Free Sara Jane Olson

The Shadow has seen idiotic decisions made by government officials before -- sometime bowing to political pressure in the process. But what happened to a former 1970s radical just about takes the cake.

Sara Jane Olson (formerly known as Kathleen Soliah) was released from prison in central California last week. Five days later, she was re-arrested and told that she had to spend another year in prison.

Sara Jane Olson (formerly Kathleen Soliah)
(photo courtesy CNN.com)

Kathleen Soliah is a former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), the 1970s radical group that gained fame by kidnapping newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst in the 1970s. She was accused of the attempted murder of two Los Angeles police officers by planting bombs under their cars -- but the bombs never went off.

Soliah fled to Minnesota where she changed her name to Sara Jane Olson. She eventually married and had three daughters -- living the life of a soccer mom for 24 years before she was arrested in 1999.

Olson served six years for the attempted murders of the police officers and the murder of a bank employee. She was released on parole a week ago

The Los Angeles Police Protective League denounced the release stating that:

She needs to serve her full time in prison for these crimes and does not deserve time-off for working in prison. After participating in one killing and attempting two more, she managed to elude authorities and live a guilt-free, middle class life for decades. Criminals who attempt to murder police officers should not be able to escape justice simply because they have good lawyers.

So what happens next? The California Department of Corrections suddenly decides that they "miscalculated" Olson's sentencing formula and that she was released one year early. Olson was prevented from leaving California with her husband and was returned to prison last Friday -- five days after she was released!

This is not right. While The Shadow does not condone in any way the crimes of Sara Jane Olson -- she does not deserve this treatment. She needs to be released immediately. Her other accomplices have since been paroled -- apparently the Los Angeles Police Protective League wants to make an example of her.

This injustice needs to be righted. Sara Jane Olson should be released immediately and allowed to serve her parole in Minnesota as was agreed earlier.

The Shadow will continue to monitor this situation -- California -- do the right thing!!

Good night and good luck.

Curtins for Eliot Spitzer??

Just when you thought you have heard it all.......

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, in an exclusive reported by the New York Times earlier today, admitted to his senior staff that he is linked to a prostitution ring.

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer with wife Silda Wall Spitzer earlier today

Can you imagine how stupid this is??!! Here is a man who was on top of his game, was a possible Vice Presidental or Senate candidate, and he goes to pay for a hooker (a VERY expensive hooker at that -- we are talking about $4,100) on the day before Valentine's Day!!

Here is a summary broadcast describing the events of the day:



Here is the press conference that was described in the above video:



The complaint mentioned in the first video is pretty long -- but The Shadow has found Spitzer's alleged activities here.

The Shadow has no sympathy for this man right now. There is only one thing left for him to do -- RESIGN!!

The Shadow will comment more on this tomorrow night.

Good night and good luck!

Still Too Close To Call

This will be the final entry that The Shadow will make tonight. We will not know the results of the Texas primary and caucus until well into the early morning hours. But it can be said that the Democratic race is not yet over. Hillary Clinton has redeemed herself by winning both Rhode Island and Ohio tonight.

Texas is now the wild card. But more on this tomorrow.

Good night and good luck.

Clinton Makes A Comeback

Apparently the Democratic race for the nomination is not over. CNN has just projected that Senator Hillary Clinton will win Ohio with 162 delegates up to grab tonight. This is not a winner-take-all state so Sen. Clinton will only win a share of these delegates.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
(picture courtesy of her official Senate website)

Texas is still too close to call -- we will be back once we have a projection from CNN.

Good night and good luck.

Still Too Close To Call

The polls are now closed in Vermont, Rhode Island, and Ohio with caucuses current in progress in Texas. The Shadow is monitoring CNN who has called Obama to win Vermont and Clinton to win Rhode Island.

Top: Senator Barack Obama of Illinois
Bottom: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York
(Pictures courtesy of their official Senate websites)

Ohio and Texas are still up for grabs and it promises to be a long night. The Shadow will be around to give final comments as soon as projections are made by CNN.

Good night and good luck.

Could This Be It For Clinton?

The polls have just closed in Vermont and CNN has just projected that Sen. Barak Obama will win. The polls are scheduled to close in Ohio within the half hour. We will report back once we know something.

Good night and good luck.

Hillary Rodham Clinton on SNL

The news is going around the world now, but it appears that even the Do-or-Die debate for Sen. Hillary Clinton last Tuesday in Cleveland did not escape the writers of Saturday Night Live, as is shown here:



Sen. Clinton -- after originally telling NBC that she would not appear on Saturday Night Live -- came in with the following response to this skit:



The Shadow will have a more serious post on this tomorrow night. But for those of you who have not seen the skit and Clinton's appearance yet, we are providing it for your entertainment.

Good night and good luck.