Evidence be damned; we want convictions

Will the state and federal government come down hard on the young protestors who vandalized a military recruiting station, or will they let a little thing like lack of evidence get in the way?

That's the burning question for McBride & Co. this week.

The Journal Sentinel reports:

The city attorney's office moved to dismiss the charges citing a lack of sufficient evidence against those ticketed, said municipal court Judge Derek Mosley.

Police arrested 21 people March 19 on suspicion of disorderly conduct after windows were smashed at the recruiting station, in the 3100 block of N. Oakland Ave.

Mosley granted the dismissal without prejudice, meaning that the charges could be filed again if police collect more evidence.

Says McBride:

DA Chisholm and US Attorney Biskupic, the ball is in your court.

She and other wingnut bloggers are poised to criticize DA John Chisholm, a Democrat, if he doesn't charge anyone. In fact, many of them jumped the gun and attacked him last week for dropping the municipal charges, which he had nothing to do with. It's not clear whether they are as ready or willing to go after US Atty. Steven Biskupic, the Republican appointee they all love for his willingness to prosecute Democrats.

Indymedia first reported the story on the dropped charges, although it was a Junior McBride, Rebecca Hontowicz, whose subsequent post got all of the right wing's undies in a bundle.

Hang 'em first, ask questions later

The blogosphere merry-go-round spins today:

McBride's protege screws up in a confusing post about dropped charges against protestors at an Army recruiting center.

Charlie Sykes, Steve Egg, Owen Robinson, and probably other assorted wingnuts jump on the report -- checking no facts, of course -- and denounce Dist. Atty. John Chisholm, who had nothing to do with the municipal charges being discussed.

Illusory Tenant sets it straight.

And McBride walks gingerly, pointing out that the charges are municipal,not dissing the original post by her friend Rebecca Kontowitz Kontowicz, and reserving the right to criticize Chisholm later. What she fails to do is look at whether any charges were warranted and whether they could be made to stick. But the wingnut lynch mobs never let the facts get in the way.

UPDATE: Sykes offers a correction. So does Egg , after a little prodding.