Reason Morning Links

- Horse masseuse wins economic freedom case in Maryland.

- This seems right: Obama should pick a Supreme Court nominee with actual trial experience. None of the eight remaining justices do.

- GM loses $6 billion in the first quarter of 2009.

- Obama's "line by line" review for waste in the federal budget yields a minuscule $17 billion in cuts….

-  ….and he then asks for major spending increases in virtually every other area.

- U.S. gets its first successful face transplant patient.

- Bank of America needs another $34 billion in bailout money.

Comments

[Vines & Cattle]

But who will save the horse dentists?

[Kyle Jordan]

Is it me, or are things moving past the point of being ridiculous and idiotic to surreal?

[Xeones]

Can't blame BofA here. I could really use $34 billion myself.

[Gilbert Martin]

"? Obama's "line by line" review for waste in the federal budget yields a minuscule $17 billion in cuts...."

Gee I wonder how it is he could have overlooked something like the Davis-Bacon Act, which has been an enormous waste of the taxpayers money for about 70 years now. It's nothing more than a political giveaway of the taxpayers money to labor unions, essentially making taxpayers pay for overpriced union labor on every federal construction contract.

Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that Obama is a labor union butt-boy.

[Fluffy]

Is it me, or are things moving past the point of being ridiculous and idiotic to surreal?

The Robert Charles Wilson short story "Divided by Infinity" offers one possible explanation for this phenomenon.

[JP]

This face transplant is especially interesting because (unlike the woman in France) this woman had lost not only soft tissue but large amounts of underlying bone structure, since her husband shot her in the face with a shotgun. Everything down from the lower rims of her eye sockets was gone.

[FrBunny]

Fluffy,

Is DbI available to read online? It's not available on Wilson's site or through a quick Google.

[Kyle Jordan]

FrBunny,

I was searching too but came up empty. And holy Hell on the face thing. I have to read that link now.

[James Ard]

No matter what political spectrum the scotus pick comes from, I expect Obama's press corp butt buddies will insist that they are a moderate. I doubt Obama will poison the well this early with a radical lefty, he's got at least two more picks to get his empathy justices.

[Fluffy]

http://books.google.com/books?id=P15cRWeK_gwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=gardner+dozois#PPA161,M1

It's in the 16th Dozois anthology. It starts on page 161. I don't know if the Google Book includes the whole story.

It's quite clever, really.

16 also includes "The Days of Solomon Gursky" which is to me pretty much the definitive fictional treatment of issues around trans-humanism, which I know is a Hit and Run favorite topic, so if you're into that subject it's also a good read.

[P Brooks]

But the more likely outcome, budget analysts said, is that few to none of the programs targeted by Obama will be terminated. Presidents from both parties have routinely rolled out long lists of spending cuts -- and lawmakers from both parties routinely ignore them.

!!!!!!!

[Nick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090507/ap_on_re_us/us_flight93_memorial

Why does the Flight 93 Memorial require 2200 acres? It seems to me they could do this right with about 50 acres.

[Warty]

Note to self: when shooting people in the face with a shotgun, do not use birdshot.

[P Brooks]

Note to self: when shooting people in the face with a shotgun, do not use birdshot.

Maybe the guy didn't have a claw hammer readily available.

[P Brooks]

Radley-

The GM link goes to the SCOTUS story.

[Warty]

The monster lady's husband managed to fail at both parts of a murder suicide. WTF, how shitty do you have to be to get it completely wrong?

[?]

Is it me, or are things moving past the point of being ridiculous and idiotic to surreal?

We're past that. We're sub-real now.

The era of giant floppy boobs on crutches is over!

[R C Dean]

Bank of America needs another $34 billion in bailout money.

I believe BofA is disputing this. I also believe that most of the alleged shortfall can be made to go away if the government's current TARP "loan" is converted to common stock. Quelle surprise, non?

[P Brooks]

Here's a good one

Four years after paying $2 billion to extricate itself from a partnership with Fiat, General Motors is seeking a stake in the Italian automaker in exchange for its Latin American and European operations.

NYT

That should help.

[Pro Libertate]

Why do justices need to have trial court experience? I'm far more interested in them having appellate experience.

The idea of sticking a politician with no judicial experience, something that's been getting pushed in some circles, is a bad idea.

[Nick]

The monster lady's husband managed to fail at both parts of a murder suicide. WTF, how shitty do you have to be to get it completely wrong?

Well, Warty, most people narrowed their POTUS vote to Obama and McCain, so...

[oldtimer]

Look like the Bush spending was spot on, only 17 B worth of waste. Not bad, for a guy that got lots of criticism for his blatant "Big Government" spending. Bushites were lean and mean, as is the new administration.....'Course we could move the 17 B off budget and we wouldn't have to cut anything, not even in California.

[hmm]

? Bank of America needs another $34 billion accounting pencil fuck, such as converting preferred shares to common so Big O can not run banks. Cause' that is what he wants, to not run banks.

[P Brooks]

What we need is a Harvard-educated Constitutional Law scholar.

Because they're like, totally brilliant, and in tune with the spirit of America's hopes.

[hmm]

? GM loses $6 billion in the first quarter of 2009.

The link. It is fucked up.

[Xeones]

The link. It is fucked up.

The preferred nomenclature is "SugarFreed."

[J sub D]

IOW, Obama is not serious about eliminating useless and counterproductive programs.

Color me completely unsurprised.

They also noted that the list does not include more than $300 billion in savings Obama proposes to squeeze from federal health programs and use to finance an expansion of coverage for the uninsured.

WTF? He thinks we all just got off the pickle boat, doen't he?

[hmm]

? Horse masseuse wins economic freedom case in Maryland.

Mildly disappointed that this had nothing to do with a donkey show.

[hmm]

? Horse masseuse wins economic freedom case in Maryland.

Should have read.

? Horse masseuse case concludes with happy ending in Maryland.

[Xeones]

Mildly disappointed that this had nothing to do with a donkey show.

You know, LoneWacko lost a testicle, his spleen, and six feet of intestine in a donkey show in Tijuana. That's how come he's so bitter.

[P Brooks]

savings Obama proposes to squeeze from federal health programs and use to finance an expansion of coverage for the uninsured.

We could save a shitload of money if we stopped trying to briefly prolong the agony of the dying.
But I don't think that's what he means.

[Naga Sadow]

Holy shit! Dondero shows up again AND there's talk of donkey shows? It's only a matter of time til SugarFree shows up to link to one! Hot damn!

P Brooks,

You mean stop modern medicine?

[hmm]

You know, LoneWacko lost a testicle, his spleen, and six feet of intestine in a donkey show in Tijuana. That's how come he's so bitter.

Does that qualify as a snuff donkey show?

[P Brooks]

G.M. said it depleted $10.2 billion from its cash reserves in the quarter, or $113 million a day
(from the dysfunctional sugarfreed story)

Yeah, but!

[P Brooks]

I suppose it depends on your definition of "modern medicine".

[R C Dean]

They also noted that the list does not include more than $300 billion in savings Obama proposes to squeeze from federal health programs and use to finance an expansion of coverage for the uninsured.

Obama will cut reimbursement to providers, and expand coverage so more people are getting care below cost. The red ink will flow like a river, healthcare will be brought to the verge of collapse. The only possible solution, of course, will be nationalization/socialization of health care.

[libertymike]

A SCOTUS nominee should not have the following background:

1. Ivy undergraduate degree

2. Ivy law school degree

3. government employment

4. democrat party affiliation

5. republican party affiliation

Is this asking too much?

[Naga Sadow]

P Brooks,

Keeping people alive long after the point at which they would have died. I fear an "Idiocracy" scenario in the future.

"Clevon is lucky to be alive. He attempted to jump a jet ski from a lake into a swimming pool and impaled his crotch on an iron gate. But thanks to advances in stem cell research and the fine work of Doctors Krinsky and Altschuler, he should regain full reproductive function again."

[hmm]

Obama will cut reimbursement to providers, and expand coverage so more people are getting care below cost. The red ink will flow like a river, healthcare will be brought to the verge of collapse. The only possible solution, of course, will be nationalization/socialization of health care.

Wait a second. Haven't we seen something similar? This administration is doing an awesome job of drive whatever you want to control into the ground and then rushing into save it. Of course this is illegal for me to do.

[Boston]

Dondero shows up again

where?

[P Brooks]

"The only possible solution, of course, will be nationalization/socialization government rescue of health care."

[libertymike]

Really, an ivy pedigree should be an immediate disqualifier. Liberty and the rule of law would be much better served if we could get everyone to realize that there is nothing special about being an ivy.

[hmm]

There's nothing wrong with an Ivy League education. You just need to find the people that got it on their own intellectual merits and didn't buy into the crap.

[P Brooks]

Keeping people alive long after the point at which they would have died.

Precisely, Naga.

[J sub D]

Why does the Flight 93 Memorial require 2200 acres? It seems to me they could do this right with about 50 acres.

The Arizona Memorial uses far lass than that and this career sailor wants the government to either give to an NPO or shut it down.

I figure a plaque, maybe a even small roadside sculpture with a picnic table is more than enough.

If Americans wish to have something more impressive, pony up folks!

[Naga Sadow]

Boston,

He was over on the Pakistan thread below this one.

[P Brooks]

More GM-

Bondholders would own roughly 10 percent and existing shareholders would account for just 1 percent of the new company. G.M. is planning a reverse stock split, which would turn every 100 shares outstanding into one new share. Shares of G.M. have lost more than 90 percent of their value in the last year as the company has descended toward a possible bankruptcy.

[....]

"This is a defining moment in the history of General Motors, and we are committed to our plan, which we believe will lead to a stable and sustainable operating structure with a strong balance sheet," Mr. Henderson said. "Our goal is to fix this business once and for all to position ourselves to win in the long-term."

"Our goal is to fix this business once and for all to position ourselves to win in the long-term."

Well, in that case...

But don't forget; I expect to get a pony before this is done.

[Naga Sadow]

P Brooks,

By pony you mean Vette' right?

[Nick]

J sub, my guess is that 2200 acres serves two purposes. Lots of union workers are required to transform the land into a national park, and it's a great reason to show everyone that the government will take what they want, when they want, from whom they want and no one can do a damn thing about it.

I live near the Saratoga National Battlefield and I'll be damned if a private group wouldn't turn it into something good. As it stands now, it's pretty lame for the site that turned the tide of the Revolution.

[Pro Libertate]

There's nothing necessarily special about graduating from an Ivy League law school. Mr. Dean can speak more authoritatively about this, but every school produces idiots. Some are actual dumbasses who got in for a variety of nonacademic reasons and some are too academic and not much use in the real world. That's true of any decent law school, of course.

One thing that is true about the top law schools--they have a larger share of brilliant students than other schools, because the kids that did well in college almost all aim for the top. Of course, brilliant student doesn't always translate into brilliant lawyer.

I went to law school in Chicago, so Obama should appoint me as part of the standard cronyism. He and I can get together and bitch about East Coast pizza. And I'll write lots of scathing dissents about how screwed up everything is: "I'm out of order!? You're out of order! This whole court is out of order!"

[mitch]

What we need is a Harvard-educated Constitutional Law scholar.

Yeah, one of those "scholars" that didn't get all stale by writing any scholarly articles.

[P Brooks]

maybe a even small roadside sculpture

I'm thinking the back half of an airplane fuselage sticking out of the ground; they should be able to rustle up something suitable out of that big airplane junkyard in Arizona, for cheap.

[P Brooks]

Actually, instead of a Corvette, I'd rather have a pallet or two of Northstar (do they still call them that? I have no idea) motors; I'll find (or build) something to put them in.

[J sub D]

The idea of sticking a politician with no judicial experience, something that's been getting pushed in some circles, is a bad idea.

Not too sure about that. Someone who lacked legal experience might actually be reduced to reading the fucking constitution and using the actual words in it to make rulings.

Hey, I can dream.

[Naga Sadow]

The 32 valve V-8? I don't think so. I could be wrong though. I don't know what they put in the Cadillacs's these days.

[Pro Libertate]

J sub D,

I don't think so. Not to mention that an inexperienced justice would likely be heavily swayed by the other justices and by his/her clerks.

[Boston]

Bah! A Chapman thread? Well if Donderoooo is there i will slog through.

[Naga Sadow]

Pro Lib,

Swayed? With what leverage? Dude they got a job for life. Plus I always assume a government employee has so much hubris they are immune to the emotional appeals of others.

[J sub D]

Pro Lib -

Remember, five sitting justices have decided that taking land from one private party and giving it to another is using the land for a public purpose.

Six have ruled that marijuan grown in California for California patients that have been prescribed it by California doctors in accordance with California law is interstate commerce.

I think maybe we need an MRI technician on the bench. They can read plain English.

[SugarFree]

Lonewhacko Novel Update

I thought about putting the first chapter up on this Morning Link thread, or maybe on a wiki for easy editing (too much of a free-for-all considering the troll population), but I put it on a blog for ease of use.

Lonewhacko: Chapter One

Please leave editing, rewrite suggestions in the comments.

If those who have worked on chapter two could email me the relevant threads (or just the posts with the date/time stamps for sorting purposes) I'll work on getting it up.

[MNG]

"No matter what political spectrum the scotus pick comes from, I expect Obama's press corp butt buddies will insist that they are a moderate."

Don't worry Ard, no matter who he picks your butt buddies in the foaming at the mouth conservative press will insist they are a radical Maoist...

[R C Dean]

Mr. Dean can speak more authoritatively about this, but every school produces idiots.

I'm not quite sure how to take that, Pro L.

Although I have to admit that Jennifer Granholm was a classmate of mine.

I went to law school in Chicago,

One of my safety schools.

I don't know what they put in the Cadillacs's these days.

Check out the CTS-V. What a ride.

[MNG]

"Mr. Dean can speak more authoritatively about this, but every school produces idiots."

Alvy Singer: Hey, Harvard makes mistakes too! Kissinger taught there!

[JP]

Pro Lib for SCOTUS!

[MNG]

You know, the Constitution doesn't explicitly say life tenure for judges. It says the following:

"The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office."

What's your take, does this mean we must have life tenure? Strikes me we could have term limits that within the term the judge cannot be removed or have their pay diminished as long as there is good behavior on their part.

[Sen. Jeff Sessions R-AL]

Pro Lib: Have you ever smoked marijuana? How about looked at a "girlie" magazine or website?

[Nick]

Anyone who rules against the Constitution should be kicked out for bad behavior and then hanged for treason. It's an easy document to understand. How these fuckwads manage to misunderstand it, especially when they have an assload of Madison available to understand his intent, is beyond me. These hacks are pure political scum.

[Nick responding for Pro Lib]

Aw, come on Senator, you remember, don't you? That party you hosted was off the hook!

[robc]

I don't think so. Not to mention that an inexperienced justice would likely be heavily swayed by the other justices and by his/her clerks.

Im sure my clerks (and the other justices) would get tired of me asking them to point out the constitutional justification, but I doubt they would heavily sway me. Sure, on cases that were constitutional justified I would listen to them and also on common law cases, but in those scenarios, it would make sense for me to listen to them.

I also think the other justices would get annoyed with me calling them fucking retards in my dissents.

[MNG]

"but I doubt they would heavily sway me"

What if they were hot Reese WItherspoon-esque recent law graduates that gave divine BJs?

That would sway me on just about any legal issue.

[Pro Libertate]

I've actually never done any illegal drugs, which makes me the perfect stealth justice for legalization. Porn? Only the stuff Kozinski sent me.

A true blue libertarian on the Court would be fun. I'd love to share their pillars, but since I'm not getting appointed, Judge Brown will suffice.

R C Dean,

I meant you that could speak about Harvard/Ivy League schools having their share of fools. I exempt you, of course.

[Naga Sadow]

SugarFree,

Truly you are a legend sir. Truly.

"The Best Thing That's Happened To You Since Your Uncle Started To Think You Had Gotten Too Old"

[SugarFree]

Well then, I'm sorry for calling you a toerag.

[Naga Sadow]

I would probably accept your apology but I don't know what a toe rag is.

[SugarFree]

It's a rag for cleaning toes.

And you call yourself a mixologist...

[P Brooks]

Check out the CTS-V. What a ride.

I believe the CTS, while undeniably a hotrod, is powered by that antiquated pushrod boat anchor from the Corvette.

I realize they have had fifty fucking years to fidddle with it ("The triumph of development over design" as we like to say), but seriously, why not something a tiny bit more sophisticated and efficient? They might as well just put a steam engine in the damn thing.

[Craig]

The idea of sticking a politician with no judicial experience, something that's been getting pushed in some circles, is a bad idea.

Unless the politician is named Ron Paul....

[libertymike]

MNG, Reese Wihterspoon is too short. Yes, she is pretty and has a great smile, but too short. My wife loves Legally Blonde. It was a pretty good fluff/feel good movie-except, why did the law school have to be Harvard?

R C Dean and other ivy grads here-please do not take offense to my anti-ivy attitude. Its nothing personal. Some of my best friends are ivy grads.

[FrBunny]

Okay, Divided by Infinity was damn depressing. Thank god Friday Funnies is right around the corner to lift my spirits.

[Naga Sadow]

SugarFree,

A mixolawhat? Are you making up words again? You should write science fiction, bro. All your years as a librarian have led to. This. One. Moment. In Time.

[R C Dean]

I meant you that could speak about Harvard/Ivy League schools having their share of fools.

Did I mention Jennifer Granholm?

I believe the CTS, while undeniably a hotrod, is powered by that antiquated pushrod boat anchor from the Corvette.

I dunno. Does the Corvette have an aluminum 556 HP 6.2 liter supercharged V8 DOHV? Because the CTS-V does.

[Sarah Jessica Parker]

U.S. gets its first successful face transplant patient

Oooh! I want one of those!