The so-called “birthers” are back in the news, this time crying for attention in Florida of all places, accusing U.S. Senator Mark Rubio of not really being a U.S. Citizen. Their “logic,” if you want to call it that, is based upon the assertion that since Rubio’s parents had not officially become naturalized citizens at the time of his birth on U.S. soil, he is therefore not a citizen, and thus, ineligible for national political office. While the reasonable right drag its hands across its face and mutter, “Aw, shit. Not this again,” the extreme right is all atwitter with delight, suffering under the fundamental delusion that if they can win just this one argument, regardless of cost or the actual presence of legal logic, they’ll have a toe-hold on the path to abolishing the presence of the great black Satan they perceive Obama to be. Continue reading »
The Boys Are Back in Town
After four previous stays of execution, and one last minute appeal that reportedly took place after the IV’s for a lethal injection were inserted, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously declared there was not enough evidence to halt the execution of Troy Davis. As a result, Davis was executed by the state of Georgia, and died at 11:08 PM EST.
By all accounts, Troy Davis was not a nice man at the time of his arrest. According to the case notes, Davis and a friend were involved in two altercations outside a pool party in Savannah, Georgia. The first occurred as they were leaving the party, when a group in a passing car allegedly shouted racial slurs at the two. Davis’ response was to fire a shot into the passing car, striking the face of passenger Michael Cooper. A short time later, they came upon a friend, Sylvester “Redd” Coles, arguing with a homeless man named Larry Young. As the group engaged in pistol-whipping Mr. Young, an off duty policeman Mark MacPhail tried to intervene and was shot twice and killed. The following day, Redd Coles went to the police and informed them he had seen Davis in possession of a .38 calibre handgun, and that Davis was an active participant in the beating of Mr. Young. An arrest was made, charges were brought, and Davis was convicted of the murder of Mr. MacPhail and sentenced to death by electrocution. Continue reading »
The News of the World
Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World is no more. A British tabloid once famed for its ability to humble the mighty with innuendo and ridicule, the paper fell victim to its own hubris, and now finds itself the target of ridicule and hate. Continue reading »
Osama Bin Laden is dead.
After countless years, both before and after 9/11. After two poorly conceived and executed wars still lacking the light of resolution. After the loss of 2,340 coalition soldiers, 8,739+ Afghan forces, and tens of thousands of civilians deaths, the world’s most wanted man has been killed by a U.S. operative in a mansion outside of Islamabad in Pakistan. Should we feel any safer? Does this mean the terror that has gripped the nation for the last ten years will fade? Continue reading »
In the springtime of 2001, after a hard day of work at the office, my wife sat down next to me on our living room sofa and asked if I would turn down the TV so we could have a talk. Thinking I was in trouble, I sheepishly did so, turning to face her while bracing for a tongue lashing. She sat down next to me, and with a hint of tears forming at the edges of her eyes, took my hands in hers.
“I think I’m pregnant,” she said. Continue reading »
