NPR is David and Oil is Goliath, plus Peter King is a tool

I could take the Republican plans to cut federal spending if they weren’t fixated on Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS.  Do you know what it costs every American to fund PBS and NPR?  Would you believe $1.35 each yr for PBS and NPR is $.35?  As a comparison, here are some corporate welfare allocations being paid for by US citizens:

Oil Industry = $137/yr

Coal Industry = $27/yr

Ethanol Industry = $20/yr

Farmers = $17/yr

I agree that the U.S. Government should give up its funding for NPR and PBS, along with the gas oil, ethanol, and farm subsidies.  If I am a Congressional democrat or libertarian, I’d make sure they all go.  Though in full disclosure, I would maintain subsidies for alternative renewable and nuclear energy, as these industries are critical to our comprehensive energy policy and will be suffocated by the oil and gas industry without government intervention.

Looks like the EU, NATO, Arab League, African Union, and US listened to Diggapedia and have realized they need to get on the same page to intercede in the Libyan crisis.  With the Europeans and Africans taking the lead with implementing the action and with the US pressuring China and Russia, the best solution is within grasp.  Nicely done Mr. Obama and your intelligence, state and defense departments.

Dateline Wisconsin: Governor Walker and his fellow Republicans in the legislature deserve a political attaboy for how they played the recent battle with the Democrats.  Conversely, the absentee Democrats who went to Illinois ended up as political losers.  Of course these comments are based on the short term gains made by the GOP at the expense of the Democrats.  With recall campaigns underway on both sides, a major Democratic mobilization, and a drop in Walker’s popularity, this story is far from over.  On Saturday protesters were back in force at the capitol and Madison Police estimated the crowd at 85,000 to 100,000 people — along with 50 tractors and one donkey — by late afternoon.  A donkey?  I guess that makes sense when the governor’s an ass.

Five Fairbanks-area residents involved in a loose-knit militia group have been arrested in connection with a plot to kidnap or kill Alaska state troopers and a local judge.  I look forward to Representative King’s hearings into the growing radicalization of white militias.  Of course that won’t happen.  With regards to last week’s hearings, if Mr. King took this approach: Hearings into how the U.S Government can work with the Muslim community in identifying radical elements and preventing future terrorist attacks (48 out of 120 Islamic threats were brought to the authorities by members of the Muslim community).  Now that sounds collaborative and not targeted.

Dana Loesch, Tea Party mouthpiece was on Bill Maher Friday night spewing the usual talking points and drivel.  When the question of federal funding of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) came up, Loesch fired back with the usual TP (yeah word association I think of bowel movements and rectums) attack “Where in the Constitution does it say government can and should be funding the arts?”  It’s called Article One, Section 8: provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; and To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.  But applying Loesch’s logic, I could also say where in the Constitution does it give Congress the right to determine what marriage is?  The right to decide that a woman can’t have an abortion?  The right to decide when life begins?  The right to decide when schools should be closed?  The right to declare Daylight Saving Time?

We have a democratically-elected representative republic that we elect in two and four year cycles and a judicial branch to determine constitutionality.    Ms. Loesch if you feel so strongly about federal funding of the NEA, then file a complaint and take it to the Supreme Court.