Bizarre, Politics, Society

Obama (Again) Turns To Al Sharpton in High-Profile Immigration Meeting

President Barack Obama previously drew criticism for his embrace of the controversial Al Sharpton in his re-election effort despite Sharpton’s history of race-baiting and alleged corruption. As if to make clear that his prior appearances with Sharpton were not fleeting mistakes, Obama invited Sharpton to a high-profile meeting on immigration reform and White House officials have pushed him to the forefront of supporters for the President. Putting aside the lack of responsibility shown in embracing a character like Sharpton, I am mystified (again) by the lack of political judgment by Obama and his aides. The President is already facing record low polls which so him as an increasing polarizing figure in American politics. The solution? The White House found one of the most polarizing figures in politics to stand by his side.

Continue reading “Obama (Again) Turns To Al Sharpton in High-Profile Immigration Meeting” →

Academia, Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

No Einstein: Tennessee Legislator Falsely Quotes Einstein As Embracing Christianity As Thinking Man’s Religion

Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains, TN) is one of the politicians leading the effort to introduce creationism back into schools to rival the teaching of evolution. He may, however, need a bit more time in the classroom on his intellectual sources. As noted on sites like Think Progress, Niceley has confused Albert Einstein with Francis Bacon in his insistence that Einstein discredited atheism and said that a truly thinking man will turn to Christianity.

Continue reading “No Einstein: Tennessee Legislator Falsely Quotes Einstein As Embracing Christianity As Thinking Man’s Religion” →

Academia, Bizarre, Politics, Society

McEducation: Kasich Orders Ohio Universities To Look Into Three-Year Degree Programs

Oscar Wilde once said that a cynic is “a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Ohio Gov. John Kasich would appear to be that cynic. He believes that he has found an easy way to dealing with high tuition costs in college — cut the college education itself. In a move that would be a disaster for the quality and standing of Ohio universities and colleges, Kasich wants schools to reduce college educations to three rather than four years to pump out more graduates in a shorter time.

Continue reading “McEducation: Kasich Orders Ohio Universities To Look Into Three-Year Degree Programs” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Carney: Obama Was For Signing Statements Before He Was Against Them

Jay Carney says President Obama was never against signing statements, just when President Bush “abused” them. In the press conference, Jay Carney seems to morph with John Kerry, who believed he had found safe political ground by noting that he voted for something before voting against it. For his part, Obama morphed into George W. Bush a while back on civil liberties and constitutional issues.

Continue reading “Carney: Obama Was For Signing Statements Before He Was Against Them” →

Courts, Lawyering, Politics

Boston District Attorney Demands Removal of Judge Viewed As Being Too Pro-Defendant in Criminal Cases

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley (left) wants Judge Raymond G. Dougan Jr. (right) removed from criminal cases. Dougan is not being accused of being a drunk, pill-popper, or mentally incompetent. His offense is being too pro-defendant in criminal cases for the tastes of Conley. This appears to becoming a trend of prosecutors seeking to remove judges or boycott (or in one case, arrest a judge) who rule too often against the prosecutors or police.
Continue reading “Boston District Attorney Demands Removal of Judge Viewed As Being Too Pro-Defendant in Criminal Cases” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Society

England Continues Crackdown on Anti-Religious Speech: Former British Soldier Sentenced To Jail For Burning Koran

A former soldier in England has been sentenced to 70 days in prison for burning a copy of the Koran (Qu’ran) in public. While a detestable act, the prosecution of individuals for the exercise of free speech is equally detestable and part of a growing trend of such prosecutions in the West under blasphemy or hate crime laws.
Continue reading “England Continues Crackdown on Anti-Religious Speech: Former British Soldier Sentenced To Jail For Burning Koran” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Torts

Kansas Attorney Suspended After Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol and Killing Bicyclist — and Then Leaving Scene of Accident

Kansas attorney Marc A. Schultz has been suspended from practice due to a car accident that raised serious questions about his fitness for practice. Schultz will be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter after driving under the influence of alcohol in a fourth such violation, killing bicyclist Timothy Roberts, 55, (shown right below) and then leaving the scene of an accident. It is rare for an attorney to be suspended for an accident unrelated to the practice of law. However, the repeatedly DUI violations and leaving the scene raise obvious professional problems for Schulz — in addition to being a felony crime which results in automatic suspension.
Continue reading “Kansas Attorney Suspended After Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol and Killing Bicyclist — and Then Leaving Scene of Accident” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

“A Bridge Too Far”: Gov. Brewer Vetoes Birther Bill

In a surprise move for many critics, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed the bill that would have required President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove they were born in the United States before their names could have been placed on the state ballot. We previously discussed the bill and the serious constitutional questions that it raised. A former Secretary of State, Brewer objected to one state imposing such conditions on candidates.

Continue reading ““A Bridge Too Far”: Gov. Brewer Vetoes Birther Bill” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

“Sorry For All The Mess”: Oregon Audience Applauds As Teen Commits Suicide In Mistaken Belief It Was Performance Art

An Oregon audience at open mic night were shocked after applauding what they thought was performance art of a teen pretending to kill himself at the Strictly Organic Coffee Company. It was not a performance, but a suicide. After playing a song called “Sorry For All The Mess,” Kipp Rusty Walker repeatedly stabbed himself in the chest with a six-inch knife.
Continue reading ““Sorry For All The Mess”: Oregon Audience Applauds As Teen Commits Suicide In Mistaken Belief It Was Performance Art” →

International, Lawyering, Politics, Religion, Society

Ambassador and Former Law Professor Doug Kmiec Steps Down After Criticism of His Anti-Abortion Advocacy

U.S. Ambassador and former law professor, Douglas Kmiec, has stepped down after a State Department report criticized him for spending too much time writing and speaking about his religious beliefs. Kmiec (who I know and personally like) is a conservative who supported Obama in the election and was rewarded with the position. The report stated that Kmiec spent too much time writing and speaking about abortion and too little in being an ambassador. Kmiec’s appointment occurred at a time when Obama was turning away from growing criticism by liberals — a trend that has only increased with time. Kmiec was a law professor at Pepperdine University and legal counsel to President Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Continue reading “Ambassador and Former Law Professor Doug Kmiec Steps Down After Criticism of His Anti-Abortion Advocacy” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

Republican Official Sends Racist Pictures of President Obama

This clearly racist photo was sent by Marilyn Davenport – an elected member of the central committee of the Republican Party of Orange County and Tea Party activist with the caption “Now you know why – no birth certificate!” Davenport insists it is not racist, just humorous.
Continue reading “Republican Official Sends Racist Pictures of President Obama” →

Uncategorized

Why the Tea Party is Dangerous

By Mike Appleton (Guest Blogger)

In 1773 the British East India Company was broke.  In an effort to prevent bankruptcy, and the resulting loss of the crown’s investment, the British government eliminated all taxes on domestic tea sales and granted the company a monopoly on tea shipments to the American colonies.  In December of that year radicals boarded ships in Boston harbor and threw $75,000.00 worth of tea overboard.  The first Tea Party was a violent reaction to monopolistic economic power protected by government.
Continue reading “Why the Tea Party is Dangerous” →

Animals, Society

Wealthy “Faux Farmers” Get Huge Agricultural Tax Breaks on Their Properties

Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger  

According to T. S. Elliott in his poem The Waste Land: “April is the cruellest month.” I think many of us would agree because April is the month in which we Americans are required to file our annual income taxes. And thinking about who is actually paying taxes these days, has really gotten my dander up.

Today, while many working class and middle class people are trying hard to survive from paycheck to paycheck and when millions of Americans are out of work and unable to find new jobs that pay them a living wage, it’s hard to accept the fact that huge corporations like GE may not be paying any taxes at all while receiving tax rebates. It’s also maddening to see millionaires and billionaires who blew a hole in our economy and nearly caused a financial meltdown getting bailed out with OUR tax dollars.

Continue reading “Wealthy “Faux Farmers” Get Huge Agricultural Tax Breaks on Their Properties” →