The trouble with the meds he took is that they often end up putting people in a state where they do such non-volitional inappropriate things, but only become cognizant of what they’ve done after the fact. Yes, it’s a convenient excuse, but it’s also a recognized side-effect of those meds, especially in combination.
So I won’t jump on the bandwagon condemning his behavior. Even before this incident, the drug company that makes Ambien was doing a LOT of damage control over increasing reports of people walking, eating, driving, and all in a sleep-like state.
I do wish we had a serum blood alcohol to help complete the picture, though.
I’m here to dim that small ray of hope, Dave. I, firmly intrenched in the Civil Libertarian Left, didn’t bring up a “but they’re worse” arguement from stupidity. In fact, I joked that all of the Kennedys should just stay away from engine driven vehicles. Yet I believe there is a laaaaarge difference between the power hungry bastards on the right and the power hungry bastards on the left. Especially when it comes to civil liberties.
I have no idea why you see things that aren’t there. For one example, what the heck is “the left here”? For another, I for one would appreciate it if you could sketch out how one person or another typing a post to a message board, without even using so much as an exclamation point for emphasis, somehow constitutes “screaming at the top of their lungs.” For still another, what might be the general political stance of the person who felt the need to post this frankly rather pointless and stupid thread?
Actually, I’ll hazard a guess that the reason you seem to see things that aren’t there may be that thick-lensed pair of ideological spectacles you are wearing.
Local laws may vary, but I would think that one is reasonably expected to know that Ambien can cause drowsiness and other side effects (the endless ads on TV say that you should not drive until you know how the drug is affecting you). If one does not follow instructions and take precautions, I don’t think that “the drugs did it” would be a satisfactory defense to driving while impaired.
I would be uneasy about being on the road with some other posters, as their serum tu quoque levels are probably extremely high. :dubious:
But hey, why not go there. I was wondering about what contingency plan the Capitol/D.C. police might have for handling a suspected drunk driving incident involving Cynthia McKinney. (For the sake of the officers I hope it includes SWAT, hostage negotiators and a special racial sensitivity team).
Actually I was appalled at the pseudo-science of suggesting there was a judgement gene.
Also please bear in mind that from a European perspective, both US parties are right-wing. :eek:
And so on. There is a very strong likelihood that even after having followed the instructions and taken all precautions, Kennedy had no idea he had gotten into a car and started driving at 2:45AM until after the fact.
Considering that he apparently was so fucked up by the drug that he thought Congress was in session at 3am, I think it’s a bit unreasonable to expect him to decide that driving into work is a bad idea because Ambien might make him drowsy. Outside of giving the keys to a neighbor, I’m not sure exactly what precautions can prevent someone in a walking sleep state from getting in the car and driving away.
And especially considering that who in the hell holds a Congressional vote at 2:45 am I’m kinda suspecting that no, in fact he didn’t have to be at work and his drugged-out brain only convinced him he did. According to the linked article he’d been at work earlier, he drove home, he took meds. Then at 2:45 am he got into his car, convinced he had a vote to cast, and drove off.
What the hell is this shit? Shayna makes a cogent, non-partisan argument that based on what we know, not only is Kennedy’s explanation plausible, but seriously brings into question his culpability. And then this is the lame-ass, shrill, pathetic garbage you manage to generate in response? Weak, man, weak.
From the USA Today article 5/5: “He (Kennedy) said he drove to the Capitol from his nearby home around 2:45 a.m…”
I think he knew he was driving.
Given the limited number of severe adverse reactions reported, we’ll have to disagree on the “strong likelihood”. And since no blood was drawn, we’ll never know just what mix of drugs might have been in Kennedy’s system.
Just recently we had the dangerous drunk driving accident involving former Oklahoma State basketball coach Eddie Sutton. Immediately following the crash there was emphasis from supporters on the supposed role his physical problems played in the incident. Only later did it come out he was legally drunk, and apparently had been mixing pain pills and alcohol.
Was Ambien the villain in Kennedy’s case, or a convenient scapegoat? Thanks to bad police procedure and/or favoritism, the truth will remain unknown.
I’m not a fan of President Bush–I think he’s the most vile, incompetent president of the last 50 years–but WHY, exactly, would you think the Secret Service should intervene when his (formerly) underage daughters drank before the age of 21?
Jenna & Barbara’s secret service detail exists to protect THEM from harm, not to enforce state & local laws. If the girls think they are going to rat them out for committing a minor crime, then the detail is less effective. It seems to me that for the SS to intervene in such instances (except as necessary to protect the girls’ safety) would be both unprofessional and conter-productive.
It certainly seems to be an unwritten rule that every time a member of the Kennedy family so much as farts in an elevator, some people bring up Chappaquiddick so fast you’d think Mary Jo was their mom.
I fail to see how you can have the vaguest idea what he knew or didn’t know, other than the facts that we all know and which would have been obvious after the incident. And one of the most obvious facts is that “he drove to the Capitol from his nearby home around 2:45,” which doesn’t imply in any way, shape or form that he was actually aware he was doing so as he was doing it. Or that if he was, that he was in complete control of his actions at the time.
Define “limited number.” Clearly the number of severe adverse reactions reported aren’t unlimited and infinite – that’s kindof a no-brainer. But there are enough incidents that this has become not only a major news item in recent months, but a serious problem complete with lawsuits for the manufacturer.
The only thing I agree with you on is that we’ll never know with any certainty, given the gross incompetence of the local police. But their behavior hardly speaks to the veracity or not of Kennedy’s claims.