Bad American

No, I swear I am NOT making EITHER story up.

First, from the land of nutty ideas:

SACRAMENTO – California would become the first state to ban helium-filled metallic balloons under a bill unanimously advanced Tuesday by a legislative committee.

Sen. Jack Scott, D-Altadena, said the party balloons frequently break free and float into power lines, where they can cause electric wires to arc.

He said they cause millions of dollars in losses for utility companies and businesses that lose electricity. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the main utility in Northern California, says the balloons caused more than 200 power outages last year in its coverage area.

California law requires the balloons to be sold with weights to hold them down. But Scott said those weights are often candies or action figures designed to be removed by children.

Scott’s office and Barry Broad, a lobbyist for The Balloon Council, say California would be the first state to ban the balloons. Broad objects to what he calls a “wacky” attempt to criminalize a party toy.

The bill, which cleared the Senate Public Safety Committee, sets a $100 fine for selling the helium-filled balloons starting in 2010. Repeat offenders could be charged with misdemeanors.

Metallic balloons are considered more dangerous to power lines than nonmetallic balloons because they conduct electricity. They still could be sold in California, but not if they contain a gas that could make them float high enough to reach power lines.

Can you see some CHP officers chasing some mom with a fistful of helium balloons for her kids birthday party? She got the tank across the border in Mexico or Nevada and SWEARS she’ll make sure the kids only have them IN the house. Swear to God, officer!

My oh my, the things we’re criminalizing in the land of the free.

Look, why not just mandate that all helium balloons must be enjoyed indoors?

Maybe they think that the ‘terrorists’ will some day launch attacks on American cities with little bombs tethered to helium balloons.

(sigh)

Well, the on air personalities at Fox and Friends aren’t taking this lying down, no sir!

In a protest never before seen on television, several on air staffers huffed helium from balloons on the air, despite the oft repeated warning that you should NEVER do that due to the very real risk of asphyxiation.

In fact the Fox personalities acknowledge that parents and teachers say they shouldn’t be doing this. What a way to set a great example on Fox!

In fact, at one point, one of the Fox personalities tells the other “take another hit.”

Wow. Will the right chastise Fox and Friends for turning kids on to helium huffing?

And by the way, should I feel sorry for Lionel Ritchie debasing himself so?