Voter Registration Forms in Color

According to the New York Post, Peter Rivera, a New York State Assemblyman from the Bronx, seeks to introduce a bill to require racial and ethnic data on voter registration forms.

This is, of course, absurd on its face. For one thing, there has not really been any racial purity amongst the population for the past 2,000 years or so. How would someone of diverse parentage and grandparentage fill out the form? And, of no less concern, what would be gained by placing what would inevitably be a strain on the New York State Budget, which is in poor shape as it now is?

What is even more amazing (though not at all unwelcome) is that the Congress for Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) and the NAACP are not warming up to the idea! Given the historical stances taken by those two groups, one would not be surprised to see either back such a scheme.

But it does sort of make sense for CORE and NAACP to steer clear of this one. They stand to gain little, and in fact, it may well backfire by yielding statistics which would embarrass them. There is too much of whatever credibility CORE and NAACP may possess that would be risked. Hey, it is so easy to register to vote by mail anymore that NAACP and CORE would be very hard pressed to find any of their constituents actually being denied the right to vote on racial or ethnic grounds.

Whether the nonplussedness (if there is such a word) of CORE and NAACP is based upon principle (which I sort of doubt) or practicality, it should be a signal to Rivera to forget about the whole thing and stick his proposed bill into the paper shredder.

Miscellaneous Briefs

Got some papers to grade and work to catch up on, but here are some miscellaneous briefs, in no particular order:


A. The Dishonorable Gerald Garson was released on bail a few hours after he was led away from his sentencing in handcuffs. See prior post.

My speculation: On account of his health issues, perhaps Garson wants to figure out a way to not have to die while he is incarcerated. Brooklyn DA Hynes is continuing his investigation of corruption in the courts. Perhaps Garson and his attorneys are looking into ways for Garson to sing for his freedom.



B. On account of severe financial and budgetary problems, the NAACP is going into retrenchment mode, and will cut back on its staff and close some of its offices.

Hey, isn't this racist? Shouldn't Jesse and Fat Al and Barack Hussein Obama be leading the protest march?



C. Christopher Woods, of Harlem, is suing Novartis, claiming that after drinking Novartis's dietary supplement "Boost," he was afflicted with a persistent erection.

So, pray tell, just what is he complaining about?

If I were Novartis's CEO, I would litigate the case to its fullest, and charge the legal costs to advertising expenses. It would be money well spent!