Bush's friend Janklow will walk free-- GOP justice.

[AlinPA]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=4&u=/nm/20031201/pl_nm/people_janklow_dc

Moody County Circuit Court Judge Rodney Steele has ruled out the presentation of Janklow's publicly documented abysmal driving record or his making light in speeches of his penchant for speeding. However, Steele will permit the testimony of a woman who claims her pickup truck was struck by Janklow's vehicle at the same intersection a year earlier. Janklow's defense may focus on his diabetic condition and a possible adverse reaction to his not eating enough that day that could have led to the accident.

[GainesT1958]

1. One way or another...

He's still a murderer! :mad:

B-)

[MoonAndSun]

2. I hope this news will make the people of his state realize that Janklow

is getting "special" treatment and even if he does get off or gets a lesser sentence, they should start a recall on his butt NOW!!!

[JailBush]

3. How the Hell can they disallow testimony regarding his prior

driving record??? Can you spell K-A-N-G-A-R-O-O justice?

[tom_paine]

11. I can spell Imperial Amerika.

Imperial Family allies are above the law.

Janklow will go FREE FREE FREE (though I have to admit, the word "free" has lost so much of it's meaning since the Death of the Old Republic).

It's as certain as Hitler's or Saddam's "re-election".

[teryang]

17. Actually, this is not unusual

The judge has probably ruled that the prejudicial effect of his prior driving record outweighs its probative value in a particular instance. He's not on trial for his prior driving record. Apparently though the significance of a prior act in the same location was regarded as more relevant and was ruled admissable.

[dflprincess]

30. I heard a report on the local news

that sounded like the judge may allow the past driving record in if Janklow tries to claim that the cause of this accident had something to do with his diabetes.

[Mistress Quickly]

4. heavy sigh

I have never put myself up for flaming, but here goes...

what is the difference between this and Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne(sp?)

Please don't hurt me, but they seem similar, right?

[msmcghee]

5. Refresh my mind please . .

. . was Kennedy accused of breaking any laws (like speeding or reckless driving) that resulted in Kopechne's death? I mean real accusations by a prosecutor that might have a chance to hold up in court - not accusations from RW zealots.


I don't remember any myself.

[Mistress Quickly]

6. involuntary manslaughter?

I hate hypocrisy anywhere it occurs.

Janklow blows through an intersection, hits a motorcyclist, who is killed.

Kennedy wrecks his car into a creek/river, and the passenger is killed.

Neither one meant to, but they both did.

[newyorican]

8. A bit off the mark...

it's only similar if Kennedy went off the bridge on purpose. As Jank-off often blew off the stop sign *on purpose*, your analogy only holds up if you can cite instances of Kennedy repeatedly driving off bridges intentionally.

[trotsky]

9. You're getting ahead of yourself.

Janklow broke the law by running a stop sign, and killed someone.

Kennedy wrecked his car, and killed someone. Was he ever charged with a moving violation w.r.t. the accident? Had he run a stop sign, was he driving recklessly, etc.? I honestly don't know. If that's the case, then yes it would be hypocritical of someone who supported Kennedy to denounce Janklow.

[Mistress Quickly]

13. All I can find

is rightwing hate Ted Kennedy web sites, so I can't even find factual information, just biased info, but no, he wasn't charged with a moving violation w.r.t. the accident.

I still wonder about not reporting the accident until the next morning.

Oh well, Janklow won't get reelected, and he will get off with only some type of community service.

Now, if it was me OTOH, I would be rotting in jail as we speak.

[Mistress Quickly]

14. All I can find

is rightwing hate Ted Kennedy web sites, so I can't even find factual information, just biased info, but no, he wasn't charged with a moving violation w.r.t. the accident.

I still wonder about not reporting the accident until the next morning.

Oh well, Janklow won't get reelected, and he will get off with only some type of community service.

Now, if it was me OTOH, I would be rotting in jail as we speak.

[dflprincess]

29. I think he was charged with leaving the scene,

pleaded guilty and did lose his license for a while (I'm working from memory here so don't assume I have my facts straight)

Not that Kennedy's actions are defensible, but one difference is that DWI was not taken particularily seriously in 1969 by anyone. People were pretty cavilier about DWI until MADD finally got us to wake up. I know someone who killed a friend (his passenger) while driving drunk in the early '70's. He did get charged with careless driving, paid a fine and lost his license for 6 months. Not much of a punishment for causing someone's death and, this guy had no political connections.

I'm not saying it was right, it's just how it was.

[Fovea]

15. The first and primary difference

is that Ted Kennedy did not kill Mary Jo, Mary Sue, and Mary Jane.
It was one big assed mistake. Janklow has a driving record like Berlin had a bombing record, big, ugly, and repeated.

[Catherine Vincent]

19. Amazing that you compare these two situations.

Why didn't you compare it with Laura Bush running the stop sign and how she killed someone?

[slaveplanet]

7. Last time

I tried to take a violation to trial. (red light, I entered on green to yellow) The DA offers to knock down points but conviction stands. I refuse. 3rd appearance- issuing officer no shows with note, I petition for dismissal(usually automaic in california). Judge looks at record( 3 movers in 5 years) says to me there's no way I'll dismiss this with your record.(gallery gasps) I explain I'd be held in contempt if I no showed, and this is my 3rd appearance on the matter. He doesnt relent(more gasps).

obviously the judge had made up his mind , I settle for points deferment as a reschedule would be a waste of more time.

[prole_for_peace]

10. the latest i read said...

that if there is a medical condition defense then the judge might allow presentation of his driving record.

but i doubt he will get any real punishment at all. not like if it was one of us...

[LiberalFighter]

20. Regardless of whether past record allowed to be entered

Medical excuse does not justify killing people. What they offered as an excuse was knowledge of a pre-existing condition. If it is pre-existing then it would be his reponsibility to maintain any prescription as ordered by medical authorities. Pre-existing condition not kept under control would be no different from driving while drunk. Both are performed knowing that driving under those conditions may(will) be dangerous.

[Bake]

23. Exactamundo!

His pathetic excuse actually bolsters the prosecution's case. He KNEW he had the condition, and drove anyway. The whole record of speeding tickets, etc., probably is excessively prejudicial and if I were the defense attorney, I'd try to keep it out too. That won't matter. How many people (potential jurors) in the state don't know about his infamous driving record anyway?

Bake, Esq.

[ShaneGR]

12. He won't be re-elected

not gonna happen.

[LittleApple81]

16. Ha! nothing that happens to people happens to Repugs. n/t

[Bandit]

21. Hell with his record he would be a good Republican candidate

The more laws broken the higher in esteem they will hold him.

[Adjoran]

18. Kennedy was convicted

of leaving the scene of an accident, received a two-month suspended sentence and a year's probation, paid a fine and had his driver's license suspended for a year. He has never applied for it to be reinstated.

Janklow's driving record would be admissible before sentencing, but the law prohibits the introduction of "prior bad acts," including convictions, in the guilt phase of a trial, as being unduly prejudicial.

[Mioshi]

22. What's the connection?

Perhaps I suffer too much from a logical mind. Please explain how Janklow's case has ANYTHING to do with dubya and the GOP. I really want to know. Thanks in advance.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Mioshi!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[AlinPA]

28. I'll try: Friend of Bush + GOP influence + political power= no conviction

Note that his history of many speeding tickets and accidents are sealed and prosecutor can't refer to them.

[kodi]

24. ah, amerika, were he an 18 year old black man, ...4 years in the pen.

say it,
say it loud,
say it proud,
its great to be white in amerika!!

(especially if you have the money for good lawyers)

[WhosNext]

25. Janklow is a fat piece of garbage

[Zero Division]

27. Politically he's toast: Only 7% want him for reelection...

and his approval rating is 29% with a 45% unfavorable.

Link: http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1021183&t=Nation+%2F+World&c=26,1021183

Edited to add:
I'd say this also makes him the perfect candidate for Bush to appoint to the Department of Transportation, given Bush's record with appointments. }(