Into Pre-Election Limbo

The Justice Departmnt and FBI have picked up the Trayvon Martin / George Zimmerman case.  Zimmerman can't be cleared before the election, so unless they can come up with convincing new evidence (audio wizardry on the 911 tapes?) this case goes into pre-election limbo.

I still think Zimmerman ought to be guilty of something, but under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" self defense law (aka "Shoot First"), the other party to their scuffle is dead and no other witnesses seem to contradict the self-defense alibi.

We get a new version of Zimmerman's story:

Zimmerman said he had stepped out of his truck to check the name of the street he was on when Trayvon attacked him from behind as he walked back to his truck, police said. He said he feared for his life and fired the semiautomatic handgun he was licensed to carry because he feared for his life.

The self-appointed self-important neighborhood watch captain wasn't sure what street he was on?  Or was he just double-checking?

The police captain had offered this (possibly hypothetical) version of events last week:

“Mr. Zimmerman’s claim is that the confrontation was initiated by Trayvon,” Police Chief Bill Lee said in an interview. “I am not going into specifics of what led to the violent physical encounter witnessed by residents. All the physical evidence and testimony we have independent of what Mr. Zimmerman provides corroborates this claim to self-defense.”

To claim self-defense, someone has to show there was danger of great bodily harm or death, Lee said. “Zimmerman had injuries consistent with his story,” Lee said.

Zimmerman had a damp shirt, grass stains, a bloody nose and was bleeding from a wound in back of his head, according to police reports.

“If someone asks you, ‘Hey do you live here?’ is it OK for you to jump on them and beat the crap out of somebody?” Lee said. “It’s not.”

Since we have the "not going into specifics" disclaimer it is not clear that the bit about "If someone asks you..." is Zimmerman's actual alibi.

Or, I suppose, Zimmerman could have asked that question, turned around, and gotten jumped.

The Feds will sort this out.  Either they clear Zimmerman next December or they indict him in October; there is no way they bring this to trial and risk an acquital or dismissal before the election.

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Comments

[NK]

Ex-- thanks for that 11:43. To all the Romney haters at JOM read that quote from Romney-- you think he's no better than 'Bam? Please, that's deluded. I think that should be Romney's campaign slogan-- you want FREE STUFF vote for the other guy.

[Threadkiller]

Narciso mentions cap and trade. Recently the postman for the Ayers family says Bill Ayers dad, Tom, put Obama thru college.

http://www.nationalreview.com/planet-gore/15449/weather-underground-windfall/chris-horner

" Now, this is surely not why former Weather Underground terrorist William Ayers —son of former Commonwealth Edison (now Exelon) CEO Thomas Ayers and beneficiary of Exelon holdings, I’m willing to bet) — kicked off Obama’s political career in his living room. But it sure makes the struggle worthwhile."

[Jane]

Janet,

What is the name of that website that the conservative kids at CPAC had?

[Janet]

I am certain there are teachers with them and that it is considered a field trip not "spring break". As I keep telling you that's a common practice in private schools here.

I agree. Either with their Spanish class or some secular mission-like project. It is really common here.

[Jack is Back!]

Calrice,

First "In the NUT"

Amended to NYT.

You were right the first time. No need to amend.

[Clarice]

Sue, a couple blocks from Sidwell is St Albans--here's a sample of their foreign study abroad programs for kidshttp://www.stalbansschool.org/page.aspx?pid=2085

[Janet]

The Band of Patriots

[GMAX]

This speaks for itself:

“The country wants to be spoken to like adults, not pandered to like children,” Ryan said Tuesday on “CBS This Morning.”

The Wisconsin Republican said, “If you want to save Medicare and keep it from going bankrupt, you must reform the program, and that’s what we intend to do.”

Ryan said he has grown weary of the GOP being accused of endangering the benefits that senior citizens have come to expect. “We preserve the program for people in and near retirement,” he said. “We want to take all the empty promises our government is making and make sure they’re not broken promises.”

[Clarice]

The only things outrageous about the trip are that we are paying for 25 secret service agents to mind the kids and that the WH has succeeded in getting so many websites to scrub the reports about it.

[Thomas Collins]

Sue, adding strength to your argument are that (i) it has been confirmed that Obama is related to Cheney, and (ii) anyone even remotely related to Cheney must be a hegemonic white not even aware of his own privileged position in the hierarchical structure (see the writings of the critical race theorists).

In fact, I think one of the GOP campaign themes should be a photoshopped image of Obama with evillooking DNA inside Obama with the caption: Oust Dick Cheney's Genes From the White House!

[jimmyk]

Romney tells heckler to “vote for the other guy” for “free stuff”

A better response might be that if you're a taxpayer getting "free stuff," odds are you're also paying for someone else's "free stuff," so it's not really "free."

[NK]

GMAX thanks for that Ryan quote-- another campaign slogan, "we talk to you like adults and we'll keep the promises."

[NK]

jimmyK-- I love you,you know that, but stay out of the slogan biz.

[Sue]

If Malia is in Mexico right now, Sidwell's website says spring break begins next week.

[Ignatz]

The private school around here sends their eighth graders to DC every spring.
I think I'd rather have em go to Mexico; less anti Americanism down there and they've already got plenty of our guns for self defense. Thanks Eric.

[Gus]

Too bad for "Whitey" Zimmerman. He isn't one of Holders "People".

[Threadkiller]

Ryan will always be weary. When a good guy like him spins the the wheel for proposing a deal, the assholes in his own party sentence him to "gulag."

The GoP needs to take the clown gavel on a highly publicized walk, if they want to get in the game.

[Jack is Back!]

narciso,

Sorry, didn't see you beat me to it.

All-American Girl Pin Up of the Day:

That's Mariel Zagunis, two time defending Olympic God Medalist in Women's Saber. Support our Olympians. We have a great team this year.

[BB Key]

St. Alban's: alma mater of Al Gore :)

[centralcal]

Sue, Clarice did comment about DC schools yesterday.

My 13 year old granddaughter is going on a class trip in a few weeks too. She was telling me about it when we had the mini-vacay in Cambria. She and her mom kept referring to an overnight visit to "L.A." So, naturally, I asked what she would be seeing there? Turns out her class is going to the Reagan Library! Very cool choice, I replied.

[Danube of Thought]

Great response by Romney.

Mickey Kaus trashes Obama on the "Grand Bargain." Amateur hour.

[Janet]

I love Instapundit's intro - LIFE AMONG THE BARBARIANS: Pakistan: Life in Prison for Blasphemy.

Perfect.

[NK]

JiB-- the saber? Did fencing club stuff in college and at GW 30 years ago --great for flexibility. I did like saber best-- the head was a fair target then. I liked that.

[Jack is Back!]

NK,

Frederick fences foil. But saber is the ultimate test of "physical chess". Hoping to be back in London this summer for the Olympics. Only want to see Modern Penthalon, Rowing and Fencing. Usually those are the tickets most readily available on the black market.

Head is still a fair target. 30 years ago - you scored dry - electric touch didn't come in for saber until 1988.

Most fascinating of all the individual sports in my opinion.

[btomdarga]

140 lb boys with no record of violence don't just decide to attack 250 lb men without provocation.

Zimmerman is almost certainly lying about the events.

[Gus]

Sue on the thread yesterday afternoon, I said the same thing. I asked if Zimmerman is WHITE, why isn't OBAMA?

[Ignatz]

-- the head was a fair target then. I liked that--

You're a lawyer right, NK? :)

[Captain Hate]

Tammy Bruce is going ballistic on Worf.

[Ignatz]

Thanks for tidying up and clarifying my previous comment with yours at 11:38, TC.

[NK]

JiB-- thanks for the fencing update. Yes I lost the club saber finals b/c a judge didn't call a 'touch' I had on the other guy's helmet-- I put a small dent in it,and still the idiot girl didn't see the 'touch.' I guess I did well in saber b/c 'touches' hurt; that didn't bother me much, I guess that was an advantage. Enjoy the Olympics.

[Sue]

Sue on the thread yesterday afternoon,

I guess I missed a lot yesterday afternoon.

[NK]

Ig-- why yes I am. And very astute of you to notice I still don't mind shots to the head as much as the other guy-- may not be the best strategy, but it works for me.

[Ben Franklin]

Sorry, to be on topic, but this comment on another site was a gem.

"After all we’ve achieved, we need to move further. We don’t have to cower and hide any more from the thugs now that we’ve passed “Stand Your Ground” laws.

But still, we still have to act like we have to tiptoe around, just passively waiting until some thug type comes into our neighborhoods and then and only then can you shoot one.

How long are we going to wait around being people who look as though they might be victims?

That’s why we have to get behind our move next to “Where They Sleep” laws.

It’s time that we stop being passive, frightened citizens forced to continually be unsure of our manhoods. It’s time we civilized white males be able to go out and eliminate these thugs (and their spawn) where they sleep, before they end up in or near or somewhat nearby our neighborhoods.

If good white men have no legal right to find the nesting grounds of these obvious threats to order and justice and take out the vermin where they sleep, what good is having the powerful weaponry we own in the first place?

Why should we sit around waiting to provoke individual assaults with some random black boy on a neighborhood street when we clearly have the ability and armaments to take out these problems at the source?"

[Sue]

I thought Robert Deniro was a republican?

[Ignatz]

-- this comment on another site was a gem.--

With your eye, I'm glad I never have to worry about you buying me any jewelry, Ben.

[Danube of Thought]

St. Alban's: alma mater of Al Gore

Also Brit Hume, Evan Bayh, Jesse Jackson Jr., Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., Harold Ford, Jonathan Ogden and David Ignatius.

[James D.]

Did anyone here know that the raid to get OBL was the most audacious military operation in the last 500 years? Our one man brain trust Veep thinks so.
Biden is a joke that has been retold so many times even Henny Youngman would have put him out to pasture.

It's unbelievable. You'd think even the most die-hard leftist Zero suporters would be embarassed by nonsense like this.

I'm sort of morbidly curious to know whether Biden actually believes the absurd and riduculous things he spews forth, or if he just says whatever pops into his excuse for a brain at any given moment, regardless of how wrong or dumb or entirely absurd it is.

[Danube of Thought]

140 lb boys with no record of violence don't just decide to attack 250 lb men without provocation.

Except maybe from behind, inflicting a wound to the back of the victim's head. "Do you live around here" may have been seen as a provocation by the "boy," but it won't suffice under the law.

[Gus]

250lb half Hispanic/half White men are known to shoot 140lb black "boys" without provocation too. Happens all the time, then by the magic of the MSM, HOLDER and OBAMA, the half Hispanic part disappears.

[Gus]

btw. What does "unprovoked" mean?

[Jane]

What site Ben?

[Janet]

Jane,
Did you see the link @ 11:53?
Thebandofpatriots.com

[Danube of Thought]

the most audacious military operation in the last 500 years

So much for Washington crossing the Delaware, Sherman's March, the Doolittle Raid, the Inchon landing and D-Day.

[Gus]

Danube, the Raid on Entebbe.
Biden is a clown. He's never been ANYTHING in his pathetic life, but a CORRUPT SENATOR.
Never had a job. Clueless on the Potomac.

[MaryD]

Sue, I believe you're thinking of Robert Duval.

[Thomas Collins]

BFF, if you're going to use a shooting to promote the "angry racist white male" prog talking point, why use an incident involving a Hispanic male?

Seriously, BFF, why don't you address the real issue in no need to retreat laws, namely, do we want to second guess someone under attack. If no need to retreat is not in place, the chance for law enforcement and a jury to second guess greatly increases. No need to retreat is actually quite consistent not only with a "law and order" view of the world, but also with a "therapy and talking can bring us together" view of the world. The issue is what should be the framework for evaluating actions when the law and order or therapy and talking frameworks fail to dissuade the criminal element (which will be often no matter how ordered the law or how therapeutic the talking is).

[Sue]

I was thinking the most audacious military operation in the last 500 years might have been the bombing of Pearl Harbor. How audacious do you have to be to be negotiating for peace while your warships are enroute?

[mrt]

Csnyder | March 20, 2012 at 09:31 AM said:

"Now we have Martin's girlfriend coming forward saying she was on the phone with him in real time, as he was attacked."
"Where the hell was she a couple of weeks ago?"

In her defense, she didn't talk to Al Sharpton until just 2 days ago.

[NK]

DoT-- please don't dignify Biden's idiocy with facts. There are hundreds of examples of more audacious political and military action than Ossama-- no offense to the magnificent SEALs-- but going after Osama was a no-brainer. Only 'Bam would agonize over that.

[Thomas Collins]

You're all underestimating the audacity of Biden and Obama. Why, it's the most audacious Western Hemisphere military operation since Montezuma's time!

[Sue]

Mary,

Could be. I hated Meet the Parents so I'm glad De Niro was in that one.

Audacious:

1. Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold. See Synonyms at adventurous, brave.
2. Unrestrained by convention or propriety; insolent.
3. Spirited and original: an audacious interpretation of two Jacobean dramas.

Nothing about having to be victorious to be audacious.

[Jane]

Thanks Janet! I got it!

[Donald]

Ms porchlight I'm all pumped up about the show Thursday, but not as much as my commie post office union thug best buddy who has been a fan for years!

[Ben Franklin]

TC;

That comment was pure snarkasm meant to ridiculate the nature of these 'controversies'. Really. This is bullshit.

[Jack is Back!]

A taste of world class saber fencing with music by Marilyn Manson

And for Clarice, I have this one from the 1936 Olympics by Leni Refinstahl

Enjoy!

[Thomas Collins]

Whoops! Misread your intent, BFF. Sorry.

I'd say the issues involved with self defense laws are serious, but I'd be hard pressed to argue that BS won't be flying around on many sides of this issue.

[MarkO]

"Only 'Bam would agonize over that."

And he did. My theory is that he was forced into the mission by the fact that so many knew of it and he would be seen to be weak, like Clinton, if he didn't try. He was dragged to it. Look at the picture of him during the mission. Small. Very small.

[SWarren]

Sue, heard that report early this morning too. Then heard Glen Beck talking about it. Googled and found a number of stories on it, but now most of them are gone. (scrubbed?)
I know one was Reuters.
The gist of it was that last year the Milan branch account was under investigation for so-called money laundering. Vatican said their practice was to clear out that account at end of day and distribute to other branch accounts. Since then, the Vatican has made necessary changes to make all their accounting transparent and in compliance.
All of the sudden a few days ago, JPM announces closing of account. One story said JPM needed State Department approval to shut down the account.

Hmmm. JPM (Jamie Dimon) Obama’s guy, and Hillary’s approval. Sure looks like a not so subtle shot at the Vatican by Obama’s team.

[MarkO]

It is a serious mistake to take on an organization that has flourished for 2,000 years. Good luck with that.

[NK]

500 year Audacity-- Weekly Stand reports that even Jay Carney won't back up Biden, and the WH reporters laughed at Biden's quote. When you've lost the WH press corps.....

[Danube of Thought]

I left out Nelson at The Nile--simply brilliant, and the very definition of audacious.

Then there's the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi and Syrian nuclear sites.

Tojo vs. Rozhestvensky at Tsushima Strait.

[MarkO]

The Biden flap assumes, without proof, that Biden has any knowledge of history by which to make that sort of invidious distinction.

[Michael Brophy]

You say Zimmerman should be accused of 'something.' I'm not a lawyer either. You earlier, I believe, linked to the Castle law which states that 'this does not authorize the licensed gun owner to act as the police.' But 'acting as the police' and initiating a confrontation with the youth is what Zimmerman did; so he should not be excused by the Castle law.

[Gus]

Danube, what about Obama's raid on Tripoli 2011. BRILLIANT!!!

[Thomas Collins]

Inchon and the preparations for it should be in the audacity discussion.

[Captain Hate]

Attention Chris Wallace: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/19/george-clooney-isnt-helping-sudan

[Gus]

Michael Brophy!!! I'm new to these internets and my refurbished Commodore isn't up to snuff, can you link me to this new evidence you came up with? I mean the "acting as the Police" part.
Then after that, maybe you can solve the JonBenet Ramsey case.

[Extraneus]

Chu: I give myself another A on gas prices

That report card from the Department of Energy is starting to look pretty darned good, eh? Three weeks ago, Energy Secretary Steven Chu gave himself an A-minus for his stewardship of taxpayer money, and shortly afterward, the GAO gave the DoE an 85% fail rate in handling the Loan Guarantee Program. Chu came back to Capitol Hill today to discuss energy policy and stood by his self-assigned A-minus, and gave himself an even better grade on controlling gas prices:

[NK]

DoT-- for the love of God man, stop the Military examples, Biden's a buffoon, even thr WH press corps think so!

Ex@1:22-- I agree with Chu-- his plan was to raise gas prices to european levels-- he did that -- A+!!

[Captain Hate]

Another breathless interview by a real pro, in every sense of the word: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2012/03/20/nbcs-curry-slams-kirk-cameron-are-you-encouraging-people-feel-hate-tow

[Gus]

Extraneus, by "controlling" Chu meant "raising to European levels".

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

This DIMBULB won a NOBEL PRIZE for PHYSICS, not ADMINSTRATION OF A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL AGENCY.
There is a wee bit of a difference.

[NK]

CaptH-- Curry's become a fat cow and must be pushing 50; after the election Immelt will blast her out of there.

[Jack is Back!]

I wonder if Biden has ever read Clausewitz or anything, for that matter, on the principles of war and military tactics.

He is a buffoon of the highest rank.

To put this raid on Osama in such a stratospheric orbit of military operations is insane and completely idiotic when compared to lets say the allied invasion of France on D-Day where millions of lives were at stake, the logistics never attempted before and where one little mistake out of millions of timed operations could scuttle the whole deal. And things did go wrong, lots of things but in the end the plan and the adjustments worked and did more to advance peace and prosperity in our time than taking out bin Laden will ever do.

Joe needs more than hairplants and teeth whitening - he needs a perspective transplant.

[NK]

JiB-- for the love of God...

[Captain Hate]

Gus I forgot initially but GE doesn't own NBC any more; I think it's ComCast that does.

[Extraneus]

Obama was helped by his race and big backers' faith in his leftism, but what does it say about our country that a man like Biden was able to rise to the level he has?

[Captain Hate]

Ext, every time I've seen Biden on the Sunday gab shows, going back a long time, he's never seemed right in the head and it shocked me that his constituents kept voting for him.

[centralcal]

Golly, some of these famous stars are sure looking more stupid than usual and embarrassing The Won. Hanks and DeNiro are probably off the campaign trail for now. Who next?

[NK]

CC-- 'Bam will always have Scarlett Johansson!

[Porchlight]

donald, I'm glad you're looking forward to it! It should be fun - the shows at Smith's are usually lively (and crowded, if you're looking for a table). Your commie post office union thug best buddy will be in good company with the bass player and fiddler. The other 3 guys in the band are not Obama voters - Mr. Porch has left the plantation since 2008. ;)

[Chubby]

((Please, that's deluded. I think that should be Romney's campaign slogan-- you want FREE STUFF vote for the other guy.))

bumpersticker/slogan idea:

FREEBIES or FREEDOM?

[Jane]

What site Ben?

[Ben Franklin]

Jane;

http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/03/20/someone-could-do-something/

[centralcal]

Dick Morris got into a little trouble too. Guess he auctioned off a tour of Fox News studios for $6K (at some event or other) - except he is expressly forbidden as a paid contributor to do such a thing. So he has been "reprimanded" and the schmuck who paid the $6K will not be getting a tour.

[Jack is Back!]

NK,

After your admonishment of DoT, I couldn't resist:)

OT: Be careful out there on May 5th. Super Perigee Moon

[Stephanie]

I'm looking forward to the show Thursday too. Gotta be awesome as I'm missing short game drills for it!

Donald what time are we meeting?

[rse]

LUN is blackfive's take on biden's comment.

Not only are they not amused but they include is equally ludicrous and tone deaf analogy to saving gm.

Do you think hair plugs can impact oxygen to the brain?

[Jack is Back!]

Look, there is a strong and committed anti-gun crowd here in Florida. But they are significant minority. They jump everytime there is a shooting like Trayvon's and will get Op-Ed space in every paper in the state. There are no "conservative or right" newspapers in the state. Even Daytona (home of NASCAR and Harley Davidson riders) is a leftist paper.

As I have stated, this is only going to be used to foster the aim of the Obama regime and the anti-gun crowd on the back of race politics. The only way they can move the goal posts on guns.

[Thomas Collins]

There is a link in the article linked in BFF's 1:54 PM post, which link, from the Volokh site, analyzes the changes in law made by the Florida no need to retreat law. See LUN for the analysis. The Volokh site article concludes with the following statement:

"As the Florida bill is introduced in other states, victims-rights opponents will probably be successful in getting newspapers and television to describe the proposal in very frightening terms. But when legislators and their aides read the actual text of the bill, many legislators will—like their Florida counterparts—conclude that bill is nothing more than some common-sense protections for crime victims."

[GMAX]

The gang that could not shoot straight. Replacing Alt Min tax with Buffett rule will leave gaping hole:

A bill designed to enact President Barack Obama's plan for a "Buffett rule" tax on people earning more than $1 million a year would rake in just $31 billion over the next 11 years, according to an estimate by Congress' official tax analysts obtained by The Associated Press. That would be a drop in the bucket of the over $7 trillion in federal budget deficits projected during that period.

The figure is also miniscule compared to the many hundreds of billions the government earns from the alternative minimum tax, which Obama's budget last month said he would replace with the Buffett rule tax.

Maybe he can wear clown shoes and a red nose next time he speaks about the budget.

[sbw]

NBC is still run like GE still owns it.

For instance, with a Weather Channel running less and less weather.

[Sue]

He has already said he didn't care if it brought in more money as long as it was "fair". I guess we found something he said that he meant.

[Ben Franklin]

From the Orlando Sentinel;

“The “castle doctrine” used to mean you could use deadly force if someone attacked you in your home. “Stand your ground” not only absolved the homeowner of any obligation to retreat, it extended that concept outside the home.”

Why stop at the property line? I would place a remotely fired 50 cal on my porch so I could maintain the safety of my domicile from my office. Works for me..

[Jane]

Perhaps the saddest by-product of this president is he has doubled down on Al Sharpton and as a result, I don't believe a word the "black community" says.

[centralcal]

Uh oh - 7.6 mag. earthquake in Mexico City. Where abouts in Mexico is Oaxaca?

[Captain Hate]

He has already said he didn't care if it brought in more money as long as it was "fair".

He claimed he would still be against the surge even with the benefit of hindsight. The evidence was always there for people to figure out he's still a community activist ideologue who doesn't care about the real impact of things. People just chose to ignore it.

[Ignatz]

--CC-- 'Bam will always have Scarlett Johansson!--

And, to her shame, Eve Longoria, who proves again that being hot and really stupid are by no means mutually exclusive.

[Ignatz]

-- I would place a remotely fired 50 cal on my porch so I could maintain the safety of my domicile from my office. --

Perhaps in Florida.
In the people's republic of California, you would go to jail as it is now illegal to own any gun of the caliber 50BMG.

[Jane]

Apparently it is near Alcapolco which is where the earthquake happened CC - both are about 200 miles fromMexico city where they felt it.

[Gus]

I believe Ann Curry thinks Kirk Cameraon is the PM of Britain.
Curry is of the opinion that your opinion is "Hate Speech", unless you agree with her and the LIBTARD party.