Spencerblog

More Trials and Tribulations

2009-11-20T11:03:00.003-05:00

Krauthammer disagrees with Taylor big time

That Mona Lisa Strangeness in His Smile

2009-11-20T08:24:00.003-05:00

Frank J. calls Andrew Sullivan "The Mona Lisa of Crazy," picking up where my print column left off.

You Call Yourself a Black Man?

2009-11-20T08:12:00.005-05:00

Jesse Jackson: 'You can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man.'

But you can admit to wanting to castrate Barack Obama and call yourself a black man. As long as you apologize for it.

Jackass Shooters Nabbed

2009-11-20T08:02:00.005-05:00

Great reporting job by Cindy Scharr and Rose Quinn on the stray bullet killing in Chester.

Money Q:

According to the arrest affidavit, a witness heard Johnson and Smith laughing the day after Stewart was shot about “an old lady getting shot in the bed.”

“They don’t give a f—- if one of our moms got shot, so I don’t give a f—- about her,” the affidavit quotes Smith. “Man, f—- that b—-.”

When asked if they had been in the area when Stewart was shot, Johnson allegedly responded, “Yeah, we did that s—-, we was chasing the bull on Franklin Street and hit the corner while we was shooting.” According to the affidavit, Johnson said they didn’t mean to kill Stewart, but added, “It is what it is.”

The two suspects allegedly said they had gone to the William Penn development because of a “beef” over one of their friends being shot in the eye.

I'd have a beef with the anyone who shot a friend of mine in the eye. But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't kill an innocent woman in her mother's home to get even.

BTW, good police work too.

Stuart Taylor for Attorney General

2009-11-20T07:52:00.002-05:00

The ever reasonable Stuart Taylor defends the Obama Administration's decision to trying KSM in a civilian court.

I am not convinced. But Taylor makes the case much better than Obama's own attorney general Eric Holder.

Taylor for AG.

Palin Derangement Disorder

2009-11-20T06:39:00.004-05:00

Forget Swine Flu, an epidemic of Palin Derangement Disorder is sweeping the commentariat community. My print column is up.

UPDATE: My friend Donna checks in to ask:

Is there a vaccine available? According to the "experts", we seniors over 65 are not supposed to be as susceptible to H1N1. Certainly hope this applies to PDD. I have had my flu shot, my pneumonia shot,my booster diptheria shot, and even a shingles shot! I would definitely take a vaccine for PDD. I also recommend that Letterman get in line.

Needful Suffering

2009-11-18T07:22:00.005-05:00

Patterico reports on left-coast justice from the California Supreme Court.

In overturning the conviction of a murderer, the state Supreme Court claimed that the victim didn't "suffer needlessly" while trying to prevent the robbery of her home. The U.S. Supreme Court disagreed:

The jury saw autopsy photographs showing Steacy McConnell’s mangled head, her skull crushed by 15 to 20 blows from a steel dumbbell bar the jury found to have been wielded by Belmontes. McConnell’s corpse showed numerous “defensive bruises and contusions on . . . [her] hands, arms, and feet,” . . . which “plainly evidenced a desperate struggle for life at [Belmontes’] hands.” Belmontes left McConnell to die, but officers found her still fighting for her life before ultimately succumbing to the injuries caused by the blows from Belmontes. The jury also heard that this savage murder was committed solely to prevent interference with a burglary that netted Belmontes $100 he used to buy beer and drugs for the night.

Obviously, the learned justices in California concluded Ms. McConnell suffered just the right amount.

Obama, Penn Delco, Tiger and Me

2009-11-18T07:17:00.001-05:00

My print column is up.

Pass the Haterade, Palin Wrote a Book

2009-11-18T06:39:00.007-05:00

At the very mention of Sarah Palin's name some people get the vapors.

As David Harsanyi points out you don't have to be a supporter of a Palin presidential run to think the Sarah Palin haters (Andrew Sullivan, Thomas Frank, Maureen Dowd, et al) have issues. They are trashing her autobiography "Going Rogue" with unmitigated glee.

For this bunch it is required to hate Palin in order to be considered cool. Call it "Going Vogue."

UPDATE: WaPo's Richard Cohen joins the club. Make that an institute.

Finally, the Institute for the Study of Sarah Palin will mull what she represents. She has a phenomenal favorability rating among Republicans -- 76 percent -- who have a quite irrational belief that she would not make such a bad president. What they mean is that she will act out their resentments -- take an ax to the people and institutions they hate. The Palin Movement is fueled by high-octane bile and it is worth watching and studying for these reasons alone.

High-octane bile, as opposed to the Anti-Palin Movement which is fueled by love, sweetness and light.

Hunger Strikes America

2009-11-17T07:43:00.001-05:00

New Report: 49 Million Americans at Risk of Hunger.

I'm one of them. I haven't had my breakfast yet. I'm hungry.

UPDATE: I just had a banana. Make it 48,999,999.

Yuppie Moonshine?

2009-11-17T07:38:00.002-05:00

Frank J. has the Top Ten Things Finding Ice on the Moon Means

10. Super yuppies can drink obscenely-priced moon water.

AVBL v. Penn Delco School District

2009-11-17T07:27:00.004-05:00

The Aston Valley Baseball League has filed suit against the Penn Delco School District for the school board's canceling their lease and taking back control of the baseball field that was built and maintained by league volunteers for years.

More later.

UPDATE: Just checked the courthouse for the filing but all it contained were preliminary filing from AVBL attorney Frank Catania. These documents signal the intention to sue. But there is no formal lawsuit with a bill of particulars yet.

Andrew Cohen, Khalid Sheik Mohammed and You

2009-11-17T06:49:00.005-05:00

A strong majority of Americans disagree with the Obama Administration's decision to bring 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed to New York City to try him in a civilian court.

The Atlantic's Andrew Cohen points the finger at the real culprit: YOU!

For years, you didn’t raise your voice and tell your elected officials that you welcomed a fair trial for the detainees under military rules. For years, you didn’t demand that the detainees have lawyers, or access to some of the evidence against them, or meaningful appellate review, or protection from abuse. Either you didn’t have confidence in the evidence against the men, or the application of the law, or you believed that America would somehow be rendered diminished and vulnerable by giving people like Mohammed more justice than they deserve. When the White House and the Congress reluctantly followed the letter but proudly not the spirit of the Supreme Court’s rulings in Hamdan or Hamdi or Boumediene you just changed the channel and moved on with your life.

Don't you hate yourself? No? What? You're wondering who the hell is Andrew Cohen to lecture you? What? You want to punch Andrew Cohen in the face and tell him: "Move to Brussels, hippie!" See, that's what's the matter with America. Not enough people listen to Andrew Cohen and President Obama. They are smart. You are stupid. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! You should be embarrassed.

Look, idiot, when a pollster calls, don't tell him what YOU think! Who cares what YOU think? You're a moron! Listen to Andrew Cohen and the President of the United States and repeat after them: "If we don't try the 9/11 terrorists in a civilian court in New York City, the terrorists will have won." Or "This will show the world, America isn't afraid to live up to its principles." Got it, Stupid? Sheesh. Having to explain things to YOU is like talking to a coffee table. Now go back to your pathetic boring little life, doing whatever it is you do do and don't make Andrew Cohen have to lecture you again.

Shot Twice in the Head; Recovering

2009-11-17T06:12:00.004-05:00

Another shooting in Darby Borough

.A homeowner told police a teenage boy had knocked on the door five minutes earlier complaining about a head injury. When police arrived, the teenager was gone. He was subsequently located at Third and Main streets, semiconscious and bleeding from the back of his head, police said.  

The victim, who suffered two gunshot wounds to the back of his head, told police he didn’t know what happened to him. He said he had been on his way to visit a girlfriend in Darby. 

This kid must have a pretty hard head. Lucky him.

Father Busted for Beating Son

2009-11-17T06:04:00.003-05:00

Father beats son for getting suspended from school and is charged with numerous felonies.

If at anytime during the beating he said "This hurts me more than it hurts you," turns out he was right.

Another Smart Whore Comes Out

2009-11-16T20:00:00.002-05:00

Well, as long as her mom has no problem with it.

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

2009-11-16T06:54:00.004-05:00

WaPo's Ruth Marcus does a nice job holding Republicans to account for the lies they are telling about Obamacare.

But the unpopularity of Obamacare isn't because of Republican lies about it. It's because of the president's lies about it.

Robert Samuelson explains here.

Meet the Manhattan Madam

2009-11-15T07:30:00.001-05:00

Of whores, law professors and politicians and where the twain shall meet. My print column is up.

Another Bad Call, Eric!

2009-11-14T14:32:00.004-05:00

Kris Kobach lays out the reasons why the Obama Administration is wrong to try any of 9/11 terrorists in civilian courts in New York City.

The most distressing part of Kobach's piece: It could take 5 years before any such trial begins.

Putting a Green Sock In It!

2009-11-13T15:23:00.003-05:00

Meet the Obama EPA; hypocritical, paranoid and dissent-stifling.

Kim Strassel has the story.

Harvard Whores for Spitzer

2009-11-13T12:34:00.007-05:00

Kristen Davis (aka The Manhattan Madam) doesn't think highly of Harvard's invitation to disgraced New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Dear Professor Lessig:

I have been informed that you are having former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer speak on ethics this Thursday November 12, 2009. This sounds fascinating and I would love to attend but the restrictions of my probation won't allow me to travel out side New York City.

For nearly 5 years, I supplied Mr. Spitzer with high priced escorts while he was both Attorney General and Governor. For this crime, I served four months on Rikers Island, had all of my assets confiscated and am now considered a sex offender on 5 years probation. Mr. Spitzer broke both state and federal laws and walked away free.

Good letter. Check out the rest of it.

Muslims Don't Tolerate Muslim Fanaticism

2009-11-13T10:40:00.004-05:00

Most Muslim countries wouldn't have tolerated the likes of Maj. Hasan in their military.

In places like Algeria, Egypt and Libya, Muslim officers watch over their Muslim conscripts with relentless scrutiny lest any unscripted forms of freelance worship sneak into the picture. Their prisons are full of Muslim Brotherhood conspirators undergoing torture--if they haven't already disappeared into secret graves. In Saddam's military, turbulent believers often went straight to the frontlines during the Iran-Iraq war. Others found that their views rebounded onto the limbs and lives of family members in the most palpable of ways.

Read the whole thing, it's fascinating.

Not that we should follow Saddam's lead. But the least we should do is not be cowed by the sort of political correctness that leads people to turn a blind eye to these fanatics.

A Thune Swoon

2009-11-13T10:33:00.001-05:00

David Brooks has a man-crush on Sen. John Thune. He explains why exceedingly well.

The Killer Instinct

2009-11-13T10:07:00.002-05:00

Lawyers, Guns, Money and Arlen Specter. My print column is up.

That's The Guy!

2009-11-13T08:14:00.003-05:00

Oh, good. A composite sketch of the alleged perp in the attempted bus stop abduction case.

Phones at the police station must be ringing off the hook.

At least, you can tell from the eyes it isn't Roman Polanski.