Idaho Falls

'Nuff said.

Dr. David Adler (Idaho State University, Professor of Political Science) will be teaching six classes on consecutive Tuesdays between February 13 and March 20. They will be taught at Idaho Falls High School, Room 144 (7PM to 9PM). Note that the first lecture has already passed us by - but it was probably similar to the talk Dr. Adler gave a few weeks ago at DL.

Each night is $20 (or $18 for Seniors). The Supreme Court Series is paid together, so is $40 (or $36 for Seniors). Register here or call Community Ed between 6:30 and 9:30 pm most nights (525-7740) x. 4

See continuation for class descriptions.

I just sent the following letter to the Idaho Falls Post Register. It's in response to this Mona Charen column. And, I'm heavily indebted to Scarecrow at FireDogLake for the content. Scarecrow wasn't limited to 250 words, so I highly recommend that you read that post instead of my letter.

Editor,

Mona Charen’s February 6th editorial about the Scooter Libby trial contained so many lies that I’m starting to doubt that ‘Mona Charen’ is her real name. She claims that the trial over Libby’s lies about publicizing the name of a covert CIA agent involved in the CIA’s classified and highly sensitive program to acquire intelligence on the status of WMD development in Iraq and Iran is “a farce and an outrage.” (Why do I have a feeling that she was rooting for Clinton’s impeachment over lies far less serious? Ah well, are we ever surprised about the hypocrisy of Bush supporters?)

Unfortunately for her and other Bush cheerleaders, whether Libby lied to cover for Cheney is irrelevant. The investigation and trial have proved that Cheney worked hard to discredit Joe Wilson for uncovering Bush’s lies. Cheney learned early on about Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA official involved with WMD proliferation intelligence. Rather than uphold his sworn duty to shield her from disclosure, Cheney did his best to ensure that her identity became widely known. Whether or not Libby lied, Cheney is responsible for that result.

This Administration repeatedly claims that mere debate about the President's failed war policies is "helping the enemy." Because in Bushworld, pointing out the administration’s obvious duplicity and incompetence is really, really bad. But outing a covert agent’s role in our nation’s security, just to discredit her husband, is business as usual.

Sorry, Mona (or whatever your name is), that’s not the way America works.

By the way, the artwork above is all mine. Some are masters with Photoshop ... I'm competent with MSPaint.

What's a good wingnut* to do? Support the pharmaceutical industry or the fundamentalist fan base?

Merck lobbying for cervical cancer vaccine

If you're not aware of the controversy over this vaccine (perhaps because you're a rational adult with an IQ higher than Bush's approval rating), you will be stunned. Fundamentalists are gearing up to fight widespread use of this cervical cancer vaccine because it might lead to some girls having premarital or underage sex. That's right. They'd rather see thousands of women die from cervical cancer than remove one very obscure rational for absinence.

Show of hands (women only). How many of you abstained from sex before marriage because of the risk of cervical cancer? That's what I thought. Zero. But maybe that's because nobody reads this blog.

Do fundamentalists actually use cervical cancer as a talking point for their kids? Further, do you suppose that fundamentalists make up stuff to scare their kids away from sex? Do they tell their boys that premarital sex will cause their gherkins to fall off? Is that why they fight sex ed in the public schools?

Something to think about.

* I know, I know...using "good" and "wingnut" in the same sentence probably violates some rule of grammar.