Yearly Archives: 2012

The Very Very White Republican Leadership

Can you spot the hidden minorities in this collage of the first 19 Republicans named as House committee chairpersons for the 113th Congress?

The Republicans have taken some shots recently for naming white men as chairmen of all of the House committees. Well, that’s not fair. After the criticism arose, they still had two slots to fill, and they found a white woman, Candice Miller of Michigan, to chair one of them–House Administration committee. John Boehner described this person’s responsibilities as “ensuring that the House runs efficiently and smoothly”–or, as Jon Stewart said, the “Housewife.”

Miller (right) had been a member of the larger and more prestigious Homeland Security committee, and a subcommittee chairperson, and she wanted to become its new chairman. Normally, you choose a chairperson from the persons who have been serving on that committee. But in picking a chairman for the House Administration committee, Boehner had to look outside the existing committee. But hey, at least they now have diversity in the committee chairpersons–19 white men, 1 white woman, and 1 more chairmanship to go.

Actually, the Republicans have more diversity in the current House (which serves until January). Currently, the House chairmanships include 1 woman and 1 hispanic. That would be Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (right), a Cuban-American from Florida who chairs the important Foreign Affairs committee. She’s the ranking Republican woman in the House, serving since 1989. She had to give up her chairmanship because she had served her maximum of 6 years on the committee. Interestingly, they waived the limit for Paul Ryan so he could keep his chairmanship of the Budget committee. Since he’s a white guy, do different rules apply?

In addition to being a hispanic woman, Ros-Lehtinen is a minority in several other ways: she’s a Scientologist, she’s one of three Republican members of the LGBT caucus, and she was the first House Republican to suport same-sex marriage. Not, I’m assuming, a Tea Party favorite.

To be fair, the Republicans don’t have a lot of choices. Out of 235 members of the House, the Republicans have just 17 women, 1 black, and six hispanics. The Democrats alone have 61 women. In the 2012 elections, the Republicans lost 6 women, 1 black, and 1 hispanic. So their minority representation isn’t headed in the right direction.

John Boehner hasn’t yet named a chairperson of the Ethics committee (which, like Budget, has no subcommittees). I imagine he’s searching real hard for a woman or minority.

Anyway, here are the current (through January 2013) House committees, each of which has 2-13 subcommittees, each with their own chairpersons. I pointed out, with each committee, how many subcommittee chairpersons are non-Caucasian male. The Democrat line indicates not the chairperson, of course, but the ranking Democrat on the subcommittees. If you want to factcheck this, go to Wikipedia.

Agriculture (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 woman
Democrats: 3 hispanics, 1 black woman

Appropriations (13 sub-committees)
Republicans: 2 white women
Democrats: 2 women, 2 blacks, 1 hispanic, 1 asian

Armed Services (8 sub-committees)
Republicans: all white men
Democrats: 3 women, 2 hispanics

Education and Workforce (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 white woman
Democrats: 1 hispanic, 1 woman

Energy and Commerce (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 white woman
Democrats: 1 black, 2 women

Financial Services (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: 2 white women
Democrats: 3 women, 1 hispanic, 2 blacks

Foreign Affairs (8 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 hispanic woman
Democrats: 2 woman, 2 blacks

Homeland Security (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 white woman
Democrats: 4 blacks, 4 women, 1 hispanic

House Administration (2 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 1 white woman

Judiciary (6 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 3 black, 1 woman

Natural Resources (5 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 2 hispanics, 1 woman

Oversight and Government Reform (8 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 3 black men

Rules (2 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats:1 black man

Science, Space, and Technology (6 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 2 black women

Small Business (6 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 white woman
Democrats: 2 women, 1 asian, 1 black, 1 hispanic

Transportation and Infrastructure (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 2 black women

Veterans’ Affairs (5 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 white woman
Democrats: all white men

Ways and Mean (7 sub-committees)
Republicans: All white men
Democrats: 1 black, 1 hispanic

Intelligence (4 sub-committees)
Republicans: 1 woman
Democrats: 1 white woman

Share Button
Comments Off on The Very Very White Republican Leadership

Sometimes You Hear Something Fresh…NOT

While listening to ESPN on the way to work, I heard Mike & Mike interview a pro football player. He said something very profound, something I’ve never heard before. He said, “We just have to take it one week at a time.” Wow! Rarely have I heard something so original, so insightful…except from every other football player ever interviewed since the Dawn of Time.

Share Button
Comments Off on Sometimes You Hear Something Fresh…NOT

Gridlock USA

My guess is that the Dems and Reps will work out some kind of temporary fix to avoid the dreaded fiscal cliff, with a new fiscal deadline in 3-4 months. Then we’ll spend those months continually fussing over the same issues, and ultimately reach a VERY PROMISING deal which pushes a final decision down the road another 3-4 months…and after that, another temporary fix that puts another fiscal cliff at the end of 2013.

And by the end of 2013, after all kinds of pseudo-activity and countless meetings and innumerable press conferences and grand posturing, pretty much nothing will have been done.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the future of life in gridlocked USA.

Share Button
Comments Off on Gridlock USA

The Unseemly McCain/Graham Crusade

John McCain and Lindsey Graham are ferociously opposing the idea of Susan Rice being named Secretary of State. Turns out Rice has strong ties to the company that wants to build the Keystone pipeline. Why are McCain and Graham opposed to the Keystone pipeline? (I apologize in advance to the sarcasm-challenged.)

While we’re at it: McCain and Graham say Rice isn’t qualified to lead the Secretary of State because of statements–which everyone agrees were in error–made a few days after the Benghazi attacks. Statements she based on intelligence information she was given.

Let’s go back ten years ago. McCain and Graham both trumpeted the need to invade Iraq because Saddam Hussein, they insisted, was building weapons of mass destruction. They based this on years and years of intelligence assessments–not information based on an event a few days beforehand. Assessments which proved to be in error.

So, using their own barometer, on what basis are McCain and Graham qualified to lead, if they were so wrong in misleading the country into a war which has cost thousands of American lives, and ten of thousands of Iraqi lives?

Or does a different set of rules apply to McCain and Graham?

Seriously, guys, just back off from this petty, petty witchhunt.

McCain, of course, picked Sarah Palin as his running mate, so his assessment of women’s leadership capabilities shouldn’t be questioned.

Share Button
Comments Off on The Unseemly McCain/Graham Crusade

Among Mayans, Not a Lot of Concern

The only ones not worried about the Mayan calendar are the Mayans. In the Yucatan State in Mexico, which still has a large Mayan population, a Mayan cultural festival will be held December 21. They’ve already set the date for their 2013 festival.

Share Button
Comments Off on Among Mayans, Not a Lot of Concern

Even More Unlikely than Winning the Lottery

We’ve all heard the probability comparisons: “You’re more likely to die of a flesh-eating bacteria than you are to win the lottery.” A friend of mine wrote that you’re more likely to get struck by lightning while being bitten by a shark on a leap year, than to win the lottery. This morning I read that you’re more likely to be killed by a falling vending machine than to win the lottery (it happens to two persons every year.)

Have these been statistically verified? Are Snopes and Factcheck.org on the ball here?

I suspect not. In which case, we are all free to make up our own incredible odds. For instance (and this may sound more-than-vaguely like a Jeff Foxworthy routine):

  • You’re more likely to watch the Chicago Cubs play in the World Series…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to meet an American teenager who can find Botswana on a map…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to watch Michael Moore hosting a primetime show on FoxNews…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to spot a gay black woman in the crowd at a Republican convention…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to buy a piece of clothing made in the United States…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see Chuck Schumer avoid a television camera…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see Microsoft invent something totally on its own…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see Stephen Colbert break character…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to hear Rush Limbaugh praise Barack Obama…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to go through an entire church service without singing a Chris Tomlin song…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see Michael Vick go an entire season without getting injured…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to hear Donald Trump admit to being pompous and severely over-rated…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to receive a deduction in your cable bill…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to here Rob Bell described as “too traditional”…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see Bill Belichick crack a smile…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see a zombie movie win an Oscar…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to find a Walmart employee receiving full benefits…than you are to win the lottery.
  • You’re more likely to see the Post Office end the year in the black…than you are to win the lottery.
Share Button
1 Comment

The Superiority of Cats

Last Sunday, my pastor talked some about creation order, including Paul’s teaching that men have authority over women because Adam was created before Eve. And so I mused.

Cats and dogs were created before Adam. Therefore, our pets should have authority over us humanoids.

However, while dogs are too dumb to understand this, cats are fully aware of their authority and exercise it with reckless abandon. Cats, indeed, should be worshipped. And they know it.

Share Button
Comments Off on The Superiority of Cats

That’s Your Incentive?

George Zimmerman, the man charged in the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida, is running out of money. So his defense fund is offering a deal: if you contribute to his fund, you’ll receive a Thank You card personally signed by Zimmerman. And so I’m thinking, why exactly do they think I want Zimmerman’s autograph?

Share Button
Comments Off on That’s Your Incentive?

Criminals of a Different Feather

It was news that on Monday, there were no reported shootings or stabbings in New York City. Maybe the inactivity of Congress (a different breed of criminals) is setting an oddly positive example.

Share Button
Comments Off on Criminals of a Different Feather

More on the Great Global Warming Hoax

Wow, this is interesting. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we’ve had 332 consecutive months of above-average temperatures (compared to the average for the 20th Century). The last month with a colder-than-normal temperature was February 1985.

So, if you are 27 or younger, you have never experienced a month that was colder than normal.

During the past year, every land mass across the globe experienced warmer-than-average temperatures except for two places–Alaska, and the eastern tip of Russia.

Share Button
Comments Off on More on the Great Global Warming Hoax

Receive Posts by Email

If you subscribe to my Feedburner feed, you'll automatically receive new posts by email. Very convenient.

Categories

Facebook

Monthly Archives