Blogging Blue

Now you or I might find it more than a little inappropriate to joke about assassinating a Presidential candidate - regardless of that candidate’s political leanings - but apparently the possibility of assassinating Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is a joking matter for veteran newswoman and Fox News Channel commentator Liz Trotta, who not only confused Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden, but she went so far as to say both should be killed, if “we” could:

In that brief clip, I counted more than one or two problems with what Trotta said. Obviously the convenient association of Obama and Osama is one issue, and then there’s the HUGE problem with her seeming to be perfectly okay with both being assassinated, as if both Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden are somehow worthy of being put to death. Further, who’s the “we” Trotta refers to? Does she think she’s speaking on behalf of more than a few conservatives?

Honestly, I know liberals and conservatives are often vociferous in defense of their beliefs, and I fully realize that sometimes folks from both sides cross the line and say some pretty despicable and out of line things, but this takes the cake.

H/T to Dan Cody over at Left on the Lake.

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…why so many conservative bloggers in the Cheddarsphere moderate their blog comments.

Can someone enlighten me?

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It’s like an NCAA tournament bracket, only for politics!

I think it’s an interesting idea, and I’m obviously going to be very interested to see the Democratic “contenders” as chosen by MSNBC. While some of the names in the Republican bracket were obvious, several were just a little surprising to me. I didn’t expect to see Jeb Bush on the list, simply because I think Jeb is tainted by “Bush fatigue,” and I was a little surprised by the inclusion of Wisconsin Congresman Paul Ryan, because while there’s little doubt he seems to be on the rise within the Republican Party, I just don’t see him being ready for the national stage as John McCain’s Vice President. Sure, Ryan’s youth would somewhat balance out John McCain’s advanced age as a campaign issue, but I think that’s the only reason Paul Ryan would be picked at this stage in his political career. I think there are other VP possibilities from within the Republican Party that are both youthful in comparison to John McCain and who bring more to the table as a Vice Presidential candidate, with someone like Bobby Jindal being one name that comes to mind.

At any rate, I’ll be interested to see who makes it to the end of MSNBC’s veepstakes, and I can’t wait for the Democratic veepstakes to start.

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That’s the charge Kelly Clough is facing after she allegedly stabbed a man last week:

A 27-year-old West Allis woman is facing a charge of mayhem after police say she stabbed a man with a bread knife last week.

The victim, a 27-year-old Milwaukee man, was cut in the back, arms and genital area and required 40 stitches and staples to close the wounds, according to Milwaukee County court records.

Kelly Clough, who was identified as a cook/server at George Webb in an arrest report for the May 19 incident, is being held at the Milwaukee County Jail with bail set at $25,000.

According to online court records, Clough filed for a temporary restraining order against the stabbing victim in July 2005. Electronic court records also show that Clough was convicted on misdemeanor charges of battery and disorderly conduct in 2003.

Throughout my years in the criminal justice system, I’ve not run across anyone who’s been convicted of mayhem, and I’ve often wondered what exactly constitutes mayhem, according to Wisconsin Statutes. Wisconsin Statutes define mayhem as follows:

940.21 Mayhem. Whoever, with intent to disable or disfigure another, cuts or mutilates the tongue, eye, ear, nose, lip, limb or other bodily member of another is guilty of a Class C felony.

What strikes me about the statute is the fact that there has to be an intent to disable or disfigure; it can’t just be the unintended result of the attack, so based on the news report, Clough was likely attempting to disable or disfigure the man’s genitals.

Crazy stuff…

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In the latest in a series of missteps by Senator Hillary Clinton, the good Senator from New York has come under fire for recent comments in which she invoked the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy to justify her decision to prolong her long-shot White House campaign. Here’s her exact comments, which were told to the editorial board of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Argus Leader:

“My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it,” she said.

I understand Clinton’s logic here - I think most folks do - but bringing RFK’s assassination into the equation reeks of exactly the kind of desperation that’s becoming more and more commonplace in the Clinton campaign. And while it’s no secret that I’ve never been a supporter of Hillary Clinton, I do feel it’s unfortunate to see the damage both the Clintons have done to their reputations and legacies. Renee over at Crawford’s Take summed it up best:

I just wanna cry for Hillary right now… I know she really wants to be president. In addition, if not that, some really cool other job. VP, SCOTUS, AG… She really could have had anything she wants at this point and I think every American would be excited about it.

But some misplaced sense of desperation has driven her to the brink. The comments about RFK today came from pure desperation. They came from some psyche that will not let her give up no matter what it takes and they came from some sense of entitlement that’s been rejected by the Democrats of America without regard for a lifetime of work to achieve that sense of entitlement.

Renee also adds:

In other words, I’m tired of every few days seeing her say or do something that squanders her good will built over decades any further. The only way to stop that is for her to just flat out take a break and stop campaigning for a while.

While I’d disagree that every American would be excited about the possibility of Hillary as VP, SCOTUS, AG, etc. - simply because there are a lot of folks on both sides of the political spectrum who want to see her fail - I do feel bad for the damage she’s done to her legacy. While Hillary’s vowed to fight the good fight and stay in the race, I have to think it won’t be long before she finally admits that this is a race she just can’t win without doing irreparable damage to her reputation and to the Democratic Party.

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