Republicans: November 2007 Archives

No big surprise. Even though he's from Pascagoula, Northrup Grumman's new hero is Mary Mary, since she's in the majority. Trent's brother-in-law is one of the biggest trial lawyers on the gulf coast, and he's suing State Farm on behalf of Trent because the company screwed him on storm damage like they're doing all too many people. Add all that up and it was likely he wasn't going to run. Faced with another year of carrying water for the Worst President Evah, I'd consider quitting, too.

My first memory of Trent Lott was back in high school, when Lott served on the House Judiciary Committee. He was the first "no" vote against the Nixon impeachment resolution that was sent to the full House. Tool then, tool now.

(h/t Karen)

Sometimes news items from El Reg are poignant, sometimes they're goofy, and sometimes they have something to say that's spot-on and scary on more than one level. Here's one of those, from India:

Police in India wrongfully arrested and detained a Bangalore man for 50 days after internet service provider Airtel mis-identified him as the person who posted images on Orkut that insulted a revered historical figure.

Lakshmana Kailash K., a 26-year-old techie, was arrested at his home on August 31 and transported to Pune, more than 10 hours away, according to news reports. He was held for 50 days and was released three weeks after police claimed to have apprehended the real people responsible for the posting.

OK, shit happens, right? Stories of mistaken identity can come from all corners of the earth these days. But here's the part of the article that struck home for me:

Google has said repeatedly it has no option but to cooperate with official law enforcement inquiries - such as this case. Indian police are saying it's not their fault for wrongly detaining a man for 50 days. And an Airtel representative was quoted saying the company is "distressed by the severe inconvenience" caused to their customer.

Translation: if you live in a country where freedom of speech is not protected, you can be imprisoned for weeks at a time for no other reason than you use the net. Sure, Google and your ISP may feel bad about your plight, but they certainly won't be standing behind you.

In these days of rendition, the various incarnations of the PATRIOT Act, and Vice President Cheney, the foul-mouthed Dick, we're not talking run-of-the-mill banana republic here. The above two paragraphs apply not only to India, but the United States of America as well.

But if you can't offer one as a reason for hanging one, you deserve to be fired:

THIBODAUX, La. -- A Thibodaux police officer was ultimately fired for having a Confederate license plate and a noose hanging from the rear-view mirror of his personal car, Chief Craig Melancon.

Cpl. Michael Rodrigue had the vehicle parked on city property. A dozen black police officers went to the chief of police about the display.

"They're hurt by it. You know, what could he possibly be representing to put something like this up?" Melancon said.

The problem is not the noose by itself, but the combination of the Confederate flag and the noose. Seriously, the noose could be explained. Look at the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office. Former Judge Ronald Bodenheimer (R-Club Fed), prior to taking the bench (and subsequently going to jail), Bodenheimer was an assistant district attorney in Jefferson parish. On the wall in his chambers was a "Big Prick" award, a giant hypodermic needle commerating one of the death-penalty cases Bodenheimer prosecuted and won. Subsequent to that, Jefferson Parish ADAs began to sport ties with hangman's nooses and "grim reapers" on them. The practice was banned after defense attorneys complained, but it's an example that Cpl. Rodrigue could have used to defend himself.

Well, had he not put up the rebel flag, of course.

I hope they have a "STUPID" stamp to use on his termination papers down in Thibodaux.