One of the icons of summer, the blooming pink mimosa. It’s a personal favorite of mine and one I am doomed to not have in my yard. Every time I get one some idiot comes along and cuts it down or kills it in some bizarre way. One I had suffered death by dog. Need I elaborate?
If anyone has a sapling, please give me a holler. I will try one more time.
Probably the same thing they think of every other two-bit butterbar that signs up to get the service to pay for their law school.
But I don’t really care, it’s not like he’s out there parading around like he was John Rambo.
I’m sure this is just the beginning. I have every intention of posting every thing like this I find.
Cato, you don’t strike me as an R. You seem more like a L by your posts. KC comes off holier than though. And I won’t even get started on his backwoods thinking regarding Women. The only thing about him I care about is that he does NOT land in the Governor’s Mansion.
Totally agree, Lafayette.
err, THOU
@Lafayette
“a Marine public affairs officer who recently told the attorney general’s office that while most of the statement is correct, “the second sentence may be technically accurate for the most part, but what it communicates is not.”
Um…. if there’s a problem, then why hasn’t the Marine Corps pressed it? That sentence by the PAO is a model of obfuscation. If its accurate..its accurate. If its not…then why not?
Lets get the real story…not speculation by one PAO and a retired Navy JAG.
Well, the circus must go on.
The DOJ just confiscated George Zimmerman’s gun without charge. I bet they will now start some sort of suit or investigation. I predict that the investigation will last at least 14 months, probably 16, and then dropped.
Just in time before scheduled protests this weekend. Shaking my head.
CS: the problem (if there is one) is not one that the Corps would “press”. There is apparently some ambiguity about Cuccinelli’s record with USMC. Bios from way back used to say 2nd Lt. USMC. In teh 2009 campaign against Brownlee, this came under question (Brownlee had a clear record as an Army officer) Cuccinelli’s campaign (or people speaking for the campaign) have said that Ken had been a commissioned officer in the Corps. There is statement out from 2009 purporting to be from the campaign saying that he was commissioned, but then went to law school, and then, despite his requests to serve as a line officer given a dearth of JAG billets, was refused by the Corps. The news that came out yesterday is that the Corps takes issue with the reasons stated by the campaign as to why KC did not serve actively.
My view is that if he was commissioned as an officer, and got an honorable discharge, he served and he is a Marine. The extraneous circumstances don’t matter. I will admit, however, that the explanation seems awfully complicated. In my day, the Corps would never decline an officer volunteering to take a line position over a JAG post.
This will go away promptly when Ken releases his DD 214 and his commissioning certificate. I hope that happens soon so the press can get on to other things. He has offered to release his tax records, so he will have no problem releasing his service record. If it is what he says, he has nothing to be ashamed of. Quite the contrary.
@Cargosquid
You need to understand that anything I find that’s inconsistent with him, I will post it. This guy is guy makes me physically ill to my stomach. I understand the USMC is not in an uproar over this. I do just find the article interesting imo. I for one am glad this p___ never really served our country. KC bites the BIG ONE!
@Cargosquid
I understand his parents are unhappy. I have been where they are, almost. My child lived, but someone else’s didn’t. However, if the evidence isn’t there, it isnt there. It wasn’t.
I also knew that the person on the witness stand lied his ass off. Evidence gathering was done poorly. Did I mention that the person on trial was not my ethnicity? I don’t think my child was run off the road because she was white. Even though he wasn’t convicted, I know he was the one who did what he did.
Back to Zimmerman…Everything they are saying might be true. But the evidence wasn’t there to convict him. They really are going to have to move on. Regardless of what happens, you cannot force people not to be prejudiced. I am not sure Zimmerman was. Only he knows that.
Then we have his OBSESSION with Virginian’s bedrooms.
From the article “If Virginians don’t want to be spied on or arrested for what they do in the privacy of their own homes, Ken Cuccinelli is not the person they should vote for as Governor. He would put Bob McDonnell, aka “Governor Ultrasound,” to shame. If Ken Cuccinelli hates anal and oral sex so much, the answer is simply. Just don’t do it. But don’t try to use government and police resources and taxpayer money to stop every other consenting adult from doing it.
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/18/virginia-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-wants-to-outlaw-oral-sex-even-for-married-couples/#ixzz2ZRsLGScL
Is your email out, Laf?
@Scout
Exactly. I agree with everything you said about this case. He should release the pertinent parts of his DD214.
@Lafayette
That’s always ok with me. I like it when improper things that politicians have done are revealed. They work for me.
@Moon-howler
Based on extensive FBI interviews, Zimmerman is anything BUT prejudiced.
But the DOJ wants to push it..soooo push it they will.
I don’t know how the FBI can see what’s in people’s hearts. I guess they can evaluate behavior.
How about the past calls to 911? Anything there? I don’t think racism was an issue here. Remember Zimmerman was a Manassas guy before he was a Florida guy. I have seen his mother and father all over town in the past. His mother worked for the state here.
It’s not working right for about a week. Checkout my FB status. The Pom & PitBull were on the loose last night. I was on the back porch and heard the gate/fence being messed with.
Did the pom and pitbull get in?
I wondered why you were ignoring my sorry butt.
I havent been on FB for a few days.
If you’re planning on attending one of reverend Al’s get togethers this weekend here’s a bumper sticker for you. “Don’t punch no one, won’t need no gun!” If you’re still able to type on Monday let us know how it went.
Huh? Why the bad grammar?
SA raises an interesting point: If Trayvon had turned to confront Zimmerman (which he apparently did) and Trayvon had had the foresight to pack heat, could Trayvon have killed Zimmerman and then succeeded with a stand your ground or self-defense defense? He certainly had reason to fear for his safety, and under Florida law, would have had no duty to retreat. Or, to bring the situation a little closer to the few facts we know about the altercation, suppose Trayvon had killed Zimmerman with his bare hands in the fracas. Would he then have been able to successfully plead self-defense?
Obviously, we don’t know the answers, but the questions themselves are interesting.
I am glad you explained that one. I didnt get it.
May want to go by the 100+ year old house at the corner of
Prescott and Quarry in Old Town Manassas. Days from
being demolished, it was saved by some
great folks in the area and is being restored.
The historic home already looks 100% better than it did
just weeks ago.
Thanks Steve. Who will own the house now?
@Steve Randolph
Hugh is a true hometown hero!!
They didn’t get in last night. They just continued on down the block opposite of their home. It was late. It’s most unusual for me to out there that late. I thought it was person in our backyard.
Article about the Prescott house from the WaPo a few weeks back.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/manassass-9300-prescott-ave-home-sees-likely-resolution-to-weary-story/2013/06/09/8d4efa10-d069-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Even Satanists have a sense of humor.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/pink-mass-westboro-baptist-church-gay-satanists_n_3616642.html
@Scout
Good question.
It would depend upon the actions of Zimmerman. Following is not illegal nor does it put your life in danger. Using just that as a reason, no…Stand Your Ground nor Self Defense apply.
Also, if he was packing heat legally, Martin would have been 21 and have better judgment (I hope) than to return 300 feet to confront a man that HAD been following him but stopped.
Apparently in Richmond “following” is illegal.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/crime/man-arrested-in-stalking-of–year-old-girl-in/article_87633fb8-f0b6-11e2-ae6c-001a4bcf6878.html
Cargo: I hade thought that one of the inescapable realities of this situation is that only two people knew exactly what happened. One of them was dead, the other on trial for his liberty, and fairly free of risk of contradiction, but, on the advice of counsel, he did not testify. Thus we didn’t know what happened beyond what we could discern from the conversation with the police dispatcher and Trayvon’s conversation with the Miami lady. Now, suddenly, you come forward with details that the world thought unavailable. Did you talk to the police? Did you offer to testify? I certainly hope so.
Wow, first governors debate at Homestead was riveting. I thought Terry McAuliffe was supposed to be inexperienced – he held his own. I look forward to seeing the 8/9 debate at 10 am at the Hylton Center in Manassas, sponsored by the PW Chamber and others.
I thought he did a great job. I could have used a little louder sound.
@Scout
My statements were all based on prosecution witness testimony and transcripts of the conversations with the police.
Nothing from the defense.
Transcripts show that Zimmerman stated that Martin was running..and got out of his car.
The dispatch said, “We don’t need you to do that.” Z said, “OK.” Later, during the 2-3 minute conversation, he told them that he didn’t know where Martin was, in response to them asking where Martin was.
Police witnesses agree that Martin’s reported actions were suspicious.
At this time, Martin was leaving the scene…last seen running.
Rachel Jeantel’s testimony puts Martin at this time, “in back of his father’s place” by Martin’s statements to her.
Zimmerman never left the area where he was talking to the police, waiting for them
Martin returned to Zimmerman’s location to confront the “cracka.”
Witnesses see Martin beating Zimmerman into the ground.
Forensics state that Martin was above Zimmerman when shot and the barrel about 304 inches from his chest.
All that is from prosecution evidence.
We all heard the same testimony. There were no police witnesses until Trayvon was dead. Secondly, Rachel Jeantel was not there and she had no clue what ‘behind his father’s place’ even meant. You can testify about what she was told and what she heard but she cannot testify about where things were or location. She wasn’t from that town even. She had never been there. Zimmerman was not under oath when he made statements.
You use the term ‘cracka’ as though you were there. You don’t know that Martin ever said that. I don’t believe there were witnesses who saw Martin ‘beating Zimmerman into the ground.’ A witness saw Martin on top of Zimmerman.
You have managed to infuse a little naration into the evidence.
Neither Scout nor I have a problem with the verdict from a legal point. I would give Scout’s legal point lots more credit than I give mine but you know what I mean. You also don’t know that Zimmerman never left the area. If he didn’t, then Martin would have been in his car.
Why is it so important to you to demonize a dead guy?
http://www.hlntv.com/interactive/2013/06/17/zimmerman-trayvon-map-interactive
Remember that dead men don’t talk. We really never got to hear Trayvon’s side of it.
Helen Thomas has died. As a young girl – she made a impression for someone brought up on Huntley-Brinkley and Walter Cronkite.
I remember her last dust up. She did go out in a blaze of glory…speaking her mind!!
Cargo- you are the only witness other than Zimmerman (who did not testify) to be in a position to know that Zimmerman had broken off his pursuit at a time when Martin was 100 yards away. You should have testified. You put a lot more faith in Jeantel’s testimony than others do.
We simply do not know how the altercation transpired. That’s why the verdict is correct. It’s not because Zimmerman didn’t make bad judgments that night that resulted in an innocent kid’s death. He calls in someone he thinks is suspicious. He stays in his truck. No one’s dead.
@Scout
The location of Zimmerman is consistent with him staying where the cops suggested.
Or are you suggesting that Zimmerman ran down Martin who was nowhere to be seen, with a 2 minute headstart, while talking normally to the cops?
I did not state how the altercation transpired. Martin was gone. Evidence shows he was “in back of his father’s place.” He then was found 350 feet away from that location. Zimmerman was still in the area that that he was when he started the conversation with the police.
I stated what the evidence shows. The prosecution evidence at that.
Yes…if Zimmerman had stayed in the truck, if Martin had gone home, if Martin had called 911….all great alternatives…..none of which matter.
The main alternative….if Martin had decided to beat on someone.
You are right…. there was not enough evidence to contradict his story of self defense, and most of the evidence presented by the prosecution actually supported his story.
@Moon-howler
I’m not demonizing anyone. I stated the facts. Good saw Martin on top of Zimmerman striking downwards. It was obvious, unless you were the prosecutor, what was going on…given the wounds to Zimmerman.
The map is pretty good, especially since it was made prior to more evidence. Where did Martin go during the 2-3 minute conversation with the police. His father’s house is just 400 feet away. He could have strolled there and the last time he’s seen before the fight…he was running.
Zimmerman did nothing wrong.
We very much disagree about Zimmerman doing something wrong. He killed an unarmed teenager for starters. Do you suggest that it ‘right?’
He additionally was tracking the kid. I want to say stalking but I won’t. He was told not to do that by the dispatcher. Basically he escalated a situation to the level it didn’t need to be. Then someone died.
I don’t believe the prosecution made its case. That doesn’t mean that Zimmerman is innocent. I still hold him morally responsible for the death of Trayvon Martin. Morally responsible isn’t the same as criminally responsible. He erred in judgement badly.
Fists? Gun? Not equal in the least, epecially when Zimmerman was the aggressor. (from evidence)
I just watched Zimmerman giving his story for the first time at that interactive map.
Now I see the scene.
Many were wondering how Martin supposedly saw the gun behind Zimmerman’s hip. By his description of his attempt to get his head off of the concrete, I can see how his gun could move from the back of his hip farther towards the front and how his clothes would move. I have the same holster that he does. It is NOT the most secure holster for vigorous movement. Z was “wriggling” to the left, dragging his hips which had Martin on top, therefore dragging the pistol to the right.
I’ll dig out my pistol later and reenact that…see if it moves.
Remember that is just one person’s account also–not under oath.
Once Zimmerman called in the report, his job was done. A kid is dead because of Zimmerman’s actions. He had other choices that would have prevented the death, no matter whose version one believes. My guess is that Trayvon’s version differs from Zimmerman’s, but we don’t have that information. The evidence did not support a guilty verdict in the mind of the jury. That’s rational. The moral responsibility rests squarely with Zimmerman.
@Scout
Everyone had other choices. Both made bad choices. But only ONE of them was beating the other. Only one of them had wounds from a beating and the other was the only one with wounds that happen by beating someone.
This is the best article I’ve found on this.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2013/07/trayvon_martin_verdict_racism_hate_crimes_prosecution_and_other_overreactions.html
Why was Zimmerman messing with him in the first place? You don’t know if there was a verbal exchange, or if threats were made.
Getting beaten up is the price you pay when you stalk people. I don’t feel sorry for him at all.
He has a huge lawyer bill and he got beaten up a little. The other guy is dead. Who would you rather be?
Your link to Saletan is constructive. Saletan is an excellent journalist. I agree with what he says: that both men were operating on stereotypes in ways that resulted in a needless death of an innocent young man. But I additionally agree with Saletan that Zimmerman was morally responsible for the death. I hope others read the link that you were perceptive enough to put up in your comment. That’s probably the highest ground on which we can all move on from the particulars of this incident to the continuing issues that the incident illuminates.
I don’t think we can rationally talk about this if we assume that we know what happened beyond Zimmerman’s deciding that Martin was suspicious, following him, leaving his vehicle, that either the pursuer or the pursued instigated a confrontation, and that the pursuer killed the pursued after a contentious verbal exchange. Beyond that, we’re simply without definitive facts. As was the jury. We have versions of events and speculations and theories, but we don’t know what happened. We simply don’t. It doesn’t matter who was beating whom, if the guy on the bottom started the fight. And we don’t know how this went from being a verbal to a physical confrontation.
Let me tell you, Cargo, if I was walking home in the dark, and was carrying (which I almost never do unless I’m going to the range and even then, I carry openly) and some guy was coasting along behind me for no apparent reason, I’d be very concerned and I’d be trying to figure out what to do about it. I would definitely feel threatened. I’d be evaluating whether I confront or run. If I confronted, and the exchange went badly, and I knew that I had no duty to retreat, I cannot guarantee that I would not “stand my ground.” Trayvon was a minor, he wasn’t carrying, but he definitely was a target and ended up a victim. The reason I feel so very certain about the idea that Zimmerman can be held accountable morally for this death is that it seems very clear to me, at least, that all he had to do was call in the “suspicious” sighting and go on about his business. I tend to agree with the jury that he could not be held criminally responsible on the limited record of what we know. But I feel pretty crappy about the whole situation, as I hope everyone does.
Looking forward, the things the President mentioned are important. Additionally, in communities that have these neighborhood watch patrols, please make sure volunteers are not carrying weapons, are not wannabe Junior G-men, and that they know that their function is to report, not to pursue or subdue. In our own lives, the President’s allusion to working to “wring out” the biases we all carry with us, is useful and meaningful. Everyone has work to do on that front.
Totally agree, once again.
I find the entire situation very troublesome but at the same time, I don’t fault the jury. The facts weren’t there.
I think Florida needs to take a long look at its stand your ground laws.
i find some of the remarks made about the president horribly offensive. I did a post on it in the night and decided not to publish.
@Moon-howler
Just to point out….many other state have the same law.
SYG has also benefited minorities at a higher rate in Florida than whites.
One should not be forced by law to retreat in the face of danger if you feel it better not to.
yes, by all means shoot people if that is your choice.
Huh? I would imagine that not all state laws involving stand your ground at exactly alike. Secondly, I don’t think people should ever feel that shooting first is the preferred option.
I certainly think people have the right to defend themselves if their lives are threatened. However, I am not sure people shoul feel emboldened to be agressive.
@Moon-howler
That’s just it.
SYG is only about not being forced to retreat…ie..from your home, from a place you have a right to be.
ALL other rules for self defense apply. And all of the state laws are similar. Some details are different.
You CANNOT be an aggressor and use this as a defense.