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News/Politics 3-25-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

I guess we’ll start with a modern medical marvel. Or something. Cool, but a little scary too.

From TheWallStJournal

“Inside a warren of rooms buried in the basement of Gregorio Marañón hospital here, Dr. Aviles and his team are at the sharpest edge of the bioengineering revolution that has turned the science-fiction dream of building replacement parts for the human body into a reality.

Since a laboratory in North Carolina made a bladder in 1996, scientists have built increasingly more complex organs. There have been five windpipe replacements so far. A London researcher, Alex Seifalian, has transplanted lab-grown tear ducts and an artery into patients. He has made an artificial nose he expects to transplant later this year in a man who lost his nose to skin cancer.”

“In additional to the artificial nose, Dr. Seifalian is making cardiovascular body parts. He sees a time when scientists would grow the structures needed for artery bypass procedures instead of taking a vein from another part the body. As part of a clinical trial, Dr. Seifalian plans to transplant a bioengineered coronary artery into a person later this year. His employer, University College London, has designated a person to oversee any future commercialization of it and other man-made organs.”

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The attempts to place further restrictions on individual rights continues, with the usual suspects/useful idiots.

From TheHill

“Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has emerged as a key player if Senate Democrats are  to have any chance of passing legislation to expand background checks for  private sales of firearms.

McCain and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) are at the top  of a list of Republicans considered most likely to sign on to legislation  expanding background checks after talks with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) stalled  earlier this month.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has signaled he will likely support the  yet-to-be-finalized proposal he negotiated with Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)  and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to expand background checks to cover private gun  sales, according to Senate sources.”

Meanwhile the NRA asks the obvious questions, and points out the flaws in the leftist idea of gunless Utopias.

From NewsBusters

“National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre asked a marvelous question on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday.

“Why doesn’t the national press corps, when they’re sitting down there with  Jay Carney and the president and the vice president, why don’t they say, ‘Why is Chicago dead last in enforcement of the gun laws against gangs with guns, felons  with guns, drug dealers with guns?'”

“Do you know where Chicago ranks in terms of enforcement of the federal gun laws?  Out of 90 jurisdictions in the country, they ranked 90th. Why doesn’t NBC News  start with, “Shocking news on Chicago. Of all the jurisdictions in the country,  Chicago’s dead last on enforcement of the federal gun laws?” Why doesn’t the  national press corps, when they’re sitting down there with Jay Carney and the  president and the vice president, why don’t they say, “Why is Chicago dead last  in enforcement of the gun laws against gangs with guns, felons with guns, drug  dealers with guns?”

Because it would be racist to do so in the mind of the Democrats that control the city.

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This one, if true, is certainly disturbing. But let’s face it, it wouldn’t be shocking.

From ChristianNewsNet

“An Oregon high school teacher was escorted from the building by police this week over what is believed to be related to his continued opposition to Planned Parenthood’s presence in the classroom.

Bill Diss is a math and computer science teacher at Benson High School in Portland, and has taught at the school for 11 years. Diss has also become known in the school for his opposition to Planned Parenthood since 2007, when he first began organizing efforts during after-school hours to stop the furtherance of the abortion provider in the community.”

“According to reports, last year, Planned Parenthood of Columbia Williamette began promoting its Teen Outreach Program (TOP) at Benson High School where Diss is employed as a teacher. In September, two representatives from the organization showed up at Diss’ classroom as they were hoping to speak to students. However, he would not let the representatives enter and asked them to leave.”

“Following Diss’ refusal to allow the representatives into his classroom, the principal and vice principal of the school paid Diss a visit and temporarily removed him from the class. The next day, he was forced to sit in on a Planned Parenthood presentation.”

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Cyprus and the EU have reached a deal.

From ZeroHedge

“While we have little color on what kind of carnage the President of Cyprus had to accept to his fellow countrymen, the news is that :

i) Laiki to be wound down;

ii) Bank of Cyprus to survive but with deposit haircuts, and

iii) deal would see secured deposits in Laiki moved to Bank of Cyprus.

In other words, a deal far worse than the original one proposed by the Eurogroup last week – when the banks still existed. The key appears to be the ‘saving’ of the insured depositors (crucial to avoid a pan-European bank run) and the crushing of the ‘whale’ depositors.

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And we’ll end with some lowered expectations.

From HotAir

“Obamacare official on exchanges: “Let’s just make sure it’s not a third-world experience.””

“A quick reminder about what I’ve been saying about the challenges of Obamacare exchange implementation, here and here.

Now, Obamacare feds are conceding the same. Gary Cohen, head of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, is the one charged with getting this bird off the ground, and has faced grilling from even Democratic lawmakers worried it will crash on take-off.”

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30 thoughts on “News/Politics 3-25-13”

  1. From Newsmax:
    It isn’t polls that matter, it’s the ballot box, Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, said on “Face the Nation” Sunday.

    “The polls that really matter are the polls that are taken when the people actually vote on this. When people have voted as late as 10 months ago, 30 states have put the natural definition of marriage into their state constitution on average by a vote of 67 percent,” Perkins said in response to questions that recent polls have shown acceptance of same-sex marriage gaining – even among Republicans.

    Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/tony-perkins-polls-gay/2013/03/24/id/496095?

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  2. That’s a good point and worthwhile part of the discussion, Chas, and although Tony Perkins is right (plus the fact God has already weighed in on the issue), I think the gay marrriage thing is a lost cause.

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  3. What this country needs more than anything else is a genuine Prophet of God.
    I believe that if a Jeremiah or Isaiah were to show up with a real authoritative warning, millions of Americans would listen.
    Our nation is crying, nay, desperate for leadership.

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  4. I was saying the gay marriage issue was a lost cause more 5 or more years ago. As soon as the issue was successfully framed in people’s minds in terms of providing “equal rights” to a segment of society, the resistance began to fall. I mean, who’s against equal rights?

    (BTW, I don’t think that’s what this issue is about at all; but it now has been widely sold and accepted on that basis by the electorate. Thus, the battle is essentially over. As someone said on CNN this weekend, it’s not “whether” it’ll be the law of the land but “when” it will become the law of the land. And I’d say in pretty short order.)

    And while it’s true that states have voted to retain marriage as between a man and a woman (even California, for heaven’s sake, which shocked a lot of us in ’08), polls also show that the support for traditional marriage is primarily among older voters.

    Younger generations already have widely accepted the concept that there can actually be a true “marriage” between people of the same sex. I don’t know that it can be walked back from such broad acceptance, though I suspect the clash of individual and religious rights it will surely spark will be a surprise for some and maybe cause some re-thinking of that and related issues. It will have a ripple effect.

    I know, just 10-20 years ago, who’d have thought?

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  5. And why do the younger generations believe this?

    Because public education told them it was so. They’ve been indoctrinated to believe it. Never mind that they can’t read, or do simple math, at least they’ve learned the important stuff. 🙄

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  6. It’s the effect of the Overton window.
    Or negative evolution, i.e. devolution.
    Or until the system breaks down, which is the Alinsky/Obama plan.
    “The issue is never the issue.”

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  7. I’d say perhaps an even bigger influence has been our entertainment media. And being gay has literally come out of the closet. Many gays of earlier generations were very discreet and blended into the culture without drawing attention to the issue (even if everyone pretty much knew they were gay).

    I remember working for a publishing company in Hollywood in the first couple years after college — most of my co-workers there were gay and the local gay pride parade was in its early years. It was “the” event of the year. And that’s been a lot of years ago now. So it hasn’t been overnight.

    But once it began to roll, it rolled fast, accelerating in the last few years. Only 20 years ago (I’m kinda old now so I can say “only 20 years ago” like it was nothing) domestic partnership were getting started in the city where I lived (again, an area with a very large gay population) — and they were quite controversial at the time.

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  8. But AJ points out one of those “ripple” effects of the issue — that it is being taught from one perspective in the public schools.

    Someone recently said as the years pass, all conservative Christians will look more and more “Amish” to the culture around them.

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  10. I share the negative outlook of the rest of you. Unfortunately, acceptance of perversion is rapidly spreading into the South, starting in the urban areas. I would encourage all parents with small children to look for opportunities to emigrate. Chile and Poland are at the top of my list. I do not want to live to see my grandchildren grow up in the US as it currently exists, and the US of 2020-2040 is almost certain to be worse.

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  13. Rush has just pointed out that if the 9 Justices decide that Same Sex Marriage is allowable and that any state level hindrances are not allowed the same problems as abortion will follow. Abortion was decided when a majority of 9 Justices voted that abortion was legal in all states. It was not decided by legislatures and the people of the states. Abortion has been a problem ever since.

    It doesn’t really take much foresight to see that this is the future of Same Sex Marriage. If it is decided by the Supreme Court there will be a long lasting fight just as there has been a fight about abortion. Is this what the Democrats want? A long lasting fight against those who do not accept Same Sex Marriage?

    Democrats/liberals here in the US have to have something to be for. That is their nature. They have to have something to fight and complain about. Good union people are always complaining about Management. Democrats promise to “Fight for _____!” OWS all saw that the “the banks” and “Wall Street” were out to get the little people.

    Where does this leave churches?

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  14. Bob raises the key issue in this case as to whether the Supreme Court will make a national ruling for or against sodomiite marriage. My guess is that the Court, having become badly mired down with Roe V. Wade and Casey, will find a way to to leave the issue up to the states where it has traditionally belonged.

    One of the key Amicus Curae briefs in the marriage case is that of Leonard Kass and Harvey Mansfield which states that social “science,” while claiming to prove that children are not adversely affected by sodomite couples, actually lacks compelling evidence to prove the point. In my view common sense proves that children are best raised with the benefit of complementary virtues of a father and mother.

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  17. The best summary statement of the Christian view of homosexual relations comes from the Catholic Church catechism as follows:

    2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.”142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

    2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

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  18. Sigh. Our la newspaper group held what’s called a live (online) chat at noon on same sex marriage (specifically on how publi opinion is so rapidly changing ) ; the invited guest was strongly pro same sex marriage and the only readers who chimed in were of the same opinion. Always love it when like- minded people just hang out talking to each other. Why not invite an articulate representative from the other side?

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  20. Looking at abortion and Same Sex Marriage and how people thought of abortion is instructional. When I was in High School, 1963-65, I didn’t think much about it. I saw not much wrong with abortion. I hadn’t thought it through.

    Somewhere in the 1970s I started to think abortion through and I came to the idea that it was a bad idea. By 1980 I am sure that I had decided that abortion in all cases was killing a person. By that time I had made the decision that Evolution was a bunch of Hooey.

    Do you think many people, especially young people, have thought through Same Sex Marriage?

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  21. Tychicus,

    Mayor Blumberg of NYC has decided that fat people are a burden for government, therefore government should act to help by getting rid of excess fat in foods and too much sugar intake.

    I take the opposite tack, don’t give away health care and then the government doesn’t have to worry about whether people are fat or not. Liberal government takes over things that are none of their business. MYOB or But Out!

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  22. When same sex marriage became the law of the land in Canada, surveys showed that the disapproval rate was higher than the approval rate among people over 35. As that group ages — the dividing line is now 45 — it becomes less and less an issue. Although as Robert points out, people do tend to become more socially conservative as they age, I just don’t see much of a change.

    I checked out the Teen Outreach Program and it seems beneficial and not related to the abortion services Planned Parenthood provides. In teaching, outside speakers and agencies are frequently brought in, some are worthwhile, some are time killers and some are questionable, however, if my administration brings them in, you’re expected to be a team player. My only problem from reading the linked article was the forms were sent home with his name on it. There’s no need to have the teacher’s name on an “outside” program.

    I hardly think the organization showed up at his classroom without warning and demanded access. His desire not to participate should’ve been worked out prior to the initial visit, by sitting down with his administration. Frequently my colleagues will refuse to participate in a voluntary or even academic program some for ethical reasons others simply because they can’t be bothered. In most cases, they work this out with administration before hand. If not, you pay union dues for a reason.

    Finally sometimes administration is just looking for an excuse to get rid of a teacher. If he was an award winning teacher, they would work around his personal values to keep him.

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  25. HRW, Richard Fisher, who is a Democrat on the Federal Reserve Board, has proposed that the “too big to fail” banks should be broken up. I support him. They didn’t grow large by the free market. They were artificial creations of the federal government that promoted merger after merger.

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  26. The reason large banks become dangerously larger is that the Too Big to Fail provisions of assorted law and regulations-especually Dodd/Frank – allow them to borrow at a lower rate than smaller banks. Smaller banks simply can’t compete with them. If the Too Big to Fail law passes these large banks will become smaller through market forces. There is no need to break them up.

    HRW’s points about homosexuality ensconced in Canadian law and younger opinion merely confirms the decadence of that once that once seriously Christian nation. When shcool teachers become shills in the classroom for the secular left, things have reached a laughable state.

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  27. The endgame for healthcare is that we will have a marginal quality single payer program paid for by the ever-shrinking pool of taxpayers. These same taxpayers, who pay for our marginal quality public schools, will probably be able to private pay for better care just as they private pay for better schools. If not, they will travel to a foreign country where they will private pay for better care.

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