I understand why but I don’t like it!
Posted by Cassie Frequelz in News, Relaxed Politics, US News
But how is this fair to the kids? You just know the parents are going to have a jail or an after-jail reality show anyway.
Balloon Boy Parents Richard Heene, Mayumi Heene Get Jail Time, Probation
Today, Larimer County Court Judge Stephen Schapanski sentenced the couple behind one of the year’s biggest media stunts to a total of 110 days jail and eight years probation. He also prohibited the couple from making any money off the balloon boy fiasco during that time.
Schapanski stated that Richard Heene must spend 30 days in jail beginning Jan. 11, 2010. The remaining 60 days of his 90-day sentence may be carried out under “work release,” meaning he can work during the day and spend nights in prison.
More thoughts:
I’ve just looked at the news story on 3 different sites, and everyone is focusing on whether the punishment is enough. I’ve heard Bob Kincaid on his radio show refer to this as America’s punishment fetish. No one has said whether the kids are in foster care now, if they’re staying with other relatives, or how their parents’ sentence will affect them. And THAT is what matters.
I am becoming an academic superstar in spite of all of the people who think I am a loser because of who my parents are. I love school and I love learning and I have found my own way — but huge numbers of kids with parents in jail never graduate HS and certainly don’t graduate as Texas Scholars with ambitions for the ivy league. I call the family I live with my host family and I pretend that I am an exchange student because I hate the way foster care sounds. But some of the other kids who live here are in foster care. The only difference is that my minister facilitated this “placement” and the county signed off. The other kids here came through the county first. We are all VERY LUCKY that we’re with a great family and the worst humiliation here is that we’ll all have our hodge-podge home-made ornaments photographed and saved.
The Heenes are lousy parents and idiots, but why is the media so obsessed with the conditions of their sentence and don’t even mention what the next 10 or 12 years will be like for their kids? Will they be together? The parents will have supervised probation from the state, but will they also have supervised parenting? Will the Heene kids have a chance to make their own Christmas tree ornaments with glitter and feathers and green poster board? Am I the only one asking those questions?
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Usually sentences like this do not run concurrently for both parents. Most courts are aware of the problem of keeping the kids cared for, because if they didn’t the kids would be wards of the state and cost too much money and effort. OTOH, if it has already been determined that the kids are being harmed by the parents’ behavior, they may be put in foster care already and then both parents can serve their sentences at the same time.
I heard the mom was sentenced to shorter time and only to be served on weekends and evenings. I assume that child care has been arranged by the schedule, at least for the mother.
Also Betsy – prayer to cause harm to someone has been done in public, this year. Here is the TPM story, and here is the linkie to Pastor Drake. Plus here’s the google on him.
In this case it was directed at President Obama.
Despicable. But not unexpected from the holier than thou batshit crazy right wing toadally nuts sheeple.
More to say (going to add it into the post):
I’ve just looked at the news story on 3 different sites, and everyone is focusing on whether the punishment is enough. I’ve heard Bob Kincaid on his radio show refer to this as America’s punishment fetish.
No one has said whether the kids are in foster care now, if they’re staying with other relatives, or how their parents’ sentence will affect them. And THAT is what matters.
am becoming an academic superstar in spite of all of the people who think I am a loser because of who my parents are. I love school and I love learning and I have found my own way — but huge numbers of kids with parents in jail never graduate HS and certainly don’t graduate as Texas Scholars with ambitions for the ivy league.
I call the family I live with my host family and I pretend that I am an exchange student because I hate the way foster care sounds. But some of the other kids who live here are in foster care. The only difference is that my minister facilitated this “placement” and the county signed off. The other kids here came through the county first. We are all VERY LUCKY that we’re with a great family and the worst humiliation here is that we’ll all have our hodge-podge home-made ornaments photographed and saved.
The Heenes are lousy parents and idiots, but why is the media so obsessed with the conditions of their sentence and don’t even mention what the next 10 or 12 years will be like for their kids? Will they be together? The parents will have supervised probation from the state, but will they also have supervised parenting? Will the Heene kids have a chance to make their own Christmas tree ornaments with glitter and feathers and green poster board? Am I the only one asking those questions?
On Balloon Boy Parents – the Judge ordered that they were/are NOT to make any money on the event from any teevee, book, etc deals – their probations would be revoked. So I am thinking that that order would be in effect after the jail/probation times, not just during. That does not preclude some other people from taking up the ball and making money.
The wife’s sentence begins after the husband’s, and is flexible. She does her time when she can so the children will be cared for.
The stories I read didn’t mention any family or personal counseling as part of the sentencing. That would be important.
I am not surprised at your take on this Cassie – unfortunately it does seem that too many times the parent(s) is punished, but the health (both physical and mental) of the children are not primary concerns.
Lots of broken things.
But Pellora they can make a jail reality show.
No Cassie – you aren’t the only one asking the questions. You are not alone in your concern or in asking the questions. Just in the minority I think, which is most unfortunate.
However, the fixation by and within U.S. society on *celebrity*, on *bad*ness, on *punishment* is a huge *fixation* – and the reasonable voices speaking out on behalf of the children are drowned out in the media. It’s a cultural issue and problem. When the repugnants speak out and say Stop this or that, think of the Children – they are just blowing hot air and showing their hypocritical natures – they rarely do anything *for the children* in my opinion.
freckles cassie wrote:
I think they already do that, judging from the adverts I see on MSNBC during my only time on channels that are not sports oriented.
This country is obsessed with peering into other people’s lives. Others are obsessed with what they perceive as fame and fortune that comes from being the focus of that attention. You know that there is something wrong with the Heene adult judgment in even entering into shenanigans like this with their kids. Or with the idiot father who had already composed his theme song!
But I blame a lot of this on the 24/7 news cycle and jillions of cable networks that have to come up with content for the millions of viewers who actually watch this stuff without a critical thought running through their minds.
Completely
Gnomette just informed me that she is not going to be attending Christmas Eve services with Grandma and Grandpa. Instead she will be joining some of her friends down at the Church of the Black Whale Pub!
Gnome this next generation or two in your family is a far cry from your grandparents’ practices.
Senator Goodhair Adulterer Ensign’s requested vote to declare health care reform *unconstitutional*
just went down 60 to 39. 
That prayer they wanted to prevent someone from showing up to vote sure did work… against themselves. 
Anyway, now there is another procedural vote. The twang Senator from TN Corker is talking… Voting to waive Budget Act regarding Corker’s claim that the bill violates budget rules. Still delaying and being jerks, thank you jerk Judd Gregg. Can’t tell who is voting in this roll call. The woman is calling names out, but I’m not really hearing yays or nays. And the presiding Senator had to call the Senate to order with the gavel a few times. They are in the Fs now. And yes, Senator Byrd is in attendance. The 60 is holding.
@ Texas Betsy:
Yep. Going to you-know-where in a handbasket.
@ Pellora:
I hope the joke is on the Repigs and they end up missing Christmas with their families because they delay so long that they get caught in the storm that is sweeping east.
And now there’s a storm arriving in the midwest as well.
Sheesh. Next is a procedural vote to kill Cornyn’s claim that bill violates budget rules.
CSPAN says Voting to waive Budget Act regarding Corker’s deal. I think some of the Senators were not in the room because she is calling names again. Which explains why Ds are voting yay and Rs are voting nay. The Rs don’t want to waive the Budget Act. Shit. I haven’t heard or read anything about the Budget Act in all this stuff. Wonder if that is something do with the “Reconciliation” process…. 
no idea.
OK, gifts sorted. Now I have to run do the last minute buying of missing stuff.
Texas Betsy wrote:
Senator Leahy just mentioned that part and was kind enough to ask the *other side* if they would like to skip some votes or be faster so that the midwest traveling Senators can try to get out. He laughed and said he didn’t much care, that he had no travel plans, he figured he’d *still be right here*
I like Leahy! And no, the repugnants are carrying on as they were. I hope the repugnants get stuck in storms no matter where they are going and eventually make it home, but not until all the food is gone or cold. 
and that all the Democrats get home safe and sound and on time. 
They are just being pricks now. Well, they have been all along, but now it’s worse.
Senator Franken
Your Senator from Texas, Guv-wanna-be got a vote whether the HCR bill is unconstitutional per the 19th Amendment.
And now DeMint is getting a vote for something.
They are thinking all this vote delay is good for them? DeMint *didn’t want to say any names, but it is out in the public that there were earmarks in the HCR bill to buy a vote or two* Drug Durbin in on this one, who said B.S. to DeMint, who was his cosponsor of a bill some time ago. It’s all just a game of chicken.
Given what I’ve seen and read of these parents, a real case can be made that the kids would be better off removed from their care. They seem to be quite cavalier with their children’s saftey and well-being, and are quite willing to use the kids as pawns in their all-encompassing quest for reality-teevee stardom. These poor kids are at the mercy of their idiot parents, which is a damn shame.
And…it’s raining
Going on errands. First time in, what, 2 1/2 weeks that I will drive my little Saturn Coupe. I called Public Works the other day. My neighbor called the Mayor yesterday. And it looks like our little street has been scraped/smoothed and dirted.
@ Pellora:
So it seems that the final vote has been set for Thursday morning, instead of Thursday night. This has caused Coburn and Inhoffe to do a happy dance that they will be able to get home in time for Christmas Eve traditions. Is there a money quote? Oh, honey, you just know that there is! “I can assure you the vast majority of the “R” conference was on my side saying we’ve had all the fun we’re going to have” debating the bill, according to Inhoffe.
Good to know it was never about “principles” or the “American people” or any of the other bullshit they spewed since this summer. Just simple, unadulterated obstuctionism “fun” with out offering anything at all as an alternative. Miserable shits. But hey, let’s partner up with ‘em, and we’ll get a better bill next time, I’m just sure of it!!
Well, as the R’s sit stranded in iced-in airports, perhaps they should read this bit of nostalgia: Women’s Suffrage and Other Visions of Right-Wing Apocalypse. Sniff. Now those were the good old days.
Gordon how many Repiglican congress critters do you think read this blog?
new shared items
@ Texas Betsy:
More or less approximately zero. But it would be a much better use of their time than cruising the men’s room.
Good post, Cassie. I believe they are prohibited from profiting during the whole time of probation. In eight years, who will care?
Temps in the 40s here today. We have had rain, but with higher temps stayed rain (would have been lots of snow). Prediction is for rain to turn to snow tomorrow night and then snow on Christmas morning. I will need to buy some snow melt while out tonight so my family can get up the front steps Friday. Pellora, glad your city finally freed you from the street mess.
I need to compile my ingredient list and head out to the grocery. Tonight will probably be a bit crazy.
While the author is off making ornaments …..
@ Texas Betsy:
Cute baby Santa.
@ Texas Betsy:
Squeeeee!!!! Who took her wee little hands?!
madmommy wrote:
She was a lttle thing!
oh what a CUTE baby santa! SQUEEEEE!
home from errand-running-shopping-d0c visit. No snow yet in western wisconsin, but rain started in minneapolis around 1pm, and had switched to snow by 2pm. But managed to get ahead of the storm on the way back to mom’s.
Yanno, i’m going to have to write a STRONGLY WORDED letter. This storm is seriously mucking up my moving plans.
Taking kid to the mall. Yes on December 23. Getting my mom of the year points in.
@ Texas Betsy:
Oh noes!! There is not a force on earth strong enough to get me to the mall this time of year. Come to think of it, it’s been years since I have been to a mall
I am the queen of on-line shopping.
The big kid and I are watching the Half-Blood Prince. So far, meh. The test is how they handle the ending.
@ Texas Betsy:
AAACCCKKKK! and uffda. also. You get mom of the CENTURY points.
Over at C&L, Heather writes about Bernie Sanders voting for the Senate bill, and ends with this:
Wow. They can tell the difference between the most liberal Senator and the 60th most liberal Senator. Who knew.
(Suspecting that Jane is going to find herself all alone very soon now.)
I got an emergency call while I was out – My poor puppies were dying for walkies.
Mr. Gnome had taken his two so mine were pacing around looking for theirs. So I came home and walked. Then we discovered I had bought the wrong flour – bread flour instead of all purpose, so I had to go back to the store and exchange it, only they were out of King Arthur brand unbleached, so I had to get the store brand. 
Then I swung by my parents to get part of my mother’s gift out of the Durango that I had accidentally left in there when I returned it. So now I have to figure out what to feed us for dinner. Mr. Gnome is busy baking, so I am guessing I will cook in either the microwave or at take out. Then I need to hop to it and start wrapping! 
Mall wasn’t bad. Parking was easy, Macy’s was empty enough that we got service at two counters and then also got service at one of the other stores. Less than an hour for the whole thing (not counting driving over there.)
We went to the mall in the poorer section of town, but still — this says something awful about our economy.
@ gordon:
I heard Bernie on this vote and he is so Liberal, Progressive, and Pragmatic! I wish he was my Senator, though I like Harry. Really, I do. Not so much Senator Goodhair Adulterer Ethics Challenged Ensign
Has C&L jumped the shark into kill-the-bill-land too? I cruise by but only at night.
And is Larry King Jewish? His show tonight is all Christmas music with live performers (Sting was first up, quite a line up… ).
Rachel is hitting the repugnants folding their chairs and heading home for the holidays.
Uh oh. Bad Alabama new repugnant –
TPM saying that tomorrow morning’s 7 a.m. vote is simple majority vote.
@ Pellora:
So, to recap: he’s stolen voter registration information, which I believe is kind of a big deal. He’s going to be sued by the DCCC to get the million or so they gave him back. And the teabaggers are after his head and he won’t make it out of the GOP primary
Any bets on when he’s going to retire so he can “spend more time with his family”?
@ madmommy:
No luck. Mr. Gnome paused his baking and cleaned up just so I could
)
I’ve got red cabbage and apples simmering. The knackwurst is thawing. (Did I mention we live in a German town?
@ madmommy:
That about covers it. He better move to a gated community, and make sure the gate watchers are his friends. 
@ gnome de plume:
Did I mention that I have lots of German on both sides of my family? (by now though, I am way into Heinz 57)
Used to do sauerkraut, browsugar, apples, bells, bockwurst back in the day when I cooked.
Now here is something silly: Cat slaps dog while riding a Roomba.
Here’s a guy who knows everything about *solemn oath*, what say?
Way to go! (read the last paragraph for sure 
)
@ gnome de plume:
That’s a brave cat! Saw that, laughed.
@ Pellora:
Oh pshaw. That’s a cat who was there first. Though getting any pet to ride a moving object is tricky. My son’s dog will ride the back of a toboggan. For maybe 5 secs before he hops off and tries to race it (which usually results in a face plant). And I had a cat who would ride the dog, but also let the dog slobber all over him.
Hi from whole foods. Where the teen is upstairs rollerblading and I am in the cafe with laptop and a Japanese vegetable/noodle bowl.
@ gordon:
I love this video! That is a cat who got his bluff in early on that dog. Because that dog could finish off that cat in a hot second. Instead he just keeps moving away, getting smacked, and thinking “WTF”???
Problem with yeast, flour, or kneader?
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Speaking of bluffing
Handy to have around – maybe Gnome needs one of these for her monitor – maybe it’s not slow but dirty
@ madmommy:
I once found a cat while out camping. A very good hunter, and very smart, but tired of being out in the wild (ie, not a feral cat at all).
A few months after bringing her home I got a puppy. That cat studied the interaction between me and the puppy as I was training him. And then she realized “Oh, I can do that, too!”. And she did.
But amazingly, she didn’t just do it for her own gain (although she would boss him around at times). She would also step in and discipline him when she knew he was being bad by my standards (as in when he tried to steal a hamburger off of a guests ill-placed plate). Whack. Doggie no get burger.
correct that. ICE skating
@ Texas Betsy:
Hey! We’ve got ice skating AND luging and a whole lot more here in Gnomeville! just around the corner from me.
Has anybody heard about the pyramid UFO over Moscow?
Mr. Gnome just told me about it today. I can’t find out much about it. It was reported in the UK press, but this lefty website has more interesting info leading to conspiracies. 
Pravda hides link between Kremlin UFO pyramid and Norway Light Spiral
google norway light spiral for linkies and videos, also.
@ gnome de plume:
One of the commenters on that link says it’s a fake based on a building that hasn’t been there since 2006. I am completely clueless as to Russian landmarks, and so will plead ignorance. Cool story though!
Wrapped a few more presents, though the lion’s share will need to be done tomorrow night. I can’t wrap anything that hasn’t got a complete box around it, because Malcolm has decided that under the tree is his preferred snoozing spot. If he steps on a package he’ll rip the paper.
Time for bed
Sleep well madmom. I’m home.
I spent 45 minutes sitting on the restaurant level of Whole Foods while Texteen GF’s parents and friends of theirs were sitting on the roof watching the kids skate. Ergh!
Groceries all purchased. Had to go to 2 stores to find everything on my list. Was raining when I went out, now dry although projection is for rain in the morning, turning to sleet and snow. Rain is fine, every inch of rain is saving us from snow. It has been foggy out tonight. I believe I will crash early tonight so I can get up in the morning to cook and finish cleaning. My guest list for Sunday morning has settled at about 25 so not too bad. I did adjust the menu to include scrambled eggs as well as my egg and sausage casserole so the vegetarians can eat something besides cinnamon rolls. Even bought vegetarian sausage links.
Some of family is stranded in Denver as the plane was late leaving San Jose so missed connections. They have come all the way from India so hate to have them miss a day here.
India? Wow! Hope they get there soonest.
Night, all. Pain-free sleep, Betsy. Enjoy your mother of the week, month, year status.
@ madmommy:
Oh good. I was hoping someone would debunk it. The image is too corny to be a UFO.
g’night Madmommy, Sharonlee. Sweet dreams of candy canes and lights!
That’s the Whole Foods Mothership you have there in Austin, Betsy. wow. I still remember the controversy when they acquired Wild Oats, which was my favorite organic store here.
@ gnome de plume:
will help you find the fun of wrapping! If not, 
Hang in there Gnome! Maybe
Find a good movie to watch while wrapping. Just finished watching Polar Express.
Pellora and Norman Rockwell are upstairs.
hi honeys, i’m home! From a 22 mile round-trip to the nearest 24 hr walgreens. Doc had electronically sent Rx to my usual store in mpls this afternoon (antibiotics for bronchitis/sinusitis) and i was picking up refills anyhow. Got home and the new Rx for antibiotics was not in bag.
I ended up deciding not to wait til sunday to pick it up … luckily one of the docs that knows me was on call, she called in the Rx to the walgreens near my mom’s. From the time i got home around 5:30 when there were no flurries on the border, til the time i left for drugstore at 9:40 the snow started accumulating in a hurry. In this kind of weather my motto is “Whatever the speed limit is, go half that fast. Or even less.” A few skiddish moments, but my new little car was a trooper. Saw lots of damn fools/fucking idjits in the ditch however. Lots of troopers, flashing lights, tow trucks. Sheesh. Spin-outs, crashes, rollovers. It’s the crazies that i worry about … the road ‘n snow, not so much.
Glad you’re home safely NDFG!
Flailin Failin Palin banned certain media in her hometown book signing of Going
RogueRouge.