Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly.
He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
That cartoon cracks me up, makes me snort, giggle, laugh, chortle, guffaw and rollick every time I see it.
I’m a bit surprised to see it up on YouTube, though, considering that I think it’s still under copyright to Warner Brothers. But hey, let’s enjoy it while we can, ne c’est pas?
I’m filling out my absentee ballot for Missouri right now and really would like to find some info on the judges I’m voting for. I can’t seem to find anywhere that gives me a quick overview of their opinions and where they stand on civil liberties and human rights. Does such a thing exist? Anywhere? And if not, why the hell not?
If you are still up, here’s one fairly simple thing, though it won’t tell you all you need to know. The MO ballot, of course, doesn’t tell you party affiliation. However, if you go to http://www.courts.mo.gov, and click on “Know your courts”, it will have a list of the various courts in the state. Under each kind of court, is a section called “Meet your Judges”, that gives a bio and list of credentials for each judge in that court.
If you know what Judges in what courts you are voting for (e.g. the sample ballot lists 3 supreme court judges for MO that need votes to be retained in their position), you can look up those judges, and read the “Meet your Judges” section. There will be clues there, from their non-judicial life, especially one key piece of info:
Are they members of the Federalist Society? If they are, they certainly are not going to be progressive. You may find other clues as well from their non-judicial lives.
Of the 3 MO Supreme Court judges on the sample ballot this time around, Judges William Ray Price and Mary Rhodes Russell’s description say nothing about such membership. However, Judge Stephen Limbaugh’s bio does say he is a member of the Federalist Society. (yes, he is related to that other Limbaugh).
It’s a crude rule of thumb, but it’s better than nothing at all.
I had the same difficulty as I prepared to vote early. I used Google and came up with a table of bar association evaluations, and made a list. Unfortunately, the recommendations there didn’t cover all the “retention” candidates that I found on the ballot.
Not sure if a phone call to a bar association would be a good way to go, but a live person would probably be willing to discuss the online options in your area.
I’ve since seen the site I really wanted to use, VoteForJudges.org, which covers my county.
Apparently, the Bush bowl has figured out the true problem vis-a-vis the Iraq war: there aren’t enough bloggers spreading the “good news” coming out of Iraq. Yep- you heard it here- rather than address the tremendous failure that the Iraq war is, they’ve once again decided that the solution is to smear another layer of lipstick on the pig.
Apparently, they believe that there are a lot of “inaccuracies” here on the internet, and are going to send forth a legion of geeks in uniform to counter salacious rumors surrounding the glowing success that Iraq has become.
I, for one, am not dismayed by this development. After almost four years of countering the flaccid, tired talking points of the right wing echo chamber, I find the prospect of going mano-a-mano with the spinmeisters of the Department of Defense a worthy challenge.
I’ll start this new chapter in the popular discourse, with the following:
See the list below? These are the names of the american soldiers who have been killed so far this month, in Iraq:
Lance Corporal Eric W. Herzberg
Sergeant 1st Class Tony L. Knier
Corporal Joshua C. Watkins
Lance Corporal Nicholas J. Manoukian
Lance Corporal Nathan R. Elrod
Lance Corporal Clifford R. Collinsworth
Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte
Lance Corporal Edwardo Lopez Jr.
Staff Sergeant Patrick O. Barlow
Sergeant 1st Class Daniel A. Brozovich
Jose R. Perez
Staff Sergeant Jesus M. Montalvo
Specialist Daniel W. Winegeart
Staff Sergeant Ronald L. Paulsen
Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr.
Corporal David M. Unger
Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III
2nd Lieutenant Christopher E. Loudon
Staff Sergeant Ryan E. Haupt
Sergeant Norman R. Taylor III
Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan J. Frigo
Staff Sergeant Garth D. Sizemore
2nd Lieutenant Joshua L. Booth
Sergeant Jr., Lester Domenico Baroncini
Private 1st Class Stephen Bicknell
1st Lieutenant Joshua Deese
Sergeant Jonathan E. Lootens
Captain Mark C. Paine
Sergeant Brock A. Babb
Lance Corporal Joshua M. Hines
Private 1st Class Keith J. Moore
1st Sergeant Charles M. King
Staff Sergeant Joseph M. Kane
Specialist Timothy J. Lauer
Sergeant Jonathan J. Simpson
Airman 1st Class Leebenard E. Chavis
Lieutenant Johnny K. Craver
Private 1st Class Kenny F. Stanton Jr.
Private 1st Class Thomas J. Hewett
Lance Corporal Christopher B. Cosgrove III
Corporal Aaron L. Seal
Sergeant Gene A. Hawkins
Sergeant Justin T. Walsh
Captain Shane T. Adcock
Sergeant Nicholas R. Sowinski
Private 1st Class Shelby J. Feniello
Lance Corporal Jon Eric Bowman
Private 1st Class Phillip B. Williams
Sergeant Julian M. Arechaga
Lance Corporal Derek W. Jones
Captain Robert M. Secher
Private 1st Class Shane R. Austin
Lance Corporal Stephen F. Johnson
Lance Corporal Jeremy Scott Sandvick Monroe
Specialist Timothy Fulkerson
Specialist John Edward Wood
Sergeant Lawrence Parrish
Corporal Carl W. Johnson II
Sergeant Brandon S. Asbury
Lance Corporal John Edward Hale
Corporal Bradford H. Payne
Corporal Nicholas A. Arvanitis
Corporal Benjamin S. Rosales
Lance Corporal Edward M. Garvin
Staff Sergeant Christopher O. Moudry
Specialist George R. Obourn Jr.
Specialist Timothy Burke
Private 1st Class Dean Bright
Staff Sergeant Jonathan Rojas
Staff Sergeant Daniel Isshak
Sergeant Joseph W. Perry
Private 1st Class Michael K. Oremus
Specialist Justin R. Jarrett
Staff Sergeant James D. Ellis
Specialist Raymond S. Armijo
Specialist Kristofer C. Walker
Private 1st Class Satieon V. Greenlee
Staff Sergeant Joe A. Narvaez
Sergeant Denise A. Lannaman
Sergeant Mario Nelson
Corporal Chase A. Haag
Captain Justin D. Peterson
Now- truth be told, the list is incomplete- there’s still one day left in October as of this writing, and two of the names haven’t been released by the DOD.
However, I guess I’ll just go ahead, and present my first “Inaccuracy”: that these men and women would still be alive, today, had not Bush pushed us into war with Iraq- a nation that had never threatened, nor attacked us. Furthermore, I’ll recklessly suggest that perhaps the families of these people would be looking forward to a holiday with their beloved children, husbands, and wives, had they not been blown into red mist in this war of choice.
I’ll further state that Monkeyboy obviously has serious unresolved issues with his father, that he sought to resolve, by “finishing daddy’s business” in Iraq. Perhaps, had Bush Jr. been able to stay away from the bottle long enough to get counseling, when he was a young man, these people would still be with us today.
There you have it, DOD- tell me where I’m “inaccurate.” Just be warned- I’m not gonna accept the same bullplop talking points that we’ve been fed, for the past three and a half years- the good lord (and the congressional budget oversight committee) only knows how much you’re being paid, so I expect something novel, here.
Sig:If the recent Lancet reports of 655,000 Iraqi deaths are true, a field of markers representing that tragedy 51′ wide (15.55 m) would be 21.14 miles (34.02 km) long.
(If markers were three feet apart in all directions, as in the Arlington Memorials around the Country)
That cartoon cracks me up, makes me snort, giggle, laugh, chortle, guffaw and rollick every time I see it.
I’m a bit surprised to see it up on YouTube, though, considering that I think it’s still under copyright to Warner Brothers. But hey, let’s enjoy it while we can, ne c’est pas?
Somehow ol’ Daffy reminds me of someone…who could it be I wonder?
Hmmmmmmmmm…..
I’ve got it!
Do you?
BooMan?
I’m filling out my absentee ballot for Missouri right now and really would like to find some info on the judges I’m voting for. I can’t seem to find anywhere that gives me a quick overview of their opinions and where they stand on civil liberties and human rights. Does such a thing exist? Anywhere? And if not, why the hell not?
Thanks for your help.
If you are still up, here’s one fairly simple thing, though it won’t tell you all you need to know. The MO ballot, of course, doesn’t tell you party affiliation. However, if you go to http://www.courts.mo.gov, and click on “Know your courts”, it will have a list of the various courts in the state. Under each kind of court, is a section called “Meet your Judges”, that gives a bio and list of credentials for each judge in that court.
If you know what Judges in what courts you are voting for (e.g. the sample ballot lists 3 supreme court judges for MO that need votes to be retained in their position), you can look up those judges, and read the “Meet your Judges” section. There will be clues there, from their non-judicial life, especially one key piece of info:
Are they members of the Federalist Society? If they are, they certainly are not going to be progressive. You may find other clues as well from their non-judicial lives.
Of the 3 MO Supreme Court judges on the sample ballot this time around, Judges William Ray Price and Mary Rhodes Russell’s description say nothing about such membership. However, Judge Stephen Limbaugh’s bio does say he is a member of the Federalist Society. (yes, he is related to that other Limbaugh).
It’s a crude rule of thumb, but it’s better than nothing at all.
I’d try Google. Something like “joe candidate” endorsement. It might not be perfect but it might give you an idea where the candidates stand.
Many jurisdictions also have their voters’ guides online.
Good luck!
I had the same difficulty as I prepared to vote early. I used Google and came up with a table of bar association evaluations, and made a list. Unfortunately, the recommendations there didn’t cover all the “retention” candidates that I found on the ballot.
Not sure if a phone call to a bar association would be a good way to go, but a live person would probably be willing to discuss the online options in your area.
I’ve since seen the site I really wanted to use, VoteForJudges.org, which covers my county.
From Eric @ BushFlash
OCTOBER 31, 2006
AS THE BLOODIEST MONTH IN OVER A YEAR ENDS, THE PENTAGON SWINGS INTO ACTION…
Sig:If the recent Lancet reports of 655,000 Iraqi deaths are true, a field of markers representing that tragedy 51′ wide (15.55 m) would be 21.14 miles (34.02 km) long.
(If markers were three feet apart in all directions, as in the Arlington Memorials around the Country)