About
Captain Ed is a father and grandfather living in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, a native Californian who moved to the North Star State because of the weather. He lives with his wife Marcia, also known as the First Mate, their two dogs, and frequently watch their granddaughter Kayla, whom Captain Ed calls The Little Admiral.
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The Crows Nest
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Hobbs Choice
Volunteer Voters is holding its annual "Best of Nashville" on-line polls, and one of the categories is for the best political writer. Our friend Bill Hobbs, now posting at Newsbusters, and he'd like his on-line fans to cast their votes. Drop by and put one in for Bill if you get a chance!
Murtha Getting Backlogged On Apologies
Gary Gross of Let Freedom Ring sees another case collapsing on the Haditha charges. He's called for Murtha to apologize earlier, and adds another reason to the tally.
No Such Thing As 'Moderate' Islam?
Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan told a television interviewer that he finds the label "moderate Islam" offensive. Shrink Wrapped has a lot more on this, but at least in the same interview Erdogan acknowledged that "radical Islam" exists, and that it's been a catastrophe. Be sure to read the whole post.
MS-NBC Gets Punk'd
Power Line has a great post on a lack of journalistic effort on the part of MS-NBC. In covering the Michael Vick story, they reported on what they thought was Al Sharpton's website proclaiming Vick's innocence. I guess Alex Johnson and two other MS-NBC reporters couldn't bother to read the title bar of the site, which proudly proclaims it as a "parody site".
New Instapundit Podcast On Pharmaceuticals
I just caught this e-mail from Glenn Reynolds about his new podcast with Richard Epstein, the author of Overdose: How Excessive Government Regulation Stifles Pharmaceutical Innovation. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but the topic is important enough to make sure I carve out time for it tomorrow. Get their first and tell me what I'm missing ....
Fed Trying A 'Stealth Easing'?
The Federal Reserve seems to have conducted a quiet campaign to steady markets that started spinning out of control, according to King Banaian at SCSU Scholars. He thinks that the Fed has conducted a "stealth easing". Be sure to read his explanation and follow his lnks.
A Shameless Bit Of Sel-Promotion
Gateway Pundit and Val at Babalu Blog note a crass PR move by Hugo Chavez. Venezuela has responded to Peru's eathquake disaster with food shipments -- and with Hugo's smiling picture on the cans. He also uses the tuna-can label to undermine President Garcia of Peru, who narrowly defeated Chavez' pal Ollanto Humalla, whom the labels extol for his "solidarity" with Chavez.
Tacky beyond belief.
Comments (18)
Posted by crossdotcurve | July 11, 2007 8:22 PM
Fliiiiiii-flop!!!!
"Fred Thompson did not lobby for this group, period."
- Mark Corallo, Thompson spokesman, Los Angeles Times
Posted by Jim | July 11, 2007 8:42 PM
So, I guess Fred did represent the group after first absolutely denying it. As a lawyer, I sympathize with him.
Ed--just two points: the group in California would have been a domestic group, not a foreign group, so there was no need for Fred to have registered for this engagement. And, if you take what the group wrote at face value, they hired Fred and not the law firm that he quickly joined. Perhaps he was able to make use of his representation of this client in cutting a deal to join his DC law firm?
Posted by gahrie | July 11, 2007 8:54 PM
If the worst the left can come up with is that Thompson was once a lobbyist who acted like a lobbyist, and a lawyer who acted like a lawyer, Ms. Thompson can start picking out the White House carpet now....
Posted by Stephen Macklin | July 11, 2007 9:05 PM
In the last paragraph, Thompson clearly telegraphs that he has made his final decision on entering the race - and what that decision is. (not that there was ever a lot of doubt)
Posted by Carol Herman | July 11, 2007 10:18 PM
Frugal, too. (FDR had a reputation for frugality. It goes over well with the public.)
And, Thompson hit pay dirt.
InstaPundit had the link up, which is what directed me to seeing this at Power Line. And, now you have it, too.
It's a beautifully written piece. I copied and pasted it into an email and sent it around to family & friends.
And, yes, Fred Thompson indicates he's capable of thinking. Capable of waiting. And, poised to enter the race.
Which, right now, has a conglomeration of failed idiots at the bottom. Including, McCain. So, I guess not only is Fred waiting to announce ... You've got this cluster of dopes who are racing around the nominating arena; but the show won't start ontil a bunch of them are gone. Otherwise? They waste everyone's time when it comes to the "debates."
Though I don't think we're gonna see "debates" as much as we're gonna see the Internet IGNITE! This holds so much promise.
Now, what did it cost Fred? It's a wise man who can get his messages across at the least possible price.
Posted by James I. Hymas | July 11, 2007 10:30 PM
I couldn't agree more.
Do the noble sentiments expressed above apply to Ramsay Clark?
Posted by RBMN | July 11, 2007 11:11 PM
crossdotcurve and Jim,
As I read Thompson's article, it's not about any single case. It's about the next client story you read about that sounds bad, and the story after it that sounds worse. Thompson is talking about all that "good stuff" the Clintons (or whoever) are saving to leak to the media at just the right time. We haven't seen that stuff yet.
Posted by Brian Epps | July 12, 2007 12:44 AM
From the article:
I don't see how one quote excludes the other. Could you please point it out?
Posted by brooklyn | July 12, 2007 1:31 AM
Lawyers are outstanding...
But it is perhaps wise to have someone managing a Nation as a CEO, who has some solid experience with running - governing something on his own (as a leader).
I don't doubt Sen. Thompson would be a fine President, even with the low consideration I maintain these days for any Senator.
We have two tested Leaders, who have proven themselves with the sole responsibility of some sincere challenges in this RACE.
Rudy and Romney should not be overlooked.
Posted by Brian Epps | July 12, 2007 2:22 AM
I cannot vote for gun control Rudy in any primary, and he's only ghot a chance as an anti-Hillary. Call me single issue if you must, but I cannot vote for someone who does not trust the citizens with their own defense except to protect against a worse candidate.
As for Romney, he's a great guy. If he wins the nomination I will happily vote for him. But the next to last thing we need is another managerial president. Washington needs a troubleshooter, not a CEO.
I'm not overlooking, I'm just not really warming up too much to what I am seeing.
Posted by Jim | July 12, 2007 7:33 AM
There's a difference among (a) lobbying government officials for a client; (b) giving legal advice to a client; and (c) defending a client in court.
There's no doubt our legal system wants and needs lawyers to do (b) and (c) and that lawyers shouldn't be tarred with the names and causes of those clients.
But I do see a difference between those and lobbying government officials for a client. Many people (not just lawyers) can do lobbying just fine.
Posted by gab | July 12, 2007 8:55 AM
This is spin of the worst sort by the pro-Fred forces. He's admitting that he did lobby for pro-choice group and chooses to admit it in the most obfuscatory manner possible.
He tries to misdirect us by claiming he was giving legal advice when in fact he was just a paid shill.
Shame on anyone for trying to brand this as anything but spin of the worst political sort.
Posted by not the senator | July 12, 2007 10:38 AM
"There's a difference among (a) lobbying government officials for a client; (b) giving legal advice to a client; and (c) defending a client in court."
Exactly! And Fred is trying to do a verbal misdirection by equating them.
I have no problem with a lawyer representing the worst sleaze bags, our legal system requires a vigorous defense. Advocating for legislation on the other hand is a voluntary act. You either support it or you are willing to say things you disagree with just for the money. If it's the second, then Thompson is a shill and/or whore. If I was him, I'd rather be thought of as supporting the position of his clients.
And doesn't this admission mean he was lying the other day when he allowed his campaign to say, "Fred Thompson did not lobby for this group, period."
Overall, not a good performance out of the actor in this affair.
Posted by Jack Okie | July 12, 2007 11:17 AM
Ed,
I have enjoyed reading your blog for several years now, and while the organization and content just get better and better, I'm concerned about a growing deficit in another area:
There has been a sharp fall-off in the quality of troll you attract. There used to be a whole set whose ravings and twisted logic were at least at times entertaining - why, you could almost see the tinfoil hats! But this current crop, well, it pains me to observe how far below the mark they fall; it would be a stretch for them to reach for sophomoric, or pathetic. Reading your comments now is too often an exercise in tedium. Please, please, see what you can do to attract a higher class of troll.
Thank you.
Your faithful reader.
Posted by not the senator | July 12, 2007 11:31 AM
You're right Jack, when you can't attack the message then attack the messenger.
You've learned your lessons well, grasshopper.
Posted by Jack Okie | July 12, 2007 3:37 PM
not the senator:
Just for you I re-read Thompson's essay. The following is the gist of each paragraph as I read it:
1. The nature of the legal profession and the practice of law puts the lawyer-candidate in an "interesting" position.
2. The most common tactic used against a lawyer-candidate is to try to use the idea that most people dislike lawyers, but the people understand our system better than the demagogues do.
3. Another tactic is to associate the lawyer with the views of his client. Refers to Chief Justice Roberts' mention of John Adams representing the British soldiers charged in the Boston massacre.
4. Roberts points out Adams was vindicating the rule of law - not identifying the lawyer with the client is fundamental to the fair administration of justice.
5. Abe Lincoln's views divorced from positions he took as a lawyer.
6. Roberts gave advice to gay-rights group other lawyers in his firm were representing.
7. Another gambit is to dredge up Thompson's or another lawyer's clients that Thompson may have represented or consulted with, then using the media to attempt to get Thompson in a public debate about what may have been said or done 15-20 years ago. It would not be appropriate for a lawyer to make such comments.
8. Independence and individual rights could not be protected without lawyer-client confidentiality or if lawyers were identified with the positions of their clients.
9. Inspired as idealistic teenager by ideal of representing a just cause against powerful forces. Not all his actual clients measured up to that ideal.
10. Practice of law is how you support your family. Can represent client as long as client does not lie or act improperly while you are representing him. Always tried to give best professional advice.
11. Has derived great satisfaction from decision to become a lawyer. Helped a number of folks, including half a dozen or so lobbying clients.
12. CV exerpt - prosecuter, Watergate Counsel, etc.
13. Practiced law during "movie days".
14. Case that started movie career.
15. Not surprised career is being examined - expects more. He intends to keep in mind the appropriate distinction and separation of law and politics, and does not intend to do a diservice to either of them or himself.
Please find anywhere in this essay an "admission" of lobbying for NFPHRA, or any reference to NFPRHA at all.
Posted by gab | July 12, 2007 4:21 PM
Mr Okie - only an apologist of the first order would think this wasn't a tacit admission that Fred (a) represented an organization that was pro-choice and (b) lied about it when confronted with the evidence.
Think about it - why would he even bother with this verbose essay? Why?
And why would you waste so much of your time when presented with what you must know is the truth?
Posted by Jack Okie | July 12, 2007 6:14 PM
gab,
Do you remember the joke about the old lady taking a Rorshach test who sees some kind of sex act in every ink blot? When the psycholgist comments on this, she indignantly replies "Well, you're the one showing me these dirty pictures".
I'm feeling kind of bad about my earlier snarky comment. Seriously. You guys are just so cluelessly predictable. This time, instead of the quick rationalization, why don't you see if you can come up with any other reasons Thompson would pen this essay. Props if you can avoid Democrat talking points.