The World Around You

Alabama Governor Bob Riley has been selected as one of Governing Magazine’s Public Officials of the Year (and they gave him the cover). They have done just a cursory, but extremely complementary profile.

Had Bob Riley’s attempt to reform Alabama’s tax structure been passed by the voters in September, he would have earned a place for himself in the state’s history books and might have become one of the most prominent governors in the country. As it is, his initiative lost, so Riley stands out only for having offered the most conspicuous display of political courage any state has seen this year.

Amen. Hopefully, there will still be much more to tell when this administration is over.

If you haven’t yet read The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, I highly recommend you do so. It’s an interesting cross between the historical non-fiction and mystery genres. ABC will run a special breaking down the claims made in the book and Elizabeth Vargas tells BBC News that, “You can’t talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people.”

NBC’s Today show also addressed this topic earlier this week. There is a lot of good theological history contained in Brown’s tome and I hope it does lead to a broader debate in this country on the subject of religion and why we believe what we do and worship in the way we do.

I have every confidence that this idea is being pushed much more seriously by Microsoft than by Google,

Google, the highflying Silicon Valley Web search company, recently began holding meetings with bankers in preparation for its highly anticipated initial public offering as it was still engaged in meetings of another kind: exploring a partnership or even a merger with Microsoft.

According to company executives and others briefed on the discussions, Microsoft – desperate to capture a slice of the popular and ad-generating search business – approached Google within the last two months to discuss options, including the possibility of a takeover.

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While the overture appears to have gained little traction – Google indicated that it preferred the initial offering route, the executives said – it demonstrates the enormous importance that Google represents as both a competitive threat to Microsoft and as Silicon Valley’s latest hope for a new financial boom.

Though seemingly spurned, Microsoft may still be interested in pursuing Google at a later date, according to an executive briefed on the discussions.

Both Google and Microsoft executives refused to comment.

The founders of Google are savy enough to know what selling or “partnering” with Microsoft would do. They will have a very successful IPO and could become a very powerful force in their own right, that’s why Microsoft is after them.

Stand tall Google, don’t fall to the pressure of Microsoft!

In today’s episode, Roy’s attorneys appear to throw up their hands at the inherent unfairness of the process the Chief Justice must face,

Lawyers for suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore say they don’t believe he can get a fair trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary on judicial ethics charges.

The attorneys said in a statement Thursday that it may be “inevitable” that Moore will be removed from office for not obeying a federal court order to move his Ten Commandments monument from the lobby of the Alabama Judicial Building.

What makes this situation so unfair? Well, that’s easy, because the justices won’t have to face a crowd of thousands at Roy’s hearing, that’s why.

Moore had asked that his trial be held somewhere like the 7,000-seat Montgomery Civic Center or the 1,200-seat Davis Theater in Montgomery, calling the Supreme Court courtroom that is normally used by the Court of the Judiciary “small” and “restrictive.” Moore claimed any smaller location would restrict media access and deny him his constitutional right to a public trial.

But the court rejected Moore’s request in a decision Wednesday, ruling instead that the case would be heard in the 210-seat Supreme Court courtroom to minimize costs and maintain proper security. The court laid out a plan for setting aside seats for the general public and the media.

Moore’s lawyers said the decision meant the chief justice cannot obtain a “fair, public trial.”

“Further, Moore’s legal team advised him that in light of the rulings of the COJ denying him his basic legal rights, that an adverse ruling from the COJ is inevitable, which may well include his imminent removal from office,” the attorneys said in the statement.

With all due respect (which isn’t much), did these attorneys get their law degrees from a Cracker Jack box? Where in the Judicial Code of Ethics, the Code of Alabama, or the US Constitution is there a right to have 10,000 of your closest friends at your trial?

Roy and his attorneys are obviously disappointed they will not be allowed to turn his hearing into a circus like we witnessed on the steps of the State Judicial Building. They know that in a case based purely on the merits, and not public passion will not be decided in their favor. Bravo to the Commission for sticking to its guns.