Florida Court Hearing Case That Could Make "Stand Your Ground" Even Easier

Image from source, Think Progress

Because Florida. Ugh.

[Excerpt]

The Florida Supreme Court Is Hearing A Case That Could Make Stand Your Ground Even Worse
 
Since Trayvon Martin was gunned down in 2012, there’s been a lot of attention to Stand Your Ground laws that authorize vast use of deadly force in self-defense, but not a lot of reform away from the laws. Not a single state has successfully repealed or even contracted its Stand Your Ground law. Alaska passed a new one. And Florida and Georgia expanded theirs to allow even more defendants to be exempted from criminal charges for gun violence. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

George Zimmerman "Hand Painting" Really Photo-Shopped Stock Image

Image from Wonkette
(Click to embiggen)

Which is weirder, that a hand painting by George Zimmerman is going for tens of thousands of dollars on eBay, or that the Z-man just manipulated a stock photo, and called it an original? Sheesh.

[Excerpt]

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise: George Zimmerman Stoled His Inspirational Flag ‘Painting’ From A Stock Image
 
Nope, it’s not Jasper Johns Day on Wonkette — that there, courtesy of an anonymous Wonkette reader, is a montage of 1) George Zimmerman’s “hand painted artwork” that is currently hovering at a high bid of $99,966.00 on the Ebay, 2) a popular “waving flag” image from the interwebs, and 3) a fancy-schmancy overlay of item 1 on item 2, which is the kind of thing that can be done by a smart reader who actually knows Photoshop. . .

Read more at: Wonkette

George Zimmerman in Trouble Again

The George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case came to prominence because Zimmerman was let go after an unarmed Martin was killed, with no charges filed. The details of the case sounded quite fishy, and the more we learned about Zimmerman, the shadier he seemed. Negative things came out about Martin too, though how they could be at all relevant, I never sussed out. Since Zimmerman knew none of Martin's history, it's very unlikely that they influenced the events (an no, conservatives, pot doesn't make you into a raging supervillain). [Due to autoplay video, story continues below the jump]

George Zimmerman in Trouble with the Law Again

Image from source, Think Progress

For the third time since he was acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman has had a run-in with the cops. Unlike the previous two, this one didn't have anything to do with speeding, but like one of them, it had something to do with a gun. All of this activity, together with his very sketchy story about "rescuing" people from a car crash, adds up to a very odd post-acquittal set of activities. When this all becomes a miniseries--and you know it will--it's going to play as though the writers were trippin' balls during this part.

[Excerpt]

Report: George Zimmerman Allegedly Threatened Family Members With A Gun

Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman is under police investigation for a possible domestic battery following a fight with his wife and her family on Monday afternoon. According to news channel WKMG Local 6, police are “trying to determine what exactly happened” but they report a gun was present. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Right Wing World Tries to Tie Murder of Australian Man to Trayvon Martin Case (?!)

I really shouldn't overthink some of the stranger things to come out of the Right Wing World alternate reality machine. But it can be so strange what gets them cranked up, and how it echoes through the right-wing blogosphere. Drudge or Rush or some lucky also-ran will come up with a eureka idea--nearly always an over-reaction to something, or even a manufactured outrage--and suddenly it's everywhere, even leaking into the so-called liberal media.

Image from source, the great NewsCorpse

This time, I'm really scratching my head. Three boys in Oklahoma were "bored," and decided to kill somebody. They picked an unlucky Australian young man named Chris Lane, a good looking guy out for a jog. For no other reason than something to do, as far as any report I've seen has to say. Most peoples' reactions were astonishment, disgust and horror. "Wow, what's wrong with kids today," was my initial reaction. Later, the boys (aged 15, 16 and 17) were apprehended, put in jail and charged as adults. Their races--something that hadn't even crossed my mind--were black, black and white going by their photos, though as with any person, there could be other nationalities in the mix.

For some reason, the powers-that-be in Right Wing World have decided that this story is somehow analogous to the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case. It's being pushed all over the place, and causing little flame-wars on Facebook and Twitter. But I completely don't get it. I mean, I know that conservatives can be really, really bad at analogies. But where is the comparison here? George Zimmerman killed an unarmed kid, and the cops let him go, using his flimsy story as justification for "stand your ground." Absent a public outcry and media firestorm, we wouldn't even know about the case. The outrage--initially, and throughout the developing story--was the botched investigation, and lack of scrutiny to the death of the kid, and the sketchy character of the killer.

How this compares to three teenagers killing a guy for sport is anyone's guess. As far as we know, there was no racial motivation. The boys were not let go. There's not much ambiguity about exactly what happened (other than sheer disbelief). Nobody is jumping to the defense of the boys, calling into question Chris Lane's character, or calling him a "thug." Nobody is setting up a legal defense fund for them, and donating money (and guns!) to them. Nobody from any side is sticking up for kids who killed a man just to watch him die! There is almost nothing here to analogize to the Trayvon Martin case.

[Excerpt]

Still In The Dark: Fox News Continues To Misunderstand The Tragedy Of Trayvon Martin

When news broke about the brutal and senseless killing of Chris Lane, a young Australian studying in Oklahoma, there was universal disgust and sympathy. It was the sort of random crime that leaves everyone struggling to comprehend how it could occur. Everyone except Fox News, who immediately set out to politicize it to advance their racist agenda. . .

Read more at: NewsCorpse

Zimmerman Juror Concedes That He Got Away with Murder

Image from source, NBC News

Well of course he did. Or at least he got away with manslaughter. And if this juror's side of the story is accurate, it sounds to me like the jury was a bit confused. I mean "beyond a reasonable doubt" does not mean beyond any doubt. It doesn't mean beyond a ghost of a chance. But I will concede that the prosecution blew this case (and was handicapped by a poor initial investigation). I still don't buy George Zimmerman's story for a second.

[Excerpt]

Juror: Zimmerman 'got away with murder' but had to be acquitted

A member of the jury that acquitted George Zimmerman said Thursday she thinks Zimmerman "got away with murder" but that jurors had no choice in finding him not guilty under the law. . .

Read more at: NBC News

George Zimmerman Helps Rescue People from Car Wreck, Maybe?

Okay, let me start by saying that when I heard that George Zimmerman had stopped to help rescue some people from an overturned vehicle, my first thought was, "Imagine taking THAT 911 call!" Second, I thought. . .Okay. And? And then when they reported it happened a week ago, and that it was being reported by Zimmerman's smarmy lawyer, I thought. . .where's the police report? Because it just sounds odd.

Stephanie Miller, image from NewsBusters

Obviously, if you have a political talk show, particularly one that has been hashing and re-hashing Zimmerman's trial in the death of Trayvon Martin, a fishy story does more than raise your eyebrows, it gives you something to talk about, speculate about on your show. The only one I can speak to on the story is the one I'm familiar with, The Stephanie Miller Show. I listened to today's show, and the topic was discussed, both by the on-air talent and phone callers.

The show is political, but is primarily political humor. So, they had some fun with this one, going so far as to invoke NewsBusters, the so-called "liberal media" watchdog site, not once but several times. Little wonder then, that NewsBusters bit. They saved most of their ire for Bill Press, who I don't listen to. But they did go after Steph and her mooks, mostly by just block-quoting only their comedy riff on the topic, not even jumping on the actual speculation! There had even been a caller who (not citing a source other than being a local) said Zimmerman was merely one of several people who called 911. I'd like to know if that is true, wouldn't you?

Anyway, you can read it all at NewsBusters if you feel motivated. But I warn you, stay out of their comments section if you haven't had your shots. For everything.

How the System Failed Trayvon Martin

Image from source, New York Times

Unless there is an astonishing development, or profoundly newsworthy happening regarding the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin shooting incident, I don't imagine I'll be writing much about it again. Oh, I'm sure "Stand Your Ground" will come up, and it's possible that there will be significant events, such as a civil trial or maybe even something from the Justice Department. But of the trial itself, and the horrible actual shooting, I think I'm spent on the subject.

So, I will put a bow on this stage of it at least with the best piece I've seen written on the subject, by Charles M. Blow. It's worth a read, whichever side you came down on.

[Excerpt]

The Whole System Failed Trayvon Martin

In a way, the not-guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman for his killing of Trayvon Martin was more powerful than a guilty verdict could ever have been. It was the perfect wrenching coda to a story that illustrates just how utterly and completely our system of justice — both moral and legal — failed Martin and his family. . .

Read more at: New York Times

John Oliver's Daily Show Reaction to Zimmerman Verdict (Video)

Now that the video of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart John Oliver's reaction to the George Zimmerman trial verdict is available, I had to post it. It was really, really well done.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Daily Show: John Oliver Takes on Zimmerman Verdict and Nails It

Image from Mediaite

For the first time since Jon Stewart took his summer break from The Daily Show, Stewart may have reason to fear for his job. Fill-in host John Oliver started fairly strong, and has only gotten better. And with his report on the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin trial verdict, he was truly every bit as good as Stewart. I know they share a team of writers, so the words are going to be there, but this was a terrific, funny and spot-on piece. If The Other Half weren't asleep, I would have stood up and cheered. Cheerioed? Great job, Mr. Oliver!

[Excerpt]

John Oliver Slams Florida: ‘Just Because You’re Shaped Like A Dick Doesn’t Mean You Have To Act’ Like One

In his first show after a two week hiatus (nice life), Daily Show interim host John Oliver excoriated the entire state of Florida for the George Zimmerman verdict and the Stand Your Ground laws that surrounded the case. . .

Read more (with video) at: Mediaite

Breaking News: George Zimmerman to Host FOX "News" Program, Stand Your Ground

Image from source, the brilliant NewsCorpse

No, not really. But would it surprise you?

[Excerpt]

Fox News Signs George Zimmerman As Host: “Stand Your Ground” Premieres This Fall

. . .Sources inside Fox News have confirmed that Zimmerman has agreed to host a nightly crime and social affairs program on the network that is set to premiere in October 2013. The controversial signing is consistent with Fox’s programming philosophy of exploiting the transient publicity of media spectacles by drafting the beneficiaries of inordinate press attention, despite a lack of experience or qualifications – e.g. Sarah Palin. . .

Read more at: NewsCorpse

Fair Warning: George Zimmerman is Loose on the Streets

Trayvon Martin, from BET.com

Oh, I'm sorry. Is that headline a little harsh? I don't really care, at this point. While I can certainly understand the vagueries of the letter of the law, and the difficulty of proving murder beyond a reasonable doubt, there is no doubt that a kid was killed, and that George Zimmerman killed him. There is no doubt that Trayvon Martin--surely not a perfect kid, but by no measure a "thug" as he's often been portrayed--was unarmed (no, a "sidewalk" doesn't count). There is no doubt that if Zimmerman had stayed in his truck, that this case would never have happened.

Where is there doubt? Well, nobody knows the actual sequence of events between the 911 tape and the arrival of the cops, except for Zimmerman. The witnesses have been contradictory and unreliable. The cops apparently let Zimmerman go with a reduced investigation, due to Florida's idiotic ALEC-scripted "stand your ground" law. So, evidence was lost. The prosecution was ham-handed, and seemingly borderline incompetent. So was the defense! The trial was a sad spectacle and sideshow. It followed in a long line of "marquee" cable-news-ready trials, and was one of the few I've paid any attention to.

The truth is, even though this trial became ridiculously overly saturated by the press (with MSNBC's countdown clock, and FOX "News"'s cheer leading for the defense), it wouldn't even have happened without a public outcry, and media attention. Because of the "frontier justice" laws of the batshit crazy state of Florida--Castle Law, Stand Your Ground, loosey-goosey self defense law--Zimmerman was let go with a minimum of forensic investigation. His blood alcohol level wasn't even tested.

I don't know what happened (and neither do you), but
I can tell you this: I fell while walking last week, into
gravel. I bled more--a lot more--than this.

So, no, I can't state with any assurance that Zimmerman was definitely guilty, and has gotten away with murder. And as a juror (who would have gotten more info than I have as a semi-casual observer), I may have had a hard time hanging 2nd-degree murder around his neck. But it was manslaughter. At least.

The facts of the matter that cannot be escaped are: a) Martin was not doing anything wrong and was unarmed. b) Martin wasn't in an area he wasn't supposed to be in. c) It is not unreasonable for a 17-year-old kid to go to the store on his own on a weekend night at 7:00 pm. d) Zimmerman was not supposed to have a gun as a neighborhood watchman. e) Zimmerman shouldn't have had his gun not just loaded, but with a bullet ready to fire. f) Whatever Zimmerman's fears for his life, Martin had just as much reason to be alarmed at being followed by a strange, unidentified man. g) The kid is dead, and can't speak for himself. h) Pot doesn't make you aggressively anything, except possibly aggressively hungry. And he wasn't eating his Skittles.

I could probably carry out those indisputable facts to z). We don't know who initiated the brawl between the men. We don't know whose voice (maybe both?) we heard on the tape. We don't know if Zimmerman was truly being beaten within an inch of his life, or just felt like he was. What we do know is that a kid is dead, and nobody is being held accountable. We know that--using this case as precedent--if you get into a fight, and you are losing (and have a gun!), you can shoot the other guy, and get away scot free. At least in Florida.

[My best guess on this situation is that Zimm was gung-ho about catching a crook, thought he saw a perp, knew he himself had a gun, called in to 911 (as though he was calling dispatch), pursued the perp (whilst still on the line), was told "we don't need you to do that," and did it anyway. loose cannon and all that. The kid--freaked out by the guy following him, who has not identified himself--flees for a bit, then turns and "stands his ground." There is a tussle, a bit of "upper hand" back-and-forth," Trayvon gets the better of Zimm, and--remembering he has the piece--Zimm blows Martin away. It may have even been the recoil of the gun that bonked Zimm in the nose, and bounced his head off the ground.]

I'm saddened by this result. I wish there had been a third option for the jury, a wrongful death or negligent homicide option or something. Because Zimmerman getting off with nothing? For shooting a kid armed with Skittles!?! It's crazy. Insane. It's certainly not justice.

Shocker: Glee Star, Cory Monteith, Dead at 31

Cory Monteith, Image from source, Huffington Post

Well, this is one you don't expect. We expect actors who play teenagers to be much older than the characters they play (though 31 is really pushing it), but you don't expect them to just turn up dead. Wow. Seemed like a nice kid. Guy. Whatever. But I guess you never know. As a casual fan of the show, this one kind of felt like a hit to the gut. Didn't expect that. Especially after the round-house kick of the Trayvon Martin murder case verdict. RIP, both to Mr. Monteith and Mr. Martin.

[Excerpt]

Cory Monteith Dead: 'Glee' Star Found In Vancouver Hotel Room

Cory Monteith, a Canadian actor best known for playing Finn Hudson on the hit show "Glee," was found dead Saturday in a Vancouver hotel room, police announced on Saturday. Monteith was 31 years old. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

George Zimmerman Finally Arrested in Trayvon Martin Shooting

I've tried to step back as more and more happened in the Trayvon Martin case. And rather than trying the case on my blog, I tried to confine myself to commenting on the insanity of the "stand your ground" laws (brought to you by ALEC, naturally), the potential ineptitude of the Sanford Police Department, and the likelihood that were the roles reversed, that Martin wouldn't be allowed to just walk away, with his gun.

But it has been difficult not saying much. Seemingly every day, something strange occurred in the case, from off-the-wall testimonials by people who seemingly hadn't seen George Zimmerman in years, to his lawyers publicly trouncing him and abandoning him on television. Zimmerman's side of the story has been gobbled down, hook, line and sinker by right-wing world. And when Zimmerman is actually conferring with Sean Hannity, it just gets to be too much! So thankfully, an arrest was finally made. As unseemly as some of the media circus has been, the fact remains that were it not for the public outcry, Zimmerman would just be on his merry way.

[Excerpt]


George Zimmerman in custody, will plead not guilty to second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin case

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

George Zimmerman is in custody in Florida and will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, authorities announced Wednesday. His attorney said he would plead not guilty. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Mike in Raleigh: Stand Your Ground

It's always a good day when Mike in Raleigh (The Stephanie Miller Show) has a new clip up, even if it is on a very serious subject. I sometimes get criticized for my lack of reverence. But you know what, I've gotten the giggles at a funeral, and cried too. Gallows humor helps us get through life.

George Zimmerman Video Shows No Blood, No Injury

Maybe it's just from too much CSI and Law & Order, but when a person has been in a fight that resulted in "lacerations" to the back of the head, and a broken, bloody nose. . .well, you'd expect there to be evidence of that in a video taken later that day. You'd think there'd be blood on George Zimmerman from having shot Trayvon Martin, but that's where my CSI knowledge falls down, with geometry and physics being weak spots for me. But certainly, Zimmerman could be expected to be bloodied, bruised and a little staggery if all that he said is true. [Story continues below]



Readers of this blog know that I don't usually follow "true crime" local stories that burst through to a national level. I avoid Nancy Grace like the plague. But this case has jumped beyond an ordinary murder case. For me, it has very little to do with race, per se, unless that was what motivated Zimmerman. A lot of people on the right (and isn't it amazing that a homicide comes down to right vs. left?) have immediately jumped on the race issue with both feet. "Zimmerman isn't 'white', he's 'Mexican'" they'll say. "What about that case in XYZ state, where a black guy killed a white guy, what about that?" 

As usual, my friends on the right miss the point.  The point is that Zimmerman was released with apparently cursory questioning. It's brand new news, as far as I know, that the police even took him in. Without benefit of lawyers, jurors or judges, he was allowed to go free--remains free, in fact--still with the gun that killed Martin. If Martin had gotten the upper hand, and wrested the gun away from Zimmerman, killing him, how many people believe the kid would have been released, with the gun? Okay, so maybe it could be about race after all. Or about the police siding with Zimmerman for a different reason. Whatever it is, it stinks.

I will concede that we do not have all of the facts here. And the facts may shake out differently than we expect. But I think it is very safe to say that the police did an extremely shoddy job on this, and/or the "Stand Your Ground" law is insanely written. Because I still can't see a way where it wasn't Trayvon Martin who had a right to stand his ground.

[Excerpt]


Trayvon Martin Case: Police Video Shows No Blood, Bruises On George Zimmerman After Killing

Newly released video of George Zimmerman at the Sanford Police Department the night he shot Trayvon Martin to death show the neighborhood watch volunteer without blood on his clothing or bruises on his face or head. His clean-shaven picture seems to contrast with the violent beating he told police he endured at the hands of Martin, 17, who Zimmerman said attacked him from behind. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Should "Stand Your Ground" Laws Be Repealed?

I have to say, if I understand Florida's (and by extension, a dozen and a half other states') "Stand Your Ground" law correctly, then I have to wonder how the thing ever got passed. I do understand that anything considered "pro-gun" is heavily pushed by the NRA, and apparently the shady, hugely monied ALEC. And I understand that along with all of that, any law they're pushing has a greater chance of passage.

Image from source, Washington Post

But it sounds like this law a) allows you to shoot somebody if you feel threatened,* and b) does not require your detention or arrest to sort it all out. The cops get to decide if the shooting fits the law, and if they think it does, they just let you go. They don't test you for drugs or alcohol. They don't run a background check on you. They just ask you a few questions, and you're good to go. And you get to keep your gun!

So, basically, this type of law just requires you to have a reasonable sounding story, and you can get away with murder. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, or if somehow the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin story is atypical, this is just insane. It removes the judge, jury, attorneys, and leaves you as the executioner. Or the dead. How could anyone defend this law?

[Excerpt]

Repeal the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law

The “Stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and other states should all be repealed. At best, they are redundant. At worst, as in the Trayvon Martin killing, they are nothing but a license to kill. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

*And consider this: defenders of this type of law tend to be conservatives. And conservatives tend to also be against hate crime laws, because they have to "get inside your head" to determine intent. WTF do you think they have to do to determine that you felt threatened? And it's a cop, not a lawyer, judge or jury!

Rep. Allen West (R-FL) Makes Sense for the First Time Ever

From source.

Seriously. This dude is usually on the margins, and only on the margins. This time, he gets it right.

[Excerpt]


Allen West On Trayvon Martin Case: 'This Is An Outrage'

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), a high-profile conservative and one of two African-American Republicans currently serving in Congress, posted a statement early Thursday evening on Facebook, lambasting the local authorities in the handling of the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

Notably, West said that the shooter George Zimmerman "should have been held in custody and certainly should not be walking free, still having a concealed weapons carry permit. . . "

Read more at: Talking Points Memo