Month: May 2005

Via AP: Case of 1969 Altamont Stabbing Closed

Nearly 36 years after a man was stabbed to death during a Rolling Stones concert at Altamont Speedway, investigators have closed the case, dismissing a theory that a second Hells Angel took part in the killing.

Meredith Hunter, 18, was killed during the free concert on Dec. 6, 1969. The show, which drew an estimated 300,000 people, was billed as the “Woodstock of the West,” but the death helped bring to an end the image of the peace-and-love ’60s. The concert, and the stabbing, were captured on film in the 1970 documentary “Gimme Shelter.”

As the Stones played on stage, a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, hired by the band to provide security, attacked, stabbed and killed Hunter.

Alan Passaro was acquitted after a jury concluded he acted in self-defense because Hunter was carrying a gun. But there had been rumors over the years that a second unidentified assailant had inflicted the fatal wounds, and the case remained open.

But Alameda County sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Dudek said Wednesday that after a renewed investigation over the past two years, authorities concluded that Passaro, who died in 1985, was the only person to stab Hunter and did so only after Hunter pointed a gun at the stage.

Dudek said Passaro’s lawyer confirmed his client was the lone assailant. In addition, enhanced and slowed-down footage from the film shows Hunter brandishing the gun just before Passaro leaps from the stage and stabs him, Dudek said.

Hunter’s relatives said Wednesday they had always held out hope that someone would be convicted in the case.

“The problem is the wounds that have been reopened are still devastating to the family,” Hunter’s sister, Dixie Ward, 63, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Tragedy breeds few winners.

This is excellent news.

A former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks will not be tried on murder charges for killing two suspected Iraqi insurgents, a Marine general decided Thursday.

The decision by Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commander of the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, ends the prosecution of 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, whom prosecutors accused of killing the men without justification.

“Down at the unit level, there was never a question about Ilario’s conduct and whether or not he did the right thing,” Charles Gittins, Pantano’s civilian lawyer, said. “It was up in the higher echelons. The people removed from combat situations needed to put more trust in their officers rather than assuming they’re guilty.”

That last quote just about sums it up doesn’t it? The politically correct are quick to jump all over our soldiers at the hint of impropriety rather than give them the benefit of the doubt. These are the same people who protest against the war but ‘support our troops’.

Puhleeze.

Let these guys do their job.

Via AP – Iraqi Government Says Al-Zarqawi Wounded

Iraq’s most lethal insurgent group appears to be facing a leadership crisis amid conflicting reports about the fate of its leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and whether a Saudi militant has been named to stand in for him.

Iraq’s interior and defense ministers said Thursday they have information that al-Zarqawi has been wounded — apparent confirmation of recent rumors that the Jordanian-born terrorist leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was injured. But the officials said they did not know how severe the injury might be.

One word: Die.

Meanwhile, Arthur Chrenkoff is offering a ‘Get Caught, Al-Zarqawi’ campaign over at his place.

Vintage Drudge…emphasizing the immediacy.

Wed May 25 2005 17:24:22 ET // SOURCE: Neil Shapiro fired as head of NBCNEWS, top insider tells DRUDGE… Steve Capus, exec producer of NIGHTLYNEWS, to be named president… Assistants are also packing up in Shapiro’s office… MORE…

I especially like the “Assistants are packing up” line…priceless.

The ‘light posting’ placard is lit, so expect less than average activity for the next day or so. Besides, there is little that is interesting to me at the moment…I’m not gonna blog about American Idol. I’m not going to pile on over the recent Senate cave in (you can find a thousand bloggers who will satisfy you there). I’m not going to complain about John McCain either. Michael Jackson? No way. Gas prices? Nope. PBS – a balanced network? Uh uh, not here.

The minute something interesting pops, I’ll be on it.

Until then…

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Via the New York Post

A former Air America talk-show host claims the lefty radio network isn’t very liberal with money.

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Lizz Winstead says she was fired, then stiffed out of nearly $300,000.

The suit says Winstead, best known as co-creator of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” started at AAR on Aug. 1, 2003, as “the first creative and third employee overall hired” and became its “principal developer” of programming and co-host of the show “Unfiltered.”

The suit puts her salary at $250,000 a year but says AAR owner Piquant LLC owes her about $200,000 for on-air work from May 2004 to March 4, when she was fired.

She’s suing for that $200,000 plus $83,333 in severance pay, $14,423.08 in unused vacation time and $5,960.55 that she says the network pocketed from her on-air ads for the Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

Winstead left without fanfare. Days later, AAR issued a statement saying it was taking the show in “a different direction.”

Her departure from “The Daily Show” was louder, following crude remarks made about her by then-host Craig Kilborn in a magazine interview.

A spokesman said Air America “does not comment on litigation.”

Sweet schadenfreude. Gotta love it when they eat their own.

National Review Online editorial on yesterdays Senate compromise:
‘Dealing with the Deal’

Via the BBC: Two hurt in mock light sabre duel

Two Star Wars fans are in a critical condition in hospital after apparently trying to make light sabres by filling fluorescent light tubes with petrol.

A man, aged 20, and a girl of 17 are believed to have been filming a mock duel when they poured fuel into two glass tubes and lit it.

The pair were rushed to hospital after one of the devices exploded in woodland at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

A police spokeswoman added: “At this stage we are unable to confirm the exact circumstances, but glass tubes and traces of accelerant (flammable substance) were found at the scene.”

Being geeky can be hazardous to your health.

“I think it has clearly done some temporary damage,” he said. “It’s thrown us off our game for a little bit,” he said. “I think this will end up being a blip.”

— Newsweek journalist Michael Isikoff, commenting on the article he co-wrote regarding US interrogators desecrating the Quran.

The GOP caves, compromises with the left, and calls it victory.

I’m sick to my stomach.

You can relive the nightmare over at Ace’s place…I can’t bring myself to blog about it right now.

MORE: BeldarBlog expresses it as I would.

This is grand larceny masquerading as a “deal.” Only a complete idiot would think that this —

Signatories will exercise their responsibilities under the Advice and Consent Clause of the United States Constitution in good faith. Nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances, and each signatory must use his or her own discretion and judgment in determining whether such circumstances exist.

— is a fair trade for this —

In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement, we commit to oppose the rules changes in the 109th Congress, which we understand to be any amendment to or interpretation of the Rules of the Senate that would force a vote on a judicial nomination by means other than unanimous consent or Rule XXII.

The seven suckers are Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Warner (R-VA), Lindsey Graham (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI).

Still More: Statement by FOTF Chairman, Dr. James Dobson:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 23 U.S. Newswire — Focus on the Family Action Chairman Dr. James C. Dobson today issued the following statement, upon the announcement by members of the U.S. Senate that a “compromise” had been reached on the filibuster issue:

“This Senate agreement represents a complete bailout and betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats. Only three of President Bush’s nominees will be given the courtesy of an up-or-down vote, and it’s business as usual for all the rest. The rules that blocked conservative nominees remain in effect, and nothing of significance has changed. Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Chief Justice William Rehnquist would never have served on the U. S. Supreme Court if this agreement had been in place during their confirmations. The unconstitutional filibuster survives in the arsenal of Senate liberals.

“We are grateful to Majority Leader Frist for courageously fighting to defend the vital principle of basic fairness. That principle has now gone down to defeat. We share the disappointment, outrage and sense of abandonment felt by millions of conservative Americans who helped put Republicans in power last November. I am certain that these voters will remember both Democrats and Republicans who betrayed their trust.”

Michelle Malkin has a round up.