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 Michael Steele, on Thu Aug 4, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
I, like many of you, probably spent more time than I really wanted watching political “leaders” in Washington free-fall to a decision on our nation’s debt. As I listened to the partisan excuses, whines and outright misrepresentation of what triggers a “default,” it occurred to me that all of the drama and general posturing by both Democrats and Republicans over raising the nation’s debt ceiling could have been avoided.
When asked on Dec. 8, 2010, whether he and the other Democrats would raise the debt ceiling, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid responded, “Let the Republicans have some buy-in on the debt. They’re going to have a majority in the House. I don’t think it should be [done] when we have a heavily Democratic Senate, heavily Democratic House and a Democratic president.”
So as I watched members of Congress, especially Sen. Reid, looking sullen and complaining about the Tea Party caucus in the House and the “intransigence of Republicans” overall throughout the debt-ceiling talks, I thought back to that Dec. 8 interview and wondered what we would be talking about right now if the Democrat majorities in the House and Senate (under the leadership of the White House) had passed an increase in the debt ceiling in December. Perhaps we’d be talking about jobs?
It is no wonder, then, that this proud nation and its hardworking citizens found themselves on the brink of financial default and bankruptcy because some in Washington would rather play “gotcha” politics with our problems than solve them.
A Federal Fiscal Crisis
And yet we can no longer afford to deny what we already know: Federal spending has spun out of control, surging 47 percent between 2001 and 2008, with spending increasing 9.1 percent (or $249 billion) in 2008 (the last year of President George Bush’s term) and now reaching a whopping 30 percent of the gross domestic product after the first two years of the Obama administration. Annual entitlement-program spending accounts for 54 percent of the nation’s budget, and these fixed costs have soared by 6.4 percent since 2000.
Read the rest of… Michael Steele: Debt Deal Is Not About Who Won and Lost
Well, tomorrow, you’ll hear from a Republican. And not just any: The immediate past chair of the Republican National Committee, contributing RP Michael Steele. Tune in first thing tomorrow to see how he analyzes the outcome.
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Aug 3, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
Even famous American diplomat Madeline Albright makes mistakes. In her own words, read about the pin that angered Vladimir Putin and made her think twice about what she wears. [Newsweek]
Americans, take a vacation! This infographic captures how truly overworked the American workforce is. [Good Magazine]
In an ugly budget battle, Representative Gabby Giffords’ appearance in Congress puts the debate in perspective. [Time]
Marvel takes a step in the right direction with its newest Spiderman. Meet Miles Morales, a half-black, half-Latino teenager. [Washington Post]
By Robert Kahne, RP Staff, on Wed Aug 3, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
The Politics of Baseball
The MLB trading deadline has come and gone. Who were the winners and losers? Let MLB Trade Rumors sort it all out for you. [MLB Trade Rumors]
The Colorado Rockies have a 15-game Sunday losing streak going. Does God hate them? [Bugs & Cranks]
Here is a great piece about the character Kelly Leak from the Bad News Bears film series. [Deadspin]
Lou Gehrig had a complicated relationship with all the women in his life, especially his mother. This is a strange tale about Gehrig, a suitor, and some memorabilia. [New York Times]
By Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, on Wed Aug 3, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
The headline in the passenger’s Washington Post Express newspaper two seats in front of me on the Metro caught my eye: “Home Births Up 20%.” Wow, I thought, that’s impressive.
Inevitably, the headline brought back memories of my children’s births. Three of our four daughters were born at home, and the fourth would have been, but I went into labor while visiting my mother in McLean, Virginia. Instead of rushing back to Baltimore, I hustled across the Potomac to the Bethesda Birthing Center, where Kerry Sophia was born.
Since the turn of the last twentieth century, the trend has been toward hospital births, and now less than 1 percent of all births are at home. Still, that 20 percent increase reported by the Centers for Disease Control is stunning.
Expense may have something to do with the uptick. One woman quoted in the Associated Press article that ran in the Express said that her home birth cost $3,300 as opposed to over $10,000 in a hospital.
But the trend toward home births is not just about cost. It’s about the kind of experience one wants. That’s why my husband, David, and I chose to have our children at home. The decision took a lot of thought and consideration.
When I was pregnant for the first time, I’d never considered a home birth. My mother had given birth 11 times, each time in a hospital. Without knowing the alternatives, I imagined that was where I would have my own children.
Read the rest of… Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: Giving Birth at Home-A Good Idea?
By Patrick Derocher, on Tue Aug 2, 2011 at 4:04 PM ET
Ending weeks of highly contentions debate, President Obama signed the Budget Control Bill into law on Monday afternoon.
The long national nightmare, as Gerald Ford might say, is over. After the Budget Control Bill sailed to approval in the Senate, garnering 74 “Ayes” and 26 “Noes,” President Obama signed the compromise he brokered with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The bill had previously passed in the House of Representatives by a margin of more than 100: 269 “Ayes” to 161 “Noes.” [Politico]
Now that the Bill has been signed into law, the question has been raised as to who will sit on the 12-member “Super Congress” to determine the eventual cuts that will be made to bring the deficit reduction to $2.1 trillion. Provisions have been made for each majority and minority leader to appoint three individuals. Names being tossed around by the punditry include Republicans John Kyl, Mike Crapo, and Paul Ryan, and Democrats Dick Durbin, Max Baucus, and Kent Conrad. [Washington Post]
Somewhat ironically, the budget reduction committee will come with an as-of-yet-undetermined, potentially very high, costs that are just beginning to be worked out. The costs will have to be determined shortly, as the new law requires it be convened within 45 days of the passage- today. [Roll Call]
The 2012 Republican candidates are using the passage of a debt deal as a soap box of sorts from which to discuss their views on the debt and deficit. Only former Utah governor Jon Huntsman has come out fully in support of the bill (though he referred to it as less-than-ideal), while Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and most recently Mitt Romney have come out in opposition to the deal, saying it does not go far enough. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has not entered the race but is widely speculated to be a late entrant, has kept completely silent on the matter. [Daily Caller]
Fitch has said that, even if the United States retains its AAA rating, the agency may well downgrade the country’s outlook to negative when it finishes ratings reviews at the end of August. [Reuters]
By Robert Kahne, RP Staff, on Tue Aug 2, 2011 at 3:30 PM ET
The Politics of Film
Are you one of the lucky few who watches the TV series Friday Night Lights, distraught that the critical darling is finally falling prey to cancellation? Fret not! It appears that a feature length film based on the television series is in the works. Will it be as good as the original film starring Billy Bob Thornton? Probably not, but who knows! [/Film]
It’s a fact of the movie industry nowadays that a big chunk of the revenues coming from a film are earned in foreign markets. This is a great piece by the British newspaper The Guardian about the surprisingly successful fate of the film Captain America in the overseas market. [The Guardian]
Olivia Wilde, star of Cowboys and Aliens, is apparently thinking about playing Linda Lovelace (the star of the pornographic classic Deep Throat). 1. I can’t believe I used the term ‘pornographic classic.’ 2. I will definitely go see this film if Olivia Wilde stars. [Film Junk]
The mobster classic Scarface is returning to theaters for a one day event celebrating the film’s release on Blu-Ray. If you’ve always wanted to see this film on the big screen, here is your chance to do so. If you go, say hello to my little friend for me. [IFC]
Itching for some pictures of The Dark Knight Rises? I know you are. Luckily for you, you can see some pictures at the other end of this link. [The Movie Blog]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Tue Aug 2, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
The Politics of the Media
Twitter just announced that it will be adding a new “Possibly Sensitive” filter to alert users to questionable links. [Time Techland]
In a new commercial for his upcoming talk show, Anderson, Anderson Cooper rides his bike around the streets of NYC… without a helmet. Shame on you, Anderson! [NY Magazine]
Check out this analysis of the debt crisis, in Wordle form. [Poynter]
The media has the power to make deserving people famous– and it also gives people like Spencer and Heidi attention they don’t deserve. [Newsweek]
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