Please sign the petition below to remove the statue of Jefferson Davis currently in Kentucky’s Capitol Rotunda, and replace it with a tribute to Muhammad Ali, “the Louisville Lip” and “the Greatest of All Time.”
I just heard from the Ali family: It is the Champ’s belief that Islam prohibits three-dimensional representations of living Muslims. Accordingly, I have adjusted the petition to call for a two-dimensional representation of Ali (a portrait, picture or mural) in lieu of a statue.
UPDATE (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)
In this interview with WHAS-TV’s Joe Arnold, Governor Steve Beshear endorses the idea of honoring Muhammad Ali in the State Capitol (although he disagrees with removing Davis). Arnold explores the idea further on his weekly show, “The Powers that Be.”
Click here to check out WDRB-TV’s Lawrence Smith’s coverage of the story.
And here’s my op-ed in Ali’s hometown paper, the Louisville Courier-Journal.
UPDATE (Saturday, June 4, 2016)
In the wake of the 2015 Charlestown tragedy, in which a Confederate flag-waving murderer united the nation against racism, all of the most powerful Kentucky policymakers — U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Governor Matt Bevin, Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker Greg Stumbo — called for the removal of the Davis statue from the Rotunda. Today, as we commemorate last night’s passing of Muhammad Ali, there is no better moment to replace the symbol of Kentucky’s worst era with a tribute to The Greatest of All Time.
UPDATE (Wednesday, June 8, 2016):
Great piece by Lawrence Smith of WDRB-TV in Louisville on the petition drive to replace Jefferson Davis’ statue in the Capitol Rotunda with a tribute to Muhammad Ali.
UPDATE (Thursday, June 9, 2016):
Excellent piece on the petition drive by Jack Brammer that was featured on the front page of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Highlight of the article:
Miller said he has received a few “angry comments” on his call to honor Ali.
“One of them encouraged me to kill myself,” he said. “You can quote me that I have decided not to take their advice.”
UPDATE (Friday, June 10, 2016)
The petition drives continues to show the Big Mo(hammed): check out these stories from WKYU-FM public radio in Bowling Green and WKYT-TV, Channel 27 in Lexington:
UPDATE (Saturday, June 11, 2016):
Still not convinced? Check out this excerpt from today’s New York Times:
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Mon Nov 7, 2011 at 3:00 PM ET
The Politics of Pigskin
The top story this week in the world of football is the drama surrounding the Penn State football program. If you haven’t heard about this story yet, it disturbing and probably the worst scandal in college sports history. Dan Wetzel did a fantastic job framing the history and the allegations. [Yahoo! Sports]
The fallout in Happy Valley has already begun as two major players in the scandal: AD Tim Curley and Senior VP for Business and Finance Gary Schultz have stepped down. This is only the beginning of what will surely have lasting effects on the Penn State program for years to come. [USA Today]
Changing directions to the weekend’s NFL action – this week’s MMQB discusses Eli Manning’s clutch play and the Giants big win over the Patriots and other results around the league. Make sure you check out the retrospective on Ryan Leaf. [Sports Illustrated]
In Sunday’s best game the Ravens executed a game-winning 4th quarter drive to beat the Steelers at Heinz Field. It’s always a contentious game when the two biggest rivals in the NFL play each other, but the Ravens managed to sweep the regular season series for the first time since 2006. [ESPN]
Check out the Football Outsiders’ excellent analysis of long and short sack percentages. [Football Outsiders]
#1 ranked LSU beat #2 Alabama this weekend to remain undefeated and almost certainly get a shot at another national title. [NY Times]
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Mon Nov 7, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
As an alumna of Vanderbilt University, I get defensive when my school is wrongly criticized. In recent months, Vandy has gotten some bad press from certain news sources. Usually when Vandy gets bad press, it has something to do with the football team. This fall, however, the controversy has been centered on the university’s decision to enforce its nondescrimination policy. To Chancellor Zeppos, the Rev. Gretchen Person, and to everyone else involved with the enforcement of the university’s policy–I applaud and commend you.
Back story: The constitution of the Christian Legal Society, a student organization of Vanderbilt’s Law School, included a requirement that officers adhere to certain religious beliefs. CLS, along with a handful of other, primarily religious, student groups, were placed on “provisional status” after a university review found the groups’ constitutions to be in noncompliance with the univeristy-wide nondescrimination policy. The response from conservative news sources has been hostile. In an article published in the Daily Caller, Robert Shibley, Senior Vice President of Fire wrote “Pity the modern college administrator — it must be painful to be so politically correct that you’re forced to make embarrassing and nonsensical decisions.” Comments such as these have greatly angered me, mainly because they are unfounded. And before anyone accuses me of being a militant secularist set out to destroy religion, I want to make clear that I am a person of deep faith convictions. I was involved with a variety of student religious organizations during my undergraduate experience at Vanderbilt, and those experiences helped shape my journey that led me to seminary and to seek a vocation in ministry. That being said, let’s move on…
Read the rest of… Sandra Moon: In Defense of My Alma Mater, Vanderbilt
By Patrick Derocher, on Mon Nov 7, 2011 at 12:30 PM ET
According to a new book, Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords continues to recover from he near-fatal shooting and remains aware of the more amusing aspects of California politics.
A little bit of levity can never hurt. Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, critically wounded in a shooting that left six others dead and 12 wounded, is quoted extensively in her and her husband Mark Kelly’s new book about the ordeal as making numerous political witticism’s. Most notable? Upon seeing a picture of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Giffords is reported to have said “Messin’ around. Babies.” The book, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, hits bookshelves next Tuesday, November 15. [Huffington Post]
The New Jersey General Assembly continued, without resolution, its battle over whether Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) would be able to keep her position. Oliver, the state’s first female, black Speaker, is being assailed by her own party, led by majority leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who is angling for the Speaker slot. Oliver’s offense? Breaking with her caucus and agreeing to bring healthcare and pension reforms up for debate in the Assembly. Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), claimed Friday that a coalition to keep Oliver’s position safe had been established, but Cryan denounced that claim as premature. [NJ.com]
In the Wisconsin State Assembly, a bill is being voted upon that would lower the qualifications for primary and secondary school nurses. Opposed strenuously by the Wisconsin Association of School Nurses, the measure would repeal an administrative rule passed last year (and supported by the Association) that requires school nurses to possess a four-year bachelor’s degree. Although public health training requirements would remain the same, the Association argues that by permitting two-year Associate’s degrees, the level of care being provided will decline. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
A bill was introduced in the Massachusetts State Senate that would require that state’s public schools teach social media skills. The bill, introduced by Sen. Katherine Clark (D-Melrose), was scheduled for a hearing last week, but there has been no word since on the status of the bill or the reaction from teachers’ unions and other such industry groups. [Boston Herald]
The race for New York’s 10th Congressional District is getting interesting as Democratic candidate Hakeem Jeffries, who is looking to unseat 15-term incumbent Edolphus Towns in next year’s primary, is looking to exploit a potential weakness in Towns’s fundraising. After using his considerable clout to direct fundraising efforts to his daughter Deidra, the elder Towns’s coffers are less than full, leaving Jeffries and others to wonder if that venture left him less able to compete in future House races. Deidra Towns was running in a special election to replace her brother in a State Assembly seat. [NY Daily News]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Mon Nov 7, 2011 at 9:15 AM ET
Hey ladies, here’s something that will either make you feel good about yourselves or sad for your dating prospects. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that one-fifth of American males aged 24 to 35 still live from their parents. [Time]
By Jonathan Miller, on Mon Nov 7, 2011 at 8:25 AM ET
Welcome to a special episode/week at The Recovering Politician.
With a brilliant wife, mom, sister, and two daughters (and A not-so brilliant female dog), I’m surrounded by strong, empowered women. The adults in that group have been powerful spokeswomen for femal empowerment, the teens are well on their way.
So this week, we are dedicating the site to he issue. You will hear from some outstanding women writers, and all of our Weekly Web Gems will focus on the female side of our everyday issues.
So put away your y chromosomes, it’s time to celebrate the better sex.
By Jonathan Miller, on Fri Nov 4, 2011 at 12:30 PM ET
In an otherwise excellent column on the national ramifications of next week’s Kentucky gubernatorial election, one of my favorite political journalists, Howard Fineman of The Huffington Post, writes:
And then there is the charm factor. [Governor Steve] Beshear is a good ol’ boy of the old school, the kind of guy you’d see at the lunch counter. [Running mate Jerry] Abramson — who would be the first Jew elected to statewide office in Kentucky — looks like a prosperous, well-barbered guy in the good seats at the ballgame, but he’s just as gregarious, and he’s traveling the state from Pikeville to Paducah to talk about the jobs he has managed to bring to the Louisville area. (Emphais added)
By Jason Atkinson, on Fri Nov 4, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Contributing RP Jason Atkinson has followed up his Internet sensation, “Big Mo” — which debuted here at The Recovering Politician — with a new short film on fishing, “Half Pounder.”
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Fri Nov 4, 2011 at 9:15 AM ET
Reports out of the Indianapolis Colts state Peyton Manning is still looking to practice this season and retains hope that he may play in a game in 2011. Manning had his third neck surgery in 19 months in September when he had part of his spine fused. Unbelievable. [ESPN]
Blog this!
So, this turns some commonly used forms of birth control into murder. What a great idea!
