Left In Alabama - Recent Comments

I cannot tell you that you are wrong, daddycat.

piggieheart — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:09:52 GMT

But, for your $200, you also get the knowledge that you were exonerated. If it is a judge like some I have known the officer will be required to 'splain why he missed his court appearance, and can be in a peck (or bushel, I never remember which is which) of trouble.

Due to some job-related perks (knowing the right folks) I always had free counsel when needed.

There is a very sentimental story told about a little boy...

piggieheart — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:30:59 GMT

...walking along the beach. Every time he came to a starfish stranded on the shore, he threw it back into the water. A "wise" older man (undoubtedly a Republican) approached the boy and said, "My young friend, do you know how many beaches there are in the world? And how many starfish? You can not possible throw back enough of them to make any difference at all."

Bending down to pick up another starfish, the youngster said." That may well be true, Sir. " And then, as he threw the latest one back into the water, he added, "But it makes a difference to THIS one".

I'd say it's not relevant

Osborne Ink — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:34:37 GMT

because Phenix City's problem was graft and corruption created by an ILLEGAL trade. Things are very different in, say, Tupelo Mississippi. That's the benefit of a legal, regulated, taxed industry as opposed to one operating in darkness. It's why wet counties don't have problems with bootleggers selling to underage kids: once the point of sale is easy to find, legal to use, and regulated to check IDs, you've eliminated a big part of the social problem. Your timing us uncanny too, as the Times Daily has a revisionist history in letter form today.

clear up the confusion

countrycat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:31:35 GMT

Constance is a student at Tharpetown High School.

Constance is on the prom committee and helped raise money for the prom.

Constance is a lesbian and announced her intention to bring her girlfriend.

Constance wanted to buy prom tickets for her and her date.

The school administration told Constance that she was not allowed to bring her girlfriend as a date. At this point, they didn't know who the girlfriend was. It could have been Michelle Obama, the principal's daughter, or the school's homecoming queen for all they knew.

The school administration also told Constance that if she and the girlfriend came separately to the prom, they couldn't dance with each other. (This rule applied whether they both went to the same school or to different schools.)

In fact, if Constance and her girlfriend engaged in any conduct "that made other students uncomfortable" (how's that for vague) they would be ejected from the prom. (This rule applied whether they both went to the same school or to different schools.)

Constance and her aunt contacted the Alabama ACLU because this is a clear violation of her Constitutional rights.

The ACLU writes a protest letter to the school that outlines the constitutional issues involved.

There's press attention.

The school caves and says that students can bring their boyfriends/girlfriends to the prom - even if it's a girl/girl or boy/boy pair.

However, these same-sex dates will be subject to the same attendance rules as hetero couples if one date doesn't attend the high school.

In short, the school went from totally forbidding same sex couples at the prom to treating them the same way they did any other student at the school. Coinstance didn't want special treatment; she wanted equal treatment.

The school moved from intolerance to equality. The ACLU won; Constance won; and the current and future students at Tharpetown High School won (whether they know it or not!).

"Throwing back starfish"?

herding old cats — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:10:52 GMT

That's a new one on me...

Piggie, correct me if I'm wrong here but...

daddycat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:51:00 GMT

Given what has happened: You go to court at 5:30 with your attorney, and the cop doesn't show up.

You get off and get to pay your attorney - the cop misses his stern lecture.

Score - Cop 1 : You -$200

Does filing a complaint even it up or make your life hell??

Welcome, CallidaMater

piggieheart — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:42:24 GMT

Glad to hear a new voice on the blog.

Ding! Ding! First time comment here!

countrycat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:42:56 GMT

Welcome to LIA, CallidaMater!

Second Life panel.

Osborne Ink — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:12:45 GMT

That is all.

Just to clarify

mediagadfly — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:43:09 GMT

The out of district policy existed before the suit, but it wasn't the reason she was told she couldn't bring her date to the prom. The district hadn't started the screening process at all for any student (see the above link/quote from the assistant superintendent) when the principle told her no.

Spring has sprung!

CallidaMater — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:39:45 GMT

In my part of Montgomery, the daffodils and paper whites are out, the tulip trees are glorious, and the Bradford Pears are budding. Of course, normally this would happen in February, but better late than never!

I went last year

mediagadfly — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:37:18 GMT

Thanks to DFA and didn't really take advantage of the opportunity as I should have; I'm hoping to make it again this year so I can have a better time!

Typo

Redeye — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:57:32 GMT

Should read; BUT hey, at least you didn't get arrested for being disorderly in your own damn home.

What piggieheart said about those twin downfalls. :)

LIVers!

Redeye — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:54:30 GMT

It's the job of the Faux News and right wing talk radio to keep the Low Information Voters (aka LIVers) in line.

They are doing a pretty good job.

As the young people say, word.

The Republican position is entirely dependant on an ignorant electorate -- as it so often is. Maybe that's why they're always trying to gut public education.

Out of district policy came after the fact?

Redeye — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:49:04 GMT

So, prior to the ACLU involvment there was no out of district policy or process?

The "out of district" aspect came up after the school board backed down and allowed any student to bring a same sex date. However, they did remind students that if their date - whatever the sex - didn't attend the school, he/she would have to be approved.
To be clear: that came after. The initial dispute was totally about same sex couples at the prom.

I'm confused. But what else is new.:)

But in any event, Constance will get to take her girlfriend to the prom and that's all that matters.

HAHAHA!

melmel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:48:23 GMT

Exactly OP!

melmel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:46:57 GMT

I have been known to haul around so much stuff that you truly couldn't see out the back without so much as a nod from the police. What about all the stupid bobbing head dolls and dogs etc? What about people who have fast food garbage piled up behind the back seat.

Heck--what about eople sitting in the back seat? Or kids safety seats? All those things block way more than his sticker.

And kleenex boxes? And stuffed animals. Even dogs.

Richard I feel your pain.

Redeye — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:36:55 GMT

Bu hey, at least you didn't get arrested for being disorderly in your own damn home.

I'm always amazed that people just go along with it like it is God's law or something.

melmel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:36:00 GMT

It makes no sense at all that we do this.

Piggie

Old Prosecutor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:34:48 GMT

My initial reaction was this was really a ticket for P.O.P. (thats Pissing Off the Police to you civilian types).

Seriously I have never seen a ticket written under that law for the reason cited.

I don't get a constant barrage of solicitation emails from Davis.

Redeye — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:32:36 GMT

I wonder why? :)

BTW, WAFF is reporting Parker Griffith didn't return the $7000 contribution to Charlie Rangel, he donated it to a "non profit". Yeah right.

And take a look at the unemployment numbers in the south and tell me why the south votes republican. I mean, really.

"Pretextual enforcement" What an interesting phrase.

melmel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:25:23 GMT

It does explain it rather well....

I don't have the sticker but I do have the pdf we used in the campaign .

melmel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:22:07 GMT

If you want to use it I'll email it to you.

OK, I'm convinced

mooncat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:21:46 GMT

I was trying to give these folks the benefit of the doubt, but that's just overkill. Why on earth did he accuse you of driving a stolen vehicle -- they should have that info from the tag.

ALOBAMA sticker

mooncat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:18:24 GMT

Do you know where I can get a new one? My 2008 one has completely faded out and I just love that sticker!