until it happens (aka very likely never), it’ll be just that – a dream.
And hey, maybe no one won tonight, so we can all go blow some cash on a seriously regressive tax again in a few days. Yeehaw!
Suffern ACE
@Alison: dream bigger! If you won the lottery, you could afford to hire one of those Philadelphia lawyers who could figure out a way to dispose of that debt in bankruptcy!
jibeaux
@efgoldman: we have a terrier mix guy of unknown provenance but likely something like that combo. He’s very smart but not in the way you want your dog to be smart, I.e. trainable. Has a high pitched annoying bark and a very strong prey instinct. As a puppy he was very mouthy, as in biting but play biting. He’s calmed down a good bit though and has a very sweet temperament now and has stopped trying to scrap with everything under the sun. But still stubborn and smart; he knows very well what “come” means but he might ad well be a cat for all the good it does you.
Mary G
As a disabled person, this makes me sick. Santorum did bring his daughter Bella along. Can they alienate every group in America that’s not a wealthy white male?
Probably.
Much to my horror I got redistricted into Darrel Issa’s territory. Just sent him a nasty e-mail and plan to maybe do a handwritten letter.
Alison
@Suffern ACE: Haha, it’s seriously not that much at all, just that with my piddly SSDI income it FEELS like a lot.
Anne Laurie
@Bmaccnm:
If you read the linked article, yes, Santorum actually brought his daughter to the press conference. GOPers love ‘crippled kids’ as props, they just don’t want them (or any of their kids) to make independent choices.
The part of their anti-UN jihad that isn’t about ‘OMG we might have to treat AIDS as an actual disability & not God’s punishment on the gheys!’ is about ‘First you insist our kids have to get an education, and next thing you know they’re rejecting all our sacred anti-science, abstinences-based Big Daddy authoritah!’
dr. bloor
Can’t be bothered with the Frothy Mix’s latest jihad when there’s so much inspired art to enjoy in the world.
arguingwithsignposts
@Forum Transmitted Disease: A friend of mine had We’re the Meatmen and You Suck, because he liked the song “One Down Three To Go” and played it a lot when we hung out. That’s where I heard “CCS.” Apparently they’ve reformed and are now touring again. I’ll refrain from offering my opinion on THAT phenomenon.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Felonius Monk: Oh, another easy one! No.
PurpleGirl
@dr. bloor: Do you ever have the idea that some people have too much (free) time on their hands?
Michael G
Way to combat that “republicans are assholes” image problem, Ricky.
Redshift
@Citizen Alan:
Oh, it goes back way further than that. Opposition to the UN and “one world government” was a major obsession of the Birchers.
One of my childhood memories is of a local 4th of July parade where there was a John Birch Society float with a giant Uncle Sam figure shaking his fist, with a sign reading “One Nation Under God — Not the UN!”
different-church-lady
Who the hell told you that?
Roger Moore
@Felonius Monk:
Is it worth asking? Any removal of his head from his ass is temporary. He’s like an ostrich, except that he sticks his head somewhere much less appealing than the sand when he gets scared.
Yutsano
@dr. bloor: Shamelessly stoled. And someone should warn Bnut.
Mandalay
Another wacko defending his right to bear arms is in jail…
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/minn-man-fired-shots-needed-17811802
Anne Laurie
@different-church-lady: It’s a metaphor. Hail Khepri!
TheMightyTrowel
@Mandalay: I particularly love the comment from the person nym’d “Careerteacher1959”
The US is fucking fucked.
Amir Khalid
I’ve just finished reading A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke by Ronald Reng. Enke, first-string goalkeeper for FC Hannover 96 and Germany, killed himself at age 32 after struggling for years with severe depression that was hardly helped by the psychological pressure of a life in top-level pro sports. Having had my own issues with depression, I found the book quite enlightening and I recommend it.
Shalimar
@gnomedad: Is it too much to expect a reporter to ask DesJarlais whether his views on fucking patients have evolved too? The hypocrisy on abortion is obviously the biggest eye-catcher, but he should have had his license revoked years ago for violating medical ethics repeatedly.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@arguingwithsignposts:
It’s a put-on. It always has been. Tesco is a very nice guy who happens to portray an unrelenting asshole on stage.
GG Allin, otoh, was actually like that.
Another Halocene Human
@Redshift: Apartheid-lovers. Never got over the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
Sarah, Proud and Tall
I just want to note that I am now getting ads for dung beetles …. So exciting.
Just One More Canuck
Didn’t Harry Reid say, “Santorum is Latin for ‘asshole’?
Omnes Omnibus
@Sarah, Proud and Tall: One can purchase dung beetles? Or are these ads trying to sell products to the discerning dung beetle (by which I don’t mean to imply that you, madam, are a dung beetle – although, if you were, I am sure you would be a discerning – I’ll just stop now).
Omnes Omnibus
Fucking moderation? Really? FYWP!
Original Lee
@Felonius Monk: It’s worrisome that Bloomfield Hills is worried about these bills. Bloomfield Hills is one of the wealthiest school districts in the state.
Interrobang
As a handicapped person in a world where anti-handicapped hate crimes are a thing, I have only one thing to say:
Fuck you, Rick Santorum. Again.
Del
@Mandalay: the worst part? The guy clearly executed the two kids after they each posed no further threat, ragged about it, and then didn’t even bother to call the cops until after the holidays.
And the guy’s friends say “he’s been through hell” and doesn’t deserve jail time? To hell with that, he’s just lucky none of the real victim’s family appears to be the vengeful type.
Full Metal Wingnut
Sadly, there is no known cure for dumb. Just quarantine the patient and make them comfortable. And try to reach any people who might have become infected.
Full Metal Wingnut
A friend of mine, in high school used to do this thing to irritate the piss out of this loquacious idiot in our class. While he was talking.
*sniff* What’s that smell? (Grimace). It smells like stupid (dry heave). Jesus, get smarter or something.
Y’all should start using it.
Full Metal Wingnut
@Chris: Shit never changes. Seems like they’ve been bashing the UN (and its similar predecessors) since the prototypical academic Democrat, Wilson. Who also helped give us the income tax! Damn those elite Dumbocrat thieves!
Full Metal Wingnut
San Torum, my boy. You were booted out. By an 18 point margin. 6 years ago. Get over it. Go home. No one likes you (except, inexplicably, my mother).
Full Metal Wingnut
@Mandalay: a statement like that, as far as I’m concerned, should be prima facie evidence of mental instability. That man should not be near a firearm.
jpeg
Has anyone heard about the electrocution deaths of soldiers in Iraq from a few years ago? I’m late to the game, but it sure pisses me off.
http://www.alittlerebellion.net/2012/11/29/urge-to-kill-rising/
Lex
If Dan Burton gives a rat’s ass about any possible link between Thimerosal and autism, he might want to subpoena Mitch Daniels, the former Lilly exec and Bush 43 budget director who <a href="slipped immunity against lawsuits over Thimerosal, which Lilly made, into a budget bill right around the time of 9/11.
I’ll be over here holding my breath until I turn blue waiting for that to happen.
LanceThruster
@Tara the Antisocial Social Worker:
Well said. Agree wholeheartedly.