Whew, what a relief…We were worried she might move on

Overpaid and well-connected, Betsy gets her contract renewed

With a $375,000 yearly salary, Betsey Bayless, as CEO of Maricopa County’s public health care system, earns nearly four times more than Gov. Napolitano at $95,000.

The $217,400 salary of the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court pales in comparison.

 Only the President of the United States, whose base salary tops out at $400,000 a year, earns more.

No wonder she’s smiling.

What now, John?

   

Activist judges HAVE redefined marriage, Mr. McCain

In 2004, John McCain was emphatic when he stated his support for a state marriage amendment, but reiterated his opposition to a federal ban on same-sex marriage, saying it was a state’s issue and creating a federal ban was unnecessary.

McCain’s sole caveat was if activist judges overruled the will of the people to keep marriage between one man and one woman.

That has now happened in California. Although a striking 61% of California voters supported a 2000 ballot measure, stating that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized, ” the California Supreme Court in a  4 - 3 ruling has now nullified their votes. New York Gov. David Paterson says his state will also recognize the legitimacy of those marriages ” performed in other states and countries” where they are legal.

During his presidential campaign, George Bush championed the federal amendment, saying it was necessary to defend the institution of marriage from “activist judges.” How prophetic he was!

But McCain argued on the Senate floor that there are “far less draconian” remedies, including the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act — which defined marriage for purposes of federal law as a union between a man and a woman and allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states.

He said if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act or “state remedies to judicial activism fail,” then amending the federal Constitution might be “appropriate.”

Well, here we are.  What say you now, John?

Business as usual: Costly border Swiss Cheese

We give them money, the crime continues

U.S. border governors–except for Janet Napolitano, who shrewdly claims a scheduling conflict– are meeting with their counterparts from six Mexican states in Mexico City for discussions regarding combating crime and enhancing border security amid increasing drug cartel violence in Mexico.

Betch’a a wall isn’t on the agenda.

The governors of California, Texas and New Mexico plan to “offer support” to Mexican President Felipe Calderon for his crackdown against the drug trade according to an Associated Press report.

Of course, Calderon, who has termed America as “swaggering, macho, and anti-Mexican.” wants a constant flow of unconditional U.S. dollars, some of which states have diverted to fighting our own crime problems–much stemming from the relentless influx of illegals into our country from his.

Meanwhile, President Bush has urged Congress to approve the first $500 million installment of a proposed $1.4 BILLION law enforcement aid package known as the Merida Initiative to combat increasingly violent drug crime in Mexico. The United States is incomprehensively funding a wall for Mexico’s southern border with Central America while leaving America’s border looking like Swiss cheese.

What a deal for the taxpaying citizens!

Ah, the many kindnesses of the Chinese government

China exempts grieving parents.

Meghan McCain’s wildly foolish fashion statement

The utter insanity of John McCain’s daughter sporting the keffiyeh, a recognized symbol of jihad is exposed by Michelle Malkin.

With Meghan’s own two brothers Jack and Jimmy in the US military, fighting against the very violence this garb of torture represents, she shows not only an absurd fashion sense, but an unfathomable naïveté for the daughter of a presidential candidate. Last we heard, John McCain supported the war on terror.

Also covering the subject is Debbie Schlussel. In one of the photos on this site, Mama Cindy smiles broadly alongside her inexplicably attired daughter.

Update:  Responding to pressure, Dunkin’ Donuts has pulled the Rachael Ray ad.

The infallible press fails again

Reliable news?

Daniel Scarpinato, writing for the Arizona Daily Star, gets his facts wrong. Really wrong.

Writing about the President Bush/John McCain Phoenix fundraiser attended by over 500 last evening and expected to generate over $3 million, he reported:

…..Bush went to host the McCain fundraiser at the Phoenix home of Jack and Dodie Londen. Dodie Londen was the first chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party. Jack Londen, a real estate and insurance mogul, served as a GOP National Committee member.

Unfortunately, Dodie Londen passed away January 30, 2006. Jack Londen has since remarried. Lynn is the new lady at the mansion.

 

George Orwell lives and breathes

1984 appeared quaint when it was required reading

The Department of Homeland Security thinks it’s a bad idea to use the word “liberty” when describing America’s foreign policy goals. Nor does it much like the terms “Islamist” and “jihadist.” Heaven forbid the federal government cause needless offense in the current war against, well, whoever.

Such are the recommendations on “Terminology to Define Terrorists,” a nine-page, “Official Use Only” memo issued in January by Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. It purports to represent the suggestions of a “wide variety” of unnamed American Muslim leaders consulted on the subject. And while it is not a statement of official policy, it neatly captures the sophisticated government thinking about its rhetorical strategies for what used to be called the “Global War on Terror.”

Now, thanks to the DHS brain trust, we are offered a “Global Struggle for Security and Progress.”

The Wall Street Journal ‘s Bret Stephens has written, Homeland Security Newspeak, which we highly recommend.

“Newspeak” is from the Orwell classic that was once required reading in every high school. Wonder if that’s still the case?

Maricopa County Attorney disputes politically motivated, baseless complaints

State Bar officer is also state elections director

In his petition for special action, Maricopa County Attorney, Andrew Thomas, argues that the Arizona State Bar and the judiciary are retaliating against his office because of his stance on Proposition 100, causing Thomas to go back to the courts to restrain the Bar. Proposition 100, a state law that denies bail to certain illegal immigrants, was passed in 2006 by an overwhelming 78 percent of Arizona voters.

“Proposition 100 is the law of the land today because I took on the judges who refused to enforce it,” he said. “I am going to fight for my rights as an American to criticize judges.”

The daily reports that to assist in making his argument, Thomas enlisted a former Arizona Supreme Court chief justice, a former Arizona attorney general and legal ethics experts from California and Michigan.

“All five said there were no merits to these so-called allegations.” Thomas said.

Same-sex unions: Not so much libertarian as libertine

 A particularly good essay: On California and marriage by John Mark Reynolds of The Scriptorium.

Subway discriminates against home schoolers

Every Sandwich Tells a Story contest

Write a story (about Subway, of course) and win a prize. Contestants must be between Pre-Kindergarten and Grade 6, and not home schooled!

Included here is an email message section to send a note to Frederick A. DeLuca, the president of Subway, Inc., if you so desire.

UPDATE:Subway apologizes :

“Regarding your concerns about the Subway contest that excludes home schools from contest eligibility, Scholastic and Subway apologize to all individuals who have taken offense at this. Our intention was never to make independent schooled children feel discriminated against or excluded from this specific promotion.

Throughout the course of the year Scholastic runs a number of contests and sweepstakes that are open to all teachers and students. The eligibility of this contest in particular was solely put in place to award a large group of children with the grand prize of $5,000 worth of athletic equipment. We do however understand how home- schooled children could benefit from this type of prizing and will make sure eligibility is open to everyone in future promotions.

We appreciate your feedback and will make sure a similar situation does not happen in the future.”