June 2004

Leader Lawsuit Watch Day 5

ArchPundit June 29, 2004 1 Comment

The potential lawsuit to open Kerry’s records gets a brief mention in Dan Kennedy’s blog. Kennedy argues that because the parties are okay with the impoundment, the records should stay closed. That is a strange way to treat public documents. The reason we keep public documents open it to ensure the courts operate fairly and treat everyone the same. To privilege some documents is quite a strange outcome unless there is an overriding public policy interest such as protecting a minor child or encouraging adoption. Protecting a minor child doesn’t mean protecting them from embarrassment from his or her child, it means protecting the child’s conditions from being public. In the case of Kerry, the children are adults and so the interest in protecting them would be gone.

The best strategy is to offer up the files to the press. Given the divorce was relatively amicable, I can’t see it being that big of a deal. The annulment was not friendly, but the divorce itself was a mutual decision.

That said, we don’t know for sure that the files are sealed. No one has checked that I can tell. They may well be, I simply don’t know. If I’m right and it was filed in Middlesex, the office wouldn’t answer the question. I do know the divorce did not occur in Suffolk County (Boston). There is also a chance it could have taken place in New York.

Thanks to readers and others for the background and the link!

Leader Correction Watch Day 4

ArchPundit June 29, 2004 1 Comment

And still no correction to the assertion that the files were sealed from the time the divorce was finalized.

Jeff Berkowitz doesn’t appear to understand the issue here. The records were sealed one year after the divorce was finalized.

If you want a source on that, try the Illinois Leader.

What’s amusing about this is that Jack! apparently lied to Stanek from her comments on the Illinois Leader message boards.

Sorry, but I’m batting a thousand. McCulloch, well we don’t know exactly what he is batting. If you read his initial statement he said he got them from an associate of Jack!’s who copied them before the records were sealed. I’m unclear why Dan Proft’s claims limit how others might have viewed or gotten the files so I’m not sure why that is relevant. I haven’t heard Beyond the Beltway and it isn’t archived so I can say what McCulloch has said so far is far more accurate than what Jack! or Proft or Stanek have been claiming. Was everything perfectly accurate? Probably not, but I as I mentioned before he was working from memory.

Remember that also there were six paragraphs stricken at the last minute by the judge because they were particularly graphic.

I would suggest that if Ryan’s supporters are truly concerned about his kid and his reaction, they drop this silly blaming of others for Jack!’s screw-up before the mysterious file appears and does “more damage”.

UPDATE: If there is any question that something else is out there,
Read Chuck Goudie.

Leader Correction Watch Day 3

ArchPundit June 28, 2004 No Comments

Still no correction on Jill Stanek’s article in which she essentially calls Rod McCulloch a liar. The article insists the file was never open even though just about every news organization has reported that it was open for a little over a year.

Leader Lawsuit Watch Day4

ArchPundit June 28, 2004 6 Comments

Dan Proft writes a rant about how everyone is out to get his little clique, but doesn’t shed anymore light on Kerry’s files than is seen on Drudge.

Let’s remember that Jack! had to know there was a file out there once Rod McCulloch brought up the allegation involving sex clubs in three cities. Hence, all the nonsense about Jack! being wronged ignores that he set himself up with his problem. Boo Hoo.

I called Massachusetts Probate Court that most likely dealt with Kerry’s divorce. today and was told the files had to be asked for in person or in writing. Given that barrier, unless I have a reader in Massachusetts, I’ll wait for the big media to track down the files and their status. If no one follows up I will, but I don’t see the point in starting the process if others are likely to get there first.