RSSFBI enters case of missing VCU student, Taylor Marie Behl
The FBI has entered the case of a missing VCU student. Taylor Marie Behl, 17, was last seen a week ago. Her family and friends are getting more desperate by the day. Police are also looking for her car, it is a white 1997 Ford Escort, Virginia tags: JPC-2848.
The VCU police chief held a news conference to reassure the student body and
the community at large, that everything possible is being done to solve this missing person’s case. On the Monroe Park Campus of VCU, friends and family members hand out fliers with Taylor Behl’s photo, hoping one of the students passing by will recognize her face. Behl spent the weekend with her mother in northern Virginia and then headed back to campus last Monday. Around 10 PM that night, she left her room at the Gladding Residence Center, apparently grabbing her keys, ID, a credit card, cell phone and a borrowed skateboard. She told her roommate she was heading out for a couple of hours. But, she never returned.
According to CBS6; Search Continues For VCU Freshman
Still no leads in the search for VCU freshman Taylor Behl. The 17-year-old left her dorm room last Monday night and told her roommate she would be back in a few hours. She hasn’t been seen or heard from since then.
From VCU Alert:
VCU Police are working with the Richmond Police Department, surrounding jurisdictions, State Police and the FBI. VCU Police have followed up on about 30 leads and interviewed dozens of people and continue to encourage anyone with information that might lead to Ms. Behl’s whereabouts to contact them at 828-1196. VCU administration and VCU Police continue to work with the family to provide assistance for their comfort at this time. Fliers with Ms. Behl’s picture and personal information have been posted throughout the greater Richmond area and near her home in Vienna.
Update: Washington Post; College Student’s Disappearance Mystifies Family and Police in VA.
Nearby jurisdictions have joined the hunt, and the FBI has assigned an agent to advise campus and Richmond police. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, based in Alexandria, has posted a notice on its site. Every year, students “appear to disappear” from the 30,000-student university and do not call their families for days, said Pam Lepley, a campus police spokeswoman. The students usually resurface after a couple of days, she said. But in this case, Behl, a June graduate of Madison High School in Vienna, has contacted no one. “We’re very concerned because of the amount of time that has passed,” Lepley said.
Lepley said Behl continues to receive e-mails but has not logged on to read them. Her credit card has not been used, and the last call on her cell phone was made the night she disappeared. Dozens of people have been interviewed, and more than 20 leads have been fruitlessly followed. A national alert has been issued, and a description of her vehicle has been sent to authorities across the country.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, TAYLOR BEHL Missing since Sept. 5, 2005; RICHMOND VA
Also covering the disappearance; Planethuff.
Resent Posts: Still No Sign Of College Student Taylor Behl
Freshman,Taylor Marie Behl at VCU missing
Leadership by President Bush; “I Take Responsibility For Failures Of Response”
With all the finger pointing by the Mayor of New Orleans, the Governor of Louisiana and Democrats abound, President George W. Bush took full and complete responsibility for the failures of the response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government,” Bush said at a White House news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. “And to the extent that the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong.”
Also from Reuters,
President George W. Bush took responsibility on Tuesday for any failures in the federal response to Hurricane Katrina and acknowledged the storm exposed serious deficiencies at all levels of government four years after the September 11 attacks.
“To the extent that the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility,” Bush told a White House news conference at which he openly questioned U.S. preparedness for another storm or a “severe attack.”
Lorie at PoliPundit agrees with the apology but has some major reservations. I can certainly agree and follow her reasoning. GWB id the apology for all the right reasons and his critics will use it against him for all the wrong.
It is entirely appropriate that he take responsibility for the actions of the federal government which he has under his control — the “buck stops here,”and all that.
What a Difference 12 Years Makes In the Senate Judiciary Committee
Today the Senate Judiciary met again to discuss the confirmation of John Roberts’ nomination as the nation’s chief justice. The distinguished Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware had a much different take on things today than he did 12 years ago. Rather interesting the change in complete philosophy of questioning comes about when a Democrat is confirming an ACLU lawyer to the Supreme Court vs. a Justice nominated by a Republican President.
Some how its reported that Roberts dodges the abortion question when it was OK for previous Justices not to answer questions posed to them in the past they they felt inappropriate. After continued questions of Roe V. Wade disguised to look like something different than the same question from Democrats came this exchange between Biden, Roberts and Specter:
An exchange between Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., John Roberts and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. after Biden prodded Roberts to say whether he agreed with a ruling in a specific case. Biden said Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had answered such questions in her confirmation hearing, but Roberts still declined to answer, saying the issue in the case could arise in the Supreme Court:
Biden: “… Judge, she (Ginsburg) specifically, in response to a question whether or not she agreed with the majority or minority opinion in Moore v. the City of Cleveland said explicitly: I agree with the majority, and here’s what the majority said and I agree with it. My question to you is: Do you agree with it or not?”
Roberts: “Well, I do know, Senator, that in numerous other cases — because I read the transcript…”
Biden: “So did I.”
Roberts: “… She took the position that she should not comment. Justice O’Connor took the same position. She was asked about a particular case.”
Biden: “Oh, Judge, Judge, Judge…”
Roberts: “She said, It’s not correct for me to comment. Now, there’s a reason for that.”
Biden: “But you’re going from the…”
Specter: “Wait a minute, Senator Biden. He’s not finished his answer.”
Biden: “He’s filibustering, Senator. But OK, go ahead.
Specter: “No, he’s not. No, he’s not.”
Roberts: “That’s a bad word, Senator.”
Biden: “That’s if we do it to you. Go ahead. Go ahead and continue not to answer.”
NOW FOR THE HYPOCRISY
All this would not be so comical and hypocritical on Biden’s part if it were not for this bit of history some 12 years earlier during Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s confirmation hearing. From Progress For America comes this
MUST SEE VIDEO.
“In 1993, Senator Biden counseled Ruth Bader Ginsburg not to prejudge cases and she complied, refusing to answer approximately 55 questions, including questions about public education, labor laws, abortion, and many other topics. Twelve years later, he insists that Ginsburg answered questions that she clearly did not and badgers Judge Roberts for following her lead. Just because Senator Biden realizes his advice is no longer politically expedient, it is dishonest, unfair and unacceptable for Biden to attempt to change the rules of the game for Judge Roberts.”
John Roberts on the Role of the Courts
In response to Dianne Feinstein’s question on the role of the courts in a case, John Roberts, the Supreme Court nominee stated.
I think courts have a limited role in general. They only interpret the law. They don’t make the law. They don’t shape the policy…
Click here for the video:
UPDATE: (AP): Excerpts From Roberts’ Hearing. Senator Biden’s childish antics. At times today I actually forgot I was watching grown men. John Roberts’ maintained a presence about him as others certainly did not.
An exchange between Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., John Roberts and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. after Biden prodded Roberts to say whether he agreed with a ruling in a specific case. Biden said Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had answered such questions in her confirmation hearing, but Roberts still declined to answer, saying the issue in the case could arise in the Supreme Court:
Biden: “… Judge, she (Ginsburg) specifically, in response to a question whether or not she agreed with the majority or minority opinion in Moore v. the City of Cleveland said explicitly: I agree with the majority, and here’s what the majority said and I agree with it. My question to you is: Do you agree with it or not?”
Roberts: “Well, I do know, Senator, that in numerous other cases — because I read the transcript…”
Biden: “So did I.”
Read more
Memeorandum has a New More Effective Front End!
We have had the good fortune to be a beta tester for the new Memeorandum that was released last night by our good friend Gabe. We have enjoyed the product, watching it evolve from a rudimentary format into the very sophisticated tool that it is now.
Memeorandum is a tool that will find the most covered story in the blog world, provide a link to the original story or theme, and then also provide links to the bloggers writing about it. It allows one to get the flavor of the what is happening and provides a great tool for finding others that are writing about topics that one is interested in.
The original version of the Memeorandum was limited to the top 200 or so blogs, so the exposure to stories was limited to a very small pool. This created the impression that the blogworld had a limited voice. Now we can see many of the smaller bloggers who have very interesting perspectives on the world.
Another great benefit of the new system is that the updates are done every 5 minutes. The previous version seemed to update hourly, so for breaking stories, it was always lagging. Now it will be at the head of the line.
One last trick is to click on the Preferences at the top of the page. This will allow you to customize the page so that it will fit your needs. Great stuff!
So go over and look at Memeorandum, give Gabe the salute he deserves.
