How Come “Churches” Like These Never Seem to Get Struck By Lightning?

CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Walls close in on Phelpses

A federal judge in Maryland on Thursday ordered liens on the Westboro Baptist Church building and the Phelps-Chartered Law office.

If the case presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett is upheld by an appeals court, the church, at 3701 S.W. 12th, and the office building, at 1414 S.W. Topeka Blvd., could be obtained by the court and sold, with the proceeds being applied toward $5 million in damages Bennett imposed on church members for picketing a military funeral.

Great news. But these evil whackjobs are certifiably crazy - almost as nuts as a legal system that permits them to verbally and visually assault grieving family members at funerals of loved ones in the name of the First Amendment.

Whatever

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Basra offensive a key step towards reconciliation?

Far from fracturing the polity of Iraq, Maliki's efforts against the militias has built confidence that his government wants to move away from sectarianism. The Kurds and Sunnis see encouraging signs in Maliki's operations, as do Maliki's other Shi'ite allies. In fact, national reconciliation will not be possible until the Baghdad government takes action against the militias and enforces central control over Iraqi security — which requires Maliki to do what he's doing right now in Basra.

Right. By attacking the Sadrist Militias, and enshrining the Maliki Militias as the Iran-dominated government army.

Makes sense to me, if destroying Saddam, only to turn Iraq over to Iran is what you’re trying to accomplish.

Looking Out For You

Toll road cameras looking beyond scofflaw drivers | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Harris County Toll Road Authority cameras are now on the lookout for more than just those drivers who blow through EZ Tag lanes without paying. County authorities promise new, upgraded cameras can help catch murderers and other violent criminals.

The cameras have the capability to search their databases and issue alerts to county dispatchers when a wanted criminal crosses their lenses.

You got a problem with this? Honestly, if you’re not a wanted criminal, why would you have anything to fear from the Omniscient State?

Much Ado, Signifying Nothing?

John Mauldin agrees with nemo:

More Thoughts on the Continuing Crisis - Thoughts From The Frontline

Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson put forth a number of “new” ideas for changes in the regulatory structures. Nothing I saw will help all that much in the current crisis. It’s more like re-arranging the deck chairs as the ship is going down. It seems like most of it is being proposed to prevent another crisis like the one we are in from occurring in the future. That simply insures that Wall Street will have to invent whole new ways to create a crisis in the future. I am sure they will be up to the task.

Mauldin also has a message for hedge funds that nemo may wish to comment on:

So, a quick note to my friends in the hedge fund industry. Forget fighting regulation and start negotiating. Recognize that regulations are coming and do what you can to make them as rational as possible. Also, make sure you (we) get the rights of other regulated funds, like the ability to advertise and not be so secretive, at a minimum. And maybe a more reasonable interpretation of the research analyst rules, which I note that many seem unaware of the implications on hedge funds and private offerings of the research analyst rules.

We are talking big, powerful, rich players here. It’s going to be interesting to watch how this all turns out.