Stuff I think. By Bill O'Neill. Since 2003.
News & Politics
Moonbats over Vermont
Jun 4th
Check out this Boston Globe article on the desire of a small faction of Vermonters interested in seceding from the union with the goal of HELPING America.
They have authored “Green Mountain Manifesto” subtitled “Why and How Tiny Vermont Might Help Save America From Itself by Seceding from the Union.”
Just when you thought the idea of Killington, Vermont seceding to New Hampshire was half-baked….
Open Letter to Rep. Peter Welch, D-VT
May 14th
Dear Peter,
The newest incarnation of Shays-Meehan, HR 2093, is a BAD BILL and I urge you to vote against it, loudly. It will likely be attached to the pending House lobby reform package. Peter, when the ACLU and the Christian Right actually agree on something, I’d pay attention to it!
If anything, public interest orgs. should have an easier go of it when it comes to accessing Washington, not a tougher one. Foreign interests who would reach out to D.C. would have an easier time of it than U.S. grassroots orgs. under this scheme. There’s nothing good in this.
Equal Justice
Apr 12th
The Duke lacrosse players who were accused of rape are now free to pick up the pieces of their young lives and move on.
And what of the now-confirmed false accuser?
John Podhoretz, in his NY Post article today,
“At his press conference yesterday, Attorney General Roy Cooper said something odd about the liar Crystal Gail Mangum. He said she would face no charges for her false accusation.”
Why no charges for her false accusation?
Imus’ apology on Rev. Al’s radio show
Apr 9th
Here’s the video of Imus in studio today with Rev. Al Sharpton apologizing for his racial remarks aired last week.
While it is doubtful that Imus will get canned over this, especially in light of his swift apology, it is evident that Sharpton can expect to be on a few new markets soon with his fledgling radio program.
April 12th update: Now that MSNBC pulled the Imus plug, will CBS Viacom follow suit on the radio side?
Nancy Drew Mystery
Apr 6th
It can’t be a good day for House Speaker Nancy Pilosi when even the USA TODAY recognizes that there is a problem, Houston.
The speaker may wish to Google or Wikipedia the LOGAN ACT once she brushes the dust off of her recent Holy Week trip abroad. The Logan Act is not new. It dates back to President John Adams and was amended during the Clinton administration in the late 1990s.
18 U.S.C.A. 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments:
- Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
And the NY Sun article reveals even more about the potential hazards that arise from what amount to rookie errors on the big stage of international relations when the speaker related to Syria what she called a “message” from the Israeli government. What followed was a full-speed-reversal by PM Olmert’s people distancing themselves from Pilosi’s remarks and restating their position on Syria.
You can’t make this stuff up…
Dec 26th
Civil Rights Groups Sue Over Rent Law
Dec 26 1:31 PM US/Eastern
By ANABELLE GARAY
Associated Press Writer
DALLAS
QUOTE: Two civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new law in a Dallas suburb that outlaws renting apartments to illegal immigrants, alleging the ordinance violates federal law and forces landlords to act as immigration officers.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed the suit on behalf of residents and landlords in Farmers Branch, just north of Dallas. It is the third lawsuit brought against the city since the ordinance passed in November.
The lawsuit claims the measure, scheduled to take effect Jan. 12, is so poorly drafted that it excludes even legal immigrants from renting.
Immigration enforcement must be left to the federal government, not each local municipality,” said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU of Texas. “Otherwise Texas will end up with a patchwork system that is impractical and unenforceable.”
Farmers Branch spokesman Tom Bryson said the city will not comment on pending litigation.
On Friday, the owners of three apartment complexes filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to declare the rent law unconstitutional. In another lawsuit filed earlier this month, a Farmers Branch resident alleged that the mayor repeatedly violated the state’s open meetings laws to deliberate the ordinances.
The new law calls for property managers or owners to verify the immigration or citizenship status of apartment renters. The City Council also approved resolutions making English the city’s official language and allowing authorities to become part of a federal program so they can enforce immigration laws.
Since 1970, Farmers Branch has changed from a small, predominantly white bedroom community with a declining population to a city of almost 28,000 people, about 37 percent of them Hispanic, according to the census.
More than 50 municipalities nationwide have considered, passed or rejected similar laws, but until now that trend hadn’t been duplicated in Texas.
What’s in a name?
Dec 5th
Glenn Beck just related a story from Denver that a school board out there is removing the term, “children-at-risk” from their vernacular and replacing with (wait for it….) “children-with-promise.” How far we have come from juvenile delinquency. How to best address the challenge of youth in our society today? Rename them.
What Do You Say?