Tag: Dumb Things People Do

Had George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin in Michigan, the outcome of the trial would have been different.

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But the case, says William Cataldo, "would not have played out the way it did."

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Not here, says Cataldo, the chief of homicide for the Macomb County Prosecutors Office. In Michigan, by statute and by precedent, "If you are the aggressor in a fight, you cannot then claim self defense when you use deadly force."

We'll never know who actually shoved or punched first on a rainy night in Sanford, Fla. In this jurisdiction, it wouldn't matter.

After prosecutors and defense attorneys finished lobbing pretrial motions at one another, Cataldo says, "it's clear that a defendant who acted as Mr. Zimmerman did would be defined as the aggressor."

Besides William Cataldo talking out his a$$ about our Law in comparison to Florida's Law.  Why yes, how dare George batter Trayvon's fists with his nose, then make poor li'l Tray sit on his chest while George bashed the back of his skull repeatedly onto a sidewalk.  Clearly, that would be "defined as the aggressor" by... Cataldo's office.  Yannow, after a cursory once over of William Cataldo's background, the following quote is fitting and appropriate.

"The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who hold power, in power." - Gerry Spence

At least according to Ivory Tower editor Stephen Henderson.  Apparently mr Henderson is not happy about the verdict, and is one of those who would foment violence against another human being because HIS VERSION of justice is not served.

H/T to Dan Calabrese of the News, and writer for Cain's politics blog, who opines:

" ..  how out-of-control the media has gotten on the Zimmerman story that anyone would even think about writing what Stephen Henderson, editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press, wrote yesterday. And it's all the more so because it was Stephen Henderson, who in my experience is a thoughtful liberal ..

Calabrese is of course, objecting to Hendersons rant:

"My job is typically to make policy sense of news events. But here, I'm at a loss. As a parent, as an African American, I can't get much past thinking Zimmerman has earned every day of the hell his life should be from here on out. Injustice? I hope it visits with him often."

Zimmerman was tried, the media tried like hell to convict him in the court of public opinion, the president's administration has ORGANIZED rallies in an attempt to 'threaten' the court that a not-guilty verdict would be a not-so-acceptable result, and then we have the ivory tower ginning up hate via soy ink. While hundreds of murders have happened in Detroit, Chicago, DC in the meantime, the focus is on a man who was found to have defended himself against a real physical threat and assault.  And a publication that bears the name of one of the principle murder capitals in our nation cannot see the irony of his racial screed.

Normally, we should not pretend to understand what is in the hearts of men, and motivations which move them with regard to their acts and deeds, but we can certainly witness the failure of an editor to couch his hatred a little more carefully.

The premise that promoted the  Marketplace Fairness Act, which flew through the house tonight by a vote of 69-27, is that it is fair to those poor street based businesses, and already SOME groups are touting this as a win for the local shop-keeper or mom and pop store. And not only are pro brick and mortar lobbyists happy.  Michigan legislators are drooling at the potential windfall of nearly $450 million they feel is not being collected as sales tax receipts today.

Wow!  More money without raising taxes! Sorta Kinda.

What the geniuses in Lansing and our nations capitol do not understand however, is the incredible dynamic nature of a truly FREE market. The way things are at this time allows a flexibility that will be gone under a 'new management' consortium of nearly 40 states. (Our newest silent partners - with waiting baseball bats) This is not to say that people should not pay their taxes for online purchases, but Lansing lawmakers like Kowall and those who might actually saddle up with this not-so-well thought out plan to eek out that extra pocket change from Michigan taxpayers just puts 20 lb hammers in the hands of other states' legislatures, and marks any internet retailers who call Michigan home as spikes who are only going to be made part of the grade.

And the train rolls on.