News & Media
BOO! WSJ Attempts to Resurrect “Big Labor” Boogeyman
Jessica Christensen, Legal Satyricon Employment Law Correspondent In a particularly spun editorial, the Wall Street Journal suggests that if Senator Obama wins the election, the country is going to get just lousy with liberals, and we’ll all be subject to a “regime” of über “left-wing” legislation that heretofore has only been held back by the tempered Republican voices of reason (read: filibuster). The tone of the article, and, well, Republican campaigning in general these days, harkens back to cold-war politics. Suddenly we’re again hearing all about “tax and spend” liberals and the looming communist menace, the dangers of an “activist government” and the “welfare-state.” Monsters under our beds, they say. Among the terrifying names being trotted out (perhaps in desperation?)
Kentucky v. 141 Domain Names Order
The order in Kentucky v. 141 Domain Names has been issued. As my firm is involved in this case, I can not comment too deeply on it. However, here is an outline of notable points in the ruling. Domain names are “property” subject to seizure. The court relied on the holding in Kremen v. Cohen, 337 F.3d 1024 (9th Cir. 2003). See Order at 12-15. The Kentucky Court has jurisdiction over the domain names by virtue of the Court’s holding that the domains have a “presence” in Kentucky. See Order at 15-22. The domain names are “gambling devices” as defined under KRS 520.010(4)(a) & (b) since they allow Kentuckians to access gambling services. See Order at 22-25. Poker, despite having
"It's Just Food"
This just in from the “holy shit” department. This lovely graphic appeared in the October newsletter distributed by the Chaffey Community Republican Women. Yes, this was in the newsletter for a bunch of botox-overdosed Republican women. No, not the Ku Klux Klan newsletter, not the American Nazi Party… the Chaffey Community Republican Women. The group’s president, Diane Fedele attempted to explain it. “It was strictly an attempt to point out the outrageousness of [Obama’s] statement. [That he “doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills”],” explained Diane Fedele, “I didn’t see it the way that it’s being taken. I never connected,” she said. “It was just food to me. It didn’t mean anything else.” (source) Oh, thanks
"Sex Rod" is "Immoral and Scandalous"
A New Yorker, (yeah, it figures) attempted to secure a registration (on an intent to use basis) for the trademark “Sex Rod” — stylized to parody the Boston Red Sox RED SOX mark. Given the similarity of the marks, the Boston Red Sox filed an opposition to the registration. The Sox alleged “that applicant’s mark, displayed in the particular stylized font, is intended and will be understood to refer to the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball club.” (source at 3) The Sox prevailed, but not for the reasons you might have predicted. John Welch at the TTABlog reports: The Board sustained the Club’s opposition, finding that Sherman lacked a bona fide intent to use the mark, and further that
Pennsylvania Pole Dancing Studio Prevails
Previously reported at Western Pennsylvania Town Clings to Guns & Religion – Sexytime, Not So Much. The AP reports that Stephanie Babines has prevailed and her pole dancing studio will open.
Obama Meets Leeroy Jenkins?
In his latest move Obama is buying ad space in video games. According to the Associated Press, Obama’s mug can now be seen in nine different EA games connected to the internet, including Madden NFL 09 and Burnout Paradise, in an effort to appeal to the hard-to-reach 18 to 34 year-old male demographic.(source) An unreported source says that the McCain campaign is going to counter by buying ad space on refurbished Super Pong® machines “that the kids all love these days.”
McCain Feels the Pain of the DMCA
Over-reaching DMCA claims are a rampant epidemic and are often used to suppress free speech. Now, the DMCA appears to be hitting us right in the First Amendment’s heart – political speech. Whether you are supporting McCain or not, this should bother you. Perhaps McCain should have had someone who knows how to use a computer explain the DMCA to him before he voted for it. UPDATE: Public Citizen sent this outstanding letter to both McCain and Obama.
Touché
A reader sent me this link in response to my post about how dumb the Right Wing voters are. I must say… touché. HT: to “Elena”
The Constitutional Horror of the "Protect America Act"
A speech on the Senate Floor by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnObAJulcCo] This is a good encapsulation of what has been wrong with America for the past 8 years. I can’t believe that a senator even needed to give this speech. And now we see the tip of the iceberg of how this power was abused. HT: Ross Kerr
Don't Write Off McCain-Palin
I am NOT voting for John McCain. Nevertheless, I say he has a damn good chance of pulling this election out of his ass and squeaking by. As George Carlin said, “Think how dumb the average American is. Now, remember, half of all Americans are dumber than that.” Therein lies the key. Nixon’s “silent majority” are still alive, and they had a LOT more kids than the smart people did in the 1970s. These are the idiots who bought houses they couldn’t afford and now want a bailout (while shrieking that they want lower taxes for the rich and less government in their lives), believe that a magical zombie will be upset if we let gays marry, who are convinced
What eats ground bone, blood, fish, molasses, and chicken shit?
No, not Dick Cheney.
Report: Palin Broke Ethics Law
“I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.” (source) Electoral-vote.com gives us this concise summary of Troopergate: If you haven’t been following the story, known as Troopergate, here is an executive summary. Palin’s sister, Molly, was involved in a bitter divorce and child custody fight with her former husband, state trooper Mike Wooten. Palin, who supports family values, wanted to help her sister in the custody battle by causing her ex brother-in-law to be unemployed. So she asked the state commissioner of public safety, Walt Monegan, to fire Wooten. Monegan refused. Wooten had been involved in some misconduct earlier, but Monegan told Palin that Wooten had
For Palin, Some Pork is Kosher
No, I didn’t write that headline myself, Politico did. HT: Electoral-vote.com
William F. Buckley's Son Endorses Obama
Conservative scion Christopher Buckley thinks that John McCain has sold his soul, and gotten little in return. John McCain has changed. He said, famously, apropos the Republican debacle post-1994, “We came to Washington to change it, and Washington changed us.” This campaign has changed John McCain. It has made him inauthentic. A once-first class temperament has become irascible and snarly; his positions change, and lack coherence; he makes unrealistic promises, such as balancing the federal budget “by the end of my first term.” Who, really, believes that? Then there was the self-dramatizing and feckless suspension of his campaign over the financial crisis. His ninth-inning attack ads are mean-spirited and pointless. And finally, not to belabor it, there was the Palin
How is Your Retirement Plan Looking?
Daniel Mudd and Richard Syron are two guys whose retirement package seems to be doing just fine — despite the recent downturn in the economy. Those two lowlives are the former chairs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They collected $9.43 million in retirement benefits on their way out the door. (source) Call me a little too radical, but I see no reason why they shouldn’t be bound, gagged, and thrown into a hole in a Supermax Prison until they piss themselves daily from the insanity brought on by spending 23 1/2 hours a day in their cells. While that is going on, every possession and dollar held by them, their spouses, their children, their brothers and sisters, and all
Bush Lied – They Died T-Shirt Case Concludes – First Amendment Wins
Frazier v. Boomsma is over and the First Amendment has prevailed. Previously blogged on here and here.
Learn Civ Pro!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBTba2J6OKI] HT: J$W
More on the Max Hardcore Conviction
Being a member of the Bar is essential to my livelihood, so I can’t comment on a lot of what I think of the Max Hardcore conviction, nor on how the judge conducted the trial. Mark Draughn at WindyPundit and Rogier van Bakel at Nobody’s Business – they are not members of the Bar. They say what I wish I could. UPDATE: More articles on the conviction. Sirkin Discusses Max Hardcore Sentencing Editorial: The Adult Industry and Max: Time To Walk The Walk
McCain's Mortgage Bailout for the Stupid
I can’t believe that I actually agree with Michelle Malkin on a political issue. Remember McCain’s “plan” he came up with during the last debate? The McCain Resurgence Plan: The McCain Resurgence Plan would purchase mortgages directly from homeowners and mortgage servicers, and replace them with manageable, fixed-rate mortgages that will keep families in their homes. By purchasing the existing, failing mortgages the McCain resurgence plan will eliminate uncertainty over defaults, support the value of mortgage-backed derivatives and alleviate risks that are freezing financial markets. The McCain resurgence plan would be available to mortgage holders that: · Live in the home (primary residence only) · Can prove their creditworthiness at the time of the original loan (no falsifications and provided
