Convicts as honored Guests
1| Disgraced Ala. governor will speak to Dems.
The details: Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, convicted on bribery charges but released from prison while awaiting appeal, will be the featured speaker for the Colorado delegation at the Democratic National Convention this week. Since when did corruption merit a platform?
Ideology before energy
2| Pelosi again disses drilling.
The details: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi again said that meeting energy needs with more drilling is a “hoax.” Then why, Madam Speaker, did gasoline prices fall as soon as President Bush lifted the executive order against offshore drilling?
Profiting from false charges
3| Yell “rape,” then write book.
The details: Crystal Mangum, who falsely accused the Duke lacrosse team of raping her, will release a “tell-all” book in November. Once upon a time, someone would have been ashamed to cause the imprisonment of innocents. Nowadays they get to write a book, which will be followed by TV interviews.
An ACORN of a blunder
4| Barack Obama’s campaign paid more than $800,000 to questionable group.
The details: The dough went to Citizens Services Inc., a subsidiary of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform, which has been cited for voter registration violations in at least 13 states. Can you guess what Citizens Services did for Obama?
God bless Fonolo!
5| Don’t you hate those automated phone tree telephone answering services?
The details: Now you can do something about it. Fonolo is a new product in beta testing that allows you to quickly get through all the programmed questions that otherwise steal your time and patience.
Begging for a federal bailout
6| Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae … and Maryland?
The details: Maryland, the wealthiest state in the nation, wants a federal bailout because its overspending habit left a huge hole in the state budget while revenue is declining. Instead of panhandling on Capitol Hill, Gov. Martin O’Malley and the General Assembly should go on a spending diet.
Late failing-school notices
7| Parents left with no time to find alternatives.
The details: Parents of children in D.C. Public Schools that failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress for several years have the right to request a transfer. But the failing notices were sent out less than three weeks before the new school year begins — not enough time for most families to exercise their options.
Obsessive authenticity
8| Chopping down 140 acres of rare oak trees.
The details: The trees were apparently interfering with the historic vista that existed when the Second Battle of Manassas was fought in 1862, so Manassas National Battlefield staff and county officials decided they had to go. Preserving Civil War battlefields is one thing, but cutting down hundreds of trees to recreate a “view shed” that hasn’t existed in more than a century is excessive.
Voting bias
9| Slots referendum language is hardly neutral.
The details: The language of the November referendum to allow slot machine gambling in Maryland is subtly biased in favor of its passage. Opponents point out that the first sentence informs voters that slots will fund public education, but doesn’t tell them that the gaming industry will also get a big chunk of the expected revenue.
Demanding a retraction
10| Philly wants D.C. inspector general to back off.
The details: Philadelphia officials want D.C. Inspector General Charles Willoughby to retract an audit that found that the former head of the Anacostia Waterfront Corp. — now a deputy mayor in Philly — violated ethics rules when he signed a contract with a real estate management firm that used him as a reference. Andrew Altman denies any wrongdoing, but nearly $1 million cannot be accounted for three years later.
