No Longer Dodger-ing The Problem

Major League Baseball has taken over the LA Dodgers day-to-day operations in the wake of the bitter divorce fight between the team's owners, Frank and Jaime McCourt.

Once among baseball's glamour franchises, the Dodgers have been consumed by infighting since Jamie McCourt filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage in October 2009, one week after her husband fired her as the team's chief executive. Frank McCourt accused Jamie of having an affair with her bodyguard-driver and performing poorly at work.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig told Frank McCourt on Wednesday he will appoint a trustee to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the club. At the same time, Frank McCourt was preparing to sue MLB, a baseball executive familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because McCourt had not made any statements.

"I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club," Selig said in a statement.

A person familiar with Selig's thinking said the commissioner may choose to force a sale. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because Selig's statement did not mention that.

Baseball officials could not recall another instance in modern times when the commissioner seized control of a team from its owner. Before Tom Hicks sold the Texas Rangers last year, Selig appointed McHale to monitor the Rangers but technically left Hicks in charge of the franchise while McHale worked behind the scenes.

Even when suspending George Steinbrenner from the Yankees in 1990 and forcing Marge Schott to sell her controlling interest in the Cincinnati Reds in 1999, the commissioner's office allowed the owners to choose their successors as the controlling executive.

"This is one of the great franchises. It's hard to imagine a mess like this ever having happened," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. "It's a very sad situation. I feel very bad for baseball and for Bud."

Just goes to show you that custody battles hurt everyone involved.  Only this time, it's an entire baseball team.

I really don't have a hell of a lot of sympathy for folks in a divorce battle who are using one of the great sports franchises in the country as a chip on the high stakes table.  If you can't treat your franchise correctly, maybe it needs to go to someone who will care for it correctly.  Besides, if you have enough money to buy an MLB team, you're probably doing okay otherwise.

Well, except for the bloody divorce that's threatening to wreck the entire NL West.  First World Problems, we have a winner...

Befriending Barack

President Obama took to Facebook's HQ in California to host a social media town hall meeting and answer questions from America's younger voters on the budget.

The visit, part of a three-day West Coast trip to sell his deficit-reduction plan, is the first by a sitting president to the world's largest social media network.

Obama's trip to Facebook also signals his belief in the growing value of social media to spread his message, organize supporters and raise money as his reelection campaign kicks into gear.

"It would make our jobs a lot easier, if these were the days when a vast majority of the American audience tuned into Walter Cronkite at night and we could just talk to 'Uncle Walter' and get our message out there," White House press secretary Jay Carney said. "That's just not the case anymore."

The White House has leveraged an unprecedented array of traditional and new media, on a local and national level, to create greater accessibility to Obama and provide interaction with members of the administration.

The White House Press Office now not only produces a website, blog, YouTube channel, Flickr photo stream, and Facebook and Twitter profiles, but also a mix of original daily video programming, including live coverage of the president's appearances and news-like shows that highlight his accomplishments.

The administration launched an upgraded iPhone app and new Android app Tuesday complete with a feature that alerts users every time Obama is about to speak. The White House says more than 400,000 people have downloaded the app.

"What you're seeing on the Internet is transparency at its finest," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in an interview. "We are giving citizens across the country direct access to decision makers in the government." 

And it's a good thing, something Obama should have been doing since day one in office.  More stuff like this could have countered the Tea Party effect in 2010 if Obama had rolled up his sleeves and sold the health care reform plan more than he did.  Democrats did suffer last year because Obama chose his fights a little too carefully, and didn't vigorously defend his policies as much as he could have.

It is much better however to see Obama coming out with all guns on the deficit plan.  Here's the video of the town hall from ABC7 Chicago:



Obama was relaxed and I thought he really connected with the people there, and he made a lot of frank statements about the budget, education, and yes, once again he shredded the Ryan Unicorn Plan to bits.

More of this, please.

Hands Off My...Wait A Minute

It turns out Tea Party Seniors (you remember those folks yelling "Hands off my Medicare!" while calling health care reform "government socialism") aren't too fond of Paul Ryan's plan to change Medicare at all.  Some 70% of them are opposed to the Ryan Unicorn Plan's provisions cutting Medicaid and replacing Medicare with vouchers that don't cover the cost of health care for seniors at all.

In a McClatchy-Marist poll released this week, 70% of registered voters who identify with the Tea Party opposed making cuts to either Medicare or Medicaid -- the government-run health programs for the elderly and the poor -- to help reduce the nation's deficit. Meanwhile, only 28% of tea partiers said they'd be willing to cut spending on those two programs.

Tea partiers were not alone in opposing Medicare and Medicaid cuts. An overwhelming 80% of all respondents said they opposed such cuts, with a majority of every demographic measured in the survey lining up against them.

Ninety-two percent of Democrats opposed cutting Medicare and Medicaid, as did 73% of Republicans, and 75% of independents.

The survey only broke down the age of respondents into two categories -- above or below 45 years-old -- and found that both groups opposed the proposed cuts by a similar margin. Respondents under 45 years-old opposed the cuts by an 82%-17% split, while older respondents opposed them by an 80%-18% split.

But it's the Tea Party finding which sticks out as the most glaring. The Tea Party has led the charge to slash government spending, but the Marist poll suggests they're loathe to touch what amounts to about 20% of the entire federal budget.

Which means at best, the Tea Party isn't serious about reducing the deficit if it means any of them have to make any sort of sacrifice...that's for the rest of America to make.   At worst, it means they want to throw everyone under 45 under the bus to make sure they get theirs.

Seems about right.

StupidiNews!

• Japanese officials will begin strictly enforcing the evacuation zone around the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant this week.
• Scientists say like blood types, humans have three distinct intestinal types as well, affecting everything from diet to weight to susceptibility to disease.
• With gas prices approaching $4 a gallon, Americans are already saying they will drive less this year, especially those making less than $50,000 a year.
• Italian carmaker Fiat plans to up its share of Chrysler to 51% some two years ahead of schedule.
• Self-healing polymers that can actually close cuts to themselves under UV light have scientists excited. 

Last Call

Denver Post editorial cartoonist Mike Keefe took home this year's Pulitzer, and he should have won just off this one here:




Joel Pett of the Lexington Herald-Leader here in Kentucky was a finalist in the competition too, and of his entries, I liked this one best.

Hug a cartoonist, folks. Lord knows we need them.

Mr. Potato Head Goes It Alone

Republican Governors are a hard-headed lot.  This time around it's Idaho Republican Butch Otter who today declared by executive order that Idaho is not allowed to participate in the "socialist horror" that is Obamacare in any way.

The executive order issued by the governor Wednesday prevents any state agencies from entering into agreements with federal agencies over optional provisions of the act. State departments would also not be able to accept any money from the federal government to aid with development of Obamacare provisions.

Agencies may apply for waivers in order to enter into agreements or accept federal money, but Otter would have to approve all requests.  Those waiver applications would become a matter of public record.

It might be no surprise to some to see Otter take this step.  In his State of the State address earlier this year, he warned that the state should “push back” on the federal government’s health care reform efforts.

House Bill 298 was toned down from two earlier versions that failed to clear the Legislature due to concerns that the state doesn’t have the authority to challenge the legitimacy of federal laws.

And yet that's exactly what Otter is doing here, ignoring the long-standing Supremacy Clause in the Constitution, and costing Idaho residents millions of dollars in more expensive health care.  OK, Idaho, if you think you can go it alone, the other 49 states would like their Medicare and Medicaid money back, too, you know.

We'll see how far this law gets.

Now This Is Rich

...or not, depending on how you look at it.  Does earning $250,000 a year and being in the top 6% of income earners in the country make you rich?  Not if you're actually in the top 6%, apparently.  The NY Times Catherine Rampell:

I am constantly amazed by how little Americans know about where they stand in the income and taxing distribution. The latest example is evident in a recent Gallup study, which found that 6 percent of Americans in households earning over $250,000 a year think their taxes are “too low.” Of that same group, 26 percent said their taxes were “about right,” and a whopping 67 percent said their taxes were “too high.”

And yet when this same group of high earners was asked whether “upper-income people” paid their fair share in taxes, 30 percent said “upper-income people” paid too little, 30 percent said it was a “fair share,” and 38 percent said it was too much.

I understand virtually nobody likes to pay taxes, but taxes for the wealthiest Americans continue to remain at historic lows.  Yet two-thirds of the top earners complain bitterly about taxes being too high.  The obvious connection here is that $250,000 a year doesn't make you "rich" in America, even though you're better off than 95% of the country.

The less obvious connection is that the top 1% has so much wealth right now even the rest of the Top 5% is bummed.

Final Shot

Tim Hetherington, who had an Oscar nod for Restrepo, has been killed in Libya today while working on a project.  Sources differ slightly, but it seems Hetherington and at least three other men were caught between rebels and government soldiers.  The group was apparently hit by a rocket propelled grenade.  Hetherington was pronounced DOA from extensive shrapnel wounds.

Celebrating 4/20

First, let us celebrate what makes this particular 4/20 extra special.  Many of my geek friends had pointed out that yesterday was the day Skynet assumed control in the Terminator movie franchise.  Whew, thank goodness that milestone is behind us.  Or is it? (Cue shrieking violins and a Windows commercial)

And now, some highlights:


We started the year off strong, with Teen Mom 2 "star" arrested for pot in January.  A teenager, with pot?  I am shocked, just shocked!  I chose the most pinktastic teenage girl site for extra journalistic goodness.  You are welcome.


Curious as to the marijuana laws in your state?  Check an updated status here.  It's color coded so you can read it, even if you're stoned.  In shades of green, naturally.


Denver is celebrating today, with a day-long party.  This comes  the day before the annual convention of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which is drawing attention from many.  The article is also the source of the best random line ever: Hackey sack, while not an official event at the gathering, seems likely to take place.


NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) is having a special today.  You can join for only $4.20!  I don't even know what that means, but I smell... a bargain!  Awesome pic of Willy Nelson for a bonus. 


Meanwhile, our nation is divided on the topic.  Still, for all the pot smokers out there, this is your day!  Happy munching to you, and may your Pink Floyd sound extra magical and mysterious today.

Damned If You Do...

Washington (CNN) -- Don't like the way airport screeners are doing their job? You might not want to complain too much while standing in line.

Arrogant complaining about airport security is one indicator Transportation Security Administration officers consider when looking for possible criminals and terrorists, CNN has learned exclusively. And, when combined with other behavioral indicators, it could result in a traveler facing additional scrutiny.

CNN has obtained a list of roughly 70 "behavioral indicators" that TSA behavior detection officers use to identify potentially "high risk" passengers at the nation's airports.

Damned if you don't...

Among those behaviors is, of course, not complaining about airport security.  Because, in their infinite wisdom, professionals have determined that the terrorists might just  might have been trained to blend in, and therefore it is also considered a possible factor.  The TSA says their data is accurate, because one alleged terrorist complained about the airport and the 19 before him did not. I mean... I have a lot of adjectives for stupid (this job sort of requires it) but even I'm stumped as to how to label something with this many layers of idiocy.

Which leaves me wondering what the hell is wrong with these people?  Why not just watch people carefully and be on alert in case of emergency?  Also important, this is a massive violation of our civil rights, and sets the stage for even more trampling of our rights to search and detainment.  I agree that anything shipped on public transit is subject to scrutiny.  However, the TSA has had multiple legitimate complaints about how they treat passengers.

"Expressing your contempt about airport procedures -- that's a First Amendment-protected right," said Michael German, a former FBI agent who now works as legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "We all have the right to express our views, and particularly in a situation where the government is demanding the ability to search you."

"It's circular reasoning where, you know, I'm going to ask someone to surrender their rights; if they refuse, that's evidence that I need to take their rights away from them. And it's simply inappropriate," he said.

We need to nip this stupidity in the bud now, before it starts an upswing in stupidity outbreaks across the nation.  If criticizing loudly is considered an indicator of potential terrorist behaviors, I'm screwed.

War On Privacy: The Bad Guys Score A Point

DETROIT -- The Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is questioning the Michigan State Police's use of cellphone "extraction" devices.

The ACLU said MSP has used the devices to access information from cellphones that officers ask drivers they have pulled over to give them.

"It can contain information that many people consider to be private, to be beyond the reach of law enforcement and other government actors," said Mark Fancher, an ACLU attorney.

We have two disturbing issues here.  One is the ability of the police to adopt this practice without any apparent oversight.  Second, the people whose privacy is invaded don't seem to have much say about it.  So who really is policing the police?

The ACLU is asking why the state police is using devices that can gather data stored on cellphones, and why it is not telling the public about it. The ACLU said the devices could violate Fourth Amendment rights.

"There is great potential for abuse here by a police officer or a state trooper who may not be monitored or supervised on the street," Fancher said.

MSP released a statement this week that said it is working "in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act."

"The State Police will provide information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act ... there may be a processing fee to search for, retrieve, examine and separate exempt material ... ," MSP said in a statement.

Fancher said MSP priced that information, pertaining to five devices, at about $500,000.

"This should be something that they are handing over freely, and that they should be more than happy to share with the public -- the routines and the guidelines that they follow," Fancher said.

In other words, let's give them some time to invent a policy to cover their butts.  The FOIA is supposed to allow citizens access to information. I understand that if research isn't within the parameters of the stored data there may be some reseach.  But inability to publish standard procedure?  I gotta call BS yet again.

More importantly, I will be following up on how this is handled, and any punishments doled out.  Those pesky Amendments are acting up again.

Ignoring The Moose In The Room

I agree with Betty Cracker.  Donald Trump is the new hotness among the wingers, while broke-down Sarah Palin is struggling desperately to stay relevant.  After two years of moaning that the Un-American Liberal Lamestream Media was focused on her every glaring flaw (which is funny, because the woman is nothing but) now the complaints are that the press is ignoring Palin.

Maybe it's because she's crashing and burning in 2011?  Betty explains.

The Palinites aren’t quite ready to face the hard truth—their idol is tanking in the polls against a short-fingered vulgarian like Trump and assorted other absurd figures because even most of her mouth-breathing sister-humping supporters now realize Palin isn’t qualified to manage a Taco Bell.

To hide their hurt, they’re going after their favorite punching bag, the “lamestream media” that they once excoriated for being overly focused Palin’s every fart and nose-twitch. Only now, they’re all “you don’t bring me flowers anymore.”

Which is about par for the course.   Even Tea Party diehards have increasing reservations about Palin (and Michele Bachmann for that matter.)

ABC News' Amy Walter reports: A new ABC News/Wash. Post poll finds that in a head to head match-up against President Barack Obama, 70% of those who say they are Tea Party supporters say they'll vote for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president--compared to 69% for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Seeming Tea Party favorites like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, meanwhile, draw 61% and 60%, respectively, against the president.

Yep...Mittens and the Huckster do better against Obama among Tea Party folks than Moose Lady or the Bachmanniac.   And it's still a good 18 months until the election.  Expect much more whining from Sarah Palin desperately trying to stay relevant by interjecting herself into everything she can.

On the other hand, how does Palin "trump" this level of stupid?



The GOP clown car cavalcade continues.

Exciting New Horizons In Obama Derangement Syndrome

John Cole notes that 27% number of winger idiots has reared its ugly head again.

Remember the offensive monkey/Obama/birth certificate email sent by the OC teahadist? Guess what:

In an exclusive Eyewitness News poll, SurveyUSA asked Southern Californians familiar with the email whether they found it offensive. Seventy percent said yes, 27 percent said no.

It’s starting to get freaky.

And how could you NOT find that offensive?

And yet, that 27% says a picture of the President as a toddler with monkey parents is perfectly fine.  Angry Black Lady has some very choice words for Orange County, California in general.  Please note the Orange County Republican who sent out the racist picture in the first place apologized by saying she's not a racist, and really it's your fault for being offended and you should be like Jesus and forgive her.

Oh, and she gets to keep her job as a county party official.  Gotta love it.

Changing Tides

For the first time, a CNN poll finds a majority of Americans, 51%, favor allowing gay marriage in the United States but there are a number of caveats in the crosstabs.

Although more Americans agree on this issue, a generation-and gender-gap still remains. Sixty percent of Americans under 50 support same-sex marriage, but only four in ten of those over 50 feel the same. More than half of men are against legalizing marriage between gay or lesbian couples, but 57 percent of women are in favor of it.


There's also a partisan divide on the issue. "More than six in 10 Democrats support same sex marriage, joined by more than half of independents, but seven in 10 Republicans are against it," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The poll comes out just after Speaker of the House John Boehner moved to hire a conservative lawyer to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a pending lawsuit. The Obama administration said it believed that DOMA to be unconstitutional and would no longer have the Justice Department defend it in federal courts.

Also in the poll, 41% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.  Older Americans and Republicans are staunch opponents of both ideas, while self-declared liberals, college graduates, and people under 50 are proponents of both ideas.

This means as time marches on, both of these will be legalized at the federal level.  It may or may not happen in my lifetime (I think it will) but it will happen.

StupidiNews!

• One year after the explosion that sank the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and began the release of some 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf, residents are still looking for answers.
• Uganda is threatening to shut down access to social media like Facebook and Twitter if citizens continue to protest high food and fuel prices.
• As the NATO campaign in Libya enters its second month, both sides are digging on the eastern Libyan coast for an increasingly longer waiting game.
• UN officials are saying that Western countries like the US will have to continue long-term jobless benefits to avoid sinking the global recovery.
• Microsoft's Kinect Sports wants you to exercise enough to literally burn off the foods you eat by facing them in competition.