The World Around You

The Guardian newspaper has an interesting excerpt from a new book today about one man’s journey through the bible belt. Today’s selection features Alabama’s own Roy Moore:

He might not know England but he knew where it was going, with the US following in the same direction. I asked him whether he really believed America was heading for perdition. “That’s it. We’re going the same way England is now, without God. Read Blackstone: there is no law without God, no truth without God. America is watching Alabama in this and the world is watching America. The truth will spread.”

Sitting in Alabama, where nine out of 10 inhabitants call themselves Christians, where half are Baptists and where just 1% of the population belong to non-Christian faiths, here was the judge telling me he was living in a godless country.

A quick burst from the Epistle to the Romans followed and then there came a rumination: “I am not running because of ambition: I am running to serve the will of God. If he judges that is not the place I serve him, well, I will probably be happy.” There was a pause before he corrected himself: “I will be happy.”

I’m glad the people of Alabama made Roy happy. I hope even more that he will be happy not to serve ever again.

The Guardian: Thou shalt not judge

I don’t know who’s responsible for bringing Cindy here, but I worry about her. This is not exactly a bastion of anti-war activity, and she is not a popular figure for most of the populace. On the other hand, it will make for an interesting day, and I notice we didn’t find out about it in the press until a few hours before she arrives.

montgomeryadvertiser.com ::  Peace activist Cindy Sheehan marches in Montgomery

I would encourage my fellow Alabama bloggers to start using this outstanding resource from LegiStorm. The first thing I noticed was that Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) is one of the most traveled representatives, more analysis to come…

Political Wire: Congressional Travel Exposed

Another shining moment for the Pentagon,

Detailed schematics of a military detainee holding facility in southern Iraq. Geographical surveys and aerial photographs of two military airfields outside Baghdad. Plans for a new fuel farm at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

The military calls it “need-to-know” information that would pose a direct threat to U.S. troops if it fell into the hands of terrorists. It’s material so sensitive that officials refused to release the documents when asked.

But it’s already out there, posted carelessly to file servers by government agencies and contractors, accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.

Is someone going to lose their job over this?

Military Papers Found Unprotected Online, Dozens Of Sensitive Documents That May Compromise Troop Security Found Available To Public - CBS News

I, for the life of me, can’t understand why people would expose themselves to criminal scrutiny like this. If the child really was found to have been given ecstasy the women should be locked up, if she wasn’t, they have brought a world of hurt on themselves for no reason.

A group of young women videotaped themselves laughing at a toddler and joking that the child had taken Ecstasy, though it?s unclear whether the tot had actually been given the drug, authorities said.

Video of tot, drug remarks sparks probe - Unpartisan.com

Yes, Larry Flynt is exposing hypocrisy, not sex.

Political Wire: Bonus Quote of the Day

Well, Judge Truman Hobbs Jr. did as expected and tossed the felony counts against former Alabama Secretary of State Nancy Worley yesterday. Hopefully, we can move on with the other counts against her, as they appear pretty clear cut, but will not result in much punishment.

Mobile Press-Register: Worley felony counts tossed