Carol Moseley-Braun goes into the organic food business

Former Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, (D-IL), had a senatorial career that even her onetime ardent supporters referred to as an embarrassment. She mostly stayed out of trouble as the Bill Clinton-appointed US ambassador to New Zealand after her she was defeated in her Senate re-election bid.

In 2004, Carol ran for president, but disappointed dozens when she dropped out of the running even before the Iowa caucuses were held. Braun endorsed Howard Dean after withdrawing. Like Al Gore, Tom Harkin, and other prominent Dems, Moseley-Braun didn't forsee the bursting of the Dean bubble.

Carol better hope she has better business sense that political, she's going to be selling organic food, under the banner Ambassador Organics. If she doesn't, she'll soon be broke.

From AP:

I see it (Ambassador Organics) as a continuing of my public service and my commitment to public service," Braun, the first black woman elected to the Senate, told the Chicago Tribune. "If I can help people to eat healthier, if I can help Americans' diets to improve, if by my company I can help build the infrastructure that expands the availability of healthy foods, then I will have served in my retirement from electoral politics."

The line of spices, teas and produce is named Ambassador Organics -- an apparent nod to Braun's time as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. Braun has an 80 percent controlling interest in the new company, which still has to work out details including an exact product line and which grocery stores will sell the products.

"We haven't gotten that far," said Braun, who plans to formally introduce the brand at a Chicago trade show in May and launch the line in September. "We have not concluded contractual agreements with them (the stores)."

So, she doesn't know what she's going to sell, nor where she's going to sell it.

It's a bad start.

This press release, courtesy of Pajamas Media, has more information on Carol's career change.

Technorati tags: Illinois Politics Organic foods Food Healthy Eating Pajamas Media

Mr. Right has a new caption contest up

In the last one, I ended up in fourteenth place.

This week's contest features Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.

Technorati tags: Humor photos Rumsfeld Cheney

Ex-con and ex-Governor Dan Walker talks about George Ryan

Earlier this week, former Ill. Governor George Ryan was found guilty on various corruption charges.

The Illinois Republican's lawyers are certainly going to appeal, the turmoil within the Ryan jury gives them a little more to meat to chew on than in most cases. As things stand now, Ryan is going to prison. He's likely headed to a so-called "Club Fed" prison, but it will be no vacation. One of Ryan's predecessors, Democrat Dan Walker, spent time in prison as well.

As for what Ryan can expect, Walker knows best. He served his sentence at the Duluth minimum security prison.

From AP:

In prison, Walker scrubbed toilets and picked up cigarette butts, using a wooden rod that had the words "Governor's Stick" burnt into it.

He was also threatened by fellow inmates and forced to stand outside in the cold while waiting for meals, but Walker said the most humiliating part of the ordeal was being subjected to random searches where prison guards would bark out "strip, squat and spread."

Walker, 83, served 17 months in a minimum security prison after pleading guilty in 1987 to bank fraud, perjury and other charges related to his ownership of a suburban Chicago bank. None of the crimes were linked to his term as governor, which he served from 1973 to 1977.

"Having been there -- I repeat, having been there -- I do not wish jail for any person," Walker told the Chicago Sun-Times in a phone interview from his home near San Diego. "I really feel sorry for George and his family. ... I wish no man to have that and no man to have that disgrace that I had."

Not "Club Fed."

Technorati tags: George Ryan Illinois Ryan Trial corruption Chicago prison law crime

Profile-aphopia update: Washington Post displays symptoms

Here is headline I found on the online edition of the Washington Post:

2 U.S. Citizens Met Extremists To Talk About Attacks, FBI Says

Here are the first two paragraphs from the article, free registration may be required.

A U.S. citizen whose family came from Bangladesh was being flown to New York on Friday to face charges he lied to federal investigators about his meetings with suspected terrorists, officials said.

Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, 19, who had been living in Roswell, Ga., could be arraigned as early as Saturday in Brooklyn federal court on charges he gave numerous false statements to the FBI when questioned about his travels abroad, according to an arrest warrant unsealed Friday.

Syed Haris Ahmed was the other man arrested by the FBI.

More from the Post:

Ahmed told agents that he traveled to Canada with Sadequee in March 2005 to meet with "like-minded Islamic extremists" at which time the group "discussed strategic locations in the United States suitable for a terrorist strike, to include oil refineries and military bases," according to the affidavit. Ahmed said that Sadequee did not stay with his aunt but rather a person he and Ahmed wanted to accompany to terrorist camps for training, according to investigators.

Ah, but at least they're US citizens, as the Washington Post points out in the headline, so there is no need to worry. (Sarcasm off.)

Which brings to mind this Marathon Pundit post from last week, New phobia discovered: Profile-aphopia.

Here is what I wrote:

Profile-aphobia--an irrational fear, usually possessed by the mainstream media, of being labeled a bigot. Best exemplified by this April 10 AP headline in the San Diego Union-Tribune, U.S. citizen gets five years in drugs-for-missiles plot. This phobia is especially commonplace in news stories about Muslims who've been charged with terrorism related crimes. All criminologists agree that US citizens commit most of the crimes in the United States, and they are puzzled when mainstream reporters feel compelled to overemphasize the American citizenship of a US Muslim accused in a terror plot. Symptoms among mainstream media reporters become more severe when a Muslim is convicted of such crimes.

Treatment: Common sense, and a new writing-style book.

Technorati tags: Phobia Islam Mental Health Muslims عمر Washington Washington Post Dhimmi Media ذمي political correctness Canada crime Terrorism

Rachel Corrie play will be performed at an undisclosed location in Toronto

The American martyr for the cause of Palestinian terrorism, Rachel Corrie, is back in the news today, courtesy of Brainster.

Rachel Corrie was an anti-American extremist and member of the radical International Solidarity Movement. She was killed when an Israeli Defense Force D-9 Caterpillar bulldozer ran her over, yes, accidentally, as she tried to prevent the destruction of a Gaza home with a handy tunnel connected to a weapons cache.

The play My Name is Rachel Corrie, which is enjoying a long run in London, will have its North American debut in Toronto. Actually, according to the Toronto Star, it'll be just a script reading. On Sunday, at a location not made public, the script reading will commence somewhere in Canada's largest city. After plans for the play were cancelled in New York--after a public outcry--the Canadians are taking a lower key approach.

There is also a Rachel Corrie musical piece that gets performed on occasion, a cantata entitled The Skies are Weeping.

Tom Gross of the British magazine The Spectator wrote an article about lesser-known Rachels, Israeli Rachels killed by terrorists during the intifata.
There are no plays or cantatas about them.

Technorati tags: Palestine Israel Intifada יִשְׂרָאֵל دولة canada Toronto עלייה International Solidarity Movement ISM Rachel Corrie theater Music

George Ryan trial...not over till it's over

Fireworks in the juror room is what CBS 2 Chicago's Mike Flannery is calling what went occurred among the 12, make that 14 jurors, on the George Ryan panel.

One of the jurors, Elizabeth Ezell, somehow managed to serve eight months on the Ryan jury without her status as a fugitive on an arrest warrant remaining unknown for six months--until deliberations in the trial had already begun.

From CBS 2 Chicago:

(Ezell) "Do I have to accept being called derogatory names, shouting profanity, and personal attacks?"

Days later, several jurors fired off their own three-page letter to the judge (Rebecca Pallmeyer), about Ezell, saying, "Evelyn is either intellectually incompetent to handle the task, or she has ulterior motives behind her actions and gets physically aggressive."

Attorneys bickered for hours over whether a wallet with a private investigator's identification card found near a juror's home would scare her into thinking defense attorneys were spying on her -- or whether asking her how she felt about it would only frighten her more.

How could a fugitive like Ezell sit for six months as a juror in such a high-profile trial? Unlike in state court, potential jurors in federal court are trusted to tell the truth about their criminal records.

Fran O'Brien's update: There's a stench in Washington

Third Wave Dave is guest blogging over at Lucky Dawg News.

A very brief summary: For the last couple of years, Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse, which leases space from the Capitol Hilton in Washington, has been hosting weekly dinners for recuperating soldiers from nearby Walter Reed Hospital. O'Brien's picks up the tab.

Their lease is not being renewed by the Hilton Corporation.

The Hilton people, including Capitol Hilton General Manager, have not been forthright in explaining why Fran O'Brien's lease is being pulled.

Indepundit posted an e-mail from fellow milblogger Buzz Patterson about controversy:

I just had a long chat with Hal Koster. Our worst fears are not only well founded but grossly understated. It's a complete and thorough cluster @#$%. (Sorry, my words not his). I haven't been this pissed about anything in a very long time.

Andi, Kelleher's responses to our questions were blatant lies. Despite what Kelleher says, Hilton has done nothing to support the dinners... never met a bus, never contributed a cent, never negotiated for changes to bring the restaurant into ADA compliance, never advertised the restaurant or the dinners within their own hotel, never provided logistical support... in a word, they've done absolutely zip. In fact, Kelleher hides out in his office and has had no contact with Fran's owners. Hilton Corporate hasn't returned phone calls or e-mails. Hal has never spoken with a rep from Hilton about a future. This O'Boyle guy who is supposedly in charge of Hilton's leases has been MIA for years. Not only unprofessional in my opinion but grossly negligent. Fran's has been profitable every year in spite of the fact that Hilton won't even live up to their responsibilities for facilities management. They've had some plumbing issues... Hal and Marty now call their own plumber. Hilton wanted Fran's to re-upholster the booths and change the carpet, Hal and Marty asked for ADA compliance in return. When negotiations ceased, Hilton doubled their rent last month (doubled!). And then issued an eviction notice two weeks later.

Hal and Marty have retained lawyers and, as mentioned before, have the support of several influential organizations and people...

This is complete bullshit. Hilton has every right to make their business decisions. But our wounded vets are being kicked to the curb. When media show up now to document the process, Hilton's security team denies them access to the loading dock, the service elevator and the inhuman conditions our troops in wheelchairs have to endure to get to the frikkin restaurant.

It's not about the few thousand bucks it would cost to make this thing work... hell, I'll kick that in. This is about a bunch of numbskulls with no understanding of civil service, patriotism or, for that matter, good business sense. And I'm no hotel management major.

CBS and CNN are doing pieces tomorrow. As much as I despise MSM, I welcome this. Hannity & Colmes are doing a live hit Friday night. What's Alan gonna say? It's a right wing conspiracy? How can anyone argue in opposition to ADA especially when it's vets?

This, quite frankly, reeks. I'll be on my best behavior Saturday at the conference but this sucks. Pushing the throttles up...unarmed and unafraid. Feel free to quote me.

Buzz

Op-For weighs in:

This is turning out to be a major black eye for the Hilton Hotel chain, which is starting to look absolutely sleazy. With milbloggers nationwide converging on DC this weekend, they simply could not have picked a worse time to pull a stunt like this. Keep your eyes on the milbloggers, Foxnews, CBS, and CNN for updates.

If you'd like to help save Fran O'Brien's, you can bypass the Capitol Hilton and go straight for their corporate comm chief:

Lisa Cole, Director of Communications: Lisa_cole@hilton.com

Previous Fran O'Brien's posts:

Hilton Corp. not renewing lease of pro-troops restaurant

Fran O'Brien's update

Technorati tags: Fran O/'Brien/'s Hilton Hotels Hilton CNN
Fox News Hannity & Colmes Milblogs Military Washington

Pajamas Media podcast is up

Pajamas Media's Blog Week in Review, discussed in the previous post, is up.

Technorati tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod blogging

Later today ...A Pajamas Media podcast, The Blog Week in Review

A PJM podcast. Hear Pajamas panelists Glenn Reynolds, Tammy Bruce, and Eric Umansky. Moderator: Austin Bay. Producer: Ed Driscoll. The Pajamas staff is promising more of these in the fuature. The podcast will be available this morning on the Pajamas home page.

Technorati tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts Weblog Blogging Pajamas Media Media Politics

"Free speech" and The Vagina Monologues

Yikes! This is still going on? Yes, there is still controversy about the play the Vagina Monologues. As for myself, I don't care if the play is performing across the street from me. I don't get riled up about this kind of stuff.

A confession: I've never seen the play. But from what I heard, it involves three women sitting on bar stools yelling out the "C" word. And they pretend to have orgasms---just like in When Harry Met Sally--man, is that original.

There is a move within Catholic circles--the more conservative, or if you prefer, the Catholic part of the Catholic church, to not have the play performed on Catholic university campuses.

That would fit in with Pope John Paul II's Ex Corde Eccliesiae (On Catholic Universities), the late Pope's statement on what a Catholic university should be.

Steven Plaut has a good post about The Vagina Monologues and Notre Dame here.

In my opinion, those that view The Vagina Monologues as a free speech issue are over-reaching. Simply put, the compulsion of universities--not just Catholic ones--to perform The Vagina Monologues is about one thing: shock value. And a quick buck, since the set for the Vagina Monologues consists of three bar stools.

To say putting on the play is about free speech just doesn't carry much water.

Of course try telling that to DePaul University's President Dennis Holtschneider. When he attempted to (inaccurately) portray DePaul as a champion of free speech after the school's disgraceful conduct in the Thomas Klocek affair became widely known, Father Holtschneider said this:

Recently, I have found myself as president standing up for this academic freedom when the university withstood a nationally organized campaign against a production of The Vagina Monologues on campus.

DePaul performances of the play date back to 2003. That year, in the same Lincoln Park neighborhood where that DePaul performance took place, the Apollo Theater had an extended run of the same play. The Apollo is less than a mile from DePaul's Lincoln Park campus. It's not there anymore, but The Vagina Monologues pops here and there in the Chicago area on a pretty regular basis.

Other campuses and cities aren't that much different in regards to Vagina Monologues accessibility. In short, if a Catholic university isn't allowed to stage a production of The Vagina Monologues, students and faculty should be able to, with little difficulty, find a nearby production of the play and view the three ladies on their bar stools yelling out the "C" word again and again and again.

The "nationally organized campaign" Holtschneider alluded to comes from the Cardinal Newman Society.

Tecnorati tags: DePaul Free Speech Vagina Monologues Notre Dame Catholic Catholic Universities Chicago Illinois Thomas Klocek