Is this a big deal because a woman was abused, or because he's a state senator and he's getting off with a slap on the wrist?

The justice system in this country is broken. Things like this--and the hundreds of other cases that will never make headlines because the participants aren't public figures--are a symptom.

Yes to all your questions. It is obscene that the man is walking because of his wealth and connections and because he was able to force the woman into changing her story.

I will never understand how women - and men too, will stay in such an abusive relationship. It is a very very sad thing. If she wasn't scared into, compensated to, or just psychologically battered into changing her story he would stand a good chance of being behind bars.

It is obscene that in order to keep the democrat majority solidified he may be allowed to keep his seat but as you said the bigger problem is the overall acceptance of such abuse.

I think the biggest problem is that relationships don't start out being abusive. Once things have gone too far, I do understand how it's very difficult to give up on the good part of your life when the other part is going so freaking bad.
I'm not saying people should stick with an abusive relationship, I'm just saying I understand why it's hard to stop it.

yes, that is obscene...

If it was anyone else, he would have been charged with the felony.

Having been in an abusive relationship...It's hard. You don't always realize how bad it is. You lose track of the person you used to be, the person who had fun and wasn't always worried, always focused on keeping the abuser happy. You blame yourself when they lose control, you forget that you aren't responsible for their behavior. Most abusers isolate their victim, which makes it that much harder to define normal, to see the skewed and hurtful things as wrong. You love the person, and you can convince yourself that they love you, they wouldn't lash out, they wouldn't hurt, they wouldn't care if they didn't.

It doesn't make sense from the outside, but it does from the inside.

And Jerry...it's nice to think that, but really, it's not a sure thing. There are abused women (and children and men) who change their story to keep their abusers out of jail all the time. If you haven't been in one of these relationships, it is very hard to understand why anyone would ever stay.

This quote from the article sums it all up from a political perspective... "Fearful of losing their slim majority in the Senate, Democratic leaders were vague about the what kind of 'disciplinary action' Monserrate might face." If he was a Republican, the Democrats would be screaming for his head on a plate.

Stockholm Syndrome

Ummmm... no. Stockholm Syndrome has to do with hostages developing a relationship with their kidnappers. Not the same thing. Not remotely.

Umm.... People in abusive relationships can feel like they have no way out. Much like a hostage. So there is a strong similarity.

Battered woman's syndrome is the name for this situation, though.

...To speak to the story directly, I don't even blame the judge. He convicted on what he had grounds to convict for. No judge can force the woman to do the braver thing and admit she's been beaten.

Hmm, I don't much care for that. The feminization of all things "weak" make it that much harder for guys in the same kind of relationship.

She needs to slash his face.

I don't particularly like it either... but that's the name.

...Because "post-traumatic stress" has been claimed for our war veterans (read: men). And "hysteria" is, thankfully, out-dated.

Oh. He wants to marry her

I see many women where I work that have a diagnosis of PTSD, so I'd disagree with you there. What one calls it isn't as important as that it's recognized.

I'd be curious to what age his girlfriend is. Kentucky is in the midst of a domestic violence turned deadly scandal (Steve Nunn, politician and son of former governor ...). Younger women and middle aged men aren't always a good mix.

as long as you aren't saying that republicans never ask for the ol' "john-the-baptist-a-la-carte"

i mean...you aren't saying that, are you?

i mean...if you are, you should get a job with AFR.

According to this site she turned 31 this year.

Different year, different party, same old sh*t. The Republicans swept Mark Foley's fondness for boys under the carpet with private admonitions for nearly a year before the story broke in the media, in order to try to salvage their weakening grip on the House in 2006. There is no monopoly on political moral ambiguity.