Economic Girlie-Man

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From the Motley Fool, in response to what Gov. Arnold said at the RNC last night:

Here's the exact line: "To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: 'Don't be economic girlie-men!"'

But you know what? I'm pessimistic about the economy. I'm afraid that the Federal Reserve has backed itself into a corner. I'm afraid that lending discipline among mortgage companies has completely collapsed. I am concerned that low interest rates have been used to entice the American consumer to clean up a recession borne by an irresponsible corporate spending binge by going on one of his own. I'm afraid that the $200 billion-plus that Americans have cashed out of their houses has been spent, and the next drop in interest rates won't be concomitant with a rise in prices; rather, it will be because of a full-fledged financial emergency.

Mother of all hypocrisies

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U.S. Representative Ed Schrock has abrubtly withdrawn from his reelection bid, after allegations that he was gay surfaced on a weblog a few weeks ago. Oh, and there are audio tapes of him trying to arrange trysts for gay sex. Normally, that'd be no big deal, but this guy was one of the most conservative members of Congress and co-sponsored the proposed Anti-Gay Marriage amendment. He's also scored a 92% favorable rating from the Christian Coalition. Think they'll take back their endorsement now?

There's more, including an audio clip, and a transcript of one of the phone sex calls at Raw Story.

The Virginia Pilot reported in October 2000 that Schrock favored ending the Clinton administration's ''don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gays in the military, BlogActive noted.

"He supports asking enlistees whether they have had homosexual experiences in an effort to to try to keep gays from serving. 'You're in the showers with them, you're in the bunk room with them, you're in staterooms with them,' Schrock said."

Indeed, Schrock should know, he was in the Navy for 24 years, rising from Ensign to the rank of Captain.

And, while normally I wouldn't consider being gay a reason to quit, it strikes me as more than a bit of poetic justice that Schrock is now out of a job, considering he voted against protecting homosexuals from discrimination in the workplace.