Alabama: The “Show Me Your Papers” State

MoonHowler

From the Newsleader.com:

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Authorities said Wednesday they dropped a charge against a German Mercedes-Benz executive who was arrested under Alabama’s new crackdown on illegal immigration after a police officer caught him driving without identification required by the law.

While Tuscaloosa police arrested the man last week for not having proper citizenship documents while driving a rental car in the city, city attorney Tim Nunnally said in an email the charge was dismissed after the man later provided the documents in municipal court.

Police identified the man as Detlev Hager, 46. The company said he was in Alabama on business at the time but declined further comment.

The arrest drew widespread attention because the German automaker is one of the state’s leading employers, and its decision to build its first U.S. assembly plant in Alabama in 1993 provided the spark that helped lead to the state’s large automotive industry, which includes foreign manufacturers Honda, Hyundai and Toyota.

Republicans who support the immigration law say it will help create jobs for legal Alabama residents by driving away illegal immigrants, but some business leaders and critics of the law contend similar arrests could hurt economic development in the state by making it a less-attractive location for foreign companies.

 

This certainly sounds like dumb and dumber.  In the heart of Dixie, a state with a horrible track record on race relations should be doing everything in its power to attract new business and to improve its image.  The area is ripe for attracting new business because it is a right to work state, as a fairly low tax base, and already has an automotive industry base.  So what clod decided to arrest one of the Mercedes Benz executives?  Did they think they had discovered some well- preserved old Nazi on the run from I.C.E.?  

 

 

Bob Marshall attempts to add coaches and ADs to list of mandated reporters

MoonHowler

The Dailypress:

In the wake of the child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State the cost legendary football coachJoe Paterno his job, a Virginia legislator has filed two bills that add to the list of mandated reporters in the case of child abuse or neglect.

In HB3 and HB4 Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, proposes adding coaches and athletic directors working at colleges or universities or for private sports organizations to be required to report any suspected abuse or neglect to their local Department of Social Services.

If passed these coaches and athletic directors would be added to a long list of professionals who are considered mandated reporters by the state, including doctors, nurses, K-12 teachers and coaches, probation officers and day care workers.

The emphasis here is on  college and university level coaches and athletic directors because these individuals generally don’t deal with minors in their day to day work.  Adding these positions to the long list of mandated reporters would remove the guess work out of who is and is not responsible for reporting suspected child sex abuse. 

Perhaps it seems like over-kill but it is better to be safe than sorry.  In many ways its seems that those at Penn State were ill prepared to deal with child sex abuse.  If this bill passes into law, there will simply be no question as to the right and legal behavior required.  For once, we  give Del. Marshall a rare thumbs up. 

 

Not a Lyin’ A$$ B!tch

MoonHowler

The introduction to Lyin’ Ass Bitch was played as Michele Bachmann walked in to the Jimmy Fallon Show to promote her new book. I don’t think she recognized the music. I didn’t. However, someone must have given her a heads up because she was furious.

I don’t blame her.  The band was disrespectful.  Even if it passed her by, it was still disrespectful and undeserved.  This might be a case where someone needs to be furloughed for a week. 

Bachmann was even more furious that a day went by before she got an apology from NBC and Jimmy Fallon, who said he was unaware that was going to happen.   Again, I don’t blame her.  I am waiting to hear about the consequences for those who made an  extremely  poor choice.  Strange that those who actually misbehaved have not issued an apology. 

And lastly, what a stupid song. 

 

A totally politically incorrect thanksgiving

MoonHowler

Want to ruin the story of the first Thanksgiving? Try this video. It has all your favorite people in it. Michael Moore, Dick Cheney, and the crew from the immigrant Thanksgiving cartoon.

Along comes rethinkautism.org to save the day.  Perhaps we need to rethink who the special needs people really are: