So, I did a little light reading today. ;D I would've LOVED to have heard the Snyder V. Phelps oral arguments sparkin' live, but a transcript a mere couple of hours after the arguments were over ain't something to sneeze at! Since I know Keith isn't covering this story tonight because I looked at his pre - show Twits...er...uh...Tweets, I'm going to offer just a few thoughts on what I think is a very important case - with your kind indulgence - like you have a choice! :D
Margie Phelps argued in defense of the Westboro Baptist Church; Margie Phelps is Freddy's little girl - how convenient! Sean Summers defended the Snyder family, and he'd barely gotten a word out when "Justice" Scalia interrupted him. His views on homosexuality are VERY well - known; hell, he probably creams his shorts whenever he sees a "God Hates Fags!" sign. He sure thinks he's a hell of a comedian! He made a couple of jokes he thought were damn funny that I didn't think were funny at all. Have I told y'all I think he's a bat$hit hateful boil on the butt of humanity? Well, "Justice" Scalia's a bat$hit hateful boil on the butt of humanity!
From my reading of the oral arguments, a great deal of how SCOTUS will come down on this decision will have to do with their opinion of if the Falwell case against Hustler magazine needs to be revisited. This case is really the only other free speech case that was argued on the same basis as the Snyder family is arguing - intentional infliction of emotional distress. SCOTUS was 9 - 0 in favor of Hustler because what the magazine did was a parody, and Jerry Falwell was a public figure. Mr. Summers doesn't think that decision applies to this case because the Snyder family and their son, Matthew, who was killed in Iraq, were private citizens. Ms. Phelps essentially argued that Mat's father made him & their family public figures after he notified the media of the videos he saw on the internet created by the Phelps flock that specifically mentioned his son. So, their speech & actions should be protected. I'll go into a bit more detail in comments.
Just a couple more things to say, then we'll get on with the show. Justice Elena Kagan asked very thoughtful probing questions. I thought she did very well for the new kid on the block! I am also very proud of and impressed by Justice (suck on it, Uncle Pat!) Sonia Sotomayor. And, just guess who just sat there AGAIN like a bump on a lump?! *&^%$#@!
I'll introduce some "this day in history" items in the comments, too. Let's Countdown!
#5 "Gaining Ground" AKA "On Defense" - Speaker Pelosi plans to tag the GOBP with the big money/big oil tag. Gee...ya’ think?! People around here have been making that argument for MONTHS! Rep. Eric Cantor actually admitted the Dems favor the "little guy"? Dems have cut in half the GOBP lead in that infamous poll from a few weeks ago. President Obama’s approval rating is back up to 50%. Here’s David Corn! He wants to get the baseball bats out. Kewl! ;D No, we don’t want anyone to go all Al Capone on someone. But, fight, dammit! David also attributes the recent Dem upswing to President Obama getting the spark outta DC to talk among we, the people. Ezra Klein’s here, too. I guess he gave up on the beard. ;D He thinks we need to really pay attention to polls indicating who’s likely to actually get out & vote on November 2; I agree. Ezra made a great point; it’s difficult for people to remember that this Congress & President Obama have gotten a hell of a lot accomplished when they don’t have a job or gas in their car or bills paid or whatever. Ezra thinks the Dems in Congress should’ve been way more aggressive in the wake of Citizens United – THANK YOU!
#4 "A La Carte Government" - Jonathan Turley’s in da’ house to talk about Gene Cradick and the possibility of a la carte government! According to Mr. Cradick’s son, the family has gotten some insurance money already; there still isn’t a final decision on whether the family will need more outside help. An international union of firefighters condemned the actions of those who were content to let Mr. Cradick’s home burn.
The decision by the South Fulton Fire Department to allow a family’s home to burn to the ground was incredibly irresponsible...Because of South Fulton’s pay – to – play policy, fire fighters were ordered to stand and watch a family lose its home. Everyone deserves fire protection because providing public safety is among a municipality’s highest priorities.
OK, there’s actually something in law somewhere that people like fire fighters or cops don’t have to rescue people or help them if they’re not the ones who put them in danger?! $HIT! No wonder I never quite made it to law school! Professor Turley called us "...an advanced nation." A nation with the kind of health "care" system we have – even at slightly better than before – is no advanced nation. He also mentioned "moral dimensions" in the party of DICK? SERIOUSLY?!
** A Phillies pitcher threw a no – hitter in his first start in 13 years – neato! :D Look at that woman who got hit in Brazil! She was only minorly injured? TOUGH LADY! Charley the Smoking Chimp has died. Gee, I can’t imagine what killed him. **
(I’m sorry. After reading Ms. Phelps’ "arguments" today, I just don’t have the stomach for Ms. Angle. Feel free, of course, to talk about the #3 segment in comments.)
WPITW – A GOBP chairmen liked Applebees A LOT! He also helped eat $5 million worth of doughnuts {insert Homer Simpson drool here}. Rick Sanchez "apologized." Dick Armey doesn’t think the federal government involvement in education has done diddly – poo.
#1 "Jet – Setters" AKA "Rocket Science" AKA "Jet Lag" - FAUX News fell for a fake story about jet packs! The Mythbusters tried; they didn’t even come close. HEY! I want my jet pack to fly way higher than the one in the film! Man, I miss Weekly World News. When I was a senior in high school, every Friday morning, I’d get together with a couple of the history teachers, and we’d read Weekly World News, eat doughnuts, and drink orange juice. FUN TIMES! YEA! Adam Savage & Jamie Hyneman! They provided commentary for the explosion of the Bartman ball – what hooked me to some show I write about every night. :D