Beneath the Rittenhouse trial: Grim truths about the state of America (barf alert)

Salon via MSN ^ | 12 nov 2021 | Heather Digby Parton

[rellimpank]

The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who brought an illegally obtained AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to a chaotic street protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and shot three people, killing two of them, has the country riveted this week. The judge and the prosecutor have been at each other's throats, the top prosecution witnesses turned out to be more helpful for the defense, and defense attorneys unexpectedly put the baby-faced Rittenhouse on the stand, where he breathlessly sobbed like a toddler. Meanwhile, the judge got a phone call as he sat at the bench, revealing his ring tone to be Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," an unofficial Republican theme song. So the trial has been both dramatic and bizarre in equal measure.

The case is important for many reasons having to do with policing, guns, politics and the growing acceptance of right-wing vigilantism in America. Rittenhouse has somehow become a symbol of all those issues, with the country split down the middle on whether he should be condemned for carrying an illegally obtained assault weapon across state lines (he lived a few miles away, in Illinois) and killing people or should be viewed as a hero for standing up to the left-wing mob and defending himself when challenged. His childlike demeanor confuses the issue even more. How could such an innocent-looking boy have done either of those things?

[Eternally-Optimistic]

Solon is guilty of attempted jury tampering.

[DesertRhino]

Heather, there is a grim truth being exposed in this trial. You and your communist terrorist pals would do well to learn it.

If you keep trying to murder decent citizens, sometimes you’ll get your ticket punched.

Grim indeed.

[KC_Conspirator]

This hate filled Karen, do nothing for society author is part of the problem. Most of her article is filled with BS lies.

[Yo-Yo]

--garbage that starts out with a lie--
"The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who brought an illegally obtained AR-15 semiautomatic rifle"

Kyle admitted on the stand to participating in a straw purchase of the AR. So the AR may well have been illegally obtained, and that may be one of the lesser charges that Kyle gets convicted on.

His buddy who bought the gun, and gave it to him that night, is in very deep doo-doo over both the straw purchase and being an adult furnishing a deadly weapon to a person under 18.

But the major charges against Kyle of murder, manslaughter, and reckless endangerment should be adjudicated not guilty.

[Graybeard58]

The judge and prosecutor have been at each others throats.

Lol. Too bad God doesn’t strike liars down with lightning on the spot.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If that were true, I can tell you who wins.

[Steve_Seattle]

Thanks; very good explanation.

[Steve_Seattle]

"And then there’s Baldwin....who pointed a gun at an innocent, cocked it and pulled the trigger...and said....oh my...I feel bad. Did Baldwin have a license??"

And Baldwin walks the streets as a free man. I will be surprised if he is ever charged, and even more surprised if he spends a single day in jail.

[yesthatjallen]

The case is important for many reasons having to do with policing, guns, politics and the growing acceptance of right-wing vigilantism in America.

Always remember. If you're in trouble, call a [racist] cop with a gun because only [racist] cops should have guns.

[ridesthemiles]

Kyle broke into sobs when he saw his Mother crying in the courtroom.

[ridesthemiles]

IF a friend of yours owned a business & there had already been 2 nights of looting/rioting/burning & that friend asked you to come & DEFEND the business....

WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE????

[ridesthemiles]

IF a friend of yours owned a business & there had already been 2 nights of looting/rioting/burning & that friend asked you to come & DEFEND the business....

WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE????

DON’T forget that you might need your BIG BOY PANTS ON....

[windsorknot]

There’s a “growing acceptance” of rioting and looting by Marxist thugs by their enablers in radical left-wing media.

[JusPasenThru]

Would I do it? Depends on the state I’m in. And my Depends supply.

[IrishBrigade]

‘THAT would have been held against him...’

I disagree; he gave them a lot more fodder for ridicule by blubbering...plus it gave his critics the opportunity for speculation about play acting tactics...

what if someone like Alec Baldwin gets on the stand and starts bawling; woud you defend that on the basis of emotional duress...?

[Zathras]

I thought the Gay Mafia Hairdresser site had been closed.
They must have gotten more funds from the Gay Mafia.

[Yo-Yo]

IF a friend of yours owned a business & there had already been 2 nights of looting/rioting/burning & that friend asked you to come & DEFEND the business....

WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE????

The owners of the Car Source car lots were not friends with Kyle.

[Vaduz]

Growing acceptance of right-wing vigilantism in America

Seattle Portland Chicago New York Los Angeles St Louis .......

Guess Heather Digby Parton doesn’t get out or reads much.

[Steve_Seattle]

"what if someone like Alec Baldwin gets on the stand and starts bawling; would you defend that on the basis of emotional duress...?"

As a matter of fact I CAN understand someone becoming emotionally distressed after accidentally killing someone, and being questioned about it in a courtroom. Can't you?

[Codeflier]

Not so convinced it is a straw purchase. As he testified himself, his friend bought it for him, so that the could legally transfer it after he turned 18. I don’t think that is a straw purchase.

I guess the question becomes over giving money in advance. If the money is a gift and then the friend happens to buy a gun, and they later transfer it legally, it can’t really be a straw purchase.

[rellimpank]

—no—the buddy bought the gun and kept it in his possession with the understanding that it would be transferred to Kyle when it became legal for him to possess in Illinois—

—the buddy loaned it to him in Wisconsin where it was legal for him to possess—