Cdn-Firearms Digest Saturday, August 30 2008 Volume 12 : Number 039 In this issue: "Editorial: McCain has risked the presidency by picking Palin..." Man shot to death outside River Cree Casino-The Edmonton Journal Judge wants teen shooter assessed- Leader-Post (Regina) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:20:22 -0600 From: "David R.G. Jordan" Subject: "Editorial: McCain has risked the presidency by picking Palin..." Subject: "Editorial: McCain has risked the presidency by picking Palin-Calgary Herald" McCain has risked the presidency by picking Palin http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=f13316ce-f550-480d-b1a7-1dc15118c759 Nigel Hannaford, Calgary Herald Published: Saturday, August 30, 2008 Sarah Palin for Republican vice-presidential candidate? This lady has many fine attributes, but it is a remarkable and potentially costly choice -- and one announced just after a somewhat predictable speech from Democrat contender Barack Obama had left open the door for John McCain to push wide. Talk about two steps forward, one step back. I say all this with no hint of condescension. What we know of the Alaska governor's character, her successful battle with corruption in her own party and her willingness to walk her pro-life talk by refusing to abort her Down's Syndrome baby, speaks well for her. However, it comes down to confidence. Obama had seven years in the Illinois state legislature, and has been the junior U.S. senator since 2005. Lots of people, myself among them, think he's green. But, suppose McCain wins in November. Should he keel over the day after inauguration, the next U.S. president would be the 44-year-old Palin. To the job of leading the world's most powerful country, she would bring her political experience: four years on the council of a town with a population of less than 7,000 plus a few years as mayor, and less than two years as governor of Alaska, population 670,000. It's not that she hasn't done well in life. It is no mean feat to become governor of a state, even one with a population just two-thirds of Calgary's. But, we're talking about proximity to the Oval Office, or even the office itself. Who's green now? Those of us who wish McCain well can only assume (nervously) that as Palin meets the voters, what the Republican team sees in her will be equally manifest to the nation. They have two months to pull it off. Meanwhile, for the sake of putting on the ticket a pro-life, NRA woman who will appeal to Christian evangelicals -- the Christian News Wire service was going crazy with endorsements as soon as the announcement came down -- the McCain team has gone from being the smart choice for those who don't want to take chances on the presidency, to being something of a gamble. Rats! Things were just breaking McCain's way. The Democrats remain deeply divided, with much of the Hillary Clinton faction still in a deep sulk -- to the point, according to some reports from the convention floor, of going over to the Dark Side, McCain. McCain had also got the best of Obama during the important interview with Rick Warren, where he displayed a simple and appealing directness, in contrast to the rambling evasion with which Obama responded to tricky questions. And, Obama's speech was not his best, leaving McCain's team some chinks in the armour to pry at, once the enthusiasm of the moment had dissipated. There was, for instance, this chippy little comment: "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell -- but he won't even go to the cave where he lives." And where, pray, is this cave? Obama speaks as if everybody knows, but does McCain? Will Obama tell him? Come on. Obama was not trying to make people understand, of course, but to feel. But, that is where the subtlest deception lurked. Flourishing America's promise, he appealed to America's core belief that if you work hard, you will get ahead. But, what exactly was he really saying? That if you work hard and don't get ahead, Uncle Sam will be there for you: "That's the promise of America -- the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper." Look, if more people would just be responsible for themselves, fewer people would need keepers. Or Washington. But, that's not how Democrats get votes. From Roosevelt's New Deal through Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, America's promise has been the Democrat promise: handouts, the very things that kill enterprise, and create a dependent class. Now it's Obama's: "Now is the time to protect Social Security for future generations." McCain could have spent the next two months hammering away at this and Obama's other blue-collar appeals to fear and resentment. No doubt he will try. But, the question will always come back to whether Palin was a responsible choice for vice-presidential running mate. Too bad. Apparently she was the runner-up for the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant: If she is also runner-up for vice-president in 2008, she will hold McCain to second place, too. And, he will have only himself to blame. nhannaford@theherald.canwest.com © The Calgary Herald 2008 - -- -- Letters To the editor Letters Policy Letters should be fewer than 250 words and must be signed. Include your full name, address and phone number. All letters are subject to editing. Copyright remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Letters may be condensed, although care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. We are unable to acknowledge receipt of letters. - -- -- You can email your letter to; letters@theherald.canwest.com or fax it to 403-235-7379 or send it to; Calgary Herald Letters to the Editor P.O. Box 2400, Stn. M Calgary, AB T2P 0W8 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:28:53 -0600 From: "David R.G. Jordan" Subject: Man shot to death outside River Cree Casino-The Edmonton Journal Man shot to death outside River Cree Casino http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=653f9402-0b64-4577-b6a3-a20762fcc58f Injured woman in stable condition Image & Caption Police secure an area around the River Cree Casino after a man was shot. - -Anne-Marie Jackson/ Edmonton Journal Robin Collum, Journal Staff Writer Published: 12:29 pm EDMONTON - A man was killed outside the River Cree Casino just west of Edmonton last night, witnesses say. "This guy was face down on the pavement," said Cort Gallup, who was at the casino after midnight when the man was killed. "There was a bunch of people running around screaming." The victim appeared to have a serious head wound, he said. "He died right there." The man's body is still visible behind police screens near the entrance to the casino on the Enoch reserve this morning. He's believed to be in his mid-20s. Casino customers were moved away from the scene, and the parking lot was shut so no one could leave until all the cars could be checked, Gallup said. Stony Plain RCMP have confirmed that they responded to a report of a shooting at the casino. A man was found dead and a woman was injured. She was taken to hospital where she is listed in stable condition. An official statement will be released shortly. Multiple RCMP officers and investigators are currently at the scene. rcollum@thejournal.canwest.com © Edmonton Journal 2008 - -- -- Related Map: Edmonton homicides 2008 http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/maps/2008homicides.html Letters To the editor You can email your letter to; letters@thejournal.canwest.com or fax it to 780-498-5677 or send it to; Edmonton Journal Letters to the Editor P.O. Box 2421 Edmonton, AB T5J 2S6 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:40:31 -0600 From: "David R.G. Jordan" Subject: Judge wants teen shooter assessed- Leader-Post (Regina) Judge wants teen shooter assessed http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=ecaf3878-5187-40a0-9761-949187eab5f8 Image & Caption Brett Corbin Flaten, 17, was sentenced to 9 years prison time for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend. - -Regina Leader-Post file image Heather Polischuk, Leader-Post Published: Friday, August 29, 2008 REGINA -- A Regina Youth Court judge recommended a 17-year-old male be "fully assessed for psychopathy" in regards to an incident in which the teen shot his ex-girlfriend in the face. In sentencing Brett Corbin Flaten, Judge Leslie Halliday referred to the teenager's attitude to this point, which she said showed a "lack of empathy and remorse." In part because of that attitude, Halliday decided earlier this month that Flaten would receive a nine-year sentence after the judge chose to sentence him as an adult. With credit for remand time, that means his sentence will actually be eight years and two months. Halliday had set the matter over until Friday to decide where Flaten - who had previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder - would serve his sentence. A 25-page placement report was prepared by members of the federal, provincial and youth correctional systems in order to help her do that. On Friday, Halliday went with the recommendation from the report, which suggested Flaten remain in a youth custody facility until he turns 20. After that, he will be moved to an adult correctional centre. Neither defence lawyer Jeff Deagle nor Crown prosecutor Connie Hottinger objected to that recommendation. In handing down the sentence, Halliday said her decision is simply a recommendation which the correctional system can choose to follow or not, depending on the circumstances. Court previously heard Flaten began planning how to kill his ex-girlfriend after she broke up with him early last fall while both were 16. On Oct. 15, he showed up at the girl's Regina home, lured her out with a text message and shot her in the head. The Youth Criminal Justice Act allows for identification of a teen who is convicted and sentenced as an adult on certain serious, violent crimes. The girl nearly died and continues to suffer serious long-term effects from the shooting, including brain damage, facial paralysis, loss of one eye and loss of hearing in one ear. Families of both Flaten and the victim were in court on Friday, but did not wish to comment. Outside of court, Deagle said he thought Halliday's decision was the right one, given the tough set of circumstances in this case. "He's still a young man and hopefully now he can get the help he needs and at least start that process," he said, explaining there are programs available to Flaten in a youth custody setting that aren't in an adult prison. Deagle said a program he wants his client to access focuses on building character, morale and dealing with psychological issues, something "that's really what he needs as a stepping stone to helping him and address all his problems." He was reluctant to give too much weight to the concerns about psychopathy, noting it's likely difficult to accurately assess that in a young person. Hottinger, also speaking outside of court, said Flaten's lack of empathy for his victim is a "continuing concern," no matter what kind of facility he is housed in. She added this process has been both lengthy and emotional for the families of the victim and offender. Although the court process is at an end, Hottinger pointed out the effects of Flaten's crime will remain with the victim for the rest of her life. "Her life is forever changed," Hottinger said. The case even brought tears to the judge's eyes. Halliday's voice shook as she commented on the courage shown by both families throughout this process. Finally, as she addressed the victim's family, she openly cried. "I am so sorry and I will not forget you," Halliday said before leaving the courtroom. © Leader-Post 2008 - -- -- Letters To the editor The Leader-Post welcomes letters to the editor by mail, fax or e-mail. Please include your name, address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Typically, letters should not exceed 500 words in length. 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S4P 3G4, or faxed to (306) 565-2588. ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V12 #39 ********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@scorpion.bogend.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:drg.jordan@sasktel.net List owner: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca FAQ list: http://www.canfirearms/Skeeter/Faq/cfd-faq1.html Web Site: http://www.canfirearms.ca CFDigest Archives: http://www.canfirearms.ca/archives To unsubscribe from _all_ the lists, put the next four lines in a message and mailto:majordomo@scorpion.bogend.ca unsubscribe cdn-firearms-digest unsubscribe cdn-firearms-chat unsubscribe cdn-firearms end (To subscribe, use "subscribe" instead of "unsubscribe".)