I like that Metro police are sweeping the streets in search of truants. I’m sure that most teenagers feel there is no real chance of legal consequence to skipping school. I hope that handcuffs and waiting at the station for mom or dad to pick you up will send the message.

Many parents have no idea when their children have left school with no valid reason, so the idea of inconveniencing the folks is also a good wake-up call. Of course, if my child calls from a police station someday in the future and asks me to pick him up because he got caught skipping school, I would get there just as soon as I finished buying groceries, cleaning the kitchen, watching Dr. Phil and getting a manicure … and maybe staring at the pretty flowers in my garden for a while.

The Davidson County Public Defender Ross Alderman has filed for injunctive and declaratory relief as to whether his office is controlled by the term limit provisions found in the Metro Charter. The effort is being headed by many people close to the mayor, who is also attempting to maintain three term limit credibility

“It’s rather interesting, politically and otherwise. As to the possibility or conjectures that can be raised as a result of that fact … it is somewhat peculiar,” said attorney Cecil D. Branstetter, a member of the original Metro Charter Commission. “I hope that it’s head-on for Alderman, and not an effort to determine … if they win this lawsuit, (whether it) would also cover the mayor.”

It’s quite possible this is a trial run for the mayor’s own eventual efforts at injunctive and declaratory relief.

Alderman has not served two full terms as the county’s public defender. As of 2007, the next year we have Metro elections, Mayor Purcell will have served two full terms, the maximum allowed by an amendment to the Metro Charter in 1994. However, the shortened term is not cited as a ground for relief by Alderman. Interesting.

We will have to see how this one develops.

As liberals across the blogosphere demonstrate a certain irrational exuberance over the legal troubles of GOP officials, they are beginning to have some trouble not tripping over their wagging tongues

I Lewis Libby: Fall Guy or Treasonous Traitor

Judith Miller has been released from jail. Her source is now publically known to be I. Lewis Libby (Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff).

Now, according to President Bush’s earlier claims, Scooter will now be fired and tried if and when charges are brought against him. Anyone else? Will there be and indictment for Rove somewhere in there? Is Scooter a fall guy? Probably not if Judith Miller testifies that it was him.

I never imagined that we would see so many prominent politicians arrested / indicted within a couple of months. In hindsight it is not that surprising that they are mostly republicans. After all, republicans are the people who brought us Enron.

Now, I’m not sure what most of this post is supposed to mean. It’s hardly clear, and the title makes no sense at all, at least to anyone who’s been paying attention to this nonscandal. That is, except the last part, which is blatantly false. Yes, Republicans brought us Enron - they brought it to us in the form of indictments and jail sentences and successful prosecutions and new securities disclosure legislation. A Bush appointed Department of Justice takes down Enron, Worldcom, etc., and then is blamed for it happening, when the corporate illegalities all began under Bush’s asleep-at-the-switch predecessor.

Liberal illogic at its finest.

The latest Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report email. It’s interesting, though rather non-topical compared to most of what they put together

Two-Term Presidents and Crises of Confidence
By George Friedman

Stratfor does not normally concern itself with the domestic politics of countries, except when political shifts might affect the behavior of nations internationally. We are doubly disinclined to concern ourselves with domestic politics in the United States: We have to live here, and whatever we say will be interpreted as partisan. Nevertheless, this is a moment at which American domestic politics bear examination. The Bush administration — whose ratings had been slipping already due to the situation in Iraq and rising oil prices — came under intense attack for its handling of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and approval ratings a month after the storm are still hovering near a critical low.

(more…)

Chuck Schumer, senior and disingenuous Democratic senator from New York is on The Daily Show tonight.

I paraphrase, but I paraphrase accurately.

So far, he’s said that Clarence Thomas wants to establish different churches in each state, and that Thomas is completely against the commerce clause regulating anything, and therefore wants to roll back all civil rights legislation. Absurd. He’s either ill-informed or completely sadistic. I think it’s a little of both.

He also says that the vote on Roberts was a “close one” for him, and complains that Roberts answered questions too well, complaining that he had to reread the transcript every night from the hearing to see what Roberts’ answers meant. I’m glad that the senator openly complains about doing a thorough job.

Now he’s on Tom Delay. He just made a joke about the death penalty for Tom Delay - intimating the number of executions in Texas. I’m glad Jon Stewart even seemed uncomfortable on this one.

He’s done. Thank God.

Not abortion - indisputable baby killing. Of course, there certainly have to be standards, say authorities in The Netherlands, and safeguards.

Let us not forget that killing genetically defective and unwanted infants has already been perfected - by the Nazis.

This is stupid

Sports-injury litigation took on a new dimension in New Jersey last week as the state Supreme Court ruled that a ballpark patron hit by a foul ball while buying a beer can sue the park owner for negligence.

The ruling alters the long-standing “baseball rule” — a limited-duty-of-care doctrine that for more than a century has shielded stadium owners from litigation. Fans agree to assume a risk of injury, such as from a foul ball or thrown bat, as part of the experience of being close to the game. To foster that up-close feel, there is very little separating fans and the field.

This is what happens when my own kind (lawyers) get out of control.

Justice James Zazzali led a 5-2 majority in striving to keep the baseball rule viable for parts of the ballpark but not others. He drew a distinction between “the stands” — actually, the seats at a stadium — and concourse areas where concession stands are typically located.

“We hold that the limited duty rule, which restricts the tort liability of owners, applies in situations where an injury occurs in the stands,” Zazzali wrote in Maisonave v. Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club, Inc., A-59/60-04. “However, public policy and fairness require application of traditional negligence principles in all other areas of the stadium, including, but not limited to, concourses and mezzanine areas.”

This new standard then begs the question between where the stands end and concessions begin. If you’re buying a beer from one of the roving vendors, are you then in “concessions”? If you are walking to the concessions, and get struck, are you still in the stands?

The article goes on

In this case, Louis Maisonave was hit with a foul ball while buying a beer from a vending cart at Newark’s Bears and Eagles Stadium in 1999, when the new ballpark’s permanent concessions were still under construction. Vending carts were located on the mezzanine, along both the first- and third-base lines, in full view of the field. In fact, since vendors stood with their backs to the field, patrons could watch the game as they were buying food and beverages. But according to the suit, Maisonave was chatting with other fans and reaching for money when someone said, “Look out!”

Gray areas such as these will test the reach of the court’s ruling. Ballparks vary greatly in design, and deciding which areas constitute “the stands” may become a venue-by-venue fact determination. Zazzali made an effort to define “the stands,” saying it “includes the stairs that fans ascend and descend to access their seats in the stands” as well as “areas immediately adjacent to the stands designated as ’standing room only,’ and dedicated solely to viewing the game.”

And the worst effect

A sports defense lawyer not involved in the case, Alan Goldberger, says every stadium and arena injury will now become a jury issue. “The Supreme Court made it a fact question — where was the spectator and what was his reasonable expectation [of safety] under the circumstances?” says Goldberger, who defends coaches and referees.

More litigation to come, I’m sure - at least in New Jersey. This is what happens when people who go to ball parks pose that they really like baseball. There’s not a real fan on the planet who would file a suit like this. It’s one thing I picked up on at an early age - pay attention to the game. It makes it more fun to watch, and keeps you from getting your block knocked off.

Watch out you don’t get killed.
Brian Frankish (the umpire in Field of Dreams)

Fellow GMUSL alum and author Matt Rustler picks up on some good criticism of the WashPo’s coverage of the freakfest in DC last weekend. I was too busy being irritated by the far worse coverage of the carnival by CNN to notice this minutia

[W]hen you misstate the background of a protester and fail to report on the character of ANSWER and fail to identify ANSWER national coordinator Brian Becker as having been a member of the Stalinist Workers World Party and ignore the anti-Semitic quality of a demonstration clear enough to be attacked by a Daily Kos diarist and sanitize the remarks of Cindy Sheehan on Saturday… one begins to sense a pattern. If I could only put my finger on it.

Gleanded from PostWatch.

The remarks by Sheehan were dispicable, and no one seems to want to look behind the tribal masks to see who’s pulling the strings. Best I can tell, it’s a bunch of communists well marinated in a demiglaze of anti-Semitic thought and anti-American hatred.

But don’t expect the MSM to pick up on that.

Can you tell I’m hungry? We need to go eat.

UPDATE We did go eat. Sarah found a great Thai place off of Nolensville Road called Siam Cafe. We’d never been there, but it tasted great, and the prices were more than reasonable. I had a good feeling when I saw what appeared to be a lot of former / current Thai nationals having dinner.

I took on the silly attacks regarding Dr. Boehm here yesterday. To quote myself (narcissistic I know - oh look, a mirror!)

Dr. Boehm and his wife seem to give to people who he likes or knows. That list includes George W. Bush, Forrest Shoaf, Jim Cooper, Bob Clement, Lamar Alexander, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, VolPAC, Steve Gill, Fred Thompson, the Republican Party of Tennessee, Bart Gordon, Bill Frist, George H. W. Bush and Bob Corker.

No liberal Democrats - only a few moderate ones. There are lots of Republicans and Republican organizations in that list, going back to the 1990 cycle. No national Democrats, and no far-left liberal Democrats are on that list.

Blogging for Bryant jumps on the bandwagon just as the wheels start coming off. The Tennessean gives TeamGOP some undue attention. Dr. Boehm’s support for Corker is quite simply not newsworthy - I wish our local newspaper had done a better investigation before running with the story (like, checked this blog first).

I do get the feeling that desperation is setting in - going after donors who have supported two President Bushes and Steve Gill is a far flung strategy at best

I can’t wait to see the next quarterly numbers.

Randi Rhodes is at it again. I really wish I wasn’t so addicted to her bile, but I’ll use the excuse that increased heart rate and the brain exercise of creating my rebuttals are good for the baby.

William Bennett said on his talk show that, “The crime rate would be substantially reduced if we aborted every black baby.” He went on to say that such a notion is morally reprehensible, but the statistics show such a theory to hold water. This is not the brightest comment to make, and I would never accuse Bennett of being a suave guy. However, Double R is now completely mispresenting the man.

Randi Rhodes took the comment as Secretary Bennett instead saying, “Only black people can commit crimes.” Of course, this is not at all an accurate paraphrase of Bennett’s comment. She lamented that this is how institutional racism is sustained in our culture. Then she said, “I didn’t know that George Bush is black. I didn’t know that Tom DeLay is black. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen!” Perhaps it is all of the drugs that Randi Rhodes took in her earlier years, but I think it’s pretty cool that she can “see” words coming out of the radio.

I did agree with Ms. Rhodes, sort of, on one point. She said that she can’t believe these words were coming from the mouth of the man who used to be the Secretary of Education for the United States. I can’t believe that there even is a Secretary of Education for the United States. So, if I twist our thoughts around the way that this fine Air America host does, Double R and I see exactly eye-to-eye!

Four guards who killed a woman arrested on charges of food stamp fraud were indicted on reckless homicide and aggravated assault charges today. The story is here, in The Tennessean.

I witnessed an amazing incident at the grocery store last night. As some of you have perhaps encountered, underage cashiers are not permitted to ring up purchases of alcohol (a silly restriction if you ask me … how is a teenager going to be tainted by swiping a cardboard container filled with beer across a scanner?). Apparently, two African American women several aisles down from me did not believe this to be standard practice and instead cried racism when the cashier said he would need to get another employee to ring up the beer.

What could possibly be the reason that racism played a role here? Does the white teenager think that only those of his race should be allowed the opportunity to have hangovers? All minorities should demand equal opportunity for headaches and nausea! And, what about the fact that the cashier had already rung up the rest of the women’s groceries? I guess that milk and cereal are fine, but does this kid not believe that black people should be allowed to wind down with a couple of beverages after work? The women were buying Beast Light, for goodness’ sake! Maybe the cashier was trying to do them a favor by not ringing up the swill.

The cashier was stunned by the accusations and called over another employee (who happened to be ringing up customers in my line) for help. My cashier guy swiped the beer and returned to his assigned duties. One of the women turned to my cashier and said, “Thank YOU very much.” Then, she turned back to the supposed racist of a cashier and gave him a dirty look.

The kneejerk cry of racism is abhorrent. I remember, while working at a local mall during college, having to confront a woman who was clearly stealing from our store. She told me that I was racist because I accused her of taking items off the shelves. I replied, “No, ma’am. I’m accusing you of theft because you walked into the store empty-handed and you just attempted to leave with two cookbooks, a mug and a toothbrush holder (side note — this was a Lechter’s Housewares store). I could care less if you were purple or green.”

Resorting to false claims of racism because it is known that this PC society will cower at such charges diminishes the rightful attention that should be paid when REAL racial injustice occurs.

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Congressman for the 7th District, has proposed spending cuts of a non-defense nature to counter the budgetary strains placed upon the federal government by the two hurricanes (and itself)

On Tuesday I introduced three across the board, non-defense, non-homeland security discretionary spending reduction bills — 1%, 2%, and 5% cuts. I had similar legislation in the Tennessee state senate when I served there that has since been partially acted upon. We’ve found that these across the board reductions cut through some of the wrangling over this project or that project and allow us actually see some spending decreases in those discretionary programs. Essentially says to the agencies — “you’re getting x amount less, find places to cut.” Representatives Eric Cantor and Jeb Hensarling both signed on as original cosponsors and we hope many others will join us on these bills, or at least help us promote them as part of another larger spending reduction package.

Hopefully, there’s even more to come.

Southern Scholar notes the recent troubles of Delay and Frist, while quoting a Washington Post article. No problem there. The processes for both must be completed, and all investigations must be properly done.

However, this is wrong

A situation like this was good enough to send Martha Stewart to prison. What about ol’ Billy?

Martha Stewart was convicted of conspiracy regarding the insider trading charge, but also two counts of making false statements to a federal official and one count of obstruction of agency proceedings, things that Frist has not done. The likelihood that she would have been incarcerated had she not lied to the SEC and DOJ is slim. She likely would have been hit with a punitive fine, and that is all.

Plus, there’s no conclusive evidence of insider trading yet, anyhow. The cart is way before the horse on this one. If I were a Democrat, I’d be more focused on Delay. There actually might be some meat there. We’ll see.

And I certainly wouldn’t overplay my hand. With Howard Dean’s statement yesterday, it appears the DNC is already all in. Remember, there’s a sucker at every table. If you can’t tell who it is, it’s probably you. Let the investigators and prosecutors do their work unaided.

I can offer that advice because I know that the Democratic leadership won’t take it. Desperation makes for bad strategy, and worse tactics.

UPDATE I just remembered, Stephen Moore, formerly of the Club for Growth, had a good piece on the good intentions, bad effects of insider trading regulations in general. It’s worth a read, and for the most part, I do agree with Moore’s analysis.

Andrew Morgan, GOP candidate for the legislative seat that Chris Newton resigned, issues this press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew B. Morgan
September 28, 2005 423-715-3020

Andrew B. Morgan, Republican candidate for State Representative in the 22nd District has issued the following letter to Governor Phil
Bredesen to urge him to set a date for the Special Election for the
22nd District State Representative election:

September 28, 2005

Governor Phil Bredesen:

I am writing to encourage you to set a date for the special
election for the office of State Representative in the 22nd District.
The citizens of this district have been deprived of a duly elected
Representative, in part due to the “Tennessee Waltz” scandal which
impacted this district. While many were shocked and saddened by the news that Chris Newton was involved in this breach of public trust, the news came as no surprise to many who lost faith in government years ago. Your lack of action further complicates this issue and gives taxpayers and citizens further evidence that you do not take the issue of ethics seriously. It also has the appearance that you are interested in politics as usual. Faith in our elected official
continues to be shaken.

When the City of Memphis and Shelby County faced a similar
situation when John Ford resigned from office, you set the date for
the special election for 29th Senate District in just over a week. We
have been forced to wait nearly one full month and we still have no
date for an election. Your spokeswoman, Lydia Lenker, has said that
you are waiting until November to issue the writ to “avoid the
holidays.” Sir, if you were to issue the writ tomorrow, the primary
election could be held in the first week of December. That would place the general election in the second week of January. Of course, had the 22nd District been treated as Shelby County was, the primary would have been in the first week or so of November and our newly elected representative could be certified prior to the beginning of Session. Apparently that is what you seek to avoid.

I will not level accusations of partisanship, no matter how
apparent. However, you are doing the citizens of this great district
a grand disservice. You are denying us our Constitutional rights to
select our representative. Democracy delayed is democracy denied. The interim representative appointed by the partisans of a neighboring district, penalized two other counties who had no choice in the selection. Everyday that you allow this election to be postponed, you are directly disenfranchising the people of this district. As a proud Tennessean, I must object to this. You have a duty to the voters of this state to act with good faith to set the date for this election as soon as possible.

We need immediate action on your part on this issue, not more
delays or stalling tactics. The citizens of the 22nd District should
be afforded the same rights as those of the 29th Senate District. We
do not need to have a primary election that occurs next January, we
need it now. That is the responsibility of a Governor who cares about his constituents and not partisan politics. It is the least that the state government owes us. In the wake of the Tennessee Waltz, and the “talk” of ethics reform, seeking immediate remedy to this
situation would demonstrate that you are acting in a manner that
brings people together and restores some faith in the government.
Unfortunately, this is not the path you are traveling on. Make no
mistake, the citizens of the 22nd District have noticed and I plan to
remind them. Please, reconsider your decision on this matter and
issue the writ and set the election for the earliest possible date in
December.

Sincerely,

Andrew B. Morgan
Candidate, 22nd District, Republican

I posted a bit about Cuba a few days ago. I have grown more and more angry - that is the right word, the word I mean and had no trouble searching for - with the intentional ignorance that is prevalent in the West regarding the plight of Cubans, and the true nature of the monster Fidel Castro. Jay Nordlinger wrote this, from an email he received, in his Impromptus column yesterday

And have a taste of Cuba, in the form of a report from the Coalition of Cuban-American Women:

According to the testimony of Lisandra Lafitta, wife of the physician and prisoner of conscience Dr. Luis Milan Fernandez, her husband, a man free of mental ailments, has been arbitrarily confined since February 18, 2005, to a psychiatric ward of the Boniato Prison Hospital in Santiago de Cuba. Dr. Milan, serving a 13-year prison term, is forced to share a cell with patients suffering a variety of mental disorders . . .

Dr. Milan is unable to sleep due to the incessant mosquitoes and suffocating heat (40 degrees Celsius in the shade). To escape this situation he sleeps on the floor, under his bed.

Following an inspection of the Boniato Prison on June 10, 2005, when trucks arrived and guards with dogs searched every cell, Dr. Milan lost all his maps and the personal letters he had received from different countries. . . . Also, he is prohibited from receiving any medicines or food that his family takes him.

Dr. Milan, who is 35 years old, has always been a very healthy man. When he was transferred from the Prison of Canaleta in Ciego de Avila (where he was confined along with 146 common prisoners) to the Combinado del Este Prison in Havana, where he underwent a medical check-up, penal authorities diagnosed the following illnesses: a tumor in the left humerus, loss of hearing, pulmonary emphysema (he does not smoke but was exposed to cigarette smoke in the Prison of Canaleta), hypertension, swollen nasal turbinates, and an enlarged liver. Dr. Milan refuses to undergo the required biopsies and surgical procedures required to treat these ailments since he does not trust the medical personnel in the prison.

Dr. Luis Milan Fernandez is a member of the Independent Cuban Medical Association (Colegio Medico Independiente de Cuba). In June 2001 he and his wife, a dentist, signed a document titled “Manifiesto 2001,” calling for recognition of fundamental freedoms in Cuba. . . .

Friends, I get 15 or 20 of these a week, and share very few of them. Some are more gruesome or outrageous than others, but they all speak to one, central fact: Cuba is a Communist hell, made all the more sorrowful by the huge and unshakable support the regime receives from Free World elites.

My prior post on Cuba is here.

Rumors abound that it is Harriet Miers. Per Drudge.

The Washington Post had a background article on Miers back in June.

MSNBC has picked up on Representative Stacey Campfield’s summary rejection by the Tennessee Black Caucus

A white Tennessee lawmaker lamenting his exclusion from the state’s Black Legislative Caucus claimed Tuesday the group was less accommodating that even the Ku Klux Klan.

“My understanding is that the KKK doesn’t even ban members by race,” said Rep. Stacey Campfield, adding that the KKK “has less racist bylaws” than the black lawmakers’ group.

The freshman Republican from Knoxville was rebuffed earlier this year when he asked for the Black Caucus’ bylaws and inquired about joining. There are 18 black state lawmakers in Tennessee.

Maybe Representative Campfield went over the top. I’m not sure he did. Reverse racism is hardly ever called out. A racially exclusive group in a legislative delegation is prima facie racist. It’s that simple.

Caucus chairman Rep. Johnny Shaw, a Democrat, dismissed Campfield’s request and called him a “strange guy” who was simply interested in stirring up trouble.

“He is using this as a joke. This is an insult coming from him,” said caucus member Rep. Larry Miller, also a Democrat. “Why he chose to focus on the Black Caucus, I have no idea other than he is crazy and a racist.”

Crazy and a racist? I guess that absolves him of any blame.

The 37-year-old Campfield defended himself Saturday in a message on his Web journal, or blog, under the heading “I too dream.”

The long excerpts from the Rev. Martin Luther King’s famous 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech infuriated some readers. It prompted Campfield to ban reader comments after some of the angry postings included death threats.

Experts on race and hate groups said Campfield hit a nerve when he used King’s words to take on a black institution. It’s the same tactic white separatists often use, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“Very typically these days we see white supremacists, hate groups, trying to use the words of King and other civil rights leaders to try to advance their agendas,” Potok said.

Speaking of biased reporting. Whenever someone effectively uses a civil right fighter’s words in context, they are called racist. Campfield received death threats on his blog for calling out a race-based organization for what it was. Adam Groves has a good summary of the blogospheric eruption over Campfield’s request.

Tennessee Gorilla Women have a post on Campfield as well which is less than complimentary. From the author’s own comments to the post

That he is so clueless about race and shows absolutely no respect for or knowledge of all the many reasons for the existence of institutions like the Black Caucus makes me see red.

Congrats Campfield you have single handedly demonstrated why there is a need for Black institutions: Cuz too many white people are ignorant eurocentric selfish thoughtless inconsiderate insensitive morons. Hell, they still teach white studies in this part of the country.

White studies? Please show me the textbook, for I don’t believe it. The Black Caucus is a liberal interest group, and nothing more. To treat it as a sacred cow is silly. The Gorilla Women are well taken to task, however, by SayUncle

When Egalia isn’t busy lying about the state of North Carolina giving women who apply for restraining orders guns or trying to associate nutjobs like Fred Phelps (a registered Democrat) with Republicans, she resorts to misleading quotes about one of Knoxville’s state reps. Egalia says that Rep. Stacey Campfield’s decidedly small and selective blogroll includes a link to Staghounds, a white supremacist blog which features these repulsively racist statements. As supposed proof that Staghounds is a white supremacist blog, she quotes them as saying:

“Desperation? Yeah, right. I am beginning to believe that black people, no matter where in the world they are, are cursed with a genetic predisposition to steal, murder, and create mayhem.”

The problem is that the above quote was actually from this article. You see, the alleged white supremacist was actually quoting someone else, who happens to be black. If you just read Egalia’s entry, you would think that this quote came from the site she linked to.

Blake Wylie has a good take as well

By attempting to paint someone as a racist that isn’t racist only serves to destroy that person’s reputation, and that isn’t cool.

He had some good points about the legislature’s Black Caucus. A group that wants equality and desegregation apparently acts in a segregative manner themselves. Then, all of a sudden liberals start jumping all over Campfield and call him a racist and use misquoted text from a blog Campfield linked in order to make that false connection.

The Black Caucus should have done the better thing and offered him membership. That would go a long way in building a bridge toward a better community as well as furthering their agenda.

Blake’s title to the post is apt, “Ok…this is getting out of hand.”

I have a solution. Let’s dissolve the black caucus - the members can join the Tennessee caucus (which I believe is already in place). It’s much larger, and significantly more relevant to black folks as whole.

The Carnival of Revolutions is up, as well as the Carnival of Capitalists. Live and breathe freedom on both accounts.

Courtesy of Publius Pundit and Instapundit.

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