Felony charges for Barkus?

I still think the big question will end up being (0.00 / 0)

Why someone sober would allow someone who is intoxicated to put the lives of others at risk?

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by: Montana Cowgirl @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 23:17:32 PM UTC

yep (0.00 / 0)

.

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by: JC @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 23:29:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Montana Cowgirl (0.00 / 0)

until the BAC of each person comes back and analyzed to determine the sobriety of everyone at the time they began their boat ride, just who is the sober "someone" you had in mind who had the authority and power to "allow" the boat owner to operate his boat?  

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by: Craig Moore @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 23:36:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

according to Rehberg/Iverson... (0.00 / 0)

...Dennis is essentially claiming he was sober...or at least under the legal limit.

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by: Jay Stevens @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 23:43:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Actually no such claim (0.00 / 0)

has been made.  All he has done is announce his BAC at the time it was taken at the hospital.

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 00:00:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Actually, Iverson did make that claim (0.00 / 0)

From the HelenaIR:

Iverson said...  that blood drawn from Rehberg at the hospital following the incident indicated a blood-alcohol content of .05. The legal limit is .08.

"That's well below the legal limit," Iverson said. "It's a new piece of information we received just this morning." [emphasis added]

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by: JC @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 03:25:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Actually no (0.00 / 0)

The BAC was taken about 2 and 1/2 hours after the accident.  It was about 1/2 hour from the dock to the accident location.  That is 3 hours after they boarded the boat.  What Iverson said is factually correct and bears no relation to what was Rehberg's BAC 3 hours earlier at the dock...which was the point of my question.    

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 03:47:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What's your point? (0.00 / 0)

That Rehberg was drunk at the time of the accident?

That he abdicated his duties as a U.S. Rep and put the safety of his staff at risk?

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by: JC @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 04:06:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Go back and re-read Mt Cowgirl's question (0.00 / 0)

As I said, until the BAC of each person comes back and analyzed to determine the sobriety of everyone at the time they began their boat ride, just who is the sober "someone" who had the authority and power to "allow" the boat owner to operate his boat?  

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 04:14:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The main issue, to me, (0.00 / 0)

is that a U.S. Congressman was out  partying, and he let his staff get in a boat that was driven, at a minimum, negligently by a State Senator that he had been drinking with who had previous arrests for DUI and reckless driving. It is very likely he was drunk again. Time will tell. Denny put the safety of his employees in the hands of Barkus, when they all got on the boat.

The boat wrecked, the staff were injured. Rehberg either mans up and takes some responsibility for his charges, or he doesn't. If he doesn't, he's a total schmuck for ducking his responsibilities. If he does show some humility, then maybe their is hope for him.

We will get to see the character of our U.S. Congressman at work, depending on how he handles this situation. So far, he fails.

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by: JC @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 04:36:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think..... (0.00 / 0)

that Dopey Rehburp needs to have a town hall meeting to discuss the details of HIS health care.  It'd be interesting to see just how much of his bill is picked up by the taxpayers. (or subsidized)  Why can't we ALL have Dopey Care?  THAT is the question.  And I think a new drink is in order.  A "denny on the rocks, straight up"! (did you see that boat??) Hey, if we can have a Cuba Libre, why not a denny on the rocks?

Hard for me to fault Dopey for gettin' in the boat, though, 'cause it's hard to tell a person's BAC.  And besides, they had to get back somehow.  Ain't much to hit in the lake at that time of night, just the shore!

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 23:37:27 PM UTC

JC: Main issue to me (0.00 / 0)

I understand your point but I disagree for now until those individuals are interviewed and their statements are made known.

Here's why:  Everyone who climbed into the boat were adults, not children. Each of those adults were equally required to assess the situation.  Did they individually or collectively think Barkus was impaired by alcohol consumption?  If so, did they get into that boat with that knowledge?  Did they feel pressured with "no real choice" to do otherwise?  Many questions to answer here before assigning blame to any of the passengers. Selective finger pointing is silly.  

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 14:37:30 PM UTC

The Kalispell Sheriff (0.00 / 0)

is setting the stage for an at least two month wait for info to come back from the state crime lab. He mentions that a fatal boating accident on the 4th July has yet to have its accident report filed, backlogs at the crime lab, and having to outsource the analysis due to conflict of interest. Yep, don't expect any real info from the Sheriff until maybe... winter???

When an accident involves a U.S. Congressional Rep and a leading State senator, the public has the right to demand accountability and expedited justice.

You can go along with slow-walking this all you want, Craig. But the rest of don't have to. We don't have to wait for a crime lab report on Barkus' BAC. The sheriff may have to to use it in a court filing. But the hospital has a record of it just like Rehberg's, and it could have been released days ago, just like Denny's was. Why hasn't it? Because Barkus' friends want us to know later than sooner.

Your analogy to adults and children is very... childish. Smith and Frost worked for Rehberg, and were in his employ at the time of the incident. I hold Rehberg responsible for their presence on the boat. There's nothing silly about holding a Reps' feet to the fire when they fuck up.

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by: JC @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 16:25:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You are right JC (0.00 / 0)

"You can go along with slow-walking this all you want, Craig. But the rest of don't have to. We don't have to wait for a crime lab report on Barkus' BAC."

You can just make it up and state you speculations and judgments based on those guesses as fact. I've seen it before.  It's called a lynch mob mentality.  

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 22:28:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Do you remember the Oxbow Incident??? (0.00 / 0)

Get a rope!!!!!!!

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 22:30:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Negligence charges against Barkus (0.00 / 0)

are almost certain, just for getting in the kind of wreck he did, and by injuring others. It doesn't matter what his BAC was--that's just another charge to add to the list.

Barkus will have his day in court. But where he and Rehberg are going to get filleted  is in the court of public opinion--the accountability to the people who vote.

Or don't you believe in accountability of our public servants?

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by: JC @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 22:44:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

JC, I believe (0.00 / 0)

you are using this tragic situation to put politics over due process and genuine concern for all injured parties...BUT I don't expect that you would see it in yourself as you go forth with lighted torch, overheated political rhetoric, and a handful of rope.

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 22:57:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And what will your rhetoric be (0.00 / 0)

when/if Barkus' BAC comes back at .08+?

I'm sure Barkus and Rehberg would love nothing better than for this whole incident to just kind of languish and then get swept under the rug.

If the party labels had been switched, like it was Schweitzer or Tester, I'm sure that the right wing bloggers would be having a hey day. What's good for the goose is good for the gander... and all that rot.

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by: JC @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 23:17:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

JC, that's easy (0.00 / 0)

I support focusing on the victims and their recovery. I support their right to seek damages for their injuries. I support the justice system and due process for Barkus regardless of BAC.  

40 mph close to shore and in the dark. Why???????  

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by: Craig Moore @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 23:26:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sure, I support all that too, (0.00 / 0)

but I will add in the accountability issue because both Barkus and Rehberg are elected public servants.

As to the question, I have no answers. That will come out maybe in an accident report. Or a trial.

Speaking of trials, I thought you guys were down on trial lawyers?  

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by: JC @ Sat Sep 05, 2009 at 00:03:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]