February 07, 2006
You're Kelo-ing me!
The Weekly Standard updates on the progress of Logan Clements, the dot-com-millionaire cum documentarist who seeks to expose the absurdity of the Kelo decision by "eminent domaining" Justice David Souter's family homestead in Weare, NH to turn the property into a bed and breakfast that will be known as the "Lost Liberty Hotel". From the article:
"Clements likens himself to firefighters who, to combat a raging blaze in the forest, will sometimes set small fires in its path to starve the original fire of fuel before it can become an all-consuming wildfire, thus "fighting fire with fire." His numerous critics suggest that he's engaging in vigilantism, and that this is tantamount to protesting capital punishment by killing the guy who throws the switch on the electric chair. But that's a hard sell. Vigilantes operate outside the law, and it's illegal to kill the executioner. By contrast, Clements is operating inside the law, illustrating its absurdity by using the law against itself. "Why," he asks, "should the law be beyond its own reach?""Sounded like a prank at first, right? But this guy is serious, and he seems to have the citizens of Weare coming around to his side.... Only time will tell if Souter loses his house to Kelo, or Kelo loses itself to the courts.
Posted by caltechgirl at February 7, 2006 11:48 AM | TrackBack
Comments
This was settled last week. The town voted it down and IIRC instructed TPTB to regulate against takings for private use.
Posted by: Jay at February 7, 2006 12:25 PMsomedays it pays to follow politics! This is delicious!
Posted by: Phoenix at February 7, 2006 12:40 PMI really would like to see the Justice's house taken.
Posted by: Contagion at February 8, 2006 05:04 AMIf it could only happen, I would pay any amount to stay in that hotel.
Posted by: oddybobo at February 8, 2006 07:52 AM