Day: January 22, 2006

This is just plain silly.

University of Florida employees have to pledge that they’re having sex with their domestic partners before qualifying for benefits under a new health care plan at the university.

The partners of homosexual and heterosexual employees are eligible for coverage under UF’s plan, which will take effect in February. The enrollment process began this month, and some employees have expressed concern about an affidavit that requires a pledge of sexual activity.

Fielding questions about the pledge at a Faculty Senate meeting Thursday, UF’s vice president of human resources said he’s heard concerns about the affidavit, though overall feedback about the plan has been positive.

“I would say 95 percent of the affidavit is fine,” Kyle Cavanaugh said in an interview after the meeting.

In addition to declaring joint financial obligations, prospective enrollees must “have been in a non-platonic relationship for the preceding 12 months,” according to the affidavit.

Marylou Behnke, a UF senator, told Cavanaugh she found the requirement “offensive.”

As a member of the Senate, representing faculty in UF’s College of Medicine, Behnke said she was compelled to learn more about UF’s plan. She said she was taken aback to find that employees would be required to swear to prior sexual activity, a standard not applied to married couples covered by UF’s primary health care plan.

“Are you going to police it?” Behnke asked Cavanaugh.

Cavanaugh said he had no plans to personally enforce the sex pledge. The “non-platonic” clause is “increasingly standard” in domestic partnership plans, Cavanaugh said. The clause is one of several methods used to legally ensure that an employer is only obligated to cover employees in a committed relationship, not longtime roommates.

See what I mean? Silly bureaucratic crap.

The MSM is making hay out of pictures that have been discovered showing President Bush standing next to Jack Abramoff. Of course, the Democrats will attempt to make this into some kind of smoking gun. You can just about guarantee the photos showing up in a campaign ad.

I say, So What.

Although President Bush says he doesn’t recall meeting convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the two have reportedly turned up in photos together.

Both Washingtonian and Time magazines have reported the existence of about a half-dozen photos showing the two together.

Time reported on its Web site Sunday that its staff members have seen at least six photos featuring Bush and Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his lobbying practices and has pledged to cooperate with investigators. They appeared to have been taken at White House functions, according to the reports.

The White House has acknowledged that Abramoff attended some events at the Executive Mansion, and spokeswoman Dana Perino said Sunday it’s not surprising that the two would have met.

“The president has taken tens upon thousands of pictures at such events,” Perino said.

Exactly, which is why there is no ‘there’, there with this story.

The Republicans can play a game of quid pro quo here. I’m sure there are quite a few pairing Hillary with some character of ill repute. Not that it would matter though. The MSM would ignore any story like that (at least they have so far).

The Abramoff matter is no doubt a serious one, and it deserves investigation. But the Democrats should stop trying to attach everything to this president. It’s a waste of time, especially when they would be better off formulating ideas and plans for running the country. That’ll win elections. There surely must be some Democrats who remember what it’s like to run an issue driven campaign.

<crickets>

Or, maybe not.

So far (2nd Quarter, 9:56) we look really good. Lots of ball game left to go though, so anything can happen.

For those of you who are not from the Pacific Northwest, and I’d imagine that’s most of you out there, you can’t possibly understand how important this game is. You see, the Seahawks have never gone to the Super Bowl. Like, never. In fact, they’ve always blown it in the playoffs, so the fact that they’re one win away from the Big Show is an act of God, pure and simple.

I’m not counting my chickens (uh, hawks) until their hatched, so I’ll update this post at the conclusion of the game.

UPDATE: Yea! We win, and we’re going to the Super Bowl! First time in franchise history. How sweet it is!