The Anti-Sam Brownback Blog

Thankfully, Senator Sam Brownback is working hard to help the padded potty seat industry:

Just a week after introducing a wealth of shoe-friendly bills that would make Imelda Marcos proud, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) has turned his attention to toilet training.

Last Thursday, Brownback introduced three measures to suspend the duties on “padded potty seats,” “traveler padded-potty seats” and “contoured padded-infant potty seats.” That oughtta cover it.

Spokesman Brian Hart said the amendments were introduced for the benefit of Mommy’s Helper, a business in Wichita, Kan.

Whew.  I was worried.  Thank goodness Brownback made that deft legislative maneuver.

It seems Senator Sam Brownback is taking Mark Parkinson’s defection to the Democratic party pretty hard:

“I feel personally betrayed by Mark,” said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

“The fact of the matter is Kansas is a center-right state, and that’s where most people are most ideologically comfortable,” Brownback said. “We’re a high-tax state, and most people don’t like that. We believe in a lot of traditional things like marriage — the union of a man and a woman.”

He added: “A vast majority of Kansans, that’s where they are.”

I can just imagine Brownback stewing.  It is his brand of extremist religious conservatism that is driving away the moderates.  I’m sure in Senator Brownback’s fantasy land, everyone will want to be a conservative republican once they’ve seen the light.  Well, Mark Parkinson has “seen the light” and he ran as fast as he could in the other direction.

Anyone have any idea as to why Senator Sam Brownback would be introducing so many bills about shoe duties?

Late last week, Brownback introduced a total of 17 bills to suspend temporarily the duties on different types of footwear.

Among the offerings: S. 2847, to “reduce temporarily the duty on certain footwear with open toes or heels,” and the more catchall S. 2845, affecting “certain women’s footwear.” S. 2837, for the leather lover, would reduce the duty on “certain leather and textile footwear,” while S. 2838, affecting “certain rubber or plastic footwear,” keeps the pleather lover pleased.

Stay-at-home moms aren’t left out either: S. 2850 would “reduce temporarily the duty on certain house slippers.”

And on it goes, to cover certain footwear for men, certain other work footwear, certain athletic shoes and certain athletic footwear for men and boys.

We only got confused when it came to S. 2835, which would suspend the duty on “certain leather footwear for persons other than men or women.” Which leaves what, exactly? Humanoids? Extraterrestrials?

Thanks to The Hill for the heads up.

According to Broadcasting and Cable online, Senator Sam Brownback’s broadcast indecency bill could make it to the Senate floor this session:

….a source close to the issue [stated] that the committee intended to mark up the bill May 18.

Like the House version, the Brownback bill would boost FCC fines dramatically. Unlike the House bill, however, it would not put a TV station’s FCC licenses in jeopardy after three indecency violations and would not remove the first warning on performers that is in the current FCC rules.

While this bill is clearly throwing some red meat to the base, it has the potential to create actual harm if amendments are attached that increase the scope.  Right now there are rumors circulating that if this bill makes it to markup there will be an amendment added that will put cable and satelitte broadcasters under the same standards as traditional over-the-air broadcasters.  Say goodbye to a lot of Comedy Central late night TV if such an amendment passes.

Sorry for the lack of posting fervor over the last few days. A combination of midterms and a destructive micro-burst of wind that tore through town has kept me overly busy. Posting should be returning to the normal frequency.

A huge thanks to all who inquired about my well being. Ya’ll are great!

Senator Sam Brownback is pushing a bill that would dramatically increase the fines for broadcasters who are found to have violated the FCC’s decency rules for television:

Brownback said a study released by the Parents Television Council shows how broadcasters are complicit in marketing adult material to children, and that increased fines will “send a signal to the industry.”

What I find most interesting about his push on this bill is that it is not as strict as some other competing bills. In the article, Brownback notes that a stricter bill would have a harder time passing the Senate. This level of pragmatism is not something he is known for. I imagine it is born out of the necessity to pad his resume with the word “family” in the runup to the presidential election in 2008.

Pushing for more fines on broadcasters is a solid winner. The public loves to beat up on them, and they often deserve the harsh denunciations of their content. I just question exactly how mush of this is parental responsibility. At a certain point you have to take charge of your family’s television habits.

Senator Sam Brownback will be appearing with the Parent’s Television council’s unveiling of their study on children’s television programming. Since Brownback is participating I am sure the study will condemn the culture of America and rail against those who believe in free speech.

Lest you think the PTC is an independent non-partisan group, be aware that the President of PTC, Brent Bozell, is also the president of the Media Research Center which issues frequent denunciations of supposed left wing bias on television.

The PTC has made submitting claims to the FCC easy as sending a mass mailing. According to Mediaweek, the PTC is responsible for %99.8 of all complaints to the agency.

Just remember, vote with your remote. If you don’t like a TV show’s content, turn the channel. Networks put on air what people will watch.

As you probably have noticed, I now have Anti Brownback T Shirts and other assorted goodies for sale.  I was going to wait to reveal these until the one year anniversary of the blog (March 31st) but after some recent inquiries I decided to go live now.

There is currently one design in the shop on multiple items of clothing.  If you have other design ideas I would love to hear them.  You would, of course, get a free shirt if I chose to use your design.

I see there is an influx of new visitors from the article on blogging by Alan Bjerga.

Thanks for stopping by! Take a look around, bookmark, leave you thoughts.

Here are a couple of my most visited posts:

Brownback Hates Children with Diabetes

The Political Future of Stem Cells

What Will Brownback Run On?

In addition to those, the categories on the right are a good way to check up on Senator Brownback’s recent actions.