Pelosi's Hypocrisy on Wage Bill

From the Washington Times.

House Republicans yesterday declared "something fishy" about the major tuna company in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district being exempted from the minimum-wage increase that Democrats approved this week.
"I am shocked," said Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican and his party's chief deputy whip, noting that Mrs. Pelosi campaigned heavily on promises of honest government. "Now we find out that she is exempting hometown companies from minimum wage. This is exactly the hypocrisy and double talk that we have come to expect from the Democrats."
On Wednesday, the House voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
One of the biggest opponents of the federal minimum wage in Samoa is StarKist Tuna, which owns one of the two packing plants that together employ more than 5,000 Samoans, or nearly 75 percent of the island's work force. StarKist's parent company, Del Monte Corp., has headquarters in San Francisco, which is represented by Mrs. Pelosi. The other plant belongs to California-based Chicken of the Sea.
"There's something fishy going on here," said Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican.
During the House debate yesterday on stem-cell research, Mr. McHenry raised a parliamentary inquiry as to whether an amendment could be offered that would exempt American Samoa from stem-cell research, "just as it was for the minimum-wage bill."
A clearly perturbed Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who was presiding, cut off Mr. McHenry and shouted, "No, it would not be."
"So, the chair is saying I may not offer an amendment exempting American Samoa?" Mr. McHenry pressed.
"The gentleman is making a speech and will sustain," Mr. Frank shouted as he slammed his large wooden gavel against the rostrum.
Some Republicans who voted in favor of the minimum-wage bill were particularly irritated to learn yesterday -- after their vote -- that the legislation did not include American Samoa.
"I was troubled to learn of this exemption," said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, Illinois Republican. "My intention was to raise the minimum wage for everyone. We shouldn't permit any special favors or exemptions that are not widely discussed in Congress. This is the problem with rushing legislation through without full debate."
A spokeswoman for Mrs. Pelosi said Wednesday that the speaker has not been lobbied in any way by StarKist or Del Monte.

Senate Ethics Bill More Than it Seems

Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family is reporting that senate ethics bill S.1 will do more than just rid Washington of unethical behavior, it will also curb free speech for private citizens by limiting the ways they can stay up to date of what goes on in Washington. From Citizen Link"

At issue is S. 1 -- the first bill the newly Democratic Senate will consider next week. While much of the bill, which aims to clean up recent lobbying scandals, is good, it contains a provision that would severely limit the ability of Americans like you to stay abreast of important issues being discussed and voted on in Washington.

It also would subject groups like Focus on the Family Action to miles of red tape that could critically hamper our ability to rally concerned Americans like you to make your voices heard by your elected officials. We could even face $100,000 fines for running afoul of the oppressive regulations.

"Clearly, the objective here is to hide what goes on from the public," Dr. Dobson says on today's edition of his daily radio broadcast. "And to punish and silence those of us who would talk about what the Congress is doing."

The actual wording of the bill can be read here.
Very interesting...about what I would expect from those now in power.

UPDATE: American Family Association has more info here.

At Long Last....the iPhone!

Apple has just announced the unveiling of their latest have-to-have gadget, the iPhone, at the annual Macworld Expo. It is part ipod/pda/phone/web browser all rolled into one. Macworld has all the details about the latest and greatest updates from the coolest company around here. CEO Steve Jobs announced that Apple Computer has officially changed their name to Apple Inc. More info on the whole shebang here.

An Iranian Impeachment?

Wizbang is reporting that members of the Iranian parliament are calling for the impeachment of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Hopefully the 72 signatures needed for an impeachment summons can be had.

A New Direction For America

The Democrats New Promise: "A New Direction For America"

The stock market is at a new all-time high and America's 401K's are back.
A new direction from there means, what?

Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Oil prices are plummeting.
A new direction from there means, what?

Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means, what?

The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means. what?

Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means, what?

Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means, what?

Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not surfaced
in years, if he's alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda's top dogs are either dead
or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means, what?

Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel,
including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded
in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the
9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means, what?

Just as President Bush foretold us on a number of occasions, Iraq was to be
made "ground zero" for the war on terrorism -- and just as President Bush
said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are arriving from the
shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces
blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the
United States to wage war on us here.
A new direction from there means, what?

Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:

-The economy to go South
-Illegals to go North
-Taxes to go Up
-Employment to go Down
-Terrorism to come In
-Tax breaks to go Out
-Social Security to go Away
-Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone

But what the heck!
I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward K,
Howard D, Harry R and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive
National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay Rights Plan,
Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance of Everyone and
Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U.S. in The Next Six Months Plan,
A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name and a How
Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan.
I forgot the No More Katrina Storm Plan.

Now I know why I feel good after the elections. I am going to be able to sleep
so much better at night knowing these dedicated politicians are thinking of me
and my welfare.

Arizona State & 'North Americanists'

According to their website, Arizona State University is advocating for a borderless North America, even calling for a common currency and a unified military. World Net Daily has the entire scoop here.

Catholics Standing up

This is a great picture, unabashedly standing up for the truth of Catholicism. Thanks to What Would Charles Martel Do? for the link.

What a Contest!

Thanks to the Infidel Bloggers Alliance for this photo and contest.
The Los Angeles Billboard Project is here.
Do you know about this? Pretty disturbing. A Muslem states his case. The religion of peace is here.
A great picture.

The Ashley Treatment, aka Eugenics

Meet Ashley, a nine-year-old disabled girl who's parents have had hormone surgery performed on her so that she will not grow past her 4 ft 5 in, 75 lb frame, even though she has a normal life expectancy but the brain capacity of an infant. As part of her "treatment" she has had a hysterectomy, high-dose estrogen treatment and removal of her breast buds. Doctors have diagnosed her condition as “static encephalopathy of unknown etiology”. In layman's terms it means her mental and motor skills have never developed. All this her parents claim is for Ashley's benefit and not their own ease or convenience. The family has refused to disclose their names, only stating that they are both "college-educated professionals". Read more here and here, and her parents blog here.
Even if her parents intention is solely for Ashley's benefit, something still rings me as morally lacking here.

Political Websites

Amidst all the hype about who is running for president in '08, here are two sites to help iron out the confusion over the potential candidates and where they stand on the issues. On The Issues and Political Derby are very informative.