SO DOES THIS MEAN NEWSPAPERS CAN'T PUBLISH THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO DIE IN COMBAT?

Last May, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano signed a law that forbids publishing a dead serviceman's name "for commercial purposes" without permission from the next of kin. And even as constitutionally problematic as that sounds, Arizona's governor (bless her heat-stroked little brain) is not the first dimwit to think this is a good idea. No, Louisiana and Oklahoma had already signed similar bills into law.... And that, in itself, poses the question of which legislator is more stupid; the one who thought of it first, or those who had time to mull it over and then do it anyway?
Moreover, it presents the broader questions about the term "for commercial purposes."
Strictly speaking, that would seem to bar newspapers from publishing the names to the war dead.
Now, granted, that's not the purpose of the legislation. The purpose is/was, in Napolitano's case, to prevent someone from printing and selling an anti-war t-shirt list the names of the dead under the headline "Bush Lied, They Died." What's unclear is the motivation for this law; I mean was it because some dumb-ass lawmaker thought that a t-shirt isn't a reverent enough venue for the name of someone who was killed in combat? Or, was it to stifle criticism of a ludicrous policy inflicted on the world by a president whose stupidity is only exceeded by those who voted for him.... twice?

"... And the poets down here don't write nothin' at all...."

But maybe they will when The Boss comes to town. ... Word is the last great New Jersey urban poet, Bruce Springsteen, recently dropped a chunk of multi-million dollar change to take ownership of a piece of real estate up in Talbot County. Actually, I don't know how good this information is... I can only observe that the same person told us about the "Michael Jackson Traveling Freak Show" coming to the shore to shop properties a few weeks ago... So, believe what you want to believe.

JUSTICE IS NOT ONLY BLIND, IT'S STUPID AS WELL

So what do we have... three days in the slam and (I shiver to even mention this name) Paris Hilton has gone home. That's right, she got a 45 day sentence slashed for "good behavior" -- before her well- and publically-reamed little ass even appeared at the jail, then after barely three days, she's sent home to finish her bit in the lap of luxery. Listen, I'm sure she's an obnoxious little twit, but since when is that reason enough to kick her out of jail and inflict her on innocent civilians..... And whatever became of that whole "justice for all" thing? Maybe that squeal I just heard was Lady Justice getting bent over one more time.

NAACP'S LATEST CAMPAIGN DOOMED TO FAILURE

The NAACP trotted out its latest public relations vehical this week and according to wire reports, it's aim is to end negative portrayals of blacks, especially women, in the media. Reportedly the moves comes partially in response to comments by fired DJ Don Imus, but also cited were comments made last year by comedian Michael Richards. And that's all well and good, but I couldn't help but notice there was no mention of the culture of young blacks who adopt the thug/gangster lifestyle as a role model to be emulated.... And let's be clear; the biggest part of dealing with the negative portrayal of blacks is that subculture. It is not Michael Richards, Don Imus, the KKK, or even the bone-deep racism of American society. The most immediate problem is the culture that portrays family, education and personable responsibility as sucker concepts, and gangsterism as a good thing. Those are issues not inflicted upon the black community by white folks. They are issues inflicted upon the black community by itself.
Given that the NAACP, along with people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are famous for leaping to the microphone to take white people to task for insults to the the black community, yet are apparently silent when it comes to addressing the issues of broken families, violent crime, and resolute ignorance within the communities they pretend to care about and represent, I doubt it can have any real relevance and effect in this campaign.

22 DEAD IN VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING SPREE

Virginia Tech Shooting

Latest News
Statement by Virginia Tech's President
Bush Said Shocked at College Shootings

Gunman Kills 21 on Virginia Tech Campus




BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman was killed, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech president Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."

The university reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7:15 a.m. at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.

Some but not all the dead were students. One student was killed in a dorm and the others were killed in the classroom, Virginia Tech Police Chief W.R. Flinchum.

The name of the gunman was not released. It was not known if he was a student.

Up until Monday, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history took place in 1966 at the University of Texas, where Charles Whitman climbed to the 28th-floor observation deck of a clock tower and opened fire. He killed 16 people before he was gunned down by police. In the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo., in 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.

After Monday's shootings, all entrances to the campus were closed. The campus was to reopen Tuesday but classes were canceled.

The university set up a meeting place for families to reunite with their children at the Inn at Virginia Tech. It also made counselors available and planned a convocation for Tuesday at the Cassell Coliseum basketball arena.

After the shootings, students were told to stay inside away from the windows.

"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," said Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dorm where shooting took place.

Aimee Kanode, a freshman from Martinsville, said the shooting happened on the 4th floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory, one floor above her room. Kanode's resident assistant knocked on her door about 8 a.m. to notify students to stay put.

"They had us under lockdown," Kanode said. "They temporarily lifted the lockdown, the gunman shot again."

"We're all locked in our dorms surfing the Internet trying to figure out what's going on," Kanode said.

Madison Van Duyne, a student who was interviewed by telephone on CNN, said, "We are all in lockdown. Most of the students are sitting on the floors away from the windows just trying to be as safe as possible."

Police said there had been bomb threats on campus over the past two weeks by authorities but said they have not determined a link to the shootings.

It was second time in less than a year that the campus was closed because of a shooting.

In August 2006, the opening day of classes was canceled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the Tech area. A sheriff's deputy involved in the manhunt was killed on a trail just off campus.

The accused gunman, William Morva, faces capital murder charges.

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CALL FOR GEN. CUSTER ON LINE ONE

Seems our Feckless Leader is having a tough time finding someone to take the reins on his runaway Middle East warhorse. Five retired generals have rejected his offer, and one reportedly said was public about the rejection, saying the Administration does not have a workable plan to prosecute the effort.
And maybe that's why the First Shrub is seeking a czar in the first place.... someone to take the heat for a failed policy ... a whipping boy to take the weight off the Repiglican's shoulders as the election season dawns. Yo, Georgi, these men didn't become generals by being stupid.

DON IMUS SHOULD BE SHAMED AND HECKLED.... BUT NOT SILENCED

So shock-jock Don Imus is in the hot seat for referring to a women's collegiate b-ball team as a bunch of "nappy headed hos." And some in the black community have lined up to take their cues from the likes of Jesse Jackson and (insert heavy sigh and eye-roll here) Al Sharpton to demand Imus be fired and never be allowed to broadcast again. But that would be a mistake.
As dimwitted and racist as Imus' comments may have been, he has a right to speak his opinion. He has a right to spark debate. And for a few equally dim self-appointed activists to demand he be silenced is unAmerican and only serves to build an argument that their illconceived diatribes be silenced also. That's the way it is in America, guys... we all have a constitutional right to say what's on our minds. .... It's right there in the First Amendment. And let's understand that the purpose of that right to not to protect those who utter words that everyone wants to hear, rather, it is to protect those who utter words that are disturbing and unpopular - even if they are considered racist or sacrilegious or foment political and social dissent. In effect, the same law that protected Martin Luther King, Jr. and allowed him to speak out against racism and poverty and unequal protection of the law in cities like Montgomery, Selma and Atlanta is the same one that should protect the words spoken by Don Imus..... Granted, comparing Imus' words to King's is akin to comparing Bugs Bunny to Winston Churchill, but it's not the message that has value here, it's the right to convey the message, no matter how unpopular it may be. For it is from unpopular ideas that social and political revolutions are born.... King's words were wildly unpopular with the ruling class in Selma, Montgomery and everywhere else, yet the truth he spoke and the debate he sparked could not be ignored.... If Imus is silenced and anyone else whose words offend us or make us uncomfortable is silenced, then where can such a policy end except in universal censorship and an end to the freedom of fresh ideas.

....AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN THE SAVIOR OF THE FREE WORLD

We almost had an Easter miracle this week but the CEO of Ford leaped into the breach and prevented a change of the American government Administration. You can read the Detroit News story here. Whatever else you think about the Bush Whitehouse, you have to admit there would have been a bit of humor to see Bush and Cheney done in by their own ignorance. Dang, the forces of darkness defeat the forces of goodness and light again.