Here in NM we have a problem in that an evil persecutor DA was just elected governor.

As to DA Ken Buckwho lost the Senate race after totally undpredicted heavy dem turnout, he is actually a very good DA. In fact, he is special prosecutor in the Tim Masters case involving then-DAs Blair and Gilmore. He obtained a grand jury indictment for multiple counts of perjury against the lead detective in the case for lying in the first trial on the witness stand. It is the first prosecution of a cop for perjury in the history of Colorado (and we Agitatortots all know they ain’t too common in the rest of the country either).

It should also be noted that the prosecutors’ absolute immunity was on its way to being pierced in a federal civil suit, and the county and the city settled with Masters for $5 mil a piece, for a total settlement of $10 million for the 10 years he spent in prison.

Ironically (kinda) the Commission of Judicial Performance does this big evaluation system of its judges, but then they go around and give “Retain” recommendations over 99 percent of the time. These two got retains despite the discipline on the basis that they only look at conduct committed while on the bench, not conduct committed before they were appointed – even though they were caught while on the bench and it was their failure to self-report themselves to the bar that caused the delay. Plus, as judges they showed no regret or remorse the way a good defendant is supposed to. Judge Gilmore also had a prior public reprimand for another incident of withholding evidence.

Great media coverage by the Coloradan newspaper made this possible. Unlike most hometown papers that give local DAs and judges a pass, the Coloradan did not. It helped that the underlying murder case was itself so notorious, and it was their (cheating) convictions that basically got the pair their judicial appointments.

Both of their experience is pretty much limited to being DAs and Blair’s resume consists of the University of North Dakota, a school so shitty it is barely holding on to its accreditation by the ABA. These two don’t seem like the types to be welcomed by criminal defendants with the ad tag, “former Larimer County judge.” I’ll be following their every move once they are out of office in January, and hope to help drive them to jobs as burger flippers.

Thanks for covering this Radley.

On a happy note WA voters repealed a ridiculously convoluted tax on certain foods and beverages (including bottled water and organic health food bars) the legislature passed recently, and voted down an initiative to create a state income tax (which the legislature would be allowed, by WA Constitutional law, to extend to more income levels and increase the percentage after two years). They also restored the 2/3 majority requirement for increased taxes and fees.

On a much lower note, WA voters appear to have returned both sold out whores Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen to congress. WA voters also refused to allow privatization of liquor sales and voted to allow judges to deny more people bail.

A mixed bag, for sure. I am also disappointed at the failure of CA voters to pass Prop 19.

Very strange (good?) day for me as a voter yesterday. Every single candidate/judge I was voting *against* lost (Blair and Gilmore, Buck, Tancredo and Markey). Prop 19 failing was pretty disappointing, but that was out of my hands. Loveland, one of the cities in Blair and Gilmore’s district, voted 2:1 to reject a measure to allow dispensaries to keep operating inside the city, but that just means more economic activity and tax revenue for the city I live in (Fort Collins). Thanks Loveland!

That’s a really good question. I don’t know either but I have a friend who is a minister on staff at a huge Baptist church, which seems more republican than Christian. Anyway, the people there have an almost reverent worship of anyone in a government issued uniform, both cops and military. I’m not sure why this is, maybe because they are white and affluent and afraid that if it weren’t for cops all these evil minorities would invade their neighborhoods? Same with the military-they really seem to believe that if we weren’t over there killing muslims they would be sailing up the potomac by now. Maybe that kind of moral panic plays a part in the law and order conservative mentality and explains why they tend to see the cop or soldier as almost incapable of doing wrong.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/961040/in_colorado_carol_chambers_the_modern.html?cat=17

http://colorado.mediamatters.org/items/200610240002

http://coloradoindependent.com/1900/carol-chambers-under-investigation-again

from: http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2009/10/03/the-performance-of-da-carol-chambers-and-staff-2-letters/6698/

“Susan Greene’s story [Denver Post 9/27/09] of District Attorney Carol Chambers’ office withholding exculpatory evidence in the first-degree murder trail of David Bueno is chilling. For our justice system to work, those who work with the system must follow the rules. Apparently Chambers doesn’t see it that way.”

etc

I consider myself a “law and order” conservative, but would aver that anyone who does not support prosecution of government agents who commit crimes supports neither law nor order. I wonder why so many so-called “law-and-order” people aren’t?

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1293574&srvc=rss

Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

From my perspective, there is no such thing as a victimless crime, if there is no victim, there is no crime, and the state can’t be a victim.

The power of the state is a very big stick to use against it’s citizens, and the prosecutors are the ones swinging it. Until they are held accountable there will always be some jerk who abuses it. Withholding exculpatory evidence should be a criminial offense and strip them of all immunity.

Jim Kitchens 18,843 57%
William Starks 14,200 43%

Really nice turn of phrase there too Irv!