Lam's Kin **UPDATED**

George Zimmerman, who is completely innocent and law-abiding and has nothing to hide, is missing somehow. Maybe he was snatched by suspicious youths! In any event, I hope he can still access his donated legal-fund money, because police motivated by nothing other than a desire to unfairly persecute a white man are considering charging him with a crime.

 There's not even any proof that he shot anybody, aside from his admission that he shot somebody!

**UPDATE, 18:38 PST** ZIMMERMAN IS IN CUSTODY! Except on the Fox News website, where he is still at large. What's up with those guys?

A Solution We Can All Live With

This piece on Townhall.com got me thinking.

...It’s all the more amazing because this week the Chicago Sun Times revealed that a nephew of former Obama chief of staff Bill Daley, Richard Vanecko, may have confessed to killing someone eight years ago, in a case “where irregularities in the investigation, including false official reports and a case file that went missing” may have contributed letting a Daley of Chicago get away with murder. And you know what? The kid that allegedly got killed by Vanecko? His name was David Koschman and he looks a lot like my son.

There's more to the piece than that but to tell the truth, it's a little hard to follow. However, this one fact seems crystal clear to me. Like the Vanecko/Koschman incident reported above, most violent incidents in this country are "white on white" in nature - white people attacking or killing other white people.

White people, by and large, are clearly the most dangerous ethnic group in this country.

Therefore the NRA and I would surely both agree that we need a drive to make minorities aware, and encourage them to purchase guns to defend themselves. This is not a new idea. You may recall that a few years ago John Derbyshire opined that a high-school shooting would have been less of a bloodbath if all the students had been armed, on the grounds that one of them might have mowed down the assailant early on. This would be the same deal. Surely the pundits will agree that if all African-American youths in Florida were likely to be carrying a pistol, Trayvon Martin would have been less vulnerable to George Zimmerman's attack. He'd have thought twice about pulling out a gun, right?

So now I want to encourage all minority youths to arm themselves as soon as possible. Your safety depends on it.

Democrat Lawmaker Caught Sending Creepy Texts

It's not always Republicans who are behind behavior like this! You may find that comforting.

Federal agents are investigating Florida House Rep. Richard Steinberg for sending a series of suggestive and harassing text messages to a married Miami female prosecutor, court records show.

The dozens of messages, sent over the course of more than three months last fall, were sent from a phone that used software to disguise the number. The victim, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos, repeatedly begged the anonymous sender to leave her alone.

When U.S. Secret Service investigators traced the Yahoo screen name, "itsjustme24680," it led to a phone and home Internet account registered to Steinberg, a former Miami Beach commissioner whom Fernandez-Karavetsos knew only professionally.

Late Wednesday, Steinberg — in response to a request for comment from the Miami Herald — admitted in an email that he was behind the messages.

"I acknowledge and take full responsibility for sending inappropriate and unsolicited messages to Mrs. Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos, whom I have known for more than 15 years. I deeply regret and wholeheartedly apologize for the disrespect that I have shown her, her husband and my constituents," he said through a spokesman.

"Most importantly, words cannot express how sorry I am to my wife, for the disrespect I have shown her, and my entire family."

What was he thinking, you might ask? But really, you'll be much happier if you never know.

You MADE Me Write This!

Just a little reinforcement on the torture thing. A lot of people are upset about how the Times Square bomber was read Miranda Rights and not tortured, even though he still supplied good intelligence. This kind of mollycoddling wouldn't happen in China! Those guys even have no problem with torturing criminals to get to the truth. Only:

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese man who was supposedly hacked to death in a fight has reappeared in his hometown after 10 years, state media said, raising questions about police torture to extract a confession from the alleged killer.

Zhao Zuohai, the supposed killer, was acquitted of the crime and released by a Henan court on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua said, citing a court press conference on Sunday.

He had served 10 years of a 29-year sentence after confessing to killing Zhao Zhenshang in a hatchet fight in central China's Henan province, the China Daily reported this weekend.

A headless body was found in a village well about a year after the fight, at which point Zhao was arrested and confessed to the killing.

The victim, Zhao Zhenshang, reappeared in the village on May 2 to seek welfare support. He had fled after the fight because he feared he had killed the now-imprisoned Zhao.

Convictions in the Chinese court system are strongly dependent on confessions, motivating police to use force to get a confession and close the case.

See the thing about torture is that is ain't no truth serum. People will talk alright, but they'll say whatever they think will make you stop torturing them. Caveat emptor.

Another Next President Of the United States Out Of Action

This guy had potential - virulently anti-gay and representing the meat-and-potatoes county of Kern (petroleum and fast food are the chief economic engines), I give you Roy Ashburn!

Sources tell CBS13 a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in midtown Sacramento, early Wednesday morning.

The California Highway Patrol pulled over Senator Roy Ashburn at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday after an officer noticed a black Chevy Tahoe swerving at 13th and L Streets.

Ashburn, a father of four, is a Republican Senator representing parts of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino Counties with a history of opposing gay rights

When the officer stopped the state-issued vehicle, the driver identified himself as Senator Ashburn. He was arrested without incident and charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level higher than .08% or higher.

A male passenger, who was not identified as a lawmaker, was also in the car but was not detained.

Ashburn was booked into the Sacramento County Jail and released on $1,400 bond.

Voters in Kern County clearly have mighty bad gaydar. Look at the man! I mean, just look at him. Note to Republican voters everywhere - take a close look at any of your candidates who publicly speak out against any gay rights. Really. Just sayin'.

The Crawl of Justice

Man, THIS sure took a long time.

Former Louisiana congressman William Jefferson was convicted Wednesday of bribery schemes aimed at enriching him and his family in a trial that featured a freezer full of foil-wrapped cash in alleged bribe money.

A federal jury in Alexandria, Va., after five days of deliberation, convicted Mr. Jefferson, a Democrat whom voters ousted last year, of 11 of 16 counts. The charges included bribery, money laundering and racketeering.

But at least it resulted in a conviction, which is pretty rare for Louisiana politics. Extra demerits to Jefferson for keeping the bribe money in a way that made for good metaphors.

By the way, for Warner Todd: The Wall Street Journal mentions that Jefferson is a Democrat, but all the way down in the second paragraph. Plus they fail to add, "just like all those thievin' Democrat party folk."

Prosti-hacks

I am frequently impressed by the ingenuity displayed by people in business. I have two examples in mind today, both involving clever advertising and prostitution. Let me add that while I have known a prostitute, I have never KNOWN a prostitute, if you can smell what the Rock is cookin’.  So my interest is academic.

First, the occasion of my seeing a billboard for HUSTLER CASINO on the way over here. Gambling is illegal in California, except on Native American Reservations. And prostitution is illegal everywhere in the state. However, by buying a stake in a native American Casino and branding it, Larry Flynt is de-facto implying, “hey, this place is just like in Vegas! And you know what that means!” And though I haven’t driven out to Gardena I bet he’s right. Thus, they are cleverly advertising a service that they can’t even say exists.

However this is pretty weak sauce compared to a website I ran across a few weeks ago. Again remember that having sex for money is illegal; UNLESS you are producing pornographic entertainment. This company is running a “star in your own porno” ring. I’d link to it if I could remember the address, but it’s Encino based, and Encino is Reseda-adjacent. Reseda, 30 years after BOOGIE NIGHTS, is still mecca for porno.

So the pitch is, you can shoot a scene with one of their four “starlets” for only $150 (or some amount) and then they’ll release it on a compilation. If you want to shoot a scene JUST FOR YOURSELF, no public release, then it’s another $50. I suppose if you’d like them to shoot the scene and then just delete it, it’s even more.

Brilliant! Unless you’re a guy who wants to pay for sex but is also camera-shy. Or a celebrity.

And again if you’re thinking what I assume you are: I am not camera-shy, but it bugs me that I have to pay for a HAIRCUT. So put that idea outta your head.

Somalia Like It Hot

I'll tell you what I liked about the President's handling of this ship hijacking crisis - he kept his distance. Reports say that aside from authorizing the use of deadly force, the work was done by security forces, who monitored the situation and decided when to move. Obama kept his mouth shut publically, then released a statement today praising the efforts of the team that rescued the captain.

It's not too much of a stretch to imagine Bush declaring war on the Somali government, somehow unaware that there is practically no government in Somalia nowadays.

Other People's Nestle's

You'd think that our less socialistic brethern would be more inclined to pay for their own chocolately beverages, or at least refuse to accept chocolately beverages paid for by the government. As Wonkette notes:

“This fridge is located outside of the House Republican Conference in Longworth House Building. They seem to be moving offices, and this is a note they have attached to their fridge.”

I Haz A Sad

It was mostly a nice weekend for me. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU opened to decent audience response and everybody agrees that if there is anything wrong with it, it wasn't my fault. I got enough sleep. One of our local digital TV channels multiplexed to allow THISTV, which has a slate of MGM/UA movies, old episodes of THE PATTY DUKE SHOW and THE OUTER LIMITS (the first, less Canadian version) which is retro-cool. My only complaint? Some weasel stole my bike.

No, it wasn't Glenn Shadix. Not to my knowledge anyway. I chained my bike up on a rack near the theater for the Sunday matinee, went out to dinner with some cast members afterward, and when I came to retrieve the bike there was nothing left but a popped cable lock. I could have called a cab but I opted to walk home 2 and a half miles because after all, it's good exercise.

And an inconvenience. It's not like I need the bike to get around. I have a car, and work is only a mile away. Still, after I clock out today I'm going straight to the sporting goods place for another bike. I also considered a cross-country trek to search for the bike, perhaps leading to the basement of the Alamo, but it's just more convenient to replace it.

If I learned anything from the experience, it's this: cable locks are worthless, register your bike with the local police, and park where there are plenty of witnesses.

That's Not Change You Can Believe In!

I held off on Rod Blagojevich yesterday for two very sound reasons. The first, I figured that as a Democrat, right-wing bloggers would be doing the heavy lifting on it anyway; and two, I didn't want to keep looking up that damn last name. I have some Polish blood (Blagojevich isn't Polish, but close enough) and even I can't wrap my mind around those crazy consonants.

It's gratifying to see so much left-wing attention paid to the story though. Olberman devoted 15 minutes to it last night; Rachel Maddow put in what sounded like 40 to me. Stephanie Miller's show was all over it this morning. We want the guy out as much as the Republicans do, probably even more so. I admit that one reason that we're not hesitating is this, a recorded statement found among the many others:

Blagojevich was overheard complaining ...that Obama's people are "not going to give me anything except appreciation." He added: "(Expletive) them."

You couldn't ask for a better incriminating statement. It leaves Obama's happy golden unicorn status untouched. Interestingly, a tip to Fox News viewers: the Fox News website doesn't think that one is newsworthy enough to include. Well, probably no one is that interested in Obama's role in all this. Who would be, right?

Another fun aspect of Blagejovich's fall is it's spearheaded by that far-left zealot Patrick Fitzgerald. Ha ha, Scooter Libby supporters! How you like Fitz now?

Well, it's all over except for Mr. B's resignation, which I hope happens soon so the criminal trial can proceed in relative peace. It's hard work throwing people under the bus, and we're hoping the weasel will jump under there on his own. Cross your fingers, and Merry Fitzmas.

Move On

As the magic date of January 20th approaches, the question on the minds of a lot of my more extreme left friends is this - when do we finally start impeachin' and jailin'? You know what I mean. And in the past I've said that if we learned anything from the Clinton years, its that impeachment is no big deal. That is snarky. Impeachment is a big deal.

As a nation, we just can't afford to investigate the alleged crimes of the Bush administration. First of all, who wants to relive that crap? We got plenty of fresh problems to deal with; one of them the epic fail of our economy. If we pour government resources into lawyers' offices for six years, we lose. Ironically, one of the reasons the Clinton impeachment flew is because we could AFFORD to be that frivolous then.

And ultimately, the reason to prosecute any crime is to prevent other people from committing it. If Clinton was impeached for lying to Congress and a grand jury, it didn't stop Bush from the former. Anyway Bush, hopefully, was a unique animal; he did things that Presidents haven't tried since the mid 19th century. I doubt that we're going to have these abuses of power again, unless Karl Rove goes back into that business. And the money is probably better at Fox News.

Bush's punishment, I suspect, is that he's not going to be doing a lot of international travelling from here on in. We're willing to forgive and forget, but Europe may not be so amnesiac. Any foreign soil he sets foot on is likely to have a warrant out for him. And don't get them started on Cheney. Thus, Bush is in a prison which comprises 50 states. It's roomy, sure, but it's still limiting. Plus also, by his own estimation he's unlikely to see the vindication of history unless he lives to be 105. Until then, he's surrounded by a country who think he was wrong.

One more thing, which I hate to bring up, is the blowback factor. Remember when all these stories started coming out about the Clinton impeachment team? Bob Barr had paid for an abortion once, Henry Hyde had committed the "youthful indiscretion" of an affair while in his mid-forties, and so on. The point is, there's always plenty of dirty politics to bring to light. When you out someones misdeeds, you better have your own misdeeds thoroughly vetted when the dude's defense team goes after you.

Kudos to WAMK

For this, and most importantly for his brief and eloquent condemnation of it. Perhaps he's trying to out-moral me for my post earlier, but competition like that we could all use. And it's not like it's the first time either. (For the sake of clarification that last sentence is badly positioned; the context suggests that it means something other than I intended. Which is this: it's not the first time that WAMK has called out Republicans when the situation warrants it.)

More Non-Racism VIII

ATF breaks up a plan to assasinate Obama and kill 102 other African Americans. But again, Obama is the only one injecting race into the campaign.

Good on ya, ATF!

Mark It With A "B" ***Updated***

The sensible thing to do would be to hold off until tomorrow on this story; then again, the sensible thing to do would be to find something more productive than blogging.

So a few hours ago this girl claims she was mugged at an ATM in Pittsburgh. The alleged assailant (a dark-skinned black man, 6 feet 4 inches tall, 200 pounds with a medium build) got $60.00 out of her, then noticed the McCain bumper sticker on her car, "became agitated" and attacked her and carved the B in her face.


One has to be delicate here because if this girl is the victim of a mugging then she's had a very traumatic experience. And it would be naive of me to claim that an Obama supporter isn't capable of this kind of violence, because it's a big country and the majority of it appears to support Obama. They're not all saints. Still, with all that, I don't think the mugger is the one who made a political statement here.


Before I go on, I want to point out that I'm not the only one who isn't buying it. Wonkette is rejecting it outright, and to her credit, so is Michelle Malkin. (H/T for the picture, Ms. M!) So here is our problem with the story.

1. The black eye isn't swollen. Normally so soon after blow, it would be. Miss Todd has refused medical attention, so we can't get more information about this.
2. The letter - why "B" and not "O"? Seems to me an O would be a lot quicker (thus avoiding the risk of capture) and more commonly associated with Obama.
3. Why such a light touch? Wouldn't someone perpetrating such a savage attack (remember, he was said to be agitated) draw a little blood?
4. And for god's sake, why is it backward?
   

On the other hand if you were a McCain volunteer, worried about the polls, you might consider faking an attack to stir up a little rage at Obama supporters, especially the dark-skinned black ones. The backward letter recalls a similar event that occurred in the eighties to Morton Downey Jr. His show was on the way out, and he claimed to have been attacked by neo-nazis who carved a swastika on his face; but it was backward. The subsequent investigation concluded that Downey had carved it himself while looking in a mirror.



I'll give Michelle Malkin the last word. God help me.


Hate crimes hoaxes — by anyone, of any political persuasion, and of any color — diminish us all.

***Update*** Just kidding, says Ashley Todd. "You're under arrest," reply Pittsburgh police. Time to put this one to bed.

Episode II: A New Outrage

Wait long enough in a day... someone has hacked Sarah Palin's emails.

The internet griefers known as Anonymous took credit for the intrusion, and screenshots of e-mail messages and photos belonging to the Alaska governor have been published by WikiLeaks. Threat Level has confirmed the authenticity of at least one of the e-mails.

It is outrageous, but there's a mitigating factor here. Like the Bush Administration, Sarah Palin enouraged her staff to use personal email for government business, reportedly because it cannot be subpoenaed. All government email accounts are public record. And Anonymous appears to have been acting out of a desire to circumvent that strategy rather a desire to be mean to Sarah Palin.

An e-mail from her press secretary, Meghan Stapleton, indicates the message is about the "Motor Fuel Tax Suspension".

The subject line of an e-mail from Randall Ruaro, her deputy chief of staff reads, "Draft letter to Governor Schwarzenegger." Another one from Ruaro says, "Please approve" and another one is about "Court of Appeals Nominations."

Other e-mails from Ruaro indicate they're about employee and budget issues for the DPS. DPS is how Alaska refers to its Department of Public Safety.

Palin's chief of staff, Michael Nizich, sent her an e-mail August 22 with the subject line, "Using Royalty Oil to Lower the Cost of Fuel for Alaskans." The subject line of another e-mail from Nizich reads "CONFIDENTIAL Ethics Matter."

E-mails from the governor's scheduler, Janice Mason, indicate that they're about Palin's schedule for the week of August 10.

On the other hand, it doesn't appear that anything untoward or scandalous was found in the emails. On the outrage-o-meter, I'd call this a draw. If she had used public accounts to begin with, the private accounts wouldn't have been hacked.

While I'm at it, if you are conducting government business using a private account FOR GOD'S SAKE don't use your Yahoo account. That's just askin' for trouble.