The Crows Nest
Crow's Nest Mostly Unmanned
Yes, I know the Crow's Nest has mostly been moribund since the site's relaunch. I do plan on using it more often in the future, I promise. I'll be spending a little more time on these posts as a way to link out to the blogosphere. Keep an eye on this space.
Also, please note that I've put the Amazon search bar on the main page, in the right sidebar. If you want to do some shopping at Amazon -- and who doesn't? -- be sure to shop through Captain's Quarters. Amazon does pay a small percentage of the sale to me, and it helps pay for a few sundries related to the blog. Much appreciated!
OpenCongress Web Widget
Ever wanted to announce your support or opposition to Congressional legislation? OpenCongress now has a web widget that allows bloggers to do exactly that. Take a look at this, and check out how easily you can build your own.
Maybe They're Flotation Devices?
The Australian Navy foots the bill for breast augmentations. The Labour Party would like to know why, and probably so would most of the voters in Australia.
The Thinking Blogger
Congrats to Fausta, who won a Thinking Blogger award. She thanks me for my friendship, but the truth is that Fausta makes it easy to be her friend. She's always positive and energetic, and she epitomizes the notion of a thinking blogger. Make sure to put her on your must-read list!
Ensign Calls For Return Of MoveOn Money
NRSC chair Senator John Ensign calls for Democrats to return all campaign funds donated by MoveOn, after their despicable New York Times ad today accusing David Petraeus of treason. "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs." Ensign's right, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the refund ...
Support The Al-Dura Petition
Roger Simon at Pajamas Media is circulating a petition to demand accountability for the discredited al-Dura report from France's Channel 2. This is, as Roger calls it, the "Father of all Fauxtography," and C-2 has never acknowledged its fault in airing the supposed murder of a Palestinian child. He wants C-2 to show all of the unedited footage of the incident in order to show that C-2 faked the murder. If they're resisting the demand, I'd say they have something to hide ....
There Goes The Undefeated Season
Notre Dame managed to get its first loss out of the way as soon as possible -- and as badly as possible. Georgia Tech came to South Bend and stomped the Irish, 33-3, in the worst home opener loss in school history. The offense fumbled twice and allowed seven sacks on Evan Sharpley, who must have longed to have Brady Quinn back on the field instead. If Charlie Weis doesn't turn this debacle around fast, he may want to start asking Ty Willingham for some career counseling ....
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Comments (13)
Posted by jpe | October 22, 2007 12:06 PM
I searched the site for that 94% failure rate, but couldn't find it. Specifically, I'm looking for what constitutes a deficiency.
At any rate, IIRC Bush was looking for a massive increase at OLMS, way out of proportion to other DoL increases or prior year increases to OLMS. Reducing his request is just budget management at work.
Posted by quickjustice | October 22, 2007 12:14 PM
This isn't even a surprise. The unions and the trial lawyers own the Democrat Party.
This is ONLY agency on the domestic side of the federal government that the Democrats have cut. Why is that, exactly?
Posted by Sage McLaughlin | October 22, 2007 12:15 PM
Fair enough, jpe. But if it could be demonstrated that the 94% failure rate was true, would you support substantially more oversight? Would you agree that a "massive increase" was necessary, since it's obvious that current levels are insufficient to the task? My guess is it's not the budget you object to, but the mission.
Posted by daytrader | October 22, 2007 1:46 PM
I will try to find the sats for jpe later but here is just one quick example from using a search engine to pick up one letter of repremand.
Posted by daytrader | October 22, 2007 1:51 PM
jpe
Here is a link to the page with all the compliance letter linked off of it, it may not be the stats, but at least you can go review some of the letters when you have time.
Posted by daytrader | October 22, 2007 1:56 PM
Here is an excellent summary of the program and it's purpose and a good view of their mission statement and goals with data on some of the historic performance.
Posted by daytrader | October 22, 2007 2:07 PM
Reducing their budget is of concern because union audits are only a part of their job. The also monitor federal contractors (for the left think of all those road building and bridge contracts) also wage standard compliance and many other areas.
All this will take a hit right along with union enforcement.
Posted by unclesmrgol | October 22, 2007 2:38 PM
It sounds to me like most unions are legitimate targets of RICO.
My daughter received a mail packet from SEIU indicating that, in spite of her non-membership status in the union, as a condition of her continued employment by LAUSD she would be required to pay full union dues. The whole amount would be deducted from her paycheck unless she opted out of paying the portion due for "non-representational" costs. They also indicated that she could dispute the "representational" costs set by the union before an arbitrator if she felt they were too high.
Thoughtfully, the union included a membership application with the letter. It did not include an "opt out" form, requiring her to contact the Union office if she wished such a form, and was even more vague on how to dispute the "representational" costs (only the paragraph stating that fact was present, and no process given).
I find the whole process to be vaguely like the late and lamented "do not call" list maintained by the government -- why should I have to affirmatively "opt out" of receiving ill-mannered calls from people I do not know during my dinner time, as opposed to "opt in"?
Posted by kingronjo | October 22, 2007 3:29 PM
unclesmrgol, consider your daughter a victim. Here in FL its a right to work state. I have no idea if that goes for teachers tho.
My wife is eligible for Union membership (federal Union). She opted out (thats a whole 'nother story on that process) a few years back but since changing offices she wants to join again to show soidarity for the hard work of her steward. When she asked the steward for the forms, including the form to opt out of the 'non-representational costs' she got the blank stare.
"ALL our money goes for YOU, none to politics," was the answer. Then she went up the chain of the Union, same "who me?" BS. My wife refuses to join now until those forms are forthcoming. The claim is there are no such forms. Anywhere. She will never see them cuz once she does, the rest of the office will opt out also. And the word will spread to other offices in the area how to do it so its worth her not being a member to them to keep the djinni in the bottle.
As a side note, she contacted her Congressman (a Republican) he was clueless and unhelpful. You would think every Republican Congressional staffer would have info like that on their fingertips.
And jpe, if Pres Bush asked to double the funding for an industry with a 94% financial audit failure rate that has 12% of the work force as members, that still might not be enough.
Posted by essucht | October 22, 2007 3:52 PM
I remember a few years ago the FBI claiming that 90% of unions had mob infiltration to at least some extent - so I guess it is no surprise they are hostile to the government looking into what they may be up to.
Posted by NoDonkey | October 22, 2007 4:04 PM
"claiming that 90% of unions had mob infiltration"
Back in my day, that number would have been 100%!
Those mugs are really sleeping on the job. Pathetic.
Posted by Mwalimu Daudi | October 22, 2007 4:51 PM
I guess that it's only fair that we drop the "do-nothing" label for the current Congress. Making the country safe for union goons is an accomplishment - of sorts.
Still, this small success pales in comparison to the failure of the Democrat Congress to meet al Qaeda's benchmarks. A previous Democrat Congress managed to aid and abet genocide in Southeast Asia after the end of the Vietnam War - surely the Democrat Party’s proudest accomplishment since fighting a war to protect slavery and enacting Jim Crow laws. That is the mark the current Congress strove for (and missed so badly) in Iraq. Bad show, lady and gentlemen!
Posted by eaglewings | October 22, 2007 7:21 PM
If Bush were smart he would merge this unit with a unit with higher funding, or excess funding, and then tell them to use the excess funding to continue their good work. It should probably be move to an OSHA section or some other DOL area of the law that libs would not be able to cut funding for, without a large hue and cry from their constituents.