Mosque in Brentwood . . . thanks but no thanks

I'll be right up front and say, as I've often said, that Muslims love democracy until they're in the majority . . . so I am kind of intolerant of Islam. Just sayin.'

As a result, I certainly understand opposition to making exceptions for the construction of a mosque in one's residential neighborhood.

Here's a story about a proposed zoning change for an "Islamic Center of Williamson County" that might be built in Brentwood. Brentwood closer to building first Muslim mosque - WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee. Those proposing the rezoning are asking for an express exception to an ordinance passed in 2000 (Brentwood City Ordinance 2000-18) that requires a 150 ft buffer between religious buildings and roads.

Here's a link to all the details about the proposal.

I'd let the folks below know if you live in Brentwood and oppose this re-zoning--hearings are scheduled for next week.

Roger Horner, City Attorney.

Mayor Betsy Crossley, Cell phone: 440-9460

Vice-Mayor Mr. Rhea E. Little, III, Cell phone: 417-7733

Regina Smithson, Home phone: 377-0115

Joe Sweeney, Home phone: 373-1546

Anne Dunn, Hone phone: 370-3702

Joe Reagan, Home phone: 370-3730

Paul Webb, Cell Phone: 428-3913

UPDATE: It appears that the Mosque's proponents are no longer asking for a variance. Also, here's some info on the group's spokesperson. BTW, how are 40 families (doctors or not) able to fund this project? To which sect of Islam does this church belong?

Relevant Follow-up Article:
FOXNews.com - Plans to Build Massive Islamic Centers Raise Concerns in Tennessee:

But critics say the Muslims who now call Tennessee home are looking to expand their places of worship far beyond their need. What's more, they say, the organizations building the Islamic centers have provided no account for how they received the massive funding their projects require.

Of even greater concern, some critics say, are fears that a radical Islamic agenda may be behind the planning for these large Islamic centers.

There's got to be a racial angle on bail outs . . .

Sorry, but I'm opposed to the Democrats' plans to "reform the financial system" or "hold Wall Street (duh-duh-duh-duhhhhh) accountable." Of course, there's no other reason than racial animosity for me to oppose this, right? Here's a great article on the subject. GetLiberty.org >> They Dare Not Call it a Bailout An excerpt:

To be certain, it is a bailout. And it perpetuates the moral hazard that causes the so-called “too big to fail” financial institutions to take risks they otherwise would not.

How? In part, the bill expressly includes a revolving $50 billion TARP-like fund designed to capitalize failing financial institutions that might otherwise be finding their way to bankruptcy court — where they belong. Republicans are calling it a "permanent bailout fund."

Dude was just citing data on homosexuality and child rape

You may have heard (Vatican under fire for linking gays to pedophilia) that a big cheese at the Vatican--Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is "under fire" for a comment he made in reference to links between homosexuality and pedophilia:

Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, who is sometimes called the "deputy pope," told a news conference in Santiago on Monday:

"Many psychologists and psychiatrists have shown that there is no link between celibacy and paedophilia, but many others have shown, I have recently been told, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and paedophilia."

"This pathology is one that touches all categories of people, and priests to a lesser degree in percentage terms," he said. "The behaviour of the priests in this case, the negative behaviour, is very serious, is scandalous."

NYTimes obfuscating the obvious

Interesting how David Leonhardt twists this debate from being about too many Americans on the dole, to being about wealthy people whining about taxes. It is rank foolishness to deny that most people are indifferent to the bill when they're not paying it. Economic Scene - Yes, 47% of Households Owe No Taxes. Look Closer. - NYTimes.com:

Forty-seven percent. That’s the portion of American households that owe no income tax for 2009. The number is up from 38 percent in 2007, and it has become a popular talking point on cable television and talk radio. With Tax Day coming on Thursday, 47 percent has become shorthand for the notion that the wealthy face a much higher tax burden than they once did while growing numbers of Americans are effectively on the dole.

Trust us lawyers to pick your judges

This National Journal article hand wrings about campaign advocacy from certain sources. National Journal Online - Big Money Already Flowing Into Judicial Elections:

Close to four months after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling to roll back restrictions on corporate political spending, conservatives continue to downplay its significance.

Predictions that the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling will unleash a torrent of corporate money are wildly overblown, free speech advocates insist. As evidence, they argue that corporate money has yet to flood elections in the 26 states that already impose no limit on corporate spending.

But a closer look at state-level elections suggests that independent political expenditures by corporations, unions and other special interests are substantial. This is particularly true in judicial elections, which have gotten dramatically costlier, nastier and more controversial over the past decade. The Citizens United ruling may impact judicial races even more drastically than federal elections, some experts argue.

Actually, a closer look merely demonstrates that "corporate" expenditures are only a smidgeon higher than expenditures from "lawyers and lobbyists" (ahhh, if only we all were able to, as individuals, give serious money to candidates we supported . . .). But the underlying message of the article (i.e., the message espoused by the experts selected by Eliza Newlin Carney to comment on the subject) is that electing judges is unwise because voters somehow don't appreciate Rule of Law. All the anti-judicial-election commenters imply that we need low-key campaigns for judges because voters cast ballots based on the political positions of judicial candidates. Actually, polling data reflect that voters care more about judicial activism than they do about a judge's position on particular issues.

Vandy pitcher's extraordinary out . . .

I'll bet many people have already seen this video of Vanderbilt pitcher Corey Williams (no relation) making a tremendous play moments after having his knee cap shattered by a Florida Gator line drive.


Which reminds me: why do they play with aluminum bats in college baseball?