Fewer Choose Choice, Not-Obama a Popular Candidate in Democratic Primaries, Zimmerman Witnesses Change Stories: P.M. Links

• School choice is back on the agenda, as Mitt Romney makes vouchers a plank in his campaign platform.

• Fewest Americans ever say they're pro-choice on abortion, finds Gallup. Just 41 percent pick that description now, compared to 51 percent in 2006. (But support for gay marriage is up to 53 percent.)
• While he's certain to be the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama is  consistently bleeding support to unknown challengers and "uncommitted." In the Arkansas primary, an obscure lawyer took 40% of the vote.
• Careful, critics of the Obama administration! The White House is taking a lead role in picking targets for drone attacks.
• Across the country, Ron Paul-inspired libertarian activists are running for office and seizing control of local and state Republican organizations.
• Deterred by complexity and costliness, the vast majority of eligible small businesses are simply ignoring a federal tax credit intended to subsidize health coverage for employees.
• At least four key witnesses have changed their stories about what they saw the night George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, potentially hurting Zimmerman's self-defense case.
• Cops can't turn traffic stops into excuses for open-ended questioning and searches, says the Delaware Supreme Court.
• Have a heart! Israeli scientists reprogrammed skin cells into stem cells that generate healthy, beating heart muscle cells.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

...as Mitt Romney makes vouchers a plank in his campaign platform.

Well, there goes his teachers union endorsement.

[Paul.]

He never had one, was never going to get one, and could offer to blow every male teacher and compliment every female teacher on her ensemble... and yet he'd never get that endorsement. Because of smaller government and stuff.

[fish]

Because of smaller government and stuff.

When has Flipper ever been in favor of smaller government?

[Paul.]

When EJ Dionne said he was.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Evidence released last week in the second-degree-murder case against George Zimmerman shows four key witnesses made major changes in what they say they saw and heard the night he fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford.

I don't see how witnesses changing their stories can be very good for the prosecution.

[Episiarch]

That was my thought as well. The defense would crucify them on the stand.

[Rich]

I don't see how witnesses who change their stories can be witnesses.

[RBS]

A smart prosecutor probably would not want to put them on the stand for the reasons stated above. She might have to though since it's a huge part of the case against Zimmerman.

[Pro Libertate]

Anyone can be a witness. And anyone can be impeached with his contradictions.

[Paul.]

What're you saying?

[Pro Libertate]

What I'm saying, Paul, Your Honor, and members of the jury, is that your testimony is inconsistent with your comment on March 10, 2012. How do you explain this contradiction?

[Episiarch]

Fry: I refuse to testify on the grounds that my organs will be chopped up into a patty.

Judge Whitey: Ah, the 67th Amendment.

[Rich]

IIIIII FORGOT!!

/Steve Martin

[Paul.]

Oh, because when someone uses the word "impeach" I immediately see racism.

[RBS]

Sarcasm? I mean, it's called impeaching in the evidence rules.

[Paul.]

Sarcasm? I mean, it's called impeaching in the evidence rules.

Saying the word "impeach" while we have a black president is racist. Welcome to HR!

[ClubMedSux]

Well, it depends what their original story was. If it's four witnesses who initially said Trayvon Martin was slamming Zimmerman's head against the pavement, that's fucking great for the prosecution.

[Pro Libertate]

No, it isn't. In fact, that would be a disaster for the prosecution, because that would mean their new principal witnesses can all be impeached.

[ClubMedSux]

You're assuming they're principal witnesses for the prosecution. I'm not.

[Brett L]

It actually doesn't matter. There's no doubt that the defendant was at the scene and pulled the trigger. So if he is the only witness with a consistent story, this is good for the defense.

[mustard]

It depends on how things go down. For obvious and good reasons, it's not easy to get off on a self-defense claim when there are no witnesses to the killing.

[Pro Libertate]

The burden is on the prosecution, not the defense. He says it's self-defense, and there's no significant evidence to the contrary, he walks.

[Pro Libertate]

I think they're fucked. Already.

[Seamus]

Corey doesn't need for them to be prosecution witnesses. She just needs for them *not* to be defense witnesses.

[Hyperion]

Exactly, I mean... doesn't the character of these witnesses come into question now?

Witness tells truth.

Witness is scorned and berated by dimwit democrat voter drone friends.

Witness changes story.

MSM applauds witnesses for changing story(lying).

Now we have justice at work.

*barf*

[Episiarch]

How do you know this is the way their story is changing?

[Hyperion]

Just a feeling. What do you think?

[Hyperion]

Also, did you read the story link?

[Coeus]

Well, one of them definitely changed it based upon the false coverage at the beginning.

During that session, she said she saw two people on the ground immediately after the shooting and was not sure who was on top, Zimmerman or Trayvon.

"I don't know which one... All I saw when they were on the ground was dark colors," she said.

Six days later, however, she was sure: It was Zimmerman on top, she told trial prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda during a 21/2-minute recorded session.

"I know after seeing the TV of what's happening, comparing their sizes, I think Zimmerman was definitely on top because of his size," she said.

[Coeus]

Also, huffpo deliberately left off that last line in their coverage. Wonder why?

[Coeus]

And they've lightened zimmerman to approximately the hue of an albino.

[Brett L]

A more honest take is that over the course of being deposed by both sides, they have become increasingly less certain of what they saw. This often happens and is why eyewitness testimony sucks.

[Hyperion]

So they are weak minded sheep, easily led astray? As witnessed by their continued support for candidates who lie to them over and over? Sounds right to me.

[Brett L]

What temperature was your dinner on the night of the 16th? Are you sure?

[Tulpa the White]

I think you mean "charitable", not "honest".

[Cyto]

Actually, some have become more certain. Which is consistent with current research into memory. Rehashing memories and combining them with outside information leads to greatly increased confidence in the accuracy of the memories. And greatly decreased accuracy of the memory.

Someone who immediately says they saw a man in a dark sweater leave the store, but isn't too sure about the color or his size is much more likely to be correct than the same person 3 weeks later who is 100% positive that they saw a light-skinned black man of about 160 pounds in a navy blue hoodie. Yet a jury (and prosecutor) is much more likely to believe someone who can answer with absolute confidence about what they saw.

[Suthenboy]

That, and memory gets worse over time, not better. Their initial versions are far more likely to be closer to the truth.

[PapayaSF]

Indeed. The "it looks worse for Zimmerman" take is just the media trying to maintain their preferred narrative against mounting evidence. E.g. Zimmerman's wounds are consistent with his story, Martin had broken skin on his knuckles, the recently rediscovered YouTube video of Martin participating in Fight Club-style fights, etc.

[Pro Libertate]

There's actually some talk here that this case would already be dismissed but for the politics. Everyone seems to keep forgetting the burden of proof thingee and where it lies. Remember that murdering mother who walked? Same issue.

[Fist of Etiquette]

...an obscure lawyer took 40% of the vote.

Hillary had a similar problem four years ago.

[RBS]

But, racist!

[Suthenboy]

It never occurs to the elspeth reeves of the world that their continual hammering on southerners as uneducated, racist bumpkins is bigotry. In fact, it is one of the most blatant bigotries going now because it has a shade of political correctness. ( Aw shit, 'shade'...there I go again being a racist)

Politically correct bigotries are always the worst. Also, it puts elspeth on par with bull connor.

[fried wylie]

don't you have a tractor pull to get back to?

no, seriously, I was hoping to get a ride.

[Chloe]

My sister used to travel a lot for her job, and would tell stories about people asking her if she owned cows and grew tobacco because she is from VA.

[plu1959]

Hey, that's a good one!

[Fist of Etiquette]

But support for gay marriage is up to 53 percent.

People have critically analyzed the situation and came to the conclusion that gay marrieds will need babies to adopt.

[deified]

Israeli scientists reprogrammed skin cells into stem cells that generate healthy, beating heart muscle cells.

Less well-known: these new hearts are programmed to explode when placed in Arab chest cavities!

(Oh look, it's Jewish self-racism. What a disgusting Heeb tactic.)

[Eduard van Haalen]

Well, maybe they figure that an aborted baby can't get gay-married.

And assuming there's a gay gene - which I don't know, but I'm sure there are people willing to give me spittle-flecked explanations to that effect - then those gay babies need protection against homophobic mothers who otherwise might kill them in utero. The ultimate hedge against gay marriage!

[John]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/l.....qq29BSeXyH

Mayor Bloomburg, force cities to take immigrants. Ladies and gentleman, the most dangerously stupid man in America.

[Rich]

suggested that the federal government "deliberately force" large municipalities to take in immigrants

Force? Like, at the point of a *gun*?

[John]

Of course. That is how Bloomburg rolls. National Guard or Army troops forcibly relocating immigrants into unwelcoming communities. Yeah, that will work out great.

[Hyperion]

Come on John, forced integration has always worked out. That is why central Baltimore has street after street of once beautiful row houses that now have the windows boarded up, because they can't even give them away.

Democrats try to divide people up by race, pit them against each other, and then force them to live beside of each other. Great fucking idea. When the cities are all in flame, at least we don't have to build any campfires to roast our marshmallows. Poor analogy, but fuck Democrats, stupid bastards.

[AuH2O]

Serious question: Is there any chance that Bloomberg could ever win governorship of New York?

I shudder to think of that man with a national guard under his command.

[Hyperion]

I keep thinking the guy is British, for some reason. I even had that argument with one of my friends when he brought up the notion that Bloomturd might run for Prez in 2016.

Must be the founding fathers rising up in me and making me think he is a blue blooded limey nanny stater fucktard, when in truth he is just a blue blooded nanny stater fucktard.

[fried wylie]

win governorship? Fuck that, he'll just use the NYPD to annex the rest of NY state.

Welcome to the Great State Of New York City!

[Brett L]

Fuck you, smokies, I can flash my headlights if I goddam want to.

[John]

This is a league game Smokey.

[Brett L]

Mark it zero, dude.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Speed traps aren't for safety, otherwise the dude flashing his lights would be commended for slowing traffic. The fight the state put up pretty much proves it's primarily a money making scheme.

[Paul.]

But here's a story at the bottom of the page which caught my attention:

Teacher busted for sexual activity with teen.

Why oh why couldn't I have had her as a teacher when I was a teen?

[John]

Last month, the teenager told school officials about his relationship with 28-year-old Wilson, police said. The teen spoke with detectives and also provided investigators with inappropriate photos Wilson recently sent him.

The ungrateful little bastard turned her in.

[Paul.]

No shit. I have to assume she cut him off. Because as a 16 yr-old boy, you'd never poison that well.

[RBS]

She did move to Colorado.

[A Frayed Knot]

Looks to me like he first denied it and then finally admitted to it. Sounds like a jealous classmate ratted them out.

[Romulus Augustus]

For christ sakes, lady, if you went after 18 yr. olds they'd be lined up to boink you and no one would care.

[Xenocles]

But it's the taboo that does it, I imagine.

[Suthenboy]

That she got involved with a 16 y/o in the first place shows that she made a seriously flawed judgement. That she chose the wrong 16 y/o is no surprise.

[Anacreon]

Why does every one of these cases seem to involve a pretty good looking woman teacher? Unlike that ugly assistant Penn State coach dude or those priests. Seems to say, if you are going to be the victim of statutory, make sure your aggressor is female.

[fried wylie]

I don't always choose to get raped, but when I do, I like to be raped by a woman. Stay thirsty my friends.

[fried wylie]

Teacher busted for sexual activity with teen.

Kissimmee. *titter*

[Chloe]

"This stuff is fun," Jones said after Tuesday's hearing.

God bless you, my cold dead libertarian heart fluttered for a moment after reading this.

[John]

http://www.washingtontimes.com.....elizabeth/

Media ignores Catholic lawsuit over birth control. Odd how one of the major religions suing the government isn't worth covering. But Sandra Fluke facing the prospect of closing her legs was worth 24 seven coverage.

[Pro Libertate]

24 semen coverage? Is that some sort of insurance thing?

[T]

At least we know where to file it.

[Paul.]

Which slot?

[Tulpa the White]

Huh? That's been on the news the last two nights (of course our PghBish is one of the suers).

[Fist of Etiquette]

Across the country, Ron Paul-inspired libertarian activists are running for office and seizing control of local and state Republican organizations.

Such men dare take what they want.

[Episiarch]

"Ron Paul, what is good in life?"

"To crush your political opponents, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their supporters."

"That is good! That is good."

[Pro Libertate]

This is how Khan gets started. As a county commissioner in Idaho.

[Episiarch]

"Yours...is the superior...office of the Tax Assessor..."

[Pro Libertate]

We offered the school district ORDER!

[Episiarch]

"You are in a position to demand no reduction in your property assessment. I, on the other hand, am in a position to grant no reduction in your property assessment."

[Pro Libertate]

But I caution you: such assessors dare take what they want.

[Old Mexican]

You guys are such a bunch of nerds.

[Pro Libertate]

You're doing it wrong, Old Mexican.

[Old Mexican]

Oh, I've given you no word to keep, taxpayer. In my judgment, you simply have no alternative.

[Pro Libertate]

That's better.

[Fist of Etiquette]

He tasks me. He tasks me and I shall have him! I'll chase him 'round the Recorder of Deeds and 'round the Planning Commission and 'round Tax Claim before I give him up!

[Pro Libertate]

That's moby better.

[Old Mexican]

That's because I'm a nerd like you.

[Pro Libertate]

Why wouldn't the Pentagon control who gets blowed up? Seems like the White House shouldn't be that involved.

[John]

What is the fun of being a political hack if you don't get to play with the drones?

[T]

I seem to recall the WhiteHouse approving or disapproving targets during Rolling Thunder back in the day. And look how well that turned out for us.

[RBS]

Let me be clear.......There are some who say the White House should not be involved...Well...Fuck you, that's why.

[joshua corning]

School choice is back on the agenda, as Mitt Romney makes vouchers a plank in his campaign platform.

Romney is a libertarian's wet dream!!

[el esc?ptico]

Derp

[John]

I don't like Alan Simpson. But this is a world class beat down.

You use the faces of young people, who are the ones who are going to get gutted while you continue to push out your blather and drivel. My suggestion to you ? an honest one ? read the damn report. The Moment of Truth ? 67 pages, and then tell me if we're not doing the right thing with Social Security. What a wretched group of seniors you must be to use the faces of the very people that we are trying to save, while the "greedy geezers" like you use them as a tool and a front for your nefarious bunch of crap. You must feel some sense of shame for shoveling out this bulls**t.

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....iel-foster

[T]

It's amazing how funny some of these guys can be when freed from the need to win elections.

[Brett L]

"You must feel some sense of shame for shoveling out this bulls**t."

After all, they aren't professional politicians who are congenitally incapable of feeling shame.

[?Ex Nihilo?]

If you can't understand all of this you need a pane of glass in your naval so you can see out during the day!

This is awesome. To bad they can't be like this when in office and can actually make a difference.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

They have existed before in a galaxy far, far away.

"Every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass."

[joshua corning]

Fewest Americans ever say they're pro-choice on abortion, finds Gallup. Just 41 percent pick that description now

I am pro-choice...though i do not like the description.

I am also a liberal, even though the left has thoroughly destroyed its original meaning.

[?Ex Nihilo?]

I am also a liberal, even though the left has thoroughly destroyed its original meaning.

Thats why I say I am a 'classical liberal.'

[Xenocles]

So does a decidedly progressive friend of mine - and she should know better, being a doctoral candidate in political science.

[Old Mexican]

Re: Joshua Corning,

I am pro-choice...though i do not like the description.

I am pro-choice. I am for giving the fetus the choice to face his or her would-be executioner first.

[AuH2O]

But do you let the baby choose their weapon? Because if not, well, that's not very sporting of you old bean.

[Old Mexican]

Re: AuH2O,

But do you let the baby choose [his/her] weapon?

Yes but only after he or she turns 18.

Yuk, yuk, yuk!

[SugarFree]

Apparently, on Bizzaro World, the problem with this story is that people find menstrual blood "icky" when they object to someone putting it in their morning coffee.

All the "I'd rather drink menstrual blood than poop" comments are pure comedy gold.

[A Serious Man]

I'm told it's good for your skin if you have acne. But of course the oppresive male patriarchy refuses to acknowledge the benefits of a female bodily fluid.

[Rich]

As I took my giant step, he squinted, puzzled, at my groin. Then he said, "Hang on, you've got a really long string..."

Good stuff, SF.

[T]

More reasons to only drink grain alcohol and rainwater.

[Pro Libertate]

Are those the only options? That's funny, because I thought there were others. Shows what I know.

[Warty]

NellyBellyMama @rachel723
Menstrual blood is not just blood, as if you had a papercut. The vaginal/rectal area has a lot of bacteria, etc that grosses people out.

You weak-minded fools are grossed out by bacteria? What a bunch of sexist pricks.

[AuH2O]

Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people?

Just because it comes out of your body does not make it beautiful!

[Pro Libertate]

I just figured out why they're doing this. They want oral sex during their periods and will soon be lobbying for legislation to make it so.

[Warty]

What, you never earned your red wings?

[Pro Libertate]

Where you've been, Warty, I cannot follow. Nor can many other men. That's why they demand legislation.

[Suthenboy]

I like rachel723's comment.

She says "...but the vagina I am going to stick up for."

Yeah, me too. I have done that many times.

[Xenocles]

To be fair, I would rather drink menstrual blood than poop.

But imagine the outroar (and deservedly so!) if her boss jerked off in her coffee instead.

[fried wylie]

"WHAT THE FUCK?! Some asshole put menstrual blood in my ejaculate coffee! It's RUINED@!!111one"

[Anacreon]

Totally off topic, but I'm wondering if anyone on this board is planning on going on the Reason cruise? I may be facing a lengthy hospitalization and recovery period shortly after the time of the cruise, and am thinking about signing up for it as a last hurrah before being out of commission. Also, has anyone been on one in past and was it worth it? Thanks for opinions.

[Tulpa the White]

STEVE SMITH was at the last one. So keep a metal plate on your derrier.

[Auric Demonocles]

I've been considering it, but for that kind of money I could also go on a vacation that included 20 something year old girls...

[Old Mexican]

At least four key witnesses have changed their stories about what they saw the night George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, potentially hurting Zimmerman's self-defense case.

That's a stretch. It only proves the adage that eyes on a witness do not see but evidence speaks(*).

The fact is that these were four out of many witnesses, so how does this hurt his case requires a lot of imagination stretching, especially in light of the potentially exculpatory evidence we now got to see.

(*)Ok, I made up that adage but you have to concede it kicks ass.

[Applederry]

That's a stretch. It only proves the adage that eyes on a witness do not see but evidence speaks(*)

Meh, doesn't sound quite right for a pithy point. Hows about "Evidence speaks while witnesses blink"?

[Old Mexican]

Short and sweet. I like it. Go ahead and print!

[Joe M]

At least four key witnesses have changed their stories about what they saw the night George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, potentially hurting Zimmerman's self-defense case.

Further proof that eyewitness testimony isn't worth a damn.

[sticks]

LA bans plastic bags. Idiots rejoice.

[Tulpa the White]

Global devaluation party at Krugman's house!

Jeremy Siegel echoes a lot of what some of us have been saying for years about the infeasibility of internal devaluation, but then argues that the answer is devaluation of the euro as a whole. Um, against whom?

Now, if devaluation is a code word to mean raising the inflation target, fine.

The last time I got to hear the late James Tobin, he gave a talk in which he joked that as far as he could tell, all the world's major currencies needed to devalue against each other. This is sort of one of those times ? and what that actually tells you is that we need fiscal and monetary stimulus.

Is there anything that doesn't tell Krugman we need stimulus?

[ant1sthenes]

Krugman has a fiscal fat fetish. The world's developed economies keep getting less healthy as they keep eating, and he tells them it's because they're undernourished, and wouldn't they like some more pie? Now, up until now, they've appreciated the nonjudgmental attention, but they're starting to have some serious concerns about their well-being. But he's still just handing out cupcakes at the G20 and then sneaking off to his hidey hole to rub one out while he watches them OM NOM NOM it.

[Seamus]

Funny, most of the time a witness will first claim that he didn't get a good enough look to be able to describe or identify the perp, but by the time of trial (after they've been questioned and prepped by police and prosecutors) their memories and perception have miraculously become crystal clear. In the Martin/Zimmerman case, on the other hand, the prosecution has every reason to want to witnesses' memories and perceptions to get vaguer. And whaddaya know, that's exactly what's happening (if the reports are to be believed).

[Eduard van Haalen]

Have you done this one yet:

"Nearly half of the Republicans serving in the New York State Assembly have proposed legislation that would ban anonymous online comments....

"The sponsor of the state Senate's version, Republican Thomas O'Mara, told TheDC that he had not initially considered that the legislation might ban First Amendment-protected speech....

"The bill is ostensibly a reaction to cyberbulling...

"Republican state Assemblyman Jim Conte praised the legislation, writing that it would eliminate 'mean-spirited and baseless political attacks that add nothing to the real debate.'"

http://thedc.com/KM5lFu

[mad libertarian guy]

"Republican state Assemblyman Jim Conte praised the legislation, writing that it would eliminate 'mean-spirited and baseless political attacks that add nothing to the real debate.'"

Perhaps if politicians actually added anything to the debate other than talking points and a soap opera we might have something.

[sloopyinca]

Not sure if this was brought up today, as I've been on the road. And while private schools are a better option than public ones, they're obviously not immune to mentally retarded decision-making.

[Applederry]

So a student "Tebows" during graduation ceremony and because they don't want acting out during graduation to become a "thing" at the school, they punish him by withholding his diploma until he cleans up the gym after the ceremony. All apparently at the urging of his own mother who was upset at him.

I'm afraid I'm not seeing the retard here.

[sloopyinca]

FTA "They said what I did would give underclassmen inspiration to do something else, that it might lead to something else. So they were trying to set an example."

That, to me, seems like retardation. Let kids be kids, and unless it truly disrupts something it should be ok. Do they really think kids are going to be talking about "Tebowing" by next year's graduation?

And I hope this kid gets out of that house as soon as possible. His mom "urging" the school to treat him like a dick doesn't sound like anything a parent who values his individuality would do. Again, it's just my opinion.

[sloopyinca]

IOW, it sounds like his mother was more concerned about her son embarrassing her than the actual expression. The fact that she's a teacher there gave her the stroke to fuck with him. That's idiotic in my opinion.

[Brian from Texas]

I am Pro-Choice, but I do believe most social issues like abortion, drugs, gambling, prostitution, etc. should be state and/or local matters and not Federal. As for gay marriage, let's just say I believe in separation of marriage and state.

[buntpunt]

Sometimes you just have to throw your hands up in the air and shout WHos your Daddy!

http://www.Privacy-Geeks.tk

[shamalam]

I prefer to keep my hands attached to my arms.