Dixon's Verdict

(Sounds like a John Irving Title)

Last night I had the fascinating experience of being in a room full of experienced litigators (criminal & civil) as well as state and federal judges. I heard just about every perspective on the trial with one common conclusion: This jury will either be hung or find Dixon not guilty. If you are a constant reader of this blog, you know that this was surprising to me.

The reasoning is that this jury cannot convict. An inside scoop that you will only get here is that the press has been pushed almost to the point of legal action to obtain the names and zip codes of the jurors. The judge is protecting their identities due to the civic nature of this case. Depending on your perspective, these jurors will be dethrowning a mayor that received an overwhelming victory in the Fall of 2006. This will have tremendous repercussions in the community and these jurors will become infamous. Any racial component, as there is sure to be with three white jurors, will be magnified.

The bifurcation of this matter further helps the defense. As already noted, they have a new dawn to present new evidence that may contradict evidence from the previous trial (unless they call the same witnesses, but I'm sure Weiner has thought that through). If Dixon is found not guilty in the first trial, the pressure is even heavier on the second set of jurors. The community itself may be resistant to, in a way, admitting that it was wrong in electing Dixon, and in a larger way, that its city is run by crooks. Can these jurors take these revelations on? They are not only deciding matters of fact, but matters wholy undisturbed by your regular court case.

I'm sorry, but Sheila's going to win.

Lest you think I've forgotten...

I am neck deep in work right now, but hope to get a solid post to you sometime today. In the meantime, I hope readers will consider attending Anthony Jordan's Happy Hour this Friday at 6 pm at Houlihan's in Gateway Overlook. It should be a good time to get questions answered and grievances aired.

Ellicott City Cummings Protest

I can't decide how I feel about this video. On one hand I truly appreciate those that making their voice known on an issue that I agree with them on. On the other hand, there was somethign nasty about this. I can't stop thinking of the little kids that were taken by their father to the protest. They seemed scared. Maybe the father should have left them at home, but maybe political protests should be careful not to ever reach the level of scaring little kids. Watch the clip and give me your perspective.

Links to Start Your Weekend

Mayor Dixon thought the gift cards were for her...um like a gift...like something you are ethically (and criminally) required to report? Like the whole thrust of the second trial? I wonder whether the defense for the second set of charges will be that she thought the cards were for the poor, and that's why she didn't report them. It will be an entirely new jury. Aw shoot, I just depressed myself over the idea of her getting away with all this. (Where are the bookies? I want to put some money down.) Bonus take here.

Yet another death on Route 32, which is becoming the most dangerous stretch of highway in our state. I think I speak for everyone, and Elvis, when I say "A little less conversation, a little more action."

Interesting run down of the call made to the Baltimore City police regarding the hit-and-run drunk driver that killed a Hopkins student last week. I won't comment any further than this anecdote: I used to live right next to city hall, which is right next to police headquarters. I called in to the police because a man outside a club that was across from my apartment was being stomped on in the middle of the street by five guys. It took the police 20 minutes to traverse one quarter of a mile. I could have run, tagged the building, and run back in 10.

Paul Krugman defines throwing the baby out with the bathwater in the smug, pompous way that only he is able to accomplish.

David Brooks has himself a man-crush on John Thune.

Why aren't more people asking this question? We haven't had an attack on a domestic military base since...that's right Pearl Harbor.

Global Warming is to Liberals what the Value of the Dollar is to Conservatives. Both groups claim that our ignorance of a growing threat will destroy us. Well, call George Will "Al Gore."

Finally, there's a interesting perspective in the Columbia Flier that seems to suggest between the lines that the Howard County GOP is "too right" to ever stand a chance. If I know Trent enough, her quotes in this article seem to cement a run for Executive next year. Candidates seem to be modeling themselves after Ehrlich in their fence-sitting, and I really think it is unbecoming. If you want to win, get out, be strong, and raise some heck. Saying that you are considering a run or that you need to raise funds suggests to me that you need your bed to be made for you before deciding whether to get in. I'm not suggesting anyone be rash or make decisions that they will regret, but when the hill is this steep, we do not have time to waste on those "considering" a run for office. That includes you Governor.

David Proudfoot Fundraiser

As noted earlier in this blog, thanks to a tip from Anonymous, I stumbled across the campaign of David Proudfoot for Board of Education. I've been impressed with the work that has already been done on this campaign, and wanted to get the word out to readers. Unlike Anthony's campaign, I am not in any way affiliated with David or working on his campaign. This is just a public notice, although I will say that I generally favor ANY teacher that is interested in serving on the Board of Education, and David happens to be a teacher. David is clearly an ambitious member of our community that deserves your attention.

Anyway, I've been in touch and have been able to get details on his upcoming fundraiser:

I am having a fundraiser on Saturday, November 21, at the VFW in Ellicott City. This event will be from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm with barbecue ribs, chicken, crab soup, salads, desert - beer, wine and set ups. I will be having a D.J , cash bar, and T.V's for covering college football games. Tickets will be $45.00 per person.

To get tickets, e-mail David and he will make arrangements to get tickets to you. Otherwise, tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event.

I am going to try to make it, but have started working with Mr. Lozano on a fundraiser for making up the difference between his insurance payment and the cost of a new truck. We were looking to meet on Saturday, but maybe I can do both.

You Like Numbers

Here are some Gallup polls on party leanings.

The Faults of Delayed Victory Logic

You've heard many Republicans scoff at the health care legislation and say "Even if it passes, which we hope it doesn't, it will doom Democrats for the next ten years." First, real politicians (not elected representative, "politicians") on the right want health care to pass so they will have a rallying cry that will sweep them into office. Second, the logic is wrong.

As this short sweet (or sour) editorial note from the WSJ indicates, entitlement health care will establish big D Democrats at the party of choice for the middle class for some time.

At a campaign meeting I recently attended, the candidate was told not to make any suggestions that he would "cut government." He was told that people think of having their "citizen benefits" taken away and will vote against cuts. My own personal belief is that this is an oversimplification of a complicated issue and presumes that human ambition will die in the face of government hand outs, but there is some truth underneath. The health care plan may be clunky, expensive, and inconvenient, but it should have no problem shouldering out the competition. Once that happens, government cuts translate to health care cuts. That sounds bad no matter how you look at it.

If it seems like Dems are running up the hill of universal health care without abandon, they are. Once they get the ring into volcano, they win.