Patterico's Pontifications

1/15/2011

The Onion: “Political Pundits Surprisingly Good At Getting Inside Mentally Unbalanced Shooter’s Head”

Filed under: General — Aaron Worthing @ 11:50 am



[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here.]

It’s just one paragraph, but it is very biting.  So let me give you a link.  I guess it is fair to question whether any of us, me included, can make any sense of this guys mentality.

While we are on the subject, this AP article discusses the insanity defense.  It is important to remember there is a difference between “clinically insane” and “legally insane.”  Legal insanity applies generally solely to situations where your insanity really makes it so you have no chance of understanding what you are doing or stopping yourself.  I discussed the insanity defense in relation to another incident the media rushed to politicize, here.  Contrary to what you might think from courtroom dramas, it is almost always a loser as a defense.

Finally, via Mediaite, there is the allegation from a former girlfriend, that the shooter is faking insanity.

[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]

16 Responses to “The Onion: “Political Pundits Surprisingly Good At Getting Inside Mentally Unbalanced Shooter’s Head””

  1. From the Onion article

    Researchers at Horizon Media also reported that a number of prominent TV pundits appeared to be mimicking the exact same chilling gleam in Loughner’s eye for what they could only speculate was “dramatic effect.”

    Wicked humor there, but so close to reality.

    Old Coot (f73cf0)

  2. Professors of Hate Speech and Skin Flautists are surprisingly adept at being teabagged.

    JD (109425)

  3. Fritz – don’t yu feel the need to shower after being around SEKs and his angry band of haters?

    JD (d4bbf1)

  4. JD,

    Sure, but when they get pwned, and Brad Potts brought the massive, it’s all worth while.

    Fritz (ac48cc)

  5. The reason that the insanity defense is so difficult is because (most) psychiatrists simply cannot testify about it the way it is defined in the jury instructions.

    nk's mean streak (db4a41)

  6. And how is everybody, today?

    Today is my daughter’s nameday.

    My niece’s, too.

    nk (db4a41)

  7. Hello nk. Sorry, had to Bing “nameday” but apparently it’s like the Catholic feast day of one’s patron saint. Does your family do anything special for their day?

    no one you know (a8b794)

  8. Yes.

    According to our traditions, nameday is more important than birthday.

    She is Antonia, named after my mother.

    nk (db4a41)

  9. So a big celebration today (or maybe two). Hope they both have lots of fun. Saw over in the sockpuppet thread that you got a good health report back this week too — congrats —

    no one you know (a8b794)

  10. Congratulations, Nk

    narciso (6075d0)

  11. BTW,

    Our home “patron saint” is The Virgin. My mother carried me up a mountain in her bare feet to Her monastery to consecrate me to Her.

    nk (db4a41)

  12. Thanks, everybody.

    nk (db4a41)

  13. nk – Big lamb roast for name day?

    daleyrocks (e7bc4f)

  14. May you and yours have a wonderful day, nk.

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  15. Thanks for telling us about this, nk. I always enjoy hearing about the joy your daughter brings to your life.

    Simon Jester (6ca166)


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