And Now, For The Next Week...

... It's going to be All Teddy, All The Time!

Featuring assorted politicians trying to take advantage of Yet Another Dead Kennedy.

Prattling about Teddy's "legacy", and "what Teddy would have wanted", etc.

Mary Jo, of course, is not available for comment.

Pfui.

The Presidential Snitch Program

I know that I haven't posted for a while - just feeling lazy, I guess.

But guess what? I'm baaaack!

I got the below from the Whitehouse official site, HERE. I'm going to write a comment to it, and send it off to Flag at Whitehouse dot gov.

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Dear Mr. President,

Facts are indeed "stubborn things", Mr. President. Among them are that nasty old thing known as "The Privacy Act", which was passed in reaction to President Nixon's infamous "Enemies List". Among it's provisions are that no branch of government may gather and keep data on private citizens' political speech.

Now then, Mr. President, you are President of the United States. That is an official position within the Government of the United States. Therefore, the provisions of the Privacy Act regarding political speech apply to you, as noted in the following:

(e) Agency Requirements.— Each agency that maintains a system of rec­ords shall—…

(7) maintain no record describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity;

You would do well to keep the above in mind.

I, Sir, decline to participate in this patently illegal "snitch" activity, save in one way. I must, Sir, report myself as being the perpetrator of a vile, disgusting rumor regarding your so-called "reform" of health care.

Here's the rumor:

"President Obama is attempting, with his attempts at 'reform' of health care, to make a daffy down dilly from whole cloth, and furthermore, he swears up and down that the result will smell as sweet as a real rose."

/s/ {full name and address redacted from this post}