Bloody hell...

http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/ ... 00470.html

How does this guy know who prepared the groceries from farm to shop, or who stacked them on the shelves?

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A conservative rock star in the marbled halls of Congress, Paul Ryan — his ideas, his politics, his very name — was just barely beginning to register at the Spot Cafe off State Road 16 here Sunday.

Rick Paul, said one diner, was a brilliant vice presidential choice. Mike Ryan, said another, would surely boost Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and help “save the country.” At last, said Jim Smith, 74, Romney made a decision that solidifies his conservative credentials.

“Paul — from Kentucky?” Smith said, referring to the junior Kentucky senator, Rand Paul. “Definitely a good move. I didn’t support Romney in the primary, but I will now with Paul in there.”

...

A few tables over, Gene Johnson, 73, and his friend Doug, 70, who did not want to give his last name, agreed that Romney’s campaign will have a tough time selling Medicare reform in Florida.

But they say that addressing the country’s fiscal issues is critical. And they have faith that Romney’s vice presidential pick is up to the task of explaining his Medicare proposal to voters.

“The thing about Romney is, he’s on the up and up,” Doug said. “Whether it’s popular or not, he and Mike Ryan are out to save the country.”

“Yep, I think Rand’ll do all right,” said Johnson, referring to the Kentucky senator.

"The theory of evolution is a theory, and essentially the theory of evolution is not science -- Darwin made it up," state Sen. Ben Waide (R) said. "My objection is they should ensure whatever scientific material is being put forth as a standard should at least stand up to scientific method. Under the most rudimentary, basic scientific examination, the theory of evolution has never stood up to scientific scrutiny."

The New Statesman's Alex Hern has been giving Ryan's budget plan a good going over this week.

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/econo ... e-nonsense
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/econo ... impossible
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/econo ... netary-pol

This graph, apparently lifted directly from the Ryan plan, caught my eye:



Is it just me or does that not look entirely credible?

Gay parades banned in Moscow for 100 years


Russia. The new Republican heaven.

On this October afternoon in the US Senate, politicians are seriously addressing the question of whether a distinction should be drawn between French fries and vegetables, and whether French fries and pizza don't also qualify as vegetables. Former President Ronald Reagan, pandering to the food industry, once tried to declare ketchup a vegetable. But Reagan's effort failed in Congress. That was 1981 -- a different time.

American democracy has always been proud of its balance of powers, the checks and balances of a complex political system that once served as a model for the balancing of political interests and a modicum of reason. It was a system that prevented fanaticism and kept the most feeble-minded efforts in check. And now this? Down with discrimination against the potato?