North Little Rock Alderman Cary Gaines, who represents Ward 3, has resigned from the City Council. He confirmed to me last week that he faced federal investigation related to the indictment of an accused Cabot bookmaker and drug dealer who was also accused of trying to influence Gaines to steer city business to an unnamed contractor to generate kickbacks to repay debts owed the Cabot man by Gaines and the contractor.
Here's Gaines brief resignation letter. He had called me to say it would be coming and that he would have no further comment, on advice of his attorney, Chuck Banks.
Gaines was elected to a four-year term in 2006. The Council can fill the remainder of his four year term by appointment or special election.
Columnist Joe Conason, in Little Rock this week to follow Bill Clinton for a coming book, dipped into senatorial politics and found an incumbent U.S. Senator, Blanche Lincoln, looking weak rather than thoughtful. He found pressure from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and a free health clinic and a not-thinly-veiled bit of advice from Clinton, whose political sense is pretty good.
On the very same day that Blanche Lambert Lincoln will finally vote on whether to allow healthcare reform to reach the Senate floor, thousands of the dithering Arkansas Democrat's uninsured constituents will be lining up to see doctors at a free medical clinic in Little Rock. Anticipating this remarkable coincidence, Lincoln may even realize that conservative ideologues and insurance lobbyists are not the only voices that should command her attention during this debate.
Then, recalling Clinton's speech:
Clinton asked his audience, which included hundreds of Democratic donors and activists, to imagine a scenario in which he could somehow run for a third term as president (which drew enthusiastic applause). Then he asked them to consider what would happen if he offered the following campaign promise:
"If you elect me again, the first thing I'm going to do is put a $900 billion tax on you ... I'm going to have the government print the money, and put it on elevated flatbeds, and display it along the national mall. And we're going to broadcast this ceremony on national television. And then I'm going to motor myself from one end of that $900 billion to the other, sprinkling Kerosene on it, and then I'm going to set it afire and watch it burn.
"How many people do you think would vote for me?" he demanded. "If you don't want to reform healthcare, that is your position. That is what you are advocating."
Lincoln wasn't there, but she could have heard the roaring laughter all the way back in Washington.
Rock Candy, our entertainment blog, has details on cancellation of Billy Joel/Elton John concert at Verizon Arena.
Says here that FBI is taking a look at a cop's Tasering of an Ozark girl, 10, who refused to take a shower.
Jordan Johnson tweets and twitpics that students at the Clinton School of Public Service (above) are getting some words of wisdom from a sure-enough public servant.
Friday, November 20, 2009 - 17:00:07
He's angling to be the most prolific man in Little Rock music.
Jason Weinheimer's just unveiled Love Ghost, his new solo project. He recorded it in the fall with Will Boyd engineering and Tulsa's Eric Amdt on bass, New Orleans' pedal steel whiz Dave Easley, Green Day's Jeff Matika on guitar and the Boondogs' Dylan Turner on drums. Earlier this week, Weinheimer mastered it in New York, and
today you can stream it for free or download it (in just about any format) for $8. Hey technology!
It'll come out in physical form on Max Recordings soon. Love Ghost debuts in Little Rock at White Water next Saturday, November 28.
I just started listening, but on first brush, it sounds awesomely pop-y. Digging Weinheimer and Matika's harmonies. And Easley's pedal steeling.
Disappointed, though, that Weinheimer didn't take my suggestion and call the album "Succubus" or better yet "Succubus?"
It's that time again.
We've finalized the schedule of the annual
Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase. It'll kick off on January 28 at Sticky Fingerz and continue at the club through the next three or four Thursdays. Then the finals shift to Revolution on Friday, March 5.
As usual, the contest is open to any act in Arkansas who specializes in original material.
Each week, four acts square off before five judges (four regular judges and one weekly guest judge). The winner moves on to the finals.
The entry deadline is Friday, January 8. Uploading band info and mp3s of your material online
here is the easiest method. We'll also be running an entry form in the paper, beginning next week, for several weeks. So you can fill out that form and mail it and a CD in, too.
Holler at me with questions at lindsey AT artkimes.com.
