You have to love the Fort Worth Star Telegram, or Startlegram as we affectionately call it here in Cowtown. Yesterday, the top story on the front page was about a radio sportscaster moving from one radio station to a sister station. This was above the lead for the end of the Legislative session. It's just more evidence that media people have forgotten the real world is what they are supposed to report on. They have become the news as well as the news reporters.

Bill Clinton wants to be president again. He suggests repealing the term limit. Rumor is its much harder to find comely interns as an ex-president. Meanwhile, Hillary is on the stump. She is now telling of her hurt and anger when she found out Bill had lied to her about Monica. It's that old sad thong. Evidently, she believed all the other stories were just part of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, including Gennifer Flowers in Playboy. Especially bad is that Monica is getting more tv time. Some think Hillary is playing the sympathy card to distance her self from Bill's immoral reputation so that, when she runs for President, the conservatives will not be able to hang the morality albatross on her.

The session is over for the Texas Legislature, and not a moment too soon. Now we have to sort through all the bills and see how much damage they have done. Many fear that the rush of last minute legislation will produce a pile of problems that will exist until they meet again. Good news for all you equestrians, the horse meat bill didn't make it.

Some time back, I sent an e-mail to Colorado governor Bill Owens, commending him on his refusal to meet with the French General Consul while the French were opposing us in the U.N. Governor Owens was gracious enough to reply by e-mail. Here is his reply.

Dear L. Thompson:

Thank you for your recent note and for your support of my decision to refuse to meet with the French Consul General, who had sought a meeting with me at my office in Denver.

I declined the French Consul's request because, had I held a "business-as-usual" meeting, I would have condoned the excessive and over-the-top behavior of the French government in opposing America's efforts to liberate Iraq. I believe the French have taken this disagreement well beyond the level of a difference of opinion and have sought to orchestrate a campaign against America. Indeed, given my profound disagreement not only with the French position on Iraq but with the inappropriate way they have expressed that disagreement, having a meeting with a representative of the
French government would have been hypocritical.

As you know, this conduct is really nothing new for the French. It is reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s when an American President and a British Prime Minister worked together to confront fascism while the French sought to negotiate with Hitler.

It is important at this time to stand behind our President and the great victory being won by our troops and send the strongest possible signal to France that we oppose their aggressive, anti-American efforts.

I enclose a copy of my letter to the French Consul for your reference.

Again, thanks for writing and for your support.

Sincerely,

Bill Owens

I was impressed that a Governor would take the time to respond and explain his position. I agree with it, by the way, that the French have gone beyond disagreement to active opposition of U. S. policy. That is why I am on the French boycott. Anyway, the Governor is obviously a good man with a conscience and not to big to communicate with the little guy.

Croft Penz: If God writes opportunity on one side of th door, he writes responsibility on the other.

That Huffington woman must be right about the owners of SUVs being terrorists. In Michigan, a nude woman ran her SUV into an apartment complex, put it in reverse and backed into another one. She left the vehicle in the apartment and escaped on (bare) feet. She was probably from PETA and making a statement on animal rights by being nude. Or maybe someone in the complex was mistreating their cat. Or, maybe it was one of the Dixie Chicks, frustrated that their manager blocked the publication of their nude picture supporting PETA.



Speaking of problems up North, the state of Wisconsin is thinking of canceling their hotline to report guns in school. At a cost of $50,000 per year, they have received only 7 calls. Five of these have been pranks! At $50,000 per call, even your rabid anti-gun liberal has a problem justifying the program.



I think I found the largest misstatement of the day (outside the New York Times, of course). Rosaura Beristain was hit by a stool thrown out a sixth story window and ended up in the hospital. The hospital spokesman said "She was lucky." I've never considered myself lucky, but if this is lucky, I think I'll pass.

I haven't been able to get on Blogger for a while, so I have some pent up blogging to do. Here goes.

First, more good economic news. The stock market has posted gains for three straight months.

More ethics news. The SEC is seeking a suspension against major accounting firm Ernst & Young. The SEC wants to suspend EY from taking any new corporate clients for six months. This is the first time since 1975 that the SEC has sought this sanction. It alleges that EY violated rules designed to keep the firm independent from its clients. The SEC alleges that EY is likely to continue to violate the rules.

Fazal Karim has been prosecuted and convicted in federal court on charges resulting from his carrying 32 double edged razor blades in his carry on luggage. The blades were in a cardboard box inside a coiled belt. Predictable, Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations is charging racism. He said it is an ongoing concern that Muslims are singled out. He accuses authorities of ethnic profiling. Of course, singling out Muslims would be religious profiling, not ethnic profiling, but that is a fine point. And, many would claim that Muslims have singled themselves out by their actions, such as attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and, well, you know.

Mr. Hooper said "If that person had been a Norwegian businessman, he wouldn't be in the trouble Mr. Karim is in." I'm not sure that is true. If Mr. Norwegian tried to board a plane with dangerous materials and could not explain them, he would be detained. Surely, Mr. Hooper has heard the complaints of little, elderly white women being searched. But, again, my research fails to turn up a single incidence of Norwegian terrorism on American soil. Mr. Hooper seems to have a short memory to have the audacity to even make this claim.

There are some additional facts that Mr. Hooper fails to mention. First, Mr. Karim tried to disassociate himself from the bag. He put it through the x-ray machine at one spot, then went further down to go through the magnetometer. Not many Norwegians do this, I'm told. Most of us, including Norwegians, go through immediately adjacent to our bag so no one will steal it (and so no one will think we are suspicious and should be searched, thereby wasting a lot of our time even if we aren't terrorists). Additionally, Mr. Karim had no razor in his bag to use the blades with. Finally, Mr. Karim told 3 different stories about why he had the blades. First he said he needed them to shave his beard. Then he said they were for a friend. Finally he said he did not have any blades. It's kind of like the old Racehorse Haynes defense: my dog didn't bite you and in fact I don't even have a dog. Interestingly, Mr. Karim did not use racial profiling in his defense.

It also turns out that Mr. Karim lied about his status in the country. He said he was visiting friends in Houston for a few weeks, but it turns out he has been living in Houston for three years and has businesses there. So, you have to ask yourself, Mr. Hooper, if Mr. Karim is innocent and had no ill designs, why did he not just tell the truth? Here is my unsolicited advice, Mr. H. Save your defense for a guy that at least looks honest. You know, tells the truth, obeys the law, and cooperates. You know there are many law abiding Muslims out there. If they get a bad deal, defend them. But, let the liars, cheats, terrorists, and miscreants fend for themselves. Your credibility will increase, and when you speak, people will listen. But most people know that there has been great restraint exercised with regard to Muslims. There have been those who have acted wrongly toward Muslims. But, the President has urged restraint and most people have complied. You should exercise some restraint also.