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August 21, 2010

The NC SBI serology “scandal”: What you need to know

The state of North Carolina has been buzzing the last couple of weeks thanks to a series of articles run by both the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News and Observer about the NC State Bureau of Investigation that either insinuate or outright allege widespread, systemic, deliberate suppression of lab evidence that may have helped defense attorneys better defend their clients against charges brought against them by the state. The most damning of the articles came this week after an independent review of the SBI found some 230 cases where they allege that state law requiring all evidence be shared with the defense wasn’t followed. Both Observer news outlets have done a fantastic job sensationalizing their news stories for maximum effect, painting state investigators in the harshest possible light – which shouldn’t be surprising, considering that both Observer news outlets are affiliates of the liberal McClatchy news organization, and we all know how liberals feel about harsh punishments for criminals......   [Read More]

Jerry Brown is either a fool or a swine

I’m old enough to remember when Jerry Brown was last governor of California. I can’t say much about his term of office, though, because I was in college and not paying much attention to state politics at the time. My impression, though, was that, his personal eccentricities aside, he was mostly a standard issue California liberal: support for government solutions in preference to the private sector, a strong alliance with labor unions, and a willingness to hike taxes. On the plus side, though he opposed Proposition 13, which limited property taxes, once it passed, he worked within its limits and actually cut state spending. So, a generally center-left record, albeit pragmatic......   [Read More]