Essay 117

Late-aching news wired from MultiCultClassics Minutes…

• The latest He Said, He Said in the Rev. James Meeks traffic-stop-turns-into-racial-profiling incident: Now Meeks is disputing the cop’s version of the story (see Essay 116). According to a police official, the cop claimed he pulled his revolver because he felt intimidated when physically confronted by Meeks and two bodyguards. But Meeks insisted the bodyguards showed up well after the cop drew his firearm. In fact, Meeks said he had already returned to his car when the bodyguards arrived. A source close to the allegedly offending cop supported Meeks’ recollection of the timeline. Stay tuned.

• The latest He Wrote, He Wrote in the Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts incident: Now it seems like folks are desperate to dig up dirt on the candidate. The latest scandal focuses on a 1984 scenario where Roberts penned recommendations denying Michael Jackson a presidential letter for the singer’s work against drunk driving and giving concert tickets to needy kids. In light of Jackson’s ultimate alleged actions involving kids — including charges that the King of Pop served booze to youngsters — Roberts looks like a prophetic genius.

• The latest Arnold Schwarzenegger Action Move: California politicians are asking Governor Terminator to declare an emergency for the state’s border with Mexico. Arizona and New Mexico have already done so, hoping to cope with illegal immigration. For now, Schwarzenegger refuses to tell immigrants, “Hasta la vista, baby.”

• The latest rapper rehab program: Eminem checked into a hospital to get treatment for sleep medication dependency. Don’t sleep on this. Slim Shady claimed he’s got, “8 miles to go before I sleep.”