Our brave governor continues his fight against working people, all while raising the pay for staff in his communications office, where five staffers have just gotten about $50,000 in pay raises (most in the vicinity of 20% increases, which is rather ironic to those of us about to face a 20% pay cut). Of course, the overall payroll in that office is down, thanks to the top two people resigning in disgust when they found out the governor put the screws to a domestic violence victim in order to protect on of his aides. The fight moves to Federal Court, where the Public Employees Federation (PEF) was the first to file for a restraining order to prevent the furloughs. Absent any action from the courts, the furloughs will go into effect beginning Monday. No doubt our management is working on a plan to deal with all this but, so far, us regular people are in the dark as to how this will all work, who gets screwed and who doesn’t, and how they intend to distribute our unpaid vacations. All I know is, I better not have to take, like a Tuesday off. If I’m gonna lose money, I at least want three-day weekends.
In other news, apparently it’s appropriate for “legitimate” news outlets to speculate about the sexual persuasion of Elena Kagan. Even Eliot Spitzer felt obliged to defend her heterosexuality (and when Eliot says you’re not gay…). Why this would be anybody’s business is (like so many other things) beyond me. Unless she was a closeted day who had devoted her entire career to discriminating against and vilifying gay people (like, say this guy), I see no reason why anybody should care. And, of course, this kind of speculation would be considered verboten if she was a dude or looked like a Barbie doll.
Though I bet Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman star in the lesbian fantasy dreams of many a teabagger.
Oh well, time to get ready to get going.
Let us not speak of basketball this morning.
:barf: :barf: :barf:
I, for one, had no intention whatsoever of mentioning the Boston Celtics or the 120 points they scored last night (including 40 in the 4th quarter, if I’m not mistaken).
Oh, BTW Kevin, yours was the 120,000th comment on this blog. For that you get a Governor Blinky Bobblehead. Well, not the actual bobblehead, but you can download the picture.
BTW, while failing to enact a budget in NYS, here’s just a handful of the important things our State legislature has been working on instead…
J3248 LARKIN — Congratulating Pastor Emeritus Richard A. Mills upon the occasion of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his ordination
J3252 STACHOWSKI — Mourning the death of Gregory M. Weigen, a retired Buffalo Firefighter and devoted member of his community
J3267 PARKER — Honoring Dr. Marco A. Mason upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition
J3335 BRESLIN — Honoring Sister Rosemary J. Sgroi, RSM upon the occasion of her 50th Anniversary as a Sister of Mercy
J3353 LARKIN — Honoring A. Ralsey Mott, Jr. posthumously and Mary A. Mott upon the occasion of receiving the Town of Esopus Amy and Lew Kirschner Good Samaritan Award
J3396 RANZENHOFER — Honoring Pembroke Intermediate School upon the occasion of being named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education
J3425 DEFRANCISCO — Honoring Split Rock Elementary School upon the occasion of being designated a Blue Ribbon School for 2009
J3426 DEFRANCISCO — Honoring Carol Terry on being named a creative champion by the New York State Alliance for Arts and Education
J3428 LARKIN — Honoring Ronald E. Townley upon the occasion of his designation as a recipient of the Distinguished Scouter Award
J3470 HUNTLEY — Memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to declare November 21, 2009, as Survivors of Suicide Day in the State of New York
J3478 SEWARD — Congratulating the White House Cabinet Shop, LLC upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of a Small Business Gem Award
J3496 JOHNSON C — Mourning the death of Francesco A. Ragona, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community
J3500 FUSCHILLO — Congratulating Joseph A. Mussorfiti upon the occasion of receiving the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout
J3534 VOLKER — Mourning the death of Joseph A. Tauriello, former New York State Senator
J3538 LIBOUS — Congratulating the Greene Field Hockey Team and Coach Sue Carlin upon the occasion of capturing the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A Ch
J3559 STACHOWSKI — Mourning the death of Joseph A. Caligiuri, a longtime educator, school administrator, and devoted member of his community
J3563 THOMPSON — Mourning the death of Dr. William R. Greiner, a man of singular distinction and extraordinary accomplishment
J3584 FUSCHILLO — Commending Jerry Laricchiuta upon the occasion of receiving a Special Recognition Award from the NYOSIA Grand Lodge Foundation
J3607 DILAN — Urging Governor David A. Paterson, New York State agencies, and all New Yorkers to cooperate with the United States Census Bureau
J3609 MARCELLINO — Honoring Dr. Sean A. Fanelli upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of distinguished service as President of Nassau Community College
J3617 PARKER — Congratulating The Reverend Father Eric A. Stephens upon the occasion of his retirement from St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
J3625 BONACIC — Commending The Honorable Robert C. Meyer upon the occasion of his retirement after 28 years of dedicated service as a Town Justice for Sullivan County
J3629 FUSCHILLO — Congratulating the Wantagh High School Girls Volleyball Team and Coach Katie Lux upon the occasion of winning the Nassau County Class A Championship
J3645 SALAND — Commending Sister Anne Daniel, O.P. upon the occasion of her 50th Anniversary as a Dominican Sister of Blauvelt
J3666 JOHNSON C — Memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim February 7-13, 2010, as Kawasaki Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York
J3670 DIAZ — Memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim February 2010 as Dominican Heritage Month in the State of New York
J3673 FUSCHILLO — Honoring Mary A. Ward upon the occasion of celebrating her 100th Birthday on November 26, 2009
J3688 MORAHAN — Honoring Shannon Allan on being named a Warwick Valley High School Student-Athlete of the Week
J3689 MORAHAN — Honoring Brandon Cantelmo on being named a Warwick Valley High School Student-Athlete of the Week
J3708 STACHOWSKI — Congratulating Rachel A. Badger upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition as recipient of the 2010 Educator of the Year Award
And those are just some of the ‘J’s’, which go from J3163 – J4598.
Thanks pj! I’ll have to work on making him blink.
Politico is reporting that the 2012 Repig convention has been awarded to Tampa Bay. I’m waiting for actual confirmation from a more reliable source than Politico, but the thought of our area swarming with Repigs has me all a-twitter.
At least Tarryl Clark will have kicked Michele Bachmann out of office by then.
Oh, never mind.
And I’m sure they won’t get those raises a few weeks down the road when things quiet down a bit.
How could Blinky award raises to his aids? Didn’t he think this might be the wrong time? I’m sure it was his teacher’s fault.
That Blinky bobblehead doesn’t look at all blinky.
NY Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, from Buffalo/Grand Island:
Well, sucks to be on his staff, I guess.
It’s official. The Repigs are
invadinginfestinginfecting Tampa in 2012. This is what I get for promting the Arizona boycott, I guess.Another reason they gave for not choosing Phoenix is the fact that it’s really hot there in August. As opposed to the arctic breezes here.
At least the owners of gay bars will be happy about the increased business.
As expected, we have a restraining order. Much to Blinky’s chagrin.
Holy shit! There was an oil spill. When did that happen?
What? 22 days ago, and it’s still leaking.
The cookie monster.