But is that Crazy?

The radio news this morning was reporting that in the days before his attack the Tuscon child-killer researched, on his computer I presume, the laws regarding capital punishment. If this is accurate, then using the traditional method of determining insanity, which I don't know if the courts still do, he is clearly not insane as the only reason to look up the laws would be that he knew full well that what he was doing was against the law. The only sticky point might be that there's a difference between knowing that an action is against the law and knowing that it is wrong. A disturbing trend I've noticed, that I think is a sign of the general narcissism of the culture, is the number of people who agree that an action would be wrong if done by another but feel that in their own, special case the same action is perfectly justified. What I'm trying to get at is that a disturbing, though I don't know how large, portion of the population doesn't have a sense that their behavior is wrong and may well then qualify as insane under the traditional rule and, while I don't know where the line should be drawn, I also don't believe that the protection of an insanity plea should be granted to such people.

Since He-who-doesn't-need-to-see-his-name-in-print-anymore-than-it-already-is didn't enter an insanity plea the whole thing may be moot. Then again, entering a plea of not guilty when a couple dozen people saw you gun down a bunch of innocent bystanders doesn't sound real sane either. Or rather, it sounds like "playing the game" and, no matter how disturbing his expression may be, I believe that truly insane people can't play the game since they don't know there is a game to play.

I am a terrible citizen

I must be since I have no plan at all to watch the State of the Union address. The last one was so bad, not that I watched it either, that I plan on watching a movie with my kids, sending them to bed, and then watching more episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer while working on my mom's very late Christmas present. I may keep up with what's happening by reading Ann Althouse's liveblog, but that's as close as I plan on getting.

Drat

I missed the fact that the past weekend was the National Right-to-Life observance. I had really wanted to see about participating in any local events, particularly with the news that has come out of Philadelphia this week, but lost track of time, and days.

Squee!

I have my first follower! A very kind Moron, of the AoSHq variety, has taken pity upon my humble postings. I hope this means that I'll post more, the whole "someone out there's listening thing" you know.

I wonder if this is the time to admit that I mostly use the blog as a way to organize my reading material?

Well, That's One Prayer That Didn't Get Answered

Not that I expected it to. Once again an Ace of Spades Headquarters commentor gracefully condenses my feelings, this time about the tragedy in Arizona.

"I am saddened for the families who have lost so much, I mourn for the stupidity that has taken hold of America, and I'm seething with anger at those who are trying to make political hay out of this whole tragedy. I am completely disgusted" runningrn

There were trolls blaming Palin on AoSH in less than an hour of the shooting and we continue to find out which of those in the "news" industry are no better. I also mourn the threat to our society and rights that is being built on the bodies of the innocent.

Tuscon shooting

Prayers for the familes of the victims who didn't make it as well as for full recovery for the injured. Prayers also for the Republic that this tragedy not be politicized and used to further divide us.

Edited to reflect plural nature of deceased victims.