Good morning . . .
There is a hitch in the trial and sentencing of PFC Lyndie England. On Monday England entered a plea of guilty to charges stemming from her role in prisoner abuse in Iraq.
Tuesday, the court selected 5 men and 1 woman to hear testimony to decide on a sentence for England. Part of the plea agreement set her sentence below the minimum 11 years.
During testimony today, Judge Col. James Pohl stopped the proceedings after learning that England may be not guilty based on the testimony. The witness is England's former boyfriend Charles Garner. Garner revealed that the photograph of England holding a leash was part of a legitimate prison procedure.
Graner, addressing the leash incident, said the prisoner involved had repeatedly threatened and assaulted Americans. "I had wrapped what I call the tether around his shoulder and ... it slid round his neck. I asked (England) to hold the tether and I took three quick pictures," he said.
"There is evidence being presented that you are not guilty," Pohl told England.
"If you don't believe you are guilty, if you honestly believe you were doing what Graner told you to do, then you can't plead guilty," the judge said.
During the course of the proceeding judge Pohl has made clear the guilty plea could be jeopardized by any statements by England or evidence in her defense that would undermine her admission of guilt.
Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Pohl has the right to reject the plea and proceed to trial.
Reuters AlertNet - Guilty plea in question at Iraq prison abuse trial
--
A new website is under development to "shed light on the REAL Hillary Clinton and the danger she and her ideas pose for America."
The "Stop Her Now" website is an effort of Arthur Finkelstein, a political activist who advises conservative Republicans, and William Black, a political fundraising.
The site launched Tuesday says it will reveal the truth about who Hillary really is.
Stop Her Now describes Sen. Clinton as an "experienced political chameleon" who already is beginning a "massive makeover campaign" to portray herself as mainstream -- "while hiding her extreme left-leaning agenda of government-run national health insurance, sky high taxes, and giving felons the right to vote."
The website is also asking for donations to help it "stop her now."
--
A Wisconsin bill that would require photo IDs for voters has been stalled. Republicnas in the Wisconsin legislature could not garner enough votes to override the veto of Gov. Jim Doyle.
Following the veto on Friday, Doyle said the bill would not correct election management problems. Opponents of the bill used the same tired arguments that requiring a voter to identifying himself is a hardship on the poor, elderly, and minority groups. You need a new argument.
Republican lawmakers are moving forward with an amendment to the state constitution that would require a photo ID for voters. Unlike the vetoed bill which addressed many of the concerns, a constitutional amendment cannot be written that specifically.
A May 12 hearing is set for the amendment.
The amendment must them pass two consecutive sessions of the legislature before it can be put to a vote of the people.
JS Online: No ID needed at polls anytime soon
--
Sometimes legislatures do not seem to have enough to do. That seems to be the case with an Illinois lawmaker.
Jack Franks is apparently upset that movie theater owners do not put the "exact" time a movie will start. The time listed on the marquee and in advertisements usually shows the time when previews, commercials, and other short subjects begin.
Franks, who has nothing else to do with his time, has offered a bill in the Illinois Legislature that will require theaters to publish two times. One when the "pre-show" starts and another for when the movie actually starts.
The bill is currently in the House Rules Committee.
While Franks may be annoyed by sitting in the theater during previews and trailers, as a moviegoer I would be more upset with people arriving after the lights are off, spilling drinks and food, and climbing over me to get to a seat.
Really, shouldn't lawmakers have more important issues and causes than the start time of a movie?
NBC5.com - Money - Law Would Force Movie Theaters To List Correct Times
HB1472 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
--
More later.
No comments:
Post a Comment