[ceilirose]

I think the question is why would prosecutors under a Bush Department of Justice be so incompetent when a Republican Senator was involved. I can't believe that they made such huge errors.

[wanderer78]

Agreed, this was a major miscarraige of justice.

Texas Rep. Betty Brown apologizes for statement on Asian-American voters

[vc318]

Originally Posted by mh67511 (View Post) The point is if the evidence had not been withheld, he might not have been convicted. He didn't receive a trial and that is a serious offense.

I can't get that this case was taken so lightly. The judge must've really liked him or something.

[sunnykerr]

I agree that there was a miscarriage of justice...

But maybe his age went into it?

As long as he's no longer able to continue or ever begin again his corrupted ways, I don't know... I guess he'll be dead soon enough.

[wanderer78]

He's a good example of why we should have term limits.

[sunnykerr]

He was/is a Senator, right? Yeah, I don't think we have term limits for Senators in Canada either.

[wanderer78]

Yes, he was a senator. I'm actually on the fence about the term limits issue, but TS does make a good case for them.

[sunnykerr]

Well, I wasn't sure if this was more politics or more entertainment, but, given the subject matter of the item, I thought it could belong here:

Judge Denies Ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich's 'I'm a Celebrity' Request A federal court judge has denied disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's request that he be allowed to travel to Costa Rica to participate in this summer's NBC revival of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! "It's way too soon. I don't think this defendant in all honesty ... fully understands the position he finds himself in," said U.S. District Judge James Zagel said in his denial of Blagojevich's request, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday. Blagojevich faces up to 30 years in prison at his upcoming trial on federal racketeering and fraud charges, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Shar noted could be enough of a reason for Blagojevich to flee if he was allowed to leave the United States for Costa Rica, according to the Sun-Times. In addition to Zagel's personal belief that he didn't he "confidence that things will not go astray if I modify bond conditions," prosecutors also noted that it could be difficult for the United States to extradite Blagojevich back from Costa Rica if he were to decide not to return once I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! ends. Blagojevich had requested for his bond conditions -- which ban him from leaving the United States -- to be modified to let him appear on the NBC reality show that will be filmed in Costa Rica. Blagojevich and his attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, had argued that he needed to participate in the show as a means to make money and support his family while awaiting trial and said he had "no choice" but to use reality TV as a means of income. "I have to do it for my kids," Blagojevich said, according to the Sun-Times. "I have to support my family." The Sun-Times reported that Blagojevich stood to make as much as $123,000 if he were allowed to appear on the show.

Judge denies ex-governor Rod Blagojevich's 'I'm a Celebrity' request - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, message boards, chat and games for unscripted television programs

So, erm, yeah...

I guess the man hasn't lost his staggering amount of nerve, huh?

[Cristofle]

A GOP Rep has claimed the story of Matthew Shepard's murder is a hoax.

Virginia Foxx: Story of Matthew Shepard's Murder A "Hoax" (VIDEO)

As the House of Representatives debates an expansion of hate crimes legislation, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) has taken the rhetoric to a new level, claiming that those who say Matthew Shepard was murdered in Wyoming for being gay are perpetrating a "hoax" on the American people. "I also would like to point out that there was a bill -- the hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. This -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills," said Foxx. A Foxx spokesman didn't immediately return a call. The Matthew Shepard "hoax" notion is a popular meme on right-wing blogs. The Matthew Shepard Foundation is dedicated to reducing hate crimes. The New York Times reported in 1998: "According to the local police and prosecutors, the two men lured Mr. Shepard out of a bar by saying they were gay. Then, the Laramie police say, the pair kidnapped Mr. Shepard, pistol-whipped him with a .357 Magnum, and left him tied to a ranch fence for 18 hours until a passing bicyclist spotted Mr. Shepard, who was unconscious." "She should be ashamed," said Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), himself a victim of a hate crime during the struggle for civil rights. "That is unreal, unbelievable. The law enforcement people and almost every reasonable person I know believes he was murdered because he was gay." UPDATE: Glenn Thrush has it that his mother may have been in the gallery when Foxx aired her theory. "Matthew Shepard's mother was in the gallery yesterday and I believe she was back today -- so I'm sorry she had to be around to hear it," Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Thrush. "It's an urban myth... And I'd tell her that man did land on the moon and the moon wasn't made out of green cheese."

Just...*shakes head* This is why I find it so hard to take the Republican Party seriously. Here are still more comments about the bill.

REP MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN): I feel that this hate crime legislation could be considered the very definition of tyranny. REP. GRESHMAN BARRET (R-SC): This bill would inhibit religious freedom in our society -- a scary thought. REP. LOUIE GOHMERT (R-TX): You think a pregnant mother does not deserve the protection of a homosexual? You think a military member doesn't deserve the protection of a transvestite? REP. STEVE KING (R-IA): I, Mr. Speaker, oppose and I defy the logic of the people that would advocate for such legislation the very idea we could divine what goes on in the heads of people when they commit crimes

Religious freedom? WTF? It's about HATE CRIMES. Last time I checked, your religious freedom didn't entitle you to commit hate crimes.

ETA: I just noticed Foxx is from my state. How embarrassing.

[sunnykerr]

Swear to God, these people are part of why the United States has a bad reputation internationally.

Look, it's simple, none of us has the right to tell another country how they should rule their land, but most democratic countries recognize the difference between a "regular" murder and a hate crime.

[Cristofle]

Our status towards homosexuality in this country is flat-out embarrassing, honestly. There's an attitude like it's contagious, we refuse them basic civil rights, apparently NOTHING counts as a hate crime against gay people...

[wanderer78]

Blagojevich is such an embarassment. I'm from Illinois and the whole situation is just terrible.

Those statements about Matthew Sheperd are just infuriating.

[Bella Grint]

I believe this is all because of this:
Urgent, full-court press for 'hate crimes' bill

[Cristofle]

Well, if they're "preaching" in a way that incites violence, I don't think that falls under the category of free speech. Free speech doesn't enable you to call someone a racial slur without getting fired, or sexually harass someone without getting prosecuted, for example. I think this is another area where the country doesn't seem to think gay people deserve the same level of protection as everyone else. Some "sermons" on homosexuality are shockingly ugly and could very easily- and often seemingly deliberately- incite people to violence.

[Bella Grint]

I understand the freedom of religion POV. A lot of people do speak of it in sermons as immoral and that is just because of their faith. However, like you said, I feel people use religion as an excuse or like some sort of shield to help further the violence as well. I don't think hatred towards homosexuals should be talked about thru religion either. Hatred and violence just aren't part of what should go against the sinner no matter what.

And then there are those who actually do commit hate crimes, actual crimes, religious motivations or not. Homsexuals can't be dismissed because of that, it's horrible.