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14 Jan 2011 19:30

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U.S.: The weirdest Jared Lee Loughner news we’ll post, well, ever

  • A Walgreens in Tuscon [sic], Ariz. turned over to police racy photos of gunman Jared Loughner with a Glock and a G-string that were taken to the store to be developed the night before the shooting rampage that left six people dead and 14 wounded. … In the photos he holds the pistol against his crotch and buttocks while wearing a bright red thong, sources told ABC News.
  • ABC News • Leaving us speechless. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

13 Jan 2011 09:58

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U.S.: Jared Lee Loughner’s ex-girlfriend: He used to be normal

  • The Jared that I used to know is completely changed from what the world sees him now as. You know, I would never have ever expected him to become what he has.
  • Jared Lee Loughner’s ex-girlfriend, Kelsey Hawkes • Explaining that when they dated six years ago, her boyfriend wasn’t anything like he is now. Back then, she says he was “very caring, very sweet, a gentle, kind, you know, a little bit quiet. But altogether a pretty great guy.” And in regards to Loughner’s family life, she had this to say: “From my experience with (his family), they were actually really great. His mom is a very sweet lady … very, very kind … and thoughtful, and her dad — or his dad, sorry, was always very kind to me, as well.” She also noted that Loughner’s father may have kept to himself, but he was actually pretty normal. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 23:51

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U.S.: How major newspaper editors played Jared Loughner’s mug

  • too hot New York Post editor Col Allen, on blowing the photo out: “We felt his leering grin and wild eyes revealed something of his mental state. The image conveyed a sense of madness.”
  • too coldWashington Post editor Marcus Brauchli, who chose to stay local over giving the mugshot big play: “Our community is one of the communities hard hit by this. The photo reflected that.”
  • just rightNew York Times editor Bill Keller, on playing the pic at an effectively large (for them) three columns: “It felt to me like the obvious right choice. This was the picture of the day.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 21:00

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U.S.: Jared Lee Loughner’s family makes media statement

  • This is a very difficult time for us. We ask the media to respect our privacy. There are no words that can possibly express how we feel. We wish that there were, so we could make you feel better. We don’t understand why this happened. It may not make any difference, but we wish that we could change the heinous events of Saturday. We care very deeply about the victims and their families. We are so very sorry for their loss.
  • Randy and Amy Loughner • In a statement about their son, Jared Lee Loughner, and his role in Saturday’s shooting. We feel the same way they do. We wish we could give them a hug. They probably need one. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 20:33

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U.S.: Gun control advocates in Congress get their legislation ready

  • 30+ number of rounds of ammo gunman Jared Lee Loughner was able to hold in the magazine he used in Saturday’s shooting
  • 10 maximum number of rounds magazines could have if a bill from Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and Sen. Frank Lautenberg passed source
  • » A personal cause: Carolyn McCarthy has first-hand experience with what gun violence can do. She entered politics in 1993 after her husband was killed and her son injured during a shooting on Long Island. Even considering her own personal feelings on the matter, even she’s not sure what can pass. “I have to look at … what can actually pass in Congress and have it signed by the president,” she said Tuesday. “The House and the Senate are pro-gun houses.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 20:16

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U.S.: Arizona legislature to Westboro: Don’t picket a kid’s funeral. Ugh.

  • 29-0 the number of votes the bill garnered in the state Senate
  • 58-0 the number of votes the bill garnered in the State House
  • duh Jan Brewer is probably going to sign this emergency bill source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 11:04

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Politics: Henry Rollins drops some knowledge on Jared Lee Loughner case

  • I could be completely wrong here, but I think there is a much harder-core element in American society that doesn’t listen to these pundits, doesn’t care who is president, and has nothing but contempt and hatred for government in general.
  • Henry Rollins • Offering his little piece of insight on the Jared Lee Loughner thang to Vanity Fair readers. Rollins’ argument? He just thinks the pundits on the right are too simple-minded to truly inspire this kind of rage. Sample: “I saw Glenn Beck in action last summer at his Restore Honor Rally. His speech sucked and his audience looked ancient and out-of-shape.” Oh wait, there’s more: “Rush Limbaugh makes money getting simpleminded people to feel good about their intellectually undernourished brain spasms. He’s very good at it, and I scarcely believe a fraction of what he says.” And finally: “Sarah Palin embarrasses herself almost immediately upon opening her mouth to speak or upon moving her fingers to send messages to her dull flock.” Instead, he feels that a guy like Timothy McVeigh didn’t really care who was president when he did what he did. In other news, Henry Rollins is now upmarket enough to write for Vanity Fair. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Jan 2011 10:20

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U.S.: Counter-protesters using angel wings against Westboro Baptist Church

  • 42 people plan to use “angel wings” to protect mourners from Westboro Baptist Church protesters
  • 8×10 the size of the enveloping “angel wings” (in feet) – they’ve been around since 1999 source
  • » Protesting a 9-year-old’s funeral? Too far: These giant angel wings, which are designed to protect mourners from crazy folks like Fred Phelps, are being put into action thanks to residents of Tucson and the help of Facebook. “For something like this to happen in Tucson was a really big shock to us all,” said resident Christin Gilmer. “Our nightmare happened when we saw Westboro Baptist Church was going to picket the funerals.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 10:04

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U.S.: Should Jared Lee Loughner’s criminal trial go out of state?

  • Loughner’s lawyer is reportedly pushing for this. And honestly, veteran defender Judy Clarke, who has previously defended such upstanding citizens as the Unabomber and the Oklahoma City Bomber, has a point. (And a lot of tolerance for people in rough situations.) Beyond gravely wounding an elected official, Loughner killed a federal judge in Tucson. And while judges in Tucson have already voluntarily recused themselves in the case, it may be better for Loughner to get a fair trial if it’s in another state. Ultimately, the significant evidence behind him (which includes surveillance video, witnesses and evidence of pre-meditation) will prove hard for Clarke to overcome. But the wounding of Giffords and the killings have hurt the state significantly, and it’s probably better for everyone involved that it just happen elsewhere. Even reported monsters deserve a fair trial. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 09:48

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U.S.: Jared Lee Loughner’s parents: Recluses, shaken to the core

  • They’re in there now … They’re both in there crying. He’s crying and hanging on to me and she’s not even out of bed.
  • Wayne Smith • Regarding his neighbors, Randy and Amy Loughner, whose son Jared is the main suspect in Saturday’s Gabrielle Giffords shooting. Smith, who is not close to the couple, nevertheless has become a rock for the couple, who has a reputation for reclusiveness, since the shooting. Smith (who didn’t even know the family’s last name until Saturday) was the one who broke the news to them. “I said, ‘Guys, I hate to be the one to tell you, but he shot a bunch of people,'” Smith said. He was there for the Loughners, who had lived in the neighborhood since before Jared, 22, was born, in their time of great sorrow. “We stood right out there and cried for an hour,” he continued. “I’m a softie.” An awful incident all around. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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