Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Crucifying Al Franken - NPR - Moral equivalence between rape and an unwelcome kiss?


Driving to work NPR’s Morning Edition featured an interview of Senator Abby Honold who asked Senator Franken to remove his name from the Sexual Assault Bill that he was instrumental in drafting, by NPR’s Rachel Martin who seemed more into angling for Al Franken's expulsion from the Senate than objectively reporting the story.

What I found most offense was how Rachel Martin and Senator Honold drew a moral equivalence between rape and boorish behavior.  Then a second time between predatory behavior against minors and adults on stage goofing around.  Since this story exemplifies an aspect of why the Democrat Party is so good at losing I decided to write it up this evening.

Here I reprint most of the transcript and share my response in red.

November 28, 2017  -  5:05 AM ET  -  NPR Morning Edition
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:Senator Al Franken made it clear yesterday - he is not going to resign after accusations of sexual harassment.
{Where?  At the office? No.  With interns? No.  From all I’ve heard they were in public, entertainers on a stage, a couple ass-grabs, a kiss, stupid horse play - as is the American style specially in those years.  Mind you, offensive behavior that Hollywood has been inculcating in us American men since forever.

Any other accusations of sexual harassment?  Any assaults? No.  Stalking minors? No.  Accosting minors? No. Rape? No.  

Distasteful, unacceptable, sure - but expulsion worthy?  Come on, get real Senator Honold, do you really want to retroactively condemn every man who’s ever made an offensive move? 

Ms. Martin, Senator Honold, what about the difference between predatory behavior and obnoxious behavior that's quelled with a rejection?

Al Franken has shown remorse, repeatedly.  He has a stellar reputation in the halls of Congress.  Removing him from office seems more like a Koch born and Murdoch driven distraction, more than anything else.  

NPR should be ashamed, but then truth be told, looks like Koch has gotten his tentacles deep into NPR.}
 That's led to an especially uncomfortable situation for one young woman.  
Her name is Abby Honold, and she had asked Senator Franken to draft legislation related to sexual assault. It would pay for training for police officers to learn how to better treat survivors of these crimes. Honold proposed this because of her own experience. When she was 19 years old, she was raped at the University of Minnesota. Hours afterwards, Honold was in a hospital bed when a detective walked in. …

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Why The Dysfunctional Climate Science Dialogue? (in 14 verses)


November 9th Dr. Trenberth visited our local Fort Lewis College for an afternoon Climate Change Symposium that included four other scientists and a talk on ‘Climate Communication and Engagement” by Heidi Steltzer, along with a panel discussion. 

The event spurred me into another exercise in trying to refine my observations on what’s closing in on a half century of active personal interest and engagement with learning about Earth Sciences and Climate Sciences along with the developing dysfunctional public conversationin a concise manner.  I hope some of it resonates with some of you and that it's of some little use.

Originally posted at my What'sUpWithThatWatts.blogspot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Introduction

I began high school in 1969 where I learned the fundamentals of climate science understanding.  It was straightforward, clear cut, internally consistent and very fascinating plus a bit scary.  Much was understood, even if many details were logical rational assumptions, if based on limited observations.  Those assumptions were rooted in an exquisite understanding of Earth’s fundamentals physics, which haven’t changed.

In the half century since, climate science has blossomed. The details have been filled in by an amazing global community of scientists, technicians, students and their array of instrumentation for Earth Observations along with super computers for processing the flood of data.  

These scientists have been reporting back to We The People and our leaders with overwhelming evidence of manmade warming of our biosphere, and our changing climate with its cascading consequences that are catching those experts by surprise with their speed.  Yet, …  

Over the decades much has been learned, countless refinements, a number of unexpected discoveries and surprises.  Through it all the fundamental story remains identical, only the details got slightly rearranged into better focus.

Then, why are we collectively, as a people, and even worse, our leaders, more deluded about climate science and its implications than back in the '70s?  

Thursday, September 21, 2017

GOP-NO-Graham-Cassidy


U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

When you reach an aide or voice-mail, please leave the following message: 

Write out your own script, here’s mine, after modifying an emailed suggestion.

This is personal so make it personal, polite, if you feel upset, don’t take it out on operator.  Apologize, after all it’s an upsetting situation the US tax payers should not be getting subjected to this rejection of our will yet again.

Your own prepared script will help you keep ON POINT for your short moment to speak.

Hello, my name is ___________ calling from zip code _____ in state of ___________. 

Why does the GOP hold US citizens in such contempt? 
Look at all the polls, We The People want national health care coverage like every other advanced country in the world! 
Grow up GOP!!! - Why do you continue to wasting all this precious irretrievable time? Just to prove that you’ll never ever listen to anyone, or learn anything new. 
Fix Obama Care don’t break it. NO on Graham-Cassidy! 
I am ANGRY that the Senate plans to vote to destroy rather than fix a health care system we want.
Why does the GOP feel compelled to force 32 million Americans to lose their health insurance?
Please stop trying to kill Obama Care!
I live in ___, and if the Senator votes for it, I will actively campaign against them. 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Back in June Kristen Bahlerwrote a short article and followed it with every senators contact information.  It's time to pick up the phones again.

How to Contact Every Senator to 

Voice Your Thoughts on the 

Health Care Bill



Alabama:
(202) 224-5744
Strange, Luther - (R - AL)
(202) 224-4124
Alaska:
Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK)
(202) 224-6665
Sullivan, Dan - (R - AK)
(202) 224-3004
Arizona:
Flake, Jeff - (R - AZ)
(202) 224-4521
McCain, John - (R - AZ)
(202) 224-2235
Arkansas:
Boozman, John - (R - AR)
(202) 224-4843
Cotton, Tom - (R - AR)
(202) 224-2353
California:
(202) 224-3841
(202) 224-3553
Colorado:
(202) 224-5852
Gardner, Cory - (R - CO)
(202) 224-5941
Connecticut:
(202) 224-2823
(202) 224-4041
Delaware:
(202) 224-2441
(202) 224-5042
Florida:
Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)
(202) 224-5274
Rubio, Marco - (R - FL)
(202) 224-3041
Georgia:
Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA)
(202) 224-3643
Perdue, David - (R - GA)
(202) 224-3521
Hawaii:
(202) 224-6361
Schatz, Brian - (D - HI)
(202) 224-3934
Idaho:
Crapo, Mike - (R - ID)
(202) 224-6142
Risch, James E. - (R - ID)
(202) 224-2752
Illinois:
(202) 224-2854
(202) 224-2152
Indiana:
Donnelly, Joe - (D - IN)
(202) 224-4814
Young, Todd - (R - IN)
(202) 224-5623
Iowa:
Ernst, Joni - (R - IA)
(202) 224-3254
Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA)
(202) 224-3744
Kansas:
Moran, Jerry - (R - KS)
(202) 224-6521
Roberts, Pat - (R - KS)
(202) 224-4774
Kentucky:
(202) 224-2541
Paul, Rand - (R - KY)
(202) 224-4343
Louisiana:
Cassidy, Bill - (R - LA)
(202) 224-5824
Kennedy, John - (R - LA)
(202) 224-4623
Maine:
(202) 224-2523
(202) 224-5344
Maryland:
(202) 224-4524
(202) 224-4654
Massachusetts:
(202) 224-2742
(202) 224-4543
Michigan:
Peters, Gary C. - (D - MI)
(202) 224-6221
(202) 224-4822
Minnesota:
Franken, Al - (D - MN)
(202) 224-5641
Klobuchar, Amy - (D - MN)
(202) 224-3244
Mississippi:
Cochran, Thad - (R - MS)
(202) 224-5054
(202) 224-6253
Missouri:
Blunt, Roy - (R - MO)
(202) 224-5721
(202) 224-6154
Montana:
Daines, Steve - (R - MT)
(202) 224-2651
Tester, Jon - (D - MT)
(202) 224-2644
Nebraska:
Fischer, Deb - (R - NE)
(202) 224-6551
Sasse, Ben - (R - NE)
(202) 224-4224
Nevada:
(202) 224-3542
Heller, Dean - (R - NV)
(202) 224-6244
New Hampshire:
(202) 224-3324
Shaheen, Jeanne - (D - NH)
(202) 224-2841
New Jersey:
Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ)
(202) 224-3224
(202) 224-4744
New Mexico:
(202) 224-5521
Udall, Tom - (D - NM)
(202) 224-6621
New York:
(202) 224-4451
(202) 224-6542
North Carolina:
Burr, Richard - (R - NC)
(202) 224-3154
Tillis, Thom - (R - NC)
(202) 224-6342
North Dakota:
Heitkamp, Heidi - (D - ND)
(202) 224-2043
Hoeven, John - (R - ND)
(202) 224-2551
Ohio:
Brown, Sherrod - (D - OH)
(202) 224-2315
Portman, Rob - (R - OH)
(202) 224-3353
Oklahoma:
(202) 224-4721
Lankford, James - (R - OK)
(202) 224-5754
Oregon:
Merkley, Jeff - (D - OR)
(202) 224-3753
Wyden, Ron - (D - OR)
(202) 224-5244
Pennsylvania:
(202) 224-6324
(202) 224-4254
Rhode Island:
Reed, Jack - (D - RI)
(202) 224-4642
(202) 224-2921
South Carolina:
Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC)
(202) 224-5972
Scott, Tim - (R - SC)
(202) 224-6121
South Dakota:
Rounds, Mike - (R - SD)
(202) 224-5842
Thune, John - (R - SD)
(202) 224-2321
Tennessee:
(202) 224-4944
Corker, Bob - (R - TN)
(202) 224-3344
Texas:
Cornyn, John - (R - TX)
(202) 224-2934
Cruz, Ted - (R - TX)
(202) 224-5922
Utah:
Hatch, Orrin G. - (R - UT)
(202) 224-5251
Lee, Mike - (R - UT)
(202) 224-5444
Vermont:
(202) 224-4242
(202) 224-5141
Virginia:
Kaine, Tim - (D - VA)
(202) 224-4024
Warner, Mark R. - (D - VA)
(202) 224-2023
Washington:
Cantwell, Maria - (D - WA)
(202) 224-3441
Murray, Patty - (D - WA)
(202) 224-2621
West Virginia:
(202) 224-6472
(202) 224-3954
Wisconsin:
Baldwin, Tammy - (D - WI)
(202) 224-5653
Johnson, Ron - (R - WI)
(202) 224-5323
Wyoming:
Barrasso, John - (R - WY)
(202) 224-6441
(202) 224-3424