The race between President Obama and Mitt Romney goes to the dogs... and a plastic surgeon. Only on the RidicuList.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: The RidicuList |
Without a grand jury, Florida state prosecutor Angela Corey determined the second-degree murder charge for Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman. Some believe this is another instance of Corey zealously overcharging as she has done in the past .
CNN's Gary Tuchman looks at another controversial case involving Corey and charges she issued against a 12-year-old boy. Cristian Fernandez is being tried as an adult on a first-degree murder charge for the death of his 2-year-old brother. He's the youngest person in Florida to be charged as an adult for murder.
When first imprisoned, he was placed in solitary confinement in an adult jail before a judge agreed to move him to a juvenile facility. If convicted, he will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
When asked about the decision, Corey said, "We want the public to understand at this point we have no choice" She also believes it's necessary to be tough to prevent a future murder. Others disagree, like the man who held Corey's title before her and used to be her boss. "I clearly think the decision was a travesty," said Harry Shorstein.
Fernandez's mother is also implicated in the crime; she pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter. The 12-year-old's traumatic family life includes an abusive stepfather who committed suicide. Watch Gary Tuchman's report for more on the circumstances of the case, and why Corey would like to reach a plea bargain.
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Post by: Gary Tuchman Filed under: Trayvon Martin |
Anderson Cooper takes a look back at the life of The Band's Levon Helm and his many contributions to music.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Pop Culture |
Investigators search for Etan Patz a block from his apartment. Erin Runnion says crimes can happen very close to home.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Crime & Punishment |
Amid new clues in the disappearance of Etan Patz, CNN's Tom Foreman looks back at the decades-old case.
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Post by: Tom Foreman Filed under: Crime & Punishment |
Mitt Romney reacts to President Obama's "silver spoon" comment. Mary Matalin and Cornell Belcher discuss the controversy.
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Filed under: 2012 Election • Mitt Romney • President Barack Obama • Raw Politics |
Reporter's Note: President Obama has had a few extra items on his desk lately; items which, I’m guessing, he’d rather not be dealing with. Thank goodness my daily letter is also there to distract him.
Dear Mr. President,
I have not really said anything here about the mess with the Secret Service agents during that whole southern swing, but I guess I ought to share a few of my thoughts. Or maybe not. I imagine you’ve heard more than you were wished to hear on the subject already.
And yet, I wonder if you’d better be prepared to hear a good deal more, because I’m pretty sure your opponents are delighted with the series of scandals that have been buzzing near you lately. The whole Vegas retreat thing, the hookers, some of this stuff about Panetta flying around on the taxpayer dime…you get the picture.
This is not so much an issue of blame, as it is of proximity. I think most reasonable Americans realize that no president, whether he is Democratic or Republican, can not necessarily be held responsible for everything done by everybody on his team. The federal government is, after all, a pretty big organization and not everyone traipses into the Oval Office to report their plans each morning. If that were the case, you would have raised a few questions when, oh say, some guy blurted out, “Then after the late meeting, we’re thinking of picking up some prostitutes…”
Still, just being close to such problems, as any president necessarily is, presents challenges. It’s kind of like it was back in school when you wound up seated at the bad kids’ table; it didn’t matter whether you were making trouble or not, if they were busted…so were you. And of course it is all a huge distraction from your actual business.
My only advice is to brace yourself, be patient, wait for the storms to pass, and…oh…one more thing…don’t be surprised if more comes your way. Sometimes that’s just how it works out.
Regards,
Tom
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Filed under: Letters to the President • Opinion • President Barack Obama • T1 • Tom Foreman |
Fran Townsend and Bob Baer detail the security risks that make the Secret Service scandal a serious transgression.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Secret Service |
The lawyer for Trayvon Martin's family says they will not agree to meet with George Zimmerman privately as he requested.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Trayvon Martin |
What everyone’s talking about:
Television legend Dick Clark died on Wednesday from a “massive heart attack” at the age of 82, according to his publicist. Nicknamed “America’s oldest living teenager,” his extraordinary career in the entertainment business included “American Bandstand” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” Anderson spoke with music icons Aretha Franklin and Little Richard about Clark’s legacy, his “fabulous” parties, and how he managed to break down racial boundaries on “Bandstand”. Motown Records founder Berry Gordy joined the conversation and explained how Clark influenced Motown and changed history. As for Dick Clark’s business, CNN’s Tom Foreman reports on how much Clark’s empire is worth.
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Post by: Deena Sami Filed under: AC360° Weekly Buzz |
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