Morning News Round-Up

We reads the news so you don't have to have your head explode.

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A group of conservatives in western Maryland have started a drive for the state to allow five conservative counties in their region to secede.  They're upset at how the state has become too liberal.

Actually, there's a little-known policy that allows this problem to be addressed.  It's called "moving."  No doubt Alabama would welcome new residents.  A second option is available:  a civics course which would explain exactly how democracy works.

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Dr. Ben Carson, who is a neurosurgeon and political commentator, got a lot of attention last week for putting his two fields together and calling the Affordable Care Act "the worst thing that has happened to this nation since slavery."

Forget for a moment that this overlooks such things as the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, 9/11, four presidential assassinations and the Kardashians.  On the simple statement alone, one massive reality stands out -- I have a suspicion that actual slaves would have fallen on their knees and praised God for his Eternal Goodness if they were giving healthcare.

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Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) told a reporter for The Young Turks that if the United States defaulted on its debt, "that would be an impeachable offense by the president."

In fairness to Mr. Gohmert, he didn't explain a) why responsibility for debt failure wouldn't fall on congressional Republicans, b) what actual "high crime" the president would guilty of, which the Constitution requires for an impeachable offense, c) how he could have possibly escaped appointment to the Supreme Court, d) how much ego gratification he gets from seeing his name in print, and e) if he believes the father of his party when Lincoln said, "Better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."

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In Game Two of the American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox were losing 5-1 in the 8th inning, when David Ortiz hit a grand slam to tie the game and then the team won in the bottom of the ninth.  I called a Boston friend and massive Red Sox fan to tell him what a great anniversary gift it was for him.  He said, "Oh, that's right, it's my anniversary.  My wife forgot, too.  I'd better go remind her.

Elisberg Industries is a full-service news and information enterprise.  We live but to serve...

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told CNN on Sunday that "it's not a good idea to go through the debt ceiling."

Just think, and it only took him four days before the debt ceiling must be raised to figure this out.  One wonders what thought process brought him to this impressive conclusion.  Perhaps he might know some other Republicans to whom he could pass along this revelation.  (Note:  "Not a good idea" is herewith defined as "catastrophic.")  It is believed, but unconfirmed that Mr. Paul also said, "It's not a good idea to test a thermonuclear device in your living room."

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that 53% of Americans blamed the Republican Party for the government shutdown, while only 31% blamed President Obama.  Further, approval ratings for the GOP were only 24%. 

In reporting on this, the Huffington Post wrote, "Democrats aren't wildly popular either. Obama's approval rating is a marginally positive 47 percent, while the Democratic Party is at 39 percent,"  For the math challenged, it's important to point out that these numbers mean that President Obama is twice as popular as the Republican Party, and Democrats are two-thirds more popular.  In a political world where 10 points would be considered a landslide, the difference here is not "marginal."  Rather, it's not good.

For a definition of "not good," see Rand Paul above...

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