Who says one vote can't make a difference?

Tennessee Official Wins Election With Only One Vote, Her Own
by Associated Press

SNEEDVILLE, Tenn. — Angela Tuttle has won an election, but she won’t have to spend a lot of time thanking the people who voted for her.

Tuttle was running for constable of Hancock County, Tennessee, as a write-in candidate. Nobody else was vying for the position and Tuttle says her father encouraged her to give it a go.

County election officials says only 131 people voted in Thursday’s district elections and there was only one vote in Tuttle’s constable race. It was her vote and, yes, she voted for herself.

Tuttle is a certified nursing assistant and the mother of a 10-year-old son and will be sworn as constable December 1st. Duties include serving warrants and patrolling neighborhoods.

Tuttle’s father is a longtime constable in another district and won reelection. She says he’ll “show her the ropes.”

Who likes short shorts?

Apparently not a judge in Lancaster, Kentucky. Judge Janet Booth of the Garratt District Court jailed 28-year-old Kristie Arnold for wearing inappropriate clothing...for the third time! Arnold is awaiting trial on charges of harassment, criminal trespass, and leaving the scene of an accident. You'd think that facing a triple-whammy like this that you might want to get on the judge's good side.

When the judge asked her why she defied the judge's order, her response was: "I forgot." I'm sorry but the only time the rest of us forget to put on our pants is in our dreams. Maybe she was hoping to impress the judge with her looks and she was too dumb to notice the judge was not a man.

The best part is when she reported to jail, there was no room for her, yet she still managed to screw up as she tried to conceal a drug from a police officer when she being processed.

As you know at Supreme Dicta, we are very concerned with fashion issues, both inside and outside the courtroom. As such, we can think of no better way to celebrate our 300th post than telling this story. Thanks to all of you who read this (somewhat) humble little blog. Sorry the posting is infrequent sometimes, but I do have a life outside of this blog and sometimes life gets in the way. I'm looking forward to many more hundreds of posts in the days to come.

Biden Delivers First Speech of the Campaign

Text of the Introduction of Joseph Biden as the Democratic Presidential Nominee's Pick for Vice-President. Location: Democratic Rally in Springfield, Illinois

Obama: "Americans want meaningful change. They need hope. I know that hope is audacious. And you know that I know that hope is audacious. So, audaciously, I have selected a man who meaningfully wants to audaciously hope that we can change. Ladies and Gentlemen, the next Vice-President of the United States, Senator Joseph Biden!!!

[applause]

Biden: "Thank you! Thank you! . . .

[applause]

Biden: "Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you, Barack Obama. . . .

[applause]

Biden: "Thank you for that warm welcome. I am the man who accompanied Barack Obama to Springfield, Illinois.

[laughter. applause]

Biden: "Four score and seven years ago, I had a dream . . .

[smattering of applause]

Biden: ". . . that we could all just get along. And I asked not what my country could do for me, but what I could do for my country. And I realized that I had nothing to fear, but fear itself.

[nervous laughter]
[smattering of applause]

Biden: "There you go again. Mr. Barack Obama, tear down this Republican dominance of the White House, because I say to you the times they are a-changin' and there must be some kinda way out of here. Barrack Obama can find us that way. The time for racial discrimination is over. We need to take back Washington, D.C. for the little guy, for the average American. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

[stunned silence]

Biden: "We need not just a new generation of leadership, but a new gender of leadership. And that is why I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. And that's an inconvenient truth. Facts are stubborn things, and George Bush doesn't realize that the purpose of politics is to give people the tools to make the most of their lives.

[crickets chirping]

Biden: So, while Senator Obama and I keep our eyes on the prize, don't taze me, Bro! Because, the Vice President is not the decider. He doesn't have a magic wand that he can wave and poof!! Low gas prices. Because, one thing to remember about history is the true history. I tell you today that the future will be better tomorrow. The Middle East is hopeful. There is hope there. So, in closing . . .

[deer in headlights]

Biden:" . . . I cannot tell a lie. I am not a crook, but I do regret that I have but one life to give for. . . "

Obama: "Okay, that's enough. Joe Biden, ladies and gentlemen!

[applause]

Quick Thought for Harlan and Holmes (and the other four of you)

So I'm taking a seminar this semester on free speech, and I've picked out my paper topic. I'll be writing on Perry v. Sinderman, 408 U.S. 593 (1972). The case held that a college professor's dismissal could not be upheld on summary judgment on his lack of a contractual or tenure right to employment when he claimed that his dismissal was due to public criticism of the administration. The question I'm asking is basically, what's the likely decision on the merits of this question? Short answer is, I dunno - but I'm gonna find out.

What do you guys think?

Major Civil Rights Anniversary

Today marks the 50th anniversary of one of the nation's first successful drug store sit-ins in Wichita, Kansas.

But really, I was just looking for an excuse to post this picture.


Aww. The kitty is soo cute!

Quote of the day

Guess who said the following:

"If we had no sexual harassment we would have no children."

No it's not Clarence Thomas...or Bob Packwood...or Bill Clinton...or Mark Foley.

The answer is a Russian judge in sexual harassment ruling.

And that isn't the shocking part. Do you know how many women have prevailed in sexual harassment suits in Russia? Two. In Russia's history. That's equivalent to the number of middle fingers I have.

Plus in a recent survey, 100 percent of female professionals said they had been victims of sexual harassment (and taking into account the poll's margin of error, it is possible that the actual rate is above 100 percent :P).

The same survey found 32 percent of female professionals had been forced to have sex with their boss at least once. These results are incredibly disturbing but can be easily explained. The main reason for the prevalence of sexual harassment in Russia is due to the fact that the only restaurant chain in the entire country is Hooters.

Seriously though, my jaw is still on the floor from reading this story. It is truly despicable.

Disclaimer of the Day

For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure, check out Writ Large, the new blog by the Chicago Tribune's Jim Oliphant.

In his most recent post, Oliphant recounts watching PBS with his young daughter when he came across a curious public service announcement. The ad encouraged parents to read to their kids, hardly controversial. However, the PSA also included the following disclaimer:

The contents of this [ad] were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, its contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Priceless. Your Department of Education: unnecessarily covering its ass since 1980.