The Lone Libertarian

I have got to say, the live feed that the Democrats at broadcasting via the web of the Democratic National Convention is pretty nice.  It’s not that I really want to participate in the hopechangefreehealthcaresocialism love fest, but I’d rather get a raw feed without the news networks’ comments or dilution.

I’m not going to link the actual site that the feed is on (because I don’t want to pimp the Democrats more than I already am), however it is easy to find.  The feed is pretty impressive with a “TV Guide like” schedule and previously recorded video that you can watch as well as live video, and looks to be HD.  You have to have Windows with Silverlight installed to watch (Mac users can too), however no love for the Linux crowd.

Here is where I rib the Tennessee and US Libertatian Party.  You guys should take a look at this technology and take note.  A live feed on CSPAN occasionaly, or prerecorded speech is not enough.  A live internet feed insures that people can get the entire event unabridged and untainted by biased opinion.  Virtually speaking it gives “new media” (bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, etc) a press pass to event without having to travel.

Cost-wise, it is relatively inexpensive to broadcast via the Internet.  The more eyes that are on Libertarian events, the better for the party and the movement as a whole.

If nothing else, I would like the state and national parties to sell convention DVDs with the highlights and speeches, or place them on YouTube.

The technology is there to reach a larger audience, it just needs to be leveraged, and soon.

I overheard this being talked about at the office yesterday. I thought it was just a rumination, not actually based in fact. However, I was wrong.

Memphis’s own Congressman Steve Cohen (D-9^th) has performed the political grandstand of the century.

For those whom don’t live in Memphis, or Tennessee, Cohen is a white Jew, who represents a majority black district. He was denied membership to the Congressional Black Caucus. The CBC has donated $5,000 to his Democratic opponent Nikki Tinker (whom is black) during the primary cycle. Certain polls show that the primary season for Cohen is going to be very difficult.

Due to the 3-way split vote between the Democratic contenders last primary season, Cohen won the nomination by a razor thin 31%.

With all of those things against him, he performs the ultimate pander, and introduces HR194 “Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.”

Democratic opponent, Nikki Tinker has a great point:

“I find it very interesting that Mr. Cohen would call for a national apology during a heated election when he clearly needs African-American votes. For over 20 years while serving in the Tennessee General Assembly, he never thought to ask the State of Tennessee for an apology, not once.”

Someone remind me, how long has it been since the US allowed slavery? Are there any slaves still alive to be apologized to?

Hasn’t the US already apologized for this ad-infinitum via every civil rights bill and affirmative action bill?

Anyone else see this as a waste of time?

I think that Cohen has his jurisdictions confused as well. The federal government did not pass Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that were passed primarily in the southern states. As far as I know, every state that had enacted them has repealed and apologized for them.

How many more times will this nation apologize to the dead?

From the resolution text:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow;

(2) apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow; and

(3) expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.

There are two conservative radio personalities in Memphis I am directing this post at, Mike Fleming and Ben Ferguson.  I know they probably wont answer in kind, but maybe a conservative that thinks like them can explain.

Yesterday, they both exploded over the “nationalization of oil” talk being espoused by House and Senate Democrats.  The talk show hosts went down the long list of reasons why nationalizing the domestic oil industry would introduce inefficiencies, price increases, and supply shortages.  Kudos to them for this, as I agree, government control over anything usually produces a sub-par product that is sometimes lower than even the least common denominator.

However, neither host was able to satisfactorily explain why the city of Memphis should not sell Memphis Light Gas and Water (the local public utility) to private industry.  Why say that one energy industry shouldn’t be nationalized, when you are fighting for a different energy company to stay public?  Kudos to the several liberal and ultra conservatives that called in, exposing this hypocrisy.  Listening to the respective hosts, they both floundered around and mostly let callers duke it out.  Some callers cited areas where public utilities went private and rates went up.  It was all a bunch of he-said, she-said.

I know that the sale of MLGW has been a pet project of Mayor Willie Herenton since he took office, and rears its head at least once a term, but what is so conservative about a government run power company, and not about a government run oil company?  For a Democrat, Mayor Herenton is pretty darn conservative on this issue.

MLGW has been in the news many times over the past several years due to public mishandling, scandal, and unqualified board members.  It would seem to me that removing politics from running a utility company would probably save people money on their energy bills starting on day one.

Someone please explain this “have your cake and eat it too”, unprincipled philosophy.

WMC TV 5 has exclusive video that show a Memphis Police officer beating a transsexual prostitute in the booking area at 201 Poplar.  The incident happened on February 12th of this year.  Duanna Johnson was beaten because she did not want to respond to the word “faggot” when being addressed by the officer.

I wonder if we will see a rise in intolerance and incidents such as this, since applicants to become MPD officers are no longer required to have at least 2 years of college under their belt.

Disgusting.

Fred Hobbs, an executive committee member of the Tennessee Democratic Party, seems to have spoken out of turn on behalf of superdelegate Lincoln Davis (D-US House 4th District).  Davis had not yet pledged his support for Obama.

When asked about the delay, Hobbs stated the following:

“I’m not sure we know enough about him. He’s got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.”

He also stated:

“[Obama] has associates who are connected to terrorism. It does throw a red flag up for me ….I certainly don’t think he’s a terrorist. I’ve just heard he has associates who might have those ties.”

Wow.  That’s pretty damning stuff if you have an executive of a state political party making wild accusations about the national party’s choice for President.

Davis, whom is rumored to be seeking the Governor’s seat in 2010 quickly ran interference.

Mr. Hobbs is neither a constituent, close friend nor political ally of mine,” Davis says. “His statements were wrong, outrageous and unacceptable.”

The Tennessee Democratic Party released a statement on Monday.

The Tennessee Democratic Party is united behind our party’s nominee, Senator Barack Obama. Mr. Hobbs is obviously misinformed, and his statement highlights the perpetual efforts of the Republican Party, especially here in Tennessee, to turn internet smears and highly offensive gossip into their party’s message against Senator Barack Obama as we head into the General Election. Instead of debating the issues, the Tennessee Republican Party continues to rely upon slanderous and salacious tall tales. They are borrowing from the playbook first written by Richard Nixon and employed in the race against Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Tennesseans of every political persuasion are tired of these tactics.

Hobbs then apologized on Tuesday.

I am writing to apologize for my recent remarks about Senator Barack Obama. My statements to various Nashville media were wrong and offensive. I apologize if my remarks in any way hurt any of our great Democratic candidates, including Senator Obama. Also, I apologize if my comments embarrassed our state or my friends at the Tennessee Democratic Party.

I was not as well prepared as I should have been when speaking with reporters, and I should have taken more time to research Senator Obama’s positions. My comments did reflect questions I had after what I had seen reported on Fox News, but I should have taken some time to check the accuracy of what I saw on television before speaking publicly. My statement that Senator Obama “may be terrorist-connected” was incorrect, and I apologize for making it.

As a lifelong Democrat, I believe in the values and ideals of the Democratic Party. I am honored to represent the 13th Senatorial District, and I look forward to working with Senator Obama, each of you, and every Democrat in the 13th District to elect Democrats this November.

Warmest Regards,

Fred Hobbs

As seen above, Hobbs told the Tennessean that his comment was derived based on coverage he had seen on Fox News.

Seriously?  A supposed party executive that hasn’t done his homework on the nominee, blames Fox News for his ineptitude?  I’m sure most liberal bloggers are asking why this guy was watching the “conservative news network” anyhow.

Also, way to deflect your leadership’s obvious lack of knowledge, tact, and interest in the current election by blaming this event on Nixon-era Republican tactics.  Kudos also goes to the party for roping Harold Ford Jr. into the fray as well.  I’m not exactly sure what the purpose was for that.  Maybe they are going for a racial slant?  I guess we’ll never know.

Furthermore, if the Tennessee Republican Party has supposedly peed in the proverbial pool so much that Democrat leaders can be swayed so easily, they may want to just retreat into bunkers underground until the election season is over.

Methinks Mr. Hobbs will be searching for a new job soon.

Furthermore, this incident calls to question; do we Tennesseans want a fence-sitter like Davis as a governor?  Why hasn’t this guy made up his mind yet?  No one is running against Obama now, so the choice is simple.  You either pledge for Obama, or you don’t.  The decision seems pretty simple to me.

It would seem that two members of the Tennessee General Assembly, Senator Reginald Tate (D-Memphis) and Representative Larry Miller (D-Memphis), have decided to make ammunition accountable for itself. That’s right folks, the “Ammunition Accountability Act” HB3245/SB3395, sponsored by the two Memphis legislators, will finally take ammunition to task for its’ dastardly ways.

Ok, I’m sure you can detect the sarcasm directed at the ignorant name of the bill. I haven’t known too many inanimate, non-living things to be held accountable for their actions.

This is yet another bill, in a long line of bills to mandate serial codification on bullets. Starting in January of 2009, manufacturers would be required to print serial numbers on the base of each bullet to be sold in the state of Tennessee.

Basically a case of bullets of any caliber will go up in price, possibly to prohibitive prices for some, in order to place laser stamping on the bottom. A TBI database will be created that will contain the names and information of those who purchase a range of serialized bullets. This will undoubtedly affect Tennessee ranges, ammo manufacturers, and gun retailers. This gun grabbing legislation will make it even more cost prohibitive in Tennessee to protect one’s self. In usual economic fashion, you’ll see people traveling to neighboring states to purchase cheaper, non-stamped ammunition (not to mention avoiding the “big brother effect”).

Also, this will severely reduce the availability of ammunition in the state. People wont be able to protect themselves, and could lose their lives because of this legislation.

Rubbish bills like this have been introduced in several states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington.
Here’s a good laugh from the bill text:

By January 1, 2011, all non-coded ammunition for the calibers listed in this bill, whether owned by private citizens or retail outlets, be disposed of.

I’d love to see them enforce this one. Speaking of enforcement, does this mean that local and state police departments have to use serialized bullets as well? This sounds like a good question for your legislator, but my guess is, they don’t have to play by the same rules.

However, what the esteemed legislators from Memphis may not realize is that per the Tennessee Constitution, the Legislature only has the power to regulate the wearing of arms. The Legislature does not have the power to mandate the destruction/disposal of ammo.

“That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.”

- Tennessee Constitution, Article I - Declaration of Rights, Section 26

The bills have been shuffled to the Judiciary Committee for now, and since the 105th General Assembly has been adjourned, are in no danger of being voted on. Don’t let that stop you from writing your representative and senator today.

I have a few questions for the sponsors of the bill.

1. Do you think that criminals will buy the laser engraved bullets?
2. Do you think that if criminals do purchase the engraved bullets, that they wont take them apart and remove the numbers?
3. What is to stop people from going to different states to buy ammo (other than the penalties you define in your bill)?
4. Will law enforcement and the State Guard be required to use serialized bullets?
5. Will you enforce rationing of serialized bullets to citizens if law enforcement and military are not able to replenish their supply?
6. What will a law abiding citizen have to go through if someone steals a box of their serialized ammo?
7. Criminals and criminal immigrants are able to purchase black market guns, what makes you think there wont be a thriving market for “illegal” ammo?
8. Can you not see you are emboldening criminals via this legislation, and leaving us law-abiding gun owners high and dry?

I’ll be watching this one closely. Watch my blog to see if you need to make a run for the ammo store in the coming months.

It’s really no wonder that carry permits are on the rise in the Volunteer State. I knew that Memphis was a crime hot-spot, due to my close proximity. Nashville, however, took me by surprise.

Given the current political situation in Memphis, I don’t think it will move down that list much over the next year. Maybe there is hope for Nashville?

From the Commercial Appeal via FBI statistics:

10 Worst Crime Cities

In 2007, Memphis ranked second in violent crime per capita in cities of more than 500,000 people.

1. Detroit: 2,286*

2. Memphis: 1,950

3. Baltimore: 1,631

4. Nashville: 1,509

5. Philadelphia: 1,475

6. Milwaukee: 1,403

7. Indianapolis: 1,234

8. Houston: 1,132

9. Boston: 1,155

10. Dallas: 1,069

* Number of violent crimes per 100,000 people.

From WMC TV (link) Memphis City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove in :

“I listened to the person on your station, Janice Broach, and I’m gonna tell Janice Broach my grandmother always told me, ‘You dig one hole, you better dig two.’ And Janice, you better watch out. You’re hole comin’ baby.”

How professional. I guess Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton gave her a few lessons on how to deal with reporters that just report the facts, unaltered, about publicly elected officials.

The “inflammatory” report by Janice Broach, as well as video, can be found here.

Fullilove’s car T-boned the vehicle of Yolanda McWherter at a Highway 61 intersection in Tunica County on Friday, May 2nd. Seven-year-old Mikayla Gill, McWherter’s daughter, sustained injuries to her liver and spleen.

The fact that she is claiming that she is going to “seek therapy for a medical problem” in the wake of this crash makes one wonder if something happened under the table in order for the Mississippi Highway Patrol to not charge her with anything.

Lets not forget that Fullilove did plead guilty to drunken driving in 1999, before she entered public life, while working as a radio personality at WMC 790 AM.

Let’s also not forget that she was pulled over in March of this year in Mississippi on I-69, and booked for DUI due to refusing a field sobriety test and careless driving. That case is still pending.

Something smells fishy here. The admission to a friend that she had two glasses of wine that evening before driving home is pretty damning.

There’s never a dull day in Memphis, that’s for sure.

Five term Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announced his resignation today, effective July 31, 2008.

This story is still developing at the Commercial Appeal website.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/20/herenton-step-down-july-31/

Maybe someone that actually cares about things other than stadiums and county and city government consolidation will get the job.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield decided to inject a little levity into the Georgia land grab, and send a truckload of water with a guy wearing a coonskin hat. He made the official proclamation that today, Wednesday, February 28th 2008 shall be known as “Give Our Georgia Friends A Drink Day.” The proclamation reads as follows.

–PROCLAMATION–

WHEREAS, it has come to pass that the heavens are shut up and a drought of Biblical proportions has been visited upon the Southern United States, and

WHEREAS, the parched and dry conditions have weighed heavily upon the State of Georgia and sorely afflicted those who inhabit the Great City of Atlanta, and

WHEREAS, the leaders of Georgia have assembled like the Children of Israel in the desert, grumbled among themselves and have begun to cast longing eyes toward the north, coveting their neighbor’s assets, and

WHEREAS, the lack of water has led some misguided souls to seek more potent refreshment or for other reasons has resulted in irrational and outrageous actions seeking to move a long established and peaceful boundary, and

WHEREAS, it is deemed better to light a candle than curse the darkness, and better to offer a cool, wet kiss of friendship rather than face a hot and angry legislator gone mad from thirst, and

Whereas, it is feared that if today they come for our river, tomorrow they might come for our Jack Daniels or George Dickel,

NOW THEREFORE, In the interest of brotherly love, peace, friendship, mutual prosperity, citywide self promotion, political grandstanding and all that

I Ron Littlefield, Mayor of the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee,

Do hereby Proclaim that Wednesday, February 27, 2008 shall be known as

“Give Our Georgia Friends a Drink Day”

Somehow I don’t think the Georgians will be amused. Let’s see if the guy in the coonskin hat makes it back across the border this afternoon.