Debt ceiling: Pure politics?

July 20, 2011

Courtesy of some guy who goes by the handle Americus Paulytics:

Here’s the count of how many Republican U.S. Senators voted to increase the debt ceiling the last eleven times it’s been done

1997: 55
2002: 31
2003: 50
2004: 50
2006: 51
2007: 26
2008: 34
2008: 33

Then Obama was elected.

2009: 2
2009: 1
2010: 0

Bill Clinton occupied the White House in 1997; George W. Bush lived there the next seven times the Senate voted.  Is there a trend here?

Is  that account of events correct?

Tip of the old scrub brush to Marion Young.

Leave a Comment » | History, Politics | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

August 3, 2011 – potential quote of the moment, Social Security

July 20, 2011

Artificial hip, UC Berkeley

“If Social Security checks don’t go out on August 3, it’s just old people. You know how they are. They’re just gonna blow that money on medicine and hips.” – Jon Stewart

6 Comments | Humor, Politics, Social Security | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

“Eat your peas, Gregor”

July 20, 2011

Gregor Mendel was born July 20 in 1822.

Google’s doodle honors the man now generally regarded as the “father of modern genetics.”  The Washington Post blogs note, “Rare is the monk who gets to be celebrated for passing down his genes.”

Oblivious to Mendel’s work and significance, and to much else in the world of knowledge, the Texas State Board of Education debates how to frustrate the teaching of evolution with hearings in Austin tomorrow, and a vote on supplementary materials to texts in biology on Friday, July 22.

Mendel would urge, pray for Texas and the children who will be saddled with the decision of the Texas SBOE.

Look up something about Mendel.  Maybe we could all learn something from him.

Google doodle - gregormendel11-hp

Google Doodle honoring Fr. Gregor Mendel, "father of modern genetics"

6 Comments | Biology, Evolution, Genetics, History, Science | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell