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During a conversation with the manager at the local convenience store about more possible drilling in the Gulf, he opined that it was pretty stupid to put more oil production at risk in the Gulf when hurricanes come through, and what’s really needed is another refinery well inland that isn’t going to be shut down every time the wind picks up in the Gulf.

His store is no longer open 24/7, as he can’t make expenses when he doesn’t have gas to sell.

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That Colored Fellow makes a valid point about talking about DeLay’s troubles. Democrats should just shut up and let justice take its course. If Democrats respond, it lends credence to DeLay’s complaints.

And, on the topic of silence, I agree with Steve Bates that the DLC should shut up.

Until they prove they can win an election, they have no business rendering opinions. The candidates who listen to them lose, so their advice is worse than worthless.

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I have been ignoring this but Bennett defends controversial race comments.

Whether he’s willing to admit it to himself, Bennett is a racist, more so because he doesn’t understand why people are upset. He keeps fixating on the abortion comment and misses the real point that he makes the automatic assumption that “black = criminal”.

For those who don’t have the experience in criminal justice statistics that I gained submitting reports to the New York State Police for inclusion in the FBI national statistics, minorities are over represented in the prison system because they are over represented in the lowest income group.

If you have the money there are a lot of options that are available to keep you out of prison, even if you are convicted. If you have the money, you can get out of jail by posting a bond before trial.

If you are poor, the number of options is greatly reduced and you will sit in jail prior to trial because you can’t make bail. In many jurisdictions the poorer you are, the more of a flight risk you are considered, and the higher your bail.

In Florida, if two people, one rich and the other poor, are convicted for the possession of a small quantity of drugs, the wealthy person can afford to enter a program that will keep them out of prison and erase the conviction after a year, while the poor person goes to prison, loses their right to vote, and has a felony conviction on their record.

You have to have the money for a private attorney to get the deal and to pay for the program. If you’re poor, you’re screwed.

Since Bennett refuses to recognize his racism, he should just shut up and go back to his crap tables. It is people like Bennett that almost let Charles Stuart and Susan Smith get away with murder.

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1940-1980

[Editor: Yes, that’s a valid type of Florida license plate.]

[Update: Links to All Florida specialty plates and Florida Association of Food Banks, Inc. plate site.]

[Update deux: You can order a sample of this plate for $10. Thanks to Mustang Bobby.]

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