MORE CRUSHING OF DISSENT IN JOHN ASHKKKROFT’S AMERICA PHIL BREDESEN’S TENNESSEE:

A 29-year-old Nashville Scene employee, Nels Noseworthy, was handcuffed, arrested and hastily escorted without notice from his job at this alt-weekly newspaper today on charges that he accepted payment for advertisements in the Scene that police say were purchased to promote prostitution. . . . Police say the indictment stems from a yearlong investigation precipitated in part by complaints from citizens about ads in this newspaper’s “Personal Adult Services” section. Police say that indictments stem in part from conversations between Noseworthy and undercover officers posing as advertisers.

Okay, Bredesen undoubtedly had nothing to do with this. But, then, John Ashcroft often got blamed for things he had nothing to do with, too. And how can anyone expect an alt-weekly to stay in business without sex ads?