SAR #13031

Politicians continue to fail because we continue to let them.

Spin Cycle: The 4Q2012 GDP report shows an annualized decline of 0.1%, against expectations of 1% growth. The generally accepted excuse is a draw-down in inventory levels that will surely be restocked in the coming months. Right, Shirley? Then what about the 1.25% hit GDP took from reduced Federal Spending? That gonna come bounding back, too?

The Greater Good:The head of Egypt's army says the current political crisis "could lead to a collapse of the state." By which he means military dictatorship for the sake of democracy.

Coasting Along: NOAA, our official Chicken Little, says that roughly half of all Americans live in coastal areas threatened by the effects of climate change, warning that the inevitable increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events coupled with the increasing rate of sea-level rise will "affect the sustainability of many existing coastal communities." 'Affect', as in, wash them away.

Oxymoron: Clear-thinking economist.

Oh, Boy! The FDA has approved selling Plan B emergency contraception pills via vending machines. The Republicans, of course, will be up in arms, aghast at letting young women control their fertility as if their bodies were their own. It goes against the Right's drive to impose Sharia law on the women of America.

For The Children: Crime pays. If the disgusting wealth of the Lords of Finance does not convince you, try these: Joseph Goebbel's heirs are billionaires. And the  Barclays, the Chase and the Bush family made money financing the Nazis. Then there's always the Vatican, and the half billion they've still got left from Mussolini. Mubarak's kids have over $40 billion, Putin, alone, tops that. Gaddafi was worth $200 billion and little of that will ever be repatriated. Most (if not all) of the $32 trillion hidden in offshore accounts was acquired illegally, mostly by the elite – dictators, drug lords and their bankers down at the laundromat. A few may hove gotten their money honestly – assuming that child labor, starvation wages and such are legal - but none come to mind.

Reading, Writing and Reloading: A Missouri Republican wants all first graders to take an NRA course on what to do when a madman starts shooting up their classroom. Students who successfully survive the course will get a coupon their parents can use to get $25 off their next handgun purchase.

Damn:A new study reports that vegetarian diets cut the risk of heart disease by 32%. It won't let you live forever, but it'll feel like it.

Clarification: Lou Barletta (R-PA) thinks that Republicans should not make an effort to compete for Latino votes and should not try to kiss up to them by joining Democrats in any form of immigration reform, because “The majority that are here illegally are low-skilled or may not even have a high school diploma. The Republican Party is not going to compete over who can give more social programs out. They will become Democrats because of the social programs they’ll depend on.” He didn't get the memo.

Porn O'Graph: Ah, I think I see the problem.

The Parting Shot:

 

Anybody know what this one is?