http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Fri, 23 Jan 2004 09:27:39 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/23/081150.php#comment-38960 The frustrating part is that the judge had discretion, and he's supposed to use it to look at the defendant's history and attitude. On the one hand, Janklow served his state and country and in the process, probably did a lot of good things. But on the other, he was a complete jerk on the roads and joked about his speeding habit. And although he showed remorse in the courtroom, he accepted no responsibility for what he did. It was the diabetes. Right. Janklow was a first time offender in the sense of committing manslaughter, but not in the reckless, careless disregard for the law and the life of others. That's why he should have received a harsher sentence. 38960@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jan 2004 09:27:39 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/23/081150.php#comment-38958 A bad end to a reasonable shot at real justice. I agree with your assessment here and am astonished the judge didn't give more thought to how this would look and smell: cronyism, privilege, one hand washing the other. I am less concerned even about the sentence than I am about the driving: he should never drive again. 38958@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jan 2004 09:09:14 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/23/081150.php#comment-38957 Yeah, he's all "MR Law and Order" until it's his ass in the docket! And since his felony will be erased later, he'll be able to continue to vote and run for office. Wonder if he'll pull the 'health problems' routine to get out of even the 100 days. And before someone brings up Teddy Kennedy, don't forget Laura Bush killed her ex-boyfriend in a car accident and didn't spend a second in jail either. It's not so much a rep vs. dem thing, it's a privileged versus commoner thing. 38957@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jan 2004 08:57:32 EST