Yearly Archives: 2010

Dems Win Again

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Michael Froomkin

Democrats win the congressional special election in PA-12, despite GOP claims that this would be their bellweather victory. This is a pattern:

For those keeping score, there have been seven special elections for U.S. House seats since the president's inauguration 16 months ago: NY20, IL5, CA32, CA10, NY23, FL19, and PA12. Democrats have won all seven.

The Democratic wing of the Democratic party also won in the Pennsylvania Senate primary, defeating ur-DINO ex-Republican Arlen Specter. Progressives tied in Arkansas, forcing incumbent and sometime corporate shill Blanche Lincoln into a runoff (although if I had to bet, I'd give odds she'll win the runoff, having better access to funds and likely winning more votes from the third candidate's supporters). And Democrats won the Republican primary in Kentucky, as the GOP voted down the bland establishment candidate supported by the party leadership, in favor of extremist anarcho-libertarian candidate Rand Paul, a man whose graciousness and charm are already winning deserved plaudits.

Posted in Politics: 2010 Election | 12 Comments

He’ll Try Harder

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Michael Froomkin

Hey, Dan is #2 on the Power List 2010: NextGen Media Personalities … whatever that is.

(For those under 30 or so, title is a reference to an old car rental commercial.)

Posted in Dan Froomkin | 1 Comment

Joe Garcia Begins Campaign

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Michael Froomkin

Joe Garcia kicks off his campaign for Congress in FL-25, now an open seat, tomorrow at Miami Dade College's Kendall Campus at 11:30 AM in the Dante Fascell Auditorium (Room K413).

Unfortunately I can't make it due to a conflicting obligation, but I'd appreciate a report if anyone reading this goes.

Posted in Politics: FL-25/FL-27 | 1 Comment

Graduation Day

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Michael Froomkin

Today is, was, graduation day for the class of 2010. The ceremony went well. We had excellent speeches from Larry Tribe, and student speaker Brandon Thompson. If you want, you can view the video.

I went, marched and sat, and now I'm home resting up from my labors. Sitting is hard work.

Posted in U.Miami | Comments Off on Graduation Day

UK to Scrap National ID Cards

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Michael Froomkin

Official statement just released on the IPS website,

Both Parties that now form the new Government stated in their manifestos that they will cancel Identity Cards and the National Identity Register. We will announce in due course how this will be achieved. Applications can continue to be made for ID cards but we would advise anyone thinking of applying to wait for further announcements.

First fruits of the Con-LibDem coalition.

Posted in ID Cards and Identification, UK | 3 Comments

This Case Has ‘Moot Court’ Written All Over It

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Michael Froomkin

This case, pitting the fatal-paprika-allergy-warning dog vs. the co-worker with the serious allergy to canines has great facts and a knotty legal problem — surely it is coming to a moot court or mock trial near you?

Fearing a fatal encounter with paprika, Ms. Kysel’s parents and grandparents chipped in to buy her an allergy-detection dog, which works much like a narcotics-sniffing dog. After she had extensive talks with her employer, the City of Indianapolis, officials gave her permission to take the dog to work. The golden retriever, named Penny, cost her family $10,000 — it jumps up on Ms. Kysel whenever it detects paprika.

On the first day Ms. Kysel took Penny to work, one of her co-workers suffered an asthma attack because she is allergic to dogs. That afternoon Ms. Kysel was stunned when her boss told her that she could no longer take the dog to work, or if she felt she could not report to work without Penny, she could go on indefinite unpaid leave. She was ineligible for unemployment compensation because of the limbo she was put in.

Perfect.

Posted in Law: Everything Else | 7 Comments