Just to let everyone know that The MacRanger Show is being moved from 12pm to 6pm because I’ll still be 35,000 feet in the air at noon tomorrow. The great part is that we’re taking off from Fort Lauderdale, the site of the Air/Land Sea Show on the Beach, so it’s going to be a blast seeing - if briefly - the action from the air.
I warned against the thought crimes bill here. I even said “I can just see CAIR scampering to get this passed.” They will wield this legislation like a club. Well it passed the House and CAIR is ecstatic. Here is the CAIR alert;
CAIR PRAISES HOUSE PASSAGE OF ANTI-HATE CRIMES BILL
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/3/2007) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today congratulated the US House of Representatives on its passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
To see how your U.S. representative voted, go here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll299.xml
CAIR has supported the act since 2005 and last week renewed its call for the community to urge elected officials to pass the measure.
SEE: Support the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/The Senate now must consider its version of the bill, known as S. 1105.
If passed, the law would allow the Attorney General to provide federal assistance to local law enforcement to aid investigations of crimes motivated by “…prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin…” of the victim.
The White House has indicated that it will most likely veto the measure if it reaches the President.
Thank G-d for Bush.
UPDATE: From the guys in the white hats;
“This legislation is harmful to all Americans because it perpetuates the very hatred and strife that it seeks to prevent,” noted the RSC letter. “This legislation would federalize every state and local crime, so long as there exists the possibility that the crime was potentially motivated by hate - but only the specific ‘hate’ directed to the special groups included in this bill and other hate crime legislation across the country.”
“The Republican Study Committee respectfully urges you to veto any legislation which threatens to undermine our most cherished constitutional rights - the freedom of speech and religious expression and equal protection under the law - and asks you to issue a strongly worded veto threat against H.R. 1592 or any bill that contains the vestiges of this legislation.”
This morning, the White House responded to the letter by issuing a veto threat (attached) noting that the bill is “unnecessary and constitutionally questionable.”
“We are pleased that the President will side with the Constitution on behalf of ALL people - regardless of their class, status, or identity,” said RSC Chairman Jeb Hensarling. “All of us, regardless of party or ideology, want to deter crimes against young women, old men, African Americas, homosexuals, pregnant women, veterans and everyone else. What we don’t believe in is dehumanizing people by segregating them into different groups while ignoring them as individual human beings. This bill is unconstitutional, undermines individual liberty and is well deserving of the President’s veto.”
Ed, correct on the the fact that this is a tort issue. A lot is going to depend on the language of the contract. While Imus’s comments were wrong and inexcusable, the way it was handled was severly blown by CBS and MSNBC management, as well as their respective PR teams. After ten years on the air they knew what they had on their hands, indeed they knew when they hired him way back when. Kowtowing to pressure from Sharpton and Friends was a hugh blunder on the part of both of them.
I’m familiar with the contracts of two local shock jocks and they are very “loose” on what they consider inappropriate content and yes they have a “warning clause”.
Look for this thing to get settled out of court in a large and profitable way for Imus.
Tonight is a great show. Bill Whittle of Eject! Eject! Eject! is my guest. Hailed as one of the best essayists of the conservative blogosphere–and perhaps the entire internet–Whittle writes eloquently but in a way that anyone can understand, explaining current events and conservative politics with logic, wit, and a piercing truth. His essays are only published once every few months, but his site immediately sees an incredible influx of readers on those occasions, as email lists light up with the news “Bill Whittle has a new essay out!”
I will have him on the show tonight to talk about his work, his beliefs on America and Iraq, and much more. Expect a night of incredible insight and good-natured fun.
It all starts at 10 pm Eastern, 9 pm Central, on The Front Line.
Crossposted at Macsmind:
Sorry for the light blogging, but I will be up and about and in the air tomorrow on the way to speaking engagments, but I wanted to weigh in thoughts on last night’s debate. By the way it was Heading Right’s inaugural debate and it went extremely well, check it out.
First, while Restate is crowning McCain, I believe the opposite occurred and that he came off an a cranky old fart. I know that image is endearing to some, but while he’s an asset on the war on terror, his participation in the gang of 13 and other social meanderings throws him off the radar.
Giulliani, completely FUBAR’d the abortion question and within minutes of fumbling it the question the tape was on YouTube. He is going to be re-grilled over and over again on the question until he gives a coherant answer. Fact is that he’s too “political” to be completely honest on the question. Yes he is strong on security, but that’s the easy question. Rudy needs to come out once and for all and give his positions on Abortion - no holds barred, otherwise, back to Broadway!
Mitt Romney I think came off as the most “Presidential” and commanding. I felt as though I was watching a President and someone who was in command of his words and thoughts, and was meaning what he said. I know Romney has flipped his positions as well, but he appeared much more “real” and approachable. In this day of “image” it’s the picture of the man (or woman) that counts and right now Romney takes the best picture.
The others were well, candidates and appeared as such. Look for them to stop dropping out one by one in short order.
Debates, even this early, are interesting because they act as a big wave hitting the shore. When the memory of them recedes, the landscape is changed ever so slightly. Perceptions are changed or hardened. First impressions are gleaned while familiar faces are examined anew.
I am surprised that there are several observers who believed McCain “won” the debate last night. I thought he did fairly well the second half of the debate but was too jumpy and excited at the beginning.
Note to McCain campaign; keep the coffee away from the candidate for at least an hour prior to the next debate. It appeared that McCain drank half a pot just before going on stage, reminding one of a cockroach dancing around on a hot tin pan.
The bottom line is that this gaggle of candidates just didn’t impress. For comparison purposes, take the 7 GOP candidates who ran in 1980. Now there were some heavyweights.
I have additional thoughts on that comparison here.
Good morning! Let’s see who’s on BlogTalkRadio today from the outstanding crew at Heading Right.
We appreciate everyone who listens and calls. Thanks.
