And now for something completely different…
The creator of the British series, “The Office,” is going to contribute an episode to the American version. I haven’t seen the British version but have heard it’s very funny. I’m looking forward to the episode.
By the way, this is one of my favorite shows. Dwight Schrute, the assistant regional assistant TO the regional manager, has a blog.
TALLAHASSEE — Riviera Beach’s billion-dollar waterfront redevelopment project took a beating Tuesday during a meeting of a House committee that is studying ways to limit the use of eminent domain in Florida…
Riviera Beach already has been in the national spotlight since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the city of New London, Conn., could take homes along the city’s waterfront for development by a private developer.
City residents have been featured on national news programs as the next possible example of a city taking private land solely for “economic development.” …
“That’s exactly what they’re doing down there,” said Rice, who has proposed a constitutional amendment that would severely restrict eminent domain powers. “You’ve got your mayor down there in Riviera Beach on national TV admitting that they’re taking those parcels of land to increase the tax value. He said it.”
America’s founding principles are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This is derived from John Locke’s theories, which included property rights in place of the generic “happiness.” The Constitution sets out clear purposes for the government to exercise eminent domain: the Fifth Amendment says “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
This implies that the government has the power to take your property, but that there are rules that apply to such taking. In Kelo vs New London, the Supreme Court disregarded over two hundred years of tradition, the clear reading of the Constitution, and common sense, when they said that “public use” could mean “public purpose,” that purpose being, increased tax revenues for the government.
This is tyranny. This is akin to Robert Mugabe throwing landowners off their property in Nigeria, except without the violent deaths.
I’m not sure how I feel about this development:
Bush commented alongside King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House. Abdullah, too, called for protests to be peaceful, but he also spoke against ridicule of Islam’s holiest figure.
Islam is interpreted to forbid any illustrations of Muhammad for fear they could lead to idolatry.
“With all respect to press freedoms, obviously anything that vilifies the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or attacks Muslim sensibilities, I believe, needs to be condemned,” he said.
I think this message was designed as a soundbite for Muslim audiences. The White House was eager to show to the Muslim world that the United States is respectful of Islam and their prophet, while at the same time, on the same day, the Secretary of State is saying some pretty inflammatory things directed to the local state sponsors of terrorism. While I’m not sure how I feel about the leader of my country making the reverential statement “peace be upon him,” I think the tactic was well thought out. Hopefully Al Jazeera picked it up.
Sec of State Condi Rice, laying the smackdown on Wednesday to Iran and Syria:
Mr. Bush, in an Oval Office meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, said, “We reject violence as a way to express discontent over what is printed in the free press.” Hours later, Ms. Rice delivered a far more pointed message, saying that Iran “hasn’t even hidden its hand in this.” “Iran and Syria have gone out of their way to inflame sentiments and to use this to their own purposes,” she said. “And the world ought to call them on it.”
That was such undiplomatic language for a Secretary of State, and I love it. Give us more.
John McCain is using his reform credentials to get out in front on the earmark issue in Congress. According to the AP, via ABC News:
WASHINGTON Feb 9, 2006 (AP)— Ten senators led by Sen. John McCain took on the Senate’s much maligned practice of inserting individual members’ special projects, often without the knowledge of their colleagues, into larger spending bills.
The “Pork-Barrel Reduction Act,” introduced Thursday by eight Republicans and two Democrats, is the latest in a rash of proposals promoting ways to restore integrity to the political process in the wake of lobbying and ethics scandals.
It’s been a while since there’s been a John McCain proposal I’ve been for. It’s about time.
A friend sent me the link to this Jib Jab spot lampooning “Big Box Mart.” Whatever your thoughts on Wal-Mart, this is, as usual for Jib Jab, priceless.
