Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Guinness Record for shark jumping
I'm watching the Repooflicans with a sense of wonder and awe. Though both "parties" have the same basic ideology and goals, the Rs have a truly unique talent for alienating their own voters. Just when you think they've run out of constituents to permanently disgust and offend, they find a new set!
Consider the current FAA semi-shutdown.
Imagine the strategy session:
"Okay, guys, our only remaining solid demographics are upper-class suburbanites, farmers, and the white working class. How can we run a campaign to lose more votes from those groups?"
"I've got an idea! Let's offend the suburbanites by messing up all air traffic."
"Better idea! Let's get rid of construction jobs!"
"I know! We can endanger a Boeing contract and offend a big corporation!"
"Best of all, we can say we're doing all these things to make rural transportation considerably harder!"
"Yes, I love all those ideas! Let's do it all!" ¶ 5:56 AM
Consider the current FAA semi-shutdown.
The 10-day shutdown of airport runway and other improvement projects overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration has disrupted tens of thousands of construction jobs nationwide and prompted the furlough of 4,000 agency employees.
Moreover, the shutdown has threatened progress on an approaching deadline for certifying airports to handle the new Boeing 747-8 freighter, the largest jumbo jet ever built by the company.
Still unresolved are disputes in temporary FAA funding legislation over subsidies for service to rural communities and an attempt to roll back a federal labour rule aimed at making it easier for unions to organize at airlines and railroads.
Imagine the strategy session:
"Okay, guys, our only remaining solid demographics are upper-class suburbanites, farmers, and the white working class. How can we run a campaign to lose more votes from those groups?"
"I've got an idea! Let's offend the suburbanites by messing up all air traffic."
"Better idea! Let's get rid of construction jobs!"
"I know! We can endanger a Boeing contract and offend a big corporation!"
"Best of all, we can say we're doing all these things to make rural transportation considerably harder!"
"Yes, I love all those ideas! Let's do it all!" ¶ 5:56 AM
