RSSGet the Feeling Brooklyn College got the message?
The fun loving, Christian hating professor who was bidding to head the Sociology department at Brooklyn College, Timothy Shortell, has announced that he has decided not to seek the chair after all. I am sure that the administration had no input in the matter, and that ol’ Timothy (I can see him correcting anyone who calls him Tim) did it out of deep reflection and thought.
If you believe that one , I got a bridge right up the road to sell you.
From the New York Sun:
Brooklyn College professor who described religious people as “moral retards” said he is dropping his bid to become chairman of the department of sociology after the college’s president expressed outrage over his views.
Timothy Shortell, an associate professor in the sociology department at the CUNY senior college, sent a bitter e-mail on Monday to several departmental heads saying he had decided to step down as chairman-elect and claiming he was a victim of a political attack.
Yesterday, the college’s administration, led by the president, Christoph Kimmich, announced that Mr. Shortell declined the appointment but would be consulting on the future leadership of the department.
In his e-mail, Mr. Shortell expressed anger at the treatment he received from some members of his department and at what he called the administration’s “inadequate” defense of his academic freedom.
“After witnessing the amount of venom directed at me by some members of the department during the last two weeks,” he wrote, “I have come to doubt the possibility of any amicable solution.” The e-mail was forwarded to The New York Sun by the chairman of the department of television and radio, George Rodman.
Timothy, if I dare, can I give you some advice. If someone came into you department and wanted to teach a class on comparative Religion that said all Atheists are “ moral retards”, you would have denied them a position and/or tenure at a moments notice. So stop throwing stones, you were found out, and now you are paying the price for it. That is the real world.
Hat tip Michelle Malkin.
The Millionaire Battle for the Governorship of NJ
The stage is set for the New Jersey State Governor’s race in November 2005. Doug Forrester defeats former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler to win the GOP Primary in the Garden State. This sets up the millionaire battle between Democrat NJ Senator Jon Corzine and millionaire business man Doug Forrester in November. I can only imagine the unprecedented amount of monies that will be spent on this campaign.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A millionaire businessman won New Jersey’s Republican gubernatorial primary yesterday and earned the right to face Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine in November — the state’s first race for governor since James McGreevey resigned in a homosexual scandal.
Doug Forrester edged former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler after spending millions of his own fortune to finance a campaign that took aim at the state’s highest-in-the-nation property taxes.
Mr. Corzine, with 88 percent of the vote, easily won the Democratic primary after facing only token opposition.
The New Jersey contest is one of only two governor’s races being decided this year. The other is in Virginia.
The winner in November will succeed Democrat Richard J. Codey, who as president of the state Senate became acting governor when Mr. McGreevey stepped down. Mr. Codey decided not to run for a full term.
Let the games begin. After the Democratic Torricelli/Lautenberg Senate switch in the NJ Senate run in 2002 and being that this is NJ politics, no truer words may have ever been spoken.
The 1754 Blog seems to think its a numbers money game as well.
Howard Dean; The Mean Machine
Howard Dean opened up his mouth again in San Fransisco and Democratic Party loyalist must have been cringing again. How this is the face & voice that Democrats want representing them is a mystery to me. Did Dem’s not learn in 2004 that “mean” does not win? Just keep talking Howard. By the way, where do I send that thank you note to the DNC? Would you want this man running your party?
Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are “a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It’s pretty much a white Christian party.”
Ahh Howard, ever take a look at your staff when you were Governor of Vermont? You were just Mr. Rainbow Coalition. Let’s not forget this exchange between Al Sharpton and Dean during the Democratic Primaries, the Captain’s Quarter’s hasn’t.
“The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people,” Dean said Monday, responding to a question about diversity during a forum with minority leaders and journalists. “We’re more welcoming to different folks, because that’s the type of people we are. But that’s not enough. We do have to deliver on things: jobs and housing and business opportunities.”
Forgive me I just spit my drink all over my monitor. Because Dean is just Mr. Warm and Fuzzy. The Democrats seriously elected this guy Party Chair? Who would have thought the Dems would long for the days of Terri McAuliffe?
Listen here to the musings of Howard “I am so friendly you idiots” Dean. Its worth the listen. It is truly amazing to hear him talk about Republicans. The Republican 2006 & 2008 ad machine is already running tape.
The comments are another example of why the former Vermont governor, who remains popular with the party’s grassroots, has been a lightning rod for criticism since being elected to head the Democratic National Committee last February. His comments last week that Republicans “never made an honest living in their lives,” which he later clarified to say Republican “leaders,” were disavowed by leading Democrats including Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Dean was outspoken — as usual — as he trolled California this week, stoking his party’s coffers, and meeting with grass-roots activists. His San Francisco visit was at the tail end of a cross-country road trip, and Dean said that he will continue to pound the pavement — and the GOP — to get the Democratic message across to new voters, particularly in minority communities.
But Dean’s style and rhetoric have sparked increasing criticism from inside the Democratic Party in recent weeks — and gleeful Republicans say they couldn’t be happier.
Glad to see I am not alone in my thinking. Howard Dean is the best thing for the Republican Party since Bill Clinton. I really need that Democratic address for that thank you note. Looks like Michelle Malkin has that address for me along with a fine post referencing Susan Estrich with some not too kind words for Dr. Dean.
“Where do I sign up on a committee to keep Howard Dean?” crowed GOP operative Jon Fleischmann, publisher of the FlashReport, a daily roundup of California political news and commentary. “He’s the best thing to happen to the GOP in ages.”
“I’m thrilled he’s the DNC chair,” says Tom Del Becarro, chairman of the Contra Costa County Republican Party. “Howard Dean is scaring away the middle. People don’t like angry people. They like hopeful people.”
I just wonder when his own party is going to get sick of his antics. Obviously over the weekend, Biden and John Edwards were not too impressed. As the Moderate Voice says,
“this kind of comment basically stereotypes a whole party which again is what partisans may believe but the DNC party chair’s job isn’t to just appeal to partisans. He is supposed to help BUILD the party. And that means adding to its numbers, not just reinforcing what’s there”.
“Dean is preaching to the choir — and scaring away part of his audience”.
Natalee Holloway, Updates June 8, 2005
8:30 am EDT – CNN
Two suspects lawyers say their clients are accused of murder,but vow they are innocent.
ORANJESTAD, Aruba (CNN) — The lawyer for two men held in Aruba in the disappearance of an 18-year-old Alabama student says his clients stand accused of homicide.
The two men, who are hotel security guards, are to appear in court Wednesday, when prosecutors could lay out the case against them. They have not been formally charged.
Prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the two men to remain detained, saying there was “reasonable suspicion” the men were involved in “certain criminal acts.”
The men’s lawyer, Chris Lejuez, told CNN that his clients are accused of homicide, being accomplices to homicide and kidnapping leading to homicide in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, who vanished in the early hours of May 30 while on a celebratory senior trip to Aruba with her classmates.
Lejuez said prosecutors are looking at his clients as possible murder suspects, but he vowed they are innocent.
“They had not been near the hotel at that hour at that time,” he said. “So, there is no reason for them to have to admit to something that they did not do.”
He added that he has not been able to see the full statements his clients have allegedly made to police.
One of the reasons why we need to wait to hear all the facts before jumping to any conclusions.
According to WOAI (San Antonio), “The two men police are holding deny any connection to her“.
9:00 am – Birmingham News
ORANJESTAD, Aruba – Two men arrested in the disappearance of a Mountain Brook teen are expected to appear before a judge today.
They face possible charges that include murder, homicide and kidnapping resulting in death, said their court-appointed attorney, Chris Lejuez.
Under the legal system in Aruba, prosecutors can propose a range of charges and may add more later, he said. A spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office would not comment on what crimes the men are accused of, but said they have not been formally charged.
Lejuez confirmed that his clients had been recently laid off by the Allegro, which had changed its security contract. He said they had no prior criminal record, although one of the two was detained for being involved in a fight.
On Sunday, a police source told The Birmingham News that the two men were known drug dealers. On Tuesday, police spokesman Papito Comemencia said he could not comment.
Defense attorneys will argue the following at hearing today:
Lejuez said he plans to argue that prosecutors cannot prove Holloway was slain unless they can produce a body. “They have been charged with something that the prosecution cannot prove happened,” he said.
At today’s hearing, which will be closed to the public, Judge J.S. Kuiperdal is expected to determine whether police can continue to detain the two suspects. If he rules in the prosecution’s favor – and Lejuez says that happens in 99 percent of cases – the men may be held for an another seven days before they must appear before a judge once more.
Although the men have been informed of the crimes they may face, they will not be formally indicted until the investigation is complete and prosecutors are ready to go to trial, van der Biezen said.
10:30 am – Fox News: One of the suspects is in a hearing right now in Aruba. Suspects name has been provided 28 year old Abraham Jones and 30-year-old Nicky John.
ORANJESTAD, Aruba — An Aruba judge would likely rule Wednesday whether authorities have enough evidence to continue holding two former security guards in connection with the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway.
One of the suspects, 28-year-old Abraham Jones, appeared in court around 10:30 a.m. EDT. The other was named as 30-year-old Nicky John, though the spelling of his name couldn’t immediately be confirmed.
UPDATE: 12:30 pm EDT
From CNN, Judge orders suspects to be held in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
ORANJESTAD, Aruba (CNN) — An Aruba judge ruled Wednesday that there was enough evidence to detain the two men suspected in the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway.
The ruling allows authorities to hold the men, identified as Nick John and Abraham Jones, for eight days.
The two men, both hotel security guards, had been expected to make court appearances Wednesday, but the judge decided instead to visit the men in jail because of publicity surrounding the case. The men were being held separately on opposite sides of the island.
Led by a tip, police on Sunday arrested Jones and John in the oil-refining town of San Nicolas. Chris Lejuez, the defense attorney for one of the men, told CNN that authorities have mentioned charging the men, ages 28 and 30, with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, and kidnapping leading to death.
“Both of them are very concerned,” he said. “They are nervous. They know they are being suspected of something very heavy, very serious, but they are confident, both of them. And they have shown that confidence to me, that they very categorically deny being involved in this case.”
From Fox News, mother of one of the suspects thinks her son is being framed.
Both suspects have said they were nowhere near the blonde honors student’s hotel on the Caribbean island the night she vanished — so far without a trace.
Jones’ mother told FOX News outside the courtroom that her son was at home sick the night in question. She also said she thought her son and the other suspect in custody were being framed.
Jones’ girlfriend, Cynthia De Graf, also said he was innocent.
1:15 pm – From America’s Most Wanted. (Missing Person’s)
“They both say that during the time” of the disappearance, “they were not at the (girl’s) hotel and they don’t know this girl,” Lejuez told The Associated Press.
Update: 3:00pm
The Riehl World has an amazing story that will make one think. WOW.
RIP Anne Bancroft 1931 – 2005
The legendary actress has passed away, stars of movies such as “The Miracle Worker” and “The Graduate” passed away yesterday at the age of 73.
From the New York Times
Anne Bancroft, the stage and film star whose signature triumphs in a 50-year career ranged from the courageous Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker” to the hungrily seductive Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate,” died on Monday at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. She was 73 and had homes in Manhattan and Los Angeles. The cause was uterine cancer, said John Barlow, a spokesman for Ms. Bancroft’s husband, Mel Brooks.
Graced with a sultry voice and expressive mouth, Ms. Bancroft could appear both tough and vulnerable, and she eagerly sought out nearly every kind of role, maturing effortlessly over the decades. She lent a singular potency to parts as varied as Brecht’s “Mother Courage” and the mother superior of a convent, and from an aging ballerina to Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel. She repeatedly won praise for her work, as well as an Academy Award and two Tonys.
I was fortunate to meet her as a young man as she and her husband Mel Brooks would take the ferry out to their home on Fire Island. I was a young man working on the ferries at the time, and she was always as gracious as her husband was witty.
