Mob Rule: The Scott Roeder Defense
Update: A jury found Scott Roeder guilty of First Degree Murder. The rule of law prevails.
I was one of Dr. Tiller’s attorneys as was my father and my sister. The day Dr. Tiller was found not guilty was one of the scariest days of my life. Until the day he was shot and killed. On both days I feared for the lives of my loved ones and myself because I knew “they” would not follow the rule of law. “They” would only follow one law: mob rule.
“They” turned out to be Scott Roeder. He is the man who admits to shooting and killing Dr. George Tiller, and he took the stand today in his murder trial. According to Ron Sylvester, Wichita Eagle reporter, Defense Attorney Mark Rudy said of Roeder’s take on Dr. Tiller’s trial, “Scott thought finally someone is going to hold Dr. Tiller accountable to the law.”
What law? The law of the United States? Kansas? The law in Roeder’s own head? Dr. Tiller, whether you agree with it or not, was practicing a lawful, legal, constitutionally protected service. When Dr. Tiller was put on trial in early 2009 for allegedly violating the laws of Kansas a jury of his peers heard the evidence and found him not guilty. This finding was enough to send Roeder over the edge. Roeder determined, according to his own testimony today, in the late 90’s that the killing of abortion providers was justified. He apparently decided to wait, however and put his trust in the judicial system. It was when this judicial system violated his own moral code that he took matters into his own hands and committed the very sin he accused Dr. Tiller of perpetrating, taking a life. Roeder no longer wanted to follow the laws that man had given him. His own law become rule.
This is what is at the very heart of a violent anti-abortion movement that counts conservative anchors as it’s cheerleaders. They believe with all their heart the notion that their interpretation of the constitution, their moral code, should be placed above what the rest of the country and the courts have decided is the law. Where does it end? Scott Roeder claims to be a Christian. Perhaps if he had followed that rule of law Dr. Tiller would be with us today.
New Study Shows Coakley How She Could’ve Won, People how to breathe and the sky how to be blue
Martha Coakley (pronounced “Coakley” like Seinfeld says “Newman”) is the Democratically disgraced Massachusetts Attorney General who lost the “Kennedy” Senate seat to centerfold star Scott “here are my daughters” Brown. There has been much hand wringing and crying by the Democrats trying to figure out why she lost. (Jon Stewart has it figured out).
Now, to help clarify, a study compiled by the AFL-CIO (through normal phone polling, not arm twisting) says Coakley would have won the race if unions had been on the ground asking union members to vote. She actually LOST the labor vote to Brown 49 percent to 46 percent. So, according to this study, if more union guys had been out “pushing” Coakley votes she would’ve won. But because they didn’t strong arm the union members and actually let them make up their own minds, Coakley lost.
Not exactly a study I’d want to throw around out there. Of course, she could’ve tried being likable, accessible, and in touch with the voters.
Green Zone
Toy Story 3
A-Team
Gross New Senator Offers Daughters to Public
I am firmly convinced that somehow we have all begun to live in Bizarro World. My proof? First, The “Kennedy” seat in Massachusetts has gone to this guy:
Second? I agree with Glenn Beck. Yes, I just vomited a bit. Beck says of Brown offering his daughters up as “available” to “any one out there in the country watching” –
I want a chastity belt on this man. I want his every move watched in Washington. I don’t trust this guy. This one could end with a dead intern. I’m just saying. It could end with a dead intern.
Donate to Help Haiti Recover
Donate $10 to the Red Cross to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting “HAITI” to “90999.”
Rocky Top Riot
Tennessee Vols fans (the football kind) went a little crazy last night after Lane Kiffin announced he was heading to USC. Let’s hope Smokey stayed safe. From the Huffington Post:
Riots broke out across the Knoxville campus and flames are visible in some photos posted on Twitter. Fans even went so far as to deface the legendary Tennessee Rock, scrawling numerous obscenities and threats (“Die Lane” is one) across the fabled stone. In one video, students can be heard chanting, “Fuck you, Kiffin.”
Conan O’Brien Rejects NBC in Best Press Release Ever Released
In the year 2010, Conan O’Brien issued a press release that demonstrated why he is funnier than Jay Leno and why the Tonight Show should actually air at its original time, 11:35pm, with O’Brien as host instead of the proposed 12:05am time as suggested by NBC to make room for Leno’s big head returning to late night.
This is the press release as issued by O’Brien, per http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=451417>1=28103:
People of Earth:
In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over “The Tonight Show” in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my “Tonight Show” in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move “The Tonight Show” to 12:05 to accommodate “The Jay Leno Show” at 11:35. For 60 years “The Tonight Show” has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. “The Tonight Show” at 12:05 simply isn’t “The Tonight Show.” Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the “Late Night” show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of “The Tonight Show.” But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with “The Tonight Show,” I believe nothing could matter more.
There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.
Yours,
Conan
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