Sorry to the tardiness of my response. Thanks, as always, for your analysis — and for your reminder that we have to not let despair get in our way.

And the opposition is attempting to move Republic away from Madison’s definition: “where the magistrates are chosen, directly or indirectly, by the great body of the people.” Most of those who do this support initiative and referendum, which are what Madison wouid have called [direct] democracy, and opposed.

I’ve been following it as chapters were posted, and it took a few twists I wasn’t expecting. I can see how the tone would have changed dramatically if the reader was let in too early on the omnicient nature of Bobo’s co-opting of other machines It was pretty well telegraphed the planet would be taken over in short order.. even if the characters were clueless about the fact.

Well done.

I presume by your “if you feel that a few kicks and punches from a 150 lb….” its probably a yes but I will withhold judgment till you give a definitive answer.

“Do you condone murder “on another person”?” First of all for the technical definition of murder, no I do not. But that is not the case vis a vis Zimmerman-Martin. Guess you did not read the last part of the previous post where the authorities will not be pressing charges based on all the evidence pointing to self defense.

Because it isn’t.

Do you condone murder “on another person”?

“Nothing produced so far has degraded that claim” the source said.”

Source — http://macsmind.com/wordpress/2012/04/source-george-zimmerman-not-likely-to-be-arrested/

The point of my original comment was that all is not what is being portrayed in the public mind. Martin was not the kid in the photo of 12yo. He was 17, toned, a man. Zimmerman had 20 pounds on the kid sure, most of it fat, and needed to be in a gym. Three witnesses have collaborated Zimmeran’s account, that Martin initiated an assault on him. That means right to defend was in play.
I would ask Jess, do you condone assault on another person?

I met Harold Feld when we happened to be on a panel about the future of the Internet at a science fiction convention. A short while later I started Wetmachine and asked Harold if he wanted to play along. Boy, I got lucky.

Before I met Harold, I basically didn’t know the FCC from the FEC, FAA or DOT. And I certainly hadn’t heard of the MAP and I had no idea of how policy advocacy groups like the MAP work (or secure their funding).

Over the years, mainly thanks to Harold’s posts here on Wetmachine — and the places they pointed to — I’ve learned a lot, and I’m a much better informed and much more active citizen for it. And one of the things I’ve learned is the significance of the Media Access Project both as and advocacy group and as a school for progressive policy advocates like Harold.

As a side benefit to me, my modest little site (or at least Harold’s contributions to it) are widely read by ordinary citizens, policy maker, and policy implementors alike. Being associated with the Wetmachine brand, as it were, has opened doors for me. And for this, I owe a personal thank you to Mr. Schwartzman, because, as Harold points out, not all employers in his position would have allowed their staff attorneys to post on sites like this one.

I did buy a ticket for last week’s mega millions lottery, but I didn’t win. So I’m not among the deep-pocketed ones Harold addressed in his opening rant. But I’m happy to say that thanks to what I’ve learned from both Harold and the MAP, I am an occasional contributor at the five or ten dollar level to like-minded advocacy groups. Because, as Harold likes to remind us, This Stuff Is Important.