Texans join uprising against RNC hegemony

“Republicans from Texas are leading a mutiny at their national nominating convention in Tampa and fighting proposed rule changes that they say amount to a power grab by entrenched GOP operatives at the expense of grassroots activism.

“The issue could explode in a floor fight Tuesday, just after Republican leaders open the first full day of the convention and turn to consider party rules. Although the process is usually a quiet one, the dispute over the new delegate selection process proposal advanced by Mitt Romney supporters threatens to shine a spotlight on the schism.”

Texans join uprising against RNC rules change | Texas on the Potomac | a Chron.com blog.

Bloomberg has finally lost his mind — calls homeless shelters “pleasurable”

If mayor Bloomberg had said the shelters suck less than they used to, that would be nice. If he had said they’re better than the alternatives, that could be true. If he’d said that they are good enough that people are staying in them longer, that would be really annoying — but possibly true. But when he says

“We have made our shelter system so much better that, unfortunately, when people are in it, or, fortunately, depending on what your objective is, it is a much more pleasurable experience than they ever had before,”

he can BITE ME.

Bloomberg: Homeless Shelters ‘More Pleasurable’ Than Before – Metropolis – WSJ.

Shortage of skilled workers hasn’t driven up wages

‘Manufacturers across the Upper Midwest will tell anyone who listens that they have jobs to offer — more than 2,000 welding positions in Minnesota alone — but not enough solid applicants. They point to a “skills gap” between the jobs available and the people looking for work.

‘Textbook economics says this should be good news for anyone who can strap on a helmet and make the sparks fly. If good welders truly are hard to find, employers should pay more to get them. Yet that isn’t happening, leading some economists to question whether the skills gap is the issue.’

via Riveting debate: ‘Skills’ vs. ‘pay’ gap – chicagotribune.com.

Bloomberg finally gets the memo: Housing Authority dysfunctional

After months of scathing revelations, NYC Mayor Bloomberg has decided it’s time to revamp the city’s Housing Authority.

The NYC Housing Authority can’t get repairs done on time, they can’t complete the paperwork for federal housing funds on time, they can’t manage to spend money allocated by the City Council for closed circuit cameras, they tried to hide a critical consultant’s report from the taxpayers who paid for it, their board members are paid outlandish salaries. In other words, they’re a mess. But Bloomberg defended the status quo until the day the Housing Authority was forced to release the consultant’s report.

Finally, Bloomberg acts. Though he still loves John Rhea, his incompetant appointee to the Authority’s chair.

Bloomberg is a great manager? Ha! Bite me.

Bloomberg Plans to Remove 2 Housing Authority Board Members – NYTimes.com.

Paul Ryan: Objectivist Catholic

In 2005, Paul Ryan was an devotee of Ayn Rand: “I grew up reading Ayn Rand and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what my value systems are and what my beliefs are. It’s inspired me so much that it’s required reading in my office for all my interns and my staff. . . . the reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand. And the fight we are in here, make no mistake about it, is a fight of individualism versus collectivism.”

But in 2012, he seems to have converted to Catholicism: “I reject her philosophy. It’s an atheist philosophy. It reduces human interactions down to mere contracts and it is antithetical to my worldview. If somebody is going to try to paste a person’s view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas, don’t give me Ayn Rand.”

via Is Paul Ryan for or against Ayn Rand? – CNN.com and National Review

When will Romney balance the budget? Paul Ryan says “We haven’t run the numbers”

‘Last night, newly ensconced Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan sat down for his first solo interview with Fox News’ Brit Hume and let slip an admission about Mitt Romney’s budget plan — an admission that’s receiving surprisingly little press attention. Asked by Hume when the Romney plan would balance the budget, Ryan said he didn’t know because “we haven’t run the numbers on that specific plan.”‘

Paul “Bat Boy” Ryan can Bite Me.

via “We Haven’t Run The Numbers:” A Startling Ryan Admission That’s Getting Little Attention | Blog | Media Matters for America.