In the News II

Quote: odiousgambit

the case hung on her word she knew nothing?

I would expect that there was a lot of evidence she knew exactly what she was doing. I'm not going to look into this.

She was accused of carrying 54 pounds of meth across the border from Mexico to the US. She claimed it was her bf's car and she had no knowledge of the drugs. There was no direct evidence presented that she knew what she was doing. At trial, the prosecution called an expert witness that testified that "most" drug dealers would not entrust such a large quantity of drugs to an unsuspecting courier. She appealed her conviction, stating the expert couldn't testify, as he had no knowledge of "her" state of mind. The appeals court and SCOTUS both said that because the expert did not express an opinion about whether Diaz herself knowingly transported methamphetamine, his testimony did not violate her due process rights.

As a criminal case, it is my belief that we pay attention to these cases. These cases help shape our rights to the conduct we can engage in, the contours of our rights in case we as hassled by the authorities who try and bully, intimidate and violate our rights, as well as our rights in case we are forced to stand in front of a judge or an impartial jury as a criminal defendant. So therefore, it's good to look into those cases, laws and judicial opinion that impact what rights we have and how we can exercise them.

Quote: odiousgambit

the case hung on her word she knew nothing?

I would expect that there was a lot of evidence she knew exactly what she was doing. I'm not going to look into this.

I'm not concerned if there was other significant evidence.

How many cars have you gotten into in your whole life that could have pounds of drugs hidden in them, that you never checked for first? For me, probably all.

If you're not checking to see if you have the spare tire, I'm pretty sure most compartments could hold 54lbs of meth just in that typical space.

Quote: rxwine

I'm not concerned if there was other significant evidence.

How many cars have you gotten into in your whole life that could have pounds of drugs hidden in them, that you never checked for first? For me, probably all.

If you're not checking to see if you have the spare tire, I'm pretty sure most compartments could hold 54lbs of meth just in that typical space.

Would a drug dealer or drug smuggler entrust 54 lbs of meth with a total stranger? I wouldn't know, as I've never been a drug smuggler

Those stupid crackers in Louisiana, the ones who now mandate that a poster of the Ten Commandments be posted in schools have opened up the proverbial can of worms.

I can just see it hitting the fan when little Bobby asks his teacher "What does it mean that I should not covet my neighbor's wife?"

By force feeding religion the goobers in that back woods state have opened the door to sex ed for six year olds.

Idiots.

Quote: missedhervee

Those stupid crackers in Louisiana, the ones who now mandate that a poster of the Ten Commandments be posted in schools have opened up the proverbial can of worms.

I can just see it hitting the fan when little Bobby asks his teacher "What does it mean that I should not covet my neighbor's wife?"

By force feeding religion the goobers in that back woods state have opened the door to sex ed for six year olds.

Idiots.

That door has been wide open for decades.

Are you saying coveting your neighbor's wife is a good idea or something? While a case can be made for not posting 1-3 on religion grounds, I cannot see why people get bent out of shape over the rest.

Quote: AZDuffman

That door has been wide open for decades.

Are you saying coveting your neighbor's wife is a good idea or something? While a case can be made for not posting 1-3 on religion grounds, I cannot see why people get bent out of shape over the rest.

Which versions of the 10 Commandments are allowed and are any disallowed? I mean, depending upon where each commandment is split from the next, there are 17 different versions of the 10 commandments.

This is a stupid effing law...

Quote: AZDuffman

Are you saying coveting your neighbor's wife is a good idea or something? .

Don't play coy.

No, my point is that I oppose ANY religious dogma be posted, displayed, discussed or taught in public school.

If you allow the BS of Christianity to be shouted from the roof tops to young minds filled with mush then you logically should allow BS from all other faiths including Islam, Wiccans and Shinto.

Fair is fair, right?

Quote: missedhervee

Don't play coy.

No, my point is that I oppose ANY religious dogma be posted, displayed, discussed or taught in public school.

If you allow the BS of Christianity to be shouted from the roof tops to young minds filled with mush then you logically should allow BS from all other faiths including Islam, Wiccans and Shinto.

Fair is fair, right?

Scientology is licking their chops

Quote: missedhervee

Don't play coy.

No, my point is that I oppose ANY religious dogma be posted, displayed, discussed or taught in public school.

If you allow the BS of Christianity to be shouted from the roof tops to young minds filled with mush then you logically should allow BS from all other faiths including Islam, Wiccans and Shinto.



Fair is fair, right?

Not coveting your neighbors wife is not religious it is just good business.

Quote: AZDuffman

Not coveting your neighbors wife is not religious it is just good business.

That's not the point, and you know it.

The point is that the Louisiana legislature is force-feeding Christianity to students.

The Ten Commandments are not secular, they are Christian.

What ever happened to separation of church and state, eh?

Look, I get it that Louisiana is a land of mouth-breathing quasi-religious zealots but not ALL Louisiana residents drink that Kool-Aid, nor should their kids be foreced to do so.

This will wind up in front of the USSC: given the current make up of the court it will be an interesting acid test.

Either we uphold the Founding Father's principles of separation of church and state or, for political purposes, we descend into madness and watch this Once Great Nation spin down the drain.