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Homeless: Streets of Santa Barbara


 Hypocrite of the Week - Huckabee
 










This is a very unAmerican guy. Before you vote for him, read
this.



And another story that has surfaced about Huckabee:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said it was "heartbreaking" that the deaths of women killed by a convicted rapist who was released from prison after Huckabee supported his parole had become politicized.

art.huckabee.debate.gi.jpg

Mike Huckabee denies pressuring the Arkansas Parole Board to release Wayne DuMond.

On Wednesday, the mother of the woman the convict later murdered pledged to campaign against the former Arkansas governor.

"There are families who are truly, understandably and reasonably, grief stricken," Huckabee told CNN. "And for people to now politicize these deaths and to try to make a political case out of it rather than to simply understand that a system failed and that we ought to extend our grief and heartfelt sorrow to these families, I just regret politics is reduced to that."

The case of the rapist, Wayne DuMond, began in 1985, when he was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl. He was later convicted and sentenced to a life term.

Before trial, DuMond was attacked in his home and castrated, and the local sheriff kept the severed testicles in a jar. No charges were brought in the attack.

In 1996, Huckabee, during his first term as Arkansas governor, expressed support for the parole of DuMond in a letter to him. The Arkansas parole board, which has the final say on such matter, later approved DuMond's parole. Video Watch Huckabee deny he pressured the board to approve DuMond's parole »

Less than a year after his release from prison in 1999, DuMond was accused of raping and murdering Carol Shields, a woman in Kansas City, Missouri. DuMond was convicted of the crime in 2003. He died in prison in 2005.

Huckabee on Sunday confirmed to CNN he had sent the letter to DuMond.

The murdered woman's mother, Lois Davidson, said she will "absolutely campaign against" Huckabee, and said she decided to come forward when he started doing well in the polls.

"It's because he is a serious contender," Davidson said. "I didn't think he had a chance, but now he's right up there in Iowa."

Huckabee said he had considered granting DuMond clemency in 1996, but he dropped the idea in response to public outcry and because he wanted to ensure DuMond was supervised when he was released from prison.

"Had I granted his commutation, then there would have been no supervision at all," Huckabee said, "I wasn't comfortable with that."

When he spoke about the case, Huckabee suggested his role in the decision to parole DuMond was limited.

Huckabee said it was the decision by former Arkansas Govs. Bill Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker that made DuMond eligible for parole, and Huckabee declined to reduce DuMond's sentence further.

"I've never made a decision about the DuMond case other than the decision to write the letter" to DuMond, Huckabee said. "That was my decision, but I didn't parole him, because governors don't parole people in Arkansas."

However, Charles Chastain, a parole board member at the time, told ABC News he felt pressure from Huckabee when the board considered DuMond's parole in 1996, and the Arkansas Times reported in 2002 that two other board members said they were influenced by Huckabee to parole DuMond.

Huckabee denied he asked the board to approve DuMond's parole.

"No, I did not," Huckabee said Sunday. "Let me categorically say I did not."

Huckabee noted that the three board members who said they were pressured were appointed to the board by Democrats Clinton and Tucker.

Huckabee said Wednesday his discussion with the parole board in 1996 was a general discussion about clemency, not about the DuMond case.

But a former Huckabee aide, Butch Reeves, tells CNN that the DuMond case was discussed during the meeting with the parole board, but that it was the board members who asked Huckabee about the case. Reeves said Huckabee did not pressure the board to approve DuMond's parole.

Documents posted on the Web site The Huffington Post indicate Huckabee received letters from several victims of DuMond before his release.

The letters detailed his past actions and pleaded that he remain incarcerated.


"I feel that if he is released it is only a matter of time before he commits another crime and fear that he will not leave a witness to testify against him the next time," one victim wrote. She described how DuMond had raped her at knifepoint.

A former top Huckabee aide confirmed to CNN that the then-governor received that letter and a follow-up phone call from the victim.



Posted by Lulublue at 12:04 PM - 7 Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 Sentimentality vs. Money Grab
 



My oldest son graduates from high school this coming June! He and his friends are having a blast taking advantage of being the 'oldsters' on campus. Last week, during casting for a musical play, my guy and a friend went in to 'audition' for singing parts in the play although it was jokingly done in good fun. Over 50 other students were there to seriously audition, and the teacher/director got a kick out of it, as well as the other kids (I hope).

What is surprising to me is the amount of money a family is expected to pay for the portrait, ring, cap, gown, and other goodies associated with graduation. The portrait package that would give the amount of photos I'd like to give to family and friends amounts to about $300.00! To get just one 8" x 10" we're talking over $75.00!

I've never considered myself to be tight with money, in fact I'm closer to the opposite. I'm sure the amount of the grad accessories is no problem for the top 1/2 of 1% of the population that has plenty of money. In all good conscience, though, I don't think I can bring myself to pay so much when so many in this world are in need of the basic necessities they need to live.

That's a lot of money to me, and I can think of a lot of other things we could use like a trip to the Channel Islands or a better electric guitar for the graduate, and on down to new clothes or food.

I know, he only graduates once in his life. He doesn't even want a class ring. This guy has a down-to-earth head on his shoulders and can do without things that I would have thrown tantrums over at 17. He chose to wait until he's 18 to get his driver's license because he can't see wasting money on all the driver's ed schools that would be required to be licensed earlier. He's aware that 17 year old guys are involved in accidents too often, too. How did I raise such a sensible kid?

I'll wait until his dad comes back from the snow and I'll let him decide what to buy. He'll be the one paying anyway. I just feel it's unfair and unreasonable the way this is playing out. I hope that someday I'll be able to understand these dilemmas. So often these quandaries seem to come down to how people are susceptible to what can be called the 7 "Deadly Sins" - greed, envy, anger, hatred, sloth, lust, and gluttony. Distorted values and expectations have far-reaching consequences and I don't get why others can be so callous and unfeeling about it.

By the way, I did a good job and gracefully left the studio without asking the people how they expect 'average' people to pay these prices.  No, I did not launch into the above philosophizing about sin.  I did good. 

Average and proud of it, Lulublue






Posted by Lulublue at 3:11 PM - 3 Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 David Lee Roth
 





Quotes from David Lee Roth ~






Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a yacht big enough to pull up right alongside it.








I used to jog but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass.


















I used to have a drug problem, now I make enough money.



Posted by Lulublue at 8:27 PM - 9 Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 Oh, My!!!! Sailors!!!
 



Oh, holy moly!  There are a couple thousand sailors cruising around the harbor and downtown area of Santa Barbara right now!  Yikes!  Some of them look so dang cute in their uniforms and they look like they're ready to play!





The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier has left Whit's territory in San Diego and come up to Santa Barbara for a visit.  I love it when this happens.  It looks like a good time for me to get out of the apartment and see a movie.  They'll probably go visit Reagan's ranch and the Reagan library.  I definitely won't be going there, but I know they'll be seeing movies and shopping and partying.  I saw a few groups walking around in the park a couple of blocks from my place.  I wonder if the gang people will stay away now...I betcha they will.





Military/authoritarian guys aren't exactly my fantasy, but sailors always look more "playful".  They have more of the 'look' and demeanor of firefighters, IMHO. 

Locals are usually happy to talk to the visitors and thank them for their service to the country.   Quite a few visit the Arlington West Memorial when they're in town, too. And, of course, they party...at the bars, restaurants, adult bookstores, and strip clubs.






Have a good weekend! 


Posted by Lulublue at 10:54 PM - 6 Comments   Add a Comment  
 
 Remembering Gemina
 







Gemina (gem-EE-na)


We're (all Barbarenos) a bit sad because we were very fond of Gemina, who lived at the zoo.  She lived to be a ripe age for a giraffe. She had to be euthanized. Please check out the Zoo's website at the link above. They have  lots of information about her.  No, her neck did not hurt her or prevent her from  doing all the fun things giraffes do in a zoo.  She had a beautiful view of the ocean and lots of friends.  She will be missed.




Posted by Lulublue at 3:03 PM - No Comments   Add a Comment  
 
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Author: Lulublue
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