Monday May 28, 2012

Laguna's past comments

  • 0

    Laguna

    Krugman wrote today about Europe in the NYT - it is definitely worth a read.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/opinion/krugman-europes-economic-suicide.html?_r=1&hp

    Posted in: Japan considering $60 bil contribution to IMF

  • 3

    Laguna

    New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had it spot-on in a speech he gave last week:

    In reality, the NRA’s leaders weren’t interested in public safety. They were interested in promoting a culture where people take the law into their own hands and face no consequences for it. Let’s call that by its real name: vigilantism.

    Posted in: Law gives Zimmerman extra chances in legal fight

  • 7

    Laguna

    arrestpaul, please answer this: if Martin had seized Zimmerman's gun and had killed Zimmerman with it in "self-defense", would that have been justified? If not, why not?

    Posted in: Law gives Zimmerman extra chances in legal fight

  • 1

    Laguna

    Nessie - the Taliban is revolting!

    Posted in: Afghan forces regain control of Kabul after attacks

  • 0

    Laguna

    This is a contiguous fund: it exists to balance multinational government funding against private investor raiders. Think about it a bit like defense: if a raider knows the "enemy" has ample ability to fight off an attack on a bond issue, that enemy will be less likely to risk the attempt. This means that putting up the additional funds means that it is less likely that they will be used - they'll sit like an uncashed check in a drawer.

    Regarding spending, southern Europe is falling into a deflationary trap. Governments there need to walk a very fine line between controlling their spending and igniting full-scale deflation. Demanding budget cuts simply for their sake would be counter-productive; rather, emphasis should be placed on eliminating waste and fraud so that the money available can be used more efficiently.

    Posted in: Japan considering $60 bil contribution to IMF

  • 0

    Laguna

    Another coincidence: they both also reduce sperm count.

    Posted in: TV commercial of the week: Bruce Willis for Daihatsu Mira e:S

  • 2

    Laguna

    They'd do better if the pledged to hold the first Olympic Games powered solely by hot air.

    Posted in: Hosting 2020 Olympics would aid healing process - Tokyo bid chief

  • 0

    Laguna

    NK's provocations continue to have their desired effect: throwing Japan into a tizzy. I wish Japan would learn to react in measured terms to their empty threats. They have not demonstrated the ability to construct a working nuclear bomb. They have not demonstrated the ability to reliably launch ballistic missiles. The idea that they'd be able to deliver a nuclear weapon by ballistic missile is fantastic; we'll see the implementation of a space elevator before that, I'd wager.

    Let them stew. Their flavor might improve when they realize all take their broader regional threats as the bombast that they only are.

    Posted in: Defense official voices fears over possible N Korea nuclear test

  • 2

    Laguna

    The point about Romney is that a vote for him is not a vote for an independent man with an independent agenda; a vote for Romney is a vote for the Republican plank as a whole. To get just where he is now, he has sold off 90% of his independence - and the general election is just beginning.

    An America with Romney as president would not be ruled from the White House. It would be ruled by the Republican powers in Congress, and, by extension, K street and corporate boardrooms. Romney would be no more than a figurehead.

    Posted in: Romney courts gun-rights group

  • 1

    Laguna

    Used to be what happened in Cartagena, stayed in Cartagena. Betcha their wives will give them a fine welcome back.

    Posted in: Obama Secret Service agents sent home from Colombia for 'misconduct'

  • 0

    Laguna

    Gingrich said he would get the United Nations to recognize the right to bear arms as a universal right. Ha ha ha ha! Insanity on a global basis!

    http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-gingrich-promises-nra-hell-take-the-right-to-bear-arms-worldwide-20120413,0,5999013.story

    He went on to support the gun rights of Americans who will inhabit the moon station he'll build when president.

    Posted in: Romney courts gun-rights group

  • 2

    Laguna

    Give them a hand! パチパチ。

    Posted in: Bank to install palm-reading ATMs

  • 1

    Laguna

    Nah, Torafusu, it's worse than that. To "lynch" means to create a mob of vigilantes who will take law into their own hands, either because they cannot wait for the process or because they don't trust the outcome. Granted, there were a few cases in American history where whites where lynched for particularly heinous crimes. but the vast majority was against blacks, and for the latter reason: Innocent was unacceptable.

    That the neo-right turns this phrase against Martin in this case is intolerable for two reasons: it throws an historical injustice in their face; and it turns upside down a case of a wrong committed against a black as a wrong committed by a black.

    Some might use it accidentally; some might simply be copying others - but many know full well what they are doing when they use this word in this context.

    Posted in: Prosecutors: Zimmerman ignored warning to back off

  • 1

    Laguna

    Another hypothetical: let's say that, during some struggle, the gun was produced and Martin gained control of it. Would he not then be within his rights according to Florida law - in fact, even more so, considering that he had been hitherto unarmed - to shoot Zimmerman dead, seeing as he felt that his life was threatened?

    It doesn't matter what the lynch mobs claim either.

    Those who lean towards supporting Zimmerman are patriotic Americans. You can see that by the patriotic emblems on his fundraising site. Those who lean towards supporting Martin are lynch mobs. Kinda ironic how the right has misappropriated that word. In the good ol' days, lynch mobs lynched.

    Posted in: Prosecutors: Zimmerman ignored warning to back off

  • 5

    Laguna

    Was there a struggle for the weapon?

    This is a sad, sad point about America. Suppose someone were following you in Japan, and you didn't know why. The person - not wearing any uniform, not announcing himself in any official capacity - ordered you to stop. Suppose you did get in an altercation with that person, and a gun was produced - whether it was drawn or fell to the ground is immaterial. All you know is that you have been followed and accosted by an unknown person with a gun. What would you do?

    Many posters on this site imply that Martin should simply have complied with this unknown person and spread-eagled himself on the ground. If an unknown Japanese made similar demands to you, would you react in that way? Would these posters demand that you act in that way?

    Dog whistles.

    Posted in: Prosecutors: Zimmerman ignored warning to back off

  • 1

    Laguna

    Sail, interesting points - and American law is one difficult thing to understand, varying as it does by state. A few things I have gleaned:

    Evidence: "Under Florida legal rules, prosecutors have 15 days after an arrest to give the defense what evidence they have against Zimmerman." That does not mean that they have to share it with the public; this means we have no idea what evidence they will present.

    Tossing the case: this is more difficult due to Florida's arguably insane law.

    Under the Stand Your Ground law, as interpreted by the Florida Supreme Court, a judge can grant Zimmerman immunity from prosecution in this type of hearing. Here is where Zimmerman is expected to tell why he feared for his life when he scuffled with Martin. Those hearings are like a “mini trials,” King said, in which experts on Zimmerman’s emotional state will also likely be called to testify, as well as any other witnesses in the case. If a judge decides there is enough evidence to show Zimmerman did act in self-defense based on the preponderance of the evidence, the judge can rule that Zimmerman can’t be prosecuted, essentially dismissing the criminal case.

    So this is basically pass/go: should the suit continue or be tossed. It does not appear that the judge must incorporate the charges into his opinion, so it appears not to matter whether Zimmerman was charged with 2nd degree murder or manslaughter; my guess is Zimmerman will not be able to provide sufficient evidence that his conduct was justified, so the judge will allow the case to proceed.

    Prosecution will be difficult. One site noted,

    Florida law remains unique. Unlike Texas law, for example, which does not permit deadly force to be used by someone who provokes hostile action, Florida allows someone to use deadly force even if his conduct somehow created the very threat to which his lethal force responds. So if, as Zimmerman claims, Martin walked toward him and asked why he was following him, and Zimmerman reasonably felt threatened by that question, Florida gives him permission to shoot, even though his very conduct provoked Martin’s question.

    Fundamentally, this comes down to the law itself: how it should be interpreted and whether it should even exist. This should be high-profile, as it will be better to determine these legal issues before more are killed (or to allow people time to prepare for further carnage, as the case may be).

    Some have said that the 2nd degree murder charge was deliberately harsh to allow the jury to compromise on manslaughter, but as Yabits has mentioned, that is not the way Corey operates. I stand by my above comments.

    Regarding how fine a human Zimmerman is and how now so distraught, has he contacted Martin's family at least to convey his sympathy? Not that I know of, though he did apparently contact Sean Hannity. His Website plea for funding also did not indicate the slightest bit of remorse.

    Posted in: Prosecutors: Zimmerman ignored warning to back off

  • 4

    Laguna

    The choice of 2nd degree murder is interesting; most had expected manslaughter. On the other hand, 2nd degree murder is a common charge used against repeat DUI offenders who eventually cause a fatal accident - the idea being that they should by this point be fully aware the danger their choices entail.

    Most are aware that Zimmerman was arrested in July 2005 for resisting an officer with violence, which is a felony charge that could have cost him prison time. Instead, he was spared with a pre-trial diversion program, which includes classes on anger management. Most are not aware that he was also arrested a month later for domestic violence and resisting an officer without violence.

    Zimmerman clearly has problems with anger issues and violence; he has a history of arrest and a history of enforced counseling regarding these problems. This makes the above DUI precedent pertinent.

    Aside from this, that the State of Florida found it fitting to issue a gun permit to the likes of Zimmerman is not surprising - but it is still alarming. This is no doubt due to the fact that he was never convicted, and that is likely due to the fact that his father is a former Orange County magistrate judge.

    Posted in: Prosecutors: Zimmerman ignored warning to back off

  • 0

    Laguna

    My guess is this "stand yr ground" idea is meant for when someones home/property is invaded & one fears for their life or their family members lives that they THEN can use lethal force....

    GW, you're referring to the Castle Doctrine (also known as a Castle Law or a Defense of Habitation Law), a tradition of Anglo-Saxon justice. The "stand your ground" concept expands the right to lethal self-defense to any location. Supporters note the right to self-defense regardless of location; those opposed note the difficulty in determining whether an individual was actually threatened. (In the case of the Castle Doctrine, the simple act of entering private property uninvited is general proof of threat.)

    Martin's hands would have been a mess if he was throwing the beating Zimmerman alleges he received.

    Madverts, the mortician who prepared Martin's body had this to say:

    We could see no physical signs like there had been a scuffle, there had been a fight. The hands - I didn't see any knuckles, bruises or what have you. And that is something we would have covered up if it would have been there. The story does not make sense, that he was in this type of scuffle, of fight.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2122575/Trayvon-Martin-case-Funeral-director-says-victims-body-didnt-look-like-hed-fighting.html

    Of course, this was not said under oath, and the man may have had reason to cover things up - but that is unlikely. This will probably figure prominently.

    Posted in: Prosecutors: Zimmerman ignored warning to back off

  • 0

    Laguna

    An updated version of the Sharp camera I've had for years. I recommend it, particularly for its shape: the pistol grip makes holding it comfortable even for long periods, and the Flash memory means its battery life is very long. It is also small enough to fit in your shirt pocket.

    Posted in: Shoot anytime, go anywhere

  • 0

    Laguna

    Very apt that the launch of Romney's national campaign coincides with the sinking of the Titanic. Which ambitious politician would like a VP ticket on this boat? Methinks many will decline.

    Posted in: Romney 'veepstakes' begin

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