CNN Breaking News: "Roberts documents reveal a conservative"

What did they expect, a bleeding heart liberal.

CNN reports on some recently released Reagan Era documents from the National Archives on Roberts. I won't go over the breakdown, but it is an interesting read if you haven't caught the details of the information disseminated.

As for Roberts, Bush could have done a lot worse. As petty as it may sound, I am more concerned with the young age, and the long legacy Roberts could leave on the bench. But the President nominated someone who the Left will be hard pressed to fight too hard. And if they know what is good for them, they'll save their slings and arrows for another day.

Flash

Second Thoughts?

The Hennepin County board is hedging on their smoking ban. From the STRIB:

In a sudden change of direction, Hennepin County moved closer Tuesday toward a partial rollback of a smoking ban that the state's largest county put into effect only four months ago.

The county has been under pressure to scale back the ban, and more than 100 smoking-ban opponents held signs and applauded Tuesday as commissioners voted overwhelmingly to undertake a study of the ban's economic impact.

It appeared to signal the first significant backlash to the wave of smoking bans adopted last year by metro area governments, including Minneapolis, Ramsey County and Bloomington.

So they're listening, and are going to actually take a sincere look at the fiscal impact of the ban.

But the political subplot is what is as interesting. Peter McLaughlin, campaigning to unseat incumbent Mayor Rybak, is not only in the forefront of the debate, but is viewed as the swing vote on the issue.

With the economic impact study expected to take perhaps a month, county officials said any change to the ordinance would likely not be voted on until the fall.

That timeline also would probably put the political spotlight on Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, who is considered a swing vote on any exemptions to the ban and who is also campaigning to be Minneapolis' next mayor. McLaughlin, who approved the ban last fall, voted Tuesday for the economic study.

Although McLaughlin did not directly state his intentions, he clearly sympathized with the bar owners. "We got people who are bleeding here, so let's get on with this," McLaughlin said at one point during the meeting.

Said Dorfman: "Peter's the swing. Peter makes the difference on this."

I can appreciate the desire to pursue societal benefits by banning unhealthy substances in public places. However this is a legal substance, and no one is forcing anyone to enter these establishments unwillingly. Hennepin County is beginning to recognize their flawed policy, and if Minneapolis follows suit, we may have a compromise that many can except.

Flash

Return to Space

Ever since I was a little grade school kid, I have been fascinated by the space program. I am old enough to remember Apollo 11, and the grainy B/W TV video of the first mission to the Moon.

It seems the manned space program has stagnated some, with the Challenger launch break-up, followed by an extended hiatus, and then the Columbia tragedy, followed by another extended delay.

That delay ended today, with the successful launch of the shuttle Discovery.

I was fortunate enough to huddle around the TV with my three boys and witness this momentous occasion. I wish Godspeed to the crew of the Discovery, and look forward to their safe return.

Follow the mission here.

Flash

Where's Waldo?

OK, so I have been incommunicado for awhile. I actually had planned on Centrisity going dark over the Summer. Funny, I guess, since you would think I would have more time. But sitting on the computer simply isn't a high priority, and when I do, I am doing more Drum Corps stuff then blogging.

This weekend is the last show weekend for the corps, before nationals Labor Day weekend. I have a couple projects around the house I need to knock off between now and then, so I will probably still be blogging light.

However, things are starting to heat up on the National front, and I don't know if I can stay away much longer. So I'll see if I can't touch on a couple things before I leave for the weekend.

Flash

Let's Play Hockey!

It's about time:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle Wednesday on a new labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season.

The sides met for 24 hours starting Tuesday afternoon to hammer out the collective bargaining agreement that will return the NHL to the ice. In February, commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the season, making the NHL the first North American sports league to lose a year because of a labor dispute.

Both sides still need to ratify the deal, which is expected to contain a salary cap. That process is expected to be completed next week, the league and the union said in a joint news release.

It took all night and then some for the final round of negotiations to produce an agreement.

I Should Leave the State More Often

I take off for a weekend and they turn the lights back on in the state. I was pretty void of any news most of the weekend. It wasn't until a stop in Tomah, WI when I saw the headlines on the Sunday PiPress detailing the budget discussions and the term of the ratified Lights On bill.

Like Jeff said:

It's the voters.

We voters elected Tim Pawlenty in 2002 knowing that he was unwilling to ever raise taxes, but kept the DFL entrenched in the Senate. Then, in 2004, we emboldened the DFLers by restoring them to near-parity in the House.

This, of course, cannot stand. Because both sides think they've got the voters on their side.

It's our fault, folks. If we want government to function smoothly, we should've voted straight-ticket all the way.

Of course, we can vote the bums out, but that would create just a different deadlock.

I'll reserve final judgment till I see the final budget bill.

Flash

I'll Take 2nd!

The Govies pulled it off. Facing stiff competition from the Kilties (Racine, WI) and the upstart Frontier (Dallas, TX), The Govenaires held onto 2nd place. Both the Kilts and Frontier are twice the size of us. Our visual package, with Color Guard, made up the difference for our size.

Minnesota Brass, my former corps and one I am still very involved with administratively, continued their dominance by capturing their 8th consecutive Championship, and 25th overall in 27 attempts.

The Results:

86.30 Minnesota Brass, Inc. (Twin Cities, MN)
69.75 Govenaires (St. Peter, MN)
69.70 Kilties (Racine, WI)
59.20 Frontier Dallas, TX)

This weekend is the innuagural DCA-Central weekend. DCA is the International sanctioning body for All Age Drum Corps. We'll be in Hastings, MN Saturday evening, and St. Peter Sunday Afternoon. Plan your weekend accordingly. Pure entertainment!

Flash

Potpourri

My heart and many prayers go out to the victims and their families of the horrific terrorist attack in London. May those who are responsibile get everything that is coming to them!!

I am off for the weekend. Midwest Championships await in DeKalb Illinois. I'll be back Sunday night late. Minnesota Brass has a lock on defending their title, the battle will be for second. Let's hope the Govies can pull it off!

Flash

L. Patrick Gray passes

Oh boy, had Felt not revealed himself, the speculation would be running rampant right now:

L. Patrick Gray, whose yearlong stint as acting FBI director was marked by the Watergate break-in and the ensuing scandal that led to President Nixon's resignation, has died. He was 88.

Gray died at his home in Atlantic Beach from complications from pancreatic cancer, said his son, Ed Gray, of Lyme, New Hampshire.

Gray was my pick for Deep Throat, but it was his right hand man Felt.

Flash

On This Day

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Read it all here, everyone should!

I'll be in St. Peter and Apple Valley for a couple parades and a concert. I LOVE this time of year!

Have a safe and healthy Independence Day holiday!!

Flash