Yearly Archives: 2009

The GOP Hardcore Loves Rubio

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

Senate Guru:: FL-Sen: Marco Rubio Crushing Charlie Crist Among Florida Republican Grassroots

Polls show that Florida voters as a whole like Crist better than any other candidate currently in the race.

And I'll bet that's maybe even true of people who identify as being Republicans; but is it true of the sort of GOP faithful who vote in primaries?

Yes, it's another turnout primary. As Senate Guru says,

Overwhelmingly, Republican Party activists in Florida prefer Marco Rubio to Charlie Crist, with disapproval for Crist and his policies being so strong that motions to censure Crist either succeed or only narrowly fail by the smallest of margins. These are the voters that know both Crist and Rubio best. Do you wonder why the Rubio camp is able to proceed with optimism in the face of statewide polls currently giving Crist a clear advantage?

The only question is whether or not the Rubio camp's organization will be effective enough to translate this clear-cut support (and broad discontent with Crist) into a sufficiently strong grassroots army to counter Crist's fundraising advantage and Washington D.C. establishment support. If Rubio does (and I think he can), a major upset may be in the works.

Actually, there's one other question: if Rubio starts looking really threatening, will he drive Crist so far to the right that his general election chances are harmed even if he wins?

Posted in Florida | 3 Comments

Winning “Why I Went to Law School” Videos

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

WSJ Law blog reports that student-loan company Access Group sponsored a contest — a $10,000 scholarship to the law student who produced the best sub-four-minute video explaining the inspiration behind his or her decision to go to law school.

Here's the winner, from Chapman University Law School, Branigan Robertson's “Discovering Inspiration”. It's good.

Runners up: Ana DeFrates, University of Texas Law School; Anna Grace, Northeastern Law (I liked this one a lot); Joseph Duerst, Arizona State; John Grimm, Georgetown; and Ted Cardos, NYU.

Posted in Law School | 3 Comments

The World Stops

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

Via downforeveryoneorjustme.com:

It's not just you! http://gmail.com looks down from here.

Posted in Internet | 1 Comment

Norway’s Secret Oil Poilcy Weapon Was an Iraqi

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

FT.com / Reportage – The Iraqi who saved Norway from oil. Incredible story on multiple fronts — the power of luck in personal lives, the power of market-based socialist planning in dealing with exogenous economic shocks, the vagaries of national myth and memory.

(found via rc3)

Posted in Econ & Money | 2 Comments

You Bet I’m Thrilled

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

Thrill the World describes itself as “The World's Largest Simultaneous Dance of Thriller” and as

an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of “Thriller” for world records and charity. A Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Thousands of people in cities around the world will learn the “Thriller”, dance and perform it together on the day that Thrill the World takes place.

OK.

And you can bet that Miami is not going to be left out of an important cultural event like this. No indeed. And here's A note from our DJ:

I can't wait until Oct 24th, 2009 so that we may make history. I know our event in Miami will be a huge success and our zombies are usually the best, considering some of the best dancers originate from South Florida.

What's that you say? They've decided where to do it? Yes, Thrill Miami: We have a venue!

I'm super happy to announce that we officially have a venue for Thrill Miami now!

The Thrill The World Miami event will be held:

On the bricks at The University of Miami School of Law (in the courtyard).

Rain or shine, we're zombie-ing it up and Thrilling the U.

Oh joy. What's that? It's a good cause?

Well, if it's for Jimmy….

If you want to participate, it seems you have to go to Dance practices. In the law school student lounge. Starting Saturday, Sept 5 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm.

Posted in Kultcha, U.Miami | Comments Off on You Bet I’m Thrilled

UM Cops Pull Guns on Student on His First Day

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

U. Miami cops pulled guns on an innocent UM student on his first day of class. Since they did it in the Communications School, there's lots of video:

The law school's overflow classroom, which I'm currently teaching tort in, is in the “Learning Center” which is the next building over from the communications school.

The Miami Hurricane reports,

“The incident is currently under investigation to determine if law enforcement officers acted appropriately,” said Karla Hernandez, the university’s director of media relations. “We are consulting the Dade County State Attorney’s Office as is the procedure on any case involving an allegation of officer misconduct.”

In the tape, Chusid appears to comply with the officers’ order to stop. He got down on his hands and knees. One of the officers kicked his arms out from under him so that Chusid was flat out on the ground. Then an officer kicked the cell phone out of his hand.

Chusid was handcuffed and taken over to a nearby seat for questioning. After several minutes the officers apparently determined they had the wrong person, uncuffed him and allowed him to use his phone.

…

UMPD said someone attempted to steal a motorcycle near the law school earlier that day. The suspect was a young, white male wearing a red t-shirt and shorts.

According to the witnesses and Chusid himself, the resemblance was uncannily close.

In the video he's being an awfully good sport about it all.

Posted in U.Miami | 4 Comments