Thanks Again US Supreme Court

Looks like these two teen killers will be spared the death penalty thanks to the SCOTUS changing the death penalty laws for minors. One of teenage boys who was accused in “the beating and stabbing death of a 13-year-old learning disabled youth pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Thursday and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.”

So the teen killers were spared death due to the reversal by the Supreme Court. That’s more than I can say for Craig Sorger, the 13-year-old learning teen who was senselessly murdered.

FL Supreme Court Cant See The Forest Through The Medical Records

The Florida Supreme Court has done it this time. By what can only be deemed as making rulings for political reasons the Court today stated that they refused to hear Conservative Talk Radio Icon Rush Limbaugh’s appeal regarding the seizure of his medical records. First we had the Florida Election in 2000, The Terri Schiavo matter and now Rush. Do these people understand they have created precedent and that they have opened everyone’s medical records, not just Rush’s?

Update: I’m going to have to agree with McGehee, Rush get out of FL.

The Florida Supreme Court said Thursday it will not consider an appeal from conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh over prosecutors’ seizure of his medical records during an investigation into whether he illegally purchased painkillers.

The 4-3 order did not explain the court’s reasoning.

Limbaugh’s attorney had argued that an appeals court misconstrued Florida law when it ruled prosecutors could obtain the records with search warrants.

“The consequences of this ruling affect the privacy of medical records for every person in Florida,” Simon said. “Some of the most personal things in our lives are contained in our medical records and if they’re not related to what a government agency is investigating, then it should remain nobody’s business.”
Limbaugh’s attorney, Roy Black, said in a statement that Limbaugh should not have to sacrifice his privacy to prove his innocence.

He has accused Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer, a Democrat, of leading a politically motivated investigation against him and labeled it “a fishing expedition.” He took a break from his afternoon radio show on Thursday for a doctor’s appointment and made no comment about the ruling. The show has 20 million listeners a week and is heard on nearly 600 radio stations

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent; you should be scared out of your mind if you live in Florida. The FL Supreme Court has made your medical records and what you relay to your physician, all that is held to be privileged and confidential, as fair game to any malicious prosecutor with a political agenda.

UPDATE: Statement released by Rush Limbaugh’s attorney Roy Black

Update: I agree with McGehee on this one, Rush get out of FL.

Blogging of the Presidents Speech on SS and Energy; aka We report the Networks Leave

President Bush looks to clarify social security and energy plans in his address.

Now for the questions from the media:
AP - Mr. President, “Why do you beaten Laura”?

Reuters – Mr. President, “How long have you beat your wife”?

CNN – “Yeah, I thought you said you took anger management course, how long do you plan on beating Laura”?

CBS - “We have documents Sir of you admitting to beating Laura while you were in the National Guard, what is your response”?

Fox News - “How is Laura“?

UPDATE I: (Drudge) I wonder if the Networks would have done this and left early on Clinton?

UPDATE II: Wizbang has a good idea on how the White House should react to the networks. Personally, those that watched on the networks that cut away early and didn’t switch the the cable networks are just the “uniformed” anyhow.

Libraries = Homeless Shelters

My days of going to the library have been certainly diminished with the advent of the INTERNET. My thesis research days are long past as well. However, that does not mean that libraries do not greatly serve communities providing reading & research environments to children. Reading, something that should be stressed even more than already presently is done. However, libraries have come under assault recently as being a place to loiter for many and Houston Public Libraries look like the intend to put an end to it.

Those who want to browse books at Houston’s public libraries should get enough sleep, eat and bathe before they begin to peruse the shelves.

On Wednesday, the City Council passed a series of library regulations that some say are an attempt to discourage homeless people from visiting the public buildings.

Library officials said people have been using the libraries as temporary shelters, restaurants and changing stations. The new ordinance prohibits sleeping on tables, eating, using restrooms for bathing and “offensive bodily hygiene that constitutes a nuisance to others.”

Two council members voted against the ordinance, saying it was a direct attack on the homeless.

“I understand what they’re trying to do, but when you start targeting a community like the homeless, I think that’s poor policy,” council member Ada Edwards said.

Mayor Bill White said there have been several complaints from the public about abuse of the city’s libraries.

Folks, a library is not a homeless shelter. I am sure that no one in the Houston Council or any where for that matter would probably even care if homeless individuals did not bath and were actually using the library for its intended purpose, READING!!! The fact that we want to take children’s rights or any one else that wishes to use a library for the homeless right is puzzling. I am sure I know which side the ACLU will come down on this issue.

This is obviously not a new problem as many communities have tried to address the situation of homeless using libraries as day shelters.

Coming from personal experience in our local community the same issue exists. So we are supposed to have children go to a library where there are other people there who have no intention of using the library for its educational resources. It would not be so bad if some of the homeless in turn did not panhandle. What parent in this day and age is going to allow their child go to a library and have strangers come up to them. If parents do not allow their children to go because of fear of leaving them in a public place with individuals that have no real reason to be there, then the funding becomes difficult as no one in a community will support something that no one uses.

Election 2008: McCain 45% Clinton 38%

According to The Rasmussen Reports polling information
McCain beats Clinton 45% to 38% in the 2008 Presidential Election

Rudy Giuliani beats Hillary42% to 40%

April 27, 2005–Given a choice between Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton, 45% of Americans today say they’d vote for McCain. Thirty-eight percent (38%) for Clinton.

If the Republican in the race was Rudy Giuliani, it’s a toss-up–42% for Giuliani and 40% for Clinton.

Both Republicans in the poll are viewed favorably by 48% of Americans. Giuliani is viewed unfavorably by 25%, McCain by 24%.

Senator Clinton is viewed favorably by 41% and unfavorably by 42%. Rasmussen Reports publishes a Hillary Meter every other week to track the former First Lady’s effort to move toward the political center.

Giuliani does a bit better than McCain among Republican voters while McCain makes slightly bigger inroads among Democrats.

Among those not affiliated with either major party, McCain leads Clinton 38% to 29%. Clinton leads Giuliani 36% to 30% among unaffiliateds.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of conservatives have a favorable opinion of Giuliani. Just 51% have a favorable opinion of McCain.

Self-identified liberals are evenly divided in their opinion of Giuliani (35% favorable, 37% unfavorable). However, liberals have a far more positive view of McCain (45% favorable, 26% unfavorable).

Despite the more positive opinion of McCain, liberal voters would vote for Clinton over McCain by a 71% to 16% margin.

Assuming this will occur; however, I cannot see in any way that the Republican Party would ever nominate John Mc Cain.

Also on the Liberal Hillary meter, Hillary is up 4 from last week.

Hillary Meter: 47% Liberal
30% Definitely Vote For, 40% Definitely Vote Against

April 20, 2005–Today’s Hillary Meter shows that perceptions of the New York Senator have moved four points to the left over the past two weeks.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of Americans now believe New York Senator Hillary Clinton is politically liberal. That’s up from 43% two weeks ago, but down from 51% in late January

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