I'm Not Biased - Really I'm Not!

But aren't they all just too perfect?? :)

Absolutely Stunning

I had to read this several times to believe what I was reading.

An illegal immigrant drug dealer who fled to his native Mexico after orchestrating the murder of an Iowa teenager is free because his conviction was overturned by an appellate court that ruled he was denied a speedy trial while he was a fugitive from U.S. justice.

The astounding case dates back more than a decade, when the illegal alien (Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez) drug lord ordered the execution-style murder of a 15-year-old northwest Iowa boy over a drug debt. The teen, rumored to be a police informant, was kidnapped and severely beaten before getting shot.

Castillo-Alvarez evaded U.S. authorities for a decade, hiding out in his Mexican hometown until spring of 2008 when he was finally extradited, tried and convicted of kidnapping, conspiracy and second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to five decades in prison for the atrocious crime, which was not his first.

Incredibly, the Iowa Court of Appeals overturned the conviction last September, ruling that the illegal immigrant murderer was not granted a speedy trial guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. "The county attorney was well aware that defendant was a citizen of Mexico and that he was located there," the court wrote in its decision. The fact that the defendant went to Mexico in 1997 “does not shed light on why there was delay" between the time trial information was filed and the time he was arrested, the ruling says.

Announcing it would appeal to Iowa’s Supreme Court, the state’s Attorney General countered that the delay was attributable to Castillo’s flight from the United States to avoid prosecution. Furthermore, the Attorney General pointed out, prosecutors had no control over Mexico’s slow extradition process. Throughout the procedure, U.S. officials maintained regular contacts with Mexican authorities but had no jurisdiction to do more to ensure prompt location of the defendant and execution of the outstanding arrest warrant, the Attorney General said.

This week Iowa’s Supreme Court refused to review the overturned conviction, which essentially dismisses the case against the illegal alien murderer. Double jeopardy prohibits Castillo-Alvarez from being retried. The demoralized Clay County posecutor said: “It is disappointing that the justices in Des Moines don't understand and appreciate the difficulties in pursuing a murderer who flees to his home country of Mexico to avoid prosecution. It is also discouraging that those same justices didn't hold Castillo responsible for his own conduct in fleeing the state to avoid prosecution."

Where to begin? I'm so stunned that I'm nearly speechless! First things first...any of you who read me with any regularity know how I stand on illegal immigrants. I simply do NOT understand why they are getting rights under the United States Constitution when they are not a citizen of this country. And when those "rights" lead to a convicted murderer getting away with...well...murder, there is something seriously wrong with the system.

Secondly, WTF is with the justices in Iowa??? Let's review, shall we? You have a person who has committed a heinous crime - said person is in this country illegally, using a false name and false social security number. He then flees to Mexico to avoid prosecution. The Mexican authorities, in conjunction with the American authorities finally find, arrest and extradite him. He is convicted of the crime he has committed. And yet...YET...they have the audacity to overturn the conviction because he wasn't granted a speedy trial, pursuant to rights that he should not have in the first place??? Are you serious??? I have read the opinion, and quite frankly, it's a steaming pile of male bovine excrement (to quote a dear friend).

In essence, the only way you can get around the 90 day rule is (1) the defendant has waived speedy trial, (2) the delay is attributable to the defendant, or (3) other good cause explains the delay. I simply do NOT understand how a person fleeing the country to avoid prosecution does not fall into category (2) above!!!

Our justice system in this country is back-asswards, and I just don't know what we can do about it. Unbelievable.

The State of the Union

Just a few (very) random thoughts on the State of the Union…I won’t get into what the prez said – you can see a lot of good commentary all over the blogosphere.

I thought he was very condescending. I seriously can’t figure out if he is really not listening to the American people – if he’s that out of touch, or if he’s that arrogant as to completely ignore the will of the people in order to tell us what is best for us.

I think dissing the SCOTUS on national TV right in front of them was a most disgusting thing to do.

I know that he needs the TOTUS (even to speak to 6th graders), but once – just ONCE – can you look directly into the camera so that the American people feel like you’re talking to us? Isn’t that what the State of the Union is about? Letting we the people know what’s going on, what’s going to happen, what your plans are?

I really can't stand looking at Biden and Pelosi grinning from ear to ear...this is supposed to be a serious speech. I wanted to smack the grins right off of them. And speaking of serious - Mr. President, this is not a comedy show. I don't know if by cracking jokes you think you are "connecting" to the people, but there are a lot of us out here that are NOT laughing. We're losing jobs, losing homes, afraid for our country and the direction its headed. I, for one, was not amused.

STOP THE BLAME GAME!!! Dude – seriously. Even your own party is realizing that it’s time to stop blaming the previous administration for all the ills of the world. Sheesh!! You’ve been in office for a year now – start taking some ownership.

And finally – does this president, for one second, think that the majority of thinking people in this country believe his bullshit? Playing the semantics game will not work. I was, quite frankly, insulted that he thinks that the people of this country are stupid enough to buy into his line of crap.

And those are my random thoughts.

It's A Boy!!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls...please allow me to introduce

WIGGLEWORM!!!!

Born today at 3:33 p.m., he is 8.5 pounds and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well...dad is pround as a peacock.

I'm half tempted to jump on a plane and go see them...six weeks isn't THAT long, is it?

Family Update

Well, anyone who has been following this blog from the beginning knows the story of The Elder. You would also know that The Elder's wife, TSC, was due to have a baby this month. As of this minute, TSC is 4 days overdue. The poor little thing is a) more than anxious to hold her precious little baby and b) pretty much miserable. :(



As far as The Elder is concerned, he is LOVING the Army. I rely on TSC for most of my information, but I've gotten some text messages here and there. He will be graduating basic in March, and I already have my plane and hotel reservations...I can't WAIT!!! I'll get to meet the baby (hereinafter referred to as "wiggleworm" cuz that's what mommy calls him/her), see TSC again, see The Elder graduate and also reconnect with his mom and dad. What could be better???




Thanks for your service babe - God be with you. And with you too, TSC!

I Had To Do It!!

Anyone who knows me would know that I simply couldn't pass up this opportunity :)


Gleefully swiped from Silent E

MIA

Yes friends, I realize I have been missing in action. I know you miss my pearls of wisdom - that you are waiting with baited breath for the next stunning revelation I may reveal. I kid, of course. In any case, the reason I've been silent is that I'm recovering from a medical procedure that had to be performed on my neck. This is the third time I've undergone this procedure, but for some reason this one has been MUCH more painful than the previous two. There was much pain leading up to the procedure, which was why I haven't been posting. I have stories bookmarked, a podcast to review, and I was hoping to catch up with that over the weekend while I was recuperating. Alas, that was not the case. I was far too loopy to even attempt to make sense (as if I ever do!).

In any case, I just wanted to explain my absence to my 1 or 2 readers, and let y'all know that I will be back ASAP. After all, we DO have the State of the Union address on Wednesday!

P.S. - I was conscious enough to see the Saints beat the crap out of Brett Favre! :) GEAUX SAINTS!!!

P.S.S. If I've made spelling or grammatical errors, see paragraph 1 for the explanation!