Yesterday I spent most of the day in court, testifying in a criminal competency hearing.

[Jackpine Radical]

It is locally a high-profile case and there is no need to go into details here, but essentially, a developmentally disabled person is alleged to have done something pretty awful, and the hearing was to determine if that person is competent to participate in their own defense.

The reason I bring this up, is that during the course of my evaluation it had become clear that the defendant knew that he/she didn't function like a normal person--that there was something wrong. He/she basically knew he/she was retarded, in other words.

Wouldn't it be nice if people like Sarah Palin had as much insight as this poor soul? Wouldn't it be nice if she realized how damned ignorant she is?

[Clovis Sangrail]

1. I worked with dd'ers for years and I alway felt really bad for the ones that 'got it' /nt

[jwirr]

4. My dad always said my daughter was lucky because she was severe

enough that she did not recognize anything was wrong. She was happy.

[BeatleBoot]

2. To Lump Sarah Palin in with

those who are mentally retarded, does a great disservice to the mentally retarded.

[Ozma]

3. Amen!! They "get it" She doesn't have a clue! n/t

[midnight]

5. Take this administrations cabinet members and look at the

poor souls they have been operating as. The level of damage and the lack of insight will never be address it a court of law like this person you witnessed yesterday. And I'm sure one by one each will be given some sort of nod of let's let by gones be by gones. But this person you testified on behalf of will never be given that luxury.