Monday Morning Musing

Just some random thoughts to begin the week.


The Alaska Legislature is constrained by a 90-day limit on their sessions, imposed by the voters in 2006. This year, they are probably going to stay past the deadline - it was their idea, but the Governor has agreed - because they have yet to adopt a budget. Sounds familiar, somehow ...

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You may recall that I posted about Alaska State Rep. Sharon Cissna, who declined to be groped & partially stripped at a TSA checkpoint in Seattle, some weeks ago. She has spearheaded a caucus of (mostly) western states, including Alaska, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. Their purpose is, plain and simple, to oppose the TSA and what the caucus says is

"... an ever growing threat to liberty by the TSA. Additional state legislative participation is anticipated.

"Each of the lawmakers involved to date has introduced legislation in their state to curb what they, and their state’s citizens, believe to be  excessive power by the TSA.

"Specific issues include constitutional rights, invasion of privacy and civil rights, child protection and fiscal issues. Many of the state bills call for individual state prohibitions on TSA procedures with the ultimate goal federal action against the operations of the TSA itself."

(h/t The Maritime Sentry)

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From Guffaw in Arizona, there's this:

"... the back channels of the current administration are yet again, working on gun control measures!  Another assault weapon ban, another high-capacity magazine ban are in the mix.  And the population is being distracted by the world situation, the economy and other issues.But, we need to be Paul Revere, not Jimmy Doolittle or (God forbid) that Waco whacko. Be your own Paul Revere!  Get the word out!  I just did."

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And finally - it's common for us to vilify our opponents, in politics as well as other venues. One of the bloggers behind the vilification of Sarah Palin has a story which you should read. It's easy to paint people in shades of black and white - but real life doesn't work that way. Her story isn't what you're thinking, and I suspect you'll be as angry as I was when you've read it. Politics aside, this simply SHOULD. NOT. HAPPEN.