Eddie Dean and Emily Yoffe
Emily,
PRINT
DISCUSS
E-MAIL
RSS
RECOMMEND...
Facebook
MySpace
Mixx
Digg
Reddit
del.icio.us
Furl
Ma.gnolia
Sphere
StumbleUponAlberto V-05 Jr. may have politics down cold, but he doesn't know squat about real life. Any idiot knows that getting high is a central fact of existence in prison, where it's easier to get drugs than on the street. What are you supposed to do when you're facing life without parole, sit around reading remaindered copies of Earth in the Balance? Gore's proposal to take the War on Drugs to the prisons is not only misguided but also dangerous, because, even if it "worked" and temporarily cut off the supply of narcotics behind bars, there would be inmate riots around the country. What they really should do is stop the Draconian drug-law sentencing that has overloaded the prisons with a terminal population who have no incentive to get rehabilitated. But of course Gore has to pull the usual "tough on crime" pose so he can get votes.
If that tsunami does hit the Virginia coast (let's hope it's not this Saturday, when Mr. Rogers is scheduled to address the graduating class at Old Dominion University in Norfolk), then I say let the big wave take out Williamsburg once and for all. Jefferson wanted to burn the place down two centuries ago because its architecture, especially the Governor's Palace, smacked of England and the king. The restored Colonial version is a bit of an improvement, what with nearby Busch Gardens and its Old World Food Court, but in general Williamsburg has always caused me nothing but grief. The last time I was there, I ducked into an "authentic" dank, dirt-floor tavern for a pewter mug of some New World ale. (The Founding Fathers drank this stuff for breakfast.) But when I started to light up, the costumed wench waiting on our table told me there was a no-smoking policy. So much for authenticity.
For me, the most important story in the newspapers is yesterday's execution of Christina Marie Riggs, the first woman ever put to death in Arkansas, and only the fifth in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The former nurse smothered her two toddlers to death and then tried to commit suicide by taking potassium chloride. Sound familiar? That's basically the same thing that happened with Hinckley's girlfriend, but she used a shotgun to kill her adolescent daughter, then tried to blow off her head but succeeded only in regards to her arm. Here's the difference: She was a wealthy high-society Washington woman, and she pled insanity. (Riggs could only say she was in a "deep depression" at the time.) After a few years at St. E's, the woman was declared to be "cured," and now she's free to date Hinckley and exchange kisses at the St. E's parking lot. Riggs meanwhile got a lethal injection; her last words were "I love you, my babies." I'm not drumming up sympathy for Riggs, just pointing out that this scenario is quite common in death-penalty cases: Regardless of sex or race, it is the poor who eventually must pay the ultimate sacrifice for their crimes. The rich go to the nuthouse for a while or not at all. I think this child slayer should at least be in the clink with her boyfriend (I'm not advocating her execution, and besides, D.C. has outlawed the death penalty). I don't care how big her house was in northwest Washington or how crazy she claims to have been--she shot her daughter in cold blood.
I'm curious to know your take on this.
Eddie
P.S.--Dolly Parton will be hosting tonight's Academy of Country Music Awards. Something tells me she probably won't be singing "Down From Dover."
Is It More Important for Your Turkey To Be Organic or Local?
Why Gift Cards Are a Terrible Gift
Is Sarah Palin's Approval Rating Really as High as Barack Obama's?
Justice Scalia's Most Eccentric Habits
How Do You Know Whether a Sleepwalking Murderer Was Really Asleep?
Democrats Have a Lot To Be Thankful For
Reader Response from The Fray--to be read after the final entry:
Not only should Bobo the Clown be drafted to moderate the Presidential debates [Thursday's entry], but he should chair every Congressional Committee, be given Joe Lockhart's job, and he should anchor the news on all networks.
--Will Allen
(To reply, click here.)
I know it's all the rage now to demonstrate your liberal bona fides by trashing the Confederate flag in South Carolina or Confederate History Month in Virginia, but Eddie's little diatribe against Governor Gilmore and Richmond, Virginia takes the cake [Tuesday]. I see that he has joined some of those he criticizes in hijacking history, ascribing his beliefs to be in the great tradition of Robert E. Lee.
The natural progression of not honoring Confederate History Month is to begin to impede or discourage tourists who want to visit Civil War sites or Confederate museums and cemeteries, as these people must be misguided at best or racist yahoos at worst. I'm sure that Virginians of all ethnicities who work in tourism-related businesses appreciate all the controversy and would rather not have Civil War tourists staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, or buying souvenirs. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Virginia elect the one and only black governor ever to serve in the 50 states?
If you could find 50 people in Virginia who knew about the Confederate History Month proclamation before this contretemps, I would be shocked.
--Will
(To reply, click here.)
(5/4)
Slate should call this "Whenever You Can Make It To The Table" instead of the "Breakfast Table".
--NT
[See timing of Monday's posts. Matters seemed to improve during the week.]
(To reply, click here.)
So there could be genetically-engineered giant animals [Monday's entry]--but what about when politicians start splicing their genes? Imagine the havoc a 50-foot George Bush would do to the environment--dangerous. Or the monotone bellow of a 100-foot-tall Gore. O the horror.
--Chris
(To reply, click here.)
I have engineered four-legged chickens because my family likes fried chicken legs. We are as of this date unsure of the palatability of these fowl because now we can't catch them.
--eieio
(To reply, click here.)
Today Pharm Animals--Tomorrow Your Mom!
--Seeking Justice
(To reply, click here.)
[This was the title of the post. There was quite a lot more, but this seemed to hit the spot.]
Actually, if the knife that George Harrison was stabbed with had been about a half-inch to the left, he would have died instantly [Monday]. Only those with no knowledge or understanding of violence (which in this post-draft era means basically all of the chattering classes) think that knives are inherently less lethal than guns.
--Tench Coxe
(To reply, click here.)
Re: the possible break-up of Microsoft:
Oh Emily,
Some of us relate:
Poor Bill's the guy everyone loves to hate.
But fear not for your beloved Slate
Just follow His lead,
simply innovate.
--Ann
(To reply, click here.)
(5/2)