[Rich, 07:54]
Musings...

• Mr. Reedy (a SAC member) did a wonderful job, and may well have been the person to really turn the tide against even the amended AHA proposal. He emotionally, but nevertheless calmly laid out the problems he saw with it, namely that it was all about a "deal", thereby being in direct opposition to the methodology of the SAC.
• I wonder if the BoS were really in favor of the amended proposal, or if that apparent statement of support was really a tactical move to help make sure the original AHA proposal did not pass. Mr. Greeley did urge TM to support the amendment, but he never said that the BoS endorsed the substitute motion as amended, nor did he specifically urge TM to support it.
• I voted in favor of the Taber amendment (which failed), in favor of the main Foskett amendment (which passed), against the amended substitute motion (which failed), and in favor of the original vote of no action (which passed).
• I agreed with the Moderator's exercise of his statutory powers to clear the list on the Article 2 debate and start over. What came under debate was radically different than what was originally being discussed. The Moderator, by the way, is under no obligation to use any list at all. He has the power to recognize anyone he wants, when he wants. For example, it is no accident that the main proponents and opponents will almost always speak first, no matter how quickly after the article comes up you get your hand up. Over the years I have become convinced (though I obviously cannot prove it) that the list is sometimes modified mid-stream. I suppose the only thing I might have liked about the pro/con microphone scheme was that it would have allowed one to see who was planning to speak. Knowing the state of the list at any time would be interesting.
• I would love to have a dollar and poundage count of how much paper we end up receiving in toto and how much is wasted right from the start because it is placed on chairs that remain empty.
• My current position on the anti-PATRIOT ACT article is that I am personally in favor of the resolution, and that if it were on a ballot question or if Arlington used an Open Town Meeting I would vote for it. However, I think there is a lot of truth to what Mr. Kazarian said on the List some time ago about the proper magisterium of TMMs. So at the current time I believe I will abstain and also try to get a counted vote so that there will be some sort of indication of how many others abstained. I did suggest to one of the proponents that the wording be changed to substitute "Town Meeting of the Town of Arlington" in place of "Town of Arlington", as I would then be inclined to vote in favor of the resolution.