Another Town Says No to Red Light Cameras

Shreveport, LA. One of the councilmen even cited the word "freedom"

Ron Ramsey Flip-Flops

I like Ron Ramsey. I like him better than anyone else considering running for Governor. I would like to knock on doors for him, make calls for him and donate money to his campaign. However, it is difficult to do that if he continues to flip-flop. While I have made note of it several times, I am glad to see that I am not the only one. I fear that he will lose a lot of willing supporters if he becomes all about "compromise." Conservatives and libertarians have "compromised" way too much already.

Tennessee Special Interests

Blue Collar Muse correctly points out that we Tennesseans have special interest involvement in the judicial selection process regardless of whether the people elect the judges or whether they are selected by the special interest lawyer groups. Do we trust the people to make a decision as stated in the Constitution or will we leave it up to the lawyers to push forward their candidates under the current system.

As I stated in the last judicial retention election, I will vote NO in every judicial retention election until the People of the State of Tennessee are allowed to have a true election. I encourage you to do the same.

King Barry Scares the Crap out of NYC

Well, he's been scaring the crap out of me for months. It looks like the NYC liberal enclave got a taste of just how moronic King Barry can be when he sent a 747 and an F-16 to circle over NYC. You can't make this stuff up. In a city that size, I would almost bet that someone had a heart attack over this publicity hound's desire for some million dollar snapshots. How much did this trip cost, anyway?

UPDATE: This video gives a glipse of the terror that those poor folks faced. While undoubtedly, we have cities like New York to thank for our current leadership predicament, failure to recognize the reaction from this type of stunt speaks volumes about the Administration's ability to think ahead.

Another Town Cashes in from Red Light Cameras

Chattanooga cashes in. But did the red light cameras reduce accidents? Nope. So the government's response is "let's give it more time." In other words "we are making a crapload of money right now from these things and the safety aspect really has little to do with it."

Flawed Survey?

This survey says that "most Americans believe the media is in some part responsible for the current economic crisis by causing people to buy things they couldn't afford." The survey goes on to say that some blame news outlets, etc. Some commentators point out that this is another example of people trying to blame others and avoiding taking responsibility for their own actions. Based on the linked article, that well may be true. However, my question is, what did the survey actually say? I think there is ample reason to blame news outlets because they did everything they could to talk down the Bush economy prior to the election.

Red Light Cameras Violate Civil Rights

That's what the Florida Civil Rights Association and the National Motorist Association say and I agree with them 100%. The true MORONS in this country are those who believe that "if you aren't running red lights you have nothing to fear." How is that any different from giving up your Fourth Amendment rights because "if you aren't guilty you have nothing to hide?" Simple - it isn't. For the record, I don't run red lights any more or less than anyone else. Everyone occasionally has a yellow turn to red as they are entering the intersection which is a technical violation despite the fact that it is not necessarily dangerous. Those technical violations make up the bulk of the red light tickets (along with rolling rights on red which rarely cause an accident).

A few reasons to oppose red light cameras

In a concise editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. points out several reasons why all Americans should oppose this infringement on our liberties. Money quote:

Britain has gone furthest in using cameras for comprehensive auto surveillance, and now says it's capable of monitoring every car trip in the U.K. and keeping a record for five years. Most traffic cameras are "on" all the time, and capable of being networked with plate- and even face-recognition software. In Britain, the data yielded will be incorporated in a database of all kinds of personal information and camera observations to enable "data mining" to let the government know who's doing what, when and where.

Buffalo News Columnist Favors Red-Light Cameras

I've never heard of Rod Watson until I read this article today. A couple of his points really set me off:

And to critics who call all of this a municipal money grab, so what?
Think of it as a stupidity tax—and a voluntary one, at that.

There is more than enough stupidity to go around here. Longer yellow lights will decrease accidents, but municipalities don't care about that. Why not? Let's not pretend this is about safety when this is really about money.

Of course reading the rest of Mr. Watson's article make me believe that he would prefer the nanny state to provide the magical illusion of protection for every aspect of his life. Then, you have the obligatory anti-gun reference:

Driving is one reason I don’t hunt. After watching what morons do with a lethal steering wheel in their hands, there’s no way I’m going to give them guns and then go out in the woods and walk around in the middle of them.

Page 31 of the liberal playbook is not too be missed. That is the page that commands that you must denigrate gun owners at every opportunity.

I'm glad I didn't pay for that newspaper. Talk about a "stupidity tax-and a voluntary one, at that."

I always liked Texas

Under the right set of circumstances, I might want to live there.

On the Mocking of Tea Parties

Sarah Moore has a few thoughts. With the MSM bias apparent in videos like this, these folks may get a backlash like nothing they ever expected.

Liberal Plant on Bill Bennett's show

A few minutes ago, I heard a liberal call the Bill Bennett show and suggest that 160,000 people showing up during the middle of a workday for a grassroots event was an "abject failure" because it was "promoted relentlessly" by FoxNews. The efforts to marginalize have begun. I've seen people go to the protests that are in their 70's and never protested a thing in their lives. Let the liberals ignore this at their peril. As scattered and disjointed as it is, the Tea Party Movement may be the last hope of America.

Proposal to Allow Wine in Grocery Stores Fails

Looks like the liquor lobby outbid the grocery store lobby. Don't be fooled by this. The politicians love that this failed. That way, they can bring it up year after year and get both sides to send them money. What a system!

Who will run the Bluff City star chamber?

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Bluff City has voted to allow speed enforcement cameras in Bluff City. Apparently, they are needing additional revenue and this is an easy way to get it. According to this article and other reports, if you don't challenge the ticket, it costs $90 and is treated as a non-moving violation. However, if you challenge the ticket and lose, it is treated as a moving violation. This is strictly a revenue program. They want to do everything in their power to make sure you don't challenge the ticket and want to make it extremely risky for you to do so. Who is running the star chamber that determines your guilt or innocence without your participation?

Will someone please tell me how you can confront your accuser when your accuser is a camera? Will the camera have a photo of the driver? How do they even know who is driving the vehicle? How can they prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?

You mean gun control won't save us?

I cannot believe that the San Francisco Examiner published an editorial that very clearly explains why gun control does little or nothing to end gun deaths. H/T Instapundit.

King Barry Bows to No Man

At least, he did not bow to the king of Saudi Arabia. That is, he did not bow if you believe the anonymous White House spokesperson. Watch the video and judge for yourself. In my opinion, King Barry is practically licking King Abdullah's boots. Can these people not tell the truth about anything? Just admit he is a baffoon and get it over with.

King Barry says we are not a Christian nation

The MSM is largely silent on the topic, but this is what Barack Obama said in Turkey a couple of days ago:

the United States and Turkey can send a powerful message to the world through their friendship. …that Turkey and the United States can build a model partnership in which a predominantly Christian nation, a predominantly Muslim nation — a Western nation and a nation that straddles two continents … that we can create a modern international community that is respectful, that is secure, that is prosperous, that there are not tensions — inevitable tensions between cultures — which I think is extraordinarily important... One of the great strengths of the United States is that it does not consider itself a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.

Well, he may be right, but why go down this road in a Muslim nation? What is the point of saying this? Basically, he is kissing their feet for no good reason. He might as well say "Please like us. We aren't doing that Christian thing anymore. We want to be your friend. We don't mind that you allow terrorist and thugs who kill in the name of religion. We are tolerant of your barbaric religion." Meanwhile, he is telling American Christians (who largely voted against him) to go pound sand. He would prefer that the heritage of this country be forgotten.

It is insulting. It is insulting to America and it is insulting to Christians.

Government Motors unveils Barackmobile

First it was the Popemobile, now it is the Barackmobile.

Another Day - Another City Dumps Revenue Cameras

Red light cameras are coming down in Dalton, Georgia. It's funny how, when the revenue goes away, the cameras go away. Tennessee needs to look at requiring longer yellows for these intersections and needs to look at setting up a state safety fund so that the local governments who install these cameras receive none of the proceeds. If it's truly about safety, the locals won't have a problem with that, will they?

Tim Burchett - Maybe he should run for governor

I don't know much about him but his proposed legislation to extend the yellow times for intersections that have revenue cameras demonstrates that he has something most politicians lack - common sense and a desire to slow the spread of big brother.

As Bugs Bunny Would Say...

What a maroon! Apparently, King Barry hasn't learned how to speak Austrian yet. He still needs a teleprompter to help him with his American! (H/T Instapundit)

Democrats finally right about something

They told me if I voted for McCain....

Swallow your beverage before reading this.

Insulting Democrats, Congress and the Florida Gators...all in one video. The video is priceless.

Got TARP? Get owned!

King Barry wants to control the banks.

Traffic Camera Scam

Of course red-light cameras are scams. It's all about revenue.

Democrats lying about guns?

About as sure as the sun setting in the west.

Hey, Steny! The word you are looking for is "monarchy"!

Steny Hoyer (D) does not know where King Barry got the legal authority for the auto plan. Steny, don't question the King's authority!

Is forcing those on the dole to take a drug test "uncompassionate"?

Jeff Woods thinks so. Well, I must be uncompassionate. I have no problem with requiring those who want a government handout to provide some assurances that they are not shooting up my tax dollars on their fix. He goes so far as to suggest requiring those who utilize the FONCE exemption to take a drug test as well. Gilbert Martin gives Woods a knock-out response in the comments.

Knoxville News Sentinel OK with Ignoring Tennessee Constitution

In an editorial, the KNS recommends keeping Tennessee's unconstitutional judicial "retention" system. Of course it should come as no surprise that a newspaper recommends trashing the Tennessee Constitution (or any other Constitution) as long as their precious freedom of the press isn't eroded.

Here's an idea - let the people decide. Well, that's generally a good idea, except in this case, the people already decided that they did not want to amend the Tennessee Constitution to allow exactly what is happening now. The legislators and special interest groups did not like the answer they received from "we the People", so they just went ahead and did what they wanted to do anyway.

I've got not problem with the idea of keeping big money and politics out of election. The problem is that pesky thing called the Tennessee Constitution. The Governed already made their choice; the job of the legislature is to do what the Constitution requires - allow a true election for judges.

Tea Party Manifesto

Sounds like a good idea to me (via Instapundit).

Did Obama pull a Reagan?

Seeking Alpha asks the question. I would say that King Obama pulled something more akin to some less savory historical figures. Exactly how is it that the President, can "fire" GM's CEO? Exactly how is it that a President can say that the government will honor GM's warranties? I thought we were a nation of laws, not edicts. Considering how he was coronated by the press and how he continues to act like he can do whatever he wants, from this point forward, I will refer to him simply as King Obama. I'm a trailblazer, but before this is over, we'll all be calling him that.

UPDATE: Enjoy an Obama spokesman telling us that King Obama would be "ready to rule" on day 1. President or King?