The 5th... Who needs it anyway?

Apparently, you or I won't after this precedent is established.

Defence lawyers have indicated that the former neuroscience graduate might plead not guilty by reason of insanity. If he does, the judge has ruled he might have to submit to a "narcoanalytic interview" - including the use of what some have dubbed a "truth serum" - as part of the evaluation of his mental state. A narcoanalytic interview is a decades-old process in which patients are given drugs to lower their inhibition. The judge said Holmes could also be given a lie detector test as part of the evaluation.

You have a right not to self-incriminate. Seriously, is it even needed at this point?

On July 20, 2012, police arrested an unresisting Holmes next to his car behind the Century 16 theater, moments after the 2012 Aurora shooting, in which Holmes allegedly set off several gas or smoke canisters and then opened fire on the theater audience, killing 12 and wounding 58. The responding officers recovered several guns from inside the car and the theater. According to two federal authorities, Holmes had dyed his hair orange and had called himself "The Joker".[59] Although it should also be noted, that Holmes calling himself "The Joker," was later retracted [60] to news sources such as "Face The Nation," on the CBS News network, by police. Once apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices before heading to the theater.[13][61][62] Police later confirmed the presence of explosives in the apartment.[63]

What would be infinitely more telling is the prescription medications he was taking at the time. I'd venture that he was on some combination of ADHD and anti-depressant medications, many of which can have serious manic-depressive side effects.

how very fitting

This is certainly not what the WH wants after Rand Paul filibuster earlier this week.

Vice President Joe Biden swears in CIA Director John Brennan in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 8, 2013. Members of Brennan’s family stand with him. Brennan was sworn in with his hand on an original draft of the Constitution, dating from 1787, which has George Washington’s personal handwriting and annotations on it.

That means, when Brennan vowed to protect and defend the Constitution, he was swearing on one that did not include the First, Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendments — or any of the other Amendments now included in our Constitution. The Bill of Rights did not become part of our Constitution until 1791, 4 years after the Constitution that Brennan took his oath on.

It sure will be interesting to see if we get any politicians to stand up and say, "re-oath with the bill of rights, or GTFO"

Filibustered

There's a lot of talk this morning about Rand Paul's 13 hour filibuster last night. It is a good thing that an elected representative, not a "leader", if finally taking a stand against the White House. However, as many people have found out over the course of history, waiting until the enemy is battle ramming your gates is not the time to loose your archers. This should have been happening after Anwar al-Awlaki and his son were assassinated. They were both American citizens denied due process of law and their right to trial by their peers.

After all, does it really matter the geographical location of the strike carried out on a US citizen?