Follow-Up On Kennedy
Mary Katherine Ham has this report from the AP:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy says he'd taken prescription anti-nausea and sleep drugs, but consumed no alcohol, before crashing his car near the Capitol.
In a statement, Kennedy, D-R.I., said the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The drug can increase the effects of sleep medicines such as Ambien, which Kennedy said he had also taken...
Kennedy said that after working Wednesday evening he went home and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, which he sometimes takes to fall asleep.
In his statement, Kennedy said he was apparently disoriented from the drugs when he got up a little before 3 a.m. Thursday and drove to the Capitol thinking he needed to be present for a vote.
"At no time before the incident did I consume any alcohol," he said.
OK. OK. That explains the drunkeness that he appeared to be in on the night of the accident. However, it still doesn't explain the police, and why he wasn't arrested. Today, right now, if I get pulled over, and I'm under the influence of ANY medication (from hydrocodone to Benadryl), I am driving under the influence, and can be arrested. So why was there no arrest? Anyone else would have faced that. An average citizen would have gone to jail, at least for the night. There is no excuse for not arresting him. The police have a bit of explaining to to here, and it better come quick.
Publius II
ADDENDUM:
Michelle Malkin has some interesting things to add to the mix of information concerning Kennedy. Let's take this one, from Lou Cannon of the Capitol Police Union:
"The officers on the scene smelled alcohol about him and based on their experience believed him to be intoxicated."
"I think because of who he is courtesies were extended."
And Betsy Newsmark tosses this in for fun:
What does seem strange is that the Capitol Hill police would not have done a sobriety or breathalizer test and just have taken him home. Can you imagine what people would have been saying if this had happened to Tom DeLay? I bet we all hope that we would be shown the same deference and consideration if we we were found driving erratically early in the morning and then drove into a barrier. But that is the Kennedy way.
The Smoking Gun has the police report. From the Smoking Gun site:
The reporting officer checked off a box indicating that Kennedy was under the influence of alcohol and that the politician's ability was "impaired." Kennedy, 39, has denied that alcohol was involved in the 2:45 AM accident, claiming instead that he was left disoriented by a reaction to the prescription drugs Ambien, a sleep aid, and Phenergan, an antihistamine. Both drugs carry warnings that alcohol, taken in conjunction with the medications, may increase drowsiness and dizziness. Following the accident, Kennedy was driven home by police, who did not administer any field sobriety tests to the six-term congressman.
Unbelievable. I guess membership in the Kennedy clan does have it's priveleges.
Publius II (Updated 11:52 a.m., AZ Time)
Mary Katherine Ham has this report from the AP:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy says he'd taken prescription anti-nausea and sleep drugs, but consumed no alcohol, before crashing his car near the Capitol.
In a statement, Kennedy, D-R.I., said the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The drug can increase the effects of sleep medicines such as Ambien, which Kennedy said he had also taken...
Kennedy said that after working Wednesday evening he went home and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, which he sometimes takes to fall asleep.
In his statement, Kennedy said he was apparently disoriented from the drugs when he got up a little before 3 a.m. Thursday and drove to the Capitol thinking he needed to be present for a vote.
"At no time before the incident did I consume any alcohol," he said.
OK. OK. That explains the drunkeness that he appeared to be in on the night of the accident. However, it still doesn't explain the police, and why he wasn't arrested. Today, right now, if I get pulled over, and I'm under the influence of ANY medication (from hydrocodone to Benadryl), I am driving under the influence, and can be arrested. So why was there no arrest? Anyone else would have faced that. An average citizen would have gone to jail, at least for the night. There is no excuse for not arresting him. The police have a bit of explaining to to here, and it better come quick.
Publius II
ADDENDUM:
Michelle Malkin has some interesting things to add to the mix of information concerning Kennedy. Let's take this one, from Lou Cannon of the Capitol Police Union:
"The officers on the scene smelled alcohol about him and based on their experience believed him to be intoxicated."
"I think because of who he is courtesies were extended."
And Betsy Newsmark tosses this in for fun:
What does seem strange is that the Capitol Hill police would not have done a sobriety or breathalizer test and just have taken him home. Can you imagine what people would have been saying if this had happened to Tom DeLay? I bet we all hope that we would be shown the same deference and consideration if we we were found driving erratically early in the morning and then drove into a barrier. But that is the Kennedy way.
The Smoking Gun has the police report. From the Smoking Gun site:
The reporting officer checked off a box indicating that Kennedy was under the influence of alcohol and that the politician's ability was "impaired." Kennedy, 39, has denied that alcohol was involved in the 2:45 AM accident, claiming instead that he was left disoriented by a reaction to the prescription drugs Ambien, a sleep aid, and Phenergan, an antihistamine. Both drugs carry warnings that alcohol, taken in conjunction with the medications, may increase drowsiness and dizziness. Following the accident, Kennedy was driven home by police, who did not administer any field sobriety tests to the six-term congressman.
Unbelievable. I guess membership in the Kennedy clan does have it's priveleges.
Publius II (Updated 11:52 a.m., AZ Time)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 10:42 AM
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