Mark Henry Lankford #20489
INNOCENT
Address

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS AND BRILLIANT ANALYSES
from the mind of Mark Henry Lankford

This is the Second Edition of Random Observations and it stands in the stead of new Free Mark Lankford Defense Project Edition.

Since I last checked in with everyone with this format, many things have transpired in our world. There is far too much sadness, violence, hatred, hunger, poverty, deception, etc.. However, on the other side of the coin, hope continues to live!  Sometimes it may seem that we are not making progress as a race of beings, for the problems seem to be insurmountable. We should strive to see a better world and do our best to love one another, even though we may strongly disagree with one another. Remember this when you read what I write hereafter.

Concerning the Death Penalty; the US Supreme Court has made two decisions within the last month that give us hope that this vestige of inhuman barbarism is on the road to extinction. Do not be deceived, for it will take a lot more for abolition to occur. The SCOTUS (Supreme Court) ruled that it is unconstitutional to execute (Murder by State) the mentally retarded!  Wow, what a thought, the retarded can't be executed!  This means that George W. Bush and all his buddies can breathe a sigh of relief! The US finally join the rest of the civilized planet on this score. It will save two or three men here in Idaho.

Also, SCOTUS ruled that juries, not judges, should be the ones to sentence an American citizen to death. (Sometimes, it isn't an American citizen, come to think of it.) These rulings invalidate the death penalty schemes (statutes) in several states, Idaho among them. Idaho juries, prior to this ruling, had zero to do with sentencing, being dismissed after a verdict. This will invalidate/void ALL the death sentences in Idaho, for such a method is now deemed to be unconstitutional due to the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a nutshell, any facts concerning a criminal case, unless a plea of guilty is entered, must be brought before a jury, not a judge alone. For a judge to determine facts outside the presence of a jury that impact as to the sentence one may receive, this is no longer allowed.

Now, Idaho has a problem with this ruling. At first blush, it seems cut-and-dried, but we must remember this is Idaho. The state avers that this only applies to 6 or 7 of the condemned people on Idaho's death row, those that are relatively new and in state courts with their appeals. I don't think this position will prevail, but we have to fight individually on the merits. It is a given that Idaho will have to rewrite ALL of their death penalty statutes, so at this writing, Idaho's death penalty laws are void.

All 21 of Idaho's condemned were sentenced by a judge alone, with the judge making a fact-finding determination as to the existence of what are termed "aggravating circumstances", which expose a person to the death penalty. We feel that this is a "watershed" ruling and the state is just acting as it normally does, like idiots!  I will keep everyone posted as to new developments on this issue.

The appeal is moving slowly, but our hearing in Federal Court is still slated for 30 September at the Federal Courthouse in Boise. All the big issues will be addressed, although the judge will try to limit them. Bryan will be called to testify in my behalf, which will be difficult for state to rebut. We will have not been able to obtain a copy of the statement Bryan made when he was resentenced by Judge Bengston, but we will not stop trying! This alone causes me to see red!

I continue to do the best I can in this situation and I greatly appreciate, more than words can convey, all the support, love and friendship extended to me by so many. My existence is indeed enhanced positively, my soul honored by knowing each and everyone of you. But, it does not get any easier living this way. Most of death row has been moved to B-Block at IMSI, which is the punishment block. It is better now than when we first moved back here on the 22nd of May. By this time next year, there may not even be an Idaho Death Row, for Bruce Newcomb, the Idaho House Speaker, stated that due to the recent decisions and the budget difficulties in Idaho, they may not be able to afford the death penalty. No matter how it happens, let's hope and pray that it does indeed happen!

When you write to me, please make sure that you use the current address, for the mailroom would rather refuse mail than to deliver it. This is an ongoing problem and these people are very arrogant, but they are what I call "amateur arrogant", for they are unsophisticated. We just need to be patient and do our best to adhere to the stupid rules until new, brighter people can in installed in the mailroom. If you do have a letter rejected, let me know by e-mail or contact someone. I ask everyone to complain about this to the Director of the Idaho Department of Corrections. He can be found at this address:

Thomas Beauclair
Director, Idaho Department of Corrections
1299 North Orchard
PO Box 83720
Boise, Idaho  83720-0018
Phone:  +1 208 / 6 58 20 97
Fax: +1 208 / 3 27 74 85

You could also ask him about anything else you wish, but be aware that his office will try to get you to speak with someone else there, to keep him in the dark about what actually goes on here. If they try to give you to Joe Klauser, you should decline, for he will do absolutely NOTHING, for he could not care less about any inmate.

Now, the situation with the USA, the politics of deceit and corruption currently being overseen by the Bush Administration; it is laughable and very sad at the same time. Having been part of this corporate culture, I knew this would eventually happen, but I thought these criminals would have been exposed long ago. They certainly have a lot of cover due to giving money to politicians. The current climate will not change soon, for Bush, Cheney and associates are as dirty as the day is long. However, I predict some type of diversion will soon take place, to get the masses to focus on something else. This is a game of political three-card-monte, but it is a very old game.

Bush says he will be the sheriff and crack down on the corporate evildoers, many of which are his best friends and campaign donors.

Now, let us not hold our breath on that one!  Bush, in the early 90's, sold a really sad and pathetic oil company to Harken Energy. He was then placed on the Board of Directors, which is a sweet deal if you can get it!  Remember, dear ole daddy was the president at the time, which helps. Bush then gets a loan from Harken to the tune of $180,000!  With these funds, he buys Harken shares. Later, when the ethical dunce is told that the company will soon report losses, which will cause the stock shares to go down, he sells them for about $850,000!  He does not submit all the required documents, but as he now says, it's no big deal, it happened 10 years ago and people are only bringing it up for political reasons!

Wow, knock me over with a feather!  You mean there is politics in the air in Washington, DC?!  Also, I seem to remember a man named Bill Clinton, who was hounded by Bush's pathetic friends for eight years while he was president about an old land deal called Whitewater. I say, let's investigate Bush/Harken, Cheny/Halliburton, Thomas White/Enron until the cows go home. That is how Clinton was treated and through all the scrutiny, other things came to light, which disabled Clinton ethically. If you like Bush and hate Clinton, reverse it by a million percent and you will find where I am.

My opinion of Bush, for the unenlightened, is more extreme than most. I am a "Real Texan", whereas Bush is a lying, drunk-driving, murdering, cocaine-sniffing, draft-dodging, insider-trading, alcoholic, retarded fool of the worst order! I feel good about getting that out! A good piece of irony is that Rush Limbaugh, a big blowhard, lost most of his hearing. While not wishing any affliction on anyone, it's as if God is sending him a message, for he didn't/doesn't listen to anyone else anyway!

Reba Shimansky of Ocean Parkway in New York calls Bush a "worthless, dim-whitted, ne'er-do-well bum", to which I say, "well said". But we are stuck with this clown for over two more years! We need to have more voices of dissent that are strong! It gets depressing when the people with the courage to speak out against all that Bush stands for, do so in such a lame, uninspired way. Let's get this show on the road, for you can bet the other side has and will always, have a take-no-prisoners attitude! It is not enough to be civil to a fault, some real passion is imperative. I would love to debate Bush one-to-one, for I would expose him for what he is. His handlers will not let him speak at any length extemporaneously, for a very good reason!

About my art: we hope to have an exhibition/sale of art in Rome in the autumn. Silvio Daneo and Chiara Bellucci are working this project and I am so appreciative of this, for through this type of exposure, we spread the message against the death penalty. Also, this is how I support myself. Nothing here is reduced in price, quite the opposite. I try not to complain much, but you can imagine the problems.

If you have any ideas, please contact me and let me know or ask any questions you may have. I am allowed to make collect calls overseas now, however not to Germany, Denmark or Norway (I don't know why)!  I do like to talk, which is not a surprise to my fiancé*, Fran or my attorney [trial lawyer]*.

Spread the news of this case or any others you know about, for the more voices we have, the more apt we are to get a positive response.  I am only one person of 6 billion on the planet, but I want to make a difference as if I were one billion of them! WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE! Whenever we cause someone to smile when they are not feeling well; when we help someone without being asked; when we extend a compliment that makes another's heart warm; when we love one another without condition, these make a difference.

I am now 46 years of age and maybe in the best mental, spiritual and physical condition of my life. This amazes me, but I make the effort to see that I am in this shape. My hair is almost gone on the top of my head, but grass doesn't grow on a busy street!*

Please remember in your prayers/meditation/energy flow, the people in this world that don't have friends, family, jobs adequate food or water are ravaged by disease, live in squalor, are involved in war or hostilities. So many need so much, especially the little children. I appreciate your thoughts, but let us join spiritual forces to help those in even worse conditions than I.

I will close now. I love each and every one of you. You all have good hearts and I am honored to know you. May 2002 and beyond see many blessings for all of us. We all have a purpose and sometimes we don't know what it may be outside the confines of our little circles. It is a big world, we have big hearts and some say I have a big mouth. SO BE IT!!! Let me know what you think positive or otherwise. What you think matters to me.

Peace, Namasté* and love,
Mark

PS: If you like Bush, well, at least you can smile, right? We're all entitled to a mistake or two

"Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it."

Notice by the publisher

* = Unexplainable characters have appeared at these places, a consequence of compatibility problems among different character sets. I can therefore not guarantee for a correct interpretation. Otherwise the text has been transferred untouched (inclusive of language differences between the writer's American and the publisher's British) except for obvious typing mistakes found by chance while formatting.

Publisher: see title sheet