Immigration Activists Gather
Prominent anti-illegal-immigration activists joined this weekend to call on public officials to enforce federal immigration laws and protect the country’s borders.
Buoyed by last month’s Minuteman Project citizen border patrols in Arizona, leaders made plans for a multi-state coalition of organizations that could be called the Minuteman Campaign USA.
The groups called for the creation of a legal defense fund, a campaign to target employers who hire undocumented workers, and increased apprehension of illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Read the story here.
Lawyers Argue Over Jackson Jury Instructions
Lawyers in the Michael Jackson trial today argued about the instructions Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville will give the 12 jurors who will decide the fate of the pop star.
Jackson, 46, faces 10 felony counts, including child molestation, conspiracy and giving alcohol to a boy to aid in the commission of the molestation. If convicted on all charges, Jackson could be sentenced to more than 18 years in prison.
Melville today said he would instruct jurors that they could consider misdemeanor alcohol charges as well. He also said he will give the jurors and eight alternates copies of his charge. Read the story here.
Tensions rise in U.S.-Mexico border region
Forecasts for the California-Mexico border this summer have risen to somewhere between sizzling and explosive, with Minutemen Project volunteers and pro-immigration activists poised to clash amid re-emerging political rhetoric and public tension.
After Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s calls forbetter federal border controls and praise of Minutemen patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border to report illegal immigrants, the group expects to begin similar efforts in California – a move pro-immigration demonstrators plan to counter.
A new poll shows, meanwhile, Schwarzenegger’s comments won him the Republican backing he wants, while riling the Democratic lawmakers he’s already battling over the deficit-plagued state budget and government-reform measures. Read the story here.
Dan Walters: California has huge stake in rational immigration policy
Every few weeks, hundreds of people line up outside the Crest Theatre, two blocks from the state Capitol in downtown Sacramento, for ceremonies that will bestow U.S. citizenship. Their celebratory mood and immense variety of nationalities and ethnic groups attest to California’s magnetic attraction to those seeking better lives.
As Sacramento welcomes the newest U.S. citizens, 600 miles to the southeast, men and women are dying from thirst and sunstroke in the Arizona desert as they, too, seek better lives.
What’s wrong with this picture? Everything. Had we set out to deliberately create an utterly illogical, unworkable and inhumane immigration policy, we could have scarcely done worse than what piecemeal decrees and political posturing have wrought. Read the story here.
Friday, May 27th, 2005
CALL ROD HICKMAN !
Call Secretary of the California Department of Corrections Rod Hickman and tell him to take convicted child rapist David Allyn Dokich OUT of the community in Mead Valley. Call 916-323-6001.
Jackson Defense Rests Without Rebuttal
The prosecution and defense this morning argued over the ground rules for quizzing the boy who says he was molested by Michael Jackson.
Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville said he would allow the defense to question the boy on the stand to counter a videotape of the boy’s first interview with Santa Barbara County sheriff’s investigators.
The prosecution also displayed what appeared to be an e-mail between Jackson aides that included a line saying that money was being set aside for a “vacation” for the accuser. The use of the quotes raised questions that the trip was not voluntary, which is one of the charges against Jackson. Read the story here.
GOP senators promise new immigrant worker bill
Two Republican senators from the Southwest promised to produce new immigration legislation by July, reflecting rising congressional interest in a major overhaul of U.S. immigration policy.
Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas, who both head separate immigration panels of the Judiciary Committee, said their bill would focus on an enforcement crackdown and include a temporary worker program that would not grant an automatic path to legalization.
They suggested they would take a harder line on the estimated 10 million people already in the country illegally than a broad bipartisan bill introduced this month by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. Read the story here.
After Minuteman Melee, Protesters Have New Beef
An activist opposing illegal immigration who drove his van into a crowd of protesters in Garden Grove will not be charged, police said Thursday, prompting anger from detractors.
A van driven by Hal Netkin hit several people protesting an appearance Wednesday night by James Gilchrist, whose Minuteman citizen patrol last month monitored the Mexican border in Arizona for illegal crossers.
Netkin, 69, is a former secession candidate for City Council in the San Fernando Valley whose websites oppose illegal immigration and the proliferation of Mexican government-issued identification cards. Read the story here.
Thursday, May 26th, 2005
Even allies doubt law
... The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed an emergency law that restricts paroled sex offenders in unincorporated areas from living within 1½ miles of where children gather. The supervisors have forwarded the law to Attorney General Bill Lockyer for an opinion before enforcement begins.
Fired up by the appearance of radio talk-show hosts John and Ken of KFI-AM (640), about 200 protesters converged on the group home where high-risk offender David Allyn Dokich was placed earlier this month.
“It’s been 21 days and we’re not going anywhere,” said Mead Valley protester Tony Rodgers, 41, outside the home, which is a mile from an elementary school. Read the story here.
Two hurt, eight arrested in Orange County protest against Minuteman Project
A protest against the founder of the border-watching Minuteman Project turned violent when a car drove into the crowd, slightly injuring two people, and at least eight people were arrested, police said.
About 300 people turned up Wednesday night outside the Women’s Civic Club in this Orange County city to protest a speech by Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist of Aliso Viejo.
Protesters accused Gilchrist’s group of racism against Hispanics. Read the story here. View photos here.
Jackson Jury Can Hear From Accuser Again
Jurors in the Michael Jackson molestation trial will get to see a July 2003 videotape of the accuser telling investigators the details of how he was allegedly molested by the pop star, Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville ruled this morning.
The judge also decided that the defense can call the boy, his mother, the lawyer who represented the family, and a psychologist as part of its rebuttal case.
The defense rested its case Wednesday, and the prosecution put four rebuttal witnesses on the stand. Three more testified today to try to rebut specific points raised in the defense case. Read the story here.
Monday, May 23rd, 2005
Social Worker: Jackson Accuser’s Mom Failed to Disclose Cash Settlement
Ten days after receiving a substantial cash settlement, the mother of the boy accusing Michael Jackson of molestation told welfare authorities she had no outside financial resources, jurors in the star’s molestation trial were told this morning.
Mercy D. Manrriquez, a Los Angeles County social worker, testified today that the mother applied for welfare and health benefits on Nov. 15, 2001. On her application, the mother denied receiving any court settlement or that the children had private health insurance.
“If she had in fact received such a settlement, would that in fact be fraud to fail to disclose it on the form?” asked defense attorney Robert Sanger. Read the story here.
Neverland: Paradise or Trap?
Late one night at Neverland ranch, Michael Jackson and a 12-year-old boy hopped off his custom golf cart, named Moon Rover, and gazed into a Peter Pan display window in the breezeway behind the pop star’s home.
With Jackson’s arms draped over the boy’s shoulders, the two watched raptly as an electronic Tinkerbell darted through a scene from the classic tale, according to the testimony of a former security guard who said he had observed them.
As the former guard watched, Jackson slipped his hand down the boy’s pants, kissed him and led him into the 25-room Tudor mansion. The defense immediately challenged the man’s testimony in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, pointing out that he had lost a wrongful-termination suit against Jackson, a possible motive for lying about his former boss. Read the story here.
198 High-Risk Sex Offenders Receiving Viagra From Medicaid
New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi has asked Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to change federal policies on distribution of the drug, Hevesi announced today. Level 3 sex offenders are those considered by the courts most likely to commit crimes again.
“Federal, state and local reimbursement for the cost of erectile dysfunction drugs for sex offenders raises serious policy considerations and has the potential to place the public at risk. I am asking that you take immediate action to ensure that sex offenders do not receive erectile dysfunction medication paid for by the taxpayers. I urge you to take administrative action to remedy the situation or draft an amendment to the underlying statute as appropriate,” Hevesi wrote to Leavitt. Read more.
Tillman’s Parents Are Critical Of Army
Former NFL player Pat Tillman’s family is lashing out against the Army, saying that the military’s investigations into Tillman’s friendly-fire death in Afghanistan last year were a sham and that Army efforts to cover up the truth have made it harder for them to deal with their loss.
More than a year after their son was shot several times by his fellow Army Rangers on a craggy hillside near the Pakistani border, Tillman’s mother and father said in interviews that they believe the military and the government created a heroic tale about how their son died to foster a patriotic response across the country.
They say the Army’s “lies” about what happened have made them suspicious, and that they are certain they will never get the full story. Read the story here.
A State Border Patrol Wouldn’t Be Out of Bounds
A legislator wants California to create its own border police force to keep out illegal immigrants. Two things are intriguing about that.
First, it’s one of those paradoxes of politics that this significant expansion of state government is being advocated by a conservative Republican. Such ideologues, after all, usually push to pare back the bureaucracy.
Second, given the federal government’s dereliction of duty along the U.S.-Mexican border, this seems to be the only sensible alternative for Californians frustrated with rampant illegal immigration. And many are. Read the story here.
Friday, May 20th, 2005
Attention Orange County Taxpayers !
Call Public Defender Denise Gragg and ask her why she is using Orange County TAXPAYER money to continuously subpoena KFI and the John and Ken show. A unanimous jury has recommended death for Alejandro Avila, so why does she continue to abuse TAXPAYER money ? CALL DENISE GRAGG NOW ! 714-834-2393 and 714-834-2144 ! E-mail her HERE.
Saddam to sue over prison photos
The Sun newspaper said it would fight any legal action and said it planned to publish more photos on Saturday.
The US has launched an investigation into how the photos were leaked.
The US military and legal experts said the photos – possibly taken more than a year ago – may breach Geneva Convention rules on the humane treatment of prisoners of war.
The conventions say countries must protect prisoners of war in their custody from “public curiosity”. Read the story here.
Norwood Bill to Enhance Local Law Enforcement Ability to Enforce Immigration Law Passes House
The right of state and local law enforcement officers to arrest, deport, or transfer illegal immigrants across state lines to federal detention centers would be enhanced under an amendment by U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood to H.R. 1817, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
The Norwood Amendment (#18) passed the House 242-185. The Amendment covered an important segment of Norwood’s landmark criminal illegal alien reform bill from the 108th Congress, the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act, HR 2671, the CLEAR Act. Read the story here.
L.A. Violence Crosses the Line
The gruesome murders were each more than 1,000 miles apart, an arc of bloodshed that spanned much of the North American continent.
In the woods near Dallas, an innocent 21-year-old man was shot in the head, his remains eaten by animals. His pants were pulled down, and police suspect that he may have been sodomized.
And near the banks of a quiet river in Virginia, a 17-year-old informant was hacked to death. She was four months pregnant and stabbed 16 times in the chest and neck. Read the story here.
Geragos to Return to Stand With Limited Testimony
Mark Geragos, former lawyer for Michael Jackson, will be allowed to testify under a limited waiver of attorney-client privilege, an angry Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville ruled this morning, adding that he is considering sanctions against lead defense attorney Thomas A. Mesereau Jr.
Melville handed down his ruling before Geragos returned to the stand to complete his testimony, which was abruptly halted last week.
“I feel deceived by Mr. Mesereau,” Melville said. “Although I have reached no conclusion at this time, I am considering sanctions against Mr. Mesereau.” Read the story here.
STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH
Back in 1977, when I saw the first “Star Wars” movie, I never wondered where it all began for Luke, Leia, Darth Vader and the “Evil Emperor”. Twenty-eight years later, I now know, and I’m glad I do – it all makes sense. Of course, it wasn’t until 1981 that George Lucas renamed the original “Star Wars” movie Episode IV - that was the tip that prequels were on the way. If you read my previous reviews of “Episodes I and II”, you probably know I wasn’t exactly happy. Those movies were slow, campy, wooden, and even many of the action sequences were way too childish for me (except Yoda’s battle scenes – way too funny). I relived no thrills from Episodes IV through VI, but I had a feeling that this chapter would be more compelling. And I was right – it’s a case of knowing pretty much exactly where all this is going, but the way there is exciting and engrossing. (more…)
Thursday, May 19th, 2005
KING: Who do you think?
BLAKE: Who do you think?
KING: How do I know?
BLAKE: How do I know?
KING: Because you know people that she knew. I don’t know people that she knew.
BLAKE: I don’t know.
