Wesley Clark For President

So far, Wesley Clark is my pick for the Democratic nomination for President. He has

A great song by Don Williams

Do yourself a favor and listen to this song if you can get your hands on it. the lyrics are good, but the song is all about the delivery. makes me feel all warm inside hearing it.

ANOTHER LETTER IN THE CLARION LEDGER

Well, i got another letter in the Clarion Ledger. that's about 4 or 5 in three weeks. not bad. well another one ran today. i commented on it a few days ago when i printed it on my blog. its the one about columnist Matt Friedeman (note: your version below is what i sent HIM, the one to the paper was less personal). anyway, I've been under the weather lately, so i'm sleeping in, somewhat. I decided to sleep through a call, but heard it later. it was some little old lady that called, saying she'd "been read my letters to the editor and i know what you are--Ultra-Liberal Jew". haw! what a joke. this little old lady hates jews enough to assume i am one (i'm not) because she thinks only a jew could disagree with her politically. i've not even talked about religion in my letters, but i suppose that does not matter. this is the republican soldier. this is the person that the GOP 'code words' are supposed to work on. The code words they use to imply the bigoted, class envy they need to breathe. she has been taught that anyone else is an 'agitator' out to bring us down, so that when she hears certain ideas, with a wink SHE KNOWS just what's going on. its all a code to pull away at the foundation of america.

Well, no--its not code from me. I'm not bringing this nation down. I think its pathetic that a party pulls at this sort of hatred to create its base here in the south. This sort of thing was finally rejected by the democrats in the 1960s. thereafter, the GOP was ready with an un-ending message of 'come to papa'. you know what. maybe it IS a good thing. these people...if the GOP wants them, they can have them. more of the true bigots die off every year.

Fox LOSES Lawsuit to Stop Sale of Al Franken's Book

Actually, they lost the injuction request. My favorite quote from the judges ruling: "There are hard cases and there are easy cases. This is an easy case," said U.S. District Judge Denny Chin. "This case is wholly without merit both factually and legally."

I talked about this before. the suit was vendictive, self-congratulatory, and pathetic. It read like one extended whine session. Again, i have to put out the question to those attorneys working on the case for FoxNews. Clearly you know the law and I assume that you knew the case was weak to say the least. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt there. Ok, so my question: Did you feel bad when you were forced to make a legal argument that first year law students knew couldn't fly? Does the money make it better? I mean, I have to wonder--attorney to attorney--did you not feel cheapened to push a suit where you know DECADES of caselaw shows you have no basis for the suit? If not, I have to ask was/is there a point where the paycheck salves that fractured dignity.

As a plaintiff's attorney, i do not take cases that i do not find to have merit AND i believe i can win. I don't get paid unless I win, so I never have to worry about my client paying me to make up some frivilous lawsuit. I can't afford it. I wonder what its like to be paid to do something you KNOW is worthless from the start? intriguing.

Fishy art Downtown!

A few years a go there was an art project in Chicago where people painted bull statues and placed them around the city. In New Orleans, there were fish. often the sponsors would decorate the fish in very imaginative ways, etc. I think we in Jackson have out done ourselves on some of our "Mississippi CATFISH on Parade" statues. some are really outstanding, and better than the ones i saw in New Orleans. I think my favorite one is the "Catfish-Ledger" which sits in front of the Clarion Ledger newspaper. also notable is the "King fish" (Mississippi's king, not the La. version) and "Cleo-catra". take a look!

toy plane crosses, Atlantic - AUG 14, 2003
AMAZING!

They flew this model airplane across the Atlantic by remote control. wow!

Paul Newman Sues HUD

HAW! Paul Newman speaks:

Mr. Newman claims that the Department of Housing and Urban Development, called HUD, is a fair and balanced institution and that some of its decency and respectability has unfairly rubbed off on his movie character, diluting the rotten, self-important, free-trade, corrupt conservative image that Mr. Newman worked so hard to project in the film. His suit claims that this "innocence by association" has hurt his feelings plus residuals.
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This was announced (jokingly) to mock FoxNews and their willingness to use our courts to whine.

FINALLY!!

I'm trying a new comments section. it seems to work and now maybe people can talk to me!

NY Daily News - Ideas and Opinions - Bill O'Reilly: Calling Al Franken a satirist is a farce

OK, read this. i'm not gonna comment on it right now. it's bill O'Reilly's take on the whole al franken deal. tell me what YOU think...

Bias, Anyone?

damn this burns me...i suppose because it becomes personal. the gop is trying to make trial lawyer a dirty word. it is part of a national strategy that was born out of the TX GOP, mid-wifed by Karl Rove. the administration, the gop, and the chamber of commerce has declared war on the trial lawyers. nationally, it started in 2000.

in doing this, they get an easy target to sell to the public (dirty attorneys!). these attys are the MAJOR source of funds for the democrats, so if you can knock their ability to earn you knock their ability to give. Next they get the Chamber of Commerce on board. people all too willing to believe and sell the 'lawsuits are outta control' mantra (they aren't) because the 'remedy' limits or (in some cases) eliminates their liability.

wanna know what kinda funding you can get? In MS last year, they (chamber) spent 51% of ALL dollars spent in judicial races in the state. that even lumps competing (and endorsed) candidates' money together in the other 49%!!!

all of this started with eyes looking at Edwards as the GOP's pick of the toughest candidate they could face from the dems. that's what they believe, regardless of what we DEMS think.

so trial lawyer bashing? you damn well better get used to it! we have a lot more coming! it lets them consolidate their base, protect donors, starve off Democratic donors, and puts a bullseye over the guy THEY see as the most fearsome candidate. sound plan if you ask me, and guess what? Fox News is there, waiting to help out!

CNN.com - Clark talks like candidate, bashes Bush - Aug. 17, 2003

He's not in the race yet, and i have NO IDEA what his attempt would look like, but THIS is my pick for the Democratic Nominee for president. he beats everyone, hands down--esp. bush in november 2004!

Judge Roy Moore's Lawless Battle

OK, the federal court tells the Ala. Sup Ct. justice that he has to remove the giant 10 commandments monument and he says he won't do it (and YOU mr. & mrs. Alabama get the $5000 a day fine). he says HE has the right to keep it there b/c of god given right to life, liberty, & the pursuit of happines. Ala. GOP also passed a STATE law forbidding the use of federal $$ to remove the monument. Umm...you know, we HAD a civil war to settle this question. we even had some constitutional amendments and about 100 years of law to sort out the details. if the republicans don't like our country, our laws, and our constitution...maybe they should go to a place where religion is enforced on people. ANYONE elected to office and sworn to uphold the laws and constitution of this land ... then refusing to do so ...represents the lowest in integrity. our laws are not something we toss when our opinion is crossed. contempt for the constitution by such public servants is loathesome.

The Fox Lawsuit

FOX v. FRANKEN.

here's the fox lawsuit filed against al franken. the arguments goes that Franken is trying to ride on the "MASSIVE" success of fox news, but al is just a shitty guy no one likes, THUS the association would confuse the public that would think fox was putting out this book or generally had anything to do with al franken, whom is held in such low regard by the general public. Fox then goes on to plug its shows, books written by its on air "talent" and even its line of neckties...all of which would be harmed by the "obvious" attempt by franken to hitch himself and his lack of talent to that which is the fox news Star.

again, i have to wonder what the attorneys that wrote this felt? i mean, i know they are on retainer and getting paid to do whatever it is fox wants them to do, but...well, as an attorney...i have to wonder if the money gives them back some of the self-respect an attorney loses drafting such a pathetic pleading...and by pathetic, i'm not really just referring to the paper, but the will of the attorney(s) that wrote it. i'd find new work if i had to do this sort of thing to pay my mortgage.

Salon.com | The right wing's summer of hate

while i agree with this guy's observations, he seems to do what most moderates, liberals, or democrats do. he stops and he complains. not enough. you have to fix it. you don't wanna wallow in the mud? fine. lets go lose a little more. you cannot make an omelet w/o breaking a few eggs. the problem is that democrats have to be on the attack. the democrats cannot go into cerain forums as if it is some civil discourse. if you are confronting a michael savage or a bill o'riley, you cannot be ready to talk. you have to have yourself ready to go in for the kill. otherwise there is no point in discussion. at this point we win or we go away. i'm for staying.

Opinion: I don't like Matt Friedeman

below is the letter i sent to him and the Clarion Ledger regarding the article above. Below that is a letter i wrote 18 months ago upon hearing he was no longer going to be a columnist. I don't care for Matt.
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I was disappointed to see Matt Friedeman in this paper again. I have to wonder if the Governor will be allowed the same sort of mouthpiece in the paper. Perhaps Matt has another article where he can give us the rest of the 'truth' about this race?

How about the lobbying Barbour's firm did for abortion funds through the UN?

How about his being forced to testify before the ethics comittee in DC?

How about the 'rise in spending' noted by the Cato institute coming under GOP governor Fordice?

How about the fact that Musgrove argued against the legislature's spending every year of his term and then CUT the budget himself every year of his term?

How about the fact he hasn't called for a tax hike?

How about mentioning Barbour's 'out of state' politicos in the race?

How about we rummage through Haley's client list?

I could go on, but what is the point? Matt doesn't care about the truth. He cares about the half truths he can print. Matt Friedeman acts as if the partial picture he paints is enough to cover the stain of mendacity. For this reader, its not. He does no service to this paper or this state.

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(personal note to Matt F.)
i understand you are a biased man doing whatever he can to get your man elected. just like i see he has no real policy. the sad part is that you just are not a forthright man. from your writing, it seems you have long ago made your peace with this fact.

(and from 1-21-02)

Good riddance to Friedeman column


I, for one, am very glad to see Matt Friedeman go ("Run as regular columnist been quite interesting," Dec. 28).

Almost without exception, each of his columns took the low ground while trying to dress up his diatribes in Christianity. Matt would preach about how people no longer take responsibility for their actions and then in the next breath would blame society's ills on liberals, Democrats, and non-Christians. In short, anyone not like him.

Instead of legitimate ideas on how to fix our problems, we got articles about how Billy Graham's son, Franklin, really wasn't that far off for believing Islam to be "a very evil and wicked religion."

Thanks, Matt, just what the country needs in a time of crisis. I couldn't be happier you no longer have this paper to use as your megaphone.

Jason Pollan

Jackson

Montgomery Hall

anyone know the 'legend' of spooky stuff happening in Montgomery Hall on the MSU campus?

The Mountain Dew AMP

GREAT GRAVY!! i'd say that Amp (by mountain dew) is the best 'energy drink' out there. it also has subltly kept me up most of the damn nite. god i'm gonna pay for this.

JungleScan.com

haw! seems now that fox news is trying to sue Al Franken (see below), Amazon.com got a 754% jump in orders for the book! i'm buying the book, but i'm buying it on CD, bc its just funnier to hear his voice read it. that's how i 'read' his other books. (Recommended!)

fromt the washington post:

In its court papers, Fox described the author and liberal commentator as "neither a journalist nor a television news personality. He is not a well-respected voice in American politics; rather, he appears to be shrill and unstable. His views lack any serious depth or insight."

Fox alleged that Franken was "either intoxicated or deranged" when he attacked the network and conservative host Bill O'Reilly at an April press correspondents dinner. The lawsuit also says that Franken has been described as "increasingly unfunny."
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um, i saw the tape of the dinner in april. the claim is BS. they may not have liked what he said, but he wasn't beyond his faculties AT ALL. HAW! oh, and speaking as an attorney, i think they made themselves look decidedly weak with this pathetic pleading.

Salon.com Comics | WayLay

jesus. Tx comic shop gets busted for selling an obscene comic to an adult! oddly enough, the jury found the comic not to be obscene. you know those shirts that say "don't mess with texas?" well its true, just like you shouldn't 'mess' with a helpless, handicapped child.

CNN.com - Fox sues Franken over 'fair and balanced'

Al Franken has a new book called "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." Fox News didn't like the reference in the title and is suing them. um...fox, i think they might get away with this as a parody of yer news in this book of satire. unless you are trying to say its all too close to home, and its all really true...?

"After all is said and done
I gotta move, while it's still fun
I'm gonna walk before they make me run"
Before They Make Me Run--Kieth Richards.

That is my favorite Rolling Stones song.

I just left my job. I am no longer working as an attorney at Stevens & Ward, P.A. my last blog entry was done on the day before i left, if you were wondering where i've been. where i've been is busy. through the help of friends, associates, and by some of my own doing i have a new job. I'm now an attorney working on behalf of the Democratic Party here in MS. I'm still handling a few workers comp cases too.

My job (the short of it) is to keep things like Fla. 2000 from happening here. The long of it is that I'm director of an operation to have a network of attorneys across the state, ready to act on any irregularities or voter intimidation that may be going on. i put together the attorneys with the proper pleadings in-hand so that they can take any judicial action necessary at a moment's notice. We do this because there is no real governmental means to FIX problems that develop on the fly...especially of the illegal variety. usually action comes too late to have an effect. my job is to make sure all votes that are meant to be made are cast and counted. the working title is Promote and Protect (the vote). i don't like it, but i've yet to brainstorm up another, better title.

As of now, the pay is good and i'm working this into a few bigger projects for myself in the Mississippi legal and political communities. I have a LOT on my plate right now, but (as Federica pointed out) in many ways i feel like i have a great weight off my shoulders. I'm pretty damn thrilled now about the whole thing. The next few days are gonna be split between setting up the home office and doing my work. feels damn cool.