We Might Be Missing The Point On FISA

Right now in D.C. it looks like the House is almost ready to proceed on a FISA compromise which will make it much easier for telcos who assisted Bush's illegal spying program to escape any kind of accountability. The law would basically say that if the telcos can produce a piece of paper that proves that the government (the executive branch) assured them that their conduct was legal, then they cannot be prosecuted for it - regardless of whether or not the conduct was, in fact, legal.

I agree with those who believe that the telcos (as well as anyone else) should be held accountable when they break the law, but think about what kind of dynamics are in play here. As it stands, the telcos are pouring money into lobbying efforts on this issue. They've pretty much locked up the Republicans on their side of the issue, and they've also apparently got a number of Democrats as well. So at the moment, the battle lines are drawn between a majority of Democrats on one side against a minority of Democrats, all Republicans, and the entire telco lobby.

Now imagine what the landscape will look like if the law passes. The telcos will be doing the dirty work of producing evidence against the executive branch in the form of hard copy paper proving exactly what they were instructed to do by the Bush administration. The telcos will go out of their way to prove that they were only acting on orders. If there is proof that the Bush administration instructed telcos to break the law, then the dynamic changes: Now it's the majority of (if not all) Democrats, possibly a new Democratic Executive, and the entire telco lobby against a potentially dwindling group of Republican apologists. The debate will be framed and the numbers will be to our advantage.

Not sure how this will play out, but that's one possibility.

Welcome Home

Some Tennessee Guard soldiers are coming home on Sunday. These guys have been to Iraq twice and also helped with Katrina cleanup. Welcome home soldiers.

Places To Go And People To See

CNET columnist Daniel Terdiman is taking a road trip to Nashville and is looking for sight-seeing suggestions. You might get some free stuff out of it.

Hick Town

Oreck CEO Tom Oreck told the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce that Nashville:

"...still has the a reputation outside of Tennessee as something of a 'hick town'"

Because of that, he continues:

"We almost didn't come here"

So according to one of Nashville's business leaders, the "hick town" image is bad for business.

Now which party promotes policies that might lead one to have the "hick town" perception of Nashville?

For bonus points, check out the reader comments on the Tennessean story linked above. Now how could anyone ever get the perception that Nashville might be a "hick town"?

"If Nothing Else..."

Nashville Metro Council member and national laughing stock Eric Crafton tells the Scene that his latest efforts to punish a small portion of Nashville's Latino community are motivated by his "patriotism," and that his proposed amendment will

"if nothing else," fight "stereotypes"

"If nothing else" indeed.. Makes you wonder which stereotypes he's fighting. 'Cause it sure ain't the ones about the GOP's backwoods, knuckle-dragging hatred of Hispanics.

By the way, I really think if the referendum passes, someone should sue the city to have Crafton's bio page scrubbed of any reference to his Magna Cum Laud [sic] honor from Vanderbilt. Can't have people going around talking that Latin crap, can we?

Follow The Money

In a recent press release, a group called the "Tennessee Center for Policy Research" claims Al Gore's energy use is up 10% over the last year, even though he's made improvements to the property to improve energy efficiency. The obvious point of the press release is to try and paint Al Gore as a hypocrite and a fraud. How do I know? Because the group's president, Drew Johnson, says in the press release:

"Al Gore is a hypocrite and a fraud"

Drew Johnson, it should be noted, came up from the American Enterprise Institute, a D.C.-based "think tank" rolling in Exxon cash. It might also be noted that his "Tennessee Center for Policy Research" is a non-profit organization, but does not disclose the source of its funding on its website. So Mr. Johnson may be able to claim some authority when it comes to identifying hypocrites and frauds.

Let's see how far into the press release we have to read before we pick up some bamboozlement:

NASHVILLE - In the year since Al Gore took steps to make his home more energy-efficient...

Stop there. Gore's renovations weren't completed until November.

On a side note: it may seem like a trivial matter, but Gore's energy use is not up 10%. It's down 40%.

At Least On This Issue, He's Plugged-In

Senator Lamar Alexander, along with the TVA, are touting the advantages and future of plug-in electric vehicles. And really, what better way is there out there to promote energy independence, lower the gasoline bill, and help the environment?

In that same vein, if you want to see how to encourage good old American ingenuity, and then how to crush it, go check out Who Killed the Electric Car? It's available on DVD now.