Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Piffer Thread on Political Rantings and Ravings -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (6455)	1/26/2002 4:11:33 PM
From: Jorj X Mckie	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14610

Israeli Missiles, Tank Shells Hit Gaza dailynews.yahoo.com

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (6455)	1/26/2002 6:41:08 PM
From: Lazarus_Long	Respond to of 14610

Wrong. He got off too light.

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (6455)	1/26/2002 11:02:40 PM
From: J. C. Dithers	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14610

There are a lot of misconceptions about the "Hockey Dad." There is no disagreement that the victim, Michael Costa, was the first to start the fight. There is a lot of disagreement about what happened afterward, as between witnesses for the defense and for the prosecution. The victim had a long record of violence, such as assaulting a police officer, and a history of psychiatric problems. These were not revealed to the jury. Still, the jury brought in a verdict of involuntary manslaughter, for which the sentencing guidelines call for 3 to 5 years. In the guidelines, the 5 years applies to persons with long criminal records; i.e., repeat felons. Junta had not been convicted of anything, although he had been charged once with beating his wife 10 years ago, as well as assaulting a cop. The judge doubled the maximum guideline sentence for involuntary manslaughter with the 6 to 10 year sentence. It appears that the judge nullified the jury's verdict by imposing a sentence more appropriate to a case of voluntary manslaughter, a more serious crime. The judge said he was influenced by Junta's previous incident of wife-beating, but this raises the issue of why that should be relevant, if the victim's previous criminal history was not. The judge in his sentencing remarks characterized the case as "beating another man to death," even though the jury's verdict by definition was that Junta did not intentionally and knowingly try to kill someone. This case is not nearly so clear-cut as a big burly truck driver grabbing an innocent bystander and beating them to death. Most guys get into a few altercations or shoving matches in their lifetime. One unlucky shove that happened to send a person to the floor where they hit their head and died from a blood clot on the brain could land you in court facing a manslaughter charge ... a million to one shot. But it could happen. And you could deserve punishment, but not on the order of ten years in prison. IMO, the judge was unduly influenced by all the publicity surrounding this case.

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (6455)	1/27/2002 5:22:47 AM
From: Oral Roberts	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 14610

And as you pointed out he came back in order to make it happen. He will have some time to think about it. I went to Blackhawk Down yesterday. Good movie but awfully bloody which I guess war is. I didn't know whether to be thrilled or not by the full theater of patriots. In 93 when this actually happened and they dragged our serviceman's bodies through the streets while stripping them and virtually ripping them apart, nobody in this country seemed to give a shit. Clinton pulled us out of there and gave the Bin Laden's of the world the idea that we were weak and unable to take any casualties without tucking our tail and running, and nobody back here cared. It really pissed me off then and I think it still piss's me watching these people wave their flags today. I still have a special little place in my heart for Somolia and truly hope that we go back there for a little visit during our terror campaign. I suppose I should just be happy that for now our men and women of the armed forces are being appreciated and supported.