Archive for: November 2007

Those Canadians, with their beady little eyes and flapping heads, are killing the planet with their luxury beer fridges.

Yasmine Elhady, the Huntsville woman who asked a YouTube question at the Republican debate about America’s image among Muslim areas of the world, has been threatened and insulted in online comments since her YouTube video appeared.

Anyone can leave a comment online, so I’m not terribly surprised by it. Still, it’s disappointing. I would quote some of the comments, but most of it is too graphic.

• H/T The World Around You

In 2005, Riley appointed Juan Chastang to fill a Mobile County commission seat when it’s occupant, Democrat Sam Jones, was elected mayor of Mobile. Federal judges removed Chastang and ordered a special election. Riley appealed that decision and it is now before the US Supreme Court.

In the meantime, though, in 2007, Riley again appointed someone, George F. Bowman, to fill a Jefferson County commission seat when it’s occupant, Larry Langford, was elected mayor of Birmingham. A lawsuit has already been filed to attempt to remove Bowman, a retired major general, from office and order a special election.

Riley says he has the legal authority to appoint the vacancy, but this little part of the Alabama Code says otherwise:

Unless a local law authorizes a special election, in case of a vacancy [on a county commission], it shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, and the person so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the commissioner in whose place he or she is appointed. (Ala Code 11-3-6)

The Jefferson County Election Commission says county rules give them authority to organize a special election to fill the vacancy.

It just seems like Riley is going to lose legally, and I think it also looks bad. Why wouldn’t you allow an election to fill a representative seat?

What Loretta Nall took from the Republican CNN/YouTube debate:

Bring all the troops home and send Mitt Romney’s hair over there to kick Middle Eastern ass! That shit looks like it could saw through titanium and diamonds!

God I love blogging… maybe I should start studying for my two tests I have today…

For those who don’t know, there are two major black Democratic voting groups in Alabama — the New South Coalition and the Alabama Democratic Conference. They don’t really like each other, either.

The Alabama Democratic Conference endorsed Hillary Clinton for President in October, and the New South Coalition is expected to make an endorsement soon. I think it will likely be either Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or John Edwards. My suspicion is that it will be close between Obama and Edwards.

Press-Register: Slaying Started with a Pearl

It began with a pearl, plucked from an oyster, and handed to a customer as a gift at Wintzell’s Oyster House on a Friday night in October of last year.

It’s expected to end when a Mobile jury decides whether later that same night, Jennifer Strickland committed manslaughter when she shot and killed her fiance, Derek Driskell, with a .357-caliber Magnum revolver.

It was two hours after we found the pearl that I shot my fiance with a .357 Magnum.

At the Republican CNN/YouTube debate, two Alabamians asked questions.

Ronald Lanham of Mobile and Yasmin Something Something of Huntsville. (Sorry I really can’t even guess what that name is from the video).

• H/T Birmingham News

In a recent survey from ChristiaNet.com, users were asked “Is it wrong for a Christian to consume beer?” According to their release, 51% said consuming beer is okay and 38% said it was wrong. The rest were undecided. I think the quotes from respondants are priceless.

“Drinking a little bit is not wrong, but drunkenness is.”

“One beer never hurt anyone, if you lose control and overindulge then you are wrong.”

“If drinking a little bit is wrong, then why did Jesus drink wine?”

Moderation. I can understand that, although I usually drink more than a single beer unless I’m having something like an Imperial Stout for dessert. Still, I understand and can certainly agree that drunkenness is not to be encouraged. Others weren’t so understanding.

“There just isn’t any good reason to drink alcohol, and it is not like it tastes good.”

I beg to differ. An Old Ruffian Barleywine from Great Divide Brewing Company is probably my favorite drink in the whole world. If you could somehow remove the alcoholic effects (and the price) without disturbing the flavor and texture, I would drink it all the time.

“I don’t know because the Bible only talks about drunkenness with wine and strong drink, not about having only one beer.”

“If you are drinking because you want to dull some area of your life then it is wrong because you are supposed to turn to God when you are in need.”

Yes, if you’re using beer (or any other beverage) simply as an alcohol delivery system, then you should probably seek help from your family, clergy, or a professional.

Larry Langford on opposition to his proposed 1 cent sales tax increase.

“If a penny’s going to break you, you’re already broke anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

There are at least three things wrong with that sentence. First of all, another penny makes a 10 cent sales tax on everything you buy — a penny here and there starts to add up. Second, that’s 10 cents for every dollar, as Mac points out, not every purchase. Finally, the “You’re already poor, so who cares if we’re going to make you poorer” line isn’t something I think can be justified.

Without Representative Alvin Holmes (D-Montgomery) serving in the state legislature, I just don’t think life would be nearly as fun.

The longest serving member of the Alabama Legislature said today he will take the president of Auburn University to court because he didn’t receive his customary pair of tickets to the Auburn-Alabama football game.

Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, also suggested politics may have played a role. Holmes said he would file court papers to compel Auburn President Jay Gogue to testify in Montgomery Circuit Court.

Apparently, the hosting university gives each member of the legislature a complimentary pair of Iron Bowl tickets every year. According to a personal poll by Holmes, everyone got theirs this year but him. So if you’re Alvin Holmes and this happens to you, what are you going to do? Cause a ruckus, of course. If you’re wondering, Holmes didn’t get his tickets because of politics and racism.

By the way, I’m a student at the University of Alabama and I have to pay for tickets like all the rest of the common folk. I think I should join suit with the gentleman from Montgomery.

Apparently, I’ve lost my spot as the most influential Alabama blogger and now have the third most influential Alabama blog according to Blognetnews. I never realized I was ranked number 1, but now I want it back.

The most influential blogger, according to them, is Flashpoint. Certainly worthy. When Brian has the time to post, he’s one of my favorite reads (he’s been posting very regularly for some time now).  The current number 2 is Doc’s Political Parlor, who is traditionally my stiffest competition and a daily read. Number 4 is Birmingham Blues, one of my favorite reads and fellow cat lover. Rounding out the top 5 is Gordon Unleashed, which is a new favorite of mine. I’ve actually met everyone on the Top 5, which is funny.

So watch out Danny and Brian, I’m coming back full speed (just as soon as this semester ends — in the meantime it’s half speed ahead).

• H/T Flashpoint and Gordon Unleashed

Here’s an exercise. Dan is a member of Free the Hops. Dan is a libertarian. Are all members of Free the Hops therefore libertarians? Is the organizational entity known as “Free the Hops” therefore libertarian?

Dan also gives money to and supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Alabama Public Radio, Alabama Arise, the Red Cross, Downtown Trading Company, Wilhagan’s Sports Grille, and many other businesses and nonprofits. I even encourage you to. I don’t think these organizations are automatically made libertarian either.

Sorry for any confusion.

Flashpoint: Privatize marriage

This is always my argument. If you don’t trust the government with marriage (either because you want gay marriage to be legal, don’t want gay marriage to be legal, or want to marry a turtle), then privatize it. I always say that free enterprise can solve most problems in the world.

The truth is that if government sanctions and approves of your marriage, it should probably apply the equal protection clause (it’s in the Constitution). Current jurisprudence ignores that clause for marriage, but a future Supreme Court will probably decide differently.

If you don’t want your religious institution to be forced into performing gay ceremonies, then this is the only option. If you want to have an option for gay marriage, then this is the only option. Of course, if you want to force religious institutions to accept a lifestyle they find abhorrent and sinful, then you’re a modern liberal. If you want to forcibly deny same-sex adults the ability to be in a recognized relationship, then you’re a modern conservative.

Patrick Cooper’s case against Larry Langford was dismissed by the judge. Huntsville here I come.

• H/T Alabama-Democrat

I decided to take my upcoming salary and see how much I would keep after taxes according to the 2006 tax year rates. I’ll be making more than most people, but if you subtract the federal income tax, FICA, Medicare, and Alabama taxes, I’ll only get to keep 77.8% of what my offer says. That’s an income tax rate of 22.2%.

That doesn’t count the 8% sales tax that I’ll pay for food and other essentials, the 4% tax for energy and water, the 8% in taxes and government fees I seem to be paying for my cell phone (according to my most recent bill), or the 38.4 cents per gallon in federal and state fuel taxes (about 13% these days). There are, of course, more taxes that I pay directly and indirectly. Those are just the non-income taxes I can think of that I pay at least every month.

Who said these? If you read Andrew Sullivan, don’t answer.

“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”

“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

“The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.”

“War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.”

“Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.”

Guess in comments.

Ben Lodmell (D) now has a website in his campaign against Jo Bonner (R) for Alabama’s 1st Congressional district seat. The 1st district covers the Mobile area of the state.

• H/T Left in Alabama