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Archive for August, 2007

TEARS Out of Funds, Forced to Stop Animal Rescues

Friday, August 31st, 2007

Some of you followed the story of Eagle, a horse rescued by TEARS, The Emergency Animal Rescue Service headquartered in Birmingham. I received an email today pointing me to this announcement on the TEARS website. Legal wrangling with Eagle’s owner, an interestingly timed raid on the director’s home by the State Department of Conservation, and negative publicity have contributed to a sharp decline in contributions — to the point that TEARS can no longer provide rescue services without a large and immediate infusion of funds.

The organization continues to feed and shelter more than 200 animals, some of which are available for adoption. Check out the website and give a donation if you can. Or maybe you’ll find a friend in need of a home. Either way, the animals will thank you.

H/T, Joanne

Posted in Animal Instinct | 19 Comments »

Under the Bus

Friday, August 31st, 2007

Republican officials are saying that Sen. Larry Craig will resign tomorrow. Right now the report is he’ll stay till September 30, but I expect to see treadmarks on his back long before then.

Posted in National Politics, Straight but Not Narrow | 3 Comments »

Breaking: Warner Won’t Seek 6th Term in Senate

Friday, August 31st, 2007

John Warner (R-VA) announced today that he will not run for re-election in 2008. Just off the top of my head, I’d say this leaves the race wide open. Popular former governor Mark Warner, a Democrat (and no relation to the senator), is likely to throw his hat in the ring.

Warner’s 80, so I guess it’s time for him to retire, but I have to wonder if he, and some of the other old-time Repubs, are just sick and tired of the bullshit. The Republican party they served no longer exists. The hyper-partisan sniping, the war-mongering, the corruption, and the hypocrisy must get old after a few years.

Posted in National Politics | 1 Comment »

Kudos to Iowa….for now.

Friday, August 31st, 2007

An Iowa county judge struck down the state’s ban on marriage equality yesterday and today the same judge issued a “verbal stay”. But not before several couples filed applications for marriage licenses. Of course this is riling up the blowhards in thier state legislature who are renewing calls for a state constitutional amendment banning two men from tying the knot.

We really should just get it all out in the open shouldn’t we?

This isnt about “homosexual marriage” at all. It’s about the fact that certain people in goverment find the idea of two men together “icky”. Sorry lesbians, but str8 white guys don’t seem to have a problem with two gals getting it on. We can argue about mysogeny till we’re blue, pink, or a fantastic shade of fuscia in the face. But it’s the idea of two men having sex that turns off politicians.

Here’s an idea. Let gay folks marry and then they will stop having sex.

I’m not sure where I was going with this, if anywhere.

Anyway, it’s good to be back in Alabama and I hope that Kathy doesn’t mind me ranting on her blog.

Heres the story that “P.’d me O.”(cnn)

Posted in Pompous A**holes, Religious Wrong | 2 Comments »

Breaking: Tony Snow Resigns

Friday, August 31st, 2007

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow resigned this morning. He says it’s due to financial concerns, but the man does not look well. I hope he’s going to take time off and get some rest. He’s a spinning liar extraordinaire, but he’s still a human being fighting a terrible disease. Godspeed, Tony.

Posted in National Politics | 4 Comments »

It’s the Hypocrisy, Stupid

Friday, August 31st, 2007

The Larry Craig story continues to dominate the news, with more and more Republicans calling for his resignation. I’d been wondering how they justified throwing him under the bus while DC Madam client Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) gets a pass from his colleagues. Well, actually no, I wasn’t wondering. It was bloody obvious. I know right-wingers are scared to death of gay cooties (perhaps because so many of them are repressing their own urges?), and anyway Craig’s replacement would be chosen by Idaho’s Republican governor, whereas Vitter’s would be named by a Democrat. And we can’t have that, can we?

Interestingly, Vitter admitted to patronizing prostitutes, which IIRC is still illegal in DC, whereas Craig maintains his innocence (he did plead guilty, but to a lesser charge). Okay, nobody, with the possible exception of his wife, believes that he wasn’t trying to solicit sex, but he didn’t succeed. At least Vitter (presumably) consummated. But Vitter got a free pass, while Craig has already been stripped of his committee assignments and is halfway out the door.

(more…)

Posted in Accountability, Straight but Not Narrow | 8 Comments »

Montgomery’s Mouth Gets Him in Trouble

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

Again. Two weeks ago, a judge dismissed public intoxication charges against Birmingham City Councilor Joel Montgomery, reportedly in exchange for his promise not to sue the city. A week later, Montgomery was back in the news, vehemently denying he’d undergone any alcohol counseling, even though the special prosecutor said it was a standard requirement.

Now he may be wishing he’d kept his mouth shut, because the prosecutor is asking for the charges to be reinstated.

Prosecutors want to reinstate a public intoxication charge against Birmingham City Councilman Joel Montgomery because he has failed to provide proof that he attended alcohol-related classes, according to a motion filed Wednesday in Birmingham Municipal Court.

Montgomery was arrested April 7 on Southside and charged with public intoxication. The charge was dismissed Aug. 17 after Montgomery’s attorney informed prosecutors that the councilman “intended on meeting and having an alcohol-related session” with an employee of Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities, according to Wednesday’s motion.

Prosecutor Don Colee said the deal offered to Montgomery, who is chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, was the same given to most defendants charged with first-time alcohol offenses.

The filing Wednesday comes after Montgomery strongly denied reports that he had undergone counseling as a part of his case dismissal.

Court papers indicate that Montgomery’s attorney, Tommy Spina, has withdrawn from the case. I can’t say I blame him.

Posted in Local Issues | 3 Comments »

When Real Life Interferes with Blogging

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

I’m sure there’s a prescription medication to treat it, but I’m too busy to find one.

I attended the first annual Bailey Thomson Awards Luncheon today to hear Pulitzer-Prize winner and Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial page editor Cynthia Tucker. Great speech, excellent company, and an opportunity to recharge the batteries for the ongoing struggle to reform Alabama’s 1901 Constitution.

Off to dentist appointments now. More later, I hope — if life stops getting in the way.

Posted in Constitutional Reform, Suburban Stuff | 7 Comments »

Katrina Revisited

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Two years ago today, Katrina roared ashore and devastated a large part of the Gulf Coast. The next day, I posted some pictures that still take my breath away. Last year, the recovery had just begun. Today, we’re further along, but we’re not there yet.

But much of New Orleans still looks like a wasteland, with businesses shuttered and houses abandoned. Basic services such as schools, libraries, public transportation and childcare are at half their original levels and only two-thirds of the region’s licensed hospitals are open. Workers are often scarce. Rents have skyrocketed. Crime is rampant.

Along Mississippi’s 70-mile shoreline, harsh economic realities are hampering rebuilding. Cities like Biloxi and Pascagoula are making progress, but areas nearer to Katrina’s original landfall look barely improved, with most oceanfront lots still vacant and weedy.

Pam has a good overview, with links to several Gulf area blogs, at her place. Our memories are short, but the need remains. Let’s not forget.

Posted in Accountability, Storm Watch | 8 Comments »