One Comes Out, One Goes In (Maybe)

If I didn't know better, I'd think one of the following two stories was timed to distract attention from the other. The only question is which came first.

Coming out:

Former Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. was released from an Alabama prison Thursday morning after serving time on charges of tax evasion and misuse of campaign funds.

The 50-year-old Jackson will serve the remainder of his sentence at a Washington, D.C., halfway house. Jackson began his 2 1/2-year sentence in 2013. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons lists his release date as Sept. 20, 2015.

The Democrat was convicted in 2013 of misusing $750,000 in campaign money on items including furs and vacations, as well as tax evasion.

His wife, Sandi, also faces time for related charges.

Jackson has lost a lot of weight during his prison term, and now has the “biggest Afro you’ve ever seen,” according to a source familiar with the situation.

Jesse Jackson Jr. and his “biggest Afro you’ve ever seen" (artist's rendition)

Now if we could only get dad Jesse Sr. in jail where he belongs, along with his fellow worthless race pimp Rev. Al...

Going in (maybe):

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held five years after being captured by the Taliban when he left his remote post in Afghanistan, was charged Wednesday by the Army with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

To say that this is a controversial and emotionally-charged case would be a massive understatement.

Charges that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl deserted and endangered his post in Afghanistan intensify the debate over his politically wrought release: Should he spend years in prison as punishment for endangering soldiers who risked their lives to find him?

Or was five years as a Taliban captive, where he was so isolated officials suggested it had affected his ability to speak English upon his return to the U.S., punishment enough?

Based on the charges, the death penalty was an option. However, that has been ruled out.

Bergdahl, 28, won't face a death sentence, although the punishment is an option for prosecutors to pursue against deserters in wartime. But his case does raise the question of whether military prosecutors will lock away for life a man the U.S. gave up five imprisoned Taliban commanders to bring home.

A death penalty case was likely a non-starter after all that had to be sacrificed to bring him home, said Jeffrey K. Walker, a St. John's University law professor, retired Air Force officer and former military lawyer. In fact, his defense attorney might successfully argue he deserves leniency after years as a prisoner.

However, the charges underscore the military's position that the hardship of his captivity doesn't outweigh the ramifications of leaving his post.

Some members of his former unit have called for serious punishment, saying others risked their lives searching for him.

"The military's obviously a very rough job. ... But everybody else stayed with the oath and did what they signed up to do. And as a result of that, some didn't get to come home," said Cody Full, 26, who served in Bergdahl's platoon.

IMO the judges should give serious weight to the views of those who served with him. They went through the same hardships Bergdahl did, and put their lives on the line looking for him after he disappeared. They did their duty. He didn't.

Then there's the trade-for-terrorists aspect.

Michael Waddington, a military defense lawyer not involved with Bergdahl's case, said he expected a long prison sentence and wondered why the U.S. bothered to bring him back.

"The administration traded known Taliban for this guy only to bring him back and put him in jail," Waddington said. "That seems to me like a waste of resources."

Not only a waste of resources, but a move that increases the threat we face.

Bergdahl was freed on May 31, 2014, after the White House agreed to trade five high-value Taliban operatives held at Guantanamo Bay.

The trade was branded as illegal by lawmakers, who said they weren’t advised beforehand, It was also blasted by critics who said it violated America’s longstanding tradition of not negotiating with terrorists. There were also concerns – which would prove well-founded – that the Taliban members would return to the fight against the West.

Of the five ... at least three have attempted to reconnect with their old comrades.

Almost as despicable as Bergdahl's actions is the obama administration's stance on this case.

The incoming White House communications director defended the decision to trade Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban leaders last year, even as newly announced desertion charges for Bergdahl renewed Republican criticism of the prisoner swap.

"Was it worth it? Absolutely," Jen Psaki told Megyn Kelly on Fox News' "The Kelly File." "We have a commitment to our men and women serving in the military..."

I gagged when I saw Paski spout that crap on TV. This administration has done nothing but rain piss down on the military from day one. How they can stand up there and spew that garbage with a straight face is beyond me.

To make matters worse, ramifications from this are hitting close to home. From the New Braunfels TX Police Department: (New Braunfels is a small town about 30 miles from where we live. My son and his family live there.)

There has been recent news coverage regarding a list of approximately 100 names of U.S. Military service members that supposedly was put out by “ISIS” as a “target list”.

One service member on the list lives within Comal County and has a New Braunfels address...

At the request of federal authorities the service member has been contacted and is aware of this situation. Comal County Sheriff Office is also aware of this issue and has made adjustments to patrols to provide extra patrol in the area where this service member lives...

The above was posted on the New Braunfels PD Facebook page. What is gratifying is the number of people who responded by saying something like this.

"We stand United against these cowards, you threaten one of us, you threaten all!!!"

My favorite response:

"Probably could of picked a better community as I think everyone in Comal County has five guns per resident!!!!"

That estimate may be a little low...