Policing – Page 5 – Politics Plus

Open Thread September 15, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:50 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 152022

Yesterday, I saw my doctor for my annual visit. I’ve lost a little more weight since last year (some of it in my face, which is annoying, because on my cordless phones the answer/off puttons hit me right at the cheekbone, and now that the cheekbone is closer to the surface, I need to be reeally careful to not accidentally hang up), my blood pressure is the best it’s been in years, and my doctor tells me I look 10-15 years younger than I am. Not that any of that will prevent me from whining from time to time, but it may help cut down on any serious concern.

However, does anyone know anything about SpyKat? My Sunday message was returned with the message that her inbox was full, and I tried twice more (including yesterday) with the same result. The last time she commented or recommended was September 6. I have replied to that last comment hoping Disqus will notify her – although if she’s not checking her inbox, she may not see that either (unless they have a different email address for her.)

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

CPR – Clear Creek County deputies shoot and kill man who asked for help after car crash
Quote – After getting stuck on a dirt road in Clear Creek County in June, Christian Glass called 911 for help. Instead, the 22-year-old was killed while locked inside his own car after a long, tense, confusing and chaotic confrontation played out between him and Clear Creek deputies and a handful of other agencies. Video footage was released by his family’s lawyers.
Click through for full story. Apparently the Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office is staffed with equal opportunity [insert epithet here]s. Glass was not a POC.

Daily Kos (David Neiwert) – Tragedy in small Michigan town once again demonstrates how lethal conspiracy theories can be
Quote – Responding officers first spoke with neighbors who had also reported gunfire. As they were doing so, they heard a gunshot from the Lanis’ house next door, and began moving toward it when Igor Lanis emerged from the front door, armed with shotgun. He reportedly fired at them and they fired back, killing him. It was the first time any Walled Lake police officer had ever shot anyone, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “I think there was danger to anybody,” Bouchard said. “He had his keys with him so who knows where he was headed. …This is terribly sad on so many levels.”
Click through for full story. There’s also a petition to sign. I note that the sister who was not present refers to QAnon as “demonic.” Some Christians do know where the demons are.

Food For Thought

Open Thread September 3, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 032022

Yesterday was pretty quiet. I tried to catch up on some personal things around the house. I also receifed a few packages (nothing heavy.)

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Short Takes –

CPR – Elijah McClain’s autopsy report changed ahead of arraignments of the officers, paramedics involved in his violent arrest
Quote – It’s extremely rare for autopsies to be changed after a death and it only happens if the pathologist or medical examiner discovers new information they didn’t have at the time of the examination, lawyers said. In McClain’s case, the potential change in his death determination comes after a grand jury met behind closed doors for eight months in 2021. Information from that investigation — tens of thousands of investigatory documents, interviews and forensic and physical evidence — is sealed from the public, but that information is what apparently led Broncucia-Jordan to change the death certificate.
Click through for story. In many states, counties, and municipalities, there is no requirement for a coroner to have any kind of medical expertise. This one apparently also has no legal expertise. And accountability, though desirable, won’t bring Elijah bach.

Robert Reich – The most important battle of our lifetimes
Quote – If Trump has broken the law – by attempting a coup, by instigating an assault on the U.S. Capitol, by making off with troves of top-secret documents — he must be prosecuted, and if found guilty he must be imprisoned. Yes, such prosecutions might increase tensions and divisions in the short term. They might provoke additional violence. But a failure to uphold the laws of the United States would be far more damaging in the longer term. It would undermine our system of government and the credibility of that system — more directly and irreparably than Trump has done. Not holding a former president accountable for gross acts of criminality will invite ever more criminality from future presidents and lawmakers.
Click through for full opinion – one we probably all agree with (and probably can’t state quite as forcefully on our own – I know I couldn’t.)

Food For Thought

Open Thread August 25, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 252022

Yesterday, I managed to getnine 30-gallon plastic bags out to the porch, all labeled with the initials of the charity they are getting picked up by. After that, I moved the car out of the driveway and took the recyclables to the edge of the driveway by the street – two actions which between tehm pretty much cleared the drive way. I did this because the charity is “Vietnam Veterans of America,” nd although I don’t remember seeing much, one occupation which puts people int higher jeopardy of becoming an amputee is “combat vet.” And the instruction included the request that everything be capable of bing lifted with one hand (not all at once, of course; that would be silly.) So I just wanted to make it as easy as possible and I figured shortening the distance couldn’t hurt. After all that, my shoulders, back, and knee were still in comparatively good shape.

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Short Takes –

Letters from an American – August 22, 2022
Quote – Today’s big news is an eye-popping $1.6 billion donation to a right-wing nonprofit organized in May 2020. This is the largest known single donation made to a political influence organization. The money came from Barre Seid, a 90-year-old electronics company executive, and the new organization, Marble Freedom Trust, is controlled by Leonard A. Leo, the co-chair of the Federalist Society, who has been behind the right-wing takeover of the Supreme Court. Leo has also been prominent in challenges to abortion rights, voting rights, climate change action, and so on. He announced in early 2020 that he was stepping back from the Federalist Society to remake politics at every level, but information about the massive grant and the new organization was broken today by Kenneth P. Vogel and Shane Goldmacher of the New York Times.
Click through for details. Everyone has this story – but I saw it first here – and Heather always has receipts (and insights.)

Daily Beast – Cops Love Immunity—Until They’re the Ones Abused by Police
Quote – Six months after the incident, Burk filed a civil rights lawsuit against the acting officers from the Columbus Division of Police. Predictably, Burk now finds himself on the wrong end of a judge-made doctrine called “qualified immunity.” The doctrine, which the U.S. Supreme Court invented in 1982, shields government employees from accountability for unreasonable actions—unless victims can point to a prior case in the same jurisdiction that clearly establishes the behavior as unconstitutional. The irony of this case is that law enforcement officers like Burk normally love qualified immunity.
Click through for this opinion piece with backup facts. I would hate to think that the only, or even just the fastest, way to get rid of “qualified immunity” is for cops to beat up enough cops.

Food For Thought

Open Thread 7/24/2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:44 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 242022

Yesterday, The opera was Macbeth (Verdi). Everyone knows that story, of course. I was not familiar wih the soprano singing Lady MacBeth, but she was excellent. MacBeth and Banquo were sung by two stars who are also known for being drop-dead gorgeous. The baritone (Simon Keenlyside) is not as young as he was, but still very handsome, and the bass, Günther Grossböck, is younger (and generally taller than anyone else on stage.) I have seen both the play and the opera more than once – back to back once, at the Kennedy Center, when I was in the service and they were doing a mini-Shakespeare festival, and I may be the only person in the world who feels this way, but I have always felt that the play never quite worked. There are parts of it which just can’t be played naturally – they are always either underplayed or overplayed. It isn’t really the fault of any of the actors – it’s just written that way. But the opera – all you need for that to it themark is singers who can stand up and hit the notes. With that, it’s a winner every time. All the passion is i the score.

I also managed to finish reading Heather Cox Richardson’s Letter from Thursday night. She quoted an NPR host as saying: “the Democratic chair of the committee just gracefully, and with full confidence, turned over the running of tonight’s hearing to the vice-chair, who happens to be of another party, and they spoke with mutual trust and respect. That’s how it’s supposed to go.” Well, yeah. that struck meat the time also. You might say it isn’t evidence, and it indeed is not evidence regarding the insurrection. But it is evidence that, even now, people who disagree with each other, even violently, can still work together if they have decency, integrity, and courtesy. It’s no wonder Rethuglicans so hate courtesy, and find insulting terms like “political correctness” to describe it. And here we all are. Sigh.

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Short Takes – I’m just going to go with News of the Weird today and be serious again tomorrow.

The Daily Beast – A Judge Pulled a Gun in the Courtroom—and Then It Got Weird
“The whole trial was insane,” said one lawyer, who later reported the weapon-wielding jurist to the FBI.

PolitiZoom – AR Toting Lunatic Spotted in Local Park Threatening to Shoot His Foot Off
Yes, this was Ronny Jackson. Sigh.

Democratic Underground (Nevilledog) – Cops stood by while a woman was terrorized by a stalker in her home for 12 hours and then killed
Seriously? In San Diego?

ProPublica – Pharma Companies Sue for the Right to Buy Blood From Mexicans Along Border
A year after the U.S. barred Mexicans from crossing the border to sell their blood, pharmaceutical companies have acknowledged that those donations provided as much as 10% of the plasma collected nationwide as they seek to have the ban overturned.

Crooks and Liars – Remember That Other Secret Service Scandal?
We all remember that story about the two fake agents who were sucking up to the First Lady’s Secret Service detail. Well, one of them has filed a notification that he will now change his plea to guilty.

Food For Thought

Video Thread 7/21/22

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 11:41 am Open Thread, Politics

Jul 212022

Glenn Kirschner – Day 1 of Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress trial: jury selection. Many jurors voice their disdain

Meidas Touch – (NSFW) Texas Paul REACTS to Republican Obsession with TRAITORS

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party July 19

Robert Reich – Why Joe Manchin is Wrong About Inflation and Why We Need a Windfall Profits Tax

Puppet Regime – The Newsletter the PUPPET REGIME Wants You To Read

Beau – Let’s talk about systemic failures in Uvalde….

Video Thread 7/20/22

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 11:59 am Open Thread, Politics

Jul 202022

Glenn – Steve Bannon’s Trial to begin: he promises to go “medieval”; he’s more likely to go out w/a whimper

Meidas Touch – Navy Vet Ken Harbaugh CALLS OUT fake patriotism of Jan. 6 rioters (Ken is the dude who went to school with Greitens)

The Lincoln Project – Texas Power

Ring of Fire – Steve Bannon’s Own Podcast Declares Him Guilty As Trial Begins

Armageddon Update – To Protect and Sanitize

Beau – Let’s talk about Republican judges disagreeing with Trump…

Open Thread July 20, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:16 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 202022

Yesterday, I received a grocery order. And two packages. At the same time. (Fortunately both packages were small.) I managed to get it all in but not all put away – just the perishables. And I feel like I’ve done a full day’s work and them some. Oh well, it’s supposed to be a little cooler today

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Short Takes –

CPR News – A small southeastern Colorado town’s 3-person police force all abruptly quit
Quote – In a press release posted to the county sheriff’s Facebook page on Friday, the [Baca County Sheriff’s] office announced they would be stepping up temporarily to police Springfield after reaching a unanimous agreement with the city and Baca County Commissioners on Thursday. In addition to Springfield Police Chief Katrina Martin, the SPD had two officers on staff and one vacant Animal Control Officer position, according to the department’s website. One SPD resignation became effective Wednesday and the other two will be effective on Saturday, the sheriff’s office said.
Click through for story. It’s unlikely that this would happen in a town with a department larger than 3 (plus one vacancy) – not that there aren’t places we might wish it would. There were three hundred and seventy-six officers standing outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde (granted, a mix of city, county, state, and federal). That is 76 more than Spartan soldiers at the Battle of Marathon. And 370 more than flag raisers at Iwo Jima.

Democratic Underground (kentuck) – Why Trump called off his mob at 4:17 pm?
Quote – He was not talked into it. He did not do it because he thought it was the right thing to do. He had gotten a message that Mike Pence had usurped his authority and called out the National Guard to “clear the Capitol”. He did not have the people or the weapons in place to defeat the National Guard. His plan was to declare “martial law”.
Click through for full speculation – it is only speculation – no sources are provided. Some known facts are included, and the remarks on motivation may be accurate – or not. We don’t know. The most I can say is that the chain of reasoning appears consistent with his behavior and with motivations which are known.

Food For Thought