Reason Morning Links: The Scandals That Won't Die

- The Department of Veterans Affairs hands out bonuses.

- The government prepares an enormous vaccination campaign for swine flu.

- The Abramoff scandal isn't over yet. Neither is the torture scandal.

- Lt. William Calley apologizes for the My Lai massacre.

- And then there's this story. No political relevance, but it's the one everyone will be talking about, so study up.

Comments

[Kyle Jordan]

"Authorities in California had charged Jenkins, 32, with the murder of Jasmine Fiore, whose mutilated body was found in a suitcase stuffed into a trash bin just over a week ago in the town of Buena Park outside Los Angeles.

Police said Fiore's fingers and teeth had been removed to make it harder to identify her body, but investigators were able to determine who she was by using the serial number on her breast implants."

Wow.

I feel bad for the girl, but I'm finding this whole thing funny. Guess that makes me an asshole. Oh well.

[Tomcat1066]

Well, not that it really matters, but I find it funny too. So you're not the only asshole, if that's the case.

[Xeones]

Kyle, the way the story's going so far, i kind of suspect the dude faked his own death somehow, and they'll find him living in Johannesburg or Madrid or somewhere in ten years. He will have a mustache.

[SugarFree]

They had Fiore's ex-boyfriend on one of the morning shows. He blurted out that he was happy that Jenkins hanged himself. Her mother thanked the cops for quickly putting pressure on Jenkins, with the happy result that he killed himself.

The Law and Order writers are scribbling so furiously, I can hear them all the way in Kentucky.

[Rich]

He will have a mustache.

And breast implants.

[FrBunny]

it's the one everyone will be talking about, so study up

See you guys in about a week.

[Cabeza de Vaca]

"Horace Cooper, who is also a one-time aide to former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey, is accused of defrauding the government after getting choice seats to see 'N Sync, the Dixie Chicks, and Bruce Springsteen, among others."

Hahahahahahahahahaha

[brotherben]

I think there was a storyline on Bones that had a murder victim identified by her implants. I don't remember how she was killed or who did it.

[Warty]

The implants will be because of a wacky Clouseauesque misadventure, of course.

[P Brooks]

The VA said it is pursuing a thorough review of the situation and it "does not condone misconduct by its employees and will take the appropriate corrective actions for those who violate VA policy," according to a statement provided to CNN.

"appropriate corrective actions" = promotions!!!

[brotherben]

Are there links to pics of this "model" before she met the plastic surgeeon? He, IMO, didn't really do her any favors.

Anyone?

Anyone?

[MNG]

Jesse, you can't find political relevance in that story? That's why you're not National Review material buddy. By the end of the dy it's likely that Jonah Goldberg will have spun this as a commentary on the negative cultural effects of Bill Clinton's sordid personal life on our national psyche, Ramesh Ponnuru will have an essay on how it manifests the triumph of the culture of death, Bill Bennett could mark the hoopla as more of the dumbing and coarsening of America, and Mark Steyn can point out the dark skin of the killer and speculate on this as a possible harbinger of our cultural surrender to Islamo-fascism.

[brotherben]

The disclaimer from the VA is about as meaningful as the one from Whackalone.

OTOH, there are a lot of vets here that are fighting for there service related disability 20 something years after leaving the service. They discovered that the retirement they will get from the union after 20 years working for the contractor on the army base isn't enough. The disablity, if they can get 100% is a pretty handy addition.

[MNG]

Liberals can get in on it too. Catherine McKinnon could spin this as how our porn-allowing sexist culture facilitates and encourages self-mutiliation of women (the implants) as well as their actual mutiliation via a culture of domination and rape. Etc.

Jesse, you just need to step up and start prostituting your talents man! Don't you want a new car and a regular spot on Glenn Beck?

[Bingo]

MNG:

You forgot K. J. Lopez!

[CoyoteBlue]

From the Swine Flu article:
But even as scientists rush to test the vaccine to ensure it is safe and effective, the campaign is lagging. Officials say only about a third as much vaccine as they had been expecting by mid-October is likely to arrive by then, when a new wave of infections could be peaking.

Among the unknowns: how many shots people will need, what the correct dosage should be, and how to avoid confusing the public with an overlapping effort to combat the regular seasonal flu.

Like Cash4Clunkers ... but with Viruses!

We are all going to die.

[MNG]

Bingo
You're right.

She would tell us how this would never have happened in a world where Mitt Romney was President.

[The Will Smith character in \"]

We are all going to die.

Not all of us ...

[Jesse Walker]

What if I claim they were both killed by shapeshifting lizards? Can I get a job with David Icke?

[Bingo]

Does anyone have a copy of the model's birth certificate?

[The Libertarian Guy]

Government agencies should be prevented from handing out bonuses.

[#]

"Jesse, you can't find political relevance in that story? That's why you're not National Review material buddy. By the end of the dy it's likely that Jonah Goldberg will have spun this as a commentary on the negative cultural effects of Bill Clinton's sordid personal life on our national psyche, Ramesh Ponnuru will have an essay on how it manifests the triumph of the culture of death, Bill Bennett could mark the hoopla as more of the dumbing and coarsening of America, and Mark Steyn can point out the dark skin of the killer and speculate on this as a possible harbinger of our cultural surrender to Islamo-fascism."

Stupid much?

[SugarFree]

I was tested for the swine flu last week. I'm negative; all those pig images were Photoshop fakes.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Stupid much?

Says the guy who can't understand satire?

[Rhywun]

And Maggie Gyllenhall Gallagher, who will figure out some way to blame it on the gays.

[Alabama Getaway]

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -12 (see trends).

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

[dbcooper]

What if I claim they were both killed by shapeshifting lizards? Can I get a job with David Icke?

Or pick up some $$$ for "viral" marketing the new V series.

[dbcooper]

Mark Steyn can point out the dark skin of the killer and speculate on this as a possible harbinger of our cultural surrender to Islamo-fascism.

Looks more like the perma-tan of a standard issue douchebag outfit. Gawker and the New Criterion can double team it from the New York "left" and "right" perspectives.

[SugarFree]

Or pick up some $$$ for "viral" marketing the new V series.

OT RANT

WTF did they do to Inara's hair? Are they going for the Harry Potter audience, or just uglifying another beautiful woman to satisfy size 14 America?

/rant

[brotherben]

Suge, she looks like spiderman with boobs;}

[dbcooper]

I think she suits it short. Much better than the Whedon style, if you ask me.

What they really need are some big haired, evil seductress types ala Jane Badler. 🙂

[JW]

Sug---Yeah, I'm not one for the pixie look either, but they could dunk her in NYC raw sewage for days on end and her galactic-sized hawtness would still be beyond question.

[P Brooks]

WTF did they do to Inara's hair? Are they going for the Harry Potter audience, or just uglifying another beautiful woman to satisfy size 14 America?

I, he declaimed smugly, haven't the vaguest idea what (or whom) you are talking about.

[JW]

Yo P:

Inara

Yeah, yeah, I'm getting off your lawn now.

[SugarFree]

I, he declaimed smugly, haven't the vaguest idea what (or whom) you are talking about.

I find it odd when people think claiming cultural ignorance is somehow being smug.

[P Brooks]

Well then- now I know.

But I always liked Kaylee better.

[P Brooks]

Smug is one of the things I do best.

[JW]

But I always liked Kaylee better.

Mmmmmm, freshly scrubbed, midwestern farm girl looks....what's not to like? Other than Fox canceling the show right before Kaylee's bi-curious "special" episode, that is.

[J sub D]

And then there's this story. No political relevance, but it's the one everyone will be talking about, so study up.

Meh.

[#]

It's hard to keep the rules straight in our post-racial society:

President Obama's aides were so furious that Gov. Paterson dragged him into a rant about racism that they sent a message sharply criticizing the governor's comments just hours after he made them, The Post has learned.

Aides to Obama were angered by Paterson's tirade on liberal talk-radio station WWRL on Friday, sources said.

Paterson blamed his political woes on racially slanted coverage and predicted the president would be the next "victim" of biased media.

Obama's team delivered a pointed message to Paterson within hours of the morning broadcast, multiple sources said.

It came in a call from White House political director Patrick Gaspard, who has deep ties to the New York political scene, to Larry Schwartz, the governor's first deputy secretary.

Gaspard wanted to know "why [Paterson] was dragging the president into" his troubles, said one source.

Presumably Paterson was told he acted "stupidly."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08232009/news/nationalnews/peeved_obama_trumps_patersons_race_card_186100.htm

[Xeones]

Dudes who can't sport wood for the pixie look are gay, is all i'm gonna say. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Huh?]

$10B aimed at union retirees
Provision called welfare by some, not enough by others

WASHINGTON -- Antilabor forces say it's welfare for the UAW and Democrats' union allies. Labor supporters say it falls short of what's needed as tens of thousands of union members are pushed into early retirement as employers cut back health care coverage.

They're both talking about a $10-billion provision tucked deep inside thousands of pages of health care overhaul bills that could help the UAW's retiree health-care plan and other union-backed plans.

It would see the government -- at least temporarily -- pay 80 cents on the dollar to corporate and union insurance plans for claims between $15,000 and $90,000 for retirees age 55 to 64.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090824/BUSINESS01/908240321/1318/-10B-aimed-at-union-retirees

[JW]

Yo X--Stop projecting. You only like the pixie look *because* you are gay. That, or rather butch. Your choice.

[GILMORE]

Assuming the book, "Four Hours in My Lai" has any basis in fact ...Lt.Calley got off easy. Yes, he was scapegoated to a degree. But it could not have happened without him, full stop. And who is he apologizing to? The Kiwanis club? Bravery or humility this is not.