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[Marigold2]

I think more then anything she is in mental distress, she is not a cold mean killer, she is mentally ill and needs help. This is not a lifetime criminal this is a confused, ill woman of outstanding merit. When she stands in front of the judge I hope he looks at all the good she has done, not just the bad. How many of us have done something horrible, stupid, mean, crazy? Now imagine you get caught and the whole world knows your shame. So much pride, so much hard work and sacrifice and then in a moment or a week or a day you do something and it is all shot to hell. I don't believe that is how it should be. Good people do dumb things. Good people deserve a second chance, bad lifetime criminals do not. I am far from a bleeding heart, I believe in the death penalty. Should not the good we have done in our lives count or just those moments of ugliness? Who here would not like a second chance? Who here has accomplished as much as she did in their lives?

[critter crazy]

I think more then anything she is in mental distress, she is not a cold mean killer, she is mentally ill and needs help. This is not a lifetime criminal this is a confused, ill woman of outstanding merit. When she stands in front of the judge I hope he looks at all the good she has done, not just the bad. How many of us have done something horrible, stupid, mean, crazy? Now imagine you get caught and the whole world knows your shame. So much pride, so much hard work and sacrifice and then in a moment or a week or a day you do something and it is all shot to hell. I don't believe that is how it should be. Good people do dumb things. Good people deserve a second chance, bad lifetime criminals do not. I am far from a bleeding heart, I believe in the death penalty. Should not the good we have done in our lives count or just those moments of ugliness? Who here would not like a second chance? Who here has accomplished as much as she did in their lives?

But they do count! She is a first time offender, she is not going to get the same sentance, as a person who has done this numerous times! Judges do look at the person as a whole, and base sentencing on this fact. But she still deserves what she gets. She did a very stupid thing.

[wombat2u2004]

I think more then anything she is in mental distress, she is not a cold mean killer, she is mentally ill and needs help. This is not a lifetime criminal this is a confused, ill woman of outstanding merit. When she stands in front of the judge I hope he looks at all the good she has done, not just the bad. How many of us have done something horrible, stupid, mean, crazy? Now imagine you get caught and the whole world knows your shame. So much pride, so much hard work and sacrifice and then in a moment or a week or a day you do something and it is all shot to hell. I don't believe that is how it should be. Good people do dumb things. Good people deserve a second chance, bad lifetime criminals do not. I am far from a bleeding heart, I believe in the death penalty. Should not the good we have done in our lives count or just those moments of ugliness? Who here would not like a second chance? Who here has accomplished as much as she did in their lives?

Hmmmmmm......yes. I think I'm going to have to go with Marigold on this one.
The more I consider this....the more I see the sense in it.
Some people do a lot of good in this world, and usually for little or no reward.
But when they mess up...and those mess ups are only in line with other peoples expectations....then they are punished for it.
So where is the balance ????
I know what she did was wrong in the eyes of everyone....but who here can honestly say they have never done wrong ??? And were those wrongs discovered by others ??? Or did you simply get away with it. And did the punishment, if you received any....fit ther crime ???
From my readings of this particular case......the whole matter was simply a matter of the heart...the poor woman felt rejected, cheated on etc etc.
She is obviously crazy about this guy, and she has obviously done something quite stupid here.
So reading Marigolds post has made me sort of wake up to that.
I think this woman is REALLY in for it, not only from the law, but she will be probably ostracised for the rest of her life, her career gone, probably what remains of her family gone.....a bit harsh...don't you all think ???
Well perhaps we should just put her to death, as an example for all of those who would fall in love, and then break the law trying to defend that.
What about the guy ??? He gets away scot free...right ??? And what part did he actually play in this....I can only guess. Wow !!!! He's famous now, got a name for himself, can go fly his little spaceship, and hit on as many women as he likes....married or not...it seems not to be his issue.
Fair ???? I think not.
Wombat

[dukedogsmom]

No one's debating that all of us have done some wrong in our lives. However, this goes way beyond "doing wrong". As far as the man is concerned, he didn't drive 900 miles nonstop to try to abuct, etc, whatever she planned on doing. And since she has had all of that education and training, then she should know more than ever the difference of right and wrong. We all have urges to do things we know we shouldn't. But that doesn't mean we all just cut loose and do it and who cares about the consequences.

[wombat2u2004]

No one's debating that all of us have done some wrong in our lives. However, this goes way beyond "doing wrong". As far as the man is concerned, he didn't drive 900 miles nonstop to try to abuct, etc, whatever she planned on doing. And since she has had all of that education and training, then she should know more than ever the difference of right and wrong. We all have urges to do things we know we shouldn't. But that doesn't mean we all just cut loose and do it and who cares about the consequences.

Well perhaps we should be debating that. Because this woman has been made a spectacle of.....have you ????
And how does it go BEYOND doing wrong ??? For driving 900 miles to confront her lovers mistress ??? Wow...thats REALLY wrong. I bet that happens all the time in the USA, and you wouldn't even know the names of the people doing it..
And did she intend to abduct or kill or maim (because she had so called weapons on her person) ??? I think it's all circumstantial evidence. The media has got hold of this, and as usual have hyped it up to do TWO things.....to make themselves money/fill their pages up and to give Americans a scapegoat !!!!!
Nope...I don't think it's right what they did to her...in my eyes she has done very little wrong. They should leave her alone.
Wombat

[Lady's Human]

She was not made a spectacle of, she made a spectacle of herself. She violated the oath she took as an officer in the US military. She threw millions of dollars that NASA has spent to train her down the drain.

Sorry, ZERO sympathy.

[sparks19]

She was not made a spectacle of, she made a spectacle of herself. She violated the oath she took as an officer in the US military. She threw millions of dollars that NASA has spent to train her down the drain.

Sorry, ZERO sympathy.

I am with you on this one. Sure I have made mistakes.... but I have never assaulted anyone.... I have never tried to kidnap anyone.... technically I have never done anything truly unlawful. Especially not to this magnitude. LOL except I stole a marker when I was a kid and I was SO scared of getting caught i NEVER did it again. If I had I would have had to pay the price for it... such as anyone should. What point is there in having laws if they don't want to enforce them because someone is a nice person or has done some good in their life. To me.... that does not excuse you from obeying the law. PERIOD.

She deserves to be punished for what she did..... I don't care about her social standing.... She obviously didn't care either or she wouldn't have done what she did.

I agree... she needs HELP.... and a lot of it. but she can get that help while institutionalized. she should not be allowed to roam free and prey on women who are fooling around with someone she thinks belongs to her. SORRY.... I have been cheated on before.... you know what I did. I MOVED ON.... I have even MET some of the women later in life that my SO cheated on me with. I'm not mad at them.... He is the one that hurt me.... not the girl. So I just left him and moved on with my life. What better revenge than to be living my life out to the fullest and let him see that he can't break me. SORRY There is no excuse for that.

If it were any "normal" person they would have to pay the price. it is NOT acceptable behaviour from anyone... especially from someone as "educated" and "smart" as herself.

Driving 900 miles non stop is NOT a lapse in judgement. perhaps driving down the block might be.... but when you have THAT many hours to think about what you are about to do.... that becomes premeditation. PERIOD

[Pam]

She was not made a spectacle of, she made a spectacle of herself. She violated the oath she took as an officer in the US military. She threw millions of dollars that NASA has spent to train her down the drain.

Sorry, ZERO sympathy.

Agree completely! *To whom much is given, much is required.* That applies to many things in life whether it be status, possessions, money, etc. She was in a different position than most of us, a very public position. Therefore her *sin,* when committed, was on public display. Her action was disgraceful and she and she alone is responsible. As far as the man's responsibility, he did nothing unlawful (except of course in the eyes of his wife ). Sorry, Wombat, usually I am completely in agreement with your take on things but not this time.

[Marigold2]

The reason I feel so bad for this lady is because I feel she is ill. The look on her face and the things she did were so out of character. I believe she had a mental breakdown. Perhaps seeing three friends die in the Challenger explostion started the process. Too much sorrow, fear, grief, shock. Perhaps mental illness is just a disease that was growing in her body, schizophrenic perhaps. I don't think she would have done this if she was well. That is my point really. I feel she needs help mentally and yes she should be held accountable to the degree of sanity. Hopefully someday she will be able to work again at NASA and contribute with her keen intelligence. I just think her illness overtook her. People who are truly mentally ill, don't make rational decisions and what she did was not rational especially for one so intelligent. This was not just a love affair gone wrong, this is a woman who is mentally ill and lost touch with reality, it is sad all around. My knickers are now untwisted.