Daily Archives: August 29, 2012

Romney’s Fundraiser Party Yacht Does Not Fly American Flag

I remember back in the old days when failure to wear an American Flag Lapel Pin was a politically bad move for any politician. I wonder if Mitt Romney and his friends wore American Flag Pins on their lapel’s while they had a fund raiser earlier today on a foreign yacht that flew the flag of the Cayman Islands. And, I wonder if that place…the Cayman Islands…is where Romney keeps all his money, and if some of the “Missing Tax Returns” would show that?

The yacht, called the Cracker Bay and which has a dinging room large enough to seat 30 people, is owned by Gary Morse, who has given about $1,000,000 to a pro-Romney superPac. Morse is one of the very few super donors who have been supporting Romney who’s name we know, as Romney has refused to allow any of their names to be known. He is the first candidate in over a decade to withhold the names of his major donors. I assume that this is because among them there are names of criminals or leaders of terrorist states or something. I mean, why would you risk the bad press from being so secretive otherwise? I quickly add that when asked about all this, a top Romney aid said “”I think Gov. Romney is going to do what he has to to follow the law.” OK, whatever.

Also among those dining with the presidential hopeful were Mel Sembler, a supporter of Georg Bush, and oil executive Charlie Moncrief. The press was able to ascertain the names of these individuals by looking at their name tags as they left the area of the Yacth, but other attendees covered up their name tags like common criminals cover their faces with their prison-provided t-shirts or hoodies.

“I think it’s ironic they do this aboard a yacht that doesn’t even pay its taxes,” said a woman who lives aboard a much smaller boat moored at the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina.

Romney’s Cayman-based investments have come under fire during the campaign.

“It was a really nice event. These are good supporters,” said billionaire Wilbur Ross, an energy industry executive.

Source: ABC News

Why Minnesota Can't Have Nice Things

In Minnesota’s Lakes Country, what we sometimes call “Up North,” the people have various degrees of knowledge of the land and its wildlife. Cabin people and campers visit briefly and may learn in detail the workings of a particular lake or patch of forest, but are usually poorly informed of the true nature of the landscape. People with “lake homes” (seasonally used cabins on steroids owned by people who live elsewhere) may spend more time in Lakes Country but actually know less about it than campers might because having central heating and air conditioning, a paved driveway, and big-ass SUV tends to isolate one from Nature’s tooth and claw, as it were, even if one spends more time than others in proximity to the wild lands. People who live year round in Lakes Country would be expected to have the best understanding of the landscape on which they live, but knowledge does not really seep into one’s brain from mere propinquity (well, sure, maybe a little) and as skeptics we know that many people over-estimate the value and extent of their own knowledge and understanding that comes from categorical association and undervalue the importance of purposeful learning and research. Continue reading Why Minnesota Can't Have Nice Things