The official blog of the Libertarian Party
January 18, 2007
It's Great to Be Loved
It seems that even First Lady Laura Bush's alma mater has problems with the president. Here's the scoop:
A group of Methodist ministers from across the nation launched an online petition drive Thursday urging Southern Methodist University to stop trying to land George W. Bush's presidential library.
The petition, on a newly created Web site, http://www.protectsmu.org, says that "as United Methodists, we believe that the linking of his presidency with a university bearing the Methodist name is utterly inappropriate."
"Methodists have a long history of social conscience, so questions about the conduct of this president are very concerning," said one of the petition's organizers, the Rev. Andrew J. Weaver of New York, who graduated from SMU's Perkins School of Theology.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Posted by Stephen Gordon at January 18, 2007 02:07 PM
Reader Comments:
It was bad enough that SMU's football team had to endure the decimation of their football team through the NCAA's Death Penalty. Now, they have to deal with the humiliation of their library being named after George W. Bush.
It's good to see someone besides atheists takes the separation of church and state seriously.
Coach Jim -
If SMU refuses to build the Shrub's presidential library, then TCU might be the next likely candidate.
Here's another story you should cover,
NH college student and local TV talk show host
writes a polite letter to state rep Delmar Burridge in favor of a bill to decriminalize marijuana.
Burridge writes back and calls him dumb, assumes the constituent is a pot smoker, tells him "you would make a great snitch" and "it's a thrill to snitch on your so-called friends," and CC's the
Keene, NH police department.
I've posted a bunch of ideas about how folks who are outraged by Burridge's actions can bring him to justice in the comment section here:
http://lastfreevoice.wordpress.com/2007/01/17/vote-this-ass-clown-out/
There are about 650,000 blogs on wordpress and this post is ranked #30 on all of wordpress right now. The story at Homeland Stupidity is currently at 840 diggs and 88 comments.
Some of the ideas we are discussing include media. In the comment section I posted a bunch of links to media lists, finding local blogs, letters to the editor, and so on.
Your ideas as always are welcome - just post them in the comment section at the post referenced above, or grab the media list links and other ideas for whatever projects you are or will be working on.
This should be NATIONAL news. With a little help from us we can propel it into the forefront of the national media, not just the blogs but print and broadcast too.
Egad, this "representative" is not representing. It is his JOB to solicit the opinions of his constituents. That's why the title is REPRESENTATIVE, not RULER.
"Representative" Burridge is an a**hole.
Let's do something about it. Specific ideas on what in my comment section.
Paulie: "This should be NATIONAL news."
Um, what should be? That an elected official was contemptuous toward a college student who urged him to support a marijuana decriminalization bill? I hate to break this to you, Paulie, but that's not national news and it won't become national news. That's to be expected.
Short version:
"Diggers and others deluged New Hampshire state Rep. Delmar Burridge with phone calls about his e-mail to college student Toby Iselin, saying he would not support a marijuana decriminalization bill and encouraging him to “dime on your friends” for smoking marijuana. Burridge now says he’s open to a dialogue on the issue."
In fact I have seen one webpage claim he has now changed his mind and pledged support for decrim.
He said he did not realize the power of blogs and the internet according to the Keene Sentinel.
By the way, my blog was one among many which got our heaviest traffic ever with this story. And some of them have been around a lot longer than me.
So, basically Rep Burridge only changed his mind when he learned that so many people thought he was an idiot. Good. Maybe they'll just vote him out next chance they get.
New Hampshire has multi-members districts, so he only needed 10% of the vote in his district to get elected in the first place.
Nevertheless he is susceptible to pressure and the threat of being taken out of office.
Let's keep in contact with him to make sure he doesn't flip-flop back to fascism.
All contact info in comments on the first link above.
A public official refuses to listen to reason or discuss marijuana rationally?
Now I am truly shocked.
Kidding aside this issue is one where we can probably get some younger people into the party. A majority of americans either use or have used marijuana regularly. Even amongst those who don't legalisation/decrim is something they don't object to.
Yet neither major party is willing to stand forth on this issue. We should be trying to get some support from the many people who believe in this issue.
There is a large pro-legalisation movement out there that has no home. We should try to coordinate with some of these groups on demonstrations. Ann Arbor's hash bash would have been a good place to start. High Times magazine has been active in promoting pro-legalisation groups.
We are the only party that is right on this issue. We should lead forward with it when we can.
That is why I am so glad Steve Kubby is running for President.
http://www.kubby2008.com/
Also, if you go to Last Free Voice there is an update on the Burridge Story
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It was bad enough that SMU's football team had to endure the decimation of their football team through the NCAA's Death Penalty. Now, they have to deal with the humiliation of their library being named after George W. Bush.
Posted by: Stan at January 18, 2007 09:42 PM