Accused Christmas party killer compromised by medication

Grand Old Christmas Party 2010
The Williamson County Republican Party celebrated Christmas a bit early on Tuesday evening at the Georgetown Community Center with a potluck dinner, white elephant gift exchange, toy drive for needy children and a bit of politics, of course.   The event was organized by Nita Davidson, vice-chairman of the party, and featured children's activities including a visit by local balloon artist, Doodle Bug.   One of the highlights of the evening was the arrival of Santa Claus, to th...

Ex-boss Norris faces US sentence
Ian Norris, a former UK executive who fought a long fight against Extradition to the US, is due to be sentenced by Philadelphia court on Friday. Mr Norris, 67, extradited in March after a seven-year fight, was convicted of obstruction of justice in July and faces a maximum five years in jail. The former chief executive of engineer Morgan Crucible was found Not Guilty of two Conspiracy charges. Mr Norris, who suffered from Prostate Cancer, has been in Prison since July. His UK solicitor, Alistai...

Estrogen may reduce breast cancer risk
Published: Dec. 10, 2010 at 12:07 AM San Antonio, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Hormone replacement Therapy that uses estrogen alone provides a protective effect in reducing Breast Cancer risk, U.S. researchers say. "Our analysis suggests that, contrary to previous thinking, there is substantial value in bringing hormone replacement Therapy with estrogen alone to the guidelines," lead researcher Dr. Joseph Ragaz of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver says in a statement. Ragaz and colleagues re...

Fort Hood shooting suspect undergoing mental exam
The Army Psychiatrist charged in last year's deadly Fort Hood shootings has been undergoing a mental evaluation. Maj. Nidal Hasan's lead attorney, John Galligan, says a three-member Military panel has until mid-January to submit its report on the exam that began this week. The panel will determine if Hasan is competent to stand trial and what his mental status was during the Nov. 5, 2009, shootings on the Texas Army post. After a brigade commander receives the report, he'll recommend whether Has...

Canada forces dismiss ex-colonel in murder case
TORONTO - The Canadian Military says it has taken the final steps to officially dismiss from the forces former Col. Russell Williams, who was convicted of Murder and Sexual Assault. The Department of National Defense said Friday that Williams's two medals and an official document confirming his appointment were retrieved from his family, completing the process of cashiering him out the military. Williams was sentenced last month to life in Prison after pleading guilty to two counts of firs...

Growing Up With Street Violence
TNC reacts to a first degree Murder verdict for a 15-year-old. Derrion Albert was part of a group who beat another kid to death: My sense of this is that most kids would like to walk to school in peace, but somewhere around fifth grade or so, the Corruption reaches out and taints them. ... Your first forays into direct violence may be only defensive or retaliatory, but this quickly spirals into offensive violence, so as to burnish your rep. The hood is a galaxy of competing powers, and to be b...

Canada forces dismisses ex-colonel in murder case
The Canadian Military says it has taken the final steps to officially dismiss from the forces former Col. Russell Williams, who was convicted of Murder and Sexual Assault. The Department of National Defense said Friday that Williams's two medals and an official document confirming his appointment were retrieved from his family, completing the process of cashiering him out the military. Williams was sentenced last month to life in Prison after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder,...

Jury convicts man in SD reservation slaying
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota jury has convicted the man charged with shooting an American Indian Movement Activist in 1975 of second-degree Murder charges but acquitted him on a first-degree Murder charge. Jurors on Friday found John Graham guilty of felony Murder during the Kidnapping of Annie Mae Aquash. Her death has become linked to AIM and its often-violent struggles with federal agents during the 1970s. The jury acquitted Graham of Premeditated Murder, the first-degree charge. ...

Man accused of killing 2 kids to plead not guilty
FILE - This Dec. 1, 2010 file photo released by the Louisville Metropolitan... MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - An attorney says a man charged in the slayings of his two young Children who authorities say were buried in the woods will plead Not Guilty to Murder charges. The attorney, John Thompson, said at a bond hearing Friday that 27-year-old John DeBlase (duh-BLAYZ') plans to plead Not Guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. A judge ordered DeBlase held on $500,000 bond—$250,000 for each murde...

Stephen Harper performs rock show at party event
Stevie Harper and the Herringbones rocked the Conservative Party Christmas Party Wednesday night, to raucous applause from what was, admittedly, a friendly house. Sweet Caroline started the show, with the Prime Minister in a grey shirt and playing an electric piano, assisted by local musicians Richard Linke on guitar and bass, Phil Nolan on drums and Andre Van Schyndel playing bass and accordion. The show continued with I’m On My Way by The Proclaimers, The Who’s The Seekers and a f...

Stephen Harper shows Tory faithful his rock star side
Stevie Harper and the Herringbones rocked the Conservative Party Christmas Party Wednesday night, to raucous applause from what was, admittedly, a friendly house. Sweet Caroline started the show, with the Prime Minister in a grey shirt and playing an electric piano, assisted by local musicians Richard Linke on guitar and bass, Phil Nolan on drums and Andre Van Schyndel playing bass and accordion. The show continued with I’m On My Way by The Proclaimers, The Who’s The Seekers and a f...

Gross Overload
Sorry to hear you’re in the suckage…kinda been there myself. Christmas Party this Friday, I intend to wash away some Headaches with some cold Bombay and tonic water. Any law says we can’t start now? "Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed ...

Harper sings a few songs for his party faithful
OTTAWA — Mick Jagger, eat your heart out. There’s a powerful politician roaming around in a black shirt who likes his day job — but he likes singing your stuff before an adoring crowd of fans just as much. That was apparent on Wednesday evening, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper surprised a packed ballroom of loyal Conservatives who had gathered for their annual Christmas Party. Tory MPs, senators, their staff and the media had all been expecting Harper to kick off the evening w...

Good Morning FishbowlDC Readers
“One of my favorite pictures of my dad is him talking to Elizabeth Edwards in NH in early ’08. May she be risen.” — NBC’s Luke Russert in a Tuesday tweet accompanied by the above photograph. “I’d spent a little bit of time with Elizabeth Edwards in Iowa, she was unlike any other political spouse I’d ever met.” — Roll Call Editor Christina Bellantoni in a Tuesday night tweet. “As you might imagine, last night’s Christmas part...

Psychiatrist: Brian Mitchell not insane
Published: Dec. 8, 2010 at 5:19 PM Salt Lake City, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- A New York Psychiatrist who testified Wednesday could be the final prosecution witness in the Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping trial in Salt Lake City. Dr. Michael Welner, who examined defendant Brian David Mitchell in 2003, agreed with previous rebuttal witnesses that the accused kidnapper is not insane, the Deseret News reported. Defense witnesses said that he is mentally ill. Mitchell is on trial in Federal Court on charges that he...

Lotus Land is ripe for a new centrist party
Nature abhors a vacuum. So does the voter. New political parties are often born of the frustration of a public, or a segment of it, that doesn’t feel represented by the choices it has. The birth of political entities often follows the downfall of older, more established parties whose ideas have run their course or which have been continually failed by their leadership. Did Carole James make the right decision by quitting? The demise of the Conservative Party in Saskatchewan allowed the Sas...

NHL: Vancouver 5, Anaheim 4 (SO)
Published: Dec. 9, 2010 at 1:19 AM NHL: St. Louis 3, Vancouver 2 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Jeff Tambellini scored the only shootout goal Wednesday, completing a Vancouver rally that brought the Canucks a 5-4 win over Anaheim. Vancouver faced a 4-2 Deficit as the game headed into the second half of the final period but Daniel Sedin brought Vancouver within one with 7:18 to go and Ryan Kesler tied it with just 22 seconds remaining. Tambellini then scored on the first attempt of ...

Alleged acid-attack faker trial delayed
Published: Dec. 8, 2010 at 6:01 PM Vancouver, Wash., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The woman who allegedly faked an acid attack has waived her right to a speedy trial, asking a Washington State judge to delay the proceedings until March. Bethany Storro appeared in court in Vancouver Tuesday, The Columbian reported. She was flanked by her mother, Nancy Neuwelt, and her lawyer, Andrew Wheeler. The hearing in Clark County Superior Court lasted only 3 minutes. Judge John Nichols, who had scheduled the trial to be...

PR pharmacist to be charged in fatal pill mix-up
Authorities in Puerto Rico say they will charge a pharmacist and a technician with negligent homicide after they accidentally gave a woman the wrong medication that caused her death. An Autopsy says 61-year-old Virgen Diaz Sosa died of intoxication and multiple organ failure nearly a year ago after taking 19 doses of Methotrexate 2.5, which is generally used to treat Cancer. Prosecutor Ivan Morales says Diaz was supposed to receive Metolazone 2.5, which helps lower blood pressure. Diaz died Dec....

Bill Clinton refuses to yield podium to President Obama
A lingering memory of President Bill Clinton was his apparent hesitancy to leave Washington in January 2001 after George W. Bush was inaugurated as the 43rd U.S. President. Clinton bid Bush farewell and was whisked directly to Andrews Air Force Base, as most recent presidents are when leaving office, for a final flight aboard the Boeing 747 that is one of the top perks of the job. But instead of boarding the plane with family and friends to fly into the next chapter of his life, Clinton lingered...

HuffPost TV: Howard Fineman: Obama Channeling Reagan To Avoid Becoming Carter
HuffPost's Howard Fineman appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown" Tuesday night to discuss the fallout from President Barack Obama's tax-cut deal with Republicans. "I just came from the White House Christmas Party, and everybody's having a nice, quiet time in there. Meanwhile, a couple miles down the road on Pennsylvania Avenue, the House Democrats have been caucusing again, and what I hear is they're practically throwing chairs against the wall, they're so upset," Fineman told host Keith Olbermann. "...

Bill Clinton backs Obama on tax deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — No comment? No way. You don't stop Bill Clinton when he's back at the White House with something to say. Well, OK. He and President Obama, two of the most famous men in the world, did need a little help getting a door unlocked first. But then it was on. The former president came before surprised reporters to let it be known that he endorsed the tax deal that Obama cut with the Republican Party, even though many Democrats were raising a fuss about it. That was the news. But...

President Obama Gives Spotlight to Former President Clinton, and Clinton Happily Takes it
Two living presidents together in the same room is always an historic moment, but Friday at the White House briefing room it came to a whole new level - but then again, when Bill Clinton is involved, that can happen. What made the occasion even more rare is that the sitting president actually left the room, and the former president continued to carry-on with his own Press Conference (and seemed to be enjoying every minute of the spotlight). President Clinton shared his support for President Obam...

Obama Outsources Press Conference to Bill Clinton?
by the Left Coast Rebel The Wall Street Journal just published a story on it and I totally missed it but apparently Bill Clinton paired up with the Obamanation in a Press Conference today. Strange, right? Well it doesn't stop there. Both of them spoke, Clinton took the podium and the weirdest thing happened.....Obama walked out the back door. I kid you not. Bubba took control over the Press Conference and defended the Child-Emperor's Bush Tax Rate extension as the current president fiddled his...

Can Bill Clinton save Obamas Presidency?
No comment? No way. You don’t stop Bill Clinton when he’s back at the White House with something to say. Well, OK. He and President Barack Obama, two of the most famous men in the world, did need a little help getting a door unlocked first. But then it was on. The former president came before surprised reporters to let it be known that he endorsed the tax deal that Obama cut with the Republican Party, even though many Democrats were raising a fuss about it. That was the news. But it ...