Gonzaga University School of Law Visiting Law Professor Jeffrey Omari has written a column in the ABA Journal that demonstrates the increasingly shrill environment faced by conservative students. Omari took to the pages of the Journal to recount his almost breathless encounter with a student wearing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat. Most of us are used to students wearing political hats and teeshirts. I am always happy to see students with such clothing because it shows that they are engaged and passionate regardless of their views. For Omari, the incident was chilling since he declares the MAGA hats worn by many conservatives to be per se racist symbols. Continue reading “Law Professor: MAGA Hat “Undeniable Symbol Of White Supremacy””
Many people were surprised yesterday when former President Bill Clinton finally made a public statement after over a decade on his relationship with convicted felon and billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was charged this week with sex trafficking and conspiracy. Clinton has long been connected with over two dozen flights on Epstein’s place, often called the “Lolita Express” for its reputation for underaged girls and orgies. Clinton also reportedly told the Secret Service not to accompany him on some flights with Epstein. Clinton now denies ever traveling without the Secret Service and claims that he only flew with Epstein four times on routine flights. Various people are challenging that account including the journalist, Conchita Sarnoff, who previously wrote on the flight logs and records showing Clinton’s trip. Continue reading “Clinton Challenged On Denial Of Epstein Flights and Knowledge Of Crimes”
Erica Cole just may have the worst criminal defense other than a confession. She shot her husband Nicholas Cole in the head but insisted that she was really trying to shoot someone else in a road rage incident. It is not much an improvement. She is charged with attempted murder, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
The road rage incident reportedly occurred on the highway near Dodge City, Alabama. The cars then continued the confrontation at a home on a local road.
The “I meant to shoot the other guy in the head” claim will not take you very far at trial. Nicholas Cole is still recovering in the hospital.
Below is my column on the vote scheduled for this week by France to impose a new regulation on Internet speech — essentially forcing companies to scrub their sites of any hate speech as defined under sweeping French laws. What is astonishing is how many Americans are prepared to follow the European model in limiting free speech on the basis for loosely defined terms of threatening or intimidating or harassing anyone on the basis for race or religion or sexual orientation or other protected groups. The implications for free speech is sweeping and chilling. The West has fallen out of love with free speech. What is most concerning however is that countries like France and Germany are likely to strip away free speech protections for the rest of the World, even in countries like the United States where free speech is still given broad protection.
Here is the column: Continue reading “France Emerges As One Of The World’s Greatest Threats To Free Speech”
We have previously discussed concerns events were organizers have increased charges or even banned people due to the gender or race Now a music and arts festival in Detroit is charging fans different prices depending on their skin color. AfroFuture Fest, to be held on August 3-4 3-4, are charging lower rates for tickets bought by “people of color” than for “non-people of color”. While one artist has stood against the racist policy and refused to appear, there is a notable muted response from many local politicians and the other musicians who are willing to appear at such an event. Continue reading “Detroit Festival Imposes Racist Entry Fee On Fans”
Trump may have just polled his best numbers with citizens, but one opposing view is clearly Britain’s Ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch. Leaked secret memos shows Darroch describing Trump as “inept,” “insecure” and “incompetent.” The disclosure could present serious problems for not just Darroch but U.S./U.K. relations. Trump is notoriously sensitive to such criticism and Great Britain will now have to consider whether Darroch should be recalled in the interests of diplomacy. Update: The British government has supported their ambassador for offering his good-faith and honest opinions. Trump later responded and said “We are not big fans of that man and he has not served the UK well … I can say things about him but I won’t bother.”
Notorious billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has been arrested on sex trafficking charges in New York. The arrest comes after months of litigation linked to Epstein’s controversial plea bargain over a decade ago. Ongoing litigation over sealed records recently led to an order to unseal, including material linked to Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz who has denied allegations that the underaged girls were ordered to sleep with him. Epstein is accused of trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He will appear in court in New York on Monday, Continue reading “Jeffrey Epstein Arrested In New York”
Mara Gay, a member of the New York Times editorial board, is under fire for her angry response to Sen. Ted Cruz quoting Frederick Douglass. Cruz was responding to a quote posted by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and posted a link to the whole speech from Douglass. Rather than disagree with Cruz’ point that Douglass was not (as suggested by Kaepernick) against the Fourth of July, Gay lashed out to Cruz, a conservative Republican even uttering his name. Cruz declared the Civil War-era abolitionist’s “name has no business in your mouth.” Continue reading “NYT Editorial Board Member Objects To Cruz Even Uttering The Name Of Frederick Douglass”
There is another poll out that spells trouble for President Donald Trump if the Democrats do not succeed again in losing the unloseable election. There are now more people supporting impeachment of President Trump than there are people supporting Donald Trump. Forty-three percent support him while fifty-four percent oppose him. However, there are other problems lurking in these latest Gallop numbers.
Continue reading “Poll: 45 Percent Support Impeachment While 43 Percent Support Trump”
She is called the “Lufkin Licker” and could face both state and federal charges. The woman posted a video of herself opening a container of Blue Bell ice cream at a Walmart store and licked the top . . . then put the top back on and returned the ice cream. according to Fort Worth’s KTXA-TV. the disgusting act led police to scour stores for security tapes and they have now zeroed in on this woman from a security tape in Lufkin, Texas. Continue reading “Manhunt For The “Lufkin Licker” Identifies Suspect”
It appears that not even a record defamation award against Oberlin College will induce any sense of accountability by the school. After the award was (as expected) reduced from $44 million to $25 million, Oberlin officials said that they could pay the damages without much problem, according to The Chronicle-Telegram. President Carmen Twillie Ambar then issued statements that infuriated many by dismissing any responsibility by her college staff or the college as a whole. Indeed, she refused to apologize because she said it might irritate some students. As I previously discussed, Oberlin has shown how many academics have surrendered control of their institutions and no longer possess the courage to take responsibility for abuses occurring on our campuses. Continue reading “Oberlin President Refuses To Apologize For Defamation Of Grocery Leading To Record $25 Million Award”
The Fourth is one of my favorite holidays as a time when citizens should put aside our differences and focus on the freedoms that unite us. The American Republic is still a work in progress, a constitutional system that must be renewed by each generation. This holiday unfortunately shows how our differences threaten to overwhelm our common article of faith in this representative democracy. The Nike controversy shows how our differences are now overwhelming our core shared values, including the very symbol of this nation. Nevertheless, many of us will join today to celebrate these United States and its history and values. My family will celebrate with a cookout and, of course, fireworks. Continue reading “HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!”
Below is my column in The Hill Newspaper. Even after Nike embraced Colin Kaepernick, I was flabbergasted by the decision of Nike to pull sneakers showing the early American flag because Kaepernick found it offensive. Supporters of Kaepernick has insisted that the flag is now a symbol of white supremacists. I do not know about the adoption by white supremacists but I am familiar with the flag being used by prior protesters ranging from Civil Rights marchers to anti-Vietnam activists as well as displayed at events like President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Today, the Anti-Defamation League added its voice in saying that “We view it as essentially an innocuous historical flag. It’s not a thing in the white supremacist movement.”
Nevertheless, Nike has clearly decided that it will write off those citizens who feel strongly about the flag as a national symbol and play to Kaepernick’s base. The company’s sales went up seven percent after its controversial decision to hire Kaepernick for its campaign in 2018. Yet, the move has also hurt its brand with a sizable number of Americans and the latest move will likely weigh heavily on many not to buy Nike products. Many of us are not inclined to buy Nike products in light of its extreme position on the flag.
Here is the column: Continue reading ““Just Don’t Buy It”: Nike Controversy Is About More Than Sneakers”
Many of us were appalled by the decision of Nike to pull sneakers displaying the Betsy Ross flag after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick declared the flag to be offensive. As I discussed in my column, the decision shows an effort not just to protest the flag or anthem but to deter others who would want to honor it. Now, two Democratic presidential candidates, former HUD Secretary Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke have supported Nike in the move. Continue reading “Two Democratic Presidential Candidates Support Nike In Pulling Sneakers With American Flag”
There certainly seems to be a lack of consensus in the Trump Administration over the census question. Yesterday both the Commerce Department and the Justice Department confirmed that the Administration would drop the controversial census question over undocumented status after the stinging defeat before the Supreme Court. Even conservative justices threw up their hands by the lack of foundation laid by the Trump Administration on the need or rationale for the question. Now there is utter confusion as the President insists that this Administration will litigate the issue again.