The St. Olaf (Northfield, Minn.) professor who, in a well-read Huffington Post item, recounted tearing down McCain campaign signs has resigned.
Per the Northfield News, it appears that Philip Busse was forced out.
St. Olaf spokesman David Gonnerman issued the following statement Monday afternoon:
"The St. Olaf College administration first learned of Phil Busse's self-admitted theft and destruction of campaign signs on the morning of Oct. 31 as a result of his posting on the Internet.
"The St. Olaf administration immediately referred the matter to local law enforcement authorities and commenced an investigation of its own.
"Mr. Busse has tendered his resignation and is no longer affiliated with St. Olaf College.
Busse has been charged with misdemeanor theft.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/04/2008 12:56 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Busse was no doubt a big free speech advocate on the campus.
WASHINGTON -- Juror No. 4 in Sen. Ted Stevens' federal corruption trial, otherwise known as Marian Hinnant, didn't leave to attend her father's funeral in California, as she told the judge at the time. Instead, Hinnant had a plane ticket to see the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park and didn't want to miss it, she told the judge Monday, in what sounded like completely irrational and perhaps even delusional remarks.
"I just wanted to go to the Breeders' Cup," she told reporters after a hearing the judge held to find out why she had left town and lost contact with him, forcing him to replace her just hours before the jury found Stevens guilty.
Hinnant also told reporters that she would have found the Alaska senator guilty had she remained on the jury. "He was guilty, but these other guys are just as guilty," she said, referring to other members of Congress.
Her lawyer, federal public defender A.J. Kramer, tried to keep her from saying much in court, telling the judge only that "her state of mind was such that she had to go to California." "She apologizes to the court. In fact, her father did not die," Kramer said. "The story about her father was just one that popped into her head."
Hinnant cut in, however, and in a thick Kentucky drawl gave a rambling, incoherent and completely baffling monologue about her former employers in the horse-racing industry in Kentucky. She mentioned drugs, wiretaps and horse racing but made little sense. "I'm not the one who was selling the drugs; I'm not the one who was doing the drugs," she said.
Um, no, course not, sure ...
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan let her go, saying that he was going to "accept Mr. Kramer's representation that you were not able to (deliberate) and for reasons that were serious to you."
He added: "I'm convinced you were not able to deliberate."
That's a true statement ...
Sullivan told her that she didn't have to speak to the news media, but she said she was willing to talk, and she did. Outside the courthouse, about 10 reporters followed her to a nearby subway stop, as did several of Stevens' attorneys. Kramer escorted her to the station and encouraged her not to say much, but Hinnant appeared not to be able to restrain herself.
Hinnant, 52, told reporters that she works at Avis car rental in Union Station in Washington. She worked in horse racing for many years and simply wanted to see the race, since she already had a plane ticket to California.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/04/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
It's a warm and fuzzy feeling I get when I think of people like this deciding my guilt or innocence.
#3
I wish I could agree, but we're talking Breeders Cup here, so I can kinda see JN #4 probblem, sit all day on a hard chair in Alaska listening to dullards or go to the Breeders Cup?
#4
One of the many illiterate, ignorant species of total incompetents who will vote for Obama bin Biden in droves today. Public schools and the NEA have delivered to us the most uneducated and dumbest electorate to date.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
11/04/2008 12:15 Comments ||
Top||
#5
A juror who admits preconceived notions of guilt? Is that reason enough for a mistrial?
New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark says she is confident that she can win this weekend's election, despite trailing the National Party in the polls.
Ms Clark says she is New Zealand's best option in good and bad times and believes Saturday's election will be very close. "I'm not even contemplating defeat. I've only got one plan," she said.
Ms Clark says she is prepared to work with all of the five minor parties if she has to. She does not believe voters will punish Labour for the economic downturn and says she has come up with a six- point plan to lift New Zealand out of recession.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday defended the so-called Fairness Doctrine in an interview on Fox News, saying, “I think we should all be fair and balanced, don’t you?”
SchumerÂ’s comments echo other DemocratsÂ’ views on reviving the Fairness Doctrine, which would require radio stations to balance conservative hosts with liberal ones.
Asked if he is a supporter of telling radio stations what content they should have, Schumer used the fair and balanced line, claiming that critics of the Fairness Doctrine are being inconsistent.
“The very same people who don’t want the Fairness Doctrine want the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] to limit pornography on the air. I am for that… But you can’t say government hands off in one area to a commercial enterprise but you are allowed to intervene in another. That’s not consistent.”
In 2007, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a close ally of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told The Hill, “It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine. I have this old-fashioned attitude that when Americans hear both sides of the story, they’re in a better position to make a decision.”
Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) last year said, “I believe very strongly that the airwaves are public and people use these airwaves for profit. But there is a responsibility to see that both sides and not just one side of the big public questions of debate of the day are aired and are aired with some modicum of fairness.”
Conservatives fear that forcing stations to make equal time for liberal talk radio would cut into profits so significantly that radio executives would opt to scale back on conservative radio programming to avoid escalating costs and interference from the FCC.
They also note that conservative radio shows has been far more successful than liberal ones.
In his Fox interview, Schumer, who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, also weighed in on the election, predicting that Democrats will end up with between 56 and 58 seats in the Senate.
He also defended “card check” legislation, claiming there is a strong need to allow workers a private ballot to register their votes on whether to organize a union.
Schumer said “there has to be some counter” to the leverage businesses have, claiming “employers have every leg up on people who want to organize and that’s why union workers have gone down from about 25 percent to 6 percent [in the private sector].”
Business groups adamantly oppose the card check bill, which passed the House and fell short of the necessary votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate.
#2
There is certainly no fairness in ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, or the MSM print media. This media was all in the bag for Obama. They are about as close as you can get to Joseph Goebbels propaganda machine in Nazi Germany or Pravda in the USSR. You (Schumer) sir are a dangerous whacko who does not believe in the First or Second Amendments of our Constitution.
#3
Looks like we are going to default on our own access to the internet. Most important news day in years, but both Little Green Footballs and Free Republic are so buggy today as to be useless. This seems to be a chronic problem with conservative sites, while lib sites have no such problems. Unlimited funding from Soros and the Google tycoons is the likely reason*, but we cannot afford to lose the net to the totalitarian monopoly that is on its way to owning all other channels of communication.
*If I wanted go tinfoil I would suggest that the moonbats who infest the provider industry are engaged in a little freelance blocking.
#4
Only the NY City crowd could put up with an idiot like Charles Schumer. The United States shouldn't have to. Schumer should have been aboard that Delta flight to Atlanta - in the baggage compartment.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/04/2008 18:34 Comments ||
Top||
#5
This will be a massive overreach by Chucky and the dems. Nothing will galvanize the republican base like this action.
#6
And card check is going to galvanize business. Who do you think has more money Chucky, your labor union buddies or the hundreds of thousands of businesses out there. Think the lawyers have more? Don't count on it.
#7
Chuck is a dirtbag and inherently unlikeable guy. Time to start collecting the hubristic overreach videos for the 2010 elections and build the case against these incompetent wanna-be brownshirts
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/04/2008 18:52 Comments ||
Top||
#8
Fuck Schumer. I'll be waiting for his response.
See. Fairness...
#9
Obama with a rubber stamp congress is like giving an alcoholic the keys to a distillery. They'll give in to their most base tendencies. Now all will be able to see the true nature of the democrat party.
Democrats: Be careful what you wish for.
Posted by: Minister of funny walks ||
11/04/2008 19:53 Comments ||
Top||
#10
I guess this means there will two newscasts, newspapers, Social "Sciences" departments, and Branson becomes the Hollywood Middle America. Bring it on.
Posted by: ed ||
11/04/2008 20:22 Comments ||
Top||
#11
If your local affiliate gets fed up and drops Rush (seems inconceivable, but hey...) use Senator Schumer's office number for Open Line Friday.
Chicago Police beefed up forces on Tuesday following rumors that members of the African-American community planned to riot if it became clear that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was losing the election, Army Radio [IDF] reported. Tsk, tsk, tsk
#1
CPD won't do anything to prevent, or even mitigate, a riot unless it threatens to spill over onto the lakefront or touristy areas. Everything else will be allowed to burn.
Posted by: Scott R ||
11/04/2008 17:02 Comments ||
Top||
Posted by: Fred ||
11/04/2008 12:51 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
MOre reason why we need absentee ballots for everyone. We would have more time to compare ballots to election rolls and arrest the frauds, and we could count the ballots starting at midnight election day and have some idea what the score was before people had lunch.
#4
"I'm an Army vet and that doesn't intimidate me."
He doesn't appear to be a big man, either. It wouldn't be nice to snicker at image of two Noble Panthers of Islam attempting to close ranks with a great big nightstick, so I shan't snicker.
#8
President for life Robert Mugabe dignifies his murderous thugs by referring to them as "veterans." I can only guess how the 'ONE' will characterize his loyal rabble. We've already had a peek at the uniform and rank insignia. Absolutely sickening
#1
It is very simple. A militia has zero as azero, zilch nada when you are going to operate in foreign territory specially when you are not talking about, say, Mexico but across ocens.
A militia bhas to and only two uses: when you are invaded and against your own population. Since US is in no danger of being invaded in the next four years (or even eight) there is only one possibility.
I also remind you that such militia would neither be bound by Army rules (like not crossing the borders of state without being called by governor) nor by an oath to the Constitution.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
11/04/2008 16:07 Comments ||
Top||
#5
more likely he's planning on creating the civilian national security force that is just as big, strong and well funded as the Military by (a) Increasing funding to the Peace Corps by a substantial rate, possibly filling the numbers with draftees (b) gutting the military.
#6
Good grief, EC - I haven't heard that name in years!
You have a great memory.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/04/2008 17:33 Comments ||
Top||
#7
From the synopsis of the Babylon 5 Episode "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum":
Pierce MacAfee addresses a group of people in a conference room, explaining about the Ministry of Peace. He explains that its objective is to help people find peace with themselves. Looking at the Babylon 5 space station as a microcosm of Earth, MacAfee explains they have developed a system called the Night Watch, the purpose of which is to detect possible problems. He says it is a volunteer organization, and that it pays fifty credits a week. All they need to do is wear a black armband, so that people know the Night Watch is around. The Ministry of Peace wants to raise public awareness and help people think about peace. Zack Allen, sitting near Talia in the audience, asks what else is entailed by being in the Night Watch. MacAfee says that those that work against peace simply don't know any better, and they need to be taught and rehabilitated; it's up to the Night Watch to spot such people and report them. By doing this, they can protect society from harmful ideas and misinformation. "We're less interested in actions than we are in attitudes," MacAfee tells them. "We must help protect society against its own worst instincts." He says he is proud to be a part of the organization, and hopes that the others will join him.
#8
Think of deputized ACORN types with Saudi religious-police type authority. And loyal only to the one.
Posted by: Minister of funny walks ||
11/04/2008 18:24 Comments ||
Top||
#9
There is much wisdom in B5. The 4th season episode "The Illusion of Truth" is revealing and enlightening. You will never watch an edited interview the same way again.
Another timely quote from the series: "We have to fight the enemy without becoming the enemy."
Posted by: Minister of funny walks ||
11/04/2008 18:31 Comments ||
Top||
#10
You must be talking about the episode which was a 'newscast' from earth and the way they distorted the truth. I always thought that was a very scary episode.
As I recall from the series the Night Watch was recruited mostly from the existing security personal. Not sure how that would play here with our police departments.
#11
#8 Think of deputized ACORN types with Saudi religious-police type authority. And loyal only to the one.
think of Charles Bronson
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/04/2008 19:34 Comments ||
Top||
#12
I suspect that if, IF he is successful in creating his little force of henchmen, they'll be hunted to the point they stay in their fortresses. I know I have every intent of being actively resistant.
Posted by: Sperelet Oppressor of the Huns9826 ||
11/04/2008 22:13 Comments ||
Top||
GOP Election Board members have been tossed out of polling stations in at least half a dozen polling stations in Philadelphia because of their party status.
A Pennsylvania judge previously ruled that court-appointed poll watchers could be NOT removed from their boards by an on-site election judge, but that is exactly what is happening, according to sources on the ground. It is the duty of election board workers to monitor and guard the integrity of the voting process.
Denying access to the minority (in this case Republican) poll watchers and inspectors is a violation of Pennsylvania state law. Those who violate the law can be punished with a misdemeanor and subjected to a fine of $1,000 and sent to prison between one month and two years.
Those on site are describing the situation as "pandemonium" and there may be video coming of the chaos. Some of the precincts where Republicans have been removed are: the 44th Ward, 12th and 13th divisions; 6th Ward, 12th division; 32nd Ward, Division 28.
"Election board officials guard the legitimacy of the election process and the idea that Republicans are being intimidated and banned for partisan purposes does not allow for an honest and open election process," said McCain-Palin spokesman Ben Porritt in a statement to Townhall.
The City of Brotherly Love was roiled in controversy during the 2004 election because of rigged voting machines that showed nearly 2,000 votes for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry before the polls had opened. A man also used a gun to intimidate poll workers at Ward 30, division 11 in 2004.
Update: Fox News just did a report about the controversy. The Democrats are saying that the polling station is crowded and election board members need to cycle through the areas intermittently.
#3
Latest report from Philly: two Black Panthers intimidating whites entering a polling place -- the one with the nightstick was hauled away by police.
#4
To bad that report on Obama against Coal didn't come out until the final days. If the word got out throughout the coal states he wouldn't have gotten any of them. If the word got out that no coal means higher electricity prices he's have seen some second thoughts in the colder states.
Of course the earlier the word got out the more time Obama would have had to nuance his position.
#6
No. They don't care about electricity or gas prices either because the law won't allow their utilities to be shut off for non-payment in cold weather.
Republican congressional candidate Bill Russell's rally on Sunday featured several Iraq war veterans vehemently criticizing U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown), who they say betrayed them when he said troops in Iraq killed innocent civilians in Haditha "in cold blood."
Those remarks sparked Russell to run against Murtha and have been a theme of his campaign ever since.
During the rally, Shawn Bryan, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps., said Murtha visited his unit in Iraq in 2005. At the time, Murtha told the troops "what a great job we did," Bryan said, only to see him tell his district back home he no longer supported the effort. Bryan said he didn't put his life on the line for his country "just so some fat little bastard can come back and run his mouth."
It was the second time during his speech that Bryan, who flew in from Albuquerque, New Mexico, had called Murtha a "fat little bastard" during his speech. His remarks were not publicly repudiated at the rally.
In an interview after the rally, Russell told PolitickerPA.com Bryan's comments didn't reflect his own feelings, but he did the defend his fellow veteran. The remarks are reflective of the anger many marines, who have lost dozens of fellow soldiers during combat, feel toward Murtha, he said. "Am I going to throw him under the bus for it?" Russell asked. "No. I understand -- he's going to say what he believes."
Murtha, who himself served 37 years in the Marine Corps and was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, said about the 2005 shootings of Iraq civilians in Haditha: "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
Charges have been dropped against all but one of the Marines involved in the Haditha killings.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/04/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
A move to impeach an Iranian minister, slated for Tuesday, has flared into a full-blown political scandal after an attempt to bribe lawmakers over the matter led to a fistfight between supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who, in turn, says parliament is out to sabotage his cabinet ahead of elections in June.
Speaking on state television Monday, the president called the impeachment bid "not legal" and "unfair." Ahmadinejad is firmly backing Interior Minister Ali Kordan, who has been accused of dishonesty for falsely claiming to hold an honorary law degree from Oxford University. Kordan says Oxford's representative in Tehran lied to him.
An impeachment of Kordan would push Ahmadinejad close to having to submit his entire cabinet for review by parliament, which is led by one of his chief political opponents. Iran's constitution requires that step if more than half the cabinet ministers are replaced, and Ahmadinejad has replaced nine of 21.
The dispute over Kordan's fake degree triggered a fistfight last week when the director of the presidential liaison office in parliament, Mohammad Abbasi, handed out checks for $5,000 to lawmakers who signed a letter stating that they would not vote for the impeachment.
When lawmaker Ali Asghar Zarei confronted Abbasi, a fight broke out in which the presidential liaison was injured. Zarei is regarded as one of Ahmadinejad's most loyal supporters in parliament.
"Collecting these signatures was against morality," Zarei said later, according to the semiofficial Fars News Agency. "I confronted him to prevent violations and wrongdoings that are contrary to the policy of the government."
On Sunday, Ahmadinejad fired Abbasi, and the speaker of Iran's parliament, Ali Larijani, banned him permanently from the parliament building. Ahmadinejad said on state television that his aide had acted "emotionally."
"The bribing is even worse than the whole affair of Kordan's fake degree," lawmaker Ali Akbar Owlia wrote Sunday in the Tehran newspaper Ettemaad.
The public disputes over Kordan's impeachment highlighted the rift developing here between supporters and former supporters of Ahmadinejad as the campaign for the June 12 presidential elections starts shaping up.
"The impeachment of Ali Kordan will be the splitting point between the government and its supporters in parliament," the Web site Aftabnews, which is critical of the president, said Monday.
More than half of parliament's 290 members must vote in favor of impeachment for the interior minister to be removed.
Posted by: tipper ||
11/04/2008 06:42 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Almost like Taiwan's parliament. Maybe democracy is creeping in, little by little.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday defended the so-called Fairness Doctrine in an interview on Fox News, saying, “I think we should all be fair and balanced, don’t you?”
GOP Election Board members have been tossed out of polling stations in at least half a dozen polling stations in Philadelphia because of their party status.
Republican congressional candidate Bill Russell's rally on Sunday featured several Iraq war veterans vehemently criticizing U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown), who they say betrayed them when he said troops in Iraq killed innocent civilians in Haditha "in cold blood."
