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Journal Timex's Journal: Let's see if I have this right... 14

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From my way of thinking, the best way to stifle rumors of OUI is to have a sobriety test, even a breathalizer, as soon as possible. Instead, Kennedy gets "protected", be it from his own position or his father's, so there is no direct evidence to support a drunk driving case. All we get is the word of a waitress who said he was "drinking a little".[2]

Let's assume for the moment that Congressman Kennedy is telling the truth about the medication. Doesn't he know that meds don't care if he's a Kennedy, that they will affect him in certain ways? Most medication, such as sleeping aids, warn the consumer against operating machinery (such as automobiles!). Some medication will even react Badly if one imbibes alcoholic beverages, as he was witnessed doing.

Congressman Kennedy is a lucky man-- he could have killed himself, directly or indirectly.

I want to get into National Politics, so I can start drinking like a lush again[3].

[1] OUI/DUI/DWI - For the uninitiated, they are, in order, Operating Under the Influence, Driving Under the Influence, and Driving While Intoxicated. Same thing, different names, depending on where you are.

[2] I do not mean this to say that her word is not important. Her word is as good as anyone else's, normally... We're dealing with a Congressman here, and a Kennedy at that. That means that even if they had four news crews on the scene immediately, nothing would stick, because he's a Democrat. Democrats stick together. Like my mother used to say, "One lies, the other swears to it."

[3] Those that have known me for less than 15 years are generally surprised when I tell them about my drinking days. I quit drinking alcohol in August 1989. I used to go out with a paycheck in my pocket, and I would wake up the next morning with a hangover and pocket change. I could tell you where every penny went. I didn't become a Christian until about nine months later.

This discussion was created by Timex (11710) for no Foes, but now has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Let's see if I have this right... More

Let's see if I have this right...

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  • I want to get into National Politics, so I can start drinking like a lush again[3].

    No, the job to get is ambassador.

    Two Words: Diplomatic Immunity.

    • Not so sure of that any more ... host countries are starting to cooperate in terms of lifting immunity for crimes that have nothing to do with being an ambassador.

      Then ther's this: http://www.canlii.org/ca/sta/s-18/sec6.html [canlii.org]

      State Immunity Act
      STATE IMMUNITY

      Death and property damage

      6. A foreign state is not immune from the jurisdiction of a court in any proceedings that relate to

      (a) any death or personal or bodily injury, or

      (b) any damage to or loss of property

      that occurs in Canada.

      In other wo

      • You took that post waaaaay more seriously then you were supposed to have ;)

        Ever see that episode of Family Guy where Peter abuses diplomatic immunity?

        • Re:Better job (Score:3, Interesting)

          by tomhudson ( 43916 )
          I know the drink like a lush part was a joke, just wanted to point out that we take dwi more seriously up here - its a felony (its also one reason why Bush couldn't come to Canada during his first term ... would have been embarrassing to be rejected at the border by some clerk (or worse, have it leak out that he was being treated differently) because he didn't have the paperwork to show he had goten help for his drinking problem after his dwi)

  • s/because he's a Democrat. Democrats stick together. Like my mother used to say, "One lies, the other swears to it."/Democart/Politician/g;

    The sad part is we now EXPECT this sort of behaviour.

    Then again, most politicians are lawyers ...

  • There's an immunity clause to legislators that says that they cannot be taken into custody while Congress is in session.

    New Mexico had a big problem in Santa Fe with legislators speeding while the legislature was in session, precisely because of this reason.

    I also recently heard about a situation where a US congress-person (senator or representative I don't know) was under suspicion for a crime, and the police are patiently waiting for the congress to dismiss so that they can actually arrest them and/or det
    • The idea behind this is that the executive branch should not have an unconsititional check or balance against the legislative branch. In fact, if the executive branch were able to detain legislators while they were in session, one could detain all the supporters/opposers of a bill that you didn't like/did like, or even just one or two key ones. Suddenly you have control over the whole legislative process through selective detainment.

      I would be inclined to agree, for the sort of situation you present, excep
      • I completely agree that he should still be held accountable, and that it would be wonderful for us to be able to detain legislators during session if they really do break the law.

        But it's a slippery slope. Most of us actually break a number of laws on the way to work. Now imagine if a police officer didn't arrest, but just harrassed the congress-person, and made him late to the vote?

        There's a HUGE grey area, and at some point, you have to just say, "well, unfortunate as the situation is, it's better to le
        • I completely agree that he should still be held accountable, and that it would be wonderful for us to be able to detain legislators during session if they really do break the law.

          Kennedy was lucky: he wasn't killed in his accident.

          What if he hit another car and killed someone else? What if he had killed a family of tourists? What if....???

          That's why I say the cops should videotape any/all interactions on the streets of the Capitol. Besides the fact that the House had already closed down three hours befo
          • Electing someone to an office should not ever be construed as permission to operate above the law.

            It's not supposed to.

            On the other side, there is the willful abuse of their position, which should not be tolerated. Either direction is dangerous, and should provide all the incentive necessary to abide by the Law.

            And that is why there are procedures that can be performed in order to bring a legislator into custody, but even detaining a legislator after hours while his body is in session is dangerous. How can
            • (I said, "Electing someone to an office should not ever be construed as permission to operate above the law.")

              It's not supposed to.

              Ah. That's how it's working out, though. In the early 1990s, there was a big stink about Senators that were habitual check-bouncers. It also came out that some were using their franking perk[1] for personal use. What came of it? Nothing. If I did that sort of thing, I'd be in trouble.

              If he had killed someone, then there would be a review, and possibly an impeachment proce
      • As much as I would like to see real criminals punished for real crimes, even if they're a legislator during a legislative session, there is a huge slippery slope in the way.

        Assume that the executive branch were able to do something, but only if they were correctly justified. Then they would be able to pull a legislator over for reasonable suspicion. Hassle him a bit, be slow to take his information and verify it, now you've made him late for the vote, and he missed it. Oops, oh well, I had reasonable cau
  • He took an Ambien while not at home? What a dumbass. I know several people who take that. It knocks all of them flat within about fifteen minutes, and severely impairs them within about five.

    If I may offer a rhetorical suggestion, though... if we don't want his family connections to be used in his favor (and I completely agree we don't) then it seems unfair to tar him with the sins of his family. (ie Chappawhatsit.) If you connect him with his family's faults, then it just reinforces the idea that the Kenne
  • Driving under the influence* is bad enough, but what about voting under the influence?!?

    Sometimes Congress does have occasional midnight votes (such as to give themselves pay raises [72.14.207.104]), but if he was so confused that he thought a vote was taking place 3 hours after the session closed for the night, I'd hate to see how he would've voted.

    Hmm, then

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