Think Keith Bardwell is an Ignorant Racist Who Should Resign or Be Dismissed? Seems You're In the Minority.

In part two of "Jesus Christ how much stupider can the people of Louisiana make themselves look?", a poll shows that 41% of people think that nothing should happen to the man who has single handedly revived the tradition of our great state receiving the spot light and shame at the same time. Granted, this is a WWL opinion poll (Link), not scientific, and wide open to multiple votes and abuse, but still. 41%? I suppose we should be grateful, someone told me it got as high as 53% for awhile. The poll is on the left of the article about the lawsuit the couple is bringing against him. Do me a favor and try to swing it back in favor of sanity.

I ask you, is this the face of a racist? He lets black people use his bathroom for Christ's sake! Well, his separate but equal segregated bathroom, not his of course. And it's really more of a half-bath, but you get the point. Black people take dumps in his house, and he's damn proud of it.

Dealing with the lawsuit, I'll admit, I cringed a little when I read it. They are perfectly within their rights to do so, and god knows I feel little to no sympathy for Bardwell. I just hate that I'll now have to deal with people rolling their eyes and saying things like, "Of course they sued. They probably went in from the get go planning on it." You're reading it here first. Anyone who lives in this area, just know that I called it. Thing is, it doesn't matter. Money may make their motives less noble (and I'm not saying this is the case, for all I know the suit is strictly about the principal of the matter), but Bardwell is still being a defiant, racist, asshole. Really sickening part is that he thinks he's being noble, standing up for a principle, the lone voice crying truth in the wilderness. Obviously, he has the local support to back it up, at least the vocal segment. I heard a woman on the radio this morning claiming that he told her mother this weekend that they never asked him to marry them, just if they could get a marriage license from him. The story goes that he, rightly as far as it goes, told them he didn't issue any marriage licenses. They took it as him not wanting to marry them and made an issue out of a non-issue. Only problem is, he is all over the news telling the story we've all heard by now. See? People are now making shit up to justify his actions. I really don't believe that he's admitting on national television to racism, but is ashamed to tell his friends and neighbors? No, the rumor mill and redneck spin doctors are out in full force, trying to make him out as the persecuted party. You can all bite me. Anyone who backs this idiot is single handedly helping to keep this parish, this state, and this country as backward looking as possible. Your doing great guys, keep it up!

Last thought, anyone want to bet this guy's a birther too? I got a hundred dollars that if you ask him, he has, "serious doubts" about Obama's nationality. Just saying.

Tort Reform Makes a Great Sounding Counterpoint, Doesn't It?

Thing is, it's not the magic bullet the GOP wishes it was. To be fair to everyone, even if would make a huge difference, it still wouldn't have a chance in hell at getting passed. Considering that Lawyer seems to be a very popular profession amongst our legislators, as well as the fact that the ABA has mucho pull, any meaningful tort reform is, and will be DOA. At the same time, and this is just personal speculation, every time I hear a legislator talk about it, I just know that while it sounds like they're talking about protecting doctors (a noble goal, hell my Dad's one), they will sneak all their corporate buddies onto that same train. I'll talk about that further on, but trust me, that's a horrible idea.

But what if the Legislative branch was full of doctors? We know they'd pass it in a heart beat. What would the ultimate savings for the country be? According to FactCheck.org, around 0.5% (Link). Sure it's savings, but it is hardly the answer that will, or even could replace the public option in any meaningful reform. By all means, include it. I have absolutely no problem with that. But realize that it's impact will be negligible.

As for my personal feelings on tort reform, here is another one that I'm conflicted about. Well, not so much conflicted as of two opinions, depending on circumstances. What can I say, I'm complicated. Anyway, on the one hand, I think there should be reasonable limits on how much you can be awarded, as well as rules to discourage frivolous suits. But let me clarify. That really only covers suing individuals and small businesses. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I'm all for the ability to sue the living crap out of any Mega-Corp that makes it's living killing and exploiting people. You know, Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, ummm, Health Insurers.  The system that allows them to exist is so broken as to be laughable if it wasn't so serious. Suing them out of existence is extremely justified. Replace them with corporations that are just as big if you want, but make sure these new entities understand that there are rules in a civilized society, and the failure to follow those rules will result in severe penalties. As it stands now, we have allowed our social contract to degenerate back to the days of "might makes right." Only instead of the village strong man or the government oppressing us, we've allowed business to dictate terms. It has to stop, and the only way to make sure it will is to draw a line in the sand. It's not socialism, it's not radicalism, it's not contrary to American values. In fact, I'll argue that fighting the soulless corporations is the highest expression of liberty and justice in our nation today. You want to be a new founder? You want to save the country? Start by passing Health Reform. Your children and grand-children will thank you.

Alan Grayson: Gotta Admire the Guy

OK, so Alan Grayson is starting to make more waves, and it's for very good reasons. When I first saw his "Don't Get Sick" speech, I had two thoughts. One was that here was the Dem version of Joe WIlson, albeit a more polished one.  Dems just don't say things like that and mean it. It had to be for the attention. Second was that I didn't care about his motivations. For me, though I doubt this tracks for Joe Wilson's supporters, there is a difference between what Grayson and Wilson did. Grayson actually had facts and figures to back up his claim, and he made it on his time, not interrupting anyone. You know what though? Reading that back, that's bullshit too. This supposed lost age of civility in our public servants ranks up their with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. We hear a lot about it, but no one reputable has ever really seen it.  Historically its a fiction, and the quicker we realize and discard that fact, the quicker we can stop getting our feelings hurt when we hear something we don't like.

Back on track, Grayson is finally taking the GOP game plan and throwing it back in their faces. If your offended by what he said, if you really think he needs to apologize, I have two words for you. Michelle Bachmann. This loon talks about the stupidest shit I've ever heard. No one tracks her down and demands she apologizes for telling her fever dreamed version of the truth.  She is told to shut up, and to quit wasting air that productive human beings could use, but no one tells her to apologize. Even in the midst of the death panel crap.

Grayson's study is not partisan, it is not made up, and it is not slanted. It tells the simple story of people who can't afford or are dropped from their insurance who die as a result. Grayson is telling you the truth, in a way that hopefully will shock people into action.  If what he said offends you, then I suggest you quit following politics. Your skin is way to soft.

I admire Grayson, if for no other reason than he is the first Dem I've yet to see who acts like he is in the party that won in the last election cycle. If all of them would grow a pair like him, even if its just for publicity's sake, this issue would be done and we would have the health care we are entitled to.