Day: May 22, 2005

Washingtonienne Outs GOP Official as Fan of Spanking

Jon Ponder

Karena’s Blog:

Last year, Robert Steinbuch, legal counsel to right-wing Republican Senator, Mike DeWine, ended up in this girl’s blog. Jessica Cutler, an aide to (R) Mike DeWine, wiled away her office hours blogging about her sex life. According to Cutler, who blogged under the pen name, The Washingtonienne, six men on Capitol Hill were her current lovers, including one Bush appointee.

Her tale included lurid details of sex-for-pay, anal sex, and bondage. On her blog, she referred to her lovers by initials only. DeWine fired Jessica for improper use of Senate computers and other bloggers, including Wonkette, who exposed the story, and Calico Cat who uncovered details about “RS,” launched the story into the blogosphere. The lover that Jessica referred to as “RS” was quickly identified as Robert Steinbuch. However, it was already known around the Senate office that the pair were engaged in randy sleep-overs. Jessica had blabbed to her office mates about Robert’s passion for spanking.

Robert Steinbuch, now Senior Deputy Counsel for the IRS, claims he suffered emotional trauma and humiliation when Jessica revealed the lurid details of their sex life on her blog. In his suit, posted by The Smoking Gun, Robert Steinbuch says, “It is one thing to be manipulated and used by a lover. It is another thing to be cruelly exposed to the world.” You can read the entire legal filing on The Smoking Gun.

What is Steinbuch thinking? First of all, this cruel exposure happened over a year ago and no one even remembers this guy. Jessica has a book deal, but who the heck would buy her book? And even if it’s a best seller, what private details were in her blog and upcoming book that could have caused this recent bout of emotional distress for Steinbuch?

What’s behind this lawsuit? I find it hard to believe that “hand-cuff man” just wants his day in court. Why would he put himself through that mess? Maybe the right-wing is trying desperately to prove they’re heterosexuals. Maybe that is why Ms. Mary Carey is going to Washington. Bring out the babes to detract from Jimmy Jeff Guckert Gannon, Neal Horsley, and horse wanking “W”. Is this part of a well-orchestrated Rovian plot to out right wingers as heterosexuals?

Because We’re Republicans, That’s Why

Trish

Arnold’s going nationwide in his Rules Were Meant to Be Broken Tour.

Today’s Miami Herald says what Arnold and Jeb are doing doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to make money.

The California governor is trying to raise about $30 million for three ballot initiatives designed to help him bypass the legislature by setting up an independent commission for redistricting, increase qualifications for teacher tenure and impose a spending cap on the state budget.

The fundraising swing will also take Schwarzenegger to Orlando, Chicago and Dallas in the next three days.

Critics say both Bush and Schwarzenegger are hypocrites. They note Bush doesn’t support Democrat-backed efforts in Florida to create an independent redistricting commission, and he has called for rolling back the citizen initiative process, saying it has been corrupted by out-of-state money. ”The hypocrisy is thick,” said Ned Wigglesworth, from the California campaign finance watchdog, therestofus.org.

Even talk-your-way-out-of-any-contradiction Jeb seems unequal to the task of explaining how this one could possibly be consistent with his efforts in Florida.

He wouldn’t comment on the criticisms, responding to a Herald reporter’s email only by saying: “I support the governor.”

The end is in sight for Florida at least (read on). Let’s just hope the Bush dynasty ends for the nation too.

The Countdown’s On in Florida

Trish

Blistering, wonderful editorial in today’s Daytona News-Journal about Florida’s 2006 governor’s race. We’re all, it turns out, counting the days to the end of Jeb’s reign.

In 592 days, Florida gets a new governor.

Just thinking about that will put you in a good mood. Consider the possibility — a governor who wants to help not only businesses, but also citizens. A governor who would save the state’s natural beauty, not pave it. A governor who wants to fill the Capitol with good public servants, not empty out government buildings.

Don’t get me wrong. Gov. Jeb Bush isn’t all bad. He’s bright, witty and dedicated. But Bush runs state government as though it’s a conservative think tank, every action taken to comply with a hide-bound Republican ideology.

He breaks a long-standing Florida tradition of governors more concerned with solving problems than following political orthodoxy — and the state has suffered for it.

Now, that’s what I’M talking about!

Why I’m a Vegetarian

Trish

English scientists have discovered that so-called farm animals are much brighter and more aware than meat eaters would prefer to think.

ABC News:

One sheep who got a reward every time she recognized a human face correctly on a video screen scored a perfect 50 out of 50.

“If it was a monkey, no one would have any problems, possibly even if it was a dog,” said Keith Kendrick, a neurologist at Babraham. “They would say, ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s expected.’ But a sheep, no one really believes.”

And it’s not just sheep.

Hamlet the pig is a computer wiz. He gets a reward every time he uses a joystick designed for a chimp to move a cursor into a blue area on a computer monitor. A Jack Russell terrier couldn’t achieve such a task after a year of trying.

…chickens can be taught to run the thermostat of the chicken coop, and even the lowly cow has a surprising inner life.

Cows have been known to form lifelong friendships, and one recent study found that they actually show excitement when they’ve learned something knew “as if they’re saying, ‘Eureka, I found out how to solve the problem,’ ” said Donald Broom, a professor at the University of Cambridge.

The reporter goes on to wonder if it’s therefore wrong to eat animals, and gets the obligatory views from both sides, with pro-carnivores taking the day with the tried and true, “Huh-huh, yeah but” argument.

Insisting they are just dumb animals with no thoughts or feelings is necessary to be able to tune out the cognitive dissonance that comes from loving animals but eating them. Anyone with a backyard bird feeder knows animals have complex lives and relationships, and problem-solve better than some humans (hey squirrels, I’m talking to you).

The argument that God put animals here for people to eat is right up there with “God put women here to serve men” and “God put black people here to ride in the holds of ships and serve white people on the other shore.”