Congratulations to everyone who regularly posts at this blog. Our blog has made the top 100 legal blogs in the annual survey by the ABA Journal. [OK, there is no trophy but I figured we needed something] The Journal is now taking votes on various categories from professor/legal theory blog (including this blog) and various other categories like crime and technology. This blog is in the top ten for professor/legal theory blogs and you can vote on the ranking by click vote now here.
The journal describes our blog as
Jonathan Turley
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley keeps his posts short, light and entertaining while focusing on outrageous criminal justice and tort stories in the mainstream media (“bizarre” is this blog’s most populated topic). But be sure to click the “continue reading” links to get this constitutional scholar’s take on how these stories will end.
For the full 100 list and the other categories (and a chance to vote on your favorite blogs in each category), click here.
Per the request of Rafflaw, I have added the Stanley Cup below for making both the top 100 and top ten.
Congratulations and well done, Prof. Turley.
There are other law blogs?
I voted yesterday for Prof. Turley’s blog and I will vote again today for it. I like the Barclay’s trophy, but my favorite is the Stanley Cup for sheer size and gaudiness!
I voted.
Rafflaw:
You are probably right about the gaudiness quotient. I have therefore added the Stanley Cup in your honor.
Patty C:
No there are no other legal blogs.
Buddha:
I am from Chicago where a single vote is considered a lack of effort. You need to vote your dead relatives and pets.
Thanks everyone.
JT
I’ve cast my vote too, but am perplexed. Only another legal blog would insist on spelling it “blawg.” I must confess passing interest in another blog entitled “The Namby Pamby, Attorney-at-Law.” Just a turn of the head of course, my loyalties lie here.
“For a printable list of all 100 blogs…”—it makes it sound like they’re behind the counter in brown coverings! Congratulations!!! You deserve it! And winning two rather blingy cups as well is pretty darn cool. What’s not to love? Woo-hoo!!!!
Mespo:
Even Jimmy Carter admitted to lusting in his heart. However, I warn you: those other legal blogs are little more than sirens for the destruction of your soul.
JT:
I know — its a weakness. By the way, as trophies go I am partial to the Lombardi Trophy and the Euro Cup. The Lombardi Trophy is ubiquitous, but here it is The Euro in all its glory:
http://www.subsidesports.com/uk/images/product/xlarge/EuroCupTrophy80mm2008.jpg
I voted and will continue to if I’m able. As for the other blogs I learned long ago in union politics the advantages of “bullet voting.”
In that process, when offered a range of candidates with the possibility of voting for more than one, you only vote for that one favorite of yours. This way you don’t dilute the vote for your choice by giving votes to lesser choices. In this instance the decision is easy for me: There are no other competing blogs that compare.
I voted once from Firefox, once from Explorer, and once from Safari. I’ve done my part.
Congratulations Professor
Mespo:
I must confess (no insult intended to Rafflaw) that The Euro is worthy of the grandeur of our blog. It will be duly added as a third trophy.
Mike: I say game the system in the name of blogjustice.
Arabella: You are worthy of a position as a Chicago precinct captain.
I notice that all the trophy choices are secular in nature. Is this part of your war on X-mas? I vote for the holy grail to at least be included along side these secular humanist choices.
Jill:
I am simply not that complex. Like many men, I just focus on shiny objects.
Where’s my ‘street money’?
JT,
I voted, do I get one of those little stickers?
Arabella,
That is hysterical!
Arabella:
Would you run my campaign? For what, I haven’t decided. “Walking around money” is no problem with organization like yours!
Arabella”
Feel free to charge a night on the town to Howard Bashman at How Appealing.
Gyres: Your reward is in heaven, my dear Gyres.
that’s the 1st. time i’ve ever voted for a law blog. felt good.
Let us join our ‘virtual’ hands together in solidarity towards presenting JT with yet another deservedly prestigious award
- ‘Le Mans Grand Prix’!
(Hope this works – ie 3rd ‘jag’ lover photo from the left…)
‘Le Mans Grand prix trophy photo’
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=Le+Mans+trophy+photo&btnG=Search
p.s. mespo, yours is the ‘shiniest’, by far!
Bravo!
——————————
*Well, he’s all you’d ever want
He’s the kind I like to flaunt and take to dinner
But he always knows his place
He’s got style, he’s got grace–he’s a winner
He’s a lawyer
Oh, whoa, whoa, he’s a lawyer
Talkin’ about that lively lawyer
And the lawyer is mine
Well, he’s never in the way
Always something nice to say, and what a blessin’
I can leave him on his own
Knowin’ he’s OK alone and there’s no messin’
He’s a lawyer
Oh, whoa, whoa, he’s a lawyer
Talkin’ about that lively lawyer
And the lawyer is mine
Well, he never asks very much
And I don’t refuse him
Always treat him with respect
I never would abuse him
What he’s got is hard to find
And I don’t want to lose him
Help me build a mountain
From a little pile of clay, hey hey hey
Well, he knows what I’m about
He can take what I dish out, and that’s not easy
But he knows me through and through
And he knows just what to do and how to please me
He’s a lawyer
Oh, whoa, whoa, he’s a lawyer
Talkin’ about that lively lawyer
And the lawyer is mine
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he’s a lawyer
Oh, whoa, whoa, he’s a lawyer
Talkin’ about that lively lawyer
And the lawyer is mine
(fade out)
*the song – adapted from Tom Jone’s LV hit…
-
Torts finals are tomorrow at GWU, do we get an automatic A if we vote for your blog and confess to reading it everyday?
I expect no, especially for those of us who aren’t in your class
If you actually took my class, you would know that the answer is clearly yes. Vanity Oh Vanity Thy Name is Academia. Now get back to studying (after you vote of course).
Congratulations Mr. Turley and staff.
I tried; however, given my strongly ingrained conservative Republican heritage, I just could not bear to vote for a liberal Ivory-towered academician and legally entrenched blogmaster.
You understand. Submitting a reasoned vote for a liberal Democrat for President of the United States—perhaps—but voting for a liberal Democratic lawyer who is also an over-tenured college professor of law, at GWU to boot, and for a liberally biased legal blog, no less! No Way!
One thing always leads to another with lawyers—in particular—and liberals—in general. If Mr T. gets too many votes, which always leads to inflated egos, he will soon be soliciting entry fee “contributions” via a ‘no pro bono’ PayPal button displayed in the ‘Buff & Blue’ GWU school colors as a prominent blinkin’ n’ flashin’ Turley Bowl Blog Trophy thumbnail next to his distinguished, Jeffersonian-esque portrait.
I sincerely trust that my honesty and full disclosure—in accordance with my well-established Constitutional Rights within the 1st Amendment—will not incur my blacklisting from posting on this fine—and currently free of legal fees—blog.
Oh, and in the spirit of quashing that last braggadocios post, I respectfully submit my arguments against the trivializations of one’s precious freedom to vote…
Good day Counselor.
rofl
That’s good stuff, FFLEO.
FFLEO:
Once an academic makes it through tenure, it is practically impossible to increase their ego. I do, however, agree that voting for a favorite blog is much more important than voting for president. However, consider the alternative danger of a crest-fallen, disgruntled, morose ivory-towered academician.
As for the Turley Turkey bowl this thanksgiving, my team (always named the Bears) again lost to the Redskins. However, the only touchdown was scored by my eight-year-old Jack who was on my team and ran the wrong way and scored for the other team. Consequently, I have no immediate plans for a “prominent blinkin’ n’ flashin’ Turley Bowl” Trophy — until I can keep my team running in the same direction (a certain problem not unfamiliar to this blog).
Finally, give me your vote damn it or I will fill these pages with the lyrics of Barry Manilow songs.
You know I can’t smile without you
I can’t smile without you
I can’t laugh and I can’t sing
I’m finding it hard to do anything
You see I feel sad when you’re sad
I feel glad when you’re glad
If you only knew what I’m going through
I just can’t smile without you.
Had enough? Don’t push me to call in the lyrics from Looks Like We Made It.
Sir:
You have gone too far.
All I can say is:
“MacArthur Park is melting in the dark.
All the sweet green for icing flowing down.
Someone left a cake out in the rain.
I don’t think that I can take it ’cause it took so long to bake it and I’ll never have that recepie again, oh, no”
In a true exhibition of the Philadelphia lawyer that you are, whilst displaying unconscionable malice aforethought and fraught with extortion outside all the known boundaries of fair play, I dejectedly concede.
I yield not to your legalistic superiority, but rather to my altruistic sensibilities for the other poor souls of your BlogSpot. To subject them to more Manilow earworms would exceed even the limits of water boarding torture.
You got my doggone vote, (#44) but I will only vote once, as *any* Republican would do.
Prof. Turley,
It is time for the “nuclear option” for this vote because for some reason the system would not let me vote again today!! Being from the Chicago area I have to take that as a hate crime. I will keep trying.
“Being from the Chicago area I have to take that as a hate crime.”
Now rafflaw, that was funny!
BIL,
Making a Buddha rofl is a first for me…
Jill,
Ma’am, please stop. I done voted.
The worst possible cover song imaginable would be Manilow singing MacArthur’s Park…and I bet that he has recorded it.
Former Fed,
I don’t think Manilow could be any worse than the job Richard Harris did in the movie singing MacArthur’s Park.
JT:
The FB coach in me says you’ve sold young Jack short. His wrong way Reigels impersonation only netted a safety and thus two points. You may have actually won this one without knowing it should your team have managed almost any other scoring event. [Insert Chicago Bear joke here]. To put it another way “you made it through the rain, and found yourself respected by the others, who, got rained on too, and made it through.”
Your Grand Prix award:
http://www.jag-lovers.org/saloons/mk1_50/Jaguar%2050th%20041.jpg
The cruel and unusual punishment of Manilow lyrics prompts me to rethink my votes thus far. Admittedly it was prompted by FFLeo’s Conservative reticence, but one can go too far. Then too being forced to remember Tom Jones, even with doctored lyrics, raises the pain level, only to then be tortured by the verse from MacArthur Park. How much is a human being supposed to take before coming to the realization that there is sadism lurking at this site, under the guise of legal discourse. My only comfort is to draw down the bittersweet feelings engendered in my chest by the classic song of my youth Teen Angel and gain some measure of retribution by inflicting it upon you closet sadists.
Just sweet 16 and now your gone,
They’ve taken you away,
I’ll never kiss your rich red lips,
They buried you today.
Teen Angel can you hear me?
Teen Angel can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And are you still my own true love?
They don’t make songs like that any more and I hope it serves to have you all eschew you lack of lyrical taste and the Professor’s amoral blackmail, in his quest for shiny objects. FFLeo I thought you were made of sterner stuff.
Michael, I’m surprised at you – JT is ‘The Leader of the Pack’
‘vroom-vroom, vroom…’
Mike S.
Sad to say, if I were ever tortured in war (or by Mukasey) all that would be needed was streaming Manilow elavator music through my cage.
Sterner stuff nor ‘the right stuff’ could survive Manilow singing Minnie Riperton’s ‘Lovin’ You’ La, la,la, la la, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, and then that high falsetto screech……………
Now, I thought I was the old man here, but you are talking about my favorite songs…Teen Angel, Patches, Tell Laura I Love Her, Last Kiss, Runnin’ Bear…..
I don’t know why my posts are not showing up properly or in order, however, Michael Spindell and FFLEO, even though I am not your age by a decade, I am quite familiar with ‘The Classics’ from ’60′s and earlier!
My brother owns a radio station and worked at the one at Fordham when he was in college and then at MetroMedias’s WNEW (when Imus was there) and then transferred to WASH in DC for a number of years and after that associated with others, including Reagan Henry, before he eventually got enough investors together, partly through his involvement with ‘est’(which I hate), to buy out a group, improve their ratings, and sell off the majority of the debt in a deal which still left him and his partner with the one station they still own in San Diego – near where they both live, now.
Unfortunately, what they didn’t figure on is the state of radio today…
-
JT, who the Hell is ‘Matt’?
p.s. Matt, FYI, I am one of JT’s ‘originals’…
In fact, I am the one who fashioned Jonathan as ‘JT’
as his ‘handle’ on this blog a little over a year ago…
I am not a cruel man, FFLEO. I will withdraw my use of a WMD (Weapon of Manilow Destruction).
Mike and Patty C: One little point of legal trivia. Teen Angel is about an actual torts case involving respondeat superior, which a delivery boy picked up his girlfriend on his route. They were fighting and arguing before they got stuck on a railroad track — where she became Teen Angel. One more cultural contribution of the law to our Republic.
JT
Prof. Turley,
I always wondered why they named a song, (Teen Angel) after a torts case? Teen Angel, can you hear me? Teen Angel can you hear me? What lyrics! Boy, I must be old if I remember the lyrics to that song!
This is as good as reading the transcript from, “The Annoying Music Show” (which is great). It has elements of a hillbilly wedding but we need a picture of that “Teen Angel” in her coffin to complete the effect–and I speak from experience here. When I was about 10 my grandma asked if I wanted to see a picture of her sister. Of course I did. She whipped out a picture of her sister in the coffin. No one should do that to an unprepared 10 year old.
rafflaw,
I LOVED your hate crime reference. Your rights were violated!
FFLeo,
You certainly have the bona fides (spelled right? I’m not the lawyer around here) to be of my age. Loved “Tell Laura I Loved Her” and “Running Bear,” though with my beat influenced mentality it was the irony, rather than teen angst. Do you remember “Endless Sleep?”
which fit in with Teen Angel and Laura as “death” songs.
Patty C.
The Fordham station was and still is one of NYC’s best. WMFU I believe.
Prof. Turley,
Is the Torts case real, or the product of your dry wit? I need to know because if real I can relate it in the Over 55 community I live in to amuse the other codgers.
Jill,
Do you remember how “Leader of the Pack” ended? To fashion a comparable song it would feature our peerless/fearless leader locked up forever in some undisclosed location for daring to rebel against the crimes of the powers that be. In that dire result all of us would have no place to make our comments, such as they are.
For JT I would prefer “High Noon” by Tex Ritter.
Mike:
Indeed, it is a true story. However, I would prefer Lord of the Dance (If nothing else, I can threaten to post pictures of myself in leotards to force conformity to my blogging demands).
Okay, back to the task-at-hand.
‘fesser Turley is in 5th place! Better vote (legally, of course)
Mr. T: Thanks for rescinding your WMD penalty. How magnanimous of you. However, the other ‘force’ you proposed aint good, Sir. We are your humble servants without such “incentives.”
Mike: ‘Endless Sleep’ was one of my many favorites (along with, dare I mention: Flyin’ Purple People Eater, The Witch Doctor, and the all-time classic:
My Boomerang Won’t Come Back!
For your listening pleasure (really, you should listen to this song because it will brighten your day with a smile; alternatively, it may give you pause and a reason to question my, erm, judgment?)
Gotta luv YouTube:
Oom Yucka HoeyCup, Oom Yucka HoeyCup…
They banished him from the tribe then
And sent him on his way,
He had a backless boomerang
So here he could not stay.
(Animal noises)
DRAKE: [Spoken] This is nice, innit?
Getting banished at my time of life.
What a way to spend an evening: sitting on a rock in the middle of the desert with ME boomerang in me hand. I shall very likely get bushwhacked!
Man, I sure miss the 1950s and early 60s, before the British Invasion and them durn Beatles!
Professor,
Nothing personal, but the potential image of you in Leotards has caused me to vote again and into coercing my wife into doing the same. On the other hand, the Teen Angel origin being true gives me an anecdote for sitting around the pool
FFLeo,
All of those tunes brought back memories. In the Australian genre what about Lonnie Donegan’s “Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport.” Those were simpler days, or perhaps it was our youth and naivety. An example was the blatant racist “Stranded In The Jungle.” White America, for the most part (myself included)had no idea of the offensive content.Sure had a good beat though.
To illustrate what a rank sentimentalist I am though, my all time favorite songs from the 50′s were “In the Still of the Night” and “High Noon” (as mentioned before the Tex Ritter version), the latter, believe it or not, had a lasting effect on my life in thinking myself the guy to take on Bullies. Too often that mentality resulted in me getting my ass kicked, literally and career wise. That I’ve made it to my age, having had modest success is more a testament to my wife and kids, then it is to
the wisdom of music. While I love Bob Dylan, et. al. their 60′s lionization by fools like me, directly led to the Nixonland that Rick Perlstein described.
Oops! There I am again the old fart going off topic and off humor again. Thank you all for putting up with me.
Mike,
I looked up the lyrics for “Leader of the Pack” and they are wonderfully maudlin. I loved it.
JT, As to Lord of the Dance, I heard that described as the stip mining of an entire culture. I double dog dare you to show your picture before which all may tremble!!! (Hint, use animae).
FFLEO,
Most of this is your fault!!!
@ Jill,
FFLEO,
Most of this is your fault!!!
____________________________________________________________
Yes Ma’am, I agree. However, I was not wise enough to have done it on purpose…
Life is Grand…Innit?!
FFLEO,
Night and Day…you are right!
Do you remember how “Leader of the Pack” ended?
***
Mike,
It ended up #1!
Patty
p.s. That’s why we can never leave…
Maybe this one by the Eagles is JT’s song.
I actually like this version a lot!
Those great classics of my very early childhood. One of my favorites was the Martian Hop. Anyone interested could look up the Ran-Dells slideo on YouTube.
Regarding the vote, it’s not family friendly. Even with deleting cookies, the site will only record 1 vote per IP. Since my husband’s computer is hooked up to the same IP, it won’t record his vote or that of my son. It will give us a checkmark, but the number doesn’t change.
I was able to sneak in a vote at work, though.
I fear that I have unknowingly and unintentionally, perpetrated voter fraud! On the ABA Journal website, no less! Here is my alibi, er, reason and evidence.
Rafflaw stated that he could not vote more than once and so I investigated, given my better than average computer literacy, and I clicked for the second time on the vote check box and I accidentally cast my SECOND vote! In true Bush/Cheney-like fashion, I was going to do a cover-up, because like theirs, mine was an honest mistake, right?
However, LindyLou comes along and states that she could only vote once from a single IP and I knew that was likely a misstatement. Therefore, I proceeded once again to investigate and I again was able to cast my THIRD vote!
I throw myself on the mercy of the court (or at least the court jesters here) while admitting the error of my ways. Therefore, I ask that 2 of the most honest people on this forum (surely there are at least 2 of you?) who had planned to vote for Professor T’s blog to please withhold their 2 votes to CANCEL out my 2 extra votes.
I feel terrible about my accidental transgressions while trying to gather honest research data to confirm a possible voting irregularity that OTHERS were experiencing and to ensure a fair and honest vote for the best legal blog.
I could inform others how to vote more than once from a single IP, but my conscience will not allow me (ask any young kid how to do it and they will most likely know how). I cannot sleep at night until 2 members step forward to correct my honest error.
FFLeo,
You could tell my husband and my son who are legitimate voters. I’m a different person at work, so I feel like both my votes were legit.
As we conservatives say in the OC: “Vote early and vote often”
Indeed, LindyLou, I may claim all of my personalities as separate voters, except the 14-century Mongol warrior Tamerlane who doesn’t vote.
LindyLou,
Your other uncast family votes solve my dilemma. If your family does not vote again, then my votes are canceled-out!
Folks, regardless of the votes (although we must all vote) we already know that this is the best possible legal blog by a professor.
FFLEO,
I thought your book, “How I Might Have Done It” wasn’t published due to extreme controversy.
A well deserved congratulations to you Professor Turley!.
The vote tallies keep coming and, at this writing, we are doing a respectable 63 votes. I note we are falling behind a rather stodgy site presumptuously named “The Mirror of Justice,” with 102 votes. I logged on to that site to find a plethora of long boring articles covering such fascinating topics as “The Bishops & Obama-Absolutism & democratic deliberation,”Bainbridge on Kmiec; and Penalver on Bainbridge on Kmiec,” and the “More on the Moral Natural Law.” There wasn’t even a place to comment, and you know I was ready with some errant reply.
I believe a call to arms is in order to vanquish these pretenders to the throne. How can they compete with our topics like “Home With the Havens: Man Shoots Wife During Sex in Alleged Accident,” Gnome de Guerre: Pennsylvania Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault with Garden Gnome,” and the seasonal “SPOOKY TORTS WITH TURLEY.” A vote for Turley is a vote for sanity–and some fun! Match that “The Mirror of Justice.” I am voting again!!!
Mirrors of Justice… 130
Jonathan Turley…….110
Surely there are more GWU L1, 2, 3, & 4s than that who could vote.
151 good people, 134 boring people as of my vote today. Keep it going. Don’t let overconfidence put us behind. The Professor Needs
his “precious.” Also, having never won an award in my life I could use some vicarious pleasure.
It counted my vote this time. If the professor gets 200 votes, he deserves to also win the America’s cup trophy for making law accessible to the teeming masses.
Lindylou,
Or at least accessible to the masses who might vote more than once.
J
Mike,
I loved “the precious”. That was funny.
Gyges,
I’m not using your new long form name! LindyLou is not from Chicago. She is an upstanding citizen and would not vote twice (or more) like some other blogladytes here.
Dagnabit LindyLou! You fouled up my plan by casting your vote.
Okay, this is what I did to make amends for my accidental “over-voting” during my research.
I gave 1 vote (#137) to the next highest blog called ‘Mirror of Justice’ and 1 vote to another neat blawg.
I tossed n’ turned last night and now I have a clear conscience. All is right within the ABA Blawg world, for me.
I must confess that had this voting not occurred, I would have never guessed that there were that many other neat blawg on the Internet.
Jill,
Like you’ve never accidentally copied a URL into your name.
FFLEO:
He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol’n,
Let him not know’t, and he’s not robbed at all.
– Othello the Moor of Venice
The registered souls of Rosehill Cemetery and I have selected JT. They’ve no difficulty over balloting. This is the Chicago way.
Bless you Cook County Dem. Each of those votes makes me feel like I was back in the good old 46 precinct where people live (and vote) forever. Just as with Kennedy, the souls of Chicago will determine another critical national election.
Holy Cow, Turley is up to 220 votes.
Weekends are a good time for law college students to vote since they are much to ethical to surf this blawg during class time or otherwise while on-the-clock.
Indeed, at 220 votes, I feel like Sarah Palin at a Kansas caucus meeting (or at Neiman Marcus with an unlimited RNC credit card).
221.
Courtesy of Waynebro.
Or how about the blog equivalent of ‘Casey’ Kasem counting down the
Top Ten…
(Pink Floyd ‘Another Brick in the Wall’
JT is up by 90 votes right now.
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