GMTS Newsletter 6/19/2012: Federal Follies--Clemens, Edwards' cases a waste of your tax dollars

It's Lance,

First, it was former Presidential candidate John Edwards.  Yesterday, it was former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens. Two high-profile defendants in recent federal court cases, and both were acquitted.

I am outraged, and you should be too. My concern has nothing to do with the outcome of the cases.  Instead it has to do with the millions of dollars of your federal tax dollars that are being spent to prosecute cases that as we have now seen, are far from "slam-dunk" guilty verdicts.

I totally understand that enforcing the law requires money be spent.  You will find no larger advocate for law and order than me. I do think, however, that the Feds need to be making better choices.  Local and state offices are having to be more selective in court prosecutions, why not the Feds?  Because they have unlimited money, that is why.

Note to Prosecutors--seek out convictions, not headlines.

Clemens was accused of lying to Congress. Congress lies to us all the time! Can we convict them?

Edwards was accused of using campaign cash to cover up an affair.  Do we ever really know where our donations go? 

If either of them were convicted, were they really going to spend hard time in prison?  If they spent any time behind bars, it would have been some low-security, white-collar prison with "sensitivity training" and handball games.

If you have nothing less than the "smoking gun" like a taped phone conversation admitting wrong-doing, don't prosecute.

The Clemens' trial in particular relied on one witness who had more issues than a magazine stand.

Now that all of the alleged philandering candidates and alleged lying athletes have been dealt with, perhaps the Feds can now move on to some real criminals.

Top Stories from WCPO.com:

15 and dead. Sad.

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_central_cincinnati/over_the_rhine/police-female-victim-shot-in-drive-by-in-over-the-rhine

Hartmann deserves credit for taking action instead of continuing to "kick the can down the road".  Cincinnati City Council should take note.

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/local_news/hamilton-county-budget-cuts-next-year-330-employees-could-be-cut

This just makes sense. Many of the same ingredients can be found in beer and dog food. That's what I tell my wife at least when our dog Reagan steals a sip of my brew.

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/national/beer-for-your-dog

Today's Distracting Link:

Leave it up to Yoko Ono to view dirt as art.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2161173/Yoko-Ono-launches-latest-London-art-exhibition-To-The-Light-Serpentine-Gallery.html

Yell at me here:

Lance.Barry@wcpo.com

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