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December 29, 2003:
Malvo:
The eighteen year old sniper was convicted. He will not be executed.
He got life with no parole. That's good enough. I don't favor
the death penalty. I think it makes us too much like him. Killing
him won't heal any wounds. As to cruelty, it is probably more
cruel to let him sit in prison with his mind festering away while
he thinks about what he has done.
They are talking about trying him in other states for the
other murders just so they can kill him. Technically they are
on solid legal ground, but there is a moral issue involved here.
Trying him again is too much like double jeopardy. He has been
convicted. He will rot in prison. Nothing more can be gained
for anyone anywhere. It's over! Let it be, let it heal, for everyone's
sake.
The Courts Rule:
They say the prisoners at Gitmo must have access to attorneys.
It's really about Habeas Corpus. That is supposed to be guaranteed
by our constitution. I doubt that the court ruling will make
a difference. Bush and his bullies will find ways to delay and
procrastinate until the prisoners have all died in their cages.
By our guys capturing Hussein, George is practically guaranteed
another four years. He will have to screw up real bad to prevent
it. By then, the captives at Gitmo will be a dead issue, so to
speak.
Jews and Arabs:
We all know that the situation between Israel and Palestine is
not solvable and can only waste our energy. It is time we made
it clear that we know. We should wish them well in finding peace
and otherwise stay out of it. We should stop subsidizing the
Jews in their murder of Arabs. We should not supply arms to anyone
anywhere. We should also make clear that we know the suicide
bombers are evil butchers. These people will not have peace until
both sides want it. Right now, neither side wants it. They would
rather murder and blame than think and reason. It's easier. Arafat
and Sharon are both evil monsters and butchers. We dirty ourselves
by associating with them. The only thing we should say to Sharon
is, a Berlin wall did not work in Berlin, it will not work in
Israel either. It will just ruin the livelihood of innocent farmers
and create more rage.
Not Witnesses:
I notice with dismay, a recent trend to let relatives of the
victims of crimes shoot off their mouths in court. My own though
is that unless a person is involved in the trial, they have no
business speaking in court. This emotional venting does not help
the victims at all. It is nothing more than a form of court supported
exhibitionism. It also borders on cruel and unusual punishment.
No satisfaction is garnered and no wounds are healed by it. In
the worst case it will please the convicted person by letting
them see the pain they have caused.
Gadhafi:
He is disarming and doing away with his weapons programs. Another
kudo for George. Will it never end? I hope you will forgive me,
but I would not trust Gadhafi or LIbia as far as I could throw
a Boeing jetliner. He has something up his sleeve besides peace.
Tom Ridge:
Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
Edwards:
I watched sixty minutes again. It seems they want an "anyone
but Dean" situation. They have the power and ability to
make anyone look like they can walk on water or vice versa. Edwards
seems to be their most recent walk-on-water beneficiary. That's
what I got. Correct me if I'm wrong. I can only wonder why Dean
frightens them and Bush did not.
Federal Grants:
Cities and even villages get federal grants every year. Even
the village of Ortonville near where I live gets a grant. They
do not need a grant. The village is solvent. Every year the council
has to sit down and figure out a way to waste that federal money.
They always manage. They have rebuild a small park on one corner
in town, four times. Now they have street lights that light up
a large part of two townships. Swell! They already had adequate
street lights. It's about ethics folks. Remember those quaint
values of our forefathers? Weren't those old timers silly? Most
of them didn't steal, cheat, or lie. Not even a handful of then
took things they had not earned. They were so silly most of them
didn't even lock their doors. Aren't you glad that kind of nonsense
is no longer fashionable?
Limbaugh:
The authorities are trying to get at his medical records. I hope
the courts don't give in. His medical records and mine are confidential.
The doctor patient relationship should enjoy the same protection
as the lawyer client relationship or the priest confessor relationship.
It is and should be sacred. To open his records would set a dangerous
precedent for all of us. Don't get me wrong. It's not about Limbaugh.
I think he is a jerk, but he does have rights under the constitution.
When we defend his rights, we defend everyone's rights. This
one is spelled out in the fifth amendment.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand
jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or
in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public
danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense
to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled
in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of
law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.
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