Good afternoon . . .
UPDATE
An 80-year old former Klansman and preacher was convicted on manslaughter By a Mississippi. Edgar Ray Killen was convicted of three counts of manslaughter in the 1964 killings on three civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwemer.
The jury rejected pleas for a murder conviction, but rejected defense claims that Killen was not involved in the killings.
Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon said sentencing would occur later in the day. Killen seated in a wheelchair was taken into custody.
Relatives of the slain civil-rights workers were present in and near the courtroom, but not all of them saw the verdict as a victory.
Rita Schwerner Bender, praised the verdict, calling it "a day of great importance to all of us." But she said others also should be held responsible for the slayings.
"Preacher Killen didn't act in a vacuum," Bender said. "The state of Mississippi was complicit in these crimes and all the crimes that occurred, and that has to be opened up."
Defense lawyer James McIntyre said an appeal would be filed, noting the defense objected to giving the jurors the manslaughter option.
Ex-KKK Member Convicted in 1964 Killings - Yahoo! News
Tag: Edgar Ray Killen
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One of the reasons Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) lost the 2004 presidential race was his inability to develop or maintain a stance on an issue. He consistently changed sides depending on the latest polls. While this worked well for Bill Clinton, it was a disaster for Kerry.
Changing sides on an issue is no longer the hallmark of democrat presidential candidates, the Majority Leader in the Senate may have caught the same disease.
After failing to reign in support for John Bolton's nomination as ambassador to the UN and close debate in the Senate, Bill Frist (D-TN) said today he would not schedule any further votes for Bolton. It appeared Frist had given up on the nomination, lacked the leadership to press it, and cannot control Republicans. All of which is putting the president's agenda in jeopardy. It will also put Frist's presidential aspirations in jeopardy.
After a meeting with President Bush today, Frist has now changed his mind. Frist will schedule another vote on the Bolton nomination. The timeline is not known.
The president made it very clear that he expects an up-or-down vote," Frist said at the White House, after lunching with the president.
"The decision in talking to the president is that he strongly supports John Bolton, as we know, and he asked that we to continue to work," Frist said. "And we'll continue to work."
If Frist is not able to find the votes necessary to end debate and force a vote on the nomination, his value as majority leader will be over and it will be time for someone else to become leader.
It is certain the Senate Democrats and their liberal friends in the media will jump on this opportunity to show that Kerry is not the only senator who "flip-flops" on an issue.
The president made it very clear that he expects an up-or-down vote," Dr. Frist said at the White House, after lunching with the president.
"The decision in talking to the president is that he strongly supports John Bolton, as we know, and he asked that we to continue to work," Dr. Frist said. "And we'll continue to work."
In Reversal After Bush Meeting, Frist Will Seek New Bolton Vote - New York Times
Tags: Bill Frist, John Bolton
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I rarely report a sports story in this column. I would consider myself a fan of very few, but one of my passions is open-wheel racing. In particular, Indy car, Champ car, and Formula 1. Formula 1 and a few Champ cars races are really about the driving. Instead on four turns per lap, the twists and turns through city streets or on airport runways and it is a little more exciting and challenging than just turning corners.
After last weekend, Formula 1 racing in the United States is a dead sport. The "F1 debacle" as it is called has turned drivers and race fans against the up-scale, luxury racing circuit. It is too early to tell, but the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis may not return in 2006.
On Sunday, as the race was ready to being, 14 of the 20 cars in the race abruptly pulled off the track to protest the poor quality of Michelin tires. Team owners said the Michelin tires were not capable of handling the high speeds in Turn 13. Formula 1 Racing for its part refused to make a compromise that would allow teams to use different tires. Formula 1 said no.
The race continued with six cars using Bridgestone tires that could handle the speed and Turn 13. Thousands of fans left the Indianapolis Motor Speedway demanding their money back. The Speed Channel, the only US channel that coves Formula 1 is, obviously, upset at the teams and Formula 1 Racing.
Today in Paris, the Formula 1 governing body charged the seven teams involved with damaging the reputation of Formula 1 Racing and violating the International Code of Sports. (Whatever.)
The FIA released copies Tuesday of letters it sent to Renault, McLaren-Mercedes, Toyota, Williams-BMW, BAR-Honda, Sauber and Red Bull.
The charges include failing to ensure they had a suitable set of tires, wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to start the race, wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to race subject to a speed restriction and combining with other teams "to make a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits immediately before the start of the race."
The teams also were accused of failing to notify stewards of their intention not to race.
Possible sanctions include fines, docked points or even an order to pay compensation.
Whatever the sanctions, whatever the eventual outcome of any further meetings, Formula 1 Racing has lost it reputation and a large chunk of its fan base, including me. So, so long Ferrari, Lotus, McLaren, and Renault, it's been nice following you for many years, but no longer. I might remove my Michelin tires from my car.
This debacle will not, repeat NOT, make me a fan of NASCAR. As noted earlier, just driving in a circle holds no interest to me.
F1 Says Michelin Teams Damaged Reputation - Yahoo! News
Tag: Formula One Racing
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Even in death, the battle over Terri Schiavo continues. The ashes of Schiavo, who died in March, were buried Monday.
Michael Schiavo angered his former in-laws by not notifying them about the burial and for the inscription of her grave marker, "I kept my promise."
He also listed Feb. 25, 1990 as the date Terri "Departed this Earth." That is the day Schivao collapsed and fell into a persistent vegetative state.
David Gibbs, the Schindler family attorney, said, "Obviously, that's a real shot and another unkind act toward a grieving mom and dad." The Schindler's continue to believe that Michael Schiavo had something to do with their daughter's collapse are do not believe the results of an autopsy that supported many doctors and Mr. Schiavo's claims.
Once and for all, will you people let her rest. As long as the acrimony exists between the families, it cheapens her memory and just makes more money for lawyers. It is time to grieve in peace and let Terri rest in peace.
Schiavo's Remains Buried Amid Acrimony - Yahoo! News
Tag: Terri Schiavo
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More tomorrow.
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